A Peek into Others' mind » August 21, 2008

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August 22, 2008
7:01
Peter Baker: US sees much to fear ...
» ‎ War and Piece

Peter Baker: US sees much to fear in a spoiler RussiaFor Washington, there are limited options for applying pressure. Senator John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, wants to throw Russia out of the Group of 8 major powers. Such...

6:56
Europe must realize: Jihadism is an Ideology not only a theology
» ‎ Counterterrorism Blog

The following short piece is a summary of an analysis I discussed during this summer June-July with European officials as a Visiting Fellow with the European Foundation for Democracy in Brussels. Among the main groups and fora I presented these ideas to were: The Majority Party EPP at the European Parliament in its Conference in Paris; the secretariat for international relations of the European Socialist Group; the Center for International Affairs in Rome with the participation of the Chief of Staff of the Italian Armed Forces; members of the Budenstag on National Security and Foreign Affairs in Berlin, counter terrorism officials at the European Union including from the UK, Germany, Spain, Czech Republic, Rumania, Belgium, Slovakia, Poland, Estonia, as well as top officials at the interior ministries offices on radicalization in Germany, France and the UK. I will expand in another posting on the circulation of ideas and the various challenges facing Europe and the West in general per these discussions. The summary below was initially presented at the Paris Conference and shared with the various officials I met with.

6:49
Totten in Tbilisi
» ‎ Little Green Footballs

Michael Totten has filed a Report from Tbilisi at City Journal.

Senator John McCain may have overstated things a bit when, shortly after the war started, he said, “We are all Georgians now.” But apparently even rank-and-file Russian soldiers view the Georgians and Americans as allies. Likewise, these simple Georgian country women seem to understand who their friends and enemies are. “I am very thankful to the West,” Maya said as her eyes welled up with tears. “They support us so much. We thought we were alone. I am so thankful for the support we have from the United States and from the West. The support is very important for us.” She tried hard to maintain her dignity and not cry in front of me, a foreign reporter in fresh clothes and carrying an expensive camera. “The West saved the capital. They were moving to Tbilisi. There was one night that was very dangerous. The Russian tanks were very close to the capital. I don’t know what happened, but they moved the tanks back.” And my translator, whose husband works for Georgia’s ministry of foreign affairs, made a similar guess that the West helped save the capital. “The night they came close to Tbilisi,” she said, “Bush and McCain made their strongest speeches yet. The Russians seemed to back down. Bush and McCain have been very good for us.”

5:59
Dr. iRack: June 2009 shaping up to ...
» ‎ War and Piece

Dr. iRack: June 2009 shaping up to be D-Day in Iraq. More....

5:43
Two Articles on Georgia Crisis Well Worth Reading
» ‎ LobeLog.com

I’m still on vacation but, like everyone else, have been quite amazed at the ongoing Georgia crisis, particularly the failure so far of the administration and the campaigns of the two presidential candidates to absorb its potential significance and the need for Washington (and the West more generally) to fundamentally reassess its global position and how over-stretched it has become. (Remember that Georgia was one of Rumsfeld’s first foreign destinations after 9/11 and was followed by a significant deployment in early 2002 of U.S. Special Forces — over Russian protests — there in what was clearly part of a much larger strategy to use the “war on terror” to build the military infrastructure for the “New American Century” in and around Eurasia.)

Two articles — both quite provocative — have appeared in the mainstream press since the crisis broke that have underlined the potential historic significance of the ongoing crisis. While they are not completely convincing, they nonetheless are well worth reading and meditating over. The first is Paul Krugman’s “The Great Illusion” which appeared in the NY Times August 15. It suggests that the latest events may herald the curtain’s fall on the second great age of globalization, the first having taken place from the end of the 19th century to August, 1914. Of course, the comparison of the two ages — with respect to terrorism (then anarchism), vast social dislocations caused by industrialization and imperialism, as well as the high degree of economic integration — is hardly new, but Krugman’s thumbnail analysis is, as I noted, thought-provoking.

“By itself, …the war in Georgia isn’t that big a deal economically,” Krugman writes. “But it does mark the end of the Pax Americana — the era in which the United States more or less maintained a monopoly on the use of military force. And that raises some real questions about the future of globalization.” The article brings in a number of pertinent examples of rising nationalism in the economic, as well as the strategic and political spheres, that today’s policymakers, politicians and publics might well consider before reflexively taking Georgia’s side. Serb nationalists had a pretty good case against the Austro-Hungarian Empire back in 1914, too.

The second article, by former Singaporean diplomat and veteran provocateur Kishore Mahbubani, appeared in today’s Financial Times under the headline “The West is Strategically Wrong on Georgia.” Mahbubani, who notes the hypocrisy of U.S. outrage (and how it appears to publics in Latin America and the Islamic world, in particular) over Russian actions, is particularly succinct about the strategic choices faced by the U.S. and the West at this juncture and argues for a fundamental strategic reassessment based on an understanding that the West can no longer “dictate terms” to the rest of the world as it has assumed it could do since the end of the Cold War. In fact, he argues, both the U.S. and the West have become terribly isolated from what the Bush administration loves to call “the international community.” His analysis of what strategic choices are now available to the West –it can afford only so many enemies and so should be much more discriminating in its choices — is particularly acute. Interestingly, Mahbubani, author of ‘The New Asian Hemisphere: The Irresistible Shift of Global Power to the East’ (2008), ends on a more optimistic note than Krugman (although I, presumably like Krugman, believe that nationalism in Asia is as likely to undermine the burgeoning “Pacific Century” as U.S. over-extension and arrogance have wreaked havoc with Bill Kristol’s and Bob Kagan’s cherished but chimerical “New American Century”.)

