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Helpful Paks aided NKors with their nukes...
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Civilization and Slaughter
Daniel Henninger, on the difference between us and them...
When George W. Bush imposed steel tariffs, the people of Europe didn't blow up U.S. embassies all over the continent.

We've come too far and our ancestors paid too high a price to acquiesce in anyone's attempt to pull us back now to prehistory, which is where Islamic fundamentalism, Saddam Hussein, Palestinian suicide bombers, the Beltway sniper and North Korea's weapons builders want to take us. Poor Israel, however, is almost there.

This is the world of blood feuds, which civilized men sought to end dating back to the medieval age. Blood feuds, by tradition waged without end, are fought on behalf of individuals or tribal groups that have been dishonored. Saddam and bin Laden would damage America because it is complicit in the dishonor of the Palestinians. Blood feud, which is blood vengeance, recognizes but a single political instrument: killing. What is more, it eliminates one of the most important civilizing achievements of the West: the tempering of individual conscience. Bali is justified. September 11 is justified. The sniper is an al Qaeda hero.

Still and all, Paris, Bonn, and that part of Manhattan that never comes downtown instruct us that Iraq and Saddam, sitting atop barrels of mustard gas and anthrax, have no proven connection to this darkening world. Soon enough, they will find a way to say that medieval North Korea's acquisition of nuclear weapons has to be "managed."

It is possible to become too civilized, or so exquisitely civilized that the strongest feeling one can summon in response to a Bali or the logical surmise of more Balis soon to come is . . . concern. A politics of concern may be enough to assure some people that their own lives will be as untouched today by anti-civilization as they were all day yesterday. But it does appear that for a much larger majority of Americans, looking back on a week of slaughter, something sturdier is going to be needed to preserve where we are.
I have nothing to add, as regular readers know...
Posted by: Fred Pruitt || 10/18/2002 04:51 pm || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I agree 100%. It is time to admit that there are Islamist majorities in all of America's Muslim allies. That is: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is time to recognize that there is a total polarization between Muslims and the rest of the world, and to deal with it, and them.
Posted by: Anonymous || 10/19/2002 1:59 Comments || Top||


Today in Shooterland...
FoxNews sez the JTF is in possession of what might be the white box truck, a rental, with a shell casing found inside it. The shell casing is being tested now, and will be compared to the one found at the middle school.

Citizen Matthew Dowdy, who lives near the Home Depot in Falls Church, has been taken into custody and charged with making a false statement to the coppers. He was the guy who talked about the cream-colored van and the AK-74. Because of his yap, the actual area where the shooter had been was trampled and the evidence probably destroyed.
If the truck pans out, that gives them the guy's signature and credit card info. With a little luck, the cops have somebody to look for. This being the United States and not Pakistan, we're not allowed to beat Citizen Dowdy. Darn it.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt || 10/18/2002 09:12 pm || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Arabia
Bin Laden contact to become Saudi Arabia's man in London
According to diplomatic sources, the Saudi authorities have selected as their new envoy Prince Turki al-Faisal, a leading member of the Saudi Royal Family and head of intelligence for nearly a quarter of a century. His appointment is expected to be confirmed within weeks and he is likely to take up his post as early as next month.
Those people are crazy, aren't they? Or is it that they're so insufferably arrogant, they just don't realize how detestable they are?
The Oxford-educated prince, who is the brother of the Foreign Minister, is well-known and liked among a generation of British diplomats and spies. “He is a major player in Saudi Arabia,” one source said. “His appointment shows how seriously the Saudis value their relationship with Britain. He knows this country inside out. He is a regular visitor.”
Just your normal, everyday second-level potentate...
However, Prince Turki’s arrival is also likely to cause controversy. The prince, 57, was among several leading Saudi figures who were named in a $1 trillion (£643.5 billion) lawsuit filed by the families of the victims of the September 11 attacks, who claimed that he helped to fund bin Laden’s terror network.
They're sending an ambassador to Britain, which is at war with Osama bin Laden, who thinks Binny is just ducky, a fine, devout fellow...
The outgoing ambassador, Ghazi Algosaibi, was withdrawn after he publicly praised a Palestinian suicide bomber and said that the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza was worse than the Nazi occupation of Europe.
They put him in charge of the sewers back in Olde Araby...
Posted by: Fred Pruitt || 10/18/2002 12:24 pm || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Kinda continues to endorse the French complaint about London harboring terrorists.
Posted by: Chuck || 10/18/2002 13:21 Comments || Top||


