9/20/04

9/20/04
*A must-read for EP teams
Effect summary of Catastrophic Event on Transportation System Management and
Operations
Executive Summary of the August 2003 Northeast Blackout- Great Lakes and New
York City. Link to report from the US Department of Transportation: Chris
http://www.itsdocs.fhwa.dot.gov//JPODOCS/REPTS_TE//14022.html

*Re last Bulletin "WhosaRat" site..
"If you feel impelled to visit any web site where you don't want your IP
address captured, you should use an anonymous proxy server. Anonymity 4
Proxy (A4Proxy) (http://www.inetprivacy.com/a4proxy/index.htm) will allow
your to use a the IP address of the proxy server, rather than your own. To
be sure that only the proxy IP address shows, you can load
http://www.computercops.biz/modules.php?name=Reveal_IP, which will display
the IP address that will appear. If it shows only the proxy IP address you
are fine. If it shows both the proxy and the real IP address, you need to
choose a different proxy." Regards/Richard

*CBS to Air Interview With Suspected Source of Bush Guard Memos
"CBS Rather has interviewed retired lieutenant colonel Bill Burkett widely
believed to have provided disputed National Guard documents. CBS plans to
air interview in coming days, WASH POST reports Monday, sources tell DRUDGE.
Rather was in Texas over the weekend for the interview with Burkett...
Developing..." Ron (face it Dan, you're toast!) and..... After days of
expressing confidence about the documents used in a "60 Minutes'' report
that raised new questions about President Bush's National Guard service, CBS
News officials have grave doubts about the authenticity of the material,
network officials said last night. The officials, who asked not to be
identified, said CBS News would most likely make an announcement as early as
today that it had been deceived about the documents' origins. CBS News has
already begun intensive reporting on where they came from, and people at the
network said it was now possible that officials would open an internal
inquiry into how it moved forward with the report. Officials say they are
now beginning to believe the report was too flawed to have gone on the air.
(BUSTED!!!) and..... Dan Rather of CBS news was seated next to little Tommy
on the plane when Rather turned to the boy and said, "Let's talk, I've heard
that flights go quicker if you strike up a conversation with your fellow
passengers. Little Tommy, who had just opened his book,closed it slowly, and
said to Rather, "What would you like to discuss?" Oh, I don't know" said
Rather, "How about politics? Should we keep Bush as president or elect
Kerry?" "OK" said Little Tommy, "That could be an interesting topic but let
me ask you a question first. A horse, a cow and a deer all eat grass. The
same stuff. Yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns out flat
pattys, and a horse excretes clumps of dried grass. Why do you think that
is?" "Jeez" said Rather, "I have no idea." "Well then" said Little Tommy,
How is it you feel qualified to discuss who should run this country when you
don't know sh---?!

*Americans Sentenced in Afghan Torture
(Good morning, Sir. I belive this is a follow up on an article you mentioned
in the last newsletter. Very respectfully, Ian ) Three Americans accused of
torturing Afghans in a private jail were found guilty Wednesday in a Kabul
court after a trial denounced by the defense as violating basic standards of
fairness. The three-judge panel sentenced accused ringleader Jonathan Idema,
a former soldier with a past fraud conviction, and his right-hand man, Brent
Bennett, to 10 years in jail. Edward Caraballo, who said he was filming a
documentary on counterterrorism, received an eight-year term.
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040915/D8546A5G0.html

*Travel to Russia.....
Police capture a bomb-packed vehicle near the Kremlin, containing TNT and
two large mines wired to an antenna for remote detonation, primed and ready
to explode. Driver told interrogators he was paid $1,000 to park vehicle on
a thoroughfare used by Putin driving in and out of Kremlin. Driver died in
hospital during questioning. (oh....OK)

The importation and use of Global Positioning Systems and other radio
electronic devices are subject to special rules and regulations in Russia.
In general, mapping and natural resource data collection activities
associated with normal, commercial, and scientific collaboration may result
in seizure of the equipment and/or arrest of the user. The penalty for using
a GPS device in a manner which is determined to have compromised Russian
national security can be a prison term of ten to twenty years. In December
1997, a U.S. citizen was imprisoned in Rostov-na-Donu for ten days on
charges of espionage for using a GPS device to check the efficacy of
newly-installed telecommunications equipment. He and his company believed
the GPS had been legally imported and were not aware that Russian
authorities considered nearby government installations secret. No traveler
should seek to import or use GPS equipment in any manner unless it has been
properly and fully documented by the traveler in accordance with the
instructions of the Glavgossvyaznadzor (Main Inspectorate in Communications)
and is declared in full on a customs declaration at the point of entry to
the Russian Federation. All radio electronic devices brought into Russia
must have a certificate from Glavgossvyaznadzor (Main Inspectorate in
Communications) of the Russian Federation. This includes all emitting,
transmitting, and receiving equipment such as GPS devices, cellular
telephones, satellite telephones, and other kinds of radio electronic
equipment. Excluded from the list are consumer electronic devices such as
AM/FM radios.

