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Rocket attack in Iraq kills two Americans and a British citizen
Today's Headlines
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Page 4: Opinion
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Page 6: Politix
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Good morning
Hunter Biden cites coronavirus, wife's
pregnancy to avoid deposition until after Election Day
Wednesday March 11th, 2020

virginiachristine1
Ghani Signs Decree to Release Taliban Prisoners
Grumbling, no doubt, but it was one of the items in the ceasefire. Ley's see what stumbling bloc they can find next
Afghan forces seize AUG rifle and 90,000 rounds of ammunition in Herat
Sounds like he was carrying a few boxes of ammo and his personal weapon to deal with unofficial toll collectors
Afghan forces kill suicide bomber in Kandahar
Howzat ceasefire thingy working out for you?
One child killed, eight wounded in roadside kaboom in Logar
They're legitimate targets, naturally. Just a bit short
'Taliban Conducted 32 Attacks in 24 Hours': MoI
Imagine what it woulda been if they hadn't given their word not to attack?
Unidentified gunnies shoot up Turk proxies in Idlib
Evidence so far points to the Tattaglia clan
Man shot outside Bronx District
Attorney’s office after argument

Posted by: Fred || 03/11/2020 01:53 || Comments || Link || [336080 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Nice pair of ... Socks!
Posted by: Varmint Splat1454 || 03/11/2020 4:00 Comments || Top||

#2  Sockittome
Posted by: Lex || 03/11/2020 4:14 Comments || Top||

#3  Folger's "Mrs. Olson"
Posted by: Mullah Richard || 03/11/2020 12:39 Comments || Top||

#4  I remember the Folger's commercials, but she looked ... different.
Posted by: Bobby || 03/11/2020 18:11 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan
US Has Given 'Limited Support' to Taliban in ISIS Fight, General Says
[Mil.com] The overall commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan and the Mideast made the stunning admission Tuesday that the U.S. had given limited support to the Taliban in its own fight against ISIS.

Marine Gen. Kenneth Frank McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command, did not say what form of help the Taliban was given -- whether it was airstrikes, intelligence or simply a temporary cessation of U.S. attacks.

"There was very limited support from us, and I would characterize that as very limited support," he said.

In testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, McKenzie also did not say when or where the support was given to the insurgent group, whose stated goal for more than 18 years has been to drive the U.S. from Afghanistan.

However, McKenzie suggested that assistance to the Taliban may have come into play in remote areas of Afghanistan's southeastern Nangarhar province against the ISIS offshoot called Islamic State-Khorasan Province, or ISIS-K.

"Over the last several months in eastern Afghanistan, we've watched the Taliban compress and crush ISIS presence on the ground in southern Nangarhar province, and they've been very effective doing that," McKenzie said.

"It was a bloody mess, but they did it. In fact, ISIS really now no longer holds ground in Nangarhar province," McKenzie said."

At a later Pentagon briefing, Rear Adm. William Byrne, vice director of the Joint Staff, declined to comment on McKenzie's statements but said a main goal of U.S. policy was to rid Afghanistan of both ISIS and al-Qaida.

"I don't have any specifics to provide you [on McKenzie] but that's the hope, in that every force there is countering ISIS. Every force there is countering al-Qaida," Byrne said.

In his House testimony, McKenzie also expressed skepticism that the Taliban would keep their part of the bargain with the U.S. to allow for the reduction of U.S. forces in Afghanistan to 8,600 by this summer and a complete withdrawal over 14 months.

Under the deal between U.S. special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban leaders in Doha, Qatar last month, a seven-day "reduction in violence" was agreed to and was to be followed by talks between the Taliban and the Kabul government on a final peace settlement.

However, McKenzie said that the Taliban were continuing attacks on Afghan forces in violation of the agreement with the U.S.

He said the U.S. troop reductions were conditions-based, and if the Taliban continue attacks, "my advice would be not to continue that reduction."
Posted by: Besoeker || 03/11/2020 08:53 || Comments || Link || [336117 views] Top|| File under: Taliban

#1  I'm absolutely certain this was a McLean, VA and Foggy Bottom Pentagon E-Ring logistics error which can be quickly resolved. Move along please, nothing to be seen here.
Posted by: Besoeker || 03/11/2020 9:25 Comments || Top||

#2  pretty much been giving the Taliban assistance every time we send Pakistain an aid check
Posted by: Chris || 03/11/2020 16:57 Comments || Top||

#3  /\ Absolutely correct.
Posted by: Besoeker || 03/11/2020 17:01 Comments || Top||


Afghan forces seize AUG rifle and 90,000 rounds of ammunition in Herat
[KhaamaPress] The Afghan forces confiscated an AUG rifle and nearly 90,000 thousand rounds of ammunition during a raid in western Herat
...a venerable old Persian-speaking city in western Afghanistan, populated mostly by Tadjiks, which is why it's not as blood-soaked as areas controlled by Pashtuns...
province.

