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Iraq Forces Retake Last IS-Held Town in Country
Today's Headlines
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Home Front: Politix
Trump Tells Hillary To 'Get On With Your Life'
If only she would heed this advice...
[Yahoo] President Trump on Saturday returned to attacking his favorite target: Hillary Clinton, the election foe he vanquished more than a year ago.

"Crooked Hillary Clinton is the worst (and biggest) loser of all time," the commander in chief tweeted.

Trump continued: "She just can’t stop, which is so good for the Republican Party. Hillary, get on with your life and give it another try in three years!"
Posted by: Raj || 11/18/2017 13:17 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  It is her life.
Posted by: gorb || 11/18/2017 13:51 Comments || Top||

#2  She seems a little worried lately.
Posted by: JohnQC || 11/18/2017 14:34 Comments || Top||

#3  @#2: True 'dat. Although nothing rhymes with orange, it can be accessorized.
Posted by: Anomalous Sources || 11/18/2017 15:09 Comments || Top||

#4  Or fall off a balcony, 'drunk'.
Posted by: Skidmark || 11/18/2017 18:11 Comments || Top||


Caribbean-Latin America
Venezuela opposition leader Ledezma flees to Spain
Veteran Venezuelan opposition leader Antonio Ledezma, under house arrest since 2015 for alleged coup plotting, escaped across the border to Colombia on Friday and later flew to Spain.

With a 2018 presidential election looming, an array of major Venezuelan opposition figures are now in exile, detention or are barred from holding office.

They say Maduro has turned Venezuela into a dictatorship, while the government accuses them of joining forces with a U.S.-led global plot to topple him.

Ledezma, the best-known detained opponent of leftist President Nicolas Maduro after Leopoldo Lopez, had spearheaded street protests against Maduro in 2014 that led to months of violence and 43 deaths.

"In Spain today I feel free," he said at Madrid's Barajas airport, where he arrived in the early hours of Saturday. He was cheered by a small crowd including his wife and two daughters, who were already in Spain. Supporters chanted the Venezuelan anthem.

"Let's not permit that Venezuela dies in our hands," he also said, adding that he would soon meet with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.

The 62-year-old former Caracas metropolitan mayor said he had gone past 29 police and army controls during a clandestine, overland journey that he kept secret from his loved ones.
Posted by: Frank G || 11/18/2017 10:25 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Commies


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Russian veto blocks U.N. probe into Syria's toxic gas attack

An international investigation into who is to blame for chemical weapons attacks in Syria will end on Friday after Russia blocked for the third time in a month attempts at the United Nations to renew the inquiry, which Moscow has slammed as flawed.

In the past two years, the joint U.N. and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) inquiry has found the Syrian government used the nerve agent sarin in an April 4 attack and has also several times used chlorine as a weapon. It blamed Islamic State militants for using mustard gas.

Russia vetoed on Friday a Japanese-drafted U.N. Security Council resolution to extend the inquiry for one month. It was an eleventh-hour bid to buy more time for negotiations after Russia blocked U.S.-drafted resolutions on Thursday and Oct. 24 to renew the investigation, which the council created in 2015.

Syrian ally Russia has cast 11 vetoes on possible Security Council action on Syria since the country's civil war began in 2011. The Japanese draft received 12 votes in favor on Friday, while China abstained and Bolivia joined Russia to vote no.
Posted by: Frank G || 11/18/2017 09:20 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria

#1  Protecting Syria from a strongly-worded letter.
Posted by: Glenmore || 11/18/2017 9:38 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
The Times, They Are A'Changin: Saudi-Israeli Co-op vs Iran
[AmericanThinker] Saudi public being prepared for alliance with Israel?
Posted by: Knuckles Slineger2610 || 11/18/2017 07:46 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Israel has been helping India improve its military. It can do the same for the Saudis.
Posted by: Slomomp Those9453 || 11/18/2017 12:30 Comments || Top||

#2  Saudi public being prepared for alliance with Israel?

Well, Saudis been "allied" with USA for generations and they hate your guts.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 11/18/2017 12:45 Comments || Top||

#3  Israel has been helping India improve its military. It can do the same for the Saudis.

You don't think there are some difference between Indians and Arabs?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 11/18/2017 13:00 Comments || Top||

#4  Not so long ago, India was in the Soviet orbit for armament. Arabs dally there as well. Don't give me a shocked face
Posted by: Frank G || 11/18/2017 18:52 Comments || Top||


Abbas Adviser: Palestinians Won’t End Payments to Terrorists Despite American Threats
Unexpectedly.
[Breitbart] The Paleostinian Authority plans to continue paying the salaries of the Paleostinian prisoners in Israeli prisons, which includes convicted terrorists, according to Dr. Nabil Shath, a senior adviser to Paleostinian President the ineffectual Mahmoud Abbas
... a graduate of the prestigious unaccredited Patrice Lumumba University in Moscow with a doctorate in Holocaust Denial...
Posted by: trailing wife || 11/18/2017 02:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: Palestinian Authority

#1  Ohh,

It is not "Americans" making threats.

It is The Lord making promises.

You may well listen.
Posted by: newc || 11/18/2017 2:39 Comments || Top||

#2  Call their bluff: Cut off their money.
Posted by: Frank G || 11/18/2017 8:50 Comments || Top||

#3  I sure there is room in GITMO for another funder of terrorism ...
Posted by: Slomomp Those9453 || 11/18/2017 9:38 Comments || Top||

#4  I would change the title to Donor Countries, including USA, Continue to Fund "Palestinian" Terrorists.
Posted by: gorb || 11/18/2017 13:49 Comments || Top||


China-Japan-Koreas
Satellite images show North Korea developing ballistic missile submarine
[IsraelTimes] Analysis of images from shipyard indicates Pyongyang is deep in 'prolonged and ongoing' project.
Posted by: trailing wife || 11/18/2017 01:44 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Commies


Arabia
Hariri Leaves Riyadh for Paris
[AnNahar] Prime Minister Saad Hariri
Second son of Rafik Hariri, the Leb PM who was assassinated in 2005. He has was prime minister in his own right from 2009 through early 2011. He was born in Riyadh to an Iraqi mother and graduated from Georgetown University. He managed his father's business interests in Riyadh until his father's assassination. When his father died he inherited a fortune of some $4.1 billion, which won't do him much good if Hizbullah has him bumped off, too.
left 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...
for La Belle France late Friday, in a move aimed at defusing political turmoil sparked by his shock resignation in Riyadh.

"To say that I am held up in Saudi Arabia and not allowed to leave the country is a lie. I am on the way to the airport Mr. Sigmar Gabriel," Hariri tweeted in English around midnight, addressing Germany's foreign minister.

"PM Hariri held a very important and excellent meeting with the Saudi crown prince before leaving for Gay Paree," LBCI television earlier quoted sources close to Hariri as saying.
Posted by: trailing wife || 11/18/2017 01:27 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  so much for "he's being restrained in SA!"
Posted by: Frank G || 11/18/2017 8:49 Comments || Top||


Terror Networks
Iraq Forces Retake Last IS-Held Town in Country
[AnNahar] The Iraqi army retook the last town in the country still held 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 on Friday as the jihadists' self-proclaimed "caliphate" faced collapse on both sides of the border with Syria.

The lightning recapture of the small Euphrates valley town of Rawa in an offensive launched at dawn came as the jihadists were also under attack for a second day in the last town they still hold in Syria, Albu Kamal just over the frontier.

The Islamic State group (IS) has lost 95 percent of the cross-border "caliphate" it declared in Iraq and Syria in 2014, the U.S.-led coalition fighting it said on Wednesday.

Its losses include all of its major bastions, virtually confining it to pockets of countryside.

Government troops and paramilitary units "liberated the whole of Rawa and raised the Iraqi flag on all of its official buildings," General Abdelamir Yarallah of Iraq's Joint Operations Command (JOC) said in a statement.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi hailed the town's "liberation in record time" and said troops would now "conduct search operations in the desert to secure the border with Syria."

"Militarily, IS has been defeated but we are going to hunt down its remnants to eradicate its presence," said JOC front man General Yahya Rassoul.

Iraqi IS specialist Hisham al-Hashemi said that after their loss of Rawa, the jihadists no longer exercised any real military or administrative power.

"What has been liberated are the populated areas with demarcated boundaries," Hashemi said.

"But the seasonal river valleys, the oases, the empty expanses of desert which make up around four percent of Iraqi territory are still in the hands of IS."

Rawa was bypassed in an offensive by the Iraqi army that resulted in the recapture of the strategically important border town of al-Qaim earlier this month.

The stretch of Euphrates valley abutting the border with Syria has long been a bastion of Sunni Arab insurgency, first against U.S.-led troops after the invasion of 2003 and then against the Shiite-led government in Baghdad.

The porous frontier became a magnet for imported muscle entering Iraq from Syria, which Baghdad accused of turning a blind eye, and a key smuggling route for arms and illicit goods.

U.S.-led troops carried out repeated operations with code names like Matador and Steel Curtain in 2005 to flush out al-Qaeda jihadists.

The region swiftly fell to IS when its fighters swept through the Sunni Arab heartland north and west of Baghdad in 2014 before proclaiming its "caliphate."

- 'Days now numbered' -
The jihadists once controlled a territory the size of Britannia but they have successively lost all their key strongholds, including Raqa in Syria and djinn-infested Mosul
... the home of a particularly ferocious and hairy djinn...
in Iraq.

"The days of the fake caliphate are now numbered," the U.S. envoy to the coalition Brett McGurk tweeted on Friday.

Over the border in Syria, IS still holds around 25 percent of the countryside of Deir Ezzor province but is under attack not only by government forces but also by U.S.-backed Kurdish-led fighters.

In the border town of Albu Kamal, the Syrian army was battling IS fighters who mounted a surprise counterattack last week, pushing out government forces who had retaken it last month.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britannia-based monitor of the war, said the new army offensive had successfully penetrated the town, with troops backed by Russian air strikes advancing from the west, east and south.
Posted by: trailing wife || 11/18/2017 01:25 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State


The Grand Turk
U.S.-Backed Syria Forces Spokesman 'Held by Turkish Intelligence'
[AnNahar] A front man for the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighting 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....
snuffies is "in the hands of" the Ottoman Turkish intelligence after handing himself over to pro-Ankara forces, a Ottoman Turkish daily reported Friday.

Talal Sello "gave himself up" to Syrian opposition fighters -- which The Sick Man of Europe Turkey
...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire....
calls the Free Syrian Army
... the more palatable version of the Syrian insurgency, heavily influenced by the Moslem Brüderbund...
(FSA) -- on Wednesday, according to Ottoman Turkish reports.

Sello was then taken to the southern Ottoman Turkish province of Gaziantep bordering Syria, the Hurriyet newspaper said, adding that he was "giving answers to questions" from the Ottoman Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) about the activities of the Syrian Kurdish militia.

The fate of the burly Sello -- who became a prominent face due to his media updates during the SDF's fight with jihadists for Raqa -- has been shrouded in mystery since it emerged this week that he had left the force.

Mohammad al-Abdallah, of the Syrian rebel group Forqat al-Hamz, speaking to AFP in Beirut, described Sello's move as a "defection."

But the SDF denied he had defected, saying it believed Sello was taken "as a result of a special operation by Ottoman Turkish intelligence."

The SDF added that Sello "received threats against his children who are in Turkey."

The SDF includes Arab forces but is dominated by Syrian Kurdish fighters from the Peoples' Protection Units (YPG). Sello is of Turkmen origin.

Ankara views the YPG as a terror group linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) which has been waging an insurgency inside Turkey since 1984. It has dismissed the SDF has merely a front for the YPG.

The PKK is blacklisted as a "terrorist" organization by Ankara, the United States and the European Union
...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing...
While Washington views the YPG as the most effective fighting force on the ground against Islamic State jihadists in Syria, Ankara has railed against the American support.

The Kurdish-led force expelled IS from its de facto capital Raqa in northern Syria last month, one of a series of defeats against the group.

