A Saudi Al Qaeda operative has called on Somali comrades to step up their attacks on 'crusaders' in the Gulf of Aden, and in Djibouti. "To our steadfast brethren in Somalia, take caution and prepare yourselves," Sa'id Ali Jabir Al Khathim Al Shihri says in an audiotape acquired by CBS News. "Increase your strikes against the crusaders at sea and in Djibouti." "See? We're still relevant!"
It was the first clear sign that Al Qaeda was trying to take advantage of anti-Western sentiment, and a ready supply of well-armed young men in Somalia with access to boats and maritime skills.
A maritime intelligence source told a CBS correspondent that interaction between pirate groups and Somalia's Al Qaeda-linked groups was first noticed about nine months ago.
The source said it was now 'inconceivable' that Al Qaeda would not benefit financially from the successful pirate hijackings.
Following the rescue of the Maersk Alabama by the US Navy, during which three pirates were killed and another captured, there were threats against any American crew members found in future hijackings.
Shihri, captured near Pakistan's border with Afghanistan in December of 2001, was among the first detainees held at the Guantanamo Bay. After being held without charge for almost six years, he was released to Saudi authorities and enrolled in a rehabilitation programme there.
Following his release, he went to Yemen and was subsequently described as a deputy leader in an Al Qaeda press release.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/19/2009 00:00 ||
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#1
...because siding with al Qaeda has worked out so well for others in recent years. Time for the Somalis to nail their colours to the mast: are they backwards thieving bastards, or incredibly stupid backwards thieving bastards?
#2
too bad Bush isn't in office , this would be justification too kill the lot of them. But instead we just get too see Obama running his mouth about nothing on CNN and Fox all damn day every day until hell freezes over
#3
But, but, but the Hildebeast has openly declared the pirates "common criminals." Married to a butt pirate herself, I assumed she was a pirate expert! Now we learn that there is a Soodi, Al Qaeda "man-made disaster" link...? Ima so confused, someone please help me. I simply do not know what to believe.
#7
CNN AM NEWS > seems the Somali Pirates have just graduated to kidnapping DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS personnel = aid workers???
* PAKISTANI DEFENSE FORUMS > IIRC JOHANNE HARI Article [old]> YOU ARE BEING LIED TO ABOUT THE SOMALI PIRATES. The Pirates are actually GOOD ENVIRONMENTALISTS as they are trying to defend their ravished homeland agz CATASTROPHIC INTERNATIONAL OVERFISHING of prime fishing grounds; + also AGZ INTERNAT NUCLEAR WASTE DUMPING off the Somali coast which has allegedly begun to seriously affect the health of many locals???
[Al Arabiya Latest] The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague started hearing a dispute Saturday between north and south Sudan over the contested oil-rich Abyei region at the heart of a fragile peace pact.
"Everybody in Sudan has a vested interest in the outcome of this arbitration," Riek Machar Teny, deputy chairman of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) told the court on the first of six days of hearings.
The southern SPLM and the government in the north asked the court last year for "final and binding arbitration" on the issue.
This followed a pact concluded last June to end a dispute over Abyei and allow for the return of tens of thousands who had fled fighting there the month before.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/19/2009 00:00 ||
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[Jerusalem Post Front Page] An axis with "evil goals" that includes Iran, Syria, Qatar and Hamas has attempted to destabilize Egypt and ultimately engineer a coup against the government, the Egyptian daily Al-Ahram alleged on Saturday.
In a strongly worded article, the paper stated that the Hizbullah cell recently uncovered by Egyptian authorities was not only planning to carry out terror attacks in the country, but was also set up as a basis for a larger conspiracy, one that sought to overthrow and replace the Egyptian regime.
The paper pointed fingers at various Arab states and organizations which it claimed were partners to the plot that was "planned years ago", including Iran, Syria, Qatar, Al-Jazeera TV, Hamas and Egypt's outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. "It was the beginning of a revolution and unrest that was part of a big plot against Egypt that was carefully planned and mal-intentioned to breach the security situation inside the country and to create an atmosphere of chaos, confusion and the implementation of their evil goals," the paper stated.
During Israel's Operation Cast Lead, Egypt was the subject of intense criticism by all of these states and players for not fully opening the Rafah-Gaza border crossing to Palestinians.
In a fiery speech in January, Hizbullah chief Hassan Nasrallah called on Egyptians to take to the streets and to open the crossing with their bare hands, a call which infuriated Cairo. Based on all the evidence collected by Egyptian security forces following the cell's apprehension, Al-Ahram stated, it was becoming clear that these organizations and nations had conspired against Egypt, using various means to undermine Egyptian rule and create chaos in the country.
The plot began with Hamas's violation of the cease-fire with Israel in December - a decision that was dictated by Iran and its allies, the paper said. "In the period leading up to the Israeli invasion of Gaza, it was decided that Hamas would surprisingly announce it was no longer obligated to the cease-fire, and indeed, [the organization] began firing rockets in a manner no one understood," the article claimed.
Then, when Israel retaliated, members of the 'axis' accused Egypt of having conspired with the US and Israel against Hamas, using Qatar's Al-Jazeera television network to further delegitimize Cairo in the eyes of the Arab world. The "media trumpet which abandoned its neutrality as usual" was used to turn the general Egyptian and Arab opinion against Egypt, the paper said.
The paper also claims that Qatar - which the article refers to as a minuscule state - attempted to sabotage Egyptian, Turkish and European efforts in the region by hosting a summit for the "axis" states. It was referring to January's summit in Doha over Operation Cast Lead, which was attended by leaders of hard-line states such as Iran and Syria, and boycotted by Western-backed states such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
The article blamed Iran for its role in aiding Hamas militarily and for "directing the call for Qatar to organize" the Arab summit in Doha. It accused Syria of attacking Egypt through declarations it has made via its officials and the media, and for embracing the Hamas leadership, such as Khaled Mashaal who is based in Damascus.
Finally, the article also lashed out at the Muslim Brotherhood, which it claimed had been planning to exert its influence to organize protests, encourage chaos and bring about a regime change. It also has tried to pressure Cairo into opening the Rafah crossing and agreeing to demands which would bring about the annulment of Egypt's peace accords with Israel and ignite a new war.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/19/2009 00:00 ||
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#1
If the wolves fight among them, the farmer should be happy.
#2
Maybe, g(r)omgoru. But what often happens when wolves fight is that a more powerful alpha emerges, leading a bigger tougher pack. Egypt's current leadership is awful. The Brotherhood in power would be worse, I suspect.
