Turkmens have devoted a day of festivities to celebrate the country's muskmelon, a close relative of the watermelon. The holiday was inspired by President Saparmurat Niyazov, who prefers to be known as Turkmenbashi, or leader of the Turkmens.
The man who named the month of April after his Mom...
«Do celebrate Muskmelon Day well, as a real holiday. Make sure that all associations and enterprises take part in it», the Turkmen TV showed the leader telling state officials. The TV report on the holiday waxed lyrical over the fruit. «This godsend has a glorious history that goes back centuries,» it said on Monday, adding that its advantages were the product of Turkmenistan?s «blazing sun, mild weather, productive land and tasty water, as well as peasants' kindness». The fruit, which the TV said was already praised as a «miracle» in the middle ages, has been honoured with a national holiday since 1994. «Since we became independent, our great leader, who has a great love of his nation and country, has brought the name of the tasty melons to the level of a national holiday», the TV said. The day's celebrations featured a large display of the fruit in all its varieties, as well as a series of dance and music events, in the country's capital, Ashgabat.
Ah, yes... The internationally renowned Muskmelon Dancers...
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
08/24/2003 20:06 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[5 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Looks more like someone just dimmed the lights slightly than a actual blackout.
Posted by: Charles ||
08/24/2003 17:50 Comments ||
Top||
#2
There were probably people in the cities who actually saw the stars for the first time
Posted by: Someone who did NOT vote for William Proxmire ||
08/24/2003 19:00 Comments ||
Top||
#3
Saw several blogs to that effect, including Michele at a small victory. In Rochester, it was great! A slight haze at altitude but very clear. Mars looked fantastic!
LONDON: The FBI has uncovered intelligence that the Al Qaeda is plotting to hijack an aircraft in Britain over the next two months and fly it into an important building, a London-based newspaper said on Sunday. British Airways and other leading airlines have been put on alert after the warning was passed to Britainâs security services, according to the report in The Sunday Telegraph. The report said that the most likely targets for the hijackers were aircraft taking off from Londonâs Heathrow and Gatwick airports.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
08/24/2003 20:38 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[8 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
That Finnesbury Park mosque would be a good target.
Gale-force winds have caused havoc in Sydney, downing powerlines and trees, blowing rooves off houses etc. In Sydney: one man died when a tree fell on his car, search has been called off due to bad weather for two missing swimmers off the northern beaches. The Gale has caused damage all down the south-east coast of Australia.
NSW State Emergency Services (SES) spokesman Peter OâNeill said the strong gale force winds which began this morning were expected to continue until at least tonight, then become moderate overnight. SES is our volunteer organisation. They donât get paid but they have a lot of fun. They were busy tonight, backlogged with hundreds of calls.
"A lot of trees have come down, also branches have come down ... into yards, across roads, onto cars, (the winds have) brought down power lines, and weâve also had a lot of house damage," he said. "Weâve had over 500 SES volunteers out, and theyâve been supported by the NSW Fire Brigadeâs firefighters. SES is brilliant, I canât recommend enough to the Brits and Merkins how good it is to have a State-wide co-ordinated team of volunteers supporting the Fireys/police. It helps to clear problems up in double quick time. You could all start up your own volunteer emergency services! You get first-aid training, general rescue and communications training, protective clothing etc. All very useful things to have citizens trained in .
Posted by: Anon1 ||
08/24/2003 8:50:15 AM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[6 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
You should email this story link and a strong hint or two to NYC Mayor Blumenthal's office - someone there will "get it" and might even do something that gets the ball rolling elsewhere. Never know. And sending him an email won't excite those Secret Service guys.
LAHORE: One of the reasons Osama Bin Laden has not been captured, experts believe, is that President General Pervez Musharraf struck a deal with the United States not to seize the Al Qaeda leader after the Afghan war for fear of inciting trouble in Pakistan, reports The Guardian. According to the British newspaper, Mr Bin Laden is most likely hiding in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), to where he fled from the caves of Tora Bora in the Spin Ghar mountains of eastern Afghanistan in December 2001, when the US was close to winning the war against the Taliban.
That just about tallies with my suspicions, too. I'd have said he was in NWFP instead of FATA. I'd also add that he's under the protection of one of the Islamobigs â I used Fazl's guest house as shorthand, but it's more likely Samiul Haq. Had they actually displayed Binny's carcass at the time, the left would have pronounced the WoT over...
Mansoor Ijaz, an Al Qaeda expert, told Guardian correspondent Rory McCarthy that Pakistani authorities feared that to capture or kill Mr Bin Laden so soon after the war in Afghanistan would incite civil unrest in Pakistan and trigger a spate of revenge Al Qaeda attacks on western targets across the world.
Mansoor's a pretty smart fellow. He's usually close to the mark with his analysis, especially when it concerns Pakland...
Mr Ijaz believes an agreement was reached between Gen Musharraf and the American authorities shortly after Mr Bin Ladenâs flight from Tora Bora. âThere was a judgment made that it would be more destabilising in the longer term,â he said. âThere would still be the ability to get him at a later date when it was more appropriate.â
And then they lost him...
The Americans, according to Mr Ijaz, accepted the argument, not least because of a shift in focus to the impending war in Iraq. So the months that followed were centred on taking down not Mr Bin Laden, but the âretaliation infrastructureâ of Al Qaeda. It meant that Gen Musharraf frequently put out conflicting accounts of the status of Mr Bin Laden, while the US administration barely mentioned his name. In January last year Gen Musharraf said he believed the Al Qaeda chief was probably dead. A year later he said he was alive and moving either in Afghanistan or perhaps in the Pakistani tribal areas. The report says another reasons for the failure to capture Mr Bin Laden is the difficult intelligence agencies have in infiltrating the rank and file of the organisation. Another problem was extensive security. Mr Ijaz believes Mr Bin Laden is protected by a security cordon of three concentric circles, in which he is guarded first by a ring around 120 miles in diameter of tribesmen, whose duty is to report any approach by Pakistani troops or US special forces. Inside them is a tighter ring, around 12 miles in diameter, made up of tribal elders who would warn if the outer ring were breached. At the centre of the circles is the man himself, protected by one or two of his closest relatives and advisers.
Kinda like the security arrangements of the Council of Boskone...
Pakistani officials say their intelligence on Mr Bin Laden is still remarkably limited. Many of the reports they receive of his movements, they insist, are simply wrong, and the terrain of the tribal regions makes it almost impossible to find a single man intent on hiding. Some argue that the Pakistani authorities saw the difficulties from the start and, although they publicly stressed their commitment to the hunt for Mr Bin Laden, in private they had a different strategy; hence, Gen Musharrafâs reported deal with the US. Yet western diplomats say they believe Islamabad is committed to the hunt for Mr Bin Laden.
Islamabad is committed to its own ends, which may change hourly...
However, the report concludes, Pakistan and the US must quickly tame the elders in the tribal areas who appear to have given Mr Bin Laden sanctuary. âWith so much of the retaliation infrastructure gone or unsustainable, Bin Ladenâs martyrdom does not pose nearly the threat it did a year ago,â Mr Ijaz said.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
08/24/2003 20:48 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[5 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
It's possible I guess, but this concentric circles thing sounds like something Debka would report.
Posted by: Paul Moloney ||
08/24/2003 20:58 Comments ||
Top||
#2
I'd guess that rather than being a formal ring of trained Qaeda guards, it's more like having Bugtis for a hundred miles in any direction. Don't matter who's comin' in, they're all furriners...
Posted by: Fred ||
08/24/2003 21:01 Comments ||
Top||
#3
One man's fortress can also be his prison. Unless Binny is actively directing his operation from his Eagle's Nest Redoubtâ¢, he is probably neutralized. If he gets something too coordinated in the works, then at least we know where he is and maybe do something about it.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
08/24/2003 23:39 Comments ||
Top||
Law enforcement agencies believe they have identified two men involved in the attack on a Quetta imambargah on July 4 that killed 51 people, government sources told Daily Times on Saturday. According to sources, Mufti Sagheer, a former member of the Tehrik Khudamul Islam (Jabbar group), and Osama Zaid, former Lashkar-e-Jhangvi activist, plotted the terrorist attack on the Mekangi Road imambargah. âA group of five planned it. Three of them died during the attack while Sagheer and Osama are still alive,â sources said.