Turkey has cautioned against the creation of a "terror corridor" in northern Syria and had repeatedly warned it could launch an operation against the militia in the YPG-controlled town of Afrin.

Ottoman Turkish President Sultan Recep Tayyip Erdogan the First
... Turkey's version of Mohammed Morsi but they voted him back in so they deserve him...
said on Friday that Afrin "needs to be cleared of the YPG terror group."

According to Hurriyet, Sello answered questions from Ottoman Turkish officials about the "activities of the YPG, its structure and the situation in Afrin."

Crucially, he was also asked about what kind of preparations the YPG was making in the event of an attack by the Ottoman Turkish military on Afrin, the daily added.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) confirmed that Sello was in the hands of Ottoman Turkish intelligence and said he had been "brought to Turkey by trickery."
Posted by: trailing wife || 11/18/2017 01:25 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Sublime Porte


Turkey hunts 42 university staff in post-coup crackdown: Source
[AlAhram] Ottoman Turkish police have launched operations to track down 42 university staff from Istanbul's Marmara University who are alleged to have links to last year's failed coup attempt, a police source said on Friday.

So far 22 people have been detained in the operation, the police source said, adding the suspects were believed to be in contact with the network of U.S.-based holy man Fethullah Gulen
... a Turkish preacher living in Pennsylvania whom the current govt of Turkey considers responsible for all the ills afflicting Turkey and possibly the entire world...
, whom Ankara accuses of orchestrating the abortive putsch in July 2016.
Posted by: trailing wife || 11/18/2017 01:25 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Sublime Porte

#1  if they're in the liberal "-studies" departments? Hokay
Posted by: Frank G || 11/18/2017 8:51 Comments || Top||


Europe
US Warns of Christmas Terror Threat in Europe
[AnNahar] The United States on Thursday updated its advice to travellers heading for Europe, warning of an increased terrorist threat over the Christmas and New Year holiday season.

Washington has a long-standing warning to its citizens to beware myrmidon attacks in European cities, and in recent years it has expressly warned of dangers at festive events.

"Last year, mass casualty attacks occurred at a Christmas market in Berlin, Germany in December and a nightclub in Istanbul, The Sick Man of Europe Turkey
...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire....
on New Year's Eve," the latest warning noted.

Last year a jihadist attacker crashed a truck into Christmas merrymakers in a Berlin market, killing 12 people, while a New Year's Eve attack in Istanbul left 39 dead.

The State Department warned that recent attacks in Britannia, Finland, La Belle France, Russia, Spain and Sweden show that both al-Qaeda and 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 remain active and capable.

"While local governments continue counterterrorism operations, the department remains concerned about the potential for future terrorist attacks," the statement said.

"US citizens should always be alert to the possibility that terrorist sympathizers or self-radicalized murderous Moslems may conduct attacks with little or no warning."
Posted by: trailing wife || 11/18/2017 01:25 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Long War Journal: Iraqi militia publicizes Iranian Qods Force chief by Syrian border town
Iraqi Harakat Hezbollah al Nujaba has posted photos of Major General Qassem Soleimani, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Qods Force chief, inspecting positions near Al Bukamal in Syria near the Iraqi border. The town sits on a major border crossing into Iraq. The photo was taken on Tuesday, according to the group. His presence underscores the importance of the offensive in eastern Syria.
Posted by: newc || 11/18/2017 00:51 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [2 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran


Home Front: Culture Wars
Resistance Royalty: Pelosi, Soros Headline Left's Biggest Dark Money Conference
[FreeBeacon] A secretive three-day conference where big money liberal donors are plotting the next steps of the "resistance" will be headlined by Friday speeches by billionaire George Soros and Democratic House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, according to internal documents obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.

The Democracy Alliance, a donor club of deep-pocketed liberal donors that each pledge to direct hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding to approved left-wing groups, descended on California's posh La Costa Resort on Wednesday morning for its fall donor summit. The group continued its tradition of secrecy, promising all members and guests of the summit their participation would "remain confidential."

The first page of the conference agenda, which was obtained by the Washington Free Beacon and can be viewed in its entirety below, lays out "participation guidelines," explaining that the Democracy Alliance is a "safe place" for donors and activists to meet. Guests are instructed not to share members' names with the press and not to post to any social media sites, to contact Democracy Alliance if "the media or a blogger" contacts them, and to "refrain from leaving sensitive materials out where others may find them."
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Anomalous Sources || 11/18/2017 00:49 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Thanks for posting this.
It is my worst problem right now.

No funding and this idiocy goes poof and no one will believe it anymore because they all know it is BS anyway, all this leftists stool.
Posted by: newc || 11/18/2017 2:19 Comments || Top||

#2  So why a shooting massacre at a CW concert in LV?
Posted by: Skidmark || 11/18/2017 11:19 Comments || Top||

#3  These meetings are where we really need more folks like James O'Keefe.
Posted by: Raj || 11/18/2017 13:05 Comments || Top||

#4  Did Soros show up?
Posted by: JohnQC || 11/18/2017 14:24 Comments || Top||

#5  I do not know about now, but, La Costa started as a Mafia retreat, I think Sicilian but not sure of that. Anyhow, one of the Italian-descent "interest groups." Nixon spent a lot of time there, lived not far away.

Word was back then, if you were hired at La Costa you did not quit. And as you can imagine, the employees were spectacular lookers, so the word had it.
Posted by: TopRev || 11/18/2017 18:52 Comments || Top||

#6  Our sni...observation team said "no reports"
Posted by: Frank G || 11/18/2017 18:53 Comments || Top||

#7  Emergency! Soros, Pelosi handing out new Resistance playbooks in Calif.
Posted by: Anomalous Sources || 11/18/2017 19:27 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Masked Israelis throw stones at Palestinians as IDF looks on, video indicates
I suspect this is not the first time this kind of thing has happened.
[IsraelTimes] Army says that 'contrary to what is seen in the video,' soldiers acted to prevent settlers from hurling rocks at Paleostinians near Burin village

A group of masked Israeli settlers threw stones at Paleostinians outside a northern West Bank village as IDF soldiers looked on, footage from the Friday incident indicated.

What's the Hebrew word for "intifada?"
Clashes erupted after a fire that broke out adjacent to the village of Burin spread toward surrounding fields, approaching the Givat Ronen outpost, the Yesh Din rights group said.

As Paleostinian farmers worked to extinguish the flames, a group of masked Israeli settlers began throwing rocks at them. Footage relayed from the Rabbis for Human Rights NGO shows IDF soldiers looking on as stones were thrown, lightly injuring one of the activists who filmed the incident.

A spokeswoman for the IDF confirmed the stone throwing by Israeli settlers, but disputed the rights group’s version of the incident. "Contrary to what is seen in the video, IDF soldiers at the scene acted to halt the escalation of violence," the spokeswoman said. "When Israeli civilians refused to cease throwing rocks, soldiers used riot disposal methods in order to disperse the riot."

No arrests were made at the scene and the IDF spokeswoman said that no injuries were reported, despite the Yesh Din statement claiming otherwise.

While the rights group said that the fire had spread "after a Paleostinian farmer attempted to dispose of agricultural waste," a resident of the nearby Israeli settlement of Har Bracha told The Times of Israel that the fire had been started by the neighboring Paleostinians on purpose in order to burn down the Israeli outpost.
Posted by: trailing wife || 11/18/2017 00:28 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Israelis don't cover their faces usually.
This is probably setting up a fake hate crime or something.

But when do Paleostinians have any real credibility aside from the idiot media and tyrant sympathizers?

Their cred is zero as is all major American News networks - Pravda and RT included.

Israel will tell me what it is, no one else.
Posted by: newc || 11/18/2017 0:49 Comments || Top||

#2  American hate-crime wave comes to Israel.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 11/18/2017 2:47 Comments || Top||

#3  Short clip but one observation from my own experience with field fires. If the masked men or the IDF were the least concerned about a set fire, they would have put it out.

And who the hell keeps sky masks handy for what? The field police fire department?

Posted by: Woodrow || 11/18/2017 5:25 Comments || Top||

#4  "Short clip but one observation from my own experience with field fires. If the masked men or the IDF were the least concerned about a set fire, they would have put it out.

And who the hell keeps sky masks handy for what? The field police fire department?"


What the Light of Nations must deal with every waking hour.

Big boss sees this for sure.
Posted by: newc || 11/18/2017 5:35 Comments || Top||

#5  Pallywood. 'nuf said.
Posted by: CrazyFool || 11/18/2017 9:00 Comments || Top||

#6  Even if true, I don't care. The Palestinians chose their lot, and deserve all that comes with it.
Posted by: Rob Crawford || 11/18/2017 9:05 Comments || Top||

#7  If true, then goose;gander.
Posted by: charger || 11/18/2017 11:53 Comments || Top||


International-UN-NGOs
Insulted Erdogan pulls Turkish troops out of NATO exercise
[IsraelTimes] NATO chief apologizes after The Sick Man of Europe Turkey's current president, and its founding leader Ataturk, were depicted as 'enemies' in drill.

NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Originally it was a mutual defense pact directed against an expansionist Soviet Union. In later years it evolved into a mechanism for picking the American pocket while criticizing the cut of the American pants...
’s secretary-general apologized to The Sick Man of Europe Turkey
...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire....
on Friday over military exercises in Norway during which Turkey’s founding leader, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, and current president, Sultan Recep Tayyip Erdogan the First
... Turkey's version of Mohammed Morsi but they voted him back in so they deserve him...
, were reportedly depicted as "enemies."

Erdogan said Turkey withdrew 40 of its soldiers participating in the drills at NATO’s Joint Warfare Centre in Stavanger, Norway, in protest of the incident and slammed the alliance.

He said Turkey’s top general Hulusi Akar and EU Affairs Minister Omer Celik ‐ who were on their way to a NATO conference in Halifax, Canada ‐ had informed him of the incident.

"They said ’this has happened... and we are going to take out our 40 soldiers’. And I said ’absolutely, don’t hesitate, take them out right now'" Erdogan said.

"There can be no such unity, no such alliance," he said in an address to his ruling party’s provincial leaders, speaking in front of giant pictures of himself and Ataturk, who founded modern Turkey out of the ruins of the Ottoman Empire in 1923.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg issued a statement saying: "I apologize for the offense caused."

He said the incident was the result of an "individual’s actions" and didn’t reflect the views of the alliance.

The individual, described as a civilian contractor seconded by Norway and not a NATO employee, was removed from the exercise and an investigation was underway, Stoltenberg said.

"It will be for the Norwegian authorities to decide on any disciplinary action," Stoltenberg added. "Turkey is a valued NATO ally, which makes important contributions to allied security."

Erdogan said Ataturk’s picture and his own name were featured on an "enemy chart" during the drills.

The Joint Warfare Centre is a multi-national NATO unit based in Stavanger, 300 kilometers (186 miles) southwest of Oslo. It is currently led by Maj. Gen. Andrzej Reudowicz of Poland. According to its website, it has a staff of 250 made up of civilians from 11 NATO member states, including Turkey.

In March, the Norwegian government caused fury in Turkey by granting political asylum to five Ottoman Turkish officers based in Norway who had refused to return home after the failed July 2016 coup attempt in Turkey. The five officers said that they feared being enjugged
Keep yer hands where we can see 'em, if yez please!
and tortured in Turkey.

The Trident Javelin exercise in Stavanger is described on a NATO website as a "computer assisted exercise without troops on the ground", aimed at improving command structures for big operations.

The decision by Ankara, a NATO member since 1952, to buy the S-400 air defense system from Russia caused concern among its Western allies, but Turkey remains an important and active member of the alliance.
Posted by: trailing wife || 11/18/2017 00:17 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Sublime Porte

#1  Shouldn't be there in the first place.
Posted by: Chris || 11/18/2017 11:25 Comments || Top||


-Signs, Portents, and the Weather-
Kid Wears Fake News Network Shirt To CNN Headquarters, Becomes American Hero
[DAILYCALLER] It’s time to crown a new savage for 2017. This time, it’s seventh grader Jaxon Jester of Dekalb, Georgia. This week, Jackson’s school went on a field trip to CNN’s Atlanta headquarters but he wasn’t too jazzed about it. So he wore a shirt making fun of CNN’s logo with the letters “FNN” and “fake news network” underneath.

