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Kazakh court sends 47 men to prison for terrorism
Today's Headlines
Headline Comments [Views]
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Home Front: Culture Wars
In nothing we trust
“I’m here to appeal my weed citation [and fine].” Johnny Whitmire’s issue is the third item on the agenda for the Muncie Board of Public Works and Safety. Despite everything he has been through, he’ll take a chance that government can help.
Sitting behind an elevated polished-wood dais, Quirk and two other board members look down on Whitmire when his turn comes. board attorney Quirk tells Whitmire that Whitmore's previous house is still in Whitmore’s name. “It’s a fairly common practice,” he says. “Citi[bank] doesn’t want any liability should anybody get hurt on the property.”
“So I’m liable for a house I don’t live in or own?” Whitmire sputters.
Yes, Quirk says.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 04/23/2012 15:43 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  GUNS GUNS GUNS GUNS GUNS GUNS GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD COMMON SENSE!
Posted by: Spinetle Whomosing4748 || 04/23/2012 18:27 Comments || Top||

#2  The source article is one of a series. Muncie was chosen since it is the archetypal US "Middletown."
More on Whitmire:
"I voted for Obama and had hopes for him," said Whitmire who - as a white, non-college educated male - is part of a fraternity of voters most skeptical of the president. Obama may not get Whitmire's vote in November. "He was thrown into a rat hole," Whitmire says. "He hasn't done much with it."... "If I had a plough and a horse and my wife and kids, and a piece of land, I'd be a happy man," Whitmire says. "If I could turn back the clock, boy - I'd go back."
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 04/23/2012 20:36 Comments || Top||


-Short Attention Span Theater-
" target=_blank>No Fear! Huevos Grande
Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 04/23/2012 15:33 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  You know, I flew into Adak on a Reeve Air Aleutian Electra and I swear the guys at the controls of the Piper Super Cub in the video was flying.

Everyone that flies an airplane in Alaska is nuts.
Posted by: Bill Clinton || 04/23/2012 19:25 Comments || Top||

#2  Now wait a Minute Bill.... Ima not nuts, I have flown for 25 years in Alaska. Touched a bit but not nuts.
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 04/23/2012 23:43 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Middle East In Syria, Lebanon's Most Wanted Sunni Terrorist Blows Himself Up
Lebanese terror leader Abdel Ghani Jawhar detonated himself accidentally in Syria, raising questions about the kind of company the rebels are keeping.
And who's supplying the raw materials for the kabooms...
When one of Lebanon's most wanted terrorists kills himself while planting a bomb it is cause for at least some sort of grim celebration. But when the chief bomb-maker of the country's most notorious terror group self detonates while helping rebels fight in Syria, it is cause for concern.
Only if your name is Mahmoud and you supplied the detonator...
TIME has learned that Abdel Ghani Jawhar, one of the leaders of the Sunni fundamentalist terror group Fatah al-Islam, died in the Syrian city of Qsair on Friday night. The founding cleric of Fatah al Islam, Sheikh Osama al Shihabi, confirmed Jawhar's death to TIME with a quote from the Koran: "'We are for God and to him we return.' We as Mujahideen are used to being killed and if God wants to give those killed dignity he gives them martyrdom. This is the path of righteousness."


This article starring:
Abdel Ghani Jawhar
Sheikh Osama al Shihabi
Posted by: tipper || 04/23/2012 13:52 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  How in the name of all that's holy does one become accustomed to being killed? Very few people survive the first experience, by definition.
Posted by: trailing wife || 04/23/2012 18:50 Comments || Top||

#2  "'We are for God and to him we return.' We as Mujahideen are used to being killed and if God wants to give those killed dignity he gives them martyrdom. This is the path of righteousness."

"I myself have been killed three times in April alone"
Posted by: Frank G || 04/23/2012 18:51 Comments || Top||

#3  Inshallah
Posted by: Barbara || 04/23/2012 19:26 Comments || Top||

#4  I lost count of how many times I've been killed.
Posted by: Deacon Blues || 04/23/2012 19:29 Comments || Top||

#5  "We wanted to send his body back to Lebanon but we couldn’t because it was torn into pieces.”
I just love a happy ending.
Posted by: Glenmore || 04/23/2012 21:35 Comments || Top||

#6  "all 8,000 in attendance received a relic of his martyred body"
Posted by: Frank G || 04/23/2012 21:40 Comments || Top||

#7  Frank and Glenmore, y'all are just mean.

Keep it up. ;-p
Posted by: Barbara || 04/23/2012 22:08 Comments || Top||


Africa Subsaharan
SA could get another apartheid - Pieter-Dirk Uys
Pieter-Dirk Uys is a gay politcal satirist who plays a character known as 'Evita Bezuidenhout.' He has a theater in the quaint village of Darling, not far from Cape Town. Evita will keep you in stitches throughout the performance.
Posted by: Besoeker || 04/23/2012 12:27 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Mysterious Cyber Attack on Iranian Oil Data
Iran has confirmed that a cyber attack hit its Oil Ministry data systems. It claims there was no damage, but the National Iranian Oil Company website was inaccessible as of Monday.

Oil ministry spokesman Alireza Nikzad told the government-run Fars News Agency, "This cyber attack has not damaged the main data of the oil ministry and the National Iranian Oil Company since the general servers are separate from the main servers; even their cables are not linked to each other and are not linked to Internet service.

"We have a backup from all our main or secondary data, and there is no problem in this regard."
As the famous American philosopher Wednesday Addams would say, "wait..."
He said the virus was identified as "Viper" and was aimed at deleting data off the servers. The attack was focused on the Kharg Island oil export terminal, where 2.2 million barrels of crude oil are transferred every day.

Iranian officials last month said the country is strengthening its cyber power through a newly-formed Supreme Council of Cyberspace following the Stuxnet attack on its nuclear facilities last year, widely attributed to Israel and the United States.

The establishment of the agency, headed by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was seen by observers as a tool of the Islamic Republic to take more control over Internet users and content, including social networking that can be used to organize opposition elements.
Posted by: tipper || 04/23/2012 10:51 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  attack by Data Djinns
Posted by: Frank G || 04/23/2012 13:26 Comments || Top||

#2  One word:

Thumbdrives
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 04/23/2012 14:24 Comments || Top||

#3  a newly-formed Supreme Council of Cyberspace

Supreme Council of Cyberspace? There's a name right out of comic book villainy. Ming the Merciless would be sooo jealous.
Posted by: SteveS || 04/23/2012 14:48 Comments || Top||

#4  Appoint Ming the Merciless to be tsar of all tsars.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 04/23/2012 14:52 Comments || Top||


Iraq
Iraq summons Turkish envoy over Erdogan broadside
Iraq, locked in a public row with neighboring Turkey, has summoned Ankara's ambassador in Baghdad to protest at critical remarks by Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, the foreign ministry said on Monday.

The envoy, Younis Demerer, heard the Iraqi complaint on Sunday after several days of charge and counter-charge.

Erdogan accused his Iraqi counterpart Nuri al-Maliki on Thursday of stoking conflict between Shi'ite Muslims, Sunni Muslims and Kurds through "self-centered" behavior.

Maliki fired back that Turkey was becoming a "hostile state" with a sectarian agenda, saying it was meddling in Iraqi affairs and trying to establish regional "hegemony".

Erdogan returned to the fray on Saturday, saying: "If we respond to Mr. Maliki, we give him the opportunity to show off."

Analysts say mainly Sunni Turkey is worried that growing tensions in Iraq and violence in their mutual neighbor Syria may lead to a wider Sunni-Shi'ite conflict in the region.

Erdogan's government has also recently forged close ties with Masoud Barzani, president of Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region, which is embroiled in a row with the Baghdad government over claims to the city of Kirkuk and the region's oil.

"(Foreign ministry undersecretary) Mr. Labeed Abbawi acquainted the Turkish Ambassador with the Iraqi government's intense protest against the recent statements," the Iraqi foreign ministry said on its website.

"Undersecretary Abbawi expressed hope that the Turkish government will stop giving statements that affect Iraq's sovereignty and internal affairs."

Erdogan has criticized Maliki several times since sectarian tensions flared in Iraq in December when the Shi'ite-led government tried to remove Sunni Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq and sought an arrest warrant for Sunni Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi on charges he ran death squads.
Isn't it interesting how Maliki and Erdogan are squaring off, and the Iraqi Kurds are all of a sudden playing kissy-face with the Turks?
Posted by: tipper || 04/23/2012 09:49 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


Powerful Iran, Iraq will leave no place for enemies: Ahmadinejad
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said that if Iran and Iraq stay "powerful and esteemed" there will be no place for enemies of the world's nations, including the United States and the Zionist regime.
Nurse, the little yellow pills! He's doing that thing again!
Ahmadinejad made the remarks in a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Tehran on Sunday. He called Tehran-Baghdad ties exemplary and said that there is no obstacle in the path of consolidating relations between the two countries at regional and international levels.

During a separate meeting earlier in the day with al-Maliki, First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi said that the Islamic Republic and Iraq enjoy a "unique and unbreakable" relationship. Rahimi said that Maliki's visit to Tehran will help open a new chapter in relations between the two neighbors and a step forward in efforts to cement ties in all spheres.

The conspiracies against the Iranian and Iraqi nations have their roots in the beliefs and causes of the two countries' people and if they are fully united, they will form a great power in the world, Rahimi said.

He emphasized the need to accelerate the implementation of previous agreements between the two countries and said that Iran and Iraq should take the measures necessary to promote cooperation in various areas.

"Political, cultural, and economic relations between the two countries are at a high level and we hope that obstacles in the way of promoting ties further will be removed as soon as possible," Rahimi said.
Posted by: tipper || 04/23/2012 08:11 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Ghouls worked on the drone Iran has out in California. If true
Posted by: Hupusotle Squank6828 || 04/23/2012 18:17 Comments || Top||

#2  But I don't think the "Islamic Hapsburgs" = Caliphate will tolerate MARIA THERESA as EMPRESS under Sharia .... .... ...... or will they???

Uncle Saddam + his beloved Doritos, etc. would be proud [FYI 'tis a true story - Saddam did love the Crunch].

* ION RISING IRAN, WAFF > KHAMEINI: NO ARAB STATE CAN [With]STAND IRAN'S POWER FOR ONE WEEK, IFF Iran rly Rly Reely Really R-E-A-L-L-Y WANTED TO FORCE/ASSERT ITSELF AGZ ITS ARAB NEIGHBORS.
Ditto as per any Enemy naval fleets trying to operate in the Gulf.

Not Moud's nemesis El Supremo - 'tis his Brother the Ayatollah Seyed Mohammad Khameini.

* SAME, DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > IRAN TAKES PREPARATORY TO DEFEND ISLANDS IN THE PERSIAN GULF STEPS.

ARTIC > SENIOR IRGC CDR = the IRGC will not allow any Enemy force to land on these Islands, nor allow any Enemy to enter its territorial waters.

* DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > IRAN TO CREATE NEW "PERSIAN GULF" [named = Maritime] PROVINCE, ABU MUSA TO BE MADE INTO ITS "CAPITAL", besides also being renamed into the proper Iranian "Bu Musa" Island.

IIUC, by this act IRAN = CHINA + SCS, EAST CHINA SEA = TELLING THE WORLD THE GULF IS NOW UNDER IRANIAN SOVEREIGNTY + CONTROL, OR ELSE WILL BE IN FUTURE. Iff it succeeds, Iran may demand that internat oil tankers, etc. pay out $$$ to Iran to sail thru the center of the new "Persian Gulf" Maritime Province; or else sail close to the shores of the KSA side of the Gulf???

IMO ARTIC also read, IRAN IS COUNTING ON ANTI-GOVT/DYNASTY "ARAB SPRING" SHIA PROTESTS TO INEVITABLY SUCCEED IN BAHRAIN, QATAR, OMAN, UAE, + YEMEN, + ULTIMATELY AGZ THE HOUSE OF SAUD ITSELF???

No more US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain + no more pro-US, NATO Muslim Allies in the Gulf to support any US Ground invasion agz Iran's NucProgs, US AIRCRAFT CARRIERS FORCED TO OPERATE OUTSIDE OF THE GULF IN THE SEA OF OMAN OR FURTHER WHERE IRAN CAN TARGET THEM WID SUBMARINES, ASBMS, LRBMS + LR TLCMS, ETC???

The US lost the WOT by winning it.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 04/23/2012 22:26 Comments || Top||


China-Japan-Koreas
NKorean military warns of 'special actions' soon
Ay-Pee. Sounds like that nuke test of virility is gonna go off
North Korea's military vowed in its statement to begin "special actions" soon against the government and conservative media companies that would "reduce all the rat-like groups and the bases for provocations to ashes in three or four minutes, (or) in much shorter time, by unprecedented peculiar means and methods of our own style."
Posted by: Frank G || 04/23/2012 07:53 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  or it could mean a special ration of rat-meat to go with the tree bark soup at lunch on Thursday.
Posted by: NoMoreBS || 04/23/2012 14:57 Comments || Top||

#2  Does this haircut make me look thinner?

Posted by: Gabby Cussworth || 04/23/2012 15:24 Comments || Top||

#3  Either he's eating well or the tunic collar is constricting his neck...
Posted by: Steve White || 04/23/2012 15:53 Comments || Top||

#4  "reduce all the rat-like groups and the bases for provocations to ashes in three or four minutes, (or) in much shorter time, by unprecedented peculiar means and methods of our own style."

Isn't that in essence the description of a nuclear attack on Seoul?

If the Norks do contemplate a nuclear attack, what kind of retaliation should they realistically expect?
Posted by: Thravins Untervehr7967 || 04/23/2012 18:02 Comments || Top||

#5  He also has a black hat that can be thrown, that KILLS!
Posted by: Besoeker || 04/23/2012 18:45 Comments || Top||

#6  If the Norks do contemplate a nuclear attack, what kind of retaliation should they realistically expect?

Obama will 'bow' to them?

Seriously I think it's not outside the range of possibility that they actually believe that there would be no retaliation from the U.S.

And after being fed the 'Sea of Fire' crap for decades - they may actually believe it (or Pugsley might).
Posted by: CrazyFool || 04/23/2012 18:54 Comments || Top||

#7  Iff this isn't a "provocation" by NOKOR agz SOKOR, what is???

An repor 20,000 North Koreans, + possibly more, starved to death in a major NOKOR rice/food province just since the passing/death of Kim Jong-il.

