Iraqi police discovered the corpse of an Egyptian man who worked as a driver for a Kuwaiti company in the restive city of Ramadi on Sunday. The body of the man, who police identified as Ibrahim Mohammed Ismail, was found dumped in a street, they said. They gave no more details.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/16/2005
9:56:21 PM ||
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via Michelle Malkin which has a few more notes. I had a most interesting and troubling conversation with a patient of mine yesterday. The patient, a Federal Air Marshall, related an incident in which he was involved this past year. He and his partner were assigned to a flight (the airline, airport, and destination were not disclosed) in their customary undercover security role. They boarded the airplane early in order to meet the flight attendants, at which time the cleaning crew was still on the airplane -- somewhat longer than expected. My patient and his partner sat together in seats near the middle of coach class.
The passengers began to board, and he and his partner noticed a single Middle Eastern man sitting near the front of first class. After a number of passengers had boarded, two Middle Eastern men walked by this man and made eye contact, but said nothing. They sat down together in the front of coach class. Shortly thereafter, two other Middle Eastern men also walked by the man in first class and made eye contact without speaking. They sat near the back of coach class. Shortly after the flight attendants completed their post-boarding check of the overhead bins, an announcement came from the cockpit: the pilot stated that there had been a security breach, and everyone needed to deboard the plane for a second, more thorough, security screening. The Air Marshall and his partner were confused, as they had not triggered the security alert nor been notified of it prior to the announcement.
After all the passengers had deplaned, the Federal Air Marshalls checked with the flight attendants for more information. During a final check of the overhead bins, a flight attendant had noticed that one of the blankets was slightly unfolded, and he repositioned it in the bin. At this time, a razor blade fell out of the blanket. Concerned, but still believing this might be a straightforward mistake, the flight attendant began to check other overhead bins. Several additional incompletely folded blankets were noted, and hidden in each one was a box cutter: a total of five. It appeared that these had been placed there by the cleaning crew prior to the boarding of the airplane. After the repeat security screening, the passengers reboarded -- all except the five Middle Eastern men, who were nowhere to be found. The flight proceeded to its destination uneventfully.
The man who relayed this story to me is a reliable and sober individual, and I have no reason to question his integrity or its veracity. Anyone who believes the War on Terror is a fabrication trumped up for political gain needs to take a strong dose of reality medication and lie down until this hallucination passes. Were the five missing Arabs tracked down? Who were the cleaning crew and what were the results of their interrogation?
Posted by: ed ||
01/16/2005
9:41:42 PM ||
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#1
Sadly, I'm afraid it will take another US soil attack to arouse people, again. Humans can become accustomed to anything, and with long enough exposure, it becomes the norm. And a laxity creeps in and they are, once again, shocked outta their shorts when an event occurs - with the usual cacaphony of surprise and indignant blather about who should be blamed - for interrupting their pleasant isolation.
#2
Left unsaid is whether Dr. Bob referred the patiant to a psychiatrist.
The story sounds kind of fishy. Not fishy that terrorists might try again, nor that they might have inside help pre-positioning weapons. But why only razor blades? And why ALL blankets so carelessly refolded that they could be spotted? And why the FA would not have immediately suspected terrorism with the first razor blade.
On the other hand, it would be reasonable that no public noise would be made about such an event if it did happen - the airlines are having enough troubles as it is.
And the Arab men did not reboard - likely detained, but if not, why not? Screw-up? That would provide another reason not to publicise the event.
The experience of my Arab-looking (male) friends is they get special scrutiny EVERY time they fly - the 'random' searches are for everybody else.
#3
Has this been through Snopes? I smell an urban legend of tomorrow.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis ||
01/16/2005 8:24
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Glen if your"Arab-looking (male) friends"Want to avoid"special scrutiny"then they and thier cronies need to roll-over on thier mad-dog buddies.Untill then,they can just suck it up.
#5
.com Sadly I dont think that just one more attck will do it. Perhaps two or three before people get the hint that there are organizations out there who want to kill us.
Arab looking males do not get checked EVERY time. "Every", is a strong word. I wonder if you are just taking their word, heresay. Have you flown with your Arab looking friends, everytime, they fly? Have you put up your own dime and done your own scientific research on FAA/TSA profiling? Your friends are blathering with no proof. Your friends remind me of the Paleo outcries.
My dad who does airport screening, tells me otherwise. (May I add, he is one of the best, the FAA agents can't past him with their fake bomb/weapon tricks). The people that are getting checked, also, are Anglo old ladies with hip replacements.
#9
I have a friend of [India]Indian descent who has for years (well before 9/11) gotten heavier scrutiny than us lighter skinned folk when travelling internationally . He just makes a point of dressing neatly in his normal, preppy style, and behaving circumspectly. No problem -- he says its good to know the authorities are keeping an eye out for the real bad guys.
Separately, I checked Snopes.com and urbanlegends@about.com. I didn't see anything that looked like this story, which doesn't prove anything either way.
#10
At the Michelle Malkin link http://michellemalkin.com/archives/001240.htm: Update III: Several air marshals write to say that the story told by Dr. Bob's patient sounds true. Here's an excerpt from one e-mail I received:
I am a FAM (Federal Air Marshal) and wanted to respond to your Jan. 14th article about a foiled hijacking.... Except for a few minor details the Jan. 14th article you wrote is mostly correct. We have seen this scenario happen a few times and have also found razor blades on the plane before passengers have boarded.
Make of it what you will.
Posted by: ed ||
01/16/2005 15:34
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#11
Arab-looking in this case does not imply Arab - try Congolese-Texan mix. And not interested in NOT being scrutinized - hell, they're on the plane too, why wouldn't they want people who look like them scrutinized?
#12
so...the pilot stated that there had been a security breach, and everyone needed to deboard the plane for a second, more thorough, security screening. The Air Marshall and his partner were confused, as they had not triggered the security alert nor been notified of it prior to the announcement.
AND WHY NOT???? Is it not the AIR MARSHALL's job to report suspicious activity??????? Thank god for an alert flight attendant who didn't just hope for the best.
#13
That razor blade hijacking trick won't work again. Think Flight 93. Who would not risk getting cut rather than flying into a building? They're also not getting into the cockpit that way again. It doesn't mean they won't try it, but it won't go well for them.
Posted by: Baba Tutu ||
01/16/2005 18:48
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I'm thinking BS - do Pilots generally let everyone, bad guyz included, know there's been a security breach? makes no sense
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/16/2005 19:43
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BOSTON, Jan. 15 - In Boston, a witness to a shooting by a member of a street gang recently found copies of his grand jury testimony taped to all the doors in the housing project where he lives.
In Baltimore, Rickey Prince, a 17-year-old who witnessed a gang murder and agreed to testify against the killer, was shot in the back of the head a few days after a prosecutor read Mr. Prince's name aloud in a packed courtroom.
And in each city, CD's and DVD's titled "Stop Snitching" have surfaced, naming some people street gangs suspect of being witnesses against them and warning that those who cooperate with the police will be killed. To underscore its message, the Baltimore DVD shows what appears to be three dead bodies on its back cover above the words "snitch prevention."
"Witness intimidation has become so pervasive that it is ruining the public's faith in the criminal justice system to protect them," said Judge John M. Glynn of Baltimore City Circuit Court. "We are not much better off than the legal system in Mexico or Colombia or some other sad places."
Prosecutors say the need for protection is critical. Daniel Conley, the district attorney for Suffolk County, Mass., which includes Boston, said his prosecutors had seen intimidation in more than 90 percent of cases in the past two years that involved guns, gangs or serious violence.
But gang members have become more brazen, too, Mr. Conley said. In Boston last month, at a trial of two gang members accused of killing a 10-year-old girl, some spectators came to the courtroom wearing T-shirts that said "Stop Snitching."
Remember the story about the Boston gang, MS-13, having links to al-Qaeda? And now we see these instructional videos in supoport of witness suppression showing up in our cities. I'm beginning to think there may be more dots to connect in the news soon.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis ||
01/16/2005
7:49:35 PM ||
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#1
This will only proliferate or take root where the population has been disarmed. Boston: check. The Blue States reap what they sew.
Poor Mr Prince. Victim of a Prosecutor seeking political advantage to match his low IQ and even lower ethical qoutient. And victim of a locale where the citizens can't even protect themselves without breaking the law. I dunno if there is any foreign connection, but it's not necessary, as far as I'm concerned. Situations like this call for preventative measures - and that's not what the Police (or Feds) are trained or equipped to do. The people must have their own personal means of deterrence and protection - or become vigilantes.
#5
The tried and true method of dealing with exactly this situation is the injuction. A single judge can enjoin every member of the gang, and even their families, from doing *anything* gang-related, or even walking down the sidewalk, talking on a phone, associating with anyone else under the injunction, even physically being in a particular neighborhood. The best part is that any violation AT ALL is "contempt of court", which does not require a grand jury indictment OR a jury trial--just standing right back in front of the judge who issued the injunction to determine his guilt or innocence. Usually "guilty", to serve 1 year less 1 day in jail. Such injuctions are such a burden to a gang that it breaks it up. Often gangsters spend one day "out" then go back for another year less a day. Injunctions can run for pages in length, prohibiting just about any mischief they could possibly get into. And it's usually just the cops word against theirs, in front of the pissed-off judge. It is the nuclear weapon of anti-gang control.
#6
Probably a severe shortage of pissed-off judges in Blue America. Maybe even a shortage of judges with the stones to follow such a rational course, in Blue America.
Methinks Blue America will screw itself - this will proliferate via emulation with the publicity it receives (a snowball effect) if not stomped on, hard and early. Successful strategies are always emulated - even among the bad guys.
A 17-year-old Kuwaiti student whose uncles were kidnapped and tortured by Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's invaders more than a decade ago said his California college political science professor failed him for praising the United States in a final-exam essay last month.
Ahmad Al-Qloushi, a foreign student at Foothill College near San Jose, Calif., said he was told by professor Joseph A. Woolcock to get psychological treatment because of the pro-American views expressed in his essay.
"Apparently, if you are an Arab Muslim who loves America, you must be deranged," said Mr. Al-Qloushi, who feared the failing grade could cost him his student visa.
"I didn't want to be deported for having written a pro-American essay, so as soon as I left his office, I made an appointment with the school psychologist," he said.
Mr. Woolcock did not respond to telephone and e-mail inquiries. College officials declined to comment, saying it is a confidential matter because Mr. Al-Qloushi and Mr. Woolcock have filed complaints.
For their final exam, Mr. Woolcock had students write an essay on one of several topics that he circulated.
The topic chosen by Mr. Al-Qloushi stated that some scholars "contend that the Constitution of the United States was not 'ordained and established' by 'the people' as we have often been led to believe. They contend instead that it was written by a small educated and wealthy elite in America who were representative of powerful economic and political interests. Analyze the U.S. Constitution (original document), and show how its formulation excluded the majority of people living in America at that time, and how it was dominated by America's elite interests."
In his essay, Mr. Al-Qloushi said, "I completely disagree. ... The American Constitution worried monarchs in Europe. The right for men to choose their own representatives was unheard-of in the rest of the world. ... The United States Constitution might have excluded the majority of people at the time. But it progressed, and America, like every nation in the world, progressed ...
"Because of America, the world is free. ... America freed Kuwait and is now currently in a fight to free Iraq and its 25 million residents and vanquish the tyranny and monstrosity of Saddam Hussein."
Mr. Al-Qloushi said Mr. Woolcock "told me to come to his office the next morning." In the meeting, "he verbally attacked me and my essay."
"He told me, 'Your views are irrational. He called me naive for believing in the greatness of this country and told me, 'America is not God's gift to the world. ... You need regular psychotherapy.' "
Keith Pratt, an English professor at the school, said he was "pretty appalled" when Mr. Al-Qloushi told him about the incident. "I told him, 'You should talk to the dean and go through channels,' " he said.
"This is a very sincere action on his part," the professor said. "There was never one hint that he had any axe to grind. I know this guy and I have had many conversations with him about the atmosphere in the classroom, but he never engaged in any character assassination."
#1
Sigh. A rational and credible means of dealing with insanity in our institutions needs to be devised. When it rears its ugly mug, it should be dealt with. These insane Professors, Civil Servants, State Foreign Service Officers, Judges, Teachers, et al must be considered infected with a mental affliction, Moonbat Syndrome or whatever, and must not be allowed to continue to spread their insanity. Moonbat Syndrome has become more pervasive and more apparent over the last decade - and is reaching sufficient proportions to demand some sort of remedy. Since 2000, especially, it has begun to "show" with some regularity.
AC? Can you weigh in here if you see this? You've got the cat-bird seat perspective on this institutional madness within the university system and I wonder if you see any avenues beyond forming local mobs with pitchforks and torches. Schools like this one in Sam Bose are not so local as they appear - as any Calif resident can go there cheaply - so it shouldn't be dumped on the locals to deal with. There must be something better.
'A Little Off the Top?' Read down for interesting tidbit. A recently-announced campaign by North Korea's state-controlled media to promote the benefits of shorter hairstyles may be the latest indicator of a significant power struggle between Kim Jong-Il and competing government officials. The campaign, running extensively on North Korean state television over the last few months exhorts the 'mental benefits; of short haircuts, particularly amongst men. According to the a January 8, 2005 report on the BBC's website, the campaign stresses the "negative effects" of long hair on "human intelligence," reasoning that both the brain and hair draw from the same nutritional sources and by reducing the amount of hair, North Koreans can increase their intellectual capacity.
At the 2nd World Congress of Korean Studies held at the PeopleÃs Palace of Culture, August 4 and 5, 2004, in Pyongyang, only the portrait of the late President Kim Il Sung is hung on the wall incontravention of past policy. At first glance, this may appear to be just another eccentricity in a nation known for its bizarre and sometimes outrageous displays of 'national pride' and the 'socialist ideal,' but the ramifications are likely to run far deeper than simply promoting a uniform appearance for North Korean men: it appears to be an attack against Kim Jong-Il. Shorter than most Koreans, Kim has typically worn lifts in his shoes and sported an odd-looking bouffant hairstyle aimed at giving him a notionally larger physical appearance. With an official proclamation that equates long hair with relatively-low mental capacity, Kim's government has essentially forced the highly-vain dictator to reduce his apparent stature, or risk public doubts about his intelligence. In a state as tightly-controlled as North Korea, such embarrassments would not be promulgated by the official media, if Kim Jong Il was firmly in control.
Doubts about Kim Jong-Il's grip on power have been on the rise since a massive explosion took place in the small town of Ryongchon, shortly after Kim rode through, returning from a state visit to Beijing on April 22, 2004. While the official North Korean explanation for the massive explosion, which leveled seven square miles of the town and injured thousands, was a train accident that took place hours after Kim Jong-Il passed through, based on the fact that many of those injured and killed were facing the same way and that optical injuries represented a large proportion of those treated, it is possible that the explosion occurred much closer to the time of Kim's arrival and may have been an assassination attempt. Verrrrrry interesting! Continued on Page 49
#2
Hmm..... Kimmy about to suffer an "accident" at the barber shop?
Posted by: Don Curlyone ||
01/16/2005 20:58
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Invite Dear Leader to lecture at an NBA clinic.
Posted by: ed ||
01/16/2005 21:15
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I have the imagery of North Korea on my computer somewhere. I took a very long look at it. There were three separate explosions - two very large ones, and a much smaller one. They were on a siding usually reserved for dumping coal. The entire area slopes down from the town to the rail line, and the explosions actually occurred at an elevation that a train passing by would be considerably lower than where the explosions originated. As an assassination attempt, it was pretty crude. As a warning, however, it might have been extremely persuasive, seeing as how anyone actually blowing up trains to kill Kim had no compunction about killing about 4300 other people at the same time. One wonders if there's been any other "warnings" we haven't heard about...
Posted by: OId Patriot ||
01/16/2005 21:35
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#5
Sounds like the Juche-believers are trying to sideline "apostate Kim", without wrecking the faith.
A Marine who was declared a deserter days before military court proceedings stemming from an earlier disappearance from Iraq has been placed on a list of "most wanted" fugitives. A mug shot of Marine Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun appeared this week on a Navy criminal justice Web site, which claims the missing corporal now uses the alias "Jafar." His placement on the Navy list puts him among a select group of fugitives, some of whom are being hunted on allegations of terrorism, murder, conspiracy to commit murder, indecent assault and rape.
I'm starting to get pretty tired of "Jafar." And I don't think there are many Marines who like the idea of him soiling their uniform.
Military officials say they have no information about the 24-year-old man's whereabouts, and have been unable to confirm news reports that Hassoun was in Canada or Lebanon. Officials at his base at Camp Lejeune, N.C., did not immediately return a message left after hours seeking comment. Military officials say that Hassoun has no passport.
That doesn't really matter, as long as he knows a few Paks or Yemenis...
And Mohamad Hassoun, a brother, confirmed reports from Lebanese government officials that the Marine is not allowed back in that country. Hassoun's family has said they last heard from him Dec. 29. When he failed to arrive at his base in Camp Lejeune, N.C., by Jan. 5, Hassoun was declared a deserter for a second time. Hassoun was an Arabic translator for the military when he first disappeared from his post in Iraq last summer. He later surfacing in Lebanon where he claimed he had been kidnapped. Al-Jazeera Television showed video of Hassoun blindfolded. A five-month investigation by the Navy found that Hassoun had stolen a Humvee and fled his camp near Fallujah. On Thursday, a pre-trial hearing on charges of desertion and theft was postponed because Hassoun remains missing. Hassoun is a Muslim with citizenship in both the United States and Lebanon. Family members in both Utah and Lebanon have called on the corporal to surrender.
There was a story a few days ago that he was in Lebanon. Maybe they should look in Ein el-Hellhole.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/16/2005
7:04:04 PM ||
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Army Spc. Charles Graner Jr., convicted of physically and sexually mistreating Iraqis at Abu Ghraib prison, was sentenced Saturday to 10 years behind bars in the first trial arising from the scandal fueled by graphic photographs.
Sounds good to me. I hope there's no time off for good behavior...
Graner, labeled the leader of a band of rogue guards at the Baghdad prison in late 2003, also was demoted to private and ordered to forfeit all pay and benefits. When his prison sentence is completed, he will be dishonorably discharged. The jury of four Army officers and six senior enlisted men deliberated about two hours to determine Graner's sentence. He could have received 15 years.
He's certainly no great loss to the Army. He seems to have spent what time he wasn't abusing prisoners sharing bodily fluids with the girlies.
#1
Is anyone else wondering what sort of treatment he will receive from his warders? With just a little imagination, I can conjure up all sorts of images. Lol... Indeed, there may be more pictures to come, heh. I'll bet he won't be grinning and joking in those. This asshole did a monumental and irreparable disservice to the approx 500,000 honorable and good myn and wymyn wearing the uniform. He does not represent them, nor is he worthy to be among them.
#2
That's quite a few ribbons pinned on his chest though...
Posted by: Rafael ||
01/16/2005 7:30
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#3
Don't think the ribbons will appear on his brig jumpsuit. Perhaps some soiled panties as headgear will do.
Posted by: Captain America ||
01/16/2005 7:47
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yep, .com. The USDB at Ft. Leavenworth is better than the usual prison for protecting inmate, far more than E1 Graner did for his charges. He'll be segregate for an initial period of interview, classification, and training [he's going to get to know what he's going to do for the next 10 years]. The personnel at the USDB do not, repeat do not, want anymore attention for their operation than Graner got for his. He's not going to be someone's bitch. Sorry to disappoint you. The question is after the entry process whether he'll be placed in the general population or isolated for his own protection. Strangely enough there is a degree of honor among theives, so to speak. Somewhere later in the sentence, he may qualify for work release, which permits work outside the walls depending upon the inmate's reliability. One of the great aspects for good enlisted personnel at Ft Leavenworth is the old s**t details are performed by inmates.
And Rafael, the Army does not[or did not] have a regulatory process for removing ribbons earned from prior assignment unless it is later discovered that a violation of the UCMJ occured during that assignment. However, yes CA, there is no place on the jumpsuits for those.
Posted by: Don ||
01/16/2005 11:59
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Much more is known about the anti-government movements than gets reported in the media. Every day, members of these groups are captured, or their dead bodies identified. Every day, documents are captured. While the Baath Party and Saddam era security officers running the operations know how to keep secrets, many of their subordinates do not. Moreover, many Sunni Arabs who believed that the Baath Party could make a comeback, and are now having second thoughts. The Western media, in their quest for bad news headlines (which sell much better than good news headlines), report only the damage to American and government forces. This gives a very distorted view of the situation. For example, the after-effects of the November battle of Fallujah have generally gone unnoted. Since the anti-government forces in the city were smashed (3,000 fighters killed or captured in a two week campaign, losing over 30 men for each American or Iraqi soldier killed), anti-government activity in the area around Fallujah went down by more than half. The media switched its attention to the next most active area for the anti-government; Mosul. But the government had also moved its police and army units to Mosul, and along with American troops, the anti-government forces are getting hammered again. But you'd never know that by depending on the mass media for information.
With more and more Sunni Arabs deciding that bringing back the old days is not going to work, attention is turning to the movement of money, weapons and fighters across the Syrian and Iranian border. An example of this is a recent public confession by Moayad Yassin Aziz al Nasiri, a commander of anti-government forces who was captured several months ago. Al Nasiri was betrayed by a Syrian intelligence official who defected to Iraq. Al Nasiri himself finally saw the light and agreed to talk openly about the cash and equipment being supplied by Syria and Iran to the anti-government forces. As a result of this confession, and the eveidence seized daily at border crossings, security at the borders has been increased. More troops are at the border crossings, and more thorough checks of trucks and people crossing. The government has warned truckers that these measures will stay in place at least until the January 30 elections are over. But at the moment, hundreds of trucks are backed up at the Syrian border. The Iraqi and American governments have made strong protests to Syria and Iran about the illegal support crossing the border. But both governments, off the record, plead an inability to stop rogue elements from providing support to the Baath Party violence. Syria has a long history of senior government officials being allowed to have business dealings on the side, in return for loyalty to the Assad family. These days, good business opportunities are to be had from Baath Party big shots. In Iran, Islamic conservative groups are willing to hold their noses and supports Saddams thugs, because they believe America, and sectarian democracy, are a bigger danger than a bunch of Saddam wannabes. While Saddam may be gone, Iraqs long history of bad relations with its neighbors appears to continue.
Posted by: ed ||
01/16/2005
5:44:25 PM ||
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Federal officials are investigating a violent Central America-based street gang for ties to Middle Eastern terrorism, an alliance that seems unlikely but poses a frightening threat to the United States. MS-13, also known as La Mara Salvatrucha, has about 15,000 members in the United States in cities from Los Angeles to Boston. Some members have been charged with crimes that include rape, carjacking and drug smuggling. Officials suspect MS-13 makes money by shuttling illegal aliens across the Mexican border into the United States. According to local police, several Middle Eastern men have been arrested at the border with MS-13 members during the past year, leading some to believe that terrorists are piggybacking on South American illegals to enter the United States. "We've had recent information that they have been involved with not only narco-terrorists but Al Qaeda and that type of thing," said Hunter Glass of the Fayetteville, N.C., police force.
The evidence so far is mostly circumstantial, but there are indications Al Qaeda has approached MS-13 for help crossing the border. "They were trying to make a deal with people like us, gang members, from La Mara Salvatrucha, 'cause they know we transport people," said one MS-13 member. "They asked me if Muslim people were to pay me this ransom money, would I transport them over here?" But federal law enforcement agents say they don't believe there is a link between MS-13 and Al Qaeda. The Department of Homeland Security said it cannot find any evidence of a connection. "We've heard many of those reports over the summer and through the autumn, and we have not been able to corroborate that, in fact, MS-13, to be specific, has been meeting with Al Qaeda," Homeland Security official John Torres told FOX News. The FBI said it's implausible that radical Muslims would align with a predominantly Catholic criminal gang. But two Texas congressmen have written a letter to President Bush warning that 15,000 non-Mexican illegal aliens have crossed the border in recent months, many of them of Middle Eastern origin. The Department of Homeland Security said it is looking into the matter.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/16/2005
5:39:34 PM ||
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#1
I wonder if there is a connection between this and that "death penalty protest" massacre in Honduras right before Christmas. One of the suspects they arrested was MS-13.
Posted by: Pete Stanley ||
01/16/2005 1:22
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The reputed MS-13 gang member arrested for sneaking into Texas illegally alongside a Bangladeshi Muslim last month is an accused cop killer suspected of killing two police officers in Honduras, the Herald has learned. Last week, the Herald reported that the Islamic man, Fakrhul Islam, and alleged MS-13 member Frankie Sanchez-Solorzano, 21, were arrested along with 11 others on Dec. 4 for entering the country illegally by wading across the Rio Grande. The arrests of the two men increased concerns that the brutal gang, Mara Salvatruca - considered terrorists in Central America - will take money from the highest bidder, including Islamic fundamentalists. Attorney General John Ashcroft has publicly said a high-ranking al-Qaeda leader, Adnan El-Shukrijumah, has offered top dollar to infiltrate the United States.
