#1
It's a tough audience. They more than anyone understands that 'oops' means they or their buddies can face an immediate and irrevocable death, unlike millions of wannabee couch potatoes who think that pulling a switch or filling a little box is all there is to a republic. They have been and are the real 'community organizers' in this world for the last eight years [as their grandfathers and great grandfathers were 60 years ago] and deal in reality. They more than others can identify BS in a heartbeat. They understand what real leadership is. Offer them that and you can literally lead them to the edge of the world. However, you have to prove it by your actions and deeds, not talk it.
#1
Summary: leftists agree with leftist views, no matter where they come from. Since marxists and fascists are close philosophical cousins it shines new light on the term Islamo-fascist.
#3
They have appropriated many of the arguments of Marxists, of the anti-colonial and Third World movement, like social justice, transparency and better government and less brutalisation. At one level their arguments are quite appealing, like their argument on anti-globalisation and environment. Some of Al Qaeda's arguments are legitimate.
Only a fool would think these are Al Queda's arguments and not just platitudes to draw support from useful idiots.
#5
While some of their arguments may be legitimate, they blame others for the cause of their own misery. Radical Islam is the problem and the Judeo-Christian value system the true solution. Love of God is reflected in how we treat others. Justice, less brutality, transparency and better government, equality, and the opportunity to improve one's life is the heart of America, and killing Christians and Jews because they will not acknowledge Islam as superior is about as fallacious an argument as it gets. Fighting Al Qaeda must include education, but failure to learn to love ultimately will not be tolerated.
India has carried out a revaluation of its strategic options with Pakistan, and the coming years could witness an all-out strategy of coercion by it, a strategy so effectively applied by Israel in the Middle East. India's biggest advantage in conceptual and technical military cooperation with Israel lies in the fact that its technology is largely indigenous and facilitates material transfer with no end-user problems. Pakistan is already engaged in a war of attrition and the future will be a serious test of its strategy of defiance and ability to ride out the crises as a cohesive nation state.
There are reliable reports from Afghanistan that Indian contractors are busy building billets and accommodation in Kabul and Bagram to station two Indian divisions in the area. At the same time, bids have been invited by the US Corps of Engineers to construct a divisional size cantonment in Kandahar. Hypothetically, troops in the garb of protection for Indian investments will actually seal off Afghanistan's Pakhtun regions from the North. Then the US, NATO and Indian troops will go for an all-out counter insurgency operation in the cordoned off Pakhtun areas. The effects of spill-over into Pakistan would be pronounced and the Durand Line would become a figment of imagination. Premised on the romantic notion of Pakhtun nationalism, the doors to Pakhtunkhwa would be opened. The USA would then select the shortest route to Afghanistan through the Arabian Sea and Balochistan.
India's quest for security and response to perceived external threats is shaped and complicated by its past. India desires to exist as a great power with a capability of bullying its neighbours and turning them into vassal states. Pakistan has been the major impediment towards this India's quest for great-power status. Wary of the freedom struggle in Kashmir, an exaggerated threat of Islamic militants and fear of another Two Nation Theory from within, Indian strategists have been toying with the idea of using a small but lethal rapid-reaction force for a limited duration inside Pakistan. However, India cannot accomplish what it has failed to do in the past six decades, unless the breeze blows in its favour.
In the post-9/11 scenario, India sees an opportunity and is acting as a neo-realist to minimise the importance of Pakistan through high-profile coercion in line with international perceptions. In this India is even ready to forego its traditional mantra of keeping the great powers out of the region and to align with them for short-term gains. In the final analysis, India wishes to frame a politically discredited, ethnically fragmented, economically fragile and morally weak Pakistan. This can only happen if the role of the armed forces in Pakistan's policymaking is reduced, Punjab divided and the rallying call of Kashmir taken care of for good.
