Robert Conquest, the Anglo-American historian famous for his writings on the Soviet Union, died at the age of 98 on Monday in Palo Alto, California.
The Telegraph writes in his obituary:
An ardent Bolshevik as a young man, Conquest became a bitter foe of Soviet “Socialism.” He had first visited Russia in 1937 as a youthful devotee of the great experiment. It was a half century before he returned in 1989, having spent his life between chronicling the horrors the country had endured, and emerging, in the view of the Oxford historian Mark Almond, as “one of the few Western heroes of the collapse of Soviet Communism.”
Most notable of Conquest’s works was The Great Terror, which was the first detailed account to chronicle the horrors of Joseph Stalin’s rule in the Soviet Union between 1937 to 1939. According to his estimates–which were eventually deemed high but relatively accurate–20 million people died under Stalin’s rule due to famine, Soviet labor camps and executions.
Conquest’s work won him appreciation from world leaders like Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, who even consulted with Conquest regarding how to deal with Soviet Russia.
[DAWN] The family of former Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar agreed on Tuesday to accept the decision of the krazed killer group's dispute resolution council on succession issues, a council member said, as the group tries to extinguish a leadership dispute that has exposed growing internal divisions.
Members of Mullah Omar ... a minor Pashtun commander in the war against the Soviets who made good as leader of the Taliban. As ruler of Afghanistan, he took the title Leader of the Faithful. The imposition of Pashtunkhwa on the nation institutionalized ignorance and brutality in a country already notable for its own fair share of ignorance and brutality... 's family have rejected the appointment of the new leader, his deputy Mullah Akhtar Mansoor, demanding a new and wider vote.
The Taliban have issued a series of statements aimed at deflecting the dissent and their front man has denied that a new vote would be held.
On Tuesday, about 200 high-ranking Taliban members and commanders met in Quetta with Mullah Omar's brother Mullah Abdul Manan and son Mullah Yaqub, said Mullah Hameedullah, a member of the Taliban's unity council, which effectively functions as a dispute resolution committee.
"We discussed the problems of both sides and in the end Mullah Omar's family gave authority to the Unity Shura that whatever decision they take they will agree to it and accept it," Mullah Hameedullah told The News Agency that Dare Not be Named. He said the council would next meet with Mullah Mansoor.
Mullah Yaqub confirmed he had attended the meeting but gave no further details.
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08/05/2015 00:00 ||
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[Tolo News] The acting governor of northern Balkh province, Atta Mohammad Noor on Tuesday warned of a split among the Taliban after confirmation of Mullah Omar ... a minor Pashtun commander in the war against the Soviets who made good as leader of the Taliban. As ruler of Afghanistan, he took the title Leader of the Faithful. The imposition of Pashtunkhwa on the nation institutionalized ignorance and brutality in a country already notable for its own fair share of ignorance and brutality... 's death.
Noor's comment amid reports of rising tension among the Taliban over the appointing of Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour as the new leader of the group.
The crisis in the Taliban leadership emerged after Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour was appointed as the group's new leader.
"Defeating the Taliban is a very real possibility right now and this is the right moment to fight the Taliban," Atta Mohammad Noor said in an interview with the News Agency that Dare Not be Named.
He emphasized that the death of Mullah Omar is a perfect opportunity for the Afghan government to push the grinding of the peace processor.
He says that Kabul ...the capital of Afghanistan. Home to continuous fighting from 1992 to 1996 between the forces of would-be strongman and Pak ISI/Jamaat-e-Islami sock puppet Gulbuddin Hekmayar and the Northern Alliance, a period which won Hek the title Most Evil Man in the World and didn't do much for the reputations of the Northern Alliance guys either.... should "take control of the grinding of the peace processor" and urged the government to act quickly and call on neighboring countries, as well as the United States, Britannia and the European Union ...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing... , to push the peace talks process forward.
Pakistain hosted the first round of the peace talks with the Afghan government officials and the Taliban in early July, and holds the key to the grinding of the peace processor, Noor said.
"They [Pak officials] can bring the Taliban to the table," Noor said. "Their influence has been proven beyond doubt."
A number of analysts were however optimist that the Afghan government should use the Taliban's current problems to the country's benefit.
