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Lebanese army rejects siege surrender offer
Today's Headlines
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Afghanistan
Taliban hand over 2 S. Koreans to Afghan elders: district chief
Taliban militiamen who abducted 23 South Korean Christian aid workers last month handed over two ill female hostages to Afghan elders as promised on Monday, a district chief told Kyodo News.

The chief of the Andar district in Ghazni Province told Kyodo News that the two women were being taken by the Afghan elders to the provincial headquarters of the Afghan Red Moon-Shaped Thingy Crescent Society in Ghazni, the provincial capital of the same name.

The development comes amid the holding of direct talks between South Korean diplomats and the Taliban abductors since Friday over the fate of South Korean Christian aid workers, mostly women, who were abducted in Ghazni on July 19. Two of the original 23 have been slain.

The International Committee of the Red Thingy Cross, in a press release from Geneva, said it has since last Friday, in its capacity as a neutral intermediary, been facilitating the direct talks in Ghazni at the Afghan Red Moon-Shaped Thingy Crescent Society's provincial headquarters. "As a humanitarian organization, the ICRTC is very Concerned about the fate of the hostages. It insists that they not be harmed under any circumstances and that they be unconditionally released as quickly as possible," said Reto Stocker, head of the ICRTC delegation in Kabul.

The ICRTC urged that all hostages be allowed to write brief messages containing family news to their families.
Posted by: anonymous5089 || 08/13/2007 08:29 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Taliban

#1  As long as they continue to get publicity and news coverage. As long as the South Korean "street" is full of angst, hand-wringing and puts pressure on the gubbiment. As long as there is hope of a big ransom and prisoner exchange. The Taliban are in charge of the events. This only helps put a more "humane" munipulative face on them from a SKor and world perspective. Adds to the pressure. Especially since we have Allan vs. JC here.
Posted by: Jack is Back! || 08/13/2007 11:06 Comments || Top||

#2  Which I've said before, Jack. Them Talibunnies need to be careful they don't get some of that JC rubbing off on them. Could be hazardous to their health if some of their devil worshiping buddies got to thinking they was becoming apostates.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 08/13/2007 12:00 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan: At least 10 Taliban killed in south
(AKI) - At least 10 Taliban fighters have been killed in fighting with Afghan and international troops in the southern Afghan province of Helmand, the coalition forces said in a statement on Friday. Other fighters may have been killed or injured in what the US-led coalition forces have described as a "large battle" which began on Thursday and continued into Friday. There are no reports of casualties among the Afghan or international troops, the statement said.The coalition forces stressed that the air strikes on suspected Taliban positions were carried out 12 hours after fighting began in order to allow for civilians to leave the area.
Posted by: Fred || 08/13/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Europe
Kurdish rebel bomb wounds 12 soldiers in Turkey
Kurdish rebels detonated a roadside bomb as two minibuses carrying army personnel passed on Sunday, wounding 12 soldiers, the private Dogan news agency reported. The attack occurred near the town of Eruh in southeastern Siirt province, the agency said. Military helicopters ferried the injured to a local hospital as troops backed by helicopter gunships launched an operation to hunt down the rebels in the area, it added.

Kurdish rebels have killed about 80 soldiers since January, most in roadside bomb attacks on military vehicles.
Posted by: Fred || 08/13/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The bombers are morons; the time is not right to assert Kurdish autonomy. The Turks could upset 16 years of relative stability in Kurdistan.
Posted by: McZoid || 08/13/2007 4:43 Comments || Top||


Home Front: WoT
Interesting
Military opens door to more dropouts
Posted by: Clart Henbane8757 || 08/13/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  High School isn't what it used to be anyway. Most military schools demand more than what it takes to graduate from High Schools with high drop-out rates.
Posted by: Super Hose || 08/13/2007 0:49 Comments || Top||

#2  Housing sector may be chilled in the hot markets, but unemployment is still at historic lows (shhhh, don't tell anybody, it's a secret). General economic activity is always the greatest factor affecting recruitment (I believe - someone correct me if I'm wrong).

I believe close to 50% of freshmen admitted to the California State University system (not UC) require remedial instruction in English and math. That's five-zero-percent, or half. Unbelievable. And those are high school GRADUATES. Amazing what a death of common sense (collapsse of standards, introduction of ridiculous b.s. at almost every turn) and billions of dollars can get you, huh? But at least teachers are now both better compensated AND much more secure than their private sector equivalents (according to recent studies).
Posted by: Verlaine || 08/13/2007 0:56 Comments || Top||

#3  I believe close to 50% of freshmen admitted to the California State University system (not UC) require remedial instruction in English and math.

Yeah Verlaine, but our California kids are much more "well rounded" these days. Just ask them about earth day and a gay pride parade.
Posted by: Intrinsicpilot || 08/13/2007 1:13 Comments || Top||

#4  50%... behold the Dhimmicratic voting base. That is exactly what they were striving for in the last 40-30 yers. Although it can be considered a failure that it is not 75%, which would be more to their liking.

I actually thought it is worse. Were involved in a web statistics course project some years back (registration, login, payments and ticket modules) and couldn't believe that I were dealing with college students. Grammar, general inanity, at times no traces of any logical faculties whatsoever... My mind boggled on daily basis.

At the root is the "Self-Esteem" paradigm that replaced Self-Respect. We have now a large cohort of neotenic narcissistic people who have been told all their lives that they are "special" and that nothing bad is really their fault.



Posted by: twobyfour || 08/13/2007 1:42 Comments || Top||

#5  At the root is the "Self-Esteem" paradigm that replaced Self-Respect.

As some unknown genius once said:

"Never has there been a generation so full of self-esteem ... for so little reason."
Posted by: Zenster || 08/13/2007 1:46 Comments || Top||

#6  Collapse of school standards is very much a reality here in France too, due mostly to the *deliberate* running down and dumbing down of education by the post-68 freudo-marxists; note that already french public schooling was from the very start in 19th century a secular war machine against traditional values (education was wrestled from the hands of the Catholic Church to be put in thoses of the crusading teachers from the agressively secular/free mason IIIrd republic), though it was elitist and actually churned out very well educated youngsters, and that post-WWII, it was reshaped by the french communist party, with the Langevin-Wallon refoundation of "pubic teaching" whichn then became "national education", see the difference, the emphasis being to mold "good citizens" (wink, wink).

One other major factor is massive immigration, from the third world, which put an increasing burden (violence, restlessness, lack of basic language skills) on the over-worked functionally broken but cancerously bloated Education Nationale.

This is not limited to the USA, we've got exactly the same situation here, and in the UK, and most of the western world I'd guess.