While the notion that the Georgia crisis takes us back to the end of the Cold War and the “return of history” has become a cliche among most of the commentariat (while some neo-cons predictably compare it to the Sudetenland, Munich and 1938), both columns see the present moment as signaling much deeper historical and even epochal challenges to U.S. and western hegemony in what is now, ever more clearly, a multipolar world that rejects Pax Americana. And, if U.S. leaders, actual and imminent, continue to insist on a hard line toward Russia, that rejection will very likely extend to Europe, as well. Indeed, western (or “old”) Europe, in particular, has some major strategic decisions of its own to make, having seen where its habitual deference to Washington has gotten it.

4:01
Air Defense of Kaliningrad
» ‎ IMINT & Analysis

INTRODUCTION

The Kaliningrad Oblast has historically been a significant strategic location for Russia. Home to the Baltic Sea Fleet and a number of other military units, the Kaliningrad Oblast provides Russia with a foothold in territory surrounded by NATO members. In light of recent worldwide events, the Kaliningrad Oblast may be undergoing a resurgence in terms of strategic importance to Russia. As such, the strategic air defense network of the Kaliningrad Oblast is a critical aspect of the region.

CURRENT STATUS

Currently deployed strategic air defense assets provide the Kaliningrad Oblast with a robust, modern air defense network. System deployment indicates that priority is clearly given to defending the western half of the Oblast, home to the majority of the significant military facilities and the Baltic Sea Fleet.

EW Coverage

Early warning coverage of the Kaliningrad Oblast is provided by six radar facilities. One of these facilities is home to a 300 km range 5N64S (BIG BIRD B) battle management radar controlling the Oblast's S-300PS (SA-10B GRUMBLE) batteries. Four 36D6 (TIN SHIELD) radar sites with detection ranges of 165 km are also present providing additional coverage, and a further EW site features legacy radar assets providing additional support to the network.

The following image depicts the locations of the Kaliningrad Oblast's EW sites. 36D6 sites are denoted by triangles, the 5N64S site is denoted by a hexagon, and the legacy EW site is denoted by a square.
The coverage of the 5N64S radar site provides the network with the ability to monitor the airspace over the entire Oblast, with coverage extending into Belarus, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. A significant portion of the Baltic Sea is also covered, extending to the shoreline of Sweden. The 36D6 sites, one of which being co-located with an S-300PS battery, are also situated to provide coverage of the entire Oblast as well as portions of Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. The 36D6 radars are also capable of monitoring an off-shore swath of airspace, albeit to a lesser degree than the longer-ranged 5N64S. The off-shore reach of the Kaliningrad Oblast's EW radars allows them to operate with SAM batteries to provide air defense for Baltic Sea naval vessels operating in the area.

The positioning of the various radar sites provides the network with a significant degree of overlapping EW coverage. The 36D6 radars can also provide targeting support to the S-300PS batteries should the 5N64S radar be rendered inoperable. While this would result in a loss of range with respect to target acquisition, the 36D6 sites are positioned in a manner that ensures that the engagement zones of the S-300PS batteries are not affected. The relatively low, flat terrain in the surrounding areas also ensures that a reliance on the less sophisticated 36D6 radar sets, which can be mounted on 40V6 mast assemblies for increased low-altitude detection capability in areas of rough terrain, would not result in a significant degradation of target acquisition functions.

The following image depicts the coverage of the Kaliningrad Oblast's 5N64S and 36D6 EW sites:
Active Sites

Strategic air defense of the Kaliningrad Oblast is provided by six SAM sites. Five of these sites are occupied by mobile S-300PS SAM systems with maximum engagement ranges of 90 km. The sixth site is the sole remaining S-200 (SA-5 GAMMON) SAM site still actively serving with the Russian air defense network. The S-200 has a maximum engagement range of 300 km.

The following image depicts the operational SAM sites in the Kaliningrad Oblast. S-300PS sites are denoted by red diamonds, with the S-200 site being denoted by a purple diamond.
The S-300PS sites are all situated within 11 kilometers of the shoreline in the westernmost portion of the Oblast. Their proximity provides a layered air defense capability over the city of Kaliningrad and the Baltic Sea home port. The multiple target engagement capability, 6 targets per battery, and effectiveness of the system against low RCS targets represents a significant threat to any potential airborne aggressor. The deployment of S-300PS batteries in lieu of more modern S-300PM (SA-20 GARGOYLE) batteries appears at first glance to be intended to protect the more advanced variants from being exploited by ELINT collection platforms in the area, potentially enabling vulnerabilities to be discovered that would put areas protected by S-300PM batteries at increased risk during times of war. However, following the delivery of the S-300PMU-1 to NATO member Greece and deployment of S-300PMU-1 batteries along the Chinese coastline, exposing them to EP-3 ELINT aircraft, it is more likely that the S-300PS was retained for air defense of Kaliningrad because deployment of the longer-ranged S-300PM was not deemed necessary to ensure adequate air defense coverage.

