Digest Home |
2001 |
May, 2001
Intifada's end the impossible first step of the Mitchell report
Sharon refuses complete halt to settlements
Two no-confidence motions submitted to Knesset
Arafat moves Moscow visit forward
Digital system aimed for U.S. peacekeepers in Sinai
U.S. rushes to protect PA security chief
British Jewry to examine modifying ritual slaughter
Arafat meets in Gaza with UN envoy
IDF Braces for Northern Attacks On Withdrawal Anniversary
Saudi's Discuss Military Cooperation With Pakistan
Israel-EU Talks 'Business As Usual'
Russia's Chabad fights 'Messianic Jews'
Temple Mount Faithful Protest Opposite Orient House
'NY Times' Ad: Temple Mount Central to Jews
Israel Offers to Treat All Palestinian Wounded
Sarid Blasts Gov't Over Reports Arafat Removal Imminent
Israel Issues Tender For Water Transport From Turkey
Hurricane Forecasters Expect Normal Activity in 2001
Bush Opens Door to Dalai Lama
To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Questions Well A Lot About Jesus (how long before he died,death,time of death)
From: "*~*~*~Holly"
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 01:01:36 -0700
--------
Hey there!
I dont think I ever said hello or did an intro and I been on here for a
few wks now I think. So I will do a quick one for you. :) My name is Holly
Johnsn. I am 21 years old. I live in the ever so sunny southern california.
I am a journalist major going into third year of college in August. I write
poetry and a book I am working on, read, make webpages, collect: plush
monkeys, 80s toys, puffkins, beanie babies and more! I am learning the
guitar and enjoy exercise and a fun things. I work at Barnes & Noble near my
house part-time. I am working on a book about two girls who find a time
machine and go back to the time of Jesus and they are there from his
beginning of ministry to His return to Heaven.
Ok now I have some questions about where to find more information if you
know. I was looking at the Reader's Digest book ABC's of the Bible (or
something like that ) at the library today and I came across stuff about
Jesus. It said that they dont know if His ministry was 1 year or 3 years or
more. So is there any place that I could go to (books, sites,so fourth)
where people have done more research into this. Also about when He died.
They dont know exactly or on what day (could be Saturday or Friday) When I
saw WHEN I mean a year AD something. I mean all this stuff in is the four
gospels but its confusing to know the exacts. If anyone has any information
on places to get more information on His death, time of ministry and so
fourth please lmk by email at below or by list! Thank you! It is important
to know how long I will have the two girls Brid and Abigail there, and also
to know well you get the point. Its a historical fiction btw & I just
started the research in April!
Love In Christ Always,
*~*~*~Holly Johnson~*~*~*
_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
====
To: bprlist bprlist <bprlist@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: RE:[bprlist] Questions Well A Lot About Jesus (how long before he died,death,time of death)
From: Shophar_Sho_Good
Date: 25 May 2001 14:36:29 EDT
--------
Holly,
I hope you didn't think we wouldn't respond, sometimes it takes awhile!
Before I address the substance of your e-mail, first, if I may, offer a skosh
'bit-o-advice'...any info you put on the web about yourself is a potential
problem & given enough small details an unscrupulous individual can become a
nightmare...personally, if my daughter gave out all the particulars you have
(and potentially more on follow-up contacts), it would make me most
uncomfortable. Nuff said about that...just be aware/careful-kapeesh? From a
technical viewpoint, Hotmail as your e-mail service comes with some strings
attached, read your EULA (End User's Licensing Agreement). You and your
computer might be better off with another free service, just about a half hour
of research on "free e-mail" at a bulletin board will help answer the details
on this one. I am offering these items as advice/opinion not criticism, please
take it at face value...
Now for the substance. The questions you pose seem simple enough, but
unfortunately the gist of those questions have caused many arguments, schisms,
and divisions (not following 2Tim 2:25). This is the case especially when
someone issues definitive statements as fact (and the only valid answer) about
an interpretation of the meaning of the scriptures involved, to which other
valid interpretations may be able to be offered up. First, run as fast as you
can from your Reader's Digest analysis and stick with the scriptures in the
Holy Bible. Get yourself plugged into a Bible believing, Bible teaching church
and become a member of the congregation and put in time studying The Word.
Many principles come into play when studying the Bible and you will need all
the help you can get, as we all do.
As far as definite dates for birth, crucifixion, & resurrection, tough
ones...birth may be as early as 8 BC, but most likely between 4-6 BC.
Do some research for yourself on Johannes Kepler who did some serious research
on this subject, there are others you will find, as well...but you must anchor
all research to the Bible. The Bible IS the IN-ERRANT Word of God and if some
piece of research contradicts the scriptures-the scriptures ALWAYS
WIN!(Prov3:5 & 2Tim 3:16). Concerning the days of the week for the events of
resurrection week, I can tell you what I have come to understand (You may want
to read "The Rod Of An Almond Tree In God's Master Plan" by Peter A. Michas,
Robert Vander Maten, and Christie D. Michas from Wine Press Publishing,
Mukilteo, WA, 1997*). I currently understand that Christ celebrated the
Passover on the 14 Nisan (after sundown on the 13 Nisan) and was crucified
that day late in the afternoon. The Jews celebrated Passover on the 15 Nisan
to concur with another High Holy Day (special Sabbath's), through an
interpretation of an Old Testament passage that "allowed/justified" the
switch. So, to follow this scenario, crucifixion late on Wednesday afternoon
(the end of the Hebrew date 14 Nisan), into the grave very close to the start
of 15 Nisan. Now refer to
//Matthew 12:40
For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so
the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the
earth.//
This would put the resurrection late in the day of the Saturday Sabbath at the
close of the day (sundown) on Hebrew date 17 Nisan.
"Sabbath" as used in the New Testament does not always mean Saturday.
When you study the scriptures more you will be faced with the concept of "the
most reliable early manuscripts"...study a lot and pray even more.
You will also find you will need to become a student of the Old Testament &
Jewish holidays, especially the prescribed Feasts of God. MUCH here to learn.
And to ice the cake, prophecy (Old & New Testament) will keep you focused and
properly fueled.
Finally don't be discouraged that you didn't get a lot of response from the
population here on the list its not that the thoughts aren't there for you,
but as I hope you understand now, the questions you posed seem easy enough,
but cannot be answered in classic pithy chatroom style,
In Christian Love,
Shophar_Sho_Good
*************************************************************************
Hey there!
I dont think I ever said hello or did an intro and I been on here for a few
wks now I think. So I will do a quick one for you. :) My name is Holly Johnsn.
I am 21 years old. I live in the ever so sunny southern california. I am a
journalist major going into third year of college in August. I write poetry
and a book I am working on, read, make webpages, collect: plush monkeys, 80s
toys, puffkins, beanie babies and more! I am learning the guitar and enjoy
exercise and a fun things. I work at Barnes & Noble near my house part-time. I
am working on a book about two girls who find a time machine and go back to
the time of Jesus and they are there from his beginning of ministry to His
return to Heaven.
Ok now I have some questions about where to find more information if you
know. I was looking at the Reader's Digest book ABC's of the Bible (or
something like that ) at the library today and I came across stuff about
Jesus. It said that they dont know if His ministry was 1 year or 3 years or
more. So is there any place that I could go to (books, sites,so fourth) where
people have done more research into this. Also about when He died. They dont
know exactly or on what day (could be Saturday or Friday) When I saw WHEN I
mean a year AD something. I mean all this stuff in is the four gospels but its
confusing to know the exacts. If anyone has any information on places to get
more information on His death, time of ministry and so fourth please lmk by
email at below or by list! Thank you! It is important to know how long I will
have the two girls Brid and Abigail there, and also to know well you get the
point. Its a historical fiction btw & I just started the research in April!
Love In Christ Always,
*~*~*~Holly Johnson~*~*~*
____________________________________________________________________
Get free email and a permanent address at http://www.amexmail.com/?A=1
========
To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] (Fwd) Insight:Israeli Land Giveaway
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 08:39:42 -0400
--------
------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent: Tue, 22 May 2001 08:18:46 -0500
From: "Koenig's International News" <bill@watch.org>
Subject: Insight:IsraeliLandGiveaway
Insight: Israeli Land Giveaway—Bill Koenig
COINCIDENTAL TIMING?
May 22, 2001
Chronology Notes from Bill:
On March 27, the Arab League begins a a two-day meeting in Annan,
Jordan, to discuss Middle East peace. The Egyptian-Jordanian
Initiative emerges from these meetings.
On March 31, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarek arrives in the United
States for meetings with President George W. Bush and
administration officials. On the same day, a Chinese fighter jet
bumps a U.S. reconnaissance plane, forcing it to land on a military
base in China where the crew is “detained.”
On April 2, President Mubarak's visits to the White House for
meetings with President Bush are overshadowed by the U.S.-Chinese
negotiations over the detained air crew.
King Abdullah II of Jordan is in Washington at the same time and
meets with United States officials and Christian leaders asking
them to help with peace in the Middle East.
The King visits the White House on April 10 for lunch and a
meeting. However, President Bush is heavily involved in the talks
with the Chinese, and the King´s visit is overshadowed. The King
leaves that afternoon on his return trip to Jordan.
On April 11, the next day, China agrees to release the detained
American air crew.
DO YOU SEE HOW IT FITS?
Transpiring this 11-day period of time, both the Egyptian and the
Jordanian leaders came to the White House to meet with President
Bush and to discuss the Egyptian-Jordanian Peace Initiative. They
each urged President Bush to become more involved in the Middle
East peace process because “Israel needs to be reigned in.”
Also during this 11-day visiting period, the Chinese were detaining
24 United States air crew from the downed reconnaissance plane. It
was a perfect match, time wise.
The Egyptian and Jordan leaders were in the country to pitch a deal
and to persuade the U.S. to get more involved in what would, yes,
cost Israel its God-given land. While this was happening the United
States officials were confronted by serious negotiations over their
detained crew.
When King Abdullah II leaves the U.S., a deal is cut on the next
day between China and the Americans, and the crew is soon brought
home.
Could this have been another warning sign from the Lord that, if
the United States participates in the giving away of Israel´s land,
there will be repercussions? The odds of these events happening by
coincidence are astronomical. This certainly appears to be another
sign from the Lord.
I shared this conclusion (a revelation from the Lord) with John
McTernan, author of “God´s Final Warning to America,” and he asked,
"Do you see how this fits together neatly?" He told me that these
findings have happened to him over and over for ten years.
