The Afghanistan province being patrolled by British troops will produce at least a third of the world's heroin this year, according to drug experts who are forecasting a record harvest that will be an embarrassment for the western-funded war on narcotics.
British officials are bracing themselves for the result of an annual UN poppy survey due later this summer. Early indications show an increase on Helmand's 1999 record of 45,000 hectares (112,500 acres) and a near-doubling of last year's crop. "It's going to be massive," said one British drugs official. "My guess is it's going to be the biggest ever."
Helmand's bumper harvest highlights the failure of western counter-narcotics efforts that have cost at least $2bn since 2001. It could undo progress made last year, when poppy cultivation dropped 21% after a call for a "jihad" on drugs by the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai. It spells particularly bad news for Britain, which is leading the anti-narcotics campaign and has deployed 3,300 soldiers to the lawless province. Afghanistan produces almost 90% of the world's heroin, with about a third coming from Helmand. Drug experts say the province is as central to Afghanistan's illegal economy as California is to America's legal one. "If you took Helmand out of the picture, Afghanistan would fall from the world's top poppy grower to second or third place," said one US official.
So the Brits have some explaining to do, but it's tough to tell farmers that they can't grow the one crop that will feed their families.
British and American officials cannot resort to the tactics of the Taliban, which slashed poppy cultivation in 2001 by threatening to shoot farmers. But western efforts using less violent methods, such as encouraging farmers to grow legal crops, have proved fruitless.
The smuggling kingpins who control the £1.5bn trade have become rich, powerful and apparently untouchable. "Until Karzai arrests and jails one big dealer, people will not believe the central government is behind this drive," said a former American anti-narcotics contractor.
The most damaging allegations surround the minister charged with counter-narcotics, Muhammad Daud. Several western officials claim General Daud, a former Tajik warlord, has historical and family links to smuggling. He denies the allegations. "It is very shameful for a big country with such a good reputation to make allegations like this," he said.
"Lies! All lies! Just 'cause Pa, and Grampa, and Great-Grampa, and Great-Great Grampa were smugglers doesn't mean I do that!"
American congressmen are increasing the pressure to start poppy eradication with crop-spraying planes - a controversial tactic opposed by British and Afghan officials, who say it would be disastrous. "It could drive farmers into the hands of the insurgents," said one.
Yup, it prob'ly would do just that.
Britain's main enemy, the Taliban, has developed close links to drugs smugglers. On Sunday a British soldier, named as Captain Jim Philippson, became the first combat fatality in Helmand after a battle with suspected Taliban forces.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/14/2006 00:00 ||
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#4
Buy it up. Process it. Regulate it, tax and distribute it until effective treatment centers are readily accessible, or you'll have junkies coming after the politicians that destroy 90% of the supply. Better than letting the Taliban and terrorists fund their operations through smuggling and profiting from the West's addictions.
Islamists impose curfew on JowharJowhar 14 June. 06 ( Sh.M.Network) - More than 12 people most of them militias have been killed and 20 others wounded in fighting that resulted Islamic militias seize the only Secular stronghold of Jowhar, sources reported. Islamic militias armed heavily with vehicles and machineguns have fiercely defeated rival Anti terror Secular after three and half hour fighting in the suburbs of Jowhar which is the only stronghold remained for the chased warlords.
Inside the town people got out of their homes after Islamists militias poured chanting the word!! Alahu Akbar!! God is greatest. Local residents showed great support to the Islamists g giving them water to drink and congratulation to their victory. Shabelle correspondent in Jowhar said.
Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, Chairman of Joint Islamic Courts gave his words t o the people in the Town after defeating his rival. Alahu Akbar Alahu Akbar Alahu Akbar sheik Sharif said talking to hundreds of locals who gathered at Jowhar football Stadium. The people in Jowhar have been freed from warlord that dictated people for along time he said adding that this is the glory of Allah. He also told people in jowhar that curfew is imposed at the town beginning 8:00 in the evening local time until down.
Militias loyal to Mohamed Dhere who ruled the town fled to northern direction while details are not available about their real casualties.
Somali Warlords lose political arena
Mogadishu 14 June. 06 ( Sh.M.Network)Muse Sudi Yalahow and Bashir Rage Shirar have been reportedly withdrawn from the failed Anti Terror Secular in Mogadishu today after the last strong hold base for the warlords fall in the Islamic courts, elder said. Husein Sheik Ahmed Kadare a local elder from Abgal Clan, the same Muse Sudi and Bashir Rage descend but not confirmed by them.
Dr. Kadare told local radio channels that Muse Sudi and Bashir Rage would not be Anti terror Alliance members any more from now on. We could not reach Muse Sudi and Rage for details. Dr. Kadare is among Mudulood politicians and local traditional elders who strived to stop the fighting in Mogadishu particularly northern frontlines. He said in a meeting by the elders and clan politicians today, they have demanded Sudi and Rage to halt Anti terror membership and simply accepted he added. When we asked them to withdraw from the failed alliance they simply accepted and wont be members any longer he said
The statement came amid the latest blow to the warlords after one of the members broadcasted he is out of the Alliance. According to recent failures faced Anti terror Secular, American Supported warlords have lost motives and got out of Somali political arena, analysts said.
Somali warlords completely failed to fight Islamists
Nairobi 14 June. 06 ( Sh.M.Network) --Anti Terror Alliance members that have been defeated in the Capital fighting are leaving their rest strong hold positions after facing pressures from the Islamists advancing to Jowhar, some 90KMs north of Mogadishu. Reports from middle Shabelle Regions capital Jowhar, the only strong hold position outside Mogadishu for the Anti Terror Alliance members indicate that increasing war tensions around the area led warlords to leave the town last night, heading to El-Bur district of Gal-Gadud region.
The members include Mohamed Qanyare Afrah, Bootaan Ise Alin and Abdi Nure Siad who was the last man to be defeated in the Capital.
Sources told Shabelle Radio that at least fifteen armed vehicles have been escorting them to the region where previously engulfed Clan fighting. The move came after they received reports indicating imminent attack against Jowhar a resident said in condition of anonymity. The event clearly indicates the final blow to the American Supported Somali warlords who tried to defeat Islamic Courts in Mogadishu after four months of fierce fight that left more 350 dead and thousands wounded.
Posted by: Steve ||
06/14/2006 14:34 ||
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KHARTOUM - Rebels from Sudans east will open their first talks with the Khartoum government on Tuesday in neighbouring Eritrea, hoping to resolve the simmering conflict in the gold-rich area, officials said. Eastern rebels, allied with other regional Sudanese rebel groups, have controlled Hamesh Koreb, a small area on the Eritrea-Sudan border for around a decade. The east, which contains Sudans only port, is the only peripheral area not to have begun peace talks with Khartoum.
The United Nations will be participating in the talks tonight, U.N. spokeswoman Radhia Achouri said on Tuesday. U.N. observation of the talks is a key rebel demand.
The rebels must be both weak and clueless ....
The government delegation, headed by Presidential Advisor Mustafa Osman Ismail, is due to leave this evening to open the long-delayed talks in the Eritrean capital Asmara. The Eastern Front, an alliance of the main eastern political parties and rebel groups, have been trained in negotiation skills to be able to match the experienced Khartoum government.
How about training in weaponry and logistics?
One source close to the mediation said these initial talks were preparatory and no substantive negotiations were expected to begin as yet. The talks follow the highest-level visit from Eritrea in years to Sudan, as President Isaias Afwerki met Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al Bashir in Khartoum on Monday, agreeing to normalise relations.
Sudans east, like other regions in Africas largest country, complain of neglect by central government. The arid area has some of the highest malnutrition rates in Sudan. But the east is strategically important, containing the largest gold mine and Sudans main oil pipeline. Sudan will soon pump around 500,000 barrels per day of crude.
The former southern rebel Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLM), now partners in central government, are the main fighting force in Hamesh Koreb. But on Sunday they formally withdrew and handed over control to local government, a move their eastern allies dislike. The SPLM say they had hoped eastern peace talks would have begun last year and reached a deal by now. Analysts warn this could spark renewed fighting in the area.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/14/2006 00:00 ||
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The chairman of the Islamic courts' union Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed denied his Islamic militiamen were advancing to Jowhar town 90km of the capital Somalia to fight with militia of anti terror alliance who based there ever since the capital city had fallen to the hands of Islamic courts. Mogadishu's Somalinet correspondent reports. "We are in the position of defending ourselves and we are not on attack and it is baseless assertion the news over Islamic courts launched an attack," Sheikh Sharif told the local media overnight, warning the media against fuelling tensions.
Earlier reports say that Islamic gunmen are preparing all out war to Jowhar town, where some of the defeated warlord alliance remain also deploying enforcements troops at former military airbase Bali-dogle near to Burhaba town of Bay region in southwest Somalia to prepare an attack on government troops who were said to have been advancing towards the airport.
The leader of Islamic courts' union (ICU) Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed has also verbally attacked the transitional federal government based in Baidoa town 240km southwest of the capital saying the government is illegally exploiting its power and hasting common issues. "The government is needed to consult with its people because it is unelected government but formed in a conference by faction leaders in Kenya so since the TFG did not come in the public's willing it should move slowly and carefully," Sheikh Sharif said.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/14/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
I had a dish towel like that in the '70's.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
06/14/2006 8:33 Comments ||
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Was it from a specially marked box of detergent RJ?
The IGAD member states meeting in Nairobi Kenya agreed on Tuesday to ban the warlords defeated in Somalia capital by Islamic fighters from traveling to their countries and also to freeze their assets. It is severe blow to the faction leaders who are now in Jowhar and Mogadishu.
Foreign ministers of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) met today in the Kenyan capital Nairobi to discuss on how to impose total ban on factional leaders from east African countries after they failed to work on peace. IGAD officials also told in their meeting that they are ready to mediate between Somali transitional government and Islamic courts who have taken over the control of mostly the capital city in early this month. Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi who attended the IGAD session said the government is welcoming the talks with Islamic courts.
The move came after Kenyan government called on IGAD member states to ban the warlords from traveling their countries. Kenya had earlier expelled one of ant terror alliance members from its country who was Abdirashid Shire Ilkeyte, the owner of Hotel Sahafi in Mogadishu, where it was base for members of alliance for restoration of peace and counter terrorism (ARPCT).
Posted by: Fred ||
06/14/2006 00:00 ||
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Saudi Arabia has pressed its clerics to report suspected Al Qaida operatives.
Saudi authorities have convened Islamic clerics in at least one province and urged them to monitor their flock for Al Qaida supporters. The clerics were told that Al Qaida philosophy threatened the regime.
"You should try to spread love, peace and patriotism among the people and encourage them to participate in the development process and protect the country's security and stability," Prince Khaled Al Faisal, governor of the Saudi province of Asir, said.
Al Faisal told a convention of 300 preachers in Abha that Saudi nationals were using Islam to threaten the regime. Officials said this was the first such meeting of imams meant to fight Al Qaida influence in Saudi mosques.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
06/14/2006 00:18 ||
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One more! We're warnin yas!
Pyongyang, June 12 (KCNA) -- The U.S. imperialist warmongers committed one more grave military provocation by illegally infiltrating a strategic reconnaissance plane into the sky above the DPRK's economic waters on June 12. Economic waters?
In this regard the Air Force Command of the Korean People's Army issued the following report on Monday: At around 12:05 on June 12, an overseas-based strategic reconnaissance plane of the U.S. imperialist aggression forces infiltrated into the sky above the waters of the DPRK east of Chongjin and Hwadae and made a shuttle flight there for hours to spy on its strategic targets. Flew around for hours? Doesn't sound like the KPA Air Force could do much about it.
Such ceaseless illegal infiltration and aerial espionage are arousing a bitter indignation from the officers and men of the KPA Air Force. Probably because it sounds like they can't do much about it. Grrrrrrrrr! Woof!