This is a catastrophy, the advantage of the West had been education and know-how; compare education standards of early 20th century, especially in mathemathics and writing skills, with those of todays! Currents school kids can't even beggin to compete, thouh it's not their fault, it's deliberate again, from the very same people who are supposed to teach them.
Add the fact that technical skills and know-how is being lost too, while social studies and the like proliferate, and this is VERY bad for the future, when we are faced with countries that understand the value of education in the form we used to have and that made us what we are today.
There's even a noted french neurologist, Lucien Israël who has written several books on the subject (which I of course haven't read, but he is/was a regular guest on conservative talk show I listened to on radion) who said that there was a deliberate effort to change the "left brain" western civilization (logic, rationality) into a "right brain" one (emotionality), by altering reading mecanism with the global method (don't know if you've got the same over there in the USA) for example, and through the way the entertainment/msm worked, because this suited the type of society envisioned by the cultural marxists.
Posted by: anonymous5089 || 08/13/2007 4:26 Comments || Top||

#7  Btw, one funny thing is, today's education systems from ex-colonies actually have kept the old french system, and have higher standards (educated africans often speak a better, purer french, for example, even if north african countries are busy re-arabizing their school systems).
Posted by: anonymous5089 || 08/13/2007 4:29 Comments || Top||

#8  From: ...
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Sent: Friday, April 20, 2007 8:08 PM
Subject: Fw: Only an 8th Grade Education

I can't believe I finished high-school

What it took to get an 8th grade education in 1895...

Remember when grandparents and great-grandparents stated that they only had an 8th grade education? Well, check this out. Could any of us have passed the 8th grade in 1895?

This is the eighth-grade final exam from 1895 in Salina, Kansas , USA . It was taken from the original document on file at the Smokey Valley Genealogical Society and Library in Salina , KS , and reprinted by the Salina Journal.

8th Grade Final Exam: Salina , KS -1895
Grammar (Time, one hour)

1. Give nine rules for the use of capital letters.
2. Name the parts of speech and define those that have no modifications.
3. Define verse, stanza and paragraph
4. What are the principal parts of a verb? Give principal parts of "lie,""play," and "run."
5. Define case; illustrate each case.
6 What is punctuation? Give rules for principal marks of punctuation.
7 - 10. Write a composition of about 150 words and show therein that you understand the practical use of the rules of grammar.

Arithmetic (Time,1 hour 15 minutes)

1. Name and define the Fundamental Rules of Arithmetic.
2. A wagon box is 2 ft. deep, 10 feet long, and 3 ft. wide. How many bushels of wheat will it hold?
3. If a load of wheat weighs 3,942 lbs., what is it worth at 50cts/bushel, deducting 1,050 lbs. for tare?
4. District No 33 has a valuation of $35,000. What is the necessary levy to carry on a school seven months at $50 per month, and have $104 for incidentals?
5. Find the cost of 6,720 lbs. coal at $6.00 per ton.
6. Find the interest of $512.60 for 8 months and 18 days at 7 percent.
7. What is the cost of 40 boards 12 inches wide and 16 ft. long at $20 per metre?
8. Find bank discount on $300 for 90 days (no grace) at 10 percent.
9. What is the cost of a square farm at $15 per acre, the distance of which is 640 rods?
10. Write a Bank Check, a Promissory Note, and a Receipt

U.S. History (Time, 45 minutes)

1. Give the epochs into which U.S. History is divided
2. Give an account of the discovery of America by Columbus .
3. Relate the causes and results of the Revolutionary War.
4. Show the territorial growth of the United States
5. Tell what you can of the history of Kansas .
6. Describe three of the most prominent battles of the Rebellion.
7. Who were the following: Morse, Whitney, Fulton , Bell , Lincoln , Penn, and Howe?
8. Name events connected with the following dates: 1607, 1620, 1800, 1849, 1865.

Orthography (Time, one hour) [Do we even know what this is??]

1. What is meant by the following: alphabet, phonetic, orthography, etymology, syllabication
2. What are elementary sounds? How classified?
3. What are the following, and give examples of each: trigraph, subvocals, diphthong, cognate letters, linguals
4. Give four substitutes for caret 'u.' (HUH?)
5. Give two rules for spelling words with final 'e.' Name two exceptions under each rule.
6. Give two uses of silent letters in spelling. Illustrate each.
7. Define the following prefixes and use in connection with a word: bi, dis, mis, pre, semi, post, non, inter, mono, sup.
8. Mark diacritically and divide into syllables the following, and name the sign that indicates the sound: card, ball, mercy, sir, odd, cell, rise, blood, fare, last.
9. Use the following correctly in sentences: cite, site, sight, fane, fain, feign, vane, vai n, vein, raze, raise, rays.
10. Write 10 words frequently mispronounced and indicate pronunciation by use of diacritical marks and by syllabication.

Geography (Time, one hour)

1 What is climate? Upon what does climate depend?
2. How do you account for the extremes of climate in Kansas ?
3. Of what use are rivers? Of what use is the ocean?
4. Describe the mountains of North America
5. Name and describe the following: Monrovia , Odessa , Denver , Manitoba , Hecla , Yukon , St. Helena, Juan Fernandez, Aspinwall and Orinoco ..
6. Name and locate the principal trade centers of the U.S.
7. Name all the republics of Europe and give the capital of each.
8. Why is the Atlantic Coast colder than the Pacific in the same latitude?
9. Describe the process by which the water of the ocean returns to the sources of rivers.

10. Describe the movements of the earth. Give the incl ination of the earth.

Notice that the exam took FIVE HOURS to complete.

Gives the saying "he only had an 8th grade education" a whole new meaning, doesn't it?

Also shows you how poor our education system has become! and, NO! I don't have the answers!
Posted by: anonymous5089 || 08/13/2007 4:32 Comments || Top||

#9  The young people that I know appear to be picking careers earlier than I did. Even if they don't go past high school, many low pay service jobs can morph into the high end of the same sector. Also, banks are more willing to invest in easy entry franchise operations, as long as the client has some front money, and a good economic plan. I didn't drop out, but I don't think that a young person who does, is certain not to make it in society. However, nobody should have to drop out because they have reason to be afraid at a public school.
Posted by: McZoid || 08/13/2007 4:39 Comments || Top||

#10  Speaking of 3rd world education. I'll leave this cut and paste in case the mods don't want this here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE6Q-iZZHno
Posted by: McZoid || 08/13/2007 5:23 Comments || Top||

#11  http://www.snopes.com/language/document/1895exam.asp
Posted by: Albemarle Cleaque8456 || 08/13/2007 6:35 Comments || Top||

#12  Oh, well. That'll teach me, I guess.

Posted by: anonymous5089 || 08/13/2007 6:41 Comments || Top||

#13  Schools are too focused on PC and self-esteem and too little on learning something useful. Discipline has become a real problem in many schools.
Posted by: JohnQC || 08/13/2007 9:22 Comments || Top||

#14  "I never understood math ... for four years in high school I couldn't do it," said Vojta, a private first class with the Ohio National Guard who passed her GED test and hopes next to become a military police officer. "Come here for a couple of weeks and I got it down because they've actually taken the time to explain it."

