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Iraqi premier rejects resignation of seven ministers, Baghdad governor steps down
Today's Headlines
Headline Comments [Views]
Page 1: WoT Operations
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Page 2: WoT Background
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4 16:35 The peanut gallery [9]
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4 20:59 trailing wife [8]
12 16:43 Herb McCoy [15]
2 08:51 M. Murcek [8]
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Page 3: Non-WoT
3 15:21 DarthVader [8]
5 18:41 Silentbrick [7]
12 12:12 BrujoTejano [5]
6 20:37 trailing wife [9]
12 20:25 Frank G [7]
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Page 4: Opinion
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1 20:11 Albert McGurque6533 [7]
8 16:53 Skidmark [4]
12 19:58 Glenmore [9]
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Page 6: Politix
14 23:50 Spirt Glans1838 [3]
6 20:12 lord garth [3]
8 18:58 JohnQC [7]
14 18:32 JohnQC [6]
7 11:04 g(r)omgoru PB [2]
6 16:46 Raj [3]
10 23:41 Frank G [6]
8 18:24 JohnQC [6]
16 19:34 Lex [6]
10 11:20 charger [4]
Good morning
Posted by: Fred || 10/07/2019 00:34 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  So, what's going on in Iraq? Are they fighting back against the Iranians slow subjugation of Iraq? Something else?
Posted by: Whiskey Mike || 10/07/2019 17:03 Comments || Top||

#2  They just f*cking don't have anything to eat.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 10/07/2019 17:04 Comments || Top||

#3  Thanks g(r)omgoru. That's terrible. I hadn't read anything about it. It's like it isn't news.
Posted by: Whiskey Mike || 10/07/2019 18:54 Comments || Top||

#4  According to the LSM, the Iraqis are protesting against corruption, lack of public services and increased security forces abuse.
Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839 || 10/07/2019 20:28 Comments || Top||

#5  So their Iranian overlords aren't putting meat on the table and goat's milk in the fridge with no power half the time?
Posted by: jpal || 10/07/2019 22:03 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan
Taliban Spox: Qala Zal DHQ & police HQ #Kunduz attacked last night resulting in 13 gunmen killed & 7 wounded.
[PUBLISH.TWITTER] #Kunduz attacked last night resulting in 13 gunmen killed & 7 wounded.
Mujahid also martyred in operation.

— Zabihullah (..ذبـــــیح الله م ) (@Zabehulah_M33) October 6, 2019

14 armed #Kabul admin troopers left an enemy base in Shahi Khelo area of Markazi Baghlan district #Baghlan noon hours today before joining up with Mujahidin.
Officials welcomed & eased them back to normal lives.

— Zabihullah (..ذبـــــیح الله م ) (@Zabehulah_M33) October 6, 2019

Combined convoy of American invaders & their hirelings was engaged in Kamal Khelo area of Shilgar district #Ghazni this morning resulting in several gunmen including an invader killed, multiple wounded & APC destroyed.

— Zabihullah (..ذبـــــیح الله م ) (@Zabehulah_M33) October 6, 2019

Combined US-hireling convoy engaged in Kamal Khel & Khado Khel areas of Shilgar district #Ghazni this morning resulting in 3 APCs destroyed along with 3 US invaders & 6 hirelings killed, 2 invaders & 7 hirelings wounded.

— Zabihullah (..ذبـــــیح الله م ) (@Zabehulah_M33)
Posted by: Fred || 10/07/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Afghan MoI Summary: 25 Taliban Terrorists Killed In Badghis
[MOI.GOV.AF] 25 Taliban terrorists killed and 15 others wounded in a joint overnight clearance operation carried out by Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) backed by Afghan Air Force (AAF) in Baghak region, Qala-e-Naw City of Badghis.

25 Taliban terrorists killed & eight others wounded after the ANDSF repelled a Taliban attack in Parchaw region, Nad Ali district of Helmand.

Yesterday, a key member of Taliban terrorists killed and two others wounded in a clash with Afghan National Police (ANP) in Gorgak village, Anar Dara district of Farah. ANP seized one vehicle used by the militants as well. In the meantime, two Taliban terrorists killed and three others wounded following a clash with Afghan National Police (ANP) in Abak Jangjai region, Pasaband district of Ghor.

Three Taliban mine planters killed & three others wounded while they were planting a roadside bomb in Sarchakan region, Garizwan district of Faryab.
Posted by: Fred || 10/07/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [9 views] Top|| File under: Taliban

#1  A 'key member'.

Get it ? Still attached to the... the 'keychain'... huh. Oh well.

Posted by: Dron66046 || 10/07/2019 7:17 Comments || Top||

#2  They have more 'key' members than grunts.
Posted by: jpal || 10/07/2019 8:27 Comments || Top||

#3  Using Dron66046’s definition, jpal, they have precisely as many key members as grunts... and twice as many ears.

Which reminds me: Pappy would have sent you to your room for that, Dron66046 dear, there to ponder the wisdom of your choices (and perhaps gloat a little). ;-)
Posted by: trailing wife || 10/07/2019 10:07 Comments || Top||

#4  And yes, in fairness I have to send myself to my room as well, which is better than having to spamcop myself, as Skidmark did recently. All are equal under the law here.
Posted by: trailing wife || 10/07/2019 10:09 Comments || Top||

#5  Sometimes I just want to rage in the streets and foam at the mouth like Erb, then the moment passes and I have to cleanup my mess as any responsible adult might.
Posted by: Skidmark || 10/07/2019 15:55 Comments || Top||


Africa Horn
Localized violence continues in Darfur despite regime change: UN sanctions committee
[Sudan Tribune] The U.N. Security Council’s Sudan sanctions committee said localized violence and festivities continued in Darfur region despite the regime change in the country.