FBI agents and investigators assigned to the Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency interviewed Islam, whose age was unknown, but he was released after the investigation determined he was ``not a terrorist,'' Manny Van Pelt, spokesman for ICE, said yesterday. Islam's whereabouts are now unknown after he was given a ``notice to appear'' warrant that requires him to face an immigration judge within six months. Van Pelt did not know what Islam's purpose in the United States was, or where he was going.
But they knew he wasn't a terrorist. For sure.
Law enforcement sources said Sanchez-Solorzano, who was identified as an MS-13 member via the gang's tattoos on his body, is wanted for killing two cops in his native Honduras. He is being detained by ICE, Van Pelt said. Locally, Boston police are not taking any chances with the gang, whose members have been charged with a slew of machete attacks, rapes and armed robberies across the North Shore. In East Boston, police have stepped up efforts to sweep MS-13 out of Maverick Square, where gang members congregate.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/16/2005
5:37:49 PM ||
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More than 750 troops and federal police officers along with tanks and helicopters on Friday seized control of the nation's top maximum-security prison, where drug kingpins have managed to carry out killings and conduct business in recent months. The takeover came a day after the infamous leader of the so-called gulf cartel, Osiel Cärdenas, organized prisoners to protest the tightening of security at the prison, La Palma. Guards had clamped down on the freedom of inmates after a gunman killed one of Mr. Cärdenas's underworld enemies as he sat in a visiting room on New Year's Eve. It was the second drug-related killing inside the prison in three months.
A U.S. commander warned al-Qaida ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a driving force behind escalating attacks in the buildup to Iraq's election, that American troops were on his trail and would capture or kill him sooner or later. Branding al-Zarqawi the "head of the snake," Brig.-Gen. Jeffrey Hammond said on Friday that taking out the shadowy Jordanian Islamist leader, who tops America's wanted list, would deal a crippling blow to Iraq's insurgency. Al-Zarqawi whose network seems to strike at will, targeting politicians and beheading foreign hostages despite a $25 million U.S. bounty on his head eluded a manhunt during a major U.S.-led assault on his former Fallujah stronghold in November. "I'd love to capture, detain or kill Zarqawi," Hammond told reporters. "I'm very optimistic that sooner or later we're going to get him. Sooner or later, we got Saddam. The bloodhounds are on him right now. They're on his trail."
I listen for the news he's been killed every morning. Still waiting...
Hammond declined to say whether U.S. forces had come close to getting al-Zarqawi since driving his fighters out of Fallujah, though rumors of his capture have surfaced in recent weeks. Hammond deputy commander of the army's 1st Cavalry, based in Baghdad predicted a fresh surge of violence aimed at intimidating voters and said the U.S. military could not guarantee it could prevent "spectacular" attacks in the capital on election day. Asked if parts of Baghdad would be unsafe to cast ballots, he said: "There will probably be places in Baghdad that will be challenging."
My guess is that the Bad Guys're going to turn themselves inside out to produce the maximum poundage of flying meat...
Brushing aside concerns about the ability of Iraq's fledgling security services to safeguard the election, Hammond said they would assume the main responsibility for protecting polling places, with 18,000 police and 35,000 soldiers mobilized in the capital alone. Hammond said U.S. forces would act in a support role and would have rapid-reaction teams ready to respond with "overwhelming force" if Iraqi officials requested their help.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/16/2005
5:30:00 PM ||
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Actions speak louder than words Hammond. Bluster doesn't mean shit, unless such comments will somehow bring the MF of of his rat hole.
Posted by: Captain America ||
01/16/2005 7:50
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I agree Captain. I've been reading this since before the first averted attack on Fallujah. I think there info is wrong more than they think.
#3
They are bagging a lot of his close associates - the product of Zarqawi's increased operational tempo. The more the gopher pops his head up, the more chances our guys have to smack him on the head. Every close associate bagged is another one that won't be around make security arrangements for Zarqawi. Note that Zarqawi, unlike bin Laden, is actually masterminding these operations. If bin Laden was still actively involved like Zarqawi, he'd have been captured already. It's hard to catch someone who's just lying low like bin Laden - but Zarqawi isn't exactly lying low.
#5
Remember some other U.S. military officer and his captured-or-killed pronouncement wrt Sadr? Gen. Hammond should just let his forces do what needs to be done, and leave out the unnecessary speculation about Zarqawi's future.
Yesterday and today was a busy day. A lot of bodies were recovered and we are in the process of putting teams together to hit the beach again today. Debris is everywhere even 2 miles off the beach. We passed 4 floating TV's, couches, beds, dishes, clothing. It was like the entire town was pulled into the sea. We had a lot of problems when landing the helos in remote villages when people, starving and scared, rushed the helos for food. The pilots had no chance for safety to immediately take off, so they dropped the food while hovering. Our entire Medical unit went in today, except one Doctor to help with the sick and injured. Everyone onboard has spent every last penny of their own pay depleting the ships store of food, clothing, water, batteries to donate to shore. Hell, even care packages from home are being given to send to the beach to help with these problems.
Today's youth has put on an impressive display the last couple of days with the sacrifices they have made. They are giving everything they have to these people. Lack of sleep and a drive to make a difference are what I have seen. The families of these kids should be proud of what I see. Dealing with death and disaster is not easy and some of the things we have witnessed would humble the strongest of most, but they keep going. Americas finest is showing true. Everyone is safe as far as disease is concerned. We get shots each day. The ones of us going to the beach have been taking Malaria pills, which we will be required to take for a while after we leave. We go in early in the morning, but because of logistics we have to leave before nightfall. We do as much as we can, but more is needed. More ships in our fleet are on the way here, but they are out a ways. We were the first ones here and have been operating solo until this morning when the Indonesian Navy came through.
The Chaplains have been doing defusing on us as we return from the beach to help reduce Post traumatic syndrome. Everyone wants to stay ashore and have a hard time leaving with the people watching us leave. It is hard because they are always happy to see us and most cry and just hold on to you for comfort. Right now the Captain said that only 20% of the population where we are survived. I know the news has been saying 94,000 have perished, but it is much more than that. Illnesses have started to break out and people that were already sick have been dying. Those injured are getting sicker. Our Doctors and medical team have been doing the best they can to stop it and have saved quite a few. We only hope for all to pull through, but it is going to be tough to stop. I am going to get some rest and wait to get called. We have 11 helos operating right now and once the rest of the fleet gets here we will have much more. About 1,600 out of the 6,000 crew members are being utilized for support ashore. I will email more as it comes up. Dan Rather flew onboard this morning and is staying on board to cover the story. Everything is being done that can be done. The rest is up to a more powerful force than us. Well, that's all for now.
Take care all.
Brian BMC(SW) BRIAN A. CISSELL DECK DEPARTMENT / 1st DIVISION LCPO USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN-72)
Posted by: ed ||
01/16/2005
5:22:21 PM ||
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Thx, ed - these people are truly heroes. I'll leave out the negatives - these folks have my full and complete respect, that's certain. I think they will all grow and become even more remarkable over time, due to this experience.
Who can doubt that this event, and these people who are doing the real work and saving lives everyday, will not produce some of the finest human beings the world has ever seen? I forsee some amazing public servants down the road - and it does my heart good. Thanks, Brian - and thanks to your shipmates and fellow service folks. Awesome.
Posted by: Captain America ||
01/16/2005 23:15
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Somehow I don't think 'holy Dan' is sacrificing much to the cause. I would like to know if he is behaving himself or making demands and making a royal pain of himself.
I notice he is 'staying on board'. God forbid he get his feet wet. (Or does he walk on water to get to shore?)
Didn't Pinochet try something like this? Supporters of French President Jacques Chirac are pushing for a constitutional change that would make him a senator-for-life after he leaves office and thus shield him from the threat of future legal proceedings, newspapers reported Friday.
It's not gonna help him when the tumbrels come out...
The proposed measure would mean that all former presidents become automatic members of the upper house of parliament - instead of joining the constitutional council, France's highest judicial authority, which they do under the existing arrangement. Chirac, 72, cannot be prosecuted as long as he remains president, but when he steps down he risks being placed under judicial investigation in connection with a series of party-finance scams during his 18-year tenure as mayor of Paris. By becoming a life senator, the conservative president would enjoy parliamentary immunity which would make it extremely difficult - though not impossible - to bring him before the courts, the left-leaning Liberation and Le Monde newspapers said. The risk of being made to face trial after he loses his presidential immunity is believed to be a major factor in Chirac's deliberations over whether to stand for an unprecedented third term in 2007. So far he has assiduously kept the possibility open.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/16/2005
5:15:46 PM ||
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That the French Parliament has immunity is absurd. That Chirac needs it is delicious.
#3
Yes, the former colonies learned it from the best.
Posted by: Tom ||
01/16/2005 10:39
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But, Pinochet thought he had the same deal before giving up power. While human rights advocates rejoice that they deep sixed that set up, they have set the future where the thugs will go out fighting taking even more with them rather than just wait around for someone to abrogate their immunity. The assumption here is that no one can be worse than Chirac in the future. Hammering him soon enough may teach the follow on who could be worse to corrupt the system beyond recovery. Its not like there are no other 'Chirac' lined up to take the job in France. I can see a great population of them. Rather rule in hell, than serve in heaven - seems to be the new national motto.
Just be careful what you wish for, you may get it. [insert smiley here]
Posted by: Don ||
01/16/2005 11:35
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Probably a helluva lot better title then "convict".
In an apparent bid to head off car bombings on election day, Iraqi authorities will restrict the use of automobiles throughout the country and will place security cordons around polling stations, a Cabinet minister said Saturday.
Good idea. They do have a tendency to explode...
Provincial Affairs minister Waeil Abdel-Latif also pledged that the government of Prime Minister Ayad Allawi would provide adequate security for voters on Jan. 30, but he acknowledged that the security situation in four of the country's 18 provinces was unstable. Iraqi security forces, he said, will shoulder the prime responsibility for security on election day. But the U.S.-led multinational force will provide support if asked, Abdel-Latif said. "The government is determined to make available facilities and security guarantees to ensure the success of the election," he said at a joint news conference with the head of Iraq's electoral commission, Abdul-Hussein Hendawi. Abdel-Latif gave no details on how cars would be restricted, but security sources have said authorities are considering banning the use of private vehicles Jan. 29-31. Vehicles used by security forces would carry special identity markings.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/16/2005
5:04:35 PM ||
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Good idea. "They do have a tendency to explode..."
It's a Muslim Motors problem. Since there is no Consumer Protection Agency in Islam and Shari'a "Law" seems ambivalent on the issue, the recall effort has been voluntary - and most would agree - a failure. Is it due to Fuel leaks? The Electrical system? Or these in combination with Extremely Unsafe Cargo? One can only guess. CSI Islam has yet to be created, as well.
#2
This war has made it pretty clear that one of the first tasks after invasion needs to be the controlling of vehicles. Essentially we should bring the DMV with us and eliminate all vehicle traffic until all vehicles are re-registered. The enemy has used vehicles as mines (roadside bombs), smart bombs (suicide car attacks), transport (attacking from falluja into Baghdad), and recon. The wide availability of automobiles appears to me to be the new element compared to past wars and controlling this element I believe is key (does anybody believe that saddam allowed all these unregistered vehicles??)
I would essentially #1: Eliminate all vehicle traffic up front. #2: Capture and/or bring in civilian buses and setup public transport were needed. #3: establish DMV style org, Impound lot, and recovery companies. Use Iraq's and put them back to work doing this. #4: Start re-registering vehicles, allowing only registered vehicles back on the road. #5: impound all un-registered vehicles found on the road, including destroying vehicles if need be to make a point. #6: No vehicles to be left on the side of Military Routes unattended. If they are they will be destroyed. If you must leave the vehicle you had better move it way off the road. #7: if costs allow perhaps add low-jack to all vehicles as they are re-registered. This could be done in the beginning and would assist in tracking of vehicles at checkpoints. #8: All auto-theft needs to be immediatly reported in light of #9: Very heavy punishment if your vehicle is used in attack.
Just a few ideas
Posted by: Patrick ||
01/16/2005 11:51
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No more drive-ins.
Posted by: Captain America ||
01/16/2005 17:23
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The federal government is receiving reports of "suspicious activity" around buildings where presidential inaugural events and a parade are scheduled to occur Jan. 20 in Washington, FOX News learned Friday.
FOX News obtained an intelligence bulletin sent this week to law enforcement by the FBI's Washington field office, which is coordinating the security for next week's inaugural along with the U.S. Secret Service. An FBI official confirmed the authenticity of the bulletin and said, "there is no credible threat information but we are looking at everything and anything out of an abundance of caution."
More than 6,000 law enforcement personnel will be on duty Jan. 20, the day President Bush is sworn in for a second term.
Reports of suspicious activity noted by the FBI include people taking pictures and writing descriptive notes while being near the buildings. But there is no indication that any of these activities are linked to terrorist activity. Plus, many of the buildings and streets in question consistently receive numerous suspicious activity reports due to their high visibility in the Washington area.
Some of the threat reporting is coming to U.S. officials from overseas, according to the FBI bulletin. For example, the State Department advised that on Jan. 6, a regional security office received a letter via local mail service from a Kenyan national, alleging that terrorists will launch an attack at the inauguration using tactics similar to those employed in Iraq last month that killed 19 U.S. soldiers. The letter did not contain further details about the alleged attack but it rambled on about other topics such as the recent tsunami disaster, the Kenyan government's inability to provide jobs and medical care to its citizenry and the torture of political prisoners, according to the bulletin.
The possible reference in the letter to the Dec. 21 attack in Mosul, Iraq, on a U.S. military mess hall may indicate the use of an improvised explosive device by a would-be homicide bomber, the agency noted. Based on the information received to date, this is not assessed to be a credible threat. A copy of the letter is being passed to the Kenyan police for further investigation.
Another threat report, as outlined in the FBI bulletin, consists of word that Mohamad Chafiq Dekkak contacted a U.S. businessman of Muslim descent to sponsor his visa entry into the United States for business purposes. Dekkak has been associated with two possible international arms dealers, Hemad Lakhani and Samir El Mahallawy (search). Lakhani was arrested in the United States in August 2003 and charged with providing material support for terrorist acts and with violating the arms import/export control act. The FBI continues to investigate. Dekkak's hidden intent is allegedly to attend the inauguration. This is suspicious, since Dekkak has no known basis for his recent interest in U.S. political events, the FBI noted.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/16/2005
4:57:10 PM ||
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I drove down Pennsylvania Avenue this very evening...give it the "all clear."
#2
I suspect it would be quite an experience for anyone who dropped in on Rantapalooza with evil intent... a friend (now a 4th degree blackbelt) once snuck up behind his father, shouted "boo!", and found himself before the word was completely out of his mouth up against the wall with his throat not quite separated from the rest of him. His father was awf'ly sorry (retired Special Forces and all), but the lad never did anything like that ever again -- nor does his wife now (nor I to my husband, that's one of those "stupid only once" things! I do try to learn from my experiences).
So those of you who will be palooza-ing, try to play gently with any chewtoys that mistakenly wander in... we don't want to hear about mysterious disappearences later, 'k?
I witnessed a similar incident years ago. A bunch of us high school buddies were back in our hometown from college, drunk as skunks, when we saw our pal Scott (USMC) was back from Beirut.
One guy snuck up on Scott as he was talking to some girls, leapt on him, and found himself on his back, prone, and waiting for the coup de grace.
We all laughed it off and no one was seriously hurt but
Beirut understandably had made Scott razor sharp edgy.
I always approach my military friends from the front with a smile and a warm handshake. Much safer.
#6
After I was discharged I moved back home with the folks. Mom woke me one morning by putting her hand on my shoulder. By the time I really woke up I had her on the floor with fist raised.
#7
There's this article in Newsmax (use salt) about violent protesters. This may be some of what the Feds are watching. These dolts need to run into about 40 Special Forces folks home on leave from Iraq or Afghanistan.
I spent a lot of time with a Korean ROK Marine Master Sergeant in Vietnam. He taught me some really NASTY things to do to the human body. I spent the first year I was back from Nam (actually in Germany) trying to keep my reactions under control, and not kill anybody. IT was a heavy strain.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
01/16/2005 15:32
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Iraq's elections will be legitimate if roughly half the Sunni Arab minority votes despite threats of violence, a leading politician in the Shi'ite alliance expected to dominate the polls said on Saturday. "I think 40 to 50 percent of Sunnis will vote. That would be very good, with all the threats, with all the measures taken by the insurgents and the terrorism," said Adel Abdul Mahdi, when asked how many Sunnis needed to vote to validate the polls. Fear of widespread violence in Sunni areas has raised concerns that many Sunnis, once privileged under Saddam Hussein, will not vote, skewing the results in favor of the Shi'ite majority long oppressed by the toppled Iraqi president.
Life's tough that way, isn't it?
Finance Minister Abdul Mahdi is a senior official in the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, part of a Shi'ite list of candidates in the United Iraqi Alliance expected to win the most seats in parliament after the Jan. 30 poll. Iraq's main Sunni party, the Iraqi Islamic Party, has withdrawn from the polls, saying they should be delayed, while the 60 percent Shi'ite majority is poised to gain power and believes voting should go ahead despite fears of bloodshed. "A lot of (security) measures have been taken. We have to keep the suicide bombers from getting to huge gatherings and with the media this might reflect a very negative signal to other centers of elections," said Abdel Mehdi, a contender to lead Iraq after the election. "I think there will be some (guerrilla) operations but I think elections will go smoothly in most parts of the country. "We are not permitting cars to reach those (voting) centers. Movement will be limited between provinces. There will be limited movement in the cities," he said.
I don't think I'd let guys wearing overcoats get too close to them, either...
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/16/2005
4:54:57 PM ||
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Typical poop from a politician facing reporters. Either he was pressed to give a number or he's just so green at this that he felt he needed to verbalize a brain fart.
How many Sunnis vote is not a measure of the legitimacy of the elections. Period. The choice is theirs. Life is a bitch, and it's even bitchier when you're a Sunni in Iraq today, whether a jihadi, merc, tool, or dumb, damned, and unlucky. Such are the options for a group that has had all of the "good luck" for the last 35 years. The pendulum has swung the other way. If a measure of anything, it is of their worthiness to be a part of a democracy. No sympathy is due, sorry. Whining, hand wringing, and I'm-more-symp-than-you-so-I'm-more-moral blather commences in 5...4...3...
#4
If they vote, my comments shouldn't pertain to them. The Shia is sticking their necks out, while many sunni whine like cowards. Are the sunni getting blown up, shot at?
Posted by: Captain America ||
01/16/2005 17:14
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The whiners are ALL American Stalinists, people like Michal Moore, Howard Dean and the Fatty Teddy, al-Gore and al-Sharpton monsters.
What they are NOT smart enough to understand is that Iraq is MIXED in numerous ways! Some estimates show up to 20% of Iraqi's have Sunni AND Shia relatives. (In-laws's, etc).
A lot of Sunni's will vote. Probably MORE than 1/2 of them.
Nato's top commander in Europe, US Gen James Jones, has been meeting officials in Romania and Bulgaria, exploring possible future military bases for US forces in the Balkans. He says such strategically-positioned bases would enhance Nato's capabilities as the US adjusts its post-Cold War priorities.
The commander of United States forces in Europe, Gen James Jones, has been inspecting military sites in Bulgaria which the US might use in future as bases when it redeploys troops from western Europe. Gen Jones' visit, and a series of talks in Romania, come as part of his preparations for Congressional hearings at which he will outline the Pentagon's plans for reassigning US forces in Europe.
Iraqi officials searched Saturday for a political leader's teenage daughter, abducted as she walked home from a math tutoring session in Baghdad, CNN said. The abductors used the 16-year-old's cell phone Friday night to send a text message to Khadim Yousef Hulfi, saying, "We have fulfilled our promise to you. We have your daughter." Hulfi is the assistant to the secretary-general of the Iraqi Council of Ministers. Police said the kidnappers have not made any demands and were being sought.
Hope the Iraqis realize this is the kind of state these guys want to establish. They should, since it's just like the kind they used to have.
Meanwhile, a Muslim group linked to the al-Qaida terror network claimed responsibility for killing a top aide to Iraq's leading Shiite cleric. Ansar al-Islam took responsibility Friday for killing Mahmoud Madaeni, who was shot to death with his son and four bodyguards as he walked home from prayers Wednesday night near his house southeast of Baghdad, the Washington Post reported Saturday. Madaeni was a local clerical representative of Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, whose support for the Jan. 30 election has mobilized much of Iraq's Shiite majority. Ansar al-Islam called Madaeni "one of the main supporters of the election" and reiterated its threats to target voters and candidates and to attack polling stations."
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/16/2005
4:50:33 PM ||
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Well, thanks to A-al-I for clearing things up. Good thing I only penciled in the other guys in the scorebook.
Posted by: Captain America ||
01/16/2005 7:31
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I don't get it: why the Prince Harry graphic? [scratches head]
#4
I don't get it: why the Prince Harry graphic? [scratches head]
Bwahahahahahahahahaha!!! Bravo, Bulldog, remind me to lob you a steak.
As to the article; Iraqi Sunnis had best realize that, soon enough, all involved will have gotten a belly-full of such mayhem and begin to unleash the (rightly infuriated) Shiites for their own private little pogroms.
The flight from Kiev, Ukraine, to Moscow takes just over an hour and a half, but the countries' two airports are decades apart. The lines for passport control in Moscow's dilapidated Sheremetevo Airport are long and unorganized. Dim lights barely offer enough illumination to allow arriving passengers to sort through their documents before unfriendly border guards scrutinize them. In Russia, documents are still worth their weight in gold. Not just in the airport, but on the streets of central Moscow and elsewhere. Without them, you are subjected to fines and possible jail time, especially if you are from one of Russia's ethnic regions of the North Caucuses.
In Kiev, 13 years of independence from the former Soviet Union and the oppressive grip of Russification has brought small improvements to this country of 48 million as it tries to join the ranks of its nearby Eastern European neighbors such as Slovakia, Poland and Hungary. Kiev's Borispil Airport has been remodeled into a modern, efficient operation. International passengers stand in a bright open room where the administration has taken down the Russian signs and replaced them with Ukrainian and English directions. There are few signs in this small airport that this was once the Soviet Union. It's a friendly greeting compared with the one awaiting visitors to Moscow. No wonder that Ukrainians, given the choice between a presidential candidate promising European integration and a Kremlin-backed establishment figure, voted for change. No wonder when they looked at the prospect of falling into Russian President Vladimir Putin's increasingly authoritarian net, Ukrainians took to the streets by the hundreds of thousands bearing the campaign's colors to protest a fraudulent election. No wonder there was an Orange Revolution.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/16/2005
4:47:44 PM ||
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Heh, nice appropriate graphic... if only he had Blofeld's scar... and cuddly appeal.
Forty-six members of the Palestinian election commission, including top managers, resigned Saturday, saying they were pressured by Mahmoud Abbas' campaign and intelligence officials to abruptly change voting procedures during the Jan. 9 presidential poll. Two senior members of the commission, Ammar Dwaik and Baha al-Bakri, resigned early Saturday, and officials later said 44 more members resigned. Six top election officials were among those who resigned. The resignations raised questions about Sunday's vote giving Abbas an overwhelming victory with 62.3 percent, though the officials who quit said the alleged irregularities did not fundamentally affect the final vote tally. "This proves that what happened is very serious and it must not happen again," said Dwaik, the commission's deputy chairman. "These pressures and threats lessened the degree of the integrity of the election, even though overall it was free and fair." Abbas was sworn in as Palestinian Authority president Saturday.
During the presidential election, polls were to have stayed open for 12 hours until 7 p.m. However, several hours after polls opened, turnout was light, a cause of concern for Abbas, who was the front-runner but needed a decisive victory to win a mandate for peace talks with Israel. "We were visited by senior officials from Abu Mazen's campaign, and we were pressured to change procedures on election day," al-Bakri said. Abbas is widely known as Abu Mazen. During the meeting, shots were fired at the panel's headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Electoral officials said they recognized at least one gunman as a member of Palestinian intelligence services. The commission eventually extended voting by two hours and allowed voters to cast their ballots in any location, not just their hometowns. The change enabled thousands of security force members, most of them Abbas supporters, to cast ballots near their posts rather than travel back to their hometowns, some of them far away.
Dwaik and al-Bakri said Saturday those decisions were made under pressure from Abbas' campaign, Fatah and the intelligence service. "I was personally threatened and pressured," Dwaik said. "I am therefore announcing my resignation publicly, so that everyone knows that in the upcoming legislative election, this could happen again." Al-Bakri said voting hours are extended only when there are long lines at the polling stations. "This was not the case on election day," he said. "These (changes in) procedures had two goals: first to increase the turnout and second to increase the percentage of Fatah voters."
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/16/2005
4:46:06 PM ||
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Look, if former president Gomer Carter approves of the election, all is well.
Posted by: Captain America ||
01/16/2005 7:45
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The United States has been conducting secret reconnaissance missions inside Iran to help identify potential nuclear, chemical and missile targets, The New Yorker magazine reported Sunday.
The article, by award-winning reporter Seymour Hersh, said the secret missions have been going on at least since last summer with the goal of identifying target information for three dozen or more suspected sites.
Hersh quotes one government consultant with close ties to the Pentagon as saying, "The civilians in the Pentagon want to go into Iran and destroy as much of the military infrastructure as possible."