As others here have already stated...this is the bottom-line of today's "Public Education" system. And, do NOT blame the teachers on this one. Blame the Teacher's Union (a whole different group of folks) as most teachers I know WANT to truly TEACH the kids, but are hampered by unending paperwork, lack of resources, overbearing bureaucracy, and PARENTS who don't back them up.

My mom, who retired from teaching a few years ago (she stayed at home when I and my sis were little, then went back to teaching after laying out for about 8-10 years), summed it up this way:

"It used to be parents would ask 'What did Johnny do today?' Now, they ask 'What did you do to Johnny today?'"
Posted by: BA || 08/13/2007 9:51 Comments || Top||

#15  Isn't it the responsibility of the local school board to assure the kids are getting an education?
Posted by: Heriberto Ulusomble6667 || 08/13/2007 11:43 Comments || Top||

#16  Heriberto Ulusomble6667, no. It's the responsibility of the Parents. When they delegate this responsibility to "experts" we get what passes for education here.
Posted by: Deacon Blues || 08/13/2007 11:53 Comments || Top||

#17  in the immortal words of Bart Simpson:

"Me fail English? That are unpossible!"
Posted by: Frank G || 08/13/2007 13:33 Comments || Top||

#18  Actually that quote is from Ralph Wiggum, Police Chief Wiggum's son. Not Bart.
Posted by: jds || 08/13/2007 14:58 Comments || Top||

#19  "Isn't it the responsibility of the local school board to assure the kids are getting an education?"

Did someone actually ask that question?
Posted by: mcsegeek1 || 08/13/2007 15:01 Comments || Top||

#20  ...or in the immortal words of Hank Hill to his son Bobby: "you failed english?! Son, you speak english"
Posted by: Broadhead6 || 08/13/2007 15:02 Comments || Top||

#21  Deac, you're spot on. The lack of parenting in this country is sending our future generations down the river in a concrete boat w/o paddles.

Of course, many in the U.S. have no problem letting the gubmint step in as "parents" anyways, so you get what ya pay for, I guess.
Posted by: BA || 08/13/2007 15:04 Comments || Top||

#22  a bit off topic.

I can get all the kids the military needs to fill ranks, no sweat.

****************

All I need are the EXSISTING $$$$ set aside for the kids here in CaliPhornia. But first it must be said that the Educational system here is broken.

Too many Youngsters aren't turned on by learning like we were/are. What happned to their basic curiosity level?

There is plenty of money being wasted here in my estimation and I would like to show the Caliph's beauracrats a thing or two, plus fill the ranks of our services.

From the State & Fed budget for 30 students then..

the pro rated $$$
all the monies allocated..
busing
insurance
physical buildings
books
State and Fed monies

Guessing its something like $25,000+ from the top...

30 x $25,000 = $750,000

Let's see, could you teach 30 kids the 3 Rs for one year for $750,000?

for every day indoors we spend a day outdoors!

Hummmm,

#1) Get all the free stuff from the Military you can get! ;-)

$50,000 Buy some insurance
$100,000 1 Olde Bolde Ret 1st Sgt!
$180,000 hire 2 real good teachers to supervise
$180,000 Hire 4 real good post grad tutors
$45,000 Lease Bus/Camping and Road trips
$45,000 Boat Rentals Ocean, River, Lake Work

Can you think of some more.....
only $600,000 spent so far....
Posted by: Red Dawg || 08/13/2007 15:11 Comments || Top||

#23  Why am I havin' flashbacks of "Red Dawn", eh, Red Dawg?
Posted by: BA || 08/13/2007 15:47 Comments || Top||

#24  And that is why I am home schooling my child.

Publik Ejication a laff.
Posted by: DarthVader || 08/13/2007 16:11 Comments || Top||

#25  Much comment oabove n the California specific problems.
I can only point out that as of the begining of the baby boomer cycle, the California educational system was the envy not just of the US, but of rest of the world as well.
So much lost in little more than a generation.
As far as solutions go, I say give education budgets back to the nuns and let them run the show.
Posted by: Capsu78 || 08/13/2007 19:20 Comments || Top||

#26  Sorry Sister Dorthy Joseph,
I tried so hard to write my comment without a typo...OWWWW...don't hit me with that pointer...OWWWW!
Posted by: Capsu78 || 08/13/2007 19:22 Comments || Top||

#27  I can only point out that as of the begining of the baby boomer cycle, the California educational system was the envy not just of the US, but of rest of the world as well.

Thank you, Capsu78. While going to school, the student to microscope ratio at my junior high school was amongst the highest in the nation. That California, number eight or ten in the world's economies, is so lacking in scholastic achievement is nothing short of a crime against humanity. My high school was among the top ten in the nation with access to the finest computing facilities in the entire world. Now, it is the laughingstock of all America, except that the rest of the nation has taken an even worse nosedive.
Posted by: Zenster || 08/13/2007 23:40 Comments || Top||


US labels Lebanon's Fatah al-Islam as terrorist organization
The Bush administration has blacklisted as a "foreign terrorist organization" a Lebanese Islamist group blamed for major fighting at a refugee camp, the Associated Press has learned. The State Department is expected to announce tomorrow the designation against al-Qaeda-inspired Fatah al-Islam, which is suspected of having links with Syria.

The designation imposes financial and travel restrictions on the group and its members, officials said yesterday, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the designation is not yet public. The officials said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice signed off on the decision on Friday. The sanctions took effect with her signature. The Fatah al-Islam designation will bring to 43 the number of groups on the U.S. blacklist, which includes many of the world's most notorious terrorist organizations.
Posted by: Fred || 08/13/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Fatah al-Islam


India-Pakistan
Assam rebels kill four more migrant workers
GUWAHATI — Separatists killed four more Hindi-speaking migrant workers in Assam yesterday, including three Marwaris, taking the toll in week-long coordinated attacks ahead of Independence Day celebrations to 34.

A police spokesperson said a group of about six armed militants attacked sleeping villagers at Rongmong Ghat in Karbi Anglong district, about 270km east of Guwahati. "The militants dragged people from two families and shot at them from close range using automatic weapons," Lajja Ram Bishnoi, deputy inspector-general of police in Karbi Anglong district, told IANS.

Three of those killed, including a woman, belonged to a Marwari family originally hailing from Rajasthan and another from Bihar — both the families were petty shopkeepers residing in Assam for decades. "The attack took place in a densely forested area with the militants taking advantage of terrain," the official said.

The police blamed the attack on the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa) and the Karbi Longri National Liberation Front (KLNLF), both working in tandem in parts of Karbi Anglong district. This is the first time militants have targeted Marwaris — in the past the attacks were directed against migrant workers from Bihar.
Posted by: || 08/13/2007 00:19 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I don't care what they do but leave the tea pickers alone.
Posted by: Jack is Back! || 08/13/2007 11:14 Comments || Top||


Alleged Mastermind of Attack on Top Indian Hindu Religious Site Killed
A militant commander of Pakistan based militant group, Jaish-e-Mohammad, suspected of masterminding an attack on a leading Indian Hindu religious site a couple of years back, was killed in a gunfight with Indian police in Jammu region in the restive state of Jammu and Kashmir. Four persons including a close associate of slain militant commander were arrested after the gunfight.

