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Olmert 'offers Golan Heights in peace deal'
Today's Headlines
Headline Comments [Views]
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5 00:00 RD [4] 
4 00:00 Zenster [1] 
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2 00:00 xbalanke [4] 
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Page 1: WoT Operations
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6 00:00 Redneck Jim [6]
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Page 2: WoT Background
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Page 4: Opinion
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Page 5: Russia-Former Soviet Union
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-Short Attention Span Theater-
F-15 landing with one wing
Posted by: Ebberong Omeger9792 || 06/09/2007 07:41 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  A different meaning to the famous words 'The Eagle has landed."
Posted by: Glenmore || 06/09/2007 12:58 Comments || Top||

#2  If you want a good laugh: read the comments. What a buch of moonbats!
Posted by: xbalanke || 06/09/2007 13:56 Comments || Top||

#3  buch = bunch

If you want another good laugh: don't PIMF.
Posted by: xbalanke || 06/09/2007 13:57 Comments || Top||

#4  It's gratifying in the extreme to know our military has the best kit money can buy. If they have to put their lives on the line, I want them working with the utmost confidence that they'll make it back home. Second only to this is how such effective equipment assures the very highest kill ratios. Something that, we the toiling taxpayer, deserve for our hard earned dollars.
Posted by: Zenster || 06/09/2007 14:47 Comments || Top||


Bangladesh
Outlaw-turned BNP leader on the run in Magura
Only seven years back, Mihir Kanti Biswas was an armed cadre of outlawed Biplobi Communist Party (BCP).
That's the old Biplobi commies, not the new-fangled variety, mind you...
He faced at least seven criminal cases including two for murder and three for toll collection, police said.
"Stick 'em up, comrade! Gimme yer toll!"
Mihir, now secretary of Magura Sadar upazila BNP, is on the run to evade arrest after joint forces raided his house soon after promulgation of emergency in January, police said.
"Youse'll never take me alive, coppers!"
A top police official however said they are hunting for him.
"Go get 'im, Big Mahmoud!"
"Duh, okay, boss!"
Mihir, a high school dropout, started life in early age as a bicycle mechanic. The family lived in a thatched house at Rawtara village in Hazrapur union in Magura Sadar upazila.
"Mihir! You can't smoke around that there thatched roof! Put that [FWOOMP!] stogey out."
The party in power came a magic lamp for Mihir. "Mihir now owns over Tk one crore in cash and property which he has amassed through toll collection and other illegal means", said a former chairman of Hazrapur Union Parishad (UP) seeking anonymity.
"Hrarrrr! Money! Ain't nobuddy in the upazilla got money like me!"
Mihir's brother Mrinal, also an alleged outlaw, is now a wealthy businessman, said a resident of adjoining Gouricharanpur village. "As a BCP cadre, he used to collect toll from local rich people at night earlier. When 4-party alliance came to power, he did it openly by virtue of being a front ranking BNP leader", said a school teacher.
"Hi, there! I'm yer local BNP Gauleiter. Gimme yer toll!"
"Uhhh... Okay. Nice shutter gun, by the way."
Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) officials in Magura is also investigating the source of his assets amassed in last five years. "We got some allegations and those were sent to higher authorities for directive", an ACC official said.
No! Not in Bangla!
Allegations have been made that the outlawed turned BNP party leader amassed wealth by toll collection under the shelter of a former lawmaker from Magura-2 constituency.
"Boss Hogg! That there Mihir feller's been collectin' all my toll!"
"Tut tut, fellow! I'm sure youse're mistaken!"
On January 25, army cordoned the Bhaina area in Magura town to arrest Mihir. But they mistakenly took into custody district Jatiyotabadi Chhatra Dal president Nazmul Hasan Liton instead of Mihir.
"Put him down, Big Mahmoud! We got the wrong guy!"
"Duh, hokay, boss! [thud!]"
Mihir escaped and is on the run since then.
"Curly-toed phlip-phlops don't fail me now!"
"Joint forces' hunt for Mihir is on as he is accused in several criminal cases including murder", said Magura Police Superintendent Mohammad Muslim while talking tot this correspondent yesterday. "Earlier, police could not take step against culprits like Mihir due to interference by the then ruling party leaders. After promulgation of emergency, police are now launching drives freely against criminals."
Posted by: Fred || 06/09/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Is he carrying a Shutter Gun?
Posted by: Gary and the Samoyeds || 06/09/2007 0:28 Comments || Top||

#2  i'd be willing to pay, Tk one crore in cash to own a pair of "Curly-toed phlip-phlops, Ima sure they would never fail me now or later!"