One former high-level intelligence official told The New Yorker, "This is a war against terrorism, and Iraq is just one campaign. The Bush administration is looking at this as a huge war zone. Next, we're going to have the Iranian campaign..."
The former intelligence official told Hersh that an American commando task force in South Asia is working closely with a group of Pakistani scientists who had dealt with their Iranian counterparts.
The New Yorker reports that this task force, aided by information from Pakistan, has been penetrating into eastern Iran in a hunt for underground nuclear-weapons installations.
In exchange for this cooperation, the official told Hersh, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has received assurances that his government will not have to turn over Abdul Qadeer Khan, the father of Pakistan's atomic bomb, to face questioning about his role in selling nuclear secrets to Iran, Libya and North Korea.
Hersh reported that Bush has already "signed a series of top-secret findings and executive orders authorizing secret commando groups and other Special Forces units to conduct covert operations against suspected terrorist targets in as many as 10 nations in the Middle East and South Asia."
Defining these as military rather than intelligence operations, Hersh reported, will enable the Bush administration to evade legal restrictions imposed on the CIA's covert activities overseas.
#2
good - but Hersh's motives in publishing this are no doubt geared to stopping the ops and thereby endangering Americans. F*&ker
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/16/2005 16:53
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I doubt this particular report is going to endanger any operatives; but if Hersh crosses that line, lock him up and lose the key.
This is encouraging news, confirmation of what I've suspected for a while.
Posted by: Dave D. ||
01/16/2005 16:56
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Hersh is so full of shit his blue eyes are now brown. If there is (and I presume ther is) activiy inside Iran, Hersh and his never identifiable sources would be the last to know.
Posted by: Captain America ||
01/16/2005 17:05
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You beat me to it, Frank. Of course we are doing what we can, and I don't doubt that there are some agents in Iran, primarily Iranians, but Hersh is waay over the line, unless he's being led there intentionally. I wish this was a bona-fide State of War, sadly HR-388 doesn't go that far... then Hersh and his "sources" could be summarily shot in the fucking head for treason. The ultimate press whore today.
There are (at least) two possibilities here:
1) He is not being misled in some devious Rovian Plotâ¢. I do not know, of course, how much he fabricates out of whole cloth, but I'd filter this with a fine mesh to see if he does have a source - and then introduce that fine American to every legal punishment available.
2) This is a Rovian Plot⢠- a disinformation campaign designed to screw with the Mad Mullahs and put Hersh and his ilk off the scent of what we're really doing. That is possibly the case with the heavy references to Pakiwakis.
Hersh really is a seditious piece of shit, regardless. Since we can't shoot him, we might as well use him to further US interests, which would chap his ass, of course, since he's on the other side.
#6
Hersch is a self-serving idiot, so my money is on some carrots for Hersch to follow and report on. The US needs to put some paranoia into the Mad Mullahsâ¢, since we do not have the Big Bunch of Troops Invasion Optionâ¢.
President Bush has said that Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons. The US damn well better be doing clando ops, or we are being negligent in our obligations to the safety of our citizens.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
01/16/2005 17:22
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#12
Well, not legally. Remember, you cannot advocate such a thing in a public forum. That he is a seditionist and traitor does not empower anyone to act outside of the law. Were we in a declared State of War, he would get his without us having to lift a finger - he'd have already gotten the attention he deserves. We're not. And you must not call for violence outside of the law or you are breaking the law.
We're cool. He'll run afoul someday - his ego will see to that. Meanwhile, I hope our Gov't, in the name of National Security, is playing his ass like a violin.
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
01/16/2005 21:53
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#14
This is a rather convenient way to get the IRG tearing everyone new assholes in Iran in a frenzy to find those US operatives. This will result in Stalin-like purges of the officer corps of the regular army, and perhaps get some of their scientists fired as well. On top of that, the tighter they crack down, the harder it gets for them to really control the country - they are just adding more pressure for the nation to blow its gaskets.
Add to that, as they go nutso trying to find the "spies", we get to observe and see where they think their weknesses are, and how they go about hunting them down (thus revealing their true weak spots).
A little bit of clandestine work in the right spots with this kind of thing making them look all over the place will be highly effective.
Now all we need is Dan Rather saying he has found secret documents revealing the "Extensive clandestine operations network the US has in Iran"...
#15
This is a rather convenient way to get the IRG tearing everyone new assholes in Iran in a frenzy to find those US operatives. This will result in Stalin-like purges of the officer corps of the regular army, and perhaps get some of their scientists fired as well. On top of that, the tighter they crack down, the harder it gets for them to really control the country - they are just adding more pressure for the nation to blow its gaskets.
Add to that, as they go nutso trying to find the "spies", we get to observe and see where they think their weknesses are, and how they go about hunting them down (thus revealing their true weak spots).
A little bit of clandestine work in the right spots with this kind of thing making them look all over the place will be highly effective.
Now all we need is Dan Rather saying he has found secret documents revealing the "Extensive clandestine operations network the US has in Iran"...
#16
This is a rather convenient way to get the IRG tearing everyone new assholes in Iran in a frenzy to find those US operatives. This will result in Stalin-like purges of the officer corps of the regular army, and perhaps get some of their scientists fired as well. On top of that, the tighter they crack down, the harder it gets for them to really control the country - they are just adding more pressure for the nation to blow its gaskets.
Add to that, as they go nutso trying to find the "spies", we get to observe and see where they think their weknesses are, and how they go about hunting them down (thus revealing their true weak spots).
A little bit of clandestine work in the right spots with this kind of thing making them look all over the place will be highly effective.
Now all we need is Dan Rather saying he has found secret documents revealing the "Extensive clandestine operations network the US has in Iran"...
A few days old, but still rates high on the entertainment meter. Via Don Luskin.
A renowned economist who headed an academic think tank at Yale University is resigning because of financial misconduct, a school spokesman said Monday. Florencio Lopez-de-Silanes, a tenured finance and economics professor, issued a statement acknowledging "an error," but neither he nor Yale provided details. The Wall Street Journal, citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter, reported Monday that Lopez-de-Silanes allegedly double-billed Yale for about $150,000 in travel expenses since 2001. The World Bank, for whom he worked as a consultant, is conducting a separate inquiry into contracts awarded to the 38-year-old Lopez-de-Silanes, said Damian Milverton, a spokesman for the financial institution.
Lopez-de-Silanes, who was born in Mexico, had run Yale's International Institute for Corporate Governance since it was created within the business school in July 2001. "I made a mistake and I deeply regret any unintended harm," he said. "I have taken appropriate corrective steps with all affected parties and I can offer no excuse except the intensity of my focus on my work." Yale spokesman Tom Conroy said Lopez-de-Silanes will resign June 30. He would not say anything beyond that the resignation was "a result of financial misconduct and irregularities."
Posted by: Seafarious ||
01/16/2005
4:23:23 AM ||
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It looks like an image cropped from an old cartoon that was always printed on paper and passed around, in which there were three more of those characters also laughing and was captioned at the bottom, "You want it WHEN????"
Naw, schmoos don't have any upper appendages. Those two chaps are two-thirds of the trio (the missing one is down on all fours hammering his fists on the ground) who appear on the "You Want It When?" poster so frequently seen in manufacturing, engineering and purchasing offices.
"Florencio Lopez-de-Silanes, a tenured finance and economics professor, issued a statement acknowledging "an error," but neither he nor Yale provided details. The Wall Street Journal, citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter, reported Monday that Lopez-de-Silanes allegedly double-billed Yale for about $150,000 in travel expenses since 2001."
This guy maggot belongs in an executive boardroom or on Wall Street. That's where practices such as double-billing and amounts like $150,000 are typically referred to as an "error."
#6
This is really bugging me. I am (90%) certain this is one of the three economists who floated a theory of economic law that held that the English legal system's protection of property rights, and in particular the legal rights of corporations was demonstrably far more economically successful than the French model, where corporations enjoy far less legal protection. They used countries which were based upon English vs French systems for their comparison. Of course, the legal community was ridiculing them since they had dared to tread upon foreign (the legal community's) turf, heh.
I can't locate the article as posted on RB, so it was probably only a link and it appears that link-only titles are not part of the RB Search function.
Can anyone verify or deny this - as I said, it's been bugging me since I saw this story.
It seem the eco's were Robt Vishny, Rafael La Porta, and Lopez de Silanes - but I could definitely be wrong.
The father of a murdered New Jersey family was threatened for making anti-Muslim remarks online — and the gruesome quadruple slaying may have been the hateful retaliation, sources told The Post yesterday. Hossam Armanious, 47, who along with his wife and two daughters was found stabbed to death in his Jersey City home early Friday, would regularly debate religion in a Middle Eastern chat room, one source said. Armanious, an Egyptian Christian, was well known for expressing his Coptic beliefs and engaging in fiery back-and-forth with Muslims on the Web site paltalk.com.
He "had the reputation for being one of the most outspoken Egyptian Christians," said the source, who had close ties to the family. The source, who had knowledge of the investigation, refused to specify the anti-Muslim statement. But he said cops told him they were looking into the exchanges as a possible motive. The married father of two had recently been threatened by Muslim members of the Web site, said a fellow Copt and store clerk who uses the chat room. "You'd better stop this bull---- or we are going to track you down like a chicken and kill you," was the threat, said the clerk, who was online at the time and saw the exchange. But Armanious refused to back down, according to two sources who use the Web site.
Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy would neither confirm nor deny that cops and prosecutors were looking into the religion motive, saying only that "nothing is being ruled out." But a relative of the mayor who answered the phone at Healy's home said there was information the murders were "religion-related." "There are several theories we are looking into, but we are not commenting on any of them at this time," said Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Guy Gregory. Armanious' fervor apparently rubbed off on his daughter, Sylvia — who would have turned 16 yesterday. "She was very religious and very opinionated," said Jessica Cimino, 15, a fellow sophomore at Dickenson HS.
A family member who viewed photos of the bloodbath said Sylvia seemed to have taken the most savage punishment. "When we saw the pictures, you could tell that they were hurt really, really bad in the face; especially Sylvia," said Milad Garas, the high-school sophomore's great-uncle. The heartless killer not only slit Sylvia's throat, but also sliced a huge gash in her chest and stabbed her in the wrist, where she had a tattoo of a Coptic cross. Also found murdered were the wife, Amal Garas, and the parents' other daughter, Monica.
Fred Ayed, the deacon at St. George and St. Shenouda Church, where the deeply religious family attended services, said he's worried that the murders could have a ripple effect. "I am concerned for the safety of our community," said Ayed, who knew Hossam for 30 years. "People are scared because one family was slain like cows," said Moheb Ghabour, publisher of a local newspaper for the Coptic community.
Osama Hassan, director of the Islamic Center of Jersey City, described the relationship between Copts and Muslims as cooperative if not friendly. "I think there might be people that can get into physical fights, but not to the point of murder," Hassan said. Both the deacon and uncle poured cold water on the theory that the family were the victims of a robbery gone wrong. "This is not a robbery, Ayed said. "We found all of the jewelry in the house. They didn't take anything." The FBI confirmed it has been called in to help with the case.
Posted by: ed ||
01/16/2005
4:20:24 PM ||
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#1
It would make me very happy if, when they track down the killers, we could get Banglakops to make the arrests.
The filth is here now. I wonder if more people are going to wake up?
Posted by: Fred ||
01/16/2005 20:28
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Osama Hassan's whistling past the graveyard, here. Sure offending certain people on certain topics can lead to murder. Duh, dipshit. The ClueBat is your friend, give him a visit.
Well, I hope the Fibbies can find who did this and build a 14-layer megacase. I hope they send 50 agents in vests with Mac-10's to make the arrests and there is violent resistance.
Nobel peace laureate Shirin Ebadi said on Saturday she won't obey a summons by the hard-line Revolutionary Court even though she could be arrested, a challenge to the powerful body that has tried and convicted many intellectuals.
Ebadi, the first Iranian and the first Muslim woman to win the Nobel peace prize, received the summons on Thursday. "The manner in which the summons has been arranged is illegal. I won't go to the court," Ebadi told the news agency. "A summons has to specify the reason. That a summons is issued for somebody without specifying the reason and subject is illegal."
Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, one of three lawyers to represent Ebadi if she is charged, said the Revolutionary Court could arrest Ebadi for disregarding the order. Though a reason wasn't specified, Dadkhah said she had been summoned to testify as a witness, not as an accused. The summons was issued Wednesday, ordering her appearance within three days, which would be by Saturday. However, because she received the summons Thursday, Dadkhah said the deadline was Sunday.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Seafarious ||
01/16/2005
4:17:55 AM ||
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...I forsee this coming to a bad end. The Mad Mullahs are not going to stand for a Mere Woman defying them. They may not specifically say to kill her, but rather someone may ask, "Who will rid me of this troublesome lawyer?", and there's lots of moonbats over there who will be happy to help.
What will be thoroughly disgusting to watch will be the absolute SILENCE on the part of the Nobel Committee. They had no compunction about announcing how their selection of Jimmah Cartuh was intended as a slap at the United States - but now that a winner really is about to face a monstrous theocracy, they will say NOTHING.
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
01/16/2005 8:50
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From PakTribune
US forces in Afghanistan freed 81 suspected Taliban fighters from military jails across the country Sunday and some of the released men said they had been mistreated and tortured in custody. Aged between 19 and 64, looking pale and exhausted, the bearded men smiled and waved as they left the Afghan Supreme Court to begin their journeys home.
"They have been released from Bagram," Chief Justice Fazl Hadi Shinwari told reporters, referring to the main American base in Afghanistan, north of the capital Kabul. .... At a brief hearing before their release, Shinwari warned the men not to talk about their imprisonment, saying it could harm the prospects of those still held, but some still spoke out.
"I was picked up on the basis of wrong information," Shah Alim, a 19-year-old from the eastern province of Kunar, told Reuters. "They poured water on me, deprived me of sleep and beat me during detention as part of their torture." ....
"I have very bad memories of the interrogation because they were torturing us," said Abdul Manan, 35, also from Kunar. "But after the interrogation period was over, everything was all right," he told reporters outside the Supreme Court. ....
Shinwari said U.S. authorities had also pledged to free all their remaining Afghan prisoners. "There are another 400 Taliban in Bagram and they (the U.S. military) have promised to release all Taliban from Bagram and Guantanamo Bay," he said. The release of the Afghan prisoners and pledge to free more comes amid reports that U.S.-backed Afghan President Hamid Karzai's government is in peace talks with mid-level Taliban commanders to persuade them and their foot-soldiers to give up their fight and return to normal life. .....
Shinwari warned the released prisoners not to take up arms against the Afghan government. Local media reports say some previously freed Guantanamo prisoners have rejoined the Taliban and some of those have since been killed in clashes or recaptured by U.S. forces. .....
American officials in Afghanistan say they don't have any information about a prisoner release. But Afghan officials say about 80 people detained by the U-S military in Afghanistan will be released today. ....The court spokesman said that the about 80 prisoners would be brought from Bagram Air Base, the main U-S base in Afghanistan, to Kabul and then allowed to return to their homes. .....
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
01/16/2005
3:12:49 PM ||
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Hope we embedded the microchips for tracking purposes.
#2
shhh...it's just a Rovian trick to get the WAPO/NYT/CNN/BBC/NPR/ABC/CBS/NBC puppets to report on the "torture" and futher tick off all but their blessedly brainwashed base
#3
sh&t. In my college days I became briefly acquainted with San Felipe's jail (Baja, Mex for non-revelers). I considered it torture too, knowing my buds were out partying and all I got was warm beer and fish tacos...mmmmmmm fish tacos.....
these pukes should be kept on a short leash
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/16/2005 18:46
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"There are, to my knowledge, only five people that I fear may cause me to lose control enough to become (progressively) embarrassed, fired, arrested or executed. O.J Simpson is one; the second is the absolutely execrable Ted Rall, and the final three are Michael Moore."
Is the name Diane allowed for a girl revert to keep since the name means divine in French?
It is incorrect to keep such a name.
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Can you please provide a hadith for not taking photos.
Sayyiduna Abu Talha reports that Rasulullah [Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam] said, 'Verily, the angels do not enter a home in which there is a dog or picture.' Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mas'ood reports that Rasulullah [Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam] said, 'Those who draw / take pictures will be afflicted with the most severest of punishments on the day of Qiyaamat.' Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbaas reports that Rasulullah [Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam] said, 'Those who draw pictures (or take photos) will be punished by Almighty Allah until they give life to those pictures, and (obviously) they will never be able to do so, i.e. the punishment will not seize.'
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Can we dance without music without anyone eles seeing us?
Dancing is completely prohibited even if it is without music.
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Are there any exceptions to the prohibition of music? What about: 1) Love songs which are sung by a wife to her husband? 2) Piano or flute music which attract a husband to his wife? 3) What about instrumental music only used between husband and wife? 4) Is it permissible to learn to read music notes in order to compose songs (without instruments)?
All musical instruments are prohibited in Islam irrespective of what it is played for or the type of attraction it has. It will be permissible to express love to one's wife only as long as the words have a good meaning, no instruments are used and they are not expressed in tunes imitating songs of the disbelievers.
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Is it valid to watch videos which contain religious material?
Watching television is not permissible regardless of the content.
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Is it permissible to hold my wife's hand in public?
It will be against Hayaa (shame and modesty) to hold one's wife's hand in public.
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Pls let me know is wearing red or keeping things of red colour prohibited in islam? Did our Nabi (S.A.W.S) disliked this colour. Are we believer women allowed to wear this colour? Which all colours are prohibited ?
It is prohibited for males only to wear full red clothing. If the colour is broken with another colour, it is permissible, for example, red and white shawls generally used by the Arab men.
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Is there any prescribe style for hair cutting in Islam?
At the outset, it must be pointed out that it is not permissible for females to cut their hair. Males may shave their hair or cut it evenly. It is not permissible to adopt any hair style of non-Muslims.
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Is it is ok to cut ones nails (finger &toenails) in the garden as I noticed on a few occasions that ants carry the pieces of the nails,that are cut,away
It is permissible to cut nails in the garden.
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Are women allowed to have long nails in Islam?
It is Mustahabb (commendable and desirable) to pair the finger nails every Friday. Only a Mujahid is exempted from this and it is preferrable that he lenghtens his nails because it can be used as a weapon to attack the enemy. It was aso the blessed habit of Nabi alaihis salaam that he would pair his nails and not let them grow long. It is also noted in the books on Jurisprudence that he who lengthens his nails, his sustenance and income becomes straitened and restricted. Also, one should remenber that at the time of wudhu it is necessary for the validity of the wudhu that water reaches below the nails if the nails are longer than normal. Many a times women are busy in their choirs of the kitchen wherein different types of ingredients tend to stick under the nails and if not removed, Wudhu will be invalid if it does reach the bottom of the nails. Therefore it will not be permissible to keep long nails unnecessarily.
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Can we mix normal water into the Zam Zam water,does it still remain Abay Zam zam.
Ordinary water mixed with zam-zam water will not be pure zam-zam water.
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I've been told that you should not cover your mouth while sneezing. I have found this difficult at times in certain places eg. the library.
It is not prohibited to cover the mouth during sneezing.
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Why do Muslims sit and eat and drink water? Is it Shariah Law, and is it it any Hadiths?
Hadhrat Anas ibn Maalik (Radhiallaahu Anhu) is reported to have said that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) has prohibited one from standing and drinking. Hadhrat Qataadah said, 'I asked, "what about standing and eating?" Hadhrat Anas replied, "that is even worse." It is reported from Hadhrat Abu Hurayra that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, 'None of you should stand and drink. If anyone did so forgetfully, then he should vomit.
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I have heard in speeches that it is Sunnah with great reward if we eat our meals sitting on the floor versus a dining table. Please provide the directives of Prophet s.a.w.s. in regards to this.
It is Sunnah to sit on the floor and eat. To sit on a dinning table will be contrary to Sunnah. It is narrated in a Hadith, 'Whenever food was brought to Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), he would place it on the ground.' (Ahmad) This is closer to humility. It is also narrated that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) never ate from a table. There are Sunnat methods of sitting on the floor. It is narrated that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) should sometimes squat on his knees or raise his right leg and sit on his left leg or sit in Tashahhud position and eat. (Abu Dawud). So, this was the practice of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) and it is sufficient for us.
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I do not understand how a woman can have her right calf on top of her left calf in sitting position after sajdah in namaz.
She will sit on her left buttock and both her legs will be taken out on her right with one atop the other.
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What is the islamic reason for men not to sleep on stomach and for women not to sleep flat.
Sayyiduna Abu Hurayra reports that Rasulullah [Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam] said, that this posture (to sleep on one's stomach) is disliked by Allah Ta'ala. Rasulullah [Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam] said that this is the way the people of hell would lie down.
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When i go to sleep i usually rub both my feets together is it ok to do so, and i also sleep with my back facing up.Please tell if thats ok and if not why?
There is no prohibition in rubbing one's feet before sleeping. It is undesirable to sleep on one's belly.
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Should the head of ones bed in the bedroom be positioned to the east (should we sleep with our head positioned to the east)? Is it haram not to sleep this way?
One may place one's bed in any position on condition the feet does not stretch out in the direction of Qiblah. However, it is Mustahabb (desirable) to sleep on the right hand side facing the Qiblah.
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I've heard that you shouldn't sleep on your stomach. However I have noticed if I sleep on my back or during the night I lay flat I end up having really bad dreams/nightmare. Is this just a coincidence? I have experienced at one time that someone has come on top of me and is trying to strangle me. I cant see their face, they seem to be wearing a robe with a hood that covers their face. They are trying to suffocate me and they are really heavy. I have heard about other people experiencing this...What is this??
It is advisable to sleep on one's right side facing the Qibla. Before sleeping, recite the four Quls, blow on your palms and pass them around your body. If you experience nightmares or bad dreams and wake up, spit lightly in that direction, recite Laa hawla wala quwwata illaa billaah and change your direction of sleep.
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Is it permissible to hang quranic ayats or hadith in the direction where feet point when sleeping, even if this direction is not in direction of Kabba? What about if in direction of room where feet may point at some point during day, eg. Sitting etc.? Are there any restrictions?
If the verses / frames, etc. are low in line with the feet or the level of the bed, it will be incorrect to sleep with the legs facing the verses. However, if the verses are high up, one may face the feet in that direction as this would not constitute disrespect. We suggest you don't hang any Qur'aanic verses in the bedroom as it is a place wherein one is quite often in an indecent state.
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I recently got into an accident which has resulted in me being a paraplegic. I cannot feel my muscles from my chest down. When I have to sleep, I can sleep on my either sides and on my back but I have to change my position every two hours because I can develop an open pressure sore. My bones push down against my skin and stop the blood flow which results in the bones pushing out of my skin. When I sleep on the side I can develop sores on my heels, my knees and my hips⊠but if I lie down on my stomach and put pillows underneath me I can sleep for virtually as long as I want. Would it still be considered makrooh or haram?
It will not be Makrooh if you sleep on your stomach when you are in this state.
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Health activists claim that circumcising the clitoris decreases the sexual excitement that can be experienced by females.
Circumcision is Sunnat for men and an honour for women. Every Sunnat is beneficial physically, health wise and it gains the pleasure of Allah. ..... Circumcision is not a sunnat for females, however it is permissible and mustahab. Circumcision of females is merely a benefit for men as it increases sexual excitement. The area which should be circumcised for females is the skin which is just above the place where the male would enter his private part. The skin should not be cut fully.
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what exactly public hair constitute and how often are they to be removed?
The area immediately under the navel is not to be shaven. The area of shaving for a person (male/female) is above and around the private parts. If possible, it is commendable to shave around the hind private parts as well.
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I was cleaning my penis (not by stroking it) well i was shaving the hair off and clean it (not by hand, water and tissue wrapped around hand) is this wrong? when i was 12/13 I had these white bits on my penis and it smelled so i had to clean it by hand etc....is this also wrong? ifso shall i repent?
At the outset, we wish to point out that the hair on the penis does not have to be removed. Only the pubic hair which is just above the private parts below the navel has to be removed. One may wash the private parts directly with the hands. There is no need to wrap tissue around the hand.
Since you are in your youth, and you are sensitive to the point that touching the private parts may lead to erection, etc. you should minimise that as much as you can.
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we are married 12 years my husband is not circumcised can I circumcise him he is afraid. Can I get the procedure done without letting him know. I am a doctor I can do it have never done for an adult before
In principle, it is permissible to circumsize your husband. However, you should tell him about your intention together with explaining its importance in Shari'ah. Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, 'Ten things are from amongst the nature of man. One being that of circumcision.' Secondly, it is from the 'Shi'aar' (signs of Islaam) which has to be upheld at all times. If a person is not circumsized, there is a great possibility of urine remaining on the private part, hence, will lead to the invalidity of the Salaat, regarding which Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, 'Be cautious while relieving yourself, for verily, people will be punished in grave for neglectfulness in this regard.'
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How bad is it peeing while standing in cammod (the english style toilet) but taking tahara or istanja with tissue paper?
It is not permissible to stand and urinate as this is now the culture of the Kuffaar. However, if one does urinate standing due to necessity and cleans himself with toilet paper, he will be excused provided the urine does not splash on his clothing or body.
