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To start this issue we go straight into PoSW’s interesting Non Number Station Radio News:
All short wave radio enthusiasts who tune the broadcast bands must have noticed the ever increasing numbers of transmissions in the digital format; all of the BC bands have at least one of these things roaring away. I wonder how many people will buy the special receivers - or is it computer software? - to be able to make use of this. And is there any consumer demand for it; I don't know about the rest of Europe but in the UK nobody - but nobody - uses short wave radio as a source of information or entertainment. The average member of the public is not even aware of the existence of short wave broadcasting, it is only us radio anoraks who listen to short wave broadcasters and then only long enough to identify a particular station before moving on to the next one! I happened to tune across a Voice of America News Now broadcast a few days ago and I instantly recognised the voice of the person being interviewed as none other than that of Mr Kim Andrew Elliot who used to present VoA's "Communications World" a few years ago, one programme that really was worth listening to - but Uncle Sam decided to end it. Anyway, he was talking on the subject of digital broadcasting on short wave and stated that there is a problem with this mode because a dip in signal strength due to variations in propagation often causes the signal to drop out completely instead of just sinking into the noise for a few seconds, as is the case with ordinary AM short wave.
On a similar subject, the "Daily Express" of July-8 carried an article to the effect that the government is soon to announce a switch-off date for analogue radio - the long wave, medium wave and VHF-FM which we all know so well - in the UK, to be replaced by digital, which will, the writer of the feature cheerfully informs us, make a hundred million radios obsolete. Well, that will make the importers of the new radios happy, then. I say importers and not manufactures because all domestic radio receivers sold in the UK - apart from a very few expensive, top of the range models - are made in the sweatshops of East Asia, even those sold by companies with traditional British sounding names and boasting of their royal patronage. If I am going to build that regen. radio with the acorn pentode and the 12AT7 double triode which was featured as a constructional project in "Practical Wireless" a couple of months ago I had better get on with it soon while there are still some signals capable of being received!
Another item from the "Daily Express", the July -29 issue carried an article by the paper's Property Correspondent headlined "For sale; The £250,000 bunker", and described a concrete bunker designed to protect 150 people from nuclear attack which is up for sale in Lancashire. Originally built in 1940 for fighter command it was converted into a nuclear bunker in 1962 and refurbished "at great cost". Features include 50 rooms on two floors, kitchen, dormitories and decontamination rooms, air filtration system and water tanks capable of supplying the bunker for several months. And all for £ 250k, the price of a one bedroom apartment in central London!
And now onto the rest, with reduced political lampooning [by request!]:
We must ask if it was a good idea to park a blue GP car against the west kerb of Queen's Gate Gardens by the private gardens and pointing north. Apart from the 18" long antenna mounted on the roof over the rear nearside wheel, on the dash, in full public view was the vehicle log book stating, along with the 'corporate' owners name, the characters SO13. If it was that easy for me to spot what about the four Bangladeshi males who stopped me asking for directions to the Bangladeshi Embassy where at 1600 on 24/08 a full scale demonstration was underway. Anyone with mischief in their heart may well have done their homework. They might also have spotted the jam jar in the same place on 1st September too!
Of interest, on the Scanproma group the following question was asked, “I have been reading about EMP; can anyone tell me how to protect radios from them if the need arises.”
The answer from an E2k member was
“The general idea is to ensure that radios are properly shielded.
Proper Govt Nuclear Shelters went to great means to protect against this and despite being below ground a Faraday Cage was used to protect all electronic equipment and radios from the effects EMP. The antenna was the only way that such a pulse would be applied to a protected radio and they were expected to be disconnected and grounded prior to such pulse[s] being experienced. I have some pics of a shelter where telephone cables enter via a shielded gland and a set of massive filters designed to protect that beyond.
Those old enough to have seen the BBC ‘Threads’ film will remember that the EMP was shown to stop vehicles from starting up and also destroyed the main receiver in the Council Shelter [They made reference to the Amateurs going up to fix the antenna in the script].
The effects of EMP are also well documented - whilst NATO forces were looking at using hardened semiconductors for their applications a Russian fighter was flown by its defecting pilot to liberty in Japan. The Russians asked for the plane back and got it back they did - after it had been dissected. To the surprise of the engineers and scientists the main electronic device was the thermionic valve - virtually unaffected by EMP - to ensure that the aircraft would continue to be serviceable in the event of EMP. ‘Beneath the City Streets’ is an excellent work on Secret Britain and EMP gets a mention, you might like to look at Duncan Campbell’s ‘The Unsinkable Aircraft Carrier’ too. Both books look at nuclear exchanges but the perspective is somewhat different, the answers the same.
In the booklet ‘Protect and Survive’ they merely tell you to turn the receiver off and retract the antenna. It would be better to put the thing in a tin box that is earthed to even give the device the chance of surviving the pulse[s] that are of a high magnitude.”
[Tnx Scanproma].
The Stop and Search powers assumed for a recent arms fair by police have been approved as proper by three judges.
About time too – why is it that when our police act properly they are taken to court by some aggrieved no-all who has his financial charges paid by the taxpayer?
Well done boys in blue – search a few for me, use S1 if you can or assume powers under S60! Why not revert back to the Judges Rules instead of PACE – then you’ll be able to arrest the lot of the rabble under the Breathing Act.
