Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who gained notoriety for putting inmates on chain gangs and issuing them striped uniforms and pink underwear, has now ordered all illegal aliens in jail to register for the draft.
About 500 illegal aliens housed in the Phoenix-area countyâs jail system have not complied with a 1980 federal law that requires all men between the ages of 18 and 26 to register for the draft, regardless of their immigration status, Arpaio said.
"I canât say that Iâve ever heard anything like this, but we do appreciate any effort toward compliance," said Dan Amon, a spokesman for the Selective Service System in Washington, D.C.
He said Arpaio might be doing the illegal aliens a favor by ordering them to register, because Selective Service is tied to a number of benefits, including citizenship.
If they want to legalize their immigration status, the first thing they would be asked is whether they are registered for the draft, Amon said.
(Fred, sorry to stretch the definition of "news," but I thought the Rantburgers might want to see this. Some recent events are possibly relevant.)
"Black" or "false flag" propaganda is propaganda that portrays itself as favorable to, and usually as originating within, a particular group; but which is actually disseminated by opponents in an attempt to create disaffection, fear, suspicion, hopelessness, or confusion within the targeted group. I have direct knowledge of at least one media based "false-flag" propaganda operation ("Indy-borg") that seeks to plant paranoid conspiracy theories among the adherents of the far left.
"Far left" is defined here as "left" (in conventional terms) of the mainstream of the Democratic party. This would include the Green Party, the organized anti-war movement, the mainstream of politicized academia, the Islamo-fascist fifth column and its apologists, and the politically oriented segments of leading-edge popular culture.)
I am also aware of far-left media activists having run the same kind of operation against the conventionally defined right. Indeed, the media generally associate such theories with the far right and there are many examples of such. But I believe they are actually more prevalent on the left, and that the left is inherently more susceptible to them.
The left is generally much more closely associated with the worlds of entertainment and popular culture than is the right, automatically bringing in those who are given to substituting emotion and imagination for logic or facts.
Additionally, certain fundamental principles of left-wing activism lend themselves to a conspiracist interpretation of events. One is the need to explain the lack of popular appeal for an ideology that conspicuously defines itself as representing "the people." Another is the far-leftâs authoritarian view of power itself and how it would be used, leading automatically to the projection of that behavior onto those who actually have power.
I donât know whether this particular story ("Bush Body-Count") is a false-flag, but several similar and widely disseminated lefty conspiracy theories definitely are.
Those who believe in such things as mind-control beams and flawlessly concealable domestic assassinations are unlikely to believe that there is any point in the legitimate political process. Initially, paranoid conspiracy theories will tend to inflame true believers. Ultimately, however, their effect is demoralizing. The magnitude of the power required to successfully execute and conceal these alleged conspiracies becomes especially intimidating over time. Why oppose Bush, or any other person in authority, if his cabal can rig elections, assassinate opponents, silence the media, and even control your thoughts?
Believers thus become ideological drop-outs and their influence within certain organizations and factions can turn those into drop-outs as well. Look very closely and you will see this happening right before your eyes.
Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy ||
01/17/2004 2:32:40 AM ||
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One is the need to explain the lack of popular appeal for an ideology that conspicuously defines itself as representing "the people."
Heck that is easy to explain. They do not argue or debate well. Its all emotion, and raw feeling, with little to no logical structure. It is asertions devoid of evidence, proof or really anything much in the way of epistemology.
Take for instance all the "real reasons" Bush went to war. Protecting Israel, stealing the oil, etc. The great thing about these charges of intent, is that intent is a mental thing. Without a valid mind reader, there is no way to prove, or refute the claim. There is no way to compare the statement to the reality in an objective manner. It is great as a sound bite, but as a logical argument, it does not persuade.
And their inability to persuade means they get more and more frustrated at the "stupidity" of those they are trying to persuade. Which leads them to simply and openly declare that the very people they need to persuade are stupid. Which makes it that much harder for them to persuade.
And so it goes in an ever deepening pit of irrelevance, and what appears to be mental instability.
Posted by: Ben ||
01/17/2004 3:35 Comments ||
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"Don't attribute to malice what is adequately explained by stupidity." You'll find equally lunatic rumor-mongering around the world. One of my favorites was something told my mother when Doe assassinated Tolbert: "Queen Elizabeth has a large book that explains everything, and she will fix things."
Posted by: James ||
01/17/2004 10:35 Comments ||
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There is a real-world example. The Soviets planted and pushed the theory that the CIA killed Kennedy. It was mainly believed and promoted by useful idiots (Stone, who sets a record for being a useful idiot), but it did incalculable damage to the US.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
01/17/2004 12:10 Comments ||
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#4
I thought Kennedy was killed because he found out about the secret cancer cure and the gasoline pill.
#5
In a similar vain from what I understand the Air Force floated flying Saucer rumers to help cover up the various skunk works projects being flown throughout the Southwest. It's not a right or left issue but they did provide enough truth to give folks something to sink into but get them intellectually on the wrong path.
After the SR-71 and later the stealth bomber and fighters went public the UFO folks modified their own conspiracies to make them American built with UFO technology instead of straight out UFOs.
Other conspiracies, like the claims that the Moon landings were faked or that their is a Face on Mars are maintined to help a select few sell books.
#7
Shipman, no I haven't, but I hardly think the nerds at NASA could keep something like that secret. The nudes would be all over the internet in an effort to get funding for a manned mission.
#9
BAR, the Bush Body Count is a sexist fraud as there was no list related to Barbara. If there was a Bush that I thought would order political assasinations my money is on Barb, the elder. Can you imagine if she had been president at the same time as Maggie Thatcher. Together they would have ripped off Sadaam's head and pooped down his neck. Qadaffy would have een whimpering in his closet.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
01/17/2004 17:21 Comments ||
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The findings of a survey of Saudi teenagersâ attitudes toward the sweeping reforms sought by the Kingdom, published in the London-based Asharq Al Awsat, has been criticised by the English daily Arab News on Tuesday. The results of the survey, which was based on 10 male-only high school classes, "were shocking, puzzling and an accurate indication of what has developed here over the last 20 years", wrote Abeer Mishkhas. "For the most part, the answers - not surprisingly - reflected an obsession with women, in how they should be treated and their roles in society. One of the students made a surprising statement: he thought there should be a prison for women who do not follow societyâs customs; in other words, he felt that women who do not cover their faces or who wear form-fitting abayas should perhaps serve two weeks in prison. Another student suggested that womenâs morals should be carefully checked. How I wonder? And what about menâs? And he regretted that women blindly follow Western fashions and trends. I wonder what he thinks about the jean-clad, baseball-cap wearing young men who are all over Jeddah."
She lauded the remarks of one respondent, however, who supported the right of women to drive. "If women were allowed to ride camels and horses in the past, then how can we prevent them from driving cars today? If each one of us reminded himself that his mother or sister was driving on the same road, maybe we would come to respect other women a little more than we do," Hamad told Asharq Al Awsat. Other respondents, such as one called Rami, felt that there should be increased segregation of men and women in shopping centres and that this should be done by having different shopping hours for women and men. One 16-year-old called Adel suggested that young men under 25 should not be allowed to travel outside the country lest they be corrupted. "Does he think that Saudi men only travel abroad to do what they cannot do here in the kingdom?" asked Abeer.
Some of the respondents reflected a certain dislike and intolerance for non-Muslims. "A general look at these opinions shows us what our society suffers from, a fear of the outside world and its effects. Another problem is the obsession with women as objects that have to be controlled all the time," remarked Abeer. "These are all genuine feelings and comments but there were others who expressed the need for openness, for broadening perceptions and perspectives and beautifying the environment."
Posted by: TS ||
01/17/2004 11:02:27 AM ||
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Tell me again, Prince, just why would any tourist would wish to make Saudi Arabia a destination?
Too bad that these youngsters aren't studying Thomas Jefferson in their schools. They might learn something about individual freedoms. And after that course they could learn how their lack of individual freedoms compare to Cuba and the old USSR.
#2
a bunch of disaffected self-indulgent assholes is growing up in Soddy, without honor or respect for others, especially women. Lack of self-control is a virtue, not a weakness. When the MOABs drop, this won't cause me to lose any sleep
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/17/2004 11:32 Comments ||
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Frank, I think you mean 'self-control' is a virtue and not a weakness - not the lack thereof. These young (alledged) men show that they don't have any self control if they are afraid of even the sight of a woman shopping or even exposure to any other idea's except for the Iman's spittle.
What slaves.
Seperate shopping hours for women? Prisons (Obedience schools...)? Does he want them to be on leashes as well? Women are not dogs.
Lawrence Wright took a job at a Saudi english language newspaper.
This is his story. Oh, and grab a coffee first. Rather long, but filled with tantalising titbits and insights. Well worth the read
Posted by: tipper ||
01/17/2004 8:40:49 AM ||
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This was posted a couple of days ago and it took me until last night to finish it. But it was worth the effort. If anyone has any interest in trying to understand the Saudi culture, this article will certainly help. However, I'm afaid that by directly quoting individuals in the kingdom, he may have put them in jeopardy. Speech is only one of the freedoms lacking.
The only short coming I see is that it focused on the area around Jeddah. But Rantburgers have .com to tell us about the eastern province. Unfortunately my tales of Riyadh are over 30 years old, but things in the kingdom change slowly so I may share one now and then.
If you're short on time, bookmark it and read it in installments.
#2
Army of Steve⢠posted this Thursday. Wright does a great piece here. I'm a little surprised the New Yorker published it -- wonder if a few folks in the blue state crowd are beginning to get a clue?
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/17/2004 21:27 Comments ||
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this article is inanely specious--its like describing the ocean in terms of rocks and fishes without discussing that it all exists in WATER--very disappointing analsis by an ass kissing arabist-- all about the poor little spoiled soddie reporters being depressed because its sooo boooring living in the "kingdom"--never once does he discuss the culture of wahabbi religiouosity , the kkkoran and the smegmatic hadiths--the fucking problem is the tribal death cult of islam--this guy can't see the sand from the dunes--verry disappointing
Posted by: SON OF TOLUI ||
01/17/2004 23:24 Comments ||
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President Bush strengthened U.S. military relations with Kuwait on Thursday by awarding it the status of major non-NATO ally. The upgrade in military ties allows the United States to provide more advanced military equipment and supplies. Kuwait was a major backer of the U.S.-led war against Iraq last year and served as a staging ground for U.S. troops and attacks. In 1991, the United States launched its first war against Iraq to drive Saddam Husseinâs forces from Kuwait.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/17/2004 12:10:02 AM ||
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..I'm not entirely sure I understand this. They already have F-18s (and I have heard they're going to upgrade to the SuperBug by 2005), M-1s and Patriots - what else could we be wanting to give them? I'm not complaining, far from it. I just dont see how this designation gets them any moe than they already have.
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
01/17/2004 14:08 Comments ||
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#2
I think it provides the threat of a nuclear umbrella. Sort of a nuclear parasol.
#3
It means the Kuwati's are no longer afraid to publicly say we're going to bail them out of whatever trouble comes their way, so don't bother sending any. Looks like they may now be a better "friend" in the Gulf than the Soddies.
Posted by: Mr. Davis ||
01/17/2004 18:35 Comments ||
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Veteran British television presenter Robert Kilroy-Silk has quit as host of a BBC morning chat show following a row over anti-Arab comments he made in a newspaper article. "I believe this is the right moment to leave the programme and concentrate my energies in other directions," said Kilroy-Silk on Friday, a former Labour Party member of parliament. The BBC had suspended his long-running Kilroy topical discussion show after the Sunday Express newspaper published an article by him headlined "We owe the Arabs nothing". The Muslim Council of Britain, which had condemned Kilroy-Silk over the article, welcomed his departure. "We hope today's landmark decision by the BBC will send out a clear signal that anti-Arab racism is every bit as unacceptable, every bit as odious as any other form of racism," the council's secretary general Iqbal Sacranie said.
You still haven't pointed out what he said that was inaccurate...
Kilroy-Silk had swiftly apologised for any offence the article might have caused, claiming it had been re-published in error and had prompted no reaction when it first appeared in April last year. But he also defended his right to speak his mind, telling one newspaper: "If I am not allowed to say that there are Arab states that are evil, despotic and treat women abominably, if I am not allowed to say that, which I know to be a fact, then what can I say?"
"Thank you, sir! May I have another?" is probably what they have in mind...
The BBC denied they were gagging Kilroy but said his views made him unsuitable as the host of a discussion programme. "Presenters of this kind of programme have a responsibility to uphold the BBC's impartiality," Jana Bennett, the BBC's director of television. said. "This does not mean that people who express highly controversial views are not welcome on the BBC but they cannot be presenters of a news, current affairs or topical discussion programme."
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
01/17/2004 00:13 ||
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Kilroy-Silk had swiftly apologised for any offence the article might have caused, claiming it had been re-published in error and had prompted no reaction when it first appeared in April last year.
What the hell for? Since when is the Arabic world and Islam beyond criticism?
"Presenters of this kind of programme have a responsibility to uphold the BBC's impartiality," Jana Bennett, the BBC's director of television. said.
The BBC's "impartiality"??? ....ha....haha....hahahaa.....hahahahaaa.....HAAAHHAHAHAHAHAAA!!!!!!
#2
The BBC's subsidy needs to be removed ASAP. Lack of accountability is their number one enabler
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/17/2004 11:35 Comments ||
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#3
When you can do whatever you wish without being afraid of any backlash, you have no reason to provide a "balanced" point of view. The Left has been exceedingly diligent at seizing the lines of communication. In a free market, their particular bias results in loss of viewership/listeners/readers, and the loss of advertising funds to keep them going. When the government picks up the tab, the gap between what the audience believes and feels and what the production staff believes and feels widens until the gulf cannot be crossed. The BBC is the British version - in this country NPR and PBS occupy the same position. There are plenty of alternatives to current government propaganda. It's time to pull the plug on all of them.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
01/17/2004 12:47 Comments ||
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The BBC is not government propaganda. It is far worse, it is a tribune for the journalists. There is some legitimacy in an elected government having access to a media and to not depend on the humors of TV or journal owners to esxplain its policy. Of course some lines have to be drawn in order that the opposition has some access to it and in order that the media remains the voice of the state and not the voice of the ruling party.
In case of BBC and France's public broadcast the journalists are "independent". But indcependency does not mean veracity: they have become a tribune for the rants and propaganda of loonie left journalists, a tax-payer funded tribune for unelected journalists. Another point is that people keep their shields up when the media is being advertised as "voice of government" and to lower them when it is "made by independent journalists".
Problem is not BBC being state owned but journalists who act like activists for a cause instead ofmerley informing the public and letting it to form its opinion. AFAIK you have the same problem of distortuion of news in private media like CNN.
The fundamental issue is that the voice of a journalist reaches much farther than the voice of other people and that they abuse this power. In France more and more we are seing politicains fearing to displease them more than they fear to displease the people.
We need a counterweight to the journalistic power and that power is blogging: journalism made by the people. By real people, those who are in the productive sphere not by litterary types (see Den Beste's discussion on the psychology of the soft science people).
Sweden will summon Israeli Ambassador Zvi Mazel on Monday to explain his partially destroying an artwork depicting a Palestinian suicide bomber, displayed at a Stockholm museum, Israel Radio reported on Saturday. Public service SR radio news said Mazel furiously ripped out electrical wires attached to the artwork and threw a spotlight in the basin. The artwork, entitled "Snow White and the Madness of Truth," consisted of a rectangular basin filled with red water on which floated a boat carrying a portrait of Islamic Jihad suicide bomber Hanadi Jaradat, who killed herself and 21 others in an attack at the Maxim restaurant in Haifa on October 4. Ambassador Zvi Mazel was among the guests at the opening of the Historical Museumâs exhibition linked to an international anti-genocide conference to be held in Stockholm from January 26 to 28.
Posted by: TS ||
01/17/2004 10:40:21 AM ||
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Well done Mr. Mazel. My regret is that the piece was only "partially" destroyed.
Posted by: Mark ||
01/17/2004 10:45 Comments ||
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#2
Well done ! Anybody know any way to get email messages of support to Ambassador Mazel ?
Posted by: Carl in NH ||
01/17/2004 10:48 Comments ||
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#3
awesome... f-ing euros just can't keep to shake their anti-semitic past can they....
#6
Excuse me, I may have missed something, but in what way does the depiction of a suicide bomber as swimming in a lake of blood make a work "anti-semetic"?
If there's glorification of terrorism here, then I don't see it.
***
The artists who created the piece are Dror Feiler an Israeli who resides in Sweden, and Gunilla Skold Feiler, his Swedish wife.
The artwork was supposed to call attention to how weak people left alone can be capable of horrible things," said Feiler.
***
Damn_Proud_Americans> Yeah, those Jews of Sweden sure can't shake their anti-semetic past.
#8
Hey Aris...here's a way for you to understand..imagine that suicide bomber in that picture killed your child...how would you like looking at her picture floating on a depiction of your childs blood...and the 'artist' calling her "snow white".
Would you consider that a glorification of terrorism that killed YOUR child?
#9
Mazel, when you get over to the Foreign Office just tell them the display was humiliating and that your feelings were crushed. They understand that kind of explanation.
