Believe It...Or ELSE...
We've got a LOT of ground to cover today, so before we commence to getting into "quick-step", I wanted to mention this:
On yesterday's post, I talked about WHAT TO DO when (or if) your car encounters HIGH WATER (the best solution is to AVOID IT), and I talked about having a punch-tool for the windows, etc.
Well, GUESS what was featured on the 5 & 6 o'clock news (WANE-they have a video of the story) here in Fort Wayne?
If you said "What to do if your car is submerged in high water"...go to the head of the class, kids!
(and give yourself a GOLD star!)
I was AMAZED.
(and thank you, Alyssa)
Nice to know that there are OTHERS out there that peruse this blog, even IF they never comment...LOL.
Okay then...on to the GOOD stuff, and trust me, THIS will open your eyes.
*** My late father served in the USAAF in India during WW II...and he saw his share of oddities.
One thing he talked about that I will NEVER forget were the native Gurkha "soldiers" that protected the small airstrip we held there (Barrackpore).
Dad told me they'd sit outside the barracks all day, sharpening their Kukris...a curved blade...like a bent machete.
At night, these men would go into the jungles surrounding the airstrip and hunt for Japanese (like game).
They wore scalps on their sashes or collected teeth...sounds a bit MUCH, but that's what they did...as a symbol of "victory".
(To each his own, I guess. Everyone SHOULD have a hobby.)
But Dad also told me they used to chew on a native plant...called KHAT.
(pronounced 'cot')
I suppose they didn't like Wrigley's spearmint all that much from our troops.
Whatever the case, it was this plant that imbued these Gurkhas with an "unusual" demeanor...Dad always said they just smiled if you asked them anything...spoke little English (if any). But they DID love to sharpen their weapon. So, I grew up knowing what KHAT was, thanks to WW2 tales from my Dad...amazing how you always remember some things.
Now, I provided this prologue to ease you into the "rest of the story"...
I saw this on a local news site...not that large an article, but you can imagine how it "peaked my interest":
(( WOWO - 2 MARCH 2011
Indiana police have a new drug on their radar.
It's an African plant called "Khat" and causes a high similar to meth along with hallucinations when it's chewed.
The FBI made a recent Khat smuggling bust in Indianapolis leading to the arrest of 13 people. ))
(*AHEM*)
That was the ENTIRE article...period !
SO, being the "junkyard mutt" I am, I decided to NOT let go on this one, but rather dig a little deeper and see what I find.
I sure wasn't disappointed.
Here is the WIKI on KHAT...this link provides a LOT more than you need to know:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khat
Just some highlights:
-- Khat contains the alkaloid called cathinone, an amphetamine-like stimulant which is said to cause excitement, loss of appetite, and euphoria. In 1980, the World Health Organization classified khat as a drug of abuse that can produce mild to moderate psychological dependence (less than tobacco or alcohol). The plant has been targeted by anti-drug organizations like the DEA. It is a controlled or illegal substance in many countries, but is legal for sale and production in many others.
-- The ancient Egyptians considered the khat plant a "divine food" which was capable of releasing humanity's divinity. The Egyptians used the plant for more than its stimulating effects; they used it as a metamorphic process and transcended into "apotheosis", intending to make the user god-like.
-- Due to the availability of rapid, inexpensive air transportation, the plant has been reported in England, Wales, Rome, Amsterdam, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. The international community has become more aware of this plant through media reports pertaining to the United Nations mission in Somalia (where khat use is widespread), as well as through its role in the Persian Gulf.
-- It is mainly a recreational drug in the countries which grow khat, though it may also be used by farmers and laborers for reducing physical fatigue or hunger, and by drivers and students for improving attention.
-- Khat is so popular in Yemen that its cultivation consumes much of the country's agricultural resources.
It is estimated that 40% of the country's water supply goes towards irrigating it, with production increasing by about 10% to 15% every year.
-- Khat consumption induces mild euphoria and excitement. A meta-analysis in The Lancet has stated that khat creates a pleasuring effect to the same degree as ecstasy. Individuals become very talkative under the influence of the drug and may appear to be unrealistic and emotionally unstable.
-- The use of khat results in constipation. Dilated pupils (mydriasis) are prominent during khat consumption, reflecting the sympathomimetic effects of the drug, which are also reflected in increased heart rate and blood pressure. A state of drowsy hallucinations (hypnagogic hallucinations) may result when coming down from khat use, as well.