The S-200 battery is centrally located within the Oblast, but the system's 300 kilometer maximum range allows it to range targets inside of Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania. The system also offers a significant off-shore capability. While the S-200 is no longer a reliable system for engaging maneuverable targets such as fighter aircraft, it remains a significant threat to ISR platforms. The significant reach of the system both offshore and into the surrounding NATO member states would provide Russian air defense commanders with the ability to threaten ISR platforms operating in close proximity to Kaliningrad but remaining outside the engagement zones of the S-300PS batteries.

The following image depicts the engagement zones of the Kaliningrad Oblast's strategic SAM batteries:
Imagery of the S-200 site, seen below, suggests that two of the three batteries remain active, allowing the system to potentially engage two targets simultaneously.
Inactive Sites

There are currently nine inactive strategic SAM sites that have been identified within the Kaliningrad Oblast. These sites are prepared S-75 (SA-2 GUIDELINE), S-125 (SA-3 GOA), and S-300P sites. One tactical 2K12 (SA-4 GANEF) deployment site has also been located and is included here although tactical SAM coverage is outside the scope of this article. During hostilities, these inactive sites could be exploited to provide dispersal sites for the Oblast's resident S-300PS batteries. While only two of the sites are operationally configured for the S-300P, all of the sites would at least provide a degree of protection for the components thanks to the presence of different revetment configurations. Alternatively, S-300P series batteries could be deployed to the area to take up residence at some or all of the sites to bolster the air defense capability of the Oblast.

It should be noted that the 5N83 battle management complex employed by the S-300PS, which includes the 5N64S battle management radar, is capable of supporting six S-300PS batteries. Were there to be multiple S-300P series batteries introduced into the region, one or more additional 5N83 complexes would be needed to be deployed as well.

The following image depicts the inactive SAM sites located in the Kaliningrad Oblast:
Overall Layout

The following image depicts the entirety of the strategic air defense related network of sites within the Kaliningrad Oblast:
The following image depicts the overall coverage areas of both the SAM and EW assets in the Kaliningrad Oblast. This image highlights the overlapping layout of the entire network, depicting how the EW and SAM sites are positioned to support and defend each other. The multiple target engagement capability of the S-300PS, combined with the expansive EW coverage, allows the Kaliningrad Oblast air defense network to effectively repulse a small-scale strike package, perhaps designed to target and eliminate nuclear missiles in the area. The S-300PS network could engage a total of 30 targets simultaneously, and would be backed up by an Su-27 (FLANKER-B) interceptor unit in the area. Anything less than a full-scale aerial invasion of the Oblast would be an extremely difficult operation to successfully accomplish without risking severe losses and potential failure, inviting a Russian response which could conceivably escalate into an environment where a nuclear exchange is a definite possibility.
MODERNIZATION

Modernization efforts for the Kaliningrad Oblast's air defense network have been discussed in the open press as far back as 2001. Russian officials have stated that the extant S-200 complex will remain operational until it is replaced by the new S-400 (SA-21). S-400 batteries are currently being assigned to the Moscow air defense network, and it could be assumed that it will be some time before a battery is available for assignment to the Kaliningrad Oblast given Moscow's higher strategic priority. However, given the deteriorating relationship between Russia and NATO, replacing the S-200 complex with the S-400 may take on an increased priority in the near term. It is also possible that 150 km range S-300PM batteries displaced by S-400 units around Moscow could be reassigned to the Oblast to replace the older S-300PS batteries.

Were the SAM units to be upgraded, upgrading the EW network would also be necessary, particularly to support the S-400. The 5N64S battle management radar and associated 5N83 battle management complex would need to be replaced by the newer 30K6 complex and 600 km range 91N6 (BIG BIRD E) radar. A one-for-one replacement of S-300PS batteries by S-300PM batteries would necessitate the presence of a single 30K6 complex, capable of handling up to six S-300P and/or S-400 series batteries. Replacement of the 36D6 radar systems with newer 300 km range 96L6 radar systems is also a possibility as these systems were designed to operate with S-300PM and S-400 batteries.

Postulating the replacement of 36D6, 5N64S, S-300PS, and S-200 units with 96L6, 91N6, S-300PM, and S-400 units respectively, the following image depicts the potential coverage of the future Kaliningrad Oblast air defense network. Two range rings are provided for the S-400, one depicting the 240 km engagement range of the 48N6DM missile currently deployed with the system and one depicting the 400 km engagement range of the future 40N6 missile.
As can clearly be seen, such a modernization of the air defense network would significantly enhance the coverage area. The detection range of the EW assets would enable targets to be detected over the entirety of Poland and the Baltic Sea. Increased engagement ranges allow the western-sited S-300PM sites to combine with the S-400 battery to provide overlapping fields of fire over the entirety of the Oblast, bringing the eastern portion of the territory under the protection of a modern SAM system allowing for potential surface-to-surface missile units to be dispersed over a greater expanse and still remain under the protective umbrella of the network. This capability would potentially allow SSM units to deploy without organic tactical air defense support, aiding in their concealment during wartime as there would not be nearby SAM units giving off tell-tale radar emissions. Increasing the difficulty of locating and targeting any such missile units would increase their effectiveness as a potential nuclear deterrent.

