Sarajevo. A KFOR Italian Military Police (Carabinieri) team has arrested four
Bosnian-Croats that were about to sell to an undislosed terrorist group a
quantity of nuclear material sufficient to build a tactical bomb.

Paul Sfriso
Director
GRUPPO S.I.T.
Security, Investigations & Technology
Quarto d'Altino, Venice
ITALY

phone +39 0422 828517
fax +39 0422 823224
24hr GSM cellphone +39 335 5257308
www.grupposit.com
paulsfriso@...




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

At 2:23 AM +0000 12/1/01, Bill Draper wrote:
>--- In osint@y..., Graham.Webb5@B... wrote:
>
>  > All I'm suggesting is we make a list of the
>  > groups posting hatred -- left, right, Christian,
>  > or Muslim -- and where it's stored *PHYSICALLY*
>  > on the internet.
>
>It's an old idea, and usually not successful.  But how do you define
>hatred?  In creating your blacklist, what comprises hate content?
>Who decides?  Sometimes it's easy, but where do you draw the line
>between hatred and dissent?  Who do you allow to continue to use the
>Internet and who do you try to force off?
>
>When do you decide access to international servers should no longer
>be allowed?


*Precisely* at the moment when it's no longer just a yokel in
cyberspace making a list, and, instead, a government agency.


>Should international sites be mirrored at all?  China
>doesn't think so, because subversive content should not be allowed on
>government servers.  They simply decided everything international was
>subversive.  We could do the same if we decide to stifle dissent
>altogether.
>
>The bookburners believe in free speech as well - as long as they
>decided what is said and written.  Few people approve of or want to
>spread hatred, but everybody seems to disagree when lines start being
>drawn and blacklists start including issues they believe in.


[...]


>Do you know how to draw those lines without infringing on the rights of
>others to speak their piece?


"Draw those lines" is a euphemism. If all Graham.Webb5@B... is doing
is posting a list of ISP's with shady clients, he's engaging in his
*own* "free speech" (in any place which will allow it, mindful of
their own property rights) and violating no one else's in the process.


>Or is that not part of your idea of what America should be?


Most "Americans", in my observation, don't know the difference
between censorship and boycotts.



------ http://USFamily.Net/info - Unlimited Internet - From $8.99/mo! ------

Egypt denies report on clandestine missile deal with North Korea

The Egyptian Embassy in Seoul yesterday flatly denied a recent South Korean
media report that North Korea signed a covert deal with Egypt earlier this year
to sell medium-range missiles and related technology.


Korea Herald [
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2001/12/01/200112010006.asp ]

News Flash Provided by IntellNet [ http://www.intellnet.org ]
-The Intelligence Network

Japan: 328 at Foreign Ministry penalized for fund misuse

A total of 328 Foreign Ministry officials were punished Friday for illicitly
pooling more than 200 million yen in public funds, using about 160 million yen
for mostly unofficial purposes over 6 1/2 years, Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka
said Friday.

Japan Times [
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20011201a3.htm ]

News Flash Provided by IntellNet [ http://www.intellnet.org ]
-The Intelligence Network

Japan: Jobless rate hits 5.4%

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 5.4 percent in October,
hitting a record high as more people lost jobs due to corporate restructuring,
the government said Friday.

Japan Times [
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20011201a2.htm ]

News Flash Provided by IntellNet [ http://www.intellnet.org ]
-The Intelligence Network

Okinawa landowner wins U.S. base contract suit

NAHA, Okinawa Pref. (Kyodo) The Naha District Court on Friday ordered the
government to pay 470,000 yen in damages to an Okinawa landowner for forcing him
to lease land to the U.S. military even after the land-use contract expired in
1996.

Jordan Times [
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20011201a8.htm ]

News Flash Provided by IntellNet [ http://www.intellnet.org ]
-The Intelligence Network

Tokyo, Seoul to cooperate on reducing accidents at sea

KITAKYUSHU (Kyodo) Marine accident investigators from Japan and South Korea have
agreed to cooperate to reduce the number of sea disasters near the two
countries.

Japan Times [
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20011130b4.htm ]

News Flash Provided by IntellNet [ http://www.intellnet.org ]
-The Intelligence Network

Taiwan's defense minister brushes off criticisms on ship sale

UNFOUNDED CONCERNS: Taiwan's defense minister says that previous doubts over the
nation's ability to handle advanced weapons have later proved spurious
By Charles Snyder
STAFF REPORTER
IN TAIPEI
Minister of National Defense Wu Shih-wen (¥î¥@¤å) has rejected criticisms
expressed by military experts in Washington that Taiwan is not capable of
operating and maintaining the sophisticated AEGIS-equipped warships it seeks.

Taipei Times [ http://www.taipeitimes.com/news/2001/12/01/print/0000113896 ]

News Flash Provided by IntellNet [ http://www.intellnet.org ]
-The Intelligence Network

Taiwan's Hsiung Feng-II mobile missiles to be deployed

The military's research arm, the Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology,
has developed a mobile launcher for its land-based Hsiung Feng-II anti-ship
missile batteries.

The Hsiung Feng-II mobile launcher, which was displayed at an exhibition of
military equipment at Taipei Country's Wuku industrial park, is expected to
become operational by June next year.



Taipei Times [ http://www.taipeitimes.com/news/2001/12/01/print/0000113897 ]

News Flash Provided by IntellNet [ http://www.intellnet.org ]
-The Intelligence Network

USS John C. Stennis visiting Hong Kong

US sailors visiting Hong Kong on their way to the war against terrorism looked
more like tourists than military combatants yesterday as they relaxed in jeans
or shorts aboard the aircraft carrier the USS John C. Stennis.


South China Morning Post (Registration) [
http://hongkong.scmp.com/ZZZVKFE81UC.html ]

News Flash Provided by IntellNet [ http://www.intellnet.org ]
-The Intelligence Network

PENTAGON CONFIDENT OF HELPING TAIWAN ACQUIRE SUBMARINES: OFFICIAL

Washington,  Nov. 29 (CNA) A Pentagon official said Thursday that
the  U.S.  Department  of Defense is confident of its ability to help
Taiwan acquire eight diesel-electric submarines, contrary to a report
Wednesday that claimed it might be unable to deliver on its promise.
     Without  elaborating,  the  official  said  that  several  viable
proposals were already under evaluation, and that America's pledge to
go through with the sale was "made in earnest."

Taiwan Headlines (Government) [
http://portal.gio.gov.tw/cna/20011130/20011130204033.html ]

News Flash Provided by IntellNet [ http://www.intellnet.org ]
-The Intelligence Network

BEIJING MAINTAINS LOW PROFILE AHEAD OF TAIWAN'S ELECTIONS

Beijing,  Nov.  30  (CNA) Beijing leaders are careful not to lash
out  against  Taiwan's pro-independence parties ahead of the island's
Saturday  elections  for  fear  of  inadvertently helping them win, a
mainland official in charge of Taiwan affairs said Friday.

Taiwan Headlines (Government) [
http://portal.gio.gov.tw/cna/20011130/20011130225427.html ]

News Flash Provided by IntellNet [ http://www.intellnet.org ]
-The Intelligence Network

Jakarta vows to get tough with separatist rebels

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government would no longer compromise with separatist
movements, said security chief Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, declaring rebels in
Aceh and Irian Jaya, in particular, would be dealt with once and for all.



The Straits Times [
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/storyprintfriendly/0,1887,87718,00.html? ]

News Flash Provided by IntellNet [ http://www.intellnet.org ]
-The Intelligence Network

Megawati says legislators 'difficult to work with'

JAKARTA - Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri yesterday lashed out at
legislators, calling them 'difficult to work with', in a move signalling that
her government's honeymoon period with the legislature may be over.



The Straits Times [
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/storyprintfriendly/0,1887,87731,00.html? ]

News Flash Provided by IntellNet [ http://www.intellnet.org ]
-The Intelligence Network

Taiwan allows more high-tech investment in China

TAIPEI - Taiwan's government has given approval to Taiwanese companies to
produce or invest in more than 100 high-tech products in China, just one day
before a general election.



