Taliban fighters are continuing to reinforce a key southern town against an expected NATO offensive more than a week after taking it over, ending a controversial four-month truce. More than 1,500 villagers have fled the town of Musa Qala, in the Taliban heartland, in fear of renewed fighting. More than 300 fighters are in Musa Qala, senior Taliban commander Mulla Hayatullah Khan said from a secret base on Sunday. They have been alerted and military supplies are being provided from Pakistan other areas. Residents say the Taliban are reinforcing their troops with heavy weapons, but NATO says there is no evidence of force build-up.
The Taliban decided to take Musa Qala after the brother of the local Taliban commander was killed in a NATO airstrike, locals say. The commander, Mullah Ghafour, was himself killed in another airstrike soon after the takeover. NATO says the retaking of Musa Qala is up to the Afghan government and will be done when and how Kabul decides. However, military analysts say the assault will be led by foreign troops and officers.
Separately, a member of the US military died of a gunshot wound in northern Afghanistan on Sunday in an incident under investigation by military authorities, a US military statement said. The service member died in Balkh province, the military said.
This article starring:
MULLA HAIATULLAH KHAN
Taliban
MULLAH GHAFUR
Taliban
Posted by: Fred ||
02/12/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[6 views]
Top|| File under:
The governor of Afghanistans southern province of Helmand said on Sunday hundreds of foreign Al Qaeda fighters had infiltrated his province and were behind regular attacks there. Assadullah Wafa also said authorities were still trying to persuade Taliban to leave the town of Musa Qala which they occupied about 10 days ago. A tribal elder involved in the talks said, however, the rebels had vowed to stay and fight.
The NATO force and Afghan security forces could not confirm the governors information about Al Qaeda, which is linked to the Taliban movement, although it is unclear how deeply they are involved in the insurgency. Wafa said he had been passed intelligence that fighters had crossed over from Pakistan and were in two districts. I cannot tell you an exact figure, but according to our information around 700 Al Qaeda terrorists have come to Sangeen and Kajaki districts from Waziristan (in Pakistan), Wafa said. They are mostly Chechen fighters, Chinese, Uzbeks and Pakistanis, he said. Afghan and NATO forces were still in control of the districts but terrorists were carrying out attacks, he said. The other day 10 Al Qaeda were killed in Kajaki, he said. The Afghan police said the dead were Taliban insurgents. The Afghan Defence Ministry said it could not confirm or deny Wafas claim.
A spokesman for NATOs International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) could not comment on the presence of Al Qaeda. We know there are a significant number of Taliban fighters in northern Helmand, northern Kandahar, in Uruzgan, Colonel Tom Collins said. They are in their winter sanctuaries in the base of the Hindu Kush (mountain range). Some of them are more elevated.
Lt Col Angela Billings, another spokeswoman for ISAF, said the Afghan government was leading the negotiations in Musa Qala and that didnt know how long they would take. She said NATO was always postured for potential military action. Were here as a military force and well strike when the situation warrants it, she said. Billings said foreign fighters are operating in Helmand but that the estimate of 700 sounded high. She said she had no immediate information on troop movement near Musa Qala.
Wafa said the government was waiting for civilians to leave Musa Qala before launching military action to take it back from the Taliban. The town has been almost emptied. Around 1,500 families have left the town. The bazaar and shops are closed. There are Taliban in the town, he said.
Officials have been trying to negotiate a solution to the Musa Qala dilemma and had been hopeful the killing of one of the leaders of the towns occupation a week ago would weaken the fighters resistance. We will use military operations to retake control of the town when we become totally hopeless that there will be any peaceful means (of reclaiming the town). We dont want any harm to civilians, that is why we are careful, Wafa said.
A tribal elder involved in the talks said on Sunday the Taliban had repeated they would not be part of negotiations. They say they will fight with the government, he said on condition of anonymity.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/12/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[4 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
authorities were still trying to persuade Taliban to leave the town
Ah, how I love watching negotiations with no end in mind.
(SomaliNet) Somalis interim Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi continues to make changes in his government removing the army commander-in-chief from the post. General Ismael Qasim Naaji, has been removed as army commander but was appointed to bebome Somalia's ambassador to Oman. Gen. Naaji was replaced Abdulahi Ali Omar as premier Gedi announced before the cabinet.
Mohammed Ali America was appointed as the Somali ambassador to Kenya, Hassan Mohammed Siad Barre as the Somali ambassador to Yemen while Muse Hirsi Fahiye became Somali ambassador to Djibouti. The appointment decree issued by the prime minister was submitted to the Somali president Abdullahi Yusuf for approval.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/12/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[4 views]
Top|| File under:
Egyptian authorities have arrested dozens of Muslim Brotherhood members following protests the day before over Israel's renovation work near Islam's third-holiest shrine. An interior ministry official said 38 members of the group were arrested in Cairo on Friday on allegations that they attacked security forces and threw bricks at them. Two other Brotherhood members were also arrested for allegedly being involved in skirmishes with the police in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Protests broke out across the Middle East on Friday, with demonstrations in Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon, demanding an immediate halt for the Israeli digging near the holy site. Israel denies the repair work and accompanying excavations will come anywhere near the compound, known as the Temple Mount to Jews and the Noble Sanctuary to Muslims. Egyptian anti-riot police scuffled with demonstrators in Cairo and prevented worshippers from getting inside the Al-Azhar mosque, the Sunni Arab world's most powerful institution. Demonstrators held a smaller protests in Alexandria and other Egyptian cities.
Since late last year, police have detained at least 140 Brotherhood members, including its number 3 leader, Khayrat el-Shater, whose case was one of 40 who have been referred to a military court. State owned media have recently intensified their campaign against the Muslim Brotherhood. The banned but tolerated movement is Egypt's largest opposition group, after having won 88 out of the 454 parliament seats in the 2005 legislative elections.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/12/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[5 views]
Top|| File under:
RABAT, Morocco Morocco hopes to host the new U.S. military command planned for Africa. Officials said the North African kingdom intends to offer a home to the new African Command as part of expanded military cooperation with the United States. They said Morocco represents the most stable country on the African continent.
Which is prob'ly true and a sad commentary on the continent.
"We have the infrastructure as well as the society that accepts foreigners," an official said. "It would be a good choice and we hope to discuss this seriously with our friends in Washington."
Until now, Morocco and most of North Africa was in U.S. European Command. Egypt was in Central Command, while other African states came under the umbrella of Pacific Command in an arrangement Defense Secretary Robert Gates said stemmed from the Cold War. Under the presidential order, Africom would be created by October 2008, but would exclude Egypt, which would remain in Centcom. The chief of the command would be a four-star military officer equal to other regional U.S. commanders.
Officials said the temporary home of Africom would be in Stuttgart, Germany, the headquarters of U.S. European Command. The Pentagon, however, plans to locate the command headquarters in an African nation while determining whether and what kind of military forces would be assigned permanently to Africom. "I think that will depend in large part upon the missions and the task that we have for Africom," Gen. Walter Sharp, director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said. "It will change over time. As we work with the countries in Africa and see our ability and their need to be able to help them build their capacities, we'll have forces going in and out on exercises and then out on training missions as it goes through."
Morocco has hosted U.S. military exercises and simulations as part of bilateral and regional military and counter-insurgency efforts. But officials said they doubted that the Pentagon would agree to station Africom in the kingdom. "We would very much want the U.S. military to come here, but the feeling is that the African Command will be in sub-Saharan Africa," an official said.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/12/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[5 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
We have the infrastructure as well as the society that unlike the rest of Africa accepts foreigners,
#2
Maybe we should lease St. Helena from the Brits like Diego Garcia? It's about as close to the 'continent' I'd have troops with permanent facilities.
#5
The most valuable facility was Kenitra, the old French Port Lyautey, and it was Hassan II, who asked us to depart in the wake of one of the Israeli beat-downs of the Egyptians. Nouasser was the USAF base, but I don't recall if there was much there.
I lived in Kenitra when I was a kid. Pretty neat place.
#6
"They said Morocco represents the most stable country on the African continent.
Which is prob'ly true and a sad commentary on the continent. "
Huh? Theyve had the same (popular) ruling family for centuries, IIUC. They really ARE stable. More so than most countries in the world. Im not seeing how its a sad commentary on the continent.
NAIROBI (Rooters) - A 79-year-old American missionary and her daughter, the wife of a U.S. diplomat, are cut down by automatic gunfire on the edge of town.
A top Kenyan HIV scientist and two other people, one on crutches, are killed when teenage gunmen indiscriminately spray vehicles on a highway with AK-47 fire.
A security firm, under the slogan "Time to Fight Back", advertises fully armoured four-wheel drive vehicles that can withstand anything from sub-machine gun fire to landmines.
Baghdad? Mogadishu?
No, Nairobi, capital of east Africa's richest economy.
The city has been known as "Nairobbery" for decades and carjackings, armed robberies and burglaries have long been a fact of life. Even now, Kenya has far fewer murders than South Africa, one of the most violent countries on earth.
But a wave of cold-blooded killings, many in daylight, over the last three months have rung new alarm bells.
"It is scary crime now. Carjackers used to take the car and leave you, now they are taking the car and shooting you," said Maina Kiai, head of the government's human rights commission.
"It is a failure of the state. The government cannot provide security," he told Reuters.
Local newspapers, leading the charge against allegedly complacent government leaders and incompetent police, have run days of headlines like: "Gangland Kenya," and "Under Siege".
The State Department, stunned by the killings of missionary Lois Anderson and her daughter Zelda White, 51, warned Americans about the dangers of visiting Kenya and did not mince its words about the Nairobi government.
Violent crimes "can occur at any time and in any location, and are becoming increasingly frequent, brazen, vicious and often fatal. ... Kenyan authorities have limited capacity to deter and investigate such acts," it said in a travel warning.
VIGILANTE KILLINGS
The high profile deaths of foreigners and prominent Kenyans have attracted the greatest attention but it is ordinary, often poor locals who suffer the most from violent crime.
Most of the more than 50 people killed over the last three months were Kenyans and more than a dozen were police, including some killed during a cash van heist last month.
The anger of Kenyans about crime and their lack of faith in the police is brutally illustrated by the lethal vigilante justice often meted out to criminals.
With an election due at the end of the year, the wave of crime is starting to hurt President Mwai Kibaki's government.
