Double agent led CIA, allies to terrorists, underwear bomb
WASHINGTON — the latest al-Qaida bomb plot targeting U.S. aircraft was unraveled from inside the terrorist group by operatives — including a double agent — working on behalf of the CIA and its counterparts in Saudi Arabia and Yemen, according to U.S. and Middle Eastern officials.
The Saudi intelligence service played a particularly important role in penetrating al-Qaida’s affiliate in Yemen and recovering the explosive device, according to officials who described an elaborate espionage operation in which the CIA tracked the bomb’s movements for weeks and then killed suspected plotters in a drone strike after the device was seized.
Senior U.S. officials continued to withhold certain details, including the location and status of the individual — described by officials as a Saudi informant — who penetrated the terrorist group posing as a willing suicide bomber and then turned over the device to authorities after leaving Yemen.
The bomb arrived at an FBI laboratory in Quantico, Va., about a week ago and is being examined by explosives technicians, law-enforcement officials said. One said the explosive was made from a chemical compound that was “built to get around U.S. security and had the potential to do that.”
The plot shows al-Qaida’s franchise in Yemen remains committed to mounting attacks against Western targets even after its most prominent advocate of such strikes, U.S.-born Anwar al-Awlaki, was killed in a drone strike last year.
The disruption of the threat also indicates the CIA and other agencies have gained significant traction on their target two years after President Obama began deploying more spies, eavesdropping equipment and armed drones to the Arabian Peninsula.
A senior U.S. intelligence official said spy agencies were able to keep tabs on the location of the bomb, as well as those involved in plotting how it would be used, before it was intercepted in another country in the Middle East, believed to be Saudi Arabia.
The device was described as an updated version of a design that al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has used in a series of plots, including an attempt to blow up a Detroit-bound airliner on Christmas Day 2009.
The U.S. intelligence official declined to discuss what he described as “the disposition of the individual involved” in transporting the bomb before it was seized. other officials indicated the bomb handler was cooperating with the CIA and the Saudi spy service and is in protective custody.
A former senior U.S. intelligence official familiar with recent operations against AQAP said the Saudi spy service has furnished a steady stream of intelligence to the CIA.
“They’ve had someone on the inside of (AQAP) for some time,” the former official said. the Saudi source has provided intelligence on previous plots, including the tip that enabled authorities to disrupt al-Qaida’s attempt to mail parcels packed with explosives to addresses in Chicago in 2010.
Efforts by the CIA and the Saudi intelligence service to protect that source and enable him to remain in place make it unlikely that he was used to deliver the bomb, according to former officials who said it is more likely that a lower-ranking operative was used in that role.
As part of an expanding collaboration with the CIA, the Saudi spy service has taken advantage of long-standing informant networks and tribal relationships in Yemen, exploiting them for intelligence on an al-Qaida franchise that has many Saudis in its ranks. among them is Ibrahim Hassan al-Asiri, the bomb maker suspected of designing the latest device.
Of dozens of AQAP fighters with Saudi backgrounds, “at least five or eight of them are under cover” working for the Saudi service at any point, a Middle Eastern official said. “The Saudis have always had a network” of sources in Yemen, the official said. “Now they are expanding its objectives.”
The deepening cooperation reflects the extent to which Saudi Arabia regards AQAP as a security threat. the country’s chief counterterrorism official, Mohammed bin Nayef, narrowly survived a 2009 attempt on his life by an AQAP operative.
The CIA established a drone base on the Arabian Peninsula last year, and the National Security Agency has deployed officers and equipment to monitor AQAP cellphone and email communications.
Both agencies work alongside the U.S. Joint Special Operations Command, an elite military force that operates a fleet of armed drones and recently resumed providing trainers to Yemen’s counterterrorism units.
The pace of U.S. airstrikes has quickened dramatically this year, according to data compiled by the Long War Journal website. Of 31 U.S. airstrikes in Yemen since 2002, 14 were in the past five months.
The most recent killed an alleged operations planner wanted in connection with the attack on the USS Cole in Yemen in 2000.
U.S. officials said that Fahd Mohammed Ahmed al-Quso probably was involved in directing the plot but that the drone strike was ordered because of his larger role in AQAP.