It is an indigenous disposition of our revolutionary armed forces to mercilessly punish the aggressors. Hold me back, Kimmie! Hold me back!
The KPA Air Force warns again that the U.S. imperialist warmongers will be buried in the East Sea of Korea if they continue running amuck without discretion despite our warnings. Okay. We'll stay over the Sea of Japan instead.
#1
"indigenous disposition ... to mercilessly punish the agressors" > which is why North Korea is anti-Chinese Chinese/Chicom-controlled, as the Chicoms will NOT tolerate any pro-US/Western, pro-Democratic Capitalist, unified Korean Nation, let alone TWO INDEPENDENT SOVEREIGN WESTERNIZED SOUTH KOREAS.
#2
Dear Pyongyang, our sincere apologies. Please understand however, these flights are only intended for the electronic calibration of certain systems resident aboard the USS Pueblo.
#3
Forgot to mention that the Norkies have publicly reported on the MSM-Western medias that the USA is not the only nation that can engage in geopol pre-emption or terror.
AMSTERDAM A new centre for the study of radicalism and extremism has been established in Amsterdam.
Don't they have a Department of Defense for that?
The Centrum voor Radicalisme en Extremisme Studies (CRES) is being hosted by the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and will bring together researchers from various universities to advance the study of religious radicalisation in the Netherlands.
Study it to death, yeah, that'll work
Researcher Frank Buijs of UvA's Institute of Migration and Ethnic Studies decided there was a need for the new academic centre while he was researching radicalisation of Moroccan youth on behalf of the Ministry for Immigration and Integration.
The study found 40 percent of the Moroccan youth in the Netherlands reject western values and democracy. Six to seven percent are prepared to use force to defend Islam. The majority are opposed to freedom of speech for offensive statements, particularly criticism of Islam.
Buijs is the first director of CRES, which will provide information to people who come into contact with radicalism as part of their work. Buijs said on Wednesday that the government must provide alternatives for Salafism, a contemporary movement in Sunni Islam that seeks a return to the 'pure Islam' of the days of Mohammed. Give me that old time religion
Give me that old time religion
Give me that old time religion
Its good enough for me
It will bring you into bondage
It will bring you into bondage
It will bring you into bondage
And its good enough for me
It will set the world on fire
It will set the world on fire
It will set the world on fire
And its good enough for me
Salafism is a gaining ground in the Netherlands and Buijs said the government must do more to stimulate a more pluralistic form of Islam. Buijs and his colleagues discuss the issue in a new book 'Strijders van eigen bodem - radicale en democratische moslims in Nederland' (home-grown warriors - radical and democratic Muslims in the Netherlands).
Posted by: Steve ||
06/14/2006 15:00 ||
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#1
Give it a real thorough study Nederlanders. But mind you, don't put the book down and while you're at it..... read FAST!
The Frenchies aren't shy about rolling up terrorist networks in their own country. Thank you France for this one.
PARIS (AP) - A court on Wednesday convicted 25 people for their roles in preparing a terror attack in France in support of Islamic fighters in Chechnya. The five top defendants each received prison terms of eight to 10 years, while the others received lesser sentences. Two were acquitted.
All but one defendant had been accused of helping Islamic fighters in Chechnya in what prosecutors said underscored the "globalization of the jihad movement." However, prosecutors were unable to prove the attack was to have involved chemicals even though investigators found equipment and chemicals, including the highly toxic ricin.
So it's a B+, not an A, for the prosecutor. The thug boys still end up in jug.
The prosecution contended the group was plotting an attack in Paris, but could not define the target. The Russian Embassy, a police station and the Eiffel Tower were mentioned during interrogations.
The court gave the maximum 10-year term to the group's alleged chemicals expert, Menad Benchellali. However, Menad's father, Chellali Benchellali, a Muslim prayer leader in the Lyon suburb of Venissieux, received only an 18-month suspended prison term - far lower than the prosecution's demand for six years behind bars.
Apple didn't fall far from the tree, did it.
"These convictions profit the United States, Algeria and Russia," said Isabelle Coutant, lawyer for defendent Merouane Benhamed. "They have been convicted because they are Muslims."
"Everybody keeps picking on us!"
The court convicted 24 defendents of criminal association in relation with a terrorist enterprise, a broad charge used by France to sweep wide in bringing terror suspects to justice. One other was convicted of using false papers.
The Benchellali family was at the center of the case, with Menad's mother, Hafsa, and brother, Hafed, also convicted for roles in the plot to carry out the Paris attack. Hafed received four years in prison and the mother got a two-year suspended sentence.
The terror network was dismantled in two waves. In December 2002, investigators stormed two houses in the Paris suburb of La Courneuve and the nearby town of Romainville. They found gas canisters, fuses, chemicals and a suit to protect against chemical attacks. In January 2004, investigators carried out another raid in Venissieux, finding chemical products, including ricin. They said that raid definitively broke up the network.
Prosecutor Anne Kostomaroff said the group was formed in Algeria in 1999, where eight members had refused an Algerian government amnesty plan for Islamic insurgents in the North African country. Various members then traveled to Spain, France, Italy and the border region between Pakistan and Afghanistan, while a core group formed in the Paris region in late 2000 to create a support ring for Islamic militants in the war-ravaged Russian republic of Chechnya.
However, the Benchellali family has long been established in Lyon. Imam Benchellali is known to have occasionally used his makeshift mosque on the ground floor of a high-rise building to collect funds for Islamic fighters in Chechnya.
For the Chechnyan Widows Ammunition Fund.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/14/2006 08:39 ||
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I made a point to drink a couple of cases of Carlsberg during this period. It was often sold out at my local supermarket in Arlington, VA. While I happily did my bit to support our Danish ally, I must say that the smaller (11oz) bottles leave me feeling a bit unfulfilled at the end. It's like there are only 11 beers in a 12-pack.
#3
I served Tuborg Lager to all comers at my campsite last weekend. Everyone loved it and was amazed at the quality. Forget anything you might remember of Miller's crappy Tuborg Gold and pour the real thing down your neck today.
Be sure to ask your gourmet retailers to stock Danish cheeses. Rare types like Esrom and Tybo are simply spectacular and unlike most other European cheeses.
For the hard core, I can only recommend Danish licorice. Either you love it or you hate it. For addicts like myself, merely mentioning it is enough to trigger salivation. The secret ingredient is salmiak, an ammonia salt that give the licorice a salty flavor.
In Denmark there are lakritz boutiques that sell nothing but licorice, often over 200 types in a single shop. Do a search on Danish Licorice online and you will find numerous purveyors in the USA.
For the more well-to-do, I suggest George Jensen jewelry. The sleek modern designs are timeless and in superb taste. Denmark specializes in amber settings gathered from the Jutland coast.
For audiophiles, try Bang & Olufsen Stereo systems. Consistent winners of design awards and producers of some of the world's finest audio gear, they have long led the trend towards professional grade home stereo.
Finally, for the ultimate demonstration of support, consider actually going there. Yes, it is expensive but there are places of such incredible beauty and near-terminal quaintness (try swans swimming on a mirror lake with a chert agate gravel shoreline nextdoor to thatch roofed cottages surrounded by beech trees) that you'll wear out your camera. The food can be outstanding as well and the Danes are genuinely friendly folk with a refreshing sense of candor.
#4
Oh please don't, I love travelogues (Not Snark) I'll never be able to afford going there in real life.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
06/14/2006 20:52 Comments ||
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Zenster, how could you forget Aalborg Aquavit? I went out and bought a bottle for the first time in 20 years and can attest that it is still the nectar of the gods.
#6
Used to stay in the SAS Scandanavia Hotel in Copehhagen, about midway between the Tuborg and Carlsberg breweries. My engineers were in heaven. Denmark is one of the very few places I would live if I couldn't live in the states.
#7
Good call, RWV. Aalborg Aquavit, usually referred to as "schnapps" and otherwise known as "Danish gasoline", is truly tasty stuff. My Danish relatives would always have a bottle in the freezer. For special occasions, it would be frozen into a block of ice. Besides, it has a faint licorice flavor, and that's good enough reason for me. I can still remember my grandfather pouring me my first shot at the tender age of eleven. I managed not to cough or splutter, but it was still a stomach searing and eye-watering event, for sure.
#8
11.2 Oz bottles
You can always buy the higher alcohol stuff like 7.2% Carlsberg Elephant (as I take one out of the fridge). It's like buying a 12 pack and getting 20.
Posted by: ed ||
06/14/2006 21:34 Comments ||
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#9
Elephant kicks... :-)
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/14/2006 21:45 Comments ||
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...stuff like 7.2% Carlsberg Elephant...
You can get Elephant?!?! I haven't seen that stuff for years, I thought it had been discontinued!
The video was removed from the Internet video website youtube.com, where it was originally posted.
The largest US Muslim group, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), had called for an investigation after drawing attention to the video.
"We welcome Corporal Belile's apology and will leave it to military authorities to determine whether any disciplinary action is warranted," said CAIR executive director Nihad Awad.
"Our intent was never to target an individual marine, but instead to address the larger issue of insensitivity to the suffering of Iraqi civilians," Awad said in a statement.
#2
Cpl Belile does not owe anyone an apology. That was classic gallows humor - an essential ingredient to maintain sanity, especially when every "civilian" may be a killer.
Those that did not read the lyrics, the provided by ed in yesterday's original thread, and understand the context should do so. I have the .FLV file, the good one from LGF, and it is right on the money. He ridiculed the cowards who hide behind women and children - and the two daughters were killed by their own father and brother.
The Pentagon can kiss my hairy ass, fucking JAG Drama Queens, right after the asshat terrorists who lead CAIR.
Cpl Belile is my newest buddy. The JAG assholes better leave him alone, they and the cowardly fuckwits in the command structure (ring-knocking turds) have done enough damage to morale and espirit de corps, thank you very much.
Cpl B should call up Ted Nugent, he'd release the song - good gallows humor, and somewhat clever.
We made up more direct diddies than this when I was there.
Some brass prolly got their thongs in a bunch when they saw it on the net and he was in uniform - f*cking pussies. I'd love just once to hear some general say, "ya know what, get over it folks, were talkin' about a young man blowing off steam. He ain't apologizin' for nuthin' and neither are we now go pound sand, we got bigger concerns, like a war to win."
When in doubt we need to ask ourselves.........what would Chesty do?
Muslim MP believes his community must expose extremists
The clash between Islamic extremism and Western democracy tends to be discussed as a geopolitical abstraction. But around a year ago, in a storefront mosque in a suburban Toronto strip mall, the confrontation was reduced to a very human scale -- a single strident Muslim ideologue against a lone elected Muslim politician. Liberal MP Wajid Khan was making what he thought would be a routine visit to the Al-Rahman Islamic Centre in his Mississauga-Streetsville riding. The drop-in took an unexpected turn when the mosque caretaker who was to introduce Khan instead began railing against Muslims participating in mainstream politics. It was a memorably unpleasant encounter for Khan, but it came to public attention only because of the identity of the radical who delivered the tirade: Qayyum Abdul Jamal, now 43, one of the 17 terrorist suspects arrested in Toronto, and the man singled out as a mentor to the much younger accused would-be bombers.
According to Khan, Jamal's rant that day reached an outrageous climax with the charge that Canadian troops in Afghanistan were "raping Muslim women." It was too much for the MP. "I stood up and moved this gentleman, if I can call him that, aside, and spoke to the congregation -- utter nonsense, this isn't true, our troops are doing a wonderful job," Khan recalled in an interview. "Most of the congregation was very pleased with my comments and very upset with this gentleman." And Khan hints strongly that he did not merely walk away from the incident. Asked by Maclean's if he reported Jamal's incendiary views to the RCMP or CSIS, Khan said cautiously, "I don't think I want to answer that question for obvious reasons. All I can say is that I did my duty. I can't be quoted on specifics."
