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PKK offers conditional ceasefire
Today's Headlines
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Page 1: WoT Operations
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9 00:00 JosephMendiola [6] 
5 00:00 Zenster [3] 
16 00:00 Deacon Blues [3] 
4 00:00 trailing wife [5] 
1 00:00 Darrell [3] 
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3 00:00 Old Patriot [3] 
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Page 2: WoT Background
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1 00:00 OldSpook [3]
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2 00:00 doc [3]
3 00:00 JosephMendiola [3]
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Page 3: Non-WoT
6 00:00 Pheagar the Imposter4243 [5]
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3 00:00 Jack is Back! [3]
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Page 4: Opinion
9 00:00 gromgoru [9]
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9 00:00 JosephMendiola [3]
7 00:00 Steve White [3]
3 00:00 xbalanke [3]
4 00:00 Nimble Spemble [3]
1 00:00 Seafarious [3]
3 00:00 Icerigger [3]
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7 00:00 crosspatch [8]
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Page 5: Russia-Former Soviet Union
7 00:00 Barbara Skolaut [7]
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4 00:00 rjschwarz [3]
26 00:00 Intrinsicpilot [5]
Africa Horn
Two Aethiop soldiers, 7 civilians killed in violence in Mog
(SomaliNet) Two Ethiopian soldiers and seven civilians died amidst clashes between Islamist insurgents and Ethiopian troops in the Somali capital, residents said on Sunday.

The bodies of the civilians were recovered in the Towfiq neighbourhood of northern Mogadishu after the night-time clashes. According to Mohamed Bashir, an elder in Towfiq, he had seen the bodies of five men who had been shot in a garage. Hassan Adan Suge, a nephew of one of the victims, confirmed he took other bodies away from the scene.

Residents said two Ethiopian forces were killed and several wounded in overnight clashes with insurgents who ambushed a patrol in the hostile neighbourhood.
Posted by: Steve White || 10/23/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under: Islamic Courts

#1  *ahem* Two Æthiop soldiers....

<:)
Posted by: Red Dawg || 10/23/2007 3:50 Comments || Top||

#2  Dawg is post em Hebrew emoticons.
Posted by: Thomas Woof || 10/23/2007 16:40 Comments || Top||

#3  Is that Hebrew or Hebiru?
Posted by: Deacon Blues || 10/23/2007 18:27 Comments || Top||

#4  It *is* kind of dusty in the land of the Aethiop.

;-)
Posted by: trailing wife || 10/23/2007 22:24 Comments || Top||


Somali pirates seize cargo vessel
(SomaliNet) The head of a local seafarer's association said on Monday that Somali pirates have seized a cargo ship off the east African coast. Andrew Mwangura, the program co-ordinator of the East Africa Seafarers Assistance Programme said gunmen attacked the vessel on Wednesday, but due to chaotic communications with war-ravaged Somalia the incident had taken several days to confirm.

However, Mwangura, did not have details on the number or nationality of the crew members aboard the Almarjan, a cargo ship of over 2 500 tons that was flying under a flag from the Comoros Islands and operated by Dubai-based Biyat International.
The Comoran Navy will be along any moment to rescue the ship and kill the pirates ...
There were two other attacks on ships off the Somali coast on Saturday, he added, and one of the boats had been fired upon.

Meanwhile, Somalia has suffered 26 reported hijackings this year, up from only eight a year earlier, according to a report released last week by the International Maritime Bureau. Some hijackings have turned deadly - pirates killed a crew member a month after seizing a Taiwan-flagged fishing vessel in May off the north-eastern coast of Somalia.
Posted by: Steve White || 10/23/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Islamic Courts

#1  Let's just hope they don't get their hands on any of those North Korean cement shipments.
Posted by: Darrell || 10/23/2007 19:03 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Militant killed planting bomb at women's centre in Karak
A pro-Taliban militant was killed and two others wounded in a botched attempt to blow up the office of a women’s rights group in Karak, AFP quoted police as saying on Monday. The militants had been trying to plant a bomb at the Khawando Kor (sisters’ home), local police officer Hajit Khan said The bomb exploded prematurely and one militant was killed, Khan said, adding that two injured accomplices had been arrested. The office was not damaged.

The trio had taken part in the war against the Soviets in neighbouring Afghanistan in the 1980s and were now supporting the hardline Taliban waging an insurgency there, he said. The group, which has several offices across the NWFP, has been promoting education and increased rights for women in the area.

Separately, eight shops, including a barbershop, were blown up in Bunair district’s Pirbaba area late on Sunday, APP reported. The barber told reporters that he had received a threatening letter a few days ago asking him not to shave or trim beards.
Posted by: Fred || 10/23/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Taliban

#1  "The bomb exploded prematurely"

Has someone submitted an incident report to Pak-OSHA yet? This is a clear violation of safe workplace and practice regulations.
Posted by: Glenmore || 10/23/2007 6:58 Comments || Top||

#2  The bomb din't explode prematurely. In fact it exploded a bit late so the two others had time to flle and were only wounded.
Posted by: JFM || 10/23/2007 7:15 Comments || Top||

#3  With all the "work accidents" terrorists seem to have, you'd think that God (or Allen - YMMV)was against them, and they need to change their ways. Of course, Talibunnies and A-Q aren't quite bright enough to grasp the theological implications of 7th-century thinking in a 21st-Century world.
Posted by: Old Patriot || 10/23/2007 12:46 Comments || Top||


2 soldiers killed in N Wazoo attacks
Two soldiers were killed in as many attacks on security forces in North Waziristan on Monday, official sources said. Paramilitary soldier Naik Waris Khan was killed when militants attacked the Tall checkpost, 20 kilometres south of Miranshah on the Miranshah-Razmak road, the sources said.

