Some fresh red meat for the spit. I get the distinct impression that the "Experts" are the usual variety of State Dept types... I leave it to the experts to sift the wheat from the experts, lol.
Is there anything that can be done by anyone that won't aid and/or abet the bad guyz?
By Jonathan S. Landay and Shashank Bengali
NAIROBI, Kenya As fighting intensified Friday between Somali Islamists and an Ethiopian intervention force, Western diplomats and experts warned that U.S. policy in the Horn of Africa - intended to curb Islamic radicalism - may not only be fueling this newest conflict, but also may be making it easier for al-Qaida to gain a foothold in the strategic region.
Fighting raged for a fourth day around Baidoa, the last bastion of Somalia's U.N.-recognized Transitional Federal Government, which is depending on Ethiopian troops for its survival. Both Islamists and the government claimed advances after what was described as a heavy artillery exchange.
The top Islamist official renewed his call for "jihad" against what he said was Ethiopian invaders, and there were reports of an armored column of Ethiopian tanks heading into central Somalia.
The Ethiopian government, which had denied having troops in Somalia, said Friday that it had been patient with a situation that had gone "from bad to worse" and said "there is a limit." Ethiopia has said it will not tolerate an Islamist regime in neighboring Somalia.
Officials close to the Somali parliament confirmed Friday that more Ethiopian reinforcements had arrived since Thursday, setting the stage for possible full-scale war.
The Bush administration has publicly denounced the Islamists who control most of southern Somalia as al-Qaida puppets, reinforcing a widespread belief that the United States tacitly supports Christian-ruled Ethiopia's intervention into the overwhelmingly Muslim country.
The outbreak of fighting has focused new attention on U.S. policy in the region, which Western diplomats and regional experts say has been riddled with inconsistencies and missteps. The experts say U.S. handling of Somalia and Ethiopia is a tale of flawed intelligence, inadequate U.S. government attention and overheated rhetoric, with a measure of domestic U.S. politics thrown in.
Continued on Page 49
#1
The outbreak of fighting has focused new attention on U.S. policy in the region, which Western diplomats and regional experts say has been riddled with inconsistencies and missteps.
Webster's definition of the US State Department must contain a similar phrase.
#2
Article: And U.S. intelligence officials said that al-Qaida operatives are running some training camps in Somalia. "But there is no reporting to indicate that al-Qaida is calling the shots in Somalia, or that the Islamic Courts and al-Qaida are working together on operations outside of Somalia," said a senior U.S. intelligence official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the intelligence is classified.
The Islamists and al-Qaida elements have a common interest in creating an Islamist state that would provide haven to Islamic extremists, "but it's hard to make more of it than that," the official said.
Western diplomats and experts said that many Courts leaders, like most Somalis, are moderates and fiercely nationalist. For that reason and because of the complex tangle of clan allegiances within the courts, it's premature to conclude that the Islamists will impose a repressive Taliban-style Islamic regime aligned with bin Laden, they said.
That's what they said about the Taliban as well. Until 9/11. No more 9/11's. This means no more Talibans. And thus, perhaps, the provision of as much aid money as it takes to exterminate the proto-Taliban Islamic Courts.
#3
"... are moderates ... it's premature to conclude that the Islamists will impose a repressive Taliban-style Islamic regime aligned with bin Laden, they said."
Let'see... they want moderately behead people for not praying 5 times a day; they forbid TV and movies and if caught, the viewers can be moderately executed on the spot... and who needs music, that unseemly frivolity.... moderately off with musicians' heads!
Yea, a typical moderate mooselimb rule.
I have to conclude that whatever expert(s) came up with the warning are few marbles short of full set.
Posted by: Frank G ||
12/23/2006 6:38 Comments ||
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#5
They have a problem with supporting the secular warlords of the internationally recognized government (such as it is) against the Islamist warlords trying to overthrow it? I think the only alternative there is to support the Islamist 'insurgents' - they'd prefer that? Where do they find experts like this - Mecca?
#10
Ethiopia has said it will not tolerate an Islamist regime in neighboring Somalia.
Looks like Ethiopia actually wants to survive.
"It seems to be that there is such a knee-jerk (American) reaction to the idea of anything that is Islamic," said Abdi Samatar, a professor at the University of Minnesota. "We are losing the hearts and minds of anyone who matters."
At some point in the near future, our leaders need to understand that a "hearts & minds" approach only works with rational people. For those who are unscarred by the ravages of intelligence or logic it is not hearts and minds but "short & curlies" that has any meaning.
It's not even a matter of gaining our enemy's respect. Measure for measure violence is an issue of parity. Anything less guarantees victory for our foes. The West still has some serious WW-II lessons to relearn about reciprocity and reprisal.
#11
I've always advocated less "measure for measure" violence and advocated "crush them". It's obviously a matter of application, but I'd like to see more Conan, less Colin
Posted by: Frank G ||
12/23/2006 20:15 Comments ||
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The Sudanese government has accepted the UN package for Darfur, including the deployment of what is called a "hybrid" peacekeeping operation of UN and AU troops, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Friday.
Spokesman Sadeq al-Magli said the number of troops in the hybrid force "would be decided by the commander and his committee, and we have to state clearly that the entire command would be from the African Union." The comment reflected his government's long-standing opposition to the deployment of 20,000 UN troops in Darfur, as proposed by the UN Security Council.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/23/2006 00:00 ||
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(Xinhua) -- The Arab League (AL) Friday called on Somalia's both sides of the armed clashes to halt fighting to pave the way for resuming negotiations, Egypt's MENA news agency reported. Samir Hosni, director of AL's African affairs department, made the call in a statement after Smalia's conflicting sides, the interim government and the Somali Union of Islamic Courts (UIC), had pledged to resume negotiations in the Sudanese capital Khartoum in January without preconditions.
The negotiation agenda set by the IGAD and the AL should include two main points: security in Somalia and sharing authority,along with some constitutional issues, said the report.
Hosni noted in the statement that the AL and the African regional organization, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), will serve as sponsors for the January negotiations, the third of its kind, while the warring parties will sign an agreement on their acceptance of the sponsors. The negotiation agenda set by the IGAD and the AL should include two main points: security in Somalia and sharing authority,along with some constitutional issues, said the report. Clashes resumed between the conflicting Somali sides on Thursday despite of a truce secured by an EU envoy late Wednesday between the interim government and the UIC.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/23/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
Afraid that Ethiopia is going to kill all their lions of islam?
#2
Of course they would. Not a peep or mutter when it comes to Darfur, but let the Lions of Islam get their asses handed to them by a nominally Christian government, and they're up in arms.
Islam. The only world religion that encourages selfishness in its members.
"We're tired of putting up with your muzzie shit. You have 24 hours to start acting like human adults with brains, or we start frying you like bacteria you resemble."
or
"You want US to talk, while you do whatever you want. That's no longer a mode of operation we will recognize. You either stop, pull back, and sit down and talk sensibly, or we put the pieces of you in orbit with high explosives."
Either works for me.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
12/23/2006 15:21 Comments ||
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The UN Security Council called Friday for an end to the ongoing violence that has intensified between Somalia's transitional government and its Muslim extremist rivals and a resumption of talks. In a presidential statement read at a formal meeting, the council
... called on the feuding parties "to draw back from conflict, recommit to dialogue ... and refrain from any actions that could provoke or perpetuate violence and violations of human rights."
called on the feuding parties "to draw back from conflict, recommit to dialogue ... and refrain from any actions that could provoke or perpetuate violence and violations of human rights."
"The Security Council reaffirms its commitment to a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the situation in Somalia ... stressing the importance of broad-based and representative institutions and of an inclusive political process," the statement said.
The clashes between hardline Islamic militants, the Union of Islamic Courts, and the Ethiopian-backed interim government threaten to spiral into a major conflict, involving Ethiopia and its bitter rival Eritrea, which is accused of supporting the Islamic group.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/23/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
Entirely typical UN bullshit, open mouth, release hot air, all ignored by the real world.
I know it's not going to happen, but I wonder if the UN's "Pronouncements" were ignored completely by any and all press, just how long would they keep spewing?
I think these Leeches must believe their own bullshit, think they're important, and just ignore reality as hard as they can.
Empirical evedence says it's so.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
12/23/2006 8:08 Comments ||
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#2
No "deep concern" so you know this isn't serious.
With a big vacation week coming up, look for a minimum of UN gibberish. Their main focus right now is, of course, Kofi's Buh-Bye Bash...
RTWT
For more than a year, Saudi Arabia's ambassador journeyed to college campuses, chambers of commerce, town halls and world affairs councils across the United States in an ambitious campaign to improve his country's image. for naught
But Prince Turki al-Faisal's goodwill tour, instead, produced millions of dollars in unpaid bills -- and a tale of murky intrigue in the enigmatic desert kingdom.
The debts by one of the world's wealthiest countries -- owed to the very lobbyists, advisers and event organizers hired to promote the kingdom -- have left a trail that weaves together bitter princely rivalries, diplomatic subterfuge and a policy clash over one of the thorniest issues of the day: what to do about Iran. "We don't expect to pay. We are the Janitors Custodians of the Two Thingys"
The Saudi Embassy would not comment on the kingdom's payments, personnel or internal policymaking.
But the woes within the royal family reflect a tug of war over how to handle foreign policy. Eighteen months ago, Prince Bandar bin Sultan ended a legendary 22-year career as the face of Saudi Arabia in the United States. Word at the time was that he was bored, preferring his palatial Aspen, Colo., lodge to Washington. As it turns out, however, Bandar has secretly visited Washington almost monthly over the past year -- and is at least as pivotal today in influencing U.S. policy as he was in his years as ambassador.