------
Arab Summit: Mideast peace Urged – March 27, 2001
http://www.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/meast/03/27/arab.summit.03/index.html
Newsweek Exclusive Interview: Hosni Mubarak, Egyptian President –
March 31, 2001
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010331/hssa009a.html
Mubarek to Visit White House - April 2, 2001
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/02/20010226-4.html
Bush statement on China, U.S. spy plane incident - April 2, 2001
(Plane forced to land on March 31)
http://www.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/east/04/02/bush.transcript/index.html
King Abdullah PBS Interview with Jim Lehrer - April 9, 2001
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/middle_east/jan-june01/jordan_4-9.html
King Abdullah Met with George W. Bush at the White House – April
10, 2001 – The King returns home after meeting - (There is no news
archive readily available from any U.S. newspapers on this)
China to free U.S. spy plane crew – April 11, 2001
http://www.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/east/04/11/air.collision.03/index.html
--------
"Terrorism" Israel's priority in Egyptian-Jordanian plan: Sharon –
April 27, 2001
http://www.ptd.net/webnews/wed/ay/Qmideast-unrest-plan.RHRC_BAR.html
Putin welcomes Egyptian-Jordanian initiative – April 27, 2001
http://www.jpost.com/Editions/2001/04/27/LatestNews/LatestNews.25230.html
Europeans back Egyptian-Jordanian peace plan: Palestinian official
- April 29, 2001
http://www.ptd.net/webnews/wed/cl/Qmideast-shaath.RTCv_BAT.html
Egypt, Jordan Back Peace Efforts – May 20, 2001
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20010520/wl/arabs_israel_13.html
--
Koenig's International News - http://watch.org
To subscribe or unsubscribe: http://www.watch.org/subscribe.html
FishNet: Internet service for business and ministry http://www.fni.com/
------- End of forwarded message -------
========
To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Diane Sawyer's Jewish Visions
From: "Moza" <moza@butterfly.mv.com>
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 08:44:45 -0400
--------
Diane Sawyer's Jewish Visions
Doron Kornbluth
I was fifteen years old and engaging in one of my favorite pastimes -
watching the television news. It was the fall of 1984, in the midst of the re-
election campaign of then President Ronald Reagan. Not yet jaded by the
political process, I had become even more of a news junkie than I normally
was, following the polls, the predictions, the publicity, the slogans, the
commercials, and everything else that goes along with an American
presidential election campaign.
It was Sunday night and as the news ended a few minutes before 7 p.m., my
family gathered around for what had somehow become part of our family
tradition - watching CBS's 60 Minutes. I should confess that I've probably
seen hundreds of 60 Minutes shows over the years and sat through
thousands of hours of television news. And yet, from all those hours, there is
only one "story" that I actually remember, only one that I think had a
profound impact on my psyche. While details may be slightly off, the gist of
it is etched into my mind.
60 Minutes was, as I remember, structured very neatly. First you see the
hands on the stopwatch clicking, and then you hear the voice describing the
three stories to be covered that episode. Next you saw the reporters
introduce themselves. After a commercial break came the main stories,
punctuated by occasional commercials. At the end of the hour, the little
funny guy with the annoying voice found some funny quirk of the postal
system or similar oddity to complain about, and that was it until next week.
Show after show, year after year, this was the system.
On that Sunday in 1984, I remember a rare change from the standard
structure of the show. Diane Sawyer, the first female host of 60 Minutes,
appeared with Mike Wallace for a short discussion near the end of the show.
He introduced his colleague as having a fascinating story to tell, which
indeed it was.
She shared a conversation that she had just had which had resulted from a
recent 60 Minutes segment on the campaign. Her first report was a long,
critical analysis of Reagan's first term in office. Viewers saw pictures of the
President visiting a homeless shelter, while Diane Sawyer's voice dubbed
over the images explained that Reagan had reduced funding to such
institutions while the number of poor had skyrocketed during his term in
office. Viewers saw Reagan glad-handing with African-Americans while
Sawyer described his attacks on affirmative action and other programs dear
to the African-American community. Viewers also saw Reagan with
schoolchildren while simultaneously they heard Sawyer rail against his
massive cuts in school funding. Her report continued in like fashion for eight
minutes (a lifetime in television terms) and by the end of it, the honesty,
credibility, and reputation of Reagan's administration had, according to
Sawyer, suffered serious damage. She was sure that she would never be
allowed to set foot in the White House again, and even feared that her press
passes would be revoked.
Dreading the awaited phone call from the White House Press Secretary, Ms.
Sawyer was quite surprised when he called to thank her for her segment and
offered to help her in any way he could. "What?!" she exclaimed. "I spent
eight minutes on prime time television attacking you! Why are you thanking
me?" she asked. "Diane," he replied, "you don't understand. No one listens
to the news. People watch the news. It is television and they are viewers.
You gave us eight minutes of golden images. We couldn't have paid for better
publicity. We owe you one." She was in shock On this follow-up segment,
Ms. Sawyer was relating the important lesson she learned: we are a visual
society, and what you say is at best only of secondary importance.
I've kept that story in mind since 1984 and told it often when trying to help
people understand the importance of visuals in the Jewish tradition.
Not only does the famous and central Shema prayer warn about "going after
our eyes," but in fact our tradition is full of guidelines as to what to look at it,
and what not to. Pornography is of course forbidden, but more surprising to
some may be other visual guidelines that our tradition offers.
Pre-dating the thousands of studies that now link viewing of television to
anger, violent tendencies, and other behavioral problems, Jewish sources
teach us not to look at an angry person, let alone volunteer to watch
bloodshed. We want to be sensitive to others' pain, and seeing death as a
constant on television takes away from that sensitivity.
Furthermore, in our contemporary consumer-oriented society, the early
commentaries' teachings on the Talmud (tractate Megillah 12a) should be
especially considered - they explain that jealousy is caused by physically
seeing things, not just knowing about them. So if you want to help yourself
lead a simpler life, don't drive around the richer neighborhoods of town or
watch shows about people with lots of money - it will affect you, make you
jealous of what others have, unhappy with your lifestyle, and less likely to
leave work at 5 PM to spend time with your kids.
And don't conclude that visual-thinking is only about the "don'ts." In order to
help your kids grow up with deeply imbedded Jewish feelings, let them see
Jewish life - not just hear about it. If they see you give tzedakkah and go to a
weekly Torah lesson, these activities will be real to them and chances are
they will want to emulate them. If they grow up seeing Jewish images around
the house, that will define for them what is "normal" and they'll want to live
that way also. For as Diane Sawyer shared during Ronald Reagan's
reelection campaign, we are a visual world and what we see defines what we
think.
Doron Kornbluth edited "Jewish Matters" and co-edited (with his wife Sarah
Tikvah) "Jewish Women Speak", both of which can be found at
http://www.jewishmatters.com.
http://www.torah.org/features/spirfocus/dianesawyer.html
========
To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Scientists Zero in on Cloning Problems
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 08:46:06 -0400
--------
Monday May 21 2:24 PM ET
Scientists Zero in on Cloning Problems
By Merritt McKinney
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Researchers in Massachusetts have moved a
step
closer to understanding two major problems that often interfere with the
successful cloning of animals.
Several different types of animals have been cloned, but in each species,
many clones are born with birth defects and die shortly after birth, and
many are much larger than normally conceived animals. Due to these
problems,
only 1% to 5% of cloned animals survive to adulthood.
Scientists have usually lumped the overgrowth of clones and poor survival
rates together, but the new research suggests that the two problems ``aren't
really directly related and seem to be caused by two separate
phenomenons,''
according to the study's first author, Kevin Eggan of the Whitehead
Institute for Biomedical Research at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (news - web sites) in Cambridge.
The findings were published May 1st in the online edition of the journal
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (news - web sites).
In experiments involving mice of different genetic backgrounds, Eggan and
his colleagues found that clones of inbred mice did not survive, but those
made from outbred mice did. The inbred clones developed respiratory failure
and did not survive into adulthood.
These results suggest that genetics, not the cloning process itself, is to
blame for the low survival rate of clones, Eggan told Reuters Health in an
interview.
``Something is going wrong in that dish,'' Eggan said. There may be genes
that increase the risk of death in cloned animals or genes that are
protective, he explained.
``The race is on to find out what those genes are,'' he added.
In contrast, the cloning process itself, not genetics, appears to be
responsible for the overgrowth of cloned animals. Noncloned mice that
developed from embryonic stem cells--immature cells that give rise to a
variety of specialized cells--were normal-sized, Eggan stated. Cloning mice
from embryonic stem cells, on the other hand, produced over-sized animals,
he said.
There appears to be something about the cloning process, which involves
taking the nucleus of an adult cell and placing it in an egg, that leads to
overgrowth of clones, according to Eggan.
``It remains to be seen what that is,'' he said.
Knowing that the two obstacles to successful cloning are not related may
make it easier for scientists to uncover the causes of each problem,
according to Eggan. The problems can and need to be studied independently,
he said.
The research also highlights the potential dangers of human cloning,
according to Eggan.
``Things are going wrong that we don't understand,'' he said. Proceeding
with human cloning when scientists still do not know how to prevent these
problems would be dangerous, according to the Massachusetts researcher.
SOURCE: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences May 1, 2001.
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010521/hl/cloning_1.html
via: isml@yahoogroups.com
========
To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Horror at 'three parent foetus' gene disorders
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 08:50:10 -0400
--------
cohen, pl. cohanim--priest (in the Temple or Tabernacle)--Jewish New
Testament, David H. Stern
----------------------------------
Horror at 'three parent foetus' gene disorders
Amelia Hill in New York
Sunday May 20, 2001
The Observer
The American doctor who trumpeted a fertility technique using three genetic
parents failed to disclose that along with 15 healthy babies it produced two
foetuses with a rare genetic disorder. Experts are horrified because the
fault can be passed to future generations.
Dr Jacques Cohen denounced as 'hysterical' growing criticism of his claims
that the research posed no risks. Cohen, who worked in Britain for three
years in the 1980s at one of the country's first IVF clinics, said: 'Many of
the techniques I carry out in America are illegal in Britain but that does
not mean they are immoral.'
Researchers at the Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Science of St
Barnabus in New Jersey boasted of their success in an article in last
month's issue of the respected British journal, Human Reproduction. The
journal has since instituted tighter pre-publication procedures.
Twenty-seven infertile couples who could not conceive through IVF took part
in the programme in which an infertile woman's egg is mixed with her
husband's sperm and parts of a younger woman's egg. In 30 attempts, 15
babies were born. Their maternal genes came from their true mothers and all
appeared completely healthy.
'These statistics stand alone as justification for the work we are doing,'
Cohen maintained at the time. In their article the researchers concluded
there was 'no reason' to believe the technique was harmful to foetuses or
babies.
But what Cohen's team failed to reveal was that although 15 babies were
born, 17 foetuses were created. The first unborn foetus was aborted and the
second miscarried after both developed a genetic anomaly called Turner's
Syndrome, a rare chromosomal disorder in which an entire chromosome is
missing. Two out of 17 far exceeds normal statistical expectation.
Turner's Syndrome, which affects females, is characterised by short stature
and the lack of sexual development at puberty. It can also create heart
defects and kidney abnormalities.
Internal documents from Saint Barnabas quoted in the Washington Post
acknowledge that the technique may be causing the problem, perhaps by
enhancing the survival of flawed embryos that normally would not live beyond
the first days or weeks of embryo development.
Cohen has been at the forefront of some of the most contentious areas of
medical research - including IVF, male infertility and frozen embryos - for
25 years. He was defiant when he spoke to The Observer last week and
denounced Britain's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. Having
worked at Bourn Hall Clinic, Cambridgeshire, he said he was well placed to
make the comparison.
He said: 'Much of the hysteria over my new technique can be put down to
differences in cultures between Britain, the United States and other
countries.' He deplored the fact that there was so much political
interference by the authority. It had become 'bogged down by the conflicting
interests involved'.