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Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
01/16/2005
2:02:01 PM ||
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My friends think Muslims are all nutjobs. How can I convince them otherwise?
#7
I looked for the "scrappleface" but sadly it was not there. Is the poster sure this isn't a joke. If it is not a joke, all I can say is "Holy Shit."
#8
Too bad the Internet, and this Ask-The-Imam site, were not around back in Firesign Theater's heyday. Can you imagine what FST could have done with this stuff?
Posted by: Dave D. ||
01/16/2005 20:12
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#9
LOL! Too true, Dave! Being a programmer, I am genetically unqualified to even imagine such chaos, lol!
COLORING D.C. RED [KJL ]
Some of you e-mailed me last week bummed that you didn't have the cash to spare for our intimate night with the Buckleys & co. in February, but would love to meet up with NR types.
You can.
If you're in DC next Friday, come by Fado's Irish Pub in Chinatown and hang and drink with the NRO gang for our inaugural celebration. That's where we'll be hanging out from 5-8.
RSVP to thecorner@nationalreview.com to help us get a headcount for the good folks at the bar. Thanks much and see you there.
Your taste is clearly impeccable, Emily. Perhaps I should just spend the weekend at this place.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis ||
01/16/2005
1:48:51 PM ||
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:: Jaw drops ::
Oh my freaking gawd. Speechless.
But of course, Karl Rove and our Bushitler digital brownshirt Zionist puppetmasters sent out the decree weeks ago. We march in lockstep to their orders, and their orders alone.
A photo showing Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the Jordanian born mastermind behind the latest spate of bombings in Iraq, standing with senior commanders of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) was seen by Jordan's King Abdullah II last month, according to an Algerian journalist. "The Islamic Republic's Foreign Minister did not attend the Amman conference of Iraq's neighbors in response to accusations made by Jordan's King Abdullah II", Atwan Tazakrat on Thursday told US-based Radio Farda. "Fifteen days earlier, Jordanian intelligence services gave King Abdullah II documents along with a picture of a number of heads of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards standing next to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi who was welcomed by Iran's Revolutionary Guards upon arrival from Afghanistan to Iran after the US attack on Afghanistan" he said.
He added, "al-Zarqawi stayed in Iran for three to four months, and Iranian officials did not deny his presence. They provided him with a fake passport with which he traveled to Syria where in mid-2002 he plotted the assassination of an American citizen". In response to a question on whether or not the photo had been published, Tazakrat said, "This photo was never publicly distributed but I was able to see it. The source who confirmed to me that the Jordanian King had seen the photo is credible".
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/16/2005
12:59:28 AM ||
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Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels have rejected a government demand that they surrender 60 rebel commanders and their men who attacked two Army outposts in Maguindanao on Jan. 10. "The MILF will definitely punish those responsible for the attacks, but turning them over to the government is out of the question," said Jun Mantawil, MILF peace panel chairman.
The government has given the MILF 72 hours to surrender renegade commanders Ustadz Wahid and Abdul Rahman Binago and their men, who allegedly executed six soldiers during the attack on the military outposts. At least 13 MILF rebels were killed in the ensuing firefight and military mopping-up operations.
Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Alexander Yano said Wahid, Binago and their men will now be considered common criminals, and troops have orders to hunt them down. At Malacañang, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said yesterday the Muslim raiders who attacked the Army posts last weekend in Mamasapano were nothing but "terrorists" and "rogues" outside the mainstream MILF which continues its peace talks with the government. "The terrorists are being isolated by the peace process and they are constricted by coordinated regional action in Asia," Bunye said, citing that neighboring countries support the Philippines in the regional anti-terror campaign.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Mantawil said the MILF will invoke the government-MILF ceasefire agreement in the handling of the MILF guerrillas who attacked the two military detachments. Mantawil said the attack was not sanctioned by the MILF central committee but was an apparent retaliation for the killing of kidnap gang leader Bides Binago in an encounter with government troops last week. "The media only quoted from Secretary Silvestre Afable Jr., chairman of the government peace panel, there was no formal demand made by the government," he said. "This is an unfortunate turn of events, particularly after the peace talks have regained some ground with the resumption in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia recently."
The government and MILF peace panels met yesterday at Marco Polo Hotel in Davao City to discuss the attack. President Arroyo herself clarified that her administration's peace policy does not conflict with the government's all-out war policy against terrorism.
Bunye said that no less than the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team that supervises the ceasefire in Mindanao and the Joint Ceasefire Committees have stepped up their efforts to prevent such renegade elements of the MILF to get away with their crimes. In Maguindanao, more soldiers have been deployed in remote detachments in Kabuntalan town in anticipation of an attack by MILF renegades. "The instruction is for us to maintain our defensive posture and stay put in our detachments," said Lt. Col. Julieto Ando, Army 6th Infantry Battalion commander. "We will only return fire if fired upon."
Policemen and soldiers belonging to "Task Force Tugis," a quick reaction, anti-crime brigade of the 6th Infantry Division, killed Usi Abo, a leader of MILF renegades, and his 19-year-old son, Bandar, after Abo's band attacked an isolated military detachment in Kabuntalan the other day. Reports said Abo and his men opened fire first at soldiers sent to verify their reported presence in Kapilpilan here, triggering a running gunbattle.
MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu was quoted by radio station dxMS in Kabuntalan yesterday as saying that the slain gunmen were not MILF members, but a "lawless group" preying on poor Muslim residents of Kabuntalan and surrounding towns. Abo and his followers were first spotted in Kapilpilan by Muslim villagers, who reported their presence to the Army's 6th Infantry Battalion.
Local sources have linked Abo and his son to Ustadz Wahid, the leader of the MILF renegades that attacked an Army detachment in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last Monday. Seven soldiers were killed in the attack. Wahid and his men also set fire to 36 bunkers inside the detachment and robbed the slain soldiers of their belongings, combat boots and service firearms before escaping to a nearby marshland.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/16/2005
12:56:23 AM ||
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An expelled military college student who converted to Islam is suspected of organizing several terrorist attacks claimed by Chechen rebels, including the Moscow metro blast in February that killed at least 42 people, Vremya Novostei reported Thursday. Pavel Kosolapov, an ethnic Russian from the Volgograd region, was expelled from a Rostov military college in the late 1990s for breaking rules and later recruited by Chechens living in Volgograd to fight against federal troops in Chechnya, the newspaper said, citing Federal Security Service investigators. In Chechnya he converted to Islam, received training from Arab instructors, and was picked by rebel warlord Shamil Basayev in late 2003 to head a group to carry out terrorist attacks in Russia.
The first attack arranged by Kosolapov was the Feb. 6 suicide bombing on a train traveling between the Paveletskaya and Avtozavodskaya metro stations, unidentified FSB investigators were quoted as saying. Several weeks later, Kosolapov and two Kazakh citizens blew up four gas pipelines and set mines under three electric gridline poles outside Moscow, they said. Basayev has claimed responsibility for all of those attacks in statements posted on the rebel Kavkaz Center web site. The FSB also believes that Kosolapov organized a bombing at a Samara outdoor market in July, which killed 11, and two bus stop bombings in Voronezh in June. One man died in those attacks. The two Kazakh suspects were detained in Kazakhstan last fall. Kosolapov's whereabouts are unknown.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/16/2005
12:54:21 AM ||
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Four police and security officers were killed Saturday in clashes with armed militants in southern Russia, officials said. Gunmen shot and killed three police officers as authorities stormed a house in Kaspiisk, a port on the Caspian Sea in the Russian province of Dagestan, which borders Chechnya, said Abdul Musayev, a regional police spokesman. Among the dead was the chief of a local riot police unit. Musayev said one suspect was killed and another captured. A third suspect escaped. The gunmen belonged to illegal armed groups and were suspected in terror attacks, he said.
Also, riot police and other security forces besieged a house in the provincial capital, Makhachkala, where gunmen were hiding. In the ensuing gun battle, two officers of an elite anti-terror commando unit were wounded and one later died, Musayev said. Police and security forces, backed by armored vehicles, burned the house, but the gunmen remained in the concrete basement Saturday night, still firing at officers. The gunmen were suspected in attacks against police in Dagestan.
An ethnically diverse region, Dagestan has seen a steady stream of shootings, bombings and other violence, some spilling over from neighboring Chechnya and some committed by local criminal gangs. Kaspiisk was the site of a bomb explosion that killed 43 people including 12 children during a Victory Day military parade in May 2002. Authorities blamed adherents of the conservative Wahhabi strain of Islam, accusing them of trying to instill fear in the regional police and political leadership and fuel instability in the region.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/16/2005
12:51:47 AM ||
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CANADA'S Muslim community is being torn apart by a controversial proposal to establish Sharia courts to enforce Islamic law in civil matters. Women's groups and moderate Muslims in the nation's largest province are outraged at the recommendation by former attorney-general Marion Boyd to allow arbitration tribunals to be governed by the principles of Sharia - the code of Islamic law. The ruling is the latest challenge for multicultural Canada, whose open-door policy to immigrants is under strain from the post-11 September terrorist threat. The proposal is also certain to raise eyebrows in the United States where a belief already exists that its northern neighbour and largest trading partner is honeycombed with Islamic radicals.
Critics of tribunals based on Sharia law claim they would allow Islamic jurisprudence to swell beyond the scope of family law, potentially exposing vulnerable groups - particularly women - to unjust treatment in the eyes of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. "We've had a flood of e-mails from people, asking: "How can we help?" said Alia Hogben, president of the Canadian Council of Muslim Women. She said there is great concern that Muslim women may now be coerced into taking part in Sharia tribunals or face family and community ostracism, or worse. "When you come to Canada, you are a human being with full rights. Allowing Sharia here - even a "Canadianised" version as its proponents claim it would be - will subject Muslim women to a huge injustice."
The scope of a traditional Sharia tribunal is extensive and includes a canon of criminal law which is incompatible with the Canadian constitution, most experts agree. Ms Boyd was appointed to study the issue after the Islamic Institute for Civil Justice requested the right to offer religious-based arbitrations for family disputes based on Sharia. The proposal immediately ran into opposition from women's groups, legal organisations and the Muslim Canadian Congress, who all warned that the 1,400-year-old Sharia does not view women as equal. Ms Boyd recommended that the option to hold a Sharia tribunal be incorporated into Canada's Arbitration act. She suggested mediators screen each party separately about issues of power imbalance and domestic violence before they enter into an arbitration agreement. She also said the government should work with mediators and other professional organisations to develop a standard screening process for domestic violence.
Moderate Muslim cleric Ahmad Kutty - one of two Canadian imams who made headlines a year ago when they were thrown out of the US on suspicions of terrorism - has rejected the proposals. "Sharia is a loaded word; it includes all of the civil, criminal and other institutions associated with the Islamic legal system," he said. "No-one in his right mind would propose implementing this system of laws in Canada." But Syed Mumtaz Ali of the Canadian Islamic Legal Institute said that freedom of religion is guaranteed under Canada's Constitution. And it means not only freedom to practise and propagate religion but also to be able to be governed by one's religious laws in all aspects of one's life.
Posted by: tipper ||
01/16/2005
12:51:25 AM ||
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#1
"When you come to Canada, you are a human being with full rights.
heh, heh! Bin Laden was right to be afraid, very afraid. In the Western countries - women make up half the vote. Divided and conquered.
#2
"Sharia is a loaded word; it includes all of the civil, criminal and other institutions associated with the Islamic legal system," he said. "No-one in his right mind would propose implementing this system of laws in Canada."
-- this simple statement, coming as it does from a muslim cleric, tells you all you need to know
#6
We have no room to laugh at the Canadian government's foolishness. If we listen real hard, we can hear the wails in the public square coming out of mosques located in New Jersey and Michigan as we speak. Sharia law coming to our states soon...
#8
Ironically, the Moslems are using Catholic and Rabbinical Law precedents to get their Sharia. There are discreet allowances for very unobtrusive practice of both of these throughout the US. For example, in many US cities, there are guideposts that indicate travel boundaries for orthodox Jews on Sabbath, so as to allow them to go some distance for important things, without violating their laws. These guideposts are practically invisible to anyone not familiar with their purpose. Kosher Law is also very prominent with hundreds of organizations placing their seal on all sorts of consumer food products. For its part, Catholic Law crops up in all sorts of ways, such as in annulment of marriage (pro forma, but still must be approved by the Vatican itself), and in Diocesian property issues (all property is owned by the respective Bishop, overlapping with secular ownerships in a complex tangle.) Other religions also have their practices which the courts really don't want to get involved with (think the current spat among the Episcopalians). So, in the final analysis, the Moslems need a "revised, western" edition of Sharia, which is fully compatible with western values, yet fills what amounts to a legal gap for that religion. It can be done, it just needs a lot of work. And the very idea a codified, rational written Sharia Law, sanctioned by a secular non-Moslem government scares the piss out of the radicals. Every loathsome practice they embrace would lose its sanction.
Posted by: Homer Simpson ||
01/16/2005 15:54
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Who would have thunk - I just came across an article that says sharia law is supported by the B'nai B'rith. Where's common sense hiding these days?
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/527926.html TORONTO - In a move that is angering Jewish feminists, B'nai B'rith Canada is supporting the demands of conservative Muslims in the province of Ontario who wish to have the right to use private arbitration based on Islamic law for the resolution of their marital, custody and inheritance disputes.
An Arab mercenary fighter has been killed in Chechnya, Bekmerd Ibragimov, a company commander from the Chechen presidential security service, told Interfax by telephone on Saturday. "A guerilla was killed in an operation in the Vedeno district after putting up armed resistance. He has been identified. This is an Arab mercenary, who had fought together with illegal armed groups in Chechnya for a long time," Ibragimov said. Three brothers of this man, who were also members of illegal armed units in Chechnya, had been killed at different times earlier, he said. Three guerillas were also detained in the operation, he said. "They are all local residents. We had pursued them for a long time, as they are responsible for grave crimes," Ibragimov said.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/16/2005
12:50:50 AM ||
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#1
the Arab and 3 of his brothers snuffed? Al-Ghamdis?
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/16/2005 11:45
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From Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
Judiciary chief Ayatollah Mahmud Hashemi-Shahrudi and other judicial officials met on the evening of 11 January with several of the webloggers who have alleged that they were mistreated while in custody, ILNA reported. Mahbubeh Abbasqoli, Hanif Mazrui, Omid Memarian, Ruzbeh Mir-Ebrahimi, Arash Naderpur, Fereshteh Qazi, Masud Qoreshi, and Shahram Rafizadeh reviewed allegations they had discussed previously with presidential adviser Hojatoleslam Mohammad Ali Abtahi and the Committee for Monitoring Implementation of the Constitution. They described beatings, humiliating questions about their sexual habits and relationships, solitary confinement, lack of access to lawyers, and being forced to write confessions.
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
01/16/2005
12:49:10 AM ||
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#1
Judiciary chief Ayatollah Mahmud Hashemi-Shahrudi and other judicial officials met on the evening of 11 January with several of the webloggers who have alleged that they were mistreated while in custody, ILNA reported.
Heh, Iranian bloggers met with a judge who's an ayatollah.
Hello? He's a member of the mullahcracy, people, so what would be the likelihood of him dispensing justice that goes against his fellow clerics' wishes?
#2
Open noose, insert head. The judge is part of the problem, not part of a solution.
Posted by: Captain America ||
01/16/2005 8:58
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Editors, please correct that embarrassing "here" to "hear".
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
01/16/2005 14:37
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[the bloggers] described beatings, humiliating questions about their sexual habits and relationships, solitary confinement, lack of access to lawyers, and being forced to write confessions.
Sheik Omar Bakri, a supporter of al-Qaida, is typical of radical clerics in Britain. He has condoned suicide bombings in Iraq, but only indirectly encourages young Muslims here to join the insurgency in Iraq. "I believe Muslims are obliged to support their Muslim brothers abroad -- verbally, financially, politically," Bakri told The Associated Press. "I never said 'go abroad.' But if people want to go abroad it's a very good thing to do. But we never recruit people to go abroad."
Bakri, who heads al-Muhajiroun, Britain's largest Muslim group, like all clerics in Britain is walking a fine line in what he preaches in his khotba, or sermons. At the London Mosque, for example, sermons are vetted by a senior cleric before they are delivered to worshippers during weekly Friday prayers. There's an undeclared understanding between British authorities and Muslim clerics that certain subjects -- such as Iraq or condoning holy war -- are off limits. "There's no control from the government," said Sheik Anwar Abdie Hamid Mady, deputy director general of the London Mosque. "But we don't exceed the limits in our khotba."
Mady, a 31-year-old Egyptian cleric, said he reads all the sermons before the imam, or prayer leader, delivers them. "I can interfere in order to modify some sections, to make them compatible with our circumstances. I have to review all the verses to see if they are compatible with the Quran or hadith," the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, Mady, said. "If I find some section that is not compatible to our situation, I change it." However, Mady said he never had to alter any sermon for its political contents. But many of the worshippers were less constrained about discussing fighting the American occupation of Iraq. "It's called brotherhood in Islam," said a British citizen of Algerian origin who would only give his first name, Nabil.
Even though they have not cracked down on individual clerics, as in France where five non-citizens have been deported, Muslims are well aware of their limits. According to Bakri, several Islamic groups in Britain voluntarily disbanded following a call by Osama bin Laden to come "under one camp" led by the al-Qaida leader. Bakri named the Movement of Khilafa, Jamat al-Tawheed, the Talabat al-Ilm al-Sharia al-Salafiyah, Ansar al-Sharia, Ansar al-Imarah al-Islamiyah, and the Sharia Court of the United Kingdom that was affiliated to al-Muhajiroun. Other institutions that worked under his al-Muhajiroun group, including the London School of Sharia and the Committee of Muslim Lawyers, have also ended their activities, said Bakri. He said he has stopped preaching and issuing pamphlets, and al-Muhajiroun Web sites have shut down. Did that mean these groups are now subservient to al-Qaida, as bin Laden had suggested?
What the hell do you think? (Who the hell writes this stuff?)
Bakri sounded noncommittal. "We didn't declare (ourselves) to be part of al-Qaida," he said; the purpose was to "declare unity. Unity with who? ... with the mainstream moderate Muslims in the U.K.? No. Unity with the government of a Muslim country? All those people are apostate rulers. Unity with whom? Nobody is left. What's left is the Islamic camp."
... which, in his opinion, is al-Qaeda. Give him the friggin' Titus Oates treatment and get it over with, fergawdsake!
He denied the disbandment was due to pressure from Prime Minister Tony Blair's government, but said he and his colleagues feel "under siege" -- caught between having to fight the system or "be hypocrites and come out and say, 'we are with you Tony Blair."' Bakri, a Syrian-born Islamic scholar and religious judge, had no qualms in the past about calling for suicide bombings, calling them self-sacrifice operations. But now his message is more muted. "We don't encourage it (bombings), but we said we reiterate what Islam said," he explained, and turned to metaphor, saying that if a crocodile came into your bedroom, Islam would tell you to fight it, not sleep with it. The same would apply if "kufar (infidels) occupied your homeland..." he said.
How about if bloodthirsty Moose limbs occupy somebody else's homeland? Gee, golly. What should they do? Oh, what should they do?
But "I do believe that every time has its own obligation," said Bakri. Jihad "can be physical in Iraq," but in Britain, British law applies and "we are not allowed to fight anybody."
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/16/2005
12:46:44 AM ||
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#1
The same would apply if "kufar (infidels) occupied your homeland..." he said.
I agree. The infidels are occupying the British homeland.
I used to get great stuff from al-Muhajiroun to post here in Rantburg. I knew those postings would provoke snit-fits from Robert Crawford Frank G. every single time.
.
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
01/16/2005 12:11
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Yes, you're Socrates... or maybe you're the pea from the Princess and the Pea... or hay-fever pollen. Something like that. No matter, you're really important 'round here. Dunno how RB was able to survive before you showed up. I know I was sure pleased when the big day arrived. Woo hoo.
#4
I can cause a snit-fit from .com while blind-folded and standing on my head and with both hands tied behind my back.
.
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
01/16/2005 12:40
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Lol! Snit-fit? You're such a tool, Mikey, lol! Our very own American Made⢠Tranzi Bitch! And now with the new improved auto-pneumatic ego! ROFL!!!
#6
Mikey's pretty proud of himself and who can blame him. He's even better at turning the subject of a thread into himself than he-who-shall-not-be-named.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis ||
01/16/2005 13:14
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Mike, do yourself a favor and avoid baiting people. It does nothing for your cause.
I knew those postings would provoke snit-fits from Robert Crawford Frank G. every single time. .
If that was your sole intent, I know more than a few people who would call that trolling - something that I would hope you eschew.
As to the matter at hand:
"I believe Muslims are obliged to support their Muslim brothers abroad -- verbally, financially, politically," Bakri told The Associated Press. "I never said âgo abroad.â
"But if people want to go abroad itâs a very good thing to do," he added. "But we never recruit people to go abroad."
Soho poofters could take lessons in mincing from Bakri.
"It is best to mince one's words very finely. It makes them so much easier to eat afterwards."
#8
Heh - good quote - I hadn't seen that one, before - and I've collected several from the Other Master of English (Ambrose Bierce being the American model), lol!
#9
For shame, Michael Sylwester! You are old enough to behave better than a socially inept adolescent boy. I thought you honestly meant to be helpful and informative in your own tactless way. But if your only purpose is to annoy people, go away and play with people who like that kind of idiocy.
I really hate having to apologise to Rantburg for standing up for a person I naively didn't realize was being deliberately asinine.
#10
Since Trailing Wife does consistently demand decency from all Rantburgers and since she has defended me, I am shamed into apologizing. Here is my peace offering:
I'm careful of the words I say,
To keep them soft and sweet,
I never know from day to day
Which one's I'll have to eat..
.
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
01/16/2005 14:45
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#11
Bravely said, Mike. Keep up the sweetness...even Trailing Daughter, looking over my shoulder at our posts, is not surprised by the behaviour which provoked my outburst. I guess I'm the only naive person addicted to this site.
#12
I guess I'm the only naive person addicted to this site.
I must say that it's entirely mistaken for you to be lumping yourself together with Gentle and her ilk, trailing wife.
I'm careful of the words I say,
To keep them soft and sweet,
I never know from day to day
Which one's I'll have to eat..
Perish the thought, Mike. While I refuse to believe that you are taking a swipe at free speech hereabouts, you're still wide of the mark. The idea is not remaining confined to dulcet tones in all one writes, but to stay on point. Posting solely for the sake of getting a rise out of people is puerile at best. I'd like to think that you can do better.
#13
I, for one, welcome the puppet strings of my master "Mikey of the Kofi Buttboy club"
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/16/2005 16:39
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#14
"socially inept adolescent boy" someone talkingabout me again?
I can't understand what this article is telling me. These clowns certainly have not stopped there Jihadi recrutment and anti western incitement. If I had my way I would make it impossible for the death cult of the moon god to or it's members to exist in our society. People could take to walking their pet goats thru muslim neighborhood over there in large groups for instance.
#15
TW - you need to remember this place was here before you ever got here - it's called Rant burg for a reason. Mike's baiting doesn't bother me, I pay my dues via paypal (monthly). The den mother gig isn't open. My apologies if you're offended, get over it
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/16/2005 19:46
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#16
btw - if Mike thinks it's a great thing to be posting UN-apologist articles from deep within Kofi's ass, so be it. His rep suffers accordingly
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/16/2005 19:50
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#17
You're right of course, Frank, and I'm not offended. But you guys do invective so much better and more effectively than I do -- I never really got much past Mom and Academic (and being able to do Mom in German isn't any more effective than in English with this crowd). That's why I ended post #9 with an apology to y'all.
An Afghan official says Arabs associated with the al-Qaida terrorist network will not be handed over to the United States if they surrender. But they have to surrender voluntarily, Ali Ahmad Jalali told reporters in Kabul Saturday. The offer does not apply to those who are captured by Afghan forces. He urged Arab nationals hiding in Afghanistan to take advantage of the offer and lay down their arms.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/16/2005
12:44:06 AM ||
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.... anyone who is or once was an Iraqi citizen, even if he was deprived of the citizenship, is eligible to vote, Sarah Tosh, spokesperson for Iraq's out-of-country-voting (OCV) central headquarters, said Wednesday. "There are no restrictions on Iraqis on the basis of religion, race or sex," said Tosh. "This definitely includes those who are Israeli citizens today."
Anyone who has an original Iraqi birth certificate may take part in the vote. ..... Those whose father is Iraqi may also vote, even if they were born in another country, as long as they have a certificate proving it. However, children to mothers of Iraqi descent may not vote, because the Iraqi law from 1957 grants citizenship only to children with Iraqi fathers. .... Some 130,000 Jews emigrated from Iraq to Israel after it's establishment, decimating one of the oldest Jewish communities in the Arab world. ....
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
01/16/2005
12:41:45 AM ||
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#1
Hmmmm. 130,000 Jews vote in the Iraqi elections; a couple of million Sunnis don't.
Works for me. :-D
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
01/16/2005 0:43
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It's all coming back to me now... yeah, um, I'm pretty sure I was an Iraqi citizen once... it was a long time ago, back before there was hair, and um, I was in Gov't... Chief Legal Advisor... to Hammurabi... So, like, where's my absentee ballot? I don't get around so well anymore.
