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Today: 77 articles and 243 comments as of 15:36.
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Area: WoT Background    Non-WoT    Opinion        Politix   
Iran fesses up, admits they shot down airliner
Today's Headlines
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Page 1: WoT Operations
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Page 2: WoT Background
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Page 3: Non-WoT
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Page 4: Opinion
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Page 6: Politix
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6 14:49 Seeking Cure For Ignorance [1]
6 17:04 Barbara [5]
Afghanistan
Efforts Underway to Clear 5 Helmand Districts of Insurgents
[ToloNews] The 215 Maiwand Army Corps in southern Afghanistan is preparing for operations to clear five districts in Helmand
...an Afghan province populated mostly by Pashtuns, adjacent to Injun country in Pak Balochistan...
province, Afghan National Army officials said.

The districts of Khanashin, Baghran, Musa Qala, Nawzad and Disho, according to the Provincial Council members, have been under the Taliban
...mindless ferocity in a turban...
’s influence for the past five years. The province has a total of 13 districts.

"It (the operation) will kick off in the near future so we can hopefully free all of the districts," said 215 Maiwand Corps Commander Gen. Zabihullah Mohmand. "Other operations of our forces are underway in various parts of Helmand near the districts which have fallen (to holy warriors)."

Two members of Helmand’s provincial council said the security organizations lack the required personnel for sending them to each and every corner of the province.

"Conducting operations with the available personnel is not possible because the 215 Maiwand Corps has 18,000 service members but it will hardly bring 6,000 of them," said the head of Helmand’s provincial council, Majid Akhundzada.

"There is a need for 100 troops in every outpost while they can bring up to 10 troops; therefore, this number cannot maintain or retake the check posts," said Abdul Wali Patial, a civil society activist in the province.

But Gen. Mohmand said the have enough forces for the upcoming operations.

"We have enough personnel and we are not faced with a lack of service members. We have adequate equipment and we are moving forward," he added.

According to local officials, the routes to the five districts are closed to traffic due to the Taliban presence.
Posted by: trailing wife || 01/11/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [8 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Africa North
LNA advance in the AbuSalim axis and take control of new locations, 3 furrin GNA snipers toes up
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]

3 non-Libyan snipers have been killed fighting for the #GNA in Abuslim axes
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]
Posted by: Fred || 01/11/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under: Antifa


Random shelling from #GNA militias in a disparate attempt to slow down the #LNA advance
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]
Posted by: Fred || 01/11/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under: Arab Spring

#1  GNA, LNA - can't tell the bad guys from the bad guys without DNA.
Posted by: Thert Panda6695 || 01/11/2020 8:39 Comments || Top||


Syrian Observatory for Human Rights announces the killing of 6 #Syrians #mercenaries loyal to #Turkey and the #GNA in the #Tripoli battles in the last 24 hours
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]
Syria? Turkey? GNA? Ohhhh the OTHER Tripoli
Posted by: Fred || 01/11/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Sublime Porte

#1  Sort of a slow weekend in Chicago.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 01/11/2020 6:48 Comments || Top||


#LNA forces have taken control of Aldofan checkpoints at the cross roads between Biniwalid - Misrata - Zliten
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]
Posted by: Fred || 01/11/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Arab Spring


Reports indicating the extermination of #terrorist militia leader of the #GNA Abugani AlKikly AKA Gniwa
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]
Posted by: Fred || 01/11/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under: Arab Spring

#1  AKA Gniwa? You pick THAT as a nic?
Posted by: Mercutio || 01/11/2020 8:46 Comments || Top||

#2  Especially with such a cool name as Al Kikly.
Posted by: Jusock Gluque2244 || 01/11/2020 15:37 Comments || Top||

#3  Ал Кукла
Posted by: Lex || 01/11/2020 15:42 Comments || Top||


Police crack down on anti-regime protesters in Algerian capital
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]
Posted by: Fred || 01/11/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Arab Spring


Africa Subsaharan
French air power repelled Niger base attackers: Army source
[AlAhram] French military air strikes played a "decisive" role in repulsing jihadists who raided a military camp in Niger on Thursday killing 25 soldiers, a Nigerien security source told AFP.

Sixty-three "terrorists" died during the attack on the camp in the western region of Chinegodar near the restive border with Mali, according to the Niger government.

"All 25 deaths in the attack are of soldiers who were deployed to Chinegodar," the military source told AFP on Friday.

"Our soldiers fought bravely against murderous Moslems who thought they would take them by surprise as in previous attacks," the source said.

Earlier, the Niger government had said 63 "terrorists" and 25 others had perished, without immediately specifying if they were soldiers.