He added: 'Reproduction is a subject which everyone feels emotional about
and, of course, everyone is entitled to feel that way. What seems
unthinkable today will happen one day, I am sure of it.'
http://www.observer.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,493303,00.html
via: isml@yahoogroups.com
========
To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] technology: Nothing to it
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 08:55:10 -0400
--------
technology: Nothing to it
PHILIP BALL
It's not much more than smoke. Yet the new material developed at the
University of Oklahoma is no lightweight when it comes to strength1. An
inch-square block weighs barely more than a gram, making it only half as
dense as balsa wood. But you need a hammer to break it.
Better still this material is made from cellulose, the main component of
wood and paper and the most abundant substance in the living world.
The new material is a type of aerogel — a porous solid made up of chains
of microscopic particles. Bing Fung and colleagues combine an existing
technique for making aerogels with a method for toughening paper. The
result, which is ten-times stronger than existing cellulose aerogels,
will delight engineers and designers in search of ultra-light materials.
Aerogels have been around since the 1930s. Their tenuous, candy
floss-like networks are so riddled with pores that they are hardly there
at all — aerogels can be up to 99% air. They can be made from all manner
of materials: silica (the main constituent of sand and quartz), metals
or carbon.
Aerogels have many potential uses. If all the air is sucked out of them,
they become a kind of 'solid vacuum' that is a good heat insulator and
can support weight — ideal for vacuum-filled double-glazed windows. They
could also provide sound insulation.
Most explorations of such applications have so far used silica aerogels,
made by the 'sol-gel' technique. Here particles form a skeletal network
in a liquid solvent, creating a gel. The liquid is then removed to leave
the dry solid. Unfortunately, silica aerogels tend to be brittle: some
collapse at the touch of a finger.
Aerogels made from organic materials such as cellulose can be tougher.
Previously, some of the best of these were made from resin-like
mixtures, creating a highly porous and lightweight form of bakelite.
The Oklahoma researchers make their aerogels from cellulose acetate, a
polymer derived from wood pulp. They toughen the materials using a
chemical process similar to the one that strengthens paper. An analogous
process makes solid rubber from the fluid, sticky natural rubber gum.
http://www.nature.com/nsu/010524/010524-8.html
via: transhumantech@yahoogroups.com
========
To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Preliminary Israeli Remarks on The Report of the Sharm el-Sheikh
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 08:58:51 -0400
--------
Preliminary Israeli Remarks on The Report of the Sharm el-Sheikh Fact-
Finding Committee and Statements by Secretary of State Colin L. Powell
and Committee Chairman Senator George J. Mitchell
Information Division, Israel Foreign Ministry - Jerusalem
May 21, 2001
1. Israel considers the Fact-Finding Committee Report to be a
constructive and positive document.
2. The remarks of Senator Mitchell and Secretary of State Powell
both emphasize the crucial factor in any progress - the
unconditional cessation of violence and the condemnation of
terrorism.
3. Israel accepts the outline recommended in the Mitchell Report -
the cessation of violence, a period of calm accompanied by
confidence building measures by both sides and the renewal of
negotiations.
4. Israel accepts the approach presented in the Secretary of
State's remarks as a way that can bring about the cessation of
violence and thereby create the necessary conditions for the
renewal of the peace process.
5. Israel calls upon the Palestinians to act immediately to put an
end to the violence and to return to the negotiations in order to
resolve the dispute by peaceful means, as both sides had committed
themselves to do in the Oslo Accords.
--------------------------------------------
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis
Website: www.imra.org.il
========
To: <bprlist@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [bprlist] Palestinians
From: Pam Baker
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 10:15:54 -0400
--------
The following might be of interest
Jacob, Ishmael and Esau - 12 Tribes, 12 Princes and 14 Dukes
Abram the Hebrew - "an ‘Eberite´ (i.e. Hebrew) or descendant of Eber."
Gen. 14:13 (Noah; Shem; Arphaxad; Salah; Eber.) He was the father of
Ishmael, born of Sarah´s maid, Hagar; and of Isaac, born of Sarah.
Ishmael became the father of 12 Princes. Gen. 25:13-16
Isaac became the father of Esau and Jacob.
Jacob´ sons became the 12 Tribes of Israel.
Esau´s sons; Eliphaz, Reuel and Aholibamah, became the 14 Dukes of Gen.
36:15-18
We know the 12 tribes became the nation of Israel and I think the 12
princes became the Arab nations. We know Esau was the eldest son of
Isaac and that he sold his birthright to Jacob for a mess of pottage.
He did not, therefore, obtain the promise of the ‘promised land´.
Today, the Palestinians are claiming the promised land as their own but
it is not. They, like the Israelites, and the Arabs, claim Abraham as
their ‘father´. Could the Palestinians be descendants of the 14 Dukes,
descendants of Esau? Praise the Lord!
God Bless you. Charlie Baker
========
To: <bprlist@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [bprlist] The Remnants.
From: Pam
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 12:24:40 -0400
--------
There appears to be some interest on the subject of the US, in
prophecy, and this might provide some food for thought. God Bless you.
Charlie Baker.
Zechariah 14:17-19
"And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of
the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even
upon them shall be no rain. And if the family of Egypt go not up, and
come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the
LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of
tabernacles. This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment
of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles."
Point 1: We know a remnant of Israelites, presumably, a remnant from
each of the 12 tribes, will enter the millennium in their natural state
to become: ‘Israel in the Promised Land´.
Point 2: We know, from the above, that a remnant of Egyptians will also
survive.
Point 3: We can conclude, I think, that a remnant from ‘all nations´
and ‘all the families of the earth´ will survive.
- On the basis of the above, I have to wonder where those remnants will
be located during the time of tribulation. It is doubtful they will be
located in their native lands. Only those who have not taken the mark
of the beast, or worshipped his image, can be part of the remnants and
the globe encircling power of the beast, during the second half of the 7
years, will be such that few areas on earth will escape total
subjection. Anyone who refuses to take the mark and worship the beast
will be killed. However, there is one possibility. I think it is a
very real possibility, North America. Praise the Lord! -
Point 4: The United States is, today, home to people from every nation
in the world.
Point 5: The US is planning on setting up a ‘missile´ defense system.
Point 6: North America is capable of surviving a 3 ½ year total
embargo.
Point 7: The house of Islam, which will, I think, be the ‘spiritual´
power during the last half of the seven years, will have great
difficulty following its ‘convert or die´ edict because of the residual
decency that will exist in North America; a respect for human life that
will grow stronger, for a time, after the rapture of the Church.
Conclusions:
1. North America will be the haven for the remnant of each nation,
including some Israelites, who will enter the Millennium in their
natural state and repopulate the earth.
2. The US will be the place to which the woman of Rev. 12:14 will fly,
on the ‘wings of great eagle´ and be nourished for ‘a time, times and
half a time´, at the mid-point of the 7 years.
3. I think there will other Israelites, a part of the remnant, who will
still be living in Jerusalem and will flee to the mountains (Petra?), at
the end of the 1,290 days of Daniel 12:11.
4. The United States is blessed, indeed, despite the fact that it has
left its first love.
========
To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Rio Grande ceases to flow into Gulf of Mexico
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 13:53:40 -0400
--------
May 21, 2001 11:01 p.m. EDT
Rio Grande ceases to flow into Gulf of Mexico
BOCA CHICA, TEXAS - Near the mouth of the Rio Grande, a bird
watcher trudges along the seaweed soaked beach. He's huffing
and sweating, but he is determined to reach his destination.
Once he gets there, the binoculars dangling from his neck
won't be used to spot rare species of bird. He's after an
even rarer sight - a river to nowhere.
The Rio Grande has ceased to flow into the Gulf of Mexico
for the first time in recorded history.
After almost 2,000 serpentine miles through Colorado, New
Mexico and Texas, the mighty river stops 500 feet from the
shore - a testament to the Dust bowl-size drought in South
Texas, rapid population growth on both sides of the border
and an infestation of exotic weeds.
The silted-shut river is causing serious problems with
everyone from shrimpers to ranchers. But it is also
attracting a new kind of tourist.
"People come all the way out here and ask, 'Is it true that
the river doesn't reach the ocean anymore?'" said a U.S.
Border Patrol agent stationed here on a recent day.
The Border Patrol mans the dried-up river bottom 24 hours a
day, not only to catch smugglers now able to walk across the
border but also to warn U.S. visitors. "Winter Texans come
down here and just keep going, unaware that they're crossing
into Mexico," the agent says.
Spanish explorers used to come to the banks of the Rio
Grande to marvel at its size and strength. It was once
described as farther than a musket shot wide and 30 feet
deep. It had many names, from Río Turbio (Turbulent River)
to Río Caudaloso (River Carrying Much Water).
Today, it might be called Rio Wimpy. Its status is a
testament to the vagaries of nature and the delicate
balancing act that comes with doling out the United States'
limited water resources.
"At a certain point, demands on our rivers get too high and
they can't take anymore without being destroyed," says Larry
McKinney of the Texas Parks and Wildlife. "This is a warning
shot for us.
While population growth on both sides of the border is
responsible for some of the river's problems, the weather is
the main culprit. The Rio Grande Valley routinely
experiences drought conditions. But the latest one - now
eight years old - is a once-in-a-century event.
"I think when this drought ends and the numbers finally come
in, we are going to find that this is the new drought of
record," says Gary Powell with the Texas Water Development
Board. "We are in dire straights."
Weeds, too, are a problem. Hyacinth, an ornamental plant,
floats on the surface and dangles roots deep into the water.
Another non-native plant, hydrilla, grows up from the river
bottom. Between them, they create walls of vegetation that
run for miles, curtailing the flow of water downstream,
plugging pumps and clogging irrigation canals.
Already, officials have tried using a machine to cut a swath
through them. But that simply breaks off pieces that
reproduce downstream. So the United States and Mexico are
now tapping biology: They're stocking the river with bugs
and Chinese carp, whose diet is primarily hyacinth and
hydrilla.
While these efforts go on to keep the water moving, others
are trying to cope with what little is left. Farmers,
ranchers, commercial fisherman and shrimpers are among the
most hard hit. The Rio Grande Valley is the most fertile
land in Texas, and farmers are in the middle of peak
irrigation.
The length of the drought has forced many farmers to switch
from high-water crops, such as sugar cane and citrus, to
low-water crops, such as cotton and grain. But many fields
are bare. "It's hurting," says Bob Wiedenfeld, a soil
scientist at Texas A&M University. "Farmers are being forced
to cut back as more and more water is being diverted to
cities."
Normally, the mouth of the river is a diverse estuary for
blue crabs, redfish, spotted sea trout, snook and several
varieties of shrimp. These species mature in brackish water
- a mixture of salt and fresh water - before returning to
the ocean. But the mouth closed before many could make it
upstream.
"Very few made it in," says Tony Reisinger, a Cameron County
marine agent, who's been taking samples. "There's no way to
put a value on the loss, and it's a binational loss."
On the U.S. side alone, the two ports near the mouth of the
Rio Grande lead the state in shrimp catches. Though Gulf
shrimpers are coming off a banner year, they know the
drought will hurt. "Shrimp can't jump over the sand," says
Wilma Anderson, executive director of the Texas Shrimp
Association.
At Port Isabel, near the mouth, Walter Zimmerman oversees a
fleet of 23 boats. He says shrimpers always lose out because
they're not landowners with water rights. "When they don't
release enough water, it messes up the nursery area," he
says. "We're farmers. We just don't plant the seed."
For those who do own water rights, at least some relief is
coming. Two reservoirs that supply the lower valley with
water are currently 40 percent full - higher than in recent
years.