The Indian military structure is geared towards such a capability with active assistance from Russia and Israel, and now the USA and UK. Having allied itself closely with Israel, India will now seek a continuous harassment through heightened military coercion, control of river waters, diplomatic isolation and covert interference. Mumbai and any such incidents in future will continue to provide reason for such intimidation, all in concert with the US and western strategic objectives in the region.
Interestingly, much of the blame for having landed in the box and then pushed into a vulnerable position must also be shared by the Pakistani establishments of the past decade. Pakistan's declared nuclear capability was meant to deter all types of conflicts and pave the way for sustained economic growth, international stature, and a political solution of the Kashmir dispute, Through Kargil, Pakistan led India and the world to believe that notwithstanding a nuclear shadow, a limited military conflict in an existing conflict zone was still possible. Kargil, and later 9/11, changed international perceptions on an armed freedom struggle in Kashmir as well as Pakistan's relevance to the new form of threat: non-state actors. Seen in the backdrop of 9/11, it was the second effect that finally resulted in disownership of the freedom fighters in Kashmir by Pakistan while also resigning the Kashmir question to the impossibility of backdoor diplomacy.
The nuclear capability of Pakistan provides a very small window of opportunity to India to carry out a physical offensive action across the LoC or the international border. This action could be a raid in the form of hot pursuit through ground or helicopter-borne troops, precision air strikes with or without stand-off; remote-controlled targeting through a guided-missile attack, and in the worst case, an attempt to seize objectives close to the international border with little military but considerable political significance. India had a fully developed chemical weapons programme even before it signed the chemical weapons convention as a country not possessing chemical weapons. But it declared its arsenal soon after signing the convention and is not averse to using quickly diffusing chemical weapons. After 9/11, India has held war games and fine-tuned these concepts and implemented some in a very limited manner during the escalation on the LoC.
Hot pursuit, as the name suggests, is only possible in an already hot theatre like the LoC. These are launched through ground troops or heliborne forces. Such an option has little probability because of the bilateral ceasefire. But such an option, however remote, cannot be ruled out.
With the active assistance of Israel, some Indian aircrafts have acquired a beyond-visual-range, precision stand-off capability, something witnessed during the Kargil conflict. India may use its air force remaining inside its own territory and launch laser-guided munitions diagonally inside Pakistan. However, the selected targets should be within 20 kilometres of the LoC or the international border.
Precision strikes imply that Indian aircrafts will physically violate Pakistan's airspace and launch precision surgical strikes against selected targets from a very high altitude, or conventional bombing runs, or use heliborne troops. In such a situation, these aircrafts will be vulnerable to Pakistani air defence and the PAF.
In the cold start strategy, India positions forces with offensive capabilities in military garrisons close to the international border, equipped, trained and tasked to capture some nodal points along the international border, before the Pakistani forces can react. India may not succeed in such an operation without a massive air cover. In Indian strategic calculus, the timing and lightening speed of such operations will solicit immense international pressure on Pakistan so as to curtail Pakistan's conventional and nuclear response.
Notwithstanding such options hinging on military and diplomatic brinkmanship, India will benefit from the use of Israeli armed and surveillance drones operated by Israeli crews from inside India. Historical precedents for such cooperation already exist.
The whole body of war fighting reasoning in such limited conflicts warrants a level of rationality and comprehension of a common strategic language between the belligerents. This is technically impossible. Different actors would draw varying conclusions from an animated Graduated Escalation Ladder (GEL) always vulnerable to a Fire Break Point that could result in uncontrolled conventional and nuclear escalation. It is, therefore, most important that the decision to graduate a conflict rest solely with the political leaders of the country, wherein a common strategic parlance could be evolved with more ease.
Taking a leaf from the Israeli opaqueness in its nuclear doctrine, India over time has applied a conceptual innovation in her nuclear strategy. The Indian revision in the nuclear doctrine implies the ambiguity in the "no first use clause" through a declared no first use and pre-emptive retaliation to create a perception that it is making a coercive transaction from doctrine of limited conventional war to an opaque level of conflict in which the nuclear weapons remain in a very high state of alert. The implication is that India may flirt with the concept of a limited strategic coercion in the shadow of a very high non-degradable nuclear alert beyond Pakistan's capability to neutralise. It is also my opinion that, as of now, after having signed the Nuclear Deal with USA, India benefits from an extended US nuclear umbrella, and strategic and diplomatic support.