Its quite possible that NOKOR = JONG-UN may no longer be able to stave off the spread of Regime-threatening, nationwide famine even with any new increases in US, International food aid. Coupled wid the Perts-antipated rise in already overwhelming Chinese influence + control over NOKOR vee the new Sino-NK/DPRK FTAS, NOKOR = PYONGYANG MAY BE AFRAID THAT A CHINESE TAKEOVER OF NOKOR IS NOW INEVITABLE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY,HENCE MAY BE COVERTLY HINTING TO SOKOR THAT IFF THE LATTER DOESN'T START A MAJOR WAR TO STOP CHINA FROM DE FACTO TAKING OVER NORTH KOREA, IT WILL.

IMO, NOKOR IS TRYING HARD NOT TO SAY THAT SSSSSSHHHHHH IFF IT FINALLY GOES DOWN VEE CHINA, ITS GONNA MAKES D **** SURE SOUTH KOREA GOES DOWN AS WELL.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 04/23/2012 20:57 Comments || Top||

#8  ION that can have major implications for the Two Koreas + NE ASIA ...

* DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > FREEREPUBLIC > ARMED STANDOFF [March 2012]BETWEENWEN JIABIAO + ZHOU YONGKANG'S TROOPS OVER BO XILAI SUBORDINATE.

Looks like India = Indjuh wasn't the only Big Power in mainland Asia at risk of internal CIVIL WAR = MILITARY-LED REBELLION? EARLIER THIS YEAR???

* DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > PHILIPPINES TO SEND [resend = redeploy] TWO WARSHIPS + ANTI-SUBMARINE AIRCRAFT TO DISPUTED SHOAL [Scarborough = PHIL Panatag = Chinese Huangyan Island].

Its "Back On"???

China had refused to withdraw its armed Maritime Vessels until Any Each + All of the PHIL vessels at Scarborough Shoal, Armed CG andor other Civie, withdrew first.

Boy, first the Persian Gulf, now the "WEST PHIL SEA" - another bilateral Bikini Beach Barbecue/Bash bites the dust.

IMO CHINA'S POST-WW2/COLD WAR MIL HISTOIRE' = IT WILL OPEN FIRE + SINK THE PINOYS IFF THE LATTER AREN'T CAREFUL, + DESPITE ANY US BACKING OF THE PHIL.

* SAME > US MARINE GENERAL CONFIRMS SPRATLYS DEFENSE TREATY, US WILL [militarily] INTERVENE.

ARTIC > USMC GEN. Duane D. Thiessen = Spratlys are covered in the US-PHIL Security Treaty.

OTOH BLOGGERS = opine that Gen. Thiessen is wrong, arguing per the US-PHIL Security Treaty that the US will intervene only iff the PHIL is nilitarily attacked first, + will protect only those areas under direct or actual sovereign control of the PHIL = Manila, NOT THOSE TERRITORIAL AREAS CLAIMED OR DISPUTED BETWEEN THE PHIL + OTHER SOVEREIGN NATIONS.

* SAME > US-JAPAN ALLIANCE, NOT CHINA, IS BIG WINNER FROM SENKAKUS ISLANDS DISPUTE: EAST ASIA FORUMS.

KEEP LOTS OF POPCORN HANDY + KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 04/23/2012 21:30 Comments || Top||

#9  DEFENCE FORUM INDIA > US WADES INTO CHINA-PHILIPPINES STANDOFF.

* SAME > PHILIPPINES WARNS NEIGHBORS ABOUT CHINA, i.e. China's growing "aggressiveness/
aggressionism" + how its claims to most of the SCS puts Regional, International freedom of navigation at risk.

* TOPIX > CHINA DENOUNCES PHILIPPINES' CALL FOR OTHER COUNTRIES TO SHOW STANCE ON SOUTH CHINA SEA.

* DEFENCE FORUM INDIA > CHINESE GUNBOAT PATROLLING PANATAQ. The mighty wily fleety Chin FLEC #310.

SINK THE #310, SINK THE #310!

* SAME > CHINA CAN [now] DESTROY MAJOR US PACIFIC BASES.

* SAME > [US-Japan = Okinawa]AGREEMENT ON GUAM TRANSFER REFLECTS US URGENCY TO RESPOND [regionally] TO CHINA.

* WORLD NEWS > FIVE OKINAWA MILITARY FACILITIES TO BE TURNED OVER BY US TO JAPAN, as USMC forces on Oki are downsized.

4000 US Marines, no longer 4,700, are repor coming to Guam although I'm not convinced the 4000 number is itself absolute, iff the USDOD is doing what I think they're doing.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 04/24/2012 0:11 Comments || Top||


-Short Attention Span Theater-
Offshore Ship-Island Proposed for Dweebs Without Visas
Why can't they just enter the country illegally? Don't care to shell out for the fake documents?
Many entrepreneurs from all parts of the globe want to come to Silicon Valley to create their tech startups. In the past, this hasn't been possible because the US visa system was not designed for it. Blueseed is going to change that. We're creating a visa-free incubator for tech startups. A thousand of the world's best entrepreneurs will get the chance to develop their ideas in an ecosystem designed for their success. And it'll be just half an hour from the coastline by daily ferry access.
I wonder if there will be an application fee? Transparent selection process?
Paypal's founder Peter Thiel is coming in to the 500K USD "seed funding" round that we're currently raising to do the R&D work needed. The project's total up front cost will be around 15-35millon USD.
Maybe they can get some left-over Stimulus Boodle.
There are three options. Leasing an existing vessel, purchasing an existing vessel, and building a new one. The first two options would of course require some retrofitting to suit our needs. Each option has its pros and cons, but I'd say the first two options are far more likely than designing our own vessel. The more existing structures and technologies we can use the better.
After all, this is a Green Project! Several fascinating concepts for the Ship of Fools at link.
Posted by: Bobby || 04/23/2012 07:42 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  ...or they can hire Americans. Oh, that's right after over twenty years of H1Bs by the hundreds of thousands, why even bother spending years in tech school or advanced training only to see your potential employment go to a foreigner because HR rigged the program from the start with contrived boilplate job descriptions to get those indentured workers.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 04/23/2012 8:51 Comments || Top||

#2  As if close proximity to the US helps somehow. Why not set up shop on a caribean island. Find one that the US Government has easy visa regulations for and buy the government of that island to allow for "rapid naturalization". You then go to that island, become a quick citizen and visa on over to the US.

Similar to the game everyone plays when they flag their ships under Panema or Liberia, as if either of those countries will do anything to help in a crisis.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 04/23/2012 10:20 Comments || Top||

#3  Why would you hire an American/westerner?

Bad work ethic, taught a load of nonsense @ skool, been taught entitlement to wespekt. Bad spelling.

The problem is immigrants who don't work. The other problem is that western schools aren't producing people who produce wealth.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 04/23/2012 10:28 Comments || Top||

#4  Sound like a floating Guantanamo to me. Poor souls. They even have to pay for their accommodations.
Posted by: gorb || 04/23/2012 12:14 Comments || Top||

#5  Weekend excursions to the Farallons.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 04/23/2012 12:58 Comments || Top||

#6  We shall call it "Project Lido"...
Posted by: mojo || 04/23/2012 15:28 Comments || Top||

#7  Why?
A lido is an outdoors swimming pool. Does it mean something else?
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 04/23/2012 16:39 Comments || Top||

#8  Try hiring an older IT worker. I got a buddy in his 50's whose job got sent to China, software engineer. And he is telling me its bleak because of the huge bias against older software people (anyone over 40 is suspect, and over 50, forget it unless you're a manager apparently), and the fact that the H1B are getting desperate and are screwing up wages for everyone.

In the Intel biz (at least once you get behind a desk), and most DoD contractors, older = better because you are experienced and will avoid a ton of mistakes, and know the proven solutions enough to see outside of them. I guess the problem is out in the regular economy, the bias towards stupid college kids that work 60 hours without a peep is pretty strong, despite the fact (based on my limited experience) they seldom get as much done in that 60 hours as one of the more experienced guys gets done in 30, and the younger guy's stuff requires a lot more time and effort to maintain. Older engineers realize that a long lived system will have most of its cost in maintenance and design accordingly.

Pretty sad actually, we are driving away our most experienced people, leaning on imported foreigners, and discouraging an entire generation, scaring them away from engineering and software.

It actually gives me a bit of comfort being old, in that I'll be dead by the time this bitter harvest comes in.
Posted by: OldSpook || 04/23/2012 17:58 Comments || Top||

#9  In the Intel biz (at least once you get behind a desk), and most DoD contractors, older = better because you are experienced and will avoid a ton of mistakes, and know the proven solutions enough to see outside of them. Old Spook

Older US Gov't intel analysts (contractor or DoD Civ) are no longer much in demand. Older generally means they were not brought up with a computer as the young kids are today, they did not use the current family of applications while on active duty, and are probably slower to learn the apps and system tools. Old also means they require higher salaries, require a heavier medical benefit load, and may not fit the affirmative action profiles of the government client.

Welcome to one of the many downsides of US Gov't contracting.
Posted by: Besoeker || 04/23/2012 18:55 Comments || Top||

#10  Funny thing is, before they told us to get out of the igloo and on the pack ice to join the circle of life, a lot of us thrived on the computers. We were on the bleeding edge and stayed there. Perhaps you heard of a little place off the B-W parkway at Fort Meade that may use computers. Slow? Sorry. No. We helped invent and debug that stuff that finally filtered down to the kids.
Posted by: OldSpook || 04/23/2012 20:28 Comments || Top||

#11  I pulled my last all-nighter at 51 and I can't remember how long it took to recover. I suppose some can do them till they're 65, but not me. Youngsters get hired to code because they can do 80 hours a week. It takes a lot of money to get a 50 y.o. to do that, if they can at all. What I tell my kids is you've got from 25 to 45 to really do things and if you plan right, from 45-65 to rest on your laurels if you can find a place to sit or create your own. It's a young person's world when it comes to employment, and it's only going to get worse.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 04/23/2012 20:59 Comments || Top||

#12  Sounds like someone's dream who has never actually spent a winter off the coast of San Francisco. The storms can be absolutely ferocious and the weather is horrible nearly year round. It is damp and foggy in summer and stormy in winter. Seas in excess of 20 feet are not uncommon. Good luck keeping any production up in winter and you can forget about solar power. Wind power might be right out, too, if the wind destroys your turbines.

Posted by: crosspatch || 04/23/2012 21:16 Comments || Top||

#13  Great White's have gotta eat too
Posted by: Frank G || 04/23/2012 21:34 Comments || Top||

#14  And Orcas. Anyone going overboard out there is pretty much gone. A friend of mine's sister lost a leg swimming off the coast of California.

I wouldn't swim anyplace there are seals.
Posted by: crosspatch || 04/23/2012 22:04 Comments || Top||


Europe
Free Speech Found Guilty by Europe
The ruling showed that while Judaism and Christianity can be disparaged with impunity, speaking the truth about Islam is subject to swift and hefty legal penalties. The Supreme Court stressed that the substance of the charges -- public criticism of Islam – is still a crime punishable by imprisonment. Under Danish law, it is immaterial whether a statement is true or false. All that is needed for a conviction is for someone to feel offended.

Lars Hedegaard, the president of the Danish Free Press Society, has been acquitted by the Danish Supreme Court on charges of "hate speech" for critical comments he made about Islam.

The verdict, however represents only a partial victory for free speech in a Europe that is being stifled by politically correct restrictions on free speech, particularly on issues related to Islam.

Although Hedegaard was acquitted, it was on a legal technicality; in its ruling, the Supreme Court stressed that the substance of the charges against Hedegaard -- public criticism of Islam, -- is still a crime punishable by imprisonment.
Posted by: tipper || 04/23/2012 05:20 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Egypt cancels gas deal with Israel
Egyptian energy companies, citing a trade dispute, have terminated a deal to supply Israel with natural gas in a step that may further erode bilateral ties strained by a popular revolt that toppled Egypt's pro-Israeli leader last year.

An Israeli partner in the business made the step public on Sunday but an Egyptian firm said the decision to cancel the deal had been made on Thursday.

Israel, which relies on Egypt for 40 percent of its natural gas supply, worried about facing further energy cuts after a series of sabotage attacks on the pipeline running through the volatile Sinai peninsula contributed to shortages.

Israeli Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz expressed "great concern" about the suspension, saying it had set "a dangerous precedent which casts a shadow on the peace agreements and the peaceful atmosphere between Egypt and Israel".

Egypt was the first of two Arab countries to sign a peace treaty with Israel, in 1979, followed by Jordan in 1994.
Posted by: tipper || 04/23/2012 03:09 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I hope that Israel has a plan B for their natural gas energy supply from Egypt. I am sure that they have been planning for this eventuality since the kabooms have been going off on the existing pipeline.
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 04/23/2012 14:45 Comments || Top||

#2  IIRC that pipeline also serves Jordan
Posted by: Frank G || 04/23/2012 18:55 Comments || Top||


China-Japan-Koreas
North Korea threatens 'nationwide sacred war' -- Again
North Korea broke into television programming on Monday with a special announcement threatening nationwide total war in retaliation for South Korean development of missiles which can reach any part of North Korea.

The special announcement used the word "rat" a lot and promised to reduce South Korean "rat" bases to ashes in three or four minutes by "unprecedented peculiar means".
This announcement did seem to be unprecedentedly peculiar to me.
Could be the announcer was hungry and was promised rat loaf for lunch...
Posted by: crosspatch || 04/23/2012 03:03 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  After 60 years of bluster, even the most nuanced and liberal-thinking leaders in the world aren't falling for the same old tripe. So 3rd genertion Kimmie figures to amp it up a notch, since what other tool is in his toolbox? He's no dummy, make enough noise and Champ will throw him something to tone it down.
Posted by: NoMoreBS || 04/23/2012 14:55 Comments || Top||

#2  "Unprecedented peculiar means" > D *** NG IT, IFF THE NORKIES START PLAYING DON'T-THEY-KNOW-IT-KILLED-MTV RAP MUSIC ACROSS THE DMZ, BOTH THE CHINESE + RUSSIANS THEMSELVES WILL WANNA NUKE 'EM!
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 04/23/2012 21:41 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Politix
I think he’s a nice person. I just don’t think we can afford him any longer
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 04/23/2012 02:41 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Perhaps Romney is that generous but really, by now I'm not sure even Michelle thinks Obama is a nice person.
Posted by: lord garth || 04/23/2012 8:47 Comments || Top||

#2  "If I needed an operation and serious medical procedure due to cancer, I'll ask for the 'best' surgeon available, not the nicest surgeon available."