Still, even with the reservoir allotments, more water is
needed. "The Rio Grande is our only source of drinking
water. We have no underground aquifers," says Mary Yturria,
founder of the Rio Grande Institute, a nonprofit group. "We
are at the mercy of the rain."
Her husband, Frank, is a prominent Brownsville rancher whose
acreage dates back to the Spanish land grants. He's had to
dig shallow ponds to water the cattle, but they won't last.
"Right now, I'm praying for a hurricane that brings a great
deal of water and doesn't leave us devastated," says Ms.
Yturria.
http://interestalert.com/brand/siteia.shtml?Story=st/sn/05210000aaa07059.na
nd&Sys=v2o&Type=News&Filter=National%20News&Fid=NATIONAL
========
To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Hindus to Wear Identity Label in Islamic Afghanistan
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 13:55:41 -0400
--------
May 22, 2001
Hindus to Wear Identity Label in Islamic Afghanistan
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Hindus will be required to wear an
identity label on their clothing in Islamic Afghanistan to
distinguish them from Muslims, a Taliban minister said
Tuesday.
The hardline Taliban rulers, who control 95 percent of this
poor Central Asian state, plan to enforce the edict soon,
Mohammed Wali, Taliban's religious police minister, told The
Associated Press. An exact date was not set, he said.
The law will also make it mandatory for Hindu women to veil
themselves - just like Muslim women of Afghanistan, Wali
said.
The edict prompted an angry statement from Hindu-dominated
India.
"We absolutely deplore such orders which patently
discriminate against minorities," Press Trust of India
quoted an unnamed Indian foreign ministry official as
saying. "It is further evidence of the backward and
unacceptable ideological underpinning of the Taliban."
The decision could further isolate the orthodox militia,
already under fire from the West for its alleged
discriminatory policies toward ethnic and religious
minorities, human rights abuses and poor treatment of women.
But Wali said the decision is in line with Islam, "Religious
minorities living in an Islamic state must be identified,"
he said.
The Taliban have not yet decided what sort of an identity
label Hindus will have to wear.
There are at least 5,000 Hindus living in Kabul. Thousands
of other Hindus live in other Afghan cities, but there's no
reliable figure on exactly how many.
The new law will only be meant for Hindus because there are
no Christians or Jews in Afghanistan and Sikhs can be easily
recognized by their turbans, Wali said. However, at least
one Jew is known to live in the Afghan capital of Kabul and
there may also be some Christians.
It was unclear whether foreigners living in Afghanistan
would be required to wear the identity label.
Anar, an Afghan Hindu in Kabul who uses just one name, said
he does not want to wear a label identifying him as Hindu.
"It will make us vulnerable and degrade our position in the
society," he said.
But Munawaar Hasan, general secretary of a major Islamic
political party called Jamaat-e-Islami, or Islamic Party,
said the move seems aimed to give protection to Hindus.
"The Taliban should win praise for this step," he said.
"Providing protection to religious minorities is a must in
any Islamic country and this step seems in line with this
concept."
The Taliban follow a harsh version of Islam that bars women
from most jobs and education, and makes it mandatory for men
to wear beards and pray five times a day. All light
entertainment, including television and music, are outlawed.
The Taliban invited worldwide criticism when in March they
destroyed two ancient statues of Buddha in central Bamiyan,
calling it their religious duty.
Most of the Islamic world, including pro-Taliban Pakistan,
differ with the Taliban's narrow interpretation of Islam and
say that it is tarnishing Islam's image.
The Taliban face U.N. sanctions for giving protection to
Saudi billionaire Osama bin Laden, wanted by Washington for
allegedly running a global terrorist network. The Taliban
deny the charge and say the United States has no evidence
against him for terrorism.
http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGA7T8TC1NC.html
========
To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Ex-KGB expert unveils computer super shield
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 14:00:52 -0400
--------
Ex-KGB expert unveils computer super shield
A former CIA director described the tool as an 'absolutely remarkable
intellectual achievement'
May 22, 2001, 09:44 AM
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The one-time head of KGB overseas code-
scrambling and an ex-director of the CIA rolled out Monday what they called
a revolutionary way of hiding Internet communications from prying eyes and
would-be intruders.
The new system can change the cyber-addresses on a network faster than
once a second, cloaking them from all but authorized parties, said Victor
Sheymov - founder, president, and chief executive of Invicta Networks Inc.
"We believe that our new technology will serve an important role as a
facilitator of Internet security and will start a new chapter in Internet history,"
he told reporters at the National Press Club.
'Absolutely remarkable'
Endorsing Invicta's so-called Variable Cyber Coordinates system was
American International Group Inc. AIG.N , the world's biggest insurance
company by market cap, with more than $250 billion in assets.
Ty Sagalow, chief operating officer of the insurer's electronic business risks
arm, announced AIG would give a 10 percent discount to companies using
the Invicta product "because we believe it reduces our risk of loss" due to
cyber attack.
R. James Woolsey, Bill Clinton's CIA director from 1993 to 1995 and an
Invicta board member, described the tool as an "absolutely remarkable
intellectual achievement."
"It just approaches this from a completely different direction than anybody
else," he told reporters. "Everybody else has been building fences around
announced locations."
Standard approaches to computer security rely on encryption, or data
scrambling, plus devices such as firewalls aimed at screening out abnormal
traffic patterns that look threatening.
But any network protected this way is a sitting duck for a determined hacker,
Invicta said. Instead, it puts the network in cybermotion through a continuous
change of "Internet Protocol" addresses - the chain of digits underlying the
Web to route traffic to its destination.
The Invicta system uses special cards to link protected computers to a
central control unit. It lets clients decide how often they wish to vary IP
addresses and specify which applications may be accessed on their
network. The number of IP addresses drawn on may be in the billions thanks
to an artificial increase in cyberspace, Sheymov said.
Invicta, headquartered in Herndon, Va., plans to begin shipping a "Beta", or
early release, of its system to paying customers by the end of this month,
said Sheymov, who defected to the US in 1980 for what he called ideological
reasons.
A Cold War epic
Sheymov is a veteran of the KGB's 8th Chief Directorate, the Soviet
counterpart to the Pentagon's codecracking and eavesdropping National
Security Agency. By the time of his defection, he was responsible for
coordinating all KGB encrypted communications overseas. After defecting,
he worked as a consultant and contractor to the NSA for several years,
according to a company handout.
The CIA officer who smuggled him out of the former Soviet Union and who
later served as Moscow chief of station under Woolsey, David Rolph, is
Invicta's vice president for international sales.
Sheymov told reporters that Invicta's address-hopping technology went well
beyond network protection. Another version would be made available within
months for defending Internet-based electronic commerce, he said. Future
applications included protecting national infrastructure, databases and dial-
up communications, he added.
He declined to spell out the cost of the system but said it would be on the
"high end" of traditional computer security packages. Invicta, a 1999 start-up,
may go public in a year or two after it establishes a track record of earnings
and sales growth, Sheymov said.
Dennis Steinauer, a computer security specialist at the Commerce
Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology in
Gaithersburg, Md., said he would be skeptical of any tool that purported to
make other layers of security unnecessary.
"It sounds like it might provide some additional protection," he said. "But, in
general, you never want to go with just one layer of security, certainly not
with yet-unproven technology," he said.
http://www.arabia.com/tech/article/english/0,1690,47355,00.html
========
To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] InfoBeat - Feds won't pay for rain ceremony
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 18:32:15 -0400
--------
InfoBeat - Feds won't pay for rain ceremony
TOPPENISH, Wash. (AP) - An Indian tribe performed two ritual
rain ceremonies aimed at ending the drought in the Northwest - and
then sent a $32,000 bill to a federal agency in charge of selling
electricity from dams.
While the drought is putting a drain on electricity production
by the Bonneville Power Administration, which operates 29
hydroelectric dams along the Columbia and Snake rivers, the agency
refused to foot the Yakama Indian Nation's bill.
``It was pretty much a blow to me to hear from the BPA
administrator that he couldn't find the funds ... to assist in
this,'' said Randy Settler, a tribal council member.
Mike Hassen, a spokesman for the BPA, said the tribe's bill was
``pretty vague'' about what the $32,000 would cover.
``We're not paying even though it was well-intended,'' Hansen
said. ``The Yakama tribe basically went off and did something on
their own and sent us the bill.''
In March, several tribal members held two events in the
mountains, bringing traditional foods such as roots and berries.
The tribe, whose reservation is near the Columbia River in
south-central Washington, believes the ceremonies were beneficial.
At the Yakima airport, 1.86 inches of precipitation has been
recorded since the first of the year, with more than half of that _
0.98 inches, occurring since March 1. The year-to-date total is
1.47 inches below normal, while the amount since March 1 is 0.40
inches less than normal.
``We've had more rain since those events,'' Settler said.
``We've had a lot of rain.''
Settler and BPA Acting Administrator Steve Wright discussed
traditional tribal methods for dealing with drought in March,
Hansen said.
Hansen said Wright was willing to listen to tribal proposals and
possibly provide some resources, but Settler apparently took the
conversation as approval to move forward.
``Unfortunately no formal proposal came forward,'' Hansen said.
``They went out and performed the ceremony and then sent us a
bill.''
http://www.infobeat.com/cgi-
bin/WebObjects/IBFrontEnd.woa/wa/fullStory?article=407391308
========
To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] TV: May 23, 2001
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 18:47:50 -0400
--------
SERIES: History's Mysteries (Documentary)
Wed May 23 08:00 PM Eastern Time (60 min) HIST
Hidden Tomb of Antiochus. A colossal burial place atop Mt. Nemrud puzzles
archaeologists. (CC) (TVG)
SERIES: Super Structures (Documentary)
Wed May 23 08:00 PM Eastern Time (60 min) TLC
NORAD: Cheyenne Mountain. A high-tech command and control center
carved out of the Rocky Mountains serves as a nuclear attack watch post.
(TVG)
SPECIAL: Doomsday Asteroid (Documentary)
Wed May 23 09:00 PM Eastern Time (60 min) TLC
Using computer graphics, scientists describe the cataclysmic effects of a
comet colliding with Earth. (TVG)
SPECIAL: What Really Happened to Adolf Hitler?
Wed May 23 09:00 PM Eastern Time (60 min) DISC
Researchers troll under a former garbage pile for possible answers to
Hitler's fate. (TVPG)
SERIES: Defenders of the Planet (Documentary)
Wed May 23 10:00 PM Eastern Time (60 min) TLC
Threat From Space. Scientists work to protect Earth from asteroids, alien
viruses, solar weather. (TVG)
========
To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Unilateral Israeli cease fire
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 18:56:54 -0400
--------
Unilateral Israeli cease fire
Aaron Lerner Date: 22 May 2001
Israel Radio senior diplomatic correspondent Yoni Ben Menachem reported
this
evening that at the initiative of PM Ariel Sharon, COS Shaul Mofaz has
issued orders for soldiers not to initiate fire and only to return fire in
the case of a life endangering situation.
Soldiers also may only enter Palestinian controlled Area A with the
permission of the Sharon administration.
Yoni Ben Menachem noted that Arafat went overseas and only returns on
Thursday so it is not clear if the Palestinians will respond to the cease
fire until Thursday.
Israel Radio further reports that since the announcement Palestinian attacks
Israeli targets have continued.
