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Bakri sez he'll be back
Today's Headlines
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Arabia
Saudi king pardons Libyan suspects in murder plot
RIYADH - Saudi Arabia’s new king Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz pardoned on Monday two Libyans accused of plotting to assassinate him, according to an official statement. “King Abdullah has informed government ministers that he has pardoned the two detained Libyans,” said a statement by Information Minister Ayad Madani.
It's not like they were Jooooos, ya know.
The two will be pardoned despite that “evidence has showed that they were involved in a plot against the stability and security of the kingdom,” he said after the first cabinet session since Abdullah became king on the death of his older brother last week. King Abdullah “hoped that the move would be a constructive step toward closing the ranks of the Arab nation,” he said.

As many as 13 people, both Saudi nationals and Libyans, had been held in custody over the plot which was uncovered in November 2003 when Abdullah was crown prince and de facto leader of the kingdom, according to press reports.
Posted by: Steve White || 08/09/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Go, and kill no more
Posted by: Captain America || 08/09/2005 1:09 Comments || Top||

#2  Let the Lybians go. But kill my nephew instead, since he ordered the hit.
Posted by: Poison Reverse || 08/09/2005 7:22 Comments || Top||


Britain
Preacher of hate (Bakri) plans return to Britain (and I have London Bridge to sell)
Posted by: ed || 08/09/2005 09:31 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Focus: Undercover in the academy of hatred
Some more news of Britain's favorite benefit receiver. I recon this is the first time in History that a Nation's invaders are actually paid by their target.
By the Insight team
While London reeled under attack, the teachers of extremism were celebrating — and a Sunday Times reporter was recording every word

On a Friday evening late in July a small group of young Asian men gathered secretly in the grounds of a Victorian manor house on the edge of Epping Forest, east of London, to listen to their master.
Debden House, a property run as a bed-and-breakfast and campsite by Newham borough council, was chosen because they were running scared.



Earlier that day police had arrested the remaining three suspects for the failed 21/7 London bombing. While millions of Britons watched the dramatic final siege on television, members of the Saviour Sect had come to hear a different interpretation of the day’s events.

Among them was an undercover reporter from The Sunday Times. He joined a football kickabout as they waited for their leader. Others practised kick-boxing.

As they chatted the reporter was asked if he would be willing to wear a “strap” — slang for a suicide bomb belt. He laughed the suggestion off nervously and was relieved when everyone smiled.

At 8pm a bulky figure with a long beard and flowing white robe picked his way across the open field in the twilight with the aid of a walking stick. Two hours late, Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed had finally arrived.

A Syrian with seven children who has lived on benefits for 18 years, this extremist cleric has been investigated by police for using inflammatory language but he has never been prosecuted.

Now, sitting cross-legged and picking at a bag of fried chicken and chips donated by one of the group, Bakri addressed his followers. He was perturbed by the day’s events.

Rather than express relief that the bomb suspects were in custody, he was disgusted that two of the men, arrested in Notting Hill in west London, had been made to strip down to their underwear.

There was, however, some consolation. Referring to the capture of the first bomb suspect in Birmingham two days earlier, he suggested the freak tornado in the city that followed was divine retribution for the police action. “It was so close to the area of arrest,” he said with a flicker of glee.

The meeting then took a more serious — and revealing — turn.

Referring to the speed with which police issued closed-circuit television pictures of the suspects in the London attacks, Bakri suggested that they should have covered their faces to conceal their identity from prying CCTV cameras. This sparked a discussion with his right-hand man, Anjem Choudhury, which was taped by our reporter.

Choudhury: “It’s CCTV, sheikh; that’s the killer. You can’t go anywhere without them monitoring you now: down the street; out the station.”

Bakri: “There is million of pictures on CCTV. None of them said this man or this man . . . but when somebody speak, saying my son is this, my son is that, they will take picture of son and they will look at CCTV.”

Choudhury: “Oh yeah, when somebody gives them a picture, then they can follow them around . . .”

Bakri: “People got big mouths. That’s why the link to the family is not going to help. These people should be completely rootless. That’s why Sheikh Osama (Bin Laden), he build all people young. He train the youth.”

Bakri suggested that people were pointing the finger of blame for the attacks at his group.

Choudhury replied: “Sheikh, they’re looking for the planners and the eggers-on. We fall into the later (sic) category. We’re not planning anything.”

DURING a two-month undercover investigation The Sunday Times has amassed hours of taped evidence and pages of transcripts which show how Bakri and his acolytes promote hatred of “non-believers” and “egg” their followers on to commit acts of violence, including suicide bombings.

The evidence details how his group, the Saviour Sect, preaches a racist creed of Muslim supremacy which, in the words of Bakri, aims at one day “flying the Islamic flag over Downing Street”.

In his two months with the sect, our reporter witnessed a gang of Bakri’s followers brutally beating up a Muslim who challenged their views. He listened as a succession of “religious leaders” ridiculed moderate Muslims and repeatedly justified war against the “kuffar” — non-Muslims.

He discovered that the core of the group consisted of about 40 young men guided by a handful of spiritual mentors. Many are of Bangladeshi origin, jobless and living in council flats in east London. They use aliases, taking the names of the prophet Muhammad’s companions.

At their meetings — which often included school-age teenagers — they were fed a constant diet of propaganda warning that the kuffar are out to destroy them.

Integration with British society is scorned, as is any form of democratic process. Followers are encouraged to exploit the benefits system. They avoid jobs which could bring them into contact with western women or might lead them to contribute to the economy of a nation they are taught to despise.

In regular lectures and sermons it is instilled into them that Islam is a religion of violence. While publicly they did not defend the London attacks, they speak differently in private.

Bakri, who faces possible deportation with the introduction of new terror laws announced by Tony Blair on Friday, was taped saying that he had been “very happy” since the July 7 London bombings, which killed 52 people. After the second attacks, he described the bombers as the “fantastic four”.
Four parts piece, rest at link.
Posted by: anonymous5089 || 08/09/2005 08:45 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  At 8pm a bulky figure with a long beard

Anyone noticed that all of these hate-spewing never do-gooders don't seem to be precisrely starving?
Posted by: JFM || 08/09/2005 10:41 Comments || Top||

#2  The moon gawd fattens his slaves.
Posted by: Clavin || 08/09/2005 15:19 Comments || Top||


Caribbean-Latin America
Chavez: U.S. will 'bite the dust' if it invades
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez told thousands of visiting students that if U.S. forces were to invade the South American country, they would be soundly defeated. The U.S. government has strongly denied Chavez's claims that it is considering military action against Cuba's closest ally in the Americas. But Chavez said late Monday that the U.S. government, which "won't stop caressing the idea of invading Cuba or invading Venezuela," should be warned of the consequences. "If someday they get the crazy idea of coming to invade us, we'll make them bite the dust defending the freedom of our land," Chavez said to applause. He spoke during the opening ceremony of a world youth festival bringing together student delegations from across the world and convened under the slogan "Against Imperialism and War."

Chavez called the United States the "most savage, cruel and murderous empire that has existed in the history of the world." The Venezuelan leader said "socialism is the only path," and told the students the collective goal is to "save a world threatened by the voracity of U.S. imperialism." Earlier, the students waved flags, danced in traditional dress, and held signs praising socialism, Cuban leader Fidel Castro and Ernesto "Che" Guevara. More than 300 students from the United States shouted out their disapproval of U.S. President George W. Bush, chanting "Get out Bush!" Other students chanted: "Bush, fascist -- you're a terrorist!" Some 15,000 youths from 144 countries traveled to Venezuela for the weeklong festival and conference, organizers said.
Chavez wore a red shirt like many of the students, and embraced delegation leaders as their groups marched past.

The ceremony was held in Venezuela's military headquarters in Caracas. Troops looked on while students passed carrying colored flags and shouting: "We will overcome!" This year's World Festival of Students and Youth is the 16th. The first, in 1947, was held in Czechoslovakia, and during the Cold War most host countries were aligned with the Soviet bloc. Apart from the former Soviet Union, other host countries have included Romania, Poland, Finland, Cuba, the former East Germany and North Korea. The weeklong gathering will include musical performances, panel discussions and an "Anti-imperialist Court," which in past years has condemned the U.S. government's actions.

While tensions have grown between Chavez and Washington, the Venezuelan leader has built close ties with countries from Iran to China. Chavez expressed his support Monday for Iran's new president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, saying he expects to continue strengthening relations. Chavez said like Venezuela, Iran is a country that has been "attacked" for many years by "the hand of imperialism." Chavez, whose country remains a major supplier of oil to the United States, also is sharply critical of the U.S.-led wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Posted by: Steve || 08/09/2005 09:22 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Words fail me. This would be funny if it weren't for the 25 million Venezuelans in this clown's captive audience.
Posted by: RWV || 08/09/2005 9:44 Comments || Top||

#2  Woof! Grrrrrrrrrrrrr! Snarl!!!!
Posted by: Chavez || 08/09/2005 9:46 Comments || Top||

#3  this man is delusional beyond belief.
Posted by: Thraing Hupoluper1864 || 08/09/2005 10:08 Comments || Top||

#4  I think he is pretty safe from invasion. Assasination however.....
Posted by: mmurray821 || 08/09/2005 10:16 Comments || Top||

#5  I don't buy the premise that he is delusional. He knows exactly what he is doing and we need to take him seriously. Chavez is trying to set us up, so that world opinion will be against a future precision attack. Why am I saying this? It's in the bottom of this article.

"the Venezuelan leader has built close ties with countries from Iran...is a country that has been "attacked" for many years by "the hand of imperialism."

Our intelligence agencies knows fully well that Iran is setting up terrorist bases in Venezeula to attack the U.S. using homicide bombers. If we were to execute preemptive strikes to destroy the bases, Chavez will cry "imperialism." He will cry, "not only does the U.S. want to rule the Middle East, they also want to rule South America." In reality, we just want to destroy the terrorist bases. Chavez's propaganda machine will be in full swing so that we won't be able to strike in a manner we would like.
Posted by: Poison Reverse || 08/09/2005 10:49 Comments || Top||

#6  Not that we care enough to invade. Dreamer.

But look at this and tell me how hard it would be to blockade...
Posted by: mojo || 08/09/2005 10:53 Comments || Top||

#7  another Queen fan. That is sooooo over
Posted by: Frank G || 08/09/2005 10:57 Comments || Top||

#8  PR nails it.
Posted by: leader of the pack || 08/09/2005 11:07 Comments || Top||

#9  Any terrs hit US targe5ts and are traced back to Venezuela, Mr Chavez gets a .338 Lapua Lobotomy, and his family gets a visit from a bunker buster.

Let him know the terms now. Might wake him up.
Posted by: OldSpook || 08/09/2005 11:25 Comments || Top||

#10  Frank - That took me a while.
Posted by: Matt || 08/09/2005 11:36 Comments || Top||

#11  I think it is pretty safe to assume that somewhere deep in the recesses of the five sided funny farm there exists a contingency plan to invade Chavezland (along with Botswana, Canada, the UK, France and Lower Slobovia). After all that's part of what staff and planning officers do. But as to whether such a plan would ever be employed the chances of that are only slightly higher than me taking a stroll on the surface of the sun. Hugo is just trying to steal a page from Fidel's notebook and keep the populace wound up.
Posted by: Cheaderhead || 08/09/2005 11:38 Comments || Top||

#12  Not Fidel, cause Fidel can stand before a sea of people and rant for hours on end. Chavez Boy is a wanabe Manuel Noriega. He's started to supply rebels in Columbia who are in tight with the drug business. That will be his Noriega ticket and an adjoining room is being prepared.
Posted by: Flash Hupomoling8954 || 08/09/2005 12:07 Comments || Top||

#13  Cheaderhead: is Lower Slobovia where the blue people live?
Posted by: Xbalanke || 08/09/2005 12:14 Comments || Top||

#14  Actually, what he needs to fear is that the U.S. will be able to shrug off criticism of such a precision strike - from enemies, both foreign and domestic.
Posted by: Edward Yee || 08/09/2005 12:17 Comments || Top||

#15  Any smart dictator knows to wait til Bush is out of power. There are two mind sets in the U.S. on how to handle terrorism.

1. Military Action (GOP)
2. Law Enforcement Method (Dems)

It really depends on who our president is, at the time of action. Law enforcement method was used against the Cole attack.

Posted by: Poison Reverse || 08/09/2005 12:41 Comments || Top||

#16  More than 300 students from the United States shouted out their disapproval of U.S. President George W. Bush, chanting "Get out Bush!

Where are these kids parents! Probable dropouts I suspect.
Strange bedfellows to say the least. Isn't Venezuela mostly christian, while as we all know Iran and those types are muslims? Or has Venezuela had a muslim onslaught too.
Sad to hear how charasmatic this Chavez must be to have such a following.
Posted by: Jan || 08/09/2005 16:23 Comments || Top||

#17  In addition to any precision bombing of Venezuela, a total deforesting of the country would be in order. Remember that in Vietnam, the US carpet bombed, but realized years later that their lattice network of tunnels aptly supported the guerrilla movements. Our eyes in the sky will need unfettered access to ground 'movements' by the enemy in support of an invasion.
Posted by: smn || 08/09/2005 16:30 Comments || Top||

#18  Of course, excellent analysis SMN. It was the damn tunnels!
Posted by: Shipman || 08/09/2005 17:38 Comments || Top||

#19  BTW SMN are you maybe familiar with Agent Grape? It was secretly dropped by multi-colored C-130HM, the people in the know will deny it, but I'll bet you've seen it in action. I'm with 'ya.
Posted by: Shipman || 08/09/2005 17:41 Comments || Top||

#20  'Mods please erase last comment I'm still in deep cover about Agent Grape. This one too, matter of fact, put Agent Grape on the To Kill List. Yes, it's the right thing to do.
Posted by: Shipman || 08/09/2005 17:43 Comments || Top||

#21  Shipman,
did you not hear me say: "...aptly supported..."? Now for your lower intelligence consideration, answer this question; if you had your choice of fighting an opponent in a room on a wood floor or a glass floor, which would you choose? Think about it and tell me tomorrow!
Posted by: smn || 08/09/2005 17:47 Comments || Top||

#22  Ship is gone from this thread, in fact he was never here, OK???
Posted by: Frank G || 08/09/2005 18:49 Comments || Top||

#23  These are not the Shipmans you are looking for (waves hand).

