Showing posts with label Litvinenko. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Litvinenko. Show all posts
Independence Day is over. Hope ya got all the fireworks shot off and every body stayed safe.Recently, a 1 hour 34-minute video done by Ayman al-Zawahiri has been released to the Muslim world. According to a terrorist expert, it is akin to a "fireside chat". These radio broadcasts were created by Franklin Delano Roosevelt during the very rough period of the Great Depression. In the video, al Qaeda's number two guy, al-Zawahiri, called for more young men in Iraq and Afghanistan to join in the jihad. He also rebuked Fatah for not being on better terms with Hamas. He said "We say to you, now that you are in control of Gaza, you should remember two things: One is that being in power is not a goal in itself, but the goal is, rather, to implement the rule of Allah". I think that is an interesting statement. Muslims are not about national territory and identity. Islam has within it a tenet that we are ruled only by Allah and that our earthly governments are only substitutes for Allah. Implying this tenet to another terrorist group is interesting. Also, where the hell do they get off? What, like al-Qaeda is the biggest, baddest terrorist group so they get to tell the other terrorists how to play in the sandbox? Ridiculous!
All right moving on past that hopeless pile of shit. Remember the Russian ex-Spy who died, Alexander Litvinenko? Well, Great Britain is still persuing the case. Good on them! They requested Russia extradite Andrei Lugovoi, the prime suspect in Litvinanko's murder by radioactive exposure to polonium-210. It took Russia five weeks to conclude that they woulod not extradite the man in question because they feel that no Russian National would tried. Extradition of any foreign citizen is not allowed by their constitution, according to the Russians. Mr. Lugovoi has denied any involvement in the murder and has even made statements that the British secret service is involved in Litvinenko's demise. He says it s more likely that Britain's own MI6, a rival Kremlin opponent or the Russian Mafia was involed. Remember that Litvinenko was investigating the murder of a Russian journalist and that others have also subsequently died and been shown to be exposed to the isotope that killed Mr. Litvinenko. This case continues to build and intrique.
If you read this and were annoyed that I stopped blogging, I apologize. Several things happened and I shall break them down as succintly as possible:1. FINALS! Yes, there was finals and I was stressed beyond all measure. But I got out with an A, 2 B's and a C. I call that a good semester. I can do better, however.
2. I had things to worry about like the holidays.
3. I worked a ton during the break.
4. I really didn't care but I did remember. I cannot use the lame excuse of forgetting.
5. I rediscovered my love for all things Galactica, Firefly and Science Fiction novels in general.
So as you can see, I just wasn't ready for running a blog of this nature. Speaking of "nature", I want to add that nature is fucking cold right now. It's like 10 and were happy for 10 here in Minnesota.
Besides that, I want to ask what is the nature of this site? I must reiterate that I basically posted a mission statement right at the top of this page. See it up there? I will, however, restate it now in a different form. I will try, to the best of my ability, to distill local, state, national and international politics, economics and downright newsiness for you my loyal reader (as in there is 1 of you). I aim to add my own opinion (when I feel warranted) and to analyze pertinent facts and events surrounding a particular story, developing or otherwise. I will not let my own political bias hinder my ability to attack those who need attacking, i.e. politicos who just plain screw up. Or CNN or Fox for being media... well, the media. The media just sucks anyways...
I'll admit that I have a healthy fascination for the weather (and weather reporting... there's some real comedy in that, let me tell ya), spies, International bodies like the United Nations, Anderson Cooper, weird crimes, idiocyncrasies that bother me, stupid politicians and history. I like to ground each entry in "back in the day" sections. I feel knowing what others were experiencing on this day in yoner year (oh, alliteration...) is helpful and also reminds us that others trod this grund before. Sometimes there are startling acheivements, disasters, battles or just plain oddness. I like the oddness.