"Air intervention by our allies, especially the French, played a decisive role," the source said. "The heavily-armed murderous Moslems arrived in large numbers by cycle of violence and in cars."

Six soldiers were maimed, the Niger defence ministry had earlier said, and also acknowledged that air strikes by "our partners" along with the Nigerien air force helped "push the enemy out of our borders."

La Belle France, Niger's former colonial ruler, has fighter jets and drones stationed in Niamey, the capital of the West African country, as part of Operation Barkhane aimed at fighting jihadists in the western Sahel.

US drones also survey the sprawling arid region round-the-clock. The US has flown drones from Niamey, which is in the southwest, but last year completed construction of a special base at Agadez, in the centre of the country.

Defence Minister Issoufou Katambe had visited the Chinegodar camp last week in a morale-boosting exercise.

Thursday's attack was the first on Chinegodar, a village located about 10 kilometres (six miles) from the Mali border.

On December 10, 71 Nigerien soldiers died in an attack claimed by 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....
on Inates, located in the same area and near the border with Burkina Faso
...The country in west Africa that they put where Upper Volta used to be. Its capital is Oogadooga, or something like that. Its president is currently Blaise Compaoré, who took office in 1987 and will leave office feet first, one way or the other...
On December 25, 14 soldiers were killed in another raid, once again in the region of Tillaberi.

The Inates attack was the deadliest on Niger's military since Islamist Death Eater violence began to spill over from neighbouring Mali in 2015.

Militant violence has spread across the vast Sahel region
... North Africa's answer to the Pak tribal areas...
, especially in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, having started when armed Islamists revolted in northern Mali in 2012.

Thousands of civilians have also died and more than a million have been forced to flee their homes since the jihadist revolt began.

Apart from the French force in the Sahel, there is a 13,000-man UN force in Mali, known by its French acronym MINUSMA.
Posted by: trailing wife || 01/11/2020 02:21 || Comments || Link || [7 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in North Africa


Arabia
US launched second attack targeting Iranian official in Yemen: report
[The Hill] U.S. forces launched a secret mission against a senior Iranian military official in Yemen the same day that the U.S. military killed a top Iranian commander in Iraq’s capitol, The Washington Post reported on Friday.

Four U.S. officials told the Post that the military executed a strike to target Abdul Reza Shahlai ‐ a Yemen-based financial backer and high-ranking member of Iran’s Quds Force
Does that make him a Number 4, head of a technical specialty group but not in line for upper management?
‐ but the unsuccessful mission did not kill him.
Bummer. Better luck next time, guys — is it easier or harder when they’re spooked?
The effort came the same day that the Trump administration went ahead with the drone strike to kill Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds.

Administration officials have since defended the move ‐ which has ratcheted up tensions between Washington and Tehran ‐ saying intelligence suggested that Soleimani was plotting a "large-scale" attack that threatened U.S. Embassies, among other American facilities.

The missions, when shown together, appear to reflect a larger operation from the administration on the Iran regime than previously disclosed.

U.S. officials would not offer many details on the strike against Shahlai other than the mission remains highly classified, that it was authorized around the same time that Soleimani’s was, and that it was not successful.

"If we had killed him, we’d be bragging about it that same night," a senior U.S. official told the Post.
Why did the unnamed senior gentleperson say anything at all?
The State Department in early December offered up to $15 million for information on the financial activities, networks and associates of Shahlai, who is accused of directing attacks against U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq, providing weapons and explosives to violent Shiite groups, and planning the 2007 attack against U.S. forces in Karbala, Iraq, that killed five service members and wounded others.

Shahlai was also identified as the mastermind and financier behind a 2011 plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the U.S. at a restaurant in Washington, D.C. The plot was disrupted with the arrest of the man hired to carry out the assassination.
Goober Tingle7635 submitted the Fox News version of this story, which adds:
"We have seen the report of a January 2 airstrike in Yemen, which is long-understood as a safe space for terrorists and other adversaries to the United States," Cmdr. Rebecca Rebarich, a Pentagon spokeswoman, told Fox News. "The Department of Defense does not discuss alleged operations in the region."
Posted by: Besoeker || 01/11/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [9 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran

#1  If at first you don't succeed....
Posted by: Mercutio || 01/11/2020 8:47 Comments || Top||

#2  Maybe to get him moving and easier to 'acquire'?
Posted by: Mullah Richard || 01/11/2020 8:50 Comments || Top||


Home Front: WoT
Iranian National With Machete, Pick Ax Detained on Bridge Near Mar-a-Lago
RedState via Instapundit
Authorities in and around President Donald Trump’s home, Mar-a-Lago, in Florida are no doubt used to dealing with threats and crazy people.

