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7 People Killed in Pakistan Shiite Procession
Today's Headlines
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Page 6: Politix
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Africa North
Muslim Brotherhood call for million man march
The Muslim Brotherhood (MB) are calling for two protests this week in support of decisions President Mohamed Morsy made on Thursday.

In a statement released on Saturday, the Muslim Brotherhood called for protests in all governorates on Sunday, as well as a million man march on Tuesday in Abdeen Square. The Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood said that they will not be participating in the million man march, according to FJP spokesperson, Walid Haddad.

The MB calls for protests come after anti-Morsy demonstrators made calls for protests on Tuesday. Several tents are already up in Tahrir Square and 14 political groups have so far announced that they will take part in Tuesday protests. The protesters are demanding the reversal of the constitutional declaration, which Morsy announced on Thursday.

Abdeen Square is only a few kilometres from Tahrir Square, sparking fears that clashes may erupt between the two groups.
Posted by: tipper || 11/24/2012 16:37 || Comments || Link || [336070 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Calypso Louie Farrakhan and Jesse Jackson Sr. can lead them
Posted by: Frank G || 11/24/2012 16:54 Comments || Top||


Morsi Divides Egypt
A stark new divide appeared to be emerging in America Egypt on Friday after the nation's first democratically elected president asserted nearly unlimited powers, as rival crowds of demonstrators poured into the streets of the capital to express disgust and admiration for the move.

In a thunderous speech in front of a presidential palace in Cairo, Morsi told thousands of cheering supporters that the sweeping decrees he issued Thursday were intended to defend the revolution that led to Morsi's election this June.

But just a few miles away in Tahrir Square, thousands more people, most of them well-educated and secular, said that they were resolved to press for another revolution, this time against the Islamist leader who won 52 percent of the presidential vote. Many people said Morsi's actions were verging on dictatorship.
But the "Prez" speaks for the "People". He has a "Mandate".
The Obama administration expressed dismay over Morsi's action. Victoria Nuland, the State Department spokeswoman, noted that a core aim of the upheaval that toppled Mubarak had been to "ensure that power would not be overly concentrated in the hands of any one person or institution."
We didn't expect them to copy The One so quickly!
In his speech, Morsi used harsh language in denouncing judges and prosecutors for doing too little to address the corruption and abuses of the Mubarak years. "There are weevils eating away at Egypt's nation," Morsi said.
No wonder the Obamanauts are worried!
"We have been living in a dictatorship for a very long time, but not like this," said Yehia el-Gamal, a constitutional law expert who served as a deputy prime minister early in the post-Mubarak era. He said the move went well beyond anything that Mubarak or his predecessors Anwar Sadat and Gamal Abdel Nasser had attempted in the years since 1956 when the monarchy was toppled.
Similar to the toppling of the Bush dynasty.
Morsi and his supporters, who include the ultraconservative Nour Party and other groups of political Islamists, have said that the moves were necessary at a time when obstacles erected by judges and prosecutors installed under Mubarak have blocked the new president's agenda.
Can't get in the way of the President's agenda, can we.
His supporters say the action was intended in large part to protect the work of a committee appointed to write a new constitution at a time when Egypt's highest court had signaled that it might disband that squabbling body. Morsi has said he will relinquish his extraordinary powers after the constitution is written and a new legislature elected.
Perhaps Morsi thinks he is the first person to utter those words.
Posted by: Bobby || 11/24/2012 10:57 || Comments || Link || [336068 views] Top|| File under:


Libya Against Aid To Syrian Rebels
[Tripoli Post] Libya's interim president and head of the General National Congress, Mohammed al-Magharief has said he is against any foreign intervention in Syria or the arming of the opposition.

Addressing a presser with Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki, Dr Magharief laid out their joint positions on Syria against foreign interference.

Both also called for Syrian Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad
Lord of the Baath...
to step down.

Dr al-Magharief said they were withholding recognition of the new Syrian opposition coalition until they could evaluate how representative it was.
Posted by: Fred || 11/24/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336067 views] Top|| File under:


Egypt's Morsi strikes conciliatory note towards opponents
[Al Ahram] Egypt's president Mohamed Morsi struck a conciliatory note towards his opponents on Friday after a decree he issued one day earlier stirred controversy among many political forces and youth activists.
The farmer's apology to the pigs. How terribly generous.
Opening the speech he gave in front of the presidential palace in Cairo in the late afternoon hours, Morsi thanked God for "bringing all Moslems together to topple an oppressive regime and for taking Egypt to the path of democracy, freedom, social justice and stability."
No notice taken of the Copts or the non-religious....but it's not as if they are really people under Sharia law. So much for conciliation.
Morsi stressed that he, as president, does not only stand by his supporters but also with his opposition, referring to the thousands gathered in Tahrir Square to protest against the Constitutional Declaration that he issued late Thursday.
Kitmen.
"I stand by you, whoever you are or wherever you are ... those who support me and those who oppose me. I would never be biased towards one camp against the other," he said amid loud cheers from the supporters of the Moslem Brüderbund, from which he hails.