There are reliable reports from Afghanistan that Indian contractors are busy building billets and accommodation in Kabul and Bagram to station two Indian divisions in the area. At the same time, bids have been invited by the US Corps of Engineers to construct a divisional size cantonment in Kandahar. Hypothetically, troops in the garb of protection for Indian investments will actually seal off Afghanistan's Pakhtun regions from the North. Then the US, NATO and Indian troops will go for an all-out counter insurgency operation in the cordoned off Pakhtun areas. The effects of spill-over into Pakistan would be pronounced and the Durand Line would become a figment of imagination. Premised on the romantic notion of Pakhtun nationalism, the doors to Pakhtunkhwa would be opened. The USA would then select the shortest route to Afghanistan through the Arabian Sea and Balochistan.
Whatever the concept, scope and objective of such limited escalations, India, with its newfound allies, has decided to maintain a constant vigil and coercion of Pakistan over a prolonged period of time but well below a Fire Break Point. The obvious targets, in tandem, with its allies, will be addressed through diverse instruments like control of rivers, economics, diplomacy, international pressure, internal law and order, military intimidation and even insurgency. A trillion-dollar question is: will the USA be ready to occupy Balochistan for a secure supply corridor?
The war has already begun. The question is. When did it begin?
The writer is a retired brigadier of the Pakistani army
Posted by: john frum ||
01/03/2009 00:00 ||
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#1
Will the USA be ready to occupy Balochistan for a secure supply corridor?
#5
But, he is aware that borders are not immutable (no matter what the idiots in the UN claim) and thet Pakiwakiland's borders are definitely artifacts of colonialism and war and have no respect for the different peoples behind the border...
Sort of like Sudan should really be 3 countries (the Christian Animist South, the fake Arab North and Dafur of the West) or Nigeria 2 (Biafra and the Muslim North).
#6
The war has already begun. The question is. When did it begin?
When Pakistan/ISI-tool Taliban took over Afghanistan, and provided shelter to Al Qaeda, thinking that the nuclear bombs you bought from China with Saudi money would protect you. You started this war against civilization, Brigadier Samson Simon Sharaf. You would be wise to surrender now, before it gets ugly. Watch what Israel is doing to the Gaza Strip, my dear brigadier; imagine what Pakistan would look like should India and the United States together act against your country, currently proved to be the spider spinning the web of jihad against the West.
AS WORLD leaders and international organizations rush to rescue Hamas, Israel faces complex bat tlefield challenges - while fearing a stab in the back from the incoming Obama administration.
Israel's leaders are asking themselves two questions: Is the cost of sending sufficient ground forces into Gaza just too high? And, upon his inauguration on Jan. 20, will President Obama undercut Israel's counterterror offensive before its goals have been reached?
Israel can deal with self-aggrandizing busybodies, such as French President Nicolas Sarkozy, whose irresponsible attempts to force a cease-fire upon Israel benefit only Hamas. (Carla, can't you give that guy something to do?) But Israel would be hard pressed to fight on without American support.
As government leaders and generals in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv weigh the question of whether or not to send tanks into Gaza's streets, they hear the clock ticking. A major ground incursion would take time. Would Israel Defense Forces soldiers find themselves fighting on political quicksand?
Despite the frankly anti-Israeli and anti-Jewish reporting of this conflict in the global media, Israel's military performance not only has been technically superb, but has been as humane as possible under such difficult circumstances.
From earlier briefings in Israel, I know the IDF takes an almost absurd degree of care in its targeting. The questioning doesn't stop with "Is that the right building?" it then asks, "What should be our angle of attack to ensure any rubble falls into the street, not atop the primary school next door?" (Hamas consistently embeds terror facilities among innocent civilians.)