#3
The Qatar-Muslim Brotherhood relationship has been cemented by Yusuf al-Qaradawi, the Ikhwan's spiritual mentor and Egyptian exile who operates from Doha.
#5
It has the same people running it now as were running it back when it was the Soviet Union. And somehow I doubt Hezbollah was paying retail for all the East-Bloc artillery rockets they have an endless supply of.
And Russia can make a lot of money giving weapons away to the Syrian/Iranian axis to start a war in the Middle East and therefore making money off of the resulting rise in oil prices.
Providing free weapons to a Brotherhood--run Egyptian regime would pay for itself if the result was a shutdown of the Suez Canal at just the right moment.
#7
And Russia sells to Iran in hopes that Iran will start an armed conflict that will result in closer of the straits of Hormuz or otherwise raise the price of oil.
Being able to close the Suez Canal would also be economically beneficial.
Russia produces 4.4 million barrels of oil a day. 70% of it is exported.
Increacing the price of oil from $ 50/bbl to $ 120/bbl (which is a very conservative estimate of what I think the price increace would be) would be worth...
$ 70.00 * .7 * 4400000 = 215 MILLION dollars a day.
Which means they could give Egyptian Hezbollah three billion dollars a month in free weapons and still come out three billion dollars a month AHEAD.
#9
The Islamist destabilization of EGYPT is important now for the Somali Pirates - iff they do intend to wage "active defense" agz world Navies in defense of thier activities, IMO they will attempt to fall back towards the defensive LR MILITARY + HOPEFULLY NUKULAR UMBRELLAS OF IRAN + OTHER PRO-ISLAMIST NATIONS [read, 2010-2012/2016]. MORE IMPETUS FOR IRAN + RADICAL ISLAM TO NUCLEARIZE ASAP AMAP.
* The "SOMALI MAIN" leads back towards IRAN + PROTO-ISLAMIST SOUTH ASIA.
Breaking ranks with key Western nations, Britain on Sunday said it would be participating in the upcoming United Nations-sponsored Durban II anti-racism conference.
"It is the intention of the government to attend the conference," a British foreign office spokesperson told Haaretz. "We'll have our ambassador to the UN in Geneva leading our delegation."
But of course. The Islamicization of Britain hurtles forward.
Earlier on Sunday, the Netherlands joined the U.S. and Australia in boycotting the conference scheduled to begin Monday in Geneva, the Dutch foreign ministry announced on Sunday.
The British foreign office official said London would actively lobby the conference participants to include language in the final draft statement condemning anti-Semitism as well as promoting the remembrance of the Holocaust. The Dutch government, however, felt the summit's agenda would be manipulated to advance untoward ends.
Continuing a back-and-forth series of actions between the U.S. and leftist Latin American regimes, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez sought out President Obama at a joint meeting Saturday morning to give him a book attacking capitalism and American intervention in the Western Hemisphere.
"Las Venas Abiertas de America Latina," or "The Open Veins of Latin America," by Eduardo Galeano, describes centuries of invasions and other attempts to influence Latin American affairs by outside powers, including the U.S.
Because if only the Latinos had been left alone it would have been a paradise ...
Mr. Chavez handed the book to Mr. Obama after the U.S. president spoke at a meeting of leaders from the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), which was taking place on the sidelines of the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad.
"I thought it was one of Chavez's books," Mr. Obama told reporters afterward. "I was going to give him one of mine."
At least he didn't bow ...
A senior administration official later said the exchange appeared to be a publicity ploy by Mr. Chavez.
No, really?
"Anybody who's been at international conferences with Chavez knows that if there's a camera around, he's going to find a way to get in it," said the official, who attended Mr. Obama's meetings and the White House had asked to brief reporters on the condition of anonymity.
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said that since the book was in Spanish, he doubted Mr. Obama would be reading it.
Maybe he can re-gift it when Gordon Brown comes back to Washington ...
Wait - Obama can't speak Spanish? I'm so ashamed!!!
Or does that only apply to French?
Posted by: Steve White ||
04/19/2009 00:00 ||
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#1
The Spaniards plundered the Americas for centuries. I have been to Spain and seen it with my own eyes. If Brazil, Mexico and all the other third world countries will pay us back the money we given them, America would be deficit free. In Spanish. Alguien tiene que decirle a Chavez, que se calle, mierda de indio no sabe lo que habla, otro idiota que piensa que El Che tenia razon y por eso Fidel lo asesino. Esto es por poder suyo no por el beneficio del pais, habra fiesta en las calles de Venezuela cuando tu mueras. Hijo de Puta...Cuando un Colombiano te mate.
#3
Before the Spaniards came to Mexico, the Aztecs were eating pond scum, their captives & their children. This does not excuse Cortez, but he did introduce cheese to Mexican food, for which we prefer to pond scum (except for some environmentalists).
In a state guest house on the outskirts of Pyongyang, Laura Ling and Euna Lee have been held for more than a month: valuable pawns in an growing international nuclear stand-off.
Hanging over the heads of the American journalists is the possibility of a show trial and ten years in a notoriously harsh North Korean prison camp. The outside world knows little about how they are holding up because North Korea is not saying and the United States, while trying to free them through diplomacy, has tried to impose a blanket of silence.
The signs, though, are not good for the employees of Current TV, a web-based television channel founded by Al Gore, the former US Vice-President, because their future appears bound up in the widening rift between Pyongyang and much of the rest of the world over its recent missile launch. The reclusive regime of Kim Jong Il has halted all talks and expelled international experts monitoring its nuclear activities after the United Nations condemned its decision to fire a rocket over Japan.
Ms Ling, 32, a Chinese-American, has reported on drug wars in Mexico and native tribes in Brazil and is the younger sister of Lisa Ling, an award-winning TV journalist. Her father, Doug Ling, told reporters that he brought up his daughters as a single father and that both of them were sometimes too adventurous in covering news around the world. I worry quite a bit. But Im not losing any sleep over it, he said. Because Im more or less used to it.
Euna Lee, a Korean-American videographer, joined Current TV in 2005 after attending the prestigious Academy of Art University in San Francisco. The pair were accompanied on their trip to the region by a cameraman and an executive producer, both of whom managed to avoid capture.
The team, hoping to interview defectors from North Korea, began with a series of meetings in Seoul before flying to the Chinese city of Yanji, on the North Korean border. They were warned not to leave Chinese soil but ventured across the frozen Tumen river anyway. Exact details of their capture vary, with some accounts indicating that they were arrested by North Korean troops after refusing to stop filming, and others suggesting that they were pursued across the ice and back on to Chinese soil before being taken into custody.
So we still don't know exactly where they were nabbed ...
