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Mehsud to head Taliban Movement of Pakistan
Today's Headlines
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Afghanistan
Kandahar: Inside and out
Posted by: ryuge || 12/15/2007 05:43 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:


Africa Horn
UN rights council drops Darfur expert group
The UN Human Rights Council on Friday dissolved a group of experts tasked with monitoring abuses in Darfur after demands from African countries to ease the political pressure on Sudan.

The unanimous decision to halt the mission of the seven rights experts comes a week after the group accused Sudan of failing to protect civilians in Darfur from rape, torture and other forms of violence.

The task of overseeing Khartoum's progress in protecting human rights in Darfur will now fall to the UN's special envoy to Sudan, Simar Samar, whose mandate was unanimously extended for a year.
Posted by: Fred || 12/15/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Sudan

#1  rewritten: "Sudan fails to protect civilians in Darfur from rape, torture and other forms of violence, so other African countries demand easing political pressure"

the whole continent could drop into the ocean and the world would be better off. F*ck em

Posted by: Frank G || 12/15/2007 8:09 Comments || Top||

#2  UN Human Rights Council? I thought they changed their name to the Villains, Thieves and Scoundrels Union.
Posted by: SteveS || 12/15/2007 10:59 Comments || Top||


Down Under
Dupe entry: Terror supporter David Hicks about to be released
Posted by: ryuge || 12/15/2007 05:48 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I didn't see anything about David Hicks in the linked article. But it was an outstanding read and well worth the visit.

I guess I would call it "The once and future Kandahar".
Posted by: Seafarious || 12/15/2007 9:55 Comments || Top||

#2  Cr@p! I used a link for an article that I already posted elsewhere. Here's the proper link. Sorry!

Posted by: ryuge || 12/15/2007 15:26 Comments || Top||

#3  I'm reposting the link for tomorrow's 'Burg....
Posted by: Seafarious || 12/15/2007 19:01 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Politix
Sri Lanka MoD: LTTE Fund Raising For Hillary Clinton In N.J.
Well known activists of a banned terrorist group in the United States are involved in the fund raising activities of the US Democratic candidate Senator Hilary Rodham Clinton. According to a fundraising web site for the Senator, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) activists are involved in raising funds from 100 Dollars to 2300 Dollars to help elect Senator Clinton as the next United States President.

An email distributed by a female activist, Pat Pathmakumar for the group under the name "Tamils for Clinton" has appealed to contribute for the Clinton fund by sending checks to her or a man named Ram Ranjan, a man who organized the LTTE Heroes day meeting in New Jersey last year. Ranjan has publicly admitted he raised funds for LTTE front, the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO).

Ram Ranjan has earlier admitted that he had raised funds for the Tamil Tigers front organization called Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) which had raised funds purportedly for humanitarian purposes but actually diverted those funds for terrorist activities from many countries in the world.

The US State Department has identified the TRO as a front organization of the LTTE and it is banned in many countries in the world.
Posted by: Pappy || 12/15/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:


Congress's Probe of CIA Tapes Resisted
The Justice Department moved yesterday to delay congressional inquiries into the CIA's destruction of interrogation videotapes, saying the administration could not provide witnesses or documents sought by lawmakers without jeopardizing its own investigation of the CIA's actions.

Congressional leaders from both parties alleged that Justice is trying to block their investigation and vowed to press ahead with hearings.

A pair of letters from Justice and CIA officials to leaders of the House and Senate intelligence committees intensified the conflict between the Bush administration and Congress, which is seeking to force current and former CIA leaders to testify as early as next week. The lawmakers want CIA officials to account for the decision to destroy tapes that depicted the use of harsh interrogation tactics on terrorism suspects.

The growing feud is the first major confrontation with Congress for new Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey, who was narrowly confirmed last month amid controversy over his refusal to describe waterboarding -- a severe interrogation tactic that simulates drowning -- as torture.

"We fully appreciate the committee's oversight interest in this matter, but want to advise you of concerns that actions responsive to your request would represent significant risk to our preliminary inquiry," Kenneth L. Wainstein, assistant attorney general for national security, and CIA Inspector General John L. Helgerson wrote in a letter to House intelligence committee leaders.

The top Democrat and Republican on the House intelligence committee issued a joint statement that labels Justice's advice to the CIA witnesses an effort to obstruct the congressional probe. "We are stunned that the Justice Department would move to block our investigation," Reps. Silvestre Reyes (D-Tex.) and Peter Hoekstra (R-Mich.) said in the statement. "Parallel investigations occur all of the time, and there is no basis upon which the Attorney General can stand in the way of our work."