Riyadh's 'blind eye' to al-Qaeda
Saudi Arabia is the al-Qaeda terror network’s main financier but the kingdom’s rulers have deliberately turned a blind eye to the problem. The report, from the influential New York-based Council on Foreign Relations, also criticises the US for failing to confront Riyadh over its terror links. It says that the House of Saud has tolerated millions of dollars a year being raised for al-Qaeda inside the kingdom. “It is worth stating clearly and unambiguously what official US government spokespersons have not,” the report states. “For years, individuals and charities based in Saudi Arabia have been the most important source of funds for al-Qaeda, and for years the Saudi officials have turned a blind eye to the problem.”
I hope CFR didn't spend an awful lot of money researching that. Anybody who reads blogs knew that, oh... 'bout a year ago, at least. If they did spend a lot of money on that, I'm available for their next project...
The council’s study is particularly damning about US claims that Saudi Arabia is co-operating in the worldwide fight to stop terrorist financing, “when they (the US Government) know very well all the ways in which it is not”.
Who authored that report? Charles Johnson? Bill Quick? Kathy? C'mon, guys. 'Fess up...!
Posted by: Fred Pruitt || 10/18/2002 02:12 pm || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I suspect that once the US has permanent bases in Iraq, in position to intercept al-qaida traffic moving between central asia and the arabian peninsula, relations between the US and Saudi Arabia will change.

Iraqi oil will reduce Saudi Arabian leverage (and income), US troops will move out of the kingdom and away from Saudi holy sites. Saudi Arabia will find itself somewhat marginalized, vis a vis the US presence in the area, and probably under greater US pressure to clamp down on terror, as a result.
Posted by: Rene Buchard || 10/18/2002 15:31 Comments || Top||

#2  To the author of the report: Amen!

However, I disagree with Rene in marginalizing Soddi-controlled Arabia. As long as the Soddis have oil money, they can't be marginalized, and all the Iraqi oil does is drive down the cost per barrel (to a point). The Soddis would still have the money to spread Wahhabite teachings around the (gullible) Islamic world. And US pressure won't work, as the Soddis see this as part of their religion.

Unfortunately, the only answer is to separate the Soddis' from their oil revenues. I'd suggest a new Shi'a state in NE Arabia, one friendly and grateful to the West for their liberation from the House of Saud. That might work.
Posted by: Steve White || 10/18/2002 18:15 Comments || Top||


