James Taranto, "Best of the Web" @ Wall Street Journal
"Barack Obama says his presidency is an opportunity for the United States to spread a message of tolerance," the Los Angeles Times reports in "Obama's first newspaper interview since his Nov. 4 election":
"I think we've got a unique opportunity to reboot America's image around the world and also in the Muslim world in particular," Obama said Tuesday, promising an "unrelenting" desire to "create a relationship of mutual respect and partnership in countries and with peoples of goodwill who want their citizens and ours to prosper together."
The world, he said, "is ready for that message."
Sorry, what is that message again? He's promising an unrelenting desire to create a relationship with peoples of goodwill? What about peoples of badwill? What about peoples of goodwill who are ruled by corrupt and oppressive governments? Does Obama believe that peoples who need peoples are the luckiest peoples of all?
We suppose a certain amount of sheer fluff--or let's call it strategic indirection--can be useful in international diplomacy. Let us hope that Obama is not actually naive enough to mistake the platitudinous for the profound, and that he is merely using the former to keep America's adversaries guessing.
Even granting the president-elect the benefit of the doubt on that point, however, one thing about his remarks irritates us--to wit, his promise to "reboot America's image." How does that work, you just hit Ctrl-Alt-Delete and everything starts over? (Also, why is this a "unique opportunity" to do so? Perhaps because President Bush had a chance to save his work before shutting down?)
Over the past couple of decades, computer analogies have multiplied like an email virus. Whole books have been written about how to improve your life by "reprogramming" your mind, or how the way to get good government is by upgrading the bureaucracy's "operating system."
Computers are wonderful tools, of course, and there's no doubt that they contribute immensely to human knowledge and communication. But has an analogy between the workings of a computer and that of the human mind or society ever actually helped anyone to understand the latter? Are the Bible, the works of Shakespeare and America's founding documents impoverished in their understanding of mankind because their authors had no idea what a "processor" or an "operating system" was?
Posted by: Mike ||
12/11/2008 17:16 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[11127 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
This article is severely over-thought.
He'd say anything to get in the White House, now we'll see what he can really do. And I'd guess it wont be much.
#4
The world, he said, "is ready for that message."
DRAFT
Presidential message:
Between 13th and the 15th of February 1945, 773 Avro Lancasters bombed Dresden. Btwn 30K and 100K killed in firestorms. War with Nazi Germany ends less than 90 days later. Phuech with US, you get same.
(AKI) - Six police and a civilian were killed on Wednesday in a US-led raid on a police station in southern Afghanistan. Authorities said that US forces had mistakenly killed the victims after police fired on the Americans during an operation. A US military statement said the deaths early Wednesday resulted from a "tragic case of mistaken identity on both parts."
Thirteen others were reportedly wounded in the air raid which hit a police station in the troubled province of Zabul.
Deputy provincial police chief Ghulam Jailani Khan said the bomb had struck just before dawn and destroyed the police station.
The statement said the police fired on US forces after the troops battled and killed an armed militant close to a police station in Qalat, the capital of Zabul. Afghan and US officials were travelling from Kabul to the scene of the attack to conduct an investigation.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/11/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[11127 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
DO NOT shoot at our Soldiers, and they will not shoot at you.
#2
I detect heavy spin on the part of someone and I don't think it is our folks. We don't drop bombs for the heck of it and that's a pretty hefty body count for mistaken identity. I suspect that raid was no mistake at all.
#5
Or an automatic response to gunfire aimed in their general direction, tu3031. Like dogs growling in response to a perceived threat, gunfire seems in that culture to be an automatic expression of emotion rather than conscious response.
#6
Mistaken US Raid?
I sincerely doubt that. They were there to help their buddies. The fact that they were police might mean a lot in this country, but not Afghanistan.
(SomaliNet) Nearly three months after it was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden, Somali pirates have freed a Greek cargo ship with 19 crew members, mostly Filipinos, a Philippine official says.