"I am fed up of the say-nothing, do-nothing style of President Kibaki even when the country is burning," said opposition firebrand Raila Odinga, calling with other politicians for the army to be mobilised.
With headlines on crime dominating the papers for days the government is clearly feeling the heat.
"The (U.S.) advisory was issued with a sense of panic ... issuing a travel advisory in terms of a few acts of thuggery in our country is totally unfair," government spokesman Alfred Mutua told reporters.
Karanja Gatiba, head of Kenya's CID detective agency, said: "I wish to assure the public that we are in charge of crime and that the criminals will be caught."
But it seems a lot of people are not reassured.
"The current security situation has got out of hand ... the government is not able to handle the sophistication of the criminals. The only thing that is lacking is the police force," said Nairobi student Samuel Njoroge, reflecting a common view.
George Akoto, managing director of a firm that advertised armoured vehicles last week, said: "We are getting a lot of inquiries." Those expressing interest in the 19 million shilling ($275,000) cars included members of parliament, diplomats and businessmen, he said.
WEAPONS FROM SOMALIA Weapons only? Or assorted gunnies too?
The government blames Kenya's violent crime on a flood of military-grade weapons from conflicts in neighbouring Sudan and Somalia. Where criminals once carried pistols, they now habitually use assault rifles that usually kill. Unlike pistols, which only usually kill (but less usually).
Police have posted big rewards for AK-47s and pistols.
Kenya's grinding poverty is obviously also a factor, with 60 percent of Nairobi's population living in slums ruled by gangs.
But many Kenyans and government critics put deep police corruption, incompetence and inadequate equipment, combined with a weak judicial system, at the heart of the problem.
It is widely believed that police are themselves involved in many crimes and that they rent out their weapons to gangsters.
"Most of us fear the police more than working with them. The police do not attract good people," Kiai said.
Internal Security Minister John Michuki, known for his fiery rhetoric, issued a shoot-to-kill order to police last year which they have not hesitated to implement.
"If you do not shoot to kill someone with a gun, do you want him to shoot you first, then when you are dead you arrest him?" Michuki said.
But Kiai and other critics say the policy makes criminals trigger-happy, causes vendettas against police, and above all reduces intelligence.
"If they apprehended the criminals instead of killing them, and then interrogated them, they could get to the root of some of the crime," Kiai said.
Some reports suggest the rise in crime is the result of the disbanding of elite investigation squads after a dispute between police commissioner Mohammed Ali and the former head of the CID, Joseph Kamau, that extended to the top of Kenya's government.
That dispute ended with Kamau's removal.
Now Ali himself is facing faces widespread calls for his dismissal. Quagmire!
(Additional reporting by Wangui Kanina and David Mwangi)
President Vladimir Putin of Russia held talks yesterday with Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah on Iraq and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the first visit by a Russian leader to the kingdom. King Abdullah gave Putin, who accused the United States on Saturday of making the world a more dangerous place, a red carpet welcome. Prior to the talks urged Moscow to help revive the Arab-Israeli peace process.
"There is no doubt that Russia has an important role in achieving peace," the king told Russia's Itar-Tass news agency ahead of the trip, which Moscow hopes will help restore Soviet-era links with the Middle Eastern region. Saudi media has said Moscow also wants to sell Riyadh, which enjoyed a record budget surplus of $78 billion last year on high oil prices, military hardware including tanks, and antimissile systems as well as win a tender to expand Saudi railways.
Putin's trip highlights a growing connection between the two nations after the king's visit to Moscow in 2003. Riyadh revived its ties with Moscow in 1990 as the communist Soviet era ended. The two nations first established diplomatic ties in the 1920s. In addition to addressing the Iraq war and the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, the two leaders discussed cooperation between the world's two top oil producers, the official Saudi Press Agency reported. Russia denies having plans to join a "gas OPEC."
Russia, which belongs to the Quartet sponsoring Arab-Israeli peace which also comprises the United States, the EU, and the United Nations, wants to play a bigger diplomatic role in the Middle East. Putin will also visit Qatar and Jordan. "We hope the Quartet's current effort [succeeds] to revive the peace process and concentrate on resolving the main issues at their root after partial solutions failed to achieve the required progress," the king said before the talks.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
02/12/2007 8:22 Comments ||
Top||
#2
China and Russia don't trust each other, but both want MidEast oil, so if they can "band" together against the US and Israel, that brings the oil closer to each of them.
#4
That must have been an interesting meeting. Putin's being very friendly to Iran. The Saudis probably don't like that much. Still, they have two important common interests: oil, and hatred of the us.
I guess Putin's trying to play the "OPEC" card: two VP for control of S.A., Venezuela, etc.
Posted by: Eric Jablow ||
02/12/2007 23:11 Comments ||
Top||
Leaders of Sunni Arab states are embarking on a military spending spree in an attempt to contain the growing threat from Iran. Alarmed by the progress of Iran's nuclear programme and the prospect of a military clash between its Shia regime and the United States, Gulf leaders intend to use billions of dollars of oil revenue to purchase a huge array of military hardware.
Many of the deals will be finalised at a massive arms fair due to open in the United Arab Emirates next Sunday.
"The Gulf states have a shopping list of arms worth more than $60 billion if all the deals under discussion go through."
Saudi Arabia alone has a shopping list that runs to almost $50 billion, including fighter aircraft, cruise missiles, attack helicopters and more than 300 new tanks. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has earmarked $2 billion for a rapid reaction brigade - possibly to take a lead role in a regional protection force. Another $6 billion will go on missile defence batteries, airborne early warning systems and aircraft. Both countries are members of the Gulf Co-operation Council, established in 1984 to provide security against the threat posed by Iran. Other members, including Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, are expected to spend heavily in the coming months.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/12/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[13 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Saudi Arabia very well remembers the 'licks' it took from Saddam, back in 91'! A few well aimed or accidental 'bulleyes' by Iranian revenge bent generals on their oil fields or water filtering plants, would definitely up the ante on retaliatory strikes...of course should the US let them!
Scotland Yard is in talks with prosecutors about launching a full criminal investigation into the United Nations (UN) oil-for-food scandal and its possible links to Britain.
For the past year, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has been looking into whether to launch its own inquiry on the back of two American-based reports which criticised the oil-for-food (OFF) programme for being riddled with corruption and mismanagement. Thanks to a promise of £22m funding by the Treasury it has now decided to investigate the humanitarian aspects'' of the OFF scheme.
The highest profile British figure mentioned in the US documents was George Galloway, leader of the anti-Iraq war Respect Party, over claims he received more than 18 million barrels of oil to fund his campaign against Iraq sanctions. In May 2005, the MP for Bethnal Green and Bow famously testified before the US Senate investigations sub-committee and vehemently denied any wrongdoing. He declared: "I have never seen a barrel of oil, never bought one, never sold one, and neither has anyone on my behalf."
The US-based investigations also detailed alleged banking evidence that Amineh Abu Zayyad, the back bencher's estranged wife, and the Mariam Appeal, his £1m political fund, received large sums from Saddam Hussein via under-the-counter oil allocations. Again, Mr Galloway forcefully denied the claims as has Ms Zayyad, a 40-year-old scientist and former lecturer at Glasgow University. She said: "I have never solicited or received from Iraq or anyone else any proceeds of any oil deals, either for myself or for my former husband." However, the general spotlight on the OFF programme appears undimmed.
Last night, the SFO revealed it had received a promise of £22m from the Treasury to launch a full-scale inquiry into allegations of corruption in relation to the provision of humanitarian services to Iraq under the OFF programme.
A SFO spokesman said the agency had, with the support of Attorney General Lord Goldsmith and thanks to the Treasury money, decided to "take on an investigation just a matter of days ago, looking at the OFF programme relating to humanitarian aspects". He explained this would consider allegations of "underlying fraud" in relation to contracts, say, for the building of bridges and the provision of medical supplies. The spokesman noted how the Volcker report had references to around 70 British organisations which were linked to the provision of humanitarian aid. However, he made clear the Mariam Appeal, currently the subject of an investigation by the Charity Commission, was not one of them.
The spokesman explained that the second part of the SFO's preliminary inquiries had now passed to the Metropolitan Police. "The Met are in discussion with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and are seeking their advice. We are considering a request to investigate the matter. We are not investigating at this time", a spokeswoman for Scotland Yard said.
She also revealed discussions with the CPS involved the 1977 Criminal Law Act and how it related to a potential breach of the UN sanctions. She highlighted two possible offences - "making funds available to the Iraqi regime without a licence granted by the Treasury" and "facilitating" the availability of such funds.
The spokeswoman would not say who made the request for the Met to consider a full investigation or what or who might be investigated. A CPS spokeswoman confirmed it was in contact with Scotland Yard about the OFF programme but stressed it "won't be discussing the nature of these discussions at this stage".
In a weeks time, the Chinese world will celebrate the New Year under the zodiac sign of the Pig. But for the Year of the Pig, the Chinese government has banned all adverts showing this animal. Beijing is hoping to gain kudos from Islamic states for its sensitivity and respect for their religious convictions even if it continues repressing the Muslim minority, especially in Xinjiang.
In letter to advertising agencies, the main state television CCTV warned that since China is a multi-cultural country, out of respect for the religious convictions of Muslims, images of pigs must be avoided in 2007. TV sources said: This was indicated to us from top government quarters... to protect harmony between different religions and ethnic groups. It seems that the order has come from the Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party that wants the Year of the Pig (starting on 18 February) to be celebrated without offending the countrys 21 million Muslims.
The order has created problems for big firms: they had already designed their publicity spots, focused on the presence of pigs, but now they must create new ones within a few days. Nestlé had prepared a cartoon of a beaming little pig celebrating a Happy Year of the Pig. Coca Cola had two cartoons, one with a panda and the other with a pig, but they will not broadcast the one with the pig in areas with big Muslim communities.
The media have given the news importance and reported the enthusiastic response from Muslim communities. For example, Huo Engjie, director in Shanghai of the Association of Minorities, said: Even if we [Muslims] are less than 2% of the Chinese population, this ban shows how much the government respects us. Its really moving.
The Muslim population in China is divided into Hui Chinese who have converted to Islam and Uighurs. The Hui, around 15 million, are present especially in Ningxia (Central China), Shaanxi, Qinghai and Beijing. Beijing has always displayed considerable tact towards them. For decades, while Catholics were forbidden from going to Rome, the government subsidized Muslim pilgrimages to Mecca.
