Hi there, !
Today Sat 05/26/2018 Fri 05/25/2018 Thu 05/24/2018 Wed 05/23/2018 Tue 05/22/2018 Mon 05/21/2018 Sun 05/20/2018 Archives
Rantburg
532934 articles and 1859805 comments are archived on Rantburg.

Today: 72 articles and 174 comments as of 15:45.
Post a news link    Post your own article   
Area: WoT Operations    WoT Background    Non-WoT        Politix    Main Page
Iraq arrests a senior Islamic State executioner in Kirkuk
Today's Headlines
Headline Comments [Views]
17:59 0 [1]
17:46 0 [2]
13:13 1 14:39 Frank G [1]
13:06 2 15:42 lord garth []
12:41 3 22:44 Glenmore [1]
12:06 0 [] 
08:55 9 15:02 swksvolFF []
08:34 10 17:31 Eltoroverde [3]
06:13 0 []
06:04 0 []
05:17 5 13:30 M. Murcek [1]
03:57 0 []
01:50 0 [3]
00:00 10 14:52 rjschwarz []
00:00 5 23:31 CrazyFool [1]
00:00 5 11:47 JohnQC []
00:00 4 09:27 JohnQC [2] 
00:00 4 13:12 Bag Balm []
00:00 9 11:28 Skidmark [1]
00:00 1 07:25 Procopius2k []
00:00 7 12:25 Mullah Richard [5]
00:00 2 10:06 Raj [5]
00:00 3 06:40 Besoeker []
00:00 0 []
00:00 6 10:12 Charles [1]
00:00 5 10:19 Charles [2]
00:00 2 10:23 Frank G []
00:00 2 09:46 Bright Pebbles [1]
00:00 1 07:01 Besoeker []
00:00 0 []
00:00 0 []
00:00 3 11:38 AlmostAnonymous5839 []
00:00 0 [1]
00:00 0 [3]
00:00 0 []
00:00 0 []
00:00 0 [4]
00:00 2 13:19 Skidmark [1]
00:00 0 []
00:00 3 08:18 Whavick Spereling4976 [1]
00:00 0 []
00:00 0 []
00:00 5 22:14 Zenobia Floger6220 []
00:00 1 04:33 g(r)omgoru []
00:00 5 08:20 Whavick Spereling4976 [1]
00:00 2 14:17 746 [1]
00:00 0 []
00:00 0 [3]
00:00 6 13:17 Skidmark [4]
00:00 1 01:06 newc []
00:00 0 [4]
00:00 0 []
00:00 0 [5]
00:00 0 [7]
00:00 4 12:26 Mullah Richard [] 
00:00 0 []
00:00 2 11:14 Skidmark [3]
00:00 1 05:35 Skidmark []
00:00 6 16:36 bub [5]
00:00 1 04:30 g(r)omgoru []
00:00 7 10:36 Bright Pebbles []
00:00 1 01:48 newc []
00:00 12 16:11 AlmostAnonymous5839 [1]
00:00 1 22:37 Anomalous Sources []
00:00 1 08:07 Whavick Spereling4976 [1]
00:00 1 13:23 Skidmark [5]
00:00 0 [7]
00:00 0 []
00:00 0 [1]
00:00 2 12:52 jpal []
00:00 9 11:12 Snoluting Phomoth8901 []
00:00 2 11:09 Skidmark [1]
Government
Sources: FBI Agents Want Congress To Issue Them Subpoenas So They Can Reveal The Bureau's Dirt
h/t Instapundit
...The subpoenas are desired by the FBI agents because it requires Congress to pay for their legal fees and protects them from agency retribution.

Many agents in the FBI want Congress to subpoena them so they can reveal problems caused by former FBI Director James Comey and former Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe, three people in direct contact with active field agents tell TheDC.

"There are agents all over this country who love the bureau and are sickened by [James] Comey’s behavior and [Andrew] McCabe and [Eric] Holder and [Loretta] Lynch and the thugs like [John] Brennan‐who despise the fact that the bureau was used as a tool of political intelligence by the Obama administration thugs," former federal prosecutor Joe DiGenova told The Daily Caller Tuesday. "They are just waiting for a chance to come forward and testify."
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 05/23/2018 17:59 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:


Home Front: Culture Wars
Rough Social Justice at Evergreen State
h/t Instapundit
Here’s the math behind an academic hemorrhage: Between 500 and 600 fewer students will attend Evergreen State College next fall than in 2017, according to internal estimates. That means projected full-time enrollment is down as much as 17% from 3,500 last fall.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 05/23/2018 17:46 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [2 views] Top|| File under:


Trump demands housecleaning on White House communications team
Posted by: Skidmark || 05/23/2018 13:13 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  About time. Fire the leakers
Posted by: Frank G || 05/23/2018 14:39 Comments || Top||


The Grand Turk
Turkey central bank silent as lira 'freefall' intensifies
Turkey's embattled lira on Wednesday lost over three percent in value to hit new historic lows against the US dollar, but there was no word from the central bank of any emergency action to buttress the currency.

Following sharp losses on Tuesday, the lira continued to underperform all other emerging market currencies, after suffering a hammering in Asian trade overnight when Japanese investors sold Turkish assets.

It lost 3.3 percent against the dollar to trade at 4.82, only slightly paring losses after earlier for the first time ever testing the 5.0 ceiling by hitting 4.92 lira to the dollar.

Over the last month alone, the lira has lost over 18 percent in value against the dollar as fears grow over the health of the Turkish economy which is dogged by double-digit inflation despite high growth.

Its performance has been even worse than the Argentine peso which has also suffered severe turbulence over the last month.

The sharp fall in the currency's value has come at a hugely sensitive time as Turkey heads to June 24 presidential and parliamentary elections where President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is seeking a new mandate and a thumping parliamentary majority.
Posted by: Frank G || 05/23/2018 13:06 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Sublime Porte

#1  The chinese will buoy it back by selling US.
Posted by: Skidmark || 05/23/2018 13:20 Comments || Top||

#2  Turkey's central bank raised the short term rate from 13.5% to 16.5% a few hours ago. This has stabilized the Turkish Lira --- for now.

This will hold it for a while but they have some basic problems e.g., inflation above 10% for the past 18 months, budget deficit, growth in external debt,
Posted by: lord garth || 05/23/2018 15:42 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Culture Wars
NFL owners approve new national anthem policy requiring players and personnel to stand
Posted by: DarthVader || 05/23/2018 12:41 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  But they can hide in the locker room until after the anthem is played.

Too little, too late guys.
Posted by: DarthVader || 05/23/2018 12:44 Comments || Top||

#2  My "NFL Players make me gag" moment was an early season Sunday Night telecast (ESPN, naturally...) showing 4-to-6 Raiders players sprawled on the benches during the Anthem talking and laughing. The same people that want R-E-S-P-E-C-T ..... !?!
Posted by: magpie || 05/23/2018 13:44 Comments || Top||

#3  Too late. I've kicked the habit.
Posted by: Glenmore || 05/23/2018 22:44 Comments || Top||


-Land of the Free
Tinker, Tailor, Clapper, Carter, Downer, Halper, Spy
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 05/23/2018 12:06 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


Amazon should stop selling facial recognition software to police, ACLU and other rights groups say
Posted by: JohnQC || 05/23/2018 08:55 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Sure... they'll get right on that.
Posted by: DarthVader || 05/23/2018 10:09 Comments || Top||

#2  So we can buy the Chinese version, complete with backdoors, in five years...? Idiots, all of the animals escaped the barn on that issue a long time ago.
Posted by: magpie || 05/23/2018 10:20 Comments || Top||

#3  Here they are again, trying to dictate what private businesses should or should not sell, in case anyone thought they would stick to just the firearm issue.

Stupid on a number of levels. Mentioned, this barn done burned down, foundation broken up, and grass planted years ago. That goofy ap where people put dogs noses and crap on their live-chat? Facial recognition. Hell, there is an ad where facial recognition is a selling point as it unlocks the security.

Amazon is a bazaar, not a product. Honestly, why a police force would go through Amazon for FRS instead of dealing straight with the company (installation, technical advice, training) is beyond me.

FRS is going to follow the same trend, if not faster, as security camera hardware - the market will continue to grow competition and increase in quality while the price point/options will decrease to where even small businesses with a shoplifting problem will be able to evaluate FRS as a theft prevention option.
*Dude just lifted $200 some dollars of product. Uploads face info to database. 'This is Dirk McStickfingers. Lives at such and such. Age, weight, record. Ah, violent offender charges to consider. Would you like to upload video to DA's office? Yup. Would you like AutoConfirm when entering store? Yup, put a pin on him. Dirk comes back in. System sends a ping to employees/loss prevention/security: McStickfingers Door 1 to aisle C Red Flag Caution.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 05/23/2018 13:05 Comments || Top||

#4  Technology marches on. Spare processing power. Spare storage to store images. Spare bandwidth to actually have images to process. The concept was there decades ago and the technology is here now -- stop clutching your pearls and get off of the fainting couch.
Posted by: magpie || 05/23/2018 13:27 Comments || Top||

#5  More importantly -- is your cell-phone actively spying on you this very moment? Wi-Fi + Microphone + GPS + Software controlled device.... hmmm, and you are worried that some CCTV might be spying on you?
The barn is empty, folks, the best thing is to decide on an adaptive strategy.
Posted by: magpie || 05/23/2018 13:33 Comments || Top||

#6  Nation without walls, magpie.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 05/23/2018 13:58 Comments || Top||

#7  Actually I was thinking of Mack Reynold's Mercenary From Tomorrow(1968),
All Citizens were required to carry a pocket communicator on their persons. At home they had small copper-lined boxes (Faraday Cages, eh?) that they put them in...
Posted by: magpie || 05/23/2018 14:02 Comments || Top||

#8  Well, in Drake's there are no copper-lined boxes - you are under surveillance 24/7
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 05/23/2018 14:09 Comments || Top||

#9  Tell me the technology isn't there where a couple of those real nice cameras they used to photograph all the attendees at a super bowl, and you could look up individuals by entering their seat number, couldn't be interconnected and have a patrolman in virtual 3D space almost live-patrol an area, with names, little markers popping up on potential people of interest. "Hmm, this guy is acting strange, computer position me at first contact, play 3x speed. *follows* *suspect places backpack down, leaves* Computer mark this subject, pinpoint current location, dispatch 2 security medium awareness possible bomb. Dispatch plain cloth to inspect backpack at this location. Backpack looks full, computer show dimensions of backpack. *shows* Yeah, right shape, right size for a pressure cooker. Computer, send bomb tech to assist plain clothes."

ACLU worried about FRS; should be, if they were true to their charter and not a bag of tools, is the harvesting of information gathered from around a household - PEDs and phones with at least audio, smart TVs with the built-in skype, computers as well, plus whatever potential bugging devices can be inserted into a home. Maybe got a good floor plan with furniture if a roomba. Sinc all that up using location, direction, and timestamp and one could do a virtual search and eavesdrop.

From: Smart Thermostat Control
To: 'You'
Subject: Victory Power Saving Act
Dear 'You',
Remote monitors noticed your thermostat was set for below 75 degrees on a 95 degree rated day, placing your usage 5 degrees outside of the acceptable standard during 09:00 to 17:00 initiating a safety inspection. After conducting a virtual search of your home it is concluding nobody is at the dwelling.

Therefore your AC has been disabled until after the Brownout Flag is lowered. Your account has charged for the extra usage plus a $20 processing charge.

Please click here to enroll in our auto-adjust program where we will keep your thermostat withing current legal perimeters, eliminating costly mistakes. For safety reasons, we will ring the occupancy buzzer and/or perform a virtual search for residents before making adjustments.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 05/23/2018 15:02 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Culture Wars
Customers Rage As Starbucks Turns Into Homeless Shelter
Death of a company?
[Zero Hedge] - Starbucks' controversial decision to enable every Tom, Dick, and non-paying Harry to use their restrooms has sparked equal parts criticism and praise, mirroring the nation's increasingly extreme partisan perspective on every- and any-thing...

"It sounds like Starbucks is turning their stores into homeless shelters. Their coffee is strong but their management is weak," said Ron Raduechel, a 64-year-old retired supply chain executive from Waukesha, Wis., who said he would no longer go to Starbucks.

...

"I believe Starbucks is doing what’s right in their hearts whether its outcome sparks negativity or not," said Johnny Varela, a 31-year-old carpenter in Orlando, Fla.

"I think Starbucks is very humanitarian."
Humanitarian, maybe; business savvy, not so much.
Posted by: Raj || 05/23/2018 08:34 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Starbucks - White People's Coffee
Posted by: Omerert Gurly-Brown9624 || 05/23/2018 9:03 Comments || Top||

#2  Oooops, that was me
Posted by: Procopius2k || 05/23/2018 9:04 Comments || Top||

#3  Go Woke, go broke - it's a lousy coffee anyway.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 05/23/2018 9:27 Comments || Top||

#4  Starbucks- the feminist coffee shop
Posted by: DarthVader || 05/23/2018 9:27 Comments || Top||

#5  I'm sure their shareholders just *love* this!
Posted by: CrazyFool || 05/23/2018 10:11 Comments || Top||

#6  Well, hard to sell coffee when you don't know which homeless person pissed in it before being handed to you.
Posted by: Charles || 05/23/2018 10:17 Comments || Top||

#7  Bowing to entitlement dictates only works for the federal gov't. All other efforts end in kak.
Posted by: Besoeker || 05/23/2018 10:36 Comments || Top||

#8  Remember what Hep-C did for Chili's...
Posted by: M. Murcek || 05/23/2018 11:06 Comments || Top||

#9  Probably already memed by millions, but whatever: STARBUGS! Way to go, geniuses, leapfrogging ahead of the public library in the "places you wouldn't think of sitting down in" sweepstakes. Shoot, I'm tempted to start patronizing 'em just to do some theatrical scratching and sniffing meself. Mabye demand some reparations or a free rugelach or something, even.
Posted by: Zenobia Floger6220 || 05/23/2018 12:34 Comments || Top||

#10  Starf*cks deserves everything they have coming to them and more.

Learning the hard way is never fun; but it is effective.
Posted by: Eltoroverde || 05/23/2018 17:31 Comments || Top||


-Short Attention Span Theater-
Texas deputy grabs runaway 'bull by the horns,' escorts it home
Posted by: Skidmark || 05/23/2018 06:13 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


-Obits-
actor Clint Walker dies at 91
Posted by: Skidmark || 05/23/2018 06:04 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


Home Front: Culture Wars
Georgetown Students Host Community Dialogue on Racism, Ask White Allies Not to Attend
[Reason] Student-activists at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., recently hosted a community dialogue on racism. White students—even those who consider themselves "allies" to the cause—were asked not to attend, out of concern their mere presence would make students of color feel unsafe.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 05/23/2018 05:17 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Will land and property seizure without compensation be on the agenda ?
Posted by: Besoeker || 05/23/2018 6:56 Comments || Top||

#2  Institutions of 'higher learning' are not.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 05/23/2018 7:21 Comments || Top||

#3  Some 'community dialogue'.
Posted by: Raj || 05/23/2018 8:20 Comments || Top||

#4  Sometimes, for entertainment, I do a little text substitution on the headlines of the day. For example:
Georgetown students host rally, ask black people not to attend because the participants would not feel safe.
And then I laff and laff and laff as imaginary heads explode.

Can we assume for operational purposes that the old "judged by their character and not the color of their skin" thing is no longer in play?
Posted by: SteveS || 05/23/2018 11:16 Comments || Top||

#5  We are at the point where voluntary (and SJW enforced) segregation is on the rise. Is it rayciss for me to want to self-segregate also to avoid a rayciss incident? Or is that in itself recursively rayciss? My head hurts...
Posted by: M. Murcek || 05/23/2018 13:30 Comments || Top||


-Obits-
Philip Roth, fearless and celebrated author, dies at 85
Posted by: Skidmark || 05/23/2018 03:57 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


-Land of the Free
Texans Are Sending In Navy Seals to Take Over Congress


[Breitbart] The establishment wing 0f the Republican Party was dealt another serious set of blows on Tuesday as candidates from the grassroots anti-establishment wing, especially in Texas but also in Georgia, emerged victorious in another set of key primary and runoff races.