The Straits Times [
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/storyprintfriendly/0,1887,87823,00.html? ]

News Flash Provided by IntellNet [ http://www.intellnet.org ]
-The Intelligence Network

TERROR WORKING INSIDE THE UK!
> ----------------------------------
> > >
> > > Osama bin Ladin's Mujahideen web site is
> > > alive, currently on-line, and running on
> > > web servers in New Jersy and Pennsylvania.
> > >
> > > (on 12:28pm, Nov 28, 2001)
> > > ---------------------------------------
> > > % ping www.qoqaz.net
> > > www.qoqaz.net (64.21.143.24) is alive
> > > www.qoqaz.net (64.21.143.17) is alive
> > >
> > > % ping www.azzam.co.uk
> > > www.azzam.co.uk (64.21.143.17) is alive
> > > www.azzam.co.uk (64.21.143.24) is alive
> > > ---------------------------------------
> > >
> > > This site is the one from which many 'Fatwas'
> > > were issued demanding that Muslims everywhere
> > > rise up and kill Christians and Jews.  Russians
> > > are angry for the graphic depictions of
> > > torture of soldiers (by both sides) in Chechnya.
> > > One picture showed a Mujahideen holding the
> > > trophy of a Russian's liver on a stick after
> > > a battle.
> > >
> > > In operation since 1999, it has been shut
> > > down and brought up in another location
> > > many times.  There are numerous mirrors
> > > of the site throughout the world.
> > >
> > > The site is named for Dr. Abdullah Azzam,
> > > the martyred mentor of Osama bin Ladin.
> > > It is possible find PDF copies of his Fatwa
> > > against 'Polytheists' (Christians, Jews, or anyone
> > > not a Muslim)  "Defense of the Muslim
> > > Lands - The First Obligation After Iman"
> > > by doing a simple web search.
> > >
> > > The retoric has been toned down considerably
> > > since Sept. 11.   Pictures of Mujahideen
> > > warriors have been replaced by dying children
> > > 'crushed by American bombs and sanctions
> > > against Iraq'.
> > >
> > > However the content has been
> > > archived (try the 'Wayback Machine'
> > > at www.archive.org).
> > >
> > > It's a simple matter to put the
> > > website name or IP address into
> > >
> > > http://www.CheckDomain.com
> > >
> > > and find out who is paying the bills
> > > and administering the sites.
> > >
> > > For example, the www.qoqaz.net site is owned by
> > > Ms Lara Palsemo, Sao Paolo, Brazil
> > > but the email points to azzamcom@U...
> > > which is actually in London not Brazil.
> > >
> > > View the html source of many of the
> > > web pages and there will be a reference
> > > to  http://66.96.205.195/~azzam
> > > which is run by a company called
> > > "Network Operations Center Inc."
> > > in Bloomsburg, PA, USA.
> > >
> > > Many of the websites spewing the hatred
> > > are being funded by Saudi oil millionares
> > > (in the case of the religous schools in
> > > Pakistan), churches and mosques, established
> > > businesses, and in the case of sites hosted
> > > by American and British universities ....
> > > the American and British taxpayers are paying
> > > for them!
> > >
> > > Many internet hosting companies have rules
> > > about posting hate literature on their sites.
> > >
> > > None of those companies will really want to
> > > be associated with terrorist activities.
> > >
> > > For example, if someone were to walk into
> > > the 'Islamic Computing Center' in London and
> > > tell the manager in charge what is being hosted on
> > > their site they might be persuaded to
> > > remove it.  Many of the owners of these sites
> > > don't know what content is held on their servers.
> > > Perhaps the content was placed by an employee or
> > > student group at the university.
> > >
> > > The news media needs to document the sites which
> > > contain the hate literature, the IP addresses and
> > > domain names, and then make the information public.
> > >
> > > ---------------------------------------
> > >
> > > % ping www.qoqaz.net
> > > www.qoqaz.net (64.21.143.24) is alive
> > > www.qoqaz.net (64.21.143.17) is alive
> > >
> > > % ping www.azzam.co.uk
> > > www.azzam.co.uk (64.21.143.17) is alive
> > > www.azzam.co.uk (64.21.143.24) is alive
> > >
> > > ------------- CheckDomain.com reports -----------
> > >
> > > 64.21.143.17 (IP Address)
> > >
> > > Owner:
> > >  Net Access Corporation
> > >
> > > Address:
> > >  1719b Route 10E, Suite 111
> > >  Parsippany, NJ 07054
> > >  US
> > >
> > > Coordinator:
> > >  Net Access Corporation (ZN77-ARIN) legal@n...
> > >  800-638-6336
> > >
> > > ---------------------------------------
> > > qoqaz.net (Network)
> > >
> > > Owner:
> > > Ms Lara Palsemo
> > >
> > > Address:
> > >  17 Ave Dimonso
> > >  Sao Paolo, SP1211 BR
> > >
> > > First Registered:
> > > November 17, 1999
> > >
> > > Last Updated:
> > > November 25, 2001
> > >
> > > Administrative Contact, Technical Contact, Billing Contact:
> > >  Lara, Palsemo (FOSVUSFEVI) azzamcom@U...
> > >  Qoqaz
> > >  17 Ave Dimonso
> > >  Sao Paolo
> > >  SP1211
> > >  BR
> > >  00-55-11-434 4432 00-55-11-434 4432
> > >
> > > Name Servers:
> > >  NS3.ZONEEDIT.COM   209.61.140.1
> > >  NS4.ZONEEDIT.COM   216.98.150.236
> > >
> > > Information Source:
> > > Network Solutions
> > > ---------------------------------------
> > > ummah.org (Organization)
> > >
> > > Internet Domain Registrars WHOIS Server v.1.3
> > >
> > > Registrant:
> > > Islamic Computing center
> > >  73 St Thomas's Road
> > > LONDON, LONDON N4 2QJ
> > > United Kingdom
> > > (PH) 020 8861 2012 (FAX) 020 8861 3113
> > >
> > > Domain Name: UMMAH.ORG
> > >
> > > Administrative Contact:
> > >    Asaria, Iqbal  (ABPA113)  iadmin@w...
> > >    336 Pinner Rd
> > >    Harrow, Middlesex HA1 4LB
> > >    United Kingdom
> > >    (PH) 44 181 861 2012 (FAX) 44 181 861 3113
> > >
> > > Technical Contact:
> > >    Asaria, Iqbal  (ABPA114)  iadmin@w...
> > >    336 Pinner Road
> > >    Harrow, Middlesex HA1 4LB
> > >    United Kingdom
> > >    (PH) 0181 861 2012 (FAX) 0181 861 3113
> > >
> > > Billing Contact:
> > >    Asaria, Iqbal  (ABPA115)  iadmin@w...
> > >    336 Pinner Road
> > >    Harrow, Middlesex HA1 4LB
> > >    United Kingdom
> > >    (PH) 0181 861 2012 (FAX) 0181 861 3113
> > >
> > > Registration Date:   22-Jun-1996 00:00:00
> > > Expiration Date: 21-Jun-2003 00:00:00
> > >
> > > Domain servers in listed order:
> > >
> > > DIAMOND.WEBSTARUK.NET        195.138.224.2
> > > RUBY.WEBSTARUK.NET           195.138.224.3
> > >
> > > ---------------------------------------
> > > 66.96.205.195 (IP Address)
> > >
> > > Owner:
> > > Network Operations Center Inc.
> > >
> > > Address:
> > >  P.O. Box 400
> > >  Bloomsburg, PA 17815-0400
> > > US
> > >
> > > Coordinator:
> > >  Arcus, Matthew (ZMA1-ARIN) shawn@h...
> > >  570-784-2491 x7
> > >
> > > Name Servers:
> > >  NS1.HOSTNOC.NET   66.96.193.3
> > >  NS2.HOSTNOC.NET   66.96.194.3
> > >
> > > Information Source:
> > > American Registry for Internet Numbers
> > >
> > > ---------------------------------------
> > > --
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
__________________________________________________________________
> > > Your favorite stores, helpful shopping tools and great gift
ideas.
> > Experience the convenience of buying online with Shop@Netscape!
> > http://shopnow.netscape.com/
> > >
> > > Get your own FREE, personal Netscape Mail account today at
> > http://webmail.netscape.com/
> > >

Okinawa landowner wins U.S. base contract suit
NAHA, Okinawa Pref. (Kyodo) The Naha District Court on Friday ordered
the government to pay 470,000 yen in damages to an Okinawa landowner
for forcing him to lease land to the U.S. military even after the
land-use contract expired in 1996.