It is noteworthy that the unilateral cease fire comes in the middle of what
appeared to be a stepped up Israeli efforts to destroy Palestinian weapons
factories and prevent the massive weapons smuggling operations between
Egypt
and the Gaza Strip.
Thanks to the unilateral Israeli cease fire, the Palestinians Authority will
now be able to step up their weapons programs without fear of Israeli
interference.
In addition, with every entry into Palestinian controlled Area A requiring
time consuming specific approval from the Sharon administration, Palestinian
gunmen and mortar shooters will again enjoy sanctuary once they cross back
into Area A as timely hot pursuit will be impossible. It is noteworthy that
only recently the IDF successfully captured a Palestinian shooting a mortar
within Area A. Thanks to the new policy the Palestinians will not have to
worry that this will be repeated.
Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director
IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
(mail POB 982 Kfar Sava)
Tel 972-9-7604719/Fax 972-3-5480092
INTERNET ADDRESS: imra@netvision.net.il
pager 03-6750750 subscriber 4811
Website: http://www.imra.org.il
========
To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Weekend News Today items (5/22/01)
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 19:02:04 -0400
--------
Intifada's end the impossible first step of the Mitchell report
Weekend News Today
Lead: Kelly
Source: AFP
Tue May 22,2001 -- Despite the positive reception for the Mitchell report by
both the Israelis and Palestinians, its implementation, requiring before
anything else an immediate and unconditional halt to the violence, seems
like a mission impossible. Another of the report's authors, European Union
foreign policy chief Javier Solana, agreed, saying here Tuesday: "It is
impossible to have confidence-building measures if they are fighting each
other, so this stopping of violence is a precondition for measures to construct
confidence among the parties."
Sharon refuses complete halt to settlements
Weekend News Today
Lead: Kelly
Source: AFP
Tue May 22,2001 -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon again Tuesday
rejected a complete freeze on Jewish settlements in the Palestinian
territories. "There is no link between an end to the violence and an end to
construction in the settlements," Sharon told reporters, adding that he was
committed "to providing for the regular needs of the settlements." He was
implicitly rejecting a call by the international panel chaired by former US
senator George Mitchell for a complete freeze in settlement construction.
Two no-confidence motions submitted to Knesset
Weekend News Today
Lead: Kelly
Source: Ha'aretz
Tue May 22,2001 -- Two no confidence motions in Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon were submitted Tuesday in the Knesset. The first was submitted by
the Hadash faction, along with the other Arab factions, and the second was
submitted by the Gesher faction. Hadash and the Arab factions submitted
the no-confidence motion because of “the government´s intent to topple the
Palestinian Authority, its refusal to resume negotiations, the degenerative
violence and its impact on the society and economy of Israel and the PA.”
Arafat moves Moscow visit forward
Weekend News Today
Lead: Kelly
Source: DPA/Ha'aretz
Tue May 22,2001 -- Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat has moved
his planned visit to Moscow forward to May 29, in view of the critical situation
in the Middle East, Palestinian diplomats in Russia told the Itar-Tass news
agency Tuesday. Arafat had been expected in the Russian capital from June
8 to 10 for talks regarding the conflict with Israel. His schedule was changed
because of a "sharp aggravation of the situation in the occupied territories"
and the "escalation of Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people," it
was stressed at the Palestinian diplomatic mission.
Digital system aimed for U.S. peacekeepers in Sinai
Weekend News Today
Lead: Kelly
Source: Middle East Newsline
Tue May 22,2001 -- The U.S. Army plans to deploy in the Middle East a
digital system that can train soldiers via the Internet. The system will be
used to connect American troops around the Middle East and Europe to
headquarters in the United States in an attempt to save money in training on
critical tasks. The course will include foreign language training as well as an
understanding of the threat environment. The new system costs about
$400,000 and will replace older versions now deployed in the Egyptian Sinai,
Bosnia and Kosovo. Army commanders said the plan is to provide U.S.
Army brigades with such a system, called Deployed Training Campus."
U.S. rushes to protect PA security chief
Weekend News Today
Lead: Kelly
Source: Middle East Newsline
Tue May 22,2001 -- The United States has warned Israel against targeting a
Palestinian security chief. The Bush administration has relayed to Israel a
message that expressed Washington's dismay over an Israeli shelling of the
home of Palestinian Authority security chief Col. Jibril Rajoub. Rajoub heads
the Preventive Security Apparatus in the West Bank and is regarded as the
PA security official most closely aligned with the United States. Rajoub's
2,000-member force has generally avoided participation in the Israeli-
Palestinian war. U.S. officials said an Israeli attack on Rajoub's home could
change that.
British Jewry to examine modifying ritual slaughter
Weekend News Today
Lead: Kelly
Source: Jerusalem Post
Tue May 22,2001 -- The Board of Deputies of British Jews, under pressure
from animal rights activists, has agreed to examine whether electronically
stunning animals as they are being ritually slaughtered is permitted by
Jewish law, according to a report in London's The Daily Telegraph. British law
dictates that animals must be pre-stunned before being killed. Jewish and
Muslim groups have an exemption allowing them to ritually slaughter
animals. Stunning animals with electricity prevents them from feeling pain,
animal rights groups contend.
Arafat meets in Gaza with UN envoy
Weekend News Today
Lead: Kelly
Source: Jerusalem Post
Tue May 22,2001 -- Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat met this
afternoon with UN Special Peace Envoy Terje Larsen. The two discussed
developments in the region in the wake of the publication of the Mitchell
report on the causes of the violence in the area. Arafat will meet later this
evening with US Ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk and US Consul-General
Ron Shliker to discuss the document.
http://216.219.160.226/cgi-
bin/readnews.cgi?day=01_05_22&item=#990556053
========
To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Harpazo.net News items (5/22/01)
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 19:09:27 -0400
--------
IDF Braces for Northern Attacks On Withdrawal Anniversary
The IDF has raised its level of preparedness on the northern border, following
fears that the Hezbollah will carry out an attack to mark the anniversary of
the IDF withdrawal from Lebanon one-year ago, Israel Radio reported
Tuesday.
The Northern Command ordered the troops to limit unnecessary actions
outside their fortified positions, cutting down on patrols. The IDF withdrew
from southern Lebanon on May 24 last year.
Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri said that Israel´s threats to hit Lebanon
and Syria in response for Hezbollah attacks are designed to create the fear
of war amongst the Arab nations.
The Lebanese foreign minister called on the United Nations to prevent these
threats on Lebanon and Syria, and to convene the Security Council to
discuss the situation. Ha'aretz
Saudi's Discuss Military Cooperation With Pakistan
Saudi Arabia has renewed military cooperation talks with Pakistan. The
discussions are taking place during the current visit by a Saudi military
delegation to Islamabad. Reports from Islamabad said the delegation is
headed by Saudi Chief of Military Operations Gen. Sarour Bin Mohammed
Harabi.
The delegation, which will stay in Pakistan untilt he end of the month, is
holding talks with senior military leaders of Pakistan. The Saudis are also
visiting defense installations in Pakistan.
Pakistan is trying to market its new weapons to Arab allies, particularly
Saudi Arabia. This includes submarines, fighter-jets, missiles and warships.
MENL
Israel-EU Talks 'Business As Usual'
Despite threats in some European parliaments to suspend Israel's
association agreement with the European Union, or to impose other
economic sanctions, "business as usual" was the tone at the first Israel-EU
Association meeting held in Brussels yesterday.
The meeting was par for the course both in its talk of deepening the ties
between the EU and Israel in a number of spheres, and also in regard to its
harsh criticism of Israel's handling of the intifada.
The question of whether the EU would take action to prevent Israel from
exporting to Europe products made beyond the Green Line, and labeled
"made in Israel" - which gives them duty-free status - was postponed until
July. At that time the Customs Cooperation Committee is slated to meet in
Israel and make a decision regarding this issue. Jerusalem Post
Russia's Chabad fights 'Messianic Jews'
When two youngsters blocked a bus traveling in downtown Minsk recently,
they turned around so the passengers could read the words on the backs of
their shirts: Jews for Jesus, written in Russian.
The reaction they got was astonishing. "Those Yids have robbed us of
everything - and now they're even taking away our Jesus," one woman said
angrily, according to Eduard Paryzh, a Belarus Jewish leader affiliated with
Chabad who witnessed the scene.
The anti-Semitism in the passenger's reaction is nothing new in this part of
the world - but this time the Jews took a stand.
Paryzh convinced the city council that missionaries like Jews for Jesus re
provoking interethnic tensions, and persuaded the council to ban Jews for
Jesus members from Minsk streets.
The episode in the Belarussian capital is just one example of the Chabad
community's increasingly active stance against the ``messianic Jews" who
have proliferated in the former Soviet Union during the past 15 years. Chabad
members have been following Jews for Jesus activists to cities in the region,
disrupting their campaigns. Jerusalem Post
Temple Mount Faithful Protest Opposite Orient House
Several dozen protestors from the extremist Jewish Temple Mount Faithful
group commemorated Jerusalem Day on Monday by demonstrating opposite
the Orient House building, which effectively acts as the nerve center of
Palestinian Authority representation in Jerusalem. The group also held its
traditional Jerusalem Day march from Ammunition Hill, through East
Jerusalem and to the Western Wall via Nablus Gate.
The group, bearing a casket with the words "Palestinian Authority" on it and
carrying drawings of the Palestinian flag, reached the Orient House building
in the afternoon. They then tried to set alight the coffin and the flags, but
were stopped by police.
In response, Palestinian youths in Orient House waved PLO flags and
chanted nationalist slogans. Shortly afterwards, several Palestinians left the
Orient House compound and began to move towards the Temple Mount
Faithful. Large numbers of police prevented the two groups from confronting
each other. Soon after, the Faithful left the area and headed for the Western
Wall. Ha'aretz
'NY Times' Ad: Temple Mount Central to Jews
Expressing their discontent over recent Palestinian claims to the contrary,
more than 1,500 Orthodox rabbis plan to advertise the centrality of Jerusalem
and the Temple Mount to the Jewish people this week in The New York
Times. Representing nine Orthodox groups, the full-page ad, which calls the
Temple Mount "a central Jewish link throughout the ages, throughout the
world," was paid for by a private donor in honor of Jerusalem's 34th birthday
under Israeli sovereignty. Jerusalem Post
Israel Offers to Treat All Palestinian Wounded
Health Minister Nissim Dahan has several times offered to treat "all
Palestinians wounded in the current intifada in Israeli hospitals and at Israeli
expense," but the Palestinians have not bothered to reply, Dahan told The
Jerusalem Post last night.
He said that the idea - which he first raised publicly at annual World Health
Assembly in Geneva last week - has not received any response from
Palestinian leaders, including Palestinian Authority Health Minister Riyad
Za'anoun, who was also present at the Geneva gathering. "There is nobody
there [among the Palestinians] to talk to," Dahan added. Jerusalem Post
Sarid Blasts Gov't Over Reports Arafat Removal Imminent
Leftist Meretz opposition leader Yossi Sarid Monday blasted Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon's government for reportedly "toying with the idea of bringing
about the ruin of the Palestinian Authority" and the removal of Palestinian
leader Yasser Arafat.
Sarids comments followed an Israel Radio report that a number of Israeli
cabinet ministers viewed as "inevitable" the eventual deportation of Arafat and
the imminent collapse of the Authority.
