Friday, February 24, 2006

The Bush Administration has a long way to go to provide comprehensive National Security


1000

Now a hostage situation in Pheonix? It was a school shooting earlier today.

Update 3: Teen Critical After Ore. School Shooting
A young gunman opened fire on a 16-year-old at school early Thursday, hitting the teen four times, then held the gun to his own head after police cornered him, authorities said.
Police spokesman Sgt. Aaron Dunbar said the shooter appeared to be a student. He was arrested shortly after the attack at Roseburg High School.
The school went into lockdown after the shots were fired about 7:45 a.m.
The victim, whose identity has not been released, was hit three times in the torso and once in the elbow, said Vic Fresolone, CEO of Roseburg's Mercy Hospital.
He "is doing very well, better than can be expected considering the bullet wounds," Fresolone said.
The suspect was not immediately identified and no motive for the shooting was disclosed.

http://www.forbes.com/business/manufacturing/feeds/ap/2006/02/23/ap2549047.html

1012

History of the ethnic struggle in Iraq.

1014

Round table


This isn't going to resolve soon. There has been more hate than peace since Hamas was elected in Palestine. Iran's president is a horror and part of the focus to this escalation. If Sunnis are leaving any talks with the central government this is probably going to escalate.

Iraq bloodshed mounts

More than 130 die in sectarian violence as Sunnis pull out of gov't talks
BAGHDAD (Reuters) — More than 130 people, including dozens who joined a demonstration against sectarian violence, were killed in bloodshed across Iraq despite calls for calm on Thursday from leaders fearful of civil war.
A day after a suspected Al Qaeda bomb destroyed a major Shiite shrine, Iraq cancelled all leave for the police and army and minority Sunni political leaders pulled out of US-backed talks on forming a national unity government, accusing the ruling Shiites of fomenting dozens of attacks on Sunni mosques. Washington, which wants stability in Iraq to help it extract around 130,000 US troops, has also called for restraint, reflecting international fears that the oil-exporting country of 27 million may be slipping closer to all-out sectarian war.

http://www.jordantimes.com/fri/news/news1.htm

1019

Commercial lead in compliments of Frankenstein











1022

The Sunnis are either foolish or playing 'the game' to escalate violence. If al Qaeda is involved as they are the only group outside the USA military with that kind of fire power; then it is al Qaeda that is the common enemy. No doubt al Qaeda has bombed all the Mosques in question. The Shi'ites are unlikely participants. It all depends what the Sunnis want and who exactly is taking their side to the UN talks.

Al Qaeda statement
An Internet statement from the Mujahedeen Council, which includes Al Qaeda in Iraq, blamed Shiite leaders for blowing up the shrine to justify attacks and vowed a "shocking response."
The United Nations Security Council, rarely able to find a common voice on Iraq since its bitter divisions over the US invasion in 2003, sounded a note of alarm in calling on Iraqis to rally behind a non-sectarian government


Commercial lead in compliments of Frankenstein

1026

The leeves

1029

The port security of the USA. There isn't going to be anymore foreign companies involved with the security of this nation. This issue is not going away. There are currently ONLY two American companies providing security in the New York Area. That is outrageous given the events in the last yeas. Then Bush has the nerve to say he averted an attack on the 'Liberty Building' in California. Hello? He can't even get the name right.


DUBAI PORTS WORLD
• Headquarters: United Arab Emirates
• Ownership: Dubai government
• Acquired CSX World Terminals in 2005
• Took its current name in late 2005 when the Dubai government merged DPI Terminals with the Dubai Ports Authority
• Manages port operations in Algeria, Djibouti, India, Malaysia, Romania, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. With CSX World Terminals acquisition, DP World added port and container logistics operations in Asia, Australia, Europe and Latin America.
• DP World will acquire Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co. for $6.8 billion. The London-based company runs commercial operations at terminals in New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami and Philadelphia.
• Online:
www.dpiterminals.com

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/business/13936680.htm

They are just taking up the entire world, aren't they? One of their customers is Saudi Arabia?

Oh, forget it. This deal give them access to CSX Corp. That is a railway company. Remember all the rail accidents in recent years including a runaway train that dumped lumber all over a city. Where was that. I always figured that was a rehersal for something. No way. Not CSX. Nope !