Either way, within 24 hours Ms Ling and Ms Lee were taken in separate vehicles to Pyongyang for questioning. A week later it was announced that they would be put on trial. Conviction for illegal entry carries up to three years in prison; the more serious crimes of espionage or hostility toward North Korean people are punishable by five to ten years.
The US State Department has said that it is making every diplomatic effort to free the two women and Mr Gore is said to have contacted Hillary Clinton, the Secretary of State, to ask for her assistance. The US has no embassy in North Korea but a representative of the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang is said to have seen the journalists at the end of last month.
Koh Yu Hwan, a professor at Dongguk University in Seoul, said that Pyongyang was unlikely to release the journalists soon. Having two Americans was like having a piece of rice cake rolling in for free, he said. Theyre going to make maximum use of this for multiple purposes. Rather than a trial by a criminal code, it will be a political trial.
Posted by: Steve White ||
04/19/2009 17:00 ||
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#1
the cameraman and exec producer must have been able too run like hell
[Kyodo: Korea] North Korea said Saturday that South KoreaŽs participation in a U.S.-led effort to stop the trafficking of weapons of mass destruction would be ŽŽa declaration of warŽŽ against the country. A spokesman for the General Staff of the Korean PeopleŽs Army made the remark through the official Korean Central News Agency at a time when South Korea is expected to announce its plan to participate in the Proliferation Security Initiative as a full member.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/19/2009 00:00 ||
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#1
´´a declaration of war´´
...Third one this year, if I remember correctly.
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
04/19/2009 8:22 Comments ||
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#2
Things must be REALLY bad in Nork this year. Only the threat of war can keep the people from eating the Dear Leader?
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
04/19/2009 14:36 Comments ||
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#3
um. I thought that they were still at war. No peace treaty from the Korean War and all that
#4
Right. Theyre in armistice. The Korean War is military conflict between North and South "with major hostilities lasting from June 25, 1950 until the armistice signed on July 27, 1953." Dress it up however, they're still two clicks away from going for full jugular.
#6
WORLD MILITARY FORUM > NORTH KOREA ANGRILY WITHDRAWS FROM THE SIX-PARTY NUCLEAR TALKS - WHAT IS AMERICA'S AND ASIA'S "PLAN B" TO RESTORE TALKS???
Also from WMF > US SENDS CIA PROXY ARMED MILITANTS INTO JIMMU-KASHMIR TO INTENTIONALLY INCITE VIOLENCE AGZ PAKISTAN, INDIA, CHINA AND OTHER ASIAN STATES, + EVIL US STARTEGY AGZ ASIA: FOSTER MUTUAL SUSPICION, WAR AND MUTUAL SELF-DESTRUCTION BETWEEN CHINA AND INDIA, + RUSSIAN MILITARY MEDIA: CHINA'S MILITARY POWER CAN DEFEAT ONLY INDIA NOW, BUT NOT THE USA, JAPAN, OR RUSSIA, + JAPAN'S ASIA CENTER FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES: INDIA'S RENT OF VIETNAM'S TOKYO/WEST BANK BAY NAVAL BASE [India's aircraft carrier?] HAS ANGERED CHINA, CHINA'S RESPONSE IS TO REDEPLOY MAJOR MILITARY FORCES TO HAINAN AND OTHER LOCAL REGIONS TO BLOCK INDIA.
[Kyodo: Korea] Japanese-made precision tools and special steel were found among missile-manufacturing equipment that was confiscated on a North Korean freighter detained at an Indian port in June 1999 while en route to Pakistan, a former senior Indian government official said Saturday. While North Korea is known to have provided missile know-how to Pakistan in return for nuclear weapons technology, this is the first concrete example of how Japanese equipment ended up being used in North KoreaŽs proliferation of missile technology.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/19/2009 00:00 ||
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[Al Arabiya Latest] A Spanish judge considering possible criminal action against six former Bush administration officials for torture at the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay defied pressure to drop the case on Friday.
However Judge Baltasar Garzon, internationally known for trying to extradite former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, accepted that he might not personally take charge of any eventual criminal investigation into officials including former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.
Public prosecutors at the National Audience, Spain's top criminal court earlier issued an official request to Garzon to drop the investigation. They said Garzon was unqualified to carry out such a "general inquiry into policies put in place by the previous U.S. administration."
Posted by: Fred ||
04/19/2009 00:00 ||
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#1
So.. is there anywhere in the world were some activist judge can go after Gaarzon for something?
MUMBAI: Isro is downplaying the launch of 'spy satellite' Risat-2 on Monday despite the model election code of conduct not coming in its way.
On Saturday, Isro officials told TOI the space agency has decided to do away with the traditional live telecast of the launch accompanied by a commentary by Doordarshan and other TV channels. The 48-hour countdown began at 6.45am on Saturday and the launch is slated for 6.45am on Monday at Sriharikota. Though TV crew members will be present at Sriharikota, they will, however, not be provided any facilities for covering the take off. "The TV is welcome to telecast the launch later in the day."
On Saturday Isro released an eight-line detail about 'Risat-2' in its website. It says the satellite weighing 300 kg will be placed at an altitude of 550 km. "Risat-2 is a radar imaging satellite with all weather capability to take images of the earth. This satellite will enhance Isro's capability for disaster management," it says. No mention has been made about its other capabilities like the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) acquired from Israel which according to space experts has armed the satellite with defence capabilities.
Similarly, the website has given a nine-line description of Anusat, the first satellite built by an Indian university which will piggy back on Risat-2. It says that Anusat will operate in the same orbit as Risat-2.
Posted by: john frum ||
04/19/2009 16:32 ||
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NEW DELHI: India is planning to introduce an ultra-low-cost, satellite-based identification system to monitor fishing vessels across the countrys coastal areas.
Navy sources said the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was developing the system, known as the B-Class Automatic Identification Systems (AIS), for nearly 300,000 fishing vessels.
Presently the cost of one such installation on mechanised fishing vessels is around Rs 60,000, which is not feasible for an ordinary fisherman. We are trying to bring it down to around Rs 5,000, a navy official said.
The satellite-based system would help keep the vessels in the loop of security agencies guarding the coastal areas, and prevent the entry of hostile boats, as happened during the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, a source said.
It will be a hands-free system, having an in-built Global Positioning System (GPS), and will be reporting to the agencies at regular intervals. Initially, the system will be launched in Gujarat, and then expanded to Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Officials, however, believe that the systems practical implementation, and not its installation, is the real challenge. For early adoption of such a system, security agencies are awaiting the installation of a new government after the general election to request free distribution of the system
Posted by: john frum ||
04/19/2009 15:39 ||
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#1
don't make the mistake of assuming a "friendly" signal = friendly passengers
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/19/2009 15:51 Comments ||
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LAHORE: The Taliban of Swat have set up a bureau named Shuba-e-Aroosat for arranging love marriages of couples who are denied the marriage of choice by their families for one reason or the other, reports BBC Urdu Service.
Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan said the marriage bureau headed by Taliban Commander Abu Ammad arranged 11 love marriages in the last nine days while 300 girls and boys are waiting for their turn.
The love marriage aspirants contact the bureau on a fixed telephone number. The Taliban collect their particulars and then contact their familites to arrange these choice marriages, he said, adding that Islam allows every adult to get marry according to his/her own choice. He said, Most of the girls, or their families, who contacted us wish to marry militant Taliban.
Analysts say the Taliban are paving the way for themselves to marry the girls of their choice. It is really strange that they flog the couples on one hand for moving together while on the other hand allow young couples to marry according to their choice. Also the question arises how is it possible for a boy or girl to propose while they have not seen each other, reports BBC Urdu Service.
Posted by: john frum ||
04/19/2009 10:04 ||
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#1
Analysts say the Taliban are paving the way for themselves to marry the girls of their choice.
The talibs pimping for a higher cause: theirs.
Posted by: ed ||
04/19/2009 11:22 Comments ||
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#2
since when has "love" been associated with marriage?
/divorced guy
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/19/2009 11:31 Comments ||
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#3
ie: Your daughter WILL marry one of our fighters or members of your family will die.
President Asif Ali Zardari appealed for help in combating terrorism in the region while speaking at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum on Saturday. "This issue is about not being able to control the terrorism that is evolving around Pakistan, Afghanistan and indeed the region," he told the more than 1,600 delegates gathered at the annual summit on the tropical Chinese island of Hainan, which aims to promote regional economic integration. "Please help us... solve and fight this menace," he added in a speech broadcast live on China's state television.
Zardari said the current global financial crisis could be linked to terrorism. "Even today's recession I would put down to the aftermath of what happened in 9/11," he said.
US President Barack Obama has put Pakistan at the heart of the fight against terrorism and Al Qaeda.
Zardari's comments came a day after around 40 donor countries and groups pledged more than $5 billion in development funds to help Pakistan fight poverty, strengthen its institutions and fight terrorism. "I feel that all of us . . . all of you should stand together and stop everything that threatens the world economy," he said.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/19/2009 00:00 ||
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#1
Dear Rant burgers, my intellect tell me two things. Rant burg has made no effort to establish a grass root organization to effectively convey to our politicians and administration our thoughts about the stupidity they are doing in implementing our foreign policies specially when it relates to the radical Islamic terrorisms that are determined to destroy us no matter how much we kiss their ass. I really feel very stupid myself to send my opinion to Rantburg because at the present, Rantburg is nothing more than the internet version of some of the radio talk shows that excite people for their own popularity without any positive achievement. The whole world knows that every route of Islamic terrorism goes through Pakistan. And Pakistan is a terrorist state. But what we and the mostly Christian countries in the west are doing? Appeasing the same bastards with billions of our tax money, actually paying ransom to Pakistanis simply because our and western governments made a horrible mistake of allowing Pakistan to produce nuclear bombs to defend it from India. And what could be more than the stupidest US and UK mistake not to recognize that it was Pakistan that was attacking India all the time. We had a joke in India when Indira Gandhi sends army to Bangla Desh because as a women Indira Gandhi could not tolerate the whole sale rape of Bengali women and selling them as a sex slave to middle east kingdoms by west Pakistani army after Pakistan killed the democratic elected PM of Pakistan from Pakistani Bengal.
It is not too late to force Pakistan to behave. All it will take is to evaporate a few mountains, specially where Osama Bin Laden is hiding and tell Pakistan the same is going to happen to entire Pakistan if they continue to hide those committed to destroy us. If US is determined to act, you bet, neither China nor Russia will dare to start nuclear war with US to protect Pakistan and there is nothing that works better than the law of jungle out there in the world. So the simplest way to stop the world wide Islamic terrorism immediately, is very simple. Blow a few mountains in Pakistan with nuclear boms and they and all others will get the message loud and clear that US means business not the chit chat.
The bodies of nine men, involved in the November terrorist attack on Mumbai, are still lying in a morgue as the Indian Muslim Council has opposed their burial in Muslim cemeteries. Ujwal Nikam, the public prosecutor trying the lone surviving suspect, told CNN the dead, who are assumed to be Muslim, have not been buried because their bodies have not been claimed and Mumbai's Muslims have refused to bury them in their graveyards. John Voll, professor of Islamic history at Georgetown University in Washington, said the non-burial sent the message that the terrorists were acting so contrary to Islam that they had been judged as being unbelievers and were not worthy of being buried in a Muslim cemetery.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/19/2009 00:00 ||
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Top|| File under: Lashkar e-Taiba
#1
"John Voll, professor of Islamic history at Georgetown University in Washington, said the non-burial sent the message that the terrorists were caught acting so contraryaccording to Islam that they had been judged as being unbelievers and were not worthy of being buried in a Muslim cemeteryand the rest want to cover it up and pretend their religion isn't involved."
Fixed that for ya', Professor VTroll.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
04/19/2009 13:27 Comments ||
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#2
I understand the situation, I fail to see the problem.
Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit on Saturday urged the international community not to link terrorism with any single state or a specific community without investigation and evidence. Ohfergawdsake. First we weren't supposed to link it with Islam, even though most of the practitioners of terrorism wear turbans and issue fatwahs. Now we're not supposed to link terrorism with Pakistain even though virtually every major act of Islamic terrorism in the world in the past ten years has been conceived and controlled by Terror Central in Pakistain. Buying this one would be what's known as a willing suspension of disbelief. I think you've just described the Hildebeast State Department ...
"We should act responsibly if any terrorist act takes place in any part of the world rather then indulging in a blame game," Basit said. He said Pakistan never blamed any state for anything without investigation. To a question, he said the Pakistan government was concerned over the arrest of Pakistani students and was in constant touch with the British government for securing their release, adding that the government had offered legal assistance to the arrested students. The spokesman said the acting high commissioner had met UK officials over the issue. He said the government's stance was that the UK should initiate trials if they had any evidence against the students and if they had no proof, the students should be released without delay.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/19/2009 00:00 ||
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Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan
After the enforcement of the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation in Malakand division, the Taliban have no moral justification to display arms in public, NWFP Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain said on Saturday.