The declaration stipulated that the president's decisions cannot be overturned by any judicial authority, which would mean Morsi has legislative, executive, constitutional and now judicial authorities, leading commentators and protesters to dub Morsi the "new Pharaoh."

In addition, the controversy-dogged Constituent Assembly and Shura Council (upper house of parliament) would be immune to dissolution by a judicial body, a move that angered many.

"The Constitutional Declaration does not aim to exact Dire Revenge™ on anyone," Morsi said, adding that it is the opposition's right to express their discontent with the constitutional document.

Morsi's speech was repeatedly interrupted by chants of "the people demand the cleansing of the media" but he stopped short of making a direct reference to one of the headline-grabbing issues.

Supporters say Morsi must have a more tough approach when dealing with his critics while opponents say he had already started to curb the freedom of media by taking the liberal Dream TV off air earlier this month.

Morsi assured the crowds that he does not want to abuse his legislative power, adding that he would never use his authorities against any person or party.

"I'm only holding the legislative power out of necessity. I wanted to bring back the parliament, but I couldn't," he said.

"Paid thugs"

Morsi slammed Mohamed Mahmoud Street protesters, claiming they were "paid thugs" who were pushed to attack the police, adding that he does not accept any attack on state institutions.

Protesters commemorating last year's infamous Mohamed Mahmoud festivities, which left over 40 killed, engaged in fresh confrontations with police forces near the interior ministry since Monday evening.

"We saw videos showing little kids saying they were paid to throw rocks in Mohamed Mahmoud," he said.
They wouldn't have needed the money if their papas were were properly employed in a functioning economy...which Egypt doesn't have an iceberg's hope in Hell of achieving.
"The money stolen [during the Mubarak era] is now being used to disrupt the path of the revolution."

The president also alluded to "a new law", which will be used to "restore order" in Egypt.
Will it also make the trains run on time and clean out the undesirables?
"In the new law there is no room for cutting roads or stifling productions," he said in reference to the recent waves of labour action across the Egyptian private and public sectors.

"The Egyptian people are rising, but our enemies outside and few remnants of the past regime do not want us to. God protected our revolution and will make it victorious eventually.

While Morsi gave his speech, festivities continued around Tahrir Square. Tear gas canisters were thrown by CSF from Qasr Al-Ainy Street reaching edges of the square where thousands were gathered to protest the president's constitutional declaration.

The new constitutional declaration also saw Morsi dismiss the current prosecutor-general, bringing judge Talaat Abdullah, a former deputy head of Egypt's Court of Cassation, in his place.

Abdullah replaces Abdel-Meguid Mahmoud, who was recently at loggerheads with Morsi over a presidential decision to remove him from his post.

The declaration stipulates the retrial of all exonerated former regime figures and those accused of killing or injuring protesters during and after last year's Tahrir Square uprising.
The natural outcome of the foreign policy of the Smartest Man In The Room. Take pride in your work, Mr. President -- you own this.
Posted by: Fred || 11/24/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336068 views] Top|| File under: Muslim Brotherhood

#1  Backing the wrong guy once again ?
Posted by: Besoeker || 11/24/2012 9:12 Comments || Top||

#2  "I wouldn't hurt a fly" "I'm everyone's friend even my enemies" "kill the paid thugs"
Posted by: Large Darling of the Antelope3345 || 11/24/2012 9:59 Comments || Top||

#3  you've got to ... Walk Like An Egyptian.
ba ba ba bup
ba ba ba bup
ba ba ba bup bup bup!!!
Posted by: Raider || 11/24/2012 10:07 Comments || Top||

#4  does not aim to exact Dire Revenge™ on anyone

Aim for? Maybe not. A celebrated ancillary benefit? Definitely.
Posted by: AlanC || 11/24/2012 10:30 Comments || Top||

#5  Backing the wrong guy once again ?

Given the White House foreign policy, I'd say that they don't think so.
Posted by: Pappy || 11/24/2012 12:56 Comments || Top||

#6  "I sympathize with your position, but I'm still going to have to shoot you in the head. I'm sure you understand."
Posted by: Charles || 11/24/2012 16:05 Comments || Top||


Morsi advisor resigns over 'undemocratic' Constitutional Declaration
[Al Ahram] Samir Morcos, a Coptic Christian presidential advisor, resigns in protest at Morsi's Constitutional Declaration which he says is 'undemocratic and a leap backwards'
Pack your family's goods and empty your bank account while you still can, Mr. Morcos -- there's not much time left for your kind.
Posted by: Fred || 11/24/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336070 views] Top|| File under: Arab Spring

#1  Would it be a reach to say that Samir Morcos and Valerie Jarrett have absolutely nothing in common
?
Posted by: Besoeker || 11/24/2012 7:25 Comments || Top||


U.S. Urges Calm, Dialogue in Egypt
[An Nahar] The United States said on Friday that the assumption of sweeping powers by Egypt's President Mohamed Morsi was a matter of concern, amid a new round of protests in the country.