Hitting a terrorist hideout in an apartment building, for example, an F-16 would be armed with the smallest warhead that could do the job. If the terrorists are tucked into rooms on the fourth floor, targeting officers evaluate which window the guided missile should go through to kill the terrorists, while minimizing harm to civilians living below.
Any military veteran can tell that the Israelis are taking enormous care to spare civilians. Given the number of airstrikes thus far and the hundreds of tons of bombs dropped, it remains remarkable that so few innocents have been injured in such a dense urban environment.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
01/03/2009 16:15 Comments ||
Top||
#5
I liked this,
"...At the Al-Haras mosque in Hebron, Mr. al-Qawasmeh fingered his amber prayer beads and noted that "since 1924, when the [Islamic] caliphate was ended, the West has enjoyed the comfort" of the absence of Islam's influence.
"Only in the last few years has Islam posed a threat to the West and others," he said, "and only now have they begun to realize they will have to learn to live with us again."
#6
"and only now have they begun to realize they will have to learn to live with us again."
"live with" does not equal "tolerate without consequences". It means "misbehave and reap the whirlwind"
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/03/2009 19:15 Comments ||
Top||
#7
"only now have they begun to realize they will have to learn to live with us again"
Ummmmm - no, we don't. We have the capability to eliminate the whole damn lot of you.
That we don't indicates our stupidity compassion and decency. But you have it within your power to change that....
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
01/03/2009 19:56 Comments ||
Top||
#8
"Only in the last few years has Islam posed a threat to the West and others," he said, "and only now have they begun to realize they will have to learn to live with us again."
This part of what the muslim said is right. The question is, when do we stop pretending that if we say dire and threatening things they might stop pressing, and realise that the time for pressing back, hard, is here. In lieu of being tolerant and disdainful in hopes of prompting a more civil response, we need to press back hard, and confrontationally, every time. Imagine the reactions when they get confronted by people who just don't put up with their bullshit anymore. No victiom games, no race/religion game, just confrontation against their never-ending attempts to erode Western civilization and incrementally gain purchase, benefits, exceptions, and all the while subverting us in every way they can. The confrontation needs to start for each of us, in our own way, in our everyday lives. Stopping the call for prayer being broadcast loudly in your local community. Scrutiny of public activities at the mosque and the associated madrassah. Uncompromising resistance to requests for special rooms at the public facilities like airports, schools and hospitals unless equal accommodations are provided for all other religions. Scrutiny of texts and materials in schools.... you get the drift.
These folks don't want to assimilate, they are colonizing, creating little cultural no-go zones, with demands for sharia status to follow...
WAKE UP!
#9
The question is, when do we stop pretending that if we say dire and threatening things they might stop pressing, and realise that the time for pressing back, hard, is here.[?]
#11
These folks don't want to assimilate, they are colonizing, creating little cultural no-go zones, with demands for sharia status to follow...
YUP. This is jihad. And they know we are slow on the uptake. They also know that the average American doesn't really know jack about Islam--which if to their advantage.
#1
"left his family behind in Ramallah and converted to Christianity"
Anyone want to take a guess to what happens to the family, if a member becomes an apostate?
No matter the past affiliation, its good to know that he is now a fellow brother in Christ. See you in heaven, where there will be NO marriage. Hallelujah!!
Someone really needs to inform Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel editor Earl Maucker that newspapers nowadays are in the business of delivering information, not just print. We just saw an excellent example of why print needs to be supplemented by video, especially if the latter is necessary to convey the feeling of the event covered. This was illustrated by the incredibly lame coverage the Sun-Sentinel gave to a very intense pro-Hamas demonstration on Tuesday in downtown Fort Lauderdale. As a resident of this area, such demonstrations seem to be rather disconcerting since this seems to be something that usually happens in other parts of the world, not in this normally peaceable burg. Check out this video made by Tom Trento and judge for yourself if this demonstration warranted this rather laid back Sun-Sentinel coverage as written by Scott Wyman:
Protesters waving Palestinian flags and shouting "Free Palestine" squared off against supporters of Israel outside Fort Lauderdale's courthouse Tuesday evening over four days of warfare in the Gaza Strip.