Joanna Wronecka the head of the sanctions committee briefed the Security Council about the activities of the panel of experts on the security situation in Darfur as they submit their report about the period between 22 June and 27 September.

"The security situation in Darfur (...) was characterized by inter-communal skirmishes, militia attacks on civilians, tensions in camps for internally displaced persons and other localized security incidents, but no large scale outbreaks of violence," said the UN spokesperson in a statement released after the meeting last on Thursday.

Wronecka told the informational consultations meeting that the three months period witnessed festivities between Sudanese security forces, allied militias and th the Sudan Liberation Army-Abdel Wahid (SLA-AW).

Also, there were fighting between the groups of the SLA-AW itself, and attacks against the African Union
...a union consisting of 53 African states, most run by dictators of one flavor or another. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established in 2002, the AU is the successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was even less successful...
-United Nations
...boodling on the grand scale...
Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) and humanitarian agencies, she further said.

The holdout rebel group continues to reject peace talks with the new government saying that the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) and the army stole the revolution and asks for a referendum on their legitimacy before to engage in peace negotiations.

All the other gangs in Darfur region, Blue Nile and South Kordofan states are expected to begin talks with the transitional government in the South Sudanese capital Juba on 14 October 2019.

She said the panel documented violations of international humanitarian law and human rights
...which are usually entirely different from personal liberty...
abuses, rape and sexual violence against communities in Darfur, including internally displaced persons.

Posted by: Fred || 10/07/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [8 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Sudan


Africa North
Heavy fighting renews northeast of Aziziya region, south #Tripoli
[PUBLISH.TWITTER] Heavy fighting renews northeast of Aziziya region, south #Tripoli as Haftar armed groups backed by Russian mercenaries attempt to advance on the region pic.twitter.com/2rFSoX9rpw

— The Libya Observer (@Lyobserver) October 6, 2019
Posted by: Fred || 10/07/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [6 views] Top|| File under: Arab Spring


Children injured, horses killed in Haftar forces' airstrikes on Equestrian School
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]
Posted by: Fred || 10/07/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under: Arab Spring

#1  Could also read as - WAR INEVITABLY FINDS THE RICH.
Posted by: Dron66046 || 10/07/2019 8:32 Comments || Top||

#2  Thank Barack, and Nicolas, and David for removing the only third world leader to give up WMD program - the rest of them got the message alright!
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 10/07/2019 15:48 Comments || Top||


Foreign drones of Haftar's forces strike Misrata Airport causing casualties, damage
[Libya Observer] One staffer was injured and two airplanes were damaged by Arclight airstrike
...KABOOM!...
s of foreign warplanes backing Khalifa Haftar
...Self-proclaimed Field Marshal, served in the Libyan army under Muammar Qadaffy, and took part in the coup that brought Qadaffy to power in 1969. He became a prisoner of war in Chad in 1987. While held prisoner, he and his fellow officers formed a group hoping to overthrow Qadaffy, so it's kind of hard to describe him as a Qadaffy holdover. He was released around 1990 in a deal with the United States government and spent nearly two decades in the United States, gaining US citizenship. In 1993, while living in the United States, he was convicted in absentia of crimes against the Jamahiriya and sentenced to death. Haftar held a senior position in the anti-Qadaffy forces in the 2011 Libyan Civil War. In 2014 he was commander of the Libyan Army when the General National Congress (GNC) refused to give up power in accordance with its term of office. Haftar launched a campaign against the GNC and its Islamic fundamentalist allies. His campaign allowed elections to take place to replace the GNC, but then developed into a civil war. Guess you can't win them all...
's forces on Misrata Airport, media office of Volcano of Rage Operation said.

It added Saturday that UAE drones backing up Haftar's forces hit Misrata Airport and caused some damage after the Libyan Army forces targeted their fighters and Russian, Chadian and Sudanese mercenaries on different frontlines.

Meanwhile,
...back at the argument, Jane reached into her purse for her .38...
the director of Misrata Airport, Adel Gazit, said the airport suspended flights for a while then resumed them in the wake of the airstrikes.

He confirmed that two warplanes - one for Libyan Airlines and another for Libyan Wings - were affected by the strikes.

The foreign drone targeted the civilian Misrata Airport on Saturday morning causing panic among passengers and personnel.

Posted by: Fred || 10/07/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under: Arab Spring

#1  Other than annoyance is there anything this kind of $#it can actually accomplish.....for either side?
Posted by: AlanC || 10/07/2019 7:45 Comments || Top||

#2  I seem to recall that Turkey stages “aid” shipments out of Misrata airport, AlanC.
Posted by: trailing wife || 10/07/2019 10:11 Comments || Top||


Africa Subsaharan
Nigerian Airforce neutralises no fewer than 10 bandits near Kaduna
[PULSE.NG] The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says its Air Component of Operation HADARIN DAJI (OPHD), has neutralised no fewer than 10 bandidos at forests near Birnin Gwari and Janko Hill in Kaduna.

NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, said the operation was conducted on Saturday.

"The operation was conducted yesterday, Oct. 5, following the directives by the OPHD Headquarters to resume kinetic operations against camps identified as harboring unrepentant armed bandidos.

"The decision was taken in the wake of the attack on troops’ location at Sunke in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State as well as the increased migration of bandidos towards the Birnin Gwari area of Kaduna State," he said.

