From The Arms Control Association

In 1999 and 2001, the National Intelligence Council stated that Iran could develop an ICBM capable of reaching the United States by 2015. In recent years, U.S. government agencies have affirmed those estimates, arguing that “Iran could have long-range missiles capable of reaching the U.S. and Europe before 2015” and that “proposed U.S. missile defense assets in Europe would defend the U.S. and much of Europe against long-range ballistic missile threats launched from the Middle East.”[1]  Accordingly, Washington intends to build a missile defense system in Europe by around 2012.

Can Iran field an ICBM capable of striking the United States by 2012? Iran has more than a decade of experience with developing single-stage, short-range and medium-range missiles that can reach neighboring countries and Israel. It has yet to demonstrate a capability for a longer-range missile, although within a few years it may have the means to develop and deploy a 3,000-4,000-kilometer-range missile that can strike western Europe. Iran would find it difficult, though, to field a 10,000-kilometer-range ICBM that can strike the United States by 2012-2015 unless North Korea or another country successfully develops and tests such a system and transfers it to Iran. Even with such foreign assistance, it would likely take Tehran several additional years of development and testing before it could produce and deploy a modest number of such missiles.

Iran’s Missile Programs

Iran initially sought ballistic missiles during its war with Iraq, when hundreds of Iraqi missiles struck Iranian cities. Tehran’s missile program then developed in several phases. From the mid-1980s to mid-1990s, Iran purchased 300-kilometer-range Scud-B and 600-kilometer-range Scud-C missiles from North Korea, and it also indigenously assembled and built Scuds. Then Iran developed the single-stage, liquid-fuel Shahab-3 missile. This approximately 16-metric-ton missile has a range of 1,300 kilometers with a 750-kilogram payload and is derived from North Korea’s Nodong missile. The Shahab-3 was first flight-tested in July 1998 and reportedly completed its development test series after its sixth flight in July 2003.[2]

Since the turn of the century, Iran has pursued a number of other missile projects, although it has not yet flight-tested a new medium-range or long-range ballistic missile. One project involves modifications to the Shahab-3. In August 2004, Iran tested a Shahab-3 with a bulbous nose cone reportedly capable of accommodating a nuclear warhead.[3] In August 2005, Iran stated that it had increased the range of the Shahab-3 to 2,000 kilometers. Iran again tested the Shahab-3 in January 2006 and May 2006, and the January 2006 test may have involved a more advanced North Korean Nodong-B missile.....

Read the rest:
http://www.armscontrol.org/act/2007_10/Mistry

By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN, Associated Press Writer

BEIJING - China's defense minister has demanded that the U.S. cancel a $6.5 billion arms sale to Taiwan, saying it created "obstacles" in relations between Beijing and Washington.

Liang Guanglie's remarks are the latest show of pique by Beijing over the arms package that includes Patriot III missiles, Apache helicopters, and parts for F-16 jet fighters.

Washington must "strictly adhere to its commitments on the Taiwan issue, immediately cancel all items regarding arms sales to Taiwan and cease U.S.-Taiwan military relations," Liang was quoted by the official Xinhua News Agency on Tuesday as telling visiting U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska.

The sale has not "not only damaged relations between the two countries and two militaries, but also created obstacles in exchanges and cooperation in all areas including high level exchanges between the two militaries," Liang was quoted as saying at his Monday meeting with Hagel.

That was an apparent reference to Beijing's suspension of some senior-level visits and other planned exchanges, announced earlier this month to the Pentagon but not publicly confirmed by Chinese officials.

Claimed by China as its own territory, Taiwan is a perennial bugbear in relations between Beijing and Washington. China strongly objects to U.S. legislation requiring Washington to ensure that Taiwan can defend itself from Chinese threats to attack if the island moves to cement its de-facto independent status.

However, despite the suspension of high-level military contacts and a further diplomatic protest from Beijing, experts say they don't anticipate a wider rift developing over the latest arms sale.

Tensions between Taipei and Beijing have eased since the inauguration of Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou, who has pledged to build bridges with the mainland in contrast to the more confrontational tone taken by his independence-leaning predecessor Chen Shui-bian.

Above: F-16

Read the rest:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081014/ap_
on_re_as/as_china_us_taiwan_1

By YOUSUF NAZAR

Monday, 13 October 2008.

The News International.

WWW.AHMEDQURAISHI.COM

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—The current perceived wisdom in the United States is that the militants in northwest

Pakistan have provided safe havens to Al Qaeda along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and the greatest threat to America’s security comes from this region.

No U.S. official or journalist or think-tank has ever raised or answered the question that Alan Greenspan posed in his book, The Age of Turbulence:

“There was no bigger question in Washington than, Why no second attack? If Al Qaeda’s intent was to disrupt the U.S. economy, as bin Laden declared, the attacks had to continue. Our society was open, our borders porous, and ability to detect weapons and bombs was weak. I asked this question of a lot of people at the highest levels of government, and no one seemed to have a convincing response.”

Mr. Greenspan is no ordinary person. He is not just a former chairman of the Federal Reserve. He has known George Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, and other top leaders for years and has had access to everyone who is anybody in Washington. The reason he did not get a convincing response is that the people at the highest level of [U.S.] government do not have one. Why?

On Dec. 21, 2007, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said a resurgent Al Qaeda terrorist network has shifted the focus of its attacks to Pakistan. “Al Qaeda right now seems to have turned its face toward Pakistan and attacks on the Pakistani government and Pakistan people,” Gates told press reporters.

The Washington Post noted that the Pentagon chief did not specify the nature or location of the group’s operations in Pakistan, and quoted a Pentagon specialist on counterterrorism efforts on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, who dismissed the defense secretary’s assessment. “Gates is drinking the . . . Kool-Aid like this administration has for the last six years”. He also said that the fighters there are not affiliated with Al Qaeda. He spoke on the condition of anonymity because he wants to keep his job.

Nor is it clear that Al Qaeda is the real threat in the rest of Pakistan, commented Teresita C. Schaffer, a former deputy assistant secretary of state for South Asia. “Clearly, extremist violence has emerged as the biggest danger to the Pakistan state,” she said. “I don’t know if it is Al Qaeda or not.”

