Twelve Afghan nationals have been killed in an ambush near Iran's border while entering the country from Afghanistan, an Afghan police official claims.
Colonel Rahmatullah Safi, an Afghan border police commander said on Wednesday that the ambush has happened some 25 kilometers inside Iran Monday night, DPA reported. "We don't know who killed these people," Safi said, adding: "There are two possibilities - that they were either killed by Iranian border police or by enemies of both our countries."
He also could not say who the dead Afghans were or why they were crossing the border during the night. "We cannot investigate inside their country, so since Iran is our friendly neighbor we ask them to investigate the matter and provide us with more information," Safi said.
Insecurity and high unemployment rate in Afghanistan lures thousands of Afghans into risking their lives by trying to travel to Iran illegally.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/11/2008 00:00 ||
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Taleban militants often target foreign troops in Kandahar A suicide car bomb targeting a NATO convoy in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar has killed at least 8 civilians and wounded 22 others. "Eight people have been killed and 22 others including two policemen were injured," said Kandahar police Chief Sayed Agha Saqib. He added that no foreign soldiers were hurt in the attack.
Residents said the blast appeared to have occurred on a busy road in the east of the city, the scene of a series of suicide attacks and roadside explosions by Taliban insurgents in recent years. More than 140 suicide attacks were carried out by Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan in 2007, the record year since the fall of the Taliban in late 2001.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/11/2008 00:00 ||
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PARIS, April 11 (Reuters) - French commandos seized six pirates in Somalia on Friday during a daring helicopter raid launched shortly after the bandits had released the 30-strong crew of a luxury yacht hijacked last week.
French officials said the owners of the yacht paid a ransom to obtain the freedom of the crew and as soon as it was clear that they were all safe, the commandos went into action aboard helicopters to track down the pirates.
A district commissioner in Somalia told Reuters that five local people had died in the attack, but the French military denied killing anyone in their daylight raid. It was an intervention not a pulverisation, said General Jean-Louis Georgelin, head of the armed forces general staff. When we captured the pirates we also recovered some interesting bags, he said, making clear that some, although not all of the ransom had been recovered in the raid.
He declined to say how much money had been paid over by the ships owners and said no public money was involved.
Georgelin said the French military tracked the pirates, believed to be Somali fishermen, after they made landfall and moved in when they saw some of the gang getting away in a car. A sniper in one helicopter shot out the car engine while another helicopter dropped off three elite French soldiers who captured the six pirates and hauled them off to French navy helicopter carrier waiting off the Somali coast.
It is the first time an act of piracy in this area has been resolved so quickly ... and it is also the first time that some of the pirates have been apprehended, Admiral Edouard Guillard told a news conference in Paris.
French officials said the pirates, believed to be Somali fishermen, would be tried in France. They said Paris would also seek much tougher United Nations action against maritime piracy.
Around 12 pirates grabbed the three-masted yacht, the Ponant, last Friday 850 km out to sea in the Gulf of Aden. They then sailed the boat to the Somali coast, eventually mooring the vessel at Garaad, near the town of Eyl.
The French navy sent 2 boats to the area, with 4 or 5 helicopters on board and around 50 commandos. A French admiral was also parachuted into the sea and picked up by the task force to help lead the operation.
The Foreign Ministry said the crew, 22 of whom are French, would be repatriated as soon as possible. Most of the other crew members came from Ukraine and the Philippines.
General Georgelin said President Nicolas Sarkozy made clear he wanted all the hostages released without harm, but added that the military would probably have intervened if the pirates had tried to split up the group or taken them off the boat.
The commando raid was only sanctioned once all the hostages were safely aboard the Jeanne DArc helicopter carrier.
Piracy is lucrative off lawless Somalia and most kidnappers treat their captives well in anticipation of a good ransom.
France said it would present new anti-piracy measures to fellow members of the United Nations Security Council next week aimed at toughening the war against sea banditry. This phenomenon is increasing, with the pirates becoming ever better equipped and organised, said Jean-David Levitte, Sarkozys chief diplomatic advisor. We are confronted by a real, real threat, he said, adding that over the last 10 years 3,200 sailors had been kidnapped by pirates, 500 injured and 160 killed.
He said countries like Somalia that had a problem with piracy needed to open their seas to international naval patrols and countries with strong navies, like France and Britain, needed to set up counter-piracy units.
#1
awesome. Now execute the sonsabitches. Publicly
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/11/2008 18:53 Comments ||
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#2
French officials said the pirates, believed to be Somali fishermen, would be tried in France. They said Paris would also seek much tougher United Nations action against maritime piracy.
Alas, this is probably not the best course to follow. I believe the law of the sea is sufficient for handling this case, though I suspect the "Law of the Sea Treaty" is the direction the French are taking - wonder if they are signatories?
#3
According to established International Law since about the year 1610, the French CAN try and execute the Somalis as pirates. The law on that has been clear since the days of the Spanish Main, and especially since no one recognizes or sanctions privateers any longer.
#6
When we captured the pirates we also recovered some interesting bags,
That's no way to talk about Pirate Women!
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
04/11/2008 19:45 Comments ||
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#7
I'm waiting for the usual suspects to start screaming about violating Somalia's 'sovereignty'. How the white man is persecuting the innocent black fishermen, etc. etc.
Posted by: Rambler in California ||
04/11/2008 19:58 Comments ||
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#8
Told ya so, DSGE was rolling on this day one.
