[Khaama (Afghanistan)] The government of Pakistain strongly condemned the deadly car kaboom near a stadium in Lashkargah city, the placid provincial capital of Helmand ...an Afghan province populated mostly by Pashtuns, adjacent to Injun country in Pak Balochistan... province.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistain says "Pakistain strongly condemns the heinous suicide car kaboom outside a stadium in Helmand Province as people were leaving the stadium after watching a wrestling match yesterday. We are grieved at the loss of precious and innocent lives in this brutal act of terrorism."
The statement further adds that "We express our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured."
"Pakistain reiterates its unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all forms and manifestations and expresses solidarity with the government and people of Afghanistan in this hour of grief and sorrow," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistain said.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/25/2018 00:00 ||
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Eleven articles on the subject can be accessed at the link.
[AlAhram] Ninety years ago today, Hassan al-Banna founded the Moslem Brüderbund group, which went on to become a major player in both Egyptian and regional politics.
What follows below is not by any means a complete analysis of the role played by the group over the past nine decades, but rather a collection of articles published during interesting times by both Ahram Weekly and Ahram Online, with the aim of marking the day.
These articles attempt to explain the rise and fall of the group which, after a revolution, managed to gain people's trust to win both the legislative body and the presidency, and, in less than a year, became an enemy of the people and the state; a group held accountable for planting the seeds of radicalisation and violence, with an impact not only on Egypt but the entire region and even the world.
Posted by: trailing wife ||
03/25/2018 00:00 ||
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[DAWN] Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari received the released Dapchi girls on Friday in a meeting clouded by the absence of a Christian student still held by Boko Haram ... not to be confused with Procol Harum, Harum Scarum, possibly to be confused with Helter Skelter. The Nigerian version of al-Qaeda and the Taliban rolled together and flavored with a smigeon of distinctly Subsaharan ignorance and brutality... for refusing to convert to Islam.
"We entered into negotiation solely to make sure that no single girl was hurt. This strategy paid off as the girls are being released without any incident," Buhari said to news hounds at the presidential villa in Abuja. The girls, dressed in brightly coloured hijabs, enthusiastically sang the national anthem before posing for photos with Buhari outside in a garden.
Describing the release of the 107 youngsters ‐ 105 schoolgirls and a younger boy and girl ‐ as a "cheery and hearty" development, Buhari pledged to recover "every kidnapped citizen in Nigeria." "While parents of the Dapchi girls rejoice because of the reunion with their children, I want to appeal to the Chibok community never to lose hope or despair. We are determined as never before to bring back our remaining Chibok daughters," he said.
The latest mass kidnapping from the town of Dapchi was an embarrassment for Buhari whose government has repeatedly claimed that the Boko Haram Islamist group is close to defeat.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/25/2018 00:00 ||
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[DAWN] The gunman who killed three people in southwest La Belle France on Friday before being rubbed out by police was a 25-year-old small-time drug pusher with a history of minor crimes.
The rap sheet against Radouane Lakdim, a French citizen born in Morocco according to sources close to the inquiry, eventually drew deeper scrutiny by Sherlocks worried he was at risk of radicalisation.
In the summer of 2014, Lakdim, who lived in Carcassonne, was put on a watchlist of people considered possible holy warriors.
"He was added to the list because of his radicalisation and his links with the Salafist movement," Francois Molins, La Belle France's top anti-terror prosecutor, said at a presser in Carcassonne.
He was found guilty of carrying a prohibited weapon in 2011 and later for drug use and refusing a court order in 2015, Molins said.
In 2016, then in 2017, he was the subject of an investigation by intelligence services, "which did not bring to light any sign that would indicate he would carry out a terrorist act," he added.
But when entering the Super U supermarket in nearby Trebes on Friday, Lakdim declared he was ready to die for Syria, and demanded the freedom for his brothers before shooting and killing a client and an employee.
"He was just a regular kid, from a simple and regular family. He wore a beard and didn't have a job," a neighbour told AFP, asking to remain anonymous.