In the 21st congressional district of Texas in particular, the former chief of staff to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and an anti-establishment crusader Chip Roy cruised to victory over the Washington establishment-backed Matt McCall in the primary runoff. Roy is heavily favored to win in November, and is expected to quickly become a fighter against the establishment as soon as he gets to the Capitol.

"Absolutely, without reservation," Roy replied when asked on Breitbart News Saturday on SiriusXM 125 the Patriot Channel last weekend if he would join the Freedom Caucus when he wins. "I’m proud to be endorsed by Jim Jordan and Mark Meadows in the House and Louie Gohmert and other members of the Freedom Caucus. I’m just unequivocally supportive of what they’ve been doing and would be proud to join with them."

Part of the reason Roy’s victory is so significant is that he will, assuming he wins in the heavily GOP-favored race in November, replace retiring House Science Committee chairman Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX). While Smith is a solid conservative who is firmly in line with conservative policies on basically every issue, stylistically he is not a rabble-rouser who causes problems for the establishment wing of the party. In other words, conservatives in the Freedom Caucus have flipped this district their way in the intra-party war‐getting a committee chairman’s seat, and turning it into a Freedom Caucus seat.

Roy’s victory was hardly the only anti-establishment win on Tuesday. In the second district of Texas, the fiercely anti-establishment Dan Crenshaw crushed his establishment-backed opponent. Crenshaw, who similarly is favored to win easily in November, is a retired Navy SEAL Lieutenant Commander who literally lost his eye fighting terrorists.

Crenshaw was backed by members of the Texas Freedom Caucus, which is reportedly in some cases even more hardcore than its national U.S. House counterpart. Crenshaw is the odds-on favorite to win against the Democrat in November and will replace outgoing Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX), who abandoned his slot in the Freedom Caucus during the healthcare debate at the beginning of this Congress. The establishment Poe’s abandonment is seen as some kind of win against conservatives, but the joke’s on the establishment now, because Crenshaw is expected to join the rowdy conservative outsiders’ group upon his swearing in‐and what a pickup this is for Meadows’ team: a Navy SEAL who lost his eye battling terrorists and sports a pretty badass-looking eyepatch.

That’s not all: Conservatives are very excited about two more wins in Texas, as well. Michael Cloud’s victory in the 27th district of Texas is being widely hailed by outsiders on Tuesday evening, as is the win by Ron Wright in Texas’s sixth congressional district. Both are expected to join the House Freedom Caucus when they arrive in Washington.
Posted by: Ulaigum Ebbineng7056 || 05/23/2018 01:50 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [3 views] Top|| File under:


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
The fight for control of Syria’s oil-rich Deir ez-Zor
[Rudaw] DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria ‐ In Syria’s eastern oil-rich Deir ez-Zor province, where ISIS is putting up a last stand in the middle Euphrates River valley area on the border with Iraq, forces from the SDF and those loyal to the regime in Damascus compete for territory.

"All the oilfields are here. This place is very rich, which is why they want this area. They wouldn’t come here if there was no oil here because they don’t care about the people," SDF commander Abu Arab told Rudaw.

The centre of Deir ez-Zor is controlled by Syrian government forces. The surrounding areas that are home to oilfields are under the control of the SDF.

ISIS snuffies still have access to several routes where they can cross back and forth between Iraq and Syria.

It is a dangerous area.

The SDF have formed a special force of 250 local Arabs to protect the oil fields and newly liberated areas.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [4 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State


India-Pakistan
PTI’s Naeemul Haque loses his cool during TV show, ‘slaps’ Daniyal Aziz
[DAWN] Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf
...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations....
leader (PTI) Naeemul Haque on Tuesday lost his temper during a TV show and slapped PML-N leader Daniyal Aziz while arguing with him.

Haque and Aziz were appearing on Geo TV's 'Aapas Ki Baat' programme ‐ hosted by Muneeb Farooq ‐ along with journalist Iftikhar Ahmed and PPP politician Nafisa Shah as guests.

According to details shared by the anchor, both the leaders were present in the Islamabad studio of Geo TV while Farooq himself was moderating the show from Lahore studio.

As seen in the clipping of the show, which is doing rounds on social media, Haque became infuriated over some remarks made by Aziz, where the latter apparently called him a "thief".

At this, the PTI leader slapped Aziz, saying, "How dare you [Aziz] call me a thief, you should be ashamed of yourself".


Posted by: Fred || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Africa Subsaharan
Following Boko Haram's mass kidnapping, Nigerian girls refuse to return to school due to security fears
[DAWN] Hundreds of girls have refused to return to their school in northeast Nigeria
... a particularly crimson stretch of Islam's bloody border...
because of security fears following a mass kidnapping by Boko Haram
... not to be confused with Procol Harum, Harum Scarum, possibly to be confused with Helter Skelter. The Nigerian version of al-Qaeda and the Taliban rolled together and flavored with a smigeon of distinctly Subsaharan ignorance and brutality...
turbans, parents and teachers said on Tuesday.

Terrorists stormed the Government Girls Technical College in Dapchi on February 19, seizing 111 schoolgirls in a carbon copy of the abduction in Chibok in 2014 that caused global outrage.

All but six of the Dapchi girls were returned to the school just over a month later. Five died in captivity while the only Christian among them is still being held.

The school re-opened on April 30 but one teacher, who asked not to be identified for fear of official sanctions, said most pupils have stayed away because they were still afraid.

"We have a total student population of 989, and out of that number only 314 have resumed after we reopened. Of the 314 that returned, 299 are writing their final examinations and will be leaving school in July," he said.

Posted by: Fred || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: Boko Haram (ISIS)

#1  And racist algebra?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 05/23/2018 4:34 Comments || Top||

#2  Teachers Union hit hardest.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 05/23/2018 7:29 Comments || Top||

#3  and Mohammad wins another one..
Posted by: Whavick Spereling4976 || 05/23/2018 8:18 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Probe ordered into ‘murder in custody’ in the name of encounter in Larkana
[DAWN] An inquiry into what the Larkana police claimed to be an ’encounter’ was ordered after heirs of the man killed by police held a demonstration at SSP Chowk here on Monday.

A front man for the Larkana SSP had earlier in the day said in a statement that a team belonging to the Bakrani cop shoppe engaged a "dacoit", Khalid Abro, in an encounter within their area of operation. Abro was rubbed out during the encounter and his two associates were jugged
Book 'im, Mahmoud!
afterwards, he said, adding that a weapon was also seized from Abro’s possession.

The front man said that certain criminal cases had been registered against Abro at various cop shoppes of the district.

The police version drew a swift and sharp reaction from the bereaved family. Abro’s wife, Moomal, and brother, Imtiaz, along with a number of their relatives proceeded to SSP Chowk raising slogans against what they alleged to be "extrajudicial killing" of Khalid Abro. They held a demonstration calling for a fair inquiry into the whole episode and action against the police team involved in the "murder".

According to the berea­ved family, a team from the Bakrani cop shoppe carried out raids on their hou­ses in a search for Khalid Abro and arrested him along with Mir Hassan Abro and Murtaza Abro "at the behest of their opponents in a dispute".

They claimed that the police team killed Khalid in jug and gave it a colour of encounter in their version.

They appealed to the inspector general of Sindh police, Larkana SSP and other authorities to take notice of the extrajudicial killing and ensure a fair investigation into the whole episode.

In the evening, SSP Tanveer Hussain Tunio instituted an inquiry and "closed" Bakrani SHO Noor Jakhro to the Police Line to facilitate the investigation. Explaining the term "close", the SSP said that the SHO was not suspended, rather, his professional activities were restricted to the Police Line so that he did not influence the probe or interfere in the process.

Posted by: Fred || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Caribbean-Latin America
Venezuela ejects top ranking US officials
[PRESSTV] Venezuela has kicked out the top two US diplomatic representatives in the country in response to Washington's latest round of sanctions imposed over recent election results.

On Tuesday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ordered the expulsion of US charge d'affaires Todd Robinson and deputy head of mission Brian Naranjo and declared both of them "persona non grata."

"They must leave the country in 48 hours in protest and in defense of the dignity of the Venezuelan homeland... Enough of conspiracies!," he said,

Maduro made the announcement via a nationally televised speech after being officially proclaimed the winner of Sunday's election.

Posted by: Fred || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: Commies

#1  Two less well fed people that make everyone else on the Maduro Diet look to skiny.
Posted by: Ulaigum Ebbineng7056 || 05/23/2018 1:16 Comments || Top||

#2  Two less well fed people that make everyone else on the Maduro Diet look to skiny.

Except Maduro himself.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 05/23/2018 4:46 Comments || Top||

#3  >sanctions imposed over recent election results

Doubt it was the result more the conduct and freedom of the election.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 05/23/2018 5:42 Comments || Top||

#4  I have not heard Jimmuah Cahter endorse these election results yet...
Posted by: M. Murcek || 05/23/2018 7:29 Comments || Top||

#5  Maduro: Finally we have found the source of all our troubles....
Posted by: Whavick Spereling4976 || 05/23/2018 8:20 Comments || Top||


-Short Attention Span Theater-
Florida city accidentally sends ‘zombie alert’ to residents during power outage
Thank goodness it was only a bit of silliness that revealed a bug in the system.
[INDEPENDENT.CO.UK] A Florida city falsely sent out a "zombie alert" during a recent power outage.

The Palm Beach Post reported that city administrators appeared to send a text alert to all residents around 1:45am Sunday that read "power outage and zombie alert for residents of Lake Worth and Terminus".

"There are now far less than seven thousand three hundred and eighty customers involved due to extreme zombie activity. Restoration time uncertain," the alert read in all capital letters and red lettering.
Posted by: Fred || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Apparently one of those spoof alerts the boys & girls in the back room compose to amuse themselves escaped from captivity. No doubt there are others mentioning "space aliens", "Cthulhu", etc.
Posted by: PBMcL || 05/23/2018 0:33 Comments || Top||

#2  It's Florida, they already knew.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 05/23/2018 4:56 Comments || Top||

#3  Florida mobile home villages appeared to take it in stride.
Posted by: Besoeker || 05/23/2018 6:42 Comments || Top||

#4  I wouldn't be too sure.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 05/23/2018 7:18 Comments || Top||

#5  They have... A zombie alert?
Posted by: Charles || 05/23/2018 10:19 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Culture Wars
CrossRoads Pawn and Audio AR-15 Advert
[FOX] A pawn shop in South Carolina has poked fun at Dick’s Sporting Goods with a sign advertising the business sells assault rifles unlike the major retailer.
Posted by: Besoeker || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Arab Spring


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
At least 30 killed in Islamic State attack on Syrian army near Palmyra
[AlAhram] At least 30 Syrian army troops and Iranian-backed gunnies were killed on Tuesday when Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems....
fighters attacked a military outpost near Palmyra in eastern Syria, a monitor and residents from the area said.

They said the holy warriors used jacket wallahs and armoured vehicles in the dawn attack near a dam southeast of the ancient Roman city.

The attack came a day after government forces drove the jihadists out of their last enclave in southern Damascus after weeks of relentless bombing.

Islamic State has twice seized Palmyra during Syria's civil war and destroyed priceless artefacts.

A former resident from the eastern Homs countryside near Palmyra who is in touch with local people said the holy warriors had come from hideouts in the vast stretch of desert they once controlled. He said at least 30 soldiers and gunnies were killed.

In recent months the holy warriors have stepped up hit-and-run attacks in an area whose terrain makes it difficult for the army to secure, relying on ambushes to replenish their weapons and equipment, activists say.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks the conflict, said at least 26 people fighting on the Syrian government side were killed, including 17 non-Syrians, among them Iranians.

Pro-government social media sites gave lists of 16 officers and soldiers killed or injured and said it was verifying names of others who were killed.

Islamic State, which was driven from most of the Euphrates River valley last year, now controls only two besieged desert areas in eastern Syria.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [4 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State


Afghanistan
Car bomb explosion rocks Kandahar city
[Khaama Press] A relatively heavy explosion rocked Kandahar city the provincial capital of Kandahar province in South of Afghanistan this afternoon.

According to the preliminary reports, the incident took place after a suicide bomber detonated a vehicle packed with explosives.

A security source in Kandahar says the incident has taken place in the vicinity of the 4th police district of the city and as a result at least two people have been killed and twenty five others have sustained injuries.

The provincial hospital officials are saying that the dead bodies of at least six people have been shifted to the hospital along with at least 30 others who have sustained injuries.

However, another source says at least 9 people have been killed and more than 30 others have sustained injuries in the attack.

This is a developing story and will be updated as new information becomes available.

Death toll rises in Kandahar city car bomb explosion

[Khaama Press] The local officials in southern Kandahar province are saying that the casualties toll have climbed in the deadly car bomb explosion in Kandahar city.

Provincial governor’s spokesman Mohammad Daud Ahmadi confirmed that at least 16 people have been killed in the explosion and there are fears that the death toll will further climb.

He said at least 38 people have also sustained injuries in the attack but did not elaborate further regarding their health condition.

Ahmadi further added that the incident took place at around 1:30 pm local time after a vehicle packed with explosives went off in a market.

No individual or group has so far claimed responsibility behind the incident.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  rock on!
Posted by: Whavick Spereling4976 || 05/23/2018 8:05 Comments || Top||

#2  Any word if the bearded mujahid died in the kaboom car? I always look for the silver lining.
Posted by: jpal || 05/23/2018 12:52 Comments || Top||


-Lurid Crime Tales-
Roger Stone: ‘John Brennan Should Pop the Glass Capsule and Take the Cyanide Now; He's Going to Die in a Federal Penitentiary'
[Breitbart] "John Brennan should pop the glass capsule and take the cyanide now," Stone told host Amanda House, Breitbart News’s deputy political editor. "He’s the perp who started the entire Russian dossier matter. He’s lied about it under oath. He’s going to die in a federal penitentiary."

Brennan and the Obama intelligence community’s roles in the investigation of the Trump campaign have come under increasing scrutiny.

Recently, Cambridge Professor Stefan Halper was outed by former and current officials leaking to the Washington Post and the New York Times as an FBI and CIA informant who approached and befriended several members of the Trump campaign.

Halper had reached out to members of the campaign weeks before FBI officials said they first learned of allegations of collusion ‐ calling into question why the Obama administration was surveilling the Trump campaign.

Brennan, now an NBC News contributor, was deeply involved in fueling the allegations of collusion with Russia while in office, as Breitbart News has covered.

The former CIA director has since been active on Twitter attacking the president. Stone suggested he already knows much of what Mueller could find.
Posted by: Besoeker || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Neither Roger Stone or anyone else should speak glibly about such outcomes. The mysterious circumstances surrounding the demise of a few people have already taken place.
Posted by: Besoeker || 05/23/2018 6:48 Comments || Top||

#2  I had a dream that one day...
Posted by: Jack Salami || 05/23/2018 9:01 Comments || Top||

#3  "He’s the perp who started the entire Russian dossier matter. He’s lied about it under oath. He’s going to die in a federal penitentiary."

Brennan most likely had the blessings of his Uber boss, BHO. HRC, although not directly his boss probably had input and gave blessings as well. If these people are as criminal as I think, I wouldn't mind seeing them frog-marched to Super Max. Whatever the case, let justice be done as it would for any of the rest of us. A good house-cleaning is called for and also examples set to prevent future such off-the-books crap.
Posted by: JohnQC || 05/23/2018 9:05 Comments || Top||

#4  I grew up with Elliot Ness. Until recently, I had that vision of the FBI. I know that most are honest but I have come to the opinion that they are just another government agency that should be closed. At the least, the head quarters should be moved out of DC.
Posted by: Bag Balm || 05/23/2018 13:12 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan
AAF effectively employing laser-guided bombs to prevent civilian casualties: MoD
[Khaama Press - Tue May 22 2018, 2:34 ] The Ministry of Defense (MoD) says the Afghan Air Force (AAF) is effectively using the laser-guided bombs to prevent the civilian casualties during the Arclight airstrikes.