Last week, his successor, Turki, abruptly resigned from the post -- partly, sources close to the royal family said, because of Bandar's back-channel trips to meet with top U.S. officials, including Vice President Cheney and national security adviser Stephen J. Hadley. "Spend more time with the family"
Turki was kept so out of the loop that Bandar often did not inform him he was in town, much less tell him what he was doing, the sources said. Twice, the Saudi Embassy was told by an outsider that Bandar had arrived -- and the embassy sent someone to the airport to look for his private plane to confirm it, according to the source who provided the tip. Heh heh - that speaks volumes about his standing...
The rise of Bandar, who is now Saudi national security adviser, may reflect the waning influence of the sons of the late King Faisal, who dominated the diplomatic and intelligence services for decades, say sources close to the family. Turki, who was intelligence chief before becoming ambassador to Britain and then the United States, has poor chemistry with King Abdullah, they note. His brother Prince Saud al-Faisal, who has been foreign minister since Henry A. Kissinger's era, is stable ill.
As relations among the royals frayed over the past year, Turki was increasingly squeezed financially. The kingdom did not provide the millions needed to pay Saudi bills, according to contractors and sources close to the royal family. A single contractor -- Qorvis Communications LLC, which oversees Saudi image-building -- has not been paid more than $10 million this year, its entire annual contract, confirms Qorvis partner Michael Petruzzello. Because Qorvis subcontracts to smaller firms, the unpaid bill has left the most high-profile American lobbyists for the kingdom unpaid all year. Others have also not been paid hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to contractors. I hope Qorvis and the other whores have to eat their bills
Petruzzello said late payment is normal for the Saudis. "I don't find this new, unusual or in any way alarming. It's the way it's gone not just with the Saudis but with other governments," said Petruzzello, although he acknowledged that he had brought up the payment issue several times with Turki.
But subcontractors with Qorvis said they had never been forced to wait more than a few months. Meredith Iler, who is an event organizer, is owed almost $300,000 this year, according to a source familiar with her contract. Her arrangement with Qorvis stipulates that she will be paid monthly even if Qorvis has not received payment, yet she has not been reimbursed for expenses incurred in travels to organize events for Turki, the source said.
Les Jenka, a former Reagan administration official who has served on the Council for American-Saudi Dialogue, also confirmed that he has not been paid. well, boo-hoo. Sold your soul for a non-payment? Sucks to be you
Posted by: Frank G ||
12/23/2006 15:07 ||
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#1
should've h/t'd Captains Quarters - always a daily "must read" for me
Posted by: Frank G ||
12/23/2006 15:16 Comments ||
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#2
The debts by one of the world's wealthiest countries -- owed to the very lobbyists, advisers and event organizers hired to promote the kingdom
So, in other words, there is an occasional bit of justice served up on this mortal coil.
Turki was kept so out of the loop that Bandar often did not inform him he was in town, much less tell him what he was doing, the sources said.
Probably because Turki is one dirty bird, permanently tainted by his previous back channel dealings with mullah Omar and bin Laden. This may be the beginning of Turki being stuffed and trussed in his future role as the fall guy for Saudi Arabia.
A single contractor -- Qorvis Communications LLC, which oversees Saudi image-building -- has not been paid more than $10 million this year
One can only hope the day arrives when these slimeballs are facing charges of abetting the enemy. Non-payment should be the least of their worries.
#4
"revealing insider books by senior staff"
Guaranteed.
Another interesting side effect might be to make lobyists and public relations firms a little wary of "taking the Saudi shilling", or at least entertaining promises of said shillings.
#5
If Britian had any balls left, they would use this as justification to continue the investigation into SA bribes: "What'cha gonna do, camel jockey, not pay me for the airplanes?"
#6
Stiffing everyone on payments does a hell of a lot more for the Saoodi image than ten years of PR bullshit. I dearly wish they f**k over these low lifes who promote lies in behalf of the magic kingdom. I just read that there does seem to be an internal battle shaping up among the royals for power. It seems that this lovely Bandar and Nayef are the two biggest supporters and funders of Wahhabism worldwide. Apparently, Abdullah wants to bring a slowing to Wahhab mischief as he can see the fan down the hall and is afraid his shit is going to get sucked in. It seems Bandar is so at home in Kennebunkport he simply walks in at his leisure. He is such a dear friend that he's referred to as Bandar Bush. Ain't that special ?
You mean "special" as in "special interests"? Yew betcha.
The Bush family's close ties to the House of Saud may be a real stick in the spokes of their political legacy. It has already compromised America's security numerous times and continues to pose a genuine threat. With friends like Saudi Arabia, who needs enemies?
#8
Yeah, Lawd knows you guys have it right, got that Saudi lover pegged. Shee-it, he's just like Daddy. Ain't no difference 'tall. Don't matter that he grew up with Saudis around Daddy's coffee klatch. Got to know 'em and, when he growed up, he couldn't just dis 'em to please the RB zoomers. Yall's be gawdawful important, but he's in theys pocket - that's purdy cleer. Nawp. Dudn't matter that every President since Roosevelt has treated the Saudis with excessive honor and decorum. Ain't no big thang that he's the first Guy in the Big Chair that hasactually had to deal with the zoomers in theys family that feeds them Wahhabists. Makes no nevermind that what OBL and his ilk, who wanna kill off the Royals, don't necessarily belong in the House of Saud column - leastwise any more'n that some asshole murderers that live in yourn home town must be yorn sworn brodders. Nossir. Saudis be Bad. Hell, the House of Saud is almost as corrupt as The Big Dig guys. Damned near as bad as some Military Industrial Complex Defense Contractor, for cripes sake. Naw, that Bush is their butt buddy. Sold us down the river, he did. No balls a 'tall. Gave them A-rabs a pass. He shoulda pertended he din't know that Abbydullah Kingy guy. Don' matter that he knowed him fer decades. Hell, no. Dis the biotch! Shoulda pertended that he din't know that Bandybar guy, neither. Y'know the one - that slick fucker with buckets o' cash that had every fucking swinging dick in DC wagging theys whole body like a dawg beggin fer baken. Naw, it's Bush that's the one. Theys his friends. Theys his buddies. He should be hung fer knowing 'em. Shood be hung fer not blowin thems all to Hell 'n gawn.
Any more DU Talking Points you Geniuses want to introduce here?
#9
I hear Bush senior flew the Xr-70 to Paris to pick up the money bag. It is said in many places that he traded the secret of the I386 for filthy lucre and a chance for his kid to be president.
#11
Dudn't matter that every President since Roosevelt has treated the Saudis with excessive honor and decorum.
No argument on that point, save only that our relationship with the Saudis underwent a paticular bit of change during Bush's watch some five years ago. Since then, there has been little perceptible political shift, on either side of the aisle, with respect to the house of Saud's preferred nation status. There just seems to be a bit of unavoidable cognitive dissonance involved when it comes to our Commander in Chief maintaining status quo with a nation that contributed so many members of the "glorious nineteen" [spit].
Just as with Bush's refusal to stop sipping at his "Religion of Peace" [spit] Kool-Aid, there are rightful reasons to be concerned at just how closely he and his family maintain ties with the House of Saud. An excess of one might surely cause the other. Only a total moron wouldn't take the time to consider it.
#12
But I'm sure I read that the Saudis loath the current president because he doesn't honour his father's decisions in the region as the final word, but has made his own choices, such as actually invading Iraq and removing their buffer-against-Iran Saddam Hussein... and putting sanctions on all the Saudi's fave Al Qaeda-supporting "charities". How are we to square that with George W. Bush being wholly owned by his Daddy's little friends?
#13
Just an investigation of the Saudy Emabssy finances looking for linkages to the 9/11 folks and Terr Orgs and a serious cooling of the "Special Relationship" with attendant loss of access. You're full of presumptions and hot air, nothing more. All you need is the appearance or impression and you're off to the races.
Stuff your Religiosity BS. Unless you're headed to prison for "speaking out"? Has the TSA or the FBI or anyone chewed on your ass, per your insinuations when you came here? Lawd knows, if you're off to see Bubba cuz Bush shredded the Constitution then count me all conflicted 'n stuff.
You want what you want when you want it. I said it before and here it comes again: He lives in the Real World and you play Brave BlogBoy. A three-yr-old tantrum tossin child pretending the World "must" or "should" do as you demand. And right goddamned now, too.
Consider Bush and the Saudis all you want. You don't KNOW dick, yet you spew like a DU volcano - as if you do. Same old shit. Sad, that.
#14
How are we to square that with George W. Bush being wholly owned by his Daddy's little friends?
Damn good question, trailing wife. However, nowhere do I say "wholly owned". I could not in good conscience support anything done by Bush if I felt him utterly beholden to a foreign interest. I submit that Bush may be "unduly influenced", but not bought and sold. You capably make the point of how Saddam's fall has indeed removed an important non-Shiite buffer from the Saudi's geographic equation. I freely admit that such an act must stand for something in Bush's favor.
To clarify, "bought and sold" is a far better general description of how I feel about most politicians when it come to the overarching influence of petro-dollars on American politics and policy, foreign or domestic.
Troops and riot police fought pitched battles with protesters on Thursday as a strike aimed at forcing electoral reforms in Bangladesh turned violent. Witnesses said at least 25 people were wounded in the clashes that broke out in several areas of the capital, Dhaka, which is largely paralysed by the strike that has also affected business and transport across the country.