Rudy Guliani, Fox News this morning

Posted by: Besoeker || 04/23/2012 9:07 Comments || Top||

#3  I, for one, think he's an arrogant narcissist - not a nice person - a petulant child
Posted by: Frank G || 04/23/2012 9:43 Comments || Top||

#4  Even if Romney thought Obama was evil incarnate he's be wise to keep things polite and hammer home the message.

Obama has high personal popularity numbers and horrible job performance numbers. This hits that perfectly. I think the phrasing is perfect.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 04/23/2012 10:16 Comments || Top||

#5  He's only "nice" if you're the one receiving the.... "Free Stuff."
Posted by: Besoeker || 04/23/2012 10:19 Comments || Top||

#6  ...or good kickbacks good old boy rewards quid pro quo return on campaign contribution investments.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 04/23/2012 10:24 Comments || Top||

#7  He is not nice. Not nice at all. Just ask Palin and her family. And now Romney and his kids (and dog). A nice guy would have put the hammer down and stop the attacks on the family. Obama and his administration most likely green-lights them.

I'm not sure even Michelle thinks Obama is a nice person.

Oh sure she does... someone who would eat dog would eat anything...
Posted by: CrazyFool || 04/23/2012 11:28 Comments || Top||

#8  Crazy fool,
There is still the issue of skill.

Al
Posted by: Frozen Al || 04/23/2012 11:50 Comments || Top||

#9  Thanks for that, CrazyFool. I may never get that image out of my head.

As for the nice guy, I remember hearing the same thing about jimmuh carter. I understand what the article is saying, maybe it's even right. Romney wants to play it cool for all the lame brains out there in TV land and not be seen as some raving, right-wing nut. But Obama is not a nice guy. Neither was jimmuh. That's giving them too much credit.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 04/23/2012 11:59 Comments || Top||

#10  You do not need ad hominum attacks. O's record has plenty of material to defeat him if his opponent has the stones to do it.

It would also be nice™ if Romney would outline what the issues are and what he would plan to do to solve the problems. There is plenty of material here, too.
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 04/23/2012 13:46 Comments || Top||

#11  I, for one, think he's an arrogant narcissist - not a nice person - a petulant child

Aunt Myrtle says he is the anti-Christ, but we probably shouldn't start that up again. Besides, as AP says, his record is damning enough.
Posted by: SteveS || 04/23/2012 14:39 Comments || Top||

#12  You do not need ad hominum attacks. Agree. But the MSM and internet commentary alike are so hooked on this type of attack, that is mostly what comes to the surface.
A certain kind of wise crack response can be used to counter ad hominem attacks, but nowadays is rare. FDR used them, e.g. by having his dog Fala make the comment: Well, of course, I don’t resent attacks, and my family don’t resent attacks—but Fala does resent them. Maybe that's why Fala has his own statue in DC.
How about, "If I had a son, he'd look like Brian Terry." ?
How about, "The media and the Democrats are far more concerned about how I spend my own money than they are about how Obama wastes other people's money."
Etc. This kind of response just doesn't seem to be in Romney's repertoire.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 04/23/2012 14:51 Comments || Top||

#13  Romney is being pushed to pick Marc Rubio as his VEEP, espec to unify the GOP-Right for November, but I'm not convinced he will, or should.

* "Horrible job performance numbers" - Sorry #4, but dats not what the MSM is repor this week, or last.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 04/23/2012 21:47 Comments || Top||

#14  I wasn't talking about employment numbers but his rating on "how he's handling the economy" and "how he's handling foreign policy" numbers showing up on polls.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 04/23/2012 22:30 Comments || Top||

#15 
Posted by: junkiron || 04/23/2012 23:21 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Culture Wars
"If I wanted America to fail"
Posted by: tipper || 04/23/2012 01:28 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I would make it live of credit manipulations instead of manufacturing.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 04/23/2012 2:32 Comments || Top||

#2  Thanks tipper. This should be viewed by all Americans.
Posted by: Besoeker || 04/23/2012 3:02 Comments || Top||

#3  I was born in one country, raised in another.


My father was born in another country.

I was not his only child.

He fathered several children with numerous women.

I became very close to my mother, as my father showed no interest in me.

My mother died at an early age from cancer.

Although my father deserted me and my mother raised me, I later wrote a book idolizing my father not my mother.

Later in life, questions arose over my real name.

My birth records were sketchy.

No one was able to produce a legitimate, reliable birth certificate.

I grew up practicing one faith but converted to Christianity, as it was widely accepted in my new country, but I practiced non-traditional beliefs and didn't follow Christianity, except in the public eye under scrutiny.

I worked and lived among lower-class people as a young adult, disguising myself as someone who really cared about them.

That was before I decided it was time to get serious about my life and embarked on a new career.

I wrote a book about my struggles growing up.

It was clear to those who read my memoirs, that I had difficulties accepting that my father abandoned me as a child.

I became active in local politics in my 30's then, with help behind the scenes, I literally burst onto the scene as a candidate for national office in my 40s.

They said I had a golden tongue and could talk anyone into anything.

I had a virtually non-existent resume, little work history, and no experience in leading a single organization.

Yet I was a powerful speaker and citizens were drawn to me, as though I were a magnet and they were small roofing tacks.

I drew incredibly large crowds during my public appearances.

This bolstered my ego.

At first, my political campaign focused on my country's foreign policy...

I was very critical of my country in the last war, and seized every opportunity to bash my country.

But what launched my rise to national prominence were my views on the country's economy.

I pretended to have a really good plan on how we could do better, and every poor person would be fed and housed for free.

I knew which group was responsible for getting us into this mess.

It was the free market, banks and corporations.

I decided to start making citizens hate them and, if they became envious of others who did well, the plan was clinched tight.

I called mine "A People's Campaign".

That sounded good to all people.

I was the surprise candidate because I emerged from outside the traditional path of politics and was able to gain widespread popular support.

I knew that, if I merely offered the people 'hope', together we could change our country and the world.

So, I started to make my speeches sound like they were on behalf of the downtrodden, poor, ignorant to include "persecuted minorities".

My true views were not widely known and I kept them unknown, until after I became my nation's leader.

I had to carefully guard reality, as anybody could have easily found out what I really believed, if they had simply read my writings and examined those people I associated with. I'm glad they didn't.

Then I became the most powerful man in the world.

And then the world learned the truth.

No, I was not born in Kenya or Hawaii. I was born in Austria.

Who am I?


Posted by: Besoeker || 04/23/2012 3:15 Comments || Top||

#4  #3 Not the obvious, is it?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 04/23/2012 4:04 Comments || Top||

#5  Herr Schikelgruber?

But the parallels are striking.
Posted by: Bobby || 04/23/2012 6:02 Comments || Top||

#6  Excellent video. It reminds us that liberals really do love poor people-- that's why all their policies are aimed at creating as many of them as possible.
Posted by: Knuckles McCoy1911 || 04/23/2012 9:03 Comments || Top||

#7  No peoples' car or drug use?

Perhaps more menacing in its native Austrian?
Posted by: swksvolFF || 04/23/2012 12:32 Comments || Top||

#8  Oil-coal-gas-nuclear power screw the wind mills solar and electric cars have the freaks do their experiments for this crap on the governments time not the people's. I here soon all of the United States Armor will be powered by solar and 300 foot tall wind mills strapped to the backs of them. Get the ghouls out of the country! Nice fake appearance at the Holocaust museum should not it have been the HOLOGRAM MUSEUM? Digital and cell phones dumb asses!
Posted by: Clolung the Anonymous2926 || 04/23/2012 17:14 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Israel forces 'ready to hit Iran if ordered'
AFP - Israeli forces are carrying out more special operations beyond the country's borders and will be ready to attack Iran's nuclear sites if ordered, the chief-of-staff said in an interview on Sunday.

In an extract from an interview with the top-selling Yediot Aharanot daily, Lieutenant General Benny Gantz said that 2012 would be a critical year in efforts to halt what Israel and much of the international community believe is an Iranian nuclear arms programme.

"We think that a nuclear Iran is a very bad thing, which the world needs to stop and which Israel needs to stop -- and we are planning accordingly," Gantz said.

"In principle, we are ready to act.

"That does not mean that I will now order (air force chief) Ido (Nehushtan) to strike Iran," he added in the interview which will be published in full on Wednesday, on the eve of Israel's 64th anniversary as a state.

The United States says it does not believe Iran has so far taken a decision to develop a nuclear weapon, or that the time is right for military action, preferring to give international sanctions time to work.

But Israel, which sees a nuclear Iran as a threat to its very existence, claims Tehran may be on the cusp of "breakout" capability -- when it could quickly build a nuclear weapon -- and it does not rule out staging a pre-emptive strike of its own.

Gantz said he had increased the number of Israeli special operations in other countries but did not give details.

"I do not think you will find a point in time where there is not something happening, somewhere in the world," he said. "The threat level is also higher."

"I'm not taking the credit," he added. "I'm just accelerating all those special operations."
Posted by: || 04/23/2012 00:47 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "JUST ACCELERATING" = [Sammy Hagar]"I CAN'T DRIVE 55" ...

versus

* WORLD NEWS > ALL MILITARY OPTIONS AGZ IRAN SOON [to be] ON US.

To Start, Fight, andor To Finis.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 04/23/2012 1:11 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
India planning unmanned patrol boats to guard against terrorism
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 04/23/2012 00:22 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


Why we real Pashtun Nationalists hate Pakistan [video]
A little insight to what we real Pashtun Nationalists who oppose the Taliban and Pakistani army think of Pakistan and its proxies the Taliban and other Islamofacist gangs.
Presented as-is.

He seems to speak the lingo. Well-made video, I suppose...not amateurish. Whoever made it knows how to use a bluescreen to change backgrounds and the backgrounds seem to be well-made. The guy's wearing the correct hat...who knows? Does he represent himself, or a larger idea? Listen for seven minutes and you be the judge.


Posted by: gromky || 04/23/2012 00:01 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  In the future, everyone will hate Pakistan for 15 minutes.
Posted by: SteveS || 04/23/2012 0:38 Comments || Top||

#2  ... or longer.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 04/23/2012 10:17 Comments || Top||

#3  More evidence that the problem with Afghanistan is Pakistan
Posted by: Gruth McGurque5303 || 04/23/2012 15:12 Comments || Top||

#4  As Gandalf said, "There is always hope."

Weirdly (or not), I catch a touch of Scots or Irish accent in many of his pronunciations.
Posted by: Gabby Cussworth || 04/23/2012 15:39 Comments || Top||

#5  "In the future, everyone will hate Pakistan for 15 minutes."

Whaddaya mean "in the future," Steve?
Posted by: Barbara || 04/23/2012 18:31 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
19 Civilians, 4 Troops Killed in Syria despite U.N. Presence
[An Nahar] Syrian forces killed 19 civilians on Sunday across the country, including six in Homs despite the presence of U.N. observers in the rebel province to pave the way for a 300-strong mission approved by the Security Council, monitors said.

Six non-combatants were killed in Idlib, five in rural Damascus
...Capital of the last overtly fascist regime in the world...
, six in Homs and two in Daraa, the Local Coordination Committees, the main activist group spurring anti-regime protests on the ground, said.

Two civilians and four soldiers were killed during an assault on a rebel bastion near Damascus by regime forces, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The violence came even as U.N.-Arab League
...an organization of Arabic-speaking states with 22 member countries and four observers. The League tries to achieve Arab consensus on issues, which usually leaves them doing nothing but a bit of grimacing and mustache cursing...
envoy Kofi Annan
...Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh and so far the worst Secretary-General of the UN. Annan and the UN were the co-recipients of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize for something or other that probably sounded good at the time. In December 2004, reports surfaced that Kofi's son Kojo received payments from the Swiss company Cotecna, which had won a lucrative contract under the UN Oil-for-Food Program. Kofi Annan called for an investigation to look into the allegations, which stirred up the expected cesspool but couldn't seem to come up with enough evidence to indict Kofi himself, or even Kojo...
singled out the government of Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad
The Scourge of Hama...
in an appeal for an end to hostilities by both loyalist forces and rebels seeking to oust him.

"I urge all forces whether governmental, opposition or others to put down their weapons and work with the United Nations
...where theory meets practice and practice loses...
monitors to consolidate the fragile cessation of violence," Annan said in a statement.

"The government in particular must desist from the use of heavy weapons and, as it has committed, withdraw such weapons and armed units from population centers and implement fully its commitments under the six-point plan."

The latest bloodshed came only hours after the U.N. Security Council voted to send 300 unarmed observers to Syria for three months, although Washington warned it may veto a new mandate for the mission.

The Observatory said regime forces rubbed out three civilians in the city of Homs and three others in Talbisseh, another town visited by U.N. observers in restive Homs province.

"Three citizens were killed by security forces fire in the Khaldiyeh, al-Guta and al-Mukayam districts of Homs," the Britannia-based monitoring group said.

Two advance team members set up base in Homs on Sunday, mission member Neeraj Singh said earlier, a day after they made their first visit to the central protest city since arriving in Syria a week ago.

On Saturday "the team drove or walked around the city of Homs and stopped at different locations to talk to the people. Two U.N. military observers have now been stationed at Homs since yesterday evening," Singh told Agence La Belle France Presse.

U.N. observers also toured on Sunday the city of Rastan in Homs province, according to Free Syrian Army front man Colonel Saadeddine Qassem who escorted them through the rebel town.

Troops fired warning shots into the air to disperse a group of residents who surrounded the observers, he added.

Later the observers visited the city of Hama farther north, including a square which witnessed huge anti-regime protests last year, activist Abu Ghazi Hamwi reported from the scene.

The official Syrian news agency
... and if you can't believe the Official Syrian News Agency who can you believe?
SANA said the observers met the governor of Hama during the visit.

On Saturday, the observers went to Baba Amr, a rebel hideout in Homs battered by a month-long army bombardment that monitors say killed hundreds before it was retaken on March 1.

A YouTube video showed the observers meeting activists who begged them to stay.

"Today is the first day since two months, exactly since 5 February... in Homs without shelling... without killing, without fire," one unidentified activist said in the footage.

"Because of that, we want you to stay. Please stay. This is what we want. When you come, shelling stops. When you come, killing stops," he told the observers, who wore blue helmets and bullet-proof vests marked "U.N."