"The decisions and declarations announced on November 22 raise concerns for many Egyptians and for the international community," said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland, in a statement.

"One of the aspirations of the revolution was to ensure that power would not be overly concentrated in the hands of any one person or institution," she said, referring to the uprising that toppled veteran ruler Hosni Mubarak
...The former President-for-Life of Egypt, dumped by popular demand in early 2011...
Nuland warned that Egypt's "constitutional vacuum ... can only be resolved by the adoption of a constitution that includes checks and balances, and respects fundamental freedoms, individual rights, and the rule of law consistent with Egypt's international commitments."

"We call for calm and encourage all parties to work together and call for all Egyptians to resolve their differences over these important issues peacefully and through democratic dialogue," she added.
Posted by: Fred || 11/24/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336069 views] Top|| File under: Muslim Brotherhood

#1  Notice - "State Department". And pablum at that.

Nothing from the White House.
Posted by: Pappy || 11/24/2012 11:31 Comments || Top||

#2  Nothing from the White House

which is considering the idea that maybe Morsi is onto something.
Posted by: Matt || 11/24/2012 12:00 Comments || Top||


EU Urges Morsi to Respect Egypt's Democratic Process
[An Nahar] The European Union
...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing...
on Friday urged Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi to respect the democratic process after he assumed sweeping powers decried by the opposition as dictatorial.

"It is of utmost importance that democratic process be completed in accordance with the commitments undertaken by the Egyptian leadership," a front man for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said in a statement.

Morsi must ensure the separation of powers, the independence of justice, the protection of fundamental freedoms and the holding of democratic parliamentary elections "as soon as possible", said front man Michael Mann.

Egypt's President Mohamed Morsi vowed Friday to press forward after he assumed sweeping powers decried by the opposition as dictatorial.

"No one can stop our march forward... I am performing my duty to please God and the nation and I take decisions after I consult with everyone," the official MENA news agency quoted him as saying.
Posted by: Fred || 11/24/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336067 views] Top|| File under: Muslim Brotherhood

#1  urged Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi to respect the democratic process

The EU??? Why should Morsi be held to a standard that the EU certainly doesn't hold to.
Posted by: AlanC || 11/24/2012 10:31 Comments || Top||


France Warns Morsi Move Not in 'Right Direction'
[An Nahar] La Belle France on Friday raised concerns Egypt was not moving in the "right direction" after President Mohamed Morsi assumed sweeping powers decried by the opposition.

"After decades of dictatorship... the political and democratic transition cannot take place in a few weeks or a few months.

"Given this, the constitutional declaration made yesterday by President Morsi... does not seem to us to be in the right direction," said French foreign ministry front man Philippe Lalliot.

Reforms in Egypt "must lead to the establishment of democratic and pluralist institutions that respect public freedoms", among them the independence of the judiciary, he added.

On Thursday, Morsi undercut a hostile judiciary that had been considering whether to scrap an Islamist-dominated panel drawing up a new constitution in Egypt, stripping judges of the right to rule on the case or to challenge his decrees.

The move has sparked violent protests in Egypt.
Posted by: Fred || 11/24/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336067 views] Top|| File under: Muslim Brotherhood

#1  him move not in right direction.
Tonto says - him big tricky dictator, kimosabe!!
Posted by: Raider || 11/24/2012 10:11 Comments || Top||


Morsi: No One Can Stop Our March Forward
[An Nahar] Egypt's Islamist President Mohamed Morsi told supporters on Thursday that Egypt was on the path to "freedom and democracy," a day after he assumed sweeping powers that critics said made him a dictator.

"Political stability, social stability and economic stability are what I want and that is what I am working for," he told an Islamist rally outside the presidential palace.

Secular opponents staged a rival rally in Cairo's Tahrir Square to denounce Morsi's power grab after he issued a decree on Thursday that gives his decisions immunity from judicial oversight.

"I have always been, and still am, and will always be, God willing, with the pulse of the people, what the people want, with clear legitimacy," he said from a podium before thousands of supporters.

"God wants welfare, stability, freedom and democracy for this country," he added.

"I am with you but I'm also with all of Egypt's sons, with those who support us and with those who oppose us and I will never take sides," Morsi told his supporters.

The president stressed that the values of freedom, democracy and power rotation "must be above all else."

He noted that no one can claim that they own the revolution, "because the revolution is led by its objectives: a new and secure Egypt."