However, China implements a repressive and colonizing policy towards the Uighurs (of Turkish origin, around eight million), aimed at putting a stop to autonomist aspirations and fundamentalist infiltrations from Pakistan and Afghanistan. According to a Xinjiang daily, in 2005 China arrested 18,227 Uighurs on charges of threatening national security. Hundreds have been condemned to death. In January, police attacked a training camp and killed 18 Muslim Uighurs, claiming without proof that that they were terrorists.
For some years, tension has also been growing with the Hui, above all for social reasons. The Han the Chinese race par excellence are preferred in employment and trade and this has created resentment among the Hui and consequent clashes. There has also been a growth of Muslim integralism among the Hui, owing to the influence of pilgrimages and the meeting of the Chinesized Islam of the Hui with more fundamentalist Pakistani and Saudi doctors of the Koran.
The decision to ban images of the pig is an attempt to show, at home and abroad, Chinas great respect for the Muslim world. After all, China buys plenty of oil from Muslim countries in the Middle East, central Asia and Africa so it must be hoping this approach will draw appreciation from the Muslim world.
The ban on images of the pig is being debated in many blog sites too. People from the ethnic Hui group consider the ban to be an exaggeration and show tolerance. This New Year feast is a feast of the Han, its not ours. We know how much importance the Han give to this animal [pig], its useless to ban it, said one woman.
Some believe the reason behind the ban on images of the pig lies in the fear that this year will be marked by clashes, conflicts and dynastical changes. According to Chinese astrologists, 2007 is a year of the Pig marked by fire and water, two contrasting elements that indicate the possibility of wars and conflicts. There will be much disharmony that could lead to tensions and revolts to the point of overthrowing governments.
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
02/12/2007 8:39 Comments ||
Top||
#2
... to protect harmony between different religions and ethnic groups
This goes to show just how effective Muslim backmail is. Who would have figured the Chinese would cater to the koranimals?
As spokesman for the American Swine Federation (AMSWIF), I find this wholly and completely deplorable... The one case where Chinese honor we porques (as we prefer to be known), instead of consuming us, and they ban our images from TV...
Arnold Ziffel,
Chariman,
AmSwiF
Posted by: Arnold Ziffel ||
02/12/2007 12:46 Comments ||
Top||
#13
Im having a hard time understanding why people are surprised or shocked by a restriction on freedom of speech, in, you know, China.
I mean censorship is no biggie there, so why wouldnt they limit something that might insult local or foreign muslims. I mean you folks seem to have the PRC confused with Denmark. If you dont have freedom of speech ANYWAY, limiting freedom on behalf of muslims aint dhimmitude (or whatever)
#14
"For decades, while Catholics were forbidden from going to Rome, the government subsidized Muslim pilgrimages to Mecca."
I'm not Catholic, but one must presume that the Chinese govt. saw one religion as a threat to their totalitarian system, and the other not.
Pretty scary that the Chinese are bowing to Moslem "sensitivities" and subverting HOW many centuries of cultural/religious tradition to strengthen ties with Islamic countries?
It's all about the money. China needs oil, so the pigs be damned!
#17
I think the censors are really screwing themselves. Pork is a fundamental part of Chinese life. Has been since before China was established just over 2000 years ago. By censoring something like this, they are reminding ordinary Chinese that they are not free. At a time when Chinese are increasingly resentful of the perks enjoyed by government officials and less and less fearful of their power.
#18
I hope that they don't censor this song, as I remember it.............
FOUR WET PIGS
Here's a little song about four wet pigs
Here's a little song about four wet pigs
Two of'em little and two of'em big
They danced all night at the pig town jig
The two that were little were just half grown
The two that were big were big as a barn
Big as a barn, tall as a tree
Take'em on down to the factory
Slice'em into bacon, cut'em into ham
Chop'em into hotdogs, squeeze'em into Spam
Throw their little eyes out in the rain
Pickle their feet and scramble their brain
Here's a little song about two wet pigs
Leanin' on the slop trough smokin' their cigs
Hopin' to God that they never get big
They danced all night at the pig town jig
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
02/12/2007 21:45 Comments ||
Top||
Six-party talks aimed at dismantling North Korea's nuclear weapons programme have stalled again in Beijing, leaving one more day for negotiators to reach a deal. Envoys from North and South Korea, the US, Russia, Japan and China failed to reach agreement on Sunday on Pyongyang's demands for a huge transfer of energy aid. The six nations have agreed on most of a plan that would oblige Pyongyang to close nuclear facilities in return for economic and security assurances.
The talks have faltered over North Korea's demand for fuel aid, which raised suspicious that it may not fully scrap its nuclear arms capabilities. Christopher Hill, the top US envoy to the talks, said, "We're not looking to provide energy assistance so that they could avoid taking the further steps on denuclearisation." "I think we have a real problem if we can't reach an agreement on this."
Posted by: Fred ||
02/12/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[7 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
The NORKs won't come to an agreement, they want to ride out that 'Big Wave' of Iranian US tug of words. My hunch would be that they would rush to the table within a month of the nuclear bunker busters crystallizing the subterranean cavities of the Iranian Nuke sites!!
#2
Why are we even talking to them? They have a long history of continually lying, obfuscating, breaking signed agreements, and dragging out talks like this. We are playing into their's and SKor's hands.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
02/12/2007 11:07 Comments ||
Top||
#3
We have been talking to these people for over 50 years, and have never had any significant progress on anything except giving them things in return for lies.....what in heavens name do you think we can get from them when all we have ever taught this one-trick pony is that we are idiots with a short memory. We fall again and again for this BS and the Chinese triangulate this crap for further leverage in their economic and espionage war with us over and over. Stop talking to them and sink whatever ships they send out that we suspect are carrying prohibited technology. God knows they aren't shipping foodstuffs, just dope, phony currentcy and missle parts. God D**n we are stupid sometimes. People in DC and in the IC know the score but the politicians keep getting moved by the press to act as if there will be a breakthrough......after 50 years people, get a clue.
#4
Looks like there will be yet another signed agreement for kimmie to break. This just in...Tentative Deal in N. Korea Nuclear Talks. I do hope our people are at least smart enough this time not to ship any oil until some positive and verifiable steps have been taken by the NorKs.
#5
Kimmie is learning from his counterfit money research EB6305. If he floats enough fake treaties, eventually the World will blame Bush for breaking them.
Posted by: john ||
02/12/2007 19:31 Comments ||
Top||
#6
DEFENCETALK.com > USA - no more negotiations wid North Korea over nukes = nucprogs, Gist - all cards on table; only thing left for USA is to await a NorKor response. OTOH, STRATEGYCENTER.net > CHINA UNSETTLED BY EVENTS IN NORTH KOREA. Shocked when five SoKor femme skaters publicly held up signs proclaiming a Chinese-held/controlled mountain [divine/
spiritual origins] as [pan-]KOREAN territory. Also worried that Pyongyang will unilater stop econ depending on Beijing for goodies [smacks of NORKOR sovereignty frm Beijing].
The archbishop of Paris and head of the Roman Catholic Church in France, Andre Vingt-Trois, said that France was doomed to a "pandemic of anti-Semitism" during a visit to Israel. "France is doomed to a pandemic of anti-Semitism," he told a news conference in Tel Aviv with Israeli Tourism Minister Isaac Herzog after arriving on his first visit to the Holy Land.
"The feeling is fueled by a certain amount of events but we can be French and Catholic and not be frightened about meeting Jews and even enjoy it." fueled by events . . . but nonetheless the phrench don't have to be "frightened" to meet Jews? Oh...how noble of them to deign to consort with Jews. What "events" in particular might those be, that cause the phrench to be "frightened?" Were these "events" the fault of Jews? That's a curious statement, to say the least.
Calling himself "sensitive" to the feelings of French Jews who have suffered from anti-Semitism, he said that the "situation of Judaism in France and of Jews can only be followed with vigilance".
"They (Jews) know that in a serious situation, we are ready to be at their side," Vingt-Trois said, emphasising the "importance of relations between the Catholic church and Judaism".
The archbishop said he intended to convey a message of "hope" during his five-day visit to the Holy Land accompanied by 600 clerics. "Those committed to building peace can transform what can appear a situation of hopelessness into one of security," he said. so it is that bad, then. he admits it.
In June, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert paid tribute to France's efforts to combat anti-Semitism, after meeting leaders of the country's 600,000-strong Jewish community.
French-Israeli relations have often been strained over the question of anti-Semitism -- France is home to the world's third largest Jewish community as well as Europe's largest Muslim population, at five million. In incendiary comments made in 2004, Israel's then prime minister Ariel Sharon urged French Jews to emigrate immediately to Israel, due to the threats he said they faced at home.
#1
Well, yeah, sure. The Catholic French are not frightened about meetings Jews, only Muslims. The Jews are a civilzed (thank God) and can progromed out of France and their lives, dem Musselman might kick you you doz lickle nutz.
Of course, if the Jewish people ever decide enough is enough and decides to go Samson on their Goliath ass.... the Philistine can kiss that orfice goodbye.
Better now than later.
Posted by: Evil Elvis ||
02/12/2007 14:51 Comments ||
Top||
The United States and Russia were locked in a bitter war of words yesterday as officials reacted furiously to a speech by Vladimir Putin that represented the most ferocious attack on US policy by a Russian leader since the Cold War.
Although Robert Gates, the US defence secretary, sought to cool some of the angry rhetoric flying between the two former Cold War adversaries by describing Russia as a "partner", he added: "We wonder too about some Russian policies that seem to work against international stability such as its arms transfers and its temptation to use energy resources for political coercion."
President Vladimir Putin, attack on aAmerican foreign policy
President Vladimir Putin speaking at the Conference on Security Policy in Munich
The comments, echoed by officials across the US political spectrum, came a day after astonished delegates listened to an unprecedented tirade from the Russian leader that was at times reminiscent of Nikita Khrushchev's shoe-banging rhetoric.
Reflecting the growing chill in relations between the two countries, Mr Putin accused the United States of trying to subjugate the world and termed its policy in the Middle East as "unilateral and frequently illegitimate."
"Today we are witnessing an almost uncontained hyper-use of military force in international relations that is plunging the world into an abyss of permanent conflict," he said.