Another soldier was killed when a remote-controlled roadside bomb hit a military convoy near Eidak village, 18 kilometres east of Miranshah on the Miranshah-Bannu highway. The same convoy had earlier escaped a similar attack in Frontier Region, Bannu. The security forces retaliated, but no militant was killed.
Posted by: Fred || 10/23/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Five 'militants' held near Zhob
Security forces on Monday arrested five suspected militants of Baitullah Mehsud’s militant organisation, sources said. According to initial reports, they were tracked down somewhere close to Gul Katch region and finally caught near Zhob, the suspected headquarters of the militant faction, they said. The arrested suspects were identified as Rehman Gul, Abdul Rehman, Asghar Khan, Zaman Gul and Rehan. Security forces did not disclose further details, but said the suspects could be possibly involved in planning or executing suicide attacks. All the suspects have been shifted to an undisclosed location for investigation, reports said.
This article starring:
Abdul RehmanTaliban
Asghar KhanTaliban
RehanTaliban
Rehman GulTaliban
Zaman GulTaliban
Posted by: Fred || 10/23/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Taliban

#1  Kneel before zhob...
Posted by: M. Murcek || 10/23/2007 11:34 Comments || Top||


Iraq
Coalition Forces Kill Samarra IED Guys (& wimmen, kids & baby ducks)
Coalition Forces engage enemy (Samarra)

October 23, 2007
SAMARRA, Iraq – A suspected insurgent and improvised explosive device cell member was identified among the killed in an engagement between Coalition Forces and suspected IED emplacers just north of Samarra Oct 23.

During the engagement, insurgents used a nearby house as a safe haven to re-engage coalition aircraft. A known member of an IED cell was among the 11 killed during the multiple engagements.
Re-engaging US aircraft in Iraq should about qualify one for a Darwin Award.

According to local nationals, four other military-age males, five women and one child were among the dead, and five military-age males were wounded. Local nationals evacuated the wounded to Tikrit National Hospital.
Good chance this collateral damage is even real - it's gonna happen when bad guys shoot at our air assets from your roof.

Circumstances regarding the engagement are under review.
Posted by: Glenmore || 10/23/2007 18:12 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  There are few, true innocents over there beyond the age of consent. It is possible they commandeered the house at gunpoint...but I'll betcha the "innocents" were supporters.
Posted by: anymouse || 10/23/2007 18:30 Comments || Top||

#2  anymouse:
There are few, true innocents over there beyond the age of consent. It is possible they commandeered the house at gunpoint...but I'll betcha the "innocents" were supporters.

but like Glenmore said anymouse "wimmen, kids & baby ducks" meaning there will be media coverage blaming the USA aplenty! American Troops slaughter Iraqis on purpose....bla bla..

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

We're up against one hell of a strategic weapon, it out performs anything we have.

There's is a massive multi-headed Hydra that wins victories for them even in defeat.

Even when we've killed them all tactically in a battle, they have snatched a kind of win many times.. that kind of win is a Strategic Victory.

They are propaganda kings, agitprop wizzards compared to our disorganized national effort they reign supreme...

1)Right now every Middle East Nation has a National media that is very sympathetic to our enemies in A-stan or the middle East and gives them free space/air-time for every kind of Anti-USA garbage possible.

2)The Terrorists themselves have great media savy and used their resources quite well.

3)Then consider our lovable Youropeons "allies", -*secrete*- shhhh
Down deep these phuckers HATE AMERICA..

*correction* Not so deep, down 1/87659 of an inch... deep.

*sigh*
4)And then our sorry-assed MSM who are basic tools for any anti-Bush festival they can crank out.

MSM, How much ink, and airtime did Abu-Ghraib get? You couldn't add up all the free hours and inches of space that story got.

But there are exceptions to the sad rule, Those who are warriors in defence of the American Way..

YES BRILLIANTLY BRIGHT TWINKLING EXCEPTION THEY ARE DIAMONDS.

And first among Diamonds is RantBurg U!
Posted by: Red Dawg || 10/23/2007 20:21 Comments || Top||


In Iraq, Conflict on a Second Kurdish Front
Deadly raids into Turkey by Kurdish militants holed up in northern Iraq are the focus of urgent diplomacy, with Turkey threatening invasion of Iraq and the United States begging for restraint while expressing solidarity with Turkish anger.
Yet out of the public eye, a chillingly similar battle has been under way on the Iraqi border with Iran. Kurdish guerrillas ambush and kill Iranian forces and retreat to their hide-outs in Iraq. The Americans offer Iran little sympathy. Tehran even says Washington aids the Iranian guerrillas, a charge the United States denies. True or not, that conflict, like the Turkish one, has explosive potential.

