Feral Jundi

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Industry Talk: Rep. Hastings Probes Plight of HWA Security Guards

Filed under: Industry Talk,Washington — Tags: , , , , — Matt @ 8:55 AM

   Now this  story pisses me off.  This company was tasked with protecting these federal facilities, had a default on contract, and for whatever reason has decided to stop payments to employees.  Pfffft. Hopefully Rep. Hastings will be able to get to the bottom of what is going on with this disaster. –Matt

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Hastings probes plight of HWA security guards

September 26th, 2009

Approximately 200 private security guards throughout the Northwest from Portland to Boise who were abandoned in August by their employer — HWA security in Seattle — may end up going two months or more before federal officials can make up their missing wages.

Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Wash., is aware of the hardship caused for HWA’s employees and has been working for a couple of weeks to help them recover their money, said Charlie Keller, the congressman’s spokesman.

Keller said Hastings has contacted the U.S. Department of Labor on behalf of the HWA employees.

“We want to hear from anyone who has this problem. (Everyone) will be paid for all their back pay. How long it will take I can’t say. People should call our Pasco office,” Keller said. The phone for that office is 509-543-9396.

Most HWA guards have continued to staff their posts since federal agencies hired other security companies to take over HWA’s defaulted contracts.

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Friday, September 25, 2009

Saudi Arabia: Fears Over ‘Internal’ Terror Bomb

Filed under: Al Qaeda,Saudi Arabia — Tags: , , , , , — Matt @ 10:47 PM

   This is interesting.  I could see this adding a whole new level of complexities in this war.  If an x-ray machine couldn’t pick this up, and there is nothing on the outside of the body to indicate a bomb, then this is not cool.  Guys could just board a plane and time the detonation over populated cities.  They could also do much more targeted killings like in the case of this attempted assault. The possibilities are only limited by the imaginations of these miscreants, and we will see if this becomes a trend. –Matt

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Fears over ‘internal’ terror bomb

Saturday, 26 September 2009

By Frank Gardner

Security and intelligence experts are deeply worried by a new development in suicide bombing, the BBC has learned.

It has emerged that an al-Qaeda bomber who died last month while trying to blow up a Saudi prince in Jeddah had hidden the explosives inside his body.

Only the attacker died, but it is feared that the new development could be copied by others.

Experts say it could have implications for airport security, rendering traditional metal detectors “useless”.

Last month’s bombing left people wondering how one of the most wanted al-Qaeda operatives in Saudi Arabia could get so close to the prince in charge of counter-terrorism that he was able to blow himself up in the same room.

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Media News: Will a Milblogger Ever Win the George Polk Award?

Filed under: Media News,New York — Tags: , , , — Matt @ 2:26 PM

 “News is what the consensus of journalists determines it to be.”-BBC journalist, Andrew Marr

***** 

   I think it is time for a military blogger (milblogger) to get one of those snazzy George Polk Awards. That is the fair thing to do in my book, and it would be a recognition of the power of new media and it’s importance to the war effort.

    Or do the folks at Long Island University only recognize writers/journalists that produce inaccurate and highly slanderous books about Blackwater? Or does Long Island University only recognize bloggers that are actually more main stream media, than blogger?  For example, I don’t have 7 journalists working for me at Feral Jundi or pay salaries out to anyone.  Hell, I don’t even have a editor or marketing director.

    What I am saying is that it would be really cool to see a guy like Michael Yon get a George Polk Award either for journalism or for photography, or even both! (hint, hint)

   And what defines important journalism in the eyes of the panel? The stuff that Michael has produced is absolutely incredible. Hell, the work done by today’s milbloggers is amazing, because they are the ones that are driving the discussion and invigorating the debate about the correct direction in this war. How about the guys at Small Wars Journal or even the Long War Journal for example?  And what really puts these bloggers front and center is that they are usually soldiers, reporting from the front lines, and pouring their hearts out about what they think is the right direction. They research, they write, they speak the truth, and care about getting the war effort on the right footing.

