TRC
Submitted by Templar Titan on Mon, 11/01/2004 - 17:10.
NEW DATE! - TRC TRAINING PRESENTS
MIRROR IMAGE: Training to Combat Terrorism
Dec. 5-10, 2004: Mirror Image is an intensive, one-week classroom and field
training program, designed to realistically simulate terrorist recruiting,
training techniques and operational tactics. More information and
registration procedures are available on the Mirror Image Training page.
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Today in History:
October 20, 1977 - Greece
Killing of Christos Kasimis
Greek police killed Christos Kasimis, member of the ELA terrorist group.
October 20, 1958 - Thailand
Coup In Bangkok
Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, staged
a coup d'etat and established military rule.
October 20, 1952 - Kenya
Kenyatta Day
A state of emergency was declared following the Mau Mau Rebellion, during
which hundreds of future Kenyan leaders were arrested. The British were able
to put down the rebellion by the end of 1956.
October 20, 1944 - Guatemala
Overthrow of Ubico Regime
An uprising led by progressive army officers overthrew the regime of General
Jorge Ubico, ushering in ten years of democratic rule during which social
reforms were adopted.
October 20, 1944 - Philippines
Landing of MacArthur In Leyte
U.S. forces under General Douglas MacArthur landed near Palao on the island
of Leyte, beginning the re-conquest of the Philippines from the Japanese. An
annual commemorative ceremony is held at the site of the landing.
October 20, 1921 - Mongolia
Independence Day
No information provided.
Upcoming Significant Events:
October 21, (year unknown) - Honduras
Armed Forces Day
No information provided.
October 21, 1966 - Japan
International Anti-War Day
Since the end of the Vietnam War, Japanese leftist groups have used this day
to espouse various anti-war, anti-nuclear, and anti-security treaty themes.
October 21, 1966 - Japan
Work Began On Narita Airport
Ten days of demonstrations usually occur around this anniversary.
October 21, 1969 - Somalia
Siad Barre Seizes Power
The anniversary of the seizure of power is known as National Day.
October 22, (year unknown) - New Zealand
Labor Day
No information provided.
October 23, 1983 - Lebanon
U.S. Marines Killed In Beirut
Islamic Jihad bombings in Beirut killed 254 U.S. marines and 58 French
paratroopers.
October 24, 1956 - Egypt
Popular Resistance Day
No information provided.
October 24, 1964 - Zambia
Independence Day
No information provided.
October 24, 1975 - France
Turkish Ambassador Killed
The Turkish ambassador and his driver were shot and killed in Paris by
members of the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA).
October 24, 1975 - Turkey
Ambassador To France Killed
The Turkish ambassador to France and his driver were shot and killed in
Paris by members of the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia
(ASALA).
October 24, 1984 - Syria
Relations with the U.K. Broken
No information provided.
Blueprints for terrorists?
Posted Wednesday, October 20, 2004 - 1:17pm by tpinnock
When David Lochbaum perused a government Web site one day last summer, he
came across documents he thought would be of limited value to the public --
but a potential bonanza for terrorists. Included in a Nuclear Regulatory
Commission report on Waterford III Nuclear Power Station near New Orleans,
Louisiana, were diagrams showing all the toxic chemicals and pipelines near
Waterford III -- including the natural gas pipelines that lace through the
complex. Explicit in detail, the maps even showed gas line valves, the
amount of pressure in the lines, and the proximity of gas lines to air
intakes for the nuclear plant's control room. Lochbaum, nuclear safety
engineer for the Union of Concerned Scientists, a watchdog group, said he
did what he always does when he finds sensitive documents on the NRC's Web
site: He called the NRC's nuclear safety managers and suggested they remove
the diagram. They did. Full Story
Spying Reform Bill Is Tottering
Posted Wednesday, October 20, 2004 - 2:22pm by Andre
Politically sensitive immigration provisions and opposition from the
Pentagon are threatening to derail a high-priority bill to consolidate
authority over the nation's intelligence system, House and Senate