Sounds like the Kurds are taking the fight to Iran - and the US is not opposed to action there! Not so sure of those Marxist leanings though!
Posted by: WxMan || 10/23/2007 04:19 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Well, one can view PKK and IRG as matter and antimatter. E.g., some form of energy is being released.
Posted by: twobyfour || 10/23/2007 7:46 Comments || Top||

#2  We could easily reorder the PKK and the rest of the Kurds to think of, plan for, and actively involve themselves with breaking Iranian Kurdistan off from Iran to join it to Iraqi Kurdistan. More persuasion and advise than assistance.

Things like suggesting what targets in Iran to attack, for example.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 10/23/2007 9:16 Comments || Top||

#3  Guys, you realize that the PKK started out as a batch of proxies for the countries-formerly-known-as-the-soviet-union and if they're still working in that capacity they're much more interested in seeing war break out between the US and Turkey than they are in doing anything wrt Iran?
Posted by: Abdominal Snowman || 10/23/2007 10:29 Comments || Top||

#4  I had not previously known that.
VERY interesting.

I smell Rats-Putin at work, in that case.
Posted by: eLarson || 10/23/2007 11:12 Comments || Top||

#5  AS: That may be, but we can't allow Turkey to interfere in Iraq while we are making huge progress down south. What's to say Turkey won't begin a long-term occupation of northern Iraq if they do? What's to stop them from goign all the way down to Kirkuk, claiming the PKK has retreated down there and taking the oil fields? If we allow Turkey to interfere it opens up an excuse for Iran to send in troops as well.

We may very well be playing into the PKK's hands if this turns into war, but it's something we have to do regardless. Not doing anything against Turkey is a far worse option.
Posted by: Charles || 10/23/2007 11:57 Comments || Top||

#6  Memo to PKK: Concentrate on Iran and we will help, leave the Turks alone or we will wipe you out.
Posted by: Heriberto Ulusomble6667 || 10/23/2007 12:11 Comments || Top||

#7  They are all muslims. All of them will turn on us, the infidels, as soon as we are no longer of use to them.
Posted by: ed || 10/23/2007 12:22 Comments || Top||

#8  If the Turks roll into N Iraq to any depth,, we will lose Iraq. Period. The best soldiers and commanders in the Iraqi Army are Kurdish, and they will head home to defend thier homes and cities against their ancient enemies, the Turks. Absent them, our efforts in Baghdad will fail because we will not have enough quality Iraqi units to complete the "Surge" work.

And if the central government looks at this as an invasion, they will order ALL their units out of Baghdad (convenient for their Shiite militia buddies) to head north and fight to eject the Turks.

We need to put a unit up there on the border and do it NOW. Put it there publicly "To Hunt the PKK" and thus help the Turks, but privately tell the Turks that if they cross the border, they will be engaging US troops, and will have to bear the consequences of a full US strike which will destroy any Turkish forces in the north of Iraq, sending lots of body bags home, forever ending their chances at the EU, and probably getting them tossed OUT of NATO.

We need to get the US forces there to up the ante and make the Turks realize we cannot and will not stand by while they destroy our work in Iraq. If we do not they might be bold and stupid enough to start a war that will result in the destruction of the modern Turkish state.

If they roll across and try to take Kirkuk, then a full US counterattack will be neccesary and a state of war should be declared by Iraq against Turkey - meaning we can arm unleash all those Kurds in the region to destroy stuff in Turkey (probably starting a huge civil war in Turkey, as the Eastrn Kurdish majority will probably very quickly declare independance once thye have means to resist). This would be while our military destroyes those units and forces the Turks back across the border, and the Iraqis fill thier POW camps with Turks.

The worst thing is that N Iraq is the best run, most deomcratic and prosperous westernized area of Iraq, and the Turks are about to demolish it because theer backward ass racist Kemalist country cannot stand free Kurds nearby - its a threat to their existence.
Posted by: OldSpook || 10/23/2007 12:29 Comments || Top||

#9  What woudl I do? I'd tell the Turks we are goign to go after the PKK, and put a Ranger battalion there immediately, while whistling up the heavier battalion or 2 from reserve in Kuwait.

Rangers there NOW - even to the point of dropping in a Ranger company by parachute TODAY.

And I would privately remind the Turks that if they attack US forces there, we will destroy the Turkish army units in Iraq, and then we will arm and support (clandestinely) all the Kurds in the region, including the large numbers of them in Eastern Turkey. We will actively seek the overthrow of the government and the eventual destruction of Turkey as it exists now.

All of the latter "off the record" and kept completely deniable, but very unmistakably told.
Posted by: OldSpook || 10/23/2007 12:49 Comments || Top||

#10  Turkey has a whiff of Yugoslavia to it, as I recall. Be a shame to see it split up. In fact it would be a shame to see the whole ME rationalized.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 10/23/2007 13:35 Comments || Top||

#11  We need to get the Iraqi Kurd government sit on the PKK and fast. Getting into a fight with Turkey is the last thing we want in that region and would virtually guarantee a muslim vs. The West conflict. This is the time to consolidate our gains not destabilize the most peaceful, prosperous region in Iraq.
Posted by: remoteman || 10/23/2007 13:46 Comments || Top||

#12  Pretty sure this will come to blows between Turkey and us. I hope we have a plan to get our men out of bases in Turkey (I thought we had a couple, not really knowledgable about that). Reason I say this is just read that a Kurdish website released video of who they claim is the missing Turkish soldiers, with names and hometowns. If true Turkey needs no more provocation to go into N Iraq.
Posted by: Charles || 10/23/2007 15:52 Comments || Top||

#13  I would do what Spook and Remoteman suggest. Put US troops in the north to go PKK hunting and tell the Kurds to keep a lid on the Turkish forays or we end the PKK, permanently. Last thing we need is Turkey sticking their nose in Iraq.
Posted by: DarthVader || 10/23/2007 16:24 Comments || Top||

#14  Turkey apparently has had troops sitting (and presumably quietly doing things) on the Iraqi side of the Kurdish border since at least the early stage of the post-'91 No Fly Zone.