In other violence on Sunday, tank shelling and heavy gunfire were reported in Douma, an outlying rebel suburb of the Syrian capital, activists reported.

"Regime forces backed by tanks stormed Douma under heavy gunfire," said the revolutionary council of Damascus province.

Videos posted online showed towering columns of smoke over Douma, as gunfire crackled and calls of "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest) were heard.

Council member Mohammed Saeed told AFP the assault was "in retaliation for huge anti-regime protests there and because it's a center of dissent."

The Observatory said four soldiers were killed when a bomb targeted an armored personnel carrier in Douma, where two civilians were also rubbed out.

A third civilian was rubbed out at a checkpoint elsewhere in Damascus province.

In northwest Syria, it group said, soldiers rubbed out three civilians at a village in Jabal al-Zawiya district of Idlib province while an overnight ambush on a patrol in Banias killed one security officer and maimed three.

Under U.N. Resolution 2043, 300 military observers will be sent for an initial 90 days if U.N. chief the ephemeral Ban Ki-moon
... of whom it can be said to his credit that he is not Kofi Annan...
determines it is safe to go.

Saturday's vote was hailed by Syria's political and military opposition but Washington warned it may prevent the mission's renewal after three months, while urging greater international pressure on Assad.

"Our patience is exhausted. No one should assume that the United States will agree to renew this mission after 90 days," U.S. ambassador Susan Rice told the Council.

The U.N. says well over 9,000 Syrians have been killed since democracy protests erupted in March 2011, while monitors put the figure at more than 11,000.

Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria


-Election 2012
Hollande beats Sarkozy in French vote
[Daily Nation (Kenya)] Socialist champion Francois Hollande stamped his authority on the French presidential race Sunday, winning the first round of polling and setting up a May 6 run-off with incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy.
...23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. Sarkozy is married to singer-songwriter Carla Bruni, who has a really nice birthday suit...
Hollande won between 28 and 29 percent of the vote in the first round, to Sarkozy's 25.5 to 27, according to estimates compiled from ballot samples by several polling agencies and obtained by AFP from multiple sources.

But the surprise package was the far-right anti-immigrant candidate Marine Le Pen, who won between 18 and 20 percent -- her National Front party's best showing which complicated forecasts for the second round.

Sarkozy is the only incumbent French president to lose a first round-vote in modern French history and opponents of all stripes queued up to pronounce his political obituary in live broadcasts and speeches to supporters.
Posted by: Fred || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  FPIIGS.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 04/23/2012 7:07 Comments || Top||

#2  Indeed, BP
Posted by: phil_b || 04/23/2012 7:43 Comments || Top||

#3  who won between 18 and 20 percent -- her National Front party's best showing which complicated forecasts for the second round.
Yes indeed.
If she swings her followers behind Sarkozy, Sarkozy wins. Only problem, they hate each other. However, she has Sarkozy by the nuts and she knows it
Posted by: tipper || 04/23/2012 8:23 Comments || Top||

#4  Be interesting to see of Sarkozy's line becomes more anti-immigrant / Muzzie between now and May 6.

Short time period means he'll have to make a big splash quickly if he wants to woo those NF voters.
Posted by: AlanC || 04/23/2012 9:38 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Egypt Holds Military Maneuvers In Sinai
The Egyptian military has launched a military exercise in the Sinai Peninsula.
 
The drill, headed by the Third Armored Division, is "meant to maintain the Egyptian military's readiness," ad official said. Cairo officials said the drill is a routine one.
It's good for the troops to get exercise in the fresh air and sunshine...and if they happen across some idiots smuggling weapons or preparing to blow up the gas pipeline again, they can exercise their response.
Posted by: trailing wife || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Ala TOPIX, Lieberman says that [post-Mubarak, Islamist = MB-led] EGYPT, NOT IRAN, is the REAL GREATEST EXISTENTIAL THREAT TO ISRAEL.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 04/23/2012 22:30 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Politix
More Secret Service Agents Gone; Obama Briefed
Three more Secret Service officers resigned Friday in the expanding prostitution scandal that has brought scorching criticism of agents' behavior in Colombia just before President Barack Obama's visit for a summit meeting last week. Agency Director Mark Sullivan came to the White House late Friday to personally brief Obama in the Oval Office.
About time Champ was 'briefed'...
Better than 'boxered'...
...and we won't get into what Moo-chelle may have done to him...
The Secret Service announced the new resignations, bringing to six the number of agency officers who have lost their jobs so far because of events at their hotel in Cartagena.

Also late Friday, Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa urged a broader investigation, including checking hotel records for White House advance staff and communications personnel who were in Cartagena for the summit. In a letter to Sullivan and the inspector general at the Homeland Security Department, Grassley asked whether hotel records for the White House staffers had been pulled as part of the investigations.
Ho-ho, now isn't that an interesting turn? Let's see who else was living the 'high' life in Colombia when they were supposed to be doing advance work...
Obama's spokesman has assailed Republican criticism
That's a spinal reflex...
that has attempted to blame a lack of presidential leadership for the scandal and has said Obama would be angry if allegations published so far proved to be true. Friday's was Obama's first personal briefing by Sullivan on the subject, officials said.

The Secret Service briefed about two-dozen congressional staff members Friday, mainly from the Senate Judiciary Committee, according to one individual who was there but was not authorized to be quoted by name.

The person said investigators have photo ID's and names from a Cartagena, Colombia, hotel registry for all the women who stayed overnight and are in the process of conducting interviews. Investigators have interviewed maids and said no alcohol or drugs were found in the rooms. Those under investigation were offered polygraphs and drug tests. It is unclear whether anyone accepted, the person said.
I wouldn't be saying a word except through my lawyer if I was any of them...
Grassley, in his letter to Sullivan and the Homeland Security inspector general, Charles Edwards, asked about checks on hotels in Cartagena for White House advance staff members and the White House Communications Agency, which includes military personnel: "Have records for overnight guests for those entities been pulled as part of the investigation? ... If not, why not?"

Additionally, Grassley, top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, asked whether rooms were shared by Secret Service, the communications agency and the presidential advance staff.
Just what Champ would need, a wider scandal that reaches right into the White House...
Posted by: Steve White || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Just what Champ would need, a wider scandal that reaches right into the White House...

It's getting to the point that these scandals are going to have to take a number.
Posted by: gorb || 04/23/2012 0:30 Comments || Top||

#2  a lack of presidential leadership for the scandal

There's a failure of leadership somewhere...
Posted by: Pappy || 04/23/2012 15:44 Comments || Top||

#3  http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/company-names-sunglasses-line-helen-keller-011855083--abc-news-topstories.html- They might help them in their daily work!
Posted by: Whomong Hupereter2821 || 04/23/2012 17:45 Comments || Top||

#4 
Posted by: junkiron || 04/23/2012 21:56 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
'Lebanon Won't Attack Israel In Case Of Strike On Iran'
In Australia, Michel Suleiman
...before assuming office as President, he held the position of commander of the Leb Armed Forces. That was after the previous commander, the loathesome Emile Lahoud, took office as president in November of 1998. Likely the next president of Leb will be whoever's commander of the armed forces, too...
says Leb believes Khamenei when he says Islamic Theocratic Republic not seeking nukes

"Should Israel strike Iran, it will not be attacked with missiles from Leb," Lebanese President Michel Suleiman was quoted by Al-Safir as saying during a visit to Australia.
No doubt because Leb doesn't have missiles -- the missiles belong to Hizb'allah.
According a report published by the London-based Arabic newspaper on Saturday, Suleiman said, "No one has the right to act without the Lebanese government's authorization." He was apparently referring to the complicated relationship between the Lebanese government and the Hezbullies terror organization.
But Hizb'allah does so, and without either asking or informing the government.
Suleiman said Leb would attack Israel only if the Jewish state initiates the aggression.
 
Responding to a question from Australian Opposition Leader Tony Abbott regarding Leb's position on the Iranian nuclear program, the president said "Leb opposes the development of nuclear weapons by Iran, just as we are against the development of nuclear weapons anywhere else in the Middle East."
 
However,
it was a brave man who first ate an oyster...
Suleiman mentioned the erroneous US intelligence assessments regarding weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, and clarified that "the supreme religious authority in Iran has repeatedly said that (Iran) is religiously, morally and politically against the production of nuclear arms.
 
"Our relations with Iran lead us to believe (Ayatollah Ali) Khamenei's statements, but the West's allegations raise question marks regarding (Iran's nuclear program)," the Lebanese president said.
 
"The Iranians always tell us during meetings that they are not interested in producing nuclear weapons."
No doubt.
Posted by: trailing wife || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  But will Iran attack Saudi Arabia, as per ...

* BHARAT RAKSHAK > EIGHT IRANIAN SAILORS EXECUTED IN SAUDI CITY OF DAMMAM: REPORTS, allegedly widout any kind of legal Proceedings.

IIRC these Iranians were Saudi-accused Drug Trafickers? imprisoned in KSA snce 2006.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 04/23/2012 1:17 Comments || Top||


Arabia
Warplanes strike al-Qaeda hideouts in south Yemen, 18 killed
[Yemen Post] Warplanes continued pounding al-Qaeda whereabouts in the southern Yemeni province of Abyan
...a governorate of Yemen. The region was a base to the Aden-Abyan Islamic Army terrorist group until it dropped the name and joined al-Qaeda. Its capital is Zinjibar. In March 2011, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula declared the governate an Islamic Emirate after seizing control of the region. The New York Times fastidiously reported that those in control, while Islamic hard boyz, are not in fact al-Qaeda, but something else that looks, tastes, and acts the same. Yemeni government forces launched an effort to re-establish control of the region when President-for-Life Saleh was tossed and the carnage continues...
, killing at least 18 bully boyz and wounding dozens others, local security official said on Sunday."Army aircrafts bombed on Sunday the hideouts of Ansar al-Sharia,
...a Yemeni Islamist militia which claims it is not part of al-Qaeda, even though it works about the same and for the same ends...
the al-Qaeda wing in Yemen, in Yasouq Mountain and al-Maniasa area, located in southern Lawdar, and in areas southwestern Lawdar, killing 11 cut-throats and destroying military vehicles claimed by al-Qaeda in their battles with the army troops in the south," the security official were quoted by several local media outlets as saying.

Two bully boyz were also killed when the army planes bombarded their places in areas on the outskirts of Abyan.

Another Local security official told Yemen Portal, a local online newspaper, that the army troops and the tribal committees, who joined the fight against al-Qaeda after the army was outmaneuvered by the terror network for many times, made a significant headway in the ongoing fierce battles against the bully boyz in Zinjubar, the thriving provincial capital of Abyan.Zinjubar has been taken over by al-Qaeda in May of 2011, when the thug group took control of the unrest triggered by the revolution across the country.

The government forces are approaching the governorship building in the city and started combing the area in search for the fundamentalists who have beat a retreat toward Ja'ar town, their old stronghold, according to the unnamed security official. Army troops from the 39th Armored Brigade advanced in the eastern part of Zinjuabar and took control of the Central Prison after they carried out painful strikes against the thugs, added the official."Five bully boyz were killed in the battles with the army troops," the official said, adding that a soldier was killed and other 13 were maimed in the festivities.The maimed soldiers were raced to Basuhib Military Hospital in the port city of Aden.
Posted by: Fred || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in Arabia

#1  Have they blown up the RICH MUSLIM PEOPLE yet who are bank rolling all of this?
Posted by: Whomoting Threaling4890 || 04/23/2012 18:22 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Khan demands Siachen demilitarisation
[Dawn] Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaaf chairman Imran Khan
... aka Taliban Khan, who who convinced himself that playing cricket qualified him to lead a nuclear-armed nation with severe personality problems...
on Sunday said that the Siachen front -- the world's 'highest battle ground' -- was proving costly for both India and Pakistain's resources.

Speaking to news hounds at the Lahore airport on his return from Quetta, the PTI chief called for the demilitarisation of Siachen area, saying that both countries are bearing huge losses due to this war front. However,
a good lie finds more believers than a bad truth...
Khan said that withdrawal from the front should be from both sides and not unilateral.

Speaking about the tragic air crash near Islamabad that led to the deaths of all 127 on board, Khan urged for the impartial and free investigations of the incident.

Criticising the Pakistain people's Party (PPP) government, the former cricketer said that Pakistain was "ruled by Zardari" and anyone could do anything with the help of bribery.

Moreover, Khan said that the Prime Minister was "willing to go down as a political martyr to conceal the president's corruption."

He further said that the only solution to Balochistan
...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it...
's problem was a political one. Khan also urged President Asif Ali President Ten Percent Zardari
... sticky-fingered husband of the late Benazir Bhutto ...
and Nawaz Sharif
... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf...
to hold public gatherings in Quetta.

Khan also termed his his party's public gathering in Quetta as a "record rally", claiming that they had managed to hoist the Pak flag where no other party had managed to do so.
Posted by: Fred || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Unrest in Karachi cannot be fully quelled, says CM Sindh
[Dawn] The Chief Minister of Sindh, Qaim Ali Shah, on Sunday confessed that unrest in Bloody Karachi
...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It may be the largest city in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
cannot be fully quelled, DawnNews reported.

Speaking during a presser at the Chief Minister's House, Shah said that Lyari
...one of the eighteen constituent towns of the city of Karachi. It is the smallest town by area in the city but also the most densely populated. Lyari has few schools, substandard hospitals, a poor water system, limited infrastructure, and broken roads. It is a stronghold of ruling Pakistan Peoples Party. Ubiquitous gang activity and a thriving narcotics industry make Lyari one of the most disturbed places in Karachi, which is really saying a lot....
was not the only area where police was conducting operations, but action was being taken in every area of the city infiltrated by criminals.

The Chief Minister further said that he spoken to the government's allies for an unbiased operation against criminals in Bloody Karachi.

Responding to a question about local government elections in Sindh, Shah said that the voter list and constituencies are not finalized and that the government will submit its stance in the Supreme Court by April 30.

Federal Minister Khurshid Shah, who accompanied the chief minister at the presser, said that the government wants to resolve the issues on priority basis.
Posted by: Fred || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Caribbean-Latin America
Mexican Political Notebook: April 23rd

For a map, click here

By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com

The Mexican political week started with a huge win for Partido Accion National (PAN) president Gustavo Madero Munoz. The Instituto Federal Electoral (IFE) determined that ads PAN ran against Partido Revolucionario Institutional (PRI) presidential candidate Enrique Pena Nieto were not a threat to democracy and the electoral system, and could continue.