The MV Captain Stephanos, a Greek-owned and Bahamas-flagged bulk carrier seized on September 21, was freed on Monday, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos said on Wednesday.
Captain Stephanos says the 19 crew members, including 17 Filipinos, one Chinese and one Ukrainian, are in good health and the ship was sailing to Italy before proceeding to Greece. He says 91 Filipino seamen on six other vessels remain in the hands of Somali pirates.
Lieutenant Nathan Christensen, a spokesperson for the US Navy's 5th Fleet in Bahrain, has confirmed the release of the Stephanos.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/11/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[11129 views]
Top|| File under: Pirates
BRUSSELS, Belgium: Police detained 14 suspected al-Qaida-linked extremists on Thursday in raids in Brussels and eastern Belgium, including one militant investigators claim might have been plotting a suicide attack.
The terror sweep came only hours before a European Union summit brought together the heads of 27 countries in Brussels, though the site of the purported attack was unclear. Nearly 250 police officers raided 16 locations in the capital and one in the eastern city of Liege overnight, confiscating computers, data storage equipment and a pistol.
"There was no other choice than to intervene today," federal prosecutor Johan Delmulle told reporters. He said one suspect had recorded what looked like a martyrdom video including a farewell message.
"It is clear that we have to take the terror threat seriously," Prime Minister Yves Leterme said as he entered the EU summit building.
Delmulle said it was unclear where the attack had been planned. The suspects had traveled to both Pakistan and Afghanistan, and it was possible the suicide bombing might have been drawn up there.
Thursday's raids were linked to a similar pre-Christmas sweep last year and Delmulle said the investigation showed at the time "a group of people were in Brussels with the task of committing an attack."
Investigators waited a year before moving in opting to ferret out the entire cell rather a single part.
"It is now clear to all that we were dealing with a real risk," the justice and interior ministers said in a statement. "It is more than likely that an attack in Brussels has been prevented."
At the time of last year's arrests, authorities tightened security, warning of a heightened threat of attacks despite the arrests. Police stepped up patrols at Brussels airport, subway stations and the downtown Christmas market, which traditionally draws large crowds of holiday shoppers.
Leterme told reporters that the investigation justified the extreme security measures that were taken over the past year.
A former Chechen separatist field commander has been killed in Istanbul, Turkish media reported on Thursday.
Islam Janibekov, 38, who had been living with his family in Istanbul for the last six years, was probably shot with a 7.62mm pistol with a silencer near his home on Tuesday evening, according to police.
The Turkish newspaper Sabah, citing police officials, said that the murder was carried out using a Groza, a silenced double-barreled pistol. Grozas are used by Russian special forces and the Turkish authorities have not ruled out Russian involvement in the shooting.
Russian special forces are believed to have carried out operations in other countries, including in Qatar in 2004, when two Russian intelligence agents were convicted for a car bombing that killed Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev, a Chechen rebel leader who had taken refuge there.
Istanbul police have not commented on the incident, saying only that they are carrying out a detailed investigation.
Turkish Dogan News Agency reported that in September another Chechen rebel, Gadji Edilsultanov, was killed in Istanbul during a dispute over financial aid for Chechen separatists that was being collected in Turkey. The agency said similar circumstances could have led to the murder of Janibekov.
This article starring:
Islam Janibekov
Posted by: ryuge ||
12/11/2008 05:56 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[11127 views]
Top|| File under: Chechen Republic of Ichkeria
#1
It's good to be the king, er, czar, when it comes to efficiently dealing with one's enemies.
#5
The MSP Groza is a small, soundless pistol, developed for the KGB and GRU (Main Intelligence Of The Russian General Staff ) in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This compact, non-automatic weapon is practically silent thanks to a specially designed cartridge. Its a double-barreled gun, using 7.62 x 38 caliber ammunition. The Groza remains in the arsenal of Russias special services.
Casting doubts on Pakistan's "crackdown" on activists of Jamaat-Ud-Dawa(JuD) - a political arm of Lashkar-e-Taiba, Ansar Burney, a former Pakistani minister, on Thursday asked why "arrested" terrorists have not been produced in court.
