Zimbabwean air force, military, police and intelligence officials raided a boy-scout camp and arrested three white farmers on charges of training insurgents, the Zimbabwe Independent said, citing people it didn't identify.
The adventure camp, known as Kudu Creek, was suspected of being used as a base to train bandits who plan to topple President Robert Mugabe, the Harare-based newspaper reported. The site provides outdoor activities and leadership training for schoolchildren, it said.
The raid was described by one observer as a full-scale military exercise, the Independent said.
Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena didn't answer calls to his office and mobile phones today when Bloomberg News tried to contact him for comment.
#1
It has been quite a while since I was a Boy Scout, and although I can conceive of a merit badge for cholera prevention, I would be most surprised if there was one for overthrowing punk-ass kleptocrat dictators. Sorry, I mean senior African statesmen.
#2
A highly placed police source told the Zimbabwe Times that the operation was led by Air Vice Marshals Henry Muchena of the Air Force of Zimbabwe and Army Chief of Staff, Martin Chedondo, who arrived at the place aboard the AFZ helicopter.
Robert will be so very proud. Forget the merit badges, Sprockets with "V" device for these high ranking crime fighters. It's been 30 years on, but you never know when those evil white colonial Selous Scouts will attack again!
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is vacationing in Malaysia, to where he has also transferred funds, according to South Africa's Saturday Star newspaper.
I didn't know a suitcase could carry that many Zim-bucks ...
Nah. Zim-bucks are for the "little people"...
It said Mugabe's wife, Grace - who went with their four children to Malaysia before Christmas - had organised a transfer of 92,000 dollars from Zimbabwe's central bank.
Perhaps that's the last $92,000 remaining in Zim and he's leaving.
$92,000 doesn't spend far in Malaysia ...
Mugabe, who followed on last Monday, was using the vacation for routine health checks, while his personal doctor had also helped organise transfer of personal funds to Malaysia and also Singapore.
The 84-year-old's vacation, due to last a month, comes as the former model African state endures the toughest economic and political crisis in its history.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/11/2009 00:00 ||
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#1
He really should consider asking Grace's mum to come stay in the presidential palace and assist with child care. White domestic help is bloody difficult to find these days and those Au Paire bills must be staggering.
Classes of Khulna Medical College (KMC) were suspended sine die yesterday after a fierce clash between the activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS). At a medical school? Obviously they don't have enough homework. Perhaps they were running short of cadavers ...
Sources said at least seven persons were injured, four of them critically, in the clash Friday night when the BCL men made an attempt to set a room of Shibir leaders on fire at a hall of the college. Following the clash, students left all the three dormitories being asked by the college authorities to vacate by yesterday morning.
Critically injured Rafiqul Islam, Abdullah Kafi and Mohsin Reza of ICS and Aminul Islam of BCL were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Khulna Medical College Hospital for treatment.
Witnesses said a group of BCL activists armed with iron rods and sticks stormed into a hall and tried to set the room of Shibir KMC unit president and general secretary on fire around 10:00pm. The clash then erupted and continued till 10:45pm. BCL activists also ransacked 13 rooms and destroyed all personal belongings of the Shibir men. So what's the Hippocratic Oath over there? "Do harm"? "And stay away from the RAB."
Injured Shibir activists alleged that a group of policemen were on duty during the attack but did not take any step to control the situation. However, Khulna Metropolitan Police DC Barney Fife Shahadat Hossain said law will take its own course.
The attack was launched without any provocation to establish supremacy of BCL in the dormitories of the college, alleged BNP lawmaker Nazrul Islam Manju.
Khulna city mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleque told The Daily Star that stern action would be taken if BCL, Awami League or Jubo League activists were found involved in the incident after a fair police investigation. Khulna city BCL general secretary Akhtaruzzaman Babu accused Shibir leaders of designing the untoward incident with an ulterior motive to create unnecessary chaos.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/11/2009 00:00 ||
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The US Department of Justice has moved to confiscate nearly $3 million from bank accounts in Singapore, which are allegedly linked to a bribery scandal in Bangladesh, involving Arafat Rahman Koko, younger son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia. The justice department is seeking a forfeiture action against the accounts that are alleged to be the proceeds of a wide-ranging conspiracy to bribe public officials in Bangladesh and their family members, in connection with various public works projects, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division on Friday in Washington DC.
