Counterterrorism: Shifting from 'Who' to 'How

Nov 06, 2009 - Counterterrorism: Shifting from 'Who' to 'How' November 4, 2009 | 1918 GMT Global Security and Intelligence Report By Scott Stewart and Fred Burton In the 11th edition of the online magazine Sada al-Malahim (The Echo of Battle), which was released to jihadist Web sites last week, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) leader Nasir al-Wahayshi wrote an article that called for jihadists to conduct simple attacks against a variety of targets. The targets included "any tyrant, intelligence den, prince" or "minister" (referring to the governments in the Muslim world like Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Yemen), and "any crusaders whenever you find one of them, like at the airports of the crusader Western countries that participate in the wars against Islam, or their living compounds, trains etc.," (an obvious reference to the United States and Europe and Westerners living in Muslim countries). Related Special Topic Pages Surveillance and Countersurveillance Terrorist Attack Cycle Al-Wahayshi, an ethnic Yemeni who spent time in Afghanistan serving as a lieutenant under Osama bin Laden, noted these simple attacks could be conducted with readily available weapons such as knives, clubs or small improvised explosive devices (IEDs). - 1 Comment

The Obamas and the Gaffe Hunters

Apr 03, 2009 - By Leslie Savan, The Nation Posted on April 3, 2009 http://www.alternet.org/story/134832/ The real question about how Barack and Michelle Obama are being received on their Rolling-G-20-Summit/Euro-Tour '09 has nothing to do with how the Europeans treat them, but all about the American mainstream media itself: What infinitesimal nit will they find to pick about the new president's conduct abroad that can be blown up into a two- to three-day pseudo-international incident? You know the sort of story I mean. We're not talking about serious systemic issues, such as the different perspective a country like Germany (with universal health care, generous unemployment benefits, and a highly unionized work force) might have on the need for a global stimulus when compared to the U.S., where the party Obama just turned out of office has proposed effectively privatizing Medicare. - 12 Comments

Amazingly, there's money for this

Mar 06, 2009 - Barbie's real-life Dream House created in Malibu AP MALIBU, Calif. – Barbie's Malibu Dream House is coming true. On the eve of her 50th birthday, interior decorator Jonathan Adler has decked out a real-life 3,500-square-foot pad overlooking the Pacific Ocean to look like the blond doll's outrageous home. - 24 Comments

Why do women feel so ANGRY?

Feb 24, 2009 - I ran across this article, and thought it might prompt some interesting discussions. I've said for a few years now that the women's movement of the 1970's ultimately did us no favors; it just overburdened us with impossible workloads and insane expectations, and made us feel we should be grateful for them. This is a bit long, but is a quick read. - 28 Comments

In keeping with my eclectic taste (no pun intended): The other dark meat

Jan 14, 2009 - The other dark meat: Raccoon is making it to the table By Lee Hill Kavanaugh | Kansas City Star He rolls into the parking lot of Leon's Thriftway in an old, maroon Impala with a trunk full of frozen meat. Raccoon — the other dark meat. In five minutes, Montrose, Mo., trapper Larry Brownsberger is sold out in the lot at 39th Street and Kensington Avenue. - 10 Comments