He said that the Pakistan Government had permitted Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed to use a bullet proof vehicle whereas his own security had been cut down.
Burney, a noted Pakistani human rights activitist, said though there was a ban on LeT, the same organisation with the same leaders was working under the name of Jamaat-ud-Dawa and the authorities were well aware of it.
Accusing the Pakistan Government of not sincerely acting against LeT and Jamaat-ud-Dawa, he said when there was a ban on LeT, then how was Jamaat-ud-Dawa allowed to be constituted?
"From where is Jamaat-ud-Dawa getting money," he asked wondering why the Pakistan Government did not pay any heed to the formation of Jamaat-ud-Dawa earlier?
Why have those who the Pakistan government claims to have arrested not been produced in a court of law? he asked.
He said there are training camps for terrorists in Pakistan and boys are being trained there.
Pakistan should find out who provided training to the ten terrorists involved in the recent Mumbai attacks, he said.
The arrested militants should be tried by the respective Governments and stringent action should be initiated against them, he said adding that seriousness on the part of both the countries is needed to tackle the scourge.
Regretting that there was "more of politics" and no solution to terrorism, he said India and Pakistan should sit together like brothers to find a solution to the problem.
Posted by: john frum ||
12/11/2008 16:17 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[11127 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
That guy won't be around for long, talking sense like that.
Nobody wants to say the obvious, ISI, especially not without a bulletproof car of their own.
Former Pakistan Human Rights Minister and activist Ansar Burney, who was instrumental in securing Indian prisoner Kashmir Singhs release, had a narrow escape after unidentified gunmen attacked his upscale Arambagh office in Karachi on Friday (Nov 7).
The attack came a week after government withdrew his security without offering any explanation
Posted by: john frum ||
12/11/2008 16:34 Comments ||
Top||
A U.N. Security Council panel has designated four men linked to the Mumbai attacks as terrorists subject to sanctions.
The four men are believed to hold leadership positions in the banned Pakistani militant group Lashkar-e-Tayyaba that is accused of orchestrating last month's attacks that left 171 dead in Mumbai.
The Security Council's al-Qaida and Taliban sanctions committee added them to its list of terrorists subject to the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo under a council resolution adopted this year. The U.S. Treasury Department last week designated the men as terrorists and ordered any U.S. assets frozen.
This article starring:
HAJI MUHAMAD ASHRAF
Lashkar-e-Taiba
MAHMUD MOHAMAD AHMED BAHAZIQ
Lashkar-e-Taiba
MUHAMAD SAID
Lashkar-e-Taiba
ZAKI UR REHMAN LAKHVI
Lashkar-e-Taiba
Posted by: Fred ||
12/11/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[11127 views]
Top|| File under: Lashkar e-Taiba
#1
Guess that means they'll only be able to freely travel, bank, plot terror, and enjoy life in Pakland?
Posted by: Frank G ||
12/11/2008 9:46 Comments ||
Top||
#2
Gee, 4 whole Pakis?
That's not even a drop in the bucket, and what about Gul?
As many as two people were killed while four others resorted to minor injuries, during the gun-battle between two tribes here on Wednesday. According to police sources, armed people belonging to Shar tribe opened fire on other tribesmen of Khoso killing two and injuring four. Exchange of firing between both the tribes lasted for two hours that started over a land dispute, sources added.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/11/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[11125 views]
Top|| File under:
Four blasts in a row, devastated 4 shops completely while other 10 also received minor damages in the Billi Tang area of Kohat here on Thursday, sources said. However no loss of life was reported. The shops were of Jewellery and cosmetics.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/11/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[11130 views]
Top|| File under: TTP
Aswat al-Iraq: One civilian was killed on Wednesday evening and two others were wounded when a roadside bomb went off in Jalawlaa, said the director of major crimes investigations office in the district. "The incident took place in Kansor neighborhood of Jalawlaa, 30 km southwest of Khanaqin," Ali Abdullah told Aswat al-Iraq. "The two injuries were admitted to hospital for treatment," he said. "Security forces were deployed in the area and cordoned it," he added.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/11/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[11128 views]
Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in Iraq
Aswat al-Iraq: One "terrorist" was killed and 18 suspects were detained during operations waged by Coalition force targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) leadership and bombing networks in central Iraq, according to a release issued by the Multi National Forces (MNF) in Iraq on Wednesday
"Coalition forces further disrupted terrorist command and control nodes Tuesday, detaining three suspects during an operation targeting an AQI leader in Bayji, about 160 km south of Mosul," said the release that was received by Aswat al-Iraq.