More than 100 people accused the Israeli military of genocide and demanded an end to its airstrikes. Across Southeast Third Avenue, about two dozen people charged that the Gaza Strip is controlled by terrorists and demanded a stop to rocket attacks that Israel says prompted its actions.
The two sides traded chants as rush-hour traffic passed by and police officers stood watch.
"It's horrible not knowing if your uncle or your grandmother is dead," said Sammy Abu-Hamdeh of Pembroke Pines, who attended the pro-Palestinian rally. Allyn Kanowsky of Coral Springs on the pro-Israel side said, "If the Palestinians laid down their arms, there would be no war. If the Israelis laid down their arms, there would be no Israel."
Israel began its airstrikes Saturday, and reports place the death toll at 374. Israeli leaders say they are targeting Hamas militants who have ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007 and who they say are responsible for recent rocket fire into southern Israel.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators called on the United States to stop aid to Israel. Ahmad Suid of Naples brought his 8-year-old son and 9- and 10-year-old daughters to the rally holding signs saying "Stop the Genocide" and "I'm not a terrorist."
"This is absolutely inhumane," Suid said. "This is a modern-day holocaust."
Another rally for Israel is planned for Sunday at noon across from the Holocaust Memorial in Miami Beach. "We have to stand up for Israel and oppose the terrorist attacks that have been going on for way too long," said Rabbi Andrew Jacobs of Plantation.
What? There's some sort of law that says the Sun-Sentinel can't supplement its written reports with video? And where could they get such video? Why by searching YouTube. I'm sure Tom Trento would have granted the Sun-Sentinel permission for the use of the video. In fact, I'm sure Trento's YouTube video has had way more views (almost 53,000 as of this writing) than the Sun-Sentinel's written report which failed to relay any real sense of the insanity generated by the pro-Hamas crowd. And speaking of Tom Trento, he delivered a spot-on commentary about this demonstration at the tail end of his video:
Okay, I could provide a lot of commentary on what you just saw but I'll let the video speak for itself. The evening started off with a handful of Palestinian supporters and then grew and grew and grew for about two hours. Up to two or probably three hundred. And the intensity got more dramatic and more focused as the evening went on. And then the Imam had a call to prayer that you saw. And after that there was a fervor, an excitement, an agitation throughout the crowd. And as you saw, the crowd eventually wanted to go over to the side where the supporters of Israel were and to confront them and they moved that way. But for the police who pushed them back there may have been some problems. In any event this was not Gaza, it was not Paris, it was not London, it was not even Detroit. This was Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We have a lot of work to do in 2009. Take care.
And thank you, Tom Trento, for giving us an idea of what was really happening at that demonstration in downtown Ft. Lauderdale. Your video report provided us an insight that was pretty much lacking in the Sun-Sentinel story about the same event. Yet another illustration of why newspapers around the country are in a steep decline.
Remember, Earl, there's this internet thingy that you seem to be ignoring.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/03/2009 00:00 ||
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[11127 views]
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#1
Task-force Plantation is getting ready to kick your ass.
#3
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators called on the United States to stop aid to Israel. Ahmad Suid of Naples brought his 8-year-old son and 9- and 10-year-old daughters to the rally holding signs saying "Stop the Genocide" and "I'm not a terrorist."
Fear not! The Obamessiah hears your cries and cannot wait to drop the foregin aid and military assistance hammers. Who was it again Rahm was visiting with over the holidays in.... Africa?
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.
AS WORLD leaders and international organizations rush to rescue Hamas, Israel faces complex bat tlefield challenges - while fearing a stab in the back from the incoming Obama administration. 
