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Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Alighieri who wrote (212557)	12/3/2004 10:24:39 AM
From: RetiredNow	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1573927

Perhaps you think so. But Iran with a nuclear bomb means that terrorists will have access to a nuclear bomb, which means terrorists will do their damndest to hit the U.S. with a nuclear bomb. The dots aren't so hard to connect.

To: Alighieri who wrote (212557)	12/3/2004 4:48:32 PM
From: RetiredNow	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1573927

Al, yet another reason for the U.S. not to trust Iran: Iranians Nabbed For Trying to Get Night Vision Gear Friday, December 03, 2004 WASHINGTON — U.S. and Austrian authorities have arrested two Iranian men on charges of attempting to illegally export thousands of sophisticated American night-vision (search) systems for Iran's military, U.S. officials said Friday. The alleged transactions were eventually expected to involved about 3,000 of the advanced helmet-mounted Generation III systems, which can amplify even faint starlight so that soldiers can see to fight in the dark. "Sophisticated night vision systems allow U.S. troops to own the night, giving them a key advantage over their opponents during night-time combat. In the wrong hands, these night vision systems pose a threat to our troops around the world," said Michael J. Garcia, chief of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (search). The two suspects, Mahmoud Seif (search) and Shahrzad Mir Gholikhan (search), were arrested earlier this week on export violation charges in Vienna, Austria, by U.S. and Austrian authorities shortly after they arrived to pick up their first batch of night-vision equipment. The investigation dates to August 2002 and involves ICE, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and Austrian security personnel. Exports of such advanced military equipment from the United States is forbidden without permission from the State Department. Iran is also subject to sanctions that bar most other U.S. exports. Austrian laws also prohibit such technology transfers. During negotiations for the night-vision systems, Seif and Gholikhan allegedly said they were working in direct contact with the Iranian goverment, ICE officials said. The case marked the latest in a string of attempts by Iranians to illegally obtain advanced U.S. military equipment, which has also included several recent efforts to buy components for missiles, helicopters and jet fighter aircraft.

To: Alighieri who wrote (212557)	12/3/2004 4:52:28 PM
From: RetiredNow	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1573927

Al, you say Saddam's Iraq was not in league with terrorists. Yet, the Iraqis themselves will tell you that Saddam was up to his neck in terrorist support: iraqinews.com Ansar al-Islam (Supporters of Islam) Jund al-Islam Soldiers of God General Ansar al-Islam is a radical Kurdish Islamic group that is supportive of Saddam Hussein's regime. This group is located in the pseudo-autonomous Northern Iraq. This group has ties with Taliban and al-Qaeda. It is the most radical group operating in the Iraqi Kurdistan region. Background Ansar al-Islam was established in December 2001 after a merger between Jund al-Islam, led by Abu Abdallah al-Shafi'i and the Islamic Movement splinter group led by Mullah Krekar. Both leaders are believed to have served in Afghanistan. The group is based in Biyarah and surrounding areas near the border with Iran. Activities Ansar al-Islam recent activities include: razing of beauty salons, burning a schools for girls, and murdered women in the streets for refusing to wear the burqa. It has seized a Taliban-style enclave of 4,000 civilians and several villages near the Iranian border. It is also responsible for ambushing and killing of 42 Kurdish soldiers. Ansar al-Islam is in a state of war with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). It was responsible for the assassination in 2001 of a senior official of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), Franso Hariri, and for the attempted killing of Burhan Salih, head of the PUK-led Iraqi Kurdistan regional government. However, Ansar al-Islam is not in armed confrontation with the KDP. Strength About 700 members. Additional Info According to some reports, the group has received $600,000 from al-Qaeda, and a delivery of weapons and Toyota Land Cruisers. There are also reports stating that Ansar al-Islam received $35,000 from the Mukhabarat branch of Iraqi Intelligence Service, in addition to a considerable quantity of arms. The leader of Ansar al-Islam, Mullah Krekar has been captured in September of 2002.