Washington Post staff writers Karen DeYoung and Sari Horwitz
and researcher Julie Tate
contributed to this report.
Double agent led CIA, allies to terrorists, underwear bomb
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MAXIMUS Brings 325 Jobs to Pittsford, New York
PITTSFORD, N.Y., Apr 30, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) –MAXIMUS /quotes/zigman/174026/quotes/nls/mms MMS +0.34% , a leading provider of health and human services worldwide, announced today that it will launch operations in Pittsford, New York. MAXIMUS will consolidate and relocate several of its mission critical program operations currently located in Pennsylvania and Upstate New York into the new Pittsford location.
The 46,000 square foot office will be located at 3750 Monroe Avenue with operations expected to launch around may 15, 2012. MAXIMUS expects to add 325 jobs in the near term and followed by an additional 30 jobs over the long term. to help with the Company’s relocation and expansion, New York State provided MAXIMUS with a package of Excelsior tax credits, which are based on the number of jobs created over the next five years.
MAXIMUS provides program administration support to major government health programs, such as Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. MAXIMUS will use the new Pittsford office to help deliver program services in support of its Medicare appeals work with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). these specialized services will be provided by a local team of professional staff, including nurses, doctors, physical therapists, health appeals specialists and other professional health clinicians, who will make independent determinations of health insurance appeals. Individuals who are interested in learning more about positions with MAXIMUS should visit www.maximus.com/careers .
MAXIMUS completes independent reviews for disputed Medicare Parts A,B (South), C and D claims and provider appeals for all 50 states, Washington DC, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa. The Company is the largest independent reviewer of health care appeals for CMS, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), as well as more than 44 state regulatory agencies nationwide. Since 1989, MAXIMUS has completed more than one million health care appeals on a timely basis and under rigorous quality control standards.
Bruce Caswell, President and General Manager of MAXIMUS Health Services commented, “We are thrilled to be a part of the community as we grow our presence in Monroe County, bringing 325 jobs to the area. our new Pittsford location is critical in establishing a regional hub for efficient service delivery on behalf of our government clients. As a native upstate New Yorker, I’m excited to be a part of supporting the local community and contributing to its longer-term economic growth.”
Lieutenant Governor Robert J. Duffy said, “MAXIMUS is a growing company that will create hundreds of new jobs by capitalizing on the strong demand for its services. This project demonstrates how the effective the leadership of Governor Cuomo is improving New York’s ability to attract big companies to invest and create jobs in New York.”
MAXIMUS and the State of New York will be holding a joint press event, today at 10:00 AM ET at the Greater Rochester Enterprise on 100 Chestnut Street, 19th Floor, in Downtown Rochester.
about MAXIMUS
MAXIMUS is a leading health and human services administrator for governments in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. The Company delivers administrative solutions to improve the cost effectiveness, efficiency and quality of government-sponsored benefit programs, such as Medicaid, Medicare, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Health Insurance BC (British Columbia), as well as welfare-to-work and child support enforcement programs across the globe. The Company’s primary customer base includes federal, provincial, state, county and municipal governments. Operating under its founding mission of Helping Government Serve the People(R), MAXIMUS has more than 7,000 employees located in more than 220 offices worldwide. for more information, visit www.maximus.com .
MAXIMUS Lisa Miles, 703-251-8637 or Blake Travis, 703-251-8398
Copyright Business Wire 2012
MAXIMUS Brings 325 Jobs to Pittsford, New York
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Categories: New York City Jobs Tags: health appeals, medicare appeals, medicare medicaid, physical therapists, professional health
Part Time Jobs in NYC – Working in the New York Film Industry
A part time film or video job in New York can provide many working opportunities. Some part time jobs in NYC may seem exotic, but exploring the possibilities can be worthwhile. Even if you decide to seek a regular part time job, you can learn what you really want and what you feel really suited to do.
Finding part time jobs in NYC can be as difficult, if not more so, than anywhere else in the country. while there may be more part time jobs in New York than just about anywhere else, there are also more people who compete for these jobs.
