The state-run media in Kabul has begun casting doubt on Pakistans side of the tribal jirga even before its formation. A group discussion on state-run RTA TV on Sunday night reflected on what the Kabul regime was expecting to happen when handpicked jirga members from Pakistani side would not be independent in their decisions.
President General Pervez Musharraf has backed Afghan President Hamid Karzais idea of forming jirgas on both sides of the Pak-Afghan border to contain the Taliban insurgency. They (jirga members from the Pakistani side) would say what the Pakistani government tells them to say, warlord Badshah Khan Zadran from Khost province said at the discussion. Zadran, who opposed Karzai as interim head of Afghanistan after the Taliban ouster in late 2001, said the Pakistani sides jirga members would not be independent in their views on the situation in Afghanistan since the political agent will pick these members. He suggested using military means to crush the insurgency instead of resolving the issue politically.
Afghan sources close to the Karzai government in Kabul told Daily Times on Monday that it was likely that the two jirgas would ask the Taliban and the coalition forces to agree on a ceasefire. You can say we may have a Musa Kalay-like accord, said a source asking not to be named. The Taliban will have to listen to the Afghan elders and clerics because their insurgency is successful due to these peoples support, he added.
Local elders and clerics brokered a ceasefire between British forces and the Taliban in Musa Kalay district of Helmand province following fierce clashes last month. Sami Yousafzai, an Afghan journalist working for the American Newsweek magazine, said he found great support for the Taliban in Afghan villages and towns and added that the insurgency increased because of poor governance by President Karzai.
Posted by: Fred ||
10/17/2006 00:00 ||
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Cadres to work for major political parties during polls to evade 'crossfire' Several outlawed parties in the country's southwestern region are recruiting fresh 'cadres' in an attempt to reorganise themselves and increase their strength ahead of the next parliamentary election. And after recruitment, the outlaws are pushing these cadres into different political parties to work with them for the upcoming polls and camouflage their real identity to escape 'crossfire' deaths.
Besides, top leaders of these outfits are also maintaining close contacts with some top political leaders of the region, including lawmakers, who earlier used the outlaws' strength to manipulate different elections particularly parliamentary polls. Sources including those close to the outlawed parties said the outfits are taking to such tactics in the context of 'crossfire' killings of many of their cadres, changing situation of underground politics in the country and their planned role in the next general election. The outfits are three factions of Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) --PBCP-Janajuddho, PBCP-Red Flag and PBCP-Communist Juddho -- Gono Mukti Fouz (GMF), Gono Bahini (GB) and New Biplobi Communist Party (NBCP).
I dunno why, but I've got a soft spot for the New Biplobi Communist Party.
They have already collected a good number of 'cadres' in the last several months. Now, a number of such cadres are working as activists of different political parties, mostly in the ruling BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami. Several leaders of the main opposition Awami League (AL) are also maintaining close links with leaders of the outlawed parties, sources said.
The outlaws are distributing leaflets at different places in several districts calling upon people to come under their banners to uproot the present capitalist society and build a "socialist people's state". The PBCP-Janajuddho recently distributed leaflets in Bamundi, Kazipur and Khoksa areas in Meherpur district and Sahebnagar, Bhogailbagdi and Alamdanga of Chuadanga. Earlier in August, the outlaws distributed leaflets in Alukdia, Kalpara and Kodalia village in sadar upazila of Jhenidah district, Amla, Chitolia and Mirpur in Kushtia and some areas of Narail. They also held several meetings in these areas escaping the eyes of law enforcers. At these meetings, the outlawed parties advised their cadres to join hands with leaders of different political parties, mainly the ruling alliance, so that they can get their (leaders) help when needed, specially to evade 'crossfire' after arrest.
This correspondent saw several cadres of outlawed parties who are working with political parties, particularly the ruling alliance. Taizal Hossain, a top terror of Kushtia and an accused in at least 20 cases including that for murders, is working with Jamaat in Mirpur upazila in the district. He is under the control of local Jamaat leader Abdul Gafur.
Another top cadre of outlawed Biplobi Communist Party (BCP) -- Akbar, alias "Killer Akbar" -- is working with the BNP in Bheramara upazila in Kushtia. A relative of the local ruling party lawmaker controls his activities.
Another top cadre of outlawed Biplobi Communist Party (BCP) -- Akbar alias "Killer Akbar" -- is working with the BNP in Bheramara upazila in Kushtia. A relative of the local ruling party lawmaker controls his activities.
Many other cadres such as Ainal of Uzangram, Rahman, Arif and Masud of Hatiaabdalpur, Niza, and Sabbir of Jhoudia in Sadar upazila of Kushtia are working for the AL. All were cadres of the GB. A local AL leader and a teacher of Islamic University (IU) are reportedly controlling these elements.
A number of cadres of the PBCP-Red Flag are now working with a ruling alliance lawmaker of Meherpur. The lawmaker's brother, who is a lawyer by profession, is in control of these cadres. The chief of the outlawed party has close ties with the lawmaker, sources said. A good number of cadres of outlawed Banglar Communist Party (BCP-Laltu) have reportedly joined both the ruling and opposition parties in Chuadanga. And they are now attending different political programmes of these parties.
Use of outlaws during any election in the southwestern region is a practice going on for years. Even law enforcers admitted this on different occasions. Outlawed parties are traditionally used in vote rigging in this region, said a senior police official who is posted in the region for several years. A number of godfathers of outlaws and other gang members are political leaders belonging to major parties, the official told this correspondent over phone, seeking anonymity.
The list containing 133 hardcore criminals belonging to outlawed parties and their 27 'political godfathers' was sent to the higher authorities. Of the 133 listed criminals, 62 were killed in 'crossfire'. None of the 'godfathers' has been arrested as yet...
He mentioned that on orders of the higher authorities last year, different intelligence agencies prepared a list of criminals and their 'political godfathers' in the region. And the list containing 133 hardcore criminals belonging to outlawed parties and their 27 'political godfathers' was sent to the higher authorities. Of the 133 listed criminals, 62 were killed in 'crossfire', sources said. One source however said the victims include some cadres of political parties---mainly the AL, BNP and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD)-- but none of the 'godfathers' has been arrested as yet.
Chuadanga police on October 24 last year announced bounties on 20 'top outlaws'. But it proved futile. Only three of them were arrested but they were caught in 'crossfire' when police took them out to recover their hidden firearms. Police records say 345 people were killed in 'crossfire' in 10 districts in the region since June 2004. Among them, 158 people were killed during June - December 2004, 108 last year and the remaining ones this year.
The outlawed parties are now facing a manpower crisis due to killing of many of their cadres in 'crossfire'. The PBCP-Janajuddho has lost the largest number of cadres in the last two years. To meet this crisis, they are now recruiting fresh cadres, sources mentioned. At least 13 outlawed parties are active in the region and about 1,000 illegal firearms are under their possession. The parties are four factions of the PBCP including PBCP-ML, Biplobi Communist Party (BCP), the NBCP, BCP-Laltu, the GMF, the GB, Socialist Party (SP), Biplobi Anuragi, Chhinnomul Communist Party (CCP) and Sarbahara People's Manch (SPM).
Posted by: Fred ||
10/17/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
Thieving commies should find much opportunity as notaries public and such in the hallowed halls of the Abhaynagar Upazila Municipal Water Works -n- Bingo Hall. The potentialities for graft and extortion are dizzying. Plus they can start ordering their own hits on former "business partners."
I also imagine their 'get out the vote' campaigns will be extremely...persuasive.
Tony Blair has pledged that British forces would not "walk away" from Iraq or Afghanistan until their job there is complete.
At his monthly Downing Street press conference, the Prime Minister insisted that the British troops in the two countries were carrying out an important mission for world security.
He said: "If we walk away before the job is done from either of those two countries, we will leave a situation in which the very people we are fighting everywhere, including the extremism in our own country, are heartened and emboldened and we can't afford that to happen. So we have got to see that job through."
His comments follow a warning last week by the head of the Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, that the British presence in Iraq was exacerbating the difficulties the UK faced around the world.
Mr Blair stressed that Gen Dannatt was not calling for the immediate withdrawal of British troops from Iraq.
"Of course, it is the case that for some of those areas in Iraq, particularly where the Iraqi forces now want to take control of those areas, it is important that we don't overstay the time that we need to be there," he said.
"But in no sense was he saying - and neither should anybody say - that we should get out of Iraq before the job is done."
A medical school in Birmingham, UK, has banned Muslim medics from wearing a full-face veil. The Birmingham University School of Medicine banned veils to "help good communication" between Muslim medical students, their colleagues and patients. The school allowed Muslim women to cover their faces during lectures and around campus, but banned veils in hospital buildings' "clinical environments". A spokesman said "we have not restricted students from wearing headscarves".
"Doctor, doctor! It hoits when I do dis!"
"Do what?"
"Dis! Dis! It hoits when I do dis!"
"Okay, don't do dat."
Posted by: Fred ||
10/17/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
Reminds me of a story I was told while in SaudiLand. Given my imperfect memory, it went something like this... A woman had decided to take her family home, without the husband IIRC, and when asked what prompted the sudden decision after so many years in-Kingdom, she told of seeing her youngest daughter, about age 5, running around with a towel over her head. When she asked her daughter what she was playing, the child said she was playing "doctor". The woman decided it was time to get out before the child was terminally confused, lol.
#2
Indeed, .com - the family didn't conform to the cultural norms and did the best thing... leave. Similarly anyone who wants towear this crazy shit in the UK should funk off and live in a muslim country. Asstards. Personally, if I saw one of those freaks in hospital I'd be out the window...
Posted by: Howard UK ||
10/17/2006 8:20 Comments ||
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"Dis! Dis! It hoits when I do dis!"
"Okay, don't do dat."
Pink. So it must be from the guy who doesn't just play doctor on the internet, he is one!
#4
Doctor's ties have been pinpointed as sources of spreading infections amoung patients. I would think veils would be far worse. This is only medical common sense.
(KUNA) -- A new centre to collate and distribute intelligence across NATO was launched Monday by Britains Minister for the Armed Forces Adam Ingram and General James Jones, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced. The Intelligence Fusion Centre, at the Royal Air Force base of Molesworth, in Cambridgeshire, southern England, will provide NATO missions, including current operations, with comprehensive intelligence support drawn from across the alliance, the MoD added. All NATO nations have been invited to contribute to the centre.
Speaking at the launch, Ingram told reporters "On military operations, knowledge is power and while the intelligence resources of individual NATO members are impressive this shared asset is truly formidable." "This essential resource for NATO missions is already increasing the speed and efficiency of intelligence sharing between NATO allies and is delivering real benefits to the front line," the Minister said. "Today is another example of NATO transforming itself and rising to the demands of the modern world and exemplifies a new openness when it comes to sharing information between allies. I am delighted that Britain is home to this vital NATO asset and that we are playing our part in its formation," Ingram added.
The Intelligence Fusion Centre reaches initial operating capacity today with 75, of an eventual 160 or so, personnel from across NATO already in place at the centre, the MoD said.
