German troops stationed in Afghanistan will not take part in a US led offensive against the Taliban in their southern heartland for now, Germany's defence minister said on Thursday. Speaking on ARD television, Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung said that German forces, currently concentrated in the north of the country, would remain focused on their redevelopment activities there. "The German government will be involved in this operation," Jung said. "We have taken over responsibility for five redevelopment teams in the north."
"Unfortunately we have found that terror attacks are still taking place there and therefore it is necessary to prepare our soldiers for these extraordinary situations." Jung noted that German troops are currently only involved in redevelopment and stabilisation, rather than the fight against terrorism.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/16/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
What bullshit!
Posted by: Captain America ||
06/16/2006 0:36 Comments ||
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#2
I think Patton said "The Hun is either at your feet or at your throat." Looks like they've assumed the supine position.
#3
Is this true? If not, then let's hear it from some reliable source.
If so, then just go the fuck home. It is farce for component forces to expect to pick and choose what missions or responsibilities they will accept. Your decision renders your force unreliable and deleterious.
We recognize it's a leadership problem, the individual soldiers aren't cowards, but military forces must act cooperatively, not as individuals. Thanks to your gutless leadership, you're less than worthless.
Be gone. Stay gone.
Where and when the rubber meets the road, you'd never know Shroeder's gone.
#4
having a german force deployed abroad in a country where a war is happening is enough of a stretch. I wouldnt expect them to go beyond their reconstruction and peacekeeping in the north for the offensives in the south, not at this point. Im glad theyre there, in the north, freeing Brits and Canadians for the fighting.
#5
Apparently they have also been of substantial assistance in intelligence activities that don't garner the headlines.
A third of the Germans are from the East and were raised to assume everyone is a spy and the enemy is the Americans. The place is a mess. The worst thing BushI ever did was to allow reunification.
#6
Pardon me gentleman, but having the Germans as wuzzes after a couple hundred years of militarism and the high points of the 20th Century [WWI and WWII] is not a bad idea. But, that just may be me.
#7
The problem is not that they are wuzzes. The problem is that they free ride off of our defense investment while at the same time adopting offensively consdescending attitudes towards us. TV and news magazines that are owned in part by the German government spew vile anti-American hatred -- along with distored reporting of events.
#8
This is different from the American media? How?
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
06/16/2006 15:57 Comments ||
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#9
The German press are much worse than the Americans in terms of assumptions and willingness to believe blatant lies. They make no pretense to being balanced or fair -- every news outlet has a known position and sticks to it regardless of reality, like the French outlets. And they are dreadfully self-rightious about the whole thing -- I don't even want to think how many times when we lived over there, friends would say the most absurdly obnoxious things about Americans, then follow up with, "Oh, but not you, trailing wife! One would never even guess you were American!" (Which was true -- apparently on first impression I appeared local, wherever I was people assumed I was from the next village or two over.) And yet Germans nontheless believe everything they read in print or see on the television news, much like Americans believed Walter Cronkite a generation ago.
(KUNA) -- The UK is to send 130 extra troops to Afghanistan to help protect Kandahar airfield, Britains Defence Secretary Des Browne announced Thursday. Browne told the House of Commons that 34 Squadron of the Royal Air Force Regiment will leave the UK for the deployment "within the next weeks", describing the airfield as being of "central importance to the success of the wider NATO mission in Afghanistan." The airfield and its environs are already guarded by Afghan, Canadian, Romanian and US forces.
"Kandahar airfield plays an essential role in the British and Allied military commitment to the rebuilding of Afghanistan, a role that is likely to increase as the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force expands into the south of the country," he told MPs. The UK has used Kandahar as a base for its Harrier GR7 jets since September 2004 and much of the deployed helicopter fleet is now based there. "It is only right that the UK shares some of the burden in protecting this joint facility," Browne added.
'It is only right that the UK shares some of the burden ...' Those are the kinds of words you just know a Brit is going to say in the end ...
Posted by: Fred ||
06/16/2006 00:00 ||
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CAIRO - Egypts opposition Muslim Brotherhood movement on Thursday criticized Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas for his decision to hold a referendum on a proposal, which calls for recognition of Israel. The effort to circumvent legitimate routes by imposing a document presented by certain detainees, and to consider it the sole document that everyone must respect, will only serve the zionist enemy, the groups supreme guide Mohammed Mehdi Akef said in a statement.
And ya just can't have any serving of the Zionist enemy, not on no account.
