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Syrian Army Launches 'All-Out Attack' on Capital Region
Today's Headlines
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Page 6: Politix
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7 23:49 trailing wife [336090] 
15 19:08 Besoeker [336078] 
1 13:41 Redneck Jim [336076] 
Page 1: WoT Operations
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Page 2: WoT Background
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Page 4: Opinion
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4 11:22 Thing From Snowy Mountain [336079]
3 10:31 Raider [336072]
-Lurid Crime Tales-
Pending Jesse Jackson Jr. plea deal includes 'significant jail time'
[SUNTIMES]
Posted by: Fred || 02/07/2013 10:31 || Comments || Link || [336073 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Enjoy your paid vacation, Junior. You deserve it.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 02/07/2013 12:23 Comments || Top||

#2  Throw away the key.
Posted by: Victor Emmanuel Snilet8186 || 02/07/2013 13:16 Comments || Top||

#3  his Dad must be so proud. Carrying on the family graft and corruption
Posted by: Frank G || 02/07/2013 13:20 Comments || Top||

#4  No deal without names. Come on Triple-J, they're white men and half-white men, you can do it!
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/07/2013 13:32 Comments || Top||


-Short Attention Span Theater-
HaMDRoNe & SKeeTS
Posted by: tipper || 02/07/2013 19:02 || Comments || Link || [336076 views] Top|| File under:


Home Front: Politix
Code Pink Protesters Delay Brennan Confirmation – VIDEO
Posted by: tipper || 02/07/2013 20:18 || Comments || Link || [336076 views] Top|| File under:


Piers Morgan Fan Goes On Shooting Rampage, Killing Three…
Posted by: tipper || 02/07/2013 19:44 || Comments || Link || [336086 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Don't worry. The left and the MSM will ignore this as it doesn't fit the narrative.
Posted by: DarthVader || 02/07/2013 20:04 Comments || Top||



Panetta: Obama Absent Night of Benghazi
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta testified this morning on Capitol Hill that President Barack Obama was absent the night four Americans were murdered in Benghazi on September 11, 2012:

Panetta said, though he did meet with Obama at a 5 o'clock prescheduled gathering, the president left operational details, including knowledge of what resources were available to help the Americans under siege, "up to us."

In fact, Panetta says that the night of 9/11, he did not communicate with a single person at the White House. The attack resulted in the deaths of four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens.

Obama did not call or communicate in anyway with the defense secretary that night. There were no calls about what was going on in Benghazi. He never called to check-in.
Posted by: Beavis || 02/07/2013 16:57 || Comments || Link || [336066 views] Top|| File under:

#1  No one around for the 3am phone call.
Posted by: DarthVader || 02/07/2013 18:35 Comments || Top||

#2  Deja Vue
Posted by: tipper || 02/07/2013 18:38 Comments || Top||

#3  the president left operational details, including knowledge of what resources were available to help the Americans under siege, "up to us."

And it turned out so well.
Posted by: Pappy || 02/07/2013 18:56 Comments || Top||

#4  Obama did not call or communicate in anyway with the defense secretary that night. There were no calls about what was going on in Benghazi. He never called to check-in.

I find that very, very difficult to believe. Nor can I believe the decision to "Stand Down" was left to Panetta or the Director, CIA.

Again, softball questions.

1.) Secretary Panetta, what guidance or orders DID you provide, when, and to whom?

2.) What communications did you have with the CIA Chief of Station in Tripoli.

3.) What recommendations did you or whoever was in charge at the WH get from General Carter Ham, Cdr, AFRICOM?

4.) You did not communicate with POTUS. Who at the EW did you communicate with?
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/07/2013 19:03 Comments || Top||

#5  #4. Should read WH (white house) vs EW.
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/07/2013 19:04 Comments || Top||

#6  More like Deja Phooey, #2 tipper. :-(
Posted by: Barbara || 02/07/2013 19:47 Comments || Top||

#7  More Likely it was Valorie Jarret who was absent that night and not Obama.

