#2
A good number of countries in the Middle East are stagnating, falling under the heavy load of corruption, suffering from bureaucracy, lack of comprehensive education and, as is becoming more evident in Saudi Arabia, of Islamist insurgency.
#3
A good number of countries in the Middle East are stagnating, falling under the heavy load of corruption, suffering from bureaucracy, lack of comprehensive education and, as is becoming more evident in Saudi Arabia, of Islamist insurgency.
Yet, any of this direly needed reform must be implemented with sufficient caution and glacial speed so that the corrupt individuals inhibiting its progress all can safely retire with their Swiss bank accounts intact.
#4
There's no uncertainty about the availability of Saudi oil that a couple of Marine Expeditionary Units can't resolve, if it comes to that. Anybody remember this little gem from back in "energy crisis" days?
Posted by: Mike ||
06/10/2004 9:41 Comments ||
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#5
Mike -
Victory Games' Gulf Strike in it original form was the absolute top of the line for gaming what a US invasion of the Soddies would have been like. A bunch of us stationed at Langley AFB in the mid-eighties tweaked it to conform to absolute reality, and it tended to sober people up right quickly.
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
06/10/2004 11:00 Comments ||
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#6
mike, would you beleive i have that in the basement?
#8
of course how it games will depend on basing, which will depend on the poltiical circumstances. A US intervention AGAINST the house of Saud would be different from an intervention over the dead body of a house of saud killed by Al _qaeeda (and of course Pro_Aq elements within the House of Saud). The latter would presumably have the open support of Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, etc which would make the logistics easier.
#9
.com-
Details you shall have...*S*
When I arrived at 1TFW in July 84, the old Rapid Deployment Force was still in business, and it was because I showed a certain interest in the planning side of things, I was dropped into the 1EMS Combat Plans section. (NOTE: Everything from here on is public domain.)
Having access to the actual plans along with a bit more acrate reference materials, some friends and I rebuilt the game to make it as absolutely accurate as we could, and after a couple of months of tweaking, we turned it loose on The Nightmare Scenario: a full-blown Soviet invasion of the Persian Gulf. As this was 1986ish, we assumed a direct Soviet invasion of Iran, along with an Iraqi/Soviet invasion of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia (Soviet units were almost all airborne in that part). The results were horrifying. The short version is that most US units got there just in time to be hacked to pieces. The 82nd ABN was able to be there within about 96 hours, but they were up against - IIRC - three full Soviet mechanized corps and an ungodly amount of airpower. The ports were gone within hours - either captured, unusable, or mined.
Now, we DID do the 'good' scenario - a US invasion of the Gulf, focusing on the Soddies. Even under mid 80s constraints, it was quick, fast and overwhelming. We went with the 82 ABN dropping on the oilfields, Ras Tanura, and Dhaharan and assumed Iraqi and Iranian tactical neutrality. The carriers were able to pretty much neutralize the RSAF, and Saudi units are so spread out that it was fairly easy to hold them off until the MEUs got there a couple days later - with help from the CVs and Arc Lights from DG. The bottom line then was that within 24 hours, there was nothing resembling C3I capability on the Soddy side, and the ground units were pulling back towards Riyadh, Mecca/Madinah and KKMC. The war was effectively over in about 4 days, and never once did it fail to end in anything other than an overwhelming US victory. Doing it now - with the capabilities we have in place - would turn it, I think, into a 24 hour rout.
Now, where's my copy of Harpoon Classic?...
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
06/10/2004 13:10 Comments ||
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#10
I just knew Rantburg had a Wargamers' Club! This thread is bringing back some serious memories from my college days.
In all seriousness, if any of you guys are up for a little gaming (either PBEM or in person if the geography works out) hit me with an e-mail.
Posted by: Mike ||
06/10/2004 13:59 Comments ||
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#11
Mike K, you focused on a Soviet invasion in which we responded. Was there anything related to internal threats tossed around during that time? And does anyone know if we even would respond to prop up the Royals if there was some kind of coup, whether al-Q-pushed, or otherwise?
Posted by: The Doctor ||
06/10/2004 14:44 Comments ||
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#12
If I remember right Dale Brown authored a novel with a simaler scenario.
#14
Just for fun I'll let on that Harpoon destroyed one very promising job for me.... The only computers I had access to that could play it well enough were at work..... :)
A pure rat bastard memory hog if you ran amuck with the scenario generator.
Almost half of all Saudis said in a poll conducted last year that they have a favorable view of Osama bin Ladenâs sermons and rhetoric, but fewer than 5 percent thought it was a good idea for bin Laden to rule the Arabian Peninsula. Yet another sterling example of Islamic disconnect. "We like bin Laden, but donât want him calling the shots."
The poll involved interviews with more than 15,000 Saudis and was overseen by Nawaf Obaid, a Saudi national security consultant. It was conducted between August and November 2003, after simultaneous suicide attacks in May 2003 when 36 people were killed in Riyadh. Obaid said he only recently decided to reveal the poll results because he felt the public needed to know about them. "I was surprised [at the results], especially after the bombings," Obaid told CNN. The question put to Saudi citizens was "What is your opinion of Osama bin Ladenâs sermons and rhetoric?"
"They like what he said about whatâs going on in Iraq and Afghanistan. Or about America and the Zionist conspiracy. But what he does, thatâs where you see the huge drop," said Obaid, referring to the bombings that had already begun taking place inside Saudi Arabia at the time the poll was conducted. He also said he would like to update the poll numbers in the wake of the recent series of terrorist attacks that have taken place in Saudi Arabia. So, as long as bin Laden keeps murdering people outside Saudi Arabia, everythingâs just hunky dory, eh?
I think that the general idea.
Forty-one percent said they favored strong and close relations with America, while only 39 percent said they had a favorable opinion of the Saudi armed forces, both results that Obaid also termed "surprising." "Strong and close relations" with the Americans that they want bin Laden to keep killing. You canât have it both ways, @ssholes!
"They donât trust their army," said Obaid, who noted that the security forces fared far better. He noted that less than a third of Saudis polled had a positive opinion of militant clerics, although government-appointed religious figures did better. If you donât have a "positive opinion of militant clerics," why do you keep listening to them?
The poll showed strong support for political reforms and allowing women to play a greater role in society. Almost two-thirds said they favored allowing women to drive, something they are currently banned from doing. Hokey smokes, Bullwinkle! Allowing women to drive is really going to pull them into the 21st century.
While support for political reforms, particularly elections, was high, few Saudis viewed liberal reformers with much favor. Which is why you are stuck with your corrupt royals and their spittle bedecked Wahhabist clerics.
Obaid said he shared the poll results -- some of which were published today in The Washington Post -- with members of the Interior and Foreign ministries, as well as the royal court. Some were "a bit wary" about the questions, Obaid said, particularly the ones relating to bin Laden, but he received support from the government when he conducted the poll. The margin of error was plus or minus three percentage points. Does anyone sincerely believe that this will assist the royals in purchasing a direly needed clue? Only when the entire royal family is twisting gently in the breeze from Riyadhâs lamp posts will they finally have made contact with reality.
Posted by: Zenster ||
06/10/2004 2:28:51 AM ||
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#1
Yet another sterling example of Islamic disconnect. "We like bin Laden, but donât want him calling the shots."
I dunno, kinda like how I feel about say, Michael Ledeen.
#1
It definitely is the case now that if you have a white face and you are driving around - you look vulnerable...There are a lot of British Asians out here and they feel a bit tense, but they don't feel that same level of vulnerability. I completely blend in - if I were Caucasian it would be very different.
Ironic isn't it? Western countries take pains not to "profile" racially for potential terorrists, but terrorists do profile when selecting their prey.
This religious war also is taking on skin color hues. Indeed, when I was researching information on Islam gaining in popularity in Latin American countries for another discussion thread, what I stumbled across complements what "Fahim" observes in this article...the color of skin protects people and it also attracts new converts to Islam. For example, Hispanics are leaving Catholicism because they see a brotherhood with ME Arabs and Asians-they perceive themselves in the same boat of being "downtrodden" and/or enslaved by Westerners.
Posted by: rex ||
06/10/2004 1:45 Comments ||
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#2
It's time for all westerners to depart no matter the ultra-high salaries within the Saudi oil industry. What good is a fat paycheck in the graveyard?
Let the Saudis stew in their own making.
Posted by: Mark Espinola ||
06/10/2004 1:59 Comments ||
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#3
Hispanics are leaving the Catholic Church in droves because of the protestant (heretics) influence with their missionaries down there--why don't these Bible banging nutz go to the ME?
Posted by: Not Mike Moore ||
06/10/2004 2:24 Comments ||
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#4
Make light of this recent phenomenon in Latin America, #3, but it represents yet another front for Islamic extremists to penetrate and influence and unfortunately, there's no ocean that separates the USA from Latin America as per Saudi Arabia. Check out the IslamicFinder website by country for Islamic associations and prayer meetings, and you might be surprised:
http://www.islamicfinder.org/world.php
Posted by: rex ||
06/10/2004 2:48 Comments ||
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#5
why don't these Bible banging nutz go to the ME?
Arguing with people like NMM is USELESS. Their ignorance is absymal, and I have no idea if they even are rational enough to reason from cause to effect. These people won't take into accout that christian missionary activity is ILLEGAL in the Arab Mideast. Importation of bibles is banned. Converts are executed as traitors. Existing believers are persecuted. Does this make a difference in these people's thinking? No. not a whit.
It is an open question whether they are UNABLE or UNWILLING to distinguish between religious people who use words, generosity, and kind deeds to win converts, and those who use threats, punitive taxes, guns, bombs, and rape to get their way. Perhaps the two are blood brothers, secretly willing to use such means to get their way, yet terrified to do so in the USA because of the Second Amendment?
True, but I do find many of the trolls out there weirdly intriguing. I can't help wondering, for instance, what makes NMM 'tick'. He's viscerally anti-British (or is it only anti-English?), excessively pro-French and thinks himself pro-Irish (confusing the interests and actions of terrorists with those of ordinary people), determinedly pro-Catholic and anti-Protestant (this seems to be related to his nationalistic biases), yet doesn't come across, to me at least, as in any way 'Catholic'. Sometimes trolls can be quite fascinating.
Hello Hello
Hello, Hello
We are the Billy Boys,
Hello, Hello,
You'll know us by our noise
We're up to our knees in fenian blood
surrendur or you'll die
cos we are the glasgow billy boys
Posted by: Howard UK ||
06/10/2004 9:04 Comments ||
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#8
/irony
Posted by: Howard UK ||
06/10/2004 9:12 Comments ||
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#9
I find the Hispanic angle very surprising. I always thought they were devout Catholics for the most part, and this Mulsim conversion fad is more than a little shocking.
There's got to be more to this story. Perhaps Hispanics living in America might latch on to the "mutual oppression" rhetoric (I doubt this as well... Hispanics generally don't dwell on such things like certain other "ethnic groups" do), but it makes no sense in Latin America.
How is whitey keeping you down in the Latin nations? Did I miss something?
Posted by: Chris W. ||
06/10/2004 11:50 Comments ||
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#10
Here are just 2 articles on Hispanics' attraction to Islam. If you google Hispanics and Islam, as I recall there were 29,000 plus or minus hits.
http://www.watchman.org/epnews.htm
"Many Hispanics returning to the faith of their Fathers-Islam" 7/22/02
...Dr. Ed Joseph, whose organization, the Fellowship of Isa (Arabic for Jesus), reaches Muslims worldwide with the gospel message, says the number is closer to nine million Muslims in the U.S. out of a total of 1.4 billion worldwide.
Whatever the total, Hispanics who convert to Islam do so for a number of reasons. Most Hispanics from the U.S., Puerto Rico, Central and South America were raised Catholic. Catholic Hispanics who turn to Islam have become isolated from the faith they grew up with, and no longer see it as relevant to their daily lives. The barrage of high-profile scandals the church in America has faced over the last year - and how the church's cardinals have handled them - certainly hasn't helped.
Joseph said that the exodus by many Hispanics in the U.S. from Christianity to Islam stems from an isolation they feel from the
culture, and an antagonism they feel from non-Hispanic Americans. "As hard as this is to acknowledge, many white Americans look down at Hispanics as foreigners," Joseph said. He noted that when Whites see Hispanics who don't speak English working at menial jobs in fast food restaurants, their tendency is to reject them, "like they're trying to take over the country. They don't get that same rejection from Muslims. Muslims say to them, 'See, we're the same color, and our clerics aren't involved in abuse [like Catholic priests].' There is an openness they don't feel from the American culture." ...The Associated Press quotes one former Catholic Hispanic, Ibrahim Gonzalez, as saying that he didn't convert to Islam, but rather returned to his ancient spiritual roots. "We're returning to a religion that we once belonged to and was very much a part of our historical heritage," AP reporter Deborah Kong quoted Gonzalez as saying. Gonzalez and other Hispanic Muslims trace their Islamic roots back to the Muslim Moors, who ruled in Spain until the 1400s...
Also, here' another cheery article about How Hispanics, along with whites and blacks, are helping people convert to Islam right here in the USA. Nice.
http://www.islamfortoday.com/ohio.htm
"Influx of Muslim immigrants attracting Americans to Islam"
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Each time the plain, wooden door to the Omar Ibn Kahttab mosque swings open a man from another part of the world walks in. India, Afghanistan, Somalia, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Morocco. They line up in rows just before the evening prayer and bow under humming fluorescent lights in a small, plain room that used to be a Jehovah's Witnesses hall. Women gather in a separate room.
Over the last decade, about 15,000 Muslim refugees have come to Columbus, according to Interfaith Refugee Services. Of the 800 refugees the group has resettled in the city this year, 99.9 percent of them are Muslim. There are about 25,000 Muslims in Columbus. Nationwide there are from 6 to 8 million Muslims. Based on anecdotal accounts and interviews, the refugee service estimates that nationwide there could be as many as 18,000 converts a year, or one convert per mosque per month. Muslims don't actively seek converts, but a concept called dawah encourages
sharing information about their religion with others...there are two main Muslim ministries
-- in prisons and on college campuses -- which differ in approach. ``One is appealing to intellectuals and is focusing on the absurdity of the trinity -- that is the classical way that Muslims undermine Christian thought,'' said Haddad, a Syrian-born Christian. ``The other ministry is focusing on rebuilding the individual and focuses on black and Latino power.''
Zakiyah Al-Husaam, 41, who is from Panama, said she and her husband, Abdul Kariym, who is a black American, are sometimes mistaken for African Muslims. The two, who were Christian, met in a class about Islam in Panama, where
Abdul Kariym served in the U.S. Army. They both converted to Islam in 1982,before moving to the United States and later to Columbus. Both said that Islam had answers for them that Christianity didn't. ``We are showing that this religion has no boundaries,'' he said. ``The second generation of Muslim immigrants are learning what Islam is from blacks, whites and Hispanics.''
Posted by: rex ||
06/10/2004 16:39 Comments ||
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#1
Another spotty piss streak barely out of school. Bosnia? But we have troops there?! WTF!? This is starting to put the Bosnian war into context for me - we inadvertantly helped them to create a mini Afghanistan in Europe? Great!
Posted by: Howard UK ||
06/10/2004 4:21 Comments ||
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#2
And the lesson we learn from this is?
Lol! Never again! And this from someone who instinctively had a visceral "dislike" of the Serbs, practitioners of the Great Lie. Some lessons are more expensive than others, eh?
#3
V expensive indeed and potentially disastrous for Europe. However, I don't think it's as easy to hide in Bosnia as Afghanistan.
Posted by: Howard UK ||
06/10/2004 6:06 Comments ||
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#4
I really do talk sh#t at times - we haven't got Karadjic or Mladic yet, have we? Doh.
Posted by: Howard UK ||
06/10/2004 6:24 Comments ||
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#5
Here's some more context: Jihadists have been training in many countries, including the USA. Abu Hamza is being extradited to the USA because he attempted to set up a terrorist training camp in Oregon.
.
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
06/10/2004 6:54 Comments ||
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excerpted from State Department Daily Press Briefing
QUESTION: Have you seen the story this morning about China casting doubt on the U.S. insistence that North Korea has a uranium bomb program?
MR. BOUCHER: We saw the story and, frankly, we find the Assistant Foreign Ministerâs comments somewhat puzzling. We have made clear over time that there is very conclusive information that North Korea has a covert uranium enrichment program. North Korea, at that time, acknowledged that it was pursuing uranium enrichment. Since that time, North Korea has withdrawn from the NPT, Non-Proliferation Treaty. They have restarted activities geared to the production of plutonium-based weapons. They have asserted their so-called right to develop nuclear weapons.
Moreover, the recent revelations by the Pakistani scientist A.Q. Khan provided additional information about North Koreaâs pursuit of nuclear weapons. So, certainly there can be no doubt that North Koreanâs nuclear activities represent a clear threat and they violate several important international agreements as well as the commitments that North Korea has made to the past -- in the past.
So we really do think it is up to the North Koreans to demonstrate that they are willing to completely and irreversibly abandon their nuclear programs through a verifiable dismantlement of all the elements of those efforts.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
06/10/2004 3:19:35 AM ||
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Let's see....No North Korean uranium bomb program, Iranians replace weapons factories with flower beds between IAEA visits, etc.
Seems to me that someone is being loose with the facts here.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
06/10/2004 19:47 ||
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#1
PARKENSON'S LAW FANS WILL LOVE WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE!
They are working out all the committee organization and communication right now. Reading this piece was unbelieveable to me. The EU will be saved from terrorism by committee. Not likely.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
06/10/2004 19:55 Comments ||
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#2
"The current structures are based on artificial pillar structures and in Brussels there is not even a body that co-ordinates the activities of the different committees", Mr De Vries writes in his report.
Pillar structures ... and AQ will be the bowling ball.
I predict that the first concrete proposal will involve a requirement for lots of funding. At least some of that money will be ear-marked for awareness training and public service announcements to increase the "awareness of terrorism in the public psychie." Money ill-spent as terrorists do their own advertizing.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
06/10/2004 20:49 Comments ||
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#3
den Beste is all over this in his latest post:
"You will not win this war by hunting for terror cells and expelling radical imams. All you'll do that way is to delay defeat. Your police cannot win this war for you. They'll try, but they'll ultimately fail. You cannot win this war inside Europe.
You sure as hell are not going to win this war with bureaucrats.
Step 3 is recognizing that you're going to need soldiers, and your soldiers are actually going to have to fight, and they'll have to do that fighting outside of Europe. Your soldiers will not win by engaging in peacekeeping. They can only win by engaging in warmaking."
Posted by: Matt ||
06/10/2004 21:00 Comments ||
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#4
EU Anti-Terror Czar Coordinates Committes
I can just see it now:
"Now, let's see here, Denmark and Malta, you two sit next to each other over there right by Iceland and Sweden. Seborga and Greece over there, and we'll have the Faröes and Finland over there too ...
Okay, who else's flags coordinate in matching colors? Germany, you'll just have to wait!
#5
"You will not win this war by hunting for terror cells and expelling radical imams. All you'll do that way is to delay defeat. Your police cannot win this war for you. They'll try, but they'll ultimately fail. You cannot win this war inside Europe.
Hokey smokes, Bullwinkle! You mean to say that someone over in Europe isn't breathing their own exhaust? Got a link for all the folks at home, Matt?
#6
I just looked at Steven DenBeste's site and found his essay. He even linked the EU article I posted. Great essay!!!!! Every US citizen should read it. It is located at USS Clueless.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
06/10/2004 22:46 Comments ||
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#7
Thank you, AP, I appreciate the link. Since I am unfamiliar with Steven DenBeste's site, I thought it was a European publication. Now I know better.
#8
Hey, has anybody read this thing? It's hilarious. Sounds like the Euro anti-terror campaign is being run by Larry, Curly, and Moe.
Posted by: Infidel Bob ||
06/10/2004 23:32 Comments ||
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#9
Infidel Bob, the "highly classified" suggestion that the Terrorism Working Group could be melded with the Working Group on Terrorism could really achieve "synergy." Just think of how many misrouted phone calls that combining those two bureaus could save. The possible efficiency gains would be astrological.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
06/11/2004 0:24 Comments ||
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Rabei reports ... "There are other women." Among them is "Mouattaf," who has already been "prepared with many medicinal products," he said. "If she tosses a stick she destroys an entire American neighborhood."
.
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
06/10/2004 22:52 Comments ||
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#2
I meant to post this larger excerpt:
In one conversation on May 26, Rabei boasts .... that plans are under way for some sort of chemical attack against the United States.
Rabei reports ... "There are other women." Among them is "Mouattaf," who has already been "prepared with many medicinal products," he said. "If she tosses a stick she destroys an entire American neighborhood."
.
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
06/10/2004 22:55 Comments ||
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The Commission investigating the events surrounding the 11 March terrorist attacks is to examine the relationship between police and some of the suspects, it emerged Thursday. It is considering asking a police inspector who used three of the suspects as informers to appear before the commission.
Considering?
Manuel GarcÃa RodrÃguez is a police inspector in Aviles in Asturias, northern Spain. The explosives used in the bomb attacks were stolen from a mine in this area by a gang who were allegedly in contact with the bombers. The Spanish daily El Mundo claimed Thursday three suspects had a relationship with Garcia before and after the bombings.
Most likely they were informants. Of course, they would only inform on other people, not what they were doing.
The same suspects were also in contact with Jamal Ahmidam, nicknamed 'The Chinese', who was said to be the "mastermind" behind the attacks.
Wait a minute, Jamal Ahidam aka "The Chinese"? Yesterday they busted another "mastermind" who was known as "The Egyptian", plus I swear there was another guy mentioned who was known as "The Algerian". What is this, a Quentin Tarantino movie?
What's next? Mahmoud the Samoan? Shaukat the Esquimeau?
He died along with six other terrorists when they blew themselves up in a flat in Leganes, a suburb of Madrid on 3 April, while surrounded by police. The suspects allegedly made calls to the police officer and the Islamic radical from the same telephone box just outside the police station in Aviles, the paper reported. Joan Puig, a spokesman for the left-wing Catalan nationalist party ERC who will sit on the commissión, said the allegations were "surreal". He added it was possible the officer would be called to give evidence to the commission. Emilio Olavaria, of the Basque nationalist party PNV, said all those who were relevant to the commissión should be called, including the officer. The Commission is to examine the events before and after the attacks in a similar way to the inquiry into the 11 September terrorist attacks in the United States.
And in the same way, assign blame to the other party.
Posted by: Steve ||
06/10/2004 1:00:53 PM ||
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#1
What? Is Zapatero going to ask Jamie Gorelick to join his comission too?
#3
Zougam was the man on the scene, Ahmed made the explosives and did the nuts and bolts planning, and Azizi came up with the grand strategy. At some point in the pecking order, Azizi answers to Zarqawi, who answers to Saif al-Adel, who answers to Binny.
