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Arab League seeks end to Leb crisis
Today's Headlines
Headline Comments [Views]
Page 1: WoT Operations
7 00:00 Anonymoose [2] 
4 00:00 USN, Ret. [3] 
18 00:00 Jackal [3] 
3 00:00 SpecOp35 [3] 
8 00:00 anymouse [4] 
7 00:00 mac [3] 
2 00:00 Mark Lerner [1] 
2 00:00 gromgoru [7] 
9 00:00 Larry Everett [5] 
0 [3] 
1 00:00 trailing wife [4] 
1 00:00 gorb [3] 
5 00:00 Zenster [4] 
3 00:00 JosephMendiola [3] 
6 00:00 SpecOp35 [7] 
10 00:00 wxjames [4] 
1 00:00 Glenmore [7] 
4 00:00 Pappy [5] 
1 00:00 trailing wife [3] 
Page 2: WoT Background
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1 00:00 john [7]
3 00:00 ed [7]
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6 00:00 JosephMendiola [9]
17 00:00 .com [8]
6 00:00 JosephMendiola [3]
8 00:00 JosephMendiola [1]
1 00:00 Ebbolump Glomotle9608 [3]
9 00:00 Thoth [7]
13 00:00 Unains Ulise1126 [7]
31 00:00 CrazyFool [4]
3 00:00 tu3031 [9]
1 00:00 Icerigger [5]
3 00:00 Mark Z [2]
1 00:00 gromgoru [3]
17 00:00 DMFD [4]
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Page 3: Non-WoT
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2 00:00 trailing wife [3]
2 00:00 Eric Jablow [4]
3 00:00 ex-lib [4]
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3 00:00 Jimmy Conway [4]
6 00:00 JosephMendiola [3]
9 00:00 trailing wife [4]
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11 00:00 Mike N. [14]
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2 00:00 Zarquon Pebbles in Blairistan [4]
1 00:00 trailing wife [1]
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3 00:00 tu3031 [8]
8 00:00 bombay [3]
34 00:00 Swamp Blondie [4]
5 00:00 RD [5]
Page 4: Opinion
3 00:00 SpecOp35 [5]
1 00:00 rjschwarz [7]
1 00:00 Procopius2k [3]
8 00:00 no mo uro [3]
6 00:00 JosephMendiola [8]
4 00:00 JosephMendiola [6]
6 00:00 Seafarious [4]
1 00:00 gromgoru [3]
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Page 5: Russia-Former Soviet Union
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6 00:00 Thoth [11]
3 00:00 Stephen Murmer [4]
2 00:00 SpecOp35 [4]
6 00:00 anonymous5089 [1]
3 00:00 JosephMendiola [5]
9 00:00 Rob Crawford [10]
29 00:00 Bright Pebbles in Blairistan [7]
6 00:00 .com [6]
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1 00:00 Zenster [3]
8 00:00 CrazyFool [4]
4 00:00 JosephMendiola [9]
7 00:00 Shipman [3]
1 00:00 gorb [2]
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11 00:00 JosephMendiola [6]
Personal Products Needed for Walter Reed
Stars and Stripes reports that donations are needed for wounded troops who are patients at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The hospital's Family Assistance Center is seeking shoes, gloves and winter jackets, postage stamps, prepaid phone cards, weightlifting gloves (for wheelchair patients), trousers with snaps or zips along the legs, razors, and prepaid gas or grocery cards. The Center requests that no cash or used items be donated. Donations can be sent to:

Walter Reed Army Medical Center
Medical Family Assistance Center
Bldg. 2, 3rd Floor, Room 3E01
6900 Georgia Ave, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20307-5001

Looking for ways to support and honor U.S. military servicemembers and veterans who protect our security and freedom? Go to the Military.com Support our Troops webpage to learn more.
Posted by: Seafarious || 12/13/2006 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "No cash or used??? items" - are they sure, becuz I think many people are still gonna be sending it anyway.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 12/13/2006 2:13 Comments || Top||

#2  The Fisher House at Walter Reed is also a great cause.
Posted by: Mark Lerner || 12/13/2006 15:59 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan
British Royal Marine killed in Taliban attack
(KUNA) -- A British Royal Marine has been killed in Afghanistan after coming under attack from Taliban forces, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Tuesday. The marine from 42 Commando Royal Marines was hit by small arms fire whilst on operations in Helmand Province, an MoD spokesman said. An emergency quick reaction helicopter along with a full medical team evacuated him to the hospital at Camp Bastion, where he was pronounced dead. No other servicemen were injured, the spokesman added.

Brigadier Jerry Thomas, the commander of the UK Task Force, said troops were patrolling to the north of Now Zad, a district in the north of Helmand Province, when they came under attack from Taliban forces. "Our thoughts, sympathy and prayers are very much with the family, friends and colleagues," he said. "The Royal Marines Company involved in today's attack remains in Now Zad providing support to the Afghan government and remains fully committed to the task." The Royal Marine's family have been informed and have requested privacy while they come to terms with their loss and inform friends and the wider family, Brigadier Thomas added.

The death of the Royal Marine in Afghanistan today brings the toll of fatalities of British Forces personnel in the country since the start of operations in November 2001 to 43. Of these, 22 were killed in action, while 21 are known to have died either as a result of illness, non-combat injuries or accidents, the MoD added.
Posted by: Fred || 12/13/2006 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Our thanks to him and his family for their service. I hope that at least some of those this Marine gave his life to protect understand and are grateful, too.
Posted by: trailing wife || 12/13/2006 13:01 Comments || Top||


US-led raid, suicide bomber kill 12 in Afghanistan
US-led troops killed at least four people, including a teenage girl, in a raid in southeastern Afghanistan on Tuesday and a suicide bomber killed eight more in the south, residents, officials and coalition forces said.