To obtain permission to bring in a cellular telephone, an agreement for
service from a local cellular provider in Russia is required. That agreement
and a letter of guarantee to pay for the cellular service must be sent to
Glavgossvyaznadzor along with a request for permission to import the
telephone. Based on these documents, a certificate is issued. This procedure
is reported to take two weeks. Without a certificate, no cellular telephone
can be brought into the country, regardless of whether or not it is meant
for use in Russia. Permission for the above devices may also be required
from the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation.

The State Customs Committee has stated that there are no restrictions on
bringing laptop computers into the Russian Federation for personal use. The
software, however, can be inspected upon departure; and some equipment and
software have been confiscated because of the data contained in them, or due
to software encryption, which is standard in many programs. Mayer

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation
Russia 107842 Moscow
1A Komsomolskaya Place
Telephone: 7-095-975-4070
Department for clearance of items for personal use:
Telephone: 7-095-975-4095

*aQ and Saddam
Investigations have shown that the former Iraqi dictator grafted and
smuggled more than $10 billion from the program that for seven years prior
to Saddam's overthrow was meant to bring humanitarian aid to ordinary
Iraqis. And the Sept. 11 Commission has shown a tracery of contacts between
Saddam and Al Qaeda (search) that continued after billions of Oil-for-Food
dollars began pouring into Saddam's coffers and Usama bin Laden (search)
declared his infamous war on the U.S. Now, buried in some of the United
Nation's own confidential documents, clues can be seen that underscore the
possibility of just such a Saddam-Al Qaeda link - clues leading to a locked
door in this Swiss lakeside resort. (To review a series of documents, audits
and other stories related to Oil-for-Food, click here.) Next to that door, a
festive sign spells out in gold letters under a green flag that this is the
office of MIGA, the Malaysian Swiss Gulf and African Chamber (search).
Registered here 20 years ago as a society to promote business between the
Gulf States and Asia, Europe and Africa, MIGA is a company that the United
Nations and the U.S. government says has served as a hub of Al Qaeda
finance: A terrorist chamber of commerce.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,132682,00.html

...and..... US weapons inspector Duelfer says no WMD stockpiles to be found
in Iraq but evidence gathered, according to unfinished interim report, that
Saddam developed test amounts of chemical weapons, researched ricin
production possibly for assassination, was preparing to reinstate full WMD
program. Saddam was also developing drones for delivery and maintaining
dual-use industrial sector capable of producing banned weapons. According to
Washington leak from unfinished report, Duelfer leaves open possibility of
WMD transfer to another country, such as Syria, and stops short of final
judgment on pre-war situation. His team will continue work after report is
submitted.

*Haiti - here we go again....
Intelligence officers serving with a 2,700-member peacekeeping unit in Haiti
are reporting on growing tension between the international force and
so-called private militias. The U.N. mission was originally expected to
include 6,700 soldiers, a minimum number required to maintain law and order
throughout the entire country. U.N. sources say money is being funneled into
the country to support militias loyal to the Lavalas Party of former
President Jean Paul Aristide. Some of the militias include former army
officers and members of the national police who deserted and formed regional
illegal "police forces." According to a well-informed source in New York,
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has received information that pro-Aristide
organizers receive most of their funds from sources in Cuba and South
Africa. One assessment is that militias will try to kill politicians,
especially those loyal to the interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue and
others preparing for the expected 2005 elections. Dean

*Iraq
Sept. 15, 04 -- In spite of damage inflicted during clashes between the new
Iraqi security forces and radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's militia here two
weeks ago, the city now has a smile on its face. Once under tight control of
Sadr, the citizens here -- victims of a misguided few -- were bullied,
harassed and even killed if they offered any resistance. Today, the fear is
gone, and the city is rebuilding in the wake of war. A drive through the
littered streets is met with friendly waves and thumbs-up signs from
children and adults working alongside the road. Relief from militant rule
seems to have left young and old with feelings of hope and anticipation of a
better future. "We are happy now because al-Sadr is gone," said a young man
in the farmers' market area who identified himself as "Amir." "We now want
things put back up." Work on hospitals, schools, streets and water systems
again is under way, as well as cleanup and new restoration projects.
Electricity and drinking water were restored within hours after fighting
ceased. The Iraqi electricity ministry mandated shortly after the cessation
of fighting that Najaf receive power around the clock as long as was needed,
and the water ministry moved workers in to restore drinking water within
hours of the withdrawal. "We don't blame Americans, but we do want them to
clean it up," said an elderly gentleman wearing the traditional shirt-like
dishdasha and shawl as he pointed to a pile of rubble where stores used to
stand. "Now. Not later, now. We want to get our lives on and return to
normal." (Then clean it up your own *#@! self, fool!)