But with the uptick in tension because of trouble with Iran and the reported threats made by Iranian officials who offered a bounty on Trump, they are no doubt in a heightened state of alert.

Not sure what the guy they arrested was doing, but given the facts, doesn’t sound like anything good.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 01/11/2020 04:39 || Comments || Link || [14 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Why the pick axe?
Posted by: Lex || 01/11/2020 11:07 Comments || Top||

#2  His controller said: "We're digging a hole for ourselves"?
Posted by: Frank G || 01/11/2020 11:41 Comments || Top||

#3  Wile E. Persian
Posted by: Lex || 01/11/2020 11:43 Comments || Top||

#4  Borrowed from Dron in a previous post this morning.

Posted by: jpal || 01/11/2020 11:51 Comments || Top||

#5  Why the pick axe?

Ocean Blvd and A1A on the Palm Beach island are lined with multimillion$ estates. Many blocked from view by well-tended hedges, towering flower terraces and local saltwater tidal pool flora, like palm trees.

The narrow, 2 lane roadways are choked with landscaper trucks collecting debris from trimming palms etc. and grubbing fallen leaves and branches from drains.

Most of the work is done by hand or electric because in those narrow confines gas driven weed eaters or mowers 'make too much noise'.

Machete, pick axe, hoe and rakes are commonly used implements. The guy may have simply been a poorly papered groundskeeper.

When P.Trump is in town, the northbound lane from that bridge is generally blocked by 1. local police for detouring or passenger and trunk searches, then 2. sheriff's deputies with drug and bomb dogs and on the 3rd tier, 3. SS (?) checking paperwork. INS travels between the barricades upon request.

ALL traffic is rerouted or filtered. Many, many angry residents and golfers.
Posted by: Skidmark || 01/11/2020 12:13 Comments || Top||

#6  Sorry, Flagler is one of the midpoint access bridges to the Palm Beach island so the southbound lane would lead to M-logo, some 4 miles south.

P.Trump was not in residence so roadblocks and searches would not have been in effect.
Posted by: Skidmark || 01/11/2020 12:22 Comments || Top||

#7  ^Probably asked the cops how to get to Trump's residence.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 01/11/2020 12:24 Comments || Top||


Two Accused Sex Offenders, Half-Million in Drugs Stopped at Texas Border
[BREITBART] U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers arrested two men wanted for sex offenses in the U.S. and seized nearly a half-million dollars in cocaine at a Texas port of entry over the weekend.

CBP Officers assigned to the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge in Laredo, Texas, observed a man approaching for entry into the U.S. on Sunday. During an initial interview, officers received a hit for a possible warrant on the subject and referred him to a secondary inspection station, according to information obtained from CBP officials.

During the secondary interview, officers identified the man as 56-year-old Carlos Anaya, an Omaha, Nebraska, resident. A search of national law enforcement databases and identify confirmation utilizing a fingerprint scanner revealed an active warrant issued by the Omaha Police Department. Police in Nebraska charged the man with 1st and 2nd degree sexual abuse of a child, according to CBP officials. The officers arrested Anaya and turned him over to the Webb County Sheriff’s Office to await extradition proceedings and a warrant adjudication.

That same day, Juarez-Lincoln bridge officers observed another man arriving from Mexico and referred him to a secondary inspection following an initial screening interview. A fingerprint scanner and a search of national law enforcement databases revealed an active felony warrant on the subject. Officers identified the wanted man as 25-year-old Edgar Fernandez Santana, a New Albany, Mississippi, resident.

CBP officials reported the New Albany Police Department obtained an arrest warrant on Fernandez Santana for a felony charge of incest with a minor. The officers arrested the runaway and transferred him to the Webb County Sheriff’s Office.

Posted by: Fred || 01/11/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under: Narcos

#1  But, but ... the Border Patrol is EVIL!!!! The poor man should have been allowed to go to his home! /sarcasm

Posted by: Rambler in Virginia || 01/11/2020 18:56 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Blast during a Taliban meeting in Pakistan kills 30 including ISI members
[KhaamaPress] A powerful explosion destroyed a religious school during a Taliban
...Arabic for students...
meeting on Friday evening in Quetta, Pakistain claiming at least 30 dead including key Taliban and ISI members, a security source confirmed.

A reliable Afghan security source from the who did not want to be named in the report told Khaama Press that according to intelligence reports, the earth-shattering kaboom took place when several key Taliban members including Sheikh Abdul Karim (Taliban’s supreme judge), Sheikh Abdul Karim’s brother, 3 Pakistain’s ISI members and some drug smugglers were sitting together on Friday evening in a religious school,
...an interestingly varied group, to be sure...
besides a prayer mosque in Ishaqabad area, in Quetta of Pakistain.