Threatening to hold a referendum under the shadow of the (Western aid) sanctions, and the constant zionist aggression and security problems, will only deepen the fractures and fuel the fire between the different Palestinian factions, Akef said. We therefore call for wisdom and continued dialogue without the imposition of prior points of view, he added.
And death to the Jooooz, of course ...
Akef said the document abandoned certain principles relating to the Palestinian cause. He also called for a just distribution of reponsibilities among the (Palestinian) presidency and the government.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/16/2006 00:00 ||
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The idea that even a few Palestinians might vote to recognize the zionsts must have their heads ready to explode. Of course, it's easy for them to carry on with their fantasy of perpetual war that will one day triumph over Israel, they're safe in Egypt and don't have to live with the (direct) consequences. So they can urge the Palestinians to terrorism to their heart's contentment and then act all outraged when the IDF raids them and as the Palestinians grow more and more immiserated.
CAIRO - Egyptian authorities have refused to allow detained activist Mohammed Al Sharqawy to receive treatment for injuries he incurred during a beating by the police, his lawyer said Thursday. His life is in real danger, said lawyer Gamal Eid of his client, who has alleged that Egyptian police sodomized him with a foreign object following his arrest last month.
"Oooowwwww, that hurts! I need a doctor!"
"Where's it hurt again?"
"Right here!"
[thump] [thump] [thump] [thump] [thump]
"...oooooooowwwwwwww ..."
Al Sharqawy has been subject to violent torture and abuse at the hands of police officers at the Qasr Al Nil police station that caused him several injuries in different parts of the body, the statement said.
It added that despite the injuries, the interior ministry continues to deny him the necessary medical care, including his urgent need for treatment on his left arm. Today we have submitted a communiquÚ to the public prosecutor demanding it to oblige the interior (ministry) to provide Al Sharqawy with the required medical care, it said.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/16/2006 00:00 ||
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The High Court (HC) yesterday granted government application seeking preparation of the 'paper book' on a priority basis for hearing of the death reference in the verdict on Jhalakathi judges killing case.
Important safety tip for would-be terrorists: If you're gonna kill somebody, don't kill a judge. They take it personally.
A Jhalakathi court awarded death penalty to seven militant leaders including Abdur Rahman and Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai. A division bench of the HC granted the application as the Attorney General's (AG) office moved it since the government wants quick disposal of cases, especially death references concerning militants. Explaining the urgency of preparing the paper book in its application, the government said, "For the national security, national interest, peace, tranquillity and smooth running of all the organs of the state including the judiciary, preparation of the paper book is very important.'
"Smooth running of the state" is a relative term in Bangla, of course...
Following the HC order, Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Md Helal Uddin Mollah, who moved the application, told newsmen, " I hope if everything goes smoothly, we will be able to prepare the paper book and submit it before the court for hearing within a month." The whole nation and the world want quick disposal of this case. So, it cannot be compared with other murder cases like the ones for land disputes etc, he stressed. The DAG said preparation of paper books for hearing of death references of different cases of 2003 now going on. If the paper book for the Jhalakathi case is prepared as in other common cases, then it will come up for HC hearing in 2009.
Wouldn't that seem to imply there's something wrong with the Bangla judicial system?
Over 500 cases are now awaiting paper book preparation and death reference hearing, he mentioned. So it will take several years for hearing of death reference of Jhalakathi case, he said. The Jhalakathi Speedy Trial Tribunal on May 29 sentenced to death Abdur Rahman, Bangla Bhai, Ataur Rahman Sunny, Abdul Awal, Khaled Saifullah, Asadur Rahman Arif and Iftekhar Hasan Al Mamun for killing two judges -- Sohel Ahmed and Jagannath Pande.
Sounds like the Speedy Trial Tribunal's supposed to be followed by the Speedy Execution Team.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/16/2006 00:00 ||
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A high-ranking government official said Friday North Korea appears to be testing a missile platform ahead of the rumored test-launch of a long-range ballistic missile. The platform test is to ensure that the equipment holding the missile in place will fall away during the launch.
Certain parts of what U.S. intelligence says could be a Taepodong-2 missile have already been installed on the platform, Japans Kyodo news agency said quoting sources in Washington. A U.S. source said the situation had become deeply troubling in the last 48 hours and expressed concern that the launch preparations have entered the final stage. A launch is possible within a few days, Kyodo quoted the source as claiming.
Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun said U.S. and Japanese spy satellites confirmed that the assembly of what looks to be a Taepodong-2 missile is complete, and a military unit appears to be continually active in the area. But the high-level government insider in Seoul said it was still too early to say that a launch is imminent with only the signs that we have seen."
Posted by: Steve ||
06/16/2006 09:35 ||
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Heh, we need a samurai graphic. Japan Enacts Bill on Sanctioning N.Korea
Japan's parliament enacted a bill Friday that would impose sanctions on North Korea if it fails to cooperate in clearing up details of its past abductions of Japanese citizens.
The upper house approved the bill, after it passed the more powerful lower house on Tuesday.
The legislation would authorize the government to ban the docking of North Korean ships at Japanese ports and stop the private transfer of much-needed hard cash from Japan to the reclusive communist country.
The legislation is part of Japan's mounting efforts to pressure North Korea into conclusively solving a series of abductions in the 1970s and 80s that have long fanned tensions between Tokyo and Pyongyang.
North Korea in 2002 admitted to kidnapping 13 Japanese citizens and allowed five to return, saying the other eight were dead. Japan has continued to demand proof of the deaths, and suspects other citizens have also been abducted by the North.
Japan two years ago approved a similar measure, and the latest measure is aimed at strengthening that policy, according to ruling Liberal Democratic Party officials.
Tokyo has discussed possible sanctions against North Korea for several years while sporadic talks to solve the problem, most recently in February, have made no noticeable progress.
Pyongyang has said in the past that the imposition of sanctions would be considered a 'declaration of war.'
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Thursday that Japan will 'strenuously negotiate' with North Korea over the abductions as well as nuclear weapons and missile issues.
Japan has recently stepped up its pressure on Pyongyang. In April, Tokyo issued arrest warrants for two former North Korean agents suspected in the 1980 disappearance of Japanese citizen Tadaaki Hara.
Hara was among the 13 Japanese kidnapped by the North in the 1970s and 80s. Pyongyang claims eight of the victims later died, including Hara.
The mother of abductee Megumi Yokota - who Pyongyang says is also among those who died - visited Washington in April and urged American officials, including President Bush, to put greater pressure on North Korea over the kidnappings. Bluff called.
Posted by: Captain America ||
06/16/2006 11:12 Comments ||
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This is a huge deal for the NorKors. Imagine if the US did the same thing to Mexico - $20 billion out of their economy in one fell swoop. It is even worse for the NorKors, Japan is one of the few places that allow remittances to be sent back home. And the NorKors don't have oil revenue to fallback on.
Is that because they're tracking only European and Middle Eastern countries, or because there aren't enough US connections to be statistically significant?
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
06/16/2006 21:33 Comments ||
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Cairo, 16 June (AKI) - Abu Omar, an Egyptian cleric reportedly kidnapped by CIA agents in Milan in February 2003, wants to return to Italy and sue former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi for Italy's involvement in the plot, his attorney says. "Abu Omar wants to return to Italy, he considers himself an Italian," Montasser Al Zayat told Turin-daily La Stampa in an interview published on Friday. The attorney said his clients wants to sue Berlsconi "who is co-responsible for his kidnapping, to get compensation."
Al Zayat added that Abu Omar "knows that he will have to stand trial in Milan but he says he is sure that judges will listen to him and acquit him because he believes he is innocent." The imam is currently in the Tora jail, in Cairo.
Italy's intelligence services have been accused of helping US agents with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) kidnap the cleric. Milan magistrates have opened an inquiry into the case and Italian agent Luciano Pironi, a member of the anti-terror squad of the Carabinieri military police, is currently under investigation in Milan for allegedly helping CIA agents abduct Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr, also known as Abu Omar. Berlusconi, a close ally of US President George W. Bush, is accused of helping the US kidnap the man, considered by Washington a key al-Qaeda strategist in Europe.
The Milan judges in charge of the case have also ordered the arrest of 13 CIA agents believed to be responsible for the abduction of the imam. His capture is part of a controversial practice of "extraordinary rendition" stepped up after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Terror suspects are picked up irrespective of national laws and sent to third countries in what rights groups denounce as 'outsourcing torture'. Serving the arrest warrants may prove near impossible and the prospect of extraditing CIA agents to Italy seems even more remote.
The Italian official is the only person under investigation risking to be tried and convicted on abduction charges. The government of Berlusconi has always claimed it was not involved in the abduction.
After being kidnapped, the imam reappeared in April 2004, when he called his wife - whose phone line was tapped - to tell her he was still alive. He also told an Egyptian imam in Milan, Mohammed Ridha, that after his kidnapping he had been driven to an American airbase, questioned and beaten, and the following day flown to Egypt where was handed over to the interior ministry.