"The United States has overstepped its national borders in every way. This is extremely dangerous. It results in the fact that no-one feels safe because no-one can feel that international law is like a stone wall that can protect them." While many of the assembled European politicians may have secretly agreed with Mr Putin's feelings on America's invasion of Iraq, fear of Russia's democratic trajectory and growing energy might united delegates in condemnation of the speech.
Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt said the West had to accept that Mr Putin's speech represented "the real Russia of today". His Czech counterpart, Karel Schwazenburg, said the speech showed "clearly and convincingly" why Nato had been right to expand into eastern Europe.
The Nato secretary general, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, also condemned the speech.
Mr Gates, a former CIA officer, tried to put Mr Putin's comments down to the Russian president's KGB background.
advertisement
"I guess old spies have a habit of blunt speaking," he said. "However I've been to re-education camp," a jibe that won approving laughter and applause from the audience. "One Cold War was quite enough."
For weeks, the Kremlin had indicated that Mr Putin would make a key foreign policy statement at the conference. Foreign policy aide Sergei Prikhodko said last week that Mr Putin was going to outline "his vision of the place and role of Russia in the present day world". And while the tenor of Mr Putin's speech may have caused outrage, it has hardly caused surprise.
Relations with both Europe and the United States have been deteriorating as a newly assertive Russia, buoyed by booming energy prices, has shaken off the post-Soviet malaise of the 1990s.
Western criticism has mounted as Mr Putin curtailed freedoms in Russia and imposed economic punishments on ex-Soviet neighbours who had pursued a pro-Western course.
In return the Kremlin is particularly angered by US plans to move missiles into eastern Europe.. While Washington insists that the missiles are directed at the growing threat of Iran and North Korea, the Kremlin is convinced they are directed at Russia.
Last week, hawkish defence minister Sergei Ivanov, seen as a possible successor of Mr Putin when he stands down next year, announced an eight-year £100 billion military upgrade. Defence spending has quadrupled since Mr Putin came to power.
But western diplomats argued yesterday that Mr Putin's speech reflected as much weakness as it did strength.
Russia's military hardware is largely rusting and, even though the Kremlin may be trying to develop new missiles, it has lost the nuclear race.
"Putin's speech was in part impotent rage," said a Western diplomat. "He's a strong believer that the Cold War principle of Mutually Assured Destruction made the world a safer place." "When he railed against a unipolar world, he was essentially acknowledging that for the first time in 50 years the United States has reached nuclear primacy."
#3
In return the Kremlin is particularly angered by US plans to move missiles into eastern Europe....the Kremlin is convinced they are directed at Russia.
They aren't aimed at you, silly. That is what our new boomers are for!
#5
"We wonder too about some Russian policies that seem to work against international stability such as its arms transfers and its temptation to use energy resources for political coercion."
-however, those of us who regularly read the 'Burg do not wonder.
#7
(1) Lest we fergit, as I recall the USSR put up anti-missle + anti-air missle defenses around Moscow and other Soviet cities and key mil bases, while the USA did not, becuz the USA is strong while ultra-Lefty USSR did not officially admit to being either strong or weak. "RUSSIA" STILL HAS THEM.
And (2), a look at FREEREPUBLIC + LUCIANNE + BBC + MIL BLOG/FORUM MISSLE MAPS show Moscow is NOT too far out-of range for Iran's self-proclaimed new 2000-km missle, a situation whcih will definitely change against Russia's interests as time goes on.
And lastly (3) without saying it, Putin's refusal ro recognize Russia's role in anti-US weapons and tech proliferation goes to show AGAIN that Russia is indeed very much waging an ANTI-US/WESTERN, GLOBAL "WAR FOR OIL/ENERGY", IN TACIT SUPPORT OF GLOBAL ANTI-DEMOCRACY.
#1
that's great, and when they are used against the US in the US, they'll claim Bush should've done something about it now. Cowards, whores, and liars
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/12/2007 8:14 Comments ||
Top||
#2
I had some pithy comments burning inside of me, just from reading the headline. But Frank did such a nice job of expressing my sentiments.
Posted by: Bobby ||
02/12/2007 13:18 Comments ||
Top||
#3
As long as the President has an R after his name, the Democrats will refuse to believe anything that he says. Even if we were to recover a device with writing in Farsi that said "Made in Tehran, 1385 Tir 23" the democrats would just claim that it was planted, that Bush was just making it up, that there was no proof, etc, etc.
(1385 Tir 23 is supposed to be the Iranian equivalent of July 14, 2006) according to the Iranian calendar converter.
#4
Nixon used to talk about "peace through strength" and "negotiating from a position of strength, not weakness". The donks either fail to understand these simple concepts or they cynically want us to lose in Iraq because they think that will help them win in 2008. They keep talking about how we should negotiate with the Iranians but if we did that now the Iranians would rightfully conclude that we are indeed weak. It pisses me off when people ignore obvious and well known facts like the lack of results from all the negotiations that France, Britain and Germany have already conducted with these madmen. If we communicate with them at all just tell them to stop it or else...We don't have to invade them. Just bomb the crap out of them and blockade them until they are forced to negotiate from a position of weakness. Either that or walk away, leave the entire region to the mad mullahs, say bye-bye to Israel, prepare for Iranian nukes, more terrorist attacks on the U.S., etc. But don't just wring your hands while Iranian bombs kill American soldiers.
#5
D ***ng it, no cutting in line to be first to the gulag = death chambers - don't you know they're exterminating/massacring us for our own good??? *MONTY PYTHON > LIFE OF BRIAN > Jews, etc. already crucified complain that Brian = "Jesus" can't be one of them because he's not kosher/Jewish. CENTURION - "All those that don't want Brian to be crucified like you raise your hands [they can't]" - RRRRIIIIGHHT - its unanimous, Brian you lucky dawg you get to die on the cross.
Prime Minister John Howard has defended his comments about United States presidential candidate Barack Obama's proposed policies. The spat erupted when Democrat Senator Obama said he would like US troops out of Iraq by March 2008. Mr Howard responded by saying that if he ran Al Qaeda, he would put a circle around March next year and pray for Mr Obama to win.
The attack on Senator Obama's plan has upset several US Democrats, including Senator Ron Wyden, who believes Mr Howard is meddling in US politics. "The most charitable thing you can say about Mr Howard's comment is it's bizarre," Senator Wyden said. "You know, we'll make our own judgements in this country with respect to elections and Barack Obama's a terrific public servant."
Labor argues Mr Howard has demeaned the alliance between the two countries, and Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd believes the Prime Minister should apologise. "I think Mr Howard went too far," Mr Rudd told Sky News. "When we're dealing with something as important as the US alliance, Labor and Liberal leaders need to be very careful about what we say because we'll be dealing with an administration of either political persuasion in a year or so's time."
However, Mr Howard says the suggestion he is interfering in US politics is absurd. Howard says he will continue to criticise policies that work against Australia's interests. "This is a world where people should be able to express their views," he said. "I think the Labor Party is wanting to have double standards - it's OK to attack Bush on Iraq because they don't agree with him, but it's not okay for me to attack Senator Obama's position on one aspect of Iraq, because they hold to that view themselves."
Mr Howard has strong support from Liberal backbencher Cameron Thompson, who says the US Senator's plan to withdraw from Iraq is evil.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/12/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[9 views]
Top|| File under:
#3
John Howard is needling the only Black candidate, because he considers it 'safe' to do so. One only need to look at the photo above and 'realize' why he's not pounding the other candidates for pulling out! The race card will be at the top of the deck i'm afraid, this coming year or so.
#4
He's clean and articulate; what more do you want?
Posted by: Joe Biden ||
02/12/2007 1:30 Comments ||
Top||
#5
Howard attacked his major policy plank, namely a date for, presumably, full withdrawl from Iraq. Obama failed to defend that policy and bizzarely advocated sending more troops by Australia.
#6
Phil_b, John Howard is only implying, he would feel a lot better, and so would Al Qaeda if Hilliary wins (The electorate will cause the 'other shoe to drop [from this November's election, ie, the Executive Branch will shift to the Democrats as well]); she would only pull the troops out 'cold turkey' ala Vietnam, shortly after January 22nd 2009! That would mean Al Qaeda would have to erase that calender circle and push it back... Ohhh...11 months!! Will he apologize to the Black man then...HELL NO!
Not only was the victory achieved quickly but the doomsday predictions were not realised: the oil wells were not set on fire; there were not millions of refugees; the dams on the Tigris and the Euphrates were not breached to bring on catastrophic flooding; there was no long drawn-out bloody siege for Baghdad. For all this we are extremely grateful.
The decisive victory of the American-led coalition reflects great credit on the strength and determination of President Bushs leadership. It also has immense implications, not least the momentum it has already begun to generate towards achieving a Middle East peace settlement.
President Bush and his administration are determined to all that they can to advance the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.
AFAIK, President Bush is still attempting to achieve victory in Iraq, four years on. The western delusion that it can bring peace between Israel and the Palestinians continues to be just that. Delusion.
Middle East "Peace", to Islam, involves nothing less than the destruction of Israel. Yet another delusion.
Posted by: Truth Overboard ||
02/12/2007 2:17 Comments ||
Top||
#8
smn, you said at #3 that "John Howard is needling the only Black candidate...One only need to look at the photo above and 'realize' why he's not pounding the other candidates for pulling out". What exactly am I meant to see in the photo? Is there some sign on his face that says "I will take on the black guy, and leave the white guys alone?"
About two hours ago, the Australian parliament debated a censure motion, that was moved by the opposition party against John Howard, for the remarks he made about Obama. The debate included several speakers including Howard and the Defence Minister. They put some of the best arguments I have ever heard as to why Al Quaida will rejoice if Obama wins.
As for race, well, it wasn't mentioned. Why? Because it is irrelevant.
So, smn, if the race card is being played, it is not being played by John Howard, regardless of what you might see in his face.
#9
While the Left still seethes over the "Children Overboard" incident, it saved Australia from the disaster of uncontrolled immigration unlike Europe and the USA.
smn, I don't know why you are raising the race issue. Race isn't a hot-button issue here in Oz.
My 2cW is that I would be amazed if someone called Hussein Obama became US President. However, a black US president in the not too distant future wouldn't surprise me, however it's not going to be Obama.