"The explosion has occurred during an important meeting between the Talibs, ISI members, and drug smugglers", the source said.
Planning something, perhaps? How sad for them that no one will ever know.
Going over expense/revenue reports to get their taxes done early....
According to this Afghan security source, at least 30 people have been killed in this explosion including 3 ISI members, Sheikh Abdul Karim’s brother, Haji Mohammad Halim, Mawlavi Haji Ahmad Khan, Gul Agha Akhund, Mawlavi Amanullah and Haji Ahmad Khan, who were key Taliban members.
Ok, guys— you can check those names off your To Do list — they’re too done.(Oh hush, dear Reader — I know exactly what I did, and I’m not sorry.)
The security source believes that the motive behind this explosion is due to the recent internal conflicts between the Taliban members.

But, according to Pakistain news agencies, the incident has taken place in a mosque during an evening prayer time, killing a police brass hat, 13 civilians and injuring 20 other worshippers.

Prime Minister Imran Khan
...aka The Great Khan, who ain't the brightest knife in the national drawer...
and Balochistan
...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it...
’s chief minister, Jam Kamal Khan, condemned the attack. In a statement, Pakistain’s military said soldiers were at the scene of the attack to assist civil authorities.

No individual or group have immediately grabbed credit for the bombing.


A blast inside a mosque in Quetta's Satellite Town area during Friday evening prayers claimed 15 lives and left 19 people injured, Balochistan Home Minister Zia Langove confirmed.

The mosque is located in a densely populated Pashtun-majority neighbourhood.

Fida Mohammad, who was attending the Maghrib prayers, said about 60 people were present at the time of the attack on the mosque, located in Ghousabad neighbourhood. The explosion ripped through the front row of worshippers seconds after the prayer began, he told AFP.

The incident comes three days after a motorcycle parked close to a Frontier Corps (FC) vehicle blew up in Quetta, leaving two people dead and another 14 injured. That blast, claimed by Hizbul Ahrar — an offshoot of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), had come after a respite of some weeks in what has traditionally been a violence-prone area.

Mullah Abdul Hakim bites dust in big blast in Quetta mosque
An interesting Twitter thread worth scrolling through to watch the story develop, with photos.

Posted by: trailing wife || 01/11/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [7 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Unless it was ISIS - turf war, somebody IS on their game.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 01/11/2020 3:36 Comments || Top||

#2  'Dis is not about money, dis is about power. Dere's a new king in da streets, king Willie is 'is name. Dis is da message he has for your peepol - you are history ! Fokkin' history. Goddamn puto.' - Predator II (1990)

There were actually more ISI members, some of them go under suspension on paper, to recruit for taliban or serve in rival splinter factions without oversight. A lot of family and clan loyalties, ideology is also at play - calvinball again. Anyway, at least seventeen taliban decision-makers and key handlers attended the meet but unfortunately only eleven were caught right in the blast. Some may still make it. And Hajji Hakim may just make it, fucker. They were meeting to unite factions after a split, which would make them more coordinated and less hostile to each other.

Very interesting things are happening in Balochistan right now. A unified, simplistic ISIS is trying to make converts in broken taliban fiefdoms. Anyone siding with 'the weak taliban oldies' is a target and the daesh is announcing it's also here to play. There are recruiters already in Islamabad, Khaliqabad and places in Multan trying to find support among disaffected, anti-establishment types. There are influences coming from the west of Balochistan. Iran, Afghanistan, Syria. Qatari theocrats feel the 'Stain could achieve much more if they shed the trappings of uniformed civility and shared their nuke resources with those who will not hesitate to use them.

From within, entire Balochistan wants to be free of Pakistain and rebels are fighting taliban and ISI as well as they can. Local unaffiliated militias are objecting to the CPEC projects and chinese interference. Kidnappers and gangs want more freedom to prey on the chinese and have usual run-ins with the law, keeping police busy. In fact there are Tarantinesque fire fights between five parties sometimes !

A faction within the Pakistain military wants more aid to flow into Pakistan, and are willing to kill terrorists and even their own ISI hajjis to clean up. All they want is a manageable 'war on terror' and American dollars to fight it.