Some people may think that finding a part time job in NYC can be just a step below torture. Part time jobs often have the unfortunate bad rap as being either not a real job, or else being that job you take just to make some money when you’re in between full-time jobs. but why should that be the case? Why not seek part time jobs like a high school student seeks a summer job- something FUN that makes money in a short amount of time
So what kind of jobs would be fun? well, obviously, each person is different and it depends on you to figure out what will provide a good experience for you. Why not search for part time jobs in NYC in the film and video industry?
In the film and video industry, there are many job options. You could be a Production Assistant, and help aid the show by running errands and crowd control. You could be a Make-Up Artist, creating the look of the actors before they get in front of the camera. You could work in the camera department to operate cameras and load the footage onto a computer. You could be a grip and help set up the lights. You could be an editor, or a compositor, or a writer, or an AD or. any other variety of jobs on a film set or video shoot. You could even become an actor
You might be sighing (or groaning) as you ask Don’t you have to go to school for that?. The answer is a big fat NO Sure, going to school to learn the various trades in the film and video world will give you a great knowledge of the position and the industry as a whole, but it is seldom if ever a requirement to get on a set. in the film and video industry, much more emphasis is put on your film credits than on your college credits.
So how do I find out about film, video, and TV jobs? There are numerous places to look. For many of the lower budget projects (including unpaid gigs for you to get your feet wet with), you might want to check out craigslist.com, mandy.com and productionhub.com. many of the film jobs you find on these sites will be unpaid or low-paid. Not always though. You really just have to look through all the jobs to find something that’s right for you. You can also look for some of the bigger budget production in places like Variety, IMDBPro, and Production Weekly (all of these require paid subscriptions, so you might want to hold off on them until you’ve gotten a few gigs under your belt).
Another great place to check out the New York Film Office. they have contact information for many of the productions coming into town. Keep in mind that especially on the bigger productions, a lot of positions might need to go to Union members. when applying for any film jobs, don’t try to be something you’re not Don’t apply for a camera job, for instance, if you don’t even know the difference between a 35mm lens and a 110 mm lens. nor should you say you can be an electrician if you don’t have the knowledge and skill to routs many THOUSANDS of watts of power without blowing fuses or starting fires.
Film jobs pay very well. Even a Production Assistant (generally the lowest paid position on a set, as well as being one of the few people who can get hired on a union production without being in a union) will make anywhere from $100-$200 a day, depending on the size of the project Being a PA is probably your best chance for finding work on productions, and it will help you get quickly acquainted with the duties of various jobs for you to see what you might like to do in the future.
You could also go into production for yourself. If you own a camera and some editing gear, you could start your own production company and start shooting weddings and other events, low budget music videos and even local commercials.
Virtually all film jobs are part time as they are on a freelance basis. The thing to be weary of is that you WILL work long hours on a film set (often as many as 14-16 hours a day). they are on a temporary basis, as each film only shoots for (usually) 3-5 weeks.
So while hunting for your part time jobs in NYC, consider looking into finding work in the film and video industry. You’ll get to learn great skills that can be applied to many other lines of work, meet tons of great people (some of which might even be famous), and all while being a part of Hollywood Magic and earning a sizable paycheck.
Part Time Jobs in NYC – Working in the New York Film Industry
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Long Island Reaches a SOLAR Milestone
As the world celebrated Earth Day, a very worthy milestone was reached here on Long Island — the 5000th solar roof.
“A decade ago Long Island had only a handful of rebated solar installations; it now has 5,000 solar roofs,” said Gordian Raacke, Executive Director of Renewable Energy Long Island, a local not-for-profit advocacy group. The 5000 solar roofs consist of 4,571 residential and 609 commercial installations totaling 38,520 kilowatts (kWs) of solar panels. Through LIPA’s nationally recognized Solar Pioneer and Solar Entrepreneur Program, the Authority has rebated over $122 million for rooftop solar systems that are expected to produce 46,000,000 kilowatt hours (kWhs) per year for the next 20 years. This is the equivalent to removing almost 4,000 cars off the road and 2,429,937 gallons of gas consumed per year.