Too important to the movement to decompose, y'see...
The BBC received statements, purportedly by the attackers and recorded before July 4, claiming responsibility for the attack on behalf of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam. Witnesses said the attackers faces were covered with JUI flags. As soon as the BBC broadcast their statements, JUI (F) head Maulana Fazlur Rehman denied the terrorists had links with his party or had ever been Jamiat activists. He alleged that the three were of the 41 Sipah-e-Sahaba activists the government released at the behest of Maulana Azam Tariq. He pointed out that the suicide attackers might have used the JUI flags to mislead people.
I'd actually tend to agree with Fazl on that one. The attack reeks of Sipah or Jhangvi â not that there's any difference between the two...
Sources said the investigation team is not ignoring the possibility of an âexternal handâ behind the event and searching for links within the terrorist organisations or of their leaders with the Indian Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and other agencies.
I suspect RAW involvement is also wishful thinking...
Mr Sagheer and Mr Zaid were reported seen in Quetta on the day of the attack and in Afghanistan a few days prior to the attack. Mr Sagheer is said to have been an administrator of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LJ) training camps in Afghanistan. He got militancy training in Al-Badr camps in Afghanistan and later joined the Harkat al Jihad ul Islami (HUJI). When the HUJI broke up, he joined the Maulana Fazlur Rehman Khalil group, also known as the Harkatul Mujahideen (HM). He later joined the Jaish-e-Muhammad (JM). He was among the fourteen leaders expelled by Maulana Masood Azhar in April 2003. They were accused of sectarian killings. Mr Sagheer had links with Sipah-e-Sahaba and was also an employee of Karachi-based welfare organisation Al Rasheed Trust in Sargodha, his home district. He got his religious education from the Jamia Banoria in Karachi. He reportedly served the LJ and JM at the same time. Sources said the TKI (Jabbar) and LJ had been cooperating and both were responsible for attacks on churches and missionary institutes in Pakistan.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
08/24/2003 20:29 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[6 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
That final paragraph pretty much describe the entire Deobandi-Jihadi infrastructure, with the exception of the policito-religious parties.
Posted by: Paul Moloney ||
08/24/2003 21:01 Comments ||
Top||
Maulana Masood Azhar has spent time in jails in India and Pakistan. He is a religious leader who supports Muslim separatists fighting in Indian-administered Kashmir. He features on Indiaâs most wanted list of 20 people it accuses of terrorism. The group he leads, Jaish e Mohammad [JM], is accused of a string of deadly attacks on Indian targets, including one on parliament in Delhi in December 2001. He was detained for a year by authorities in Pakistan in connection with that attack, but never formally charged. The Lahore High Court ordered an end to his house arrest on 14 December 2002. Recently he sat down with Mohammad Shehzad for an interview for South Asia Tribune. Excerpts:
Q. How do you look at the current phase of peace talks between India and Pakistan?
This phase of peace talks clearly indicates that the current regime in Pakistan is too weak to resist India. It is coward and ready to kneel down before India at Vajpayeeâs pleasure. I am really surprised to observe that our rulers are dying to embrace India despite the fact that the Indian leadership had declared Pakistan a fit case for pre-emptive strike comparing it with Iraq. It seems their honor has slept and there is a need to awaken it.
Q. How their honor could be awoken? Who would do this job?
It could be done by a true Muslim. It will be done through jihad. The rulers are the not the true Muslims. They are the lackeys of big powers. They are guided by the rules of international politics and diplomacy, not by the teachings of Islam and the precepts of the Holy Prophet. The intoxication of power has blinded them. They cannot think like an independent person. The fate of ummah cannot be left on them. By the grace of Almighty, there is a group of true Muslims among us. They can distinguish between the vice and virtue,
and Islam and kuffar. In every era, such virtuous Muslimsâthe mujahideen âhave been fighting the immoral and corrupt rulers. They have been upholding the supremacy of Islam by fighting jihad against the enemies of Islam. We allâthe mujahideen of JM are busy on this frontâfighting a jihad against the worst enemy of Islamâthe Indian army that is blatantly slaughtering the Kashmiri Muslims. So, only mujahideen can awake them from their slumber of oblivion through jihad.
Q. Are you saying that you are going to wage jihad against the state to wake up the leadersâ honor?
I am not suggesting a jihad against the state. The state consists of our brothers, sisters, and elders. No, I am not saying that we should take up guns against our own people. What I am trying to convey is, let the rulers work according to their own game planâthat, by the way is the game plan of the foreign powers that are anti-Islam and jihad. We will be following the agenda of Allah i.e. jihad against the oppressors to help the oppressed. Donât you remember the Kargil! Traitor Nawaz Sharif was having a love-affair with Vajpayee and the then warrior of IslamâGeneral Pervez Musharraf who has now unfortunately become the stable boy of Bushâwas fighting a jihad and waking up the honor of honor-less Sharif. Thatâs what we are doing. We are teaching the Indian army a good lesson.
Q. How could you claim with so much confidence that you are teaching the Indian army a good lesson? Kashmir has not been freed yet!
Kashmir had been freed had Nawaz Sharif not auctioned the blood of Mujahideen to Bill Clinton. Kargil was a key to Kashmirâs conquest. But alas, mujahideen were betrayed. In my opinion, Nawaz Sharif is the murderer of 80,000 Kashmiris who have sacrificed their lives for the Kashmir cause. Kashmirâs freedom will take time. It will be freed with Indiaâs disintegrationâjust like several Muslims states got freedom after the USSRâs disintegration.
Q. Why would India collapse? Itâs economy is stable and strong and flourishingâŠ
How do you know this? These are just lies. Mujahideen are giving the Indians a very tough time. India is bleeding and will die soon.
Q. What is the current status of your group?
I am heading Khuddamul Islam, a tablighee [advocacy] organization that preaches Islam. Jaish e Mohammad is active only in Kashmir. It is working freely and there is no restriction on it.
Q. But how are you sustaining your jihad. You are no more supported by the establishment. General Pervez Musharraf has given this assurance to Richard Armitage.
We had not started jihad with Musharrafâs approval. We are supported by the lovers of jihad. I tell you that jihad is not fought with money or with the approval of the governments. It is fought with passion, spirit and commitment. Our mujahideen strap explosive around their bodies and blow themselves around the army camps causing the enemy colossal loss. Can you have that courage? I bet not even if I give you billions of rupees. As far as logistics are concerned, we are given donation by the true and fearful Muslims. We buy ammunition from the Indian army. Indian soldiers are corrupt. They sell the weapons and ammunition at throw away price because they have to buy liquor and prostitute. We also snatch ammunition from the Indian army in huge quantity. I tell you, the Indians are extremely coward and timid. They are very much afraid of death. They are horrified with the long beards of our mujahideen. They moment they see them, they surrender their arms and ammunition and beg for their life. So, we accept their weapons and let them go. Some times, we bargain with the Indian army. We place ambitious demands for weapons against the prisonersâ release and thus replenish our stock.
Q. Some workers of Jaish had killed the French engineers in Karachi. They have been sentenced to death. Any comments?
There are some political reasons behind it. But let me tell you that in my opinion, they are great mujahideen. They have rich contribution in Kashmir jihad. I am sure they will go to heaven.
Q. Why it is so that you are not in the good books of the Kashmiri mujahideen? They are quite suspicious about yourselfâŠ
Thatâs not the case. It is RAWâs propaganda. JM has tremendous sacrifices for the Kashmir jihad.