After Obama, without advise from her, authorized the killing of OBL, I imagine he is on a very short leash - not allowed to do anything without her approval.
Posted by: CrazyFool || 02/07/2013 20:35 Comments || Top||


Hagel confirmation delayed
Sexual Harassment Investigation May Delay Hagel Vote

Hagel Refuses to Detail Foreign Funders
Add the above to the facts that he's not very smart, not very nimble in questioning, and not very prepared, and you wonder if Champ would like get out from under this one.
Posted by: Steve White || 02/07/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336090 views] Top|| File under:

#1  O probably offered Hagel as an unacceptable bone, then he will bring in an alternate that will still push O's agenda.
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 02/07/2013 0:17 Comments || Top||

#2  Same as he did with the Liar Susan Rice.
Posted by: CrazyFool || 02/07/2013 0:27 Comments || Top||

#3  The aide details, "Committee members have specific concerns with regard to foreign contributions to the Atlantic Council by Saad Hariri (or the Hariri family).

Likely the reason he was nominated in the first place.
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/07/2013 3:05 Comments || Top||

#4  Maybe Champ put him up because he is not too smart- but controllable. Maybe, he wanted to appear to be reaching across the aisle. Maybe he had in mind someone else all the time.
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/07/2013 10:07 Comments || Top||

#5  Chump thought he had a dimwit Republican face to implement his Defense cuts, anti-Joooo agenda, and bow to the Mullahs. "Hey! He's one of yours!"
Posted by: Frank G || 02/07/2013 13:22 Comments || Top||

#6  rumor is that he spoke at a "friends of Hamas" lunch

seems there isn't any such organization registered as a charity org
Posted by: lord garth || 02/07/2013 22:06 Comments || Top||

#7  rumor is that he spoke at a "friends of Hamas" lunch

And he already has a lovely reputation as a friend of Hizb'allah. Such a lovely man.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/07/2013 23:49 Comments || Top||


Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley for handgun purchase licenses
[WASHINGTONTIMES] Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley will urge state lawmakers on Wednesday to pass legislation requiring residents to obtain a license before purchasing a handgun, but Second Amendment advocates hope to drown out his message.

Mr. O'Malley, a Democrat, will testify before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee in favor of his bill, which would also ban assault weapons, limit magazine capacities to 10 rounds and require prospective gun buyers to complete a safety course and pay a $100 application fee.

However, gun-rights advocates will descend upon Annapolis to rally against a bill that they say tramples on gun owners' rights and won't stop criminals who carry illegal guns.

"The overriding problem with the governor's bill is that it does little to address the bad guys with the guns," said Delegate Michael D. Smigiel Sr., Cecil Republican, who said rally organizers are expecting 1,000 to 3,000 people. "It deals with ways of curtailing law-abiding citizens from being able to exercise their full Second Amendment rights."

Mr. O'Malley proposed his legislation last month in an effort to fight gun violence and prevent incidents similar to last year's deadly shootings in Newtown, Conn., and Aurora, Colo.

While requiring a permit to carry a handgun in public is the norm throughout most of the U.S., only nine states currently require a license or permit to purchase a handgun, according to Johns Hopkins University's Center for Gun Policy and Research.

Maryland would join Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York as states that require applicants to also provide fingerprints and give state officials authority to reject applications.

Connecticut and Iowa require fingerprints but have no authority to reject applicants. Illinois, Michigan, Nebraska and North Carolina require licenses, but do not reject applications or require fingerprints.
Posted by: Fred || 02/07/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336076 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Alabama does NOT have this crap, Move down here, please.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/07/2013 13:41 Comments || Top||


Home Front: WoT
John Bolton on Obama Drone Policy: Entirely Sensible, Extension of Bush Policies
[REASON]
Posted by: Fred || 02/07/2013 10:32 || Comments || Link || [336106 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I happen to agree. Nobody's is saying it's ok to zap random citizens inside the us, or even in MOST foreign countries. That's clearly insane.

But a citizen who has joined a terrorist org, and is actively helping them in Afstan, Pakistan or Yemen? They have forfeited their protections, as far as I'm concerned.

Whack 'em.
Posted by: Muggsy Mussolini1226 || 02/07/2013 13:32 Comments || Top||

#2  Nobody in the current administration will give Darth Bolton the time of day, proving once again that he's right.
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/07/2013 13:34 Comments || Top||

#3  I don't dispute those that clearly have aided/abetted, or have bared arms against U.S. Mil/civilians, etc, needed to be clipped - absolutely, clip'em all.