Fortunately for CNN but very unfortunately for Jaxon, his school mandated he take the shirt off to participate in the field trip.

The Jesters were unhappy about this decision – and rightfully so. They claim it violated their son’s First Amendment rights.

Peachtree Charter Middle School later issued an apology to the Jesters but the damage was done. The town of Dekalb was ablaze with debate and online forums fervently discussed the ethics of the matter. Many people actually defended the school’s censorship and claimed it was the Jester’s responsibility to curb their kid’s political views.
Posted by: Fred || 11/18/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  he'll have a tough time in the indoctrination camps
Posted by: Frank G || 11/18/2017 9:06 Comments || Top||

#2  Particularly with a surname of 'Jester'.
Posted by: CrazyFool || 11/18/2017 9:09 Comments || Top||


Africa Subsaharan
Mass Harare rally planned as pressure mounts on Mugabe
[Al Jazeera] Pressure is mounting on Bob Muggsy Mugabe
Nonagenarian President-for-Life of Zim-bob-we who turned the former Breadbasket of Africa into the African Basket Case...
to step down as Zim-bob-we's president, as efforts to force the veteran leader to resign after nearly four decades in office gain traction.

Zim-bob-we has been in political turmoil since the early hours of Wednesday, when the country's armed forces seized power and placed Mugabe under house arrest.

The embattled 93-year-old leader so far appears resistant to demands to step down. However,
some men learn by reading. A few learn by observation. The rest have to pee on the electric fence for themselves...
he is increasingly running out of options as even some of his closest allies, including brass hats within his ruling ZANU-PF party, look determined to remove him from power.

Issuing a "stark warning", Zim-bob-we's influential war veterans on Friday said Mugabe, the patron of their 35,000-strong association, should not be allowed to stay any longer in power.

Posted by: Fred || 11/18/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Time for something (Not) entirely different, but maybe.
Get rid of him please.
Posted by: newc || 11/18/2017 2:54 Comments || Top||

#2  Replacements look just as bad, maybe worse.
Posted by: james || 11/18/2017 14:23 Comments || Top||


-Land of the Free
U.S. Air Force test pilot Maj. Michael J. Adams was killed during X-15 Flight 191 on Nov. 15, 1967
[TheAviationist] Here’s the story of that last mission:

On 15 November 1967, Ship #3 was launched over Delamar Lake, Nevada with Maj. Michael J. Adams at the controls. The vehicle soon reached a speed of Mach 5.2, and a peak altitude of 266,000 feet.

During the climb, an electrical disturbance degraded the aircraft’s controllability. Ship #3 began a slow drift in heading, which soon became a spin. Adams radioed that the X-15 "seems squirrelly" and then said "I’m in a spin."

Through some combination of pilot technique and basic aerodynamic stability, Adams recovered from the spin and entered an inverted Mach 4.7 dive. As the X-15 plummeted into the increasingly thicker atmosphere, the Honeywell adaptive flight control system caused the vehicle to begin oscillating. As the pitching motion increased, aerodynamic forces finally broke the aircraft into several major pieces.

Adams was killed when the forward fuselage impacted the desert. This was the only fatal accident during the entire X-15 program. The canopy from Ship #3, recovered during the original search in 1967, is displayed at the San Diego Aerospace Museum, San Diego, California.

Parts of the crashed X-15-3, serial number 56-6672, recovered in 1992 by Peter Merlin and Tony Moore (The X-Hunters) are on display at the Air Force Flight Test Center Museum at Edwards.
...
Posted by: Anomalous Sources || 11/18/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  If you're ever in San Diego, along with the Zoo, I highly recommend another Balboa Park stop at the San Diego Aerospace Museum
Posted by: Frank G || 11/18/2017 10:19 Comments || Top||

#2  I wanna see the cellar bar where the Turbans started.
Posted by: Shipman || 11/18/2017 14:52 Comments || Top||


Africa Subsaharan
Zimbabwe: Mugabe At Graduation Ceremony, Moyo Missing
[All Africa] President Bob Muggsy Mugabe
Nonagenarian President-for-Life of Zim-bob-we who turned the former Breadbasket of Africa into the African Basket Case...
was Friday officiating at the Zim-bob-we Open University graduation ceremony in Harare despite reportedly being under house arrest.

Missing from the event however, was higher education minister Jonathan Moyo who is usually by the president's side at such events.

In place of Moyo, who is believed to be one of the officials wanted by the military, was deputy higher education minister Godfrey Gandawa.

Also present at the event were the minister of state for Harare province Miriam Chikukwa, cyber security minister Patrick Chinamasa and counterpart Mike Bimha.
Posted by: Fred || 11/18/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


India-Pakistan
Key suspect in Lal Shahbaz Qalandar shrine attack arrested
[DAWN] A key suspect involved in the bloody suicide kaboom targeting the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar in Sehwan earlier this year was tossed in the calaboose
I ain't sayin' nuttin' widdout me mout'piece!
at an unspecified date in a joint operation conducted by the Rangers and Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) in Manghopir, it was announced today.

CTD Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Amir Farooqi announced the arrest on Friday at a joint CTD-Rangers presser in Bloody Karachi
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred || 11/18/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Lashkar e-Jhangvi


-Land of the Free
Fusion GPS Founder Told Congress He Regrets That His Research Ended Up In Kremlin Hands
[DAILYCALLER] The founder of the opposition research firm behind the Trump dossier told Congress this week that he regretted that the fruits of his investigation of a critic of the Kremlin were provided to and used by a top Russian government official.

A source familiar with Glenn Simpson’s testimony told The Daily Caller that the Fusion GPS partner also told the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) that he knew that Remington Christopher Steele, the British spy who wrote the dossier, had provided briefings to the FBI during the campaign.

Simpson, who testified behind closed doors for nearly seven hours on Tuesday, denied knowing that research he did as part of a pro-Kremlin lobbying campaign ended up in the hands of Yuri Chaika, Russia’s prosecutor general.

While Fusion GPS was being paid by the Clinton campaign and DNC for the Trump investigation, the firm was also working for BakerHostetler, a law firm that was representing Prevezon Holdings, a Russian energy company that faced stiff penalties from the Magnitsky Act.
Posted by: Fred || 11/18/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Subpoena him immediately, Congress.
Protect him and yourselves. (The few that are not in on the take)

Do it Now.
Posted by: newc || 11/18/2017 2:21 Comments || Top||

#2  Might have to squirrel Simpson away like U1 whistleblower William Campbell.
Posted by: JohnQC || 11/18/2017 14:33 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Syrian 'civilians killed' in ISIL attack in Deir Az Zor
[Al Jazeera] Syria's SANA state news agency says an ISIS boom-mobileing has killed at least 20 people and maimed 30 others at a site where displaced families are camped near the city of Deir Az Zor in eastern Syria.

It says the bombing occurred between al-Jafra and al-Koniko areas, which is located in the countryside south of Deir Az Zor city and is controlled by the Syrian government.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said 12 children were among a total of 26 victims of Friday's attack in Deir Az Zor province, where ISIS, or 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 the Levant group, also known as ISIS, is losing ground to two separate offensives.

Also on Friday, the SOHR, a Britannia-based monitor, said six children were among at least 19 civilians killed in shelling by the Syrian government in the rebel-held area of Eastern Ghouta near Damascus.

In another incident in Eastern Ghouta, six people were killed in government air strikes, according to the SOHR.

Reports said that in retaliation for the government's assault, rebels fired rockets into Damascus city on Friday, killing three civilians.

SANA said four civilians, including a child, were killed when the rockets struck al-Zablatani and al-Dwaila areas of Damascus, in which it called a new violation of a de-escalation deal.

Posted by: Fred || 11/18/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State


-Signs, Portents, and the Weather-
IBM urged to avoid working on US immigrants
[DAWN] A coalition of rights groups laun­ched an online petition on Thursday urging IBM Corp to declare that it will not develop technology to help the Trump administration carry out a proposal to identify people for visa denial and deportation from the United States.

IBM and several other technology companies and contractors attended a July info­rmational session hos­ted by immigration enfo­rcement officials that discussed dev­eloping technology for vetting immigrants colonists, said Steven Renderos, organising director at petitioner the Centre for Media Justice.

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 pledged to harden screening procedures for people looking to enter the country, and also called for "extreme vetting" of certain immigrants colonists to ensure they are contributing to society, saying such steps are necessary to protect national security and curtail illegal immigration.

Posted by: Fred || 11/18/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Change of priorities is in order. Identify the sweat shop labor immigration proponents first, then lock them all up for human trafficking and revoke their citizenships. After sentence served, ship them off to their choice of Kabul, Mogadishu or Tehran.
Posted by: Hupeting Sforza8196 || 11/18/2017 1:45 Comments || Top||

#2  Would these people feel better knowing the app will be be coded by cut rate H-1B visa contractors?

2016 Top 100 H1B Visa Sponsors
IBM is #3
Posted by: Glereth Ebberens5592 || 11/18/2017 10:05 Comments || Top||


Arabia
US aiding Saudi 'war crimes' in Yemen: Congressman
[Al Jazeera] The United States is helping Saudi Arabia commit "war crimes" in Yemen, according to US Congressman Ro Khanna.

In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera's UpFront aired on Friday, Khanna, a Democratic congressman from California,
Of course he is.
said the US made a mistake in supporting the Saudi-led coalition's bombing campaign of Yemen.
Wasn't that a decision made by President Barack Hussein Obama (D-space cadet)?
"Today, I believe that we are aiding Saudi Arabia in Saudi Arabia's committing war crimes," Khanna told UpFront host Mehdi Hasan.

The US House of Representatives passed a resolution earlier this week that called on the US armed forces to withdraw from "unauthorised hostilities" in the Saudi-led bombing campaign of Yemen, which began in 2015.

Thousands of people have been killed in the conflict and the Saudi-led coalition has bombed key infrastructure and imposed a strict blockade on the country.

Posted by: Fred || 11/18/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran Proxies


India-Pakistan
Former MQM-P sector head arrested in Dr Naushad killing case
[DAWN] HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad police on Friday claimed to have nabbed
Maw! They're comin' to get me, Maw!
a "former activist of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement
...English: United National Movement, generally known as MQM, is the 3rd largest political party and the largest secular political party in Pakistain with particular strength in Sindh. From 1992 to 1999, the MQM was the target of the Pak Army's Operation Cleanup leaving thousands of urdu speaking civilians dead...
-Pakistain, Shahid Abbasi alias Dancer" and described him as the main suspect involved in the murder of senior party activist Dr Naushad on October 25.

The Rangers in a statement also issued on Friday claimed to have arrested an activist of the MQM-London "involved in supplying illegal arms to various sectors of the party".

Hyderabad DIG Javed Alam Odho, along with Hyderabad SSP Pir Mohammad Shah, shared details of Shahid Dancer’s record and his arrest. He said according to the investigation held so far, Dancer killed Dr Naushad over some personal issues and not with a political motive.

"The held activist is a former sector in-charge in MQM-P’s organizational structure. He was earlier acquitted in a case pertaining to the murder of Saleem Inquilabi, another MQM activist who was bumped off in November 2004," the DIG said, adding that he was released on bail on Oct 5 in a double murder case.

The victims were identified as Jehangir Parhiar and Pyar Ali Samoon.

The DIG said that Dancer was recognised with the help of CCTV (closed-circuit television camera) footage and the information shared with police by people.

"Shahid Dancer is involved in 16 different criminal cases," he said.

He said he had recommended a reward of Rs100,000 and commendation certificate for the police team that resolved the Dr Naushad murder case.

