Friday, September 09, 2005
Hawaii #5 - Clown Fish and a story
I am now going to post all the Hawaii pictures over the next few days.
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Clown fish are amazing, the way they live with the anemone in a symbiotic relationship.
Back in the early 90s when I was living in Hong Kong, my wife (then girlfriend) went diving in the New Territories. It was her first dive in Hong Kong and she saw this lone clown fish and as the fish saw her and it started dancing around her and in front of her mask, as she says "it was dancing like a butterfly, sting like a bee". As she looked around she was quite saddened when she saw how impacted the marine life was in Hong Kong as there were no other clown fish in the immediate area. She ends the story with the hope that the clown fish finds a mate and it's anemone.
She still tells this story.
---
Clown fish are amazing, the way they live with the anemone in a symbiotic relationship.
Back in the early 90s when I was living in Hong Kong, my wife (then girlfriend) went diving in the New Territories. It was her first dive in Hong Kong and she saw this lone clown fish and as the fish saw her and it started dancing around her and in front of her mask, as she says "it was dancing like a butterfly, sting like a bee". As she looked around she was quite saddened when she saw how impacted the marine life was in Hong Kong as there were no other clown fish in the immediate area. She ends the story with the hope that the clown fish finds a mate and it's anemone.
She still tells this story.
Top CIA Official Resigns Citing Lack Of Confidence In The Agency�s Leadership� | The Huffington Post
Top CIA Official Resigns Citing Lack Of Confidence In The Agency�s Leadership� | The Huffington Post
Key Official In Clandestine Service of CIA To Retire
By Dana Priest and Walter Pincus
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, September 9, 2005; A05
Robert Richer, the second-ranking official in the CIA's clandestine service, has announced his retirement, telling colleagues that he lacked confidence in the agency's leadership, according to current and former intelligence officials.
Richer, who was one of CIA Director Porter J. Goss's key personnel choices, made his announcement last Friday at a meeting of the Directorate of Operations leaders, according to some of the officials.
Some of them said Richer's decision revolved around an ongoing debate over how to improve human intelligence and the direction of the CIA. The agency's role and influence have waned with the appointment of John D. Negroponte as the overall director of national intelligence.
Other government officials disagreed with that assertion and said Richer's departure involved disputes over "operational issues" that they would not specify, and a clash of personalities between Richer, a former Marine, and Goss and his top aides.
Last year, Richer's predecessor and his boss resigned after clashing with Goss's aides. During Friday's meeting, Richer said he and his boss, the deputy director of operations -- who cannot be named because he remains undercover -- had been frustrated by Goss and his staff in their efforts to implement certain measures, sources said. Richer subsequently met with national security adviser Stephen J. Hadley to explain his decision.
A CIA spokesman declined to comment on the matter. Other intelligence sources would speak only anonymously because of agency rules and traditions against speaking to the media.
Yesterday, Goss sent an unusual worldwide message to all CIA employees praising Richer for his nearly 35 years of service. That only fueled the belief among some former intelligence officials that Richer's resignation reflects ongoing problems at the agency.
Richer has served for less than a year as the number two in the spy service, having been promoted from being chief of the Near East division.
The CIA has been under pressure to make changes after a presidential commission and the Sept. 11 commission found last year that human intelligence collection had failed regarding both the al Qaeda terrorist network and whether Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.
The presidential commission recommended creation of a Human Intelligence Directorate within the CIA, which would rank above the agency's Directorate of Operations and coordinate foreign human-intelligence collection across the intelligence community, including the Pentagon and the FBI.
Some top administration officials favor a plan to make the clandestine service, as the Directorate of Operations is known, the central focus of the CIA, with all other functions -- such as analysis and technology -- subordinate to the human intelligence role.
Key Official In Clandestine Service of CIA To Retire
By Dana Priest and Walter Pincus
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, September 9, 2005; A05
Robert Richer, the second-ranking official in the CIA's clandestine service, has announced his retirement, telling colleagues that he lacked confidence in the agency's leadership, according to current and former intelligence officials.
Richer, who was one of CIA Director Porter J. Goss's key personnel choices, made his announcement last Friday at a meeting of the Directorate of Operations leaders, according to some of the officials.
Some of them said Richer's decision revolved around an ongoing debate over how to improve human intelligence and the direction of the CIA. The agency's role and influence have waned with the appointment of John D. Negroponte as the overall director of national intelligence.
Other government officials disagreed with that assertion and said Richer's departure involved disputes over "operational issues" that they would not specify, and a clash of personalities between Richer, a former Marine, and Goss and his top aides.
Last year, Richer's predecessor and his boss resigned after clashing with Goss's aides. During Friday's meeting, Richer said he and his boss, the deputy director of operations -- who cannot be named because he remains undercover -- had been frustrated by Goss and his staff in their efforts to implement certain measures, sources said. Richer subsequently met with national security adviser Stephen J. Hadley to explain his decision.
A CIA spokesman declined to comment on the matter. Other intelligence sources would speak only anonymously because of agency rules and traditions against speaking to the media.
Yesterday, Goss sent an unusual worldwide message to all CIA employees praising Richer for his nearly 35 years of service. That only fueled the belief among some former intelligence officials that Richer's resignation reflects ongoing problems at the agency.
Richer has served for less than a year as the number two in the spy service, having been promoted from being chief of the Near East division.
The CIA has been under pressure to make changes after a presidential commission and the Sept. 11 commission found last year that human intelligence collection had failed regarding both the al Qaeda terrorist network and whether Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.
