[Pak Daily Times] Afghanistan will not be bullied into signing a security pact allowing US troops to stay on after next year, President Hamid Maybe I'll join the Taliban Karzai ... A former Baltimore restaurateur, now 12th and current President of Afghanistan, displacing the legitimate president Rabbani in December 2004. He was installed as the dominant political figure after the removal of the Taliban regime in late 2001 in a vain attempt to put a Pashtun face on the successor state to the Taliban. After the 2004 presidential election, he was declared president regardless of what the actual vote count was. He won a second, even more dubious, five-year-term after the 2009 presidential election. His grip on reality has been slipping steadily since around 2007, probably from heavy drug use... said as he pressed India on Friday for more military hardware.
Karzai met Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid at the start of a three-day visit, with the United States hoping New Delhi can persuade him to ink the troubled pact.
India-educated Karzai has close ties with India, which is keen to ensure that the exit of some 75,000 US-led NATO ...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Originally it was a mutual defense pact directed against an expansionist Soviet Union. In later years it evolved into a mechanism for picking the American pocket while criticizing the cut of the American pants... troops at the end of 2014 does not trigger a return to power of the hardline Taliban militia.
But speaking to Indian television, Karzai said he would not be "intimidated" into signing the pact which would allow 12,000 US troops to stay in Afghanistan after 2014 and sets out their terms of engagement.
"Aggressive rhetoric won't work... We are not a nation that is known for giving into intimidation," he told NDTV. "If they have not recognised this they should, it will be good for them to recognise... We will sign it when we feel sure that our signature will bring peace and security."
Posted by: Fred ||
12/14/2013 00:00 ||
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[Shabelle] The four attackers responsible for killing at least 67 people at a Kenyan shopping mall may have escaped due to lax security, according to a New York police report released Tuesday.
The victims aged eight to 78, from 13 different countries, were killed at the Westgate mall in Nairobi during a terrifying assault claimed by Somalia's Al-Qaeda-linked Shabaab terror group.
The media speculated the gunnies may have escaped in the chaos of the September fighting, although security sources in Kenya said they died in a final stand-off with commandos.
The New York police report said the last confirmed sighting of the attackers on the mall's CCTV system was on September 22 at 00:54 hours, 12 hours after the start of the attack.
It took Kenya almost four days to declare the mall safe. The day before doing so, Kenyan forces started a fire and collapsed a large part of the mall, the report said.
"It is unknown if the bad boyz were potted or escaped the mall. A major contributing factor to this uncertainty was the failure to maintain a secure perimeter around the mall," it said.
The New York conclusions are based on information obtained by its coppers and unclassified open source information.
Interpol is assisting Kenya in trying to identify four bodies suspected of being those of the gunnies. No identification has yet been announced.
The New York report also highlighted poor coordination between the Kenyan police and the army, which saw troops kill one police officer and wound the commander of a police team.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/14/2013 00:00 ||
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[Egypt Independent] Interior Minister Mohammed Ibrahim pledged, on Friday morning, to track the perpetrators of the kaboom in Ismailia, which took place on Thursday evening, causing the death of a CSF soldier as well as the injury of three officers and 13 soldiers.
Ibrahim visited the scene of the incident on Friday morning. Ibrahim said during his visit that the security forces are currently facing a great challenge and he praised the efforts of officers and soldiers, warning them to be extremely cautious in all situations.
"Those reprehensible terrorist attacks are a last-ditch effort, reacting to the successful security strikes, where various terrorist and dangerous elements were detected," Ibrahim said.
Ibrahim ordered the head of Ismailia Security Directorate to lead the investigations team himself, stressing they would be jugged Drop the heater, Studs, or you're hist'try! soon.
