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Rouhani and his VP both reported to have coronavirus
Today's Headlines
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Page 4: Opinion
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Page 6: Politix
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Afghanistan
5,000 Taliban prisoners to be released after the signing of peace deal with US sez Talibs
[KhaamaPress] The Taliban
...the Pashtun equivalent of men...
group and Afghan government are expected to exchange at least six thousand prisoners following the signing of peace deal between Taliban and Washington.

Suhail Shaheen, a spokesperson of the political office of Taliban in Qatar
...an emirate on the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It sits on some really productive gas and oil deposits, which produces the highest per capita income in the world. They piss it all away on religion, financing the Moslem Brotherhood and several al-Qaeda affiliates. Home of nutbag holy manYusuf al-Qaradawi...
has confirmed to RFE/RL that the group would definitely launch intra-Afghan talks after the signing of the deal.

However,
Switzerland makes more than cheese...
Shaheen said trust-building measures would be a prerequisite for the launch of the intra-Afgahn dialogue.

According to Shaheen, the Afghan government will release 5,000 Taliban prisoners in its first step to build trust and similarly the Taliban group will release 1,000 security personnel.

Shaheen also confirmed to RFE/RL that the Taliban group is expected to sign the peace deal with the United States on coming Saturday.

He also added that Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar will likely sign the agreement in Qatari capital of Doha, in the presence of the representatives of 26 countries.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/28/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [12 views] Top|| File under: Taliban

#1  "catch and release" goes to Afghanistan!

Posted by: borgboy || 02/28/2020 0:32 Comments || Top||

#2  Lots of unsanitary compromises to come. No matter. Get this done.

End this folly. Bring it to a conclusion through whatever method is shortest and best.
Posted by: Lex || 02/28/2020 0:36 Comments || Top||

#3  Have the Pope visit the prisoners 14 days before release
Posted by: Airandee || 02/28/2020 14:30 Comments || Top||

#4  What could possibly go wrong?
Posted by: gorb || 02/28/2020 22:31 Comments || Top||


Africa Horn
Terrorist groups may be plotting an attack against a major hotel in Nairobi
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]
Posted by: Fred || 02/28/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under: al-Shabaab (AQ)


Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Putin has landed in Sochi accompanied by a communications relay aircraft
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]
Posted by: Fred || 02/28/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [7 views] Top|| File under: Sublime Porte


Chechen blogger escapes apparent assassination bid in Poland
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]
Tumso Abdurakhmanov
....the bearded former manager at a Chechen state telecom who fled west when accused of being a Wahhabi, which in Chechnya means membership in the Al Qaeda-linked Caucasus Emirate...
posted a video showing him disheveled and breathing hard, standing over the bloodied body of another man. “Who sent you? Where have you come from?” Abdurakhmanov asks, before producing a hammer, which he says was used by the man in an attempted murder.

The injured man on the ground, whose voice is muffled, replies that he came “from Moscow”7 and says, “They have my mother.” There was no immediate comment from Polish authorities.

The Sweden-based Chechen rights group Vayfond described the attack as an assassination attempt.

Abdurakhmanov is one of the most prominent and outspoken critics of Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of Russia’s Chechnya province. He left Chechnya in 2015 following threats from a Chechen official linked to Kadyrov.

After being refused asylum in Georgia, Abdurakhmanov moved to Poland, where he lived at an undisclosed location while attempting to apply for asylum. The application was rejected by Poland’s interior ministry in 2018.
Posted by: Fred || 02/28/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [10 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda

#1  Pallywood.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 02/28/2020 2:34 Comments || Top||


Europe
Germany's democracy at risk, warns Israeli ambassador.
Following anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim attacks in Halle and Hanau, Israeli ambassador to Germany Jeremy Issacharoff warned Thursday that: "No democratic society can survive if minorities are constantly threatened or harmed."

"The Holocaust has shown us all where such hatred leads," he told the German regional newspaper Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung. "An open society can tolerate many things, but never violence. People are starting to act violently against minorities, against Jews and Muslims again."

The ambassador also appealed to Jews and Muslims not to hide their religious affiliation.

"More security for every kind of community in Germany cannot be achieved by people hiding their identity, their religion," said the Israeli ambassador, who has been living in Germany for two and a half years.

"Not wearing a kippa or Muslim headgear would also mean hiding the problem. We have to protect everyone, stem terrorism and hatred, and maintain an open society where we can celebrate our diversity."

