(Click above title to see photo of her Boo Hooing !)
Sen. Barbara Boxer , D-Calif., wipes away a tear as she announces with Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones , D-Ohio, that they will object to the certification of Ohio's electoral votes during a joint session of Congress today Thursday, Jan. 6, 2005. It would be only the second time since 1877 that the House and Senate were forced into separate meetings to consider electoral votes. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Saturday, January 08, 2005
Friday, January 07, 2005
Arab Weekly: Israeli-US Nuclear Test Caused Earthquake
Thursday, January 6, 2005 / 25 Tevet 5765
The catastrophic earthquake and tsunami in Southeast Asia, causing over 165,000 deaths, have now been found to be Israel's fault, an Egyptian weekly newspaper "reports."
The nationalist weekly Al-Usbu writes that it was a joint American/Israeli/Indian nuclear experiment that purposely set off the killer tsunami waves. "The three most recent tests appeared to be genuine American and Israeli preparations to act together with India to test a way to liquidate humanity," the paper reported.
The article continued, "In the most recent test, they began destroying entire cities over extensive areas. Although the nuclear explosions were carried out in desert lands, tens of thousand of kilometers away from populated areas, they had a direct effect on these Asian areas."
The article also claims that last year "Arab and Islamic countries intervened more than three times in the U.S. to stop this joint nuclear activity."
The catastrophic earthquake and tsunami in Southeast Asia, causing over 165,000 deaths, have now been found to be Israel's fault, an Egyptian weekly newspaper "reports."
The nationalist weekly Al-Usbu writes that it was a joint American/Israeli/Indian nuclear experiment that purposely set off the killer tsunami waves. "The three most recent tests appeared to be genuine American and Israeli preparations to act together with India to test a way to liquidate humanity," the paper reported.
The article continued, "In the most recent test, they began destroying entire cities over extensive areas. Although the nuclear explosions were carried out in desert lands, tens of thousand of kilometers away from populated areas, they had a direct effect on these Asian areas."
The article also claims that last year "Arab and Islamic countries intervened more than three times in the U.S. to stop this joint nuclear activity."
Bush carries Electoral College after delay
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush officially won a second term in the White House after electoral votes from all 50 states were counted Thursday during a joint session of Congress.
The normally perfunctory ceremony of counting and certifying Electoral College votes was delayed for about four hours as Democrats unsuccessfully challenged Ohio's votes for Bush.
Bush received 286 electoral votes, 16 more than the 270 he needed to win re-election. Sen. John Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat, received 251 votes. One Democratic elector cast a vote not for Kerry but for former Sen. John Edwards, his vice presidential running mate.
In the vice presidential race, Vice President Dick Cheney received 286 electoral votes and Edwards received 252.
Alleging widespread "irregularities" on Election Day, a group of Democrats in Congress objected earlier Thursday to the counting of Ohio's 20 electoral votes.
The challenge was defeated 267-31 by the House and 74-1 by the Senate, clearing the way for the joint session to count the votes from the remaining states.
The move was not designed to overturn Bush's re-election, said Ohio Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones and California Sen. Barbara Boxer, who filed the objection.
The objecting Democrats, all of whom are House members except Boxer, said they wanted to draw attention to the need for aggressive election reform in the wake of what they said were widespread voter problems.
In a letter to congressional leaders Wednesday, members of the group said they would take the action because a new report by Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee found "numerous, serious election irregularities," particularly in Ohio, that led to "a significant disenfranchisement of voters."
"How can we possibly tell millions of Americans who registered to vote, who came to the polls in record numbers, particularly our young people ... to simply get over it and move on?" Tubbs Jones said at a press conference with Boxer.
Thursday's joint session of the House of Representatives and the Senate to count electoral votes is specified in the U.S. Constitution. Cheney, in his role as president of the Senate, presided over the session.
The results from each state, read in alphabetical order, were ticked through quickly until Ohio was called, and a clerk read the objection filed by Boxer and Tubbs Jones.
Then, as required by congressional rules in the event that at least one member of each house objects to the vote, Cheney ordered the lawmakers back to their respective chambers for two hours of debate on the merits of the challenge and to vote on it.
It was only the second such challenge since the current rules for counting electoral votes were established in 1877. The last was in 1969 and concerned a so-called "faithless elector," according to congressional researchers.
Four years ago, after the disputed election results in Florida, members of the Congressional Black Caucus attempted to block Florida's electoral votes from being counted.