Ibrahim visited injured soldiers and officers at the hospital and gave instructions to provide necessary care for the family of the dead soldier.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/14/2013 00:00 ||
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[Egypt Independent] Pro-Moslem Brüderbund figure and head of the International Union of Mohammedan Scholars Yusuf al-Qaradawi ...crackpot Egyptian Islamist theologian. He is best known for his program Shariah and Life on Al Jazeera, with an estimated audience of 60 million kindred souls worldwide. He is also well-known for IslamOnline, which occasionally advocates things like slavery and thumping the old lady with a rod no thicker than an inch, and has published more than 120 books, including Islam: The Future Civilization. Joe has long had a prominent role within the intellectual leadership of the Moslem Brüderbund. Some of his views have been controversial in the West, though less so among the rubes of the Mysterious East, and he was refused entry to the United Kingdom in 2008. In 2004, 2,500 Muslim academics from Saudi Arabia, Iraq and from the Palestinian territories condemned Qaradawi, and accused him of giving Islam a bad name.... called on Egyptians in his Friday sermon to boycott the electoral process in Egypt.
"[Mohammed] Morsy is the ruler. He has to come back and agree with his brothers and all the people and nation on what to be done," Qaradawi said in a sermon he delivered at Omar Ibn al-Khattab Mosque in Qatar.
"Oh rulers of Egypt, I swear to God you are oppressors and unjust killers. You killed people... who did not kill anyone and did not hold a stick or even a stone," he added.
"It is no longer the Brotherhood's revolution. All Egypt now is revolting. Few are those who stand against the revolution and become fewer and fewer one day after another," he claimed.
"Oppressors came to Egypt after it was a safe reassured country that chose its president freely by a simple majority," Qaradawi said.
"People chose Mohammed Morsy, then the most unjust oppressors came and claimed that the masses called on them to take over the government and expel Morsy," he added.
Qaradawi accused the current regime of causing the killing and injury of thousands of people, and the academic year to be halted, leading to damage and ruin.
Qaradawi has been placed on a wanted list for airport arrivals by top prosecutor Hesham Barakat last September.
He was charged with inciting the killing of protesters and Egyptian soldiers as well as inciting violence against state institutions and calling for foreign interference in Egypt, according to judicial sources.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/14/2013 00:00 ||
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The United States began airlifting Burundian troops to the Central African Republic yesterday, part of efforts to help African and French forces prevent a descent into civil war, Burundis army said.
I'm guessing Uncle Sugar paid for the ride...
Burundi is deploying a battalion of troops to the Central African Republic, Colonel Gaspard Baratuza, Burundi army spokes-man, told Reuters.
A US plane today airlifted the first team and the operation with US logistics will continue.
The Burundian troops are due to join an African peacekeeping force that has struggled to contain the violence in Central African Republic, which has killed more than 500 people in the past week.
Previously a Central African force, the mission is being broadened to fall under African Union command. Troop numbers are due to be increased from 2,500 to around 6,000 following meetings between African leaders in France last week.
But they have no airlift...
The US support for Burundian troops comes after Britain started air lifting equipment for French troops to the capital, Bangui.
Baratuza said the Burundian forces were expected to stay in Central African Republic for one year, but that further troops would be sent in, in rotation, if the mission was extended by the United Nations Security Council.
We'll fly them in too, and then fly them home when they're done...
The Bujumbura government has also sent peacekeeping troops to Somalia to battle Islamist militants.
Posted by: Steve White ||
12/14/2013 00:00 ||
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[THEGLOBEANDMAIL] More than 600 people have been killed in the past week in the sectarian violence and lawlessness convulsing Central African Republic, and the crisis is getting worse, the United Nations ...where theory meets practice and practice loses... refugee agency said Friday.
About 450 people were killed in the capital, Bangui, and 160 people were reported killed in other parts of the country, Adrian Edwards, a front man for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, told news hounds here, relaying information provided by Central African Republic's Red Thingy organization and the Danish Refugee Council.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/14/2013 00:00 ||
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[Bangla Daily Star] Leaders of ruling Awami League and main opposition BNP yesterday exchanged some proposals to end the ongoing political crisis over the 10th parliamentary polls.
BNP proposals include postponement of the January 5 election to keep the talks going and create level playing field, release of its leaders and withdrawal of cases against them, allowing the party to organise political activities at its central and unit offices and allowing it to hold rallies, said party sources present in the dialogue.