A French admiral was also parachuted into the sea and picked up by the task force to help lead the operation.
Sark's around to give political backbone, so the French military have gotten pretty ballsy. Big grass ones for that Admiral.
The first three men to be charged in connection with the July 7, 2005 London suicide bombings appeared in court on Thursday, accused of scouting for targets.
Seven months before the bombings, two of them visited the London Eye, the Natural History Museum and the London Aquarium, prosecutors alleged. Muhammad Shakil, 31, Sadeer Saleem, 27, and Waheed Ali, 24, all shared common beliefs with the bombers, who committed appalling acts of terrorism on the British capital, Kingston Crown Court in Surrey was told.
The bombers, Muhammad Sidique Khan, Shehzad Tanweer, Jermaine Lindsay and Hasib Hussain, killed 52 people in co-ordinated morning rush hour attacks on three underground trains and a bus.
He said that in December 2004 the group travelled to London where they undertook a reconnaissance of potential targets over two days. They travelled with one of the bombers, Hussain, and later met up with another, Lindsay, but later denied it was a sinister trip. Rather it is their case that the purpose of their journey was to enable Waheed Ali to visit his sister in east London, he told the court. Further, Sadeer Saleem and Muhammad Shakil accept that they visited the Natural History Museum, the London Eye and the London Aquarium, but maintain that they did so for purely social reasons.
Flewitt said the locations the group visited bore a striking similarity to the targets three of the bombers later identified during a hostile reconnaissance two weeks before the bombings. Flewitt said the group admitted they knew the bombers but maintained their friendship was innocent and that they did not know about the plans to bomb the capital.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/11/2008 00:00 ||
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Two activists of the extremist movement Islamic Jihad have been convicted in Uzbekistan, a source in the court told Interfax. The Tashkent City Court has sentenced Shoakmal Nosirov and Farkhod Muminov to lengthy jail terms, the source said. Nosirov has a previous conviction for illegal religious activities. In April 2002, he was sentenced to six years in prison, but was later amnestied. This is under the "Religion" heading at Interfax!?!
Eleven Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) insurgents have been killed in a 2-day Turkish military operation in southeastern Tunceli province.
Approximately 3,000 soldiers participated in the operation. On Thursday's attack, Turkish helicopters bombarded suspected PKK positions in rural areas of the province. Turkish army managed to capture a PKK insurgent during the operation, while at least 11 others were killed.
The PKK is internationally listed as a terrorist organization. More than 37,000 people have been killed since PKK launched its armed independence campaign in 1984.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/11/2008 00:00 ||
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Security forces took control of Imam Dheri in Swat on Thursday, a measure they say follows an increase in militant activity in the area over the last few days. The town is considered to be the stronghold of militant commander Mullah Fazlullah. A local spokesman for the security forces said the government wanted peace in Swat but would not allow anyone to disrupt law and order.
Fazlullahs spokesman Sirajuddin threatened retaliation. Talking to Daily Times from an undisclosed location, he said the measure was unjustified after a peace deal between the militants and the government. He warned of disastrous consequences in the area if the security forces did not leave Imam Dheri. The spokesman for security forces said the militants were bent upon sabotaging the dialogue, which was why Imam Dheri was captured. Citing a military statement, the AP news agency said the security forces also arrested three suspected militants during a search and cordon operation in the town. The army, paramilitary Frontier Corps and police have set up a joint checkpost there, the statement said.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/11/2008 00:00 ||
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A special committee of the NWFP cabinet on Thursday launched a campaign to reach a negotiated settlement to end Taliban-linked militancy in Swat district, a member said. Todays [maiden] meeting of committee signifies the governments seriousness to resolve the Swat problem peacefully, Provincial Minister for Forest and Wildlife Wajid Ali Khan, who hails from Swat, told Daily Times.
Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti set up a special cabinet committee on Swat that includes all NWFP Assembly members from Swat, Buner, Dir, and Malakand. Senior ministers Bashir Bilour from the Awami National Party and Rahim Dad Khan from the Pakistan Peoples Party serve as additional members of the committee. All the members stressed immediate practical steps to begin dialogue, Khan said. In the first stage, the committee will seek input from local elders, clerics and civil society on the situation.
The committee was interested in reaching a solution as soon as possible, he said, but he stopped short of giving a timetable. Hours before the committee members met at the NWFP Assembly following a vote of confidence for Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti, security forces gained control of Imam Dheri in Swat, raising tension in the district.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/11/2008 00:00 ||
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(PTI): After a large number of pro-Taliban militants resurfaced in Pakistan's restive northwestern Swat valley, security forces on Thursday launched a fresh offensive in the area and arrested three militants.
Whoa! Three of them! Wowzers.
The armed supporters of radical cleric Maulana Fazlullah, currently on the run, had appeared in Matta sub-district of Swat, located just 160 kms from Islamabad and marched on the roads on Wednesday.
About 45 Pakistani Taliban militants led by commanders Iqbal Hussain and Ikramuddin were seen in the area, locals said adding, they marched in the Shakar Darra area located 500 metres from a check-post manned by security forces at Baryam. The security personnel at the check post and local police officials did not offer any resistance to the show of strength by the militants, the Daily Times reported.
Following this, the army today launched a fresh offensive in and around Imamdheri, the former stronghold of Fazlullah and his men. The security forces cordoned off Imamdheri and nearby areas and arrested three militants in Kabal sub-district. Army officials said they planned to set up a permanent check post at Imamdheri to curb the movement of militants.