#3
Lots of Iraqi Jews in the U.S. and Canada, too. Charming, erudite people -- I studied under several of them at my Hebrew School. Like in the rest of the Arab world, there were anti-Jewish riots and pogroms, and those who could get out did. Entirely too many stayed behind, swinging from lampposts.
JUST before the new century began, Marc Plattner, co-editor of the influential Journal of Democracy, wrote of the brave new globalised world coming into existence: "A borderless world is unlikely to be a democratic one. [For] while the idea of 'world citizenship' may sound appealing in theory, it is very hard to imagine it working successfully in practice." An entire industry of transnational agencies and non-governmental organisations is pushing forward changes designed either to deny or override the national sovereignty of democratic states against surprisingly muted or inchoate opposition. Taken together, these changes amount to a serious political and intellectual challenge to democratic sovereignty vested in the liberal democratic nation-state.
It is a distinctly new challenge. Until now, democrats have faced two major opponents: pre-democrats and anti-democrats. The pre-democrats, adherents of some form of ancien regime (of throne, altar, tribe or clan), have been mostly vanquished over the past several hundred years. Since 1917 three anti-democratic ideologies have presented an alternative vision to liberal democracy: first Nazism/fascism, then communism, and today militant Islam or Islamism. The radical Islamist threat is both deadly and serious, and it could last for a considerable period.
Islamists might gain powerful weapons and thereby cause much death and destruction. Nevertheless, it is in the highest degree unlikely that they will in the end conquer liberal democracy. Yet the 21st century could well turn out to be not the democratic century, but the "post-democratic" century - the century in which liberal democracy as we know it is slowly, almost imperceptibly, replaced by a new form of global governance. The ideology and institutions already exist in embryonic form and are developing rapidly. The philosophical basis for global governance begins with the premise that all individuals on the planet possess human rights. International law is the paramount authority that determines those rights, while international agreements establish and expand new rights and norms.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: tipper ||
01/16/2005
12:37:29 AM ||
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#2
Agreed - nice find, tipper. We've long been aware around here of the subversives who support anything that floats by that proclaims itself anti-American - and noted at length the irony that they would likely be the first to be put against the wall for elimination by their allies of convenience. But it's always nice to have it coherently framed and a URL you can point to...
In the Funny Critters Dept, isn't it typical how easily impressed the weak-minded are, too. Just having it published somewhere that they recognize will impart so much more "legitimacy" to the ideas it contains... as if the publishing entity and those who write for it aren't people just like us. I have no doubt that there are smarter, more experienced, and more honest people here in RB than on staff at The Weekend Australian, but that's how those who can't think for themselves think, heh.
#4
Thanks guys and gals. Once I discovered Fonte (remindes me of the Fonz) all became clear. I used his arguments in political newsgroups, and guess what? for the first time I had them on the run. They hate being called Tranzis
#7
Tipper, you always post great articles, but I'd like to suggest something to you. You very frequently post just the link. There are many cases when that's the right thing to do, but you should keep in mind that sometimes a little bit of posted text is useful when someone is trying to re-find an article some days later. So, when you intend to post just the link, think twice whether you could instead post at least one main paragraph that includes key names and words.
.
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
01/16/2005 14:31
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lots of really good stuff on rantburg today. Thanks tipper and everyone else.
Explain to me how this is actually different from anything we actually knew ...
The report sez exactly what it's s'posed to: "here's a bazillion possibilities for the next 20 years, if one of them happens, I'm fairly smart; if two of them happen, I'm a genius; if none of them happen, well, c'est la vie and when's our next tee time?"
Facilitated by global communications, the revival of Muslim identity will create a framework for the spread of radical Islamic ideology inside and outside the Middle East, including Southeast Asia, Central Asia and Western Europe, where religious identity has traditionally not been as strong. This revival has been accompanied by a deepening solidarity among Muslims caught up in national or regional separatist struggles, such as Palestine, Chechnya, Iraq, Kashmir, Mindanao, and southern Thailand, and has emerged in response to government repression, corruption, and ineffectiveness. Informal networks of charitable foundations, madrassas, hawalas1, and other mechanisms will continue to proliferate and be exploited by radical elements; alienation among unemployed youths will swell the ranks of those vulnerable to terrorist recruitment ...
Democratic progress could gain ground in key Middle Eastern countries, which thus far have been excluded from the process by repressive regimes. Success in establishing a working democracy in Iraq and Afghanistan—and democratic consolidation in Indonesia—would set an example for other Muslim and Arab states, creating pressures for change ...
Schisms within religions, however historic and longlasting, also could lead to conflict in this era of increased religious identity. A Shia-dominated Iraq is likely to encourage greater activism by Shia minorities in other Middle Eastern nations, such as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan ... This revival has been accompanied by a deepening solidarity among Muslims caught up in national or regional separatist struggles, such as Palestine, Chechnya, Iraq, Kashmir, Mindanao, or southern Thailand and has emerged in response to government repression, corruption, and ineffectiveness ... The core al-Qa'ida membership probably will continue to dwindle, but other groups inspired by al Qa'ida, regionally based groups, and individuals labeled simply as jihadists—united by a common hatred of moderate regimes and the West—are likely to conduct terrorist attacks. The al-Qa'ida membership that was distinguished by having trained in Afghanistan will gradually dissipate, to be replaced in part by the dispersion of the experienced survivors of the conflict in Iraq. We expect that by 2020 al-Qa'ida will have been superceded by similarly inspired but more diffuse Islamic extremist groups, all of which will oppose the spread of many aspects of globalization into traditional Islamic societies.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/16/2005
12:35:51 AM ||
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From The Institute for the Secularization of Islamic Society
.... The Islamic republic has confirmed that a court has sentenced a young woman to death for prostitution but denied that she is mentally disabled. Leyla Mafi was sentenced more than a year ago at a court in Arak after being found guilty of having illegal sex. Human rights group monitoring the case said Ms Mafi had a mental age of eight, but this has been disputed by Islamic judicial officials. The decision is now under review by the Iranian Supreme Court. .... Under Islamic law, girls over the age of nine and boys over 16 face the death penalty for crimes such as rape and murder. ....
Leila at the age of 8 was sold into Sigheh (a temporary marriage under Islamic law between man and woman for a price given to the woman or her family. These marriages last any where from 1 hour to years.) to a man old enough to be her father. For her Sigheh, her family only received enough money to cover one day's meals. ..... She was nine when she became pregnant and was condemned by an Islamic judge to one hundred lashes from a whip for a crime committed against her. .... Once she was 12 her poverty-stricken family sold her again under the law of "Sigheh". Her new owner (husband) began prostituting her body at once. She was 14 when she became pregnant again and was once again condemned bay Islamic judge to one hundred lashes for unwillingly being involved in prostitution. The very last time this desolate child was sold to a 55 year old man whom also prostituted her for his own benefit. Now the Islamic regime has issued her execution order. ....
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
01/16/2005
12:26:03 AM ||
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#1
Sadly, death may come as a relief to such a one, who likely doesn't comprehend all that has happened to her thus far.
#2
Sigheh (a temporary marriage under Islamic law between man and woman for a price given to the woman or her family. These marriages last any where from 1 hour to years.)
#5
Hello Canada? Read this article as you ponder Sharia Law.
Posted by: Captain America ||
01/16/2005 8:59
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"These marriages last any where from 1 hour to years."
Sounds like hookers. Every society's got them.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis ||
01/16/2005 8:59
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Sigheh and child sales are legal, so where's the crime? Just a few guys not paying their Sigheh fees to the mullahs and thus not getting their Sigheh papers? I ask you: who is The Great Satan?
Posted by: Tom ||
01/16/2005 10:48
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Nowadays, bookstores and press kiosks are overcrowded with all sorts of books and magazines. One of the most vicious terrorist organizations "Al Qaeda" decided to use the printed press to their own benefit as well. Terrorists have published the first issue of the Al Khansa magazine in red cover. The new magazine focuses on ideological and military training for wannabe female "Shakhids (female suicide bombers). It contains special advices for women who are willing to participate in Jihad. In its quarterly publication Gnosis, Italian security services have already termed such manual for young Shakhids as "emancipation bin Laden style."
The title of the magazine was chosen to commemorate legendary female poet of VII century Tumader bint Amru. According to the authors of the magazine, she "is the real historic symbol of the woman-warrior as well the symbol of all mothers-martyrs." She was named "Al Khansa" for her "little nose and her beauty." Tumader was one of the first female Bedouins who accepted Islam. She lost her four sons in a victorious battle against the Persians. As soon as the battle was over Al Khansa proclaimed a statement, which later became the motto of all Shakhids. "I thank God for awarding me with their death. I ask God to unite me with them in a place of His mercy," exclaimed Al Khansa.
Italian state security service notes the importance of Al Qaeda"s informational PR move aimed at female audience. "This concerns a major turn in planning within the international terrorist web, which up until recently has been recruiting only men for any sort of "operations" as opposed to the Palestinian intifada or Chechen nationalistic extremist groups."
Not that any of the bigs will send their own daughters; those girls are needed in marriages to cement alliances.
Another noteworthy event comes to mind in connection with the terrorist publication "for women." In May 2003 one of the most influential religious figures of the Islamic world sheikh Usuf al-Karadaui has issued a Fatwa (Islamic law), according to which female kamikazes are relieved of following traditional Islamic behavioral norms for the sake of Jihad, the holy war. In a way, such statement could be viewed as an emancipation of Arab women.
"Party til you boom, honey!"
The new magazine Al Khansa proposes certain requirements for the potential female suicide-bombers. She has to know Koran by heart; she has to know CPR; also she has to be able to prepare the so-called "urgent set", which needs to include natural honey and water from a sacred spring from Mecca. A Shakhid has to be humble; she shouldn't watch TV, use air conditioner or any other "luxurious items." She must also give up all her monetary possessions for the good of the operation.
Not only does she boom, but the controllers turn a profit.
In addition, potential ben Laden follower has to be an exceptional shooter and has to be able to transport weaponry. To conclude the theoretical account, Al Qaeda shows women "the way to liberation, which they will never be able to achieve otherwise."
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/16/2005
12:20:36 AM ||
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#1
Lol - And I thought this was about Yuppie Wymyns - and was gonna snark about it being on Page 1, lol!
"legendary female poet of VII century Tumader bint Amru"
So this legend's words will sway wymyns into strapping on a, um, boomer belt? Heh. Where's the Engrish translation - I have other ploys in mind... same for the fatwa - there's bound to be a way to...
A guy walks into a sex shop and inquires about an inflatable doll. The clerk asks him, "Do you want a Christian doll or an Islamic doll?" The guy then asks, "What's the difference?"
The clerk replies, "You have to inflate the Christian doll, whereas the Islamic one blows herself up."
Pakistani leaders in the Northern Areas (NA), Gilgit-Baltistan region, have raised a banner of revolt against the Pakistani government demanding a separate Bolor state. Describing their demand as "legitimate", the leaders at a seminar "Great Bolor State and Kashmir Issue" said the Gilgit-Baltistan region was being governed by the Kashmir Affairs and NA Ministry based in Islamabad and the elected representatives of the NA Legislative Council did not enjoy the same power as the district assembly despite the entire region being liberated in 1947. The seminar, organised by the Bolor Thinker Forum, was held at the Rawalpindi Press Club in the first week of this month to discuss the NA issue, which is also known as Bolor with reference to the Kashmir issue.
The speakers at the seminar, including JKLF chairman Amanullah Khan, APNA chairman Wajahat Hassan Khan, APNA general secretary Sardar Arif Shahid, Bolor Research Forum chairman Amanullah Khan, and Boloristan chairman Nawaz Khan, said the people of Gilgit-Baltistan region were an essential component of the Kashmir issue but were currently being ignored. They said that due to the Kashmir conflict, the region's people were being deprived of their rights, and people from both Kashmir and PoK enjoyed their own legislative, administrative and judicial set-ups.
Posted by: Paul Moloney ||
01/16/2005
12:20:23 AM ||
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#1
How interesting. If this is the start of a trend, .com's 40 km wide strip of Saudi coastline may become a reality without any effort on the part of our armored boyz'n'girlz.
#2
:) Hey, if two nutjobs decide they wanna be a separate state, then it should be so - no questions asked - cuz it's like a fundamental human left. The Heiress said so. And that's the unchallengeable voice of deep worldly experience and fantastic wisdom gleaned first-hand, y'know. So, here's to Bolor, Home of the Free Thinkers, and a bunch more Khans.
#3
Boloristan! Back to the 7th century with a separate little state for every tribe. It would work for me if they would stay there, but eventually some Khan or Mohammed or Osama gets bored and goes off on a conquering rampage. This is Tom in Tomistan, signing off.
Posted by: Tom ||
01/16/2005 10:25
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Would they support a separate state for Kashmir too?
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
01/16/2005 11:52
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One is obliged to wonder just how supportive the Arab street will be of these newly minted "freedom fighters" as they set about slaughtering their Sunni brethern.
Just another sterling example of how Islam's embrace of violent jihad comes back to bite them on the @ss, bigtime.
The weirdest thing of all is how I don't even feel pessimistic when I predict that Islam will never, ever understand the need to abandon its concept of holy war no matter how much it fragments and decimates their own followers.
"Bomb culture" threatens Bangladesh as militants linked to al Qaeda spread terror across the nation, especially in the holy town of Sylhet, the 32,784th holiest site in all of Islam, a media report said today. Sylhet was terrorised last year by dozens of death threats and seven grenade blasts that killed five and injured more than 100. Three movie theatres have been bombed and Sylhet's holiest shrine, the tomb of Hazrat Shah Jalal, a Seventh Century Sufi saint, was hit twice by grenade attacks. The attacks, the 'Washington Times' noted, mirror a pattern of unchecked violence across Bangladesh, raising concern that religious radicals nurtured by Islamic charities linked to al Qaeda and protected by the government are undermining long-held traditions of tolerance.
Isn't it a primary responsibility of an islamic charity to undermine long-held traditions of tolerance? I'm sure it's in the Quran somewhere.
"If there is a country in the world today in danger of completely beaking down, it is Bangladesh," said Gowher Rizvi, a Bangladeshi who heads the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University. "This bomb culture is completely new to Sylhet," said Mayor Badaruddin Kamran, who was the target of a blast in August that killed a close friend.
As long as you keep importing that philosophy from Soddy Arabia and Pakland you're gonna have it. So the solution is...?
The paper quoted a Bangladeshi professor Farjana Siddika, 34, who opened her office mail and found she was marked for death. Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's parliamentary affairs adviser, discounted talk of rising extremism.
"Piffle!"
The US has named at least two major supporters of madrassas in Bangladesh - the Pakistan-based Rabita Trust and the al-Haramain Islamic Foundation, which Saudi Arabia dissolved last year--as conduits for al Qaeda.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/16/2005
12:18:12 AM ||
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Hooray for piffle! Now if only there is a balderdash somewhere as well, my life will be complete. ;-D
The interior ministry has declared some cities of Balochistan, including Quetta, "dangerous zones" following major attacks on gas installations and sectarian violence in the region, reports Online news agency. The ministry has in a report described Dera Bugti, Sui, Khizdar, Cibi, Gwadar and Quetta as "Gawdforsaken lands filled with nutjobs and moonbats" "dangerous zones" and "difficult areas". As for Quetta, the ministry said the city was a target of sectarian-related violence and several extremist groups were involved in the attacks. Over 121 people have been killed and 250 injured so far in these incidents, it said. The report warned that sectarian-motivated incidents could lead to major killings in the future. It said Quetta city could come under rocket attacks.Â
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/16/2005
12:17:37 AM ||
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Lol, Dr Steve! This is another F**kin Duh moment in Pakiwakiland.
And I wonder how that drive to improve tourism is coming along, lol!
KARACHI: The Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) has demanded of the government to investigate the alleged gang-rape of a lady doctor at Sui, Balochistan, and find out the factual position. Talking to the Daily Times about the statement of an army captain he recorded at Karachi on Saturday about his innocence in the incident, MMA leader Prof Ghafoor said so far no culprit had been named with definiteness, so at this stage it would be difficult to lay the blame on any individual. Hafiz Hussain Ahmad, deputy leader of opposition in the National Assembly, said the judicial commission constituted by the government would help establish the identity of culprits involved in the gang-rape. He said the local people present at the place of the crime could also testify about involvement of elements in the gang-rape.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/16/2005
12:16:38 AM ||
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A Saudi gunman was killed and two Kuwaiti policemen wounded when security forces clashed with militants in southern Kuwait on Saturday, security sources said. One gunman was captured during the firefight in Umm al-Haiman as security forces surrounded suspected Islamist militants, the Interior Ministry said. Security sources said two others were arrested later. "A big cache of weapons, explosives and munitions was also seized with the gunmen," a ministry statement said.
They sound very devout...
Up to six militants got away and police were searching for them, they said. One source told Reuters the dead gunman was identified as Saudi national Hamada al-Enezi. The ministry statement did not give his nationality.
Don't want to dwell on the fact that he's a Soddy...
The U.S. embassy urged Americans to take precautions. "We advise American citizens to avoid the areas around Arifjan and Umm al-Haiman," it said on its Web site. "Report any suspicious activity to police ⊠and continue to maintain a high level of security awareness. U.S. citizens are reminded of the potential for further terrorist actions against U.S. citizens abroad, including in the Persian Gulf region."
An Internet statement from a previously unknown group Kuwait Mujahideen said the firefight broke out after its men attacked a base in Umm al-Haiman. It said militants killed several Kuwaiti soldiers, three U.S. troops and a Korean. The statement's authenticity could not be verified and officials were not available to comment. A Kuwaiti security source said police had seized maps and sketches of what seemed to be buildings in Kuwait, but there was no official confirmation of this. Authorities launched a crackdown on suspected militants this week after two members of the security forces and one gunman were killed in a firefight on Monday in a Kuwait city suburb. Around 40 suspects have been detained. Umm al-Haiman is close to Kuwait's largest refinery, but security sources said there was no indication the attack was aimed at any oil facilities. The sources said Kuwaiti forces raided desert camps in the area on Friday night, and information from arrested militants had led them to the group involved in Saturday's firefight. The prime minister and other officials visited the scene.
Energy Minister Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahd al-Sabah said the security forces must sort out the problem of Islamist militants. "Extremist militant groups have started appearing in Kuwait. This is natural when we see that these sorts of groups are active in more than one neighboring state," he told reporters. "The security apparatus must finish this issue at this stage ⊠and we must not shy from coordinating with our neighbors in exchanging information so that we can surround this (militant) group and control it," the minister said. Sheikh Ahmad also urged Muslim clerics "to take control of them (militants) ideologically."
They already have. That's why you have this problem.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/16/2005
12:16:29 AM ||
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Hundreds of Taliban fighters could abandon their insurgency in Afghanistan as a result of peace talks under way between local commanders and President Hamid Karzai's government, a provincial governor said on Saturday. Three years after US-led forces ousted the Taliban from power for harbouring Al Qaeda, Karzai and his US backers hope to coax lower-level Taliban fighters back to normal life, leaving senior commanders and Al Qaeda leaders isolated. Tribal chiefs are acting as intermediaries between the Taliban and Karzai's government in the southeastern provinces of Paktia, Khost and Paktika, said Paktia governor Assadullah Wafa. "We have more than hundreds of Taliban who want to return to their normal lives in Khost, Paktia and Paktika provinces," Wafa told the news agency.
In return, the tribal chiefs and local officials want the US ambassador in Kabul, Zalmay Khalilzad, to urge US forces not to harass Taliban members who quit the insurgency, he said. "The government is talking to them through tribal chiefs and we are demanding Khalilzad use his influence and propose to the American military not to detain or harass those Taliban who plan to stop fighting the government," Wafa said. He said a regional delegation had travelled to Kabul hoping to meet Khalilzad, but the ambassador was away from the capital. An embassy spokesman said Khalilzad had since left the country. No Taliban official could immediately be contacted for comment, but Taliban spokesman Abdul Latifi Hakimi told the news agency earlier this week the group was committed to fighting Karzai's government and US and NATO troops in Afghanistan. He said the government was using the issue of talks with the Taliban as propaganda and a way of creating a rift among the militants. Leaders of the mainstream opposition parties fear that Karzai, an ethnic Pashtun, wants to use the proposed amnesty to strengthen his power base in the Pashtun heartlands of the south and southeast ahead of parliamentary elections due in April. Wafa declined to identify any of the Taliban he said were willing to stop fighting, but said the group that he was in contact with consisted of both senior and ordinary members of the radical Islamic movement. US-led troops overthrew the Taliban government in late 2001 after it refused to hand over Al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden, the architect of the Sept. 11 attacks on US cities.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/16/2005
12:14:40 AM ||
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#2
The Taliban redemption program should be closed down promptly. There is no redemption for these thugs, they are scum.
Posted by: Captain America ||
01/16/2005 7:36
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The fine art of Taquija requires the use of careful phrasology on the part of the speaker: The point is to fool the infidel into believing and acting on an untruth as if it was true (getting the speaker and this cause off the hook), while making sure that your fellows are NOT fooled into believing and acting on that same untruth (and thus acting as if the speaker were selling out and has betrayed the Faith).
âThe government is talking to them through tribal chiefs and we are demanding Khalilzad use his influence and propose to the American military not to detain or harass those Taliban who plan to stop fighting the government,â Wafa said.
He's not serious: if he was, the bold portion would say "...those Talaban who lay down their arms and return home.". They can still fight while PLANNING to surrender, but if we bite, it would be a violation for us to attack them while THEY WERE PLANNING to surrender, even though we were responding to their attacks WHILE they were PLANNING to surrender. Think the Iranians and Uranium: They continue on while the Euros argue we shouldn't act WHILE the Iranians are negotiating with them.
This is the BIG HOLE in the heads of the ilLiberals and the left in general: Talk is regarded as EQUAL to action and sincerity. To them, the most horrible words ever spoken by an American President were by Reagan (PBUH) "Deeds, not words."
Iraqi militant group Ansar al-Islam denied on it was behind the killing of an aide to top Shiite Muslim cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, in an Internet message.
An earlier web posting from a little-known group with a similar name, Ansar al-Islam Group - Saad bin Abi Waqqas Brigade, claimed the killing last week of Mahmoud Madaen, an aide to Sistani who is a main driving force behind Iraq's January 30 elections.
Some media reports at the time said Ansar al-Islam had claimed responsibility.
The website message signed by Ansar al-Islam said: "In order to protect our credibility ... we announce that we were not behind that operation."
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/16/2005
12:13:14 AM ||
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SUKKUR: In a massive crackdown by the Rangers and the police following the recovery of two of the four kidnapped judges, about 120 suspects, including 20 women, were arrested from different villages on Saturday. The Rangers and police conducted house-to-house searches after cordoning off the villages, reports from the area said. Initially 300 persons had been detained. The 120 suspects have been locked up in different police stations. Police also recovered 15 unlicensed weapons and three stolen tractors from the raided villages.
"Mahmoud, you got a license for those Katyushas?"
Posted by: Fred ||
01/16/2005
12:13:08 AM ||
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#1
And I thought the Texas Rangers were headed for spring training.
Posted by: Captain America ||
01/16/2005 8:00
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37 days left till the second most important day of the year CA.
Two Russian secret agents convicted of assassinating a former Chechen president living in the Gulf state of Qatar could walk free less than a year after being sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder. The men stood trial in June last year, four months after Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev was killed by a car bomb in the capital, Doha. Ibrahim al-Nisf, the presiding judge, concluded that the assassination was "ordered by the Russian leadership" and ordered the agents to serve 25 years in jail. Yet the Gulf state handed over the agents to Moscow last month, and suggested that they complete their sentences in a Russian prison. Their lawyer, however, said that the handover agreement allowed their fate to be determined by Russian law. Last night, Dmitry Peskov, an aide to President Vladimir Putin, said: "In Russia's eyes they are innocent. There is no need for any further court procedure."
I think we all saw this coming.
Yeah, but it's going to have an impact on the next bunch they have to spring. They should have put them up in a "prison" dacha, complete with hot and cold running hookers, and then quietly "commuted" the sentence sometime next year. What the hell is Putin thinking?
It has emerged that the agents received a hero's welcome in Moscow after Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the emir of Qatar, approved their release on December 23. During their flight home on a Russian government aircraft, the agents were served celebratory drinks and later greeted by dignitaries and a red carpet at Vnukovo airport, on the southern fringe of Moscow. Television journalists were asked to switch off their cameras as the agents left the aircraft and were whisked away to an unknown location.
Implying the same agents may be needed again...
Yandarbiyev, who had lived in Doha for three years, died on February 13 last year when his car exploded soon after he left a mosque where he had been praying. His 13-year-old son was injured. To Moscow's fury, the Russians were arrested six days later at a diplomatic villa and charged with murder. Moscow admitted that the men were intelligence agents but denied any link with the death of Yandarbiyev, whom Russia accused of raising funds for Chechen separatists. Dmitry Afanasiev, a lawyer for the agents, said that they were in Qatar to "monitor al-Qaeda links and sources of financing in the region as part of the war on terror". Mr Peskov confirmed that Mr Putin had a constitutional right to pardon the men, although he said it was "too soon" to say whether he would exercise it. He suggested, however, that the agents' release could be imminent — in defiance of Doha's wishes. "Their return was a gesture of goodwill by the emir, and their future is already the business of the Russian side,'' he said. "The Russian defence team always insisted that these men were innocent and that they were not involved in any way in the killing of Yandarbiyev."