The target of the suicide bomber was the governor of Helmand, Mohammad Daud, who escaped unhurt.
The target of the suicide bomber was the governor of Helmand, Mohammad Daud, who escaped unhurt, the officials said. Four police, two army soldiers and two civilians were killed in the attack in Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital of Helmand, a Taliban stronghold and the main drug producing region of the world’s leading heroin producer. “It was a suicide attack and the target was the governor,” Helmand police chief Mohammad Nabi Mullahkhail said.

The attack is the latest in the bloodiest year to have gripped Afghanistan since US-led forces overthrew the Taliban government in 2001. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but Taliban militants have carried out many such raids across the country this year.

Hours before the blast, US-led forces killed at least four people in the southeastern province of Khost where the Taliban and their Islamic allies are highly active. But there were conflicting accounts about who was killed in the pre-dawn raid in Dornami village. Residents say the US-led force, backed by Afghan militias, broke into a house, drawing fire from the occupants who thought they were thieves. Four people were killed and some seven wounded – all of them civilians, they said.

The US-led coalition said in a statement the raid killed five people – four suspected terrorists and a young girl. The troops requested the surrender of those in the compound. “The suspected terrorists refused to comply with verbal warnings and began firing,” the statement said. “Enemies of the Afghan government continue to place women and children in harm’s way by conducting illegal activities within common living areas, placing entire families at risk,” the statement said.
Posted by: Fred || 12/13/2006 00:00 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under:

#1  US-led troops killed at least four people, including a teenage girl, in a raid in southeastern Afghanistan on Tuesday and a suicide bomber killed eight more in the south

Bad, bad, US soldiers. Good, good, martyr.
Posted by: gromgoru || 12/13/2006 0:21 Comments || Top||

#2  "There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack..."

From al-Beeb
"The Taleban have named the bomber and say he was from Helmand province...The BBC's Alastair Leithead in Afghanistan says that the suicide bomber got into the building in the provincial capital, Lashkar Gah, before detonating explosives strapped to his body."
Posted by: DepotGuy || 12/13/2006 10:38 Comments || Top||

#3  Gee, who can kill the Iraqis faster -- US-led troops or the insurgents? Maybe we should just put everyone out in the Sahara Desert, and let them all kill each other. That way, maybe some world leader with half a brain would figure out another way to resolve differences besides war. To paraphrase Shakespeare, a plague on all their houses.

Posted by: xquill || 12/13/2006 18:37 Comments || Top||

#4  Gee, who can kill the Iraqis faster -- US-led troops or the insurgents?

Gee, mebbe this should have been made in an article on Iraq, instead of one on Afghanistan?
Posted by: Pappy || 12/13/2006 20:51 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Spanish police arrest 11 Islamists in Ceuta
Spanish police have arrested 11 suspects linked to Islamist militants in a raid on a neighbourhood in the country’s North African enclave Ceuta, an Interior Ministry official said on Tuesday. Spanish media reported that one of those arrested was Hamed Abderrahaman Ahmed, a Spanish national who spent two years at the United States detention facility at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, following his capture in Pakistan. The so-called “Spanish Taliban” was freed earlier this year after terrorism charges in Spain were overturned. The Interior Ministry official could not confirm that Ahmed was among those arrested.

About 50 police vehicles carrying armed police entered the El Principe neighbourhood, starting the raid at 4:00am (3:00GMT), a government official said on condition of anonymity. Local media reported that 300 police had been backed by specialist marksmen. The raid was continuing, the Interior Ministry official said.

Another of those arrested was a Moroccan citizen with a Spanish work permit, while the others were Spanish nationals, local radio quoted Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba as saying. Moroccan intelligence helped provide information for the operation, Rubalcaba said, according to the radio report. Local news agency Europa Press said that the suspects were linked to the Moroccan Islamist Combatant Group, which was blamed for bombings in Casablanca in 2003 which killed 26 people.
Posted by: Fred || 12/13/2006 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Spanish media reported that one of those arrested was Hamed Abderrahaman Ahmed, a Spanish national who spent two years at the United States detention facility at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, following his capture in Pakistan. The so-called “Spanish Taliban” was freed earlier this year after terrorism charges in Spain were overturned.

How very unexpected.
Posted by: trailing wife || 12/13/2006 13:02 Comments || Top||


Bangladesh
Tales from the Bangladesh Police Blotter
JESSORE, Dec 12: Two prisoners, including an outlawed party member, died at General Hospital here Tuesday morning.
Prison can be hazardous to your health
The deceased were identified as Abul Kalam, 38, son of Momin Mondal of Harinakunda upazila in Jhenidah district, and Habibur Rahman, 40, of Gangni upazila in Meherpur district.
Police said outlawed party member Kalam fell ill in the district jail Monday night. He was admitted to the hospital where he died at 8:30am Tuesday.
Key word here may be "fell".
Habibur Rahman, who was sentenced to life term imprisonment, was taken to the hospital after he suffered cardiac problems in the jail Monday night.
Heart stopped beating, that covers a lot of "cardiac problems".
He died in the hospital at 10am Tuesday.
"He's dead, Jim."
Posted by: Steve || 12/13/2006 09:36 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Looks like the RAB saved some 12 step paper work.
Posted by: Phineter Thraviger || 12/13/2006 14:24 Comments || Top||

#2  Habibur suffered from depression- the Coroner found a hemispherical depression in the back of his skull.
Posted by: Grunter || 12/13/2006 15:27 Comments || Top||

#3  They've fallen...and they'll never get up.
Posted by: tu3031 || 12/13/2006 15:32 Comments || Top||

#4  RAB has been watching too many comedy reruns and adapted Hawkeye Pierce's gig into a Bangladeshi operation: call it 'B.A.S.H.'
Posted by: USN, Ret. || 12/13/2006 17:20 Comments || Top||


Britain
UK bomb plot terror charge dropped
A Pakistani judge has ruled there is not enough evidence to try a key suspect in an alleged airline bomb plot on terrorism charges.

