Using them as a chew-toy for a while is perfectly acceptable. Feeding them is not. Please don't feed the trolls.
Our Toronto troll ('CR' in yesterday's nym) is now banned. We don't need his spoor here at the Burg. He joins Aris (for example) in the permanent poop-list.
Posted by: Steve White ||
03/17/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Unfortunately, Rantburg is rather easily trolled. All you have to do is look at any article with 30+ comments, and you're sure to find a dissenting commenter there. :(
#3
Dissent should not be equated to trolling. I'm not sure how to define trolling, but I know it when I read it. I suppose you could troll iwthout dissenting just by being a disagreeable commenter.
A commenter who's only goal at his entry is to cause anger and disharmony in the forum. Not to be confused with actual dissenting arguments, that are backed up with facts that lead to a true discussion about events. A troll's only goal is to cause spittle flying rage with their caustic postings.
#6
TRUE CONFESSIONS: I began my Rantburg life as an angry, bespittled mouth foaming Troll-lite. Thankfully, after 6 months of on-line therapy and rahab (thank you lotp, grom, and TW) I can honestly say that I am now a simple, (some say quite simple....) fully reformed dissident.
#8
Treasury and bank workers are taught how to detect counterfeit money by being intensely tutored in how the genuine article appears.
In my opinion, our very own Liberalhawk is a sterling example of an honorable liberal offering reasonable and civil opposition without being offensive. He attacks the problem, attacks the arguments, but never, to my recollection, has ever attacked the person. His approaches to problems are certainly different from the majority here, but one senses that he shares the goal of protecting the American people and preserving the American way of life.
I heard someone liken Americanism to being like a fireman's safety net that was held by all Americans: each pulled the net in his own direction, but the end result was a taut and usable instrument of rescue. I see LH and his honorable fellows as being on the other side of the net.
My objection is to those who cut the net up in the name of "patriotism" and "liberty" and exercising their "freedoms".
#9
Well said, Ptah. I usually disagree strongly with LH but in my experience he has kept his arguments within the bounds of relative propriety. Of course, in a place called "Rantburg," one might expect a bit of latitude in that area...
#12
Thank you all, but in fairness, as Im sure youre aware, Im really not all THAT liberal. Im pretty much of an old school hawk - yeah I like democracy even for muslims, whom I dont attack - but in that Im no different from mainstream gardern variety Weekly Standard neocons. I dont think the EU is a bad thing for the US - again, something I have in common with a moderate leaning neocon like Robert Kagan. I lean more to the the hawkish Labour/Kadima "we've got to negotiate with SOMEBODY" approach to Israeli politics rather than the Netanyahu approach - again, Paul Wolfowitz was on the same wavelength. On domestic politics Im pretty much a Clintonite New Democrat, which again, is NOT that liberal (in the post-1932 USA sense, dont start in again on "classical" liberalism)(and Im talking Bill - Hillary, much though I prefer her over Obama, is a tad left of Bill - thats not all an act, its authentic I think). One of the things Ive tried to educate people here about is how much bitterness there is within the Dem party about that (thats a bit suppressed now - being out of power will do that - although its not far under the surface).
There are definitely positions to MY left that are NOT treasonous or vile (even if they are misguided IMO). It would be nice if we could occasionally discuss them here. Although I wouldnt want to see debates even with them become central. Because to me, Rantburg is NOT really a place for political debate of any kind. Its a place for strategic/tactical discussion of the WOT, analysis of the chess game, etc. I find many of the right wing posts here distracting from that (and hence trollish) as much as the leftwing ones. I havent been afraid to say so, even against posters as strong in their opinions as .com, or others. That may have given me an unearned reputation as "left".
I remember Aris as expressing opinions that while too my left, were in that area that I would call "not vile", and ones that we should have been able to deal with. Unfortunately he was somewhat thin skinned, and when folks gave him minor jabs, he lost it. Thats not really trolling which is posting for the purpose of disruption. MAybe he did that sometimes, I dont recall most of his posts as being like that.