Expressing optimisms regarding the deployment of the state-of-the-art technology against the Lion of Islams, the defense ministry said the deployment of the bombs have helped the Afghan Air Force pilots to precisely target the Lion of Islam targets and prevent civilian deaths.

According to the coalition forces in Afghanistan, the Afghan Air Force pilots have been dropping laser guided bombs on enemy targets throughout the southern half of Afghanistan since March 22, 2018.

This precision strike capability limits the adversaries ability to use densely populated areas for sanctuary and helps to prevent civilian casualties.

The Afghan Air Force for the first time used the bomb to target a Taliban
...the Pashtun equivalent of men...
compound in Farah province last month.

"On March 22, the Afghan Air Force tasked the A-29 squadron to destroy a Taliban compound in Farah. The Afghan attack pilots were equipped with both guided and unguided bombs, and elected to employ the GBU-58 laser-guided bomb to avoid collateral damage," according to a report by Resolute Support Mission.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:


US watchdogs report few signs of progress in Afghanistan under Trump strategy
[Khaama Press] The inspectors-general of Pentagon, State Department, and US Agency for International Development, have presented their new findings regarding the developments achieved in Afghanistan as part of President Donald Trump
...New York real estate developer, described by Dems as illiterate, racist, misogynistic, and what ever other unpleasant descriptions they can think of, elected by the rest of us as 45th President of the United States...
’s new strategy for South Asia.

The latest findings were reportedly presented in a report to the US Congress as the inspectors-general have cited little progress in the fight against Taliban
...the Pashtun equivalent of men...
They have also added that the situation in Afghanistan continues to tank despite 17 years of war as the Taliban and other holy warrior and terrorist groups continue to their devastating and deadly attacks.

The inspectors-general have specifically pointed towards the recent deadly attacks in Kabul which left hundreds of people dead, stating that "The Taliban continued to hold territory and launched devastating terrorist attacks in Kabul and across the country."

In regards to the predictions to force the Taliban to negotiations table through use of force, the report by the US inspectors-general state that "there was little publicly available evidence that the actions to increase pressure on the Taliban were having a significant impact."

The inspectors-general have also added in their report that found no "significant" gains in territory by U.S. and Afghan forces, despite the White House strategy’s goal to increase the territory under government control to 80 percent from 64 percent through intensified air strikes and ground operations.

According to the report, the new strategy and White House efforts to force Pakistain to act against holy warrior sanctuaries have also not yielded positive results despite pressures and suspension of billions of aid.

The inspectors-general have also casted doubt regarding the upcoming parliamentary and districts councils election, stating that "Given that the Taliban views the Afghan government as a U.S. puppet, it is unclear how U.S.-supported elections would increase the legitimacy of the Afghan government in the eyes of the Taliban and would pressure the bully boyz to reconcile."
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Taliban

#1  Have there been any progress in Afghanistan in the last 2000 years?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 05/23/2018 4:16 Comments || Top||

#2  Don't remember this headline for 0bama?
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 05/23/2018 4:54 Comments || Top||

#3  Can we please get the f*&k out of Afghanistan now? Seriously.
Posted by: Jack Bonaparte7513 || 05/23/2018 7:04 Comments || Top||

#4  Sears Roebuck and K-Mart were also a bad investments. Write it off and move on.
Posted by: Besoeker || 05/23/2018 7:06 Comments || Top||

#5  ...or level it (Mongol style - they've had the experience) and move on.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 05/23/2018 7:34 Comments || Top||

#6  Grom beat me to the obvious statement.

Wasn't there some progress in the 50s and 60s when it was fairly western and before the extremists came in?
Posted by: DarthVader || 05/23/2018 9:30 Comments || Top||

#7  Believe it was in the 70's that it suffered the same fate as Iran did, just earlier due to Coup's and Russian meddling.
Posted by: Charles || 05/23/2018 10:09 Comments || Top||

#8  "There is no progress. There is only change." --Liszendir, a character in M.A. Foster's The Warriors of Dawn(1975).
And for Afghanistan, and Pakistan, it seems to be a cycle like kids on a beach with one kid building a sand castle and the others kicking it down.
Posted by: magpie || 05/23/2018 10:11 Comments || Top||

#9  If we leave entirely, that gives the valuable mineral assets to China, who has been actively working to own them.

Long term impacts, given that some of those minerals are not commonly available elsewhere.
Posted by: Snoluting Phomoth8901 || 05/23/2018 11:12 Comments || Top||


Government
Makes the Dems Work to End Obstruction
[FoxNews] Other than tax reform and judicial confirmations, the Senate has accomplished very little this year, and restless conservatives are eager for improvement.

In fact, as recently as last week, Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga., led a group of fifteen Republican senators in sending a letter to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., imploring him to let the Senate work. Outside conservative groups are making the same request.

How can Republicans in the Senate force action in the face of Democrat obstruction? Three simple things: Make Democrats SPEAK. Make them WORK. Make them VOTE.
Details at link, natch.
Finally, trust the American people. Notwithstanding the media noise and the inside the beltway blather, the American people have common sense. They see through the games. To demonstrate this we need look no further than the latest government funding fight. The Democrat plan was to close the government hoping to force Republicans to swallow an amnesty bill. The geniuses inside the beltway claim that Republicans always take the blame for every shutdown, even when the Democrats are the obvious cause. But this is because usually, the Republicans cave.

This time, Republicans stuck to their guns. And the public saw through the cynical game the Democrats were playing, Sen. Schumer got smart and reversed course. They didn’t need 60 votes, or even 51. The bill passed unanimously, with consent. It didn’t even need a vote.
It does seem like the titanic struggle ended with a (D) whimper.
Message to the Republican senators: Work hard, trust your principles, use the weapons at your disposal, and trust the American people, and victory will be yours.
Posted by: Bobby || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Dems Should have Absentee Ballots Earlier Sent & Counted Barring Terror Attacks , Earthquakes & Hurricanes , Alas , Volcanoes 2 !! Tidal Wave Alerts , Also ~~
Posted by: cccccccccc || 05/23/2018 4:27 Comments || Top||

#2  ccccccccccc

You left out locust swarms.
Posted by: Omeger Gray6606 || 05/23/2018 5:03 Comments || Top||

#3  GOPe stronghold the Senate is a deep state Swamp.

I wonder if senators are knobbled in the same way the deep-state tried and failed with Trump.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 05/23/2018 5:08 Comments || Top||

#4  Its rules and culture are intentionally designed to be slow and deliberative, in contrast to the quick-moving partisan House.

Except when the Dems are in power and legislation such as the (cough, cough) "Affordable Health Care Act" was rushed through without anyone reading it.
Posted by: JohnQC || 05/23/2018 9:27 Comments || Top||


Iraq
Abadi hints alliance imminent with Sadr to form “technocrat” Iraqi gov
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has given another signal of an imminent alliance with Shia populist holy man Moqtada Tater al-Sadr
... the Iranian catspaw holy man who was 22 years old in 2003 and was nearing 40 in 2010. He spends most of his time in Iran, safely out of the line of fire, where he's learning to be an ayatollah...
, pointing to matching viewpoints regarding the formation of the next Iraqi government.

Speaking during his weekly press briefing in Baghdad, Abasi said his recent meeting with Sadr witnessed "concurrence in relation to the next period".

According to Abadi, "there is an almost complete matching of viewpoints with the Saeroon list for the formation of a strong technocrat government".

Abadi was received by Sadr on Saturday in Baghdad, where both exchanged views on the formation of the government after the end of parliamentary elections on 12th of this month.

The Iraqi elections commission said last Saturday that Sadr’s list came first, followed by al-Fatah, an alliance of former leaders of the Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Forces, and third came Abadi’s al-Nasr list.

Sadr and Abadi, during their electoral campaigns, have been touting a government transcending sectarian considerations and free from foreign interventions.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iraq


Iraq arrests a senior Islamic State executioner in Kirkuk
Hawija (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi security forces have jugged
Into the paddy wagon wit' yez!
a senior Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems....
member in charge of executions in Kirkuk province, security sources were quoted saying on Tuesday.

Alsumaria News quoted the source saying that security forces, using intelligence information, arrested Abu Wahab al-Iraqi and four of his lover companions after raiding a home in al-Zab, Hawija, southwest of the province.

Abu Wahab was behind several killings, kidnappings and ambushes set up in the province, the source added, saying that he possessed maps of potential targets of terrorist attacks.

IS had been notorious for carrying out heinous executions of civilians and security members in Hawija, forcing thousands to flee the town.

Iraqi forces declared the recapture of Hawija, a major IS bastion, in October. The government announced all-out victory over the bad boy group in December.

But remnant turbans continue to target security forces and civilians occasionally. Kirkuk has seen the turbans setting up fake security ambushes that left several security members dead.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [3 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State


-War on Police-
Teen charged in death of Baltimore County officer held without bail
[BALTIMORESUN] 16-year-old has been tossed in the clink
Yez got nuttin' on me, coppers! Nuttin'!
and charged as an adult in the death of a police officer on Monday, and three other suspects ‐ all teenage males ‐ are in jug.
More feral yoots with funny names, and another dead cop.
Dawnta Anthony Harris, of the 1600 block of Vincent Court in the Gilmor Homes complex in West Baltimore, was charged with first-degree murder in the killing of Officer Amy Caprio, according to court records. He is being held without bail at an adult detention center.

He did not have an attorney listed in online court records, and family members could not be immediately reached for comment.

Caprio was a four-year veteran of the Baltimore County police force assigned to the Parkville precinct.

"Officer Caprio is the type of officer that you want to hire ... smart, athletic, energetic, and with not quite four years on the job was starting to show that she had the potential to be an excellent officer and one of the leaders of this organization in the future," Baltimore County Police Chief Terrance Sheridan said at a presser Tuesday. "She was the kind of officer that was going to go up in this organization and lead."

Sheridan noted that arrests of juveniles in Baltimore County have increased.

"Things are going to have to change, we're seeing a level of violence ‐ especially against the institution of law enforcement ‐ that we’ve never seen before," Sheridan said.

A viewing for Caprio will be held Thursday at Schimunek Funeral Home in Nottingham, followed by a funeral Friday at Mountain Christian Church in Fallston and a service at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens.
Posted by: Fred || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "Things are going to have to change, we're seeing a level of violence ‐ especially against the institution of law enforcement ‐ that we’ve never seen before," Sheridan said.

Oh...Baltimore.

Field set in Baltimore State's Attorney's race as Mosby, challengers file
Posted by: Skidmark || 05/23/2018 4:31 Comments || Top||

#2  For a brief glimpse of history:

Mosby Asks Appellate Court to Stop Lawsuit Against her
Posted by: Skidmark || 05/23/2018 4:32 Comments || Top||

#3  All of this savagery could help explain the brutal public executions of the 19th and 20th centuries. Just saying.
Posted by: Besoeker || 05/23/2018 6:40 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Iran says Israel's Gaza massacre was pre-planned
Sure, by Hamas, which wanted a cause celebre.
[PRESSTV] Iran’s envoy to the United Nations
...an organization conceived in the belief that we're just one big happy world, with the sort of results you'd expect from such nonsense...
has said that Israel's killing of scores of Paleostinian protesters on May 14 was a pre-planned measure.

Gholamali Khoshroo made the remarks on Tuesday while addressing the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict.

He added the Israel committed the crime with complete impunity granted to it by Washington.

"The Israeli army committed yet another war crime in Gazoo, killing more than 60 and injuring thousands more unarmed Paleostinian civilians in a single day. Given the circumstances, there is no doubt that these vicious attacks and killings were planned and deliberate," he said.

"These criminal acts took place with total impunity extended to the Israeli regime by the United States in this Council, the same country that later tried to prevent the appointment of a Commission of Inquiry in the Human Rights Council," he added.

Khoshroo added the US later attempted to shield Israel by blocking the Human Rights Council from appointing a commission aimed at probing its actions.

Israeli forces killed at least 62 Paleostinians during protests near the Gazoo fence on the eve of the 70th anniversary of the Nakba Day (Day of Catastrophe), which coincided with Washington’s embassy relocation from Tel Aviv to occupied Jerusalem al-Quds.

More than 2,700 Paleostinians were also maimed as the Israeli forces used snipers, Arclight airstrikes, tank fire and tear gas to target the demonstrators.

Posted by: Fred || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran

#1  We plan everything. Wanna hear how many plans we have for "neutralizing" Iran?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 05/23/2018 4:33 Comments || Top||


-Signs, Portents, and the Weather-
Giant predatory worms invading France and threatening local wildlife
[INDEPENDENT.CO.UK] Giant predatory worms from tropical parts of Asia that have stealthily invaded French gardens pose a threat to local wildlife, scientists are warning.
We seen dis movie.
The voracious creatures have infiltrated gardens across the country and also French territories.
I went with Ed Wood. He didn't like it neither.
A new study has collected reports of the unusual creatures, which are known to grow up to 40cm in length.
He spilled Coke on his sweater when the giant worm ate Marseilles.
Despite their size, these unusual creatures would have gone completely unnoticed were it not for the efforts of amateur naturalist Pierre Gros who took a photograph of an unidentified worm in 2013.
Pierre was the hero. He tried to alert the government to the danger before the worms got outta hand. They laughed at him, all except the perfessor and his beautiful daughter.
“This photograph was sent from email to email to email and finally it came to me,” Professor Jean-Lou Justine, a zoologist at the French National Museum of Natural History told The Independent.
The beautiful daughter was the one that give it to him. Ed Wood just rolled his eyes at that part. Then he ate all my Jujubes.
“I looked at it and said 'Well, this is not possible – we don’t have this kind of animal in France'.”
No kiddin'. A forty foot worm with spit that dissolves concrete...
At first he thought it was a prank, especially when weeks later Mr Gros sent him images of a second and third exotic flatworm species, all allegedly found in his garden.
That was when they ate Marseilles.
Posted by: Fred || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  These large invasive worms now thrive in wetter parts of Britain, and are known to decimate local earthworm populations. As a result, measures are now in place to control their movements between countries.

Apparently ground worms are more important to elected officials than their love-starved children.
Posted by: Skidmark || 05/23/2018 4:22 Comments || Top||

#2  40 cm ~ 1.3 ft
About the size of a Texas nightcrawler
Posted by: Skidmark || 05/23/2018 4:23 Comments || Top||

#3  These worms need a movement to lobby to claim Asylum.

Dream worm act.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 05/23/2018 5:10 Comments || Top||

#4  It's "Dune" in real life, Shai Hulud giant worm monster) video 1984). Complete with desert muzzies.

Leave it to the French.
Posted by: Woodrow || 05/23/2018 5:47 Comments || Top||

#5  Could it simply be an invasion from Worms ?
Posted by: Besoeker || 05/23/2018 6:58 Comments || Top||

#6  We seen dis movie.

Never found it funny, but for some reason I'm picturing the old popcorn gag... and snickering.
Posted by: Maggie McCoy2330 || 05/23/2018 7:05 Comments || Top||

#7  Now if you can convince the muzzies that the worms are an affront to Allan.... Start a muzzie-giant worm war you might have a solution.
Posted by: CrazyFool || 05/23/2018 7:39 Comments || Top||

#8 
Posted by: DarthVader || 05/23/2018 9:25 Comments || Top||

#9  Worms are Halal.
Posted by: Skidmark || 05/23/2018 11:28 Comments || Top||


The Grand Turk
Two Turkish soldiers killed in PKK attack in Kurdistan Region
[Rudaw] The Ottoman Turkish military said on Tuesday that two of its soldiers have been killed in festivities with members of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in the mountains of the Kurdistan Region.

According to a statement, the two soldiers died from their injuries after they were maimed in a mortar shell attack on their base in Likan by PKK fighters.

The Ottoman Turkish forces responded to the attack with an aerial drone operation.

For its part, the PKK said that 11 Ottoman Turkish soldiers had been killed in the attack.
I know whose number I believe...
In recent months Ottoman Turkish soldiers have crossed the border into parts of the Kurdistan Region in pursuit of the PKK.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Sublime Porte


India-Pakistan
Kiln owner booked for ‘torturing woman to death’
[DAWN] The Saddar police on Monday started the paperwork but haven't done much else against a kiln owner and his assistant on charges of torturing and killing a woman worker at their kiln at Dhako Chishti village on the outskirts of the Pakpattan city.