Addressing a press briefing at Pir Baba's shrine, Hussain said anti-state elements were out to sabotage the Swat peace accord. "The government and the Tahreek Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM) will have to act responsibly to save it," he said.
Before the briefing, the minister handed over the charge of the shrine, which was earlier occupied by the Taliban, to the local administration. The minister said the provincial government would not tolerate any un-Islamic activity in Buner district, and directed police officers to act strictly against those trying to deteriorate the peaceful environment of Buner through un-Islamic activities.
Hussain also condemned Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain's remarks about the Awami National Party (ANP) and the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation.
The minister asked if regulations for Malakand division in 1994 and 1999 were right, what was wrong with the 2009 regulation?
About the rise of the Taliban in Buner and their occupation of certain places, the minister said the NWFP government had complete writ in the district, and "now Pir Baba shrine is under the control of the local administration".
Posted by: Fred ||
04/19/2009 00:00 ||
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Top|| File under: TTP
#1
We have already seen Eastern Europe go under the bus in the missile defense episode. Is there any reason to think the same will not happen to Israel? Or should that read 'has not happened'?
#2
President Obama graduated from Harvard Law. But Prime Minister Netanyahu took his degrees at MIT. According to a webpage the university has on him
Mr. Netanyahu, who went by the surname Nitay while an MIT student, was at the Institute from September 1972 to May 1976. He proved very much to be a young man in a hurry as he earned two degrees - in architecture and management - and was on his way to a doctorate in political science before ending his studies abruptly to return to Israel in June 1976. That followed the death of his older brother, Yonatan, in a commando raid that freed passengers on a hijacked plane in Entebbe, Uganda.
The rest of the short article is quite interesting. Young Mr. Nitay, as he was known then, started with a double load -- AT MIT!! -- then worked his way up to a triple load after he got his first couple of degrees. It sounds like he would have walked away with several PhDs, had he had another two years to devote to his studies.
It will be very interesting to watch the battle between the merely bright gentleman controlling the resources of the world's superpower versus the truly intelligent gentleman attempting to insure the survival of a mere regional power.
#5
Thanks for the interesting background. Israel and Jews everywhere need to wrap their heads around the fact that Obama sat in Rev. Wright's church and sat and listened for years as he spewed anti-semitism. Not once did he get up and leave.
Obama hung his hat with the likes of Bill Ayers and Rev Wright. We know who he is and what he stands for. Those who sit around and scratch their chins expecting him to suddenly become something else are fools.
#6
Obambi has to, sometime, recognize that he is not running for Class President, and exchanging the safety of his constituency for international (though passing) popularity is not a good, and probably dangerous, thing.
#8
BHARAT RAKSHAK > AHMADINEJAD: IRAN FORCED THE USA TO WITHDRAW FROM ITS ENRICHMENT EMAND; + IRAN MAKES/SETS THE RULES [nuclear, NOT the USA or UNO, NPT]??? IRAN is also repor interested in colluding on nucdev wid BRAZIL.
D *** NG IT, WOMAN, FIRST PAULA "DELILAH/
BATHSHEBA" ABDUL IS WIPING OUT HER DADDY'S FAVORIIIITE COCONUT/TROPICAL GARDEN, NOW SHE'S MAKING THEM GLOW IN THE DARK!
[Al Arabiya Latest] Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas discussed peace prospects with a United States envoy Mideast envoy George Mitchell on Friday as two top Hamas leaders made their first appearances at public events since Israel's Gaza war.
The meeting between Mitchell and Abbas came amid warnings that peace talks cannot advance unless Israel's new government commits to a two-state solution.
"Until the (Benjamin) Netanyahu government unequivocally affirms its support for the two-state solution, implements Israel's roadmap obligations and abides by previous agreements, Palestinians have no partner for peace," top negotiator Saeb Erakat said after the meeting in Ramallah, political capital of the occupied West Bank.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/19/2009 00:00 ||
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Top|| File under: Palestinian Authority
[Jerusalem Post Front Page] The Palestinian Authority and Hamas rejected over the weekend Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's demand that the Palestinians recognize Israel as the state of the Jewish people as a precondition for resuming the stalled peace talks between the two sides.
Doesn't that make all this talk of a 'two-state solution' in Washington rather pointless?
Netanyahu made the demand during a meeting last Thursday with US special Middle East envoy George Mitchell.
Mitchell met on Friday in Ramallah with PA President Mahmoud Abbas and other top PA officials, who urged him to pressure the new Israeli government to accept the two-state solution and honor all agreements signed with Israel as a precondition for resuming the peace talks.
Chief PA negotiator Saeb Erekat said that the demand to recognize Israel as a Jewish state was "an admission by the Israeli prime minister that he cannot deliver on peace." Erekat pointed out that the PLO had already recognized Israel's right to exist when it signed the Oslo Accords, while Netanyahu was refusing to mention a Palestinian state.
Azzam al-Ahmed, a senior Fatah official closely associated with Abbas, said on Saturday that the Palestinians would not return to the negotiating table until Netanyahu publicly accepted the two-state solution. "We reject Netanyahu's demand to recognize Israel as a Jewish state," he said. "This demand illustrates the racist nature of Israel and the extremist policies of its government. It also shows that Israel is not serious about making peace with its neighbors." Just a quick reminder: "racist" Israel has an Arab population of around 25% with full rights and citizenship. Meanwhile, Gaza has been ethnically cleansed of all Jewish residents. Now tell me, which party is the bigoted racist???? Azzam??
Ahmed also said that the PA would not resume the peace talks until Israel halted all settlement activity in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. Ok Azzam, Israel will get right on that -- as soon as Arabs halt all "settlement activity" within pre-1967 Israel. Or would that be "racist"???
The new Israeli government, he added, is anti-peace and does not accept the previous agreements and understandings with the Palestinians. "Therefore, we call on the international community to assume its responsibilities and exert pressure on the Israeli government to pursue the path of peace instead of talking only about strengthening the economy," Ahmed said.
Omar al-Ghul, an adviser to PA Prime Minister Salaam Fayad, said that Netanyahu's demand was aimed at transferring the Palestinians to another country. "No Palestinian leader can ever accept this demand even if the whole world recognizes Israel as a Jewish state," he stressed. "The state of Israel belongs to all its citizens, the Palestinians owners of the land and the Jews living there."
Hafez Barghouti, editor of the PA's daily mouthpiece, Al-Hayat Al-Jadeeda, said that Netanyahu's demand was aimed at expelling the Arab citizens of Israel and turning Jerusalem into a Jewish city. "Netanyahu wants to replace the Palestinian kaffiyeh with a Jewish kippa," Barghouti said. "This is an irrational and absurd request. No country in the world has ever demanded that it be recognized on the basis of its religion and not political entity."