Coup attempt in Qatar?
Source is Khilafah — take with a grain of salt until proven otherwise...
News reports were rumored in Cairo and several Gulf states on a campaign of arrests which targeted scores of Qatari army officers, in which members of the American forces deployed in Qatar took part.
Sounds unlikely, but pray, tell on...
The news said that unusual movements were observed for the American forces on Saturday evening on al-Wakra road which leads to al-Aides airforce base where the road was blocked before the traffic. And this was before four mosques in Doha witnessed a wave of arrests for high ranking army officers who were said to have planned for a coup against the Ruler of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Khaleifah al-Thani.
Rounding up thugs in some mosques, huh? What were they doing there?
Well-informed sources said that the people involved in the coupe are presumed to belong to the Islamic trends and that many of them have links to al-Qaida organization. The sources said that these developments coincided with the state of dissatisfaction in the country as a result of the Qatari policy which the sources characterized as supporting an American strike against Iraq.
More likely, they'd coincide with the Bad Guys' counteroffensive that's under way even as we speak. Sure would be a feather in their cap to snatch Qatar from under us just when we're ready to whack Iraq. Wonder if Sammy dreamed this up?
Diplomatic sources indicated that American personnel in civilian costumes took part in the breaking in and detention acts which targeted Pakistani and Yemeni recruited soldiers in the Qatari army, and that American forces are deployed in the streets of Doha and around sensitive areas and points.
So the Feds are there, and they're helping to root out fifth columnists from Pakland — terrorism's GHQ — and Yemen, home of the Cole bombers, Ramzi bin al-Shibh, and a host of other nutbags...
The sources explained that members of al-Thani ruling family expressed recently in a statement their rejection to the practices of the current Qatari leadership, noting that these practices alienated Qatar from its Islamic and Arab venue. Islamic trends also expressed the same in sermons at Friday's prayers and secret publications.
The mullahs were firing up the lemmings faithful, doing a little meddling in politix, because Qatar's broken the Arab lockstep and is now waltzing with the Hated Merkins...
Worthy mentioning that Qatar's relations with several Arab states, especially Saudi Arabia and Egypt, witnessed a new deterioration in recent months because of these states' disappointment over Doha's opening political lines on many sides including Israel and the USA in a way that confuses the Arab policies, and due to the critical programs broadcast by the Qatari al-Jazeera TV on the internal affairs of these states which see in this TV channel as a contributor to increasing tension between the Arab states.
That Free Press thing'll get you every time. Al-Jazeera may cheese off the Merkins regularly, but they're a thorn in the side of the turbans, too. And the Soddies are probably having hissy fits, since they're leading and the Sheikh Hamad isn't following...
The Egyptian daily al-Joumhoreyah said that the acts of arrest covered members in al-Thani ruling family who were planning to topple the current regime.
I have no idea how accurate this might be. Since the source is Hizb ut-Tahrir, it could well be made up out of whole cloth. Assuming it's true, there seems to have been a move by one branch of the al-Thani family to oust the current ruler and install a pretender who's more to the liking of the local suzerain Soddies. The agents are probably aligned with al-Qaeda, since the loss of Qatar at this moment would leave the entire U.S. military with its pee-bug in its hand and nowhere to go. The instigator is probably either Iraq directly, or through Soddy Arabia. It'd be interesting to see where the money to finance it came from. The muscle was to have been Pak and Yemeni mercenaries. The plot got blown at some point before it was to come off, and the Qataris probably asked the U.S. for help. It's entirely possible the thing was tipped by U.S. intelligence, which has a pretty hearty interest in monitoring the area.