They vowed to "use all the tools available to Congress, including subpoenas" to compel the to CIA to produce documents and require key officials to testify about the tapes.
Dhimmicrats are also braying for a special prosecutor, naturally.
The exchange followed a letter earlier in the day from Mukasey that rebuffed congressional demands for details about the joint Justice-CIA inquiry into the tapes' destruction and rejected calls for the appointment of an independent prosecutor. Mukasey said that providing the information to Congress would make it appear that the department is "subject to political influence." "At my confirmation hearing, I testified that I would act independently, resist political pressure and ensure that politics plays no role in cases brought by the Department of Justice," Mukasey wrote in a letter to Sens. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) and Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), chairman and ranking minority member of the Judiciary Committee.

Mukasey wrote to the lawmakers that Justice "has a long-standing policy of declining to provide non-public information about pending matters.

"This policy is based in part on our interest in avoiding any perception that our law enforcement decisions are subject to political influence," Mukasey wrote to lawmakers.
Posted by: Steve White || 12/15/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Let them investigate. AS long as they also investigate why Cryptkeeper the current Speaker of the House did nothing to stop the tapes destruction 4 years ago when she found out about them.
Posted by: Mike N. || 12/15/2007 2:59 Comments || Top||

#2  I hope Justice rips the CIA apart.
Posted by: OldSpook || 12/15/2007 10:25 Comments || Top||

#3  Congress attacking the CIA? That's almost like al-Qaeda attacking the Taliban. Where's my popcorn?
Posted by: Anonymoose || 12/15/2007 10:29 Comments || Top||

#4  I'm popping as fast as I can, 'moose. ;-p
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 12/15/2007 11:05 Comments || Top||

#5  Oly way to make it any better is get CIA vs State into the mix
Posted by: OldSpook || 12/15/2007 12:17 Comments || Top||


Home Front: WoT
Two Chicago Residents Charged with Terrorism Violations
TOLEDO, Ohio, Dec. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Gregory A. White, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, today announced that a federal grand jury in Cleveland returned a new indictment charging two of the defendants in the pending Toledo terrorism case, Zubair Ahmed and his cousin, Khaleel Ahmed, both of Chicago, Illinois, with a single count of conspiring to commit terrorist acts against Americans overseas. Zubair Ahmed, age 28, and his cousin, Khaleel Ahmed, age 27, are both U.S. citizens, and reside in the Chicago, Illinois, area.

The new indictment charges Zubair Ahmed and Khaleel Ahmed with conspiring, together and with others, to "kill, kidnap or maim persons outside of the United States, to include U.S. armed forces personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan," in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 956(a)(1).


Posted by: www || 12/15/2007 15:46 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Zubair Ahmed, age 28, and his cousin, Khaleel Ahmed, age 27, are both U.S. citizens, and reside in the Chicago, Illinois, area.

bet they're related to the pilgrim Ahmed family, the one that came across on the Mayflower
Posted by: Frank G || 12/15/2007 17:30 Comments || Top||

#2  Any relation to Captain Ahmed Rolfe (who had Pocahontas stoned to death for being a whore)?
Posted by: Excalibur || 12/15/2007 17:40 Comments || Top||

#3  Didn't the apostate sbu Smythe save her for his harem?
Posted by: Thomas Woof || 12/15/2007 19:47 Comments || Top||

#4  Only after the Great Ayatola-ya-so condoned the aceptance of Pohachontas absolution to Sheik Yer Booti.
Posted by: Deacon Blues || 12/15/2007 20:17 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Pakistan promises rights returned after emergency
ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan government insists basic rights will be fully restored for all people on Saturday when President Pervez Musharraf lifts the controversial emergency rule he imposed last month.
Sure yewbetcha.
Musharraf will lift the order on Saturday but critics say that with only three weeks left to campaign for parliamentary elections, and dozens of those arrested still in detention, the move will make little practical difference.

His attorney general Malik Qayyum, however, insisted Friday the lifting will ensure freedom of speech and assembly are again guaranteed, and that people will again be able to appeal to the courts for violations of basic rights. “All fundamental rights of the citizens will stand restored with the lifting of emergency on Saturday,” Qayyum told AFP.
Until Perv takes them away again.
He stressed, however, that the decree to lift the emergency order will also include a ban on legal challenges to the emergency itself -- an apparent attempt to solidify Musharraf’s position over the controversial move.
Posted by: Steve White || 12/15/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Perv lifts emergency rule. Link
Posted by: Bobby || 12/15/2007 6:34 Comments || Top||


MMA in disarray before elections
An Islamist alliance rode a wave of anti-US feeling to stunning election success five years ago, but plagued by division, it has lost support and looks set to suffer in a January vote.

The six-party Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) alliance capitalised on anger over the 2001 US invasion of Afghanistan to sweep to power in the NWFP and become a coalition partner in Balochistan in 2002 polls. The alliance, some of whose members support Afghanistan’s Taliban, also became a bloc in the National Assembly, winning 59 seats in the 342-seat house, their best showing. But people on the streets of Peshawar said the alliance led by bearded clerics, or mullahs, had failed to deliver. “I voted for the mullahs last time but I won’t vote for them this time,” said Gul Zaman, a bearded man selling watches from a roadside stall. “They have done nothing for the people. They’ve just filled their own pockets,” he said.