The possibility that a member of Parliament was among those who raised the alarm about Jamal is an intriguing twist in the complex story of how police built their case leading to the arrests. Even if, as is likely, any report to the authorities from Khan was a minor element in the investigation, the episode stands out in the growing debate among Canadian Muslims about how they should interact with police and CSIS agents. Some Muslim leaders have objected in the past to the approach federal anti-terrorism investigators have taken, complaining that the line of inquiry often seems to suggest the most devout Muslims represent the greatest potential security threat. Khan argues that Muslims must now become less defensive and more co-operative, answering questions on the assumption that authorities will use information responsibly. "While the wider community must be vigilant," he said, "the onus now rests, not solely, but mainly on the Muslim community."
Khan said he expects his call for greater co-operation with police will anger some Muslim leaders. But he contends that most Canadian Muslims are so shocked by the arrests and the sensational details of the charges that their attitudes have shifted. "This has brought a new reality to our community across Canada," he said. "Up to now, people were hoping against hope that it doesn't happen here." Following last July's London transit bombings, Khan said, many Canadian Muslims, among others, emphasized that the level of poverty and youth disenfranchisement among Muslims is greater in Europe than here, making young Canadian Muslims less receptive to radical messages. But that optimistic reading of the situation now looks hopelessly inadequate.
Khan's call for Muslims to take more responsibility for identifying potentially dangerous extremists in their communities was echoed by some other Muslim leaders last week. But there are competing voices, and conflicting statements.
I'll bet
Aly Hindy, the controversial imam at the Salaheddin Islamic Centre in suburban Toronto, denounced the charges as "an attack on the Muslim community," even though he also told reporters that he himself had called authorities to report concerns about one of the suspects.
Khan said moderate Muslim leaders must become more outspoken, and tout the opportunities and openness of Canadian society. A former military pilot in Pakistan, he settled in Toronto in 1974, and rose from car salesman to president of a large dealership, before winning his seat in the 2004 and being re-elected this year. His wife is a doctor. Khan, 60, says he has never faced bigotry in Canada. "Our watchwords," he said, "are diversity and respect." And in these tense days, he argues, Canadian Muslims need to trust those values -- and the RCMP and CSIS, too.
#1
Khan had two run-ins with Jamal. The first was the one mentioned here, the second was when Jamal decided to vandalize Khan's election posters (or signs). This is against the law in Canada. Jamal was spewing something about Muslims not participating in the election. So the complaint was made probably to the local police, not RCMP or CSIS.
When asked about these two incidents, the mosque's spokesman that Khan indeed complained to the imam as well. Aparently Jamal apologized to Khan, and that was that. Until now.
Posted by: Rafael ||
06/14/2006 20:47 Comments ||
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#2
Well done. More please, and faster and louder. The bad guys need to be made unwelcome by all right thinking Muslims
A Toronto-based Muslim group wants the federal government to ban all foreign donations to religious institutions in Canada as one way of trying to curb the influx of extremist views.
The Muslim Canadian Congress, which is also seeking to limit individual domestic cash donations to $10 at a time, is proposing the measure as a means of deterring financial support for certain questionable groups whose influence has spread in some mosques. The group suggests that credit cards or cheques be mandatory for donations above $10. "This way everyone would know, Revenue Canada would know, the congregations would know, where the money is coming from and who are the legitimate donors," said Tarek Fatah.
There's been plenty of speculation about the extent of Islamic extremism in Canada, particularly in the wake of terrorist charges against 17 Muslim men and teens in the Toronto area. Faisal Kutty, of the Muslim Civil Liberties Association, said the proposal is an overreaction to recent developments. "It assumes money being raised in mosques is ending up in terrorist hands," Kutty said. "Where's the evidence for this? It's racist and discriminatory." Don't go there Mr. Kutty.
The polarized opinions would appear to reflect the wide diversity within the Canadian Muslim community, with organizations of varying size committed to different goals and different types of Islam. But Fatah - whose organization boasts 300 dues-paying members said the blurring of religious and political causes within some mosques has long been known. "He [Kutty] can say this is nonsense until the cows come home," he said. "We have the evidence that this is happening. They can fool non-Muslims but they can't fool us."
According to the Canadian Press, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions which regulates banks, trust companies and other financial institutions sent Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty a briefing note on suspicious transactions earlier in the year. It indicated that $180 million was linked to the financing of terrorism. There was no indication in the documents of the path of the suspicious funds. Prime Minister Stephen Harper had a private meeting with representatives from several Muslim groups in Toronto last weekend to discuss a range of issues, including ways to control extremist views at mosques and community centres.
#4
It all sounds nice on paper. I'll believe it when I see it happening. Good to see a Muslim group leading this, it ever-so-slightly reassures me that there's at least a few Muslims who actually want to survive.
Eleven Muslim Canadian academics and community leaders have issued a joint statement expressing regret that a "curtain of fear has descended on the intelligentsia of the West, including Canada (and) the fear of being misunderstood as Islamophobic has sealed their lips, dried their pens and locked their keyboards."
Thus confirming their basic cowardice in the face of an enemy who might hit back...
The joint statement, which is seen as unprecedented, said that with hundreds dead around the world in the aftermath of the infamous Danish cartoons, Canada's writers, politicians and media have imposed a "frightening censorship on themselves, refusing to speak their minds, thus ensuring that the only voices being heard are that of the Muslim extremists and the racist right." The statement pointed out that emboldened by the free rein they have received, Canada's Muslim extremists and their supporters held a meeting in a public park with speakers promising to drown the Danish people "in their own blood". Elsewhere, in Pakistan, a Muslim woman was pictured carrying a sign, "God bless Hitler," and a Muslim cleric placed a $1 million reward for the murder of a Danish cartoonist. Embassies were burned, churches ruined and hundreds died in different Muslim countries.
And the "intelligentsia" scrambled to find reasons why the international Islamic temper tantrum was justified.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/14/2006 00:00 ||
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#2
You mean we're finally catching on to your underhanded actions, getting a little steamed, and just might kick all your asses back to where you came from ?
#3
The way I read it, it seems the Muslim Canadian academics think the intelligentsia of the west have shut up and want them to start debating again, and not to worry about the temper tantrums of a few extremists, and not to worry about being called islamophobic. They think the debate is good to develop a better understanding of the moderate majority, I would think. It seems to be a positive article, not a negative one.
Posted by: grb ||
06/14/2006 3:00 Comments ||
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#4
What about if they asked themselves about "root causes" and about "why they hate us?" ?
#5
Thus confirming their basic cowardice in the face of an enemy who might hit back...
Pretty much sums up the whole "subversive" thingie, doesn't it? Much easier to offend people who don't mind being offended, or at least who can't or won't fight back, like, say, christians.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
06/14/2006 8:35 Comments ||
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#7
Under the circumstances, one would think the best choice Muslim Canadians could make would be to explain how their stance differs from that of the Muslim extremist yobbos they desire to be seen as different than. Locking their keyboards seems counterproductive to me.
Posted by: Rafael ||
06/14/2006 9:51 Comments ||
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#10
And when they defect and become Christians in growing numbers, then, Islamic radicals will begin to decline and the whole beheading culture will disappear. But, the muzzies must make it happen or die with the lunatics. There will be no free passes.
#11
Nice to hear someone's finally talking about it, Rafael. But look at this:
According to the Canadian Press, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions which regulates banks, trust companies and other financial institutions sent Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty a briefing note on suspicious transactions earlier in the year. It indicated that $180 million was linked to the financing of terrorism.
That's Canada alone.
$180,000,000. For jihad.
From the "small minority of extremists".
In Canada. Alone.
Posted by: Rob Crawford ||
06/14/2006 13:21 Comments ||
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Purpose: To require the withdrawal of United States Armed Forces from Iraq and urge the convening of an Iraq summit.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES109TH Cong., 2d Sess.
S.2766
SEC. 1084 UNITED STATES POLICY ON IRAQ.
(a) WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS FROM IRAQ. --
(1) SCHEDULE FOR WITHDRAWAL. -- The President shall reach an agreement as soon as possible with the Government of Iraq on a schedule for the withdrawal of United States combat troops from Iraq by December 31, 2006, leaving only forces that are critical to completing the mission of standing up Iraqi security forces. I hope he doesn't mean "standing up" in the sense of "bailing out on", as in leaving your date high and dry...but maybe a rube like me just doesn't get the sophisticated nuance in that statement.
(2) CONSULTATION WITH CONGRESS REQUIRED. -- The President shall consult with Congress regarding such schedule and shall present such withdrawal agreement to Congress immediately upon the completion of the agreement.
(b) IRAQ SUMMIT. -- The President should convene a summit as soon as possible that includes the leaders of the Government of Iraq, leaders of the governments of each country bordering Iraq, We all know that Iran and Syria have wanted nothing but the best for the Iraqis for a long time....and the Turks have a special relationship with the Kurds in the north of Iraq.... representatives of the Arab League, the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, representatives of the European Union, and leaders of the governments of each permanent member of the United Nations Security Council gotta give the French, Russians and Chinese a chance at the business contracts! using their special diplomatic talents, for the purpose of reaching a comprehensive political agreement for Iraq that addresses fundamental issues including federalism, oil revenues, the militias, security guarantees, reconstruction, economic assistance, and border security. After all, we can't trust the Iraqis to come up with any policies for those topics. We have to make sure that it passes the global test, ya know.
#1
There's a reason why Congress is not the Commander in Chief, and there's a reason why John Kerry is not the Commander in Chief. As for a summit, that's so very UN... er, French... er, Kerryesque... USELESS!
#2
...Representatives of the Arab League, the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, representatives of the European Union...
What? No one from PETA or Greenpeace?
Posted by: Matt ||
06/14/2006 20:21 Comments ||
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#3
The beauty of representative government is that fools like Kerry repeatedly make utter fools of themselves in public.
Thanks for lording it over the Iraqi people and attacking the separation of powers in the US, John.
If the mystic hat fits, always mention it.
Posted by: Kalle ||
06/14/2006 20:32 Comments ||
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#4
Brave, brave John Kerry, brave John Kerry, ran away.......bravely ran away, away, Oh brave John Kerry.......when danger reared it's ugly head, he bravely turned his tail and fled, brave, brave John Kerry.......
#8
for the purpose of reaching a comprehensive political agreement for Iraq that addresses fundamental issues including federalism, oil revenues, the militias, security guarantees, reconstruction, economic assistance, and border security.
What does Mr. Kerry think the the purpose of the elected Iraqi government is?
#9
he doesn't respect our elected government - why should he respect theirs...
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/14/2006 21:34 Comments ||
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#10
A long-winded, roundabaout way of criticizing Dubya for what America is gonna do anyway vv postWW2 GERMANY-JAPAN-ITALY. Waste of good paper and ink ergo no Enviros around.
Under pressure from Congress, the Pentagon has dropped plans to keep some interrogation techniques secret by putting them in a classified section of a military manual, defense officials said Tuesday.
Two senior officials said there will not be a classified section in the long-awaited revision of the Army Field Manual. One of the officials said descriptions of interrogation techniques initially planned for the classified section are either being made public or are being eliminated as tactics that can be used against prisoners. The officials requested anonymity because the manual has not been completed.
One human rights group hailed the decision. "I think this is huge," said Elisa Massimino, Washington director of Human Rights First. "It's a very significant step toward creating the kind of clarity in the rules that military personnel have said that they lack and that led to a lot of the abuses."
Military leaders have argued that disclosing all the interrogation techniques public would make it easier for enemy prisoners to resist questioning. Defense Department officials have been at odds over whether details of some interrogation procedures should remain secret and published in a classified section.