If it happened approximately that way, the U.S. wouldn't want to talk about it too much at this point. For one thing, it could give other bad guys ideas. For another, they have an interest in presenting the appearance of a united alliance; I don't imagine Yentl Barbra Streisand could find Qatar on a map, or spell it, or that she has any idea what an al-Thani might be, but I'm sure she'd have an anal orifice opinion, just like ever so many of her friends. If we do find out much about it someday, it'll probably be in a postwar military history.
Thanks to Steve for the link... I confess, I don't read Khilafah much anymore, because it's so awful...
Posted by: Fred Pruitt || 10/18/2002 07:53 pm || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Axis of Evil
Helpful Paks aided NKors with their nukes...
American intelligence officials have concluded that Pakistan, a strange bedfellow vital ally since last year's terrorist attacks, was a major supplier of critical equipment for North Korea's clandestine nuclear weapons program. The equipment, which may include gas centrifuges used to create weapons-grade uranium, appears to have been part of a barter deal beginning in the late 1990's in which North Korea supplied Pakistan with missiles it could use to counter India's nuclear arsenal. "What you have here," said one official familiar with the intelligence, "is a perfect meeting of interests — the North had what the Pakistanis needed, and the Pakistanis had a way for Kim Jong Il to restart a nuclear program we had stopped." China and Russia were less prominent suppliers, officials said.
You also had two countries who hate the United States and all it stands for. One of them admits it...
The White House said that it would not discuss Pakistan's role or any other intelligence information. The trade between Pakistan and North Korea appears to have occurred around 1997, roughly two years before Gen. Pervez Musharraf took power in a bloodless coup.
"Yo! Down in the kitchen! Pontius Pilate sez to send up some water! He wants to wash his hands!"
However, the relationship appears to have continued after General Musharraf became president, and there is some evidence that a commercial relationship between the two country's extended beyond Sept. 11 of last year.
"It was just business, Mike..."
A spokesman for the Pakistan Embassy, Asad Hayauddin, said it was "absolutely incorrect" to accuse Pakistan of providing nuclear weapons technology to North Korea. "We have never had an accident or leak or any export of fissile material or nuclear technology or knowledge," he said.
"No, no! Wudn't us! We lo-o-o-o-o-ve you guys! Why, lookit all we've done for you...!"
Thanks to Steve for the headline...
Posted by: Fred Pruitt || 10/18/2002 10:27 am || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Fifth Column
Galloway calls for Arabs to kill people...
Source: Palstine Information Centre
British MP George Galloway called on Arabs to wake up to a Western plan aimed at carving the Arab world into smaller and even weaker states and to take to the streets in massive demonstrations in an attempt to counter such a scheme.
"Let's get some riots going there, WOGs!"
Galloway spoke Friday at Issam Fares Hall at the American University of Beirut, urging students to take action if they wanted to avoid a century in which they will see their resources stolen and continued Israeli domination in the region.
If you pay for resources, then you're not stealing them. That's the way everybody but Labour MPs see it...
"Are you prepared to let foreigners decide which country will be governed by which ruler or not?" he asked. "Because if your answer is yes, you will face a 21st century exactly like the 20th century ... your wealth will be taken away and Israel will be the superpower of the region and you will accept that Palestinians will never have justice."
Are we prepared to let Arabs dominate this century? Galloway's probably got a turban hanging in his closet, just waiting. The rest of us, mostly, have firearms...
Posted by: Fred Pruitt || 10/18/2002 12:47 pm || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I would sure like to meet Galloway. Just one time.
Posted by: Mike N. || 10/18/2002 13:27 Comments || Top||

#2  People have said this elsewhere, but Galloway should be tried for treason. He's a MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, and he's inciting civilians of a potential enemy to violence.
Posted by: Sam || 10/18/2002 18:24 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Abdullah hangs it up in Kashmir...
Farooq Abdullah, the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, said he was unwilling to continue serving until the parties who defeated his own in elections last week agreed on who would lead the new government.
"Screw 'em! I can't be chief minister, then I QUIT!"
As a result, G. C. Saxena, the centrally appointed governor will run the state temporarily. Mr. Saxena asked Abdullah to stay on as a caretaker at least until Monday to give the Indian National Congress and the People's Democratic Party more time to agree on who will be the next chief minister. Mr. Abdullah, saying he had no "moral right" to continue serving, refused.
"They won't let me be in charge, I ain't playing!"
Posted by: Fred Pruitt || 10/18/2002 10:27 am || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Post Election Horse Trading in Pakistan...
Hectic political contacts and intra-party dialogue have helped uncover post-election scenarios leading towards the government formation in Pakistan as a result of October 10 general elections. The pro-government Pakistan Muslim League (Q) has emerged as the leading candidate for the office of Prime Minister followed by the alliance of religious parties, Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal Pakistan (MMAP) which is looking to get its men heading both the houses of the Parliament. Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarian (PPPP) and another smaller pro-government alliance, National Alliance (NA) seemed to be out of the race for the premiership of the country.
No room at the trough? Too bad...
At the provincial level, MMAP is all set to constitute government of its own in the province bordering Afghanistan, that is NWFP and in Balochistan it is negotiating a deal with PML (Q) which in turn, is ready to take over Punjab province and is also helping pro-government NA to get a majority in Sindh.
Qazi doesn't really care about Punjab and Sindh at the moment, but he's looking forward to ruling Pashtunistan...
Sensing the victory for the pro-Musharraf League in the numbers game, independent contestants in the elections have started joining this party, gradually increasing its strength. In all there are 29 members-elect of the National Assembly who have returned without a party ticket. Ten of these, the MMAP has claimed would join this religious group. The main bulk of the rest is to go to the League camp, helping it play better in the number game.
"Mmmmm! Graft! Hey, move over Abdullah! There's enough for all of us...!"
So far, Q League, which is leading numerically with 77 of its original seats plus 12 independents who are likely to join in, is the closest party to 137 number required to form a government. MMAP may reach 55 with the induction of 10 independent MNAs into its ranks whereas PPPP stands at 63.
The turbans have been talking like they expect to be in charge — looks like the Reichstag may slip from Qazi's finger. A few days ago reader David pointed out in an e-mail that
Remember that the Islamist nutjobs love and admire Adolf Hitler. Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Qazi Hussein Ahmed may have been reading William L. Shirer's Rise and Fall of the Third Reich in addition to their usual steady diet of Mein Kampf -- this kind of ludicrous stunt is *exactly* how Herr Schicklgruber wound up in Germany's driver's seat. A backroom bargain, a few carefully-picked posts for his cronies, and voila... everything you need to get your own dictatorship together.
The only thing missing from rule of Pashtunistan would be control of the "Islamic nukes." Maybe next election, huh?
Posted by: Fred Pruitt || 10/18/2002 10:29 am || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Does anyone see another Musharraf coup in the offing? It is unlikely Musharraf will sit back and watch the islamists take over "his country."

