Britain Remains Prime Terrorist Target

By Gary Thomas Washington 02 July 2007

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The abortive car bombings in London and Glasgow have again put the spotlight on Britain as a terrorist target. Two car bombs failed to go off Friday in London, and on Saturday, a blazing car was driven at high speed into the entrance of Glasgow airport. VOA correspondent Gary Thomas reports, analysts say, if the attacks were the work of Islamic extremists, their goal is consistent with previous attacks in Britain.

Car bombings are nothing new to Britain. The Irish Republican Army and its splinter groups often used them to deadly effect.

Forensic officers at the scene of the attack on the terminal building at Glasgow Airport, 01 Jul 2007

But recent attacks and attempted attacks in Britain have relied on other means.

The attacks on the London transport system almost exactly two years ago were carried out by Muslim suicide bombers carrying backpacks full of explosives. The plot to blow up flights from London to the United States that was thwarted last year planned to utilize liquid explosives smuggled aboard the aircraft.

Police believe they are dealing with a terrorist cell either linked to or inspired by al-Qaida, in the latest incidents.

Bob Ayers, an intelligence and security specialist at the Royal Institute for International Affairs in London, says he believes the attacks are linked to Britain's involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"The difference between what we're seeing over the last weekend and what we're seeing last summer is a difference only in tactics, not necessarily in strategic objective," said Ayers. "The purpose of the Islamist attacks on the U.K. has been to force the UK people and government to reassess its role vis-à-vis the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan. Car bombs are a tactical change, but they are not a strategic change."

Counter-terrorism specialists say the weekend car bombs in London lacked the sophistication of the IRA. bombmakers. But Ayers says, while crude, they had the potential to be deadly.

Blair Johannessen, an intelligence analyst at the private Terrorism Research Center, says the amateurish nature of the bombs suggests the perpetrators lacked the zeal of suicide attackers.

"These guys ran from the scene," said Johannessen. "You could chalk it up to fear: 'Aw, I drove the car, it didn't explode, oh my gosh, what am I going to do, I'm going to run away.' But, from what I see, if it was really something that was more professional, they would have stayed the route of the cause, and they would have found a way to make this thing go off the way it should have."

Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown is seen after a meeting of the government's top emergency committee Cobra, 29 Jun 2007

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who had not even been in office a full week, says he believes the abortive attacks are linked to Islamic extremism.

"I think what we have got to recognize, that the nature of the threat that we are dealing with is al-Qaida and people who are related to al-Qaida," said Brown.

"And, while I don't want to comment on the police investigation that is ongoing, it is clear that we are dealing in general terms with people who are associated with al-Qaida in a number of incidents that have happened all across the world," he added.

Security analyst Bob Ayers says the term al-Qaida is a brand name that has become generic in the West for any Islamist terrorist group.

"I think the prime minister, being new in [his] post, was using a term that is a shorthand and convenient way to describe this whole genre of Islamic radicals," said Ayers. "Al-Qaida doesn't issue ID cards, and you don't take an oath of office when you join al-Qaida."

"What we have is a group of radicals, who are embracing the philosophy and ideology as espouse by al-Qaida. But they're not necessarily part of a closely coupled, vertically integrated organization, like a military force," he continued.

Early reports say, at least two of the suspects in custody are physicians who were trained in Iraq and Jordan respectively. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith describes the investigation as "fast-moving."

Police Arrest More Suspects in Attempted Terror Attacks in Britain

By Sonja Pace London 02 July 2007

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British police have arrested two more men in connection with attempted car bombings in central London and Glasgow Scotland. The manhunt continues for additional suspects. VOA's Sonja Pace reports from the British capital.

Police arrested the two men, said to be in their 20s, near Glasgow. Four others are already in custody and one suspect remains in a local hospital near Glasgow with severe burns on his body.

[Australian authorities say an eighth suspect wanted in connection with the case has been arrested in the Australian city of Brisbane. Officials say the 27-year-old man was detained at Brisbane airport as he tried to leave Australia.]

Early Friday police found two abandoned cars in London, filled with gas canisters, gasoline and nails. They say had the explosives been detonated, hundreds of people might have been killed.

A day later, two men tried to ram their burning sport utility vehicle into the entrance of the Glasgow airport terminal. The two men were subdued and taken away - one to jail and one to a local hospital.

