October 31st, 2008
Introduction;
Although politicians and so-called “Intelligence Experts” are the ones appearing on TV, discussing and relaying the news on the War or Terror, they are far from the ones who actually have anything to do with the war on terror.
As in the past so it is today, the real planning in the war on terror goes on in covert ops-rooms by the real “Spooks” from the three letter agencies: CIA, MIA, ISI, MI-5, MI-6, GRU and the FSB, just to name a few of the major players.
The sad truth is that these spook agencies are in the large, responsible for the effectiveness’ of the major Islamic terrorist groups. The tactical planning, the CQB skills and the weapon and explosive knowledge of these Islamic terrorists, are largely courtesy of the spook agencies.
I am not arguing that the spook agencies are directly responsible for the terrorist acts, carried out by these Islamic terror groups. But that with a bit of common sense and forward planning, they should have realized the future evils they where helping to create. Old wisdom say it all, “When you lie with dogs, you get fleas” translated into modern languages that even a mission-oriented spook should be able to understand, the old wisdom says “When you train terrorists, innocent civilians get killed”
Afghanistan;
Prior to and during the Russian occupation of Afghanistan, the US spook agencies saw in their infinite wisdom the Mujahadeen, as a means to an end. The support of the Mujahadeen forces were initiated by the Carter administration, prior to the Soviet invasion and was increased by the Reagan administration. During both administrations, intelligence agents from the CIA and MIA went to Afghanistan by way of the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI, to make secret contributions in forms of funds, weapons and training to the Afghani resistance fighters.
The strategic plan was to stir up a rebellion against the Afghan government, which would result in the influx of Soviet troops. After the “Soviet Invasion” the purpose was to help the Afghani resistance fighting the Soviet forces. The objective of the plan was to ensure that the occupation would be very costly, for the Soviet army in funds and life’s. This wisdom of “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” was arguably not a new idea as it has been an ideology of warfare, from the dawn of time. Training and supporting your enemies enemy, was the big thing during the cold war, from Asia to Africa, from the Middle East to South America, is was the tactic favoured by the Super Powers, their allies and their foes.
However, the Intelligence agents were soon to discover that, the Afghanis where in general a untrustworthy ally, who would only follow a set plan as long as they did not have other plans on the sideline. Unfortunately, they always had plans on the side which had a tendency to become the most important plan, plans that at least most of the time came ahead of fighting the Russians. Inter-Tribal feuds where constantly flaring, this in turn led to an unstable situation where military and political alliances changed faster than a “prostitute” did sheets.
This is where the “spooks” came up with a solution which still haunts us today, they decided to direct the Pakistani ISI, to focus most of their training and supplies on the Arab Mujahadeen or jihadist’s, who had more zeal for the fight against the Russians.
The Afghan warlords continued to receive the majority of the cash flowing from the spook agencies, but it was the radical Islamic Arabs that got the real training and in return they delivered. The mighty Red Army was forced to retreat in shame and defeat. Russia had met its Afghanistan, as Napoleon had met his Waterloo and the US had met its Vietnam; the spooks of the west had won the decade.
The Spooks success caused a stir in the Soviet “Empire of Evil”, within a few years the Soviet Empire where defeated by stratagem and replaced by a “democratic” Russia. So one might say we owe the spooks congratulations on such a worthy contribution to human history. Had it not been for the minor fact, that the CIA/ISI trained Mujahadeen turned into the infamous terror groups, associated with Osama Bin Laden’s Al Qaeda Group.
The Al Qaeda group has in its relatively short terrorist lifespan, turned into the “Olympic Champion” of terror. The Al Qaeda group has staged very few attacks compared to other known terrorist groups, however Al Qaeda has blown the scale when it comes to fatalities and injures caused by terrorist attacks. From January 1998 to December 2003, Al Qaeda only caused a measly 0,1% of all terrorist incidents, grotesquely though the 0,1% of attacks caused 29% of the fatalities and 22% of the injuries inflicted by all terrorist acts in the same time span!
Chechnya;
One would think that Russia’s experience in the Soviet-Afghan war, would have taught it that radical Islamic fighters are neither just the enemy of your enemy, but also your enemy. However the GRU (Russia’s military intelligence unit) fell prey to the same short sightedness as the CIA did, in 1994 they trained and funded mercenaries to fight in Abkhazia, among them where a number of militant Islamic Chechens. The purpose of the clandestine operation were to destabilize the Abkhazian region, in order to weaken the Government of Georgia who sought total separation from Russia. Among those militants were Shamil Basayev, a name the Russians will never again forget although they are more than willing to forget that they trained him.