Giving details of the encounter, a senior police officer of Jammu region said that Jammu and Kashmir police and Indian capital Delhi police received specific information that a top militant of Jaish-e-Mohammad was hiding in the Janipur area in Jammu region of the violence hit Jammu and Kashmir. He said at around 0200 hours, a joint operation was launched by J&K police and Delhi Police in the area to flush out the militant commander and his associates.

After sealing all the escape routes, the soldiers zeroed in on a residential house of one woman, Maqsooda Begum and asked the militants present to surrender. The militants, however, turned down the surrender offer and fired automatic weapons at the soldiers, who took defensive positions and returned the fire. The firefight between the Indian policemen lasted for more than four hours, during which the top Jaish commander, identified as Saifullah Kari of Pakistan was killed.

Sources said that an officer of Delhi police and a militant, who is said to be a Pakistani national were injured in the shoot-out. The injured militant, who is said to be a close associate of the slain militant commander, was arrested and both he and the injured soldier were taken to hospital for treatment.

Police sources said that four persons including the female house owner, her brother and the injured militant were arrested after the shoot-out. The arrested persons are being interrogated.

It was July 5 2005, when five armed militants and an unidentified person died when militants made a bid to storm the high-security makeshift leading Hindu temple in Ayodhya in India.

Although no militant group claimed the responsibility for the attack on the Hindu religious site, Indian police and security agencies blamed Pakistan based militant group, Jaish-e-Mohammad for the attack. They claimed the attack was masterminded by top Jaish commander, Saifullah Kari and were searching for him for two years.

Jaish-e-Mohammed is one of several militant groups active in Kashmir and fighting against the Indian army.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 08/13/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Jaish-e-Mohammad


Taliban demand prisoner swap for FC personnel
The Taliban in South Waziristan announced on Sunday they would release 16 Frontier Corps personnel if their 10 accomplices were also released, SANA news agency quoted sources as saying.

Staff Report adds: The Mehsud Tribes Peace Committee and Tank Peace Committee will meet on Tuesday to discuss ways to secure the release of the FC men. The two committees will devise a strategy for the release of the kidnapped FC men, On Sunday, a nine-member Tank Peace Committee led by Maulana Hisamuddin met the political agent in Wana and discussed the kidnapping of Bhitani tribe troops.
Posted by: Fred || 08/13/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Militants fire rockets at scouts' camp in Bajaur
Militants positioned on hilltops fired missiles and rockets at the Bajaur Scouts Camp at Mamoond Damangi, 30 kilometres from the agency headquarters Khar on the Pak-Afghan border, on Saturday night. The scouts returned fire with heavy weapons. Security forces deployed at the Laghrai camp also fired at the militants. No casualties were reported. Meanwhile, a jirga of elders will be held today (Monday) to discuss ways to improve law and order in the agency. Several jirga members are currently attending the Pak-Afghan peace jirga in Kabul. Around 130 members and a political agent are expected to attend the jirga on Monday.
Posted by: Fred || 08/13/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Taliban

#1  Boy Scouts got heavy weapons, DAMN, no such merit badge when I was a Scout.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 08/13/2007 18:18 Comments || Top||


Militants behead two 'US spies'
Militants have beheaded two Afghan citizens in North Waziristan for 'spying' for American forces in Afghanistan. A headless body was found on Sunday in Miranshah village. A note the militants left on the scene read, "I am Habibur Rehman, an American spy. My father is Zahir and grandfather's is Ghulam. I belong to Khost province of Afghanistan. I was getting a $200 salary for spying on the Taliban in the Pakistani areas of Miranshah and Mir Ali. My friends are also spying for Americans and I have given their names to the Taliban."

Another headless body found in Datta Khel bazaar was of Amir Khan. He belonged to Khost. A note was also found near his body that carried statements similar to the one found near Rehman's body.

APP adds: The bullet-riddled body of an Afghan was found near Tank on the Waziristan-Jandola road, officials said on Sunday. The body of Gul Muhammad, a resident of Draban road DI Khan, was found few kilometres from Khirgi checkpost near Jandola. The killers also placed a note along with the body, identifying the name and address of the slain man.
Posted by: Fred || 08/13/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Taliban

#1  The killers also placed a note along with the body, identifying the name and address of the slain man.

If found bullet riddled, please return to:
The Muhammed Residence
Draban road DI Khan
North Wazoo
Posted by: tu3031 || 08/13/2007 1:12 Comments || Top||


Man killed in Hub blast
A bomb blast killed a man and injured three others on Sunday in Hub, police told AFP. The blast took down an electricity pylon in the industrial town of Hub, some 700 kilometres southwest of Quetta, disrupting power supplies to Hub and the nearby town of Uthal. Meanwhile, two separate grenade attacks elsewhere in Balochistan injured five people, including two police officers. Three people, including the two policemen, were inured in Quetta when motorcyclists lobbed a grenade at them late on Sunday. A customs official and his wife were injured in the second attack, 300 kilometres south of Quetta in the Dera Bugti district. Two rockets were fired at a paramilitary police post in the Bolan area, 70 kilometres east of the provincial capital, but no one was injured.
Posted by: Fred || 08/13/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Gunmen kill defunct SSP leader
Unidentified gunmen killed a senior leader of the defunct Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) Aslam Farooqi in Shah Qabool police precincts on Sunday, said police.

Attackers fired at Farooqi outside his home at Mohallah Shah Naqshbandia near Kohati Gate at around 11 am. He was the provincial president of the SSP that was later banned by the government. Peshawar Senior Superintendent of Police Operations Mohammad Tahir Khan told Daily Times that two attackers on a motorcycle opened fire on Farooqi around 100 yards away from his home. He said one of the attackers, Shabir, of Parachinar, Kurram Agency, had been arrested while the other had escaped. He said police were investigating to find out whether the murder was a sectarian killing or the result of another motive.
Posted by: Fred || 08/13/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan

#1  Now he is definitely funct.
Posted by: Steven || 08/13/2007 13:38 Comments || Top||


Iraq
Michael Yon reports from Mosul
Long article with lots and lots of photos, which you should go read in full at the link. Here's one anecdote, and a key point (emphasis added):

With the Police and Army improving in Mosul, we have very little presence there. This is not to suggest our soldiers are sitting back on base. I spent a month with them and they are more than holding their own. . . . They lost six soldiers the first week I was with them, but their resolve only increased. Excellent battalion. Their Command Sergeant Major, James Pippin, was shot just before Memorial Day. He and his soldiers were in a large ambush near Yarmook Traffic Circle. When the ambush kicked off, Pippin ordered his driver to head straight into the heart of the attack where there were enemy machine guns, rockets and so forth.