All clear now ;)
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
06/10/2004 13:50 Comments ||
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Osama bin Ladenâs terrorist network al-Qaeda has an active cell in the Netherlands which is ready to strike, according to the published transcript of telephone intercepts. It is unclear if the Islamic terrorists referred to in the transcripts plan to attack in the Netherlands or elsewhere in Europe. Newspaper El Pais and Italian daily La Repubblica published partial transcripts of telephone conversations by alleged terrorist âMohammed the Egyptianâ who was arrested in Milan on Tuesday. In one of the intercepted telephone conversation, he allegedly told a friend: "You should know one cell was ready in the Netherlands. Later, for various reasons, it fell apart. At the moment there is just one person who is ready. He is nervous, having just come out of prison - but everything in good time." The Dutch security service AIVD had refused to comment on the reports, due to the "operational character" of the information from Spain and Italy, Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant said. Dutch Liberal party parliamentarians Geert Wilders and Ayaan Hirsi Ali have called on the government to comment on the suggestions the Netherlands is a terrorist target.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
06/10/2004 9:12:53 AM ||
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Oh no, the Dutch! What are you gonna do, pull your finger out of the dyke?
Seriously though, these Dutch better get with the program instead of calling on the government to comment on the suggestions the Netherlands is a terrorist target.
Yeah, that'll show em.
Posted by: Chris W. ||
06/10/2004 11:56 Comments ||
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#3
When a Dutch Al-Qaeda cell drops a bomb on you, it's known in the business as a Dutch Treat.
From Al Muhajiroun
Unfortunately for the Muslims in the West (who are living in the heartlands of the Kufr and the Shirk), election season is upon us, with voting for the European Parliament, the Mayor of London and the local UK elections taking place on the 10th of June. I say unfortunately because for the real Muslim Muwaahid (true monotheists) this is a time of great pain and sadness as they see how the kuffaar usurp one of the most important Names and Attributes of Allaah (swt), that of al-Hakam al-Adl (the Divine Just Ruler), and direct it to themselves. However, the greater pain is caused because the people who call themselves by Muslims names and attribute themselves to the Muslim Ummah (falsely), saying that they care for its concerns, participate in these events, choosing, canvassing and even arguing with their Muslim brethren about which Kaafir (disbeliever) they should give their vote to so that they may take office and thereby rule and judge by Kufr (non-Islam).
Initially, those involved in such activities, being Secularists and involved in all manners of haraam such as selling alcohol, not fulfilling their duties etc, did not care what Islam said on this matter. Rather they became MPs and Ministers for their own pleasures and benefits. The likes of other secularists such as the apostate (murtadd) Lord Ahmed Khanzir, the ex-Scottish MP Mr Muhammad Sarwar and Baroness Uddin all attained their positions through canvassing the so-called Muslim vote, claiming that they would represent the Muslim viewpoint when they gained their seats. However, their damn lies, false promises and anti-Islamic, pro-Kufr (disbelief) policies were manifest for all to see in particular when the labour backbenchers rebelled against Tony Blair in the build up to the war on Iraq yet not a single voice of dissent came from these so-called integrated-Muslims within his party! Maybe these Muslim parliamentarians judged there silence to be of a âlesser evilâ than their speaking out against the terrorist Blair regime.
Regrettably, of recent has surfaced a more manifest attack against the Islamic âAqeedah and the Tawheed (oneness) of Allaah (swt), in that so-called Muslims and their groupings (like Islamic Awakening (formerly known as Azzam publications) and Al-Muntada) are now calling other Muslims to vote for and choose Kufaar (disbelievers) to come into power, citing examples such as the story of Yusuf (as) and the principles of the "lesser of two evils" to further their cases whilst trying to cloak their actions of Shirk by wearing the negligee of Islamic Shariah in an attempt to look and appear legitimate in the eyes of the Muslims.
This short article hopes to present some of the Islamic evidences dealing with the issue of voting and whether the Muslims residing in the UK or elsewhere are allowed to participate in such activities.
Many many many many quotations from the Koran
Therefore, voting for any political party that is going to work within a democratic framework and voting for or against legislation in a parliament regardless of the apparent benefits is at best Haraam, and at worst an act of Kufr and Shirk, taking one outside the fold of Islam. Voting for a secular party in the Western systems, regardless of a noble goal and the correctness of the intention, is something that contradicts the foundations of what it means to be a Muslim and without a shadow of a doubt is something that is prohibited.
Oh Muslim! Oh you to whom Allaah (swt) has given might with Islam! The call of integration (e.g. voting) is a call for further subjugation of the will of the Muslims. It is a concerted effort by the enemies of Allaah (swt) to drive the Muslims to integrate into British society and to instil into Muslims the values of Secularism, as manifested by the Labour and Conservative parties as well as the Respect party, The Green party amongst others. This drive towards secularising the Muslims has already led to many Muslims suffering the consequences of Freedom. Donât you look and see the dire consequences in which Muslims have adopted the lifestyles and values they have found around them? Muslim youth (our future) have become submerged into the Kufr culture around them. Rampant fornication, adultery and even homosexuality have found their way into the Muslim community. Muslim elders have found themselves abandoned and neglected, whereas it was previously thought that the âold folks homeâ was an abode for the Kuffaar. New figures from the home office indicate otherwise. Do we as an Ummah want to continue to go down this road?
As Muslims, we must strengthen our own defences against this Kufr onslaught by immersing ourselves in the vast Islamic culture, actively seeking out the Haqq (the truth), and not being satisfied to just imitate our so-called community leaders when they openly go against that which is known from Islam by necessity. At the same time, we need to stand together with the followers of Ahl Al Sunnah WaâL Jamaah, wherever they are, in order to act as a pressure group, in the absence of the Islamic Khilafah State. We must enjoin the good and forbid the evil in society, stand up for Islam and Muslims, wherever they are, and strengthen our links with our Muslim brothers overseas, to maintain the âone-nationâ concept. May Allah make this easy for us.
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
06/10/2004 8:33:56 AM ||
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Fine with me. By the way, as agents of the "one-nation" concept of the Ummah, why aren't they called Traitors?
#2
Doesn't this mean we can direct our Polling Judges to exclude Muslims from voting, too - y'know, the old "You may not respect your religion, but we do - now bugger off." routine?
Mebbe the internal threat can be drastically reduced if they demand to be disenfranchised. I certainly won't complain!
#3
Have you seen how they treat muslim women outside polling stations who have the temerity to challenge their theocratic mores? Last year, in Derby UK, with Police present, many women were intimidated in the street by the Al Muhajiloonies and consequently scuttled back home to their kitchens without voting. Those bearded twats should have been in the back of a meat-wagon on the receiving end of a good kicking from Plod IMHO. Harumph.
Posted by: Howard UK ||
06/10/2004 8:56 Comments ||
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#4
Don't like it? Piss off.
Posted by: Howard UK ||
06/10/2004 8:57 Comments ||
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#5
What? Aren't there polling laws (minimum distances from polling station for loitering / electioneering) and general laws regards assault (excuse me, sir, you can't menace or bash the lady... that is a lady under the sack, right?), etc.??? WTF? Tell me you're having us on with some exaggeration!
#7
There were no reports of arrests and all was filmed on national tv to little outcry - often sound as though I'm exaggerating but things have become ludicrous here. There were arrests in Birmingham the other day, however, when a similar trick was puled during canvassing - there was a bloody big scrap by all accounts too.
Posted by: Howard UK ||
06/10/2004 9:16 Comments ||
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#8
There's been a lot of fuss about alleged abuses of the experimentally partially-introduced postal voting this time round, much of it involving Muslims and Muslim communities. Some detail here.
We'll see whether there's been intimidation at polling stations in the next day or two (if it happens, and if so, if it gets reported).
#9
I think that some healthy young sports might just enjoy hanging around in hopes of catching some bully boy jihadi harassing anyone. Sounds like just the public service I used to actively seek out in my youthful days of thuggery!
#10
BD: I couldn't believe what I saw on TV last year - described above - as often happens recently, I was left staring open-mouthed at the tv, repeatedly muttering: 'But that's illegal.. they can't do that.'
Posted by: Howard UK ||
06/10/2004 9:28 Comments ||
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#11
We'd be locked up for racially aggravated assault and made an example of for being of managerial middle-class stock.
Posted by: Howard UK ||
06/10/2004 9:31 Comments ||
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#12
the heartlands of the Kufr and the Shirk
Sh*t, they got me confused. Are we kufr or shirk, or both?;)
#13
Indeed, Howard, but now that the police have been reduced to behaving like pussified social workers, what can you expect? There'll be a backlash against this PC bullshite soon enough...
For the sake of the chattering classes' obsessional 'multiculturalism' we have to watch the law enforcers stand idly by as women are intimidated into not voting so as to respect their 'cultural values' and, heaven-forbid, avoid committing that worst-possible crime, provoking a 'minority'. Similarly, we see armed police spending an hour conducting a risk analysis of a crime scene, where two women lie dying of wounds in a garden, because common sense, and getting the bloody job done, again, have to make way for politically-prescribed insanity.
The tide will turn, my friend! The tide will turn...
#14
I think he meant Shrek, not shirk. Or maybe he was football fan. Jerry Sherk was a DL for the Cleveland Browns 1970-1981 out of Oklahoma State or maybe TE Gary Shirk of the WFL, New York Giants and USFL.
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/10/2004 10:06 Comments ||
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#15
Therefore, voting for any political party that is going to work within a democratic framework and voting for or against legislation in a parliament regardless of the apparent benefits is at best Haraam, and at worst an act of Kufr and Shirk, taking one outside the fold of Islam. Voting for a secular party in the Western systems, regardless of a noble goal and the correctness of the intention, is something that contradicts the foundations of what it means to be a Muslim and without a shadow of a doubt is something that is prohibited.
Expect turbaned poll-monitors at polling stations, midnight visits, and lots of dead folks in the morning.
#17
howard is that true about the intimidation of muslim women at the polling stations?
if so i feel sorry for the state of european affairs...
in the US the police would not tolerate this - you have rights as long as you do not infringe on the rights of others..which i totally support...
freedoms and rights are not automatic..you need to fight for them and repsect the rights of others..if not kiss your's goodbye!
Posted by: Dan ||
06/10/2004 11:36 Comments ||
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#18
Liberalhawk: I understand and got a smile from your post but I would like to enlighten you on the Ku Klux Klan in Alabama. At one time they were very powerful but not any more. They are more often laughed at nowadays. There is a bigger Klan following in Ohio now than in Alabama. I know Alabama has a sordid past history where the Klan is concerned and it pains me to know that when people think of Alabama the Klan comes to mind. I wish we could get that stain off.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
06/10/2004 12:04 Comments ||
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actually Deacon - you've succeeded - don't be too sensitive. When I hear Alabama, I think Crimson Tide and Bear Bryant
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/10/2004 12:09 Comments ||
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#20
Goddammit! It's stuff like this that makes me think that maybe we won't succeed with Iraq - not because I think we can't do it (we can), but because these idiots allow a bunch of morons with turbans wrapped too tightly around their heads to dictate their actions! You need free thought, and these people don't have it.
Posted by: The Doctor ||
06/10/2004 12:13 Comments ||
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#21
I agree with .com -
Lock me up - Its not racial - some jackas trying to stop people from voting, and the police didn't show up yet so I was helping the person get to the polling place when thei asshole tried to stop her.
Perhaps the show of a well balanced cricket bat in the hands of a solid 250lb-er would be a convincer to some turbaned jackass not to harass people.
The show of baseball bats work here against the "unreformed", and (he he he) some are now made of Alumin(i)um. . . ecology and trees, you know. . .
"You gonna leave the little lady alone, boy?"
"But you don't understand. I am on a mission form Allah!"
"And I am on a mission too. To send you to meet your buddy Allah if you don't get your sorry ass out of her way."
Ive only been to Huntsville, which isnt really 'Bama I guess, but i was friends with an almost hippie chick girl from Birmingham in college.
I didnt want a time travel thing to distract from the humor, and wanted a place where the klans focus was historically on voting, which I dont think it was in the north, and isnt the case with the contemporary klan at all.
#24
Dan, Sometimes the police do tolerate outright thugery. In Seattle during World trade Conf., Black thugs showed their rage by beating a young white kid who tried to help a girl who was being molested by them.
The police stood watching as they had orders not to interfer with the culturally sensitive display of free speech. The top cop was retired, doing nicely I'm sure.
#27
LOL - OK , Raj - Talladega too...I was a happy guy last sunday. Mark Martin fan, and I finally got to celebrate
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/10/2004 13:16 Comments ||
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Hello Sane People: In the lead-up to the US invasion of Iraq in March 2003, here in Toronto - North America's 3rd or 4th largest city - the Muslim community marched in protest. Many carried signs that read DEATH TO ALL JEWS. This is a "hate crime" according to Canadian law. Nonetheless, not a single Muslim person was arrested or stopped. Rather, a Jewish surgeon was attacked by a gang of Muslims and beaten to a pulp. Canada also has a policy of official multiculturalism. Truly a pity!
Posted by: Julian L. ||
06/10/2004 15:58 Comments ||
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#29
More info on hate crimes in Canada: CBC Indepth
Posted by: Rafael ||
06/10/2004 16:30 Comments ||
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#30
Participation in European Elections Violates Islam
What is there besides infidel killing, serial prayer, turban twirling and wife beating that doesn't "violate Islam?"
This is right up there with how so many Palestinians voluntarily abandoned their property in Israel, being persuaded by their Arab leaders that all Jewish holdings would be their's to plunder once the Jews were "pushed into the sea."
We see it again here. "Do not vote" as it is a form of participation with the infidel. Instead, abandon your right to elected representation and thereby facilitate elements hostile to Muslim interests in their efforts to marginalize any role of Islam in European society.
Once those inimicable interests have obtained ascendency, only then should the weeping and wailing begin about "oppression and (that justly famous) humiliation" of the Islamic faith.
#32
Howard. I just read this and wonder if you know anything about it?
"The Florentine Boar, the centerpiece of Great Britain's oldest public park, stood for more than 100 years before it was damaged during World War II. A planned refurbishing of the park includes a replica of the statue. But in Derby, where the park is located, members of the city council and community activists have called the statur "devisive" and asked that it not be placed in the park lest it offend area Muslims."
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
06/10/2004 18:13 Comments ||
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#33
But in Derby, where the park is located, members of the city council and community activists have called the statur "devisive" and asked that it not be placed in the park lest it offend area Muslims."
What's next? Every butcher must remove bacon and chops from all window displays? Aren't Muslims who are offended by the symbols encountered during daily life in a multicultural society the "militant Islamist" sort of faction we need to exterminate?
What is this banana oil? If this continues, the Brits will lose their war on terror without any attacks being waged upon them.
#34
You know, this is all very simple. If these beturbaned wise men think that living amongst the Kufr and Shirk is against Islam, then obviously they should go back to Arabia or some other Islamically pure place. If, on the other hand, they think that we as non-believers should just FOAD so that the Ummah can occupy our lands then we have a problem. In that case, we should either imprison these nutballs until their beards have grown long and their teeth fallen out or we should ship them to what ever beknighted land is willing to accept them. Gaza comes to mind, but since there's no functioning airfield, we'll just have to drop them in from above SA-7 range - maybe 20 - 30,000 feet.
#36
I knew nothing about this DB!! Can't say I'm surprised 'tho. There's a very large asian community in Derby - I have friends in the Sikh and Hindu community but don't know any Muslims - they never mixed with any others when I was growing up there. A real breed apart. Life is really changing in part of the city - I expect the Muslim call to prayer to be allowed next. Good news is that the Tories are in, and whilst I despise them, they will put a stop to this bullshit. Thanks for letting me know!!
Posted by: Howard UK ||
06/11/2004 8:19 Comments ||
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An Italian court has given a life sentence to a woman linked to resurgent left-wing guerrillas the Red Brigades. Nadia Desdemona Lioce, 44, was arrested after a bloody gunfight on the Rome-Florence train in March 2003. Her travelling companion, Mario Galesi, was killed after he shot dead a police officer checking their identity papers. Both Galesi and Lioce were fugitives, believed to have ties to the Red Brigades, linked to many acts of violence in Italy 30 years ago. The guerrillas are notorious for having kidnapped and murdered in cold blood killed the former Italian Prime Minister, Aldo Moro, in 1978. A new group, claiming descent from the brigades, announced their excretion arrival in 1999 with the murder of labour ministry adviser Massimo DâAntona. The militants also said they were behind the 2002 murder of another labour ministry official, Marco Biagi.
Lioce says she is a raving @sshole political prisoner and ought to be executed tried as such. âPolitical prisonerâ Lioce is still under investigation for her alleged role in the two murders assassinations. Although she did not fire any shots in the encounter that led to her arrest on the train, the court ruled she was guilty of attempted murder and of being an accomplice to murder. It handed her a life sentence and ordered her to pay damages of $500,000 to the family of the murdered policeman, Emanuele Petri. Lioce has described herself as a piece of excrement on two legs "political prisoner" and miscreant "militant" and says she will appeal against the ruling. Her lawyer has argued that she should be tried under Italian civil - rather than criminal - law because her group believes itself to be at war with the Italian state. Where do they get these mouthpieces? "At war with the Italian state?" How did I manage to miss the formal declaration and beach head landing?
The BBCâs Frances Kennedy in Rome says this is the first trial of a member of the new formation of the Red Brigades. Investigators claim Lioceâs capture revealed information which has led to a series of arrests that have broken the back of the group. It looks like the Italians are doing a part of the heavy lifting for a change.
Posted by: Zenster ||
06/10/2004 1:52:37 AM ||
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Her lawyer has argued that she should be tried under Italian civil - rather than criminal - law because her group believes itself to be at war with the Italian state.
OK. When you come to court, bring along the parts of the Italian civil law that apply to groups that believe they are at war with the Italian state.
.
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
06/10/2004 6:58 Comments ||
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Ok put her in a Military Tribunal abd summarily execute the BITCH!
via NYT
Gee - think this might be related to the NATO story? Lol! Erdogan is such a dupe.
Login:
freenytimes
freenytimes
In a decision hailed by human rights advocates, a Turkish appeals court on Wednesday ordered the release of four Kurdish former members of Parliament who were convicted 10 years ago of belonging to an outlawed separatist movement. Among those freed was Leyla Zana, whose campaign for Kurdish rights made internationally known. The four were convicted of links to the Kurdish Workers Party; a hearing on their appeal is set for July 8. Amnesty International called on Turkey to drop the case altogether, saying the four Kurds were prosecuted only for their political beliefs. In an interview with Reuters after the release, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul predicted that the four would not return to jail. They have already served all but nine months of their sentences. In Brussels, GÃŒnter Verheugen, the European Unionâs commissioner for enlargement, said: "Todayâs decision is a sign that the implementation of political reforms, which Turkey has been introducing in the past two years, is gaining ground."
Since the 1994 convictions, Turkey has made wholesale changes in its Constitution and laws in an effort to fulfill European Union conditions for starting accession talks at the end of this year. The special state security courts created for terrorism and treason cases were abolished last month. The official ban on playing Kurdish music and teaching the Kurdish language in schools has been lifted, and on Wednesday, state television broadcast its first-ever program of news and culture in Kurdish. As Mrs. Zana and her colleagues emerged from Ulucanlar prison in Ankara, they were mobbed by a crowd throwing flowers and shouting, "Turkey is proud of you!" Commentators spoke of the beginning of the end of a long national conflict over state recognition of Kurdish cultural and language rights. Later, Mrs. Zana said: "I believe that a new period has started in this country, and a new page is opened. Today is the day to unite, and today is the day that everyone frees himself and herself of all prejudices." How many times will Erdogan be an EU bridesmaid? As many times as he listens to Chirac, methinks. Good for the Kurds in Turkey, however, and on their behalf, thanks Tayyip! Lol!
Posted by: .com ||
06/10/2004 1:45:41 AM ||
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The official ban on playing Kurdish music and teaching the Kurdish language in schools has been lifted,
What was Turkey's official justification for this ban? Does anybody happen to know?
.
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
06/10/2004 7:01 Comments ||
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Watch ou,standback and breakout the splatter shields!Murat's head is going to explode.
#3
Send Murat to the EU Parliament before letting his head explode. That is, if it explodes at all. I somehow doubt Murat would/will make a big deal out of this, saying something along the lines of "Yeah it sucks but you're worse than us".
Posted by: Charles ||
06/10/2004 8:44 Comments ||
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#4
Nope, I would say 10 years of prison for them was enough, at least they got fair trials unlike those Guantanomo prisoners.
Is there any American dude who has still the balls to critisize Turkish prisons? :)
Posted by: Murat ||
06/10/2004 10:28 Comments ||
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yep - your prisons suck
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/10/2004 10:48 Comments ||
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#6
Do I really have to bend over during my prayers to Mecca? Can't I just stand with my back against a wall?
#7
first muRAT - the only reason they were let out is becuse the euro lesh was tugged... still dangling that eu membership thing..which, if left up to the current nationalistic politicians in the eu will never happen....
so i guess now turkish prison system is humane???
gitmo is for foriegn terrorists - not homegrown...so how can you compare....being locked up in turkey is whole diff world than being locked in the states....wouldn't want either but if i had to choose it would not be a hard choice..
so i guess destroying the kurdish culture and forcing the turk language on the populace plus 10 years in jail is ok???
you disgust me...your left one day then right... guess depends on which way you bent over last night...
Posted by: Dan ||
06/10/2004 14:09 Comments ||
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#8
*g* People here do sometimes seem to hold the two contradictory opinions that a) Turkey has been improving only because of the EU, and b) That EU hasn't done anything to further the cause of democracy and freedom in the world.
In the meantime I'm bookmarking this article as yet another good sign from Turkey, partly indeed because of EU's support of freedom in its wider neighbourhood.
*gleeful* 50 years of NATO membership didn't help Turkish democracy much, but the mere possibility of EU entry did. */gleeful*
#9
Contact us again in about, oh, 8 years, Murat, and we'll see. In the meantime, Gitmo's holding terrorists captured outside of Geneva protections, while turkey jailed citizens exercising their political rights. And for all their stupidity, AI hasn't yet declared shooting at a legitimate military a politically protected right.
Your moral comparator is clearly busted: get it replaced.
#12
How many times will Erdogan be an EU bridesmaid? As many times as he listens to Chirac, methinks.
Can you say, "The Capitulations"? I knew you could.
These famous Capitulation's were one of the factors that brought about the fall of the Ottoman Empire. The word is little understood in the Europe of today. The Capitulations were a system of trade agreements which granted certain fiscal privileges to foreign importers and exporters. These advantages were denied to indigenous merchants, who were thus forced to focus exclusively on internal commerce.
David Hicks, an Australian held at the U.S. naval prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, has been charged with conspiring with Al Qaeda in Afghanistan, the Pentagon announced Thursday. Hicks is charged with conspiracy to commit war crimes, attempted murder by an unprivileged belligerent and aiding the enemy. The military alleges Hicks attended several Al Qaeda training courses at camps in Afghanistan, left the country, and returned after the Sept. 11 attacks to fight alongside Al Qaeda and the Taliban. His attorney said Hicks is innocent.
Natch.
"David Hicks has not violated any law of war and shouldnât have been charged," said Hicksâ military lawyer, Maj. Michael Mori. "Itâs unfortunate these charges will never be tested before a fair and established justice system."