"The government of Afghanistan must have a good use of this opportunity because most of the Taliban members who are not part of this project are in a state of suspicion and in this situation, we can make good hunts," former deputy at the Ministry of Interior, Mirza Mohammad Yarmand said.
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08/05/2015 00:00 ||
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[Tolo News] First Vice-President Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum ...ethnic Uzbek warlord who distinguished himself fighting the Soviets and the Taliban. The story that he had a bad guy run over with a tank is an exaggeration. It was an armored personnel carrier... on Tuesday said the Taliban and other bad boy groups have sold out and are puppets to foreigners.
Like the ISI? But the Taliban have always been responsive to the desires of the ISI.
He also reiterated his previous statement that if gunnies fight security forces they will be eliminated.
Dostum, who is currently visiting battle-weary Faryab, drove home the fact that unless the Taliban drops their weapons, they will be taken down by the security forces.
"Let me tell you one thing that they [Taliban] cannot confront us," Dostum said, warning that "if they try to confront us, I will hit them wearing my suite and tie."
Talking about Mullah Omar ... a minor Pashtun commander in the war against the Soviets who made good as leader of the Taliban. As ruler of Afghanistan, he took the title Leader of the Faithful. The imposition of Pashtunkhwa on the nation institutionalized ignorance and brutality in a country already notable for its own fair share of ignorance and brutality... 's death he stated that he has known for a year that the late Taliban leader was dead. He said the world knows who is killing Taliban leaders.
He went on to say that the continuation of the war in Afghanistan following Mullah Omar's death is confirmation that the war is led by others. 'Others'.... which cannot be named due to existing agreements and political intrigues. All further confirmed by the failed reporting of his [Mullah Akhtar Mansour's] demise for two solid years by those in the know. Meanwhile in reaction to the Taliban's new leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour's recent remarks, where he called for Jihad against the Afghan government and security forces, Dostum said Jihad must be led against the Taliban - not the government and security forces.
"I am telling Mullah Mansour that 'Jihad is not obligatory on you but it is obligatory on us; it is obligatory on the Islamic Theocratic Republic of Afghanistan because you are coming from out of the country but our security forces inside the country are defending our territorial integrity, our national illusory sovereignty and the elected government of national unity," Dostum added.
In addition he said anti-government armed oppositions were fleeing Faryab.
Dostum however praised the Afghan special forces in Faryab for their commitment to fighting insurgency in a bid to restore peace.
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08/05/2015 00:00 ||
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[Tolo News] A number of civil society groups on Tuesday asked the government to arrest and try the individuals who mourned Mullah Omar ... a minor Pashtun commander in the war against the Soviets who made good as leader of the Taliban. As ruler of Afghanistan, he took the title Leader of the Faithful. The imposition of Pashtunkhwa on the nation institutionalized ignorance and brutality in a country already notable for its own fair share of ignorance and brutality... 's death in Kabul ...the capital of Afghanistan. Home to continuous fighting from 1992 to 1996 between the forces of would-be strongman and Pak ISI/Jamaat-e-Islami sock puppet Gulbuddin Hekmayar and the Northern Alliance, a period which won Hek the title Most Evil Man in the World and didn't do much for the reputations of the Northern Alliance guys either.... last week.
The groups said that holding mourning ceremonies for Mullah Omar, the late former Taliban supreme commander, is akin to supporting the Taliban insurgency and ignoring the thousands of innocent Afghans who have died at their hands.
Last week, following the Taliban's acknowledgment of the death of their leader, a number of High Peace Council members, Ulema Council members, and Islamic Revolution Movement party leaders publicly mourned the passing of Mullah Omar in the capital. Civil society leaders have claimed the showing is evidence of Taliban sympathizers within the government.
"This is an indifference to the blood of thousands of deaders, direct enmity with the people of Afghanistan and the presence of a fifth pillar of enemies within the system," civil society activist Abdullah Ahmadi said on Monday.
"The government needs to bring the organizers of these events to justice," activist Naeem Nazari said.
Even some former Taliban members have raised questions about the overt showings of support for the man who led the group.
The Afghan cops have been ordered to prevent any kind of gathering expressing sympathy for Mullah Omar.
Meanwhile, ...back at the chili cook-off, Chuck reached for the green sauce... five Taliban members were killed on Monday when a gun fight broke out at a mosque in Ghazni province where over 3,000 people had gathered to mourn the death of the Omar, local officials reported.