The victim was identified as Naseem Bibi, wife of Yaqoob Sheikh.

Yaqoob told the police Naseem and he were employed at the Zareef’s kiln for the last five years. About a week ago, Naseem demanded Zareef pay her Rs5,000 from her earned salary for medical treatment but Zareef did not accept the request.

Four days back, Naseem exchanged harsh words with Zareef who, along with his accounts assistant, Muhammad Saleem, locked her in one of huts.

Yaqoob alleged the suspects tortured Naseem for four days. He kept requesting them to let his wife go but in vain. On Sunday, Naseem fainted due to the torture and Zareef left her in Yaqoob’s hut where he found her body when he reached there. Both the suspects beat feet from the kiln.

After the incident, more than 50 kiln workers along with Yaqoob blocked the Pakpattan bypass road for three hours by placing deceased’s body on the road.

Luqman, homicide officer, quoting the doctor of the Pakpattan District Headquarters Hospital who conducted the post-mortem on Naseem’s body, said there were no marks of torture on it. However,
by candlelight every wench is handsome...
the post-mortem report has not been released yet.

Saddar police registered a murder case against Zareef and Saleem.

Anjum Matto, executive director of the Insan Dost Association; an organization working for kiln workers, told Dawn Naseem was not registered with the labour department and a social security card was not issued to her. He said had she been registered with social security, she would not have needed money for her treatment.
Posted by: Fred || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Laws, police, social security, medical treatment, hospital.

First world words from a 4th world setting.
Posted by: Skidmark || 05/23/2018 11:22 Comments || Top||

#2  I have paid Social Security all my life. When employers are allowed to hire undocumented workers, they cheat every law abiding person in the USA. E-Verify is needed!
Posted by: Bag Balm || 05/23/2018 12:56 Comments || Top||

#3  Can you even read?

I have paid Social Security all my life.
No, just since you registered to work for wages.

When employers are allowed to hire undocumented workers
The accused are paki mud brick makers.
Posted by: Skidmark || 05/23/2018 13:30 Comments || Top||

#4  Note to self: time to stop.
Posted by: Skidmark || 05/23/2018 13:31 Comments || Top||

#5  Be kind to your brick-making friends
For that Pak may be somebody's doctor
Or a system admin in the swamp
Where the weather is never Trump.
You may think that this is the end?
Well, it ain't, but the end is getting nigher,
So, quick, sing along with the choir,
Cuz we're all up to our eyeballs in the mire.

Posted by: Zenobia Floger6220 || 05/23/2018 22:14 Comments || Top||


Europe
Kurdish family wants answers after 2-year-old killed in Belgian police chase
[Rudaw] In search of a better life in Europe, Mawda’s father took his family on a difficult journey, but lost his two-year-old daughter to police gunfire in Belgium.

UK paper The Guardian reported that Belgian police believed the van was being driven by smugglers bringing migrants colonists to the coast where they would be smuggled into trucks for a trip into the UK.
On the night of May 16, Belgian police opened fire on a vehicle carrying refugees near the city of Mons, killing Mawda Shamdin Ali, whose family is from the Kurdistan Region.

Continued on Page 49
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: Moslem Colonists

#1  Go straight to kurdistan illegal criminals.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 05/23/2018 12:09 Comments || Top||

#2  Don't send children where brave men refuse to go.
Posted by: Skidmark || 05/23/2018 13:19 Comments || Top||


Netherlands: 1,400 Underage Dutch Girls Forced into Sex Slavery Each Year by ‘Migrant Background’ Males
[BREITBART] Every year more than one thousand underage Dutch girls are groomed and then blackmailed into sex slavery by young pimps with migrant backgrounds, an investigation has revealed.

With gifts, drink, and drugs, so-called ’loverboys’ will seduce a girl into agreeing to become his sex partner before taking pictures or video footage of the encounter which will then be used as leverage to force her into prostitution, Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad reports.

"These men are mostly Moroccans, Turks, Caribbeans, and Roma. The lion’s share of them have a migrant background," said Gideon van Aartsen from Watch Nederland, an initiative which coordinates with the nation’s police on efforts to fight child sexual exploitation (CSE).
...and the rest are the sons of colonists, right?
He told the newspaper that selling sex with schoolgirls is a "lucrative trade" that can earn "up to 800 euros a day on a girl" for ’loverboys’, most of whom are part of larger networks that are also involved in trafficking illegal drugs and weapons.

Annually around 1,400 Dutch minors fall victim to ’loverboys’ ‐ a term used in the country to refer to young men who lure underage teens into relationships then force them into the sex industry ‐ according to police human trafficking experts Marijke van Overveld and Esmee Huijps.

Posted by: Fred || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: Moslem Colonists

#1  "These men are mostly Moroccans, Turks, Caribbeans, and Roma. The lion’s share of them have a migrant background," said Gideon van Aartsen from Watch Nederland, an initiative which coordinates with the nation’s police on efforts to fight child sexual exploitation (CSE).

There's a key here to begin training girls as young as 9 to avoid these creeps, with school assemblies, etc., and it's PC! It's Caribbeans.

It's not PC to mention muslims, and the Roma, aka gypsies (they're slippery, and can slip into your camp at night without the snap of a twig underfoot) - not a good idea to bring this up in the Netherlands.

But you got Caribbeans!
Posted by: Fairbanks || 05/23/2018 3:51 Comments || Top||

#2  A two part question, I suppose:
1) how stupid can these love-starved little children be?
2) why do adults allow it to happen?
Posted by: Skidmark || 05/23/2018 4:09 Comments || Top||

#3  why do adults allow it to happen?

Not enough adults (as distinct from people achieving certain age), especially adult men, left in EUrope, Skid.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 05/23/2018 4:36 Comments || Top||

#4  What's Dutch for Not Just in Rotherham?
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 05/23/2018 5:01 Comments || Top||

#5  They'll have to go full Medieval on them before it will end.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 05/23/2018 7:28 Comments || Top||

#6  We're talking about a Society here that promotes assisted suicide. I'm not surprised it low-key doesn't judge pedophilia.
Posted by: Charles || 05/23/2018 10:12 Comments || Top||


China-Japan-Koreas
Trump: North Korea summit 'may not work out' in June
[PRESSTV] US President Donald Trump
...New York real estate developer, described by Dems as illiterate, racist, misogynistic, and what ever other unpleasant descriptions they can think of, elected by the rest of us as 45th President of the United States...
has said his summit with North Korean leader Kim Pudge Jong-un
...the overweight, pouty-looking hereditary potentate of North Korea. Pudge appears to believe in his own divinity, but has yet to produce any loaves and fishes, so his subjects remain malnourished...
"may not work out" in June, raising further doubt about whether the historic meeting would occur as planned.

Trump made the comment during a meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in the Oval Office of the White House on Tuesday.

"We’re moving along. We’ll see what happens," Trump told news hounds. "There are certain conditions we want to happen. I think we’ll get those conditions. And if we don’t, we won’t have the meeting."

The US president did not specify the conditions Washington was setting for the landmark meeting due in Singapore on 12 June.

"There is a very substantial chance that it won’t work out, but that’s OK," he added. "It doesn’t mean it won’t work out over a period of time, but it may not work out for June 12. But there is still a good chance we’ll have the meeting."

Posted by: Fred || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: Commies

#1  After 70 years, whats a few weeks or months either way ?
Posted by: Besoeker || 05/23/2018 7:07 Comments || Top||

#2  it sure gets the dimocrats hopping up and down tho
Posted by: 746 || 05/23/2018 14:17 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Israeli parliament debates bill promoting Kurdish statehood
[PRESSTV] Israel’s parliament (Knesset) has reportedly discussed a bill that explores ways through which the Tel Aviv regime can help the Kurds establish an independent state supportive of the regime within Syria, Iraq and The Sick Man of Europe Turkey
...just another cheapjack Moslem dictatorship, brought to you by the Moslem Brüderbund....
, where anti-Israel sentiments run high.

The official Israeli radio reported on Monday that the proposal had been submitted to the legislature by two right-wing parties, Likud and Yisrael Beiteinu.

The radio also quoted politician Yoav Kish as saying that in light of recent regional developments, recognizing an independent Kurdish state, which would support the regime in Tel Aviv, would be in Israel's interests.

"There is a Kurdish minority in Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. All these countries are hostile to Israel, and certainly adding Iran, which also affects the region. That is why we need to strengthen the Kurds and lead a process that ultimately leads to the establishment of an independent Kurdish state that supports Israel," he said.

"There is a reason that Israel was the first to publicly congratulate moves toward Kurdish independence in northern Iraq," Kish added.

Kurdistan held a referendum on secession from Iraq in September 2017 in defiance of strong criticisms from the entire international community, particularly Iraq’s neighbors, Iran and Turkey.

Israel became the only entity to support the Kurdish plebiscite.

Posted by: Fred || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Well known natural allies. Good move.
Posted by: newc || 05/23/2018 1:06 Comments || Top||


Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Putin's 'unlimited range' nuclear missile crashed after 22 miles, US intelligence sources claim
[Telegraph] The Kremlin has denied US claims that Russia's nuclear-powered cruise missile with "unlimited" range crashed after only 22 miles.

The weapon was one of a range of "invincible" nuclear arms announced by Vladimir Putin during a speech in March.

"Since its range is unlimited, it can manoeuvre as long as you want," Mr Putin said. "For now, no one in the world has anything like this."

But sources with direct knowledge of a US intelligence report told CNBC that four tests of the missile between November and February all resulted in crashes.



The longest flight lasted two minutes and covered 22 miles, while shortest ended only four seconds and five miles after launch, they said.

CNN previously quoted a US official as saying the cruise missile had crashed during tests.

Mr Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied the reported US intelligence findings when asked on Tuesday.
Continues at link.

On the plus side, the Russians have at long last given us a quantification of "unlimited".
Posted by: Anomalous Sources || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  ...And let's consider this for a moment: If this thing is 'nuclear powered', that means there's at least four nuclear waste sites lying about over there.

Not that the Russians care, but even they have to take this sort of thing into consideration these days. My feeling is that it never was and never will be.

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski || 05/23/2018 5:14 Comments || Top||

#2  Not really new, just more simple in a drone
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 05/23/2018 5:30 Comments || Top||

#3  'Unlimited'? Hmm! Must be a problem with Google Translator because he keeps using that word and it doesn't mean what he thinks it means.
Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839 || 05/23/2018 11:38 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
EU denies Israeli report it agreed to rebuild Gaza crossing
Bummer. Funds will have to be found elsewhere to cover the cost of repairs..
[IsraelTimes] The European Union
...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing...
on Tuesday denied a report
No, no! Certainly not!
by an Israeli news outlet that claimed the the international body planned to fund the repair of the Kerem Shalom Crossing into the Gazoo Strip, which was repeatedly damaged by Paleostinian rioters in recent weeks.

On Friday, the Ynet news site reported that the EU said it had agreed to donate 30 million Euros ($35 million) to fix the destroyed parts of the facility, which serves as the sole crossing for goods and humanitarian aid into Gazoo from Israel.

An EU spokesperson said no such offer had been made. Israel’s military liaison to the Paleostinians also denied that the European body planned to donate the funds, saying "the report on the subject was incorrect."

The source of the error in the Ynet article was not immediately clear. The information was not attributed to a specific source.

Last week, the Defense Ministry said it believed it had partially repaired the damage to the fuel terminal, but would only know for certain after the weekend.

On Tuesday, the military liaison said the repairs to the diesel pipeline had held and that on Monday "786,020 liters of diesel fuel were transferred into the Gazoo Strip via the Kerem Shalom crossing."

According to the liaison’s office, "this provides a solution for all of the needs of the Gazoo Strip at this time."
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Hamas

#1  Our own Muslims come first (else they'll riot).
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 05/23/2018 4:30 Comments || Top||


Europe
Syrian who attacked kippa-wearing man in Berlin charged with assault
[Israel.Times] Knaan Al S. was filmed lashing Arab Israeli man he mistook for a Jew, leading to outcry and massive 'wear a kippa' support rallies

A Syrian man living in Berlin was charged with assault after he attacked an Arab Israeli man wearing a kippa.

The alleged attacker, a Syrian Paleostinian living in Germany since 2015, was identified as Knaan Al S, due to German privacy laws, according to The News Agency that Dare Not be Named. He was charged on Friday with causing bodily harm and slander. He turned himself in two days after the April 17 attack.

During the attack, the assailant lashed the man with his belt and repeated the Arabic word for Jew, "Yahudi." The victim, Adam Armouch, an Arab Israeli, filmed the attack on his cellphone. He was accompanied by a 24-year-old man also wearing a kippa who reported being accosted verbally by three men.

Armoush, 21, who is not Jewish, told the Deutsche Welle news agency that he had grown up in an Arab-Christian family in Haifa, Israel, and said he put on the kippa as an experiment to see "how bad it is to walk Berlin’s streets as a Jew today."

The attack took place in the trendy Prenzlauer Berg neighborhood, which is popular among many Israelis living in Berlin. It is also home to an Orthodox Jewish community centered around the Lauder Yeshivas Beis Zion and the synagogue Kahal Adass Jisroel Berlin.

The attack led thousands of Jews and non-Jews alike to don kippot and participate in "Wear a Kippa" rallies in Berlin and other German cities to protest anti-Semitism.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  So funny that a device which prevents sunburn for male pattern baldness 'sufferers' should become a religious icon that creates confrontational violence.

Makes as much sense as fighting over face bags or MAGA hats.

Posted by: Skidmark || 05/23/2018 5:35 Comments || Top||


Iraq
Mosul clearance continues: more bodies found, big turban and 3 trailing turbanettes tied up


Iraqi relief workers recover bodies of 75 people in Mosul’s Old City

Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) – Iraqi relief workers recovered on Tuesday bodies of 75 people who were buried under the rubble of destroyed homes in the western side of Mosul’s Old City.

The civil defense directorate in Nineveh told Al-Aan online newspaper that the recovered bodies were found in Shaikh Ibrahim, Jamea’ al-Masfa and al-Qulaiat districts in Mosul’s Old City.

On Friday, Nofal al-Aakob, the governor of Nineveh, declared the Old City in Mosul empty of bodies under the rubble.

Islamic State’s chief of mortar missile stock arrested in western Mosul

Mosul (IraqiNews.com) The Iraqi Interior Ministry has announced arresting Islamic State militant in charge of the mortar missile stock in western Mosul.

In a statement on Tuesday, Maj. Gen. Saad Maan, spokesperson for the ministry, said “Nineveh police depended on information from the intelligence to arrest Islamic State member in charge of the mortar missile stock.”

The militant, according to the statement, “was arrested in al-Bikr district, in west of Mosul.”

Iraqi security arrest three foreign Islamic State women in Mosul

Nineveh (Iraqinews.com) – Iraqi troops arrested on Tuesday three foreign women of Islamic State in Mosul city while trying to flee the country into Syria.

Captain Khalil Ibrahim, from the 15th division of the Iraqi army, told SNG agency that the trio, including two Syrians and a Turkish, were found to have been working for Islamic State’s Hisbah “vigilantism” Diwan during the terrorist group’s capture of Mosul in 2014.

They were taken to the Nineveh operations command for interrogation over crimes they committed against Mosul residents, Ibrahim pointed out.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State


Africa North
Egyptian army said to intensify home demolitions in Sinai
[IsraelTimes] Egypt’s military intensifies home demolitions in the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula as part of its campaign against a local affiliate of the Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems....
group, an international rights group says Tuesday.

The military launches a massive security operation in early February in restive northern Sinai, the epicenter of an Islamic insurgency spearheaded by the local IS affiliate. The campaign also includes parts of the Nile Delta region and the Western Desert, along the mostly non-existent border with Libya.

Human Rights Watch says in a report that Egypt’s military vastly expanded widespread destruction of homes, commercial buildings and farms in Northern Sinai province since February 9.