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
06/10/2004 2:26:07 PM ||
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"Itâs unfortunate these charges will never be tested before a fair and established justice system."
Sounds like Hicks' military lawyer needs to quit and repay any lawschool tuition paid by such an unfair system/institution, huh?
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/10/2004 16:14 Comments ||
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Knew it had to happen sooner or later. EFL, for full story, you have to sit through one of Salonâs lame ads. Sorry, but only place I found the story.....
An unusual racketeering lawsuit filed by unsuccessful ambulance chasers human rights lawyers accuses U.S. civilian contractors at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq of conspiring to execute, rape and torture prisoners to boost corporate profits from military payments. One person, identified in court documents only as a prisoner named Rasheed, told lawyers his tongue was shocked with electricity and his toenails pulled out. Another person, identified only as a prisoner named Ahmed, said he was forced to watch the Home Shopping Network while his 63-year-old father, Ibrahiem, was tortured to death. I would think if this happened, the media would have been all over it already. Maybe Ahmed is having flashbacks from Saddamâs reign?
A plaintiff identified only as a prisoner named Neisef told lawyers he was raped by a female interrogator who left him naked on the floor, saying "It is our job to take your manhood away." Fascinating how an allegation like this isnât in the official report.....
"An' then... an' then she raped me, yer honor! She had these big ol' honkers! A' she stole my manhood right away! I've... I've... [SOB!] I've never seen it again!"
Shereef Akeel, a Detroit lawyer, said the people he helps represent in the case were trying on their neck braces and practicing their limping as we speak!hoping to cash in really soon! "subjected to unspeakable crimes." The lawsuit seeks "substantial" payments for the crack legal squad who dreamed this crap up alleged victims and a ban on future government contracts for Titan Corp. (TTN) of San Diego and CACI International Inc. of Arlington, Va., whose employees worked as government interrogators and translators. Titan spokesman Wil Williams called the lawsuit "frivolous" and noted that the government has not formally accused any of its employees of abuse. A mere technicality to a lawyer....theyâre just after a settlement, silly!
CACI said the company "summarily rejects and denies the ill-informed, slanderous and malicious allegations of the lawsuit that attempts to malign the work that we do on behalf of the U.S. government around the world and in Iraq." Michael Ratner, president of the New York-based Center for Constitutional Rights, cited a litany of international rules against torture and abuse and said, "Unfortunately, in this case, our administration and a number of contractors are outside the law." As opposed to Chirac, Arafart, Saddam, Binny and the rest of the gang who ALWAYS follow the Geneva Convention and UN resolutions.....
The lawyers acknowledged difficulties tracing eyewitness reports of abuse, because most of what they are alleging didnât happen some U.S. soldiers in Iraqi prisons didnât always wear uniforms and some civilian contractors wore military clothing. Contractors "were very careful in masking their identity," said Susan Burke, a Philadelphia lawyer leeching off working on the lawsuit.
"We may never find out who that sex-crazed bitch was!"
#1
CAI CACI Intl rejects lawsuit as 'slanderous' and 'malicious' (37.87 -0.69) -- Update --
In reaction to lawsuit filed by Bew York-based human rights group co states: "CACI rejects and denies the allegations of the suit as being a malicious recitation of false statements and intentional distortions. CACI does not have and has never had any agreement with Titan Corp or anyone else pertaining to conspiring with the government, or to perpetrate abuses of any kind on anyone. CACI has never entered into a conspiracy with the government,or anyone else, to perpetrate abuses of any kind.... The company has not, nor have any of its employees, been charged with any wrongdoing or illegal acts relating to any work in Iraq. The lawsuit filed against CACI falsely alleges that CACI had contracts for interrogation work in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Similarly, named defendant John Israel is not, and has never been, an employee of CACI. These falsehoods and inaccuracies simply demonstrate the utter lack of investigation prior to filing suit by the entities ultimately behind this lawsuit... In light of the frivolous and malicious nature of this lawsuit, as well as the apparent lack of any pre-filing investigation of the facts, the company stated it is examining its options for sanctions against the lawyers who participated in the filing of this lawsuit".
#2
pfeh....raped by a female interrogator who left him naked on the floor, saying "It is our job to take your manhood away
take his manhood AWAY?? In his dreams, no doubt.
Posted by: B ||
06/10/2004 14:28 Comments ||
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In light of the frivolous and malicious nature of this lawsuit, as well as the apparent lack of any pre-filing investigation of the facts, the company stated it is examining its options for sanctions against the lawyers who participated in the filing of this lawsuit".
Hopefully some of those sacntions will include shuttering the Center which conceived this monster.
#4
Just a quick question: Just how do you get raped by a woman? I may lack imagination here but if one is under this kind of stress, one cannot get a rise out of his 'manhood'. Did she tie him down face-up and sit on him? did she.......I quit!!!
From The Los Angeles Times
After American Taliban recruit John Walker Lindh was captured in Afghanistan, the office of Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld instructed military intelligence officers to "take the gloves off" in interrogating him. The instructions from Rumsfeldâs legal counsel in late 2001, contained in previously undisclosed government documents, are the earliest known evidence that the Bush administration was willing to test the limits of how far it could go legally to extract information from suspected terrorists. ....
What happened to Lindh, who was stripped and humiliated by his captors, foreshadowed the type of abuse documented in photographs of American soldiers tormenting Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib. At the time, just weeks after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the U.S. was desperate to find terrorist leader Osama bin Laden. After Lindh asked for a lawyer rather than talk to interrogators, he was not granted one nor was he advised of his Miranda rights against self-incrimination. Instead, the Pentagon ordered intelligence officers to get tough with him. The documents, read to The Times by two sources critical of how the government handled the Lindh case, show that after an Army intelligence officer began to question Lindh, a Navy admiral told the intelligence officer that "the secretary of Defenseâs counsel has authorized him to âtake the gloves offâ and ask whatever he wanted." Lindh was being questioned while he was propped up naked and tied to a stretcher in interrogation sessions that went on for days, according to court papers. ... Lindh, who pleaded guilty in return for a 20-year federal prison sentence for aiding the Taliban, was a young Northern California Islamic convert who joined the Taliban army before Sept. 11, attended a terrorist training camp in Afghanistan and was captured soon after U.S. troops invaded the country. ....
In a series of memos from late 2001 to early 2002, top legal officials in the administration identified the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as a safe haven offshore that would shield the secret interrogation process from intervention by the U.S. judicial system. The memos show that top government lawyers believed the administration was not bound by the Geneva Convention governing treatment of prisoners because "Al Qaeda is merely a violent political movement or organization and not a nation-state" that had signed the international treaty. However, the memos also show that Secretary of State Colin L. Powell warned the White House that a tougher approach toward interrogation "will reverse over a century of U.S. policy and practices in supporting Geneva Conventions and undermine the protections of the law of war for our troops, both in this specific conflict and in general." ....
Lindhâs lawyers declined to comment on the matter this week, noting that a provision of his 2002 plea agreement stated he would not bring up the conditions under which he was held overseas. .... One Army intelligence officer said in the documents that he had been advised that "instructions had come from higher headquarters" for interrogators to coordinate with military lawyers about Lindh. "After the first hour of interrogation, [the interrogator] gave the admiral in charge of Mazar-i-Sharif a summary of what the interrogators had collected up to that point," the documents say. "The admiral told him at that point that the secretary of Defenseâs counsel has authorized him to âtake the gloves offâ and ask whatever he wanted." ....
Rumsfeldâs legal counsel is not named in the documents. The office was headed by William J. Haynes II. .... As the interrogation of Lindh was going on, officials in Washington were privately working out details for handling other prisoners from Afghanistan. On Dec. 28, 2001, John Yoo, then deputy assistant attorney general, told Haynes at the Pentagon that Guantanamo Bay was a perfect place for detainees because it was not a part of the sovereign United States and therefore not subject to the federal courts. But, Yoo cautioned, "there remains some litigation risk that a district court might reach the opposite result." ....
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
06/10/2004 8:50:28 AM ||
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Mike, why do you keep posting this crap? Yeah, the press wants to pin Abu Ghraib on Bush, we get it. We got that point months ago. We've also gotten the point that the press will lie to do that.
For example:
The memos show that top government lawyers believed the administration was not bound by the Geneva Convention governing treatment of prisoners because "Al Qaeda is merely a violent political movement or organization and not a nation-state" that had signed the international treaty.
Oddly enough, this is exactly what the Geneva Conventions say!!! But there's no "bite" to reporting 'Administration Follows Letter and Spirit of Geneva Conventions', so reporters leave that out.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
06/10/2004 8:57 Comments ||
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#2
You don't need a bunch of lawyers to find out that the Geneva Conventions don't apply to terrorists.
So after he was "stripped and humiliated", did they bring in the comfy chair?
#6
Mike, I don't understand the headline over the posting. Johnny Walker Lindh was interrogated in Iraq nearly three years after being captured in Afghanistan?
Posted by: Tibor ||
06/10/2004 11:30 Comments ||
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#7
The concept of Geneva Convention protections applying to al-Qaida as much as they do to American GIs is based on the mistaken assumption that al-Qaida is an organization that operates according to First World military doctrines and would treat Americans - period - as well as mandated by the Conventions ... which as far as I know America never actually signed* ...
* I read from Rainbow Six that the US military simply has the Geneva Convention written into its rules but is not bound to the convention itself; is that true?
Posted by: Edward Yee ||
06/10/2004 11:35 Comments ||
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#8
When I responded in #3, I was in a hurry and so answered more curtly than I should have. I'll try to answer better now.
If we decide that a prisoner is not covered by the Geneva Conventions, then we still must decide how to treat that prisoner. We might nevertheless treat the prisoner in accordance with the Geneva Conventions, or we might treat him according to some other rules.
The issue of proper treatment of prisoners is an important issue of great interest to many of us who are interested in the War on Terrorism, even though it apparently is of little interest to some of you who have made up your minds about it.
This particular article points out that the capture of Lindh was an important historical moment in the Defense Department's articulation of the policy that has governed our treatment of prisoners since then in the War on Terror and more particularly in the military operations in Iraq.
That policy has become controversial. If you aren't interested in articles about that controversy, then don't read them. Other people are interested.
.
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
06/10/2004 12:46 Comments ||
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#9
Mike, just don't argue that these POS's deserve anything better. If we decide to treat them better, based on our values or rational choices, that's one thing, but we do it because we choose to, not because the Geneva accords apply. I, for one, would not be so nice to these terrorists...
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/10/2004 13:13 Comments ||
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#12
That POS should have been summarily shot after he was interogated. Since that didn't happen I hope Bubba in cellblock C is having his way with little Johnnie boy.
#13
My understanding was that part of Lindh's torture was watching Mister Rogers videos continuously for 24 hours, forced to sing, "It's a beautiful day for a terrorist" throughout.
#14
Ed I retired four years ago and yes the military is still bound by that treaty. If fact EVERYONE has to get a briefing every six months with respect to weapons used, prisoners, and international law according to your mission. ALL of the 'Al Queda' people do not have an once of proctection under international law. We would have been well within our right to line them all up and dispatch them the day they were caught. The President made a decision not to do that, although he would be well within his rights to change that. As far as torture goes, it is a VERY effective way to extract information from the like of Al Queda (no matter what human rights groups say). The stuff at Abu Grab Ass was NOT interrogation, it was some strange guards abusing prisoners.
#16
...nor was he advised of his Miranda rights against self-incrimination.
Another idiot reporter working for the LAT. Johnny Jihadi was not arrested by a cop in the US. He was an unlawful combatant fighting US troops. He has no Miranda rights.
On top of that he's a US citizen aiding and abetting the enemy. He should have been roughly interrogated and shot on the spot, like US citizens caught fighting for Germany were.
EFL from Fox - I thought the Eco guys were just supposed to bomb us on Earth Day. Are the Eco-terrorists trying to create their own special day for this Luers sap?
The FBI warned law enforcement agencies of the potential for criminal activity in response to a call for action in support of a convicted eco-terrorist, according to the weekly bulletin issued by the agency and obtained by Fox News. "Supporters of anarchist and convicted arsonist Jeff Luers have designated Saturday, June 12, 2004 an âInternational Day of Action and Solidarity with Jeff âFreeâ Luers,â alternatively entitled âJ12,â" the FBI said in the bulletin. "J12 events are planned in Eugene, Oregon; Olympia, Washington; San Francisco and Modesto, California; Lawrence, Kansas; Morgantown, West Virginia; Worcester, Massachusetts; Portland, Maine; and Lake Worth, Florida." Luers is from Eugene, Ore. According to the FBI, he is widely celebrated as a martyr within anarchist and extremist animal rights and environmental circles. On June 16, 2000, he was convicted for his involvement in an Earth Liberation Front-style arson at a truck dealership and an attempted arson at an oil company in Eugene. He is serving a 22-year prison sentence â the longest, according to the FBI, ever handed down for eco-terrorist actions in the U.S.
The ELF is a radical group of environmentalists that has claimed responsibility for various acts of arson and vandalism and is listed as the FBIâs No. 1 domestic terrorism priority. "Luersâ notoriety could potentially inspire autonomous ELF cells to carry out symbolic actions in solidarity with Luers against traditional targets, such as SUV dealerships, lumber logging facilities, and residential construction sites in environmentally sensitive areas during J12 events," the FBI noted. "While the FBI has no specific information regarding planned terrorist actions to coincide with J12 events, law enforcement officers should be alert to indicators of possible terrorist planning, including suspicious surveillance of targeted industries, such as SUV dealerships, animal research laboratories and construction sites," the FBI said in the bulletin. The Earth Liberation Front has claimed responsibility for a string of arsons in Detroit, Philadelphia and San Diego, where a fire last year destroyed a 206-unit apartment complex under construction, causing $50 million worth of damage. In years past we had John Brown, Eugene Debs, Bobby Seale. Now joining this Pantheon of heros is some pimply face escapee from a Dungeons and Dragons festival. I lift one cheek and salute him silently. I hope they drag him behind an SUV.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
06/10/2004 3:12:14 AM ||
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Well, it appears liberal eco-nuts now are causing MORE damage than pro-life Baptists. Liberal Religious bigots like NMM are silent, however, when this is pointed out. "LOwer the cone of silence!" they yell. Pretentious fakes.
#8
Lake Worth Fl. is home to the National Enquirer and the STAR... think anthrax.
Hummm, well, ELF would have access to anthrax. They have raided animal research labs in the past, and I'll bet a lot of the members have attended colleges or teach at ones that work with it. They wouldn't hesitate to use it on those they consider their enemies, and they have shown they have to skill to plan and launch attacks without being caught. I don't think they were involved in the past attacks because of the target list. They would have sent it to company heads rather than the media.
Posted by: Steve ||
06/10/2004 14:36 Comments ||
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#7 Lake Worth Fl. is home to the National Enquirer and the STAR... think anthrax.
In this one instance, the American people might have benefited substantially had the assailants succeeded. These two sh!trags distort and flat out fabricate so much worthless journalistic diarrhea that our country's collective intelligence is set back an entire month by each weekly edition.
#10
These pricks have had a free pass for the last 20 years or so because they're politically correct. It's OK for them to spike trees so that loggers can be blinded, maimed, or killed when their chainsaws hit the spike - see, it's the logger's fault for cutting down a tree. It's OK for them to burn down construction sites because there are too many people here already. It doesn't matter if you are killed by a jihadi or by a pimply-faced self-righteous eco-freak, you're just as dead. These "eco-terrorists" are just plain terrorists and they should be treated as such - hunted down and killed and the assets siezed of any group or individual that supports them.
THE PRESIDENT: Mr. President, thanks for being here. This has been a special day for me and those of us in my administration who are here, because I really never thought Iâd be sitting next to an Iraqi President of a free country a year and a half ago -- and here you are. Not only are you here to visit with me, and weâve had a wonderful talk, but youâre here to talk to the leadership of the G8, leaders of the free world. And I am so grateful you are here. Please convey my best wishes to your Prime Minister, as well.
Yesterday, the United Nations sent a clear message that the world supports a free Iraq. And the United States supports a transfer of full sovereignty to you, Mr. President, and your government. And having visited with you, having talked to you, and having listened to you, I have got great faith in the future of your country, because you believe in the hopes and aspirations of the Iraqi people.
Itâs been a proud day for me. Iâm glad youâre here.
PRESIDENT AL-YAWER: Thank you. First of all, Iâd like to, on behalf of the Iraqi people, to thank you for giving us this chance to attend the G8 Summit, where, again, thanks to the American people, for the leadership of President George Bush, without which we couldnât have been here into the G8, Mr. President, Iâd like to express to you the commitment of the Iraqi people to move toward democracy. We are moving in a steady -- steady steps toward it. Weâre determined to have a free, democratic, federal Iraq, a country that is a source of stability to the Middle East, which is very important for the rest of the world.
Again, Mr. President, Iâd like to thank the American people for the sacrifices that the brave men and women of the United States toward trying to liberate Iraq. Weâre working with all our hearts to make sure that all these sacrifices of the Iraqis, as well as our friends in the coalition, will not go to avail, that all these will be to the benefit of the Iraqi government.
Thank you very much, sir.
Posted by: tipper ||
06/10/2004 2:46:18 AM ||
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#1
Damn, that reads so nice and straightforward. We shall see how it goes. The 8-ball is, of course, old Shitstani. Let's see if he's a stand-up guy with an IQ over 50 or a foolish fucking Shi'a dickhead - from Mars. :-)
#2
While they don't get a lot of press there are a couple of sensible Arab governments, which of course you never hear about, like Oman, we may just be getting another. Excellent news.
Posted by: Phil B ||
06/10/2004 5:32 Comments ||
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United States Charge dâ Affaires Joseph Mussomeli today said his government is hopeful the peace negotiations between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) would succeed so that they "will never come to the point where we do have to designate" the Moro guerrilla group as a foreign terrorist organization.
"The MILF in fact has never been designated as a terrorist group, at least not yet and we are hopeful that the peace negotiations will be successful so that we will never come to the point where we do have to designate them as such," Mussomeli said in a press conference here at the Growth with Equity in Mindanao office, a program funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
A reporter sought to clarify Mussomeliâs statement if he meant that he expressed hope the government and the MILF reaches an agreement before the US will be compelled to tag the armed Moro group as an FTO.
Later however the diplomat said, "I would be very reluctant to use the terrorist tag as an incentive for people to sit down and reach a peace accord. Thatâs not the way...that sort of pressure and undue influence will not be productive."
Mussomeli was here for a two-day visit during which he spoke before the business community and the academe.
He said they are giving the MILF the benefit of the doubt with regard to its supposed links to groups like the Jemaah Islamiyah. He said he believed MILF factions, not the leadership itself, are the ones having links with the JI.
Asked by another reporter if the US government has strong basis in linking MILF "factions" to the JI and other alleged terrorist networks, Mussomeli said: âItâs really hard to say. My concern, on the personal level, Iâm not speaking for the US government, is simply this...what we do know is that there are links between the JI and certain factions in the MILF."
He said the situation has put the MILF hierarchy in a fix because it means "they are not telling the truth about the situation" or "they donât have control over their own people."
"Either one is not a very good situation. If there are factions within the MILF who have these links to JI, then its incumbent and the responsible thing for the MILF hierarchy to discipline them and to break those links," he said.
Mussomeli said that if on the other hand the JI link is with the MILF hierarchy as well, the group would be interpreted as "not being forthright."
"One way or the other, they need to make some hard decisions to tag what type of organization do they want to be. Are they here for the benefit of their people? Are they here for some global terrorist Islamic state or so, I donât know. But its up for them to decide," he said.
Pressed further by another reporter for evidence of MILF links with JI, Mussomeli cited the arrests of three alleged terrorists who reportedly admitted having links with the MILF. He said the Philippine military could provide greater details on this information.
"This is not news, itâs been in all of your newspapers...the links are there and nobody can deny them. The only issue is whether itâs the factions of the MILF or with essential groups of the MILF," he said.
He said the US is also hoping the MILF is genuinely interested in reaching a peace accord with the Philippine government and that the armed group "have the best interest of the people of the Philippines and of Mindanao in their current practices."
He however said he was not sure how long his government would give the MILF the "benefit of a doubt" aside from expressing hope "that good faith is on both sides and that the peace accord will be reached."
He said their real concern is the MILFâs link with JI and that there have been indications they were responsible for a series of bombings in the country. "Whether we reach a peace accord is independent of the terrorist tag. Although, we would hope that for the sake of the Philippines, an agreement is reached," he said.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
06/10/2004 9:39:57 AM ||
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MILF.
Heh heh.
Posted by: Chris W. ||
06/10/2004 11:16 Comments ||
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They should seriously consider getting themselves a new acronym.
An al Qaeda-linked group is targeting Western ambassadors in Indonesia for assassination, according to reports. The Wall Street Journal said British and Australian intelligence organisations have "specific and credible" information that terrorists from the Jemaah Islamiyah group, trained to carry out assassinations, have entered Indonesia in recent weeks. The paper said the US, British and Australian ambassadors and senior officials from their embassies were the prime targets. Ansyaad Mâbai, who heads the counter-terrorism desk at Indonesiaâs security ministry, said that so far he has "no specific indications" of planned assassinations. "But we remain alert, including by increasing security on the possible targets," he added. The US, Australian and British embassies would not comment.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
06/10/2004 9:16:37 AM ||
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Recently, several high-ranking Iranian leaders, among them Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Muhammad Khatami, expressed views on the achievements of Iranâs Islamic Revolution and the legacy of Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini, and on the relationship between Islam and Western culture and values. Both men attacked the U.S. for its handling of affairs in Iraq. Along with stressing the need to instill Ayatollah Khomeiniâs legacy among the younger Iranians who never knew him, Iranian Leader Ali Khamenei stated that not only is Khomeiniâs political thought appropriate for all of humanityâs needs, but that the source of human suffering is "liberal democracy."
Khamenei attacked the U.S. and stated that the reason for the "disgrace" (that is, the abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghureib prison) was that "liberal democracy is devoid of morality." In contrast, Iranian President Muhammad Khatami expressed his support for borrowing from Western values and blending them into Islamic culture. At the same time, however, Khatami stated that the root of all terrorism is superpower violence.
The following are statements by these high-ranking Iranian leaders, as well as by Iranian Culture and Guidance Minister Ahmad Masjid-Jamaâi:
In an address to the organizers of the annual ceremony commemorating the 1989 death of Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said that "[Ayatollah Khomeiniâs] thought corresponded to the Islamic political thought, which he defined as the pure Islam of the Prophet Muhammad." Khamenei stressed the need for instilling Khomeiniâs doctrine in the coming generations, and said, "Loving the Imam Khomeini without understanding his political thought is inconceivable⊠Despite the propaganda [against Khomeiniâs thought by his opponents], his political thought is appropriate to humanityâs primary needs, because the source of all human torment and suffering is the âliberal democracyâ promoted by the West as âprogressive political thought.â
"The torment of the Iraqis, of the Palestinians, and even of the Americans are the direct outcome of liberal Western democracy, and this must serve as an important lesson to the rest of the world, [which must] open its eyes and understand that those who call themselves advocates of human rights and democracy are in fact the main supporters of crimes against humanity⊠The reason for [this] disgrace [i.e. Abu Ghureib] is [the fact that] liberal democracy is devoid of morality, while the political thought of Imam Khomeini respected morality in addition to democracy, and at the same time pinned its hopes on God."