But last month, several members of Congress privately cautioned the Pentagon against doing that. The standoff has contributed to the long delay in releasing the manual, which has been in the works for more than a year. Congress members argued that including a secret section that would detail what interrogators can and can't do to prisoners could fuel concerns both at home and abroad that the U.S. military was hiding torture techniques that violate the law or rules governing detainee treatment.
As originally planned, the classified section would have included details such as how long prisoners can be forced to sit or stand in certain positions or how hot or cold their holding areas can be kept. The defense officials did not say which interrogation techniques would be included in the manual. Opponents said greater transparency would dispel suspicions that the military was trying to exploit legal loopholes.
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said for the first time last month that officials were at odds over whether the manual should endorse different interrogation techniques for enemy insurgents than are allowed for regular prisoners of war. There are concerns such a distinction could violate a law enacted last year that explicitly banned cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of prisoners by U.S. troops.
Massimino, of Human Rights First, said that the new law, pressed by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., would ensure that any interrogation technique not included in the manual would be considered illegal. She said it also would help clear up any confusion troops may have had over what tactics are allowed.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
06/14/2006 00:19 ||
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#1
Since this orginated with the NY Slimes, add plenty of salt.
Posted by: Captain America ||
06/14/2006 1:26 Comments ||
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#2
This is a manual for the military not the non military spooks. This is just fine.
#3
Actually, manuals have very little 'legal' authority in determining such issues. It is the regulations which have legal binding authority. Another fine example of people who don't know what they're dealing with cause they're not part of the culture.
#4
Thanks, Senator McCain. Now that the Jihadis know exactly what the Americans can and cannot do, all they have to do is to train their people to withstand those techniques that are allowed. One of the purposes of the SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape) training that all military pilots undergo is to teach them to withstand (mild) torture.
I think that real torture is counter productive. The torturee will say anything to make the pain stop. (Ask McCain.) However, it is getting to the point that anything other than asking nicely, in a comfortable, well lit environment, with a Koran at the prisoner's side, will be considred torture.
Kerry, who was widely criticized as the party's standard-bearer in 2004 for being too cautious in his criticism of the war, said Tuesday that politicians "cannot have it both ways." In remarks that could have been aimed at Clinton, Kerry said: "It's not enough to argue with the logistics or to argue about the details. ... It is essential to acknowledge that the war itself was a mistake. ... It was wrong, and I was wrong to vote for that Iraqi war resolution." This guy's asshattery never ceases to amaze.
Posted by: Tibor ||
06/14/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
Billary, Gore, Skerry -- dumb, dumber, dumbest
Posted by: Captain America ||
06/14/2006 1:23 Comments ||
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#2
Besides the Carter years, the only thing the contemporary SSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHH RINO CINO Dems have is ABORTION, GAY-LESBIAN MARRIAGE, and MSM-verified Dubya-GOP-blamed NEW 9-11's = AMER HIROSHIMA(S). COMMUNISM, UNIVERSAL GOVERNMENTISM, and TOTALITARIANISM is the Dem's response to the MSM/Leftpert-verified, alleged National and Geopol problems and disasters wrought by Dubya-GOP and defective, error-prone, mismanaged = dishonest, Fascist American = Amerikkan National Socialism. HATED DESPICABLE BUSHITLER = WELL-MEANING BUT MISTAKEN ARROGANT HALF-A-MARXIST-LENINIST-STALINIST. LUCIANNE.com has a good article from OREGON MAGAZINE denoting that the end of the Democratic Party is at hand.
#6
It must be hard on Skerry to go from presidential candidate to somewhere below Hugo Chavez in interest and credibility. All he can hang on to now is that Pretty Boy may tap him for VP. We can only hope.
A Venezuelan embargo on oil exports to the US would lead to an immediate 15 per cent surge in world oil prices and crimp economic growth in the short term, according to a US congressional investigation.
The study by the Government Accountability Office, Congresss non-partisan investigative agency, obtained by the Financial Times before its release this month, warns that the US is inadequately prepared for a potential loss of oil from Venezuela. The investigation was requested 18 months ago by Senator Richard Lugar, Republican chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee, reflecting growing concerns about the reliability of Venezuelan oil supplies.
Mr Lugar, who has described energy as a national security issue, introduced legislation in March that called on the US to expand its international co-operation on energy issues. The findings are likely to embolden his efforts.
Continued on Page 49
#3
This is ridiculous. Let's say Hugo stops selling oil to the US. So instead he sells it to, let's say, France. Does France start using twice as much oil? No, of course not. They leave whatever they would have bought on the world market where it can be bought by anyone, including the US. All that's happened is Chavez lowers his revenues, since he had to lower the price to get the French to buy stuff they currently don't want enough to pay for.
He could stop selling oil altogether. That would be a shock to the world economy for a time. Without the money, though, Hugo would be looking at the sh-thammer of history slamming down on his head at warp speed. We would live through it, he literally would not.
No, I think we can safely say the sky is not falling on this one.
Posted by: Baba Tutu ||
06/14/2006 2:50 Comments ||
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#4
Hey, keep quiet and let the moron think that giving his oil away somehow hurts us. Grab some popcorn and enjoy the show. Invite some friends over so you won't be laughing all by yourself.
And yes, they've got quite a bit of oil. Not as much as some, but enough to push the big oil companies around, and they have to put up with it all with a smile on their face.
Posted by: grb ||
06/14/2006 3:10 Comments ||
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#5
Also, since the Venezuelan national oil company owns 5 refineries in the US and Citgo gas stations, their exposure to US economic retaliation is great. If they violate their delivery contracts and cutoff the supply, we can seize their assets in the US. Wave goodbye to the refineries and Citgo, Hugo.
#9
IIUC not all refineries can handle the Venezuelan oil sludge?
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/14/2006 12:03 Comments ||
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#10
Oil is fungible, it just moves around like a bubble under linoleum. Hugo is delusional.
Judy! Judy! Look here, this guys a real Civil Engineer! I told 'ya I saw it! We can also ask Frank about the grass writing and possible scientific explanations.
I may need the real big violin...
Campaigners have accused the Bush administration of deliberately ignoring mounting evidence of psychological and mental health problems among prisoners at Guantanamo Bay despite more than 40 previous suicide attempts. Yeah, it oughta be like Boys Town down there...
Lawyers who represent some of the 460 men at the prison said no one should be surprised by the suicides of three inmates at the weekend - one of whom was 17 years old when he was incarcerated and another who was earmarked for transfer. So one was young and one was stupid?
Bill Goodman, legal director of the Centre for Constitutional Rights (CCR), said:"The Bush administration has systematically and deliberately denied these men their most basic rights through a policy of choking off all contact, communication, information and hope.[It has] consistently fought to keep these men from lawyers, doctors and others who were willing to help them." My, my. I can't see through my tears...
His comments came after a senior US official dismissed the deaths as nothing more than a "good PR stunt". The Bush administration sought to retreat from that position yesterday with Cully Stimson, deputy assistant secretary of defence for detainee affairs, telling the BBC: "We are always concerned when someone takes his own life. Because, as Americans, we value life, even the lives of violent terrorists who are captured waging war against our country." Be advised, Cully doesn't speak for me.
The CCR provided a precise timetable detailing the efforts of campaigners to raise the issue of suicide risk among inmates as well as the government's tacit acknowledgement of the problem, stretching back to 2002.There have reportedly been 41 suicide attempts made by a total of 25 prisoners. One man, Jumah al-Dossari, has tried to take his life 12 times. See, Jumah. Your buddies proved that dreams can come true. So you keep trying...
In 2003, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the only independent organisation granted access to the prisoners, warned of the severe mental health issues facing many and said the nature of their incarceration and interrogation - including humiliating acts, solitary confinement, temperature extremes, use of forced positions - was "a form of torture".
If you twist the definition of 'torture' sufficiently, that is ...
Another CCR lawyer, Gitanjali Gutierrez, said: "The deaths come as absolutely no surprise to the attorneys who have been involved in this litigation. Indeed, they do not even come as a surprise to the military, which has acknowledged they were hoping aware some of the men at Guantanamo may try to kill themselves."
That's a feature, not a bug ...
The three men - Manei al-Otaibi, 30 and Yasser al-Zahrani, 21, both from Saudi Arabia, and Ali Abdullah Ahmed 33, from Yemen - were found dead in their cells on Saturday morning. It emerged they had tried to conceal themselves from the guards by hanging laundry from the ceiling of their cells and that at least one had arranged his bed to make it appear he was asleep. He's asleep now...
The Pentagon described the men as having links to al-Qa'ida, the Taliban and an Islamist organisation that it claims is a terrorist group, but none of the three had been charged. Indeed, the authorities confirmed Mr Otaibi had been slated for transfer to a third country but a lawyer said the prisoner had not been informed. Ooooops...
The Labour MEP Arlene McCarthy co-signed a European Parliament resolution calling on the US to set a timetable for closure of the prison. Ms McCarthy, who visited the prison last month, said: "There is a complete failure by the US administration to see why this is not the right way to deal with suspected terrorists." I think a lot of us here know how we should deal with them, but I've got a feeling Arlene wouldn't be too crazy about our suggestions either.
the majority of the guys there seem to be taliban/aq footsoldiers-cannon fodder or alleged cannon fodder whom we swept up in 2001/2002. At worst, we let them go, they end up as part of the daily statistics of dead Taliban in Helmand province, or dead in work accidents in Saudi. Maybe taking a few innocent Saudis with them. All in all, probably less harm to us free, than they are to the momentum of the WOT sitting in Gitmo, slowly martyring themselves, making headlines that play against us. At this point freeing em, though an injustice, would be the better part of discretion, I think.
OTOH there ARE some high value detainees we can neither release nor try. (mainly held elsewhere than Gitmo, IIUC) So the real question is, would giving up the Gitmo cannon fodder strengthen or weaken the public case for holding the high value detainees? No one has really addressed that, cause the left is unwilling to accecpt the need and right to hold folks indefinitely without trial, and the right is unwilling to contemplate that releasing the cannon fodder en masse is a reasonable strategy.
#4
That's because after we squeeze 'em dry of intel, we plan on taking them out and shooting their unlawful combatant asses. So, y'know, it's all good.
#5
Bill Goodman, legal director of the Centre for Constitutional Rights (CCR), said:"The Bush administration has systematically and deliberately denied these men their most basic rights through a policy of choking off all contact, communication, information and hope.[It has] consistently fought to keep these men from lawyers, doctors and others who were willing to help them."
Yes Bill, thats kinda the idear. The ones we can't capture, we kill on the spot. "Denial" of life, as it were. You must have been born post-9/11.
#10
LH, it's a fair point -- there are indeed some 'cannon fodder' types at Gitmo. They have limited intel value, but there's one overriding problem -- they want to kill 'Merkins. It's all well and good to say, release them and wait for them to get snuffed in Helmund. But if they get very lucky and kill a coalition soldier five seconds before they get sent to paradise, what do you say to the widow/mother of that soldier?
I don't claim to have all the answers, and I do agree that ridding ourselves of the low-value detainees would help solve some other problems. But damned if I want to see any of them get lucky against us.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/14/2006 18:23 Comments ||
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#11
Those three knew they were being sent home to soddy land, they chose suicide rather than face the justice of their countrymen.
"Another of his sons, Mourad Benchellali, was one of seven French detainees held at the US base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. Released in July 2004, Mourad now faces terrorist-related charges in France along with five others."
#13
I would release them. But they would have to hear first a document that would state that they have been injected with an implant that would monitor certain chemicals in their bodies, that is is known that when killing someone (or just before that act), certain chemicals are released and these would be detected and the implant would kill them.
Just read and out of the gate, no communication with the inmates allowed.
I bet that 90% of them would be very conscious of that possibility, some may try but would die just of the fright.