Barghouti added that by making the new demand, Netanyahu was "reigniting a religious conflict and providing fuel to radical Islamic and Jewish groups."
Hamas also rejected the demand, calling it a "dangerous idea" and warning the PA leadership against accepting it.
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said that accepting the demand was tantamount to legitimizing the "radical terrorist Zionist entity."
He said that the Palestinians and Arabs must respond to Netanyahu by suspending all forms of contact with the Israeli government, including security coordination between the PA and Israel. "It raises questions as to their seriousness for a historic reconciliation," said an Israeli diplomatic official in response to the statements rejecting Netanyahu's demand. "Recognition of Israel as a Jewish state is a vital element in any process of reconciliation."
In Cairo, Mitchell met on Saturday with President Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit and reiterated the commitment of the Obama administration to the two-state solution.
The US envoy said that Egypt was vital for achieving peace in the region. "We believe that a comprehensive Middle East peace is not only in the interest of the people of the Middle East, the Palestinians, and Israelis and Egyptians, but it is also in the national interest of the United States and people around the world," he told reporters after the meeting.
"The president believes and I believe that a comprehensive peace in the Middle East will be possible only as a result of the leadership of Egypt, President Hosni Mubarak and the whole [Egyptian] government."
Mitchell's next stop in his Mideast tour is Saudi Arabia.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/19/2009 00:00 ||
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Top|| File under: Hamas
#1
Doesn't that make all this talk of a 'two-state solution' in Washington rather pointless?
The talk of a 'two-state solution' in Washington refers to a state for Fatah + a state for Hamas.
#2
Ohhh Obama!!!We need to kick out the arabs out of the Israeli territory first, then hunt down any subhumans wanting to destroy Israel. Destroy Iran, The source of all evil in the Middle East, Then, forget Africa, they have no future. Next North Korea, Hugo Chavez and Somalia, tax China like we supposed to and the world will smell better after that...
I don't quite see the connection, Vinegar Snineting1102, even if it were possible, which I don't think it is -- China being a sovereign country and all.
[Al Arabiya Latest] Israel's military is preparing so it could launch major aerial attacks on Iranian nuclear sites if ordered to, a British newspaper said Saturday, as Iran marked its armed forces' day with a parade that appeared more muted than in the past.
"Israel wants to know that if its forces were given the green light, they could strike at Iran in a matter of days, even hours," an unnamed senior defense official told The Times. "They are making preparations on every level for this eventuality. The message to Iran is that the threat is not just words."
Among preparatory steps being taken are the acquisition of three Airborne Warning and Control (AWAC) aircraft and regional missions to simulate the attack, the paper said.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/19/2009 00:00 ||
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Link ||
[8 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Iran
#1
About time. Iran must be detroyed, burned to the ground, then feed the world with their resources. A few payments for most leaders of the Arab world won't be a bad thing either...
#2
ABOUT 87% OF IRAN'S OIL IS LOCATED IN A SINGLE PROVINCE (KHUZESTAN) OPPOSITE KIRKUK,IRAQ.SEIZE THAT WITH TWO ARMORED DIVISIONS AND FOUR INFANTRY DIVISIONS AND YOU HAVE TAKEN IRAN'S WALLET. HIT THEIR SINGLE GASOLINE REFINERY (THEY HAVE ONLY ONE)AND YOU WILL SEE THEIR MILITARY ON FOOT AS SOON AS THEIR STRATEGIC RESERVES RUN OUT WHICH WOULD HAPPEN RATHER QUICKLY.
Send the US Navy in to take the entire length of the Strait of Hormuz and land Marines in Jask and Bandar Abbas and cut the single north/south rail line running from Teheran to Sistan. Bomb every thing that moves, destroy all port facilities and saturate Iran's Capital with Cruise missiles at 3 in the morning while targeting the home addresses of ever Govt.mullah in a bed with momma.
Decapitate as much of their govt in a single hour in the dead of night with no warning as you simultaneously can. Hit them and keep hitting them. Use nukes if you have to, and have them ready. Be willing to do ANYthing to win.
There it is. put up or shut up.
Do you know what even this brief war would cost? Are the American People ready for another war? Does the America public in general strike you as willing to support another war. rougher in its own way, than the Iraq war was? Well, do you?
America isnt led by anyone who looks good in a fight at present, now is it? Does Skinny look like a fighting man? Does he act it? Is he held in high regard by the US military? Does he drop by the military bases and get a resounding ovation as one of the men, the leader of the Nation when the chips are down? Or is he Bart Simpson on a bicycle.?
It is true that the Zagros mountains are behind Khuzestan province and there are only seven roads through the mountains to relieve and support the Province and that the United States would have complete air superiority. We could dominate those mountains and those roads. And the province would fall in days not weeks.
Are the American people ready to rape Iran and is the "loyal" opposition ready to support such a move. Because, Churchmice, once you are in...you ARE in. And you dont wound, you have to kill. There are no halfsies in a war. You are not going to wound Iran and walk AWAY...YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO KILL IT. IT WILL GET UP AND IT WILL GET NASTY, AND IT WILL GET WORSE THAT EITHER SIDE IMAGINES. WARS ALWAYS DO.
I dont think President Prissy is going to make such a move. His Party in the White House has a history of showing its tail when things get loud and rough. The American Media are all prances and the American people are not willing to do anything sweatier than a Croissant.
If Israel moves, she will have to reach over and through Iraq and they hate Jews there and havent changed. The US will not assist and indeed probably will be given the order to shoot Israeli planes down . I am sorry but there will BE no war.
Israel is not going to start something they cant finish, and the US has tiny little Democrat balls at present.
#3
Very clearly, Iran not only stated their objective to destroy Israel but are hosting, financing and arming Hezbollahs and others sworn enemy to Israel. It is so unfortunate that most of the Christians in the world continue to believe in the two thousand years old lie that Jews helped in the capture and prosecution of Jesus Christ by the Romans. Forget what happened or not more than two thousands of years ago, recognize the real threat now from the Islamists. Folks, you can not be the dumb bell horrible stupid that will survive. No stupid ever survived too long. Mine and your choice, be wise and help survive or act stupid and be killed by the Islamists. Please, do not trust the so called pundits and experts who have been lying for their own benefits and importance for there is nothing in the history or at the present to suggest that Islamic dominance will leave you alone and they will not rape your wife and daughters every day in front of you.
#5
One of the biggest strategic questions I see is the decision the Israeli leaders need to make regarding even ASKING the US government for assistance or flyover rights. I'll bet they figure there is a good chance the US State Department will tip off Iran that Isreal is coming.