>:)
Posted by: RD || 06/09/2007 21:29 Comments || Top||


Babar remanded, Litu sent to jail
Former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar was further remanded yesterday for three days in an arms case while Bengal Group Chairman Abul Khair Litu sent to Dhaka Central Jail on 30 days detention.
Dhanmondi police pressed charges against arrested BNP leader and former communications minister Nazmul Huda and ex-BNP lawmaker Salahuddin Ahmed and his son in separate cases the same day.

Investigation officer (IO) produced Babar before the court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Dhaka, with a prayer for five days' fresh remand to quiz him about the source of an illegal firearm that was recovered from his possession during his arrest. Defence lawyers submitted a petition seeking cancellation of the remand prayer. They argued Babar need not be remanded again, as the firearms and ammunition have already been seized from his possession.
Posted by: Fred || 06/09/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I was so hoping for a graphic of the beloved elephant when I saw the name Babar...
Posted by: M. Murcek || 06/09/2007 8:56 Comments || Top||

#2  Some BaBar images here
Posted by: James || 06/09/2007 12:13 Comments || Top||


Purbo Banglar commie beaten to death in Tangail
A regional leader of outlawed Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) was beaten to death in Sadar upazila of the district on Thursday night. He was identified as Mohammad Sona Miah, 32, son of Lal Miah of Kashinagar village under the upazila. Ashraf Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Tangail Police Station, said Sona Miah was an accused in 13 criminal cases including eight for murder.
"Arrr! I have the death sentence on eight worlds, I do!"
Police and witnesses said local people caught the PBCP leader when he came to Dhalan Shibpur at around 9:30pm.
"Hey, there, stranger! Y'ain't from around here, air yew?"
"Back off! I have the death sentence on... OW!... Ouch!... Hey! Stop that! You're hurting me!"
"Kill the Purbo Banglar Commie!"
"Get a rope!"
"Here! Use my pitchfork!"
They beat him up, resulting in his death on the spot.
[THUMP!] [THUD!] [WHACK!]... "Aaaaiiiieeee!... Rosebud!... [Rattle!]"
On information, police rushed to the spot, recovered the body and sent it to Tangail General Hospital morgue for autopsy.
"Doctor Quincy! Pick up the white courtesy phone!"
Posted by: Fred || 06/09/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  An RAB retirement village, perhaps?
Posted by: Gary and the Samoyeds || 06/09/2007 0:29 Comments || Top||


Caribbean-Latin America
Democrats push Columbia on terror groups
BOGOTA, Colombia - Top Democratic lawmakers, including presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and Chris Dodd, have urged Colombia to reverse the "infiltration" of murderous paramilitary groups at high government levels or risk losing $700 million a year in aid.

In a strongly worded letter sent last month to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, eight senators expressed "grave concern regarding the infiltration of important Colombian state institutions by terrorists and drug traffickers." A copy of the letter was released by Sen. Dodd's office on Friday, just before President Alvaro Uribe was to appear in New York for a dinner honoring former President Clinton, part of a lobbying campaign by Colombia to counter Democrats' intense scrutiny of its human rights record.
Ick, but I guess you do what you gotta do.
Dodd's office said the letter was made public in a May 22 press release, a day after it was sent, but most Colombians — including Uribe himself — only learned about its existence on Friday, when a copy was published in a front-page story by Colombia's main daily, El Tiempo.

Since gaining control of Congress in November, Democrats have refused to pass a trade deal with Colombia and are threatening to cut military assistance as a scandal linking government allies to right-wing militias creeps closer to the president. The lawmakers said they were "particularly troubled" by the case of former intelligence chief Jorge Noguera, who is under investigation for allegedly providing the militias with names of trade unionists who were later murdered.