"The new destruction, including hundreds of hectares of farmland and at least 3,000 homes and commercial buildings, together with 600 buildings destroyed in January, is the largest since the army officially began evictions in 2014," HRW says.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis (IS)

#1  " Egypt’s military intensifies home demolitions..."

No, no, only the Juice wreck peaceful peebles homes...
Posted by: Whavick Spereling4976 || 05/23/2018 8:07 Comments || Top||


Caribbean-Latin America
Citing Israeli intelligence, Panama says 1994 plane crash was terror attack
Ancient history, yes, but anything that makes life more difficult for Hizb’allah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in the New World is a good thing.
[IsraelTimes] After returning from Jerusalem, President Juan Carlos Varela says he is reopening investigation into crash which killed 21 people, most of them Jewish businessmen

A 1994 plane crash in Panama which killed 21 people was a "terrorist attack," President Juan Carlos Varela said Monday, citing Israeli intelligence reports.

"I have ordered the reopening of the case after intelligence reports" indicated the incident "was a terrorist attack," Varela told news hounds.

Varela has just returned from Israel where he held talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week.

According to the president, the attack was "confirmed by Israeli intelligence".

Most of the 21 people killed were Jewish businessmen operating in Panama’s Colon Free Trade Zone.

The crash happened on July 19, 1994 when the plane went kaboom! shortly after taking off from the Enrique Jimenez airport in the Caribbean province of Colon.

The cause of the crash was never clarified.

One of the hypotheses considered at the time was that a Lebanese jacket wallah had detonated an explosive with the aim of killing Jews.

"We are going to have meetings with Panamanian and international authorities to formally request the reopening of the case and to know those responsible for this terrorist attack, where deplorably many Panamanians coming from the Colon free zone bit the dust," Varela said.

The kaboom happened a day after a bomb destroyed the offices of a Jewish center in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires, killing 85 people.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Hezbollah

#1  What did "Bibi" say to Sr. Varela to get that ball rolling?
Posted by: Anomalous Sources || 05/23/2018 22:37 Comments || Top||


Iraq
Iraq sentences “Belgian” Islamic State member to death
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) An Iraqi criminal court sentenced on Tuesday a Belgian member of the Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems....
to death for involvement with the group and threatening attacks in Europe.

Tarek Jadoun, aka Abu Hamza al-Baljiki, of a Moroccan origin, was sentenced to death by the Central Criminal Court in Baghdad, said Abdul-Sattar al-Bayraqdar, a spokesperson of the High Judicial Council.

He pleaded innocent.
No, no! Certainly not!
of the charges at the opening of his trial in May 10th.

According to Bayraqdar, al-Baljiki was found guilty of involvement in IS operations, as well as acting as a trainer for the group’s so-called "Cubs of the Caliphate", a division of underage fighters.

In November, the newspaper of the Iraqi judicial council published an interrogation of Jadoun, in which he elaborated on his induction into IS and promotion through its ranks.
Dawn adds:
Born in 1988, Jadaoun ‐ who was captured in ex-IS bastion djinn-infested Mosul
... the home of a particularly ferocious and hairy djinn...
in August ‐ appeared before the Baghdad court dressed in a beige prison uniform with a shaved head and bushy moustache.

The hearing lasted for less than 10 minutes, with a judge sentencing him to be "hanged until death".

Jadaoun ‐ who refused to defend himself after the charges were read out ‐ was immediately taken out of court with his face covered by guards and loaded into a prison van.

He now has 30 days to appeal the verdict during which time the sentence should not be carried out.

In addition, he was sentenced to three years in prison and handed a fine worth $2,300 for illegally crossing the Iraqi border.

In a statement released after the sentencing, the Iraqi judiciary described Jadaoun as "among the most wanted foreign bully boyz who fought in Syria and Iraq".

Jadaoun, who has Moroccan roots, said during a first hearing on May 10 that he was forced by "one of the top IS commanders" to appear in videos threatening attacks against Belgium and La Belle France.

The footage saw Jadaoun earn the moniker "the new Abaaoud", after his compatriot Abdelhamid Abaaoud, one of the organisers of November 2015 attacks in Gay Paree.

'Nurse' claims
He claimed that he had not been a fighter for IS but was instead in charge of a group of nurses.

"I took care of everybody," he told the earlier hearing.

Investigators had previously alleged that Jadaoun was in charge of the "cubs of the caliphate" ‐ about 60 children aged eight to 13 who received intensive fitness and weapons training. There was no mention of these allegations at his trial.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State


Iraq, Chinese firm to sign for development of Baghdad oil field
China is diversifying suppliers against future needs, now that their Venezuela play has become a short term investment. Read the contract very carefully, Iraq — Allah helps those who help themselves.
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) Iraq will sign on Wednesday a contract with a Chinese company for the development of an oil field east of the capital, Baghdad, a spokesperson of the oil ministry said on Tuesday.

Assem Jihad said Iraq will sign the contract with ZhenHua Oil to develop the southern section of Eastern Baghdad oilfield. He said the agreement aims to drive up production from the field to 40.000 barrels per day within five years.
No assistance from neighboring Iranians will be required, or tolerated.
He added that the Chinese company will also establish a residential compound annexed to the field, and will commit to rely on Iraqi workers to a great extent.

Both sides signed a preliminary agreement on the project late 2017.

Iraq is OPEC’s the second largest oil producer after Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Commies

#1  He added that the Chinese company will also establish a residential compound annexed to the field, and will commit to rely on Iraqi workers to a great extent.

The return of the 'Pumper's Houses.' Who knew ?
Posted by: Besoeker || 05/23/2018 7:01 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Israeli car hit in suspected shooting attack in West Bank, 5 arrested, 2 indicted
[IsraelTimes] None injured; troops search area after shots hit Israeli car in apparent drive-by incident, outside Kafr Ni'ma

Shots were fired at an Israeli car in a suspected terror attack in the central West Bank on Tuesday morning, the army said. No injuries were reported.

The Israel Defense Forces said its soldiers were searching the area for the perpetrators. The attempted attack was carried out near Kafr Ni’ma, west of Ramallah, the army said.

A photograph of the car, posted on social media, showed that one of its wheels was punctured in the attack.

Overnight, the IDF placed in durance vile
Keep yer hands where we can see 'em, if yez please!
11 Paleostinian suspects in raids across the West Bank. The suspects were believed to have taken part in terrorist activities or in violent demonstrations, the army said.

During a raid in the town of Abu Dis, near Jerusalem, dozens of Paleostinians began throwing rocks at IDF troops, the army said. In response, the soldiers fired less-lethal riot dispersal weapons at the rioters, like tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets. No injuries were reported on either side.

Security forces arrest 5 people suspected of terrorism, riots through Shavuot

[Ynet] Through Saturday and Shavuot, security forces arrested five Palestinians in the West Bank suspected of involvement in terrorism and violent riots. Suspects were taken in for questioning.

Indictment filed against 2 terrorists for flying incendiary kites into Israel

[Ynet] The State Attorney's Office filed an indictment to Be'er Sheva's District Court against Ahmed Amawi and Mu'taz Abu Id for attempt of solicitation of murder, terrorist activity, arson that constitutes a terrorist act, and armed infiltration. According to the indictment, the defendants manufactured dozens of incendiary kites and flew them into Israel.

They were detained along with a third terrorist operative after infiltrating into Israel and setting fire to a field.

Palestinian crowd Monday pelted US vehicle with eggs

[Ynet] A small group of Palestinian protesters in the West Bank has pelted an American diplomatic vehicle with eggs to protest the recent move of the US Embassy to Jerusalem. Protesters held signs and shouted at members of the delegation from the US Consulate in Jerusalem. The crowd told the Americans they were not welcome in the West Bank before throwing eggs at their car as they drove away.

Monday's protest came a week after the US Embassy was moved from Tel Aviv to contested Jerusalem.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [7 views] Top|| File under:


European official said to warn Israel: ‘Trump won’t be president forever’
Subtle European diplomacy: “Nice country ya got there — be a shame if something happened to it.”
[IsraelTimes] 'Don't disparage Europe,' senior source reportedly says as tensions simmer between Jerusalem and EU

As Jerusalem basked in tight-knit ties with Washington, a senior European official was said on Tuesday to have recently warned Israel not to "disparage" the EU, adding that US President Donald Trump
...New York real estate developer, described by Dems as illiterate, racist, misogynistic, and what ever other unpleasant descriptions they can think of, elected by the rest of us as 45th President of the United States...
’s legacy could be scaled back just as quickly as that of his predecessor Barack Obama
They get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them...
"Trump won’t be president forever," Hadashot TV on Tuesday quoted the unnamed official as saying during a recent visit to Israel.

"Just like nobody imagined that the Obama legacy would be erased so quickly, it can happen to the other side," the source added.

"You shouldn’t disparage Europe. Look at the numbers: We are still your biggest trade partners. You don’t understand that we are under immense public pressure against Israel," the bigwig added.

Israel and the EU have lately been at loggerheads over the IDF’s handling of mass protests and riots on the Gazoo border, as well as over Trump’s decision to unilaterally withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal ‐ as Prime Minister Benjamin had urged if it couldn’t be "fixed" ‐ with Europe
...also known as Moslem Lebensraum...
calling for the accord to remain in place. Israel has also hailed the US relocation of its embassy to Jerusalem last week, a move Europe has rejected.

On Monday and Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry reprimanded the Slovenian, Spanish, and Belgian ambassadors over their countries’ votes on Friday in favor of a UN Human Rights Council-led investigation into the IDF over the deaths on the Gazoo border. The bid was supported by 29 countries, with 14 abstaining and just two ‐ the United States and Australia ‐ voting against the probe.

Separately, Netanyahu has also fiercely condemned the European Union
...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing...
for its policies on Israel, including in hot mic comments last year that saw him lash European Union leaders for their "crazy" treatment of the Jewish state.

Earlier Tuesday, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan also slammed the EU, saying the bloc shouldn’t "get involved in internal Israeli matters," after it called for an investigation of alleged police brutality at a demonstration in Haifa.

"Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East, doesn’t need any moral warning calls from a biased and obsessive entity like the European Union," said Erdan. He also called the EU hypocritical and accused it of helping those who seek to boycott Israel.

Erdan was responding to a call by the European Union for an inquiry into an alleged assault of Jafar Farah, director of the NGO Mossawa, the Advocacy Center for Arab Citizens in Israel, which is part-funded by the EU.

Farah was jugged
Yez got nuttin' on me, coppers! Nuttin'!
with 20 other people during a Gazoo Strip solidarity rally on Friday in Haifa, which has since sparked accusations of police violence against protesters. He claimed a police officer kicked his leg, breaking his knee, while he was held in a detention facility on Friday night.

The officer denied he used any physical force against Farah.

The EU involvement came after Joint (Arab) List party MK Youssef Jabareen met Monday evening with EU Ambassador to Israel Emanuele Giaufret to draw his attention to the matter, Hadashot news reported.

In a statement, the EU said it was important "to conduct a swift investigation into circumstances surrounding events last week in Haifa which appeared to result in serious injury of Jafar Farah."
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Not sayin much. Trump will most likely last longer than Europe.
Posted by: Ulaigum Ebbineng7056 || 05/23/2018 1:17 Comments || Top||

#2  But GOD will be GOD Forever and Israel will also be Forever.

Watch your step, Europe. We have history with you.
Posted by: newc || 05/23/2018 1:41 Comments || Top||

#3  This time around we have an equalizer, European.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 05/23/2018 4:24 Comments || Top||

#4  The EUSSR and your sinecures won't be here forever is the answer that should be given...

Wonder if the EUSSR outlasts GEOTUS.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 05/23/2018 4:55 Comments || Top||

#5  The assumption is that what will replace Trump won't be even more American centric.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 05/23/2018 7:33 Comments || Top||

#6  "Just like nobody imagined that the Obama legacy would be erased so quickly, it can happen to the other side," the source added.

Now, that's a sentence I like reading with the first cup of morning coffee!
Posted by: Raj || 05/23/2018 8:11 Comments || Top||

#7  Agreed, Raj.

Now, if that statement were to show up in, say, The New York Times...
That'd be sumpthin'.
Posted by: Bobby || 05/23/2018 9:01 Comments || Top||

#8  Like the EUSSR can do anything about it.
Posted by: DarthVader || 05/23/2018 9:27 Comments || Top||

#9  ^ Re#6 & #7-- Best Feel Good Story to wake up to! Can read it again tomorrow and smile then, too.
Posted by: magpie || 05/23/2018 10:18 Comments || Top||

#10  Not forever, but maybe long enough.
Posted by: Skidmark || 05/23/2018 11:12 Comments || Top||

#11  No, Trump won't be president forever. At some point Nikki Haley will take over, and then we'll be seeing billboards with Trump's face and the caption "Miss me yet?"
Posted by: Matt || 05/23/2018 12:28 Comments || Top||

#12  Whereas, Brussel bureaucrats last longer than styrofoam cups and Twinkies (oh, also cockroaches).
Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839 || 05/23/2018 16:11 Comments || Top||


Arabia
Houthi rocket fire kills 5 in Yemen: Medics
[AlAhram] Rockets fired by Yemen's Houthi
...a Zaidi Shia insurgent group operating in Yemen. They have also been referred to as the Believing Youth. Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi is said to be the spiritual leader of the group and most of the military leaders are his relatives. The Yemeni government has accused the Houthis of having ties to the Iranian government, which wouldn't suprise most of us. The group has managed to gain control over all of Saada Governorate and parts of Amran, Al Jawf and Hajjah Governorates. Its slogan is God is Great, Death to America™, Death to Israel, a curse on the Jews ...
rebels killed five people and maimed 18 early Tuesday as they struck a residential area in government stronghold Marib, medical sources said.

State-run news agency Saba gave the same corpse count, but reported that 22 people were maimed in unguided rocket strikes it blamed on the Iran-allied rebels.

The war in Yemen
...an area of the Arabian Peninsula sometimes mistaken for a country. It is populated by more antagonistic tribes and factions than you can keep track of. Except for a tiny handfull of Jews everthing there is very Islamic...
pitches the internationally recognised government of Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi and a Saudi-led coalition against the Houthi fighters.

The conflict has left nearly 10,000 people dead and more than 55,000 maimed, according to the World Health Organization.

More than 2,200 others have died from cholera and millions are on the verge of famine in what the United Nations
...aka the Oyster Bay Chowder and Marching Society...
says is the world's gravest humanitarian crisis.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [3 views] Top|| File under: Houthis


Afghanistan
19 killed, several wounded in multiple attacks in Afghanistan
[DAWN] The Taliban
...Arabic for students...
launched a wave of attacks in Afghanistan's eastern province of Ghazni, killing at least 14 coppers, including a district police chief and a reserve unit's commander, Afghan officials said on Tuesday.

Provincial council member Hassan Reza Yusoufi said seven of the officers were killed in the district of Dih Yak, including Faizullah Toofan, the police chief, and reserve commander Haji Baraket. Another seven were killed in Jaghatu district.

The attacks started on Monday night and continued on Tuesday in Dih Yak, Jaghatu, Ajristan and Qarabagh districts, according to Arif Noori, front man for the provincial governor.

Noori said at least 12 other members of the security forces were maimed in the attacks in Dih Yak and Jaghatu districts.

Taliban fighters stormed several checkpoints in Dih Yak and Jaghatu, setting off intense battles there, said Latifa Akbari, the head of the provincial council in Ghazni.

Taliban front man Zabihullah Mujahid grabbed credit for the attacks in a statement to the media. He claimed the Jaghatu district headquarters was captured as well as several police checkpoints in Dih Yak.
The view from Afghanistan:
Taliban launch large scale attack on Ghazni districts

[Khaama Press] The Talibs launched a large scale attack on two districts of southeastern Ghazni province amid reports several security personnel have bit the dust during the festivities.

A provincial council member Ahmad Faqiri confirmed the attack and said several security personnel were martyred during the festivities with the Taliban bully boys.

He said the commander of Deh Yak police commandment and the reserved forces commander are among those who have bit the dust in the attack.

The Taliban group claims that the fighters of the group have taken control of the two districts.