In a scene recalled in Michael Moore's movie "Fahrenheit 9/11," lawmaker after lawmaker was gaveled down by Vice President Al Gore because no senator would support the objections, as the rules require.
House Democrats involved in this year's protest worked for weeks to enlist the support of a senator in their party, and Boxer agreed to join the effort Wednesday.
"This is my opening shot to be able to focus the light of truth on these terrible problems in the electoral system," Boxer told the joint press conference with Tubbs Jones.
"While we have men and women dying to bring democracy abroad, we've got to make it the best it can be here at home, and that's why I'm doing this."
Republicans dismissed the effort as a stunt, noting that specific allegations of voting problems in Ohio have been investigated by journalists and, the Republicans said, found to be untrue.
"But apparently, some Democrats only want to gripe about counts, recounts, and recounts of recounts," said Rep. Deborah Pryce, an Ohio Republican.
"So eager are they to abandon their job as public servants, they have cast themselves in the role of Michael Moore, concocting wild conspiracy theories to distract the American public."
White House press secretary Scott McClellan dismissed the challenge as "partisan politics."
"The election is behind us," he said. "The American people now expect their leaders in Washington to focus on the big priorities facing this country."
Kerry released a letter Wednesday saying he would not take part in the protest.
"Our legal teams on the ground have found no evidence that would change the outcome of the election," Kerry said.
Bush carried Ohio by more than 118,000 votes -- the Buckeye State win providing the margin of victory in the Electoral College race. The president received 286 to Kerry's 252 electoral votes.
"There are very troubling questions that have not yet been answered by Ohio election officials," the senator said.
"In the coming months I will present a national proposal to ensure transparency and accountability in our voting process."
Kerry was not on hand Thursday. He is in Iraq to thank U.S. troops for their service.
CNN's Ted Barrett contributed to this report.
The normally perfunctory ceremony of counting and certifying Electoral College votes was delayed for about four hours as Democrats unsuccessfully challenged Ohio's votes for Bush.
Bush received 286 electoral votes, 16 more than the 270 he needed to win re-election. Sen. John Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat, received 251 votes. One Democratic elector cast a vote not for Kerry but for former Sen. John Edwards, his vice presidential running mate.
In the vice presidential race, Vice President Dick Cheney received 286 electoral votes and Edwards received 252.
Alleging widespread "irregularities" on Election Day, a group of Democrats in Congress objected earlier Thursday to the counting of Ohio's 20 electoral votes.
The challenge was defeated 267-31 by the House and 74-1 by the Senate, clearing the way for the joint session to count the votes from the remaining states.
The move was not designed to overturn Bush's re-election, said Ohio Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones and California Sen. Barbara Boxer, who filed the objection.
The objecting Democrats, all of whom are House members except Boxer, said they wanted to draw attention to the need for aggressive election reform in the wake of what they said were widespread voter problems.
In a letter to congressional leaders Wednesday, members of the group said they would take the action because a new report by Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee found "numerous, serious election irregularities," particularly in Ohio, that led to "a significant disenfranchisement of voters."
"How can we possibly tell millions of Americans who registered to vote, who came to the polls in record numbers, particularly our young people ... to simply get over it and move on?" Tubbs Jones said at a press conference with Boxer.
Thursday's joint session of the House of Representatives and the Senate to count electoral votes is specified in the U.S. Constitution. Cheney, in his role as president of the Senate, presided over the session.
The results from each state, read in alphabetical order, were ticked through quickly until Ohio was called, and a clerk read the objection filed by Boxer and Tubbs Jones.
Then, as required by congressional rules in the event that at least one member of each house objects to the vote, Cheney ordered the lawmakers back to their respective chambers for two hours of debate on the merits of the challenge and to vote on it.
It was only the second such challenge since the current rules for counting electoral votes were established in 1877. The last was in 1969 and concerned a so-called "faithless elector," according to congressional researchers.
Four years ago, after the disputed election results in Florida, members of the Congressional Black Caucus attempted to block Florida's electoral votes from being counted.
In a scene recalled in Michael Moore's movie "Fahrenheit 9/11," lawmaker after lawmaker was gaveled down by Vice President Al Gore because no senator would support the objections, as the rules require.
House Democrats involved in this year's protest worked for weeks to enlist the support of a senator in their party, and Boxer agreed to join the effort Wednesday.
"This is my opening shot to be able to focus the light of truth on these terrible problems in the electoral system," Boxer told the joint press conference with Tubbs Jones.
"While we have men and women dying to bring democracy abroad, we've got to make it the best it can be here at home, and that's why I'm doing this."