He has moved the case of Rashid Rauf from an anti-terrorism court to a regular court, where he faces lesser charges such as forgery.

Pakistan has presented Mr Rauf as one of the ringleaders behind the alleged plan to blow up flights out of London. The British authorities say they foiled it with Pakistan's help in August.
Sell them more planes - they're clearly on our side.. at least this wasn't a work accident and he's still alive for now.. Bet his ISI handlers are relieved..

Posted by: Howard UK || 12/13/2006 05:58 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  So, how long until he booms?
Posted by: gromgoru || 12/13/2006 6:15 Comments || Top||

#2  The Brits are doomed.
Posted by: Icerigger || 12/13/2006 9:53 Comments || Top||

#3  Just more verification of Muzzie principles....revolving door, no direct battle, sneaking around to ambush, lying all the time...on and on. It never changes. We just don't learn.
Posted by: SpecOp35 || 12/13/2006 11:03 Comments || Top||


Europe
Spain arrests 11 suspected militants
h/t LGF.
MADRID, Spain - Acting on more than a year of surveillance, police commandos in the Spanish African enclave of Ceuta arrested at least 11 suspected Islamic militants Tuesday, saying the men had moved from "fanatic discussions" to concrete plans to carry out attacks.

The men — 10 Spaniards and a Moroccan — were detained in pre-dawn raids and included two brothers of a former detainee at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Gitmo, huh? Family, huh? Whoda thunk it?

Continued on Page 49
Posted by: .com || 12/13/2006 00:00 || Comments || Link || [7 views] Top|| File under:

#1  well, hopefully, the family that prays to Jihad together, gets shanked in prison together
Posted by: Frank G || 12/13/2006 0:02 Comments || Top||

#2  Hamed Abderrahman Ahmed, a Spaniard
Posted by: gromgoru || 12/13/2006 0:20 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Four killed in Karachi blast
Four men, including two brothers, were killed and three injured in a mysterious blast at Shireen Jinnah Colony on Tuesday. The oil tanker, which arrived in the city from Saindak, Balochistan, carrying scrap metal two days ago, was being repaired for a fault in its gearbox. A mechanic was using a piece of scrap metal as a hammer when the blast occurred.

Seven people, including the owner of the oil tanker Alam Zaib, his younger brothers Abdul Haq and Ziaul Haq, tanker driver Mohammad Rehman and cleaner Salman were seriously injured. They were taken to Ziauddin Hospital where doctors declared four of them dead on arrival. Ziaul Haq is said to be in critical condition. Police, Rangers and bomb disposal squad (BDS) officials scanned the site for traces of explosive material. BDS officials said the explosion was probably the result of unexploded ordnance, possibly a piece of a landmine, that was among the scrap metal brought by the tanker.
Posted by: Fred || 12/13/2006 00:00 || Comments || Link || [7 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Oil tankers are used to carry scrap metal?

I guess it could have been a piece of a landmine picked up as scrap, but that sounds like a stretch. An oil tanker might make a real good VBIED though, assuming the fellows putting it together aren't color blind or shaky or anything - could have been a 'work accident.' Does Pakiland have an equivalent to OSHA?
Posted by: Glenmore || 12/13/2006 7:17 Comments || Top||


Iraq
Tikrit Terrorist Payroll Nabbed
Coalition Forces detained six suspected terrorists and seized a weapons cache Wednesday morning near Tikrit while seeking a terrorist associated with the al-Qaida in Iraq network.Intelligence reports also indicated the production of improvised explosive devices was also taking place in the targeted area.

When ground forces searched the targeted building, they discovered a weapons cache consisting of machine guns, pistols, rocket-propelled grenade boosters and a sniper rifle scope. Ground forces also found the equivalent of more than $200,000 in Iraqi Dinar along with more than $160,000 in U.S. currency.
Posted by: Chuck Simmins || 12/13/2006 10:46 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  So did the terrorists report the theft of their payroll to the police? You know, like yestereday's idiot
Posted by: 3dc || 12/13/2006 11:28 Comments || Top||

#2  Hopefully lots of shoot-outs and arrests to follow, as the Coalition Forces work their way down the names on the attached payroll list. Poor Prince Turki is going to have to dig in his own pocket to replace those funds, now that he's back home.
Posted by: trailing wife || 12/13/2006 11:28 Comments || Top||

#3  I wonder if this was part of the proceeds of the bank heist a couple of days ago. Or maybe some ransom monies. Do they keep records of serial numbers?
Posted by: Glenmore || 12/13/2006 11:31 Comments || Top||

#4  Do dinars have serial numbers?

Maybe set up a sting, like the fencing stings here in the States. "If you want your pay this week, show up at 1526 Rue Des Martyrs"
Posted by: Chuck Simmins || 12/13/2006 11:35 Comments || Top||

#5  Poor Prince Turki is going to have to dig in his own pocket to replace those funds, now that he's back home.

spot on TW!
Posted by: RD || 12/13/2006 11:59 Comments || Top||

#6  Poor Prince Turki is going to have to dig in his own pocket to replace those funds

Pocket change.
Posted by: gorb || 12/13/2006 13:00 Comments || Top||

#7  Both the Dinars and the Dollars are heavily tracked. The government has been very into tracking the flow of money since the drug war began.

