Entries in terrorism (5)

Sunday
08Nov2009

Sri Lanka: Notes from a War on Terror (Vanguard, CurrentTV)

Date20091108 at 13:16

Vanguard Journalism | CurrentTV

Vanguard correspondent Mariana van Zeller travels to Sri Lanka during the final days of the country’s civil war to see how one of the world’s most powerful insurgencies, the Tamil Tigers, was finally defeated. While some security experts are hailing Sri Lanka as a case study in how to defeat an insurgency, Mariana finds that it comes at a steep price.


in tagged , , ,
by Authorrichardwalker | | | | Comments Off
Saturday
07Nov2009

Orlando shooting spree and Fort Hood tragedy - 4 more videos

Date20091107 at 09:12

UPDATE:

Going Postal | The Daily Beast

The office shooting in Orlando—on the same day unemployment crested 10 percent—is a deadly omen. Mark Ames on why spikes in joblessness always breed more workplace violence.

On Friday morning, it was announced that America’s unemployment had unexpectedly climbed to 10.2 percent, the highest it’s been in a quarter-century. The jobless report was released right around the time that a bankrupt, desperate, and unemployed 40-year-old man, Jason Rodriguez, attacked his former employer’s office in Orlando, Florida—one of the worst-hit states in the country.

 

 

 

 

“Orlando, Florida (CNN) — A 40-year-old man accused of killing one and wounding five in a shooting at a business where he once worked was charged Friday with first-degree murder, police said.

“I’m just going through a tough time right now, I’m sorry,” the 40-year-old suspect who had recently declared bankruptcy allegedly told police as he was taken into custody.

Authorities identified the suspect as Jason Rodriguez, a former employee of Reynolds Smith & Hills, whose offices are located in the 16-story Gateway Center building.

The incident began at 11:44 a.m., when Rodriguez entered the business’ eighth-floor reception area, said Lt. Louis Tanzi, violent crimes section commander for the Orlando Police Department.

“He produced a handgun and started shooting in the reception area and continued shooting in the entire office area until he left,” he told reporters.

According to the charging affidavit, the fatality occurred when Rodriguez entered the suite, pulled a handgun from a holster under his shirt and shot twice at an employee who was standing near the receptionist’s desk.

He then entered a common work area “firing multiple rounds and causing injuries to several other employees,” it says, citing a witness.

During the incident, Rodriguez “was recognized by numerous former co-workers,” it says.

He then left in a car, described by witnesses as a small, silver compact vehicle, the affidavit says.

Police went to his residence where they found a 2001 four-door silver Hyundai, it says.
…
Asked by a reporter why he allegedly committed the crime, Rodriguez, escorted by police, said, “They left me to rot.”

Paraded in front of reporters outside the police station, he said, “Innocent.”“ 

 

 

Tanzi said he was “very comfortable” that authorities have the right man. “We’re positive; we have eyewitnesses who have identified him,” he said, adding that Rodriguez will be facing other charges as well.

Tanzi said other employees of the architectural and engineering firm where the attack occurred have described Rodriguez as a “disgruntled former employee.”

A company spokesman said Rodriguez had been let go from the company two years ago for “performance issues.”

 


 

Lee says Hasan made “outlandish” comments six months ago, calling for Muslims to stand up against the aggressor (meaning the U.S. of A.)

 

Nidal Hasan’s Cousin Nader did not know about imminent deployment, Hasan’s “worst nightmare.” Also mentions harassment problems for which Hasan had hired an attorney.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-11-07/going-postal/
in tagged , , , , , ,
by Authorrichardwalker | | | | Comments Off
Saturday
19Sep2009

9/11 falsity - Let this be a warning to all of you

Date20090919 at 22:01

UPDATE: FriendFeed conversation embedded at bottom.

Dear reader: if you have “concerns” about the events of 9/11 eight years ago, I ask you to weigh your concerns against events that took place in the last few months. What I am seeing on the Right and on the Left is polarized ideology, misinformation, poor communication, feelings of betrayal, and some real desire for change. Unfortunately, “birthers” “deathers” and “9/11 truthers” are in no position to help anyone effect positive change. 