Republicans dismissed the effort as a stunt, noting that specific allegations of voting problems in Ohio have been investigated by journalists and, the Republicans said, found to be untrue.
"But apparently, some Democrats only want to gripe about counts, recounts, and recounts of recounts," said Rep. Deborah Pryce, an Ohio Republican.
"So eager are they to abandon their job as public servants, they have cast themselves in the role of Michael Moore, concocting wild conspiracy theories to distract the American public."
White House press secretary Scott McClellan dismissed the challenge as "partisan politics."
"The election is behind us," he said. "The American people now expect their leaders in Washington to focus on the big priorities facing this country."
Kerry released a letter Wednesday saying he would not take part in the protest.
"Our legal teams on the ground have found no evidence that would change the outcome of the election," Kerry said.
Bush carried Ohio by more than 118,000 votes -- the Buckeye State win providing the margin of victory in the Electoral College race. The president received 286 to Kerry's 252 electoral votes.
"There are very troubling questions that have not yet been answered by Ohio election officials," the senator said.
"In the coming months I will present a national proposal to ensure transparency and accountability in our voting process."
Kerry was not on hand Thursday. He is in Iraq to thank U.S. troops for their service.
CNN's Ted Barrett contributed to this report.
Thursday, January 06, 2005
Police Booking Suicide Video
WARNING:VERY GRAPHIC
I post this video not to critisise the officers that failed to find the pistol that this man hid on him during their search incident to arrest, but to point out the enormus responsibilities that befall law enforcement officers everyday. I will not tell you which department this was or who the officers were. The officers were the victims in this case of this mans decision to take his own life, however the officers also put their lives at risk by not searching him properly. Luckily for these officers, this man wasn't homicidal. I am not here to point fingers or lay blame. I am a 25 year veteran police officer and a Corporal, as a supervisor, I know what it is like to find weapons on a suspect after he has been arrested and searched. It happens !
Unless you've walked a mile in these officers shoes please don't judge their actions or lack thereof because you have absolutely no right to ! Most of you work in jobs where if you make a mistake it is easily corrected . I am not trying to minimize anybody's profession or job, but let's face it, how many of you who make a mistake may cost someone their life ?
I hope through this video that the general public understands what officers go through on a fairly regular basis in regards to criminal suspects and the danger the officers face.
P.S. The site that carries this video also carries some less than desirable content. I do not endorse this content, nor should this posting be viewed as an endorsement or approval of the other content on their site. Please use your discretion on other content beside the video on the site.
J.R.
I post this video not to critisise the officers that failed to find the pistol that this man hid on him during their search incident to arrest, but to point out the enormus responsibilities that befall law enforcement officers everyday. I will not tell you which department this was or who the officers were. The officers were the victims in this case of this mans decision to take his own life, however the officers also put their lives at risk by not searching him properly. Luckily for these officers, this man wasn't homicidal. I am not here to point fingers or lay blame. I am a 25 year veteran police officer and a Corporal, as a supervisor, I know what it is like to find weapons on a suspect after he has been arrested and searched. It happens !
Unless you've walked a mile in these officers shoes please don't judge their actions or lack thereof because you have absolutely no right to ! Most of you work in jobs where if you make a mistake it is easily corrected . I am not trying to minimize anybody's profession or job, but let's face it, how many of you who make a mistake may cost someone their life ?
I hope through this video that the general public understands what officers go through on a fairly regular basis in regards to criminal suspects and the danger the officers face.
P.S. The site that carries this video also carries some less than desirable content. I do not endorse this content, nor should this posting be viewed as an endorsement or approval of the other content on their site. Please use your discretion on other content beside the video on the site.
J.R.
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
Phuket Tsunami
Be Forewarned : Some of these pictures are very graphic of the Tsunami destruction in Indochina
The Anthrax Planning Documents Found On Zawahiri's Computer
Ross Getman
The Sunday Times (January 2, 2005) has a story "Al Qaeda seeks toxins for biowarfare attack." The story reports that "recent intelligence" indicates that the group is turning to chemical and biological weaons. There actually is nothing at all new about Ayman Zawahiri's focus on biological weapons, notably anthrax. Nor is there is anything new about the evidence revealing his intention to use it against US targets.
In a remarkable feat of journalism, Alan Cullison of the Wall Street Journalism obtained the computer used by Zawahiri and other Al Qaeda officials. It was looted after a US bombing raid and Cullison bought it from a dealer. The documents evidence Zawahiri's thinking on the subject of anthrax.