CONCLUSION

As relations between Russia and the NATO powers have progressively deteriorated for a number of factors, to include Western political opinion regarding Russian military action in the Caucasus, insinuations have been made that Russia may place nuclear-armed missiles inside the Kaliningrad Oblast as a counter to American missile defense deployments in Poland and the Czech Republic. Regardless of whether or not this comes to pass, air defense of the Kaliningrad Oblast will continue to be a strategic priority for Russia, helping to ensure the continued security of its foothold inside territory dominated by NATO members.

GOOGLE EARTH PLACEMARK DATA

The range rings and site locations used in the imagery in this article can be downloaded as a Google Earth placemark file here.

SOURCES

-Satellite imagery provided by Google Earth and Kosmosnimki

S-200 Remains In Service
Russia Severs Military Ties With NATO
Nuclear Kaliningrad?
New Missiles in Kaliningrad?
The S-300P
NPO Almaz
Jane's Land-based Air Defence, various editionsAuthored by Sean O'Connor Visit geimint.blogspot.com for the article in its entirety.

3:04
Birth Certificate Troofers Bite the Dust
» ‎ Little Green Footballs

Well, this puts the eggs in the fridge and shuts off the light.

Can we please knock off the “birth certificate” troof stories now?

FactCheck.org: Born in the U.S.A.

In June, the Obama campaign released a digitally scanned image of his birth certificate to quell speculative charges that he might not be a natural-born citizen. But the image prompted more blog-based skepticism about the document’s authenticity. And recently, author Jerome Corsi, whose book attacks Obama, said in a TV interview that the birth certificate the campaign has is “fake.”

We beg to differ. FactCheck.org staffers have now seen, touched, examined and photographed the original birth certificate. We conclude that it meets all of the requirements from the State Department for proving U.S. citizenship. Claims that the document lacks a raised seal or a signature are false. We have posted high-resolution photographs of the document as “supporting documents” to this article. Our conclusion: Obama was born in the U.S.A. just as he has always said.

2:59
DoD News: Contracts for August 21, 2008
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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2:59
Ronald Reagan CSG Departs Malaysia
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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2:59
Pacific Partnership Kicks-Off Final Mission in Micronesia
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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2:59
USS George Washington Departs for Japan
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

The aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) with her crew of approximately 5,500 Sailors departed San Diego Aug. 21, to begin her journey to Yokosuka, Japan to replace USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) as the United States' only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier.
2:59
Sixth Fleet Deploys Ships in Support of Humanitarian Assistance Mission
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

Two U.S. Navy ships and a U.S. Coast Guard cutter are getting underway to transport humanitarian relief supplies to Georgia. These deployments are part of the larger United States response to the government of Georgia request for humanitarian assistance.
2:59
Russia Pulls Back Some Forces, But Still Holds Key Positions
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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2:59
S Ossetia Debacle & Political Backlash In Georgia
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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2:59
Abkhazia, S Ossetia Begin Joint Calls For Independence
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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2:59
U.S. Official: No 'Carte Blanche' For Russian Peacekeepers
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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2:59
Syrian Leader Highlights Solidarity, Seeks Arms, In Visit To Russia
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, in Russia on a two-day visit, backed Moscow's military action against Georgia at talks with President Dmitry Medvedev that were expected to cover purchases of Russian arms.
2:59
Pentagon: Russia Should Return U.S. Humvees
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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2:59
Russia tables its own draft UN resolution on Georgia
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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2:59
Russia Sets Firm Troop Withdrawal Date, Georgia Skeptical
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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2:59
Russia to keep door open to contacts with NATO
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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2:59
Ukraine: Russia should prepare to leave naval base
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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2:59
Taliban Claims Responsibility for Pakistan Bombings
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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2:59
Former Pakistani PM Threatens to Quit Ruling Coalition
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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2:59
Ex-Intelligence Official on Trial for Indonesian Activist's Death
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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2:59
Rice says Russia playing 'dangerous game' with bomber flights
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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2:59
OSCE to send another 20 military observers to Georgia
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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2:59
Russia says Georgia failing to withdraw from S.Ossetia
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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2:59
Reports say Russian Troops Moving from City of Gori
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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2:59
NATO Warns Russia to Adhere to Agreement, Remove Troops
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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2:59
Suicide Attack in Algeria Kills Dozens
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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2:59
Sudan Denies Threatening UN Over ICC Arrest Warrants
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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1:40
Leaked Data on Radicalization in the UK
» ‎ Counterterrorism Blog

The Guardian newspaper made public today parts of a classified internal research document produced by Britain's MI-5. As someone who has worked in intelligence and law enforcement, I do not condone the unauthorized release of classified material. While it is important to keep the public informed, prematurely releasing classified matieral can put (human) sources and (technical) methods at risk. I wonder how much such considerations factored into the Guardian's decision to publish its "exclusive" report on this report.