Gustavo Madero Munoz
Less than 10 days after the start of her campaign, PAN presidential candidate Josefina Vazquez Mota partially shook up her team, reassigning a female member of her press staff for a minor gaffe, and bringing two of PAN's heaviest hitters, former finance minister Ernesto Cordero and PAN president Madero on as advisers.

Attacks on Pena Nieto's record while governor began in earnest the same week, with PRI president Pedro Coldwell filing a complaint with the IFE.

Madero held a minor campaign event in Mexico state called the Mesa de Verdad or table of truth where he and Vazquez Mota campaign manager Roberto Gil Zuarth debated PRI militants on the latest charges against Pena Nieto.

Present were PRI spokesmen Eduardo Sanchez and Jorge Carlos Ramirez Marin and deputy Pablo Escudero, who is the son of Senator Manlio Fabio Beltrones. PRI president Pedro Coldwell was not at the Mesa de Verdad.

Even though the new negative campaign was in its beginning stages, PAN is in the dumps along with the leftist alliance headed by Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, with less than 5 percentage points separating them.

Mid week however, a GEA/ISA flash poll put Lopez Obrador and Vazquez Mota neck and neck with Pena Nieto showing little trend downward.

Lopez Obrador has been trying to move his campaign past Vazquez Mota's this week, coming out with a new tax proposal certain to gain the attention of businesses benefiting from it and individuals bound to pay it as well.

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador
Lopez Obrador proposes to eliminate the job-creating flat tax known as the Impuesto Especial a Tasa Unico (IETU), the elimination of which Lopez Obrador claims would help small and medium sized enterprises. He also promises cheaper credit and to lower the price of energy.

In response to Lopez Obrador's preparation to file a complaint about transportation costs, the IFE said Tuesday that such costs are being audited. Difference exist among the three main candidates because of how they chose transport. PRI uses a fleet of contracted aircraft, while PAN contracts flight hours on a pair of jets. Partido Revolucion Democratica (PRD) uses commercial flights.

Meanwhile, PRI politicans continued to ignore the negative campaigning by pointing out video spots, mostly on youtube.com, are "acts of desperation". Those are the words of Pena Nieto as well as Senator Fabio Beltrones, PRI's coordinator for Chamber of Deputy candidates. Nuevo Leon governor Rodrigo Medina de la Cruz also chimed in with the same charge in a campaign event Sunday in Monterrey attended by Pena Nieto.

Enrique Pena Nieto
Pena Nieto himself has charged the ads were part of a "dirty war", as he put it. He vowed not to divide Mexico by using such tactics.

The youtube spot in which Pena Nieto deals with the negative ads can be found here.

Pena Nieto received some good news while in Sonora state. Isaiah Gonzalez Cuevas, national leader of the Confederacion Revolucionaria de Obreros y Campesinos (CROC) endorsed PRI, saying the last 12 years of PAN rule has increased the unemployment rate from 2.3 to 5.1 percent, plus it increased from 20.6 to 28.5 million the number of Mexicans who do not have enough income to buy basic food items due to constantly rising energy prices.

CROC boasts 4.5 million members.

Speaking of the 2006 campaign, Lopez Obrador charged Sunday in Quintana Roo state that Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educacion (SNTE) union president Elba Ester Godillo has entered into a secret accord with the PRI to throw support of her union towards PRI.

Ester endorsed PAN in the latter stages of the 2006 campaign. Leftists such as Lopez Orbador think that Ester is the one individual most responsible for Calderon's election that year. SNTE members number about 1.2 million, the largest labor union in Mexico.

However, an alliance with PRI and Partido Nueva Alianza (PANAL) was split apart mere days before the deadline for electoral coalitions after protests by PRI militants in southern states that PRI had given up too much for such a small part of the promised vote. But SNTE and PRI may not be as close as Lopez Obrador has charged, because many PRI militants agree with Lopez Obrador that Ester Gordillo had a hand in Calderon's win. The split could be payback for 2006.

Vazquez Mota ended her week in Sonora promising "to restore pride in what we do, it's time to strengthen brand Mexico" and "to grow our talent and entrepreneurial spirit."

Chris Covert writes Mexican Drug War and national political news for Rantburg.com
Posted by: badanov || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


Arabia
Militants Threaten To Execute Yemeni Soldiers Amid Raging Battles In South
[Yemen Post] Al-Qaeda has threatened to execute seventy soldiers its members tossed in the clink during raids on military bases in Abyan
...a governorate of Yemen. The region was a base to the Aden-Abyan Islamic Army terrorist group until it dropped the name and joined al-Qaeda. Its capital is Zinjibar. In March 2011, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula declared the governate an Islamic Emirate after seizing control of the region. The New York Times fastidiously reported that those in control, while Islamic hard boyz, are not in fact al-Qaeda, but something else that looks, tastes, smells, and acts the same. Yemeni government forces launched an effort to re-establish control of the region when President-for-Life Saleh was tossed and the carnage continues...
province in early March.

The gunnies overwhelmed the military bases in the Doufas district killing and taking as hostage scores of soldiers as well as looting military equipment.

Early this month, fifteen soldiers were held and rubbed out by al-Qaeda members after battles with the forces in Lahj province.

HOOD and al-Karama organizations said the Sharia Supporters, one of the bully boy groups in the south, intends to execute ten soldiers a week if the government continues to ignore their demands including the release of gunnies held inside the political security jails.

In a statement, the two organizations appealed to the Sharia Supporters to protect the soldiers and avoid extrajudicial executions. They also appealed to the government, the Yemeni holy mans, the Yemeni tribes' coalition and human rights
One man's rights are another man's existential threat.
agencies to help take action to prevent the execution of the soldiers.

On March 22, the two organizations sent an activist team to the Jaar city held by al-Qaeda and the team was allowed to meet more than 70 soldiers held by bully boys.

The team inspected the health conditions of the soldiers and how they were held. The soldiers said they were being treated in a good way, adding al-Qaeda set conditions including the release its members held inside the political security prisons in return for their release.

With direct support from the US, the Yemeni forces have been fighting AQAP, the al-Qaeda branch in Yemen since it was founded in 2009. In mid-2011, al-Qaeda seized some towns in Abyan province including the capital Zinjibar and recently it has tried to occupy more towns to expand its presence.

The forces in association with popular fighters have thwarted terrorist plans and have waged battles killing and injuring hundreds of gunnies in the Lawder city.
Posted by: Fred || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in Arabia


Bangladesh
Robber killed in 'shootout'
[Bangla Daily Star] An alleged robber
Our intrepid reporter has been influenced by American reporting conventions -- they don't generally presume innocence elsewhere in the world...
was killed and four coppers were maimed
Splinters and stubbed toes all around, the poor, brave darlings.
in a 'shootout' between his cohorts and law enforcers in Moheshkhali upazila of Cox's Bazar district early yesterday.
Someone fetch The Map!
The dear departed Giasuddin, 30, was the ringleader of robbery gang and an accused in three robbery cases filed with Moheshkhali Police Station,
Nowhere near the standard "wanted on twelve systems", and now he has no chance to achieve it.
said Ranjit Kumar Barua, officer-in-charge of the cop shoppe.

Giasuddin, son of Amir Sultan, was a resident of Uttar Muhuri
ghona village in the upazila.
The Map, dammit! Sergeant, we need the map now!
Following a tip-off,
"Mahmoud the Weasel IV here, calling in with your daily tip..."
a team of police raided the house of Giasuddin where a gang of bandidos was holding a secret meeting in the dead of night at about 2:00am for committing robbery in a trawler, the OC said.

Spider senses tingling at the proximity of coppers, the gang opened fire, prompting the law enforcers to retaliate, he said.
It's those finely honed copper instincts -- they just take over.
After around an hour-long shootout, the robbers managed to flee the spot
Marked X and without a trace, as always...
leaving bullet-hit Giasuddin behind. Police at first rushed him to Moheshkhali Upazila Health Complex.

As his condition deteriorated, he was referred to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital where he died around 10:30am, the OC said.
"He's dead, Jim. Put him with the others, and tell them if they don't fix the generator I won't be responsible for the results."
Abdur Rahman, an assistant sub-inspector of the cop shoppe, and three police constables Kamruzzaman, Tushar Chowdhury and M Russel sustained bullet wounds during the shootout.
Dr. Quincy can fix that. He can fix anything.
The injured coppers were admitted to the upazila health complex, the OC added.
Posted by: Fred || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:


Good morning
Posted by: Fred || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Birthday/Daily Gam Shot

Janet Blair aka Eileen Sherwood in "My Sister Eileen (1942)" aka Judy Kane in "Tonight and Every Night (1945)" aka Jane Howard in "The Fabulous Dorseys (1947)" aka Patricia Dare in "Two Yanks in Trinidad (1942)" aka Ann Elliot in "The Fuller Brush Man (1948)" aka Tansy Taylor in "Burn, Witch, Burn (1962)" aka Marge Drayton in "Boys' Night Out (1962)" aka Katie Bower in "The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band (1968)" (Died in 2007 at age 85)


Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 04/23/2012 10:38 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Britain to probe claims its spies betrayed Gaddafi opponents
[Daily Nation (Kenya)] Britannia said on Sunday it would "take seriously" claims that British spies worked with Libyan counterparts to betray opponents of Muammar Qadaffy
... one of those little rainstorms from the Arab Spring...
and lure al-Qaeda forces of Evil to a radical mosque.

The claims were made by two British newspapers who cited documents unearthed from Libyan archives after the Qadaffy regime was toppled last year.

The Mail on Sunday said documents revealed that in 2006, agents from Britannia's domestic intelligence agency MI5 provided Libyan spies with intelligence about dissidents who had decamped to Britannia.

"The documents disclose that MI5 betrayed the confidentiality that all refugees are promised when they apply for asylum," the paper said.

Spies also provided the Libyan agents with secure mobile phones and a luxurious safe house in London's plush Knightsbridge district, the Mail added.

The Sunday Telegraph claimed MI6, the international intelligence agency, worked with Qadaffy's agents in around 2004 to establish a radical mosque in an unnamed European city that could lure al-Qaeda members.

A front man for the Home Office, Britannia's interior ministry, said: "We do not know the full details of these cases, but we take such claims seriously."

Parliament's intelligence and security committee was looking into the government's relationship with Libya "and will take account of any allegations raised by these reports," he added.
Posted by: Fred || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Arab Spring

#1  Whaddaya know, so Uncle Muammar was a good guy???

Dare Uncle Saddam???
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 04/23/2012 0:26 Comments || Top||

#2  The Mail on Sunday said documents revealed that in 2006, agents from Britannia's domestic intelligence agency MI5 provided Libyan spies with intelligence about dissidents who had decamped to Britannia.

And Albion got what in return?
Posted by: Besoeker || 04/23/2012 10:17 Comments || Top||


Africa Horn
Minster defiant to be sacked from his office by Somali president
(Sh.M.Network)- Mohamed Muhidin Sheikh Mursal, the minister of Labor, Youth and sports for Somali government has refused a removal announcement from office which made by Somali president Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed.

In a declaration released from the office of Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed on Saturday confirmed the dismissal of Mr. Mohamed Muhidin Sheikh Mursal from the ministry of Labor, Youth and sports.

Mr. Mursal denied incompetence of his job,saying his removal was illegal and in accordance with the constitution of Somali government.

The statement noted various reasons for the sacking of Mr. Mohamed Mursal from the ministry, the key reason being incompetence in the job as the announcement indicated. Mahamoud Jirde Hussein was appointed as the new minister for Labor, Youth and Sports.
Posted by: Fred || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Commandos Board Ship Allegedly Smuggling Weapons To Gaza
Israel Navy vessels intercept HS Beethoven, detected about 160 miles from Israel flying a Liberian flag; commandos board ship with the captain's consent, search for weapons.

Commandos from the Navy's elite unit Flotilla 13 boarded a vessel, the HS Beethoven, in the Mediterranean Sea on Sunday night that was allegedly trying to smuggle weaponry to the Gazoo Strip.

The ship was detected about 160 miles from Israel flying a Liberian flag and was intercepted by Israel Navy vessels. Commandos boarded the ship with the captain's consent and were searching for weapons.

The IDF stated that the boarding was part of a routine patrol.

The HS Beethoven left Beirut on April 20 and was scheduled to arrive in Alexandria, Egypt on Monday evening. Prior to stopping in Leb, it had stopped in in Limassol, Cyprus.

Last March, the Navy intercepted a ship called Victoria that was carrying about 50 tons of weaponry and was on its way to Egypt. It was also a Liberian-flagged ship and was also headed to Alexandria.

The weapons cache seized on the Victoria included a number of sophisticated radar-guided Iranian anti-ship missiles that were supposed to go to Islamic Jihad
...created after many members of the Egyptian Moslem Brotherhood decided the organization was becoming too moderate. Operations were conducted out of Egypt until 1981 when the group was exiled after the liquidation of President Anwar Sadat. They worked out of Gaza until they were exiled to Lebanon in 1987, where they clove tightly to Hezbollah. In 1989 they moved to Damascus, where they remain a subsidiary of Hezbollah...
inside Gazoo.
Posted by: trailing wife || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  One should take weapons soak in BACON fat take all firing mechs out etc and return to owners. Have they started the aerial spraying yet in Afghanistan tankers filled with pig blood on all poppy crops screw the dune coons!
Posted by: Phusolet Flaising3772 || 04/23/2012 18:24 Comments || Top||


Southeast Asia
Philippine troops kill 6 communist guerrillas in gun battle
Philippine army troops have killed six communist guerrillas during a gun battle in the country's mountainous north in the latest outbreak of the 43-year-old Marxist insurgency.

Soldiers patrolling near the village of Bayawel were shot at by about 15 New People's Army guerrillas on Saturday. The soldiers returned fire and there was an hourlong clash. Villagers told the soldiers they saw at least six slain rebels, including a woman, being carried by their comrades.
Posted by: ryuge || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  ION PINOY, BHARAT RALSHAK > [Scarborough Shoal = SCS Region]OTHER NATIONS MUST TAKE A STAND ON CHINA:PHILIPPINES:AFP.

and

* SAME > [The American Interest]INDIA MISSLE TEST [Agni-V ICBM] UPS THE PRESSURE ON A JUMPY BEIJING.

* SAME > [Foreign Policy] APRIL IS THE CRUELEST MONTH ... FOR CHINA.

COLLECTIVE NUTSHELL = NUTHIN IS A'GOIN CHINA'S WAY.