#10
Dammit Aris! Yawl invented logic... did you export it all? Being a jew hater has nothing to do with religon, matter of fact some kikes are quite good at it.
You keep this up and no Tarpon Springs for you.
#12
Excuse me, I may have missed something, but in what way does the depiction of a suicide bomber as swimming in a lake of blood make a work "anti-semetic"?
First off, the picture wasn't swimming. It was in a virgin white boat. Second, you need a brain. A paleostinian suicide bomber who killed 21 people + depiction of said suicide bomber floating in a virgin white boat(White tends to be the color for innocence and purity.) + lake of blood + consideration for who suicide bomber killed = FREAGIN ANTI-SEMITISM!
I would give you a degree in learning this obvious fact, but I don't want too bother taking your head out of your ass. My hands could get dirty.
Posted by: Charles ||
01/17/2004 17:00 Comments ||
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#13
Hmmm well I tried to look at that picture ignoring all the comments and i think things are not that clear. You could very well come to the interpretation, that the installation shows a superb hypocritic arrogance of Paleo suicide bombers who maintain an aura of "snow white and pure innocent martyrdom" while they are actually floating on streams of (Jewish) blood. I find it at least doubtful whether this is a glorification of the Palestinian "cause".
#14
Excuse me, I may have missed something, but in what way does the depiction of a suicide bomber as swimming in a lake of blood make a work "anti-semetic"?
Think about it for a second - who are the intended targets of PALESTINIAN suicide/murder bombers?
#15
Reading about the artists, and looking at the photo, it seems VERY clear to me that the artists were using "dramatic irony" (for you guys with saliva dripping from your fangs, go look it up in a dictionary). But - as with the Israeli Ambassador and some people here, irony went over many people's heads. And - that is the risk with an artist using the technique of employing irony - or allegory, or any other technique that requires analytical skill, and good background knowledge.
I wonder what happens when people like the critics in this case read something like George Orwell's "Animal Farm" -
Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to pull the plough, he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits. Yet he is lord of all the animals. He sets them to work, he gives back to them the bare minimum that will prevent them from starving, and the rest he keeps for himself
Do the maybe say "Gee, a story about talking pigs..."
Personally, I hope that all "martyred" terrorists are boiling in "72 Virgin" brand pork fat somewhere - for eternity. That concept might make an interesting art piece .......
#16
Aris, I guess showing a symbolic halo around the angelic smiling face of the most vile disgusting sub-human trash on this Earth is art to you... but to me it's an effront to humanity. This woman was EVIL, she killed innocents including children by blowing them into little pieces. What part about how a piece of art glorifying her being upsetting to an Israeli is hard for you to understand? Another quote from the article about your unanti-semetic Europe...
"Israel Radio reported that the genocide exhibit included 20 pieces of art from artists around the world. Three works were selected from Israel, all of which presented the conflict from a Palestinian point-of-view, while a pro-Israel piece of art was excluded following diplomatic pressure from Syria. "
#17
According to Debka, (presumably well informed here) the perp is an ex Israeli Swedish citizen- that is he has rejected his citizenship. He is a member of "Jews for Palestinian Peace", so his sympathies are obvious.
And to invoke "dramatic irony" in a subject like this... words fail me.
#18
this was agit prop--art would be the map of arabia floating in a pool of shit
Posted by: SON OF TOLUI ||
01/17/2004 23:34 Comments ||
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#19
Wow, just look at all those uninformed comments from people who clearly haven't seen the work of art in question! Do you get all your information fron israeli right-wing media and FOX news?
#16 Damn proud american: there is no "symbolic halo" around her face. The artwork does NOT glorify her, on the contrary, it quite clearly states that she "murdered innocent people". And as for believing what israeli radio says...
#17 Grunter: "perp"? is he a criminal because of his membership in a pro-peace organization?
An interesting fact: a couple of years ago, another installation at the same museum was trashed. By neo-nazis. Apparently, the only ones capable of distinguishing "art" from" "non-art" (and having the god-given right to destroy what doesn't please them) are sionists and nazis.
Posted by: f-ing euro ||
01/19/2004 6:46 Comments ||
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#20
The ambassador is a criminal. What he did is nothing different from nazis burning jewish books in the 30s. It is the minds of these uncivilized barbarians and their fundametalist hatred that increases the crizis in the middle east. Suicide bombing is a response to the occupation and oppresion of the palestinian people. They are no more terrorists than the apache helicopter pilots who shoot civilians. Peace will be made when there is a respect for the human rights of the palestinian people and the israeli people alike.
#21
Oh, and by the way, the israeli army radio declared that "a pro-Israel piece of art was excluded following diplomatic pressure from Syria", but that is a blatant lie. Neither the curator, nor the museum director has heard about any such event taking place. It is probably derived from an earlier incident in which a row in another museum resulted in an entire exhibition being cancelled. The works of the israeli artist in question, Amit Goren, will however be shown in the museum of history, i.e. the same museum trashed by the "diplomat", and earlier by the nazis.
The curator of the exhibition has been threatened and assaulted, and is now under constant surveillance of the secret police, as is mr Feiler. Who, by the way, is the chairman of "Jews for Israeli Palestinian Peace".
israel - brings a new meaning to the word "diplomatic".
Posted by: f-ing euro ||
01/19/2004 7:28 Comments ||
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#22
Probably we'll never be capable to understand what the driving force in this never ending conflict will be. But clearer and clearer we see that Israel has arrived where it belonged since his foundation. In the row of the other normal states, that have blood on their hands. The picture of Israel as a peacefull state that only tries to stay alive has already faded away. Israel kills too and should admit this. Stop that sanctimonios wheening now.
#23
No one is willing to say honestly that what the Palestinians seek, an have been attempting these past three years, is the genocide of Israeli Jews. To quibble over whether an object is "art" is totally beside the point. And to be concerned whether a seasoned Israeli diplomat's emotional response was "proper" or not only demonstrates how little governments and individuals care that genocide is happening with the world's unspoken consent. Anyone who enjoys slurring Israelis as similar in any way to Nazis themselves hates Jews and might have become a Nazi given the opportunity. Zvi Mazer is an honest man, refusing to stand idly by at the celebration of genocide.
#24
RT: You are way out of line! Terrorist acts performed by palestinians are outweighed by the israeli's terrorism against civilian palestinians. Both sides are controlled by religious fanatics who benefit from the blood spilt by ordinary people. It is a circle of blood, that continues because Israel has no regard for human rights. So they keep oppressing the palestinian people, and thereby breeding suicide killers and religious fanatics. Take away the oppresion, and you take away the cause!
I have been an active anti fascist all my life. I have had five bones broken fighting nazis on the streets, I have defended both moslems and jews against assaults by skin heads, even though I beleive that religion is a dangerous poison. I have been threatened with guns and I have been stabbed. I fucking dare you to say I would have been a nazi in another time.
Zvi Mazer is not an honest man, he is afraid of a europe that is not supporting the atrocities by his country on civilians. So he shouts, just as you do, that anyone who does not agree is an antisemite. Only an idiot uses that kind of kindergarten rethorics.
#25
Hi, my name is Sven and I'm from Stockholm. First I would like to write that I'm sorry that Israel has been so offended by this piece of art.
But I guess for me and many moore that have seen this art in real life can say that it dont glorify terror against Israel. For me I feel sadness to look at it. And my sympathy goes to the victims. You are allowed to hate "Snowhite".
And dou you know that the artist is born in Israel, he have made Israel military service and he is a member of israelian/palestinian peace movment.
And to this art that your ambassador dont like there is also a storytext that must be read to understand the art:
"Once upon a time in the middle of winter
For the June 12 deaths of her brother, and her cousin
and three drops of blood fell
She was also a woman
as white as snow, as red as blood, and her hair was as black as ebony
Seemingly innocent with universal non-violent character, less suspicious of intentions
and the red looked beautiful upon the white
The murderer will yet pay the price and we will not be the only ones who are crying
like a weed in her heart until she had no peace day and night
Hanadi Jaradat was a 29-year-old lawyer
I will run away into the wild forest, and never come home again
Before the engagement took place, he was killed in an encounter with the Israeli security forces
and she ran over sharp stones and through thorns
She said: Your blood will not have been shed in vain
and was about to pierce Snow White's innocent heart
She was hospitalized, prostrate with grief, after witnessing the shootings
The wild beasts will soon have devoured you
After his death, she became the breadwinner and she devoted herself solely to that goal
âYesâ, said Snow White, "with all my heartâ
Weeping bitterly, she added: "If our nation cannot realize its dream and the goals of the victims, and live in freedom and dignity, then let the whole world be erased"
Run away, then, you poor child
She secretly crossed into Israel, charged into a Haifa restaurant, shot a security guard, blew herself up and murdered 19 innocent civilians
as white as snow, as red as blood, and her hair was as black as ebony
And many people are indeed crying: the Zer Aviv family, the Almog family, and all the relatives and friends of the dead and the wounded
and the red looked beautiful upon the white"
And however your are never allowed to attack any art. I really hope for peace in your area someday soon. Making difference
Many honest kiss and hugs to all humans reading this!
Posted by: Sven ||
01/19/2004 12:28 Comments ||
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#26
How many of you people out there are actually aware of the fact that there's a text accompanying the piece? This whole issue has been blown out of proportions because Mazel probably just didn't bother to read it before condemning the work as "glorifying" suicide-bombers (the text specifically mentions the murdering of "innocent civilians"). The Israeli government eagerly adapted their ambassador's seemingly prejudiced view and is using it as evidence for the "growing wave of anti-Semitism", to use the prime minister's own words. There's little mention in Isreali media about the exhibition being interpreted in a different way than Mazel's, and there's not a word about the text - which is after all essential for the understanding of the whole work. The ambassador's act just serves to show how violence gives birth to more violence in an endless chain reaction. And those of you who obviously don't know more about the exhibition than what you've heard from the media should shut up. Damn_Proud_American who are you to talk about the "f-ing euros" and shaking their antisemitic past. Here is the full text accompanying the work.
Posted by: ar ||
01/19/2004 14:00 Comments ||
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#30
Det är okey ar. Ditt inlägg är relevant också.
Posted by: Sven ||
01/19/2004 16:37 Comments ||
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#31
Open your eyes. Mr. Mazel made a fool of himself by vandalizing an exhibition which he (deliberately?) misinterpreted.
Posted by: Sn ||
01/19/2004 18:24 Comments ||
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#32
Evethough Mr. Mazel's actions were inappropriate for a diplomat, I can understant his actions.
Art is a form of free expression, and so is the ambassador's reaction.
Posted by: Jesus ||
01/19/2004 20:56 Comments ||
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#33
1st, Sweden should say "we are sorry because we let that idiot that calles himself an artist to put its provocating pseudowork out", and then it can be discussed if Mazel's act was right or not
#34
So if you are offended by the painting Mona Lisa it gives you the right to break it?
Posted by: SH ||
01/20/2004 2:24 Comments ||
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#35
-> #23 HOW is this a "celebration of genocide"? How can anyone possibly interpret this as anything even remotely pro-terrorist? And as for "genocide", come on! It is not the palestinians who are ethnically cleansing israel, building walls and shooting international aid workers. The palestinians does not have weapons of mass destruction. They do not bomb refugee camps or ghettoize entire communities. Saying that palestinians are trying to eradicate the jewish "race" is like accusing Nelson Mandela and ANC of being prejudiced towards the white minority in 80's south africa.
-> #32 Yes, his actions would have been understandable if he acted as an outraged individual. However, mr Mazel has now admitted that he had planned this act even before going to the exhibition (therefore, the question of whether he had understood the art is irrelevant, he decided what to do even before setting foot in the museum). As an ambassador, and experienced diplomat, he knew exactly what he was doing. No diplomat would plan to wreck an art exhibit, unless it was pre-sanctioned from his government. Which it was. This takes his actions from being an impulse act to being the official stance of Israel, that Israel has the right to do exactly what they want anywhere in the world. As a Swede, I find this sickening. Mr Mazel has made a fool of himself on several occasions, accusing anyone from the recently murdered foreign minister Anna Lindh to the arch bishop of being anti-semites (solely because they question Israels right to murder indiscriminately).
-> #33 Why should Sweden apologize? It is not the Swedish government that chooses the artworks for the exhibitions, or decides what is art and what is not. It would be a giant step towards a totalitarian state if we let the government do that.
Posted by: f-ing euro ||
01/20/2004 5:29 Comments ||
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#36
If the artwork is anti-Semitic, what is the opposite artwork? See image
From LGF
Franceâs Defense Minister criticized " all certain radical neoconservative ideas" in the United States as harmful to U.S. relations with Europe. While France remains a major partner of the United States, so they like to think
Minister Michele Alliot-Marie singled out on Friday what she called American aspirations for economic supremacy as well as assertions of cultural and political supremacy. Not an aspiration, its a fact
The French official did not identify whom she held responsible for asserting such views. "It is essential we recognize othersâ positions" as part of a trans-Atlantic discourse, she said. In a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a private research group, Alliot-Marie emphasized that Europeans had "a different sensibility" from the United States toward the Arab-Muslim world. Why fight when you can appease and make money off of despots?
Outlining the views of France, she said while terrorism is a great threat, its causes must be addressed, which she identified as "the sense of frustration in the face of injustice and poverty."
Blah blah blah... It has nothing to do with Soddy aspirations to world domination, of course...
"The humiliation is exploited by fanatics," Alliot-Marie said, while urging "let us work together to eradicate blind violence, but also its roots."
Let us instead work together to eradicate the Council of BoskoneSPECTRE The Learned Elders of Islam.
France is neither anti-Semitic nor anti-Israel, the defense minister said, while implicitly holding Israel accountable. Ahhh...there is is. Its the Jews fault for turning a 50 mile strech of sand into a world power in 60 years and while the Arabs have had hundreds of years and havenât succeeded. Damn Jews!
"We should be listening more to the Arab-Muslim world," she said. "The sense of injustice and humiliation is really very widespread." Duh.
Overall, Alliot-Marieâs message was one of working together with the United States on international security. You havenât yet, why start now? Oh, I know - there must be money to be made some how.
"It is something of a paradox that France should sometimes be stigmatized in Washington as a strategic adversary of the United States," the minister said. "To listen to some quarters, France is supposed to be trying to develop a counterweight to the United States, especially through European integration. Nothing strikes me as being further from reality." Talk to your boss, he is all for it.
France and the Bush administration have been at odds over the U.S.-led war in Iraq, which France tried to block at the United Nations with calls for more weapons searches in preference to going to war. But France has cooperated with the United States in promoting economic recovery in Afghanistan. "Faced with the difficulties the U.S. is encountering in certain parts of the world, it needs the support of its European allies," she said. Iâm tired of all of these people stating the US is having "difficulties" -it smacks of bullshit, because they so clearly missed the boat. We have ended up carrying Franceâs water - again!
Later Friday, Alliot-Marie met with Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the United Nations in New York. Afterward, she told reporters it was clear from her meetings in Washington with Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice that the United States wanted to look to the future. "It was very clearly expressed that there is a commitment now to turn the page ... and to turn to the future to see how we can carry out cooperation between France and the United States," Alliot-Marie said. But still no contracts for you!
She said it is important for the international community to ensure a successful transition in Iraq to an Iraqi government from the current U.S. administration. "France stated that it was ready to participate in the fleecing reconstruction of Iraq when there would be a legitimate Iraqi government that would have recovered its sovereignty ... and on the request of that government," she said. "There will be no question," she said, "of sending French military personnel to Iraq." Donât kid yourself, they arenât wanted anyway.
Posted by: JerseyMike ||
01/17/2004 8:29:38 AM ||
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#1
"it needs the support of its European allies" The USA is getting the support of its European allies and its Asia-Pacific allies as well. the list of countries contributing troops to Iraq posted a couple of days ago made interesting reading.
The whole subtext was a desperate plea - 'Please take us seriously, because if you don't nobody else will!' Pretty amazing from a senior memeber of the French government.
#3
Frannce could simply be the canary in the European coal mine. The rampant Muslim immigration into western europe could change the world's strategic face in less than 20 years. Ironically, the two most important European capitals by the mid 21st century could be Moscow and London.
Posted by: Douglas De Bono ||
01/17/2004 10:13 Comments ||
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#4
I've pretty much come to the conslusion that there are too many morons in this administration.
However, that goes doubly for the Gaullist ninnies we have to cope with now.
#5
"....she said while terrorism is a great threat, its causes must be addressed...."
It's so simple,Dear Mikey.
1)Hang the despots and bury them in an unmarked grave.
2)Cut out trhe tounges of religious clerics who preach hate,detsruction and murder.Then shoot them.
3)Strip the wealth of those(and thier extended families)who support terrorist and put them to work mucking out outhouses for life.
#6
(Terrorism's) causes must be addressed, which she identified as "the sense of frustration in the face of injustice and poverty."
Wright describes frustration, injustice and poverty in his essay on Saudi Arabia. These same problems can be found to a lesser extent in most other Muslim countries. Just what, if anything, is France doing to solve these 'root causes' of terrorism? Supporting brutal tyrants like Saddam is not an answer.