The damn fools probably didn't even launder it properly, so there'll be lots of consecutive numbers which is a bad a compromise as it gets.

Tracking money is so easy that the "Where's George?" website does it as entertainment:

http://www.wheresgeorge.com/

They will be able to track it back through countries, banks, charities, and even individual donors.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 12/13/2006 14:39 Comments || Top||


Weapons Caches Discovered (with SWORDS!)
The following were discovered in two separate cache discoveries Sunday and one Monday:
• (1) 122 mm projectile with detonation cord, 10-pound
stick of propellant, 10-feet of time fuse, 30-feet of red
detonation cord
• (1) 155 mm supplementary charge, 11 pounds of TNT
• (2) improvised Bangalore torpedoes
• (4) 57 mm projectiles prepared for use with IEDs
• (1) Pakistani #36 green grenade
• (3) 82 mm mortars
• (2) flight motors
• (5) 60 mm mortars with fuses
(3) Chinese M-6 fuses
• (2) IED chest rigs
• (1) Washing Machine Timer
• (1) Black dishasha
• (2) Electrical blasting caps
• (100) Feet of black wire
• (4) Pellet Guns
• (2) Swords

I hope our Marines can stand up to these new threats.
• Copper Wire
• Various blasting caps
Posted by: Glenmore || 12/13/2006 09:42 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I'm guess the swords are for Allen approved beheadings.
Posted by: Icerigger || 12/13/2006 9:52 Comments || Top||

#2  Pellet Guns. Made me think of Chevy Chase and John Candy on the roller coaster in Vacation.
Posted by: plainslow || 12/13/2006 9:57 Comments || Top||

#3  (2) improvised Bangalore torpedoes
(1) Pakistani #36 green grenade
(3) Chinese M-6 fuses


Surely these are new, not pre-invasion stockpiles? And am I correct that these are not the best sources of supply? Were the swords poorly made, rusted and blunt?
Posted by: trailing wife || 12/13/2006 10:35 Comments || Top||

#4  (1) Black dishasha

Anybody?
Posted by: tu3031 || 12/13/2006 10:35 Comments || Top||

#5  (1) Black dishasha
Anybody?

Dishdasha - the typical Arab robe / garment
Posted by: Whiskettes4Hilali || 12/13/2006 10:50 Comments || Top||

#6  ... and a partridge in a pear tree.....
Posted by: Penguin || 12/13/2006 10:57 Comments || Top||

#7  dishasha

I believe that is the Arab man dress.
Posted by: Cholush Chereger2677 || 12/13/2006 10:59 Comments || Top||

#8  If the timer is for a Maytag, I'll pay $10 for it. The wife is really on me about getting the machine fixed.
Posted by: Chuck Simmins || 12/13/2006 11:25 Comments || Top||

#9  LOL Chuck
Posted by: RD || 12/13/2006 13:03 Comments || Top||

#10  I thought it was dishdasha, with two ds. Am I wrong, or is this a simple spelling error?
Posted by: trailing wife || 12/13/2006 13:06 Comments || Top||

#11  Pakistani #36 green grenades, feeder, FOB Peshawar, 9.50 steady to lower in moderate trading.
Posted by: Shipman || 12/13/2006 13:29 Comments || Top||

#12  When they publish this in Iraq, they should include in the list:

20 Nipple rings
40 Pair soiled women's panties
4 Large containers Vaseline
12 Garter Belts
etc.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 12/13/2006 14:25 Comments || Top||

#13  You have an interesting Christmas shopping list.
Posted by: ed || 12/13/2006 14:28 Comments || Top||

#14  What, no ponies? Man, we must really have these guys on the run!
Posted by: BA || 12/13/2006 14:45 Comments || Top||

#15  What the hell are they going to do with torpedoes?!?.
Posted by: bigjim-ky || 12/13/2006 18:12 Comments || Top||

#16  Not a naval torpedo, a bangalore type: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangalore_Torpedo
Posted by: Parabellum || 12/13/2006 18:28 Comments || Top||

#17  Yes, dishdasha has two d's.

100' of wire. Suggests to me that you needn't look much farther than 100' in many cases.
Posted by: gorb || 12/13/2006 19:15 Comments || Top||

#18  And not a single shutter gun.
Posted by: Jackal || 12/13/2006 20:11 Comments || Top||


Allawi Calls for martial law as 70 are killed in Iraq
Iraq's former prime minister Ayad Allawi has called for the imposition of martial law in a last-ditch attempt to halt the country's worsening security situation.

Dr Allawi is the first major Iraqi politician to suggest that democratic freedoms can no longer be sustained in the face of mounting violence. He spoke hours before Iraq suffered a devastating double car bomb attack on casual labourers queuing at Tayaran Square, in the heart of Baghdad and within a few hundred yards of the Green Zone, the citadel of government.

A car laden with explosives rammed a police checkpoint and a pick-up was detonated in the crowds fleeing the scene, causing the deaths of 70 people and injuring 220 more. The victims were mainly thought to be Shia Muslims.

"After the explosion, not a single person in the square was standing. I thought everyone was dead," said Khaled Nasser, a labourer who searched the wreckage for four of his companions. "I found them all cut in half – no legs – and for some I could only find their heads."

A further car bomb attack today in a market square in the east of Baghdad killed ten people and injured 20.

The worsening attacks have added to the sense of a city in chaos. Mr Allawi's prescription is a drastic option but one that many Iraqis would welcome as a last chance to secure order.

"I think martial law is required," Mr Allawi told America's NBC television news. "I pray to God that we don't lose, because the other alternative is going to be the prevalence of extremism and terrorism."

