Jeddah, Asharq Al-Awsat- - Dr. Mohamamd al Nujaimi, member of the Advisory Committee at the Saudi Ministry of Interior and the Chairman of the Civil Studies Department at the King Fahd Security College revealed that more than 400 extremists have been released in the last six months. He indicated that the Committee and the Ministry of Education were collaborating on a project to disseminate advice in schools, institutes, colleges and universities across the Kingdom, adding that school directors and deputies were currently being trained for this purpose. âThese steps and studies aim at eradicating extremist ideologies before they manifest themselves and safeguard the though of our youths and that of future generationsâ, AL Nujaimi said.
In a press release issued on Sunday and seen by Asharq al Awsat, the Advisory Committee announced it was implementing a project to advise those arrested for taking part in terrorist operations across Saudi Arabia .
"Don't get caught again, OK?"
For his part, Saud al Musaybih, the Committeeâs president and Director General for Public Relations and Guidance at the Ministry of Interior, pointed out that a select number of religious scholars, intellectuals and experts in religious sciences, psychology and sociology were taking part in the project.
âPrince Naif Bin Abdulaziz, the Interior Minister, has indicated that those who showed remorse for their misguided ways and demonstrated their new convictions during classes would continue to be released.â
âHe also affirmed that those who were implicated in bombings and terrorist activities or those currently awaiting trial would not be released. Their families will continue to be watched looked after by the state.â
That would be the sub-set who want to remove the royals, they're a little bit too "extremist" to set free. Saudis will be holding them hostage to keep the families in line.
Speaking to Asharq al Awsat, al Musaybih said the Committee featured three sub-committees on religious(on Shariaa law), security and scientific matters, employing more than 100 religious scholars and 30 medical doctors and psychology experts divided throughout the Kingdom, responsible for reforming prisoners.
The Committee enjoyed a growing appeal amongst detainees, a far cry from its early days when large numbers refused to meet with religious scholars. The same individuals now request the meetings which are held in a warm and respectful environment, al Musabih said. Classes of âbetween 20 and 25 studentsâ were being held across the Kingdom with the detainees taught religious concepts such as â al Takfir (denouncing someone as an infidel) and al Walaa wal Baraa (loyalty [to the believers] and disassociation [from the non-believers]) and other relevant issues.â At present, classes were available in seven regions in Saudi Arabia.
Sounds like a advanced Jihadi course
During each five-week course, students were taught seven different subjects related to Islamic law as well as psychology. A test in week 6 determined who succeeded and who had to repeat the course. According to al Nujaimi, the three-hour class was divided into two sessions: one that starts at 5:30 pm and another at 7:30 pm, each featuring a 20-minute discussion.
âIn the last few months, two student groups of 45 graduated in the Riyadh region, total and one group in each of the other seven regions.â New sessions will take place in Riyadh and other regions next year.
Commenting on the difficulties faced by the Committee, al Nujaimi said, âWe spent months trying to convince some individuals to communicate and discuss their beliefs with us.â He added, âThere is another group, which wanted to go to areas where fighting was taking place because it believed that jihad (armed struggle) was a duty, like prayer, alms giving and fasting. We explained that jihad had its conditions and regulations. In reality, we do not encounter much difficulty with such individuals as they are seeking the truth, contrary to those who adopt evil ideologies and are opposed to the government and society and plan to carry out terrorist operations inside Saudi Arabia.â
He came right out and said it, they're OK with jihad as long as they take it someplace else. Just don't try it at home.
Posted by: Steve ||
11/23/2005 11:56 ||
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Catch and release as soon as they promise to go someplace else and fight. Next they will be providing training. SA is like Iran part of the problem. We need to deal with it. What we are doing doesn't serve our long term interests.
Sanaa, 23 Nov. (AKI) - The Yemeni security services have dismantled an integralist Islamic cell close to the al-Qaeda network and led by a Kuwaiti sheikh who was also the group's spiritual leader. The Saudi newspaper al-Watan reported that the group was formed by 12 Yemenis who had sworn eternal loyalty to the sheikh, Hasan bin Musa al-Hidi. The cell is said to have mostly issued warnings and threats to the representatives of institutions and the heads of Arab states.
From a religious point of view, the group - which was broken up on Tuesday - had no links with the unlicensed schools in the country which the government is trying to crack down on, but were very interested in politics, and events in Afghanistan in particular, the newspaper said.
Al-Hidi has written several books of a fundamentalist nature, but the police have been unable to establish if he is currently in Yemen or Kuwait, as he escaped shortly before his followers were arrested.
"Curly toed slippers, don't fail me now!"
Before al-Hidi, the Yemeni police dismantled the extremist Shiite group of the late radical leader and former MP Hussein al-Houthi, who led an uprising against the government in summer last year which left hundreds dead, and several groups linked to al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden, whose father was of Yemeni descent.
Posted by: Steve ||
11/23/2005 10:33 ||
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Terrorist killed in shootout with RAB in Savar
Nov 22: A listed terrorist was killed in a shootout between the members of Rapid Action Battalion and his cohorts at Mograkanda village in Bhakurta union here early today (Tuesday).
Are there any unlisted terrorists in Bangladesh? Is there a section in the yellow pages for Terrorists R'Us?
The terrorist was identified as Rubel,36, son of Obaidul Huq Bhuiyan of Kunda village. He was wanted in a dozen of cases including of murder, rape and extortion. RAB-4 arrested Rubel from Amin Bazar on Sunday night and took him to their office for interrogation.
"The number 4 needle nose pliers, please."
According to his statement, RAB along with Rubel went to Mograkanda for arms recovery on Monday midnight.
"Come on, Rubel. We're taking a drive"
As they reached near poultry farm area at about 4am today (Tuesday),
The deserted train station being booked
Rubelâs accomplices opened fire,
"Open random aimless fire!"
forcing the law enforcers to fire back.
into the back of Rubel's head
"Majed was caught in the crossfire when tried to flee from RAB capture and died on the spot," said an eyewitness account of RAB.
"That's our story and we're sticking to it"
Bomb found near 14-party meeting in Rajshahi
Nov 22: Boalia thana police recovered a powerful bomb from near the meeting venue of 14-party combine in Shaheb Bazaar area of the city this evening. The supporters of 14-party combine took out a procession at local Shaheb Bazar and were holding a meeting in front of National Bank at Shaheb Bazaar around 5-00 pm when a powerful bomb was found kept beside the road. Police rushed to the spot and recovered the bomb by keeping it in a bucketful of water and took it away to Boalia thana.
Brave. Not too bright, but brave.
The organisers of the meeting left the place keeping the meeting unfinished.
4 injured in Kushtia "work accident"
Nov 22: Four people, one of them a woman, were critically injured in explosions while they were allegedly making bombs at Farakpur village in Daulatput upazila Monday night.
Red Wire Syndrome strikes again!
Local people said three bombs exploded at the tin-shed house of Ekhtiar Hossain at about 9 pm, blowing up its roof.
"Alam, I can't see a damm thing, hand me that candle"
Ekhtiarâs son Alam, Bharoti of Boiragir char village, Zia of Dofadarpara and Sarwar of Sardarpara village were injured in the explosions. According to the villagers, the bombs exploded while they were making those, but Ekhtiar denied the allegation.
"Wasn't us, we wuz framed!"
He lodged a complaint with local police station alleging that the bombs were planted at his house by his rivals following a previous enmity.
Posted by: Steve ||
11/23/2005 12:31 ||
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RAB-4? Looks like there's some weird mobilization going on. Seems there were 3. Watch out for the 12th RAB - that's your stealthy one.
The UK looks set to lose its five-year battle to win a waiver to strict US arms export controls after being told by Bush administration officials that political opposition on Capitol Hill to the transfer of sensitive technologies has become insurmountable.
The US promised five years ago to grant an ITAR waiver to the UK and Australia, and the issue emerged as one of the most contentious bilateral issues between the US and UK since the Iraq war.
British government and industry officials have grown increasingly angry in recent months, insisting that an exemption is overdue given the UK's staunch support for the Iraq invasion.
Last year, Geoff Hoon, then UK defence minister, sent a strongly worded letter to his American counterpart, Donald Rumsfeld, warning of a "serious blow to US-UK relations" if the promised waiver was not granted.
According to government officials, Tony Blair, British prime minister, also raised the issue with George W. Bush during the US president's recent visits to London.
The complex ITAR rules force the UK and Australia to wade through an extended approval process in order to get the go-ahead from the State Department for arms purchases, sometimes on mundane weapons parts and components. Currently, only Canada has a waiver from the rules.
The Bush administration has repeatedly pushed for the waiver to be passed in Congress but it has been consistently blocked by Henry Hyde, the powerful Republican who chairs the House international relations committee.
Mr Hyde has cited the UK's refusal to strengthen its own laws on transferring military technologies to other countries.
Last year, Congress agreed to pass a watered-down version of the administration's proposal, which gave UK and Australian export requests expedited status, but fell short of a complete waiver.