Allegedly most of the attendees of the event were forced to be there, and Taliban Death Eaters collected money from residents to cover the costs of the ceremony. The event was held in the Qarabaghi area -- 15 kms from Ghazni city.
The Interior Ministry has denounced the mourning events and emphasized the Omar was responsible for untold bloodshed and crimes in Afghanistan, both during the Taliban's brutal reign and after his government was deposed.
It is believed that Taliban capos wanted to use the Ghazni event as an opportunity to speak out against the Afghan government but security forces were deployed to prevent that from happening.
While trying to break up the ceremony, Taliban Death Eaters opened fire on security forces and a gun fight ensued. Five Taliban members were killed and more than 10 injured. Other Death Eaters, including their commanders who were present, then fled the area, officials said.
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08/05/2015 00:00 ||
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[IRISHTIMES] A video appearing to show Saadi Gadafy, son of Libya's late dictator Muammar, being abused in jail has been condemned by lawyers and rights groups.
The nine-minute video appears to show Saadi (42) in a green tracksuit, being hooked up to an improvised rack, apparently while in jug at Tripoli ...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn... 's maximum security al-Hadba prison. Segments show him sitting blindfolded and forced to listen to screams of other detainees being beaten in an adjacent room.
"It raises serious concerns about the methods used to interrogate al-Saadi Qadaffy and other detainees at al-Hadba prison," said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director of Human Rights Watch ... During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, HRW received a pledge from the Foundation to Promote Open Society, of which George Soros is Chairman, for general support totaling $100,000,000. The grant is being paid in installments of $10,000,000 over ten years.Through June 30, 2013, HRW had received $30,000,000 towards the fulfillment of the pledge.... . "The Tripoli authorities need to urgently establish exactly what did occur."
The video's release, by Arabic network Clear News, has alarmed lawyers worried about the treatment of other detainees at al-Hadba, where former Gadfy-era officials are held.
"This is a shocking video that raises questions about conditions inside the prison," said Karim Khan QC, London-based lawyer for Libya's former prime minister al-Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi, also at al-Hadba. "The international community needs to demand a full investigation."
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08/05/2015 00:00 ||
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#1
Yeah, well - I'm sure you guys will use it during the next fundraising sessions.
[AlAhram] The main suspect in a deadly attack on a Kuwaiti Shiite mosque in June confessed in court on Tuesday to being in the jihadist Islamic State ...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems.... group.
Abdulrahman Sabah Saud told the first hearing of the trial of 22 men and seven women that he joined IS just a day before the June 26 suicide kaboom that killed 26 people and maimed hundreds.
It was the worst ever attack in the oil-rich Gulf emirate.
Although the public prosecution has not released the official charge sheets, a number of defendants are charged with being in a proscribed group and taking part in the bombing.
Most are also accused of assisting those behind the attack.
Saud, who drove Saudi bomber Fahad al-Qaba'a to the mosque in Kuwait City, was jugged Maw! They're comin' to get me, Maw! two days after the blast in a hideout owned by two other suspects.
Saud also confessed to transporting an icebox containing the explosives belt used in the attack from near the border with Soddy Arabia ...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face... .
The icebox was delivered by two Saudi brothers who are now in jug in Saudi Arabia along with a third brother who was arrested in Kuwait.
Tuesday's hearing was held under tight security, with everyone checked before being allowed into the courtroom.
Five defendants are still on the lam and being tried in absentia.
The seven women present, wearing black abayas and face covers, were allowed to sit with female police guarding them while the male defendants were placed in a metal cage.
Only Saud admitted being in IS: all of the others denied involvement in the bombing or with the jihadist group.
Thamer al-Jadaei, the lawyer for Jarrah Nimer, owner of the car used in the attack, said his client gave the vehicle to Saud to transport charity meals for breaking the fast during the Moslem holy fasting month of Ramadan.
Jadaei also told the court that all members of Nimer's family are Shiites since he is himself a convert.
The women defendants include the wives of both Saud and Nimer.
Those charged are seven Kuwaitis, five Saudis, three Paks, 13 stateless people known as bidoons and another person on the lam whose identity is unknown.
