(Xinhua) -- A blast killed five civilians and injured five others in Paktia province of eastern Afghanistan on Saturday, the private TOLO TV reported. The civilians were collecting firewood in the mountain when the explosion happened, it said. TOLO did not mention that the explosion was caused by an old mine or a newly planted bomb.
Numerous mines are still being buried in many corners of this country due to decades of war, causing heavy casualties every year, while militants have frequently planted bombs to attack government and foreign forces. Meanwhile, Zemarai Bashary, spokesman for the Afghan Interior Ministry, told Xinhua he had no information about the explosion, but would contact provincial officials to check it. On Wednesday, an old mortar shell killed one scavenger boy and wounded another on the outskirts of southwestern Kabul.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/12/2006 00:41 ||
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KABUL - Military commanders from Afghanistan, Pakistan and NATO reviewed plans Saturday to build a jointly staffed centre to share intelligence in their battle against extremist militants, an official said.
The commanders were in Kabul for the 19th meeting between the three forces that are together fighting unrest that spans the Afghan and Pakistan border and involves Islamist groups such as the Taleban and Al Qaeda. Part of their discussions focussed on a planned joint military intelligence sharing centre expected to be based in the Afghan capital, an official with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force told AFP.
The centre will be staffed by Afghan, Pakistani and ISAF officials and will work to understand what information can quickly be shared in a mutually beneficial fashion, he said.
Posted by: Steve White ||
11/12/2006 00:00 ||
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NAIROBI - Kenya on Saturday ordered the suspension of all flights to and from neighboring Somalia for security reasons, after a US warning that Somali extremists are plotting suicide attacks in the country.
Amid deteriorating conditions in the lawless nation where the weak transitional government is girding for war with powerful Islamists, Kenyan authorities ordered a halt to air service beginning Monday. Effective from Monday, all flights to Somalia are suspended until further notice, Kenyas principal immigration officer J.K. Ndathi said in a letter addressed to immigration staff at all of Kenyas airports.
The order affects scheduled six-days-a-week service from Nairobi to Mogadishu and three other Somali cities offered by two carriers -- Dallo and East Africa Express airlines -- as well as numerous cargo flights.
In addition, it requires charter airlines to get specific exemptions to the ban. All charter flights to Somalia must get clearence one week before the flight, which must be accompanied by the passenger manifest, travel documents and reasons for travel, Ndathi said.
Posted by: Steve White ||
11/12/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
Thanks for the picture; cause I was wondering, just what the hell they were flying between Somalia and Kenya...I slept through that development!
Yemeni authorities said Saturday that a shipment of explosives seized earlier this week in Indonesia was legal and had been heading to a private oil company drilling in Yemen.
Indonesian troops on Wednesday found detonators and 63 tons of explosive powder on a Chinese ship after it broke down in the Malacca Strait. Indonesian police said that they were investigating the cache, and stated the shipment appeared to by heading to Yemen. Yemen confirmed this, and said the cargo was being shipped to an oil firm it identified as Z.B.E.B, which it said was drilling in a province south of the capital. "All explosives brought into the country for these purposes are under the control of security forces," an unidentified Foreign Ministry official was quoted as saying by the official Yemeni news agency, Saba. He said the explosives were necessary for excavation works.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/12/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
"All explosives brought into the country for these purposes are under the control of security forces,"
Well, that certainly satisfies all of my concerns. Wait a minute. Whose "security forces"?
#1
The IAB reports that less than a month ago, the editors of the TSA/TBS translation study series in Great Britain publicized an offer for articles to be sent to them. Prof. Miriam Shlesinger, head of Bar Ilan's Translation and Translation Research Department, who herself had contributed an article to TSA/TBS in 2001, asked the organization if it would be willing to accept articles from Israeli academics. The answer: "From Israelis, yes - but not from Israeli institutions."
Because they aren't antisemites. Unmentioned is the fact they won't accept articles from suspected Israelis either, unless such state they abhore Israel and its eeeeeeevil actions.
#2
publish their names and ban the membership from entering the eeeeevil US as well, after all, they wouldn't want to travel to the zionist-controlled neocon empire, so it shouldn't be an issue, right?
Posted by: Frank G ||
11/12/2006 10:31 Comments ||
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#3
Nais in white gloves. Don't expect any of them to say or do anyhthing about the genocide in Soudan; they don't want to exterminate Jews so they don't( intesrest those people.
After WWI it was ver politically incorrect to be an antisemite and still more to be an antisemite of the genocidical variant so antisemites hid behind the "Palestinain cause".
#4
Follow the money.
The UK academic community is highly dependent on grants, fellowships, and general donations from Muslims, both immigrants and foreigners. These donors always attach strings, spoken or not, and every British academic who is honest will admit this, if only in private. This means the academic community in the broadest sense: museums, journals, and even freelance authors know that speaking up for Israel will eventually reduce their income and opportunities.
Democrats say will push for Iraq withdrawal
Sun Nov 12, 2006 12:08pm ET136
By Tabassum Zakaria
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats, who won control of the U.S. Congress, said on Sunday they will push for a phased withdrawal of American troops from Iraq to begin in four to six months, but the White House cautioned against fixing timetables.
"First order of business is to change the direction of Iraq policy," said Sen. Carl Levin, a Michigan Democrat who is expected to be chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee in the new Congress.
Democrats will press President George W. Bush's administration to tell the Iraqi government that U.S. presence was "not open-ended, and that, as a matter of fact, we need to begin a phased redeployment of forces from Iraq in four to six months," Levin said on ABC's "This Week" program.
Bush has insisted that U.S. troops would not leave until Iraqis were able to take over security for their country, and has repeatedly rejected setting a timetable for withdrawal because, he says, that would only embolden the insurgents.
The White House said, however, that Bush is open to new ideas. Bush will meet on Monday with the bipartisan Iraq Study Group that is expected to recommend alternative policies in its final report.
A suicide bomber killed 35 people at a police recruiting center in Iraq on Sunday in the bloodiest attack in months against recruits.
More than 2,800 American troops have been killed in Iraq since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion and the unpopular war was a key factor in last week's elections in which Bush's Republican Party lost majorities in the Senate and the House of Representatives.