The protest was called by a 14-party alliance, led by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, to force the interim government to implement reforms ahead of a general election set for next month. In Dhaka, troops in armoured cars patrolled the streets, chasing down protesters and rounding them up. Police also fired tear gas and rubber bullets at activists who had set a police car ablaze in the Shyamoli residential area, witnesses said. The interim government had put the army on stand-by earlier this month, despite criticism by the Hasina-led alliance. They (army) are out in full force ... (they) chased away violent activists, training guns at them, a Reuters cameraman said.
Outside the capital, activists damaged more than 50 vehicles and rickshaws, halted trains, barricaded highways and at least 100 people were injured in fighting between rival groups, local officials and witnesses said.
Outside the capital, activists damaged more than 50 vehicles and rickshaws, halted trains, barricaded highways and at least 100 people were injured in fighting between rival groups, local officials and witnesses said.
The countrys main seaport, Chittagong, and trading-post towns on the borders with India and Myanmar stood idle, while schools, universities and two stock exchanges in Dhaka and Chittagong were closed.
Mohammad Nasim, a senior Awami leader and former home (interior) minister, urged the interim government not to use the army to suppress peoples democratic rights and privileges. Our army is a patriotic force, defends the country and works to establish peace world over. Do not pitch them against people fighting for democracy and rights, Nasim told a protest rally.
The disputed election is set for January 22, but Hasina has asked for a delay to allow time for campaigning and to prepare a flawless voters list as well as issue voter identity cards. Hasinas alliance also wants President Iajuddin Ahmed, head of the caretaker government, to resign, accusing him of bias. A congenial atmosphere for a free and fair election does not exist in the country now, Hasina told European Union officials in Dhaka.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/23/2006 00:00 ||
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North Korea's nuclear envoy said Friday the communist nation would bolster its atomic arsenal in response to US pressure, after the latest international talks on Pyongyang's weapons ended without any breakthrough. When asked if the country would conduct further nuclear tests following its Oct. 9 detonation, Kim Kye Gwan said the North was continuing to enhance its atomic capabilities. "The US is taking a tactic of both dialogue and pressure, and carrots and sticks," Kim told reporters. "We are responding with dialogue and a shield. And by a shield, we are saying we will further improve our deterrent."
The North ended a 13-month boycott of the talks after the US agreed to discuss its campaign to isolate the communist nation from the international financial system for alleged financial crimes, including counterfeiting and money laundering. Separate talks this week on that issue in Beijing failed to bridge differences between the sides. The six-nation nuclear talks ended Friday after five days of meetings in Beijing without any progress on steps for the North's disarmament, and no new meeting was scheduled for the countries - which also include China, Japan, Russia and South Korea.
Delegates said the North Koreans refused to talk about anything besides the financial restrictions. "We have requested the US to release the sanctions first and then go into a discussion on substantive issues for the implementation" of a September 2005 agreement where the North pledged to disarm, Kim said Friday evening. "How can (North Korea) go into such an important discussion on halting the nuclear facilities and also giving up the deterrent which is aimed at safeguarding our sovereignty under such pressure from the United States?" Kim asked.
Kim called on the United States to take the first step by dropping the sanctions to build trust between the two countries, which he said would "create a good atmosphere" for putting the earlier disarmament agreement into effect. However, the US has insisted the issues are to be resolved separately and the financial issues are a law enforcement matter unrelated to the North's pledge to abandon atomic development.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/23/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
Pressure: more nukes. No pressure: more nukes. Just shut up and starve in a dark corner.
Posted by: ed ||
12/23/2006 6:58 Comments ||
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#2
Kim called on the United States to take the first step by dropping the sanctions to build trust between the two countries...
Yeah, Kimmie's a trustworthy kinda guy.
Running low on Hennessey's and porn flicks is he?
#4
Mine his harbors so that anything larger than a rowboat will explode. Let the entire country come to a grinding halt. Destroy all the rail crossings between Korea and any other nation. Sooner or later, the entire house of cards will collapse. If Kim retaliates, take out Pyongyang, and turn the DMZ into a radioactive no-go zone. I think even the Chinese are getting tired of bozo-boy.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
12/23/2006 15:31 Comments ||
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#5
This passive approach may work but I don't wanna risk it.
I don't wanna read months or years down to road about how we dithered because of domestic politics enough to give North Korea the time they needed to plan for nuclear war.
Air strikes to degrade/destroy the Nork's ability to wage nuclear war, should be the order of the day.
Leave passivity to the North Korean allies in the press and the State Department.
The time for action has long since passed. We should have attacked North Korea's missile and nuke facilities months ago...
#6
I think he's wrong about doing the oath on the koran or something other than a bible...but absolutely not wrong about that scurrillous piece of shit Ellison. However, damn it, you've gotta like a guy who says what he thinks is right and says "Fuck You" when the usual "outraged activists" like Ellison, CAIR, NYT, et al demand he apologize. Here's hoping he sticks to his guns.
Posted by: Frank G ||
12/23/2006 9:26 Comments ||
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#7
If you (Rantburgers) haven't checked out the The 910 Group yet, you might want to. They're a conservative political action group and they seem very level headed.
They have a mailing list, and they've sent out a nice letter supportive of Rep. Goode, suitable for emailing to your congress critter.
#9
The 910 Group: Does this sound level-headed to you?
But I dont have much time for the Nuke Mecca meme, especially when used with ad hominem arguments that dismiss any other approach as lacking in rigor or realism or military experience or analytic depth or whatever. I think the idea is morally bankrupt, and basically nihilistic...it is the lazy fellows way out of actually engaging in the hard work of working politically and using the legal tools of information warfare...The Nuke Mecca meme itself is a prime example of magical thinking, a kind of solipsistic enjoyment of the fantasy of removing a great danger with a grand technological feat, dismissing all critics of the idea as appeasers or ameliorators. At the very least, were it actually to be done, the iron law of unintended, unforeseeable consequences would apply.
Having said that, the need addressed by the Nuke Mecca meme is real each of us longs for a way to blast through the fatalism, the internally locked logical system of Islamic supremacism and intra-Muslim discourse.
I dont have an answer, but I would challenge the readers of this blog to consider whether there are any other ways to break the knot ones that dont actually involve the deaths of tens of thousands and a nuclear holocaust in the Middle East."
They sound a bit timid, a bit confused, a bit PC to me. Great, "consider other ways to break the knot":, but when your legal tools of information warfare fail to "break the knot", dont object when other tools are employed by some "nihilistic, magical thinking" folks who just saved your butt.
#10
Ellison's breaking of a centuries old tradition is nothing more then the first of the many odious grandstanding stunts we can expect from the freshman congressman. And clearly, the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program is long overdue for meaningful reform. With that said, Goodes original comments were, charitably speaking, clumsy at best. By advantageously conjoining the Ellison event with his philosophies on immigration policy he invited others to speculate on his motivations. The loose association not only fueled the bigotry charge by those that are ignorant on both issues but indeed gave ammunition to his detractors. IMHO, Goode certainly has nothing to apologize for but it would have been best for him to simply clarify his original statement and move on.
#11
They sound a bit timid, a bit confused, a bit PC to me.
Are you saying you prefer the "Nuke Mecca" theme over the non "Nuke Mecca" theme? Actually, your reply seems a bit disjointed, maybe you could clarify what you were trying to communicate.
The 910 Group is trying to do something, and they are trying to get a lot of the issues that are discussed here out into the general discussion. What are you doing?
Posted by: Mike N. ||
12/23/2006 14:12 Comments ||
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#14
Jules, the 910 group have formed to move anti-Islam to the top of the agenda. They actively support the debate on the media, in the chambers, in articles, the internet, on radio and TV. It's just another stream of consiousness awake to the cancer of Islam. I copied their letter, made a few additions, and send it snailmail to my rep today. My attempt is to awaken one democrat to reality.
#15
you think Jews swear on the bible? Buddhists? What would that bind them to? Jeebus, Ice. WTF? If you were required to swear on a koran, would you feel that binds you? I sure don't think it does for me. It's the value of your word, and in the minds/actions of the ummah, that's what we should keep in mind.
BTW - they swear their oath in private ceremonies with their family and supporters. Do you think you would actually know what they swore on?
So, what the fuvk are you thinking?
Posted by: Frank G ||
12/23/2006 14:20 Comments ||
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#16
by the way, I'll put my comments and posts up against yours any day and let others decide who the moron is. Good day to you
Posted by: Frank G ||
12/23/2006 14:21 Comments ||
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#17
You have to read nearly to the end of the article for this nugget:
Mamdouh Mohamed Ibrahim moved to Rocky Mount from Egypt six months ago to help his brother run Hema's, an Italian restaurant.
"It's not going to be a big deal to have a lot of Muslims in the country," Ibrahim said. "We're all the same blood. I have a heart, you have a heart. What's the difference?
"We don't try to make anyone Muslim by force or by power. It's freedom to do as you like."
Who the F*** is this guy kidding. Have a Goode Day!
#18
I think our friend Rigger might be a little fired up. Lol! Good for him. That's what should happen to every American when they visit New York. That's not to say he's lashing out at the right team.
Also, if he's a fellow Minnesotan its very likely that his blood boils as mine does whenever Allahsons name is brought up.
The real morons are the clowns that voted for him and me for still living in the dumbest state in the union. The Muslim menace grows so fast here that soon rats and cockroaches will have competition.
They aleady have Detroit and will soon have Minneapolis. If Wisconsin goes they are going to have themselves a nice little country within a country.
Posted by: Mike N. ||
12/23/2006 14:40 Comments ||
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#19
The last comment reminds me of something... America was called the great melting pot for a reason... immigrants came and blended into our society and made it better as a whole.
I know we have always had communities as a whole that were predominately one ethinc group or another... but this is different...