British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith told members of the House of Commons Monday about additional security measures being taken.

"The police have substantially stepped up protective security measures, including high visibility patrols, including armed response vehicles, the increased use of stop and search powers for vehicles and pedestrians, an increased physical protection around airport terminal buildings, including tighter control on access roads and installation of new barriers," said Smith.

The terrorism alert level remains at its highest stage of critical.

British media reports quote police sources as saying one of the men apprehended at Glasgow airport is Bilal Abdullah, an Iraqi-trained medical doctor.

A reproduction shows a portrait of Mohammed Asha at his family home in Amman, Jordan, 02 Jul 2007

Another man, detained with his wife on a motorway near the city of Liverpool, is being named as Mohammed Asha and described as a physician, trained in Jordan. Both are said to be registered as medical practitioners in Britain.

Police believe they are dealing with a terrorist cell either linked to or inspired by al Qaida.

"Let us be clear, terrorists are criminals whose victims come from all walks of life, communities and religious backgrounds," said Home Secretary Smith. "Terrorists attack the values shared by all law-abiding citizens. As a government, as communities as individuals we need to ensure that the message of the terrorists is rejected."

This coming Saturday, Britain marks the second anniversary of the July 7 bombings, in which four Muslim suicide bombers set off explosions on London's transport system that killed 52 bus and subway passengers.

Bush, Putin Seek Common Ground on Missile Defense

By Paula Wolfson Washington 02 July 2007

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Russian President Vladimir Putin (l) and President Bush during a joint press conference at the Bush family compound in northeastern U.S. state of Maine, 02 Jul 2007

U.S. President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin say they are seeking common ground on the controversial issue of missile defense. VOA's Paula Wolfson reports during talks at the Bush family summer home in Maine, they looked for ways to resolve their deep differences on this key issue.

They still have not reached a meeting of the minds on missile defense. But both sides are showing an eagerness to defuse the issue, and come up with a plan that suits all sides.

President Bush wants to put missile defense systems in the Czech Republic and Poland to guard against attacks should nuclear weapons get into the wrong hands.

Russia is opposed to those sites. At the recent Group of Eight Summit in Germany, President Putin proposed using a Soviet-era early warning radar system located in Azerbaijan as an alternative. In Kennebunkport, he suggested incorporating a radar facility in southern Russia, and talked about the need for even closer consultations between the Russians and NATO.

He said there is no longer any need for facilities in Poland or the Czech Republic. President Bush disagreed on that point, but said the new ideas suggested by the Russian leader are worth considering.

"I think it is very sincere. I think it is innovative. I think it is strategic. But as I told Vladimir, I think the Czech Republic and Poland need to be an integral part of the system," Mr. Bush said.

Mr. Bush also spoke of cooperation between the United States and Russia on Iran. He said they are both concerned about Tehran's nuclear intentions, downplaying differences over the best solution to the problem. "We have no problems with the people of Iran but we do have a problem with a regime that is in defiance of international norms," he said.

Presidents Bush and Putin faced reporters along the rocky coast of Maine, with a seascape of clouds and waves serving as a backdrop. Their tone was collegial, reflecting the informal setting. Standing in shirtsleeves, they called each other by their first names, and spoke of the growing relationship between their two countries.

President Bush was asked if given all the tensions of recent years with Moscow, he still trusts Vladimir Putin. "Do I trust him? Yeh, I trust him. Do I like everything he says? No. And I suspect he doesn't like everything I say," he said.

Mr. Bush said it is important for the U.S. to have strong ties with Russia. President Putin emphasized the evolution of those ties since the fall of the Soviet Union.

He said the United States and Russia no longer look at each other through the sights of a gun, then added "we are no longer enemies."

VOASE0702_Science In the News

02 July 2007

Heat May Be Nature’s Deadliest Killer
Experts say people can do many things to protect themselves from the dangers of extreme heat. Acting quickly will prevent sickness, help you feel better and may even save your life.

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VOICE ONE:

This is SCIENCE IN THE NEWS, in VOA Special English. I’m Bob Doughty.

VOICE TWO:

And I’m Faith Lapidus. This week, we tell about health problems linked to extreme heat. We also tell about what to do to prevent and treat these problems.