According to a statement released by Ministry of Interior (MoI), the security forces confiscated the weapon and ammunition during a raid in Guzara district of Herat.

The statement further added the security forces seized 89,900 rounds of ammunition including 35,000 rounds of M-16 ammunition and 16,000 rounds of Ak-47 ammunition.

The Ministry of Interior also added that the security forces discovered the weapon and ammunition from a truck and arrested the driver of the vehicle.

The anti-government armed hard boy groups have not commented in this regard so far.
Posted by: trailing wife || 03/11/2020 00:26 || Comments || Link || [336127 views] Top|| File under:

#1  AUG “a semi-convertible ambidextrous rifle platform with an adjustable short-stroke, gas-piston operation chambered for 5.56x45mm (.223 Remington) ammunition in stock 10-, 30- or 42-round magazines.” Only $2000 on the open market.
9000/42~2142 magazines. WOW
Posted by: Tyranysaurus Bumble4504 || 03/11/2020 12:35 Comments || Top||

#2  President George H.W. Bush banned the AUG via an executive order under the 1989 Assault Weapon Import ban. Six years into the ban, AUG buyers gained a reprieve as cosmetic changes to the carbine’s design allowed importation once again...Things that make you go huh.
Posted by: Texhooey || 03/11/2020 21:59 Comments || Top||


Afghan forces kill suicide bomber in Kandahar
[KhaamaPress] The Afghan forces foiled a deadly attack in southern Kandahar province by killing a jacket wallah who was looking to carry out an attack in Zherai district.

The Ministry of Interior in a statement said the explosives of the suicide bomber went off after the Afghan forces opened fire on him.

The statement further added that the suicide bomber was looking to carry out an attack in Hawz Madad area of Zherai district.

According to Ministry of Interior, the security forces foiled a deadly attack by eliminating the suicide bomber.

The anti-government armed holy warrior groups have not commented regarding the incident so far.

This comes as four bully boyz who were looking to plant a roadside kaboom in Dand district of Kandahar province were killed after their explosives went off prematurely.
Posted by: trailing wife || 03/11/2020 00:09 || Comments || Link || [336090 views] Top|| File under:


One child killed, eight wounded in roadside kaboom in Logar
[KhaamaPress] A roadside kaboom explosion killed or maimed at least 9 children in central Logaar province of Afghanistan, the security officials said Monday.

Nasrat Rahimi, a front man for the Ministry of Interior said an improvised bomb planted on a roadside went off at around 3 pm on Monday.

Rahimi further added that the earth-shattering kaboom took place in Sheikhan Village of Azra district which killed a child and maimed eight others.

No individual or group including Taliban
...Arabic for students...
has so far grabbed credit for the incident.

Talibs frequently use improvised bombs to target the security forces and government personnel but majority of such attacks inflict casualties ordinary civilians.
Posted by: trailing wife || 03/11/2020 00:09 || Comments || Link || [336100 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


'Taliban Conducted 32 Attacks in 24 Hours': MoI
[ToloNews] As the Afghan forces maintain a defense-only stance towards the Taliban
...mindless ferocity in a turban...
following the official reduction in violence period, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) on Tuesday said the Taliban conducted 32 attacks in 15 provinces over the last 24 hours.

The Interior Ministry front man Nusrat Rahimi said the attacks were conducted on civilians and security forces members.

"Two civilians and five security force members were killed in the attacks," Rahimi said. He added that 16 civilians and 12 security force members were maimed in the attacks.

According to Rahimi, the security forces conducted defensive operations in which eight Taliban fighters were killed and a would-be jacket wallah was killed in Kandahar before reaching his target.

Helmand
...an Afghan province populated mostly by Pashtuns, adjacent to Injun country in Pak Balochistan...
governor Yasin Khan said that the Taliban have continued their attacks after the end of the weeklong reduction in violence. But he added the violence has been slightly reduced in Helmand compared to the past.

"When they started the attacks, we also decided to respond," he said.