The province and the Tribal Areas on the Afghan border are where the military is fighting Al Qaeda and the Taliban. Hundreds of people have been killed this year in bomb attacks and clashes. But bread and butter issues like unemployment have outweighed the issue of the violent insurgency. The alliance backed President Pervez Musharraf after the 2002 election, but turned against him in 2004 when he reneged on a promise to step down as army chief. Divided alliance: The alliance has now split over whether to boycott the January election.

Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), the biggest Islamic party, is taking part in the election. It argued a boycott would only allow Musharraf to fill parliament with his allies. The smaller but better organised Jamaat-e-Islami is boycotting, saying that participating in the election would give legitimacy to Musharraf’s declaration of emergency and suspension of the constitution on Nov 3.

A recent poll by the US-based International Republican Institute showed the MMA winning only three percent of the vote.
The Islamists will still try to exploit resentment over Musharraf’s support for the US-led war on terrorism. But many people have become disillusioned with the alliance over economic issues such as unemployment and a lack of development projects, analysts say. A recent poll by the US-based International Republican Institute showed the MMA winning only three percent of the vote.

“There’s big disappointment with the MMA. They could not deliver on the promises they made,” said Rahimullah Yusufzai, a veteran newspaper editor and analyst based in Peshawar.

The rise of the Islamists in 2002 was also partly attributed to the absence of popular politicians, including former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. Both of them are back and contesting the election. Sharif was close to religious conservatives during his two terms as prime minister in the 1990s and is likely to pick up a big chunk of conservative votes this time, analysts say. Sharif, unlike Bhutto, has not been raising the bogey of Islamic extremism in his party’s campaign.

However, it was unlikely any party would win a landslide in NWFP or Balochistan. They may become part of a coalition, according to Yusufzai. The Islamists, whether part of a coalition or in opposition, are not expected to throw up any new hurdles to efforts to combat rising militancy. “Things appear to be under control as far as the war on terrorism is concerned. No one will dare challenge the military,” Yusufzai said.
This article starring:
Rahimullah Yusufzai, a veteran newspaper editor
Jamaat-e-Islami
Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam
Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal
Posted by: Fred || 12/15/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under: Jamaat-e-Islami


Popular uprising only way to save Pakistan: Achakzai
Mahmood Khan Achakzai, the new convener of the All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) and chief of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), said on Friday that a “popular uprising” was the only way left to “save Pakistan”. “We should prepare ourselves to wage a civil disobedience movement if we want to save Pakistan,” said Achakzai at a Peshawar Press Club programme.

Achakzai, who recently replaced the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Raja Zafarul Haq as convener of the APDM, urged people to take to the streets for the restoration of the constitution and the judiciary, supremacy of the parliament, the rule of law and their fundamental rights. The nationalist leader from Balochistan said the PkMAP would not accept the government that would come to power after the January 8 general elections because it would be “unconstitutional, illegal and unlawful”. He said Pakistan was passing through a “fragile and dangerous” period in its history. “The federation is in danger. There is no constitution, no law, no judiciary and generals are making decisions in the National Security Council (NSC),” he said.

Achakzai said about 70 percent of judges had refused to take oath under the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO) and many of them had been sacked. Legitimate elections cannot take place under these circumstances, he said. The Baloch leader said there was no justification for a military operation in Balochistan. “What is their sin? The Baloch want their share in governance,” he said. The Baloch do not want to break up the country but have made it clear they do not want to live like slaves, he added.

Achakzai said the army and intelligence agencies should not have any role in politics. A Turkish-style government cannot function in Pakistan. “The army’s role in politics is not acceptable to us,” he said.

He said support to an unconstitutional government was “treason to the constitution”. He said political parties that did not boycott the elections would in fact legitimise the ‘unconstitutional’ government. He said the country would not plummet into chaos if President Pervez Musharraf stepped down. There were no Al Qaeda leaders and terrorists in the country before President Musharraf came to power, he added.He said people were fed up with politicians and their way of conducting politics, which would be reflected in low voter turnout. “We want to see Pakistan as a democratic country. It belongs to 160 million people,” said Achakzai. He said an important APDM meeting would be convened on December 18.
Posted by: Fred || 12/15/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan

#1  Glassing the place would be pretty popular in Barksdale, I'd bet.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 12/15/2007 6:41 Comments || Top||


JUI-S announces polls boycott
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S) on Friday announced to boycott the January 8 elections. “We have decided to boycott the Jan 8 elections because we believe that in the absence of an independent judiciary and election commission one can’t even imagine free and fair elections,” said JUI-S chief Maulana Samiul Haq at a press conference here at Parliament House.