The resurfacing of the militants comes days after a coalition government led by the Awami National Party assumed office in the North West Frontier Province and offered to hold talks with all militant groups to end violence in Swat and other areas. The local Taliban have completed renovating the madrassa in Imamdheri that had served as Fazlullah's headquarters till October last year, when security forces had launched an offensive against the cleric and his followers.
The re-emergence of the militants has given rise to fears among locals about an increase in their activities. Sources also said that the Taliban would offer Friday prayers in the mosque from which Fazlullah had broadcast sermons using his illegal FM radio station. Fazlullah's spokesman Sirajuddin said the local Taliban were returning to their respective areas to "resume their responsibilities", adding he hoped that Fazlullah too would return and restart his "mission".
Hundreds of people, a majority of them militants, were killed during the offensive launched by the security forces against Fazlullah's men. The troops used artillery and gunship helicopters to bombard militant positions, sending on the run rebels who had captured police stations and security check posts across Swat. Fazlullah and his men had established a parallel administration in nearly 60 villages in Swat when the security forces launched their operation against the cleric.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/11/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Swat hasn't been good for anyone since its Sultan died.
Posted by: Eric Jablow ||
04/11/2008 21:46 Comments ||
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BAGHDAD Coalition forces from Multi-National Division Baghdad operating an unmanned aerial vehicle observed a large group of criminals with rocket-propelled grenade launchers and a mortar tube in northeast Baghdad at approximately 9:30 p.m. April 10.
The UAV fired a Hellfire missile killing six heavily armed criminals at approximately 9:45 p.m.
U.S. Soldiers and their Iraqi partners are always vigilant in our efforts to protect the Iraqi people from criminals, said Lt. Col. Steve Stover, Multi-National Division Baghdad. We remain committed to their safety, welfare and well-being.
UAV destroys mortar position, kills 6
Multi-National Division South East PAO
BASRA A Coalition forces unmanned aerial vehicle engaged a group of criminals firing mortars at Iraqi Security Forces at around 2:30 a.m. on April 11 killing six and injuring one.
The criminals were observed in the Hyanniyah district of Basra by a Coalition aircraft and positively identified as an active mortar team. An air strike was called in to attack their position and neutralize the weapon.
This is part of the ongoing support provided by Coalition forces to Iraqi Security Forces to assist in combating the destabilizing criminal elements in Basra which seek to undermine the authority of the legitimate government of Iraq.
Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC ||
04/11/2008 12:21 ||
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BAGHDAD The Iraqi soldiers pushed their way up a main thoroughfare in Sadr City over the past week, but the militias that still prowl the Shiite enclave were sniping at them from the alleyways.
So a platoon of American troops drove up a bomb-cratered road in their Stryker vehicles on Thursday to give the Iraqis some pointers on how to hold the line. After the ramps of the Strykers were lowered, Second Lt. Adam Bowen sought out his Iraqi counterpart at the battered storefront in the Thawra district that served as an Iraqi strongpoint.
Are you going to stay? the Iraqi lieutenant asked hopefully.
Lieutenant Bowen told them his platoon was not. Surveying the terrain, he recommended that the Iraqi soldiers set up a firing position overlooking a sniper-infested alley. After an hour, the Americans headed back to the abandoned house that served as the company command post, and the gunfire in the streets picked up again.
The struggle for control of Sadr City is more than a test of wills with renegade Shiite militias. It has also become a testing ground for the Iraqi military, which has been thrust into the lead.
Iraqi soldiers, suffering from a shortage of experienced noncommissioned officers, have often been firing wildly, expending vast quantities of ammunition to try to silence militias that are equipped with AK-47s, mortars and rockets. But pulling back from their positions earlier, they now appear to be holding their ground albeit with considerable American support.
Iraqi politics has played a role in shaping the military strategy. Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki has decreed that American ground forces should not push into the heart of Sadr City, according to a senior American officer. American commanders also want to limit the United States profile in an area that has long been a bastion of support for Moktada al-Sadr, the anti-American cleric.
But American commanders also see this as an opportunity to shift more responsibility to the Iraqi troops in this case Iraqs 11th Army Division, one of the newest divisions in the Iraqi military. Whether they like it or not, Iraqi troops are hundreds of yards ahead of the farthest American position and in the thick of the fight.
The I.A. needs to start doing it on their own, Lieutenant Bowen, the 23-year-old commander of Third Platoon, Bravo Company, told a reporter who accompanied him on the mission, referring to the Iraqi Army.
The Iraqi troops, of course, still benefit mightily from American military support. On Thursday morning, Apache helicopters fired Hellfire missiles at teams of militia fighters that were preparing to fire mortars. Heavily armored American route clearance vehicles, their searchlights blazing in the night, swept the roads for hidden bombs. An American reconnaissance drone buzzed overhead and an armed Predator drone blasted a small group of militia men a few days ago.
In an urban battlefield in which there are often no clear lines and militias still roam the narrow side streets, American soldiers are very much at risk and in the fray.
On Wednesday at dusk, Lt. Marc Dudek, the leader of Second Platoon, which was defending the forward line of the American forces here, led his soldiers into the street after a rocket-propelled grenade flew past the abandoned house where his troops had pitched camp. As the soldiers returned to their house after a fruitless search, the civilians ominously vanished from a side street. The platoon took fire from a nearby building moments later and responded with an ear-shattering barrage. That quieted the militias for a while. By nightfall, the shooting started again.