On Jan. 2, 2008, Thomas H. Kean and Lee H. Hamilton, who served as chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the 9/11 commission wrote an op-ed piece in The New York Times, accusing the U.S. government of a cover up as no one in the administration ever told the commission of the existence of videotapes of detainee interrogations. “As a legal matter, it is not up to us to examine the CIA’s failure to disclose the existence of these tapes. That is for others. What we do know is that government officials decided not to inform a lawfully constituted body, created by Congress and the president, to investigate one of the greatest tragedies to confront this country. We call that obstruction,” they concluded.

The commission itself was not keen to pursue the full facts. On page 172 of its report, it states that ultimately the question of who financed the attacks “is of little practical significance”, noting that “to date the U.S. government has not been able to determine the origin of the money used for 9/11 attacks.” That’s right. The 9/11 Commission concluded in its report that it isn’t important to follow the money trail leading to those ultimately responsible for this crime

It is a matter of record that even after more than five years of his arrest, the U.S. government has refused to try the alleged mastermind of 9/11, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, in a normal civil federal court.

Why would the U.S. government not pursue the Al Qaeda money trail leading to 9/11 attacks? Why would the CIA destroy video tapes containing hundreds of hours of interrogations of Al Qaeda detainees in Guantanamo Bay? Why would it obstruct independent investigation by members of the U.S. Congress? Why would the Pentagon and the CIA not try Khalid and other Al Qaeda members in a normal court?

These are crucial and extremely important questions. Unless the U.S. can answer these critical questions, its critics can rightfully and legitimately question its theory that Al Qaeda has safe havens in Pakistan.

In the past, the U.S. intelligence had concluded that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. That was a lie that has been so well documented that it needs no further comment. The real motive was to conquer Iraq and control its oil fields.

In October 2007, President Bush had suggested that a nuclear-armed Iran could lead to “World War III” and Vice President Dick Cheney promised “serious consequences” if the government in Tehran did not abandon its nuclear program. But the U.S. establishment and its intelligence agencies had decided to shift their focus away from Iran. In December 2007, a National Intelligence Estimate that represented the consensus view of all 16 American spy agencies, concluded that Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003 and that the program remained frozen, contradicting its own judgment in 2005 that Tehran was working relentlessly toward building a nuclear bomb.

Given that the U.S. has thus far failed to establish the responsibility for 9/11 attacks, the fact that there has been no attack by Al Qaeda on the U.S. soil since 9/11, the real motive behind Iraq War, and the systematic disinformation campaign about Iran’s nuclear program, it is perfectly logical to question the real motives of the U.S. policy in Pakistan.

The issue has assumed greater and urgent significance by the mischievous remarks of Joe Biden, the Democrat vice presidential candidate, made in the debate with Sarah Palin. “Pakistan’s (nuclear) missiles can already hit Israel,” Biden thundered. But what was he talking about? Pakistan does not have the capability to hit Israel. It has never threatened Israel. Jackson Diehl of Washington Post (Oct 3) commented: “a good deal of what Biden said was exaggerated, distorted or simply false — especially in his nominal area of expertise, foreign policy.”

Robert Fisk, writing in the UK’s The Independent (Oct 4) ridiculed Biden’s statement that there have been 7,000 madrassas built ... and that’s where bin Laden lives and we will go at him if we have actually (sic) intelligence. Fisk chided: “Seven thousand? Where on earth does this figure come from? Yes, there are thousands of religious schools in Pakistan – but they’re not all on the border”. Fisk warns about the real U.S. agenda, “We must gird ourselves for the next struggle against ‘world evil’ in Pakistan”.

Despite all the propaganda in the U.S. media and think tanks about the alleged threat of Al Qaeda, the ground realities tell a different story. On August 5, 2008, The News International reported, “Impeccable official sources have said that strong evidence and circumstantial evidence of American acquiescence to terrorism inside Pakistan was outlined by President Musharraf, General Kayani and DG (ISI) Nadeem Taj in their separate meetings with U.S. Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mullen and CIA Deputy Director Stephen R Kappes on July 12 in Rawalpindi.” The top U.S. military commander and the CIA official were also asked why the CIA-run predator and the U.S. military did not swing into action when they were provided the exact location of Baitullah Mehsud on May 24, 2008.

It is a matter of record that Abdullah Mahsud, Baitullah Mahsud’s cousin and former leader of the so-called Taliban-e-Pakistan, was captured by the U.S. troops in Afghanistan in December 2001 and kept in custody till March 2004 when he was released from Guantanamo Bay and allowed to return to Waziristan. Abdullah played a key role in organizing the ‘militants’ before he was killed by Pakistan’s security forces when Musharraf came under heavy pressure from the Chinese after Abdullah Mahsud kidnapped two Chinese engineers.

What does it all add up to for Pakistan? Where all this is leading to? What is the current strategic objective of the United States in Pakistan? Prof. Michel Chossudovsky, a professor at Ottawa University and the director of the Center for Research on Globalization, Canada offers a chilling explanation:

“The political impasse is deliberate. It is part of an evolving U.S. foreign policy agenda, which favors disruption and disarray in the structures of the Pakistani State. Indirect rule by the Pakistani military and intelligence apparatus is to be replaced by more direct forms of U.S. interference, including an expanded U.S. military presence inside Pakistan. This expanded military presence is also dictated by the Middle East-Central Asia geopolitical situation and Washington’s ongoing plans to extend the Middle East war to a much broader area.”

The writer is an economist and author of “The Gathering Storm in Pakistan: Political Economy of a Security State” (Royal Book Co., 2008). Email: ynazar@cyber.net.pk

Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6

Truly, the policies of the past are very unlikely to undergo any significant change, faced with the unyielding stubbornness of a political leadership that is entangled in its own self-imposed resentments. And especially, when the entire nation is faced with a health epidemic that threatens to sweep young and old alike, and with Moscow appearing oblivious to the seriousness of what is before them, Putin is unmistakably barking up the wrong tree. One can only hope that before it is too late, he will awaken to the plight of his own countrymen, and cease the foolish ‘bully’ tactics that will only exacerbate his own discontent and harm his people!

Fake Croks.. $30, but they'll take $20.

Counterfeit New-Era hats.. 3/$10

Shopping for weapons. 2 Shilaka/beatdown sticks, brass knuckles, and a switchblade.. $43.

What?!

"You're not a cop right?"

Holster Belt Buckle

Baby pets for sale. Turtles, chicks, parakeets, little bunnies, and lizards. 

TuPac is still alive down here.

Not pictured..  besides the typical bootleg dvds, there's fake Nikes, knock-off "designer" pocketbooks, Lucha libre masks, and L.A.'s street meat.. bacon wrapped hotdogs.