An IS-affiliated group calling itself Najd Province claimed the bombing and also said it carried out suicide kabooms at two Shiite mosques in Saudi Arabia in May.
The myrmidon Sunni IS considers Shiites to be heretics and has targeted them across the region.
The next hearing in the case was set for Thursday.
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08/05/2015 00:00 ||
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[WSJ] Blocked from selling Yemen’s oil, the Houthi-led government has slipped into a financial crisis after four months of conflict with a Saudi-led military coalition.
Remember, my dears, schadenfreude is an ugly emotion, however much the object might truly deserve it.
Posted by: Fred ||
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The question was asked the other day, how is Egypt involved with the situation in Yemen? Here is the answer.
[AlAhram] Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi issued a presidential decree on Monday to extend the deployment of Egypt's armed force units participating in the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen ...an area of the Arabian Peninsula sometimes mistaken for a country. It is populated by more antagonistic tribes and factions than you can keep track of. Except for a tiny handfull of Jews everthing there is very Islamic... for at least another six months or until the end of operations.
According to the decree that was published in the Official Gazette, the Egyptian armed forces will continue their operations to protect Egypt and the Arab world's security in the Arabian Gulf area, the Red Sea and the Bab El-Mandab strait.
The presidential decree comes after the decision by the government on Saturday to extend the deployment of soldiers participating in the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen for another six months.
Egypt has been a part of the Saudi-led coalition against the Iranian backed Houthi ...a Zaidi Shia insurgent group operating in Yemen. They have also been referred to as the Believing Youth. Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi is said to be the spiritual leader of the group and most of the military leaders are his relatives. The Yemeni government has accused the Houthis of having ties to the Iranian government, which wouldn't suprise most of us. The group has managed to gain control over all of Saada Governorate and parts of Amran, Al Jawf and Hajjah Governorates. Its slogan is God is Great, Death to America™, Death to Israel, a curse on the Jews ... rebels in Yemen since March with units participating predominately from the Egyptian navy and air force.
#1
As per the so-called "CALAIS/CHUNNEL CRISIS", the GOOD NEWS is that some of those Muslims trying to illegally enter the UK would rather stay in France.
* THE "BAD NEWS" = TOM CRUISE'S "EDGE OF TOMORROW" FLICK, as indirect symbol of a future Europe conquered by the Hard Boyz, + where a massive US-Allied led counter-invasion agz same fails utterly at the beaches.
AGAIN, AS PER GOD + 1960'S-1970'S GUAM TAOTAMONAS + MADONNA, IFF THE OWG GLOBIES MISCALCULATE ...
> "GUAM WILL CAPSIZE".
> EUROPE WILL FALL TO RADICAL ISLAM = NUCLEAR ISLAM.
[DAWN] The Pakistain Rangers, Sindh, have approached Muttahida Qaumi Movement ...English: United National Movement, generally known as MQM, is the 3rd largest political party and the largest secular political party in Pakistain with particular strength in Sindh. From 1992 to 1999, the MQM was the target of the Pak Army's Operation Cleanup leaving thousands of urdu speaking civilians dead... (MQM) leader Dr Farooq Sattar to get the custody of more than 180 suspects of assassinations allegedly associated with the party's 'militant wing' and involved in the murder of coppers who took part in the 1990s Bloody Karachi ...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous... operation, it emerged on Tuesday.
A letter sent by the Rangers carried the names of 187 assassination suspects nominated in dozens of FIRs registered against them for killing coppers.
Copies of the letter were also sent to Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, the inspector general of police and the home secretary.
In the letter, the Pakistain Rangers stated: "During the period of early 1990s, the operation of law-enforcement agencies were undertaken to apprehend the criminals involved in violence.
"The police officials who took part in the operation were later targeted and killed. It has been learnt that 187 individuals of the murderous Moslem wing of the MQM were nominated in the FIRs of those killed police officials."
The letter also recalled Karachi's violent history, calling it victim of politico-ethnic violence in the past. The Rangers said the precarious law and order situation was not a new phenomenon for the metropolis.
"Please hand over the nominated suspects to the Pakistain Rangers, Sindh, in order to [facilitate the] investigation of murder of police officials," said the letter without explaining the reasons for making such a request to the party leader for their arrest instead of making their arrest by exercising the powers the Rangers have been enjoying for the past several months.