Le Gay Pareeien newspaper reported that Lakdim lived with his parents, and quoted a neighbour saying he had dropped off a little sister at school on Friday morning.
[Ynet] A judicial official says French police searching the home of the man responsible for a deadly rampage in southern La Belle France have found notes referring to the Islamic State ...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems.... group that appeared to be a final testament.
Also found in the search of the home were a computer and telephone, the official said Saturday, a day after the attack. He was not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation and couldn't be named.
Police searched the home of Moroccan-born Redouane Lakdim, 25, after Friday's attack that killed four people‐two in a supermarket near the southern city of Carcassonne where the attacker was killed in an assault. The fourth victim, a gendarme who stood in for a female hostage and was shot, died early Saturday.
The official says there apparently was no mention in the notes of the attack plans.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/25/2018 00:00 ||
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Top|| File under: Islamic State
#1
'Wore a beard, didn't have a job': What we know about the 'IS-linked' French gunman
Had no problem getting firearm in gun controlled France.
[DAWN] An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) and civil courts on Saturday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Tehrik-e-Labbaik Pakistain's (TLP) Khadim Hussain Rizvi along with other absconding suspects in 14 cases related to the Faizabad sit-in held last year.
ATC Judge Shahrukh Arjumand issued arrest warrants in five cases regarding the Islamabad protests that were registered in the I-9 cop shoppe after Rizvi and other suspects refused to appear in court for the hearing.
The TLP leader along with other members of Rizvi's and other religious parties are facing multiple charges, including terrorism, in several cases that were registered in 26 cop shoppes across the capital after the Faizabad protests.
A civil court also issued arrest warrants in nine cases lodged in the Industrial Area cop shoppe.
An ATC court has already issued arrest warrants for Rizvi and other leaders of different religious parties, including the Tehrik-e-Khatm-e-Nabuwwat and the Sunni Tehrik ...formed in Karachi in 1992 under by Muhammad Saleem Qadri. It quickly fell to trading fisticuffs and assassinations with the MQM and the Sipah-e-Sahaba, with at least a half dozen of its major leaders rubbed out. Sunni Tehreek arose to become the primary opposition to the Deobandi Binori Mosque, headed by Nizamuddin Shamzai, who was eventually bumped off by person or persons unknown. ST's current leadership has heavily criticized the Deobandi Jihadi leaders, accusing them of being sponsored by Indian Intelligence agencies as well as involvement in terrorist activities... Pakistain, in six cases pertaining to the Faizabad sit-in.
The last arrest warrant was issued earlier this week after Rizvi failed to appear in court for a hearing. Despite multiple warrants, no arrests have been made as yet.
Islamabad protests
Religious parties held a sit-in at Faizabad Interchange in the capital following the passage of the Elections Act 2017, which they believed deliberately modified the Khatm-e-Nabuwwat oath as part of some conspiracy. The amendment to the oath had been explained as a 'holy manal error' by the government and subsequently rectified through an Act of Parliament.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/25/2018 00:00 ||
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[DAWN] The Ministry of Defence in response to a request for security has conveyed to former military ruler Pervez Musharraf through his counsel that providing him security on his return to the country is not its job.
In a letter written to the counsel for retired Gen Musharraf, Akhtar Shah, the ministry maintained that “provision of security in the subject case does not fall under the purview of Ministry of Defence”.
An application had been moved on behalf of Gen Musharraf on March 13 that the former president be provided security by the ministry of defence on his return to face a treason case in court.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/25/2018 00:00 ||
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[DAWN] "Nawaz Sharif ... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf, then by the courts... wants to leave the country before the end of government term and judgments on corruption references are delivered," Pakistain Awami Tehrik (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri ...Pak politician, and would-be dictator, founder and head of Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran and Pakistain Awami Tehrik. He usually resides in Canada, but returns to Pakistain periodically to foam at the mouth and lead demonstrations. Depending on which way the wind's blowing, Qadri claims to be the author of Pak's blasphemy law. Other times he says it wasn't him... said on Friday to senior party leaders by telephone.