-- Withdrawal symptoms that may follow occasional use include mild depression and irritability. Withdrawal symptoms that may follow prolonged khat use include lethargy, mild depression, nightmares, and slight tremor. Khat is an effective anorectic (causes loss of appetite). Long-term use can precipitate the following effects: negative impact on liver function, permanent tooth darkening (of a greenish tinge), susceptibility to ulcers, and diminished sex drive.
-- Regular khat use compromises the ability to inhibit undesirable behavior. Frequent use has been shown to decrease self-control.
-- In the United States, cathine is a Schedule IV controlled substance and cathinone is a Schedule I drug, according to the U.S. Controlled Substance Act. The 1993 DEA rule placing cathinone in Schedule I noted that it was effectively also banning khat.
-- Cathinone is the major psychoactive component of the plant Catha edulis (khat). The young leaves of khat are chewed for a stimulant effect. Enactment of this rule results in the placement of any material which contains cathinone into Schedule I.
-- Khat has been seized by local police and federal authorities on several occasions. The plant itself is specifically banned in Missouri.
Well, GOOD for Missouri.
Here we though that something like SPICE or K2 was bad for 'ya...
Which brings us to the center of this shrubbery-maze.
WHY are Indiana police only NOW noticing this plant???
(I think this qualifies as one of those "WTF?" moments)
I mean, it's not a "new" plant...hell, the EGYPTIANS used the damn thing...!
And it's ALL OVER the Middle east, right?
I'd bet that Iraq War vets know about it, and if not, they SHOULD.
Apparently, this drug/plant has been making it's way into the US for some time...and NOT just recently.
Here's a link to the DEA, dating back to 2006:
http://www.justice.gov/dea/pubs/pressrel/pr072606.html
This is a GREAT read, especially when you see the AMOUNTS of Khat involved.
I'm familiar with the OCDETF (Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force)..nice group of folks.
But we're not finished yet...
Let's set our WAY-BACK machine before that story:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/extra/series-1/smuggling_drugs_khat.shtml
The above article dates to 2004!
Here's a story from UTAH going back to 2007:
http://www.drug-addiction.com/khat_addiction.htm
And this gem from the Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR):
http://www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/drugs/khat.asp
Wow, khat is used during RAMADAN...I wouldn't have guessed.
Here's a link to ISLAM IN EUROPE blog (another must see article):
http://islamineurope.blogspot.com/2010/02/europe-khat-smuggling-finances-al.html
Nice to know that ALL "proceeds" from the sale of Khat go into funding al-Shabaab, also known as the Mujahideen Youth Movement.
(who knew?)
Here's the WIKI on those folks:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Shabaab
Now WHO would have guessed that the USofA had such radical Islamists in it's midst?
And here's the link to the most recent story out of Indianapolis:
http://www.theindychannel.com/news/26970768/detail.html
The title says it all -
Feds Uncover Sophisticated Drug Smuggling Ring - Drug Travels From Africa To Indianapolis In 48 Hours
This article appeared back on 28 February 2011.
Nice to know that the USPS, FED-EX and UPS all have job security...
Still, it makes you wonder WHY it's taken SO long for this to be discovered in Indiana?
Granted the brief "shelf-life" of Khat's potency comes into play.
Dried khat ain't as good as FRESH khat.
It also makes you wonder about the Burmese population, and last year's flap (in Fort Wayne) over a Burmese patron spitting on the floor of a store, with the owner placing signage that he didn't want such people in his store.
Wonder if the Burmese were chewing KHAT (because like chewing tobacco, you DO spit the saliva out).
I'm just sayin'...
Now, we'll probably see more stories that reflect this trend of drug abuse...hopefully.
While this will no doubt be considered as "harmless" as other substances (some will erroneously equate this to caffeine), it does induce or produce hallucinogenic effects, and not everyone REACTS the same way to that...do they?
I felt the need to share this, because of the ties to the Middle East, terrorism funding, and how these are all pieces to the much larger puzzle.
Well, now we have a few MORE of those pieces, and we can see the puzzle a bit better now.
Still, vigilance and awareness need to be our beacons these days.
We're being assaulted from all sides, and it gets difficult to fully protect ourselves.
But I feel that we're on the right track, even if we're moving at a snail's pace.
At least we're moving, and MOVEMENT IS LIFE.
Always question things that need or otherwise demand questioning...take nothing at face-value.


Find out for yourself.
The truth will always guide your path.
And your faith will light it.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...

Stay safe out there, America.