Daramola explained that the attack on the bandidos was undertaken when a NAF helicopter on armed reconnaissance mission over the Birnin Gwari general area spotted several bandidos at the location and engaged them with its guns killing some of them.

He said some bandidos were similarly tracked to Janko Hill and equally neutralised.

Posted by: Fred || 10/07/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [7 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I suppose repentant bandits get the Navy.
Posted by: Dron66046 || 10/07/2019 15:11 Comments || Top||

#2  I question if the 10 bandits were worth the cost of the jet fuel.
Posted by: jpal || 10/07/2019 18:16 Comments || Top||

#3  Nigerian airforce has jets?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 10/07/2019 18:22 Comments || Top||

#4  Chinese, I think.
Posted by: Dron66046 || 10/07/2019 18:23 Comments || Top||

#5  With techs?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 10/07/2019 18:23 Comments || Top||

#6  Last I heard Pakistain was offering to train them. China did train them with the first delivery back in 2010 or something. The have Mig21s too.
Posted by: Dron66046 || 10/07/2019 18:29 Comments || Top||

#7  Probably used choppers for this. Who would use ... jets to kill bandits ?
Posted by: Dron66046 || 10/07/2019 18:31 Comments || Top||


Arabia
The Yemeni army downed an Iranian-made drone north of the Hajjah province
[TWITTER] The Yemen
...an area of the Arabian Peninsula sometimes mistaken for a country. It is populated by more antagonistic tribes and factions than you can keep track of...
i army downed an Iranian-made drone north of the Hajjah province, which was on a mission to scout the area, the defense ministry said in a statement, adding that this is the eighth drone downed over the province since the beginning of the year.
Posted by: Fred || 10/07/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [7 views] Top|| File under: Houthis


Britain
'No one had a baton - so we headbutted him': Passenger reveals how fellow commuter bravely stepped in to stop man 'threatening to stab people' on packed train
[Daily Mail, where America gets its news]
  • Del Scott-Lewis, in his 40s, struck bearded man on c2c service between West Ham and Barking

  • Commuters cheered and praised him for protecting passengers in East London

  • Bearded man was allegedly harassing others and was restrained until Upminster

  • He started saying 'I'll kill you, I'm from Afghanistan, I'll kill you, I'll stab you'.

  • Police then arrested him on suspicion of carrying a knife and a theft offence
The video at the link is well worth watching to see a sheepdog in action.
Posted by: Skidmark || 10/07/2019 08:21 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under: Moslem Colonists

#1  The extensible baton is a great weapon. Can inflict devastating injuries quickly and no pesky ballistics or serial numbers
Posted by: M. Murcek || 10/07/2019 9:17 Comments || Top||

#2  I never knew about head butts until I started meeting people from England. It's good to see the Brits fighting back.
Posted by: Abu Uluque || 10/07/2019 10:41 Comments || Top||

#3  dude got his nose broke. You can hear it if you watch the vid.:)
Posted by: chris || 10/07/2019 10:53 Comments || Top||

#4  Now that England that we expect!
Posted by: g(r)omgoru PB || 10/07/2019 10:58 Comments || Top||

#5  'I'll kill you, I'm from Afghanistan, I'll kill you, I'll stab you'


'Insh'allah I shall leave no fucking excuse for the wretched excuse of a constabulary to cite abstruse reasons for this !'
Posted by: Dron66046 || 10/07/2019 11:03 Comments || Top||

#6  Glasgow Kiss
Posted by: Beavis || 10/07/2019 11:39 Comments || Top||

#7  If vids could be framed, I'd frame that.
Posted by: Fred || 10/07/2019 11:44 Comments || Top||

#8  The MP4 is downloadable.
Posted by: Skidmark || 10/07/2019 12:17 Comments || Top||

#9  His headbutt was perfect.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 10/07/2019 20:06 Comments || Top||

#10  #9 His headbutt was perfect.
Posted by: swksvolFF


Awhoooo! Commuters of London!
Posted by: Frank G || 10/07/2019 21:07 Comments || Top||

#11  RE: #9 & #10

It's Snark of the Day, but in two parts.
Posted by: SteveS || 10/07/2019 21:14 Comments || Top||

#12  I've seen referees disqualify a boxer for less. Still in all a good outcome.
Posted by: jpal || 10/07/2019 21:42 Comments || Top||

#13  That wasn't his first rodeo headbutt. All but the Afghan judge score a 10.
Posted by: Spirt Glans1838 || 10/07/2019 22:01 Comments || Top||


The Grand Turk
Turkey ‘increases’ forces along Syria border ahead of potential incursion
[PRESSTV] The Sick Man of Europe Turkey
...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire...
has reportedly reinforced army units at its border with northern Syria ahead of a cross-border incursion against US-sponsored and Kurdish-led holy warriors operating in the region.

The number of Ottoman Turkish military patrols on the frontier with armored vehicles "increased" in the border town of Akcakale, across from Tal Abyad in Syria, the private DHA news agency reported on Sunday.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred || 10/07/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [12 views] Top|| File under: Sublime Porte

#1  May get to see how many TOWs and Javelins the Kurds saved.
Posted by: Elmavimp Glinegum6967 || 10/07/2019 5:34 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Police block thousands marching in Pakistani Kashmir
Not letting the mob approach Indian Kashmir is a good call, given the current mood on the other side of the border.
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] Police have blocked a march by thousands of people in Pak-controlled Kashmir
...a disputed territory lying between India and Pakistain. After partition, the Paks grabbed half of it and call it Azad (Free) Kashmir. The remainder they refer to as "Indian Occupied Kashmir". They have fought four wars with India over it, the score currently 4-0 in New Delhi's favor. After 72 years of this nonsense, India cut the Gordian knot in 2019, removing the area's special status, breaking off Ladakh as a separate state, and allowing people from other areas to settle (or in the case of the Pandits, to resettle) there....
who wanted to move toward the highly militarized Line of Control that divides the territory between Pakistain and India.