Attached with the letter is the list carrying the names of the suspects and the details of assassination cases they were wanted in. Some of the suspects, according to the Rangers list, are wanted in four cases of coppers's assassination.
There is no word from the MQM over the Pakistain Rangers, Sindh, letter. Senior MQM leader Dr Sattar denied having received any such document from the paramilitary force.
Talking in a private news channel talk show, member of the national assembly Dr Sattar said he was not even aware of any such communication between the two sides in recent days.
Rangers warn of 'faceless myrmidons in garb of political parties'
The Pakistain Rangers, Sindh, on Tuesday warned that some "militant wings in the garb of political parties were hatching conspiracies against the ongoing Karachi operation" and asked the people of Karachi not to pay heed to any 'rumours' against law enforcement agencies.
In a statement the paramilitary force's front man also asked the people to inform the Pakistain Rangers and advised the media to avoid broadcasting unconfirmed reports.
"Certain unscrupulous elements, under the garb of political parties running their murderous Moslem wings in a desperate attempt have launched a campaign to malign the Karachi operation," said the brief statement without mentioning these 'elements' and their move which forced the Rangers to issue such a statement.
"These attempts are meant to create restlessness among the citizens. The people and media are requested not to pay heed to rumours against law enforcement agencies which are busy bringing peace and normality to the city. The people are appealed to immediately contact Sindh Rangers via toll free number 1101 in case of any unusual development in their respective areas."
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08/05/2015 00:00 ||
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I don't recall Congress voting extra funds, but perhaps I wasn't paying attention.
[Rudaw] Washington will provide nearly $62 million in additional humanitarian aid to Iraqi people who have been affected by the war against ISIS, US Secretary of State John F. I was in Vietnam, you know Kerry Former Senator-for-Life from Massachussetts, self-defined war hero, speaker of French, owner of a lucky hat, conqueror of Cambodia, and current Secretary of State... announced Tuesday at the Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in Qatar ...an emirate on the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It sits on some really productive gas and oil deposits, which produces the highest per capita income in the world. They piss it all away on religion, financing the Moslem Brotherhood and several al-Qaeda affiliates... on Tuesday.
The new allocation brings the total US aid to more than $477 million since last year.
The funding aims to help millions of Iraqi who have fled war and violence in different regions of the country, including more than 3 million internally displaced people and 370,000 refugees who have had to flee their homes since January 2014.
The funding aims to provide"critically needed relief commodities, shelter, clean water, psycho-social services, medical services, livelihoods support, cash assistance, child protection, legal documentation, and other essential goods and services, according to a State Department statment.
The aid will be distributed through several international and non-governmental agencies,the Office of the United Nations ...an idea whose time has gone... High Commissioner for Refugee, International Organization for migration, The United Nations Children's Fund and The United Nations Development Program in Iraq.
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08/05/2015 00:05 ||
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#1
Kerry: US taxpayers to give additional $62m in aid to Iraq
[Ynet] While the vast majority of East Jerusalem Paleostinians refuse citizenship, more are requesting it, citing lack of peace deal, weak legal status, and pragmatism.
"I declare I will be a loyal citizen of the state of Israel," reads the oath that must be sworn by all naturalized Israeli citizens. Increasingly, they are words being uttered by Paleostinians.
In East Jerusalem, which Israel captured from Jordan during the 1967 Middle East war and later annexed, issues of Paleostinian identity are layered with complexity.
While Israel regards the east of the city as part of Israel, the estimated 300,000 Paleostinians that live there do not. They are not Israeli citizens, instead holding Israeli-issued blue IDs that grant them permanent resident status.
While they can seek citizenship if they wish, the vast majority reject it.
And yet over the past decade, an increasing number of East Jerusalem Paleostinians have gone through the lengthy process of becoming Israeli citizens, researchers and lawyers say.
In part it reflects a loss of hope that an independent Paleostinian state will ever emerge. But it also reflects a hard-headed pragmatism - an acknowledgement that having Israeli citizenship will make it easier to get or change jobs, buy or move house, travel abroad and receive access to services.
Israeli officials are reluctant to confirm figures, but data obtained by the Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies indicates a jump over the past decade, rising from 114 applications in 2003 to between 800 and 1,000 a year now, around half of which are successful. On top of that, hundreds have made inquiries before the formal application process begins.