Not Politically, not economically, not domestically, + not vee Foreign Policy.

YOKAY, I'LL SAY IT - YEEEEUUUUUUUPPPP.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 04/23/2012 1:30 Comments || Top||

#2  More from BR ...

* SAME > CHINESE DAILY [Global Times] CALLS FOR "SMALL-SCALE WAR" AGZ PHILIPPINES, + for China to also be ready for any post Sino-Phil COnflict consequences in the UNO andor International stage.

* SAME > CHINA SAYS JAPAN'S UNILATERAL ACTION ON DAOYU ISLANDS ILLEGAL [+ Invalid], wid CHina reserving its right to resort to any measures to protect its sovereign interests.

* SAME > ASIAN STATES/POWERS CONTEMPLATE [post-2014] AFGHANISTAN SANS AMERICA.

Fingers are a'twiddling + a'twitchin mightily.

RUSSIA = D *** NG IT, THE US-NATO ARE THERE SO LET THEM DO THEIR JOB + FINISH THE INSURGENTS!

* SAME > CHINA BEGINS [Hardline] CRACKDOWN IN TERROR AREAS BORDERING PoK, vee West China = Xinjiang.

This may NOT end well for Beijing, as Radical Islam is more likely than not to react by rebuilding + funneling new or more Jihadis into China, from Pakistan or elsewhere vee the C.A.R. routes into China.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 04/23/2012 2:11 Comments || Top||

#3  FYI the US has reaffirmed its defence treaty wid the PHIL today.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 04/23/2012 2:15 Comments || Top||

#4  NOT from BHARAT RAKSHAK ...

* TOPIX > CHINA'S UNCLEAR TERRITORIAL CLAIMS RISKS SEA CONFLICTS.

* SAME > NORTH KOREA WARNS OF "SPECIAL ACTIONS" SOON, to wipe out the wily dastardly disrepectful SOKOR Admin of Lee Myeung-Bak.

The issue is TAIWAN + "post-US", World #1 wannabe Rising China's desire for SOVEREIGN, "SOLE" + INTERNATIONALLY "GUARANTEED",
"UNCHALLENGED" AIR-SEA-SPACE = MILPOL STRATEGIC ACCESS INTO WESTPAC + FAR PACOAS.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 04/23/2012 2:55 Comments || Top||


Kyi confirms party will postpone Burma parliamentary debut
Aung San Suu Kyi's party confirmed that it will postpone its parliamentary debut next week in the first sign of discord between Burma's newly-elected opposition and reformist government.

The democracy leader and other members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) will not travel to the capital Naypyidaw to enter parliament on Monday, party spokesman Ohn Kyaing said, following a dispute over the swearing-in oath.

"We are not boycotting, but we are just waiting for the right time to go," said Ms Suu Kyi, who won her first-ever seat in parliament in landmark April 1 by-elections, after a meeting on the issue in Yangon.

The NLD has baulked at the wording of the oath, which requires them to protect a constitution that was drawn up by the country's former junta. Authorities have rejected the party's appeal to change the wording of the oath from "safeguard" to "respect" the constitution and a letter to the office of Burma's reformist President Thein Sein on the issue was sent too late for the row to be resolved before the next session of parliament begins on Monday.

The NLD, which boycotted a controversial 2010 election, agreed to rejoin the political mainstream last year after authorities changed a similar phrase in party registration documents.

Ms Suu Kyi has said one of her priorities as a politician is to push for an amendment of the 2008 constitution, under which one quarter of the seats in parliament are reserved for unelected military officials.
Posted by: Steve White || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
3 Hurt in Abi Samra Demo, Gunmen Deploy in Bab al-Tabbaneh, Jabal Mohsen
[An Nahar] Three people were maimed on Sunday when a demo against the Syrian regime came under gunfire in the Tripoli
...a confusing city, one end of thich is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn...
neighborhood of Abi Samra.

"Gunmen shot up the demo when it reached al-Shiraa Roundabout, wounding three people who were rushed to hospitals in the area," state-run National News Agency reported.

"At once, Lebanese army troops arrived on the scene and encircled the site to prevent any escalation," NNA said.

Earlier on Sunday, gunnies deployed on the streets of Tripoli's rival Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen districts following a personal dispute between two youths from the two areas, Radio Voice of Leb (93.3) reported.

It said the army intervened and managed to contain the situation after youths from the two areas hurled stones at each other.

In February three people were killed and 23 others maimed in fierce festivities between gunnies from the two rival neighborhoods.

In June 2011, six people were killed in the wake of demonstrations in the area against the Syrian regime.

Predominantly Alawite Bab al-Tabbaneh is loyal to the Hizbullah-led alliance and the Syrian regime, while largely Sunni Bab al-Tabbaneh is loyal to Leb's anti-Syrian opposition.

Syrian Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad
Light of the Alawites...
, who is fighting an unprecedented revolt against his regime, is from the Alawite community, an offshoot of Shia Islam.
Posted by: Fred || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria


Britain
Brit anti-piracy operation hits a snag
David Cameron's plans to allow British ships travelling around Africa to carry private armed guards to combat the threat of piracy have been dealt a blow after South Africa insisted they be military.

Lindiwe Sisulu, South Africa's defence minister, told the Daily Telegraph she had already received a request from Britain and other European countries to allow ships with armed protection to pass through South African waters. She said she would insist they were military personnel to facilitate dealings with South African marines boarding the ships to inspect them.

British military sources say the plan would be "totally unworkable" because the UK lacks the capacity to staff civilian ships with troops. They also warned it would put Britain at risk of international diplomatic incidents such as the recent case of Italian soldiers shooting dead unarmed Indian fishermen they thought were pirates.

"Just look at what happened off India when the Italian navy got themselves into trouble," one source said. "There's no way on earth that any military personnel would be on UK-flagged ships."

Statistics show no successful pirate attack has been carried out on merchant ships with armed security. For those without security there have been seven successful hijackings by Somali pirates this year. At present, 13 vessels are being held and 197 hostages.

Last October, Mr Cameron said the UK would authorise ships flying the British merchant navy flag to carry armed security to combat the piracy threat which, experts say, stretches south into the Mozambique Channel towards South Africa.

The new measures prompted a surge in work for private security firms – many of which are staffed by British nationals including large numbers of former service personnel. Other European countries, such as Italy and The Netherlands, have opted to use their own troops.

Miss Sisulu said that all ships passing through South African waters would be expected to do the same.

"We will specify that they need to be military personnel from these countries who have asked us for permission, who are accredited and attached to the armed forces of those countries," she said. "It is easier for our defence forces to deal with military officers than with random private security companies."

Hundreds of British-flagged ships travel around South Africa and into the high risk piracy area to ply eastern trade routes each year, and around 40 per cent currently carry armed guards.

Niklas Rogers, the British director of maritime security firm Kenya Risk Consultants, said private operatives have considerable experience in antipiracy operations, whereas British troops would be ill-prepared for the tough conditions on merchant ships.

"We are not talking about a bunch of guys stepping off ships with fags hanging out of their mouths and guns slung over their backs," he said. "We are talking about professionals – most of whom will be British – who are well-versed in procedure; comply with customs operations and whose weapons are locked away well before they reach land."

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said the option to provide military protection had already been looked at and ruled out. The Foreign Office said it had not yet made an official request for armed guards on its ships.
The solution is simple: hire the private security companies, particularly the ones staffed by ex-military folks. Then swear them into a new branch of the British military: call it the 'Royal Anti-Piracy Service'. Pay them whatever they were going to make as private security, give them uniforms, and tax the shipowners whatever they were going to pay to the private companies. Keep the private companies around to provide 'services'. Yes, you'd need some supervision and some rules, but this would fix the problem. At least until the South African minister came up with another roadblock.
Posted by: Steve White || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "... Staff Civilian Ships wid Troops" > I was going to say the RN no longer has Ships, but close enough for Govt work.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 04/23/2012 0:20 Comments || Top||

#2  "It is easier for our defence forces to deal with military officers than with random private security companies."

I suspect that private security companies would be more professional than SA marines. No doubt, this temporary difficulty will be solved by the appropriate palm-greasing.
Posted by: SteveS || 04/23/2012 0:48 Comments || Top||

#3  South Africa really has removed the "stain" of white rule...
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 04/23/2012 7:09 Comments || Top||

#4  "It is easier for our defence forces to deal with military officers than with random private security companies."

An absolute load of total kak! Comrade Sisulu knows military personnel will not be given the task. The last thing president 6 wives Zumma and the ANC want are former SAS and Dutch Commando civilian contractors visiting South African ports or transiting it's waters. The absolute non-starter of all non-starters would be former South African Defense Force personnel stepping up to the mission.
Posted by: Besoeker || 04/23/2012 9:00 Comments || Top||

#5  So, the question is how far off South Africa do their territorial waters lie. I thought that it was 12 miles for transit. Just bypass SA, though the govt of SA may have other plans for harassment.
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 04/23/2012 14:28 Comments || Top||

#6  The absolute non-starter of all non-starters would be former South African Defense Force personnel stepping up to the mission

Which in this case is the underlying issue.
Posted by: Pappy || 04/23/2012 15:25 Comments || Top||

#7  Pappy and Besoeker, thanks for explaining it. I had thought of it as a real issue rather than the one you pointed out.
Posted by: Steve White || 04/23/2012 15:57 Comments || Top||


Muslim manservant nearly derailed Victoria's Diamond Jubilee
Posted by: || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Uh, uh, REGA VICTORIANA - "THE COUGAR ERA"???

gut nuthin.

D *** NG IT, DATS TWICE IN A PM!

LOL - actually, as a Histoire' Buff I read about this many years ago.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 04/23/2012 0:36 Comments || Top||

#2  It's another country. From wiki: In the Channel Islands, the only part of the former Duchy of Normandy still held by the British Crown, Queen Elizabeth II is traditionally ascribed the title of Duke of Normandy (never Duchess), and there she is loyally toasted as "The Queen our Duke".
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 04/23/2012 1:56 Comments || Top||

#3  I'm all sympathy.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 04/23/2012 2:31 Comments || Top||

#4  Then there was Mr. Brown...
Posted by: john frum || 04/23/2012 22:32 Comments || Top||


Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Uzbekistan releases ill human rights activist
Former Soviet Uzbekistan, one of the world's most closed states, has released a gravely ill human rights activist from prison, Human Rights Watch has reported.

Human Rights Watch welcomed the release of Alisher Karamatov six years into a nine year sentence for religious extremism but also said that conditions in Uzbek jails were deplorable.
Unlike HRW, Mr. Karamatov also fought for human dignity and personal liberty...
"This is a wonderful day for Alisher Karamatov and his family, and his many supporters in the human rights movement," said Steve Swerdlow, Central Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch. "But the six long years he suffered horribly behind bars simply for defending human rights can never be returned."

Imprisoned since 2006, Mr Karamatov was beaten on the soles of his feet, suffocated using a gas mask and made to stand for hours in freezing temperatures, the New York based lobby group said.

Mr Karamatov's health had suffered in prison. His wife reported that he had developed tuberculosis in both lungs, developed sores over his body and woke up in the mornings with traces of blood in his mouth. She had asked for her husband's early release on health grounds.

Uzbekistan has one of the worst human rights records in the world. This week the BBC reported that, under orders to control population growth, some doctors in Uzbek hospital were forcibly sterilising women after childbirth.

The West, though, has had to make deals with the Uzbek authorities because it borders Afghanistan. Already this year, senior military commanders and politicians from NATO, including Philip Hammond, the British Defence Secretary, have visited Tashkent for talks with the Uzbek government. They want to withdraw their military equipment from Afghanistan in 2014 using Uzbekistan's railway network.

Mr Swerdlow, the Human Rights Watch Researcher, said the Uzbek authorities should release other activists held in prison. "The US and EU should make clear that the Uzbek government needs to make deeper changes to improve its human rights record and that continuing to harass activists and journalists will lead to significant policy consequences," he said.
One useful thing that would occur if we got out of Afghanistan (taking Mr. Karzai at his public word) is that we'd no longer be beholden to other odious regimes in Central Asia.
Posted by: Steve White || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


Africa North
Brotherhood's Mursi: We must focus on Palestinians
Moslem Brüderbund's presidential candidate Mohamed Mursi launches presidential campaign under banner of 'Islam is the Solution'
In the old days that was the sentry password. The proper response is "Twenty-three skidoo!", considered too cool for words.
Mohamed Mursi, the Moslem Brüderbund's new presidential candidate, officially launched his campaign on Saturday, under the banner "Islam is the Solution."
 
Mursi, who was named the movement's candidate after the disqualification of Khairat al-Shater, held a presser and told news hounds that under his regime, Cairo would respect its international treaties.
Hudna style?
Asked whether he would meet with Israeli officials Mursi said: "The president is obligated to express the people's wishes and honor all international agreements, but he cannot be made to execute any externally-dictated policies."
The people wish there was no treaty.
The treaty is an international agreement.
Winners dictate to losers, but Sadat finagled a couple billion dollars a year from the U.S. as a bribe to accept the treaty.
Therefore it's 2:1 for abrogation. By democratic principles, Mr. Mursi has no choice. Q.E.D.
He further stressed the he would lend special priority to the Paleostinian issue.
 
"We intend to make the Paleostinian issue our main issue. It should be like that for whoever is elected as the president of Egypt. We can definitely stand up to the world and say that the Paleostinians have rights," he pledged.
 Will you still care when Egyptians are dying of starvation in the streets of Cairo, while the Gazans get even fatter?
Mursi's main rival in the elections, former Arab League
...an organization of Arabic-speaking states with 22 member countries and four observers. The League tries to achieve Arab consensus on issues, which usually leaves them doing nothing but a bit of grimacing and mustache cursing...
Secretary General Jerry Lewis doppelgänger Amr Moussa
... who was head of the Arab League for approximately two normal lifespans, accomplishing nothing that was obvious to the casual observer ...
, also addressed Israel-Egypt relation Saturday, while touring the Aswan province.
 
Moussa said that under his leadership, "We will demand that the Middle East become a free of nuclear weapons and that that measure will be imposed on Israel before it is imposed on Iran."
You and what army?
Moussa's hard-line politics vis-à-vis Jerusalem are known and he has recently stated that if elected -- he would demand the revision of the Israel-Egypt peace treaty.
And don't forget to pout and stamp your little feet when you do.
Posted by: trailing wife || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Muslim Brotherhood


India-Pakistan
Airline charges relatives for bodies
[Dawn] A complaint by relatives of some of the air crash victims that they had to make payment to the airline which brought the bodies from Islamabad has prompted an inquiry.