The marchers are protesting the lockdown in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Police placed shipping containers on the road and deployed a large contingent of officers near Jaskool, 8 kilometers from the frontier to stop the supporters of the Jammu-Kashmir Liberation Front, which announced it intended to cross the frontier to help Kashmiris under Indian oppression.

Abdul Hameed Butt, a leader of the JKLF, said Sunday the protesters would stage a sit-in until the blockade removed.

Police officer Arshad Naqvi said protesters won’t be allowed to continue because of the threat of "unprovoked enemy fire."

India imposed a strict curfew on Aug. 5 after stripping Indian-controlled Kashmir of its statehood.

Posted by: Fred || 10/07/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [7 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistain Proxies


Iraq
96 protesters killed over six days: Iraqi state officials
[Rudaw] State figures announced Sunday night put the corpse count of nationwide protests calling for improved basic services and an end to corruption at 96. Eight security force members have also died, government officials said.

As the sixth day of nationwide protests began drawing to a close, Iraq’s Ministry of Defense, Interior, Health and Joint Operations Command announced their latest casualty figures at a joint presser in Baghdad.

"The current toll of the events that took place amid the protests stands at 104 deaders, including 8 members of security forces," Iraqi security officials said.

"The number of injured protesters and members of security forces stands at 6,107," they added, while claiming they had arrested some "infiltrators" at protests.

Figures released Saturday by the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights (IHCHR) said 99 people died and 4,000 maimed in the protests. AFP reported the death of eight protesters and the injury of 25 others in eastern Baghdad’s Sadr City on Sunday night, according to medical and security sources.

Protests demanding an end to corruption, nepotism, and mass unemployment, as well as an improved provision of basic services began in Baghdad on October 1, soon spreading to other Iraqi cities.

Demonstrators have been met with violence by security forces, including use of tear gas and live rounds of ammunition.

On Sunday, Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi announced a batch of measures to meet the demands of protesters following an "exceptional Council of Ministers" meeting.

Measures included a monthly allowance of 175,000 Iraqi dinars for 150,000 of the country’s unemployed, as well as plans for 100,000 housing units prioritizing the poor across Iraqi provinces.

However,
by candlelight every wench is handsome...
the announced measures have failed to extinguish protests. Though they appeared to show a national slowdown today, demonstrations continued with fervor in Sadr City, one of the capital’s poorest neighborhoods.

One protester expressed dismay at what he described as the Iraqi Army acting in cooperation with police and other security forces to quell protests with violence.

"I have been out here protesting for five days, and we didn’t let anyone [protesters] attack the Army stationed there. We have been protecting it. Now the Army is shooting at us?" he told Rudaw from Sadr City.

Another said the "policy of closing mouths is bygone."

"They have closed the channels that were covering the events. This does you no good Adil Abdul-Mahdi [Iraqi Prime Minister]. For how long will you close them? The footage of the killing of youth is in our phones," the second protester said.

His comments came as local and regional media agencies claimed late on Saturday they had been attacked for their coverage of protests in Iraq.

Kurdish media agency NRT released images of their ransacked Baghdad offices, while news channel al-Hadath released CCTV footage of the Baghdad office it shares with fellow Saudi outlet al-Arabiya being ransacked by button men.

As Rudaw spoke to those protesting in Sadr City, live rounds could be heard being fired, while protesters, who had purportedly set tires alight, could be seen fleeing to safety.

"We call on the United Nations
...an organization conceived in the belief that we're just one big happy world, with the sort of results you'd expect from such nonsense...
to intervene to dissolve the parliament, government, and the presidency. Currently, Iranian riot police, Safavid forces, are firing upon us," a protester said as he withdrew alongside Rudaw’s news hound. Another Iraqi eyewitness previously told Rudaw English that Iran-backed Khorasani Brigades had fired at protesters in Baghdad on Tuesday night.
Posted by: trailing wife || 10/07/2019 00:01 || Comments || Link || [6 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iraq


Iraqi premier rejects resignation of seven ministers, Baghdad governor steps down
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) ‐ Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi was said to have rejected the resignation of seven ministers to prevent the collapse of his government as the country witnesses deadly protests over corruption and poor public services.

A political source told Iraq’s Algahd Press website on Sunday that "several political blocs pressurize Abdul Mahdi to force him to carry out a cabinet reshuffle or render his resignation."

The source did not clarify the names of ministers, who offered their resignation.

Baghdad governor quits amid demonstrations in Iraqi capital

[PRESSTV] The governor of the Iraqi capital province of Baghdad, Fallah al-Jazairi, has stepped down in the wake of demonstrations against corruption, unemployment and poor public services in the country.

On Sunday, members of the Provincial Council voted in favor of accepting Jazairi’s resignation, and he quit his post.

"Acceptance of applications for candidates for the post is open for five days," an unnamed source in the Council said.

The Baghdad Provincial Council voted to elect Jazairi as the governor of Baghdad during a session on December 22, 2018.