Omar was later unexpectedly released, on the condition that he told no-one what had happened. However after the phone calls to his wife and Ridha, which were reported in the Italian newspapers, he was arrested and is now jailed in Egypt.
Sniff, sniff, story smells like ripe fish to me
Posted by: Steve ||
06/16/2006 08:23 ||
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Ah yes, the Zark school of media manipulation and false accusations (with a little fabricated "evidence" if it can be manufactured).
H RES 861 YEA-AND-NAY 16-Jun-2006 11:17 AM
QUESTION: On Agreeing to the Resolution
BILL TITLE: Declaring that the United States will prevail in the Global War on Terror, the struggle to protect freedom from the terrorist adversary
Karachi, 16 June (AKI) - By Syed Saleem Shahzad - The first post mortem on Hasan Gichki said he died of a brain haemorrhage, the second from wounds to the head and spinal cord, while the prison authorities said he died of drink. The mysterious death of Gichki, 45 an engineer married to a woman from an influential Baluchistan tribal family, took place in January 2006 in a Pakistani jail. It stirred sentiments in the restive energy-rich province - especially in the coastal belt of Makran and Gwadar, where the Pakistani government has major plans linked to oil and gas pipeline developments. Adnkronos International (AKI) has been re-tracing the conflicting accounts and evidence of how and why he died.
Gichki, former managing director of Lasbel Industrial Development Authority, left his home in March 2005, and never came back. His relatives were informed that he had been arrested by the anti narcotics force.
Some political analysts say the killing was the first blatant move by the Pakistani state to subjugate the political renegades in Baluchistan and eliminate political opponents who happen to be the chieftains of varous powerful tribes.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Steve ||
06/16/2006 14:39 ||
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Pakistan has refused US demands to talk to Abdul Qadeer Khan, whose black market network sold nuclear technology to Iran and North Korea
The security ring surrounding Abdul Qadeer Khans sprawling mansion at the foot of Margalla hills in Islamabad has visibly tightened in recent weeks.
Uniformed soldiers with machine guns block all access to the property and scrutinise every passing vehicle.
ISLAMABAD - The United States will not scale back its aid commitment to Islamabad, the US ambassador said on Thursday, following media reports that Congress had proposed cuts over Pakistans democracy and rights record.
US ambassador Ryan Crocker said there would be no cut to the full amount promised in 2003 -- $3 billion over five years up to 2009. We are a democracy, unlike you guys, Congress has its views, but I would like to make very clear that this administration is totally committed to providing the full amount, Crocker said following a signing ceremony for an agreement on $200 million in budgetary support.
So we won't cut your aid ... this year.
Some US officials and most informed American citizens say Pakistan is not doing enough to stop Taleban insurgents from using areas on the Pakistan side of the Afghan border to launch attacks on US and other troops in Afghanistan.
Half of the $3 billion promised in 2003 was economic assistance and half was military aid.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/16/2006 00:00 ||
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ISLAMABAD: A provisional autopsy report received by the Foreign Office late on Wednesday night states that Amir Cheema died of strangulation in his jail cell in Germany, Daily Times has learnt. Foreign Office officials presented the autopsy report at a meeting of the Senate's Functional Committee on Human Rights, presided over by Senator SM Zafar, on Thursday.
Cheema was arrested on March 20 on charges of attempting to attack the editor of a German newspaper which published cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad (may his drip clear up peace be upon him). He was found dead in his jail cell on May 3.
A source privy to the meeting told Daily Times that the report mentioned the cause of death as strangulation, but it also said there were no injury marks around his neck and Amir's hands were tied with laces. The sources said the report did not make clear whether it was suicide or not.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/16/2006 00:00 ||
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The first handover of security responsibilities to Iraqi forces is set to go ahead next week, the first concrete step towards the withdrawal of coalition troops. But any move would not mean British troops immediately leaving the relatively-peaceful al-Muthanna province in the south of the country, the Ministry of Defence indicated.
The MoD would not confirm reports that a date had been set for a transfer of the area, insisting it was a decision for the new Iraqi government. However, Defence Secretary Des Browne indicated last month that the conditions for such a move were "close to being met" and that it was imminent.
Al-Muthanna is presently controlled by a coalition force from the UK, Australia and Japan, with around 150 British service personnel stationed there.