#13
LH, I agree with your second paragraph. I also find some of the 'kill them all' comments trollish.
I didn't find Aris that that trollish either. It was just his debating style was rather juvenile - endlessly restating his same point. I was surprised he got banned, but then I wasn't around at the time he got banned, so maybe he overstepped the mark.
#14
Aris had a visceral anti-America streak that would have made it easy for him to communicate effectively with the Rev. Wright, but made him less than effective at the 'burg. His skin seemed to get thinner with time and the bickering threads were an annoyance that made his banishment a welcome move from my perspective.
#15
Aris did overstep and that's why he was banned.
Trolling gets you banned -- after you've been chewed on. Being overly difficult with one's commenting style might, in extreme cases, also get you banned, though we've fortunately done it only a couple times. We've come to the realization that a person can be destructive without being a troll, and if a person gets to that point we ask them to leave.
We're NOT going to ban people just because they dissent, even if they're vociferous about it. Dissent IS necessary in a democratic society.
Hope that clears it up. AoS.
Posted by: Steve White ||
03/17/2008 10:53 Comments ||
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#16
I don't remember Aris spewing any spittle. He just kept beating around the bush until I couldn't follow it any further. I think he was more incoherent than he was evil. But, in the end, I think his downfall was that he detracted from the discussion far more than he ever added. It was like somebody chewing gum in my ear or working a candy wrapper in a theater.
#17
extra chocolate to Ptah and Lib-Hawk next time we get a confirmed kill.
i'm here for the WOT news that i can't get on the 'other' side of the net for all the idiots behind me running with scissors and screaming talking points in my ears...
#19
I'm with a lot of the above, mainly with Besoeker. I have learnt a lot here, and come here every day for the real news that gives me a near complete picture from people who know what they're on about. (Mainly WOT). So, slot the troll, just wasting bandwith and everyones time.
#22
I'm also against waterboarding (most times, anyways) so I'm with you.
Posted by: Steve White ||
03/17/2008 18:12 Comments ||
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#23
I'm looking forward to the horrified news reports when waterboarding becomes a common fraternity hazing practice. Goodness knows it's safer than some of the other things they do when the grown-ups aren't watching. ;-)
Ptah and liberalhawk, beautifully said. Dear Besoeker, you were not the first to arrive foaming at the mouth -- some because they assumed we were white, racist, Christianist, ignorant warmongers... others who assumed we were ignorant, civilian, armchair generals who understand neither how critically important fighting this war to the knife is, nor what the troops really go through. Then there's the third group, who were so relieved to find an entire group of people who understand what they had figured out in isolation that they had to dump their accumulated frustrations before they could talk sensibly.
The best of the those have stayed to become valuable contributors. The others remain chew toys until they get banned.
Aris contributed a valuable viewpoint until his frustration that real-world America does not match his imagined, Platonic ideal anti-Greece, plus the responses he got from real live Americans who refused to be lectured by a callow youth whose knowledge was not nearly as broad and deep as he believed, resulted in the end in posts that were nothing but baiting and insults for the objects of his anger. phil_b, you missed the 100-comment threads Aris provoked, and the posters who left because of him. Unlike Zenster, whom I believe honestly didn't understand what people got mad about, these last few outings Aris knew what he was about, and did it deliberately.
#24
I'm looking forward to the horrified news reports when waterboarding becomes a common fraternity hazing practice. Goodness knows it's safer than some of the other things they do when the grown-ups aren't watching. ;-)
I thought it _was_ a common fraternity hazing practice.
Anyway, I don't really believe we should waterboard terrorist suspects.
KABUL - An Afghan armed woman and several Taliban militants were killed by US-led coalition forces and seven more insurgents were killed by indigenous police forces, officials said on Sunday.
Coalition forces killed several militants including an armed woman during a search operation in Tani district of south-eastern province of Khost on Saturday, US military said in a statement on Sunday. After the first round of engagement, in which several Taliban militants were killed, the combined forces identified an armed militant, who made threatening gestures and presented an imminent threat, the statement said.
