**September 27, 2006 FEMA Emergency Management Higher Education Project
Activity Report**

\(1\) AGROTERRORISM:

Congressional Research Service (Jim Monke). Agroterrorism: Threats and
Preparedness. Washington DC: CRS Report for Congress, August 25, 2006,
65 pages. Accessed at:
[[http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/terror/RL32521.pdf]{.underline}](http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/terror/RL32521.pdf)

\(2\) AUBURN UNIVERSITY, AUBURN, AL \-- EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATE
APPROVED:

Talked today with Maria Folmar at Auburn, who is working with Don
Terry-Veal, Director of the Center for Governmental Services at Auburn.
Was informed that their proposal to develop and implement an emergency
management certificate program has been approved and will kick-off on
October 16th with the beginning of the first on-line course offering \--
Planning and Preparedness for Homeland Security and Emergency Management
Post 911 and Post Katrina. The second on-line course is scheduled to be
offered in November \-- on Resource Management. However, the school does
not have an instructor lined up to teach this course yet. I volunteered
to post a notice on this teaching opportunity in the \"Faculty
Positions\" tab on the EM HiEd Project homepage, if one were provided to
us \-- forthcoming soon. In the meantime, for questions about the new
program or the teaching opportunity, contact Maria Folmar at:
<folmama@auburn.edu>

\(3\) CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS?:

Ashrof, V. A. Mohamad. \"Islamophobia: A New Face of Xenophobia.\" Arab
News, 27Sep2006. At:
[[http://www.arabnews.com/?page=9&section=0&article=87251&d=27&m=9&y=2006&pix=community.jpg&category=Features]{.underline}](http://www.arabnews.com/?page=9&section=0&article=87251&d=27&m=9&y=2006&pix=community.jpg&category=Features)

\[Excerpt: \"The word Islamophobia was first formulated in 1991 and was
defined as \"unfounded hostility toward Islam, and therefore fear or
dislike of all or most Muslims.\" Islamophobia was coined by way of an
analogy to the word \"xenophobia.\" Its employment involves
distinguishing between unfounded (mad) antipathy of Islam on the one
hand and reasoned disagreement or criticism on the other\.... The word
Islamophobia has been coined because there is a new reality which needs
naming - anti-Muslim prejudice has grown so considerably and so rapidly
in recent years that a new item in the vocabulary is needed so that it
can be identified and acted against. Islamophobia is the fear and/or
abhorrence of Islam, Muslims or Islamic culture. It can be characterized
by the belief that all or most Muslims are religious fanatics, have
violent tendencies toward non-Muslims, and reject as directly opposed to
Islam such concepts as equality, and tolerance\....

Islamophobia inhibits the development of a just society, characterized
by social inclusion and cultural diversity\.... In consequence many
Muslims are driven into the hands of extremists, and imbibe extremist
opinions.\"\]

\(4\) CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS? \-- POPE BENEDICT\'S REMARKS:

Mehr News (Tehran). \"Islamic Jurisprudence Based on Reason and Wisdom:
Clergyman.\" September 25, 2006. Accessed at:
[[http://www.mehrnews.ir/en/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=385550]{.underline}](http://www.mehrnews.ir/en/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=385550)

\[Excerpt: \"Most Western jurists know that reason and wisdom are the
main sources of Islamic jurisprudence, Imam Sadiq Institute Director
Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani said on Monday in an open letter addressed to
Pope Benedict XVI\.... He explained, \'\....Jihad means effort to save
mankind from idolatry\...Islamic jihad was meant to pave the way for the
divine religion to be genuinely presented to the people\....
\'Constructive dialogue is based on mutual respect. In light of your
recent speech, you can not take part in the dialogue between religions
because you proved you are not a good dialogue partner\'.\"\]

Organization of the Islamic Conference. \"Press Release: Regarding the
Inappropriate Remarks About Islam Uttered by His Holiness the Pope of
Vatican in a Lecture at the University of Regensburg , Germany on
September 12, 2006.\" Jeddah, September 26, 2006. At:
[[http://www.oic-oci.org/]{.underline}](http://www.oic-oci.org/)

\[Excerpt: \"Guided by the principles of Islam, the religion of
moderation, tolerance, recognition of the other and all revealed
religions, the Ministers believe that it is befitting to the Vatican to
retract or redress the said statement, in demonstration of the correct
spirit of Christianity in dealing with Islamic issues.\" Note: This was
issued after Pope Benedict met with representatives of the Islamic
Diplomatic Community at his summer residence.\]