The radio added that some senior defense officials would welcome the
process as allowing younger, more pragmatic PA leaders to come to the
fore.
Sarid said the idea of assessing the value of Arafat's removal recalled the
1982 Lebanon War, in which then-defense minister Sharon sought to drive
Arafat and his Palestine Liberation Organization from their power base in
Lebanon. Ha'aretz
Israel Issues Tender For Water Transport From Turkey
Israel on Monday published a tender on Monday for the transport of an
annual 35 to 50 million cubic meters of water imports from Turkey to alleviate
an acute water shortage, the Finance Ministry said.
The tender, which would span five to 10 years, would be used to determine
the feasibility of importing the water along with two other factors -- the cost of
the water itself and the construction of a facility in Israel to receive it.
Water experts say Israel faces a severe water shortage as early as this
summer due to mismanaged resources, population growth and several years
of below average rainfall. Israel has approved plans for two desalinating plants
and has water-recycling and well-purification projects in the works. Ha'aretz
Hurricane Forecasters Expect Normal Activity in 2001
Top hurricane experts from NOAA today said the 2001 Atlantic hurricane
season likely will have normal levels of activity, bringing fewer storms than
the past three years. However, officials advised residents in Atlantic and Gulf
Coast states to be prepared for storms, high winds and flooding throughout
the season, which begins June 1. noaa
Bush Opens Door to Dalai Lama
The United States says President Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell
will meet Tibet's exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama in the next two days,
in meetings that are expected to antagonise China.
The White House said the meetings would be held in recognition of the Dalai
Lama as a respected religious figure and Nobel Laureate. He will see Mr
Powell later on Tuesday and have a private meeting with President Bush on
Wednesday.
Correspondents say Beijing has long argued that the United States should
withdraw support from activists such as the Lama who campaign for Tibetan
independence.
The meetings will follow the arrival in the US of another Chinese bete noire,
Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian, for a high-profile 40 hour visit. BBC
http://www.harpazo.net/news.html
========
To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] MK demands Knesset discussion on Taliban decrees against Hindus
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 19:16:48 -0400
--------
Herut MK Michael Kleiner demands an urgent Knesset discussion in the
wake of Taliban decrees against the Hindus in Afghanistan
[Press release translated by IMRA]
22 May 2001
Herut Chairman MK Michael Kleiner asked the Speaker of the Knesset to
hold
an urgent session on the policies of the Taliban in Afghanistan that deny
basic human rights to the non-Moslem population.
According to Kleiner, the decision of the Taliban to obligate the Hindu
population to wear a yellow patch and to deny them freedom of religion, as
well as a whole series of other edicts that are reminiscent of the Nazi
edicts of the 1930's, obligates the Israeli Knesset to sound a cry of
protest and lead processes at the United Nations that will return sanity to
the Moslem world.
"Those who think that the Nazi lexicon is embraced only by the extremist
Moslems in Afghanistan are not aware of the extreme talk of the Palestinian
Authority, Egypt, Jordan and Syria where there is a Goebbels-style
systematic propaganda campaign against the Jewish People", says Kleiner.
"The suffering of the Hindus in Afghanistan is a matter of concern for all
Jews and all citizens of the world."
For more details: Sarah Tel 050-528935
--------------------------------------------
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis
Website: www.imra.org.il
========
To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] PA assembling detailed maps
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 19:19:25 -0400
--------
We Are on the Palestinians' Map - PA assembling detailed maps
Reuven Shapira Maariv 18 May 2001
[FBIS Translated Text] The fact that that the Palestinian mortar targeting
of Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip and northern Negev is inaccurate
does not at all calm the security officials. They know it is only a matter
of time before the shooting in Gaza -- and soon, it is feared, in the West
Bank too -- will become more precise and effective. That fear is growing
even stronger, resembling the fear of long-range surface-to-surface missile
being fired at Israel's sensitive and strategic targets from far and near
confrontation states.
The reason for the fear is that, based on information and evidence acquired
by the security branches dealing with the issue, the PA and other hostile
organizations have recently obtained most precise and clear high-quality air
photographs of the entire State of Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza
Strip, including the settlements and the military installations there.
According to information obtained by Israel, the PA and other elements
outside Israel have orthophoto maps (photographed maps -- mapped air
photos
with most precise and computerized coordinate grids and contour lines) of
the state and the territories. These computerized maps, that should not have
been obtained by foreign elements, allow for very easy identification of
targets, including military and classified ones, and for a simple targeting
of mortar shells or missiles at targets of the level of a single building or
a small army post.
Several Israelis have testified over a year ago that they had seen such
orthophoto maps on the screens of computers in the offices of senior PA
officials. One of those maps, which was proudly presented by PA officials to
Israelis, was of the greater Jerusalem area -- from Ma'ale Edumim to
Latroun, and from northern Ramallah to Bethlehem in the south, including all
the Israeli settlements in the region. It should be stressed that many
Israeli military and security installations are located in that region, some
of which are highly sensitive.
The meaning of this is clear and frightening. Precision air photos of
Israel, that should have been classified and censored, are fully in the
hands of elements who can use them to harm the state. These are not
satellite photos, that are less clear and precise, of a lower resolution
rate, that are subject to distribution restrictions. The photos in question
are precise and operational. They were sent out to foreign mapping
institutions in recent years by Israelis and, to our chagrin, have reached
the Palestinians. The defense establishment is aware of the problem, which
has been expanding in recent years, and is trying to find an urgent solution
for it, though the damage is already done. Some of the photos were handed
over to the PA by Israeli bodies, in a move approved by the appropriate
authorities after secret and security sites were removed or camouflaged,
during the "golden age" of the Israel-PA relations, as part of the
cooperation agreements.
Now, it is too late. After the al-Aqsa intifadah broke out and Israeli
settlements have been targeted by Palestinian mortars and light weapons, it
turned out that the supervision of the transfer of these essential air
photos to the PA and external elements working with it was not satisfactory.
They received detailed and sensitive photos they should not have. Parts of
the photos were supposed to be erased or painted over, but this was not done
properly. This is why, in the present conflict between Israel and the PA,
there is a clear and immediate danger because the PA, as well as several
CIS
republics with ties in the Arab world with countries such as Iran and Iraq,
have possession of orthophoto maps. With those maps, Israeli settlements
inside and outside the Green Line can be targeted with a precision of
several centimeters.
For example, the maps can help locating buildings and streets in Jerusalem
and other cities where carbombs can be placed, and escape routes and
hideouts can be selected in advance.
The Israeli authorities are blaming each other, each claiming it did right
and denying responsibility. Bodies in the mapping and air photo business
maintain that the restrictions and instructions in this area concerning the
production of such maps and their distribution to the PA and others are
vague, outdated, and not enforced uniformly or as strictly as needed. Others
claim that the instructions and restrictions are clear enough, but there are
some who violate them to make easy money. In any event, it seems that
there
are quite a few loopholes in this area, and people wishing to abuse them can
make a handsome profit.
As a rule, any person or company can presently purchase high-resolution air
photos of regions of the State of Israel from the elements that deal with
it. There are some restrictions. For example, you cannot obtain a photo
covering more than 100 square kilometers, but there is no restriction on the
number of photos one can purchase, thus anyone may obtain several photos
from several sources and create a larger map.
"The market today is wide open. The Palestinians and other hostile elements
in the world have photos they should not have," said a veteran professional
in the field. "On the one hand, on paper, there are Israeli restrictions; on
the other hand, the restrictions are not observed by everyone, and some
people violate the law and harm the state security for greed. The rules and
instructions should be refreshed in a way that would let us and our clients
live, while not harming the state security."
The law and field security regulations maintain that air photos, precise
cartographic material, and orthophotos produced by a few Israeli companies,
those owning planes with advanced photographic equipment, can be
distributed
to consumers in Israel only after they have been censored by the officials
in charge in the companies themselves and by the IDF Field Security
Department [FSD]. They are supposed to erase sensitive sites such as army
camps, military airfields, and strategic installations from those photos.
Instead, they should place camouflaged patches that resemble the
surrounding
terrain, leaving no evidence that sites were erased.
The transfer of air photos and orthophotos of the State of Israel, the West
Bank, and Gaza -- even the censored ones -- to bodies outside Israel is only
allowed upon the approval of a special committee for mapping accessories of
the IDF FSD. The same holds for all classified material handed over to the
PA. In the past, limited licenses were issued for the transfer of partial
and specific photos of the West Bank and Gaza to the PA which mainly
focus
on A zones. They were used for geographic planning and the registration of
ownership and demarcation of plots in the PA. Eventually, it turned out that
photos that were not approved by the committee were also handed over.
Israel is naturally most sensitive to the distribution of clear air photos
of the state territories. The state also contacted the US authorities asking
to limit the level of resolution and precision of satellite photos by the
civil-commercial US satellite Iconos, which documents the globe and provides
high-resolution photos of one square meter or less on demand. In the wake of
the request, the Americans limited the sale of satellite photos of Israel to
two-meter resolution -- that is, details whose size is less than two meters
are not seen or are blurred. It is very probable, however, that one can
obtain other satellite photos (from Russia, for example) with a one-meter
resolution.
Still, photos taken from planes are much clearer. Such photos produced in
Israel can reach a resolution of some 10 centimeters. The visibility of such
minute details naturally creates a security problem for Israel.
Judging from information presently in the hands of Israeli security elements
and bodies dealing with the issue, it appears that the PA and foreign
mapping institutions have air photos of Israel and the territories that were
not approved by the Israeli authorities.
Experts who viewed those photos stressed -- judging from the level of their
precision and resolution -- that they were taken from Israeli planes, the
only ones permitted to take pictures above Israel and the territories -- and
not from satellites. Sources in the field point a finger at the Ofeq
Company, for reasons that will be detailed later.
Photos in the PA possession include some that have white spots on them,
marking the location of military and security installations. This is
illegal, because the white spots show the boundaries of those sites and
their location. They should have been replaced with camouflaged patches that
resemble the surrounding areas.
A clear case in point is the "Palestine Atlas," that is out on the market.
The atlas, issued by the Applied Research Institute -- Jerusalem [name
printed in English], operating under the PA auspices and with the blessing
of its leaders, carries such air photos of Jerusalem and other West Bank
areas, with white spots marking military bases and settlements, including
the Atarot airport, and several Israeli security sites that were not even
covered with white patches.
The belief that these photos were made by the veteran Ofeq Company is
gaining support from the fact that Ofeq is the only company to carry out air
photography jobs for the PA, as part of their working relations.
The Ofeq managers strictly deny having transferred forbidden photos to the
Palestinians. They insist that the Israeli authorities approved all the
material they delivered. Another Israeli firm that was supposed to carry out
similar work for the PA, eventually did not because the Israeli security
bodies refused to issue the relevant permits.
Information on the activities of the Ofeq company, including details of a
project of mapping the Gaza Strip, can be found on an internet site that is
run jointly by Finn and Palestinian bodies. The site related that in 1999,
Ofeq carried out air photography work for the project. Last year, the PA
Planning Ministry office in Ramallah had a giant orthophoto (of five to six
square meters) hanging on its wall. It was a very precise and detailed photo
of Jerusalem and its vicinity (including details that were supposed to be
censored out), with a written dedication from the Ofeq Company. Palestinian
officials confirmed that this Ofeq orthophoto was a part of a series of
computerized orthophoto maps that the PA now has. With the use of this
photo
alone, anyone can easily target the Knesset, cabinet offices, the national
police headquarters, military bases, police stations, and other sensitive
sites in the Jerusalem region.