White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten said it was important that any action be taken in a way to ensure that Iraq can succeed and have a democratic government that can sustain and defend itself.
'OPEN TO FRESH IDEAS'
"It's hard for me to see how that can be done on a fixed timetable," Bolten said on ABC's "This Week" program. "But the president's open to fresh ideas here. Everybody's reviewing the situation."
Bush has asked Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the military Joint Chiefs of Staff, to conduct a review at the Pentagon of Iraq strategy, and other national security agencies to do similar reviews, Bolten said.
Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada said "we need to redeploy," but that the decision should be made by military officers in Iraq.
He said on "Face The Nation" program on CBS that he would not insist on a specific date for drawing down troops, but that a withdrawal should start within the next few months.
The White House says Bush is not to receive final recommendations from the Iraq Study Group -- led by James Baker, a former secretary of state with close ties to the Bush family -- in the Monday meeting.
Bush chose a member of that panel, former CIA Director Robert Gates, to replace Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, whose resignation was announced the day after elections gave control of Congress to Democrats for the first time since 1994.
Sen. Joseph Biden, a Delaware Democrat who is expected to head the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he was inclined to support Gates, whose nomination requires Senate approval.
"I know some of his views on Iraq. I know he wasn't of the Rumsfeld school. And to put it very, very bluntly, as long as he's not there, Rumsfeld is there," Biden said on ABC.
Biden called for an international conference on Iraq, that would include Iran, Syria and Turkey.
#1
The American people voted to quit and the Democrats won't hesitate. They cut funding for the South Vietnamese, they'll cut the rug from the Iraqis. We're done in the ME for at least a decade - who in their right mind would trust us again?
#3
Democrats say will push for Iraq withdrawal voluntary U.S. self-defeat (just like in Vietnam) so the EUrocrats will say they like us - for 2 minutes.
There - fixed that for ya'.
The traitorous MSM and the Dems (but I repeat myself) are at it again still. They want to live in America while pretending to be European.
They bad-mouth the most wonderful country in the history of the world - the last, best hope of freedom in this world - but notice how none of them actually move to another country?
And yet, if the jihadis they're encouraging actually win, these clowns will some of the first to be beheaded.
Here's a free clue, assholes: No matter whether the crocodile eats you first or last, it will still eat you.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
11/12/2006 20:53 Comments ||
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#4
The American people voted to quit and the Democrats won't hesitate.
The American people don't know what they want.
Yes, they voted teh Republicans out. But one poll broadcast this weekend showed an overall 80% of voters asked had 'deep concerns' that the Democrats would cut and run in Iraq.
#5
The election was not about Iraq, polling says it's was the ecconomy. Just goes to show how people still believe the lies the MSM says. Best ecconomy in a long, long time, 4.5% unemployment rate, Wall Street at all time highs, yet people "think" it's bad because the MSM says so. The Election was not about Iraq, it was about Republican's who forgot who brought then to the dance and why.
The Dems should not be allowed to get away with this Viet Nam part two, stabbing the military in the back because Joe democrat no balls.
#7
No, IMO the Amer people didn't vote to "quit" as much to punish the GOP for inconsistent = non-clarity of strategic ME agenda + NT/LT milpol objectives. The Amer people know that iff Andrew Jackson, Sherman-Grant, MacArthur, Patton or Chesty Puller, etal. was in charge IRAQ PER SE WOULD HAD BEEN SECURED LONG AGO. THE RADICS WOULD BE EITHER GONE, PACIFIED OR NEARLY ANNIHILATED + NO THREAT TO EITHER US MILFORS, US-LED US/ALLIED ADMIN OR NATIONAL-INTERNAT INTERESTS. THEY WANNA HEAR FROM OUR LEADERS WHAT IS DA LT PLAN(S)-AGENDA(S) BEYOND MERELY IRAQ + AFGHANISTAN, NOT MERELY THE NOW-AND-WHAT-CAME-BEFORE. The Dems will rail-and-rant against the injustice of the HS/Patriot ACt before doing everything ninja to empower + entrench Gummermint everywhere = anywhere = no where in Fascist/Hated Nazi = well-meaning but errorful Limited Communist-Totalitarian, world-mighty USSA = weak anti-sovereign SSR-USR, .................@America = Amerika/Amerikkka. STRENGTHEN GOVT + GOVT-CENTRIC SOCIALISM/GOVT-ISM AT HOME, WEAKEN AMER GEOPOL OVERSEAS for OWG where Amer's agenda is just one nation's agenda of many, and Amer is controlled by a community of world nations that weirdly, mysteriously, but only co-incidentally randomly ooopsies, is dominated by Russia-China, aka Commie Asia. The Commies + anti-US agendists defeat = destroy the USA-West wid out having to wage mutually destructive nuclear war + getting the USA-West to wilfully assist and destroy itself in return for nothing. BEAUTY OF ASYMMETRIC WARFARE = GENERATIONAL WARFARE > THE GREATEST HARM/DAMAGE IS ULTIMATELY WHAT THE STRONG NATION(S) DO TO THEMSELVES.
#9
They bad-mouth the most wonderful country in the history of the world - the last, best hope of freedom in this world - but notice how none of them actually move to another country?
And yet, if the jihadis they're encouraging actually win, these clowns will some of the first to be beheaded.
#10
Yes, they voted teh Republicans out. But one poll broadcast this weekend showed an overall 80% of voters asked had 'deep concerns' that the Democrats would cut and run in Iraq.
Go figure.
Actually it's pretty easy to figure out. People were tired of the status quo. The point is to move forward, but you got stuck in the mud. Bush wouldn't let Rumsfeld go, because that would be perceived as an admission that not all is well in Iraq. But the people ain't dumb.
I bet you if the US was actually fighting the war in Iraq, the election outcome would've been different. What you're doing there now is more akin to peacekeeping (or the more popular term now, peacebuilding) and that ain't working. George Bush said so himself, US soldiers are for fighting wars, not keeping peace. He didn't listen to himself. The people voted accordingly.
Posted by: C ||
11/12/2006 23:13 Comments ||
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This is interesting. Mayawati is one of the most powerful politicians in India. She is a dalit (an "untouchable") and was Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh - the most populous state in India.