It was brought to the notice of Sharmila Farooqi, Adviser to the Sindh Chief Minister, at he Bloody Karachi
...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It may be the largest city in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
airport, which she visited on Saturday to condole with relatives waiting for bodies, that some employees of the airline responsible for handling and bringing back the victims' remains to Bloody Karachi had charged them up to Rs12,000.

However,
if you can't say something nice about a person some juicy gossip will go well...
an official of the Civil Aviation Authority attempted damage limitation, saying that the office order for allowing free transportation was received a bit late. "The order to transport the bodies free of charge came at 10am on Saturday. By that time some people had already made payment. They will be refunded, of course."

The body of a former technical adviser to President Zardari, Raza Ali Khan Feroz, was also being brought back on PK 301 on Saturday afternoon. Showing the receipt as proof to media gathered at the airport, his nephew Syed Ali Khan said: "I paid Rs4,545 to transport my uncle's body to Bloody Karachi from Islamabad. They charged me Rs35 per kilogram."

Mohammad Saleem, the uncle of another victim, Mohammad Irfan Rao, said he paid Rs12,000 to bring his nephew's body to Bloody Karachi.

Sharmila Farooqi apologised all those who paid money for bringing the bodies to Bloody Karachi and promised to see to it that the sum was refunded.

By evening the facilitation desk at the Jinnah Terminal here sounded apologetic about any problems caused to the victims' families.

Mohammad Khan Rind, assistant commissioner Scheme 33, and an employee of the Board of Revenue stationed at the facilitation desk during the day, informed Dawn that an inquiry had already been ordered to look into the matter. "I believe it was just one person asking everyone for money. But as far as I know the Federal Minister for Defense Ahmed Mukhtar has been brought into the entire affair now. He has been asked by the Presidency to start an inquiry in order to look into the matter," he said.
Posted by: Fred || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan

#1  They charged me Rs35 per kilogram."

Dear Skymiles Member:

Unfortunately, Delta does not offer frequent flier mileage points for former Diamond, Platinum, Gold Medallion members flown as freight.
Posted by: Besoeker || 04/23/2012 9:32 Comments || Top||


ANP backs Nawaz on Siachen troop pullout
[Dawn] The Awami National Party on Saturday backed PML-N president Mian Nawaz Sharif
... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf...
's call for troops pullout and demilitarisation of Siachen.

"The PML-N chief was right in his call for troops pullout from Siachen," said ANP's central front man and Senator Zahid Khan while talking to media persons after inaugurating Bacha Khan Medical OPD building at the district headquarters hospital here.
However,
denial ain't just a river in Egypt...
he said that the ANP believed in negotiations for resolving all issues.

Mr Khan said that both Pakistain and India should pull out their troops from Siachen and settle the issue through dialogue.

Earlier, speaking at the inaugural function, Mr Khan said that the project of OPD and provision of necessary equipment had been completed with a cost of Rs20 million and it would start functioning next week.

He also announced Rs20 million for provision of other medical facilities for the hospital and asked its administration to make it model hospital.

The senator said that supply of Sui gas to Dir, construction of schools and electrification of several villages showed commitment of the ANP to the welfare of people.

He said that construction of Chakdara Bridge was a longstanding demand of the people of Dir, Bajaur and Chitral, and this had been included in the Asian Development Bank-funded projects in the region. He said that the chief minister would visit Chakdara on May 1 to inaugurate construction of the bridge. "The government is committed to providing health and education facilities to people of the far-flung areas," he said, adding that the DHQ hospital was being provided with equipment and specialist doctors in order to minimise burden on Beautiful Downtown Peshawar hospitals.

An employee of the DHQ hospital, Timergara, told this correspondent that the Bacha Khan OPD had so far been inaugurated by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central...
Chief Minister Ameer Haidar Hoti, senior minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour and provincial minister Haji Hidayatullah during their visits to Lower Dir.
Posted by: Fred || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Africa Horn
Spanish navy rescues Sri Lankan fishermen held by Somali pirates
(Sh.M.Network) -- Six Sri Lankan fishermen held by Somali pirates for ransom for more than eight months have been rescued by a Spanish battleship, an official said on Friday.

A bigwig from the External Affairs Ministry said that the fishermen were rescued by Spanish battleship "Infanta Elena" in the coastal belt 50 kilometers off Tanzania.

Further details would be gathered by Sri Lankan missions inLa Belle France, the official said.

Media reports quoted the Spanish navy as saying that seven others who were suspected to be Somali pirates had been occupying the vessel along with the six Sri Lankan fishermen.

The pirates had asked for a ransom of 6 million U. S. dollars to release the fishermen and threatened to kill the fishermen unless the money was given.

In January last year, Somali pirates killed two Sri Lankan fishermen and took another three as hostages after their vessel got lost in the Indian Ocean.
Posted by: Fred || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Pirates

#1  Bravo!
Posted by: American Delight || 04/23/2012 6:29 Comments || Top||

#2  Spain has battleships?
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 04/23/2012 14:56 Comments || Top||

#3  You men they can afford to put fuel in it?
Posted by: mojo || 04/23/2012 15:27 Comments || Top||

#4  Practice for Argentina!
Posted by: Glineck Protector of the Brontosaurs4611 || 04/23/2012 17:40 Comments || Top||

#5  Practice for Argentina!

Don't drink and post, Kids.
Posted by: Pappy || 04/23/2012 21:29 Comments || Top||


Arabia
Committee Cancels Old Gun Licenses In Yemen
[Yemen Post] Within the efforts to restore stability and boost security in Yemen's main cities, the military committee announced on Sunday the cancellation of all old gun licenses.

The committee, formed under a power transfer deal brokered by the GCC and backed by the West which ended turmoil in 2011, urged all who hold old gun permits to head to the Interior Ministry to get new permits or renew the previous ones.

The protection forces, security systems and checkpoints will not accept any previous gun permits unless they are renewed and approved by the Interior Ministry according to the new laws, it said in a statement.

It also urged the people to help abort all armed scenes and avoid carrying and roaming with weapons in the capital and other main cities.

The new plans, approved during a Sunday meeting. aim at removing the causes of tensions and boosting security and stability, it made clear.

Since it was formed, the committee has made strides removing barricades and checkpoints inside main cities including war positions which were set up when the popular uprising escalated last year.

The forces from pro- and anti-former regime forces have been replaced with the protection forces. The protection forces were carefully chosen by the power-sharing government to ensure there will be no more disorders in the country.

More recently, brigades have started to withdraw from inside the capital within the efforts to evacuate main cities from the armed forces.
Posted by: Fred || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Arab Spring

#1  Don't give the WH Clown any ideas....
Posted by: USN, Ret. || 04/23/2012 22:13 Comments || Top||


Africa Horn
South Sudan completes withdrawal from flashpoint oil field
[Daily Nation (Kenya)] South Sudan's army said Sunday that its troops faced fresh aerial bombardments from Sudan as they completed their pullout from the flashpoint Heglig oil field.

Juba seized the oil hub on April 10, claiming that Khartoum was using Heglig as a base to attack the South's oil-producing Unity State. Although South Sudan disputes it, Heglig is internationally regarded as part of Sudan.

The South's occupation met widespread criticism, including from UN chief the ephemeral Ban Ki-moon
... of whom it can be said to his credit that he is not Kofi Annan...
, who called it illegal.

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir on Friday announced his forces would carry out "an orderly withdrawal" from the area. On Sunday, a Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) front man said all southern troops had left.

The SPLA "completed its withdrawal from Heglig yesterday" front man Philip Aguer told AFP.

But, he charged, as the withdrawal was ongoing, Khartoum's air force "continued bombing on the night of the (Friday April) 20th and in the morning of the 21st".

The two sides have offered contradictory explanations for recent developments in Heglig.

On Friday, Sudan said its soldiers had "liberated" the oil field by force, despite, despite Kiir's earlier announcement of a withdrawal.

The South Sudanese UN Ambassador Agnes Oswaha has said Juba decided to withdraw "because it does not wish to see a return to war."
Posted by: Fred || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Sudan


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
'Armed terrorist' group blows up pipeline in Syria, state news says
Syria's state news agency said.
... and if you can't believe the state news agency who can you believe?
that an "armed terrorist" group blew up an oil pipeline in Syria's eastern province of Deir al-Zor, near the border with Iraq, on Saturday.

"An armed terrorist group detonated an improvised bomb on a oil line near Abu Hammam, in the province of Deir al-Zor, which led to a fire," SANA said, giving no more details.
Posted by: trailing wife || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Rocket Fired from Gaza Hits Southern Israel
[An Nahar] Paleostinian snuffies in the Gazoo Strip fired a rocket which hit southern Israel on Sunday, without causing casualties, Israeli police said.

"There was one rocket that was fired into the southern region, it landed in an open area causing no damage and no injuries," police front man Micky Rosenfeld told Agence La Belle France Presse.

Last month, a series of Israeli air strikes and Paleostinian rocket salvoes followed Israel's killing of a Gazoo bully boy leader.

Paleostinians in Gazoo fired more than 310 rockets at Israel whose warplanes carried out dozens of air strikes, killing 25 people, among them 14 members of bully boy group Islamic Jihad
...created after many members of the Egyptian Mohammedan Brotherhood decided the organization was becoming too moderate. Operations were conducted out of Egypt until 1981 when the group was exiled after the liquidation of President Anwar Sadat. They worked out of Gaza until they were exiled to Lebanon in 1987, where they clove tightly to Hezbollah. In 1989 they moved to Damascus, where they remain a subsidiary of Hezbollah...
.
Posted by: Fred || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Hamas

#1  At least they hit the right country this time..
Posted by: trailing wife || 04/23/2012 17:01 Comments || Top||

#2  too bad
Posted by: Barbara || 04/23/2012 19:00 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Mali group ready to free Swiss hostage: security source
[Daily Nation (Kenya)] A Swiss woman kidnapped last week in rebel-held Timbuktu in northern Mali has been snatched from her captors by armed Islamists who want to free her, several security sources said Sunday.
The Ransom of Red Chief comes to mind, for some reason...
"On Saturday two gangs clashed in the Timbuktu region over the Swiss hostage. One group was detaining her and the other wanted to free her," said a security source, based in a country neighbouring Mali.

A separate security source inside Timbuktu said the woman, Beatrice Stockly, had orginally been in the hands of "a private militia that had planned to re-sell her to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)."

Two sources in Timbuktu, speaking on condition of anonymity
... for fear of being murdered...
, said it was the Islamist group Ansar Dine who had battled the kidnappers for Stockly, and having successfuly seized her, were prepared to free her.

Stockly is in her 40s and was snatched last week in Timbuktu which fell into the hands of different gangs after a coup in the south allowed rebels to capture the country's vast north.

She was the last westerner still living there, having refused to leave after the Ansar Dine Islamist movement, with the help of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), took control of the city on April 1.

Since seizing the fabled city, Ansar Dine has set about implementing sharia law.

AQIM, which has bases in the north of Mali, operates across the Sahel region
... North Africa's answer to the Pak tribal areas...
and is currently holding several European hostages.
Posted by: Fred || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in North Africa


China-Japan-Koreas
Obama briefed on Heywood murder in China
The death in China of Neil Heywood, the British businessman, took on a series of dramatic twists yesterday as it was disclosed that President Barack Obama was taking personal interest in the alleged murder. Mr Obama was informed of suspicions over Mr Heywood’s death within hours of a Chinese police chief walking into an American consulate and telling officials that the Briton was murdered.

Mr Obama was briefed immediately on the suspected poisoning of the 41 year-old, which Chinese officials are linking to Mr Heywood’s powerful political allies, when American diplomats were told of the murder allegation.

Gu Kailai, Mr Heywood’s former business partner and the wife of Bo Xilai, a senior politician who had been tipped for the highest political office, is suspected of ordering the Briton’s murder in a case at the centre of a political storm in China. The couple have disappeared from sight as the Communist Party attempts to regain stability.
Much more at the link, including a basic primer on the events surrounding the murder and a lot of information about the Gu family, one of the 'princes' running China today. This was no ordinary murder, and the disclosure that Champ is being briefed suggests strongly that there's something to all the rumors about very high level political unrest -- and perhaps a coup attempt -- in Beijing. Definitely worth watching.
Posted by: Steve White || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "President Obama was taking a personal interest in the case" > YYYEEEEUUUUPPP, I'm pretty sure he very well is.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 04/23/2012 23:57 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Five preachers gunned down in Allai
[Dawn] Five persons were killed and another four suffered critical injuries when a member of Tableeghi Jamaat opened firing on his associates and local residents in Pashto area of Allai on Saturday.

"In this unfortunate incident five members of Tableeghi Jamaat have been killed and another four injured after their colleague opened firing on them," said Ghulam Hussain, the Battagram District Police Officer, while talking to mediapersons.

A group of Tableeghi Jamaat from Tank was on a preaching mission in a mosque in Pashto area when one of its members identified as Rizwanullah opened firing on his colleagues after snatching a Kalashnikov from a local man, killing five of them on the spot and leaving four others injured.The dear departed were identified as Ahmadullah of Bannu, Jahangir and Mir Ali of Lakki Marwat, Fazalur Rehman of Pashto area and Subz Ali of Tank.

The injured included Ibrar, Shahbahan, Wali Mohammad and Sher Baz, who were taken to Allai hospital and then referred to district headquarters hospital in Battagram.

The Battagram DCO said that the assailant had been placed in durance vile and police were investigating the real motive behind the incident. He added that someone had told him that the assailant was insane. "It is a sensitive issue and we would investigate it thoroughly to know the real cause behind the killings." The Allai police after registering FIR against the accused started investigation.
Posted by: Fred || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Tablighi Jamaat

#1  someone had told him that the assailant was insane
He probably thought the ones that he killed were crazier than he was.
Probably right too.
A group of ten crazy mullahs undertaking missionary work would be a sight to behold.
Posted by: tipper || 04/23/2012 1:46 Comments || Top||


Britain
Kuwaiti official tasered after urinating on Blair's doorstep
A Kuwaiti government official was tasered by police officers after he was discovered urinating outside the home of Tony Blair.

Diplomatic protection officers encountered the Arabic man as they patroled outside Blair's townhouse in London during the early hours. When they asked the man, who seemed to be drunk, to stop urinating he allegedly wouldn't cooperate and a scuffle broke out.