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

Girls protect their faces from the heat in Ahmadabad, India

Extremely hot weather is common in many parts of the world. Although hot weather just makes most people feel hot, it can cause serious medical problems -- even death.

Floods, storms and other natural events kill thousands of people every year. So does extreme heat. Experts say heat may be nature’s deadliest killer.

Recently, extreme heat was blamed for killing more than one hundred people in India. Daytime temperatures rose to more than forty-five degrees Celsius in some areas. On June eleventh, the temperature in one desert town hit fifty-one degrees.

VOICE TWO:

Experts say the total heat of a hot day or several days can affect health. Several hot days are considered a heat wave. Experts say heat waves often become dangerous when the nighttime temperature does not drop much from the highest daytime temperature. This causes great stress on the human body.

Doctors say people can do many things to protect themselves from the dangers of extreme heat. Stay out of the sun, if possible. Drink lots of cool water. Wear light colored clothing made of natural materials. Make sure the clothing is loose, permitting freedom of movement. And learn the danger signs of the medical problems that are linked to heat.

VOICE ONE:

The most common health problem linked to hot weather is heat stress. Usually, it is also the least severe. The causes of heat stress include wearing heavy clothing, physical work or exercise, hot weather or high humidity. Humidity is the amount of water in the air.

If several of these conditions are present at the same time, a person’s body temperature may rise above safe limits. The person loses large amounts of body water and salt in perspiration. Perspiration is one of the body’s defenses against heat. It is how the body releases water to cool the skin.

Most people suffer only muscle pain as a result of heat stress. The pain is a warning that the body is becoming too hot. Doctors say those suffering muscle pain should stop all activity and rest in a cool place. They should also drink cool liquids. Do not return to physical activity for a few hours because more serious conditions could develop.

VOICE TWO:

Doctors say some people face an increased danger from heat stress. Such persons have a weak or damaged heart, high blood pressure, or other problems of the blood system. Severe heat increases problems for small children, older adults and those who have the disease diabetes. It is also dangerous for people who weigh too much and have too much body fat, and for people who drink alcohol. Hot weather also increases dangers for people who must take medicine for high blood pressure, poor blood flow, nervousness or depression.

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

A U.S. Army soldier is treated for heat exhaustion in Iraq

Untreated heat stress can lead to a more serious problem called heat exhaustion. A person suffering from heat exhaustion loses too much water through perspiration. The person becomes dehydrated.

Dehydration limits a person's ability to work and think. Experts say a reduction of only four or five percent in body water leads to a drop of twenty to thirty percent in work ability. The loss of salt through perspiration also reduces the amount of work that muscles can do.

VOICE TWO:

A person suffering heat exhaustion feels weak and extremely tired. He or she may have trouble walking normally. Heat exhaustion may also produce a feeling of sickness, a fast heartbeat, breathing problems and pain in the head, chest or stomach. Doctors say people suffering from such problems should rest quietly in a cool place and drink plenty of water. They also say it may help to wash with cool water.

Heat exhaustion can develop quickly. But it also can develop slowly, over a period of days. Doctors call this dehydration exhaustion. Each day, the body loses only a little more water than is taken in. The person may not even know this problem is developing. But if the problem continues for several days, the effects will be the same as the usual kind of heat exhaustion.

Experts say that even a two percent drop in the body's water supply can cause signs of dehydration, including problems with memory and even simple mathematics.

The treatment for dehydration exhaustion is the same as for heat exhaustion. Drink plenty of water and rest in a cool place. Even better, doctors say, drink about two liters of water a day so problems with dehydration will not have a chance to develop.

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

Heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke if it is not treated. Heat stroke is the most serious disorder linked to hot weather. It results when the body is not able to control its temperature. The body’s temperature increases and perspiration fails.

Generally, the body temperature rises to more than forty degrees Celsius. The body stops perspiring. The skin becomes dry and very hot. A person may become unconscious, not knowing what is happening.

Doctors say the body’s tissues and organs begin to cook when its temperature is higher than forty-two degrees Celsius. Permanent brain damage and death may result. Immediate medical help is needed for someone with heat stroke. Doctors say such treatment is necessary or the person could die before help arrives.

VOICE TWO:

The purpose of immediate treatment is to cool the victim as quickly as possible to stop the body temperature from increasing. Begin by moving the victim out of the sun. Raise the person’s feet up about thirty centimeters. Take off the victim’s clothing. Put cool water on the body. Place pieces of ice in areas where blood passageways are close to the skin. These include the back of the neck and under the arms.

