Winds of War: 2003-08-21

Welcome! Our goal 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.

TOP TOPICS

• While the death toll at the Baghdad U.N. headquarters continues to climb, FBI agents now reporting that at least 1,500 pounds of explosives from Saddam's arsenal were used in the blast.

• Breaking News: "Chemical Ali" has been captured in Iraq. He was the King of Spades.

Other Topics Today Include: the UN's possession of advance intel indicating a likely truck bomb attack; Ansar al-Islam's involvement in the blast; renewed efforts to increase international involvement in Iraq; the IMF and World Bank's latest withdrawals; more nuke power for Iran; web-wide automated public security alerts; Israeli advances; Palestinian de ja vu; North Korea's latest fund-raising scheme; and rating television reporters on what really matters: their sex appeal.

IRAQ BRIEFING

• Members of the U.S.-appointed governing council in Iraq have acknowledged receiving advance intelligence reports warning of a truck bombing at either the U.N. headquarters or the HQ of a political party. Despite being advised by the U.S. of the threat, UN officials declined to increase security to avoid a large American presence outside of the building, which could jeopardize the "welcoming image" the UN seeks to project to Iraqi citizens. At the same time, Kofi Annan says he is not aware whether the UN turned down increased security and claims that the US is responsible for protecting the UN headquarters and surrounding area.

• Pentagon officials believe that an al-Qaeda sub-group is responsible for the bombing, with Ansar al-Islam being the primary suspect group. This, of course, is no surprise to the blogosphere. Tony Adragna surmised as much four days ago. (Link via Instapundit.)

• As for a motive for the bombing, Tim Blair thinks the answer might just be Sergio de Mello's past success in East Timor.

• At the State Department's urging, President Bush is now seeking to use the international outrage over the UN bombing to garner the UN Security Council's support for increased international involvement in governing post-war Iraq. Under the revived initiative, the US would maintain military control in the area, with other countries pledging support troops under the guise of the UN.

• Not everyone is interested in sticking around to find out whether an international consortium will make headway in settling Iraq - both the IMF and the World Bank have informed the U.S. Treasury that they will be withdrawing personnel from Iraq following the UN bombing. Then again, bankers aren't known for their willingness to take risks.

• Which "cards" have we captured so far? The CENTCOM list. And the visual version of "Ba'ath Poker."

• The troops are still there. So is the Winds of Change.NET consolidated directory of ways you can support the troops. American, British and Australian. Anyone out there with more information, incl. the Poles and Czechs? [updated April 1, 2003]

IRAN REPORTS

• Russia has confirmed its intent to build a second nuclear facility in Iran which, naturally, has already approved the action.

• Anticipating a possible Israeli strike on its nuclear reactors like the one in 1981, Tehran has cautioned Israel not to target either its existing facility nor the site for the planned second location. Such a move, according to Tehran, would cause Israel to "pay dearly."

• Japan is still interested in developing an oil field in Iran, but cites concerns over Tehran's nuclear ambitions as a potential obstacle to the $2 billion deal.

• Meanwhile, an earthquake measuring 5.7 shook Iran last night. No casualties have been reported.

U.S.A. HOMELAND SECURITY BRIEFING

• The Regional Alliances for Infrastructure and Network Security (RAINS-Net) is here. Consisting of a partnership between IT vendors and both public and private organizations, RAINS-Net is the nation's "first fully automated, Web-based regional security alert system." Although covering only the Portland area at the current time, RAINS-Net is designed to flex with any application that HSD adopts in the future, providing an instantaneous way to notify schools, public and civic offices and private institutions of regional events that may affect security and public safety. While we will no doubt see several states rush to adopt similar practices, those of us who've seen our internet service slowed by recent virus activity aren't going to rely on web-based alerts for our safety any time soon.

THE WIDER WAR

• Following the latest suicide bombing, Israeli troops are now staged in Nabilus and Jenin where they are searching for bomb-making facilities. Hawken Blog has more.

• Palestinian officials are meanwhile pledging peace efforts. Again. This time, they pledge to confiscate weapons. Again. As part of their "measures not seen before," only Palestinian Authority officials will be allowed to carry weapons from here on out. Right.

• Al-Qaeda appears intent on re-grouping in Yemen, leading the State Department to issue a new travel warning for U.S. citizens which cautions them to defer travel plans to the country.

• North Korea has discovered a new way to raise funds: it is now ransoming the children of five of the 13 Japanese nationals who were kidnapped in the late 1970s. (Eight of those officials have reportedly died.) Despite the potential for such a move to blow North Korea's already-shaky position during the upcoming conference in Beijing concerning the country's nuclear program, Pyongyang insists that Japan resume its food aid program and refrain from raising the ransom issue during the talks.

• We try to close on a lighter note if possible, but sometimes that's not an easy thing to do. There are important questions to be asked of ourselves, important issues in the news that demand pondering. Things like: who really thinks Bill O'Reilly is credible? And, more importantly, isn't Rudi Baktiar much hotter than Jennifer Eccleston? (via J-Walk Blog.)

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