The forfeiture action against the funds, held by multiple account holders, was filed on Thursday in a US district court in the District of Columbia.
The complaint relates primarily to alleged bribes paid to Koko, in connection with public works projects awarded by the government of Bangladesh to Siemens AG, a German industrial conglomerate, and China Harbour Engineering Company. The complaint said at least one payment to each of the purported consultants was paid from a US bank account.
Koko was arrested in Bangladesh along with his mother Khaleda Zia on Sept 3, 2007 after a bribery case had been filed by the country's Anti-corruption Commission (ACC). He was however later released on parole on grounds of ill health, and is now reportedly undergoing treatment in Bangkok.
The ACC on December 18 of last year disclosed that Koko has foreign currencies worth around Tk 11.43 crore deposited in a Singapore bank. With help from the Singapore government, the ACC of Bangladesh unearthed information that Koko has 20.61 lakh Singaporean dollars and 2.61 lakh US dollars. The Singapore government also froze the account and sent necessary documents to the ACC.
According to the US justice department forfeiture complaint, the majority of funds in Koko's account are traceable to bribes allegedly received in connection with a China Harbour project for building a new mooring containment terminal in Chittagong port.
"This action shows the lengths to which the US law enforcement will go to recover the proceeds of foreign corruption including acts of bribery and money laundering," said Matthew Friedrich. "Not only will the department, for example, prosecute companies and executives who violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, we will also use our forfeiture laws to recapture the illicit facilitating payments often used in such schemes."
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft (Siemens AG), a German corporation, and three of its subsidiaries pleaded guilty on December 15, 2008, to violations of and charges related to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). The company will pay $800 million in criminal and civil fines after admitting it paid bribes to government officials in Argentina, Bangladesh, China, Iraq, Israel, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, Venezuela and Vietnam.
Siemens Bangladesh admitted that between May 2001 and August 2006, it caused corrupt payments of at least $5,319,839 to be made through purported business consultants to various Bangladeshi officials in exchange for favourable treatment during the bidding process on a mobile telephone project. According to the forfeiture complaint, the bribe payments from Siemens AG and China Harbour Engineering Company were made in US dollars, and the illicit funds flowed through financial institutions in the US, before they were deposited in the accounts in Singapore, subjecting them to the US jurisdiction.
Money laundering laws in the US cover financial transactions that flow through the country involving proceeds from foreign offences including foreign bribery and extortion.
In August 2006, the US president announced a national strategy to internationalise efforts against kleptocracy to fight high level corruption around the world. The strategy combines policy and law enforcement tools of several federal agencies, including the departments of justice, treasury, state, and homeland security.
The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Chief Linda Samuel and Trial Attorney Frederick Reynolds of the Criminal Division's Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section. Additional assistance was provided by the Criminal Division's Office of International Affairs.
The case was investigated by FBI's Washington Field Office in cooperation with Bangladeshi law enforcement.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/11/2009 00:00 ||
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President Hugo Chavez said Saturday that Venezuela's program to provide heating oil to poor American families was never halted, despite concerns that deliveries might be interrupted.
Venezuela's Citgo Petroleum Corp. had to make a public announcement that the aid would continue after its partner nonprofit group said Citgo stopped the free fuel shipments because of the world economic crisis. "They are speculating on all sides that Venezuela has suspended its program of cooperation with the poor of the United States," Chavez said. "No, it was never suspended."
Chavez did not address whether oil shipments were ever interrupted.
Boston-based Citizens Energy Corp. _ a charity organization run by Joseph Kennedy, the eldest son of late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy _ on Monday alerted households benefiting from the four-year-old program that oil shipments were in doubt.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/11/2009 00:00 ||
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#1
Oogo should make a show of this and announce he is expanding the program. Let's milk this SoB all we can.
Posted by: Mike N. ||
01/11/2009 0:47 Comments ||
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F*ckwit is not taking the gaspipe well. No adequate oil income, no support, let's try and create an external enemy!
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said he's investigating whether representatives from the U.S. Embassy in Caracas met with leaders of the political opposition, and said he may expel them from the country. With this guy, the embassy folks probably already have a bag packed at all times...