If it means the islamists will not control Pakistan's nukes, the US will give lip service to democracy, and continue to work with Musharraf, post coup.
Posted by: Rene Buchard || 10/18/2002 15:53 Comments || Top||


Fazl meets with Merkin ambassador...
Source: Jihad Unspun
Elected candidate for Prime Minister by MMA and Regional Chairman of Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam, Amir Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman met the American Counselor Blackman in Islamabad. Fazl-ur-Rehman explained to the American Ambassador that MMA believes in Constitutional and Parliamentary struggle and is fighting for the ideology of Pakistan. “We would like to implement Islamic system in Pakistan through democratic channels” he said.
Does that mean people get to vote on whose head gets cut off?
He further stressed that the barbaric means US adopted in bombarding Afghanistan could not be ignored by any civilized nation of the world.
That sure as hell leaves out Pakland, doesn't it?
Pakistanis, by giving their votes to MMA, have shown their resistance against such barbarism.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt || 10/18/2002 12:31 pm || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  In response, Blackman informed Maulana that he could "Feel free to suck it." Well..perhaps that is a bit of wishful thinking on my part.
Posted by: Mike N. || 10/18/2002 13:32 Comments || Top||


Two more parcel bombs found, six suspects held
Police on Thursday picked up six activists of a religious group for their suspected involvement in Wednesday's parcel bomb explosions. The police also questioned a number of others, arrested in the past and serving terms in the Central Prison and Landhi Jail. Two more parcels bombs similar to those exploded on Wednesday in the DIG operations' office and the CID office were handed over to the police investigation branch on Thursday.
The Jhangvi thugs have been sending mail bombs to the coppers. What an original idea...
According to the police, these parcels had been returned to the Shaheen Express after they remained undelivered to the addressees. The explosive devices in the parcels were neutralized at the Hill Park by bomb disposal experts on the request of the police.
[Knock knock!]
"Who's there?"
"Shaheed Express. Got a package for ya!"
"It ain't ticking is is?"
[BOOM!]
"Not... any... more."