Posted by: Fred ||
10/17/2006 00:00 ||
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Yep, it'll be a good place to go... The US already has the center of its intelligence operations at RAF Molesworth. My former unit, the 497RTG, was disbanded in 1992 and most of its assets transferred to Molesworth. I'm sure it'll be nice having NATO just across the street, as long as there aren't a few dozen moles in the number. A few of the people I worked with at Schierstein, GE, are at Molesworth now, mostly as civilians.
The real kicker is, that when I was stationed at RAF Alconbury, I lived about 5 miles from Molesworth, and it wasn't operational at that time. I'd have given just about anything to have stayed in England at the time, but couldn't - no slot. I was transferred to the 497th, in Germany - again.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
10/17/2006 19:41 Comments ||
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Heh, OP. Different area of specialization, but husband came *this close* to a tour in Harrowgate. Which I wanted even tho there was no way for me to keep my career going while there.
He got talked out of it by an O6 who was close to wearing a star and went to AFIT instead.
Lecturers and university staff across Britain will be asked to spy on Asian-looking and Muslim students they suspect of involvement in Islamic extremism and supporting terrorist violence, the Guardian reported on Monday. According to the Guardian, the lecturers and university staff would be told to inform on students to special branch because the government believes campuses have become fertile recruiting grounds for extremists. The British Education Department has drawn up a series of proposals which are to be sent to universities and other centres of higher education before the end of the year. The 18-page document acknowledges that universities would be anxious about passing information to special branch, for fear it amounts to collaborating with the secret police. It says there will be concerns about police targeting certain sections of the student population (eg Muslims).
The Guardian said the proposals are likely to cause anxiety among academics, and provoke anger from British Muslim groups at a time when ministers are at the focus of rows over issues such as the wearing of the veil and forcing Islamic schools to accept pupils from other faiths.
Wakkas Khan, president of the Federation of Student Islamic Societies, said: It sounds to me to be potentially the widest infringement of the rights of Muslim students that there ever has been in this country. It is clearly targeting Muslim students and treating them to a higher level of suspicion and scrutiny. It sounds like youre guilty until youre proven innocent.
Posted by: Fred ||
10/17/2006 00:00 ||
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There's really no doubt you're guilty. We just want to know what and when you are scheming. Then, when found out, you may self deport or be given a short ride through the countryside in the back of a lorry.
#4
I wonder if that short ride will incude:
1. 0-dark:30 start time.
2. recovery of an arms cache.
3. unseen accomplices.
4. a shoot out.
5. recovery of a shutter gun, and 3 rounds of bullet.
I can dream.
Posted by: N guard ||
10/17/2006 7:52 Comments ||
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It will probably work as well as similar efforts to keep tabs on Reds did in the 1930s.
#8
This description of the program is exactly what I predicted yesterday (yes, it was an easy prediction). There is no way this program is going to be implemented in PC-addled Britain. You are only hearing the start of the "outrage". It will not be implemented.
BEIJING, Oct. 17 KYODO: The Bank of China, one of China's big four state-owned commercial banks, has halted remittances of funds to North Korea from at least some of its branches since Monday, bank officials said Tuesday.
The move comes just over a week after North Korea announced it carried out an underground nuclear test, which led the U.N. Security Council to pass a resolution Saturday that paves the way for economic and diplomatic sanctions against the country. China, North Korea's traditional ally and main aid benefactor, also supported the resolution.
Posted by: Steve White ||
10/17/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
Ya gotta admit, they're working up a fine multi-threaded soap... and collection of alibis.
#6
One of four major state owned banks? At least some of its branches? No mention of what a pathetic effort this is by the Chinese. This article is a complete piece of crap. Modern journalism at work.
Posted by: Mike N. ||
10/17/2006 10:59 Comments ||
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China could end their ambitions tomorrow if they wanted. North Korea gets most if not all of its electricity from the PRC. If they cut off the juice things get awful quiet in the hermit kingdom. Also I will think China is serious when ALL the PRC banks stop doing business with North Korea.
BEIJING - The United Nations food agency said on Monday it was relieved that the UN sanctions on North Korea will have little impact on humanitarian aid but warned that the crisis there is still precarious.
So the sanctions mean nothing, but we knew that.
The sanction doesnt affect humanitarian food aid per se... from that perspective were extremely happy, said World Food Programme (WFP) spokesman Michael Huggins, who has just visited North Korea. The reason were happy is because the situation in North Korea is so precarious and food security remains elusive for many millions of people, he told AFP.
But even though the sanctions have no immediate impact on international food aid, Huggins said millions are still going hungry due to the UN agencys lack of funding and South Koreas scaling back of food aid after the Norths declared missile test.
Last month, the World Food Programme said it had received so far just eight percent of the 102 million dollars it needs to provide 150,000 tonnes of food over the next two years. We need to feed 1.9 million people and were only feeding about a million, Huggins said.
Huggins said 37 percent of children under six are chronically malnourished in the reclusive communist state and one-third of North Korean women are anaemic and malnourished.
And 99% are oppressed and broken.
Posted by: Steve White ||
10/17/2006 00:00 ||
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New best-selling book in NorK: "101 Ways to Wok Your Dog"
#2
This article has a pic of Kimmie visiting an army unit. Even the accompanying brass look emaciated. But not Kimmie, of course! The only pot-belly in NorK.
But even though the sanctions have no immediate impact on international food aid, Huggins said millions are still going hungry due to the UN agencys lack of funding and South Koreas scaling back of food aid after the Norths declared missile test.
Last month, the World Food Programme said it had received so far just eight percent of the 102 million dollars it needs to provide 150,000 tonnes of food over the next two years
Contributions must be way off if they have less than $10M.
The United States has detected fresh signs that North Korea may be preparing for a second nuclear test, according to U.S. media reports Monday U.S spy satellites have detected "suspicious vehicle movements" that could be preparations for another test near the site where North Korea conducted its first underground nuclear explosion test on Oct. 9, ABC News said, quoting unidentified U.S. officials.
NBC News also reported unidentified U.S. officials as saying U.S. spy satellites are picking up signs of truck and people movements.
Posted by: Steve White ||
10/17/2006 00:00 ||
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Let them keep testing until they get one to explode. Their supplies of fissile materials and money are finite. Every time they test a weapon, that is one less in their small and dwindling supply of bombs. Go for it Kim!
South Korea is aware of signs related to possible preparations for an additional North Korea nuclear test, Yonhap news agency reported, citing unnammed government officials. One official said various intelligence reports were coming in about a possible test, but that it was unclear how reliable they were. Another official said Seoul has already taken measures to be more vigilant for a possible second nuclear test by North Korea, Yonhap reported.
Posted by: Fred ||
10/17/2006 00:00 ||
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This is almost comical. I can't wait to see the so call 'anger' "W" will display for the cameras, as he tilts his head to explain how the 'whole world' is united from this insistency! Here it is...
"We must continue to press the North Korean regime, of the importance, of adhering to the UN sanctions framework and urging the regime of the 'rightness' of maintaining the 6 party talks framework..."
#3
Maybe the US should test another thermonuclear weapon - one of about 10Mt capacity. We need to wait for a southeast wind, and then test it over Pyongyang at about 700 feet. That should be enough power to collapse the tunnels and shelters built 300+ feet below the city. THAT would put an end to Kimmie's little one-upmanship games, I'm sure.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
10/17/2006 19:50 Comments ||
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THE Federal Government says it is examining ways to ban an online game glorifying a violent Sydney race riot, but the patchwork of laws regulating internet content is complicating the issue.
The object of Cronulla Monopoly ; designed to be printed from the internet and played with a dice is to buy property in the Sutherland Shire in order to donate money to right-wing groups to "win back Australia".
The game includes photographs of last December's violent clashes at Cronulla, in southern Sydney, and is "dedicated to all those who stood up for fair dinkum Aussies".
Federal Communications Minister Helen Coonan today promised to refer the game to internet content regulator the Australian Media and Communications Authority (AMCA).
"The Australian Government is committed to doing everything possible to protect Australians on the internet," Senator Coonan said.
"This includes protecting them from inappropriate and offensive material online including racially motivated material.
"The Government has a strong legislative and regulatory framework to deal with complaints about offensive and illegal material online."
The game was referred to Senator Coonan by New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma in the hope that she could ban it under Commonwealth law.
If the game breaches classification guidelines, which broadly include racial vilification, Senator Coonan and Attorney-General Philip Ruddock may be able to take it down.
However, if the site is hosted overseas, they may be limited to blocking the game locally.
The game appears to be hosted on an anonymous US-based site, accessed from a link on the website of nationalist group Australia First.
The AMCA and Australian Federal Police must be convinced the website hosting the game has broken a law before any legal action can be taken, a spokeswoman for Senator Coonan said.
But as the game, which features racist slogans such as "We grew here, you flew here", appears to incite racial violence, it could be a matter for federal Justice Minister Chris Ellison.
The overlapping jurisdiction of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC), concerning breaches of the Racial Discrimination Act, further muddies the issue of who has responsibility for dealing with the game.
HREOC would attempt conciliation of any complaints but if unsuccessful the matter could go to the Federal Court.
A spokesman for Mr Ellison denied authorities were unable to act because the game fell into a legal grey area.
"In fact, there are a range of mechanisms at the Commonwealth level that could be used to deal with concerns raised about the 'Cronulla 2230' website consistent with the government's strong opposition to discrimination in all its forms," the spokesman said.
The NSW Community Relations Commission says all Australians should be appalled at the hatred in the game Mr Iemma dubbed "racist garbage".
Australia First says on its website that it did not create the game, but the group did not respond to requests for comment today.
#2
Time to take note of those in power who are caving to the Islamist threats against free speech for non-Muslims while apologizing for hate speech from the Mosques - and put up a united front against them.
#6
Web pages get pulled when they receive enough complaints. Muslim groups have organized to complain and get pulled any pages they perceive as "anti-muslim". YouTube has been the victim of this mass manufactured muslim mendacity.
Posted by: ed ||
10/17/2006 16:35 Comments ||
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The Foreign Minister has strongly condemned the federal Opposition over its promise to remove Australian troops from Iraq. The Labor leader, Kim Beazley, says if he wins the election, he would immediately talk to the United States about how quickly Australian forces could be replaced in Iraq.
The Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, told Parliament it is a weak and gutless policy. "The leader of the Opposition's proposition is that this great country would pullout its forces and ask others to do the job for us," he said. "[He] would go to our allies, the Americans, and the morally bankrupt way the leader of the Opposition proposes, and say to the Americans 'find someone else to do this job we are too weak to continue with it'."
The Opposition has hit back at Mr Downer. Labor's foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd calls the Iraq war the single greatest foreign policy disaster since the Vietnam War.
He has questioned how Mr Downer can claim to be proud of the Government's role in Iraq. "Mr Downer therefore, I presume, is proud of the fact that 655,000 per the Lancet 50,000 Iraqi civilians lie dead since the invasion of March 2003, Mr Downer is proud of the fact that 100 Iraqi civilians are killed each day in Iraq, he's proud of the fact that this has involved the expenditure of $1.9 billion of Australian taxpayers funding without any exit strategy in sight," Mr Rudd said.