Q. The Kashmiri mujahideen say that JM conducts operation in a clumsy manner. Itâs operation kill the Kashmiris rather than the Indian armyâŠ
I would not agree with this. We have consigned thousands of the Indian soldiers to the hell. Our operations are carefully planned. As I said, it is RAWâs propaganda to disunite us from the Kashmiri mujahideen.
Q. What is your opinion about General Musharraf?
I do not have a positive opinion about him. He is a traitor of Islam and jihad. He will do anything to save his uniform. He is cut above Nawaz Sharif. While Nawaz had sold the blood of Kashmiris and mujahideen. Musharraf has sold the blood of Kashmiris, mujahideen and Afghans.
Q. How do you look at Maulana Fazlur Rehmanâs Delhi yatra?
Maulana is a man of double standards. He is speaking the same language in India that had been spoken by the officials of Government of Pakistan had they been in India. Rehman is a politician, not a jihadi. He pretends to be the apostle of jihad. Tell me, did he ever participate in jihad and serve jail. Did he ever send his own relatives for jihad? He canât walk a few yards and sermonizes people for jihad! May Allah save us from such hypocrites. Ameen!
Posted by: Paul Moloney ||
08/24/2003 12:29:57 AM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[9 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
So even Fazl isn't bloodthirsty enough for Jaish-e-Mohammed? Give me a break. I giggled a bit though, when Azhar calls Fazl a chicken hawk and a big fat tub o'lard for good measure!
Millat-e-Islamia Pakistan (MIP) Convener Maulana Azam Tariq has accepted the advice of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam President Chaudhry Shujaat that he should not pursue the Sharia Bill in the National Assembly till an âappropriate timeâ, sources told Daily Times on Saturday. Sources said Maulana Tariq called on Mr Shujaat to ask him to fulfill his promise to support the bill, but the latter advised him to wait till an appropriate time. Sources said the government believed that the bill had the ability to distort the image of Pakistan in the eyes of liberal countries and affect ongoing talks with the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA).
Any "distortion" of the image of Pakland in the eyes of the rest of the world would have to make it look reasonable and logical. There's no further room on the goofy side of the spectrum...
Maulana Tariq submitted the bill in the assembly three months ago and informed reporters that it would be discussed on the next private discussion day. He was not available for comments immediately, but his spokesman Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Inqilabi confirmed that Maulana Tariq would not pursue the bill in the assembly for now. âThe circumstances are not favourable to pursue the bill because of the oppositionâs protest and lack of interest in the assemblyâs proceedings,â the spokesman said.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
08/24/2003 00:06 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[6 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
I guess having Maulana Azam Tariq, a man whose organisation is responsible for the murders of dozens of Shias, in the government does nothing to distort Pakistan's sterling image either.
Posted by: Paul Moloney ||
08/24/2003 0:33 Comments ||
Top||
#2
The only image that comes to mind when I think of Pakland is mountains, terrorists, and a tool-shack.
Posted by: Charles ||
08/24/2003 1:12 Comments ||
Top||
#4
I think madrassahs and one of the Fundos getting their hands on the nukes...then I think of a landscape that looks more like a large pane of radioactive glass
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/24/2003 12:46 Comments ||
Top||
#5
Let's hold up on the F-15's order for the foreseable future. I don't get teh feeling that the planes would be used for defensive purposes.
Posted by: Steve D ||
08/24/2003 13:46 Comments ||
Top||
#6
I can't imagine why they wouldn't....
Posted by: Charles ||
08/24/2003 17:19 Comments ||
Top||
#7
Pass the damn bill then start collecting enough rocks to keep the peace.
FALLUJAH: The US army arrested former Iraqi general Subhi Kamal Erzeyek Sunday morning in the restive northwestern town of Hit, his nephew told AFP. âMy uncle, who was a director of the Al-Quds Brigades in Najaf, was arrested at 5 am in the house of a friend in Hit, since he fled his own home because of the searches,â said Hosham Khaled, 23. The Al-Quds Brigades was formed by Saddam Hussein at the start of the second Palestinian uprising or intifada in September 2000, with the avowed aim of invading Israel.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
08/24/2003 20:33 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[6 views]
Top|| File under:
A bomb exploded Sunday outside the house of one of Iraqiâs most important Shiite clerics, killing three guards and injuring 10 others including family members. How many "key" clerics can a religion have, anyway?
The gas cylinder was placed along the outside wall of the home of Mohammed Saeed al-Hakim in Najaf, Shiite Islamâs holiest cities. It exploded just after noon prayers. Iâm no expert, but isnât the gas cylinder thing more of a field expedient for locals? Doesnât sound like graduate work.
The cleric suffered scratches on his neck, according to Abdel-Aziz al-Hakim, a member of Iraqâs U.S.-picked Governing Council and leader of what was the armed wing of the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq, headquartered in Iran before the war. Al-Hakim is one of the most influential families in the Shiite community. Iraqi newspapers reported last week that the cleric al-Hakim had received threats against his life. He also is one of three top Shiite leaders threatened with death by a rival Shiite cleric shortly after Saddam Hussein was toppled April 9.
That would be Moqtada Sadr, of course...
At least they are learning to work out their internal differences.
A day after Saddamâs ouster, a mob in Najaf hacked to death a Shiite cleric who had returned from exile. Abdul Majid al-Khoei was killed when a meeting called to reconcile rival Shiite groups erupted into a melee at the Shrine of Ali, one of Shiite Islamâs holiest sites.
Seems like the only thing that unifies Arabs is Israel... give âem some peace, and theyâre on each other like rats. I know itâs a cultural thing and I couldnât understand.
Speaking of cultural things, if they had the oft-deplored American "handgun culture" instead of the Islamic bomb culture, there sure would be fewer wounded bystanders.
Posted by: Mark IV ||
08/24/2003 11:03:03 AM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[6 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
...FWIW, the ol' Mark I gas cylinder is a traditional weapon-of-choice in Bahrain, where there has been a low-level fight going on for some years now between the Bahraini authorities, Iraqi-backed gunnies and Iranian-backed gunnies. Normally, the cylinders go straight (kinda) into the air - it's a helluva sight.
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
08/24/2003 11:33 Comments ||
Top||
#2
Mike - I heard about one of these - seems they blew up the Bahrani equivalent of a dumpster just before I left Saoodi in April. When the new "King" lifted the forced exile of the loonies as a goodwill gesture, he really invited this stupidity. I was happy to hear that Ryk's (over by the Grand Mosque) is safe & still going strong... best chicken fried steak in the M.E. ;-)
#3
Life expectancy for Shiite clerics that don't toe the Iranian party line seems to be pretty short. You would think that Iran would focus on its internal issues.
Posted by: Steve D ||
08/24/2003 13:26 Comments ||
Top||
#4
Anybody got a check list of The Most Holy sites of Islam. Could you start with the Most Most holy site" and ending in the "sort of holy site". Also I heard that if you pray at certain most holy sites you get extra points from god. Does anyone know what the point amounts are. Do Shiites award points differently than Sunnis do, like two point shots vs a three point line. Is there general agreement as to which sites are trully most holy or is there a rift regarding these places. Do most holy places from some other religions that have been taken over by Islam have any significance in awarding a most holy award.
#5
200 years from now, Shiites will be worshipping the 'Holy Trashcan of Shit'. Said to be the last dump that the 'infedels'( that's us ) took on the ' Holy Land'. It was quickly taken and enshrined in a trashcan. That trashcan was later enshrined in gold and has been a gathering place for all Muslims ever since.
Posted by: Charles ||
08/24/2003 17:27 Comments ||
Top||
#6
Lucky - I think I saw something along the lines of a Holy Mosques / Shrines list once - I'll look around. Of course, since the reporters don't know dick, anyone they interview could tell them something is very holy and he'd report it. PC issues alone would dictate to the editor to leave it as quoted, too. I think the Black Hats, fuddy-duddies that they are, ruled against the 3-pointer some time ago, preferring to reserve the right to be offensive to themselves... ;)
Charles - I like the idea of the Holy Trashcan. Pretty sure we could work something up along these lines... Maybe use it as a Rule 'O Thumb for future stories... "So, is this holier than the Holy Trashcan?" - ala Monty Python's Holy Inquisition routines... ;)
(I can hear the Peter Gunn theme now...)