Posted by: Herb McCoy || 02/28/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [12 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Nevertheless, celebrating diversity hardly the Islamic gameplan...
Posted by: borgboy || 02/28/2020 0:38 Comments || Top||

#2  I said, in this forum, several times: EUrope is dying. And its leaders know it. And they try to drag the rest of the World with them.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 02/28/2020 1:58 Comments || Top||

#3  Europe is being killed by the EUSSR.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 02/28/2020 4:38 Comments || Top||

#4  Committed our treasury and manhood for pulling them out of two suicide attempts in the 20th Century. Then we indebted ourselves for generations doing the same to protect them from Moscow only to have them erect an authoritarian system in Brussels that is basically no different, other than having better suits. As lost as Justinian's attempt to resurrect the fallen Western Roman Empire.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 02/28/2020 6:46 Comments || Top||


The Grand Turk
Turkey threatens Europe with refugees after 33 troops killed
REYHANLI, Turkey (AP) ‐ The presidents of Turkey and Russia spoke over the phone on Friday, a day after Syrian government airstrikes killed 33 Turkish troops, significantly ratcheting up tensions between Ankara and Moscow. It was the highest number of Turkish soldiers killed in a single day since Ankara first intervened in the Syrian conflict in 2016.

The development was the most serious escalation in the conflict between Turkish and Russia-backed Syrian forces and raised the prospect of all-out war with millions of Syrian civilians trapped in the middle.

NATO envoys held emergency talks at the request of Turkey, a NATO member, and scores of migrants began converging on Turkey’s border with Greece seeking entry into Europe after Turkey said it was "no longer able to hold refugees." Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose country already hosts more than 3.5 million Syrian refugees, has long threatened to "open the gates" for millions of refugees eager to flee to Europe unless more international support was provided.

Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy warned the movement of migrants to the West could continue if the situation in Idlib deteriorated.

"Some asylum seekers and migrants in our country, worried about developments, have begun to move towards our western borders," he said. "If the situation worsens this risk will continue to increase." However, he added that there was "no change" in Turkey’s migration policy.
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/28/2020 06:36 || Comments || Link || [11 views] Top|| File under: Sublime Porte


Turkey to open Idlib border and allow Syrian refugees free passage to Europe
[MiddleEastEye] Route out of northwestern Syria opened for 72 hours, officials tell MEE, after 29 Turkish troops killed in attack by pro-Assad forces.
How many of them are carrying the coronavirus? This is a deliberate act of war.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 02/28/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under:


Iraq
Ayad Allawi calls for pursuing killers of protesters
[THEBAGHDADPOST] Head of al-Wataniya (National) Coalition Ayad Allawi affirmed his determination to pursue the demonstrators' killers and bring them to justice.

Allawi earlier censured those who seek assuming posts regardless protesters’ demands, describing it as dishonorable.

In a Tweet, Allawi said the government should, during the next period, be keen on holding the murderer of protesters accountable and on holding early elections.

Allawi condemned ignoring protesters’ demands and the oppression against protesters for five months.
Posted by: Fred || 02/28/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [7 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iraq


Iraqi officer says around 250-350 Iraqis enter the country comibg from #Iran daily through the border exits
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]
Posted by: Fred || 02/28/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iraq


Iraq's PM-designate Muhammed Allawi ends meetings with #Kurdistan Region blocs without reaching any agreement
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]
Posted by: Fred || 02/28/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [11 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iraq


Protesters examined at #TahrirSquare in #Baghdad, fearing #coronavirus spread. No cases reported
[PUBLISH.TWITTER] Guess nobody's been to Qom.
Posted by: Fred || 02/28/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [9 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iraq

#1  Qom comes to them.
Posted by: Ulolump Grumble1426 || 02/28/2020 1:26 Comments || Top||


Tater sez he may revive Jaish al-Mahdi
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]
Posted by: Fred || 02/28/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran Proxies

#1  Should have put a couple 2000 pounders into his hidey well around 2005.
Posted by: Ulolump Grumble1426 || 02/28/2020 1:30 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Imad Al-Tawil (banged yesterday) was responsible for Hezbollah's foreign operations
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]
Posted by: Fred || 02/28/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [11 views] Top|| File under: Hezbollah

#1  According to the reports, Imad al-Tawil, a Hezbollah terrorist was working with Iran to set up an Iranian infrastructure in the Golan. Israel has not commented on the story.
Posted by: b || 02/28/2020 6:52 Comments || Top||


Graham calling for Pentagon to establish a no-fly zone in Russian-controlled airspace in Idlib
[PUBLISH.TWITTER] Just about as crummy an idea as NATO joining in the festivities on the Turk side. We're out of it. Sit and watch the show and pass the popcorn. Assad - bad. Think we can all agree on that. Al Qaeda (al-Nusra, etc.) worse. ISIS worse. Since Erdogan's now allied with al-Nusra, why in the world would we support him in any manner?
Posted by: Fred || 02/28/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [9 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria

#1  Whiskey tango...?

What is our interest in Idlib? In Syria?