Barely eight hours after her remark ignited a storm, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati has denied calling "all Muslims as fanatics".
It was only after TV news channels started showing loud protests against her utterances made on Friday in Lucknow that Mayawati realised her folly and called a press conference late at night. She had been earlier reported as saying that "Muslim voters general tilt towards fanatics".
What made matters worse was her added remark: "That is why I told BSP voters to even vote for BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) since we were not contesting (the recently concluded) civic elections in the state."
The remarks led to loud protests in Meerut, where Muslims took to the streets and burnt effigies of Mayawati. She had cited Meerut among the places where Muslims chose to vote for "fanatics".
Which sort of demonstrated her remarks to be true, didn't it?
In a much-delayed damage control exercise, a visibly jittery Mayawati pleaded before the media that she had been misunderstood. She chose to read out a prepared release that said: "Some TV channels have been projecting that I have referred to Muslims in general as fanatics but that is not true."
About transferring her party's votes to BJP, she sought to clarify: "All I said was that I asked my party supporters to vote for the strongest candidate against the wife of minister Haji Yaqoob Quraishi because he was trying to vitiate the atmosphere by fuelling fanaticism."
She added: "In the Lucknow Mayor's poll we transferred our BSP vote to the Muslim nominee of the Congress because the independent whom we had extended support got sold to Mulayam (Singh Yadav) and we were determined to ensure the defeat of the Samajwadi Party. I have always considered Muslims as a part of Bahujan Samaj."
Posted by: john ||
11/12/2006 06:41 ||
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#1
It was only after TV news channels started showing loud protests against her utterances made on Friday in Lucknow
"We resesent that!! Ay ay ay ieeeeeeeee. Boom!"
Punchline to the each tiem. Be funny if they weren't so violent and insane.
A spokesman for the local Taliban on Saturday denied responsibility for a rocket attack on a security fort in North Waziristan saying the attack had been carried out by those trying to worsen the situation in the agency.
"Nope. Nope. Wudn't us. Somebody tryin' to make us look bad, it wuz."
Militants fired five rockets at an army fort near the town of Mir Ali that borders Afghanistan on Thursday night, but there were no casualties as the rockets missed the target and landed in a field.
Spokesman Abdullah Farhad, while speaking to reporters from an undisclosed location over the telephone, said he did not know who was involved in the attack. We respect the peace agreement (with the government) and have not broken it. It (the attack) was carried out by elements that do not want peace in the region. Farhad also denied that the local Taliban had imposed taxes in the area saying pamphlets distributed in Miran Shah on various types of taxes were bogus.
The rocket attack was the first one in North Waziristan following the September 5 peace accord between the government and the local Taliban. Farhad said if the Taliban ever decided to return to militancy, they would first renounce the peace agreement. He said that both parties were respecting the peace agreement and there had been no violations. The local Taliban were no longer going to Afghanistan to fight the US and its allies, he added. Farhad was unaware of the abduction of a tehsildar in North Waziristan, and said the local Taliban were looking into the matter.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/12/2006 00:41 ||
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#1
The local Taliban were no longer going to Afghanistan to fight the US and its allies, he added.
I wonder what are they doing for entertainment these days. Weaving blankets?
The White House has indicated it will consider talking to Iran and Syria about the future of Iraq.
Chief-of-staff Josh Bolten told the ABC network that President George W Bush would look at all the options when he meets a panel of advisers on Monday.
The Iraq Study Group panel, due to give its recommendations by the end of the year, is believed to favour renewing contacts with Tehran and Damascus.
In a speech on Monday, UK PM Tony Blair will call for them to be more involved.
Iraq was a key factor in the Republican defeat in mid-term polls and US defence chief Donald Rumsfeld's resignation.
Senior Democrats have urged the preparation for a phased pullout of US troops.
Blair's speech
Speaking on ABC's This Week programme, Mr Bolten - who as White House chief-of-staff is Mr Bush's closest aide - said "a fresh approach" was clearly needed on Iraq.
Asked if he favoured the idea of including Iraq's neighbours, Iran and Syria, in discussions, Mr Bolten said all options would be considered.
According to the office of Mr Blair, the UK prime minister will call for their greater involvement during a keynote speech in London's financial centre on Monday.
An aide said Mr Blair would "make clear to Syria and Iran the basis on which they can help the peaceful development of the Middle East rather than hinder it; and the consequences of not doing so".
Phased withdrawal
The Iraq Study group, the bipartisan US task force asked by Congress to examine the effectiveness of policy in Iraq, is to meet Mr Bush at the White House on Monday.
The panel, which is led by former US Secretary of State James Baker, reportedly thinks that "staying the course" is an untenable long-term strategy.
It is said to have been looking at two options, both of which would amount to a reversal of the Bush administration's stance.
One is the phased withdrawal of US troops, and the other is to increase contact with Syria and Iran to help stop the fighting.
In his interview, Mr Bolten dismissed calls for a fixed timetable for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq.
The US military confirmed that three US soldiers had been killed in fighting in Iraq's Anbar province on Saturday.
More than 2,800 US troops have died in Iraq since the US-led invasion in 2003.
Meanwhile four British servicemen have been killed following a bomb attack on a patrol boat in southern Iraq.
Another three suffered serious injuries in the incident, which took place during a routine patrol along the Shatt al-Arab waterway in Basra.
Hat Tip: Front Page Magazine; Follow the link for a preety interesting map
By Bill Roggio
A change in strategy may be in order, but how much of a change will it be?
The results of U.S. midterm elections will clearly have an impact on U.S. policy in Iraq. Less than one day after the Democrats took the House of Representative, and prior to the capture of the Senate, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld tendered his resignation. President Bush immediately stepped up with an nomination for Rumsfeld's replacement: Robert Gates, a former director of the CIA and a member of the Iraqi Study Group, the bipartisan team of experts assigned to search for answers to the problems in Iraq's development.
STRATFOR's Fred Burton has an excellent analysis of the political implications of the election on Iraq policy and Mr. Gate's appointment as Secretary of Defense, which we will not replicate. There are two points which are worth highlighting.