He said Nawaz was ready to escape before the end of the PML-N government’s term. Instead of making party his shield, the former prime minister must provide money trail of his London assets to accountability courts.
He said the so-called tiger who was intimidating state institutions few days back, now wanted to surrender but there should be no negotiation with plunderers and blackmailers.
He said the bereaved families of the Model Town massacre wanted the Sharif brothers tried in an anti-terrorist court.
He said the criminal mastermind of the Model Town massacre deserved no legal or constitutional clemency, and any such concession to him would amount to providing justification to all those who had declared war against the state.
If such culprits of the state got any concession in the guise of negotiations, accountability of high-ups in Pakistain would become a dream.
He said the disqualified group tried to divide the judiciary and the army as they had done in 1997 and 1999; in an effort to blackmail state institutions, they threatened to spill the beans but failed to achieve their goal. Now disappointed and scared, Nawaz Sharif wanted to escape before May 31.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/25/2018 00:00 ||
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Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) Influential Iraqi Shia holy man and murderous Moslem leader Moqtada Tater al-Sadr ... the Iranian catspaw holy man who was 22 years old in 2003 and was nearing 40 in 2010. He spends most of his time in Iran, safely out of the line of fire, where he's learning to be an ayatollah... has told a security member it is religiously impermissible to get training by U.S. security instructors.
Answering faith-related inquiries on his online portal, Sadr was asked by a man, who identified himself as Ahmed al-Iraqi, a member of "Iraqi internal security services", whether it was permissible to get training by U.S. troops.
"We get training on the use of arms and the detection of explosives, but, sir, we are trained by the occupier coalition forces in Iraq," read the inquiry.
"I am not pleased with that, but it is our commanders’ orders," the agent added. "Be noted that I do not sympathize, eat, talk or jab with them, is that still considered an assistance to occupiers?".
Sadr answered that "this is forbidden, and if you may, get a religious exception (edict) to do it".
The authenticity of the inquiry and the identity of the asker could not be verified.
Sadr has been a central player in the political and militancy scene in Iraq, and had for some time, following the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, been branded an enemy to the United States, being an ardent opponent to foreign military presence in the country.
A U.S.-led alliance had backed Iraqi forces in their fight against Islamic State ...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems.... turbans since their emergence in 2014 and until the group’s defeat last year’s end. While Iraqi officials were quoted saying it was expected that coalition troops would draw down their numbers after IS defeat, coalition officials said they were keeping a few thousand troops for training purposes.
[IsraelTimes] As UN rights council passes 5 anti-Israel resolutions, PA looks to sign Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and UN's Convention against Apartheid in Sports
The Paleostinian Authority has in recent days filed official requests to join eight international treaties, Hadashot news reported Saturday.
The Ramallah-based government is seeking to join the UN’s International Convention against Apartheid in Sports and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, among other treaties, according to the report.
Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon condemned the "unilateral move" by the Paleostinians.
"The Paleostinian leadership is mistaken in thinking that it can establish facts on the ground by making detours and unilateral moves," Danon said. "Instead of ignoring the United States and Israel, the Paleostinians should stop encouraging terrorism and incitement."
The news came a day after the Human Rights Council adopted five resolutions condemning Israel, one of which called on Israel to relinquish the Golan Heights strategic ridge to war-torn Syria.
The five resolutions were presented by the countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation under the council’s "agenda item 7" which concerns Israel.
Israel is the only country that has a dedicated agenda item at the council, a mechanism that Israel, the US, and some European countries say is discriminatory.
US Ambassador Nikki Haley ...Trump administration's ambassador to the UN. First woman to serve as Governor of South Carolina, and the second Indian-American governor in the country, after Bobby Jindal of Louisiana. At the age of 39, Haley was the youngest governor in the U.S., a distinction formerly held by Jindal. She is a Republican, which really grates on the Dems... said in a statement Friday that the council was "grossly biased against Israel," noting that it had adopted only three resolutions separately targeting North Korea, Iran, and Syria.