negotiators said Tuesday. Negotiators are due to meet for the first time
today in a session that could determine whether the measure will be passed
before the election as President Bush and many lawmakers have urged or
delayed until next year. "Clearly, not as much has happened by now as I
had
wished," said Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.), who coauthored the Senate
version of the bill. If no progress is made at today's session, he said, "it
is going to be hard to get something done before the election. And that is a
terrible lost opportunity." Full
2-Fingerprint Border ID System Called Inadequate
Posted Wednesday, October 20, 2004 - 2:29pm by Andre
Terrorists who alter their fingerprints have about an even chance of
slipping past U.S. border watch-list checks because the government is using
a two-fingerprint system instead of one that relies on all 10 prints, a
lawmaker said in a letter he made public yesterday to Homeland Security
Secretary Tom Ridge.Full
Zarqawi and al-Qaeda, unlikely bedfellows
Posted Wednesday, October 20, 2004 - 10:01am by kirkhope
It's a match made in (virtual) mujahideen paradise: Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and
his group al-Tawhid wal-Jihad (Unity and Holy War), swearing loyalty to
Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda on the Internet. Now that's a real October
surprise. The "Zarqawi" letter, in Arabic, goes straight to the point:
"Oath
of loyalty of leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi towards the Sheikh of the
Mujahideen, Osama bin Laden." It is signed by "Zarqawi". It qualifies
bin
Laden as the supreme jihad commander. And then the most intriguing part: it
implies that al-Qaeda had finally recognized the merits of Zarqawi's
strategy. "Slowly our honorable brothers in al-Qaeda began to understand
the
strategy of al-Tawhid wal-Jihad in the land of two rivers ... and they began
to rejoice over our program." That's odd: if al-Qaeda thinks Zarqawi is
so
effective, it should consider joining al-Tawhid wal-Jihad, and not the other
way around. Washington officials say the letter may be an al-Qaeda warning
call before an imminent m! ajor attack against the United States. Full Story
Acting Army secretary seeks shorter tours of duty
Posted Wednesday, October 20, 2004 - 1:12pm by tpinnock
U.S. Army leaders have been asked to shorten the tour of duty for troops in
Afghanistan and Iraq, though no changes would be made until the insurgency
in Iraq is brought under control. Troops now deploy for one-year tours.
Acting Secretary of the Army Les Brownlee asked Gen. Peter Schoomaker, the
Army chief of staff, in a memo dated October 8 to shorten that period.
Brownlee said he wanted a plan ready to put in place when the insurgency is
stopped. He said the Iraqi security forces are up to the task of securing
the country. Full Story
Lebanese prime minister resigns
Posted Wednesday, October 20, 2004 - 1:18pm by tpinnock
Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri has resigned along with his government
and said he would not lead a new government. The resignation on Wednesday
came after the Lebanese constitution was changed last month in a
controversial move to allow Emile Lahoud, Lebanon's Syrian-backed president,
to remain in office. Hariri said he met with Lahoud, who accepted his
resignation. In a written statement, Hariri said the only way to fend off
the challenges of Lebanon is to meet them through "a coherent internal
front
that addresses the aspirations and determination of the Lebanese and their
confidence in their state and government." Full
Charity halts aid after kidnapping
Posted Wednesday, October 20, 2004 - 1:18pm by tpinnock
The CARE International charity has suspended its operations in Iraq the day
after the aid agency's chief of operations was kidnapped in Baghdad.
Margaret Hassan, the head of CARE International operations in Iraq, was
taken captive early Tuesday. Her captors have so far given no demands or
explanations as to why she was snatched. Hours after the abduction,
Al-Jazeera aired a video of Hassan sitting in a room, talking and appearing
both tired and anxious. The Arabic-language TV network said the video was
accompanied by a claim of responsibility from an unnamed, armed Iraqi group.