WHY?
Posted by: Lex || 02/28/2020 1:01 Comments || Top||

#2  Graham is mighty forgiving of Turkish backstabbing, almost as if he likes it.
Posted by: Ulolump Grumble1426 || 02/28/2020 1:35 Comments || Top||

#3  My Gawd people, that is simply crazy talk! No-fly zone my aching arse. Stay the fok out of it.
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/28/2020 1:40 Comments || Top||

#4  And a pony?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 02/28/2020 2:34 Comments || Top||

#5  Now why would Lindsey say this? It's an amazingly bad idea.

Theory: Whatever the Trump admin proposes, the Dems are against automatically. Lindsey says no-fly zone. Everyone freaks out. Trump says OK we're not going to do what we weren't going to do anyway. Great Victory for the Dems. And Trump is immunized against some idiot calling for a no-fly zone.
Posted by: SteveS || 02/28/2020 3:19 Comments || Top||

#6  I'd sooner quarantine turkey! They're refusing to control their borders and let the corona virus into their neighbours.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 02/28/2020 4:06 Comments || Top||

#7  McCain 2.0
Posted by: Frank G || 02/28/2020 5:30 Comments || Top||

#8  shut up Graham..
Posted by: Dino McCoy5459 || 02/28/2020 11:28 Comments || Top||

#9  Moderate rebels are a bureaucratic state investment. Investments tend to be protected.
Posted by: mossomo || 02/28/2020 12:03 Comments || Top||

#10  Why? There is no need and no strategic goal that this needs to make it happen.

Shut up Graham. Let the kids slap fight it out.
Posted by: DarthVader || 02/28/2020 13:21 Comments || Top||

#11  Lindsey has been fairly unpredictable lately. He does have to face us SC voters in a primary in June or July (separate from the Democrat one tomorrow), and so he may be zigging and zagging...he is unpopular with a fairly large segment of the Republican party down here.
Posted by: Tom || 02/28/2020 14:07 Comments || Top||

#12  a case of Swamp fever?
hope it's not terminal
Posted by: Lex || 02/28/2020 14:18 Comments || Top||

#13  Declare it Uncontrolled Airspace instead.

Because that's what it is.
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 02/28/2020 16:28 Comments || Top||


Former #Iranian ambassador to the Vatican, Hadi Khosrow-Shahi, dies from #coronavirus
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]

Take two aspirin and call me tomorrow afternoon.
Posted by: Fred || 02/28/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [17 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran

#1  Also attacked:
TEHRAN – Masoumeh Ebtekar, vice president of Iran for Women and Family Affairs, has tested positive for the coronavirus. "Ms. Ebtekar showed signs of infection with coronavirus and was tested. The results came back positive," her adviser was quoted as saying by the state news agency IRNA.
The vice president is also known as the English-language spokeswoman for the 1979 hostage-takers who seized the US embassy in Tehran and sparked the 444-day diplomatic crisis.
Posted by: b || 02/28/2020 6:59 Comments || Top||

#2  Sorta looks like Woody Allan on a really bad day.
Posted by: Canuckistan sniper || 02/28/2020 18:01 Comments || Top||


Erdogan: #Turkey launches retaliatory acts against the #Syrian regime
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]
Posted by: Fred || 02/28/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [6 views] Top|| File under: Sublime Porte



Who's in the News
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6Govt of Iraq
5Govt of Iran
3Taliban
3Govt of Syria
2Commies
1al-Shabaab (AQ)
1Hamas
1Hezbollah
1al-Qaeda
1Govt of Iran Proxies

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Two weeks of WOT
Fri 2020-02-28
  Rouhani and his VP both reported to have coronavirus
Thu 2020-02-27
  Hezbollah operative killed in drone strike in southern Syria
Wed 2020-02-26
  Gulf Cartel Border City Turf War Kills at Least 20 Gunmen, Innocents in Week
Tue 2020-02-25
  Hosni Mubarak sleeps with the pharaohs
Mon 2020-02-24
  Car drives into German carnival parade, around 30 injured
Sun 2020-02-23
  Last year Hezbollah received ~$700 million in funding
Sat 2020-02-22
   Erdogan confirms the presence of pro-Turkish Syrian fighters in Libya
Fri 2020-02-21
  Missile intercept by #Saudi forces in #Yanbu
Thu 2020-02-20
  Turkey asks NATO to provide air support for the operation in Idlib
Wed 2020-02-19
  Ashraf Ghani declared winner of Afghan presidential poll, Abdullah rejects results
Tue 2020-02-18
  LNA claims to destroy Turkish arms ship in Tripoli harbor.
Mon 2020-02-17
  24 Killed In Brutal Terror Attack On Burkina Faso Church; Local Pastor Targeted
Sun 2020-02-16
  Switzerland Thwarts Major Islamic State Terror Attack
Sat 2020-02-15
  Six Cartel Kidnappers Busted with Mexican Border City Victim in Trunk
Fri 2020-02-14
  US navy ship seizes 150 Iranian-manufactured anti-tank guided missiles after boarding a vessel in the Arabian Sea


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