#8
France is rapidly sliding through the period of being irrelevant to being an obstacle to progress. Either the French "take the opportunity to remain silent", or they will be marginalized to the point of being nothing but a world nuisance - the kind of person you try to avoid at all costs at parties. In the meantime, they need to have a visit from the cluebat, before all he$$ breaks lose in their own country, and they find themselves fighting an internal war against islamofascism.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
01/17/2004 12:52 Comments ||
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#9
Outlining the views of France, she said while terrorism is a great threat, its causes must be addressed, which she identified as "the sense of frustration in the face of injustice and poverty."
Nowhere in Al Quaeda's statements has poverty been listed as a grievance. None of the thirteen 9-11 hijackers were what could be called 'poor'. And lot of money has been thrown at the "Palestinean Problem" with no appreciable results.
#10
Either your with us or against us......, don't mess with Texas,..... axis of evil, blah, blah blah, dumb shit, blah, blah blah. Sorry, my dear Americans. The world is not that easy. You have to reflect. That might be a little more difficult than just to believe what your dependent media gives you. But it's worth it. The muslims in Europe are no problem at all. They have a clearer view on the world then most of your politicians have. I've never met a muslim so fanatic as Ashcroft, or as agressiv and blind of hatred than half of the american government.
And you don't mind being governed by a hand full of oil companies. You haven't an independant media. Anyone could sell you a pile of steaming shit unless it's wrapped in redwhiteandblue. But your lucky with that and your lack of self-critisism and patriotism. So live on in your homemade warm und cuddly dullness.
P.S.: Did you know 80% of all world inhabitant see the greatest threat in the US. Not in North Korea or Iraq. They don't show that on TV, do they?
P.P.S.: Another interesting quations for you inhabitants of the superior "democracy". Where were the last election decided. And whose brother is the governor there?
Shocked and awed by your supriority yours sincerly
Spain's constitutional court has upheld the ban on an outfit, regarded as the political wing of the armed separatist group ETA. Basque party Batasuna had appealed a Supreme Court ruling last March banning its activities, but the constitutional court unanimously threw out the appeal.
Unanimity is good...
The Spanish government welcomed the ruling, with the Interior Minister Angel Acebes saying the ruling was highly significant. "It deals with Batasuna in a complete and definitive manner," Acebes told a regional meeting of Spain's ruling Popular Party. Government spokesman Eduardo Zaplana said he was delighted the court had upheld the original ruling. Zaplana said the decision means Batasuna "will not be able to utilise political institutions either to finance itself or transmit messages and calls to violence." A Popular Party spokesman in Basque country, Leopoldo Barreda said the judges' decision was in accordance with the Spanish constitution and the legal "norms of a state bound by the rule of law." He added the ruling was "good news" for Spain and refuted Batasuna assertions that banning the party was undemocratic.
I always have trouble with the concept that banning parties opposed to individual freedom is undemocratic.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
01/17/2004 00:13 ||
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President Vladimir Putin said Russia had to take into consideration the activities of human rights organizations operating in Chechnya. Putin made the statement at a meeting with Minister of Socioeconomic Development in Chechnya Stanislav Ilyasov on Friday. In the course of the meeting, Ilyasov expressed the opinion that the work on returning refugees to the republic was frustrated by human rights organizations, which he said "cause confusion and interfere with the process."
"It so seems to you," the president retorted rather sharply, "in actual fact they care for people, which should be taken into consideration."
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/17/2004 12:12:20 AM ||
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Am I alone in finding this a little eerie? Sounds like those KCNA "great man" articles about Kim Jong Il praising the workers at a tractor factory.
A key member of an alleged Virginia jihad network pleaded guilty to federal weapons and explosives charges yesterday, denying that he intended to harm Americans but acknowledging that he and his co-defendants had sought to fight on behalf of Muslim causes abroad. Randall T. Royer, 30, of Falls Church will face at least 20 years in prison when he is sentenced April 9. A co-defendant, Ibrahim Ahmed al-Hamdi, 26, of Alexandria, also pleaded guilty to similar charges and faces at least 15 years in prison.
Royer was at the heart of the governmentâs case against 11 men who trained for jihad by playing paintball in the Virginia countryside, prosecutors say. They have alleged that some of the attacks were to target the United States or its interests. A St. Louis native who became an activist for Muslim causes, Royer has acknowledged playing a key role in organizing the men, all but one of whom are from the Washington suburbs. But until his surprise appearance in U.S. District Court in Alexandria yesterday, Royer had maintained his innocence and had attributed the charges to government bias against Muslims. He also scoffed at the main charge against him, according to phone transcripts presented in court, as "some kind of garbage."
The guilty pleas were another milestone in the high-profile case that the Justice Department had publicized as an important step in the war on terrorism. A federal grand jury originally charged the 11 men in June with weapons counts and with training with Lashkar-i-Taiba, a group that is trying to drive India from Kashmir and has been labeled a terrorist organization by the U.S. government. Four of the men had pleaded guilty before yesterday. "This is an important step forward in our continuing efforts to protect America," U.S. Attorney Paul J. McNulty said in a statement released by Attorney General John D. Ashcroft.
It is unclear what affect the pleas, which require Royer and al-Hamdi to cooperate with prosecutors, will have on the five remaining defendants. Four are scheduled to go on trial in February; a fifth faces trial in March. The other four men who pleaded guilty are also cooperating with authorities. Attorneys for the other defendants denied that Royerâs plea will hurt their cases. "Much of what Mr. Royer said would be beneficial to Mr. Khan," said Bernie Grimm, attorney for Masoud Ahmad Khan, who, like Royer, was charged in an upgraded indictment in September with conspiring to provide material support to al Qaeda and to the former Taliban rulers of Afghanistan. Grimm said it was significant that the government had dropped those counts against Royer. "If the government honestly believed there was a connection there, the government wouldnât let Mr. Royer off so easy," he said.
Royerâs plea came as a surprise even to his family. Sources said the agreement followed months of negotiations with prosecutors but was finalized at the last minute and was not even listed on the courtâs docket. "Thatâs news to me," his father, Ramon Royer, said in a telephone interview. "Itâs a technical thing," Ramon Royer added. "He had so many indictments against him, I suspect he did this in order to not get 120 years or whatever it was. Thatâs really whatâs it all about, Iâm sure."
In an interview from his jail cell yesterday, Royer said: "I feel this is the right thing to do for myself, and all of us, and for the community." He said he had "unknowingly violated the law" because Lashkar was not on the list of banned terrorist organizations when he was associated with the organization. Royer would not elaborate on his reasons for pleading guilty. But sources close to his defense team said that, because he had acknowledged helping Lashkar-i-Taiba, Royer faced likely conviction on those charges. With the accompanying weapons counts, he could have been sentenced to life in prison. "This is a good result," Royerâs attorney, John Nassikas, said. "When you put it all together, he was looking at several hundred years in jail. Now, there is an opportunity for him in the not-too-distant future to rejoin his family."
Royer said he took "full responsibility" for his actions as he entered his plea before U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema. He pleaded guilty to one count of using and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and to carrying an explosive during the commission of a felony. Al-Hamdi pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and to carrying an explosive during the commission of a felony. Nassikas told the judge that Royer admits that an object of the conspiracy was to fight against India in violation of U.S. law. But he denied the contention of prosecutors, and at least one other defendant, that the men might have taken up arms against the United States or American soldiers. Binnyâs declaration of war, of which the LeT is a party to, says otherwise.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/17/2004 12:02:00 AM ||
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Posted by: Frank G ||
01/17/2004 11:49 Comments ||
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#2
you think cbs will follow up it's ed bradley picking on the poor african american muslim guy apologist piece it ran on 60 minutes indicating that going after these guys was ashcroft wot overkill--huh huh
Posted by: SON OF TOLUI ||
01/17/2004 23:41 Comments ||
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EFL This article orginally appeared in the Globe and Mail, but I was unable to find it.
Millionaire auto-parts magnate Belinda Stronach has decided to run for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada, joining former Canadian Alliance leader Stephen Harper as the only declared candidates in the race. âBelinda has made the decision to be a candidate for the leadership,â Janet Ecker, a Stronach campaign adviser and former Ontario finance minister, told CBC Newsworld. âI think its exciting for the party because this is a woman who has been very instrumental in helping the two different parties to get together. She cares about what she helped to create and she wants to contribute to its success by being a candidate.â Ms. Stronach, 37, was credited for helping reunite the right in federal politics by bringing Mr. Harper and former Tory leader Peter MacKay together in June to iron out details for the new Conservative Party. The daughter of Frank Stronach and current CEO of Magna International Inc. is expected to make her intention to run official next week. The problem western conservatives have with Ms. Stronach are they are calling her a Red Tory, someone who is supported by Canadiaâs liberal media, that she is inexperienced in electoral politics, and lastly she is an FOB (Friend of Bill (Clinton (the hummer master himself)). The problem moderates have with her is she doesnât speak French and she is a rich manâs daughter. Western conservatives apparently are ideologically in line wiht US conservatives in many issues. Their man Harper is their best hope for undoing ten years of Chretienist socialism.
Pledging to root out terrorism permanently from Pakistani soil, President Pervez Musharraf on Saturday said the composite dialogue with India starting next month should be pursued with sincerity to find a peaceful solution to the Kashmir issue. Following up on his commitment to Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee earlier this month that he would not permit any territory under Pakistanâs control to be used to support terrorism in any manner, Musharraf, in his first address to the joint sitting of Parliament, said: ``I appeal to you and Pakistan nation to wage Jehad against extremism.ââ
That sounds suspiciously like a call to fight evil with evil, but maybe that's just me...
In an apparent reference to the Indian charge of cross-border terrorism against Pakistan, Musharraf said: ``There are allegations being levelled against us with regard to Kashmir. To get out of this... we have to find a peaceful and just solution to the Kashmir issue... Agreement reached should be pursued with good intentions and sincerity, keeping in mind the aspirations of the people of Kashmir to take this process forward.ââ
Perv's problem is that the jihadis have been rogue for at least the past year, and more likely two years. So have elements of ISI. It's okay when they're booming civilians in Srinagar. It's okay when they're bumping each other off. It's not okay when they try to hit him. But Hafiz Saeed hasn't met with an unfortunate accident yet, so maybe they're only showing rogue and all this is for American consumption...
Maintaining that Pakistan has become a nuclear power, he said its capability in nuclear and missile technology was in its ``national interestââ. ``We are a responsible state and we will not allow proliferation,ââ he said, adding, ``we should not only maintain but strengthen this capability. We are proud of our armed forces. They have always played a key role and will continue to play a key role in Pakistanâs development.ââ
Through coup after coup, Pakland's military has always been there. They've never won a war, but they've been there.
Observing that majority of the Pakistani people were ``moderatesââ, Musharraf said there was a section which was ``wrongly interpreting Islam for their ulterior motivesââ and trying to mislead the people with their ``narrow and sectarian perceptions. Such sections weaken the country from withinââ.The General also emphasised his support for the US-led war on terror, vowing to hunt down Al Qaeda and Taliban militants thought to be orchestrating attacks in Afghanistan from the safety of Pakistanâs tribal regions. ``We have to act with full force against the foreign elements in tribal areas who can stir up terrorism,ââ he said.
Not to mention Karachi and Lahore...
Musharraf spoke amidst booing and jeering from Opposition benches. Some Opposition members walked out of the joint session shortly after he began his speech and others drowned out his words with shouts of ``Down with dictatorshipsââ, ``Go Musharraf go!ââ and ``No Musharraf no!ââ. The protests were led by supporters of former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif.
Democracy without a commitment to liberty, becomes just another form of oligarchy...
Meanwhile, two domestic flights carrying top Opposition leaders and ruling lawmakers were diverted from the Capital ahead of Musharrafâs address. A PIA flight from Lahore to Islamabad, carrying high-profile PML (N) lawmaker Tehmina Daulatana and MMA leader Qazi Hussain Ahmed among others, was diverted to Peshawar. Another flight from Karachi to Islamabad, which was also carrying prominent Opposition and ruling members, was diverted to Lahore.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/17/2004 6:09:35 PM ||
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No clue as far as how this might factor into what allâs been going on in Pakland recently. Maybe things were getting too hot there (hence the need to hold it in Bangladesh?) or maybe the whole crackdown has been staged for foreign consumption ... the internal nature of Pakistani politics is far too Machiavellian for me to comprehend.
According to intercepts available with Indian intelligence agencies, the ISI has organised a meeting of top terrorist organisations in Bangladesh. The meeting may be held in the next few days. Representatives of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizbul Mujahideen, Bangladeshâs Harkat-ul-Jihad-e-Islami, the ULFA, the Peoples Liberation Army, the All Tripura Tiger Force and some outfits from the Philippines are likely to attend the meeting. A few Al-Qaeda operatives may also attend.
Now, that sounds like a target-rich environment...
Intelligence sources said the intercepts, picked up both in PoK and Bangladesh, suggest that the meeting will be held in Mir Sarai, near Chittagong. There are unconfirmed reports that Pakistan-based United Jihad Council chief and Hizbul Mujahideen head Syed Salahuddin will attend the meeting. "Perhaps his name is being dropped to draw good attendance," an official said. Intelligence sources believe that the meeting has been convened to discuss the ways to ââactivateââ the eastern and northeastern borders of India. According to their analyses, the ISI gameplan is to rope in the Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh for anti-India activities. Meanwhile, Indian officials are upbeat with a recent US advisory that warns its nationals in Bangladesh to be careful as they might be targeted in terrorist attacks. Officials here wonder whether the advisory was based on intelligence received by American authorities of the presence of terrorist elements in Bangladesh.
Like possibly the same intercepts the Indos are leaking to their press?
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/17/2004 6:07:55 PM ||
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The Chinese government has sent Islamabad a list and profile of terrorists and terrorist organisations of concern to the Government of China and wants them investigated by Pakistan. Highly-placed sources told Daily Times that âthe list of the first batch of identified Eastern Turkistanâ terrorist organisations and terrorists compiled by the Ministry of Public Security, China, on December 15, 2003, has been sent through diplomatic channels to Pakistan, with a request to forward the list to the departments concerned for investigation. Diplomatic sources say that Pakistan and China have been cooperating for a long time in the field of counter-terrorism. But they have intensified their efforts after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. âTo give concrete shape to this cooperation, the Foreign as well as Interior Ministers of the two countries met in 2002 and discussed counter-terrorism issues. Recently when President General Musharraf visited China, an extradition treaty was signed between the two countries,â sources explained. âPakistan has declared on many occasions that it will not allow its soil to be used to destabilise Xinjiang, the Chinese province that neighbours Pakistanâs Northern Areasâ, sources said. They said that counter-terrorism operations have been taking place against the East Turkistan Islamic Movement for some time.
The recent list sent to Pakistan noted various aspects of at least two terrorist organisations, Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) and Eastern Turkistan Liberation Organization (ETLO) as well as terrorists attached to these organisations. It also claims that these organisations and terrorists are well connected to Osama bin Ladenâs Al Qaeda outfits and receive training as well as funding etc. Sources said the Chinese have provided details of the origin of these organisations, a brief description of the major acts of terrorism committed by them, their chief leaders, major sources of funds and personnel, as well as an outline of relations between them and other global terrorist organisations.
The Eastern Turkistan Liberation Organization (ETLO) is also known as the Eastern Turkistan National Party. It is said to be working for the founding of an Eastern Turkistan State in Xinjiang, China, by means of violence and terror. âThe ELTO was founded in Turkey with its headquarters in Istanbul. The founder of the organization is Muhametemin Hazret and its main leaders include Kanat, Dolqun Isa and Ubul Kasimuâ, says the Chinese document. Among the major acts of terrorism committed by the ETLO are a series of violent terrorist crimes in China and across Central Asia, with some South and West Asian countries as the base camp for terrorist training and Central Asia as the forward position and bridgehead for terrorist operations. In May 1998, ETLO agents committed arson in a series of cases in Urumqi, capital city of Xinjiang. Between May and June 1998, Askar Tuhti, Ahmet, Balamjan Ahmet and some other ETLO members launched bomb attacks in the state of Oshskaya, Kyrgyzstan.
In 1999, the Kazakhstan government cracked a major criminal case in which four Uygurs were murdered with their bodies cut into pieces. Investigations showed that it was Abulimit Turxun, a chieftain of ETLO, who had committed the murder. In May 2000, ETLO terrorists killed officers, including the Foreign Office director, of the Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture of Kizilsu and injured a Deputy Chief of public security, after which they escaped to Kazakhstan and murdered several policemen. In September 2001, Abulat Tursun and Ahmet collected a large quantity of arms and weapons including 7 India-made handguns. The two later entered China from the Zham Port in Tibet but in February, 2003, the Chinese police uncovered the terrorist group they had developed. On June 29, 2002, Arken Yakuf and Rahmutulla Islayil, both ETLO members, murdered Chinese diplomat Wang Jianping in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
The funding of the ETLO mainly comes from gift money from Al Qaeda outfits. They also make money through drug trafficking, arms smuggling, kidnapping and armed robbery. It mainly recruits young Xinjiang Uygurs under the age of 30 in Central Asia and convicted criminals and violent terrorists who have escaped from Xinjiang. Relations with global terror networks are also mentioned in the Chinese document. Under the Taliban, the ETLO was allowed to run special military training camps at Mazar-i-Sharif and Khost. In 1999, when the armed forces of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan invaded the southern part of Kyrgyzstan, Muhametemin Hazret provided financial assistance of $600,000, one third of which was for the training of Eastern Turkistan terrorists, says the Chinese report.