Personally, if I were a Station Chief in, say somewhere upwind of Caracas, I would be launching swarms of mylar helium ballons. Or maybe those radar reflector kites used on life rafts. Not that I'm trying to cause widespread panic or an international incident or anything. I just like balloons.
Posted by: SteveS || 08/09/2005 20:01 Comments || Top||

#24  "blips, I mean ballons"?
Posted by: Frank G || 08/09/2005 20:11 Comments || Top||

#25  1. Military Action (GOP)
2. Law Enforcement Method (Dems)


This thinking is so 9/10. If the Dems ever get into the WH again and they wuss out after an attack, they can kiss the party good bye at the national level for ever. They know it and that is why, if anybody attacks during the next dem administration they will get womped good. My fear would be that the Democrats are so bad at managing the military (Somalia) that they would let the military run open loop in responding and events would run away from them, leading to widespread war.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis || 08/09/2005 20:24 Comments || Top||

#26  dream on Mrs D - their base won't allow them to act in America's interest without Kofi's Krew©'s imprimatur
Posted by: Frank G || 08/09/2005 20:34 Comments || Top||

#27  Not to mention that their Secretary of Defense would not be cut from Rumsfeld cloth. More like Jimmy Carter. No worry about "open-loop" or "run away", Mrs. Davis, except for "run away" as in a French retreat.
Posted by: Darrell || 08/09/2005 21:39 Comments || Top||

#28  Are they passing a hat for Mylar? I think we need some carrier group sized Mylar sail boat racing off Hugo's coast too.
Posted by: Sock Puppet 0’ Doom || 08/09/2005 22:35 Comments || Top||


Down Under
London Bombings survivor hits out at political rhetoric
An Australian who survived last month's bombings in London has criticised the political rhetoric that has followed them.

John Tulloch, who was a professor of media studies at Charles Sturt University in New South Wales, now lives in London.

He was hurt in the July 7 attacks on London's transport network and is still recovering from his injuries.

Professor Tulloch is convinced the London bombers were motivated by the war in Iraq and the perception of injustice.

But he says the arguments have been over-simplified.

"Iraq is not simply something that happened that generates terrorists, it's a whole rhetorical set of meanings that won't go away," he said.

"The Prime Minister might want us to move on, it's too symbolic, it's deep in our consciousness."

Condolences

Meanwhile, Prime Minister John Howard has used the first sitting of Parliament after the winter recess to express sympathy for the Australians injured and killed in the attacks.

Mr Howard says he was impressed by the spirit shown by Australians Gillian Hicks and Louise Barry, who he visited in hospital during his trip to London.

He has also expressed condolences to the family of Melbourne man Sam Ly, who died in the attacks.

Mr Howard has congratulated British emergency services for their response.

"I would like to pay tribute to the resolve and the resilience and the strength of the British people and the Londoners who responded in such characteristically gutsy fashion to this terrible attack," he said.

Federal Opposition Leader Kim Beazley has also paid tribute to the stoicism of the British and sympathised with the Australians affected.

Mr Beazley says he is determined to see that Australia gets its responses to the threat of terrorism right.

"We're battened down for a long conflict, this is nothing that's going to be resolved any time soon," he said.

"But because it is long it doesn't excuse mistakes.

"We've got to get everything right and events like that just renew our determination to do that."
Posted by: God Save The World || 08/09/2005 02:10 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I heard this asstard giving the interview on the radio. Very articulate, well spoken, then all of a sudden revealed his moronic tendencies. Doesn't seem to realise that the police and intelligence services havd been thwarting attempted terror attacks in London, by Muslims, since long before the war in Iraq. Just because a couple of cells get their inevitable lucky break now doesn't mean it's all about Iraq.

BBC Radio: all propaganda, all the time. They find the one complete tool who gets blown up and blames anyone except the bombers, and give him all the airtime he wants.
Posted by: Bulldog || 08/09/2005 16:59 Comments || Top||


Europe
Belgium speeds up refugee expulsions
The Belgian immigration service (DVZ) will be strengthened with 15 'expulsion public servants' from 1 September to uncover the identity and nationality of detained foreigners.

The new DVZ recruits will be entrusted with accelerating deportation procedures and boosting the number of people voluntarily returning to their land of origin.

"Someone can only be ejected from our country if he or she has been identified," the private secretary of Interior Minister Pattrick Dewael said.

However, there are also asylum seekers who wish to hide their identity and nationality in order to stay in Belgium. While their land of origin remains unknown, Belgium cannot deport them. well you could but I understand the difficulty
On 1 September, a detainee identification service will be established with a staff of 15 focused on identifying detained foreigners.

The DVZ — known in French as l'Office des étrangers — wants to deport the detainees as quickly as possible after their release from prison and transfer to the immigration service for repatriation.

A DVZ spokeswoman said the ex-detainees are not popular with the regular residents of asylum seeker shelters either. a bit much to take, huh She said they sometimes stay up to two months in a centre prior to repatriation.

The task of the new expulsion officials will be to reduce that time period, newspaper 'De Morgen' reported on Tuesday.


Posted by: leader of the pack || 08/09/2005 07:08 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  May I suggest an airlock?
Posted by: Steven || 08/09/2005 10:27 Comments || Top||

#2  "Well, your DNA test says you are Egyptian. Do you not wish to be deported to Egypt?" "Arrrgghhh! No! They will shoot me if I go back to Egypt!" "Ah, then Egypt it is."
Posted by: Anonymoose || 08/09/2005 17:05 Comments || Top||

#3  "there's always Gaza"
Posted by: Frank G || 08/09/2005 17:24 Comments || Top||


France wary of its Pakistani community
The Pakistani community in France and elsewhere in Europe is now, more than ever, being watched by intelligence services concerned about its role as a breeding ground for Islamic extremism that could give rise to attacks like those seen in London last month, French experts say.

The daily Le Figaro said Monday that a confidential report by France's intelligence service that was finalised days before the July 7 London bombings pointed to the threat of an al-Qaeda attack on Britain. days before! See, we're way ahead of les Anges ...
It said the report by the DCRG intelligence agency also highlighted the need to closely observe France's 40,000-strong Pakistani community with a view to preventing an attack on French soil.

An interior ministry official confirmed the existence of the report, but cautioned that it was "a very technical study on the Pakistani community in France."

He said it was not aimed at lecturing Britain on what might happen on its own soil.

According to the report quoted by Le Figaro, those plotting an attack could count on the "support of jihadists within the large Pakistani community in Britain" and warned: "France is not immune from this kind of violent group."

The report pointed to "the multiplication of passages through France by Pakistani activists from south Asia or London and the setting up of underground or official representations of the main extremist groups".

Louis Caprioli, a former anti-terrorism officer with France's DST counter-espionage agency who is now a consultant with the private security firm Geos, told AFP that the Pakistani community in France "insofar as it has elements practising Islamic fundamentalism, has always attracted the attention of the (intelligence) services".

"That started in the 1990s, when it emerged that Pakistan was a transit point for jihad training in Afghanistan," he said.

Richard Reid, the British 'shoe bomber' who failed in a bid to bring down a Paris-Miami flight in December 2001, notably had connections with Pakistanis in France, he said.

Dominique Thomas, a specialist in radical Islam, also raised the case of Reid. "He went to a certain number of cybercafes in Paris and in the suburbs that are run by Pakistanis, so it's logical that since that time, the RG (the domestic intelligence service) has interested itself in that milieu of small shops and movements established in France."

He added that Pakistanis living in France were "very dynamic economically speaking" and said that "it is completely plausible that Pakistanis in France might be close to movements in Pakistan which has ideologies founded on political Islam".

Pakistan, Thomas said, "is one of the major sources of Islamic thought, it's the country of the movement that was at the origin of the Taliban. There are several very powerful organisations there. It's not surprising that the Pakistanis in France are close to those organisations".

But, he cautioned: "That doesn't necessarily make them al-Qaeda activists'.

For Mariam Abu Zahab, an expert on Pakistan at France's Centre of International Studies and Research, it was important to highlight a difference in the makeup of the Pakistani communities in Britain and in France.

Britain has many Pakistani Kashmiris who she said were influenced by Islamic extremism because of the separatist insurrection against India that has raged in their home region since 1989.

"In France there are a majority of Punjabi, who are here mainly to do business and make money. You will find a few dozen youths ready to mobilise or go to summer camps in Kashmir to show off to their friends when they return. ... But I've never met any myself," she said.

As a result, the Pakistani community in France "is nothing like the British one," she said. mais non!
Posted by: leader of the pack || 08/09/2005 07:03 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  This is a brilliant deception by Karl Rove, to take attention away from the Saudi's.

Seriously,

A simple plan called "Proxy Terrorism".

1. Require every Muslim to take the Haj.
2. Upon arrival, indoctrinate with Sharia.
3. Go back to home country to do Allah's will.
4. Any Saudi implication activates assassination procedures.
Posted by: Poison Reverse || 08/09/2005 8:04 Comments || Top||

#2  My inner paki is crying at the injustice!
Posted by: MunkarKat || 08/09/2005 8:59 Comments || Top||

#3  My inner paki is crying at the injustice!

LMAO, MunkarKat.
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 08/09/2005 12:10 Comments || Top||


US skeptical over Europe’s approach to Iran
The lack of snark suggests they're beginning to think the negotiations just might not pan out after all

The United States has "enormous scepticism" over Europe's approach to Iran's nuclear programme, even if it has publicly backed the efforts, a French diplomat said Friday.

"I have to say that the United States has followed our negotiations with enormous scepticism, thinking that it will lead nowhere and that we are being duped by the Iranians," said the diplomat, who was briefing journalists on condition of anonymity Britain, France and Germany welcomed US President George W Bush's reserved support earlier this year of the EU initiative to have Iran drop parts of its nuclear programme that could be used for military purposes in exchange for trade and security cooperation deals.

"That made our job easier and allowed us to show the Iranians that we had not a backing of the Americans but an understanding of the task," the diplomat said.

"That hasn't stopped the Americans continuing to watch us with deep scepticism. We don't consult them as such, but we are telling the Americans what direction we're going in without providing details on all of our positions," he said.

The officials was speaking after Britain, France and Germany made a package of offers to Iran promising accords in various areas if it agreed to limits that would guarantee its nuclear programme could be used for exclusively civilian ends.


Posted by: leader of the pack || 08/09/2005 06:58 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "We don't consult them as such, but we are telling the Americans what direction we're going in without providing details on all of our positions,"

Now you cornered us. We absolutely, without EU spoon-feeding, will never know the details. We are dooooomed!!!!!
Posted by: Poison Reverse || 08/09/2005 7:29 Comments || Top||

#2  "I have to say that the United States has followed our negotiations with enormous scepticism, thinking that it will lead nowhere and that we are being duped by the Iranians,"

Even now they don't realize that they have been led nowhere and have been duped...
Posted by: CrazyFool || 08/09/2005 9:17 Comments || Top||

#3  Looks like our scepticism has proven correct. More appropriately, Frenchie is trying to back fill now that the E-3 has been shown to be windbags of hot air.
Posted by: Captain America || 08/09/2005 22:54 Comments || Top||


British soccer fans to be punished for bomb taunts
A British soccer club has apologized for an incident in which its members taunted supporters of a rival London-based club by chanting: "You're just a town full of bombers." Referring to the July 7 attacks that killed 52 subway and bus riders, as well as four suicide bombers, the Hull City fans also yelled at the Queens Park Rangers fans: "Too many lived and not enough died."
Them's fightin' words. Seriously.
Hull City chairman Adam Pearson said the team has footage of the chanting at Saturday's game, and intends to ban those involved from its stadium for life. "On behalf of the club I would like to unreservedly apologize to all Queens Park Rangers supporters who were subjected to this unbelievably ignorant and distressing chant," said Pearson. "The group of youths who were involved with this chant will be identified and will be dealt with in the most swingeing [severe] manner possible." One Hull City fan was charged with "racial chanting" after the game, and police said more charges could be laid. Some supporters of the Queens Park Rangers walked out of the stadium when the chanting began. Others tried to rip down a fence separating them from the Hull City fans.
Posted by: Rafael || 08/09/2005 01:34 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  5'll get ya 10 that more soccer fans are hailed into court for taunting than mullahs for the actual inciting to violence.
Posted by: AzCat || 08/09/2005 2:29 Comments || Top||

#2  Good point
Posted by: Rafael || 08/09/2005 3:00 Comments || Top||

#3  most swingeing [severe] manner
Yesterday whineging now this, English is evailaing quickly.
Posted by: Shipman || 08/09/2005 3:21 Comments || Top||

#4  You probably have not been told the full story. I imagine QPR fans were waving bunches of twenty poundnotes at their impoverished northern cousins or calling them 'northern monkeys'.

Personally, I'm looking forward to the Leeds and Luton fixtures with a certain amount of glee. Look out for the Templar flag at Derby County games this season.
Posted by: Howard UK || 08/09/2005 6:35 Comments || Top||

#5  Oh, I think the lads are just angry about this. :-)
Posted by: Matt || 08/09/2005 12:06 Comments || Top||

#6  Templar flags, heh. Melike.
Posted by: Seafarious || 08/09/2005 12:23 Comments || Top||

#7  Well, football fans in the UK aren't really known for their decorum are they?
Posted by: Cheaderhead || 08/09/2005 12:26 Comments || Top||

#8  #5:

whhaaaaaat!!??

Oh dear, it could all go horribly wrong now, the US is 4th and England 6th - gawd help us!

All joking aside - this is standard fare for football fans here. The taunts are 'colourful' to say the least, and let's not even consider what happens at 'Old Firm' matches (Celtic vs Rangers). But it does seem to help let off steam...

However, if a splodeydope goes up at a football match, I think all bets will be off - and the fallout will be horrific.
Posted by: Tony (UK) || 08/09/2005 13:23 Comments || Top||

#9  I bet the security due to the "regular" fans antics have put off bombers from matches. Too hard to get in, probably.

There was more security at the last college football game I attended than any train/bus I've ever seen.
Posted by: Laurence of the Rats || 08/09/2005 14:47 Comments || Top||

#10  No surrender, No surrender, No surrender to the Muzzie slags or something like that.
Posted by: Mctavish Mcpherson || 08/09/2005 15:07 Comments || Top||

#11  members taunted supporters of a rival London-based club by chanting: "You're just a town full of bombers."

