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Good morning
Posted by: Fred || 02/23/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Happy Birthday/Daily Gam Shot

Kristin Davis aka Max's Mom / Female Cookie Giant in "The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D" aka Rebecca Douglas in "The Shaggy Dog (2006 film)" aka Charlotte York Goldenblatt in "Sex and the City" aka Lucy Tippaglio in "Couples Retreat" (age 46)



Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 02/23/2011 0:57 Comments || Top||

#2  Uh, those aren't gams.
Posted by: JT || 02/23/2011 18:57 Comments || Top||

#3  Uh, those aren't gams.

JT, occasionally dear GolfBravoUSMC gets a bit geographically confused. Probably because it's the Navy that drives Marines wherever they need to go.

/ducks and covers really, really fast. (Hopes most sincerely she won't get what she deserves for that comment, most lovingly meant.) ;-)
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/23/2011 19:15 Comments || Top||

#4  tw, As a retired Naval Officer, I resemble that remark!
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia || 02/23/2011 21:16 Comments || Top||

#5  Lol, good one TW!
Posted by: Scooter McGruder || 02/23/2011 21:55 Comments || Top||


-Lurid Crime Tales-
Malaysian police arrest Iranians over drug haul
[Straits Times] MALAYSIAN police said on Tuesday they have dented a major drugs syndicate with the arrest of two Iranian women with over 6.2 kilogrammes of methamphetamine on a resort island.

Northern Penang state police chief Ayub Yaakob said the women were nabbed on Saturday at Penang international airport after their suitcases were found containing drugs worth 1.55 million ringgit (S$664,000).

'We became suspicious about the women as they had travelled to Malaysia three times in less than three months and they did not have any business dealings or any other reason to keep them coming back so frequently,' he said.

'The two Iranian women, we believe, are part of one of the region's biggest syndicates which is trying to use Malaysia as a transhipment point for its drug and it has been dealt a significant blow with this arrest,' he added.

Iran's ambassador in Kuala Lumpur has said international crime gangs are using Iranians to smuggle drugs into Malaysia.

There has been a steep increase in the number of Iranian suspected narcos caught in Malaysia, with 138 nabbed from January to October last year compared with 16 in the whole of 2009.
Posted by: Fred || 02/23/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:


Afghanistan
Videotape of Jalalabad Attack Released
[Tolo News] A videotape obtained by TOLOnews from the Kabul Bank surveillance camera shows that a suicide attacker armed with AK-47 shoots to death civilians stuck in the building.
The footage is not for the squeamish. However it also illustrates the sheeplike nature of humans. There were enough people there to swarm him with only one or two dead, but instead they remained in their flock and lots of them got killed.
The suicide attacker has been jugged by security forces.

The suicide attacker says it was enjoyable to kill people. "I shot numerous people. I was told people in grey are pagans and I was shooting them with joy," the jugged bomber said.
... thereby illustrating another characteristic of Islam that sets it apart from the religions of civilized folk: in India or Mongolia or Brazil pagans have just as many rights as anyone else. Nor does one group of citizens have the right to randomly bump off any other group. It's that eccentric idea of the law applying to everyone equally.
More than 40 non-combatants were killed and nearly 80 others were maimed on Saturday during the raid into a branch of Kabul Bank in eastern Jalalabad city.

Senior provincial security officials said majority of the victims were civilians.
They're more likely to be unarmed...
Religious leaders strongly slammed the attack, calling it against Islamic ethics. "Anyone who kills innocent people, should be punished under the Islamic rules, to be a lesson to others," said Fazl Ahmad, an Afghan holy man.
Islam is the only religion that allows any idiot to pass on the guilt or innocence of anybody else. Everybody else has courts that are part of a legal system, however dysfunctional it may be.
Nangarhar Police Chief urged justice organisations to severely punish the captured suicide attacker. "I suggest to justice organisations that such criminals should be punished in public, and people also expect this," Ali Shah Paktiawal, Nangarhar Police Chief, told TOLOnews.

Records showed that more than 120 civilians have bit the dust in violence across the country and another 200 have been injured.
Posted by: Fred || 02/23/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Taliban

#1  WOW, they ARE sheep?! WTF
Posted by: 746 || 02/23/2011 12:00 Comments || Top||


Taliban Operatives Reluctant to Resume Fight
[Tolo News] Suffering huge casualties in the fight has made the Taliban field commanders unwilling to resume war in Afghanistan, the New York Times reported.

Taliban midlevel commanders are at loggers head with top leadership of the Taliban based in Pakistain to carry out operations in some areas in Afghanistan, Taliban members told the New York Times in interviews.

Last year the Taliban withdrew to border areas in Pakistain after an increase in their fatalities after the arrival of US additional troops in southern parts of the country.

Now they are under pressure from their leaders to return back to Afghanistan to resume the fight, but they are hesitant to do so.

I have talked to some commanders, and they are reluctant to fight," the Times quoted a 45-year-old commander as saying in southern Afghanistan.

"Definitely there is disagreement between the field commanders and the leaders over their demands to go and fight," the commander further told on condition of anonymity.

Because of a tight protection of Pakistain's military and intelligence agencies, the Taliban leadership remains inflexible, it said.

Taliban members have argued that they increase Pakistain's influence over the southern parts in return for receiving protection from Pakistain.

In a meeting this month Taliban leaders instructed each commander to send four to five men back to their home areas to plant bombs and start war again, the commander said.

The hard boyz had lost 500 fighters there last year, including some known commanders, a close supporter of the Taliban has told the Times.
Posted by: Fred || 02/23/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Taliban

#1  In a meeting this month Taliban leaders instructed each commander to send four to five men back to their home areas to plant bombs and start war again, the commander said.

Perhaps contributing to a lower IED death toll in Afghanistan as of late?
Posted by: gorb || 02/23/2011 1:26 Comments || Top||

#2  These people while not educated, are hardly ignorant. They've taken some heavy leadership losses of late as well as the disruption of thier key supply routes. I am suspect the "Spring Offensive" will not amount to much as they wait ISAF out. As "secret" payoff negociations btwn the Taliban and Washington continue and combat engagements and IED's continue to decline, our ISAF coalition paid partners will vamos and the administration will be able to claim victory success and begin thier long awaited troop withdrawl. All of this plays right into the hands of the Taliban and thier long-term plan of terror and drug dealing in the region.
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/23/2011 4:20 Comments || Top||

#3  The surviving Taliban are carefully considering the faith-based promise of going to Allah's paradise vs. US-military based likelihood of death vs. just laying low until this blows over, in 5 or 10 years. What to do, what to do...
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 02/23/2011 5:25 Comments || Top||

#4  I read a commentary by a Japanese writer who expressed his feelings about the effects of the Bomb. He and his citizens were more than willing at the time to die for the Emperor. However, this new weapon removed the ability to execute that willingness because they could go about their life only to instantaneously die. One could never face one's enemy. There was no sacrifice to be made, no witness, no honor. Just death. That destroyed the psychological commitment to carry on.