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Tier 1
Special Grenades x 3
Satchel Charge x 2 Functions like C4
M9A1 Bazooka x 2
Bomb Squad (Unlocked at lvl 16)
Bouncing Betty x 2 Land Mines (24)
Bandolier (40)
Primary Grenades x 2 (44)
M2 Flamethrower (65)

Tier 2
Stopping Power
Fireworks Higher explosive weapon damage.
Flak Jacket Reduces explosive damage.
Gas Mask Protects against Tabun Gas.
Juggernaut
Camouflage (12)
Sleight of Hand (28)
Shades (32)
Double Tap (36)
Overkill (56)

Tier 3
Deep Impact
Extreme Conditioning
Steady Aim
Toss Back Resets fuse of picked up grenades.
Second Chance The new "Last Stand", only this time you can be revived after being downed. If someone steals your kill, you get 8XP, the finisher gets 5.
Martyrdom Yeah, it's back. (20)
Fireproof (48)
Dead Silence (52)
Iron Lungs (60)
Reconnaissance (64)

Vehicle Perk
Water Cooler Decreases turret overheat.
Greased Bearings Increases turret rotation speed.
Ordnance Training (12)
Leadfoot (28)
Coaxial Machine Gun (40)

Maps

Castle is a small, fast paced map very reminiscent of an Unreal Tournament arena. A good blend of indoor/outdoor combat, with hotspots for every class and an ironically peaceful Japanese tea-garden aesthetic.

Makin makes you feel like you're going to get weird mosquito-borne illnesses. It's a good map for close range combat, but with enough open space over water and from rickshaw to rickshaw for rifles too.

Roundhouse is a large, round Gears of War looking map peppered with trains and rubble, a few high sniping points, and multiple tanks.

Kill Streak Rewards
Apparently Treyarch did their homework and determined that UAVs, Jets, and Minigun-toting helicopters weren't in wide use during WWII. The 3, 5, and 7 kill streak rewards have been modified accordingly. The Recon Plane functions identically to the UAV. Calling in Artillery is also similar to the airstrike, although it's a more sustained, radial target area. Finnally, the helicopter has been replaced with calling in Attack Dogs. Believe it or not, man's best friend has the capacity to be more lethal than that helicopter ever was. The dogs (at least 4 or 5, maybe more) start running from outside the map when called and will seek out, while barking, nearby enemies. They are a small fast target, so they're hard to kill, even with a well timed melee. Although they do give you +3XP should you choose to defend yourself and envoke the wrath of PETA, you'll usually die after the second maul. At the very least, the pack of dogs will get the entire opposing team firing their weapons, distracted and giving away positions.

Vehicles
The only vehicle available in the beta is a stubby little tank on Roundhouse. It's a noticeably slow moving and slow reloading with room for two; driver/gunner and mounted gunner.
The vehicles look like they'll be more tactical tools rather than an exercise in brute force this time around. Vehicles have armor that can be blown off to expose weak spots. The driver has a HUD that displays damage to various areas. This tank can take quite a beating if the opposing team doesn't focus on where they're hitting it. The cannon takes some practice to be effective with, but the mounted turret is vicious, although it overheats quickly and exposes it's user.

Weapons, Unlocks and Challenges
All the challenges are back in the barracks, both Marksman (kills) and Expert (headshots) for most weapons. The expert challenges, which previously unlocked camo patterns, now only grant XP.

Bolt Action Rifles aren't what they used to be... Even with power-enhancing perks, you'll find yourself bested by a semi-auto in many situations. Springfield, Arisaka, Mosin-Nagant (21), Kar98k (41), PTRS-41 (57).

• Sniper Scope - Increases accuracy and Range
• Bayonet - Increases melee attack range.
• Rifle Grenade

Rifles Fire as fast as you can pull the trigger, and my choice for most of the levels in anything but rambo situations. SVT-40, Gewehr 43, M1 Garand (17), STG-44 (37), M1A1 Carbine (65)

• Flash Hider/Suppressor/Silencer - Lower range but prevent you from popping up on enemy radar when firing.
• Aperature Sight - The low-tech alternative to your red-dot reflex site.
• Telescopic Sight - Think ACOG
• Rifle Grenade

Submachine Guns Always useful with or without the steady-aim perk. Thompson, MP40, Type 100 (25), PPSh-41 (53)

• Suppressor
• Aperature Site
• Round Drum/Dual Magazines

Shotguns Have been nerfed. The range and damage on the one available is low, although it's still a surprise one hit kill. M1897 Trench Gun, Double-Barreled Shotgun (29)

• Grip
• Bayonet

Machine Guns Both light and heavy MGs are dangerous/annoying when in the right hands. Type 99, BAR, DP-28 (13), MG42 (33), FG42 (45), Browning M1919 (61).

• Bipod
• Bayonet

Side Arms

• Colt M1911 Too slow for comfort.
• Nambu You got Nambu'd Betch!
• Walther P38 Sean Connery would be proud.
• Tokarev TT-33 (21)
• .357 Magnum (49)

Primary Grenade

• Frag "Anti-personnel device that destroys the target with a burst of flying shrapnel."
• N 74 ST Sticky. Looks like a coconut. "Device designed as an anti-tank grenade. Beware, very dangerous."
• Molotov Cocktail "Incendiary device that harms the target with a radius of fire."

Special Grenade

• Smoke
• Tabun Gas Lasts for a few seconds after exploding and gives passers-by intense shell shock.
• Signal Flare (Like that bright thing in Halo 3)

Boot Camp contains many of the same novelty challenges, with a few extras including "Sticky Kill", "Self Defense", for shooting an attack dog, "Swan Dive" for falling into water, and "Bartender" for kills with the Molotov Cocktail.

Prestige Mode now unlocks extra custom class slots at certain intervals on top of your default 5, so you'll have a total of 10 available after your 10th level of prestige. Meh.

Gametypes, Leaderboards, Parties!
The first 5 are available in the beta, the rest are as listed on the leaderboards.

• War
• Capture The Flag
• Team Deathmatch
• Pick Up TDM (no parties)
• Free For All
• Sabotage
• Search and Destroy
• Domination
• Headquarters
• Hardcore TDM
• Hardcore FFA
• Hardcore Search and Destroy
• Hardcore War

Leaderboards can now be accessed filtering just your current group of players via the "Lobby Leaderboard". It also lists time played in each specific gametype. You can create or join an existing squad during a match. This changes the member's nametag and radar colors HUD colors, maybe more. You can also customize how overhead nametags appear; as the full Gamertag, an abbreviation, or just an emblem.

