A pro-Iranian Afghan leader distanced his group from Tehran as the war of words with Washington escalated. "Politically, Iran does not agree with the war of the Americans against al-Qaeda and the Taliban. We are on the side of the Americans in this fight and that shows we do not agree with Iran," said powerful Hazara leader Karim Khalili, head of the pro-Iranian Hizb-i-Wahdat party. Yep. There's the bread. There's the butter. Doesn't take much to see which side of the bread it's on, does it?
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
02/04/2002 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
The terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and its global and regional fallout have forced the All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) to rethink its Kashmir strategy. Its decision to seek people's mandate to prove its representative character indicates that the conglomerate has understood the limitations of the gun culture spawned by various militant formations. Last month, the Kashmiri separatist outfit had drawn a two-pronged strategy: of reaching out to foreign diplomats and Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee. This amounted to a major shift in Hurriyat's earlier stand ruling out talks with the Centre before an interaction with Pak-based jehadi groups. Hurriyat's decision to hold talks with foreign diplomats was primarily aimed at balancing the proposed meeting with Vajpayee. Cadres had to hurriedly leave for Srinagar in view of the large scale arrests back home. This kind of backing and filling indicates Hurriyat and the Kashmir crisis-mongers have been pushed onto the defensive. They probably don't have a lot of confidence in the gun bunnies achieving anything other than the traditional piles of corpses. Even worse, some of the corpses could be their own. They're going to try and work a deal.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
02/04/2002 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[2 views]
Top|| File under:
A religious parties convention at Jamaat-i-Islami headquarters in Mansoora urged the government to lift curbs on political and religious activities, restore the 1973 Constitution and refrain from amending it. The 'Joint Pakistan Defence Ulema Convention' was organized by the United Front representing almost all religious parties. The demands were made through a communique issued at the end of the convention. The meeting was addressed by leaders of almost all religious parties. The convention was held to provide a joint platform to religious parties to "jointly struggle against the pro-America government and all anti-Islam forces." They declared that the next general elections would be fought "only between religious parties and secular groups and, therefore, all Islam-loving people must join hands to defeat the latter." The fundos have defined themselves as the opposition to Musharraf. They'll either push him into trying to mend fences with them or they'll push him from a moderate Islamism all the way into secularism. If they've overestimated their own strength, as they have a habit of doing, and the beards lose in the elections, their power will be broken - at least until memories fade and a little revisionism takes place. If they see a hefty defeat coming, though, they're going to press sympathetic elements in the armed forced and the ISI to either fix the election or to oust Musharraf. It'll be something to watch.
I'm not sure if they have the street support to beat Musharraf in a fair fight. If Musharraf keeps a lid on the more militant Islamists and avoids turning the average devout Muslim against him, he's got a long stay ahead of him. I would be leery of using Turkey as a model; supressing Islam too much could backfire and turn the average mosque-goer against the government. A long-but-firm leash is the answer, but that's easier said than done. Posted by Anonymous [markbyron.blogspot.com/] 2/5/2002 12:05:35 AM
A few months ago I read somewhere - I think it was in The Nation (Pakistan) - that the beards command about 15-20% of the electorate. That's enough to make a lot of noise, but not enough to unseat Musharraf. But they did have a lot of partisans moved into positions of power in the armed forces under Zia ul-Haq. I think they're going to count on them to either throw the election or to move Musharraf out. His countermove has to be to clean them out before they get the chance. He made a start in October, but there are probably still lots of them to scrub. Posted by Fred 2/5/2002 12:19:47 AM
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
02/04/2002 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[4 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
I am all for War on Islam. Unfortunately, that thought-crime gets you banned from the Articles' section. Tunnel vision prevents thinking of contingencies. "Troll" bleating is the last stage of fanaticism. I have no compelling need to use the "troll" pejorative. What's the obsession.