How long before they do become a state within a state... how long before it comes to secretarian violence as in Iraq... how long until we are fighting a civil war on our own soil...
Sounds far fetched doesn't it... and it is for the immediate future... but what about another ten years from now... another twenty-five years from now...
#20
well, the chunks in a melting pot either melt or get thrown out, right? :-)
Posted by: Frank G ||
12/23/2006 15:05 Comments ||
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#21
I'm reminded of the saying, "Hitler. Right idea, wrong people."
Venom, I don't think you're of the mark with that concern. I think the threat of the upper Midwest being the first Muzzie stronghold in the U.S. Has decent prospects within the next 50 years.
Posted by: Mike N. ||
12/23/2006 15:23 Comments ||
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#22
Jules - nuking Mecca is absolutely the wrong thing to do - unless at the same time we nuke every other city over 25,000 in the Arab (and Persian) world. Nuking Riyadh, however, would put an end to a BUNCH of bullsh$$. Hitting Qom and a few other small places in Iran would also help. Nukes have the advantage that you don't have to hope you get the right someone - there's usually few left to whine, and they're usually too busy trying to stay alive to worry about whodunit. It would also end, once and for all, the oil blackmail schemes. We are not a people that are willing to put up with blackmail very long. We've tolerated OPEC and its ham-fisted approach too long. Take out the leaders of OPEC, and the rest will collapse.
Nuking Paris would also end a lot of the bull in the muddle east, but would be far less politically correct - not that I worry about such things. We need to tell the people that meddle in our internal affairs, as the French have tried to do since the early 1960's, that that's a loser's game - and back it up with force.
The world would be a lot more peaceful if a large handful of people disappeared the hard way, and the rest would be far more likely to think before they shoot off their mouths, or meddled in other people's business.
Goode for President, I don't care what year.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
12/23/2006 15:39 Comments ||
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#23
I'm bored so I'm gonna toss some gas on the fire, lol.
Greremp Uleremp6059, you present a classic "False Dilemma". It isn't either Nuke Mecca or non-Nuke Mecca. The 910 Group appeals perhaps because they're trying to keep it simple... and that they apparently take the High Road. Very commendable. Not. It is simply unrealistic. You want a little more? H'okay. I'm game...
The Baron is a class act, not to be dismissed lightly, but I have to agree with Jules and others. The idea that the response to Islam can be non-violent except in direct self-defense is, well, foolish. And dangerous.
But even more appalling is that I note, with great displeasure and much loss of boggle, that they have completely isolated their view of the "important" issues to Islam and jihadists. They give a pass to everyone else... WTF?
Grrrrr. Remarkably dumb for seemingly bright people. I feel like a Rant...
[rant]
The world doesn't work that way. There are interests, the nicest way I can describe it, that seek the Fall of Freedom, American-style. There are varying degrees of "Fall" in there, ranging from kill or enslave to mere (lol) emasculation so they can harness the great power and engine of progress (in the traditional sense of the word) for plundering at their leisure.
There is a Perfect Storm in progress. Alliances of convenience, playing off each other's successes in turning our systems and institutions against us. They, all of them with measurable neural activity anyway, have realized that the least costly means of defeating the American core is from within. We cannot be "defeated" militarily, in fact that avenue is extremely dangerous, but no one would describe some of our enemies as intelligent. We are so open, so liberal, so habitually trusting (what is said here in RB is NOT common... yet) in our institutions that we can certainly be hijacked - in plain sight. The actors are a broad coalition, too, which makes rallying opposition to the damned act all the more difficult.
It's "funny" to hear "experts" talk about leveraging the internal divisions in Iran and other places to our advantage. We're being more effectively leveraged and split and broken down at a greater rate than any of our foreign enemies. The Stalinists raised the game to a fine art. We're being targeted by scores of interests using the Stalinist formulations and by the numerous holes our system offers. Our trust, whether in either good intentions or fair play, are foolish. We're losing, in every venue. Consider the MSM version of Goode vs Ellison that the vast majority are being fed, just for a timely example.
Many made great sport of Spain's post 3-11 fall into Socialist hands. I despise finger-wagging and "I Told You So", but Fuck It: I commented, numerous times, that we shouldn't be so smug - it could happen here. We had come very close in 2000 and 2004. A swing of .75% could send us down the very same road. Duh, folks... If November wasn't the Wake-Up Call that we're headed there, then I guess it's a Bridge Too Far. The slope is not only steep, the sucker's been greased.
Yeah, yeah, I've heard all the cheesedick crap about why folks decided to play Russia / China and triangulate against the Pubbies... Woohoo! You certainly taught them a lesson! Why, they've changed, well, nothing. Not a fucking thing. SSDD. Ask Trent Lott if he gets it, for instance. Had a woodie for Hastert or Frist or Bush? Woohoo! You've got Boehner - and he's a weak willie in the minority to boot. And Pelosi and Reid and... And now we have Bush as true Lame Duck, hamstrung in most ways that matter - y'know, that Real World stuff - and it's gonna be harder to take the House and Senate BACK than it would've been to keep them. Bank on it. Hell, if folks don't figure it out, if they Blame Bush for being a Lame Duck (which they WILL - when their self-absorbed pig-headedness made it so, lol) and failing them in these last two years, why the odds aren't bad that the Dhimmis will take the WH, too, in 2008. All that's needed is for the external morons not to succeed in hitting us again on American soil and for internal Dhimmi morons to hold the looting and pillaging to "normal" levels. Think I'm wrong? Wanna put your ass on the line for that bet? Lol - if you're one of the shit-for-brains fools who played the triangulation game against the Pubbies, then you already have... and mine, too.
Momentary hernia in my bitchin: One thing that I read at the 910 blog was Santorum's exit speech. Geez, what a loss. Thanks, PA. Threw out one of the closest things to a serious politician I've read in a long, long time. I didn't know him well, but that is one ass-kicking "I Get It" speech. I don't care if he's a green-haired trisexual from Venus - regards the important external all-the-marbles shit: US security, he was there.
Back to November and the shitheads who switched, who tossed out the Lame Boyz in favor of the Dhimmi Whores. The loss won't just be time. The looting and pillaging and regression on almost all domestic issues is a given. If it's not one side, it's the other when it comes to Pork, they only differ slightly in degree and transparency. I don't like it any more than anyone else, but it's business as usual - and has always been thus, which makes the BDS among once allied folks all the more insane and short-sighted - not our very survival.
The first real loss is going to be in our retreat across the board in the so-called WoT (I've come to agree that the term is almost useless) - we're at war with Islam and Socialists and every other "ist" and "ism" idiocy out there. They all just won a major victory... and they will now win others because of the Tranzis, anti-Americans, self-haters, and political shenanigans of the "For Sale" Dhimmis.
The second real loss will be that our Next Gen enemies will use that time to steal tech, buy influence, close the gaps, and prepare for that upcoming rematch: Freedom vs. Communism. I know the Reaganites love to pat themselves on the back and pretend it was "defeated", lol, but I beg to differ. That should be obvious, BTW. If it isn't, to you, then you need to commit yourself - you're as deluded as the Moonbats. Nothing's over and that pathogen is not defeated. Ain't that a bitch? Lol.
Russia has devolved back into a Thugocracy - assuming it ever emerged, even momentarily - and without the distractions of trying to maintain a social harness on the "republics" - something that was as much a drain as a boon, or so I've read. While Russia merely triangulates for a Mafia-style profit and influence, China is intent upon a long-term plan to grow into a Global Middle Kingdom, and has the same implacability as the Islamic pathogen. They, China and Islam, both show clearly that the long-term gameplan works against the immediate gratification lameness that pervades the American psyche. Dominion, baby, that's the ticket... just don't wake up The Beast... too much or too fast. Lol. It can't get much more plain, AFAICS. They will adapt and steal and triangulate and form fluid alliances which serve this interest, this goal, until they are stopped - or we are. We will lose a LOT of ground over the next two years. Perhaps enough that the farm will be given away. Camelot II certainly had that aspect - for a motive of mere greed. I see the orphans of Camelot-II in every winglet of the current Dhimmi Brigades. Don't you? Duh.
The third real loss will be the subtle, or not so subtle, lol, resurgence of traditional Dhimmi Machine vote-buying. Once in power, stay in power. Power is the goal. Nothing more. The Nanny State programs which will cater to unions and any other orgs which can "deliver" votes for lucre - their ideology is irrelevant. Votes. Power. Much *wink wink nudge nudge* will occur and plundered treasure is split up, some for youse guyz, some for us. The Machine will regain some (much? most?)of its lost power, you can bet that is Prioroty #1 on the Dhimmi agenda, and even if the traditional avenues, such as unions, as not as reliable, not as large, as they once were - others will be fostered and nurtured, such as the illegals game. Remember how immigration was so fucking important that some decided it was sufficient reason to kick those Pubbie bitches in the ass because they were failing to meet expectations? Lol, better take that Prozac - and double the dosage bitch, it just got 100x worse.
I predict that in the next two years we will lose more ground than can be made up in 6... or 8... or ever.
[/rant]
As for the 910 Group, I think they do us the same great disservice as those who cling to satisfying and comfortable, but suicidal, worldviews do. The self-imposed blinders make them as dangerous as the one pathogen they oppose, out of the zoo that seeks our demise... prolly moreso...