#1
The Left whines about the cost, in Oz or everywhere else. They have no fricking idea how much it would cost later on if we are not willing to spend peanuts at this time, and the result may not be guaranteed later when we have to squeeze out the last penny and the last drop of blood.
the fact that 100 Iraqi civilians are killed each day in Iraq
The French government yesterday held crisis talks with community leaders in an effort to halt mounting violence in suburbs around Paris, amid news that gangs of youths, mainly of North African descent, were intensifying attacks on police. Send in a batallion of Texas Rangers with the right ROE's and the problem would be solved in a week. Appeasement never solved anything as the escalating violence shows.
Dominique de Villepin, the prime minister and a man, ordered his interior and justice ministers to "toughen up" sentences for those found guilty of assaulting officers, following a meeting with community leaders. "toughen up"...What does that mean? Counseling?
His announcement followed a series of violent incidents over the past weeks, culminating in the ambush of three police officers on Friday by youths in Epinay-sur-Seine, north of Paris. The next time they will not be so lucky.
"These guys came to kill. They wore balaclavas, and had baseball bats and iron bars," said Joaquin Masanet, the general secretary of the powerful UNSA police union. Ya think? Flush the toilet...all the way to North Africa.
The three officers from the anti-crime brigade, BAC, entered the Orgemont housing estate after an anonymous caller reported a violent car theft. Once inside, their exit was barred and they were set upon by around 50 youths, who pelted the men with stones. Iron bars smashed their windscreen. They tried to reverse, but a second vehicle boxed them in. How many cars, homes, and offices need to be burned? How many citizens and police officers need to injured or killed?
The criminals fled only after the officers fired live ammunition into the air and police reinforcements arrived. Fled? Somebody needs to go medieval on these cockroaches. That is the only thing they understand.
One of the officers, Christophe Estève, 30, had two teeth knocked out and needed 30 stitches in his jaw. He was discharged from hospital yesterday. Coming soon to a theater near you...if we don't mitigate now.
#1
The criminals fled only after the officers fired live ammunition into the air and police reinforcements arrived.
If that's the one, and I think it is, there was an actual exchange of shots; IIUC, the wounded police officer was chased into a building entrance by a mob, got cornered, and shot his service pistol in the air to scare them off (I know what you're thinking, me too...); from there, shots were fired at the police by a/some Youth(s?), the BAC guys responded by firing back, which caused the attackers to flee.
Turf-conscious bloggers in Paris' rundown, mostly Muslim, suburban immigrant housing estates rival in violent messages threatening to beat senseless and even kill any intruder caught in "our ghetto." Almost every word is misspelled, in both argot slang and pidgin French. These are not empty threats. An average of 14 policemen a day are injured in bloody clashes with jobless youths.
France's Interior Ministry said 2,500 police officers had been "wounded" this year. The head of the hard-line trade union "Action Police" Michel Thooris wrote to Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy to describe conditions in housing developments turned slums as "intifada." Police cruisers are pelted daily with stones and "Molotov cocktails" (gasoline-filled bottles with burning wicks that explode on impact) and Mr. Thooris said cops assigned to what was rapidly degenerating into "free fire zones" should be protected in armored vehicles. Entire tall buildings empty into the streets to chase police and free an arrested comrade.
"We are in a state of civil war, orchestrated by radical Islamists," Mr. Thooris told journalists. Mr. Sarkozy, the leading center-right candidate for next year's presidential election, responded by dispatching cops in body armor, equipped with automatic weapons and rubber bullets, stun and teargas grenades into several Paris suburbs with orders to "restore control" from "organized crime." In one recent clash 250 cops dispersed a 100-strong Muslim gang armed with baseball bats.
The chaotic conditions in suburbs like Clichy-sous-Bois, Montfermeil and St. Denis have progressively worsened since the nationwide Muslim riots last November that torched 10,000 vehicles.
Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin recently criticized as "overdrawn" President Bush's frequent reference to the "global war on terror." But the Iraq war did not appear to be part of the combustible mix in Muslim "ghettos" outside Paris. Despair, organized crime, and hatred of authority are its principal ingredients.
For the United States, Islamist extremism is seen as an external problem. For the Europeans, it's internal and far more complex than a war on terrorism. Muslim minorities are spawning right-wing extremism. In the Belgian port city of Antwerp, a week ago, the Vlaams Belang (VB, or Flemish Interest), Europe's most extreme right-wing political formation, almost captured city hall with 33? percent of the vote. A Socialist coalition kept VB at bay with 35 percent. Nationwide, VB, which advocates secession of the Flanders and severe restrictions on Muslim immigration, scored 20 percent.
In France, Jean-Marie Le Pen's far right National Front (FN) appears to have opted for a can't-lick-'em-join-'em strategy, a rapprochement with France's large immigrant Muslim community -- with undertones of anti-Semitism. Mr. Le Pen's reasoning appears to be the recognition that Islamicization is in France to stay with 25 percent of France's under-20 population Muslim (40 percent in some cities), second- and third-generation North Africans.
FN's tough stance on immigration is tempered by support for Arab and Islamist causes in the Middle East (Hamas and Hezbollah are two favorites). There are an estimated 6 to 8 million Muslims among France's 62 million and Islam is now France's second religion. Mosques are well attended on Fridays; churches aren't on Sundays. More than 50 percent of France's prison inmates are Muslims.
Mr. Le Pen's strategic advisers argue the FN must drop its founding mythology and forget about the once-popular image of a modern Joan of Arc resisting the invasion of Muslim hordes. Americans and Jews are the new targets. But the party's Christian right-wingers do not agree and are defecting in large numbers. The Islamist threat is their main concern and they are finding a new political home in MPF, Mouvement Pour la France, which is anti-European Union and anti-Muslim and given only 7 percent of registered voters in a recent poll. Mr. Le Pen's followers have dropped back from 11 percent to 9 percent.
Anti-Semitic incidents have proliferated in France in recent times, but the news seldom makes it across the Atlantic and when it does, it must still fight to be heard above the constant melodrama of constant trivia. A Jewish sports club in Toulouse attacked with Molotov cocktails; in Bondy, 15 men beat up members of a Jewish soccer team with metal bars and sticks; a bus that takes Jewish children to school in Aubervilliers attacked three times in the last 14 months; synagogues in Strasbourg and Marseilles and a Jewish school in Creteil firebombed in recent weeks; in Toulouse, a gunman opened fire -- all ignored in mainstream U.S. media.
The metropolitan Paris police tabulated 10 to 12 anti-Jewish incidents per day in the last 30 days throughout the country.
The No. 1 best-selling book in France is "September 11: The Frightening Fraud," which posits no plane ever crashed into the Pentagon. A similar book in Germany sold more than 1 million copies. One prominent Belgian businessman conceded privately, "No one knows what to believe anymore." Neither multiculturalism nor integration of Muslim communities seems to be working anywhere in Europe. Moderate Muslim voices cannot rise above radical hubbub.
The French far left has also gone fishing in these troubled Islamic waters. One new leftist political star is Dieudonne M'Bala M'Bala, a hugely popular black comedian who appears to be a Gallic Louis Farrakhan. He dismisses civic educational programs about the Holocaust as "memory pornography." He was recently fined 5,000 Euros for comparing Jews to slave-traders. In a television sketch, he gave a Nazi salute while dressed as an orthodox Jew to denounce what he saw as "fascist Israeli policies."
The 40-year-old Dieudonne (he doesn't use his last name) was born in Paris to a French mother and Cameroonian father, and owns and runs a Paris theater that showcases young comedians. Sixty years ago, another French comedian decided to run for the presidency.
"Maisons Closes" had just been banned and Ferdinand Lop campaigned on reopening a brothel every five kilometers between Paris and Deauville. He got a handful of votes. Dieudonne's humor is black -- and dangerous.
#1
Hey, this is a surprizing article; I think it is the first time ever I've read about the new FN's strategy in english.
It's true the "strategic advisers" are straying the FN toward a direction not many would have thought possible (though pépé Le Pen always had a real following among french arabs, harkis, of course, but also fed-up "normal" muslims angry at their carBBQers fellows, and also antisemite-driven arab voters... it was said that in the mid/late 80's, the FN received money from iran)... you've got Marine Le Pen, her daddy's daughter, who convince him to claim the Republican mantle (barf), you got his consigliere Martinez who writes a books praying the arab rappers are proponents of the french language, and advising an alliance with the antiglobos to fight the Empire,... still, the National Right is trying to unite, though everybody's pulling the cover to keep his little piece of the action.
My guess for the 2007 presidential election is the socialist winning, possibly against Le Pen again, who knows?
Anyway, the System is locked. Nothing will ever change, at least at long as it remains sutainable. If there is a krach or something, then it will fall, since it is built on socialist redistribution (aka welfare State), and then, all bets are off. I think the president elected in 2007 will be the last of the Vth.
#2
The French far left has also gone fishing in these troubled Islamic waters. One new leftist political star is Dieudonne M'Bala M'Bala, a hugely popular black comedian who appears to be a Gallic Louis Farrakhan. He dismisses civic educational programs about the Holocaust as "memory pornography." He was recently fined 5,000 Euros for comparing Jews to slave-traders. In a television sketch, he gave a Nazi salute while dressed as an orthodox Jew to denounce what he saw as "fascist Israeli policies."
This is what we have to look forward to if the Dems take the Senate and the house. The anti-semitism among the far left is becoming shocking over here as well. It's still covered in polite term, but that pot is sitting right at 99C (211F). I really hope that the Jewish community understands the threat bubbling up from the left and will vote accordingly.
#3
Every day, when I get up I thank god (or shimon Peres, your choice)about Israel's tactical Nuke arsenal.
IMHO, we are quite close to the moment that we will have to use some of it on a European country (France is my favorite bet) as a purely defensive act.
If you would have told me this fifteen years ago i would have suggested that you get as mental checkup. Now, I think if the US attacks Iran and the Hizbollah try to give us trouble up north, we will attack. The french generals at Unifil will try to prevent the IDF from attacking the Hizzbos and we will have to make minced meat of them.. The french will then call in the Charle DeGaule thingy and we will have to sink it. From there its all downslope.
Posted by: Elder of Zion ||
10/17/2006 11:12 Comments ||
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#4
You think that when for the first time in almost 100 years the French chose to put up an effective fight it will be against Israel? I doubt it. Give them a day's notice and they're out of Dodge or turned sideways.
#5
E of Z,
I believe Al-Chiraq and Koffee thought if they inserted French troops as a "barrier", then the IDF would not dare try to invade Leb territory again. Ha. As you say, French would get chopped up before they high-tailed it out. But, unlike you, I doubt that French would have a will to respond. They seem to be hollowed out. Even A5089 apparently views the internal situation as hopeless. I have to hope he's wrong. But until the internal mood and situation within France changes course and unites in action, I believe France is merely a barking Chiuahua and has no will for any real response.
#6
NS and SpecOp35,
maybe I got carried away and overestimated the deep rooted french antisemitism as possibly leading to action.