The academic analyst in me, however, is intrigued by the findings of this study, which is reportedly based on in-depth case studies of "several hundred individuals known to be involved in, or closely associated with, violent extremist activity." Combined with previous reports that as many as 4,000 Islamic extremists trained in Afgan training camps before returning to Britain, and British security officials' estimates that as many as 2,000 persons may be plotting attacks within the country, the findings of the classified MI-5 report highlight the incredible scope of the problem of radicalization in the UK.

Terrorist suspects, the study found, are mostly British nationals and the remainder are, with few exceptions, legal immigrants. Still, while some are well-educated and some are not, most are employed in low-grade jobs suggesting a lack of economic mobility and social integration are a big part of the problem in the UK.

Many lack religous literacy and are therefore susceptible to radical interpretations of extremist preachers or internet sites. There is evidence, British analysts suggest, that a well-established religious identity could protect against violent radiclization. In other words, the problem may not be too much but too little religion.

That the UK is engaged in such data collection and analysis is extremely impressive. The study, and its findings, help explalin why it is that the UK, along with Holland and a few other countries, is proactively developing cutting edge counter-radicalization techniques. Here in the U.S., immigrant communities are better integrated and enjoy a sense of economic mobility immigrant communities in Europe often do not. Still, American authorities would do well not only to learn from the studies and programs being implemented in the UK and elsewhere in Europe, but to implement some of their own.

1:34
Russia eyes new Syria arms deal
» ‎ BBC News | Middle East | World Edition

Moscow is ready to sell new weapons of "a defensive character" to Syria, Russia's foreign minister says.

0:43
New Anti-Obama Ad Targets Ayers Relationship
» ‎ Little Green Footballs

You know the Obama campaign will try to call this one a “smear,” but every assertion in it is factual.
[Video]

0:38
Saudis warn against smuggling 'carcinogenic' Israeli products
» ‎ Israel Matzav

'Our friends the Saudis' are warning against smuggling Israeli made products into the Kingdom. They claim that those products cause cancer. Saudi trade officials are warning against what they claim to be cancerous products made in Israel and other countries that are allegedly being smuggled into the kingdom. The Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry said smugglers are bringing in the products

0:26
Religion, Radicalization and the future of Terrorism
» ‎ Counterterrorism Blog

The UK's Guardian today published details of a report produced by Britain's Security Service (MI5) entitled, 'Understanding radicalization and violent extremism in the UK'. The report is from MI5's internal behavioral analysis unit and contains within it some interesting and surprising conclusions. The Guardian report covers many of these in depth (so no need to go over here) but one point, which is worth highlighting is the claim made within the report that religion is and was not a contributory factor in the radicalization of the home-grown terrorist threat that the UK faces. In fact, the report goes on to state that a strong religious faith protects individuals from the effects of extremism.

This viewpoint is one that is gathering strength and coincides with an article written by Martin Amis in the Wall Street Journal, which also argues that 'terrorism's new structure' is about the quest for fame
and thirst for power, with religion simply acting as a "means of mobilization".

All of this also tends to agree with the assertion made by Philip Bobbit in 'Terror and Consent', that al-Qaeda is simply version 1.0 of a new type of terrorism for the 21st century. This type of terrorism is attuned to the advantages and pressures of a market based world and acts more like a Silicon Valley start-up company than the Red Brigades -- being flexible, fast moving and wired -- taking advantage of globalization to pursue a violent agenda.

This all somewhat begs the question of, what next? If al-Qaeda is version 1.0 what is 2.0? This of course is hard to discern but looking at the two certain trends, which will shape humanity over the next 20 years - urbanization and virtualization - throws up some interesting potential opponents who are operating today. The road to mass urbanization is currently being highlighted by the 192021 project (19 cities, 20 million people in the 21st century) and amongst other things, points to the large use of slum areas to grow the cities of the 21st century. Slum areas are today being globally exploited from Delhi to Sao Paulo by Nigerian drug organizations that are able to recruit the indigenous people to build their own cities within cities. This kind of highly profitable criminal activity in areas beyond the vision of government is a disturbing incubator.
Increased global virtualization complements urbanization as well as standing alone. Virtual environments provide a useful platform for any kind of real-life extremist (as is now widely accepted) but it is the formation of groups within virtual spaces that then spill-out into real-space that could become a significant feature of the 21st century security picture. This is happening with, 'Project Chanology' a group that was formed virtually with some elements of the Anonymous movement in order to disrupt the Church of Scientology. While Project Chanology (WhyWeProtest Website)began as a series of cyber actions directed at Scientology's website, it is now organizing legal protests of Scientology buildings. A shift from the virtual to the real. A more sinister take on this is the alleged actions of the Patriotic Nigras - a group dedicated to the disruption of Second Life, which has reportedly taken to using the tactic of 'swatting' - which is the misdirection of armed police officers to a victim's home address. A disturbing spill-over into real-space.
Therefore, whatever pattern future terrorist movements follow, there are signs that religion will play a peripheral rather than central role.