Officers eventually used the taser in order to place the suspect, who spoke little English, under arrest. However the man collapsed and was taken to hospital, where it emerged he was a Kuwaiti government official, Ayedh Alrashidi.

Described by associates as a "wealthy and peaceful man", he had been staying with friends in an apartment close to Blair's townhouse.

Following the incident, which happened last September, he was at first charged with being drunk and disorderly and assaulting a police officer, but was eventually bound over to keep the peace for 12 months following an agreement between his lawyers and the Crown Prosecution Service.

According to his lawyers, Alrashidi, was very concerned about his treatment by the police and considered taking the matter further. However he later returned to Kuwait having decided not to pursue the matter.
A wise decision. The police prob'ly have photos and video...and he clearly wasn't sober enough to know what else they show.
Posted by: ryuge || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Have you ever tried to shut off the flow when you really, really had to pee? They should have let him finish as he could do no more harm than he had already.
Posted by: tipover || 04/23/2012 0:14 Comments || Top||

#2  That's what the Taser was all about, tipover. They were just trying to help him out of a difficult situation.
Posted by: gorb || 04/23/2012 0:19 Comments || Top||

#3  I presume urine is a decent conductor of electricity, especially at Taser-ish voltages. No, let's not even speculate...
Posted by: SteveS || 04/23/2012 0:33 Comments || Top||

#4  Not to be outdone by the Kuwaiti Govt. ...

* BHARAT RAKSHAK > PAKISTANI MILITANT HAFIZ SAEED SEEKS [Court-legal] PROTECTION FROM [US, Internat]BOUNTY HUNTERS.

[DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER here].

OH THE POI-MANITY, wid Sunglasses!
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 04/23/2012 2:21 Comments || Top||

#5  > The police prob'ly have photos and video

Probably? They probably have him on around 10 cameras.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 04/23/2012 7:05 Comments || Top||

#6  He got off lighter than this guy.
Posted by: tipper || 04/23/2012 15:11 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Insanity: 'Flytilla' organizers eye future fly-ins
La Belle France-based pro-Paleostinian group says organizers aim to make small protest fly-ins a monthly occurrence
"Pay attention to meeeeee!"
The organizers of the pro-Paleostinian "flytilla" protest said Saturday that they are planning at least two more such fly-ins.
The previous ones were so unsuccessful, so of course it merits repeating...
Last week's fly-in into Israel, which organizers said would see 1,500 activists arrive in Ben Gurion International Airport en route to Bethlehem, ended with only several dozens actually arriving.
 
Israel refused entry to the majority of activists and many were deported. Eventually, only a handful of protesters arrived in the West Bank.
 
"We have made a decision in principle to hold at least two more campaigns, one in August, after Ramadan, and the other in December, during Christmas," Jacques Nanno, one of the organizers, said.
 
Nanno said that the La Belle France-based group of pro-Paleostinian activists will announce the official dates for the next "flytillas" over the next few weeks.
 
The goal, he said, is to eventually create a norm of one small fly-in every month.
 
"The French suggestion is to aim for a smaller scale," he said. "We don't have to be 1,500 people every time -- 100 people can do it, too."
 
The "Welcome to Paleostine" endeavor came to its official end on Friday, in a joint presser held by the activists and the Paleostinian organizers in Bethlehem.
 
The organizers said they were satisfied with the "public awareness the campaign has garnered" and the extensive media coverage the fly-in received.
 
"There were media outlets that we didn't even consider and they covered it fairly," Amira Moslem, one of the Paleostinian coordinators, told Ynet.
 
"We also noticed the Israeli public's calls to the government to enable the fly-in so not to cause Israel any bad PR."
Posted by: trailing wife || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  No thoughts about the attendant carbon footprint?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 04/23/2012 2:29 Comments || Top||

#2  So who is bankrolling all these tickets? It is not frequent flyer miles. Follow the money.
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 04/23/2012 13:48 Comments || Top||

#3  I'm tellin' ya - take away their passports and dump them in the Gaza strip.

Enjoy your stay in "Palestine", ya twits.
Posted by: mojo || 04/23/2012 15:25 Comments || Top||

#4  They don't follow the money and kill the rich people in the Middle east supporting those killing our troops why would they do it here?
Posted by: Fleregum Brown8251 || 04/23/2012 18:25 Comments || Top||

#5  Cancel their flights and keep the money.
Posted by: gorb || 04/23/2012 22:38 Comments || Top||


Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Kazakh court sends 47 men to prison for terrorism
A closed court in Kazakhstan has sent 47 men to prison for two bomb attacks last year linked to an increasingly prominent Islamic extremist group.

The convicted men were given prison sentences of between five and 15 years for links to the bomb attacks against government buildings in October in the western oil town of Atyrau, Kazakh media reported, after one of the biggest terrorism trials in Kazakhstan's 20-year post-Soviet history ended on Wednesday.

Last year, a series of attacks linked to Islamic extremists challenged Kazakhstan's reputation for stability and infuriated Nursultan Nazarbayev, its 71-year-old president. Mr Nazarbayev blamed extremist foreign preachers and the internet for spreading banned literature and videos which radicalised young Kazakh men.

In response, Kazakhstan introduced laws which allowed more surveillance of the internet and a cut back on religious freedom.

The main Islamic extremist group to emerge last year was the previously unknown Jund al-Khilafah. The group, which is reportedly based on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and whose name in Arabic means Soldiers of the Caliphate, claimed a handful of attacks in Kazakhstan against government buildings last year in retaliation for the crackdown on Muslims.

More recently, Jund al-Khilafah said it had trained Mohamed Merah, the French-Algerian killed by police in March after he had shot dead three paratroopers, a rabbi and three Jewish children.
This article starring:
Mohamed Merah
Posted by: Steve White || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


India-Pakistan
Militants blow up clinic and two schools in KP
[Dawn] Unknown forces of Evil in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central...
blew up two schools and a clinic in separate attacks on Sunday morning, DawnNews reported.
Over there that's why they build 'em.
According to police sources forces of Evil blew up a Government Primary school in Beautiful Downtown Peshawar's Matra area.

One room of the school was damaged by the kaboom. Bomb disposal squad reached the area and diffused another IED planted in the vicinity.

Another school was blown up by forces of Evil in Dera Ismail Khan
... the Pearl of Pashtunistan ...

No loss of life was reported in either incident as schools are closed on Sunday.

A private clinic was blown up by forces of Evil in Budh Bher area of Peshawar.
Posted by: Fred || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: TTP

#1  Uh, uh, THE HARD BOYZ HATE PENICILLIN + "THE LITTLE TRAIN THAT COULD" - WHO KNEW???

gut nuthin.

Posted by: JosephMendiola || 04/23/2012 0:24 Comments || Top||


143 Bannu jail escapees back to prison
[Dawn] Efforts are under way to capture the prisoners who beat feet in last weeks Taliban-orchestrated jailbreak in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central...
's southern district of Bannu, DawnNews reported.

Provincial Home Secretary Azam Khan while talking to Voice of America, said that out of 384 prisoners who had decamped 108 have voluntarily returned while 35 others had been placed in durance vile.

He added that four teams had been constituted to ensure the capture of all the beat feet detainees whereas the authorities in Bannu in this regards, contacted the law enforcement agencies and authorities of various districts and tribal areas via the provincial government.

In what is described as the biggest jail-break in the country's history, over 100 cut-throats stormed the central prison in Banu on April 16 and freed 384 prisoners, among them a man sentenced to death for trying to assassinate former president Pervez Perv Musharraf
... former dictator of Pakistain, who was less dictatorial and corrupt than any Pak civilian government to date ...
.
Posted by: Fred || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Maoists kidnap govt official in central India
[Dawn] Maoist rebels in India have taken a government official hostage and killed his two bodyguards in the central state of Chhattisgarh, police said Sunday, in the latest of a series of kidnappings.

The guerrillas shot the two guards dead when capturing Alex Paul Menon on Saturday as he toured a village in Sukma district, 320 kilometres from the state capital Raipur, police said.

Menon, 32, is Sukma's district collector, a role that makes him the most senior civil servant in the area.

"It is a very unfortunate incident, and the government will do everything to secure the release of the collector," Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh told news hounds.

Menon's kidnapping comes 10 days after Maoists in the neighbouring state of Orissa released an Italian tour guide whom they had held hostage for nearly a month.

A state assembly politician also remains in captivity after being kidnapped in Orissa last month.

The Maoists have in the past kidnapped government officials and coppers to raise ransom payments and negotiate other demands.

Most hostages have been released unharmed, but some have been killed.

Chhattisgarh is one of several states where Maoist guerrillas, who claim to be fighting for the rights of poor tribals and farmers, have waged a decades-long battle to overthrow state and national authorities.

The government describes the Maoist movement, which often targets police and soldiers with deadly roadside mine ambushes, as India's biggest internal security threat.

The insurgency, which began in 1967, feeds off land disputes, police brutality and corruption, and is strongest in the poorest and most deprived areas of India, many of which are rich in natural resources.
Posted by: Fred || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Commies


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Backgrounder: Al Qaeda-inspired groups in Gaza
From the end of last year, but still useful.
Israeli forces killed a leader of a Salafi faction in the Gazoo Strip on Friday, the second such strike on Paleostinian faceless myrmidons with al Qaeda ties this week.

Here are some facts about the constellation of ultra-conservative Islamists known as Salafis, who have challenged Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason,' rule in the isolated enclave.

Groups

-- Jaysh al-Islam (the Army of Islam) is closely linked to Gazoo's powerful Doghmush clan, which worked with Hamas to capture Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in 2006 but broke with it over the Doghmushes' four-month kidnap of a BBC journalist in 2007.

-- Tawheed and Jihad (One God and Holy War), linked by Gazook sources to the obscure "Jihadist Salafi" group, that in April kidnapped and killed a pro-Paleostinian activist from Italia, Vittorio Arrigoni. Tawheed and Jihad also praised an August attack by infiltrators that killed eight Israelis on the Egyptian border. Israel blamed that raid on the Paleostinian cut-thoat faction Popular Resistance Committees, killing five of its members in retaliation. The PRC denied involvement.

-- Ansar al-Sunna (Followers of al-Sunna, the words and deeds of the Prophet Mohammad), which carried out a lethal rocket attack on Israel last year and whose name had been used by, among others, al Qaeda-allied Sunni gunnies in Iraq.

-- Jund Ansar Allah (Warriors of God), which raided an Israeli border post on horseback.

-- Jaysh al-Ummah (Army of the Moslem Nation), whose leader, Abu Hafs, was jugged by Hamas.

-- Jaljalat (Rallying Cry), which includes former Hamas members and is suspected of bombing several Internet cafes as part of its especially hard line against Paleostinian "apostates".

How do Salafis differ from Hamas Islamists?

-- The Salafis, whose diffuse networks may be designed to evade Hamas crackdowns, share the goal of fighting Western powers and founding a purist Islamic state across the Middle East. Though Hamas echoes al Qaeda's calls to destroy Israel, its ambitions are framed within Paleostinian nationalism and include political accommodation with secular rivals and a possible truce with the militarily superior Israel. Hamas has refrained from imposing sweeping Islamic law since taking over Gazoo in 2007 and has condemned al Qaeda attacks abroad.

-- Membership of the Salafi groups appears to number in the hundreds but with potentially thousands of supporters among Gazoo's 1.5 million population. They have been reinforced by volunteers who slip in through the neighboring Egyptian Sinai, where security has eroded amid political upheaval in Cairo.

-- Hamas, which won a parliamentary election in 2006, has some 25,000 men under arms in Gazoo. There has been disillusion with its rule and an Israeli-led embargo which has ravaged the economy. Hamas has been publicly tolerant of Salafis, saying they are misguided and offering them "re-education". But in practice it has often tried to rein in Salafists
...Salafists are ostentatiously devout Moslems who figure the ostentation of their piety gives them the right to tell others how to do it and to kill those who don't listen to them...
intent on provoking Israel with cross-border attacks or violently undermining Hamas authority. In the bloodiest confrontation, Hamas forces stormed a mosque in the southern border town of Rafah in August 2009 after a Jund Ansar Allah preacher and leader, Abdel-Latif Moussa, publicly declared Gazoo to be an Islamic emirate.

-- Among other Salafi complaints about Hamas are its tolerance of Gazoo's 3,000-strong Christian community and the backing Hamas receives from Shi'ite Iran. Most Paleostinians, including Hamas members, are Sunnis. Salafis are also blamed for attacks on people and groups they see as defying religion, including Internet cafes.
Posted by: trailing wife || 04/23/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "...Salafists are ostentatiously devout Moslems who figure the ostentation of their piety gives them the right to tell others how to do it and to kill those who don't listen to them.."

actually, their piety gives them not just a right, but a duty to tell others; and not just to tell others but to force others how to do it
Posted by: lord garth || 04/23/2012 0:39 Comments || Top||

#2  And, as long as they do a lot of killing, Allan will forgive them some lapses in (other aspects) of piety.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 04/23/2012 2:28 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.

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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.
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Two weeks of WOT
Mon 2012-04-23
  Kazakh court sends 47 men to prison for terrorism
Sun 2012-04-22
  Tons of Explosives Seized from Militants Planning Attack in Kabul
Sat 2012-04-21
  Sudan Rebels Kill 79 Troops, Militia in Blue Nile
Fri 2012-04-20
  8 die in Michoacan state as conflict goes hot
Thu 2012-04-19
  Qaeda leader suicide bombs himself and family in Iraq
Wed 2012-04-18
  Hadi Refuses to receive Former Yemen President
Tue 2012-04-17
  UN Camp in South Sudan Targeted by Sudanese Warplanes
Mon 2012-04-16
  US drone strike kills senior al-Qaeda Militant in Yemen
Sun 2012-04-15
  Afghan capital hit by blasts, gun attack
Sat 2012-04-14
  U.S. drone strike kills 7 al-Qaeda members in Yemen
Fri 2012-04-13
  23 Reportedly Dead as Syria Regime, Opposition Trade Charges of Breaking Ceasefire
Thu 2012-04-12
  Nork rocket launched, then 'breaks up'
Wed 2012-04-11
  Syria denounced for not adhereing to agreed peace plan
Tue 2012-04-10
  Syrian Rebel Army Ready to Respect Truce
Mon 2012-04-09
  84 Dead, 200 Arrested as Violence Rages across Syria

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