Just as Iran has had trade delegations as honoured guests of the Kurdish government.
Posted by: trailing wife || 10/23/2007 18:01 Comments || Top||

#15  TW, true. But they haven't had two full armored divisions, deployed in echelon (offensively) snugged up on the border instead of spread slong it, nor did they have corps elemetns moved in. THe fact that they have not gone to combined arms and have pure armored formations in an area with mountainous terrain very strongly implies ther are threatening to assualt through the area, not into the area, and have furhter destintations in mind.

Perhaps the Iraq government's moves and the HUS delay might be enough to keep them from going deep, but the best solution woudl be to deploy a US unit, perhaps Rangers, to the aregion to unt and kill the PKK near Turkey, and remove that as an excuse for the most anti-American nation in the region to have 2 armored divisions lined up in assault formation toward Kirkuk.

That the PKK has hung aroudn this long does not speak wellof the Kurdish government nor US command, but it is excusable in that they have had other things (Al Qaeda, Sunnis, SHias, etc) occupying them.

Bush ought to make the grand gesture of sendin in the Rangers now, and following up with the reserve battalion until winter sets in (and once that happens the PKK goes quiet anyway).
Posted by: OldSpook || 10/23/2007 18:12 Comments || Top||

#16  Why go after a few hundred PKK in Iraq when there are several thousand in Turkey? I smell something more than anti-terrorism incursions into Iraq. Os has it right.
Posted by: Deacon Blues || 10/23/2007 18:31 Comments || Top||


Bombing targets headquarters of anti-terrorist group in Adhamiyah
The headquarters of a political organization opposed to Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups was bombed last night in the Adhamiyah neighborhood on the Iraqi capital’s east side. An improvised explosive device made with approximately 35 pounds of homemade explosives was detonated outside the headquarters building of the Adhamiyah Islamic Party just before Oct. 20. The blast caused no injuries and only minor damage.

Prominent members of the Islamic Party political organization have allied with Coalition Forces in recent months to oppose terrorist groups operating in Adhamiyah. Officials with the U.S. unit operating in the area said the bombing was most likely a response to the increased pressure put on terrorist groups by the Islamic Party.

When Soldiers from the 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment responded to the bombing a guard at the building tipped them off to the location of a sizable insurgent weapons cache in a residence nearby. The guard was one of the hundreds of new Iraqi Security Volunteers who have been hired and trained by Coalition Forces to provide security at critical sites throughout Adhamiyah.

The cache consisted of a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, an RPK machine gun, two 130mm projectiles, three 100mm projectiles, a sniper scope, detonation cord, ski masks and ammunition. “This shows that Adhamiyah residents will not be deterred or intimidated from taking a stand against terrorists who threaten the safety of their community,” said Lt. Col. David Oclander, executive officer for the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division.
Posted by: Fred || 10/23/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Iraqi Insurgency

#1  The bomb builders guild must be using a lot of unsupervised apprentices now if they used 35 pounds of explosive in a bomb and the
"blast caused no injuries and only minor damage."
Posted by: Glenmore || 10/23/2007 7:01 Comments || Top||


Iraqi Special Operations Forces detain two suspected terrorist operatives, kill one
Iraqi Special Operation Forces, advised by U.S. Special Forces, detained two officials of Jaysh al-Mahdi’s al Habibiyah Office, who are accused of conducting criminal activity despite Muqtada al-Sadr’s request to cease such activity. The individuals were detained during an intelligence-driven raid Oct. 21 in New Baghdad.

One of the detained terrorists, the al Habibiyah’s office director is believed to be the commander of three extremist companies and leads a group of 50 terrorist cell members. His group is allegedly responsible for terrorizing local Iraqi citizens in al Habibiyah, al-Baladiyat and Baghdad al-Jadida. He is also suspected of supplying weapons, including a truckload of Katyusha rockets, to terrorists and conducting multiple mortar and improvised explosive device attacks against Iraqi and Coalition Forces. In one terrorist attack in September his group killed 20 innocent citizens. During a separate attack on a residential compound last month, his group allegedly robbed residents of their money and valuables and raped five young girls.

The second detained terrorist, who is the head of the political department in al-Habibiyah Office, is believed to lead 10 terrorist cell members responsible for terrorizing local citizens and attacking Iraqi and Coalition Forces. In a terrorist attack on a civilian neighborhood last summer, his cell allegedly evicted residents, stole their money and occupied their homes. The attack resulted in the deaths of seven civilians who refused to leave their homes. The accused cell leader is also believed to use corrupt Iraqi Police members to facilitate the shipment of weapons to terrorists. Additionally, his cell is thought to be responsible for IED and Katyusha rocket attacks against Iraqi and Coalition Forces.