Shamil Basayev started his guerrilla/terrorist campaign in 1991, when he masterminded the hijacking of a passenger plane from the town of Mineralnye Vody, the plane was flown to Turkey where the hostages where freed. An agreement ensured the Chechens free passage back to Chechnya. Bolstered by his hijacking success Basayev started his guerrilla campaign, gaining combat experience by fighting in the regions many conflicts with the Azerbaijanis in Nagorno-Karabakh, against the Georgians in Abkhazia and against the Russians in Chechnya. In between the fighting,Basayev received training in terrorist camps in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
However, Basayevs real terror campaign began with the 1995, attack at the Budennovsk militia headquarters which evolved into the hospital siege. Shamil Basayev appears to be the mastermind behind all of the major Chechen terrorist attacks, carried out since 1995. His network of guerrilla/terrorist groups has several names, the Abkhaz battalion, Sword of Islam, Movsar Barayev Gang and Riyadh-as-Saliheen, the latter being the most notorious group. Since 1995, the network has carried out at least 13 successful terrorist attacks which has caused ca. 949 fatalities and injured a minimum of 1147. This is an enormously high fatality and injury rate for a single terrorist network.
The Shamil Basayev terrorist network has proven itself far more efficient and deadly, than other well-known terrorist groups, such as FARC, HAMAS and ETA. Although the Shamil Basayev network has not yet reached the horrific scale of the Al Qaeda attacks, the future may prove to be different.
Osama Bin Laden and Shamil Basayev are both Islamic militants, who not only fight with a religious zeal but also with sound tactics, learned through training provided by the CIA and GRU. These tactics combined with actual combat experience, has made a mock of the best of both US and Russia’s elite forces. It is a tragic irony that these two most infamous terrorists where in part created by the superpowers, who now find them as their fiercest enemies. Mockingly, both carry out their operations dressed in US military uniforms and using Russian assault rifles as their primary weapons.
Guantanamo;
Lately, the US has been releasing several enemy combatants from the Guantanamo prisoner camp, this has been done due to mounting international pressure, to either convict or release the prisoners, of the original 680 enemy combatants who were brought to Guantanamo, only 4 have been charged so far. However, the choice of which prisoners to release clearly remains with the CIA and MIA, who are in charge of the investigations and interrogations. As in the past so in the present, the three-letter agencies seems incapable of understanding the absolute commitment to jihad, by the Islamic militants.
Slimane Hadj Abderrahmane, a half Danish, half-Algerian enemy combatant who was caught on the Afghan Pakistani border, was recently released from the Guantanamo camp. He had no sooner arrived in Denmark before he publicly stated that the Danish government where a legitimate target of Islamic terrorism, due to the Danish involvement in the war in Iraq. Subsequently, he publicly stated that the US “can use [my promise not to engage in warfare] as toilet paper.” He next stated that he intends to continue Jihad by joining the Chechen militants in their fight against the Russian military.
Abdullah Mahsud, a Pakistani enemy combatant caught in Afghanistan, were also recently released from the Guantanamo camp. As soon as he arrived in the Waziristan region in Pakistan, he immediately reconfirmed his commitment to Jihad and met with his former Taliban allies, he planned and carried out a kidnapping of two Chinese engineers. The subsequent attempt by the Pakistani Special Forces to free the hostages, resulted in the death of one of the hostages and five of the kidnappers. Abdullah Mahsud, however managed to escape and is wanted by the Pakistani forces, obviously for more than just neglecting to keep his promise,to the US of not “to engage in warfare”, hopefully a promise to not engage in terrorism was also included in his release conditions.
Conclusions;
The real problem with making agreements with Islamic militants is that they are devout Muslims, who have dedicated their life to Jihad which brings us to a problem, that the Israelis knows only to well. A Muslim does not have to honour his word, or even his signature as Muslims are permitted to lie to non-Muslims and break agreements with them, under the Koranic law of Hudaibiya.
The four examples of Osama Bin Laden, Shamil Basayev, Slimane Hadj Abderrahmane and Abdullah Mahsud should prove beyond doubt that, the consequences of dealing and negotiating with Islamic militants committed to Jihad, is not only foolish but also outright disastrous. For decades the Official stance by western Governments regarding terrorism, has been a firm strategy of “No negotiations with terrorists”, a controversial strategy but clearly it is about time that someone explained to the Spook Agencies, that no negotiations also means no funds, weapons and training. They should also be reminded that the end does not justify the means.
When it comes to dealing with Islamic guerrillas and terrorists, the so-called counter intelligence operations undertaken during the last three decades, by the three-letter intelligence agencies have proven to be anything but intelligent, with hindsight these operations have proved to be absolutely “Counter Intelligent”.
To view the graphics and pictures that goes with this article go to the Counter Intelligence article at www.DanSommer.Biz
About the author:
Dan Sommer is a regular contributor to Protection News Magazine and he is the author of the SD Agent, a Surveillance Detection Manual. He has been part of the process of designing, implementing and training a SD team for a European Embassy. His 17 years security career started in 1986 and he has active experience from military, security, close protection, counter assault team and surveillance detection operations. Since 1994 the author has been writing training material’s for security companies and police departments. He has been instructing courses world-wide for security officers, bodyguards, police officers, counter assault teams and surveillance detection units.