At the International Conference on the Islamic Republic and Future Outlook, held in Tehran, Iranian President Muhammad Khatami said, "Islam encourages people to emulate others without losing their Islamic identity. Thus, we can make use of the achievements of the West, and overcome our shortcomings in various areasâŠ" He added, "We must defend the principle of democracy, which is one of the goals of the Islamic Revolution. This is because defending Islam does not mean rejecting democracy and freedom."
Unlike Khatami, who spoke in favor or borrowing Western values and integrating them into Islamic culture, Iranian Culture and Guidance Minister Ahmad Masjid-Jamaâi said, also at the conference, that "the Islamic Republic regime is a great political phenomenon of the contemporary world, and a living example of the defeat of Western methods and ideas."
Masjid-Jamaâi added, "The [Islamic] Revolution took place at a time when it was thought that all the countries in the region were going through a similar phase and in line with the historic changes in the Western world. Based on such a vision, it was speculated that acceptance of modern Western values and abandonment of traditional beliefs would ultimately pave the ground for injecting modern Western methods into the EastâŠ
"Many researchers are of the opinion that Islamism is the core of the Iranian revolution, and not just a slogan, because it has a profound influence on the overall framework of the revolution⊠The Islamic Revolution is a front-runner for many other social and political movements in the world, an international current that aims to safeguard and preserve national identity and tradition based on culture. That is why today Islam is needed, because it is a well-built pillar that strongly safeguards and preserves the national identity and nobility."
Iranian Leader Ali Khamenei said that the U.S. is contemptuous of Islam and the sensitivities of the Muslims "because the Americans are convinced that they will easily win the war in Iraq. But they will not see that day. As the Imam [Khomeini] said, âOne day the U.S. too will be history.â In light of what happened in Iraq, we can see now that he is right, because such events move the U.S. down the slope, and they will taste the bitterness of sure defeat."
Khamenei condemned the "desecration being carried out by the Americans in the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala in Iraq," and said, "the Muslims will not continue to remain silent in the face of such aggression."
Iranian President Muhammad Khatamisaid, "We condemn all forms of violence, but we must understand that the roots of all terrorist activity lie in the violence of the superpowers⊠It is regrettable that they accuse the [Islamic] religion, civilization, and culture of violence and narrow-mindedness. Nevertheless, I do not deny that there are radicals among the Muslims, or other people in other societies, who act only by violent means. But it must be understood that the spirit of Islam does not preach violence."
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
06/10/2004 10:13:53 AM ||
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"Iranian theocrats say freedom causes terrorism"
LOL! And I've just been listening to the BBC trying to explain how choice makes people unhappy. Viva Propaganda! It never dies...
#4
now this is really funny - i have to agree freedom causes terrorism...when freedom threatens asshats they resort to terrorism...what a bunch of idiots..
Posted by: Dan ||
06/10/2004 10:46 Comments ||
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"Iranian theocrats say freedom causes terrorism"
This is what I was talking about yesterday in regards to the "creative" use of the word "terrorism". Their grasp of the meaning of words is surely astounding! Pure Il-Litrasi.
#6
Yeah, and dead rotting mullahs brings more freedom and liberty
I've got two words for you theocrats in Aran, y'ever heard of the french revolution? Thats the really ugly form of eliminating the hierarchy. The whole thing really gets out of hand; caused by a little thing called, officially, Le Terrorisme
#9
But it must be understood that the spirit of Islam does not preach violence.
That's true. Its spirit teaches submission and delivering yourself into slavery.
It's the words of Islam that call for violence.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
06/10/2004 14:07 Comments ||
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Annie M - Yeah, and dead rotting mullahs brings more freedom and liberty.
Well Said, but the French have never been the same since Napoleon decimated a whole generation fighting the English and Russians at the start of the 19th centuury. "Le Terrorisme" they brought on themselves.
#11
... because the source of all human torment and suffering is the âliberal democracyâ promoted by the West as âprogressive political thought.â
"Liberal democracy" has resulted in the "torment" of elected representation, free market economics, civil rights, freedom of religion and numerous other concepts all of which to the mullahs are as alien as neurosurgery.
Our "progressive political thought" has permitted such things as coed colleges, a free press and many other freedoms that would make the mullahs froth in their sleep, let alone their waking state.
And, finally, as to this little gem:
âOne day the U.S. too will be history.â
"At what point shall we expect the danger? By what means shall we fortify against it? Shall we expect some transatlantic giant, to step across the Ocean, and crush us at a blow? Never! All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth ... could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track in the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years ... If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.
VIENNA, Austria  â Iran told a black market supplier it was interested in "tens of thousands" of parts for its covert nuclear program, diplomats said Thursday, as the U.N. atomic watchdog prepared to rebuke Tehran for hindering an agency probe of its activities. The diplomats, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said the revelation about Iranâs offer was made at a closed-door meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency. An IAEA report leaked last week mentioned that Iran had acknowledged inquiring about 4,000 magnets needed for uranium enrichment equipment with a European black-market supplier and had dangled the possibility of buying a "higher number" of such markets.
At Thursdayâs preparatory meeting for Mondayâs IAEA board of governorsâ conference an IAEA official was more precise, saying that Iran had said it was interested in "tens of thousands" of such magnets in future contracts, said diplomats present at the closed meeting. With two magnets per uranium enrichment centrifuge, tens of thousands of such parts would translated into a centrifuge program that significantly exceeds what Iran insists was only an experimental project.
Uranium enrichment can be used to generate power or make nuclear weapons, depending on the level of enrichment. Iran insists it was interested only in energy generation and that its offer was purposely exaggerated to spark interest from the potential black market supplier. The United States and other nations say such arguments are an attempt to cover up nearly two decades of covert activities aimed at making nuclear weapons and point to what they say is continued Iranian secrecy on the scope of its enrichment program and other activities.
The other main area of concern remains the source of traces of weapons-grade uranium on Iranian centrifuges. Tehran asserts the traces were inadvertently imported on purchases through the nuclear black market and that it has not enriched uranium beyond the low levels used for power generation. Arenât self-admitted "purchases through the black market" a solid indicator of duplicity? Why are the buildings housing these tools still standing?
But IAEA investigators have not been able to test that claim because Pakistan â the main source of the equipment â has blocked free access to its nuclear material, meaning the agency cannot match isotope samples to the traces found in Iran. Pakistan needs to be threatened with complete withdrawal of all international aid if they do not surrender samples immediately. This is crucial to "fingerprinting" breeder reactor production of fissile material. A polite reminder that should Pakistani nuclear material show up in trace analysis of any atomic terror attack isotopes that they would summarily be glassed and Windexed might hasten their cooperation.
At the closed meeting Thursday, IAEA officials complained that the agency has in some cases waited in vain for information on enrichment since October. Oh, boo hoo. Cry me a f&%king river. What more indicators of bad intention do you morons need?
Coming out of the meeting, Iranâs chief delegate to the IAEA, Amir Zamaninia said his country had attempted to clarify "a number of misunderstandings on the part of ... mainly the United States." But another delegate present said members of the Iranian and U.S. delegations had clashed on a number of issue at what was supposed to be a technical meeting, likening their deep differences on the nature of Iranâs nuclear program to a chasm between "two worlds." The testiness reflected tensions ahead of Mondayâs board meeting, which is expected to censure Iran for continued foot-dragging a year into the IAEA probe of its nuclear ambitions. "CENSURE?" What about threat of prompt and direct military intervention, you flaming pansies?
A draft resolution written by France, Germany and Britain is heavily peppered with negative terms, "deploring" omissions and delays by Iran in cooperating with the agency probe or noting them with "serious concern." Diplomats â all speaking on condition of anonymity â said the United States, Iranâs harshest critic, was generally satisfied with the tone of the draft. But they said Washington would push for some kind of deadline for Tehran to come up with the missing information needed to prove or disprove the Islamic Republicâs weapons ambitions. The board meeting will review the report on Iran by agency Director General Mohamed ElBaradei, as part of the IAEA probe. Why is America the only one insisting upon something sane, like a "deadline?"
The report addresses the same concerns voiced in the draft and brought up at Thursdayâs meeting â that Iran had tried to buy critical parts for advanced P-2 centrifuges and that ambiguity remains on the source of traces of weapons grade uranium found inside Iran. In the face of mounting international pressure, Iran suspended uranium enrichment last year, and in April it said it had stopped building centrifuges. Iran long has rejected U.S. allegations its nuclear program is for military purposes. ElBaradei said last month his agency had not found proof to date of a concrete link between Iranâs nuclear activities and its military program, but "it was premature to make a judgment." EMPHASIS ADDED
"Premature to make a judgment?" And a big WTF? ElBaradei has pretty well shown himself to be an Iranian collaborator and not much else.
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran warned the Group of Eight on Thursday it had no intention of halting its nuclear program despite criticism by G8 leaders of Tehran's cooperation with the United Nations's nuclear watchdog.
If the UN had even 1% of the sensitivity to "humiliation" that our fine fellows in the Middle East display, they would have already authorized military intervention. What more do these IAEA f&%kwits need? A two-week-in-advance black border invitation?
#2
The Iranians are feeling pretty frisky now, with all the trouble they have been fomenting in Iraq and now starting their sword-rattling rehearsal for when they get nukes. They have the opposition down for now. Iran will be the next big problem we face. Being defensive will not make the Black Turbans go away. They gave the finger to the IAEA and the G8. This problem better be dealt with soon. Election year or no.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
06/10/2004 22:00 Comments ||
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Tribal leader Nek Muhammad has threatened to launch attacks throughout Pakistan in retaliation to the Wana operation. In a BBC Pushto service interview recorded on Thursday morning, Nek said his groupâs resistance against the Wana operation would spread throughout Pakistan and Karachi would see the result till the evening. It was after this interview that the Karachi corps commanderâs cavalcade was attacked. âAnd wait and see what happens in the other big cities in a few days,â Nek was quoted as saying in the interview.
Sounds like Nek's claiming the credit. He doesn't sound too worried...
Posted by: Fred ||
06/10/2004 7:42:50 PM ||
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It's certainly unpopular with JI...
The fresh military operation in Wana will alienate the public from the army, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) NWFP Secretary General Mushtaq Ahmed Khan said on Thursday. Mr Khan said President Pervez Musharraf was implementing the US agenda by pitting the Pakistan army against its own people and the government had turned soldiers into âmercenariesâ. âItâs dangerous for the countryâs solidarity and integrity,â he said. Mr Khan said the government was dealing with the situation in Wana unwisely. The nation was greatly concerned about the casualties in Wana. âPervez Musharraf cannot escape the public wrath,â he said. He called on the government to resolve the Wana issue through the political representatives of the tribal areas. The JI provincial deputy secretary general, Zar Noor Afridi, said the government had not learnt the lessons of the last operation and made a mistake by launching another, which would produce the same results. Mr Afridi said poor Tajik and Uzbek refugees that had been residing in Wana for several years were being targeted on the pretext of the fight against Al Qaeda. He said the Waziristan tribes were fighting a war to defend themselves and they had nothing to do with terrorism. Mr Afridi said the JI movement to unite tribesmen in the tribal areas would continue.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/10/2004 7:40:24 PM ||
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Rioters killed at least 50 people and burned down three mosques in fresh violence between Christians and Muslims in northern Nigeria, a journalist who visited the local morgue told AFP on Wednesday. Fighting erupted in Numan on Tuesday after the northeastern townâs Christian majority objected to local Muslims building a mosque with a minaret overlooking a local chiefâs palace, officials and witnesses said. Adamawa Stateâs Governor Boni Haruna visited the scene Wednesday and burst into tears when he found townâs hospital mortuary filled with 50 bodies left behind from the fighting, state radio reporter Ibrahim Abdulazeez said. Harunaâs spokesman Willie Zalwalie â who had earlier told AFP that seven more bodies had already been transferred to the state capital Yola â would not confirm the death toll, but said that the governor had been angry and upset. âThe governor was in Numan this afternoon where he declared a dusk until dawn curfew,â he said by telephone from Yola. âHe also gave an order to security personnel drafted to the town to shoot anybody they see trying to inflict harm on anyone or trying to destroy anything,â he added. âThe curfew will last until order is restored. Of course the governor wept, and anyone would do the same in such a situation,â Zalwalie said. He confirmed the visit to the morgue, but said it was too dark inside to count the bodies.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/10/2004 7:34:57 PM ||
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KARACHI: Police have taken into protective custody the key witness to Thursdayâs terrorism, the driver of the Toyota Hiace van, Ghulam Rasool, who saw all the attackers, a senior police investigator told Daily Times. âWe have taken him into protective custody because he is the key witness. We will make (the terroristsâ) sketches with his help as he has seen them from up close,â he said. Ghulam Rasool told the police that eight men, two in police uniform, had hired the vehicle for Hyderabad, introducing themselves as members of the police. âAs they got into the vehicle, I saw they were carrying automatic weapons, including a submachine gun. They threw me out of the vehicle a few furlongs away in Gulistan-e-Jauhar, warning me not to tell the police about them,â Rasool was quoted as telling the investigators.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/10/2004 7:34:01 PM ||
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JENIN REFUGEE CAMP, West Bank - The United Nations (news - web sites) suspended a construction project in this refugee camp after Palestinian gunmen threatened crews rebuilding houses destroyed by Israeli forces, a U.N. official said Thursday. Many residents of the Jenin camp are complaining that their new houses, replacing those destroyed in Israeli incursions, are not big enough, said Sami Mshasha of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency, which aids Palestinian refugees. Does anyone really wonder what is causing the recent spate of donor fatigue?
In the most recent attack, five Palestinians from one family barged into the U.N. office in Jenin on Tuesday and opened fire with M-16 and Kalashnikov assault rifles, said Fahri Turkman, a Palestinian lawmaker. No one was hurt, but it was the third such attack on U.N. personnel in the past six months. "We decided yesterday to freeze the construction until we can see that these irresponsible acts will not happen again," Mshasha said. U.N. officials complained to local leaders, who promised to rein in the militants, he said. How about posting some soldiers who will kill any further attackers? That might send a clear message, instead of turning tail every time someone hiccoughs.
One gunman, who identified himself as Abu Maher, said he took action because the house promised to him was only half the size of the one Israeli forces destroyed. He said dissatisfaction in the camp was widespread, with some residents saying the wait for a new home was too long. In more than three years of Israeli-Palestinian fighting, Palestinian police have become increasingly ineffective â particularly in the West Bank, where Israel does not allow Palestinian officers to patrol in uniform or with arms. Filling the void are gunmen who often resort to violence to settle personal scores. The Jenin camp, one of the most militant in the West Bank, was the scene of a fierce battle in April 2002 that left 52 Palestinian gunmen and 23 Israeli soldiers dead.
Israeli bulldozers moving down the narrow streets shaved the fronts off many buildings, leaving them uninhabitable. Hundreds of homes were reduced to rubble. The Jenin raid was part of "Operation Defensive Shield," launched after 29 Israelis were killed in a suicide bombing carried out by a militant from the camp. As part of the reconstruction, the U.N. agency is building 430 houses with $27 million from the United Arab Emirates, Mshasha said. Seventy apartments have been built so far, and more than 1,000 damaged houses have been repaired. At least nine alleyways have been widened to ensure that new homes lining them are not damaged by Israeli armored vehicles in the future, a U.N. worker said. At least someone has made some realistic plans for the future. More visits from Mister Caterpillar are pretty much a sure bet.
Mshasha denied this, saying the roads were widened to improve the quality of life in the cramped camp by allowing for two-way traffic and sidewalks. Whatever the reason, many residents are unhappy with the smaller new houses. Raed Karawi said the agency gave him an apartment of 600 square feet. "This is not enough for me and my wife to live. We will have children soon. This is not fair," he said, threatening to buy 20 old cars and block the new roads. So build yer own house, ya ingrate!
Not everyone is complaining, however. A few are sane.
Near the edge of the camp is a row of gleaming white buildings, one of them the three-story home of the 12-member Aweid family. Ali and Hind Aweid said Thursday that they also received new rose-print sofa and other furniture. "The truth is that it is even nicer than before, even twice or three times better," said Hind Aweid, 52. The Aweids lived in a rented apartment until their new home was completed late last year. The pampering of these morons defies all reason. They have yet to fully realize the true diminsions of Arafatâs ill-thought-out political strategy. Only when Israel completely withdraws and leaves these f&%kwits to their own non-incendiary devices will they ever even begin to purchase a clue.
#1
The pampering of these morons defies all reason
Au contraire, it's very easy for the thugs, dictators, and thieves that warm 2/3 of the UN General Assembly chairs to find it reasonable to pamper the thugs, dictators, and thieves who live in Palestine. Soul mates, yes?
The bigger question is why WE send US taxpayer $ to pamper the losers at the UN. Reagan had it right - withold US contributions to the UN until they start behaving themselves and showing themselves worthy of our support.
Yes, it will be rather humorous to see the sinking ship of corrupt and useless Palestinian dunderheads self destruct once Israel pulls out of the West Bank.
Posted by: rex ||
06/10/2004 19:39 Comments ||
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#2
Damn, I wish the James gang were still around. We could issue those suckers a letter of reprisal and let rob the west bank.
#3
fuckwit Abu Maher and his clan should be banned from living in the West Bank - catapult his ass to Lebanon and let them stress their importance there.
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/10/2004 20:00 Comments ||
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#4
In the most recent attack, five Palestinians from one family barged into the U.N. office in Jenin on Tuesday and opened fire with M-16 and Kalashnikov assault rifles...
Jeez, UNRWA. Fifty something years of coddling and kissing these assholes behinds... and this is the thanks you get. Why you'd almost get the feeling they're... ungrateful!
#5
Reminds me of the one 'humanitarian' project in San Antonio I got roped into - painting houses of the 'less than fortunate'. The recipients spent most of their time pointing out where we "missed", bitching how we were getting paint on their lawns, how they didn't like the trim color, etc. Maybe 3 out of the twenty thanked us. Guess I should be grateful they didn't open up on us.
Torture victims of Saddam Hussein are warning the United States that their former tormentors are seeking new positions in Iraq by working with authorities in the U.S.-led occupation. "Those are the enemies of the U.S. and of Iraq, the same people who burn the bodies of Americans," said Salah Zinad, 38...Basim Al Fadhly, a journalist at an Iraqi television station, said the problem is that Saddamâs henchmen are working with U.S. forces, in part because the American military doesnât have adequate knowledge of their backgrounds and histories. The torturers change their identifications and addresses to avoid detection, Mr. Al Fadhly said. He said a former member of Saddamâs Baâath Party leads a workersâ group inside the Green Zone, the protected area in central Baghdad that houses the U.S. military and occupation forces. This is not good.
Posted by: rex ||
06/10/2004 4:48:08 PM ||
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#1
And by the headline I thought this was another article about France...
#3
This is just more of the media harping on their 'why isn't everythng perfect' theme. Given the frequent references to 'intelligence tips' I must assume there is a mechanism to report this kind of information to the coalition authorities. I suggest the 'victims' use it.
Posted by: Phil B ||
06/10/2004 19:01 Comments ||
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#4
I must assume there is a mechanism to report this kind of information to the coalition authorities. I suggest the 'victims' use it.
I assume the victims-there's no need to put the word in parentheses, it's fact- have warned coalition troops, but they see no change in US policy. I suggest you should read the whole article -I cut & pasted only a bit.
This is just more of the media harping on their 'why isn't everythng perfect' theme.
This article appeared in the Washington Times, which we know is a WH friendly media source. For that reason, I suspect there's little spin involved in this article. Advice is not carping, it's advice and should not be dismissed because it's not cheerleading.
Posted by: rex ||
06/10/2004 19:20 Comments ||
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#5
And where are all the polygrah tests, in the hiring proceedure? If they refuse, don't consider; if they do submit and it "pings" inacurate...voila!!
#6
Polygraph tests are a superstition. They're like cold reading - both methods rely on sharp, perceptive operators. There's a reason they're not accepted as evidence in court in any sane jurisdiction.
Posted by: Mitch H. ||
06/11/2004 7:57 Comments ||
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UN weapons experts have found 20 engines used in Iraq's banned Al Samoud 2 missiles in a Jordanian scrap yard, along with other equipment that could be used to produce weapons of mass destruction.
Acting chief UN inspector Demetrius Perricos disclosed the discovery today in a closed-door briefing to the UN Security Council. According to the text of his presentation, Perricos said a similar missile engine had been found in a scrap yard in the Dutch port of Rotterdam, while a request had been made to Turkey, which has also received scrap metal from Iraq. The discoveries raise questions about the fate of material and equipment that could be used to produce biological and chemical weapons as well as banned long-range missiles.
Perricos said UN inspectors do not how much material has been removed from Iraq since the war began in March 2003, and suggested the interim government may want to reconsider "the whole policy for the continued export of metal scrap" once it assumes power on June 30. "The only controls at the borders are for the weight of the scrap metal, and to check whether there are any explosive or radioactive materials within the scrap," he said, according to the text of his briefing. Afterwards, he told reporters that up to a thousand tons of scrap metal was leaving Iraq every day. Perricos told the council that UN experts visited "relevant scrap yards" in Jordan and discovered 20 SA-2 missile engines, which are used in Al Samoud 2 missiles. His report did not specify the condition of the engines, or whether they were damaged.
The UN team also discovered some processing equipment with UN tags - which show it was being monitored - including chemical reactors, heat exchangers, and a solid propellant mixer bowl to make missile fuel, he said. It also discovered "a large number of other processing equipment without tags, in very good condition." The UN inspectors in Jordan were told that "brand new material like stainless steel and special alloy sheets" was being sent out of Iraq, he said. At today's closed council meeting, UN diplomats said many members expressed concern about items missile engines and other material that had been monitored by UN inspectors ending up in foreign scrap yards including Algeria, Brazil, Germany, France, Chile, Spain, Russia and China.
#1
Sounds like they found evidence of banned weapons, not WMD. Both items were ordered destroyed under UNSC resolutions ending GW I. These missiles are like the ones Hans "Shitting" Blix and his boys were finding in Iraq before OIF.
Posted by: Tibor ||
06/10/2004 16:21 Comments ||
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#2
I guess it depends on what the "large number of other processing equipment without tags, in very good condition." was for.
Posted by: Phil B ||
06/10/2004 16:30 Comments ||
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#3
It does mention "special alloy sheets"...though no specifics. My red flag is that if the UN flunkies are concerned, then we may actually have something here. I'm sure CBS/ABC/NBC/CNN will have in-depth coverage of this important news...NOT!
Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
06/10/2004 16:34 Comments ||
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#4
Send Inquiries to:
Missile R Us
Amman Jordan
(Magoo's Universe, UK Geocities)
Hans Blix inspects fuel processors
which he says are infant formula vats.
