Target Centermass

Feds: Science paper a terrorist’s road map

The federal government has asked the National Academy of Sciences not to publish a research paper that feds describe as a “road map for terrorists” on how to contaminate the nation’s milk supply.

The research paper on biological terrorism, by Stanford University professor Lawrence M. Wein and graduate student Yifan Liu, provides details on how terrorists might attack the milk supply and offers suggestions on how to safeguard it.

The paper appeared briefly May 30 on a password-protected area of the National Academy of Science’s Web site.

[...]

The paper “is a road map for terrorists and publication is not in the interests of the United States,” HHS Assistant Secretary Stewart Simonson wrote in a letter to the science academy chief Dr. Bruce Alberts.

The paper gives “very detailed information on vulnerability nodes” in the milk supply chain and “includes … very precise information on the dosage of botulinum toxin needed to contaminate the milk supply to kill or injure large numbers of people,” Simonson wrote.

Obviously, more thought is needed by a great many on how not be our own worst enemy. The Information Superhighway needs a few more common sense speedtraps.

Grandmother of 80 accused of running call girls

An 80-year-old woman who shuffles around her home with a zimmer frame and an oxygen tank has been charged with running a prostitution business.

Vera Tursi ran an “escort” business from her two-bedroom flat in Lindenwold, New Jersey – taking telephone calls from clients and sending out girls to meet them.

Police said they suspected Mrs Tursi’s age when they spoke to her on the phone during an undercover operation. She could be heard catching her breath and used old-fashioned language.

In her defense, at least … well … I’ve got nothing. This is just creepy. Maybe it could be used as an argument for Social Security reform.

Election 2004: Election is finally over

Democratic Gov. Christine Gregoire now has a full four-year term to finish serving as governor. For Republicans, the 2004 election is over.

For Washington voters, yesterday’s court ruling means a chance to see whether Gregoire can sustain the remarkably strong leadership she displayed during the first legislative session. There’s no reason for overconfidence: Early in his governorship, Gary Locke looked like he might be on his way toward large accomplishments and even national office.

Voters also have an opportunity to demand changes in slipshod election procedures brought to light by the examination of Gregoire’s narrow victory over Republican Dino Rossi. Chelan County Superior Court Judge John Bridges said the “voters of this state are in a position to demand” improvements.

Rossi could have pursued an appeal to the Washington Supreme Court. That was his right, and until now, we have fully supported his exercise of legal avenues to contest the election.

After the clear ruling from a respected jurist, however, it finally came time for Rossi to order an end to the legal expense and arguments. His decision to walk away from a last-ditch fight was right. But he spoiled his moment of grace with a cheap shot, claiming the “political makeup of the Washington state Supreme Court” would not allow him to prevail on appeal.

Old-time Chicago-style pizza — good. Old-time Chicago-style politics in the state of Washington — bad. The state’s election system needs desperate work.

Man Arrested in Ariz. for Ricin Possession

A man was being held Monday on a charge of possessing the deadly poison ricin, but authorities said they do not think he had any connection to terrorism.

Casey Cutler, 25, told authorities he carried the poison in vials around his neck to use as a possible weapon, according to a criminal complaint. He said he had been attacked last year by three men while walking to his apartment, and that he intended to use the ricin in self-defense if attacked again, the complaint said.

Cutler, of Mesa, faces a maximum of life in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted on the single count of producing and possessing a deadly toxin for use as a weapon.

Might I also suggest a psych eval?

We do not need urgent reforms, says Syrian leader

Ignoring international pressure and rising domestic frustration, Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian President, failed yesterday to announce broad and imminent reforms as he opened an eagerly awaited conference of the ruling Baath party.

In an address lasting barely ten minutes, Mr Assad told the 1,250 delegates: “We are convinced the ideas and precepts of the Baath party are still of relevance and respond to the interests of the people and the nation in its desire for unity, freedom, justice and development.”

For the six Syrian opposition activists — middle-aged businessmen, engineers and former army officers — who had gathered in a smoke-filled office to watch the speech on television, Mr Assad’s address was predictable and disappointing.

“The President has no vision, no programme and said nothing about the suffering of the Syrian people,” one man, who, like his colleagues, declined to be identified, said. “That’s why I’m not optimistic that this congress will produce anything.”

Sometimes one is to close too to the water, too tied to the moment or the past to notice a shift in tides. Events in the Middle East are threatening to flood a Syria hoping to return to its domination of Lebanon and bloodily hold back history in Iraq. A two-front war against the future may well be too much for Assad. At least the terrorists of Hezbollah still like him. Speaking of which …

Hezbollah Ticket Sweeps Elections in Southern Lebanon

In the second stage of Lebanon’s parliamentary elections, a pro-Syrian coalition, led by the militant group, Hezbollah, won all 23 seats at stake in the southern region where voting was held Sunday. The results in the south were in stark contrast to the result of the previous Sunday’s voting in Beirut, where a ticket headed by the anti-Syrian opposition parties swept all the seats at stake in and around the capital.

Unsurprisingly, round two stood directly against the path of the Cedar Revolution.

The Atlantic Wall was pierced.

I had hoped for a better post to honor the day, but work and personal matters delayed blogging. Instead, I’ll hand over the reins to one of my favorite MilBloggers, John of Argghhh!!!

His post covers the day through history, but the obvious and deserved focus is on that dramatic day in 1944. Oh yeah, it has some great photos, both of the day and of the cost.

Michael James Reed
1953-2005

As I blogged earlier, Mike Reed, known to the blogosphere as Bunker Mulligan, has breathed his last.

For the most touching tributes, I leave it to his children. They look at him as he lived as a father and a husband. Go read — I can only hope my family remembers me with such love and respect.

Bunker was a member of the Homespun Bloggers, and Major Dad eulogizes him there:

Homespun Bloggers and the blogosphere lost a great blogger, a leader, and a friend on Friday. Bunker Mulligan passed away on Friday morning of a very sudden and unexpected heart attack.

Mike Reed, will certainly be missed here…but I know that he’ll continue to do well where he is now. He’ll crank out posts several times a day, in between his time on the real “championship” golf courses “up there.”

Hit them long and straight my friend! Save me a seat at the 19th hole! While I hope I can put off our first face to face meeting for another 50 years, since we didn’t get that done here on earth, I’ll be looking forward to seeing you then.

Bunker was also the founder of Texas Bloggers. Fellow Texas blogger Eric Siegmund remembers Bunker in much the same spirit that I do:

The blogging community and Texas bloggers in particular have lost a friend as we learned that Mike Reed died of an apparent heart attack last Friday.

I didn’t know Mike except through his blogging, and that’s my loss. He seemed to be the “real deal,” unfailingly polite, kind, generous, wise and witty. His primary blog, Bunker Mulligan, was also his nom de blog, but he was also the founder of Texas Bloggers, a “community blog” for those of us residing in this great state.

Finally, Bunker was a MilBlogger. The Mudville Gazette‘s Greyhawk, father of the MilBloggers, pays tribute:

Bunker was a voice of reason in the all too often noisy blogosphere, and it’s obvious he touched quite a few lives – all over the world – via his blog and in person. I always appreciated his commentary, the thoughts he chose to share with us all were both kind and wise.

I’d like to note that Bunker went down as a MilBlogger, as his last post recalled his proud service.

As my last tribute to the man, I will add the fine charity Homes for Our Troops to my links section. I will also think of Bunker as I make a contribution, per his family’s wishes.