Police have accelerated their operation against Lashkar-i-Jhangavi, and raided various places. They picked up at least six people - three in Orangi Town, two in New Karachi and one in Nazimabad. The group had claimed responsibility for the three Wednesday explosions, injuring eight policemen and an employee of the Shaheen Express.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt || 10/18/2002 08:41 pm || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Middle East
Hamas: ''We dunnit, and we're glad!''
Hamas claimed responsibility for a retaliatory attack carried out Friday by an 18-year-old lemming Palestinian eventually killed by the Israeli occupation army near an illegal Jewish settlement in the northern Gaza Strip. The Palestinian had hurled grenades and opened fire on an occupation army patrol near the settlement of Dugit on the border between the Gaza Strip, reoccupied by Israel. The army then returned fire, perforating waxing killing him, adding that two Israeli soldiers were lightly wounded in the exchange of fire. The Ezz-el-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, declared responsibility for the attack. Martyr Karam Mohamed Abul-Einein, 18, from the Jebalia refugee camp, carried out the operation, the statement said.
He's now decomposing and he accomplished squat. What's to brag about? "Martyr Karam Mohamed Abul-Einein, 18, died a pointless and stupid death today in the service of a spittle-spewing old man and a handful of manipulative politicians who live in grand houses. Martyr Karam Mohamed Abul-Einein has proven himself to be cannon fodder a true Paleostinian!"
"This attack comes in retaliation for the Israeli massacre of our people in Rafah," the Qassam Brigades said, vowing to carry on with martyr operations as the sole means to counter continued Israeli state terrorism.
Good idea. Clean out the old gene pool...
Posted by: Fred Pruitt || 10/18/2002 10:27 am || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Is it now official that Israel is an "occupation army" engaging in "state terrorism"?!?!?! Heck, is there any reason for Israel to continue trying to avoid civillian casualties? Why not start using their tanks and jets to actually target all the paleo-stinian men, women and children?? Drive them all deep into Egypt, then bomb Egypt too! Show them what a real massacre is. I mean, if you're going to be painted in blood by the media, what reason is there not to go ahead and live up the the lies??? Seriously, I'm asking you!
Posted by: Aracona || 10/18/2002 11:55 Comments || Top||

#2  What do you expect from www.islam-online.net, other than the wonderful 'can i pray during menstruation?' 'no you can't' in the Ask the Imam section?
Posted by: Sam || 10/18/2002 18:32 Comments || Top||


Southeast Asia
Bashir sez he can't go to interrogation; he has a stomick ache...
A leading suspect who had agreed to turn himself in for questioning by the police was instead taken to a hospital after his lawyer said he had collapsed.
Oh? Did God strike him dead on the spot?
The police had summoned the suspect, Abu Bakar Bashir, a 64-year-old Muslim cleric who heads Jemaah Islamiyah, to appear on Saturday and answer questions about purported links to Al Qeada and participation in several terrorist actions.
Dear President Sukarnoputri,
Please excuse Abu from interrogation on Saturday. He has a stomache ache.
Thank you,
Abu's Mom
(Mrs Bashir)
American officials, who believe that the Jemaah Islamiyah organization was involved in the Bali bombing, were confident that after more than a year of imploring the Indonesian government to take action against terrorists, Jakarta was about to comply.
I'm not... The fix is in. They'll be busy as beavers until the smoke clears, and when it's all over nothing will change...
However, less than an hour after Mr. Bashir, with customary bravado, said at a news conference that he would appear in Jakarta for the questioning, he was taken to the hospital. "He's sick, he's tired," said the lawyer, Mahendradatta. "He is not going Jakarta tomorrow," Mr. Mahendradatta said by telephone from Solo.
What an act of incredible bravery! That's zackly what we'd expect of an Islamist holy man. Remember when Qazi had to be let out of jug because his little heart was going pitty-pat? This appears to be an Islamist tradition...
It was a stunning move for a man who has made a reputation for openly boasting of his admiration for Osama bin Laden — at Friday prayers today, Mr. Bashir said he prayed for him — and has threatened lawsuits against journalists and foreign leaders who have accused him of terrorist links. Mr. Bashir's hospitalization was met with great skepticism among Indonesians, who recalled that the tactic had been tried by others facing judicial proceedings in Indonesia.
"Abu's a pu-u-u-u-tz! Abu's a pu-u-u-u-tz! Nyah! Nyah!"
Posted by: Fred Pruitt || 10/18/2002 10:27 am || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "Dear President Sukarnoputri,
Please excuse Abu from interrogation on Saturday. He has a stomache ache.
Thank you,
Abu's Mom
(Mrs Bashir)"

With apologies to "Welcome Back, Kotter", lol!
Posted by: Raj || 10/18/2002 15:54 Comments || Top||