That same overwhelming and anonymous killing machine is now grinding on the Tablian and AQ. Nameless, impersonal, mechanical death. The whole 'warrior' aspect of the culture is not there. There is no proving one's final commitment be it to Emperor or Allah. Just death. That's got to be taking a toll on the psychology of those steeped in seeking a 'glorious' death. One does not face one's enemy with weapon in hand. There is no face to see.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 02/23/2011 9:18 Comments || Top||

#5  Remember this is the winter season. Come spring there will be a whole bunch more madrassa recruits, and it won't be so frigging cold. It was the same way with renegade Indians.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 02/23/2011 10:53 Comments || Top||

#6  "I'd like to be out there in the field with you, men, fighting the evil infidel crusaders, but unfortunately someone has to stay here and plan the next big fatwa we're issuing..."
Posted by: mojo || 02/23/2011 14:59 Comments || Top||


30 Militants Renounce Violence in Kandahar
[Tolo News] Thirty Death Eaters renounced violence in southern Kandahar province and surrendered to government on Monday, local officials said.

A thirty-member Taliban group under Tour Jan joined the Afghan grinding of the peace processor in Arghandab district of Kandahar province and quit fighting against government and foreign forces, local officials said.

The government will do its best to address their needs in their villages to make life worth-living and comfortable to them, Toryalai Weesa governor of Kandahar said.

The men promised to cooperate with the government and will not resume insurgency, he added.

This is first time that gunnies hand over their weapons to government in Kandahar.

Security will improve as more cut-thoat renounce violence, officials said.

The local officials said the handover of weapons by these Taliban fighters will help improve security significantly in Afghanistan.

Taliban have not yet commented.

Recently small groups of Death Eaters have been giving up violence and joining the Afghan grinding of the peace processor. It could be an indication that government peace efforts have significantly been working to convince some of the Taliban to renounce violence.

Violence has recently increased in southern Kandahar province where Death Eaters are active in most villages.
Posted by: Fred || 02/23/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Taliban

#1  I was thinking and hoping the headline was a clever way of saying 30 militants were killed - that is the only way I will trust their renouncing of violence.
Posted by: Glenmore || 02/23/2011 7:45 Comments || Top||


Africa Horn
Armed police raid south Sudan newspaper
JUBA, Sudan - Armed south Sudanese police raided an independent newspaper, its editor said on Tuesday, raising fears of a crackdown on press freedom ahead of the region’s declaration of independence in July.

Nhial Bol, editor-in-chief of the Citizen, said the newspaper’s offices were raided early on Sunday by five policemen wearing civilian clothing, waving pistols and criticising the paper’s content.

“They were carrying pistols ... they were yelling that we were writing nonsense,” Bol said. “They were from a branch of the police, I recognised one of them from a function I attended.”

Bol said he thought the raid was in retaliation for a recent article he wrote saying that the south’s police force was a cause of insecurity and lacked good leadership. He said interior ministry officials had told him to stop criticising the police in print.

Southern media leaders hope press freedom will be better protected when a media bill now awaiting parliamentary approval becomes law.
Good luck with that...
“We don’t have a law so police do not know what they can do ... they terrorise whoever they want,” Bol said. “They are refusing to investigate the officers who (carried out the raid) ... The media law may help in situations like this.”

The south’s information minister, Barnaba Marial Benjamin, said “This was an isolated incident by the police ...” of which the internal affairs ministry knew nothing.
Posted by: Steve White || 02/23/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Africa North
Doctors in Libya estimate over 2000 dead
Posted by: Frozen Al || 02/23/2011 16:55 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Doctors in Madison find many teachers ill.
Posted by: Glenmore || 02/23/2011 20:40 Comments || Top||


New Egypt
Egyptian armed forces this week demolished fences surrounding ancient Coptic monasteries, leaving them vulnerable to attacks by armed Arabs, robbers and escaped prisoners, who have seized the opportunity of the state of diminished protection by the authorities in Egypt to carry out assaults and thefts.

"Three monasteries have been attacked by outlaws and have asked for protection from the armed forces, but were told to defend themselves." said activist Mark Ebeid. "When the terrified monks built fences to protect themselves, armed forces appeared only then with bulldozers to demolish the fences. It is worth noting that these monasteries are among the most ancient in Egypt, with valuable Coptic icons and manuscripts among others, which are of tremendous value to collectors."
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 02/23/2011 02:33 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  the unwashed masses that may create a new egypt
(yeah right) are far far away from the "washed masses" that created the USA Hate culture will always create more chaos and hate, not civility and "rule by law" That is the abode of Civilized humans, not, as it turns out, by Muslims
Posted by: 746 || 02/23/2011 11:56 Comments || Top||


Egypt activists ask millions to march today
[Arab News] Egyptian online democracy activists are calling for a demonstration on Tuesday to demand the removal of the country's interim government, saying it contains too many old faces.

The "Tuesday of Challenge" march aims to rally a million followers to keep up pressure on the army-led administration, in an echo of the massive demonstrations that forced geriatric President Hosni Mubarak to step down on Feb. 11.

Another march was planned for Friday.

"Our slogan from day one has been 'The people want the overthrow of the regime'," one Facebook page said.

"We are going back to Tahrir (Liberation) Square and we will stay there. The higher (military) council has left Mubarak's government to do what it wants."

Mohamed ElBaradei, a leading opposition figure, expressed support for continued protests and condemned what he called "cosmetic change" in government as an "insult to the revolution."

"Continued mass, peaceful protests and the formation of a party, including those who launched the revolution, are our way to complete the journey of change," he wrote on his Twitter page.

"The regime will not be reformed from within the regime," he added.

The cabinet front man said Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq was still consulting on new ministers. Most of the cabinet was appointed by Mubarak and the Facebook group said it wanted a government of technocrats.

"A conference tomorrow will announce a call for a Friday march in the millions across Egypt and in Tahrir Square in response to latest changes in interim government and to reassert demands of the people's revolution," Ahmed Naguib, an activist, told Rooters.

Speaking of changes to government posts announced so far, Naguib said there were "some good moves toward reform and change but not enough."

Egypt's military rulers have said changes in the constitution for elections should be ready soon. Any sign the army is reneging on its promise of civilian rule could reignite mass protests in the street.
Posted by: Fred || 02/23/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:


Libyas India envoy quits over bombing civilians
[The Nation (Nairobi)] Libya's ambassador to India told AFP Tuesday he had quit because of "massive" and "unacceptable" violence against civilians that included the bombing of demonstrators by the air force. "My resignation is because of the massive violence against civilians in my country," Ali al-Essawi told AFP by telephone. "Yesterday they started to use airplanes to bomb civilians demonstrating peacefully. This is unacceptable."
Posted by: Fred || 02/23/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:


OIC SecGen: killings in Libya cannot be justified
[Asharq al-Aswat] Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference [OIC] Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu has said that the unrest taking place in some Arab states is due to their lack of policies to combat poverty, and the lack of social justice in these countries, which is something that King of the Arabians, Sheikh of the Burning Sands, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz called for at the Mecca Conference. Saudi monarch King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz had called for the creation of a fund to combat poverty at the Mecca Conference.