The BNP leaders said if the government took positive steps regarding the proposals, they would sit again to discuss the polls-time government, reforms in the Election Commission, and making the administration neutral.
In response, the AL side asked the opposition to stop its destructive programmes like hartal ... a peculiarly Bangla combination of a general strike and a riot, used by both major political groups in lieu of actual governance ... and blockade, give up the demand for caretaker government and accept the constitutional guidelines on the formation of polls-time government.
The party also proposed that the BNP sever relations with war criminals and Jamaat-e-Islami ...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores... .
Both the sides have apprised their party chiefs about the dialogue proceedings.
AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam and BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhurl Islam Alamgir led their sides in the third round of dialogue held in presence of UN Resident Coordinator in Dhaka Neal Walker at a UN project office in Gulshan.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/14/2013 00:00 ||
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Chechen Deputy Interior Minister Apti Alaudinov has threatened to use illegal methods -- including summary killings and planting false evidence -- in a bid to remove Islamic fundamentalists from a former militant stronghold in the region.
Alaudinov made the remarks in a recent speech to local officials in a town near Grozny. A video of his remarks was posted on the internet on December 12.
In the video, Alaudinov can be heard telling a roomful of municipal officials -- including a new police station chief -- that he had been granted limitless powers by Chechnya's leader Ramzan Kadyrov, whom he called "the ruler."
Alaudinov said those powers included the authority to imprison or even kill people for merely appearing like an Islamist fundamentalist. He said, "If there is a slightest resemblance with Wahabbists, I personally took it under my control. Here is a new police chief next to us. I personally told him: 'Smash them. If you want to put somebody in jail, put them there. If there is a chance to plant some kind of evidence in somebody's pocket, plant it. Do whatever you want to do and kill anyone you want to kill.' The ruler asked me to pass this message to [the police chief.] I swear to God I support that."
Alaudinov accused some officials in the town of turning a blind eye toward Islamic militancy when their own relatives were involved. He said that practice would end. Alaudinov said, "There will be no more ways to cover up for your relatives. There will be no more situations when you say: 'Oh, this is my relative. They have to be protected from punishment while others are punished. Everybody has to put his own house in order."
He also threatened that any person who criticizes Kadyrov or his administration would be punished.
#1
True Ethics are based on reciprocity. "Human Rights" is just the latest of the vicious nonsense (like Communism and Nazism) to come from, post-civilized, Europe.
The ouster and execution of North Korean leader Fat Boy Kim Jong-un's uncle Jang Song-taek has laid bare the fault lines running through the secretive regime, where various factions jostle for control of diminishing resources.
The picture is going to become clearer over the following weeks and months, but already it is clear that the regime is far less monolithic than some observers believed based on state propaganda alone. Meanwhile, feverish speculation continues among North Korea watchers here trying to make sense of the mess.
◆ Instability
Pudgy Kim may have eliminated the greatest threat to his rule, but he also exposed the instability of his power base, according to some experts.
Ryu Dong-ryeol of the Police Science Institute said Pudgy Kim probably eliminated his guardian because he either felt confident enough to go it alone or felt his power threatened.
So he was either confident or threatened. Boy howdy what would we do without experts to noodle this out...
Nam Sung-wook at Korea University pointed out that nation founder Kim Il-sung and his son Kim Jong-il also eliminated their rivals "but never organized rallies to denounce them" as Suet Face Kim Jong-un is doing. He said this demonstrates a "weakened power base" for the young leader.
Yun Duk-min, a professor at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, told a seminar in the National Assembly on Thursday that he doubts about the stability of the Kim regime given the rapid changes that have taken place recently. This could weaken Kim's own power base and lead to internal chaos, Yun warned.
Experts believe that it usually takes about two years to consolidate power again after a purge, so it will not be until 2015 to see whether Kim has succeeded.
◆ Uncertainties
The Workers Party Politburo said Jang had been warned several times and steps were taken to rein in his ambitions, but he did not acquiesce. Jang may have been guilty of hubris, with followers worshipping him personally or prioritizing Jang's orders over than Kim's.
But other experts say Jang may have been targeted for elimination a year ago as he was relieved of his duty as head of the administrative department of the Workers Party.