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October 28th, 2008
I feel the earth under my feet shake, and the explosions deafen my ears. Day change to night as the thick dark smoke obscures visibility for hours. And I begin to see death with my naked eyes. But after all the shootings and bombings, the smoke clears at last. And we expect to see seven dead devils: Hatred, Oppression, Frustration, Injustice, Mistrust, Fear, and Enmity.
But there they are—laughing and falling over themselves. And the kings, Sunrise and Sunset, are full of wonderment. What sight is this? they ask. Did not the winged-man in white say to wipe out these devils? Or are these not the weapons that destroy spirits? What are they to do now with all their bombs, missiles, and bullets expended?
When the seven spirits finish their laughters and free falls, Hatred, their leader, comes to address the kings. First, he says that the kings have used the wrong weapons. For neither guns nor bombs can kill the seven deadly spirits. Second, he tells them that these seven deadly spirits that they are trying to destroy live in their various lands. And they are the dangerous parents of Inferno, the terrorist. So he wonders why they had spent time and money looking for their son, Inferno, while he is right in their midst. He then turns it into a question- and- answer section, and demands that both kings reply him.
“Do you not hate, oppress, and frustrate each other?” he asks. “We do,” reply the kings. “Do you not cause injustice, and mistrust, and fear each other?” he further asks. “We do,” the kings answer again. “Are you not in enmity with each other?” is the next question by Hatred to the two kings. And they answer: “We are.”
The vexed Hatred, King of the seven deadly spirits, now asks, “Do you know the meaning of the word hypocrisy?” The kings look at each other again in confusion, and I remember my dictionary a second time. As to this question, there is no answer.
The questions and answers now end, and Hatred makes a long speech beginning with a question:
“Why do you then make war at us with your guns and bombs? You should instead have proceeded to eradicate the political, economic, social, religious, health, and environmental problems that are bedeviling the world. People are fighting for political freedom, some are sick and hungry, and there is racial and class discrimination, religious strife, including land, sea, and air pollution in your lands.
“These are the very things that cause hatred, oppression, frustration, injustice, mistrust, fear, and enmity, which make Inferno, our son, to terrorize you. But remove the causes of all these cankerworms, and you will see that we will not exist anymore, and Inferno will not attack your lands. Then the world will be like The Golden City. It is only then that you will have Love, Peace, Freedom, Justice, Equality, Dignity, and Trust.
“That was what the winged-man in white meant when he said to destroy us. The man speaks in parables. Now, you are chasing shadows—fighting the effect instead of the cause, the symptom and not the disease. Since you did not understand, or refused to understand the meaning of the message, and come shooting and bombing at us—the wrong targets—instead of solving the world’s problems, we are going to give you double trouble.”
Going on, Hatred tells the kings of Orient and Occident to prepare for the last war. Because they have caused more problems than solutions for themselves with their weapons. Because war is not the road map for peace. And because man himself is the problem, and not the solution.
Then the bombshell! He says that the kings should gather all their cinema, film, and moviemakers, and ask them to suggest apocalyptic scenarios. For the world is going to end with the worst case ever imagined. The world, he says, is now a more dangerous place than it was before Operation Hell Fire and the search for weapons of mass destruction. Finally, Hatred, the leader of the seven devils, says that the belligerent kings, Sunrise and Sunset, have sown wind in the country of the Devil, and must therefore reap the Devil’s whirlwind. After saying this, he disappears with the other deadly spirits, laughing. . . .
About the Author
Arthur Zulu is the author of the controversial book CHASING SHADOWS!
(A book that reveals the terrorists’ master plan to finally set the world on fire!) For a copy of the book and FREE excerpt, goto:
http://www.1stbooks.com/bookview/21013
For contacts, mailto: controversialwriter@yahoo.com
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October 28th, 2008
Introducing Egypt’s coming rulers.Prescribing best ways to fight terrorism.
he Free Egyptians is an underground, non-party society of Egyptian citizens whose members come from diverse but enlightened and tolerant backgrounds. They are experts in Middle-Eastern politics, economics, culture and religion.
Our immediate mission is to overthrow Mubarak’s dictatorship and replace it by a democratic regime. Our objective is to eradicate dictatorships, poverty, human rights abuses, terrorism, fundamentalism, conflict and violence in the Middle East. We aspire to having an enduring and lasting peace with Israel. Moreover, we have a comprehensive plan to transform Egypt and the whole region to modernity and prosperity.
To do so we have to seize power in Egypt and in the absence of democratic means to achieve that end we have to cause first the downfall of Mubarak’s regime which may be attained through:
1- inciting and stirring civil disobedience in Egypt capitalizing on the mounting unrest therein,
2- Pressing charges against Mubarak and members of his ruling junta with the International Criminal Court for committing atrocities against Egyptian people,
3- Inducing the Western governments to discontinue giving support to Mubarak’s regime because such a regime which thrives on conflict-making is so illegitimate, repressive, irresponsible, incompetent and corrupt that it drives the whole region to the verge of total war and utter chaos.