The Thursday mission by Lieutenant Bowen was to check on the Iraqi forces who were defending an intersection 300 yards north of Lieutenant Dudeks position. Both platoons are part of the First Battalion, Fourteenth Infantry Regiment, and were based near Taji before they were rushed to Baghdad to help with the Sadr City operation.
The soldiers were told that they might be needed in Sadr City for a few days. Instead, they have been here for almost two weeks and are now preparing to stay longer. The Americans working relationship with the Iraqis is professional but not always clear.
There is no good liaison right now between the I.A. and the coalition forces, Lieutenant Bowen said. It makes things kind of confusing to come up here not knowing exactly what you are getting yourself into tactical-wise. So you come up, figure out what the tactical situation is and try to push through from there.
As the Iraqi and American officers huddled, the Iraqi lieutenant said some of his soldiers had been receiving threatening calls on their cellphones from members of the Madhi Army warning them to leave. The Iraqi lieutenant could not say how the Mahdi Army obtained their phone numbers, but some Iraqi soldiers who participated in the Basra fighting deserted after their families were threatened.
Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC ||
04/11/2008 11:47 ||
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#5
The witnesses said U.S. aircraft had been bombarding the area for hours, and media reported rockets slamming into houses and many casualties.
Witnesses and al-Sadr's office said mosques were making loudspeaker announcements about Mehdi Army attacks on U.S. military armored vehicles.
Cheadle also said that the U.S. Air Force, operating an unmanned aerial vehicle, fired a Hellfire missile at three men setting roadside bombs, killing all three.
Earlier, al-Sadr issued remarks about the killing of Sayyed Riyadh al-Nuri, who was shot outside his house in Najaf's Adala neighborhood after returning from Friday prayers.
"The hands of the occupiers and their collaborators have treacherously reached our beloved martyr Sayyed Riyadh al-Nuri," al-Sadr wrote in a statement on the Web.
Al-Nuri is one of 17 people killed over 24 hours in airstrikes, fighting and attacks in areas wracked in recent weeks by fighting among Shiites.
Iraqi officials say gunmen have killed a senior aide to anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in the Shiite holy city of Najaf. hmmm, mysterious "gunmen"
The officials say Riyadh al-Nouri was the director of al-Sadr's office in Najaf. He was shot to death as he drove home after attending Friday prayers in the nearby city of Kufa. A policeman and an official in al-Sadr's Najaf office confirmed the killing but spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose the information. "I can say no more"
The anti-U.S. cleric has his headquarters in Najaf, but the shrines in that city are dominated by a rival Shiite group and most of his followers are concentrated in Kufa.
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/11/2008 10:33 ||
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#1
Hmm. Infighting, or is SIIC less domesticated than recent reports have claimed?
Posted by: Mitch H. ||
04/11/2008 10:46 Comments ||
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#2
Will this bring the Sadr's militia back out in force?
#3
Yes, the response to this is going to be interesting to see. We are seeing a whole lot of change in both targets and who is doing the fighting (see article above). It makes me think/want to believe we've entered a final phase cleaning out the remaining trash.
#5
Y'know, there hasn't been a lot of reporting lately on Crossfire activities of the RAB, maybe they are out on 'Field Maneuvers?' What time did this occur?
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
04/11/2008 15:23 Comments ||
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#10
The cleric's office issued a statement in which al-Sadr promises he won't "forget this precious blood" but he urges his followers to "be patient."
Yeah, don't start anything until I'm under a bed and behind a locked door in the cellar of my place in Qom.
And make sure ya do a good job because I'll be watching it all on Qom Action News. So I'll know.
To the last drop of blood, Brave Jihadi Warrriors...
#11
revenge for the killing of Al Khoei, an Ayatollah the JAM knocked off in June 2003. Khoei was like Sistani, a moderate, but younger and more dynamic. If hed lived a LOT would be different in Iraq. Failure to adequately protect him was - well Im not going to get into what it was, to avoid another flamewar. June 2003 is a long time ago, and the folks responsible arent in office any more - mostly.
But anyone connected with SCIRI would have plenty of reason to want Al-Nouri dead. As would some folks in the Iraqi govt. As would some Iraqi Sunnis.
#13
Dunno, LH. Khoei's death did nothing to change the key dynamics for the early years, which reduce to: Sunni rejectionism and terrorism. Even the JAM, to the extent it's something deserving of a single name, and the extent it's more than a constellation of local gangs and militias, owes its now-dimmed prominence to the Sunni terror war (a continuation of their decades of abuse and crimes against the Shi'a). The US folks - in and out of uniform - no longer in office erred in never really dealing seriously with that. Betcha looking back in a year or two, the JAM's importance will not look like much, especially compared to the damage done by the Sunnis in 04-07. And the current US folks in office, in and out of uniform, have also chosen mostly not to deal with the Sunni problem. They've been able to avoid the question as the Sunnis for their own various reasons (including our first show of will in years, represented by the surge) have decided to play along for now.
Looks like AlQ is on its way out. Now for the next item on the To Do list . . . .
The top U.S. commander has shifted the focus from al-Qaida to Iranian-backed "special groups" as the main threat to a democratic Iraq a significant change that reflects both the complexity of the war and its changing nature.