Pipes, Daniel. \"Intimidating the West.\" Jewish World Review, September
27, 2006. Accessed at:
[[http://www.jewishworldreview.com/0906/pipes092706.php3]{.underline}](http://www.jewishworldreview.com/0906/pipes092706.php3)

\[Excerpt: \"The violence by Muslims responding to comments by the pope
fit a pattern that has been building and accelerating since 1989. Six
times since then, Westerners did or said something that triggered death
threats and violence in the Muslim world. Looking at them in the
aggregate offers useful insights\.... These six rounds show a
near-doubling in frequency: 8 years between the first and second rounds,
then 5, then 3, 1, and 1/2\.... No conspiracy lies behind these six
rounds of inflammation and aggression, but examined in retrospect, they
coalesce and form a single, prolonged campaign of intimidation, with
more sure to come. The basic message - \'You Westerners no longer have
the privilege to say what you will about Islam, the Prophet, and the
Qur\'an, Islamic law rules you too\' - will return again and again until
Westerners either do submit or Muslims realize their effort has
failed.\"\]

\(5\) CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS? \-- SOMALIA:

Aljazeera. \"\`Deaths\' in Protests at Somali Port.\" September 25,
2006. Accessed at:
[[http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/055E86A6-6D98-40BB-8D4D-88A06A4511AE.htm]{.underline}](http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/055E86A6-6D98-40BB-8D4D-88A06A4511AE.htm)

\[Excerpt: \"\...protesters had been complaining about the replacement
of the Somali national flag with an Islamist banner, inscribed in Arabic
with the phrase \'There is but one god and Mohammed is his
prophet\'.\"\]

\(6\) CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS? \-- TURKEY:

Turkish Daily News. \"Basbug Says Islamist Threat Serious, Hits Back at
EU.\" September 26, 2006. Accessed at:
[[http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=55098]{.underline}](http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=55098)

\[Subtitle: \"The land forces commander says the reactionary threat has
reached alarming levels, points to the growing power of religious
communities in the economy and in politics. He also rebuts EU criticism
and defends the military\'s right to a voice.\"\]

Zenit News Agency (Rome). \"Pope Visit to Turkey: A Unique
Opportunity?\" September 26, 2006. Accessed at:
[[http://www.zenit.org/english/]{.underline}](http://www.zenit.org/english/)

\[Excerpt: \"Bishop Padovese: Turkey presents a composite picture, where
the presence of nationalist groups and the growing phenomenon of
Islamization, triggered by an economic situation that has been
degenerating, has fueled a closed attitude both in regard to
Christianity as well as to Europe\.... There are Muslim groups that
believe that Turkey\'s rapprochement to Europe might make it lose its
Muslim identity. In Turkey today, to be a good Turk means to be a good
Muslim. For such people, Turkey\'s entry into Europe might mean to be a
good Turk but no longer a good Muslim\.... There are those who would
prefer that the Pontiff not go to Turkey; however, it is no longer an
issue of opening a window to the Muslim world but a balcony, to deliver
a clear address on relations between Islam and Christianity\.... Q: How
is dialogue with Islam progressing? Bishop Padovese: The situation is
complicated because Islam has an idea of reality that is
all-encompassing and absorbing. And the absolutism that Muslims advocate
does not allow for any form of dialogue or compromise\.... The fact is
that Islam does not allow exegesis of the Koran, while Christianity
allows exegesis of sacred Scripture.\"\]

\(7\) GLOBAL WARMING:

Government Accountability Office. Climate Change: Federal Agencies Could
Do More to Make Funding Reports Clearer and Encourage Progress on Two
Voluntary Programs. GAO Testimony before House Subcommittee on Energy
and Resources, Committee on Government Reform, 21 pages, September 27,
2006. Accessed at:
[[http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-1126T]{.underline}](http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-1126T)

Schmid, Randolph E. \"White House Said to Bar Hurricane Report.\"
Associated Press, September 25, 2006. At:
[[http://apnews.myway.com//article/20060926/D8KCPSL00.html]{.underline}](http://apnews.myway.com//article/20060926/D8KCPSL00.html)

\[Excerpt: \"The Bush administration has blocked release of a report
that suggests global warming is contributing to the frequency and
strength of hurricanes, the journal Nature reported Tuesday. The
possibility that warming conditions may cause storms to become stronger
has generated debate among climate and weather experts, particularly in
the wake of the Hurricane Katrina disaster.\"\]

\(8\) HOMELAND SECURITY:

Strohm, Chris. \"DHS Secretary Weighs In On Port Security Bill.\"
Congress Daily, September 26, 2006. Accessed at:
[[http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=35121&dcn=e_hsw]{.underline}](http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=35121&dcn=e_hsw)

\(9\) JOURNAL OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT:

Received today a notice that this latest edition of the electronic JHSEM
is now available \-- at:
[[http://www.bepress.com/jhsem]{.underline}](http://www.bepress.com/jhsem).
Contains the following articles, as well as additional material:

Dick A. Buck, Joseph E. Trainor, and Benigno E. Aguirre \"A Critical
Evaluation of the Incident Command System and NIMS\".

