TresSugar

Front Page: Bailout Plan Hits Stalemate, Debate Remains Doubtful, Terror Suspects Held on Plane

CitizenSugar — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 06:51:49 -0700

Bailout Plan Hits Stalemate:
Negotiations over the plan to rescue Wall Street have ended in a "shouting match," with Republican members of Congress blocking the government plan after discussion with President Bush. Bush just gave a short statement outlining how the legislative process isn't pretty. Both sides are resuming talks later today with Nancy Pelosi saying there will be an agreement because, "it has to happen."

Debate Remains Doubtful:
The first debate between McCain and Obama appears doubtful as negotiations over the economy continue in Washington. Obama says he plans to travel to the University of Mississippi where the debate is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. ET. McCain says "I'm very hopeful that we'll get enough of an agreement tomorrow so we can make this debate." McCain is returning to Capitol Hill today.
Terror Suspects Held on Plane:
Two terror suspects have been arrested in Germany on a plane preparing to take off. The two Somali men had been under surveillance for months and were said to have been "possibly planning attacks" having left suicide notes behind in their apartments saying they wished to die in a "holy war." The plane was eventually allowed to take off following the arrests and a luggage search.

After FARC Rescue One Says End Hate, One Says "Terrorist"

CitizenSugar — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 08:00:28 -0700

After the stunning rescue last week of 15 hostages held by FARC rebels in Colombia, Ingrid Betancourt - the most well-known of those rescued after being held hostage for six years - has urged the end of a vocabulary of hate against her former captors.

She says:

I think we have reached a point where we must change this radical, extremist vocabulary of hate of very strong words that intimately wound the human being.

Though her sympathy for her captors sounds a little Stockholm Syndrome-y, she says she has no illusions as to the true nature of the group, but that a honey trap of kindness would be a better way to ensure more hostage releases.

And there are many more to be released from the group one American is calling "terrorist." To see the extent of the situation, read more.

Despite the high-profile rescue last week, the 14 saved are the tiniest portion of those being held. It's thought that at least 700 to 2,000 Colombians remain in the custody of the rebels, and the rescue has destabilized the group - whose main source of income is ransom money - endangering those left. One mother whose son was abducted ten years ago, feels the sting stronger now that rescues have been shown possible. She says, “I know my son isn’t a trophy, but I demand to have him back.”

In the US, the three Americans rescued echo that concern. Marc Gonsalves, one of those saved, says, “there are people in this exact moment who are being punished because we got rescued successfully.” He went on to call FARC "a terrorist group with a capital T." The three men are said to be in good health despite their concerns including Keith Stansell who has 5-year-old twin sons that he's just met.

Which is a better method to negotiate for the release of the hundreds of hostages left? Honey, or force? Was the rescue mission a good move given the number still held? How will they be rescued now that the "trick them" hand has been played?

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Front Page: A Perfect Rescue Operation, Mandela Not a Terrorist, Jobs and Airlines in Trouble

CitizenSugar — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:00:22 -0700

A Perfect Rescue Operation:
French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other hostages freed from FARC rebels in a daring rescue mission has called her release after more than 6 years, a "miracle." She says, "there is no historical precedent for such a perfect operation." The mission was accomplished without a shot fired after the Colombian military penetrated the highest level of FARC and tricked them into handing over the hostages. Among those rescued were three American military contractors and 11 members of the Colombian security forces, all said to be in relatively good health. FARC has been trying to overthrow the Colombian government for 40 years, and still holds over 40 high-profile hostages, among up to 700 other captives.

Mandela Not a Terrorist:
US President George W Bush signed a bill removing Nelson Mandela and South African leaders from the US terror watch list. Mandela and ANC party members will now be able to travel to the US without a waiver from the secretary of state. The African National Congress (ANC) was labeled as a terrorist organization by South Africa's former apartheid regime.
Jobs and Airlines in Trouble:
The number of former workers signing up for unemployment insurance rose sharply last week. According to a Labor Department report, new applications jumped by 16,000 to 404,000, the highest level since late March. Meanwhile, the airline industry is predicting a $6.5 billion loss for the year, having been hit harder by fuel costs than expected.