Mr Allawi, who as interim prime minister assumed control of Iraq from the US-appointed Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) in 2004, accused the sectarian-based political system enshrined in the new constitution of causing the latest spate of violence. "Iraq needs to move away from sectarianism, from extremism and to really lay down the groundwork to move into a more reconciliatory society, a united society," he said.

Sadoun al-Dulaime, a former defence minister, echoed Mr Allawi's grim prediction that street fighting would break out across the country without urgent action. "I now don't know where this is going to stop," he said. "We will end up fighting room to room because our families are often both Sunni and Shia."

Mr Allawi's comments will be interpreted in some quarters as an attempt to place himself as the strongman who could save Iraq. A British-based exile during the Saddam era, Mr Allawi has cultivated close ties with former officials in the regime.

Iraqi politicians were trying yesterday to oust the incumbent Nouri al-Maliki. He was forced to deny that two key parties in Iraqi's parliament were negotiating a coalition to elect a new leader.

"What is going on now is positive," said Mr Maliki. "There is no alternative in Iraq for this national unity government because it is the guarantee for the political process to continue."

By freezing out Mr Maliki's Dawa party, Iraqi and US leaders hope to end the sway of the cleric Moqtada al-Sadr over the government.

Officials say Sadr party loyalists have a stranglehold on the prime minister and are responsible for the official inertia that has fuelled the rising violence.

It has also been reported that Saudi Arabia has issued a stark warning to the United States of the dangers of a withdrawal from Iraq.

According to the New York Times, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia told the Bush administration that it might provide financial backing to Iraqi Sunnis in a war against Iraqi Shias if America took its troops out of the country. King Abdullah is reported to have delivered the message to Dick Cheney during the US vice-president's visit to Riyadh last month. The Saudi king is also said to have expressed strong opposition to diplomatic talks between the United States and Iran, which is largely Shia, as well as supporting a resumption of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

Meanwhile, Margaret Beckett, the Foreign Secretary, said that the Government may need to reconsider its strategy in Iraq but denied that Britain must wait for AmericaÂ’s lead. The White House yesterday postponed any decision on a revised approach in the country until the New Year.

Mrs Beckett also suggested that Kofi Annan, secretary-general of the United Nations, had had “words put into his mouth” when he said recently the situation in Iraq was worse than civil war. She insisted that the situation in many areas of British-controlled Basra had improved over the past six months.
Posted by: .com || 12/13/2006 04:49 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The Saudi king is also said to have expressed strong opposition to diplomatic talks between the United States and Iran, which is largely Shia, as well as supporting a resumption of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

Isn't it nice there's something everybody can agree on?
Posted by: gromgoru || 12/13/2006 6:14 Comments || Top||

#2  First step: bringing Sadr to justice on the murders he committed to gain the ower that he has. Somethign we should ahve done theday we rolled into that country. And in Iraq, let it be Iraqi justice the way its done now (i.e. a sniper round or carbomb). I'm pretty sure we could find the peopel to do that if we wanted to and the national comman authority would let up on the overcontroling its doing (too many things are "off limits" in ops, and even in the military's ROE).

Let us conduct this war like a WAR, not the half-assed thing we have let it devolve into.

Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war.
Posted by: OldSpook || 12/13/2006 9:51 Comments || Top||

#3  No luck there old spook. The doves and foggy-bottomed idiots are in charge of the war police action.
Posted by: DarthVader || 12/13/2006 9:55 Comments || Top||

#4  Former Prime Minister of Iraq Ayad Allawi wants us to be aware that were he still in power none of these problems would have developed.
Posted by: trailing wife || 12/13/2006 10:53 Comments || Top||

#5  Bush has met with Al-Hakim of SCIRI and the Sunni VP of Iraq in the last couple of days. Id say the signs are pointing to some effort to remove Maliki soon. Possibly a parliamentary crisis where SCIRI, the Kurds, the Sunnis, the Allawi group, and some Shiite independents move no confidence in Maliki. I suspect SCIRI would still prefer an independent Shiite from UIA such as Rubaie (sp?) rather than Allawi, but presumably that is what Bush was negotiating with Al Hakim.

Or maybe its all smoke and mirrors and nothing will happen.
Posted by: liberalhawk || 12/13/2006 14:51 Comments || Top||

#6  "The doves and foggy-bottomed idiots are in charge of the war police action."

yeah, but theyre pals with Saudi, and Sadr makes Saudi very nervous.
Posted by: liberalhawk || 12/13/2006 14:52 Comments || Top||

#7  OS, not a chance when so many in the US political hierarchies have so much invested in a US defeat and national humiliation. In that respect, VietNam redux.
Posted by: RWV || 12/13/2006 14:58 Comments || Top||

#8  OS...we can drive the terror down to a trickle in 6 months to a year by doing the following: Declaring the the Iraqi border region near Syria, the Magic Kingdom, and Iran a free-fire zone from sunset until sunrise. Keep UAV's, AC-130's, and other manned aircraft in orbit to kill anything with a heat signature. That would choke off the insurgency within a year.
Posted by: anymouse || 12/13/2006 17:30 Comments || Top||


Two policemen killed, eight wounded in blast in Baghdad
(KUNA) -- Two policemen were killed and eight wounded Tuesday in a suicide attack that targeted a police checkpoint in Radwaniya area, northern Baghdad. An Iraqi police source told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that a driver blew up his explosive-laden car at about 8:10 p.m. Baghdad time, caused destruction to three Iraqi police vehicles.