The shift was articulated this week in Washington by Gen. David Petraeus, who told Congress that "unchecked, the special groups pose the greatest long-term threat to the viability of a democratic Iraq."
Before, American commanders have called al-Qaida the greatest threat.
There is little doubt that Shiite extremists fighting U.S. and Iraqi forces have received Iranian weapons, although Iran's government denies supplying them.
But Petraeus' comments obscure the fact that the United States has waded into a monumental power struggle within the majority Shiite community and crucially, that both sides in that struggle, not just the "special groups," maintain close ties to Iran.
The power struggle is only the latest stage in a decades-long competition between the families of the current top Shiite players: anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, whose political party in Iraq works closely with the U.S. despite its links to Iran.
That intra-Shiite competition is likely to continue sometimes violently regardless of whether the Iraqi government and its U.S. backers force al-Sadr to disband his Mahdi Army militia or not. In military parlance, the term "special groups" refers to presumed breakaway Mahdi factions whose main sponsor is Iran.
American lawmakers expressed frustration this week because Petraeus offered no assurances that an end to the war is near. It's not. Anything else is called denial. Get over it.
In part, that's because the conflict has been ever-evolving from at first a Sunni insurgency, next to a Sunni-Shiite sectarian bloodletting, and now a violent competition for power within the Shiite community.
Through much of the war, the Bush administration has presented the conflict primarily as a fight against al-Qaida, describing it as the principal enemy in the array of Sunni and Shiite "threat groups." Throughout much of the war, Iran didn't meddle so intensively. That changed when they saw their interests losing.
That began to change after a tectonic shift in the Sunni Arab community: Thousands of Sunni tribesmen abandoned al-Qaida in Iraq and joined U.S.-backed security forces starting last year. Attacks against U.S. forces fell sharply in former Sunni battlegrounds such as Anbar province.
U.S. troops are still fighting al-Qaida, of course, especially in the north. Nationwide, however, most of the recent battles have involved Shiite militants.
The trouble started last month when Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, himself a Shiite, launched an ill-prepared offensive against Shiite militias and criminal gangs in Basra in the south. I'll bet the next one isn't so ill-prepared. And despite its "ill-preparedness" status, it isn't Sadr's forces who are patrolling the streets there anymore.
The offensive stalled and triggered a violent backlash by al-Sadr's followers, who believed the crackdown was aimed at weakening them before provincial elections this fall. To retaliate for the crackdown in Basra, Shiite militiamen fired rockets and mortars at Baghdad's U.S.-protected Green Zone, which houses the U.S. and British embassies and al-Maliki's office. Must have hit a nerve or something.
They were firing rockets at the Green Zone before Basra. Cheez.
In the current fighting, American and Iraqi troops are trying to push the militants out of rocket range of the Green Zone and bottle them up in the sprawling Shiite district of Sadr City the Mahdi Army stronghold.
It's a fight the Americans didn't want now. Instead, U.S. commanders believed military resources should have been continued to be directed at al-Qaida in the north. Al-Q is pretty much mopped up. The Coalition just wishes it had more warning is all.
But now, a cease-fire that al-Sadr called last August is in tatters and the prospect of more violence looms. You mean the hudna veneer wasn't working the way it usually does?
The role of the "special groups" remains unclear. U.S. officials say they are breakaway factions of the Mahdi Army that no longer take orders from al-Sadr. Go take a trip over one of those EFPs and tell me how unclear the role of the Iranian Special Forces is.
Such talk about the threat posed by the special groups casts the internal Shiite conflict as a proxy war between the United States and extremists controlled by Iran.
"The regime in Tehran also has a choice to make," President Bush said Thursday. "They can live in peace with its neighbor, enjoy strong economic and cultural and religious ties, or it can continue to arm and train and fund illegal militant groups which are terrorizing the Iraqi people and turning them against Iran." Simple, but impossible with the current regime.
But the picture is more clouded. Not really, but go ahead anyway.
With all Shiite factions close to the Iranians, it appears that Iran will profit at least to some degree no matter which Shiite groups end up in power and no matter how America pursues the war. So are you advocating for the status quo? I say if the current regime in Iran wants it, I'm against it.
#1
The history books will long record the Democrats behavior in this war. They are actually working against their own military and rooting for the failure of democracy in Iraq. Is it self-destructive behavior or treason due to special interest campaign cash? Don't have the answers, but it is mind boggling to watch.
#3
Petraues yesterday said that Iraqi troops who went into Basra were not their first line units, some of them were fresh out of training and had no experience.
This is good AND bad.
Bad first - it really does sound like the planning by the Iraqi govt was poor, not only in terms of communications with the coalition, but in terms of their own choices and staff work.
Its good news - cause even the less prepared Iraqi units managed to acquit themselves relatively well in the fight, and it seems likely that those units who DID break were completely green.
#4
Its good news - cause even the less prepared Iraqi units managed to acquit themselves relatively well in the fight, and it seems likely that those units who DID break were completely green.
The green units behaved like militia and broke after a couple of shot. However, the rest of the Iraqi army performed well on the battlefield and deserve credit for their actions. The fact that partially trained Iraqi units still did well speaks highly of not only the Iraqi character, but the training methods used.
#6
The top U.S. commander has shifted the focus from al-Qaida to Iranian-backed "special groups" as the main threat to a democratic Iraq a significant change that reflects both the complexity of the war and its changing nature.