U.S. and British planes patrolling a no-fly zone over northern Iraq bombed Iraqi air defense systems in response to anti-aircraft fire. It was the first time U.S. and British planes have bombed Iraq's north since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The bombs were dropped after Iraqi forces northeast of Mosul fired on a routine air patrol. Near routine background noise. It'll get out of the background noise category if they ever hit something, which'll probably occur by accident.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
02/04/2002 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld accused Iran of helping Taliban and al Qaeda fighters flee a U.S. military assault on Afghanistan. "We have any number of reports that Iran has been permissive and allowed transit through their country of al Qaeda," he said on ABC's "This Week." "There isn't any doubt in my mind but that the porous border between Iran and Afghanistan has been used for al Qaeda and Taliban to move into Iran and find refuge, and that the Iranians have not done what the Pakistan government has done, [which is to] put troops along the border and prevent terrorists from escaping out of Afghanistan into their country," he said.
Citing sources in Herat, Time magazine said that shortly before the city fell to opposition forces in November, some 250 senior Taliban and al Qaeda fighters fled off-road in a convoy of 50 vehicles, crossing into Iran. They made their escape after a high-ranking Iranian official, connected to Ayatollah Khameini, had been dispatched to to offer secret sanctuary to Taliban and al Qaeda fugitives. That and the Karine A and the Hezbollah chest thumping in southern Lebanon pretty much add up to severe US displeasure.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
02/04/2002 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
North Korean leader Kim Jong Il matched President Bushâs State of the Union tough talk with some of his own, threatening war in a pep talk to soldiers. "No force on earth can overpower our great forces who are determined not to allow any aggressors to dare invade the inviolable territory," Kim said in a visit to an unidentified army unit, according to a report by the state-operated Korean Central News Agency. Any attack on the North would come "at the risk of [the perpetratorsâ] lives," he said, adding "we will wipe them out to the last one." No doubt they will. The North Koreans were a formidable force in the Korean War, but if I remember correctly, the McArthur stomped them flat and were at the Yalu River when China entered the war and tipped the balance back to stalemate. It's not a war I'd like to see, but it's not a war we would lose.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
02/04/2002 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
Al Qaida may have tried to kill former President Clinton, apparently while he was in office, and perhaps planned further attempts on world leaders, United Press International has learned. Specific references to Clinton were found among handwritten notes and sketches of U.S. Secret Service protective methods recovered from the Shomali compound near Kabul where al Qaida members received specialized training in assassination and hostage taking. "We have attempted to kill Clinton, but failed," documents in Arabic obtained by UPI state. Although the text indicates the attack was planned around some high-level conference or international summit, it does not mention an exact date. Analysts in Kabul believe the attempt was planned about two years ago. One shudders to think what the response would have been from President Gore. I doubt it would have been anything like what we've seen from the Bush administration. Sandy Berger and Madaleine Albright leading a "war on terror"? That's nightmarish.
This is more of a comment on the CIA than on al Qaeda, who we know are and were a bunch of rabid vermin. If the CIA was that out of the loop concerning active threats to the US President (of whatever competency) then they certainly had a real problem in focussing on what is important and what is of subordinate importance. This is something to consider in Intelligence community reform, as opposed to assigning historical blame. For all I've read, Clinton and even GWB were complacent about the CIA and the rest of the alphabet soup gaggle of intel agencies before 11 Sep 2001. Pointing fingers, except at the top, is useless now. Posted by Tom Roberts 2/4/2002 1:50:38 PM
Unless the attempt was so inept it wasn't noticed. It may never have made it because it was shortstopped by routine precautions. I actually feel better about CIA now than I did directly after 9-11. Remember all those people who were telling us the Agency had no one on the ground, no one who spoke the languages, no one who knew what was going on? Seems like they found some. Posted by Fred 2/4/2002 2:08:47 PM
These are big agencies: the CIA has a budget bigger than most civilian departments, so much of the "reform" needed is just reprioritizing internally. That is what has primarily happened, along with an official recognition that the products of the CIA are important and need to be looked at seriously. The issue that came up under Clinton and was only slowly being changed until 11 Sept was that the White House let wishful thinking get in the way of reality. Plots against the POTUS were not given serious scrutiny as they would be given today. Today they'd be used for their propaganda value along with taken seriously as a threat. But this is just a beginning. What needs closer scrutiny is a common understanding of what is needed in the future and who is going to get it onto the President's desk. Relying on terrorist ineptitude is what got us the 11 Sept attacks after fair warning was given by a prior failure in 1993. Posted by Tom Roberts 2/4/2002 2:41:41 PM
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
02/04/2002 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[2 views]
Top|| File under:
Four Palestinian militants belonging to the Marxist Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), part of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), were killed when their car was blown up in the Gaza Strip. A fifth standing nearby also died in the blast which Palestinians and an Israeli security source said was caused by Israel. Major Khaled Abu al-Ula, a senior Palestinian security official, said an Israeli helicopter fired a missile at the car. An Israeli security source said it was booby-trapped. Hey, that's sad. Being Marxists and not jihadis, they don't even get to frolic in the Seas of Paradise with the 72 sturgeons.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
02/04/2002 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
Israel said that Iran had supplied Hezbollah militants in Lebanon with 8,000 Katyusha rockets with a range of between 20 and 70 kilometers, capable of hitting Israeli cities. Israel has warned Lebanon it would not tolerate any missile attacks from its territory.