ITV’s naval drama series never finished its run. A little like BBC’s ‘Warship’ it covered the day to day life of the crew aboard HMS Suffolk, a County Class destroyer.
Those of us who waited with baited breathe for the next episode were disappointed when it was replaced with some pulp because ‘Making Waves’ was not attracting viewers.
It was suggested that the ship loaned to ITV for the series is about to be scrapped in the next load of defence cuts, as is [we are told but cannot confirm] HMS Illustrious. Apparently we are going for standard flat tops with steam catapults instead.
The same person who told E2k about the cuts also passionately recounted how jobs in the British textile industry will be lost as uniform contracts are going to China instead. Very sad indeed.
The British Government has banned open mouth smiling in passport photographs thanks to strict new U.S. standards. No sunglasses or hair brushed across the eyes either. And this is because these factors may confuse security cameras used to scan faces and verify the passport as authentic. The new British passports will be fitted with a chip containing the facial image and other data. [Quite why they even bother to have a British passport anymore is a mystery - shouldn't it have the american eagle on it or whatever that lot have? Our Nation is diluted, we are not 'English' anymore and now we kowtow to american paranoia - its very piss poor indeed].
"These new guidelines are an important step in the development of the new biometric e-passport and use of facial recognition technology that will be introduced in 2005 as part of the ongoing fight against fraud and international terrorism," UKPS Chief Executive Bernard Herdan said in a statement. [No doubt we'll get a voucher for a free McMuffin at McDonalds with every passport we apply for].
Libyan Secret Services had discovered an al-Qaeda linked training camp at Tibesti near to its border with Chad.
To set matters straight – just in case a victory is anticipated it has been released that the Intelligence services of Saudi Arabia are so infiltrated by al-Qaeda sympathisers that such support is stated for 80% of its staff.
According to reports the Kingdom’s counter terrorist campaign is failing and militant operations are spreading into neighbouring states. Scotland Yards anti-terrorist squad and the FBI and CIA are amongst foreign agencies that collaborate with the Saudis.
J6m posted an interesting piece of news from the US Department of Defense, it reads:
"The Department of Defense announced today [09/07/04] that it is closing 10 microwave radio relay sites in the United Kingdom. The sites are: Barkway, Botley Hill Farms, Bovington, Caldecott (also known as Chelveston), Christmas Common, Cold Blow, Daventry, Dunkirk, Swingate, and Uxbridge. This closure is not related to the U.S. Global Posture review, it is simply a cost saving measure.
The Defense Information Systems Agency determined that DoD could save $1 million annually by using commercial communications instead of continuing to maintain and upgrade the existing sites.
Operations at these sites ceased in December 2003 and they will be officially closed by the end of December. Since the sites are unmanned, there is no expected impact to military or civilian jobs as a result of the closures.
As with all stationing actions, the United States has coordinated with host nation officials at all levels prior to this public announcement." [http://www.pentagon.mil/releases/2004/nr20040709-1001.html]
In answer RNGB writes
"They've already closed. They took down the dishes at Bovingdon (it is spelt with a D and not a T) about a year ago. Why can't Americans spell properly? Or is it just that there are no place names in the U.S. ending in `ingdon' ? Guess with HF data links and sat-com they became redundant. It was a very old system."
[Thanks J6M and RNGB]
The Iraqi Embassy in Great Britain, 21 Queensgate, London SW7 was visited by an Iraqi dignity on 16/07. The Iraqi gentleman, clad in a light coloured suit, was accompanied by one or two henchmen as well as what appeared to be ‘men from the Ministry’ all protected by a Policeman from the D&RPG.
It’s about time the log periodic antenna came down from the roof before it falls down and kills someone by the way – its as rusty as the catch on KW’s wallet.
The key to the padlock that sealed the damaged doors from interference was unlocked after the tramp who was sleeping there quickly removed his bivvy in quick time.
We look forward to seeing even more demos there in due course.
Amongst the rumour and stirring re untruths being told about WMDs and the ‘sexing-up’ of a report available to the British public John Scarlett took up his post on 1st August. His priority is stated in The Times [02/08] as being ‘ to discover why the agency [MI6] made such calamitous mistakes over Iraq.’
The final paragraph in The Times piece, by Daniel Mc Grory, must be mentioned, ‘His appointment was met by claims in some quarters of Whitehall that it was as a reward from Mr Blair as many had expected MI6’s deputy head, Nigel Inkster, to succeed Sir Richard Dearlove as “C” .’
‘Protect and Survive’ was an official document from HM Govt that advised the Nation how to protect themselves, using handy items such as doors leant against walls, from Nuclear explosions. [How many houses in Great Britain were lead loaded, had a PF of 15 and were able to withstand a direct hit]?
Now it appears that Londoners are to receive a booklet advising them how to survive a Terrorist attack.
No doubt it will be a derived offering from that available in America [they know how to look after their voting public] and that in Australia. [Not America theirs is comprehensive, credible and helpful].
No doubt all the major DiY outlets will be short of Gaffa Tape [Duct tape to our US cousins] and plastic sheeting as they were of wasp nest foam when this book comes out.