JAPAN Times [ http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?
nn20011201a8.htm ]

Scott,

Just read something today (will find the source) which confirmed my
suspicions about the bound wrists.  Media have found no evidence of any
bullets to the head, as in executions, and the number of people  tied was
minimal.  They were, just as I thought, out in the courtyard, tied while
being inspected and processed into the prison when the revolt broke out and,
since they were in the open, they were hit by the first bursts of fire to
erupt in the clear.

The media are going to come off like total incompetents on this one.  I am
going to push this one to the hilt because I am simply fed up with this kind
of nonsense.  The GUARDIAN was the paper whose reporter was blamed, by
TIME's Alex Perry, for having started all of this and now THE GUARDIAN not
only makes no mention of their involvement but, instead, slams CIA operative
Spann and claims that the incident was his fault.  I am not going to let
that pass.

Ron

----- Original Message -----
From: <KScottB@...>
To: <osint@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2001 12:31 AM
Subject: Re: ANALYSIS--Re: [osint] Fw: Taliban - Uprising


> Ron,
>
> Your arguments were also voiced tonight by J. Kelly McCann, Major, USMC on
> FoxNews with Britt Hume. McCann posited the notion that once the prisoners
> revolted and went for armamnets they were no longer prisoners but
COMBATANTS
>
> Scott
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> --------------------------
> Brooks Isoldi, editor
> bisoldi@...
>
> http://www.intellnet.org
>
>   Post message: osint@yahoogroups.com
>   Subscribe:    osint-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
>   Unsubscribe:  osint-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>

One of the more relevant details about this incident is that the airstrikes,
considered by some to have been overkill and disproportionate, were likely an
attempt to keep the enemy from seizing large stockpiles of weapons.

In the transcript of the report by Time's Alex Perry, who reported as an
eyewitness to the events, here is what happened:

WERE THEY KEPT CLOSE TO THE ARMORY?

I don't know where they were kept. I think they were kept in the basement.
Then stormed out of the basement and stormed Southwest part of the fort
where there were six or seven jeeps full of ammunition. That was, in fact,
what the Americans were trying to hit. To destroy their supplies [and]
provide one almighty explosion that would kill a lot of them.

If Mr. Perry is correct about this,  the response is more than within the
acceptable guidelines because they had to keep large volumes of powerful weapons
from the escaped prisoners.  One thing that most people--certainly all of the
reporters whom have written about this to date--seem to forget is that this was
a fort.  The enemy had seized weapons within this fort and had the potential to
make it THEIR fort, with the former guards on the run and in less defensive
positions.  The Northern Alliance also had tanks and other armor in the area, as
well as other vehicles.  Initially, the guards were also outnumbered.  Had these
former prisoners escaped and made it into the nearby town of Mazar-e-Sharif,
they had the potential to blend in to the local surroundings and begin launching
attacks within the city itself.  House-to-house combat in urban street fighting
is the most costly form of ground warfare.  Had airpower not been used to
deprive them of a heavy stock of weapons and ammo, there is no telling what
could have happened but the potential for a serious loss of life on the Northern
Alliance side and  the civilian population would have been quite high.

I do, however, have some problems with Mr. Perry's various descriptions in this
account.  It does not seem that he would have any more familiarity with the
specific details about what happened when the initial assault began.  Who's
account is actually the correct one?  Moreover, he made a couple of references
in his story that really bothered me for their lack of objectivity.  Note how he
assumes that the bombing of the vehicles was intended to kill a maximum number
of escaping troops.  It may well be that the intent was nothing more than to
deprive them of the weapons.  If they got within range of the weapons' lethal
effects, too bad, but there is no evidence to support the suggestion that the
fighters were dispatching bombs to maximize a body count.

Mr. Perry also states that the "mission" now was to kill all of the rebelling
former prisoners.  Really?  Who said that?  What did he base that assessment on?
Nothing; at least,  that was explained in his comments.

I'm surprised and more than a little disappointed that TIME and Mr. Perry have
not discussed this in more detail and cleared up some of the confusion inherent
in his initial comments about what happened.

What troubles me more than anything about this is that we have the UN, Amnesty
International, the Red Cross and media all clamoring for an investigation into
what they have been painting up as some kind of mass atrocity, yet the media is
not doing its basic job in providing reliable, consistent and fair coverage of
what really happened.  They are speculating, guessing and assuming things well
outside their expertise.

PROBLEMS WITH CIA INTERVIEW THEORY:  It is unlikely that the CIA operatives were
asking any questions.  If they were present right where the incident started, it
is far more likely that they were present to listen in on what the enemy
prisoners revealed to the media crews.  You don't conduct interviews in the
open, around other prisoners because then they hear each other's story and back
it up.  It contaminates the reliability of the information you get from others
and you have no way of sorting out fact from lies.  The bottom line is that it
is totally implausible.

THE GUARDIAN is reporting that Spann was at fault, based on their quoting of the
Indian press and citing the accounts of supposed Northern Alliance troops who
would more likely be dead already if they had been close enough to witness what
actually happened, as well as an unspecified German TV crew.  Why is it that the
GUARDIAN did not even name the TV organization these "witnesses" worked for,
much less their names?

Finally, since TIME, Reuters, GUARDIAN, a "German TV crew" and other media were
around, let's ask the larger question:  Regardless of who started the incident,
isn't it safe to assume that if there had been no cameras and no media, the
prisoners never would have attempted this breakout?  If the media had not been
there and these guys tried to pull this off, they would have had to worry about
their jailers simply opening up and shooting everybody in sight, without
hesitation.  The POWs may well have believed that the media would keep the
response of the guards in check and allow them the time they needed to execute a
successful takeover.

Yes, the Northern Alliance troops and commanders should have done things very
differently but, as I have wondered time and time again, didn't the inexperience
and ignorance of members of them media  (who don't know how to read a dangerous
situation and don't recognize when to back off) contribute to this disaster?

Eight journalists have been killed in Afghanistan and a number wounded.  Only
luck has prevented the number from being higher.  Many of the deaths and
injuries involve being where you have no business going to without heavy
security.  If the media feels it needs to put its own people at risk for a story
they usually botch the details of anyway, again due to ignorance and poor
training, then fine.  However, when they compromise operations and put OTHER
people at risk, this is completely unacceptable.