However, it never hurts to be prepared.
Posted by: Elder of Zion ||
10/17/2006 11:46 Comments ||
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#7
I had an exchange early this morning about Isreal with some folks here in the internet, these were US citizens, they were all for letting the arabs kill the jews, totally disgusting, these people seem normal otherwise. We have trouble right here in the US of A, trouble that you will not read about or see in the our own press. Made it hard to get a good 8 hours of sleep after than.
I have given up on Europe after the encounters I have had with "europeans", they are only agianst "the empire of the US of A" and not for anything. When you ask them where this empire is they can't point to any place but they know it exists.
#8
"after the encounters I have had with "europeans", they are only agianst "the empire of the US of A" and not for anything. When you ask them where this empire is they can't point to any place but they know it exists."
Sort of like every anti-American ideology. They can't give you concrete examples of why they hate us, they just do.
#9
When you have low self-esteem you tend to look at others as your problem. My vote is that the next time Germany holds War Games in France, leave them alone!
Posted by: Fred ||
10/17/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
Is George Soros an American citizen? I can't tell in the Wikipedia entry. Just wondering why we give this guy so much attention in our politics, other than his $8 billion fortune.
Posted by: Steve White ||
10/17/2006 0:27 Comments ||
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#2
I believe I heard on Fox he does have US citizenship, though he actually resides in Eurabia 90% of the time. He's clearly a traitor and ought to be tried for treason.
#3
Soros knows that in the finally, when the nukes 'are flying from east to west or vice versa, all he has to do is just look up from 'Eurabia' and watch the plume trails go by; at which time, he could continue his tea with the queen!
Now if one were to just fall short in the Thames, he might just have a change of heart!
#4
Sorros is actully persona non grata in many countries. He is only tolerated because he has money. There are pleny in the UK who would love to fry him for what he once did to the UK's economy. Putting him on a one way flight direct to Malaysia would be fun too. His money would not keep him from harm there.
A multi year audit of his taxes must be in order by now.
#7
I suppose this cockroach thinks that his all out assault on East Asian currencies in 97-98 was helpful? Like Michael Milliken, this bastard should have been put down for the public good.
#9
RWV:
That's not fair. From what I've read, Milken didn't do anything wrong, except some technicalities that several people who fingered him also did, but didn't get charged for.
He made a major improvement in the financing system, freeing up hundreds of millions for investment. Many companies would never have gotten started without the ability to sell high-yield bonds. I wouldn't quite call him a "hero," but he was no "villain."
#11
Soros has spent something like $100million trying to buy the last three US elections. I've also heard rumors that he's also "active" in about a dozen 527 groups, and has paid money to the operators of Daily Kos and DU. He is truly a dispicable man, and someone (preferably someone in the US law enforcement community) needs to put him down. It would do a lot to clean up American politics, and would really put the screws to the dummycritters (and a few repuglicon rinos - John McCain, Lincoln Chaffee, etc.).
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
10/17/2006 20:30 Comments ||
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#12
What about quitely remanding Soros to Malaysia?
Might make friends of a muslim nation and if it doesn't it is still a win.
#13
Soros is no doubt spending a great deal to buy the upcoming election as well, although I haven't noticed anything being as noisy as he seems to like his purchases to be. I'm all for it -- the more he throws away on such unsuccessful ventures, the less he has with which to do real harm. Of course, this presumes he's going to continue getting the same zero return on his investment; I'll be distinctly unhappy if he actually gets results this time. ;-)
Homeland Security panel also says traffickers are forming ties with U.S.-based gangs
The U.S. Border Patrol and other law enforcement agencies at the U.S.-Mexico border are outgunned by increasingly ruthless and well-armed Mexican drug cartels, a new congressional report concludes.
"The cartels use automatic assault weapons, bazookas, grenade launchers and improvised explosive devices," the House Homeland Security oversight subcommittee report said. "In contrast, U.S. Border Patrol agents are issued 40-caliber Beretta semiautomatic pistols."
The report, scheduled to be released today by U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, said drug cartels are able to break the encryptions on Border Patrol and sheriffs' deputies' radios.
"Lookouts for the cartels, using military grade equipment, are positioned at strategic points on the U.S. side of the border to monitor movements of U.S. law enforcement," it continued.
Fear of terrorism
Even as the traffickers expand their drugrunning routes to smuggle immigrants into the United States, they are forming dangerous alliances with U.S.-based criminal gangs such as MS-13 and the Latin Kings, according to the congressional panel.
McCaul, whose district stretches into western Harris County, chairs the subcommittee.
The former federal prosecutor expressed concern that trafficking networks could use their delivery routes to smuggle terrorists or weapons of mass destruction into the U.S.
"The thing that keeps me up at night when I think 'What can we do to prevent another 9/11?' is that they own these delivery routes," he said in an interview Monday.
Hezbollah members already have entered the U.S. from Mexico, the report confirmed.
"As if narco-terrorist violence were not enough, extensions of Middle East terrorism have crept into the United States," the report stated. "Islamic radical groups that support Hamas, Hezbollah and Islamiya Al Gamat are all active in Latin America."
McCaul said he commissioned the report to bring focus to the national security threat and rising violence at the border, which has witnessed a spree of murders and kidnappings linked to warring drug cartels, particularly in Nuevo Laredo.
The federal government has added Border Patrol agents, detention beds and high-tech surveillance systems to deter illegal crossings, he said, with less attention to the border's other problems.
"We put billions of dollars in trying to stop the flow coming in, in a more reactive way, and what I'm suggesting is we also need to take a look at the other piece of this problem and identify what is the root cause and attack the root cause head on," he said. "In my view, the head of the snake is the cartels."
McCaul urged better intelligence gathering in Mexico and Latin America. And he called for greater cooperation with the Mexican government to crack down on the cartels.
Still, he acknowledged that expanding the partnership is difficult in light of persistent corruption in Mexican law enforcement ranks and the deadly attacks the cartels have launched on Mexican authorities.
Growing population
Citing federal estimates that the Border Patrol apprehends only 10 percent to 30 percent of illegal crossers, the report said as many as 10 million illegal immigrants may have entered the U.S. last year.
Estimates by the Pew Hispanic Center and other experts peg the illegal immigrant population in the U.S. at 11 million to 12 million.
And while federal law enforcement seized 1.1 million pounds of cocaine and 6.8 million pounds of marijuana, McCaul's staff estimated the total cocaine flow may have topped 11 million pounds.
"While the United States has taken positive steps to secure its borders, much more is needed to combat an increasingly powerful, sophisticated, organized and violent criminal network which seeks to move illegal contraband ... into our country for profit," the report concludes.
#1
"The cartels use automatic assault weapons, bazookas, grenade launchers and improvised explosive devices," the House Homeland Security oversight subcommittee report said. "In contrast, U.S. Border Patrol agents are issued 40-caliber Beretta semiautomatic pistols."
The NG boyos have tanks and choppers and missiles. But it would probably be "insensitive" to use tham to smoke us some bad guys on the border, huh?
#2
A couple of years ago they posted Marines along the border. They were pulled when one of them shot some kid who was out rabbit hunting. The kid couldn't see the Marine. The Marine saw the rifle and assumed he was in danger. Of course, people claimed the Marine had "murdered" the kid.
#3
The 17 year old kid fired on the Marines. Thought the Marines were wolves or other predators going after the goats he was guarding. It could have ended if one of the Marines yelled out to the kid to stop shooting, instead of shooting back. I think those Marines were too young and didn't have the judgement for the sensitive task they were given. The military border surveillance program was terminated at that point, to the detriment of the US public.
Posted by: ed ||
10/17/2006 17:18 Comments ||
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#4
"build the fence - faster. This is a recording. It will repeat every time an incident demands it"
Posted by: Frank G ||
10/17/2006 18:50 Comments ||
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#5
There are several ways to put an end to the border crossing by EVERYONE. The one I prefer is to put about a million men on the border, armed to the teeth with anything and everything the US military has in its arsenal, and start walking south. Mexico needs a thorough flushing, and it needs it now. Clean out Nuevo Laredo, Ciudad Juarez, Tiajuana, and the rest of the rats-nests, then clean out the "40 families" so the rest of Mexico has a chance to develop.
We'll also need to flush the cadrones out of most of our larger cities and either kill them or send them home with only one hand. Whether we keep Mexico or allow it to develop a REAL democracy on its own will depend on how the Mexicans respond.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
10/17/2006 20:36 Comments ||
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#6
When deer population gets too high (in sane jurisdictions) the game managers open up the season. When vermin or pests such as rats or wild dogs are a problem, authorities authorize payment of bounties. A simple two strand barbed wire fence one mile north of the border, combined with an 'open season' or perhaps a bounty in the free-fire strip, and the whole drug/alien/terrorist smuggling problem would end.
The government on Monday accused Jamaatud Daawa (JD) chief Hafiz Saeed of conducting activities that put Pakistans relations with neighbouring countries at risk. The allegations were made against Hafiz Saeed in the Lahore High Court after a lawyer representing his family challenged the detention of the former leader of the proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba, who was taken into custody in August.
Assistance Advocate General (AAG) Haneef Khatana presented Hafiz Saeeds detention orders in court, which stated that JD had stepped up its activities, which could be detrimental to public peace and could have serious repercussions with reference to the stated position of Pakistan. It was also stated that Faisalabad and Multan police had reported that Hafiz Saeed was patronising collection of donation for war victims of Lebanon and Palestine, which were banned under the law.
The government also denied the allegation that Hafiz Saeed was not provided proper medical facilities and food. The court was told that Hafiz Saeeds family was allowed to meet him frequently at Sheikhupura Rest House and he had also been allowed to lead Friday prayers at a place of his choice within Sheikhupura. Ahmed Ghazi, representing the JD chief, said that Hafiz Saeed was released at 8:30pm on August 28, but rearrested at 11pm. He asked if it was possible for anyone to campaign for donations so late at night in less than three hours. The judge asked the AAG why the government had decided to detain Hafiz Saeed instead of the people who were collecting donations.
Posted by: Fred ||
10/17/2006 00:00 ||
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The constitution and laws of the islamic republic of Pakistan forbids armed groups.
On that alone the Paks can lock up the jihadis and throw away the key.
The current Pak government is a military dictatorship and can simply execute the jihadi leaders if they wished.
Everything else is just an excuse.
Posted by: john ||
10/17/2006 16:50 Comments ||
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Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Monday that foreigners were involved in the planting of live rockets at various sensitive places in the twin cities. The police promptly apprehended the culprits. We have found foreign involvement in the incidents. The investigations are still underway. It will be premature to disclose more details about it, the prime minister told reporters after inaugurating the Outreach Scholarship Programme 2006 for IT students.
Mr Aziz said all the suspects arrested were Pakistanis, but they had foreign links. He said India has not yet handed over proof of Pakistans involvement in the Mumbai train blasts, adding that India had no right to blame Pakistan without proof. He said incidents of terrorism in Pakistans neighbours were due to their internal problems and any unrest in these countries was also a danger to Pakistan. He said Pakistan wanted peace in the region and was playing its role in achieving the goal.