Chavez said he knows a group of opposition leaders recently flew to Puerto Rico to meet with "U.S. advisers" to discuss strategies to defeat the president's proposal to eliminate his term limits in a referendum this year. Chavez said U.S. Embassy representatives may have been present. "If I can confirm this, I'll throw them out of the country," Chavez said at ceremony in Caracas commemorating the launch of Venezuela's first satellite. The extended altitude bottle rocket named "SS Chavez!", which then fell into the ocean
The socialist Venezuelan leader expelled the U.S. ambassador in Caracas in September and has repeatedly accused President George W. Bush of supporting opposition groups in Venezuela. Venezuela is the fourth-biggest supplier of foreign crude oil to the U.S. and nobody else can handle your sulfurous (might wanna remember that term, Hoogo?) sh*t
Jennifer Rahimi, the deputy press secretary at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, said the accusations that U.S. diplomats met with opposition leaders are "completely false." and stoopid, even if true. Who's your Daddy, b*tch?
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/11/2009 00:00 ||
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#1
We should pull our staff out of there on the basis of 'Hugos Assinine Retoric'.
I really think its time for a policy of 'We'll be nice so long as you're not a total dick'.
Posted by: Mike N. ||
01/11/2009 1:47 Comments ||
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#2
With oil hitting near $40 a barrel, maybe its an opportune time to have Hugo do his expel game, so we can match it with an Cuban embargo game. Tough getting that oil to Gulf Coast refineries for processing in those circumstances.
#3
Here's a thought -- let's use the excuse of expelling our diplomats to withdraw our media? Let's take away this clown's megaphone so Chuckles Chavez can die a nice quiet death by withering away w/out his grow light?
Posted by: regular joe ||
01/11/2009 11:06 Comments ||
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#4
Regular Joe, are you assuming the lame stream media would cease writing this maroons' every utterance against the U.S. simply 'cause our diplomats are no longer in country??
The United States and Georgia signed an accord here Friday to bolster defense, trade and energy ties in a new sign of US support for Georgia after its brief war with Russia in August. The deal shows the way for Washington and Tbilisi to boost "cooperation in defense, trade, energy security" and strengthen Georgia's budding democratic institutions, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said at a signing ceremony.
The Charter on Strategic Partnership amounts to what US officials say is a declaration of intent by President George W. Bush's departing team to deepen US-Georgian cooperation without committing his successor, Barack Obama.
The accord, similar to a strategic agreement Washington signed last month with Ukraine, risks raising tensions with Russia, which is concerned about Western encroachment on former Soviet territory.
Before signing the document with her Georgian counterpart Grigol Vashadze, Rice renewed US support for Georgia's territorial integrity in an allusion to its war with Russia in August over breakaway regions of Georgia. She also reiterated strong US support for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to eventually admit Georgia as a member. NATO ministers agreed last month to boost ties with both Georgia and Ukraine, but without granting them the status of official candidates to join the alliance.
Vashadze said the signing marked "a historic day" for Georgia. "This is the stepping stone which will bring Georgia to Euro-Atlantic structures, to membership within NATO, and to return to family of Western and civilized nations," he said. The document "brings not only rights, but also obligations to Georgia to be responsible ally, to be democratic, open and liberal society," Vashadze said.
The United States and Georgia "intend to pursue a structured plan" to train and equip Georgian forces to boost their capabilities to eventually operate with NATO troops, according to a copy obtained by AFP. Both nations intend to "expand the scope of their ongoing defense and security programs" in order to boost peace and stability.
On the economic front, the two countries intend to pursue an Enhanced Bilateral Investment Treaty and to explore the possibility of a free-trade agreement. The deal also seeks to promote energy security after the United States said Monday that Russia's move to cut gas to Ukraine, hitting supplies in Europe, a "show of force" by Moscow aimed at demonstrating control over its neighbors.
"The United States and Georgia intend to explore opportunities for increasing Georgia's energy production, enhance energy efficiency and increase the physical security of energy transit through Georgia to European markets," the document said. They intend to "develop a new southern corridor to help Georgia and the rest of Europe diversify their supplies of natural gas by securing imports from Azerbaijan and Central Asia."
Posted by: ed ||
01/11/2009 11:49 ||
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THAILAND raised security on Saturday for its largest by-elections, which will test support for the kingdom's new Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva. The authorities banned alcohol and deployed extra police officers in the 22 provinces voting on Sunday, when 29 lawmakers will be elected following a December court ruling that dissolved two political parties.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/11/2009 00:00 ||
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#1
This article is mostly bullshit. The elections are not national/provincial - the election is only in Bangkok, and it is for the Bangkok Governor (effectively, the Mayor - but Bangkok is classified as its own state). This election is to pick a new Bangkok Governor, to replace the one who resigned last December, amid corruption charges (taking kickbacks on procurement of fire trucks).