IMO, the greatest threats come from within. Our Military power is damned impressive - but that's solely for external application unless it all comes unraveled. Votes, baby. Votes B Power. If we don't recapture political control, populate the political ranks with people like Santorum and Kyl and Tancredo and Hunter and a handful of others, such as Henry Hyde - who will be sorely missed, IMHO - and reverse the erosion within, we will lose. That's where CW-II comes in. Losing to those that can easily be described as Enemies of Freedom, regardless of what else they might be labeled, won't be acceptable to some. Enough? I dunno. From the leaks to the attendant further loss of resolve to protect ourselves to lost tools important in fighting our enemies to wasting treasure on Nanny State vote-buying to erosion of the values that underpinned our historic resolve and determination and successes to the judicial activism which undermines the one fundamental thing that created and protects our amazing incubator to Baker-Hamilton retro realpolitik retreat to puttin real power into the hands of people like Pelosi and Reyes and Rangel and Reid to failing to stop nuke proliferation - especially regards Islam - we're in deep shit, now. It looks like "up" to me. Think it was deep before? Lol. The 910 Group, no matter how polished and erudite and decent and urbane, have dropped the fucking ball. Kinda like the voters did in November.
Pfeh. I'll STFU now. I don't feel like this ranting shit much, anymore.
Posted by: Dave D. ||
12/23/2006 16:10 Comments ||
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#25
The last comment reminds me of something... America was called the great melting pot for a reason... immigrants came and blended into our society and made it better as a whole.
I know we have always had communities as a whole that were predominately one ethinc group or another... but this is different...
I know what you're trying to say, Blackvenom, but there is room for dispute in it. Yes, in previous history, there was Chinatown, Little Italy, the Latin Quarter and so forth. Suburbia's emergence during the sixties changed that in an important way. While white flight populated much of the suburbs, there were also upwardly mobile ethnic families that arrived there as well. This was a critical shift that began putting an end to the barrio effect.
In recent years, there has been a return to the enclave mentality, with English as a primary language taking a big hit. Diversity without assimilation has played an increasing part in this and Muslim colonization of America only serves to provide an extreme example of it.
As to Ellison using the Koran; Unlike a Jewish person using a Torah or Hindu using the bhagvagita, the Koran directly advocates the overthrow of American constitutional law in favor of imposing Muslim sharia. It also seditiously urges its followers to work against our national interests. The Koran should not be permitted for swearing in our politicians. I sincerely hope that Goode has the courage to point this out. His unapologetic stance is to be commended.
The idea that the response to Islam can be non-violent except in direct self-defense is, well, foolish. And dangerous.
WORD!
The second real loss will be that our Next Gen enemies will use that time to steal tech, buy influence, close the gaps, and prepare for that upcoming rematch: Freedom vs. Communism. I know the Reaganites love to pat themselves on the back and pretend it was "defeated", lol, but I beg to differ.
Again, word. That communism is somehow now deemed acceptable represents a huge loss of sanity. The blind eye being turned China's way is providing all of our enemies an unguarded flank upon which to attack us in the worst way.
#27
Greremp Uleremp6059, you present a classic "False Dilemma". It isn't either Nuke Mecca or non-Nuke Mecca. The 910 Group appeals perhaps because they're trying to keep it simple... and that they apparently take the High Road. Very commendable. Not. It is simply unrealistic. You want a little more? H'okay. I'm game...
You're off base. I'm not trying to present a dilemma, false or otherwise. I was merely asking Jules to clarify what they were trying to say, since it was all muddled.
Yes, they are trying to keep it simple, and they are taking the high road...for now. It has to be kept simple because there are a lot of simple people that have lots of mis/disinformation filling their heads. Also, the high road needs to be taken initially so as not to lose their attention prematurely, we can always transition them to the "kill 'em all" meme once we have buy in.
The Baron is a class act, not to be dismissed lightly, but I have to agree with Jules and others. The idea that the response to Islam can be non-violent except in direct self-defense is, well, foolish. And dangerous.
I'm with you on that. I'm already there, but, we're sort of in the minority right now. We need to get a LOT more folks on our side, and seeing the situation for what it is. And you do not do that by starting the dialog with a call to launch ARCLIGHT raids at dawn.
But even more appalling is that I note, with great displeasure and much loss of boggle, that they have completely isolated their view of the "important" issues to Islam and jihadists. They give a pass to everyone else... WTF?
It's a start, it will evolve, and, by and by people will start to see the hand writing on the wall. But first you have to get their attention and hold it. Aren't you one of the folks that regularly gripes that leftists always want to NOT do something just because it isn't perfect?
Grrrrr. Remarkably dumb for seemingly bright people. I feel like a Rant...
Yeah...there's a lot of that around. Isn't there?
Rant on oh Rantmeister! I ain't touchin' it...mainly because it expresses my own sentiments, mostly.
#28
Lol. So you're gonna wear the stealthy sheep's duds until the buy-in is sufficient to swing them to a more realistic point on the compass? Damn, that may be even tougher that the initial effort.
When folks have to be helped along to see that Islam is no RoP, but a murderous ideology of Global Dominion, replete with death or slavery for all, my boggle begins to smoke and sputter, lol. When 3000+ dead, directly attributable to the "Islamists", ain't enough, then these people have obviously decided that it doesn't pertain to them, unless and until, it's personal.
I do believe that the 910 Group is quite serious about their charter, which I believe makes them completely irrelevant.
I believe we'll get there, sooner rather than later, whether folks "get it" or not:
Islam insists. At least the alQ types do - and that will drag the rest of them into it - and leave no "out" for the slow-learners nor the "high road" types. In other words, it will get personal whether we do the 910 thingy, or the RB thingy, or worry about Donald and Rosie. Personal is coming. Period.
As for the domestic enemies, well... It's gonna get very very nasty. 2008 will be a barn-burner, methinks. Got ammo?
;-)
#29
So you're gonna wear the stealthy sheep's duds until the buy-in is sufficient to swing them to a more realistic point on the compass?
You're preaching to the choir. I've been good to go for two years, I'd like nothing more than to exterminate Islam.
My boggle has been a burnt cinder for a long time. I'll let the 910 Group do their thing, and I'll even lend them a hand and a few dollars, but I'm still preparing, and planning on this thing going to an eyeball-to-eyeball knife fight.
I have ammo! You?
As for the domestic enemies, I have a list. You? Viva la 2008! I suspect you are correct.
#32
I'm with ya, .com, but the enemy is the MSM. I would prefer to make them disappear in the night. I talked to friends who voted against Santorum and they say that the media told them to do it. They STILL don't realize that the media have an anti-American agenda. This is why I am disappointed with Bush. He could have taken them to task. Instead, he kisses their asses.
There's only 2 ways out of this; Replace the media with right wingers, which would include some violence, or become democrats and take over the donk party and inherit media support.
#33
I think they're part of the enemy force, indeed, but the MSM's role is to be the PR department for the domestic (and foreign, too, come to think of it) enemies. I won't blink an eye when they get their due.
#34
As for Bush, what part of he doesn't control them and they can not cover or drown out or spin anything he says any way they want are you STILL not getting? SHEEFUCKINGSH, lol. I'm sooo tired. Take further argument to someone else. I've said it enough times, in enough ways, that if you were going to "get it" and give him both credit and blame as are actually due, you would be doing it by now. Leave me OUT of further comments until to "get it". Thanks.
#35
I'm a long time lurker. This is my first post. I am in awe of the thought and knowledge that goes into many of the post here on RB. But I've finaly decided to post a question.
How long until someone with the means and motivations starts exacting retribution for some of the near treasonous deed some other Americans have comitted? Does anyone see something as serious as the assination of MSM media figures? Or other public figures that actively work to undermine our society? How far will the left and the transi's push until something like this happens?
Second, wouldn't this be a viable alternative to some of the current US policy? For example, it's pretty obvious that nothing is going to get done about Iranian nukes due to the work of the left, the transi's and MSM. How about a stealth airstrike on the Iranian leaders when they are gathered in one place then nothing but denials from our government? Might be a cheap way to help other countries imiprove their attitudes.
How about a stealth airstrike on the Iranian leaders when they are gathered in one place then nothing but denials from our government? Might be a cheap way to help other countries imiprove their attitudes.
For just-about-forever, myself and others here have been advocating a decapitation strike against Iran's leadership during a full session of their majlis (congress).
As to what you are suggesting about reprisal against the domestic MSM. Your ideas are bandied about quite frequently but, since it involves the murder of fellow Americans, no matter how repellent, it does not get a lot of air time.
I will certainly agree that a good portion of America's survival does indeed hinge on the public finally purchasing a clue as to whose side the MSM is really on.
#37
The MSM is on the side of whoever makes them the most money.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
12/23/2006 19:52 Comments ||
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#38
"How long until someone with the means and motivations starts exacting retribution for some of the near treasonous deed some other Americans have comitted?"
My best guess is that things would have to get pretty dire before we'll see any of that. Right now the American public is pretty ignorant of what's going on, and apparently wants to remain that way. Until there is a mass public perception that things have gone very, very wrong, there isn't going to be much pressure to change.
"Does anyone see something as serious as the assination of MSM media figures?"
Nope.
"Or other public figures that actively work to undermine our society?"
Nope.
"How far will the left and the transi's push until something like this happens?"
I'd say that when they reach the point where they make a move to confiscate all guns, that's when all Hell will break loose.
Posted by: Dave D. ||
12/23/2006 20:01 Comments ||
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#39
I agree with Dave D. Most people are more iterested in what Britaney Skank Spears is doing or how the mud-slinging between Rosie O'Dumbell and Donald Duck Trumpetnose Is going.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
12/23/2006 20:04 Comments ||
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#40
Zenster,
I enjoy your work and often find myself agreeing your ideas. I agree that the idea of killing Americans without due process is repellent. It is murder. But at some point some qaulified and trained people may decide that they owe thier alligence to the Constitution (transitively, the USA) and this may override thier distaste in killing "fellow Americans" <- and I use that term loosely.