Coalition forces responded in self-defence, engaging and killing the armed individual, it said, adding, Coalition forces discovered the dead militant armed with an AK-47 assault rifle was a woman after the engagement.
It's an old joke, but I do wonder whether she gets 72 virgin boys ...
Two other militants were arrested by the combined forces, who told the joint forces that the armed woman was sent out to determine coalition forces locations.
Meanwhile, four militants were killed after they attacked a police outpost in Nangarhar province, near border with Pakistan, Abdul Ghafour, a police spokesman told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa. The attack took place in early hours of Sunday, he said, adding that there were no Afghan police casualties during the firefight.
Three other militants were killed in a fight with police in Musa Qala district of southern Helmand province on Saturday, said Mohammad Hussain Andewal, provincial police chief.
Posted by: Steve White ||
03/17/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
It's an old joke, but I do wonder whether she gets 72 virgin boys ...
Judging by the kill ratio, I'd say 72 freshly planted virgin jihadis.
Posted by: ed ||
03/17/2008 1:00 Comments ||
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#3
Nope. Koran does not mention anything about sex for women admitted in Paradise. If they get to it, a big if since there will be very few of them, they only go to the lower of Paradise's seven layers.
#4
Stop humiliating their women. These guys have it made. Wouldn't it be nice if us normal guys could just throw a sack over our wives heads and tell them to shut up and get us a beer. And if we want to upgrade, we just gotta say I divorce you three times. Where did we go wrong?
Okay folks, THIS is a troll. Chew him, slap him around, make him cry for his mommy, but don't feed him. AoS.
#5
So that's how you want to do it in Toronto, troll? Be my guest to try.
Here in the US some of us women respect ourselves and our men more than that. Not to mention being NRA life members and able to defend ourselves if it comes to it.
#6
I find it difficult to believe a ?culture? that denies women the right to an education, a job or a car will welcome them as fighters. More likely carrying guns and ammo that were too heavy for some limp wristed lion of pisslam to carry. All the goats and mules were out on "dates"...
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
03/17/2008 11:27 Comments ||
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#7
I find it difficult to believe a ?culture? that denies women the right to an education, a job or a car will welcome them as fighters.
Its an old saying that 'when they send the old men and boys out to fight, you know they're losing'. When a culture that so devalues the female gender as much as the muzzies do, it's the same thing. Sort of on the last desperate actions of the Confederacy to 'free' slaves who'd enroll in the army.
The idea of arming slaves for use as soldiers was speculated on from the onset of the war, but not seriously considered by Davis or others in his administration.[5] Though an acrimonious and controversial debate was raised by a letter from Patrick Cleburne[6] urging the Confederacy to raise black soldiers by offering emancipation, it wouldn't be until Robert E. Lee wrote the Confederate Congress urging them that the idea would take serious traction. On March 13, the Confederate Congress passed General Order 14, and President Davis signed the order into law. The order was issued March 23, 1865, but only a few African American companies were raised. Two companies were armed and drilled in the streets of Richmond, Virginia shortly before the besieged southern capital fell.
-
#12
I think he is not troll but someone who tried to make a joke.
Nah, it's the Toronto Troll. It obviously failed the standards for Canadian Comedian Export.
You can dislile it but he was not trying to make us angry.
Of course not! Everyone knows that folks from the Toronto region don't do that. Why, they's cosmopolitan, donchaknow! A little piece of urbane and sophicated Europe right (or should I say, left) here in North America!
#13
It's that difficulty in discriminating between true asses and overly subtle humour that led to the use of smileys like ;-) and pseudoprogramming tags like /sarcasm or /end sarcasm. There's interesting information on the Site Meter in the right column, for those more clever than I to interpret, as well.
#14
It's that difficulty in discriminating between true asses and overly subtle humour that led to the use of smileys like ;-) and pseudoprogramming tags like /sarcasm or /end sarcasm. There's interesting information on the Site Meter in the right column, for those more clever than I to interpret, as well.