Professor Ihsanoglu also spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat about the possibility of taking action in the states that are currently witnessing political unrest, particularly Libya. He said "what is currently taking place in Libya with regards to the killing of innocents through the use of excessive force cannot be justified, and we, in the region, are monitoring the Libyan position with great regret and sorrow. In such cases, where families are taking to the street to demand certain things from the government, this should be met with dialogue based upon considering these demands."

OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu made these statements yesterday against the backdrop of the OIC signing a memorandum of understanding with British Mohammedan NGO Mohammedan Aid at OIC headquarters in Jeddah. Dr. Ihsanoglu criticized Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Qadaffy
... dictator of Libya since 1969. From 1972, when he relinquished the title of prime minister, he has been accorded the honorifics Guide of the First of September Great Revolution of the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya or Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Revolution. With the death of Omar Bongo of Gabon on 8 June 2009, he became the longest serving of all current non-royal national leaders. He is also the longest-serving ruler of Libya since Tripoli became an Ottoman province in 1551. When Chairman Mao was all the rage and millions of people were flashing his Little Red Book, Qadaffy came out with his own Little Green Book, which didn't do as well. Qadaffy's instability has been an inspiration to the Arab world and to Africa, which he would like to rule...
who has ruled the North-African state for over 40 yeas, after human rights
... which are not the same thing as individual rights, mind you...
organizations and media reports have claimed that more than 300 Libyan citizens have been killed in the unrest.

In a press statement distributed to the press on Sunday the OIC stated that the countries that are witnessing popular demonstrations must deal with these events "with a great deal of patience, wisdom, and forward looking vision."

The OIC also called "upon all concerned [parties] to resort to peaceful means in order to avoid violence and bloodshed" adding that "the aspiration of the Mohammedan World for good governance, the rule of law, the promotion of human rights, fighting corruption, and the expansion of political participation and comprehensive development, is recognized by the OIC Charter in its fundamental principles.
Posted by: Fred || 02/23/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Or Tienanmen Square? Power is self justifying and rationalized.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 02/23/2011 8:59 Comments || Top||

#2  Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference [OIC] Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu has said that the unrest taking place in some Arab states is due to their lack of policies to combat poverty,

A Democrat OIC Secretary General.... WHO KNEW?
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/23/2011 9:47 Comments || Top||

#3  Quack quack quack
Posted by: mojo || 02/23/2011 12:03 Comments || Top||


Africa mercenaries used in Libya crackdown
African mercenaries are being used by Libya to crush protests, prompting some army troops to switch sides to the opposition, Libya’s ambassador to India, who resigned in the wake of the crackdown, said on Tuesday.

“They are from Africa, and speak French and other languages,” Ali al-Essawi told Reuters in an interview, adding that he was receiving information from sources within the OPEC-member country.
We still don't know exactly where the mercenaries are from; French speaking and dark-skinned suggests (as noted by Pappy) Chad. But it's clear they're being put to use.
Essawi, who has left the embassy since he resigned on Monday to protest the violent crackdown and is now staying at a hotel in New Delhi, said he had been told there had been army defections.

“They (troops) are Libyans and they cannot see foreigners killing Libyans so they moved beside the people,” Essawi said.

“Libyans cannot do anything against the air fighters. We do not call for international troops, but we call on the international community to save the Libyans,” Essawi said. “Fighter aircraft were bombing civilians on the streets of Tripoli, this is unprecedented violence."
Posted by: Steve White || 02/23/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  French speaking and dark-skinned suggests (as noted by Pappy)

Cleverly disguised apartheid era contractors no doubt.
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/23/2011 10:06 Comments || Top||

#2  Predominately Chad and Mali.
Posted by: newc || 02/23/2011 10:57 Comments || Top||

#3  I'll go with that, newc. I suggested Chad because Libya's had multiple issues with that country. Libya is also know to have had several thousand Tuaregs (from Mali) in their security forces some twenty years back as well.
Posted by: Pappy || 02/23/2011 20:58 Comments || Top||


Gaddafi vows to 'die as a martyr'
TRIPOLI- Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi vowed to "die as a martyr" last night
Ooh! Ooh! Let us help!
and ordered his loyalists to take to the streets and crush protesters demanding his removal.

The rambling, 75-minute diatribe followed two nights of bloody violence in the capital as Col Qaddafi tried to crush the uprising that has fragmented his regime.

Swathed in brown robes and wearing a turban, he spoke on state TV from behind a podium in the entrance of his bombed-out Tripoli residence. The building was hit by a US air strike in 1986 and left unrepaired as a gesture of defiance.

At times the camera panned back outside the building to show a sculpture of a gold-colored fist crushing an American jet. The view provided a surreal image of the Libyan leader, shouting and gesticulating wildly, all alone in a partially demolished hallway, with no audience.

"Libya wants glory, Libya wants to be at the pinnacle, at the pinnacle of the world," he proclaimed, pounding his fist on the podium. "I am a fighter, a revolutionary from tents ... I will die as a martyr at the end," he said, vowing to fight "to my last drop of blood".

Col Qaddafi described the protesters as misguided youths who had been given drugs and money by a "small, sick group" to attack police and government buildings.

"You men and women who love Qaddafi ... get out of your homes and fill the streets," he said. "Leave your homes and attack them in their lairs. They are taking your children and getting them drunk and sending them to death. For what? To destroy Libya, burn Libya."

"Forward, forward, forward!" he barked at the speech's conclusion, pumping both fists in the air as he stormed away from the podium. He was kissed by about a dozen supporters, some in security force uniforms. Then he climbed into a golf cart-like vehicle and puttered away.

During his speech last night, Col Qaddafi said he had not ordered police to use any force used against protesters, and that his supporters had come out voluntarily to defend him. "I haven't ordered a single bullet fired," he said, warning that if he does, "everything will burn".

He said that if protests did not end he would stage a "holy march" with millions of supporters to cleanse Libya. He demanded that protesters in Benghazi hand over weapons taken from captured police stations and military bases, warning of separatism and civil war. "No one allows his country to be a joke or let a mad man separate a part of it," he declared.
"Instead, we must allow a mad man, who is a joke, to unify his country."
Posted by: tu3031 || 02/23/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Dear Mr Khadafi,

We can arrange that.

Signed,

The other tribes of Libya
Posted by: OldSpook || 02/23/2011 0:04 Comments || Top||

#2  Martyr? Only in your syphilis-inspired dreams, scum.
Posted by: gorb || 02/23/2011 1:31 Comments || Top||

#3  "They are taking your children and getting them drunk and sending them to death."

