Welcome! Our goal at Winds of Change.NET is to give you one power-packed briefing of insights, news and trends from the global War on Terror that leaves you stimulated, informed, and occasionally amused every Monday & Thursday. Monday's Winds of War briefings are given by Security Watchtower.
Top Topics
- On Saturday, the IAEA passed a resolution by a 22-1 vote (China and Russia abstained) that requires Iran to be referred to the U.N. Security Council over failure to convince the organization their nuclear program is intended for peaceful purposes. In response, Iran has branded the IAEA resolution "political, illegal and illogical."
- Israeli Defense Forces conducted raids in the West Bank on Saturday night, arresting 206 wanted terror suspects. Those detained are said to belong to Islamic Jihad, Hamas, and other Palestinian militant organizations.
- Hussain Osman, charged with attempted murder in the July 21st London bombings, has been extradited from Italy to Britain, and appeared in a British court.
- Omar Bakri Mohammed, a radical Islamic cleric banned from Britain, is calling on all Muslims to leave Europe, adding that "the Islamic flag will fly one day over Downing Street."
Other topics today include: Islamic Jihad terrorists killed; Operation First Rain; Iran backing Shi'ite in Iraq; bombing in Lebanon; Jihad in LA avoided; Transit security; Pakistani raids; Draw down in Afghanistan; Livingstone advocates assassination; Russian Navy in the Med; India-US military exercise; Terrorism in Thailand; Balkan mafia ties to Iran; al Qaeda arrests in Somililand; Jakarta bomber sentenced; and more.
Iran & the Middle East
- Three terrorists belonging to Islamic Jihad have been killed by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank. The dead included Jamil Abu Sa'ada, who presided over several terror cells that carried out attacks at a nightclub in Tel Aviv and a shopping center in Netanya, and Saed al-Ashkar, the head of Islamic Jihad in the village.
- Responding to Hamas launching 35 rockets from Gaza into Israeli towns, Israeli Defense Forces have launched Operation First Rain, a retaliation against Palestinian militants in Gaza and the West Bank.
- British military intelligence believe that Iran is behind training Shi'ite militants that seized two British soldiers in Basra last week, saying "from what we have seen, the Iranians are setting out to incite the local Shia to attack coalition troops."
- Michael Ledeen criticizes the U.S. policy towards Iran, and reminds us that Iran is still "the single greatest engine in support of the terror war against us."
- In Gaza City, an Israeli airstrike killed Islamic Jihad's top commander in southern Gaza, Mohammed Khalil.
- A news anchor from the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBC) has been terribly wounded when a bomb planted under the seat of her vehicle exploded. The LBC remains one of the most prominent anti-Syrian media outlets in Lebanon.
- At least one Arabic media outlet is taking a deeper look into those recruiting and facilitating terrorism in Saudi Arabia.
America Domestic Security & the America's
- Hamid Hayat, one of five men from a Lodi mosque arrested earlier this year, was indicted on federal charges he intended "to wage jihad in the United States." Shabbir Ahmed, also involved in the Lodi cell, was deported to Pakistan.
- Three terror suspects in custody in Los Angeles had planned to carry out attacks against military related facilities and according to FBI Director Robert Mueller "terrorist threats against the city and county of Los Angeles...were prevented."
- Transportation Security Administration chief Kip Hawley has labelled U.S. transit security as "outstanding," an assessment several Senators took exception with.
Russia & Central Asia
- Cracking down on militants in North Waziristan, Pakistani authorities arrested 10 suspects during a search operation near the border with Afghanistan.
- While Hamid Karzai and some U.S. politicians are calling for a drawdown in U.S. troops in Afghanistan, U.S. soldiers say Afghanistan is not ready.
- London Mayor Ken Livingstone appears to advocate the assassination of Uzbek President Islam Karimov. The news comes as a U.S. delegation is travelling to Uzbekistan to voice their displeasure with Karimov over human rights violations.
- The Russian Navy has launched Operation Active Endeavor in the Mediterranean, aimed at targeted Islamic militants using merchant ships for movement and attacks.
- India and the United States began joint-naval exercise "Malabar" on September 25th, aimed at building up cooperation in fighting piracy and terrorism. Each nation will have a carrier present, with the USS Nimitz and the Viraat both in the Arabian Sea.
- Two bombs exploded in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, killing six and injuring another twenty-six people.
- In Rawalpindi, Pakistani authorities have captured two al Qaeda linked militants belonging to Lashkar-i-Jhangvi (LJ). Also seized were weapons, ammunition, a computer, a satellite phone and other documents.