Apparently the “9/11 truth” movement is still getting some traction. Its most recent attempt at legitimacy is a little fictional scenario cooked up by Alex Jones and Charlie Sheen, where Sheen requests a 20 minute meeting with President Obama… and either asks questions, or just sinisterly intones “we have many questions, Mr. President. Lots and lots of questions.” 

Charlie Sheen asserts that he “wants his country back.” How unfortunate that he’s living in an entirely different country than I am — one that plots horrible attacks against its own population, using thousands upon thousands of criminal participants — none of whom have come forward, not even anonymously.  I’m certain that something shocking and conclusive would have shown up at wikileaks.org in the last 8 years were there any truth at all to this tired, offensive theory.

I’ve heard that there are several people on the right who are seduced by the “9/11 truth” movement. I’m sure Alex Jones doesn’t have any party affiliation at all. His profitable media empire and entire reason to exist is predicated on our government being an evil, sinister, corrupt enterprise focused solely on oppressing its citizens.  I wonder does he have children, and at what age does he tell them they are living in a prison?

The Sheen statements start at 4:12. Leading up to that is the same old tired mash of “unexplained 9/11  facts” some of which are legitimate curiosities, most of which are pathetically laughable.

Now I will cut the crap and give you 3 videos where National Geographic takes these “9/11 truth” people seriously, and tests the theories for possibility, not plausibility. The Purdue simulation took two years to complete. I will henceforth regard people clinging to these theories as willfully delusional, and real burdens to a democratic society. Democracy doesn’t operate on autopilot.

 

 

Matt Taibbi also refutes the possibility of such a huge conspiracy.

 

I’ll let Noam Chomsky have the last word. He’s very succinct and to the point. He is my type of thinker — especially in his pin-pointing of what I call the “conspiracy profiteers” of whom Alex Jones is a prime example.

FriendFeed conversation:

 

in , tagged , , , ,
by Authorrichardwalker | | | | Comments Off
Tuesday
08Sep2009

Petr Buben makes much of the latest 9/11 conspiracy tidbit 

Date20090908 at 01:36
9/11: Science and Conspiracy | National Geographic ~Good progress. At least they mention there is something else than official story. In fact, there is the truth - 9/11 is a controlled demolition. Who did what, and when? Polygraph questioning should tell us. We need independent investigation.

I’m frankly very very tired of the “9/11 Truth” “movement.” I’ve done my own research, and followed up in recent years. I guess I was just irritable and didn’t like seeing this pop up in my friendfeed stream.

I’ve a long-standing ban on Alex Jones and his sites prisonplanet.net and infowars.com. Note that I refuse to link to them - you will have to type into your browser if you just can’t help yourself.

Here is the discussion that followed from Buben’s notion that particles of thermite (or something consistent with thermite)  found recently somewhere proves it was a plot by our government. I’m familiar with the Building 7 side-conspiracy and I frankly don’t know if Petr is confusing the two. I also don’t know why a Czech truck driver would consider himself an expert in forensic science and demolition.

Buben is certainly tenacious — but I do manage to get in a few good ones:

“What? Did you make up any facts since I looked into it years ago? You should bring then to the WTC site this September, and tell the firemen. I’m sure they’ll be fascinated with what you have to say.” - me

NOPE: “Conspiracy: Thermite, which is less traceable, was used in the controlled demolition that brought down the towers. - me
Science: Some truthers claim dust that some New Yorkers found after the attack shares the components of thermite. Scientists assert that even if this dust did contain thermite, it would be impossible to determine whether the thermite came from a controlled demolition or simply from the melting of the airplanes. - me
EMRTC designed an experiment to see if thermite was a plausible option in the collapse of the towers. The thermite in the test was not even able to melt a column much smaller than those in the World Trade Center.” - me
Pity you don’t seem to have read the only citation you made worth reading. http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/episode… - me

Most of the heavy lifting in this discussion was done by the patient alphaxion.