According to US officials involved in the discussions, talks to find an alternative to the waiver, though not yet official administration policy, began this month.
Posted by: Captain America ||
11/23/2005 00:16 ||
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The issue is transfer of US technology on to other countries. The problem is the UK has a large arms exporting industry. Nothing short of a firewall between the two will solve the problem. OTOH Australia has no real arms exporting industry, so they will likely get the excemption.
And BTW, the USA should do everything necessary to protect its military tech (from an Aussie).
#2
Choking off all Chinese importation of advanced weapons technology isn't just common sense, it is critical to containing China's possible expansionist agenda. Communist China is the single greatest threat to overall global peace at this time. They must be contained.
#3
The problem is not direct British transfer to US enemies. British defense industry is becoming more more closely tied to Continental consortia (e.g. EADS) which are direct competitors to US firms. Why should the US hand over technologies and source code which will then find it's way in French, German, Italian, Spanish and Israeli weapons and soon after Chinese, Russian, Arab, etc arsenals. Check inside a Chinese fighter's cockpit or destroyer's bridge lately? It says "Made in the EU".
Posted by: ed ||
11/23/2005 15:58 Comments ||
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This is a continuation of the story Rantburgers discussed concerning transfers of technology to the UK, which was drawing into the EU military. We are coming to a junction in the road w/r/t our relations with the UK if they draw into the EU military vision of things. The EU will sell their souls to the Chicoms, just like they did with Iraq, and now Iran.
Fundamental issues here, for sure.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
11/23/2005 16:48 Comments ||
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Spot-on, gents. The UK's MoD is moving away from compatibility with the US and opting for the EU's RRF. They don't need any US tech. I wouldn't even sell them any C-130's or other lift, trans, or refueling gear. They aren't going anywhere after Iraq, anyway. Take the trolley tube, boys. Hell, they can't even expel 20 hate-spewing jihadi imams. Smile. Wave. Walk away.
#7
For those with longer term memory cells, it wasn't that long ago that the UK and PE-Us wanted to waive armed sales trade restrictions to the ChiComs at the behest of the Schroeder-Chirac cabal.
In brief, fuck them all.
Posted by: Captain America ||
11/23/2005 18:46 Comments ||
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LONDON - David Hicks, the Australian terror suspect held at the US military prison in Guantanamo Bay, will on Wednesday launch a legal bid to challenge a decision not to grant him British citizenship.
"Youse can't do dat to me! I got rights!"
The 30-year-old, whose mother was born and lived in England as a child, applied for a British passport earlier this year but the request was refused by British Home Secretary Charles Clarke.
"Piss off!"
Clarkeâs refusal was on the basis that Hicks had allegedly performed âan act prejudicial to the interests of the United Kingdomâ by attending terrorist training camps in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
"Get lost! And don't come back!"
"And take your rocket launcher with you!"
Hicks has applied for permission to seek a judicial review of the decision. The case has been set down for one day before a judge at the High Court in London. The Islam terrorist convert, from the southern Australian city of Adelaide, was captured in Afghanistan in January 2002 for allegedly fighting alongside the ruling Taleban against US-led forces.
Just another humanitarian who got lost one day in Pakistan.
He has been held at Guantanamo Bay ever since.
Just think of it as an extended free Caribbean vacation...
The British citizenship application followed reported comments to his lawyer about wanting to be British like his mother in order to celebrate the England cricket teamâs win against Australia in the recent Ashes series.
More likely it's the following reason:
The British government has negotiated the removal of nine of its citizens from military custody at Guantanamo Bay while Australia has refused to do the same for Hicks, the countryâs only detainee.
Somehow I just don't see this punk pledging to defend the Queen.
Hicks had been due to be among the first detainees to face a military commission trial this month. But proceedings have been put back to at least mid-2006 pending a legal challenge in the US Supreme Court about the legitimacy of the process. Hicks has always denied charges of conspiracy to commit war crimes and aiding and abetting the enemy.
"Lies! All lies!"
Posted by: Steve White ||
11/23/2005 00:00 ||
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Ahem, I thought dear David was at deaths' door when we last heard from his lawyer. I guess he got well enough to apply for UK citizenship?
#2
Interestingly, the Australian media, which was pushing the poor Hicks locked up without trial by the nasty Americans in Gitmo, has gone quiet on the issue. It occured around the time of the 2nd Bali bombings.
Was a piece on the not normally reflective channel 7 morning news that the media has to reflect the views of their audience when they feel strongly on a subject.
I'll suggest most Australians would happily see Hicks rot in Gitmo for ever.
#3
The bad news: only one country in the world wants David Hicks. The worse news: they got him, too.
Very important for Australia that he meets a bad end. Make the first white Aussie jihadi, the last. Islam is making some inroads into the urban Aboriginal population, too. Give them something to think about.
Some strikes were planned for American, Israeli and Jewish targets.
At least 20 suspects were arrested in Morocco, 10 in Spain and several more secretly in the UK, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark. In Morocco, they were picked up in Rabat, Agadir and Casablanca. Some were members of the armed forces. In Spain, the arrests were made in Alicante, Granada and Murcia.
This is one of the biggest al Qaeda rings ever to be broken up. Our sources add the network took its orders from an al Qaeda command center in Syria. Links between the Middle East, Moroccan and Belgium cell commanders were maintained by means of secret rendezvous in Turkey.
The professor who gained national attention for suggesting U.S. soldiers in Iraq kill their superior officers has resigned his teaching post at a New Jersey college, moments before school officials were slated to decide his fate. The pre-emptive action by adjunct English professor John Daly was taken late yesterday, shortly before an emergency meeting of the board of trustees at Warren County Community College.
Bwahahaha! Score one for the good guys!
"The board was informed of Mr. Daly's decision to resign his adjunct position at WCCC effective immediately," said college president Dr. William Austin. "I firmly believe that the most precious freedom all Americans share is the First Amendment right of freedom of speech. I am committed to working unceasingly to see that it is preserved for all WCCC students, faculty and staff," he added. "At the same time, there are existing state laws â as well as college policies and procedures â that must be followed to ensure that all members of our college are free and encouraged to exercise their right to free speech without fear of intimidation or retaliation. I am dedicated to protecting and preserving that freedom."
Austin concluded by noting the college would "rededicate ourselves to a review of our current policies and procedures to make certain that we continue to foster an open and collegial learning environment at our institution. I personally pledge to see that tolerance training is included in our next faculty and staff in-service, and to consider a broad range of student input in its development."
The board's meeting last night had been called to discuss how to handle the controversy surrounding an e-mail sent by Daly to one of his students. As WorldNetDaily reported, the e-mail was a reply to freshman Rebecca Beach for her announcement of a campus program last Thursday featuring decorated Iraq war hero Lt. Col. Scott Rutter.
Daly wrote: "Real freedom will come when soldiers in Iraq turn their guns on their superiors." His remarks were reminiscent of anti-war protesters in San Francisco who displayed a sign in March 2003 which stated: "We support our troops when they shoot their officers."
Daly said Sunday he was worried he would be fired, and already had been told not to show up for the three classes he was scheduled to teach yesterday, according to Inside Higher Ed, an online news source. The instructor said he stood by the e-mail message, but it was being taken out of context. His comment about soldiers turning their guns on superiors was meant "in the most metaphoric sense," he explained.
Daly also said that because Beach was never one of his students, he thought she was a "Young America's Foundation organizer and sent the message with that in mind. He would have used a different tone if he had known she was a freshman, he said, although the content wouldn't have changed. In his e-mail, Daly said he would ask his students to boycott the event and also vowed "to expose [her] right-wing, anti-people politics until groups like [Rebecca's] won't dare show their face on a college campus."
Young America's Foundation, which came to Beach's aid, said that besides organizing the event, Beach's offense was hanging up fliers contrasting the number of people killed under communism to those liberated under President Reagan. Beach responded to Daly's written tirade with a demand that Warren President William Austin institute seminars on free speech and sensitivity to teach intolerant faculty members to be respectful of differing opinion.
Before the resignation, the college issued three statements since the controversy began, with support for Daly apparently declining with each one, Inside Higher Ed said. On Thursday, the college posted a statement on its website saying:
The viewpoints of this professor in no way depict the views of Warren County Community College, its administration, or the Board of Trustees. The College does however support the constitution, the first amendment, and the right to free speech.
Additionally, Mr. Daly's message was sent as a one-to-one message, via e-mail, to one person, and not to the college community. Finally, the College is viewing this message as a personnel issue and will be addressing it according to the policies and procedures of the College
.
Austin attended the lecture Thursday night, and the next day, the college's statement, noting the speech went well, added criticism of Daly, quoting Austin as saying the e-mail was "disgraceful and offensive." Saturday, the college announced the board had scheduled the emergency meeting, noting Tuesday was the first day such a meeting could be held legally. "The Board of Trustees intends to consider the welfare and rights of its students, the college community, and the public in lieu [sic] of recent events. The board will also consider personnel issues," the statement said.