The ETIM, also called as the East Turkistan Islamic Party or the Eastern Turkistan National Revolution Association, has been described as one of the most dangerous terrorist organisations among the Eastern Turkistan terrorist forces. âIn 1993, Muhammad Tuhit and Abudu Rehman, both natives of Hotan, Xinjiang, founded the ETIM but it disintegrated later the same year. However, in 1997, Hasan Mahsum and Abudukadir Yapuquan ganged up with other East Turkistan activities to restore this organization. On September 11, 2002, the ETIM was put on the list of global terrorist organisations by the United Nationsâ.
As far as major acts of terrorism performed by the ETIM are concerned, the Chinese communication says that this organization has set up bases outside China to train terrorists and has been constantly sending agents to sneak into Chinese territory to mastermind terrorist and sabotage activities. Between early 1998 and the end of 1999, the ETIM ordered the Hotan Kulex terror gang to set up several secret lairs in Hotan Prefecture. It was responsible for the December 14 terrorist killings in Moyu County of Hotan in 1999, the February 4 robbery and murder case in Urumqi the same year and other acts of terror. The chief leaders from the Uygur ethnic group are Hasan Mahsum, also known as Ashan Sumut, and Abdu Muhammad or Hasang Zunduliohe. Mr Mahsum was arrested in October 1993 by the Chinese police on the charge of performing acts of terror but he fled in 1997 and has since stayed in terrorist camps in Afghanistan to coach terrorists and plot deadly terrorist attacks in China, says the Chinese document. The funding of the ETIM mainly comes from Al Qaeda outfits. The group also makes money through drug trafficking, arms smuggling, kidnapping, robbery and other organized crimes. Relations between ETIM and other global terror organisations are noted. The Chinese government communication claims that the ETIM is closely linked to Mr Bin Ladenâs Al Qaeda outfit and had got all-out support from the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/17/2004 10:25:02 AM ||
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Police said on Friday they had detained more than 30 Afghans, including several students of Islamic schools, for suspected links with Afghanistanâs former Taliban regime. Police official Mumtaz Khan told Reuters 28 Afghan pupils were arrested on Friday in a pre-dawn raid on three religious schools, or madrassahs, in Kuchlak, a town in the southwestern province of Baluchistan on the border with Afghanistan. He described them as âillegal immigrantsâ and said three other Afghans had been detained in the same area. âWe have handed them over to the concerned security agencies to investigate whether they have links with the Taliban,â he said.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/17/2004 12:48:30 AM ||
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Baluchistan? Now that's interesting. The Long Arm of the Law⢠usually doesn't reach that far.
Posted by: Pete Stanley ||
01/17/2004 2:13 Comments ||
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Vice President of MMA, Maulana Samiul Haq Friday condemned raid on Jamia Farooqiaâreligious school at Dhamial Camp, Rawalpindi Cantonment. âLast night ... the local administration and the law enforcing agencies, raided Darul Aloom Jamia Farooqia. The authorities said that they raided to arrest some militants of al-Qaeda hiding their. Actually the attack was prompted to penalize the head of the school who had convened convention of religious schools for their protection,â Senator of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal and chief of Jamiat Ulma-e-Islam, Samiul Haq said. The leaders of Jamiat Ahle-Sunnat, in their separate emergency meeting also reacted the raid while saying that none of the âso called terroristâ was arrested in the raid but the students and the staff of the school were harassed.
Mahmoud the Weasel was on duty, I take it?
Qari Saeedur Rehman of the Jamiat, chaired the meeting that was attended by Maulana Ashraf Ali, Maulana Nazeer Qadri, Maulana Zaheer, Maulana Abdul Rashid, Maulana Azizur Rehman and hundreds of others. Sami in his separate statement has also condemned the raid conducted in Lahore against a religious school. He said that such acts meant only to terrorize and harass the students and their teachers. âPresident General Pervez Musharraf himself had stated that the religious schools are top level NGOs serving the humanity without any material benefit,â Sami said. He raised question that why other universities and colleges are exempted from such actions of the administration.
Probably because they don't churn out jihadis in quite so large numbers...
The religious leaders in their separate meeting said, âif any militant of al-Qaeda or other such organization tries to take shelter in our schools, we will ourselves hand them over to the administration.â
And if you can't take the word of Pak religious leaders, whose word can you take?
They warned of mass level protest if the practice of raiding the religious schools is not stopped immediately. The administration did not succeed so far even arresting a single terrorist in their search operation of religious seminaries.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
01/17/2004 00:14 ||
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I'm there when you least expect it, infidel strongman!
Chief of Jamaat Al-Dawa, Hafiz Muhammad Saeed has said that Wana operation would fuel the conspirators who want to break away the federating units especially the tribal areas. âTribals have always defended the country irrespective of the consequences they might have to face but anti-Pakistan elements are hatching to create differences among the tribals and Pak armyâ, he said while in an interview to this news agency on Thursday.
Ah, yes. Deep-laid plots. I'm not surprised...
Govt should immediately stop Wana operation as it is sowing the seeds of hatred in the tribals against the federation adding that raids on seminaries should also be stopped, Hafiz urged.
"Yes. There's no reason to exert control over territories making up the state or to enforce the laws."
Religious organizations are not involved in any kind of terrorism and the law enforcement agencies instead of launching raids against the seminaries should unearth the network of foreign agencies, which were involved in anti-state activities in the country, he said. Kashmir movement cannot be declared as terrorism at any cost because Jehad is a noble deed among all the practices of Islam and one of the basic and compulsory parts of the Islam, which is the second highest followers in the world, he said.
"So y'see, they ain't terrorists. They're freedumb fighters. Religious organizations are only involved in freedumb fighting."
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
01/17/2004 00:14 ||
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#1
If they were to succeed in breaking a "trial area" away from Pakistan, couldn't we then designate the whole thing as a free-fire zone? Perv couldn't get but so mad.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/17/2004 1:26 Comments ||
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Pakistan will collapse eventually no doubt about that.
Anyone for a dead pool bet on when that will happen?
#3
Good,let them declare an independant state.Perv and his troops invade from the west and send in the the 10th Mnt.boys from the East,clasic pincer.
Or have 10th Mnt.set-up as a blocking foce.Hammer and Anvil
#4
I agree with Hiryu, Pakistan will splinter. It a fictional conglomoration to begin with. The question is when, and does India see this as a good thing, or a bad thing?
Pak. Armyâs selection board for promotion of Brigadier to Major General for the year 2004 was held at General Headquarters here Friday. Chief of Army Staff General Pervez Musharraf presided the board with all Corps Commander as members. It may be mentioned her that out of 800 officers granted commission in the Army during year 1974 and 1975, only 104 elevated to the rank of Brigadier after qualifying the stringent promotion criterion comprising various courses, promotion examinations and earlier selection boards. This year, the selection board considered these 104 brigadiers and recommended 18 officers (2.2% of officers commissioned in (1974-75) fit for promotion to the rank of Major General.
And it goes without saying that "They are the very model of a modern major general!"
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
01/17/2004 00:13 ||
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hope Perv's got that loyalty-oath thing going
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/17/2004 12:03 Comments ||
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The police have arrested more than dozen of activists of outlawed outfits including Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and Jaish-e-Muhammad in suspicion of involvement in bomb blasts at parking area of Karachiâs Holy Trinity Church. The case of Thursday explosions, which left more than 15 people injured including police and Rangers officials and more than 15 vehicles were damaged, was registered with Friere Police Station against unidentified terrorists. The interrogation of the arrested activists is underway. Besides, the special police teams have been constituted to arrest the culprits behind the blasts.
One is forced to wonder at the stupidity of the bad guys in staging these attacks when Perv's forces are fired up over the assassination attempts on him. It even makes me wonder who carried out the attacks. Is Perv looking for an excuse to thoroughly tromp some puffed-up jihadi groups? But at the same time, Masood Azhar isn't in jug... I guess I'm just not Byzantine enough.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
01/17/2004 00:13 ||
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Tribal leaders in Pakistanâs South Waziristan province have handed over to the authorities five more people accused of providing shelter to al-Qaeda and Taleban. This brings the number of such tribesmen handed over to the government to 20 in the last four days. The government has been seeking 41 such suspects. The tribal leaders are cooperating with the government after an agreement, which stops the military from taking any action against them. Last week the Pakistan Army conducted an operation to capture what it described as foreign terrorists hiding foreign terrorists near Wana, the main town in South Waziristan. However, they failed to find any.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/17/2004 12:05:15 AM ||
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At 9 a.m. this morning, elements of 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division identified an improvised explosive device north of Habbaniyah. Upon further analysis, the device was found to be four SA-3 warheads, each wrapped in approximately 45 pounds of TNT. Approaching traffic was stopped while an explosive ordnance disposal team disarmed the devices.
That one would have made a pretty hefty boom...
Last night at approximately 7 p.m. in the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regimentâs area of operations, soldiers identified 36 explosions impacting near a border checkpoint. A quick reaction force conducted reconnaissance of the point of origin and observed a van traveling east. The force was engaged with two rocket-propelled grenades near the point of origin and the coalition forces returned fire, killing two enemy personnel. The unit subsequently conducted a cordon and search of a compound where the identified van stopped and captured six enemy personnel. They also confiscated an RPG launcher and a 62 mm Chinese rocket.
During the last 24 hours, Task Force âAll Americanâ conducted 213 patrols, to include 13 joint patrols, and cleared three weapons caches.
Since arriving in Iraq, the 3rd Brigade Rakkasans participated in many key battles during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Once major combat operations stopped, the Rakkasans made their way to northern Iraq and worked hard on stabilizing and rebuilding the region. They helped with local government elections, trained Iraqi military and police, and worked on several projects in the region, Gen. Petraeus said. â(This) showed what could be done to improve the life of the Iraqi people by working with Iraqis of all tribes, ethnicities and religions,â Petraeus said.
The Rakkasans will soon be leaving for America, leaving the Stryker Brigade in charge of the area and completing projects. Linnington thanked his soldiers for their exceptional duty and Iraqis for their help in restoring the country. âToday is a great day for the Rakkasan soldiers who are heading home to family and friends,â he said.
The incoming Carman spoke about his readiness to finish off where the 101st soldiers began. âThank you for your excellent work,â he told the Rakkasans. âWe have our work ahead of us now. Weâre up to the task and poised to complete this mission so that one-day we too will return to our families."
The departing soldiers are ready to get home to their families, and satisfied with the job they did to bring stability and peace to Iraq. âIt feels great,â said Sgt. Rickey Flagg, Charlie Company, 326th Engineer Battalion, attached to 3rd Bn. 187th Inf. Rgt. âIâve been away a whole year and my wife had my first son on Aug. 13th. âI think weâve done a lot for these people. Theyâve been oppressed for years and we came over here and helped them learn how to live independently,â he said.
Itâs from Reuters (via Yahoo News), so it must be true...
U.S. troops rotating into Iraq will have fewer soldiers, helicopters and tanks and less artillery but should be more mobile and better suited to deal with guerrillas. By June, almost all U.S. troops on the ground in Iraq will belong to the new rotation, which is being called Operation Iraqi Freedom 2 and downsizes the U.S. presence to 105,000 from about 130,000. A senior military official in Baghdad said that though numbers were being cut — by as much as half in the northern zone which is relatively more stable — soldiers would be better equipped for the low intensity conflict the military expects to face in the next six to 12 months. "This is a reduction in numbers but we donât see it as a reduction in capability," the official said, adding that with no high intensity conflict on the cards the focus was defensive. "Frankly we donât see a regeneration of an (Iraqi) offensive capability any time soon," he said. "Itâs better (the soldiers) rest, refurbish, refit and prepare for the next operation wherever that might be in the world."
It will probably take most of a year to get the strike forces rested and re-equipped for Syria. Or Iran. Or Sudan. Or...
He said the Army would cut its M1 tanks in Iraq from more than 600 to about 150, its Howitzers from 250 to 100, and would remove all its 94 multiple rocket launchers from Iraq.
They could probably cut all the artillery. They haven't been putting a lot of rounds downrange...
There would be less than 100 Apaches and Cobras, compared to 140 now, and about 200 Black Hawk helicopters from 350 now. Troops will use more armored Humvee vehicles and Stryker vehicles. There is also likely to be a greater intelligence capability as the Army tries to capture those fighting the occupation. Incoming troops have been given training in language, cultural awareness and sensitivity, he said. Sensitivty training? Puhleeeze...
#1
"Frankly we donât see a regeneration of an (Iraqi) offensive capability any time soon," he said. "Itâs better (the soldiers) rest, refurbish, refit and prepare for the next operation wherever that might be in the world."
Interesting quote... I wonder what's next... Iran, Syria, West Africa, North Korea? Hmmmm, I'm pushing for North Korea but Iran would be nice...
An object lesson as to not how to deal withthe US - Lillte Assad and his WMD go buy bye = as do Hamas, etc. The whole middle east terror structure collapses like a house of cards at that point. And the Soddys and Iran finally realize it's time to fish or cut bait.
We can keep Kimmie dangling = keeps the Chinese worrying, and lets our SKor "allies" come to their senses.
via Jeff Jarvis
Go read this blog for yourself...these journalists are doing some fine reporting. Kudos to the TV station for sending a crew there and having the guts to allow them to actually report what they see and feel on their website.
Sample post:
URGENT...SEND T.P. I couldnât believe it when I heard the news last night. Members of the 32nd have to BUY their OWN TP! Now, whatâs up with that? You thinking about a care package or preparing one for a loved one? ENLCOSE CHARMIN. AND IâM NOT KIDDING.
I used the porta potty the other day and had to search through 5 of them to find the necessary supplies. THEREâS A SHORTAGE. (Pictured: one of the last rolls.) Why do they have to buy their own? Uncle Sam has left the âhood and I couldnât get a straight answer, but they do. Members of the 32nd have been very resourceful here to come up with the funds. When they arrived in Mustang Base the bombed out Baath Party VP Palace was in shambles. they cleared the halls, built "dorms, hootches" and SOLD any useable materials to Iraqis. That money has paid for T.P. as well as a weight room and personal items like micros or TVâs at the local markets. GET TO THE STORE AND BUY TP. Telling it like it is, and a salute to the members of the 32nd!
Posted by: Seafarious ||
01/17/2004 1:52:01 AM ||
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France is interested in helping to train an Iraqi police force, but sending in a military contingent is not on the agenda now, the foreign minister said Friday. France wants to contribute to Iraqâs security by helping to train the nationâs next generation of police officers - once power is transferred to a sovereign Iraqi government, Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepinstill alleged to be a man said. Yas, the feared policiers. Muslims all over France respect them.
"There are a number of domains of possible cooperation even though we have no intention of doing anything remotely useful," de Villepin said in his annual address to the news media. "France wants to give its contribution in the face of this Iraqi crisis." "See, we extend a finger to the Iraqis!"
France has offered to share expertise with Iraqi police after the U.S.-led coalition hands power to an Iraqi transitional government on July 1. But he said the question of sending in French troops is "not a current topic." "Ask us again after lunch!"
France will continue holding a dialogue against with the U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council, de Villepin said. Theyâll continue to talk down to us.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/17/2004 1:49:17 AM ||
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#1
I say keep them and thier salesmen out of Iraq,it seems to piss them off so lets keep them out.
#2
I may be wrong but I believe it was Norman Schwartzkoff said that going to war without France is like going deer hunting without an accordian, all you leave behind is a bunch of noisy baggage.
Stay home in Frogistan and deal with your Muslim problem first - if you can.
#7
Let us fervently thank God for that bit of sanity on the part of the French! 8^)
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
01/17/2004 14:06 Comments ||
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Given French ties to Baathists, it would not have been a good idea to have French troops in Iraq. Note that French troops in Yugoslavia routinely tipped off the Serbs to American military initiatives. In Iraq, French perfidy could cost American lives. In fact, even having the French train the Iraqi police is a lousy idea for pretty much the same reason.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The United States will revise its plan to create self-rule in Iraq, the U.S. administrator said Friday after consultations with President Bush, but he rejected postponement of a June 30 deadline for ending the occupation and handing over power. "The Iraqi people are anxious to get sovereignty back, and we are not anxious to extend our period of occupation," the administrator, L. Paul Bremer, said after conferring at the White House with Bush and senior U.S. officials.
In a clever play to keep the UN off balance an ironic shift, the administration will seek the help of the United Nations, whose role in Iraq the president and his top aides sought to keep at a minimum before and during the U.S.-led war to depose Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Offering to refine the American planâs way of choosing an interim Iraqi government through a complex system of caucuses in the countryâs 18 provinces, Bremer said, "There obviously are a number of ways in which these kind of elections can go forward."
Prominent Shiite clerics are demanding direct elections for the provisional legislature to choose an interim government and direct elections also on whether tens of thousands of American peacekeeping troops can remain to help maintain order. The demand puts the United States in the awkward position of arguing against direct elections while saying its goal is a democratic Iraq. Sistani canât use "democracy" to install an anti-democratic government.
Bremer, taking reportersâ questions as he stood coatless in a frigid White House driveway, said he had no "fundamental disagreement" with Iraqâs leading Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani, who has repeatedly pressed the United States for elections.