(If I were evil, I'd implant a post-hypnotic suggestion resulting in that specific effect).
June 14, 2006: The U.S. Air Force has rediscovered ground combat. While the 24,000 air force security personnel were always ready to roll with their infantry weapons and tactics, the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan has made it essential for a lot more air force people to learn how to fight on the ground. To deal with that, the air force has established an 18 day long Ground Combat Skills course (GCS). The air force has several locations set up to give the course, and most airmen headed for Iraq, Afghanistan or South Korea go through it. The training includes handling weapons, as well as a large variety of ground vehicles (including forklifts), in a combat situation. The last two days of the course are spent in the field, running through realistic situations, often using live ammunition.
The most intense combat exercises use simunitions. These are low velocity, non metal bullets fired by (modified) standard weapons. The simunitions will sting (and leave a paint spot on your uniform) if they hit, and this adds another layer of realism to the exercise. Nearly all the instructors have already served in a combat zone, and the training is constantly updated with new information from the combat zone. The last 48 hours involves sleep deprivation, night operations, convoys and the kind of stress to be found in ground combat.
Posted by: Steve ||
06/14/2006 12:08 ||
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#1
I always presumed that if the bad guys got to the front gate of an Air Force Base then we were in deep doo doo. But given the terrorists tactics it makes sense for the REMF to bone up on fighting. Personally I never felts safe around some of our officers when they were armed but that is another story altogether.
#2
I thought that the flyers got this in survival training. Sounds like ground crews might need it.
Posted by: Captain America ||
06/14/2006 12:50 Comments ||
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This is infantry training for all AF personnel, not just for base defense (Security Force handles that), but for convoy defense, etc. Since there isn't a lot of air action, AF troops are getting tasked to guard checkpoints, run convoys and other actions that put you in the line of fire. They added more training for this in Basic: Warrior Week is a weeklong exercise that gives basic trainees a taste of Air Force deployments during the fifth week of Basic Military Training. Warrior Week was added to BMT to instill a warrior mentality, give recruits the necessary skills to operate in a field environment and provide them with a better concept of Air Force operations.
This training is a mock Air Force deployment where recruits are taught the Law of Armed Conflict, anti-terrorism techniques, self-aid and buddy care, nuclear, biological and chemical prepared-ness, weapons training and teamwork.
The first phase of the exercise begins with trainees going through a mobility line. Trainees process through individual stations to take care of any medical, pay or family needs. This is important since a deployment could last three to six months. Trainees then "deploy" to a mock air base, set up tents and start their field training. Trainees are taught the basics of using an M-16 rifle and receive marksmanship training at the firing range.
Another story on AF convoy protection here: Recently returned from Iraq, Chapman is teaching his fellow airmen critical skills they'll need to conduct convoy security missions there. It's a nontraditional mission the Air Force hasn't carried out since Vietnam but took on again early in 2004 to help ease the burden on the Army and Marine Corps, explained Air Force Master Sgt. Phil Coolberth, who helped establish the Air Force's new Basic Combat Convoy Course here, outside San Antonio.
Today, the Air Force is a full partner with the Army and Marine Corps as it runs convoys throughout Iraq in support of military operations there, with more than 1,000 transporters, special police and medical and personnel specialists trained to help provide security, explained Air Force 1st Lt. Leo Martin, course commander. To ensure airmen are prepared, the Basic Combat Convoy Course, or BC3 for short, packs into just four weeks the combat skills airmen will need to stay alive as they carry out the mission: weapons, tactics, maneuver and small-unit leadership skills, among them.
Posted by: Steve ||
06/14/2006 13:41 Comments ||
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#5
Some years ago, the AF sent some of its base security personnel through some semi-serious ground training. Unfortunately, they liked it way too much, so the AF ended that program.
The problem was that air base security is almost always dull. You don't want guards that anticipate trouble, you want them to anticipate boredom and routine.
But once some of these lads got a taste of ground pounding, they transferred to the Army.
#10
It's about effing time! I was shot at playing "security police augmentee" in Panama, and again when I was in Vietnam (I got "volunteered" for something). Luckily for me, I'm an old Louisiana swamp rat, and know how to shoot back. A couple of the city-boys with me in Vietnam were totally confused.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
06/14/2006 16:50 Comments ||
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#11
RD it has to be 18 days, because nobody has 18 weeks to train up for a deployment. With all due respect to my Army/Marine comrades, Air force people aren't complete cream puffs. No they probably wont be able to take a hill after training but they could definately hold their own against jihadis (cowards that they are).
#12
The threat of then-Cold War escalatory, mutually destructive nuclear combat is now complemented vv proliferations by NUCLEARIZED TERROR. MULTI-UNIT-, MULTI-FRONT DESTROYING MUSHROOM CLOUDS, WARPACT OR RADICAL ISLAMIST ETC., means that US-ALLIED BATTLESPACE FORCES, TACTICAL ANDOR STRATEGIC, FRONTAL ANDOR DEEP-STRIKE", ETC. must possess vestiges of autonomous, tech-saavy/centric, multi-capable, highly mobile Battle Group-Task Forces, but under tight strategic information and management controls [C3IC? including Information + Space]. MORE REAL-WORLD REASONS WHY GMD AND INTEGRATED GPS-SPAWAR IS A US MUST=HAVE/MUST-DO, NO MATTER THE COSTS.
With lawmakers from the House and Senate yet to reconcile their competing immigration bills and President Bush still touting a temporary worker program, some rank-and-file defenders of the border are lambasting the notion that deporting illegal aliens is impractical. Moreover, they view this solution as a betrayal to those who have risked their lives patrolling the borders.
The National Border Patrol Council (NBPC) union represents the U.S. Border Patrol's 10,000 non-supervisory agents. The largest local of the NBPC is Local 2544, headquartered in Tucson, Arizona - a busy sector accounting for more than half of the 1.15 million illegal aliens apprehended last year by the Border Patrol. Local 2544 members serve on the front lines, and they are hopping mad with the administration and with some lawmakers in particular. Mike Albon, Local 2544's public information officer, told NewsMax, "All the comments on our Web site are the opinions of the Local and can be taken as the Union's point of view."
To say the least, the Senate bill's gradual amnesty program for many who have crossed the border illegally is unpopular with Local 2544: "We strongly oppose any attempts to reward illegal alien lawbreakers. We have risked our lives to keep them out of this country. The slick politicians can call it guest-worker' or earned legalization' all they want, but it's amnesty."
Particular union vitriol is reserved for the man they call "Amnesty John," who voted for the Senate bill. "Amnesty John" is the union's handle for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. "Senator McCain has never been a friend to rank-and-file Border Patrol agents," says the union. "He routinely ignores correspondence from Border Patrol agents and often gives the impression that he is just too big and too important to deal with us. He attempts to undermine our mission at every turn and actively supports the criminals who violate our laws. He always tries to downplay the fact that illegal aliens knowingly and willingly violate our laws."
According to Albon, the root of the rank-and-file frustration is that McCain and others who want a road to citizenship for some of those already unlawfully in the country are at best unrealistic when it comes to the paperwork burden of proving who was where and when: "Your government is nowhere near being capable of handling all those claims. "They will buckle at the slightest hint of pressure from any activist/social services group. They will issue waivers like candy to any illegal alien who says he or she can't afford the 'fines' levied by the government. They will accept one fraudulent document after another. The entire thing will be mass chaos."
The union fears a reprise of what they say occurred under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of Nov. 6, 1986. Under that act, say union officials, many who had just entered the United States falsely claimed they had entered years before so they could qualify for amnesty.
Case-in-point: a large group was tracked down and apprehended on the Tohono O'Odham Indian reservation about 10 miles from the border. Two of them had freshly minted "amnesty" cards. The cardholders claimed they had entered years before and were just visiting the rest of the group: "We were told that if we wanted to prove their claims false we would have to back track' them all the way to the south side of the border to prove they were in Mexico. It was logistically impossible to do this under the circumstances."
As to the argument of Sen. McCain to simply say to those "undocumented workers, who are working the jobs that the rest of us refuse, come out from the shadows," the union is adamant:
"Senator, they put themselves in those shadows' by breaking our laws and they need to go home. They weren't forcibly placed in the shadows' by some murdering tyrant from the Middle East. They freely chose to break our laws, steal our jobs, and take advantage of our wobbly-kneed politicians who let them do it. Instead of using all that energy to fix their own corrupt country, they sneak into ours and then demand that we change our system to fit their crimes. It's pretty simple stuff . . ."
The local has a simple solution to the border crisis: Shut the border down to illegal crossings, and then start hammering the greedy employers who hire them:
"Start deporting, we repeat, deporting, the illegal aliens who are here in violation of law. It may take years, but you don't build a house overnight."
As to criminalizing the illegals one of the great sticking points in the immigration reform debate the union does not understand what all that fuss is about. They explain that it is already a federal crime to enter the country without inspection specifically under title eight of the U.S. Code, section 1325. Under that current law, a first offense is punishable by a fine and up to six months in jail, a second offense is punishable by a fine and up to two years in jail.
Says the union: "Many media outlets are incorrectly reporting that it is only a civil offense.' No, it's just that we can't persuade the U.S. attorney's office to prosecute anyone for 8 USC 1325 unless they're also an axe murderer, so they are charged with the civil offense' and sent home."
The union says that it abhors the fact that President Bush has gone out of his way to assure Mexican President Vincente Fox that the United States. will not "militarize" the border: "Fox has already militarized' the border. Mexico has plenty of troops on the border. We know this because we see them all the time and they shoot at us with rather large .50 caliber rifles. All we can do is hope their aim is bad, run from them, and then watch as the cowards from our government hide from the issue, and their government lies about them even being there."
Albon points out that Local 2544 had not been consulted regarding the deployment of National Guard troops in the Tucson sector. "We were told we would be consulted. We weren't." Local 2544 is also quick to point out that it and its membership has absolutely no complicity or involvement in reported management directives to report the location of the Minutemen volunteers to the Mexican government:
"Our position on the Mexican government and the Mexican military is very clear. They are corrupt; their soldiers shoot at us; they smuggle drugs; they help illegal aliens invade this country by the millions; they are not to be trusted, and they should have zero input into the internal policies of the United States of America."
Albon reports that union leadership has received a lot of e-mail on this issue:
"It's been a standing joke for years that we should check with the Mexican Consulate' to see if they approve before we do anything. Their influence on our politicians and upper managers is absolutely disgraceful."
Meanwhile, Arizona's Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano has just vetoed a Republican immigration package that would have allowed local police to arrest illegal immigrants for trespassing.
This did not sit well with the union:
"Napolitano is like many other tough-talking politicians. She talks about illegal immigration' and out-of-control borders' a lot and that's about it. If she was half as hard on illegal aliens as she was on Border Patrol agents when she was the U.S. attorney for Arizona, we would be a lot better off."
The union is very cynical of the future:
"While Bush is in office nothing will get done. That much is obvious after six years. And the current crop of prospective presidents who are posturing for a run in 2008, including our wonderful in-state non-supporter, Amnesty John' McCain, will probably be worse. That should take us through 2012, when we'll be hearing the same old tired get tough' political posturing over securing our borders' all over again. Does anybody really think Hillary Clinton is going to be a tough, enforcement-minded leader on illegal immigration if she gets elected? Get real folks . . ."
Posted by: Steve ||
06/14/2006 11:40 ||
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#1
"They will buckle at the slightest hint of pressure from any activist/social services group. They will issue waivers like candy to any illegal alien who says he or she can't afford the 'fines' levied by the government. They will accept one fraudulent document after another. The entire thing will be mass chaos."
#2
McCain will stay in office until he dies. Even if he goes to the left of John Kerry. The reason is that the AZ republican party doesn't give a dime to its candidates, and so anyone with money, or his wife's money, in this case, gets the job.