Ron Lewis


----- Original Message -----
From: <vojvoda13@...>
To: <osint@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2001 6:12 AM
Subject: [osint] Re: ANLAYSIS--MEDIA BATTLE OVER MAZAR-E-SHARIF PRISON


> Brooks and Ron,
>      I have not finished reading all the background information on
> this yet so I have not conducted a full analysis of the reporting. I
> will make some comments that I think are relevant in any analysis of
> the reports.
>
> The Military response from the Northern Alliance and the US Military
> was overwhelming by design and the questions as to excess are valid
> questions and should be looked into.  I am confident that an
> investigation will show that the response was conducted IAW the rules
> of land warfare (as far as the US response). What the Afghan fighters
> on the Northern Alliance side did I can not say.  Historically they
> have not had classes (as every service member of the US Armed Forces
> is required to have) on the rules of Land Warfare and may not be to
> the same standard as our forces.  I am sure that the CENCOM HQ had no
> intention of conducting a holding action or siege of the compound.
> Overwhelming force to take and secure an objective is US Army
> doctrine.
>
> Sure you are going to see speculation on the situation and how it
> started.  It will be a long time if ever we know the whole story.  I
> am not concerned about this reporting at this stage.
>
> With the number of POWs and the lack of training by the NA forces I
> am not surprised that someone was not thoroughly searched and could
> get something into the compound.  Our Military Police forces (who
> handle POW once they reach the rear area) are extensively trained to
> do this. First line units do practice search and seizure of POW in
> every exercise and are well trained and still the OPFOR were often
> able to sneak weapons past them.
>
> The situation with that many POW can be very dangerous.  What in the
> heck was a reporter and crew doing inside the compound anyway?  Good
> security should (would) not have allowed that.
>
> The agency folks that were there probably were not conducting
> interviews as alleged, in the open.  Plus I will bet my bottom dollar
> the agency guys did not speak any of the languages of the POWs.  As
> an interrogator you always work with a interpreter. Allows you to
> read the body language of the suspect and formulate your questions
> and analysis the responses obtained.
>
> I do not know if Mr Spann did anything to aggravate the situations
> inside the compound.  I will say this, based on the reporting here in
> the states, and comment on what he would be able to do.   His
> background was what? 6 years in the Marine Corps and 2 with the
> Agency right?  Ok, six years in the Marine Corps would have him being
> at a senior Captain at most.  At that level he has some training and
> most likely a company command under his belt.  Then his father says
> he had worked for the agency for 2 year.  This is a very young Case
> Officer or Operative. He was only 32 years old.  Do you know how long
> the initial training is for the agency?  I can assure you it is not a
> shake and bake course and I would guess that this was his first
> posting.  As such he would not have been the senior guy there on the
> ground and not have been the intelligence type trained to conduct
> interrogations.  Just not in his job description.  As far as the
> reporting by the other Agency contractor I was not impressed.  What
> was he doing reporting to higher with the PRESS in the next room
> filming him!  I can assure you this guy was on the first thing
> smoking back to the states.  I will give him that the heat of battle
> he did seem a bit caught up in the action (normal).  But he clearly
> violated OPSEC.  They were not there to conduct "espionage requiring
> utmost secrecy".  I can not imagine what espionage or a more correct
> term "covert action" these two (if not more there) would be
> conducting in the POW compound.  My analysis of the information is
> that they were most likely a liaison team and not much more. (dress,
> equipment, level of experience, Contractors are not the senior
> representatives on the ground). More to follow...
>
> VR
> James Mattes
>
>
>
>
> --------------------------
> Brooks Isoldi, editor
> bisoldi@...
>
> http://www.intellnet.org
>
>   Post message: osint@yahoogroups.com
>   Subscribe:    osint-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
>   Unsubscribe:  osint-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Washington Post has set up a pull down site on terrorism and attacks
against Americans. This is a very general work but for those that do
not follow terrorism as much as others it is a good overview and
introduction.
VR
James Mattes

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/world/issues/terrordata/

Just a quick comment here:

"Mr. Perry also states that the "mission" now was to kill all of the
rebelling former prisoners.  Really?  Who said that?"

I saw several reports (broadcast) of this and it was attributed to a
Northern Alliance ground commander at the site.  I think it was taken
out of context and has a certain amount of bravados and emotion. I
think the initial question was "what are you (the troops around the
compound) going to do now? The answer was that they were going to
have to kill them all.  I think it is important to remember that most
of the quotes from the Northern alliance come through interpreters to
the press and will loose a lot of meaning in the translation. The
nuance of a language rarely translate well.

"Had these former prisoners escaped and made it into the nearby town
of Mazar-e-Sharif, they had the potential to blend in to the local
surroundings and begin launching attacks within the city itself."

I would think this would be difficult for these forces as they were
reported to be mostly Pakistan, Arabs and other non Afghan ethnic
groups, and as such would not blend in as well with the local
population. They could have pockets of support among the local
population but I do not think they would be supported as they (the
average Taliban soldier) would not have the contacts with the
locals.  As has been the case in the past when cities were liberated
the occupying forces were quickly pointed out and dealt with.

"What troubles me more than anything about this is that we have the
UN, Amnesty International, the Red Cross and media all clamoring for
an investigation into what they have been painting up as some kind of
mass atrocity, yet the media is not doing its basic job in providing
reliable, consistent and fair coverage of what really happened.  They
are speculating, guessing and assuming things well outside their
expertise."

Agree.   But to the someone just looking at the following "facts" it
is easy to see where they are getting the idea that an investigation
is needed.

400 or so "POW" killed in a prison riot.
US Airstrikes on a POW Camp
A leader of the Northern Alliance says the only think to do now is
kill them all

In that vein it is easy to see where the UN, and the Red
Cross/Crescent would have concerns. I would hope the US Military
would also conduct an investigation but I just do not think it is the
highest priority for them right now.

VR
James Mattes

As former targeting officer and observer of US targeting choices in
Afghanistan, I am a little surprised. After Allied Force air campaign which
demonstrated limits of the strategic bombing alone approach, it seems US
command choose again, at the beginning, this kind of "pressure" strategy
against Taliban.

Target sets like Leadership and Air defence were top priority without great
result !
Air defence because I am not sure there was a real Taliban strategic air
defence threat !
Leadership because leaders didn't wait the arrival of bombs in the
buildings targeted !

In a second part of the campaign, it seems the bombing effort was focused
on military facilities and Taliban front line of Mazar es Sharif and was
definitively a success. But Rumsfeld declared there was no change in the
strategy !

So, questions are :

1. Why this "conventional" and unsuccessful first phase of the air campaign
?
2. Why US command didn't apply a sort of five circle strategy approach of
colonel           John Warden oriented to the maximum effect for a minimum
effort ?

Perhaps some have a different view for Enduring Freedom targeting choices.
I would be interested to have comments.

If someone has mail address of colonel John Warden, please send me. It
should be very interesting to have comments on this issue from one of the
experts of the targeting strategy followed during Desert Storm.

Eric.