Three elections are planned next year, and "we need to try to find a way to go forward with a transparent and representative fashion" to choose an interim government, Bremer said. He said, however, that he doubted direct elections could be arranged before the scheduled June 30 hand-off to an Iraqi government, and he made a point of asserting that U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has concurred with that finding. "I did?" "Yeah, ya did. Now shuddup."
Underscoring the firm U.S. stand on the deadline, Bremer said he expected to return to private life on July 1, with the U.S. occupation ended. Threatening the U.S. blueprint, an aide to the ayatollah said Thursday in Kuwait that if al-Sistaniâs advice were to be rejected, a Muslim fatwa, or edict, would be issued to deny legitimacy to any council elected under the American plan. Even some Sunnis respect the Shiite al-Sistani, said the aide, Mohammed Baqir al-Mehri. This might cause a problem, but might also cause Sistaniâs downfall. Do we have some SF guys to âplain this to him?
Another al-Sistani associate, Abdel Hakim al-Safi, wrote a letter to Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Bushâs main coalition partner, accusing the coalition of seeking to deny Iraqis their legitimate aspirations. "We know that all the excuses you used to hinder the elections are not based on reality," the letter said. Neither was the last 30 years of Iraqi history.
The United States wants regional caucuses, at least some of whose members would be appointed, to choose a new Iraqi parliament, which would then select an administration. The Bush administration says security is too poor and voter records too meager for direct elections now. The clerics want elections, fearing the caucuses might be rigged by the traditionally dominant Sunni Muslims to keep Shiites out of power. Al-Sistani and other clerics wield great influence among Iraqâs Shiites, believed to comprise about 60 percent of the countryâs 25 million people. I think I see a solution here. Keep the Shiites happy by ensuring that the caucuses put a slim majority of Shiites into the new government.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/17/2004 1:41:19 AM ||
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The demand puts the United States in the awkward position of arguing against direct elections while saying its goal is a democratic Iraq.
The word "now" is missing from the above sentence. There is no infrastructure, no voter rolls, none of the legal codes needed to ensure an honest election. There is no census to determine who is, and who is not, an Iraqi citizen eligable to vote. So they go with the caucus system to start, get a constitution, and legal framework up and running, take a census, establish voter rolls, and THEN have direct elections. Why is this hard to see?
Posted by: Ben ||
01/17/2004 4:25 Comments ||
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Considering that the Shites are the majority of the population I can see why Sistani wants direct elections.With direct elections Sistani can sieze control of all Iraq.
I still favor partition,or at best a loose confederation to handle national issues.
#7
It's time to whack Sistani and Sadr. Do both in on the same day. Back it up with several tank batallions and every helicopter that will fly. Tell the Shiites that WE are not going to allow them to take control of Iraq, and make it a second Iran. If they don't cooperate, destroy their power structure, starting with the mosques where they hide the weapons and explosives.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
01/17/2004 11:30 Comments ||
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The battle of Iran is won in that saddam is gone as is his power base. That the nation building process isn't going like cake is another matter. Sistani needs to be humored and lead along. (or whacked indeed) If his cronies want to march and steam and throw rocks, have at it. It's their tea party. But without muscle they are just a rabble blowing up roadside targets. If there was a direct election today and the majority won along tribal lines does any one think the losers would go meekly along.
Hiryu, I don't see how caving to Sistani would help GW at the poles. I think just the opposite.
#9
I wonder how much MacArthur and Truman agonized over the decision to leave Emperor Hirohito in place. I'm sure, at the time, it was considered a risky proposition and many doubted that Japan could reform and develop into a peaceful liberal democracy without dumping the central symbol of reactionary nationalism. They also must have agonized about the decision not to outlaw the Communist Party and no-doubt many people worried that Japan would go red in the post war period when poverty, crime, hunger and malnutrition were rampant.
Of course the analogy is limited. But that's the dilemma - how much to compromise for pragmatism, how much to impose. The extremes of either direction result in failure. I don't envy Messrs. Bremer and Bush. They've gotta make the call. I pray that they have quality advice and info. I have confidence in their judgement.
By the way, just yesterday, the Japanese Communist Party, which is similar to its European counterparts with a small but public voice and a few seats in the Diet (parliament), announced that it was dropping its platform of calling for a "socialist revolution" and accepting the emperor system.
Iraq is a long-term project and every little set-back and drama is not a cause for panic.
Posted by: Tokyo Taro ||
01/17/2004 21:26 Comments ||
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#10
Good advice, TT. I seem to recall that we wrote the Japanese constitution. They turned out well. I'm beginning to wonder if we shouldn't "suggest" a constitution for the Iraqis, starting wtih a Bill of Rights.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/17/2004 21:57 Comments ||
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Iraq's two main Kurdish parties have struck an agreement to establish a regional administration for the three northern provinces that make up Iraqi Kurdistan. The deal was struck by the erstwhile rivals, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), in meetings overnight, Kurdish sources said Tuesday. Fawzi Atrushi, a top PUK official, said he expected "an announcement in one week on the unification of their two administrations".
Good move. And progress. Five years ago they were giving each other the hairy eyeball...
"There are only a few details to work out," he said after the meeting in Salahuddin, 350km north of Baghdad. Massoud Barzani's KDP controls the northwestern provinces of Arbil and Dohuk, while Jalal Talabani's PUK rules the northeastern province of Sulaimaniyah. The provinces have enjoyed virtual autonomy since the US and British implemented a no-fly zone over their provinces to protect them following the 1991 Gulf War. Over the past 10 days, the Kurds have won guarantees to keep their virtual autonomy when the US-led coalition ends it occupation of Iraq in June. Until the countdown to the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, Barzani and Talabani viewed one another with mistrust. Their parties fought each other to disastrous effect in the mid-1990s.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
01/17/2004 00:14 ||
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I don't like this. Kurdish region ought to have two parties -- respectful to each other but competing for political appointments and elections just the same. They can cooperate on regional matters, but one will keep the other (relatively, for that part of the world) honest.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/17/2004 1:28 Comments ||
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Steve - The issue is they have two Kurdish quasi-states that until recently were in a near civil war. Saddam had no small hand in keeping them at each others throats. There is no implications I can see that the two political parties will merge.
Because you may get it.
Hamas leaders would rather die than compromise by putting a halt to terrorist attacks, senior Hamas official Abdul Aziz Rantissi said in a media interview with Al Jazeera this week. That can easily be arranged
"America is talking with Hamas in a very strange way. They are asking Hamas to halt the operations in return for protecting Hamas leaders. I say, let all Hamas leaders be martyred," he said, naming himself, spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and others. Rantisi has already been the target of a failed Israeli assassination attempt. Iâm down with it, Yass. When would you like Israel to start?
Posted by: Christiopher Johnson ||
01/17/2004 4:39:48 PM ||
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Don't know what happened, Fred, but here's the link to the story
Posted by: Christopher Johnson ||
01/17/2004 16:42 Comments ||
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Arg! Don't know why that link's not working. Here's what it's supposed to be:
Posted by: Christopher Johnson ||
01/17/2004 16:44 Comments ||
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America is talking with Hamas in a very strange way. They are asking Hamas to halt the operations in return for protecting Hamas leaders
I don't recall promising to protect them. I do recall promising to help them make a state, which they then proceeded to shit on.
Posted by: Charles ||
01/17/2004 17:04 Comments ||
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#4
I think that we have kept up this roadkill roadmap charade long enough. Let Israel take care of Hamas and its leaders and be done with it. There will be no progress until all leaders of Hamas, Hizbollah, Al-Aksa (not Al-Aska!) and all the nutcase suicide terrorist outfits are decapitated.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
01/17/2004 17:20 Comments ||
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#5
"America is talking with Hamas in a very strange way. They are asking Hamas to halt the operations in return for protecting Hamas leaders..."
Whoever is doing this should be taken out back and thoroughly whipped into a sobbing wreck. Talking to or negotiating with terrorist organizations is unacceptable. The nice method hasn't worked, and it's not going to work. It's way past time to liquidate (as the Israelis would say) ALL of Hamas' leaders, and after that, deal with the Arafart problem.
From East-Asia-Intel.com, subscription reqâd
The commander of U.S. air forces in the Pacific wants to stockpile more Joint Direct Attack Munitions, otherwise known as satellite guided bombs, to use in possible Asian conflicts. "I donât have enough JDAM stocks to make me very comfortable," said Gen. William Begert, commander of Pacific Air Forces Command and air-component commander in that region. We definitely want the general to be comfortable. When he is, we are.
The general told reporters this week that JDAMs are extremely attractive weapons in facing the North Koreaâs thousands of hardened artillery tubes along the Demilitarized Zone separating North and South Korea. Especially when scores of the units can be individually programmed and dropped from one platform.
The JDAM, which is guided to its target by satellite navigation, was the star in the recent Iraq war. In a conflict in Korea, JDAMs could be dropped from high attitudes, at night or in bad weather. Begert said that more combat aircraft should be equipped with JDAMs, including F-15 jets. "The more airplanes that we can get dropping JDAMs, the better Iâll like it, but my first priority is to get more JDAMs," he said. "Hopefully weâll continue to produce the JDAMs at the accelerated rate that we surged to during Iraqi Freedom until our stocks are back up and go beyond that to try to meet that requirement." The JDAM is essentially a dumb bomb with a special Global Positioning System navigation package on its nose and a tail fin kit on its end to guide the bomb to its target. The Air Force has stockpiled some JDAMs on the Pacific island base of Guam. The base also has air-launched cruise missiles stored over the past several years. Begert said he would like to station additional fighter aircraft on Guam to keep them in easy distance of North Korea. Many strike aircraft were removed from Guam during the 1990s as a cost-saving measure. Public statements like this by a general discussing JDAMS and deployment of additional strike aircraft at Guam are obviously ratchets on the Kimmie Sweat Ray that are approved from the top.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
01/17/2004 4:58:23 PM ||
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#1
Bit by bit, the pressure mounts... I wonder if we'll see anything happen regarding NorK, Syria, Iran, or wherever before the election? My hunch is no.
Posted by: Dave D. ||
01/17/2004 17:17 Comments ||
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Dave D.---I think the heat and pressure are on. Since diplomatic and covert ops seem to producing good results at present, it would be best to save the ass-kicking by troops for a later day, if possible. There is still work to be done in the Iraqi Theater of Operations.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
01/17/2004 17:22 Comments ||
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#3
Never can tell when JDAMs might be useful in, ohh, I dunno, maybe the phillipines or indonesia. All sorts of islamofascist nutcases running around over there.
#4
Might also be prudent to stockpile a few hundred in Australia, for "contingency purposes". Maybe 'sell' the Australians some additional F/A-18s and even a BC-130 or two and a handful of MOABs. Of course, that would get several nations squealing like a diva in a three-sizes-too-tight corset, but it'd certainly be 'entertaining'...
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
01/17/2004 18:05 Comments ||
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#5
Priority on JDAM production has gone to the smallest version, a 500 pounder. This allows a plane to carry a large number. The Small Diameter Bomb, a 250 lb bomb is rapidly being developed and will allow a spectacular number of targets to be attacked by one bomber. Those 10,000 to 15,000 artillery and rocket launchers burrowed into hillsides just north of the border are the reason for the need for large stockpiles.
AN EDITORIAL IN THE SAUDI GAZETTE CRITICIZED THE SAUDI GOVERNMENT FOR NEVER HAVING OFFERED A REWARD FOR THE CAPTURE OF OSAMA BIN LADEN, AND CALLED ON IT TO OFFER A REWARD OF $50 MILLION, IN ADDITION TO THE AMERICAN REWARD CURRENTLY OFFERED, SAYING THAT BIN LADEN âHAS OPENLY THREATENED OUR COUNTRY, OUR SECURITY, AND OUR PROSPERITY FOR YEARS.â (SAUDI GAZETTE, 1/15/04)
Yeah we know, Binny, but youâll still be getting your monthly stipend from the Royal Slush Fund....
Considering the rivers of blood shed by some of its adherents over the last three years, it is fascinating to note the sort of thing the Religion of PeaceTM will get worked up about:
Chanting "the veil is my choice," thousands of demonstrators marched through Paris on Saturday in protest at a looming ban on Islamic hijab headscarves in French state schools. Muslims in the Middle East and London also challenged the ban. In Beirut, more than 2,000 women protested. Thousands of Palestinian women marched in Gaza City and the southern Gaza town of Rafah. "Where is democracy," they chanted. Nowhere near Gaza.
Mostly veiled women, flanked by men, protested in the French capital against the law proposed by President Jacques Chirac that would ban Muslim headscarves, Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crosses from state schools. Flanked by men, huh? Real spontaneous eruption of feminine feeling, that. But lessee. Adherents of the Religion of PeaceTM around the world canât be bothered to protest against all murderers who defame their religion in the eyes of civilization. But they spit nails because their kids canât wear scarves in school. Lovely people.
Posted by: Christopher Johnson ||
01/17/2004 2:33:20 PM ||
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Seems ludicrous that these folks cry out for religious freedom for themselves while suppressing the religious rights of others.
Here's a deal for you: The hijab will be allowed in French public schools on the day that an expat can freely walk the streets of Riyadh wearing a gold cross around his neck.
I'm offended and humiliated.:)
#2
It's now official: More people in France (and the world) have protested against the ban on the hijab than against Islamic fundamentalism, suicide bombings, and terrorism.
Posted by: Mark ||
01/17/2004 14:57 Comments ||
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#3
Wonder how long before the suicide bombings start?
#4
The Islamists are using the hijab as an issue to attack the French government. It is the Issue of the Dayâ¢. It does not matter what the issue is. The Islamists are going for whatever is handy to slowly bring down the French govt and replace it with Sharia law. The issue is not the issue, so to speak.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
01/17/2004 16:16 Comments ||
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#5
The Islamists _should_ use this as an issue to attack the government, because in this case the government has made a stupid law. If they want to wear a funny hat which says to others, "I believe everything in a stupid old book," that's their right.
#6
Are any Moslem women anywhere in the world organizing a demonstration against forced marriages and honor killings? Even two Moslem women in even one place?
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
01/17/2004 20:17 Comments ||
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An article like this in the LA Times? At least now I know my Surprise Meter isnât broken!
Hat tip: InstaPundit. Edited for brevity.
If youâre prompted to register, just use steveyr/asshat
Guns are bad. All my life, itâs been that simple. At my sonâs preschool, if a child pointed a banana and said "bang," he was admonished to "use the banana in a happier way." As far as I was concerned, the 2nd Amendment gave us the right to protect ourselves against invading armies, not the right to buy a gun and keep it under our beds. So what would make someone like me change my mind? I met this gun enthusiast. As research for my new novel, I asked him many questions, all the while voicing my disgust. My character might use a gun, but I never would. "Come to the range," the gun guy said. "Iâll teach you to shoot." I expected a dungeon full of men missing teeth and wearing T-shirts decorated with Confederate flags. Instead, I found a sunny, wood-paneled lobby and guys who looked like lawyers on their lunch break.
When my guide arrived, he gave me a choice of handguns. I went with the .357 magnum â I recognized the name â and a traditional target with a red bullâs-eye. I couldnât imagine shooting at one shaped like a man. First lesson, respect your firearm. I got a little talk about how powerful it was. I learned how to hold it. To load it. And finally to fire it. It was terrifying. The gun was so heavy, I couldnât keep it steady. It took both index fingers to pull the trigger, and then there was a flash of flame, a loud crack, a substantial kick. It was much harder than it looked in the movies. I occasionally hit the target, but I also managed to obliterate the metal hanger that held it. I have to admit: I loved it. I had a fantastic time. The power of that gun for me, a 5-foot, 3-inch woman, was immediately, shockingly seductive. The thrill when I hit the bullâs-eye (once) was as great as making a perfect tennis shot. I felt like I was playing a careful game of darts in a small, alcohol-free bar.
Later, I was surprised to discover that some of my closest friends owned guns. People I never would have suspected confessed that their guns made them feel protected. Still, most of my friends thought handguns should be outlawed, completely, in every circumstance. I no longer was so sure. I did some research â there are countless testimonials about guns saving someoneâs life. I looked into shooting as a sport. I spoke to a woman who had found a wounded deer and shot it, ending its agony. I changed my mind: Guns arenât bad. Iâm glad to see a convert, but I wouldnât have started her out with a .357! That might have scared her and her 5â3" frame away from guns altogether. Iâd have thought she should start small so she could concentrate more on the mechanics without fear of the recoil, but thatâs just my two cents.
Posted by: Dar ||
01/17/2004 12:58:18 PM ||
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Shoulda started her with a 9mm - maybe a Sig, most 9's are easy on the hands, no kick, keeps em from developing "tirgger jerk" (pulling the muzzle up in anticipation of the kick).
But it sounds like they started her out on a revolver, which I guess is a good choice - no slide recoil, and they dont "look at mean" as the standard pistol.
Thank God they didnt start her out on my 2 favorite sidarms: my old dependable Glock23 40S&W, and my baby I got for Christmas (you guys should have a wife that gets you one of these), my Kimber Pro Carry II Stainless Steel in 40 S&W instead of .45. Its my new concealed carry pistol - my Glock was too thick and "painted" too often - having to retrain my hands to do the 1911 stuff again, so getting some indoors range time in.