Sami said he had taken the decision after consulting his party. He accused that Pakistan People’s Party, Pakistan Muslim League (N), Pakistan Muslim League, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Awami National Party (ANP) and Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) were following the secular agenda of President Pervez Musharraf.
He said the breakup of MMA and Nawaz Sharif’s U-turn on elections boycott showed that international powers were pursuing a hidden agenda in Pakistan.
He said the breakup of MMA and Nawaz Sharif’s U-turn on elections boycott showed that international powers were pursuing a hidden agenda in Pakistan.

Referring to a statement of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that the US would prefer organizing moderates to extremists, Sami said it clearly showed that elections were being held on US directions. Answering a question, Sami said he was ready to join any opposition alliance including the All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM), which was struggling for restoration of the Constitution and democracy in the country.
This article starring:
All Parties Democratic Movement
MAULANA SAMIUL HAQJamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami
Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal
Posted by: Fred || 12/15/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under: Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal


Iraq
Sunni leader’s head in rectal defilade: “Sunni’s majority population in Iraq”
'US is the main irritant in Iraq'
By Ahmed Janabi
Al-Dhari says the resistance has chosen not to engage al-Sahwa militias to avoid internicine fighting

Sheikh Harith al-Dhari, head of the Association of Muslim Scholars, is arguably one of the most influential Iraqi Sunni leaders today.
He's also on the al-Qaeda side, has been since Sammy was toppled.
His unequivocal opposition to the US-led occupation and criticism of the Nouri al-Maliki government attracted threats against his life and forced him into exile.
Lots of lives would have been saved if he'd been bumped off early in the game.


Continued on Page 49
Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 12/15/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I had to look up defilade. Wonderful headline, GolfBravoUSMC!
Posted by: trailing wife || 12/15/2007 23:25 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Gaza "Reduced to" Beggar State
GAZA CITY -- The batteries are the size of a button on a man's shirt, small silvery dots that power hearing aids for several hundred Palestinian students taught by the Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children in Gaza City.
It's always about the Children, isn't it?
Now the batteries, marketed by Radio Shack, are all but used up. The few that are left are losing power, turning voices into unintelligible echoes in the ears of Hala Abu Saif's 20 first-grade students.

The Israeli government is increasingly restricting the import into the Gaza Strip of batteries, anesthesia drugs, antibiotics, tobacco, coffee, gasoline, diesel fuel and other basic items, including chocolate and compressed air to make soft drinks.

This punishing seal has reduced Gaza, a territory of almost 1.5 million people, to beggar status, unable to maintain an effective public health system, administer public schools or preserve the traditional pleasures of everyday life by the sea.

"Essentially, it's the ordinary people, caught up in the conflict, paying the price for this political failure," said John Ging, director of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency in Gaza, which serves the majority refugee population. "The humanitarian situation is atrocious, and it is easy to understand why -- 1.2 million Gazans now relying on U.N. food aid, 80,000 people who have lost jobs and the dignity of work. And the list goes on."

And now, a bit of balance....
Israeli military and political leaders say the restrictions are prompted by near-constant rocket and small-arms attacks and concerns over what uses Palestinian gunmen might have for some materials entering Gaza, particularly fuel and batteries.
Posted by: Bobby || 12/15/2007 06:35 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Who is at fault here, really?
Posted by: newc || 12/15/2007 7:28 Comments || Top||

#2  "Essentially, it's the ordinary people, caught up in the conflict, paying the price for this political failure,"

Ordinary people who voted Hamas into power. And support "martyrs". And don't turn in bad guys. And walk into hotels and buses, stand next to strollers and blow themselves up. On holy days. And pass out candy when the WTC gets bombed. And voluntarily act as human shields. And strap bombs onto five year olds and tell them to approach IDF troops. And use ambulances as troop transports. And stage IDF atrocity videos. And kidnap soldiers. And seethe when terrorists are killed. And don't understand why their lives are so hard.
Posted by: gorb || 12/15/2007 7:32 Comments || Top||

#3 

WHAT?

Posted by: Thomas Woof || 12/15/2007 7:37 Comments || Top||

#4  Not reduced enough. As long as they have the strength to lob missiles over at Israel, they aren't at a "Beggar" state yet.
Posted by: DarthVader || 12/15/2007 7:48 Comments || Top||

#5  Now the batteries, marketed by Radio Shack, are all but used up. The few that are left are losing power, turning voices into unintelligible echoes in the ears of Hala Abu Saif's 20 first-grade students.

Watching Nahoul's beat-down is not going to make much sense without subtitles.


Posted by: Excalibur || 12/15/2007 7:57 Comments || Top||

#6  I am amazed at how little effect this prolonged whine for sympathy has upon me.

Really, I feel quite scrooge-like.
Posted by: Sgt. Mom || 12/15/2007 8:24 Comments || Top||

#7  Ive given up tobacco, coffee, chocolate and soft drinks voluntarily. They really aren't all that healthy. Tasty yes. The trick is to substitute alcohol in its many palatable forms.