Noguera, who was hand-picked for the spy job by Uribe after running his 2002 campaign along the Caribbean coast, was jailed for a month and then released March 23 because of a procedural error by prosecutors. Another 13 congressmen, all but one Uribe allies, have been arrested as part of the widening scandal.
Never mind that Uribe has virtually ended the nastiness in Columbia.
The Democrats' letter called on Colombia to take "vigorous measures" to hold the right-wing militias accountable, including the removal of mobile phones and Internet access for jailed warlords and their extradition to the United States to face drug-trafficking charges. It also wants the government to confiscate stolen land holdings and combat 22 new or rearmed paramilitary groups identified by an Organization of American States peace mission.

"Without such concrete actions and results, maintaining current levels of assistance will be difficult to justify," the senators wrote.
Suppress left wing rebels and the Dhimmicrats are all over you.
At a news conference Friday in Washington, Uribe said he had no knowledge of the letter, also signed by Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, who froze $55 million in aid to Colombia's military in April as head of the subcommittee overseeing foreign aid. "(Thursday) I met with Sen. Leahy for about an hour and he didn't tell me anything about this," Uribe said before departing for New York.
Pat's really good with a shiv, as you've noticed by now.
Y'never even feel it slide between your ribs, until the point touches your heart
Posted by: Steve White || 06/09/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  This congress really knows how to screw with true allies and coddle enemies.
Posted by: newc || 06/09/2007 6:42 Comments || Top||

#2  So the message to Columbia is to win against the ruthless killers immediately or we'll pull the rug out ... and don't forget the human rights.

The DNC must have a macro that replaces the country name in all pronouncement/demands.
Posted by: Super Hose || 06/09/2007 12:23 Comments || Top||


Europe
Sweden: Men [of unknown origin] 'raped girl on town street'
Just another night in Northern Paradise
Two 20-year-old men have been formally charged with raping a young woman on a street in Hudiksvall, 300 kilometres north of Stockholm. The pair are alleged to have forced the woman to the ground and held her arms before raping her. The charge sheet was presented to the Hudiksvall District Court on Friday.

Prosecutor Michael Dahlberg alleges that the two men together and in agreement with each other used violence to force the young woman to have sex with them on the night of April 28th. The two men are said to have restrained her arms and covered her mouth to prevent her fleeing or calling for help. The alleged rape took place in the open air on a street in central Hudiksvall.
Was she out in public without a head covering?
The men were arrested on the day of the alleged rape, and have been in custody since then. They have admitted in police questioning to meeting the young woman at a party close to the scene of the crime. They deny raping her.

The prosecutor has called for both men, who are foreign citizens, ...
"But we won't tell you where they're from or report their names, because that would be ... un-Swedish"
Samoan? Esquimaux?
... to be deported from Sweden once they have served their punishment. Both the men have temporary work permits and had only been in Hudiksvall a short time when the alleged rape took place.
Posted by: mrp || 06/09/2007 10:02 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  A "Viking" thing?
Posted by: JohnQC || 06/09/2007 12:16 Comments || Top||

#2  "They deny raping her."

"It wasn't rape. She wanted it - we could tell because she wasn't wearing a burka."

Statistically, the odds are better than even that at least one name of at least one of the accused is either Ali or Mohammed (or variant of).

If convicted, I'd deport immediately, and drop them off at 30,000'. If Allan approves of their behavior, he'll land them gently. (And I'll convert.)
Posted by: Glenmore || 06/09/2007 13:05 Comments || Top||

#3  Just another one of many loud wakeup calls to the Sweedes. Time for them to get the message, namely that Muslims have no intention of assimilating, ever. I'd wager that Sweden's liberal, extremely open and permissive culture represents the very last type of society that Muslims would ever integrate with at all. Too bad that Sweden's politicians are so drunk on Multicultural Kool-Aid that they cannot even conceive of this concept.
Posted by: Zenster || 06/09/2007 14:55 Comments || Top||

#4  I have just consulted a psychic. Her best efforts advise me: the perpetrators are swarthy complexioned speakers of some Middle East language, who shout "allah akhbar" during rape.