Interior Ministry figures obtained by Rooters show there were 1,434 applications in 2012-13, of which 189 were approved, 1,061 are still being processed and 169 were rejected. The remainder are in limbo.
Paleostinians who have applied do not like to talk about it. The loyalty oath is not an easy thing for them to sign up to and becoming a naturalized Israeli - joining the enemy - is taboo.
"It felt bad, really bad," said a 46-year-old Paleostinian teacher who took the oath a year ago. Despite her reservations, she knew it was right for stability and career prospects.
"We just want to live our lives," she said. "At the end of the day, politics gets you nowhere."
Demographic change
The fraught decisions over identity come at a time when political and religious tensions are high in Jerusalem, and yet integration has to an extent been rising.
The most visible sign of that is the city's light-rail system which allows passengers - a mix of ultra-Orthodox Jews, secular Israelis, Paleostinians and tourists - quick access to west Jerusalem shopping centers, markets and parks. More Paleostinians, albeit in small numbers, have also been moving into predominantly Jewish neighborhoods and even settlements.
Khalil Tafakji, a map expert and former member of the Paleostinian negotiating team, said political deadlock - the sense that years of striving for an independent Paleostinian state were going nowhere - was driving numbers up.
"If this continues, what will the Paleostinians negotiate about? They want to negotiate on the land - they have already lost the land," he said. "They want to negotiate for the population and the population is being lost."
Israel, he said, was trying to strengthen its hold on Jerusalem demographically, a process helped by Paleostinians taking up Israeli citizenship. Since 1967, around 24,000 Paleostinians had made the switch, he said, equivalent to almost 10 percent of the East Jerusalem Paleostinian population. The demographic impact is even wider when one considers that the children of those who become Israeli citizens are born Israeli.
Israeli Interior Minister Silvan Shalom rejected the demographic argument. "This will not affect negotiations with the Paleostinians, which encompass far greater and wider issues," said Shalom, whose portfolio includes Paleostinian affairs.
#1
"I declare I will be a loyal citizen of the state of Israel,"
And if not, I will immediately cede any and all real and personal property to Israel, eat a ham sandwich, and move to the North Pole with my family wearing only my face mask.
#3
I'm not overly concerned. At least Israel appears to be following lawful, immigration procedure. I don't recall them having 'sanctuary cities' either.
#4
Jerusalem has a huge tourism industry. Probably 30,000-50,000+ people are employed in it (depending on how you count).
Of those, at least half are non Jews including Israeli Christians and Moslems and Palestinians (both Moslem and Christian). The industry would not be sustainable without them.
Posted by: lord garth ||
08/05/2015 8:40 Comments ||
Top||
#5
so help me HASHEM"? So help me GOD
Newc, pious Jews do not speak or write about God casually, instead using a euphemism such as HaShem (the Name) or G-d. Reporting on the oath falls into this category.
[Times of Israel] Congress is reviewing the Iran nuclear deal and the battle lines are already clear with Republicans solidly united against it and Democrats divided. The president has said he will veto any congressional action disapproving the agreement, meaning that a handful of Democrats will have to vote to override the veto if this unverifiable and dangerous deal is to be rejected. Democrats have to choose between the national interest and partisan politics, between morality and loyalty to the president, and between endangering the lives of millions and acting to protect them from a potential nuclear holocaust. In 1939, Congress faced an even more stark opportunity to save lives and, following the lead of a popular Democratic president, made a fatal decision.
#4
Iff the US-Allies fail to destroy the ISIS/ISIL, the latter will survive for decades to come, will go Nukulaar, will continue wid Global Jihad to the bitter end, + will foster the rise of a "Muslim/Islamic Napoleon" = "Islamic Mahdi/Messiah/Imam" 2030-2050.
IN LAW ITS CALLED THE DOCTRINE OF LACHES, A FORM(S) OF NEGLIGENCE WHERE FAILURE TO ACT BEARS CULPABLE CONSEQUENCES OR LIABILITIES.
#5
Congress de facto approved the agreement by passing the failure theater bill. The failure was passing the Corker bill, the upcoming vote is the theater part.
What may matter is whether US domestic political pressure will deter the Obama administration from actively or passively interfering with Israel's response.