#41
jds, I would disagree on the terminology "We've fought one Civil War already". Strictly speaking, Civil Wars are fought when one faction wants to overthrow the rule of another faction. The Confederates did not want to overthrow the Government of the United States. I do believe we will fight a true Civil War in the near future.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
12/23/2006 20:18 Comments ||
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#42
jds, far more important right now is that conservatives somehow get out the message of the MSM's betrayal of America. The yawning gulf between reality and what is shown on the nightly news needs to be exploited. This is one of the principal reasons that the republicans took such a beating in the midterm elections. They were off-message and the mainstream media channels were having a field day without having to dodge any return fire (so to speak).
The media excells at "Oooh ... look, something shiny." The American viewing public adores bright and shiny. Someone needs to find the intellectual honesty and moral courage to thrust dark and scary into the public's eye. It must be done without fearmongering or panic-button tactics.
There is real danger out there and most people are more worried about Brangelina and Tomkat than how their political complacency is inviting another round of 9-11s.
RE: To nuke or not to nuke. I think it would be smart for the US not to make commitments to what it will or won't do. Doing so hobbles the US, and just as importantly, tempts our adversaries to call us on it. I can imagine scenarios in which nuclear use might well be justified as a technical first-strike. For example-what if the US were not attacked by Iran, but Israel was? What if Iran attacked Israel with a nuclear bomb? You may want to engage "in the hard work of working politically and using the legal tools of information warfare" in the aftermath, but as for me, I would prefer to see the US "remove a great danger with a grand technological feat." The destruction to Israel merits it. Striking Mecca with a nuclear weapon at that point could not technically be defined as a defensive response on the part of the US, yet it is a response certainly proportional to the act that provoked it.
I am not willing to commit to never using nuclear weapons against Islam except as a response.
#44
Wow .com, that was a major brain dump. Amongst the stuff, I think you hit on somethin'. Santorum is exactly the sort of guy Pubs need out front. And, he's got time on his hands. If he could get some money backing, he could be a winner. If that ass McCain is nominated, we're gonna go down fersure.
#45
Welcome to the conversation, jds! Interesting questions you came up with, and some interesting answers, ladies and gentlemen. Personally, based on no information than my own feelings, I'm not much concerned about an assassination campaign inside the U.S, where people can be arrested and tried for agree-upon crimes. I know it isn't happening as often as I think it should, but that option hasn't been taken off the table. And assassination of citizens just doesn't seem the kind of thing our police and troops would be interested in doing. Perhaps my opinion is coloured because I just finished reading Orson Scott Card's Empire, which addressed this very question... and concluded that's the behaviour of the bad guys, not the good guys. Of course, I'm a naive little Midwestern civilian housewife with no personal knowledge of the harder realities of life, so please weigh my opinions accordingly. ;-)
#1
Sounds like an in-ranks and wall locker inspection is needed immediately. Well, Agent Joshpuntarilama precisely where the fuc* IS YOUR BADGE and JACKET!
#3
Read the commnets @ the Hotair site; regarding the one that stated a 'regulatory agency for the regulatory agency was needed,' ( I think that's the quote, if not damn close), back when I was a suitcase dumper, we did have an 'internal affairs' guy come through, but his big deal was to bust us for not doing the hand wand right or for not adequately inspecting a waiting area to ensure it's sterile. Like somebody was gonna take the time to unscrew a picture from the wall to conceal a box cutter there that would then require unscrewing the picture once the area was open. Screwdrivers were, and i believe still are, on the 'can't take it with you list.' So the regulatory agency regulatory agency needs to be refocused on the things that count, IMHO.
WASHINGTON: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said in a statement on Saturday that New York Times correspondent Carlotta Gall had been beaten up in Quetta where she had gone on a reporting assignment. Her photographer was detained before being released. CPJ called for a full investigation. While Ms Gall is said to have been roughed up in her hotel room, her photographer Akhtar Soomro was kept in detention. The alleged incident took place on December 19. Ms Gall, who recently filed a report about incursions of Taliban and other extremist elements from Pakistan into Afghanistan, told the CPJ that men claiming to be from the special branch of police detained Soomro, a Pakistani national, in his hotel and seized his computer and camera. Four men later broke into the journalists room in another hotel, hit her and took away some of her belongings. Ms Gall said she had bruises on her arms, temple and cheekbone, a swelling on her left eye and a sprained knee. Ima conflicted
#1
Message received by Ms. Gall. From now on all stories about Pakistan and islamists will include fluffy bunnies and liberal use of PBUHs.
Posted by: ed ||
12/23/2006 7:05 Comments ||
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#2
If that's his real picture, he's barely scratched.
I've had worse injuries playing frendly touch football. (Fell on my face, looked worse than that)
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
12/23/2006 8:13 Comments ||
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#3
See, this is what happens when NYT strays from the Taliban Party line. Kind of explains why AP and al Rooters generally report the way they do, doesn't it?
#5
My, my. This is beastly. It has to be either a mistake or undercover Bush/Cheney jackbooted thugs. How unfortunate for Carlotta.
Manolo, refresh my brandy and make sure the limo picks up my Bronx crack whores for the Christmas Eve fesivities...
#6
Wasn't Eason Jordan concerned about a particular group of people deliberately targeting journalists? Is he too busy looking for Jamil Hussein to comment on this?
Fresh intelligence inputs that Pakistan-based militant groups were planning to carry out a suicide attack on Congress President Sonia Gandhi will have a major impact on the style of campaigning by the Congress leader in the coming assembly poll in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Uttaranchal. Sources said the security agencies would advise the Congress chief against road shows and mingling with the public during election campaigns. During the last Lok Sabha elections, Ms Gandhi had toured extensively in various parts of the country and mingled with people en route, giving a tough time to security personnel.
The fresh intelligence inputs have led to a review of UPA Chairpersons security at the highest level. An advisory issued by intelligence agencies suggested that the terrorist groups had earmarked Sajjad, a Pakistani national heading the anti-India operations of the United Jehad Council, for masterminding the attack on Ms Gandhi. Already, all states, especially the election-bound states of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal have been alerted and asked to remain vigilant and strengthen security arrangements well in advance.
The Delhi police has already decided to stop traffic whenever Ms Gandhis motorcade is on the move, sources in the Home Ministry said. Ms Gandhi, who is protected by the elite Special Protection Group, has been on the hit list of several terrorist groups, including the Lashkar-e-Taiba and fringe groups of the Al-Qaida, for quite sometime now.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred ||
12/23/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
So the Gandhis have an inherited Presidency now.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
12/23/2006 11:29 Comments ||
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A speech posted on the Web Friday by the purported leader of an al-Qaida-linked militant group offered US troops a one-month truce for withdrawing from Iraq without being attacked. The leader of Islamic State of Iraq, Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, also called on former officers in Saddam Hussein's disbanded army to join his militia, promising to provide them with a salary and house so long as they could recite three "suras," or groups of verses, of the Koran.
The authenticity of the 20-minute audiotape could not be verified but it appeared on an Islamic Web site known for displaying militant groups' statements. The "Islamic State of Iraq" declared itself in October. It is believed to be an umbrella group for militant organizations, including al-Qaida in Iraq.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/23/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
Sounds like a hudna to me.
To quote several sombodys: "Faster, Please."
Posted by: N guard ||
12/23/2006 9:21 Comments ||
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An agreement was reached Friday to extend US, European, UN and Russian assistance to Palestinians that bypasses Hamas, the militant group that plays a dominant role in the Palestinian government.
In a statement issued by the so-called Quartet, the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia, the Palestinians' benefactors said the Palestinians were in need and encouraged donors to respond to UN and other requests. The program, adopted after Hamas' election victory in January, provides for direct assistance to the Palestinians and their programs. In the past year, the United States has contributed about $450 million (341.1 million).
Posted by: Fred ||
12/23/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
So this is in addition to the $450 million the US has already given to the Paleos this year. The Paleos do nothing but idle and seethe every day on American and Euro money, breeding and plotting to kill the infidels. Then Americans will have spend another 100 times as much to kill them when the cute little Paleos grow up to be big islamic terrorists. Stop the stupidity you Federal Fucks and nip the problem in the bud.
Posted by: ed ||
12/23/2006 7:10 Comments ||
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(Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas may meet on Saturday evening at Olmert's house in Jerusalem, Egypt's official MENA newsagency reported Friday. Some Israeli sources told Radio Sawa that the date of the Olmert-Abbas meeting was set by Palestinian and Israeli officials who met on Thursday evening, MENA said. The meeting also dwelt on the goodwill steps with which Olmert would be greeting Abbas, the sources were quoted as saying. No immediate official confirmation is available at the moment.
However, Abbas, following a meeting with Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema, told reporters on Thursday that he hoped to meet Olmert before the end of the year as both sides push to resume long-stalled peace talks. "We are not revealing a secret when we say that we hope the meeting with Olmert will take place before the end of this year," he said.
Olmert also told reporters this week a meeting would take place "very soon" but gave no details. The two last met in Jordan in June, a few days before Palestinian militants captured the Israeli Corporal Gilad Shalit in southeast Gaza Strip.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/23/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
"The two last met in Jordan in June, a few days before Palestinian militants captured the Israeli Corporal Gilad Shalit in southeast Gaza Strip."
Wonder what little "unrelated event" will happen this time?
#3
Negotiations are a key for peace.
An iron hand works much better, much faster, and more permanently when dealing with paleostains. Anything else is just a hudna.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
12/23/2006 15:50 Comments ||
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AP, JAKARTA - Saturday, Dec 23, 2006 - Firebrand Islamic cleric Abu Bakar Bashir praised a court ruling acquitting him of terrorism charges as an act of defiance against the US and said yesterday he was considering suing for damages.