While approaching the target house, the assault force was confronted by an individual who exhibited hostile intent with an AK-47 assault rifle. In response to the threat, the assault force engaged the terrorist, killing him.

Iraqi and Coalition forces continue to support the Government of Iraq in welcoming the commitment by Muqtada al-Sadr to stop attacks and will continue to show restraint in dealing with those who honor his pledge. No Iraqi or U.S. Forces were injured during this raid.
Posted by: Fred || 10/23/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Iraqi Insurgency

#1  "confronted by an individual who exhibited hostile intent with an AK-47 assault rifle."

Around here drug cops smash through folks' doors in the middle of the night - sometimes not even the right address - and meet a suddenly-awake homeowner with a shotgun. Cop, owner, or both may end up dead. I'm not saying that's what happened in this case, but it must happen sometimes, and has to be a concern to our guys.
Posted by: Glenmore || 10/23/2007 7:07 Comments || Top||


Paratroopers detain suspected IED emplacers
Seven insurgents, including two suspected improvised explosive device emplacers were detained in an operation in Adwaniyah Oct. 17.

One of the suspected IED emplacers, who is also believed to have been involved in kidnappings, was in possession of a fake ID. Paratroopers of Troop B, 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, detained the insurgents during a clearance operation. The paratroopers are operationally attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division. Evidence found on the suspects was confiscated, and the detainees were taken in for questioning.
Posted by: Fred || 10/23/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Iraqi Insurgency


Coalition forces capture four wanted terrorists, detain 11 suspects
Coalition forces captured four wanted individuals and detained 11 other suspected terrorists during operations to disrupt al-Qaeda networks Sunday in central Iraq.

Coalition forces captured a wanted individual and seven additional suspects west of Samarra during an operation targeting foreign terrorist facilitation networks. The wanted individual is believed to have ties with several foreign-based al-Qaeda members responsible for the movement of terrorists and funds into the country. Also, one of the suspect’s associates is allegedly attempting to communicate with the al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader Abu Ayyub al-Masri.

South of the city, Coalition forces detained one suspect while targeting suspected foreign terrorists operating in the region. Intelligence from previous operations indicated the area is known to be a safe haven for numerous foreign terrorists.

In Baqubah, one wanted individual was captured and another suspect was detained during an operation targeting an associate of al-Qaeda in Iraq’s media cell leaders. Intelligence led the ground force to the targeted individual’s exact location, where the two individuals were detained without incident.

Coalition forces captured two wanted individuals and one suspected terrorist in Baghdad during coordinated operations targeting associates of al-Qaeda in Iraq’s northern belt and media cell networks. One of the targeted individuals is believed to have close ties to the emir of the northern belt network responsible for the majority of car-bombing and improvised explosive device attacks in the area. Reports also indicate the network is involved in extortion, intimidation, weapons trafficking and the facilitation of foreign terrorists.

Also, Coalition forces detained one suspected terrorist during an operation in Tarmiyah targeting suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq leaders operating in the city’s terrorist network. “Foreign terrorists who come to Iraq with the help of al-Qaeda are unwelcome,” said Maj. Winfield Danielson, MNF-I spokesman. “Iraqi and Coalition forces will continue to attack facilitation networks in order to stop terrorists from interfering with the better future Iraqi citizens are building for themselves.”
Posted by: Fred || 10/23/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Iraqi Insurgency


Coalition forces target Special Groups member, kill 6 criminals
In an intelligence driven operation this morning in Sadr City, Coalition forces were engaged in a firefight that resulted in the killing of an estimated six criminals.

The operation’s objective was an individual reported to be a long-time Special Groups member specializing in kidnapping operations. Intelligence indicates he is a well-known cell leader and has previously sought funding from Iran to carry out high profile kidnappings.

Upon arrival, the ground force began to clear a series of buildings in the target area when they were engaged by machine gun fire and rocket propelled grenades from adjacent structures. Supporting aircraft was called in to suppress the enemy fire, killing an estimated six criminals. Upon departing the target area, Coalition forces were attacked with an improvised explosive device. Initial reports indicate that no civilians or Coalition forces were killed or injured in the operation. “We continue to support the Government of Iraq in welcoming the commitment by Muqtada al-Sadr to stop attacks and we will continue to show restraint in dealing with those who honor his pledge. We will not show the same restraint against those criminals who dishonor this pledge by attacking security forces and Iraqi citizens,” said Maj. Winfield Danielson, MNF-I spokesman. “Coalition forces will take the necessary action against these criminals to protect the Iraqi people against future terrorist acts.”
Posted by: Fred || 10/23/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Mahdi Army


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Number One with a bullet

Nice pic at the link. He looks like the King of Disco...
Jenin – Ma'an – An Israeli undercover unit on Tuesday morning assassinated prominent leader of Islamic Jihad's armed wing the Al-Quds Brigades and his associate during armed confrontations in the northern West Bank town of Jenin.

A group of resistance fighters were besieged by the undercover force. An Israeli officer was reportedly injured in the clashes.
The Israeli forces also seized nine Palestinians in the area.