This is for the record. I hope this is the last 9/11 anniversary that I encounter such grandiose stupidity, all of which must be terribly offensive to the many thousands who lost someone, and the millions who have been affected by the fallout.

in tagged , , , ,
by Authorrichardwalker | | | | Comments Off
Saturday
05Sep2009

Earth Liberation Front: Utterly idiotic domestic terrorists

Date20090905 at 13:34

They think of themselves as radical protectors of Mother Earth, and they have taken the incredibly egotistical and judgmental position that they have the authority to decide when people and organizations cross the line, and need to be stopped by acts of destruction and threats of violence.

From the Earth Liberation Press Office:

Earth Liberation Front Topples Two Radio Station Towers in Snohomish County, WA

 

Everett, WA: Two radio station towers were torn down early Friday by the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) in the Lord’s Hills valley in Snohomish County, WA. The towers, owned by station KRKO, have been a source of controversy for years. A sign left at the scene claimed responsibility by the ELF.

“Due to the health and environmental risks associated with radio waves emitted from the towers, we applaud this act by the ELF,” stated Jason Crawford, a spokesperson for the North American Earth Liberation Front Press Office. “When all legal channels of opposition have been exhausted, concerned citizens have to take action into their own hands to protect life and the planet.”

For the past eight years, opponents have waged a legal battle against the towers, arguing that AM radio waves cause adverse health affects including a higher rate of cancer, harm to wildlife, and that the signals have been interfering with home phone and intercom lines.

Last year, the first four towers were erected by KRKO after numerous hearings and appeals. KRKO plans to build two more towers to boost the station’s broadcasting power.

Full press release

 

If the ELF is going to continue trying to shut down AM radio transmission, they need to be put away, perhaps in a padded cell. I suppose FM transmission is OK because it’s a different frequency class that is not full of “hot talk radio?” Do you “activists” have any hard evidence to back what you call your “arguments” about AM radio transmission?

What about the more popular scare story that high-voltage power line radiation causes… I’m not sure…. tendency to join utterly stupid “activist” groups like Earth Liberation Front? That would be cause for alarm! This AM radio tower fight seems highly cherry-picked — a local, long-running pitched battle. I suspect the ELF may be the ignorant tool of a clever, devious person. Perhaps a competing radio station owner, or property developer.

It’s interesting to see the ELF target one communication technology to protect others, a.k.a. “home phone and intercom lines.” Intercom lines? Seriously? Like the ones in the classic office setup where you tell your secretary to “get her sexy ass in here?” If Rush is interrupting such intercom use, I can see why one would be upset. One doesn’t want Rush to “get his sexy ass in here,” does one?

After digging more, this quote indicates the actual motivation here may be greed and the worst sort of NIMBY-ism.  “Opponents” have been waging an eight-year battle, perhaps because the tower ruins the view from the lovely house they inherited from their parents.

“We have to weigh our priorities and the local ecosystem in Everett, along with the local residents, do not need additional sports news radio station towers that come at the expense of reduced property values and harmful radio waves,” Crawford continued. “We sincerely hope that people continue to take direct action to stop the threats to human health, wildlife and the planet.”

These people need to take some remedial high school civics, science and physics before they continue “helping” by destroying things they are suspicious of. This is the forefront of the very worst aspect of “eco” extremism, which I tend to lump together with other anti-science and junk science trends.

Check out this lovely quote from the site regarding trees removed to provide communications in Mexico City:

“For every tree that is ripped from the earth to serve Telmex there will be thousands of sabotages; we will not stop until we see disgusting civilization, progress and all those who spread it destroyed!”

They can’t have ever taken debate, logic or science classes. Terms used with no definitions: “disgusting civilization” “disgusting progress” “those who spread aforementioned”

There are real issues that need addressing — it’s criminally negligent to destroy AM radio towers when we can’t seem to address health care reform. The only way the ELF can justify this is if they take the anti-human position that we all need to be exterminated — to protect the planet! In which case I think they should “do the honorable thing” and go first.

in , tagged , , , ,
by Authorrichardwalker | | | | Comments Off