Despite the tension between the PA and Israel -- or perhaps because of it --
senior PA officials contacted Israeli elements some three weeks ago,
inquiring about a possibility of purchasing updated air photos of the Gaza
Strip. One does not need a too vivid imagination to find at least one reason
for this query. According to Palestinian elements, they asked for and
received a quote from the Ofeq Company. This reporter asked Ofeq managers
about this, but received no answer.
At the same time, Ofeq Director Ehud Friedland said in response that the
charges and rumors made against his company are part of a business
competition campaign by his rivals. "All of our operations are approved by
and coordinated with the IDF and the defense establishment, including the
supply of air photos to a European engineering company that worked in the
Gaza Strip several years ago. Ofeq provided air photos for civilian and
engineering purposes only, all fully approved, and taken several years ago.
Ofeq is presently working in several countries in the world, and our work
abroad is performed by foreign and local subcontractors, including mapping
jobs. Presently, anyone can purchase photos of Russian and US satellites,
and the market is rapidly evolving. The US satellite is supposedly
restricted to the marketing of two-meter resolution photos of Israel, but
the Russian satellite is not limited at all. Precision satellite photos of
Israel can be purchased from several elements without any supervision by the
censorship."
The Defense Ministry's Reaction
Security sources admitted last week that the moves taken these days to
restrict the free export and marketing of air photos of Israel are "closing
the stable doors after the horses have run away." At the same time, the
intention is to be stricter in the future and limit the free distribution of
air photos of sensitive areas in Israel and the territories, even if they
had been censored.
Defense Ministry Spokesman Shlomo Dror: "The Defense Ministry has taken
steps to change the regulations concerning air photo material so that it is
treated like any other security material. This means that it will have to
receive the appropriate authorizations and export of such material to
foreign elements would be fully supervised."
--------------------------------------------
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis
Website: www.imra.org.il
========
To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] The post-mortem of comet LINEAR
From: "Norm"
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 21:41:17 -0400
--------
The post-mortem of comet LINEAR discovers it was a rare object - part asteroid, part comet
http://www.newscientist.com/dailynews/news.jsp?id=ns9999756
Most comets die in a blaze of glory, but not LINEAR. Its protracted death throes, under the gaze of astronomers in June and July 2000, indicated that something was different.
Hal Weaver, Johns Hopkins University, charted the comet's demise with the Hubble Space Telescope. "We haven't seen any other comet breaking up like this," he says.
HST observations show that LINEAR contained relatively few "supervolatiles", such as carbon monoxide, that can sublime explosively. So, astronomers think LINEAR disintegrated simply by sunlight melting it away. Although this released at least 3.3 billion kilograms of water, that is much less than astronomers expect from a "true" comet.
These are thought to form near Uranus and Neptune and fit Fred Whipple's "dirty snowball" analogy. However, LINEAR seemed to be more of a "snowy dirtball".
"What is emerging here is that the comet was not only depleted in supervolatiles but lacking in ice of any type," says Weaver, "There was a lot more meteoritic material than icy material in the nucleus of LINEAR."
This could only be the case if the comet formed in the temperate regions of the solar system, near Jupiter, over four billion years ago. The gravity of the giant planet then flung the comet outwards on an enormous orbit. This eventually brought it back to the inner solar system last year - where the Sun ended its journey.
Astronomers still do not know how many comets of this type there are. Weaver speculates: "Maybe one in five comets are produced in the Jovian region but LINEAR is the only comet like this that we have observed."
More at: Science (vol 292, p 1329, 1334)
Correspondence about this story should be directed to latestnews@newscientist.com
1900 GMT, 17 May 2001
Stuart Clark
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To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Report: FBI early-virus warning stinks
From: "Norm"
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 21:44:02 -0400
--------
Report: FBI early-virus warning stinks
By Ted Bridis, WSJ Interactive Edition
May 22, 2001 5:05 AM PT
URL: http://www.zdnet.com/filters/printerfriendly/0,6061,2763767-2,00.html
WASHINGTON -- A Federal Bureau of Investigation unit created to protect businesses and government from hackers and terrorists usually fails to issue warnings in time about imminent electronic attacks, a congressional report says.
The report, expected to be released Tuesday by the General Accounting Office, the investigative arm of Congress, says that while some of the center's more than 80 warnings about computer attacks since 1998 were issued in time to avert damage, most, especially those related to viruses, came when the attacks were already under way.
The GAO report echoes similar criticism by security experts and industry groups of the FBI's $27-million-a-year National Infrastructure Protection Center, the government's centerpiece in its cyber-protection efforts. It comes amid a string of recent embarrassments for the bureau, including disclosures about an alleged spy for Russia within its ranks and failures to turn over documents in the death-penalty trial of convicted bomber Timothy McVeigh.
The center, in operation since 1998, suffers from poor morale, inadequate staffing and a lack of expertise, the report says, and doesn't do a good job of cooperating with other agencies or private groups. The center is staffed by FBI agents, with assistance from investigators in other federal agencies. But people who have been assigned there say some agencies have recalled their employees from the center after complaints that they were treated poorly. Of 25 non-FBI workers interviewed for the GAO report, 16 made negative comments about working at the center.
As one example of the tensions, the report said that until last summer, workers at the center assigned from other agencies wore different-colored badges than their FBI counterparts and weren't given the same access to some computerized databases. An internal Defense Department memo in March 2000 complained that for the center's non-FBI workers, "it is often a struggle to even get access to the internal e-mail."
In a letter to the GAO published with the study, George M. Andricos, director of legislative affairs for the National Security Council, said some of the center's efforts "might be better accomplished by distributing the tasks across several existing federal agencies." He also suggested a new "virtual analysis center" could be created to issue emergency cyber-warnings.
Industry groups such as the Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center, a computer-attack early-warning network set up by the nation's biggest banks, have criticized the NIPC for failing to quickly share warnings with businesses. The Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank, said the NIPC sometimes fails to inform companies under attack for weeks or months after learning of a problem.
The report doesn't recommend disbanding the center, as some security experts have suggested. But its release coincides with a broad continuing review by the Bush administration to reorganize U.S. efforts to protect the most important computer networks. The review likely will recommend altering the FBI's role.
The enemy's within?
The center's director, Ronald L. Dick, said it hasn't been supported by other agencies. "Many of those on whom the NIPC relies to accomplish its mission might prefer that the NIPC, especially as housed in the FBI, not succeed," he wrote in a letter to the GAO.
FBI officials have expressed frustration that businesses don't always share sensitive information about threats with the bureau. The GAO noted, for example, that the banks' warning network, knew about the devastating "Love Bug" virus last year hours before the FBI did, but didn't warn the government. The FBI's own warning about the virus was issued only after widespread damage to U.S. e-mail systems had occurred.
The GAO study praised the center for providing technical support and coordination for federal investigations of serious computer crimes, such as the Melissa virus in 1999 and attacks against major commercial Web sites last year.
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To: bprlist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Lokon volcano spews ash
From: "Norm"
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 21:50:08 -0400
--------
Lokon volcano spews ash
http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaillatestnews.asp?fileid=20010522150651&irec=7
JAKARTA (Agencies): Lokon volcano in the northern country's province of North Sulawesi has spewed ash, blanketing a wide area including the provincial capital of Manado, a scientist said Tuesday.
"Mount Lokon erupted late on Sunday evening at around 08:14 p.m., spewing ash and other volcanic debris," said Denny Tambengi of the vulcanology observation outpost in Kakasen, on the slopeof the volcano, AFP said.
Denny said a thin layer of ash had covered Manado, around 20 kilometres (12 miles) northeast of the volcano, and most of the area around.
During the eruption the volcano had emitted fine lava up to a height of 400 metres, while the accompanying smoke and fine ash reached up to 900 meters.
The eruption was accompanied by a series of volcanic tremors, Denny said, but they were not strong enough to be felt by the local population around the 1,698 meter (5,671 foot) volcano.
"There has been no more eruption since," Denny said, adding that the danger status on the volcano had been kept at "alert", two rungs below the status accorded to a major eruption.
Lokon, one of the country's 79 most active volcanoes, has already experienced three minor eruption this year, he said.
Its last major eruption was in 1991 when it caused thousands of villagers to evacuate their villages on its slope. A Swiss tourist who was near the crater when the eruption took place was killed.
The Indonesian archipelago lies on the potent Pacific "rim of fire" which runs along the equator from the Southeast Asia mainland.
Its more than 17,000 islands are dotted by some 500volcanoes, of which 129 are still active.
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Subject: [bprlist] Speech by Dr. Solana, 7 November 2000.htm
From: "Beverly"
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 23:54:42 -0400
--------
Speech by Dr. Solana, 7 November 2000
Speech by Dr Javier Solana, Secretary-General of WEU
Organised by the Liberal International (Netherlands Chapter)
The Foreign Policy of the EU
The Hague, 7 November 2000
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am very grateful to the Netherlands Chapter of the Liberal International for giving me the opportunity to speak to you about the Common Foreign Policy of the European Union. I am conscious of the fact that this building houses the prestigious Literary Society De Witte. However I hope you will forgive me for not being inspired to address you in poetic language. My remarks this evening are concerned with Europe's current political realities, and our ambition to create a safer world. I shall therefore speak to you in plain prose.
The past year has been a time of major innovation in the area of the Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy. At each of their regular meetings, Europe's leaders have built on the progress already achieved, and have taken steps to widen the range of tools at their disposal. Every European Council is proving to be a new high-water mark in the move towards a more effective, more coherent and more visible Foreign Policy.
At the same time, political events have not come to a halt. The world is not waiting while we get our own house in order. Our partners around the globe expect the European Union to have an effective and clear policy on issues of international importance. Over the last few weeks we have been able to welcome the election of President Kostunica in the FRY. At almost the same time we have seen the Middle East Peace Process reduced to tatters. The European Union is expected to respond in both these and other cases. My impression is that this expectation is increasingly matched by a willingness on the part of the Member States. In short, CFSP is beginning to come of age.
I should like to take the opportunity this evening to take a step back and reflect upon some of the most important recent developments. What has really been achieved in the area of the Union's Foreign and Security Policy? Are we beginning to deliver?
There are three aspects I would like to highlight. The first aspect relates to the Union's capacities in the security field. - the "S" aspect of CFSP. We are in the process of putting together a range of instruments - from a rapid reaction force to a conflict prevention network - which will greatly enhance our ability to respond to international challenges. These developments have been brought under the overall heading of European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).
The second aspect is the foreign policy element - the "F" of CFSP. This involves ensuring that we develop and maintain an effective and coherent approach our relationships with the Union's many partners in support of our shared objectives and interests in the world.
The third aspect concerns the "politics of CFSP". CFSP is of course about our policy towards the rest of the world. But this is only part of the story. CFSP is a joint project involving the Member States, the Commission, and the European Parliament. The fact that it is evolving rapidly has meant that attention has again focussed on a number of political issues which lie behind it. I should like to make a few comments on these.
I shall look at each of these three areas in turn. Afterwards, I will be very happy to answer any questions you might have.