The Taliban has not commented on the Interior Ministry’s statement.
Posted by: trailing wife || 03/11/2020 00:09 || Comments || Link || [336098 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Arabia
#Yemeni army forces, allies shoot down #Saudi-led reconnaissance drone in #Hudaydah
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]
Posted by: Fred || 03/11/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336071 views] Top|| File under: Houthis


Iraq
Rocket attack in Iraq kills two Americans and a British citizen
Aypee link:
[Ynet] Three service members were killed, including two Americans, and a dozen more were injured when a barrage of rockets were fired at a military base in Iraq, U.S. officials said Wednesday.

One of the officials said five service members were seriously wounded and evacuated from the Camp Taji base and seven others were still being evaluated. Buildings on the base were in flames. Several other U.S. officials confirmed that U.S. troops had been killed and injured, but did not provide numbers. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to give details of the attack ahead of a public announcement.

Army Col. Myles Caggins, a U.S. military spokewman in Iraq, said on Twitter that more than 15 small rockets hit Iraq’s Camp Taji base. He provided no details. Another U.S. official said that as many as 30 rockets were fired from a truck launcher, and 18 hit the base.

Officials did not say what group they believe launched the rocket attack, but Kataib Hezbollah or another Iranian-backed Shia militia group is likely.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 03/11/2020 18:26 || Comments || Link || [336127 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran Proxies


Pentagon Identifies 2 MARSOC Raiders Killed Hunting ISIS in Iraq
[Mil.com] The two service members killed during a mission to eliminate an ISIS stronghold in a mountainous region of north-central Iraq have been identified as members of Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command.

Gunnery Sgt. Diego D. Pongo, 34, of Simi Valley, California, and Capt. Moises A. Navas, 34, of Germantown, Maryland, died Sunday while on a mission with Iraqi forces in the Makhmur Mountains, south of Erbil.

Following their deaths, more troops were sent into the region on a recovery mission that became a brutal fight, according to information released by Operation Inherent Resolve.
Posted by: Besoeker || 03/11/2020 08:45 || Comments || Link || [336090 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State


Combat deaths of 2 special operations US Marines in #Iraq March 8 came in what is being called one of the ‘most intense’ battles US forces had in recent months
[TWITTER]
Posted by: Fred || 03/11/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336076 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State

#1  In which atomic hand grenades were used. Twitter snippets without analysis are a waste of time.
Posted by: b || 03/11/2020 10:55 Comments || Top||

#2  You're always welcome to go hunting for a better link/analysis, and post it
Posted by: Frank G || 03/11/2020 11:08 Comments || Top||

#3  Some 'readers' have trouble with the concepts of abstraction and synopsis.

Two elite Marine Raiders killed in Iraq


Pentagon identifies Marines killed in ‘intense’ clash with ISIS fighters in Iraq
Posted by: Skidmark || 03/11/2020 13:12 Comments || Top||

#4  Well Skidmark, did your notation appear in the twitter snippet?
Posted by: b || 03/11/2020 17:55 Comments || Top||

#5  Sometimes we choose to help the 'special' ones.
Posted by: Skidmark || 03/11/2020 18:07 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Palestinian youth killed in clashes with IDF troops near Nablus
[Jpost] A Palestinian youth was killed and over a dozens more injured by Israeli fire during violent clashes near Nablus in the West Bank on early Wednesday morning.

"Some 500 Palestinians took part in a violent disturbance of the peace near the village of Beta," the IDF Spokesperson's Unit said in a statement. "The rioters hurled stones at IDF soldiers and burned tires," the army added it is investigating the report saying a Palestinian was killed and several other were wounded in the incident.

The 15 year-old teenager,identified by the Palestinian Health Ministry as Mohammad Hamayel, died in hospital after he was hit in the head with live ammunition shot by IDF troops near a fortress at an archealogical site near the town of Beita.
Headshot!
The WAFA Palestinian News Agency quoted the spokesman for the Health Ministry, Tarif Ashour, as confirming that another 17 Palestinians were brought to the Rafidia Government Hospital treated for medical treatment after being injured in the clashes, including two in serious condition.

According to a report in Haaretz, the clashes broke out around 5.30 ahead when IDF troops came to remove a group of Palestinian protesters ahead of a tour by Israeli settlers to the fortress which reportedly dates back to the Hasmonean era.

Meanwhile on Wednesday night a 14 year-old Israeli teenager from the settlement of Yitzhar was seriously wounded after he was hit in the head by a stone thrown towards the car he was riding in by Palestinians south of Nablus.