#6
Okay! All we need to do is publish the fact that the U.N. also has/had satellite pictures of said weapons, intact, before March 2003. I am satisfied to have stopped the killing of innocent Iraqis with or without WMDs - they were not the only reason for going in.
Posted by: Don Mohr ||
06/10/2004 20:07 Comments ||
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#7
Hey, UN boys. Syria's in the neighborhood. Why don't you go poke around there and see what you find? That is what you're trying to do, right? Right?
#8
Dang! I guess 14 months was enough time for old Sadaam to give away the WMD and the tools to make and deliver them! What a surprise! brings up the question of not why are there now WMD in Iraq, but where did they go, and who has them now? Can you see Dan Blather asking that on the nightly News? Instead we are gonna get a dose of Micheal Moore and Bill Clinton with the latest "Documentaries" featured as real "news".
Would it be possible for someone to walk over to the UN building and show someone in charge a map of Syria ...?
Posted by: Mark Espinola ||
06/18/2004 1:19 Comments ||
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#10
Now, assuming these guys in the UN can actually read a map is a pretty large assumption. Reading maps interferes with their quality time being stoned and frolicking with child prostitutes from countries the blue-hats are 'protecting'.
Libya has denied a report that its leader, Muammar al-Qadhafi, planned to have the crown prince of Saudi Arabia assassinated last year. The alleged murder plot is being investigated by the United States, Saudi Arabia and Britain. The New York Times reported on Thursday that the plot involved firing rockets at Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abd al-Azizâs motorcade. Almoudi, the US officials said, told US investigators the Libyan leader once commented: "I want the Crown Prince killed either through assassination or through a coup."
Separately, in Saudi Arabia, Colonel Muhammad Ismail, told his Saudi interrogators he was operational commander of the plot. Ismail is described as a Libyan intelligence officer captured by Egyptian police in November after he fled Saudi Arabia where he tried to pay off four Saudis who were preparing to assassinate the monarch. Ismail named two Libyan Intelligence chiefs who reported directly to al-Qadhafi as giving him instructions on the assassination plot. As part of the conspiracy, Almoudi and Ismail are alleged to have traveled to London to contact Saudi dissidents through whom they could recruit assassins in Saudi Arabia. They distributed more than $2 million in cash in the British capital according to the account of their statements, the daily said. The plan was to attack the Saudi monarchâs motorcade with armuor-piercing missiles or rocket-propelled granades. The hit men were to receive $1 million in cash for their work. However, Libyan foreign minister Abd al-Rahman Shalgam poured scorn on the allegations.
"Nope. Nope. Never happened."
He said. "I insist on stating officially that this article is without foundation, that Libya has committed no such act and that it is firmly engaged in the fight against terrorism."
"Lies! All lies!"
Shalgam said "those who spread such stories are elements hostile to Libya" who "want to poison our relations with Saudi Arabia," adding that those relations are "good and normal". And interviewed in London, the Libyan leaderâs son, Seif al-Islam al-Qadhafi, described the reported plot as "nonsense". But if the alleged conspiracy turns out to be true it could undermine al-Qadhafiâs efforts to convince the international community that he does not sponsor "terrorism".
"It's all in the past. It's time to move on..."
A senior Bush administration official told the daily that the emergence of convincing evidence that al-Qadhafi ordered or condoned an assassination and "terror" campaign could cause a "180 degree" change of American policy toward Libya. US officials said the investigation of the alleged plot is one reason why Libya has not been removed from a US State Department list of countries that support "terrorism".
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
06/10/2004 4:12:47 PM ||
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Libyan leaderâs son, Seif al-Islam al-Qadhafi said, "Never knock off a man with an attractive wife. It cuts off a potential source of learning."
Chinese workers who were sprayed with machine gun fire as they slept in tents pitched on the harsh plains of northern Afghanistan, had requested to have no more than two police guards, an official said Thursday. About 100 Chinese had been housed in the camp, along with dozens of vehicles and equipment needed for their work. Their tents had been pitched behind a large building which contained cooking and other facilities. ``Just two policemen were guarding the compound,ââ police chief General Abdul Alil Andrabi told an AFP reporter at the site. ``The Chinese themselves didnât want to have more protection.ââ
The victims were apparently shot at through a wire fence surrounding the tents. They were splattered with blood. Asked how long the attack had lasted, one Chinese worker who was packing his bags to leave Thursday, said: ``10 minutes.ââ Most of the workers arrived in Kunduz less than 24 hours earlier, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told a briefing in Beijing. ``They were shot in their sleep. They were not protected,ââ he said. Jianchao said the tragedy ``should be a lesson for us.ââ
``We should take more effective measures to ensure the safety of Chinese nationals abroad,ââ he said. Initial investigations showed that the attackers came from the direction of Kunduz city, about 36 kilometres (22 miles) to the north, police chief Andrabi said. ``They stopped their vehicles about 200 or 300 metres from the camp, they walked to the camp and attacked the area,ââ he said. ``They left by their vehicles, also to the north.ââ It is not known who was responsible for the callous attack but all workers were being evacuated to Kunduz city for their safety, he added. ``The attackers could belong to three groups: Hezb-i Islami, Taliban or Al-Qaeda,ââ he said. Hezb-i-Islami is an Islamic fundamentalist group headed by fugitive warlord and former Afghan premier Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. Acting Afghan President Mohammed Qasim Fahim also said he ``considers the network of Taliban, Al-Qaeda and their allies behind the incident.ââ
``I was sleeping in my truck when I heard some shooting,ââ he said. ``The shooting lasted for 10 or 15 minutes. A policeman who was guarding the base was one of the first to be shot. Just after the attack everything became silent and calm.ââ Several hours after the attack Afghan soldiers arrived from neighbouring Baghlan province to secure the area. By about 7:30 am they had been joined by German peacekeeping soldiers based in Kunduz. German Lieutenant Colonel Frank Sarach told AFP that the NATO-led peacekeepers had provided medical assistance to the group and were now securing the site. ``One of the injured is hospitalised at the PRT (German-run provincial reconstruction team) in Kunduz,ââ he said.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
06/10/2004 2:30:31 PM ||
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#1
"The attackers could belong to three groups: Hezb-i Islami, Taliban or Al-Qaeda."
Via Drudge - intelligent use of UAVâs
Israelâs military has succeeded in detecting and neutralizing improvised explosive devices from the air. Israeli officials said the Israel Defense Forces have combined air and ground forces to detect IEDs during military operations in the Gaza Strip. They said the military used unmanned air vehicles and helicopters to locate and neutralize bombs during the invasion of the southern Gaza Strip in May. The method was used during Operation Rainbow, the incursion into Rafah in which the military searched for insurgents and weapons smuggling tunnels.
Palestinian insurgents fought Israeli troops with light arms, rocket-propelled grenades, mortars and mines, Middle East Newsline reported. The Israeli military used a combination of air platforms to locate and destroy the IEDs. Officials said the Searcher unmanned air vehicle detected the bombs placed in alleyways and streets in Rafah. When the IEDs were located, the Israel Air Force summoned an Apache AH-64A attack helicopter to fire a missile to destroy the bombs. [On late Tuesday, an Israeli Apache AH-64A attack helicopter fired missiles toward what a military spokesman said was a Hamas facility in Gaza City that produced Kassam-class short-range missiles. Israeli military sources said the missile strike was in response to the Hamas firing of Kassam missiles toward Israel.]
The military released a video that showed Palestinian insurgents planting dozens of explosive charges in residential areas of Rafah during the Israeli invasion. The video showed a UAV spotting one IED and directing an attack helicopter to destroy the bomb. In the video, released on June 6, the Apache was seen firing a single missile, which contained submunitions. The missile destroyed several IEDs. The video also showed UAVs tracking insurgents with RPGs. In one part of the video, the UAV detected insurgents who had planted an IED and concealed it with a sheet of plastic. The UAV then helped guide the Apache, which destroyed the bomb. Officials said that during these operations the UAV and the helicopter were in constant communication. The air platforms were also linked to ground-based systems and tactical computers used by infantry and armored commanders in Rafah.
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/10/2004 1:09:15 PM ||
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#1
Very Cool! - Combined with the "Microwave a Mullah" weapon, they can now kill them faster than they can breed. Cockroach and Termite extermination policy applied to Head-Bowlers, Hammyz, and the Cicadas. (Hez'bolah, Hamas, al-Qaeda)
#3
That's the hard part, jules. You need a certain kind of optics for that, and unless Israel can put up TONS of UAVs in the air for this purpose, that won't do. However, I'm impressed! Perhaps the US military in Iraq should borrow this idea?
Posted by: Edward Yee ||
06/10/2004 15:13 Comments ||
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#4
The military released a video that showed Palestinian insurgents planting dozens of explosive charges in residential areas of Rafah during the Israeli invasion.
I'm sure ABC/NBC/CBS/CNN/BBC/etc... will show these videos on the evening news.... (But I won't be holding my breath...).
#6
This is great counter terrorist news, which the American, British and other 'loyal' allies must have while serving in Iraq & Afghanistan combating the Islamic horde.
Posted by: Mark Espinola ||
06/10/2004 20:01 Comments ||
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#7
When the IEDs were located, the Israel Air Force summoned an Apache AH-64A attack helicopter to fire a missile to destroy the bombs.
One question: how much does each of these missiles cost? I would hope that they are relatively cheap. If not, the more IEDs that are planted, the pricier each clearing operation becomes.
#8
BAR - at the price of a loaded humvee - 4 Americans, we can afford it, regardless. Who says the UAV's have to be unarmed?
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/10/2004 21:44 Comments ||
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#9
Impressive. In addition to the neutralization measures, I would deal with the locals who don't report the planting of RSBs, by evacuating and then destroying the two closest building to the RSB site. Similar IDF actions have resulted in untold number of Pale informants coming forward. The terrorists don't have 100% support in the IDF operational areas, thanks to IDF retaliation practices. Hearts-and-Minds only goes so far.
Via Lucianne:
Four Arab men posing as journalists were arrested this week when explosives residue was detected on them as they tried to enter the Baghdad headquarters of the U.S.-led administration, a senior U.S. army officer said. The officer, a top security official in the compound which hosts news conferences given by senior U.S. and Iraqi officials and houses the U.S. consulate, said explosives were found in the menâs hotel room after the arrests on Sunday.
"Hey, what's this!"
"That? Er, it's a holy relic given to me by my mother!"
They were posing as employees of an international television company and carried fake identification cards and were trying to drive a van into the compound when they were arrested, he said.
Sounds like a recon mission
"The IDs looked real. But when we called the organization and asked if they were employees, they said they had not heard of them," the army officer told Reuters.
#5
Dammit! This is great news, but why publish the details?! Now the asshats worldwide know to wash their hands verrry carefully before their next recon.
Posted by: Dar ||
06/10/2004 13:42 Comments ||
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#6
Nothing like advertising how to beat security measures.Just wonder what would have happened if they had used "real" employee names ?
#8
Concur, Dar and rich woods. I've long wondered why existing or novel sniffing and other devices haven't been used in Iraq to ID bad guys. And not just passively, at a checkpoint, but offensively. Remotely monitored sensors, round-ups of folks anywhere near found IEDs for quick screening, etc. Also thought we should have been messing with weapons/explosives caches we come across, putting various taggants all over after discreetly disabling weapons and spoiling explosives -- make for real interesting mass-screenings later.
The standoff between the militants holed up inside a mosque and Border Security Force in Kulgam in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir ended on Thursday with the BSF killing both terrorists without causing much damage to the mosque. The militants had taken refuge inside a local mosque at Wohgund after a gunfight with security forces on Wednesday afternoon. The encounter began around 1.30 pm on Wednesday when troops of BSF's 52nd Battalion raided a house adjacent to the mosque on a tip off. The militants opened fire while fleeing from the house, killing Constable Bijinder Singh. In the gunfight that ensued one of the militants was killed. However, the other two managed to escape and took shelter inside the mosque.
"Dammit, the coppers got Ali, what'll we do now?"
"Let's go hide in the mosque. Nobody'll look for us there."
The official spokesman said, security forces asked village elders to persuade militants to surrender and vacate the mosque, but the ultras refused to give up.
"I'm sorry, officer, we tried our best, but they say you'll never take them alive."
"Ok by me, Singh was a friend of mine."
On Thursday afternoon BSF personnel stormed the mosque killing both the militants.
I love a happy ending.
Minor damage was caused to the roof of the mosque during the gunfight, the spokesman said.
Posted by: Steve ||
06/10/2004 12:42:31 PM ||
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Minor damage was caused to the roof of the mosque during the gunfight, the spokesman said
Only minor damage? Pity.
Posted by: rex ||
06/10/2004 14:33 Comments ||
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Minor damage was caused to the roof of the mosque during the gunfight, the spokesman said.
Minor damage to the roof.
Means : A quart of Spackle paste, A Quart of White Paint, and A Ladder is what they need. Right?
Businessman Jerzy Kos arrived home after being freed from Iraqi insurgents Tuesday in Baghdad with another Pole and three Italians. "I am very moved to be back in Poland and to be alive," Kos said at Warsaw airport after stepping off his plane, his face pale and voice trembling. "I am so moved, I can hardly speak." The 64-year-old construction company director described his rescue as a lighting-quick operation. They were imprisoned in a house in Ramadi, west of Baghdad, until Tuesday, when they heard helicopters approaching. The door was then blown in, kicking up a dust cloud and knocking the hostages to the ground. "When I opened my eyes, I saw American soldiers," he said. "They said, âDonât worry, we are Americans.â They held our hands and we ran to the helicopter â I will remember that for the rest of my life. It was fast and unexpected. They did it perfectly."
Kos was abducted June 1 by armed attackers along with another employee, Radoslaw Kadri, two female Iraqi employees and three Kurdish guards. Kadri escaped, while the two women were released shortly after being captured. Kosâ company said the abductors were believed to be part of a kidnapping network. A day after he was taken, Kos was put in a room with the three Italians, who were seized in April, and they were then all moved together until their release, he said. "We talked a lot and supported each other as much as we could," he said. A fourth Italian taken with the other three April 12 was killed by his captors, and while Kos said he initially thought his captors planned to kill him, he said he later realized they "wanted to do some business." He said he was once beaten on the head with a gun, but otherwise suffered no further physical abuse. Nonetheless, conditions were "extreme," Kos said, describing the food he was fed as so bad it gave him diarrhea. "I am surprised that I survived," he said.
#1
yea teddy bitch somemore how we are so horrible to our terrorists prisoners....
Posted by: Dan ||
06/10/2004 12:34 Comments ||
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#2
Dan #4 - Filobuster Bagogas, doesn't see what he doesn't want to see. And the only thing he sees nowdays is that bottle of whiskey and a chilled glass with a few rocks.
#3
Yesterday I adamantly claimed that Polish special forces (GROM and more likely Formoza) participated in this operation. This has now been denied by Polish officials, in which case I stand corrected. Good job, US special forces!!!
Posted by: Rafael ||
06/10/2004 16:39 Comments ||
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Shiite gunmen seized a police station Thursday in Najaf in the first outbreak of fighting since an agreement to end weeks of bloody clashes between U.S. troops and militia forces. Four Iraqis were killed and 13 were injured, hospital and militia officials said.
It's a hudna tradition...
Gunmen loyal to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr took control of the Ghari police station just 250 yards from the Imam Ali Shrine, witness Mohammed Hussein said. The station was looted and police cars were burned. "We sent a quick-reaction unit to assist the policemen defending the station, but they were overwhelmed by al-Sadr fighters," Najaf Gov. Adnan al-Zurufi said. "We will solve this problem as soon as possible. We will ask for the help of the Americans, if necessary." U.S. forces were not involved in the clashes, and it was unclear whether the violence marked the end of the cease-fire in Najaf, mediated by Shiite leaders and al-Sadrâs militia, or resulted from police attempts to crack down on petty crime in the city.
I heard on the radio that it was in reponse to the cops arresting some crooks, at which point their fellow tribals hollered "Hey, Rube" and the festivities were under way...
Police and witnesses said trouble started when authorities tried to arrest some suspected thieves at the bus station near the main police headquarters. Masked attackers â possibly including militia members â responded with machine gun fire and rocket-propelled grenades near the headquarters building. One gunman was killed when police returned fire, and other fighters then attacked the building. Fighting later moved to the second police station. Al-Sadr spokesman Qais al-Khazali said he was trying to intervene and stop the violence.
"I'm important! They'll listen to me!"
"We are trying to convince them to stop shooting," al-Khazali said. "We are still committed to the truce." Two of the four dead were al-Mahdi fighters, and several others were injured, al-Khazali said.
Gee. Golly. Wonder how they got mixed in with the crooks?
In a sign of the ongoing threat, saboteurs blew up a key oil pipeline Wednesday, forcing a 10 percent cut on the national power grid as demand for electricity rises with the advent of Iraqâs broiling summer heat. The pipeline blast near Beiji, 150 miles north of Baghdad, was the latest in a series of attacks by insurgents against infrastructure targets, possibly to shake public confidence as a new Iraqi government prepares to take power June 30.
Barham Salih, 44, of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and an American favorite, announced Wednesday he would not accept the post of deputy prime minister for national security unless the powers were spelled out "appropriate to the position, sacrifice and important role of the Kurdish people," the PUKâs KurdSat television reported.
Following U.N. Security Council approval of the Iraq resolution, President Bush suggested a wider role for NATO in Iraq. However, French President Jacques Chirac raised objections, and the proposal lacks universal support in the Western alliance, already tied down by heavy commitments in Afghanistan. At the Group of Eight summit at Sea Island, Georgia, Chirac told reporters that, while he is "open to all discussion" on a NATO role, "I wonât hide it from you that I donât think it is NATOâs purpose to intervene in Iraq." Chirac said NATO involvement "could only be envisaged" if the Iraqi government requested it.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
06/10/2004 9:47:01 AM ||
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#1
How many times do we have to say it-a person's word in that part of the world is MEANINGLESS. When we go in with expectations that they will honor a promise, we hoist our own petards.
#2
President Bush (news - web sites) suggested a wider role for NATO (news - web sites) in Iraq. However, French President Jacques Chirac raised objections,....
Is this typical Gallic cheek? France pulled out of NATO years ago and they think they can give orders where NATO is concerned?
#3
technically France never pulled out of the Atlantic Alliance, just the NATO command structure. And they reentered the NATO command structure under Mitterand. So, yes, they can veto NATO ops. Clinton and Blair and Joska Fischer had to work hard on them to get French support for the Kosovo operation.
Of course if Chirac vetoes NATO participation this time, that will lead to US disillusionment with NATO. Something that the new NATO states cant be very happy with. So there are prospects for major pressure on Chirac. But once again, hes not making it easy.
#4
Just couldn't help himself, could he? He seethed and seethed, seethed some more, and then exploded in anger, again. How humiliating. Dude needs to try yoga...or cyanide Valium.
#5
Too bad we can't get the French to back Al-Sadar. They could just hoist the white flag for him and we could be done with it.
Posted by: B ||
06/10/2004 10:22 Comments ||
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#6
The interesting bit about this though is that US soldiers were not involved. That is a wonderful thing. The Iraqi police/armed forces are fighting their own and dealing, at least fifully, with the problem. A major step forward. Oh, one more thing, Chirac can go stuff himself.
Posted by: remote man ||
06/10/2004 11:58 Comments ||
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#8
"We will solve this problem as soon as possible. We will ask for the help of the Americans, if necessary."
I would hope that this doesn't include negotiation. That would leave everything in place for possible future problems.
Al-Sadr spokesman Qais al-Khazali said he was trying to intervene and stop the violence.
Enough already. If a militia refuses to disband and persists in engaging in violence, then there is no reason not to pursue and eliminate every single member, including the leaders. If such an operation requires U.S participation, then hop to it and let's get the job done.
#9
I know that it's been said ad nauseum, but I am compelled to ask why, other than an unhealthy desire on the part of our media elites to french kiss Chirac's backside, does anyone in this country want to know what France thinks about anything? To paraphrase a current T-shirt, "If it absolutely has to be f****d-up overnight, send the French."
#10
You just gotta love this guy (Al Sadr)! He consistent, direct, and fearless! I can't wait for the Handover to occur (with him alive), so that he can fulfill his destiny. He WILL BE the focal point in time.
Three guerilla units have been eliminated in Chechnya over the past 24 hours, a spokesman for the regional headquarters for the antiterrorist operation in the North Caucasus, Col. Ilya Shabalkin, told Interfax on Tuesday. "In all, eight rebels have been killed and eight Kalashnikov assault rifles and other ammunition and weapons were seized in the course of three special operations over the past twenty-four hours," Shabalkin said. A gang spotted near the community of Benoi in Shatoi district "was planning to commit an act of sabotage and terrorism in the near future," Shabalkin said. A homemade explosive device was found with the guerillas, he said. Several rebels from that unit were killed and others ran away, the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, seven guerillas voluntarily laid down their arms in Chechnya, the chief of staff of the Chechen presidential security service, Artur Akhmadov, told Interfax on Tuesday. "After first deputy prime minister and chief of the presidential security service Ramzan Kadyrov demanded in yesterdayâs televised address that the rebels lay down their arms, seven people declared that they wanted to surrender their arms and return to a peaceful life," Akhmadov said. He said a bodyguard of separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov was among those who surrendered. He declined to name the manâs name "until legal formalities related to the registration of the voluntary surrender are completed."
Akhmadov also that said six guerillas surrendered on Monday. Negotiations are being held with rebels through their relatives and others to compel them to cease their unlawful activities, he said. Akhmadov rejected allegations that the number of operations against guerillas and their effectiveness has been decreasing of late. "We have not stopped targeted operations for a single day, and people linked to unlawful armed units have been detained every day, in fact," Akhmadov said.
At the same time, he pointed out that Ramzan Kadyrov called on the rebels to lay down their arms over the next three days. "They have a real opportunity to do this without fearing for their lives. After this, we of course will conduct search operations in a much tougher way and will not let the bandit formations terrorize the people," he said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chechen Prosecutor Alexander Nikitin told Interfax on Tuesday that the Chechen prosecution service will accept the surrender of guerillas even after the three days mentioned by Kadyrov. "We abide by the law. Nobody has invalidated the Criminal Code provisions mitigating liability in certain cases," Nikitin said. He noted that comments attached to a number of Criminal Code articles provide for the possibility of freeing a person from criminal liability if he "effectively repents" for his past deeds. Chechen Prosecutor Vladimir Kravchenko told Interfax that voluntary surrenders in Chechnya continue to occur. "During the amnesty period, 209 people were amnestied. This figure is much higher now and is growing day to day," he said.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
06/10/2004 9:37:14 AM ||
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Authorities have detained two suspects in last monthâs killing of Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov, a prosecutor said Thursday. Allies of the assassinated leader, meanwhile, chose their candidate to replace him in an election this summer. Deputy Prosecutor General Sergei Fridinsky said the two detainees ``participated in preparing and carrying out the explosionââ that killed Kadyrov and five other people at a stadium in Chechnyaâs capital of Grozny on May 9, the Interfax news agency reported. Fridinsky claimed that the suspects, residents of Chechnya who were aged 28 and 22, had admitted involvement, Interfax reported. An aide to Fridinsky, Vladimir Rudyak, confirmed the detentions.