The president stressed that the presence of an opposition movement is essential. "I'm not worried at all that there is an opposition. We rather need a strong opposition and I will preserve all its rights so that it can practice its role," he said.

"I want to tell everyone that we have equal rights in this country and Egypt is for us all," said Morsi.

He noted that he did not take his controversial decisions "with the aim of confronting anyone."

"I must put myself on the right path in order to achieve the objectives," Morsi added.

The defiant leader stressed that he "will not allow anyone to act outside the umbrella of the country."

Commenting on the unrest that erupted in the wake of the constitutional declaration he issued, Morsi said: "We will not tolerate corrupt money and I cannot allow thugs to harm the country's security."

Accusing the regime of toppled strongman Hosni Mubarak
...The former President-for-Life of Egypt, dumped by popular demand in early 2011...
of playing a role in the protests, Morsi added: "Corrupt money collected during the corrupt era is being paid to thugs so that they attack state institutions, but the revolution will go on."

"We will not be lenient in implementing the law firmly against those who disobey it," he vowed.

In remarks carried by the official MENA news agency earlier on Friday, Morsi said: "No one can stop our march forward... I am performing my duty to please God and the nation and I take decisions after I consult with everyone."

Morsi delivered his Cairo speech as protesters set fire to Moslem Brüderbund offices across the country and amid rival rallies and festivities.

The offices of the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), the Moslem Brüderbund's political arm, were torched in the canal cities of Ismailiya and Port Saeed.

A branch office of the Islamist party was set on fire in Alexandria and protesters were heading to the group's main office in the Mediterranean city's Sidi Gaber neighborhood, security officials said.

"The situation in Alexandria is tense and security forces are eager to exercise self-restraint and maintain security and protect vital establishments," General Abdelmawgud Lutfi, head of Alexandria security, said in a statement.
Posted by: Fred || 11/24/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336068 views] Top|| File under: Arab Spring

#1  Morsi: No One Can Stop Our March Forward [into the sea]
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 11/24/2012 16:40 Comments || Top||

#2  Forward...forward...where have I heard that before?
Posted by: Lowspark || 11/24/2012 17:04 Comments || Top||

#3  We should vote to cut off food aid to all dictatorships: N Korea, Sudan, Egypt, Syria, ....wait, Egypt? Yep
Posted by: Frank G || 11/24/2012 17:16 Comments || Top||

#4  As a slogan, "Forward" has a much better ring than "Swirling the Bowl".
Posted by: SteveS || 11/24/2012 17:19 Comments || Top||


China-Japan-Koreas
N. Korea preparing for missile launch
Posted by: Water Modem || 11/24/2012 17:42 || Comments || Link || [336078 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "pay attention to meeeeeee!"
Posted by: Frank G || 11/24/2012 19:33 Comments || Top||


The Grand Turk
Turkey Swaps Gold for Iranian Gas
ISTANBUL—Turkey on Friday acknowledged that a surge in its gold exports this year is related to payments for imports of Iranian natural gas, shedding light on Ankara's role in breaching U.S.-led sanctions against Tehran.

The continuing trade deal offers the most striking example of how Iran is using creative ways to sidestep Western sanctions over its disputed nuclear program, which have largely frozen it out of the global banking system.

Tehran has sought alternative means of payment for energy exports—its main foreign currency earner and economic lifeblood—including renminbi and rupees, as well as gold, in an attempt to skirt international sanctions and pay for its soaring food costs.

Analysts cautioned that although the trade with Iran wasn't illegal, Ankara wanted to keep details out of the public eye for fear of raising the ire of Washington, which is leading the international push against Tehran for its alleged push to develop nuclear weapons.

Turkey sold $6.4 billion of gold to Iran in the first nine months of this year, up from just $54 million in 2011, according to official data, tripling Ankara's exports to its eastern neighbor.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 11/24/2012 02:47 || Comments || Link || [336072 views] Top|| File under:

#1  more hard currency flowing into the nuke program.
Posted by: Raider || 11/24/2012 10:06 Comments || Top||

#2  I'm sure obooble believes he'll be able to confiscate their gold too...
Posted by: M. Murcek || 11/24/2012 10:39 Comments || Top||

#3  Hell we got the Germans, why not the Persians?
Posted by: Shipman || 11/24/2012 15:43 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Data gleaned from SIM card found at twin blasts site
[Dawn] All contact details and text messages, even the deleted ones, were retrieved on Thursday from a subscriber identity module (SIM) found at the scene of the crime of the twin blasts in Orangi Town.

While the forensic division of police also deciphered the identification number of the SIM and passed on all the information to an inquiry officer of the case, the name of the subscriber remains to be ascertained.

"We have analysed and retrieved all the contacts and deleted messages from the (SIM) card in the 'digital forensic lab' recently commissioned in the Bloody Karachi
...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It may be the largest city in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
office of Forensic Division," said AIG Forensic Division SSP Munir Sheikh while speaking to Dawn.