However,
it's easy to be generous with someone else's money...
a politician representing Ghazni province, Arif Rahmani said heavy festivities are underway in the district since the launch of the attack last night.

Rahmani further added that the two districts are on the verge of collapse however he did not confirm the fall of the two districts.

He also confirmed the casualties of the security forces during the festivities with the Taliban turbans but did not elaborate regarding the exact number.

In the meantime, reports indicate at least 20 security personnel were martyred during the festivities but there are no reports regarding the Taliban casualties.

This comes as heavy festivities are underway in Ghazni after the Taliban turbans launched coordinated attacks in Ghazni province nearly ten days ago.
Posted by: Fred || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Syria Police Deploy in South Damascus after IS Defeat
[AnNahar] Syrian police deployed across devastated districts in southern Damascus on Tuesday, according to state media, a day after the government captured the area from the Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems....
group.

The government on Monday seized the Yarmuk Paleostinian camp and adjacent neighborhoods of Tadamun and Hajar al-Aswad, putting Damascus fully under its control for the first time since 2012.

On Tuesday, police units entered Yarmuk and Hajar al-Aswad and planted the two-star Syrian flag there, state television
... and if you can't believe state television who can you believe?
reported.

It broadcast images of security forces atop a pockmarked multi-story building in Yarmuk where they had hung the national flag.

They had also plastered pictures of Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad
Light of the Alawites...
and his predecessor and father Hafez.

Other coppers gathered in the ravaged streets below and had gun sex in celebration.

"The police are present round-the-clock," said one officer interviewed on the state broadcaster.

"Special units are deployed across the camp to help any civilians and protect their belongings," he said.

It also showed footage from Hajar al-Aswad of a convoy of police cars and cycle of violences making its way through dusty streets lined with crumbling buildings.

There were no civilians in sight.

Yarmuk, Hajar al-Aswad and the nearby district of Tadamun all lie in a southern pocket of Damascus that had escaped regime control for several years.

The government began losing its grip on parts of the capital in 2012, just one year after the conflict in Syria erupted.

But it has made a comeback this year, with Assad using a mix of military pressure and evacuation deals to flush rebels and jihadists out of Damascus and its outskirts.

His troops and allied Paleostinian fighters turned their sights on Yarmuk and the other IS-held parts of the capital last month.

IS overran Yarmuk in 2015, but the massive Paleostinian camp had already been ravaged by years of rebel infighting and government attacks.

Syria's army announced it had seized Yarmuk from IS on Monday.

Several sources, including the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and a military source close to Damascus, said the capture came after a negotiated withdrawal of IS fighters. The government has denied such a deal.

U.N. Says 'Severe Damage' in Syria's Yarmuk Makes Returns Unlikely
Damascenes no doubt are heaving sigh of relief at the thought that their lawless Palestimian neighbours have moved elsewhere, while developers calculate profits to be made on the fancy new apartment blocks they’ll be able to build once the explosives have been cleared away.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [7 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State


Europe
New flotilla set to leave Denmark in bid to break blockade on Gaza
[IsraelTimes] Two-month journey will see vessels stopping at European ports for activities in support of Paleostinian 'March of Return'
Another road trip for Israel’s frogmen, and after that we’ll see.
A new flotilla of ships intent on breaking Israel’s 10-year blockade of the Gazoo Strip was due to set sail on Tuesday from the Danish port of Copenhagen.

The two-month journey will see the ships stopping off at several European ports to take part in activities supporting the Paleostinians’ so-called "March of Return."

It is under the "March of Return" banner that more than 100 Paleostinians have been killed in violent festivities with Israeli security forces along the border fence since March 30 ‐ most of them members of the Hamas, the well-beloved offspring of the Moslem Brotherhood, terror group, according to the group itself.

The flotilla has been planned by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an umbrella of organizations aiming to end the closure.

The ships will carry names such as "Return" (al-Awda), "Freedom," and "Paleostine."

Among those on board will be Prof. Ismail Nazari, chairman of Malaysia’s boycott Israel campaign; Charlie Andreason of Sweden, who spent time in Israeli detention for his role on the Marianne, a Swedish-flagged trawler leading a flotilla of boats in June 2015; Spanish Jewish activist Zohar Shamir Chamberlain; and Heather Milton-Lightening, an activist for indigenous Canadians.

Two years ago, 13 women, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Mairead Maguire of Northern Ireland, were detained and then deported after their sailboat, "Women’s Boat to Gazoo," was stopped around 35 nautical miles off the coast of Gazoo on its way to break the blockade.

The most notorious flotilla sailed in 2010 and involved the Ottoman Turkish flag-bearing Mavi Marmara, the biggest ship in a six-vessel convoy.

IDF commandos who boarded the ship were violently attacked by those on board. Nine Ottoman Turkish citizens, including one with American citizenship, were killed in the ensuing melee, and a tenth died of his wounds years later. A number of Israeli soldiers were maimed in the raid.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Hamas

#1  I hate to be pedantic, but you can't call it a "March of Return" if you are going by ship.
Posted by: SteveS || 05/23/2018 0:28 Comments || Top||

#2  I hate to be pedantic, but you can't call it a "March of Return" if you are going by ship

What if they left sometime between February and April?
Posted by: Classer || 05/23/2018 1:08 Comments || Top||

#3  Going to have to snake their way through a lot of refuge boat traffic trying to cross over to Europe during that time.
Posted by: Ulaigum Ebbineng7056 || 05/23/2018 1:30 Comments || Top||

#4  Easy enough, "Hotel California" then reef creation.
Posted by: Skidmark || 05/23/2018 4:03 Comments || Top||

#5  Charlie Andreason of Sweden

Meanwhile, Muslim refugees can have a ride on your sister, Charlie.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 05/23/2018 4:27 Comments || Top||

#6  Another sea cruise for semi-rich leftists - sink it when they get to the harbor in Marseilles.
Posted by: Raj || 05/23/2018 8:16 Comments || Top||

#7  Funded by older women seeking some "exciting" cock.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 05/23/2018 10:36 Comments || Top||


-Lurid Crime Tales-
Witness Said Awan Wiretapped Her, Then Bank Account She Controlled Was Drained
[DAILYCALLER] After former Democratic IT aide Imran Awan allegedly threatened his stepmother not to talk to police, her email account was accessed in suspicious ways and a lawyer for one of Awan’s brothers found out she emailed the FBI on specific dates and lashed out at her: "You’re a liar, aren’t you?"

Days after that, a bank account the stepmother controlled was almost completely drained through a payment to Imran’s brother, Abid Awan, bank records show ‐ but she said she is too afraid to press criminal charges because she claims he has threatened her. The stepmother, Samina Gilani, also previously said Imran stole two laptops from her.

Imran, Abid and Jamal Awan ‐ along with Imran’s wife, Hina Alvi, and a friend ‐ worked as IT administrators for 1 out of every 5 House Democrats and could read all their emails and files until police banned them from the network in February 2017 for "numerous violations of House security policies."

Months later, none of the family is in jail, and the stepmother and other witnesses have said Imran and Abid have used their freedom to try to steer the outcome of the case since, including by threatening them not to cooperate with authorities, TheDCNF previously reported.

In April 2016, the House’s Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) detected allegedly falsified purchase orders, and the Inspector General quickly expanded the scope to investigate cyber violations, finding that members of the Awan family improperly accessed congressmen’s servers and the House Democratic Caucus server thousands of times.

Though House officials suspected that equipment was being stolen, the Capitol Police did not search their homes, The Daily Caller News Foundation learned, and did not ban them from the network until nearly a year later. In the meantime, evidence appears to have been compromised: In December 2016, the CAO notified congressmen that the caucus server had physically disappeared.

Though Abid played a prominent role in the late-2016 IG report, he has not been tossed in the clink
Drop the rod and step away witcher hands up!
, with congressmen saying a criminal investigation is ongoing.

In January 2017, in the days around his father’s death, Abid removed Gilani as the beneficiary of his father’s life insurance and replaced her with himself, which led to a lawsuit, TheDCNF previously reported.

Abid’s attorney, Jim Bacon, used the life insurance lawsuit to force Gilani to sit for a sworn deposition Oct. 4, 2017 in which he told her to reveal what she told the FBI about the congressional criminal probe and tried to get her to find out details from Sherlocks.
Posted by: Fred || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [5 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistain Proxies

#1  Is he the "Russian" that led to the release of the Clinton emails they are blaiming Trump for? If so. as long as he is free he will not fess up to it.
Posted by: Omeger Gray6606 || 05/23/2018 5:15 Comments || Top||

#2  Has anyone eliminated Awan as a possible suspect in the Seth Rich murder?
Posted by: Airandee || 05/23/2018 6:22 Comments || Top||

#3  Ever notice how the loyal individual democratic members of congress have been to Pelosi and the executive power structure ?
Posted by: Besoeker || 05/23/2018 6:51 Comments || Top||

#4  Sounds like a bad episode of The Soprano's....
Posted by: CrazyFool || 05/23/2018 7:43 Comments || Top||

#5  Need that coveted second cup of coffee - I read the headline as 'Witness said Awan tapped her...'
Posted by: Raj || 05/23/2018 8:22 Comments || Top||

#6  Though Abid played a prominent role in the late-2016 IG report, he has not been tossed in the clink, with congressmen saying a criminal investigation is ongoing.

Sure seems to take a long, long time to investigate things in DC.
Posted by: Abu Uluque || 05/23/2018 9:33 Comments || Top||

#7  Sure seems to take a long, long time to investigate things in DC

Especially when the suspect(s) know too much.
Posted by: Mullah Richard || 05/23/2018 12:25 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan
ISIS extracting Talc worth millions of Dollars from Nangarhar Mines: Report
[Khaama Press] The Global Witness organization has reported that the Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems....
of Iraq and Syria Khurasan (ISIS-K) is extracting Talc from the deposits/mines in eastern Nangarhar
The unfortunate Afghan province located adjacent to Mohmand, Kurram, and Khyber Agencies. The capital is Jalalabad. The province was the fief of Younus Khalis after the Soviets departed and one of his sons is the current provincial Taliban commander. Nangarhar is Haqqani country..
province of Afghanistan.

According to a new report by the Global Witness, citing unnamed sources, the group has brought in foreign engineers from Pakistain and Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
and installed heavy machinery at the mining sites in Nangarhar province.

The sources have also added that phones are banned and locals are searched and monitored by the groups near the mines.

The report also adds that the majority of talc extracted from Nangarhar mines are smuggled across to Pakistain at the Torkham border where it can eventually be shipped out to other markets.

Nick Donovan, a campaign director at Global Witness, has said "The vast majority of minerals from krazed killer-controlled mines in Nangarhar openly goes through government-held territory on the main roads to Pakistain."

"It is all but certain that individuals and companies in China, Europe
...also known as Moslem Lebensraum...
and the U.S. are effectively, if inadvertently, funding krazed killer groups," Donovan added.

Qadeer Khan Mutfi, a front man for the ministry of mines and petroleum of Afghanistan quoted in the report said the government has shut down at least a hundred illegal mines in the past year.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State

#1  That's gotta be a lotta talc!

Although talcum powder and soapstone are two of the more visible uses of talc, they account for a very small fraction of talc consumption. Its hidden uses are far more common. Talc's unique properties make it an important ingredient for making ceramics, paint, paper, roofing materials, plastics, rubber, insecticides, and many other products. The Mineral Talc
Posted by: Bobby || 05/23/2018 8:58 Comments || Top||

#2  Ought to be pretty easy to target a mine.
Posted by: Skidmark || 05/23/2018 11:09 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Iran’s People Will ‘Punch Pompeo in the Mouth’: Iranian Official
Speaking loudly, while carrying a small stick?
[BREITBART] Iranians will punch U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in the mouth if he makes any attempt to tighten sanctions on the Islamic Theocratic Republic, a senior Revolutionary Guards commander said on Tuesday.

"The people of Iran should stand united in the face of this and they will deliver a strong punch to the mouth of the American Secretary of State and anyone who backs them," said Ismail Kowsari, the deputy commander of the Tehran-based Sarollah Revolutionary Guards, according to the Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA).

"Who are you and America to tell us to limit the range of ballistic missiles?" Kowsari said, according to ILNA. "History has shown that with the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki America is the top criminal with regard to missiles," he added
Posted by: Fred || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [5 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran

#1  I notice they don't say anything about punching Mattis in the mouth,,,,
Posted by: Whavick Spereling4976 || 05/23/2018 8:17 Comments || Top||

#2  How about a Tomahawk up you ass, Kowsari? Consider it an American enema.
Posted by: Raj || 05/23/2018 10:06 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan
More Taliban positions pounded in latest raids after last week’s attack in Farah
[Khaama Press] The Afghan and US forces have carried out a series of new operations against the Taliban
...the Pashtun equivalent of men...
targets in western Farah province in response to last week’s coordinated attack on the scenic provincial capital. (US Air Force Photo)

The 207th Zafar Corps of the Afghan Military in the West said the latest operations were conducted in the vicinity of Bala Bolok district, jointly by the Afghan and US forces.

The source further added at least thirty Talibs including two of their commanders were killed or maimed during the operations conducted in Piyo Paso area.

According to Zafar Corps, the two Taliban local commanders killed during the operations have been identified as Salim and Salam.

In the meantime, the Ministry of Defense says the security forces also conducted operations in Pas Aab, Ziarat Ganj, North and South of Pancharmani, and Char Kocha.

The ministry of defense put the total casualties of the Taliban forces of Evil at least 33 Taliban dead at least 12 others maimed.

This comes as the Taliban group launched a coordinated attack on Farah city last week but the Afghan forces manage to repel the attack although the Taliban group murderous Moslems managed to briefly intrude into the city.

Report regarding Farah war presented to President Ghani

[Khaama Press] The security officials have presented a report regarding the Farah after their return from a visit to the province following the Taliban
...the Pashtun equivalent of men...
attack on the lovely provincial capital.

The Office of the President, ARG Palace said the report regarding the Farah was presented by the security officials during a meeting of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces chaired by President Ghani.

Without disclosing further information regarding the report, the ARG Palace added that the security officials also briefed the meeting regarding the security of Faryab, Baghlan, Jawzjan, Kunduz, Badakhshan, Paktia, Paktika
...which coincidentally borders South Wazoo...
, Ghazni, Uruzgan, Zabul, Helmnd, Farah, Ghor, Balkh and Badghis provinces.

According to ARG Palace, President Ghani issued necessary instructions to thwart the enemy movements and improve the security of the named provinces.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Africa North
Egypt military court sentences journalist Ismail Alexandrani to ten years in prison
[AlAhram] An Egyptian military court sentenced on Tuesday Egyptian journalist and researcher Ismail Alexandrani to ten years in prison for spreading false news and joining a banned group.

Alexandrani, a prominent journalist and an expert on hard boy groups in the North Sinai, was incarcerated
You have the right to remain silent...
after arriving at Hurghada airport from Germany in December 2015.

He was referred to a military trial for a number of charges including spreading false news and joining a banned group, in reference to the Moslem Brüderbund.
A dreadful charge, of course, but it seems a tad unlikely given his interst in Ansar Bayt al Maqdis/ISIS in the Sinai.
This is a first degree military court ruling that can be appealed within 60 days of its ratification.
...and possibly five years from now the final ruling after the final appeal will be handed down, Mr. Alexandrani having languished in orison the entire time.
The Times of Israel adds:
Alexandrani had been in pretrial detention for two and a half years since his arrest in the Red Sea resort of Hurghada after he returned from a work trip in Berlin.

An expert on jihadist movements in North Sinai, where security forces are fighting an insurgency led by the Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems....
group, Alexandrani had been to Germany to deliver lectures on the political situation in Egypt, his wife Khadija Gaafar had said at the time.

Alexandrani was also known for his anti-regime writings and for criticising the military’s role in politics, and was a contributor to publications including the French online magazine Orient XXI, which confirmed his sentencing on Twitter.