"No, no! Certainly not!"
It is believed that the men, who were referred to in court documents as Anatoly Belashkov and Vassily Bokchov, will be kept in a "soft" prison and released quietly after a short interval.
Oh. So that is what's gonna happen...
The prosecutor general's office did not respond to requests for information concerning their whereabouts. During the agents' incarceration in Qatar, Moscow sent Igor Ivanov, the former foreign minister, to negotiate a deal for their handover. The men complained of being un-able to conduct Orthodox Christian religious rites in the prison, which may have been a factor in their transfer. President Putin phoned the Qatari emir on the agents' release to thank him for the handover, according to the Kremlin.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/16/2005
12:12:25 AM ||
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From Compass Direct
The Egyptian Christian director of a home for troubled Coptic girls goes on trial January 16 on criminal charges before Cairo's Abbassiya Criminal Court No. 15. Shafik Saleh Shafik, 57, is accused of allegedly holding a 16-year-old Coptic girl against her will and without her parents' permission, and also of trying to rape her. But according to Shafik, who holds both Egyptian and American citizenship, the "clearly false" case against him is an attempt to close down his recovery ministry among Coptic girls who are being enticed to leave their Christian families and convert to Islam. "The state security police wrote on their report about me that I am a 'very dangerous man,' because I am preaching Christianity," Shafik told Compass.
The case began four months ago when one of 27 girls living in his "safe-house" residence in Cairo's El-Salam district escaped from the facility the morning after her family placed her there. Shouting wildly at a nearby coffeehouse, the girl demanded police protection from Shafik and other Christians who she claimed had beaten and mistreated her. It was a parish priest who had brought Magda Refaat Gayed to Shafik on September 5, saying that the police had returned the girl to her Coptic family after she had run away with a Muslim boy.
The youngest in a lower middle class family of 10 children, Magda had been reported missing and feared kidnapped. But two weeks later, she was found living with an Islamic group who were teaching her Muslim rituals, promising that the boy who eloped with her would marry her after she converted to Islam. Her traditional Coptic cross tattoo on her wrist had already been surgically removed. At the request of Magda's male relatives, who were at a loss how to handle her after the police brought her back, Shafik agreed to accept her in his safe-house. But the following morning, Magda escaped from a bedroom window and went to a nearby coffeehouse, where she began screaming, "Christians have beaten and raped me!" She named Shafik as her attacker, displaying chains she said he had used to confine her.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
01/16/2005
12:12:25 AM ||
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Last year's train bombings in Madrid left Spain in a state of shock. But the country is now waking up to an unintended consequence of al-Qaeda's first strike in Europe: the apparent demise of Eta, the violent Basque separatist group. According to police, politicians and security analysts, the events of last year have effectively ended Eta's 37-year insurgency. The March 11 2004 train bombings, initially blamed on Eta, left 192 people dead and injured thousands. In the Basque country in northern Spain, police say the tragedy marked a turning point in their fight against Eta, which had been viewed until then as Spain's biggest security threat. "The massacre provoked such revulsion that Eta has not dared stage a big attack since then," says Roberto Seijo, a leader of the Basque police trade union Erne. "Eta cannot match al-Qaeda's scale of terror. Even among Eta's own supporters, there is no stomach for the continued use of terror as a political instrument."
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/16/2005
12:10:19 AM ||
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How nice. The ETA and their supporters finally realize that the "boys will be boys" approach is inappropriate, when there are people (and I use the term for lack of a better one in my limited vocabulary) who really mean it when they go to blow up innocents. About bloody time they stopped romanticizing themselves!
#2
This is BS. The only reasons for ETA not trying a large scale atack are a) because after the bad cop (ETA) it is the hour of the good cop (PNV) who is busy with a project who would mark the end of Spain as a state and b) because they think Zapaterto will give up everyting because he is bound by his alliances with the most nutso Catalanist party who has pacts with ETA.
But about ETA not having the stomach, they tried to put a truck bomb in the ferry between Valencia and the Balear Islands. 1400 potential victims.
They tried to blow Madrid's largest skyscrapper: 5000 potential victims. They tried to blow the Atocha railway station: thousands of potential victims. Each time they failed but it was not their cosncience who prevcented a masscre ogf 9/11 proportions, it was bad luck or police action.
And ETA has said: "The day we will negotiate we will put 299 dead on the negotiation table".
#4
Not the ETA proper, not people like Jose Ignacio de Jauna Chaos who told how happy he is when he sees images of people weeping for murdered relatives, not the ETA inmates who, in the days after 11/3 were having a party with islamist inmates and rejoicing with them.
But in the hours after 11/3's bombingq when everyone thought it was ETA, militants of Herri Batasuna (ETA's political arm) were seeing crying: they thought it was ETA and were ashamed of it. But that doesn't apply to ETA's people proper or to the high ranks of Herri Batasuna who, even in these hours, were whitewashing ETA.
#5
Tough anti-terrorist laws, implemented in 2002 ... allow the police to arrest anyone connected to the outlawed organisation. Joint raids by French and Spanish police have netted hundreds of Eta suspects in recent years and busted many of the groupâs hideouts in southern France. .... There are now about 700 Eta prisoners in Spanish and French jails, compared with police estimates of fewer than 70 active members at large
These are the main reasons there are fewer ETA attacks.
.
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
01/16/2005 12:22
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#6
Much better, Mike. This kind of thoughtful contribution is valuable. Please do this instead of the other.
#8
You caught me, Shipman ;-) Although its more likely to be brownies, or chocolate chip cookies. But we can't expect less of people who claim to be analysts, right?
LAHORE: A man was shot dead and three were badly injured when a scuffle occurred during a funfair at a private school in Shadhra police jurisdiction.
Hey! Sounds like... ummm... not fun.
A group of local teenagers led by Naveed entered Friend Public School to attend a fun fair. They started teasing girls, on which Masud Alam, the principal, threatened them and had them escorted out of the school premises. Later the same day, Naveed retuned with his uncle Abdul Hameed and other armed persons and assaulted Alam. Alam's nephew Rana Tazeem retaliated and opened fire on the assailants. Hameed, Tariq, Qasim and Khalid received severe injuries in the shootout and were rushed to a hospital. The doctors pronounced Hameed dead while the other three are stated to be in critical condition. The body was sent for an autopsy.
That'll teach him to assault a school principal.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/16/2005
12:10:18 AM ||
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Most of this information seems pretty accurate, though I'm not too certain of the source. The stuff about the Taliban and Iran being in cahoots pre-9/11 strikes me as more than a little improbable given what happened in Mazar-e-Sharif, but it is true that post-9/11 Taliban officials and propaganda outlets have claimed to have received assistance from Iran.
While the world remains fixated on the situation in Iraq, the Bush Administration seems equally concerned with Iran. As the world's most intense (in quantity and quality) sponsor of international terrorism, and a rogue state in search of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, the specter of an alliance between Al-Qaeda terrorists and the fundamentalist Iran is indeed a scary one. Accusations by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and President Bush show that this is indeed the case. This article will examine if the evidence has been stretched or even falsified.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/16/2005
12:06:48 AM ||
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#1
When does Dan's book get released? Count me in.
Posted by: Captain America ||
01/16/2005 7:44
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Dan just posted this excellent article. The author is Ray Mauro and his original article title is "Iran and Osama: Match Made In Hell." His new book "Death to America: The Unreported Battle of Iraq" is to be published soon.
Posted by: Tom ||
01/16/2005 10:36
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#3
Dan should publish, he's got plenty of material.
Posted by: Captain America ||
01/16/2005 17:20
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Great article. It obviates any need to use Iranian nuclear aspirations as a reason to topple Tehran's mullahs. The information contained provides suficient evidence to warrant their removal. Too bad Europe is blinded to the incredible threat posed by Iran. Fortunately, America (by and large) is not. We need to decap Iran's government immediately.
The curfew imposed in Gilgit city last Saturday (January 8) and in Skardu on Thursday has not yet been lifted, as no violent incident was reported throughout the region after Shia leader Agha Ziauddin was buried in Gilgit on Friday night. Northern Areas Police said one of the assailants who shot at Agha Ziauddin's car and was killed in the ensuing gunfight was identified as Mukhtar Ahmed (son of Naqeeb Ahmed and resident of Peshawar). Mr Naqeeb was reportedly a prayer leader at a mosque in Peshawar.
Boy. Doesn't that come as a surprise: A prayer leader at a mosque in Peshawar. What an unlikely suspect!
Police also said a team headed by Muhammad Dilpazeer, the Northern Areas assistant inspector general of police, was investigating Agha Ziauddin's assassination and the culprits would be caught soon.
Just pop on over to Peshawar and pick 'em up...
Northern Areas administration sources said a six-member team set up by the federal government to investigate the attack and also the ensuing violence that claimed 16 lives had reached Gilgit.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/16/2005
12:06:33 AM ||
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(2005-01-15) -- Facing criticism for his move to cut contacts with the Palestinian Authority in the wake of the latest suicide attack which killed six Israelis, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon today softened his rhetoric and called on newly-elected Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to join him in negotiations to set "appropriate limits" on suicide bombings.
Mr. Sharon even put an opening proposal on the table for a Suicide Attack Protocol which would limit Palestinian terror groups to a monthly quota of one bus explosion in a crowded marketplace and two border checkpoint bombings while negotiations continue to establish a peaceful Palestinian state side-by-side with Israel.
"We want to be good neighbors," said Mr. Sharon, "so we need to continue to strengthen Mr. Abbas' hand in dealing with the terror groups who helped to elect him. We understand that going 'cold turkey' on terrorism would be tough for these groups so, as a confidence-building measure in our negotiations, we're proposing reasonable limits on Israeli civilian death and dismemberment."
Mr. Abbas, who was sworn-in today as president of the Palestinian Authority, said he would "consider Mr. Sharon's proposal after asking WWYD -- What Would Yassir Do?"
Posted by: Korora ||
01/16/2005
12:05:18 AM ||
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Sometimes Ott cuts a little too close to the bone, heh.
From Compass Direct
Eritrean authorities extended their crackdown on organized religion this past week to Roman Catholic citizens, arresting and jailing 25 members of the Catholic Church during a wedding rehearsal in Asmara. The victimized bride and groom had met with their wedding party on Sunday morning, January 9, to rehearse their planned ceremony two weeks before the wedding. But police inexplicably entered the building, a facility rented by the Tebadasso renewal group of the Catholic Church, and stopped the proceedings. The entire group present, including the wedding couple, was jailed at Asmara's Police Station No. 1, where they remained under arrest as of yesterday. ....
The same Sunday morning, security police swooped down on a wedding ceremony being held in Barentu, a town in western Eritrea, arresting the 67 evangelical Christians present. Participants had been escorting the bride to the wedding venue when police intervened and took them all to prison, including the wedding couple. Three clergymen among the prisoners were identified as pastors Oqbamichel and Simon from the Kale Hiwot Church, and Hagos Tuomai from the Full Gospel Church. Reportedly the 67 prisoners were to be taken to the Sawa Military Training Center for "military punishment." ..... Still a third arrest was reported on January 9 in the Beleza district of northern Asmara, where four men meeting for morning prayer were arrested by the police. All members of the Kale Hiwot Church, the men are currently being held under military confinement in the Mai-Serwa camp north of Asmara.
Meanwhile, Compass has confirmed that 25 of the 60 Rema Charismatic Church members arrested at a New Year's Eve celebration in Asmara have been released after signing a pledge not to participate in such meetings again. The pastor's wife had previously been set free on January 4, leaving her husband, Habteab Oqbamichel, and 33 other Rema believers still in custody at Mai-Serwa.
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Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
01/16/2005
12:04:44 AM ||
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Pictures snapped by the Titan probe and a low, whooshing sound picked up by an on-board microphone drew gasps and applause from scientists Saturday, as the mission to Saturn's moon continued its breathtaking revelations from more than 900 million miles across the solar system. Data beamed back from Titan, one of Saturn's moons, sketched a picture of a pale orange landscape with a spongy surface topped by a thin crust. "The closest analogues are wet sand or clay," said John Zarnecki, in charge of instruments analyzing Titan's surface.
Scientists at the European Space Agency were clearly excited about the success of the mission, which had confirmed some long-held theories and produced startling surprises. "I have to say I was blown away by what I saw," lead scientist David Southwood said at the agency's headquarters in Darmstadt. "It was an extraordinary experience to look at some of the stuff."
Images taken on descent, from about 12 miles right down to the surface, suggest the presence of liquid, possibly flowing through channels or washing over larger areas, said Marty Tomasko of the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory at the University of Arizona in Tucson. "It is almost impossible to resist speculating that the flat, dark material is some kind of drainage channel, that we are seeing some kind of a shoreline. We don't know if it still has liquid in it." A thick layer of cloud or fog that obscures the planet was found to be hanging at about 12 miles from the surface, but absent closer to the ground. The clouds are most likely methane and dark areas on the surface are "a reservoir" of liquid methane, said project scientist Shushiel Atreya. A boom mike extended from the 705-pound Huygens probe has captured a loud, rushing sound. Mission scientists did not immediately say what it might mean, but instruments on the probe have detected winds of about 15 mph.
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Posted by: Korora ||
01/16/2005
12:03:42 AM ||
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#1
Fake all fake produced in a studio. As proof, where are the UFOs? Where are the little orange-drinking green aliens? And where is Jimmy Neutron?
Posted by: Captain America ||
01/16/2005 8:56
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#2
Someone ought to photoshop this photograph with a half-buried can of Bud Light. ;o)
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
01/16/2005 9:13
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Halliburton's behind it all. But if it didn't work, we'd have to blame Bush, of course.
Here's a link to an interesting article on how the ESA presented their findings. I was at work, so I was at the mercy of the internet, but this retired space scientist has some pointed things to say about European culture:
#6
I'm curious. The Earth is about 93M miles from the sun. Saturn is about 900M miles from the sun. Understand the inverse square law applied for light this seem very very bright indeed. So are we looking at illumination provided by the light reflected back from Saturn, thus the orangish glow?
Posted by: Don ||
01/16/2005 12:14
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Even ordinary CCD's are very sensitive, especially when you are doing still photography with long exposure times.
#9
The reflected light from Saturn is still significantly weaker than direct sunlight. If The Sun was up, then the light was direct sunlight. Most likely ESA chose to land in sunlight.
#10
bad - As you can see from this quickie attempt, there's not enough base image to really work with. Making the cans small enough to fit decently (that desired subtle effect you implied) in this very limited perspective and image size, yields lousy results - you have to make them so tiny as to be unrecognizable. Sigh. Good idea, though, heh. I considered using Heineken, but the following put me off...
nada nailed it: The ESA are a bunch of elitist wankers. If you haven't checked his Space.com link, well, you should. Rather eye-opening for those of us who have spent as little time in Europe as humanly possible (layovers only, heh)... Had they given us something to work with, like NASA does, it could've been fun, not to mention an interesting and even exciting event in human history.
#11
Quick note - the original image used for that Starbucks spoof was a nice large wide-angle pic. This is a massively cropped version to suit the author's purposes.
#12
I dunno, .com, that looked like a pretty good start to me. What it needs is to give the Bud cans a heavy sepia cast to make them blend in more, and to de-focus the can images to match, as nearly as possible, the bad focus of the surrounding rocks. Go for it, Dude...
Posted by: Dave D. ||
01/16/2005 15:13
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I should explain...
It's a short step from holding the raw data until the papers are done... to only releasing the raw data that supports the papers.
In other words, bad science.
#23
I hope NASA has archival copies
Since the images are transmitted by Cassini to NASA ground stations, you could say NASA has the originals. Look for the American flag watermark in all the images.
Posted by: ed ||
01/16/2005 16:41
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Posted by: Captain America ||
01/16/2005 17:49
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It looks a lot like Mars. In fact, I say that when the spacecraft got to Mars, they just said, "To hell with this," and stopped. "Who'll know the difference?"
.com's space.com link had a link to all the raw images down at the bottom. Start here. You realize the thing didn't live but a couple minutes, so this is probably all they have.
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe offered on Saturday to meet his Venezuelan counterpart, Hugo Chavez, to defuse a widening diplomatic dispute over the capture of a top Colombian rebel in Venezuela.
And we all know how Hugo has a short fuse.
Venezuela this week recalled its ambassador from Bogota to protest last month's Colombian police operation, which it says violated sovereignty by abducting the rebel chief from Caracas. Chavez froze bilateral economic projects on Friday between the trade partners and demanded a public apology. Far from apologizing, Colombia has defended the Dec. 13 capture of Rodrigo Granda, foreign-relations chief of the Colombian leftist FARC rebel group, which has fought a four-decades-old war against the government. Both Bogota and Washington call the FARC a terrorist group. Uribe, a staunch ally of the US global campaign against terrorism, signaled Saturday he was ready to talk to Chavez, a fiery nationalist hailed by Latin America's left as a standard-bearer against US "imperialism". "President Uribe would be ready to discuss the issue (of Granda's capture) in a multilateral presidential summit," a high-ranking Colombian official, who asked not to be named, told Reuters in Bogota. The source said the meeting could be at a regional forum, such as the Ibero-American Group or the Andean Community of Nations, in which other leaders could take part. Chavez denies US and Colombian charges he shelters the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia). He says Colombia committed a crime by bribing members of an elite Venezuelan National Guard anti-kidnap squad to snatch Granda from the heart of Caracas. Five Venezuelan national guards have been arrested for handing Granda over to Colombia for a reward.
"Elite" police taking a bribe, whodathunk?
Chavez denies US and Colombian charges he shelters the FARC, but the guy was in downtown Caracas?
"Let's hope the Colombian president reconsiders and doesn't end up supporting a crime ... behaving very much like the United States government," Chavez said late Friday.
As opposed to harboring a criminal, eh Hugo?
While Chavez did not break diplomatic ties with Bogota, his sanctions may threaten future trade. Venezuela, the world's No. 5 oil exporter, is Colombia's second-largest export market. A Venezuelan military commander said the frontier remained open. But Colombia said Venezuela had closed the border near Cucuta, a major crossing point. Colombia defended Granda's capture as the legitimate arrest of a "terrorist". It reminded Chavez the United Nations forbade members to shelter terrorists and noted the FARC "foreign minister" had openly taken part in a pro-Chavez meeting of leftist groups in Caracas in December. The US ambassador in Bogota, William Wood, said Saturday his government backed Colombia's position "100 percent." He urged Venezuela to clarify whether it considered the FARC a terrorist group or not.
No need, Hugo did that a while back.
In Caracas, Venezuelan Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel released a statement saying, "The only issue under discussion here is the violation of the sovereignty of a nation." Washington gives hefty financial and military aid for Bogota's Plan Colombia offensive against drug-traffickers and Marxist rebels. The Colombian and US governments have asked Andean neighbors to cooperate. "Plan Colombia is turning into an Andean Plan," Alberto Garrido, a Venezuelan expert on Venezuelan-Colombian affairs, told Reuters. "Chavez has said again 'we're not going to cooperate' and Uribe is saying, 'well, if you don't, we're going to carry on doing the same thing'," he added.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/16/2005
12:02:11 AM ||
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After several months, many thousands of legal hours billed, and several barrels of latte consumed, the independent report on CBS' flawed reporting of the Emperor's new clothes has been released, to the relief of network executives who feared much worse. While several producers have been asked to resign, Dan Rather will continue to report on Imperial fashion, and the report verified that the story may still have been fake, but accurate.
Via the Instant Man. The French now understand just how bare their military cupboard is.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/16/2005
12:00:00 AM ||
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#1
The classic is in the closer:
...[Defense Minister] Alliot-Marie then firmly asserts that France is "very well represented" in the rescue effort but that in the first days of the disaster, France was preoccupied by the repatriation of its nationals. Following her words, the newscast gives the number of French affected by the disaster as 22 dead, 69 missing and 240 people of whom authorities have had "no news." However, the [France 2] broadcast began with a story about a single school in Sri Lanka where over seven hundred children failed to answer Monday's role call for attendance.
#4
I saw some of the coverage last week, and the
spin was anti-American. A shot of US helicopters arriving in Banda Ache (sp?) "empty" while the French sat waiting for their equipment.
#5
Americans tend not to help those whose primary goal in life is to be a "counterweight" to us. Perhaps some day the light will go on and the French will get a clue as to how much an object of ridicule their country has become. Were it not for the "cultural" pretensions of those in the US mainstream media, we would hear no more about France and its 60 million people than about Vietnam and its 82 million people. Basically, the only purpose France serves in the modern world is to provide an easy way to drive from Spain to Italy.
The Euros are just now beginning to fathom the steel in this woman's spine. Some choice exerpts:
Several anecdotes exemplify Rice's attitude to her race and also her ferocity when attacked. She famously told one interviewer: 'Let me explain to you: I speak French, I play Bach, I'm better in your culture than you are.'
On another occasion, when Rice was an academic at Stanford, she was shopping for expensive jewellery with a friend when a white clerk made some hostile comments. 'Let's get one thing straight,' Rice reportedly told him. 'You're behind the counter because you have to work for six dollars an hour. I'm on this side asking to see the good jewellery because I make considerably more.'
In Condie's own words
On sport
I find football so interesting strategically. It's the closest thing to war. What you are doing is taking and yielding territory and have certain strategies and tactics. On ambition
My parents had me absolutely convinced that you may not be able to have a hamburger at Woolworth's, but you can be President of the United States. On foreign policy
There cannot be an absence of moral content in American foreign policy. Europeans giggle at this and say we are naive, but we are not European, we are American and we have different principles. On race
You were told in segregated Birmingham that if you ran twice as hard, you might get half as far. And there were also people willing to run four times as hard so they could stay abreast. And once in a while, somebody was willing to run eight times as hard so they could get ahead.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/16/2005
12:00:00 AM ||
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"She is tasked with bringing the State Department firmly in hand, stifling the barely concealed dissent that marked the tenure of Colin Powell. It will not be easy and is likely to spark the most fierce bout of Washington infighting in years. But for Bush the job is vital. The State Department must be brought to heel."
By Jove, Al Guardian seems to get it, but the illusion only lasts for a moment for they immediately follow this by quoting a Clintoon nitwit who obviously adores State just as it is, subversive, seditious, and on the other side, as he was - decrying that it is to be remade as a tool of Bush. Um, yeah, fucktard, it's supposed to be an arm of the Executive Branch and the international voice of the President's policies. Asshole.
Well, fugg 'em - they'll be begging her for interviews soon enough and find out first-hand that she's Thatcher's worthy successor in the steel backbone department.
I hope she succeeds in spades. I would be so proud to cast my vote for her in 2008 that it might just finish me off.
Thx, Dr Steve - excellent article, if one has a fine mesh filter and some HandiWipes available, heh.
#2
In a sign that Rice may be headed for troubled waters, Washington insiders are waiting with bated breath for a book by former CIA director George Tenet, who resigned last year as the agency imploded over the scandal of pre-war intelligence on Iraq. Goodman said that an initial synopsis of the book indicated who would be firmly in its sights: 'Tenet's going to go after Condie Rice.'
#3
Dr. Rice gave a major German TV channel an interview last summer, which they used to portray her as a light-weight and a source for amusement. They will learn eventually that the laugh is on them, just as it was with Reagan, etc.
Posted by: Captain America ||
01/16/2005 8:35
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...And don't forget Jesse Owens. Am I being unfair? TGA?
#7
after all, Tenet's turn at the CIA is certainly something to brag about...
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/16/2005 11:33
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#8
Tenet's best option is to keep his yap shut and pray that nobody discloses what a mess he created in the intelligence community. His legact is the inclusion of some weird gay pride day/picnic that the CIA now celbrates. President Bush was too kind to keep the Clinton appointees on the job (I think he was trying to reach out) when they all should have been canned. Hopefully Condi can clean house in State and make them servants of the Goeverment and not some politacal party. The rash of resignations give me a little bit of hope that she will succeed.
Authorities are exploring whether a religious argument in an Internet chat room led to the slaughter of a Coptic Christian couple and their two daughters in their Jersey City home, relatives of the slain family said yesterday. One of the victims, 47-year-old Hossam Armanious, spent some of his spare time in chat rooms devoted to the Egyptian religious sect, at times proselytizing and at times writing about persecution of Coptic Christians by Muslims, family friends said. Armanious' hobby took a dark turn about two months ago, friends said, when he was threatened after writing comments deemed an insult to Islam by another person logged in to a chat site. "Some Muslim guys said if you don't stop this, we're going to come out and kill you," said a family friend, who requested anonymity, citing fears for his safety.
Posted by: John Q. Citizen ||
01/16/2005
11:26:52 AM ||
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#1
This will go far in allowing the average American to get a clue. Expect more of this coming to you soon. It's ok though, we must respect their diversity and culture.
#3
Throats cut after speaking out against Islam?Check.(c.f.;van gogh murder last month).Meanwhile,elsewhere in the US,Fox agreed to run 2 PSAs depicting Muslims in a positive light after the Fox show "24"depicted Muslims as terrorists.