Pippin ran out and shot one enemy. The guy had an RPG aimed at the Humvee, but the Humvee came right at him, Pippin jumped out. Pippin told me it was a lucky shot, but he hit the man in the face. A big firefight ensued, and Pippin got some bullet holes, but made his people keep fighting that day until they broke the ambush. This kind of stuff freaks out the enemy: our guys didn’t get them with jets or fancy machines from a distance, but just rushed into them and outfought them. Despite an enemy with perfect surprise, our guys still killed four of them and CSM Pippin was the only American casualty. Countless acts like these around Iraq are a large part of what has given our guys moral authority with Iraqi Police and Army. Before the war, the Iraqis clearly questioned the courage of our fighters. They no longer question the courage of our fighters, or the abilities of our military leaders.

Large numbers of Iraqis detested us after the prisoner abuse stories, and some over-the-top attacks on Fallujah, for example. But through time, somehow the American military has managed to establish a moral authority in Iraq. It’s not the only authority, but the military has serious and increasing moral clout. In the beginning, our influence flowed from guns, or dropped from the wings of jets. Later it was the money. Today, the clout still is partially from the gun, and definitely the money is key, but there is an intangible and growing moral clout and it flows from an increasing respect among Iraqis for our military. Washington has no moral clout in Iraq. Washington looks like a circus act. The authority is coming from our military. The importance of this fact would be difficult to understate.
Posted by: Mike || 08/13/2007 13:06 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Iraqi Insurgency

#1  Our military has increasing moral authority in Iraq, but the same cannot be said for our government at home. In fact, it’s in moral deficit because many Iraqis are increasingly frightened we will abandon them to genocide.

Some things are the same everywhere.
Posted by: JohnQC || 08/13/2007 13:15 Comments || Top||


Iraqi Security Forces, U.S. Special Forces detain 16 al-Qaeda in Iraq
Iraqi Security Forces, with U.S. Special Forces as advisers, conducted multiple cordon and search operations detaining 16 suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq insurgents Aug. 11 in the village of Subayat Hamash, near Sinjar.

Four of the detainees are suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq cell leaders wanted by the Iraqi Army for improvised explosive device and mortar attacks, facilitation of al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorist attacks against civilians, and hijacking food shipments. Their actions have resulted in the deaths of numerous innocent Iraqis in the Sinjar area. Six vehicles, including four passenger cars, a pick-up truck and a dump truck, were seized during the operation.

This operation was conducted in order to provide security to the people of Subayat Hamash, while simultaneously limiting al-Qaeda in Iraq the ability to operate. The expanded purpose was the continued degradation of insurgency support activities in an effort to weaken threats against the Government of Iraq. No Iraqi or U.S. Forces were injured during the operation.
Posted by: Fred || 08/13/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in Iraq


Attack helicopters engage and kill eight insurgents
The 25th Combat Aviation Brigade continued its lethal fight against insurgent forces when attack helicopters engaged and killed eight insurgents Aug. 9 in Salah ad Din province.

An attack helicopter received a "troops in contact" call from Coalition ground forces. The group of insurgents broke contact by the time the attack helicopters arrived to the location of the engagement. Moments later, the team observed 12 gunmen moving tactically near their attack position. "Our attack and scout weapons aircraft will continue to fly day and night in support of Coalition and Iraqi ground forces," said Maj. John Herrman, Brigade Fires and Effects Officer, 25th CAB. "For the enemy's part, he should know that the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade is always watching."

After confirming positive identification of the enemy with ground forces, the attack team fired on the gunmen, killing eight. "The use of attack helicopters provides great leverage in our fight against al-Qaida and other terrorist organizations trying to disrupt and harm the civilian population," said Col. David W. Sutherland, commander of Coalition forces in Diyala. "Our ability to have lethal eyes in the sky is vital to our mission accomplishment and truly shows the enemy that they cannot and will not hide from our forces."
Posted by: Fred || 08/13/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Iraqi Insurgency

#1  Really wishing that I knew the original poster of this story, so I could give credit.... but, I don't.

Anyway, it went something like this.... an Apache helicopter pilot called her boyfriend, another Apache driver, in tears. Seemed, she had just killed three terrorists. In his best voice of comforting consolation, he's telling her, "It's okay." She responds with, "No it's not. There were four of 'em and one got away!"
Posted by: Sherry || 08/13/2007 0:12 Comments || Top||

#2  Hee hee! >:-}
Posted by: gorb || 08/13/2007 3:24 Comments || Top||

#3  Speaking of which, what happened to the other four mentioned here ?
Posted by: wxjames || 08/13/2007 7:34 Comments || Top||

#4  #3 Speaking of which, what happened to the other four mentioned here ?
Posted by: wxjames 2007-08-13 07:34


They got away, probably. Loaded down as our troops are, with all that body armor, weapons, and assorted other items, they can't run very fast in that slippery brown stuff terrorized Al-Qaeda leave behind.
Posted by: Old Patriot || 08/13/2007 14:21 Comments || Top||

#5  that slippery brown stuff terrorized Al-Qaeda leave behind.

The Navy trains dolphins to hunt mines and swimmers. Maybe the Army could train dung beetles to follow the terrs back to their lairs.
Posted by: SteveS || 08/13/2007 14:43 Comments || Top||


30 suspects detained in raids targeting al-Qaeda and bombing networks
Coalition Forces detained 30 suspected terrorists during operations around Iraq Sunday targeting bombing networks and senior leaders of al-Qaeda in Iraq.

Coalition Forces raided a series of buildings north of Karmah targeting terrorist operatives working for the al-Qaeda in Iraq emir of the area. The emir's network is responsible for car bombings, including attacks using chlorine. Ground forces detained 17 suspected terrorists for their alleged ties to the network.

During an operation south of Tarmiyah, Coalition Forces detained five suspected terrorists while targeting an explosives expert believed to be part of the Baghdad car bombing network. In a nearby operation, Coalition Forces detained one suspected terrorist involved in weapons trafficking for al-Qaeda in Iraq.

Coalition Forces targeted close associates of al-Qaeda in Iraq's senior leaders during operations in western Baghdad and Mosul. The ground forces detained four suspected terrorists in the two raids.

Northeast of Samarra, ground forces raided several buildings associated with the al-Qaeda in Iraq emir of Samarra. Two men were discovered outside the buildings and were detained. Coalition Forces targeted the al-Qaeda in Iraq network in Tikrit with an operation there that netted three suspected terrorists. "Our operations continue to target those who associate with and work for al-Qaeda in Iraq's leaders," said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson. "The pressure is on, and we are keeping them on the run."
Posted by: Fred || 08/13/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in Iraq

#1  Okay, you emirs write down some more names while we go pick up these guys, and then later we can get a little something from the fridge, k ?
Posted by: wxjames || 08/13/2007 7:37 Comments || Top||


Iraqi, U.S. Special Forces detain two suspected terrorist cell leaders in Baghdad operations
Iraqi Special Forces, with U.S. Special Forces as advisers, detained two suspected terrorist leaders and three other suspected terrorists during early morning operations in Baghdad, Aug. 10.