Leah Spradley, Mark Abkowitz, and James Clarke \"A Risk Assessment
Methodology for Intentional Chemical and Biological Contamination of
Distribution Systems\".

Christopher G. Reddick and Howard A. Frank \"Homeland Security
Administration and Finance: A Survey of Texas County Officials\".

Jennifer Housley, Weiling Liu, Mylea Charvat, and Larry E. Beutler
\"Navigating the Maze of Disaster Mental Health: The Journey of the Palo
Alto Medical Reserve Corps\".

Shaoming Cheng, Roger R. Stough, and Adriana Kocornik-Mina \"Estimating
the Economic Consequences of Terrorist Disruptions in the National
Capital Region: An Application of Input-Output Analysis\".

\(10\) KATRINA AND RITA:

Government Accountability Office. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita:
Unprecedented Challenges Exposed the Individuals and Households Program
to Fraud and Abuse; Actions Needed to Reduce Such Problems in Future.
Washington DC: GAO Report to Congress, 110 pages, September 27, 2006.
Accessed at:
[[http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-1013]{.underline}](http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-1013)

\(11\) NUCLEAR POWER PLANT SAFETY AND SECURITY:

Government Accountability Office. Nuclear Regulatory Commission:
Oversight of Nuclear Power Plant Safety Has Improved, But Refinements
Are Needed. GAO Report to Congressional Requesters, 79 pages, September
27, 2006. Accessed at:
[[http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-1029]{.underline}](http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-1029)

\(12\) WAR ON TERROR:

DeYoung, Karen, Walter Pincus. \"Sobering Conclusions On Why Jihad Has
Spread.\" WP, 27Sept06.
[[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/26/AR2006092600530.html?referrer=email]{.underline}](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/26/AR2006092600530.html?referrer=email)

Garamone, Jim. \"Negroponte Says Intelligence Estimate Should Be Broadly
Viewed.\" American Forces Information Service, 26Sep06.
[[http://www.defenselink.mil/News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=1256]{.underline}](http://www.defenselink.mil/News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=1256)

\[Excerpt: \"The estimate {NIE} says that the global jihadist movement
is spreading and adapting to counterterrorism efforts. The movement
includes al Qaeda, affiliated terrorist groups, independent
organizations and emerging networks and cells. \'Several underlying
factors are fueling this, including entrenched grievances such as
corruption, injustice and fear of Western domination, leading to anger,
humiliation, and a sense of powerlessness,\' he said. \'The Iraq jihad
is also a factor, as is the slow pace of real and sustained economic,
social and political reforms in many Muslim majority nations.\' Finally,
he said, the jihadist groups exploit incipient anti-U.S. sentiments.
Negroponte said the global jihadist movement is becoming more diffuse.
Independent radical cells will grow in importance to U.S.
counterterrorism efforts.\"\]

Hendawi, Hamza. \"Lebanese Cleric Derides Bush Policies.\" Associated
Press, September 27, 2006. Accessed at:
[[http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/93-09272006-719248.html]{.underline}](http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/93-09272006-719248.html)

\[Excerpt: \"BEIRUT, Lebanon - Lebanon\'s top Shiite cleric charged
Wednesday that President Bush\'s policies have turned the Middle East
into a \'hell\' of strife, delivering more scathing commentary on the
U.S. leader just days after calling him \'the devil\'s messenger\'\....
His comments continued a harsh assault on Bush that he leveled during a
sermon Friday. \'President Bush is the leader of terrorism in the
world,\' Fadlallah told worshippers. \'He thinks that God has sent him
to make the world a better place, but I see that he is the devil\'s
messenger sent to destroy the world\'.\"\]

Knowlton, Brian. \"Bush Makes Public Parts of Report on Terror.\" New
York Times, 26Sep2006. At:
[[http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/26/washington/27prexycnd.html?hp&ex=1159329600&en=5656b1b311db33ab&ei=5094&partner=homepage]{.underline}](http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/26/washington/27prexycnd.html?hp&ex=1159329600&en=5656b1b311db33ab&ei=5094&partner=homepage)

\[Note: Article contains link to excerpts of the NIE.\]