The presidential commission recommended creation of a Human Intelligence Directorate within the CIA, which would rank above the agency's Directorate of Operations and coordinate foreign human-intelligence collection across the intelligence community, including the Pentagon and the FBI.
Some top administration officials favor a plan to make the clandestine service, as the Directorate of Operations is known, the central focus of the CIA, with all other functions -- such as analysis and technology -- subordinate to the human intelligence role.
Police State....
Part of the Update that contains the headline: Nets: Juvenile Execution Ruling Brings U.S. Into Line with World --3/2/2005-- Media Research Center: "His lawyers say the U.S. let the authorities in Saudi Arabia torture him"
Latest News (from the LA Times 09/09/2005)
Charges Added in Alleged Plot Against Bush
Prosecutors say a Falls Church, Va., man also planned to set up an Al Qaeda cell in the U.S. He could face life in prison if convicted.From Associated PressSeptember 9, 2005McLEAN, Va. — A man accused of plotting to assassinate President Bush was indicted Thursday on additional charges that could bring life in prison, and prosecutors say he also planned to establish an Al Qaeda cell in the United States.Prosecutors say that Ahmed Omar Abu Ali, 24, of Falls Church, Va., joined Al Qaeda in 2002 while studying in Saudi Arabia and that he discussed possible terrorist operations, including a plot to kill Bush either by shooting or by a suicide bombing.Prosecutors also allege Abu Ali discussed plans to assassinate members of Congress and to hijack aircraft and fly them into U.S. targets.The new indictment adds counts of conspiracy to assassinate the president, conspiracy to commit aircraft piracy and conspiracy to destroy aircraft. Previously, those allegations were included in a general charge of conspiracy to support terrorist organizations.The aircraft piracy charge carries a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison, and the count alleging assassination conspiracy carries a term of up to life in prison.Abu Ali has denied the charges and says he was tortured into a false confession by Saudi authorities working with the United States.Prosecutors deny that Abu Ali was mistreated while in Saudi custody.Thursday's indictment includes new details, including an alleged plan to smuggle Saudi Al Qaeda members into the United States through Mexico, where they would join Abu Ali as part of an Al Qaeda cell dedicated to terrorist acts.Previously, prosecutors had said only that Abu Ali wanted to be a planner of terrorist attacks in the mold of Sept. 11 ringleader Mohamed Atta.According to the indictment, Abu Ali also guarded an Al Qaeda safe house in Saudi Arabia in May 2003 and translated materials from English to Arabic for Al Qaeda.Abu Ali was arrested by the Saudis in June 2003 and held until he was returned to the United States in February to face charges.His trial is set for October, and prosecutors said the new indictment wasn't likely to delay it. His arraignment on the new charges is expected next week
Latest News (from the LA Times 09/09/2005)
Charges Added in Alleged Plot Against Bush
Prosecutors say a Falls Church, Va., man also planned to set up an Al Qaeda cell in the U.S. He could face life in prison if convicted.From Associated PressSeptember 9, 2005McLEAN, Va. — A man accused of plotting to assassinate President Bush was indicted Thursday on additional charges that could bring life in prison, and prosecutors say he also planned to establish an Al Qaeda cell in the United States.Prosecutors say that Ahmed Omar Abu Ali, 24, of Falls Church, Va., joined Al Qaeda in 2002 while studying in Saudi Arabia and that he discussed possible terrorist operations, including a plot to kill Bush either by shooting or by a suicide bombing.Prosecutors also allege Abu Ali discussed plans to assassinate members of Congress and to hijack aircraft and fly them into U.S. targets.The new indictment adds counts of conspiracy to assassinate the president, conspiracy to commit aircraft piracy and conspiracy to destroy aircraft. Previously, those allegations were included in a general charge of conspiracy to support terrorist organizations.The aircraft piracy charge carries a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison, and the count alleging assassination conspiracy carries a term of up to life in prison.Abu Ali has denied the charges and says he was tortured into a false confession by Saudi authorities working with the United States.Prosecutors deny that Abu Ali was mistreated while in Saudi custody.Thursday's indictment includes new details, including an alleged plan to smuggle Saudi Al Qaeda members into the United States through Mexico, where they would join Abu Ali as part of an Al Qaeda cell dedicated to terrorist acts.Previously, prosecutors had said only that Abu Ali wanted to be a planner of terrorist attacks in the mold of Sept. 11 ringleader Mohamed Atta.According to the indictment, Abu Ali also guarded an Al Qaeda safe house in Saudi Arabia in May 2003 and translated materials from English to Arabic for Al Qaeda.Abu Ali was arrested by the Saudis in June 2003 and held until he was returned to the United States in February to face charges.His trial is set for October, and prosecutors said the new indictment wasn't likely to delay it. His arraignment on the new charges is expected next week
ProfessorBainbridge.com: Media Matters for America on Price Gouging
ProfessorBainbridge.com: Media Matters for America on Price Gouging
Blogger Thoughts: I hestitate to comment on this, since I haven't read the MMFA post in question. To my knowledge Bainbridge is fairly on top of legal and business law issues, but his economic analysis and most likely knee jerk support of Stossel's presentation shows his tendency toward wishful thinking.
What Bainbridge and Stossel could have said.
Blogger Thoughts: I hestitate to comment on this, since I haven't read the MMFA post in question. To my knowledge Bainbridge is fairly on top of legal and business law issues, but his economic analysis and most likely knee jerk support of Stossel's presentation shows his tendency toward wishful thinking.
What Bainbridge and Stossel could have said.
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