Sometimes I wish is was socially acceptable for men to carry something like a hand-bag everywhere, it would be great to keep my Glock handy without wearing a rig.
My wife still isnt on the Glock or 40S&W bandwagon with me, says the recoil hurts her wrist - she carries a Sig P239 9mm in her purse.
Still, better than the 1911 we were both carrying when we first met in the service.
#2
I would have started her with a .357 using 38 special ammo. That's the load my wife prefers, a bit less of a kick. Its still a revolver and if she liked it she can try .357 ammo.
#3
In fact the more I think about it, that's probably what happened. The gun says .357 which is why the reporter says .357 but the friend probably used the lighter ammo which is why she wasn't freaked out by the .357 recoil.
#4
It would have helped if she'd described the gun model. I won't fire any .357 rounds over 125 grains in my Ruger SP101 because of its small frame, although my S&W 686 is a real delight to shoot with 158 grain ammo (I love that flame and the authoritative BOOM).
I want to put in a plug for Packing.org while I'm at it. It's a great site for keeping up on gun news and CCW law on a state-by-state basis. For instance, Ohio has finally restored CCW for its citizens effective in April, and Packing.org will tell you which states have reciprocity (none yet) and which will honor Ohio permits (AK, ID, UT, OK, TN, KY, IN, MI, and VT).
Please check out your state page and help the staff keep their pages up to date!
Posted by: Dar ||
01/17/2004 14:12 Comments ||
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#6
You folks have been lucky regarding fire arms. I was raised in a no pistol household. We had shotguns and rifles but nary a pistol. For close in self-defense we learned to use spit, rocks, sharpened rocks, crudgels, logs, till we got to the famed 32 oz. Louisville Slugger. Course my favorite cousin Kelly could clear out a card game with his concealed Doberman.
#7
Agree on the 9mm Sig recommendation. Despite the usual advice (especially for women) to start with a revolver, I moved quickly to the Sig P229 in 9mm - fits my hand well, I can fire it for extended periods without becoming overly tired & I intend to achieve consistent accuracy with it. Once my permit is approved and I am allowed to use it legally, that is - here in NY it is illegal even to touch a handgun or dry fire one, including at a range with an approved instructor, until/unless the permit is issued. (sigh) Santa was very nice to bring the Sig this year; I remembered it from our Previous State of Residence and when I decided it was time to renew my shooting ability it wasn't hard to pick what to put on my list.
Those who aren't willing to practice at least every 2 weeks or so, or to learn how to disassemble and clean a semiauto, probably are better off with the revolver, tho.
#8
A .357 has a kick? Even firing .357 rounds, I don't feel much of a kick. I actually sold my 5-shot .38 because it was too small and I couldn't shoot it as accurately as my .357.
Of course, I'm not 5'3", either.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
01/17/2004 21:27 Comments ||
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Colonel Muammar Gadafy of Libya has been buying complete sets of uranium enrichment centrifuges on the international black market as the central element in his secret nuclear bomb programme, according to United Nations nuclear inspectors. The ease with which the complex bomb-making equipment was acquired has stunned experienced international inspectors. The scale and the sophistication of the networks supplying so-called rogue states seeking nuclear weapons are considerably more extensive than previously believed. The purchase of full centrifuges, either assembled or in parts, marks a radical departure in what is on offer on the black market. While it is not yet clear where Col Gadafy obtained the centrifuge systems, at least 1,000 machines, believed to have been made in Malaysia, were seized last October by the Italian authorities on a German ship bound for Libya. Diplomatic sources familiar with the results of a recent visit to Libya by nuclear experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said the Gadafy bomb programme differed in crucial respects from nuclear projects in Iran, Iraq or North Korea. "What was found in Libya marks a new stage in proliferation," said one knowledgeable source. "Libya was buying what was available. And what is available, the centrifuges, are close to turnkey facilities. Thatâs a new challenge. Libya was buying something thatâs ready to wear."
Posted by: TS ||
01/17/2004 11:11:48 AM ||
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made in malaysia from designs stolen by Paki scientists?
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/17/2004 11:28 Comments ||
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#2
A question. Why would we assume Libya has the market on buying "turnkey facilities"? Would we not assume other countries have these and we don't know it.
#3
Certainly other countries are buying the equipment. The big question is why the seller in Malaysia hasn't been raided and their records seized.
It's almost like the IAEA doesn't want to know.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
01/17/2004 12:14 Comments ||
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#4
U enrichment centrifuges? Why no, officer, these are just large ice-cream spinning tubs. Didn't you ever make your own ice-cream by turning that crank in the bucket until your arm fell off? The Colonel just loves ice-cream.
The real mystery to me is why we have not yet had to deal with dozens of bootleg nukes. I can only guess that the cook up your own nuke schemes have all been just fund raisers in disguse.
#7
It seems to me the function of the IAEA is to conceal, not to reveal, nuclear proliferation, so us Murcans don't get all upset and bomb somebody again. If that's right, then you could make the agrument that the IAEA is the most dangerous organization in the world.
Posted by: Matt ||
01/17/2004 14:41 Comments ||
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#8
The real mystery to me is why we have not yet had to deal with dozens of bootleg nukes.
The answer is that the seller's have common sense. Selling the equitment to make a nuke is one thing, but if they sold the entire nuke and it went off in, say, New York city. Then the sellers would be screwed along with the buyers. Self-preservation motivates even men of greed to have a limit.
Posted by: Charles ||
01/17/2004 16:38 Comments ||
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#9
With respect to the Malasian centrifuges, I would expect to see some in Syria. Does anyone think tha Indoneasia would be buying as well? If I were a world class asswipe, instead of a smalltime ignoramus, I would buy several shipments of centrifuges and sneak them into Niger to use a turnkey centrifuge to make tunrkey enriched uranium delivered in JIT fashion.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
01/17/2004 17:38 Comments ||
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#10
Libyaâs black market deals shock nuclear inspectors
The IAEA is easily shocked.
I'm not.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
01/17/2004 21:30 Comments ||
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The police of the Chechen Vedeno district arrested a rebel messenger on Sunday, the temporary press center of the Russian Interior Ministry in the North Caucasus told Itar-Tass on Friday. âThe detailed female resident of Selmentauzen village collected information about location, strength, routes and armament of federal units and transferred it to the Gelayev rebel unit,â the press service noted. The womanâs engagement in crimes is being verified. The police also detained persons wanted for blasting a bomb on a highway near Prigorodnoye village, the Grozny district. A homemade bomb planted by the instruction of rebel group leader Turchayev was destroyed in the Oktyabrsky district of Grozny. The suspects are identified, and criminal proceedings are instituted. A storage of munitions was found in Goity village, the Urus-Martan district, on January 15. The storage contained five grenade launcher projectiles, TN, grenades, two charges and over 20 large-caliber cartridges. The munitions were demolished.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/17/2004 11:02:04 AM ||
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Chechen police detained five members of illegal armed formations in various districts of the republic on Friday. One militant who tried to put up armed resistance was killed. Among the detainees is a resident of Grozny, who is suspected of robbery of a cashier at Groznyâs water supplies plant Grozvodokanal in April 2003. The workersâ wage in the amount of 600,000 roubles was stolen then. One more gunman, who was detained by policemen of the Achkhoi-Martan district, had been on a federal wanted list for participation in acts of terror. He was a member of a gang led by a certain Dzhambulat Khatuyev. The bandits robbed local residents, mined motor roads and opened fire at federal troopsâ convoys. Policemen averted acts of terror on the motor road Zamai-Yur - Beti-Mokhk in the republicâs Nozhai-Yurt district and in Saikhanov Street, the Oktyabr district in the Chechen capital. An earlier detained militant from a gang reporting to a certain Kazbek Burkayev told policemen about the location of a cache with a 35-kilo homemade explosive device. Measures to destroy the cache and the explosive device were being taken at the time of reporting.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/17/2004 10:43:00 AM ||
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The White House appeared satisfied Friday with the new, toned-down language that Taiwanâs leader announced for a planned March 20 referendum. Originally, Taiwanâs president, Chen Shui-bian, had pushed for a strongly worded, China-bashing vote demanding the communist giant withdraw nearly 500 missiles aimed at Taiwan. But with Washington fearing an upset of the delicate balance in the Taiwan Strait, that language prompted President Bush to express serious concerns. Though Bush didnât specifically oppose the referendum, he warned that he opposed "any unilateral decision by either China or Taiwan to change the status quo." The rebuke was considered especially sharp, partly because it was delivered as Chinaâs new premier, Wen Jiabao, sat by his side in the White House. Bad move, sends a signal that we wonât stand by democratic governments.
On Friday, Chen announced official, two-part ballot language that makes the referendum more of a policy vote than a protest directed at China. The referendum will ask voters whether Taiwan should purchase more advanced anti-missile weapons if China doesnât redeploy its missiles and renounce the use of force against Taiwan, and if the Taiwan government should negotiate with China. "We certainly welcome any statements that confirm Taiwanâs commitment to the status quo now and in the years ahead," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. McClellan said the Bush administration neither opposes nor endorses the referendum. But, he added: "We understand, however, that there would be no relationship between the outcome of the proposed referendum and Taiwanâs commitment to the status quo."
I think maintaining the status quo for an extended period, for instance until Doomsday, accomplishes what the Taiwanese want, without jiggling our elbow when we're picking at the underpinnings of Iran, Syria, and North Korea.
Secretary of State Colin Powell said he was examining Chenâs statements and could not say if he was satisfied with them. But he said: "I think President Chen has shown a little flexibility in the way those two questions have been worded." Citing Bushâs opposition to unilateral actions by either Taiwan or China, Powell said Chen "knows very clearly what our position is with respect to any move toward independence. He knows very clearly what our position is with respect to how the reconciliation between the two sides ultimately must take place." "We got other fish to fry right now, Chen. Donât do nuttin stoopid."
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/17/2004 1:53:10 AM ||
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#1
Granted we are engaged in Iraq and Afghanistan. There is the real possibility of war on the Korean Peninsula and a major dust up in the Taiwan Straits is not in our interest. But soner or later we are going to come face to face with the reality that it is either us or Red China.
Somehow in all the happy talk after the fall of the Soviet Union, we forgot there remains a major communist power trying to extend its claws across the entire Pacific Rim.
Posted by: Douglas De Bono ||
01/17/2004 10:08 Comments ||
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#2
In terms of the Pres saying this whielthe CHinese Premier is sitting there, lets just remember the old maxim:
Diplomacy is saying "Nice Doggy" while you reach for the big stick nearby.
That, and they may be wanting to let China rot a bit more from the inside in hopes of a USSR type collapse over a decade or so. We blew it with Tianamen the first time, but they cant keep the cork in forever.
Long article on Condi that has some interesting insights and frequently veers into Democrat bashing. Severly EFL. Condoleezza Rice is a "true illiterate," said a patronizing Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. This Marxist thug added that he had asked his comrade Cuban dictator Fidel Castro to mail Americaâs National Security Advisor samples of Cuban books now being used to teach Venezuelan children literacy to âsee if she learns to respect the dignity of the people and learns a bit about us."
Apparently President Chavez is both a racist and a puny macho sexist to make such stupid remarks. His stunted manhood is threatened by criticism from this powerful woman. Condoleezza Rice, who recently called on Chavez to accept the democratic vote of Venezuelans in a legitimate election to recall him, is, as many have noted, "the most powerful woman in the world." Dr. Rice understands collectivist terrorist murderers like Chavez better than do most Americans, and not only because she is a highly regarded expert on the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Most of us awakened to the threat of terrorism only on September 11, 2001. Rice as a 9-year-old African-American girl in Birmingham, Alabama, in September 1963 felt the ground shake from a racistâs dynamite bomb going off in the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church only blocks away from the church where her father, John, was pastor. Among the four black girls murdered in that hate crime that shocked our nationâs conscience was Riceâs 11-year-old friend and schoolmate Denise McNair. She remembers their funeral and how small their coffins were. âIf youâve been through homegrown terrorism,â said Dr. Rice, âyou recognize there isnât any cause that can be served by it. ... Because what itâs meant to do is end the conversation.â Racism is a collectivist idea that denies human dignity by defining individuals as members of mythical collective racial groups. Socialism and Marxism are collectivist ideas that deny human dignity by judging individuals only as members of mythical class groups and by declaring all human beings to be slaves whose lives and labors belong to the collectivist state.
But first, letâs look more closely at the âilliterateâ Dr. Condoleezza Rice. Leftists such as Hugo Chavez have tried to silence or discredit this âuppityâ powerful black woman with insults. The Leftist media inside the U.S. have tried either to ignore her or to diminish her with the most vicious, loathsome and toxic kinds of racist satire, mockery, denigration, insults and ridicule. Jamaican singer-limboist Harry Belafonte, an outspoken supporter of Fidel Castro and the Democratic Party, called Rice a âJewâ and a âslave who lived in the houseâ and âserved the master.â Belafonte is a moron
Leftists engage in such verbal terrorism against Bush administration National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of State Colin Powell out of fear, wrote distinguished African-American journalist and liberal Clarence Page. The Democratic Party depends on blacks for 18 percent of its votes. Its survival depends on keeping those voters as a solid, owned bloc of slaves, chained by dependency and fear, down on the plantation of the Democratic Party. A powerful, successful Republican role model such as Condoleezza Rice could show young blacks an alternative to dependency on Democrats. To prevent African-Americans from opening their hypnotized eyes to this self-evident truth and reconsidering why they vote for a party that chains and exploits them, Dr. Rice has been targeted for every kind of insult and attack possible. She must be politically assassinated.
So, who is Condoleezza Rice, this bright black woman whose mere presence strikes terror into the hearts of Leftists? Condi, as friends call her, was born November 14, 1954, in what his 1963 Letter from a Birmingham Jail Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would call âprobably the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States.â During the Civil Rights struggle it came also to be called âBombingham,â with racist explosives killing not only Riceâs friend and three other girls but also shattering the home of black civil rights lawyer Arthur Shores and terrifying the African-American community. âRiceâs father went to police headquarters to demand an investigation,â wrote Dale Russakoff in the Washington Post Magazine. âThey didnât investigate,â Condoleezza Rice has said. âThey never investigated.â
âJohn Rice,â writes Russakoff, âthen did what black fathers all over Birmingham were doing â what Alma Powell remembers her own father doing then, when she happened to be home with her babies during her husbandâs [Colin Powellâs] tour in Vietnam: They got out their shotguns and formed nightly patrols, guarding the streets themselves.â One of the many dirty secrets of the Democratic Party is that its passion for gun control began, and continues to be, from a desire to disarm African-Americans and thereby make them powerless and dependent. Russian expert Michael McFaul, writes Russakoff, âremembers [Condoleezza] Rice telling him she opposed gun control and even gun registration because Bull Connor could have used it to disarm her father and othersâ in 1963. Interesting!
Her name, Condoleezza, comes from the Italian musical notation âcon dulceâ or âcon dolcezza,â meaning to play âwith sweetness.â I didnât know that!
Condi was soon mastering figure skating, French, ballet, Latin and a host of other advanced skills. Playing Bach and Beethoven even before her feet could reach the pianoâs pedals, Condoleezza pursued becoming a concert pianist. At age 13 her family moved to Colorado, where her father became a University of Denver assistant dean. She enrolled there at age 15, graduating Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude, at age 19 when most other youngsters are just beginning college. One day she found herself in a classroom fascinated by Josef Korbel, former Marxist Czech diplomat, as he expounded on the Byzantine nature of Soviet politics and Stalin. âThere was so much intrigue,â Rice says. âI decided I wanted to study the Soviet Union.â
âIt was like falling in love,â she told Essence Magazine. âI just suddenly knew thatâs what I wanted to do. ... Soviet politics, Soviet everything.â Condoleezza went on to earn a masterâs degree in international relations at Notre Dame, then a Ph.D. at the University of Denver. The year she completed her doctorate, 1981, she was offered a teaching job at Stanford University. She is author or co-author of several scholarly books, including "Uncertain Allegiance: The Soviet Union and the Czechoslovak Army: 1948-1983," "The Gorbachev Era" and "Germany Unified and Europe Transformed: A Study in Statecraft." Her expertise on the Soviet Union soon earned Rice an advisory position with the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1986 and, with the recommendation of Brent Scowcroft, a place on President George H.W. Bushâs National Security Council in 1989. When they first talked, she and George W. Bush, both big sports fans and devout Christians, hit it off immediately. âAmerica will find that she is a wise person,â the president-elect said when announcing her as his pick to become National Security Advisor in December 2000. âI trust her judgment.â From what I hear Bush is closer to Condi than any other of his advisors. Any chance she will be VP in 2004? As far as I am concerned her head and her heart are in the right place, and it would send a powerful message, and think of the fun we would have - over 4 years of the Left tieing themselves in knots. Iâd pay to watch that!
Rice is part of a tiny Bush inner circle of brilliant advisers â including Vice President Dick Cheney, former Secretary of State George Schultz and Pentagon analyst Paul Wolfowitz â nicknamed for their superior intellects as âThe Vulcans,â in the spirit of Mr. Spock and other Vulcans in âStar Trek.â Cool!