Al-Qaeda-linked militants who abducted two Austrians in Tunisia want a five-million-euro (7.8-million-dollar) ransom, Monday's edition of Austria's Kurier newspaper reported.
The newspaper cited an "informed source" without giving further details. Wolfgang Ebner, 51, and Andrea Kloiber, 44, were abducted three weeks ago by the Al-Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb -- an Algerian-based offshoot of Al-Qaeda -- as they were vacationing in the Tunisian desert.
Earlier Sunday, the kidnappers extended the original deadline for their demands to be met, which had been set at Sunday midnight. They have been calling for the release of prisoners in Algeria and Tunisia.
A source close to the Austrian team managing the crisis in Vienna said that the group was demanding a ransom, a report confirmed by sources in northern Mali where according to some sources, the two men are being held. Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik has said that every effort was being made to free the two men. Officially, Vienna has repeatedly stated that it would not negotiate with the kidnappers, but Plassnik confirmed that a former Austrian ambassador had been sent to Mali.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/17/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
will Austria's version of holding tough be to only pay 4.9 Million Euro
#2
I'm confused here. Yesterday's article mentioned a man and a woman being held hostage. Today it's two men. Which is it? 'Andrea' is more likely to be a woman's name than a man's. Just more sloppy "journalism"?
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
03/17/2008 12:10 Comments ||
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#3
is the dollar that weak that they now ask for rueos or is this just a European article?
#4
Andrea and Andreas can both be masculine names in the Germanic part of Europe at least. I've no idea if either is common elsewhere on the continent. It could also be that the previous reporter assumed that Andrea is female, rather than checking with the Austrian foreign ministry.
A young German-born Turk could possibly have carried out an attack in Afghanistan that killed two US soldiers. The Islamic Jihad Union claims 28-year-old Cüneyt C. from Bavaria was responsible for the March 3 attack, now the German authorities are desperately trying to find out the bomber's identity.
His last mission began at exactly 4.04 p.m. on March 3. The driver pulled up his blue Toyota Dyna truck in front of the Sabari district center in the eastern Afghan province of Khost. The motor was still running when he hit the detonator. The force of the blast shook the earth and caused the guard post to collapse, trapping dozens of US soldiers under the rumble. The explosion was so forceful that eye witnesses assumed there had been a rocket attack on the building that the US army had built just two months previously.
Chaos followed the explosion. Fighters armed with AK47s lunged at the US soldiers at the entrance hoping to storm the building, but the soldiers were able to defend themselves. Hours after the attack doctors and soldiers, who had been deafened by the blast, were digging in the rubble, while helicopters flew the injured away. Two US soldiers were pulled out dead, dozen others were seriously injured. It was the worst attack on the ISAF forces this year in Afghanistan, just one hour away from the Pakistan border.
Cause chaos and confusion with a bomb, then attack with armed fighters and try to storm -- this has been a typical Taliban tactic since the bloody and symbolic attack on Kabul's luxury Serena Hotel in January. And the script was followed after the attack too, with a spokesperson for the religious warriors quickly boasting about the attack. As is so often the case, he exaggerated the number of victims and was extremely pleased with the attack on one of the US army's symbolic projects in Khost.
Since March 6, German investigators have also been looking into the incident. Ever since experts at the Berlin-based Joint Counter-Terrorism Center (GTAZ) discovered an Internet message that included the photograph of a grinning bearded man they have been pulling out all the stops to investigate the case. There are indications that the Khost bomber was no Afghan or Pakistani radical. In fact it is likely that the perpetrator was a Turkish citizen from Bavaria, born in Freising and regarded as a dangerous Islamist. If it was him, it would be nightmare for the investigators -- the first suicide bomber from Germany. Rest at link.
Posted by: ed ||
03/17/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Don't discount the Germans on this. They know what to do.
#3
I think they prefer terms like Hispanic Americans or Americans of Hispanic origin or maybe even chicanos, Besoeker. Actually, I think the term chicano has gone out of style. It's hard to keep up with these things if you're an old white guy like me. I don't always get the memos. But, despite my resentment of illegal immigration I must say that Hispanics tend to love life as much as we do, unlike the devil worshipping muzzies.