Prosecutors have said the circumstances of the bombing suggested it was an inside job that could have included someone from Kadyrovâs own security detail. They said the explosive had been planted under the VIP section at the stadium and had escaped the attention of security forces who swept the site beforehand. A new presidential election is scheduled for Aug. 29, and Kadyrovâs allies - including his influential son, Ramzan Kadyrov, who headed his security force and is now Chechnyaâs first deputy prime minister - informally chose Alu Alkhanov, the regionâs top police official, as their candidate, according to Russian news reports. ``Kadyrov always had hope in Alkhanov, that he would establish order in Chechnya, and he always declared that everything should be put in the hands of the Chechen police,ââ Ramzan Kadyrov, who at 27 is too young for the presidency, said on NTV television. ``And since heâs the head of the police, we think he will establish order.ââ
Chechnyaâs ethnic Russian acting president, Sergei Abramov, seemed to signal Kremlin support for Alkhanovâs nomination, telling NTV he is ``a worthy person, a true Chechen and a professional leader.ââ Interfax quoted Chechen State Council head Taus Dzhabrailov as saying Akhmad Kadyrovâs allies would support Alkhanov if he agreed to run. Alkhanov, 47, opposed Chechnyaâs fight for independence in the mid-1990s and has countered the rebels in the war that broke out after Russian forces entered Chechnya in 1999, the ITAR-Tass news agency reported. He had been chief of the transport police in Grozny since 2000 before being named interior minister in April 2003, it said.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
06/10/2004 9:33:48 AM ||
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A fierce gunbattle between Pakistani security forces and Al-Qaeda-linked fighters near the Afghan border left at least 24 people dead, security officials said. Around 20 foreign militants were among those killed, Pakistan officials told AFP, after the fighting erupted Wednesday in the rugged tribal border region thought to be a possible hiding place for Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden. "More than 20 foreign militants have died so far," the tribal territoryâs security chief Brigadier Mahmood Shah told AFP. One paramilitary soldier and three civilians including a woman from the local Mahsud tribe also died in the firefight which began early Wednesday and continued late into the night, he said.
The firefight started in Shakai village, 35 kilometers (22 miles) north of Wana, the main town in the tribal South Waziristan district after militants holed up in the area fired rockets at military personnel."We have recovered six bodies while seven others were buried in Shakai," Shah told AFP. He said another seven or eight fightersâ bodies were lying at the site of the clash. One injured foreign militant was arrested. Residents said militants launched a fresh attack on a military post in Wana before dawn Thursday but details of any new casualties were not available. The gunfire was heard for about two hours overnight, they said, adding that both sides traded heavy weapons fire.
The clashes on Wednesday began when troops surrounded several houses in Torwam area near Shakai where militants were holed up. The militants opened fire on the troops with mortars, heavy machine guns and also fired rockets, Shah said adding the troops also used heavy weapons. The gunbattle came amid political negotiations between authorities and rebel tribesmen supporting several hundred foreign fighters linked to Al-Qaeda. It also followed several fruitless hunts by armed tribal militias, who have repeatedly told authorities they could not locate foreign fighters in the area.
They couldn't hear the foreign fighters either with all those drums banging away.
Military spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan in a statement late Wednesday said negotiations were underway and the government hoped to resolve the issue amicably, avoiding use of force. "However, miscreants in an utter violation of the agreement and breach of trust, Muslim values, tribal customs and local traditions resorted to unprovoked firing on the posts of security forces.
Unprovoked firing is a violation of Muslim values?
"This should be an eye-opener for those who oblivious of the ground realities, continue to maintain that there are no miscreants in the area." Shaukat was referring to the April 24 deal brokered by local tribal elders under which the authorities agreed that foreign militants could stay in the tribal region if they denounce militancy.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
06/10/2004 9:14:33 AM ||
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#1
Al-quida's backs are against the wall, but can we trust Pak to keep the heat on them? If they do, maybe Bin Laden's capture is within sight.
Posted by: Chris W. ||
06/10/2004 11:30 Comments ||
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Shia militants have clashed with Iraqi police in the holy city of Najaf, leaving at least two people dead and shattering a short-lived truce. A policeman was among those killed, while at least 13 people were wounded, including several civilians. The fighting came despite a truce agreed on 4 June between the Mehdi Army militia of Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr and the US-led coalition. Iraqi police said US troops were not involved in the latest clashes. The Shia militants reportedly attacked a police station late on Wednesday, using machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades. Earlier, police had tried to arrest suspected thieves, according to witnesses.
Thieves and militants were most likely the same people
Under the truce, Moqtada Sadr had agreed to withdraw his fighters from the Islamic shrines in Najaf and the nearby holy city of Kufa. Iraqi police returned to the streets of Najaf on 5 June, while US forces pulled out to their base on the edge of the city. The Mehdi Army's uprising against the US occupation began in April and the militia suffered heavy casualties in clashes with US forces before the truce was negotiated.
More details: Shiite gunmen seized a police station Thursday in Najaf in the first outbreak of fighting since an agreement to end weeks of bloody clashes between U.S. troops and militia forces. Four Iraqis were killed and 13 were injured, hospital and militia officials said. Gunmen loyal to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr took control of the Ghari police station just 250 yards from the Imam Ali Shrine, witness Mohammed Hussein said. The station was looted and police cars were burned. "We sent a quick-reaction unit to assist the policemen defending the station, but they were overwhelmed by al-Sadr fighters," Najaf Gov. Adnan al-Zurufi said. "We will solve this problem as soon as possible. We will ask for the help of the Americans, if necessary."
Be nice if you could handle this yourself.
U.S. forces were not involved in the clashes, and it was unclear whether the violence marked the end of the cease-fire in Najaf, mediated by Shiite leaders and al-Sadr's militia, or resulted from police attempts to crack down on petty crime in the city. Police and witnesses said trouble started when authorities tried to arrest some suspected thieves at the bus station near the main police headquarters. Masked attackers - possibly including militia members - responded with machine gun fire and rocket-propelled grenades near the headquarters building. One gunman was killed when police returned fire, and other fighters then attacked the building. Fighting later moved to the second police station. Al-Sadr spokesman Qais al-Khazali said he was trying to intervene and stop the violence. "We are trying to convince them to stop shooting," al-Khazali said. "We are still committed to the truce." Two of the four dead were al-Mahdi fighters, and several others were injured, al-Khazali said.
Time to see who runs this town, the government or Sadr.
Posted by: Steve ||
06/10/2004 9:05:13 AM ||
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#1
" "We will solve this problem as soon as possible. We will ask for the help of the Americans, if necessary." "
This is FANTASTIC - now all they need to do is carry this off - eject Sadr from the area, killing a pile of the Mahdi Moron Militia in the process....
It would show that Iraq is finally coming to terms with governing themselves.
Another post covers what Brahimi is saying. Here is an excerpt from the Daily State Department Press Briefing and Two excerpts from the Iraqi Daily News Summary provided by IWPR.
QUESTION: Youâre not objecting to our omission in the UN Security Council resolution?
MR. BOUCHER: There was language in the resolution, I think, that took note of the basic principles that they were most interested in. They, I think, had looked for a specific mention of the Transitional Administrative Law that does guide Iraq during the transition. This government that was formed is now part of an annex to that law, as described in the annex to that law, so the question was whether that was specifically in the resolution.
What the resolution did was stuck to the basic principles that are embodied in that law. I think youâll see Ambassador Negroponte mentioned it specifically in his explanation of vote yesterday, and that is that it is a federal, democratic, pluralist and unified Iraq. Thatâs in the resolution, thatâs in the TAL, those are the principles that we were all looking for in terms of the new government and weâre glad to see that there is a new government that does just that.
Snip-
Sistani warns against UNSC involvement in interim law
(Al-Qassim al-Mushtarak) - Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-
Husseini al-Sistani has warned aagainst including any reference to the interim administrative law in the resolution being discussed by the UN Security Council. Sistaniâs office announced on Monday that any reference to the interim law approved by the Governing Council would be illegal, rejected by the majority of the people of Iraq, and would imply danger. The announcement said the interim law, drafted under occupation by an unelected govedrnment and affected directly by the occupation authority, fettered the national assembly which will be elected in 2005 and which will draft a permanent law for Iraq.(Al-Qassim Al-Mushtarak is issued twice a week by Sabhan Mulla Chyad.)
Barzani warns of failing to include interim law
(Al-Taakhi) - Head of the Democratic Party of Kurdistan Masoud Barzani said calling off the interim administrative law drafted unanimously by the Iraqi patriotic powers jeopardises the future of Iraq as a unified state. He said the people of Kurdistan are not ready to accept anything but a democratic system in Iraq. This statement came after some Iraqi groups tried to cancel the law approved by the Governing Council in February and exclude it from the new project.
(Al-Taakhi is issued daily by the Kurdistan Democratic Party.)
Posted by: Super Hose ||
06/10/2004 2:48:41 AM ||
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(Asharq al-Awsat) - Prime Minister Ayad Allawi yesterday expressed regret that relations with Muqtada al-Sadr have deviated along a route that does not serve the people of Iraq. He also urged Sadr to resort to the language of civilised, rational dialogue. "I wished al-Sadr resorted to democratic methods via political action," added Allawi. "We have always said this is a transitional situation which will be followed by elections through which people can choose their leadership," he concluded.
(London-based Asharq al-Awsat, a pro-Saudi independent paper, is issued daily.)
De-Baathification on the way out
(Azzaman) - The new government is aiming to cancel the National Board of de-Baathification. Sources from the government said Prime Minister Ayad Allawi is continuing a reform programme including a review of hasty decisions made by the Governing Council and the Coalition Provisional Authority such as de-Baathification. The sources emphasised that this programme is part of the national reconciliation project, and that Baathists who committed no crimes may be eligible to resume their posts.
(London-based Azzaman is issued daily by Saad al-Bazaz.)
Poles withdraw from Karbala government buildings
(Al-Mada) - Polish military forces have withdrawn from the buildings of the Governor and Police of Karbala after an improvement in the security situation, said Rahman Mshawi, information spokesman of the Karbala Police Directorate. Mshawi said this withdrawal resulted from an agreement between Polish Commander Edward Kroshka and Police Commander Brigadier General Abbas Fadhil al-Hasani. "The stable security situation was the reason behind withdrawal," added Mshawi.
(Al-Mada is issued daily by Al-Mada institution for Media, Culture, and Arts.)
Posted by: Super Hose ||
06/10/2004 2:57:36 AM ||
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Excerpted from IWPR Daily Summary
- I posted this because it reminded me of the Wild West behavior that Zeyed described witnessing in Basra. I guess we are learning that it going to be tough to keep Marsh Arabs down in the swamp now that they have seen the bright lights of Basra.
(Al-Sabah al-Jadeed) - The Ministry of Interior (MI) called upon tribal leaders to stand up to anyone who resorts to threatening policemen who are doing their job of chasing criminals. The MI also asked tribal leaders to educate their followers to end such threats which are considered a sign of corruption and backwardness. The MI recently observed some bad phenomena such as some criminals threatening or blackmailing police officers.
(Al-Sabah al-Jadeed is an independent daily paper.)
Posted by: Super Hose ||
06/10/2004 2:55:23 AM ||
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excerpted from State Department Daily Press Briefing. Note: I didnât see the brief but if Boucher isnât being ironic then he is accidently brilliant. I appologize for the length but Boucher has painted a subtle picture of UN action that I am afraid to disturb with highlighting or chopping.
QUESTION: Yeah. Kofi Annan says he going to appoint a special coordinator for Darfur. Is this something that he is doing in coordination with you and how do you see this fitting in?
MR. BOUCHER: The Secretary of State and the Secretary General have talked very frequently recently about Darfur over the weekend as they were working the UN -- talking about the UN resolution and the status of that. I think in every one of four or five different conversations theyâve talked about this situation in Darfur. Iâm double-checking my notes here. I guess I had three conversations this week. Already, Iâm pretty sure Darfur came up in at least two of those. The Secretary and the Secretary General are both very, very concerned about the situation in Darfur. We have, for a long time, have been taking steps to try to ensure access and relief supplies getting into Darfur. Weâve been pushing very hard to try to end the violence there.
Weâve taken a number of steps, I think, reflecting U.S. leadership. We helped broker a cease-fire between the government and the rebels that was concluded in Chad. We followed up with international monitoring through the African Union. That is, I think, the answer is almost underway still. We do have the first team of monitors in Darfur preparing to begin their operations, so our logistical support has been key to that deployment. Weâve been pushing very hard for full humanitarian access. I point out that, again, in the Secretaryâs conversations with the Sudanese Government as we went towards the accords that were so -- that were concluded in Kenya just last Saturday -- I think theyâre finally second round of signatures -- every -- just about every conversation we had and the Secretary had with the Sudanese Government we pressed on Darfur. They did institute a new 48-hour visa policy and the removal of travel permits for humanitarian workers traveling to Darfur, but there are still some complications, frankly, in how people travel there.
So we are going to continue working on these issues. Weâre going to continue pushing very hard with others in the international community on the Government of Sudan to resolve the situation in Darfur, particularly to end the violence by the militias, and, second of all, to allow full humanitarian access. As far as the updates go, we have this issue now before the UN Security Council, with others in New York. Weâre considering how the Security Council can address the situation in Darfur and try to make sure the government doesnât take any steps to support violence or to block the access for humanitarian workers.
We have made clear to the Government of Sudan that we will not normalize relations with Sudan until the situation in Darfur is satisfactorily resolved. Our embassy discusses this situation in Darfur regularly with officials of the Government of Sudan.
The rains have begun in Nyala in southern Darfur. They have not yet affected the humanitarian aid distribution. But they remind us, once again, of how critical it is to resolve this situation urgently, and we have been pushing very hard and working with others in the international community to do so.
We are trying to step up efforts to increase airlift capacity and pre-position food in regional warehouses before the rains begin. As you know, airlift is expensive. We would normally use land access whenever we could. Weâve had difficulties, so we are continuing to airlift supplies. There was another flight that went in yesterday to Darfur. This is the 11th flight that the United States has supported into Darfur. There are three more scheduled to arrive very soon. Since February of 2003, we have provided $118 million in assistance to Darfur and to eastern Chad, the regions that are affected by this crisis, and we will continue to support the efforts as strongly as we can.
QUESTION: So, about the Coordinator. Sorry.
MR. BOUCHER: So, about the Coordinator, yes, weâve -- weâre coordinating.
QUESTION: You coordinate.
MR. BOUCHER: We are coordinating with the UN and weâll coordinate with their Coordinator. (Laughter.) Itâs -- I thought it was implied as part of our thing, but it was not said explicitly. Sorry.
QUESTION: So Secretary Powell, obviously, supported this idea in talks he had with --
MR. BOUCHER: Yeah, weâre very supportive of everything the United Nations can do, including naming a specific individual who can follow this for them.
QUESTION: Well, what do you think this person is going to be doing?
snip-
Posted by: Super Hose ||
06/10/2004 3:29:34 AM ||
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#1
It's an urgent situation! Starvation, Genocide! Quickly, we must call a meeting and get another round of signatures!
#2
And, of course, at the urgent meeting, the first agenda item will be to set and approve the luncheon menu.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
06/10/2004 11:30 Comments ||
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#3
In short, "We are coordinating how we are going to ignore the situation in western Sudan while we feed the Sudanese troops and insure the milita have enough to eat when they are not raping 12 year old girls or killing the men and boys...".
[Note: All humanatarian aid must pass thru the government and be delivered by government trucks in government marked packages...]
Questions for Mr Boucher: How many were killed while you were 'discussing' the matter with the UN during lunch? How many women and children were raped? How many villages razed?
#5
I would rather say that Bush is using soft power while hard power is employed elsewhere, but the Sudanese know that the US is in theater - Djibouti is not so far away. Sudan is certainly a legitimate target with repsect to the WOT, as the Sudanese government is fully aware. The ghost of Rawanda no longer haunts America. After 9/11 only the truly dumb will prop up their type of regime. Prior to 9/11 Aristide might have been propped up in Haiti when the Black Caucus ......
Hey, wait a minute doesn't Charles Rangle care about the dying Sudanese?
Posted by: Super Hose ||
06/10/2004 17:13 Comments ||
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#7
Niether does the Right Reverand(asshole)Jesse Jackson.
Strange you don't hear much support for the Black African Muslims,from African Americans or Muslems in general around the world.Guess they must be waiting for those damned bigotted white folks to do something.
#8
I have zero interest in the US sending our boys to Sudan.
It's time for all the "good" Muslim nations we hear so much about and who live on foreign aid dole from the US to step up to the plate and pacify their Sudanese Muslim brothers who are committing genocide. "Good" Muslim nations need to show cynics like myself that "evil doers" in Sudan are not like the majority of peace loving Muslims. cough, cough
For example, Egypt has a huge military twiddling their thumbs not to mention when is China going to do anything humanitarian to justify their having a permanent seat on the UN Security Council? Sudan just got elected to the Human Rights Committee by other fans in the UN-let those nations that supported Sudan for this position sacrifice their young men.
The US has enough irons in the fire. I don't want Sudan consume more attention then we have to offer. It's unfortunate that there's genocide happening in Sudan, but unless the compassionate posters want to bomb the living daylights out of the Sudanese government, I say no American boots on the ground in that hellhole called Africa. Africans, from leaders to ordinary folks, spout off anti-American, anti-whitey propoganda any chance they get to visiting journalists.Let them wait for their bleeding heart socialist friends that warm the chairs in the UN General Assembly and Security Council to bail them out.
It might interest some of you who call for US intervention to about the enormous challenges of trying to stop the Sudanese Muslim maniacs. It's a death trap, and quite frankly that's not what I want our GI's to walk into, thank you very much, we'll take a pass:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3795269.stm
"Sudan: Big country, big problems" 6/10/04 ...But in a report to the UN Security Council this week the secretary-general also set out the scale of challenge in Sudan were the UN to set up a monitoring mission to help implement a comprehensive peace settlement to cement the SPLA-Khartoum peace deal and encompass other conflicts like Darfur.
Sudan, he pointed out, is 35 times larger than Sierra Leone, which, until recently, hosted the largest UN peacekeeping force in the world at a cost of several billion dollars.
Mr Annan did not make the calculation, but the implication was clear.
If it took 17,000 troops to pacify Sierra Leone - where there was also a signed peace agreement - might it therefore take 35 times that number, or some 600,000, to do the same thing in Sudan?
The secretary-general also pointed out, with measured understatement, that there is "a total lack of infrastructure in the south," ensuring that "the United Nations will be working in the most demanding of circumstances."
As a sales pitch for a UN monitoring mission (no-one is seriously considering muscular peacekeeping) the report was sombre.
The distances involved are also huge.
Posted by: rex ||
06/10/2004 17:47 Comments ||
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#9
Africa is in such a state that it would be very hard to single out Dafur as the place to start. This is very akin to the story of Brer Rabbit and the Tar Baby. Once you try to project power anywhere in Africa to protect people, you've hit the tar baby and you're stuck. Other than Morocco, how many countries in Africa don't need US intervention to protect people from the predations of armed warlords and/or perverted governments? The political consequences of an African expedition, no matter how well intentioned, would be the end of any US administration that launched it. Like the tar baby, we'd be stuck and dinner for the predators lurking in the darkness. Let's project our power where it can have effect. If we can turn back the tide of militant Islam, then we can move on to dealing with the thugs, thieves, perverts, and true believers that are turning Africa into Hell on earth.
#11
Rex, nobody is calling for a US intervention in the Sudan, at this point. If you remember, this same government hosted UBL and was a repository for "Syrian" WMD supplies - that type of behavior needs to be treated in a fashion that forces the thugs in charge to understand that they don't want to make themselves a high priority for us. We are in Djibouti to train and augment African forces, but also as a visible warning to the neighbors. The time for cleaning out the Sudan will come, but not now.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
06/10/2004 21:06 Comments ||
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Jihadi forces have replaced the Soviet Union to alter the balance of world power and China, the European Union and Russia could also put their weight behind jihad, said Justice (r) Javed Iqbal, while addressing the launch of Maulana Samiul Haqâs book âCrusade Terrorism and Islamic Worldâ on Wednesday. Supporting the idea of suicide attacks, he said Muslim youth would continue to wage jihad against the neo-imperialism of the US; they would blow up their own bodies with bombs.
I have no objection, as long as they don't do it around us. Somehow, I don't think that's what Sami has in mind, though...
He questioned whether the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York and Washington had been planned by the US itself with the motive to create hostility for Muslims. Most of the other speakers at the occasion favored jihad and concluded that it was the only way to âdefeat infidels, including Jews, Christians and Hindusâ.
"Negotiations don't work, an we obviously can't compete on an intellectual level..."
âWhen Allah says in the Quran make ready your horses, it means in the current scenario that we should make atomic bombs to defeat infidels,â said the editor of an Urdu daily newspaper, Majeed Nizami.
Yeah. Sure. I saw that right away...
âThe media in the west is wicked and lies and propagates against Islam,â said Maulana Sami. He said that it was the first time in history that the entire âinfidelâ world had come up against the Muslim Ummah. âEarlier on, some infidel forces had still sided with the Muslims, but now the Muslims are looking at the crusade alone.â The book launch, arranged by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, turned into a public meeting when participants started raising anti-US and pro-Taliban slogans as speakers made emotional speeches. One emotional participant stood up and demanded a decree be issued right there and then to declare President Musharraf a âkafirâ, because he had (reportedly) said that Mullah Omerâs Islam was not the real Islam.
Posted by: Paul Moloney ||
06/10/2004 7:27:12 AM ||
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#1
Supporting the idea of suicide attacks, he said Muslim youth would continue to wage jihad against the neo-imperialism of the US; they would blow up their own bodies with bombs. He questioned whether the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York and Washington had been planned by the US itself with the motive to create hostility for Muslims.
Pretty funny writing both thoughts next to each other like that. I suppose it appeals to those with sub-zero logical capabilities.
#2
When Allah says in the Quran make ready your horses, its means in the current scenario that we should make atomic bombs to defeat infidels.
If Haq can reinterpret the Quran "in the current scenario," then why can't his contemporaries do the same? For example, why must the Quran's teaching about women's social roles be interpreted strictly in the context of seventh-century desert tribes and not "in the current scenario" of a 21st-century global society? The same question applies to other issues such as financial interest, inter-faith relationships, and civil, criminal and international laws.
.
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
06/10/2004 8:16 Comments ||
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#3
When is he going on the Today show to flog promote his new book? I can't wait to post a review on Amazon. Maybe he'll autograph a copy for me!
#4
Mike-
You hit the nail on the head. Islamists only use a modern interpretation of the Quran when it suits their interest. When they attack on horseback with swords, then you'll know they're true Muslims.