The handy hints outlined in ‘Protect and Survive’ were laughable; two or three doors leant at an angle of 45˚ and covered with sacks of earth would protect you from the effects of a nuclear explosion [we were told]. A fancy entrance to your indoor citadel could be made from an earth filled tea chest whilst lavatory facilities were made with a black bag, dustbin and disinfectant.
Adverts were available to be screened on TV and also via radio. The narration was the splendid voice of Patrick Allen aka ITV’s ‘Crane’ [whatever happened to Laya Raki and her memorable neckline? She must be about 80 nowadays] and later selling houses from a helicopter. It was excellent that HMG would supply these documents to advise us, excellent until the US screened ‘The Day After’ [laughable but it made the point]. That was followed by the more harrowing British film ‘Threads’. It featured all the ideas in ‘Protect and Survive’ and the viewer was treated to seeing two featured families, one using the door constructed citadel, the other, their cellar. Apart from the death of Grandma the family in the cellar fared better – the daughter surviving long enough to bring up a daughter in the resulting nuclear winter. The rest were killed by looters looking for food.
Thanks to Messrs Bush and Bliar our countries are apparently ripe for a terror attack; now HMG put out another pamphlet full of handy tips on how to survive terrorist actions so that we can beat them at their own game. But surely if it has got to this level then we have already lost. And what of the terrorists’ human rights in the UK [it’s not Great Britain anymore] to go and wreck our lives, homes, families and personalities. Has anyone been tried for interfering with that yet? If not it can’t be long – not in politically correct Britain where the rights of all others are placed higher than those of the population [except HMG].
If a terror attack occurs [and its only a matter of time] Her Majesty’s Government will see all of this out ensconced in their deep level shelter at Corsham Quarry. The whole thing is a travesty. The Muslim religion is recognised as ‘terror’ rather than a religion and those with brown skins are treated, ad hoc, as terrorists. Thanks Bush and Bliar, destroyers of religion and bringers of doom. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3907941.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3906187.stm
FOR A DECENT LAUGH: http://www.pfe.gov.uk/booklet/index.htm available in PDF, file much bigger for the Welsh!!!!
Of course you might prefer this version: http://www.preparingforemergencies.co.uk/
An insert in ‘Metro’ 29/07 read that the student who parodied the booklet on his site had received a firmly worded email from the Cabinet Office ordering him to take it down. Their reason appears to be that the site may well be mistaken for the real one --- something chemically insidious is creeping underneath the door and you go on the net? Unbelievable HM Cabinet Office!
Our erstwhile student, Thomas D Scott of York University, has not – but has included a reply to the official email – as well as adding a bold statement that the site is in fact a parody. Surely anyone with a smidgen of grey between their ears could work that out, HM Cabinet Office!
Our student humorist adds, “Parodies are permissible under copyright law - particularly since the original was Crown Copyright, and the only restriction was that it not be used in a "derogatory or misleading manner", and let's face it, if anyone actually mistakes this for the genuine Government web site, then they probably have more problems than getting unhelpful advice.” That’s probably very true Mr Scott – everything in the booklet is plain common sense, if you have to read a booklet to tell you what to do then maybe, just maybe you don’t actually need to be protected!
If you want to see how things are done properly see ‘Are you ready’ an American [and the first modern advice] on http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/
I know we lampoon the Americans in the NL but GB could learn a lot by reading that sensible and well produced doc. It seems that whatever Britain does now it fluffs it. It can’t even have a proper supply rationale for troops, treating that as a profitable business to.
And here is a final interesting fact: when converted to 10pt text our booklet, produced by HMGovt, takes 5 pages of A4. The more comprehensive and credible American edition takes 91 A4 sheets. At least Mr Bush seeks to protect his citizens from the massive bucket of s**t he has dropped them in. Mr Bliar allows a pissant, 22 page B5 booklet, with pretty pictures and a nice font to be produced and one that a cretinous moron would be embarrassed to be seen reading whilst waiting outside the Labour Exchange.
To prove try this and paste across: http://www.fema.gov/txt/areyouready/areyouready.txt
The link is for those using text televisions [Web TVs], not cellphones or emailers;-)
Finally, and to sate input from NI: In Protect and Survive the instruction was to chop the doors down and make a lean-to inner refuge that you should not leave. Later in the pamphlet it warns you to open all the doors!!! Well done the Ministry of Confusion. [Also advises the householder to go around putting out small fires with water – all after a nuclear explosion or two. Sack that scientist]!
Now who wants to be a spy? 5000 if you can believe the commentary about BBC3’s new ten part offering in which ordinary people are trained in the secret world of intelligence and espionage.
See http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/spy/spy_overview.shtml for an overview.
The trainers are Harry Ferguson, who after graduating from Oxford University, served as an officer in MI6 for several years. After leaving MI6, he joined the Investigation Division of HM Customs and Excise as an undercover surveillance officer working against gangs smuggling materials such as heroin and components for weapons of mass destruction. He is currently a full-time writer. Sandy Williams [‘for me it’s the smell that I remember’] an expert in intelligence and surveillance whose background currently remains classified and Mike Baker, who worked for 14 years as a covert field officer for the CIA specialising in counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics and counter-insurgency operations. During this time he was noted for his outstanding performance and achievements. [As an American he is no doubt included to grease a swift uptake by American TV companies].