“The steady growth of residential, commercial, not-for-profit, and utility-scale solar installations across Long Island demonstrates Long Islanders increasing awareness and LIPA’s commitment to take control of our energy future now,” said LIPA Chief Operating Officer Michael D. Hervey. “The 5,000th installation is a key step towards reaching energy independence, improving the environment, lowering the cost of solar, and successfully transforming and sustaining a robust solar market that continues to create jobs on Long Island.” Long Island’s solar growth has been fueled by LIPA’s solar programs and initiatives, including the cash rebates that cut the out-of-pocket cost of PV systems. in addition to LIPA’s solar rebates, eligible customers further reduce the cost with generous federal and state tax credits.
Simultaneously, and just as exciting was the launch of Governor Cuomo’s NY-Sun Initiative; set to double the amount of customer-sited solar power installed annually in New York, and quadruple that amount by 2013. “The NY-Sun Initiative puts New York at the forefront of solar development and research, creating green jobs while containing energy costs for consumers,” Governor Cuomo said. “This clean energy investment will help protect the environment, expand our solar capacity, and lead to a long term reduction of the cost of solar in New York.”
Long Island Reaches a SOLAR Milestone
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Full Moon in Cancer – July 2011 Horoscope
Full Moons are time to reflect, time to celebrate, and time to make friends with the night. many of our holidays are still celebrated around full moons when the nights are naturally illuminated. Full Moons are also the time where people get in tune with their deepest feelings, when humanity guides are transmitting the light of conciseness, understanding and compassion.
It is advised not to start any new project around within the 24 hours of the full moon, but rather use that day for mundane tasks, while enjoying an acute sense of meditation.
Take a look at your chart, locate the 22th degree of the Cardinal signs, any planet on this degree will be affected by the new moon. in affected I mean, understood in a new way, rather than acted upon.
Cancer – Capricorn
The Cancer/Capricorn Full Moon is a good time to connect the inner child (Cancer) with the Mature Adult (Capricorn) within You. You can communicate and re-connect those parts:
The Cancer can remind the Capricorn to be intimate, to allow childlike attitudes, a place for a good cry or a good laugh, to enjoy the small things in life (like a sunset, a small toy), to love without demands, respect your roots and remember where we are coming from.
The Capricorn teaches the Cancer how to work within life’s limitations, to set up goals and strive towards them thus learning to go beyond the comfort zone. to learn some self control, learn to mature through boundaries. to learn how to express feelings in a constructive way, and not just do as I feel like. it brings in the energy of planning and direction.
When discussing Cancer/Capricorn the parental influence in your life comes into consideration. Traditionally Cancer represents the Mother influence while Capricorn represents the Father figure in our lives (4th and 10th houses). in these modern times, I see a blur between the roles. it could be the mother who sets up the boundaries (Capricorn), while the father is the one to indulge and spoil (Cancer).
Take the time to reflect on Your own private parental influence: who is more emotionally open?, who sets up goals?, who spoils you? who demands of you to show some achievements? You may be surprised with the answers when you dig into this.
The full moon takes place on July 15, 8:53 GMT, 22th degree of Cancer/Capricorn.
The Horoscope of the Full Moon shows that the sun moon opposition is not in aspect to any other planet, leaving this Full Moon all to its own. the issues of tradition vs. new goals, of authority vs. emotional needs, and the issues that are best represented by the revolutions in so many Arab countries: Who is in Power and why? Who is the Government serving, the people or itself? where does the Authority rights end, and the individual basic right for expression starts?
The key to relive some of the tension is with the Capricorn ruler, Saturn currently transiting Libra. it is squaring Venus in Cancer (the Ruler of Libra), which will make it hard to Agree on a course of action that will satisfy all. Negotiations are reaching dead ends, and the differences in opinions are heightened.
On the optimistic side, we find out the no one chooses violence. Mars in Gemini is in Trine to Saturn, and Sextile Mercury, indicating that adverse sides can agree that even though we do not agree, we will continue talks, and look for action courses that will be peaceful.
Full Moon in Cancer – July 2011 Horoscope
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Categories: New York City Jobs Tags: capricorn, deepest feelings, sunset