A report in Japan on Friday said British officials had told their counterparts that Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki would announce the transfer on Tuesday. It would be followed by an immediate announcement on coalition forces, it suggested. Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Salam Zikam Ali al-Zubaie confirmed only that there was an agreement to take over security responsibility this month.
Mr Browne said in May that "on current trends I would expect (al-Muthanna) to be ready to be handed over to provincial Iraqi control in the near future.
"The final decision on timing will, of course, be for the new Iraqi government, in close collaboration with the coalition." He warned it would not mean an immediate return of British troops. "But as the process of handover continues across other provinces, this will enable us progressively to draw down British troops," he added.
A senior British official has said that two provinces in the British-controlled southern region could be handed over this summer. As well as al-Muthanna, Maysan province was "not far away" from being ready, he suggested.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/16/2006 12:38 ||
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June 16, 2006: Al Qaeda in Iraq has been virtually wiped out by the loss of an address book. The death of al Qaeda leader Abu Musab al Zarqawi was not as important as the capture of his address book and other planning documents in the wake of the June 7th bombing. U.S. troops are trained to quickly search for names and addresses when they stage a raid, pass that data on to a special intelligence cell, which then quickly sorts out which of the addresses should be raided immediately, before the enemy there can be warned that their identity has been compromised. More information is obtained in those raids, and that generates more raids. So far, the June 7th strike has led to over 500 more raids. There have been so many raids, that there are not enough U.S. troops to handle it, and over 30 percent of the raids have been carried by Iraqi troops or police, with no U.S. involvement. Nearly a thousand terrorist suspects have been killed or captured. The amount of information captured has overwhelmed intelligence organizations in Iraq, and more translators and analysts are assisting, via satellite link, from the United States and other locations.
Perhaps the most valuable finds have been al Qaeda planning documents confirming what has been suspected of terrorist strategy. Also valuable have been the al Qaeda assessment of their situation in Iraq. The terrorist strategy is one of desperation. While the effort continues, to attempt to trigger a civil war between Sunni and Shia in Iraq, this is seen as a losing proposition. The new strategy attempts to trigger a war between the United States and Iran. This would weaken the United States, and put the hurt on Iran, an arch-enemy of al Qaeda. Other documents stressed the need to manipulate Moslem and Western media. This was to be done by starting rumors of American atrocities, and feeding the media plausible supporting material. Al Qaeda's attitude was that if they could not win in reality, they could at least win imaginary battles via the media.
Zarqawi considered al Qaeda's situation in Iraq as "bleak." The most worrisome development was the growing number of trained Iraqi soldiers and police. These were able to easily spot the foreigners who made up so much of al Qaeda's strength. Moreover, more police and soldiers in an area meant some local civilians would feel safe enough to report al Qaeda activity. The result of all this is that there are far fewer foreign Arabs in Iraq fighting for al Qaeda. The terrorist organization has basically been taken over anti-government Sunni Arabs. That made the capture of Zarqawi even more valuable, as his address book contained a who's who of the anti-government Sunni Arab forces. This group has been hurt badly by last week's raids.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Steve ||
06/16/2006 08:35 ||
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Al Qaeda's attitude was that if they could not win in reality, they could at least win imaginary battles via the media
ah yes, keep winning those imaginary battles while we keep winning the real ones.
#3
Other documents stressed the need to manipulate Moslem and Western media. This was to be done by starting rumors of American atrocities, and feeding the media plausible supporting material.
Huh.
Posted by: Rob Crawford ||
06/16/2006 9:49 Comments ||
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There's a strangeness about the translation of the strategy docs. I can't see why they were released. Don't know what it is, but something isn't dissolving.
#5
I think the whole tactic of using the US media to gin up anti-war support back in the States is the key, 6. THAT'S the ONLY way that AQ would "win" in Iraq, and they know it. Even binny boy's gotta wonder if the Vietnam comparisons are just nonsense any more.
Posted by: BA ||
06/16/2006 10:45 Comments ||
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#6
Pretty much tells the world what those of us inside and here onthe right have been saying all along:
The terrorists are taking advantage of the press's anti-Bush tilt to win the war via propaganda, because they cannot win ti militarily nor philosophically.
If we had a press that was muetral, that was as skeptical about terrorist claims as it was about our own, we'd not have the issues we have now - and AlQ and other terrs would not have nearly the impact they do.
For example, note that they ate the terroists propaganda hook line and sinker on the "slaughters of innocnets", wheter real of fake, yet not one article was int he mainstream about a recent Navy Cross winner and his heroism in battle, and look at al the skepticism in the commentray and reportign of Bush's trip to Baghdad - "PR Stunt", etc.