Mykkanen, Pekka. \"President Halonen Criticises Proposed US Terror
Legislation.\" Helsingin Sanomat - International Edition. September 26,
2006. Accessed at:
[[http://www.hs.fi/english/article/President+Halonen+criticises+proposed+US+terror+legislation/1135221900572]{.underline}](http://www.hs.fi/english/article/President+Halonen+criticises+proposed+US+terror+legislation/1135221900572)

\[Excerpt: \"President Tarja Halonen says that it is a mistake for the
US administration to try to redefine Common Article 3 of the Geneva
Convention banning cruel and degrading treatment of prisoners. She feels
that in the war against terror, it is important not to become like those
who do ignore international treaties\.... Halonen emphasised the
significance of the terror attacks of September 11th, 2001 as a force
that changed world politics. She also said that she understands the need
for the United States to fight against terrorism. However, she feels
that the way that it has chosen is too heavy-handed. Halonen does not
feel that it is acceptable to use the wrong means, even if the
intentions are good.\"\]

New York Times. \"The Fine Art of Declassification.\" September 27,
2006. Accessed at:
[[http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/27/opinion/27wed1.html?th&emc=th]{.underline}](http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/27/opinion/27wed1.html?th&emc=th)

\[Excerpt: \"Despite what Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and John
Negroponte, the director of national intelligence, have tried to make
everyone believe, one of the key findings of the National Intelligence
Estimate, which represents the consensus of the 16 intelligence
agencies, was indeed that the war in Iraq has greatly increased the
threat from terrorism by \'shaping a new generation of terrorist leaders
and operatives.\' It said Iraq has become \'the cause célèbre for
jihadists, breeding a deep resentment of U.S. involvement in the Muslim
world and cultivating supporters for the global jihadist movement\'.\"\]

Sanger, David E. \"Study Doesn\'t Share Bush\'s Optimism on Terror
Fight.\" New York Times, September 27, 2006. At:
[[http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/27/washington/27assess.html?th&emc=th]{.underline}](http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/27/washington/27assess.html?th&emc=th)

\[Excerpt: \"Three years ago, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld
wrote a memo to his colleagues in the Pentagon posing a critical
question in the \'long war\' against terrorism: Is Washington\'s
strategy successfully killing or capturing terrorists faster than new
enemies are being created? Until Tuesday, the government had not
publicly issued an authoritative answer. But the newly declassified
National Intelligence Estimate on terrorism does exactly that, and it
concludes that the administration has failed the Rumsfeld test.\"\]

Shrader, Katherine. \"Bush Orders Declassification of Analysis.\"
Associated Press, September 26, 2006. Accessed at:
[[http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/28-09262006-718701.html]{.underline}](http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/28-09262006-718701.html)

\[Excerpt: \"President Bush said Tuesday that critics who believe the
Iraq war has worsened terrorism are naïve\...\"\]

White House. \"The Rest of the Story: The NIE Reflects Previous
Statements About the War on Terror.\" 26 Sept. 2006. At:
[[http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/09/20060926-8.html]{.underline}](http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/09/20060926-8.html)

\(13\) WAR ON TERROR - IRAQ:

Bacevich, Andrew. \"Chickens Are Home To Roost In Iraq.\" The
Australian, September 27, 2006. Accessed at:
[[http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20481756-7583,00.html]{.underline}](http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20481756-7583,00.html)

\[Excerpt: \"As if by stealth, almost without our noticing, the Iraq
war\'s long-awaited turning point has arrived. After the innumerable
events touted as decisive that turned out to be anything but that - the
capture of Saddam Hussein, the killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the
various milestones related to the creation of a new Iraqi political
order - the end game now becomes clear. And the outcome points
ineluctably towards an American failure of immense proportions.\"\]

Paley, Armit R. \"Most Iraqis Favor Immediate U.S. Pullout,Polls Show.\"
Wash. Post, 27Sep2006.
[[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/26/AR2006092601721_pf.html]{.underline}](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/26/AR2006092601721_pf.html)

\[Excerpt: \"BAGHDAD\...A strong majority of Iraqis want U.S.-led
military forces to immediately withdraw from the country, saying their
swift departure would make Iraq more secure and decrease sectarian
violence, according to new polls by the State Department and independent
researchers.\"\]

\(14\) WAR ON TERROR \-- PAKISTAN:

Blankley, Tony. \"A Battle Lost In The War on Terror.\" Jewish World
Review, September 27, 2006. Accessed at:
[[http://jewishworldreview.com/0906/blankley092706.php3]{.underline}](http://jewishworldreview.com/0906/blankley092706.php3)

B.Wayne Blanchard, Ph.D., CEM

Higher Education Project Manager

Emergency Management Institute

National Emergency Training Center

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Department of Homeland Security

16825 S. Seton, K-011

Emmitsburg, MD 21727

\(301\) 447-1262, voice

\(301\) 447-1598, fax

wayne.blanchard@dhs.gov

[[http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/edu]{.underline}](http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/edu)

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