How does that even work as a chant? Awful damn wordy, if you ask me.
Posted by: BH || 08/09/2005 17:06 Comments || Top||

#12  Try it to "Juantanamera" (sp?) BH

You're just a town full of bombers
town full of booommmmbers,
you're just a town full of boommmmbers

Repeat till fade (or fed up)

They can be very very inventive BH.
Posted by: Tony (UK) || 08/09/2005 17:12 Comments || Top||


‘Terrorism radiating from Iraq’
BERLIN - German intelligence fears terrorism is “radiating” from Iraq around the Middle East and expects further attacks across the region, its spy chief said on Monday. “We fear developments in Iraq are radiating outwards,” foreign intelligence chief August Hanning said in brief comments to Reuters.
Dang he's good.
He said it was possible that an intensification of insurgent attacks on Iraqi security forces and the US-led coalition was encouraging like-minded militants to step up attacks in the wider region as well.

Hanning cited bombings that killed 64 people last month in Egypt’s Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, and security alerts in recent days forcing cruise liners carrying Israeli tourists to divert from Turkey to Cyprus.
Yep, it was the evil war in Iraq, never mind all the plans and plots and happenings the last 30 years ...
Asked earlier at a news conference if Germany had its own intelligence on a threat to the kingdom, Hanning said: “We see the situation in Saudi Arabia in connection with developments in Iraq, Egypt, and not least Pakistan and Afghanistan.” He added: “There are no grounds to give the all clear. On the contrary ... we are reckoning with an intensification of the situation in the region as far as terrorism is concerned.”
Please tell me that this guy is a figurehead and that the #2 guy really runs things ...
Posted by: Steve White || 08/09/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Is this guy an ex book store clerk too?
Posted by: Sock Puppet 0’ Doom || 08/09/2005 0:16 Comments || Top||

#2  It is the exact opposite, Iraq is the terrorist magnet, that is where all the ferriners are heading to.
Posted by: NYer4wot || 08/09/2005 0:46 Comments || Top||

#3  Actually, the guy is probably correct, just not in the way that he thinks he is. The most dangerous terrorists over the past decade-plus have been trained, financed or supplied by Iraq. There is hardly a major al Qaeda action that did not have Iraqi involvement at some stage. Generally speaking, the more serious the attack, the more involved the Iraqis were. Bush choses to be very vague, and at times downright deceptive, about Iraq, al Qaeda, and WMDs. So unfortunately support for the war is degrading, and some of our allies are lamentably uninformed about the true nature of the remaining threats. The Brits allowing Omar Bakri Mohammed egress is an example of this.
Posted by: Rory B. Bellows || 08/09/2005 1:12 Comments || Top||

#4  Look. Herrless, why don't you do some skunk huntin' in Iraq so you cut down the radiation.

These fu+kballs are defenseless and spineless.
Posted by: Captain America || 08/09/2005 1:12 Comments || Top||

#5  If terrorism is 'radiating out' from Iraq as a result of the Iraq war we should have seen an upsurge in terrorism in neighbouring countries. With the notable exception of the failed truck bombings in Jordan which originated in Syria, we have seen no such upsurge. The contention is simply false. A much stronger case could be made for democracy and respect for civil liberties radiating out from Iraq.
Posted by: phil_b || 08/09/2005 2:01 Comments || Top||

#6  To be fair Phil, we have seen quite an upsurge in Saudi Arabia over the past couple of years as well though, IMHO, that has more to do with our cutting off the jihadi export pipeline than anything else.
Posted by: AzCat || 08/09/2005 2:40 Comments || Top||

#7  I don't think we are seeing an increase in terrorism in SA, rather its an increase in shootouts as the authorities crackdown.
Posted by: phil_b || 08/09/2005 3:50 Comments || Top||

#8  Either he's as dumb as a brick and just doesn't get it (the flypaper effect has been obvious even to small children and fools with room temperature IQ's for at least the last 18 months) or he's a fool who can only think in absolutes. On / off. 100% effective or quagmire! Sheesh, wotta 'tard.

Yo, Hanning, the fact that you haven't had 5 or 10 bombings in Berlin and Bonn by now is testament to the fact that the jihadis realize how crucial Iraq is in the Big Picture thingy and have focused much / most of their assets and recourses there. Were that not the case, sonny, you'd be running your ass off trying to catch bombers at home - or you would've been forced to resign, by now. Give that Ozzie ex Intel Chief a call - you guys need to go fishing and leave this terr thingy to folks who have a clue. Ungrateful Jackass.

Boggles.
Posted by: .com || 08/09/2005 4:58 Comments || Top||

#9  The best thing Germany can do now, is to continue the reparations to the Jews for their atrocities 60 years ago! Anything short of providing "Boots On The Ground" in Iraq and or Afghanistan or bank rolling some of the operations for the Coalition requires keeping the F*** out of the US's way! And why the hell do we have even ONE soldier in Germany anyway?!
Posted by: smn || 08/09/2005 5:10 Comments || Top||

#10  Most Germans are so full of their medias anti-americanism and seeing everything in shades of gray instead of the actual black and white they are clueless. Count this fool in that crowd. The facts are he can say anything he wants, it doesn't matter. Germany can't project much more power in the world than it does currently. That being the case what ever he says irreverent. I really do want to know was this guy's claim to fame that of a book store clerk as their foreign minsters was?
Posted by: Sock Puppet 0’ Doom || 08/09/2005 5:51 Comments || Top||

#11  Of course, I'd personally count Israel to be the nearest neighbor in Iraq's neighborhood, and look what's happened there...built the wall, and suicide bombings have dropped tremendously. Doesn't mean they're zero (.com's on/off argument), but they are declining and rapidly. Bush's sidelining of Arafish was one of the best things we could do. Of course, if it's Jooooos that're being blown up, it doesn't count in terrorist attacks "in the neighborhood" I guess.
Posted by: BA || 08/09/2005 13:33 Comments || Top||

#12  "Here we were in March 2003 all sitting around drinking lattes with our Muslim brethren when all of a sudden BushHitler for no reason goes off and attacks the peaceful nation of Iraq. This gets the Muslims really angry and then all hell breaks loose."

Not exactly the way I remember it.
Posted by: Matt || 08/09/2005 13:36 Comments || Top||

#13  I remember a fine Kona, perhaps you're right.
Posted by: Shipman || 08/09/2005 15:23 Comments || Top||

#14  A fine Kona what, Shipman? I can think of two plant products Kona is noted for.
Posted by: xbalanke || 08/09/2005 21:31 Comments || Top||


Home Front: WoT
Officials Test Radio Tags at Canada Border
WaPo. Registration required, I think, so posted in full.

ALEXANDRIA BAY, N.Y. -- Security officials gathered Monday at a Canadian border crossing to mark the first test of a radio frequency identification system to be used by foreign visitors.

If successful, radio "tags" carried by travelers will be the focus of a lawsuit by the ACLU and Human Rights Watch part of the standard registration process for those entering the United States.

The technology is like that used to speed passage at toll booths on many highways, said P.T. Wright, the operations director for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's US-VISIT Program.

Testing began last week at the Thousand Islands Bridge crossing from Canada. It also is being done at the Peace Arch and Pacific Highway crossings in Blaine, Wash., and two crossings in Nogales, Ariz.

The new technology could help relieve congestion at border crossings, while also helping authorities weed out potential terrorists, drug dealers and other criminals, officials say.

This is the second phase of US-VISIT, the screening system launched in 2004 at busy airports, sea ports and land crossings. The system requires scanning fingerprints and photographs of the visitor's face into a computer when someone who wants to enter the U.S. applies for a visa.

All foreign travelers using visas will also obtain their radio tags from U.S. Customs officials when they first register to enter the United States. The tag is embedded into their foreheads and runs at 666 MHz a document, which the traveler presents to enter or leave the United States.

The crossing points are equipped with antennas that read the tags for a secured and coded serial number linked to a database with the information provided by the traveler.

The antennas can read the tags up to 30 feet away and recognize many tags simultaneously, Wright said. Ideally, travelers will be able to flash them going by at highway speeds, he said.

The first phase of testing will have a simple focus - to make sure the antennas can read each chip, that the system correctly relays that information and successfully matches it with the government's databases.

In the second phase, which will begin next spring, border agents will use the system at their checkpoints to identify travelers.
Posted by: Jackal || 08/09/2005 10:53 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  And the best part is that they only use 40-bit encryption, which means that with a good PC and the right hacker software, you can generate phony ones at a rate of about 1 to 5 a day. Within a year or two, pros should get that up to 200-500 a day per computer. Maybe the hackers should play up the "Haxors vs. The Antichrist" bit. Imagine trying to seat a jury after asking everybody if they believed in the Antichrist?
Posted by: Anonymoose || 08/09/2005 11:41 Comments || Top||

#2  Sounds like stealing real tags would be ideal. No telling who or what is in the car as travelers will be able to flash them going by at highway speeds.
Posted by: john || 08/09/2005 16:21 Comments || Top||

#3  Them ear-tags they use on cattle would work about as well too.
Posted by: Hupolutch Whereger2897 || 08/09/2005 16:44 Comments || Top||

#4  Image hosted by Photobucket.com
Posted by: Anonymoose || 08/09/2005 16:51 Comments || Top||

#5  Oh beautiful, and so becoming to her face.

(MOOOOOOO)
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 08/09/2005 17:14 Comments || Top||

#6  All new American passports have these embedded as of this year as well.

"This is my big brother Sam, Sam I feel so safe with you up my ass all the time, isn't this great! You're such an awesome big brother"

EP
Posted by: ElvisHasLeftTheBuilding || 08/09/2005 17:15 Comments || Top||

#7  Just imprint them upon our guests
Laser tattooed barcodes
title="tattoo tomato" alt="tattoo tomato">
Posted by: 3dc || 08/09/2005 19:59 Comments || Top||


CIA asked us to let nuclear spy go, Ruud Lubbers claims
The CIA asked the Netherlands not to detain Pakistani scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan for stealing nuclear secrets from a Dutch facility, former Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers has claimed.

Speaking on Dutch radio programme Argos on Tuesday morning, Lubbers said the Dutch authorities held off from taking action against Khan in 1975 and 1986 because the US security agency wanted to gain more information about the scientist's activities.

Khan was hailed a national hero in Pakistan in 1997 when the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif announced that the country possessed nuclear weapons.

It emerged later that Khan also headed a clandestine network that sold on nuclear know-how to Libya, North Korea and Iran. Although there was mounting evidence of Khan's illicit activities by 2001, this was only made public in 2004.

Born in Bhopal, Khan trained as a metallurgist in Germany. From May 1972 to December 1975 he was employed by Physics Dynamic Research Laboratory (also known as FDO), an engineering firm based in Amsterdam and a subcontractor to the URENCO consortium specialising in the manufacture of nuclear equipment.

Urenco's primary enrichment facility was in Dutch city of Almelo, near the German border. Khan had an office there by late 1974, the website of globalsecurity.org says.

In early 1976, Khan left the Netherlands with secret Urenco blueprints for an uranium centrifuge. He was convicted in absentia by a court in the Netherlands in 1983 for stealing the designs. The conviction was later overturned on a technicality.

Lubbers was the longest serving prime minister in the Netherlands (1982 - 1994). He was appointed UN High Commissioner for Refugees in 2001 but resigned last February due to sexual harassment allegations. see, I was a good guy. those women ... a trivial matter.

He told the radio station that when Minister of Economic Affairs in 1975 he discussed the Khan case with US officials. The Americans, Lubbers said, suggested blocking Khan's access to Urenco would be sufficient.

As Prime Minister in the mid 1980s Lubbers again raised the issue as the CIA had been monitoring Khan for 10 years, without any obvious breakthrough in the investigation. Again the Americans did not want action taken against Khan, Lubbers said.
Posted by: leader of the pack || 08/09/2005 07:16 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The CIA!

And now they leak intel suggesting that Iran is still 10 years away from the bomb.
MOre fool those who continue being misled by that bunch.
Posted by: Uneper Sleresh9961 || 08/09/2005 7:51 Comments || Top||

#2  hmmmm and it would be difficult to dispute his claim since all that time went by. Any other "The CIA did it" claims, Ruud?
Posted by: Frank G || 08/09/2005 8:20 Comments || Top||

#3  ...and with a name like Ruud Lubbers, it has to be good!
Posted by: tu3031 || 08/09/2005 16:25 Comments || Top||

#4  Ruud Lubbers sounds like the name for condom.
Posted by: Captain America || 08/09/2005 17:21 Comments || Top||


Desert Researchers Face Border Dangers
TUCSON - Researchers studying the wildlife of the Sonoran Desert are increasingly becoming targets of smugglers and desperate border crossers, leading to more safety precautions for the scientists.

Researchers are drawn to the long-protected desert wildlife, but they face growing fears as assaults on Border Patrol agents become more common and they find themselves the victims of crime, including stolen cars and trailers. One University of Arizona student was robbed at gunpoint. Recreational users of public lands are allowed to visit without restriction and are responsible for their own safety, but scientists visit under special permits from land managers.

The researchers face more danger, too, because they often work in isolated areas at night. To combat the risk, researchers in most parks along the border must be accompanied by park personnel or agree to a buddy system. They must check in with park officials daily and must clear out of dangerous areas if necessary.

At Organ Pipe National Monument, researchers must have armed law enforcement officers in some places closest to the border. Scientists say they are spending more time on paperwork, applying for multiple grants so they can hire more workers to avoid working alone. The result: less focus on protected species...

Staff biologists at Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge are now told to wear nondescript T-shirts rather than uniforms when they are doing field research so they don't get mistaken for law enforcement and become a target, said manager Mitch Ellis. He asks visiting researchers to check in with law enforcement and advises them to let their vehicles go if border crossers try to steal them.

Violent crime along the border seems to be increasing. In the Border Patrol's Tucson Sector, which covers most of Arizona, 216 assaults against officers have been documented since October. That's up from 118 in all the previous year.

Some of the increase is the result of more officers, but the numbers are still worrisome, said Border Patrol spokesman Jose Garza.

"The assaults are also going up in severity," he said. "In the outskirts, they're using the vehicles to try to ram our agents, shooting our agents in an attempt to avoid arrest."