The Council elected Jazairi to replace his outgoing predecessor, Atwan al-Atwani, who had won a seat in the parliament.

On Sunday, Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi's cabinet issued a series of reforms in response to the protests.

Posted by: trailing wife || 10/07/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [10 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iraq


Baghdad: Demonstrators chase riot control forces after being shot at, protesters catch sniper, protester shot on camera, 2 more TV channels shut
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]

#Protestors catch a sniper at a building in #TahrirSquare
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]

Iraqi protester is shot on camera while being interviewed by a journalist
[PUBLISH.TWITTER] Omg an Iraqi protester is shot on camera while being interviewed by a journalist. It’s day 6, death toll around 90 but human rights groups and hospitals say it’s much higher. pic.twitter.com/lvSApVg3Bu

— Liz Sly (@LizSly) October 6, 2019

AdilAbdAlMahdi decides to shut the channels of Al Rasheed and #Degla satellite channels in #Iraq
[TWITTER]
Posted by: Fred || 10/07/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [6 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran Proxies


Demonstrators storm the #Iran|ian consulate in #Basra
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]
Posted by: Fred || 10/07/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran Proxies

#1  HA, I thought that first word was Democrats. May as well be.
Posted by: Dale || 10/07/2019 13:04 Comments || Top||


104 people died and 6107 wounded during violent protests in #Baghdad and elsewhere
[PUBLISH.TWITTER] Toll update: #Iraq’s Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Saad Maan said on Sunday that 104 people died and 6107 wounded during violent protests in #Baghdad and elsewhere.

— Hamdi (@HamdiAlkhshali) October 6, 2019
Iraqi News adds:
The Iraqi Interior Ministry front man said on Sunday that the corpse count from anti-government protests in Iraq rose to 104, including eight security members.

"As many as 104 people, including eight security members, were killed and at least 6,000 others injured in ongoing protests in Iraq," Maj. Gen. Saad Maan told a presser.

The front man noted that protesters also set fire to 51 public facilities and eight partisan headquarters in the mass protests, which entered their sixth day.

He added that a probe was launched to identify whoever targets the innocent demonstrators.
Posted by: Fred || 10/07/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iraq


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
12-year-old indicted for Jerusalem attack in which officer was lightly injured
[IsraelTimes] The Jerusalem district attorney on Sunday indicted a 12-year-old boy under terror laws for the attempted stabbing of a policewoman in Jerusalem’s Old City last month.

According to the indictment, on September 26, the day of the attack, the minor attended prayers at the al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount.

At the conclusion of prayers, he allegedly walked up to a group of female officers at the Temple Mount’s Chain Gate, above the Western Wall area, pulled out a knife and attempted to stab the officers.

During the ensuing scuffle, a female officer, age 34, was lightly injured when a security barrier fell on her hand.

According to the indictment, a staff member of the Waqf, the Moslem trust that oversees the site, tried to catch the boy and keep the police from him.
Arrested as an Accessory?
The boy was overpowered at the scene and arrested.

The boy is accused of committing an act of terror in which he unlawfully attempted to injure a person with a knife for religious and national motive.

Prosecutors asked that the boy remain detained until the end of legal proceedings.
Posted by: trailing wife || 10/07/2019 01:42 || Comments || Link || [7 views] Top|| File under:


Bedouin man arrested on suspicion of wanting to join Islamic State in Syria
[IsraelTimes] Police on Sunday announced the arrest of a resident of the southern Bedouin town of Tel Sheva on suspicion of supporting the Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that they were al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're really 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 western pols talk they're not really Moslems....
jihadist group and wanting to fight for it in Syria.

The 20-year-old suspect, who was not named, was arrested on September 9 in a joint operation of the Israel Police and Shin Bet security service.

A police statement said that during a raid of the suspect’s home, officers found binoculars, BB guns, a vest, kneepads and a drone with which he is suspected of training to drop "kaboom" on dummy targets.

Police said they also found a large quantity of clothes associated with the Islamic State. Pictures released by police showed camo fatigues.

The suspect’s remand was extended repeatedly and prosecutors from the Southern District were expected to file an indictment against him later on Sunday.

The Shin Bet has in the past estimated that several dozen Israeli nationals had fought for Islamic State and other terror groups in Iraq and Syria. Most were either killed in action or returned to Israel, where they were arrested.

Many willingly returned, despite knowing they would be indicted, due to the abysmal living conditions in the Islamist-controlled areas of Iraq and Syria.
The Jerusalem Post adds:
Bilal Abu Rakaik, 20, intended to join the terrorist group and travel to Syria because he supported ISIS ideology. In an attempt to identify with the jihadist organization, Rakaik would listen to songs praising ISIS and read posts and news from the group, including about the war the organization was fighting in Syria, Somalia and Iraq, and about terrorist attacks conducted by it in these countries.

The accused bought uniforms similar to those used by ISIS through the Internet, and wore them daily with sandals outside of his house and in the mosque that he attended. He also took pictures in the uniform and published them on Facebook.

Rakaik found an Internet site detailing the requirements for joining ISIS, including the necessity to apply for a passport to exit Israel. In order to fund his trip to Syria, the accused planned on producing explosives and selling them to others. Rakaik looked at multiple websites for information on how to produce explosives and explosive material. He bought hydrogen peroxide, salicylic acid and aluminum foil and attempted to produce the explosive material in his home.
Posted by: trailing wife || 10/07/2019 00:26 || Comments || Link || [9 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Turkey to attack in northeast Syria; US forces to pull back
See also here.
WASHINGTON DC (Kurdistan 24) ‐ Late on Sunday, the White House issued a summary of a telephone call that US President Donald Trump held with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier that day.