(For more click on the above title.)
The Sunday Times (January 2, 2005) has a story "Al Qaeda seeks toxins for biowarfare attack." The story reports that "recent intelligence" indicates that the group is turning to chemical and biological weaons. There actually is nothing at all new about Ayman Zawahiri's focus on biological weapons, notably anthrax. Nor is there is anything new about the evidence revealing his intention to use it against US targets.
In a remarkable feat of journalism, Alan Cullison of the Wall Street Journalism obtained the computer used by Zawahiri and other Al Qaeda officials. It was looted after a US bombing raid and Cullison bought it from a dealer. The documents evidence Zawahiri's thinking on the subject of anthrax.
(For more click on the above title.)
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
Notes on Election 2004
Published January 3, 2005
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As the presidential election year is now over, here are a few musings about the 2004 election.
Like the Energizer Bunny, the 2004 vote tally for George W. Bush keeps going and going, setting one record after another. Reflecting reporting by more than 99 percent of voting districts throughout the country, official results at 5 p.m. on the day after the election revealed that Mr. Bush had set the all-time American vote-getting record by amassing more than 59 million votes. That total was nearly 5 million more than the 54.5 million votes Ronald Reagan received in his landslide 1984 re-election.
Since the Nov. 3 count, however, Mr. Bush has collected another 3 million-plus votes, and his tally now tops the 62-million vote level, according to Dave Leip. Mr. Leip, who operates the Web site http://uselectionatlas.org, has been studiously recording the official post-election tallies of all the states, which have spent weeks counting absentee, overseas, write-in and provisional ballots.
Thus, compared to 2000, Mr. Bush increased his vote by more than 11.5 million (and counting), or 23 percent, in 2004. The total presidential vote, according to Mr. Leip's Thursday tally, topped 122 million. That's several million votes above the level at which conventional political wisdom predicted a solid victory by Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. Yet it is Mr. Bush, whose latest tally exceeds Mr. Kerry's by more than 3 million votes, who will be inaugurated in less than three weeks.
In 2002 and 2004, Mr. Bush became the first elected president since Franklin Delano Roosevelt whose party gained both House and Senate seats during both the midterm election (1934) and the presidential re-election year (1936). In fact, since the Civil War, FDR and Mr. Bush have been the only presidents to increase their party's House seats during their first midterm election.
Going back to 1860, when Abraham Lincoln became the first Republican president, Mr. Bush is the first and only elected Republican president to gain House seats in the first midterm election and then in the presidential re-election year. He is also the only elected GOP president to increase his party's relative position in the Senate during the first midterm and the re-election year. Besides Mr. Bush in 2004, Lincoln in 1864 and William McKinley in 1900 are the only other elected Republican presidents whose coattails added GOP seats in both the House and the Senate during their re-election campaigns.
Before Mr. Bush accomplished the feat, it had been 68 years (going back to FDR in 1936) since the party of an elected president added seats in the Senate during his re-election year. Despite achieving decisive victories, FDR failed to do it 1940 and 1944. Remarkably, during the re-election landslides of GOP presidents Dwight Eisenhower (15.4 percentage-point victory margin, 1956), Richard Nixon (23.2 percent, 1972) and Mr. Reagan (18.2 percent, 1984), the Democratic Party actually increased its representation in the Senate by one, two and two members, respectively. Bill Clinton won re-election in 1996 by 8.5 percentage points, but Republicans added two senators. Mr. Bush's re-election increased the GOP Senate majority by four members.
Here are some noteworthy results from this year's exit polling:
�While Mr. Kerry achieved the Democrats' customary supermajority among black voters (88?11), who comprised 11 percent of the electorate, Mr. Bush won decisively among white males (62?37) and white women (55?44), who comprised 36 percent and 41 percent of the electorate, respectively.
�Among age cohorts, Mr. Kerry won only the 18-to-29-year-old bracket (54?45), while Mr. Bush captured the 30-44 group (53?46), the 45?59 group (51?48) and the 60-and-older group (54?46).
�Fifty-five percent of the electorate reported income over $50,000, and 56 percent of them voted for Mr. Bush. By contrast, Mr. Kerry received 55 percent of the vote of those with incomes below $50,000; but they comprised only 44 percent of the electorate.
�To fund the election of Democrats, organized labor devotes more than 95 percent of its mostly dues-financed political war chest, which totals hundreds of millions of dollars per election cycle, according to well-informed observers. But Mr. Bush received 38 percent of the votes of union members and 40 percent of the votes of those whose household includes a union member.