Three Die In Manila Bus Blast
An explosion ripped through a bus Friday night on the northern outskirts of Manila, killing three people and injuring a number of others. It was not immediately clear what caused the explosion, which took place shortly after 10 p.m. (10 a.m. EDT). Authorities told local reporters the explosion began in the rear of the bus and tore through to the front, destroying the vehicle. Injured passengers were taken to a hospital and the bodies of the three fatalities were left aboard the bus.
Sounds like Hamas work, doesn't it?
Philippines authorities were already searching for four suspects believed to be responsible for a bomb attack which killed seven and injured 162 in the southern Philippines Thursday. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo visited the site of the explosion which hit two department stores in the southern Philippine city of Zamboanga. She told reporters that suspects had been identified and were currently being sought by troops and police. Arroyo condemned the attacks but would not say whether it was the work of Muslim radicals. However, southern region military commander Lt. Gen. Narciso Abaya said there were links between this attack and others by the Abu Sayyaf guerillas, a group linked to al Qaeda.
Anybody doubt the jihadis are mounting a counteroffensive?
Posted by: Fred Pruitt || 10/18/2002 12:15 pm || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Indonesia launches anti-terror drive
President Megawati Sukarnoputri has signed two emergency decrees to give the Indonesian authorities sweeping new powers to combat terrorism. The country's cabinet met for several hours to discuss the two decrees before they were signed. The Justice Minister, Yusril Mahendra, said one decree ensured the measures could be applied retroactively to cover the Bali attack. The other sets out the new powers, which are believed to include authority for the security forces to detain people on suspicion of terrorist links. A special anti-terrorism unit is to be set up which would include officials from the security forces, the intelligence agencies and the government, Mr Mahendra said. He indicated earlier that the death sentence was to be extended to apply to those convicted of terror attacks.
Sounds like a good start — unpleasant, open to abuse, but essential. The Islamists will squeal like piggies and the fundos can be expected to take to the streets. Wonder if Mega can take the heat? Or if Hamzah Haz will kick her out and take over?
Posted by: Fred Pruitt || 10/18/2002 07:19 pm || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


MP sez Faruq must be a CIA agent...
Yasril Ananta Baharuddin, a member of House Commission I on foreign affairs, defence and information, has said that Al-Faruq can be a CIA agent smuggled into Indonesia with a chief mission of crushing the Indonesian Islamic movements under the fabricated accusation of being terrorists.
Yeah. He prob'ly snuck back in and set those bombs, too...
According to the Member of Parliament, the Indonesian people should realize that they are in the process of being smashed by the American. Yasril pointed to what he described as irregular and mysterious legal process in the arrest and extradition of Omar Al-Faruq to the American authorities.
I was surprised that the Indons actually turned somebody over to us...
Among other things which look odd and may lead to everybody's reasonable suspicion is the questionable quality of of Faruq's information, Yasril said. He said Faruq's information, no matter how doubtful in terms of transparency, had been absolutely used by the American authorities as the strong basis for pressing the Indonesian government to take drastic measures against the Indonesian Islamic activists.
Seems like a bunch of what he's blabbed has turned out to be verifiably true...
The common suspicion that Faruq is a smuggled CIA agent is based on the linear course of events which clearly seem to be an unscrupulous scenario to net Indonesian Islamic activists, Yasril said. "Al-Faruq is as mysterious as God. Whatever he says and whosoever he pinpoints as the American enemy has been trusted without questions", Yasril said. Yasril also said that despite the absence of transparency, the alleged investigation of Al-Faruq by the Indonesian police had also led to the decision to arrest some Indonesian Islamic leaders including Ba'asyir.
Yes, that's it! The whole thing's a set-up to get Abu! And now look what those nasty Merkins did — now they've made him sick!
The Indonesian government decision to name Ba`asyir directly as the Bali bombing suspect is evidence that the Indonesian government is under pressure from the United States. Speaking of universal law principles, uncontested and one-sided information like that allegedly uttered by Al-Faruq can not be taken as evidence for any due process of law, let alone be used as barometer of truth, Yasril added.
But it can certainly be taken as leads in an investigation. This guy sure doesn't like what the investigation's sure to turn up — and as soon as it turns something up, he'll be at the forefront of those trying to bury it again.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt || 10/18/2002 09:02 pm || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Words of wisdom from Indonesia's veep...
A collection of quotes from VP Hamzah Haz, compiled courtesy of Laksamana.net...
"There are no terrorists here. I guarantee that. If they exist, don't arrest any Muslim clerics, arrest me."
- Quoted by The Jakarta Post on May 29, 2002.
"Book him, Danno..."
"There's no terrorist network in Indonesia, particularly in this school."
- Tempo Interaktif on May 30, 2002. Haz was referring to Bashir's Al Mukmin Islamic Boarding School in Solo, Central Java.
"What are all those guns for, Abu?"
"Elk. We like hunting elk."
"I've proven it [the non-existence of terrorism in Indonesia] myself by visiting the Al Mukmin Muslim School, which has been said to be a terrorist nest in Indonesia. This place is really aimed at preparing young people in Islamic education."
- Tempo Interaktif, May 30, 2002.
"The explosives curriculum is second to none..."
"However, if this accusation is true and Al Mukmin is proven to be a terrorist nest, I will be the first one who orders for the arrest of the alleged terrorists."
- Tempo Interaktif, May 30, 2002.
"You're sure the witnesses are all dead, Abu?"
"There's no special mission in this visit. I only fulfill Mr. Bashir's invitation to come here following his visit to my home."
- Tempo Interaktif, May 30, 2002.
"I just like hanging around guys with turbans, y'know?"
"I met these people [Bashir and Laskar Jihad leader Jafar Umar Thalib] personally, and it makes little sense to suspect them of being terrorists. If they were terrorists, shouldn't they be playing their games underground, not out in the open? I said earlier, if they're proven to be terrorists I will personally ask that they be arrested. But if they're not, then I call on the authorities to arrest me first."
— Newsweek, July 1, 2002.
"Ich bin ein terrorist!"
"If you want to arrest Abu Bakar Bashir you will have to deal with me first."
- The Age quoting Haz just days before the October 12 Bali bombings.
"LeGume, round up the usual suspects..."
"[The Bali blast] was an act of terrorism. No one who is involved in terrorism, ordinary people, government officials or ulemas [Muslim religious leaders] has impunity from the law."
- The Sydney Morning Herald, October 15, 2002.
"but we know it wasn't any of them..."