In the east, China is re-thinking their deal with such unstable monkeys, a negotiation with India could open up if we go overt within the next 2-3 years, moving up into POK. Since India has never attacked anyone and is not going to start now, we shall have to wait for the slightest move from the 'Stain first.
Posted by: Dron66046 || 01/11/2020 5:16 Comments || Top||

#3  Show and "oh, hell..."
Posted by: M. Murcek || 01/11/2020 6:01 Comments || Top||

#4  It would appear that religion is not all they study in the madrassas.
Posted by: Abu Uluque || 01/11/2020 12:11 Comments || Top||


Iraq
Photos taken by US Special Operations show Qassem Soleimani's personal effects and twisted wreckage after drone strike killed him in Baghdad
[Daily Mail, where America gets its news] Photos taken by U.S. Special Operations forces have been released in the aftermath of the American drone strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani at Baghdad International Airport.

The photos, which depict the grisly outcome of the January 3 Reaper drone's missile strike on two cars carrying Soleimani and nine others, were obtained by Fox News from a U.S. government source.

The U.S. soldiers were secretly following Soleimani's convoy about a half-mile behind his entourage, and rushed to the scene immediately after the strike to confirm that the Iranian general had been killed.

The photos show the burning, twisted wreckage of the vehicle Solemani was traveling in, as well as some of the items he was carrying, including a cell phone and currency.
Hmmmm - I bet the cell phone was interesting, and with the detached fingers, probably accessible. Bwahahhaahha
Soleimani was also carrying a book of poetry, a pistol and a rifle, Fox News reported.
A Peace Rifle™
On Saturday, Iran's Revolutionary Guard acknowledged that it accidentally shot down the Ukrainian jetliner that crashed earlier this week, killing all 176 aboard, after the government had repeatedly denied Western accusations that it was responsible.

The plane was shot down early Wednesday, hours after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on two military bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq in retaliation for the airstrike killing Soleimani. No one was wounded in the attack on the bases.

Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the head of the Guard's aerospace division, said his unit accepts 'full responsibility' for the shootdown. In an address broadcast by state TV, he said that when he learned about the downing of the plane, 'I wished I was dead.'

He said Guard forces ringing the capital had beefed up their air defenses and were at the 'highest level of readiness,' fearing that the U.S. would retaliate. He said an officer made the 'bad decision' to open fire on the plane after mistaking it for a cruise missile.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy issued a statement saying the crash investigation should continue and the 'perpetrators' should be brought to justice. He said Iran should compensate victims' families, and he requested 'official apologies through diplomatic channels.'
Posted by: Skidmark || 01/11/2020 12:56 || Comments || Link || [11 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran

#1  Soleimani was also carrying a book of poetry, a pistol and a rifle

Told'ya - warrior poet!

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 01/11/2020 16:00 Comments || Top||

#2  Whose house this is I think I know
His Army's in the village though
He will not mind our stopping here
To make sure everything's a go.

My little ring must think it queer
To stop without an escort near
Between the airport and the lake
The darkest evening of the year.

I give my pinky one more shake:
Perhaps there has been some mistake?
The only other clue's the sweep--
Hey! What's that -- arrrgg ---HOLY SHEIKH!!

The caves of Hell are dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
Posted by: Lex || 01/11/2020 17:11 Comments || Top||

#3  "[T]he head of the Guard's aerospace division . . . said that when he learned about the downing of the plane, 'I wished I was dead.'"

That can be arranged. :-D
Posted by: Barbara || 01/11/2020 17:15 Comments || Top||

#4  Wonder what information was on his cellphone.
Posted by: Mullah Richard || 01/11/2020 17:37 Comments || Top||

#5  Is it still pocket litter when the pocket is blown inside out?
Posted by: M. Murcek || 01/11/2020 18:06 Comments || Top||

#6  From the grahic internets foto I saw, "pocket litter" below Soleimani's waist was widely strewn about. I wonder who retrieved his pistol ?
Posted by: Besoeker || 01/11/2020 18:26 Comments || Top||

#7  Oval Office Collection Team
Posted by: Frank G || 01/11/2020 18:39 Comments || Top||

#8  Wish I could get my fires to take off like this wonder what they use as kindling.

Posted by: jpal || 01/11/2020 18:40 Comments || Top||

#9  First time I have ever heard of Special Operations.

Do we have our very own 007, James Bonds now?
Posted by: Varmint Splat1454 || 01/11/2020 19:14 Comments || Top||

#10  Wish I could get my fires to take off like this wonder what they use as kindling.