4- Causing and compounding the isolation of Mubarak’s regime by exposing its secret affiliation with terrorism and denouncing its human rights abuses.
Upon taking over power in Egypt, we will embark immediately on executing a plan comprising the following:
1- Bring to justice Mubarak, his sons and ruling junta members in connection with corruption and human rights abuses.
2- Recover all public monies plundered since 1952.
3- Reform the political and economic systems in Egypt mainly by adopting true liberal institutionalism and free enterprise systems and by outlawing fundamentalism and extremist parties, groups and societies.
4- Normalize relations with Israel and cooperate closely with her in promoting a prosperous and conflict-free Middle East.
5- Isolate and in fact struggle to topple the dictator regimes of the Middle-East which are responsible for the conflict, violence, poverty and misery which have been made inherent in that region.
6- Bring about economic and social change in Egypt primarily by endeavoring to make the increase in population qualitative rather than quantitative only and by revolutionizing education.
7- Reform the judicial and legal systems in Egypt such that justice and equality prevail.
8- Curb fundamentalism and promote tolerance mainly by bettering the standard of living, improving education, eradicating illiteracy, stamping out corruption and nepotism, stopping human rights abuses and minimizing social contradictions.
9- Ingratiate Egypt in the international community through fair and honest dealing with all members thereof.
10- Secularize Egyptian and Arab societies.
About the Author
The Free Egyptians is an underground, non-party society of enlightened and tolerant Egyptian citizens whose immediate mission is to overthrow Mubarak’s regime and replace it by a democratic one. Their objective is to eradicate dictatorships, conflict, terrorism, poverty, fundamentalism and violence in the Middle East.
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October 28th, 2008
The American last elections and some questions in the point!
Bush victory in the American ellections
and his second term is a good indication
to the successful American policy towards
the Middle East and specially in Iraq.
That doesn’t mean Bush is right, but it
means that the majority of the Americans
voted for him in spite of what he has done
in Iraq.
The 2004 American ellections results
should not be considered as something
simple, because they declared that the
American President has the strongest
support ever for his International policy
towards the Middle East and Iraq.
The invasion of Iraq, will certainly keep
impressing the American policy by shame
as Heroshima did for a long time in our
humankind history.
Yes, there was a dictator there in Iraq
and that dictator had invaded Kuwait
in spite of all the brotherhood ties
between his country and his neighbors.
But where was the International political
solution then? Where was the UN and all
those International humanrights bodies?
The American Administration had a very
well known role to politically change
power in some parts of the World through
a coup d’etat and even an anti-coup d’etat
movements. So, why this administartion has
changed this traditional role in playing
the American part in the International
changes to a war?
Is it because of the fact that, the American
time began after the fall of the Socialist
Block?
There’re some more questions in the general
public thoughts in the World about the
future of this World.
But the question now is what the American
Administration is going to do against
those other dictators we have got in so
many countries in Africa and the Middle
East?
More wars against them?
If so, then where will the International
Order will be then in this New World Order?
We think very nice and smart that the
members of the UN should not let the “robe
on the boat” for more wars in the World.
They should stop any attempts to any
invasion. That will definitely be more
and precisely implemented by energizing
only the UN bodies and the International
humanrights and justice boards to do their
jobs effectively to restore the International
Order.
About the Author
Khalid Osman is a teacher, a journalist, and a webmaster at
http://www.child-book-publishing-ezine.com
http://www.ezine-act-politics-business-and-love.com
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October 27th, 2008
Imagine that I wanted you to quit gambling, or to stop smoking something, or to save more for your retirement. I have my reasons, okay? The world would be a much better place if it did things my way.
I confront you on the street while you’re smoking. I threaten you with a club until you put out your cigarette and give me the rest of them, which I crumble into a trashcan. As I leave, you call the police on your cell phone to report me for armed robbery.
The next day, a few of my well intentioned homeys and I confront you again about your bad habit. After we take your new pack “for your own good,” you report our felonious gang activity.
Over the next several days, my gang gets bigger and bigger until it acts like a mob. You call the police, but get no action because most of them are sympathetic to my group.
During the next week, my mob grows as big as a political majority, and when you call the police department, I answer the telephone. I tell you that smoking anything is now prohibited, and that you’ll go to jail unless you quit.
You can barely hear yourself over the chants of the self-righteous majority in the background. You ask, but how can this be? Last week the police protected my rights to smoke and be free from violent moralists. Today you’re policing me on their behalf. Isn’t it a crime to threaten violence to change my nonviolent behavior or to forcefully take my property? How did you convert my smoking to a crime and elevate your crimes to my solution?
Because I can, I answer. I’m the political majority. I have enough voters, enforcers, experts, and judges to say that wrong is right. My use of violence to fight your smoking is moral because enough people say it is. If only enough sinners threw stones, stone throwing would also be right.
Wrong.
