In today's news, al-Queda, which is supposedly being somehow destroyed in Iraq (although the logic of that has totally escaped me) has reared its ugly head in Europe and Austrailia. Our policy in Iraq was supposed to make us all feel safer. Myself, I am outraged that 200 billion dollars and 150,000 soldier was used to fight Iraqi goat farmers, while al-Queda has been left free to re-group and rearm in Pakistan. Do you feel safer?


Al Qaeda Threatens Australia, Italy on Iraq

Saturday, July 24, 2004
Foxnews.com

CAIRO, Egypt — An online statement by a group representing itself as Al Qaeda's (search) European branch threatened on Saturday to turn Australia into "pools of blood" if it doesn't withdraw its troops from Iraq (search).

It was the second statement in a week by the Tawhid Islamic Group, a previously unknown group which on Wednesday threatened attacks in Bulgaria and Poland if their troops remained in Iraq.

"We call upon you to leave Iraq before your country turns to pools of blood," the statement warned the Australian government.

"We will shake the earth under your feet as we did in Indonesia, and lines of car bombs will not cease, God willing," the statement said, referring to the 2002 Bali bombing that killed 202 people, many of them Australian tourists.

The Al Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah was blamed for that attack.

The Tawhid statement also warned Italy to comply with an earlier warning.

"We advise you to accept our offer and if you don't, you will see the lines of cars laden with explosives hit your towns and turn your nights to mornings, God willing. We swear you will see hell with your eyes," the Tawhid statement said.


The statement did not elaborate on what offer it was referring to, but earlier this month, the Al Qaeda-linked Brigades of Abu Hafs al-Masri that had threatened a massive strike unless Premier Silvio Berlusconi — a staunch supporter of President Bush — was removed from office.

Saturday's statement appeared on an Islamic Web site known as a clearing house for Al Qaeda and groups linked to the terror network. The group identified itself as "Al Qaeda in Europe." The authenticity of the statement and the group could not be verified.

The statement said Australia should follow the model of the Philippines and Spain, which have already pulled their troops out of Iraq.

"It is the right path which will ensure you safe life and security," it said.

"You came to our lands to loot its wealth and God willing we will move the battle to your country as you did to our countries, not only in Australia, but all Islamic and Arab countries," the statement read.

Australia has nearly 900 troops in and around Iraq.

Australia Prime Minister John Howard Howard's decision last year to send 2,000 troops to Iraq to join U.S. and British forces in the invasion sparked the biggest peace protests in Australia since the Vietnam War.

While Italy has said it will ignore the threats, the Philippines last week gave in to the demands of militants holding a Filipino truck driver hostage and withdrew its 51-troop contingent from Iraq. Spain pulled its troops out of the U.S.-led multinational force after devastating train bombings in Madrid in March.

On Wednesday, Tawhid Islamic Group issued its first statement, in which it threatened Poland and Bulgaria of terrorist attacks if the two countries didn't withdraw from Iraq.

Both European nations said they will not give in to terrorism.

Bulgaria has 480-strong infantry battalion in Iraq; Poland's 2,400 troops will be cut to between 1,000 and 1,500 next January.

It's Saturday night Kirk. I just put the boy to sleep. What's your excuse?

__________________
You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows - Robert A. Zimmerman

I am working on a technical proposal for a hospital. It's tedious and boring and has to be done tonight. I jump over here to harrass Medmech and Botsnst. Keeps the night interesting.

Morocco 'lost 400 al Qaeda men'
Sunday, July 25, 2004 Posted: 6:35 AM EDT (1035 GMT)



MADRID, Spain (Reuters) -- Morocco has warned Spain that it has lost track of 400 Moroccan Islamist militants who trained in al Qaeda camps in Afghanistan, Bosnia or Chechnya, Spanish newspaper El Pais reported Sunday.

Moroccan authorities gave the warning to Judge Baltasar Garzon, Spain's leading al Qaeda expert, in Rabat earlier this month, El Pais said, citing a person who was present at the meeting.

Spain and Morocco have been cooperating closely in security matters since the March 11 train bombings that killed 191 people and injured 1,900 in Madrid.

Investigators blame the attacks on Islamist militants acting in the name of al Qaeda, and a Spanish judge has formally accused 24 people of involvement, most of whom are Moroccan.

Authorities in Rabat told Garzon they knew of 600 Moroccan nationals who had trained at al Qaeda camps but only knew the whereabouts of 200 of them, El Pais said.