If true, that would them ideal schoolteachers by the standards of the Wisconsin teacher's union.
Posted by: ryuge || 02/23/2011 16:22 Comments || Top||


Report Gaddafi has lost 90% of his army, is preparing to blow oil fields
Posted by: Frozen Al || 02/23/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Problem is for him, not all the oilfields are under his control -- nor are sufficient pipelines unless he has some gotterdamerung style suicide types stashed someplace. And as Kuwait showed, those fields can be put back into production very quickly.
Posted by: OldSpook || 02/23/2011 0:07 Comments || Top||

#2  Who cares? Eat sand, old spiteful angry man. You will die and your people will praise your passing -- and their children will have the oil.

Die now, and save them the trouble of killing you.
Posted by: rammer || 02/23/2011 0:16 Comments || Top||

#3  IIUC, IOW Qhaddafy = Gaddafi, etc. is demanding to be invaded and saved by the US-NATO, implying that, widout Him + Regime, LIBYUH WILL DENIGRATE OR REGRESS BACKWARDS TOWARDS ANTI-MODERATE, ANTI-DEMOCRATIC, ANTI-US, ISRAEL RADICALISM, espec in support for Old-Order REGIONAL, INTERNAT TERROR GROUPS.

This may not end well for the US-Allies, as it was Uncle Muammar whom unilater gave up Libya's Nucprogs + other in return for being taken off the US-International Terror Lists.

* FOX NEWS AM > GLENN BECK SHOW [paraph] - the US is being to choose between TWO COMPETING EGOMANIACAL EVILS - COLD WAR-ERA STRONGMEN WHOM WERE ENEMIES BUT NOW ARE ALLIED OR NEUTRALIST, VERSUS THE LIKELY FALSE PRO-DEMOCRATIC FACADE OF ANTI-US-WEST-ISRAEL, DEDIC FUTURE? ENEMY + OWG CALIPHATE-HAPPY RADICAL ISLAM E.G MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD???

The One whom wanted to destroy us in the not-s-distant Past, versus the One whom will destroy us in the not-so-distant Future.

Clearly someone needs a'Taserin.

* ION NEWSMAX > MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD OBJECTIVE:
GLOBAL ISLAMIC STATE.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 02/23/2011 1:02 Comments || Top||

#4  The tribal turbans are making the same bluff. Their target audience is the multi-nationals.
If I can't sell you oil love you...nobody can.
Posted by: DepotGuy || 02/23/2011 9:39 Comments || Top||


Arabia
Yemeni Tribal Leader Announces his Support for Gaddafi's regime
[Yemen Post] Sheikh Huseen Al-Ahmer, a Yemeni parliament member and a senior Sheikh in Hashed tribe announced on Wednesday his support for the Libyan leader, Moammar Qadaffy against protesters whom were calling for the regime to step down.
"Aaaarrr! Libya be needin' an iron hand in a stainless steel glove, by Allen!"
In a statement posted on his website the National Solidarity Council Al-Ahamer announced that they would send ten thousand warriors to back Qadaffy.
"Dat's right! 10,000 of me homeboyz off to defend Muammar! He'd do da same for me!"
Al-Ahmer denounced Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabia in their coverage of the current events in Libya in which they targeted Libyan security and stability.
Posted by: Fred || 02/23/2011 19:22 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:


Bahrain king orders release of political prisoners
[Arab News] Bahrain's king ordered the release of some political prisoners Tuesday, conceding to another opposition demand as the embattled monarchy tries to engage protesters in talks aimed at ending an uprising that has entered its second week.

The king's decree -- which covers several Shiite activists accused of plotting against the state -- adds to the brinksmanship on both sides that has included a massive pro-government rally Monday and the planned returned of a prominent opposition figure from exile.

It's unclear how many prisoners will be freed, said government spokeswoman Maysoon Sabkar.

But they include some of the 25 Shiite activists on trial for allegedly plotting against the Sunni rulers of the strategic island kingdom, a leading member of Bahrain's Shiite opposition, Abdul Jalili Khalil, told The News Agency that Dare Not be Named.

He called the prisoner release is "a good step" and a "positive gesture." Two of those in the case are being tried in absentia, including opposition leader Hassan Meshaima, who has been in self-exile in London since last year and was expected to return later Tuesday.

Mesheima's presence could bolster opposition forces seeking a harder line against the monarchy, including some who have called for the complete ouster of the king and the royal dynasty that has ruled for more than 200 years.

Meshaima's group, known as Haq, is considered more radical than the main Shiite political bloc that has so far taken a central role in the revolt, which began last week with marches but quickly met with violent resistance from security forces.

The Shiite group includes 18 members of the 40-member parliament, who resigned on Thursday to protest the killing of demonstrators by security forces.

At least eight people have been slain and hundreds injured in street festivities, which included the army opening fire on protesters in the capital Manama. The attack brought stinging denunciations from Bahrain's Western allies, including the United States. The US maintains very close ties with Bahrain, which hosts the US Navy's 5th Fleet.

Bahrain authorities withdrew the military on Saturday and allowed protesters to reclaim the landmark Pearl Square, which has been the center of the Shiite-led uprising.

Bahrain's Shiite majority has complained of discrimination and political persecution in the kingdom. They have staged protests in the past, but the current unrest -- inspired by the toppling of regimes in Tunisia and Egypt -- is the most serious against the Sunni rulers.

In a brief statement on Bahrain's official news agency, the king ordered the release of "a number of prisoners" and a halt to "several trials" of Shiite activists.

On Monday, Bahrain's crown prince called off Formula One's season-opening race scheduled for March 13, handing another victory to protesters.

Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa owns the rights to Grand Prix and serves as commander of the armed forces.

Protesters said it would have been disrespectful the hold the race.
Posted by: Fred || 02/23/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:


Yemenis step up rallies to dislodge ruler
[Arab News] About 5,000 anti-government protesters have rallied in a town in eastern Yemen, calling for the ouster of the country's president.

President President-for-Life Ali Abdullah Saleh
... Saleh initially took power as a strongman of North Yemen in 1977, when disco was in flower, after serving as a lieutenant colonel in the army. He had been part of the conspiracy that bumped off his predecessor, Ibrahim al-Hamdi, in the usual tiresome military coup, and he has maintained power by keeping Yemen's many tribes fighting with each other, rather than uniting to string him up. ...
, the target of widespread protests for the past three weeks, has said he will not step down before the end of his term in 2013.

However,
The infamous However...
he has pledged security forces will not fire on protesters. Medical officials have said 11 people have been killed in protests this month.

Police stood by Tuesday as demonstrators marched in the eastern town of Al-Shiher, chanting "Down, down with Saleh."

In the capital of Sanaa, thousands rallied at a university campus while hundreds continued to camp out in a nearby square.