In the interview Monday night, according to Inside Higher Ed, Daly said it was entirely appropriate for him to criticize "a pro-war rally. "People should be outraged that military recruiters are able to attract the college's students to enlist because they can't afford tuition and find good jobs when they graduate. "The YAF is trying to turn back affirmative action and to promote the war, and I have a right to speak out," said Daly, who noted he's been teaching at Warren for about a year.
He also teaches at another school but declined to give the name because of the current controversy. Referring to the threat of being fired, Daly said his situation reflects a trend for non-tenured instructors. "As more and more professors are teaching part time, this is a direct attack on our academic freedom," he said.
Daly's e-mail also claimed that "capitalism has killed many more" people than communism and that "poor and working class people" are recruited to "fight and die for EXXON and other corporations."
Posted by: Steve ||
11/23/2005 15:17 ||
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His comment about soldiers turning their guns on superiors was meant "in the most metaphoric sense," he explained.
See ya, prefesser...in the most unmetaphoric sense.
#2
The ought to be the outcome for every instance of leftist harrasment. The harasment of people who don't think with the hive brain of the left ought to lead to resignation or firing.
#4
"I firmly believe that the most precious freedom all Americans share is the First Amendment right of freedom of speech. I am committed to working unceasingly to see that it is preserved for all WCCC students, faculty and staff,"
All? Really? Then there's this:
In his e-mail, Daly said he would ask his students to boycott the event and also vowed "to expose [her] right-wing, anti-people politics until groups like [Rebecca's] won't dare show their face on a college campus."
Classic marriage of Fascism & Socialism, Free Speech for ME, but not for THEE. This is who we must fight, probably in the streets, eventually.
#5
He should have been tried for Sedition given a choice of which nation he thought was better than the US then sign here on his surrender citizenship for life no option of return buisness visit or any, then give him his plane ticket cash out his accounts auction his property boo bop bam on his way to Parris were he can sip wine to the glow of paree burning by the terrorist cough I mean "angered youth".
#7
This is so great. The whining asstard can go out and try and make his name on the moonbat talk circuit as an under card to Cindy.
It is another example of the power of the blogosphere to combat what amounts to totalitarian thought, something that is especially prevalent on college campuses. It sends a wonderful message to all concerned.
Then they should be reinstated if nessecary by presidential order. This country needs a nationalist party of some kind. A party that is willing to stand up for this nation openly admit we are the best and we deserve to exist and thrive and make war on anyone who gets in the way of that. American history should be mandated to concentrate on the good things of america and get off the PC LLL crap that somehow justifies Washington as nuetral at best becuase he had slaves WTF Washington changed the whole world with democracy and the main thing stepping down not accepting a king class. That move alone not even counting being the leader of the revolution was a huge turning point in World history. The LLL are self hating peace-love-&-happiness tards, the Repubs dont have the sack to take on and call the LLL's out hell man they just reprimanded and forced a appology from the one congresswoman who called a spade a spade. The politics are debatable but National security and the fact that america is the best nation in the world and our citizens are the govs first concern should not be political you are either a american or not you either love this nation and have pride or you dont period.
A Denver firefighter described as having "anti- U.S. sympathies" is under investigation for possible ties to domestic terrorist groups after his arrest early Tuesday for allegedly selling machine guns, a federal arrest affidavit says. Stan Taran Ford, 34, has been charged with federal firearms violations. He is being held without bond pending a detention hearing Monday, said U.S. attorney spokesman Jeff Dorschner. Dorschner declined to comment further.
Ford was suspended without pay from the Denver Fire Department, department spokesman Phil Champagne said. Ford joined the department in February 1999. "There's not much that we can comment on as a result of the ongoing investigation," Champagne said. "We would assist them (the FBI) in any way with any investigation at any time." Tuesday's arrest comes after an investigation of the firefighter that lasted more than two years, according to court documents.
In October 2003, El Paso County sheriff's deputies contacted the FBI after receiving information that Ford was trying to "acquire specific sensitive military communications systems and night-vision goggles from a Colorado Springs military base," the documents say. Deputies described Ford as having anti-U.S. sympathies and ties to "an unknown domestic terrorist organization."
Smells like right-wing milita to me
Over the course of the investigation, agents arranged several purchases with Ford, according to the affidavit.
According to the documents:
In April 2004, Ford allegedly sold a .40-caliber Glock 23 handgun to someone working for investigators for $425. Then in March 2005, he allegedly sold a Sten Mark V submachine gun for $2,800. Finally, in August 2005, he sold a "police model" Heckler & Koch machine gun for $3,900. In the last meeting, Ford allegedly told the buyer that he would sell him a machine gun capable of firing 5.56 mm rounds for about $5,500. The M-16 used by the U.S. military fires a similar round.
Investigators note that throughout the dealings with Ford, he allegedly went to extraordinary lengths to ensure that he wasn't being followed or set up. When going to meet with the buyer, he drove through the neighborhood where the meetings took place, checking parking lots and side streets for possible surveillance crews, investigators said.
That worked real good, didn't it?
Posted by: Steve ||
11/23/2005 09:27 ||
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If this is the same guy I've heard about around town here, he's a NeoNazi type white supremacist and a certified nutcase. A couple of the things he sold were stolen from Ft. Carson here in the Springs. There are several other people involved, and the military is checking on a couple of people that recently returned from Iraq with "severe mental problems". It'll be a LONG trial.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
11/23/2005 23:35 Comments ||
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BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Defence lawyers in Saddam Hussein's trial have ended a boycott and will be present for the next court session after security concerns were resolved, a U.S. official close to the court said on Wednesday. "A number of security options were offered to them and most of them have accepted an option," the official told reporters in Baghdad, speaking on condition of anonymity. "The Iraqi Bar Association has lifted its boycott and we expect there'll be at least one defence counsel there for each of the defendants," he said.
However, a source close to one of the defence teams based in Amman said details were still being worked out and said an offer had only been made to protect three lawyers' families, not the whole team of lawyers, who number around a dozen. Khalil Dulaimi, Saddam's chief lawyer, called Reuters on Sunday from an undisclosed location to say he would attend the next trial session only if his security concerns were met.
The U.S. official said the Iraqi High Tribunal, the U.S.- supported body conducting the trial, had made arrangements to have court-appointed counsel take over defence responsibilities if defendant-appointed lawyers did not show. The defence lawyers, backed by the Iraqi Bar Association, imposed a boycott after two members of the defence teams were shot and killed days after the trial began on Oct. 19, plunging proceedings into chaos. Another lawyer, who survived one of those assassination attempts, fled Iraq earlier this month after he received persistent death threats. He has sought refuge in Qatar.
The killings and death threats prompted calls for the trial to be moved abroad, but the tribunal charged with bringing Saddam and members of his regime to justice insists that this trial and all future ones will take place in Iraq.
The next session of the first case will kick off on Monday, Nov. 28. Saddam and seven co-defendants are charged with crimes against humanity in the deaths of 148 Shi'ite men following an attempt on Saddam's life in 1982. Barring another successful motion by the defence for a delay, the trial is expected to proceed uninterrupted for several days, with witnesses appearing in court for the first time under intense security restrictions. It is not clear how long the trial will last, but some officials have estimated it could go on for several months. With Iraq holding elections on Dec. 15, raising security risks, another trial delay ahead of then is widely expected.
Since the opening three-hour session in October, the five- judge panel trying the case has heard testimony from a hospitalised former intelligence chief who has since died. Defence lawyers did not attend that bedside session. The chief judge, Rizgar Mohammed Amin, told Reuters after the first session that around 30 witnesses due to give evidence had refused to come to Baghdad from Dujail, where the attempt on Saddam's life took place, because they feared for their lives.
Security, including a witness protection programme, has been bolstered since then and several witnesses will appear on Monday, the U.S. official said, although he could not say how many. At least some are expected to give evidence from behind a screen to protect their identities. "It's up to individual witnesses to decide whether they appear and how they appear," said the official. "I expect the court will hear witness testimony on (Monday) and for several days thereafter ... that is the plan," he said.
Posted by: Steve ||
11/23/2005 15:22 ||
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November 23, 2005: The Iraqi army expects to win another victory on December 15th, when it protects the voters during the parliamentary elections. The Sunni Arab factions that oppose the government have again pledged to stop the elections. The terrorists have failed twice so far this year to interrupt national elections. Each time they fail, they lose more support in their Sunni Arab base. For this election, the government will have over 200,000 soldiers and police in service. There's no reason to believe the terrorists will be any more successful in stopping the vote this time.
The terrorist campaign against pro-government Sunni Arab leaders continues. Yesterday, terrorist gunmen, disguised as soldiers, killed Khadim Sarhid al Hemaiyem the leader of the Sunni Arab Batta tribe, one of the larger tribes north of Baghdad. Three of al Hemaiyem's sons, and a son-in-law, were killed as well. Earlier this year, other members of al Hemaiyem's family were killed by terrorists. In the last week, terrorists have killed nearly 200 Iraqis. Most of them were Shia Arabs, but Sunni Arabs accounted for at least a third of the dead. The terrorists particularly like to send suicide bombers into Shia mosques and kill people assembled for worship. The terror campaign has not had the desired effect, for more and more Sunni Arab groups have openly backed the elected government. Even one of the Sunni Arab terrorist groups is negotiating a surrender to the government. The reason is simple; hatred.