The Eight candidates [one eliminated by ep3] made their way to the now defuct Strand underground station at the Aldwych carrying a rather upmarket metal case containing the 'odds and bobs' necessary for their well being as spies. When the series was being made in April they were seen by an ENIGMA 2000 member [should that be operative?] from the top of a passing 68 bus - it was the case that caught his eye as well as the hat the bloke was wearing as he was trying to enter the station via the door next to the photo machine.
Anyway the series is entertaining; some of the candidates are taking it all very seriously too! Looking at the candidates I reckon either the black bloke or the NI man will finish the course successfully. The bloke who wrote BBC’s ‘Spooks’ could do with looking at this too.
‘Spooks will return to our screens in a 10 parter this Autumn’
PLondon, AnonNI and AnonMW have met to discuss a plethora of numbers related matters. A particular hostelry in South Wales hosted one event where once again PLondon and AnonMW spoke Yemeni Arabic [tainted with regional dialects] in the plush surroundings where at least two persons looked quizzically towards the verbose pair. The evening could have been reminiscent of a bash at ‘The Crescent Hotel’ Steamer Point, Aden, but it wasn’t and instead of being potted at by errant FLOSY or NLF gunmen we risked being mugged in our own country as we left a good nights’ meal!!
[Note that the required ‘Sahib’ was sunbstituted for ‘Boyo’].
Which reminds me of the sounds of being awoken Aden style, ‘Good morning Sahib, Guinness is good for you.’
TERROR IS ONE CLICK AWAY - EXPERT
Gloucestershire Echo : 24.06.04 [from http://cryptome.org/terror-click.htm]
Defence expert Tony Mason has hit out at military enthusiasts for revealing secret information about GCHQ on the internet.
The Cheltenham-based Air Vice Marshal spoke out after security experts expressed fears that Army fans may have inadvertently breached the Official Secrets Act. One Stockport-based site includes extensive photographs of the past and present GCHQ buildings in Cheltenham, and also reveals an SAS training area in Herefordshire.
The high-security military communications base at Defford, Worcestershire, is also subject to scrutiny.
The details and photos have been published on unofficial websites.
Mr Mason advises the House of Commons defence committee and holds a fellowship at the University of Birmingham.
He said the information revealed could be of immeasurable help to would-be terrorists.
A search of the web reveals numerous sites featuring satellite photographs of bases and information about their uses.
Under the headline Secret Bases Revealed! the site details tell-tale signs to look for when spotting clandestine military locations.
Mr Mason said the websites represented a potentially serious threat to military installations in the UK.
"It is difficult to see what kind of rationale or ideology could lead any individual to publish this kind of information on the internet. It's totally irresponsible," he said.
Mr Mason added spies had died during the Cold War to get the kind of information being revealed.
"Yet now, in a time where terrorism and a need for tightened security is even more prevalent, we seem to be happy to hand over this kind of information on a plate," he said.
*A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said there are no secret bases being operated in the UK.
"However, there will be elements within the MoD that, for operational reasons, are classified," he said. *
"Security at all our military installations is always of paramount importance."
This is a cracker and linked to Alan Turnball’s site which, although removed was available via Cryptome at the time of writing.
A number of our members will be interested to read that the 1940s intercept station has been put on the market for all offers over £95000.
Sitting in the middle of a 200 acre site the property, complete with 50ft mast, is being sold off by the Scottish Executive as part of a sale of redundant communication centres across Scotland.
It is envisaged that the property will be left on the market for a few weeks from late July prior to a closing date being announced. A number of prospective purchasers have made themselves known.
AnonNI sent in an article that had appeared as a very short piece in the London Metro. In his example, taken from the Sunday Life [01/08] it was entitled ,Zapped’ with the strapline ‘Jailbirds squawk as mobile phones may get walled in.’
Unlike the piece originally seen by yours truly this did more than state that QinetiQ [previously MoD’s Defence and Research Agency, DERA] has developed a special RF opaque screen that is as simple to use as wallpapering. The product could be used in any public reas where mobile phone use is wanted to be prevented.
The piece in ‘Sunday Life’ penned by C McGuigan suggests that some prisoners held in the high security HMP Maghaberry have in the past been able to smuggle mobile phones into their cells, apparently to run their criminal empires from their cells.
Apparently the ‘wallpaper’ blocks out frequencies used by mobiles.
How this product works has been discussed and one member suggested iron filings or foil dipoles laminated onto a baseboard. Another idea was based around the foil dipoles being on a different laminant and the material between the laminant and liner acting as a diode, absorbing energy at the target frequency. If that was the case then the product could be manufactured to affect frequencies as ‘required’ whilst allowing others to pass through.
This is an interesting product indeed, one use would be the containment of IEDs that could be triggered by mobile phones. [Tnx AnonNI – a good article indeed]. Now where can I get 8 rolls of heavy Fleur-de-Lys flock, resonant on 900MHz?
The appointment of a senior MI6 officer has been made to oversee the manner in which the Secret Intelligence Service runs its agents.
The officer will reassess the management of the SIS network of agents and the methods to validate their bona fides. This no doubt due to the critical view formed by the Butler inquiry over the credibility of some of the agents in Iraq.
Sir Richard Dearlove, who recently stepped down as ‘C’ accepted the criticisms, whilst Mr John Scarlett, his replacement from 1st August, has made it clear to all staff at MI6 that he intends to implement the reforms once the officer involved reports back to him.