There are some bits of news I failed to make any comment over the intervening 43 days. This was an oversight on my part. Here is a list of news items I failed to make a comment on and may try to make up for my apathy/lack of time:
1. Saddam Hussein was executed. The Iraqi government hung the former dictator in a fashion unbecoming to most western nations. His corpse was danced about by Shiites celebrating his recent demise. On Fox, a particularly amusing graphic was displayed showing his corpse. On the left side of the screen was Saddam "Alive", and on the right, his "dead" body. I couldn't help but be befuddled and amused by this. It reminded a friend of a moment in a film when someone was sorting dead rats and saying "alive"... "dead". We believe it was Transylvania 6500.
2. Gerald Ford died. He was never elected President, but nevertheless, led our country througho ne of its darkest periods. He also open the military academies to women. And pardoned Nixon. The flags will remain at half mast for another week or so. (Yes, I said half mast not half staff...)
3. Barbara Boxer v. Condoleeza Rice. What?
4. Donald Trump v. Condoleeza Rice. Double What?
5. Trump v. Rosie. eh....
6. The Next Harry Potter will be "The Deadly Hallows". That's hallows like hallowed ground, hallowed be his name and hallowe'en.
7. Pinochet, Chilean dictator, died at age 91. No one cared and it only rated below Harry Potter and The Don.
8. Tim Johnson, a US senator, was hospitalized with a mild stroke. Before he was even evaluated, US news outlets were already discussing the possible return of power to Republican hands. They weren't even waiting to see if he died.
9. Ex Russian Spy turned British citizen and author (and Muslim), Alexander Litvinenko, was finally covered in depth by 60 Minutes. About bloody Time!
10. Denver shut down for snow: $Billions. Holiday travellers stranded in terminals on stiff, smelly cots: ^#$^ %&#!!!! Laughing at my sister for moving there and claiming they hardely get any snow there: Priceless.
Back in the year 1265, The English parliament convened at the Palace of Westminster for the first time.
In 1892, the first game of basketball was played at a YMCA in Springfield Massachussetts.
And the Nazis, in 1942, agreed on the "final solution" to the European Jewry. The result was the holocaust the significant impact on world politics, culture and geography.
That's it from my end.
Mario Scaramella, the Italian academic who met with the late Alexander Litvinenko on November 1st, has reportedly tested positive for Polonium-210. This is the same highly radioactive element that was discovered in Litvinenko's body. Scaramella had gone into hiding in fear for his life due to the demise of the former Russian spy.Related to this mess is Yegor Gaidar, a former acting Prime Minister and economist who became severely ill in Ireland. He has since been taken to a Moscow hospital where he has reportedly, been recovering. Also, one of three planes removed from service in the UK, has been cleared of radiation. Despite this, a hotel in Sussex, England, was evacuated to search for Polonium-210.
The British government is demanding cooperation from the Russian government into this case. Litvinenko accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of culpibility in his poisoning and Putin has denied any involvement in the matter. However, Russia has pledged that it will cooperate with the investigation.
Though there are many mysteries - even going back to the October 7th slaying of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya - one of these is where the radioactive materials came from. So far, no nuclear labs are reproting any thefts. Sergei Kiriyenko, head of Russia's state atomic energy agency Rosatom, has stated that only 8 grams of the substance are made a month. He also said it cannot be "obtained illegally there". A lethal dose would be as little as 6.8 picograms (I really went and looked that up and even found out what a picogram is. 1 pg is 1/1,000,000,000,000 of a kilogram. This makes it awfully minute. I'm such a little investigative reporter!). It is also notoriously dangerous to handle but has a half life of roughly 138 days.
In an article posted in CNN yesterday, the Republican party wants a law outlining when fetuses feel pain. It seems the bill is less about actually creating such language in legislature but is actually an act to shore up Republican loyalty. When the Democrats take leadership of congress next year it is likely that few, if any, abortion restrictive bills make it even to the floor of either house. Douglas Johnson, legislative director of the National Right to Life Committee, even called the Democrats "Hardcore pro-abortion loyalists." I think thats a little generalist. There are some Democrats who are not pro-choice. And to call anyone pro-abortion is demeaning. No one is for abortion. They are for the choice. Hitler was pro-abortion.