Channel 12 reported that the youth, who was part of a drunk group of individuals who reached a checkpoint after going to a Purim party, started to provoke Palestinians who were in a near-by vehicle.
drunk 14 yr old?
Posted by: Frank G || 03/11/2020 13:45 || Comments || Link || [336091 views] Top|| File under:


IDF aircraft above Shebaa Farms today
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]
Posted by: Fred || 03/11/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336089 views] Top|| File under: Hezbollah

#1  Aircraft were actually B-52 drones.
Posted by: b || 03/11/2020 10:57 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Report: Pro-Iranian militia targets attacked on Syrian-Iraqi border
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 03/11/2020 18:22 || Comments || Link || [336095 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran Proxies

#1  This time it wasn't the Belgians. It was Ruritanian Air Force.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 03/11/2020 18:43 Comments || Top||

#2  Ruritanians don't fly at night.
Posted by: jpal || 03/11/2020 19:16 Comments || Top||

#3  It wasn't at night.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 03/11/2020 19:47 Comments || Top||


Unidentified gunnies shoot up Turk proxies in Idlib
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]
Posted by: Fred || 03/11/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336098 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria


Turkish & affiliated armed groups shell village of Qiz-Ali in Tal-Abyad countryside
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]
Posted by: Fred || 03/11/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336091 views] Top|| File under: Sublime Porte


Syrian army uncovers militant chemical weapons workshop in western Aleppo
[PRESSTV] Syrian government forces have discovered a workshop in the western countryside of the country’s embattled northwestern province of Aleppo, which foreign-sponsored Takfiri
...an adherent of takfir wal hijra, an offshoot of Salafism that regards everybody who doesn't agree with them as apostates who must be killed...
turbans used to manufacture toxic chemical weapons
...have not been used since WWI except for in Iraq, by the late, unlamented Saddam Hussein and in Syria, but really, honest, not by the Syrian government. And in Germany in WWII, but that was against civilians. Lots of them, just one of many reasons Hitler's also late and unlamented...
for their attacks against army troops and civilians in government-controlled areas.

Syria’s official news agency SANA, citing an unnamed field officer, reported that the covert workshop was uncovered inside a terrorist hideout dug inside a mountain in the recently-liberated Anjara area on Tuesday as army troopers were combing the region for hidden ordinance as well as improvised bombs, and were preparing repatriation of local residents.

Posted by: Fred || 03/11/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336091 views] Top|| File under: al-Nusra


Large #Russian military convoy proceeded today from Tel Tamr in the direction of El-Kamyshly
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]
Posted by: Fred || 03/11/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336076 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria


Turkish Foreign Minister: Russia will secure south of the M4 Aleppo-Lattakia road for a distance of 6 km, while Turkey will secure the north of the road for a distance of 6 km
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]
Posted by: Fred || 03/11/2020 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336073 views] Top|| File under: Sublime Porte



Who's in the News
40[untagged]
4Sublime Porte
4Taliban
3Hezbollah
3Commies
3Govt of Iran Proxies
3Islamic State
2Govt of Saudi Arabia
2Moslem Colonists
2Govt of Iran
2Govt of Syria
1Muslim Brotherhood
1Houthis
1Tin Hat Dictators, Presidents for Life, & Kleptocrats
1al-Nusra

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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.
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Meet the Mods
In no particular order...
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Seafarious
tu3031
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trailing wife
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Two weeks of WOT
Wed 2020-03-11
  Rocket attack in Iraq kills two Americans and a British citizen
Tue 2020-03-10
  US begins military pullout from two Afghan bases
Mon 2020-03-09
  Turks Use Drones in Tear Gas Attacks on Greek Border Guards
Sun 2020-03-08
  Leb defaults
Sat 2020-03-07
  Saudis reportedly detain three royal princes over ‘coup plot’
Fri 2020-03-06
  Tunis: suicide bomber explodes near U.S. embassy
Thu 2020-03-05
  Russia sends reinforcements through the Bosporus
Wed 2020-03-04
  4 L-39's and 18 Su-24's left in Syrian Airforce
Tue 2020-03-03
  Taliban Orders Resumed Attacks on Govt Forces
Mon 2020-03-02
  Turkey shoots down two Syrian fighter jets over Idlib
Sun 2020-03-01
  Iraq's PM-designate Allawi withdraws, prolonging deadlock
Sat 2020-02-29
  U.S. and Taliban sign troop withdrawal deal
Fri 2020-02-28
  Rouhani and his VP both reported to have coronavirus
Thu 2020-02-27
  Hezbollah operative killed in drone strike in southern Syria
Wed 2020-02-26
  Gulf Cartel Border City Turf War Kills at Least 20 Gunmen, Innocents in Week
Tue 2020-02-25
  Hosni Mubarak sleeps with the pharaohs

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