Garzon has been investigating suspected al Qaeda cells in Spain for years and has ordered 15 suspected members of the network to face trial. He was in Morocco to question several militants who are in jail there.

Morocco has suffered its own deadly attacks by radical Islamists.

Coordinated attacks in May last year killed 45 people, including 12 suicide bombers, in Casablanca, shocking a pro-Western kingdom which had prided itself of being a haven of stability in the Arab world.

The assailants, who the government says were bankrolled by al Qaeda, targeted international restaurants, a hotel, a Jewish center and a Jewish cemetery in Morocco's largest city.

Morocco's Justice Minister Mohamed Bouzoubaa said earlier this month that two Casablanca suspects were still on the run but the case had been all but closed.

About 1,000 people have been jailed on terrorist charges since the May 16 attacks, he said. These included 16 death penalties and several terms of life imprisonment.

Morocco has tried hard to dispel the image of a country harboring hundreds of Islamists who pose a threat to Europe.

dont know how anyone could feel safer - I hate the terrorists but agree we are fighting them in the wrong place

matt

Same. No change. The terrorist ain't in Iraq. There are more potential terrorist in Belgium and France than Iraq, at least that was the case before we went in.

http://www.gallup.com/content/default.aspx?ci=12373

I'll never feel safe. This going on right now in the town where I now sit at work.
http://www.komotv.com/stories/32365.htm

__________________
past MB rides:
'68 220D
'68 220D(another one)
'67 230
'84 SD
Current rides:
'06 Lexus RX330
'93 Ford F-250
'96 Corvette
'99 Polaris 700 RMK sled
2011 Polaris Assault
'86 Yamaha TT350(good 'ol thumper)

I guess you could always move to Houston. Bring a couple of A.K.'s and join the party.

LOL
Yeah, Houston I'd expect something like this. This little town is not known for it's crime. Maybe a car theft now and then, but that's about it. Now the wackos are knocking on your door, then on your head, and kid-napping you. That's just plain sick.

__________________
past MB rides:
'68 220D
'68 220D(another one)
'67 230
'84 SD
Current rides:
'06 Lexus RX330
'93 Ford F-250
'96 Corvette
'99 Polaris 700 RMK sled
2011 Polaris Assault
'86 Yamaha TT350(good 'ol thumper)

Since I moved to this neighborhood, a women 10 blocks away killed her 5 kids, another neighbor ran her husband down with an SUV (at least she used a Mercedes), we have had four kids involved with drugs around the corner who all got whacked after they got home from school, and I live in a nice part of town. My son rented an apartment a mile or so from me, and the second night he was there, his next door neighbor blasted some burglar with a 12 ga, killing the son of a ***** right out on the front door porch they share. I need to post a picture of this one place I pass everday, over in the really bad part of town I have to go thru reguarly - there is a car in a vacant lot, parked in the corner by the traffic light, riddled with bullet holes. Some graffiti artist has spray painted "Welcome to Ward 6" on it. Believe it or not, I moved here to get away from the crime in Dallas, where it is even worse.

GADS KIRK

Saying "stay safe" to ya is probably a heck of an understatement.

__________________
past MB rides:
'68 220D
'68 220D(another one)
'67 230
'84 SD
Current rides:
'06 Lexus RX330
'93 Ford F-250
'96 Corvette
'99 Polaris 700 RMK sled
2011 Polaris Assault
'86 Yamaha TT350(good 'ol thumper)

Is the 3rd ward still nasty KV?

Actually the car I was describing says "Welcome to Ward 3" - just drove by there. Yes, its a bad area. Closer to downtown some of the urban pioneers have built some condos, but the rest of it is still major gang territory. I'm involved in a program to help handicapped kids in that area get computer training, and I swear 80% of them are black kids in wheelchairs from gunshot wounds.
One of the wheelchair kids I am working with has a scar the size of and shaped like a horseshoe on the side of his head. I am amazed the guy even survived getting shot like that. Its pretty sad ****.

Houston is real spread out. Once you live here for a while, you know where to stay away from. There are lots of real nice areas, especially over around the Galleria and West Houston area, and due north in the Woodlands area, and anywhere out by the coast. Downtown is pretty safe, you got lots of cops on horseback and on foot and bike patrols. The inner city areas adjacent to downtown, you have to be crazy to go into some of those areas.