Where's that skepticism when it comes to questionable PR stunts by AlQaueda and terrorists?
Our press, in their failure to report in a fair balanced and skeptical manner on ALL things from ALL sides has essentially become an ally of terroism, and their main weapon in the war onthe west.
#9
AQ and the media ally themselves like Stalin and Roosevelt. Not that either likes the other, but they both seek to destroy a common enemy, in this case the US as it currently exists.
Three thousand Jordanians demonstrated yesterday against four Islamist lawmakers who last week extended condolences to the family of the slain Al-Qaeda leader in Iraq Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi. Demonstrators chanted slogans and carried placards dubbing the MPs as terrorists and calling for their expulsion from the House of Representatives.
The demonstration took off from the Parliaments premises and ended in front of the Radisson SAS, one of three hotels which were targeted by the Nov. 9 suicide bombings that killed 60 civilians and wounded more than 90 others. The blasts were claimed by Zarqawis group, the Jihad and Tawhid Brigades.
The four deputies, who belong to the Islamic Action Front (IAF), visited a tent that was set up last week in Zarqawis home city of Zarqa, 30 kilometers east of Amman, to receive condolences upon the passing away of the Al-Qaeda leader who was killed in a US airstrike in Iraq. One of the lawmakers, Mohammad Abu Fares, went further to describe Zarqawi in a Friday sermon as a martyr. The four MPs have been charged with incitement to terrorism for their visit. On Monday the military prosecutor ordered that the MPs -Abu Fares, Jaafar Horani, Ibrahim Mashukhi and Ali Abu Sukkar be held in custody for 15 days.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/16/2006 00:00 ||
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MPs -Abu Fares, Jaafar Horani, Ibrahim Mashukhi and Ali Abu Sukkar be held in custody for 15 days.
Can I hope that no one would hear of them ever again when they are released?
Hamas has said that international efforts to reinforce rival security forces loyal to the Palestinian president will worsen an already violent power struggle. Ehud Olmert, the Israeli prime minister, has approved the first shipment of weapons to Mahmoud Abbas, saying this week he wanted to help the president against the Hamas government. Israel's mass circulation Yedioth Ahronoth daily on Thursday reported that the Jewish state had transferred 950 M-16 rifles from Jordan to Abbas's forces.
Senior Hamas legislator Mushir al-Masri said Hamas was demanding an explanation from Abbas. "Any Israel intervention in our internal affairs is rejected because the Israelis aim to sow divisions among the Palestinian people," he said.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/16/2006 00:00 ||
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Atta smartie, that Mushir al-Masri!
But the division is already there, it does not need to be introduced by Israel.
Or did he hope that Hamas would get an arms donation from Israel rather than Abbas?
#4
Has anyone invited Olmert to our popcorn/veggie tray party? I mean everyone's yelling about a definite Civil War(tm) in Iraq, and yet, it really looks like one's brewing in Palestine (of their own making, of course).
Posted by: BA ||
06/16/2006 10:33 Comments ||
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#5
I suspect he's got a party of his own, BA. It would be quite a coup, though, if he dropped by here sometime.
#6
I'd rather party with the (old) Sharon. It was his vision that allowed the Paleo-popcorn duels. What a damn shame he's alive but not able to see how right he was - build the wall, seal them off.
The "bulldozer" would be fun
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/16/2006 22:47 Comments ||
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#7
Frank...the combination of a flaterpillar and veggies trays all in one rant? Say it ain't so! And, I'm with ya on the "old" Sharon bit. Maybe even Netanyahu too??? And, tw, I guess you're right...means more veggies & dip for us, though, SCORE!
Posted by: BA ||
06/16/2006 23:23 Comments ||
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Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi here Thursday dismissed the Fox news report on Iran's assistance to the US in Iraq as baseless and a 'media ploy'. According to a report released by the Foreign Ministry Media Department, he said that Iran has not helped US secretly over Iraq and that Tehran's approach in this respect is quite clear and transparent.
"Iran believes that Iraqi people and government should decide about the future without the interference of other countries," concluded Asefi.
The supreme leader of Iran yesterday gave the sternest rejection to date of the international package of incentives designed to coax Teheran into abandoning its nuclear ambitions. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said: "The Islamic Republic of Iran will not bend to these pressures."
He was referring to the diplomatic "carrots and sticks" agreed earlier this month by America, Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia.