Demonstrators set up checkpoints around the square and searched those trying to enter.
Posted by: Fred || 02/23/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:


Yemen protesters clash with regime loyalists
[Bangla Daily Star] Supporters of Yemen President President-for-Life Ali Abdullah Saleh armed with daggers and batons clashed violently with students yesterday in Sanaa before police intervened, an AFP news hound said, adding five people were hurt.

About 1,000 students had spent a second night camped at a square near Sanaa university, dubbed Al-Huriya (Liberty) Square, where they yesterday erected a huge tent.

The crowd swelled to about 4,000 and as the protesters demanding Saleh's ouster moved yesterday morning from the square close to where Saleh's loyalists are bunkered down, the group attacked them with daggers and batons.

The students, some of whom were also armed with batons, responded.

Three students and two of Saleh's loyalists were maimed before police dispersed the crowd, the news hound said.

Loyalists demonstrating in support of Saleh in central Sanaa have almost daily broken up students protests using batons and stones, with police also using violence that has left scores of demonstrators injured.

The ruling General People's Congress party meanwhile called for a "demonstration of millions" on Wednesday in Al-Sabiine square, near the presidential palace.

Also yesterday, thousands of protesters erupted into the streets in several neighbourhoods of the southern city of Aden, calling on Saleh to step down.

The protesters marched against the regime in Crater, Al-Mansura, Mualla, Al-Tawahi and Sheikh Osman neighbourhoods.

Security forces fired warning shots and tear gas to disperse protesters in Sheikh Osman, Al-Tawahi and Mualla neighbourhoods, but no casualties were reported, witnesses said.
Posted by: Fred || 02/23/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:


China-Japan-Koreas
N. Korean Protesters Demand Food and Electricity
Small pockets of unrest are appearing in North Korea as the repressive regime staggers under international sanctions and the fallout from a botched currency reform, sources say. On Feb. 14, two days before leader Kim Jong-il's birthday, scores of people in Jongju, Yongchon and Sonchon in North Pyongan Province caused a commotion, shouting, "Give us fire [electricity] and rice! "
Successful revolutions have started with less. But this being North Korea, the people will need guns -- either the army will come over to their side or they'll have to take guns from the army. Either way is a bloodbath.
A North Korean source said people fashioned makeshift megaphones out of newspapers and shouted, "We can't live! Give us fire! Give us rice!" "At first, there were only one or two people, but as time went by more and more came out of their houses and joined in the shouting," the source added.

The State Security Department investigated this incident but failed to identify the people who started the commotion when they met with a wall of silence.

"When such an incident took place in the past, people used to report their neighbors to the security forces, but now they're covering for each other," the source said.

The commotion started because the North Korean regime had diverted sparse electricity from the Jongju and Yongchon area to Pyongyang to light up the night there to mark Kim's birthday on Feb. 16.

"Discontent erupted because the regime cut off electricity that had been supplied to them only a few hours a day, and they had hard time putting food on the table due to soaring rice prices."

A North Korean defector said the Jongju and Yongchon area "has long been a headache to the regime due to the spirit of defiance of the people there."

In April 2004, a massive explosion occurred at Yongchon Station right after a train carrying Kim Jong-il passed.
Posted by: Steve White || 02/23/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Wel-l-l. CHINESE MIL FORUM POSTER = opined that IHO the HISTORY OF CHINA ITSELF + ITS VARIOUS RULING DYNASTIES IS ONE LONG OR LENGTHY STORY/EPIC OF REBELLION AFTER REBELLION.

* ION YONHAP > [Defectors to ROK]NORTH KOREAN SOLDIERS TESTIFY ABOUT WORSENING FOOD + RIGHTS CONDITIONS.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 02/23/2011 0:37 Comments || Top||

#2  ION PEOPLE'S DAILY FORUM > RUSSIA TO DEMAND PUNISHMENT [from Tokyo]FOR JAPANESE WHO DESECRATED FLAG.

ARTIC = Russ Embassy in Tokyo claims to had received an EMPTY LETTER ENVELOPE WID A SINGLE BULLET WARNING,"THE NORTHERN TERRITORIES [Russia = South Kuriles] IS JAPANESE LAND".

* REUTERS > [CHEN JIPING, Deputy SecGen of CPC Politics +Legal Affairs Cmte]CHINA OFFICIAL WARNS OF [increasing]DOMESTIC UNREST + "HOSTILE" WEST.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 02/23/2011 1:33 Comments || Top||

#3  PEOPLE'S DAILY FORUM > [Russia = South Kuriles]A REVENGE TO CHINA, JAPAN INVITES AUSTRALIA TO HELP DEVELOP THE DAOYUS [Japan = Senkakus].

* SAME > RUSSIA'S MILITARY BUILDUP IN PACIFIC [South Kuriles = NE Asia/NORPAC] MAY NOT BE AIMED AT JAPAN [covertly agz the US]???

ARTIC = Russia's strengthening of its defenses in the Kuriles may be meant to DETER THE US FROM MIL "LEAP-FROGGING" INTO THE KURILES IN CASE OF REGIONAL WAR TO DENY RUSS UTILITY OF THE SEA OF OKHOTSK AS A SAFE BASE, LAUNCH HAVEN FOR RUSS LR NUCLEAR = STRATEGIC MISSLE SUBMARINES.

I DISAGREE - the above may be Russia's PCORRECT-DENIABLE COVER STORY BUT IMO RUSS REAL INTENT IS TO ISOLATE RISING CHINA + PLAN ACCESS VEE RUSSIAN FAR EAST + KEY ARCTIC ROUTES.

* SAME > [James Webb]US SENATOR PRPEPARED TO WAIT FOR TOKYO TO SETTLE OKINAWA BASE ISSUE.

WEBB = argues that US Marine forces still need to stay on Okinawa because GUAM IS NOT AN ADEQUATE LOCATION FOR ACCOMODATING ALL OF THE MARINES = TROOPS CURR BASED ON OKINAWA ISLAND.
Also opined that "In terms of Planning, GUAM IS A VERY SMALL ISLAND + LOCATED CONSIDERABLY TO THE SOUTH".

IOW, OLD MIL ADAGE [paraph] = KEEP YOUR MILFORS AS CLOSE TO THE AREAS/THEATERS OF ACTION OR NEAR-ACTION [Battle Front(s)]AS POSSIBLE.

North Korea + Taiwan + Radical Islamist threat to China, Russia + East Asia.
Aka GETTING THERE "FIRST-EST WID THE MOST-EST".
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 02/23/2011 23:10 Comments || Top||


International-UN-NGOs
OPEC crude oil exceeds $100
[Ennahar] The basket price of twelve grades of crude oil used as a reference to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has topped the $ 100 for the first time in two and a half years, reaching 100.59 dollars according to a statement released Tuesday.

This reference price is a compilation of prices recorded on Monday, while tensions wq exacerbated in Libya, one of the major exporting countries of OPEC. It was 99.08 dollars Friday.