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Front Page: Curfew After India Blasts, China Quake Toll 15,000, Attack in Spain Blamed on ETA, Bush in Israel

CitizenSugar — Wed, 14 May 2008 06:58:35 -0700

Curfew After India Blasts: After a series of bomb blasts killed 63 and left 200 wounded yesterday authorities have imposed a curfew in the old city in Jaipur in western India. The blasts happened near historic monuments and the head of state police is calling it a terrorist attack. Police have detained a number of people for questioning, though no suspects or motives have yet been determined.

China Quake Toll 15,000: Nearly 15,000 people have died in the devastating earthquake that hit China according to media. Estimates say more than 25,000 are still trapped in the rubble two days after the 7.9 quake struck. Sichuan's Vice-Governor said preliminary figures suggested 14,463 people were dead, another 14,051 were missing, 25,788 were buried in the debris and 64,746 had been injured. One town, Yingxiu, was hit harder than expected - out of the town's population of 10,000, only 2,300 have been found alive.
Attack in Spain Blamed on ETA: A bomb exploded in Spain early today outside a police barracks killing one policeman and wounding four others. Local authorities have blamed the incident on the violent Basque separatist group ETA. A spokesman for the Socialist Party in the Basque region, said, "ETA has hurt us terribly this morning with this horrible attack. But the group is weaker than ever and we will win in the end."
Bush in Israel: President Bush arrived in Israel this morning. It's the first stop on a five-day, three-country Middle East tour marking the 60th anniversary of Israel’s founding as well as encouraging progress in peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians. Referring to Israel's democratic government Bush said, “what’s happened here is possible everywhere.”

Front Page: HRC Fire, London Trial, Iraq, Arrest in Mexico

CitizenSugar — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 07:02:31 -0700

A fire has destroyed the Terre Haute, Indiana campaign office of Sen. Hillary Clinton. The flames broke out just after midnight. There were no injuries, and the incident is under investigation.
The trial began yesterday for three British Muslims accused of helping the suicide bombers in the attacks on London’s transportation system in July 2005. It's the first case against people accused of helping plan those attacks. The men on trial were arrested in March 2007 and are accused with carrying out a preparatory mission seven months before the July attacks on three subways and a bus. The men have all denied the charges.

A relative and follower of radical Shia cleric Muqtada al Sadr has been killed in the Iraqi city of Najaf. Police have imposed an indefinite curfew in the city following the shooting. The Sadr movement has been recently involved in violent clashes with government forces. Also in Iraq, today saw US air strikes on suspected Shiite militiamen planning to launch attacks on security forces, killing at least 12 people in Baghdad and Basra, according to US and British officials. A British spokesman said, "the air strike was launched after positively identifying a mortar team that was engaging the Iraqi troops on the ground."
According to the FBI, US Marine Cpl. Cesar Laurean, was captured last night in Mexico, three months after fleeing North Carolina. Laurean is the main suspect in the killing of a 20-year-old pregnant Marine, Maria Lauterbach.

Just Torturing Yourself? Interrogator Calls Brutality Ineffective

LibertySugar — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:30:29 -0800

Matthew Alexander, if that's his real name (it's not), says that the qualities that make a good terrorist interrogator are the same things that make a good American, and those qualities don't include a knack for physical torture. He should know, because he served as a US military interrogator in Iraq, and wrote a book all about how to break a terrorist.

Last night on the Daily Show, Alexander explained that it's counterproductive to torture terrorists even in ticking time-bomb scenarios. Alexander says psychology, not brutality, more effectively extracts crucial information.

He also learned that a sense of humor aids interrogation, because it helps build a relationship of trust with the suspect. Hey! Maybe we should send Jon Stewart over to Guantanamo Bay to joke (not choke) some information out of detainees! Check out the interview, and tell me what you think about his thoughts torture.

Who's the Terrorist? Syria Calls US Raid "Terrorist Aggression"

LibertySugar — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:01:47 -0700

Tensions are boiling in the Middle East after a US Special Operations mission took place inside Syria along its border with Iraq. On Sunday, reports broke that US helicopters, coming from Iraq, entered Syrian airspace to attack civilian buildings, killing eight people. The US confirmed the operation, without giving any details.