On a recent television show, Dr. Phil explained group dynamics to a twelve-year-old girl who was being harassed by some neighborhood girls. He said that bullies are cowards who get their strength only in numbers. He said that some people get the courage to do things in groups that they would never do alone.
Likewise, in the privacy of voting booths, some people ask government to do things that they would never - on moral or criminal grounds - do themselves. As well, most politicians call for government to do things that it has no authority to do. For example, if we as individuals have no right to use force to make others quit smoking, then we cannot delegate this lack of authority to our agents in government. The sum total of zero authority is zero.
If government derives its just powers from the governed, then there is no place in a just society for the prohibition of individual vice, except in public areas that our governments constitutionally may regulate. (There is some dispute whether a city such as Bloomington, Indiana may regulate smoking in commercial areas.)
Outside these prescribed areas, there is no moral, practical or constitutional authority for citizens to use government force against others’ honest nonviolent behavior, such as smoking. Bullying is not the solution to vice. We cannot coerce virtue into others when coercion is not virtuous. The best approach is to treat all vice as we do alcohol and tobacco cigarettes.
Unlike the Republican Party that he inspired, Abraham Lincoln understood that the prohibition of vice is rule by the brute force of bullies with no moral authority. He said: “Prohibition will work great injury to the cause of temperance. It is a species of intemperance within itself, for it goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man’s appetite by legislation, and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes. A Prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded.”
Dr. Phil said the best way to enfeeble bullies is to not stand with them.
About the Author
Kurt is a hopeful screenwriter. He is a graduate of Pomona College in Claremont, Californina and of Indiana University School of Law - Indianapolis.
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October 25th, 2008
Prince Charles has put his Royal foot in it again. At a time so close to the wedding, Prince Charles has provided the press with an ideal opportunity to rub its hands in glee at the comments he made at a photocall in the Swiss Mountains.
Prince Charles, William and Harry posed for a photocall without realising that microphones had been placed in the snow merely a few feet from where they sat. It was for this reason alone that the comments were recorded with crystal clear clarity in what was supposed to have been a private conversation between the Prince and his two sons and which ended up being reported by the press as a disaster of his own making.
Reported as a Public Relations disaster, Clarence House officials were quick to point out that Prince Charles had not been pleased with paparazzi photographs taken the day before of William and his girlfriend Kate Middleton.
At one point Nicholas Witchell, reporter for the BBC, addressed the Royal group with the question “Eight days now to the wedding, how are you, William and Harry feeling at the prospect of marriage?” Muttering under his breath Charles commented, “Bloody people, I can’t bear that man, I mean he is so awful he really is”. Unfortunately Prince Charles was unaware just how close and sensitive the microphones were.
Just what can we conclude from this incident? Is Prince Charles a pompous old stick in the mud? Should he have made such comments? Why such animosity towards Nicholas Witchell in particular?
To understand things a little better we need to look back into the past when Witchell upset Prince Charles with his coverage of the deaths of Princes Margaret and the Queen Mother. This same reporter also reported incorrectly that Prince Harry may have taken cocaine. Prior to these incidents Witchell has a history of reporting on the Royal family that has not always been favourable and has caused some bad feelings between Prince Charles and the BBC. It has also been reported in the press that Nicholas Witchell is not popular with work colleagues and that there is something about him that causes people to dislike him.
So what can we conclude from this? A Royal Photocall such as this should have presented the Prince positively and this event was an ideal opportunity for the Prince to woo the general public and talk cheerfully about his forthcoming marriage and family. A famous person should know how to react in front of the cameras and should expect to be hunted down and photographed by hordes of Paparazzi, shouldn’t he? How did it all go so tragically wrong? Did it actually go wrong? Perhaps this was the best thing that could have happened.
Looking at this in an entirely different light let us consider the following points. First and foremost, Prince Charles has had a tough time of it in the press. He struggles to keep the marriage low key amidst claims that the Queen and other members of the Royal Family are not happy about the marriage. How might you feel? Finally, Prince Charles gets away from it all to spend some time with his sons on a skiing holiday. Even on holiday he and his family are not left alone. Whilst being an organised photocall, is it really any wonder that Prince Charles said the things he did?
These outspoken comments by the Prince might have actually done him no harm at all. Many people have been highly amused by the comments and the banter between the Prince and his sons. Finally, here it is, the human side of Prince Charles. In the face of mindless paparazzi and media gannets a pissed off Prince finally gets to speak his mind. Bravo Sir. Whatever anyone thinks of the Royal Family or their general views on the Monarchy there will be many people who will remember this event fondly. The press deserve all they get. Do I have any sympathy for reporters on the receiving end of this Royal outburst? Not at all.
Put yourself in Prince Charles position for just a moment. You are wealthy with two wonderful sons. For years you have put up with your private life being invaded and you have braved the torrents of abuse and the whims of the press over the years. A big event in your life is literally days away when you will marry the women you love and some dickhead asks you how you are feeling at the prospect of marriage? What possible answer is there other than that you are feeling very happy about that prospect? What a stupid question. What other inane questions would the Prince have to answer?