Then his lips fell off.
Posted by: Fred ||
10/17/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
Pakistan makes these allegations for a purpose - to create a reaction in the international community of "there goes these south asian neighbors again - always blaming each other".
By making absurd claims, they discredit Indian accusations.
Posted by: john ||
10/17/2006 6:39 Comments ||
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#2
Actually, by making absurd claims like this they make themselves look ridiculous -- and any statement they make becomes suspect.
Posted by: Fred ||
10/17/2006 8:15 Comments ||
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The Sunni Arab terrorists are running out of manpower, and the government has managed to restrain many of the death squads. This is being done partly by using American troops more to disband, or purge, police units that have been too active in the Shia revenge attacks. Iraqi deaths (civilians and security forces) are down about 40 percent from the September rate. Last month, there were nearly 4,000 civilian and security force deaths (plus 76 Americans, a steady increase from the July low of 46.) Like lights going out on a Christmas tree, the Sunni Arab suicide bomber cells are being taken down. The anti-terrorist tribal alliance in Anbar province has forced terrorists to concentrate on defending themselves. These defensive operations are carried out by directing attacks against tribal militia, or U.S. troops that are assisting. Rather than drive into Baghdad (which is not as easy as it used to be, what with all the additional roadblocks and security checks), the Islamic terrorists can now set up roadside bombs in their own neighborhoods, which are now patrolled by U.S. troops. This sort of thing is demoralizing for many Sunni Arabs, who had entertained the fantasy, since 2003, that all this violence was "winning the war." The absence of government, or U.S., troops for two years, allowed these Sunni Arabs to believe the fantastic reports, of Sunni Arab terrorist victories, in the Arab media. But those fantasies are now in ruins, especially since Shia death squads are starting to visit, often dressed up as police or paramilitaries. The terror that Sunni Arabs served up for so many decades, has now returned, with the long-time killers, now the victims.
Meanwhile, one group of Sunni Arab Islamic radicals, Mujahedeen Shura Council, has proclaimed the establishment of an Islamic State in Iraq. This fantasy is supported by the enforcement of strict Islamic lifestyle by Islamic gangs in some parts of Iraq. But beyond that, it's nothing by press release bravado, and some dead bodies. Always the dead bodies accompany announcements of religious importance in Iraq. It's quite the culture of death, all in the name of God.
The government is trying to reduce the amount of Shia Arab death squad activity, at least in line with the destruction of Sunni Arab terrorist groups. If the government cannot do that, then the number of refugees (largely Sunni Arab) will increase. Jordan and Saudi Arabia, which have been helpful to Iraq, are complaining about the growing number of Sunni Arab refugees crossing their borders. However, many Shia Arab Iraqi government officials would like to see more Sunni Arabs get out of the country. But, officially, the government is trying to reduce the migration, and the violence that spurs it.
Posted by: ed ||
10/17/2006 14:48 ||
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This can't be true! We have the "truth" from the MSM, and the Democrats, and Michael Moore. What will happen if we win?
Al
Posted by: frozen Al ||
10/17/2006 15:56 Comments ||
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#2
If we win, we'll be suffering from "victors' syndrome," which Miki GorbeeChev sez is "worse than AIDS..."
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
10/17/2006 16:08 Comments ||
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#3
Of course, strictly speaking, the death toll is not declining, unless dead people are coming back to life. The number of dead is a non-decreasing function.
Remember 'catch and release'?
BAGHDAD The Central Criminal Court of Iraq convicted 65 people from September 15 to October 4 for various crimes including possession of illegal weapons; using or forging IDs and weapons permits; heading, leading, and joining armed groups; escaping from prison; attempted use of explosives; threatening another person with commission of felony against his person or property; and illegal border crossing.
The trial court found one Iraqi man guilty of violating Article 4 of the Terrorist Law for joining armed groups to participate in terrorist activities and sentenced him to death. The defendant is a known member of the Al-Qaida organization.
The trial court found four defendants guilty of violating Article 4 of the Terrorist Law and sentenced them to life imprisonment. Coalition Force captured the defendants after observing the four men preparing to attack a checkpoint with an RPG and small arms. Ground force personnel began firing and the four defendants returned fire with AK-47s. The defendants then ran into a mosque where ground forces again came under fire from sniper fire and mortar rounds. The defendants were charged with joining armed groups to disrupt stability and security of Iraq and endangering peoples lives.
The trial court found a Saudi Arabian man, captured by Coalition Force personnel in November of 2004, guilty of violating Article 194 of the Iraqi Penal Code for organizing, heading, leading or joining armed groups and sentenced him to life imprisonment. The defendant admitted to being a foreign fighter who came to Iraq for jihad.
The trial court found two Iraqi men guilty of violating Article 345, use or attempted use of explosive, of the Iraqi Penal Code and sentenced them to life imprisonment. Coalition ground forces captured the defendants while inspecting the blast area of an IED that exploded and killed a Coalition soldier. The forces found a wire leading from the blast area to a house. The wire led to an electrical device inside the house.
The trial court found one Iraqi man guilty of organizing, heading, leading or joining armed groups in violation of Article 194 of the Iraqi Penal Code and sentenced him to life imprisonment. Coalition Force captured the defendant in December 2005 during a targeted raid. The defendant was an active member of Ansar Al Sunna in Mosul.
Those convicted of passport violations and entering the country illegally included men from Egypt, Syria, Libya, Sudan, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Iran. Other sentences ranged from one year to 30 years imprisonment.
Since its establishment in April 2004, the Central Criminal Court has held 1,612 trials for Coalition-apprehended insurgents. The proceedings have resulted in 1,374 convictions with sentences ranging up to death.
That's a 85% conviction rate. I wonder how many were plea bargins?
Posted by: Bobby ||
10/17/2006 06:25 ||
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Since its establishment in April 2004, the Central Criminal Court has held 1,612 trials for Coalition-apprehended insurgents. The proceedings have resulted in 1,374 convictions with sentences ranging up to death.
During the same time period tens of thousands have been picked up. Presumably most were subsequently released after a brief period of discomfort.
The press release is dated Saturday, so I prolly missed it in the Sunday Washington Post.
RAMADI, Iraq The 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade of the 7th Iraqi Army Division, commanded by Staff Colonel Mustafa, officially assumed its area of responsibility at 4:30 p.m. in a ceremony here today.
In Staff Colonel Mustafas address to the soldiers, he reminded them the assumption of the area of responsibility was helping to secure the future of Iraq, defeat terrorists, bring life back as it was, and, God willing, bring more good [to Iraq].
This historic event marks the first battalion in the entire 7th Iraqi Army Division to assume the lead in its own [area]. This is a great achievement for a battalion that is less than a year old and is serving in Ramadi, one of the most contested cities in Anbar, according to Colonel Sean MacFarland, Commander, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division.
Colonel Steve Zotti, the military transition team commander to the 7th Iraqi Army Division, called the soldiers of 1st Battalion brave and capable. He said, The citizens of Ramadi now know the Iraqi Army and the Iraqi Police are going to be on the streets working together to provide security and [a better] future.
The battalion will continue to work closely with the Iraqi Police and local leaders to secure the Tameen area. The battalion recently proved their capabilities during a validation operation which resulted in the capture of three insurgents and the killing of one terrorist. The occasion marks an important step in the continuing development of the Iraqi Army and represents the future security of Iraq.
Posted by: Bobby ||
10/17/2006 06:21 ||
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Hopefully, they won't melt away at the first sign of trouble. I don't have much confidence in the Iraqi army or police.
Posted by: ET ||
10/17/2006 11:00 Comments ||
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#2
is their "Area of responsiblity" all of Ramadi or just a part? The whole city would seem a pretty big bite for just a battalion.
#3
ET: The Iraqi military are being turned into top-notch "reliables", after that long-ago debacle where they ran away. The trick is once they are organized with lots of US support, they are kept under continual pressure, training, and increasing levels of combat action, along with declining US involvement. Their leaders get and keep getting additional schooling, and after a time the light dawns that they are doing it all themselves, without help. This is a superb confidence builder.
This has made especially their junior officer corps world-class, is rapidly building their NCO corps, with even junior enlisted men acting with the proficiency and confidence of seasoned combat soldiers.
Intentionally, moving into Ramadi will probably be a step down from their "highest pressure level", so they will be fully confident from day 1 in their new duty assignment.
The National Police are a much harder problem, and have been far harder to professionalize. But in the past year, they, too, have been on a continual upgrade track. Fortunately, they are always in lower pressure situations than is the army.
There have already been several instances where they police have demonstrated a willingness to fight to the death against overwhelming odds, and it doesn't take a whole lot of that to have a serious impact on the bad guys.
FORT MEADE, Md. (AP) - The highest-ranking officer charged with crimes at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq allowed detainee abuses and then lied about it, a general who investigated the scandal testified Monday. Maj. Gen. George Fay, who wrote a report on mistreatment of detainees at the prison, testified at a hearing to determine whether the director of the prison's interrogation center should be court-martialed.
I just checked my calendar, and yes, there *is* an election coming up in three weeks.
Fay said his investigation found that Lt. Col. Steven L. Jordan was in charge of the center, despite Jordan's insistence to Fay that he was just a liaison between the center and superior officers. Fay said Jordan knew about some of the abuses and did not stop them. He said Jordan ``told us a story that was deceptive and it was misleading, and he tried to avoid responsibility for his role at Abu Ghraib.''
Jordan, 50, of Fredericksburg, Va., is charged with 12 offenses, including one count of cruelty and maltreatment for allegedly subjecting detainees to forced nudity and intimidation by dogs. He faces a maximum of 42 years in prison if convicted of all counts.
Fay said that when he asked Jordan if he had seen prisoners stripped naked, Jordan told him he had, but that the nudity had nothing to do with interrogations.
Under cross-examination, Fay acknowledged that Jordan had reported some abusive episodes. He also testified that the Pentagon's rules regarding harsh interrogation techniques, such as the use of dogs, had gone through several rapid changes in late 2003, confounding workers at Abu Ghraib. ``It was a confusing situation,'' Fay said.
Defense attorney Maj. Kris Poppe said in opening statements that Jordan was thrust into an unfamiliar, ill-defined role in an ad hoc command structure. Poppe said most of the abuses at Abu Ghraib were committed by rogue military police soldiers who were not under Jordan's command. ``In the end, we believe the story will show to you that Col. Jordan did not commit criminal misconduct,'' Poppe told hearing officer Col. Daniel Cummings.
Prosecutor Lt. Col. John P. Tracy said Jordan had embarrassed the Army by ignoring the abuse. He said Jordan had not personally committed egregious acts but that his negligence created an atmosphere conducive to mistreatment.
Jordan, a military intelligence reservist, was director of the interrogation center from mid-September through late November 2003, when detainees were physically abused, threatened with dogs and sexually humiliated. He is now assigned to the Intelligence and Security Command at Fort Belvoir, Va.