#4
The Turks don't do much integrating into German society, so saying "German-born Turk" is the most accurate way to identify him. The fact that he's a suicide bomber shows once more that Islam trumps politics or culture in the minds of these pieces of unregurgitated fecal matter. Germany has a problem on their hands, and I think they finally realize it.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
03/17/2008 12:17 Comments ||
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#5
And the Germans don't do much assimilating of immigrants, so it's not surprising they have alienated ethnic groups. The fact that most of the Islamonuts in the US are native born converts or immigrants who were wacko before they got here shows me that Islam is not an insuperable barrier to integration.
#6
I believe Nimble Spemble is right. We should not be doing business - at least not the way we are - with Saudi, China, etc. We are paying for the weapons that will cut our throats.
But if France, Germany, the UK, etc. could welcome and integrate newcomers the same way the United States, Canada and Australia do we would have a far smaller problem to contend with.
And of course the left wants us to emulate the Europeans.
#7
If I recall correctly, Turks living abroad (for however many generations) who give up their Turkish citizenship lose all right to inherit in Turkey. Apparently this is one of the factors discouraging Turks going for German citizenship. It used to be that it was very difficult for foreign citizens (like the third generation of a family of Turks settled in Germany) to acquire German citizenship, but some years ago the requirements were significantly eased, I believe.
SRINAGAR: A Lieutenant Colonel and a jawan were killed and three other army personnel injured in a gun battle with militants in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday.
The encounter broke out between militants and security forces when the latter came under fire from the militants during a routine operation in Dangiwacha area of Baramulla district, official sources said. Five security personnel were injured in the firing by militants. Two of them later succumbed to their injuries.
Defence spokesman Lt Col A K Mathur said Lt Col B Kadam and Pradeep Kumar were killed in the action against the militants.
Asked about the fate of the militants, he said although the firing has stopped, he would not be able to comment on that immediately.
Efforts were on to flush out the militants, who had taken shelter in the densely populated village, the sources said adding the security forces were trying to ensure that there was no collateral damage in the gun battle. Two militants are believed to be hiding in the village, they said.
Meanwhile, militants hurled a hand grenade at the house of a municipal councillor in Bandipora town on late Saturday night. The explosive missed the intended target and there was not damage due to the blast, police said. A live grenade was recovered from an orchard in Bandipora district which was neutralised safely.
Posted by: john frum ||
03/17/2008 06:32 ||
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#1
"Jawan Killed"
Not Dr. Rusty!
http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/
(IANS) A senior Indian Army officer, a trooper and a top guerrilla commander were killed and two others were wounded in a day-long fierce gunfight in a Jammu and Kashmir town Sunday. A senior police officer said security forces surrounded a house in the Chatloora locality of north Kashmirs Sopore town, 50 km from here, on specific information about presence of a top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander.
As the troops of 22 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Special Operations Froup (SOG) were busy in house to house searches, the LeT militant opened heavy fire at the security forces. The fire was returned, and a fierce gunfight ensued, the officer said. In the heavy firing Lt. Col. Kadam of 22 Rashtriya Rifles and a trooper were killed on the spot, the officer told IANS here. A CRPF trooper and a special police officer were wounded during the day-long gunfight and were taken to hospital for treatment.
Later, security forces gunned down the holed-up militant while he was trying to flee. One house was destroyed during the gun battle, the police said.
Militants also threw a hand grenade at the house of an opposition National Conference (NC) municipal councillor at Bandipore, 54 km from here in north Kashmir. However, the grenade missed the target and exploded on the road outside the house.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/17/2008 00:00 ||
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At least four people were killed and five injured when two groups from Bugti clashed over unknown reasons in the Uch area of Dera Bugti late on Sunday night. The identity of those killed could not be ascertained immediately. Security forces have been sent to the area.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/17/2008 00:00 ||
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Four policemen were injured when an improvised explosive device (IED), planted by unknown militants, exploded in Mardan on Sunday, a police officer said. The IED device detonated when a police mobile van was passing by it in the Chowary Dheri police area, Mardan District Police Officer Muhammad Tahir Khan said, adding that the four had been admitted to hospital.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/17/2008 00:00 ||
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A remote-controlled bomb exploded moments after an army convoy passed by it in the Kala Kalay area of tehsil Kabal, Swat, on Sunday. No casualties occurred in the blast, which took place at 4am.