> TERROR WORKING INSIDE THE UK!PAID FOR BY TAX PAYERS!
> > ----------------------------------
> > > >
> > > > Osama bin Ladin's Mujahideen web site is
> > > > alive, currently on-line, and running on
> > > > web servers in New Jersy and Pennsylvania.
> > > >
> > > > (on 12:28pm, Nov 28, 2001)
> > > > ---------------------------------------
> > > > % ping www.qoqaz.net
> > > > www.qoqaz.net (64.21.143.24) is alive
> > > > www.qoqaz.net (64.21.143.17) is alive
> > > >
> > > > % ping www.azzam.co.uk
> > > > www.azzam.co.uk (64.21.143.17) is alive
> > > > www.azzam.co.uk (64.21.143.24) is alive
> > > > ---------------------------------------
> > > >
> > > > This site is the one from which many 'Fatwas'
> > > > were issued demanding that Muslims everywhere
> > > > rise up and kill Christians and Jews.  Russians
> > > > are angry for the graphic depictions of
> > > > torture of soldiers (by both sides) in Chechnya.
> > > > One picture showed a Mujahideen holding the
> > > > trophy of a Russian's liver on a stick after
> > > > a battle.
> > > >
> > > > In operation since 1999, it has been shut
> > > > down and brought up in another location
> > > > many times.  There are numerous mirrors
> > > > of the site throughout the world.
> > > >
> > > > The site is named for Dr. Abdullah Azzam,
> > > > the martyred mentor of Osama bin Ladin.
> > > > It is possible find PDF copies of his Fatwa
> > > > against 'Polytheists' (Christians, Jews, or anyone
> > > > not a Muslim)  "Defense of the Muslim
> > > > Lands - The First Obligation After Iman"
> > > > by doing a simple web search.
> > > >
> > > > The retoric has been toned down considerably
> > > > since Sept. 11.   Pictures of Mujahideen
> > > > warriors have been replaced by dying children
> > > > 'crushed by American bombs and sanctions
> > > > against Iraq'.
> > > >
> > > > However the content has been
> > > > archived (try the 'Wayback Machine'
> > > > at www.archive.org).
> > > >
> > > > It's a simple matter to put the
> > > > website name or IP address into
> > > >
> > > > http://www.CheckDomain.com
> > > >
> > > > and find out who is paying the bills
> > > > and administering the sites.
> > > >
> > > > For example, the www.qoqaz.net site is owned by
> > > > Ms Lara Palsemo, Sao Paolo, Brazil
> > > > but the email points to azzamcom@U...
> > > > which is actually in London not Brazil.
> > > >
> > > > View the html source of many of the
> > > > web pages and there will be a reference
> > > > to  http://66.96.205.195/~azzam
> > > > which is run by a company called
> > > > "Network Operations Center Inc."
> > > > in Bloomsburg, PA, USA.
> > > >
> > > > Many of the websites spewing the hatred
> > > > are being funded by Saudi oil millionares
> > > > (in the case of the religous schools in
> > > > Pakistan), churches and mosques, established
> > > > businesses, and in the case of sites hosted
> > > > by American and British universities ....
> > > > the American and British taxpayers are paying
> > > > for them!
> > > >
> > > > Many internet hosting companies have rules
> > > > about posting hate literature on their sites.
> > > >
> > > > None of those companies will really want to
> > > > be associated with terrorist activities.
> > > >
> > > > For example, if someone were to walk into
> > > > the 'Islamic Computing Center' in London and
> > > > tell the manager in charge what is being hosted on
> > > > their site they might be persuaded to
> > > > remove it.  Many of the owners of these sites
> > > > don't know what content is held on their servers.
> > > > Perhaps the content was placed by an employee or
> > > > student group at the university.
> > > >
> > > > The news media needs to document the sites which
> > > > contain the hate literature, the IP addresses and
> > > > domain names, and then make the information public.
> > > >
> > > > ---------------------------------------
> > > >
> > > > % ping www.qoqaz.net
> > > > www.qoqaz.net (64.21.143.24) is alive
> > > > www.qoqaz.net (64.21.143.17) is alive
> > > >
> > > > % ping www.azzam.co.uk
> > > > www.azzam.co.uk (64.21.143.17) is alive
> > > > www.azzam.co.uk (64.21.143.24) is alive
> > > >
> > > > ------------- CheckDomain.com reports -----------
> > > >
> > > > 64.21.143.17 (IP Address)
> > > >
> > > > Owner:
> > > >  Net Access Corporation
> > > >
> > > > Address:
> > > >  1719b Route 10E, Suite 111
> > > >  Parsippany, NJ 07054
> > > >  US
> > > >
> > > > Coordinator:
> > > >  Net Access Corporation (ZN77-ARIN) legal@n...
> > > >  800-638-6336
> > > >
> > > > ---------------------------------------
> > > > qoqaz.net (Network)
> > > >
> > > > Owner:
> > > > Ms Lara Palsemo
> > > >
> > > > Address:
> > > >  17 Ave Dimonso
> > > >  Sao Paolo, SP1211 BR
> > > >
> > > > First Registered:
> > > > November 17, 1999
> > > >
> > > > Last Updated:
> > > > November 25, 2001
> > > >
> > > > Administrative Contact, Technical Contact, Billing Contact:
> > > >  Lara, Palsemo (FOSVUSFEVI) azzamcom@U...
> > > >  Qoqaz
> > > >  17 Ave Dimonso
> > > >  Sao Paolo
> > > >  SP1211
> > > >  BR
> > > >  00-55-11-434 4432 00-55-11-434 4432
> > > >
> > > > Name Servers:
> > > >  NS3.ZONEEDIT.COM   209.61.140.1
> > > >  NS4.ZONEEDIT.COM   216.98.150.236
> > > >
> > > > Information Source:
> > > > Network Solutions
> > > > ---------------------------------------
> > > > ummah.org (Organization)
> > > >
> > > > Internet Domain Registrars WHOIS Server v.1.3
> > > >
> > > > Registrant:
> > > > Islamic Computing center
> > > >  73 St Thomas's Road
> > > > LONDON, LONDON N4 2QJ
> > > > United Kingdom
> > > > (PH) 020 8861 2012 (FAX) 020 8861 3113
> > > >
> > > > Domain Name: UMMAH.ORG
> > > >
> > > > Administrative Contact:
> > > >    Asaria, Iqbal  (ABPA113)  iadmin@w...
> > > >    336 Pinner Rd
> > > >    Harrow, Middlesex HA1 4LB
> > > >    United Kingdom
> > > >    (PH) 44 181 861 2012 (FAX) 44 181 861 3113
> > > >
> > > > Technical Contact:
> > > >    Asaria, Iqbal  (ABPA114)  iadmin@w...
> > > >    336 Pinner Road
> > > >    Harrow, Middlesex HA1 4LB
> > > >    United Kingdom
> > > >    (PH) 0181 861 2012 (FAX) 0181 861 3113
> > > >
> > > > Billing Contact:
> > > >    Asaria, Iqbal  (ABPA115)  iadmin@w...
> > > >    336 Pinner Road
> > > >    Harrow, Middlesex HA1 4LB
> > > >    United Kingdom
> > > >    (PH) 0181 861 2012 (FAX) 0181 861 3113
> > > >
> > > > Registration Date:   22-Jun-1996 00:00:00
> > > > Expiration Date: 21-Jun-2003 00:00:00
> > > >
> > > > Domain servers in listed order:
> > > >
> > > > DIAMOND.WEBSTARUK.NET        195.138.224.2
> > > > RUBY.WEBSTARUK.NET           195.138.224.3
> > > >
> > > > ---------------------------------------
> > > > 66.96.205.195 (IP Address)
> > > >
> > > > Owner:
> > > > Network Operations Center Inc.
> > > >
> > > > Address:
> > > >  P.O. Box 400
> > > >  Bloomsburg, PA 17815-0400
> > > > US
> > > >
> > > > Coordinator:
> > > >  Arcus, Matthew (ZMA1-ARIN) shawn@h...
> > > >  570-784-2491 x7
> > > >
> > > > Name Servers:
> > > >  NS1.HOSTNOC.NET   66.96.193.3
> > > >  NS2.HOSTNOC.NET   66.96.194.3
> > > >
> > > > Information Source:
> > > > American Registry for Internet Numbers
> > > >
> > > > ---------------------------------------
> > > > --
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> __________________________________________________________________
> > > > Your favorite stores, helpful shopping tools and great gift
> ideas.
> > > Experience the convenience of buying online with Shop@Netscape!
> > > http://shopnow.netscape.com/
> > > >
> > > > Get your own FREE, personal Netscape Mail account today at
> > > http://webmail.netscape.com/
> > > >

The following site -- http://66.96.205.195/~azzam -- previously posted on
OSINT, takes us into the minds of those who see a Jihad called for and see
US as the agressor -- that site can lead you to
http://umar.serveranda.net/~azzam/ where you will find:

The Pre-Taliban Era: Oppression and Atrocities

September 14, 1989 marked the day of victory for the Mujahideen, as the
last of their enemies (the Soviets) fled the land of Afghanistan, in
disgrace and humiliation. This gave rise to a new era for the people of
Afghanistan - what seemed like an endless struggle met its end and the
long awaited victory had finally arrived. However, this did not mark the
end of the struggle for this small, yet valiant nation. What was about to
befall the Afghan Muslims was beyond what they could have ever
anticipated, as an era of internal hardships and struggle to survive
quickly, replaced the armed battle.