"The legal process against Bashir will be carried out based on Indonesian laws."
- Antara, October 18, 2002.
"'Cuz this is Indonesia. We don't have any terrorists here. It sez so, right in the law book..."
"It would be too foolish if the Indonesian police or investigators are ready to be disturbed by foreign intervention. The police will not recklessly summon anyone."
- Antara, October 18, 2002.
"We don't need none o' them danged furriners tellin' us how to run our bidniz..."
"The alleged existence of an international terrorism network in Indonesia cannot be detected until legal process shows it
People should not think negatively about the move to summon Bashir."
- Antara, October 18, 2002.
"Don't worry. We'll get him off..."
Posted by: Fred Pruitt || 10/18/2002 09:40 pm || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:



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Two weeks of WOT
Fri 2002-10-18
  Helpful Paks aided NKors with their nukes...
Thu 2002-10-17
  KL detains five JI men - one with Osama link
Wed 2002-10-16
  Indonesia Plans Emergency Anti-Terrorism Measures
Tue 2002-10-15
  Laskar Jihad to disband...
Mon 2002-10-14
  Sharon suggests Paleos dump Yasser...
Sun 2002-10-13
  Panic grips Philippines following Bali attacks
Sat 2002-10-12
  No postings today...
Fri 2002-10-11
  Senate sez ''Yes''...
Thu 2002-10-10
  Police probe sniper link in fatal Virginia shooting
Wed 2002-10-09
  Chief Moose goes ballistic over sniper leak
Tue 2002-10-08
  Prince Turki: Osama Will Ace The World
Mon 2002-10-07
  Frenchies warn against toppling Sammy...
Sun 2002-10-06
  Yemenis blow Frenchie tanker?
Sat 2002-10-05
  Confirmed: DC Shooting Linked to Several of Md. Incidents
Fri 2002-10-04
  Johnny Jihad gets 20 in the slammer

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