Now, Syria and Iran are speaking out against the "war crime." Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman said: "Iran condemns in strongest terms any form of aggression or violation of the states’ territorial integrity, which leads to the death of innocent civilians." And as for Syria itself, the foreign minister spoke out today saying:

We consider this criminal and terrorist aggression. We put the responsibility on the American government. Killing civilians in international law means a terrorist aggression.

While the Europeans move toward warmer relations with Syria, the Bush Administration has contended for some time that the Syrians must do more to control the movement of insurgents along the border. The details behind the hit are still unclear, but some suspect Bush took a parting shot at what he deems an uncooperative country with ties too close to Iran.

View 5 Photos ›

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Check This: Yemen's Deal With Terrorists

CitizenSugar — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 09:01:49 -0800

When Yemen released the al-Qaeda terrorist convicted of the 2000 bombing of the Cole, Jamal al-Badawi, they gambled their US aid on a controversial terrorist-work-release plan. Yemen let al-Badawi out of prison, based on his word that he would lead Yemeni officials to five other al-Qaeda members who had escaped.

Though Badawi was soon returned to prison in order to keep US aid, the cat was out of the bag. Yemen, a haven for recruiting Islamic militants for the last 20 years, makes deals with terrorists, and the US doesn't like it.

Here's the deal Yemen gives terrorists, according to the New York Times:

Yemeni officials say they have had considerable success co-opting jihadists like Mr. Badawi, often by releasing them from prison and helping them with money, schooling or jobs. They are required to sign a pledge not to carry out any attacks on Yemeni soil.

They say that former jihadists are crack at helping capture the younger, fiercer, al-Qaeda militants, helping convince escapees to surrender. But this work-furlough program comes with a price. To find out, please read more.

Murad Abdul Wahed Zafir, a political analyst at the National Democratic Institute in Sana says, “Yemen is like a bus station-we stop some terrorists, and we send others on to fight elsewhere. We appease our partners in the West, but we are not really helping."

Does it make sense to use terrorists to fight terror? Can we trust them? Is it a brilliant move to use those who know terrorists best?

But it's not all free rides for terrorists. Yemen does have a counter-terrorism unit, including an all-female division. The Times also has a striking slide show of these tough women in action. Check it out here.

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Teen Scouts Learn to Fight Terrorists and Illegal Immigrants

TresSugar — Thu, 14 May 2009 11:30:00 -0700

When I was a Girl Scout, we spent most of our time working on badges, preparing for camping trips, or selling delicious cookies. Well you can forget all that. Today's girls (and boys) involved in the Explorers program, an affiliate of the Boy Scouts of America, learn how to combat terrorists, illegal immigrants, and border violence. Since 9/11, Homeland Security has worked closely with the program, with the hope of creating more agents.

Cathy Noriego, a 16-year-old participant, told the New York Times that the guns attracted her to the program. During exercises, the group uses compressed-air guns that fire plastic bullets - but they also fire the real stuff at the range. Cathy said of the guns, "I like the sound they make. It gets me excited."

I feel uneasy about training kids as young as 14 to become armed border patrolmen and women or anti-terrorist vigilantes. The potential for extreme nationalism - brought on by teaching children that non-Americans are a threat - also worries me.

Do you think the Explorers program offers valuable life lessons about leadership and discipline, or does the program perpetuate a culture of violence?

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Only Captured Terrorist Speaks About Mumbai Massacre

CitizenSugar — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:50:00 -0800

Azam Amir Kasab, a 21-year-old man from Pakistan, is the only terrorist police captured alive after the Mumbai massacre ended. Details from his interrogation have been leaked, and they reveal a chilling picture of a nightmarish tragedy that could have turned out even worse. After playing dead in order to survive, Kasab told police:

The synchronized attacks were planned six months ago, and intended to kill 5,000 people. So far the death toll stands at around 200.
The group of 10 terrorists had planned to blow up the entire Taj Mahal hotel, but were unsuccessful.
The would-be attackers posed as students on a trip to Mumbai a month ago to acquaint themselves with the city.
The men specifically targeted "whites," especially British and American citizens.
Kasab said he belonged to Pakistani terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which has denied involvement.
Kasab said he was told to "kill to my last breath."

As those impacted by these appalling events recover and mourn, international players urgently want to reduce the probability of a confrontation between India and Pakistan. Depending on how things play out, India might take a US approach: if one country can't deal with its terrorists, then another country has a right to do something about it.
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