Maybe I could be a food consultant for the UN?
Posted by: BrerRabbit || 12/15/2007 8:40 Comments || Top||

#8  Hey, the same children are being propagandized by Hamas TV every day to continue the conflict for generations to come, so they can't be that concerned. Any other nation doing that would have the UN come knocking. Let them eat sand.
Posted by: Hammerhead || 12/15/2007 8:45 Comments || Top||

#9  I wonder what kind of batteries those rockets and launchers use.
Posted by: James || 12/15/2007 9:21 Comments || Top||

#10  Beggars who issue demands, conditions and routinely threaten their donors. I say f*ck em - let em starve in the dark
Posted by: Frank G || 12/15/2007 9:30 Comments || Top||

#11  Sorry. All sympathied out this week. Try again next week. But try to get me early before I use it all up...
Posted by: tu3031 || 12/15/2007 9:40 Comments || Top||

#12  *my* sympathy is stuck in customs at the Rafah crossing...
Posted by: Seafarious || 12/15/2007 9:58 Comments || Top||

#13  The sins of the fathers are visited on the children, and ever has it been thus...
Posted by: M. Murcek || 12/15/2007 10:11 Comments || Top||

#14  I still think the major of Sderot should use city funds to buy a 105mm Howitzer and a couple of hundred rounds of ammo. Then, whenever a rocket is fired at Sderot, they automatically respond with an artillery shell, which has about the same range.

If they receive complaints about firing howitzer rounds at the Paleos, they could shrug and say that they are not firing the rounds at the Paleos, only at the rockets the Paleos fire at them. As such, the howitzer is solely a defensive weapon.

Pretty ineffective at defense, but if it is all you have, it is better than being defenseless against attack. Go ahead and argue that in court.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 12/15/2007 10:25 Comments || Top||

#15  Anonymoose - I still say 1000 rounds for each rocket in a slowly advancing grid.
Posted by: 3dc || 12/15/2007 11:48 Comments || Top||

#16  Gaza is open on at least 2 sides other than what Israel controls.

Where is the Egyptian help coming from the south and syrian/saudi/arab help coming in the coast/ports?

(cue crickets chirping)


The Pleos are an Arab creation, aided and abetted to become an abomination - and they are most definitely NOT Israel's problem, other than keeping them and their rockets, bombs and bullets OUT of Israel.

LEt the Pleos figure it out for themselves that the paternalistic Islamofascist theocrats dont give a shit about them or than using them as a club to beat others with, nor do the strong man socialists kelptocrats (Afat's legacy) give a shit either other than how much money and power they can pump from others misery.


Posted by: OldSpook || 12/15/2007 12:05 Comments || Top||

#17  Stole my thunder, OldSpook. There are two sides to every gaza: Israel and Egypt. Everyone professes a profound love for the Paleos, but it is only Israel that provides the luuuuuuv.

Every arab country pays lip service to the Paleos, but they are only a dagger to be used against the underbelly of Israel. Not even the Egyptians care about their dysfunctional burrowing neighbors.

Israel needs to announce that they are done with Gaza and it will be up to Egypt and other fools to pick up the slack.

Cry me a river. You can thank the Paleo's arab masters for reducing them down to the morons they are today.
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 12/15/2007 12:26 Comments || Top||

#18  GAZA CITY -- The batteries are the size of a button on a man's shirt, small silvery dots that power hearing aids suicide belts and bombs strapped to 5-year-olds for several hundred Palestinian students taught to be used to deliberately murder innocent men, women and chidren in Israel by the Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children by the Palistinian terrorists in Gaza City.

There - fixed it for ya - no charge.....
Posted by: CrazyFool || 12/15/2007 12:47 Comments || Top||

#19  "...80,000 people who have lost jobs and the dignity of work. And the list goes on."

...and on and on and...
Posted by: DepotGuy || 12/15/2007 15:29 Comments || Top||

#20  basic items, including chocolate and compressed air to make soft drinks.

They aren't anywhere near bottom yet.
Posted by: trailing wife || 12/15/2007 16:01 Comments || Top||

#21  As long as they still have food to fight over, I won't feel too sorry for these people.

Once they no longer have food to fight over, I will change my position to 'eat shit and die'.
Posted by: Mike N. || 12/15/2007 16:12 Comments || Top||

#22  you know, it's almost as if you commenters are happy to see a populace of hateful citizens, terrorists and thugs, governed by a democratically elected band of terrorists and thugs, who seem to spend their time killing each other when they can't rocket a shrapnel bomb into a Joooo kindergarten, or kidnap and killl Jooos, suffer the fruits of their efforts


oh wait, so am I. Carry on
Posted by: Frank G || 12/15/2007 17:00 Comments || Top||

#23  reduced to a beggar state? Was it ever anything but?
Posted by: Whomong Guelph4611 || 12/15/2007 17:00 Comments || Top||

#24  Joooooos to fight over?

WHAT?