The White House statement explained that Turkey was about to attack in northeastern Syria and US forces will withdraw from the area where the Turkish military operation is to take place.

The White House said that "Turkey will soon be moving forward with its long-planned operation into Northern Syria."

"The United States Armed Forces will not support or be involved in the operation, and United States forces, having defeated the ISIS territorial ’Caliphate’ will no longer be in the immediate area," it continued.

On Saturday, Erdogan told an annual conference of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), "We will carry out a ground and air operation" across the border into Syria, east of the Euphrates River. "Maybe, today; maybe, tomorrow," he affirmed.

READ MORE: US warns Ankara, amid worry of Turkish incursion into northeast Syria

Turkish media reported on Saturday that the army was reinforcing its positions around Sanliurfa, across the frontier from the Syrian town of Tel Abyad.

And later on Saturday, Washington’s well-regarded Institute for the Study of War warned, "Turkish invasion of northeast Syria looks imminent."

On Sunday, before the White House read-out was published, Turkey issued its own summary of the telephone conversation between Trump and Erdogan. It did not address the issue of an imminent attack. Rather, the Directorate of Communications, which issued Turkey’s read-out of the discussion, said that Trump had invited Erdogan to visit Washington next month, as it was reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency.

The Turkish readout created the impression that no major action would occur until after the two presidents met in November. But the White House read-out made clear that an attack is to be expected at any time, even as it failed to mention any invitation to Erdogan.

A Turkish assault on northeastern Syria raises many questions about the future of that area. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have been America’s main ally in the war against the so-called Islamic State in Syria. They control a large swathe of territory‐one-third of the country.

Yet Turkey considers the Kurdish component of the SDF‐the People’s Protection Units (YPG)‐as the Syrian branch of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK.)

If the self-administration of northeastern Syria is disrupted, it could easily lead to the re-emergence of the Islamic State. The White House statement did not address that problem.

Moreover, the SDF holds a large number of Islamic State fighters as prisoners, as well as their wives and widows, along with their children.
Posted by: Besoeker || 10/07/2019 06:50 || Comments || Link || [16 views] Top|| File under: Sublime Porte

#1  First big mistake after Bolton leaving.
Posted by: Dron66046 || 10/07/2019 7:42 Comments || Top||

#2  That bastard sold out the Kurds to the Turks and their two-bit Sultan wannabee. Huge mistake. This will create even more of a mess, and embolden Turkey further. Trump screwed this one up badly.
Posted by: Ulurt Jones8687 || 10/07/2019 7:52 Comments || Top||

#3  One ultimately does have to fight for oneself. If the decades of struggle have taught the Kurds anything it should be that.

'Ain't no one you can depend on but yourself'.
Mad Max (was it ?)
Posted by: Dron66046 || 10/07/2019 8:03 Comments || Top||

#4  "BEIRUT — U.S.-backed Kurdish-led forces said American troops began pulling back Monday from positions along the border in northeast Syria ahead of an expected Turkish invasion that the Syrian Kurds say will overturn five years of achievements in the battle against the Islamic State group.

The Syrian Kurdish fighters also accused Washington of failing to abide by its commitments to its key allies in the fight against ISIS. It's a major shift in U.S. policy". Interesting. This just doesn't sit well. Looks to me like we are seeing a chess match. Game pieces are hidden. Time will tell.
Posted by: Dale || 10/07/2019 8:15 Comments || Top||

#5  I doubt the Turkish military can sustain a substantial operation for a long period.
Posted by: lord garth || 10/07/2019 9:12 Comments || Top||

#6  I doubt the Turkish military can sustain a substantial operation for a long period.

Agreed. In fact, the Kurds have previous experience bleeding them heavily — at the height of the Afrin nonsense I recall a Rantburger comfortingly explaining kill boxes to me — which one imagines President Trump is aware of, and which changes the complexion of this announcement considerably.
Posted by: trailing wife || 10/07/2019 10:33 Comments || Top||

#7  The Turks will do a quick strike, bloody things and themselves up for PR and pull back.
Posted by: DarthVader || 10/07/2019 10:36 Comments || Top||

#8  Pssst, Yippy? I heard the leaders of this attack are closet Gulenists. Just saying...
Posted by: Frank G || 10/07/2019 10:37 Comments || Top||

#9  What Could Possibly Go Wrong!
Posted by: Sonny Black || 10/07/2019 10:51 Comments || Top||

#10  IMO it's time we stop policing the world an let the countries in that area take care of their own shit.This will probably let Erdrogan know they aren't as bad as they think they are too.
Posted by: chris || 10/07/2019 10:55 Comments || Top||

#11  Iran has been aggressive. Erdogan's in trouble politically. There's a good chance one or both is trying to claim a 'victory' over US troops for PR / negotiating purposes and provoke a counter strike whose civilian casualties would also be heavily publicized.

Air strikes are a real possibility if Erdogan goes too far. But if in fact the Kurds make him pay - specifically, if he can't use this to appear strong at home - it will backfire on him badly and he can't claim we did it to him.
Posted by: Chinemp Shiper1154 || 10/07/2019 11:13 Comments || Top||

#12  In addition, there's the NATO angle. So long as Turkey is notionally a member, it's prudent to avoid any direct military fighting against their troops.
Posted by: Chinemp Shiper1154 || 10/07/2019 11:16 Comments || Top||

#13  Why do we even have troops in Syria? ISIS is defeated. Assad won the civil war. What are we even doing there, other than spending billions every month that are badly needed back home?