Co-defendant Walid Mohareb was also sentenced to 10 years in prison in the same trial, which included 18 others who were being tried in absentia, Abdel Aal said.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis (IS)


Europe
Violent Crime Hits France as Macron Presents Urban Poverty Plan
Good luck, guys. Seriously, we really hope this will work.
[AnNahar] Shocking images of masked button men opening fire in Marseille and a brutal daylight murder underlined the problem of urban violence in La Belle France Tuesday as President Emmanuel Macron announces a strategy to tackle the issue.

One person was injured on Monday when black-clad men carrying Kalashnikov machine guns opened fire in a notorious area known for drug-dealing in Marseille at around 5:00 pm (1500 GMT).

Footage of the incident in the crime-ridden Busserine public housing estate, which was broadcast on French television, showed a carload of men dressed like commandos openly brandishing their weapons.

"According to a witness, one person was kidnapped and put in a car by people who had gun sex several times," Marseille prosecutor Xavier Tarabeux told news hounds.

The brazen display of muscle was thought to be linked to a local pie fight for control of the drug trade in the sprawling industrial city, where tit-for-tat murders between rival gangs are common.

Elsewhere in La Belle France, police in the southern city of Pau are still investigating the murder of a 32-year-old man in another poverty-ridden, high-immigration area, who was beaten to death by a gang of teenagers.

Terrified witnesses, some of them picnicking with children early on Friday evening, have helped identify three suspects who are thought to have taken part in what Le Gay Pareeien newspaper described as a "horrifying lynching."

The incidents came as Macron prepares to unveil a long-awaited strategy for tackling the entrenched social problems which are concentrated in many ghettoized areas of the country's towns and cities.

The 40-year-old leader has faced criticism from many associations and leftist politicians for failing to put the problems of the poorest areas of La Belle France at the heart of his agenda since his election in May 2017.

A host of local officials from such areas, where immigrants colonists have concentrated over decades, have warned about the problems of crime, poverty and Islamism blighting the lives of local families.

Many of the jihadists inspired by the Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems....
group that have struck La Belle France since 2015 have hailed from marginalized, often high-rise areas known as "les banlieues" where public housing is concentrated.

- Not 'top-down' -
Presidential aides have said Macron will avoid announcing a new strategy based on huge increases in public spending.

"The aim is not to reinvent grand projects" that are "top-down", an aide told news hounds last week.

Macron is likely instead to insist on his government's record of investing in schools in poor areas, creating a new community police service for crime-hit zones, and economic reforms which he believes will generate more jobs.

He is also expected to back new efforts to tackle discrimination that sees many young people from poor areas, particularly those with African or Arab-sounding names, struggle to find jobs.

Also over the weekend, a 41-year-old man was stabbed to death in a shop after a row in a gang-plagued area of Seine-Saint-Denis northeast of Gay Paree. Ten people have been incarcerated
Please don't kill me!
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [3 views] Top|| File under: Moslem Colonists

#1  Shocking images of masked button men opening fire in Marseille

Tell me again about those European gun laws?
Posted by: Procopius2k || 05/23/2018 7:30 Comments || Top||

#2  But don't they already have Urban Poverty?
Posted by: Skidmark || 05/23/2018 11:14 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Culture Wars
Parents Take 30-Year-Old Son To Court To Evict Him From Their Home
[Philadelphia.CBSLocal] A couple in New York state is very interested in experiencing empty-nest syndrome so they’re kicking their son out of their house.

Now, a court in Onondaga County is reviewing the case.

Mark and Christina Rotondo say their 30-year-old son, Michael Rotondo, doesn’t pay rent and doesn’t help out.

In several letters, they explicitly told him to get out.

The parents’ warnings of eviction went unheeded so they finally filed motions to have the court remove him from their home.

Parents can kick their 30-year-old son out of their home, court rules

Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:


#2  "...but, but, but in school they taught me from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs and I have needs!"
Posted by: Procopius2k || 05/23/2018 9:07 Comments || Top||

#3  I have to guess that they had to pay their son's attorney fees since he has no job.
Posted by: airandee || 05/23/2018 14:39 Comments || Top||

#4  Millenials should put together a class action lawsuit against this guy for making them all look like lazy bastards.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 05/23/2018 14:56 Comments || Top||

#5  Millenials should put together a class action lawsuit ...

Too much work to do that.
Posted by: CrazyFool || 05/23/2018 23:31 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Well-known Tunisians caught on hidden cameras agreeing to cooperate with Israel
Smile! You’re on Candid Camera.
[IsraelTimes] New TV show, 'Shalom,' barred from channel after controversy erupts over personalities who said they would work with Jewish state for financial reward.
The stifled, who dare not say publically that they would rather just get on with life,
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I commend them. It's a good idea to work with Israel.
Posted by: newc || 05/23/2018 1:48 Comments || Top||


Great White North
Canada granting refugee status to fewer illegal border crossers
In which the Trudeau government continues to demonstrate its innate moral superiority to those vicious, Trump-electing Americans.
[Reuters] Canada is rejecting more refugee claims from people who crossed its border illegally as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government seeks to dissuade, block and turn back thousands more, according to new data obtained by Reuters.

Forty percent of such border crossers whose claims were finalized in the first three months of this year were granted refugee status, down from 53 percent for all of 2017, according to data provided by Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board. There were no claims finalized in the first three months of 2017.

The Immigration and Refugee Board said on Tuesday it has received no directives or guidance on how to deal with these border crossers.

The wave of border crossings started up in January 2017 and ramped up over the summer as many Haitian immigrants in the United States who were at risk of losing their temporary legal status streamed into Canada on expectations they could find a safe haven. In the months since, thousands of Nigerians have made the same crossing.

More than 27,000 asylum seekers have walked across the Canada-U.S. border since President Donald Trump took office, some of whom have told Reuters they left the United States because of Trump’s policies and anti-immigrant rhetoric.

The influx has strained Canada’s backlogged system for assisting people seeking refugee status, leaving aid agencies scrambling to meet growing demand for housing and social services.

Trudeau’s government has sought to stem the influx by amending a U.S.-Canadian border pact that turns back asylum seekers at border crossings, but allows immigrants who enter the country outside of an official border crossing to apply for refugee status.

Canada sent its immigration and refugee minister to Nigeria, asking the Nigerian government to help discourage its citizens from crossing into Canada, and asking the United States to deny visas to people who might then go to Canada.

Immigration and Refugee Board data shows that while only a small number of border-crosser claims have been processed, acceptance rates are down for all groups seeking refugee status. The success rate is especially low for Haitians and Nigerians, with overall acceptance rates of 9 percent and 33.5 percent, respectively.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: Moslem Colonists

#1  You get more of what you subsidize. Just saying.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 05/23/2018 7:28 Comments || Top||

#2  Don't forget you also get it at lower quality.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 05/23/2018 9:46 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Report: Explosions heard at Iranian facility near Damascus Monday morning
Missed this earlier, so here it is.
[IsraelTimes] Sky News Arabia says blasts target electronic warfare facility used by Tehran south of Syrian capital; no confirmation

Explosions rocked an area thought to house an Iranian facility near Damascus early Monday morning, according to a report in Sky News Arabia.

There was no immediate confirmation of the kaboom and it was not clear what may have caused the blasts, which came days after another mysterious kaboom at a Syrian base.
Israel's new, stealthy F35s are operational, it has been reported...
Sky News said locals reported hearing kabooms in the area of Najjah, a neighborhood south of Damascus which houses a military academy.

According to the report, the blasts are thought to have occurred at an Iranian electronic warfare facility there.

There was no immediate word from Syria, which was said to be on the verge of pushing the last pockets of Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems....
resistance out of southern Damascus on Monday.

Israel has increasingly taken aim at Iranian facilities in southern Syria over recent months as it attempts to keep Tehran from gaining a military foothold on its doorstep.

The sorties, which Israel rarely admits to openly, have led to increased tensions in the border region and earlier this month sparked a barrage of 20 missiles at northern Israel, drawing a massive Israeli reprisal attack.
Increased tensions, perhaps, but substantially less in the way of war material, manufacturing facilities, and men.
The kabooms were reported after mysterious blasts tore through weapons and fuel depots on Friday at a military airport in Syria’s Hama province, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, killing at least 28 people.

Syrian state media reported the blasts at the time but did not provide any details, while the Observatory had said they were likely due to a technical malfunction.

However,
alcohol has never solved anybody's problems. But then, neither has milk...
the Sky News Arabia outlet reported that those kabooms were caused by an attack on an advanced Iranian air defense system, despite it coming in the middle of the day, when Israel rarely carries out Arclight airstrikes.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [5 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran Proxies

#1  The Juice have a hyperdimensional gun?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 05/23/2018 4:13 Comments || Top||

#2  Reza: "It's quiet, too quiet.... oops, nevermind...."
Posted by: Whavick Spereling4976 || 05/23/2018 8:08 Comments || Top||

#3  "Nothing to see here, go about your bizness. Strictly a technical malfunction in our AA protection"
Posted by: Frank G || 05/23/2018 8:46 Comments || Top||

#4  I'd wager that it is that new line of Vegetable Crumbles in Cucumber Yogurt Sauce MREs.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 05/23/2018 10:39 Comments || Top||

#5  Re #4. Mix in some beans & mf's, some hot sauce. Makes a fantastic canteen cup omlette.
Posted by: Besoeker || 05/23/2018 10:45 Comments || Top||

#6  Northern Syria Has Israel Bomb Isis Position Bases Hoping Killing al Baghdadi & Cripple Issis
Posted by: bub || 05/23/2018 16:36 Comments || Top||


Arabia
Saudi royal urges coup to depose King Salman, protect kingdom from harm
[PRESSTV] An exiled Saudi prince has called for a coup by his influential uncles to depose King Salman
...either the largest species of Pacific salmon or the current Sheikh of the Burnin' Sands, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Lord of Most of the Arabians....
and prevent the current ruling structure led by his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
...Crown Prince of Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
as of 2016....

, from doing more damage to the kingdom.

Prince Khaled bin Farhan, who has been awarded asylum in Germany, made the call on Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz and Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz in comments to the Middle East Eye news portal published on Monday.

He asked the duo to use the influence they wield with their fellow royals as well as with the military to bring about the palace coup.

Such a change, bin Farhan asserted, was imperative to salvage the kingdom from Salman’s "irrational, erratic, and stupid" tutelage.

Saudi King Salman appointed bin Salman as the first in line to the throne in a surprise move last June that saw the monarch ousting Crown Prince Muhammed bin Nayef, who had himself replaced Muqrin in 2015.

Calling bin Salman’s meteoric rise to power into question, bin Farhan said, "If King Salman had been in a good state of health, things wouldn’t have reached this stage. When we see public policy in Saudi Arabia, we can see that King Salman is completely absent from the screen or from the political scene in Saudi Arabia."

Posted by: Fred || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [4 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Saudi Arabia

#1  Idiot
Posted by: newc || 05/23/2018 1:02 Comments || Top||

#2  >Prince Khaled bin Farhan, who has been awarded asylum in Germany,

Danke Merkel!
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 05/23/2018 4:54 Comments || Top||

#3  , who has been awarded asylum in Germany,

Rabble rousing and war mongering should be instant disqualification for asylum. Try and trigger a war where you ran from and your butt goes back there post haste.
Posted by: AlanC || 05/23/2018 7:37 Comments || Top||

#4  Was wondering how long Prince Salmon (Coho to his friends) would last - the recent crackdown on uppity women seems like a tell....
Posted by: Whavick Spereling4976 || 05/23/2018 8:14 Comments || Top||

#5  Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan al-Saud, 48 .... Khaled is the son of billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal....
Posted by: Clurong Peacock9529 || 05/23/2018 9:54 Comments || Top||

#6  Rabble rousing and war mongering should be instant disqualification for asylum. Try and trigger a war where you ran from and your butt goes back there post haste.

So much for Gulenoids, eh?
Posted by: Skidmark || 05/23/2018 13:17 Comments || Top||


Africa Subsaharan
White South African farmers claiming persecution at home seek refuge in Australia
[RT] More than 200 farmers from South Africa have applied for humanitarian visas in Australia after allegedly suffering attacks for being white, according to the Australian Home Affairs Ministry.

"The type of criteria they of course have to meet ‐ or the key one ‐ is evidence of persecution, so that's exactly what we will be looking at," Home Affairs Deputy Secretary Malisa Golightly said. Home Affairs said 89 refugee visa applications relating to 213 people had been received, although they did not specify their ethnicity or any other details.

News reports emerged earlier this year revealing that white farmers in South Africa had faced persecution after the country's government approved a new law allowing for the confiscation of their lands, which would be transferred to black citizens.

Following the reports, Australian Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton announced his willingness to start fast-tracking humanitarian visas for South Africans who had endured violent rural crime at home and wished to move Down Under. The step was slammed by the South African opposition, which called Australia, and those willing to escape there, ’racist.’

The controversial legislation was endorsed by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who pledged to hand the lands owned by white farmers since the 1600s to black citizens of the country without compensation for the owners. South Africa’s 50 million citizens are predominantly black, but 72 percent of farmland reportedly belongs to whites.

The legislation evoked strong disapproval both in the country and internationally, with a reported upsurge in violence against white farmers. Last year, some 82 people were killed in a record 423 farm attacks, and there have been 109 attacks and more than 15 murders in 2018, Afriforum, a South African civil rights group reported in March.

Posted by: Fred || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


Home Front: WoT
Son of Boston bombing 1st responder pleads guilty to terrorist bomb plot
[FoxNews] The son of a Boston police captain, Alexander Ciccolo was arrested July 4, 2015 in Adams, Mass., and accused of plotting a terrorist attack on a college campus to support the Islamic State group. He pleaded guilty Monday in federal court in Springfield, Mass.

The son of a police captain who was one of the first responders at the scene of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing pleaded guilty Monday to plotting an ISIS-style attack.

Alexander Ciccolo
...the estranged son of Boston police Captain Robert Ciccolo, he had a long history of mental illness and was on probation for a drinking conviction...
faces 20 years in prison for plotting to use guns and homemade bombs to attack a college campus to support the Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems....
group. Sentencing has been scheduled for September.

Ciccolo was tossed in the slammer
Drop the gat, Rocky, or you're a dead 'un!
in July 2015 after he received four guns he ordered from a person who was cooperating with the FBI, as Fox News previously reported. Boston police Capt. Robert Ciccolo tipped off authorities after his son said he wanted to join the Islamic State group.

Ciccolo, 25, initially was charged only with being a felon in possession of a firearm and stabbing a nurse in the head with a pen after he was brought to jail. But he later was indicted on attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and attempting to use weapons of mass destruction.

Ciccolo, who went by the name Ali Al Amriki, pleaded guilty to all charges. His plea came a month before he was set to go on trial.

His lawyer did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Prosecutors said Ciccolo told the person cooperating with authorities that he planned to commit acts of terrorism to support ISIS, including attacking an unidentified university using assault rifles and homemade bombs similar to the pressure cooker bombs used in the deadly 2013 Boston Marathon attack. The bombing at the marathon finish line killed three people and maimed more than 260 others.

Ciccolo was seen buying a pressure cooker shortly before his arrest, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors say agents found partially made Molotov cocktails in Ciccolo’s apartment after he was arrested. Investigators said posts on Ciccolo’s Facebook page included a photo of a dead American soldier that said "Thank you Islamic State!"

Federal authorities said Ciccolo’s case is a reminder that ’homegrown’ radicalization remains a threat and that citizens must speak up when they become aware of a potential threat.

"Any material support of a terrorist organization threatens our national security, and had Mr. Ciccolo’s efforts to advance his agenda not been thwarted by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, countless lives could have been lost in a lethal terrorist attack," Harold Shaw, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Boston field office, said in a statement.

Ciccolo’s mother, Shelley MacInnes, told New England Public Radio last year that her son was "very compassionate" and "would not hurt a fly." He converted to Islam a few years ago, MacInnes said.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [5 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State

#1  A Daddy resentor.
Posted by: Skidmark || 05/23/2018 13:23 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
US sanctions five Iranians it says assisted Yemen's Houthis
I have a little list...
[AlAhram] The United States on Tuesday imposed sanctions on five Iranians it said had provided Yemen's Houthis with expertise and weaponry that were then used to launch missiles at cities and oil infrastructure in Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
In a statement, the U.S. Treasury named the individuals as Mehdi Azarpisheh, Mohammad Jafari, Mahmud Kazemabad, Javad Shir Amin, and Sayyed Mohammad Tehrani. It said the first four individuals had worked with the Houthis through Iran's Revolutionary Guards, while Tehrani had helped with the financing of the Revolutionary Guard.