First, Mr. Burton notes that the election, while a rejection of the current strategy in Iraq, does not equate to approval of calls for withdrawal. "What is clear is that the U.S. electorate has shifted away from supporting the Bush administration's conduct of the war. What is not clear at all is what they have shifted toward. It is impossible to discern any consensus in the country as to what ought to be done," said Mr. Burton.
This theory is backed by polling data from voters. While there is a clear majority that is unhappy with the current strategy, only one-third of the voters want a full withdrawal. A majority of the American public are searching for a solution, not the abandonment of Iraq. This has political implications on Iraq policy, and may temper the calls for withdrawal.
Continued on Page 49
#1
Democratic incumbents are divided on how soon to pull troops out of Iraq, and the party risks being held responsible by voters in the 2008 presidential elections if an abandoned Iraq collapses into a full-blown civil war.
Not if the Democrats' allies in the media step up their under-reporting.
#2
Means only that US voters want a clear, concise, objective Iraq + ME/Regional strategy, espec vv IRAN. Its a rejection of Bush 2 only within the narrow context/scope that mainstream America does NOT yet fully know, understand,andor comprehend the operating + LT objectives. THEY WANT CLARITY + RE-AFFIRMATION + CO-AFFIRMATION, ETC. OF POLICIES/PLANS, THEY WANT STRONGER + MORE EFFECTIVE MEASURES + LEADERSHIP, NOT WITHDRAWAL OR RETREAT. VICTORY, NOT APPEASEMENT = ENEMY ARMIES IN FUTURE IN OUR BACKYARD. Suppor for Dubya's policy of PRE-EMPTION is as strong as ever despite any Pol or MSM rhetoric to the contrary. THEY WANT PATTON + MACARTHUR, STORMING NORMAN + CHESTY PULLER, ETC. NOT POLITICAL GENERALS-ADMIRALS WITH XMAS TREES + RANK BUT NO GUMPTION OR PLAN OR DARING.
The U.S. military said on Saturday it was offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of a U.S. soldier who was kidnapped nearly three weeks ago in Baghdad.
Ahmed Kousay Altaie, a U.S. army translator of Iraqi descent, was kidnapped on Oct. 23 when he went to visit relatives, including his Iraqi wife, in Baghdad.
"The coalition will pay up to $50,000 reward to anyone who provides information that leads to the recovery of Specialist Altaie," said a U.S. military statement.
#5
JFM, I too smell something, have from day one. Current indicators: no all out search for him (that I can see), a lousy $50K bounty, is he really a US soldier, is he an interpreter working for the US, etc.
Posted by: Whiskey Mike ||
11/12/2006 7:08 Comments ||
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#6
The $50K sounds like it is part of a "Wanted" poster.
Posted by: Whiskey Mike ||
11/12/2006 7:09 Comments ||
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#7
Her family says he fell in love with and married her in Iraq, the Army and his family say he married her five months before he left America. The kidnappers were lolling about a house down the street from hers for some time before snatching him as he went to visit her. He may have merely been criminally stupid about which of the Army's rules he chose to break, or he may have chosen to ignore her family's warnings, or he is complicit. We know that Saddam Hussein supported many spies and saboteurs in the Iraqi community in America, just as does the Iranian regime.
#8
Let's see. It was 250K for SGLI payout, but I think Congress got embarrassed enough to push it up to 400K. Payout 50K for a live body or pay the widow 400K for a dead one. Whatcha think?
SINAIA, Romania (AP) - Romania has no intentions of withdrawing its troops from the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq, President Traian Basescu said Saturday, vowing to stay ``because it's a dishonor to leave your allies.''
Obviously they're not joining the EU anytime sooon...
In an interview with The Associated Press, Basescu said he empathized with mounting calls to withdraw the country's 608 non-combat personnel in Iraq, including impassioned pleas from the families of those serving. But ``Romania's honor is greater than its feelings,'' he said.
``An exit strategy is a matter of concern for us, and we are building it with our main allies, the U.S. and the U.K. But the states that form the coalition cannot abandon Iraq as it is now,'' he said after addressing reporters at a presidential retreat about 60 miles northeast of Bucharest. ``We have an obligation to the Iraqi people. We will leave when the local authorities can provide security for the people,'' he said.
Posted by: Steve White ||
11/12/2006 00:00 ||
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WASHINGTON - Signaling an openness to a broad shift in his Iraq policy, President George W. Bush on Saturday described his new pick for defence secretary, Robert Gates, as an able manager and agent of change.
In Gates, Bush chose a former CIA director and pragmatist expected to be more inclined to consensus-building than the combative Rumsfeld. He has experience leading large and complex organizations, and he has shown that he is an agent of change, Bush said in his weekly radio address. As secretary of defence, he will provide a fresh outlook on our strategy in Iraq, and what we need to do to prevail.
While indicating he wants new ideas on Iraq, Bush has insisted a quick withdrawal of US troops from Iraq is not on the table.
Better keep saying that 'cause the Dhimmicrats have different 'new ideas', straight from George McGovern.
Posted by: Steve White ||
11/12/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
"Signaling an openness to a broad shift in his Iraq policy"
"pragmatist expected to be more inclined to consensus-building than the combative Rumsfeld."
This is what constitutes "journalism" today.
A "broad shift" is most unlikely - unless Dubya's loss of nerve (which seems real) is worse than most think.
But WTF with this "pragmatist" b.s.? What's more "pragmatic" than trying to change the huge, inertial armed forces to make them more suited for a changing world? If Rummy had been a Dem appointee in the 90s (or 80s, if there had been a Dem prez), he would have been lionized as a reformer, taking on the brass and smashing all the china in pursuit of reforms sure to dazzle the Beltway crowd.
A "fresh outlook" on Iraq won't impress the impatient and mostly unrealistic chunk of public opinion that matters if the WH continues its policy of refusing to explain things until they're understood or respond to the distortions and attacks that occur non-stop.
#5
If you do Iraq like vietnam, you will be punished.