Full
Story
Italian Judge Orders 17 Suspects to Trial
Posted Wednesday, October 20, 2004 - 1:35pm by EcheleA
A judge on Tuesday ordered trials for 17 suspected members of the Red
Brigades for their alleged role in the 1999 slaying of a labor consultant,
Italian media reported, as it emerged that the leftist terror group kept
files on top figures, including Premier Silvio Berlusconi. The murder of
Massimo D'Antona, who was advising the government on a bitterly contested
labor reform, was the first high-profile attack by the Red Brigades after a
decade of silence. Three years later, the group killed another labor
consultant to the government, Marco Biagi. The judge ordered trial to begin
Feb. 17 in Rome for 15 of the suspects, the reports said. Two other suspects
were to be tried separately.Full
Story
Spain Terror Suspect Accused of Huge Plot
Posted Wednesday, October 20, 2004 - 1:39pm by EcheleA
The suspected leader of a militant Muslim cell plotted to deal Spain the
``biggest blow of its history'' -- a suicide truck bomb laden with half a
ton of explosives aimed at killing the country's top judges investigating
Islamic terror and destroying their case files, officials said Wednesday.
Police said they had intercepted hundreds of letters from suspected cell
members in which they said they were willing to stage suicide attacks. The
plot to blow up the National Court, Spain's nerve center for investigating
Islamic terror, was detailed in a report from the National Police
intelligence unit obtained by The Associated Press. The report quotes a
protected witness who had been in contact with the suspected ringleader
Mohamed Achraf, an Algerian born in the United Arab Emirates. Spain said
Achraf was recently arrested in Switzerland. Switzerland confirmed Wednesday
he is in custody there for entering the country illegally and said
deportation proceedings were pending when hi! s alleged link to the plot
surfaced.Full
Story
Spanish TV airs Madrid bomb video
Posted Wednesday, October 20, 2004 - 1:39pm by EcheleA
Video of one of the train stations hit in the Madrid train bombings plus
video of hooded figures who claim responsibility for the blasts has been
shown on two Spanish television networks. The clips first aired on the
private Telecino network on Tuesday and later on state-owned EFE television,
which said it got its tape from police. About 45 seconds of video from
Atocha station security cameras shows the station on March 11, with the
bombs going off. The attacks killed 190 people and wounded more than
1,800.Full
Story
European Powers to Offer Iran Incentives
Posted Wednesday, October 20, 2004 - 1:41pm by EcheleA
Britain, France and Germany will offer Iran nuclear fuel and economic
incentives Thursday, giving Tehran one last chance to abandon uranium
enrichment and avoid the threat of U.N. Security Council sanctions,
diplomats said. In a private meeting with Iranian officials in Vienna,
senior diplomats from the European powerhouse nations will try to persuade
Iran to avoid a showdown next month with the International Atomic Energy
Agency, officials said Wednesday. The package includes the possibility of
buying nuclear fuel from the West, along with a trade agreement, the
officials said. They did not confirm reports that a light-water nuclear
research reactor was part of the deal.Full
Burmese Military Rulers Force Out Prime Minister
Posted Wednesday, October 20, 2004 - 1:46pm by Andre
Burma's ruling military junta on Tuesday fired the country's prime minister,
Gen. Khin Nyunt, a man seen by Asian leaders as the best hope for returning
the country to democracy. Khin Nyunt, who also headed Burma's powerful
military intelligence organization, was placed under house arrest and
charged with corruption, according to Thai officials, regional analysts and
Burmese exiles with contacts inside the country.Full
Assessing the Afghan Election
Posted Wednesday, October 20, 2004 - 1:49pm by Andre
Afghanistan's first presidential election, held this month, was largely free
of the violence threatened by the Taliban hoping to disrupt it. That led
President Bush to declare the country an American-backed success story. By
contrast, his challenger, Senator John Kerry, continued to describe
Afghanistan the way many Americans and others still perceive it: a fractious
nation riven with violence, terrorism and warlords. Neither description is a
full reflection of the reality here, Afghan officials and Western diplomats
and experts said this week. But all said the Taliban had probably been
weakened as a result.Full
U.S. Military Says Rift in Taliban Over Strategy
Posted Wednesday, October 20, 2004 - 1:51pm by Andre