It is early morning and a man in his early thirties is beating a beautifully decorated drum in an open field in Wana, main town of Pakistanâs South Waziristan tribal region. He is playing the drum as loud as possible. The intention is to let people know proceedings have begun. Soon men of all ages with guns hanging from their shoulders start gathering around him. A few of the young lose control and start dancing to the drums. This is the gathering of the traditional militia called the Lashkar, made up of volunteers in the rugged, semi-autonomous South Waziristan region. Soon these tribesmen will leave on a hunt for al-Qaeda militants hiding in their area, close to the border with Afghanistan. The tradition of beating drums is as old as the Pathan race that lives in this part of the world. The drum is known locally as the "dhol" and in tribal tradition its beating announces a danger or emergency.
A 4,000-strong Lashkar has for the past few days been searching for al-Qaeda suspects in South Waziristanâs remote Shakai area. They have yet to catch any. The problem is that the al-Qaeda and Taleban militants enjoy a good deal of tribal support. Consequently, some argue that it seems odd to use loud drums to lead a Lashkar for a surprise raid on al-Qaeda suspects. An expert on tribal traditions, Raj Wali Khattak, says: "Itâs not clear why they are using the drums in these searches. No doubt it is a tradition but now politics have also crept in. Maybe the tribesmen donât want to arrest the militants. Their policy might be only to let them clear the area."
Gee. Golly. Gosh. Y'think?
Posted by: Paul Moloney ||
06/10/2004 7:13:02 AM ||
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Oops, I didn't see this was posted earlier.
Posted by: Paul Moloney ||
06/10/2004 7:16 Comments ||
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Considering They have yet to catch any, it's all seems self-explanatory.
Hear ye! Hear Ye!
We be the Lashkar
and we're coming' to get yez!
......again
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
06/10/2004 11:26 Comments ||
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#4
Itâs not clear why they are using the drums in these searches. No doubt it is a tradition but now politics have also crept in. Maybe the tribesmen donât want to arrest the militants.
Sorry about the length. Very interesting if true..
While the Libyan leader, Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, was renouncing terrorism and negotiating the lifting of sanctions last year, his intelligence chiefs ordered a covert operation to assassinate the ruler of Saudi Arabia and destabilize the oil-rich kingdom, according to statements by two participants in the conspiracy. Those participants, Abdurahman Alamoudi, an American Muslim leader now in jail in Alexandria, Va., and Col. Mohamed Ismael, a Libyan intelligence officer in Saudi custody, have given separate statements to American and Saudi officials outlining the plot. Mr. Alamoudi, has told Federal Bureau of Investigation officials and federal prosecutors that Colonel Qaddafi approved the assassination plan. Mr. Qaddafiâs son, in an interview in London, called the accusation "nonsense."
American officials confirm that Mr. Alamoudi and Mr. Ismael have offered detailed accounts of a Libyan plot to assassinate Crown Prince Abdullah and that they appear to be credible enough to have launched an American investigation. But the officials said they are still examining the scope of the plot, how far it advanced and whether Colonel Qaddafi was involved. They said the accusations were one reason the United States had not removed Libya from the State Departmentâs list of nations that support terrorism.
Mr. Alamoudiâs statements were offered in plea negotiations with federal prosecutors that are not complete. He was indicted last October in the United States District Court in Alexandria accused of violating United States sanctions by traveling to Libya and receiving money from Libyan officials. Mr. Alamoudi has told prosecutors that he twice met with Colonel Qaddafi, in June and August of 2003, to discuss details of the assassination plan, according to people with official access to his statements. In June, Mr. Alamoudi said, Colonel Qaddafi told him, "I want the Crown Prince killed either through assassination or through a coup." By August, according to Mr. Alamoudiâs account, Colonel Qaddafi asked why he had not yet seen "heads flying" in the Saudi royal family. The first person to provide Saudi, the British and American authorities with an account of a plot was Colonel Ismael, 36, who was captured by Egyptian police after he fled Saudi Arabia last November in an aborted "drop" of $1 million to a team of four Saudi militants who were prepared to attack Prince Abdullahâs motorcade with shoulder-fired missiles or grenade launchers, according to his statements. Colonel Ismael has said that his orders to be operational commander of the plot came from Libyan intelligence chiefs, Abdullah Senoussi and Musa Kussa, both of whom report directly to Colonel Qaddafi, according to the people who described the statements. F.B.I. and Central Intelligence Agency officers have twice traveled to Saudi Arabia to interview Colonel Ismael. Investigators are said to believe that the account matches that of Mr. Alamoudi and that, taken together, the accounts could form the basis of a criminal indictment against Colonel Qaddafi on charges of leading a conspiracy that included an American citizen, Mr. Alamoudi.
In the reported conspiracy, Mr. Alamoudi and Colonel Ismael traveled to London seeking to make contacts among Saudi dissidents through whom they could recruit militants in the kingdom willing to participate in the plot. They distributed more than $2 million in cash in this recruitment drive in London, according to the account of their statements. Colonel Qaddafiâs son, Seif al-Islam el-Qaddafi, described the reported plot as "nonsense" in an interview in London, though he acknowledged that the Libyan intelligence officer, Colonel Ismael, was missing and presumed by Libya to be in Saudi custody. Colonel Qaddafi also indicated that there may have been a "misunderstanding" over Libyan support for what he called "reform" in Saudi Arabia. "If we support the people who want to reform Saudi Arabia, if doesnât mean we are working against the government," he said.
The accusations present a difficult problem for Saudi Arabia, which has suffered a series of major terrorist attacks in the last year, the most recent of which left 22 people dead during a shooting spree by militants in Khobar on the Persian Gulf coast. Crown Prince Abdullah is said by two officials to be convinced that Colonel Qaddafi was out to kill him and decapitate the Saudi government. But the Saudi leader is also concerned about playing into the hands of American hardliners who might use the case to call for leadership change in Libya, a step that Saudi Arabia would oppose, officials said.
In early August, Mr. Alamoudi was arrested at Heathrow Airport carrying $340,000 in cash that he later said he had received from a Libyan intelligence officer. British officials confiscated the cash and interrogated Mr. Alamoudi, who said he had accepted the money from the World Islamic Call Society, a Libyan-backed charity. Colonel Ismael has freely spoken about the plot, according to persons familiar with his statement. During one F.B.I. interrogation, he was asked whether he had been tortured or abused in detention. He replied that he had been treated well and that he wanted to apply for political asylum, because he assumed that if he returns to Libya, he will be killed, the people said.
Posted by: Paul Moloney ||
06/10/2004 7:09:11 AM ||
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The CIA should stop putting those sugar pills in Qaddafi's bottle of bi-polar meds.
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
06/10/2004 8:04 Comments ||
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If Mo were to get away with one last act of terrorism, this one wouldn't bother me so much. Maybe we could get him P.O.'d at Hugo Chavez, too.
The army commander in the Pakistani city of Karachi narrowly escaped assassination on Thursday when gunmen attacked his convoy with gunfire and a bomb, killing at least nine people, officials said. A military spokesman denied that the cityâs army corps commander, Lieutenant-General Ahsan Saleem Hayat, had been the target of the attack and said he was safe. But a security official and a senior military officer, who did not want to be identified, said the attack had been on Hayatâs motorcade and his driver had died. "The blast occurred when the corps commanderâs jeep was approaching," the military officer said on condition of anonymity. "It was a well-planned ambush." However, he added: "The corps commander is safe."
The violence was just the latest to rock the volatile port city of Karachi after more 60 people were killed last month in violence involving rival Muslims sects and political foes. It comes six months after two attempts to assassinate president and army chief General Pervez Musharraf in Rawalpindi near Islamabad in December and underscores the difficulty he faces as a key ally in the U.S.-led war on terror. Military spokesman Major-General Shaukat Sultan said six soldiers, two policemen and one civilian were killed. He earlier said seven soldiers had died. "It is a terrorist attack aimed at destabilizing the country," he said. Mutahir Ahmed, a political analyst at the University of Karachi said the attack appeared linked to the crackdown on militants in the tribal regions. Mohammed Yousuf, a cook in a nearby apartment, said he saw three or four young men exchanging gunfire with the police. "Those boys looked like experts. I saw two policemen fall."
Posted by: Paul Moloney ||
06/10/2004 6:42:08 AM ||
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Perv's gotta rally the military to his side to get control - all the military - and start kicking ass.
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/10/2004 11:33 Comments ||
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First up we have this story from Xinhanet:
URL: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-06/10/content_1518239.htm
Filed: 2004-06-10 10:19:51 Attack on Iraqi troops kills 12
BEIJING, June 10 (Xinhuanet) -- Rebels have killed twelve members of the Iraqi security forces in an attack in the Iraqi city of Fallujah, CRIENGLISH.com reported Thursday. It is believed to be the first time the troops of General Mohammed Latif have come under fire since taking over from the US military. The mortar attack was aimed at a camp housing General Latifâs troops. The general, who was once expelled from the armed forces by Saddam Hussein, had earlier said that Fallujah would be a quiet city if the US kept a low profile. US troops did not take action after Wednesdayâs attack although they are operating in the area around the city. On Tuesday, 11 Iraqis were killed in confrontations between insurgents and US troops.
Then we have this hit piece from Al Guardian:
URL: http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1235157,00.html
Filed: Thursday June 10, 2004 (no time given) 12 killed in attack on Iraqi security force
Twelve members of a special security force, made up of anti-American resistance fighters and former members of Saddam Husseinâs army, were killed yesterday in Falluja when mortars struck their camp. The attack put a question mark on efforts to calm the city by allowing a local Iraqi unit, the so-called Falluja Brigade, to take charge of security there. The brigade was set up last month in a deal which led the US to call off its failed attempt to storm the city and secure the surrender of the people who had killed four US security guards. At the cost of about 600 Iraqi lives and 40 US marines, the US withdrew to the outskirts of the largely Sunni city without achieving its goal. General Mohammed Latif, an officer from the former Iraqi army, was authorised to create a new unit of 2,000 local men, including scores of fighters who had been battling the Americans for more than a month. The deal was reached under pressure from Iraqi politicians and raised eyebrows as a major American concession. But its model has been followed in two Shia cities, Najaf and Karbala, where US forces have also pulled back. Gen Latif was not in the camp at the time of yesterdayâs mortar attack.
A joint US tank patrol had been due to pass through the town yesterday alongside the brigade for the first time for a month, in an apparent demonstration that US forces could still penetrate the town. Late on Tuesday, clashes between insurgents and US forces at Karma, a few miles west of Falluja, left 11 Iraqis dead, including women and children. One theory was that the mortar attack was in revenge for these deaths. But it seems more likely the attack was prompted by splits between Islamist resistance fighters and the former Baâathists. Signs of disagreement have appeared in Falluja in recent days, most noticeably through leaflets on the walls of mosques denouncing the Falluja Brigade as collaborators.
And lastly, from Rooters we have this:
URL: http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=5390618
Filed: Thu Jun 10, 2004 04:33 AM ET Mortar Attack on Iraqi Force Wounded 12
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A mortar attack on Wednesday on members of an Iraqi force entrusted with pacifying the rebellious town of Falluja wounded 12 of them, a senior coalition military official said on Thursday. A colonel in the force headed by General Mohammed Latif had said on Wednesday the mortar attack killed 12 members of the Falluja Brigade and wounded 10. A medical official, Ali Jaber, had said six of the dead were brought to his hospital. The coalition official said it was not clear who fired the mortars at a camp of the Falluja Brigade. He said it was too early to tell whether the attack was an isolated event or a sign of a new guerrilla campaign. It was the first attack on the force since it was charged by the U.S. military in May with imposing security in Falluja, a restive town on the front line of efforts to stabilize Iraq before an interim Iraqi government takes over on June 30. Latif and other generals who served in the Iraqi army under toppled president Saddam Hussein offered to try and keep the peace in Falluja after weeks of fierce fighting between guerrillas and U.S. occupation troops. Falluja, 32 miles west of Baghdad, has been relatively quiet since then. See anything different? Lol!
Posted by: .com ||
06/10/2004 6:28:17 AM ||
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Question is what are they going to do about it?
#2
Actually, I thought the last story had a particularly noticable problem.. A "medical official" (WTF? works in the cafeteria or what?) says he had 6 dead bodies on Wednesday when they're reporting 12 DEAD and then on Thursday the story is clarified and corrected to say there are 12 WOUNDED, not DEAD - so, uh, about those 6 dead bodies Mr Medical Official Ali Lyinsackofjiveassshit Jaber (jabber, how apropos)... did you strangle some of the WOUNDED?
#3
I'm heartened by the fact that this wasn't automatically blamed on you Americans as everything else seemingly is. Judging by the sources you'd think that they'd drag some blind Mullah out of his pit to rant King Lear-style against the Yankee Imperialists.
Posted by: Howard UK ||
06/10/2004 8:00 Comments ||
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#4
Sad that the Chinese report is the most accurate of the three. And completely void of opinion. Imagine that, our Free Press can't simply report the news, yet Xinhua Net can. Sad.
#7
Sorry - the reports are chronological - top to bottom. There is no reference to timezone on the Xinhuanet story (it was filed first) or it would've been clearer. The Rooters story is factually the most accurate (and, reasonably, the last filed) - and it makes a lame attempt to relate the earlier mis-reporting of dead were actually wounded - which made the claim of 6 bodies rather dubious, lol!
One thing is crystal clear, though, you guys are dead right about the Xinhuanet story being far cleaner, to the point, with no apparent spin.
The Al Guardian story, filed second, on the farthest possible other hand, even gets it factually wrong in the first sentence in their wild-eyed spinning - the Fallujah Brigade is not an anti-American unit - we formed it with Latif, trained them, armed them and patrol with them. Prolly feed them and pay them, too. The AlG morons just get so sloppy in their rush to paint it black thay can't even keep the sides straight! Lol!
By Peter Slevin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, June 10, 2004
UNITED NATIONS, June 9 -- The day after the U.N. Security Council unanimously granted the United Nations a "leading role" in building democratic institutions in Iraq, wary officials of the world body were asking one another what will happen if bombs continue to explode.
A deadly terrorist attack on its headquarters drove the United Nations from Iraq last August, forcing the organization to operate largely from outside the country and shaking the confidence of U.N. staff. Now, the Security Council has set a task that some U.N. officials said they will accept more from duty than desire. "There is enormous trepidation at every conceivable level. Weâre not even at the point where we have secure facilities for Iraqi staff," said one well-connected U.N. worker who explained that the organization also faces formidable logistical challenges. "Thereâs a real question about how fast the U.N. can respond."
Secretary of State Colin L. Powell committed the Bush administration to establishing or supporting a force of 4,000 to 5,000 troops to protect U.N. workers. A senior U.N. official said Wednesday that no countries have yet agreed to take up arms on the organizationâs behalf.
The bulk of the United Nationsâ foreign staff will continue to be based outside Iraq for safety reasons, said a senior adviser to Secretary General Kofi Annan. The organization expects to depend more than usual on approximately 600 Iraqi employees able to work less obtrusively than foreigners who have been targeted by guerrillas.
The effectiveness of the United Nations in bridging Iraqi political divides and helping to stage national elections by the end of January will depend, said another top official, "on how the security situation evolves and whether the spoilers try to spoil. Security is the major constraint."
The reaction of U.N. staff members after Tuesdayâs vote illustrates the difficulties ahead as the U.S. administration seeks to broaden international participation in Iraqâs transition. Mindful of reluctance abroad to send personnel to Iraq, the White House hopes the imminent transfer of limited authority to Iraqis will combine with U.S. military operations to quiet a violent insurgency.
Meanwhile, as U.N. planners studied the implications of the councilâs endorsement of the interim Iraqi government and the beginnings of a U.S. exit strategy, officials in Baghdad and Washington sought Wednesday to extinguish a brush fire over Iraqâs constitution. Kurdish and Shiite Arab leaders are arguing over a section of Iraqâs interim constitution, approved in March, that allows voters in any three provinces to nullify a permanent constitution by a two-thirds vote. The provision, designed to protect the Kurdish minority, is considered unfair by some Shiite politicians who fear being handicapped by a Kurdish veto.
Jalal Talabani and Massoud Barzani, Iraqâs two most prominent Kurdish politicians, warned in a letter to President Bush this week that Kurds would refuse to participate in the central government if the Shiites do not honor the March agreement. Two weeks ago, the Kurds similarly threatened to pull out of the interim government unless they received more prominent cabinet assignments. The tactic succeeded.
At a news briefing in New York, U.N. special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said both sides have legitimate concerns. He expressed confidence that the Kurdish leaders want to be "full partners" in Iraqâs future and said they deserve a promise that their rights as a minority will be respected. He said the Shiites, by the same token, are right to want an assurance that Kurds seeking autonomy will not deliver a blanket veto.
After nearly a year when the United Nations was forced to limit its presence in Iraq to protect the safety of its workers, the Bush administrationâs newfound willingness to relinquish control and the Security Councilâs passage of the latest resolution appears likely to create a larger U.N. role. As Brahimi told reporters, "The United Nations cannot say no to helping the Iraqis recover their sovereignty, no matter how difficult, no matter how complicated. . . . We accept those risks if the work we are asked to do is important enough to warrant the risks."
That issue was much debated in the corridors of the United Nations after the Aug. 19 bombing, which killed U.N. envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello and 21 others. The attack shocked the world body, which had focused on humanitarian deeds after the Security Council refused to endorse the U.S.-led invasion. Feelings ran high that U.N. employees were enduring too much danger in return for marginal influence. With that equation shifting, one challenge for the United Nations is to define a role that has long been vague. The principal effort laid out in the resolution is to help assemble a political conference to be held in July and prepare for elections to a national assembly by the end of January.
U.N. experts are also expected to help plan a comprehensive census, advise on the drafting of a permanent constitution and offer wisdom on government services, judicial reform and human rights. Money is not a problem, U.N. officials said, but the ability to put together an effective staff and operate inside Iraq remains to be seen. One worry in the corridors is that the Security Councilâs expectations are unrealistic. The Annan adviser reported that even some Iraqi staff members have been threatened and have moved from their homes to locations they consider safer. "I donât think we put a lot of people in there," he said.
#3
The day after the U.N. Security Council unanimously granted the United Nations a "leading role" in building democratic institutions in Iraq, wary officials of the world body were asking one another what will happen if bombs continue to explode.
It's called "risk", guys. You don't like or want the risk, then don't demand more involvement.
TAJI, Iraq - Misguided U.S. training of Iraqi police contributed to the countryâs instability and has delayed getting enough qualified Iraqis on the streets to ease the burden on American forces, the head of armed forces training said Wednesday. "It hasnât gone well. Weâve had almost one year of no progress," said Army Maj. Gen. Paul D. Eaton, who departs Iraq (news - web sites) next week after spending a year assembling and training the countryâs 200,000 army, police and civil defense troops.
"Weâve had the wrong training focus â on individual cops rather than their leaders," Eaton said in an interview with The Associated Press. A credible, well-equipped national security force is crucial to Americaâs plans to pull its 138,000 troops out of Iraq, along with the 24,000 soldiers from Britain and other coalition countries. As U.S. occupation leaders prepare to hand power to an Iraqi government in less than three weeks, Iraqâs own security forces wonât be ready to take a large role in protecting the country. A U.N. Security Council resolution approved Tuesday acknowledges Iraqâs lack of a developed security force and provides a continued multinational troop presence until 2006.
Paul Wolfowitz, the deputy U.S. defense secretary, wrote in Wednesdayâs Wall Street Journal that the Iraqi army â including the Taji-based Iraqi National Task Force, which focuses on internal strife â will begin assuming some security duties over the next few months. Iraqi forces could soon "take local control of the cities," with U.S. troops moving into a supporting role, Wolfowitz wrote. In April, Iraqi security forces failed their first big test, when about half the police and military forces deserted during rebel uprisings in Fallujah, Najaf, Karbala and elsewhere.
Eaton, a plainspoken officer who didnât shirk responsibility for his role in the problems, said soldiers of Iraqâs 2nd Brigade simply ignored U.S. orders to fight their countrymen. "They basically quit. They told us, âWeâre an army for external defense and you want us to go to Fallujah?â That was a personal mistake on my part," Eaton said. When the uprising broke out in Fallujah, Eaton said he saw a chance to begin transferring the security mission to Iraqi forces. He agreed to allow the Iraqi armyâs just-created 2nd Brigade to take on guerrillas that had seized control of the restive western city.
"We were premature," said Eaton, 54, of Weatherford, Okla. "I could have stopped it. I had a bad feeling and I should have acted on it." The lesson learned was that the soldiers needed an Iraqi command hierarchy. Eaton said the soldiers may have battled Fallujahâs Sunni Muslim rebels if Iraqi leaders were spurring them on. Wolfowitz also cited the importance of Iraqi commanders and said the April desertions shouldnât have been a surprise because of the Iraqisâ shortcomings in training, equipment and leadership. "No one had any expectation that Iraqi security forces would be ready this past April to stand up to the kind of fighting they encountered in Fallujah and in the Najaf-Karbala region," Wolfowitz wrote.
One U.S. military official said Wolfowitz was partly to blame for those shortcomings. Some $257 million in spending authority was held up by Wolfowitzâs office for two months, delaying construction of Iraqi army barracks for four brigades awaiting training, the official said on condition of anonymity. The desertions could have happened in any country, said Iraqi army Brig. Gen. Khaled al-Sattar, the commander of the army brigade training at the Taji camp. "The soldiers didnât want to fight their own countrymen. Would you?" al-Sattar said as he and Eaton lunched on stewed beef and beans in the base mess hall. "Once there are division commanders and an Iraqi defense minister, the soldiers will start obeying orders because the orders come from an Iraqi leadership." Sure, we liberating Americans arenât to be trusted despite the fact that we didnât just kill you all at the outset.
U.S. trainers are currently instructing 550 new soldiers in the training camp in Kirkush to replace troops who deserted in April, Eaton said. U.S. leaders, too, arrived in Iraq unprepared for the type of insurgency that began to flare last summer, Eaton said. "We thought we were going to be nice and comfortable in a benign environment and rebuild this country," he said. "Not everyone wanted to get Iraqi leaders in fast. Iâd have been more aggressive early."
Now, the U.S. military is reconfiguring the training mission. Army Lt. Gen. David Petraeus, who commanded the 101st Airborne Division when it occupied a large part of northern Iraq, returned to the country to head the Office of Security Transition, which oversees recruiting and training of Iraqâs five security forces. Brig. Gen. James Schwitters, who has an Army special operations background, will take over the Iraqi army training mission from Eaton, who will become head of training at the U.S. Armyâs Training and Doctrine Command at Fort Monroe, Va. British Brig. Gen. Andrew Mackay will head police training. By January, the Iraqi army is expected to count 35,000 soldiers, with the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps expected to number 40,000 by fall, according to Wolfowitz. There are now close to 90,000 Iraqi police officers and tens of thousands more Ministry of Interior forces, many have little or no modern police training, he wrote.
Posted by: Zenster ||
06/10/2004 2:36:18 AM ||
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The soldiers didnât want to fight their own countrymen. Would you?" al-Sattar said..."Once there are division commanders and an Iraqi defense minister, the soldiers will start obeying orders because the orders come from an Iraqi leadership."
