The ESL Free Press

Iranian Plane Approached U.S. Warship

An Iranian Navy plane flew near the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Gulf of Oman last week. It stayed in the area for about 20 minutes, but did not confront the ship.

The Eisenhower is an aircraft carrier. It had just finished taking on supplies. The Iranian military was starting exercises (practice) in the Gulf.

Geoff Morell, the Pentagon Press Secretary, says things like this happen because the area is small and heavily traveled. He says the U.S. has not spoken to Iran about what happened.

Morell also praised the crew of the Eisenhower for showing discipline when the plane approached.

source

Printable: Download Iranian Plane Approached U.S. Warship.pdf (21.1K)

Guilty Plea from Man Who Used Different ID's

Jeremy Clark-Erskine has pleaded guilty to aggravated ID theft, forging a judge's signature, taking a stolen car between States, and using another person's Social Security number.

If the case had gone to court, the U.S. government says it would have proved that Clark-Erskine:

• tried to get a Montana driver's license under the name Angus Jocko Ferguson

• used someone else's Social Security number for this

• forged a judge's signature to get another Social Security number

• rented a car for one day, but then drove it from Montana to California

• tried to get onto a military base by posing as an Army officer

• used several different names.

source

printable: Download Guilty Plea from Man Who Used Different ID's.pdf (21.0K)

Links to April 30th's Top News Stories

Two women and a child have been killed in a raid by U.S. and other troops in Afghanistan. They were traveling in a car which was fired on. Read more.

Protesters in Thailand forced their way into a hospital in Bangkok on Friday, looking for soldiers and police. They found none, and apologized. Read more.

One house of Belgium's Parliament has voted to ban women in the country from wearing Muslim veils that cover their whole faces. Read more.

Starting in 2012, all cigarettes packs in Australia will look the same. Companies will not be allowed to use pictures, logos, or different colors. Read more.

This Week's Quiz

The answers are in today's posts. The link at the end leads to a printable version.

1. Which two countries' Prime Ministers met today?

2. What did Gordon Brown call a voter?

3. What did soldiers find in the mosque in Nad-e Ali?

4. Which soldiers cordoned off the area? Which searched the mosque?

5. Name one thing Derek Stansberry claimed to have.

Download quiz 4-29-10.pdf (18.0K)

Weapons and Explosives Found in Afghan Mosque

Soldiers in Nad-e Ali, Afghanistan, were told Wednesday about a weapons cache in a mosque (Muslim place of worship).

Foreign soldiers cordoned (blocked) off the area, and Afghan soldiers searched the mosque. They found:

• a machine gun

• a grenade launcher

• an assault rifle

• ammunition for the weapons

• blasting caps

• fuses and cords for bombs.

These things were taken away and destroyed.

source

Printable: Download Weapons and Explosives Found in Afghan Mosque.pdf (20.7K)

Passenger Arrested for Bomb Threats Says He Has Secret Documents

A passenger on a flight from Paris to Atlanta, USA, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with making bomb threats. He has told a strange story to explain what he did.

The charge says Derek Stansberry gave a flight attendant a note. It said he was not a U.S. citizen (not true) and not using his real name or ID. It also said, "Please let my family know the truth."

The charge also says: The flight attendant gave the note to the plane's air marshals. They questioned Stansberry, who said he had explosives in his boots and laptop. The marshals took away these things. The plane was diverted (taken off course) to Bangor, Maine. It was cleared and searched.

Stansberry was searched and questioned. The charge says he then said he had never really had bombs -- he had secret government documents. He claimed he had made the threats to distract people from the documents, it says. Although no one on the plane had spoken to him, he believed they were making fun of him and trying to get information from him, it says.

Stansberry also said he had taken prescription drugs recently.

source

printable: Download Passenger Arrested for Bomb Threats Says He Has Secret Documents.pdf (22.7K)

Links to April 29th's Top News Stories

The Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan met today and say they have had "very good talks". Read more.

Four children have been killed and 28 injured in Taixing, China, after a man with a knife attacked a kindergarten class. Read more.

Recounting the votes from the Iraqi election could take three weeks -- longer than it took to count them the first time. Read more.

Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister of Britain, has been criticized for calling a voter "bigoted" (very prejudiced). But a poll shows many people don't mind. Read more.

Defendant Pleads Guilty to Supporting Terrorists

Syed Hashmi, the first person to be sent from Britain to the U.S. to face terrorism charges, pleaded guilty on Tuesday. He admits that he sent equipment to Al Qaida members in Pakistan. He also gave money to someone else to do this. Hashmi knew the equipment would be used against U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

Hashmi is an American citizen. He is also known as "Fahad". He was arrested at Heathrow Airport in London in 2006, on his way to Pakistan.

source

printable:Download Defendant Pleads Guilty to Supporting Terrorists.pdf (20.4K)

Writer Goes to Prison for Sending Fake Anthrax

Marc M. Keyser has been sentenced to 51 months in prison for sending containers labeled "anthrax" to many places.

Anthrax is a severe disease spread by spores. The spores can be used as a weapon.

Keyser had written a book about possible anthrax attacks by terrorists. He put a copy of it on CD and mailed it to a newspaper in Sacramento, California. With the CD was a can labeled "anthrax". When the package was opened, the newspaper building had to be evacuated. Police and hazmat (hazardous material) workers were called.

An FBI agent told Keyser that if he did this again, he could be charged. However, the next year, when Keyser sent out CD's of another new book, he put in sugar packets labeled "anthrax". He sent over 100 of these to the media, stores, and officials in many States. Police, fire departments, and hazmat teams were often called out because of this.

Keyser says he hoped news reports about these things would help him sell his book. The judge told him, "You want attention more than anything."

Source

Printable:Download Writer Goes to Prison for Sending Fake Anthrax.pdf (15.2K)

Links to April 28th's Top News Stories

Iraqiya, a group that won the most seats in the last Iraqi elections, says it may call for new elections, and a temporary government in the meantime. Read more.

An Indian diplomat has been arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan. This comes just before the two countries' Prime Ministers plan to meet. Read more.

The government of Venezuela has taken over land belonging to a large food company. The country's President, Hugo Chavez, has warned the company not to complain. Read more.

Explorers in Turkey say they have found Noah's Ark. Read more.

Noah's Ark

Art Print

Hicks, Edward
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