No other republican with money will challenge him in the primary, as damn few would be willing to spend their money to get elected.
#4
McCain may stay a senator forever, but he doesn't have a prayer of winning the Republican nomination for president, let alone becoming the president.
#5
he could run 3rd party in a last ditch attempt at the Peter Principle, but all he'll do is what Perot did: put a Clinton in the WH. A pox on McAmnesty
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/14/2006 21:16 Comments ||
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Juicy extract interview by Hugh Hewlitt with Sen. James Imhof. Other interesting comments about Haditha and other topics
HH: Let's talk a little bit about the new defense minister, Jassin, Senator Inhofe. How's he strike you? Is he middle aged? Is he experienced in military matters?
JI: Yeah, he's very experienced. He's a general. He is a career military guy, and he's tough as he can be. And he came out with all kinds of wild things. I probably shouldn't tell you this...
HH: Oh, go ahead.
JI: But...and this is so funny when it happened. I was talking to him through an interpretor, and I didn't know whether he could speak English. And I finally got to the point where I said look, our big problem is the media, the media back in the United States, because they're lying to the people of America. All of a sudden, in clear English, he said I hate CNN.
HH: (laughing)
JI: And I just shook my head, and I thought...
HH: Did you toast him at that point? Did you clink glasses? Did he tell you why he hates CNN?
JI: Oh, he said all they do is talk about negative things, things that are bad, and we have nothing but successes over here. And then he start enumerating the successes, which I can verify, because I'm there all the time. The number, out of 112 battalions, they have 62 of them. That's over half of them that are either level 2 or level 1. That means they can conduct their own combat. He made the statement, and this is one of the things that he says that CNN and some of the media keeps saying, they keep saying that America is leading them, and we're in the rear. And he said that's not true at all. We are leading, and America is offering support. In fact, of the last 500 special operations that took place, 75% of them were led by the Iraqis, not by the Americans. Only 25% were. Now if you go back, as I've done on almost a monthly basis, you can see how this changes. And a year ago, hardly any of them were led by the Iraqis. These guys...I was up in Fallujah during the last election, and they were so proud. They were going down there to vote, and they were targeted, because they were supposed to shoot any of the Iraqi security forces that voted. And they went down, they voted, and they came back, and they were real proud of it. And then, when I asked them the question, are you going to be able to take over the security of Iraq...it's kind of funny, because of the language problem, they said nein, nein. I thought that meant no, no, but that really means yes, yes.
HH: Oh, okay.
JI: So those guys are excited, and they're proud, and you talk to any of the...I challenge any of your listeners to talk to any of our reservists, or the Guard that comes back, and they'll tell you that these guys are learning fast, they're good soldiers, they're disciplined, and they're looking...well, in fact, Dr. Rubai, the guy that you need to watch, too, the national security advisor, he said that by the end of the year, he's going to recommend that the coalition forces cut down to 100,000. That's going to be a military decision, but this is an Iraqi saying that.
#5
I think I heard of that network. Weren't they the ones who admitted that they shut up about a lot of the crap Saddam was pulling so they could have a Baghdad bureau?
#6
What? The Iraqi SecDef unhappy because CNN won't bribe him or his people for access. It was good enough for Saddam's thugs, why not those actually picked through democratic processes. Oh wait, never mind.
Thirty-seven Nobel laureates on Wednesday signed a letter by the Federation of American Scientists to the United States Congress exhorting lawmakers to oppose the Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement.
The laureates, spanning the spectrum of physics, medicine, economics and chemistry, urged the lawmakers to vote against the legislation that will envisage the consummation of the deal.
The laureates said in its missive that 'nothing is more important to US security than blocking further proliferation and possible use of nuclear weapons'.
They argued that the nuclear deal 'weakens the existing nonproliferation regime without providing an acceptable substitute' and thus 'it should not be approved in its current form.'
The FAS letter acknowledged that 'the Non-Proliferation Treaty -- the backbone of international efforts to step the spread of nuclear weapon technology -- is crumbling and needs to be replaced with a new international framework, one that reflects dramatic changes that have occurred during the 30 years since the treaty was written'.
But they argued that 'new agreements must preserve the many strengths of the current treaty and increase international participation'.
They warned that 'bilateral, ad-hoc agreements such as the one just announced with India undercut US and world security'.
The signatories declared, 'We strongly endorse actions that can build stronger ties between India and the United States in trade and research and we believe that worldwide expansion of civilian nuclear power has the potential to provide electricity without increasing carbon emissions to the atmosphere'.
But they informed the lawmakers that 'rapid growth of civilian nuclear power will, however, greatly increase both the amount of fissionable material transported and stored worldwide, and the number of nuclear fuel production facilities that can be used to build nuclear weapons'.
Atomic scientists from the Manhattan Project formed the Federation of American Scientists in 1945 to encourage international openness and control of nuclear industry.
Two Indians -- Kumar Patel and Shankar Sastry are on its board of directors.
Posted by: john ||
06/14/2006 19:16 ||
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The laureates said in its missive that 'nothing is more important to US security than blocking further proliferation and possible use of nuclear weapons'.
So I take it they'll be on board if we have to blow Iran off the map?
#2
Most of these guys are wrapped in the cocoon of academia and actually believe this stuff. Another demonstration that high intelligence and naivete often go hand in hand.
#3
I don't recall India threatening to "wipe anyone off the map"...I guess if the nuke recipients are Jooooos, FAS is ok with that? Sounds like the Nuke Physicians tool group
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/14/2006 20:47 Comments ||
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#4
Typical Lefty PC/doublespeak, i.e. the USA can't Can't CAN'T C-A-N-'-T DO IT BUT RUSSIA-CHINA + WORLD CAN. We decadent arrogant warmongering Male Brute Western democratists and capitalists have to be MORAL while the Motherly Globalist Utopian Socialists-Commies can be IMMORAL and attack-slaughter anytime they please - you know, why ABU GHRAIB = SIBERIA/SOVIET FAR EAST gulags!?
Guwahati, June 14. (PTI): The ULFA has stepped up violence in Assam with the help of Pakistan-trained bomb experts, 16 of whom had arrived from across the border, a top police official claimed here today. Addressing a press conference, IGP (Special Branch) Khagen Sarmah said bomb attacks had been on the rise since 2004, when the 16-member team trained in centres at Batrossi hills of Mansera district of Pakistan sneaked into India with the help of the ISI.
Sarmah said the ULFA had denied involvement in the blasta that had targetted the comman man due to the fear of losing its popularity. "But it can be proved that the ULFA has been involved since 1988 in the mass killing of innocent people including the kidnapping and murder of social activist Sanjay Ghosh in 1997 which drew worldwide condemnation," he said.
He said ULFA members had confessed to having a hand in several blasts, including the attack on school children on Independence Day in 2004 besides recently engineering as many as 20 blasts in four days. Sarmah also denied the charge by the ULFA that he and the Special Branch were involved in the recent bomb blasts.
Posted by: Steve ||
06/14/2006 13:56 ||
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SRINAGAR - Shops and businesses were closed in Indian Kashmirs main city on Tuesday following a strike called by separatists to protest against what they said was the desecration of a Koran and a mosque by Indian soldiers. Two people have been killed and 24 wounded since the weekend after security forces opened fire on crowds angered by reports soldiers entered a mosque wearing shoes in Kupwara district, 85 km (50 miles) northwest of Srinagar. The troops are also said to have damaged a copy of the Islamic holy book in the mosque in Zirhama village.
Nobody saw any of this, of course, but that doesn't matter.
Streets in Srinagar, Indian Kashmirs summer capital, were deserted after the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, an alliance of separatist groups, called for a shutdown. Police said at least 20 Hurriyat activists were detained when they tried to hold a protest march in Srinagar against the alleged desecration of the mosque.
"Yeah, yeah, so somebody wore shoes. Into the paddywagon wit yez!"
The behaviour of Indian troops is contradictory to the recent statement of Indian Prime Minister who assured that there would be zero tolerance for any kind of human rights violation in Kashmir, the Hurriyat said in a statement.
Indian authorities have denied the charges of desecration and have ordered an investigation. Officials in Kupwara have imposed a curfew. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during a trip to the disputed region last month said security forces must be humane and operate strictly according to the law.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/14/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
Wore shoes in there ? Did they take a crap on the carpet ? Piss all over the Korans ? What are you worked up about ? This is really bad for your blood pressure.
June 07 2006 at 1900 UTC at Chittagong anchorage 'A', Bangladesh. Seven robbers armed with knives approached a bulk carrier at stern in a black wooden boat. They threw a hook attached to a line and tried to board. They threw stones at the crewmember who raised alarm. Other crew mustered and robbers fled leaving behind hook attached to line. Port control informed.
June 06 2006 at 2350 LT at Chittagong anchorage 'A', Bangladesh. Nine robbers armed with long knives and steel bars boarded a bulk carrier at forecastle. They tied up two shore watchmen, threatened them with knives and attacked one crewmember with steel bars. Deck Officer raised alarm, crew mustered and robbers escaped. One crewmember and two watchmen sustained injuries.
June 05 2006 at 0715 LT at Tanjung Priok tanker anchorage, Indonesia. One robber was in the process of boarding a tanker. Alert crew raised alarm and boarding was averted.
#1
Note,
In all reports, no guns.
Must either have a different bunch of Pirates, or as I mentioned when they were stealing "Engine Spares" engine troubles.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
06/14/2006 8:42 Comments ||
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#3
More likely the professionals are laying low. The Straits of Mallacca and other places are under patrol. The amateurs/part-timers and the low-level crooks are out for now.
I suspect that the pros will wait until things calm down, the patrol patterns can be figured out, and who can be bribed.
#2
Hmmm... as crude prices go down, and storage is maxed out, the pump price keeps going up. Until of course the inevitable energy recession. The last one in the 1970s took a decade to get over.
Of course the blisteringly obvious collusion by oil traders in Europe, Asia, and the US have no effect on prices! After all its the marketplace!
#3
Supply versus demand determines prices. Stocks have nothing to do with supply and demand, except to the extent that the greater the demand, the higher the stocks held.
#4
1. although stocks of crude are above average, stocks of gasoline are below average
2. although supply is up, demand is up; works the same way in housing - we have more housing stock than at any time in history; about 10% increase over the past 5 years (twice the increase in population) - but demand is up too
Disagree. The fluxes around actions in Iran and Iraq have nothing to do with supply and demand and everything to do with speculation. Its pure market manipulation.
Second when the spot market goes up the price of the pump is immediated adjusted up. When those same spot prices drop, there is no similar drop at the pump. If the rational for raising prices is because of costs that will have to eventually be paid is justification for the immediate increase, that works for an immediate drop. Never happens. Once the handful of companies see they can get away with a wink and nod to keeping the prices up, they stay up.
No President has the balls to RICO some of these players.
Yeah, yeah, the profit margin is small. However, it is Hollywood bookkeeping. Each transaction: exploration, extraction, transportation, refining, distribution, each carry the overhead 'cost' load of the company. Its just like mafia skimming.
#6
Prices are based on a combination of current market conditions and future expectations/risks. Because there is a risk of a general Mideast conflagration (US military action against Iran because of the nukes after our midterm elections for example) the oil markets would be truly irrational if they didn't price this risk factor into the market. Hence, we have high prices in spite of high stocks, without any need of market manipulation by the big oils. It actually provides good opportunities to short the market provided one only does it for short swings downward before the next bullish news. (Warning: this is for pros; do not attempt this at home.) PS: strictly speaking, stocks are considered part of 'supply' by traders and it's best to look at year-end stocks as a percentage of yearly demand.
TOKYO (AP) - Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Wednesday that Japan may not pull its noncombat troops from Iraq until after he is scheduled to step down in September. Japan's decision to withdraw its 600 troops from the southern Iraqi city of Samawah would be based on "a comprehensive evaluation" of the security and political situation in Iraq, and "wouldn't necessarily be during" his term, Koizumi told reporters.