Now, at age 49, Condi Rice has already become what Business Week magazine called probably the most influential National Security Advisor since Henry Kissinger in the 1970s. When she, as one of two top foreign policy advisers to the president of the United States, criticizes or challenges Hugo Chavez, it is no wonder that this nasty little Marxist tyrant shakes with fear and rage. The arabs will hate dealing with her, seeing as they are all racist misogynists.
Chavez knows perfectly well that Dr. Rice is not illiterate. In fact, she is an expert on Marxism, the Soviet Union and the kind of tactics Chavez and his ally Fidel Castro are now using to subvert Venezuela as well as several other Latin American nations. Her expertise is helping shape the hard line that President Bush has taken against Fidel Castro at this weekâs summit of Western Hemispheric democracies in Monterrey, Mexico. Long rant on Cuban Education system cut, but i left this bit in cos it fits with my experience in Cuba.
This school had a black principal â the only instance in Cuba where I saw a black person in a position of power. As Cuban-American author Humberto Fontova (whose current best-seller is "The Hellpig Hunt") explained to me, Leftist Hollywood movies about Cuba typically depict Castroâs revolutionaries overthrowing a blond, blue-eyed dictator Fulgencio Batista y Zaldivar. Batista, however, in real life was a dark-skinned mulatto of black ancestry from a poor farming family. It is Castro who embodies the white Spaniard colonial ruling class and whose father was a crime boss in Cuba ... just as Fidel is a crime boss today. And under Batista, Cuba had the third-highest standard of living in the Western Hemisphere, while today this Marxist prison colony is near or at the bottom. This, notes Fontova, is typical of the lies Americaâs Leftist media use to brainwash Americans. A second lesson: As Condoleezza Rice so admirably teaches by example, we must never permit the collectivist thugs, here or abroad, to stifle or end the conversation.
Posted by: phil_b ||
01/17/2004 1:08:47 AM ||
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Sorry Fred! My severe EFL obviously wasn't severe enough. Maybe you could out the stuff about Chavez. Who cares what some tin-pot marxist has to say anyway!
#2
I've no problem with Cheney as Veep in '04. I wouldn't mind Condi as VP either, followed by Condi as Prez in '08.
Can you just imagine the Lefty Dems' reaction to the first black AND female Prez? "Oh my Gaia! She's a CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN! We can't allow that!"
He He He...it will be fun to watch the political and rhetorical contortions the Dems will go through.
Posted by: Les Nessman ||
01/17/2004 2:01 Comments ||
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#3
no offense... but this is opinion not news.. is as valid as the slurs thrown at rice..
"One of the many dirty secrets of the Democratic Party is that its passion for gun control began, and continues to be, from a desire to disarm African-Americans and thereby make them powerless and dependent"
right. gun control is all about holding the black man down.. bull.
One of the many dirty secrets of the Democratic party is that it opposed abolition of slavery and that one of its senators has been in the Klan (but now he tells he didn't inhale).
There is a class of liberals whose heart bleeds at the suffering of the pooooor niggers blacks provided they docilly vote as being told, kill a few cops and, if black is female and pretty , docilly spread their legs. But if the black tries to think ny himself and doesn't accept to be a pawn they will head the mob to lynch him.
#6
Condi in '08! Time to remind the nation that the Republicans is the Party of Lincoln and elect the best candidate, not because she's black or female, but because she's the best candidate!
Posted by: Dar ||
01/17/2004 9:26 Comments ||
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#7
JFM, even granting your argument as being 100% acurate... I still see no validity for the claim about the fight over gun laws to be about putting down a given social group.. and I seem to recall some racist folks on the right, don see why a few on the left should surprise me..
the entire post stinks of opinion, vry biased opinion, it aint news, it's a rant
#8
By the way, Josef Korbel at the U Denver was Madeline Albright's Dad....
Not sure what the heck the author means by describing him as "Marxist"; as far as I understand, he fled persecution in Communist Czechoslavakia.
Posted by: Carl in NH ||
01/17/2004 10:46 Comments ||
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#9
it aint news, it's a rant
That may be so, but it's an informative rant, and provides insight on another aspect of the War on Terror. If you don't believe that Latin America is being used to fund, train, and aid the Muslim attacks on the United States, you're blind, deaf and dumb. There's quite a bit of evidence available to prove the point.
Josef Korbel was a Marxist that got fed up with the system, and escaped. He used his position of power to do so - not the first, and not the only Marxist that followed that path. Just because he fled persecution doesn't mean he wasn't a Marxist.
Remember what the Soviet Union did to the German Marxists after WWII: any with any credibility were quietly eliminated, and replaced with people loyal to the Soviet Union. There would be NO "independent" communist party anywhere - only those that were satellites of the Soviet party.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
01/17/2004 11:12 Comments ||
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#10
dcreeper, Please read the bannner of this cite very, very, carefully. This is RANTburg not NEWSburg.
As for the Democrats. They seem bent on keeping the minorities dependant (read: Addicted) on government programs (and thus, the Democratic party since only they have the minorities welfare (pun intended) at heart.)
Notice how every time someone proposes a program to help people get off of welfare or some other dependancy program the democrats start crying how it is to 'throw people out on the street' and 'slash your benefits for the greedy wealthy.'
#11
'I still see no validity for the claim about the fight over gun laws to be about putting down a given social group.. and I seem to recall some racist folks on the right, don see why a few on the left should surprise me..'
dcreeper - the problem with arguing with the Left is that they specialize is confabulating multiple issues together and its generally not worth the effort to deconstruct their arguments to separate out the issues to achieve a rational analysis. Its like telling my 11 year old daughter that being cool is that not that important. More-or-less a complete waste of time.
You may consider Rantburg some right-wing cesspit, but in fact, for the most part, its intelligent people trying to understand the world they live in. Sure we mock! But the alternative is fear and loathing. We would like to admire and respect people and Condaleeza is someone we admire and respect for what she has done and the positions she has taken. You may want to reduce this to a racial discussion but we would prefer not to.
My apologies to the other regulars here for speaking on their behalf.
#12
IMHO - the gun-grabber theology is part of a campaign not against blacks, but against all Americans who value self-reliance vs. nanny state control. Guns represent an individual's right to self protection, which is why they're resented by the Dems.
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/17/2004 11:56 Comments ||
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#13
I would argue that despite gun control, blacks pack as never before, and because they do, race relations in this country have never been better.
Think about it. Do you ever hear about a bunch of good ole boys jumping in the chevy pickup truck and going to the black part of town to terrorize the populace?
No.
Wonder why? They don't know who is packing, but they DO know that their putative victims will shoot back, as well they should.
Sooo, let the black comunity in this country defend themselves. Let us repeal gun laws. Cops and terrorist hunters can't be everywhere, but citizens can.
#14
ref # 11 Well said Phil.
dcreeper, welcome to Rantburg. Lurk around for a few days 'til you get the flavor then jump right in. I've observed that opposing views are welcome, but as you may have noticed, attempts at censorship are not.
Try looking before you leap - thats one thing folks here do: we question the source and the tacit beliefs behind a lot of "crap" the popular press puts out.
I suggest you do a bit more research. A great many gun control laws, especially in the south, were aimed at disarming blacks. They were seldom enforced against whites. Its a matter of historical record.
And I got the stuff below from several web pages on a quick google search (some are "conspiracy" sites, every bit as suspect as the left wing, but othersa are well researched and well reasoned).
Read and learn:
The Kansas Journal of Law and Public Policy (Winter 1995) includes "The Racist Roots of Gun Control." The article documents the "historical record provides compelling evidence that racism underlies gun control laws -- and not in any subtle way."
And this too...
"You don't need that kind of gun to hunt with" and variations on that theme.
In fact, hunters are quite often told that it is not their guns that are going to be banned. Well, in general, urban blacks don't hunt. Suburban and rural whites do. So what is being said is "We want to take the guns away from blacks". There are only two reasons why someone would want to accomplish such a thing. The first reason is to keep blacks subjugated. The other reason is a kind of paternalistic hope to protect blacks from themselves, a modern "White Man's Burden". While I think the first scenario is unlikely, the second one is no less offensive. There is KKK-type racism, easy to spot and also easy to dismiss as misguided. Then there is "stealth" racism, the kind that is seductive to those who feel, instead of think. The kind that, at it's heart, says "We need to take care of you, to protect you from others and yourself". So we come to find out that what most gun control advocates are trying to do is increase the hurdles for legal gun ownership so that it may be more inconvenient for whites, but almost impossible for urban blacks. Indeed, it is already like that in many large cities, where a permit is needed just to buy a firearm. The packaging may look nicer at first glance, but when you examine the contents they are just as rotten.
#16
Condi for VP. I like the idea but she has no real political experience. She's never served in any elected office in her entire life. Certainly she could slip in as VP but its gonna be a strike against her.
On the other hand, that might be what the US needs. Someone serving in the highest office who isn't a life-long politician.
I like Cheney, but his heart problems will be a serious issue in 2008 and I don't think he'll win the Republican Primary because of them. That would mean the Republicans lose the incumbant advantage and that's something they shouldn't give up lightly. I think Cheney should move on before it comes to that.
#17
I remember reading on a site about the lies in "Bowling for Columbine" that during the sixties a black community in the south who was being harrassed and got weapons from the NRA. It stopped the attacks. But then the authorities disarmed them.
#19
Wilson was governor of New Jersey from 1910-12. Grant was a disaster by all accounts.
Eisenhower had experience as a diplomat and administrator in his role as the Commander of the Eastern Theater and NATO head.
Posted by: E. Brown ||
01/17/2004 16:18 Comments ||
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And IIRC Condi held a Dean role at Stanford for a while ... ?? ... someone come up with the facts on that & her role at the Hoover Inst. please. I should do it but have company here.
#21
All good reasons why Condi won't be at the top of the ticket in '08 against HRH HRC. But a Giuliani-Rice ticket...
Posted by: Mr. Davis ||
01/17/2004 18:23 Comments ||
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#22
Provost at Stanford - Hoover is a distinct institution
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/17/2004 18:48 Comments ||
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#23
Phil, you ceertainly spoke for me that time.
I like Condi a lot, but she does need some elected office experience. A great opportunity would have been the recall election in California, but Arnie did okay. Next opportunity is against Barbara Boxer (Fienstein is in 06 but she's pretty tough).
Giulani-Rice? Hmmm. HMMMMmmmmmm.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/17/2004 21:45 Comments ||
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#24
Yes but all you red neck white guys would find an excuse to vote for a third party candidate, eg. Buchanan
Posted by: Seppo Basher ||
01/19/2004 17:50 Comments ||
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Interesting to note that it seems that this spread into Niger as well - we didnât hear about that before.
A bloody uprising to create a Taliban-style state in Africaâs most populous nation appears an isolated rebellion launched by a cleric-led, Afghan-inspired, bloc of university students using family wealth, not al-Qaeda funding, authorities and captured fighters have told correspondents.
Just a flash in the pan, huh?
Security forces of two nations, Nigeria and neighbouring Niger, quashed the studentsâ surprise offensive, which appalled Nigeriaâs northern Muslims with the violence of its fiery attacks on police and police stations and other public buildings.
Normally those are reserved for beauty contests and churches...
Even with the campaign defeated, and scores of the campaigners dead, in jail or in hiding, the students declare themselves unrepentant.
"We dunnit an' we're glad! Glad we tell yez!"
The two-week uprising ended on January 3 with at least two policemen and 16 others dead, including 10 students killed by Nigerian villagers and by Niger security forces as the young men tried to fight their way across the border after defeat by Nigeriaâs army and police. Residents say they believe the true death toll in the northern state of Yobe was higher - about 50, with students making up most of the dead.
I think we're all happy to hear that...
The uprising came without warning, and virtually without precedent. Except for an Islamic uprising in northern Nigeria in the 1980s, Nigeria and West Africa as a whole have seen none of the kind of broad-based armed Islamic movements spreading in the Philippines, Indonesia and other Asian nations. In West Africa, "thereâs a brewing religious intolerance in some places, but itâs mostly fuelled by political leaders. Most people left to their own devices arenât becoming fundamentalists," said Ross Herbert, at the South African Institute of International Affairs in Johannesburg.
Unless there's a beauty contest in town, of course...
"In West Africa, people have too many other problems to worry about fomenting global revolution," Herbert said.
You'd think that would be the case, but pick a country at random on the map of Africa and you'll find at least two groups engaged in Armed Struggle™...
Police said the students included children of top northern government officials. Leaving prosperous homes and university study, the young settled with a Nigerian Islamic cleric known variously as Abu Umar, or Mullah Umar in a tent city on the banks of the Yobe River. The students called themselves Al Sunna wal Jamma, Arabic for Followers of the Prophetâs Teaching. Investigators do have one key question, the official said: Where, and how, did university students learn how to handle arms? It ainât rocket science, folks. And whatever training they did get didnât seem to do them much good.
"We certainly know they received some weapons-training, because theyâre not taught sharp-shooting in school," he said.
If they'd actually learned how to handle guns the casualty rate would have been higher. I get the impression they were a shoot-from-the-hip crowd...
"They put Islam upside down," said Ibrahim Tijjani, a Maiduguri-based Muslim cleric. "Violence is only justifiable in Islam when oneâs religion, life, family or property is attacked - none of which happened in this case."
The definition of an "attack" on one's religion seems to be the flexible point there.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/17/2004 12:53:08 AM ||
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#1
The religion of peace strikes again.
amazing: one culture is exploring the solar system while another is trying to crawl back into the dark ages and violently drag everyone else with them.
And the advanced, scientific, free West cannot even make a value judgement about the cultural roots of the problem.
Not even a nuke is gonna solve this one, the Islamists are scattered far and wide.
#2
"thereâs a brewing religious intolerance in some places, but itâs mostly fuelled by political leaders. Most people left to their own devices arenât becoming fundamentalists,"
Words to live by.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/17/2004 1:15 Comments ||
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#3
We should consider sending pizzas to the Nigerian police and army.
I understand the sarcasm behind the RoP (TM) acronymn. However, I think it's time for truth in labeling which, serendipidously, creates a more accurate description:
The designation of Islam as the Religion of Peace (RoP) shall be chenged from this point forward to the Religion of Terror (RoT).
#7
Mercutio, make sure your shooting is better than your typing, and we will be alright.
A tent city on the banks of the Yobe River sounds like spring break without the babes and the beer. "Hey Mamoud, pretty boring here. Lets go shoot up the cops!"
Posted by: john ||
01/17/2004 16:53 Comments ||
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#8
Mercutio, you misunderstand: RoP is the acronym of the "Religion of PIECES"... 8^)
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
01/17/2004 17:58 Comments ||
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#9
Weren't these the clowns who spray painted "Taliban" all over their cars? Must've been real tough to find.
An international aid agency accused Sudan on Friday of closing camps for internally displaced people in the troubled Darfur region and planning to move them to a new camp it said was unsafe. Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF, Doctors Without Borders) said the authorities had closed the camps in the southern Darfur capital of Nyala on Thursday after trying, without success, to forcibly move thousands of the residents by truck to new camps 20 km (12 miles) from the city. "Among those who fled were families with severely malnourished children who had been under the care of MSF and did not arrive for their treatment," it said. Some 10,000 people had been living in the closed camps, MSF said, and the new camps were in an insecure area where access by humanitarian agencies was difficult. It said the bid to move the displaced people to the new sites was cut short when some of them fled in panic. There was no immediate response from Khartoum.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/17/2004 12:22:37 AM ||
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MSF is on the frontline in a dangerous place, and they're facing down bad guys with guns. You have gotta respect that.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
01/17/2004 17:23 Comments ||
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A rebel movement in the Darfur region of western Sudan, the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA), forged an alliance this week with an eastern rebel group, the Beja Congress. A joint declaration signed on Tuesday said both parties would "continue their struggle together until they get rid of marginalisation, poverty, ignorance and backwardness," Ali al-Safi, a member of the Central Committee of the Beja Congress, told IRIN from the Eritrean capital, Asmara. "The struggle will continue using all the tools [available] and with close coordination between the two parties," he said. "It was quiet [in the east], because people were expecting to be included in the Naivasha [Kenya peace] talks. But from now it will not be quiet. One can expect an escalation of fighting in the east, because the government is seeking a partial solution [to Sudanâs problems] with the Sudan Peopleâs Liberation Movement/Army [SPLM/A]."
The Beja Congress campaigned unsuccessfully to take part in negotiations in Kenya between the government and the SPLM/A, which are expected to lead to a peace agreement later this month. They rejected a deal on security arrangements signed by the two sides in October 2003, and shortly afterwards limited skirmishes resumed in the east after a break of several months. "We think that the international community doesnât intercede unless there are extensive losses of life, such as the two million in southern Sudan. This might be the price that other groups have to pay to get their attention," added al-Safi. He said the injustices that had provoked the western rebels, the SLA, to resort to an armed struggle were essentially the same in the east, and that both sides would henceforth present their grievances together as a united front.