The issue is a gov't entity simply "accusing" whoever of being a terrorist or "an imminent threat" -and we are supposed to take their word for it like it's gospel. No thanks, not w/the same hacks that gave us benghazi. It's a slippery slope. Same thing w/the ability to indefinitely detain U.S. citizens accused of terrorism. Or, a film-maker who put out a shitty but unpopular film. That guy's in jail for some petty b.s. but Corzine is out walking free? Umm, okay.
Posted by: Broadhead6 || 02/07/2013 17:16 Comments || Top||

#4  The drone policy is idiotic. The reason we are zapping these guys is that 0 doesn't want to put any more prisoners in Gitmo, even if he can't close it. So he kills everyone. This will have consequences. And not the least among them is the loss of intelligence from interrogations. But 0 doesn't want to do anything that might be construed as torture. So he uses high tech assassins. He might want to contemplate how well that has worked in the past.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 02/07/2013 19:43 Comments || Top||

#5  Doesn't Obama pick each target?

I read that somewhere. That would be pretty darn bizarre for a president.
Posted by: CrazyFool || 02/07/2013 20:36 Comments || Top||

#6  NS - interesting point.

CF - I thought LBJ and maybe Nixon picked targets in Nam but I could be mistaken. At any rate - Nothing surprises me anymore or has for a while.
Posted by: Broadhead6 || 02/07/2013 21:09 Comments || Top||

#7  *FK picked targets, too. How'd that work Bobby?
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 02/07/2013 21:10 Comments || Top||


Panetta to propose military pay cut
[WASHINGTONEXAMINER] Outgoing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta reportedly believes the military should receive a pay cut in order to respond to the budget cuts facing the Pentagon -- a position that might strengthen the Republican push to reverse President Obama's executive order raising the salary of Vice President Joe Biden and other federal officials.

"Panetta will recommend to Congress that military salaries be limited to a one percent increase in 2014," CNN reports, explaining that Panetta is "effectively decreasing troop salaries next year . . . The decision comes as the secretary is stepping up the rhetoric about dire cuts at the Pentagon if sequestration goes into effect."

The debate about sequestration did not stop Obama from ending a pay freeze for some government officials, effectively authorizing a pay raise that costs $11 billion.
Posted by: Fred || 02/07/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336078 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Sure, like people are in The Service for the money.
Posted by: Skidmark || 02/07/2013 0:36 Comments || Top||

#2  "Panetta will recommend to Congress that military salaries be limited to a one percent increase in 2014," CNN reports, explaining that Panetta is "effectively decreasing troop salaries next year . . .
Pretty much everything that is FUd up with this government is contained in that paragraph.
Posted by: Shipman || 02/07/2013 0:45 Comments || Top||

#3  I remember the Carter years. We do NOT want to let the fkwits put us back there.
Posted by: OldSpook || 02/07/2013 1:25 Comments || Top||

#4  Well, everyone knows it's the soldiers, sailors, Airmen, and Marines [less than one percent who serve our nation] who are responsible for the country being bankrupt. We simply must find the money to pay for SES and congressional pay raises somewhere. While we continue to change the gender and demographics ratios, we know a large percentage of men of the ranks are southern conservatives anyway. [sarcasm off]
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/07/2013 2:58 Comments || Top||

#5  "Panetta will recommend to Congress that military salaries be limited to a one percent increase in 2014,"

This is the joke of Beltwayspeak. Cutting = less future expansion in expenditures.

You don't cut pay, you cut missions.

Pull the remaining ground based commitments to Europe, Japan (Okinawa), and Korea, leave a MAG team. These are first world countries.

Pirates are terrible, but we can't afford to provide the world with a free navy to keep the lanes clear anymore. Your problem. What the heck are any American flag merchants doing in the Indian Ocean? If one is jacked, you go in, burn the port to the ground holding them. It'll reduce recidivism and costs to a minimum.

You want to really cut pay, you cut everyone's pay by the same percentage. That includes Congresscritters, Executive Branch patronage appointments, and even the Judges [the 'no cut in pay' line in the base document is overcome by the Judiciary's 'interpretation' of the 14th and the 'equal before the law' they've been using for decades for the rest of us]. Soldiers understand 'shared' experience, otherwise 4000 years of history usually means they end up running the place when you start playing that game. Considering they rebuilt German, Japan, and Iraq, they have a better track record than the corruption class running this place now. That's the real danger, because if they display competency that these hacks lack, people might actually prefer them to be in charge.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 02/07/2013 9:28 Comments || Top||

#6  Okay Leon - you & the Commander-in-Chief first. Ductus Exemplo, bitchez!
Posted by: Broadhead6 || 02/07/2013 9:59 Comments || Top||

#7  P2K - as usual, you bring a solid analysis.

