Welcome! Our goal at Winds of Change.NET is to give you one power-packed briefing of insights, news and trends from the global War on Terror that leaves you stimulated, informed, and occasionally amused every Monday & Thursday. In addition, we also have our in-depth Iraq Report.
Auditions are in progress, and today's Winds of War briefing is brought to you by Sean Manion.
TOP TOPICS
- As of Wednesday evening (EDT) the eight British servicemen taken into custody in Iran still remain. Earlier reports of their release were premature, and it has been pushed back until Thursday. Hopefully, this situation will end quickly, but Belmont Club has some observations should it turn into a protracted crisis.
- A South Korean translator, Kim Sun-il, taken hostage in Iraq in May and threatened with execution unless South Korea pulled its troops out of Iraq, has been beheaded. The video of the killing has been posted on an Islamist website, where the devout Christian translator is referred to as a missionary. South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun refuses to pullout troops and still plans to send more.
- The White House has released memos detailing what was and wasn't approved of with regards to prisoner treatment. Intel Dump has all of the details.
Other Topics Today Include: Iran v. IAEA; Portland 7:And then there were none; Saudi Amnesty; Fighting in Waziristan; Indo-Pakistan Talks; Pakistan denies link with al Qaeda; Canada leaving Afghanistan; Elections; Moore 9/11; NK proposal; Igushetia raids; and supersooldiers of the future
IRAN REPORTS
- The US is repeating calls for more pressure on Iran from the IAEA.
- This comes as new satellite photos indicate that Iran completely razed a suspected nuclear site. The site also contains a US made radiation detector radiation detector that had been legally sold to a hospital or university in the 90's.
DOMESTIC SECURITY BRIEFINGS
- Charges against Habis Abdulla Al Saoub, the last remaining defendant of the Portland 7, are going to be dropped as authorities have confirmed his death in Oct 2003 in a battle with Pakistani troops. [JK: I'll take that as "proven guilty"]
THE WIDER WAR
- Saudi Arabia has offered a one month amnesty to Islamic militants there. Anyone turning himself in will still be prosectued but will be spared the death penalty. After one month, the 'full might' of the Saudi government will be brought down upon remaining militants. While the sentiment here is useful, one wonders just how mighty this 'full might' might be.
- Fighting continues in South Waziristan where an official claims that Pakistani troops have killed 30 tribesmen and 70 foreign fighters. A Taliban leader calling himself Abu Jihad vowed revenge for the killing of tribal leader Nek Muhammed last week. Nek will apparently be replaced by Haji Umar.
- Kashmir and nuclear non-proliferation will be on the top of the agenda at upcoming Indo-Pakistani talks. Meanwhile, Pakistan denies links with al Qaeda alleged in the 9/11 report. Sound the hollow bell ringing.
- As a July 5th election day approaches in Indonesia, candidates and voters alike find terrorism to be a low priority issue. Alan Oxley over at TCS explains just how important an issue it is in this region. On a related note, US ally in the WoT, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, has been declared winner of the May 10th election in the Philippines.
- Canada is planning to remove most of its troops from Afghanistan in August, as it will rotate command of the ISAF to NATO. The US has requested it stay around until the elections in September for added security, but Canada's response has been cool so far.
- Michael Moore's take on the WoT will be hitting theaters this week. He was in DC to show the "R" rated film to the pols. You can make your own decision on how whether or not to go see it, but Hitch recommends that you do, though I doubt this is the type of review Moore was hoping for.
- The US presented a North Korean delegation with a proposal to make NK nuclear weapon free while helping to normalize its relations with the rest of the world. It will likely take weeks for an official response. Be hopeful that this gets us somewhere, but don't hold your breath.
- Nearly 100 people, including many law enforcement officials, were killed during coordinated raids at 15 sites by hundreds of militants in Ingushetia near Chechnya. While this event doesn't fall directly under the WoT, the successful tactics here (a large number of coordinated raids timed for shift changes with fake checkpoints to ambush rersponders) means they might be copied.
- We try to close on a lighter note if possible. It looks like the next generation of supersoldier may have arrived.
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Note: you have completely goofed up your links. In the bullet-point beginning "As a July 5 election day approaches in Indonesia", the link at the end is currently listed as (square brackets have been substituted for angle brackets, so you can see what's going on):
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If it gets pushed back it's because it's a SETUP BETWEEN BRITS and MULLAHS so that NEWS MEDIA get distracted from 18tir... It's all a BRIT/MULLAH scam!!!! WAKE UP PEOPLE! - THE British Gov wants the Mullahs to maintain power for the time being..
Notice how the British and Mullahs continue to get as much out of this recently scheduled watersport event! Of course the sailors were released almost immediately, they apologized on Mullah-run television, one of the sailors said that he "now has a better understanding of Islam", and today Jack Straw says that the Brits will continue engagement with the Mullahs - but notice how this guy, Jack Straw, calls the Islamic Republic Of Iran the Islamic "People's" Republic Of Iran! Since when is it called the People's Republic? Since when has the Government of Iran been for the people. This is nice example of ultimate deception going on and it would be very helpful for you bloggers to pick it up and go with it!
Everything the British do and say is only for the benefit of the Mullahs and their continued power -> so that the British will be able to continue their deals with the mullahs. If the Mullahs are overthrown by the people of Iran, most likely all business will be siphoned directly to the United States (because, the US has not directly supported the Mullahs as have these other nations, ie: The Iranian people love the United States and it is this very fact that scares the hell out of all dictators in the region and all th ose countries in Europe and elsewhere who wish toe COMPETE with the United States.. This is the real picture!)
Another motive for these things occuring is that it will distract news attention away from the Iranian people and their struggle (July Protests/ 18tir). Of course media rarely pays close attention to the millions of Iranians who take to the streets, but with these tactics orchestrated by the Mullahs and their business partners there may be even less coverage! What are all of your thoughts?
Britain Pledges to Stay "Engaged" with Iran
LONDON -- The British government said on Thursday it remained committed to a policy of constructive engagement towards Tehran despite diplomatic tensions over the arrest of eight naval personnel who strayed into Iranian waters.
"I am in no doubt at all that our policy of engagements with the government of Iran and the Islamic People's Republic of Iran is the best approach," Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said minutes after UK diplomats reported the eight were on their way out of Iran.
Important piece of good news!
This good news differs from previous good news - previous good news has been about material accomplishments. This is a spiritual accomplishment: we have finally achieved some legitimacy:
Article Here
Josh: Some have been arguing all along that this is where we're headed. Not to say i'm not grateful for your unusally optimistic link.
Joe: I anxiously await your first first hybrid pumpkin/lamp-rubbing joke. :-)