AMEN, CD. A lot of us Vietnam Vets said, "Never Again!" and meant it. If the donks abandon Iraq, I will personally do everything in my power to see that none of those that vote for this madness is ever elected for any public office, even dog-catcher, ever again. I think about 90% of the Army and Marine Corps would join with that sentiment. The failure to finish a job is worse than never starting it. The Donks need to read Rantburg, on a daily basis. Failure to do so could be hazardous to their political future.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
11/12/2006 15:08 Comments ||
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#6
Redacted by moderator. Comments may be redacted for trolling, violation of standards of good manners, or plain stupidity. Please correct the condition that applies and try again. Contents may be viewed in the sinktrap. Further violations may result in banning.
#7
LOL - obviously English is a not-very-well understood second language (as is the Capslock key). Buh-bye
Posted by: Frank G ||
11/12/2006 17:34 Comments ||
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#8
Bottom line is that any time we have increased US troop levels, either nationall, or regionally, in Iraq, violence has gone DOWN, and intelligence from the locals has gone UP.
I used to think that more troops was too many, siding with Rumsfeld.
But looking at the FACTS and only the facts, comparing violence to troop levels, and intelligence HUMINT to troop levels, there is a very strong correlation pioisitive and neagtive between troop levels and IEDs, sectatian killings, etc.
So the answer might be to put in another 70K, 25K of whom would be assigned to train and patrol with Iraqi forces, the rest to strike and flood areas where there is violence, also freeing up troops that are currently doing that stuff to seal the damn borders.
You do those things: seal the borders, intensively train the Iraqis (up the pace), and jump up the numbers of troops available for controlling areas (no more havens) so places liek Ramadi cannot exist, then you will have a "win" within 6 months that will allow a cut-over to Iraqi troops.
Its worked ina lot of areas so far.
And go ahead and point out "Vietnamization" - fact is that it worked for a couple of years until Congress cut the legs from underneath them by ferusing to fund, and refusing to allow air support. And even then, it was an armed invasion of mutli-Corps strength that toppled them, not the VC (who were basically non-existent after they were defeated in detail during Tet).
We can do this - and the Kurds will be the first to be able to roll up thier own areas, freeing our troops for duty in the center and on the borders.
#9
apparently there's some push on, OS. My cousin's husband, navy aviator/radioman, is retiring next year with 20. He just received orders for Iraq. Needless to say, they aren't happy....
Posted by: Frank G ||
11/12/2006 17:55 Comments ||
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#10
HEY OLD "patriot " PEOPLE LIKE AND ALL THE SHITKICKERS RANTBURG UNITED MORONS ARE NOTHING, NADA, ZERO,NULLA,RIEN.SO SHUT UP EAT THE CRAP AND GO TO HELL. ALL OF YOU LOST CAPISCI?
IDF Brig.-Gen. Gal Hirsch handed in his resignation from the IDF this morning, in light of a investigative report assigning him responsibility for the Hizbullah kidnapping of two soldiers. Hirsch, the commander of the Galilee Formation, informed Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz of his decision this morning (Sunday), just before an IDF investigative team headed by Maj.-Gen. (ret.) Doron Almog was to recommend Hirschs dismissal. Almog is to present a harsh report to the IDF General Staff today on the events leading up to the abduction of IDF soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser this past July.
#1
report assigning him responsibility for the Hizbullah kidnapping of two soldiers
oh my goodness! I thought Hizbullah kidnapped them! Why did the good General conspire with Hizbullah to do this?
Seriously - this eating our own has to stop. The General may have made mistakes - but I'm guessing they need all the Generals they can get right now. This self-emolation is just ridiculous right now.
#2
General Hirsch is forging his 'metal' in the fires of reality on the field, and they want to cut him off at the knees?! Thats like ruining Ariel Sharon's future back in 1963! This man should be promoted and given Halutz's position; he was failed from the top!! In part they want to blame him for evacuating from Bint Jbail in the 'daytime' allowing Hizbullah to monitor their movements; (I say, where were the satellite and drone monitorings to allow this, plus a nighttime retreat can be risky if the unit is well 'entrenched' waiting for a suicide attempt on the passby! Give General Hirsch another Star or Leaf, lick your wounds and get it right next time (ala Iran)!
National Union party faction leaders believe that Arab harassment of Jews in mixed Arab-Jewish cities has irredentist motives. Harassment of non-muslims. Irredentism. Seems like a pattern is emerging, in Israel or elsewhere. Weaponized civilization.
#1
What are the Jews complaining about? Such behaviour and motives are traditional, after all, continuing unchanged from the Muslim conquest over a thousand years ago.
#1
In a Newsweek-Washington Post interview ahead of his trip, Prime Minister Olmert said, "I am ready to release many, many prisoners. I made it clear long ago that I am anxious to open up a new dialogue with [Palestinian Authority President] Abu Mazen, and for that purpose, I'm ready to release many prisoners."
Thus validating the kidnapping.
However, Olmert went on to say that the current ruling power in the PA, the Hamas terrorist organization, is preventing the release of the prisoners, "because they refuse to let us have our soldier [kidnapped IDF Corporal. Gilad Shalit]...." According to the prime minister, the Hamas "is not really interested in the well-being of its prisoners. They want to topple Abu Mazen at any cost."
In his interview, Prime Minister Olmert said of Abu Mazen, "He personally has shown consistently his opposition to terror and his discomfort with Hamas techniques. But it is incumbent upon him to do more than just say how uncomfortable he is with Hamas. He hasn't yet shown enough determination and inner strength to put down this government of terrorists...."
(Xinhua) -- The Hamas-led Palestinian government accused Israel on Wednesday of killing President Yasser Arafat two years ago, renewing calls to open the file of Arafat's mysterious death. The government is determined to "reveal the circumstances that Israel has been trying to hide," the government spokesman Ghazi Hamad said in a written statement faxed to the press on the second anniversary of Arafat's passing.
The Hamas administration, which rejects peace deals with Israel, added that Israel killed Arafat in spite of the negotiation track Arafat followed with the Jewish state. "This means Israel does not seek peace as much as it seeks control, war and destruction." Hamad reiterated his government would maintain the Palestinian principles until establishing an independent statehood with Jerusalem as the capital, releasing prisoners and secure the return of Palestinian refugees in Diaspora. He also said Hamas will not recognize Israel. Calls to investigate into Arafat's death were also released by most of Palestinian factions and political groups.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/12/2006 00:41 ||
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#1
You know, one of these days the Palestinians are going to figure this ploy out, if they haven't already. Then what will they do to distract the drones?