Posted by: Thomas Woof || 12/15/2007 17:25 Comments || Top||

#25  I just wanna know how they make soft driks with compressed air.

?? ?
Posted by: Parabellum || 12/15/2007 17:34 Comments || Top||

#26  "As long as they have the strength to lob missiles over at Israel, they aren't at a 'Beggar' state yet."
Word, Darth. Cause, meet effect.
Posted by: Darrell || 12/15/2007 18:29 Comments || Top||

#27  Read the article, gems such as these reside there;


Israeli military officials said last week that 2,000 rockets had been launched from Gaza toward Israel this year, killing two Israelis, wounding many others and instilling fear across the southern region. Since the U.S.-sponsored peace conference in Annapolis, Md., last month, Israeli airstrikes and ground forces have killed 26 Hamas gunmen, the Islamic organization says, as well as at least four Palestinian civilians.


and this bleating...


"What do you call sending dozens of Gaza patients to a slow death because they are refused treatment?" Naim said. "That's not a humanitarian crisis. That's a war crime."


what do the Israelis say?


Maj. Peter Lerner, Israel's military liaison for international organizations working in Gaza, said 8,000 Gazans have been permitted to enter Israel for medical care since June.

It is not a risk-free venture for Israel. In 2004, a Palestinian woman detonated an explosives vest near the main Erez Crossing, killing four Israelis and herself. A year and a half later, a 21-year-old Palestinian woman passing through Erez for medical care at Soroka hospital in southern Israel was discovered smuggling a 20-pound bomb, which she unsuccessfully attempted to detonate.


I rest my case.

Posted by: Tony (UK) || 12/15/2007 18:44 Comments || Top||

#28  WaPo falls for the Paleowhine.

Not the first time.
Posted by: mhw || 12/15/2007 18:56 Comments || Top||

#29  or the last.
Posted by: Seafarious || 12/15/2007 19:11 Comments || Top||

#30  It used to be that journalists delivered "the 5 Ws" -- who, what, when, where, and why. Then budgets got tight, so they started substituting pre-made agenda for "why". Now budgets are even tighter, so you're lucky if you get two Ws and an agenda. Ironically, this crackdown on Ws coincides with the sport of Bush-bashing. Sadly, if the Democrats win in 2008, Ws will be banned entirely and future generations will only know a 25-letter alphabet. At that point, the hite house in ashington ill be orthless because e ill all be spineless socialists anyay.
Posted by: Darrell || 12/15/2007 19:24 Comments || Top||

#31  LOL!
Posted by: Mike N. || 12/15/2007 20:18 Comments || Top||

#32  The two W's also now stand for:

1. whine

2. whinge (whingeing is similar to whining except with a vaguely Continental accent and veiled references to "international law" and/or poodles.)
Posted by: Seafarious || 12/15/2007 20:31 Comments || Top||

#33  Ponnies, bunnies (fluffy) and baby ducks too.
Posted by: twobyfour || 12/15/2007 22:50 Comments || Top||

#34  another W the press won't use: WINNING
Posted by: Frank G || 12/15/2007 22:53 Comments || Top||


US to pledge $500 million to PA
The United States will pledge about $500 million for the moderate-led Palestinian government in the West Bank when Arab, European and other nations meet next week, US officials said Friday.

The money would go toward a goal of $5.6 billion that former British Prime Minister Tony Blair hopes to raise to rescue the tattered Palestinian economy and reinforce institutions that would become the backbone of any eventual independent Palestinian state.
Words fail
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 12/15/2007 01:25 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  We should issue only scrip, with which they can buy food, but no bullets, and medicine, but no explosives. No hard currency that can be converted directly into destructive endeavors...
Posted by: M. Murcek || 12/15/2007 10:14 Comments || Top||

#2  PA? At first I thought it was Pennsylvania, and Murtha was working it again.

Either way, BAD MOVE.

Out state department is full of IDIOTS. SOmone needs to go in there with a flamethrower and reorganize the place.
Posted by: OldSpook || 12/15/2007 10:30 Comments || Top||

#3  Pretty much our whole government is full of idiots. Washington is in desperate need of being completely redone.
Posted by: DarthVader || 12/15/2007 10:39 Comments || Top||

#4  Nice of Condo Rice to pledge my tax dollars to the lost cause.... of lost causes.
Posted by: Besoeker || 12/15/2007 11:31 Comments || Top||

#5  Awwwww don't worry, folks. They're the good terrorists...
Posted by: tu3031 || 12/15/2007 11:34 Comments || Top||

#6  This money has to come from Congressional legislation. Condi can friggin pledge all she wants. Our senators and representatives need to know that it is unacceptable to give these idiot terrorists a dime of our hard earned deficit taxes. We need to write to our embarrassing officials congress critters.
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 12/15/2007 12:31 Comments || Top||

