Dead Week, Finals Week, Summer 2005 Housing, and Star Wars

(Dead week is from Monday, May 2, 2005 to Friday, May 6, 2005, finals week is from Monday, May 9, 2005 to Friday, May 13, 2005, summer 2005 housing starts Sunday, May 15, 2005, and Star Wars starts Thursday, May 19, 2005. I shall be taking a short break to study for finals, to take finals, move into my assigned dorm and dorm room, assist the moving in and moving out of others, and watch Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and go to Star Wars parties. Blogging is set to resume middle May 2005.)

Israel, Project Daniel: Israel's Strategic Future, and Iran

Intelligence continues to indicate that Iran with the assistance of Russia has been moving ahead with uranium enrichment for weapons-grade uranium. Several reactors with advanced uranium production capabilities have been built in Iran. Russia also has recently trained a number of senior Iran nuclear scientists and installed mobile anti-missile systems to protect uranium facilities.

In response to Iran, a panel of foreign policy and military experts delivered "Project Daniel: Israel's Strategic Future" to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. At the same time, the United States and NATO were briefed on "Project Daniel: Israel's Strategic Future." Dr. Louis Rene Beres is Chairman of Project Daniel, who is a Professor of International Law at Purdue University. Co-author Yoash Tsiddon-Chatto is a former member of Knesset and the former Chief of Planning for the Israeli Air Force. Other authors include the former Head of the Israel Defense Force General Staff, a department head from Israel Dimona Nuclear Plant, and several expert analysts.

"Project Daniel: Israel's Strategic Future," recommends that with Iran developing the infrastructure to produce weapons-grade uranium the United States or Israel should make pre-emptive strikes against Iran uranium facilities if diplomacy fails.

"Project Daniel: Israel's Strategic Future," also recommends Israel strike Iran nuclear facilities using covert operations, conventional weaponry, and target Iran regime leadership.

"Project Daniel: Israel's Strategic Future," warns that Iran can build the infrastructure needed to make nuclear weapons while telling inspectors they need the weapons-grade uranium for "energy and nuclear medicine research," and then kick out the inspectors, renounce the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty and quickly assemble a nuclear arsenal, as did North Korea, which is now said to have around ten nuclear warheads.

"Project Daniel: Israel's Strategic Future" also warns that if Iran obtains nuclear warheads, Israel should disclose selected elements of its own nuclear program. Deterrence lies in the communication of capacity and will to those who would do great harm.

Israel currently maintains a policy of nuclear ambiguity, holding as secret the number, configuration, and targeting capabilities of its nuclear weapons.

"Project Daniel: Israel's Strategic Future," recommends that should Iran make a first-strike Israel must immediately deter Iran by threatening to use nuclear bombs to target Iran population centers. To cause ultimate deterrence is to deter the enemy with the most overwhelmingly destructive first strike, Israel must seek and achieve a visible second-strike capability able target approximately 15 enemy cities. Ranges would be cities in Libya to Iran and recognizable nuclear bomb yields at a level sufficient to fully compromise the aggressor viability as a functioning state. Israel should focus its resources on counter-value warheads, targeting between 10 and 20 city assets of crucial importance to the enemy. Must exclude religious assets wherever possible. Choosing counter value-targeted warheads in the range of maximum destructiveness, Israel will achieve the maximum deterrent effect which will neutralize the overall asymmetry between the Arabs and Israel. All enemy targets should be selected with the view that their destruction would promptly force the enemy to cease all nuclear, biological, and chemical exchanges with Israel.

Pakistan, al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri, and Abu Faraj al-Libbi

Pakistan and United States Intelligence Community announced the capture of Abu Faraj al-Libbi. Five other foreign al-Qaeda operatives were also captured, following a shootout in the village of Fatami in northwestern Pakistan. Abu Faraj al-Libbi is the third-ranking leader of al-Qaeda, following Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri. Abu Faraj al-Libbi took over al-Qaeda operations in Pakistan and assumed third-ranking leader of al-Qaeda after the capture of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in March 2003. At the same time, Abu Faraj al-Libbi is the mastermind behind two known failed attempts to assassinate Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf in December 2003.

Iraq, Qa'idat al-Jihad Fi Bilad al-Rafidayn, al-Qaeda, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, al-Qusaymi Abu-Asim al-Yamani, Abu Rayyan, and Abu al-Abbas

A letter dated Wednesday, April 27, 2005 was confiscated in a raid conducted on Thursday, April 28, 2005 in Baghdad, Iraq. At the same time, an undated document listing targeting information and map sketches for kidnappings and bombings in Iraq was confiscated. Even so, three people were captured during the raid. Among the dead was Abu Rayyan, who was the leader of a Baghdad car-bomb production cell. Abu Rayyan also served as the lieutenant to Abu al-Abbas, who is responsible for planning the attack on Abu Ghraib in early April 2005. The captured men are providing information on the composition and intentions of a significant support and operation cell associated with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

The letter was intended for terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The author of the letter is al-Qusaymi Abu-Asim al-Yamani, who is a member of Qa'idat al-Jihad Fi Bilad al-Rafidayn which is an al-Qaeda affiliate in Iraq. In the letter, al-Qusaymi Abu-Asim al-Yamani requests an audience with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and complains about the incompetence of the insurgents who are directing missions on Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's behalf. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is relying on his cell leaders to conduct operations while he is on the run.

The letter was written during a weekend with multiple large suicide car bombs that killed more than 100 people.

The letter indicates the insurgency is weakening and becoming desperate.

The letter makes references to one leader in particular who told the fighters either they must martyr themselves or leave the insurgency. When fighters returned back, some were recorded as martyred and the rest were hanging around. Some of the fighter that were hanging around did not know what to do, but were humiliated and immorally treated by that one leader.

The letter confirms that suicide bombings are carried out largely by foreigners who believe they are fighting a holy war against the United States. The letter also confirms that traditional attacks can be attributed to Iraqi insurgents and nationalists. Also Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's organization is trying to pressure Iraqi insurgents and nationalists into carrying out suicide bombings.