Welcome! Our goal at Winds of Change.NET is to give you one power-packed briefing of insights, news and trends from the global War on Terror that leaves you stimulated, informed, and occasionally amused every Monday & Thursday. In addition, we also have our in-depth Iraq Report today.

Today's Winds of War briefing is brought to you by evariste of Discarded Lies. Bill Roggio of the fourth rail is working on Easongate with several other fine bloggers like Chester and Blackfive, Brian Scott and Charles Goggin this week; he returns to the briefing next week.

Top Topics

• Iran continues to blatantly court Palestinian leaders, inviting Abbas himself to Iran for an official visit (he accepted). When is Israel going to stop letting Palestinian leaders visit Iran to conspire? Is Farouq Qaddumi's welcoming of Iranian infiltration not a bad enough sign? Fatah officials are especially bad about this.

• Taiwan says China's missile threat is gathering as China accelerates its buildup of ballistic missiles across the strait to 120 a year, bringing the total to 706.

• It's official: Russia and China have a strategic partnership, and it's aimed at foiling Uncle Sam. Great.

• Powered combat exoskeletons-on the cheap (like $15k)! That's what I call good, old-fashioned American ingenuity.

• Tony Blair is setting up "tough tests" for immigrants to the UK, turning away those who do not bring professional skills or economic benefits to the UK, to preempt the Tories on an issue that's very much in the public mind in the runup to the May 5th elections. Recently, Jane's reported that the UK was rapidly becoming a base for members of Al Takfir wal Hijra due to lax asylum policies.

Other Topics Today Include:
US and Israel may be conducting surveillance into Iran; Halliburton, BP and GE will not do any more business with Iran; Rumsfeld says Iran is "years away" from a nuclear weapon; Iran not happy with Rice's "threats"; Saudi Arabia trying to reform Islamists; Rice's plans for a Palestinian "viable" state; Colorado seeks 4 illegal truckers; South Americans think local government is good government; 3rd world gangs, 4th generation warfare; fugitive Venezuelan general caught; Jacksonville security; Khartoum's grip loosening further; More Beslans promised; Danger to India from Nepal developments; Singapore anti-maritime terrorism unit launched; Abu Sayyaf kidnapper caught; Madrid bombers sold drugs to pay for it; French jihadi cannon-fodder; Iranian terrorist infrastructure in the Balkans since the 90s; Communist informers and spies list leaked onto internet by Polish journalist; How the Euroblob will eat us all; NK gave Libya uranium; US troops get training in counterterrorism in India; lessons learned from eavesdropping on terrorists and more...

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