Shimon Peres, the Israeli foreign minister, also contended that North Korea had supplied Iran with a medium-range missile and that the two countries were cooperating to develop a long-range missile capable of hitting North America.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
02/04/2002 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
A man held in the Philippines for alleged involvement in a Southeast Asian bomb plot is suspected to have undergone training on military tactics in Afghanistan with al Qaeda. Fathur Rohman Al-Ghozi, believed by police to be an Indonesian, was among eight militants who were trained in al Qaeda camps before they were arrested recently in police sweeps in the Philippines and Singapore. Al-Ghozi was positively identified through photographs by his seven associates now being interrogated by Singapore police. Al-Ghozi's associates told Singaporean police of the group's plans to make 21 tons of explosives and use them to build "truck bombs'' to be used against Western targets, including Australian and British offices. The seven now held in Singapore are among 15 people recently arrested in that island state for alleged links to the clandestine Islamic group, Jemaah Islamiah.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
02/04/2002 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
Pakistan police believe a missing gunny, Mohammad Hashim Qadeer, is a crucial link in the abduction of Daniel Pearl, as the search for the missing reporter intensified. They believed Pearl, 38, was still alive somewhere in the Karachi area where he disappeared 12 days ago, although the investigation was nationwide. The reporter was using Qadeer, alias Arif, as a contact point to meet other Islamic militants in Pakistan. Arif is known to have had a long association with Harkat ul Mujahedin. Police have dismissed claims by Arif's family that he died recently in Afghanistan.
When Pearl was last seen in Karachi 12 days ago he was going to meet Arif who was to take him to Mubarak Ali Shah Gilani, leader of Tanzeem-ul-Fuqra. "The investigation is now focussed on one key link [Arif]. We believe he is still alive despite claims by his family that he had died in Afghanistan," a police spokesman said. This sounds pretty much like where things were a week ago. Gilani's still in custody. Arif is dead or not - our guess would be not. Either way, he's nowhere to be found and probably will stay there. And Pearl is probably dead, if only because the kidnappers don't know what to do with him and releasing him might lead the cops to them.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
02/04/2002 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[3 views]
Top|| File under:
Pakistan has decided to extradite Muhbarak Ali Shah Gilani, the alleged suspect in the kidnapping of the US journalist Daniel Pearl, to the United States, a media report in The Nation said. While Giliani's links with Pearl's kidnapping as well as his linkages with India were yet to be established, the US has reportedly uncovered a vast network of his disciples and funding agencies which financed his Rawalpindi based Al Fuqra organisation. Gilani's actually a pretty prosperous landowner in Pakland, the funds being provided by the generous donations of the suckersmarks faithful back in the States.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
02/04/2002 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[2 views]
Top|| File under:
Tamil Tigers rebels have denied accusations that they are using a cease-fire to forcibly recruit members, but said they must enter into peace negotiations from a position of strength. Parents have complained that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam were forcing them to give some of their children to help fight the separatist war, the University Teachers for Human Rights, a mostly Tamil group that monitors human rights in the Tamil-majority north and east, said last week. "The charges are baseless and are being levelled by elements opposed to the interest of Tamil people," said Sivagnanam Karikalan, the deputy leader of the rebels' political wing. Why do I not believe him? I'm trying real hard, but it's not happening.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
02/04/2002 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