Posted by: Fred || 11/18/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Home Front: Culture Wars
New footage shows nurses laughing as WWII veteran gasps, dies in hospital bed
World War II veteran James Dempsey can be seen in video footage gasping for air while nurses fail to provide proper care.

NBC affiliate 11 Alive conducted an investigation revealing the true story about what happened to a World War II veteran who died after calling for help in a hospital bed and gasping for air.

Hidden video of the nursing home room shows 89-year-old World War II veteran James Dempsey calling out for help six times while lying in a hospital bed and gasping for air at the Northeast Atlanta Health and Rehabilitation in 2014. The video was only recently released due to a lawsuit filed by the family.

Attorneys attempted to prevent the video from being released by asking a county judge to keep it secret. However, the judge ruled in favor of its release.

There are six hours of video court deposition from a nursing supervisor describing the staff’s response to the incident. These answers were provided before she knew of the existence of the hidden camera. However, the video shows a different story than what the supervisor described.

According to 11 Alive, staff found Dempsey unconscious at 5:28 a.m. but did not call 911 until 6:25 a.m.

Former nursing supervisor Wanda Nuckles said in the deposition that she immediately and continually gave CPR to Dempsey from the time she entered the hospital room. However, after watching the hidden video footage ‐ which shows her not administering CPR at all ‐ her story changes.

Another nurse came into the room, but failed to check any of Dempsey’s vital signs, 11 Alive reported. When nurses couldn’t get Dempsey’s oxygen machine operational, the nurses and Nuckles laughed.

11 Alive reported that it took 10 months for the nursing home to fire the nurses after being provided the video in November 2015. Nuckles and another nurse in the video surrendered their licenses in September.

Despite having a one-star rating on Medicare, the nursing home is still operational in Atlanta.
Posted by: Anomalous Sources || 11/18/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Please don't stone all of us nurses because of these douche bags.
Posted by: texhooey || 11/18/2017 0:25 Comments || Top||

#2  No way, Tex. We know there are bad apples everywhere.
Nurses are Whom provide Patient Care. Few others.

GOD Bless you for being part of HIS Army, and you are.
Posted by: newc || 11/18/2017 0:34 Comments || Top||

#3  imo, this is not a nurse "thing." It is a management "thing."

Some organizations seem to attract credentialled, yet unempathetic, employees. If care centers could clear it with the EEOC, they could threshhold using some type of empathy test.
Posted by: Anomalous Sources || 11/18/2017 0:35 Comments || Top||

#4  To me it is a they do not know what they are doing and do not give a damn anyway thing. To me, they are liberals using the system to hate in their own special way.

I know that cynical attitude, seen it everywhere and I hate it.
Posted by: newc || 11/18/2017 0:44 Comments || Top||

#5 
Some organizations seem to attract credentialled, yet unempathetic, employees.

Moreover, dysfunctional organizations attract dysfunctional employees. I have quit more than one organization after I became aware of long term & embedded dysfunctional patterns.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 11/18/2017 2:02 Comments || Top||

#6  "Moreover, dysfunctional organizations attract dysfunctional employees. I have quit more than one organization after I became aware of long term & embedded dysfunctional patterns. "

All the excuse those that foist this on US predict the only way out is Socialist Healthcare.

Because all nanny statists want to run the whole show if only to prove to you that they have the power.

Everyone will be in the VA.

I just had a guy burn himself to death because it is so great.

Had you not set your nasty paws on it in the first place, we may have been better off.

And one day, we shall all know that we were.
Posted by: newc || 11/18/2017 3:55 Comments || Top||

#7  VA staff moonlighting?
Posted by: Woodrow || 11/18/2017 5:50 Comments || Top||

#8  Gosh, how did I know the nurses were probably black? I realize that statement is probably unpopular here, but, I've had elderly relatives in nursing homes at their end-of-life stage, and the black employees have been universally awful.
Posted by: Cravilet Poodle5789 || 11/18/2017 6:14 Comments || Top||

#9  It was a couple of black nurses that kept me from the abyss.
Posted by: Shipman || 11/18/2017 10:22 Comments || Top||

#10  Cravilet: If that's the case in this situation then it's time to ruin this company in court for the damage they did by following the letter of the law instead of being passive aggressive about it.
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain || 11/18/2017 10:31 Comments || Top||

#11  Wanda Nuckles......fitting name for ole nurse Ratchet. Looks like she was taking a knee before the CPR.
Posted by: bbrewer126 || 11/18/2017 10:57 Comments || Top||

#12  African nurses are often among the best in my experience. I don't know about African American.
Posted by: gorb || 11/18/2017 13:54 Comments || Top||

#13  West coast they're likely Filipina
Posted by: Frank G || 11/18/2017 19:31 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Politix
Hillary Clinton questions 'legitimacy' of Trump's victory in 2016 election
[FOXNEWS] One year after losing the presidential race, 2016 Democratic nominee Perennial Presidential Campaigner Hillary Crooked Hillary Clinton
... former first lady, former secretary of state, former presidential candidate, Conqueror of Benghazi, Heroine of Tuzla, formerly described by her supporters as the smartest woman in the world, usually described by the rest of us as The Thing That Wouldn't Go Away...
is still questioning the "legitimacy" of President Trump’s victory, accusing Republicans of voter suppression tactics in swing states and Russians of influencing votes through a "disinformation campaign."

"I think that there are lots of questions about its legitimacy," Clinton said of the election during a video interview posted online Friday by the liberal Mother Jones website.

Clinton lamented how "we don’t have a method for contesting" the election in the United States and called for an independent commission to "get to the bottom of what happened."
Posted by: Fred || 11/18/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  She needs to prove that she is not a slathering alien from alpha centuri who eats babies for supper.
Posted by: 3dc || 11/18/2017 0:15 Comments || Top||

#2  She would rather threaten a civil war than be arrested.

I hear Mr. Trump is paying the legal costs of his team.

Jeebus. We live in truly amazing times.
Posted by: Anomalous Sources || 11/18/2017 0:40 Comments || Top||

#3  Open your Yap one more time Mrs Benghazi.

One more time and Congress does not have your hot little ass locked up in Quantico, I may be tempted to have a no confidence vote on the entire US Government for doing Soros bidding.

And then

And then!
Posted by: newc || 11/18/2017 1:01 Comments || Top||

#4  Little Miss Hitlery allow me to quote you. "At this point, what does it matter?"
Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839 || 11/18/2017 9:18 Comments || Top||

#5  Remember when Beest was worrying that Trump wouldn't accept the election results?

The one good thing about lefty accusations is that they always tell you what the lefty is doing, or planning to do.

Posted by: charger || 11/18/2017 12:01 Comments || Top||

#6  And come tomorrow, she'll bitch about Comey for the 200th time. What a freaking windbag, and to think that a fair number of Democrats voted for her simply because she's a broad.
Posted by: Raj || 11/18/2017 13:13 Comments || Top||

#7  Little Miss Hitlery allow me to quote you. "At this point, what does it matter?"

That only applies after two hears.
Posted by: gorb || 11/18/2017 13:58 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
JI plans long march on Islamabad over delayed Fata reforms
[DAWN] Frustrated by the delay in Fata reforms, the Jamaat-e-Islami
...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores...
has announced it will stage a walk from Khyber Agency
... the place to go if you've got an Indiana Jones hat and whip. Chock full of high adventure and treacherous Pathans. You should really train up to it, though...
to Islamabad to protest against the federal government for prolonging the process.

JI provincial chief Mushtaq Ahmad Khan told a news conference here on Friday that the long march would begin at Bab-e-Khyber (Jamrud) on Dec 10, while the protesters would stage a sit-in outside the Prime Minister’s House.

He said elders from all tribal agencies and politicians of political parties would be invited to take part in the walk.

"Before starting long march, the JI will hold conventions in tribal agencies to mobilise people," he said.

The JI leader accused the federal government of delaying reforms, especially the merger of Fata with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Posted by: Fred || 11/18/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: Jamaat-e-Islami


-Lurid Crime Tales-
Women On Clinton And Sanders Campaigns Allege Sexual Harassment
[HUFFINGTONPOST] Lilian Adams and Zoey Jordan Salsbury worked on opposite sides of the Democratic presidential primary. But they had similar problems.
Posted by: Fred || 11/18/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  they had similar problems

Yeah, men injured themselves running away.
Posted by: Skidmark || 11/18/2017 2:02 Comments || Top||

#2  She should have just sat on him.
Posted by: gorb || 11/18/2017 14:01 Comments || Top||


-Land of the Free
This Week in Guns, November 18th, 2017


By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com

The US Congress rarely gets anything right these days, from Obamacare to the current notion that the federal government can continue to print money for its own purposes.

But sometimes, Congress passes a law that can only be explained as the Hand of God at work for America.

The first question that appears online after a non-member of the NRA murders innocents, is where did the shooter get his guns. We suffered through several days of that after it was reported that Patrick Kelly had committed a number of crimes which should have barred him from passing background checks to obtain the gun.

I have argued in this and many other forums that federal firearms policy does not bar anyone from keeping and bearing arms. Only state laws do that. One individual provided my link to a discussion, not about the plain text of the law, but of what federal law enforcement policy is with regard to guns. According to the link, the policy is that guns should be seized from any individual who meets the standard barring a transfer of firearms to them.

My reply was to post the plain text from two relevant passages from federal statutes and ask the individual to show where in the law it said so much as a single word about taking firearms from an individual who already owns a firearm. The law specifically allows all people to own a firearm, because it does not forbid it. Constitutionally, it cannot. Where federal law comes in, is making a person contemplating transferring a firearm to another into a legal problem.

The law was envisaged to be part of the long standing and much abused interstate commerce clause in the Constitution, which not only bars transfers to what federal law calls a prohibited person, but also lays a number of conditions that the prospective owner must meet to receive the firearm.

To repeat: Nowhere in federal law does it address ownership, only transfer, notwithstanding Department of Justice policy.

To this moment that individual who posed that link has not answered my challenge, mostly because he can't.

But sometime between the passage of the Gun Control Act of 1968 and now, Congress passed a law that allows any individual to build and own their own firearm, regardless of their legal standing in the federal firearms transfer system.

The law lays out what an individual must do to stay within law: The firearm, specifically the receiver, must have been built by the individual himself, and it can never be sold. Other restrictions apply to imported firearm kits (AKs, Uzis and others), such as that a certain percentage of the parts in five categories must have been made in the US.

The shooter in California took two receivers that are 80 percent complete, machined out the part of the receiver that takes the fire control group, plus drilled 2 other holes. The individual can then buy parts to make his own AR-15 able to fire.

The law is characterized as a "loophole", which it most certainly is not. It is hard coded into federal firearms law.

Should Congress be stampeded into passing laws addressing privately built and owned firearms and add restrictions such as background checks for those buying 80 percent firearms receivers online, forcing owners, as they have done in California, to register their receivers, what do you do if you want to own an AR rifle?

Like everything else, the 80-percent receiver industry isn't the only game in town. One young man back in 2005 designed and built an AR from scratch.There are small problems with the build, mainly having to do with the takedown pins, but nothing that affects the function for the firearm.

What do they do then? 3D printers are getting better and better, and even with putative restrictions on using them to build firearms, what do you do when the data provided shows how to build a working AR?

What happens when internet regulation forbids the downloading of data with regard to receivers?

I will tell you what happens: old men like me with little in their lives to make them happy or keep them busy, but who are still functioning members of society, bid out every single part of the scratch built receiver to machine shops all over the USA, and then give the component parts away in several buyers' forums.

How much work does a Congress have to do to destroy the Hand of God that enabled an individual, anyone at all, to build and use their own rifle?

Loads.

Rantburg's summary for arms and ammunition:

Pistol ammunition prices were steady. Rifle ammunition prices were mixed.

Prices for used pistols were higher. Prices for used rifles were lower.