Every dead Iraqi means dozens more friend and relatives of the deceased are now very hostile to the Sunni Arab terrorists. The Sunni Arab terrorists, especially al Qaeda (which basically represents non Iraqi Sunni Arabs), have been quite open about trying to trigger a civil war between the Shia and Sunni Arab communities. While many Sunni Arabs insist that they are the majority in Iraq, even those that realize there are three times as many Shias, believe that God is on their side, and the historical success in dominating the country will carry the day for the outnumbered Sunni Arabs. What these guys have forgotten is that, in the distant past (16th century), the Shia Arabs were in charge, with the help of a foreign army (Iran). Now the Shia Arabs have an American army to help them out. The Sunni Arabs have under-the-table support from Sunni Arabs in neighboring countries, and semi-official support from Syria. The Sunni Arabs are losing. Can they win in the end? The Shia Arabs are not falling for the "let's have a civil war" bit, and are grinding down the Sunni Arab armed opposition.
Another week long offensive in western Iraq ended. A force of 3,500 troops (29 percent of them Iraqi) drove terrorist groups out of several towns, killing 139 terrorists in the process, and arresting over a hundred suspects. The next phase of the campaign, sending in police and troops to keep the terrorists out, is underway. These efforts have not always been successful, but over the last year, there have been more victories than defeats. Month by month, there are fewer areas where government officials require a heavily armed escort to visit. But as long as only a few hundred thousand Sunni Arabs support the terrorism, the attacks will go on.
American commanders carefully watch the progress of the Iraqi police and soldiers. Each Iraqi battalion has an American advisory team of ten soldiers. These troops report back on the abilities of the Iraqi troops and police, and the ratings keep going up. But it's slow. Iraq in particular, and the Middle East in general, have a long tradition of corrupt police and inept armies. Changing this is very difficult, even in a situation like this, where the Iraqis have a major incentive to do it right. Tradition trumps reality, which is an aspect of human nature we like to avoid studying.
Posted by: Steve ||
11/23/2005 09:56 ||
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#1
It is disheartening knowing how corrupt the Iraqi army folks are. Allowing terrorists through the Syrian border as well, for a price. Is there anything in the works to encourage against these practices?
Posted by: Jan ||
11/23/2005 11:55 Comments ||
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#2
This is a great article, I coudldnt agree more!
#4
I was'nt for this war. I thought we would be gung oh, then bail, despite winning, just like Viet nam. My only problem, was I thought Bush could persuade us to last until we won. i knew the press and anti war for any reason people would make this tough. i thought Bush would overcome. I hope he stays the course. But if he's not, bring them home now. I want them to run the country.
DUBAI (Reuters) - Al Qaeda in Iraq said media reports that its leader Abu Musab Al Zarqawi was killed by U.S. forces were a "lie", according to an Internet statement posted on Wednesday. "The media has lately circulated this news that was announced by the Crusaders (U.S.) about the death of the leader of the group in an armed confrontation ... which was an additional lie," the group said on a Web site statement.
A U.S. official said on Sunday U.S. authorities were looking into whether Zarqawi was killed during fighting in northern Iraq but a White House spokesman later said that was "highly unlikely."
Posted by: Steve ||
11/23/2005 09:46 ||
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#1
So? Release a video showing today's NYT with an obviously alive Zarq. Otherwise it's just noise...
#4
Some live video footage plus sound track with Zarqawi holding today's edition of the International Hearld Tribune and talking about events occurring after the Mosul firefight is required to refute allegations of his exceptionally timely demise. All else is noise.
#5
Let's not repeat the "they must *prove* he's alive with a live video" meme which exhausted itself already with Osama bin Laden, dead at Tora Bora, and Saddam Hussein, dead two dozen times during the invasion.
If Zarqawi was dead, the jihadis would most likely be playing up his "heroic martyrdom". Right now, neither side's saying Zarqawi's dead, so it's mere wishful thinking to believe he is.
#6
But they always deny the guy's been killed/captured/carried off by demons when it occurs. See Ramzi bin al-Shibh, Khattab, Abu Zubaydah, al-Muqrin, etc.
So the question remains open.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/23/2005 17:20 Comments ||
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#7
Is there a possibility of a vulture circling here? Would seem we are getting close to a solution.
The top tactical commander in Iraq says an abrupt pullout of U.S. troops would be "destabilizing" and labeled "disturbing" Washington's heated political debate that has some Democrats calling the war unwinnable. Lt. Gen. John R. Vines, who commands the Multinational Corps Iraq, said that 36 Iraqi battalions, about one-third of the total force, are now responsible for their own security sectors and can fight the insurgency. But they are not yet ready to operate totally independent of U.S. supply lines and tactical advice. Because of that, he said, now is not the time for an American withdrawal.
"Iraqi security forces are able to conduct operations in a large portion of their area with only limited coalition support," Gen. Vines told Pentagon reporters via a teleconference from Baghdad. "They do require our support at this time. That support will be increasingly less over a period of time, but a precipitous pullout, I believe, would be destabilizing."
Gen. Vines' U.S. troops, which number 160,000, are now fighting against a backdrop of a heated debate in Washington over the course of the war. Some Democrats want a fixed timetable for troop withdrawals, a move President Bush rejects because, he says, it sends the wrong signal to terrorists and Saddam Hussein loyalists. Rep. John P. Murtha, Pennsylvania Democrat, upped the ante last week. He called the war unwinnable and asked that a six-month withdrawal from Iraq begin immediately, triggering a fierce House debate Friday night on a resolution which would call for just that. It failed 403-3.
Even before the troop debate, Democrats charged that the commander in chief deliberately misstated the intelligence on Iraq's suspected weapons of mass destruction. The White House struck back, starting last week, saying the president presented the same intelligence on WMD that some Democrats used to justify their vote for using force to oust Saddam.
"Of course the debate and the bitterness is disturbing," Gen. Vines said. "But after all, we are a democracy, and that is what democracy is about is people will have differences of opinions." Asked about troops' morale, Gen. Vines said, "Certainly soldiers are concerned about whether or not they enjoy the support of not only their elected representatives, but the people, and they know that they have their support."
Gen. John Abizaid, the top commander for Iraq, told The Washington Times on Monday that Washington needs to be patient. He predicted that Dec. 15 elections to pick a permanent Iraqi government and the maturation of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) will lead to progress in 2006 in subduing the insurgency. "It's not hard to deal with patience in the Middle East. Everyone is patient," the four-star general said. "The only problem [is] that there appears to be a patience problem ... within the Beltway," he said. "When I talk to civilian audiences, I don't get the same sense of impatience that I detect here in the Beltway."
Defense sources say it is likely that Gen. Abizaid next year will recommend a sizable U.S. troop reduction below what is considered the base of 138,000. The Pentagon temporarily pushed the level to 160,000 to provide added security for the Oct. 15 constitutional referendum and the Dec. 15 parliamentary election.
Posted by: Steve ||
11/23/2005 09:36 ||
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I think that Lt. Gen. Vines has a future as a diplomat since I'm sure what he wanted to really say was that an Iraq pullout would be funcking stupid and anyone suggesting such a thing is either a complete moron or siding with the enemy.
EFL(AP) -- Gunmen wearing Iraqi army uniforms broke into the home of a senior Sunni leader on Wednesday and killed him, his three sons and his son-in-law on the outskirts of Baghdad, his brother and an interior ministry official said. Khadim Sarhid al-Hemaiyem was the leader of the Sunni Batta tribe and the brother of a parliamentary candidate in the Dec. 15 election, the official Maj. Falah al-Mohammedawi said. Another of the slain man's brothers said the family has been attacked before.
Al-Mohammedawi said government forces were not involved and the investigation was focused on insurgents. "Surely, they are outlaw insurgents. As for the military uniform, they can be bought from many shops in Baghdad," he said. "Also, we have several police and army vehicles stolen and they can be used in the raids."
The slaying follows a big push by U.S. officials to encourage Sunni Muslim participation in the upcoming election, which will install the first non-transitional government in Iraq since the 2003 invasion. Some Sunni-led insurgent groups have declared a boycott of the election and have threatened politicians who choose to participate in it.
#1
Some Sunni-led insurgent groups have declared a boycott of the election and have threatened politicians who choose to participate in it.
Could these reporters be any more lazy? Get off your bar stools and tell us whether or not this particular Sunni politician "threatened" to participate in the elections or not. It is somewhat key to understanding this story, no?
#2
Now the Iraqis who, earlier this week said that terrorism was bad but resistance was OK will have to discuss whether this was terrorism or resistance.