Damn Rocket Roger; I was hoping he would humiliate himself and the Yankees today. $28,000,000 for two thirds of a year. Blows!
Posted by: McZoid || 06/09/2007 20:12 Comments || Top||

#5  The prosecutor has called for both men, who are foreign citizens, to be deported from Sweden once they have served their punishment. Both the men have temporary work permits and had only been in Hudiksvall a short time when the alleged rape took place. [the Muslime rapist have been in jail since April 28, 07]
Posted by: RD || 06/09/2007 21:37 Comments || Top||


French center-right looks set for solid majority in Parliament
PARIS: President Nicolas Sarkozy's center-right camp appears assured of winning a majority in parliamentary elections on Sunday and on June 17. Barring a political earthquake, the only question is how big that majority will be and what he will do with it. Since Sarkozy became president last month, opinion polls have given his Union for a Popular Movement party between 360 and 430 seats in the 577-seat National Assembly.

"The choice is between a blue wave or a blue tsunami," said Stéphane Rozès, head of political research at the CSA polling institute, referring to the Popular Movement's traditional color. "Either way, French voters will allow Sarkozy to consolidate his power."

It will be the first time in nearly three decades that a parliamentary majority is re-elected, highlighting the extent to which the president represents a break with the past even within the Gaullist movement. The last government, in which Sarkozy served as finance and interior minister, was deeply unpopular. But by vowing to implement an agenda of far-reaching change he differentiated himself from his predecessor, Jacques Chirac.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Steve White || 06/09/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


India-Pakistan
Resignation of Nilofar accepted
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Friday has accepted Federal Tourism Minister Nilofar Bakhatiar’s resignation and she has been informed in this regard. Talking to reporters in her office, Bakhtiar said she was informed about her resignation’s acceptance and that she had came to office to collect her personal belongings.
Posted by: Fred || 06/09/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  What was her job in the first place? Does her department provide brochures and maps to the safe houses?
Posted by: Super Hose || 06/09/2007 12:06 Comments || Top||


Science & Technology
Maritime Administration builds wireless capability into Sealift fleet
In times of wars or emergencies, it falls to the Transportation Department’s Maritime Administration to ensure that U.S. cargo vessels are ready for use. The logistics role that merchant ships play for the Pentagon is a key aspect of the country’s defense strategy. To better perform that function, 44 ships in the fleet were outfitted with wired computer networks designed to allow the addition of wireless capabilities, said Donna Seymour, the agency’s chief information officer. The networked ships support logistics systems and communicate with bases onshore.

When the ships are at sea, they communicate via various satellite connections, and other broadband options are often available when they’re in port. To ensure that communications always use the most cost-effective connectivity, the vendors installed devices that automatically select the most efficient connectivity available.

With the new onboard networks, managers at the Maritime Administration can view logistics and vessel information nightly. The new system even lets ships share information with one another. If one vessel needs a particular pump for a repair part, the network can identify a vessel that might have one available. The new network also enables technicians to manage onboard computers and servers remotely.
Posted by: Pappy || 06/09/2007 01:25 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Skynet.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 06/09/2007 11:23 Comments || Top||

#2  outta be trying this off the coast of Somalia...rapid response/sudden death to pirates
Posted by: Frank G || 06/09/2007 22:07 Comments || Top||


US scientists discover wireless power
MIT researchers said on Thursday that they would soon be able to charge a computer or cell phone battery from across a room, perhaps making the annoyance of wires or dead batteries a thing of the past.

Scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and their wireless energy transfer technology may soon eliminate wires that tether machines to wall sockets, or may keep batteries continuously charged and ready to go.

“This invention could free us from power cables and ideally replace batteries to a good extent, at least in the context of a home or office setting,” said Aristeidis Karalis, a student member of the MIT team that has worked on the problem for four years.

The team at MIT has shown their fledgling “WiTricity” technology can power a 60-watt bulb from a power source two metres away. That is enough energy to power an average laptop, said Marin Soljacic, a professor of physics at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, who led the six-person research team.

“This is a major milestone,” said Soljacic. “The technology is almost at the point where it could be used in practical applications.”