Or because once you have dealt with one foe you can focus on the second. Like when America focused shifted her focus from Germany to Japan.
#7
It seems that the IP is actually doing relatively well in the Mosul area.
I'm concerned that while the ISF overall held up fairly well in Basra (and with some units doing really well), the IP isn't up to the job down there (too corrupt, too beholden to Shia factions, too tribal).
#8
Eh, Yon doesn't seem to think that al Queda is finished in Ninevah yet. Down, but not out. Remember what they say about courses of antibiotics & stopping them prematurely because you're feeling better?
Posted by: Mitch H. ||
04/11/2008 10:48 Comments ||
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#9
Rule #1 in contra-insurgent warfare: allow no safe havens.
#11
it really does sound like the planning by the Iraqi govt was poor, not only in terms of communications with the coalition, but in terms of their own choices and staff work.
As to the coalition, why tell the US something so it can get to the CIA who leak it to their allies in Tehran?
As to their own choices and staff work, so what? It wasn't Kasserine Pass. If they learned from the experience it was valuable.
#12
I've seen no indication that either the IA, the IP or our forces have pulled out of Mosul or are reducing operations there. I think we are still taking the fight to AQI as needed. Most of our other activity seems to be in Bagdhad with air ops/spec ops in Basra as well.
#13
it wasn't green troops all on their own - there were experienced ones nearby. And now those green troops aren't nearly so green, and will be far more useful in the future.
#14
With all Shiite factions close to the Iranians, it appears that Iran will profit at least to some degree no matter which Shiite groups end up in power and no matter how America pursues the war.
How about that for classic, poorly reasoned, "quagmire" hopelesness from "journalists"? Wow!
So tell, us Einsteins of the press, exactly how does Iran "profit" from a Shi'a-dominated Iraqi government that works closely with the US in the context of a reasonably stabilized Iraq (and there's less than a slim chance that Mookie Atari Boy will be the one who emerges as an enduring political force)?
Remember, it's always complex, but in a HOPELESS way! These people wouldn't have lasted 2 weeks in WWII. Would have counseled surrender after Wake Island fell.
#15
#1 The history books will long record the Democrats behavior in this war.
I think that the descendants of Iraq (such as in Anbar) who dodged insurgent sniper-fire to cast their vote; will be thankful that they fought their own Jihadi insurgence, and the US Democrat resistance
Im not as cynical about the CIA as you are - their allies are in Saudi, and they may have failed to penetrate Iran, but theyre not Iranian allies.
Learning - well, yeah, one hopes. But this IS an important battle, they lose it theyre kinda screwed up, esp as they have an audience in the US thats not going to stick it out with failure.
They prevailed on the battlefield, well yeah, kinda so far, I dont have lots of details in Basra - it does look like Iraqi forces did better than JAM, but exactly by how much, isnt clear.
Old Spook - is that so? Thats not the impression I got from listening to Petraues on CSPAN - it sounded more like they just threw in whatever they had, not like what he would have done if he had called the shots. But yeah, the experience earned by the green troops and officers is a good thing, Im not saying it isnt.
#18
and Im not trying to be negative, just to avoid getting overly enthusiastic about an apparent victory. This is a hard slog, anyone counting on things being easy from here on out is in for dissappointment I think.
#19
This is a hard slog, anyone counting on things being easy from here on out is in for dissappointment I think.
I've got to violently agree with that. But that doesn't preclude one from recognizing encouraging progress when it happens, which isnot nearly asd frequently as one would wish. But every time the enormity of this effort increases, so does its importance. There is no substitute for victory.
Iran won't be so self-conflicted as Iraq was. If their government gets removed, they could put together a new one and keep on chugging, hopefully in a far more amiable fashion. Yes, I know that's what was thought of Iraq. That's why it's my layman's perspective!
And with Iran out of the picture, I suspect that it would be just a few days before Iraq settled down, which would make things in the area quite a bit easier, and allow better focus on a narrower problem set. Syria would settle down, too, as would Lebanon.
#21
Bad first - it really does sound like the planning by the Iraqi govt was poor, not only in terms of communications with the coalition, but in terms of their own choices and staff work.
The U.S. military says one of its drones has killed six gunmen in Baghdad's Sadr City district. The military says an unmanned aerial vehicle observed a group carrying rocket-propelled grenades and mortars Thursday evening. The drone fired a Hellfire missile, killing six of the suspected militants.
There was no immediate comment from the Iraqi police on Friday morning.
Posted by: gorb ||
04/11/2008 05:03 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[3 views]
Top|| File under: Mahdi Army
#1
I'm certain the missile actually killed a dozen women and their kids on the way home from the pet market with baby ducks and bunnies.
#2
Or harmless construction workers, just trying to make ends meet and now their children are orphans and wives widows and they are gonna starve because Bush wants the oooooil!
#3
*Mookie's terrorist Tots fired a rocket aimed at the U.S.-protected Green Zone but it fell short, crashing into a second-floor room and blowing a hole in the wall of the Palestine Hotel in central Baghdad.
>:) Isn't that where Rapporteurs routinely stay when writing Hit-Pieces about Iraq?
Iraqi military forces have discovered more than 30 corpses in a mass grave at a house south of Iraq's war-torn capitol Baghdad. "Initial reports indicate the remains have been buried more than a year ago," at the house in the town of Mahmudiyah, the US military said in a statement.
AFP reported that the statement said the Iraqi army was excavating surrounding areas.