#3
FoxNews reports: "the slain Khadim Sarhid al-Hemaiyem was the leader of the Sunni Batta tribe and the brother of a parliamentary candidate in the Dec. 15 election, the official, Maj. Falah al-Mohammedawi, said."
#4
Now the Iraqis who, earlier this week said that terrorism was bad but resistance was OK will have to discuss whether this was terrorism or resistance.
The final compromise formula said that while "resistance is a legal right for all peoples, however terrorism does not constitute legitimate resistance. As such, we condemn terrorism and the acts of violence and killing and kidnapping that target Iraqis and humane and civil institutions and the government and the national resources and religious places, and request they be opposed immediately."
In other words they've condemned everything that's been going on in Iraq, without distinguishing one thing as terrorism and another as resistance. While the statement leaves out any reference to foreign troops, it also leaves out any reference to occupation, which in itself neutralizes the angle of legitimate resistance. The addition of the government and state institutions in there by default refers back to Maliki's words that it is in fact the government that requested the foreign troops. Therefore, any attack on them is by default an attack on the government's authority.
For some reason, the press line on this mirrors that taken by the treasonous Juan Cole, liar extraordinaire.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
11/23/2005 9:37 Comments ||
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#5
The Batta tribe is one of Iraq's largest Sunni tribes from the area north of Baghdad.
According to this map, the Battas are not a "major" tribe - but likely affiliated with the Duri tribe, given the location. One thing that's clear, at least according to the map, is that the Sunnis tribes clearly appear to have strong alliances, yielding a more monolithic face of a few major tribes - while the Shi'a are a hodge-podge. Some of that is probably due to the difference in population, too - there are 3-4 times as many Shi'a.
The story goes on to say that he and 3 sons were killed in this attack and he lost his eldest a month ago. Big Daddy and 4 sons? This has a Mafia / territory feel to it. The Don Sheikh is dead and so are (many of) his heirs. Takeover ripe.
I'm pretty sure you are correct about the intent of the resistance/terrorism declaration.
However, what the Iraqi people believe it says is something else again. I'm waiting to hear what the Asso of Islamic Scholars (a group with a desire to pretend Sunni terrorism is actual resistance) says about this declaration.
#7
However, what the Iraqi people believe it says is something else again.
Iraq the Model didn't seem to think much of it.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
11/23/2005 12:02 Comments ||
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This whole thing is such b.s., the media makes it look like the Shites are doing this to start a civil war, when its obviously the terrorists who are trying to kill any Sunnis taking part in the political process. F*ck our media.
I agree Irq the m was smart about the declaration. However, he is just one fellow. If 80% of the people in Iraq were like him there would be an efficient and effective govt there. Unfortunately, he represents a much smaller portion of the population.
KIRKUK, Iraq - Sixteen people including women and children were killed in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk on Tuesday when a suicide bomber ambushed police in a busy market area. Police rushed to the scene after a small explosion was reported in the market area, only to be ambushed by the suicide bomber who ploughed into a police patrol car before setting off his explosives.
Common ploy. Rat bastards.
At least 20 shops were damaged, five cars destroyed and a number of the victims, many policemen, were burnt to death, according to police Brigadier General Adel Zein Al Din. Twenty eight people were also wounded.
âThe market is normally very busy at this hour because people do their shopping there before heading home,â said Nassim Khodr, a local shopkeeper. âI just saw flames bursting into the sky and people burning.â
Posted by: Steve White ||
11/23/2005 00:00 ||
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Islam booms along toward perfection!
Posted by: Islamic council of Holy Splodys ||
11/23/2005 1:45 Comments ||
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An Israeli civilian narrowly escaped Hezbollah capture Wednesday afternoon after his hang glider was blown off course and landed some 50 meters inside Lebanese territory, near the Israel Defense Forces' Manara outpost.
In the wake of the incident, the United Nations Security Council issued an unprecedented condemnation of Hezbollah recent offensive activities and demanded the Lebanese government take control of the south of the country.
The latest incident started around 3 P.M. when parachutist Adam Wexler took to the sky near the Manara cliff and was blown by strong winds into Lebanon.
The man was spotted upon landing by three Hezbollah militants, who began moving towards him. Meanwhile, the man sprinted through a mine field in the direction of the nearby Manara outpost.
Hezbollah opened fire at IDF troops who rushed to open the gate to let the man back in to Israel. The parachutist arrived unharmed and was handed over to Kiryat Shmona police.
"The soldiers saved me," the Wexler told journalists. "If it were not for the IDF, I would now be in Lebanon and I don't know what would have happened to me."
IDF and Hezbollah forces continued to exchange fire after the incident.
The IDF denied Hezbollah claims that troops crossed the border into Lebanon after the parachutist landed. The IDF also emphasized that the parachutist was involved in "civilian activities" and had entered Lebanon inadvertently.
Hezbollah was apparently trying to capture the parachutist, who would have been used in future prisoner exchange negotiations with Israel.
Channel 1 TV news reported on Wednesday night that Wexler had ignored an IDF order not to hang glide in the border area.
#4
What the hell are Hezbollah doing patrolling the border anyway? Until and unless the Lebanese army takes control, the Israelis should declare a free-fire zone within 1000 metres of the border.
#8
"In the wake of the incident, the United Nations Security Council issued an unprecedented condemnation of Hezbollah recent offensive activities." I hope Bolton was behind this and he squeezes harder.
November 23, 2005: For the sixth time in the last three years, the U.S. Navy successfully tested itâs ABM (anti-ballistic missile) version of its Standard anti-aircraft missile (yes, thatâs the official name, the âStandardâ missile). There has been one test failure. The Standard 3 (or SM-3) is designed to reach out 500 kilometers to hit incoming missiles. The Standard 3 is based on the failed anti-missile version of the Standard 2 and costs over three million dollars each. The Standard 3 has four stages. The first two stages boost the interceptor out of the atmosphere. The third stage fires twice to boost the interceptor farther beyond the earth's atmosphere. Prior to each motor firing it takes a GPS reading to correct course for approaching the target. The fourth stage is the LEAP kill vehicle which uses infrared sensors to close on the target and ram it. The LEAP is a 20 pound warhead that destroys the targeted ballistic missile by hitting it. This system requires a modified Aegis radar system and the navy is modifying over a dozen ships so they can handle the SM-3. The Standard 3 system has been tested and works, or at least it works against the test targets it has faced so far. It gone six for seven in tests during the last three years. An improved version of the Standard 3 is in the works that will extend range first to 1,000 kilometers, then 1,500 kilometers. A new LEAP warhead will weigh 66 pounds and be more effective (because of better guidance and heavier weight.)
The current thinking is that two or three Aegis cruisers equipped with Standard 3 missiles could shut down any attempts by North Korea or Iran to use their current ballistic missiles. The Standard 3 does this by spotting and hitting the missiles while they are still rising up into the atmosphere. Systems like Patriot 3 or Arrow hit the missiles while they are coming down. At this point the missile is moving at several times the speed of sound and is actually a harder target to take out. The navy is not saying how many SM-3 missiles it has, but there are apparently at least a few dozen of them in service. Warships equipped with the SM-3 are regularly stationed off Iran and North Korea. The SM-3 is believed particularly suitable to shutting down any attempt by North Korea to use ballistic missiles. For that reason, Japan is buying the SM-3 system for some of its Aegis equipped warships.
Posted by: Steve ||
11/23/2005 10:05 ||
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#1
Boost phase intercept, I take it? Hence the IR.
What about AFTER the incoming missle has MIRVed?
"Hint: Bend over, put your head between your knees...)
#4
I'll bet this scenario could easily be flooded with more targets than it could handle. Each launcher (MK 41 Vertical Launching System) carries 2 missiles... and the verbiage brags that one can be prepped while the other is fired - does that mean the "system" can fire and control 2 missiles? Or not? Does one have to "complete" before the other can be fired?
And more...
How many launchers per ship?
How are the computers that control the missiles set up? Slaved to the launcher or general ship's computers?
How many missiles can be successfully controlled in flight simultaneously?
How many ships do they presume should be on-station?
Even presuming a 100% firing to kill ratio, Iran has, at least, several dozen launch sites - probably many more.
#6
The basic concept of anti-missile defense is the layered defense, which is the flip side to ballistic missile overkill.
However, you can only effectively layer if you have both distance and means available. That is, layering doesn't work as well on shorter distances, or when you have no place to put your defenses.
North Korea, therefore, is "easier" to layer then Iran, because the US can have Japanese area defenses and mid-Pacific defenses and Alaskan defenses. This would force them to try something difficult, like putting their missiles on a cargo ship to get it closer to our coast. The US Navy would have something to say about that.
Iran is more problematic because most of its targets are closer, and have both land and sea between them and Iran. If they shoot at a sea target, then the land-based anti-missile defenses are shooting laterally to the missile; if a land target, then the sea-based defenses have to do the same.
Given that they have considerable choice in their targets in the region, and that their targets are closer, probably means that we also have to use airborne defenses, such as 747-based lasers, to improve our shoot-down odds.