#6
I respectfully disagree with Angleton. I believe Isreal can finish ANYTHING it starts. And, to repeat myself ad nauseum, hopefully Isreal will tell Bambi and his minions to go f**k themselves.
#7
Boesecker: Wolfdog: even brave men lose fights if they are in a bad strategic situation and cut off tactically.
The US can win a war with Iran. Israel cant. If they start one they will come in to a solid concrete sh8tstorm which will probably lead to a very bad conclusion.
The US will then be drawn into the aftermath and Barry will queer them six ways from sunday. The American people will scream like ruptured stoats and run as fast as they can to the ladies room.
Some few senior military men may resign but in Iraq they would and will obey orders if they are given promptly through approved channels. And if the order came down resolutely shoot the Israelis out of the air the US officers would do just that no matter how they felt personally about the matter.
We need to knock Iran off, it would be better for everyone in the world if we did it now when we can do the job IF WE HAD LEADERSHIP AND THE WILL.
WE dont. We do not have a leader and we do not have the will.
Israel is going to opt for a long standoff of Mutually assured destruction. And we are going to have to wait ourselves until we can ditch Bambi before he gets a second term. He doesnt have the makings of a great man. He's a happy happy mouth with just words and he wont have a legacy even as good as Clinton's in the end.
#8
oh man did anyone see that military parade yesterday? They sure can march pretty, and i think they had Qadafi give them his tailors number too get some sashes and bling bling, it was right up there with a NK parade except they looked a little better fed
#9
The spoiler in the game is that Israel knows that every war is a war it has to win, or be annialated. Israel will stay conventional as long as it's possible to win a war that way, but if it's a matter of surviving or not, the Muddled East will glow a faint blue for the next 1000 years. Israel will NOT hesitate to maintain its survival - they WILL use the 200+ nuke weapons they have, and those weapons will NOT miss. They may not hit Jordan, if Jordan doesn't attack them, but in the end, it'll be "no friends, all enemies", with the results being a totally depopulated Arab world suddenly shifted back 3000 years into the past.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
04/19/2009 15:00 Comments ||
Top||
#10
Excellent "spoiler" scenario OP... please make it so!
#12
The Israelis have been preparing the "Samson Option" since the early 1960s - EVERY worthwhile Arab target is accounted for, dialed in, and assigned a priority. The only thing that seems to change for the Israelis is which ME country is on the "Hammer of God" strike list -- meaning NO surviving population centers for that country.
[Al Arabiya Latest] A United Nations special court's prosecutor has until April 27 to recommend whether to release four generals held over the 2005 murder of Lebanon's ex-premier Rafiq Hariri, Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar said Friday.
The Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) judge, Daniel Fransen of Belgium, instructed prosecutor Daniel Bellemare to give his grounds, within the next 10 days, for their release or continued detention, Najjar said.
" After the 27th, the judge... will take a decision and call on the Lebanese authorities either to release the detainees or to hold on to them for the tribunal "
Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar
"After the 27th, the judge... will take a decision and call on the Lebanese authorities either to release the detainees or to hold on to them for the tribunal," Najjar said.
"Bellemare had asked for 21 days (from April 15) to give a recommendation due to the large number of files and papers which he has received from the Lebanese judiciary," the minister said. "But Fransen has set a shorter deadline."
On April 8 the STL, which began work on March 1 and is based in The Hague, said that Lebanon -- as instructed -- had supplied a list of those detained over Hariri's assassination to the tribunal charged with trying the suspects.
But a Lebanese investigating judge earlier this month lifted arrest warrants against the four generals jailed since 2005 in connection with the murder. However, the judge also ordered that the four remain in jail pending a decision by the STL on their fate.
The generals, who have not been charged, are the former head of the presidential guard, Mustafa Hamdan, security services director Jamil Sayyed, domestic security chief Ali Hajj and military intelligence chief Raymond Azar.
The huge Feb. 14, 2005 bomb blast on the Beirut seafront killed Hariri and 22 others, stirring a political crisis and leading to the withdrawal of Syrian troops in Lebanon after a 29-year presence.
A U.N. investigative commission said there was evidence that Syrian and Lebanese intelligence services were linked to Hariri's killing. Damascus consistently denied any involvement.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/19/2009 00:00 ||
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[5 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Syria
It doesn't look like American journalist Roxana Saberi will be heading home any time soon. The Iranians are officially charging Saberi with espionage and she remains detained in Tehran's notorious Evin Prison. Saberi was arrested at the end of January after buying a bottle of wine, and Iran says she was illegally gathering information on expired press credentials.
"This accused has been coming and going to certain government circles under the cover of reporter and without a permit," said Sohrab Heydarifard, the judge in the case. "She has perpetrated actions to compile and gather information and documents and transferred them to American intelligence services."
Tehran's prosecutor claims Saberi, 31, accepted all the charges against her, but other reports say she hasn't even seen them. The exact charges should be announced Saturday, and she could go on trial in Iran's Revolutionary Court as early as next week. All this worries not only Saberi's family, who say they're staying in Iran until she's free, but also Hillary Clinton. The secretary of state -- who also this week said it "makes sense" to start negotiations with Iran on its nuclear capabilities -- called on Tehran once again to release the freelancer. The Swiss government has been working to get information on Saberi's case to the U.S.
"We are deeply concerned by the news that we are hearing," Clinton said after a diplomatic meeting in Washington. "I will, as will the rest of the (State) Department, continue to follow this very closely and we wish for her speedy release and return to her family."
Is that a wish, a heart-felt wish, or a deeply-held wish?
#3
Feckless, duely cititzens of the world. Pick a country, any country. If you pick this one, then bloody STAY here and don't venture back ot the kak you came from. You do so at your own risk.
#4
I read our local paper that Hillary said: "the United States will vigorously raise our concerns with the Iranian government."
I don't know why Hillary would expect the Iranians to do anything. They have not done anything with regards to ceasing their nuclear program despite pressures. The Israelis may end up taking out their nuclear program. I don't see Roxana Saberi being returned unless there is some bargaining chip to exchange. That is assuming the Iranians are rational--which is a big stretch. I don't get the sense that the BO administration is going to do much.
She's sooooo screwed. North Dakota voted for McCain.
What, you don't think Bambi keeps score?
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
04/19/2009 13:57 Comments ||
Top||
#6
This whole concocted story is pure BS! Saberi supposedly holds dual citizenship, and it's bullshit that a spy in Iran would only get 8 years in prison.
She wanted to 'familiarize' herself with her ancestor's culture, fine. She got familiar with that and then some.