�Among the 41 percent of voters who attend church weekly, Mr. Bush received 61 percent of the vote. Mr. Kerry captured 62 percent of the vote from the 14 percent of the electorate that never attends church.
�Sixty-three percent of voters were married, and Mr. Bush got 57 percent of their votes. Mr. Kerry received a nearly mirror-image majority from the 37 percent of voters who weren't married.
Copyright � 2005 News World Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Click Here For Commercial Reprints and Permissions
Copyright � 2005 News World Communications, Inc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As the presidential election year is now over, here are a few musings about the 2004 election.
Like the Energizer Bunny, the 2004 vote tally for George W. Bush keeps going and going, setting one record after another. Reflecting reporting by more than 99 percent of voting districts throughout the country, official results at 5 p.m. on the day after the election revealed that Mr. Bush had set the all-time American vote-getting record by amassing more than 59 million votes. That total was nearly 5 million more than the 54.5 million votes Ronald Reagan received in his landslide 1984 re-election.
Since the Nov. 3 count, however, Mr. Bush has collected another 3 million-plus votes, and his tally now tops the 62-million vote level, according to Dave Leip. Mr. Leip, who operates the Web site http://uselectionatlas.org, has been studiously recording the official post-election tallies of all the states, which have spent weeks counting absentee, overseas, write-in and provisional ballots.
Thus, compared to 2000, Mr. Bush increased his vote by more than 11.5 million (and counting), or 23 percent, in 2004. The total presidential vote, according to Mr. Leip's Thursday tally, topped 122 million. That's several million votes above the level at which conventional political wisdom predicted a solid victory by Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. Yet it is Mr. Bush, whose latest tally exceeds Mr. Kerry's by more than 3 million votes, who will be inaugurated in less than three weeks.
In 2002 and 2004, Mr. Bush became the first elected president since Franklin Delano Roosevelt whose party gained both House and Senate seats during both the midterm election (1934) and the presidential re-election year (1936). In fact, since the Civil War, FDR and Mr. Bush have been the only presidents to increase their party's House seats during their first midterm election.
Going back to 1860, when Abraham Lincoln became the first Republican president, Mr. Bush is the first and only elected Republican president to gain House seats in the first midterm election and then in the presidential re-election year. He is also the only elected GOP president to increase his party's relative position in the Senate during the first midterm and the re-election year. Besides Mr. Bush in 2004, Lincoln in 1864 and William McKinley in 1900 are the only other elected Republican presidents whose coattails added GOP seats in both the House and the Senate during their re-election campaigns.
Before Mr. Bush accomplished the feat, it had been 68 years (going back to FDR in 1936) since the party of an elected president added seats in the Senate during his re-election year. Despite achieving decisive victories, FDR failed to do it 1940 and 1944. Remarkably, during the re-election landslides of GOP presidents Dwight Eisenhower (15.4 percentage-point victory margin, 1956), Richard Nixon (23.2 percent, 1972) and Mr. Reagan (18.2 percent, 1984), the Democratic Party actually increased its representation in the Senate by one, two and two members, respectively. Bill Clinton won re-election in 1996 by 8.5 percentage points, but Republicans added two senators. Mr. Bush's re-election increased the GOP Senate majority by four members.
Here are some noteworthy results from this year's exit polling:
�While Mr. Kerry achieved the Democrats' customary supermajority among black voters (88?11), who comprised 11 percent of the electorate, Mr. Bush won decisively among white males (62?37) and white women (55?44), who comprised 36 percent and 41 percent of the electorate, respectively.
�Among age cohorts, Mr. Kerry won only the 18-to-29-year-old bracket (54?45), while Mr. Bush captured the 30-44 group (53?46), the 45?59 group (51?48) and the 60-and-older group (54?46).
�Fifty-five percent of the electorate reported income over $50,000, and 56 percent of them voted for Mr. Bush. By contrast, Mr. Kerry received 55 percent of the vote of those with incomes below $50,000; but they comprised only 44 percent of the electorate.
�To fund the election of Democrats, organized labor devotes more than 95 percent of its mostly dues-financed political war chest, which totals hundreds of millions of dollars per election cycle, according to well-informed observers. But Mr. Bush received 38 percent of the votes of union members and 40 percent of the votes of those whose household includes a union member.
�Among the 41 percent of voters who attend church weekly, Mr. Bush received 61 percent of the vote. Mr. Kerry captured 62 percent of the vote from the 14 percent of the electorate that never attends church.