This is the first time that the reference price of OPEC Surpasses $ 100 since September 2008. It had reached a historical record a few weeks ago, to U.S. $ 140.73 (July 4).

The basket of crude oil takes into account the different oils produced by members of the organization: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), Iran Heavy (Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export ( Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Soddy Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

It may differ significantly from the two grades of crude that refer to markets for raw materials: Brent of North Sea, for Europe, and West Texas Intermediate, in North America.

Tuesday morning, Brent North Sea crude for April delivery was traded at 106.95 dollars, while the WTI for delivery in March was worth 92.65 dollars.
Posted by: Fred || 02/23/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Unleaded regular gas in my town went up 10% yesterday.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 02/23/2011 5:30 Comments || Top||


Iraq
6,000 stage sit-in at Sulaimaniya
SULAIMANIYA / Aswat al-Iraq: The number of citizens who staged a sit-in in central Sulaimaniya city on Tuesday went up to 6,000, calling for political reforms in the province, according to an activist.

“A total of 6,000 persons are staging a sit-in in central Sulaimaniya, demanding political reforms in the government and suing those who opened fire on protestors in the past days,” Sahwan Raaoof told Aswat al-Iraq news agency, noting that the sit-in is peaceful and has not witnessed any acts of violence.

“The sit-in will continue amid a desire from residents of Halabja city to take part in it,” he added.

A medical source had said that three people were killed and 121 were wounded in the protests in Sulaimaniya.

Hundreds of protestors went to street last Thursday calling for better services and living conditions and fighting corruption.
Posted by: Steve White || 02/23/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:


Bomb kills 2 soldiers in Mosul
NINEWA / Aswat al-Iraq: Two Iraqi soldiers were killed in a bomb explosion in western Mosul, a security source said.

“Two Iraqi soldiers were killed on Tuesday evening (Feb. 22) by a bomb blast, placed in a refrigerator, in al-Harmat region, western Mosul,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.
Posted by: Steve White || 02/23/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Israel targets Islamic Jihadis after mortar attack
Fire from Israeli tanks injured two Paleo jihadis militants and two civilians in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday.

Israel's military said its troops shot at a group of jihadis militants after a bomb exploded near an Israeli patrol along the border and mortar bombs were fired at the soldiers and into Israel.

Islamic Jihad said two of its thugs members were wounded by tank shells after firing a projectile. Paleo 'medical officials' said two 'civilians' also were hurt.
I'm trying my hand at some AP style 'scare quotes'.
Posted by: ryuge || 02/23/2011 12:25 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Darn, I was hoping for more tickets to paradise being issued.
Posted by: DarthVader || 02/23/2011 14:12 Comments || Top||

#2  It never ceases to amaze me. We take people and give them the very best training that money can buy
and the best they can do is hit hospitals and children and such.

Odd, I tell you
Posted by: kelly || 02/23/2011 20:24 Comments || Top||

#3  Ouch, kelley -- that scalpel is sharp!
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/23/2011 23:07 Comments || Top||

#4  Well it ain't funny.
Posted by: Hank || 02/23/2011 23:58 Comments || Top||


Fayyad proposes unity govt with Hamas
[Ma'an] Paleostinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad has proposed forming a unity government with Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason,, under which the Islamist group would have responsibility for security in Gazoo.

Speaking to Paleostinian journalists late Monday, Fayyad said the "security concept" applied by Hamas in Gazoo, where the group has sought to enforce a ceasefire with Israel, could provide common ground.

"The security concept practiced by Hamas in the Gazoo Strip should be brought under an official framework because it is not different from what is practiced by the Paleostinian Authority in the West Bank," Fayyad said.

"After a national unity government is formed, it can take on the task of supervising a security agreement based on the institutions in place in the West Bank and Gazoo."

"The compatibility between the policy adopted by the Paleostinian leadership and that applied by Hamas on the ground in Gazoo... opens the way for a national unity government to immediately manage affairs of state," he added.

Fayyad's proposal, which comes as he seeks to form a new government, would not vastly change the situation on the ground in Gazoo or the West Bank. But it could pave the way for reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas.

Longtime bitter rivals, the tensions between the two groups boiled over in 2007, a year after Hamas won legislative elections. Bloody festivities between the two saw Hamas oust Fatah from the Gazoo Strip and take control.

The West Bank, which is under the control of President the ineffectual Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party, has been effectively cut off from the Gazoo Strip ever since.

Repeated attempts at reconciliation between the groups have led nowhere, and the collapse of the Egyptian regime of Hosni Mubarak, which played a key role in reconciliation efforts, has created new uncertainty.

The issue of control of the security forces has been a key stumbling block in each round of reconciliation talks, with both sides refusing to cede authority over their security apparatus.

Hamas responded to the latest calls for unity with suspicion.

"These declarations lack seriousness and credibility, they make no sense in light of the continued arrests and torture [of Hamas members] in Fatah prisons in the West Bank," Hamas front man Sami Abu Zuhri said on Monday.

"The only real way towards reconciliation is to stop the arrests, free the detainees and allow the movement's charities to start helping the Paleostinian people again," he told AFP.

Hamas and Fatah have carried out periodic arrests of each other's members, often holding detainees without charge or trial and routinely trading allegations of prisoner abuse.

"The formation of a national unity government can only be achieved in the context of an all-encompassing national solution and not a partial one," Abu Zuhri said, referring to calls for the establishment of a coalition which would rule until parliamentary elections can be held at some point before September.
Posted by: Fred || 02/23/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under: Palestinian Authority

#1  Making official the status quo. After which Hamas can officially prevent meaningful negotiations with Israel, instead of merely effectively preventing them. Still, it's good to have the situation regularized.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/23/2011 12:26 Comments || Top||


Israel silent as Iran warships enter Mediterranean
JERUSALEM — Israeli officials were largely silent on Tuesday as two Iranian warships entered the Mediterranean Sea from the Suez Canal, in what the Jewish state has repeatedly called a provocation. Officials at the canal authority confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that the two vessels had reached the southeastern corner of the Mediterranean after travelling up the canal.

“They are now in Mediterranean waters,” an official told AFP in Cairo.

The patrol frigate Alvand and support ship Kharg are the first Iranian warships to pass through the canal since the 1979 Islamic revolution, and are reportedly bound for Syria, a journey that would take them past Israel’s territorial waters.

Israeli officials had no immediate reaction to the ships’ arrival in the Mediterranean, but earlier a foreign ministry spokesman had urged world powers to respond “firmly” as the two vessels entered the Suez Canal.

Public radio, quoting unnamed senior officials, said Israel knew where the ships were and was holding situational assessments with US officials. The radio also said Prime Minister Netanyahu had discussed the matter with US Ambassador James Cunningham.

The Kharg has a crew of 250 and can carry up to three helicopters. The Alvand is armed with torpedos and anti-ship missiles.
Posted by: Steve White || 02/23/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Pre-"2012", pre-NucWeaps SHIA-IRAN-VS-SUNNI-EGYPT [+ Saudis], to become Post-"2012", post-NucWeaps IRAN-BLOC-VS-ISRAEL? soon enough.