The assassinated leader was identified as forty-three-year-old Sheikh Khalid Al-Rayiq, also known as Abu Al-Saqir (father of the falcon), from Tulkarem. His associate was named as Muhammad Jawabra, from the town of Kafr Ra'i, south of Jenin.
It appears that the "father of the falcon"... flies no more...
Eyewitnesses reported that an Israeli officer was moderately wounded and that the two Palestinians were killed by an Israeli shell which was launched at the besieged building where they were stationed.
Stationed, hiding, cowering...I suppose it's all relative.
A spokesperson of Islamic Jihad described the assassinated leader as the number one resistance fighter in the West Bank.
A Numba One. Like the Duke of New York...
The bodies of the deceased were transferred to the government hospital in Jenin.
How ya doin...where do you want em?
The Al-Quds Brigades claimed responsibility on Tuesday for firing a rocket-propelled grenade at an invading Israeli military vehicle in Beit Hanoun, in the northern Gaza Strip. The brigades said the attack was in retaliation for the assassination of 'number one West Bank resistance fighter', Sheikh Khalid Al-Rayiq.
The only difference being that, as usual, the Israeli's got who they were gunning for and the Quds boys hit...something...maybe.
This article starring:
ABU AL SAQIRIslamic Jihad
MUHAMAD JAWABRAIslamic Jihad
SHEIKH KHALID AL RAIIQIslamic Jihad
Al-Quds Brigades
Islamic Jihad
Posted by: tu3031 || 10/23/2007 14:18 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under: Islamic Jihad

#1 
Posted by: Mike || 10/23/2007 14:47 Comments || Top||

#2  Israeli hawks phuck pluck Palestinian falcon. Works for me.
Posted by: Zenster || 10/23/2007 15:00 Comments || Top||

#3  "Israeli hawks phuck pluck Palestinian falcon dodo."

Works even better.
Posted by: danking70 || 10/23/2007 15:17 Comments || Top||

#4  If only the Palestinians would go the way of the dodo, danking70.
Posted by: Zenster || 10/23/2007 15:26 Comments || Top||

#5  Whatta ya want from an "organization" of wild-eyed killers with a redundancy for a name?

"Islamic Jihad"? As opposed to Buddhist Jihad, I suppose.

Hell with it. Kill 'em all.
Posted by: mojo || 10/23/2007 16:00 Comments || Top||

#6  It's amazing he made it to 43. He must have looked like an aged grandfather.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 10/23/2007 16:38 Comments || Top||

#7  a DEAD aged grandfather
Posted by: Frank G || 10/23/2007 17:12 Comments || Top||

#8  the Abu on a Door pic at the link shows some of the best lookin paleo babes I ever saw.. [behind him...]

eh, kinda revealing.. clarifies the choice so many Paleo youngsters have to make... a lifetime listing and looking at them or suicide?

you decide... ~:o
Posted by: Red Dawg || 10/23/2007 17:41 Comments || Top||

#9  Alas poor Khalid, I knew him well.
Posted by: gromgoru || 10/23/2007 19:32 Comments || Top||


Islamic Jihadi injured in Israeli jail riot dies
Let the seething and the falsifications begin! *clap, clap*

A Palestinian prisoner who was wounded in rioting at an Israeli desert prison died early Tuesday, prompting Palestinian threats of revenge and accusations that the man was abused by Israeli authorities.

The prisoner's death, along with an Israeli raid in the West Bank that killed two Palestinian militants, raised tensions at a time when the Israeli and Palestinian leaders are trying to move forward with preparations for a U.S.-sponsored peace conference later this year.

The Israeli Prisons Service said the wounded man died overnight at an Israeli hospital, hours after he was hit by a "non-lethal weapon" fired by guards during Monday's riot at the Ketziot prison. The prison guards' lives were in danger when they opened fire, it said. The prisons service did not elaborate on the cause of death and did not identify the dead inmate, saying only that he was 30 years old and had been serving a two-year sentence for harboring a wanted militant.

Ashraf Ajrami, minister of prisoner affairs in the Palestinian government, identified the dead man as Mohammed al-Ashkar, a member of the Islamic Jihad militant group. He said the relatively short sentence suggested his offense must have been minor.

Violence erupted before dawn Monday at Ketziot — where about 2,200 Palestinians are imprisoned for security offenses — when guards began searching prisoners' bunks for contraband. Ketziot is set up like a military camp, and security prisoners are quartered in tents rather than buildings. Prisoners torched several tents and attacked guards, injuring 15 of them, the prisons service said. When anti-riot forces moved in to quell the riot, 15 prisoners were injured, four of whom were taken to the hospital, including the man who later died. The other injured prisoners' lives were not in danger, the prisons service said.

Ajrami said the overnight sweep that sparked the rioting violated an agreement between the prisons service and inmates barring nighttime searches. " It was intended to destroy the political movement," he said. "It was intended as an oppressive act." Ian Domnitz, a prison service spokesman, said there was no such agreement with the prisoners.
Posted by: ryuge || 10/23/2007 07:06 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Islamic Jihad

#1  Cr@p! Here's the real link. Sorry.
Posted by: ryuge || 10/23/2007 7:14 Comments || Top||

#2  Hey! You forgot the sympathy meter!
Posted by: Lord Piltdown || 10/23/2007 10:21 Comments || Top||

#3  Question. Why do we have a picture of a Klingon under the article?
Posted by: gromgoru || 10/23/2007 11:05 Comments || Top||

#4  Got him betwixt the lookers with a rubber bullet, eh? Bon Voyage!