Posted by: Captain America ||
06/16/2006 00:00 ||
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#2
Iran warning to use "nuclear defense" against any US or Israeli attack doesn't bode well either. Are domestic energy nuclearized power plants = "nuclear defense"??? Must be planning to blow their "plants" up.
#6
Sticks and stones
may breaker my bones
but whips and chains
excite me.
Posted by: Khamenei VI ||
06/16/2006 9:57 Comments ||
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#7
I'm fairly sure that carrots didn't exist in the Profit's time (PTUI), so obviously they are unIslamic. That leaves us with sticks, which Mo wielded personally. Therefore, it's sticks only for the Twelfth Imam...and Allan knows best!
The UN Security Council yesterday agreed a one-year extension of the UN probe into the murder of former Lebanese Premier Rafik Hariri and widened its mandate to cover other attacks in Lebanon. The 15-member council unanimously adopted a resolution sponsored by France, the United States and Britain that extends the mandate of the UN panel headed by Belgian prosecutor Serge Brammertz until June 15, 2007.
Why am I developing the suspicion that Brammertz is about to be replaced by Carla del Ponte?
She still looking for work?
The one-year extension, which had been requested by the Lebanese government, was approved just as the Brammertz panels six-month mandate expired. The council resolution also backed the UN enquiry commissions intention, as it deems appropriate and consistent with its mandate, to extend further its technical assistance to the Lebanese authorities with regard to 14 other attacks in Lebanon since Oct. 1, 2004, including against anti-Syrian figures. On Wednesday, Brammertz cited potential linkages between the Hariri murder probe and the 14 other attacks.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/16/2006 00:00 ||
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TEHRAN: Defence ministers from close allies Iran and Syria on Thursday signed an agreement for military cooperation against what they called the "common threats" presented by Israel and the United States. In a joint press conference, Iranian Defence Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar and visiting Syrian counterpart Hassan Turkmani said their talks had been aimed at consolidating their defence efforts and strengthening support for one another. "Our cooperation is based on a strategic pact and unity against common threats," Turkmani said. "Our cooperation with the Iranians against Israeli threats is nothing secret and we consult about this with our friends," he said.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/16/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
A Twofer
Posted by: Captain America ||
06/16/2006 0:42 Comments ||
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#3
This may be what we need to take out Iran. Start a little border skermish in Syria and let it grow until Iran makes a move and BLAMO !
One can only hope.
#4
My guess is this is about the use and support of Hezbollah and an effort to make it more about Islam and less about Persian Shias in the minds of the regional undereducated folk.
#5
I think it's more about making this all about Israel and less about islam or persians.
The big attack to rid the islamist failed "states" throughout the world of their only impedance to a rich and successful, eating milk and honey existence that is their Human Right, is drawing nigh. These are the alliances - and identified targets.
The subject was whether to modify helmets for soldiers in
Iraq, but all eyes were on Cher. As photographers clicked away, the singer and actress entered a Capitol Hill hearing room through a back door 20 minutes after the session was scheduled to start. The hearing soon got under way.
Cher has donated more than $130,000 to the group Operation Helmet, which pays about $100 to modify the inside of soldiers' helmets to make them better able to absorb shock from a bomb blast.
Cher, wearing a white lace top under a black pant suit, looked solemn as she sat behind the group's founder, Dr. Bob Meaders, while he testified. Meaders said she didn't want to cause a distraction by testifying herself.
Rep. Curt Weldon, R-Pa., chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces, noted that Cher's ex-husband, the late Rep. Sonny Bono, had served on the subcommittee. He called it a "special irony and really great tribute" to have her there.
The Army now equips its soldiers with padded helmets designed to be shock absorbent. The Marine Corps has commissioned a study to determine whether to change its helmets but has said the ones Marines use now are effective.
#2
We do greatly appreciate her concern for our troops. She's still a lightweight, though.
We WILL take her money, however.........
Posted by: Mullah Richard ||
06/16/2006 10:17 Comments ||
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#3
Meaders said she didn't want to cause a distraction by testifying herself
But she did arrive 20 minutes late and held up the hearing until her grand entrance with full circus. "Distraction" caused by testifying would've had less impact than the Hollywood display. It's not about helmuts, is it Cher? This is your Hollywood charity gig. It's about you. Just like the other "Celebs With A Cause". It's sooo trendy to have a "cause" - you don't even have to know what it's about. Just throw money over the heads of the paparazzi.