And the "yes, but" ending:

Still, some researchers say they've had few problems with border crossers. James Cain, a UA doctoral student who studies desert bighorn sheep, said he has met crossers just three times in four years. He's never had any problems.
Posted by: Pappy || 08/09/2005 00:33 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Quick, send in the ACLU spies.
Posted by: Captain America || 08/09/2005 1:14 Comments || Top||

#2  The "yes but" ending is the norm. It bears repeating that the overwhelming majority of folks who cross the border are looking for nothing more than the opportunity to work hard and build a better life. I'd rather live in a town full of illegal immigrants than a town full of the northern California moonbats I deal with on a daily basis.
Posted by: AzCat || 08/09/2005 2:32 Comments || Top||

#3  It bears repeating that the overwhelming majority of folks who cross the border are looking for nothing more than the opportunity to work hard and build a better life.

They could start their better lives by obeying laws.
Posted by: Robert Crawford || 08/09/2005 7:48 Comments || Top||

#4  There was a talk at our local herp (reptile) society from somebody looking for the rare stuff that comes over the border area from Mexico. He had some run ins with the Border Patrol over what he was up to. The main thing that sticks in my mind was all the discarded backpacks he found littering the desert from all the drug smugglers.
Posted by: bruce || 08/09/2005 8:12 Comments || Top||

#5  It bears repeating that the overwhelming majority of folks who cross the border are looking for nothing more than the opportunity to work hard and build a better life.
The "better life" claptrap is simply an excuse for the greedy, the vote whores, and the special-interest apologists. It should be self-evident why the US does not grant asylum based on economic hardships. The losers are the legitimate applicants, the victims of torture, ethnic cleansing, and terror. And, of course, the real losers are the legal citizens who face the inevitable violence from unsecured borders as well as the huge economic burden.
What bears repeating is they are here ILLEAGALLY.
Posted by: DepotGuy || 08/09/2005 11:57 Comments || Top||

#6  It bears repeating that the overwhelming majority of folks who cross the border are looking for nothing more than the opportunity to work hard and build a better life.

That's just pure transnationalism. Why not several million Chinese who want to come here or a quarter of the rest of the world, but who do not border the continental US?

Ok then, lets make it better for even more. Annex Mexico, shoot the drug lords and their corrupt political call boys, open the market up and create jobs and opportunity south of the 'old' border. Oh, horrors, that's imperalism. Critics want it both ways, the official Mexican government imperialism is good, but any American imperialism is evil. So America must surrender its sovereign borders in the name of the poor of the world. Sounds a hell of lot like Transnationist as it gets.
Posted by: Flash Hupomoling8954 || 08/09/2005 12:18 Comments || Top||

#7  I'd rather live in a town full of illegal immigrants than a town full of the northern California moonbats I deal with on a daily basis.

Neither offers any advantage over the other. A fair number of Mexican immigrants (largely illegal) live in my apartment complex, and it's no picnic. Shopping carts constantly have to be taken off the property to the curb every damn day, a bunch of kids making all kinds of damned noise, POS cars occupying unmarked (read: unreserved) parking slots for weeks or months at a time, overcrowded apartment units, and general stupidity, such as their buddies honking the horn repeatedly instead of knocking at the door, putting household waste in the recycling bins (can't they read?), and overloading garbage bins, even to the point of either tossing in sofas or couches, or shoving them off to the side in the expectation that the garbageman will pick them up. (never mind that the apartment rules prohibit dumping of furniture in that manner)

Seeing this behavior is absolutely infuriating, and it happens almost DAILY.
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama || 08/09/2005 17:31 Comments || Top||

#8  BaR, you have the patience of a Saint...
Posted by: Tony (UK) || 08/09/2005 17:51 Comments || Top||

#9  AzCat - these are the "peaceful immigrants looking to better themselves"? Bullshit. They broke laws coming in and they and their coyote guides are stealing cars/B&E homes. I say kick their asses out and shut the border. San Diego, et al face HUGE prison costs for these "immigrant workers" who're here preying on your fellow citizens. Wanna get me in Rant mode? Let's go...
Posted by: Frank G || 08/09/2005 19:42 Comments || Top||

#10  Let's not even go into the medical costs...
Posted by: Pappy || 08/09/2005 23:08 Comments || Top||


Harry Potter mania hits Guantanamo
BOOKS about boy wizard Harry Potter have become favorite reading material among Islamic terror suspects at the US detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, according to reports.

Citing a librarian working at the center, the newspaper said J.K. Rowling's tales about the boy and the school of wizardry are on top of the request list for the camp's 520 Al-Qaeda and Taliban suspects, followed by Agatha Christie novels. "We've got a few who are kind of hooked on it. A couple have asked if they can see the movie," the librarian identified only as Lori is quoted by The Times as saying.

Lori said she is compiling a list to provide to various lawmakers in Washington, who recently visited the prison at the US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay as part of a congressional delegation investigating unfounded accusations of torture, according to the report.
Posted by: God Save The World || 08/09/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  hmmm, do I see an angle to persuade these guys? Yeah let's have Harry Potter show the terrorists in a bad light
Posted by: Jan || 08/09/2005 1:00 Comments || Top||

#2  Keep them wanting more, as long as they spill the beans.
Posted by: Spinelet Wheasing6888 || 08/09/2005 1:09 Comments || Top||

#3  Send them Harry and the Electrodes
Posted by: Captain America || 08/09/2005 1:15 Comments || Top||

#4  Remind them that it's Non-Fiction.
Posted by: Shipman || 08/09/2005 3:25 Comments || Top||

#5  I have a better idea. Take pictures (yes, I said take pictures) of them holding a Harry Potter book and threaten mass distribution. Apostasy is not a silent killer.

BTW, don't even come to me with that Genital Convention nonsense.
Posted by: Poison Reverse || 08/09/2005 7:19 Comments || Top||

#6  How is that they are reading aything else but the Holy Quran? Bunch of apostates, let's have a fatwa upon them.
Posted by: JFM || 08/09/2005 8:30 Comments || Top||

#7  There will be hell to pay if anyone of them desecrates any of the Pooter books or even handles it with unwashed hands.
Posted by: JFM || 08/09/2005 8:37 Comments || Top||

#8  "Yeah let's have Harry Potter show the terrorists in a bad light"

Have you read the book? I dont think im spoilering to say that JK Rowlings is quite aware of the WOT, and seems to be a something of a liberal hawk - Quite insistent on the importance of continuing the fight against this evil, while dissappointed that the Ministry hasnt caught Bin La- Voldemort, and that some innocents have been sent to Git - Azkaban, by a rightly tough, but excessively publicity conscious, ministry. Oh, and the Ministry has a tendency to distribute fairly useless leaflets about how to protect your family from dark forces. And of course there are plenty of Slytherins whose true loyalties are deeply unclear.
Posted by: liberalhawk || 08/09/2005 9:39 Comments || Top||

#9  There will be hell to pay if anyone of them desecrates any of the Pooter books or even handles it with unwashed hands.

Kids!! Put down those peanut butter sandwiches RIGHT NOW - you might get something on the holy Potter book!!
Posted by: leader of the pack || 08/09/2005 9:41 Comments || Top||

#10  Look soon for the new book, "Harry Potter and the Electrodes on the Gonads".
Posted by: tu3031 || 08/09/2005 9:47 Comments || Top||

#11  liberalhawk: Yeah, I picked up on that too. Especially the most recent one. I get the feeling that Rowling gets it.
Posted by: BH || 08/09/2005 10:10 Comments || Top||

#12  This could be a good thing. Get them all liquored up on Harry Potter and send then back to whence they came to infect others.

Reminds me of what Picard did to the Borg.

'course it probably won't really work becase the folks back home will just kill them on arrival.
Posted by: Michael || 08/09/2005 10:52 Comments || Top||

#13  I didn't know many of them could read. What language are the Potter books written in? I think this is great to expose them to other ideas, such as libraries that have more than the Koran on the shelves.
Posted by: Danielle || 08/09/2005 11:26 Comments || Top||

#14  I re-read the end of Book 4 right after 9/11/01...the part where Dumbledore tells the head of the Ministry of Magic, "The only one against whom I intend to fight is Lord Voldemort. If you agree, Cornelius, then we remain on the same side."
Posted by: Seafarious || 08/09/2005 12:19 Comments || Top||

#15  Does this mean that JK Rowling's house is now the 1,495,231th holiest place in Islam?
Posted by: Matt || 08/09/2005 14:32 Comments || Top||

#16  Please tell me you know this from reading it to your not quiet ready for chapter books chillruns.
Posted by: Shipman || 08/09/2005 17:51 Comments || Top||

#17  Sure hope they don't start stuffing them down the toilets....

Get the Dementors on 'em if they do!
Posted by: Desert Blondie || 08/09/2005 18:04 Comments || Top||

#18  LH:
I think she's more of a "libertarian hawk."

Posted by: Secret Master || 08/09/2005 18:47 Comments || Top||


International-UN-NGOs
Annan slips further into oil scandal
An email that implicates the United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, in the scandal over the UN's Iraqi oil-for- food contracts appears to be authentic, according to the latest report from the inquiry into corruption in the program. The email, recently disclosed by Cotecna, the Swiss company that paid Mr Annan's son Kojo $US370,000 between 1996 and 2005 - says the company's vice-president, Michael Wilson had brief talks with the Secretary-General and his entourage about the status of negotiations for a contract gained by Cotecna. In the email, Mr Wilson says the collective advice was "we could count on their support".

The third interim report on the $US65 billion oil-for-food program, an inquiry headed by the former chairman of the US Federal Reserve, Paul Volcker, says that despite denials from Mr Wilson, the email appears authentic and most of its content is accurate. The report does not make any findings about Mr Annan's involvement in the contract won by Cotecna. But the email, if proven, would contradict Mr Annan's testimony and put him at the centre of the scandal. An earlier report from Mr Volcker had found no evidence that Mr Annan influenced the awarding of the contract to Cotecna, though it did rebuke him for not doing more to avoid a possible conflict of interest.

The latest report, released on Monday, says the head of the UN program, Benon Sevan, corruptly solicited oil allocations from Iraq, which were funnelled through an oil company and back to him. It also says a UN procurement officer, Alexander Yakovlev, in concert with a French businessman, solicited a bribe from a company bidding for an oil inspection contract. However, the inquiry had no evidence the company agreed to pay the bribe. Mr Yakovlev has pleaded guilty to fraud and money-laundering charges brought by the US Attorney in New York. The charges involve taking several hundred thousand dollars from foreign companies.

Mr Annan's chief of staff, Mark Malloch Brown, said Mr Annan was "deeply concerned" by the findings against Mr Sevan and Mr Yakovlev. He has waived immunity from prosecution for both men. Mr Annan was disappointed that the email implicating him in the Cotecna contract was raised but not answered in the report, Mr Malloch Brown said. The email only raised questions about Mr Annan's knowledge of Cotecna, he said and in any case, the Secretary-General and his entourage denied that a meeting with the email's author ever took place.

Both the Manhattan District Attorney and the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York are investigating the scandal. Mr Malloch-Brown said the UN was looking at ways to strengthen its oversight of contracts and had commissioned an review of procurement practices by the US National Institute of Governmental Purchasing. He said the major report, due a few days before a summit of world leaders next month, might help persuade countries to support administrative reform of the UN.
Posted by: Steve || 08/09/2005 10:21 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  There is no doubt that Annon is up to his ass in OFF. However, he is playing out the clock. By the time they catch up with him, his term will be up anyway.

Now, what and where he is kept in retirement is the real question.
Posted by: Captain America || 08/09/2005 17:19 Comments || Top||

#2  But the email, if proven, would contradict Mr Annan's testimony and put him at the centre of the scandal.

Ha ha, Goo-fi was already at the center of the scandal a long time ago. It doesn't require an e-mail to prove it.
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama || 08/09/2005 21:30 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
"Notably unhelpful" for Iran to allow explosives to cross into Iraq
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Tuesday declined to discuss in detail reports that a large cache of manufactured explosives had been found on the Iraq side of the Iraq-Iran border. But he did say during a Pentagon briefing that it was "notably unhelpful for the Iranians to be allowing weapons of those types to cross the border." "It is true that weapons, clearly, unambiguously from Iran have been found in Iraq," Rumsfeld said in answer to a question. But he declined to answer additional questions about the reported find, including the exact types of weapons found, and whether they were linked to the Iranian government or to terrorist organizations in Iran. Asked if he knew how many such weapons were in Iraq, Rumsfeld said, "Oh, no. Goodness, how can you know? You only know what you know. That is a big border."
Posted by: Fred || 08/09/2005 16:15 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "notably unhelpful for the Iranians..."

Why is Rumsfeld sweet talking, glove slapping, and tip toeing around Irans involvment in Iraq?? Either he's being 'muzzled' by the administration, or something BIG is being brewed in the works, during this appeasement. In any event, it's irritating and smacks of uncertainty in the remedy!!
Posted by: smn || 08/09/2005 16:40 Comments || Top||

#2  This is Rumsfeld talking, not Hugo Chavez; not his style to spout hot air. When Rumsfeld says you've been 'unhelpful', it is rather like Darth Vader saying he finds your lack of faith 'disturbing'.
Posted by: SteveS || 08/09/2005 16:50 Comments || Top||

#3  Spot on SteveS!, and we can only hope that something BIG is brewing...

Posted by: Tony (UK) || 08/09/2005 17:00 Comments || Top||

#4  When Rumsfeld says you've been 'unhelpful', it is rather like Darth Vader saying he finds your lack of faith 'disturbing'.

Exactly right...
Posted by: Raj || 08/09/2005 17:08 Comments || Top||

#5  I love the Vadar idea.
This also falls into the "Understatement of the Year" catagory.
Posted by: mmurray821 || 08/09/2005 17:13 Comments || Top||

#6  causus belli for closing the border and hot pursuit
Posted by: Frank G || 08/09/2005 20:19 Comments || Top||

#7  Priorities. Constitution first.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis || 08/09/2005 20:57 Comments || Top||

#8  security first - a constitution for a country under attack from within and without will be a warped document
Posted by: Frank G || 08/09/2005 21:01 Comments || Top||

#9  It will be difficult for us (OS excepted, heh heh) to find out what under-the-table stuff is going on with respect to Iran's and Syria's Unhelpfulness™ in allowing terrorist movements and resupply into Iraq.

I would hope that we are putting the heat and the hurt on these governments (read, dictatorships) for pursuing their dirty little business. There has to be serious consequences for enabling terrorist to attack and kill our troops and Iraqis, especially civilians.
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 08/09/2005 22:11 Comments || Top||

#10  If you have a chance look at his eyes when he says this. I am not sure what to make of that bit.
However I am sure he has an idea what might occur in the near term to people who are "Notably unhelpful."
Posted by: Sock Puppet 0’ Doom || 08/09/2005 22:24 Comments || Top||

#11  In any event, it's irritating and smacks of uncertainty in the remedy!!