Time for Tel Aviv to dust off those old, funny-in-their-time NATO Membership Application(s), + also that to join the EU + proposed Mediterranean Union.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 02/23/2011 1:12 Comments || Top||

#2  Joe, I fear the Euros don't want Israel - they want to embrace / be financially rescued by the Arabs.
Posted by: lotp || 02/23/2011 6:12 Comments || Top||

#3  Its not the weapons on the ship's deck that are a problem.

Its what in the ship's hold that could be a problem.
Posted by: lord garth || 02/23/2011 7:37 Comments || Top||

#4  suicide ships, just park em in the vicinity of Tel Aviv and, BOOM, no more Tel Aviv
Posted by: 746 || 02/23/2011 9:07 Comments || Top||

#5  Time for Tel Aviv to dust off those old, funny-in-their-time NATO Membership Application(s), + also that to join the EU + proposed Mediterranean Union.

If it were time, JosephM, those funny applications would have been accepted decades ago. But they weren't, which is why Israel still has the forms on file. Europe also hasn't accepted Israel as a member of their working committee at the UN, last I heard, leaving Israel the only country not accepted by any block.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/23/2011 12:37 Comments || Top||


Southeast Asia
Local official gunned down in southern Thailand
A Thai Muslim was killed in a drive-by shooting in Pattani border province Tuesday afternoon. Manase Kortae, 38, was gunned down by a pillion rider while he was riding his motorcycle back home. He was shot driving past a school. The two attackers sped off after gunning down Manase, a member of the village committee.

Warrant sought in car bombing
Police are seeking a warrant for the arrest of an important terrorist insurgent suspect believed to be behind Monday's motorcycle bomb attack in Yala. It is believed that the explosion may be linked to a car bomb which exploded 100 meters away only eight days earlier.

Ayu Dorloh, 22, was identified through security camera footage and eyewitness accounts. The bombing was recorded from several vantage points. The footage showed the blast came from a Honda Wave motorcycle parked outside a rice porridge restaurant.

The blast killed one woman and wounded 17 other people on Monday afternoon.

"We believe the attack may be linked with the Feb 13 car bomb because both were detonated by the same radio devices," said local police chief Chote Chawalwiwat.

Eighteen people were injured and 12 shophouses were destroyed in the previous bomb attack the same road.

Locals whose assets were damaged in the incident have expressed grave concern over the repeated violence and are demanding more security measures.

Restaurant owner Porntep Dilokskol, who believes his business suffered damage amounting to one million baht in the latest bombing, blamed lax security in central Yala. He said that, even after the Feb. 13 attack, there were still no security officers stationed in the area, though some territorial defense volunteers were present for a spell.

"They stood guard for only a short while and left," he said. "Standing about for just two hours in the morning does nothing."

His neighbour, Anan Lirahawong, the owner of a gold shop that was seriously damaged by the bomb, said he had no idea when the insurgency would end, or where he could flee to.

"Everywhere is the same. There are also quarrels in Bangkok," he said.

The deep south has suffered three major bombings this month. Besides the two blasts in Yala, a car bomb in Narathiwat province on Saturday wounded 17 people.
Posted by: ryuge || 02/23/2011 09:43 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:


Home-made bombs uncovered
[Straits Times] THREE caches of home-made bombs were discovered by longhouse folk in Ulu Niah after Saturday's near-bloody confrontation between 300 villagers and about 100 other people over a land dispute.

The cannonball-like bombs, which had fuses and contained gunpowder, were found in camps set up by the outsiders.

After handing them over to the police, the residents of Rumah Ranggang lodged a report on Monday at Batu Niah cop shoppe, demanding a thorough investigation.

Rumah Ranggang residents' committee chairman Changgai Dali said in his report that the longhouse folk now feared for their lives because the thugs had threatened to use the bombs on them.

Miri police chief Assistant Com-missioner Jamaluddin Ibrahim confirmed that he had received information about the seizure of the explosives.

'We are already on the case. We hope the state authorities will also look into other issues related to the incident and help to resolve them while we carry out our investigations,' he said, adding that they were also trying to find out who made the bombs.
Posted by: Fred || 02/23/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  cannonball-like bombs, which had fuses and contained gunpowder

Just like the ones in the famous cartoon Mohammed's headdress.
Posted by: Glenmore || 02/23/2011 7:46 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Ahmadinejad condemns Qaddafi, predicts revolution in US and Europe
from Haaretz

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says popular demands for change will put an end to the oppression of what he called arrogant powers...he says similar uprisings will strike Europe and North America....the president also condemned Libya's use of force against demonstrators and urged Libyan leaders to give in to the demands of their people...Iran warned opposition groups on Saturday against staging demonstrations to commemorate the people killed during the protests, state media reported.
Iran brutally put down protests on its own streets after Ahmadinejad's disputed re-election in 2009.
Posted by: lord garth || 02/23/2011 07:55 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Irony meter is pegged.
Posted by: OldSpook || 02/23/2011 9:36 Comments || Top||

#2  Pegged hell. Wrapped abound the stop pin.
I swear the whole region is nuts.
Posted by: Whiskey Mike || 02/23/2011 10:14 Comments || Top||

#3  Ahmadinejad really does "not get" the U.S. Maybe he spent too much time at the U.N. and Columbia University the last time he was here.
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/23/2011 10:17 Comments || Top||

#4  Hell, if Columbia University, NY City and the area around the UN and a hotel is all I saw of America, I'd have some pretty bizarre ideas about this country too.
Posted by: OldSpook || 02/23/2011 10:29 Comments || Top||

#5  the Tea party revolution has already begun. 2010 was the first victory with over 700 state legislator seats being won. We can see the result in Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio, but there is a lot we do not see in other states that now have a conservative majority.
Posted by: bman || 02/23/2011 11:27 Comments || Top||

#6  "I swear the whole region is nuts."
anything that comes out of their mouths is a lie, they make a culture of sodomizing young boys and heavily oppressing women, and they have the BIGGEST EGO'S on earth. Nuckin Futs!
Posted by: 746 || 02/23/2011 11:52 Comments || Top||

#7  here's hoping the iranian populace takes him at his word. his words seem to give them permission to overthrow their own short, round tyrant. unless, of course, this speech was not broadcast in iran.
raving lunatics finally being sent to the asylum?
Posted by: swanimote || 02/23/2011 12:36 Comments || Top||

#8  He's telling his populace and the rest of the middle east the lies he needs them to believe in order that they will be able to massacre American children in good conscience. Since we're actually the supporters of terrorists like Qadaffy and all that.
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain || 02/23/2011 13:33 Comments || Top||

#9  Didn'Qadaffy cheer the "revolution"? Well until they revolted against him. I wonder if there is even a word for irony in Arabic.
Posted by: Cyber Sarge || 02/23/2011 14:25 Comments || Top||

#10  First thingys come first.