Posted by: Me ||
01/16/2005 12:25
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#4
Can't wait for the MSM outrage about this.
Just imagine - Saying bad things against islam!
/SARCASM OFF
Does anyone have a link the the guys writing? I think perhaps we should publisize it far and wide. this guys is a true Martyr - the 'islamic' ones are just murderers.
The MSM will ignore this while soddomizing that Prison abuse dead horse. Truely disgusting!
FYI - this happened in Jersey City - Inside the United States. The FBI is investigating....
#5
I live in New Jersey, and this murder was the main headline in the local newspapers. My first thought was that the family was murdered by Islamicists.
.
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
01/16/2005 12:46
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Shipman, we really don't know at this time whether the story has legs as far as a jihadist link. I can see where someone might be active in an internet chatroom and someone might over time piece together the identity of the individual from various comments even though a peudoname is used. I can see a jihadist nutcase motive. There is no reason not to believe there is an enemy amonst us hatching up evil. You are correct, we don't really know at this time what the story is.
#12
Oh dear, I've used an archicism and given way my age. I should remember never to use typing and always use keyboarding. It's what the kids do now when it's too dark to skateboard.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis ||
01/16/2005 14:14
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#13
Here's the home site for IESpell. A very cool freebie spell-checker for IE. Custom dictionary, too. Works great.
#14
Maybe the cops are looking at people who have slit throats in the recent past.This list would include Muslims and...uhh...
Posted by: Me ||
01/16/2005 15:07
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"I can say whatever I want," the friend said Armanious responded to those threatening to kill him for insulting Islam, "I live in America." And Armanious his wife, son and daughter were killed in America. Their throats were cut. The unfortunates never knew: Americans are already fearful and in control of Islamic terrorists.
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/16/2005 17:50
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#22
the day we become that fearful is the day Moskkks become no-man's land
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/16/2005 17:51
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#23
"Americans are already fearful and in control of Islamic terrorists"
Is there supposed to be a "the" after "of?" If this is the intent, I don't know anyone like this. Most Americans I know exercise a lot of self-restraint. And yes Frank G., I also believe "All patriotic Americans should be armed and dangerous."
#28
The institutional media (so-called MSM) have been soft-peddling the Mohammedan terrorist connection. We can bet that hey will continue to sow confusion about the case whenever possible, or even to use their usual techniques to invite wholly false conclusions among the viewing audience. Fox TV (yes, Fox) initially reported that the victims were a MUSLIM family and repeated this three times before they corrected it without comment.
Other MSM can be expected to refer to them as Egyptian or Arab immigrants, with no reference to their Christian religion, thereby inviting conformist consumer-units that they were Muslim.
lately...
"Let's quit pissin' the Arabs off and just buy their oil. Why should we worry about Israel? We live on the other side of the world."
later....
"Why should we worry about New Jersey? We live in Texas."
later still...
"Why should we worry about Dallas? We live in Lubbock."
Even later yet...
"Why should we worry about Guadalupe [the local ghetto]? We live in Lakeridge [upscale suburb]."
too late...
"OH MY GOD, THEY'RE HERE! HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?"
#29
The institutional media (so-called MSM) have been soft-peddling the Mohammedan terrorist connection. We can bet that they will continue to sow confusion about the case whenever possible, or even to use their usual techniques to invite wholly false conclusions among the viewing audience. Fox TV (yes, Fox) initially reported that the victims were a MUSLIM family and repeated this three times before they corrected it without comment.
Other MSM can be expected to refer to them as Egyptian or Arab immigrants, with no reference to their Christian religion, thereby inviting conformist consumer-units to conclude that they were Muslim.
lately...
"Let's quit pissin' the Arabs off and just buy their oil. Why should we worry about Israel? We live on the other side of the world."
later....
"Why should we worry about New Jersey? We live in Texas."
later still...
"Why should we worry about Dallas? We live in Lubbock."
Even later yet...
"Why should we worry about Guadalupe [the local ghetto]? We live in Lakeridge [upscale suburb]."
too late...
"OH MY GOD, THEY'RE HERE! HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?"
#31
Wow..amazing that all of those broadcasts failed to cover it. Well...good....CNN/BBC/WAPO/CBS/NBC/NYT... keep dancing little puppets...dance for your puppet masters, while the rest of us have a good laugh watching you pretend.
#33
For some reason the story is not being picked up. The New York Post Online reported the story; however, there is no mention of a Muslim terrorist possibilities as was mentioned in this post. http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/38587.htm
#37
At some point, I'd like to see an indepth story as to money trails of these news sources. It would be almost impossible for someone to follow, because even if these papers are receiving funds from nefarious sources, it would be laundered in advertising fees, false circulation numbers and newstand sales.
I keep wishing that they'd cross some line so that the FBI or CIA could do the work. I used to think it was just bias - but it's getting harder and harder not to think it's not just outright subversive, paid propaganda.
#39
I am not shocked at all. Remember that the MSM refuses to mention that the 'hostage takers' in that Russian school were, to a person, Islamic. Nor will they ever mention that they would haul children off to rooms to be gang raped by the 'hostage takers' or that they bayonetted babies....
The MSM has been covering for the Islamist for a long, long, time but now, thanks to the internet and blogs, (and Drudge) they cant for very much longer.
BTW: I am Glereger Chavimble7727 above. Damn lost cookies.....
#40
.....haul children off to rooms to be gang raped.." Good God! Where do you hear that?
About the murders in New Jersey... we left SA for fear that what happened to that poor family could happen to us. That something like that has happened here is beyond my comprehension.
#41
Anonymous4724: It never happened here for the sole reason we'd do something about it. Apparently someone decided to role the dice against us catching them. BIG MISTAKE. SA might not do anything, but I assure you people here in the US will.
Posted by: Charles ||
01/16/2005 21:45
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#43
Aren't we missing the most important point about all of this? The Islamist terrorists who commited this outrage are here because of our BULLSHIT immigration/visa policies! We have let these creatures in our country out of some misbegotten sense that only a small minority of people of that pursuasion are actually radical and dangerous. Most people of that persuasion are either passive supporters, active supporters, utter cowards unwilling to be involved, or active terrorists.
Draconian restrictions on future entry and prioritized sweeps to deport those already here for even the most minor violations need to be the order of the day! Am I missing something here?
#44
This is a must read eyewitness account of the Beslan massacre. They knifed babies, they raped girls. Other survivors told how screaming teenage girls were dragged into rooms adjoining the gymnasium where they were being held and raped by their Chechen captors who chillingly made a video film of their appalling exploits
Also: The Rape Jihad Meanwhile, Indira Dzetskelova, the mother of one of the child hostages in Beslan, Russia, reports that "several 15-year-old girls were raped by terrorists." Her daughter "heard their terrible cries and screams when those monsters took them away."
Posted by: ed ||
01/16/2005 22:18
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ed has the right links. And that is why I feel that the MSM is, with full knowledge, deliberately providing cover for the Islamic Jihadists and their acts.
In fact the MSM went out of their way to protry the islamists as 'freedom fighters'. Didn't Mike Al-Moore refer the them as the equivalent of 'minutemen'?
From the Department of If Only We Could Wish It All Away...
German politicians have called for Nazi symbols to be banned throughout Europe after Prince Harry was pictured wearing a swastika to a fancy dress party. The Liberal group in the European Parliament says all of Europe suffered because of the crimes of the Nazis, so there should be a continent-wide ban. Yaay! No need to be reminded about all that, um, unpleasantness EVER AGAIN! Nobody remember! NOBODY!
A senior Christian Democrat said the proposal may be discussed at the next meeting of European justice ministers. The symbols are already banned under German law. The photograph of Harry in a costume with a Nazi swastika armband was taken at a friend's birthday party in Wiltshire last weekend. Vice-president of the Christian Democratic parliamentary group Wolfgang Bosback said the outfit "really lacked taste". Tastelessness isn't grounds for banning things, last time I checked. If it was, Germany's Christmas Number One would never have found its way onto the shelves... Besides, Harry was dressed as a Nazi, in jest (tasteless or not), not claiming to be one.
He said it was possible European justice ministers would discuss bringing in a European prohibition on displaying the swastika and other Nazi signs. Liberal group vice-president Silvana Koch-Merin said: "All of Europe has suffered in the past because of the crimes of the Nazis, therefore it would be logical for Nazi symbols to be banned all over Europe." Let's ban the Hammer and Sickle, images of Che and Red Flags in general then. Perhaps crescent moons electron micrographs of flu viruses should be considered next.
She also called for the question to be placed on the agenda at the next meeting of justice ministers. The vice-president of the parliamentary Social Democratic group, Michael Mueller, said a study was needed to find out how a German-style anti-Nazi law could be applied to the rest of Europe. Lock-step. That's the answer.
Posted by: Bulldog ||
01/16/2005
11:20:38 AM ||
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Oh excellent, let's debate the dead past while real live (Islamo) fascists multiply in our midst.
#2
Neo-Nazis are a perfect example of why it is so important to protect free speech. That said, I still have great difficulty in understanding exactly why Nazi supporters are allowed to mouth off about reviving the Holocaust. It's not a matter of hate speech but one of supporting mass murder. Much like violent jihad ...
Banning symbols is like trying to cure cancer by forbidding any discussion of it. The real malignancy just isn't going to go away.
#4
Tasteless yes, but if he had gone dressed as the Devil -- more evil than your average neo-Nazi -- it is likely that nobody would have heard about it. But if they had, Prince Charles would not have ordered him to visit Hell.
Posted by: Tom ||
01/16/2005 15:38
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how about the stiff armed Nazi salute? Gonna ban that? Start in hezbollah, hamas, Iran....
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/16/2005 15:50
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Actually, an Italian soccer player is undergoing the third degree for the stiff arm salute. These symbols are banned in Germany and the logic was not bad at the time as part of reconstruction or what ever we called that one. But now that they've been re-united, they should give free speech a try. If they can't handle it, perhaps they just aren't ready for democracy.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis ||
01/16/2005 15:56
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Alternative costume photoshop:
http://forums.fark.com/cgi/fark/comments.pl?IDLink=1304176
Posted by: Tom ||
01/16/2005 16:19
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Tasteless yes, but if he had gone dressed as the Devil -- more evil than your average neo-Nazi -- it is likely that nobody would have heard about it.
That's probably because devils are fictional and as such have never killed anyone.
#15
"The Liberal group in the European Parliament says all of Europe suffered because of the crimes of the Nazis, so there should be a continent-wide ban."
Once upon a time, one would have found the word "liberal" in that sentence a tad *ironic*. No more, alas....
The U.S. Army is upgrading the armor on 734 M113/A3s and M577s armored vehicles, at a cost of $115,000 each, and sending the vehicles into Iraq. The 16 foot long and 8.75 foot wide M113 is a 1960s vintage armored personnel carrier that was replaced, in the 1980s, by the larger and heavier M-2 Bradley. The army still has over 10,000 M113s, but they are used in secondary roles, or kept in storage. The M577 is a M113 modified (with a higher rear compartment) to serve as a command vehicle. The M113 served effectively during the Vietnam war, and was the main American APC (armored personnel carrier) throughout most of the Cold War. About 80,000 M113s were manufactured. At 13 tons (probably closer to 15 tons with the added armor), the M113 is lighter than the M-2 and Stryker. For many chores in Iraq, especially convoy protection, the M113 could be effective (despite its max speed of only 65 kilometers an hour, about a third less than what many convoys make). However, the M113 will be expensive to use in Iraq, because it is a tracked vehicle, and those tracks wear out quickly and have to be replaced at great expense (over $10,000) every 6,000 kilometers (or less, as traveling on roads wears out the tracks faster). However, the M113 has proved to be a very flexible platform, lending itself to modifications by many of the dozens of armed forces that still use it. Some countries have added turrets, mounting 25mm cannon. It's likely that some M113s would be equipped with the new remote control .50 caliber machine-gun turret (as is used in some Strykers). One advantage the Stryker has is its wheels, which make it quieter in action. This has proved to be a major advantage in Iraq. But on the convoy routes, it's armor and firepower that count most. I suspect that we are more than glad to use these vehicles, and the mountains of spare parts for them in storage, for something practical, rather than just scrap them. Then they will make a fine gift to the new Iraqi army.
Posted by: Anonymoose ||
01/16/2005
11:14:23 AM ||
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and it would not be untoward to expect that many of these uparmored M113s will find their way into service with the Iraqi Police, the Iraqi National Guard, and the Iraqi Army. Better than being sold for scrap at home.
#2
Absolutely true, RWV. They need the tools to do the job, just as we have... Of course, Ahmed can have the keys to the Hummer only after his grades stay high for more than one or two reporting cycles, heh.
#3
I said awhile back the M-113's should be revamped,upgraded and given to the Iraqi police/military.It is about damn time somebody did something about that rectal inversion.
#4
You know, this raises a very interesting prospect. The Pentagon keeps huge storehouses of material, I mean really vast warehouses, much of which is not needed and is just a subsidy scam for the producers. Things like the mohair produced on Sam Donaldson's profitable mohair ranch in Texas. It has no conceivable military use. However, if we were to empty these warehouses of this stuff and ship it to Afghanistan and Iraq, it would turn useless junk into valuable commodities. It would also free up a lot of space that, by law, would have to be filled with crap like mohair. So the subsidies would continue, just the crap wouldn't be thrown out, it would be recycled.
#6
Remember back to early 2002 -- the media crowing how horribly cold the Afghan winters get? Mohair might well be akin to frankincense and myrrh to the locals.
#7
The 113's will do well there - they aren't really of much use to the US military in terms of fitting in with current doctrine and tactics, as well as the logistics stream. Putting these in use over there and equipping that Iraqi army wiht them and (each police station with 2 as well) would get rid of these out of inventory when we are done, give the Iraqis a servicable vehicle, and cut down on the effectiveness of the terrorist elements there.
#8
The 113's will do well there - they aren't really of much use to the US military in terms of fitting in with current doctrine and tactics, as well as the logistics stream. Putting these in use over there and equipping that Iraqi army wiht them and (each police station with 2 as well) would get rid of these out of inventory when we are done, give the Iraqis a servicable vehicle, and cut down on the effectiveness of the terrorist elements there.
#9
The 113's will do well there - they aren't really of much use to the US military in terms of fitting in with current doctrine and tactics, as well as the logistics stream. Putting these in use over there and equipping that Iraqi army wiht them and (each police station with 2 as well) would get rid of these out of inventory when we are done, give the Iraqis a servicable vehicle, and cut down on the effectiveness of the terrorist elements there.
Coalition forces continue to discover and confiscate or destroy a significant number of weapons caches - 10 more since Jan. 8, a military spokeswoman said today at a news conference in the Afghan capital of Kabul. Army Lt. Col. Pam Keeton, deputy public affairs officer For Combined Forces Command Afghanistan, said six of those 10 caches were turned in to coalition forces either by local police or by local citizens. Two caches each were discovered in Hilmand and Nangarhar provinces, and one cache each was discovered in Ghazni, Warkak, Zabul, Kandahar, Paktika and Kunar provinces, Keeton said.
Two caches of note, she explained, were the ones in Wardak and Zabul provinces. The cache in Wardak had an anti-aircraft gun, a machine gun, a 82 mm mortar system, 100 cases of 12.7 mm rounds, 100 cases of 14.5 mm rounds, 100 rocket-propelled grenade rounds, 50 82 mm mortar rounds, 100 107 mm rockets, 16 122 mm rockets and 100 anti-personnel mines. The Zabul cache contained 500 62 mm mortar rounds, 120 cases of 14.5 mm rounds, 66 cases of 12.7 mm rounds, 22 82 mm mortars and other munitions of different caliber and size.
Near Shindand in Herat province, a civilian truck hit and detonated a mine emplaced in the road Jan. 10, Keeton said, killing the driver and seriously wounding the two passengers injured. "This incident, and others like this, underscores the importance of the discovery and destruction of weapons caches -- getting these dangerous munitions out of the hands of those who use them indiscriminately to harm civilians and soldiers."
Posted by: Anonymoose ||
01/16/2005
11:02:41 AM ||
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For the second straight day, insurgents firing from a mosque in eastern Mosul targeted multinational forces in Iraq, military officials in Baghdad reported today.
Task Force Olympia soldiers with the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Stryker Combat Team), were patrolling when their convoy came under attack by insurgents firing rocket-propelled grenades and small arms from the Rashan Mosque.
Insurgents had attacked multinational forces and Iraqi security forces from the same mosque Jan. 14. No injuries were reported from the either attack.
Iraqi security forces have increased the number of troops in northern Iraq in an effort to provide "enhanced security and stability for the Jan. 30 elections," officials said. About 4,000 Iraqi security forces, including Iraqi National Guard soldiers, are in the Mosul area. The ING has been folded into the regular Iraqi army.
In Mosul today, soldiers of the 106th Iraqi National Guard detained six people suspected on insurgent activity and confiscated weapons and ammunition.
On Jan. 14, Iraqi forces and soldiers from 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Striker Combat Team), detained 16 individuals and confiscated weapons, ammunition, and bomb equipment during operations in northern Iraq.
Military officials in Baghdad said in a written statement that "with each seizure and removal of dangerous weapons and detention of anti-Iraqi insurgents, the situation is becoming safer."
In news elsewhere, three suspected insurgents were detained in a raid on a house in Abayach, near the site where an improvised explosive device was found Jan. 14. A search of the house uncovered insurgent propaganda and a possible IED detonator. The suspects were taken to Multinational Force Iraq detention facilities.
The 2nd Iraqi Ministry of the Interior Commando Battalion detained another suspect in a raid near Samarra. The commandos confiscated two AK-47 assault rifles, a submachine gun and five AK-47 magazines in the raid. The detainee was taken in for questioning.
Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, coalition forces recovered two weapons caches Jan. 14. The first contained three RPG launchers, three RPGs, an RPK machine gun and an AK-47. The second cache contained four 25 mm anti-aircraft gun barrels, four 25 mm receivers and 130 cans of ammunition with 32 rounds per can. Both caches were turned over to Afghan police.
Posted by: Anonymoose ||
01/16/2005
10:57:22 AM ||
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Why is the Imam still running free,and why has the Mosque not been raided?
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/16/2005 20:58
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There shouldn't even be any discussion about this. When it has been determined that enemy fire is coming from a minaret, it should be toppled immediately and the adjoining mosque searched thoroughly.
Nearly 1,100 Iraqis converged on a police recruiting center south of Baghdad Jan. 13 to compete for 100 jobs at police stations throughout northern Babil Province, according to 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit officials.
The large turnout came as a pleasant surprise to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which has teamed with local police chiefs to steadily build their forces. A recruiting call is conducted about once a month, and the number of applicants is usually just enough to cover the number needed.
Marines attribute the surge to the intervention of prominent sheiks in the area, who have recently begun signaling to the Marines their interest in assuming a greater role in fostering security and stability in the province.
Maj. Matt Sasse, operations officer for Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment - the expeditionary unit's ground combat element - said he believes the Marines' aggressive efforts to defeat an insurgent-driven campaign of intimidation and terror are paying off.
"These individuals felt safe enough to come here and obviously safe enough to become Iraqi policemen," he said. "1,100 is a huge number for 100 slots."
Insurgents have in recent months targeted the fledgling Iraqi security forces, including police officers and stations. In northern Babil, insurgents scored a string of successes last summer before the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which arrived in July, helped Iraqi forces turn things around...
Posted by: Anonymoose ||
01/16/2005
10:54:52 AM ||
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On Jan. 9, the soldiers of Blue Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 5th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, embarked on a raid that proved to be their most successful in 10 months here.
The target was a residential home in the Al Doura neighborhood. An informant told of the exact layout of the home, and he was right on the money. After thorough searching, the site yielded 23 artillery shells, wire and electrical triggers and other supplies that could be assembled into more than 50 improvised explosive devices, said 1st Lt. Matthew Sullivan, Blue Platoon leader.
Thanks to the intelligence source, Sullivan's platoon knew exactly what to expect when entering the house. A warm welcome wasn't included.
"We busted in the house and there were two guys who were in there. One just took off running right as we kicked down the door," said Sullivan, a Chattanooga, Tenn., native. "He managed to escape through the back door and scaled a wall then ran through another house. His brother was in the house also, but we got him."
After all suspects were detained, the search of the home began. Nothing could prepare these troops for what they would find.
"I checked all but one room and didn't see anything, and then I had some of my guys go upstairs to do some searching," Sullivan explained. "Right when they opened up they said, 'Oh, sir, you have to check this sh*t out.' The room was just an IED workshop. All over the floor were wires, batteries and containers full of plastic explosives. There was even an IED already to go."
Spc. Jason Nelson, a humvee gunner in Blue Platoon was among the first to enter the room with the IED workshop.
"I went into room, and I was just shocked by how much electrical stuff was in there laying on tables. I had never seen that much stuff (sh*t)," commented Nelson, a Saukcentre, Minn., native. "By then, I already knew we made a big impact. I know having that out of those guys hands, it's safer for us and for the Iraqis."
At that point, Sullivan saw he had an operation too big for his platoon of 16 troopers to handle alone. Soon after his men discovered this workshop, the lieutenant called in for the explosives ordnance disposal team to deal with the bombs, and the battalion's quick reaction force to apply more manpower.
When the rest of the backup arrived, more security could be applied, allowing for a more thorough search. Metal detector assistance found the artillery shells buried in the back yard. A taxi cab parked at the home had a wire-rigged assembly in the trunk that could perfectly fit six artillery shells, Sullivan added.
Over the seven hours of searching, the list of suspicious items kept adding up: several handfuls of C4 explosives, bags of nails and marbles for shrapnel, tear gas grenades and gas masks, dozens of disassembled remote control cars, 30 cell phones, 50 Sony Playstations. A beret and armband from the former regime's Special Forces provided a clue as to who these terrorists' former employer was, Sullivan said.
In all, the target was the most fruitful cache of weapons for a home this size in the battalion's history here. It was also a great victory in cracking down on the source of anti-Iraqi attacks in Company B's sector, he said.
"We have been tracking these guys for a month and a half so far. They are linked to some IEDs that have hit our company," Sullivan continued. "I think this will make the number of IED attacks in our sector fall drastically."
Sullivan said that this operation not only helped keep his troops safe, but put an end to what the terrorists had planned on doing for the elections.
"We heard they were planning to hit a Christian church with their car bomb and just disrupt things before the elections, but we put a kink in that," he said. "Now we just need to find the rest of members of the cell one by one, and who's financing them."
The platoon leader said it's missions like this one that remind him of why he enjoys leading troops in combat.
"It's been a great experience doing this job. I can't ask for anything more than to lead a platoon in combat," Sullivan concluded. "It's kind of a rush sometimes. It's been something I'll remember for the rest of my life."
Posted by: Anonymoose ||
01/16/2005
10:49:27 AM ||
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Eeeexxxcellent! just seems a shame the suspects didn't try to escape a bit harder. Scum.
#2
Well, you sure as hell better treat the one you caught with kid gloves, Mister Tough Military Guy! Mikey and The Heiress have their panties in a wad about torture, which is defined any way they decide, depending upon their mood, y'know. So ya better watchout - The Morality Sqaud is on the job! They'll post a lot of shit if you cross 'em! Very skeery stuff, lemmee tell ya.
Rolf John was living the American Dream--German style. For several years, the unemployed ex-banker received about $2,400 a month in German welfare checks to pay for his Miami Beach apartment, living expenses and a housekeeper who also doubled as his driver. This is, of course, much more money than Mr. John, better known in Germany as "Florida Rolf," would have ever received in the fatherland--but you see, it's not his fault that the cost of living in sunny Florida is so much higher than in OsnabrÃŒck, his rainy hometown in northern Germany. And Mr. John could not be expected to return to Germany because such an imposition might have worsened his depression, his psychiatrist feared.
Upon reading Florida Rolf's story in the mass circulation Bild-Zeitung in 2003, millions of Germans, this writer included, found themselves joining Mr. John in depression, wondering whether it's not an imposition for most Germans to live in their country. If you are forced to fork out half of your salary to the government so that it can pay for, among other excesses, Florida Rolf's year-round tan in a gated community in Miami, complete with swimming pool and sauna, you are entitled to occasional cynicism.
Granted, this is an extreme case, but it is also a symptom of a deeper malaise: Such abuse can only happen in a welfare system that has spun completely out of control. One third of Germany's GDP goes to social spending--and the trend points upward. As even Germany's punishing payroll taxes are no longer enough to pay for the country's burgeoning unemployment, welfare, health care and pension costs, the government is forced to pile on more and more debt, which has already reached 66% of GDP and keeps rising. Some 25% of the federal budget goes just to interest payments.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: tipper ||
01/16/2005
10:30:58 AM ||
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I blame the Marshall Plan.
We made it too easy for them to recover from WWII.
#2
Well, but for a 1.5% voter swing last Nov 2nd, we'd be headed into our own economic socialist death spiral. Instead, we've got a guy who will try to reform our SocSec system so that it won't reach that crisis point... and I think he will need our help, since the Dhimmicrats have declared that there is nothing wrong with their tranzi agenda and will fight Bush every step of the way. It's gonna get ugly. And in 2006, with some guts and work and money, we can take even more seats from the morons. Then, in 2008, well, we'll nail down a majority bloc in the Senate and put the dwindling House Dhimmicrats on the appropriately endangered idiot list. There is much to be done.