The condition of the Muslims worsened at the end of the 10-year war, after
the hasty departure of the Soviet and American troops, who had left active
mines and arms throughout this war torn country. As the mines continued to
kill millions of men, women and children, unbearable political unrest,
economic hardships and social chaos spread throughout this nation,
claiming the lives of many more innocent Muslims. The turmoil caused by a
greedy battle for power and domination between the seven main tribal
leaders led to tribal wars, and other barbaric practices as each tried to
impose their own ideologies, upon the Afghan people. Needless to say, many
of these ideologies contradicted both Islam, and basic human rights.

The Mujahideen who had once stood united to fight the Soviet regime began
to fight one another. Afghanistan became fragmented creating a large gap
between the frightened citizens and their oppressive warlords who, under
the leaderships of Abdul Rashid Dostum and Borhanudin Rabbani and others,
ruled with terror and threats. People feared for their lives and about a
million emigrated as injustice, oppression and lawlessness amplified
throughout this once, united nation. The atrocities committed against the
innocent civilian population during this time, extended beyond the borders
of morality.

[A list of some of the atrocities committed by the tribes and those in
power, before the arrival of the Taliban may be found at the following
link:
http://www.institute-for-afghan-studies.org/dev_xyz/hr/ai_1994_annual.htm#2.%20P\
olitical%20background]

Barbaric cultural practices prevailed, so much so, that "honour" killing
of women, once again became a norm. In cases of tribal disputes or
conflicts, women were exchanged between the two tribes as a form of
reconciliation. These women, in turn, would be treated worse than animals.
The destruction which these warlords created was worse than that caused by
the Soviets. 63,000 people were killed in the capital Kabul alone. As more
and more men continued to get killed in internal conflicts, and as the
number of women raped escalated, and the number of children killed by
landmines mines grew, many Afghans found themselves trapped either in
their own land of destruction, or in the dreaded refugee camps in
Pakistan. Many innocent lives were claimed as the world, including the
U.S. and the so called "peace loving" UN turned a blind eye to these
atrocities, leaving this once great nation, to embark on it's journey to
self-destruction.

"Verily, along with every hardship is relief, verily, along with every
hardship is relief."
[Qur'an Surah ash-Sharh(94):5-6 (Interpretation of meaning)]

Back to contents

Who are the Taliban?

Amidst all the chaos and destruction, Allah Subhaanuhu wa Ta`ala gave rise
to a group of students of knowledge, who were destined to be the
torch-bearers of Islam, fulfilling their duty to once again bring peace,
harmony and justice to this terror-stricken nation, through the religion
of Islam.

The struggle of the Taliban began in the southern province of Kandahar,
when a warlord kidnapped two girls and raped them. The parents of the two
girls went to a madrasah (institute of learning), and asked the teacher to
assist them. The teacher, Mullah Omar, along with his 53 students who were
armed with only sixteen guns, attacked the base of the war-lord, released
the girls and hung the war-lord. This news spread throughout the country.
Though it seemed minor at first, it kindled the fire of the hope in the
hearts of many of these desperate people yearning for peace and
establishment of law in this devastated nation. Many other students
decided to join this movement and as the number increased, so did the
determination of the Taliban to bring peace through Islam, to their
country.

The Taliban set off from city to city trying to clean up the evil and
oppression. The citizens throughout Afghanistan offered their respect and
support to the Taliban. The tribal leaders were asked to surrender, but if
they did resist, they were fought against.

The Taliban, under the command of Mullah Omar unified the fragmented
country, disarmed the people of Afghanistan, eradicated opium cultivation,
and restored rights for women. Honour killings and trading women to
reconcile tribes, were put to an end.

Carrying the flag of Islam and willing to give their lives for the sake of
Allah Subhaanuhu wa Ta`ala, the Taliban, to this very day, continue to
fulfil their duty in converting the war-torn, conflict-ridden nation of
Afghanistan, into the peaceful Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan - a nation
where obedience is to Allah Subhaanuhu wa Ta'ala alone, actions in
accordance to the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu `alahi
wa Sallam, and the law is none other than the Shari`ah - the law of Islam.

The Prophet Sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam said, "There will still remain a
group of my Nation who will establish Allah's Ordinance. They will never
be harmed by their opponents until Allah's Ordinance prevails while they
are victorious over people." [Agreed upon]

Click here to read an inspiring poem about the Taliban.

Back to contents

What Is Their Goal?

To make Islam prevail over all other ideologies and ways of life. To
defend Islam, Muslim blood, property, honour and land against the
hatred-driven, anti-Islamic unjust governments and their allies.

Back to contents

Who Is The Enemy?

The enemies are those who are striving to destroy the Islamic State,
massacring innocent Muslims, demolishing their homes and attempting to
forever extinguish the light of Islam, all under the pretext of combating
terrorism.

The battle of Islam against Kufr has been evident throughout Afghanistan's
history. Kufr has manifested itself under different cloaks over time
(Mongols, the British, the Soviets), and now the battle of good versus
evil has once again been excited, as the Mujahideen in Afghanistan prepare
to defend their religion, lives and country against the leader of kufr and
tyranny - the United States of America.

Ameer-ul-Mu'mineen Mullah Omar has said: "Our system is the true example
of an Islamic system. For the enemies of religion and our country, this
system is like a thorn in their eyes, and they are trying to destroy it
under various pretexts."

Back to contents

The Northern Alliance

The truth is always challenged by those who support falsehood and give
rise to it. The emergence of the Taliban was accompanied by the formation
of a retaliatory group, called the Northern Alliance (also known as the
Northern Front). This group presently controls about 10% of Afghanistan.
It has tried to end the efforts of the Taliban and has sought financial
help from U.S., India, France, and military help from Russia.

The group used to be led by Ahmad Shah Masood until his recent death. It
is made up of his Jamiat-e-Islami forces, the expelled ethnic Tajik
president, Burhanuddin Rabbani, and General Abdul Rashid Dostum and the
ethnic Uzbek Junbish-e-Milli party. (Rabbani controls the North Eastern,
largely Tajik, portion of the country, including the Panjshir valley,
which lies north of Kabul).

Notable amongst those struggling for power were Ahmad Shah Masood of
Jami'at-e- Islami Party, and Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the chief of
Hezb-e-Islami. These individuals had been fighting each other for military
and political supremacy since the early eighties, and the departure of
Soviet troops from Afghanistan presented each of them with fresh
opportunity to out-manoeuvre the other.

Masood, despite the fact that other Mujahideen factions and parties had
their own power bases in provinces (such as Parwan, Baghlan, Takhar and
Badakhshan), was largely in control of these areas through a council
called Shura-e-Nezar (Supervisory Council), which he had established for
the purpose of coordinating all the resistance forces under his authority.

When the Soviet troops left Afghanistan, Masood was able to quickly
capitalize on the situation and expand the control of Shora-e-Nezar forces
by capturing areas like Keran-o Munjan, Kalafgan, Taloqan, etc. in
Badakhshan and Takhar provinces. By mid-1991, his power extended over most
of the North Eastern provinces, including parts of Baghlan, Kunduz,
Samangan and Balkh.

Towards the end of 1991, a new politico-military situation arose in the
northern parts of Afghanistan, namely the rebellion against the communist
President, Najibullah, by General Abdul Rashid Dostam, the head of
Najibullah's malitia forces in the north. Dostam was immediately joined by
his ally Mansour Naderi, the head of another militia force, controlling
the northern parts of the Salang Highway. Masood who was hoping to extend
his control over the entire northern Afghanistan took advantage of
Dostam's defection and asked him to join him in the liberating the
northern parts of Afghanistan from Najib's government. Meanwhile, the
Iranians, who until this time had no significant influence over the
resistance forces, saw the window of opportunity open for establishing a
lasting influence on the outcome of affairs in Afghanistan. Behind the
scene, Iran, by enticing ethnic and linguistic sentiments encouraged
Masood, Dostam, and Hezb-e-Wahdat, a pro-Shi'a party, to enter into a
politico-military alliance. By the beginning of 1992, a new alliance
composed of the aforementioned individuals was established under the name
of Northern Alliance.

