Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : America Under Siege: The End of Innocence -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: John Hunt who wrote (12245)	12/24/2001 11:05:06 AM
From: calgal	Respond to of 27720

jewishworldreview.com

To: John Hunt who wrote (12245)	12/24/2001 11:05:21 AM
From: calgal	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 27720

Tony Snow Musings newsandopinion.com -- The war in Afghanistan is over, for all intents and purposes, but now begins something even more challenging: Peace in Afghanistan. Afghanistan is less a country than a collection of tribes with a long history of fighting and reconciling -- kind of like a large and very combative family. The country, which for centuries has been the crossroads of Central Asia, has hosted explorers -- such as Marco Polo -- superpowers -- the British and the Soviets -- and adventurers of all descriptions. It has seen intrigue, violence, conquest and liberation -- just about everything but prosperity. The real challenge for the United States and its allies is to succeed where others have failed -- much as we have done militarily -- and convert a medieval, tribal society into a modern republic. It sounds outlandish -- even insanely optimistic -- but you know what? We subdued a country in ten weeks flat. If anybody can show others how to turn the rocky wastes of Afghanistan into a field of dreams, we're the ones. Osama bin Laden's euphoric claim that Allah foretold and blessed the September 11th massacre raises the touchy question of whether he's a delusional nut or the leader of a significant Muslim movement. Even though most Islamic scholars and worshippers regard the slaughter of innocents as a horrible sin, a network of mosques, many supported and guided by friendly governments in places as Saudi Arabia and Egypt, openly spread the venomous message of bin Laden. So, for that matter, do mosques in Western capitals. Homicidal ideologies of this sort don't deserve the dignity of being called religions. They lavish thanksgiving and praise on murderous men and replace an Almighty Creator with a bloodthirsty destroyer. The governments in the Muslim world, most of which control who gets to say what in the mosques, have to make a choice: They can muzzle the mullahs who advocate slaughter, or they can resign themselves to the fact that sooner or later, we'll make them pay for what they say. Some months ago, I railed at reporters' habit of personalizing thugs and mass murderers. Back then, I took umbrage at the widespread habit of calling Timothy McVeigh "Tim" as if he were a long-lost pal from homeroom, who suddenly had become famous. Now comes the habit of talking in overly familiar terms about Osama bin Laden, whose credentials as a homicidal creep need no embellishment by me. A growing clan of American broadcasters has adopted the practice of calling the punk "Osama." This may seem like a small thing perhaps it even smacks of contempt, like the general reference to Iraq's dictator as "Saddam." But I still think journalists ought to adopt as starchy a formality as possible when it comes to gleefully evil men including Saddam Hussein. Leave the chirpy personal stuff for protesters, politicians and poster makers. Let reporters, at least, treat the man like a stranger, not a friend. The Department of Justice is trying to figure out whether to try John Walker Lindh, the Marin County Taliban, for treason. Attorney General John Ashcroft reportedly has qualms, perhaps because the young man is several slices short of a loaf, perhaps because he's young, perhaps because he grew up in an amoral wasteland. But let's consider the other side of the ledger. The kid, after embracing Islam in a failed attempt to shock his mom and dad, high tailed it to Yemen, where he learned a thing or two about Islam -- and a whole lot about terrorism. Then, he made his way to Afghanistan and threw in with the Taliban, who at the time were amusing themselves with public executions and other forms of despotism. He joined al Qaeda, where he helped plot ways to kill his own countrymen -- and he may have aided in the murder of CIA agent Mike Spann. Hmmm: Left his country, joined bin Laden, planned to massacre Americans. If that's not treason, what is? newsandopinion.com

To: John Hunt who wrote (12245)	12/24/2001 11:06:47 AM
From: John Hunt	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 27720

Saudi unrest leads to 300+ arrests in Jedda [ Abu Dhabi [MENL] -- Saudi Arabia has arrested at least 300 people in the aftermath of massive unrest in the port city of Jedda. Saudi authorities said thousands of young people rampaged in Jedda during the Id El Fitr holiday on Monday. They said thousands of young men blocked a main thoroughfare in Jedda and began attacking women and families along the beach. It was not clear whether the rampage was the work of Islamic fundamentalists or hooligans. Jedda is regarded as the most liberal city in Saudi Arabia and a leading vacation spot. Many of the attackers donned masks so they could not be identified. Authorities said the attackers refused police orders to disperse. Saudi authorities restored order and clamped a curfew in downtown Jedda. Officials said many of the attackers escaped. They said those arrested face severe punishment. ] Source link. menewsline.com

To: John Hunt who wrote (12245)	12/25/2001 12:52:49 PM
From: John Hunt	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 27720

India and Pakistan both deploy ballistic missiles ( Not the kind of news one wants for a Christmas day, but the game of Indian-Pakistan roulette continues with bigger weapons ) Competitive military posturing between Indian and Pakistan assumed more belligerent proportions, with both sides mobilising ballistic missile groups. Close on the heels of Pakistani media reports about "activation" of missiles directed at India from its Kharian base, reliable sources indicated that the Indian Army has moved its Prithvi Short Range Ballistic Missile (SRBM) batteries to strategic locations closer to the India-Pakistan border along Punjab. The 150 km range Prithvi missile is handled by the 333 Missile Group, which is headquartered at Secunderabad. "Movement (of the missile group) is taking place," confirmed a senior official of the Ministry of Defence. While declining to "talk specifics", he reiterated that "India is in a state of high alert". The source hastened to clarify that the Prithvi missile batteries had been "moved" but not "deployed". India has based the Missile Group far away from the Indo-Pak border at Secunderabad as a confidence building measure. Because of its short range, any movement of this tactical battlefield missile, and that of its Hatf counterparts possessed by Pakistan, close to the border is a destabilising factor. The deployment of this missile in Punjab effectively brings the Pakistani heartland - notably Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Faisalabad within striking range. The Prithvi is generally equipped with conventional warheads but is also capable of mounting a nuclear warhead. Hence, distance of SRBMs from the border is also considered a nuclear risk reduction measure (NRRM). The Prithvi is a single stage, liquid fuel, road mobile and inertially-guided missile. The 333 Missile Group is reportedly equipped with 15 launchers and about 75 missiles. It's weakness, however, is that it takes several hours to refuel the liquid propulsion missile before firing. The implications in terms of tactical response time are obvious. It's also the only Indian ballistic missile which is operational. By contrast, Pakistan's operational missiles include the 300 km range Hatf II (Chinese M-11), the 600 km range Hatf III (Chinese M-9), the 750 km Shaheen I (Hatf-IV), the 1150-1500 km Ghauri I/ II (Hatf-V) and the 2500 km Shaheen II, giving it superiority in missile-based weapon delivery systems. But for the Ghauris, all are solid-fuelled propelled, requiring very little time to be fired. While India does have the demonstrated technology for 1500 km (Agni I) and 2,500 km (Agni II) missiles, the only one it does have ready in its arsenal is the short-range Prithvi. ] hindustantimes.com