Wonder if he will get the full virgin compliment? Or will there be a discount owing to his being sent off by a non-lethal (heh, heh...) weapon?
Posted by: OyVey1 || 10/23/2007 13:03 Comments || Top||

#5  Here's a hint: Next time, don't riot.
Posted by: Zenster || 10/23/2007 13:21 Comments || Top||


Hamas, Islamic Jihad call truce
Hamas and Islamic Jihad agreed to a truce in the Gaza Strip after two days of deadly fighting. The truce, brokered by the Popular Resistance Committees, creates a strategic relationship between the two rival organizations, according to an Israel Army Radio report.

The fighting began after Islamic Jihad gunmen tried to kidnap a Hamas member in Gaza. In retaliation, Hamas captured 15 Islamic Jihad members, including the top commander in Rafah. Four were killed, including a 13-year-old, and more than 40 were injured. In recent weeks the groups have had a standoff over control of a southern Gaza mosque.
Posted by: Fred || 10/23/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under: Hamas

#1  including a 13-year-old

Where's Charli Enderlin?
Posted by: gromgoru || 10/23/2007 11:08 Comments || Top||


Four wounded in two IAF missile strikes in Gaza
Four Palestinians were wounded on Monday afternoon in two IAF missile strikes in Gaza, Palestinians reported. In the first incident, three Palestinian operatives were reportedly wounded in an IAF strike in northern Gaza. In the second strike, the IAF fired a missile at a car in Gaza City. The occupants of the vehicle reportedly escaped and a passerby was injured by shrapnel.
Posted by: Fred || 10/23/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Hamas


Sri Lanka
Suicide fighters launch ground assault: Tiger air force strikes again
The Tamil Tigers’ air wing bombed a north Sri Lanka air force base before dawn on Monday, the military said, while the Tigers said suicide fighters mounted their biggest ground assault since the two-decade civil war began. The rebel air strike in the north-central district of Anuradhapura comes months after the Tigers’ first ever air attacks using light aircraft smuggled into the country in pieces, and as near daily land, air and sea clashes occur.

Casualties: Nine servicemen were killed inside the base and 20 others were wounded in the attack, while four crew aboard a helicopter gunship, scrambled to search the area, were killed when it crash-landed several kilometres away, the military said. The crash was due to technical reasons and not rebel or friendly gunfire, it added. Twenty Tiger fighters were killed during a gunbattle at the base, the government said. There were no independent accounts of what happened or how many people were killed. The Tiger aircraft escaped. “We have found 20 bodies of LTTE cadres inside the base and we are doing a search operation to see if there are any more,” government defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said. “This will not deviate us from the fight against terrorism.”

An air force spokesman said two MI-24 helicopters and a training aircraft parked at the base were damaged in the attack. Residents in Anuradhapura, where police imposed a curfew, could still hear gunfire by early afternoon. A search operation was under way around the air force base, one of Sri Lanka’s largest. Air force fighter jets retaliated with bombing raids on a suspected rebel air strip at the town of Iranamadu, inside Tiger territory.

The Tigers’ air wing of light aircraft bombed oil installations and an air base adjacent to the island’s only international airport earlier this year. The Tigers have warned more such attacks could follow.

More attacks loom? “It was a combined operation of our air force and land troops and the target was the Anuradhapura air base, which functions as the logistics (base for the north),” rebel military spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiraiyan said by telephone from the Tigers’ northern de facto capital of Kilinochchi. “We have not ruled out the potential of more similar attacks in the future.” He said 21 Black Tiger suicide fighters took part in the ground assault. “It is the biggest operation of the Black Tigers since 1987,” he added. “We damaged eight of their aircraft at the base.” The Tigers e-mailed photographs of the suicide fighters, dressed in black and grey trademark Tiger-stripe fatigues, pictured with shadowy rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.

Monday’s attack in the north, where renewed civil war is now focused after troops drove the Tigers from bastions in the east of the island, comes after the military said dozens of Tigers were killed in heavy fighting in the north last week. An estimated 5,000 people have been killed since early last year, taking the death toll since the conflict erupted in 1983 to around 70,000.
Posted by: Fred || 10/23/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
UN Watchdog says don't invade Iran yet, still has 3-8 years to make A-Bomb
Snip, duplicate.
Posted by: Delphi || 10/23/2007 12:28 || Comments || Link || [6 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Except Iran's 3000 declared centrifuges can make enough HEU for one bomb/year, 50,000 is enough for 18 bombs/year. Guess ElBaradei wants to make sure the 12th Imam (Armageddon) mullahs have a plentiful stockpile to make their dreams come true.
Posted by: ed || 10/23/2007 13:39 Comments || Top||

#2  I wonder if ElBaradei is a 12th Imam adherent?
Posted by: danking70 || 10/23/2007 14:21 Comments || Top||

#3  It'd be terrible if something happened to ElBaradei. *sniff*
Posted by: Crusader || 10/23/2007 16:26 Comments || Top||

#4  Iran has been at it for how many years now with all the information that is available on the subject and they're still three to eight years from producing a bomb? When the US started the Manhattan Project in June 1942 it only took them three years to produce a weapon from scratch. So either the Iranians are that much dumber or else someone is being deceived.
Posted by: Abu Uluque6305 || 10/23/2007 16:27 Comments || Top||

