3 x news:
(1) Australia tries a j-hadist
http://au.news.yahoo.com/070305/2/12mm4.html
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Tuesday March 6, 05:15 PM
<b>Terror suspect planned martyrdom: court</b>
One of nine suspects in Australia's largest alleged terrorist conspiracy told his mother he was about to enter paradise, a Sydney court has been told.
The committal hearing for the nine Sydney men was told that Mazen Touma had told his mother "Allah's satisfaction is more important than yours".
Crown prosecutor Wendy Abraham, QC, told Penrith Local Court Touma had allegedly told a friend his mother had disapproved of his plan to die in a jihad.
<b>"He said jihad was an obligation for every Muslim</b> and that he did not need her permission," Ms Abraham told the court.
"It is alleged he said his mother should be patient because tomorrow her children would be in paradise.
"He spoke of Allah giving him a paradise for martyrdom."
In her opening address, Ms Abraham told the court <b>the nine suspects - Mohammed Ali Elomar, Mazen Touma, Abdul Rakib Hasan, Khaled Cheikho, Moustafa Cheikho, Khaled Sharrouf, Mirsad Mulahalilovic, Omar Baladjam and Mohammed Jamal</b> - had the ingredients and instructions to construct highly sensitive explosives capable of killing and causing massive damage.
She told Magistrate Michael Price all nine men were Islamic extremists who were determined to carry out violent jihad to protect Islam.
The men were arrested in November 2005 following ASIO and Australian Federal Police raids in Sydney and were charged with conspiring to make explosives in preparation for a terrorist attack.
At the time of their arrest, NSW police alleged the Lucas Heights nuclear facility in Sydney was a target.
Ms Abraham also told the court the men purchased many mobile phones under false names and used pseudonyms on bank accounts to purchase the ingredients and equipment to construct explosives such as TATP and HMTD.
It was alleged the men sent each other coded text messages throughout their alleged conspiracy with Elomar sending one to Baladjam saying "babe, I need to see you now".
Ms Abraham also alleged the nine men had built a massive stockpile of equipment and ingredients including hydrogen peroxide, hydrochloric acid, pvc piping and laboratory equipment purchased from stores such as Bunnings Warehouse, Big W and Soul Pattinson Chemists.
The hearing, which will determine whether the men should stand trial, is expected to run for up to three months.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd--> One of several attempted islamist attacks in Australia.
(2) Religion of Peace in Somalia again:
http://au.news.yahoo.com/070306/15/12nbr.html
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Tuesday March 6, 11:05 PM
<b>Heavy fighting erupts in Mogadishu</b>
MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Heavy fighting erupted in Mogadishu after about 100 insurgents attacked Somali interim government troops and their Ethiopian allies at a base inside the former defense headquarters on Tuesday, a witness said.
"They are fighting with rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machineguns," said a local reporter who declined to be named. The reporter, who was trapped by the gunfire at a nearby hospital, said she had seen at least one body.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->See also post 120
(3) Not terrorism, but Iran's space program that's touched a nerve in the US:
http://au.news.yahoo.com/070305/2/12n18.html
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Tuesday March 6, 10:33 AM
<b>Iran's space program sparks fear in West</b>
IIran's claim to have launched a research rocket has called new attention to a space program that some fear may produce long-range ballistic missiles that could reach Europe or the United States.
Exactly what Iran launched over a week ago, or even what it aimed to do, remains the subject of much debate, speculation and possible misinterpretation.
But there are startling parallels to the controversy over its nuclear program.
In both cases, what Iran claims is a peaceful program could mask or be transformed into a weapons program, some experts say.
In both cases also, Iran's actual capabilities and the speed at which they are improving remain largely unknown.
"Initially, it seemed like a cover story for an unsuccessful satellite attempt," said John Pike of GlobalSecurity.org, referring to Iran's claims on February 25 that it had sent a suborbital research rocket soaring to the edge of space.
(GlobalSecurity is a US army site)
Conflicting statements by Iranian officials about how high the rocket travelled reinforced that idea.