Facts about Dubai Ports World
(Reuters)
22 February 2006
Dubai Ports World is at the center of the Washington controversy over whether the firm, owned by Dubai, should take over managing six major ports in the United States.
Here are five facts about Dubai Ports World.
Shareholders at Britain’s P&O, who had been managing the ports, voted last week in favour of Dubai Port’s multibillion dollar bid, giving the firm control over the management of P&O’s global operations, including in the US ports of New York and New Jersey, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New Orleans and Miami.
The deal made Dubai Ports World the world’s third-largest ports group.
Dubai Ports World purchased the global port assets of US freight rail company CSX Corp. in 2005 for $1.15 billion. US Treasury Secretary John Snow is a former chairman of CSX, but left the company a year before the Dubai deal.
One of DP World’s top executives, David Sanborn, was nominated by President George W. Bush in January to become the administrator of the Maritime Administration in the US Department of Transportation. At least one senator plans to hold up Sanborn’s confirmation until more questions about the port deal are answered.
Dubai Ports has international operations in the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Germany, Romania, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Djibouti, India, China, Malaysia, South Korea and Australia in addition to the UAE.

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/theworld/2006/February/theworld_February623.xml&section=theworld


1031

commercials

Last batch of Iraqi counterterrorism forces end training


The programme is to move in March to a new facility in Iraq
AMMAN (AP) — A final group of 77 Iraqi soldiers completed counterterrorism training in the Kingdom on Thursday.
The programme is to move in March to a new facility in Iraq.
The graduation brings to 533 the number of soldiers who have taken the three-month course on counterterrorism and counterinsurgency tactics under American, Jordanian and Iraqi trainers since it began in 2003 at the Counterterrorism Centre of the Special Operations Command.

http://www.jordantimes.com/fri/homenews/homenews4.htm


1033

Scientology - "Enturbulated" - easy one to learn. Rolling Stone article. Whatever.


1046

CSX

http://www.csx.com/

No country outside the USA should have access to CSX. For god sake, what is Bush thinking. There is a railway people have been ranting about for years including Joe Biden that runs right through DC. No.

A conclusion was never reached to the cause. There was a lot of criticism of the eminent train closing in on the town without sufficient warning by the government. Too many questions. This was the second incident of it's kind in a short period of time.

Human Error Caused Runaway Train
Commerce Residents Upset By Lack Of Warning
POSTED: 2:47 p.m. PDT June 22, 2003
COMMERCE, Calif. -- As crews continued to clear debris from Friday's train derailment Sunday, railroad officials and experts said their only other option was a risky chase-and-capture maneuver using a locomotive.
...The Times also reported that investigators are leaning towards human error as the cause of the accident, but have not ruled out other causes such as equipment failure. An anonymous source told the Times that two railroad workers -- one at the front of the train and one at the rear -- each mistakenly thought the brakes had been set by the other.

http://www.nbc4.tv/news/2286280/detail.html


Freight Train Crashes Into Homes
No Fatalities Have Been Reported
POSTED: 12:13 p.m. PDT June 20, 2003
UPDATED: 9:25 p.m. PDT June 20, 2003
LOS ANGELES -- Runaway freight cars speeding toward Los Angeles were intentionally derailed in an eastern suburb Friday, hurling tons of lumber onto trackside homes but causing only a handful of minor injuries.
Railroad workers diverted the 31 cars onto a side track at noon after they had raced nearly 30 miles at speeds sometimes topping 70 mph. At least 11 derailed, unleashing a tornado-like blizzard of wood, newsprint and fiberboard that engulfed trackside homes, destroying two and damaging two.
"That was the last chance we felt we had to derail them before they went into downtown Los Angeles," Union Pacific Railroad spokesman John Bromley said.

http://www.nbc4.tv/news/2284304/detail.html

1105

Shut up Anderson. You are enflaming circumstances that don't exist. People are upset about ANY foreign companies securing it's ports. Your an idiot Anderson and completely out of touch with the reality people of this country realize as appauling.

1113

I told you they had designs on CSX.