*Singapore warns of deadly illness
17 September, 04: Authorities in Singapore have expressed concern about the
rising death toll from the tropical disease melioidosis. Twenty-three of the
57 people diagnosed with the soil-born disease from January to July died,
health officials said. This pointed to a mortality rate of 47% - three times
as much as with the deadly respiratory infection Sars. The high death toll
led officials to investigate whether Singapore may have been targeted by a
biological warfare attack - but this was ruled out. Melioidosis is listed by
the US government as a potential bacteriological weapon. The disease is most
common in South-East Asia and northern Australia. It is caused by bacteria
that enter the body when contaminated dust is inhaled or when bruised skin
comes into contact with contaminated soil. The infection can spread from the
skin through the blood to the heart, brain, liver, kidneys, joints, and
eyes. There is no vaccine for melioidosis. It can be treated with
antibiotics if detected early. Singapore has an annual average of 67 cases
and 12 deaths from the disease. The authorities have given no reason for
this year's rise. During the Sars outbreak in Asia from late 2002 to
mid-2003, Singapore recorded 33 deaths from the viral respiratory infection.
Mayer

*Indonesia
More violent jihadist attacks in Indonesia, like the deadly Sept. 9 assault
on Jakarta's business center, are anticipated, and a neighbor is being eyed
suspiciously as the source of such plots. Most counter-terror analysts agree
the attack is linked to another Muslim country in the region, namely
Malaysia, and the governments of both countries were quick to react to the
violent event. Advisers to Indonesia's President Megawati Sukarnoputri, who
is nearing the last stages of Indonesia's elections process, insist she
should appear to her nation as a tough and determined leader, proving she
will not evade a strong and harsh position when it comes to dealing with
terrorists. It should be noted here that Indonesia is the world's largest
Islamic country and that despite political obstacles and the fact the
country is spread over 17,000 islands Indonesia remains the world's third
largest democracy. Previously the president had warned her people of the
danger stemming from militancy and jihadi aggression. But this time she is
evidently more determined than ever to grab the water buffalo by its horns.
Immediately following the blast, which cost 10 lives including that of the
suicide driver, with major structural damage to high-rise buildings around
the blast area, National Police Chief Da'i Bachtiar presented Sukarnoputri
with an interim report determining the brains behind the attack are two
Malaysian fugitives. The two are Azahari Husin and Noordin Moh Top. Azahari,
a 47-year-old engineer and former university teacher, is also nicknamed "The
bombmaker." He was trained in Australia and the U.K. and has for years been
at the top of the regional wanted list. The two are known to be affiliated
with the broad concept of Jamaa Islamiah and in the past had ties to the
Osama bin Laden entourage as well as to other leading jihadists. Dean

*Technical information shared by Bruce Schneier:
http://www.schneier.com/crypto-gram.html
Links about turning cell phones into listening devices:
http://www.netline.co.il/CAA_product.htm
http://www.advanced-intelligence.com/audio.html?1586
http://seclists.org/lists/politech/2002/May/0087.html
http://www.endoacustica.com/spy_telephone.htm
http://www.spyshop.co.uk/basket/page08.htm

Phones that go to "ghost" mode:
http://www.endoacustica.com/spy_telephone.htm or http://www.gsmspy.com/

Turn this phone's ringer to silent, and you have a listening device with no
modification:
http://www.sanyo.com/wireless/handsets/downloads/PCS-4700_single.pdf or
http://makeashorterlink.com/?Z3A712849

Fascinating, and long, FBI document about concealed weapons. Includes
photographs and X-ray images: http://datacenter.ap.org/wdc/fbiweapons.pdf

The average time before an unpatched PC on the Internet is successfully
attacked is 20 minutes. As the article points out, that's not even long
enough to download the patches you need to be secure.
http://news.com.com/Study%3A+Unpatched+PCs+compromised+in+20+minutes/210...
49_3-5313402.html or http://makeashorterlink.com/?G6E722849
http://www.gcn.com/vol1_no1/daily-updates/26967-1.html

- end bulletin -