Suspicious package update. This is probably the work of a witless, malevolent prankster, but it could be something worse. From Local6.com, with thanks to the Constantinopolitan Irredentist:
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Bomb experts were called to a Lynx public bus in Orlando, Fla., Wednesday after a suspicious package addressed from Osama bin Laden was discovered by a rider, according to police.The package addressed from Osama bin Laden was found on the Lynx bus 909 near the intersection of Hughey and Amelia at the Centroplex parking garage....
When the bus came to its last stop at the Centroplex parking garage, a passenger on the bus brought the package to the driver.
When the driver saw that Osama bin Laden was written on the package, he called 911, Local 6 News reported.
Firefighters and police aggressively moved into the area and checked the package, according to the report. Several streets in the downtown area were closed.
The package was packed with flyers but police did not say what the flyers said.
That would be interesting to know, of course. I hope more is revealed about this.
One wonders if this passenger lives in an alternate universe? In this day and age, why would anyone 'pick up' or attempt to move an abandoned package, let alone - a package with the name of OBL written on it?
Fortunately for the passenger and bus driver, the contents will likely blow up in the pranksters face . . .this time.
Gee, you'd think the OrlandoSentinel.com would mention something about a supposed terrorist incident like this, whether or not it turned out to really be from Osama Bin Laden.
Their main headline is that Bush signed a Highway financing bill, and they have a story about a guy who died after playing video games for 49 hours, but no mention of a bomb threat on a public bus that closed a main street in the downtown area.
Jihad? What jihad?
Pakistan's former Christian minister found strangled
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/ISL201728.htm
Pakistan's former Christian minister found strangled
10 Aug 2005 13:59:48 GMT
Source: Reuters
ISLAMABAD, Aug 10 (Reuters) - A former government minister from Pakistan's minority Christian community was found strangled on the outskirts of the eastern city of Lahore, police and family said on Wednesday.
The body of Derick Cyprian, who resigned as minister for minorities, youth, culture and tourism in 2000, was found floating in a drain in Manga Mandi district on Tuesday.
"His hands and legs were tied with a rope and a noose was around his neck," Shafqat Ahmed, a senior superintendent of police said by telephone from Lahore. "He was apparently strangled."
Cyprian's elder brother, Noel, said the former minister went missing on Saturday after parking his car near a bank in the upmarket Defence neighbourhood of Lahore.
"His body was in a very bad condition ... He died two or three days earlier," the brother said.
The police do not suspect the murder was motivated by religious hatred, Ahmed said.
Christians account for less than three percent of Pakistan's 150 million mainly Muslim population, and have been targeted by Islamist militant groups in the past.
US fears sectarian attack in Pakistan
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/7598_1457208,000500020000.htm
Press Trust of India
Islamabad, August 9, 2005|03:48 IST
The US embassy in Pakistan on Tuesday warned its citizens not to travel to a northern hill resort where a "sectarian attack" was feared during the upcoming Independence Day weekend, an official said.
"There is new information indicating the potential for a sectarian attack in the city of Murree during the Pakistani independence day period, which culminates on August 14, 2005," said the notice, which follows a similar warning that was lifted last week. "Americans are advised to avoid Murree. American residents of the city are encouraged to restrict their movements to essential travel only until further notice.", it further warned.
Murree, a popular hill resort some 50 kilometres northeast of the capital Islamabad, is thronged in August by tourists who escape the lowland summer heat and seek out its alpine climate. However a Pakistani security official said there was no "specific information" about a possible attack in Murree this weekend. "Security agencies are already on high alert all over Pakistan as a crackdown against extremist and militants is going on," the official, who requested anonymity, told AFP.
Usually calm, Murree saw an attack on its Christian School in August 2002, when gunmen shot dead six Pakistanis in one of several attacks in the country on Christian targets that left a total of 18 people dead.
The attacks were thought to have been prompted by the political fallout after the September 11, 2001 attacks, followed by the US-led invasion of Afghanistan and of the than growing resentment over Pakistan's alignment with the United States in the "war on terror".
"The police do not suspect the murder was motivated by religious hatred, Ahmed said."
No, the police are always quick to rule that out, even before the investigation begins. In CNN-speak, if anything it was "political extremism".
Mentat, no offense, but did you ever consider forwarding the links to Robert/Rebecca/Hugh, and let them decide the relevance and whether or not to post the full story? These stories could have their own Feedback section, rather than mixing it all up in one big glob. R&R&H have always been very prompt in responding to suggestions.
Respectfully,
S.G.
Special guest:
Sometimes Jihad Watch pays attention to me; sometimes they do not. I think that consider me to be a loose cannon, as I sometimes stray into that dreaded area known as "incitement to hatred". Consequently, as long as the comments section is a relatively free speech area, I will just post as I see fit. Although I would note that I have been sending Jihad Watch a lot of the articles that I have been posting today (but none of them have been posted as you can see!).
Mentat,
Not to speak out of turn, but I think JW/DW doesn't post anything that comes from just a single source or if it looks suspect. If you send something in and they can't verify it someway, they don't post it. Maybe that has more to do with it than anything else.
f.g.
f.g.:
If that is so, that is admirable. However, I will continue to fight the Jihad in whatever way possible. I tend to post here only when I am at my most frustrated. When I can't believe what I see going on around me. When I am just about fit to be tied. WHEN IT IT OBVIOUS TO ME THAT I SEE THE TRUTH BUT NO ELSE DOES!