Afterthoughts
More than anything else, World at War captures a gritty realism never before seen in a war sim. Call of Duty has always been good at doing that, but this installment blows limbs off, literally. And that's just the relatively non-immersive multiplayer. The eastern-theatre is a refreshing backdrop for the common WWII shooter, and the new environment, along with a potentially ground-breaking flamethrower and remarkable ambient audio goodness, should add enough unique changes to skin the greatness that was CoD4 with a whole new level of depth. CoD4 nailed the hybrid arcade arena/tactical gameplay with the Modern Warfare theme, and although it appears that WWII era weapons don't fit in quite as well as their 21st century counterparts, Treyarch has tinkered with the gameplay just subtely enough that we're all in for a treat of refinement. I'll take my Pullitzer now. CoD:WW releases on November 11ish in North America. Something would have to go horribly wrong for the campaign to suck, but you could still pick it up for the multiplayer alone.

Through years, decades even, we as a species have been informed of the dynamics to how our planet operates. These are dynamics that function because we have (for all intensive purposes) a “bubble” around our planet.  This “bubble” is called/known as the Ozone. 

The Ozone protects our planet, the only one we have, from the UV rays, meteor showers, and solar energies – that we know and DO NOT know about.  Theories and such exist that there is more out there and that the Ozone is what protects us, all species of the World, from harm. 

Research is always being conducted on a larger scale as to how much toxins and pollutants are being circulated around the World. These studies have been done before; as we began overpopulating known areas that breed diseases and so much more that we do not have cures for. 

So, where am I going with this??

We know that wind carries volcanic debris around the World. We know this because of the sunrises and sunsets our eyes gaze upon in awe. We also that wind ignites and delivers sand storms. We know too, that wind carries the smog we generate from one city to the next.  The scariest known fact is that wind(s) circumnavigate the World in three weeks.  What exactly happens?

As the studies continue, and as scientist try to prove to the general masses what should be obvious, is that our Ozone is going have “pits” in it.  By us, the “smarter species” of the planet, ultimately polluting in greater frequency harmful debris that is not being recycled due to the toxicity of it, we are “accelerating” lose of life. 

Let us run the common knowledge example(s).

Each of us contributes to the city smog problem that the winds carry place to place. Say for example, the east coast.  The jet stream dives in and carries the smog along the coast to the north.  Hence the accumulation of pollution and toxins gathered in a centralized place, and creating a big hole in the Ozone, our “bubble” of protection.

When as a species we were first alerted and given visual proof that a massive hole was forming over the north and growing larger, towards major cities, no one could believe it.  Through the consumption of natural products, refineries, and overall the very beginning of the Industrial Age, we have created this situation.  This is a case of cause and effect. So, let us fast forward….

A mere ten years ago, scientists were absolutely sure that the layers of our atmosphere cleaned out the pollutants and toxins.  Our Ozone is very strong and layered with different types of atmospheres. We have a general working knowledge of it just from being in school. 

Question: What happens, when the winds of the ecosystems working together, carry the pollutants and toxins across?  Simple logic says, “to the next location”, right? 

I ask this question though, what about the layers that are being scratched and scrapped away from atmosphere?  How much more can they take since winds repeat the same patterns?

See wind is a major element found on this planet.  It drives the pollutants and such to work with water (rain), earth (farmers fields), and even fire (clearing out the old for the new).  We knew then what and how winds operate here – we see the weather reports.  We know of the Ozone Alerts.  We know the sand storms and fuels of Santa Anna Winds.  We knew then, what scientists are hoping to expound upon now.  (Please see http://www.mcclatchydc.com/260/story/51148.html) The scary fact of the matter is again simple: there are a lot more of us in the World today. 

Having a hole eaten away by pollutants and toxins, exposes all species to the acceleration of extinction.  Having “pits” show up in our Ozone around the world, will leave everyone exposed to horrible deaths and “spots” where it will never be safe. 

Now, with this basic knowledge, we all commonly share and can elaborate on in our own way – what is to stop major out breaks of biological warfare?  Can our governments, of the World, guarantee safety? No. 

I have put in this blog before examples of “Hollywood” styles of thinking and joked at how I should write as a script writer.   Even gone as far as to say that conspiracy theorists have generally been on the right track – paranoid as hell – I will give you that – but they are on the right track. 

Reading through news articles, or having them sent over, we come across admission of a possible biological weapons use.  Think for just a moment, we have already been exposed to the harm of depleted uranium, and a multitude of other extremely harmful (biological) weapons. Make sure you take a moment to see what exactly happens to exposure of depleted uranium – this is very scary stuff.  Yet our own species continues to use and exercise all of these weapons on each other. 

US controls bird flu vaccines over bioweapon fears http://www.mercedsunstar.com/217/story/493459.html

The implications of each one of our societies, globally, not asking enough questions and not demanding better, functional answers to a number of “backdoor strategies” – I am referring to the military – compounded by our own consumption of the fossil fuels, oils, and general over running population, has lead to a picture of horrible events – taking place now.  An acceleration of death simply stated. (Do I realize that governments, globally, have and do take issue with their own people – for any demonstration? Yes. But environmentally speaking, this is the one issue that should never have been overlooked.)  *Please note: There should be a "no charge" policy to saving our planet.  Everything takes money my ass - I want to live.  I do not see us traveling to Mars or anywhere us right now, do you?

Sweeping information under the carpet and/or misleading information being gobbled up by the “smart species” have caused and will continue to cause, extinction.  The thing about it is what if we do not all die?  Imagine the possibility of “new” races developing, through the trial and error of Nature seeking to rebalance?  Eeeek – Or think about this, what if a “new” atmosphere develops?  Wow – everything we think we know is back to square one. 

Truly there are a number of factors that exist and are in place now to change and alter everything and everyone globally. The getting there is going to be the hardest and most painful.  If you need an example of “hardest and most painful”, look at what is happening globally to “money”.  Biologically speaking though, this is gonna suck. 

Any depletion of a Nature substances, bubble or otherwise, hurts everything.  We just have to work together and ask the tougher questions.  Run the possibilities and the fixes, while keeping in mind that it cannot be the same again.  The Ozone has fixed itself a little bit – yes – however to what degree and compensation has Mother Nature taken to fix what was destroyed?  Knowing we cannot control Mother Nature took a long time for our brains to comprehend - we still try, but keep getting reminded she changes.  Think it through on every level you can understand. Next grab a dictionary and start reading.  If you do not understand the scientific name, look it up.  Read between the lines. 