Well, I'm sure if you write Mr. Rumsfeld a nice letter expressing your irritation, I'm sure he'll put you in the information loop.
Posted by: Pappy || 08/09/2005 23:16 Comments || Top||

#12  Perhaps you think you're being treated unfairly?
Posted by: Chris W. || 08/09/2005 23:43 Comments || Top||


Iran Openly Recruiting Suicide Bombers
August 9, 2005: Do you want to be a suicide bomber? There is one country that allows open recruiting for such adventurers. The Iranian armed forces has established an organization called the "Lovers of Martyrdom Garrison," which will recruit, screen and train suicide bombers, “for attacks on Western targets.” The application form, and an English translation, can be seen here . This offer is apparently only open to Iranian citizens.

The effort, which has less than two months old, has already attracted over 50,000 applicants. Openly using these fanatics in attacks against Western targets could result in some unpleasant counterattacks against Iran. The Iranians know that if they turn a lot of these volunteers loose outside the country, their origins will be found out. Some of the volunteers will be captured alive, and the Iranians are now aware of how effective Western forensic capabilities are (you can identify an Iranian from DNA analysis body parts.) It’s more likely that these fanatical volunteers will be used against internal enemies. Not necessarily as suicide bombers, but as true believers who will do anything for the cause.

The Iranians are not the only ones recruiting suicide bombers. In Sri Lanka, the Hindu Tamil Tigers (also known as the LTTE) recruit suicide bombers from among their existing troops (many of whom are kidnapped and brainwashed teenagers). The LTTE were the first to use suicide bombers, and were the most active users until the Palestinian terrorists and al Qaeda began using the tactic more widely after September 11, 2001. The Palestinian terrorists and al Qaeda also recruit suicide bombers, via a network of recruiters. Arab media, in general, tends to speak highly of suicide bombers (calling them martyrs), thus making it easier to recruit more.
Posted by: Steve || 08/09/2005 09:17 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  It should be noted that for the forces of the martyrdom-seeking division from each province, the training and preparations for martyrdom-seeking operations will be implemented in that province.

So unless you gotta terr training facility in your neighboorhood, ya needn't worry about suicide boomers in your neighboorhood! It's only for provincial actions; against local apostates.

Well, that's what it says.....
Posted by: Bobby || 08/09/2005 16:12 Comments || Top||

#2  Perhaps I just have a twisted mind.

But what an opportunity to unearth all the sickos, just sign here to be a fanatic, we'll visit your house as soon as the applications slow down indicating we got most of the idiot's addresses and names registered.
Then you quietly vanish in the night.

It'll only work to cull the stupid from the herd, then you're left with the smart, sneaky/careful sickos.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 08/09/2005 17:09 Comments || Top||

#3  The ultimate result of this type of idiocy is the death of a lot of innocent civilians. When war really gets hot and comes down to either losing soldiers or killing anyone even likely of being a suicide bomber the troops will win.
Posted by: BillH || 08/09/2005 17:44 Comments || Top||

#4  BillH - correct, except: the troops will win live and have to deal with the emotional consequences....better to take the fight to the Mullahs than have to kill their fodder. Qom should be the first target
Posted by: Frank G || 08/09/2005 19:02 Comments || Top||


Dissident: Tehran Has 4,000 Centrifuges
VIENNA, Austria (AP) - Iran has manufactured about 4,000 centrifuges capable of enriching uranium to weapons grade, an exiled Iranian dissident who helped uncover nearly two decades of covert nuclear activity in 2002 said Tuesday. Alireza Jafarzadeh told The Associated Press the centrifuges - which he said are unknown to the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency - are ready to be installed at Iran's nuclear facility in Natanz. Jafarzadeh, who runs Strategic Policy Consulting, a Washington-based think tank focusing on Iran and Iraq, said the information - which he described as "very recent" - came from sources within the Tehran regime who have proven accurate in the past. None of Jafarzadeh's claims could be independently verified immediately. The Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency, which was convening an emergency meeting on Iran later Tuesday, did not immediately comment on the centrifuge allegations. The agency previously had said it was aware of the existence of 164 centrifuges at Natanz, 300 miles south of Tehran. Iran also did not immediately comment on the Jafarzadeh's claims.

Under an agreement with the IAEA, Iran had pledged to stop building centrifuges, which can be used to enrich uranium to levels high enough to fuel a nuclear weapon. Centrifuges also can be used for the peaceful generation of nuclear energy, which Iran insists is its only intention. The United States contends the country is running a covert effort to produce nuclear weapons. "These 4,000 centrifuge machines have not been declared to the IAEA, and the regime has kept the production of these machines hidden from the inspectors while the negotiations with the European Union have been going on over the past 21 months," Jafarzadeh said in a telephone interview.

Iran on Saturday rejected a package of EU incentives presented by envoys from Britain, France and Germany, and on Monday, it announced it had resumed uranium conversion activities at its nuclear facility at Isfahan. Jafarzadeh said the centrifuges were manufactured in Isfahan and Tehran, and that construction of buildings, concrete foundations and other work needed to prepare the Natanz facility for centrifuge installation has continued in recent months. The IAEA's 35-nation board of governors was meeting to assess Iran's latest nuclear activities, and diplomats said it could issue a formal warning to Tehran. The board, however, appeared unlikely to report Iran to the U.N. Security Council, which has the authority to impose economic or political sanctions on the regime.

Jafarzadeh said Iran was making "extensive" use of front organizations or companies for the production and testing of centrifuge parts. He identified the companies as Pars Tarash, Kala Electric and Energy Novin, and said all had office space in the downtown Tehran building that houses Iran's Atomic Energy Organization. Pars Tarash, which has been mentioned in IAEA reports, is using subcontractors to make some centrifuge components, Jafarzadeh alleged. He said Malek Ashtar University in Isfahan also allegedly was involved in producing centrifuge parts. Those companies "don't know what they're building - they're just given specifications for some parts - but the Pars Tarash company knows what it's building: centrifuges," he said.

In 2002, Jafarzadeh - then a member of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, an exiled opposition group - disclosed information about two hidden nuclear sites that helped uncover nearly two decades of covert Iranian atomic activity and sparked present fears that Tehran wants to build a bomb. The council is the political arm of the Mujahedeen Khalq, a group that Washington and the European Union list as a terrorist organization. Jafarzadeh identified the top two engineers allegedly working on centrifuge parts as Morteza Behzad, who works for Iran's atomic agency and heads Pars Tarash, and Ali Karimi, a Defense Ministry engineer with experience in more advanced P2 centrifuges. "This clearly shows that contrary to Iran's claim that it is transparent and cooperating with the IAEA, it hasn't stopped being deceitful, hasn't stopped lying and hiding its program," Jafarzadeh said by telephone from Washington, D.C.

In June 2004, diplomats told AP in Vienna that Iran had acknowledged inquiring about 4,000 magnets needed for uranium enrichment equipment with a European black-market supplier and had dangled the possibility of buying a "higher number." It was unclear whether the magnets were intended for use in the 4,000 centrifuges Jafarzadeh cited. A month later, in July 2004, Iran confirmed it had resumed building centrifuges, although it said it had not restarted uranium enrichment.
Britain, France and Germany called Tuesday's emergency IAEA meeting after Tehran announced plans to resume conversion, the process preceding enrichment. Highly enriched uranium can be used to make weapons; uranium enriched to lower levels is used to produce electricity.
Posted by: Steve || 08/09/2005 09:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Iran nuclear moves spark crisis: German officials
Iran's determination to resume uranium conversion after rejecting European incentives to halt a nuclear fuel project risks sparking a major global crisis, German officials warned Monday.

Gernot Erler, a foreign policy expert in Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's Social Democratic Party (SPD), said there was no longer any doubt that Iran was determined to produce nuclear weapons. wow - who'd a thunk it?

"We are now standing just one step away from a serious international crisis," said Erler in an ARD TV interview.

Germany, Britain and France - which are leading European Union (E.U.) efforts to defuse the standoff with Tehran - say they will recommend putting Iran in the dock at the United

Nations Security Council if it restarts work at a uranium conversion plant in Isfahan.

Erler said this could result in U.N. sanctions aimed at Iran.

Karsten Voigt, who coordinates Schroeder's ties with the United States, expressed gloom over chances for a diplomatic deal to defuse the crisis.

Voigt said he doubted Iran would back down on the nuclear issue.

Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Charrasi said at the weekend that uranium conversion would resume Monday.

Iran says its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes and denies it is seeking to build a bomb.

An emergency meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been called for Tuesday by Berlin, Paris and London.


Posted by: leader of the pack || 08/09/2005 07:11 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  they will recommend putting Iran in the dock at the United Nations Security Council
My pills Ethel, I smell a sternly-worded memo cooking!
Posted by: Spot || 08/09/2005 8:26 Comments || Top||

#2  These people won't get it until some European city goes up in Islamic nuclear smoke. Then, just maybe, they'll do something, like probably blame Bush...
Posted by: tu3031 || 08/09/2005 8:51 Comments || Top||

#3  blah, blah, blah. Will the germans or french get worked enough to ever do anything other than wring their hands and cry?
Posted by: anymouse || 08/09/2005 9:31 Comments || Top||

#4  They will do what they always do.

Call us.

And that's when I will be in the streets protesting if the government proposes to send as much one each, troop, od in color to save their sorry butts.
Posted by: Michael || 08/09/2005 10:48 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Tech
U.S Soldier watches his childs birth over the internet
Posted by: Oztralian [AKA] God Save The World || 08/09/2005 11:05 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Good for him. But I'm more of a chomp the cigar and pace the hall kinda guy.
Posted by: Chuck Simmins || 08/09/2005 11:51 Comments || Top||

#2  Congrats to the mom (she did the hard part) and to the happy dad!
Posted by: anonymous5089 || 08/09/2005 12:18 Comments || Top||

#3  What's the world coming to when you can't hide from your family even on deployment in a war zone? Is it no longer enough to just show up for the conception? Is that not duty enough? What's next? Required conjugal cyber chat from the war zone? Whatever happened to stern, grim-faced, uninterested, disconnected, disciplinarian, never-home dads? Why in my day, I remember my boss deliberately dodging his family on the pier after a 75 day deployment so he could first visit the squadron repair officer, then get in 9 holes followed by happy hour/night at the club. I say bring back The Great Santini!
Posted by: Zpaz || 08/09/2005 13:34 Comments || Top||

#4  How wonderful. Congrats to the happy family.
Hey Zpaz, I guess for some you can still use the old, can you hear me now routine ha ha.
Posted by: Unager Jump1798 || 08/09/2005 14:26 Comments || Top||

#5  #4 comment was from me but using another route on my computer oops
Posted by: Jan || 08/09/2005 14:27 Comments || Top||

#6  The way Dad's used to be.
Posted by: Zpaz || 08/09/2005 14:41 Comments || Top||

#7  This brings to the table what multi-tasking is all about. To be able to do your job, but also stay in tune with your family and your job as a parent don't you think? The only worry being not to expose your family placing them in danger. It's nice that if you want you can choose to bottom line.
Posted by: Jan || 08/09/2005 15:09 Comments || Top||

#8  Gonna get that book Zpaz.... I want to read about Trieste at the end of WWII. Nearly set off another round a couple of times from what I read.
Posted by: Shipman || 08/09/2005 15:27 Comments || Top||

#9  Jan. I have been an instafather for 2 months now. It is sooooo messy in the emotional sense. It has given me a whole new level of respect for mothers. Now I also understand why my old man loves golf. I can not wait to get back on the road.
Posted by: Zpaz || 08/09/2005 16:05 Comments || Top||

#10  Zpaz,
hang in there and congrats to you too. Parenting is one of the most important jobs. They just grow up too fast. It's the "messy in the emotional sense" that make it all worth while.
Posted by: Jan || 08/09/2005 23:58 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan/South Asia
Mazari vs Bijarani
District Governor Election.

In the district of Kashmore the two martial tribes the Bijaranis and the Mazaris stand against each other to secure the coveted office of the District Governor. Mazaris belong to the Rojhan area of Punjab province where as the bijaranis migrated to khangarh from Aleppo , Syria. Bijaranis enjoy the chieftainship of 37 balouch and non-balouch tribes whereas the Mazaris command only one tribe. However they are being supported by the Musharraf regime. Sardar Balakh Sher Mazari, Sardar Sher Baz Mazari and Sardar Saleem Jan Mazari are the famous MP's and Sardar Mehran Khan Bijarani, Sardar Sher Mohammad Khan Bijarani, Sardar Hazar Khan Bijarani and Sardar Imran Khan Bijarani are the Veteran Politicians of Kashmore District of Sindh Province.

It is feared that due to Mazari/Bijarani stand-off the elections could end up in bloodshed. It is now upto the Chief Election commissioner of Pakistan to take precautionary measures to prevent such a situation.

The independant observers are of the view that regardless of the governments support for Mazaris the Bijaranis will secure the Governorship of the district.
Posted by: Clique Glinese8887 || 08/09/2005 08:56 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Terror Networks & Islam
British and French Al-Qaeda Terrorists Promise to Slit the Throats of Americans and Jews
The following are excerpts from a report about Al-Qaeda's anti-American military activities in Afghanistan. Al-Arabiya TV aired this report on August 5, 2005

Al-Arabiya reporter: In a film by the Al-Qaeda organization, excerpts of which are shown here in an Al-Arabiya exclusive, Al-Qaeda presents an ambush followed by an attack on an American army base in Kunar District in Afghanistan.

The film shows that the commander of the squad that carried out the operation is Abd Al-Hadi Al-Iraqi, who is also known as the Emir of the Arab Mujahideen in Afghanistan. He prepares a plan, using special squads from a number of countries. It is noteworthy that Al-Qaeda fighters from Britain, Ireland, France, and Pakistan, in addition to Arabs, speak in the film before the military operation.

Jihad fighter #1: [English] Oh people of the West, don't be fooled by the lies of Blair and Bush that you are free nations, for the only freedom that you have is the freedom to be slaves of your whims and desires.

Jihad fighter #2: [French] We the mujahideen swear, to all Muslims, the victims of unlimited and endless barbarism, that we will avenge their martyrs, and that we will slit the throats of the Americans and the Jews.