The fresh sanctions, part of President Donald Trump
...New York real estate developer, described by Dems as illiterate, racist, misogynistic, and what ever other unpleasant descriptions they can think of, elected by the rest of us as 45th President of the United States...
's pledge to economically suffocate Iran in hopes of hampering the country's development of nuclear weapons, come one day after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States would soon crack down on Iran's support for the Houthis. Yemen's government has been pitched against the Iran-aligned Houthi
...a Zaidi Shia insurgent group operating in Yemen. They have also been referred to as the Believing Youth. Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi is said to be the spiritual leader of the group and most of the military leaders are his relatives. The Yemeni government has accused the Houthis of having ties to the Iranian government, which wouldn't suprise most of us. The group has managed to gain control over all of Saada Governorate and parts of Amran, Al Jawf and Hajjah Governorates. Its slogan is God is Great, Death to America™, Death to Israel, a curse on the Jews ...
movement since 2015 in a war driving the country to the verge of famine

Gulf states put Hezbollah leadership on their terror lists

[Ynet] Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
and other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, placed 10 leaders of Leb's Hezbollah on their terrorism lists on Wednesday, including His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah
The satrap of the Medes and the Persians in Leb...
and his deputy Naim Qassem
... the Grand Vizier of the Hezbullies...
, Saudi state news agency SPA said.

The Gulf states also targeted four of the movement's committees, and ordered the individuals' assets and bank accounts frozen, it said.

The move followed the US Treasury which said on Wednesday imposed additional sanctions on Leb's Hezbollah leadership, targeting its top two officials, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Naim Qassem.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [5 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistain Proxies


Europe
German court refuses call for taking Puigdemont back into custody
[PRESSTV] A court in Germany has rejected a fresh call from prosecutors to have Catalonia's former President Carles Puigdemont back into custody pending a decision on his extradition to Spain, where he has led a controversial movement for the independence of Catalonia.

The state court in Schleswig said Tuesday it had disagreed and rejected the request by prosecutor to have Puigdemont back in jail based on new information purportedly showing that he had been involved in rebellion activities against the Spanish government.

Prosecutors cited videos provided by Spanish authorities showing violence against police during a campaign led by Puigdemont for Catalonia’s independence last October.

The prosecutors argued in their request to the court that "the disturbances were on such a scale that prosecutors believe that he should also be extradited over the accusation of rebellion."

Posted by: Fred || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


Germany will now train asylum seekers to become truck drivers
What could go wrong?
They can only be licensed to operate in France.
Pooh. Germany, Norway, Sweden and Belgium are queueing up to take graduates, too.
[VoiceofEurope] Due to an acute shortage of professional truck drivers the German trucking association has launched a new project to train asylum seekers for the job, Austria’s tabloid Wochenblick reports.

The project, which is named "The drive into your new future" intends to make it easier for asylum seekers to become truck drivers.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Beavis || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Moslem Colonists

#1  Dunno. That would be a mighty big leap from camel jockey.
Posted by: Ulaigum Ebbineng7056 || 05/23/2018 1:06 Comments || Top||

#2  EUrope is determined to suicide - as Puppy Blender would say: faster please.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 05/23/2018 4:29 Comments || Top||

#3  >Due to an acute shortage of professional truck drivers

Due to an acute shortage of pay rises for professional truck drivers

FIFY!
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 05/23/2018 4:58 Comments || Top||

#4  It’s unclear how the German public thinks about the initiative.


What is clear is that those in charge don't give a $#it what the public thinks.
Posted by: AlanC || 05/23/2018 7:58 Comments || Top||

#5  ...because you can't kill enough people with a car?
Posted by: Whavick Spereling4976 || 05/23/2018 8:16 Comments || Top||

#6  Nope, nothing could go wrong here!
Posted by: Raj || 05/23/2018 8:19 Comments || Top||

#7  US Shortage as well... They should insist more women try
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 05/23/2018 9:43 Comments || Top||

#8  If they have ISIS Fuel Truck driving experience from Syria send to the front of the class.
Posted by: airandee || 05/23/2018 14:37 Comments || Top||

#9  Self driving trucks could alleviate some of the shortage in the US, especially on Long hauls on the interstates.

Of course, the Teamsters Union will fight self driving trucks tooth and nail.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia || 05/23/2018 14:41 Comments || Top||

#10  Oh, just another retrained refugee moving a load of fertilizer towards city center. Let him go.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 05/23/2018 14:52 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Israeli jets strike Gaza seaport, Hamas tunnel
Consequences.
[IsraelTimes] Army says sorties in response to cross-border raid in which Paleostinians sneaked across fence and set sniper post on fire

Israeli planes bombed several sites throughout the Gazoo Strip early Wednesday morning, including a seaport west of Gazoo City and a tunnel used by Hamas, a contraction of the Arabic words for "frothing at the mouth",, the IDF said.

The military said the strikes were carried out in response to an incident earlier in the day in which Gazooks sneaked across the border and destroyed an Israeli sniper’s nest.

"A few minutes ago, our warplanes struck underground terror infrastructure used by Hamas in the north of the Gazoo Strip and two targets belonging to Hamas’s naval forces," the army said in a statement at 4:30 a.m.

Paleostinians had reported on kabooms at Hamas sites in the central and northern Strip.

A news site affiliated with Hamas said six missiles hit a facility belonging to the terror group in Jabaliya in the northern Strip.

Paleostinians also said Gazoo’s small seaport was targeted, with at least two fishing boats destroyed and parts of the facility on fire.

Sources claimed three missiles targeted the site, two from the east and one from off the coast.

There was no immediate word on casualties.

The raid came hours after an Israeli tank fired on a Hamas observation post in response to a cross-border raid in which Gazooks cut through the fence and set an IDF tent used by snipers on fire.

Video from the Tuesday incident aired by al-Jazeera and apparently filmed by one of the infiltrators with a body cam showed approximately 10 people taking part in the raid before sneaking back undetected.

With few exceptions, Israel holds the Hamas terrorist group, which rules Gazoo, responsible for all violence that emanates from the coastal enclave, regardless of who carries it out.

Tensions along the Gazoo border have been high since March 30, which marked the start of a series of violent protests along the security fence, known collectively as the "March of Return."

Though the past weekend was the quietest since the weekly riots began eight weeks ago, the military has remained on high alert in the area out of concern the situation.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Hamas


Iraq
The Populist Revolt Reaches Iraq
by Michael Totten
A taste:
[World Affairs Journal] You remember Moqtada al Sadr. He’s the guy who mounted an Iranian-backed Shia insurgency against the United States, the Iraqi government and his Sunni civilian neighbors between 2003 and 2008. He’s a very different person today. He still raises and shakes his fist in the air but today he’s shaking it at crooked elites, and he’s shaking it at his former Iranian patrons.

“If corrupt (officials) and quotas remain,” Sadr declared, “the entire government will be brought down and no one will be exempt.” In other words, drain the swamp.

He’s Iraq’s version of the rabble-rousing populist: fundamentalist, anti-establishment and anti-foreigner. A champion of the working class and a declared enemy of liberal Western ideas. His list even included Muntadhar al-Zaidi, the colorful journalist who famously threw a shoe at President George W. Bush at a press conference in Baghdad in 2008.

He would of course be nowhere without the Westerners he despises. Americans, after all, cleared Saddam Hussein’s totalitarian Baath Party regime out of the way and established the election system that put him on top. He’d also be nowhere without Iran. His former allies in the Islamic Republic next door armed his Mahdi Army militia and gave him refuge when the Americans were coming to get him.

Now that the United States is (mostly) gone from Iraq, and now that Iran has been mucking around in Iraqi politics to disastrous effect for more than a decade, Sadr has become as anti-Iranian as he is anti-American. He’s not at all happy with a foreign capital using his government as a hand-puppet, whether that foreign capital is Washington, DC, or Tehran.

Sadr is painfully reactionary and more than a little bit dangerous. He’s also complicated. He is a Shia sectarian whose militia brutally “cleansed” Sunnis from neighborhoods in and around Baghdad but he’s also what passes today for an Iraqi nationalist, disavowing violence against all Iraqis and opposing all foreign influence. “We won’t allow the Iraqis to be cannon fodder for the wars of others nor be used in proxy wars outside Iraq,” says Sadrist movement member Jumah Bahadily of the Syrian civil war.

He also forged an alliance with communists—a horrifying ideological cocktail from the point of view of any liberal-minded Westerner, but alas there are few Jeffersonian democrats in old Mesopotamia. There are however, some secular reformists and technocrats, and they also formed an alliance with the Sadrists. Tehran has taken notice and isn’t happy about it. “We will not allow liberals and communists to govern in Iraq,” says Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to Iranian ruler Ayatollah Khamenei.
Posted by: newc || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iraq

#1  He’s Iraq’s version of the rabble-rousing populist: fundamentalist, anti-establishment and anti-foreigner. A champion of the working class and a declared enemy of liberal Western ideas.
Another Fascist... Another Hitler. Instead of Jews he likes to kill Sunni, fights the "Far Satan' (i.e. Western) Menace instead of a crypto-Jewish Communist Menace, and so forth and so on.
Posted by: magpie || 05/23/2018 1:26 Comments || Top||

#2  ...Oh, he'll be canoodling with the Iranians again in no time at all.

You can tell when they're lying; their lips are moving.

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski || 05/23/2018 9:45 Comments || Top||

#3  Never trust an Arab, never trust a Ru.....well, you know the rest.
Posted by: Besoeker || 05/23/2018 10:57 Comments || Top||

#4  Taqiya
Posted by: Mullah Richard || 05/23/2018 12:26 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
From hospital, Abbas shown reading newspaper with anti-Israel cartoon
[IsraelTimes] Paleostinian Authority president remains hospitalized with pneumonia for third day, no timeframe given for his discharge.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Palestinian Authority

#1  Well what did you think he'd read? The NYT?....um, nevermind.....
Posted by: Whavick Spereling4976 || 05/23/2018 8:11 Comments || Top||

#2  Give him a tablet with Rantburg as the permanent home page
Posted by: Frank G || 05/23/2018 10:23 Comments || Top||


-Lurid Crime Tales-
Law firm of Stormy Daniels' attorney hit with $10-million judgment
CNN's favorite ethical source
[LATimes] The law firm of Stormy Daniels' attorney Michael Avenatti was hit with a $10-million judgment Tuesday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court after he broke his promise to pay $2 million to a former colleague.

Judge Catherine Bauer of U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Santa Ana ordered the Eagan Avenatti law firm to pay the $10 million to Jason Frank, a lawyer who used to work at the Newport Beach firm.

"At this point, that's what's appropriate," Bauer said at a brief hearing.

To settle his law firm's bankruptcy, Avenatti had personally guaranteed that the $2 million would be paid to Frank last week, but both he and his firm failed to turn over the money.

At the hearing, the U.S. Justice Department revealed that Avenatti's firm has also defaulted on back taxes that it promised to pay the Internal Revenue Service under another bankruptcy settlement.

Assistant U.S. Atty. Najah Shariff told the judge that the federal government would soon file a motion demanding payment of the back taxes.
Posted by: Frank G || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1 
Posted by: Ulaigum Ebbineng7056 || 05/23/2018 1:04 Comments || Top||

#2  ...Mr Avenatti's cunning plan: Refuse to pay the money and if the Feds step in to enforce it, scream persecution because he's Standing Up To Power(TM).

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski || 05/23/2018 5:22 Comments || Top||

#3 
Posted by: JohnQC || 05/23/2018 9:31 Comments || Top||

#4  Ref #3. Apologies to John. I fat fingered my fone. TW may be able to fix. Again, my apologies.
Posted by: Besoeker || 05/23/2018 11:04 Comments || Top||

#5  :)
Posted by: JohnQC || 05/23/2018 11:47 Comments || Top||


MS-13 gang member nicknamed ‘Animal’ sentenced to 40 years
[WASHINGTONTIMES] An MS-13 member who goes by the gang name "Animal" received a 40-year prison sentence this week for a conspiracy that included the murder of a 15-year-old boy, the U.S. attorney’s office in Massachusetts said Tuesday.

The nickname, which the prosecutors highlighted in the headline of a blurb, is particularly telling, coming just a week after President Trump called members of the violent, immigrant-fueled MS-13 gang "animals."

Joel Martinez, 23, admitted he murdered the 15-year-old as part of his initiation as a "homeboy" in Mara Salvatrucha, the gang’s full name.

"I stabbed the culero three times," Mr. Martinez said, according to prosecutors. "He stared at me and he asked me if I was going to, if I was going to stab him. I told him, ’Yes, the Mara rules you.’"

Culero is a derogatory MS-13 members use for a rival gang. Killing a rival gang member was a requirement for achieving full status in MS-13 in Massachusetts, the FBI says.

Posted by: Fred || 05/23/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Narcos

#1  Remember his victim got the death sentence. Isn't it great to live in a society so rich it can warehouse hundreds of thousands of sociopaths for their lifetime. Signal your virtue!
Posted by: Procopius2k || 05/23/2018 7:25 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
30[untagged]
8Islamic State
5Moslem Colonists
3Taliban
3Commies
3Hamas
2Govt of Iraq
2Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis (IS)
2Govt of Pakistain Proxies
2Govt of Pakistan
2Sublime Porte
2Govt of Iran
1Narcos
1Palestinian Authority
1Houthis
1Govt of Saudi Arabia
1Hezbollah
1Govt of Iran Proxies
1Boko Haram (ISIS)
1Arab Spring

Bookmark
E-Mail Me

The Classics
The O Club
Rantburg Store
Comments Spam
The Bloids
The Never-ending Story
Thugburg
RSS Links
Gulf War I
The Way We Were
Bio
Sink Trap

Alzheimer's Association
Day by Day
Counterterrorism
Hair Through the Ages







On Sale now!


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

Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.

Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has dominated Mexico for six years.
Click here for more information

Meet the Mods
In no particular order...
Steve White
Seafarious
tu3031
badanov
sherry
ryuge
GolfBravoUSMC
Bright Pebbles
trailing wife
Gloria
Fred
Besoeker
Glenmore
Frank G
3dc
Skidmark

Two weeks of WOT
Wed 2018-05-23
  Iraq arrests a senior Islamic State executioner in Kirkuk
Tue 2018-05-22
  Taliban leader Mullah Din Mohammad and comrades killed in Farah airstrike
Mon 2018-05-21
  ISIS foils rebel offensive in west Daraa, kills scores
Sun 2018-05-20
  Saudi Air Defenses Intercept Houthi Ballistic Missile
Sat 2018-05-19
  1,000 protest Friday on Gaza border as Hamas chief vows to lead new demonstrations
Fri 2018-05-18
  Brazil charges 11 people with trying to set up Islamic State cell
Thu 2018-05-17
   Top al-Qaeda leader for the Indian Subcontinent killed in Afghanistan
Wed 2018-05-16
  Islamic State’s financial chief of Diyala State, another member arrested
Tue 2018-05-15
  Iraq sentences man to death by hanging for slaughtering Russian diplomat
Mon 2018-05-14
  Liveblogging Israel: Gaza Riots, American Embassy Ribbon Cutting to Come
Sun 2018-05-13
  ISIS militants kill 9 of their own comrades in Nangarhar province
Sat 2018-05-12
  12 militants killed in Special Forces raids in Laghman
Fri 2018-05-11
  Clashes erupt in Bethlehem on 70th Nakba Day protests
Thu 2018-05-10
  After alleged Iranian barrage, Israel launches massive counterattack in Syria
Wed 2018-05-09
  Israel Will 'Eliminate' Assad if He Continues to Let Iran Operate From Syria, Minister Warns

Better than the average link...



Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
3.133.147.87
Paypal:
WoT Operations (18)    WoT Background (24)    Non-WoT (24)    (0)    Politix (3)