Brimstone.
Posted by: gorb || 01/11/2020 19:48 Comments || Top||

#11  and a Quds leader. I'd suggest starting there
Posted by: Frank G || 01/11/2020 20:05 Comments || Top||

#12  :-)

And poetry! Zenobia F. must be working on New Years resolutions, but I am happy with Robert Frost twice over, including the well-known unpublished variation. Well done, Lex!
Posted by: trailing wife || 01/11/2020 21:47 Comments || Top||


Iraqi journalist Ahmed Abdulsamad has been assassinated in the city of Basra by unknown individuals
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]
Posted by: Fred || 01/11/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran Proxies

#1  Find out how his stories leaned and that'll tell you who done it. Subtly ain't the long suite thereabouts.
Posted by: Mercutio || 01/11/2020 8:45 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Iran plane crash: Ukrainian jet was 'unintentionally' shot down - state TV
[BBC] Iran's military says it "unintentionally" shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet, Iran's state TV reports.
Toldja so.
The statement said it had done so due to "human error" after the plane flew close to a sensitive site belonging to Iran's Revolutionary Guards.
"What sensitive site?"
"Tehran International."

Those responsible would be held accountable, the statement said.
"They've been reassigned to traffic duty."
Iran had previously rejected suggestions that one of its missiles brought down the plane near the capital, Tehran, on Wednesday.
"No, no! Certainly not!"
But pressure mounted after the US and Canada, citing intelligence, said they believed Iran had brought the plane down with a missile, possibly accidently.
Very nice of us to leave them a hand to cover their asses. The real reason was excitability and ineptitude.
The crash of Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 with the loss of 176 lives came just hours after Iran carried out missile strikes on two airbases housing US forces in Iraq.
Just to recap:

Military units file after-action reports. They count expended weaponry. There is no way on earth that the IRGC did not know what brought the plane down. Period. I suppose there's a remote possibility that the local air defense command didn't tell the higher ups, but there's sure as hell no way nobody asked.
Posted by: Besoeker || 01/11/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [14 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran

#1  Well fuck junior...

Loss of face for lack of loss of international support.

Who knows they could indead adapt?
Posted by: DarthVader || 01/11/2020 0:25 Comments || Top||

#2  Hypothesis:

This was intentional.

They expected a massive retaliatory air raid.

The downing was to be blamed on a US air-to-air missile, recreating the IA655 incident which Rouhani explicitly mentioned.

A Ukrainian plane was targeted as a strategic favor to Russia, to drive a wedge between the US and Ukraine.

The Trump administration had caught wind of such plans being considered and thus refrained from any immediate use of armed force, in spite of Trump's massive threats.
Posted by: Elmerert Hupens2660 || 01/11/2020 0:59 Comments || Top||

#3  Ref #2: This was intentional. They expected a massive retaliatory air raid.

Entirely plausible. Thank you Elmerert.
Posted by: Besoeker || 01/11/2020 1:02 Comments || Top||

#4  Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
Posted by: Crusader || 01/11/2020 1:08 Comments || Top||

#5  RE #2
Plausible. No doubt they were expecting big-time retaliation. But easier to believe some low-level air defense team freaked out and screwed the pooch.
Posted by: SteveS || 01/11/2020 1:12 Comments || Top||

#6  Stupid vs calculated...? 'Neck and neck' at this point. But stupid appears to be pulling away from the pack.
Posted by: Besoeker || 01/11/2020 1:17 Comments || Top||

#7  'and'
Posted by: Lex || 01/11/2020 2:31 Comments || Top||

#8  Had there been ANY US military action in Iranian airspace at the time there's no way the Trump administration could have escaped conviction in a MSM led court of public opinion, no matter the facts.

Given that the Democrats are blaming Trump for the shootdown even now, it is likely that they would have passed additional articles of impeachment.
Posted by: Elmerert Hupens2660 || 01/11/2020 3:06 Comments || Top||

#9  I don't see a reason to invoke Machiavellian planning when simple stupidity & incompetence will suffice.
Something as elaborate as you suggest, Elmerert, would've been better achieved by placing a bomb on the plane.
IMO, they expected retaliatory USA raid. So they activated they air defenses. And one team - they are not experienced or well trained - screwed up.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 01/11/2020 3:34 Comments || Top||

#10  You know who else would have made the Iranians shoot down a civilian plane by cleverly refraining from shooting exculpatorily retaliatory missiles?

Hitler!
Posted by: Frank G || 01/11/2020 5:38 Comments || Top||

#11  Realizing yesterday's sanctions making things impossible on an already ruined economy?

Hardliners standing down, softliners stepping in?
Posted by: Varmint Splat1454 || 01/11/2020 7:00 Comments || Top||

#12  The Iranians start their #hardrevenge counter strike at a time of their choosing.

The counter strike itself is totally ineffective. There are no casualties.

Simultaneously Iranian air defense shoots down a civilian plane after a scheduled takeoff from an Iranian airport killing all aboard.