Experts say it is important to know the danger signs of the medical disorders linked to hot weather. It is also important to know what to do if the signs appear…in yourself or in someone else.

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

Experts say water is important for many health reasons. The body itself is between fifty-five and seventy-five percent water. Water in blood carries hormones and antibodies through the body. Water in urine carries away waste materials. Water is also needed for cooling the body on hot days, and when we are working or exercising. Water carries body heat to the surface of the skin. There, the heat is lost through perspiration.

Health experts say adults should drink about two liters of water a day to replace all the water lost in liquid wastes and perspiration. They say people should drink more than that in hot weather.

Experts say it is especially important to drink before, during and after exercise. They say we should drink water even before we start to feel like we need something to drink. This is because we sometimes do not feel thirsty until we already have lost a lot of body liquid.

VOICE TWO:

In hot weather, drinking cool liquids is best. Cool drinks do more than just replace lost body water. They also help cool us faster than warm liquids do. This is because they take up more heat inside the body and carry it away faster.

Yet experts advise against drinking sweet liquids in hot weather. The sugar they contain slows the liquid from getting into the blood system. Tea and coffee also are not effective. Doctors also warn against alcoholic drinks. Alcohol speeds the loss of body water through liquid wastes.

VOICE ONE:

Doctors say actions other than drinking water can protect against the heath dangers of heat. Stay out of the sun, if possible. Wear loose, light-weight and light colored clothes. Wear a hat or other head covering when in the sun. Eat fewer hot and heavy foods. If possible, cook foods during cooler times of the day. Also, rest more often. Physical activity produces body heat.

Experts say these simple steps can prevent the dangerous health problems linked to heat. They will prevent sickness, help you feel better and may one day even save your life.

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

This SCIENCE IN THE NEWS program was written by Nancy Steinbach. It was produced by Brianna Blake. I’m Faith Lapidus.

VOICE ONE:

And I’m Bob Doughty. You can read and listen to this program on our Web site, voaspecialenglish.com. Join us again next week for more news about science in Special English on the Voice of America.

VOASE0702_Agriculture Report

02 July 2007

Improvements in Food Industry Earn Major Award for American Agricultural Scientist
Purdue University researcher wins 2007 World Food Prize.

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This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.

Philip E. Nelson

An American expert in food science technology has won a major international award. Philip E. Nelson has been named winner of the Two Thousand Seven World Food Prize.

World Food Prize Foundation President Kenneth Quinn announced the award last month. The ceremony took place at the State Department in Washington, D.C. The prize will be officially awarded at the Iowa State Capitol in October. It will provide Mister Nelson with two hundred fifty thousand dollars. Mister Nelson has worked at Purdue University in Indiana for forty-seven years.

The agricultural scientist is being honored for technologies now commonly used by the food industry. Philip Nelson improved and developed methods for cleaning and storing fruits and vegetables. His technologies permit storage for longer periods. And the food can be transported without cooling. His research also has led to getting food quickly to disaster survivors, like those of the Indian Ocean Tsunami in two thousand four.

As a young man, Mister Nelson was once honored for growing the best tomatoes at a state fair. He worked at his family's farm and tomato-canning factory in Morristown, Indiana. Working in the factory showed him the need for lengthening the time that food could safely last without spoiling. That was the beginning of his discoveries.

Mister Nelson's research has led to the use of big carbon steel tanks to safely keep food. He began by experimenting with tanks of about three hundred eighty liters. Some tanks now can hold more than thirty million liters. They keep food safe at the temperature of the surrounding environment.

The tanks are treated with a substance called epoxy resin. Valve and filter mechanical devices are sterilized. This process prevents bacteria or other harmful microorganisms from reproducing. The sterilized food is shipped for final preparation and processing.

Many developing countries use Mister Nelson's methods. For example, a juice manufacturer in Brazil is able to ship large amounts of orange juice to Europe and the United States.

Mister Nelson also developed another system for food processing. The method also kills bacteria in containers, keeping the food inside safe. Companies in many parts of the world use this "bag-in-box" method.

And that's the VOA Special English Agriculture Report, written by Jerilyn Watson. I'm Steve Ember.