By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer
The state plans to hold an exercise in mid-August simulating the explosion of a half-kiloton nuclear device at the entrance of Honolulu Harbor, a mock blast that theoretically would result in 10,000 casualties.
State Adjutant Maj. Gen. Robert G.F. Lee, head of the Hawai'i National Guard, said Hawai'i is one of the first to take on the nuclear device planning.
Several hundred state and military planners and first responders will take part Aug. 14 to 16 in "Exercise 'A Kele."
Edward Teixeira, vice director of state Civil Defense, said the name of the exercise uses the Hawaiian words " 'a," for hot and fiery, and "kele," for impurity, signifying radiation.
The Department of Homeland Security about two years ago developed 15 national planning scenarios, including simulating an "improvised nuclear device" explosion.
Planned for a year and a half, 'A Kele comes as Hawai'i reportedly was targeted on the Fourth of July in a North Korean test of a long-range Taepodong-2 missile that U.S. officials said blew up 42 seconds or sooner after launch.
The half-kiloton explosion being simulated in Honolulu is smaller than the 15-kiloton bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945. A larger, 22-kiloton ...   more »

Is Hezbollah on the verge of destroying Lebanon?
By Michael Young
Posted Monday, Aug. 7, 2006, at 2:58 PM ET
 Listen to this story on NPR's Day to Day.
Hassan NasrallahLater this week, the U.N. Security Council will probably vote on a draft resolution dealing with the war in Lebanon. The document is not likely to end the fighting, but it might prove a major step in that direction. But the more troublesome long-term question for many Lebanese is the future of Hezbollah if it insists on remaining armed. Their country lies precariously poised on a tightrope, and it's the party that holds the balancing pole.
Much has been made of what would constitute a Hezbollah victory in the current conflict. If the party survives as an effective military force, some have argued, it will claim victory and transform this into political gains once the fighting stops. The argument has validity, but its implications may be far worse given the proliferating problems that will overcome Hezbollah in a postwar Lebanon—not least the massive human catastrophe the party will have to address when it again puts on its bonnet as a distributor of social patronage to its Shiite brethren.
By any ...   more »

Winds of war blow through Syria as country checks bomb shelters for first time since 1973 war
Roee Nahmias  
The winds of war blowing through the region are also being felt in Syria, as the country begins checks of its public bomb shelters for the first time since 1973.  
Syrian media outlets reported Wednesday that while residents of towns on the border with Israel are independently looking after themselves  
and shelters, the 'civil guard' began checking the state of bomb shelters in Damascus.  
A senior member or the civil guard in Damascus said the body was "working to make sure the shelters were in good shape as a step to prepare for any future development. This is especially true for shelters who have over the years turned into stores, clubs, and even homes."  
"Imagine if God forbid a war broke out and they tried to enter here, they would probably prevent it," said Abu Majdi, a senior civil guard member, while pointing at a home in Damascus built in a former shelter.  
'We'd be kicked out'
"They would say this was private property and kick us out of here. The law would back up ...   more »

 

The Battalion of Deborah is collecting funds, and baskets for relief efforts to set sail to Israel Aug. 22. A special tahnks to Don & Sondra Tipton who are owners of this ship, and who also loves Israel in such a passionatre way.You can go to their site to review details of this mission. Friendships

These supplies will be going to the army basre of the Barak which is a specialized force in the Golan, this is the tank division. Also, we will be sending releif baskets to Tsfat, an area that has been hit hard with rockets. Time is short, attached it the list of supplies we need. This is one way you can make a difference. Please download the attachment fot detail.

Blessings, Jodie