Earlier today, a suicide attacker blew himself up in a crowd of construction workers in a square in central Baghdad, killing 60 civilians and wounding 220 others. Meanwhile, the Iraqi Police announced they have found 47 unidentified bodies within the past 24 hours in a number of suburbs around Baghdad.
Posted by: Fred || 12/13/2006 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Hamas judge killed in Gaza Strip
A prominent member of the Palestinian militant Islamic movement Hamas, Bassam al-Fara, has been shot dead in the southern Gaza Strip. Mr Fara, who was also a judge, was killed outside a courthouse in the town of Khan Younis, reports say. Hamas' armed wing says the killing was the work of gunmen linked to its rival, Fatah. Fatah has not responded to the allegation.

Tensions have been growing between Hamas and Fatah in the past few days. This follows a recent attack on a car belonging to a senior Fatah security official. He was not in the vehicle, but three of his children were and they all died in the gunfire. Some in Fatah have openly accused Hamas of being behind that attack, but Hamas has denied this.
Posted by: phil_b || 12/13/2006 04:06 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  WP
Posted by: gromgoru || 12/13/2006 4:27 Comments || Top||

#2  Let me guess; Three bullets, one for each of the boys. [/Karnak the Magnificent]
Posted by: Zenster || 12/13/2006 4:45 Comments || Top||

#3  More like three clips.
Posted by: gromgoru || 12/13/2006 6:16 Comments || Top||

#4  AP says the gunmen calmly ate breakfast while waiting for al-Fara.

"I alway have a calzone before a hit, right Guido?"
Posted by: liberalhawk || 12/13/2006 9:26 Comments || Top||

#5  To early? Should it still be just kernels?

Posted by: 3dc || 12/13/2006 10:15 Comments || Top||

#6  "Bassam sleeps with the scorpions."
Posted by: mojo || 12/13/2006 12:43 Comments || Top||

#7  Red on red is good.
Posted by: mac || 12/13/2006 17:44 Comments || Top||


Kassams fired from Gaza; no wounded
Two Kassam rockets landed in open fields in the Sderot region Tuesday evening. A third rocket was also fired, but the place of its landing was undetermined. No one was reported wounded and no damage to property was reported in the latest attack. Since the Israeli-Palestinian cease fire last month, 21 Kassam rockets have been fired from Gaza at Israel.

In a widespread operation lasting several months, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), the IDF and Israel Police, have arrested 50 terror suspects affiliated with the Islamic Jihad and believed to be directly involved in planning anti-Israel terror attacks, it was released for publication on Tuesday. Seven of the suspects security officials said, have expressed willingness to perpetrate suicide attacks against Israeli cities. During the arrest raids, security forces uncovered large quantities of weapons including high-grade explosives and computer discs containing instructions how to assemble an explosive device.

The arrest wave began half a year ago following the capture of Hani Rajoub, an Islamic Jihad member from the Hebron area. During his interrogation, the Shin Bet discovered that Rajoub was actually a member of a large-scale terror network consisting of dozens of terror operatives throughout the southern Hebron hills area. Rajoub told his interrogators that following a major IDF crackdown in June 2005, he was ordered by the Islamic Jihad leadership to reestablish the terror group's infrastructure in the Hebron area. Rajoub recruited new operatives and began making efforts to obtain weapons as well as locate training centers.

In addition to Rajoub, security forces have also arrested Mahmoud and Yousef Pakiye from Dora, students at the A-Najah University in Nablus, are allegedly behind the establishment of an explosives factory in the Hebron area.

In related news, security forces came under attack twice by Palestinians in the West Bank on Tuesday. A group of Palestinians threw rocks at Border Policemen near Beit Zayit north of Ramallah on Tuesday afternoon. Two of the attackers were arrested by the border police and were transferred to Police custody. No Border Policemen were wounded in the incident. Earlier, a bomb was thrown at IDF troops operating in Nablus. According to the army, none of the soldiers were wounded, but an IDF vehicle was damaged.

IDF forces operating overnight Monday in Nablus arrested eight Palestinian fugitives, including Fatah member Ranzi Abu Shalal, who supplied the explosives belt used in a suicide bombing in Rosh Ha'ayin three years ago. The remaining fugitives were from Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
Posted by: Fred || 12/13/2006 00:00 || Comments || Link || [7 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I think that it is time for the Israelis to go biblical on these people: an eye for an eye. For every rocket launched out of Gaza, some Jewish militants should launch a rocket from Israel into Gaza. Tell the press to bugger off because the Government of Israel declared a hudna but just can't be responsible for what groups on its territory do. They should also be made aware that jewish militants celebratory gunfire is aimed.
Posted by: RWV || 12/13/2006 0:15 Comments || Top||

#2  That's not what James Baker recomends.
Posted by: gromgoru || 12/13/2006 0:51 Comments || Top||

#3  To paraphrase Mr. Baker: "F**k Jim Baker."
Posted by: RWV || 12/13/2006 15:00 Comments || Top||

#4  Each rocket should be answered by a barrage from 150 155mm cannon, each aimed at a house in the Gaza Strip. Move the cannon at night, so that a different area is attacked each time a rocket is fired. Pretty soon Gaza will be sleeping in what remained of the houses there, and wishing they had such things as running water, heat, light, and food. MAYBE then they'll be willing to accept a TRUE cease-fire with Israel. Or maybe not.
Posted by: Old Patriot || 12/13/2006 16:05 Comments || Top||

#5  Taking a break from their kid killing?
Posted by: tu3031 || 12/13/2006 16:18 Comments || Top||

#6  I'm with ya, OP. Nothing like being on the receiving end of incoming. I say be very indiscriminate. Just aim in the general direction and take out city blocks. Even dumbasses react when their proerty and families are destroyed. They'll stop the rocket toys ASAP.
Posted by: SpecOp35 || 12/13/2006 16:41 Comments || Top||


Hamas Gunmen Fire at Protesters
Four Palestinians were wounded yesterday when Hamas gunmen opened fire on demonstrators protesting the killing of the sons of an intelligence officer in a drive-by shooting on Monday.