One final question…If we have holes in the Ozone and “pits” forming, releasing our pollutants and toxins, what is coming in? Remember known and unknown – what have we set ourselves up for?

In its pure form it does, of course, refer to an instrument of, if not torture, the infliction of pain and / or death. Of course it can also serve as a warning, a reminder, the exercise of a desire to defend oneself, one's land or one's family.

When it comes to the Irish Army, weapons are utilised only in the exercising of its powers as a peacekeeping force, under UN-mandated operations, currently in Chad and, in previous years, to great effect in countries like Bosnia and Afghanistan.

Today, the word "weapons" might refer to an exhibition of art by Blaise Smith, an Irish artist (and also a cousin of yours truly, to be entirely forthright) - a study of the Irish army and, more specifically, and perhaps, unsurprisingly, given the title, its tools.

The exhibition was launched in Limerick's Hunt Museum on Thursday, October 9th, by Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea (who, despite referring to the paintings as "photographs", introduced Blaise and his work in a most succinct and to-the-point matter as well as, surprisingly, managing to soften even the hardest of heart's about the army itself).

I overheard an onlooker say, afterwards, "I don't think he quite gets the irony of the paintings". This I find confusing; is the irony the juxtaposition of art and weaponry - of beauty and menace? Is the irony the fact that an artist, traditionally thought of as a peace-loving individual, chose to enter the barracks of the Irish Army and to illustrate and document the lives and loves and skills of its members? Or is the irony in the fact that these two-dimensional images mean so much less to most of the people who will see them than they do to a large proportion (relatively speaking) of the world's population?

But the images are not without menace. The stark image of the Browning pistol (above) is shocking, simple, and frightening in its very appearance; you can feel the cold metal, hear the click of the trigger, feel the shock as the bullet is expelled, all in a split second, a moment of artistic appreciation.

And a bullet - which, I hear, costs over €12,000 to purchase - standing alone, powerful and regal in its isolation, but really, just a painting, just a smattering of colour and pigment on an otherwise blank canvas, presents us with the crude reality that these paintings depict tools of death, of destruction, of agony.

The exhibition runs until October 23rd - if you're in the vicinity, take a look and draw your own conclusions; I haven't yet come to my own.

Rahkshi Turahk's Staff of Fear

The Staff of Fear is Rahkshi Turahk's staff. It can be used to send feelings of fear into anybody, even a Toa, causing them to either freeze in place, too scared to move, or run away panicking.

Rahkshi Kurahk's Staff of Anger

The Staff of Anger is Rahkshi Kurahk's staff, which has the power to make even the greatest allies turn against each other.

Rahkshi Guurahk's Staff of disintegration

The Staff of Disintegration is Rahkshi Guurahk's staff. Guurahk finds a weak spot in any obstacle, then uses its staff to make that obstacle crack and collapse.

Rahkshi Lerahk's Staff of Poison

The Staff of Poison is Rahkshi Lerahk's staff. It can be used to poison anything so long it makes contact with the target. It can make the ground sickly green and wither plants.

Rahkshi Panrahk's Staff of Fragmentation

The Staff of Fragmentation is Rahkshi Panrahk's staff. It is also referred to as the Staff of Explosions because it can be used to create explosions and shatter any substance.

Rahkshi Vorahk's Staff of Absorption

The Staff of Absorption, also known as the Staff of Hunger, is Rahkshi Vorahk's staff. It can be used to drain the energies from any opponent and use it for itself. It must be in physical contact with the opponent to work, however. It is also wielded by Rahkshi Kaita Vo, although it is likely to be Vorahk's.

Toa Mistika Tahu's Rotating Blades

The Rotating Blades (also called spinning blades) are Toa Nuva Tahu's new Protosteel Toa Tool, which he was given at the same time as his Adaptive Armor by Artakha.

Toa Phantoka Kopaka's Blizzard Blades

The Blizzard Blade is Toa Kopaka Nuva's Protosteel Toa Tool that he received with his Adaptive Armor. The weapon attaches to his Midak Skyblaster like a bayonet. He uses it to better focus his Elemental Ice powers. With this tool, he is capable of firing both an elemental blast from it and a Midak sphere at the same time, creating a simultaneous Light and Ice attack. Kopaka can also take this tool off of his Midak Skyblaster and use it for melee combat. The blade features a non-lethal laser which assists in aiming.

Toa Phantoka Lewa's Air Saber

The Air Saber is Toa Lewa Nuva's new Protosteel Toa Tool that came with his Adaptive Armor, which Lewa uses to channel his Elemental Air energy.

Toa Phantoka Pohatu's Twin Propellers

The Twin Propellers are Toa Nuva Pohatu's new Toa Tools that came with his Adaptive Armor. They can be used to channel his Elemental Power of Stone and can double as rotors for flight, as well as transforming into drills. They are made of Protosteel.

Toa Mistika Onua's Multi-Resistant Shield

The Multi-Resistant Shield is Toa Nuva Onua Mistika's Toa Tool. The shield is made of Protosteel and came with Onua's Adaptive Armor and can channel his elemental powers.

The Toa Phantoka's Midak Skyblasters

The Midak Skyblasters are projectile weapons which fire spheres of white Light energy.

The Midak Skyblaster was given its name from the Toa Nuva Pohatu and Lewa. An Onu-Matoran named Midak on Metru Nui always preferred the light, and the weapon reminded Pohatu of the Matoran. Lewa had always wanted a weapon named a "Skyblaster," and so, the two names were combined.

The Toa Nuva received their Skyblasters from Artakha with their Adaptive Armor, and thus they can change depending on the environment and enemy. It is unknown if the Ignika's has this ability as well. The Midak Skyblaster that Spiriah carried was manufactured by the Nynrah Ghosts and was passed onto him via the Order of Mata Nui and the Vortixx on Xia.

Takanuva received his Skyblaster from the Nynrah Ghosts in "The Kingdom" Pocket Dimension.

The Toa Mistika's Nynrah Ghost blasters

The Nynrah Ghost Blasters are weapons designed by and named after the group of Matoran Crafters known as the Nynrah Ghosts on Xia. The Makuta took the design from the Ghosts and gave it to the Vortixx, who crafted the models that the Makuta Mistika have.