Jihad fighter #3: Come and join us. Join this blessed jihad. Come for the sake of Allah. Join us in this blessed jihad, with Mullah Omar and Sheik Osama bin Laden.

Al-Arabiya reporter: The film shows Al-Qaeda's military capabilities in producing explosives which were used in this operation. Then the Al-Qaeda fighters manage to break into the American army base, after American planes evacuated the wounded and the dead. The film shows documents the fighters took from a soldier's computer. In this computer were documents, military plans, and maps belonging to the military command of the American forces in Afghanistan.

Bakr Atyani, Al-Arabiya, Islamabad.
Posted by: anonymous5089 || 08/09/2005 08:39 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Come on to Alaska you bunch of pussies. Come out and try to cut my throat.

Or maybe you would would rather rape teenage girls, and shoot old men and women.
Posted by: anymouse || 08/09/2005 9:29 Comments || Top||

#2  did it show these men dead after the battle too
Posted by: Thraing Hupoluper1864 || 08/09/2005 10:10 Comments || Top||

#3  I second anymouse - come on down to Virginia and try that shit.

Here's one senior citizen that will gladly kick your collective asses.

Worthless losers.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 08/09/2005 14:13 Comments || Top||

#4  Barbara, you remind me of that old e-mail joke (I wish I could find it for here)that went around several times about sending in the not so old mother's into Iraq, that we'd kick some insurgents butts, just give us a chance to.
Posted by: Jan || 08/09/2005 15:29 Comments || Top||

#5  The scenes in the video for this production seems a little questionable at best. They need to work on the acting and oratory skills before prime time I'd say. Better editing would make it more believable but then again the target audience they wish to inspire are largely idiot nutters ready to believe any lie that fits.
Posted by: MunkarKat || 08/09/2005 16:09 Comments || Top||


Iraq-Jordan
Children NOT Killed by Car Bomb
The attack came almost as soon as our two Humvees pulled off the road and rolled to a stop.

We found ourselves assailed not by bullets or rocket-propelled grenades, nor improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and mortar rounds, but by a swirling, squealing, smiling mass of petitioners, all under 4-feet tall. Three or four children had stood on the road just 10 seconds earlier, yet by the time I climbed from my seat in the lead vehicle at least 40 of them swarmed between my vehicle and the next.

Six of us dismounted, the drivers and gunners staying in the vehicles. I walked to the rear of gun-truck No.2 where another man opened the hatch. The mass and press against my legs and back as I reached in for the box of food made me feel like I was at a Rolling Stones concert, Warning! Beverage alert! albeit one given exclusively for very, very short people. Snicker! I could barely move as I turned to try and carry the food over to a parent, hanging back at the edge of the village. Pressed in on every side, I called upon my remaining secret weapon.

The gunners in their turrets tried to focus on any potential distant threat, but when I gave the pre-arranged signal the gunner of truck #2 shifted. We had planned for this contingency. We plan for almost every contingency, even the happy ones.

Back at our base, we had separated the hard candy from the more substantial food and toiletries. We placed this 'ammo' in a separate box. That box was with the gunner, "Wingnut." On my order he let fly handful after handful of hard candy, throwing it well away and to the side of my location, a sugary "covering fire" which shifted progressively further from my position. My howling "opposition" melted away, streaming in a shrilly joyous mass off and to the side, diving for luxuries strewn in the dirt.

I accomplished my mission, handing to two now-smiling women great boxes of food and toiletries. Thirty seconds later, we were remounted and on the road again, just in case, because we were a long way from friendly forces and our convoy of two was very small.

Not long ago, just a few kilometers from where I sit now inside Baghdad's Green Zone, another group of American soldiers was doing much the same. They were passing out candy to children, as American soldiers have been doing for decades. The children were playing near the parked Humvees, and if my experiences are any guide, the kids were probably yelling and begging for yet more sweets, surrounding the Americans, when a suicide bomber drove straight into the pack of children and detonated his lethal cargo among them.

This cannot stand. I agree, but am not sure what the writer is advocating....

(Robert Bateman is an author and historian. He is a regular D.C. Examiner columnist. For the next year, his byline will appear from Baghdad, Iraq, and various other points throughout the Middle East.)
Posted by: Bobby || 08/09/2005 08:09 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  If this guy wants any future in journalism, he needs to quickly retitle this piece "American Troops Torment Iraqi Children, Cause Cavities".

Enjoyable post, Bobby.
Posted by: Matt || 08/09/2005 12:18 Comments || Top||


Africa: Horn
Any day now the UN will organize a Sudan peace force
German Defence Minister Peter Struck left Berlin on Sunday for talks with senior U.N. officials in New York on a peace force in Sudan that has been long planned but has still not been set up. and if we keep dragging our feet maybe the problem will go away. how many survivors are holding on in southern Sudan, anyway? can't be too many. a few more consultations should stretch things out sufficiently

He was to meet with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Monday to review plans to provide up to 75 German military observers to a force intended to supervise a ceasefire between the Sudan government and rebels. Four German armed forces officers have reached Sudan.

The Germans have been demanding to know if the force will be formed at all in the face of objections so far from Khartoum.

Officials in Berlin said Stuck would also ask how more security responsibility could be transferred to Afghan authorities from a German peace force in Kabul. Germany has taken part in 31 international peace missions since 1992.
Posted by: leader of the pack || 08/09/2005 07:13 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  can anyone tell me if the UN is involved in any reef efforts in Niger? O r is it just private organizations?
Posted by: Thraing Hupoluper1864 || 08/09/2005 7:21 Comments || Top||

#2  Maybe by the time they get it up and running, everybody will be dead. That'll make their job much easier...
Posted by: tu3031 || 08/09/2005 8:38 Comments || Top||

#3  The UN World Food program is "coordinating" relief in Niger. That basically means asking countries for money or emergency food, skimming 40% off the top, marking it "UN," and handing it out. If the US is going to contribute, I hope we cut out the middleman.
Posted by: Jackal || 08/09/2005 16:35 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan/South Asia
Women barred from voting
PESHAWAR: Candidates vying for nazim and naib nazim seats in various union councils of Mardan and Charsadda districts have reached an agreement on stopping women from voting.
"Who knows who the crazy bitches are gonna vote for? Better we look out for their interests for them..."
Four contesting candidates belonging to the Muttahida Group, Taraqi Pasand Group, Watan Dost Group and Tangi Awami Mahaz in Tangi Union Council, Charsadda district, have reached an agreement to keep women voters out of the local council elections schedule for August 18.
"Now, you might call us primitive for doing that, but really we're... ummm... primitive."
Both evolution and intelligent design passed them by ...
Mufti Gauhar Ali of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl-backed Muttahida Group told reporters on Monday that all four candidates had signed a written agreement, which had bound them not to allow women to vote. He said the candidates had agreed that the agreement’s violators would be fined Rs 500,000. He said the decision was made on the demands of the local people who wanted women out of the election process.
"Yeah! Votin's fer men! Havin' a passle o' brats is fer wimmin!"
In Sikandarey Purdilabad Union Council, Mardan district, the contesting candidates swore on the Quran to ban women from taking part in the election process. A meeting between area elders and candidates also decided not to allow women to vote.
Posted by: Fred || 08/09/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  what primates
Posted by: Captain America || 08/09/2005 1:04 Comments || Top||


Iraq-Jordan
US, Iraqi officials preventing trucks from returning to Syria
Tusk, tusk.
DAMASCUS - US and Iraqi forces are preventing hundreds of Syrian trucks from entering Syrian territories through a crossing northeast of the country, creating a backlog of transit trucks stranded on the Syrian-Iraqi Yaaroubiya border crossing, a Syrian customs official said on Monday.

Shehadeh Al Hussein said more than 700 Syrian trucks were stopped from returning to Syria after unloaded produce and other merchandise in Iraq. He said Iraqi authorities allowed non-Syrian trucks to pass but banned those with Syrian license plates from entering, while often directing insults at their drivers.
"Hey Hassan, I don't they like us no more."
Al Hussein, who is director of the Customs Authority in the northeastern province of Hassakeh, told The Associated Press by telephone that some of the drivers have been stranded for up to 18 days on the Yaaroubiya crossing, some 780 kilometers (485 miles) northeast of Damascus. Many had little or no food, he said.

He said some trucks passed but only after paying around US$100 (81 euros) to bribe Iraqi officials. “This puts economic pressure on Syria,” al-Hussein said. A meeting was held Monday with Iraqi customs officials to find a solution, he said, “but none seemed forthcoming.”
"Wait 'til we get a government elected, then we'll get back to you."
There was no immediate comment from Iraqi officials.
"Need we say more?"
A human rights group said Monday that US and Iraqi forces have for days prevented about 700 Syrian trucks from entering Syrian territory. The Arab Organization for Human Rights called on all international human rights organizations to exert pressure on US-led coalition forces in Iraq to abide by international laws.
An Arab organization demanding that people respect human rights? There's a first. Where were you guys a few years back?
In a statement it said the “exceptional” measures on the Syrian-Iraqi border were an encroachment on the rights of Syrian citizens inside Iraq and called on Iraqi authorities to facilitate the return of Syrian trucks and provide the drivers with food and water.
Posted by: Steve White || 08/09/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Ya, these are the same "human rights" folks who toe danced while Saddam killed millions.
Posted by: Captain America || 08/09/2005 1:18 Comments || Top||

#2  A very nice move! The Syrians will immediately realize that a mounting loss of mechanized assets will bring incoming (Iraq)trouble to a stand still!
Posted by: smn || 08/09/2005 4:42 Comments || Top||

#3  A human rights group said Monday that US and Iraqi forces have for days prevented about 700 Syrian trucks from entering Syrian territory.

Odd. I don't recall hearing a statement from this group about what the trucks carried INTO Iraq -- jihadis and bombs.
Posted by: Robert Crawford || 08/09/2005 7:49 Comments || Top||

#4  "Park it over there and get out, pal....HEY AHMED! 'Nother one for the crusher..."
Posted by: mojo || 08/09/2005 10:58 Comments || Top||

#5  My guess? This is something to do with the occupation of the smuggling quarter along the Anbar/Syria border. The Syrians are yelping because their bribe income just dried up.
Posted by: Mitch H. || 08/09/2005 11:41 Comments || Top||

#6  It's just the Iraqis way of saying "Truck you!" to Syria.
Posted by: Chuck Simmins || 08/09/2005 11:52 Comments || Top||

#7  How about stopping trucks from Syria from coming INTO Iraq? Whatever Syria has that Iraq needs, can be gotten from someplace else or through secure channels in the meantime.
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama || 08/09/2005 13:08 Comments || Top||

#8  Maybe they are going to implement Asset Forfeiture? Use your truck to transport terrorists and lose your truck.
Posted by: Jackal || 08/09/2005 16:41 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan/South Asia
Madrassa registration: I won’t tolerate any hindrance, sez Perv
President Gen Pervez Musharraf has said stated the decision to register madrassas was “final” and cautioned people that “no hindrance whatsoever would be tolerated in the registration process”.
"Don't even think about it!"
“The registration of madrassas is imperative. Modern scientific education should be imparted in seminaries so that students who graduate from them can play their part in all walks of life,” he told NWFP Governor Khalilur Rehman, who called on him at Army House on Monday.
"... or at least know how to read and write. Maybe not believe in djinns and efrits and stuff like that..."
The president said that the ongoing campaign against terrorists in Waziristan would be “stepped up”. He hailed the ongoing development projects in tribal areas and said that emphasis should be made to develop these underdeveloped and backward areas. “We must create employment opportunities in these areas to bring them at par with other parts of the country. Education and healthcare facilities should be provided to tribesmen and basic infrastructure should be improved,” he said.
"We're thinking that with time and a little patience and maybe some foreign aid we could coax them into the Neolithic..."
He said that antisocial elements were opposed to development. “We will take stern action against them,” said the president. About the upcoming local bodies elections, he said that the code of conduct announced by the Election Commission should be upheld and no one should be allowed to violate the code.
Posted by: Fred || 08/09/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The best way to enforce your will. Prev, is to flatten a few indiscriminately.

Oops, there goes another one. Registration line forms here.
Posted by: Captain America || 08/09/2005 1:06 Comments || Top||

#2  "I won’t tolerate any hindrance"

Kind of like, when you ran for President. Oh! I forgot, you are a dictator. Please accept my sincere apologies.
Posted by: Poison Reverse || 08/09/2005 7:12 Comments || Top||

#3  Maybe not believe in djinns and efrits and stuff like that...

Not very likely.

A pakistani nuclear physicist, PhD from USA, with years of experience working on reactors, has written a paper on solving the pak energy problem by harnessing the energy of Jinns.

Other scientists have written about calcultaing the "angle of God" and "the speed at which Heaven was departing from Earth"

If Pak PhD believe this rubbish, what for the madrassa head bobbing graduate?



Posted by: john || 08/09/2005 20:57 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine
Gaza settlers surrender weapons ahead of pullout
GANEI TAL, Gaza Strip - A group of Jewish settlers surrendered their guns to the Israeli army in occupied Gaza on Monday, part of a weapons handover aimed at minimising the risk of armed clashes during a planned Israeli pullout.

In Ganei Tal, a religious farming community in the Jewish settlement bloc of Gush Katif, settlers handed a local security official more than 20 assault rifles used for guard duty. An orange ribbon was wrapped around each weapon, marking the symbolic colour of the settlers’ protest against Israel’s planned evacuation beginning Aug. 17 from land they see as a biblical birthright.

Effi Slotsky, 55, was bitter as he turned in his gun. ”We do not want to give the authorities any room for confrontation,” he said. “I have no confidence in the establishment, and the pullout will bring a disaster for the country. But it is up to them (the Israeli army) to protect us now.”

Personal handguns owned by Ganei Tal settlers have yet to be collected.

Military sources said the army was discussing a larger-scale collection of settler weapons before Israel evacuates all 21 Gaza settlements and four of 120 in the West Bank in a plan billed as “disengagement” from conflict with the Palestinians.