"We have been able to find out that no call had been made from the SIM nor any call had been received on it," the officer added.

"The identification number (i.e) SIM number has also been deciphered, we have handed over all the gleaned information to the inquiry officer of the case," SSP Sheikh said.

A team of the forensic division had collected the SIM card and a cellphone from the scene of the crime on Wednesday night and brought it to the lab for an examination.

The officer said the name of the person who had subscribed the SIM had not been ascertained so far, citing that it was yet to be seen if it belonged to any person involved in the twin blasts.
Posted by: Fred || 11/24/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336072 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Taliban, elders join hands against 'criminals' in N. Waziristan
[Dawn] The local Taliban and elders of Uthmanzai tribe have formed a joint lashkar to take action against those elements, who are involved in murders, kidnappings and attacks on security forces.

The 100 men strong lashkar was formed at a jirga held at Anghar Kallay near Miranshah
... headquarters of al-Qaeda in Pakistain and likely location of Ayman al-Zawahiri. The Haqqani network has established a ministate in centered on the town with courts, tax offices and lots of madrassas...
here on Thursday. The jirga was attended by Taliban and Uthmanzai elders.

Local Taliban capo Hafiz Gul Bahadur, Maulvi Gul Ramazan, Malik Nasrullah Khan, Malik Misal Khan and others addressed the jirga.

They said that peace agreement inked with the government was still intact. They also urged security forces not to violate the peace agreement inked with the tribal people.

"Kidnappers, forces of Evil and those involved in attacks on security forces should leave North Wazoo Agency immediately," the jirga decided unanimously. The lashkar would patrol markets and other public places in Miranshah and its adjacent areas.

The jirga authorised the lashkar to launch an action against criminals, kidnappers, hit mans and those, who were attacking security forces.

Sources said that the decision was taken keeping in view the growing incidents of kidnappings, and killing of tribal elders and attacks on security forces during the past few weeks.

Recently, two tribal elders -- Malik Mashar Khan and Malik Noor Din Darpakhel -- were targeted killed. Besides, a military tank was destroyed in a roadside kaboom on Sunday last. A newspaper hawker, Omar Daraz, was also kidnapped in the area.

The elders asked the administration to allow the lashkar to man the checkposts along with security personnel.

Hafiz Gul Bahadur asked political administration not to misuse Frontier Crimes Regulation and stop bombing of civilian targets. "The political administration should not misuse its powers as we are aware of our responsibilities under the FCR," he said.

Later, the jirga members headed by Malik Nasrullah Khan and Maulvi Gul Ramazan, called on Political Agent Siraj Ahmad Khan and apprised him of the decisions taken at the joint jirga.

The political agent appreciated the decisions of the jirga and urged the elders to play their role in lifting ban on polio
...Poliomyelitis is a disease caused by infection with the poliovirus. Between 1840 and the 1950s, polio was a worldwide epidemic. Since the development of polio vaccines the disease has been largely wiped out in the civilized world. However, since the vaccine is known to make Moslem pee-pees shrink and renders females sterile, bookish, and unsubmissive it is not widely used by the turban and automatic weapons set...
vaccination in the area.

Taliban had banned polio vaccination in the area that deprived thousands of children of immunisation during the last few months. Taliban say that they will allow vaccination in the area if drone attacks are stopped.

The jirga also discussed the issue of suspension of electricity to North Waziristan Agency and demanded of the administration to allow the joint lashkar to take action against Bakakhel tribe for disrupting the power supply.

Power supply to North Waziristan was suspended on Thursday when people of B
Power supply to North Waziristan was suspended on Thursday when people of Bakakhel tribe hooked the 132,000kv transmission line with a chain.
akakhel tribe hooked the 132,000kv transmission line with a chain. The power suspension paralysed life in the tribal agency.

The jirga elders said that few gunnies of Bakakhel tribe had disconnected the electricity supply while Bannu administration failed to take action against them.

The elders threatened that the tribal lashkar could take up arms against the Bakakhels but they were waiting for the administration to initiate action in that regard. They held the Bannu administration responsible for the power crisis in North Waziristan Agency.
Posted by: Fred || 11/24/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336071 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in Pakistan


Jamming cell phones will not stop us: Taliban spokesman
[Dawn] A front man for the Pak Taliban has claimed that suspending mobile phone services in the country will not hold back the bad turban group from carrying out its activities.

Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistain (TTP) front man Ehsanullah Ehsan, speaking on the telephone to a Dawn.com correspondent from Qazi's guesthouse an undisclosed location, claimed the banned group does not carry out bombings using cellular phones as detonators.

"We do not carry out bombings through mobile phones," said the Taliban front man.

The bad turban group's claim came on a day of cellular service suspension in several parts of the country, with the interior minister announcing services would be blocked again Saturday morning for the next two days after a few hours of restoration Friday midnight.