The normal model of the Nynrah Ghost Blaster allow the wielder to mentally take control of any mechanical object that they fire at, though the effect is temporary and will fade over time.

Toa Takanuva's Power Lance

The Power Lance is Toa Takanuva's newest Toa Tool. It can be used to channel and amplify his Elemental Powers. The lance was created by the Nynrah Ghosts in the "The Kingdom" Pocket Dimension.

Russia's Tu-95MS strategic bombers launched cruise missiles Saturday following an earlier report that it test-launched a long-distance ballistic missile in the same day, the Interfax news agency reported.

"The Tu-95MS aircraft of Russia's Long Range Aviation took off from tactical airfields and successfully launched training cruise missiles in the Arctic region of the country," Col. Lieut. Vladimir Drik, aide to the Russian Air Forces commander said.

The missiles accurately hit training targets at the firing range, he said.

The launch was made as part of Stability-2008 exercises conducted with Belarus from Sept. 22 to Oct. 21.

It was reported earlier that Russia test-launched a long-distance ballistic missile Saturday as part of its Northern Fleet's military exercises. It was the first time that a submarine launched the Sineva ballistic missile to its maximum range.

Toa Mahri Jaller's Power Sword

The Power Sword is the tool used by Toa Mahri Jaller. The Power Sword is the Energized Flame Swords that Jaller once carried as a Toa Inika transformed by the power of the Ignika upon Jaller's transformation into a Toa Mahri. It is a finely balanced sword used to channel his Fire powers. The sword can withstand extreme heat, even to the point of a Fire Nova Blast.

Toa Mahri Matoro's Twin Cutters

The Twin Cutters were the tools used by Toa Mahri Matoro. The Twin Cutters were originally the Energized Ice Sword, but it was transformed by the power of the Ignika when Matoro became a Toa Mahri. The Twin Cutters could be used to channel his Ice powers and could resist very cold temperatures.

The Twin Cutters were lost when Matoro was turned into pure energy by using the Kanohi Ignika.

Toa Mahri Hahli's Protosteel Talons

The Protosteel Talons are Hahli Mahri's Toa Tool. The Talons are Hahli's Laser Harpoon transformed by the Ignika. The Talons are made from Protosteel. They can be used as a melee weapon, a very large grasping tool, or to channel Hahli's Elemental Water powers.

Toa Mahri Hewkii's Aqua Warblade and Electrified Chain

The Aqua Warblade is Hewkii Mahri's Toa Tool. The Aqua Warblade is the Laser Axe transformed by the Kanohi Ignika. It is said to be one of the finest swords ever made, designed to be used only by a master warrior. It can be used as a melee weapon, as well as a means for Hewkii to channel his Elemental Stone powers.

The Electrified Chains are Toa Mahri Hewkii's Toa Tools. They are very similar to his Climbing Chain that he used as a Toa Inika, but are laced with Lightning. They can also be used to charge his Aqua Warblade. One of the chains was snapped by Gadunka, but has since been repaired.

Toa Mahri Nuparu's Razor-Edged Protosteel Shield and Aqua Blaster Blade

The Razor-Edged Protosteel Shield is Toa Mahri Nuparu's Toa Tool. It was transformed from the Laser Drill into its current form by the Ignika. It is made of Protosteel, one of the few substances capable of cutting through Makuta armor. Nuparu can use this shield to channel his Earth powers, protect himself from attacks, and cut through many things with its sharp edges.

The Aqua Blaster Blade is a blade used by Toa Mahri Nuparu. It was transformed from the Laser Drill into its current form by the Ignika, and can be used to channel Nuparu's Earth Elemental Powers and blast shockwaves at his opponents.

The Toa Mahri's Cordak Blasters

A Cordak Blaster is a rotating six-shot projectile launcher, named after the Matoran word for desolation. When launched, each of the Cordak Blaster's six mini-rockets flies at high speed and will release a powerful explosion upon impact with its target. They were originally designed by Hydraxon and manufactured on Xia. Hydraxon equipped all the Maxilos robots with one, to assist with guarding the Pit. The Barraki stole a load of these from Hydraxon's weapon cache, which in turn were discovered by the Toa Mahri while exploring their cache, and taken for their own use. Karzahni also took a few of these weapons and armed a number of Manutri birds with them to create his strike force.

When the Toa Mahri returned to Metru Nui, Nuparu disassembled one of the ammunition pieces to see how it was made. The Matoran in the city now manufacture them for the Toa's use.

Kongu Had took two and that is why I didn't put his weapon here:)

Toa Inika Jaller's Energised Flame Sword

The Energized Flame Swords were Toa Inika Jaller's Toa Tools. They could be used to channel his Elemental Power of Fire and could shoot blasts of electrified fire. When Jaller became a Toa Mahri, the swords were transformed into the Power Sword by the Ignika's energy.

Toa Inika Matoro's Energised Ice Sword

The Energized Ice Sword was Toa Inika Matoro's Toa Tool. It could channel his Elemental Power of Ice and shoot blasts of electrified ice. When Matoro became a Toa Mahri, the Energized Ice Sword was transformed into the Twin Cutter by the Ignika's energy.

Toa Inika Hahli's Laser Harpoon

The Laser Harpoon was Toa Inika Hahli's weapon. It could be used to channel her Elemental Power of Water and fire blasts of water mixed with electricity. The Laser Harpoon was transformed into the Protosteel Talons by the Ignika's power when Hahli transformed into a Toa Mahri.

Toa Inika Kongu's Laser Crossbow

The Laser Crossbow was Toa Inika Kongu's Toa Tool. It could shoot energy bolts that split targets into atoms. It could also be used to channel Kongu's Air powers. This weapon was also called the Energy Crossbow. When Kongu was transformed into a Toa Mahri, it was transformed into a melee weapon by the Ignika's power. Kongu then discarded and replaced it with a second Cordak Blaster.

Toa Inika Hewkii's Laser Axe and Climbing Chain

The Laser Axe was Toa Inika Hewkii's Toa Tool. It had the ability to channel Hewkii's Stone power and could vibrate at fast speeds to cleave rocks in two. It was transformed into the Aqua Warblade by the Ignika's power when Hewkii was transformed into a Toa Mahri

The Climbing Chain was a tool used by Toa Inika Hewkii. It could, among other things, be used for rock-climbing. The chain was attached to the bottom of Hewkii's Laser Axe. It was transformed into his Electrified Chains when he became a Toa Mahri

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Toa Inika Nuparu's Laser Drill and Claws

The Laser Drill was Toa Inika Nuparu's Toa Tool. It could be used to channel Nuparu's Earth powers. It was able to shoot out high-powered laser beams. When Nuparu was transformed into a Toa Mahri, the Laser Drill was transformed into the Razor-Edged Protosteel Shield and Aqua Blaster Blade by the Ignika's power.