�Sixty-three percent of voters were married, and Mr. Bush got 57 percent of their votes. Mr. Kerry received a nearly mirror-image majority from the 37 percent of voters who weren't married.
Copyright � 2005 News World Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Return to the article
Click Here For Commercial Reprints and Permissions
Copyright � 2005 News World Communications, Inc.
URGENT: ' TARGET #1' : al-Zarqawi Reportedly Arrested in Iraq
UPDATE //
Tue Jan 04 2005 11:18:47 ET
U.S. military and intelligence sources are denying print and broadcast reports that terrorist Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi has been arrested in Iraq, MSNBC reported Tuesday.
MSNBC said senior U.S. military and intelligence sources told it the reports are not true. A newspaper in the United Arab Emirates, al-Bayane, reported in its Tuesday edition that the Jordanian-born terrorist had been arrested in Baqouba, Iraq. Iraqi Kurdistan radio also reported the arrest of al-Zarqawi.
The U.S. military in December said al-Zarqawi likely is in the Baghdad area.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi, whom the US occupation authorities declared to be the "target number one" in Iraq, has been arrested in the city of Baakuba, the Emirate newspaper al-Bayane reported on Tuesday referring to Kurdish sources.
Al-Zarqawi, leader of the terrorist group Al-Tawhid Wa'al-Jihad, was recently appointed the director of the Al-Qaeda organisation in Iraq.
The newspaper's correspondent in Baghdad points out that a report on the seizure of the terrorist, on whom the US put a bounty of US$10 million, was also reported by Iraqi Kurdistan radio, which at one time had been the first to announce the arrest of Saddam Hussein.
There have been no official reports about the arrest of the terrorist. Al-Zarqawi, 38, a Jordanian, whose real name is Ahmad al-Khalayleh, aims to turn Iraq into a "new Afghanistan".
According to Arab press data, Al-Tawhid Wa'al-Jihad group has divided Iraq into several emirates. The group's independent subdivisions at a strength of 50 to 500 militants operate in the cities of Al-Falluja, Al-Qaim, Diala, and Samarra.
The personnel of the group is on the whole 1,500-strong and includes Iraqis and citizens of Arab and Islamic countries. There are demolition experts and missilemen among them.
The group has depots of weapons and explosives in various parts of the country. It intends to frustrate the upcoming parliamentary elections that are scheduled for the end of this month. Al-Tawhid Wa'al-Jihad threatens to do away with Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi and members of the interim government.
Tue Jan 04 2005 11:18:47 ET
U.S. military and intelligence sources are denying print and broadcast reports that terrorist Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi has been arrested in Iraq, MSNBC reported Tuesday.
MSNBC said senior U.S. military and intelligence sources told it the reports are not true. A newspaper in the United Arab Emirates, al-Bayane, reported in its Tuesday edition that the Jordanian-born terrorist had been arrested in Baqouba, Iraq. Iraqi Kurdistan radio also reported the arrest of al-Zarqawi.
The U.S. military in December said al-Zarqawi likely is in the Baghdad area.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi, whom the US occupation authorities declared to be the "target number one" in Iraq, has been arrested in the city of Baakuba, the Emirate newspaper al-Bayane reported on Tuesday referring to Kurdish sources.
Al-Zarqawi, leader of the terrorist group Al-Tawhid Wa'al-Jihad, was recently appointed the director of the Al-Qaeda organisation in Iraq.
The newspaper's correspondent in Baghdad points out that a report on the seizure of the terrorist, on whom the US put a bounty of US$10 million, was also reported by Iraqi Kurdistan radio, which at one time had been the first to announce the arrest of Saddam Hussein.
There have been no official reports about the arrest of the terrorist. Al-Zarqawi, 38, a Jordanian, whose real name is Ahmad al-Khalayleh, aims to turn Iraq into a "new Afghanistan".
According to Arab press data, Al-Tawhid Wa'al-Jihad group has divided Iraq into several emirates. The group's independent subdivisions at a strength of 50 to 500 militants operate in the cities of Al-Falluja, Al-Qaim, Diala, and Samarra.
The personnel of the group is on the whole 1,500-strong and includes Iraqis and citizens of Arab and Islamic countries. There are demolition experts and missilemen among them.
The group has depots of weapons and explosives in various parts of the country. It intends to frustrate the upcoming parliamentary elections that are scheduled for the end of this month. Al-Tawhid Wa'al-Jihad threatens to do away with Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi and members of the interim government.
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