Does Islam have a parallel for (insert drum roll) the cushy chair, you ask? I'm sure we can accomodate that, too! And the Bishop - can't forget him! Mebbe one of those Paki loonies (Fazi? Qazi? Fuzzy Wuzzy?) could be the Bishop in future snarf stories... ;)
The war on terror is now the lens through which America's foreign, and sometimes domestic, policy is seen. The debate rages on about the best way to tackle this. The ACLU accuses Ashcroft of trampling on our liberties, and Ashcroft accuses the ACLU of "weakening our resolve and aiding our enemies". Unfortunately, much of the debate is drowned by spin on both sides. Complicating the situation is the feeling that this is a completely new problem, and history doesn't seem to have anything to say about what course worked (or didn't work) in the past.
I want to draw attention to one example of successfully squashing terrorists.
Back in the eighties and nineties, there emerged a separatist movement in the state of Punjab in India. A radical faction of Sikhs wanted independence from India to establish their own Sikh state called Khalistan. Khalistan would be ruled according to the law laid down in Sikh scriptures. The Indian administration did not acquiesce to their demands and the separatists resorted to violent means to go about establishing their state. It was widely believed that they received covert support - training, arms, and ammunition - fro Pakistan. Their militancy grew until the entire prosperous state of Punjab was brought to its knees. The separatists didn't particularly care about their targets, and many of them were Sikhs themselves. It wasn't safe to travel through Punjab after dark anymore. One of the most common kinds of attacks (I remember seeing this on the news almost every other day) was when a few militants would stop a bus full of travelers and simply gun them down - all of them.
Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was probably the first to take a hard-line approach toward the problem. She appointed K.P.S. Gill the top cop in Punjab. He had a reputation as a tough, no-nonsense cop. To this day, he is seen as the one man who essentially single-handedly rooted out militancy from Punjab. At the time, there was a huge outcry against his no-mercy, hardline stance toward militants, about how he circumvented due process and violated the human rights of alleged terrorists. Thankfully, he had the sanction of Mrs. Gandhi herself, and was virtually untouchable - he continued doing his job as he saw fit.
Things came to a head in 1984, when the top brass of the separatist movement, with the army hot on their heels, ran and hid in the Golden Temple. The Golden Temple, in Amritsar, the capital of Punjab, is Sikhism's holiest shrine. Mrs. Gandhi gave the go-ahead for Operation Blue Star, during which the Indian army sieged the Temple, and after a bitter fight with many casualties, rooted out the hiding militants. The operation had been described by various parties as a massacre by the army, and by others as a necessary, tough choice forced upon the army by the course the militants took. The militants had hoped that the untouchability of the shrine would protect them. They were wrong - the general who commanded the operation, and a good fraction of the soldiers who were part of it, were Sikhs.
Perhaps those events can only be judged in hindsight, today. Today, Punjab is prosperous and peaceful. Nobody is scared of traveling at night. Most people now look back on militancy in Punjab as a bad nightmare, firmly in the past, and unlikely to repeat itself.
The Punjab problem was localized to a particular region, and it was nowhere close to the scale of the assault mounted by today's terrorists. But there are clear parallels. There is also a lesson to be learned about how to deal with terrorists.
Posted by: Vivek ||
08/24/2003 6:31:05 AM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[6 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Hunt them down and kill them,no mercy.Sounds reasonable to me.
#2
When General Black Jack Pershing was stationed in the Phillipines his troops were being attacked by Islamic Moro tribesmen.After capturing 6 of these Moro's,he tied them to steaks,dug a pit in front of them.He then slaughtered a couple of pigs as the blood pooled in the bottom of the pit Pershing had members of a Firing Squad dip thier bullets in the pigs blood.After executeing the Islamists he threw the bodies in the pit,threw the pig carcass'on top of the bodies and buried them.There were no more attacks for 30-40 years.
Think ole'Black Jack may have been on to something?
#3
Re: Pershing & Gill...
I always though they were just being cute, but mebbe this is what the wymyns mean when they turn the old saying on its head:
"A hard man is good to find!"
8^)
Posted by: Matt ||
08/24/2003 13:02 Comments ||
Top||
#5
The Sikh problem is nothing like what we face today. The total Sikh population is in the tens of millions vs 1 billion Muslims. Sikhs are a generally peaceful people not given to nihilistic violence or forcible conversions of unbelievers. They did not have dozens of Sikh countries supporting their separatist campaign. Sikhs did not carry out mass killings against civilians in the way that Muslims have done - most of their attacks were against Indian officials and members of the Indian security establishment. Operationally, the Sikh movement was headquartered within India itself, which made their suppression relatively easy, from a logistical standpoint. Islamist terror is funded by private donations at Muslim mosques all over the world, as well as by surreptitious contributions from various Muslim donor countries, as well as Christian charities that provide aid on an ecumenical basis to Muslim charities.
(Background: Sikh separatism is the result of British decisions where, instead of partitioning India across religious and ethnic lines, colonial administrators chose to bequeath Britain's South Asian empire to a Hindi-speaking elite. India and China are the last empires still in existence - the difference is that much of China was actually a unitary state for thousands of years, whereas India in its present form is essentially a British creation. One can understand the reasoning - with Iran to the west, Russia to the north and China to the east, only a unitary Indian state could avoid being nibbled away to death by the major regional powers.
However, for the nationalists among the major ethnic groups in India, no amount of geostrategic reasoning will make up for the fact that their national aspirations were thwarted by the decisions of British colonial administrators. The self-rule achieved by nationalists in many of today's European countries never became a reality for India's many nationalities. And the thwarting of this dream is why some of them continue to fight the Indian government even to this day.
* Which is how the British found the region - a mishmash of nations that they incorporated into a single administrative entity)
Britain's government on Sunday dismissed Iranian demands for an apology for the arrest of its former ambassador to Argentina, insisting that the proceedings were "in no way politically motivated". Tehran has reacted with anger to the detention of Hadi Soleimanpur, who was arrested in Durham, northeast England on Thursday.
"React and be damned!"
On Saturday, the foreign ministry summoned both Argentine and British charges d'affaires, Ernesto Alvarez and Matthew Gould, to protest strongly against Soleimanpur's arrest. Iran told Alvarez on Saturday that it was slapping economic sanctions on Argentina over the affair. "We think Iran may be planning to magnify the issue, which could lead to an escalation in measures, leading ultimately to a breakoff of relations," an Argentine government source told the private news agency NA. Gould, in the absence of British ambassador Richard Dalton, was summoned again to the foreign ministry Sunday to be questioned about London's response to Tehran's request for the former diplomat's immediate release, Iranian state radio said. Britain has remanded Soleimanpur in custody until late August when a London court will rule on an Argentine extradition request. Khatami warned that the Islamic republic would never accept an extradition and "let this ugly and lying conspiracy take place."
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
08/24/2003 21:32 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[4 views]
Top|| File under:
An Eritrean official accused Sudan of supporting groups with links to Al Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden, implicitly admitting to confrontations between the Eritrean army and these groups. The Gash district governor, Baraka Mustapha Nour Hussein, told Al-Hayat upon his return from the Sudanese city of Kasla, where he supervised the arrival of aids to those affected by Gash river's floods: "the support has nothing to do with the deteriorating relations between the two countries." Adding, "Eritrea' aids is an expression of good intentions and a confirmation of the depth of relations between the two people." After pointing to "hassles experienced by the convoy delivering the aids in some regions of Kasla," he said: "the security agencies in Sudan do not know the welfare of their own people. For it supports small, isolated, ineffective groups belonging to Al Qaeda." Excluding the possibility that "these groups might realize victory over the Eritrean army because they carry out looting and laying mines."
Sudan ignores them because they're too inept to control them...