He also said the security situation in Samawah was "relatively stable," although he said other areas in Iraq were struggling with what appeared to organized terrorist attacks.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/14/2006 08:47 ||
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Iraq's prime minister set in motion the biggest security crackdown in Baghdad since the U.S.-led invasion, with 75,000 Iraqi and U.S. troops to deploy across the strife-prone capital starting Wednesday. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki also announced plans for an extended curfew and a weapons ban, saying he would show "no mercy" to terrorists six days after al-Qaida in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed in a U.S. airstrike northeast of Baghdad. The government did not say how long the crackdown would last.
I'd rather hear that the bad guyz were dead, rather than that they're gonna be dead. I'm gonna be slender, too.
The announcement came as radical anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr planned a demonstration Wednesday in Baghdad to protest President George W. Bush's surprise visit to the capital.
He's just jealous of G.W.'s dental work...
Bush's visit Tuesday was seen by many as a boost for al-Maliki, who is seeking to build momentum after al-Zarqawi's death and the appointment of defense and interior ministers following weeks of political stalemate. Al-Zarqawi's successor, identified by the nom de guerre Abu Hamza al-Muhajer, vowed to defeat "crusaders and Shiites" in Iraq and said "holy warriors" in the country were stronger than ever, according to a Web statement posted Tuesday - the first from the new leader.
Security officials said 75,000 Iraqi and multinational forces would be deployed throughout Baghdad on Wednesday, securing roads in and out of the city, establishing more checkpoints, launching raids against insurgent hideouts and calling in airstrikes if necessary. "Baghdad is divided according to geographical area, and we know the al-Qaida leaders in each area," said Maj. Gen. Mahdi al-Gharrawi, the commander of public order forces under the Interior Ministry.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred ||
06/14/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
Wouldn't like to be a Sunny in Baghdad when it happens.
#2
They'll section off the city and fumigate. The Tater march should be the first line of attack.
Posted by: Captain America ||
06/14/2006 1:31 Comments ||
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#3
Tater is a partner in the Shia political block. He is protected and wields influence beyond the number of votes he controls. He was treated very respectfully by Jaafari - and Maliki was Jaafari's #2 in the Dawa Party, which leads the Shia block. Will that change? I doubt it.
I believe gromgoru is on-target - the evidence supports him. There may be some "show" put on regards the Shia militias, but will the ruling Shia block disarm one of their own? Not likely. A Baghdad cleanup, IMO, will be an anti-Sunni "insurgents" operation. Then there's the problem with southern Iraq - completely dominated by the Shia militias. The magnitude of the mess there is staggering. Iran is the key. Depose the Mullahs, and Iraq may become viable. Otherwise... I think not.
I'll wait and see if Maliki rises above his political and sectarian loyalties to become a real Iraqi leader, a PM for all Iraqis. That would be something to see, and something to cheer. There hasn't been much elapsed time since he rose to be the Dawa / Shia top dog, so the jury is still out on Maliki the man.
Actually, all evidence up to this point indicates the entire Shia block are Iranian agents. If anyone has substantive evidence otherwise, post it.
BTW -- The "hand to heart" gesture he made when he first saw Bush come walking out and shook hands was very interesting - and positive. A rather thin thread to hang hopes on, but it was genuine - and I'll wager Bush reinforced the positives when they spoke privately. Maybe Maliki will get it.
Time will tell where Maliki's loyalties are: Is he a nationalist or a Shite pawn? I'm more with the glass half full crowd.
Posted by: Captain America ||
06/14/2006 12:58 Comments ||
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#5
Indeed, time will tell. Personally, It's hard for me to trust the actions or motives of any Muslim political leader, but in Maliki's case, I hope for the best.
Quick side trip to Switzerland, Mahmud?
GAZA CITY (AFP) - Palestinian foreign minister Mahmud al-Zahar, who has been abroad raising money for the Hamas-led government, returned to Gaza with millions of dollars in cash, officials said. I'm back! With 4030 20 million dollars to solve all our problems! Zahar arrived at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip carrying four suitcases stuffed with 20 million dollars, an official at the Palestinian Authority presidency said. Now there's a hit waiting to happen.
He declared the money to customs officials upon arrival at the terminal and in conjunction with president Mahmud Abbas's office, the decision was taken to transfer the money to the finance ministry, the source said. Yeah, the...finance ministry! That's it!
Zahar had on Wednesday been scheduled to hold talks with senior officials in Egypt en route back to Gaza after an extended overseas tour in which he has sought to drum up political and financial support for the Hamas government.
On Tuesday, he was in Damascus where he met Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem and on Saturday in Iran to meet Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki.
The source in Abbas's office said that the cash was in the president's Gaza City office and would be transferred to the finance ministry. Yeah. Transferred. Ummmmmmm...soon.
Hamas's chief spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri, who was last month caught trying to smuggle hundreds of thousands of euros into Gaza, said Zahar's money would be handed over to the finance ministry and used to break the effects of the siege.
"We want to break the inhuman policy against the Palestinian people because we are making all efforts to bring in the money from the governments.
"The money that Dr Zahar has brought in will form part of the government's efforts to break the siege," he said, unable to confirm the sums involved. Well isn't that convienient.
A spokesman for the EU monitors at the Rafah terminal could confirm only that Zahar had crossed the border, leaving behind various pieces of luggage that were being processed by the Palestinian presidential guard and customs. Probably their cut of the action.
"The minister of foreign affairs crossed the border 10 minutes ago. A convoy of four vehicles was waiting for him and he has jumped into one of the two vehicles which has already departed," Julio de la Guardia said. Getaway driver. No Fatah scoop this time. This one's all ours...
He told AFP that the matter of his luggage was being dealt with by the presidential guard and customs officers given that the European border guard was only at Rafah to monitor procedures. Duuuuuuh...yup.
The Palestinian Authority has been teetering on the brink of bankruptcy ever since the European Union and United States suspended direct aid over the ruling Hamas movement's refusal to recognise Israel and renounce violence.
On May 19, Abu Zuhri was caught trying to smuggle 639,000 euros (816,000 dollars) into Gaza at the Rafah terminal where the money was impounded by the Palestinian customs authorities.
At the time Abu Zuhri told reporters the money, stuffed into a belt, was bequests from Palestinian expatriates to help the cash-squeezed local populace, which has been suffocated by Western aid cuts since Hamas took office.
The Hamas government has been facing fiscal meltdown since taking office in March and the vast majority of the 160,000 people on the Palestinian Authority payroll have been paid since February owing to the EU and US aid cuts. 20mil/160000=$125. That'll solve everything.
#1
20 million won't last them a week.
If they have been in the red since feb.
I can't figure how they have made it this long.
Must have found a way to skim the humanitarian aid.
#3
He better head back to Switzerland again with 4 empty suitcases and bring some more moolah home. Watch out for bystanders with shifty eyes, though.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
06/14/2006 12:02 Comments ||
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Hamas claims it has raised more than $60 million from Muslim and Arab countries. But U.S. pressure on international banks has prevented them from transferring the money into the Palestinian territories.
I'd hate to be a janitor at Palestinian Parliment for the last few days...
RAMALLAH, West Bank - Dozens of Palestinian civil servants stormed parliament Wednesday to demand long-overdue salaries, pelting Hamas lawmakers with water bottles and forcing the parliament speaker to flee the building. Water bottles? Well it could've been worse...
The second attack on the parliament this week, along with the shooting death of a Hamas gunmen in the Gaza Strip, cast doubt on renewed efforts by leaders of the rival Fatah and Hamas parties to halt their increasingly deadly infighting.
In Ramallah, hundreds of government workers demonstrated outside the parliament building, chanting anti-government slogans and demanding their wages. As the chanting grew louder, several dozen protesters burst into the building and pelted Hamas lawmakers with water bottles, tissue boxes and other small items. Must be saving their ammo for the big show.
"We are hungry. We are hungry," the protesters screamed. "Haniyeh, go home!"
During the melee, some demonstrators climbed onto lawmakers' desks. At one point, security guards broke up a scuffle between two female lawmakers. No injuries were reported. Catfight! Catfight!
Parliament speaker Abdel Aziz Duaik, a top Hamas official, fled the hall under heavy guard shortly before the crowd burst in. "I'm not coming back until they leave," Duaik said as he rushed out. Is that the proper response listed in the Brave Jihadi Handbook?
Order was restored after about 45 minutes, and the session resumed.
Most of the demonstrators were thought to be Fatah activists. Later Wednesday, several hundred Hamas supporters marched peacefully in Ramallah to condemn attacks on government buildings.
"We ask, whose interests are you serving through these actions, burning down our institutions?" Hamas leader Farhat Assad asked in a speech. "It is uglier than the practices of the Israeli occupation." Soon to be known as the good old days.
Earlier this week, hundreds of pro-Fatah security personnel went on a rampage in Ramallah, shooting and burning the parliament and Cabinet buildings in a rage against the Hamas-led government.
The power struggle, which has spilled over into factional fighting, has centered on control of the powerful, Fatah-dominated security forces.
In fighting Wednesday, a Hamas gunman was killed in the southern Gaza Strip shortly after Hamas militants attacked the local commander of one of the Palestinian security agencies. The commander was shot in the legs seven times and moderately wounded.
After the Hamas militant was killed, the group attacked the commander's home and set it on fire. Hamas activists pulled the commander's family out of the building before it was torched.
In their meeting in Gaza City, Abbas, Haniyeh and senior security officials discussed ways to end the violence.
"We deplore and regret these incidents," Haniyeh said. "We all are concerned and interested in stopping this deterioration. The government is going to carry out its responsibilities along with the security branches in order to maintain law and order."
Participants said Wednesday's talks focused on Hamas' controversial private militia. Hamas deployed the 3,000-member force last month, setting off weeks of bloodshed. Abbas has demanded the force be disbanded.
Haniyeh said Abbas had agreed to incorporate the militia into the regular police force in Gaza. But he declined to say when this might take place. Hamas has twice pledged to remove the militia out of public places, but it remains in position. Great. More disgruntled, unpaid government employees. With guns.
Bruckheimer casts doubt on the concept. "Knowing the Jews did it before the show starts makes it difficult to build dramatic tension. I'm going to pass on this one."
If you are interested, the 'real' news item is below.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan doubts the findings of an IDF inquiry into the Gaza beach shelling. "The Israeli claim that the beach blast was caused by an explosive charge at the site sounds strange to me. I don't believe it is plausible that the Palestinians planted charges in a place where civilians often spend their time," Annan told the London-based Al-Hayat daily.
Annan said he would send a representative on his behalf to the region to investigate the Palestinian claims that an IDF shell killed the Ghalia family on the Gaza beach. Annan called on Israel to "respect international law and human life", urging the IDF to operate at a distance from civilians. The secretary general also condemned the firing of Kassam rockets at Israel.
Palestinian legislator Saeb Erekat, a close aide to PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, called for an international inquiry. He complained that Israel was trying to blame the Palestinians and warned, "this means that this crime could re-occur."
Head of the IDF investigative team, Maj.-Gen. Meir Klifi, said any inquiry would come up with the same findings. According to Klifi, the IDF would consider supporting an international investigation if and when the subject comes up.
In Gaza, Human Rights Watch military expert Marc Garlasco inspected the shrapnel at the scene and saw the wounded. He concluded that the blast was caused by an Israeli shell. However, he held open the slim possibility that it was planted there by Palestinian militants, though fragment patterns did not back that. "Our information certainly supports, I believe, an Israeli shell did come in and kill these people," he said, ruling out a land mine. Garlasco was the first independent expert to inspect the scene. Palestinians also rejected the possibility that their own explosives caused the fatal blast.