Mahmudiyah, which in the so-called Sunni "triangle of death" region, has been the center of intense activity by al-Qaeda-led insurgents in recent years.
Human rights group believe there are hundreds of mass graves in Iraq, mostly of people killed during the regime of Saddam Hussein and also as a result of ethnic infighting ignited by the American invasion of Iraq.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/11/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[3 views]
Top|| File under: Iraqi Insurgency
#1
C'mon, you knew they'd find some pretext to at least partially blame the evil Yanks, din't ya?
The Navy says a ship encountered a small Iranian high-speed boat in the central Persian Gulf and warned it away by firing a flare. Two other similar Iranian boats in the area did not come as close.
The USS Typhoon tried unsuccessfully to establish radio contact with the Iranian boat after it came within an estimated 200 yards of the Typhoon on Thursday, outside Iranian territorial waters. A Navy official says the ship then fired the flare and continued on its way without incident.
The official says there were no signs any boat was armed.
It was at least the second encounter with an aggressive Iranian high-speed boat this year. In January, Iranian boats made what the Navy called provocative moves near a U.S. ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
#4
According to wikipedia, the Typhoon carries 2 Mk 38 Bushmaster 25mm chain guns, two 50 cal machine guns, and two Mk 19 grenade launchers.
Any one of which could ruin the entire day for a speed boat.
Just sayin', is all.
Posted by: Rambler in California ||
04/11/2008 15:10 Comments ||
Top||
#5
I just hope the Iranians are dumb enough to try to board our ships.
#9
#3 I agree NIMBLE > On FOX this AM Dubya was again reorted as NOT LEAVING THE ISSUES WID IRAN TO HIS GOP-DEM SUCCESSOR, which the FOX pundits interpreted as DUBYA = USA DRAWING A NEW "LINE IN THE SAND" AGZ IRAN.
As for the USS TYPHOON, I don't think the Iranians are aware they're facing a "small/light" ship wid the Surface Warfare equivalent firepower of an WW2 Destroyer or Destroyer Escort. despite sans Torpedoes, etc.
#10
Earlier today, a US warship fired 3,000 warning shots through the sides, bottom, and flotsam of an Iranian patrol boat, successfully convincing the Iranian crew to break off its threatening approach.
#11
Earlier today, a US warship fired 3,000 warning shots through the sides, bottom, and flotsam of an Iranian patrol boat, successfully convincing the Iranian crew to break off its threatening approach.
Greenpeace and other environmental groups immediately filed suit against the US Navy for, among other things, polluting the Gulf, contributing to global warming, and other charges to be added later.
Posted by: Rambler in California ||
04/11/2008 21:45 Comments ||
Top||
#12
Earlier today, a US warship fired 3,000 warning shots through the sides, bottom, and flotsam of an Iranian patrol boat, successfully convincing the Iranian crew to break off its threatening approach.
Followed by a half-dozen anti-ship missiles launched from Iranian island and shore batteries...
#13
Greenpeace and other environmental groups immediately filed suit against the US Navy
The US Supreme Court quickly ruled in a 5-4 vote that Greenpeace has no standing to file suit, as they have no vessels or personnel in the area, nor compelling interest in an active war zone.
/wishful thinking
Followed by a half-dozen anti-ship missiles launched from Iranian island and shore batteries...
That followed within 10 minutes by bouncing rubble at selected sites within Iran's borders, because President Bush had been waiting for a causus bellum?
/I know we're much more deliberate than that, but my vindictive side can dream.
The secret site where Iran is suspected of developing long-range ballistic missiles capable of reaching targets in Europe has been uncovered by new satellite photographs. The imagery has pinpointed the facility from where the Iranians launched their Kavoshgar 1 research rocket on February 4, claiming that it was in connection with their space programme.
Analysis of the photographs taken by the Digital Globe QuickBird satellite four days after the launch has revealed a number of intriguing features that indicate to experts that it is the same site where Iran is focusing its efforts on developing a ballistic missile with a range of about 6,000km (4,000 miles).
A previously unknown missile location, the site, about 230km southeast of Tehran, and the link with Iran's long-range programme, was revealed by Jane's Intelligence Review after a study of the imagery by a former Iraq weapons inspector. A close examination of the photographs has indicated that the Iranians are following the same path as North Korea, pursuing a space programme that enables Tehran to acquire expertise in long-range missile technology.
Geoffrey Forden, a research associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said that there was a recently constructed building on the site, about 40 metres in length, which was similar in form and size to the Taepodong long-range missile assembly facility in North Korea.
Avital Johanan, the editor of Jane's Proliferation, said that the analysis of the Iranian site indicated that Tehran may be about five years away from developing a 6,000km ballistic missile. This would tie in with American intelligence estimates and underlines why President Bush wants the Polish and Czech components of the US missile defence system to be up and running by 2013.
The Kavoshgar 1 rocket that was launched in the presence of President Ahmadinejad of Iran was based on the Shahab 3B missile, a version of the North Korean Nodong liquid-propellant missile.
Dr Forden said that the Kavoshgar launch did not demonstrate any significant advances in ballistic missile technology. But it does reveal the likely future development of Iran's missile programme, he said.
At a meeting on February 25 between the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Iranians, UN inspectors confronted them with evidence of design studies for mounting nuclear warheads on long-range missiles. The Iranians denied any such aspirations.