Pak authorities say cut-throats often detonate bombs using cell phones, with Interior Minister Rehman Malik
Pak politician, Interior Minister under the Gilani government. Malik is a former Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) intelligence officer who rose to head the FIA during Benazir Bhutto's second tenure. Malik was tossed from his FIA job in 1998 after documenting the breath-taking corruption of the Sharif family. By unhappy coincidence Nawaz Sharif became PM at just that moment and Malik moved to London one step ahead of the button men. He had to give up the interior ministry job because he held dual Brit citizenship.
claiming earlier today that 90 per cent of the bombs set off by cut-throats in Pakistain have been detonated using mobile phones.

"The Taliban can not be stopped by jamming mobile phone services. We would achieve our targets in any case," said Ehsan, accusing Malik of blocking cellular services for "his own personal business interests".
Posted by: Fred || 11/24/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336068 views] Top|| File under: TTP

#1  Actually the pressure plate IED is the easiest, least expensive, and by far the most common. It can be left unarmed and unattended, and quickly armed with fresh batteries when needed.

Hanging around a waddie or kopje with a command detonator hoping to slip away following the blast has its downsides, particularly if a drone is nearby.
Posted by: Besoeker || 11/24/2012 7:17 Comments || Top||

#2  Block it anyway
Posted by: Large Darling of the Antelope3345 || 11/24/2012 9:56 Comments || Top||


Medical report says bomber 13 to 14 years old
[Dawn] An anti-terrorism court on Thursday directed the local police to keep a would-be jacket wallah in safe custody after his medical examination suggested that he was around 13 to 14 years old.
They must have counted his growth rings.
An official source told Dawn that the court had also taken notice of the non-production of another suspect, Jehangir, who was also placed in durance vile
Into the paddy wagon wit' yez!
along with the bomber, on Nov 20, but the local police have so far not made public his arrest.

He said that the court, presided over by Ibrahim Khan, has sought explanation from the Beautiful Downtown Peshawar
...capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly known as the North-West Frontier Province), administrative and economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. Peshawar is situated near the eastern end of the Khyber Pass, convenient to the Pak-Afghan border. Peshawar has evolved into one of Pakistan's most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities, which means lots of gunfire.
police chief as to why the suspect, who was shown on different television channels, has not been Medical report says bomber 13 to 14 years old produced before the court despite passage of over two days. Under the Constitution of Pakistain and Code of Criminal Procedure an arrested suspect has to be produced before the court within 24 hours of his arrest failing which he is considered to be in illegal confinement.

The would-be bomber, Bilal, a day earlier was referred to the Lady Reading Hospital by the ATC with the direction that his medical examination should be conducted so as to ascertain his age.

The suspect was again produced on Thursday amid strict security before the ATC situated on the first floor of the Old Judicial Complex. The police also presented his medical examination report according to which he is around 13 to 14 years of age.
Posted by: Fred || 11/24/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336070 views] Top|| File under: TTP

#1  Can't prosecute for crime because he's a child. Can't release him because he'll try again (unless you 're-educate' him.) And if you do re-educate and release him, his family would have to kill him to restore its honor.
Posted by: Glenmore || 11/24/2012 8:24 Comments || Top||

#2  Hmmm... glen has an interesting point. Maybe we could release him with explosives on him and he blows up in his family's house?

Yes, I am being extremely factious.
Posted by: DarthVader || 11/24/2012 15:25 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Hamas No. 2 Rejects Gaza Arms Halt
[Ynet] The No. 2 in Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason, has told The News Agency that Dare Not be Named that the Islamic bad turban group won't stop making weapons in Gazoo or smuggling them to the territory.

Moussa Abu Marzouk's comments Saturday pointed to the major obstacles facing Egyptian-mediated talks between Israel and the Islamists on a new border deal for Hamas-ruled Gazoo.
Posted by: trailing wife || 11/24/2012 12:42 || Comments || Link || [336087 views] Top|| File under: Hamas

#1  Sounds like it's time to resume the airstrikes.
Posted by: gorb || 11/24/2012 13:41 Comments || Top||

#2  start with #2's home and current whereabouts
Posted by: Frank G || 11/24/2012 16:45 Comments || Top||

#3  See also CHINESE MILITAY FORUM > IRAN: WE'RE TAKING OUT ISRAEL'S WARPLANES, IT SOUNDS LIKE ISRAEL WILL BE DOOMED | [Reza Khalili] ... ... SAYS ITS MISSLES ["Misagh" MANPADS] IN HAMAS' HANDS DAMAGE THE JEWISH NATION'S F-16'S.

ARTIC > IRAN = ISRAEL fails to understand the depth of the armaments in the hands of the resistance fighters.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 11/24/2012 22:15 Comments || Top||

#4  DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > EVEN WITH ROCKET-BUSTING "IRON DOME" FOR PROTECTION, FEAR HITS HOME IN ISRAEL.

