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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The release Tuesday of the latest National Intelligence Estimate drew a strong reaction from North Coast Congressman Mike Thompson.
NIEs are the Intelligence Community's most authoritative written judgments concerning national security issues. Though the NIE issued July 17 was classified, the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) declassified the report's key judgments and released them publicly.
"The new National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on 'The Terrorist Threat to the U.S. Homeland' makes clear that the United States has lost ground in the battle against al-Qa'ida and global Islamic extremists," said Thompson, chairman of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Human Intelligence, Analysis, and Counterintelligence of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
"The NIE states that al-Qa'ida has preserved or reconstituted its most dangerous capabilities, and that the group will continue to enhance its ability to attack us at home," said Thompson. "It contradicts the president's assertion that we have to fight the terrorists 'over there' so they don't attack us here."
"Instead of invading Iraq, the Administration should have devoted its attention and resources to rebuilding Afghanistan and rooting al-Qa'ida out of its safehaven in the Tribal Areas of Pakistan," added Thompson. "If we had kept our focus on al-Qa'ida, we might not face 'a persistent and evolving terrorist threat,' as the NIE states, six years after the Sept. 11 attacks."
Thompson has already launched efforts to enhance congressional oversight of intelligence agencies' abilities to address threats identified in the NIE.
He has chaired two subcommittee hearings to date on the threat of a terrorist attack using weapons of mass destruction (WMD), which the NIE states al-Qa'ida is trying to acquire.
A third hearing is scheduled for later this month.
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
LAKEPORT – Dancing, boat building and a lot of fun took place Thursday and Friday as part of the sixth annual tule boat races held by local tribes.
Sarah Ryan, environmental director of Big Valley Rancheria said that Big Valley/Mission, Robinson, Elem, Scotts Valley, Upper Lake's Habematolel, Grindstone, Pinoleville, Jenner and a combined team from Big Valley and the California Tribal TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) Partnerships took part in the three-day event.
On Thursday competitors built their boats from tules, a traditional boat-building material amongst country tribes. The day also included tribal dances and ceremonies.
On Friday it was time to launch the boats. Adults and children alike took turns taking the boats on the water, but the day was clearly most enjoyed by the kids in the boats and in the water.
Ryan reported that the winning teams were:
– Girls' race (ages 6-8): First, Robinson; Second, Mission; Third, Pinoleville.
– Boys' race (ages 6-8): First, TANF/Mission; Second, Pinoleville; Third, Robinson.
– Girls race (ages 9-12): First, Mission; Second, TANF/Mission; Third, Robinson.
– Boys' race (ages 9-12): First, TANF/Mission; Second, Elem; Third, Grindstone.
– Girls' race (ages 13-17): First, Mission; Second, Grindstone; Third, TANF/Mission.
– Boys' race (ages 13-17): First, Elem; Second, Mission; Third, Habematolel/Upper Lake.
– Women's race: First, Scotts Valley; Second, Pinoleville; Third, Mission/Big Valley.
– Men's race: First, TANF/Mission; Second, Big Valley/Mission; Third, Grindstone.
– Team Relay race: First, Elem; Second, Robinson; Third, TANF/Mission.
For a full gallery of pictures from the two-day event, go to http://lakeconews.com/component/option,com_wrapper/Itemid,37/.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY – Northern California was shaken up by a few good-sized earthquakes Friday, both here in Lake County and in the Bay area.
A 3.8 earthquake hit The Geysers at 10:50 a.m. at a depth of half a mile, according to the US Geological Survey. It was centered one mile north of The Geysers and five miles west southwest of Cobb.
A few hours earlier, the Bay Area was shaken by a 4.2 magnitude quake centered two miles east northeast of Oakland at a depth of 3.6 miles, which the US Geological Survey recorded at 4:42 a.m.
There were no reports of injuries but some buildings were damaged when their windows broke during the shaker.
The US Geological Survey reported that the quake was felt in such wide-ranging areas as Eureka, Santa Rosa, San Luis Obispo and Carson City, Nev.
The Oakland quake was centered along the Bay Area's Hayward fault, and was not related to The Geysers quake. U.S. Geological Survey seismologist David Oppenheimer previously told Lake County News that the quakes at The Geysers are attributable to the geothermal industry in the area.
The Friday morning quake at The Geysers is the third earthquake of magnitude 3.0 or above that has occurred in Lake County this month, with two taking place this week according to U.S. Geological Survey records.
A 3.2 earthquake hit The Geysers area Wednesday afternoon, centered three miles north of The Geysers.
On July 11, a 3.0 earthquake centered one mile west northwest of The Geysers occurred in the early morning.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LUCERNE – A Lower Lake man was arrested for driving under the influence and causing bodily injury after he allegedly caused a three-car collision along Highway 20 Wednesday night.
As Lake County News reported Thursday, the collision took place east of Lucerne near Paradise Cove.
Joseph John Dingess, 35, was arrested Thursday after his release from Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, where he was airlifted after the crash.
A report from the California Highway Patrol said that Dingess was driving a Ford Ranger pickup westbound along Highway 20 near Cora Drive when he lost control of his vehicle.
He crossed over the double yellow lines and into the eastbound lane, where the left front of his vehicle collided with the left side of a Pontiac Firebird, whose occupants, from Clearlake, were not identified.
Dingess continued out of control, with the rear of his pickup hitting the front of a Toyota 4Runner whose three occupants are from Williams.
Five of the six individuals in the three cars were transported to local hospitals, the CHP reported, with Dingess going to Santa Rosa by REACH helicopter. Dingess suffered minor injuries, with the other five suffering moderate injuries.
Suzanne Dunn of Williams, who was riding in the 4Runner, told Lake County News that a man in the vehicle with her suffered a fractured back. Their dog was separated from them during the crash but a man who came upon the accident found the dog and reunited them.
Information about the rest of the crash victims' injuries was not available.
Dingess remained in the Lake County Jail on Thursday night. He's being held on $20,000 bail.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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