I know too much and it is making me miserable.
We first find the tale of Cassandra and her legendary gifts in other works of ancient Greek literature. According to one version of the story, Cassandra received the power to foretell the future from the god Apollo. Apparently, Apollo instructed the mortal woman and taught her about the art of prophecy because he had an ulterior motive - the god wished to win her affections. Cassandra accepted Apollo as a teacher, but not as a lover. Naturally, the god was insulted by this refusal. So he punished Cassandra. Apollo caused the gift that he gave Cassandra to be twisted, making everyone who heard her true and accurate foretellings of future events believe that they were instead hearing lies. In other words, the wondrous blessing bestowed upon a mortal became instead a terrible curse.
And indeed, the burden of Cassandra's "gift" is evident in mythology. She predicted the outcome of many disastrous events. In one memorable example, Cassandra announced the dire consequences of the Trojans accepting the infamous Wooden Horse from their Greek opponents. But as Apollo made certain, no one believed Cassandra when she warned her companions about the future. And this, in the end, was to be Cassandra's tragic fate.
Yeah, I said that they respond promptly, but I didn't say the answer was always "Yes". They've only posted maybe 1/4 of the articles that I suggested. Maybe the articles were unverifiable, maybe they were off-topic. Whatever. But I don't think it means we are loose cannons.
Peace,
S.G.
Well Mentat. I've had the same thoughts. It is disturbing how nonchalant the West sees Islam and the Muslim population. You have to have a lot more deaths. I think over 100,000 may cause more people to learn about Islam.
What I find most disturbing is I do not believe there is anyone in the close circle around Bush who has studied and understands the problem. If they were, we would be quietly putting a noose around inbound Muslim immigration, and picking up the pace of deporting Muslims. It would be the most logical first step. Since that has not been taken, I conclude noone around Bush understands Islam.
Pedestrian Infidel said "What I find most disturbing is I do not believe there is anyone in the close circle around Bush who has studied and understands the problem."
I think there are many people (ie. the neocons) around Bush who have studied the problem of Islam. Their conclusion was that the people living in the 23 Islamic dictatorships are just like us, and that they are yearning for peace and freedom and prosperity. The neocon's solution was to topple Iraq's dictatorship, and the resulting peace and freedom and prosperity would act as a domino effect, as each dictatorship was overthrown by its throngs of people demanding their own peace and freedom and prosperity.
Unfortunately, it didn't quite work out that way. The Islamists see peace as cowardice, they see freedom as societal corruption, and they see prosperity as a-spirituality. And "Islamists" does not refer to just a few radicals. The neocons have simply misunderstood Islam's affect on the entire society. There are fundamental differences between what the Bible/Torah teach and what the Qur'an teaches. It is the height of arrogance for us to continue proclaiming "they are just like us." It is disregarding what the Islamists are saying about themselves. They clearly don't think "they are just like us."
Special guest:
I blame Natan Sharansky:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1586482610/104-0746581-5229537?v=glance
Natan believed that his experience in the Soviet Union would apply to Muslim countries. Sorry, Natan, you are wrong. The culture and religion are completely different. Natan, you have led us all astray and we are going to pay and pay. You dumb f*ck!
I have never read Sharansky and don't have the stomach to given what I now know. A proponent of 'nation building' and 'we are all the same.' No thanks.
Mentat and all,
As we have seen on this site alone, all people do not think alike. I have decided that the brain structure itself is different in LLL's. No insult meant to lefties, but even you must admit arguing with "King Tolerance" is like banging your head against a wall. I for one enjoy all the links people post here. That is one reason I come here and to LGF.
Pedestrian:
You should read Natan because his book is the one that sits on Bush's desk, and his ideas are propelling Bush. I have read Natan' Case for Democracy and he has no understanding of Islam.
Islam needs an Enlightenment. They need a million David Humes, a million Voltaires all shouting from the rooftops about how stupid their religion is.
Carolyn2:
I agree with you that there is something in the genetic programming of those on the left that is different. I really believe that my genetic programming as far as reasoning goes is completely different from most people. I never used to think so but now I do. For instance, that is why Voltaires and David Humes are so scarce.
Posted by: Mentat at August 10, 2005 05:16 PM
Gold Star for you today!!
Part of the American Tribe
Squirrel Hunter
Spider Killer
GOD BLESS THE USA AND HER FIGHTING FORCES AND ALL WHO FIGHT WITH HER GIVE THEM STRENGTH, WISDOM, SIGHT, AND COURAGE TO STAY THE COURSE TO VICTORY TO DESTROY ALL ISLAMIC TERRORIST AND ALL WHO SUPPORT THEM OPEN THE WORLDS EYES TO THEIR THREAT LET NOT THE WORLD BE DECEIVED BY THEM GIVE THE WORLD STRENGHT TO STAND UP AND FIGHT THIS EVIL AMEN
CAIR plans on building a giant office here in Orlando. Related?