Other news today: Typhoon Durian has killed 388 people so far. There are also 75 people missing. The Phillipines has been socked by four such storms in four months. At the same time a real whopper of a storm is pummeling the midwest with rain, snow and everything in between. Fortunately, I'm up north in Minnesota where its a balmy 23 today. Thats warm for this week!
On this day in 1941, New York City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia signed into action the Civil Air Patrol.
On this day in 1955, Rosa parks was arrested for not getting up and moving to the back of the bus for a white person. It sparked the Montgomery bus boycott which helped catapult Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to his role as Civil Rights Leader.
Back on this day in 1990, while we were gearing up for Gulf War I, The two sides, Anglish and French, met underneath the English Channel to unite both sides of the Chunnel. It would be another 4 years before it actually did business but it made it possible to walk on dry land from England to the mainland for the first time in 8,500 years ago. This was the last ice age.
In 1991, the Ukraine voted to get the hell off the sinking ship known as the USSR. The Soviet Union's days were already numbered.
Could it really be possible? Is Iraq in a civil war? Or are they just playing? When is this administration going to wake up and smell the shit they've been shovelling? Don't answer that...Colin Powell, former Secretary of State, and before that, Chairman of the Joint Cheifs of Staff (shouldn't that be cheives?) and he was also National Security Advisor to Reagan. Anyways, he has kind of been the voice of reason in the Republican Party. But that should not surprise anyone. He's the most moderate man in public service aside from John McCain, though McCain is starting to look a little too red. Regardless, he's one of those rare men: he can see both sides of the issue and look at things objectively. Now, if only we could get more journalists like him. He opposed going into Iraq as we did and has even been known to call Neoconservatives "fucking crazies" (I have a source). He's pro-choice and for affirmitive Action. When he resigned from his jpb as Secretary of State, one cannot help but wonder (at least, I can't) that it had something to do with his 1) dragging his heels on Iraq, 2)stating that we needed UN backing before going into Iraq not to mention the nation's support and 3) calling neocons "crazies" even if they are. They're crazy! What do you think they will do to you?
Yeah. That Guy. By the way, check out that cheesy grin. Sort of scary that a retired General can smile like that. (Note: Do not get the high resolution picture on Wikipedia. There is no reason to see anyone at a resolution of 2400x3000. NO ONE!)Colin Powell has come out and said Iraq'a in a civil war. Just admit and move on. Current NSA dude Stephen Hadley said "We're clearly in a new phase characterized by an increase in sectarian violence that requires us to adapt to that new phase". Well, I'm glad that cleared up. Since no one in the White House will say it. It might look bad. But even Iraq's government is shirking this detail. Hadley also said "The Iraqis don't talk of it as a civil war. The unity government doesn't talk of it as a civil war". Because there is no clear grab for power or territory, its not a civil war. What the hell was the British Civil War? They fought for power thereby control of the country, i.e. territory. Ugh...
Moving on because stupidity is depressing. Fiji might have another coup. Sweet! Lets have some action! Apparently, the Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase wanted to offer leaders of the 2000 coup some amnesty. He had two bills presented to the parliament proposing that. Commodore Frank Bainimarama, leader of the Fijian military forces, was a little ticked. He asked for the MP to resign in mid October. In return, Qarase tried to sack him. It didn't work. Now, New Zealand and Australia, both a bit concerned over possible instability in the region, have arranged talks, but negotiations have been unsuccessful.
The military began "practicing" in case of international intervention. But it looks more like preparation for overthrow. And the residents know it. They are stokpiling goods and cash. Even if there isn't a coup, they may destroy their small country's banking system. Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain have expressed concern about travelling there and Australia is pulling workers out of its embassy there. Wait and see!