Ami Shaked, head of security in the Gush Katif bloc, said efforts were being made to collect many of the hundreds of handguns still held by the 8,500 Gaza settlers who live among 1.4 million Palestinians. “The idea is to collect all the weapons. I hope all firearms will be handed over to the authorities,” Shaked said.
Return the weapons when the settlers finish leaving Gaza and get to their new homes. I really don't want to see any blue-on-blue violence.
Posted by: Steve White || 08/09/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  This is proving to be a horrendous few weeks.
Posted by: Jan || 08/09/2005 1:12 Comments || Top||

#2  I still don't like this disengagement.
Posted by: Captain America || 08/09/2005 1:19 Comments || Top||

#3  Like the guy says, it's up to the army now. I think it's a bad idea, but maybe it IS easier to just fence out the savages, and let them stew in their own juices.
Posted by: Scooter McGruder || 08/09/2005 5:14 Comments || Top||

#4  circle the wagons. I know it's unpopular, but I think it's a good strategy. And at the very least, it's a strategy. You can fight for thousands of years over a patch of land or you can do something bold and move forward.

Do I think that the Paleos will stop at Gaza? No. Do I think they will stop short of anything short of trying to push the Jews into the sea? No. But with this move, Sharon is circling the wagons and can concentrate on keeping the savages out.

In some ways, it's like our own Western experience. I have no problem with settlers who want to stay - except it's become clear that the calvary can't protect them. So they have a choice, get inside the fort or take your chances. If they want to take their chances, more power to them, but only if they don't expect the members of the calvary to risk their lives in a battle they can't win.

The thought comes to mind of surfers in Hawaii who go out to surf big waves during a hurricane or storm. Fine. But then don't go calling 911 and asking someone else to rescue you. You made your choice - now deal with it.
Posted by: 2b || 08/09/2005 5:45 Comments || Top||

#5  2b,

While we are it, let's give up Mexifornia, MexiTexas, and Mexizona when the illegals wear bomb vests in our malls, looking for land. We will give up the land, build a wall and live in absolute nirvana.

The "let them stew in their own juices" theory is not going to ever work.

1. Bush is not going to be President forever.
2. Sharon is not going to be PM forever.
3. The land give away for security has already been tried and failed. The sellout Ehud Barak, gave away the Golan Heights and now there is proxy attack after proxy attack by the Iranians. Israel can't retaliate like they want to because of 1. UN Peace keepers 2. world condemnation.

After the Gaza pullout, the UN Peacekeepers will line up on the Gaza border as human shield preventing the Israeli's from retaliating to the attacks from inside the "pullout zone."

Bottomline, the pullout will be an utter disaster.
Posted by: Poison Reverse || 08/09/2005 9:51 Comments || Top||

#6  Disagree - defensible borders/walls/along with massive retaliation to any mortar, rockets. Let the Paleos have their hellhole, and bring hell to the violators
Posted by: Frank G || 08/09/2005 10:53 Comments || Top||

#7  btw - the Paleo civil war is on, and will break out openly once the settlers leave. Pass the popcorn
Posted by: Frank G || 08/09/2005 10:55 Comments || Top||

#8  Frank,

Just one question. How do you explain the Golan debacle?
Posted by: Poison Reverse || 08/09/2005 11:17 Comments || Top||

#9  Golan debacle? The '73 surprise attack on the heights? Or perhaps you're talking about the withdrawl from Lebannon?
Posted by: Shipman || 08/09/2005 15:32 Comments || Top||

#10  Ship,

I am referring to the 3rd statement on thread #5. Please read before responding. Ehud's recent give in to the terrs away. You may have to Google to get more details.

Ehud pullout of the Golan Heights, similar to the now "Gaza pullout for peace outcry," has already been tried. The end result as you can witness realtime.....

....the Sheba Farms gets shelled constantly by Hizb and the pullout got plenty of Lebenase Christians killed. The Lebanese Christians once provided with Israel with valuable intel on the Hizb. movements. Ehud stabbed them in the back by pulling out.

The more land Israel gives away, the more they get shelled in return.
Posted by: Poison Reverse || 08/09/2005 16:07 Comments || Top||

#11  Here is something from Cal Thomas:

The end of Israel?
by Cal Thomas, August 4, 2005

In the H.G Wells novel and subsequent film, "The Invisible Man," the main character takes a dangerous drug and slowly disappears.

That is a metaphor for what is happening to Israel as it plans its latest unilateral withdrawal from Gaza, which it once "occupied" for security purposes. Israel is slowly disappearing, and the twin drugs of appeasement and self-delusion are responsible.

The "disengagement" later this month (which is actually a retreat and is seen that way by Israel's enemies) will not be the end, anymore than previous retreats, concessions, "good will" gestures and written documents have produced security or peace in the region.

Only after Israel is destroyed will the West realize what it did and failed to do, but it will find convenient and comforting explanations to absolve itself from any blame. Jews, you see, are always responsible not only for the world's problems, but for bringing destruction upon themselves by virtue of their being Jews.


Some Israelis are placing faith in a formal "letter of assurance" that President Bush addressed to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on April 14, 2004, in which the president assured Sharon that the United States would back Israel's claim for defensible borders, which Israelis take to mean the West Bank. The Palestinian and Arab sides have not agreed to any borders.

Israel trusts the word of the president, even as the State Department continues its pro-Arab ways and pressures Israel into real concessions while accepting as gospel empty promises from the Palestinian side, a side that has lived up to only one pledge: to eradicate the Jewish state.

Does anyone doubt that the moment (or even before the moment) the last Jewish "settler" is dislodged from Gaza and the last thriving business closed, that Hamas and its legion of demons will rush into Gaza, expand their terror operation and begin close-up attacks on Israel?


Who will stop them? It won't be the Europeans, or the Palestinians, or any Arab state that helps subsidize them. When the next formal war is launched against Israel, will the United States send troops and planes? With so little land left to defend, it is likely such a war will be over soon after it starts with Israeli cities reduced to rubble and casualties running to perhaps tens of thousands, or more.

No responsible business owner would give something to his customers without receiving something in return, or he would not remain in business for long. Why should Israel be required to do all the giving and none of the receiving?

Have we forgotten what produced the Israeli "occupation" of the Gaza Strip? In May, 1967, the armies of Egypt, Jordan and Syria gathered on Israel's borders in another attempt to eradicate Israel. These armies enjoyed backing from several other Arab countries, much as Hitler's "final solution" enjoyed similar support from some of the same Arab states. Israel's pre-emptive strike allowed it to gain control of Gaza and the West Bank.


Has anything changed in the Palestinian and Arab world? Has the rhetoric in mosques, schools and media cooled toward Israel or the objective of eliminating it? It has not. If anything, the rhetoric has become even more volatile. The Israelis are held in such contempt that they must dig up their dead from cemeteries in Gush Katif, including six graves of area residents murdered by terrorists, to avoid the desecration they've experienced in the past. Not a single Jew, living or dead, will be allowed to remain.

Based on past performance, once Israel's retreat is finished, the Palestinian-Arab side may digest its latest prey like a giant boa constrictor swallowing a large mouse. But after swallowing, it will want more. Look for another intifada and then look for the State Department and the rest of the administration to again pressure Israel to "do more."

The formula is wrong. Just as the character in "The Invisible Man" was unable to find an antidote and restore what he had lost, Israel's slow disappearance from the region cannot now be reversed. Assurances, agreements, promises and documents will not be able to bring her back.

The West, having failed 60 years ago to save millions of Jews from the murderous ways of the Third Reich, will have new blood on its hands which history will not, and should not, allow it ever to wipe clean.
Posted by: Poison Reverse || 08/09/2005 16:58 Comments || Top||

#12  You may have to Google to get more details
:> Thanks! You don't know 'em do ya?

LOL! Same old PR.
I sense a little confusion.
Posted by: Shipman || 08/09/2005 17:54 Comments || Top||

#13  Ship,

That was below the belt man.

Here you go...skeptical grasshoppa

Peace
More Peace
A bit more Peace
A little bit more Peace
Absolute Peace
Nirvana


Posted by: Poison Reverse || 08/09/2005 18:22 Comments || Top||

#14  Good stuff PR.... but I'm still missing the debacle part... political debacle? I'll reread closer in the morning.
Posted by: Shipman || 08/09/2005 19:22 Comments || Top||

#15  yeah, that Golan debacle is set in the future, isn't it? Israel hasn't IIUC ceded any Golan strategic hts back, and in any vent, reserves the right to reduce Damascus to rubble. It's tougher when you face fish that swim in not-so-innocent-schools of "civilians" fodder
Posted by: Frank G || 08/09/2005 20:08 Comments || Top||

#16  Ship,

I didn't mean political debacle. But, the debacle created by the pullout. Hence, the constant shelling and exponential growth in Hizb rocket placement. I believe due to the pullout, there are about 10,000 to 30,000 rockets pointed at Israel which was never there before the pullout. This article was written in 2002, imagine how many rockets they have now. Not a total debacle yet, but the environment is rich for it to happen. Before the pullout, the situation was controlled. But, now sooner or later, Israel will forced to risk a great deal to get a handle on the threat when they could have been prevented in the first place by NOT pulling out.

My whole point in this, is not to play word games, but that Israel already tried the pullout experiment. Capitulation under the threat of terror is not answer. The Muslims have millions and millions acres of land all over. Why is that Israel is always the one that have to give up land?
Posted by: Poison Reverse || 08/09/2005 20:18 Comments || Top||

#17  because it was strategically and financially indefensible....
Posted by: Frank G || 08/09/2005 20:21 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan/South Asia
Fazl denies accusing govt of training terrorists
Maulana Fazlur Rehman, leader of the opposition in the National Assembly and Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal secretary general, on Monday denied that he accused the government of training terrorists and sending them to Afghanistan. Fazl said that a news published in an English language daily, quoting him as saying that the Pakistani government was training terrorists to send them to Afghanistan, had no connection with his press conference in Lahore on Sunday.
"Nope. Nope. Never said it. Besides, I was drunk..."
Posted by: Fred || 08/09/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I see the ISI have paid a visit.

Mullah Diesel may yet suffer a stroke or heart attack

Posted by: john || 08/09/2005 6:28 Comments || Top||

#2  Yow! In that pic he looks suspiciously like my brother-in-law with a bad curtain wrapped around his head.
Posted by: Spot || 08/09/2005 8:15 Comments || Top||

#3  Did somebody say... doughnuts!?
Posted by: tu3031 || 08/09/2005 8:30 Comments || Top||


'UK's decision to deport 500 Muslims unjust'
LAHORE: The UK's decision to deport 500 Muslim leaders, teachers and owners of Islamic bookshops is hasty, undemocratic and unjust, said a Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) official on Monday. Talking to a group of Pakistani students studying in Britain and the USA at Mansoorah, Hafiz Mohammad Idrees, JI naib ameer, said Islam had nothing to do with terrorism, but the Western media had been implicating Muslims in every terrorist activity without any proof. He said that Islamabad could not take a stand against the UK's decision to deport Muslims because General Pervez Musharraf himself was bent on deporting foreign students from Pakistan.
It's almost tiresome to comment on anything anybody from JI says. To me, what was unjust was that killed 52 and maimed I don't know how many others, people who'd done nothing more threatening to Islam than getting up in the morning and going to work or shopping. Those being dumped aren't 500 innocents picked at random, but 500 loud-mouthed holy men who've been egging on the rubes toward mass murder. I guess it's natural that they'll get lots of sympathy from like-minded loud-mouthed holy men in Pakistan, which swarms with such moral cockroaches, and no doubt they'll all be able to get together and sympathize when Britain ships the refuse back there.
Posted by: Fred || 08/09/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Scary to think that UK may have waited too many years in doing this, that the muslims have become strongly established and have a loud voice as they are demonstrating now. I hope UK stands strong and continues with the decision to deport them. If they stop in any way the battle is lost with their weakness.
I just hope that we don't have similar problems here stateside.
Posted by: Jan || 08/09/2005 0:13 Comments || Top||

#2 
UK's decision to deport 500 Muslims unjust
I agree.

It should be 5,000.

For starters.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 08/09/2005 0:52 Comments || Top||

#3  Shame they won't can't do it the old fashioned way. Take 'em to Dover, strip 'em and tell 'em to start swimming.

...then release the sharks...
Posted by: DanNY || 08/09/2005 5:16 Comments || Top||

#4  Now the immediacy of the bombings has faded the UK Muslim community has reverted to type: weasel words / contrived hysteria / bathos. We really should deport any who have a modicum of ambivalence regarding the terrorist threat, born here or not. While 5,000 will do for starters - 5,000 per week could really make the country feel like home again.
Posted by: Joseph Merrick || 08/09/2005 6:24 Comments || Top||

#5  I see. So, it begins.

Look at the bright side, now you get to legally commit honor killings and rape little boys and girls in the name of Mohahahammed.
Posted by: Poison Reverse || 08/09/2005 7:03 Comments || Top||

#6  the Western media had been implicating Muslims in every terrorist activity without any proof.

The claims of responsibility and expressions of pride in the murders seem sufficient proof to me.
Posted by: Robert Crawford || 08/09/2005 7:18 Comments || Top||

#7  He said that Islamabad could not take a stand against the UK's decision to deport Muslims because General Pervez Musharraf himself was bent on deporting foreign students from Pakistan.

If we're lucky, maybe the planes will crash into each other...
Posted by: tu3031 || 08/09/2005 8:32 Comments || Top||

#8  If we're lucky, maybe the planes will crash into each other...

Charter a few Aeroflots, increase the odds...
Posted by: Raj || 08/09/2005 10:29 Comments || Top||

#9  The only thing unjust about the decision is that it wasn't 50,000/week. 150 jumbo flights/week, 22/day, about one an hour - Heathrow can do that easily ;)
Posted by: Tony (UK) || 08/09/2005 11:26 Comments || Top||

#10  Get Slobo from Gagging, knight 'im, and appoint 'im queen's commishioner on British Moslems
Posted by: gromgoru || 08/09/2005 11:40 Comments || Top||

#11  tu and Raj: If plane A takes off from London-Heathrow, heading S/SE at 500 mph (oops, I mean 1500 meters/hr) and plane B takes off from Lahore Int'l airport...awww, forget it, as long as they "meet in the middle," I'm o.k. with however long it takes.
Posted by: BA || 08/09/2005 13:26 Comments || Top||

#12  I know! I know! Atlanta!
Posted by: Clavin || 08/09/2005 15:17 Comments || Top||

#13  Good one, Clav! Like many here in Hotlanta say "You have to go through Atlanta to get to Hell." (I-75, I-85, I-20 and I-285 notwithstanding).
Posted by: BA || 08/09/2005 15:38 Comments || Top||

#14  Not quite the right quote,

It's "It doesn't matter if you're going to hell, you have to change planes in Atlanta"

(True too)
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 08/09/2005 16:26 Comments || Top||

#15  Yep, that's it Jim!
Posted by: BA || 08/09/2005 21:32 Comments || Top||


Terror Networks & Islam
World Net Daily - salt as you please - If al-Qaida has nukes, why wait to use them?
WASHINGTON – Recent al-Qaida attacks using primitive bombs and inflicting relatively small numbers of casualties have persuaded some that Osama bin Laden's terrorist network has been unable to secure weapons of mass destruction or has been unable to smuggle them into the U.S. and other key target countries.