The stress + tensions are likely going to become worse in the LR as various newly Islamist "post-Spring" Govts-States steadily militarize and acquire or develop LR Nukes? + advanced MilTechs.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 11/24/2012 22:38 Comments || Top||


Arafat exhumation scheduled on Tuesday
Palestinian officials said the body of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is to be exhumed on Tuesday. The body is to undergo tests to find out whether his death resulted from poisoning.

According to Arafat's medical records, he had a stroke resulting from a blood disorder. But France started a murder inquiry in August after Swiss experts working with a documentary crew found radioactive polonium-210 on Arafat's personal effects.

The chief investigator Taufik al Tirawi said they had recently asked the Russians to join in the investigation because of their "historical relationship" with Moscow. It appears the Palestinians do not fully trust France and Switzerland when it comes to determining whether their former leader was murdered.

While most Palestinians are sure Arafat was murdered, there are serious questions about the validity of testing for polonium poisoning eight years after his death. The half-life of polonium is less than five months.

Once the body is taken from the tomb inside the stone-clad mausoleum, scientists from France, Switzerland and Russia will each take samples. The experts will then take these samples to their respective countries to be tested for Polonium 210 and possibly other lethal substances. Arafat's body will be reburied the same day with military honors.
Posted by: ryuge || 11/24/2012 05:38 || Comments || Link || [336069 views] Top|| File under:

#1  And after that they'll re-bury him at a crossroads, with a stake in his heart, face-down.
Posted by: Eric Jablow || 11/24/2012 7:00 Comments || Top||

#2  Wonder how he liked his 72 raisins.
Posted by: Mullah Richard || 11/24/2012 7:13 Comments || Top||

#3  To be named 'Yassir Arafat Circle' or roundabout.
Posted by: Au Auric || 11/24/2012 7:15 Comments || Top||

#4  Not to sound....racist or Islamo-mortophobic, but I certainly hope the exhumation party and observers are properly masked up.
Posted by: Besoeker || 11/24/2012 7:22 Comments || Top||

#5  I'll be glued to the live coverage.
Posted by: Grunter || 11/24/2012 8:18 Comments || Top||

#6  Will he finally get the car grave swarm he always wanted?
Posted by: CrazyFool || 11/24/2012 9:14 Comments || Top||

#7  do it with a JDAM
Posted by: Frank G || 11/24/2012 9:40 Comments || Top||

#8  Lock your doors, hide the boys.

Is geraldo hosting the show?
Posted by: swksvolFF || 11/24/2012 11:03 Comments || Top||

#9  And if they find Polonium in his system, who on earth did it?

Geez, that's a KGB signature, or someone trying to make it look like a KGB hit, my head spins with the possibilities.

Of course, the key question is who could get that close to him.
Posted by: Bill Clinton || 11/24/2012 11:17 Comments || Top||

#10  His wife killed him. It's usually the case in poisonings like this.
Posted by: Penguin || 11/24/2012 12:17 Comments || Top||

#11  And his wife killed him for his "fascination" for pretty little boys and young men?
Posted by: Bill Clinton || 11/24/2012 12:36 Comments || Top||

#12  I wonder if this means they found the phylactery.
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain || 11/24/2012 13:21 Comments || Top||

#13  I imagine they've got a conspiracy theory already assembled that basically means "If Polonium, then The Joos Did It."

And a sample of Polonium from the xKGB.
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain || 11/24/2012 13:22 Comments || Top||

#14  I have seen bodies exhumed, but I would NOT like to see the remains of the Arafish. Excuse me now while I finish some Thanksgiving left overs.
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 11/24/2012 14:07 Comments || Top||

#15  With Suha as his wife, he probably poisoned himself.
Posted by: gorb || 11/24/2012 14:55 Comments || Top||

#16  Got 10 down on a flyer Gangrene of the Esophagus.
Posted by: Shipman || 11/24/2012 15:46 Comments || Top||

#17  How do we know Arafat is buried in his tomb? For all we know it's just a bunch of concrete and they threw his corpse out the back hole-in-the-wall.
Posted by: Charles || 11/24/2012 15:57 Comments || Top||

#18  let's see if they buried the Dread Red Binder™ with him
Posted by: Frank G || 11/24/2012 16:10 Comments || Top||


Southeast Asia
Myanmar Blames Rohingya Militants for Border Attack
[An Nahar] Myanmar authorities on Friday accused a Rohingya krazed killer group of carrying out an attack that left one dead and three people missing -- including a soldier -- near the Bangladesh border.

The incident in Rakhine State, where scores have died in two rounds of communal unrest between Rohingya Mohammedans and Buddhists, took place on November 6 as the soldier and civilian engineers inspected a border fence near Maungdaw.