#5
This is a worthy cause and Cher is way out ahead of the general Hollyweird crowd.
Posted by: Captain America ||
06/16/2006 11:14 Comments ||
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#6
She put her money where her mouth is. If it helps a worthy cause and she gets some decent pub out of it, that's a fair tradeoff. To tell you the truth, I never heard of the program until this story.
#8
She is standing out in the Hollyweird community as a supporter of the troops, not very popular with her peers. I don't care what she wears or puts her dollars toward, she is openly supporting us and committed to it. Hat Tip to her.
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
06/16/2006 11:38 Comments ||
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#9
She's Armenian. She knows what the real deal is.
#13
She took a serious career hit in the late '60's because she and Sonny were vocally anti-drug. Though I can't always speak for the results, she clearly thinks for herself.
#15
TW2412 stands corrected on the Cher participation. Knee jerk reaction to an overload of the Brittany's on recent news. (her antics are news) and a good look at those who do embrace the "cause of the month club."
Apologies to Cher. It is indeed true that Cher does what she believes and bedamned those who would chide. guilty. Cher gets a big pass because she is genuine (but with a heck of an entourage) and does specifiy how she can help.
I was wrong. Just too much stars-on-their-navelgazing on the "news" as late. Scusi.
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.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
German troops stationed in Afghanistan will not take part in a US led offensive against the Taliban in their southern heartland for now, Germany's defence minister said on Thursday. Speaking on ARD television, Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung said that German forces, currently concentrated in the north of the country, would remain focused on their redevelopment activities there. "The German government will be involved in this operation," Jung said. "We have taken over responsibility for five redevelopment teams in the north." 
(KUNA) -- The UK is to send 130 extra troops to Afghanistan to help protect Kandahar airfield, Britains Defence Secretary Des Browne announced Thursday. Browne told the House of Commons that 34 Squadron of the Royal Air Force Regiment will leave the UK for the deployment "within the next weeks", describing the airfield as being of "central importance to the success of the wider NATO mission in Afghanistan." The airfield and its environs are already guarded by Afghan, Canadian, Romanian and US forces.
The High Court (HC) yesterday granted government application seeking preparation of the 'paper book' on a priority basis for hearing of the death reference in the verdict on Jhalakathi judges killing case.
Japan Enacts Bill on Sanctioning N.Korea
Karachi, 16 June (AKI) - By Syed Saleem Shahzad - The first post mortem on Hasan Gichki said he died of a brain haemorrhage, the second from wounds to the head and spinal cord, while the prison authorities said he died of drink. The mysterious death of Gichki, 45 an engineer married to a woman from an influential Baluchistan tribal family, took place in January 2006 in a Pakistani jail. It stirred sentiments in the restive energy-rich province - especially in the coastal belt of Makran and Gwadar, where the Pakistani government has major plans linked to oil and gas pipeline developments. Adnkronos International (AKI) has been re-tracing the conflicting accounts and evidence of how and why he died. 
Pakistan has refused US demands to talk to Abdul Qadeer Khan, whose black market network sold nuclear technology to Iran and North Korea
ISLAMABAD - The United States will not scale back its aid commitment to Islamabad, the US ambassador said on Thursday, following media reports that Congress had proposed cuts over Pakistans democracy and rights record.
ISLAMABAD: A provisional autopsy report received by the Foreign Office late on Wednesday night states that Amir Cheema died of strangulation in his jail cell in Germany, Daily Times has learnt. Foreign Office officials presented the autopsy report at a meeting of the Senate's Functional Committee on Human Rights, presided over by Senator SM Zafar, on Thursday.
Three thousand Jordanians demonstrated yesterday against four Islamist lawmakers who last week extended condolences to the family of the slain Al-Qaeda leader in Iraq 
Hamas has said that international efforts to reinforce rival security forces loyal to the Palestinian president will worsen an already violent power struggle. Ehud Olmert, the Israeli prime minister, has approved the first shipment of weapons to Mahmoud Abbas, saying this week he wanted to help the president against the Hamas government. Israel's mass circulation Yedioth Ahronoth daily on Thursday reported that the Jewish state had transferred 950 M-16 rifles from Jordan to Abbas's forces.
The UN Security Council yesterday agreed a one-year extension of the UN probe into the murder of former Lebanese Premier Rafik Hariri and widened its mandate to cover other attacks in Lebanon. The 15-member council unanimously adopted a resolution sponsored by France, the United States and Britain that extends the mandate of the UN panel headed by Belgian prosecutor 