Mouse me, baby.
Bashir, who spent 2.5 years in prison for conspiracy in the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people, has long claimed he was arrested on trumped up charges to appease Washington and its allies in the so-called war on terror.
The Supreme Court's decision on Thursday to quash his conviction in the twin nightclub blasts angered victims and the government in Australia, where the top police official said he "had no doubt" Bashir was involved.
But the 69-year-old cleric, who was released from prison in June, was all smiles when speaking to journalists at his hardline Islamic boarding school in the central Javanese town of Solo. Many countries and courts "are too afraid to stand up to the United States, but the Supreme Court decision is honest and brave," he said, adding that he was considering filing a lawsuit to rehabilitate his name and seek damages.
If awarded compensation, he will likely donate it to Islamic causes, his lawyer said.
#1
I think an accidental F-111 raid on hardline Islamic boarding school in the central Javanese town of Solo would be a way Howard could help and practice Pavlov conditioning on a sick country.
#6
This turd is just beggin' for two in the turban, but -sigh- not gonna happen. Can Aussies extradict?
Posted by: regular joe ||
12/23/2006 8:21 Comments ||
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#7
Assholes like this have no fear. That's a situation that should change. Starting with this guy's bullet riddled corpse hanging from a minaret.
Why are we afraid to do this?
#8
Just make it manditory for him to show up in court. Folks will be in line across the street waiting to take their shot. We could sell Abu hunting tags. Bow hunters can stand within a block of the courts, black powder guys have the second block, open sights and scoped pistols get three and finally snipers get the roof tops. It will be a fest!
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
12/23/2006 11:20 Comments ||
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#9
Don't forget his Lawyers, perhaps a half-point each.
That'll stop this lawyer shit dead in it's tracks. (Double Pun intended)
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
12/23/2006 11:35 Comments ||
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#10
Hunter - Killer Teams.
Screw that. Nuke the site from orbit; it's the only way to be sure.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
12/23/2006 12:27 Comments ||
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#11
I'm all for the "accidental" nuking of his site.
#13
49 Pan,
Yeah, the idea of bow hunting this bitch is really appealing. Pain would be extreme and death slow unless someone got in a direct hit to the heart. I'll bet we could make some money selling chits for the opportunity.
#14
Great mouseover .com! I've been requesting it for ages. Every time I see Bashir's face I dearly want to push my fist into it, same way as with Yassin's grinning visage. This Bashir bastard is pure evil incarnate.
Assholes like this have no fear. That's a situation that should change. Starting with this guy's bullet riddled corpse hanging from a minaret.
In order for this to change, Islam must be stripped of its status as a religion. Nothing short of that will provide the required moral avenue by which Western leadership can migrate towards all the other subsequent steps. Heads of state tend to give fellow figureheads a wide berth. Try and consider it as some sort of badly misplaced sense of professional courtesy.
Why are we afraid to do this?
For the same reason that Robert Mugabe is still alive. Western leaders have a phobia regarding forcible removal from office of even the worst thugs and tyrants as it tends to legitimize the entire process at all levels. This translates into a hands-off mentality that permits the very worst elements to breed in the sewers and soon you get huge flocks of evil-smelling soiled Muslims flying out of people's lavatories and infringing their personal freedoms!
This misplaced sense of moral relativism is precisely what perpetuates Islam's continued status as a religion and keeps Ahmadinejad's worthless skin intact. It is all part of that famous "Order of the Garter" bullshit thingy that we will need to leave behind if we are ever going to have a chance of quashing Islamic terrorism.
#15
I've got a 175lb pull crossbow and some VERY hard wood darts with metal tips. One dipped in pig feces through the gut, cutting the spinal cord on the way out. Sepsis, paralysis, and lots of chopped-up intestines. What's not to like?
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
12/23/2006 16:22 Comments ||
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The streets of Damascus are echoing these days with a sound largely unheard in the last couple of years: the sirens of convoys carrying important guests through the capital's congested streets.
Since the summer, a stream of European and more recently American visitors has been beating a path to the doors of the Syrian government.
This week, two US senators - Chris Dodd and the former Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry - were in town for talks with President Bashar al-Assad.
Serving the interests of an obvious enemy.
They all come to explore the potential for involving Syria in tackling the Middle East's problems, including the violence in Iraq and the possibility of prising Damascus away from its alliance with Iran.
In Syria, the diplomacy is seen as an important change in the western policy of isolation that started with Syria's opposition to the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. It reached its peak a year ago when Damascus was forced to withdraw its troops from Lebanon after the killing of Rafiq Hariri, the former prime minister.
A UN investigation into the murder, which many Lebanese blamed on Syria, is regarded in Damascus as a hostile attempt to undermine The Tyrant Mr Assad's regime. "The former policy of political isolation of Syria has ended. It is no longer there," Abdallah Dardari,a Syrian deputy prime minister, said in an interview with the Financial Times. Keep whistlin', Shifty
Not long ago, strained ties with the US, Europe and many important Arab countries had created a sense of siege among Syrians. Now officials say a string of events has vindicated its tough stance.
On Iraq in particular the Syrians point to the recent Iraq Study Group report and the Democratic victory over President George W. Bush's Republicans in November as an admission of US failings. Item 1: Repudiated Item 2: Don't believe everything you read in the op-ed section of the New York Times.
The strong showing of Syria's Palestinian and Lebanese allies, Hamas and Hizbollah, in conflicts with Israel and domestically, is also contributing to increased confidence in Damascus. "I don't want to say there is a sense of 'I told you so' but there is a sense that people are realising in western capitals that if you want to be influential in the Middle East, you have to come through Damascus," says Mr Dardari. Which is true, but not in the sense that "Mr." Dadari means.
While Syria says it is interested in a dialogue with the US and its allies, it is emphasising its refusal to accept what it calls "dictates" from Washington. When we're done talking, Bashar will be the first to know. Continued on Page 49
Whew! Glad that's done. Lunch, anyone?
UNITED NATIONS - The U.N. Security Council unanimously agreed Saturday to impose sanctions against Iran for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment, culminating two months of negotiations to curb a nuclear program the United States claims is aimed at building weapons.
The resolution orders all countries to ban the supply of specified materials and technology that could contribute to Iran's nuclear and missile programs. It also imposes an asset freeze on key companies and individuals in the country's nuclear and missile programs named on a U.N. list. Little late for that, isn't it?
If Iran refuses to comply, the resolution warns Iran that the council will adopt further nonmilitary sanctions.
Until the last moments before the vote, it was not clear whether all 15 Security Council members would support the resolution.
Russia and China, which both have supplied them with nuclear technology strong commercial ties to Tehran, have pressed for a step-by-step approach to sanctions, and Qatar has supported Iran's 'peaceful' (that's mine) use of nuclear energy. By contrast, the United States has pushed for very tough sanctions, with Britain and France taking a slightly softer view.
Key European nations made late changes that brought Moscow and Beijing on board, including earlier this week dropping a ban on travel for key figures in Iran's nuclear and missile programs.
Qatar's U.N. Ambassador Nassir Al-Nassir, the only Arab member of the council and its current president, was the last to make his country's intentions known, telling members just before the vote that Qatar would vote yes "because we are concerned about the safety of Iranian nuclear facilities."
On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin called Robert Kraft President Bush to give him his Super Bowl ring back discuss the Iran vote, agreeing on the need to move forward with a resolution, said Blain Rethmeier, a spokesman for Bush. The two leaders "stressed the importance of maintaining an appearance of a unified position on Iran's nuclear program," Rethmeier said.
Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said Moscow agreed to sanctions because it wanted Iran "to lift remaining concerns over its nuclear program."
He stressed that the goal must be to resume talks. If Iran suspends enrichment and reprocessing, the resolution calls for a suspension of sanctions "which would pave the way for a negotiated solution," Churkin said. I say we go to Sparks!
Acting U.S. Ambassador Alejandro Wolff said he hopes the sanctions "will convince Iran that the best way to ensure security it to abandon" nuclear enrichment. Let's go to Bobby Flay's new grill!
Iran insists its nuclear program is intended to produce energy, but the Americans and Europeans suspect its ultimate goal is the production of weapons.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reiterated Tuesday that Security Council sanctions would not stop Iran from pursuing uranium enrichment, a technology that can be used to produce nuclear fuel for civilian purposes or fuel for a nuclear bomb.
The resolution authorizes action under Article 41 of Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter. It allows the Security Council to impose nonmilitary sanctions such as severing diplomatic and economic relations, transportation and communications links.
If Iran fails to comply, the draft says the council will adopt "further appropriate measures" under Article 41. Yes! The Sternly Worded LetterTM shall be deployed!
The resolution calls on all states "to exercise vigilance" regarding the entry or transit through their territory of those on a U.N. list that names 12 top Iranians involved in the country's nuclear and missile programs. It asks the 191 other U.N. member states to notify a Security Council committee that will be created to monitor sanctions when those Iranians show up in their country. Then what? Slap their wrists?
The resolution also says the council will review Iran's actions in light of a report from the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, requested within 60 days, on whether Iran has suspended uranium enrichment and complied with other IAEA demands.
If the IAEA the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog verifies that Iran has suspended enrichment and reprocessing, the resolution says the sanctions will be suspended to allow for negotiations. It says sanctions will end as soon as the IAEA board confirms that Iran has complied with all its obligations.
Before the final text was circulated, Churkin pressed for amendments to ensure that Moscow can conduct legitimate nuclear activities in Iran a point Churkin stressed Saturday.