However, according to Jane's Intelligence Review, the satellite photographs prove that the Kavoshgar 1 rocket was not part of a civilian space centre project but was consistent with Iran's clandestine programme to develop longer-range missiles. The examination of the launch site revealed that it was part of a large and growing complex with very high levels of security and recent construction activity. It was clearly an important strategic facility, Dr Forden said.
The former Iraq weapons inspector said that Iran was benefiting from the North Korean missile programme and following its designs. The Taepodong 1 consisted of a liquid-propellant Nodong (like the Shahab 3) first stage, a liquid-propellant Scud second stage and a solid-propellant third stage. The production and testing facility next to the Kavoshgar 1 launch site would seem well positioned to contribute to this third stage, Dr Forden said.
#4
This is the usually unmentioned flip side to their nuclear weapons program.
One theory holds that their concept of initiating a nuclear war has several key elements. The first is to covertly obtain weapons grade nuclear material from North Korea, then using their uranium enrichment program as a cover, to assemble long range nuclear missiles.
Unknown to the rest of the world, focused on thinking they are just trying to develop *a* nuke, they put together 20-40 nukes, and double or triple that number of short, intermediate and long-range missiles.
Then when they initiate the war, they launch a first salvo of missiles, the majority being dummies intended to deplete US and Israeli anti-missile defenses.
Then a second salvo, concentrating on detected weaknesses in the anti-missile shield, with a higher proportion of nukes.
Then if there are any detectable gaps in the US Israeli defenses, a third salvo of just nukes, retaining perhaps a dozen nuclear missiles in reserve.
The concept of operations is to preemptively destroy the Jericho II installation in Israel before it can launch its missiles, and to destroy one or two US carrier fleets, US airbases and ground forces in Iraq and Afghanistan at the same time.
Secondary targets include the Saudi oilfields, the US Naval base in Italy, and perhaps US forces in Bahrain and Kuwait.
Essential to this is that the Iranians completely ignore US strategic missile forces in the US, perhaps relying on the Russians to threaten the US against their use.
That is, much of their strategy is reliant on luck and ignoring reality. It would not be surprising if they tried to integrate the arrival of the 12th Imam in their strategic plan.
#6
Essential to this is that the Iranians completely ignore US strategic missile forces in the US, perhaps relying on the Russians to threaten the US against their use.
I think the proper response from the US in the case of Russia threatening is to just launch on Iran anyway and tell the Russians flat out that if they interfere then they get an all-out strategic strike as well.
I can't imagine it would come to that, Russia would never risk its existence for Iran.
Posted by: Laurence of the Rats ||
04/11/2008 11:25 Comments ||
Top||
#7
All out strikes could cause global climate changes. Just sayin'.
#12
Iranian space program. Hmm... I wonder how they track the time - praying X amounts of time per day... days come and go in orbit pretty quick. Plus you need som spherical geometry to point toward mecca (And track as well to stay pointed that way).
#13
"Components of the US MDS to be up and running by Year 2013" > ISLAMIC IRAN's Missle Techs ala SPACE EXPLORATION? isn't going to save Radical Islamism's JIHAD unless married wid NUKE-WMDS WARHEADS + MIL GUIDANCE SYS, etc. *2010-"2013" taint gonna matter iff the Jihad can't sustain itself LOCALLY OR GLOBALLY, nor can effec materielly expand after 2010 or even 2009. E.G. IS PREDOMIN "SUNNI AL QAEDA" WILLING TO ALLOW IRAN'S SHIA ISLAMISTS-CLERICS TO CONTROL AQ'S JIHAD AGENDA, AND VICE VERSA - DITTO IRAQ'S, etc. SHIA ISLAMISTS VERSUS IRAN's, etc.??? TO HIS CREDIT, IMO OSAMA + ZAWI, etc. RECOGNIZE THE NEED AT THIS TIME FOR THE SUNNI-SHIA RIVALRY + COMPETITION OF ANTIQUITY TO BE [TEMP? PERM?] SUBORNED TO THE GREATER PAN-ISLAMIC/ISLAMIST CAUSE OF OWG-GLOBAL JIHAD + SAVING SAME. PUTIN'S = RUSSIA'S DESIRED "MULTIPOLAR WORLD" CAN NO LONGER BE RELEVANT AS FAR AS OSAMA + ISLAMIST JIHAD IS CONCERNED.
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
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Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
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Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
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(PTI): After a large number of pro-Taliban militants resurfaced in Pakistan's restive northwestern Swat valley, security forces on Thursday launched a fresh offensive in the area and arrested three militants. 
UAV kills 6 heavily armed criminals
UAV destroys mortar position, kills 6
BAGHDAD The Iraqi soldiers pushed their way up a main thoroughfare in Sadr City over the past week, but the militias that still prowl the Shiite enclave were sniping at them from the alleyways.
Iraqi officials say gunmen have killed a senior aide to anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in the Shiite holy city of Najaf.
The U.S. military says one of its drones has killed six gunmen in Baghdad's Sadr City district. The military says an unmanned aerial vehicle observed a group carrying rocket-propelled grenades and mortars Thursday evening. The drone fired a Hellfire missile, killing six of the suspected militants.
The secret site where Iran is suspected of developing long-range ballistic missiles capable of reaching targets in Europe has been uncovered by new satellite photographs. The imagery has pinpointed the facility from where the Iranians launched their Kavoshgar 1 research rocket on February 4, claiming that it was in connection with their space programme. 