If Jang directly challenged Kim's rule, there is a strong chance that the reign of terror will intensify in North Korea. The overseas businesses Jang controlled could also be scaled back, which would slow the pace of timid economic reforms.
Pyongyang's relations with Beijing are also expected to be impacted because Jang had many connections in China.
◆ The Kim Family's Role
There are reports that Kim Jong-un's older brother Playboy Jong-chol personally led a team of security guards to arrest Jang. Others say Kim's half sister Sol-song and her husband Sin Bok-nam led the purge. It is unclear what role Jang's wife and former leader Kim Jong-il's sister Kim Kyong-hui played.
Japanese and other foreign media say Kim Kyong-hui had an active role in the ouster of her husband, while others believe she quietly condoned it. If the Kim dynasty closed rank to remove Jang, the regime could have gained a measure of short-term stability.
◆ Military Role
One aim of Jang's ouster may have been for military Politburo chief Choe Ryong-hae to regain control over the money-making operations Jang had monopolized. That would mean that the powerful military is once again in the ascendancy, and with it all the reactionary belligerence that caused the international community such headaches during the reign of Kim Jong-il.
But some pundits think Jang's ouster was a matter for the party leadership and a corps of soldiers protecting the North Korean leader. Ryu at the Police Science Institute said, "Even Choe may see his power threatened in a while."
Posted by: Steve White ||
12/14/2013 00:00 ||
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#1
...What's to 'puzzle' about? A nightmarish country that would have made Stalin shudder, run by a berserk twenty-something and his deranged family, supported by a paranoiac military.
Occam's Razor, 'experts' - do you understand it? THEY'RE INSANE.
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
12/14/2013 9:35 Comments ||
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#2
It was his nascent Every Man A Kim what got him offed.
[Libya Herald] A New York trial date for kidnapped Libyan terror suspect, Abu Anas Al-Libi has been set for November next year. However it was unclear at a pre-trial hearing yesterday if Libi, also known as Nazih Al-Ruqaii, would be tried with two others accused of involvement in the 1998 bombings of two US East African embassies.
Libi's defence team had asked US District Judge Lewis Kaplan of the Manhattan Federal Court for a separate trial because they maintained that t the evidence against the other accused, Adel Abdel Bary and Khalid al Fawwa, could prejudice a jury against Libi.
Judge Kaplan overruled the submission but suggested that there might be two separate juries. The jury required to give a verdict on Libi would be sent out of court whenever prejudicial evidence about the other two accused, was due to be heard.
Lawyers have until next August to appeal the single trial ruling. Libi was kidnapped from outside his 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... home on 5 October and taken by US special forces, first to the USS San Antonio, for interrogation. Serious concerns about this health caused him to be transferred to the US mainland.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/14/2013 00:00 ||
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[Pak Daily Times] Anti-Terrorism Court-III on Friday accepted the chalan against Sheikh Adil Abuzar, an alleged member of a banned outfit, in a case of possessing illegal weapons. Police produced Abuzar in an armoured personnel carrier (APC) before the ATC-III judge under tight security. According to prosecution, Abuzar, who was accused of possessing illegal weapons, was placed in durance vile ... anything you say can and will be used against you, whether you say it or not... on October 25 from Baloch Colony during a target raid. He was booked in several cases of possession of illegal arms and kaboom. Two hand grenades, 30 bullets and two Kalashnikovs were recovered from him.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/14/2013 00:00 ||
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#1
What, stripped pants with a checked top? Oh, the organization. My bad.
Posted by: Steven ||
12/14/2013 19:38 Comments ||
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[Pak Daily Times] The special court on Friday summoned former military ruler Pervez Perv Musharraf ... former dictator of Pakistain, who was less dictatorial and corrupt than any Pak civilian government to date ... on December 24 for his high treason trial.
A meeting of the special court was held on Friday in the Federal Shariat Court building. Justice Faisal Arab of the Sindh High Court, Justice Mohammad Yawar Ali Khan of the Lahore High Court and Justice Tahira Safdar of the Balochistan ...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it... High Court attended the meeting. The special court's registrar, Abdul Ghani Soomro, told newsmen that the government's complaint had been admitted and the court had summoned the accused, Musharraf, on December 24. He also said that the venue for the trial of the former army chief has not been decided yet.