Their counter to this would be a massive nuclear and conventional launch from many different locations to many different targets as a salvo. Our response would be used to program their second salvo to take advantage of any weaknesses in our defenses.
This means that our defenses have to be capable of taking down wave after wave of missiles flooding out from Iran, many of whom are conventional or dummy.
#8
From what I understand of the AN/SPY-1 capabilities with the SM-3 is that it can fire and control up to 20 (give or take a couple) missiles at 20 different targets. The initial problem the original block SPY-1 sets had were that they could not launch a second salvo at the same target until the target was verified killed. I believe this has been overcome currently and when/if the navy moves to the SPY-2 and SPY-3 sets it will be even more capable of handling more launches simultaneously while tracking the inbounds.
Jakarta, 23 Nov. (AKI) - Indonesian police have arrested three men suspected of involvement in the 2004 bombing of the Australian embassy in Jakarta and of links to a top al-Qaeda-linked terrorist suspect. The men - identified as Fatkhurrahman, Bukhori and Yasin Al-Reza - were arrested separately in Pekalongan, in Central Java, on 17 November, a Jakarta police spokesperson said on Wednesday. He declined further comment, but said that under anti-terror laws the suspects could be detained for seven days and were being interrogated in the capital. The Australian embassy attack on 5 September, 2004 killed 12 people, including the bomber.
According to local newspaper Indo Pos, the detainees are thought to be linked to fugitive Malaysian Noordin Top, considered one of the top figures in recruiting and training terror operatives for the al-Qaeda linked Jemaah Islamiyah group. Indonesian authorities are investigating whether the suspects were involved in hiding Noordin Top or his right-hand-man Azahari Husin, who blew himself up in a gunbattle with police two weeks ago after they discovered his refuge in Eastern Java. Azahari was believed to be Indonesia's top bomb-making expert.
During a raid on a recently-abandoned hideout in the Central Java province, police found a video in which a masked man, believed from his accent to be Noordin Top, warned Britain, Italy, Australia and America that they will be "the target of our next attack"
Both Noordin and Azahari have been accused of being directly involved in at least four terror attacks in Indonesia, including the Bali bombings in October 2002 which killed 202 people, two attacks in the capital, Jakarta, in 2003 and 2004, in which 22 people died, and more recently the bombings of restaurants in Bali on 1 October this year, which killed 23.
Posted by: Steve ||
11/23/2005 10:40 ||
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Paris, Asharq Al-Awsat- As Syria asked UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Wednesday to intervene and help broker a âcooperation protocolâ between Damascus and the probe team into the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri, Paris signaled âtime was running outâ for President Bashar al Assad.
tick...tick...tick...
A high-ranking French official told Asharq al Awsat UN investigator Detlev Mehlis âmight not wait until 15 Decemberâ to present his findings to the Security Council and inform it the Syrian authorities have not cooperated with the probe and that he would be taking the necessary steps in that regard. France âwants the Syrian President to stop his delaying tactics⊠the interest of Syria requires him to cooperate and to cut off the rotten branches even if this is a painful operationâ, in reference to the request by Mehlis to question six officials in Syria including the presidentâs brother in law, Asef Shawkat.
He described the Syrian regimeâs behavior as âcommitting mass suicideâ by âletting time pass and playing tricksâ on Mehlis and on the Security Council and ârefusing to cooperateâ to uncover the truth about who killed Hariri on 14 February. He blamed Assad for âputting forward proposals he knew in advance it would be difficult to consider.â The French source warned that Paris, Washington and the international community would not hesitate to ask the Security Council to impose sanctions on Damascus if they discovered that âthe final warningâ given to the Syrian authorities with the adoption of Resolution 1636 âwas not taken seriouslyâ.
On French policy regarding Lebanon and Syria, the source said Paris âunderstood the fears of Saudi Arabia and Egypt and other countries which did not want to see a new conflict emerge adjacent to Iraq and this is also one of our concerns.â Syria, however, âshould not rely on this fear to refuse to actâ and should realize that âno other options are available except real cooperationâ with the UN probe team. The source rejected Syrian protestations that the investigation was an excuse and that the target was the regime in Damascus. In fact, the regimeâs reservations were âthe excuse of someone who did not want to actâ.
The sources feared Syria would chose policies that âwill drag the region to the abyssâ, including Lebanon. Paris believes that Damascus had âways to shake Lebanonâs stability which is why the international community has to remain alert and warn Damascus to the dangers ahead.â
Commenting on differences between the French and U.S governments on how best to deal with Damascus, the high-ranking official warned, âSyria should realize it is digging its own grave and providing a serviceâ to president George W. Bush and others in the region.
Translation: "Don't give Bush an excuse to come in there"
So far, Paris âhad opposed regime change and advised the US not to follow this routeâ but it âwill find itself in a difficult position and will not be able to hold on to position if Syria did notâ act and begin to cooperate fully with the UN investigation.
Posted by: Steve ||
11/23/2005 11:40 ||
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Hmm, maybe the Frogs got a testicle implant. (Which, of course, raises the question of who the donor was. Maybe Representative Murtha? [evil smile]
Posted by: Jonathan ||
11/23/2005 13:00 Comments ||
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Beirut, 23 Nov. (AKI) - Israeli war planes dropped thousands of leaflets denouncing Hezbollah guerrillas over the Lebanese capital of Beirut and its suburbs on Wednesday, two days after some of the worst border clashes in southern Lebanon in several years. The roar of jets was heard over the city before dawn after which thousands of leaflets were dropped, according to Lebanese military officials.
"To the Lebanese citizens, who protects Lebanon?" read the small paper leaflet written in Arabic. "Who is lying to you? Who is sending your children to a battle they are not ready for? Who wishes the return of the destruction? Who is the tool in the hand of his Syrian and Iranian masters?" Then in bold letters, it said: "Hezbollah is causing enormous harm to Lebanon," adding that Israel was determined to protect its citizens. The note was signed "Love, Arik." "The State of Israel."
☺ Have a Nice Day. ☺
The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) confirmed that its planes had dropped the leaflets over Beirut and its suburbs. On Monday the Israeli war planes launched missiles on some Hezbollah postions in southern Lebanon. The raids that came after cross-border artillery exchanges between Hezbollah militants and Israeli troops. Hezbollah released video footage on Tuesday documenting Monday's fighting in the southern area of Ghajar, in which four militants were apparently killed while attempting to kidnap an Israeli soldier. The video footage shows rockets hitting a number of IDF vehicles, and smoke rising from them. The group claims that it succeeded in hitting IDF posts and destroying Israeli armored personnel carriers.
Monday's artillery and missile attacks were the heaviest Hezbollah has carried out since Israel withdrew it troops from south Lebanon five years ago. Eleven Israelis - seven soldiers and four civilians - were wounded in the clashes.
Posted by: Steve ||
11/23/2005 10:46 ||
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#1
The video footage shows rockets hitting a number of IDF vehicles, and smoke rising from them. The group claims that it succeeded in hitting IDF posts and destroying Israeli armored personnel carriers.
Morons. "Hey, look! We hit the hornet's nest with a stick!"
#4
Shelling from Lebanon is a serious provacation.
Iran has misclaulated Israel before. Jordan and Egypt will not lift a finger if Israel steps up ofensive operation against Hezbollah (The Irianian presence in Lebanon.) Syria has it's own problems.
#5
"by the way - this could easily have been a cluster bomb"
Posted by: Frank G ||
11/23/2005 16:01 Comments ||
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#6
Isreal seems to playing this one smart. The Hezbollah is trying to look tuff and back thier illlusion that they are the only thing that can protect Lebanon and they are the Leboneese shield. Nothing says how worthless your shield is as when your enemy flys over in freekin helicompters dropping leaflets just so you understand that could have been your as*. Hezbollah is now stuck lookin like the b*tches they are. I love it. Cant wait for the Leboneese army to roll in to save the day should be next at some point once the Hezbollah looses thier protection as the only shield of Lebanon.
#7
This didn't sound like particularly persuasive psyops, though. You have to assume that they don't know the answers, so you have to tell them. Don't leave it up to speculation, which who knows what it will produce; pound a simple message home.
In this case, "Hizbullah does not defend Lebanon, it wants to destroy Lebanon for its Syrian and Iranian masters. It wants in all of Lebanon the same chaos and death that it brought to Beirut in the Civil War. Israel is not your enemy. Hizbullah, Syria and Iran are your enemies."
#8
We have some scores to settle with Hizb'Allah, too. Serious scores. The Hizb'Allah leadership needs to become spare parts. Then we talk with them.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
11/23/2005 19:25 Comments ||
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#9
I say the pay back should be with interest AP.
So many parts that they will never get them in one pile to bury. Afer Hezbollah then the payback for the Iranian MMs. Make it a hammering so hard that muzzies asses will still pucker in 4005 when they think of it if any are still left.
India has sent five major warships and a submarine for a wargame with the French Navy in the Gulf of Aden that is aimed at building joint capabilities for anti-terror operations and interdiction on the high seas.