On another hand, the Eritrean official accused Ethiopia of laying mines in the Shambako region, South-West of Asmara, which led to the death of six civilians," stressing, "the activities of the Ethiopian forces are restricted within the security buffer zone, from where they sneak into the areas of the peacekeeping forces."
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
08/24/2003 20:59 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[4 views]
Top|| File under:
The army has ordered the arrest of a Congolese rebel leader accused of stirring trouble between Uganda and the Kinshasa government. Congolese faction leader, Dr Faustine Ndekesire of the hitherto unheard of National Resistance Army, declared war against the new transitional government in DR Congo last week. The NRA is based in North Kivu in northeastern DR Congo. "We have orders to arrest him for declaring war against the new government in Congo," Army Spokesman Maj. Shaban Bantariza told Sunday Monitor on Friday. "We are in full support of the new government and we shall not allow anyone to wage war against it [Congo] from here," Bantariza added. The Chief of Military Intelligence Col. Noble Mayombo sanctioned the arrest. Ndekesire was panicking when Sunday Monitor contacted him on Friday morning.
"What shall I do? O-o-o-o-oh, what shall I do?"
"What can I do? We are victims of exclusion, Uganda housed us before the transition, but the situation has not changed. We are hunted all over and now even in Uganda," he said from an undisclosed location. He was not at Silver Springs Hotel in Bugolobi where he has lived for the last three years, with the Uganda government footing the bills.
"I'm araid he's checked out, sir... No, he didn't leave a forwarding address..."
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
08/24/2003 20:13 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[3 views]
Top|| File under:
"I mean, it coulda been me, in my younger days..."
The issue threatens to become a severe setback to years of painstaking diplomacy that have improved relations between Teheran and London to their best level for more than 20 years. Mr Gould said he told Iranian foreign ministry officials that Mr Soleimanpour's arrest in connection with the blast, which killed 85 people, was not politically motivated and that Britain's judiciary was independent of the government. He was first called in on Saturday and asked to convey Teheran's "strong objection" to the arrest. He was told that Iran wanted Britain to use its influence in Buenos Aires to have the charges dropped.
"Yasss... In the interests of better relations, we'd like your collusion..."
Israel and America said at the time of the blast in 1994 that they believed Iran had been behind the action. Mr Soleimanpour, 47, was arrested in Durham, where he took up a university research post in February. Iran is cutting its cultural and economic ties with Argentina as a result of the row. Extradition requests are open to appeal and involve a lengthy process before a conclusion.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
08/24/2003 19:38 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[7 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Anglo/Argentine relations haven't exactly been rosy in recent history. What a good way this is proving to be, to patch things up a little. Thanks, Iran! You do your worst, and we'll see what happens, eh?
Thousands of civilians fled the sound of fresh fighting near Liberia's second city of Buchanan on Saturday as caretaker President Moses Blah sought to cement a peace deal to end 14 years of bloodshed. Just days after the peace deal was signed, the West African nation's defense minister also said there was fighting around the northern town of Ganta. "This evening, our men came under fierce attack from the rebels and there is fighting taking place around the bridge toward Ganta. I believe that they are trying to retake Ganta," Daniel Chea told Reuters. The reports of fresh fighting in two areas underlined the fragility of the peace deal signed by Blah's government and two rebel groups, the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) and a smaller faction known as Model.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
08/24/2003 19:31 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[4 views]
Top|| File under:
Four Hamas militants were killed in an Israel Air Force missile strike on a car in the Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City on Sunday night. According to Palestinian sources, two helicopter gunships fired at least three missiles at the vehicle. Among the four Hamas members killed were a senior member ofthe organization — Ahmed Aishtawi, two would-be suicide bombers and a forth militant. All four were members of the group's military wing, Iz a Dinal-Kassam, according to security sources. Palestinians reported that eight other people were injured in the strike, among them four, including a child, in moderate to serious condition.
The carnage among the puppies, kittens, and baby ducks was horrible. And the bunnies...
Security sources said that the assassination was carried out in order to thwart a double suicide bombing planned by Hamas's military wing in the near future. Israeli sources said that the main target of the strike was Ahmed Aishtawi, who was in charge of coordinating activities between the organization's leadership in the Gaza Strip and militants in the West Bank. Aishtawi, 24, was on top of the Israel Defense Forces' most wanted list, and is credited with transferring funds to Hamas terror cells in the West Bank, and planning many terror attacks against Israeli citizens, Israel Radio reported.
The guy's 24 years old, probably a veteran of about six years of this stuff. And since he wasn't just cannon fodder, he's probably somebody's nephew...
A Hamas spokesperson said Aishtawi was the head of a cell that fired home-made missiles, and specialized in attacks on IDF tanks. Two of the other militants killed were apparently meeting with Aishtawi in orderto receive explosives belts for carrying out suicide bombings. The fourth man killed was Valid Alhumes, a member of Hamas's military wing and head of the students' association at Gaza's Islamic University. Hamas sources reported that only two of the dead belonged to the group, while the other two were members of Force 17 who were present on the scene.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
08/24/2003 19:28 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[7 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Very effective work. Perhaps the IDF should drop some leaflets reminding potential Hamas recruits that "senior" members don't reach the age of 25.
Posted by: Tom ||
08/24/2003 21:43 Comments ||
Top||
#2
Tom - I hope they're planning on making that "age of 25" thing retroactive, too.
JPost - Reg Reqâd - Arafat will quit trying to kill peace only when heâs dead. Make it so
Palestinian leaders were locked in a power struggle Sunday, officials said, triggered by Yasser Arafatâs attempt to hand control over all the security forces to a loyalist in apparent hope of sidelining the US-backed Palestinian security chief. The current security chief, Mohammed Dahlan, is supported by Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, whom Arafat has repeatedly tried to undermine since appointing him in April under US pressure. International mediators now want Arafat to relinquish control of the security forces and allow Abbas and Dahlan to clamp down on militants, in response to a Hamas bus bombing that killed 21 people in Jerusalem last week. Arafat continues to command several of the security branches, while Abbas and Dahlan supervise the rest. Instead of giving up control over armed men, Arafat proposed Saturday to pass the supreme command to Nasser Yousef, a staunch Arafat loyalist. Such an appointment would effectively sideline Dahlan. Palestinian militants, meanwhile, fired a new, longer-range rocket into Israel on Sunday, the army said. The rocket, which landed less than a kilometer (mile) from the Israeli city of Ashkelon, fell on a beach, just 10 meters (yards) from an unmanned lifeguard post, the army said. used the hudna to build themselves a bigger reason for massive IDF retaliation huh?
The militants fired the rocket from an area of the Gaza Strip that allowed them to target Ashkelon, rather than the much smaller Israeli town of Sderot, which had previously been the target of Qassam rockets, the army said. The rocket was fired just hours after Dahlanâs forces began arresting weapons smugglers in the Gaza Strip, seizing weapons and detaining at least a dozen suspects Saturday. Dahlanâs forces also sealed off two tunnels used to smuggle weapons from Egypt to the Gaza Strip. Showtime arrests only....TV cameras at hand during the arrests
If Yousef is appointed interior minister, Dahlan will become irrelevant, a Palestinian official said on condition of anonymity. And if Yousef takes over, Arafat will retain effective control over the security forces, the official said, something the Americans and the Israelis oppose. The official said he doubted the initiative would be approved by the central committee of the ruling Fatah faction. A meeting of the committee scheduled for later Sunday was canceled for reasons that remained unclear. Yousef, who is one of the oldest members of the Palestine Liberation Organization, was part of a senior guard who spent the 1980s in exile with Arafat in Tunis and Lebanon. In 1994, when the Palestinian Authority was established, Yousef was a senior police commander. Palestinian Information Minister Nabil Amr denied Israeli media reports that Dahlan and Abbas are threatening to resign. "There is a small crisis now about how we will strengthen the unity of our security forces... and how the Palestinians will enforce the willingness of the authority and the rule of law," Amr told Israelâs Army Radio. "We want to unify our security forces under one title, under one address," Amr said. According to officials who attended Saturdayâs meeting, Abbas was initially vehemently opposed to Yousefâs appointment but later expressed flexibility on the issue. If approved by the Fatah central committee, the nomination would move to the Palestinian Legislative Council, which has to approve all Cabinet postings.