Jordan's supervisor at Abu Ghraib, Col. Thomas Pappas, was reprimanded and fined $8,000 for once approving the use of dogs during an interrogation without higher approval. Several other officers have been reprimanded for their roles in the abuse. Eleven lower-ranking soldiers have also been convicted in the scandal.
Posted by: Steve White ||
10/17/2006 00:00 ||
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Fay said that when he asked Jordan if he had seen prisoners stripped naked, Jordan told him he had, but that the nudity had nothing to do with interrogations.
Naked prisoners. Never happens in federal or state prisons or local lockups I'm sure. Nope, never. No one ain't seen a single naked prisoners in any of them fancy civilian confinement facilities. Never need to do a full body examination for any reason. Cause them are just regular fellows you know. That's how they ended up in the joint in the first place. Just being one of the boys. Heh.
#3
``It was a confusing situation,'' Fay said. ......but we're out to boink somebody real good (me and Tony) and I'm enjoying this active duty as a two star and making twice as much as I did with the Chubb Group.
#5
Well, now that it's been handed over to the Iraqis, I'm sure it's a model of human rights and tough-but-kind justice.
Posted by: Rob Crawford ||
10/17/2006 7:59 Comments ||
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#6
"Jordan, is charged with 12 offenses, including one count of cruelty and maltreatment for allegedly subjecting detainees to forced nudity and intimidation by dogs."
-big deal. Give him a medal I say. We were not exactly housing recipients of the father of the year award or saviours of orphaned baby ducks.
#7
Abu Ghraib hurt the country and the war effort. It was a PR disaster. Every one involved was derelict in their duty.
Easy to say when you weren't there, I agree. But if Lynndie England, at the bottom of the food chain deserves 3 years for it, this guy deserves 7. He was supposed to be the adult supervision. He didn't have to like the orders. He didn't even have to agree with them. He just had to follow them and he didn't. Action meet consequences.
KIRKUK: Masked nationalist insurgents in Iraq said that they have begun talks with US forces, after
A weekend meeting of Sunni tribal sheikhs called for the restoration of ousted leader Saddam Hussein.
a weekend meeting of Sunni tribal sheikhs called for the restoration of ousted leader Saddam Hussein.
An Iraqi calling himself Abdel Rahman Abu Khula said his movement, a group of former Baath party officials and army officers known as the Islamic Army, would not meet the Iraqi government. In reality, we only negotiate with the ruling power in Iraq and that is the occupier, he said. Today it is us and the Americans who are controlling the situation in Iraq. A US military spokesman had no immediate comment on the claim, which AFP cannot independently verify.
Abu Khula said his group represents some 17 nationalist insurgent organisations, and is seeking the withdrawal of US forces and the release of detainees from US and Iraqi government prisons. The Americans have now decided to talk with us due to the escalation of our heroic deeds and the development of our explosives technology for use against their vehicles and bases, he claimed.
Posted by: Fred ||
10/17/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
And the first words of the American "occupiers" were "Come out with your hands up!"
Nabbed and guilty. Promotion material at Rooters
On Tuesday, a Reuters cameraman was remanded to prison until trial for his part in rock-throwing attacks on security forces in Bil'in, where the separation fence is a constant target of protesters.
The cameraman, Imad Muhammad Intisar Boghnat, was arrested and charged as a result of violent riots in the Arab village of Bil'in, in the Modi'in region, on October 6, 2006. A videotape that the prosecution presented to the judge shows Boghnat encouraging and directing rioters in Bil'in to throw large chunks of rock at Israeli vehicles in such a way as to cause maximum damage. The accused is heard shouting, "Throw, throw!" and later, "Throw towards the little window!"
The judge of the Judea-area military court who issued the remand order, Major Amir Dahan, called the case "borderline" for pre-trial imprisonment, but he noted that the alternative of house arrest was not wise, as Boghnat is a resident of Bil'in.
"That village is a constant source of conflict and the respondent [Boghnat] should not again be placed in such a dilemma, lest he again, Heaven forbid, disgrace himself," the judge wrote in his decision. In addition, Maj. Dahan emphasized that "above all, the accused must be cut off from camera work in tense and sensitive locales where disturbances take place." Security forces must also have easy access to Boghnat, the judge said.
Suggesting a possible explanation for Boghnat's behavior, Maj. Dahan wrote that the criminal act in question may have been perpetrated "out of the desire to mollify the villagers who know him, rather than acting as he normally does, as has been preliminarily proven, as a purely objective cameraman."
In accordance with the military court's decision, Boghnat's case will be heard at the earliest possible opportunity.
Posted by: Frank G ||
10/17/2006 17:25 ||
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#1
Maybe offing a few dozen Reuters photographers might make them a little less enthusiastic about being assigned to cover the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Yet another glaring bit of evidence that impartial journalism is dead.
#3
I remember when I used to hear about poor Palestinian youths being shot for throwing rocks at Israeli patrols in Gaza. A news reporter showed one such attack and the rocks were actually chunks of concrete or bricks thrown from rooftops. The next time I heard about rock throwing and Palestinians I understand why the patrol might answer rocks with bullets.
A senior figure in Hamas, the Islamist group that heads the Palestinian government, published an article on Tuesday condemning internal violence and questioning whether it had become a "Palestinian disease." seems to me, if you preach violence, hate and superiority, that behavior and those feelings become the norm. how could they not show up in pali vs. pali conflicts?
Ghazi Hamad, a member of Hamas who also acts as the spokesman for the Hamas-led government, said he was disturbed by growing factionalism in the Palestinian territories, including recent deadly clashes between rival political movements. it certainly is more difficult to work together when you can't blame joooos.
"Has violence become a culture implanted in our bodies and our flesh?" he asked in the sharply worded article, published in the widely read Palestinian newspaper al-Ayyam. yes. clearly.
"We have surrendered to it until it has become the master and is obeyed everywhere -- in the house, the neighborhood, the family, the clan, the faction and the university." you forgot "the mosque."
It was the second time in recent months that Hamad, who is based in Gaza, had written an opinion piece in al-Ayyam critical of Palestinian in-fighting. one more and he qualifies for a fatwa
In August, he criticized Palestinian militant groups fighting Israel, saying they were not doing the cause of Palestinian independence any good by launching attacks at moments when it appeared progress was being made.
In the article published on Tuesday, Hamad said the presence of armed men on almost every street, and their attendance at every rally, whether political or not, had created an atmosphere of guns and violence that damaged prospects for calm. I would posit that their culture, with it's history and lack of real leadership for decades is by now completely incapable of "calm."
It also meant that television pictures of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict broadcast around the world too often showed armed men and images of violence, casting the Palestinian struggle in a poor light, he suggested. an accurate light. they should do more of it.
"(Violence) has taken away the language of brotherhood and replaced it with arms ... It has stolen our unity and divided us into two camps, or three, or ten," he wrote. "taken away?" when, exactly, was it present? unless, of course, "brotherhood" refers to being united in pushing Israel into the sea.
"Shouldn't we be ashamed of this ugly behavior which scandalizes us before our people and before the world?"
Hamad's article follows a period of intense in-fighting, with some of the worst Palestinian-on-Palestinian violence since the formation of the Palestinian Authority in 1994. Earlier this month, at least 15 people were killed and more than 100 wounded in clashes between armed members of Hamas and gunmen from the rival Fatah movement. Long-time observers of the Middle East have raised the possibility of civil war.
Hamad wrote that 175 Palestinians had been killed by "Palestinian gunfire" since the beginning of the year. no doubt these figures will be part of the tally that compares paleos killed to Israelis killed.
Weeks of talks to try to form a unity government, and perhaps put an end to the violence, have so far failed.
"Are we all responsible? Yes. Do we all participate in this great sin? Yes," wrote Hamad. "All of us have the desire not to see arms in the streets except with policemen. apparently not!
"We want to disown this disease, this cancer, which has damaged our brains and paralyzed our hearts."
"Have mercy on your people. Let us walk in peace, sit in peace, have a dialogue in peace and sleep in calm."
Israel ran into the same Victory Disease problems during the Summer of 2006, as they did in the 1973 October War. Back in 1973, the Israelis underestimated the Egyptians, who had gotten their act together after getting rolled over in the 1967 Six Day war. The Israelis recovered and defeated the Egyptians and Syrians in 1973. Because they had some success early in the war, and lasted longer than six days, the Egyptians still consider this a victory.
Same thing in 2006. It all began when Hizbollah noted that Israeli troops sometimes got sloppy, especially when reservists, who did most of the work guarding the Lebanese border, were at the end of their tour. That's how Hizbollah was able to kidnap two Israeli soldiers on July 12th, and kill another twelve, out of a company size force that pursued the kidnappers into Lebanon. Four of those dead were from a tank, that rolled right over a large Hizbollah bomb, placed where it was thought a tank would move. Like the Egyptians in 1973, Hizbollah got sharp, while the Israelis got sloppy.
Israel also screwed up in it's intelligence work over the past six years. Hizbollah had run a deception plan right out of the Russian playbook. Russian military advisors have long been sought after in the Middle East for instruction on how to run effective deception operations. Hizbollah, for example, skillfully pretended to build false bunkers, while carefully hiding the actual ones being built. As a result, Israel only knew about the location of about twenty percent of the 600 weapons bunkers Hizbollah had built in south Lebanon. In the first few days of the war, Israel was able to knock out only about fifty of these bunkers. That's because many of them were very well made, often involving digging tunnels a hundred feet, or more, into hillsides. It appears that these bunkers were loaded up with some 18,000 rockets, most of them the nine foot long, 150 pound, 122mm models. That's only an average of about 30 rockets per bunker, plus a portable launcher. Many of the bunkers were dug under homes and government buildings. That was easy, as this new construction was designed with the weapons bunkers, in the basements, in mind.
Another aspect of the Victory Disease was that the Israeli Air Force had convinced most of the senior generals that victory could be could be won from air air operations alone. This was an attractive conceit, because ground fighting always involves a lot of Israeli casualties. And this time, the ground force casualties could be even higher. That's because most Israeli infantry had been receiving less combat training since 2000, because of the need for infantry reservists to spend so much of their active duty time doing counter-terror missions. Army officers complained about this, and warned that it would mean more Israeli casualties if you had to use the troops for a ground war. Most of the "infantry fighting" taking place against the Palestinians was carried out by elite commando units. There were only a few thousand of these troops, and most were busy with counter-terror work. If Israel wanted to move into Lebanon, it would be with the reservists. To keep the casualties down, the reservists would have to proceed cautiously. That's what they did, and this allowed most Hizbollah gunmen to get away.
In the end, the Israeli had their way. Hizbollah declared victory, but they did so from hiding, and not while standing in their former south Lebanon stronghold. According to Hizbollah's twisted reality, there was no way they could lose. Even if Israel came into south Lebanon, told the UN to take a hike, and cleared everyone out of the area, Hizbollah would still stay they won. As long as someone could get in front of a microphone, camera or Internet connection, saying, convincingly, that they represented Hizbollah, victory could be proclaimed, and those so inclined to such fantasies, would accept it.