This pressure, if it manifests itself will come from the grassroots, not from the establishment.
[Jewish Press.com] The Iranian security adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei explained in a broadcast interview last week that United Nations nuclear inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency would not be given access to Tehran's sensitive military nuclear sites.
Is that part of the secret protocol?
Ali Akbar Velayati made the statement in a broadcast interview with Aljazeera on July 31, 2015 that was monitored and translated by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI).
"First, allow me to emphasize that the issue of the missiles and of Iran's defensive capabilities were not part of the negotiations to begin with," Velayati said.
"No matter what pressure is exerted, Iran never has negotiated and never will negotiate with others -- America, Europe, or any other country -- about the nature and quality of missiles it should manufacture or possess, or about the defensive military equipment that it needs. This is out of the question.
"We in Iran will independently determine what military equipment we need in order to defend our land, the regime of the Islamic Republic, the Iranian people, and the interest of our country.
"Therefore, we will not hesitate to obtain these weapons, with the exception of nuclear weapons or WMD, such as chemical weapons, which are internationally prohibited.
[NYPost] While Secretary of State John F. I was in Vietnam, you know Kerry Former Senator-for-Life from Massachussetts, self-defined war hero, speaker of French, owner of a lucky hat, conqueror of Cambodia, and current Secretary of State... and President B.O. do their best to paper over the brutality of the Iranian regime and force through a nuclear agreement, Iran's religious leader has another issue on his mind: The destruction of Israel.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has published a new book called "Paleostine," a 416-page screed against the Jewish state. A blurb on the back cover credits Khamenei as "The flagbearer of Jihad to liberate Jerusalem."
A friend sent me a copy from Iran, the only place the book is currently available, though an Arabic translation is promised soon.
Khamenei makes his position clear from the start: Israel has no right to exist as a state.
He uses three words. One is "nabudi," which means "annihilation." The other is "imha," which means "fading out," and, finally, there is "zaval," meaning "effacement."
Khamenei claims that his strategy for the destruction of Israel is not based on anti-Semitism, which he describes as a European phenomenon. His position is instead based on "well-established Islamic principles."
One such principle is that a land that falls under Moslem rule, even briefly, can never again be ceded to non-Moslems. What matters in Islam is ownership of a land's government, even if the majority of inhabitants are non-Moslems.
However, if you can't say something nice about a person some juicy gossip will go well... according to Khamenei, Israel, which he labels as "adou" and "doshman," meaning "enemy" and "foe," is a special case for three reasons.
The first is that it is a loyal "ally of the American Great Satan™" and a key element in its "evil scheme" to dominate "the heartland of the Ummah."
The second reason is that Israel has waged war on Moslems on a number of occasions, thus becoming "a hostile infidel," or "kaffir al-harbi."
Finally, Israel is a special case because it occupies Jerusalem, which Khamenei describes as "Islam's third Holy City."
Khamenei insists that he is not recommending "classical wars" to wipe Israel off the map. Nor does he want to "massacre the Jews." What he recommends is a long period of low-intensity warfare designed to make life unpleasant if not impossible for a majority of Israeli Jews so that they leave the country.
His calculation is based on the assumption thon the lam numbers of Israelis have double nationality and would prefer emigration to the United States and Europe to daily threats of death.
Khamenei makes no reference to Iran's nuclear program. But the subtext is that a nuclear-armed Iran would make Israel think twice before trying to counter Khamenei's strategy by taking military action against the Islamic Theocratic Republic.
In Khamenei's analysis, once the cost of staying in Israel has become too high for many Jews, Western powers, notably the US, which have supported the Jewish state for decades, might decide that the cost of doing so is higher than possible benefits.
Thanks to President B.O., the US has already distanced itself from Israel to a degree unimaginable a decade ago.
Khamenei counts on what he sees as "Israel fatigue." The international community would start looking for what he calls "a practical and logical mechanism" to end the old conflict.
More at the link.
Posted by: trailing wife ||
08/05/2015 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[5 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Iran
[EN.ZAMANALWSL.NET] Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem arrived in Tehran on Tuesday for talks with officials from allies Iran and Russia that are expected to focus on efforts to end the civil war in his country.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/05/2015 00:00 ||
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Link ||
[3 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Syria
[EN.ZAMANALWSL.NET] Russia is concerned about the growing influence of ISIS, Kremlin front man Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday, calling for international cooperation on the matter.