The Trump administration abstains from retaliation albeit having threatened massive retaliation before, thereby narrowly avoiding a massive political setback.

All of this can be attributed to extreme incompetence on the Iranian side. But this surely is a strange set of events.
Posted by: Elmerert Hupens2660 || 01/11/2020 7:17 Comments || Top||

#13  #9 I agree, the shortest line seems most reliable. It also seems revelatory in that A) they are plainly scared pea green of us and B) having chased the competent people out of the country they can't delegate even simple tasks.

We got into their capital city and left their BBMFIC a smoking pile of rubble before they had any concept of what was going on, what led them to believe they could 'see' an aerial attack
Posted by: Cesare || 01/11/2020 8:30 Comments || Top||

#14  The two big takeaways from our strike are that

1) OrangeMan has no compunction about lopping off the head of the snake, and

2) the upper ranks of the Iranian security services are totally penetrated with our and Israel's spies.

Together, these have the mullahs dazed, confused, and shi'iting their trousers.
Posted by: Lex || 01/11/2020 9:41 Comments || Top||

#15  Not closing Iranian airspace for civilian aircraft was a calculated reckless move. It was probably decided in order to deter an American attack and if if America had attacked anyway Iran might very well have shot down the plane intentionally.

Don't be fooled. The mullahs are criminals.
Posted by: European Conservative || 01/11/2020 9:59 Comments || Top||

#16  Ref #15: decided to..... deter an American attack.

Interesting assessment EC. One we'd not see here yet, as I recall.
Posted by: Besoeker || 01/11/2020 10:15 Comments || Top||

#17  Brilliant.

Donald has imposed sanctions. Let's shoot down an International airline and add new self-imposed sanctions.

It's not 3-dimensional chess. It's 3-dimensional mess. Will they ever stop digging?
Posted by: Beau || 01/11/2020 10:15 Comments || Top||

#18  @ #2 - Superb post. Thanks to Besoeker as well.
Posted by: Clem || 01/11/2020 10:18 Comments || Top||

#19  I like the theory that the goal was to stage a shoot-down and blame the US. The call-back to Iran Air 655 ahead of time is a tell.

And I'd add in that John Kerry was involved in planning the whole thing.
Posted by: Rob Crawford || 01/11/2020 10:18 Comments || Top||

#20  Upon reflection, now would actually be a more less perfect time for a B52 visit. No one is going to defend them.
Posted by: Beau || 01/11/2020 10:19 Comments || Top||

#21  Of course the first Iranian nuke exploding over Tel Aviv will be attributed to "human error".
Posted by: European Conservative || 01/11/2020 10:30 Comments || Top||

#22  ^Not in their lives - literally!
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 01/11/2020 11:20 Comments || Top||

#23  "Don't press that button, Mahmoud! You are locked onto a civilian airliner."
"I can't stop it, Commander! The Orange Shaitan is using his evil mind tricks! I am helpless."
(whoosh)
"(sighs) Imam Kerry told us this might happen."
Posted by: Matt || 01/11/2020 12:19 Comments || Top||

#24  45th iteration: If you aim at it and hit it, it's not accidental and by definition, it's not "unintentional".
Posted by: Mercutio || 01/11/2020 12:24 Comments || Top||

#25  Its also telling that even when it is clear that there was no US military operation in Iranian airspace Trump is explicitly being blamed by a centrist mainstream Democrat.

The Mullahs could have realistically hoped for new articles of impeachment and the Trump administration being deterred from making any move against Iran.
Posted by: Elmerert Hupens2660 || 01/11/2020 12:59 Comments || Top||

#26  #22 g(r)omgoru
Yes I don't think they will have the time to deny or admit it.
Posted by: European Conservative || 01/11/2020 13:13 Comments || Top||

#27  "Accidental," "unintentional" = the Ultimate Shitshow
Posted by: Lex || 01/11/2020 13:15 Comments || Top||

#28  #26 No. I mean: They will be extinct before they've a chance to try.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 01/11/2020 13:16 Comments || Top||

#29  "unintentionally"

That's kids playing with a gun, "I didn't know it was loaded". Not someone aiming a missile system intentionally and pushing a button or pulling a trigger.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 01/11/2020 13:32 Comments || Top||

#30  This is turning into one of those "it depends on what the meaning of 'is' is" discussions.

What I find fascinating is that the Iranians copped to the deed so quick. I suspect this was due to some video footage and the possibility that radar and sat images of the SAM launches would be released.
Posted by: SteveS || 01/11/2020 13:53 Comments || Top||

#31  Collapsing like a house o' cards.

Truly shitty, small- or medium-sized tinpot dictatorships are always much weaker than they appear.