#10
Bunyip, John Howard's remark remind me of what Arsenio Hall use to say about 'things that make you go hmmmm'! For example, Vicente Fox of Mexico said his people working in America illegally only did jobs even 'Blacks' refuse to do! Why didn't he say 'Americans' or 'Whites' (which there are more poorer there of)Causing "W" to become politically correct on the matter? Unlike Fox, he needs to 'nip this in the bud' quickly, and try to be a more equal opportunity 'mudslinger'...if he's a GOPr at heart!
#11
Phil_b, I agree, Obama has a 'snowball's chance in hell' becoming President, and Mr Howard knows it, so why 'spit the venom'? He's only being 'used' by the 'true power players' to insulate and buffer Hilliary until Fall 07', what I would call a 'sacrificial anode' such as what would be found in a hot water heater! I want to hear John Howard say that Al Qaeda will circle January 22nd 2009, as a day of intense prayer and rejoicing! I don't know, yet, what the ratio of women to men are in Australian politics and office, but I bet It's higher than in America!
#12
Affirmative action can get you a Harvard degree, but it can't get you elected president. Obama's response is a classic - Howard set an ambush and Obama walked right into it.
#13
So let's see... The Clintons send people to Israel to campaign in their elections. I believe Kerry sent someone to Australia to campaign against Howard.
So just why the hell can't Howard make remarks about the candidates in our elections?
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
02/12/2007 5:28 Comments ||
Top||
#14
Affirmative action can get you a Harvard degree, but it can't get you elected president.
#16
Robert Crawford #13; last I recalled, there are about 8 candidates running on the Democratic side of the race, Howard's remarks were not about 'candidates', it was directed straight at Obama!
#19
Look, there are two leading candidates in the Dem polls right now, and ONE of them has set a date certain for total withdrawl from Iraq - and thats Obama. I dont see why Mr Howard has to be burdened to research the position of John Edwards, or Bill Richardson, or anyone else to prove hes not a racist.
Some of us Dems want a President who will restore our relations with our allies. Mr. Obama is not showing himself ideal in that regard, I must say.
Thought he used to spend time posting 'well thought out and reasoned' stuff , if a little odd .. What happened ? Greek army bang him on his head once too often ?
#21
He did originally, MacNails. But then he started fighting with the regulars, as he was unable to reconcile his personal Platonic ideal of America with the reality. It got to the point that any thread on which Aris posted would end up running to 100 comments or more of nastiness. He was banned/unbanned several times, apparently in the hope that he would learn if he had a cooling off period, but to tell the truth even I have finally given up hope that he will outgrow this need to explain to us in detail exactly how stupid we are for not doing this Americanism thing as it ought be done.
#24
Aris can say some interesting things, but he's more than a bit unstable, and I think the monitors are sparing him the public embarrassment of posting his problem all over the internet. When he's calm, however, and at least somewhat rational, he's okay. I mean, I totally disagree with him on most everything, but he's tolerable. My guess is Aris has shown up to fuss and pontificate through the election season.
#26
#3 smn, let me share a fact with you. Most people in the world do not have American hypersensitivity about "Blacks". In fact, to an outsider american preocupations with black/white distinctions are more than a little radiculous.
#27
Howard's comment was about how setting a timetable to surrender is a crappy-ass way to win a war rather than some racial snark. And yeah, he has a dog in this fight, just like anyone who has more than a passing interest in Western civilization and the war on terror
#29
One only need to look at the photo above and 'realize' why he's not pounding the other candidates for pulling out!
Oooh - Mr. Howard's white! He wears glasses! He's a furriner! He ain't a Democrat! He's gotta be a.. a... Racist!! Couldn't be Senator Obama's politically-motivated little war on terror deadline-on-Iraq-statement-thingie now, could it?!!! Oh, noooooooo...... !!!
#33
"So just why the hell can't Howard make remarks about the candidates in our elections?"
Because Republicans were throwing a hissy fit with pretensions of national pride, each and every time a European leader said anything against Bush? Hipocricy alert?
Can you imagine your reactions if an Australian (or European) PM had directed such comments *against* Bush?
Actually we don't need to imagine them, we just need to remember them. Weren't Rantburgers threatening to nuke every nation whose leaders tried to interfere or comment on your elections, I think?
The doublethink inherent would be so amusing if it weren't so sad.
And as for the core of Howard's comments, everyone knows what a great boost the invasion of Iraq was to Al Qaeda and to Tehran both -- both Sunni and Shiite islamofascisms greatly strengthened. This is just a plain fact anymore, not a matter of debate.
Affirmative action can get you a Harvard degree, but it can't get you elected president
Ooh, and you *almost* had me convinced that Obama's race had nothing to do with it.
US presidential hopeful Barack Obama today challenged John Howard to commit another 20,000 Australian troops to Iraq after the Prime Minister attacked the senator's plan to bring American troops home. The US senator accused Mr Howard of "empty rhetoric" in his criticism of his stand.
"I think it's flattering that one of George Bush's allies on the other side of the world started attacking me the day after I announced," Senator Obama said in Iowa. "I would also note that we have close to 140,000 troops in Iraq, and my understanding is Mr Howard has deployed 1400, so if he is ... to fight the good fight in Iraq, I would suggest that he calls up another 20,000 Australians and sends them to Iraq.
"Otherwise it's just a bunch of empty rhetoric."
Ouch, ouch, ouch. Mr. Howard has a mark on his face from that one. Obama can apparently counter-punch.
Mr Howard earlier attacked Senator Obama's plan to withdraw US combat troops from Iraq by March 31, 2008.
He said Senator Obama's pledges on Iraq were good news only for insurgents operating in the war-ravaged country. "I think he's wrong. I think that will just encourage those who want to completely destabilise and destroy Iraq, and create chaos and a victory for the terrorists to hang on and hope for an Obama victory," Mr Howard said on Channel 9. "If I were running al-Qaeda in Iraq, I would put a circle around March 2008 and be praying as many times as possible for a victory not only for Obama but also for the Democrats."
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/12/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[5 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
John Howard, as I ponder about this, doesn't really have a 'dog in this fight' as goes Iraq. As long as he keeps his shoreline tight as 'Dick's Hat Band' and of course strictly monitor the flights in and out, he doesn't have a worry in the world...unless an ICBM or a Nuke lands on Sydney, Ohhhh, that would be the NORKs or China...I stand corrected!
#3
"If I were running al-Qaeda in Iraq, I would put a circle around March 2008 and be praying as many times as possible for a victory not only for Obama but also for the Democrats."
With hindsight, it might have been better for Howard to have prevented AlQ from getting a foothold in Iraq. "Regime Change" was easy; getting the right regime is another thing entirely.
Al-Qaeda wanted the Saddam regime overthrown;
the "Coalition of the Willing" was happy to oblige.
Why Hussein Will Not Give Weapons of Mass Destruction to Al Qaeda Al Qaeda wants the Hussein regime overthrown. There's also good reason to believe they want to incite a U.S. invasion of Iraq to draw new recruits into the Al Qaeda campaign against a so-called "Crusader"-Israeli alliance aimed at conquering the Middle East.
Now we are in the bizarre situation where "regime change" in Iraq was seen as part of democratisation and liberation of the Middle East;
but where a "just peace" between Israel / Palestine is now seen as instrumental in bringing about a peaceful solution in Iraq.
It will matter little whether the Coalition "stays the course" or "cuts and runs". When it is time for Iran (Persia) to invade Israel (Ezekiel 38) they will more than likely take a short cut through Iraq, instead of being polite & going the long way round.
Posted by: Angel in the Whirlwind ||
02/12/2007 5:16 Comments ||
Top||
#4
they will more than likely take a short cut through Iraq, instead of being polite & going the long way round
#5
Challenge PM John Howard indeed. It sickens and disgusts me to listen to one of these people flap their gums about Australians commitment to the GWOT. During WWII Australia lost 30,000 killed in action, 40,000 wounded, and over 20,000 prisoners of war. Mostly just average "Auzzie blokes" like thier US counterparts, answering their nation's call. To add to support against the axis, South Africa lost nearly 9,000 killed, 14,000 wounded. New Zealand suffered 11,625 killed in action, the highest rate of KIA's in the Commonwealth. I can't help be ponder how many bloody mess lines this aspiring young piece of kak has stood in.
"Id like to be seen as an average Australian bloke. I can think of... I can't think of a nobler description of anybody than to be called an average Australian bloke." Prime Minister John Howard
#6
Al Qaeda had been in Iraq for some time by 2003, being trained by Saddam Hussein's specialists in the arts of hijacking, bomb making and running experiments in chemical weaponry -- on dogs mostly, from the evidence -- on one side of the Salman Pak training campus, while Hussein's specialists trained up more Iraqis in these and other esoteric skills on other side.
Honestly, Mr. Angel in the Whirlwind, I'm only a little suburban housewife in the depths of the Midwest and yet I've seen the evidence. How is it that you've managed to keep yourself ignorant?
#12
Al Qaeda had been in Iraq for some time by 2003, being trained by Saddam Hussein's specialists in the arts of hijacking, bomb making and running experiments in chemical weaponry -- on dogs mostly, from the evidence -- on one side of the Salman Pak training campus
Perhaps you'd like to share your evidence with the US Senate.
Posted by: Angel in the Whirlwind ||
02/12/2007 10:54 Comments ||
Top||
#13
John Howard, as I ponder about this, doesn't really have a 'dog in this fight' as goes Iraq.
Apparently, smn, you haven't heard that Australians are fighting - and dying - in both Iraq and Afghanistan. I'd say that gives Australia a "dog in this fight". Barrack Obama's ill-chosen words give aid and comfort to the enemy, just as the US Congress gave aid and comfort to the NVA by refusing to support the South Vietnamese Government, as the US had a treaty committment to do.
Let Obama run for president this election cycle. So far, his words are destroying any hope he has of winning this time, or any other time. The more he talks, the less electable he appears.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
02/12/2007 16:59 Comments ||
Top||
#14
Big Bad George Bush.
Big Bad Republicans.
Wonderful, wonderful Democrats.
Kind and Generous Moslem Brothers.
There.
Now we know what the election season trolls will be saying for the next few months.
Yawn.
Obama has serious self-esteem issues and is so "sensitive" one call only guess how happy the Muzzies would be if he were presidient. Not only that, but he's black, to boot, and more in line with the blacks-as-slaves (history, Sudan, ets.), or blacks-as-our-bitches (Kofi). Besides, he would be a "perfect" replacement as a US public leader--and they'd finally be rid of that pesky Condi Rice slut.