#2
gorb, if they did not after 52 years, they never will. Some of them did though, several 10K of them, and they are as far away from the ME as possible. Mostly christians.
#5
The Hamas-led Palestinian government accused Israel on Wednesday of killing President Yasser Arafat two years ago, renewing calls to open the file of Arafat's mysterious death
Stopped clock city. Let's have an inquest, bring in the French medicos, Pig the Babe, assorted carrion from the fish tank, could be a laugh riot.
#8
If you read the Atlantic Monthly article on Arafat from about a year ago, and read between the lines of what his inner circle said, it's pretty apparent that Arafat died from a dirty little secret -- he liked to double his chance of a date on a Saturday night.
DAMASCUS - Syrias information minister on Saturday called for Palestinian refugees to be allowed to return to their homes, from which millions fled after the creation of the state of Israel in 1948.
One of the more reliable ways of whipping up the rubes.
Since 1950, the United Nations refugee agency (UNRWA) has cared for nearly four million such refugees in the Middle East, with around 500,000 living in Syria.
They aren't refugees anymore, they're the children and grandchildren of refugees. Maybe they should integrate with the other states in the 'unmah' and get jobs.
Palestinian refugees must return to their homes. The application of United Nations Resolution 194 is the best solution for their problem, said Mohsen Bilal, referring to the 1948 UN resolution calling for Palestinians to be allowed home.
"We sure don't want them in our country!"
The Palestinian cause is the central cause for Syria. said the minister during talks with Panos Mumtzis, director for UNRWA in Syria.
"We'll fight to the last Palestinian!"
Mumtzis, quoted by the Syrian news agency Sana, said Resolution 194 was very important in that it is the right of Palestinian refugees to return home.
Things must be getting tight in Syria, time for a little magic trick and distraction ...
Israel, whose population of seven million includes 18.5 percent Arab-Israelis, strongly opposes the return of large numbers of Palestinian refugees because of the potential to upset the Jewish states demographics.
Not to mention the rather dramatic increase in death it would bring ...
UNRWA, since 1950, has provided most of the basic services -- education, health, social welfare, food aid -- in Palestinian refugee camps in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, in Syria, Jordan and in Lebanon.
And done a lousy job of it. How many billions of dollars over the years? They could have moved them all to Western Sahara -- tough luck, guys, you lost a war, but we got a nice patch of uninhabited desert for you over here -- and helped them build a state.
Posted by: Steve White ||
11/12/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
Sounds like a good idea. Let's think about it. And while we're thinking, perhaps Syria would be kind enough to stage them in their country until we reach a decision?
#2
Too bad that the Palestinian aren't more European with birthrates <1.5. Maybe the Palestinian homeland should be one of the rapidly depopulating states of old Europe, say France, Spain, or Italy. They are useless enough to fit into France.
The United States traditionally opposes what it considers one-sided Security Council resolutions on Israel, and Saturday's vote was the fourth time in three years that Washington had taken such action. In July the United States vetoed another resolution on Gaza; in March 2004 it vetoed a resolution condemning Israel for killing the Hamas leader, Sheik Ahmed Yassin, and in December 2003 it blocked a measure protesting the construction of the Israeli separation barrier in the West Bank.
Jean-Marc de la Sablière, the ambassador of France, said he felt the final negotiated text was "a balanced one" and would have sent the right message to both Israel and the Palestinians.
Almost all of the 45 nations that spoke during a daylong debate on the Middle East on Thursday condemned Israel. Arab nations are now expected to move for a vote in the 192-member General Assembly, a path they have followed in the past when such measures have failed to pass the Security Council. Unlike Security Council resolutions, those passed in the General Assembly are nonbinding and largely symbolic. But they generally attract widespread support when Israel, and, by extension, the United States, are the targets.
Jean-Marc de la Sablière, the ambassador of France, said he felt the final negotiated text was "a balanced one" and would have sent the right message to both Israel and the Palestinians. He added, "I hope that the fact this text has not been adopted will not renew tensions on the ground."
Posted by: Fred ||
11/12/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
Jean-Marc de la Sablière, the ambassador of France, said he felt the final negotiated text was "a balanced one" and would have sent the right message to both Israel and the Palestinians.
One day, Israel will send a "right sort of message" to Euros.
The growing potential for naval mine warfare by China, North Korea or Iran, or even terrorists, has caused the U.S. Navy to rethink its plan to retire its 14 Avenger-class minesweepers.
These 1,400 ton ships are to be replaced by mine clearing equipped LCS ships, and similar gear carried on some destroyers.
The current schedule called for the first Avenger to retire in 2017 (after 30 years of service), and all of them to be gone by 2025. Now the thinking is more towards keeping the Avengers for as long as they are serviceable, and increasing the use of special mine clearing kits for the LCS and other ships.
In a decade, it is believed hostile nations will have a lot of very capable naval mines. Elsewhere I've read of anti-sea-mine robots, some designed just to locate sea mines, and others to neutralize them.
#2
Naval mines are a very underdeveloped technology that soon could exclude traditional naval vessels from contended waters. Ultimately, the entire minefield could rest on the ocean floor until an enemy vessel approached its area.
#4
Couldn't Taiwan tool up with these babies and the ChiComs any hope of a sea crossing? A few seeded around Hong Kong, etc. would also do wonders for short-circuiting the mainland's economy if it came down to it.
#5
Couldn't Taiwan tool up with these babies and the ChiComs any hope of a sea crossing? A few seeded around Hong Kong, etc. would also do wonders for short-circuiting the mainland's economy if it came down to it.
I would be surprised if there hasn't been a few highly classified staff studys here and in Tiwan, complete with generated op-plans, con-plans, and warehouses stocked with some interesting purchases.
I further suspect that naval mines will turn out to be the IED of the seas.
Big difference tho- naval mines are easier to trace to the state sponsors that provided them, and ultimately they hurt the defender who deplys them the most.