Far East & Southeast Asia
- Abu Sayyaf leader Khadaffy Janjalani, has escaped a large-scale Filipino military operation in Talayan town, Maguindanao province. Southern Philippines Military Chief Lieutenant General Edilberto Adan said the operation against Abu Sayyaf will not stop.
- Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand have launched a joint security-initiative, known as the "Eyes in the Sky" project, to protect shipping along the busy global trade-route of Malacca Straits.
- Islamic militants have killed 7 more people in southern Thailand, including two Thai police officers. Since the Muslim insurrection began in January 2004, 950 people have been killed.
- The last of six militants charged in bombing the Australian embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, was sentenced to ten years in prison. Syaiful Bahri was said to have helped prepare the bomb used in the September 2004 attack.
Europe
- French judge Jean-Francois Ricard warned about jihadists from Iraq returning to Europe, and called on Europe to share better coordination in fighting terrorism. As noted in the article, French Muslims have gone to Bosnia, Chechnya and Afghanistan in the past to wage jihad.
- A vehicle stopped by Bulgarian authorities as it tried to cross into Romania, was discovered to have 3.5kg of hafnium aboard, an element that can be used in constructing a dirty bomb. Authorities believe the shipment was intended for the Romanian mafia, who have connections to Iran.
- Spanish authorities are rushing to double the height of a fence surrounding the north African enclave of Melilla after a dozen more immigrants were injured in a battle with police as they tried to find a way on to European soil. Apparently fences, rubber bullets and bayonets are okay when Europeans want to protect their borders.
Africa
- In the coming year, the U.S. Navy will take control of Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), freeing up almost 800 U.S. Marines to be used elsewhere.
- Five al Qaeda terrorists have been captured in Somililand, after they crossed over from Somalia and intended to carry out terrorist attacks prior to parliamentary elections next week.
- Two additional al Qaeda suspects have been captured in Somililand, raising the total number to seven. According to reports, the group posed as Islamic clerics and entered the territory seperately.
- In related news, Islamic clerics without legitimate business are now being told to leave Somililand.
- Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia has vowed to severely punish terrorists remaining in Algeria.
- The U.S. State Department has issued a terrorism warning for East Africa and maritime travel near the horn of Africa and the Red Sea.
- CIA officials are in Sudan for a regional counterterrorism conference attended by twelve African nations.
The Global War
- Take a peak at Tony Blankley's new book "The West's Last Chance: Will we win the clash of civilizations."
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Spanish authorities are rushing to double the height of a fence surrounding the north African enclave of Melilla [...] Apparently fences, rubber bullets and bayonets are okay when Europeans want to protect their borders.
Taking into account this summer's open battles involving thousands of immigrants and the fact that this border is the one in the world with the biggest difference in income, I'm sure many Europeans would like a 20 foot wall and helicopters hovering over it.
Moreover, we the Europeans have been already sucessfully defended by walls, like the Hadrians, so we should not complain about others.
[snip]
(remember Jen-Jen from Friend's email
[snip]
spam removed for violation of WoC comments policy -- Festus
Thanks for the compliment, although I have no clue who this Jen-Jen is, or what that was you were commenting on.
"Apparently fences, rubber bullets and bayonets are okay when Europeans want to protect their borders. "
The euros have said a wall would be ok if it were west of the green line. Israels security fence is a violation of international law only because it is on disputed, colonial territory, while Spains is on Mellila which - oh wait, never mind. ;)
#3 tastes a little too spammy to me. Would someone with The Powah consider removing it? Thanks.
[Done, Festus]
Nort
PS: if enough of these start happening it might mean that the spam reduction crosshatched-numerals are no longer sufficient. I am probably stating the obvious...
Liberalhawk, Melilla is Spanish since 1497, five hundred and eight years ago. Using the same judgment the Granada Kingdom in Southern Spain, conquered in 1492, is a colony and should be brought back to the Arabs, as Al Qaeda has stated, and - oh wait - so on the entire Iberian peninsula.
Of course, the England of Hadrianus was too a colony of Rome, wasn't it? maybe not? perhaps was it Rome itself?
As I have said, Europeans have been succesful defended by walls. Hadrianus' worked for 300 years. We should not complain about others.
In my opinion the wall is not the problem, in fact the fence around Melilla is part of it; the problem is where it is placed. Palestinians should have their own space, and I think the Gaza pull out has much to do with it. Sharon is right.
By the way, liberalhawk, Moroccans have plenty of space in a surface bigger than Spain to do whatever they want.