"One of the civilian staff was killed. We assume he was shot in the back when he tried to run away," presidential office front man Zaw Htay said.

There has been no news on the whereabouts of the missing trio despite Bangladeshi border guards joining the hunt.

He said the authorities were blaming the RSO (Rohingya Solidarity Organization) "which is illegally moving across the border. But we cannot say exactly yet."

Tip-offs and bullet cases found at scene indicated the group carried out the attack, he added, without providing further details.

The U.S. State Department has described the RSO as a Bangladesh-based krazed killer group that has conducted attacks in the border area since tens of thousands of Mohammedans fled Rakhine to the neighboring country after a Myanmar's military crackdown in the early 1990s.

Two major outbreaks of violence in Rakhine since June this year have left 180 dead and more than 110,000, most of them the Mohammedan Rohingya, crammed into makeshift camps.
Posted by: Fred || 11/24/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336077 views] Top|| File under:


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Syria Says Turkey Request for Missiles 'New Act of Provocation'
[An Nahar] Turkey's request to NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A collection of multinational and multilingual and multicultural armed forces, all of differing capabilities, working toward a common goal by pulling in different directions...
for Patriot missiles is "a new act of provocation," Syrian state television
... and if you can't believe state television who can you believe?
quoted a foreign ministry official it did not name as saying on Friday.

Turkey turned to its NATO partners earlier this week to request the deployment of surface-to-air Patriot missiles to protect its troubled border with Syria.

In its first reaction to Turkey's request, the Syrian foreign ministry accused Ankara of causing "tension and destruction."

"Syria holds (Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip) Erdogan responsible for the militarization of the situation at the border between Syria and Turkey, and the increase of tension and destruction to the detriment of the Syrian and Turkish peoples," the official said.
Posted by: Fred || 11/24/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336080 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria

#1  Syria, Iran + Russia all doth protest the Patriot.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 11/24/2012 21:14 Comments || Top||

#2  You can always tell whats working.
The exact stuff the bad guys complain about. Patriot batteries.... drones....etc
Posted by: MIkey Hunt || 11/24/2012 22:46 Comments || Top||


Iran: Turkey's Patriot Request 'Complicates' Syria Conflict
[An Nahar] Turkey's request to site Patriot missiles on its border with Syria only "complicates" the conflict in the Arab country, Iran's foreign ministry said on Friday.

"Not only does it not help resolve the situation in Syria but it will also aggravate and complicate the situation," ministry front man Ramin Mehmanparast said, quoted on state television.
... and if you can't believe state television who can you believe?
"The insistence (of certain countries) to resolve the Syrian crisis through military means is the main cause of tensions and threats in the region," he said.

Turkey turned to its NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Originally it was a mutual defense pact directed against an expansionist Soviet Union. In later years it evolved into a mechanism for picking the American pocket while criticizing the cut of the American pants...
partners earlier this week to request the deployment of surface-to-air Patriot missiles to protect its troubled border with Syria, which is engulfed in a civil war that has cost some 40,000 lives.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned on Friday that such a deployment may create a temptation to use the weapons and spark a "very serious armed conflict" involving NATO.
Posted by: Fred || 11/24/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336073 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran

#1  Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned on Friday that such a deployment may create a temptation to use the weapons and spark a "very serious armed conflict" involving NATO.

Is Foreign Minister Lavrov referring to the recent, highly successful NATO operation in Libya ?
Posted by: Besoeker || 11/24/2012 7:29 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
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Two weeks of WOT
Sat 2012-11-24
  7 People Killed in Pakistan Shiite Procession
Fri 2012-11-23
  IDF, Shin Bet Arrest 55 Terror Operatives In West Bank
Thu 2012-11-22
  Mashaal: I accept a Palestinian state on '67 borders
Wed 2012-11-21
  'Bomb blast' on bus in Tel Aviv
Tue 2012-11-20
  Female Suicide Boomer Targets Qazi
Mon 2012-11-19
  Israeli Strikes Kill 21 Palestinians, Gaza Rockets Wound 10 Israelis
Sun 2012-11-18
  Israeli air strikes pound Gaza as death toll hits 38
Sat 2012-11-17
   Israel air strikes hit Hamas HQ
Fri 2012-11-16
  Israel Warns of Escalation After Tel Aviv Missile Firing
Thu 2012-11-15
  Gaza missiles fired at Tel Aviv
Wed 2012-11-14
  France recognizes rebel coalition as legitimate rulers of Syria
Tue 2012-11-13
  Jamaat, Shibir go berserk in Bangla
Mon 2012-11-12
  Govt. Soldiers shoot it out in Mogadishu
Sun 2012-11-11
  IDF Changes Rules of Engagement Along Syrian Border
Sat 2012-11-10
  Mexican police charged over US embassy staff shooting

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