Treasury officials say Snow has severed all relations with CSX 24 Feb 2006 02:42 GMT... it was selling foreign port operations to Dubai Ports World, Treasury officials said Thursday. Treasury ... parties have questioned whether U.S. security against terrorist attacks will be jeopardized by having a ... be jeopardized by having a state-owned United Arab Emirates company operating at the ports. 2006 Associated ...

http://www.einnews.com/uae/newsfeed-UAETerrorism

In case one is wondering where UAE is. A stone's throw from Iran.

http://www.terrorism.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Countries&file=index&view=249

1118

The News Secretary

1120

In case you try to contact the security for Port Elizabeth, it is an international call.

http://www.mscgva.ch/contact/container_security/contact_container_security_detail_eid_88_lid_9.html

We believe in the importance of operating as independent carriers, responding quickly to your needs with prompt, effective and global solutions. With us you deal with a single, global and highly specialized company which is able to provide the necessary answers to all your particular transportation requirements.

http://www.mscgva.ch/about_us/about_us.html

Mediterranean Shipping Company, S.A.40, Avenue Eugène-Pittard - CH-1206, Geneva - SwitzerlandTel : +41 22 703 8888 - Fax: +41 22 703 8787 - Email: info@mscgva.ch

1129

Hostage stand off. One hostage escaped. A court hostage circumtance. Motive. Where were the metal detectors? Ah, the USA. Such a secure country.

1131

Association of American Railroads

Freight Railroad Security PlanWhen America came under attack on September 11, 2001, the railroad industry responded swiftly. Working closely with local, state and federal authorities and utilizing their own police forces, railroads increased inspections and patrols, restricted access to key facilities, briefly suspended the movement of freight in the New York area and changed certain operational practices as anti-terrorist measures.

http://www.aar.org/Rail_Safety/Rail_Security_plan.asp

1133


New freight security system

LOUISVILLE, KY – Safefreight Technology has created a new freight security division to focus on helping fleets make their operations more secure, preventing cargo theft and other criminal activity, the company announced at the 2002 Mid America Trucking Show.
Safefreight Security Solutions is comprised of security and threat experts who help assess a fleet's vulnerability to cargo theft and other criminal acts, and then designs security procedures to correct those problems.
Those
procedures also include use of Safefreight's trailer freight alarm system, which helps prevent unauthorized loading and unloading of cargo.
Robert Bevelacqua, a former U.S. Special Forces officer, will head up Safefreight's new security division.
Safefreight said that federal government research indicates that losses to cargo theft hover between $12 billion to $15 billion a year in the United States.

http://driversmag.com/ar/fleet_new_freight_security/index.html

1137

This was 2002. There probably hasn't been much movement since them.

Freight security measures likely to tighten

http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2002/12/09/focus3.html

GREATER METROPLEX — The international trade community has stepped up cargo vigilance to comply with the federal government's strict eye on security — but stronger measures are likely ahead. ...

...Mann agrees that once the C-TPAT program gains momentum it will be a boon to the international trade community.
"Not only is it good security, it is good business," he said.
"Forwarders and brokers should know who their supplier is, why they are shipping and how they are securing cargo."


1146

C-TPAT

http://r0.unctad.org/ttl/docs-unctadxi/c-tpat.pdf

C-TPAT offers businesses an opportunity to play an active role in the war against terrorism. By participating in this first worldwide supply chain security initiative, companies will ensure a more secure supply chain for their employees, suppliers and customers. Beyond these essential security benefits, CBP will offer potential benefits to C-TPAT members, including:

A reduced number of inspections (reduced border times)

An assigned account manager (if one is not already assigned)
Access to the C-TPAT membership list
Eligibility for account-based processes (bimonthly/monthly payments, e. g.)

An emphasis on self-policing, not CBP verifications


http://www.intl-freight.com/c-tpat.htm

1150

Online C-TPAT Application Process - Qualifications and Instructions

http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/xp/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/ctpat/onlinectpat_app_process/

Effective July 15, 2005, Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) has implemented a streamlined Online C-TPAT application process for all C-TPAT membership enrollment categories. Companies must now apply for C-TPAT membership via Online C-TPAT Application Process. C-TPAT will not accept paper membership applications postmarked after July 15th, 2005.
Before submitting your Online C-TPAT application, please print the "Online C-TPAT Application Process - Qualifications and Instructions" for your application category. Read the instructions carefully and collect all application information.
Previous applicants should continue to submit C-TPAT information via e-mail to
industry.partnership@dhs.gov.

1153

THE COAST GUARD AT WAR:
NATIONAL SECURITY & MILITARY PREPAREDNESS


http://www.uscg.mil/HQ/G-CP/HISTORY/h_militaryindex.html

The USCGC Tampa is sunk with all hands during World War I.A painting by LT(jg) John D. Wisinski, USCG.

1158

You did better with your breaking news skill tonight, Anderson. Keep trying.

Enough.