Both rebel groups say they are fighting for economic and political power in a federalised Sudan. A member of the SLA in Darfur, Adam Ali Shogar, confirmed the agreement, saying that both groups were "joining in the struggle against the government", and that they were both seeking "peace and equality in Sudan". He said their problems concerned the whole of Sudan and they would fight together if no settlement was reached. The 2.2 million Beja of eastern Sudan have been neglected by central governments for decades, leaving them vulnerable to malnutrition, famine and disease. The political wing of the Beja Congress was formed in the 1960s to voice grievances against marginalisation of the region, but, frustrated by a lack of progress, began an armed struggle by the 1990s. According to the International Crisis Group (ICG) think-tank, Beja frustration reached new heights in the 1990s when Khartoum "aggressively promoted" its version of Islam in the region, launching army attacks on Beja mosques and religious schools, which follow a more tolerant form of Sufi Islam. It also offered some of the most fertile land along the Gash river to government supporters and investors from the Arab Gulf states.
Having joined the opposition umbrella group, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), in 1995, hundreds of Beja were sent to training camps in Eritrea and, together with other NDA armed groups, started full-scale operations on the eastern front by 1997. They are currently reckoned to have a few hundred fighters, according to ICG.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/17/2004 12:20:52 AM ||
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The Beja/Hadendowa movement is the harvest that the Khartoum government reaps from its policy of neglect. It is the classic "core" vs. "periphery" with the kleptomaniacal riverain Arabs pitted against the Muslim/Christian/Anamist elements of Sudan's periphery. It was after all the Khartoum Islamists who provided Osama Bin Ladin a million acres of land claimed by Beja/Hadendowa land in the Gash River delta.
#2
"We think that the international community doesnât intercede unless there are extensive losses of life, such as the two million in southern Sudan. This might be the price that other groups have to pay to get their attention," added al-Safi.
I don't think we ought to support al-Safi, he sounds more like a homicidal kook than a moderate sufi.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
01/17/2004 17:29 Comments ||
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Preliminary reports indicate that prominent Chechen rebel leader Ruslan Gelayev may have been severely wounded in clashes with border guards, policemen and commandos in Dagestanâs Tsunti district at the end of December. "This conclusion was made based on information from several sources," Interfax was told at the Interior Ministry department for the North Caucasus on Friday. "This conclusion was prompted by the testimony of five detained rebels who said that they had not seen Gelayev on his feet during the last days of fighting," the source said. Gelayev was carried through the mountains of Dagestan on a stretcher, the source quoted the detained rebels as saying.
Comparing specific attempts made to eradicate Gelayevâs rebel group and the testimony of the detained rebels, the source concluded that Gelayev was likely wounded when his hiding place was shelled on December 24-26, and not in open combat. "Considering the duration of the special operation, the gravity of the wound and the lack of medical assistance the rebels possessed, Gelayevâs wound could have been fatal and his body may have been disposed of," the source said. "The assumption is supported by the fact that most of the rebels were foreign mercenaries who stick to the principle of each man for himself, and thus they would not have gone to the trouble of caring for a severely wounded man," the source said.
He said that the search for bodies of rebels killed in combat is continuing but has been hindered by heavy snowfalls and poor visibility. Dagestani Deputy Interior Minister Magomed Omarov also commented on the matter at a news conference in Makhachkala on Thursday. He had just returned from a visit to the Tsunti district where he led a ministry team examining the bodies of rebels killed in a gorge near Mikali. "The bodies of eleven rebels were discovered in the gorge. They had been killed by federal troops in artillery and air attacks. Ruslan Gelayevâs body was not among them," he said.
Deputy Prosecutor General for the southern federal district Sergei Fridinsky told an earlier news conference in Rostov-on-Don that based on what the detained rebels said during interrogation, Gelayev had been the leader of the group. Fridinsky said almost all of the rebels who had entered Dagestan were killed.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/17/2004 12:16:42 AM ||
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"most of the rebels were foreign mercenaries who stick to the principle of each man for himself, and thus they would not have gone to the trouble of caring for a severely wounded man"
Tell me again about the Muslim Brotherhood�
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/17/2004 11:37 Comments ||
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Lebanese authorities have confiscated billions of new Iraqi dinars from aboard a private plane that came from Baghdad. Officials said that 19.5 billion dinars, worth about $15 million, were confiscated aboard the Lebanese-owned Magic Carpet plane late Wednesday. The officials said Thursday that the notes might have been brought to Lebanon to try to trade at money exchange companies. Lebanon's Financial Prosecutor's office detained three Lebanese businessmen who were aboard the plane for questioning. The confiscation of the new money came as Iraq's old bank notes — bearing former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's portrait — became obsolete following a three-month period to exchange them for the new currency.
I have no idea what the significance of this is. I suppose it could be perfectly legit. But the the money pipes in Iraq must have a pretty wide guage. Nobody seems to bother stealing a thousand here, or even $100,000. They go for the millions...
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
01/17/2004 00:14 ||
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This fits the article I posted yesterday about the new dinar. Seems like lots of speculators are moving dinars out of the country to Kuwait, Lebanon, Syria, etc., all in hopes of cashing them back at some point after the dinar has appreciated some. This could be that.
Or it could be the Feyadeen trying to get some new money to finance their operations. Perhaps our boys should have a vigorous conversation with these Lebanese bankers.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/17/2004 1:30 Comments ||
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#2
Sounds to me like they're expecting the Dinar to become a relatively "hard" currency for the area. A $15M bet, with a good return rate.
United States, British and Spanish embassies in Caracas have been warned of possible firebomb attacks against their legations by as yet unidentified radical groups ... intelligence sources say attacks could take place any time between now and next Tuesday ... the British and US embassies have issued emergency warnings to resident citizens. British Embassy officials are reported to have said that according to information recieved, a radical group is planning an attack using an incendiary device ... the radical group has not been identified but it is understood to be linked to previous bombings at the Spanish embassy and Colombian consulate in Caracas last February when substantial damage was done and three were left injured in separate blasts. Those terrorist attacks have been conclusively linked to rebel Venezuelan military officers who had maintain a year-long anti-government protest in Plaza Altamira in eastern Caracas. Four named officers have fled the country and are now sought on Interpol fugitive warrants in southern Florida (USA) where they have petitioned Washington D.C. for political asylum.
Doesn't make sense. Why would Hugo's opposition firebomb us?
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
01/17/2004 00:14 ||
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Or would it be Chavez' supporters pinning the blame elsewhere?
Or, perhaps more likely given the 3 countries named, Islamacists to whom Chavez has given refuge, passports etc?
The death toll from the massive earthquake that leveled the city of Bam has risen to more than 41,000, a senior official said Friday. The final toll from the Dec. 26 earthquake may reach 45,000, said Mohammad Mohammadi Golpayegani, a close aide to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, quoted by the Islamic Republic News Agency. Golpayegani accompanied Khamenei on an unannounced visit to Bam Friday to supervise relief operations, the agency reported. Previous government figures said 30,000 people died in the southeastern city of Bam, with more than 15,000 injured. The quake also leveled most of the ancient city, including the Arg-e-Bam, or Citadel of Bam, the world's largest mud-brick fortress.
There were three earthquakes that week, all of approximately the same magnitude: California, Mexico City, and Bam. Only one produced wrath-of-God results...
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
01/17/2004 00:14 ||
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Only one produced wrath-of-God results
You'd think between that and the meteorite, the mulluhs would get the hint.
You'd be wrong....
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
01/17/2004 1:13 Comments ||
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#2
After reading Wright's article on his trip to Saudi Arabia, the town of Jedda is looking at a far worse fate.
Right now their raw sewage is being dumped into a lake that sits above the town, held back by a dam made of sand. Jedda sits on an earthquake fault, and is already having health and structural problems due to its inadequet (to say the least) sewage system. One good earthquake, and.....
The Bam earthquake, this close to the March elections may prove disasterous for the mullah in Iran. The reason for the wrath of God results is that the mullahs were taking kickbacks on illegal building in the earthquake prone area. After a major quake back in the 60's, the Shah banned further new construction, but some folks got around that. The mullahs let it continue for a price. And not at least 41,000 people are dead.
Posted by: Ben ||
01/17/2004 4:20 Comments ||
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#3
Ben, that info about Jedda makes my day and proves that Allah(pbuh) has a delightfully vicious sense of humor...
Posted by: Carl in NH ||
01/17/2004 10:54 Comments ||
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#4
.... this close to the March elections may prove disasterous for the mullah in Iran.
This would be a problem if they had free elections, but they don't. See yesterday's post Iran: A sort of Democracy.
American authorities are considering the extradition to Russia of her citizens from the Guantanamo airbase, Cuba, according to Igor Tkachev of the Russian Prosecutor-Generalâs office. He said the future of the eight Russian taken prisoners in the course of the anti-terrorist operation in Afghanistan had been discussed during his meetings in the United States with members of the Pentagon criminal investigation group at the Fort Bellevoir military base located in a suburb of Washington. According to Tkachev, the United States is ready in principle to extradite the Russians and even transport them to Russia. âThere is agreement in principle that our citizens must be made responsible in our territory even for the crimes they committed beyond the boundaries of Russia,â said he.
Tkachev was not clear about when the extradition would take place because, he said, the investigation into each personâs case was not yet over. As regards the status of the detainees, the Americans regard them as âenemiesâ who pose a threat to the countryâs security. The representative of the Prosecutor-Generalâs Office said the American side had handed over to the Russian officials nearly 100 pages of documents related to the involvement of the arrested men in illegally armed formations. The Russian law-enforcement agencies, which are conducting a parallel probe into the cases, will study the American documents concerning the men who are charged in Russia with participation in a criminal community, illegal crossing of the border and having served as mercenaries. These crimes are punishable in Russia by prison terms of two to ten years. The Russian investigators have established that before appearing in Afghanistan, two or three men from the aforementioned group spent time in Chechnya. On the whole, Mr. Tkachev expressed satisfaction with the way the Russian and American investigators were interacting. âThe Americans are showing interest in cooperation,â said he.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/17/2004 12:14:01 AM ||
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Wrung them dry, did we? "Here Vlad, tell us where you want us to dump the husks."
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/17/2004 1:24 Comments ||
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#4
Weren't these the guys who were saying that the food and living conditions at Gitmo were a big improvement? Maybe this is a threat to get them to cough up more information, particularly considering that it comes in mid-January.
"Great news, Mikhail. You're going home, and Irkutsk has warmed up to minus 57."
"Noooh! Wait, I've got plenty more names! Wanna see a picture of Osama and Howard Dean?"
Posted by: Matt ||
01/17/2004 10:43 Comments ||
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#5
T'anx, Seafarious!
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/17/2004 21:46 Comments ||
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Two members of an armed Islamist group arrested in the US have admitted to illegal possession of arms and explosives. Randall Royer and Ibrahim al-Hamdi entered guilty pleas before the US District Judge Leonie Brinkema and agreed to cooperate with authorities investigating other members of the network. The two from northern Virginia allegedly planned to help group members train at camps in Pakistan. Royer faces a minimum of 20 years in prison for having discharged a full magazine of one of his weapons and transporting arms. Al-Hamdi faces at least 15 years for illegal possession of arms and explosives. Royer confessed to helping five members of his network to enter a training camp in Pakistan run by the Lashkar-e-Taiba group. The training included use of rocket launchers destined for operations against India. Though banned in Pakistan, Lashkar-e-Taiba clandestinely runs several camps. "Our success in the war on terrorism depends on our ability to gain the cooperation of those who have information about the global terror network," US Attorney General John Ashcroft said in a statement.
I can't think of any reason to cut any of these scumbags the least bit of slack. If we're seriously in a war on terror — something I sometimes doubt — and you sign up to fight on the other side, then you should be toast.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
01/17/2004 00:13 ||
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So are they US citizens?
Because if they aren't then I would consider them spies or sabotuers and have them shot, if they are citizens then they should be considered traitors (why not?) and should dance at the end of a rope.
The Bush administration wants to make more money available for two agencies central to the governmentâs efforts to paralyze terrorists financially and to combat money laundering. The presidentâs budget for 2005 will seek from Congress increases of almost 13 percent for the Treasury Departmentâs Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, known as FinCen, and of around 4 percent for the Office of Foreign Assets Control, called OFAC, the department said Friday. "President Bush has reaffirmed the administrationâs commitment to aggressively fight terrorism on every front," Treasury Secretary John Snow said of the funding request. FinCen analyzes and shares a network of financial information with law enforcement and intelligence agencies to help to investigate and track down terrorist financiers and money launderers. OFAC is responsible for ordering U.S. banks to block assets of suspected terrorist financiers and for enforcing economic sanctions against countries, such as Cuba, and against suspected drug overlords.
In a separate development Friday, Treasury announced it was adding Suleiman Abu Ghaith to the governmentâs list of suspected terrorist financiers, an action that will freeze any of his assets located in the United States. Treasury described Abu Ghaith as the "official spokesman" of Osama bin Ladenâs al-Qaida terror group.
We haven't heard from Sully in quite awhile. I sure hope he's not okay.
On the budget front, Bush is expected to send his spending plan to Congress on Feb. 2 for the 2005 fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1. It remains to be seen how generous the Republican-controlled Congress wants for the agenciesâ budgets. There has been criticism by some lawmakers, including Republicans, about how OFAC does its job and how the Treasury Department handles the campaign against financiers of terror. Democrats complain about the administrationâs huge budget deficits, which the White House budget chief estimated will mushroom to $500 billion this year, a record in dollar terms. FinCenâs 2004 budget stands at $57.2 million, which the president wants to increase next year to $64.5 million, said FinCenâs director, William Fox. The agency has 277 full-time employees, and the 2005 budget would seek to add 14 positions, to 291, Fox said. Treasury officials had no details of how the roughly $7.3 million extra would be used. The department said, however, that some of the money would go toward making a secured, electronic system of financial records more widely available to law enforcement; designing a new system that would include advanced analytical tools; and hiring more people who analyze information and who deal with outreach and regulations matters.
For OFAC, the presidentâs proposal would provide an extra $800,000 over its current budget of $21.7 million. Treasury didnât say how the extra money would be used. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., the committeeâs ranking Democrat, sent a letter just before Christmas citing widespread misgivings about sloppy record keeping and lax enforcement inside OFAC. A recent report by the General Accounting Office, the investigative arm of Congress, said Treasury needed to do a better job tracking the money that terrorists use to bankroll violence.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/17/2004 12:07:36 AM ||
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Tokyo sent off its first army team to Iraq in the largest and most dangerous overseas military assignment since World War II. The move Friday follows intense debate on the matter, stirred up by the killing of two Japanese diplomats in Iraq late last year. Dressed in green camouflage fatigues, the 30-member contingent and their backup team stood in formation while listening to words of encouragement from the defense minister and senior officers. "Yours is a very noble mission," Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba told the assembled soldiers. "There are people in Iraq hoping you will lend them a helping hand."
Police beefed up at major airports, train stations, the U.S. Embassy and other key facilities to guard against possible terrorist attacks, a National Police Agency official said. Media reports said late last year that terror group al Qaeda had warned Japan it would attack the heart of Tokyo as soon as Japanese troops arrived in Iraq. The ground force are expected to deploy for southeastern Iraq, where they will act as scouts for a force that could include up to 1,000 troops.
If Ishiba judges the area safe after team members report back, he will likely order the main body of around 600 ground troops to set off beginning in late January. A group of air force personnel left last month in preparation for shuttling supplies from Kuwait to Iraq. The troop plan is a controversial one for Japan with many critics saying such a dispatch violates the nationâs pacifist constitution. Article nine of the constitution forbids Japanâs military -- the Self-Defense Forces -- from waging war overseas. But a law enacted last July allows the troop dispatch, limiting the militaryâs activity to "non-combat zones."
Opponents of the troop dispatch are concerned that owing to the security situation in Iraq, Japanese forces may be drawn into combat. No Japanese soldier has fired a shot in combat or been killed in an overseas mission since World War II despite roles in international peacekeeping missions, such as in East Timor, which were made possible by a 1992 law. Opinion polls showed most Japanese were against the Iraq war and most are now opposed to the deployment of troops. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said on Friday it was in the nationâs interests to help build a stable Iraq. "Opinion is divided now," Koizumi said. "But with time, I believe the people will understand." The plan allows for the troops to be sent during a one-year period starting December 15 but no specific date for the dispatch or the size of the deployment was provided.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/17/2004 12:03:40 AM ||
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good to see the japs deploying forces,they're surly gonna need the experiance to pass round to other units of the japanese armed forces,reason i say this is surly the whole North Korean situation is gonna take a real serious turn for the worse soon isn't it ? i give them 1 to 2 years max before something serious kicks off to settle this 'ancient' dispute.Whats you guys estimate on how much longer this situation in NK can go on?
#2
Good for them, if those Islamist mutts think that they have a warrior culture, I wonder what they'll think when they see the people from the land of samuari's & ninja's.
Whats you guys estimate on how much longer this situation in NK can go on?
The Chinese have Kimmy on a leash, he doesn't dare to try and slip off it. He will continue to bark and growl - nothing more. This will go on for as long as there are grass clippings and tree bark in NorK.
#7
From the site noted above:
From In front of the shrine, inked on a large black slate, behind some plexiglass - the final words of a 20 year old kamikaze pilot, a letter to his mother. Sanae translated; roughly - I am fated to die, I attack America because I am Japanese, I love being Japanese, I love Japan, I love you Mom.
Somehow sounds different to my ear than the typical Jihadi Death Rant. That boy loved life... but had a duty.
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.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