No, I think that had I been blessed with the trappings of Royalty I would not hanker after the day I might become king. My sense of duty to the nation would have waned with each tirade of criticism over the years. I think I might sit back, count my lucky stars and quite blatantly tell them all to f**k off and go home. Thats what I would do.
www.birminghamuk.com
About the Author
From Birmingham UK Com the community website where everyone is welcome.
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October 24th, 2008
Carpenter Grade 7
General: Carpentry workers at this grade level measure, cut, construct, install, repair, and modify wood; composite, and wood substitute items where specific fit and accuracy are within allowable limits to produce a serviceable product. Finished appearance of work products is not the primary consideration at this grade level. Grade 7 carpentry workers apply standard measurements, specifications, and instructions when constructing, installing, or repairing items such as frame structures, decking, partitions, shelving, doors, forms, siding, and scaffolds. They apply a general knowledge of wood, composite materials, wood substitutes, and woodworking techniques, as well as basic shop mathematics to plan, measure, and lay out materials according to dimensional requirements and specifications. Workers at this level typically follow specific instructions and are aided through the use of templates, or preplanned, or precut materials.
Skill and Knowledge: Grade 7 carpentry workers have a working knowledge of woodworking techniques and basic shop mathematics and are skilled in using measuring tapes, squares, levels, and other carpentry tools to plan, lay out, measure, cut, construct and install materials according to dimensional requirements and specifications. Workers at this level have a basic knowledge of material strengths and applications. They are skilled in use and operation of a variety of hand and power tools such as hammers, handsaws, drills, planes, routers, screwdrivers, power nailers and fasteners, glue guns, metal shears, screw guns, power saws, and power sanders and planes. They are able to work from sketches, work orders, basic blueprints, and instructions, which are complete in terms of type of job required and materials and methods to be used. They are able to perform millwork, construct framing, and make items such as benches, partitions, frames, and tables. They are able to perform limited repairs to office-type furniture such as re-gluing loose joints and replacing shelving and slide mechanisms. They are knowledgeable of woodworking techniques to prevent splitting, chipping, and splintering and of the types and uses of various nails, screws, specialized fasteners, and bonding materials.
Responsibility: Grade 7 carpentry workers work under general supervision or with a higher graded worker and receive assignments orally or through work orders, sketches, or basic blueprints. They select the proper tools to be used and determine methods and techniques based on established practices or specific instructions from the supervisor or a higher grade worker. Deviations from standard practices and material substitutions generally require approval. Work is spot-checked in progress and checked upon completion to insure requirements have been met in terms of fit, dimensions, structural integrity, and other required objectives.
Physical Effort: Carpentry workers at this level work in wood shops and at job sites. When working in a shop, grade 7 carpentry workers stand for extended periods while operating machines such as bench planers, saws, and drill presses. The work requires considerable bending, kneeling, and stooping. When at a job site, strenuous physical exertion is sometimes required when handling heavy and bulky materials such as sheets of plywood, framing members, and other building and construction materials.
Grade 7 carpentry workers use manual or portable power tools for extended periods in uncomfortable positions. On-site work typically requires bending, stooping, crawling, and climbing on ladders, scaffolding, and rooftops. Workers may lift and move materials up to 18 kilograms (40 pounds), unassisted, and occasionally lift or move heavier items with the assistance of lifting devices or other workers.
Working Conditions: Some work is performed in shop areas where the worker is exposed to moderate or high noise levels from operating machinery, sawdust in the air, glue fumes, and hazards associated with woodworking and related power equipment. When working at job sites, workers may be exposed to weather conditions and the hazards of working on and around scaffolds and ladders. They are subject to cuts, bruises, and contusions. Carpentry workers may work in confined areas such as crawl spaces and attics, which may be dusty and dirty. They use protective devices such as earplugs, safety glasses, respirators, and gloves.
About the Author
Larry Westfall is the owner of
http:://www.AboutCarpentry.com
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October 23rd, 2008
Because Verizon DSL is a major player in high speed internet, I offer this review. This is strictly a review and in no way meant as an endorsement of Verizon DSL.
Everyone wants DSL service these days. Dial-up is just too slow for the way we use the Internet today. We want our DSL service fast and we want it for a reasonable price. Verizon is just one of many companies that is jumping on the broadband DSL provider bandwagon. There are plenty of advantages with using Verizon DSL. They claim to provide quality service at a very competitive price.
The standard package from Verizon for DSL service includes things like a choice of online services, such as Yahoo and MSN. They offer technical service that is live all the time, they have a standard 30 day guarantee for services, so that if you are not happy with them as your ISP, you can ask for a full refund if it is within thirty days. They also offer you the option of having nine email addresses, so that everyone in the family can have their own. They also give you 10 MB of web space for you to use. All this can be yours for a fairly reasonable price if you choose to sign up for a one-year contract. If you prefer to have a monthly service, it will cost you more per month.