All it takes is someone willing to lop off a few senior-level heads and halt the flow of cash into the mullahs' pockets.
Posted by: Lex || 01/11/2020 13:57 Comments || Top||

#32  US Special Forces were 1/2 mile behind Qasem Soleimani following him from Baghdad airport. After the Reaper strike, they rolled up on the carnage, Soleimani was beside the vehicle on fire, they put out the fire of the body, took confirming tissue samples and pictures.
Posted by: Goober Tingle7365 || 01/11/2020 14:43 Comments || Top||

#33  What I find fascinating is that the Iranians copped to the deed so quick.

They had to because the plane was obviously downed by an anti aircraft weapon and the only military operation at the time and place was conducted by the Iranians.

Had there been any military response by the US Trump would've been blamed.
Posted by: Elmerert Hupens2660 || 01/11/2020 15:33 Comments || Top||


Earlier today terrorists spotted by UAV moving towards the SAA outpost. Artillery began shelling the suspicious movements
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]
Posted by: Fred || 01/11/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria


Il-76MD of #Ukraine Air Force with 76413 serial number transported corpses of the #Ukrainian Nationals who had been killed in accident of Flight #PS752
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]
Posted by: Fred || 01/11/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [6 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran

#1  must've been a little white-knuckled flying into/out of Iran....
Posted by: Frank G || 01/11/2020 6:33 Comments || Top||


Several Hashd al-Sha’abi forces killed in Israeli raids on #Syria
[PUBLISH.TWITTER] Israel has launched several Arclight airstrike
...KABOOM!...
s on eastern Syria near the Iraqi border, killing at least eight fighters of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), a key player in the fight against ISIS and other Takfiri
...an adherent of takfir wal hijra, an offshoot of Salafism that regards everybody who doesn't agree with them as apostates who must be killed...
groups in the region.

The air raids struck trucks and weapons depots in Albu Kamal in eastern Syria early Friday, according to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).

The group said "unidentified aircraft" targeted the area, but Leb's al-Mayadeen news outlet said Israel was responsible for the strikes.

SOHR chief Rami Abdurrahman said the airstrikes killed at least eight forces of the PMU, better known by their Arabic name Hashd al-Sha’abi, and maimed several others.

Posted by: Fred || 01/11/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [10 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran Proxies


Trump administration imposes new sanctions on ##Iran
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]
How nice that Iran noticed the details:
The sanctions were initially promised by Trump on Wednesday after Iran launched more than a dozen missiles on two airbases in Iraq housing US troops.

The new sanctions targeted the Iranian construction, manufacturing, textiles, mining, aluminum, copper, iron and steel industries, Mnuchin said.
Note: Flying Carpet Industries still untouched...
Washington also imposed bans on eight senior Iranian officials, saying they were involved in the missile strike on the bases housing American troops.
Posted by: Fred || 01/11/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [10 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran



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Two weeks of WOT
Sat 2020-01-11
  Iran fesses up, admits they shot down airliner
Fri 2020-01-10
  Iran invites American investigators to take part in the probe into PS752 plane incident that killed 176 people on board
Thu 2020-01-09
  U.S. Officials Confirm Iran Shot Down Ukrainian Airliner
Wed 2020-01-08
  Iran informs the United Nations and #UNSC that they ''do not seek war and warn of any military adventures"
Tue 2020-01-07
  Iraq Under Missile Attack From Iran
Mon 2020-01-06
  3 Americans Dead, 6 Aircraft Destroyed Or Damaged, Including A Rare Spy Plane, In #Kenya Attack
Sun 2020-01-05
  Iran Puts $80M Bounty on Trump's Head for Soleimani Hit
Sat 2020-01-04
  6 More Iran-Backed Leaders Zapped, incl. Shibl al-Zaidi, commander of Kataib Imam Ali
Fri 2020-01-03
  Lebanon Hizbullah: "It's war!"
Thu 2020-01-02
  Qassim Soleimani, head of Iran's elite Quds force, zapped in Iraq
Wed 2020-01-01
  Hashid Al Shaabi #PMF leader Abo Alaa Al Walae threatens to attack Embassies of #Saudi, #UAE, #Bahrain and others in #Baghdad.
Tue 2019-12-31
  Crowd storms US Embassy compound in Baghdad
Mon 2019-12-30
  Qais al-Khazali was a close associate of Qassem Suleimani - killed by USAF.
Sun 2019-12-29
  Iraq launches new military operation against ISIS 4 provinces
Sat 2019-12-28
  US civilian contractor killed and several US and Iraqi personnel wounded in Kirkuk rocket attack


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