"When the Human Rights Council treats Israel worse than North Korea, Iran, and Syria, it is the council itself that is foolish and unworthy of its name," said Haley.
"Our patience is not unlimited. Today’s actions make clear that the organization lacks the credibility needed to be a true advocate for human rights When they're defined by the state or an NGO they don't mean much... ," she said.
Haley has over the past year repeatedly warned that the United States was ready to walk away from the 47-member body established in 2006 to promote and protect human rights worldwide.
Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman addressed the Iranian threat to Israel’s security on Sunday morning.
"The State of Israel is determined to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. This is not just a slogan, not just words," Liberman said. "There will be no Iranian military presence in Syria, and there will be no nuclear Iran. We are not just saying this; we mean what we’re saying."
Liberman also addressed the scheduled "Million Man March" protest against the Israeli border fence in the Gaza Strip, scheduled for March 30th. "My advice to the world is not to panic. In every instance, we should remain cool-headed and determined. We are prepared for any eventuality. We are raising our readiness and will deal with any events as they happen.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru ||
03/25/2018 06:50 ||
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Former Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said Sunday that US President Donald Trump's newly-appointed national security advisor John Bolton had tried to convince him to attack Iran.
Speaking at a conference hosted by Yediot Aharonot, Mofaz said: "I have known John Bolton since his days as US ambassador to the United Nations - he tried to convince me that Israel must attack in Iran.
"I don't think that it's a wise move, not for the Americans today or for anyone until the threat becomes real," he added.
In 1998, Mofaz became the sixteenth IDF chief of staff, serving until 2002. He then served as minister of defense from 2002 until 2006.
"The Iranian threat is very significant for Israel's security. Iran is already at Israel's borders - in Syria and Lebanon," Mofaz warned. "It's impossible to promise a future to the children of Israel if Iran obtains a nuclear weapon."
Bolton is known to be rabidly opposed to the Iran nuclear deal, and is considered a strong friend of Israel. He has also stated that the two-state solution is "dead."
On Saturday night, right-wing Israeli politicians welcomed the news of the hawkish choice to replace Lt.-Gen. H.R. McMaster, who was seen as a constraining influence within Trump’s inner circle.
Bolton’s appointment sends "an unequivocal message to Iran that the days of the terrible nuclear agreement are coming to an end," said Kulanu MK and former ambassador to the United States Michael Oren.
"Bolton is known to hate the agreement," he said.
Sitting alongside Mofaz at the conference were former defense minister Moshe Ya'alon and former IDF chiefs of staff Benny Gantz and Dan Halutz. All four panelists said they were not in favor of nixing the Iran nuclear deal.
Ya'alon emphasized the importance of exhausting non-military options before using force against Iran.
"Leaders in the region have understood that their armies cannot defeat the IDF, and as a result have gone in two directions," said Ya'alon.
"The first is terror, guerrilla, rockets and missiles; the second is an unconventional threat, particularly nuclear," he added.
"To thwart or to destroy? For as long as possible, obtain achievements without using military force. If there's no choice - it'll be necessary to use force."
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.
[DAWN] Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari received the released Dapchi girls on Friday in a meeting clouded by the absence of a Christian student still held by 
...Pak politician, and would-be dictator, founder and head of Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran and Pakistain Awami Tehrik. He usually resides in Canada, but returns to Pakistain periodically to foam at the mouth and lead demonstrations. Depending on which way the wind's blowing, Qadri claims to be the author of Pak's blasphemy law. Other times he says it wasn't him...
Moqtada 
...Trump administration's ambassador to the UN. First woman to serve as Governor of South Carolina, and the second Indian-American governor in the country, after Bobby Jindal of Louisiana. At the age of 39, Haley was the youngest governor in the U.S., a distinction formerly held by Jindal. She is a Republican, which really grates on the Dems...
North Korea