I care, you stupid piece of fecal matter. She is a US citizen, whether she's also an Iranian citizen or not. If the Iranians get away with this, it will mean open season on non-government-employed US citizens all over the world. No one in our current government is going to stand up for them. Watch for similar incidents to take place not only in the Muddled East, but in Latin America and Asia as well (note the NK abduction of two US "journalists" from China as a case in point). At one time, the US would go to war over ONE US citizen being held in a foreign country. Now we won't even go after perps that hold dozens. What a long way we've fallen.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
04/19/2009 15:07 Comments ||
Top||
#8
To paraphrase my Grand-dad:
"I'm going to "concern" (or even be "disappointed") in the other, and we'll see which one gets full faster."
#11
My Toshiba laptop works just fine, I treat it nicely.
U.S. citizens are not gold watches or free pens, or change to be given out as gifts to other countries, so "they can keep them. If you or someone you love plan on traveling overseas, you should care about the welfare of each and evey American that gets taken hostage, because it withing realm of possiblity it would be someone you know, if nobody puts a stop to this madness.
If you still dont care, I suggest get checked by a health professional to see if you are among the 1 in 25 Americans who are sociopaths.
#12
Yeah, sociopaths probably interpret moving to Iran as "traveling overseas", and being tried as a spy as "being taken hostage".
FYI, Ms. Saberi is 31 years old and there's no info to suggest someone forced her into Iran at gun point. You and OldPatriot be sure to buy her book, now, y'hear? I'm sure it'll be full of all kinds of interesting little tidbits.
As for the two in NK, they work for Al Gore, so yeah, I don't really give a shit.
Miss Saberi has also worked extensively for Natl Public Radio.
Not withstanding that her reporting is not generally seen as having a political slant. This may bother the mullahs a lot. She seems to consider herself as a bridge between two worlds which is naive and foolish and may bother the mullahs also.
Maybe the worst thing about her is she is a babe - even with a veil. This may bother the mullahs more than any of the other things.
#14
Whatever. Each American that gets bagged into in custody of other countries with no rescue or resolution, is the same as declaring "open season" on Americans more than it already is. You have a passport?
#16
FYI, Ms. Saberi is 31 years old and there's no info to suggest someone forced her into Iran at gun point. You and OldPatriot be sure to buy her book, now, y'hear? I'm sure it'll be full of all kinds of interesting little tidbits.
Amazing that you can breathe and type at the same time.
#18
That's 'cause you were only #17, Zorba Craising6734. ;-)
1 in 25 Americans who are sociopaths
Wow. I had no idea, GirlThursday. That would explain a boss I had once, though. For the rest of your points, I quite agree. One reason I started reading Rantburg was so that I would know when I needed not worry while Mr. Wife was on a longer-distance business trip.
#21
TW, its late so please excuse the slap-dash writing.
What prompted me to look into learning about sociopaths all started with a work situation, as well. I had a co-worker that just constantly took advantage of caring individuals around him, but didnt care at all, and got away with so very many bad things. It piqued my concern, why was this guy able to get away with so much, and everyone just seemed to be charmed at first, until the crap hit the fan later.
It interfered enough that I skimmed the chilling book The Sociopath Next Door, by Dr. Martha Stout, awhile back.
Dr. Stouts states 3% of the U.S. population are sociopaths. That would add up to 12 million of them in the United States. Other Doctors estimate between One and Four percent, of diagnosed cases, so these are low end.
One of the key characteristics of Sociopathy is someone who is unfettered by empathy or conscience. In fact, many afflicted with knowing a sociopath soon realize the sociopath can fake emotions and are exceptionally charismatic, but at the same time, the emotions are hollow.
In Dr. Stout's book, she warns that we should be on the lookout because "we have an extremely hard time seeing a person who has no conscience, but a person with no conscience can instantly recognize us." p. 90. And hence, we can have problems when they see us as a game piece. In fact, they might even study us to know how to manipulate, which could appear to fall under the category of flattering fawning at first.
This phenomenon is diagnosed in higher numbers among males (3%) and women (1%). Some studies, though inconclusive, rank males from out of wedlock homes with no father present as presenting sociopathy in slightly higher numbers.
As a future Mom, I am re-reading the book so I know what kids nowadays are up against. In my work life, I dont doubt I've had brushes with such people.
#22
Ms Saberi was in-country for six years? I didn't know that, Zorba Craising6734. Expat status changes the calculation. I'll have to contemplate a bit to figure out what it is... Normally we would have American embassy staffers keeping an eye on things, but of course we don't have an embassy there.
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.
A Saudi Al Qaeda operative has called on Somali comrades to step up their attacks on 'crusaders' in the Gulf of Aden, and in Djibouti. "To our steadfast brethren in Somalia, take caution and prepare yourselves," Sa'id Ali Jabir Al Khathim Al Shihri says in an audiotape acquired by CBS News. "Increase your strikes against the crusaders at sea and in Djibouti." 
[Kyodo: Korea] North Korea said Saturday that South KoreaŽs participation in a U.S.-led effort to stop the trafficking of weapons of mass destruction would be ŽŽa declaration of warŽŽ against the country. A spokesman for the General Staff of the Korean PeopleŽs Army made the remark through the official Korean Central News Agency at a time when South Korea is expected to announce its plan to participate in the Proliferation Security Initiative as a full member.
[Al Arabiya Latest] A Spanish judge considering possible criminal action against six former Bush administration officials for torture at the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay defied pressure to drop the case on Friday.
President Asif Ali Zardari appealed for help in combating terrorism in the region while speaking at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum on Saturday. "This issue is about not being able to control the terrorism that is evolving around Pakistan, Afghanistan and indeed the region," he told the more than 1,600 delegates gathered at the annual summit on the tropical Chinese island of Hainan, which aims to promote regional economic integration. "Please help us... solve and fight this menace," he added in a speech broadcast live on China's state television.
The bodies of nine men, involved in the November terrorist attack on Mumbai, are still lying in a morgue as the Indian Muslim Council has opposed their burial in Muslim cemeteries. Ujwal Nikam, the public prosecutor trying the lone surviving suspect, told CNN the dead, who are assumed to be Muslim, have not been buried because their bodies have not been claimed and Mumbai's Muslims have refused to bury them in their graveyards. John Voll, professor of Islamic history at Georgetown University in Washington, said the non-burial sent the message that the terrorists were acting so contrary to Islam that they had been judged as being unbelievers and were not worthy of being buried in a Muslim cemetery.
After the enforcement of the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation in Malakand division, the Taliban have no moral justification to display arms in public, NWFP Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain said on Saturday.