New Lows:

None

Pistol Ammunition

.45 Caliber, 230 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Foundry35, Silver Bear, FMJ, Steel Casing, .22 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: East Carolina Trading, Own Brand, CRN, Brass Casing, Reloads, .20 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks))

.40 Caliber Smith & Wesson, 180 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Ammo Mart, Buffalo Cartridge, FMJ, Brass Casing, Reloads .20 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: FedArm, Own Brand, TPMJ, Brass Casing, Reloads, .17 per round (From Last Week: -.01 Each After Unchanged (8 Weeks))

9mm Parabellum, 115 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (3Q, 2017)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Sportsman Outdoor Superstore, Wolf WPA, FMJ, Steel Casing, .14 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Fedarm, Own brand, RN, Brass Casing, Reloads .13 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (6 Weeks))

.357 Magnum, 158 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (8 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .23 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 1,000 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .23 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (3Q, 2017))

.38 Special, 158 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Bang It Ammo, Precision One, JSP, Brass Casing, Reloads, .24 per round
Cheapest Bulk: 1,000 rounds: American Reloading, Own brand, TMJ, Aluminum Casing, Reloads, .22 per round (From Last Week: -.01 Each After Unchanged (4 Weeks))

Rifle Ammunition

.223 Caliber/5.56mm 55 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (3 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: AmmoMen, Wolf WPA, FMJ, Steel Casing, .20 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Wolf WPA, FMJ, Steel Casing, .20 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (5 Weeks))

.308 NATO 150 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (3Q, 2017)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .32 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: LAX Ammunition, Tulammo, FMJ, Steel Casing, .31 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))

7.62x39mm AK 123 Grain, From Last Week: -.01 Each
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Wolf WPA, FMJ, Steel Casing, .19 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: True Caliber, Wolf WPA, Steel Casing, FMJ, .19 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (3Q, 2017))

.30-06 Springfield 145 Grain. From Last Week: -.04 Each
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Wolf WPA, Steel Casing, FMJ, .54 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: United Nations Ammo, Wolf WPA, Steel Casing, FMJ, .53 per round (From Last week: Unchanged (4 Weeks))

.300 Winchester Magnum 150 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (7 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Ammo Liquidator, Winchester, Brass Casing, SP, .84 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1,000 rounds: Ammo Liquidator, Winchester, Brass Casing, SP, .82 per round (From Last Week: -.02 Each

.338 Lapua Magnum 250 Grain, From Last Week: +.21 Each After Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Red River Reloading, Federal, Brass Casing, JSP, 2.36 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 200 rounds: Wholesale Hunter, Federal, Brass Casing, JSP, 2.36 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks))

.22 LR 40 Grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2Q, 2017)
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Ammo King, Aguila, RNL, .04 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 5,000 rounds: Outdoor Limited, Aguila, RNL, .04 per round (From Last Week: Unchanged (2Q, 2017))

Guns for Private Sale
Rifles


.223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $420 Last Week Avg: $439(-) ($616 (2Q, 2015), $387 (13 Weeks))
Arizona (201, 3Q, 2017(+3))(139, 141): Mixed Build: $450 ($625 (13 Weeks), $300 (12 Weeks))
Texas (484, 3Q, 2017(+3))(388, 428): DPMS: $450 ($700 (1Q, 2015), $350 (2Q, 2015))
Pennsylvania (249, 3Q, 2017(+6))(155, 161): Ruger AR-556: $450 ($700 (2Q, 2015), $300 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (282, 3Q, 2017)(193, 212): Bushmaster Carbon 15: $350 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $350 (2 Weeks))
Florida (679, 3Q, 2017)(436, 466): Del-ton: $400 ($650 (2Q, 2015), $380 (1Q, 2015))

.308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $865 Last Week Avg: $870(-) ($1,359 (2Q, 2015), $766 (24 Weeks))
Arizona (49, 3Q, 2017(+6))(41, 38): Armalite: $1,000 ($2,300 (23 Weeks), $500 (6 Weeks))
Texas (178, 3Q, 2017)(89, 95): DPMS: $700 ($1,500 (4Q, 2014), $675 (11 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (54, 3Q, 2017)(47, 43): Armalite: $1,200 ($1,600 (4Q, 2016), $700 (3Q, 2015))
Virginia (86, 3Q, 2017)(60, 57): Del Ton DT10: $675 ($2,750 (1Q, 2016), $675 (2 Weeks))
Florida (128, 3Q, 2017(+3))(91, 89): DPMS: $750 ($1,950 (2Q, 1016), $500 (3Q, 2015))

7.62x39mm (AK Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $529 Last Week Avg: $493(+) ($668 (3Q, 2016), $450 (3Q, 2015))
Arizona (34, 3Q, 2017(+3))(16, 23): WASR 10: $500 ($900 (23 Weeks), $400 (28 Weeks))
Texas (141, 3Q, 2017)(58, 72): WASR 10: $650 ($800 (1Q, 2016), $350 (3Q, 2014))
Pennsylvania (75, 3Q, 2017)(56, 50): WASR 10: $615 ($750 (1Q, 2015), $375 (1Q, 2015))
Virginia (72, 3Q, 2017)(61, 58): Norinco: $300 ($700 (2Q, 2016), $300 (2 Weeks))
Florida (146, 3Q, 2017)(114, 114):IO: $580 ($700 (1Q, 2016), $300 (4Q, 2014))

30-30 Winchester Lever Action Average Price: $360 Last Week Avg: $375(-) ($495 (4Q, 2016), $296 (3Q, 2015))
Arizona (14, 3Q, 2017)(6, 5): Mossberg 464: $400 ($500 (43 Weeks), $200 (28 Weeks))
Texas (33, 3Q, 2017)(28, 27): Winchester Ranger: $350 ($550 (1Q, 2015), $295 (27 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (23, 3Q, 2017)(13, 10): Winchester 94: $300 ($450 (1Q, 2015), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Virginia (19, 3Q, 2017(+3))(13, 11): Marlin: $400 ($670 (2Q, 2016), $250 (4Q, 2015))
Florida (34, 3Q, 2017)(24, 24): Mossberg: $350 ($500 (1Q, 2015), $250 (2Q, 2015))

Pistols

.45 caliber ACP (M1911 Pattern Semiautomatic Pistol) Average Price: $480 Last Week Avg: $430(+) ($525 (3Q, 2016), $350 (4Q, 2015))
Arizona (134, 3Q, 2017(+5))(106, 111): Kimber Pro Carry II: $700 ($700 (27 Weeks), $325 (13 Weeks))
Texas (361, 3Q, 2017 (+3))(252, 248): American Tactical Imports FX45: $400 ($600 (4Q, 2014), $300 (49 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (178, 3Q, 2017)(168, 163): Taurus: $400 ($600 (15 Weeks), $300 (2Q, 2015))
Virginia (204, 3Q, 2017(+3))(190, 198): Rock Island Armory: $500 ($775 (15 Weeks), $250 (4Q, 2014))
Florida (440, 3Q, 2017)(370, 378): Colt: $400 ($500 (1Q, 2016), $250 (1Q, 2015))

9mm (Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic) Average Price: $272 Last Week Avg: $233(+) ($358 (1Q, 2016), $207 (28 Weeks))
Arizona (238, 3Q, 2017)(224, 208): Canik 55: $300 ($400 (34 Weeks), $180 (2 Weeks))
Texas (586, 3Q, 2017(+3))(567, 570): Canik TP9: $300 ($355 (1Q, 2015), $180 (14 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (368, 3Q, 2017)(338, 334): Smith & Wesson SD9VE: $225 ($350 (4Q 2014), $150 (40 Weeks))
Virginia (365, 3Q, 2017(+6))(343, 357): Taurus G-2: $255 ($425 (4Q, 2016), $189 (2Q, 2016))
Florida (827, 3Q, 2017)(713, 731): Star Firestar: $280 ($400 (1Q, 2016), $160 (28 Weeks))

.40 caliber S&W (Glock or other semiautomatic) Average Price: $351 Last Week Avg: $309(+) ($399 (1Q, 2016), $262 (2Q, 2016))
Arizona (77, 3Q, 2017(+2))(51, 54): Smith & Wesson 4006: $425 ($500 (44 Weeks), $195 (24 Weeks))
Texas (156, 3Q, 2017(+2))(114, 127): Beretta PX4: $350 ($425 (4Q, 2014), $180 (7 Weeks))
Pennsylvania (115, 3Q, 2017(+5))(115, 110): Walther PPS: $300 ($450 (2Q, 2016), $200 (3Q, 2016))
Virginia (109, 3Q, 2017(+4))(95, 98): Smith & Wesson Sigma SW40GVE: $350 ($450 (2Q, 2015), $275 (1Q, 2015))
Florida (193, 3Q, 2017(+3))(168, 189): Walther PPS: $330 ($400 (1Q, 2015), $199 (4Q, 2015))

Used Gun of the Week: (California)
80Percent Receiver chambered in 5.56mm NATO
Posted by: badanov || 11/18/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Once again, outstanding work.
Posted by: Skidmark || 11/18/2017 1:46 Comments || Top||

#2  Daytona Tactical sells 80% lowers. Just saying...
Posted by: Frank G || 11/18/2017 9:11 Comments || Top||

#3  Once again, a very interesting article badanov.
Posted by: JohnQC || 11/18/2017 14:18 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Congress approves bill delinking Haqqani network from LeT
[DAWN] The US Congress has passed the bill that requires Pakistain to work with the Afghan and American forces to destroy the Haqqani network but leaves Lashkar-e-Taiba
...the Army of the Pure, an Ahl-e-Hadith terror organization founded by Hafiz Saeed. LeT masquerades behind the Jamaat-ud-Dawa facade within Pakistain and periodically blows things up and kills people in India. Despite the fact that it is banned, always an interesting concept in Pakistain, the organization remains an blatant tool and perhaps an arm of the ISI...
out (LeT).

The National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) 2018 ‐ approved by a voice vote by both the House and the Senate on Thursday evening provides about $700 billion for US defence needs in 2018.

The NDA 2018 also provides $700 million for reimbursing Pakistain for monitoring the Pak-Afghan border but withholds half of the amount.

It also prevents the administration from issuing a waiver for $350m unless the US Secretary of Defence certifies to the congressional defence committees that: "Pakistain continues to conduct military operations that are contributing to significantly disrupting the safe havens, fundraising and recruiting efforts, and freedom of movement of the Haqqani Network in Pakistain.

"Pakistain has taken steps to demonstrate its commitment to prevent the Haqqani Network from using any Pakistain territory as a safe haven and for fundraising and recruiting efforts. The government of Pakistain is making an attempt to actively coordinate with the government of Afghanistan to restrict the movement of bully boys, such as the Haqqani Network, along the Afghanistan-Pakistain border. Pakistain has shown progress in arresting and prosecuting big shots and mid-level operatives of the Haqqani Network."

Previous versions of the bill required the secretary to issue a similar certificate for LeT but its name was dropped from the later version, known as the conference.

In the conference versions, the House and the Senate remove their differences on various issues and present a reconciled version to the full Congress for approval.

Delinking LeT from the Haqqani Network reflects Washington’s desire to keep its focus on Afghanistan and encourage Pakistain to cooperate. Policy makers in Washington feel that linking an India-specific group like LeT with the Haqqani Network could discourage Pakistain from cooperating with the US in the war in Afghanistan.

On Friday, the bill was sent to 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...
for signing it into a law.

Posted by: Fred || 11/18/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistain Proxies


Afghanistan
TTP sanctuaries
[DAWN] MERE acknowledgement, especially belated, of the existence of a problem will not necessarily move both countries in the direction of addressing the issue. But so dire have Pak-Afghan ties been in recent times that small improvements could augur bigger changes. On a visit to the US, Afghanistan Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah
... the former foreign minister of the Northern Alliance government, advisor to Masood, and candidate for president against Karzai. Dr. Abdullah was born in Kabul and is half Tadjik and half Pashtun...
was asked about the presence of TTP sanctuaries in his country and his response was one of refreshing candour. Admitting the existence of banned TTP elements on Afghan soil, the Afghan CEO blamed it on ungoverned spaces, so-called insecure areas, and not on any policy decision by the National Unity Government. It remains to be seen if the verbal candour on his part leads to actions against the TTP sanctuary problem in Afghanistan, but it does appear that the recent high-level diplomacy and military engagement between Pakistain and Afghanistan has helped improve the overall mood in the relationship. In particular, army chief Gen Qamar Bajwa’s trip to Kabul seems to have helped the two sides positively reassess the relationship and perhaps create the space necessary for meaningful reciprocal actions. As ever, pragmatic engagement has proved to be more beneficial than rancour and threats.