"This is the first time we are exercising with the French Navy far away from Indian waters and it is also the first time that our aircraft carrier INS Viraat is being used in manoeuvres with the French," Indian Navy spokesman Commander Vinay Garg told IANS.
A platoon of Indian Army paratroopers has joined the Indian Navy's elite Marine Commandos - or Marcos - to train with French Special Forces for missions to interdict ships at sea, Garg said.
The French forces taking part in the exercise - the seventh in the Indo-French series of wargames codenamed Varuna and the second such drill this year - are drawn from a detachment based at Djibouti, a former French colony. All previous exercises in the Varuna series have been held off the Indian coast.
Four pilots from the Indian Air Force (IAF) are also part of the Indian forces taking part in the exercise, and will interact with their French counterparts flying Mirage 2000 jets from the base at Djibouti.
"The Indian and French forces interacted for three days at harbour, followed by the three-day exercise in the Gulf of Aden," Garg said.
The drills at sea - including air defence exercises, advanced anti-submarine warfare, dissimilar air combat between India's Sea Harriers jets and French Mirage-2000 fighters, and maritime interdiction and boarding operations - will end Thursday.
"The Indo-French joint exercises have grown in scope and complexity over the years and facilitated mutual learning and interoperability," Garg said.
The Indian detachment, commanded by Rear Admiral R.F. Contractor, flag officer commanding of the Western Fleet, comprises the Viraat, guided missile destroyer INS Mysore, guided missile frigates INS Talwar and INS Godavari and tanker INS Aditya.
The French warships taking part in the exercise are guided missile frigate La Fayette, anti-submarine corvette Jacoubet, nuclear submarine Perle, and shore-based Atlantique patrol aircraft and Mirage-2000 jets.
In April 2004, the French nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle was part of a task force that conducted a wargame in Indian waters.
"The Indian Navy lays great emphasis on enhancing bilateral ties and improving interoperability with developed navies through professional and operational interaction," Garg said.
Ship visits build "bridges of friendship" and such exercises also provide India an opportunity to showcase its shipbuilding capabilities through indigenously built warships like Mysore and Godavari, he said.
Posted by: john ||
11/23/2005 17:37 ||
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Rear Admiral R.F. Contractor
What a waste, should have joined the Indian Army.
The Indo-Mongolian Joint Exercise 2005, first of its kind in India, is being conducted at Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJW) at Vairangte in Mizoram from 05 Dec 05 to 14 Dec 05. The Exercise is aimed at conducting joint training in semi urban terrain and hill areas as part of Indo-Mongolian defence cooperation. Participating strength of Mongolian Army is approx 25 soldiers and equivalent component of Indian Army being represented by Special Forces.
The joint training will foster further relationship between the two countries. Although Mongolia and India are geographically apart, there has been continuance of identical traditions and religio-racial affinities between the two countries called as âspiritual neighboursâ. Commonality of views on many global and regional issues has extended their close partnership at the military level also.
Low Intensity Conflicts are becoming global in scope. Terrorism is becoming less territorially defined, global in reach and more decentralized. The globalized world is now matched by a globalized militant ideology. Menace of terrorism needs a global approach and hence joint training is a step towards that direction.
There could not have been a better staging ground for this exchange of expertise between the two forces than the Indian Armyâs unique Counter Insurgency & Jungle Warfare (CIJW) School, located in Mizoram. The School has been recognized as a âCentre of Excellence for Counter Insurgencyâ.
The School trains all ranks of the Indian Armed Forces, Indian Air! Force, Indian Navy, Para Military Forces and Central Police Organisations. The School recently conducted joint training with US Army in Sep 2005. Professionalism and standard of training imparted here left an indelible impression on them. Many other countries have elicited interest in the training being imparted here and the demand is ever on the increase. Joint training with Uzbekistan Army is slated in Jan 2006. Apart from the foreign armies, it is the large number of foreign students from about 27 countries who subscribe to the various courses conducted here, Rich experience of the faculty at the CIJW School and the wide ranging training imparted here makes it the only such combat school in the world. The training imparted here attracted global attention aiding in uniting the world to fight the global menace.
Posted by: john ||
11/23/2005 18:35 Comments ||
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Meanwhile in Haryana...
Former gunner is cremated with full military honours
Published: Wednesday, 23 November, 2005, 08:33 AM Doha Time
PALRA: Old soldier Umrao Singh, who was Indiaâs last surviving Victoria Cross holder until his death at the age of 85, was cremated yesterday with full military honours in a ceremony attended by the army chief and thousands of other ex-soldiers.
Singh, a gunner who won Britainâs highest heroism award while battling the Japanese during World War II, was cremated after an artillery salute in his home village of Palra, 100km north of New Delhi.
He died of cancer in a military hospital on Monday.
âA great warrior has passed away,â said army chief General J J Singh. The funeral was also attended by British diplomats and top-ranking military commanders.
Women sang a dirge as men shouted slogans in Palra, one of Jhajjar districtâs 264 villages which account for 40,000 retired or serving soldiers in the Indian army.
âUmrao Singh long live, long live,â shouted the mourners as troops lined the streets of Palra and hundreds of schoolchildren paraded at the funeral ground before Singh was cremated with Hindu rites.
âIt was this great warrior who inspired thousands to join the military,â said retired colonel Lakhi Ram, president of the Indian Ex-Servicemenâs League, as soldiers placed wreaths on behalf of President A P J Abdul Kalam and other national leaders on Singhâs pyre. âThis man was the pride of my state and he shall remain an inspiration to us all,â said Bhupinder Singh Hudda, chief minister of Haryana state where Jhajjar is situated.
The Victoria Cross winner was diagnosed with prostate cancer on July 5 and underwent surgery the same month but the disease spread to his bones and other organs later.
Singh received the medal after seeing action in Burmaâs savagely-contested Kaladan Valley, where he saved his gun after fighting off Japanese soldiers armed only with the ramrod.
Singh, who held the honorary rank of captain and drew a service pension, was the only gunner in Indiaâs military history to win one of the 1,355 Victoria Crosses which have been awarded.
âI remember him as the most courageous in our artillery regiment and at every battle he fought like a tiger,â recalled Sergant Hushyar Singh who was part of Singhâs 22nd Mountain Division. â AFP
Posted by: john ||
11/23/2005 18:38 Comments ||
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This was the Obituary of Hon. Captain Umrao Singh VC as published in the UK Telegraph
When a friend told him he could sell his VC for thousands of pounds he refused to part with it, saying that such an act would dishonour his comrades who fell in battle when he won his medal.
"After an hour and a half of pounding, his section, consisting of two guns, was attacked by two Japanese companies.
Under his inspired leadership it beat off the attack. Though twice wounded by grenades in the first attack, Singh held off the second by skilful control of the section's small arms' fire. At one point, with the attackers no more than five yards away, he manned a Bren gun himself and fired over the shield of his fieldpiece. Once again the Japanese were driven back, and the third and fourth attacks were beaten off, with the enemy suffering heavy casualties.
When the final attack came, with his ammunition gone, the other gun over-run and all but two of his section badly wounded or dead, Singh closed with the enemy in furious hand-to-hand fighting. He struck down three Japanese in a desperate effort to save his gun, but was finally overwhelmed and knocked senseless.
Six hours later, when a counter-attack regained the position, Singh was found exhausted beside the gun, almost unrecognisable because of his seven wounds, with 10 dead Japanese lying around him. But the gun was still in working order."
Posted by: john ||
11/23/2005 18:42 Comments ||
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#5
Rear Admiral R.F. Contractor
What a waste, should have joined the Indian Army.
If you thought the surname was bad..
Rear Admiral Rustom Framroze Contractor, NM, VSM, the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Fleet was commissioned on 01 Jul 71. A specialist in Navigation and Direction, he has held various operational, staff and training appointments including Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Operations) at the Indian Navy's Headquarters in New Delhi . Admiral Contractor is an alumnus of the Royal College of Defence Studies, London and his major sea commands include the Destroyers Rajput and Ranvijay and the Aircraft Carrier Viraat.
Posted by: john ||
11/23/2005 20:41 Comments ||
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Seven people were killed, five of them during an attack by Terrorists rebels on a police camp in Indian Kashmir as Terrorists rebels rejected an offer of assistance if they shun violence. "Two Terrorists militants and three policemen were killed during an attack by Terrorists militants on one of our camps today (Wednesday)," senior federal police officer S.R. Ojha told reporters in Srinagar, summer capital of Indian Kashmir. He said two Terrorists militants hurled grenades and opened fire with an intention to storm a camp housed in a defunct cinema hall in downtown Srinagar. Ojha said one Terrorist militant was killed before he could storm into the roadside camp, while the second was killed inside the camp. He said four more policemen and two civilians were injured during the brief exchange of fire between the two sides. The gunshots and grenade explosions caused panic among civilians in the Hawal locality of downtown Srinagar, residents said.
As it was supposed to. A feature, not a bug.
Terrorists Rebels frequently target security camps in Indian Kashmir. They storm the camps and engage security forces in gunbattles that often lead to the militants dying in what they call "fidayeen" or suicide attacks.