   I guess my point is, is that if this award actually means something in the world of journalism, then why are there not more awards being presented to bloggers, and especially milbloggers?  We are the new media, and we are contributing greatly to the national and international discussion. We do speak truth to power and we are a part of the consensus, and it is time for the George Polk Award to recognize that milbloggers have contributed greatly to that consensus.

   So this is what you guys can do.  Submit, submit and submit. Get your best stuff out to these guys, and force them to acknowledge our existence. Let’s get one of our own up on that list of George Polk Awardees, and bring some recognition and respect upon those that actually deserve it.-Matt

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Iran: Nuclear Site Could Pose Test to U.S., Israel Ties

Filed under: Iran — Tags: , , , , , , , — Matt @ 11:38 AM

   I posted the main story last for a reason. This new nuclear site is a game changer in my opinion. It only accelerates and agitates the process, and time is not on our side here.

    And then there was the speech. Netanyahu’s speech at the UN was the exact opposite of Gaddafy’s, meaning it was compelling and heart wrenching, and it was also an indicator of what could be next for Israel. Israel has made clear, time and time again, that Iran with a nuclear bomb is a threat to the existence of Israel and unacceptable.

     That says to me that they plan on eventually attacking Iran and destroying their ability to manufacture a nuclear bomb.  Israel did this with Iraq and Syria, so logic being, Iran is next. When this happens is anyone’s guess.  Either way, Israel will not allow any threats to it’s existence, and will act accordingly.

    The question I have with this, is what would the US reaction be if Israel tries to fly over Iraq to attack Iran? Or what would be the military reaction of Iran and how would that impact our mission in Iraq or Afghanistan?  Interesting and scary stuff. –Matt

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At U.N., Iranian’s Speech Draws Angry Words From Netanyahu

By Colum LynchWashington Post Staff WriterFriday, September 25, 2009

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 24 — Brandishing Nazi orders for the extermination of Jews, Israel’s prime minister blasted Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday for continuing to deny that the Holocaust occurred, and he rebuked U.N. delegates who had listened politely to the Iranian leader’s speech on Wednesday, demanding, “Have you no shame?”

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Law Enforcement: Terror Case Is Called One of the Most Serious in Years

Filed under: Crime,Law Enforcement,Military News — Tags: , , , — Matt @ 11:04 AM

   Bravo to the local law enforcement agencies and the various federal agencies involved in uncovering this plot.  This deal also highlights the importance of promoting ‘DIY counter-terrorism’.  What I mean by that, is everyone hears about the ‘lone wolf’ concept, of some nut job or group learning how to assemble an operation and the key components of an operation all on their own.  There is so much information available online to learn how to make explosives or how to correctly conduct an operation, that it can empower the individual to do whatever they want to do.  In my view, we must apply good sound police and investigative techniques to finding these guys, but also empower the citizenry with the knowledge necessary to identify these threats.  This case totally highlights the importance of that.

   This window licker named Zazi bought a ton of hydrogen peroxide at a beauty supplies store, and thanks to the store attendant, he was able to put two and two together and reported the suspicious activity to authorities. They took it from there and uncovered a massive terror plot.  That beauty store attendant is what I would define as a ‘lone sheepdog’ or the counter to the ‘lone wolf’, and good job to you sir. –Matt

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Terror Case Is Called One of the Most Serious in Years

By DAVID JOHNSTON and SCOTT SHANE

September 25, 2009

WASHINGTON — Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, senior government officials have announced dozens of terrorism cases that on closer examination seemed to diminish as legitimate threats. The accumulating evidence against a Denver airport shuttle driver suggests he may be different, with some investigators calling his case the most serious in years.

Documents filed in Brooklyn against the driver, Najibullah Zazi, contend he bought chemicals needed to build a bomb — hydrogen peroxide, acetone and hydrochloric acid — and in doing so, Mr. Zazi took a critical step made by few other terrorism suspects.

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