The Taliban's one-eyed leader Mullah Omar has lost the confidence of some of
his commanders after the failure of the insurgents to disrupt Afghanistan's
first presidential election, the U.S. military said on Wednesday.But a
Taliban spokesman denied any rift in the movement. U.S. military spokesman
Major Scott Nelson told reporters the Taliban leadership was in disarray
after a campaign built around rocket attacks and roadside bombs failed to
dissuade millions of Afghans from voting in the Oct. 9 poll. "There has
been
serious disagreements between Mullah Omar and some of his lower commanders
on how (what) strategy to follow up after the elections," Nelson said.Full
US weighs role in heroin war in Afghanistan
Posted Wednesday, October 20, 2004 - 1:52pm by Andre
The burgeoning illegal opium trade in Afghanistan has become the biggest
single threat to democracy, surpassing Al Qaeda and the Taliban and
prompting US officials to consider military intervention against the
traffickers, US and Afghan officials say.Even as the Bush administration
hails Afghanistan as a major foreign policy success, the country's soaring
drug profits now equal about half of its gross national product and have
become the principal source of funds for reconstruction, outpacing foreign
aid. The drug trade also is fueling corruption at the highest levels of the
government, involving army generals and other top officials who routinely
work with the US military on antiterrorism operations, according to the
officials. In Washington yesterday, the senior American ground commander in
Afghanistan said the United States is considering expanding the role of the
roughly 18,000 American troops in the country to help crack down on the
skyrocketing drug economy.Full Story
Brazil Agrees to Inspection of Nuclear Site
Posted Wednesday, October 20, 2004 - 1:55pm by Andre
In a step toward resolving a longstanding impasse with the United Nations
nuclear monitoring agency, the Brazilian government has agreed to grant
inspectors access to a plant Brazil has built to produce nuclear fuel for
both domestic use and eventual sale abroad.Whether the limited access
allowed to the three inspectors, who arrived here this week, will be enough
to satisfy the agency, the International Atomic Energy Agency, is not yet
clear. Although the I.A.E.A. has withheld any public judgment, Brazilian
officials are already talking of a breakthrough. "What has changed now
is
the attitude of trying to seek a solution that at the same time guarantees
the preservation of our technology and permits the agency to be certain that
there is no diversion of material within the factory," Odair Gongalves,
president of Brazil's national nuclear commission, said at a news conference
here on Monday.Full
Story
Pakistani Forces Hunt for Militant Chief
Posted Wednesday, October 20, 2004 - 1:56pm by Andre
Helicopter gunships and about 1,000 Pakistani troops on Wednesday raided a
suspected hideout of an al-Qaida-linked militant chief, trading gun and
mortar fire with fighters in the mountainous region near the Afghan border,
officials said.Abdullah Mehsud, a former Guantanamo Bay prisoner who was
released in March, is suspected to be hiding in the area. The one-legged
militant commander is believed responsible for the kidnapping of two Chinese
engineers on Oct. 9. The raid came a day after the top military commander in
the area said he believed it was unlikely Osama bin Laden was hiding in the
tribal region, as U.S. authorities suspect.Full
First Students Expelled Over French Law
Posted Wednesday, October 20, 2004 - 1:59pm by Andre
Two Muslim girls who refused to remove their head scarves in class have been
expelled from their schools, and two more risked the same fate Wednesday as
officials began taking action against those who defy a new French law
banning conspicuous religious symbols from public schools.Two girls, ages 12
and 13, were expelled from a school in the eastern city of Mulhouse on
Tuesday night the first to be expelled from French public schools under the
new law, the Education Ministry said. Two 17-year-old girls risk the same
fate when their schools convene two disciplinary councils Wednesday, said
Gilles-Jean Klein, spokesman for the Academy of Strasbourg, which oversees
schools in the area.Full
Spanish Say Foiled Plot Targeted Anti-Terror Headquarters
Posted Wednesday, October 20, 2004 - 2:02pm by Andre
Spanish authorities said Tuesday that they had disrupted a plot by a cell of
Islamic radicals to blow up a Madrid court complex that is the headquarters
of the country's top anti-terrorism investigators and judges. Police