#7  Idiocy.
Posted by: Nero Hupineling4476 || 12/15/2007 16:40 Comments || Top||

#8  Don't be so whiney, that's barely 250 a head. Not enough hardly for CO2 and ZamZam syrup.
Posted by: Thomas Woof || 12/15/2007 17:28 Comments || Top||

#9  I would rather we flushed the money down a toilet.
Posted by: Darrell || 12/15/2007 18:14 Comments || Top||


PFLP urges Fatah to talk with Hamas
A senior official of a radical Palestinian faction called on Fatah on Friday to begin a dialogue with Hamas to overcome their political differences. "We call on our brothers in Fatah to embark on a national dialogue to close ranks," Maher Taher, the representative of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in Damascus, said during a speech marking the 40th anniversary of the group's formation. "The matter doesn't deserve all this conflict over a partitioned authority that is shackled with all kinds of Zionist conditions," Taher added.

This article starring:
MAHER TAHERPopular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
Posted by: Fred || 12/15/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: PFLP


Hamas requests political asylum for 450 leaders in Qatar
Ma'an – The Hamas leadership has requested political asylum from the Qatari government for 450 Hamas political and military leaders in the Gaza Strip who were involved in the Hamas takeover of the coastal region, Israeli radio reported on Friday. The voice of Israel said that among the leaders who requested asylum were Mahmoud Az-Zahhar, Said Siyam, Salah Al-Bardaweel, Musheer Al-Masri, Fawzi Barhoum and Sami Abu Zuhri.

He also suggested that Hamas will hand over the major security headquarters and institutions to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas through Qatari and Egyptian mediation in exchange for negotiating with Fatah.
Palestinian sources were quoted as saying that the head of Hamas politburo in exile, Khalid Mashaal, has sent a message to the Qatari government asking for asylum for a number of Hamas leaders. He also suggested that Hamas will hand over the major security headquarters and institutions to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas through Qatari and Egyptian mediation in exchange for negotiating with Fatah. Mashaal stipulated that a number of Hamas leaders be guaranteed political asylum in Qatar. Sources claimed that Qatar has not accepted Hamas' request.

Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri denied the story. He told Ma'an, "This information is baseless, and we are endeavoring to bring back the Palestinian people to their homeland rather than sending them away."
This article starring:
FAWZI BARHUMHamas
KHALID MASHAALHamas
MAHMUD AZ ZAHARHamas
MUSHIR AL MASRIHamas
SAID SIYAMHamas
SALAH AL BARDAWILHamas
SAMI ABU ZUHRIHamas
Posted by: Fred || 12/15/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under: Hamas

#1  House of canards seems near collapse.
Posted by: Thomas Woof || 12/15/2007 7:39 Comments || Top||

#2  Upon further review:
Petards damn it, not canards.

Altho 'sploding ducklings is have a certain appeal.
Posted by: Thomas Woof || 12/15/2007 7:45 Comments || Top||

#3  We could build 'em a little malt shop right next to CentCom.
Posted by: Seafarious || 12/15/2007 10:00 Comments || Top||

#4  Can their bulging suitcases come too?
Posted by: tu3031 || 12/15/2007 11:43 Comments || Top||

#5  Qatar is home to extensive American logistics and support for the region. These people are just another AQ Murder Inc wanting to be near to a juicy target.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 12/15/2007 15:43 Comments || Top||


Hamas: One false move and Shalit gets it
Hamas is threatening to harm kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit if Israel Defense Forces carry out a planned large-scale operation in the Gaza Strip, Israeli Army Radio reported Friday. The Saudi newspaper Al-Jarida reports that Hamas' Syrian-based leader Khaled Mashaal also threatened increased violence against Israel.

According to the report, Hamas is threatening to carry out suicide bombings deep inside Israeli territory as well as kidnap additional Israeli troops. Hamas spokesman Abu Mujahed told Nazareth-based newspaper A-Sinara that if Israel were to invade Gaza, the group would begin rocket attacks on Israeli cities. The threat came as four Gaza Strip Palestinians were killed in an explosion during the funeral for an Islamic Jihad militant who died in an Israeli air strike, according to local medical officials and the police agency run by Hamas. The blast wounded 35 others, four critically, according to the emergency chief at Gaza City's Shifa Hospital, Bloomberg News reported. An Israel Defense Forces spokeswoman said the air strike followed the firing of a rocket barrage on Israel by Palestinian militants. The homemade Qassam rockets hit a house in the Israeli town of Sderot, injuring a woman, the IDF said.
Posted by: Fred || 12/15/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Hamas

#1  Maybe he be returned to his family soon and may his captors eat napalm.

I'm beginning to think Israel is letting Hamas hold Shalit over their heads so Hamas will have a reason to keep him alive. Worse, I'm not seeing a way to prevent Hamas from using him as a tool for the foreseeable future. And beyond. This poor guy could be in Paleoland indefinitely.
Posted by: Mike N. || 12/15/2007 3:08 Comments || Top||

#2  The real sad thing is that if Israel does do anything and Ham-ass kills him - the UN, MSM, etc... will blame Israel for it - and talk Israel out of taking out Hamas.