It is understood that any alterations will be made to processes rather than hierarchy.
The above is the latest memory tag for vehicles registered in Manchester [North East England]. This tag has the range of local identifiers from A to Y, giving MA to MY.
Whilst passing Vauxhall Cross in a 360 bus, not a journey I will ever make again on that bus route, the doors leading from the building opened and out popped a gleaming new blue van, with smoked windows for the passengers and bearing the memory tag MA04. And why was it bought in Manchester?
Where it went heavens knows, but I am sure it will be seen near Pen****ne Road at some stage.
Mohammed Naeem Noor Khan was an al-Qaeda operative who was arrested in Pakistan. He was an important catch for the Pakistani intelligence officers for MNN Khan was a skilled computer engineer and an al-Qaeda communications specialist.
His arrest was treated as a secret and whilst investigations proceeded against him Western intelligence operatives watched over him whilst he was made to send a string of emails to key al-Qaida figures.
A number of his contacts were in Great Britain, six in the US and were requested to contact MNN Khan. The investigations surrounding MNN Khan involved the examination of disks containing details of possible plans of attacks and coded lists of agents.
One such attack was said to be on Heathrow Airport and meticulously planned. There were photographs of terminal buildings, fuel farm and the road tunnels used to access the airport. Even the phase of traffic lights was timed and included as well as details of possible escape routes.
All information was apparently updated regularly.
The investigators were apparently astonished by the minute details recorded on the disk; the code invented by MNN Khan used code names for agents taken from Holy Books such as the Koran and the Bible. Apparently there were numbers of cell phones but the code never uses the digits 0, 2 or 3 [have we seen that before?] .
MNN Khan’s father is a purser with PIA [Pakistan International Airlines] and apparently obtained cheap tickets for his son. Apart from having enrolled at City University, London MNN Khan spoke of two cousins who were arrested in 2000 on terrorism charges after they allegedly visited Chechnya and Bosnia to join in militant activities.
MNN Khan is 6’2” tall, powerfully built, 25yo and has a ‘flawless English accent.’ His academic background and computer skills made him a very important catch to al-Qaeda.
In his travels MNN Khan visited Germany and the US, probably making contact with other agents and evaluating others, perhaps for attack purposes.
I have just returned form a blood donor session giving my usual pint of clarat. This time the Blood donor people were very keen that we attended to lose an armful of blood. Perhaps they are expecting a big demand on their services in the near future………!
[Tnx – you know who you are]!
The above named exercise was performed at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre, located by its main rail link to London and near to Birmingham International Airport.
Knowledge of this exercise was suppressed from British media, and thus the British public at large BUT the Arabic news channel al-Jazeera was informed.[No doubt in an attempt to let Mr bin Laden know we are making preparations. OBL was, at the time watching ‘Eastenders’].
There was a long delay [3Hrs] before the mock victims received any medical aid and there were a mass of angry and confused victims who attempted to break out.
Their progress was hampered by security guards clad in military issued NBC kit and respirator. None had any ID and the obvious fears were voiced that anyone could dress as an official and burgled their was across an affected area.
Like Osiris 2 there were no panicking public refusing to say where they were, running blindly and anxious to leave the scene at any cost. That cost would be the lives of those who opposed their flight. In reality these persons, those fathers, mothers, children layabouts and illegal immigrants, asylum seekers, all would die as the security forces open fire in Tiannamen Square fashion.
Up tp a 100000 US troops will be pulled out from Asia and Europe in the biggest redeployment since the Cold War has ended. It is expected that a number of bases in Germany and South Korea will be closed down with staff being returned to US or posted to NATO expansion countries in Eastern Europe [wherever that means].
Pentagon officials are reported as saying the changes are necessary to adapt the US Military to the demands of the global war on terrorism and to take advantage of new technology. There is also the political issue of US military morale; there is also the discontent of relatives who see their folk posted from Afghanistan and Iraq. More than 60% of US Forces are deployed overseas.
It is not so well known that the Pentagon has used emergency powers to force some soldiers whose enlistments are up to stay on.[See 'The Observer' page 21 15th August, 2004].
There must be the spectre of the loss of life too; as Mr Bush must be aware, as is Mr Bliar, it's not good political stuff to see your countrymen return in body bags. There is even less political gain to be had when the voting public suspect lies and manipulation to prosecute a war that appears to be never ending and for which the real reason may well be oil rather than WMDs.
In later reports, particularly The Times 17/08 page 27, a figure of 70000 uniformed septics are to leave cold war bases. In the previous Sunday Times article it was reported that this removal of troops was because of the failure of Germany to support the US in Iraq, but it appears to be welcomed given the remarks that flowed the article on 17/08. “When a Galaxy cargo plane takes of at 3am the whole town falls out of bed.” And its not just Germany that profits from American removal; the European naval headquarters is to move from London to Naples and may involve 1000 military and civilian personnel, 350 being employed in North Audley Street near the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square London. US deployments shown in the Times artice were Afghanistan 17900, Bosnia-Herzegovina 2931, Germany 75603, Iceland 1754, Iraq 211028, Italy 13354, Japan 40045, Qatar 3432, UK 11801, South Korea 40258.
A picture of an American soldier on guard outside the US Army’s headquarters in Heidelberg brought some splendid memories back to yours truly of the hospitality received there in April 1964. That was before things changed.