Or if that's not enough for you: what's the prize when we win? What are we fighting for in Syria? What does victory look like? Bolton doesn't know and neither do you.
Posted by: Herb McCoy || 10/07/2019 11:31 Comments || Top||

#14  Tar baby. Best to stay out.
Posted by: Lex || 10/07/2019 12:08 Comments || Top||

#15  #13 Yes, I agree. I just see for some reason a bigger game at play here to be seen. With Trump I see more than the obvious domestic media consumption provided. The media will misdirect as I believe is part of the plan. They certainly can be played that easily. Perhaps I am reading more into this but a wait and see attitude is my attitude. :)
Posted by: Dale || 10/07/2019 12:59 Comments || Top||

#16  First they took the Rhineland Northern Cyprus and we didn't care. Then they took the Sudetenland Afrin and we did nothing. Next they will take Czechoslovakia Northern Syria (they already have Austria Idlib...) and they will stop there, right, Right??

If the Assads are vicious little Mussolini's they at least don't have the external ambitions of Erdogan.
Posted by: magpie || 10/07/2019 13:03 Comments || Top||

#17  The Turks have troops tied up in Cyprus, Qatar, Somalia and on the border west of the Euphrates.

Post their anti Gulan purges I don't think they have more than the equivalent of one Division of soldiers that are both reliable and competent enough to handle the job east of the Euphrates. They might be in even worse shape than I have guessed.
Posted by: lord garth || 10/07/2019 13:23 Comments || Top||

#18  Seriously? The Turk is going to conquer the world? We need to stomp them hard as if they were Nazis? I hear some howlers on Rantburg but that one takes the cake.

Just accept that you lose arguments once in a while, and that doesn't make the other people Hitler.
Posted by: Herb McCoy || 10/07/2019 13:38 Comments || Top||

#19  Yeah, they only take Americans as hostages, ship refugees to Europe to destabilize, threaten Israel, attack our Kurdish allies, assassinate, in Europe, beat demonstartors in America, and threaten to colonize a caliphate.

But appeasement scum like you say: "Hey, What me worry? It's only some other suckers getting killed and stomped." Literally Hitler? No mirror at home?
Posted by: Frank G || 10/07/2019 13:57 Comments || Top||

#20  Once again we desert the Kurds, how long before we once again try to coheres them in to becoming our proxies?
Posted by: Hupiper Schwarzeneggar6867 || 10/07/2019 14:31 Comments || Top||

#21  Frank G.
(a) Recep been jailing professional officer corps and replacing them with loyalists.
(b) Syrian Regime (i.e. Russia) is firmly opposed to invasion of its territory & Kurds have good relations with Alawis (both are minorities hated by Sunni Arabs).
(c) Kurds have very effective allies who prefer to operate overtly.
(d) Kurds have been build up in western public's eyes as virtual saints, they ain't.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 10/07/2019 14:31 Comments || Top||

#22  Sorry (c) prefer NOT to operate overtly
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 10/07/2019 14:33 Comments || Top||

#23  I'm told that this could also be because of the left-leaning base that formed the YPG. They're all marxist seculars, which is why they're so open to other ideas and religions. Maybe that was why Trump decided to let them fight their own war, 'let's see who sends for help'. Another communist regime in a pressure-cooker zone is probably not what the world needs.

But in a time when optics are more important than kinetics, this couldn't have come at a worse time. I think the Republican party will be the most disappointed in this move. Bolton would never have advised this.
Posted by: Dron66046 || 10/07/2019 14:46 Comments || Top||

#24  Seriously? The Turk is going to conquer the world?

Tell that to the Turk rubbing his hands in glee, getting hard at the thought of the coming slaughter of proud boys and girls of the peshmerga.
Posted by: Dron66046 || 10/07/2019 14:48 Comments || Top||

#25  So would this be the maximally inconvenient time to mention the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)? I hope so. You know, the Marxists?
Posted by: Herb McCoy || 10/07/2019 14:51 Comments || Top||

#26  You go Erb!
Posted by: Skidmark || 10/07/2019 15:49 Comments || Top||

#27  Why do we even have troops in Syria?

Because when Obama failed to provide air support to the once a future ISIS, aka McCain's Heroes, Obama needed a trip wire to keep them from getting rolled up and provide a safe area of classic insurgency practices.

Then Erdy saw an opportunity to punish the Kurds and take some major crossroads - Kobani for instance - and tried picking a fight with Syria, who at this point also meant Iran and Russia. A scrap between a NATO member and a Russia/Iran combo would have been awkward to say the least considering bids for uranium were opening. Also, it kept Iran and Russia's ally Syria safe from attack.

Seriously? The Turk is going to conquer the world? We need to stomp them hard as if they were Nazis?

You don't history much do you? You only seem to address conflict in terms of warfare, very 2D there Kahn. This area has been the trade crossroads of the world since before cuneiform. Though it may not be as important as before the age of steam, there is still a large chunk of world trade and resource gathering, people, in this region.

And in terms of warfare, you are wrong again, but I have real work so maybe later.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 10/07/2019 16:04 Comments || Top||

#28  "Some bad choices were made after WW1"
~ Rand Paul, Fox News 7 Oct 2019

A perfect example of peace keeping donor fatigue. Anyone remember the democrat silence when Soetoro pulled out of Iraq? If someone, or a group of someone' feels the need, they can ruck up and go join the Kurds. Have at it !

