CALIFORNIA YANKEE

N. Korea Able To Arm Missile With Nuke

The Associated Press reports the Defense Intelligence Agency chief says North Korea is able to arm a missile with a nuclear weapon. According to the Associated Press article it is unclear whether this is a new development:

The DIA, however, said in a statement later that Jacoby was only reiterating a statement he made to the panel on March 17 that North Korea's missiles were capable of carrying a nuclear warhead - but not that they had actually developed such a warhead.

The March statement, however, did not address whether North Korea could actually mount a nuclear warhead on its missile: Jacoby only said that North Korea's Taepo Dong 2 missile might be ready for testing and "could deliver a nuclear warhead to parts of the United States."

[. . .]

After Jacoby spoke, two defense officials said U.S. intelligence analysts believe North Korea is several years from being able to mount a nuclear warhead on a missile that is capable of reaching the United States from Korea.

The defense officials, discussing intelligence assessments on the condition of anonymity, said analysts believe North Korea has not solved all the problems of turning a nuclear device into a small warhead for an intercontinental ballistic missile, so the meaning of Jacoby's statement remained somewhat ambiguous.

I haven't heard any idea for dealing with North Korea that doesn't have apocalyptic possibilities, but how of a threat can we afford to allow this regime to become?

THE NEW OSAMA

The New York Post reports that Information from Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's laptop computer revealed the Jordanian master terrorist has been expanding his jihad network outside Iraq and is emerging as al Qaeda's preeminent global military commander:

"He's becoming the new bin Laden. He's the man out there carrying out attacks on Americans every day while bin Laden, who is heavily pressured and having difficulty communicating on a regular basis, is in the shadows and becoming more of a symbolic figure," said former CIA counterterrorism director Vincent Cannistraro.

[. . .]

The data in his computer reveals Zarqawi is directing scores of fanatics from Yemen, Saudi Arabia and other Arab states who volunteered for "martyrdom" missions in Iraq and other countries, sources said.

"The information has given us new insight into the scope of his operations outside of Iraq that we did not know about previously," said a U.S. intelligence official familiar with the analysis.

The official said new secret counterterror operations have been launched by the CIA and intelligence services of other countries as a result of information in his laptop.

McCain, Kennedy Propose Amnesty For Illegal Aliens

Last week the Associated Press reported that senators John McCain and Edward Kennedy are drafting an immigration bill that would subject illegal aliens to fines, but allow them to remain in the United States and earn a chance to apply for permanent residency.

Under their proposal, illegal aliens would get three-year visas that could be renewed once. After completing six years of work, the immigrants would be eligible to apply for permanent legal residency:

Deporting the 10 million to 12 million illegal immigrants in the country is not practical, McCain told midshipmen during a guest lecture.

"There are some who say send them back to their countries," McCain said. "It's not possible. It's not going to happen."

An editorial in The Tribune-Review had this response to Senator McCain:

With all due respect, Mr. McCain, it would be possible if our "leaders" stopped spending time, money and energy on hatching the latest amnesty program to end all amnesty programs and instead enforced the laws on the books.

Illegals must be dealt with harshly, swiftly and without excuses or rationalizations. Find them. Arrest them. Deport them. Anything less and what truly is a swarm will suffocate this nation.

President Bush to Propose Building Oil Refineries at Closed Military Bases

President Bush will propose new initiatives to increase domestic energy production, including building oil refineries on abandoned military bases.

According to USA Today, the President's proposals were outlined in a conference call with reporters Tuesday night by three administration officials with direct knowledge of a speech Bush will deliver today to a Small Business Administration conference. The proposals include:

•Asking Congress to allow the Energy Department to provide federal risk insurance to companies that build nuclear-power plants. The insurance would compensate companies for delays resulting from problems meeting federal licensing regulations. It has been nearly a decade since a new nuclear plant opened in the USA.

•Instruct federal agencies to work with state and local governments to encourage construction of new oil refineries on former military sites. No refineries have been built in the USA in nearly 30 years.

•Ask Congress to clarify existing laws to ensure that the federal government has the final say in the locations of new liquefied natural gas terminals. Local governments and residents often object to having such facilities in their communities.

•Expand eligibility for a $2.5 billion, 10-year tax credit now available to producers of hybrid and hydrogen fuel-cell cars to vehicles that run on energy-efficient clean diesel fuel.

•Encourage more international cooperation in the development of more efficient energy technology and greater use of so-called clean coal and nuclear power.

A shortage of U.S. refining capacity is cited for high gasoline prices. Following Monday's meeting between President Bush and Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah, Saudi foreign policy adviser Adel al-Jubeir said high gas prices were partly the result of a lack of refining capacity in oil importing nations. The fact that the last refinery built in the U.S. was completed in 1976 and our continued dependence on foreign oil is evidence that for the last 30 years we haven't had the leadership necessary to adequately provide for our energy needs.

We are beginning to pay a price for that lack of leadership. This Bloomberg reports that the increasing cost of energy is slowing U.S. consumer spending. Gasoline is 23 percent higher than a year ago. Consumer confidence fell to a five-month low in April, the third straight month of decline, according to the Conference Board's index.

It's good to see President Bush willing to take on another seemingly unsolvable. Finally someone is willing to fill the leadership gap on energy issues. Without such leadership the nation's energy situation will not improve as the last 30 years have demonstrated

I hope the President's proposals make it through the Congress. Let's also include incentives for solar, wind, and other so-called "alternative" energy sources. The broader our approach the better the odds we will eventually improve our energy supply.