So Abbas has thrown up his hands and will go with the flow...
Israel retaliated for Tuesdayâs bus bombing with a helicopter missile strike that killed Abu Shanab, a Hamas leader. After Abu Shanabâs killing a cease-fire declared by militant groups on June 29 collapsed. Abbas came under even greater pressure to rein in militants, something he is reluctant to do for fear it will spark internal fighting. Associated Press seems to have already bought the Paleo timeline... I seem to recall a bus full of Jooooos exploding first, but hey, thatâs me
Without Arafatâs cooperation, a clampdown would be even more difficult, Amr said, noting that US Secretary of State Colin Powell made a similar statement after the bus bombing. In a rare call on Arafat whom the United States has ignored for months Powell called on the Palestinian leader last week to hand over control of his security forces to Dahlan so he would be able to effectively fight terrorism. "We will never achieve any progress, especially in organizing our security forces... to all our steps, we need Yasser Arafat, we need his cooperation," Amr said.
Which has been Yasser's position — and the point of all these maneuverings and killings — since he was sidelined last year. Let that camel's nose back into the tent and it'll be the same old stuff we've been going through for the past 30 years all over again...
In the West Bank city of Nablus, Israeli forces uncovered a bomb lab, blowing up the site where they found an 80-kilogram (176 pound) bomb, fertilizers and other bomb-making materials, the army and Palestinian witnesses said. Two rockets similar to the Qassam rockets fired from the Gaza Strip were found in the explosives factory, the army and witnesses said. It is unusual for the army to find rockets in the West Bank, which is in much closer range to central Israeli cities than the Gaza Strip. they usually try to do the splodeydope from west bank, rockets are needed in Gaza due to the fence
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/24/2003 12:10:01 PM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[5 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
So their argument would be that the fence prevents Palestinian use of bombs so rockets are necessary to continue terrorist attacks during the ceasefire.
Posted by: Steve D ||
08/24/2003 13:54 Comments ||
Top||
#2
The biggest problem with exiling Arafat is that he'd get the opportunity to go on a boo-hoo tour of the world. This isn't a good thing.
Exiling him half-way to Cyprus would be a better alternative...
#3
Exiling him half-way to Cyprus would be a better alternative...
Exiling him halfway to the moon without oxygen would be an even better alternative. Zero chance of any influence after that, not even a body to bury and "holy ground" to swear everlasting Jihad upon.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
08/24/2003 19:13 Comments ||
Top||
#4
OP - Are there sharks at that halfway point? That would work for me. Oh, I get it - you figure he'd get a professional courtesy pass from the sharks, eh? Good catch. ;-)
JPost - Rg Reqâd; EFL
Palestinian police arrested at least 12 weapons smugglers Saturday, seized arms and shut down two smugglersâ tunnels between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, security officials said. It was not clear whether the raids marked the start of a clampdown demanded by Israel and the United States or were merely a temporary tactical ploy. "See? - we arrested those smugglers who wouldnât give us our cut"
An IDF Officer said, "If this is a real change of strategy, we will stop and reconsider our steps. However, this may be no more than a tactic ploy, caused by fear of Israelâs reaction. While we are not âgung-hoâ for military action, we will not play by PA rules either. In the meantime, we are acting according to plan. We havenât stopped fighting Hamas, or put on hold our military action, which will be seen in the next few days." "Got a surprise for a couple bigs coming up"
Having said that, officials predict that Israel will display military restraint in the coming days, allowing for a fundamental change in PA policy and testing its determination to crack down on Palestinian terror organizations. "There is a void between what PA officials say and what they do. It is our opinion that they donât realize how serious the situation really is," said the officer. "When and if they do, it will be a good reason on our part to stop and reassess our steps." Foreign Ministry official Gideon Meir said Saturdayâs action was not enough, and that Israel expects Palestinian security chief Mohammed Dahlan to arrest those involved in violence against Israel. "We expect Dahlan to take his 20,000 troops and to start making arrests of the terrorists," he said. "We donât need any more words." Actions required? Not meaningless pablum words? How Zionist of you
Palestinian legislator Saeb Erekat said the closing of the tunnels reflects the Palestinian Authorityâs determination to enforce the law. "The obstacle to this (crackdown) now is the Israeli policy of incursions, assassinations, building walls and noncompliance with the road map," he said, a stance echoed by many Palestinian comments to the media. Kill him first, please
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/24/2003 12:03:14 PM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[7 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
They just might, since Isreal isn't plagued by the ACLU.
Posted by: Charles ||
08/24/2003 17:38 Comments ||
Top||
#2
The spirit of St Pancake (Rachel Corrie) immediately appeared and rebuked them for this action. St. Pancake is known as the patron saint of Arab pimps, drug dealers and Palestinian terrorists.
Hat tip to LGF
Lebanese Foreign Minister, Jan Obaid has held Israel responsible for the bombardment of the United Nationsâ headquarter in Baghdad. In a statement today, Obaid stressed Israeli interest in weakening the United Nations and replacing it, asserting Israel rejection to implement the international organizationsâ resolutions. He added that the Israeli history is full of killing stories starting with Cont Bernadotte to Himershold. This idiot guyâs their foreign minister? Obviously an Assad-approved buttboy. Of course itâs the Jooooos
The truth is out there... This isn't it.
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/24/2003 11:49:09 AM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[3 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
SyrLeb is now gunning for the NorKs. Who can sing the looniest tune? The competition is heating up. Great shit, InSana!
Link courtesy of the Brothers Judd. EFL
A leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Saturday called President Bush an enemy of Islam because the U.S. government froze the assets of Hamas leaders in response to a suicide bombing of a bus in Jerusalem. Speaking to Dubai-based Al-Arabiya TV, Abdel Aziz "Ha Ha Ya Missed Me!" Rantissi called the action "a theft of Muslim money by the Americans" and said the frozen money doesn?t belong to Hamas. "Hamas does not have any money in the U.S., Europe or even in the Arab states. By freezing this money that doesn?t exist...
President Bush has become Islam's biggest enemy," Rantissi said in the interview. Just imagine how much worse it would've been if the money really had belonged to Hamas!
On Friday, the United States froze the assets of six Hamas leaders, including Rantissi, an aide to Sheik Ahmed Yassin, the group's spiritual leader. The United States also froze the assets of five European-based organizations that it said raise money for the radical Palestinian group. Bush said he ordered the assets frozen because Hamas claimed responsibility for Tuesday's suicide attack on a packed bus in Jerusalem that killed 20 people, including six children. The Lebanese representative of the militant group on Saturday urged European nations to reject U.S. demands to freeze the funds of Hamas officials and pro-Palestinian charities. "We call on the countries that the Americans are trying to pressure not to respond to the pressure 'cause I gotta make the payments on my AK-47 or the repo man'll beat me up," Osama Hamdan said in a statement, adding that the "American decisions ... are based on Israel's interests." International Zionist Conspiracy (C) alert!
A similar call was issued by one of the charities named by the U.S. government, the Sanabel Endowment for Weapons Procurement Relief and Development, which denied having links to Hamas and expressed "astonishment at the unjustified" freeze.
Posted by: Mike ||
08/24/2003 11:34:23 AM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[3 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Bingo! Struck one or more nerves with the freeze. Vewy vewy good. More! More!
#2
Right on, .com! If the money doesn't belong to Hamas, then it must belong to someone else. Where are their cries? Why is HAMAS voicing their concern?
To kill a Hamas leader is to send him to 72 virgins, but to squeeze his pocketbook is cruel and Unusual punishment, it appears.