Verizon broadband service has been highly rated in several areas as compared to other ISP providers. The areas that were rated included many different areas, such as cost and billing issues. This is measured by how competitive the prices really are, and that your bill is accurate. How quickly they respond to and fix any billing problems or changes are also part of that category. Another area that is measured includes image. Verizon appears to have a good reputation among ISPs, and represents their services and prices honestly. Their performance and reliability is also considered to be very good. As for customer service, which rates how quickly problems are solved, how friendly and helpful their customer service reps are and the satisfaction of customers, they are considered to be as good as other ISP providers. They are also comparable in their email services, which measures how quickly you can send and receive email. Overall, Verizon appears to be working to provide a good service to their customers and seems to care about making sure that service is one of the best available.
Verizon DSL service offers several different types of plans to choose from. The key is to find the plan that best suits your needs for a price that you can afford. If you think that Verizon is the right company for you, check out their website and find out if they offer DSL service in your area. However, it always makes sense to comparison shop before making a final decision.
About the author:
Bob Hett offers great tips and advice regarding all aspects of DSL Internet
Get the information you are seeking now by visiting http://www.dslinternetcenter.info
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October 23rd, 2008
BEFORE THE SOUNDS OF THE FIGHTER JETS
And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who then can understand the thunder of his power?”
Job 26:14
In Chicago on the night before the annual “Air Show” brought the F-!6’s to skim screaming across the city streets, set off the parking alarms and make frightened dogs howl: we’re downtown. And it’s calm.
You stand a few blocks west of the sprawling new Pritzker Pavilion and it looks like some sort of silver space junk. A giant shredded tin can defeated in a galactic battle of the titans by a monster can opener. Left dizzy and sprawled up into the sky.
But walk into the park and the very world you live in changes.
First, you’re in Paris on a hot August night. Fountains and flowers. And in the lovingly crafted symmetry of the landscaping; somewhere Edith Piaf is singing, Jacque Brel is drinking, Picasso is scribbling and maybe if you walked just a few blocks from here there’d be this little dark place where Coleman Hawkins comes after the gig when it’s just about him and the saxophone.
Then Paris folds into Chicago as you approach the pavilion. And as you stand and look up through Frank Gehry’s silver diamond lattice work that somehow manages to pull together the stage, the seats, the sloping green lawn and the very sky itself—you begin to really sense the wonder in what looked like silver space junk from far away. A stage surrounded by a superstructure that’s like an actor or singer popping the palms of their hands out to the audienceholding their palms way above their head and singing out— from this place we will do the art that talks with God. From this place we will listen for those whispers.
Families of all shapes and sizes strolling the paths of the park. People linger on the benches. You stop on the side of the big stage to listen and watch. The orchestra in shorts and t- shirts. A leisurely rehearsal.
A curly grey haired man who even from a distance seems to just radiate some sort of musical glow—sits down at the piano. Around the orchestra—the musicians’ shoulders slump at ease. Daniel Barenboimis just goofing around. It’s a break in the rehearsal. A few musicians get up and leave the stage.
Then a nondescript woman in jeans and a blue summer top walks over and leans on the piano. Barenboim —with one fingerhits the same note eight timesDuke Ellington’s “C-Jam Blues”—and the woman lets go with a laugh that one just might be able to hear across the lake in Michigan, Barenboimstill on a breakplays the first 2 bars of Ellington’s “Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me.”
And then the woman, opera diva Rene Fleming, recognizable instantly by her voice, on a break this Thursday night, opens up the floodgates to sing. It is a voice as grand as the whole of our piece of the summer night sky. A voice that on a regular work night would be tossing off Puccini or Verdi on the stages of the world.
But tonight, on this break, on the night before the weapons of war come to parade across our horizon—this voice blending with Barenboim’s solo piano and the Ellington tune
Do nothing till you hear from me
Pay no attention to what’s said
Why people tear the seams of anyone’s dreams
Is over my head.
Daniel Barenboim, Argentinean born, maestro citizen of the world takes the interlude. From back in the orchestra, a bass jumps in to give a bottom. Renee Fleming moves her shoulders to Barenboim’s gentle swing.
That’s when the real miracle begins. From the far side of the stage, something you didn’t see before. This old, old man in a red checkered shirt plants his cane to get rise from his chair and steadies himself. Rene Fleming sees the man get up, laughs again like a star had just lit up the night and says: “Ah, our host! Studs Terkel ladies and gentlemen!” The orchestra applauds. And Renee sings to Studs:
Do nothing till you hear from me,
At least consider our romance,
If you should take the words of others you’ve heard
I haven’t a chance.
And even off on the side in the distance, the sparkle in Studs Terkel’s 93 year old eyes matches Fleming’s graceand as Barenboim takes the song around for one last quiet turn—Studs Terkel joins him, places one foot in front of the other, then shows an old slide step. A gentle soft shoe. Renee Fleming spreads her arms out in joy. Whispering memories of dancing in an old soft shoe that comes forth in the swaying of his shoulders while his feet still feel that they can keep the time. How faint the whisper of that memory of dancing: while the old man’s eyes still shine.