It is for the first time in the country's history that the federal government has moved a complaint against any person for the offence of high treason under Article 6 of the constitution. Musharraf's legal team is considering challenging the special court's summons in the Supreme Court. Sources said that the special court would also be challenged by Musharraf in the next week. There is a speculation that one member of the special court may recuse.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/14/2013 00:00 ||
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A special tribunal Friday issued summons to former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf on charges of high treason.
Musharraf, who is charged with treason for suspending the country's constitution when he imposed emergency rule in 2007, was summoned to appear before the court Dec 24, Xinhua reported.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif last month approved the selection of three judges for the special court to try the former military ruler. It is the first time in Pakistan's 66-year history that a former military leader will be tried for high treason.
Nawaz has really got in for Perv...
In June, Sharif announced high treason trial of Musharraf in his speech to the National Assembly or lower house of parliament less than three weeks after returning to power following his PML-N party's victory in the general elections.
The 69-year-old former army chief stays at his farmhouse in Islamabad after he got bail in three high profile cases, including the 2007 assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
Musharraf, who had gone into exile in 2008, returned to the country in March this year to take part in parliamentary elections in May. However, a court disqualified him from contesting the polls.
Bad move in retrospect, eh Perv?
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan earlier said Musharraf cannot leave the country as his name was included in the list of those who are barred from going abroad.
Posted by: Steve White ||
12/14/2013 00:00 ||
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Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan
[An Nahar] U.S. 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... said Friday he hoped to help achieve a peace agreement encompassing Israeli security needs and Paleostinian illusory sovereignty, as he wrapped up his regional visit.
But Paleostinian President the ineffectual Mahmoud Abbas ... a graduate of the prestigious unaccredited Patrice Lumumba University in Moscow with a doctorate in Holocaust Denial... dampened hopes by rejecting U.S. proposals for Israel to keep a military presence in a future Paleostinian state.
"We are working on an approach that both guarantees Israel's security and fully respects Paleostinian illusory sovereignty," Kerry told news hounds in Tel Aviv before boarding a plane to Vietnam.
Kerry insisted the goal remained for the sides "to reach a final status agreement - not an interim agreement," and said Israel will release as planned a new group of Paleostinian prisoners on December 29.
"Both parties remain committed to fulfilling their obligations to stay at the table and negotiate hard during the nine-month period that we set for that" when talks were launched at the end of July, said Kerry.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/14/2013 00:00 ||
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Top|| File under: Palestinian Authority
#1
And if we believed you John, we'd deserve to become extinct.
#5
For dems, Medicare, and Social Security, illegal immigration is a feature, not a bug. They cross the border into 'Oceana' and bring their genetically triggered short life spans with them.
US Secretary of State John Kerry failed to achieve a breakthrough on Friday at a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intended to advance Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, dpa reported.
Kerry was seeking to push Israeli and Palestinian leaders to reach a "framework agreement" by the end of January, aimed at breaking the deadlock in the talks that began in July, after an absence of any direct negotiations for almost three years.
Shortly before his departure from Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv, Kerry reaffirmed the United States' commitment to a two-state solution. "We are working on an approach that both guarantees Israel's security and fully respects Palestinian sovereignty," he said.
Israel Radio quoted Israeli officials as saying that the nine-month deadline originally set to meet a peace accord would have to be extended.
Posted by: Steve White ||
12/14/2013 00:00 ||
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#1
Forget about this bugger. Don't give in Israel.
It's an exile returned
O'er the ocean drear,
It's a grave in the grass,
It's a falling tear -
That's all.
~ Bosman
[Al Ahram] Syrian rebels say they are ready to include Islamist fighters as part of their delegation to the Geneva peace talks aimed at putting an end to Syria's civil war. Senior rebel official Monzer Akbik told news hounds in London that the opposition is "keen to form a delegation that will be as wide as possible" and that the Islamic Front, an umbrella group of Salafist tough guys, is welcome to send representatives to the talks.