As per COLD WAR "ATTACKING WHERE THE US-NATO = ENEMY IS NOT".

* AL-ARABIYA > CHINESE CALL FOR MORE TUNISIAN-STYLE "JASMINE RALLIES".

Since its CHINA + ASIA, methinks "JASMINE" label should more properly be termed "LOTUS" [White Lotus] or "CHRYSANTHEMUM"???
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 02/23/2011 20:12 Comments || Top||


Iranian warships in the Mediterranean
[Ennahar] Two Iranian warships entered Tuesday afternoon in the waters of the Mediterranean after taking the Suez Canal, according to a source fom the Canal Authority.
Posted by: Fred || 02/23/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran

#1  So what, are the Iranians in a better position to intervene in the Libyan situation than we are right now?
Posted by: Mitch H. || 02/23/2011 10:08 Comments || Top||

#2  Intervene are you nuts?

Heaven forbid, let's stand around with our thumbs up our butts and continue to appear to be the world's biggest weenie instead of the worlds last super power.

I certainly hope someone with some brains has an attack sub following these guys around.

Is it time for a bad batch of humus to explode?
Posted by: Bill Clinton || 02/23/2011 10:45 Comments || Top||

#3  Hopefully their fuel mileage won't be so hot, what with the drag of all those limpet mines.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 02/23/2011 10:54 Comments || Top||

#4  Bets on how many subs are trailing them?
Posted by: mojo || 02/23/2011 12:05 Comments || Top||

#5  The overs and unders on IDF frogmen is 12.

The overs and unders on submarines, US, French, British and Indian is 4.
Posted by: Bill Clinton || 02/23/2011 15:06 Comments || Top||

#6  The overs and unders on submarines, US, French, British and Indian is 4.

Why Indian, Bill?
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/23/2011 16:16 Comments || Top||

#7  DAILY TIMES.PK > [Israel]IRAN SHIPS AUGUR NUCLEAR SPREAD.

ARTIC = transit of Iranian Navy warships thruough the Suez Canal is more a Warning to EUROPE + ENTIRE WORLD THAN ISRAEL THAT A NUCLEAR-ARMED IRAN IS COMING [matter of when Iran devs NucWeaps, NOT iff]. A NUC-ARMED IRAN by extension also strongly infers STRIFES AGZ BOTH IRAN-CONTROLLED, NUC-ARMED PROXIES [Hezbollah, States e.g. Lebanon?], as well as VARIOUS INDEPENDENT OR AUTONOMOUS REGIONAL TERROR GROUPS COOPERATING WID IRAN [Iran one of a few or many Nuclear-armed, anti-US-Israel-West Muslim State sponsors].

IIUC, IRAN-LED? ISLAMIST NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION + "JASMINE" COLOR REVOLUTIONS = instead of ONE "MODERATE" LIBYA, albeit still Autocratic, POST-JASMINE THE US-WORLD MAY END UP IN LT WID SEVERAL NUCLEAR-ARMED,ANTI-US-ISRAEL-WEST,ANTI-DEMOCRATIC RADICAL = RADIC ISLAMIST "POLICE" STATES.

* ION CHINESE MILITARY FORUM > IRAN BALLISTIC MISSLE SCORES DIRECT HIT ON TARGET SHIP.

versus

SAME [paraph]> ISRAEL REMINDS THE ISLAMIC REVOLUTION'S GUARD OF ALLAH [Iran IRGC]. Successful Israeli ARROW-2 Missle test.

ARTIC = Israel may have to restructure + retrain the IDF to its pre-CAMP DAVID/TREATY organization because of the changes to EGYPT-ISRAELI = REGIONAL STRATEGIC BALANCE wrought by the "Jasmine" Protests in Egypt + ME Region, + resignation, departure of Anti-Iran Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. IDF WILL HAVE TO RE-TRAIN NEW UNITS TO WAGE EFFECTIVE WAR IN THE MOUNTAINOUS REGIONS ALONG THE ISRAELI-LEBANON BORDER, AS WELL AS THE FLAT DESERTS, CORRIDORS OF THE SINAI + TRANSJORDAN.

Posted by: JosephMendiola || 02/23/2011 22:02 Comments || Top||

#8  IMO it will take Israel + its IDF a minima of FIVE YEARS [2015-2016] to rediscover + indoctrinate new Recruits, Units on how to wage successful Mountain + Desert Armored-Mechanized Warfare.

A lot can happen in this time period, espec in AFPAK [Pakistan]+ EAST ASIA REGIONS [DPRK, US-China].

E.g. as per ...

To wit,

* CHINESE MILITARY FORUM > PAKISTAN'S INTELLIGENCE [Pak ISI Agency] READY TO SPLIT WID CIA, as per the RAYMOND DAVIS Case.

ARTIC = PAK GOVT. + ISI AGENCY fear the US CIA may have 00's [hundreds] of COVERT "CONTRACT SPIES" ILLEGALLY OPERATING INSIDE PAKISTAN.

* DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > RAYMOND DAVIS IS THE "ACTING CIA OFFICER" IN PAKISTAN.

* TOPIX > RUSSIA: DAVIS CASE MAY SPARK US-PAKISTAN WAR.

* RENSE/TOPIX > [Chin Blogs]NEW CALLS FOR JASMINE RALLIES IN CHINA.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 02/23/2011 22:20 Comments || Top||


Son of Iran opposition leader Karoubi arrested
TEHRAN - Iranian security forces have arrested a son of opposition leader Mehdi Karoubi, his website reported on Tuesday, one week after his supporters took to the streets in their first demonstrations in more than a year.

“Last night security forces entered the house of Ali Karoubi and arrested him and his wife, Nafiseh Panahi” Sahamnews website said. Panahi was later released but there was no further news of Ali Karoubi, it said.

Sahamnews said there were concerns for Mehdi Karoubi himself after security forces raided his house on Monday night and confiscated documents and books.

“After last night’s incident and despite many efforts there is no news of the fate of (Mehdi) Karoubi and his wife,” the website said. Mehdi Karoubi has been under virtual house arrest for more than a week after calling for supporters of his reformist Green movement to hold a rally on Feb. 14, the first event of its kind since December 2009. More demonstrations were held on Sunday.

Government supporters have called for both opposition leaders to be tried and executed, but so far authorities have chosen to isolate rather than arrest them, possibly wary of giving them greater publicity and angering their supporters.

Sahamnews said security forces were also seeking another of Karoubi’s sons, Hossein, who has been very outspoken since his father’s house arrest.
Posted by: Steve White || 02/23/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:



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Wed 2011-02-23
  OPEC crude oil exceeds $100
Tue 2011-02-22
  Gaddafi said barricaded in his Tripoli compound
Mon 2011-02-21
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Sun 2011-02-20
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Mon 2011-02-14
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Fri 2011-02-11
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