During the first operation, joint forces conducted a systematic search of the three buildings in the town of Yusufiyah and detained their primary target; a suspected al Qaeda in Iraq Amir. The suspected terrorist is believed to command a large cell involved in improvised explosive devices, mortar and small arms attacks. Two other suspected al Qaeda in Iraq cell members were also detained during the operation. A passport, a camera, a video cassette tape and various documents were seized.

In another operation, forces detained a suspected commander of Jaysh al-Mahdi, a Shi'a extremist group, Aug. 10 in western Baghdad. The primary suspect allegedly commands a JAM cell whose members conduct extra-judicial killings of Iraqi civilians. His group is also believed to be responsible for attacks on an Iraqi National Guard checkpoint using mortars and small arms. In addition, one other suspicious individual was also detained.
Posted by: Fred || 08/13/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Mahdi Army


Coalition Forces Kill An Estimated Three-to-Five Terrorists, Detain 13
Coalition Forces captured 13 suspected terrorists with ties to extremist militia Special Groups in a pre-dawn raid Sunday in Sadr City.

Coalition Forces conducted the raid to capture or kill highly-sought weapons facilitators with connections to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps - Quds Force in Iran. Those detained are suspected of facilitating the transport of weapons and personnel from Iran into Iraq. They are also believed to have facilitated the transport of deadly Explosively Formed Projectiles (EFPs) from Iran into Iraq to be used against Coalition Forces.

As Coalition Forces were departing the area, they encountered and destroyed a light utility truck that posed a threat to the force. Coalition Forces attempted to signal the vehicle, however when the vehicle failed to respond, Coalition Forces fired on the vehicle with small arms fire.

During the raid, Coalition Forces confiscated a computer hard-drive, documents and photographs.

A Coalition air strike also engaged the same light utility truck, destroying the truck and killing an estimated three to five people in the truck believed to be terrorists. "Coalition troops continue in their pursuit of unhelpful foreign influences here in Iraq," said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I Spokesperson. "Those foreign influences are hindering the prospects of peace and stability in Iraq, and we will continue to dismantle their networks."
Posted by: Fred || 08/13/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Mahdi Army

#1  unhelpful foreign influences

Gotta love LTC Garver's choice of words. I met him only briefly as I was about to ship out, but he did seem like a cool customer.

This and the helo story above seem to confirm that the ROEs have become more reasonable. Seems (seems, as we rarely have a full picture) that there is far less messing around now. Good.

Saw some remark Amb. Crocker made to the effect that IGRC would not be safe - anywhere - if they continued to meddle in Iraq. Only rubs a bit of salt in the wound - why didn't Zal say that back in early '06?

There's a cold, calculating, analytically sound basis for being aggressive with Iran. It's not emotional. They've paid little to no price for decades of warfare on us and our allies. They've paid no price until recently for their expansion of that war to Iraq. It's been insane to allow this to continue. How long until we get a memoir (a real one, not the tendentious and generally uninformative crap that's been coming out in recent years from Beltway types) that allows us to know whether the administration has even been discussing the response to Iran's meddling in Iraq? Sure there public statements (remember Syria being warned as well) - but it's been hard to see any follow-up until the Irbil snatch back in January.
Posted by: Verlaine || 08/13/2007 0:49 Comments || Top||

#2  Coalition Forces Kill An Estimated Three-to-Five Terrorists,
Did they find parts for more than three but not sure of enough parts for 5?
Posted by: Deacon Blues || 08/13/2007 16:02 Comments || Top||

#3  Transl.: Three kills confirmed, other two crawled off somewhere, but from the circling of vulchers in the distance conclusions can be formed.
Posted by: twobyfour || 08/13/2007 16:16 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
PRC blames Schalit family for not freeing son
The Popular Resistance Committees blames captive IDF Cpl. Gilad Schalit's family for keeping him in jail, PRC spokesman Abu Mujad said Sunday. According to Abu Mujad, Schalit's parents have not put enough pressure on the diplomatic echelon in Jerusalem to secure their son's release, Army Radio reported.
Posted by: Fred || 08/13/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Popular Resistance Committees

#1  Blame the victim, in the most perverse form ever.
Posted by: Zenster || 08/13/2007 0:41 Comments || Top||

#2  "We're muslim men! We have no control whatsoever on our own acts, and we don't need to!

It's up to you to conform to our wishes, so we don't have to hurt you! Wimmen must hide and disappear under clothing, otherwise, we'll be forced to rape them, our ennemies must submit and Humiliate™ themselves, strangers from lesser religions & races must support us with money and demonstrate Respect™ to us! Reciprocity is unthinkable.

It's because self-restraint and self-control and responsability are not needed, since we are the Master Religion, and that the Most Perfect Being Ever, old mo', was himself self-indulgence made man, and that we must strive to imitate him, our whole religion-civilization being an extension of his personality cult."
Posted by: anonymous5089 || 08/13/2007 3:58 Comments || Top||

#3  keeping him in jail

I'm sure Corporal Schalit would be much more comfortable kept in a proper jail -- even a Palestinian one -- than wherever he's been held the past year.
Posted by: trailing wife || 08/13/2007 13:27 Comments || Top||

#4  Awwwwwwwwww...look what you made us do!
Posted by: tu3031 || 08/13/2007 13:45 Comments || Top||


Southeast Asia
Rethinking Thailand's military strategy
Posted by: ryuge || 08/13/2007 08:01 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Thai Insurgency

#1  How to win is easy, just look at the strategy used by the USA against the Phillipine Muslims around 1900.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 08/13/2007 11:56 Comments || Top||

#2  Expediency is the major tool in a non-republican form of government. I forecast a tipping point of terror that will ultimately endanger muslims of all stripes.
Posted by: anymouse || 08/13/2007 17:30 Comments || Top||


One dead, terror leader nabbed in southern Thailand
A 500-man combined government force Monday arrested a suspected leading terrorist militant after seizing a number of guns and ammunition from his house in Pattani province village. In another development, a trader was shot dead by an unidentified gunman in nearby Narathiwat province.

Government forces before noon surrounded a house owned by Hama Buenae in Pattani's Mayo district and seized eight guns, ammunition, electric wire and an iron pipe from his house. Authorities believed that Mr. Hama was a key terrorist militant leader operating in the village and had taken him for interrogation at an army camp. A total of 15 suspected terrorists insurgents have been detained since government forces began their search operations in areas around Mayo district since August 7.

Meanwhile, a 38-year-old trader was shot dead this morning while he was riding a pickup-truck in a district of Narathiwat province. The victim was hit by three bullets on his body. The gunman escaped in a pickup-tuck after the incident.
Posted by: ryuge || 08/13/2007 07:27 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Thai Insurgency

#1  taken him for interrogation at an army camp

I hope it's painful and fatal
Posted by: Frank G || 08/13/2007 8:11 Comments || Top||

#2  I hope it's painful and fatal

roger that..