Russia is building Iran's first atomic power plant at Bushehr, which is expected to go on line in late 2007. A reference to Bushehr in the original draft was removed earlier as Russia demanded.
The six key parties trying to curb Iran's nuclear program Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China and the United States offered Tehran a package of economic incentives and political rewards in June if it agreed to consider a long-term moratorium on enrichment and committed itself to a freeze on uranium enrichment before talks on its nuclear program.
That package remains an option, but with Iran refusing to comply with an Aug. 31 council deadline to stop enrichment, Britain and France circulated a draft sanctions resolution in late October, which has been revised several times since then.
To meet concerns of Russia and China that the original resolution was too broad, it was changed to specify in greater detail exactly what materials and technology would be prohibited from being supplied to Iran and to name those individuals and companies that would be affected. Pure poppycock. The only way to stop their program is to leave a bunch of large, deep smoking holes in certain areas of Iran. Useless Nitwits, indeed.
SENIOR Iranian lawmakers have warned that Parliament could hit back at any Security Council sanctions against Tehran by blocking United Nations inspections of its nuclear facilities.
A bill to suspend inspections of Iran's atomic sites by the UN nuclear watchdog has already been prepared by parliament and passed by its security and foreign affairs committee. Speaker Gholam Ali Hadad Adel vowed that the bill would be put before parliament if the UN Security Council - as expected - agreed later today to impose sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme.
"The commission has approved a bill, whereby Iran will seriously revise the nature of its relationship with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),'' Hadad Adel told state television.
"We will have no other option but to bring this bill before Parliament for debate, if Iran comes under pressure. If efforts are going to be undertaken to deprive the Iranian nation of their undeniable right to achieve peaceful nuclear technology, Parliament will not cede this national right,'' Hadad Adel said.
Iran in February stopped applying the additional protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which allows extensive access to atomic sites, after the Security Council adopted a resolution urging Tehran to freeze enrichment. However, up until now it has still been allowing regular UN inspections of its atomic sites, such as the uranium enrichment plant in the central city of Natanz.
Suspending such regular inspections would be in line with threats by Iranian officials to retaliate against the sanctions by reconsidering its cooperation with the Vienna-based UN nuclear watchdog.
Top figures like chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani have frequently spoken of "painful retaliation'' for UN sanctions, in warnings seen as veiled threats of curtailing inspections.
"Policies for interacting with the IAEA should be adjusted in proportion to the Security Council's measures,'' said Alaeddin Boroujerdi, the head of the security and foreign affairs committee, referring to the bill.
"Iran has been acting under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and international rules in its nuclear activities, so it will not accept any resolution,'' he said.
"If this resolution is adopted, the Iranian supreme national security council will definitely react,'' he said according to the Mehr news agency.
After weeks of diplomatic wrangling, the UN Security Council was expected to adopt a resolution that would impose restrictions on Iran's nuclear industry and ballistic missile programme.
Western countries have sought to agree the sanctions in response to Teheran's refusal to suspend uranium enrichment which they fear could be used to make a nuclear bomb. Iran insists its atomic drive is peaceful.
Meanwhile, a hardline Iranian daily called on the government to go even further by withdrawing entirely from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, if the UN Security Council agrees sanctions.
"Our officials should use this opportunity to punish the West and announce Iran's withdrawal from the NPT right after the resolution is adopted. Rest assured that nothing terrible will happen,'' said the Kayhan daily.
"The opponent is pointing an empty gun at us and this is a hollow threat,'' said the editorial by the paper's editor Hossein Shariatmadari, who is appointed by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
#1
"Top figures like chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani have frequently spoken of "painful retaliation" for UN sanctions, in warnings seen as veiled threats of curtailing inspections."
Damn...with insight like that no wonder Ali is the "Cheif" and is refered to as a "Top Figure".
(SANA) - Assistant Secretary General of the Bath Arab Socialist Party Abudlla Al-Ahmar arrived in Sanaa on Friday heading a party leading delegation. In a statement to SABA news agency of Yemen , Al-Ahmar said the visit comes in framework of cooperation between the Bath Arab Socialist Party and the General People's Congress GPC of Yemen as it constitutes a new step contributing to develop cooperation relations between the two parties and sisterly countries.
Al-Ahmar is to hold party and political talks with the leadership of the GPC in Yemen and Yemeni officials as well as with leaderships of other Yemeni parties as he will take part at activities of the fourth regional conference of the Bath party in Yemen.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/23/2006 00:00 ||
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(Xinhua) -- Iran's Interior Ministry on Thursday released the final result of the third local council election held last Friday, showing a brand-new political dimension since President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took office in 2005. According to published figures,
Ahmadinejad's ultraconservatives have suffered a stinging defeat, while moderate conservatives and reformists grabbed most ballots in the election. It has been reported that the president's camp just won less than 20 percent of the total seats.
President Ahmadinejad's ultraconservatives have suffered a stinging defeat, while moderate conservatives and reformists grabbed most ballots in the election. It has been reported that the president's camp just won less than 20 percent of the total seats.
At Tehran city council, moderate conservative Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf's camp won eight seats of 15, Ahmadinejad's followers two, reformers four and one for independent. Similar results were seen in the final results of some other major city councils. Ahmadinejad's followers won no seat in Shiraz, Bandar Abbas, Sari, Zanjan and Kerman.
In the poll of the Assembly of Experts which has the power to elect, dismiss Iran's highest authority and the supreme leader, Expediency Council Chairman and centrist Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani defeated Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi Mesbah-Yazdi, who was widely recognized as Ahmadinejad's spiritual mentor.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred ||
12/23/2006 00:00 ||
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(Xinhua) -- Lebanese parliament's Secretary-General Adnan Daher has refused to receive a petition calling for ratifying a draft law on forming an international tribunal to try suspects in ex-premier Rafik Hariri's assassination, local Naharnet reported on Friday. Adnan Daher made the refusal after he received the petition on Thursday, which, signed by 70 lawmakers of the 128-member legislation, calls on Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to summon the house to vote on the plan.
The draft law was published by the official gazette on Dec. 14, following the refusal of President Emile Lahoud to sign it in 15 days in accordance with the nation's constitution.
The document was later mailed to Berri, a close ally of the opposition Shiite movement Hezbollah, via Liban Post, an express mail service in the country, according to the report.
Daher was quoted as saying that he rejected the plan "because the draft law was not submitted to parliament." The draft law was published by the official gazette on Dec. 14, following the refusal of President Emile Lahoud to sign it in 15 days in accordance with the nation's constitution. Lahoud refused to sign the document because it was referred to him by what he regards as a non-constitutional government after six pro-Syrian ministers resigned last month from the cabinet of premier Fouad Seniora that enjoys the backing of a parliamentary majority.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/23/2006 00:00 ||
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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.
(Xinhua) -- The Arab League (AL) Friday called on Somalia's both sides of the armed clashes to halt fighting to pave the way for resuming negotiations, Egypt's MENA news agency reported. Samir Hosni, director of AL's African affairs department, made the call in a statement after Smalia's conflicting sides, the interim government and the Somali Union of Islamic Courts (UIC), had pledged to resume negotiations in the Sudanese capital Khartoum in January without preconditions. 
Troops and riot police fought pitched battles with protesters on Thursday as a strike aimed at forcing electoral reforms in Bangladesh turned violent. Witnesses said at least 25 people were wounded in the clashes that broke out in several areas of the capital, Dhaka, which is largely paralysed by the strike that has also affected business and transport across the country. 
North Korea's nuclear envoy said Friday the communist nation would bolster its atomic arsenal in response to US pressure, after the latest international talks on Pyongyang's weapons ended without any breakthrough. When asked if the country would conduct further nuclear tests following its Oct. 9 detonation, Kim Kye Gwan said the North was continuing to enhance its atomic capabilities. "The US is taking a tactic of both dialogue and pressure, and carrots and sticks," Kim told reporters. "We are responding with dialogue and a shield. And by a shield, we are saying we will further improve our deterrent." 
Fresh intelligence inputs that Pakistan-based militant groups were planning to carry out a suicide attack on Congress President Sonia Gandhi will have a major impact on the style of campaigning by the Congress leader in the coming assembly poll in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Uttaranchal. Sources said the security agencies would advise the Congress chief against road shows and mingling with the public during election campaigns. During the last Lok Sabha elections, Ms Gandhi had toured extensively in various parts of the country and mingled with people en route, giving a tough time to security personnel.
An agreement was reached Friday to extend US, European, UN and Russian assistance to Palestinians that bypasses Hamas, the militant group that plays a dominant role in the Palestinian government. 
(Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas may meet on Saturday evening at Olmert's house in Jerusalem, Egypt's official MENA newsagency reported Friday. Some Israeli sources told Radio Sawa that the date of the Olmert-Abbas meeting was set by Palestinian and Israeli officials who met on Thursday evening, MENA said. The meeting also dwelt on the goodwill steps with which Olmert would be greeting Abbas, the sources were quoted as saying. No immediate official confirmation is available at the moment. 
(Xinhua) -- Iran's Interior Ministry on Thursday released the final result of the third local council election held last Friday, showing a brand-new political dimension since President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took office in 2005. According to published figures, 
(Xinhua) -- Lebanese parliament's Secretary-General Adnan Daher has refused to receive a petition calling for ratifying a draft law on forming an international tribunal to try suspects in ex-premier Rafik Hariri's assassination, local Naharnet reported on Friday. Adnan Daher made the refusal after he received the petition on Thursday, which, signed by 70 lawmakers of the 128-member legislation, calls on Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to summon the house to vote on the plan. 