Toa Inika Nuparu's Claws were his secondary Toa Tools and actually parts of his hands. They could help him dig at great speeds and channel his Earth powers. They were lost when he was transformed into a Toa Mahri.

The Toa Inika's Zamor Launchers

In a daring move, a group of Matoran stole one of the Piraka's Zamor Launchers. After studying it, the group's inventor, Velika, built a set of launchers of his own and gave them to the Matoran's new allies, the Toa Inika. The Inika's launchers were upgraded from the Piraka's, as they could hold up to four spheres instead of just one. Later, another one of the Matoran, Balta, built another set of launchers, which the Matoran used to free the enslaved Toa Nuva from the effects of the Antidermis virus. When the Toa Inika were transformed into Toa Mahri by the power of the Ignika, they were given new tools and their Zamor Launchers were lost.

Toa Hordika Vakama's Blazer Claws

The Blazer Claws were Vakama Hordika's Toa Tools. They were mutated from the Kanoka Disk Launcher he carried as a Toa Metru. They were used to produce small flames, and to charge up Rhotuka spinners. The fire could be turned on and off, though Vakama initially had little control over it.

Toa Horadika Kopaka's Hordika Teeth

The Hordika Teeth were the Toa Tools of Nuju Hordika. They were able to create an ultrasonic hum that could summon flying Rahi by being rubbed together, and Nuju also used them to charge his Rhotuka. They could also be used to climb Knowledge Towers.

Toa Hordika Nokama's Fin Barbs

The Fin Barbs were Nokama Hordika's Toa Tools. They were used for underwater climbing and digging, or charging up her Rhotuka water spinner.

Toa Hordika Matau's Fang Blades

The Fang Blades were Matau Hordika's Toa Tools. They were able to slice through Visorak webs and charge up Matau's Rhotuka.

Toa Hordika Onewa's Claw Clubs

The Claw Clubs were Onewa Hordika's Toa Tools. They could hurl stones with incredible accuracy, as well as charge up his Rhotuka Stone spinner.

Toa Hordika Whenua's Thumpers

The Thumpers were Toa Tools wielded by Toa Hordika Whenua. They were mutated from Toa Metru Whenua's Earthshock Drills when he was exposed to the Visorak's Hordika Venom. They could be used to summon underground Rahi to him, charge up his Rhotuka spinner, or dig through rubble.

The Toa Hordika's Natural Rhotuka Launchers

Rhotuka launchers are devices used by various beings to generate Rhotuka spinners. The launchers come in all shapes and sizes, and can be used by virtually any being.

The launcher works by gathering the energy for the Rhotuka into a space, and then releases the energy in the form of a disk once it is coherent enough. The power of the spinner does not depend on the launcher itself, but rather on the being that launches it.

There are two different kinds of Rhotuka launchers: artificial and natural.

Scared? No? Well, damn.

Unfortunately, the above is very true. Every single thing on this planet, including you, me, and Mrs McGarry, the nice old lady down the road, are going to die (especially Mrs McGarry, the nice old lady down the road). Technically, it’s not even our fault.

You see, our bodies’ cells contain numerous bits and bobs, including DNA (and I’m sure you all know what that stands for). Now, for some reason, that DNA contains a string of information that decides, off the top of its head one fine day, to tell all your cells to give up their repairs. “Not to worry, chaps. That’s enough. You all go on vacation, why don’t you?”. And then we die. Our organs function for as long as they’re able, and then they give up the ghost, you flat-line, and the next thing you know you’re relatives are picking out caskets.

Of course, as anyone who watches ER or CSI: Really Bloody Edition will know, old age isn’t the only thing that’s going to knock us off. One, the body itself can pre-empt that obnoxious and murderous string of genetic material and start killing itself off a lot sooner. Cancer occurs as a result of certain cells reproducing wildly, the result of which is that you start forming tumours and all manner of things in places you really wish you hadn’t.  Then again, it may actually be your fault. Don’t get enough exercise, eat McDonald’s three times a day for fifty years, smoke cigars in place of breathing, and you’re body will eventually decide “Screw it”, and shut down. As people and documentarists the world over have enthused for decades, our bodies are wonderfully efficient machines.

Ever poured plaster of Paris into a car engine? You get the picture.

Then we come to the list of outside sources which are intent on doing you in, and goodness it’s long. It’s a wonder that any of us are still alive.

Diseases (gosh, aren’t there many of them?), starvation and malnutrition (presumably not affecting anyone with the ability to read from a computer screen), poisonous animals (like female black scorpions in mating season, to name one example at random), non-poisonous animals (Great White, anyone?) and then, the crowning glory of homo sapiens, the weapon.

Sticks, rocks, bigger rocks, axes, spears, axes and spears made out of metal, axes and spears made out of stronger metal, bows and arrows, bows and metal arrows, swords, maces, shields (which are a weapon, as anyone whose ever been hit on the head with one will know), catapults, elephants, horses, chariots with sharp bits glued on, whips, knives, guns, cannons, bigger guns, smaller guns, rockets, missiles, tanks, and the atomic bomb. And that’s a condensed version. Yes, yes, I know that “Guns don’t kill people, people do”, but as Eddie Izzard said “I’ll bet the gun helps”.

Of course, sometimes the most innocent of objects can do you in as well. How many people have fallen down stairwells, choked on an assortment of nuts, been electrocuted by their toaster (in and out of the bathroom) or been strangled by their garden hoses? These things weren’t designed to kill people (at least, I hope they weren’t) but they do, often in fantastic circumstances, but they do. Of course, things like cars aren’t designed to kill their owners, but they do a terrific job of getting the job done nonetheless.

Luckily for us, with so many people alive (briefly) today, and the occurrences of death across all categories spread across an unfortunate few (relatively), everyday we play the odds on the Game of Life. We can always minimise the risks by looking both ways when crossing the street, washing our hands and food (though not in the same place), avoiding the temptation to inhale rocket fuel and by not swimming in places like Great White Lake (“Over three hundred hungry Great Whites, fed once a month! Bring the Kids!”).

You get the picture.