Place Hama Buenae into the Sonic ReTort™...

that way he can be returned to his home Moskkkque whole, in one gelatinous mass.
Posted by: Red Dawg || 08/13/2007 14:03 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Islamist sniper kills soldier at Lebanon camp
Posted by: anonymous5089 || 08/13/2007 08:33 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Fatah al-Islam


Rotten corpses hamper army operations at Lebanon camp
Lebanese soldiers are being hampered in their fight against holed-up Fatah al Islam terrorists at the Nahr el Bared Palestinian refugee camp in north Lebanon by the stench of putrefying corpses. An officer on the ground said yesterday that the rotting corpses littering the devastated Nahr Al Bared refugee camp had made the air there unbreathable. A hospital source said several soldiers had been admitted due to severe vomiting.

However, the army continued sporadic shelling of Islamist positions though sustained casualties during mine-clearing operations on the ground. Two helicopters flew over the camp but did not open fire as they had on previous days, while the army blew up several buildings on the periphery of the small area of the camp still controlled by the Islamists. "The army is continuing to make slow progress in de-mining the area while limiting its losses. A certain number of soldiers have been killed or wounded by mines left by the armed men," a military spokesman said. "Several buildings have been destroyed by various means to clear mines and booby-trapped vehicles," he added.

National News Agency has reported that the alleged terrorist leader Chahine Chahine, has renewed his offer to surrender in return for a pledge that he would not receive the capital punishment.
The conflict has had severe repercussions across Lebanon, not least nation-wide power cuts as the Deir Ammar power station remains out of action after being struck by rockets launched by the Islamists on August 2.

Fatah al-Islam's leader Offers to surrender
National News Agency has reported that the alleged terrorist leader Chahine Chahine, has renewed his offer to surrender in return for a pledge that he would not receive the capital punishment. Sources familiar with the Lebanese judiciary system commented that "no authority in Lebanon can make such a pledge. No one can guarantee ahead of a trial what the verdict would be. This is illegal. This would be tantamount to interference in the judiciary." The Lebanese army is insisting on unconditional surrender .
Posted by: Fred || 08/13/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Good on refusing the surrender. I thought that the highest calling of a jihadi was to become a martyr?
Posted by: gromky || 08/13/2007 4:33 Comments || Top||

#2  yeah that is the highest calling and sounds good until it actually comes to light that you are the one that will have too martr themself
Posted by: sinse || 08/13/2007 5:57 Comments || Top||

#3  A Terje momemnt.
Posted by: gromgoru || 08/13/2007 6:46 Comments || Top||

#4  I would seem that leaders and clerics don't make suitable martyrs. Only nameless, homeless, cannon fodder.
In fact, can you think of a single cleric that has martyred himself?
Posted by: bigjim-ky || 08/13/2007 7:31 Comments || Top||

#5  Saint Peter.
Posted by: wxjames || 08/13/2007 7:45 Comments || Top||

#6  Don't these clowns know shark bait when they see it?

National News Agency has reported that the alleged terrorist leader Chahine Chahine, has renewed his offer to surrender in return for a pledge that he would not receive the capital punishment.

"Please don't kill me! ... Kill all my minions but not me!"
Posted by: Zenster || 08/13/2007 9:21 Comments || Top||

#7  I don't know. Maybe they should accept his surrender.

Don't give him the death sentance. Give him life...........on a 10'x10' raft, set just outside Australias territorial waters.

Then make sure that no one gets near him.
Posted by: AlanC || 08/13/2007 10:35 Comments || Top||

#8  maybe encircle the camp with a bunch of old DC-3s and run the engines at idle: the rotten corspes' fragrance may be enough to drive the remaining militants out; or maybe cause terminal vomiting......
Posted by: USN, Ret. || 08/13/2007 14:02 Comments || Top||

#9  I love the smell of rotten corpses in the morning...
Posted by: tu3031 || 08/13/2007 14:37 Comments || Top||

#10  O no you dihn...
Posted by: mcsegeek1 || 08/13/2007 15:03 Comments || Top||

#11  Way back when an invading army would go to a lot of trouble to heave dead horse corpses and bodies back over city walls to drive defenders out of a city. Doesn't the Lebanese army know how to use this? They should cordon off the area, kick back and have a beer. The bad guys will come out after a while. That smell is hideous.
Posted by: gorb || 08/13/2007 17:15 Comments || Top||

#12  They should cordon off the area, kick back and have a beer.

Except that beers are un-Islamic. Otherwise, everything you suggest is perfectly all right.
Posted by: Zenster || 08/13/2007 22:37 Comments || Top||


Lebanese army rejects siege surrender offer
The Lebanese army on Sunday rejected a conditional offer of surrender by Islamist extremists in a besieged Palestinian refugee camp in the north of the country, a mediator told AFP. "The Islamists' spokesman Shahin Shahin made known an offer to give themselves up to a Palestinian committee, but this was rejected by the military", said Mohammed Hajj, a spokesman for clerics trying to broker an and to the deadly fighting at Nahr al-Bared. "The army is demanding their unconditional surrender, that they hand over their weapons, and the disbandment of Fatah al-Islam", the militant group that has been fighting since May 20, Hajj added.

A military spokesman confirmed this to AFP. "Fatah al-Islam is in no position to demand conditions", he said. "They have no other option but to give themselves up to the army and be brought to justice. "However we are ready to guarantee that their families will be able to leave peacefully. Let them suggest a mechanism for this and it will go ahead", the spokesman added.

No more than an estimated 60 of the camp's 31,000-strong registered population remains inside Nahr al-Bared, and these are thought to be the wives and children of Islamist fighters. Soldiers continued bombarding the camp on Sunday with intermittent artillery fire, targeting underground Fatah al-Islam positions, an AFP reporter said. The extremists still control an area of about 15,000 square metres (161,400 square feet). Two rockets launched from inside Nahr al-Bared on Sunday morning hit the Akkar Plain four kilometres (two and a half miles) away, without causing casualties or damage.

On August 2 rocket fire from the camp hit the Deir Ammar electricity-generating station, one of the most important in Lebanon. It is still out of action, and has meant power cuts across the country. Helicopter gunships overflew the camp on Sunday without opening fire, after launching strikes on Islamist positions on Thursday and Friday. More than 200 people - among them 136 soldiers - have been killed since the fighting began nearly 12 weeks ago. This toll does not include the bodies of militants that still have to be retrieved from inside the camp.
Posted by: Fred || 08/13/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Fatah al-Islam


Home Front: Culture Wars
Wife Beating in St P/MN (guess the culture/religion)
A man who beat, slashed and sexually mutilated his estranged girlfriend - then calmly fed and bathed the couple's 5-month-old son before he fled - was sentenced Friday to more than 17 years in prison.