On Monday Indian army chief General J.J. Singh promised assistance to Terrorists militants if they gave up arms.
"We will welcome those Terrorists militants who want to shun the path of violence," said Singh on a visit to quake-devastated areas of Indian Kashmir. "We will provide them security and help them in shaping their future."
The Indian army meanwhile killed two more Terrorists militants during a gunbattle in southern Anantnag district early Wednesday, police said. The fresh violence came as region's main Terrorist rebel alliance rejected India's offer of assistance to Terrorists militants who give up violence.
"Mujahedin didn't take up arms for perks and privileges. We will never go for a sell out," a spokesman for the United Jihad Council, Syed Sadaqat Hussain, told the local Current News Service.
The Pakistan-based United Jihad Council is the umbrella organisation of more than one dozen Terrorist rebel groups active in Kashmir, including the most powerful group Hizbul Mujahedin.
Rawalpindi, 23 Nov. (AKI/DAWN) - Law enforcement agencies and immigration authorities have been put on high alert in Pakistan and China after a fax message was received by the consulate-general of China in Karachi, saying that terrorists were planning to strike hotels in Hong Kong and China in the near future. An official source said the security agencies had also been directed to inform the respective visa and immigration departments in both countries to be vigilant.
The source said the embassy of China told the Pakistani government that their consulate-general in Karachi had received an anonymous fax message which said: âAli Rizvi, keeping extreme fundamentalist/religious views, possibly members (sic) of some radical religious group and Islamic terrorist network in China, with the help of some US financiers, possibly plan to bomb some hotels in Hong Kong and in China in coming days.â
Most likely a hoax, islamic boomers don't give warnings
Posted by: Steve ||
11/23/2005 10:43 ||
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#1
Fax Faux threat?
Posted by: Jan ||
11/23/2005 11:47 Comments ||
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Taleban guerrillas have killed an Indian road engineer after his company failed to meet an ultimatum to cease operations in Afghanistan, a spokesman for the militants said yesterday. P.M. Kutty was shot dead on the orders of the Talebanâs council at 6 p.m., after a deadline passed for his company to pull out of Afghanistan, Qari Mohammad Yousuf told Reuters. âSince the Indian company did not listen or reply to our response, we killed the Indian engineer,â Yousuf bravely said by satellite phone from an undisclosed location.
Posted by: fred ||
11/23/2005 00:00 ||
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#4
That'll teach those darned...ooh...uuhh...ummmm...roads!!
Posted by: Ray Robison ||
11/23/2005 12:40 Comments ||
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And here is the reason ....
After news reached of Maniappanâs decapitated body having been found dumped by the roadside by villagers in Afghanistanâs southwestern Nimroze province, Delhi warned the Taliban and âits backersâ that they should be prepared to face the consequences of this âbarbaricâ act.
The road will help India bypass Pakistan in reaching its goods to various parts of Afghanistan after shipping them to a port in Iran.
For strategic reasons, India is seeking a toehold in Afghanistan, which Pakistan does not want. The road project is among several Delhi is funding and building, for which Pakistan has not even given it transit rights to ferry material, let alone personnel.
The use of the words âthe Taliban and its backersâ has, therefore, triggered speculation if Delhi is pointing a finger across the border â not possibly at Pervez Musharraf but at other elements in Pakistan who have had close ties with the Taliban.
Posted by: john ||
11/23/2005 20:17 Comments ||
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#6
Once built, the 219-km Zaranj-Delaram road Maniappan was working on would allow Indian equipment to be transported across Afghanistan and a communication link to Uzbekistan.
In the absence of transit rights through Pakistan, the Indian government is dependent on the Iranian port of Chabahar. It ships heavy equipment to the port, then transports them by road through Zaranj and Delaram and connects to the Garland Highway that circumscribes central Afghanistan.
Maniappan was engaged in this noble venture.
Such is the context in which the Indian paramilitary outfit, the BRO, has deployed its personnel in Nimroze. As it is, BRO personnel have a trying time. Weather conditions vary from minus 10 degrees Celsius in winter to plus 55 degrees Celsius in summer. Sandstorms make it impossible to work for more than four to five hours a day. But there is protection from nature. There is none from the Taliban.
In sum, Indiaâs Afghan project to checkmate Pakistan has been taken up without Delhi fully appreciating the security implications for its personnel. The security complement for Indian installations in Afghanistan is from the Indo Tibetan Border Police, a paramilitary force. It has no mandate for preventive security. The workers engaged in Indian government projects are completely dependent on the US forces, US-assisted ISAF and the Hamid Karzai administration.
Posted by: john ||
11/23/2005 20:23 Comments ||
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#7
Between India and Afghanistan, Pakistan.
Between Afghanistan and Iraq, Iran. Between Iraq and Jordan + Israel, Syria.
You'd think there was a plan to our presence and diplomacy in the region, or something.
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.
Jeddah, Asharq Al-Awsat- - Dr. Mohamamd al Nujaimi, member of the Advisory Committee at the Saudi Ministry of Interior and the Chairman of the Civil Studies Department at the King Fahd Security College revealed that more than 400 extremists have been released in the last six months. He indicated that the Committee and the Ministry of Education were collaborating on a project to disseminate advice in schools, institutes, colleges and universities across the Kingdom, adding that school directors and deputies were currently being trained for this purpose. âThese steps and studies aim at eradicating extremist ideologies before they manifest themselves and safeguard the though of our youths and that of future generationsâ, AL Nujaimi said. 
The Committee enjoyed a growing appeal amongst detainees, a far cry from its early days when large numbers refused to meet with religious scholars. The same individuals now request the meetings which are held in a warm and respectful environment, al Musabih said. Classes of âbetween 20 and 25 studentsâ were being held across the Kingdom with the detainees taught religious concepts such as â al Takfir (denouncing someone as an infidel) and al Walaa wal Baraa (loyalty [to the believers] and disassociation [from the non-believers]) and other relevant issues.â At present, classes were available in seven regions in Saudi Arabia. 
Terrorist killed in shootout with RAB in Savar
LONDON - 
The professor who gained national attention for suggesting U.S. soldiers in Iraq kill their superior officers has resigned his teaching post at a New Jersey college, moments before school officials were slated to decide his fate. The pre-emptive action by adjunct English professor John Daly was taken late yesterday, shortly before an emergency meeting of the board of trustees at Warren County Community College. 
November 23, 2005: The Iraqi army expects to win another victory on December 15th, when it protects the voters during the parliamentary elections. The Sunni Arab factions that oppose the government have again pledged to stop the elections. The terrorists have failed twice so far this year to interrupt national elections. Each time they fail, they lose more support in their Sunni Arab base. For this election, the government will have over 200,000 soldiers and police in service. There's no reason to believe the terrorists will be any more successful in stopping the vote this time. 
DUBAI (Reuters) - Al Qaeda in Iraq said media reports that its leader Abu Musab Al Zarqawi was killed by U.S. forces were a "lie", according to an Internet statement posted on Wednesday. "The media has lately circulated this news that was announced by the Crusaders (U.S.) about the death of the leader of the group in an armed confrontation ... which was an additional lie," the group said on a Web site statement.
KIRKUK, Iraq - Sixteen people including women and children were killed in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk on Tuesday when a suicide bomber ambushed police in a busy market area. Police rushed to the scene after a small explosion was reported in the market area, only to be ambushed by the suicide bomber who ploughed into a police patrol car before setting off his explosives.
Jakarta, 23 Nov. (AKI) - Indonesian police have arrested three men suspected of involvement in the 2004 bombing of the Australian embassy in Jakarta and of links to a top al-Qaeda-linked terrorist suspect. The men - identified as Fatkhurrahman, Bukhori and Yasin Al-Reza - were arrested separately in Pekalongan, in Central Java, on 17 November, a Jakarta police spokesperson said on Wednesday. He declined further comment, but said that under anti-terror laws the suspects could be detained for seven days and were being interrogated in the capital. The Australian embassy attack on 5 September, 2004 killed 12 people, including the bomber.
Paris, Asharq Al-Awsat- As Syria asked UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Wednesday to intervene and help broker a âcooperation protocolâ between Damascus and the probe team into the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri, Paris signaled âtime was running outâ for President Bashar al Assad. 
Beirut, 23 Nov. (AKI) - Israeli war planes dropped thousands of leaflets denouncing Hezbollah guerrillas over the Lebanese capital of Beirut and its suburbs on Wednesday, two days after some of the worst border clashes in southern Lebanon in several years. The roar of jets was heard over the city before dawn after which thousands of leaflets were dropped, according to Lebanese military officials.
Seven people were killed, five of them during an attack by 
Taleban guerrillas have killed an Indian road engineer after his company failed to meet an ultimatum to cease operations in Afghanistan, a spokesman for the militants said yesterday. P.M. Kutty was shot dead on the orders of the Talebanâs council at 6 p.m., after a deadline passed for his company to pull out of Afghanistan, 