But at least one US defence official has privately told reporters that no launch was detected at all.
Officially, the United States has not commented.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack would not discuss details of US intelligence on the launch, but he said the United States remained troubled by Iran's activities.
"We do have outstanding concerns about Iran's missile program and we are very much concerned about the possible nexus between that program and their nuclear ambitions," he told reporters.
A satellite launch had been expected ever since the magazine Aviation Week reported comments by a top Iranian lawmaker, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, in January that Iran had assembled a space launch vehicle (SLV) that would lift off soon.
An SLV is any type of rocket used to launch a spacecraft or satellite into orbit.
The announcement raised eyebrows because experts say there is little difference between the technology needed to construct a space launch vehicle and that needed to produce intercontinental ballistic missiles that can carry warheads.
"They use the same core technologies, with some difference in guidance systems and fuel," said Dr John Sheldon of the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies at Maxwell Air Force Base in the United States.
Given such similarities, some in Israel have expressed grave concerns.
Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after Iran's suborbital rocket claim: "Once they have that capability, whether for satellites or anything else, once you can boost your way up there, then you're en route to ICBMs, and that's where they're headed."
Others demur that Iran is far from such a goal.
Iran is known to possess a medium-range ballistic missile known as the Shahab-3 with a range of at least 1,300 kilometres, capable of striking Israel.
In 2005, Iranian officials said they had improved the range of the Shahab-3 to 2,000 kilometres.
Experts also believe Iran is developing the Shahab-4 missile, thought to have a range between 2,000 and 3,000 kilometres, that would enable it to hit much of Europe.
Analysts believe both missiles are based on North Korean prototypes and suspect Iran has received ballistic missile assistance from Russia and China as well.
The Iranians initially acknowledged in 1999 they were developing the Shahab-4, but claimed it would be used only as a space launch vehicle to send up commercial satellites.
In 2003, Tehran declared it had ended the Shahab-4 program. But western intelligence agencies doubt these claims and Sheldon added, "We know there is a missile that seems to be significantly bigger than the Shahab-3."
At the same time, Iran has made no secret of major ambitions for its space program.
In 2005, the government said it had allocated $US500 million ($A650.3 million) for space projects over the next five years. Also in 2005, Iran launched its first commercial satellite, Sina-1, into orbit from a Russian rocket.
On February 24 of this year, Defence Minister Mostafa Najar confirmed that Iran is now constructing its own satellites and the rockets, or space launch vehicles, to send them up.
Iran says it wants to put its own satellites into orbit to monitor natural disasters in the earthquake-prone nation and improve its telecommunications.
Iranian officials also point to America's use of satellites to monitor Afghanistan and Iraq and say they need similar abilities for their security.
But Iran's potential ability to move swiftly from rockets to ICBMs has the United States concerned.
In its 2001 National Intelligence Estimate, the US intelligence community warned that Iran was likely to develop space-launch vehicles to establish the technical base to produce ICBMs.
It estimated that Iran would attempt to launch an ICBM/SLV by the second half of this decade.
Craig Covault, an expert with Aviation Week, said the Iranians probably could accomplish a space launch by only slightly modifying the current Shahab-3, because the US used similar missiles in the 1950s for its space program.
"We used these to launch satellites, and then quickly switched to ICBMs," he said.
Not everyone agrees. Anton Khlopkov, a non-proliferation expert with the Moscow-based PIR-Centre think tank, said he believes it would take the Iranians a decade to build an ICBM.
He views Iran's latest rocket launch as all "bluff ... It was an attempt to influence both the domestic public opinion and the West."
Dr Mustafa Alani, a military analyst with the Dubai-based Gulf Research Centre, said the Iranians are merely spouting propaganda to build domestic support - and blames the West for buying it.
He said the US and Israel "have an interest in making Iran bigger" than it is so they have a justification for striking it.
Despite such claims, Pike and others believe the trajectory of Iran's progress is clear, even if the timing remains uncertain.
"Eventually Iran will have long-range missiles that can threaten the US and Europe," Pike said.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->How well-founded are these fears?