THE Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) called for an end to all attacks that "harm the national interest" after a meeting of its executive committee today. "The committee gave its full support to Abu Mazen's inauguration speech to stop all military acts that harm our national interest and give an excuse to the Israeli position which is aimed at sabotaging Palestinian stability and the implementation of the roadmap," the executive committee said in a statement. PLO chairman Mahmud Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, was sworn in as head of the Palestinian Authority yesterday. During his inauguration speech, Mr Abbas criticised attacks by militants as hampering efforts to "bring about the calm needed to enable a credible, serious peace process".
Posted by: tipper ||
01/16/2005
10:22:36 AM ||
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Now, the question that needs answering is exactly how many of the attacks that are launched DON'T harm the national interest.
#2
Geez. How about ending attacks because they're wrong and they perpetuate the decline of Paleo society to a 7th century death cult? Watch what he does, not what he says (in english OR arabic)
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/16/2005 17:59
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During his inauguration speech, Mr Abbas criticised attacks by militants as hampering efforts to "bring about the calm needed to enable a credible, serious peace process".
Old but interesting if true ...
About 300 Chechen gunmen have penetrated into Iraqi territory to fight against the Western coalition forces, a source in the Italian intelligence services was quoted by news site ANSA.it as saying. The Italian military contingent deployed in the area of Al-Nasiriyah may be one of the main targets of the Chechen gunmen, Itar-Tass, citing the Italian news agency, reported. According to the Italian intelligence source, the Chechens have been in touch with the local extremists fighting near the residential area of Suk al-Shuyuk. The head of the Italian Army's General Staff, General Giulio Fraticelli, who heads the Italian Army's General Staff in Al-Nasiriyah, was quoted as saying Sunday that the information on the Chechen gunmen had been confirmed. An inquiry into the possible dispersal of the enemy in the territory is underway, the general said.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/16/2005
1:02:07 AM ||
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Al-Nasiriyah, the 24th holiest site to Chechens....
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/16/2005 11:46
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D'you suppose the Russians are making Chechnya too uncomfortable for the idjits?
#4
If there are 300 Chechens in Nasiriyah, they must all be absorbed in full time man-love. Nasiriyah is a very quiet sector. You would think they could towel off and take 10 minutes to fire a mortar or rpg.
Posted by: ed ||
01/16/2005 21:10
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VILLAGERS today stabbed to death a man suspected of stealing from tsunami victims in southern Sri Lanka and handed over six more suspects to police, a senior policeman said. Residents of the village of Thalapitiya in the district of Galle had turned against a group of men they believed had been stealing from the December 26 tsunami victims, said deputy inspector-general D W Prathapasinghe. "One man has been stabbed to death," Prathapasinghe told AFP. "We are still investigating and the initial report I have is that the relatives of the victims had turned against the looters." The murder came as the government moved to arm itself with more powers to deal with looting and other tsunami-related crimes along the island's coastal regions where nearly 31,000 people were killed. There have been reports of the rape of survivors and robberies following the disaster, which brought out both the best and the worst in local residents.
Posted by: tipper ||
01/16/2005
10:20:36 AM ||
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FOUR THOUSAND people have suffered shooting injuries in a single year as gun crime continues to rise across Britain. Figures released by the Home Office show that 81 people were shot dead and more than 500 were seriously wounded between April 2002 and March 2003... Experts say the number of people admitted to hospital with gunshot injuries is much higher than those released by the government because many hospitals do not record the treatment of gunshot wounds, or the method of collecting data differs between hospitals.
An unarmed populace is a vulnerable populace. Have some more warm milk...
Posted by: Anonymoose ||
01/16/2005
10:18:40 AM ||
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For good control,use both hands.Them anti-gun laws sure do work well.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis ||
01/16/2005 19:52
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lol! You almost wonder if there is some sort of law that they aren't allowed to just write "GSW" so it can be easily tracked. Hey Doc..you have to be more descriptive like... brain matter pushed through skull opening.
Wouldn't want those gun nuts to get any "cannon fodder".
This post is dedicated to 2b who, a few days ago, was depressed about Kerry's near win. A veeeery long article about the logarithmic growth of conservatism amongst American university students, printed in the quarterly City Journal, and reprinted in the Wall Street Journal
It begins: Throughout 2003 and into 2004, a surge of protests roiled American campuses. You probably think the kids were agitating against war in Iraq, right? Well, no: students at UCLA, Michigan, and many other schools were sponsoring bake sales to protest . . . affirmative action. [snip. Details of the Affirmative Action Cookie Sale]
The protests shocked the mainstream press, but to close observers of America's college scene lately they came as no surprise. For decades, conservative critics have bemoaned academe's monolithically liberal culture. Parents, critics note, spend fortunes to send their kids to top colleges, and then watch helplessly as the schools cram them with a diet of politically correct leftism often wholly opposed to Mom and Dad's own values.
But the Left's long dominion over the university—the last place on earth that lefty power would break up, conservatives believed—is showing its first signs of weakening. The change isn't coming from the schools' faculty lounges and administrative offices, of course. It's coming from self-organizing right-of-center students and several innovative outside groups working to bypass the academy's elite gatekeepers.
There have always been conservative students on campus: more than a half-century has passed since a just-matriculated William F. Buckley published God and Man at Yale, lamenting his alma mater's secularism and launching the author on his now-legendary career. But never has the Right flourished among college kids as it does today.
The number of College Republicans, for instance, has almost tripled, from 400 or so campus chapters six years ago, to 1,148 today, with 120,000-plus members (compared with the College Democrats' 900 or so chapters and 100,000 members). And College Republicans are thriving even on elite campuses. "We've doubled in size over the last few years, to more than 400 students," reports Evan Baehr, the square-jawed future pol heading the Princeton chapter. The number of College Republicans at Penn has also rocketed upward, says chapter president Stephanie Steward, from 25 or so members a couple of years ago to 700 members today. Same story at Harvard. These young Republican activists, trudging into battleground states this fall in get-out-the vote efforts, helped George W. Bush win.
There's a good deal more at the link: the overall culture is the same across the youth population, but the radical leftists can be distinguished by their unwashedness; "post-feminist" desire for marriage and children; key experience is 9/11; tolerant, libertarian-leaning -- don't care if others are homosexual, even those who believe its a sin; against affirmative action -- aware its unfairly applied (rich Hispanics=! discriminated-against minority) and harms minorities; nowadays "question authority" = anti-Liberal; and more. In fact, go to the homepage and check out the other articles; Rantburg fave VDH has a submission.
Posted by: trailing wife ||
01/16/2005
1:01:31 AM ||
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My most disgusting experience in college and post-college was the liberal loons (big blue state university). After too many decades, it's reassuring to hear that the moral majority has a collective voice.
Posted by: Captain America ||
01/16/2005 17:43
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My teens have been caught scanning my National Review mags when they think I'm not looking. Heh heh
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/16/2005 17:48
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Sounds like you're rearing them right, Frank! Have you left Rantburg where they can 'inadvertantly' find it?
#4
This post is dedicated to 2b Gosh TW! Thanks. Great article and links. I feel really heartened by the implications of this. Nothing could scare a 50/60/70's liberal more than realizing that the young people don't see their "rebellious" ideas as cool or daring - but just stale, eye-rolling, establishment gruel embraced by the aging uncool.
But more importantly, it shows hope for the future of our country!
NEW YORK - After spending 10 days in London with friends who were outspoken about their disdain for President Bush's policies, Berns Rothchild came home wishing she had a way to show the world she didn't vote for him.
"I sort of felt ashamed, and didn't really want to be associated with being an American," said Rothchild, who lives in New York City and voted for John Kerry. Then go live in that workers paradise you love so much - North Korea.
Her mother had a suggestion: bracelets, inspired by the Lance Armstrong Foundation's popular "LIVESTRONG" bands, that would signal opposition to Bush.
Thousands of miles away, two women in Idaho had the same idea. So did a woman in Kansas. The result? At least three separate bracelet ventures targeting left-leaning citizens who want to wear their political affiliation on their wrists — and at least one competitor bearing the opposite message.
Rothchild, 35, is selling blue bracelets that say "COUNT ME BLUE," while Laura Adams, of Fairway, Kan., offers blue bracelets that say "HOPE." The McKnight family, of Moscow, Idaho, is even more direct; their black bracelets proclaim: "I DID NOT VOTE 4 BUSH."
"It's kind of like saying, 'This is my tribe,'" said Adams, 43, a Kerry supporter, who was inspired by her 14-year-old stepson's yellow Lance Armstrong band.
Rothchild, who is selling the bracelets on the Web in packages of 10 for $20, plans to give part of her profits to UNICEF, and Adams has donated money from the sale of her $3 bracelets to Save the Children and Habitat for Humanity.
Posted by: CrazyFool ||
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#1
"It's kind of like having a great big letter 'L', right in the middle of my forehead!"
#3
I heard a LLL spout one time that they (CIA/NSA/FBI/EIEIO) were setting up camps here in California for these people. I like the idea of making the bracelets permannant. I also want to know ho I can get a job as a guard at one of these camps? I am thinking of some really good Abu-Grabass games to play with the prisoners.
#5
Wow CF! I wasn't even thinking in that angle! Maybe they have mistaken San Francisco for this so-called camp? Some of those places in North Beach have some very strange 'entertainment'. Possibly they secretly hope to be part of the naked pyramid?
QUETTA: Unidentified men fired six rockets at a checkpoint of paramilitary forces in Kohlo district on Saturday, but no one was hurt. Frontier Corps (FC) personnel retaliated when their position came under attack from rockets fired from the hills of Jandran, but the assailants managed to escape. No property damage was reported either. Kohlo district is located some160 kilometres north of Sui, site of Pakistan's largest natural gas field, which has been the scene of rocket attacks by Baloch tribesmen over the last week in which at least eight people have died. It was not clear if the attack on the Frontier Corps checkpoint was linked to the violence at the Sui gas fields.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/16/2005
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Stateside, boys being boys toilet paper trees on Halloween. Over there they fire rockets at the army, but miss, then no doubt run away, giggling madly.
MIR ALI: Security forces arrested 17 suspected militants crossing over into Pakistani tribal territory at Lawara Mandi on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in North Waziristan Agency on Saturday. Sources told Daily Times that militants attacked a camp of the coalition forces in Afghanistan near the border with Pakistan with rockets and fled from the area. The coalition forces informed Islamabad of the attack and asked for a search on the Pakistan side of the border.
A Inter Services Public Relations press release said the search operation was launched by security forces early on Saturday morning in a madrassah compound about a kilometre north of Alwara Mandi. The sources said regular troops and Tochi Scouts, aided by 10 helicopters, arrested the 17 suspects at Lawara Mandi, 18 kilometres west of Miran Shah, the headquarters of North Waziristan. They were shifted in helicopters to Bannu for interrogation. The sources said all of the arrested men appeared to be Pakistanis. Two people, one of them an Afghan, were wounded in a shootout during the raid, an intelligence official who asked not to be named told Reuters. The sources added that soon after the attack, coalition forces arrested three Pakistani suspects and shifted them to an undisclosed location in Afghanistan. The North Waziristan political administration told Daily Times that they were not informed about the operation.
As has become increasingly obvious, all the arrested "Taliban" were Paks.
Posted by: Fred ||
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Mahmud Abbas was formally sworn in as Yasser Arafat's successor as president of the Palestinian Authority on Saturday at a ceremony in parliament in Ramallah. Abbas swore to "safeguard the interests of the Palestinian people" as he placed his hand on a copy of the holy Qoran. Parliament speaker Rawhi Fattuh, who has been caretaker head of the Palestinian Authority since Arafat's death on November 11, then resumed his post. Abbas indicated on Saturday that he would ask the current prime minister Ahmed Qorei to stay on to form a new government. "I repeat my confidence in Abu Alaa (Qorei) and I want to consult him on forming the government according to the law," Abbas said in his inauguration speech at the Palestinian parliament.
Posted by: Fred ||
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My guess is that the crisis crested yesterday and can now recede, the Baluchs having been hollered at and the gummint having been warned to back off. Both sides have asserted their masculinity, and neither side's had its beard tugged. A wonderful time was had by all, except for a few dead guys and the lady doctor who got raped...
QUETTA: No one has been arrested and no weapons have been seized in an operation that began on Friday against suspected tribesmen who fired rockets and mortars at the main gas plant at Sui, officials said on Saturday. Paramilitary troops are searching homes in villages around the gas field, local government administrator Abdul Sattar Lasi said. Thousands of army and paramilitary troops have been deployed to guard the facility. Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao said additional security forces would be deployed there. "Our basic objective is to secure the Sui plant so that such incidents don't happen in the future," Mr Sherpao told a private television channel. Authorities shut supply from the gas field after a pipeline and a compressor plant there were damaged by a fire that was triggered by a rocket attack. Meanwhile, Mr Sherpao said the Balochistan government's request to deploy law enforcement agencies at Sui was being reviewed and the personnel would be sent as demanded by the province. He said the personnel would be deployed specifically to protect the Sui gas plant for which the army could also be deployed. He said arrangements would also be made to prevent such an incident from happening again.
Posted by: Fred ||
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SRINAGAR: Militants stormed a sports complex on Saturday and engaged in a fierce gun battle with paramilitary troops living inside the grounds, police said. There was no immediate word on any casualties in the sports stadium complex which had been requisitioned as a temporary barracks by India's central reserve police force, a police spokesman said. At least two heavily armed militants hurling grenades forced their way into the complex and a firefight was under way between the rebels and the paramilitary soldiers. "The battle is still going on," the police spokesman said. Aside from soldiers' barracks, the stadium houses a passport and other federal government offices in Srinagar.
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ISLAMABAD: Preliminary police investigations have confirmed that doctor Shazia was raped and have demanded Pakistan Petroleum Limited officials explain why they concealed facts related to the case, Online reported. The district police officer of Naseerabad, DM Jamal, has notified PPL manager Prof Pervez Jamula to explain why the PPL administration failed to notify the police of the rape for three days.
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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.
I had a most interesting and troubling conversation with a patient of mine yesterday. The patient, a Federal Air Marshall, related an incident in which he was involved this past year. He and his partner were assigned to a flight (the airline, airport, and destination were not disclosed) in their customary undercover security role. They boarded the airplane early in order to meet the flight attendants, at which time the cleaning crew was still on the airplane -- somewhat longer than expected. My patient and his partner sat together in seats near the middle of coach class.
A recently-announced campaign by North Korea's state-controlled media to promote the benefits of shorter hairstyles may be the latest indicator of a significant power struggle between Kim Jong-Il and competing government officials. The campaign, running extensively on North Korean state television over the last few months exhorts the 'mental benefits; of short haircuts, particularly amongst men. According to the a January 8, 2005 report on the BBC's website, the campaign stresses the "negative effects" of long hair on "human intelligence," reasoning that both the brain and hair draw from the same nutritional sources and by reducing the amount of hair, North Koreans can increase their intellectual capacity. 
A Marine who was declared a deserter days before military court proceedings stemming from an earlier disappearance from Iraq has been placed on a list of "most wanted" fugitives. A mug shot of Marine Cpl. 
Army Spc. 
Federal officials are investigating a violent Central America-based street gang for ties to Middle Eastern terrorism, an alliance that seems unlikely but poses a frightening threat to the United States. 
The reputed 
More than 750 troops and federal police officers along with tanks and helicopters on Friday seized control of the nation's top maximum-security prison, where drug kingpins have managed to carry out killings and conduct business in recent months. The takeover came a day after the infamous leader of the so-called gulf cartel, Osiel Cärdenas, organized prisoners to protest the tightening of security at the prison, La Palma. Guards had clamped down on the freedom of inmates after a gunman killed one of Mr. Cärdenas's underworld enemies as he sat in a visiting room on New Year's Eve. It was the second drug-related killing inside the prison in three months.
A U.S. commander warned al-Qaida ally 
Supporters of French President Jacques Chirac are pushing for a constitutional change that would make him a senator-for-life after he leaves office and thus shield him from the threat of future legal proceedings, newspapers reported Friday. 
In an apparent bid to head off car bombings on election day, Iraqi authorities will restrict the use of automobiles throughout the country and will place security cordons around polling stations, a Cabinet minister said Saturday. 
Iraqi officials searched Saturday for a political leader's teenage daughter, abducted as she walked home from a math tutoring session in Baghdad, CNN said. The abductors used the 16-year-old's cell phone Friday night to send a text message to Khadim Yousef Hulfi, saying, "We have fulfilled our promise to you. We have your daughter." Hulfi is the assistant to the secretary-general of the Iraqi Council of Ministers. Police said the kidnappers have not made any demands and were being sought.
The flight from Kiev, Ukraine, to Moscow takes just over an hour and a half, but the countries' two airports are decades apart. The lines for passport control in Moscow's dilapidated Sheremetevo Airport are long and unorganized. Dim lights barely offer enough illumination to allow arriving passengers to sort through their documents before unfriendly border guards scrutinize them. In Russia, documents are still worth their weight in gold. Not just in the airport, but on the streets of central Moscow and elsewhere. Without them, you are subjected to fines and possible jail time, especially if you are from one of Russia's ethnic regions of the North Caucuses.
Is the name Diane allowed for a girl revert to keep since the name means divine in French? 
An expelled military college student who converted to Islam is suspected of organizing several terrorist attacks claimed by Chechen rebels, including the Moscow metro blast in February that killed at least 42 people, Vremya Novostei reported Thursday. 
Four police and security officers were killed Saturday in clashes with armed militants in southern Russia, officials said. Gunmen shot and killed three police officers as authorities stormed a house in Kaspiisk, a port on the Caspian Sea in the Russian province of Dagestan, which borders Chechnya, said Abdul Musayev, a regional police spokesman. Among the dead was the chief of a local riot police unit. Musayev said one suspect was killed and another captured. A third suspect escaped. The gunmen belonged to illegal armed groups and were suspected in terror attacks, he said.
CANADA'S Muslim community is being torn apart by a controversial proposal to establish Sharia courts to enforce Islamic law in civil matters. Women's groups and moderate Muslims in the nation's largest province are outraged at the recommendation by former attorney-general Marion Boyd to allow arbitration tribunals to be governed by the principles of Sharia - the code of Islamic law. The ruling is the latest challenge for multicultural Canada, whose open-door policy to immigrants is under strain from the post-11 September terrorist threat. The proposal is also certain to raise eyebrows in the United States where a belief already exists that its northern neighbour and largest trading partner is honeycombed with Islamic radicals.
An Arab mercenary fighter has been killed in Chechnya, Bekmerd Ibragimov, a company commander from the Chechen presidential security service, told Interfax by telephone on Saturday. "A guerilla was killed in an operation in the Vedeno district after putting up armed resistance. He has been identified. This is an Arab mercenary, who had fought together with illegal armed groups in Chechnya for a long time," Ibragimov said. Three brothers of this man, who were also members of illegal armed units in Chechnya, had been killed at different times earlier, he said. Three guerillas were also detained in the operation, he said. "They are all local residents. We had pursued them for a long time, as they are responsible for grave crimes," Ibragimov said.
Sheik 
Nowadays, bookstores and press kiosks are overcrowded with all sorts of books and magazines. One of the most vicious terrorist organizations "Al Qaeda" decided to use the printed press to their own benefit as well. Terrorists have published the first issue of the Al Khansa magazine in red cover. The new magazine focuses on ideological and military training for wannabe female "Shakhids (female suicide bombers). It contains special advices for women who are willing to participate in Jihad. In its quarterly publication Gnosis, Italian security services have already termed such manual for young Shakhids as "emancipation bin Laden style."
"Bomb culture" threatens Bangladesh as militants linked to al Qaeda spread terror across the nation, especially in the holy town of Sylhet, 
The interior ministry has declared some cities of Balochistan, including Quetta, "dangerous zones" following major attacks on gas installations and sectarian violence in the region, reports Online news agency. The ministry has in a report described Dera Bugti, Sui, Khizdar, Cibi, Gwadar and Quetta as 
KARACHI: The 
Hundreds of Taliban fighters could abandon their insurgency in Afghanistan as a result of peace talks under way between local commanders and President Hamid Karzai's government, a provincial governor said on Saturday. Three years after US-led forces ousted the Taliban from power for harbouring Al Qaeda, Karzai and his US backers hope to coax lower-level Taliban fighters back to normal life, leaving senior commanders and Al Qaeda leaders isolated. Tribal chiefs are acting as intermediaries between the Taliban and Karzai's government in the southeastern provinces of Paktia, Khost and Paktika, said Paktia governor Assadullah Wafa. "We have more than hundreds of Taliban who want to return to their normal lives in Khost, Paktia and Paktika provinces," Wafa told the news agency. 
SUKKUR: In a massive crackdown by the Rangers and the police following the recovery of two of the four kidnapped judges, about 120 suspects, including 20 women, were arrested from different villages on Saturday. The Rangers and police conducted house-to-house searches after cordoning off the villages, reports from the area said. Initially 300 persons had been detained. The 120 suspects have been locked up in different police stations. Police also recovered 15 unlicensed weapons and three stolen tractors from the raided villages.
Two Russian secret agents convicted of assassinating a former Chechen president living in the Gulf state of Qatar could walk free less than a year after being sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder. The men stood trial in June last year, four months after 
Last year's train bombings in Madrid left Spain in a state of shock. But the country is now waking up to an unintended consequence of al-Qaeda's first strike in Europe: the apparent demise of Eta, the violent Basque separatist group. According to police, politicians and security analysts, the events of last year have effectively ended Eta's 37-year insurgency. The March 11 2004 train bombings, initially blamed on Eta, left 192 people dead and injured thousands. In the Basque country in northern Spain, police say the tragedy marked a turning point in their fight against Eta, which had been viewed until then as Spain's biggest security threat. "The massacre provoked such revulsion that Eta has not dared stage a big attack since then," says Roberto Seijo, a leader of the Basque police trade union Erne. "Eta cannot match al-Qaeda's scale of terror. Even among Eta's own supporters, there is no stomach for the continued use of terror as a political instrument."
LAHORE: A man was shot dead and three were badly injured when a scuffle occurred during a funfair at a private school in Shadhra police jurisdiction. 
The curfew imposed in 
Pictures snapped by the Titan probe and a low, whooshing sound picked up by an on-board microphone drew gasps and applause from scientists Saturday, as the mission to Saturn's moon continued its breathtaking revelations from more than 900 million miles across the solar system. Data beamed back from Titan, one of Saturn's moons, sketched a picture of a pale orange landscape with a spongy surface topped by a thin crust. "The closest analogues are wet sand or clay," said John Zarnecki, in charge of instruments analyzing Titan's surface.
Colombian President 
After several months, many thousands of legal hours billed, and several barrels of latte consumed, the independent report on CBS' flawed reporting of the Emperor's new clothes has been released, to the relief of network executives who feared much worse. While several producers have been asked to resign, Dan Rather will continue to report on Imperial fashion, and the report verified that the story may still have been fake, but accurate.
Coalition forces continue to discover and confiscate or destroy a significant number of weapons caches - 10 more since Jan. 8, a military spokeswoman said today at a news conference in the Afghan capital of Kabul. Army Lt. Col. Pam Keeton, deputy public affairs officer For Combined Forces Command Afghanistan, said six of those 10 caches were turned in to coalition forces either by local police or by local citizens. Two caches each were discovered in Hilmand and Nangarhar provinces, and one cache each was discovered in Ghazni, Warkak, Zabul, Kandahar, Paktika and Kunar provinces, Keeton said. 
QUETTA: Unidentified men fired six rockets at a checkpoint of paramilitary forces in Kohlo district on Saturday, but no one was hurt. Frontier Corps (FC) personnel retaliated when their position came under attack from rockets fired from the hills of Jandran, but the assailants managed to escape. No property damage was reported either. Kohlo district is located some160 kilometres north of Sui, site of Pakistan's largest natural gas field, which has been the scene of rocket attacks by Baloch tribesmen over the last week in which at least eight people have died. It was not clear if the attack on the Frontier Corps checkpoint was linked to the violence at the Sui gas fields.
MIR ALI: Security forces arrested 17 suspected militants crossing over into Pakistani tribal territory at Lawara Mandi on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in 
SRINAGAR: Militants stormed a sports complex on Saturday and engaged in a fierce gun battle with paramilitary troops living inside the grounds, police said. There was no immediate word on any casualties in the sports stadium complex which had been requisitioned as a temporary barracks by India's central reserve police force, a police spokesman said. At least two heavily armed militants hurling grenades forced their way into the complex and a firefight was under way between the rebels and the paramilitary soldiers. "The battle is still going on," the police spokesman said. Aside from soldiers' barracks, the stadium houses a passport and other federal government offices in Srinagar.
ISLAMABAD: Preliminary police investigations have confirmed that doctor Shazia was raped and have demanded Pakistan Petroleum Limited officials explain why they concealed facts related to the case, Online reported. The district police officer of Naseerabad, DM Jamal, has notified PPL manager Prof Pervez Jamula to explain why the PPL administration failed to notify the police of the rape for three days.