Jaish-e-Mohammad has ordered cadres to suspend activities in 'Indian cities' and converge on Jammu and Kashmir. Jaish military spokesman Shamsuddin Hyder said the new directions have been given in view of the changing scenario in the subcontinent. All Jaish activists outside J&K have been asked to report to the chief commander Abu Hijrat in the Valley. Hyder said Jaish would now operate only in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. This new strategy was worked out at a recent meeting of Jaish commanders presided over by Hijrat. Hyder said Jaish would target army camps, security forces and intelligence formations in J&K. He said his outfit could fight for over five years with the arms and ammunition it already had. Maybe they've got enough guns and ammunition to last for five years, but they probably don't have the money to do it. Troops only burn ammunition when they're engaged or in live-fire training. They burn groceries every day, wear out shoes every four to six months, and need to be clothed. The troops also need spending money, even if they're underpaid. If Musharraf cuts off the funding, Jaish dies. If he doesn't cut off the funding, Pakland itself is in danger. Jaish is probably gambling on some sort of quick victory before it's forced to recede into the dustbin of history.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
02/04/2002 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
A 24-hour-long stand-off between two Hizbul Mujahideen and security forces at a mosque in Sopore ended following the surrender of the gunnies to authorities. Wonder if we're going to see an increase in incidents like this as the mystique of jihad wears off with hard times.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
02/04/2002 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[3 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Believe it or not: Google's translation service actually offers translation into "Elmer Fudd." Check it out, funky soul brothers.
A Cal State graduate from Malaysia has led authorities to conclude that a Muslim cleric from Indonesia ran terror operations for Al Qaeda in Southeast Asia and played a role in the Sept. 11 skyjackings. Malaysian officials said Yazid Sufaat has cooperated with authorities since he was arrested Dec. 9 as he returned from Afghanistan. Sufaat identified the alleged regional terrorism chief as Riduan Isamuddin, who is also known as Hambali. Sufaat also is helping them unravel the logistics and operations of a network. Hambali left Malaysia shortly before Sept. 11. Officials believe he returned to Indonesia, home to another cleric who authorities in Malaysia and Singapore say is the network's spiritual leader, Abu Bakar Bashir. This puts a few more pieces in the puzzle. Indonesia's a likely spot for operations, with a government that's scared of its fundos and a military that's not under its control.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
02/04/2002 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
Jack Straw was slapped down by President Bushâs National Security Adviser yesterday for interpreting the Presidentâs âaxis of evilâ speech as an attempt to win domestic votes. Condoleezza Rice reacted to the Foreign Secretaryâs comments with scarcely disguised anger, saying: âThis is not about American politics, and I assume that when the British Government speaks about foreign policy, itâs not about British politics.â Dr Rice was responding to Mr Strawâs assertion last Friday that Mr Bushâs linking of Iraq, Iran and North Korea in an âaxis of evilâ should be regarded as vote-winning rhetoric rather than a blueprint for action. God, I love brainy women who won't put up with nonsense.
Too bad the host of today's "Fresh Air" didn't take that kind of attitude today towards Gene Simmons of Kiss! This guy did his utmost to offend, making the Taliban look gentlemanly by comparison. Posted by la_feminista 2/4/2002 7:24:04 PM
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
02/04/2002 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[2 views]
Top|| File under:
In the first ever interaction of its kind between the Indian and American militaries, the Indo-US Executive Steering Group (ESG) met in New Delhi to chart the roadmap for army-to-army cooperation, and work out the precise schedules for joint exercise, training and visits. The US delegation for the two day ESG meeting is led by Major General James Campbell, commander-in-chief designate of the US Army in the Pacific Command. The Indian side is led by Lt.-General S.S. Chahal, Director-General Military Cooperation. The Pak general staff must be sitting up at this one. India makes a more natural ally for the US, and would make a lot stronger one than nutbag-infested Pakistan. Pak expects to get a lot of monetary benefit out of its alliance with the US and will be afraid of seeing it evaporate or go next door. Even if the two sides intend to do nothing more than meet and exchange pleasantries, it's a fine club - for both parties - to thump the Paks with. If it turns out Musharraf's playing a double game, which could very well be, or if Musharraf is ousted by the beards, Plan B is already in place. Neat move. Somebody's doing some thinking in Washington.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
02/04/2002 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 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.