The man who never was was in fact Major Martin, Royal Marines. For him the war had never really taken its toll, but he died of pneumonia and exhibited all the characteristics of drowning. A civilian dressed in uniform, complete with letters from his father and a girlfriend, to complete the deception, he was floated from a canister with a briefcase containing documents designed to suggest that the impending invasion of Sicily, Operation Husky, was in fact aimed at Sardinia. The submarine HMS Seraph floated the body off the Spanish coast with its briefcase, the act successfully complete, when the briefcase was returned through diplomatic channels, but which was subsequently found to have been opened..
The commander of Seraph was Captain Bill Jewell whose part in Operation Mincemeat, as the delivering of Major Martin was dubbed, was particularly skillfull. Bill Jewell was well decorated for his service, MBE, Chevalier of the Legion of Honour, DSC and the Croix de Gueurre with Palm, and for assisting US Forces, US Legion of Merit.
Captain Bill Jewell was born 24th October 1913 and passed away on 20th August 2004, aged 90.
Mr Babar Ahmad aged 30 who worked in the Centre for Computer Services section of Imperial College, London was arrested on 2nd December 2003 and again in August 2004. Mr Ahmad worked in an area called 'The Hut'. At the time the eleven rooms comprising 'The Hut' were sealed off and computers dismantled and removed for examination.
Mr Ahmad was questioned about possession of plans of a US Navy battle group in the Gulf and then freed.
On 5th August Mr Ahmad was again arrested and charged with raising money to fund terrorism in Afghanistan and Chechnya between 1998 and 2003. Bow Street Magistrates were told this was done through US based websites.
His arrest this time differed; the arresting officers were from New Scotland Yard's extradition team.
Whilst in Bow Street Magistrates court the US Government's representative [ CIA?] Mark Summers attempted to ensure that the accused, Mr Ahmad, a professional from Tooting, London appeared in court wearing handcuffs. Mr Summers' view was that 'There were concerns that an escape could be mounted.' This 'application' was rejected by Judge Christopher Pratt.
For Mr Ahmad, Joanna Evans, stated that her client, Mr Ahmad, 'Believes this [his arrest and extradition process] to be a politically motivated prosecution and refutes absolutely the charges against him.'
[Reading the Affidavit [Docket Number 3:04m240(W1G) and signed by Craig Bowling, Special Agent, Department of Homeland Security tells a particularly interesting story. Whilst not Judge and Jury, Mr Ahmad is going to have his work cut out to disprove this if he loses his fight not to be extradited. One interest is the raising of funds for al-Qaeda].
At the conclusion of the hearing Mr Ahmad was remanded in custody until 10th September. In the background supporters of Mr Ahmad, not all Muslim either, demonstrated outside the Home Office after meeting at St James' Park Underground station, their chosen RVP.
The arrest of Mr Ahmad was not the main point of the demo, it was more the willingness of Her Britannic Majesty's Government to kowtow to George Bush's lot in their 'global fight against terrorism and calls for an end to the "criminalisation" of the Muslim community in Britain.
Among those leading the protest were the former Labour minister Tony Benn who declared, "The most dangerous thing is to turn political conflict into a religious war." In turn the protest was supported by the Islamic Human Rights Commission, the Muslim Association of Britain, Stop the War coalition and the Liberal Democrat Muslim Forum.
Mr Ahmad, if extradited to America, faces four charges that carry sentences of between 20 years and life imprisonment, relating to the alleged offences between 1998 and 2003.
Wonder what gaol sentences were received by those Americans who actively supported the IRA by openly collecting money from the general American public as bombs decimated the streets of Northern Ireland and Britain and execution, assassination and murder smudged out family members. We fear the obvious answer to that question!
Anthony Monkton an MI6 man who was credited with helping arrange the flight of Slobodan Milosevic, former Yugoslavian president, to the Hague to face a war crime tribunal had a photograph, email account details and his telephone number revealed in the newspaper Nedeljni Telegraf after betrayal by the Serbian interior officials close to the paper. The reason is believed to have been his apparent involvement in inquiries into the assassination of Zoran Djindjic PM in March 2003.
One cannot forget the 2002 national faux pas of the Hellenic Government of Greece when 12 British and 2 Dutch plane spotters were arrested on spying charges when discovered outside a Greek military airfield photographing the antiquities inside. [Marconi 1 - you take care with that R1155] and problems of international proportion existed. Well it's happening here now, except the area of interest is civil airports.
LHR, Heathrow, has always had many plane spotters on the observation roof. Bristling with the antennae of the radios used to listen to incoming aircraft various spotters also sport decent binoculars. The same scenario exists at LGW, Gatwick as well as Stanstead STN.
At LGW and STN security guards have been instructed by BAA to question anyone carrying a camera [actually it takes pictures - thank you sir, I'll be on my way then] the spotters at LHR are condemned to spotting from the Airport roads and are regularly moved on by the police. .LHR closed its viewing gallery thanks to advice from the transport department. The biggest enthusiasts’ society, Air Britain, has 4500 members; moreover the aviation publisher, LAAS, has come up with membership cards for those who properly apply.
The Chairman of LAAS recognises that there are probably more enthusiasts at an airport than police. Whilst there appears to be some 'friction' due to the closure of the viewing areas the police hope to use the eyes and ears of spotters to identify unusual activities near and around airports.