(1) Australia tries a j-hadist
http://au.news.yahoo.com/070305/2/12mm4.html
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Tuesday March 6, 05:15 PM
<b>Terror suspect planned martyrdom: court</b>
One of nine suspects in Australia's largest alleged terrorist conspiracy told his mother he was about to enter paradise, a Sydney court has been told.
The committal hearing for the nine Sydney men was told that Mazen Touma had told his mother "Allah's satisfaction is more important than yours".
Crown prosecutor Wendy Abraham, QC, told Penrith Local Court Touma had allegedly told a friend his mother had disapproved of his plan to die in a jihad.
<b>"He said jihad was an obligation for every Muslim</b> and that he did not need her permission," Ms Abraham told the court.
"It is alleged he said his mother should be patient because tomorrow her children would be in paradise.
"He spoke of Allah giving him a paradise for martyrdom."
In her opening address, Ms Abraham told the court <b>the nine suspects - Mohammed Ali Elomar, Mazen Touma, Abdul Rakib Hasan, Khaled Cheikho, Moustafa Cheikho, Khaled Sharrouf, Mirsad Mulahalilovic, Omar Baladjam and Mohammed Jamal</b> - had the ingredients and instructions to construct highly sensitive explosives capable of killing and causing massive damage.
She told Magistrate Michael Price all nine men were Islamic extremists who were determined to carry out violent jihad to protect Islam.
The men were arrested in November 2005 following ASIO and Australian Federal Police raids in Sydney and were charged with conspiring to make explosives in preparation for a terrorist attack.
At the time of their arrest, NSW police alleged the Lucas Heights nuclear facility in Sydney was a target.
Ms Abraham also told the court the men purchased many mobile phones under false names and used pseudonyms on bank accounts to purchase the ingredients and equipment to construct explosives such as TATP and HMTD.
It was alleged the men sent each other coded text messages throughout their alleged conspiracy with Elomar sending one to Baladjam saying "babe, I need to see you now".
Ms Abraham also alleged the nine men had built a massive stockpile of equipment and ingredients including hydrogen peroxide, hydrochloric acid, pvc piping and laboratory equipment purchased from stores such as Bunnings Warehouse, Big W and Soul Pattinson Chemists.
The hearing, which will determine whether the men should stand trial, is expected to run for up to three months.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd--> One of several attempted islamist attacks in Australia.
(2) Religion of Peace in Somalia again:
http://au.news.yahoo.com/070306/15/12nbr.html
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Tuesday March 6, 11:05 PM
<b>Heavy fighting erupts in Mogadishu</b>
MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Heavy fighting erupted in Mogadishu after about 100 insurgents attacked Somali interim government troops and their Ethiopian allies at a base inside the former defense headquarters on Tuesday, a witness said.
"They are fighting with rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machineguns," said a local reporter who declined to be named. The reporter, who was trapped by the gunfire at a nearby hospital, said she had seen at least one body.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->See also post 120
(3) Not terrorism, but Iran's space program that's touched a nerve in the US:
http://au.news.yahoo.com/070305/2/12n18.html
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Tuesday March 6, 10:33 AM
<b>Iran's space program sparks fear in West</b>
IIran's claim to have launched a research rocket has called new attention to a space program that some fear may produce long-range ballistic missiles that could reach Europe or the United States.
Exactly what Iran launched over a week ago, or even what it aimed to do, remains the subject of much debate, speculation and possible misinterpretation.
But there are startling parallels to the controversy over its nuclear program.
In both cases, what Iran claims is a peaceful program could mask or be transformed into a weapons program, some experts say.
In both cases also, Iran's actual capabilities and the speed at which they are improving remain largely unknown.
"Initially, it seemed like a cover story for an unsuccessful satellite attempt," said John Pike of GlobalSecurity.org, referring to Iran's claims on February 25 that it had sent a suborbital research rocket soaring to the edge of space.
(GlobalSecurity is a US army site)
Conflicting statements by Iranian officials about how high the rocket travelled reinforced that idea.