The Northern Alliance was instrumental in bringing down Najib's government
in April of 1992. The alliance secretly dealt with some members of the
Parcham faction in Najib's government, which put it (the alliance) in a
position to seize control of Kabul, single-handedly circumventing the
formation of a Peshawer-based tanzeem (translation required for the word
tanzeem) government.

However, by mid-1993, due to a struggle for power between
Dostam/Hezb-e-Wahdat and Masood, the alliance unofficially disintegrated.
But, when the Taliban captured Kabul from Masood's forces in September of
1996, the former foes joined hands once again and resurrected their once
defunct Northern Alliance.

Source:
http://www.institute-for-afghan-studies.org/dev_xyz/na/brief_intro.htm

Today, the Northern Alliance continues its opposition to the Taliban.
Despite receiving military help from Russia and Iran and other financial
aid from U.S., France and India, the Northern Alliance have failed to
overthrow the Taliban. The Northern Alliance appear to have no intention
of implementing the Shari`ah and the fight against the Taliban has been
more than just a mere struggle for power.

Ahmad Shah Masood once said in an interview: "We will never acknowledge
the United Emirates of Afghanistan and our adversaries are well aware of
this. Instead, we are ready to support free elections, after the
institution of a Loya Jirga (democratic assembly with representation of
all the ethnic groups)."

Source: http://www.ciriello.com/sto/46.0010massudeng.arc.html

Contrary to anti-Taliban propaganda, the Taliban have made many attempts
to reconcile with the Northern Alliance, in an effort to end the ongoing
war. While Ahmad Shah Masood was alive, the Taliban asked him to cease the
fighting and to join the Taliban in implementing the Shari`ah. He was
offered a governmental post as a token of recognition of the fact that he
had, after all, been one of the commanders who had fought with valour
against the Soviets Army. However, the Northern Alliance rejected the
proposals and chose to fight against the Taliban. Masood was wounded in an
assassination attempt shortly before the attacks on the World Trade
Centre, and he died a few days later. His intelligence chief, Gen.
Mohammed Fahim, has succeeded him as leader of the Northern Alliance.

"And if two parties or groups among the believers fall to fighting, then
make peace between them both, but if one of them outrages against the
other, then fight you (all) against the one that which outrages till it
complies with the Command of Allh; then if it complies, then make
reconciliation between them justly, and be equitable. Verily! Allh loves
those who are equitable." [Qur'an - Surah al-Hujuraat (49): 9
(Interpretation of meaning)]



    "When you come to the fork in the road, take it" - L.P. Berra
    "Be precise in the use of words and expect precision from others" -
     Pierre Abelard
                           John F. McMullen
              johnmac@... ICQ: 4368412 Fax: (603) 288-8440
                   http://www.westnet.com/~observer
           http://www.westnet.com/~observer/Y2KCOACH.html (Y2K Site)

Rizzn's Wartime Factbook: http://factbook.diaryland.com/
The Best UAV: http://www.unmannedaircraft.com

> 'Badtrans' Worm Continues Spread
>
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/scitech/TechTV/techtv_badtransworm011130.html
>
> Password-stealing Worm Worse Threat Than Nimda
>
> By Becky Worley, Tech Live
>
> Nov. 30 — The Internet worm that leaves infected computers vulnerable to
> hacking by tracking what a user types — including passwords and credit
card
> numbers — is gaining momentum, according to security experts.
>
> The Symantec Antivirus Research Center (SARC), has upgraded the Badtrans
> worm to a 4 on a scale of 1 to 5. Trend Micro has it listed as its top
> threat, surpassing both Nimda and SirCam.
> Badtrans comes as an attachment that can automatically launch in some
> versions of Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express email programs. Users
> don't have to double-click the attachment. Just by previewing it or
reading
> the email, they can become infected.
>
> Badtrans exploits a known flaw in Internet Explorer that is integrated in
> Outlook. Under normal conditions the flaw was meant to let users open
> HTML-based email messages. In geek speak, Badtrans uses the MIME header of
a
> message to fool Outlook into opening an executable virus.
>
> The subject line of emails containing Badtrans varies. Often it assumes
the
> text of an unanswered email. The name of the attachment varies as well,
with
> suffixes including .doc, .pics, and .news.
>
>
> Stopping the Stealthy Snooper
>
> The remedy is twofold:
>
> Download the patch for Internet Explorer that will fix the email
> vulnerability. The versions affected are IE 5.5 or below.
> Update the virus definitions for your antivirus programs.
> If you've been hit with Badtrans, SARC has removal instructions posted.
>
> Users should protect themselves from Badtrans because it has a pretty
nasty
> payload and could steal sensitive data.
>
> The executable file Badtrans installs consists of a key logger that can
> record account numbers and passwords. Keystroke loggers record every
detail
> of a computing session — literally every key that is typed.
>
> For example, a logger could record a user's online banking account number
> and password. In the case of Badtrans, the program then emails the logged
> data back to the virus writer or attacker at a myriad of anonymous email
> accounts.
>
>
> Copyright 2001 TechTV, Inc.
> All rights reserved. This material
> may not be published, broadcast,
> rewritten or redistributed.

This is only part of the threat I described in the CyberWar report, but it
comes close to describing some of the real dangers or the virus.

/mark

Rizzn's Wartime Factbook: http://factbook.diaryland.com/
The Best UAV: http://www.unmannedaircraft.com


> Friday 30th November 2001   2:45pm
> Snooping virus could backfire on men in black
>
http://www.silicon.com/public/door?6004REQEVENT=&REQINT1=49613&REQSTR1=silic
> on.com
>
> FBI's password snatcher could be used against them...
>
> The FBI's controversial snooping virus Magic Lantern could ultimately be a
> threat to the organisation itself.
>
> Magic Lantern hides a Trojan on a victim's hard drive that can snoop on
> users by recording their keyboard strokes. The software has already
produced
> evidence that has been used to convict people.
>
> However, the spyware has caused controversy in the anti-virus industry.
Many
> experts claim that as soon as variants start appearing in the wild it will
> become impossible to keep a track on who is snooping on whom.
> Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at anti-virus vendor Sophos,
> told silicon.com: "There's no reason why organisations targeted by Magic
> Lantern could not write a variant of the virus for their own use.
>
> "Before we know it, we'll all be spied on by everyone and anyone, the FBI
> could even become a victim of its own code."
>
> Cluley added: "Asking the anti-virus vendors to turn a blind eye is not
> really the right way to go about this. Our job is to detect malware and
> alert our customers regardless of where it came from."
>
> Magic Lantern is part of the FBI's Carnivore surveillance system
programme.
>
> For related news, see:
> Men in black develop spying virus
> www.silicon.com/a49328
> Transatlantic Cable: The reaction to 11 September
> www.silicon.com/a47561
> ISPs join forces with FBI to track terrorists
> www.silicon.com/a47361
> US wants own 'Snooping Bill'
> www.silicon.com/a38638

From The Tribune,
http://www.tribuneindia.com/20011201/main7.htm
-
Pak preparing to push Taliban into Jammu

Jammu, November 30
Pakistan may try to push in as many as 1,000 Taliban militia fighters
who have fled Afghanistan through the Line of Control (LoC) into the
Jammu region within the next fortnight, a top military official has
warned.

Brig P.C. Das of 16 Corps said here this afternoon that large-scale
preparations were on across the LoC to ensure the entry of 1,000
Taliban men into India in the first phase within the next fortnight.
"There are reports that about 5,000 Taliban soldiers have crossed over
into Pakistan and the country is keen to utilise the expertise of
these battle-hardy veterans to carry out subversive activities in our
territory,'' he said.

Brig Das said recent intelligence inputs received from various
quarters amplified that the threat perception on Taliban infiltration
has multiplied. "We all know that the Inter-Services Intelligence
(ISI) has been active all along the border trying to foment trouble.
What is surprising is that the Corps Commanders, 10 Corps and the 40
Corps, across the border have also, of late, been active in assisting
the infiltration bids by terrorists trained on their soil,'' he said.