"It is common knowledge that Russia has been expressing concern at the highest levels about a growing influence of the so-called Islamic State ...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems.... and how it is expanding territory under its control in Syria and Iraq," Peskov told news hounds.
"We have this concern and we want to call on everyone to cooperate on the matter."
Posted by: Fred ||
08/05/2015 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[4 views]
Top|| File under: Islamic State
#1
It would save Assad's bacon in Syria. And let the Russians keep their port in Tartus.
Plan B is Russia buys Greece. Sorry that sounds crass. Howzabout Russia offers Greece "loan guarantees in exchange for considerations like basing rights.
#2
How about:
Russia destroys Irans nuke project and maintains Israel at all cost.
In return, you keep Assad, but Syria is no more.
Just like Assyria split and be like a leaf or something like that.
#3
Vlad sees the opportunity to become the leading power broker in the ME after the US ceded the role to whoever wants it.
A strong man, with the willingness to do whatever, could stabilize the region. We haven't shown the stomach for what that would take. Not with the ninnies in the media and all of the handwringing libs everywhere sniveling over every dead goat or broken light bulb.
Vlad could be the guy to put an end to the silliness. Of course Vlad would have to realize any strategy to stabilize the ME would have to involve Israel as a co facilitator. you can't stabilize the region without Israel.
#4
...it's not like they don't have tons of records of who, what, when and why in their files of their former employees in the ME for quick ID and termination.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
08/05/2015 10:48 Comments ||
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#6
IIRC the Russian strong horse did not do such a good job of this in Afghanistan.
Posted by: regular joe ||
08/05/2015 12:28 Comments ||
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#7
Of course Vlad would have to realize any strategy to stabilize the ME would have to involve Israel as a co facilitator. you can't stabilize the region without Israel.
Funny you should mention that, given the Russian FM Meets Hamas Chief, Invites Him To Moscow article here. I can picture Lavrov explaining the New New World Order while Mashaal sits there looking at a box of polonium tea on the desk.
[Michael Isikoff - Yahoo] The Obama administration has not floated any names of a possible nominee for CIA inspector general, behavior one analyst calls "discouraging."
More than six months after the CIA inspector general resigned, President Obama has yet to nominate a replacement, prompting mounting concerns on Capitol Hill that the delay may be affecting sensitive internal investigations -- including a probe into an errant drone strike in Pakistan that killed American hostage Warren Weinstein, sources told Yahoo News.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, in June urged Obama in a letter to nominate a new inspector general "as soon as possible," so a Senate-confirmed official can oversee what she described as "highly sensitive investigations of interest to the committee."
But the White House has yet to even respond to the letter, or float any names of a possible nominee, another indicator of what watchdog groups say is a troubling resistance on the administration's part to aggressive oversight and accountability throughout the government, but especially within the intelligence community.
"This is extremely significant ... and it's discouraging," said Steve Aftergood, an analyst who tracks U.S. intelligence agencies for the Federation of American Scientists. "The inspectors general at the intelligence agencies are even more important than [at] other agencies because the majority of their work is classified -- and so they don't get the same kind of oversight as elsewhere in the government. The [intelligence agency] inspectors general have also been the eyes and ears for Congress, so without a strong IG in place, the oversight committees are at least partially blinded."
Inspectors general serve as internal watchdogs at government agencies, charged with investigating reports of malfeasance and mismanagement, including complaints filed by whistleblowers. Champ's handlers need no Inspector General, he's got Brennan. A "partially blind oversight committee" is the desired end state.
#1
The problem with watchdogs is they bark until they wake somebody up.
Posted by: ed in texas ||
08/05/2015 7:25 Comments ||
Top||
#2
The [intelligence agency] inspectors general have also been the eyes and ears for REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED Congress, so without a strong IG in place, the oversight committees are at least partially blinded."
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.
[Tolo News] First Vice-President Gen. Abdul Rashid 
[EN.ZAMANALWSL.NET] Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem arrived in Tehran on Tuesday for talks with officials from allies Iran and Russia that are expected to focus on efforts to end the civil war in his country.