But at least one US defence official has privately told reporters that no launch was detected at all.
Officially, the United States has not commented.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack would not discuss details of US intelligence on the launch, but he said the United States remained troubled by Iran's activities.
"We do have outstanding concerns about Iran's missile program and we are very much concerned about the possible nexus between that program and their nuclear ambitions," he told reporters.
A satellite launch had been expected ever since the magazine Aviation Week reported comments by a top Iranian lawmaker, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, in January that Iran had assembled a space launch vehicle (SLV) that would lift off soon.
An SLV is any type of rocket used to launch a spacecraft or satellite into orbit.
The announcement raised eyebrows because experts say there is little difference between the technology needed to construct a space launch vehicle and that needed to produce intercontinental ballistic missiles that can carry warheads.
"They use the same core technologies, with some difference in guidance systems and fuel," said Dr John Sheldon of the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies at Maxwell Air Force Base in the United States.
Given such similarities, some in Israel have expressed grave concerns.
Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after Iran's suborbital rocket claim: "Once they have that capability, whether for satellites or anything else, once you can boost your way up there, then you're en route to ICBMs, and that's where they're headed."
Others demur that Iran is far from such a goal.
Iran is known to possess a medium-range ballistic missile known as the Shahab-3 with a range of at least 1,300 kilometres, capable of striking Israel.
In 2005, Iranian officials said they had improved the range of the Shahab-3 to 2,000 kilometres.
Experts also believe Iran is developing the Shahab-4 missile, thought to have a range between 2,000 and 3,000 kilometres, that would enable it to hit much of Europe.
Analysts believe both missiles are based on North Korean prototypes and suspect Iran has received ballistic missile assistance from Russia and China as well.
The Iranians initially acknowledged in 1999 they were developing the Shahab-4, but claimed it would be used only as a space launch vehicle to send up commercial satellites.
In 2003, Tehran declared it had ended the Shahab-4 program. But western intelligence agencies doubt these claims and Sheldon added, "We know there is a missile that seems to be significantly bigger than the Shahab-3."
At the same time, Iran has made no secret of major ambitions for its space program.
In 2005, the government said it had allocated $US500 million ($A650.3 million) for space projects over the next five years. Also in 2005, Iran launched its first commercial satellite, Sina-1, into orbit from a Russian rocket.
On February 24 of this year, Defence Minister Mostafa Najar confirmed that Iran is now constructing its own satellites and the rockets, or space launch vehicles, to send them up.
Iran says it wants to put its own satellites into orbit to monitor natural disasters in the earthquake-prone nation and improve its telecommunications.
Iranian officials also point to America's use of satellites to monitor Afghanistan and Iraq and say they need similar abilities for their security.
But Iran's potential ability to move swiftly from rockets to ICBMs has the United States concerned.
In its 2001 National Intelligence Estimate, the US intelligence community warned that Iran was likely to develop space-launch vehicles to establish the technical base to produce ICBMs.
It estimated that Iran would attempt to launch an ICBM/SLV by the second half of this decade.
Craig Covault, an expert with Aviation Week, said the Iranians probably could accomplish a space launch by only slightly modifying the current Shahab-3, because the US used similar missiles in the 1950s for its space program.
"We used these to launch satellites, and then quickly switched to ICBMs," he said.
Not everyone agrees. Anton Khlopkov, a non-proliferation expert with the Moscow-based PIR-Centre think tank, said he believes it would take the Iranians a decade to build an ICBM.
He views Iran's latest rocket launch as all "bluff ... It was an attempt to influence both the domestic public opinion and the West."
Dr Mustafa Alani, a military analyst with the Dubai-based Gulf Research Centre, said the Iranians are merely spouting propaganda to build domestic support - and blames the West for buying it.
He said the US and Israel "have an interest in making Iran bigger" than it is so they have a justification for striking it.
Despite such claims, Pike and others believe the trajectory of Iran's progress is clear, even if the timing remains uncertain.
"Eventually Iran will have long-range missiles that can threaten the US and Europe," Pike said.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->How well-founded are these fears?