Separately, security forces fired at a car that was taking a pregnant woman to Matta hospital, for violating the curfew. The woman died instantly. We deeply regret the incident and loss of precious life, a military statement said.
Meanwhile, the security forces arrested Excise Inspector Adalat Khan and clerk Ibrahim in Qambar and Amankot for their alleged links with the Taliban. They were moved to an undisclosed location for investigation.
This article starring:
Adalat Khan
Taliban
Posted by: Fred ||
03/17/2008 00:00 ||
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At least 20 people were killed as several missiles hit a house in South Waziristan Agency on Sunday afternoon, locals told Daily Times. Seven missiles landed on the house of Haji Nurullah in Toog village, located four kilometres south of Wana, the regional headquarters of the South Waziristan Agency. Local journalist Sailab Mehsud said 20 people were killed and another five wounded in the missile attack. He said
All those who died were Arabs and Turkmen, who had gathered at the house when the attack occurred.
all those who died were Arabs and Turkmen, who had gathered at the house when the attack occurred.
It could not be confirmed where the missiles came from, but locals told Mehsud they were fired from two unmanned aircrafts. An elder, who asked not to be named, told Daily Times that the house of Nurullah, where the Arabs were holding a meeting, was situated about half a kilometre from the station of Taliban commander Maulvi Nazir in South Waziristan. Nazir remained unhurt, but the attack left at least 15 Arabs dead, added the elder who said he heard three huge blasts that jolted the area around the site of the attack. The initial three explosions were followed by four more blasts, said the unnamed elder, adding the attack was carried out around 3pm. He said the foreigners often gathered at the house and held meetings there.
Military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas was not available for comments to Daily Times. He told AFP that he had received reports about the blasts, but had no details about casualties yet. We are trying to get more details, Abbas said.
Taliban cordon: Taliban and their local supporters cordoned the compound to retrieve the bodies from the rubble, said the elder. He said they did not see or hear any aircrafts, but such attacks had been blamed on unmanned drones in the past. State news agency APP said mortar shells were also fired on the house. Two Pakistani intelligence officials in the area, both speaking on condition of anonymity because of the nature of their work, told the Associated Press that another house nearby was also destroyed. Arab and Uzbek militants had been staying in the house, which belongs to a tribesman named Safraz Khan, the news agency quoted them as saying. Eight to ten people were killed in the second house, the intelligence officials said.
This article starring:
Haji Nurullah
Taliban
Maulvi Nazir
Taliban
Safraz Khan
Taliban
Posted by: Fred ||
03/17/2008 00:00 ||
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#6
please make my day and tel me that was the crater it left, also weren' their a bunch of chechen fighters i say russia owes us about a price of a missile each
The capital police arrested 232 suspects over Saturdays bombing of an Italian restaurant in Islamabad, a senior security official said on Sunday. Those who were arrested include students of various madrassas of Islamabad, he said. He said police was questioning them.
Another senior police official said a team consisting of police, Crime Investigation Agency and Federal Investigation Agency had been formed to probe into the bombing.
4 kg IED: Forensic experts had collected evidence from the crime scene, he said, and investigators believed an improvised explosive device (IED) of around 4 kilogrammes (kg) was used in the attack. The restaurant staff is also being questioned. Kohsar police has registered a report against unidentified terrorists.
Foreign diplomats: Foreign diplomats shaken by Saturdays bombing expressed concerns over the deteriorating security situation in Pakistan. It was the first calculated effort to target westerners in Pakistan since the start of [the] war on terror and it sent a shockwave among diplomats and westerns working in Pakistan, a diplomat said, seeking anonymity because they arent allowed to comment on the internal situation of a country. Diplomats said it was a serious security lapse that could have been avoided.