We have no dog in this fight and certainly don't need another trip wire. Call it a day. Get the fok out, stay the fok out !
Posted by: Besoeker || 10/07/2019 16:25 Comments || Top||

#29  It is not in the interest of the American people to engage in endless war in Syria. End of story.
Posted by: Herb McCoy || 10/07/2019 16:45 Comments || Top||

#30  g(r)om - I disagree with letting regional allies suffer on our behalf, whether Kurds, Hmongs, Ukrainians, Georgians, et all.
Posted by: Frank G || 10/07/2019 19:08 Comments || Top||

#31  China, me droogs. Don't lose focus. The middle east is a tar baby. Focus on the Chinese threat.
Posted by: Lex || 10/07/2019 19:26 Comments || Top||

#32  So the season opener will be Turkey vs. Syria/Iran/Russia? Popcorn is great, but any opinions on deep fried peanuts? New to me.

Now, one of the Hanson brothers will end up boxing Erdy's ears, and he will come crying to NATO for help, and may encourage a human wave to enter Greece as pressure on NATO to get involved.

At which point I hope NATO tells Turkey to go stuff their noses with capers.

My prediction, and this is a long shot, is that regardless, Turkey will initiate the journey of some 20,000 refugees, or even as few at 5,000, enough to be large enough to not be bothered as they walk to a major European city, preferably with some symbolism. Say, Vienna. Only instead of Kara Mustafa Pasha and a dredge of wailing imams leading the horde, it will be Doctors without Borders, the video production arm of Red Crescent, and the fokkin Pope, and everyone who asks where the food and winter clothing is coming from gets branded a white nationalist or Nazi.

I can only hope we have been there as long as we have in order to prepare the Kurds for when this day would come.

I will also point out that the timeline to form a greater Kurdistan had been extended about four years beyond my amateur estimation.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 10/07/2019 19:59 Comments || Top||

#33  This whole thing about 50 US troops.
Posted by: Phaick Uneretle6310 || 10/07/2019 23:30 Comments || Top||


Iranian protesters set fire to the office of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's representative in Lordegan city following an HIV outbreak
[TWITTER] Iranian protesters set fire to the office of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei
...the actual dictator of Iran, successor to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini...
's representative in Lordegan city following an HIV outbreak, which demonstrators blamed on infected syringes used by health authorities.
Posted by: Fred || 10/07/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [10 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran

#1  Honest, I got it from a toilet seat....
Posted by: Bugs Schwarzeneggar3591 || 10/07/2019 8:12 Comments || Top||

#2  Er, that's a car on fire, not his office.
Posted by: Hupiper Schwarzeneggar6867 || 10/07/2019 14:36 Comments || Top||

#3  Maybe that was his office ? Khamenei never really paid well.
Posted by: Dron66046 || 10/07/2019 15:07 Comments || Top||

#4  Khameinei expects his people to live off the land.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 10/07/2019 15:18 Comments || Top||

#5  Car-b-que worked in Paris?
Posted by: Skidmark || 10/07/2019 15:51 Comments || Top||


US-backed SDF militants abduct civilians in eastern Syria
[PRESSTV] Forced recruitment of civilians to fight along with forces of Evil has been practiced by Kurdish-led members of the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) for the past months, and they turn to kidnapping people to that end.

The latest incident of such abductions has taken place in the eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr.

Local sources, requesting not to be named, told Syria's official news agency SANA on Sunday that SDF Death Eaters, who enjoy Washington's patronage, stormed houses in the al-Hajim neighborhood of the town of Diban. Several people were kidnapped.

Separately, the forces of Evil kidnapped three women at a roadblock east of the city of Raqqah.
Posted by: Fred || 10/07/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [9 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria



Who's in the News
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4Govt of Iran Proxies
4Arab Spring
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2Palestinian Authority
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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.

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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In no particular order...
Steve White
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Two weeks of WOT
Mon 2019-10-07
  Iraqi premier rejects resignation of seven ministers, Baghdad governor steps down
Sun 2019-10-06
  91 protesters killed by Iraqi police over week of demonstrations
Sat 2019-10-05
  Masked gunmen attack TV stations reporting the protests in Iraq
Fri 2019-10-04
  At least 35 Russian mercenaries killed fighting for Haftar in Libya
Thu 2019-10-03
  Breaking: Paris knife attacker kills 4 people at police headquarters
Wed 2019-10-02
  Soleimani claims he and Nasrallah barely escaped Israeli air raid in 2006
Tue 2019-10-01
  Uzbekistani militant among 64 killed, wounded in Faryab clashes
Mon 2019-09-30
  Yemeni army captured over '2000 troops', inflicted heavy casualties on Saudi army
Sun 2019-09-29
  Susan Rice: Obama Put Call Transcripts On Top Secret Server, Too
Sat 2019-09-28
  Egypt Armed Forces kills 118 takfiris in anti-terrorism operations in north, central Sinai; 10 army personnel killed, injured: Statement
Fri 2019-09-27
  US deploys air defense systems, troops to Saudi Arabia
Thu 2019-09-26
  Israeli woman stabbed near Modiin; 14-year-old Palestinian arrested
Wed 2019-09-25
  High Alert In India As JeM Cells Feared Active | Balakot Camp Reopens For Business
Tue 2019-09-24
  Iraqi court sentences 6 IS militants to death over 2013 car bomb attack
Mon 2019-09-23
  Aramco’s Repairs Could Take Months Longer Than Company Anticipates


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