For Pakistain, the challenge remains twofold: addressing the Pak-Afghan cross-border militancy problem on both sides; and helping restart an Afghan dialogue process that was halted by American indifference and Kabul’s hostility. Patience will necessarily be required, but there is no known or foreseeable alternative to a strategy of gradual trust-building and peaceful engagement. Since both sides have legitimate grievances, an atmosphere where each side can express its priorities and seek compromise and a middle ground can help break the impasse. But courage and boldness will also be required. Gen Bajwa’s direct approach and intensive diplomacy appear to be a good complement to the hard-line approach of the administration of 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...
on Afghanistan. If there is an area in which Pakistain should consider tweaking its approach, it is internally on the civil-military front. The outreach to Afghanistan has been almost wholly handled by the military and the civilian government appears to be merely rubber-stamping the security establishment’s preferences in forums such as the National Security Committee. A lopsided civil-military approach may limit the improvements that can be brought to Pak-Afghan ties, especially in civilian-led areas such as trade and people-to-people contacts.

Posted by: Fred || 11/18/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: TTP


Home Front: Culture Wars
'I am done after May': Danica Patrick, 35, tearfully announces that she will retire following next season's Indianapolis 500
- Patrick broke down in tears during retirement announcement on Friday

- Patrick said that she will participate in next year's Dayton and Indianapolis 500

- Patrick would not reveal who she will drive for in either race next year, but Chip Ganassi Racing is the likely ride at Indy

- Patrick is the only woman to have led laps in both the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500

Posted by: Anomalous Sources || 11/18/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  It's just as well - she's an average NASCAR driver involved in nearly every major wreck in a sport that's a) losing ratings and b) other career drivers (Kenseth, Dale Jr, Edwards who walked away last year) who are being replaced with drivers who'll accept 1/2 their salary.
Posted by: Raj || 11/18/2017 3:21 Comments || Top||

#2  Lacking sponsors?
Posted by: Woodrow || 11/18/2017 5:40 Comments || Top||

#3  She was good for the sport and she will do just fine in front of the camera and behind the microphone.
Posted by: Airandee || 11/18/2017 7:02 Comments || Top||

#4  Who will Ricky Stenhouse have to wreck now?
Posted by: Frank G || 11/18/2017 8:56 Comments || Top||

#5  ... but she's so darn cute!!!
Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839 || 11/18/2017 9:22 Comments || Top||

#6  What I'd give to be an avg NASCAR driver. Make 15-20 mil a year, retire in 5-6 years and sit on my ass. Least I got the last part right.
Posted by: bbrewer126 || 11/18/2017 10:52 Comments || Top||

#7  I'd retire in three months.
Posted by: gorb || 11/18/2017 13:52 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Captured Libyan terrorist confesses on Egyptian TV
[Libya Herald] A Libyan terrorist captured in a major shootout with Egyptian security forces has confessed on air to his membership of Ansar al-Sharia
...a Salafist militia which claims it is not part of al-Qaeda, even though it works about the same and for the same ends. There are groups of the same name in Libyaand Yemen, with the Libyan versions currently most active. Tunisia's Shabaab al-Tawhid started out an Ansar al-Sharia and changed its name in early 2014. It still uses the old name now and then, probably because the stationery's not all used up and the web site hasn't expired yet...
saying he had fought with the Derna Mujahideen Shoura Council to oust IS Lions of Islam and then against the Libyan National Army.

Abdelrahman al-Mismari, 25, who is from Derna, was the sole survivor of 16 button men who were tracked down and cornered by Egyptian security forces near Wahat in western Egypt’s Giza province on 20 October. They had earlier been involved in a devastating desert ambush in which some reports say 52 police were killed in a hail of gunfire, RPGs and a series of IED kabooms. Egyptian officials however, say that only 16 police died.

The attack was claimed by a group calling itself Ansar al-Islam. The terrorist band was located and attacked by aircraft which appears to have killed or injured all of them except Mismari.

After Mismari’s captured, security forces conducted a wave of arrests. The authorities say that of the 29 Egyptians rounded up, 14 along with Mismari, continue to be held on suspicion of terrorist crimes.

Among the dead Lions of Islam was Emad Hatim, said to be a senior Lion of Islam figure, whom Mismari said he had met in 2015 in Derna. Interviewed on the Egyptian TV channel, Mismari said he had been infiltrated into Egypt this January and been been part of a group of gunnies in the Wahat area until the October shootout. The interior ministry in Cairo says that all of the Lions of Islam had been trained and armed in Libya.
Posted by: Fred || 11/18/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Ansar al-Sharia


Africa Horn
Kenya: Five killed as Odinga return marred by violence
[Al Jazeera] At least five people have been killed in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, as police clashed with supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga.

Officers on Friday used tear gas and water cannon to break up large crowds cheering Odinga's convoy from the airport to central Nairobi after his return to Kenya from a trip abroad.

Odinga, leader of the National Super Alliance (NASA), said in a statement that authorities had also used "armed militia and live bullets" to disperse supporters, which led to the "killing [of] several and maiming [of] many".
Posted by: Fred || 11/18/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


Afghanistan
Free Range International: The Afghans Want To Solve Their Problems The Old Fashioned Way
Posted by: newc || 11/18/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The "old fashioned way" -- kill them all??
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 11/18/2017 2:12 Comments || Top||

#2  No, actually.

They have a feeling for how this works with locals now. Before it was too dangerous.

Give them a chance for real, They may have seen the Light and want to get it under control at the local level.

This may have become one of the best things we have done if we listen to those on the ground.

They may have awakened but it takes a long time.
Posted by: newc || 11/18/2017 4:01 Comments || Top||

#3  Saffron makes farmers a ton more money than opium which is why I mention it. Yeah, but saffron does not get you high.

Opium production, used in heroin manufacture, increased during the last 8 years in Afghanistan.

Saffron will not satisfy a junkies need for heroin. Cutting back on production will increase demand and price all the more. The demand side of drugs needs to be worked on as well as the supply side.
Posted by: JohnQC || 11/18/2017 14:11 Comments || Top||

#4  Indian fella selling me Saffron.

"Put a pinch behind your ears, the girls will think you are rich"
Posted by: Shipman || 11/18/2017 15:02 Comments || Top||

#5  "Put a pinch behind your ears, the girls will think you are rich"

Given how much saffron costs, Shipman, the girls wouldn't be far off if one was to make that one's daily perfume.
Posted by: trailing wife || 11/18/2017 19:45 Comments || Top||


Africa Subsaharan
Fall from Grace: Mugabe’s wife was his weakness
[DAWN] President Bob Muggsy Mugabe
Nonagenarian President-for-Life of Zim-bob-we who turned the former Breadbasket of Africa into the African Basket Case...
’s downfall was caused by the ambitions of his combative wife Grace, whose emergence as his likely successor proved a step too far for Zim-bob-we’s military, analysts say.

Grace Mugabe ‐ 41 years younger than her husband ‐ was once dismissed as a lightweight shopping addict.

But she became increasingly active in public life in recent years, and became the frontrunner to take the top job when Mugabe last week sacked her arch-rival, vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The military ‐ determined to stop Grace, 52, being named as the new vice president -- moved in on Wednesday, taking control of the country and signalling the imminent end of Mugabe’s rule.

"The crisis has been triggered by Grace because she wanted to grab power and to have Mugabe remove a lot of people," Shadrack Gutto, director of the Centre for African Renaissance Studies at the University of South Africa, said.

"She overreached herself. She has done a lot to accelerate the removal of her husband from power. "The military decided that enough is enough."

Grace’s political plans were backed by the so-called G40, a group of young supporters that has earned a reputation for aggression.

The faction, which includes some ministers, has been the primary target of the military officers who announced on state TV in the early hours of Wednesday that they would bring "criminals" close to Mugabe to justice.

"The Zim-bob-wean army feel they have the right to have a president they approve of," Knox Chitiyo, of the Chatham House think-tank, said.

"They had to act now before Grace was appointed as vice president at the ZANU-PF party congress next month. Grace’s team got within weeks of success." Grace, born in South Africa, was one of Mugabe’s secretaries when their affair began in 1987, and they had two children in secret before the president’s wife died in 1992.

The couple then married at a lavish ceremony in 1996 attended by Nelson Mandela, before having a third child.

Grace was awarded a doctorate by the University of Zim-bob-we, where her husband is chancellor, reportedly just three months after enrolling, and in 2014 became the head of the ZANU-PF party’s women’s wing.

She has often been accused of extravagant spending on luxury clothes and international travel, and of involvement in corrupt land deals.

’Gucci Grace’: Dubbed "Gucci Grace" _ "The First Shopper" or even "DisGrace", she showed her political mettle in 2014 with her campaign against then vice president Joice Mujuru, who was a contender to succeed her husband.

Grace launched sustained verbal attacks against Mujuru, accusing her of plotting to topple the president.

Soon afterwards, Mujuru was ousted and later expelled from the ruling ZANU-PF party.

But Grace’s attempt to neutralise Mnangagwa ended very differently -- leaving her and her husband languishing under house arrest in Harare.

Grace Mugabe’s confrontational approach and distant public image have brought her little popular affection in Zim-bob-we.

Despite that, her supporters have sought to popularise nicknames like "Dr Amai (Doctor Mother)" and "queen of queens".

In speeches she had railed against anyone accused of disloyalty to the president, and her short temper hit the headlines in August when she allegedly assaulted a model who was with two of her sons at a South African hotel.

Grace was granted diplomatic immunity and made a swift exit from the country.

She once told a South African television programme that she is no longer concerned about what people think of her.

Posted by: Fred || 11/18/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Paging William Shakespeare!
Posted by: Anomalous Sources || 11/18/2017 0:41 Comments || Top||


#3  Comrade Bob is his own worst enemy.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 11/18/2017 2:15 Comments || Top||

#4  His BWife was but she is now safely out of the Country. He is just spent and useless. He looks weak. Rhodesians are not stupid. They know when a woman is running the show. But what is more,

They know when THEY are being replaced.
And they know they do not live in a paradise anyway so what gives?

Rober(t) gives.
Now, when he is not ruling, we may see interesting developments.
Many the same, not good, but some days are better than others.

Seeing as China has a financial seed, see what they happen forth with it as well seeing as they suck everywhere else.
Posted by: newc || 11/18/2017 3:46 Comments || Top||

#5  Grace was awarded a doctorate by the University of Zim-bob-we, where her husband is chancellor, reportedly just three months after enrolling, and in 2014 became the head of the ZANU-PF party’s women’s wing.

Even Chelsea had to put in enough time for appearances' sake
Posted by: Frank G || 11/18/2017 9:01 Comments || Top||

#6  "Your Grace is a veddy quick study --
Amin in a dress, but less bloody!"
"Our Lady MacBobby
Was only a hobby --
One found that one's duds got too muddy."
Posted by: Zenobia Floger6220 || 11/18/2017 12:15 Comments || Top||

#7  /sark
Posted by: Zenobia Floger6220 || 11/18/2017 12:17 Comments || Top||

#8  At least she didn't blow up the Great Sept of Baelor ...
Posted by: Adriane || 11/18/2017 14:42 Comments || Top||

#9  One found that one's duds got too muddy."

One can just hear the accent and the not-quite-dulcet tones in which that all was said, too.
Posted by: trailing wife || 11/18/2017 19:42 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Israel wraps up largest-ever air force drill, with seven allies
[IsraelTimes] With 1,200 personnel, India, US, Greece, Poland, La Belle France, Italia and Germany joined IAF in mock aerial battles and other complex exercises.