North Korean reporters traded punches with human rights activists Sunday as tension over the Northâs suspected nuclear development escalated into violence at the World University Games. The fight erupted as the reporters tried to seize banners critical of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il from a dozen anti-North Korea protesters. "Down with Kim Jong Il. Rescue our Northern brethren," one banner read. More than 100 South Korean riot police were at the scene and helped break up the scuffle. Dozens of other uniformed and plain-clothed police officers also swarmed in as the skirmish moved from the sidewalk toward the University Games main media center. Norbert Vollertsen, a German doctor and human rights activist, was knocked to the ground in the melee. Riot police formed a cordon around him as he lay on the ground before he was carried by stretcher to an ambulance. Vollertsen was wearing a neck brace when he arrived at the protest. His condition was not known. "Take that away immediately," shouted one North Korean reporter, angered at the banners.
Who the hell put you in charge?
Another reporter punched a South Korean activist who hunkered down with a banner tightly wrapped in his arms. At least two other North Koreans were involved in the scuffle, which lasted almost 10 minutes with a core of young activists among the dozen or so demonstrators. "You communists! Come here!" shouted young South Korean activists as security officials pulled the North Korean reporters into a nearby building and blocked the activists from entering . . . .
Posted by: lkl ||
08/24/2003 4:56:56 AM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[7 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
North Korean reporters,,er diplomarts,, er spies,,er terrorists, yah thats the word covering the ,,,,,,,,,,,,
Posted by: Someone who did NOT vote for William Proxmire ||
08/24/2003 8:40 Comments ||
Top||
#2
LMAO! The Reporters..err Functionaries probably have NEVER seen anything Anti-Dear Leader. They are real good at throwing insults but they cannot understand why everyone doesn't bow down to Dear Leader. Do they have pics of the melee?
"Fighting erupted at the games in the South Korean city of Taegu after four North Korean journalists confronted a dozen activists protesting human rights abuses in the North outside the main media center.
"We will have little choice but to reconsider our participation in the games if these kinds of anti-North Korean protests continue," North Korean delegation chief Jeon Kuk-man told reporters.
"We demand that the South Koreans apologize and properly punish those responsible. They must also guarantee that such incidents will not occur again."
More than 100 riot police battled to restore order after North Korean delegates confronted demonstrators waving banners denouncing the North's leader, Kim Jong-il, and pictures of starving North Korean babies. At least one protester was hurt."
I love the starving NK baby posters....sounds like the protesters were going reckless and running amok
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/24/2003 13:18 Comments ||
Top||
#4
If NK pulls out, will our medal count not be tainted? Will we have to include an asterix by any world records acheived?
Posted by: Steve D ||
08/24/2003 13:50 Comments ||
Top||
#5
"Everybody was kung-fu fighting..."
Our women's World Cup soccer team faces the NKors in Columbus, Ohio, next month. Being a university town in America, it's doubtful anyone there will have anything critical to say about Dear Leader; not with W to kick around.
#6
Quote to self: Incite soccer riot at womens soccer game in Columbus, Ohio next week. Watch tiny NKer's crumble under the drunken rage of college students.
P.S. Laugh while watching.
Posted by: Charles ||
08/24/2003 17:31 Comments ||
Top||
#7
Watch out for the NK jouranlist's; they're worse than English hooligans.
Posted by: Steve D ||
08/24/2003 18:59 Comments ||
Top||
#8
"Everybody was kung-fu fighting..."
My teenage daughter bought the Kung Fu Hamster that plays this particular song. Reading JDB's comments, all the silliness taking place at the University Games, makes me wonder how well the NKor soccer team would stand up to a couple of hundred of our "finest" high school and college female black belts. I know that eleven girls age 15-17 have recently gotten their black belt at my daughter's high school - one of 27 in the city (at the same time, "only" nine boys received their black belt). I wouldn't want to be an unwashed college rabble-rouser in today's society!
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
08/24/2003 19:09 Comments ||
Top||
#9
Here's a quick way to guarentee victory in Columbus:
1) buy up all the billboard space in and around the pitch (that's a soccer field, you uncultured Yanks :-) and use them to display food ads. Succulent, um-um good food.
2) hire extra food vendors to walk around in the stands. Have them sell really fragrant foods. Subsidize the ones selling kimchi; no self-respecting American will buy that shit stuff but let's get the smell on the field.
3) cabbage cologne for the American girls. Lots of it.
4) the referee, the linesmen, every field worker handling the balls, etc. should be chowing a hot-dog constantly during the match.
Do this and the match won't make it to the 15th minute, the entire NKor team will defect for an extra-large brat with mustard.
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/25/2003 2:20 Comments ||
Top||
...the Chinese have a more urgent reason than anyone else at the table to want major reforms in Kim Jong Ilâs regime without delay. Hunger and oppression inside North Korea have spawned an epidemic of violent crime on the Chinese side of the border. âThe North Koreans arenât afraid of anything,â says one area resident. âNow weâre the ones living in fear.â
ALTHOUGH BEIJING has mostly kept the crime wave out of the papers, itâs no secret to anyone who lives in the area. More than 100,000 illegal North Korean refugees live in China in hiding, under constant threat of being sent home to face starvation, imprisonment and possible execution if they are caught. Robbing or stealing is sometimes the only way to survive. North Korean soldiers have added to the chaos, in-filtrating across the line and attempting armed robberiesâeven, NEWSWEEK has learned, a bank holdup in the border town of Tumen Yup, right there on page 58 of my Juche Handbook: Patriotic Self-Reliance and Correction of Deviant Corrupt Robber Barron Activities thru Stickups.
As if that werenât enough, Pyongyang has sent swarms of operatives into China to track down defectors and refugees. The hunts can end in murder. In one border town, armed North Korean agents apparently killed a pair of South Korean missionaries along with four North Korean refugees whom they were hiding. In another incident, a North Korean refugee killed two local police and a Chinese border patrolman in the town of Longjing, west of Tumen. Last week, thousands of Chinese troops arrived in the regionâs main city, Yanji. Local sources say that they will be stationed at a string of newly constructed military garrisons in Tumen and other frontier towns, replacing smaller units of border police. So on one hand we have NK troops crossing the border in order to feed themselves. This indicates a serious breakdown. On the other hand, we have regime agents recieving and executing orders, which says to me the final collapse is not upon us. Yet. "Newly constructed military garrisons," eh? Whatâs the difference between a "garrison" and a "jumping off point"?
Posted by: Pete Stanley ||
08/24/2003 4:18:56 AM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[6 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
I don't think "jumping off point" is right.
More likely "forward supply depot".
The Chinese know they've got a problem with logistics. This could be a large step towards fixing it.
#3
NK poses huge refugee issues to china, and war would only worsen it. The crime sprees are just whipped cream on a sh*t pie for China - they're losing their grip on NK, and I think starting to really wonder if the pros outweigh the cons in supporting them any more
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/24/2003 11:52 Comments ||
Top||
#4
I don't understand this hypothesis of the "final collapse" of a totalitarian regime. Has it ever occurred without foreign influence (aka invasion)? The Soviet Union had millions starving in the 1930s, yet Stalin had enough authority to defeat the Nazis in the 1940s.
As long as Kim keeps control of his army commanders, isn't all this talk of "final collapse" just wishful thinking?
Posted by: A ||
08/24/2003 12:21 Comments ||
Top||
#5
I don't buy the Chinese concern with refugees or starvation in the border area. 100,000 dying would be small change with respect to the Cultural Revolution. While massive starvation in Mexico would be a grave concern to us, it would be a mistake to project that same concern for human life onto the Chinese government. The Chicoms will continue to surprise us with their brutality.
I expect China's current concern is to prevent the US from arming Japan and Taiwan.
Posted by: Steve D ||
08/24/2003 13:38 Comments ||
Top||
#6
Sorry, meant to put this under "Korea". A - I don't believe it's wishful thinking, and here's why: North Korea depended on aid from China and the Soviet Union for its entire existance, mostly from the Soviet Union. That stopped ten years ago, obviously. Infrastructure has been getting steadily worse since then. And North Korea was already fairly crumbly, due to the enormous influence of the army - much more so than in other Communist dictatorships. The Party doesn't control the army, and the Corps commanders do whatever they want. This is the article I'm basing my thinking on. A few days ago, the author left a couple comments on NK here, although the post started with Iraq. (Scroll down.) Another good article.