The killing of the three boys, whose car was riddled with bullets as they rode to school in Gaza City, sparked widespread rage, grief and soul-searching in the Palestinian areas. Demonstrations erupted throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip, children stayed home from school and Palestinian security forces allied to Fatah party forced stores to close.

Witnesses said that during a protest in Khan Younis, some schoolchildren who had joined the demonstration, threw stones at Hamas militiamen. That provoked them to open fire, injuring four people including two Palestine Authority security officials.

Hamas and Fatah officials later traded accusations. On its website, Hamas said armed men of Fatah and Palestinian Authority had raided official and public buildings. President Mahmoud Abbas earlier ordered his security forces to deploy across Gaza after the killing of the three boys and their driver.
Posted by: Fred || 12/13/2006 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Pathetic, but predictable.
Posted by: RWV || 12/13/2006 0:16 Comments || Top||

#2  It ain't serious until they start suicide booming each other.
Posted by: gromgoru || 12/13/2006 0:19 Comments || Top||

#3  Funny how Hamas' policy of helping the people evaporates if it infringes the least bit upon their Jew-killing. First starvation, then Beit Hanoun and now lethal crowd control; Can these morons possibly endear themselves any further to the Palestinians? What's it going to take for the Palestinian people to understand that they are merely meat puppets in a much larger game that gives not one gold-plated turd about them?
Posted by: Zenster || 12/13/2006 5:11 Comments || Top||

#4  Lets hope this will turn out to be a localized 'mutually assured destruction' and then the 'oppressed' Palestinian people will wise up from 3000 years of inbreeding and an eternity of brainwashing , develope a peaceful agenda and get on with building a life for themselves ..

Ohh but wait a minute , this just aint gonna happen . Noone there has the balls or energy to stand up to the crap these Islamic leaders put them through

*looks around for the blue elephant jumping over the month of sundays*
Posted by: MacNails || 12/13/2006 6:26 Comments || Top||

#5  soul-searching in the Palestinian areas
Explains the rush order for 12 scanning electron microscopes.
Posted by: Shipman || 12/13/2006 6:45 Comments || Top||

#6  Given how much opprobrium the IDF gets for firing tear gas and beanbags, I expect Hamas will be the object of a storm of condemnation from the international human rights community.

[crickets]

I said: I expect Hamas will be the object of a storm of condemnation from the international human rights community.

[crickets]

Just you wait, there'll be a storm of condemnation blowing up any second now.

[crickets]
Posted by: Mike || 12/13/2006 7:26 Comments || Top||

#7  3000 years of inbreeding? given how many of them are immigrants from across the arab world, I should say not. At least not the urban population.
Posted by: liberalhawk || 12/13/2006 9:28 Comments || Top||

#8  And what do you think Arabs were doing for the last 3000 years, Liberalhawk? (You think Mohamed invented first cousin marriages?)
Posted by: gromgoru || 12/13/2006 10:33 Comments || Top||

#9  Good one, Mike. While Palestinian atrocities are shrugged off like so much wet clothing, an Israeli hiccough raises howls of international protest. The usual swallowing camels whole and choking on gnats bullshit.
Posted by: Zenster || 12/13/2006 13:22 Comments || Top||

#10  I'm waitin' for Jimmah to make a statement.
Posted by: wxjames || 12/13/2006 18:01 Comments || Top||


Southeast Asia
Philippine court freezes account of Muslim charity
A court in the Philippines has frozen the local bankaccount of a Saudi-based charitable organization because of suspicions it has been used to bankroll terror activities, thecourt said Tuesday. The Court of Appeals said in a written ruling it found "probable cause" that an account of the International Islamic Relief Organization's local office may have been used for illegal purposes. The court granted a request by the Anti-Money Laundering Council to freeze the account for at least 20 days.

The order, which could be extended, prevents any withdrawals from the account. It also paves the way for an investigation of the account, the court said. The court referred to allegations by the U.S. Department of Treasury that the charity's Philippine and Indonesian branches are involved in fundraising for al-Qaida and allied groups. The department also accuses Abd Al Hamid Sulaiman Al-Mujil, executive director of the charity's Eastern Province branch in Saudi Arabia, of backing Islamic militants, according to the court.

The ruling also said the Anti-Money Laundering Council accuses the charity's local branch of providing funds to Abu Sayyaf, a small terror group linked to al-Qaida and blamed for ransom kidnappings, beheadings and bomb attacks in the Philippines. A former Abu Sayyaf member has alleged that the charity's funds have helped to finance legitimate projects as well as terrorist operations, the court said.