Israel and seven other nations wrapped up on Thursday the 11-day Blue Flag military exercise, the largest aerial exercise ever held by the Israel Defense Forces.

Israeli pilots flew alongside counterparts from India, the United States, Greece, Poland, La Belle France, Italia and Germany, taking part in mock aerial battles over southern Israel, the army said in a statement.

Some 1,200 people ‐ including commanders and technical personnel ‐ took part in the exercise based in the Israeli Air Force’s Ovda base north of Eilat.

In the IDF’s statement, IAF chief Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin said the drill aimed to prepare the militaries for operations in the region’s complex and changing political landscape.

"Countries in the Middle East are constantly changing, with new actors and new organizations, and we need to understand how to deal with each one of them," he said.

"If we wish to influence the reality that we will see a decade from now, we must prepare together to create common solutions and build effective international programs," Norkin said, adding that hosting the large-scale drill was "undoubtedly an honor for the IDF and for Israel."

It was Israel’s third time hosting Blue Flag, which began in 2013 and has grown larger each time.

Israeli Air Force officials said the objective of the exercise was three-fold: strengthen diplomatic relations between the countries, expose the participating militaries to new tactics and techniques, and improve military cooperation through exercises that require the air forces to work together.

In addition to being Israel’s largest aerial exercise, this drill is also marked by a number of other firsts.

The Indian, German and French delegations were all in Israel for the first time, while Poland, Greece, Italia and the United States have all participated in previous exercises.

India sent a C-130J Hercules transport plane and a contingent of special forces soldiers; the Germans sent six Eurofighters; the French sent five Mirage 2000AD fighter jets; the Italians sent five Tornado jets of two different variations; and the US, Poland and Greece sent seven, six and five F-16 fighter jets, respectively.

While Israel and Germany have trained together before, this was the first time in nearly 100 years, since World War I, that Luftwaffe fighter planes flew over Israel, then-Ottoman Paleostine.
Posted by: trailing wife || 11/18/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Fantastic show of force-practice.
Posted by: Woodrow || 11/18/2017 5:42 Comments || Top||


IDF enforces closure on West Bank hometown of Friday's car-rammer
[IsraelTimes] After terrorist wounds 2 Israelis, one seriously, in vehicular attack near Efrat, army sets up checkpoints around village of Halhul.

The Israeli army on Friday set up checkpoints around the West Bank town of Halhul, the home of a Paleostinian terrorist who earlier in the day rammed his car into two people, seriously injuring one of them, the military said.

The family of the terrorist was also detained for questioning, the army said.

Just after 6:30 a.m., the 17-year-old barreled his car into the first victim, a 70-year-old man, who sustained a light head wound, at the Efrat South Junction.

From his hospital bed, the first victim, David Ramati, described seeing the Paleostinian terrorist, "with a big smile on his face," driving toward him at some 100 kilometers (60 miles) an hour. Ramati said he had a pistol and tried to shoot the 17-year-old driver, but he was hit by the car before he could.

The terrorist continued down the road to the nearby Gush Etzion Junction where he hit and seriously injured another Israeli man, 35, according to the Magen David Adom ambulance service.

The army said at that point the driver then got out of his car with a knife and tried to stab soldiers who were standing nearby.

"The soldiers responded by firing towards the attacker, resulting in his injury," the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement.

Following the attack, the military decided to set up a so-called "breathing closure" on Halhul, meaning soldiers allow some cars to travel in and out, once they undergo an inspection.

"Following a situational assessment that was held in the Etzion Brigade, IDF troops are enforcing breathing closure on Halhul village, from which the terrorist came, in order to prevent additional assailants from leaving the village," the army said.

The head of the army’s Central Command, Maj. Gen. Roni Numa, and the head of the West Bank Division, Brig. Gen. Eran Niv, visited the scene of the car-ramming and attempted stabbing.

They "commended the soldiers’ swift reaction that led to the attacker’s neutralization and prevented further injuries to civilians and soldiers," the army said in a statement.

According to the hospital, the terrorist was at death's door.

Ramati was taken to Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center, while the 35-year-old was taken to Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem, the MDA said.

The seriously injured victim was taken for surgery with a head wound, surgeon’s at the hospital said.

"He suffered a head wound. He has an intracranial hemorrhage and will require brain surgery," his doctor said. "He’s at death's door, but he is stable."

Army medics treated the maimed terrorist and also brought him to Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem for further treatment.

The Gush Etzion Junction in the central West Bank has been a common site for terror attacks due to its close proximity to both Israeli settlements and Paleostinian villages.
Ynet names the car rammer as Az al-Din Kraja, 17 of the Palestinian village of Halhul, north of Hebron. The location increases the odds young Azzie is a Hamasnik.

IDF troops find makeshift firearm in West Bank village

[IsraelTimes] IDF soldiers find an improvised firearm in a "security check" in the Paleostinian village of Jit in the northern West Bank, the army says.

The firearm is of a type known as "Carlo," usually constructed in makeshift workshops throughout the West Bank.

Palestinian arrested in Hebron carrying large kitchen knife

[IsraelTimes] Israel Border Policemen tossed in the calaboose
... anything you say can and will be used against you, whether you say it or not...
a 20-year-old Paleostinian carrying a large kitchen knife Friday next to the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron.

An initial investigation indicates he was planning to carry out a stabbing attack against security forces due to a family dispute.
Posted by: trailing wife || 11/18/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


-Lurid Crime Tales-
Florida Democratic Party leader resigns after report of 'creepy' behavior
[ORLANDOSENTINEL] Florida Democratic Party chairman Stephen Bittel is stepping down after a report detailing a hostile and "creepy" work environment he created for women.

"When my personal situation becomes distracting to our core mission of electing Democrats and making Florida better, it is time for me to step aside," he wrote in a statement posted on the FDP’s Twitter feed Friday. "I am proud of what we have built as a Party and the wins we have had for Florida families, but I apologize for all who have felt uncomfortable during my tenure at the Democratic Party."

Bittel’s last day will be Monday, and party vice chair Judy Mount will take over on an interim basis. The state executive committee will meet Dec. 9 to elect a permanent successor.

A Politico report published Friday detailed claims from six anonymous former staffers and consultants that he made inappropriate comments, ogled them and invited them to his house and onto his private jet. He also kept breast-shaped stress balls at his desk, which he said was a gag gift from a female former general counsel.

No one accused Bittel of physically groping or assaulting them, but the environment he created made women feel uncomfortable.

Posted by: Fred || 11/18/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  made women feel uncomfortable
The very existence of men makes some women feel uncomfortable. Therefore men must cease to exist.
Posted by: Glenmore || 11/18/2017 1:09 Comments || Top||

#2  The guy's a classless jerk. That's not masculinity - it's just classless jerkiness.
Posted by: Knuckles Slineger2610 || 11/18/2017 7:44 Comments || Top||


Sitting Ohio Supreme Court Justice Bill O'Neill, responding to Franken allegations, claims bedding 50 women
[CLEVELAND] Ohio Supreme Court Justice Bill O'Neill, a Democratic candidate for governor, apparently trying to head off any criticisms from his opponents, revealed what he says are his sexual escapades over the years on a Facebook post.

A post on O'Neill's official Facebook said he was speaking up "on behalf of all heterosexual males" after allegations against Democratic U.S. Sen. Al Franken came to light Thursday. O'Neill, a Chagrin Falls native, said he had been "sexually intimate" with "approximately 50 very attractive females."

O'Neill said he was disappointed by the "national feeding frenzy about sexual indiscretions decades ago" and wanted to focus on the issues like legalizing marijuana and addressing opioid addiction. Over the last several weeks, numerous allegations of predatory sexual behavior against powerful men have come to light.
Posted by: Fred || 11/18/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Re Franken: She was a co-worker.

The Progs are proposing that voting for Moore is the same thing as voting for a person who, at the age of 30-ish, and an attorney, decided to roll the dice on “ If a person over the age of 16 has sex with a person under that age, they have committed second-degree rape, provided they are more than two years older than their partner.”

I believe His Honor must confront this head on, point out the various (and numerous) states with age of consent at 16 y/o, and emphasize all the bad guys he sent to jail for violating same. And, he must not in any manner, come off as a hypocrite, as he will be accused as such. imo.
Posted by: Anomalous Sources || 11/18/2017 0:25 Comments || Top||

#2  For the Fallen it is allowable to be fallen. It's their cultural right at this time. But it is the righteous that must pay according to them. But they have forgotten, the sins of the righteous are paid in full. It is the Fallen who at the very end will receive terrifying justice. Amen.
Posted by: Hupeting Sforza8196 || 11/18/2017 1:51 Comments || Top||

#3  Former Sitting Ohio Supreme Court Justice Bill O'Neill, responding to Franken allegations, claims bedding 50 women
Posted by: Skidmark || 11/18/2017 1:52 Comments || Top||

#4  O'Neill said he was disappointed by the "national feeding frenzy about sexual indiscretions decades ago"

Kudos to Bill.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 11/18/2017 3:04 Comments || Top||

#5  FWIW: Democrat tries to outsmart critics with Facebook posts of past peccadilloes. The move backfires.
Posted by: Seeking cure for ignorance || 11/18/2017 3:14 Comments || Top||

#6  Bill O'Neill in "The Mighty Adventures of the 4 Incher". Or a show theme for Jerry Springer.
Posted by: Woodrow || 11/18/2017 5:57 Comments || Top||

#7  he had been "sexually intimate" with "approximately 50 very attractive females."

"some of them were almost awake, even!"
Posted by: Frank G || 11/18/2017 9:03 Comments || Top||

#8  Moore shouldn't to a anything. The Resistance did the same damn thing that happened last year in the election with the Trump allegations: Hit the "RAPE" button to soon, giving the electorate time to see through the BS.
Posted by: Charles || 11/18/2017 9:38 Comments || Top||

#9  Hit the "RAPE" button to soon, giving the electorate time to see through the BS.

Shhhhh!!!! Don't tell them!
Posted by: Abu Uluque || 11/18/2017 10:19 Comments || Top||

#10  Frequent flyer mileage at the Mustang Ranch?
Posted by: Procopius2k || 11/18/2017 10:47 Comments || Top||

#11  he had been "sexually intimate" with "approximately 50 very attractive females."

Female what, though?
Posted by: charger || 11/18/2017 11:58 Comments || Top||

#12  Moo....
Posted by: Mullah Richard || 11/18/2017 12:55 Comments || Top||

#13  All of a sudden there seems to be a huge cathartic movement.
Posted by: JohnQC || 11/18/2017 14:29 Comments || Top||

#14  Were any of them alive at the time?
Posted by: CrazyFool || 11/18/2017 15:26 Comments || Top||


Africa Subsaharan
Could Mnangagwa be Zimbabwe's comeback crocodile?
[Al Jazeera] Besieged President Bob Muggsy Mugabe
Nonagenarian President-for-Life of Zim-bob-we who turned the former Breadbasket of Africa into the African Basket Case...
has refused to step down
...Hell no! The money's too good!...
, amid mounting pressure from the army on the former guerrilla to allow a smooth and bloodless transition.

The military demands seek to reinstate former Vice President Emerson Mnangagwa as first vice president and then as leader of a transitional administration.

According to an army statement broadcast on Zim-bob-we state television
... and if you can't believe state television who can you believe?
on Friday, "significant progress" has been made in mediation talks aimed at ending Mugabe's military house arrest.

Mugabe is still resistant to demands to resign, but increasing internal calls from war veterans and the army could see Mugabe bringing Mnangagwa back into the fold and a possible end to the temporary takeover.

Posted by: Fred || 11/18/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


India-Pakistan
BLF commander, allegedly involved in killing of 15 near Turbat, killed
[DAWN] One alleged terrorist involved in the recent killing of 15 migrants colonists near Turbat was killed during an intelligence based operation near the Alandur, Abdur Rehman village in Turbat, the army's media wing said on Friday.