For at least the nine years that I have lived in Thailand, they have always banned alcohol sales the day prior to voting day, and on voting day. The ban is not generally enforced for restaurants - and enforcement this weekend was pretty lax in the ex-pat bar areas.
I also think that the Thai Police have always been at full strength on election days - simply to keep order at polling places. Yesterday was also "Children's Day" in Thailand - and it was for nationwide events in support of that holiday that extra police were dispatched around the country - mainly to control traffic at special events.
So - this "Thailand Ramps Up Security" article is pretty much making news out of nothing..
General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC technically are bankrupt and Chrysler is a step away from death, said Sean McAlinden, chief economist for the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor.
"GM and Chrysler are insolvent. Without federal funding they are bankrupt," McAlinden said at a conference today at the joint office of The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press. If the government took half of all of the bailout money away, they would go back to being bankrupt, he said. "GM will not meet the initial conditions of the loan. But the conditions will change so GM can keep them," McAlinden said.
His prognosis for Chrysler is not as rosy. "Chrysler will go away," he said. "Most cats don't have that many lives."
McAlinden described the company as being in hibernation, operating at a "one beat per minute level." Chrysler idled all North American manufacturing plants this month and entire floors in its Auburn Hills headquarters are empty in the wake of recent 5,000 white-collar buyouts.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/11/2009 00:00 ||
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#2
So long, Chrysler. Ima gonna miss ye. Spend the rest of mah days romanticizing the Charger, Charger Daytona, Superbird, Challenger, Cuda, Road Runner, Super Bee and its little crash helmet wearin logo, Duster Twister, Dart Demon, Fury, 300, Imperial, Savoy, torsion bars, A body, B body, Dana 60, 727, 833, 340, 440, Hemi, Cummins, Pistol Grip, Tic Tach, Rapid Transit System. I'm sure there's more that I can't think of at the moment.
Put Jeep in good hands. The Wrangler is a piece of Americana.
Ya still own NHRA horsepower tho, and nobody can take that away from you.
And thank you for your efforts during WWII. Your country appreciates it.
Posted by: Mike N. ||
01/11/2009 0:39 Comments ||
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#3
There may never be a better, more heartfelt Chrysler eulogy than Mike N's. The way he puts it, I don't want them to come back.
-Power Wagon (the original, not the later version)
but other wise you got it right.
Agree on the Wrangler, it's a seventy year old concept that still works. Hope the Dakota survives, too, it's the only midsize pickup made today that has a V-8 option.
Posted by: no mo uro ||
01/11/2009 7:06 Comments ||
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#6
Mike,
Don't forget the K Car - damn near a new Model T that saved Chrysler the last time. Unfortunately they left it in production too long...and it was there their troubles began.
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
01/11/2009 7:57 Comments ||
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#7
My first car was a 70 Dodge Dart Swinger. Slant 6, tonneau roof.
Put a lot of miles on it despite the gas crisis in 73. Alas, it got totalled when an idiot rammed into it trying to get out of the parking lot in a hurry one icy day. sniff
Posted by: Mike N. ||
01/11/2009 11:17 Comments ||
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#11
First girl I had a crush on had a Plymouth Road Runner. To this day I'm not completely sure if it was her or her car ...
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/11/2009 12:24 Comments ||
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#12
Owned and wore out a 1965 D-100 Pickup, it lasted 860000.00 (That's right Eight hundred and sixty thousand miles) looked like shit, but those slant sixes live forever.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
01/11/2009 17:03 Comments ||
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#13
on a mopar thread who can forget the movie 'vanishing point'?
Posted by: Abu do you love ||
01/11/2009 20:33 Comments ||
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#14
I will always remember that afternoon behind the wheel of my '64 Plymouth Valiant when the throttle return spring broke and the throttle locked in a full open position. Man, what a ride!
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.
President Hugo Chavez said Saturday that Venezuela's program to provide heating oil to poor American families was never halted, despite concerns that deliveries might be interrupted.
General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC technically are bankrupt and Chrysler is a step away from death, said Sean McAlinden, chief economist for the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor. 