I think the guy's already dead.
Posted by: CrazyFool || 12/15/2007 6:25 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Terrorists behind assassination came from Palestinian camp
Investigation into the assassination of Brig. Gen. Francois el-Hajj and his bodyguard, staff sergeant Khairallah Hadwan, is focusing on suspects hiding inside the southern refugee camp of Ein al-Hilweh and believed linked to the terrorist Fatah al-Islam group.

In the southern port city of Sidon, security sources doubted that three suspects arrested on Wednesday were connected to the murder. The three detainees -- identified as fishermen Mohammed Masri, Talal Masri and Mohammed al-Atab - were arrested in house raids in Taamir, a residential area adjacent to Ein al-Hilweh.

The sources said a man identified as Hussein Nasser had sold the olive green BMW used in the bombing attack to the party that likely detonated the vehicle. They said Nasser sold the car without a registration document to two men only two days before the bombing attack, adding that interrogation is underway to pin down the buyers. The sources said the car did not enter the Ein al-Hilweh refugee camp after its purchase and that it likely headed to Lebanese territory north of the Awali River. For this reason, the sources went on to say, efforts are focused on the activity of the extremist groups in areas of Mount Lebanon and elsewhere in Lebanon.
Posted by: Fred || 12/15/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [6 views] Top|| File under: Fatah al-Islam

#1  Surprise, surprise.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 12/15/2007 1:18 Comments || Top||

#2  Hey! I came here to say that!
Posted by: gromky || 12/15/2007 4:56 Comments || Top||

#3  Oooooh -- will the Lebanese Army conquer Ein el Hilweh next? They did such a thorough job last time, after all.
Posted by: trailing wife || 12/15/2007 14:59 Comments || Top||

#4  "The three detainees -- identified as fishermen"

You know...kinda like the Gambino's are identified as longshoremen.
Posted by: DepotGuy || 12/15/2007 15:58 Comments || Top||


Sarkozy threatens to isolate Syria and allies over Lebanon stalemate
French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Friday Cautioned against blocking Lebanon's "last chance" to elect a president next week, vowing that forces behind such a scheme would be isolated by France and other states.

Sarkozy served the warning on the sidelines of an EU summit in Brussels, hours after Lebanese Communications Minister Marwan Hamadeh said international wrath would fall on Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime if it maintained efforts to block the presidential election process.

Sarkozy was quoted as urging all sides in Lebanon to grab a "last chance" next week to finally elect a president after a series of postponements. "Monday is really the last chance, and France calls on all parties, inside and outside, to ensure that Lebanon can have a president," he said. "Those would take the risk of killing off that chance would cut themselves off from a number of countries, first among them France," Sarkozy warned.

Hours before Sarkozy issued his warning, Hamadeh -visiting France- predicted international pressure on Damascus at "Beirut Spring level" that led to the withdrawal of Syria's army from Lebanon in 2005, ending three generations of dominance. Such pressures, he said, would be exerted on Damascus if it continued to block Lebanon's presidential election that is scheduled for Monday.
Posted by: Fred || 12/15/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [8 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria

#1  They will be cut off from France!
Posted by: Excalibur || 12/15/2007 8:02 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
27[untagged]
5Hamas
2al-Qaeda in Iraq
2Taliban
2Govt of Pakistan
1Govt of Sudan
1Govt of Syria
1Iraqi Insurgency
1Islamic Jihad
1Jamaat-e-Islami
1Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh
1Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal
1PFLP
1al-Qaeda in North Africa
1TNSM
1Fatah al-Islam
1Global Jihad

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Two weeks of WOT
Sat 2007-12-15
  Mehsud to head Taliban Movement of Pakistan
Fri 2007-12-14
  Khamenei appoints Qassem as Hezbollah military commander
Thu 2007-12-13
  Leb car boom murders top general
Wed 2007-12-12
  Qaeda in North Africa claims Algiers blasts
Tue 2007-12-11
  Taliban abandons Musa Qala
Mon 2007-12-10
  al-Abssi is in Syria and Fatah al-Isalm is in Gaza
Sun 2007-12-09
  Fierce battle rages for Taliban stronghold
Sat 2007-12-08
  Berri postpones Lebanon presidential election to Tuesday
Fri 2007-12-07
  Pak troops capture Mullah Fazlullah's base
Thu 2007-12-06
  Suicide attack on army bus in Kabul kills 16
Wed 2007-12-05
  Somali leader taken to hospital
Tue 2007-12-04
  Abu Maysara Positively Deader Than a Rock
Mon 2007-12-03
  40 Taliban killed, 14 held in Afghanistan
Sun 2007-12-02
  Walkout in Iraq parliament over Sunni leader raid
Sat 2007-12-01
  Binny: Euroleaders 'like living under shadow of White House'


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