The Islamic Front, which represents half a dozen of Syria's most powerful rebel brigades, is independent of the Western-backed Free Syrian Army as well as the Nusra Front and Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, both of which are linked to al-Qaeda.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/14/2013 00:00 ||
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[An Nahar] The U.S. Department of Defense and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) are engaged in direct and indirect contacts with Hizbullah, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Friday.
According to the report, the talks focus on several aspects and include the Islamist movement Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason,.
However, those who apply themselves too closely to little things often become incapable of great things... information received by LBCI ruled out the report, saying it was not true.
In November, the U.S. embassy in Lebdenied a report No, no! Certainly not! by the Kuwaiti al-Anbaa newspaper saying that U.S. officials have been involved in talks with Hizbullah.
"No official at the embassy has or is engaged in discussion with members of the terrorist organization Hizbullah," the Embassy clarified to Naharnet in a statement.
The newspaper had said in a report that indirect and secret contacts are ongoing between Hizbullah and the U.S. embassy in Leb.
The daily quoted a March 14 MP as saying that the "relations between the Hizbullah and the U.S. are developing positively."
Posted by: Fred ||
12/14/2013 00:00 ||
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#1
"relations between the Hizbullah and the U.S. are developing positively."
Okay, pull out of Syria and remove your rockets from Lebanon.
[An Nahar] Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Wally Jumblat ... Druze politician, head of the Progressive Socialist Party, who's been on every side in Leb at least four times. He'll sell you his friends for a dollar, but family comes higher because of shipping and handling... has said that he would visit Syria only if the regime of Syrian Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad Oppressor of the Syrians and the Lebs... collapses and the country is "liberated."
In remarks to French-language daily L'Orient Le Jour, Jumblat said: "Neither I nor my son have planned for a single moment to go to Damascus."
"We will head to Damascus when it is liberated from the group that is now in power," he said.
Jumblat's remarks came in response to accusations by Syrian Ambassador Ali Abdul Karim Ali that the PSP chief had contributed to a campaign against the Syrian regime by twisting facts and protecting armed elements.
He said ties between the regime and Jumblat were totally cut.
Reports that the doors of Damascus were open for Jumblat's son Taymour were not true, the diplomat added, drawing the PSP chief's retaliatory remarks.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/14/2013 00:00 ||
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[An Nahar] U.S. 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... said Friday nuclear talks between world powers and Iran were expected to resume soon, after Tehran said it was quitting the negotiations.
"We're making progress, but I think we're at a point in those talks where folks feel a need to consult, take a moment," Kerry told news hounds in Tel Aviv.
"There is every expectation that talks are going to continue in the next few days," he said of the talks.
Iran on Friday accused Washington of going against the spirit of a landmark interim agreement reached last month by expanding its sanctions blacklist and quit implementation talks.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/14/2013 00:00 ||
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#1
Nincompoop. They already have what they want, they just want to buy time to make sure they can hold onto it.
Severe weather has delayed the start of the first United Nations airlift of aid items from Iraq to Syria for a second day, a spokesman said on Friday.
Qamishli airport remains closed, but apparently weather conditions are improving, said UN refugee agency (UNHCR) regional spokesman Peter Kessler, referring to the city in northeast Syria to which aid supplies are to be flown.
We hope to have word from the authorities there, hopefully later today or tomorrow, which would then would give us an idea when the airlift might start, Kessler said.
The airlift, which has been given the go-ahead by both the Syrian and Iraqi governments, was initially expected to begin on Thursday.
UNHCR plans to fly some 40 metric tonnes of aid into the area, which has become increasingly dangerous to reach, providing core relief items for 10,000 families, or about 50-60,000 people, Kessler said this week.
UNHCR said it plans to spend $195 million to help winterise Syria and the surrounding countries. As part of the programme, the agency has already begun distributing things like isolation tents, plastic sheeting, warm clothing, especially for children and other vulnerable people, and cash for fuel.