More Than 130 Insurgents Detained In Iraq

The Associated Press reports that a series of raids across Iraq this week resulted in the detention of more than 130 suspected insurgents. Weapons and munitions were also seized.

Lt. Col. Clifford Kent, a spokesman for Task Force Baghdad, said the searches are based upon specific, credible information we received from local citizens who want to join the fight against terrorism.

It's always encouraging to hear the Iraqis are willing to turn in insurgents.

Al-Timimi Guilty

The Associated Press reports that jurors in Virginia Federal Court Convict Ali al-Timimi on charges he encouraged followers to join the Taliban and fight U.S. troops:

The foundation of the government's case against al-Timimi was a Sept. 16, 2001, meeting in which al-Timimi offered an apocalyptic interpretation of the Sept. 11 attacks, which he said heralded the final battle between Muslims and nonbelievers. He said Muslims were obligated to defend Afghanistan's ruling Taliban regime, prosecutors said.

Three people who attended that meeting later went to Pakistan and received military training from a group called Lashkar-e-Taiba, with the aim of using that training on the Taliban's behalf.

No one from the group ever made it to Afghanistan, but at least two group members have admitted their goal was to join the Taliban and that al-Timimi inspired them to do so.

The government's record in these cases related to the War Against Terrorism is impressive.

Bolton Will Be Confirmed

Karl Rove is "absolutely confident" Bolton will be confirmed.

I wouldn't bet against Rove.

San Diego May Not Need Special Election

As California Yankee posted yesterday, Mayor Dick Murphy won re-election by 2,108 votes.

Murphy's win was the result of a Superior Court disqualifying 5,551 ballots on which Frye's name was written in but a corresponding oval bubble next to it was not shaded in. The San Diego Union Tribune reports that the legal fight over those 5,551 ballots is still pending in a state appeals court, the 4th District Court of Appeal. Murphy's resignation will not stop the appeal.

Fredric Woocher, an elections law specialist representing three supporters of Councilwoman Donna Frye, says "any ruling that orders the ballots be counted would make her the winner:"

And that, Woocher said, would wipe out any reason to hold a special election in November, as Murphy called for yesterday.

"If the court determines we are correct and those votes should be counted . . . that would mean she is mayor. And cancel the special election," he said.

According to the Union Tribune, Woocher also urged the City Council appoint Frye mayor.

Like I asked yesterday, can you say Mayor Frye?

LA Police Immigrant Protocol

the number of felons who re-enter the United States illegally appears to be on the rise and the Los Angeles police department comes across thousands of them every year.

The Associated Press reports that Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton wants to allow officers to question suspected felons about their immigration status if they are believed to have been deported and then returned to the U.S. illegally. Bratton hopes it will help his department take repeat criminals off the street and reduce crime.

According to the Associated Press, Bratton's attempt to "clarify" department policy is the latest proposal by LA area law enforcement agencies to enforce federal immigration laws.

In Orange County, Sheriff Mike Carona wants to train as many as 500 deputies to nab illegal immigrants who have been convicted of a crime. The plan calls for deputies to check the status of people in jail or under investigation for serious crimes.

In Los Angeles County, Sheriff Lee Baca has received approval to train seven civilian employees this summer for a six-month pilot program to identify jail inmates who are eligible for deportation.

Bratton stressed that the Los Angeles police policy, implemented in 1979, won't be changed but enhanced. It already allows officers to notify their supervisors about suspected felons who are undocumented. The supervisors in turn can contact federal immigration authorities, who can request an arrest warrant from a judge.

The Los Angeles Daily News reports that under Bratton's "clarification" Police officers will be allowed to inquire about immigrant status in three situations:

If an officer recognizes a suspect deported from a past arrest and conviction; if police intelligence identifies a suspect who has been deported and returned to the country illegally; or if officers learn that somebody already arrested fits the criteria.

It's simply amazing that there is even a second thought given to the idea that a law enforcement agency would ask a suspected illegal alien about the suspected illegal's status.

Zarqawi's Computer Captured

Maybe we can't catch Zarqawi, but his computer is a different matter.

ABC News reports that Iraq's most wanted fugitive, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, recently eluded capture by American troops, but left behind a treasure trove of information:

On Feb. 20, the alleged terror mastermind was heading to a secret meeting in Ramadi, just west of Fallujah, where he used to base his operations, the official said.

Task Force 626 -- the covert American military unit charged with finding Zarqawi -- had troops in place to grab the fugitive, and mobile vehicle checkpoints had been established around the city's perimeter. Another U.S. official said predator drones were also in flight, tracking movements in and around the city.

[. . .]

The senior military official said that just before the meeting was scheduled, a car was pulled over as it approached a checkpoint.

[. . .]

A pickup truck about a half-mile behind the car then quickly turned around and headed in the opposite direction. Officials now believe Zarqawi was in the fleeing truck. U.S. teams began a chase, but when the truck was pulled over several miles later, Zarqawi was not inside.

What the task force did find in the vehicle confirmed suspicions that Zarqawi had just escaped. The official said Zarqawi's computer and 80,000 euros (about $104,000 U.S.) were discovered in the truck.

I don't mean to belittle the intelligence value of capturing Zarqawi's computer; the story just tickled me. I'm sure the members of Task Force 626 were extremely frustrated.

I pray this evil doer is captured soon.