Posted by: N guard ||
11/12/2006 13:23 Comments ||
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#6
It seems to me to be a bad idea to stray far from the plate on this one. If for some reason the US Navy can't afford a few minesweepers, they had better be able to put some together at a moment's notice. It's going to bite big time if you have a dollar waiting on a dime and you can't get rid of the dime.
#7
Mines are cheap. Warships are expensive. I think it's pretty clear where this is heading. It just hasn't gotten there yet, or it's gotten there but hasn't been put to the test.
Posted by: Phil Queeg ||
11/12/2006 14:25 Comments ||
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#9
I first read that as "Minesweepers are where carrIers go to die." That didn't make sense, but the LACK of minesweepers could be the cause of death for a flattop or two.....
The navy used to have minesweeping H-53's but they were retired ( i think) for budgetary reasons. One of those could clear a lot more water quicker than a boat, and the benefit is that the paltform would be available for other uses (vertrep, combat SAR, etc) perhaps a quick-change kit for the current helo inventory could be put together with existing technology, to get assets in the fleet and then go for the upgrades.
The routine patrol was caught in an explosion caused by an improvised bomb, a spokesman said.
Captain Tane Dunlop, the Multi-National forces spokesman in south Iraq, told the BBC: "The use of improvised explosive devices is very common in Iraq. It is slightly unusual in that this time it was targeting a boat."
Not as dramatic as that, but it certainly isn't career enhancing to stay in the mine-countermeasures community. There is also little chance of getting an early command; most of the MCMs command-slots seem to have gone to EOD/Diver officers.
#12
The navy used to have minesweeping H-53's but they were retired ( i think) for budgetary reasons. One of those could clear a lot more water quicker than a boat
Yes, and no. They were good at fast sweeps of known areas. They were also good at losing their sweep-gear.
#13
It seems like saving entire ships and many if not all of the lives on them is under-appreciated. If I were the US Navy, I would find a way to set this right immediately.
#14
The Navy is going ahead full throttle wid using hi/space-tech that can penetrate the oceans blue like a mirror, as iff like air. Unmanned LR UAVS will one day possess OTH anti-mine clearing capabilities.
BEIRUT - Lebanon's president took sides Sunday in the country's latest political spat, claiming that the cabinet was no longer legitimate following the resignation of five Shiite Muslim ministers, including two representing Hezbollah. A major escalation
The resignations left the Shiites, the country's largest single sect, out of the government and deepened the country's political crisis.
President Emile Lahoud's position is a blow to his political rival, Prime Minister Fuad Saniora, but does not carry legal weight because the Lebanese president is not empowered to dissolve the government. Lahoud sent a letter to Siniora's office, saying that the 24-member cabinet was no longer constitutional after all five Shiite Muslim ministers submitted their resignations Saturday. He based his position on Article Five of the constitution that states "all sects should be justly represented in the cabinet."
There was no comment from Siniora.
The president's declaration of his position solidifies the political divide in Lebanon between anti- and pro-Syrian forces, with Lahoud and Hezbollah tilting toward Syria and Siniora and his allies opposing their powerful neighbor's influence over their country.
Hezbollah deputy chief: Shi'ites to take to streets in Lebanon Pro-Syrian Hezbollah and its allies will stage street protests to press their demands after the collapse of all-party talks on giving them more say in government, the movement's deputy leader said on Sunday.
Five Shi'ite Muslim ministers from Hezbollah and its ally, the Amal movement, resigned from the cabinet on Saturday, hours after the collapse of the talks on the pro-Syrian camp's demand for effective veto power in the government. Asked whether the government would face street protests, Hezbollah deputy chief Sheikh Naim Kassem said: "I can say that this campaign will be varied and effective. Going down to the streets is one of the important steps that Hezbollah and its allies will take."
"The parliamentary majority camp foiled the dialogue because they don't want wide scale Lebanese participation in government and they want to monopolize decisions in this country," Kassem said. "This is something that we... can't be witnesses to," he added.
Some anti-Syrian leaders have pledged counter-demonstrations should Hezbollah take the political crisis to the streets, raising fears of confrontations and violence. "This was a first step. There will be other steps that we will discuss in detail with our allies and which we will announce gradually," Kassem told Reuters by telephone.
He said the all-party talks had failed because anti-Syrian majority leaders had refused to allow others effective participation in running the country. "This campaign will be there to salvage the country from this mentality," Kassem said. Emphasis added. Hez figures it is now or never.
The south for the Hezzies, the east for the pro-Syrians (they can get annexed), and the north for the non-insane (there must be a few).
Hey! Mebbe somebody ought to nominate me for the UN post about-to-be-vacated by Bolton?
Posted by: Bobby ||
11/12/2006 14:29 Comments ||
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#4
the cabinet was no longer legitimate following the resignation of five Shiite Muslim ministers, including two representing Hezbollah.
Rich, truly rich. Big clue, Lahoud; The mere presence of Hezbollah terrorists on your damned cabinet precluded any possibility of legitimacy from the onset. Your's is a terrorist organization being puppeted by a terrorist state, namely, Syria. Once you rid yourself of terrorist influence and remove Assad's hand from up your ass, come back and talk. Until then, you're nothing more than some coordinates for a major bombing run.
#6
A little Israeli napalm would put an end to those pro-Syria demonstrations quickly enough.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
11/12/2006 18:10 Comments ||
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#7
all sects should be justly represented in the cabinet
The way I read it, if the translation is accurate in using the word 'should', is just that. It doesn't use the word 'shall'. Fine. If the don't want to be part of the government, they can sit on the side and watch or separate and start a civil war.
If it helps, I will personally represent the Shiites. :-)
BEIRUT (AFP) - Kindergarten teacher Zeinab Asfur stands in front of her class in the Shiite-dominated southern suburbs of Beirut. "Who are your heroes?" she asks. "The men of the resistance!" the children shout back in unison.
As early as four years old, pupils across the suburbs are taught about the "heroic resistance" of the militant group Hezbollah in Israel's summer war which completely devastated large parts of the area.
Their return to school this year has been overshadowed by the deaths of more than 1,200 people -- one third of them children -- during the 34-day Israeli onslaught which also destroyed roads, homes and schools.
Dozens of schools were flattened in the predominantly Shiite suburbs of the capital and in the south of the country, where Hezbollah guerrillas fought against Israeli troops during the conflict.