I don't see how an Iraqi leadership giving orders will make a heck of alot difference to the gut feeling Iraqi soldiers have that it's wrong to fight against fellow countrymen.
Posted by: rex ||
06/10/2004 3:11 Comments ||
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The soldiers didnât want to fight their own countrymen. Would you?" al-Sattar said..."Once there are division commanders and an Iraqi defense minister, the soldiers will start obeying orders because the orders come from an Iraqi leadership."
It's pretty funny how Iraqi commanders are such sleazebag liars with the usual twisty Arab logic. Iraqis had no problem killing hundreds of thousands of other Iraqis under Saddam, so it's interesting that they had problems fighting for a free country.
#3
I think the General is right - first you train the leaders then they lead the training of the grunts. Lets remember these people lived under a totalitarian despotic regime in which they made zip decisions on their own and could not act independently. This is going to take generations for them to realize the individual liberty that they now possess. In the interim, you need to boil a frog, in reverse, you might say.
Posted by: Jack is Back! ||
06/10/2004 8:15 Comments ||
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#4
What a load of crap.
All of the security forces have been through a course, one course at least. No one should expect that they will have NYPD level cops out of that, but they don't need them. They need Iraqi cops who know how to deal with Iraqis, and that they have.
Anyone who expected the Iraqi police to fight Sadr's goons or the terrorists in Fallujah is just plain wrong. They were outnumbered and outgunned. A few did fight, but most, quite understandably, went home. I would suggest that NYPD or LAPD might do the same if confronted by RPG's and morters.
While some, SOME, ICDC and Iraqi Army units failed to perform their duties, most did and are.
The notion that we should have worked from the top down reflects the view of some who believe that most Baathists should get a bye and be integrated into the security services. General Petr... (sp) of the 101st is one leading proponent of this. It has two (at least) false premises as its base. That the ordinary Iraqi soldier or police officer is incapable of doing anything but following orders. And, that we must use the experienced (Baathist) leaders of the security services in order to preserve order.
Leadership training is something that takes years in the American military. What makes these folks think they can do it any faster in Iraq? All their point of view would do is establish that we really did not come to remove Saddam's goon squad, and that we just don't care who's in charge as long as they work for us.
#6
chuck makes some good points, BUT - 1. Im not sure EVERY Iraqi general was one of Saddams goon squad. 2. David Petraeus(Sp?) seemed to do a pretty good job in Mosul. It certainly didnt turn into the hotbed that Fallujah did. I would tend to at least take his point of view seriously. Leadership training here isnt taking an 18 year old and starting him as a plebe. Its taking an experienced officer, vetting him, and providing sufficient training to integrate with coalition forces. And its my impression that all third world forces are more dependent on their leadership than US forces are.
#7
One thing that was seldom mentioned in connection with the April events was that the Iraqi army recruits had been explicitly told they would not be fighting fellow Iraqis -- their duties would relate to border and external security, what we would consider normal army duties. I believe that even given that, the performance of some army units was overlooked -- Marines have reported that some of the new army personnel did in fact enter the fray around Fallujah. Disappointing, but not all that surprising that with weak command chains, no coherent/credible political structure above them (recall the bickering and dissension in the IGC over Fallujah), and the background they have, most of the Iraqi units didn't post up. Only thing that's surprised me is that we haven't been able to better train and equip some police by this point. Lots of details in that, I'm sure, and I don't have them.
#10
I don't understand what this blathering about not wanting to fight fellow Iraqis is all about. Those "fellow Iraqis" are largely standing in the way between Iraq and a brighter future. Those "fellow Iraqis" don't give a rat's ass about what's good for the country or the general population as long as they get what they want. They are ENEMIES OF IRAQ, no ifs, ands, or buts. This needs to be drummed into the heads of recruits for Iraq's police and military forces. These guys need to be made to understand LOGIC.
Sheesh, this seeming disconnect from reality and reason is maddening, to say the least.
via Rooters
Wed Jun 9, 2004 07:19 PM ET
By Evelyn Leopold
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi expressed confidence on Wednesday that Iraqi Kurds and Shiâites would find "common ground" in their escalating dispute over minority and majority rights in a new government.
Brahimi, who has just returned from Baghdad after helping form the interim government, said both sides had valid arguments but they also had common-sense leaders who can settle the dispute. "It is not like one side or the other is being unreasonable," Brahimi told a news conference. "I am sure they will find common ground for Iraq to continue along this rather difficult and challenging transition toward stability." Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani and the other leading Shiâite clergy as well as the Kurdish leaders were all "very, very responsible people," he said.
The simmering conflict came to a head with the U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution on Tuesday endorsing an interim Iraqi government on June 30, but omitting mention of a provisional constitution that provided for Kurdish self-rule. Kurdish leaders have threatened to leave the new government unless they got guarantees against Shiâite plans to scrap parts of the temporary constitution, which in effect grants Kurds veto power over a permanent constitution to be written next year.
Brahimi noted both communities had been oppressed under Saddam Hussein.
While the Shiâites spoke of majority rights and not giving anyone "a blanket veto," he said, "The Kurds are talking about guarantees for a minority, a minority that has suffered a great deal and lots of promises were made to them and they were betrayed in the past. They want to be absolutely certain now that they will not be second class citizens, that they will be partners," he said. ...more...
One can dream, I guess. With the UN Stamp of Approval and Brahimiâs speculation, itâs a done deal...not. That and $4 will get you a Latte Venti. We shall see.
Posted by: .com ||
06/10/2004 2:21:10 AM ||
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#1
Reuters) - Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani gave a cautious welcome to a U.N. resolution on Iraq's future, despite earlier threats to quit the interim government over the document's failure to recognize Kurdish autonomy.
"We are happy that the Security Council resolution mentioned federalism, but we regret that it did not mention the Kurdish people," Talabani told a television station run by his Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party late on Wednesday.
#2
We'll see. Given the Kurds' loyalty, courage, and commitment to win this war, throwing them out to the wolves is a pretty big betrayal on our part. We may soon be joining ranks with the UN on that-betrayal is becoming predictable lately.
#3
If America does not ensure that Kurds and women are installed in sufficient numbers to provide an adequate legislative counterbalance against creeping Shiite theocracy, we will have betrayed all Iraq's people plus our soldiers that fought and died there.
An industrial park in northern Gaza that provides jobs for more than 4,000 Palestinians is to close. The Roosevelt Roads Erez industrial zone will be shut down as part of Israelâs plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip. Be very careful what you wish for ...
Troops will no longer provide security in an area that has been targeted by Palestinian militants. No closure date was given in the announcement, which follows the Israeli governmentâs approval of a plan to pull troops and settlers out of Gaza. The Palestinian Minister for Labour, Ghassan Khatib, condemned the planned closure as "collective punishment". Completely unlike the mass murdering bombers.
The Erez zone had been a model of economic co-operation between Israel and the Palestinians. Israeli businesses, mainly textile factories, had benefited from cheap labour while Palestinians had enjoyed stable employment. The factories will be moved to southern Israel and owners compensated. Time for the Palestinians to discover what is involved in actually creating nonexplosive jobs.
âBad messageâ
Following the announcement, many Palestinian workers are fearful for the future. "I was expecting this decision since they started talking about disengagement but it is another bad message to be received these days," Radwan Abu Alaish, a mechanic who works in the industrial zone told the Associated Press news agency. Still happy that you attended all of those "Israel out of Gaza now!" rallies Arafat organized for you, Radwan?
Unemployment stands at 40-60% in Gaza. The Palestinian minister for labour, said that any move to close the park should be co-ordinated with the Palestinian authority. Why should Israel coordinate anything with their avowed enemy?
He added that Palestinians would need international help to set up new jobs in Gaza. Just as donor fatigue is peaking. Oh, the humanity!
Struggle
Critics have argued the decision may mean the end of the whole concept of economic co-operation between Israel and Palestine. In other late breaking news, Pope and bear. Tape at 11:00.
"This is a classic lose-lose situation," Arie Aron, economics professor at Ben Gurion University told AP. Lose-lose = Palestinians lose their livelyhoods and Israel loses a significant threat source.
"It is the first sign of a of a much larger split between the two economies". He warned that while jobs would be created for poor Israelis the factories would struggle to adapt to paying higher wages. Stop, stop! Youâre ripping Sharonâs heart out. Itâs about time that the Palestinians got an up close and personal look at exactly what Arafat has been "struggling" to create for his people. Grinding poverty, dead-end politics and a nation without resources or industry. Now thereâs a roadmap for success!
Posted by: Zenster ||
06/10/2004 2:10:30 AM ||
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#1
Mr.Khatib,I suggest you ask Yasser to pony-up some of that cash he has squireled away
#6
Maybe Arafat can bring in some Zimbabwean consultants to jump start his economy. I suspect that once the wall goes up that Israel will start to expel ALL "Palestinians" from Israel. It will be interesting to see if Arafat tries to control his borders to prevent people from coming in.
#7
RWV---Nobody but a jihadi and a maroon would go to Gaza. It is a sediment trap.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
06/10/2004 15:26 Comments ||
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#8
Critics have argued the decision may mean the end of the whole concept of economic co-operation between Israel and Palestine.
Could someone please refresh my memory? Just where is Palestine? I found it on an old National Geographic map, but that was from 1940. I looked it up in an encyclopedia, but only found something about ancient Rome.....
Critics have argued the decision may mean the end of the whole concept of economic co-operation between Israel and Palestine.
Or maybe just the whole concept of economic co-operation as the Palestinian Arabs think it should be. Perhaps they should look to a country like Jordan, whose workers travel back and forth daily to work in Israel for a honest wage. Of course that would require that the pals recognize Israel's right to exist, and disavow any of that talk about pushing the Jews into the sea...
#10
#2
A good observation and you are not even an economics professor at Ben Gurion University, makes you wonder what kind of people they hire.
Believe it or not many people like to work in Israel, Many Filipinos after their contract expired prefer to stay in Israel illegally than to go back to the Philippines.
#12
This truley is devastating for the Palestinians. No more money for killing Jews, now they must abandon the 'struggle' for a new one: making a damn living, raising your damn kids and being responsible for once for your own actions and the actions of your community.
You think its hard for the Palestians to find suicide bombers, try finding someone willing to invest in a business in Gaza now.
via Yahoo
By BARRY SCHWEID, AP Diplomatic Writer
WASHINGTON - The State Department is planning to have more than 900 Americans staff the U.S. Embassy in central Baghdad, assisted by 600 to 700 Iraqis in the biggest American embassy in the world, department planners said Wednesday.
A former palace of deposed President Saddam Hussein will serve as the new embassy until a site is chosen in the capital as a replacement for the embassy seized by Iraq in 1970, said Francis J. Ricciardone, the departmentâs coordinator for Iraqi transition. The embassy will be supplemented by U.S. diplomatic offices in four regions of Iraq, he said.
Building the embassy will take at least two years and the State Department intends to pay close attention to what Iraqi officials have to say about a site, Ricciardone said. "We are going to be listening to them. We are not going to be building things there are not their priority," he said. Ricciardone said the value of the seized embassy will be included in the negotiations, but he did not say whether the United States would seek compensation.
About half of the 900 U.S. officials assigned to Baghdad will be at their desks as Iraqi sovereignty is officially restored by June 30. Some of them will be drawn from the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority, which goes out of business during the transition from U.S. occupation. Ricciardone said a number of U.S. ambassadors now serving in other countries would be assigned to work under John Negroponte, who will become the U.S. ambassador to Iraq after diplomatic relations are formally restored, probably in July. Ricciardone, U.S. ambassador to the Philippines, said there is great eagerness within the foreign service to be assigned to Baghdad.
Without saying how many officers are fluent in Arabic, Ricciardone said, "We wish we had more." He made no mention of the risks, but Iraq continues to be a dangerous place. Assailants ambushed a convoy of security contractors traveling to Baghdadâs airport, killing two Americans and two Poles working for a U.S. security company, their employer said Sunday. Hmmm. This is interesting. Line forms to the left, single file, please.
Posted by: .com ||
06/10/2004 2:06:13 AM ||
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#1
I'm sure all the grads are just lined up to go to Iraq
Posted by: Not Mike Moore ||
06/10/2004 2:30 Comments ||
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A former palace of Saddam will be the State Department's temporary quarters??? Fire the guy who came up with that "insensitive" suggestion. In fact, why not fire the whole darn State Dept. for all the good it does us.
Posted by: rex ||
06/10/2004 3:15 Comments ||
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#3
And what exactly are 900 State Dept. flunkies, assisted by no less than 600-700 Iraqis, going to be doing in Baghdad pray tell, when we still haven't figured out who are the good guys and the bad guys? And please don't tell me that State Dept needs all these warm bodies so they can better implement the infamous Visa Express program in Iraq that was such a big hit in Saudi Arabia...
Posted by: rex ||
06/10/2004 3:31 Comments ||
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#4
It sounds like we are setting up a massive "listening post" for the entire Mid-East region. It'll probably have more satellite dishes than parking places.
#5
Without saying how many officers are fluent in Arabic, Ricciardone said, "We wish we had more."
Lots of dishes for listening to a language that State Dept cannot understand, #4. Of course, State Dept. will trust that a proper translation is done, courtesy of the 600-700 new Iraqi hires. he, he
This has the makings of a good Keystone Cops plot.
Posted by: rex ||
06/10/2004 3:39 Comments ||
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#6
And the skillsets desired will be, shall we say, a tad more diverse than provided by mere graduates of the Miss Debbie's School of Charm & CotillionSaudi University of Retirement Pandering US Foreign Service.
#8
#3 And what exactly are 900 State Dept. flunkies, assisted by no less than 600-700 Iraqis, going to be doing in Baghdad pray tell, when we still haven't figured out who are the good guys and the bad guys?
They will be figuring out who are the good guys and the bad guys.
.
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
06/10/2004 7:11 Comments ||
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#9
The question is whether or not a majority of the embassy staff will even be on State's payroll. I think not.
#10
IIUC, the people Azcat is thinking of would nominally be on State's on payroll. They would actually get a check cut by State, get State benefits, etc. I presume there are arrangements to deal with the interagency financial issues. Of course Azcat may be thinking of people from Treasury, Commerce, etc, rather than what I was thinking of.
#11
Lots of dishes for listening to a language that State Dept cannot understand, #4. Of course, State Dept. will trust that a proper translation is done, courtesy of the 600-700 new Iraqi hires. he, he
The listening posts will be in Baghdad, doesnt mean the translation has to be done in Baghdad.
#14
no doubt in 3234 the United States of Earth will be renovating the place ( now a museum) and tour guides will be telling folks "This building represents the turning point for pre-civilization Arabic lands, where despots were disposed and democracy institutions installed; which, of course, still continue to this day. Here the democratic forces of the central North Americans, then known as Americans.. etc"
#15
Explain to me why you believe that the slam dunk CIA are any more effectual than the Visa Express State Dept. Righttt...
I'd put my bets on the 600-700 new Iraqi hires running circles around the spooks, unless there are a good number of Kurds and Mossad hired as part of the 600-700 Iraqi help, to keep everyone "honest." And puhlease, no jail and Geneva Convention for the traitors...just disappear them. Let's keep it simple.
Posted by: rex ||
06/10/2004 13:15 Comments ||
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#16
The listening posts will be in Baghdad, doesnt mean the translation has to be done in Baghdad.
Bingo, LH. There will also be a wealth of photo reconnaisance gathered that requires no linguistic expertise. Even without any grammatical interpretation, ELINT mapping of telecom traffic patterns and signal origins will provide a valuable schematic of terrorist activity in the region.
Hmmm...anybody wonder how long that building will stand?
I would wager that their final location will be second only to Fort Knox or Cheyenne Mountain for perimeter security.
via SFGate - EFL
And then there were the engines found in a Rotterdam scrapyard...
EDITH M. LEDERER, Associated Press Writer
(06-09) 20:30 PDT UNITED NATIONS (AP)
U.N. weapons experts have found 20 engines used in banned Iraqi missiles in a Jordan scrapyard along with other equipment which could be used to make weapons of mass destruction, an official said Wednesday.
The discoveries were revealed to the U.N. Security Council by acting chief U.N. inspector Demetrius Perricos during in a closed-door briefing. The text was obtained by The Associated Press. The U.N. team was following up on an earlier discovery of a similar Al Samoud 2 engine in a scrapyard in the Dutch port of Rotterdam. Perricos said inspectors also want to check in Turkey, which has also received scrap metal from Iraq.
The discoveries raise questions about the fate of material and equipment that could be used to produce biological and chemical weapons as well as banned long-range missiles. The missile engines and some other equipment discovered in the scrapyards had been monitored by U.N. inspectors because of their potential dual use in both legitimate civilian activities and banned weapons production.
In his briefing to the Security Council, Perricos said U.N. inspectors do not how much material has been removed from Iraq that they had been monitoring.
...more...
UNSCOM: Iraq? Nope. We looked for 3 months! Thereâs nothing there!
Thatâs because it was shipped out. To Jordan. To Syria. To ???
Lol! Saddam has to have been one of the smartest stupidest smart stupid dictatwitters ever. They were all over e-Bay! $19.95 + shipping. I got a couple for next 4th July. Lol!
Posted by: .com ||
06/10/2004 1:58:11 AM ||
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Calling Hans Blix, calling Hans Blix
Posted by: Mark Espinola ||
06/10/2004 2:10 Comments ||
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Yesterday I read an article, which I didn't bother to post here, reporting a similar find in a junkyard in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
06/10/2004 7:12 Comments ||
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"...had been monitored by U.N. inspectors because of their potential dual use..." I haven't had my coffee yet, so I can't think of what "dual use" Saddam may have had in mind.
Posted by: Tom ||
06/10/2004 7:59 Comments ||
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#5
Everybody got their red shoes on? Everybody ready? Now click 3 times--there WERE no weapons transported across the border, there WERE no weapons transported across the border, there WERE no weapons transported across the border...
via Rooters - EFL
Wed Jun 9, 2004 11:52 PM ET
By Mike Collett-White
Gunmen burst into a compound in northern Afghanistan early on Thursday, killing 11 Chinese road workers and wounding five, an embassy official in Kabul said, in one of the bloodiest attack on foreigners since the Taliban fell. The raid occurred 22 miles south of the city of Kunduz, until now deemed a secure area as Islamic insurgents concentrate their attacks in Afghanistanâs south and east. It came just two days after about 100 Chinese workers had arrived at the site, the Xinhua news agency reported. "Ten people died on the spot and several were wounded, one of whom has since died," said a Chinese embassy official in Kabul who declined to be identified. The attack took place at around 1 a.m. (4 p.m. EDT on Wednesday). "They were working on a road paving project for a Chinese company. The project is being financed by the World Bank." Security guards exchanged fire with about 20 assailants, according to Xinhua. ...more...
Posted by: .com ||
06/10/2004 1:36:24 AM ||
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Too bad this won't cause the politburo even a millisecond's pause to reflect on their continued arms sales to rogue elements and perpetual sowing of discord around the world. Anyone care to guess where the gunmen's weapons originated?
#2
I don't feel sorry for the Chinese! They have enough troops to equal ours in this plight without a sweat, in military demand for Iraq, but will they assist us in the valiant effort, hell no!! 11 Chinese even to the Chinese isn't much more than a flick of a whisker in contention...Ohh unless he's a 'hotdog' pilot harassing our surveillance.
#3
The Chinese don't have an overseas deployment capability worth a damn, and that's a good thing. If they did, they'd be over the Straits like a shot from a cannon, and lord knows, we don't need that kind of headache right now.
Posted by: Mitch H. ||
06/10/2004 7:55 Comments ||
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#4
now this is funny - supposedly developed china sending workers to afganistan......
as for chinese troops - yes they have more...but it is more quality than quantity
in todays warfare environment.. but the would make good cannon fodder for those f-16's we sold taiwan..
Posted by: Dan ||
06/10/2004 10:54 Comments ||
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âsupposedly developed china sending workers to afganistanâ
Chinaâs rapid development has caused massive unemployment and dislocation. Chinese factories have modernized extensively so far fewer workers are required. The US and China have both lost jobs due to increased productivity but the US economy generates new jobs far faster than does the Chinese economy. The US also has better social programs for people who lose their jobs. (Ironic isnât it that greedy capitalist America has a far better social support system than China? As China grows wealthier and their society adjusts to free market capitalism I expect their social support system to improve.) If the Chinese growth rate stalls, China could face widespread social disruption.
So yeah, I think there are plenty of workers available for Afghanistan and for migration into former Soviet Union territories.
via WaPo Staff Writers - EFL
And here we go again...
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woman
Thursday, June 10, 2004
SAVANNAH, Ga., June 9 -- France and the United States clashed anew over Iraq on Wednesday, jarring the Group of Eight summit that the Bush administration had hoped would bury the diplomatic battles of the past.
Just hours after President Bush expressed hope that NATO could play an expanded role in providing security for Iraq, French President Jacques Chirac emphatically rejected the idea. "I do not think that it is NATOâs job to intervene in Iraq," Chirac told reporters in a videoconference from Sea Island, the private resort where the leaders have gathered. "Moreover, I do not have the feeling that it would be either timely or necessarily well understood," said Chirac, adding that he had "strong reservations on this initiative."
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a guest at the summit, later echoed Chiracâs concern. Asked whether NATO, which includes Turkey as a member, should have a role in Iraq, Erdogan said: "The concept weâve been emphasizing is the role of the United Nations." ...more...
So nothingâs really changed, just the venue from the UNSC to NATO. Franceâs membership in NATO is limited, and this may come into play, but it looks like the same old shit if Turkeyâs going to fall for another of Chiracâs games. I wonder if Erdogan thinks Chirac will really be around to back him, or would really live up to his side of the bargain, for EU membership, assuming they ever get a shot. What a sucker. Here we go again.
Posted by: .com ||
06/10/2004 1:31:50 AM ||
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#1
Chirac is a real c**k sucker.
He's backstabbing us again - and he's even bailing on Reagan's funeral.
What does it take for the US to wake up and start treating this guys like what he is: an ENEMY.
#4
Mike: You seem to be of the opinion that all of Saudi Arabia, all the people in that nation, as well as all members of its government are in lock step with bin Laden. That there are no modern or moderate muslims in the halls of power, or in the street. Why does this strike me as racist, or simplistique?
#6
The UN and NATO are two separate organizations. The UN's resolution about Iraqi sovereignty did not obligate NATO to send security troops to Iraq any more than it obligated:
* the World Bank to send loan officers there
* the World Health Organization to send doctors there
* the World Organization of the Scout Movement to send scout leaders there.
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
06/10/2004 7:23 Comments ||
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MW - You are joking when you instruct us that the UN and NATO are separate orgs, right? Lol! I sure as hell hope so!
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
06/10/2004 8:20 Comments ||
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MW - Lol! Okay, in that case, you're a seriously humorless being in need of a bottle of chill pills. You don't read the commentary very closely, either, for I clearly indicated Chirac had merely changed venue - from org to org, get it? Relax.
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.
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