A U.N. sanctions committee includes the charity's Philippine branch in a list of people and groups linked with Osama bin Laden, the Taliban and al-Qaida - targets of U.N. Security Council-endorsed sanctions that include asset freezes, travelbans and arms embargoes, the court said. The U.S. asked the Philippine government in August to freeze funds, assets and property of the charity and Al-Mujil. A government investigation found the charity had two accounts with a local bank, including an active account, which was subject to the freeze order, the court said.
Posted by: Fred || 12/13/2006 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Kinda makes me wonder if the Philippine government ought to be able to keep the money if it is found to be related to terrorism. I wonder how long it would take to clean these guys out.
Posted by: gorb || 12/13/2006 4:57 Comments || Top||


Draft law calls for amputation of thieves' hands Aceh
Thieves could have their hands amputated in Indonesia's Aceh province under a proposed Islamic law that may alarm rights activists and Western governments.
"May" alarm them?
The draft law was published Tuesday in an advertisement in Aceh's Serambi newspaper that was paid for by the agency responsible for implementing Islamic Shariah law in the tsunami-ravaged province, which only recently emerged from decades of civil war. The advertisement called on readers to comment on the proposed law so it could be revised before being handed over to local legislators for debate.
Posted by: Fred || 12/13/2006 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Interestingly, the ex-rebel leader they just elected as governor of Aceh is opposed to Shariah law.
Posted by: cingold || 12/13/2006 5:45 Comments || Top||

#2  Even a stopped clock is right (once or) twice a day - Sharia might be ok on this. But if the thieves were British soldiers would they still get the million dollar compensation money for loss of a limb?
Posted by: Glenmore || 12/13/2006 7:24 Comments || Top||

#3  On the cutting edge of societal devolution.
Posted by: Mike || 12/13/2006 7:27 Comments || Top||

#4  Start with those thieving Mullahs and you might have something...
Posted by: OldSpook || 12/13/2006 9:55 Comments || Top||

#5  So, do they cut off the left hand and expose the populus to someone whose handshake will forever be unclean? Or do they cut off the right hand and force the populus the have everything this person touches become unclean? Or do they just assign the rotter his own little boy with a sponge on a stick?

The question still stands. Either way, this punishment causes the public to be exposed to haram conduct. Personally, I find the contradiction exemplary of Islam in general.
Posted by: Zenster || 12/13/2006 13:47 Comments || Top||


Man gets three years for his involvement in terrorism
Panel of judges in Surabaya District Court Tuesday punished Ahamd Arif alias Banjar three years in jail for his involvement in a bomb explosion in front of Australian embassy in Jakarta in 2004. The verdict was lighter than five year jail term of prosecutors' recommendation. Arif was also accused of being involved in al-Qaida-linked Jemaah Islamiyah network, which is allegedly responsible for a number of bomb blasts in the country. Arif and his lawyers said they would appeal to the higher court.
Posted by: Fred || 12/13/2006 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Out in a few months
Posted by: gromgoru || 12/13/2006 0:16 Comments || Top||

#2  In some places cohorts will actually break him out just so can stretch the legs and attend local function, afore breaking back in to put him back in jail.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 12/13/2006 2:16 Comments || Top||

#3  Just becuz MAYOR MARION BARRY was in jail didn't stop him from access to drugs + hooker services.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 12/13/2006 2:18 Comments || Top||


Good morning....
Prince Turki Al-Faisal Resigns as Saudi Ambassador to USHamas Gunmen Fire at ProtestersDraft law calls for amputation of thieves' hands AcehArab League chief seeks end to Lebanon crisisUS-led raid, suicide bomber kill 12 in AfghanistanIslamists give Ethiopia seven days to leave SomaliaMengistu Convicted of Genocide in Ethiopia
Posted by: Fred || 12/13/2006 00:00 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Damn Fred now how the hell are we gonna read the articles now?

drooling.....
Posted by: RD || 12/13/2006 2:41 Comments || Top||

#2  RD - Save the picture, then make it your desktop background.

Unless you're at work....
Posted by: Bobby || 12/13/2006 6:30 Comments || Top||

#3  HOLLY SCHNIEKIES!!!!!!!!
Posted by: ARMYGUY || 12/13/2006 9:30 Comments || Top||

#4  Is it sweeps week? The photos have been particularly, um, inspiring this week.
Posted by: Scott R || 12/13/2006 11:43 Comments || Top||

#5  There is a Fred Santa Claus! Happy Festivus!
Posted by: BA || 12/13/2006 14:48 Comments || Top||

#6  Is there something wrong with her neck? There's certainly NOTHING wrong with the rest of her, but that neck, and hte way her head's twisted... Makes my neck hurt just looking at her - or maybe it's the three-level cervical fusion from 15 years ago.
Posted by: Old Patriot || 12/13/2006 15:06 Comments || Top||

#7  Is there something wrong with her neck?

OP, her double jointed neck = double the pleasure.

>::)
Posted by: RD || 12/13/2006 15:26 Comments || Top||

#8  What neck? {8^)
Posted by: Parabellum || 12/13/2006 18:32 Comments || Top||

#9  Jeebus Fred ! That's could to make my sticker peck up. My laptop just became a desktop.
Posted by: Larry Everett || 12/13/2006 20:13 Comments || Top||



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Two weeks of WOT
Wed 2006-12-13
  Arab League seeks end to Leb crisis
Tue 2006-12-12
  Hamas gunnies kill three little sons of Abbas aide in Gaza
Mon 2006-12-11
  Talabani lashes out at 'dangerous' Baker report
Sun 2006-12-10
  Lahoud refuses to endorse Hariri tribunal accord
Sat 2006-12-09
  Chicago jihad boy nabbed in grenade plot
Fri 2006-12-08
  Olmert vows to do nothing ''show restraint'' in face of Kassams
Thu 2006-12-07
  Soddy forces, gunnies shoot it out
Wed 2006-12-06
  Sudan rejects U.N. compromise deal on Darfur
Tue 2006-12-05
  Talibs "repel" Brit assault
Mon 2006-12-04
  Bolton to resign
Sun 2006-12-03
  First blood drawn in Beirut
Sat 2006-12-02
  Hezbers begin campaign to force Siniora out
Fri 2006-12-01
  Hundreds killed, wounded in south Sudan clashes
Thu 2006-11-30
  'Israel losing patience over truce violations'
Wed 2006-11-29
  Kashmir bad boyz offer conditional hudna


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