Younis Taukali, one of the eight top commanders of the Balochistan
...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it...
Liberation Front (BLF), was killed in an exchange of fire after the Frontier Corps
...a provincial paramilitary force. Total manpower is about 80,000. They are tasked to help local law enforcement in the maintenance of law and order, and to carry out border patrol and a..the Antwerp-based Salafist organization that had campaigned to introduce Sharia law to Belgium before single-handedly making Belgium the highest per capita supplier of jihadis to Syria in Europe. There was a big trial in Antwerp in 2015, but most of those convicted were in absentia...nti-smuggling operations....
(FC) cordoned off the area, Inter-Services Media Relations (ISPR) said on Friday.

Taukali was killed 20 kilometres west of Buleda and 25km north of where the bullet-riddled bodies of 15 migrants colonists mostly hailing from Punjab
1.) Little Orphan Annie's bodyguard
2.) A province of Pakistain ruled by one of the Sharif brothers
3.) A province of India. It is majority (60 percent) Sikh and Hindoo (37 percent), which means it has relatively few Moslem riots....

were found on Wednesday. A number of human smugglers have been apprehended in a wide-ranging crackdown in Punjab since then.

The migrants colonists had been looking to cross into Iran on their way to Europe.

The accused had also been involved in attacking FC convoys with improvised bombs (IEDs) and was wanted for multiple murders, including that of Rehmatullah Shohaz, a founding member of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), the army said.

Posted by: Fred || 11/18/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Baloch Liberation Army


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Iran says 'biased' French policy stoking Mideast crises
[DAWN] Iran said on Friday that "biased" French policy was stoking crises in the Middle East after French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian accused it of "hegemonic" ambitions in the region.

"Unfortunately it seems that La Belle France has a biased and partisan approach to the crises in the region and this approach, whether intentionally or not, is even contributing to turning potential crises into real ones," foreign ministry front man Bahram Ghassemi said.

Le Drian made his comments in Iran's arch-rival 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...
on Thursday during a visit aimed at resolving a crisis sparked by the shock resignation earlier this month of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri
Second son of Rafik Hariri, the Leb PM who was assassinated in 2005. He has was prime minister in his own right from 2009 through early 2011. He was born in Riyadh to an Iraqi mother and graduated from Georgetown University. He managed his father's business interests in Riyadh until his father's assassination. When his father died he inherited a fortune of some $4.1 billion, which won't do him much good if Hizbullah has him bumped off, too.
, a staunch critic of Iran.

Hariri's resignation, which has not been accepted by President Michel Aoun
...president of Leb, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hizbullah...
, was widely seen as the latest salvo in an intensifying proxy war between Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shia Iran, which back opposing sides in regional conflicts in countries including Syria and Yemen.

Posted by: Fred || 11/18/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran

#1  has a biased and partisan approach

Who do they think they are, Democrats attacking 'pubs?
Posted by: AlanC || 11/18/2017 7:35 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Two killed in 'unprovoked' Indian shelling in AJK: officials
[DAWN] A woman and a man were killed while at least five others, including a teenager, were maimed on Friday when Indian troops resorted to "unprovoked" shelling across the Line of Control (LoC) in Azad Jammu and Kashmire (AJK), officials said.

The casualties occurred in Poonch district's Abasspur town ─ the same area where an elderly woman was killed in an incident of firing by Indian troops two days earlier ─ and in Nezapir sector of the neighbouring Haveli district.

"They (Indian troops) started shelling at about 7am without any provocation. Shelling continued intermittently after," said Qazi Arsalan, an official at Abasspur cop shoppe.

Posted by: Fred || 11/18/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Govt makes last-ditch appeal to Islamabad protesters; hospitals placed on high alert
[DAWN] The government geared up for a possible showdown with religious hardliners camped out on the federal capital's busy Faizabad Interchange after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday ordered the district administration to take all necessary steps to clear the area latest by Saturday morning.

A 10pm deadline for Friday night given to protesters to disperse lapsed without much done on either side.

All hospitals in the city were ordered to cancel doctors and paramedical staff's leaves and ask them to be present on duty till further instructions.

One thousand personnel were requested from the Punjab
1.) Little Orphan Annie's bodyguard
2.) A province of Pakistain ruled by one of the Sharif brothers
3.) A province of India. It is majority (60 percent) Sikh and Hindoo (37 percent), which means it has relatively few Moslem riots....

Rangers "to perform duty along with police,".

The district administration had also requisitioned water tankers and fire brigades to prepare for any eventuality.

At least eight ambulances, along with paramedical staff; two fire engines; and three water bowsers would be at the disposal of the district magistrate from Nov 18, an official letter read.

Islamabad protesters defiant as showdown looms

[DAWN] A showdown between the government and protesters holding a sit-in at the Faizabad interchange for the past several days appears likely as the last appeal made by Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal at a presser on Friday before the 10pm deadline set for the protest leaders to vacate the place for the sake of Islam and Pakistain fell on deaf ears.

Rumours of a post-midnight crackdown swirled in the city, even as Mr Iqbal continued his hectic efforts to convince the protest’s leaders to agree to a peaceful solution late into the night.

"We have information that there are some armed persons as well as a few miscreants among the protesters and that is why their leadership should act responsibly," Mr Iqbal told a presser at the Press Information Department earlier in the night, adding: "We have Islamabad police, FC and Rangers all ready... but I believe that an operation will not be required, as they [protesters] will vacate the place peacefully."

Mr Iqbal rejected the perception that there was a ’hidden hand’ supporting the protesters and it restricted the government to launch an operation against them.

Pakistani court orders anti-blasphemy sit-in be cleared

[Al Jazeera] A Pak court has ordered authorities to clear an anti-blasphemy protest that has blocked a major highway into the capital Islamabad for the last 10 days, prompting fears of festivities between police and demonstrators.

Hundreds of demonstrators remained gathered at the protest site on Friday, located at a major entry point to the city, vowing to hold their ground unless their demands were met.

"We have been told to clear the protest, by hook or by crook," said Mushtaq Ahmed, a top local administration official. "We have been told to enlist the services of the [paramilitary] Rangers and FC as well, if required."

The protesters first gathered at the Faizabad interchange on November 8, demanding the resignation of the federal law minister over a change of wording in an electoral law that they perceived as softening the state's official designation of members of the Ahmadi sect as non-Moslem.

Ahmadis are a minority sect, numbering in the hundreds of thousands in Pakistain and up to 10 million worldwide, who identify as Moslem while maintaining that the Prophet Muhammad was succeeded by the founder of their faith, Mirza Ghulam Ahmed, as a "subordinate prophet" in the late 19th century.

They face widespread discrimination in Pakistain and other Moslem-majority countries. In Pakistain, they are forbidden from referring to themselves as Moslem and are frequently the target of violent attacks.

Political unknown's rise
The protesters are led by Khadim Hussain Rizvi, a hard-right conservative who is known for his vitriolic rhetoric against the Ahmadi community, and who has recently risen to prominence as the leader of the Tehrik-e-Labbaik Pakistain (TLP) political party.

A relative political unknown, Rizvi's party bagged third place in a recent by-election in the eastern city of Lahore, about 275km south of the capital, held to elect a replacement for Nawaz Sharif
... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf, then by the courts...
, who was disqualified from the prime minister's office in July on corruption allegations.
Posted by: Fred || 11/18/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan

#1  Believe in the moon goddess or else, we got you.
Posted by: Woodrow || 11/18/2017 5:45 Comments || Top||

#2  Soylent Green: "Bring in the scoops"
Posted by: Frank G || 11/18/2017 9:25 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Egypt to temporarily reopen Gaza border crossing
Look for the usual trouble in three days...
[Ynet] Egyptian officials say authorities will temporarily reopen the country's border crossing with the Gazoo Strip for the first time since the Islamic Lion of Islam group Hamas, a contraction of the Arabic words for "frothing at the mouth", ceded control of its side of the crossings to the Paleostinian Authority.

The officials say the Rafah crossing will be open for three days, starting on Saturday, for humanitarian reasons. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to talk to news hounds.

Last month, Hamas handed over control of Gazoo's crossings with Israel and Egypt to the Paleostinian Authority as a step toward implementing a reconciliation deal with the rival Fatah movement.

Rafah is Gazoo's main gateway to the outside world. Egypt has kept Rafah largely sealed off since 2013, after the ouster of Egypt's elected Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.
Posted by: trailing wife || 11/18/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Hamas


India-Pakistan
Saeed’s plea against detention deferred
[DAWN] The Lahore High Court on Friday adjourned hearing of a petition of Jamaat-ud-Dawa
...the front organization of Lashkar-e-Taiba...
(JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed
...founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba and its false-mustache offshoot Jamaat-ud-Dawa. The United Nations declared the JuD a terrorist organization in 2008 and Hafiz Saeed a terrorist as its leader. Hafiz, JuD and LeT are wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Pak intel apparatus, so that amounted to squat...
against his detention to wait for a decision on the matter by a provincial review board.

As Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin Ahmad resumed hearing, a deputy attorney general stated that a provincial review board comprising judges of the high court was scheduled to take up the detention matter of Mr Saeed on Nov 21. He said the court should adjourn hearing of the petition till a decision of the review board was out. The judge accepted the request and deferred the hearing till Nov 22.

The provincial review board had on Oct 18 approved one-month extension in detention of Hafiz Saeed while accepting an application of the government. However,
there's no worse danger than telling a mother her baby is ugly...
the board had rejected the application regarding four other leaders of the organization, including Qazi Kashif Niaz, Prof Zafar Iqbal, Abdul Rehman Abid and Abdullah Obaid, and released them.

The provincial government had detained the JuD leaders under Maintenance of Pubic Order as recommended by the federal government.

Against the detention, JuD’s counsel A.K. Dogar contended that government detained Saeed on apprehensions and hearsay. He said an order of preventive detention had to satisfy the requirements laid down by the Supreme Court in its many judgements, but in the instant case sheer violation of laws had been committed by the government. He said imprisonment without trial and conviction was prima facie unlawful and unconstitutional.

Posted by: Fred || 11/18/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Lashkar e-Taiba



Who's in the News
25[untagged]
3Govt of Pakistan
3Sublime Porte
2Commies
2Govt of Iran
2Islamic State
1Hamas
1Jamaat-e-Islami
1Lashkar e-Jhangvi
1Lashkar e-Taiba
1Palestinian Authority
1TTP
1Ansar al-Sharia
1Baloch Liberation Army
1Govt of Iran Proxies
1Govt of Pakistain Proxies
1Govt of Syria

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

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Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has dominated Mexico for six years.
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Two weeks of WOT
Sat 2017-11-18
  Iraq Forces Retake Last IS-Held Town in Country
Fri 2017-11-17
  Iraqi troops destroy ISIS HQ in Diyala
Thu 2017-11-16
  Zimbabwe’s Military, in Apparent Takeover, Says It Has Custody of Mugabe
Wed 2017-11-15
  Mall of America Stabber Identified as Mahad Abdiaziz Abdirahaman
Tue 2017-11-14
  Pakistani militants among 4 killed in US drone strike in Nangarhar
Mon 2017-11-13
  At least 50 dead in artillery fire, Russian strikes in Syria
Sun 2017-11-12
  US Drone Strike In Somalia Kills ‘Several’ Al-Shabaab Militants
Sat 2017-11-11
  700+ Russian and and Azerbaijani ISIS wimmin busted in Mosul
Fri 2017-11-10
  Turkey detains more than 160 IS suspects in Ankara
Thu 2017-11-09
  Syria declares victory over Islamic State
Wed 2017-11-08
  JeM chief Masood Azhar's nephew killed in IHK operation
Tue 2017-11-07
  ISIS appoints new leader in southeast Asia following defeat in Marawi City
Mon 2017-11-06
  ISIS car bomb attack kills 75 in Deir Ezzor
Sun 2017-11-05
  'At least 27 people killed' at a Texas church
Sat 2017-11-04
  ISIL loses al-Qaim in Iraq and Deir Az Zor in Syria

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