arrested eight suspects in six cities on Monday and Tuesday in an effort to
break up the cell, which was composed primarily of people with criminal
records, according to statements released by the Spanish Interior
Ministry.Full
Animal welfare group challenges Japanese whaling in Australian sanctuary
Posted Wednesday, October 20, 2004 - 2:06pm by Andre
An international animal welfare group brought a landmark legal case accusing
Japan's last commercial whaling company of killing more than 400 whales in
an Australian whale sanctuary.Humane Society International (HSI) told AFP
the case against Kyodo Sepaku Kaisha was aimed at pushing the Australian
government to adopt tough tactics to protect whales in its territorial
waters near Antarctica. Spokeswoman Nicola Beynon said public information
released by Japan to the International Whaling Commission (IWC), detailing
the geographic coordinates at which so-called "scientific" kills of
minke
whales took place, showed they were within the sanctuary.Full
NATO Troops Wound, Arrest Serb War Crimes Fugitive
Posted Wednesday, October 20, 2004 - 2:08pm by Andre
NATO-led troops injured a Bosnian Serb war crimes suspect in a shootout
Tuesday after he resisted arrest and opened fire on them, the peace force
said. The Bosnian Serb SRNA news agency identified the man as Nedjo
Samardzic, 40. It said he was wartime member of the Bosnian Serb military in
the town of Foca, notorious for widespread killing, rape, and expulsion of
Muslims. The Stabilisation Force (SFOR) said its troops helped the state
security agency SIPA arrest the man for whom the cantonal court in Sarajevo
had issued two warrants, one of them for war crimes committed in the 1992-95
war.Full
Israel Lawmakers Protected Ahead of Vote
Posted Wednesday, October 20, 2004 - 2:12pm by Andre
Israel's Shin Bet security service has tightened protection of the prime
minister and legislators ahead of next week's crucial parliament vote on a
Gaza withdrawal, security officials said Wednesday.In the countdown to the
decision, Israel's political climate has become increasingly explosive. Some
opponents of withdrawal have denounced Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as a
dictator who is endangering Israel. Security officials said the Shin Bet is
on high alert for possible attacks on Sharon, and he was ringed by an
unprecedented number of bodyguards this week.Full
Story
Car Bomb Explodes in Central Baghdad
Posted Wednesday, October 20, 2004 - 2:15pm by Andre
A car bomb shook Baghdad at sunset Wednesday, and a large plume of smoke
could be seen rising from the western bank of the Tigris river.There were no
reports of casualties among U.S. troops or damage to their equipment in the
blast, which occurred at 5:45 p.m., said Cpt. Mitchell Zornes of the First
Cavalry Division. He did not know what was the target of the attack. Full
Lebanon dismisses UN call as "dangerous precedent"
Posted Wednesday, October 20, 2004 - 2:19pm by Andre
The Lebanese foreign ministry dismissed a new UN Security Council call for
Syrian troops to pull out of Lebanon as a "dangerous precedent of
interference" in the internal affairs of a member state. "Lebanon
still
considers Resolution 1559 a dangerous precedent of interference on the part
of the UN Security Council in the internal affairs of a UN member state,"
the ministry's secretary general, Mohammad Issa, told reporters. After days
of diplomatic haggling, the 15-member UN Security Council agreed earlier
Tuesday on a statement calling on Damascus to comply with Resolution 1559
adopted in September that demanded foreign troops to be pulled out of
Lebanon.Full
Lawmakers Prod CIA for Pre-9/11 Accountability Report
Posted Wednesday, October 20, 2004 - 2:21pm by Andre
The ranking members of the House Intelligence Committee have asked the CIA
to turn over an internal report on whether agency employees should be held
accountable for intelligence failures leading up to the Sept. 11 attacks,
congressional officials said Tuesday. The CIA has not responded to the
request, raising concerns among some Democrats in Congress that the report
is being withheld to avoid embarrassment for the Bush administration in the
final weeks before the presidential election. The report was drafted in
response to a demand from Congress nearly two years ago for the CIA to
conduct an internal inquiry into the performance of agency personnel before
the attacks. The agency was asked "to determine whether and to what extent
personnel at all levels should be held accountable" for intelligence
breakdowns cataloged in a joint congressional investigation of Sept. 11.