US embassy: A notice posted to the US Embassys website late on Saturday urged Americans to avoid areas where Westerners are known to congregate and to maintain a low profile. It said US citizens should stay alert, be aware of their surroundings, reduce travel to a minimum, and act self-defensively at all times.
The Turkish Embassy said in a statement on Sunday that it supported Pakistan in its fight against terrorism. Turkey follows the terror attacks, which target the peace and stability of the Pakistani people with grief and great concern, it said.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/17/2008 00:00 ||
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The target of the bombing at an Italian restaurant in Islamabad on Saturday was Trish, the FBI Operations chief in Pakistan. Quoting its sources, ARY TV channel reported on Sunday that Trish was the second highest-ranking US official in Pakistan and had been the terrorists actual target. It said that she had been injured during the blast but was currently in stable condition. She was shifted from the Polyclinic to Al-Shifa Hospital at the request of the US Embassy, the channel added.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/17/2008 00:00 ||
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Three Saudi nationals who were illegally staying in troubled areas in Pakistan have been expelled by the authorities and sent back to Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Interior Ministry said in a statement on Sunday. The statement, carried by the official Saudi Press Agency, said two of the three had already contacted the Saudi Embassy in Pakistan expressing readiness to return home and give themselves up.
The ministry did not identify the men or link them to Al Qaeda, but said, They will be treated according to the rules applied in the kingdom. It said the three were allowed to meet their relatives. For the past three years, Saudi authorities have released several hundred prisoners related to Al Qaida who repented and renounced violence after passing through a rehabilitation programme which included lengthy talks with psychiatrists, Muslim clerics and sociologists. ap
Posted by: Fred ||
03/17/2008 00:00 ||
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[5 views]
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A suicide bomber struck Shiite worshippers in Karbala in central Iraq on Monday, killing 37 people and wounding more than 50 others, an interior ministry official said. The attack took place in a cafe in the center of the city close to Shiite shrines, Reuters reported, citing police. The worshippers were gathered near the Imam Hussein shrine, one of the holiest sites for Shiites, the Associated Press reported. Police reportedly said the attacker was a woman but provided no other immediate details.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/17/2008 14:32 ||
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Fierce clashes broke out on Sunday between Shia militants and Iraqi police in the restive province of Diyala, in which at least seven people were killed, a local police officer said.
The fighters loyal to radical cleric Moqtada Al-Sadr clashed with police in the villages of Kharnabat and Al-Huwaidar, north of Baquba, the provincial capital, said Lieutenant Colonel Najim Al-Sumaidaie from Baquba police.
He said five militants from Sadrs Mahdi Army militia and two policemen were killed in the clashes. The fighting follows similar clashes between Mahdi Army militiamen and Iraqi police and troops this week in the central Iraqi city of Kut in which at least 19 people were killed. Sadr has ordered his militiamen to observe a ceasefire he declared late August and renewed on February 22, but admits there are splits in his movement.
Though the young cleric, earlier this month, announced he would spend more time on his religious studies, his aides have said he remains in overall control of his militia and has not withdrawn from the political scene. US military commanders refer to Mahdi Army fighters refusing to lay down their arms as rogue elements, some of whom they say have crossed into Iran for training.
US military spokesman Rear Admiral Gregory Smith on Sunday said the fighting in Kut was localised. In most instances these are local groups which are having their differences, which are being dealt with through violence, Smith told a news conference. It is limited. It is on a limited scale. The security forces have for the most part dealt with the violence. We do not view it as a widespread issue of concern outside Kut.
In other violence on Sunday, one person was killed when a car bomb in Baghdads western Mansur neighbourhood targeted a convoy of four-wheel drive vehicles usually used by private security contractors, an Interior Ministry official said.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/17/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[3 views]
Top|| File under: Mahdi Army
#1
In Kut, it's Shia on Shia for the entertainment value. In Diyala, it's a complex mix of tribal and Shia / Sunni fighting.