Posted by: Pete Stanley ||
08/24/2003 15:01 Comments ||
Top||
#7
Sorry, meant to put this under "Korea".
Based on the articles that you linked, a workable strategy would be to make some concessions during negotiations to keep the status quo until Iraq falls in line and then take care of NK.
Nuetralizing NK would involve contacting individual commanders to convince them that their planned artillery barrage would be a most unhealthy act. Step two would be to sever the rail lines. Step three would be to roll North by 50 to 100 miles to estasblish a buffer and then negotiate again.
Posted by: Steve D ||
08/24/2003 17:12 Comments ||
Top||
#8
NK is going to collapse in the next couple of years at the rate it's going. With people starving, economic sanctions straggling them, and international support almost completly dried up, it's a ticking 'star waiting to implode'. What we really need to worry about is getting in there after the collapse of the current regime. Restoring order quickly and preventing China from annexing NK will be big issues.
Posted by: Charles ||
08/24/2003 17:14 Comments ||
Top||
#9
Probably don't have to worry about China annexing NKorea. The Chinese don't want the burden of rebuilding. Neither does SKorea. Hence the years of laying on the sidelines hoping the US would make it all better. One of the (maybe the principle) reasons the Chinese have got serious is that the Russians have got serious and moved some of their military assets to near the NK border.
#10
Probably don't have to worry about China annexing NKorea.
Are you predicting that the UN, China, Russia, and EU will get together and con us into another humanitarian intervention by ourselves. Maybe we can get the Pueblo back at least.
Posted by: Steve D ||
08/24/2003 18:56 Comments ||
Top||
#11
Actually, Steve, there is a pretty good chance that the US will be part of a humanitarian effort in the next few years (actually all the best case scenarios work out this way). The US would almost certainly insist that the SKoreans lead the effort. The US would provide food (we have enormous surplus capacity there) and medical supplies (we can produce this also quicker than anybody else). The reconstruction of water, energy and housing would best be SKor or China if we were interested in getting the job done quickly.
#12
I am for reunification if at all possible. I am also for the US being a major part of the humanitarian effort. I don't see a way through the maze that doesn't involve an astronomical number of innocent Koreans getting killed.
The current export of weapons, drugs and conterfit currency is unacceptable. Massive starvation of the populous is also unacceptable. I don't think Japan really has much to fear from their missiles. Their diesel submarine force can be sunk at our convenience. On the Korean people both North and South are in harms way. We need to help them through this not just pay them off until after the elections
Posted by: Steve D ||
08/24/2003 21:33 Comments ||
Top||
#13
In the meantime a steady stockpiling of condensed chicken noodle soup, a stratigic stockpile if you will, is a no brainer. It'll be like cake.
Puppies, kittens and baby ducks alert!
The France-based Committee for Palestinian Charity and Aid (CBSP) Saturday dared U.S. President George W. Bush to prove âhis allegationsâ that the charity group gives money to any Palestinian resistance faction, insisting the freeze decision means starving thousands of orphans in the occupied Palestinian territories. In exclusive statements to IslamOnline.net, spokesman Youcef Benderbal said: âBush's demand that our offices be closed for financing Hamas is indeed surprising and even shocking. Everyone â especially the French authorities â knows that our efforts and donations are solely directed to charities with a defined aim of supporting the orphans and establishing development projects to benefit them.
"That way the Paleos don't have to worry about them, and they can spend their money on guns and ammunition..."
âOur job aims at easing â as much as possible â the suffering of the Palestinian children⢠who have no hand in the conflict on the ground, yet, they are the party that pays most dearly because of itâ. Benderbal further added that last month (July), with the help of the French authorities, âwe received 17 orphans from the West Bank city of Nablus. They were offered all proper accommodation for a nice holiday in northern France of Lyle.
"Seven of them exploded, but that's not our fault..."
âThe Committee has also organized continuous campaigns within the ranks of Arab and Muslim communities in France and Europe to encourage supporting the Palestinian orphans. In addition, we collect donations to finance development projects such as Olive Hope that encourages the Palestinians to plant their lands through digging wells, marketing of olive oil in Europe.âAccording to Benderbal, the committee also accomplished other projects like â10,000 satchels school bags for Palestinian children, providing hospitals with gun carriers ambulances and wheelchairs for the handicappedâ. On the possibility of a French positive response to the U.S. administrationâs demand of freezing the Committeeâs works, Benderbal said: âThe French Authorities have been closely monitoring the committeeâs finances since its establishment in 1990. Had they realized any fishy activities, they would not have waited for the Americans to tell them what to do."
"They'd have raked off some of the fish for themselves..."
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
08/24/2003 00:06 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[3 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
I don't suppose anybody has taken into consideration that the kids might be orphans because the parents blew themselves up?
Posted by: Charles ||
08/24/2003 1:16 Comments ||
Top||
#2
What do the orphans plan on doing with all the weapons this charity is buying them?
Posted by: Steve D ||
08/24/2003 13:57 Comments ||
Top||
#3
Don't you remember that baby that was dressed up as a suicide bomber?
Hamas Newest Tactic: Hide explosives under child in stroller, leave stroller in middle of busy crowd, detonate with remote control.
" Even our children will become martyrs against the Zionists! "
Not like they had a choice.
Posted by: Charles ||
08/24/2003 17:45 Comments ||
Top||
The Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the military wing of the Fatah Movement, has mourned the death of Hamas Movement political leader Ismail Abu Shanab in Gaza earlier today. The statement, a copy of which was sent to the Palestinian Information Center, said that the Zionist assassination of Abu Shanab had signaled an end to the truce.
The bus boom did that. But I repeat myself. Continuing to repeat oneself eventually becomes tiring. Eventually I'll quit repeating. Paleos, on the other hand, have a built-in parrot mechanism that will continue making the "Abu Shanab's killing blew the ceasefire" statement long after people have forgotten who he was. Thus is history rewritten in the space of a short attention span...
The statement, furthermore, expressed utter dismay over the Palestinian Authorityâs resolutions against resistance factions. âIt is not wise to adopt such arbitrary resolutions against resistance factions in Palestine hoping to win gains at the mirage, absurd negotiations,â the statement underlined. It urged all Mujahideen on the land of Palestine to teach the enemy a lesson, vowing that an earthshaking reprisal was coming soon.
"We will have our Dire Revenge™, with even bigger booms, even more casualties, until we force you to kill us all! And then you'll feel really, really bad."
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
08/24/2003 00:06 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[4 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Isreal: No we won't.
UN: Oh my, those poor terrorists!
US: Shut up already!
Posted by: Charles ||
08/24/2003 1:20 Comments ||
Top||
#2
U.S to U,N,:Don't let the door hit you in the ass.
The popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine has charged that the Palestinian Authority decision banning Hamas and Islamic Jihad Movement members from addressing the media as an unprecedented step that should be rejected. The PFLP issued a statement today asking all national forces to declare their clear rejection of such a step that harmed Palestinian national relations. The Front said that the PAâs angry reaction to the martyrdom operation in occupied Jerusalem last Tuesday evening that killed 20 Zionists and wounded more than 100 others had crossed all boundaries. The Front affirmed the Palestinian peopleâs right of resisting occupation and defending themselves in face of Zionist crimes.
"Defending oneself," of course, involves blowing up buses full of civilians while there's a "ceasefire" in effect that you agreed to...
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
08/24/2003 00:06 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[4 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
The word 'ceasefire' going through a Hamas members mind.
" You mean they'll just sit there while we kill them? It's not just propoganda, Zionists are dumb! "
Posted by: Charles ||
08/24/2003 1:23 Comments ||
Top||
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.