0:26
Gaza blockade broken!
» ‎ Israel Matzav

But by whom? Let's go to the videotape.

0:19
Another Troofer Hallucination Bites the Dust
» ‎ Little Green Footballs

There is no joy in Trooferville tonight: Feds: Fires took down building next to twin towers.

GAITHERSBURG, Md. (AP) - Federal investigators said Thursday they have solved a mystery of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks: the collapse of World Trade Center building 7, a source of long-running conspiracy theories.

The 47-story trapezoid-shaped building sat north of the World Trade Center towers, across Vesey Street in lower Manhattan. On Sept. 11, it was set on fire by falling debris from the burning towers, but skeptics have long argued that fire and debris alone should not have brought down such a big steel-and-concrete structure.

Scientists with the National Institute of Standards and Technology say their three-year investigation of the collapse determined the demise of WTC 7 was actually the first time in the world a fire caused the total failure of a skyscraper. “The reason for the collapse of World Trade Center 7 is no longer a mystery,” said Dr. Shyam Sunder, the lead investigator on the NIST team.

Investigators also concluded that the collapse of the nearby towers broke the city water main, leaving the sprinkler system in the bottom half of the building without water.

This won’t stop the march toward Troof, of course, because these so-called scientists are obviously in on the plot.

August 21, 2008
23:30
Jimmy the Dhimmi to speak at DNC?
» ‎ Israel Matzav

Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Hussein Obama's party in Denver is going to be 'graced' with a speech by former President Jimmy the Dhimmi Carter, who was last seen laying a wreath at the grave of terror innovator Yasser Arafat and meeting with Hamas representatives in Egypt and Syria. The Republican Jewish Coalition has called on Obama to rescind the invitation to Carter (Hat Tip:

22:57
Immense Magnetic Tentacles
» ‎ Little Green Footballs

Revealed in this image from the Hubble Space Telescope: gigantic gaseous filaments up to 20,000 light years long, shaped by the magnetic field of a super-massive black hole in the galaxy NGC 1275.

Image credit: NASA, ESA, and A.C. Fabian (University of Cambridge, UK)

21:27
Missing Links
» ‎ Sabbah's Blog

Expose the identity of the criminals responsible for 9/11 - Israel.

Two hours of astonishing and shocking facts that not only confirms Israel links to 9/11, but also their unlimited control of America and American Life.

I feel sad for Americans more than my sadness feeling of being one of Israel the victims. Maybe we (Middle Eastern’s) are remote controlled by them, but Israel’s first hand control of America is probably unmatched in the mankind history.

Bring a lot of popcorn along with your favorite beverage then sit and watch this MUST SEE documentary.

Source: [www.911missinglinks.com]

21:08
ABC: McCain Backing Away from Abortion Pledge
» ‎ Little Green Footballs

ABC News says John McCain is backing away from a pledge to moderate the GOP’s platform position on abortion, as extreme social conservatives rattle their sabres.

McCain is on record stating that he’d like the platform to include exceptions for rape, incest, and to save the life of the mother, and the social cons are vehemently opposed.

“There’s a process in place for the delegates to work on the platform and we are going to let that process work itself out,” McCain spokesman Brian Rogers told ABC News. ...

“If he were to change the party platform,” to account for exceptions such as rape, incest or risk to the mother’s life, “I think that would be political suicide,” Tony Perkins, the president of the conservative Family Research Council, told ABC News in May. “I think he would be aborting his own campaign because that is such a critical issue to so many Republican voters and the Republican brand is already in trouble.”

While leaving the platform untouched would please many in the GOP’s socially conservative base, it could alienate some of the more moderate voters that McCain is hoping to attract.

“If he doesn’t change the platform, then he’s being the same kind of hypocrite that he accused Bush of being in 2000,” Jennifer Blei Stockman, the co-chairwoman of Republican Majority for Choice, told ABC News in May. “Many people think of him as a moderate,” she added. “But when it comes out that he doesn’t want to change this extreme, right-wing Republican platform, the word ‘moderate’ is going to disappear from any description of McCain.”

20:46
Jon Voight Rips Roseanne
» ‎ Israellycool

A few days ago I blogged about Roseanne Barr’s scathing attack on fellow celebrity Jon Voight.

Well, Jon’s not going to take it lying down. Here’s his response:

Burn!

Update: The insane one responds on her blob blog:

Jon Voight’s words about me, where he totally blames the victim, as all right wingers always do:
“We can never be surprised at what vile evil comes from the mouth of a confessed victim of child abuse”

“Confessed victims of child abuse”….like “confessed criminals, confessed rapists, and confessed child abusers and confessed murderers” this sick and twisted statement sits happily on the front page of EXTRA on line… I guess the people at EXTRA agree that children who are being abused should keep their mouths shut! “confessing” (telling the authorities) that you are abused makes you vile and evil! warner brothers should be ashamed of themselves.