The case of Alexander Litvinenko (the pictures at right are him: Before and After his poisoning) gets even bigger. Let me give a brief rundown on this man. Alexander Litvinenko was once a KGB (КГБ (Committee for State Security)) agent (as was Vladimir Putin). Later, he worked for the FSB (ФСБ (Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation)). In 1998, he began making accusations of killings, extortions and so forth. Eventually he'd spend some time in prison. While awaiting trial in 2000, he fled to Turkey and rejoined his wife, Marina, and son, Anatoly. He had no passport but he managed to make it into the United Kingdom on Political Asylum. He wrote a couple of books detailing how the FSB blew up apartments to further give rise to oppositition of the Chechen rebels and help Putin win election. He became a citizen if the UK in October of this year.He had received papers from Mario Scaramella concerning the killing of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya. She was shot in the elevator of her apartment building on October 7th. On November 1st, the day he acquired the documents, he also met with two former KGB officers. But Oleg Gordievsky, a long time friend of Litvinenko's, believed the poisoning happened at the flat of a Russian friend. He had tea there before meeting Scaramella (who has since gone into hiding) at Itsu, a sushi restaurant, in Piccadilly.
He is believed now to have been poisoned with Pulonium 210. This is a highly rare substance that an only be made in a nuclear reactor. And the half life on it assures that it was not stolen from stores that the USSR had and were easily taken after the collapse. Yegor Gaidar, a former acting Primie Minsiter under Boris Yeltsin, was found unconscious in Ireland on Novemeber 28. His health is not good and raises even more suspicions after Litvinenko's November 23rd death. A Post Mortem examination is scheduled for today and there has evidnce of radiation has been found on two British Airlines planes.
Well, I need to do some back on this day stuff. There were a lot of important things that happened through out history on this date. For example, The November Uprising of the poles against the Russian happened November 29, 1830. In 1890, the Meiji Constitution took affect in Japan. Yugoslavia became the Federal people's Republic of Yougoslavia in 1945 (aka they became Commies).
In 1967, Robert S. MacNamara resigned as Secretary of Defence amidst bungling of that era's quagmire, Vietnam.
And finally....You see that map at the top? that is the United Nations Partition as devised in 1947 for Palestine. Today, in 1947, the UN voted to go forward with partition. A month later, the Arab League met in Cairo to devise their own military solution to partition. We now have Eretz Israel (ארץ ישראל) and Palestine (فلسطين ). Someone actually asked me where the name Palestine came from. Its from the Phillistines. They have long since been gone but their name still continues.
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I, and my family, had a rip roaring thanksgiving. We spilled beer all over, woke the dead and lit things on fire. But, like all holidays, we must return to the mundane world known as real life.For starters, did you check out the ads? My paper, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, left something to be desired. There were seriously only a handful of ads. It was pathetic! Besides that, there is an interesting change in store policies. Some stores are remaining open and then others, will open for abbreviated hours this evening. Comp USA will be open tonight from 9 till midnight. I think this is shitty. These retail employees usually bask in the joy that at least they ain't working on Thanksgiving. Tomorrow they will work in the hell known as Black Friday. I feel they are being cheated. But that's just me.
Earlier this week I posted that an article about an ailing former Russian Spy was a complicated story. It is, but it is further complicated by the fact that the spy, Alexander Litvinenko, has died. At about 3.30 CST, he passed away in a London hospital. It is believed Litvinenko may have been poisoned by the Russian Government whom he is also quite critical of. Anyways, I feel bad that he has passed away. He was an upstanding guy who was holding firm on his principles. There are few who would take the path he did and I totally respect that. I offer my condolences to his family.
And CNN finally wrote an article about him that didn't need rereading.
Back on this day in 1954, the DOW finally got above its previous peak set before the crash of 1929. It only took 25 years to do it. We have recently accomplished a similar feat but in a much shorter period.
Also on this day, in 1963, Doctor Who, one of the best Science-Fiction television series (and stories... its always about the stories), ever, premiered on the BBC.
And since its Thanksgiving, with football games and all, on this day, Doug Flutie, when he was a quarterback for Boston College, threw a Hail Mary against the University of Miami with 6 seconds on the clock. He succeeded and Boiston College won the game 47-45. Flutie also was awarded the Heisman Trophy that year. What year was it? It was 1984.
That's all. Hope everyone's Thanksgiving was good and safe. Have a good start to holiday shopping. And remember to buy me something for Chanakah! Or Christmas depending on what you believe...
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