#5  Iran would need another three to eight years to make a nuclear bomb... Unless they bought some from Russia.
Posted by: GK || 10/23/2007 16:46 Comments || Top||

#6  I strongly doubt that Radical Iran = Radical Islamis, will wait that long. Presuming that it does take a full 80 years for Iran's economy to privatize [as announced yestiddy], even non-Radicalist,loyal or moder Muslims must had been shocked at this latter news. *80 YARNS FOR THE MOUDIAN APOCALYPSE + GLOBAL MUSLIM-ISLAMIST STATE + MODERNITY, ETC. - IMO DON'T THINK SO!?
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 10/23/2007 18:34 Comments || Top||

#7  80 YEARS > not even the anti-US Lefties, Commies, and Globalists, etal. wanna wait that long. WHat more the Spetzlamists?
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 10/23/2007 18:36 Comments || Top||

#8  Discussion is mainly academic. As the Sept incident pointed out, when Israel is convinced the time is critical, it'll be "Turn out the lights ... The Party's over."
Posted by: doc || 10/23/2007 19:16 Comments || Top||

#9  TOPIX NEWS > FREEREPUBLIC > IRAN ACCUSES USA, ISRAEL OF MAKING GENETIC BOMB, COLLECTING GENE SAMPLES FROM IRANIANS. The Genocide/Ethnic Bomb for US-Zionist OWG???; + WAFF.com Poster [see PAYVAND.com IRAN NEWS > WORLD OIL OUPUT TO DECLINE BY HALF BY 2030 - GET READY FOR WAR. Peak Oil was soooo 2006. "ENTIRE WORLD IS ON VERGE OF MAJOR STRUCTURAL CHANGE", whether it wants it or not, likes it or not, planned for it or not, and no one knows for sure how what/which changes will work for humanity.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 10/23/2007 20:05 Comments || Top||


Hezbollah hands over letter from missing Israeli airman
Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah has given Israel a letter written by an air force navigator who has been missing for more than 20 years, an Israeli newspaper reported on Monday. Written by Ron Arad to his wife in 1986 shortly after he was captured in Lebanon during the civil war, the letter was handed over to Israel as part of a prisoner and body swap with Hezbollah last week.

His wife Tami confirmed the letter was from her husband by the handwriting and the intimate endearments they used for each other, Israel’s top-selling Yediot Aharonot newspaper reported. Arad has been missing since he ejected from an fighter-bomber in 1986 during Lebanon’s 1975-90 civil war. He was captured by another Shiite movement, Amal, headed by Nabih Berri who is now speaker of the Lebanese parliament. Israel refuses to declare Arad officially dead. In January 2006, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah said he was probably dead although he had no proof.
Posted by: Fred || 10/23/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [7 views] Top|| File under: Hezbollah

#1  Written by Ron Arad to his wife in 1986 shortly after he was captured in Lebanon

....which means unless he died of the chickenpox, he was probably executed murdered soon after his capture.
Posted by: Besoeker || 10/23/2007 2:36 Comments || Top||

#2  These creatures are like a f*cking Delgonian Overlords---extract any available amount of suffering from their victims (Arad's family)
Posted by: gromgoru || 10/23/2007 11:11 Comments || Top||

#3  Yup, Israel has bought and paid for Arad's letter ten times over. Nasrallah is directly behind this vicious cruelty and all of it pivots upon the potential release of child-killer Samir Kuntar which continues to feed this entire Kabuki act. This entire farce is designed to fuel internal dissension within Israel and put the Jews at each others' throats whilst Nasrallah gleefully steps back and only reaches in to twist the blade every so often.

Nasrallah should have been Yassinated many years ago, even if it required killing him in a packed kindergarten schoolhouse.
Posted by: Zenster || 10/23/2007 13:57 Comments || Top||


Good morning...
Posted by: Fred || 10/23/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Give me some of that old time.... zazen.
Posted by: Besoeker || 10/23/2007 2:46 Comments || Top||



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Two weeks of WOT
Tue 2007-10-23
  PKK offers conditional ceasefire
Mon 2007-10-22
  Bobby Jindal governor of Louisiana
Sun 2007-10-21
  Four dozen Talibs banged in Musa Qala area
Sat 2007-10-20
  Waziristan to be pacified 'once and for all'
Fri 2007-10-19
  Binny's handler was incharge of Benazir's security
Thu 2007-10-18
  Benazir Bhutto survives bomb attack
Wed 2007-10-17
  Putin warns against military action on Iran
Tue 2007-10-16
  Time for Palestinian State: Rice
Mon 2007-10-15
  Six killed, 25 injured as terror strikes Indian town of Ludhiana
Sun 2007-10-14
  Khamenei urges Arabs to boycott Mideast meet
Sat 2007-10-13
  Wally accuses Hezbullies of planning to occupy Beirut
Fri 2007-10-12
  Sufi shrine kaboomed in India
Thu 2007-10-11
  Wazoo ceasefire
Wed 2007-10-10
  Gunmen kidnap director of Basra Int'l Airport
Tue 2007-10-09
  Al Qaeda deputy killed in Algeria: report


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