Hizbollah, is basically a warlord operation, in the pay (if not always the service) of Iran, that has now seen most of its assets, and a lot of its personnel, destroyed. All Hizbollah has to show for its war is some favorable reviews in the media, and increased hostility from the Christian/Sunn/Druze majority of Lebanon. In the real world, that's retrograde.
#1
Good diagnoses of the shortcomings of the IDF. And, as we mentioned, if the lunatic Hezbs experience any more "victories" like this, they'll remand all Lebanon back to the 19th century.
I honestly think that was round one, Israel vs Hezbos, and not well done by politics. Israel wasn't given the green light by their gov't and their tactics and their stance suffered from it.
LOL Randall "Tex" Cobbs, you reached back for that one
#4
We had a Pay-Per-View party, lol. Tex had a stone jaw, that's for damned sure. Holmes hit him with everything but the stool in his corner, lol. Made me tired just watching him wail on Cobb. :-}
#5
or Chuck Wepner - if he hadn't lost his entire bodily blood content, it was a moral victory. The ring may have looked like an abbatoir, but he was still standing
Posted by: Frank G ||
10/17/2006 8:18 Comments ||
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#6
com/Dunno - I was thinking more along the lines of Jerry Quarry. The guy took a beatdown almost every time and always said "He never laid a glove on me!"
An emergency meeting of the Fatah central committee that was supposed to take place in Jordan on Monday was cancelled at the last minute due to sharp differences between the committee members, Palestinian Authority officials said. PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, who was supposed to chair the meeting, left Amman abruptly and headed back to his office in Ramallah shortly before the committee was scheduled to convene.
The meeting of the key decision-making body was originally called to discuss ways of resolving the aggravating crisis between Fatah and Hamas and the failure of efforts to form a Palestinian unity government. Sources close to Abbas said he was hoping to win the backing of the committee members for his plan to fire the Hamas-led government, dissolve the Palestinian Legislative Council and call new elections. "The meeting has been called off because of differences between Abbas and a number of Fatah leaders," said a PA official. "Apparently not all the members support Abbas's plans against Hamas."
Another official said that Fatah leader Farouk Kaddoumi, who maintains a close relation with top Hamas leaders, particularly Khaled Mashaal, has informed Abbas that he would not back his efforts to get rid of the Hamas-led government.
A senior Fatah operative in the West Bank told The Jerusalem Post that the meeting was also called off in protest of the leaking of an official US document that pledges pledges $42 million in financial aid to opponents of the Hamas-led government. "Some committee members announced their intention to boycott the meeting in Amman because they did not want to be viewed as conspiring with the Americans and Israelis against the Palestinian government," he said. "President Abbas and many Fatah leaders are very angry with Washington for leaking the document."
However, Jamal Nazzal, a Fatah spokesman, claimed that the meeting was cancelled following reports of an imminent Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip. "All the members have been asked to return home because we believe Israel is about to launch a massive attack on the Gaza Strip," he said.
Kaddoumi, who in the past has openly challenged Abbas's right to succeed former PA Chairman Yasser Arafat, issued a statement in Amman in which he said the meeting was cancelled "due to urgent circumstances concerning the security of the homeland." Although he did not elaborate, Kaddoumi said a new date would be set for the meeting after the Muslim holiday of Id al-Fitr, which begins next week.
Ahmed Abdel Rahman, a Fatah spokesman and close aide to Abbas, said the PA chairman was scheduled to deliver an "important and decisive" speech in the coming days about crisis with Hamas. "President Abbas will address a number of issues, including the failure of the mediation efforts to establish a unity government and the case of [kidnapped] Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit," he said. "He will tell the people that they must choose between achieving national unity and remaining under the influence of outside regional powers."
Abdel Rahman accused Hamas of "self-impotence" and warned that this will encourage Israel and other parties to intervene in internal Palestinian affairs. "Hamas's weakness will lead to political and security intervention in our affairs," he cautioned.
Nabil Amr, a top advisor to Abbas, said he expected Abbas to take a "decisive" decision in the coming days to resolve the crisis. He said among the options facing Abbas was the possibility of calling early elections or forming an emergency cabinet dominated by independents and technocrats.
Posted by: Fred ||
10/17/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
I suspect the real problem in Fatah these days comes done to who gets dibbs in skimming money. Obviously, not everybody is happy with it.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert opened the Knesset's winter session Monday by inviting his Lebanese counterpart to to begin peace talks. "I want to take this opportunity to call on Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora to meet with me face-to-face," Olmert said during his address to the MKs. "Direct talks can bring peace to both our peoples." Saniora rebuffed Olmert's offer within hours, promising that Lebanon would be "the last Arab state to sign a peace treaty with Israel."
Olmert said he is ready to meet with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas immediately. The prime minister also said the Palestinians must take responsibility for their own future and move away from the support of extremist groups. "Israel distinguishes between the Hamas-led government and Abbas... the legitimate partner for peace," said Olmert. "As long as the Hamas government does not recognize the State of Israel, accept those accords that have been agreed upon and operate to halt terror attacks, we cannot engage it."
The PM reiterated his disinterest in meeting with Syria, stressing that peace "could only be made with those who reject terror."
It was the first speech that the prime minister has given in the plenum since the victory speech he gave in mid-August, the day after the cease-fire with Lebanon was approved. Then, a somber and attentive Knesset greeted him with near-unanimous support. On Monday, however, Olmert had to stop his speech on four separate occasions due to heckling by MKs from the Likud, United Torah Judaism, Meretz and Arab parties. The loudest objections came from the Arab party members, who have announced that they would stage "deafening and drastic" protests if the "racist" Israel Beiteinu party was added to the coalition.
Over the past few weeks there has been increased talk of Israel Beiteinu joining the coalition, leading many to believe that Olmert's comment that he was "leaving the door wide open" for other parties to join the coalition was aimed at Israel Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman.
Posted by: Fred ||
10/17/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
Olmert should just present 'the senorita' with a gift box of fine laced Paresian silk panties...in pink!
The armed wing of the ruling Palestinian movement Hamas on Monday threatened to teach the Israeli military a lesson it will not forget should the army expand an offensive in the Gaza Strip. The Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades declared it had the means and arms necessary to confront the Zionist enemy with all our force if it proceeds (further) with military operations in the Gaza Strip.
Israel has threatened to step up an offensive in the Palestinian territory, where 22 people have been killed since Thursday, in a bid to stop persistent rocket attacks and arms smuggling from Egypt. Defence Minister Amir Peretz reiterated Monday that if necessary, Isarel would extend its military activity in Gaza and vowed to stop Hamas from strengthening itself and to weaken its ability to attack. I will not allow the Gaza Strip to turn into south Lebanon. We intend to take all necessary action to prevent Hamass strengthening. We intend to act in ways to prevent it from strengthening and to weaken Hamass ability to carry out attacks, he told reporters. We have considerably increased the military activity in Gaza. If we are required to extend it further, we will do so, he added.
Hitting back at accusations of militants amassing stockpiles of smuggled arms, Hamass armed wing accused Israel of using such allegations to justify criminal operations it seems to have decided to wage in the Gaza Strip.
It is our right to hold whatever weapons (we need) to defend our people since the enemy does not hesitate before using all sorts of weapons, banned by international conventions, against innocent Palestinian civilians. If the enemy decides to go towards a large confrontation with Hamas, we will be up to this challenge and are totally ready to resist. We have finished preparations to teach the Zionist enemy a lesson it will not forget, it added.
Posted by: Fred ||
10/17/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
The only lesson IDF needs to learn about Paleos is that their survival and ours are mutually exclusive.
#6
Its time to pull out the Neutron bombs, Methinks.
Posted by: Elder of Zion ||
10/17/2006 7:26 Comments ||
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#7
Elder, that would eliminate pretty legitimate target range and chances are that the rabid inhabitants would outlet their violent urges towards mutual reduction, if properly isolated.
#11
Does this mean they feel secure enough, with hizbollah-like anti-tank weaponry, AA missiles,... and the backing of iran? Willing and able to inflige an another cut in the 1000-cuts war the muslim world is waging against Israel?
#12
Israel has already forgotten the lesson....Olmert is still there. Olmert's main intention was to appease thwem and give them land, and he's still in charge. What is wrong in this picture ?
#13
Olmert is still there because there is no democratic method to expel him out (by the voter's I mean), and a popular uprising or coup cannot be expected yet.
One think for sure though, he aint gonna get my vote next time.
Posted by: Elder of Zion ||
10/17/2006 11:53 Comments ||
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#14
Oddly enough the Hamas message seems to be not
"stop your offensive or we will hurt you"
but
"don't expand your offensive or we will hurt you"
I wonder whether this is really Hamas's intention. If so, they may have actually worked something out with the IDF turfwise.
#15
I think Hamas needs to experience an "Iwo Jima" moment. The Israelis need to do to Gaza what the Marines did at Iwo against a foe ten times as capable. The first decision point is to quit referring to "civilians" - there are only armed opponents and unarmed enablers, down to the age of six. Destroy their ability to fight with anything larger than toothpicks and small gravel, then force them to admit they've been defeated. Anyone who won't loses their right hand at the wrist. If they want to live in the seventh century, give them seventh century punishment for disturbing the sleep of the people of Israel. I'm sure the elders of Israel can find an appropriate Old Testament quote to justify their actions.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
10/17/2006 21:12 Comments ||
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Sri Lankas Supreme Court Monday ordered the breakup of the restive Northeastern Province, a massive administrative region claimed by Tamil Tiger rebels as a separate state.
The creation of the province was a key Tamil demand accepted by a 1987 peace accord that gave limited authority to minority Tamils in the northeast of the island. Its division back into two smaller provinces will likely inflame political tensions ahead of scheduled peace talks later this month between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which say they cannot expect any autonomy under the current constitution.
Chief Justice Sarath N de Silva overturned the 1987 presidential decree creating the Northeastern Province, saying there were no executive powers to merge the two provinces. The courts review was sparked by complaints from Sri Lankas main Marxist party, the JVP, or Peoples Liberation Front. The JVP opposes any concessions made to the Tigers, as well as the presence of Norwegian peace brokers on the island.
Posted by: Fred ||
10/17/2006 00:00 ||
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Israeli aircraft monitor illegal Hizballah movements and arms smuggling - in the absence of any Lebanese army and UNIFIL preventive action to implement UN Resolution 1701.
According to DEBKAfiles Rome sources, Ayatollah prime minister Romano Prodi has instructed his defense ministry to negotiate with the Fouad Siniora government the quick sale of an Aster 15 battery, the only Western surface-to-air missile with an active guidance system capable of last-minute corrections of targeting at the moment of interception. When asked what will happen if the missiles will be used against NATO aircraft in case of war, Mr. Prodi briskly replied "apres moi-le Deluge!"
As a joint Franco-Italian product, the sale also needed - and obtained - approval from French president Jacques Chirac. Prodi knew he could definately count on Jacques's approval
Our sources report the Aster 15 will be accompanied by Italian instructors to guide Lebanese troops in their use. Since 50% of those officers are Shiites loyal to Hizballah or Amal, the Shiite terrorists are looking forward to gaining access for the first time to top-of-the-line Western anti-air missile technology. The Shiites and especially Hizbolla are true frieds of the Italians - didn't they recently kidnap an Italian Journalist ?