Howard is correct in his assessment. If you give a date certain regarding troop withdrawl, the enemy will merely save their resources and WAIT IT OUT. Duh.
As for Al Queda's involvment/connections in Iraq, please, troll operatives, please research the archives on this site. There's plenty of info on the subject.
WASHINGTON (AP) - A House vote on Iraq this week will be limited to the question of supporting President Bush's troop escalation, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said Sunday. Hoyer's comment drew a vehement objection from House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, who said House Democrats had promised to allow a vote this week on a Republican alternative opposing a cutoff of money for the war. Hoyer, D-Md., said such a vote would occur later.
"Live up to your word," Boehner told Hoyer. Democrats, Boehner said, "won't even let us have a substitute. ... Give us a vote this week."
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/12/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[5 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Republican alternative would be voted on 30 to 45 days from now.
Hmmm last week the US House debated contentious issues such as honoring a collegiate volleyball team and the renaming of a Federal Court House in Duluth. And now that Congress has completed those bits of important legislation one assumes the Democrat leaders recognize they have enough open calendar to have a full debate on U.S. participation in the Iraq war that would include a Republican alternative. It might even give them a chance to fulfill their much-ballyhooed Spirit of Cooperation pledge. Then again, maybe the Democrats have been less then sincere with all their rhetoric about how the midterm elections was a their mandate to have an open debate on the most important issue concerning the American electorate. Gosh Do ya think?
The Associated Press has reported that NYC authorities beefed up patrols and surveillance Thursday at critical points in the city's water system after pipe bombs were found in a portion of the California Aqueduct.
Ian Michaels, a spokesman for the city's Department of Environmental Protection, said that it was strictly a precautionary measure. The DEP protects the citys water system that supplies 8 million residents.
Three pipe bombs were discovered Tuesday near a valve in a portion of the California Aqueduct, which had been partially drained as part of a routine check for submerged objects.
The California Highway Patrol said that if the bombs had been triggered, they could have opened the valve and released water. A bomb unit detonated them in a safe area.
It is not known if the bombs were placed in the aqueduct to intentionally disrupt California's water supplies, but Michaels said New York City wasn't going to take any chances.
Michaels said the added security would be ongoing and thus far, DEP officers hadnt discovered anything suspicious.
New York City has the largest unfiltered surface water supply in the world. According to the DEP's Web site. Every day, some 1.3 billions gallons of water from this vast system is delivered to residents. That is almost a million gallons per minute average flow. I wonder how well protected NYC's valve vaults are.
The New York City Water Supply System includes a watershed of 1,969 sq miles across eight counties north and west of the city.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
02/12/2007 13:45 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[9 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
This makes it sound like the experts don't believe the "fishing dynamite" line they were peddling.
#2
Valve Vaults? Valve Vaults?!?!
We don' need no steenkeeeng Valve Vaults!
Posted by: DanNY ||
02/12/2007 15:24 Comments ||
Top||
#3
More like valve buildings or valve caverns for the size needed for NYC. I have seen some pics of them. They will take more than a New York Minute to close them big boy valves.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
02/12/2007 15:33 Comments ||
Top||
#4
A bigger target is the whole length of the aquaduct that brings the water down from the Catskills.
Lots of nighttime slow flights along that path since, oh, about 9/2001
Posted by: NY observer ||
02/12/2007 17:56 Comments ||
Top||
#6
AP More like valve buildings or valve caverns for the size needed for NYC. I have seen some pics of them. They will take more than a New York Minute to close them big boy valves.
no speed tests eh! crank ever so slo
****
USA, There are thousands of miles of critical water pipelines and aqueducts, many of our sweet water sources are wide open.. streams, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, canals and flumes etc.
And just like our Electric Transmission lines you can't practically protect every mile of pipeline with anything like full robust security.
critical Nodes YES, the whole shootin match NO.
***
way back when dirt was newish, me and my bestus friend at the time named Dave made bombs for the fun it like most boys do at some point.. [yes the way-fun period of life but ever so foolish period too..the Beavis and Butthead stage]
Weeeell.. up in the beautiful coastal range of Caliphornia, thar waz [and still is] this tempting aqueduct with an open section of U shaped metal flume [6' diameter, 1/4 plate] running between the San Andreas Reservoir and the Crystal Springs Reservoir.
Somehow the two of us "spechul genusis" got stuck on, ["brilliant idea"] the concept of actually blowing a hole thru & thru the bottom of that fresh water steel flume.
btw it supplied not only our families needs but tens of thousands of other family's drinking water and household water needs.
yes we bombed it but damn if we weren't dumb lucky enough to fail [thank God], because nothing much in the way of damage came of our efforts. ahhhh
.... bad bad bad RD, bad bad Dave Beavis and Butthead!
Veiled in burqas and armed with bamboo canes, scores of female seminary students have occupied a children's library to protest plans to demolish mosques and madrassas built without permission on government land.
The unusual protest has pitted Pakistan's government against the chief of one of the country's largest Islamic schools, long suspected of militant links. ``The protest is their form of jihad (holy war). They started it on their own, and since we are sharing the same feeling, I have offered them support,'' the chief cleric of the Lal Masjid mosque that runs the seminary, Abdul Rashid Ghazi, told the Associated Press.
Ghazi, an outspoken critic of Pakistan's support of the United States, denied instigating the library protest, although he is the seminary's vice principal. His open support could rally thousands to the cause -- as he has in the past for anti-government and anti-U.S. protests.
Since late January, about 200 female students have been occupying the children's library, which is run by the municipal authority and is sandwiched between the mosque and the sprawling Jamia Hafsa seminary -- which provides a free Islamic education for some 6,500 girls and women. The standoff has highlighted Pakistan's apparent inability to regulate its more than 13,500 seminaries, amid international concerns that a minority of the schools promote extremism and provide militant recruits for the Taliban in neighboring Afghanistan.
The protest at Jamia Hafsa poses a direct challenge to government authority in Islamabad and could spark unrest among the thousands of Islamic students and sympathizers in the city.
Pakistan occasionally has taken extremely tough action on extremist religious schools. The army launched an Oct. 30 airstrike on a madrassa near the Afghan border accused of training suicide bombers, killing more than 80 people. While no military strike is foreseen in the relatively sedate capital, far from the volatile frontier, the protest at Jamia Hafsa poses a direct challenge to government authority in Islamabad and could spark unrest among the thousands of Islamic students and sympathizers in the city.
Shireen Mazari, director-general of a pro-government think tank, said the land dispute posed fundamental questions about the state's ability to uphold the law, and asked why city administrators failed to prevent the illegal construction in the first place.
According to local news reports, more than 84 such mosques and seminaries in Islamabad have been built without permission on state land. Residents say city authorities -- who declined to respond to requests by AP for comment -- already have demolished at least two, prompting protests by Jamia Hafsa students who fear their seminary could be razed next. ``Our Muslim government is acting like this only to please America, and I want to it to wake up now,'' said Uma Aymen, a 22-year-old seminary student involved in the sit-in.
Shireen Mazari, director-general of a pro-government think tank, said the land dispute posed fundamental questions about the state's ability to uphold the law, and asked why city administrators failed to prevent the illegal construction in the first place.
Naeem Iqbal, a spokesman for Islamabad police, said authorities were seeking to resolve the dispute peacefully. Pakistan's religious affairs minister met protesters Wednesday to discuss the standoff, and ``there has been no decision as yet'' to use force, Iqbal said. Expectations that security forces could be planning to break up the protest prompted hundreds of male and female seminary students and local youths to gather around the mosque late Friday, shouting, ``Jihad is our way!'' and ``Allah is Great!'' They pelted security forces with stones, fearing a raid on the library could be imminent.
#3
Shireen Mazari, director-general of a pro-government think tank
Her organization is ISI front.
One of her recent successes was a honeypot operation where one of her young "researchers" bedded the British Military attache to Pakistan and got intel from him.
The Brigadier returned to London in disgrace.
Posted by: john ||
02/12/2007 16:32 Comments ||
Top||
A flurry of panic spread through a shopping centre in Rauf Kiryana Market, Liaquatabad, on Sunday afternoon, when a shopkeeper noticed a bomb near his shop and notified the 15 Police. According to the police, shopkeeper Ansaar Ahmad saw two bottles of body spray placed in front of his shop, wrapped in a shopping bag and connected to a cell phone with four wires. He immediately informed the Bomb Disposal Squad that immediately reached the scene and tackled the situation after disconnecting the phone and the bottles. Upon examination, it was discovered that it was a hoax and not an actual bomb, and it carried soil and glue instead of explosives. It was also found that the SIM inserted in the cell phone was inactive and the phone did not have a battery. The police also seized two papers with the bombs, containing a list of addresses and telephone numbers, which were found to be fake. Liaquatabad Town Police Officer Latif Siddiqui told Daily Times that the sole apparent purpose of this action was creating unnecessary panic among people rather than causing any major damage. This could even be a personal enmity pursued in this way, he observed.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/12/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[4 views]
Top|| File under:
#7
Osama is taking a leaf out of Jesse Jackson's book.
I forget, how many primaries did he win? 22 mos is too long to campaign and speechify without major fuck-ups, even for experienced pols. Obama is a punk, a kid with little-to-no experience, who's been the bright boy and moved ahead at too fast a pace. He'll explode some day soon, and blame it on racism and double-standards (I'll put money on it). Even Hillary will be worn to a angry scowl mounted on tired thankles by the length of the campaign. The smart person would keep raising money, making friends, and staying low til later in the season, letting the others stray farther from the center to appease the fringes
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/12/2007 18:38 Comments ||
Top||
#8
You know, for someone I didn't care for in the first place, I'm really starting to dislike this guy.