He reasoned that Pakistan would not like to keep trained Taliban
soldiers on their soil simply because their presence would fuel the
prevailing unrest in that part of the country. "What they would do is
to try and send these people into our soil to enable them carry out
subversive activities. Since they are battle-hardy, they can survive
in extremely tough conditions,'' he said.

Brigadier Das said with the mountainous passes in the Kashmir valley
freezing due to heavy snowfall, the ISI as well as the military
commanders had no option except to try and push in the Taliban militia
into the Jammu region.

He also informed that though Pakistani forces were undergoing a war
exercise within their territory, the Army was on heightened alert to
foil any infiltration bid attempted by any terrorist group. "We have
already shot dead 135 terrorists so far who were trying to sneak into
the region under heavy Pakistani fire cover and shall continue our
vigil,'' he said.

Brigadier Das reiterated that the Army was determined to foil
infiltration bids from across the border and fully geared to give a
befitting reply if shelling was resorted to from across the border.

Recent reports testified that the Pakistani Rangers had increased the
veracity of their fire power while shelling Indian positions. In a
fiery showdown in the wee hours on November 28, Indian troops had
destroyed eight Pakistani bunkers and damaged another eight and in the
subsequent border firing, killed 11 Pakistani soldiers across the LoC
in Poonch and the Mendhar sectors of Jammu region. UNI

--
Dan S

From The Hindustan Times,
http://hindustantimes.com/nonfram/301101/dlame60.asp
-
Terrorists could use Pakistani nukes against India, Israel, US
P. Jayaram (IANS)
New Delhi, November 30
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
An Israeli parliamentarian has warned about the possibility of
terrorists gaining control of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal and using it
to "destroy three countries" -- India, Israel and the US

"If there is a coup d'etat in Pakistan and extremists and terrorists
get hold of their nuclear weapons, they will use them to destroy three
countries -- you, us and the US" said Joseph Lapid, member of an
Israeli parliamentary team currently visiting India.

At a joint press conference by the team, Lapid, a survivor of the
Holocaust, said the September 11 attacks had demonstrated what the
terrorists were capable of.

"If you don't take terrorism seriously, then it will be too late.
Today, they are using only knives and planes, tomorrow they will have
chemical and nuclear weapons," he said.

The four-member team arrived here after what team leader Amnon
Rubinstein described as an "unforgettable visit" to Kochi.

"We want to go back," he said, adding that the visit to the historic
synagogue there and the interaction with the small, local Jewish
community were memorable, just as a cruise in Kerala's backwaters was
"out of this world."

Many shopkeepers in Kochi's "Jew Street" spoke to them in Hebrew and
"we were very moved," he said.

The team is on a weeklong visit to India at the invitation of
Parliament to mark the 10th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic
relations between the two countries.

Responding to a series of questions on Jammu and Kashmir, Nawaf
Mazalha, an Arab and a former deputy speaker of Knesset (Israeli
Parliament), said it was not correct to compare the violence in the
state with the Palestinian agitation against Israel.

"Kashmir is an Indian state and what is happening there is part of an
attempt by somebody to split it. In Israel, it is not the same
problem. They (Palestinians) want independence; we are saying they
can't do it by terrorism," he said.

But it was evident that there were differences in perception among the
four members along party lines -- two of them represented the ruling
coalition and the others, opposition -- on the Palestinian issue, with
Mazalha and Gideon Ezra, deputy minister of public security, arguing
over Tel Aviv's handling of it.

But the members were uniformly impressed by the great strides being
made in India-Israel relations in various spheres, including defence.

"There is a total fusion of interests between India and Israel because
our two countries are so much similar in so many respects" despite the
differences in sizes, Lapid said.

While both countries had significant Muslim minority populations,
which are loyal to the state and moderate in their view, some
extremists with terrorist links were endangering the unity of the
countries, he said.

Rubenstein said relations between the two countries were progressing
by "leaps and bounds" and was confident that the two-way trade that
stood just under $1 billion last year would cross the $2 billion mark
by the end of the decade.

--
Dan S

From YellowBrix,
http://newsreal.yellowbrix.com/pages/newsreal/Story.nsp?story_id=25714
333&ID=newsreal&scategory=Internet&
-
Thousands of Christians in Indonesia flee attacks by Muslim
Source: Associated Press
Publication date: 2001-12-01

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) -- Thousands of Christian villagers on
Indonesia's Sulawesi island are fleeing attacks by Muslim
paramilitaries armed with machine guns and rocket launchers, clerics
and media reports said Saturday.
``Thousands have fled,'' said Langgino Sangkide, a Roman Catholic
priest from the town of Tentena. ``What could they do, their houses
have been burned?''

``The police came yesterday, but it was too late,'' he said, adding
that people were being housed in churches and local government
buildings.

The Jakarta Post daily reported that hundreds of homes in settlements
around Poso, the capital of Central Sulawesi province, had been
destroyed by uniformed members of the Laskar jihad militia group.

Fighting between Muslim and Christian villagers in the province,
located about 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) northeast of Jakarta, has
claimed at least 1,000 lives since it first broke out two years ago.
It abated at the start of this year but flared again in September with
the arrival of 200 members of the Laskar jihad militia.

Dozens have been killed in recent weeks.

Laskar jihad, based on Indonesia's dominant Java island, gained
notoriety in eastern Maluku province where it was accused of stoking a
sectarian conflict that has claimed about 9,000 lives since 1999.

A spokesman for Laskar jihad in Jakarta refused to comment on the
latest reports. But the group's Web site, under a banner reading
``Onward to Poso,'' claimed that attacks on Muslims were being
organized by Christian priests.

The Jakarta Post quoted Sulewesi's Roman Catholic Bishop Josef Suwatan
as saying militiamen armed with AK47 assault rifles, light machine
guns and grenade launchers had used bulldozers to destroy homes,
churches and schools.

The United Nations has warned that increasing tension in the region
could trigger a flood of refugees. At least 50,000 people have already
been displaced by the conflict.

Suwatan appealed to the government to quickly beef up security forces
in the region and restore law and order.

The government of President Megawati Sukarnoputri has been reluctant
to rein in Muslim militants. Analysts say Megawati is indebted to
conservative Muslim parties that supported her campaign to oust
reformist president Abdurrahman Wahid, whom she succeeded in office
following a parliamentary coup in July.

Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim nation. Nearly 85
percent of its 203 million people are officially registered as
Muslims. The remainder are Christians, Hindus or Buddhists.

------

On the Net:

Laskar jihad: http://www.laskarjihad.or.id



The Associated Press News Service
Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press
All Rights Reserved


The information contained in the AP News report may not be published,
broadcast or redistributed without the prior written authority of The
Associated Press.

Publication date: 2001-12-01

--
Dan S

From Bay Area.Com,
http://www.bayarea.com/rc/headlines/docs/1690610l.htm
-
Posted: 07:35 AM PST Saturday, December 01, 2001 .

Abdullah Believes Bin Laden in South Not Tora Bora

KABUL (Reuters) - The foreign minister of the Northern Alliance said
on Saturday he believed Osama bin Laden was on the run in southern
Afghanistan, not in caves near the eastern city of Jalalabad where
U.S. forces have been focusing their search.

``I believe some of his lieutenants are in Tora Bora, but not bin
Laden himself,'' Abdullah told a news conference, adding that he
thought bin Laden was on the move in southern mountains.

He said the militarily dominant Northern Alliance had sent commanders,
but no other forces, to the southern province of Kandahar where the
Taliban are cornered in their last stronghold.

``There is no presence of the United Front forces in Kandahar
(province). We have sent some of our commanders to assist the people
who are actively cooperating against the Taliban,'' Abdullah said,
adding that the commanders were from that area.

U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney said this week that bin Laden was
probably in the cave-riddled Tora Bora area south of Jalalabad, where
the Saudi-born militant is reputed to have built a fortified complex
deep underground.

Copyright © 2001 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication
or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar
means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of
Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the
content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

--
Dan S