In the wake of a series of reports from Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin about the nuclear terrorism threat, some skeptics of al-Qaida's ability to detonate nuclear weapons inside the U.S. most often suggest the problems with maintenance and technical attention.

Others suggest Osama bin Laden may have purchased duds on the black market. Others point out that the triggers on suitcase nukes decay rapidly and have short half lives. The nuclear cores, after a time, fall below the critical mass threshold, say the optimists. Even the shells are subject to contamination over time if not properly maintained, they say.

Unfortunately, finds Paul Williams, author of the upcoming book, "The Al Qaeda Connection: International Terrorism, Organized Crime and the Coming Apocalypse," there's little point in assessing the possibilities with rose-colored glasses.
[...]
Posted by: 3dc || 08/09/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  That was kind of scary reading that full article... I'm only a young male, didn't really learn much about the cold war or how the Russians supposedly fowarded these nukes into the U.S.. This may sound strange but I enjoyed reading that article, even if it did send a shiver down my spine... Now im going to do some google searches and learn some more about the cold war. Any links people have concerning this would be greatly appreciated as i can never seem to find what i am searching for! EVER !
Posted by: Oztralian [AKA] God Save The World || 08/09/2005 10:44 Comments || Top||

#2  Man, this meme just will not die.

The nuclear cores, after a time, fall below the critical mass threshold, say the optimists. Even the shells are subject to contamination over time if not properly maintained, they say.

Only problem with that statement is the they in question aren't a bunch of armchair pundits, they're the guys who know this stuff (scientists, technicians, military). I'm not one of them, but I sure trust them more than some guys trying to sell an alarmist book.
Posted by: Xbalanke || 08/09/2005 12:23 Comments || Top||

#3  I listened to Paul Williams on the Michael Savage show. Following the interview, I turned off Michael Savage and haven't looked back.
Posted by: eLarson || 08/09/2005 14:56 Comments || Top||

#4  My next book is: AQ and the Depression of 2010.
Posted by: Shipman || 08/09/2005 15:34 Comments || Top||

#5  Followed by: Making a Mint in the Depression of 2010. In the works are The Era of Low Gravity is Almost Here. I explain why the skeptics can't measure low gravity in Bell Bottoms of the Ancients.
Posted by: Shipman || 08/09/2005 15:36 Comments || Top||

#6  Paul Williams? Wasn't he in "Phantom of the Paradise"?
Posted by: Robert Crawford || 08/09/2005 15:44 Comments || Top||

#7  This is excellent niche marketing on these guys behalf. The old let's build a bunker for Y2K crowd needed another reason to prepare for the worst,a and now they have it.

Far fetched, yes, impossible, no, provable-never, now there's the ingredients for a delicious conspiracy casserole.

EP
Posted by: ElvisHasLeftTheBuilding || 08/09/2005 15:47 Comments || Top||

#8  One of the worst things about this Al Qaeda and the suitcase nukes is that it distracts us from the sort of weapons they really could use.

I wonder if part of the blind spot leading up to 9/11 was intel analysts looking for "big" threats and not considering weapons of opportunity.
Posted by: Dreadnought || 08/09/2005 16:40 Comments || Top||

#9  Oztralian,
Try http://www.childrenofthemanhattanproject.org/ for starters.
http://www.strategypage.com/ is good for newer military information. A particularly good site for cold war (and modern) weapons is http://www.fas.org/nuke/ - eg you'll find out what the missile capacity of a Trident submarine is (hint: a lot)

Also, ask questions here, but make sure you've done some initial research - noone likes a leech! :) - there are some very very knowledgeable people here. You'll obviously not get any classified information, but they may be able to put some special context around any questions you may have.

Also, there's an interesting movie called 'Trinity, and Beyond' AKA 'The Atomic Bomb Movie' which details nuke testing from 1945 until about 1963. Gives you some perspective on just how completely devastating these weapons are.
Posted by: Tony (UK) || 08/09/2005 17:32 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan/South Asia
Ex-Londoner’s diary of Jihad: A portrait sprinkled with Quran verses and epithets
In a small house outside the city of Peshawar, a 25-year-old man from the suburbs of London chronicled his personal holy war in the pages of a diary, reported The New York Times.
March 10, 2005, “All alone in a strange land,” the report quoted him to have written. “I can trust no-one except Allah.”

March 26. Questions how fellow Muslims can live peacefully in London when the “kufr”, non-believers, have turned every corner of the globe into “a battlefield for the Muslims.” Calls London the “vital organ of the minions of the devil,” the report quoted him.

April 5 Vows to make “an all out immense effort” to “rejoin my contingent.”
What specific operation the man, Zeeshan Siddique, was preparing for is unclear, the report said. One month later, Pakistan security forces arrested him at the house after receiving reports that he was acting suspiciously. Inside, according to a Pakistani security official, investigators found an electrical circuit that could be used as a bomb detonator; a desktop computer that contained aeronautical mapping; and the cryptic 35-page diary, typed in English, with nearly daily entries from March 2 to April 6, 2005. The report quoted the Pakistani official as saying that he believed that Mr Siddique was waiting to be dispatched as a suicide bomber. Phone numbers found with Mr Siddique have been traced to known members of Al Qaeda, as well as British extremists involved in a failed plot to detonate bombs in London in 2004, the investigator said.

The British police are also investigating whether Mr Siddique, who was reared in Britain, had ties to the terrorist attacks in London on July 7, officials said. In particular, they are trying to determine whether a diary entry on March 13, in which Mr Siddique says he has learned that “wagon is now called off,” refers to the July 7 bombing plot. Mr Siddique denied having played any role in the failed 2004 plot or the recent London attacks, the report quoted the Pakistani security official. Still, his diary offers a chilling, if fragmented, self-portrait of a young Muslim man not only disaffected with Western society, but with other Muslims unwilling to join in jihad.

Printed on sheets of paper from Mr Siddique’s computer, in mostly capital letters, its 35 pages are sprinkled with British slang, profanities and verses from the Holy Quran. Entries from the diary were shared with The New York Times by a Pakistani security official who insisted on anonymity because of the delicacy of the investigation. Across the top of its first page is a quote from the Holy Quran: “The greatest tests are truly to be soon alleviated,” the report said.

Based on the diary entries, he quickly grew uncomfortable, even contemptuous, of those around him after arriving at the house near Peshawar in early March. “I can’t live in filth unlike u animals” he writes on March 8, calling a group of Pakistani neighbours “dirty geezers” and a Pakistani store owner a “monkey con artist.” He suffers bouts of diarrhoea and is unhappy with his hideaway, which has no running water. In the same entry he also notes that a person he contacted over the Internet “seemed 2 be chickening out.” He fears he is being “conned,” and is running out of money, the report said. On March 10 he complains of isolation and not speaking the local language. “I’m constantly laughed at and ridiculed,” he wrote.

Mr Siddique has told investigators that he is from the London suburb of Hounslow and is a Muslim of Indian descent. Efforts to locate his family in Hounslow were unsuccessful. The only traces of his former life are school records and a single clipping from a Hounslow area newspaper. The article, from November 1997, quotes the police as saying that the then 17-year-old Mr Siddique “ran off to join the mujahedeen” in Lebanon. He returned to his “frantic parents” one month later, the article says. It says Mr Sidddique suffered from “a depressive illness.”

The report said that after the British press reported his possible link to the London bombings last month, officials in Hounslow issued a statement saying he was an “ordinary, average” student at Cranford Community College there from September 1992 to July 1997. But officials also say they believe that he befriended another student at Cranford, Asid Muhammad Hanif, who blew himself up in the suicide bombing of a Tel Aviv nightclub in 2003. “We think they were friends,” said Philip Sutcliffe, a Hounslow government spokesman.

Mr Siddique has told interrogators that he first travelled to Pakistan in February 2003 with a British Muslim who was one of eight men later arrested on suspicion of having a role in the failed 2004 London plot. He also said he had spent two and a half months in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore with Muhammad Junaid Babar, a Pakistani-American computer programmer from Queens, according to the Pakistani security official. Mr Babar pleaded guilty last year to charges of supplying military equipment to an Al Qaeda training camp and working to aid the failed 2004 London plot.

While denying involvement in the two plots, Mr Siddique has told interrogators that he spent the last two years fighting in Afghanistan and Kashmir. His diary offers little sense of what initially drove him to extremism, but abounds with examples of how he views the world through a radical lens. He rails about Pakistanis who “claim 2 b Muslim” but “don’t get it thru their thick heads” that it is their “fard,” or religious duty, to help him wage his holy war, the report said. On March 11, he visits people whom he identifies by code-name and learns “bad news.” “The relaxing place was done over,” he writes, and “7-8 of the guys taken whilst asleep.” “Told guys need to make a move soon,” he writes. “Cant stick round.”

On March 15 Mr Siddique is told “the situation is really bad” and he should “just sit tight and wait it out until things get a bit better.” Over the next week he gardens, listens to BBC radio news broadcasts and rejoices at the death of “Yankee pigs” in Iraq and Afghanistan. The report said that he sees himself as a valiant defender of a faith under siege. “Indeed the kafrs do possess everything at the moment but for how long,” he writes on March 23. “Indeed the armies of Islam are coming.”

The report said that on April 5 he complains about endless news coverage of the death of Pope John Paul II and predicts that “Allah will throw him in hell.” On April 6 he celebrates the deaths of Prince Rainier of III Monaco and the American Nobel laureate Saul Bellow, whom he called a “Jew boy writer friend of Herzl,” apparently a reference to Theodor Herzl, the founder of the Zionist political movement, who died in 1904, the report said. “Excellent news,” he writes. “May Allah curse them.” He seethes the most at Muslims he sees as aiding the West, calling them hypocrites. The report quoted him that General Musharraf, is Satan. Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari of Iraq is “the dog of the hell fire.” When his spirits flag, Mr Siddique bolsters his morale by watching “vids,” apparently videos or DVD’s from the “bros” in Iraq.

Mr Siddique has told interrogators that he misses his parents in Britain, according to the Pakistani security official. But he believes that the only way he can spend eternity with them is by becoming a martyr. “Do not waver or become weak,” he writes in one of his last diary entries. “This is the only way I can be reunited with Mummy and Daddy.”
Posted by: Fred || 08/09/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Printed on sheets of paper from Mr Siddique’s computer, in mostly capital letters, its 35 pages are sprinkled with British slang, profanities and verses from the Holy Quran.

Hummmm..... sounds like olde house Troll Faisal
Posted by: Shipman || 08/09/2005 3:17 Comments || Top||

#2  "in mostly capital letters"

Heh, mebbe so - or a cousin, perhaps. Regardless, we've met his kind. BTW, his last name means "friend".
Posted by: .com || 08/09/2005 3:40 Comments || Top||

#3  Do tell! LOL!
Posted by: Shipman || 08/09/2005 4:57 Comments || Top||

#4  Sounds like the Muslim version of "Taxi Driver"...
and say hi to "Mummy and Daddy", ya pussy.
Posted by: tu3031 || 08/09/2005 8:36 Comments || Top||

#5  I think we could have subtitled this one "a look inside the head of a psychoceramic."
Posted by: Fred || 08/09/2005 12:10 Comments || Top||

#6  Brittle little mind.
Posted by: MunkarKat || 08/09/2005 16:17 Comments || Top||


Africa: Horn
US Experts to Help in Garang Helicopter Crash Probe
A team of US aviation experts has arrived in Kenya and will soon travel to Sudan to assist in the probe of last month’s helicopter crash that killed Sudanese Vice President John Garang, the US Embassy here said yesterday. The five-strong team from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) arrived in Nairobi on Sunday and is expected to depart shortly to join the investigation being conducted jointly by the Sudanese government and Garang’s ex-rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), it said.

“The group is here, they arrived on Sunday, but they haven’t worked out a final schedule yet,” an embassy official told AFP. “They will be investigating the crash as the NTSB does and has done in other incidents like this.” The team is headed by senior investigator Dennis Jones, who has participated in accident investigations in Sudan twice before, the Washington-based NTSB said, adding that its findings would be made public by Sudanese officials. “All information on the progress of the investigation will be released by (Sudan’s) Government of National Unity,” it said in a statement issued last week.

Garang and 13 others were killed in a helicopter crash on July 30. Khartoum, the SPLM, Garang’s widow and foreign diplomats have all said the crash was an accident due most likely to poor weather and visibility and possible pilot error. But on Friday, Museveni said the cause was unclear and could have been the result of “an external factor,” suggesting for the first time that the crash might have been due to foul play.
"I mean, it's my personal helicopter and it's never killed me! Kinda coincidental that it killed poor John, ain't it?"
Posted by: Fred || 08/09/2005 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Great. Who did we piss off?
Posted by: The five-strong team from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) || 08/09/2005 15:57 Comments || Top||



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Two weeks of WOT
Tue 2005-08-09
  Bakri sez he'll be back
Mon 2005-08-08
  Zambia extradites Aswad to UK
Sun 2005-08-07
  UK terrorists got cash from Saudi Arabia before 7/7
Sat 2005-08-06
  Blair Announces Measures to Combat Terrorism
Fri 2005-08-05
  Binori Town students going home. Really.
Thu 2005-08-04
  Ayman makes faces at Brits
Wed 2005-08-03
  First Suspect in July 21 Bombings Charged
Tue 2005-08-02
  24 Killed in Khartoum Riot
Mon 2005-08-01
  Fahd dead; Garang dead
Sun 2005-07-31
  Bombers Start Talking
Sat 2005-07-30
  25 Held in Sharm
Fri 2005-07-29
  Feds Investigating Repeat Blast at TX Chemical Plant
Thu 2005-07-28
  Hunt for 15 in Sharm Blasts
Wed 2005-07-27
  London Boomer Bagged
Tue 2005-07-26
  Van Gogh killer jailed for life

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