#9
IOW, is DEMOLEFT-speak for Dubya = USA are winning or are successful. DEMS > they are not in the WH but at the same time don't trust any or themselves to solve a problem short of appeasing and paying our enemies not to attack us. iFF THE DEMOLEFT KNOW THAT AMER'S ENEMIES ARE NO LONGER INTERESTED IN THE "STATUS QUO", THEN WHAT THEY ARE DOING VIA "RACING TO THE LEFT" IS TO MAKE SURE ITS THE GOP-RIGHT, ETC. THAT GETS WIPED OUT = EXTERMINATED FIRST BEFORE THEY DO, THAT THE LEFT CONTROLS THE POST-AMER HIROSHIMA ANTi-AMER AMER SOCIALIST GUBMINT - you know, PATRIOTISM + COURAGE, the "Race" towards the OWG Socialist "GLOBAL TOGA", i.e. " Since you won't me take credit for your work = work not my own, I'm afraid I'm going to have to help our mutual/commmon enemies kill you + anyone else so that I can survive".
#1
News: Out of respect for the bomb anniversary, commemorative homicide bombs struck either side of a 15-minute pause to commemorate a bomb attack on an important Shia shrine in Samarra one year ago.
The US has presented what it calls "a growing body" of evidence that Iranian weapons were being used against its soldiers. The accusations were made on Sunday as Iran's foreign ministry said the US was complicit in the kidnapping of an Iranian diplomat. A senior US defence official told reporters on Sunday that 170 soldiers had been killed by advanced roadside bombs known as explosively formed penetrators (EFPs). He said the weapons were made in Iran and then smuggled into Iraq.
US officials have previously said that Iran is fanning the violence in Iraq by giving sophisticated bomb-making technology, money and training to Shia groups who are attacking US and British troops. Tehran has denied the charges. In Baghdad, journalists were shown fragments of what the US official said were Iranian-made weapons, including one part of a penetrator and tail fins from 81-mm and 60-mm mortar bombs. The official said: "The weapons had characteristics unique to being manufactured in Iran ... Iran is the only country in the region that produces these weapons."
Posted by: Fred ||
02/12/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[4 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
So when will all Iranians in Iraq be arrested/deported, the Iran-Iraq border be closed, mined, & declared a free-fire zone? Undefended borders has become a key strategy in the WOT, in Iraq and in the USA.
#2
Our evidence is parts of Iranian weapons found in Iraq. We should repay the favor -- let them find some JDAM and ALCM and Tomahawk and Daisy Cutter and MOAB parts in Isfahan, Busheir and other nuke sites and see if they hold a press conference.
Posted by: Tibor ||
02/12/2007 14:46 Comments ||
Top||
(Debka)
It is no wonder that Israeli policy-makers have had little to say to the Palestinian reconciliation accord which Saudi king Abdullah brokered in Mecca last week. Israel was shouldered off the stage as a player in Palestinian politics, as was any hope of moderating the Palestinian anti-Israel war, a breakthrough to peace talks or even a form of long-term coexistence.
Its main outcome was the anointing of Hamas as unconditional king of the Palestinian domain.
This decline in Israels standing as a factor in Middle East politics dates back to the Lebanon War and its outcome last summer. If there are to be any accommodations with Israel, the Mecca accord has relegated them to an uncertain future and entirely on Saudi-Hamas terms.
At Mecca, the Saudi monarch had quite different fish to fry: the replacement of Tehran as Hamas senior financier and backer. To this end, he dictated a reshuffle in both rival Palestinian groups, Hamas and Fatah.
The Damascus-based hard-line Khaled Meshaal, who had signed a pact with Tehran, was demoted, as was the second signatory of the Palestinian reconciliation package, the moderate, pro-Western Mahmoud Abbas. Raised in their place was prime minister Ismail Haniyeh, leader of Hamas political wing. Abbas ally, Gaza Strip Fatah commander Muhammad Dahlan, can expect a senior post in the Hamas-led government. Another winner is his business partner, the Palestinian-Kurdish tycoon Muhammad Rashid, who has turned his coat at least twice in two weeks while jostling to regain the influence he enjoyed behind the shoulder of the late Yasser Arafat who died in 2004.
DEBKAfiles Middle East sources disclose that Ismail Haniyas rise to the top of the Hamas tree was plotted during his visit to Riyadh in the second half of January. His audience with the king went on then for three hours, an unusual length for Abdullahs conversations with foreign leaders.
It sufficed for a secret deal to be concluded laying down the elements of cooperation between the Saudi government and Hamas political leaders in Gaza and effacing the effects of the US-led international boycott of the Hamas-ruled Palestinian government. Whereas Washington has so far not commented on this process, Abdullah has used it as a fulcrum for a fresh Saudi Middle East policy initiative.
The Saudi king and the Hamas prime minister agreed on a six-point plan for subsequent incorporation as the core of the Mecca accord:
1. A shared interest in weakening Israel and active collaboration to achieve this goal;
2. This collaboration is based on personal trust between Abdullah and Haniyeh. As middlemen, they appointed Saudi intelligence chief Prince Moqrin bin Abdulaziz and the Palestinian Muhammed Rashid;
DEBKAfiles Middle East sources report the Saudi monarch sent his private plane to Libya Tuesday, Feb. 7, to fly Rashid first to Medina then to Mecca as his unofficial royal envoy to the Palestinian summit. Rashids role in obtaining the signed accord was crucial, elevating to him to a high albeit unofficial position of influence in the Saudi royal court and in Palestinian affairs;
3. The Saudi throne endorsed Ismail Hanya as Palestinian prime minister on condition that he introduced members of the Fatah young guard, led by Dahlan, to key government positions. This group of factions, which includes the suicidal al Aqsa Suicide Brigades, aspires to take Fatah over from the veteran leaders including Mahmoud Abbas;
4. King Abdullah personally guaranteed full Saudi diplomatic, military and financial support for the Hamas-led Palestinian government;
5. Hamas government members would not be required to recognize Israel or previous peace agreements. No mention was made of violence against Israel or the renunciation thereof;
6. The most pressing goal in Riyadhs sights was Haniyehs personal guarantee to scale down in stages the Iranian and Hizballah presence in Hamas ranks with a view to banishing both from the Gaza Strip. Prince Moqrin is in charge of the quiet understandings accompanying this point of agreement, which also contains a Saudi pledge to take the place of Shiite Tehran and Hizballah by paying for all the weapons and military instructors the Palestinian group needs.
Riyadh thus reverted to its original role as the founder and banker of Hamas, which the Saudis created in the 80s as a Sunni counterweight to the Shiite Hizballah.
It is not at all sure that Haniyeh will be capable of living up to his six-point deal with the Saudi king or whether Meshaal will let him. Haniyeh leads Hamas political wing, but Meshaal, who was shunted aside in Mecca, is the master of the military wing.
He is capable of ordering Hamas gunmen to challenge Haniyeh and thwart the deals execution. This would set off a fresh round of Palestinian factional warfare, which Meshaal and Abbas solemnly vowed in Mecca to halt.
Over the weekend, a delegation of Hamas military chiefs arrived in Gaza from Damascus - presumably to arrest the decline of Meshaals standing in Gaza as a result of the newly-reshuffled Palestinian leadership, although this is not confirmed.
No reaction has been forthcoming from Washington to the foursquare financial, military and intelligence backing Saudi Arabia has granted the extremist, jihadist Hamas, with no strings attached.
The heads of Israels government have clearly not yet digested the fact that an Arab power which its policy-makers had counted on as a moderating, pro-Western Arab force had proved to be the opposite of this.
Foreign minister Tzipi Livni appealed in Munich to European leaders not to be in a hurry to accept the Mecca Accord. She ducked the real issues: Saudi Arabia having show its real spots and the continuing passivity of the Bush administration, although Washington had enough leverage in Riyadh to hold the Saudis back from supping with Hamas. This makes a great deal of sense from the Saudi point of view. It would displace Iran, Syria and Hizbollah from the Paleo territories entirely, relegating Shiite influence to Lebanon and Syria. The US is probably quiet precisely because we see considerable advantage to be gained by both us and Israel in shouldering Iran back.
#1
with all due respect, bullshit. It merely becomes a bidding war for patron status. What genius thinks that's a winner? Especially with such an uncontrollable mob scene as the Paleos?
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/12/2007 21:59 Comments ||
Top||
"The Arab, Muslim, Palestinian side has accepted" the idea of negotiating a two-state solution with Israel, but was awaiting an affirmative response from Israelis and world Jewry, Sheikh Abdullah Nemer Darweesh, the founder of the Islamic Movement in Israel, told participants of the Global Forum for Combatting Anti-Semitism on Sunday evening. "I am a soldier, and hopefully the lead soldier, in the war against anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in the region," he declared, adding that "you have nothing to fear from the one-and-a-half billion Muslims [who think as I do]."
As proof, Darweesh gave the example of the Saudi initiative at the 2002 Beirut Arab Summit, noting that it not only included a call for recognition of Israel, but "full normalization of relations, something that amazed me."
However, he said, the Muslim world "didn't hear a 'yes' from Israel, and not even a 'y.'"
Asked to relate to the recent angry opposition of many Muslim groups, including the Northern Branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel and leaders in the region, to the repair work along the ramp leading up to the Temple Mount, Darweesh said that consultations should be held among the "Jerusalem Five," the leaders of Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority and Israel, before changes are made to the status quo. "Believe me," he added, "nobody questions the Jewish right to Jewish holy places."
Asked by The Jerusalem Post regarding statements made by some Palestinian leaders questioning exactly that right - including former PA Chairman Yasser Arafat's comment at the Camp David Summit in 2000 that the Jewish Temple never stood in Jerusalem - Darweesh replied that "the Arabs will say 'yes' when they hear your 'yes.'"
Pressed to respond to accusations by Islamic Movement leader Raed Salah's claims that the digging was causing "damage to the sanctity of the Aksa Mosque," he said he would not come out against Raed Salah. "You have no sovereignty there. It belongs to the Wakf," he told the Post. Not even in the Temple Mount plaza? "Not even there," he said flatly.
"It's true he doesn't recognize Jewish sovereignty in the Old City of Jerusalem," MK Michael Melchior (Labor-Meimad), who invited Darweesh to speak to the Forum, commented to the Post. "That's precisely the disagreement between us, and it's legitimate."
This article starring:
RAED SALAH
Islamic Movement in Israel
SHEIKH ABDULLAH NEMER DARWISH
Islamic Movement in Israel
Posted by: Fred ||
02/12/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[4 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Two states: West Palestine and East Palestine. Israel is not one of the states under consideration. At least, not in Arabic.