Spotters claim that several of their number saw IRA terrorists setting up a mortar attack from the Heathrow perimeter road in 1994 and say they could have helped police foil the plot. There may well be more than 20000 spotters in the UK; whilst the interest was only just tolerated previously, 9/11 is seen as a reason to drive them away.
Like many Council properties across Britain Hoyland Town Hall, near Barnsley South Yorkshire is no different where the upkeep of property is concerned. Built in 1972 the Hall was partially abandoned when the authority became part of Barnsley Council.
The Council Chamber was used for small local meetings and surgeries.
Imagine the surprise in May when a clock fell off the wall, imagine the further surprise when a bugging device was found secreted away. The device was subsequently taken away for analysis after police were called [Tnx E].
We received this from mukhabarat2003 aka Sal ibn Hari. He wrote, “This came from a footer on a spammed up email trying to sell me viagra.” The agency stated could well have been MI5/6, DHS, NHS, DFS, MFI or a host of others – enjoy:
The CIA had an opening for an assassin.
After all of the background checks, interviews, and testing were done there were three finalists - two men and one woman. For the final test, the CIA agents took one of the men to a large metal door and handed him a gun.
"We must know that you will follow your instructions, no matter what the circumstances. Inside this room you will find your wife sitting in a chair. You have to kill her." The first man said."You can’t be serious. I could never shoot my wife." The agent replies, "Then you’re not the right man for this job."
The second man was given the same instructions. He took the gun and went into the room. All was quiet for about five minutes. Then the agent came out with tears in his eyes. "I tried, but I can’t kill my wife." The agent replies, "You don’t have what it takes. Take your wife and go home."
Finally, it was the woman’s turn. Only she was told to kill her husband. She took the gun and went into the room. Shots were heard, one shot after another. They heard screaming, crashing, banging on the walls. After a few minutes, all was quiet. The door opened slowly and there stood the woman. She wiped the sweat from her brow and said, "You guys didn’t tell me the gun was loaded with blanks. So I had to beat him to death with the chair." [Shukri Sal]
Following the arrests, on 1st August of eight men, thought to be involved with al-Qaeda, investigations revealed enough evidence for charges of conspiracy to commit murder to be brought against all those arrested. These eight men are all Muslim and arrested in one of the biggest operations against al-Qaeda.
The arrests were made following US warnings that attacks had been planned against 'landmark' buildings. These 'landmark' buildings were stated in the media as 'New York Stock Exchange, Citigroup building - again New York, International Monetary Fund Headquarters in Washington and the Prudential Building in New Jersey.
One of those arrested is said to possess reconnaissance plans for attacks on financial institutions in three US cities whilst another is charged with possessing an extract from a terrorist handbook that gives details of how to prepare chemicals whilst giving formulae for explosives.
Interestingly newspaper articles suggest 'radioactive materials, toxic gases, chemicals and/or explosives to cause disruption, fear or injury contrary to S1(1) Criminal Law Act 1977.’
There was also mention of 'a document or record of information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, etc.’ [Suppose I'll have to remove my copy of Mellor's Inorganic Chemistry from my bookshelves. It details the preparation of gun cotton, gunpowder, dynamite and TNT].
Not surprisingly it appears there may be extraditions to America. Whilst newspaper straplines read along the lines of 'Gang charged with plot to attack Britain' there is nothing stated in the text of the news piece to suggest what location, or indeed where.
Senior US officials are said to have held high-level talks with Home Office lawyers and police. The British security and intelligence services, MI5, MI6 and GCHQ were all claimed to be involved along with the cooperation of the Pakistani Intelligence Service and the CIA.
Of the three newspapers read concerning this matter not one stated a firm British target.
A £50M helicopter, the NH-90, are being provided for Britain's SAS. The 'stealth machine' as it has been dubbed is expected to go into service with the Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit and will be on permanent standby for an instant response to any terrorist assault on Britain's internal security.
The development of this craft wss made between Westland in Somerset and the Italian company, Agutsa. A quantity of NH-90s has already been sold to special forces in France, Greece and Oman.
Special fittings to the aircraft include self sealing fuel tank that are also impact resistant; in the event of a crash any explosion would be avoided. Apart from having a very low radar signature and thus a hard to detect ability an advanced onboard computer allows pinpoint accuracy to destinations as well as duplicating instruments to the pilot's helmet viewer. For the interested aircraft buff the NH- 90's specs are: Crew of 2 and a payload of 20 troops, 18ft high with a length of 64ft and an addition of two machine guns if required.
A very sleepy PLondon writes,
“Last night Saturday 21st August,BBC2 TV's 'Storyville' ran an 85 min documentary on the controversial Arab news network al-Jazeera at 2200.. I was a little tired having been forced to tidy out my shack - there simply was no more room for expansion and a number of redundant items were removed to the local rubbish tip.
The programme followed behind the scenes activities from the start of this latest US led fiasco to what seemed almost present day. Previously unseen footage was shown; not for sensationalism but because it had been transmitted by al-Jazeera to its mainly Arab audience.
Surprisingly we then see some American lieutenant quietly berating the al-Jazeera representative for showing dead US soldiers along with those of Iraqi soldiers and many dead Iraqi children. Needless to say when the al-Jazeera rep made his point about producing news for an interested Arab mass the American Lt seemed a little disappointed.