The goal is to find a balance where both Shia and Sunni, and each tribe, gets most of what they want. In this region, long before we came, balance was imposed by force. We're trying negotiation and for the most part it's working.
For now, just think of it as a bad day in west LA.
#2
This is actually pretty interesting. From most of my reading, the police force is overwhelmingly Shia. That they are fighting against the more violent members of the Mahdi army is a great thing. Most likely these Mahdi guys are like a criminal gang, so as police they are doing their job. But doing their job is a huge step in the right direction. It seems the cops are getting better, just like the Iraqi army. All good!
Two rocket-propelled grenades have been fired at a memorial ceremony in Lebanon attended by an outspoken Hezbollah lawmaker. The incident occurred when Hezbollah MP Hussein al-Hajj Hassan was addressing the event in Minya, north of the city of Tripoli on Saturday, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the abduction of the activist, Yehya Skaff, who was reportedly jailed by Israel. The ceremony continued despite the rockets and no casualties were reported, a security official told AFP.
Minya is considered a stronghold of supporters of Lebanon's Western-backed government which is struggling with a political crisis.
More, from Ya Libnan
Two rockets were fired over a Hezbollah ceremony in this northern Lebanon village but no casualties were reported.
Attack, intimidation, or glorified gun sex?
The ceremony was in honor of Yehia Skaff, a member of Hezbollah militants who was abducted 30 years ago by Israel and is in Israeli jails. MP Hussein al-Haj Hassan a member of Hezbollah was addressing the event in Mennieh.
The security source said the rockets were fired before and at the end of the ceremony , but could not determine where they were fired from The Lebanese security authorities are at the scene and are not taking any chances, because the organizers were threatened earlier with attack if Hezbollah will be present at the ceremony Mennieh is a stronghold of parliament majority leader MP Saad Hariri . He said during a rally in 2005 " Martyr Prime Minister had special bonds with Mennieh. He used to say: Mennieh should be proud to be the home of the first Lebanese detainee in the prisons of the Israeli enemy Yehia Skaff."
Posted by: Fred ||
03/17/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[7 views]
Top|| File under: Hezbollah
#1
If they were really shooting at us, we'd be dead.
Hunt for Red October
Posted by: Bobby ||
03/17/2008 5:46 Comments ||
Top||
#3
Sherry, is "resetting my cookie" some new sexual innuendo/slang that the kids are all saying now?
Posted by: Scott R ||
03/17/2008 13:32 Comments ||
Top||
#4
I remember the TV show she hosted back (way back) when. She would sweep onto the set with a beautiful evening gown. Thought she was the most beautiful person in the world and she was graceful.
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.
KABUL - An Afghan armed woman and several Taliban militants were killed by US-led coalition forces and seven more insurgents were killed by indigenous police forces, officials said on Sunday.
Al-Qaeda-linked militants who abducted two Austrians in Tunisia want a five-million-euro (7.8-million-dollar) ransom, Monday's edition of Austria's Kurier newspaper reported.
At least four people were killed and five injured when two groups from Bugti clashed over unknown reasons in the Uch area of Dera Bugti late on Sunday night. The identity of those killed could not be ascertained immediately. Security forces have been sent to the area.
At least 20 people were killed as several missiles hit a house in South Waziristan Agency on Sunday afternoon, locals told Daily Times. Seven missiles landed on the house of 
The capital police arrested 232 suspects over Saturdays bombing of an Italian restaurant in Islamabad, a senior security official said on Sunday. Those who were arrested include students of various madrassas of Islamabad, he said. He said police was questioning them. 
Three Saudi nationals who were illegally staying in troubled areas in Pakistan have been expelled by the authorities and sent back to Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Interior Ministry said in a statement on Sunday. The statement, carried by the official Saudi Press Agency, said two of the three had already contacted the Saudi Embassy in Pakistan expressing readiness to return home and give themselves up.
Fierce clashes broke out on Sunday between Shia militants and Iraqi police in the restive province of Diyala, in which at least seven people were killed, a local police officer said.