The technology is simple and based on resonance, which causes an object to vibrate when energy of a certain frequency is applied to it, Soljacic explained. Two resonant objects on the same resonance frequency can exchange energy efficiently, while interacting weakly with objects that are not on the same wavelength. For the light bulb experiment, the MIT team used electromagnetic resonators in the form of copper coils. One of the coils was attached to a power source. The other acted as a receiver.

The transmitter emitted electrical vibrations of a certain frequency, which rippled across an electromagnetic field to the receiver or “resonator” two metres away.

In this experiment, the system was operating at 45 percent efficiency, but investigators hope to raise that to the 70-80 percent level by using different materials and tweaking the technology.

Soljacic and his team are confident the technology can be improved to the point that consumers can dispense with power cords for their laptops, PDAs or cell phones, as long as they are used in the same room as the power source. “This won’t work on a football field,” said Soljacic.

Details of the experiment appear in this week’s issue of the research journal Science. The technology has already piqued the interest of some big names in consumer electronics and venture capitalists have been lining up with offers for the six MIT researchers who are now trying to figure out ways through which they can turn their pet projects into marketable commodities.
Posted by: Fred || 06/09/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Nikola T and any engineering Tricorder have this ability since way back..
Posted by: RD || 06/09/2007 0:13 Comments || Top||

#2  Aaaaaaaaah! Radiation! Where's My foil helmet?

Can you imagine all the groundless lawsuits that will nonetheless prevail in LA courtrooms?
Posted by: Gary and the Samoyeds || 06/09/2007 0:31 Comments || Top||

#3  Here comes Waldo.
Posted by: gromgoru || 06/09/2007 1:46 Comments || Top||

#4  Can you imagine all the groundless lawsuits that will nonetheless prevail in LA courtrooms?

And the endless hours of fear and loathing of prime time 'News' coverage pushing semi-literate prose and science fiction by incompetent 'journalists' on the subject. Hey Al, a new scam to run on the unwashed masses.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 06/09/2007 10:11 Comments || Top||

#5 

Tsk! Tsk! If only MIT listened to our Uncle Fester 50 years ago...
Posted by: Morticia || 06/09/2007 19:09 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Iranian gov't back away from 'temporary marriage'
The hard-line government is backing away from a plan to relieve the sexual frustrations of young Iranians by promoting the Shi'ite tradition of temporary marriage, an official spokesman said Friday. Interior Minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi, a mid-ranking cleric, sparked an uproar last week when he told a clerical conference in the holy city of Qom that Iran should promote the obscure practice in order to meet the sexual desire of youths who are financially unable to marry.
Posted by: Fred || 06/09/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Da**! I guess I can unpack now.
Posted by: gorb || 06/09/2007 4:19 Comments || Top||

#2  This'll sure kill their big push to attract tourism.
Posted by: xbalanke || 06/09/2007 14:55 Comments || Top||



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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.

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Two weeks of WOT
Sat 2007-06-09
  Olmert 'offers Golan Heights in peace deal'
Fri 2007-06-08
  Lebanon Security Forces find 3 car bombs in Bekaa village
Thu 2007-06-07
  HuJi boss Hannan, 5 others to be charged
Wed 2007-06-06
  Kabul to trade Deadullah's carcass for hostages
Tue 2007-06-05
  Terror suspect surrenders in Trinidad
Mon 2007-06-04
  Clashes in Ein el-Hellhole between army and Syrian sock puppets
Sun 2007-06-03
  UAE gives $80 million to Palestinians
Sat 2007-06-02
  Report: Feds arrest 3 in alleged JFK airport plot
Fri 2007-06-01
  Leb army attempts to seize Fateh al-Islam positions inside camp
Thu 2007-05-31
  UNSC approves Hariri court
Wed 2007-05-30
  Maliki is conducting "reconciliation" talks with Izzat Ibrahim
Tue 2007-05-29
  Iraqi Kurdistan to take charge of own security
Mon 2007-05-28
  14 Arrested in Spain on Terror Charges
Sun 2007-05-27
  U.S. Military Rescues 41 Iraqis From Al Qaeda Prison
Sat 2007-05-26
  Nangahar big turban snagged


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