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20:29
Obama: We're Not Setting a Good Example for Russia
» ‎ Little Green Footballs

Barack Obama’s naïve, almost schoolyard-level attitude toward international politics is on display again today, as he says the US needs to set a better example for Russia: Obama: Russia, U.S. should not ‘charge into’ other countries.

“We’ve got to send a clear message to Russia and unify our allies,” Obama told a crowd of supporters in Virginia. “They can’t charge into other countries. Of course it helps if we are leading by example on that point.”

This is normal “progressive” thinking, and you find these bizarre assumptions everywhere in leftist circles: if we just achieve some noble ideal of behavior, that alone will be enough to usher in a new era of peace and global good will — and in the meantime, it’s important to let our adversaries know that we’re not perfect and we understand their feelings.

But not even Jimmy Carter was this starry-eyed.

Also see:
Hot Air - Obama: We should probably stop setting examples for Russian aggression

20:01
The Zionists Ate My Medal
» ‎ Israellycool

Meet the latest casualty of the evil Zionists: palestinian Olympic success.

Nader Al-Masri, a Palestinian athlete from Gaza, finished 13th and last in his heat of the 5000 meters in the Olympic games in Beijing on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old’s performance was not a surprise as he hails from the teeming, impoverished and besieged ribbon of land that is the Gaza Strip (sports reporting at its finest -ed).

“I only managed to leave Gaza in April when I trained in Amman for one month, and then one month in China as part of the Olympic solidarity program,” Al-Masri told AFP.

The last time Al-Masri competed was at the Asian Games in Qatar in December 2006.

Al-Masri finished 38th out of the 39 competitors in the 5km in a time of 14min 41.10sec more than a minute off the fastest time.

“When you’re away and out of competition like this, you can’t compete against the champions,” he said.

“I am proud to represent Palestine but it’s not enough,” he added.

Al-Masri was one of four Palestinian athlehes to compete in the 2008 summer games.

You know, I grew up in Perth, Australia. Kind of a small city. I’m sure had I lived in a bigger city such as Sydney, I would have had access to the facilities necessary to turn me into a swimming superstar. Mark Spitz should be congratulating me, dammit!

By the way, in case you were wondering, the runner who performed worse than Al-Masri was Soe Min Thu of Myanmar. Damn cyclone!

Also not performing so well were Bahrain’s Rashid Ramzi (drugged by police), and Hasan Mahboob (never stood a chance with that name).

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19:46
Real News: Hamas and Fatah tug of war
» ‎ PalCast

The fighting between Hamas and Fatah has calmed down for the time being. Deadly clashes between the two rival political factions led Fatah fighters to flee to Israel for protection. One hundred and fifty Fatah fighters were relocated to the West Bank by Israel. In an editorial The Lebanese, The Daily Star stated that Hamas and Fatah are a bigger threat to Palestinians than Israel. Executive Director of The Electronic Intifada Ali Abunimah believes that outside forces have also contributed to the instability in the region.

This program was produced by The Real News for August 11, 2008.

For more information, visit:
therealnews.com
electronicintifad.net

19:19
A new shortage in Gaza
» ‎ Israel Matzav

There's a new shortage in Gaza, and I'm not sure they can even blame Israel for this one. It seems that Hamas has run out of 'Palestinian Authority' passports to issue. The official explanation is that passport paper hasn't arrived from specialist printers in France. But passports are still being issued in the West Bank, and few doubt that the real reason is to punish Gaza's militant rulers -

19:19
twelvth grade protest..
» ‎ East Med Sea Peace

when i was in year ten to twelve we would partake in many different protests including peace rallies.. student rallies.. green rallies but i never knew anyone who took it this far..

the link above takes you to an article that describes the personal resistance of an israeli kid - about to join the army - who feels incapable of joining the IDF due to his "conscience".. he feels that the army is acting immorally and regularly abusing human rights and he says he doesnt want to partake in these activities..

ניר, שחתם על "מכתב השמיניסטים 2008" שנשלח לראש הממשלה והצהיר כי "יסרב ליטול חלק בפעולות צבא הכיבוש בשטחים", נכנס אתמול (רביעי) לכלא. במכתב נוסף לשר הביטחון אהוד ברק כתב ניר: "אינני יכול לקחת חלק בפעילות של צבא כובש המפר זכויות אדם כדרך קבע. כאזרח ישראלי וכנער המועמד לשירות ביטחון אני חש אחריות רחבה לבחירות שלי, ומתוך תחושת אחריות זו אני מסרב להיכנס למעגל הדמים ולהוסיף קיסמים למדורת השנאה המשתוללת בשדותינו

he is now sitting in jail.. this is not a tale about the tragedy of jewish human rights.. on the contrary it is his right to protest.. but yes he is also evading his duties and there are consequences..

not a simple dilemma and his friends (as shown in the video that takes FOREVER to load) have gathered to support him.. which shows the strength of his friendships.. but the question i ask is how.. how do you bring about change.. can you just evade? ie if i disagree with my government's budgetary decisions can i just stop paying taxes? is that valid civil disobedience? or should he be trying to change the system from within - assuming he doesnt seek to renounce his membership..

this is not a simple issue.. and it is much larger than this very example.. the twelvth graders cleverly stretched a concept that was initiated in 2003 called the pilots' letter by issuing the twelvth graders' letter.. i dont think itll change the whole society but it definitely will send out a message that people need to talk and think..

i guess the one question i personally would like to ask these kids is if they wish that our army disappeared this second.. ie would they like it if everyone (in israel) followed their example and swapped their guns with roses.. do they think that cancelling the army is a reasonable security solution.. do they believe we would be safer..