Bontage (Pre-Deceased)

Atenção! Eu repito novamente, este mod pode não ser compartivel com outros mods. Aqui no meu jogo, ele funcionou perfeitamente com todos as modificações, por isso, você pode testa-lo. Não se esqueça que para desinstalar, basta deletar o arquivo do mod da pata "data" do Spore. Caso apresente algum bug no jogo, desinstale o mod.

For the record, there were NO correct guesses, but hey, I could have taken that crazy boar's head picture anywhere and I like winners.  I had to pick a winner!

You can all rest easy...this boar's head does not hang in my home.  I'm not sure I could sleep if it were in the house with me.

I wandered into a local gun shop one day and found this wild boar's head.  He actually hung with two of his friends.  It was like the "three little piggies" gone wild.  Oh, you're probably wondering what I was doing in a gun shop, right? 

I was NOT purchasing weapons.  Although it is my right as a U.S. citizens, I was just there to sight-see.  I've never been in a gun shop before and my husband was looking for some little gadget he couldn't find anywhere else.

Back to the contest...I used a very scientific method for picking a winner.  There were 12 comments, so I had my son pick a number between 1 and 12.

THE WINNER IS - *** STONEFOX ***

Her blog is Mom's, Ministry, & More.  She's on my links, so feel free to go visit and congratulate her.

Have a HAPPY WEEKEND!

- FringeGirl

He taxes too much. If you vote for him you’ll be homeless. If you vote for the other one, your children will starve. But if you vote for the first guy, they’ll lose all their education and become stupid rejects, begging for day-old scraps behind the ghetto bakery. But the other guy will take your job. And the other one will tax your new raise so you actually come home with $5 less every week. One of them will date your mom. The other will shut down her nursing home. One will have dinner with terrorists at Arby’s while the other just sends him a check at Christmas, even though they don’t celebrate Christmas.

Here’s what I’m saying: There are bigger issues than whose face is on the front page. Every day 6000 kids are killed by mid-term or later abortion. They refuse to allow Bibles in schools, so Christian parents teach home school, allowing their children to learn math and moral values at the same time. While the schools are taking a massive dump when it comes to value and ethics and crime and teaching self-worth, the state of California just outlawed Christians from their God-given right to teach their own kids. Now they have to send them to the cesspool of a school that will teach anti-creation science, thereby infringing on the rights of students to practice their own religion freely (but don’t worry, they won’t attack Muslims, Buddhists, atheists, agnostics, pagans, wiccans, Scientologists, etc. Just the Christians.)

Let’s see, what else? Lets talk about gay marriage. I’m all for gays to have the right to choose their lifestyle- its their choice. (Just like my kids schooling used to be.) But I’m not for the whole gay-marriage thing. Sure, they can practice it, but that doesn’t really make it a marriage. I know, I know, they’ve redefined what “marriage” is, but it used to be a union before God between a man and a woman. Since most homosexuals don’t believe in or care for God, they can’t really have a union before Him that He will honor. But, what they hey, they ignored my right to practice my faith (only if it’s from the Christian Bible) by ignoring the 1^st amendment, why not ignore the other principals too.

So who is going to do what to help me out? Am I personally going to benefit from either party being elected? Maybe, but probably not. There aren’t a whole lot of things that are going to actually make a difference in the way I daily live my life. I could be wrong, but here’s how I look at it:

If one side is accused of overtaxing and the other of allowing abortions, I will sacrifice a couple bucks, even a couple hundred, per year to vote for the sanctity of life.

If one side is accused of sending jobs overseas and the other of limiting free speech, I’m probably going to have to go for free speech. There will always be a need for jobs on the US. They may not be the best, but we have too many people not to need a ton of jobs. We also have a lot of politicians going after free speech, even though the ones attacked are the churches and the right. Hmm.

If one side wants to build a thousand mile fence at the borders and the other wants to let gays marry, I will go for the fence. Those guys are great climbers and if they can get in through, over or under a military fence, then they deserve to stay. For those that can’t, they can still come here, but have to go through the legal process. Meanwhile, I stand up for what I believe regarding gay marriage. I’m not anti-gay, but I’m not pro-gay. I’m just ok-gay; they can do their thing, but I don’t want tax dollars going toward something I find immoral.

Bottom line, I can’t do anything about the politicians. But, then again, I will probably never have to answer to them. I will, however, have to answer to God. I will stand before Him and be able to say that I voted for the things and the principles that are on His side, His Law, and His eternal purpose. I will say that I stood up for hundreds of thousands of innocent children and supported their right to life. I will say that I voted against the activity that led to His destroying Sodom and Gomorrah, the activities that He calls an abomination. I will be able to say that I stood up for His Word, His teaching, for the right to exhibit by faith, to speak freely the gospel. I will say, “Jesus, I stood up for you.”

What do you stand for?

NAIROBI (AFP) - Talks aimed at freeing a Ukrainian arms ship held by Somali pirates collapsed on Friday, a spokesman for the pirates told AFP, deepening the two-week stand off.

This photo provided by the US Navy shows the Belize-flagged Ukrainian cargo ship MV Faina in September 2008 off Somalia's Indian Ocean coast. Talks aimed at freeing a Ukrainian arms ship being held by Somali pirates collapsed on Friday, a spokesman for the pirates told AFP, deepening the two-week stand-off.(AFP/US Navy/File/Jason R. Zalasky)

"The negotiations with the owner of the ship have totally collapsed. The owners are changing their mind from time to time, maybe because they are being advised by somebody that they can resolve the matter militarily," Sugule Ali told AFP from the ship.

"Given the situation, we are on alert and preparing ourselves for any eventuality, including military against us," he added.

"Therefore, we have given the ship's owner three days to respond positively to the negotiations, otherwise we will take some action that we will not reveal now," Ali added.

The pirates have been demanding 20 million dollars to release the MV Faina and its 21 crew, seized on September 25 while it sailed toward the Kenyan port city of Mombasa, although sources close to the hijackers say the amount may have been reduced after several days of talks.

The exact details of the negotiations remain sketchy, but the pirates have insisted they must be paid before letting go the ship.

Kenya has shrugged off lingering speculation on the identity of the final recipient of the cargo of 33 tanks, surface-to-air systems and other weapons pirates seized on a Ukrainian ship.

Many industry experts and intelligence sources have suggested the arms were bound for South Sudan, and not Kenya as Nairobi and Kiev have repeatedly insisted.

Read the rest:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081010/wl_
africa_afp/somaliaunrestpiracy_081010184842