Beso - exactly. Panetta & the DADT repeal & female in combat-arms MOS nonsense will be an albatross for a while. It's not politics, it's biology & mathematics.
Posted by: Broadhead6 || 02/07/2013 10:05 Comments || Top||

#8  Not to mention all the non-salaried lifestyle benefits the President gets, like Air Force One to Hawaii.
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain || 02/07/2013 10:26 Comments || Top||

#9  Speaking of USAF free-rides for congresscritters - anyone else hear about SanFranNan having her T-bird taken away by USAF?
Posted by: Broadhead6 || 02/07/2013 10:44 Comments || Top||

#10  We'll be shutting down the Washington Monument, too! Happy now?
Posted by: Muggsy Mussolini1226 || 02/07/2013 13:33 Comments || Top||

#11  Only if all government staffers, including members of Congress, the White House (including the President) and the Justice Department all take pay cuts as well.

You do not want to see our men and women pissed off at you. Our military hasn't even come close to crossing the Rubicon yet so don't give them a good reason to and throw your worthless butts out of office. Even though I hate everyone of the current Administration's worthless asses that is a precedent I do NOT want to see set.
Posted by: DarthVader || 02/07/2013 14:43 Comments || Top||

#12  5-10% (or more) across the board cut in non-military departments across the entire government.

There are several cabinet dept's that should be cut 100% but I'll take 10% to start.

This regime has given me blood pressure problems and I foam at the mouth and growl all the time.
ARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
Posted by: AlanC || 02/07/2013 17:05 Comments || Top||

#13  I've got a very limited amount of sympathy for the DOD on the sequester issue. Pancetta is throwing this out because it is politically unpopular. But the DOD wastes money like no one's business. Just my personal experience saw the USMC choose a paper proposal for a weapons system that was only marginally less expensive than a proven, off-the-shelf alternative (ours). That winning contractor could never deliver a working system. Both they and the USMC spent $millions trying until they exhausted both patience and $$ so the program was dropped. Stupid from the start. Same crap, different day with the DOD (and lots of other federal, state and municipal agencies). So make the cuts. They need to focus on missions and stop pissing money down rat holes. Perhaps having a bit less will force them to do that.
Posted by: remoteman || 02/07/2013 17:21 Comments || Top||

#14  What about the czars? Are they gonna cut the czars?
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 02/07/2013 17:55 Comments || Top||

#15  There are literally hundreds of DoD 'pet rock' civilian contract projects that could easily be cut and NO ONE would notice, nor would there be any impact on readiness.

DoD contracting needs an giant enema, has needed one for years.
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/07/2013 19:08 Comments || Top||


Government
ObamaCare may help raise supermarket prices, too
Posted by: DarthVader || 02/07/2013 20:05 || Comments || Link || [336075 views] Top|| File under:



Who's in the News
38[untagged]
5Govt of Syria
3al-Qaeda in North Africa
3Arab Spring
3Govt of Pakistan
3Hezbollah
3Taliban
2Narcos
2Boko Haram
2TTP
1al-Qaeda in Pakistan
1Abu Sayyaf
1Pirates
1Lashkar e-Taiba
1Muslim Brotherhood

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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.

Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.

Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has dominated Mexico for six years.
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Meet the Mods
In no particular order...
Steve White
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Two weeks of WOT
Thu 2013-02-07
  Syrian Army Launches 'All-Out Attack' on Capital Region
Wed 2013-02-06
  Fat Lady Sings for Abd el Kader Mahmoud Mohamed el Sayed
Tue 2013-02-05
  Second big turban nabbed in northern Mali
Mon 2013-02-04
  Ansar Dine #3 arrested in northern Mali
Sun 2013-02-03
  Yemen Troops Kill 12 'Qaida Militants' in Restive South
Sat 2013-02-02
  Syria Suicide Attack on Regime Kills 53
Fri 2013-02-01
  Binori Mosque cleric among 10 killed in Karachi
Thu 2013-01-31
  Boko Haram 'commander' declares ceasefire
Wed 2013-01-30
  Mali and Niger forces retake Ansongo
Tue 2013-01-29
  Sahel jihadist groups splinter
Mon 2013-01-28
  Timbuktu mayor: Mali rebels torched library of historic manuscripts
Sun 2013-01-27
  French and Malian troops begin restoring control in Timbuktu
Sat 2013-01-26
  Green-on-green clash in Khyber tribal region kills 32
Fri 2013-01-25
  AQAP #2 killed for the THIRD time in Yemen
Thu 2013-01-24
  US drone strike near Sanaa kills 7 hard boyz

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