Some kiss may cloud my memories
And other arms may hold a thrill
But please do nothing till you hear in from me
And you never will.
A whispering memory of the dance. Tapped out perfectly in time. As if it were a prayer of thanks.
Thanks.—before the manufactured thunder of the jets.
About the Author
Roger Wright can be found on the Blog CHURCH FOOD CHICAGO
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October 20th, 2008
During the 9/11 Commissions dog and pony show hearings, especially in the questioning of Dr. Rice, much was made of the now infamous August 6th 2001 Presidents Daily Briefing memo. 9/11 Commissioner Richard Ben-Veniste pressed Dr. Rice about the PDB memo, which was still classified, as to the title of the memo and whether it advised of any threats of attacks. Dr. Rice responded that she believed the title was “Bin Laden Determined to Attack Inside the United States.” Dr. Rice then attempted to answer the second part of Mr. Ben-Veniste’s question when he rudely interrupted her, however Dr. Rice insisted on completing the answer to the question and went on to say that it “did not warn of any attacks inside the United States . It was historical information based on old reporting. Mr. Ben-Veniste response was to call for the memo’s declassification for the public to see.
Well, Mr. Ben-Veniste got his wish and the memo was declassified on April 10th, with some minor redactions. I read the memo, which I had expected to be voluminous, in wake of the way the 9/11 commission was touting it. I agree completely with Dr. Rice’s description of the memo and what it said.
The memo spoke of clandestine, foreign government, and media reports that since 1997, Bin Laden had wanted to conduct terrorist attacks in the U.S., and that in television interviews in 1997 and 1998 that he would follow the example of World Trade Center bomber Ramzi Yousef ( 1993 WTC bombing) and “bring the fighting to America.” Okay, so far I’m falling asleep here, this is old news, or as Dr. Rice put it, “historical information based on old reporting.”
The memo goes on to say that after the U.S. missile strikes on his base in Afghanistan in 1998, Bin Laden wanted to retaliate in Washington. So far still old news.
Further on in the memo an Egyptian Islamic Jihad operative stated that at about the same time, Bin Laden was planning to exploit the operative’s access to the U.S. to mount a terror strike. Still old news.
The memo stated that Bin Laden may have been part of the 1999 millennium bomb plot against the Los Angeles International Airport by Ahmed Ressam which was foiled and that in 1998 Abu Zubaydah , Bin Ladens lieutenant, was planning his own attack. It spoke of the 1998 attacks against the U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998 and how Bin Laden associates surveilled our Embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam in 1993, and that members of the Nairobi cell planning the bombings were arrested and deported in 1997.
According to the memo, Al-Qaeda members, some who were U.S. citizens, have resided in or traveled to the U.S. for years and that the group apparently maintained a support structure that could aid attacks. Two Al-Qaeda members found guilty in the conspiracy to bomb our embassies in East Africa were U.S. citizens, and a senior EIJ member lived in California in the mid-1990’s.
The memo also said that a clandestine source stated in 1998 that a Bin Laden cell in New York was recruiting Muslim-American youth for attacks. It went on to say: We have not been able to corroborate some of the more sensational threat reporting, such as Bin Laden saying in 1998 that he wanted to hijack a U.S. aircraft to gain the release of the “Blind Shaykh” ‘Umar’Abd al-Rahman and other U.S. held extremists. Nevertheless, FBI information since that time indicates patterns of suspicious activity in this country consistent with preparations for hijackings or other types of attacks, including recent surveillance of federal buildings in New York.
The memo ended stating that the FBI was conducting 70 Bin Laden related field investigations in the U.S. and that the CIA and the FBI were investigating a report of a call to the embassy in the UAE in May stating that a group of Bin Laden supporters were in the U.S. planning attacks with explosives.
It certainly seems to me that Dr. Rice hit the nail right on the head when she stated in her opening statement, that all the intelligence before the 9/11 attacks was “not specific as to time, nor place, nor manner of attack.” Anyone who really wants to find out the truth can see that this memo was full of old information, that the last paragraph of the memo, the only part of the memo that dealt with the current information at the time was ambiguous at best.
The fact that the FBI and the CIA were conducting investigations into possible Al-Qaeda in the United States planning attacks shows that steps were being taken on those suspicions and that any logical person reading the memo would conclude that the proper action would be taken by these agencies if it were warranted.
What it does not show is that we knew that aircraft were going to be used in attacks against United States citizens, or that the President was briefed on such information, because the simple truth and fact of the matter is ladies and gentlemen, the memo did not state that and he wasn’t briefed as such.
This so called smoking gun has turned out to be nothing more than a leaky water pistol, it hasn’t done any damage, it’s running out of ammo, and it’s all wet.
About the Author
Host of the political conservative talk show, Talk Show America on the IBC Radio Network. 24 year veteran police officer, former local politician and the Director of Emergency Management in aMassachusetts town.
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