Full
Iran refuses to end uranium enrichment on eve of EU nuclear talks
Posted Wednesday, October 20, 2004 - 2:25pm by Andre
Iran refused to give up on producing enriched uranium in defiance of the
West and said dialogue was the only way to resolve the nuclear standoff, on
the eve of talks with the EU's Big Three.The Islamic republic is ready to
cooperate with the international community over its nuclear programme
provided its "rights" are respected, President Mohammad Khatami said
Wednesday. "We demand respect for our rights to have nuclear technology
for
civilian use and that no-one tries to deprive us of this," he said after
a
cabinet meeting. "We are ready to cooperate and believe that dialogue and
negotiation are the only ways to reach an understanding."Full
U.S. Examines Al-Zarqawi Ties to Bin Laden
Posted Wednesday, October 20, 2004 - 2:27pm by Andre
U.S. officials are taking a sober view of a recent pledge of loyalty to
Osama bin Laden from Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the most wanted terror leader in
Iraq. Some consider his pledge over the weekend to be an effort to elevate
his status and improve his resources and fund raising. Others view it as an
attempt to broaden his audience and improve recruitment. While U.S.
authorities try to sort out just how close al-Zarqawi is to bin Laden, many
agree that al-Zarqawi's motives are worrisome. "It is certainly not a
positive development, but in terms of what it means in practical terms, it
isn't clear at this point," said a U.S. counterterrorism official, speaking
on condition of anonymity.Full
UN Urges Nations to Submit Terror Reports
Posted Wednesday, October 20, 2004 - 2:31pm by Andre
The Security Council called on 78 countries to urgently submit reports on
their efforts to combat terrorism to the U.N. committee monitoring what
governments are doing to stop terrorists from getting money, support and
sanctuary. A presidential statement, adopted Tuesday by consensus by the
council, endorsed the counter-terrorism committee's plans to step-up its
activities, including sending teams to visit countries which need assistance
in their efforts to combat terrorism. It noted that 78 of the 191 U.N.
member states hadn't submitted updated reports to the committee on time, and
called on them "urgently to do so." The council also encouraged "the
largest
possible number of states to become parties to the international conventions
and protocols related to counter-terrorism."Full
Britain Charges Radical Cleric With Having Al Qaeda Materials
Posted Wednesday, October 20, 2004 - 2:33pm by Andre
British authorities Tuesday charged extremist cleric Abu Hamza al Masri with
possessing Al Qaeda literature and inciting the killing of Jews and other
non-Muslims, delaying his possible extradition to the United States, where
he is wanted on terrorism charges. The Crown Prosecution Service lodged 16
counts against the cleric, whom terrorism experts have long considered a
major Al Qaeda supporter in Europe. The move means he would stand trial in
England before being sent to the United States.
Full
Colombian Rebel Arrested in Bogota Attack
Posted Wednesday, October 20, 2004 - 2:35pm by Andre
Police arrested a rebel commando who allegedly attacked a Bogota pub
frequented by Americans, killing a Colombian woman and injuring dozens of
other people, including five Americans, authorities said Tuesday, nearly a
year after the attack.Colombian National Police arrested Adolfo Toledo, who
goes by the alias "Dollar," after he produced a fake ID during a traffic
stop Monday in the southern Colombian village of Algeciras. On Nov. 15,
2003, rebels tossed hand grenades into the Bogota Beer Company and Palos de
Moguer, two pubs popular with American soldiers, contractors and
journalists.Full
Haiti unrest threatens food aid
Posted Wednesday, October 20, 2004 - 2:37pm by Andre
The United Nations food agency says it is considering diverting food aid for
Haiti via the Dominican Republic, due to continuing unrest in the capital. A
World Food Programme spokesman said more than 100 shipping containers of
food aid were stuck in Port-au-Prince due to the lack of security. Some
shipping companies are refusing to dock their vessels there, he added.Full
Story
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