"This is a false allegation, and the Israeli occupation state is trying to escape from shouldering its responsibility by accusing Palestinians without evidence or any proof," said Ghazi Hamad, a spokesman for the Hamas-led Palestinian government.
"The eyewitnesses and the evidence that we have confirm that the massacre is the result of Israeli shelling, and the allegation about land mines planted by Palestinians is baseless," he said.
#3
If the Paleostinians don't want the IDF firing artillery near civilians, they should stop firing Kassams near civilians. Of course, that is part of their plan.
#4
I heard it was a mine planted by Hamas...Islamists disgruntled with infidel Muslim beachgoers? CSI Gaza may be the proof the IDF needs to show AQ infiltration.
Crushing Hamas will isolate Israel and the United States in the international community and give birth to more Al Qaedas, said a visiting US academician on Tuesday.
Only a visiting US academician could make a statement quite that stoopid...
Delivering a lecture at Quaid-e-Azam University, Dr Scott Attran, professor of psychology at Michigan University, said that Hamas had the capacity and the international profile to promote peace in the region.
Though not the desire.
Hamas has an internal and international stature and it will be counterproductive to dislodge Hamas from the government, said Scott, adding there was an historic opportunity to achieve a peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue.
I notice he didn't mention how...
He said that the popularity graph of Hamas had increased over the years, because the group had not compromised on the basic rights of the Palestinians. Besides, the Palestinians do not consider it (Hamas) to be corrupt like the Al-Fatah party, he said. Hamas had fifteen percent base support and occupied 56 percent seats in the Parliament, he said, adding that efforts to isolate and starve Hamas could be dangerous and result in the escalation of violence in the region.
How do you "escalate" over 100 percent?
Dr Attran, who visited Ramallah recently, said that majority of the Palestinians supported a compromise settlement with Israelis, despite the fact that 60 percent of Palestinians lived below the poverty line and 3,920 Palestinians had been killed by Israel since the start of the Intifada in September 2000.
Not that many lived below the poverty line before they decided to have a couple intifadas, did they? And in the learned academician's view the 3,920 Paleocorpses stand in splendid isolation, unconnected with any actions of live Paleostinians, many of whom eventually become the dead Paleostinians.
The Palestinians support for violence would decrease when diplomacy is perceived as an effective tool for resolving their problems, and it increases when casualties resulting from Israeli attacks mount, he said.
Funny thing, the casualties resulting from Israeli attacks mount when the Israeli corpse count goes up. Must be some sort of coincidence, huh?
He said that support for militants decreased after the 1993 Oslo accords, while it rose sharply after 2000 and beginning of the second Intifada. He said that the Hamas government would never accept Quartet proposals regarding recognition of Israel. It (Hamas) will also not renounce violence, as no modern national liberation movement ever renounced the right to armed struggle under military occupation of a foreign power, he said. The road map for peace labeled Hamas a terrorist organisation and called for its elimination, he said.
So how's that make Hamas the best bet for peace? Are we missing something here?
He said that suicide bombers were aged between 15-30 and were not supported by majority of the Palestinian people. The suicide bombers carried out attacks when violence was inflicted on their community, he said. These attacks are not for personal gains but symbolise sacred values, he said.
Like killing Jews. What a tiresome wanker.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/14/2006 00:00 ||
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Posted by: Fred ||
06/14/2006 0:14 Comments ||
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#3
Doesn't matter; since he is from the University of Michigan, that pretty well sums it up. The U of M is the closest thing (IMHO) East of the Mississippi and West of the Appalachians to Berkley there is.
#9
And now, Dr Scott's advice for dealing with toddlers:
Do not be afraid to give in, every single time, when your child throws a temper tantrum. This validates the child and makes him or her feel important.
Dare to not impose consequences for bad behavior. They'll eventually figure out that throwing things at other people is "not nice". Sure, other diners may not appreciate having cutlery thrown at them during their meals, especially sharp steak knives, but it's a small price to pay to ensure your child's developing self-esteem is not damaged during these critical years.
This advice may seem counterintuitive to those who have raised children in the past, but remember, I'm a professor of psychology and know more than you do.
#10
Professors of Psychology - Is there anything they don't know?
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/14/2006 8:42 Comments ||
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#11
said that Hamas had the capacity and the international profile to promote peace in the region.
He said that the Hamas government would never accept Quartet proposals regarding recognition of Israel. It (Hamas) will also not renounce violence, as no modern national liberation movement ever renounced the right to armed struggle under military occupation of a foreign power, he said.
Either these statements are inconsistent or Mr. Attran is stating that Hamas will bring peace by destroying Israel.
You're correct...see previous comments about Dr. Scott Attran, Univ. of Michigan and Prof. of Psychology.
Posted by: BA ||
06/14/2006 12:01 Comments ||
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#13
Crush away - we can handle it. :-D
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
06/14/2006 12:57 Comments ||
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#14
Well, the Wall Israel has built and is continuing to build again shows what a great idea it was.
Let Hamas escalate and let Israeli artillery continue thumping.
I'm curious as to how Israel will respond to rocket attacks from the West Bank and how other governments will try and tie their hands in terms of responding to suck an attack.
#17
We all know that decades ago, leftist lunacy became commonplace in Universities nationwide. In Grad School I had two professors who I can only describe as anti-american marxist clowns. I don't really know what the answer is, but I do know that radicalist leftist dogma in schools is doing inestimable damage to America.
In my case, the answer was to vehemently oppose and debate their BS whenever I had the chance. Of course it didn't change their minds (no 'mind' to change) but it was therapeutic. Unfortunately, the vast majority of the student body either agreed like mindless lemmings, or were too cowardly to speak up.
Were it not for the Universities, and the brainwashed socialists they produce, the Dems wouldn't have a pot to piss in.
#18
depends on your school/interest. My engineering (BS and MS) professors never talked about politics at all
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/14/2006 21:12 Comments ||
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#19
Mine either, Frank, but I did have to take some "humanities" electives including one with a very Marxist sociology professor. I must admit that I never argued with him -- I judged him to be too stupid for rational discourse.
#20
In Michigan, univiersity students tend to self-segregate. U of M calls itself the "Harvard of the Midwest" so radicals and radical wannabes go to U of M. People who want to learn useful things go to MSU, Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, Central Michigan, etc. The fact that in the 60's, while Ann Arbor was the nexis of drug culture in Michigan, the drug of choice at Michigan State was beer pretty much sums up the situation.
Jakarta, 14 June (AKI/Jakarta Post) - Concerned by the creeping Islamisation of the country's secular state, 56 national legislators are urging President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to abolish sharia-based bylaws already in place or risk the country's disintegration. In a petition, including signatories from Muslim-based political parties, the MPs said local administrations' implementation of the bylaws contravened the 1945 Constitution and the five principles enshrined in the Pancasila state ideology. While the country is overwhelmingly Muslim, the Pancasila calls for a common platform for a plural and multi-cultural country.
"The deliberation and implementation of bylaws should have been carried out according to the 1945 Constitution and Pancasila, and within the framework of the Unitary State of Indonesia," one of the signatories, Constant Ponggawa of the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS), said Tuesday during a meeting with the House leadership to express their views. Constant said that the President should move quickly to nullify the bylaws or the state faced disintegration.
Gayus Lumbuun of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) said the petition was aimed at creating a powerful legislative movement to reverse the drive for Islamization of the country. "We want to create a snowball effect, something that we hope will end up with the establishment of a House working committee to investigate the matter," Gayus told The Jakarta Post.
Signatories met with House Deputy Speaker Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno.
Aside from nationalist politicians from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and the PDS, a number of Muslim politicians from the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the United Development Party (PPP), were present during the meeting. There were also politicians from nationalist political parties. The petition is the first cross-factional campaign to oppose the passing of Islamist-oriented regulations. Currently, 22 regencies and municipalities have implemented sharia-influenced bylaws.
Some of the bylaws criminalize conduct prohibited under Islamic law, such as adultery, alcoholism and prostitution. Some of the regulations have been criticized for restricting public freedom, especially women's dress. In the West Sumatra city of Solok and the capital Padang, as well as Banten province, local governments have issued regulations obliging women to wear headscarves in public. Local administrations in Padang, Indramayu, West Java, and Maros, South Sulawesi, have gone even further in passing bylaws requiring Koran literacy among schoolchildren. Some local governments cited the granting of special autonomy to Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, a strongly Islamic area, as inspiration for the drawing up of the bylaws.
Earlier Monday, Justice and Human Rights Minister Hamid Awaluddin told House Commission III on legal affairs that his ministry, in collaboration with the Home Affairs Ministry, would take action against religion-inspired bylaws.
Posted by: Steve ||
06/14/2006 11:09 ||
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A central Asian summit to discuss security issues is likely to be overshadowed by the presence of Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad, the controversial president of Iran, who arrives in Shanghai on Wednesday. He will be an observer at Thursdays summit of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation. The five-year-old grouping is one of Chinas first attempts at playing a bigger diplomatic role in the region but it is prompting growing concern in the US.
Much attention will be focused on how China and Russia behave towards Iran and whether the countries discuss Irans nuclear fuel programme on the sidelines. China and Russia, both members of the United Nations Security Council, have been much less keen than the US or European governments to seek tougher action against Irans nuclear programme.
China has been trying to build closer relations with a number of Middle Eastern countries, including Iran, because of its ever-growing demand for oil. Iran provides about 13 per cent of Chinas imports of oil and Beijing has signed a deal to buy liquefied natural gas from Iran and to allow a Chinese company to exploit the Yadavaran oilfield in Iran.
Continued on Page 49
#1
Iran currently has "observer" status with SCO. This will likely change to full membership.
Posted by: Captain America ||
06/14/2006 1:24 Comments ||
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#2
IRAN is going hell-bent for Regional-Global Empire and won't accept in LT being treated as an unequal or minor nation/region by RUSSIA-CHINA. RUSSIA-CHINA = ISRAEL = USA = BRITS-NATO > WORLD NUCLEAR POWERS/STATES > THAT MEANS IRAN MUST HAVE NUKES EVENTUALLY.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
The chairman of the Islamic courts' union 
The IGAD member states meeting in Nairobi Kenya agreed on Tuesday to ban the warlords defeated in Somalia capital by Islamic fighters from traveling to their countries and also to freeze their assets. It is severe blow to the faction leaders who are now in Jowhar and Mogadishu. 
Kerry, who was widely criticized as the party's standard-bearer in 2004 for being too cautious in his criticism of the war, said Tuesday that politicians "cannot have it both ways." In remarks that could have been aimed at Clinton, Kerry said: "It's not enough to argue with the logistics or to argue about the details. ... It is essential to acknowledge that the war itself was a mistake. ... It was wrong, and I was wrong to vote for that Iraqi war resolution."
SRINAGAR - Shops and businesses were closed in Indian Kashmirs main city on Tuesday following a strike called by separatists to protest against what they said was the desecration of a Koran and a mosque by Indian soldiers. Two people have been killed and 24 wounded since the weekend after security forces opened fire on crowds angered by reports soldiers entered a mosque wearing shoes in Kupwara district, 85 km (50 miles) northwest of Srinagar. The troops are also said to have damaged a copy of the Islamic holy book in the mosque in Zirhama village.
Iraq's prime minister set in motion the biggest security crackdown in Baghdad since the U.S.-led invasion, with 75,000 Iraqi and U.S. troops to deploy across the strife-prone capital starting Wednesday. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki also announced plans for an extended curfew and a weapons ban, saying he would show "no mercy" to terrorists six days after al-Qaida in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed in a U.S. airstrike northeast of Baghdad. The government did not say how long the crackdown would last.
Crushing Hamas will isolate Israel and the United States in the international community and give birth to more Al Qaedas, said a visiting US academician on Tuesday.