On Oct. 13, Lebanese chief of staff General Michel Suleiman informed his officers posted on the Lebanese-Israeli border of the Beirut governments indefatigable efforts to obtain anti-air missiles to hit patrolling Israeli aircraft. He added that very soon, Lebanon would also acquire long-range anti-tank rockets to prevent Israeli tanks again crossing the border. The rift between the Frenchoid nations of Old Europe and the free democratic western states is growing by leaps and bounds. I swear, if this is true (Debka's credibility and all)and if in the next war (which is no doubt coming soon) we have to destroy any Unifil units (preferably french and Italian soldiers) to reach the Hizbollah I would have no regrets about it
Commanders of the French UNIFIL contingent have threatened to fire on Israeli warplanes in Lebanese skies, according to Israel defense minister Amir Peretz in a briefing to a Knesset panel Monday, Oct. 16.
Israel has so far refrained from protesting to Rome against the Aster 15 sale - any more than it has to Washington, the UN Security Council or UNIFIL over illegal Hizballah movements and arms-smuggling.
The Aster 15 is manufactured by Frances Aerospatiale and Thompson-CSF; its guidance system by the Alenia/Finmeccanica of Italy. Launched from seaborne or land bases, it is designed to hit maneuverable targets - aircraft, helicopters, drones or missiles. With a warhead of 3.20 kilos of explosives, the missile has a range of up to 30 km and a maximum speed of 3,600 kph. Aster 15s two stages are a solid propellant booster and a dart equipped with a seeker, a sustainer motor, a proximity fuse and a blast fragmentation warhead. My name is Inigo Montoya, you sold my enemies missiles, prepare to die !
Posted by: Elder of Zion ||
10/17/2006 06:47 ||
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#1
I do not think the word 'ally' means what you think it means.
#4
Let me get this right. France & Italy are not disarming Hizbollah - in fact they are giving selling them advance weapon systems and trying to prevent Israel from defending itself.
#7
Eurabia to the rescue. France knows that riots will return on their soil if they don't comply to the demands of Syria. We see considerable weapons build- up in the areas around Israel at the moment with Syria arming the Hamas with advanced weapon systems.
Tension is building and the French and Italians wont be able to keep "the peace". The clock is ticking...
#10
Europe's flagrant anti-Semitism is becoming more than a little tiresome. Quite obviously, the lessons of WWII have completely escaped them. Some profound suffering is in store for these conniving wankers.
#11
Tell Italy, if they sell the weapons to Leb, then we kick them out of nato, blockade their ports, shoot down any and all air traffic in and out of Italy and napalm their food production. When they cry about it, vaporize a handy Italian government building with FAE. If France whines about it, nuke Paris.
Posted by: Bobby ||
10/17/2006 18:21 Comments ||
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#13
Bolton should be touting this on the news shows. Publicly shame the bastards. Demand they do the task they went there for - disarming Hezbollah, or get out of Lebanon - and NATO
Posted by: Frank G ||
10/17/2006 18:48 Comments ||
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#14
Fine...but YOU have to eat him. I'm not. Eventually of course, America takes over the world and makes everyone states, and we invade space;)
Candidates began registering Monday for local council elections - a December vote expected to be a first test of public approval for hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Any public dissatisfaction is likely to come from fellow hard-liners, unhappy with the economy and the way Ahmadinejad is running the government, and not from reformers.
Some conservatives criticize the president as being strong on populist slogans but weak on achievement. The December 15 elections are also expected to revive the debate on the way Iran is run. All candidates for village and town councils will be vetted by the Guardian Council, a body of conservative clerics that disqualified numerous reformist candidates from the 2004 legislative elections, enabling hard-liners to win control of the parliament.
Posted by: Fred ||
10/17/2006 00:00 ||
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The local people will adore mahmoud down to the bitter end. No surprise here, move on!!
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.
ppen when handpicked jirga members from Pakistani side would not be independent in their decisions.
Several outlawed parties in the country's southwestern region are recruiting fresh 'cadres' in an attempt to reorganise themselves and increase their strength ahead of the next parliamentary election. And after recruitment, the outlaws are pushing these cadres into different political parties to work with them for the upcoming polls and camouflage their real identity to escape 'crossfire' deaths.
Tony Blair has pledged that British forces would not "walk away" from Iraq or Afghanistan until their job there is complete.
A medical school in Birmingham, UK, has banned Muslim medics from wearing a full-face veil. The Birmingham University School of Medicine banned veils to "help good communication" between Muslim medical students, their colleagues and patients. The school allowed Muslim women to cover their faces during lectures and around campus, but banned veils in hospital buildings' "clinical environments". A spokesman said "we have not restricted students from wearing headscarves". 
(KUNA) -- A new centre to collate and distribute intelligence across NATO was launched Monday by Britains Minister for the Armed Forces Adam Ingram and General James Jones, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced. The Intelligence Fusion Centre, at the Royal Air Force base of Molesworth, in Cambridgeshire, southern England, will provide NATO missions, including current operations, with comprehensive intelligence support drawn from across the alliance, the MoD added. All NATO nations have been invited to contribute to the centre.
Lecturers and university staff across Britain will be asked to spy on Asian-looking and Muslim students they suspect of involvement in Islamic extremism and supporting terrorist violence, the Guardian reported on Monday. According to the Guardian, the lecturers and university staff would be told to inform on students to special branch because the government believes campuses have become fertile recruiting grounds for extremists. The British Education Department has drawn up a series of proposals which are to be sent to universities and other centres of higher education before the end of the year. The 18-page document acknowledges that universities would be anxious about passing information to special branch, for fear it amounts to collaborating with the secret police. It says there will be concerns about police targeting certain sections of the student population (eg Muslims). 
BEIJING, Oct. 17 KYODO: The Bank of China, one of China's big four state-owned commercial banks, has halted remittances of funds to North Korea from at least some of its branches since Monday, bank officials said Tuesday.
BEIJING - The United Nations food agency said on Monday it was relieved that the UN sanctions on North Korea will have little impact on humanitarian aid but warned that the crisis there is still precarious.
South Korea is aware of signs related to possible preparations for an additional North Korea nuclear test, Yonhap news agency reported, citing unnammed government officials. One official said various intelligence reports were coming in about a possible test, but that it was unclear how reliable they were. Another official said Seoul has already taken measures to be more vigilant for a possible second nuclear test by North Korea, Yonhap reported.
Turf-conscious bloggers in Paris' rundown, mostly Muslim, suburban immigrant housing estates rival in violent messages threatening to beat senseless and even kill any intruder caught in "our ghetto." Almost every word is misspelled, in both argot slang and pidgin French. These are not empty threats. An average of 14 policemen a day are injured in bloody clashes with jobless youths.
The chaotic conditions in suburbs like Clichy-sous-Bois, Montfermeil and St. Denis have progressively worsened since the nationwide Muslim riots last November that torched 10,000 vehicles.
In France, Jean-Marie Le Pen's far right National Front (FN) appears to have opted for a can't-lick-'em-join-'em strategy, a rapprochement with France's large immigrant Muslim community -- with undertones of anti-Semitism. Mr. Le Pen's reasoning appears to be the recognition that Islamicization is in France to stay with 25 percent of France's under-20 population Muslim (40 percent in some cities), second- and third-generation North Africans.
The 40-year-old Dieudonne (he doesn't use his last name) was born in Paris to a French mother and Cameroonian father, and owns and runs a Paris theater that showcases young comedians. Sixty years ago, another French comedian decided to run for the presidency.
Homeland Security panel also says traffickers are forming ties with U.S.-based gangs
The government on Monday accused Jamaatud Daawa (JD) chief Hafiz Saeed of conducting activities that put Pakistans relations with neighbouring countries at risk. The allegations were made against Hafiz Saeed in the Lahore High Court after a lawyer representing his family challenged the detention of the former leader of the proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba, who was taken into custody in August.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Monday that foreigners were involved in the planting of live rockets at various sensitive places in the twin cities. The police promptly apprehended the culprits. We have found foreign involvement in the incidents. The investigations are still underway. It will be premature to disclose more details about it, the prime minister told reporters after inaugurating the Outreach Scholarship Programme 2006 for IT students.
The trial court found one Iraqi man guilty of violating Article 4 of the Terrorist Law for joining armed groups to participate in terrorist activities and sentenced him to death. The defendant is a known member of the Al-Qaida organization.
KIRKUK: Masked nationalist insurgents in Iraq said that they have begun talks with US forces, after 
Israel ran into the same Victory Disease problems during the Summer of 2006, as they did in the 1973 October War. Back in 1973, the Israelis underestimated the Egyptians, who had gotten their act together after getting rolled over in the 1967 Six Day war. The Israelis recovered and defeated the Egyptians and Syrians in 1973. Because they had some success early in the war, and lasted longer than six days, the Egyptians still consider this a victory. 
Another aspect of the Victory Disease was that the Israeli Air Force had convinced most of the senior generals that victory could be could be won from air air operations alone. This was an attractive conceit, because ground fighting always involves a lot of Israeli casualties. And this time, the ground force casualties could be even higher. That's because most Israeli infantry had been receiving less combat training since 2000, because of the need for infantry reservists to spend so much of their active duty time doing counter-terror missions. Army officers complained about this, and warned that it would mean more Israeli casualties if you had to use the troops for a ground war. Most of the "infantry fighting" taking place against the Palestinians was carried out by elite commando units. There were only a few thousand of these troops, and most were busy with counter-terror work. If Israel wanted to move into Lebanon, it would be with the reservists. To keep the casualties down, the reservists would have to proceed cautiously. That's what they did, and this allowed most Hizbollah gunmen to get away. 
Hizbollah, is basically a warlord operation, in the pay (if not always the service) of Iran, that has now seen most of its assets, and a lot of its personnel, destroyed. All Hizbollah has to show for its war is some favorable reviews in the media, and increased hostility from the Christian/Sunn/Druze majority of Lebanon. In the real world, that's retrograde.
An emergency meeting of the Fatah central committee that was supposed to take place in Jordan on Monday was cancelled at the last minute due to sharp differences between the committee members, Palestinian Authority officials said. PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, who was supposed to chair the meeting, left Amman abruptly and headed back to his office in Ramallah shortly before the committee was scheduled to convene. 
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert opened the Knesset's winter session Monday by inviting his Lebanese counterpart to to begin peace talks. "I want to take this opportunity to call on Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora to meet with me face-to-face," Olmert said during his address to the MKs. "Direct talks can bring peace to both our peoples." Saniora rebuffed Olmert's offer within hours, promising that Lebanon would be "the last Arab state to sign a peace treaty with Israel." 
The armed wing of the ruling Palestinian movement Hamas on Monday threatened to teach the Israeli military a lesson it will not forget should the army expand an offensive in the Gaza Strip. The Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades declared it had the means and arms necessary to confront the Zionist enemy with all our force if it proceeds (further) with military operations in the Gaza Strip.