Kurdish-majority areas of the countrys northeast were relatively quiet until clashes broke out this year between Kurds and jihadist rebels, pushing tens of thousands of Syrian Kurds across the border into Iraqs autonomous Kurdistan region.
Posted by: Steve White ||
12/14/2013 00:00 ||
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Iran's anger over a new U.S. sanctions measure may have been behind its move to interrupt talks with world powers over how to implement last month's breakthrough nuclear agreement, two diplomats said on Friday.
Several envoys stressed, however, that the inconclusive outcome of the December 9-12 expert-level discussions in Vienna should not be seen as a sign that the political deal hammered out nearly three weeks ago was in serious trouble.
Oh no, the Iranians throw temper tantrums all the time. It's the Persian blood talking...
The November 24 interim accord, reached after marathon talks in Geneva, is seen as a step towards giving Iran the bomb resolving a decade-old standoff over suspicions that Iran is covertly seeking the capability to make nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran denies.
Experts from Iran, the United States, France, Germany, Britain, China, Russia and the European Union labored during this week's talks at the headquarters of the U.N. nuclear watchdog to agree on how to carry it out in practice. But in a sign of the technical difficulties involved, they will now consult with their capitals before meeting again.
Which will lead to new meetings and then new consultations...
A spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who coordinates the six powers' negotiations with Iran, said the discussions were expected to resume in the near future.
"After four days of lengthy and detailed talks, reflecting the complexity of the technical issues discussed, it became clear that further work is needed," Michael Mann said. "There will now be consultations in capitals, in the expectation that technical talks will continue soon."
Iran said on Friday a new U.S. measure targeting companies and individuals for supporting its nuclear program violated the spirit of the Geneva deal. The United States on Thursday black-listed additional companies and people under sanctions aimed at preventing Iran from obtaining the capability to make nuclear weapons, U.S. officials said. Iran says its atomic work is purely peaceful.
Treasury and State Department officials said the move showed the Geneva deal "does not, and will not, interfere with our continued efforts to expose and disrupt those supporting Iran's nuclear program or seeking to evade our sanctions."
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told the semi-official Fars news agency on Friday: "We are evaluating the situation and Iran will react accordingly to the new sanctions imposed on 19 companies and individuals. It is against the spirit of the Geneva deal."
One diplomat said the Iranian delegation suddenly announced late on Thursday evening - hours after Washington made its decision public - that it was returning to Tehran.
The Iranians said "they had received instructions from Tehran to stop the discussions and fly back to Tehran," the diplomat said. "It was quite unexpected."
Unexpectedly!
An EU diplomat said he did not believe the decision was linked to the issues under discussion in the Austrian capital.
"My understanding was that this was not to do with a specific problem in what they were talking about but actually their reaction to moves in the U.S. on sanctions," the diplomat said, adding that the hope was that it was a temporary problem.
"The Iranians have been committed to making this work," the diplomat said. "We are not panicking."
Diplomats earlier said it was very hard to translate the Geneva agreement into a plan for action, but that there was a political will to iron out any differences.
Translation: Champ is willing to cave further...
They said implementation may start in January after technical matters have been settled.
Posted by: Steve White ||
12/14/2013 00:00 ||
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Top|| File under: Govt of Iran
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.
[Pak Daily Times] Afghanistan will not be bullied into signing a security pact allowing US troops to stay on after next year, President 
The ouster and execution of North Korean leader 
Pervez 
A special tribunal Friday issued summons to former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf on charges of high treason. 
[An Nahar] U.S. Secretary of State 
US Secretary of State John Kerry failed to achieve a breakthrough on Friday at a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intended to advance Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, dpa reported.
[An Nahar] The U.S. Department of Defense and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) are engaged in direct and indirect contacts with Hizbullah, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Friday.
Druze politician, head of the Progressive Socialist Party, who's been on every side in Leb at least four times. He'll sell you his friends for a dollar, but family comes higher because of shipping and handling...
[An Nahar] U.S. Secretary of State 
Iran's anger over a new U.S. sanctions measure may have been behind its move to interrupt talks with world powers over how to implement last month's breakthrough nuclear agreement, two diplomats said on Friday.