Israel is considering building a nuclear power station, an official of the country's atomic energy commission confirmed Sunday. The official, Uri Bin-Nun, said the head of the Israeli Atomic Energy commission told him that the idea was under consideration - the first time the commission has said that. Nili Lishitz, spokeswoman for the Israeli Atomic Energy Commission, said the idea of building a nuclear power station is not new. "In light of Israel's energy needs it is only natural that we showed interest," she told The Associated Press. "Right now it is just in the planning stage."
Posted by: Fred ||
02/12/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[5 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
See, the joooooooos can have nukes, so why not us?
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
02/12/2007 10:28 Comments ||
Top||
#3
The precedent of the US-Indian nuclear agreement should be relevant here.
Israel builds the nuke power plant, importing the reactor components, importing the enriched uranium fuel, all under IAEA safeguards. If the seller wishes, the spent fuel can be shipped out, rather than reprocessed in Israel itself.
IAEA inspectors make sure the fuel is not diverted to a military program.
Dimona, site of the weapons grade Plutonium production reactor remains strictly off limits to the IAEA. Inspectors may not enter there.
Posted by: john ||
02/12/2007 15:07 Comments ||
Top||
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Sunday during a discussion on the future of the controversial Mughrabi Gate excavation that "Khaled Mashaal and Raed Salah won't tell us what to do 20 meters from the Western Wall," Army Radio reported.
At the meeting, during which all but three government ministers approved a resolution to continue the construction near the Temple Mount, Olmert added that Salah was operating based on a vision that Israel would cease to be Jewish and democratic. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni emphasized that there was no reason to halt the construction because of provocateurs from inside and outside who were seeking to fan the flames of the controversy.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/12/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[5 views]
Top|| File under:
Far-right-wing activist Itamar Ben-Gvir sent a letter to Attorney-General Menahem Mazuz on Sunday requesting that he declare the Islamic Movement illegal. According to Ben-Gvir, "if they made the Kahanist movement illegal, they must operate in the same way with the Islamic Movement." The Islamic Movement, which refuses to recognize Israel, has been particularly vocal in calling for jihad over the current excavations near the Temple Mount.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/12/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[5 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Sounds good to me. Why have something that calls for the death of you, your family and all your kin legal?
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert yesterday adopted a wait-and-see strategy on the Palestinian unity government deal reached in Mecca last week, while Cabinet vowed to continue construction at the Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied Jerusalem.
In Amman, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said Israel had no choice but to accept the new government. This is a Palestinian issue and an Arab issue and it is up to the Israelis to deal with the fait accompli, Abbas said before meeting Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit. Bakhit was briefed by Abbas on the Mecca agreement, under which, he said, a Palestinian unity government should be formed as soon as possible, paving the way for the resumption of the peace process, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
Israel neither rejects nor accepts the agreements, Olmert said during the Israeli Cabinets weekly meeting. At this stage, we, like the international community are learning what was exactly accomplished and what was said.
Israeli officials said the Mecca agreement would not affect a scheduled summit between Olmert, Abbas and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, set for February 19. Olmert reiterated Israeli demands that any new Palestinian government accept the three conditions set by the Quartet of Middle East peace mediators for ending the economic sanctions imposed on the Palestinian Authority after Hamas formed a government. At the end of the meeting in Mecca, as far as we are concerned, there was no Palestinian announcement that included an agreement on the three principles, an Israeli official quoted Olmert as telling his Cabinet.
The cautious line was an echo of that adopted by Washington. The Mecca agreement made no explicit mention of any formal Hamas recognition of Israel and spoke of respect for previously signed agreements rather than adherence, wording that the US and Israel has previously rejected. But Israel and the US may face significant opposition if they should decide to continue the freeze on funding to the Palestinian Authority. Arab and Muslim countries have all welcomed the Mecca agreement and one Quartet member, Russia, has already urged that the freeze be lifted.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/12/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[4 views]
Top|| File under:
Iran said on Sunday that it had built suicide drones capable of attacking United States naval ships and forcing them to leave Gulf waters, a day after international media reported that Washington had begun preparing for an air attack on Iranian nuclear sites. The semi-official news agency Mehr quoted deputy commander of the Guards land forces, Ali Shoushtari, as saying: We have built birds without passengers (drones) that can carry out suicide operations on the US Navy, at any depth if necessary, to make them leave the region in disgrace.
Warning of a defeat for the enemy, he went on to say that Americans know that if they confront the Islamic system, they will not be secure in the region or at home. Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had on Thursday vowed to hit back at US interests worldwide if Washington attacked the Islamic republic.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/12/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[7 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
they will not be secure in the region or at home.
The latter is probably true, with the fifth-column activity.
#7
Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had on Thursday vowed to hit back at US interests worldwide if Washington attacked the Islamic republic.
Of course, if one of the first things we take out is your sorry ass, Mr Ayatollah, then you won't be in a position to give too many orders, because those 72 babes will have you quite occupied...
#8
This dance and song from Iran is getting tiresome. If they have the firepower and the will, I say, bring it on, otherwise STFU. Reminds me of my neighbor's useless French Poodle: yap, yap, yap, day in, day out. and all he gets out of it is a steamy pile of french poodle sh!t.
when the missiles fly, wake me up.
Lebanon's defense minister said on Friday that a truckload of ammunition belonging to the Hizbullah seized the previous day in an east Beirut suburb, would be used by the Lebanese army in case of future Israeli attacks. Defense Minister Elias Murr said the ammunitions would not be returned to the Hizbullah as the militants demanded after the seizure Thursday. "The truck and the weapons are now in the south ... and we will use them tomorrow morning if there is an Israeli violation," Murr said after talks with the new commander of the UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, Major-General Claudio Graziano of Italy.
Murr's comments are likely to add to tensions in the ongoing power struggle between the US-backed government in Beirut and the Hizbullah-led opposition seeking to topple it. Hizbullah had acknowledged the ammunition belonged to the guerrilla group and demanded the government immediately release the shipment. It urged the government to abide by its own policy, proclaimed in 2005, to support the "resistance" in the south.
In a televised interview late Thursday, Murr criticized Hizbullah's statement, saying he would have liked to see the group offer the shipment to the Lebanese army, which on Wednesday engaged in a shootout with Israeli troops on the tense Israel-Lebanon-border.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/12/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[8 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
'...used by the Lebanese army in case of future Israeli attacks. "
BUT, will they be used in case of future Hizbullah attacks?
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.
Taliban fighters are continuing to reinforce a key southern town against an expected NATO offensive more than a week after taking it over, ending a controversial four-month truce. More than 1,500 villagers have fled the town of 
Egyptian authorities have arrested dozens of Muslim Brotherhood members following protests the day before over Israel's renovation work near Islam's third-holiest shrine. An interior ministry official said 38 members of the group were arrested in Cairo on Friday on allegations that they attacked security forces and threw bricks at them. Two other Brotherhood members were also arrested for allegedly being involved in skirmishes with the police in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity. 
Leaders of Sunni Arab states are embarking on a military spending spree in an attempt to contain the growing threat from Iran. Alarmed by the progress of Iran's nuclear programme and the prospect of a military clash between its Shia regime and the United States, Gulf leaders intend to use billions of dollars of oil revenue to purchase a huge array of military hardware.
In a weeks time, the Chinese world will celebrate the New Year under the zodiac sign of the Pig. But for the Year of the Pig, the Chinese government has banned all adverts showing this animal. Beijing is hoping to gain kudos from Islamic states for its sensitivity and respect for their religious convictions even if it continues repressing the Muslim minority, especially in Xinjiang. 
Six-party talks aimed at dismantling North Korea's nuclear weapons programme have stalled again in Beijing, leaving one more day for negotiators to reach a deal. Envoys from North and South Korea, the US, Russia, Japan and China failed to reach agreement on Sunday on Pyongyang's demands for a huge transfer of energy aid. The six nations have agreed on most of a plan that would oblige Pyongyang to close nuclear facilities in return for economic and security assurances. 
The archbishop of Paris and head of the Roman Catholic Church in France, Andre Vingt-Trois, said that France was doomed to a "pandemic of anti-Semitism" during a visit to Israel. "France is doomed to a pandemic of anti-Semitism," he told a news conference in Tel Aviv with Israeli Tourism Minister Isaac Herzog after arriving on his first visit to the Holy Land. 
Prime Minister 
US presidential hopeful Barack Obama today challenged John Howard to commit another 20,000 Australian troops to Iraq after the Prime Minister attacked the senator's plan to bring American troops home. The US senator accused Mr Howard of "empty rhetoric" in his criticism of his stand.
WASHINGTON (AP) - A House vote on Iraq this week will be limited to the question of supporting President Bush's troop escalation, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said Sunday. Hoyer's comment drew a vehement objection from House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, who said House Democrats had promised to allow a vote this week on a Republican alternative opposing a cutoff of money for the war. Hoyer, D-Md., said such a vote would occur later.
Israel is considering building a nuclear power station, an official of the country's atomic energy commission confirmed Sunday. The official, Uri Bin-Nun, said the head of the Israeli Atomic Energy commission told him that the idea was under consideration - the first time the commission has said that. Nili Lishitz, spokeswoman for the Israeli Atomic Energy Commission, said the idea of building a nuclear power station is not new. "In light of Israel's energy needs it is only natural that we showed interest," she told The Associated Press. "Right now it is just in the planning stage."
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert yesterday adopted a wait-and-see strategy on the Palestinian unity government deal reached in Mecca last week, while Cabinet vowed to continue construction at the Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied Jerusalem.
Iran said on Sunday that it had built suicide drones capable of attacking United States naval ships and forcing them to leave Gulf waters, a day after international media reported that Washington had begun preparing for an air attack on Iranian nuclear sites. The semi-official news agency Mehr quoted deputy commander of the Guards land forces, Ali Shoushtari, as saying: We have built birds without passengers (drones) that can carry out suicide operations on the US Navy, at any depth if necessary, to make them leave the region in disgrace. 
Lebanon's defense minister said on Friday that a truckload of ammunition belonging to the Hizbullah seized the previous day in an east Beirut suburb, would be used by the Lebanese army in case of future Israeli attacks. Defense Minister Elias Murr said the ammunitions would not be returned to the Hizbullah as the militants demanded after the seizure Thursday. "The truck and the weapons are now in the south ... and we will use them tomorrow morning if there is an Israeli violation," Murr said after talks with the new commander of the UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, Major-General Claudio Graziano of Italy. 