#1
Meh. Sounds like the Ithaca Revolutionary Re-education CampAlternative School. Peaceful resistance, social justice, drum circles, etc. I'm sure they won't try to blow anything up.
Russia and Iran will try to resume six-party talks on Iran's nuclear programme, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday after President Vladimir Putin met Iran's nuclear envoy. Russia had hoped Tehran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani's visit would lead to a resolution of the nuclear crisis, but it appeared as though Moscow had failed to persuade Tehran to change its stance on halting nuclear enrichment.
"There is an agreement that our contacts will be continued and, of course, we will work on achieving our common goal -- resumption of six-party talks," Lavrov was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying.
The six powers -- the United States, Britain, China, France, Russia and Germany -- made a proposal in June for economic, technological and political cooperation if Iran halted work the West suspects is designed to produce atomic weapons, but Tehran insists is for electricity generation. They gave an end-August deadline to halt uranium enrichment. Iran did not comply and since then the West has been working on imposing sanctions.
"Within days we will resume contacts with the participants of the sextet who offered some ideas to Iran as a basis to negotiations," Lavrov said. "Iran has responded to these proposals and we think that with some good will ... there is a possibility to find mutually acceptable grounds for the talks' resumption." He gave no details. Earlier Larijani met Lavrov and National Security Council head Igor Ivanov, with whom he spent five hours in discussion.
#5
NEWS > DEM VICTORY IS A GIFT FROM GOD = next step is for Radical Iran to proceed full force to dev nuke arsenals + regional, later Global, ambitions. As said times before, Amer's enemies know well that Dubya-GOP will get the blame for everything and anything, NOT THEM. The anti-US Lefties will be happy becuz they are for anything, from the Right= Center = Left, that puts the future anti-Amer Amer Gummermint under Socialism + anti-Amer Global OWG + in charge of everything and everyone. LEFT > US ISOLATIONISM = SOCIALISM-GOVT-ISM; US GLOBAL EMPIRE = SAME.
BEIRUT - Five Shia ministers resigned on Saturday from the mainly anti-Syrian Lebanese cabinet after talks between the leaders of various political factions failed to resolve the political crisis in the country. The ministers who resigned are members of the allied Shia movements, Amal and Hezbollah.
Just the next step in Nasty's campaign to turn Lebanon into a Shi'a colony of Iran.
The resignations came after Lebanese leaders broke off round-table talks Saturday without reaching a solution to a crisis, which has seen pro-Syrian groups, led by Hezbollah, call for street demonstrations to topple the government.
Saturdays session was the fourth in the latest series of round- table talks aimed at overcoming the pro- and anti-Syrian divide in the country. Mondays session served to break the ice by allowing participants to voice their demands, with the leaders turning to the core issue of the formation of a national unity government on Tuesday. Then Thursdays session broke off after two hours with little progress being reported.
Are you surprised? I'm not surprised.
Hezbollah chief Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah has threatened to resort to street protests if the Beirut talks fail to help produce a unity government. In response, Geagea warned last week that his anti-Syrian camp was ready to stage counter-demonstrations.
Hezbollah, which has two representatives in the 24-member government, is attempting to win absolute greater political power by inviting more of its allies into the cabinet to secure a blocking minority.
All in the name of 'stability' of course.
The anti-Syrian parliamentary majority has rejected forming a unity government before securing a pledge for the ouster of Damascus toady protege, President Emile Lahoud. Presidential election scheduled for autumn 2007 and the establishment of a special tribunal for the trial of suspects in the 2005 murder of former premier Rafik Hariri are at the heart of Lebanons political disputes.
Posted by: Steve White ||
11/12/2006 00:00 ||
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From gromgoru's wish list: civil War, with everybody shooting at Unifil.
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.
(Xinhua) -- A blast killed five civilians and injured five others in Paktia province of eastern Afghanistan on Saturday, the private TOLO TV reported. The civilians were collecting firewood in the mountain when the explosion happened, it said. TOLO did not mention that the explosion was caused by an old mine or a newly planted bomb. 
NAIROBI - Kenya on Saturday ordered the suspension of all flights to and from neighboring Somalia for security reasons, after a US warning that Somali extremists are plotting suicide attacks in the country.
Yemeni authorities said Saturday that a shipment of explosives seized earlier this week in Indonesia was legal and had been heading to a private oil company drilling in Yemen. 
A spokesman for the local Taliban on Saturday denied responsibility for a rocket attack on a security fort in North Waziristan saying the attack had been carried out by those trying to worsen the situation in the agency. 
+
(Xinhua) -- The Hamas-led Palestinian government accused Israel on Wednesday of killing President Yasser Arafat two years ago, renewing calls to open the file of Arafat's mysterious death. The government is determined to "reveal the circumstances that Israel has been trying to hide," the government spokesman Ghazi Hamad said in a written statement faxed to the press on the second anniversary of Arafat's passing. 
DAMASCUS - Syrias information minister on Saturday called for Palestinian refugees to be allowed to return to their homes, from which millions fled after the creation of the state of Israel in 1948.
The United States traditionally opposes what it considers one-sided Security Council resolutions on Israel, and Saturday's vote was the fourth time in three years that Washington had taken such action. In July the United States vetoed another resolution on Gaza; in March 2004 it vetoed a resolution condemning Israel for killing the Hamas leader, Sheik Ahmed Yassin, and in December 2003 it blocked a measure protesting the construction of the Israeli separation barrier in the West Bank.
Russia and Iran will try to resume six-party talks on Iran's nuclear programme, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday after President Vladimir Putin met Iran's nuclear envoy. Russia had hoped Tehran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani's visit would lead to a resolution of the nuclear crisis, but it appeared as though Moscow had failed to persuade Tehran to change its stance on halting nuclear enrichment.
The six powers -- the United States, Britain, China, France, Russia and Germany -- made a proposal in June for economic, technological and political cooperation if Iran halted work the West suspects is designed to produce atomic weapons, but Tehran insists is for electricity generation. They gave an end-August deadline to halt uranium enrichment. Iran did not comply and since then the West has been working on imposing sanctions.