The al-Jazeera journalists were professional and accurate in the clips shown. There was even a discussion about what was being transmitted along with mention of the Israeli/Palestinian question. No animosity was shown, nor sarcasm.
At one stage some Brigadier-General somebody [from CENTCOM] produced the now infamous deck of cards [Wink Martindale eat your heart out] said there was enough packs printed for the US troops and then withdrew the pack. Immediately an al-Jazeera reporter asked for sight of a pack, only to be refused as the Brigadier-General arrogantly turned his back on his captive audience. It might as well be added that he entered the 'auditorium' much as a world class boxer would his venue, the air of arrogance, the you can't touch me all entwined with 'I'm the main show in this event.' Then the cause was taken up with some up ranked US military binta who despite having the actions of the BG referred to by an English reporter as 'inept' continued with her same 'you'll listen to me, I've assumed some authority here' actions until the officer class binta skedaddled.
The next interview showed the main al-Jazeera rep with the US Lieut. This time our neatly shorn US Lt correctly added a likeness between the differing mass audiences by using a comparison between Fox News and al-Jazeera viewers. [By George he's got it]! All in all an excellent piece of television that did no end of good, and not only for al-Jazeera. At the end of the day the viewer could not have failed to see the parallels of professional news gathering techniques but also the forces that oppose the sending of some news as it occurs. The last word goes to our erstwhile US Lieut who spoke the truth when he said something along the lines of 'We can't let you broadcast the position of our troops, it might make good news but I am sure you see we can't allow you to disclose that'. For the record the programme started with al-Jazeera applying for the necessary visas to enter Iraq for their coverage; it is worth remembering that unlike most, if not all news gatherers, al-Jazeera has no governmental mandate or control. It is, according to a Jewish friend of mine, independent. And, he says, you can't get better than that.”
[TnxPLondon].
As any Brit who applies for a passport or who listens to the news security is the watchword. At the apparent behest of 'you know where' our passports are undergoing change because of 'biometrics' We mustn’t show our teeth in a smile in our passport photos and God help you if you have a hare lip! The Yanks, it appears, don't like it. If you want to visit USA you have to attend their embassy in Grosvenor Square [bounded by Blackburne's Mews] and have your dabs taken for a princely sum. And what do we demand of the Americans who come to this country? Nothing!
Well here's a little something that shows Britain at its best. On 3rd July, around 2000 and at Terminal three Heathrow LHR, passengers with links to Islamic terror groups [that’s what the report claimed] entered without immigration checks following an astounding security lapse. The travellers were from Oman [terror links in Oman?], Sri Lanka, Mauritius and Ethiopia and passed through without being asked to show their passports. Instead they were diverted through a gate for arrivals for EU citizens as the arrivals hall was crowded and there were only four officers on duty at passport control [Everywhere I've ever been, and that includes Khartoum, there were insufficient facilities and we were made to wait]. An investigation has been mounted. Wonder if any are a threat to the UK? No, they are probably visiting their relatives who came here as asylum seekers/health/financial refugees - the majority probably won't be going back either. See Mail on Sunday, p36 22/08.
Despite £5M programme to strengthen protection against terrorist attack at Parliament a man scaled a fence near to Big Ben [It's actually St Stephen's Clock Tower - Big Ben is the bell] and apparently entered a sensitive area. Despite Parliament being a known MI5 designated terror target the man slipped through a gateway not properly locked by a builder. Not an Islamic terrorist bent on destruction but a harmless eccentric the man was released without charge. Previous notable events with similar impact were the scaling of St Stephen's Clock Tower and the showering of Tony Bliar with coloured powder.
One of our German monitors, Daniel, writes
"On August 15, the commercial TV station SAT.1 here in Germany showed the movie "Enigma" as a German TV premiere. I found it rather interesting as it has some scenes in which the setup and operation of Enigmas are being presented, as well as the "bombes" deciphering machines and "Type X" machines at Bletchley Park.
This is an espionage thriller interwoven with a love story and everything but a detailed documentary on Enigma and the breaking of its code (don't expect a "crash boom bang" action movie).
Though I think I can point out the movie to all of us interested in cryptography and history who might not yet have seen this three years old production. (I am grateful for a movie that deals with the Enigma.) The details for those interested are:
German title: "Enigma - Das Geheimnis"
Original/English title: "Enigma"
Based on a novel by Robert Harris
Produced: 2001, GB/D/USA
With Kate Winslet, Dougray Scott, Saffron Burrows; director: Michael Apted ("James Bond: The World is not enough", "Gorky Park"); producer: Mick Jagger
Also available on DVD."
[Tnx Daniel]
Apparently the biggest international counter-terrorist exercise is to be staged by British, Canadian and American experts next year.
This transatlantic scenario is expected to last a week with a scenario where mock terrorist attacks in the US then spread to Canada then Great Britain. The possible format for this exercise is thought to include chemical, biological or a radioactive attack with a dirty bomb. There may also be a series of hijackings. Experts in London, Ottawa and Washington are now competing for the exercise.[E2k can predict the outcome; America will survive, win and beat all the terrorists. Canada and Britain will be lost as they will have to be sacrificed for the American way of life].
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