Less than one year ago, at the Helsinki European Council, Europe's leaders decided to develop by 2003 a collective European capability to deploy rapidly 60,000 troops for crisis management operations (the "headline goal"). The purpose of this capability is clearly set out in the Treaty. Our aim is to provide the Union with sufficient military and non-military capabilities to enable us to intervene when appropriate in humanitarian and rescue tasks, peacekeeping tasks and tasks of combat forces in crisis management, including peacemaking (Petersberg Tasks).
Since Helsinki, enormous progress has been made. As of March 2000 the Interim Political and Security Committee has met weekly to develop the permanent structures which will be necessary for crisis management; and a military staff has been established to provide the Council with military expertise. A catalogue of capabilities necessary to fulfil the Petersberg tasks was approved recently by the Council, and at a meeting to take place in Brussels on 21 November each Member State will specify the assets it will be able to contribute. This "Capabilities Commitment Conference" marks a milestone in the development of the ESDP. It will be the first real test of the Member States' willingness to deliver. All the indications are that they will do so.
The creation of a European Security and Defence Policy has inevitably raised questions over the implications for NATO. Given my background, you will not be surprised to learn that the issue of EU-NATO relations is a particular concern to me. Let me therefore state quite clearly: The EU is not in the business of collective defence. Nor is it in the business of creating a European army.
The creation of a European Security and Defence Policy is aimed at strengthening, not weakening transatlantic ties. By pulling its full weight, the European Union will contribute to transatlantic relations by better sharing the burden of security.
Take the issue of defence capabilities. The European Union has put the construction of practical military strength at the top of its agenda. This step should reassure our North American allies. We are doing what they have urged us to do for decades. We are defining a practical goal for military capabilities and putting in place the institutions to achieve it. The European Union is becoming a stronger and more reliable partner.
In constructing ESDP, we are not trying to reinvent the wheel. On the contrary, the EU has paid NATO the sincere compliment of imitation. A guiding principle in developing the EU's political/military structures is compatibility with NATO. NATO's processes have been shown to work. If Europe is to have access to NATO assets, compatibility is essential. It offers the only real guarantee that we can cooperate effectively at both the staff and the decision making level. It also means we avoid duplication. Planning and command structures already exist in NATO and are designed with European dual use in mind. These structures must serve as an expression of a single military culture which allows for flexible adaptation to any external threat. To put it bluntly: In situations of life-or-death we cannot expect our troops to operate by two different rule books.
These principles are beginning to be put into practice. Much has been achieved already. The Feira European Council in June provided for the establishment of four ad-hoc EU/NATO working groups. These committees have already begun to discuss issues of security, capabilities, the modalities for EU access to NATO, and the definition of permanent agreements. On 19 September an historic meeting between the interim Political and Security Committee and NATO's Permanent Council took place in Brussels. This was the first formal high-level contact between the two organisations. These contacts will continue and develop further as more detailed discussions begin. These include my own regular and well-established meetings with NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson.
We still have a long way to go. More work on a wide range of issues is required. We are learning from NATO's experience, whilst NATO and its members are also learning about the benefits which a stronger Union can provide for the Alliance. This constitutes a strong basis for the future.
Our willingness to work alongside NATO has enabled us to build on the trust which already exists within the alliance. President Clinton in particular has had the foresight to see that ESDP, rather than undermining NATO, will in fact help to strengthen it. On the day when Americans choose his successor, I should like to pay my own personal tribute to him and his tireless work for a strong and effective transatlantic relationship. I look forward to developing a similarly close relationship with his successor, whatever the choice of the American people.
ESDP is not only about the creation of a rapid reaction force. It is also about the Union having access to other tools which might sometimes be better suited to maintaining or providing security than military force. This is why the Union is devoting particular attention to the development of other instruments, such as civilian police, for use in crisis management situations.
Some of these instruments have a role to play in helping to prevent conflict. Prevention is of course better than cure, which is why we are devoting time and energy to this issue. Following the mandate which was given by the Feira European Council, I am working with the Commission to draw up concrete recommendations on how to improve the coherence and effectiveness of our work in this important area.
By developing military capabilities, and enhancing its existing civilian capabilities, the European Union will be in a unique situation to draw on a comprehensive range of instruments to support its interests world-wide. We are not in the business of doing this for its own sake. But in support of the values and principles for which the European Union is respected world-wide. We should increasingly be able to ensure that the rule of law and human rights are respected, and that people throughout the world can, like ourselves, enjoy the benefit of freedom, democracy and prosperity.
The Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy does not consist of ESDP alone. It also consist of a foreign policy - the « F » in CFSP. It is about improving the coherence of our shared objectives and interests in the world. And it is about promoting the values which lie at the foundation of the European Union.
As I said at the beginning, our internal work on ESDP does not mean that we can take time out from the world. Not only have we continued to be active across a huge range of issues, and in every continent, but we have also been making some progress in ensuring that we do have a more coherent and recognisable foreign policy. So what have we achieved in this area ? To answer this, I should like to look briefly at some of the key issues which have been the main focus of my work over the last few weeks.
A disproportionate amount of work continues to be devoted to the Balkans. I expect that to continue to be the case for some time. It is clear why. The Balkans have for over a decade been a top priority for our foreign policy efforts. They lie on our doorstep. We have an overriding interest in ensuring long-term stability in the region. We provide very substantial financial support - the Netherlands has been a particularly generous contributor. And it is also an area where we have particularly high visibility. In short: nowhere is the EU expected to deliver more than in the Balkans.
We have come a long way in meeting these expectations. Following the mandate which I was given in March this year from the European Council, I have worked closely with the Commission to ensure a more coherent approach to our policy towards the region, and to strengthen the impact of our contribution. Much still remains to be done, but we have since the Spring pursued a policy based on a long-term commitment to the full integration of all the countries in the region into the political and economic mainstream of Europe. We have at the same time gone a long way in persuading others (in particular the US) of the depth of our engagement in the Balkans.
Recent events in Serbia have to some extend vindicated that policy. Just four weeks ago, the people of Serbia voted for change. They were clearly tired of economic decline and international isolation. Their decision is a clear step for Serbia on the road to a democratic Europe. This important development was the result of a free choice by the people themselves. But during the last year the European Union has devoted considerable efforts to helping give a voice to those in Serbia who are genuinely committed to democracy. We were clear also in the support which Serbia would receive under a new and democratic leadership. On this we are already beginning to deliver.
President Kostunica is also beginning to deliver. He has already demonstrated his commitment to enhancing regional cooperation, and acknowledged the important role which the European Union can play in support of this objective. This is despite the fact that he has only been in office for four weeks, and that he has a huge number of challenges domestically, not least in consolidating his own position. I find this very encouraging. Of course, a number of difficult issues remain, in particular the question of the future of Kosovo and Montenegro. But political change in Serbia, and the openness of President Kostunica in particular represent an enormous opportunity for the region as a whole. Lasting regional stability is now within reach. The European Union will continue to play a central role in support of that objective.
Let me now turn to another critical area for the European Union: The Middle East.
The European Union has been engaged in the Middle East for a long time, both politically and economically. In 1995 it established a framework for relations with its 12 mediterranean partner countries. This process consists of a framework for cooperation across a wide range of sectors: political, economic and social. Later this month in Marseilles, ministers from all these countries are due to meet in order to assess the process and give it new impetus.
The Barcelona process is not dependent on the Middle East Peace Process, but the two are clearly interlinked. Barcelona is a continuing sign of the European Union's commitment to the region. But the absence of lasting peace has meant that the Process has not realised its full potential. Our commitment to the Peace Process has been most visible through the high level of financial support for the region. But recently we have also been able to play a more active role politically.
A few weeks ago I was asked by EU foreign ministers to travel to the region to meet all the parties concerned and to try to offer support in the search for an end to the violence. My impressions were sobering. There is a clear crisis of confidence between the main participants in the process. This goes wider than individuals: Israel faces considerable internal political uncertainty. And there is now a clear loss of hope amongst many Palestinians that the Peace Process is able to deliver a satisfactory result.
The rounds of talks I held in the region paved the way for participation by the European Union in the Sharm el-Sheikh summit, which allowed us for the first time to be actively involved in the search for a solution to the crisis. We worked closely at the summit with Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary-General, in an effort to contribute to a process which was on the brink of collapse. The results were short-lived. Violence and suffering continue. Nevertheless we are determined to work patiently behind the scenes to try to create a further breathing space. And over time, I hope we shall be able to help deliver a permanent solution.
The Balkans and the Middle East both lie on our doorstep. So does Russia. Here also we have been working to establish a closer relationship based on the many interests which we share. Last week in Paris I participated in the latest of the regular six-monthly summit meetings with President Putin. The meeting resulted in an agreement to establish a more structured dialogue on political and security cooperation. It also gave us the opportunity to brief the Russians on what we are doing on ESDP, and to discuss the economic and political implications of enlargement. Needless to say, we also raised our continuing concerns over the situation in Chechnya, stressing the continuing need to find a long-term political solution, and to allow for the provision of humanitarian aid in the run-up to winter.
CFSP is about Europe having an impact and being able to project its interests and influence effectively beyond its own borders. To do so, we have a policy-making framework which is able to distil from the sometimes disparate interests of the Member States a shared policy based on common objectives. It has to draw on the institutional strength and considerable expertise of the Commission, and it must take account of the expectations of the public as expressed through the European and national parliaments. Of course, no one would suggest that the current institutional arrangements are perfect - least of all me. But they are what we have to live with, and it is incumbent on all of us to make them work. Let me spend a few moments looking in turn at the various elements which feed into this process.
The creation of the post of High Representative was itself an indication of a new willingness by the Member States of the Union to make CFSP work. This willingness has continued to prevail during my first twelve months in the job. It has been evident in the constructive spirit shown by the three presidencies with whom I have worked so far. There is a new recognition that the problems of today's world can only be solved by working together. On a practical level this means a greater sharing of information. Many Member States have extensive diplomatic services with considerable expertise in many areas of the world. Taken together this information represents a valuable tool for policy formation. One of the purposes of the establishment last year of the Policy Unit within the Council Secretariat was to facilitate the sharing of this information. Collectively it is then used to provide assessments and policy recommendations which are better able to reflect a common interest than anything which could be put together by one Member State. I see one of my main roles to use these opportunities to help develop a more effective CFSP.
Ladies and Gentlemen. I have touched on some of these internal issues because they have been raised by others and because I know that are number of you are interested in them. But I repeat that we have an institutional framework which has been agreed by the Member States, and which is unlikely to be radically revised until long after the publication of my memoirs. In any case, the world beyond Europe is not much interested in how we structure ourselves. It is interested in the role we can play internationally, in the impact we can have in support of the values on which the European Union is based.
I will continue to devote my efforts to developing that role, and in ensuring that we can make a difference. My aim is to give added value to what exists already, and to give greater focus to the EU's external policy. I assist the Presidency and the Council in working for greater coherence and in ensuring that increasingly we speak with one voice. That includes making sure that ESDP becomes a reality. I will also be working on the very many foreign policy challenges which the Union is likely to face over the next few years, some of which I have outlined above.
The European Union was founded by those who sought peace and reconciliation. We must continue to promote these values and principles in our relations with the rest of the world. This can only be a joint undertaking. It requires both commitment and the means to act. I am confident that we can have both. In doing so, we can play our part in living up to the original vision of Europe's founding fathers.
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