Online chats lead to terrorist arrest.

A 19 year old Jordanian was arrested in a sting operation by the FBI. Hosam Maher Husein Smadi, entered th United States illegaly and was living in Texas when he attempted to set of an explosive device in the basement of a 60 story office building. Authorities were reading his posts on extremist websites long before his arrest, however he stood out from all the other violence endorsing extremists as he actually intended on commiting violence. Undercover officers then contacted smadi and after months of conversations decided he was a real threat. Smadi had chosen a few potential targets but in the end chose the home of the Wells Fargo bank so as to try and crush the already weak economy. He continualy stated that he was a soldier of Osama Bin Laden and that he wanted to commit violent Jihad. Smadi contacted the undercover agent and told him that he wanted to commit the act on September 11th but changed the date to coincide with Ramadan. He then recieved what he believed was an explosive device from the undercover agent and proceeded to the car park of the Building. He was told that dialing his phone would set of the device, however the result was a call placed to FBI agents, he was then arrested. People charged with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction are liable for life in prison and a $250,000 dollar fine.
I think that this was an excellent job by the FBI. This sort of thing is why they are around and i think that it couldnt have been handled better. I cant believe that Smadi was foolish enough to post his intention to commit violence on a website, he should have realized that these kinds of sites are always being watched by the FBI. Alot of times as soon as you visit one you are being watched, however its a saving grace that he did because without these conversations there could have been a massive tragedy which is the last thing the country or the economy wants.

The Queen to visit Bermuda.

     This afternoon it was announced that for the first time in 14 years the Queen is making the journey to Bermuda to celebrate the islands 400th anniversary. The duke of Edinburgh will accompany her majesty to the Island from November 24th to November 26th. At the conclusion of her vist the Queen will travel to Trinidad and Tobego, here she will be opening the 2009 Commonwealth Heads and Government meeting.
      It is my opinion that this visit has a little more substance than meets the eye. The actions by Ewart Brown and the Progressive Labour Party have been aggrivating the British Government for years with activities as trying to raise popularity for independence, and allowing the Uighers (detainees from Guantanamo Bay) entry onto the island despite breaking the Islands constitution. I think that this visit is just what the bermuda people need, so as to remind them where they come from, the lack of visits from British Royalty has allowed bermudians to loose their way and forget that this is our heritage and that we should celebrate it. Bermuda has slowly drifted farthur and farther away from its "main land" to the point where you could visit the island and haver no idea that there was any connection with Britain. I also feel like this is a new opportunity for the United Kingdom to become more involed with us.

Man thought to have killed family.

The search for 33 year old Mesac Damas was on after his wife and five children were found dead saturday in their Naples Home. The inabilitiy of the authorities to locate Mr. Damas may be due to the possibility that he fled to Haiti this friday morning. Authorities announced at a news conference that "We don't see at this point any indication of an indicidual out in the neighborhoods commiting additional crimes or homocides, but will look at every opportunity." Since 200 a 'handfull' of domestic disturbance calls to the police have been made involving the Damas couple, which ultimately resulted in Mr. Mesac Damas' arrest earlier in January. Mesac Demas pleaded no contest to battery of Guerline Damas in June, and it was said by Capt Roberts that no jail time was served forthe crime. Authorities are still taking with the families aquaintences to try and figure out just what happended. The six bodies were discovered after a family member had not hear from a resident at the home, thus contacting the authorities to do a welfare check on the Family. Police knocked on the door, however no response failed to arouse suspicions of the officer. The next morning the same member became more concerened and filed a missing persons report. The cause of death has not yet been stated.
      I think that the police not taking concern to no answer at the door was inexusable, they already knew that Mr. Damas had a violent history and thus anything out of the ordinary should have been investigated. In terms of catching him i think that they should contact the airlines for manifests and speak to Haiti officials to take him into custody.

"Uigur men are a 'Moderate' threat"

    Three months ago four Uighurs were secretly brought into the country of Bermuda, and have now been declared a moderate threat by the Bermuda Police Service. These men were cleared as enemy combatants twice before flown into the country on a private plane. However it was decided that this security assesment would have to be completed before these men would be granted permission to stay in the country. Govenor Sir Richard Gozney released a statement say that "a security assessment had been completed on the four men who spengt seven years in the US terrorist detention centre Guantanamo Bay." The Bermuda Police have announced that they have no reason to believe that these men will exhibit criminal behaivior in Bermuda, but will continue monitor the situation. Seperatly the Bermuda government secretly inviting these men to the country strongly violates elements of the Bermuda Constitution. The British and US governments continue discussion on this matter. Should the UK Government allow them to stay in the country the method is undecidend. Attorney General, Kim Wilson says that it is unlikely they will ever be given or be able to apply for Bermuda Citizenship or Permanent Resident Status. Bermuda's general entrustment agreement allows the country to negotiate with other countries on certain matters. The GEA was being reviewed as a direct result of Premier Browns decision to negotiate, however the Govenor says that he had no authority to do so as the matter involved external affairs.
    I remember when Brown did this, himself and

Pakistan Army Linked to Killings in Swat

         Two months ago the Pakistani Army seized power of the Swat Valley from Taliban militants. Since then terror has been spread throughout as people begin to suspect the military is involved in the hundreds of dead bodies dumped in the streets. Society in this region takes a "tit-for-tat" approach to most issues and thus the local government have said that these deaths could be the work of citizens getting revenge against the taliban. However most torture markings and deaths are to similar for people to believe the military has no part in the events, not to mention that the deaths occur in places where the army has a firm control. Despite this the army spokes person acknowleges that the bodies have turned up but denies any involvement of the Pakistani Army. The Human Rights Commission has a different outlook on this as last month "credible reports of retailatory killings by the military" have been made. In some cases witnesses reported seeing mass graves, thus feeding the notion that the military is out to " silence any enthusiasm for the taliban". One family filed a petition for the killing of their son, after being told that he would arrive back the next day, his dead body was on they're doorstep by the next morning. The statement read "There was no place on his body not tortured, nails were hammered into his body and cigarettes burned into the skin."
         I can't believe that people are going to let this go by accepting nothing other than statements from the Pakistani Army, if they are killing hundreds, they aren't going to tell anyone. Pakistan has connections in Washington that were already being questioned by congress. If they wan't to maintain these connections the U.S. should launch some sort of investigation. A regional politition from the area said that these killings would not help bring peace and this is very true I think if it is the army they might stray into the zone where this becomes a war or genocide, especially in times when people are on the alert. Regardless, if the people being killed are members of the Taliban they shoud be locked up but not killed especially since the family of one victim knew that there son wasn't involved and this is most likely the case with many other victims. This style of killing is seen frequently throughout history and it almost always escalates.