"About 15 km southwest of Baghdad Tuesday, forces captured two wanted men allegedly involved in improvised explosive devise facilitation in the Fallujah area. The two suspected terrorist are also believed to have connections to Anbar AQI leadership," it added.
"Early Wednesday, Coalition forces continued to degrade Baghdad AQI bomb networks during an operation targeting an IED facilitator just south of the city. Forces were led to a residence in Salman Pak after reports suggested it to be the location of the wanted man. After arriving at the residence, forces called for the building's occupants to surrender. A man from the building initially complied with Coalition forces' instructions, but then returned inside the house. When he returned outside, he attempted to engage the forces with an AK-47. Perceiving hostile intent, the force engaged the armed man, killing him. Forces later identified the dead terrorist as the wanted man. Seven additional suspects were detained without incident for further questioning," it explained.
"In Samarra, 110 km northwest of Baghdad, Coalition forces detained six suspected terrorists believed to be associated with a regional AQI leader. During the operation, forces found multiple rifles and a pipe bomb," it noted.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/11/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[11131 views]
Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in Iraq
Following days of speculation and conflicting reports, Lebanon-based Islamist group Fatah al-Islam has announced that its leader had been "captured or killed" by Syrian forces and named his successor, according to a U.S. intelligence monitoring service. So is this the second or third time he's been killed?
The group said Shaker al-Abssi and two other members of its group were ambushed in Syria while trying to link up with other Islamic militants from Iraq and Afghanistan, SITE Intelligence Group Monitoring Service reported. The three were either captured or killed in the ensuing gunfight with members of the Syrian security forces, said the statement. Did they bring the little woman around to identify the body? Again? Abu Mohamad Awad had been named to succeed Abssi at the head of Fatah al-Islam, said the group. They like me! They really like me!
SITE said the statement, the authenticity of which has still not been confirmed, was posted on an Islamic militant website on Monday.
Conflicting reports have been circulating in the Arab media for over a week concerning the wanted Abssi. Al-Liwaa daily reported earlier this month that he may have headed to Turkey to live with a Lebanese extremist known as Abu Bakr Aqida.The paper added that Abssi was last seen "last week in what is known as the Taware neighborhood of the Ain al-Helweh refugee camp in Sidon," Lebanon.
But An-Nahar newspaper said that another militant group, Osbat al-Ansar, had played a role alongside a leading Palestinian figure in hiding Abssi and his aides. It said Lebanese security forces have confirmed information that Abssi was still inside Ain al-Helweh, according to Lebanon's English newspaper The Daily Star.
Fatah al-Islam fought a fierce three-month battle with the Lebanese army last year in the northern Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared, which left some 400 people dead, including 168 soldiers. In November, Fatah al-Islam reportedly claimed responsibility for a bomb attack in Damascus that left 17 dead in September.
This article starring:
Abu Bakr Aqida
Abu Mohamad Awad
Shaker al-Abssi
Posted by: Fred ||
12/11/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[11127 views]
Top|| File under:
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.
(SomaliNet) Nearly three months after it was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden, Somali pirates have freed a Greek cargo ship with 19 crew members, mostly Filipinos, a Philippine official says. 
A former Chechen separatist field commander has been killed in Istanbul, Turkish media reported on Thursday.
Following days of speculation and conflicting reports, Lebanon-based Islamist group 