As he stood before the judge, Afif Abdiaziz Ahmed, 27, declared that he wanted to withdraw his guilty plea because he had decided the agreed-on sentence was too stiff.... The 25-year-old woman survived but suffered permanent brain damage. Ahmed "ended her life as she knew it," Assistant Ramsey County Attorney Derek Fitch told the court.....
The article doesn't mention the word "Moslem". Neither does the Star Trib version of the article (although it does hint at a cultural 'problem'). The article should have noted that 4:34 of the Koran is fairly clear that wife beating is allowed in Islam. Unfortunately the various authoritative 9th-12th century commentators on the Koran are not fully translated so the deep roots of this isn't known as well as it should be.
Posted by: mhw || 08/13/2007 14:28 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  OOOO! OOOO! I know, I know!

My guess? Somali/Muzzie

Don't ask me how I know these things *snicker*
Posted by: BA || 08/13/2007 15:10 Comments || Top||

#2  Stand by for the 'religious laws trump secular laws' drumbeat to start anytime.....
Posted by: USN, Ret. || 08/13/2007 15:19 Comments || Top||

#3  He basically killed her. He should have gotten the death penalty. Or at least a life sentence. But then again, this is Minnesota.
Posted by: Zhang Fei || 08/13/2007 15:34 Comments || Top||

#4  he wanted to withdraw his guilty plea because he had decided the agreed-on sentence was too stiff

Wah! Wah! I'm a member of the Master Race™. I don't have to take responsibility for my acts. After all, it was only a woman. It's not like I hurt my son or anything. Plus, I don't feel like doing so much time after all. Change my sentence. Wah! Wah!
Posted by: Zenster || 08/13/2007 15:38 Comments || Top||

#5  Those damn Amish are at it again......
Posted by: mcsegeek1 || 08/13/2007 15:40 Comments || Top||

#6  To quote the great Mr. Pruitt:

"If this weren't so despicably evil, it would be funny."

And, I decide to withdraw my wager in #1, as I decided it was a rush to judgement based upon preconceived notions of the RoP. I now want my money of the Moonies from O'Hare airport, who caught a flight to Minneapolis and did this (/sarcasm).
Posted by: BA || 08/13/2007 15:49 Comments || Top||

#7  oops, that should be "on the Moonies...."
Posted by: BA || 08/13/2007 15:50 Comments || Top||

#8  Scientology?
Posted by: danking70 || 08/13/2007 16:02 Comments || Top||

#9  BA:To quote the great Mr. Pruitt:

"If this weren't so despicably evil, it would be funny."


As great as Mr. Pruitt is, he was actually quoting me on that one.

/tooting my own horn
Posted by: xbalanke || 08/13/2007 18:05 Comments || Top||

#10  Trial by general population. Even in Minnesota I expect the lifers will sort this guy out.
Posted by: Excalibur || 08/13/2007 19:07 Comments || Top||


Good morning to yez...
US labels Lebanon's Fatah al-Islam as terrorist organizationLebanese army rejects siege surrender offerAbbas to call elections within 6 monthsEfforts to secure Darra Adamkhel: Govt wants talks with Taliban through jirga30 suspects detained in raids targeting al-Qaeda and bombing networksGunmen kill defunct SSP leader 'Britian should talk to Hamas'
Posted by: Fred || 08/13/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Joan Vohs is not wearing underpants

Ah ha! I knew it! :-P
Posted by: gorb || 08/13/2007 3:19 Comments || Top||

#2  From new fashions that revealed more and more skin, came the bikini. Then came the thong. Can't we back up to the bikini?
Posted by: McZoid || 08/13/2007 4:49 Comments || Top||

#3  great choice of pix.......she's way hot...
Posted by: Broadhead6 || 08/13/2007 7:20 Comments || Top||

#4  white shoes after labor day?
Posted by: Frank G || 08/13/2007 8:08 Comments || Top||

#5  Uh, Frank - always a good rule but Labor Day is not 'till 9/3 this year so she's covered. (Damn it!)
Posted by: GORT || 08/13/2007 8:19 Comments || Top||

#6  Uh...Gorb, check out the background. She is DEFINATELY wearing white shoes for New Years, a Faux Pas I would be willing to overlook for an underlook......
Posted by: Ebbaith Grundy9386 || 08/13/2007 8:37 Comments || Top||

#7 
Hi! I'm a Euro spammer coming in from an anonymous server in Germany. I hope you'll be dumb enough to click on my links, but if not, at least I'm clogging up your net connection.
Posted by: AltaGid || 08/13/2007 11:59 Comments || Top||

#8  Hey, this douchebag is back...
Posted by: tu3031 || 08/13/2007 12:00 Comments || Top||

#9  Douchebag sez what?
Posted by: Howard Stern || 08/13/2007 12:49 Comments || Top||

#10  Fred, how do you know she's not wearing . . . uh, second thought, don't answer that.
Posted by: Mike || 08/13/2007 13:04 Comments || Top||

#11  Re: #7 - ROFL!

Can't remember which mod is aqua green, but that's definitely funnier than just sink-trapping this particular asshole visitor.

Thnx! :-D
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 08/13/2007 14:18 Comments || Top||

#12  That would be dear lotp, Barbara.
Posted by: trailing wife || 08/13/2007 17:03 Comments || Top||

#13  all I can say is...dude.
Posted by: anymouse || 08/13/2007 17:44 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
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2Palestinian Authority
2Thai Insurgency
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1Islamic Courts
1Jaish-e-Mohammad
1Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan
1Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal
1Abu Sayyaf
1Govt of Iran
1Govt of Syria
1Popular Resistance Committees
1Hizb-ut-Tahrir

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

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

Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has dominated Mexico for six years.
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Meet the Mods
In no particular order...
Steve White
Seafarious
tu3031
badanov
sherry
ryuge
GolfBravoUSMC
Bright Pebbles
trailing wife
Gloria
Fred
Besoeker
Glenmore
Frank G
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Two weeks of WOT
Mon 2007-08-13
  Lebanese army rejects siege surrender offer
Sun 2007-08-12
  Taliban: 2 sick S. Korean hostages to be freed
Sat 2007-08-11
  Philippines military kills 58 militants
Fri 2007-08-10
  Saudi police detain 135
Thu 2007-08-09
  2,760 non-Iraqi detainees in Iraqi jails, 800 Iranians
Wed 2007-08-08
  11 polio workers abducted in Khar, campaign halted
Tue 2007-08-07
  Suicide bomber kills 30 in Iraq, including 12 children
Mon 2007-08-06
  Benazir willing to join Musharraf in govt
Sun 2007-08-05
  Explosives + ME men near Naval Station in SC, FBI on scene
Sat 2007-08-04
  Afghan airstrikes kill ‘100’ Taliban
Fri 2007-08-03
  Algerians zap Islamic mastermind
Thu 2007-08-02
  Qaeda in Maghreb's second-in-command surrenders
Wed 2007-08-01
  Eight terrorists killed, 40 suspects detained in Coalition operations
Tue 2007-07-31
  Taleban kill second SKorean hostage
Mon 2007-07-30
  ISAF: Chairman of Taliban military council banged in Helmand

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