19:13
RoP Kills 59 in Pakistan
» ‎ Little Green Footballs

Suicide bombers struck at a weapons complex in Pakistan that some think may be engaged in nuclear weapons development: Suicide bombing at Pakistan arms complex kills 59.

WAH, Pakistan - Twin Taliban suicide bombings at Pakistan’s largest weapons complex killed at least 59 people Thursday, heightening the turmoil following Pervez Musharraf’s ouster as president.

The bombers struck two different gates of the government weapons complex just as workers were leaving. The complex, comprising 12 factories, is located in Wah, a garrison city 20 miles west of the capital, Islamabad.

Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas said the perimeter is guarded by a dedicated paramilitary force. Experts have suggested that facilities related to Pakistan’s secretive nuclear weapons program are located in the Wah area, possibly including a uranium enrichment plant. Abbas insisted the complex attacked on Thursday was producing only conventional weapons.

And just to make things even more interesting, the Islamist ruling coalition that drove Pervez Musharraf out of power is now collapsing.

The ruling coalition, made up of traditional rivals who were united primarily in their determination to force Musharraf from office, meanwhile appeared to be veering toward collapse. The two main parties have been unable to bridge key differences such as whether judges fired by Musharraf should be quickly reinstated and who should succeed him as president.

Pakistanis have urged the civilian government to stop bickering and turn quickly to tackling the country’s problems from an economic downturn to extremist violence in the volatile northwest, where fighting between security forces and Islamic militants has escalated in recent weeks.

18:45
Australia to block Hezbullah TV
» ‎ Israel Matzav

The Australian government is seeking to block al-Manar television - Hezbullah's propaganda station - from being shown through a cable provider in Indonesia. In response, the Indonesians have compared al-Manar to CNN and Al-Beeb (I guess if they're talking about the political outlook rather than the actual content, the Indonesians have a valid point). Let's go to a videotape with a sample of
18:33
Saudi Shura Council member: 'Women should not leave home without their husbands' permission'
» ‎ Israel Matzav

Following are excerpts from an interview with Saudi Shura Council member Sheik Abd Al-Muhsin Al-Abikan, which aired on MBC TV (Saudi Arabia) on August 7, 2008. Let's go to the videotape. A transcript follows. Sheik Abd Al-Muhsin Al-Abikan: Allah said, in Surat Al-Nisa, of the Koran: "Men are guardians of women, because Allah has made the one superior to the other, and because they support

18:00
Examining Legal Regimes to Combat Terrorism in Near East & South Asia
» ‎ Counterterrorism Blog

On July 22 and 23, I attended a conference co-hosted by the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies at the National Defense University and the Inter-University Center for Legal Studies at the International Law Institute, titled, "Lifting the Fog of Law: Legal Regimes to Combat Terrorism in the Near East and South Asia” in Washington. The conference brought together 70 experts from the U.S., North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia came together to exchange views on the effectiveness of legal regimes in those regions as a foundation upon which to build national and international counter-terrorism efforts. Both hosting organizations are known for their objective analyses of and experience in CT policy, and we have co-sponsored numerous panels with the co-director of the Inter-University Center, Dr. Yonah Alexander (see a summary of our last such panel held in May). With their permission, I am posting a summary of the proceedings' main points:

"Multiple insights into the traditions for dealing with violent actors and the various national legal regimes under discussion resulted from the conference. These insights will be fully addressed in the edited volume that will result from this event. There were, however, some overarching issues that bear mentioning here.

a. Context Matters: In the international arena, law and legal frameworks are to a great extent the product of the cultural environment from which they originate; and they have evolved on different tracks over time in response to individual situations. It is a difficult task to reconcile differences in legal systems with such divergent origins and underlying rationales, even where interests are shared and common threats menace.

17:56
Agenda driven?
» ‎ Israel Matzav

Yehuda Berlinger thinks that Wednesday's International Jewish Blogger's Conference was a failure because it failed to accomplish Nefesh b'Nefesh's 'agenda.' In particular, there is no common conviction that Israeli bloggers are doing hasbara, or should be doing hasbara, or even what hasbara is. Among the three or four key speakers, and the eight panelists, there was little consensus that there

17:38
Essay: Museum of the extinct race
» ‎ JPost.com Front Page Top Stories

Europe's lost Jews are a lot like the Mayan Indians: gone, but still interesting.

17:26
Israel's Livni downbeat on peace
» ‎ BBC News | Middle East | World Edition

The front-runner to become Israel's next PM, Tzipi Livni, plays down hopes of reaching a Mid-East peace deal this year.

A Peek into Others' mind » August 21, 2008

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