This phone interview with Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah in Kabul was conducted by RFE/RL's Afghan Service correspondent Zarif Nazar from Prague on 21 January. Abdullah discussed the most recent videotaped message from Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, the current state of the Taliban, terrorist attacks in Afghanistan, and the upcoming London conference on the Afghanistan Compact.
RFE/RL: What are your views concerning Osama bin Laden's recent comments made on audiotape?
Abdullah: Osama Bin Laden is the murderer of Afghan people and hundreds of other Muslims around the world. He has betrayed Muslims of the world greatly. Now that he is putting himself in the position of defending Afghan Muslims and Muslims in Iraq, it is strange. While in the case of Afghanistan he has been the cause of the wretchedness. And, before there were any foreign forces in Afghanistan, Osama and his followers caused the death of thousands of people and forcing them into exile. Now that he declares his position as defender of Muslims, especially of Afghanistan, I find it strange. But he must be found, and must be punished, he and his followers who have been with him in all the crimes all this time.
RFE/RL: Do you have a specific view about Osama's proposal to the United States [asking for a cease-fire]?
Abdullah: The United States has given its answer to that. But for Afghanistan, as a victim country of his and his followers' terrorist activities, the only thing Afghan people expect is that he would be punished.
RFE/RL: What is your comment about the recent Taliban claim of not having played a role in the Spin Boldak suicide attack?
Abdullah: I think those Taliban who are in war, and those foreigners with them, are the cause of all this and part of this crime. Those who have made the decision to destroy Afghanistan have committed different crimes in different parts of Afghanistan during the last four years, including the recent crime. Why do they deny it? In the past, also, in some cases they have claimed responsibility and in others they have not. In this recent case, since the causalities were all civilian, the Taliban didn't want to take the blame.
RFE/RL: What about the issue of Pakistan and other neighboring countries? Do they cooperate with you about preventing cross-border entry?
Abdullah: The crossing of people from Pakistan to Afghanistan and the carrying out of terrorist attacks has continued. This indicates that the problem continues to exist. There have been contacts, and relations have been strengthened. But there are still problems. We hope we can come to the point that criminals will not be permitted to come and cause insecurity in Afghanistan from any of the neighboring countries.
RFE/RL: About the upcoming London conference: what preparation has the Afghan government made and what issues will be discussed?
Abdullah: The conference, which will be held in London, will be about an Afghan [plan or proposal] which is a mutual commitment by Afghanistan and international society for continuing efforts for stability and security in Afghanistan, the strengthening of the state, and its economic and social development. We are hoping that more than 60 countries and international organizations will take part in this conference. From Afghanistan a delegation headed by President Hamid Karzai will attend. In fact, after the Bonn and Tokyo conferences, this is the most important event with relation to international aid to Afghanistan and the position of Afghanistan with regard to issues relating to Afghanistan and international society. In fact, we expect a five-year framework of cooperation to be endorsed by the participating countries.
RFE/RL: Now that your government has accomplished the Bonn conference terms and conditions, it has been said that the government wants to directly implement the aid as opposed to letting the NGOs [implement it]. Do you have any specific proposals on this?
Abdullah: Yes. Our specific proposal for the international community is that Afghanistan's role in implementing and the ownership of the aid should be increasingly greater. At the beginning all aid was implemented through NGOs. This has changed today and we hope we can get this commitment from the international community that -- considering the positive efforts the government has made -- there would be substantial change in the role and ownership of the government in terms of international aid. In the document that will be presented to the conference, there is a section about ways of ensuring the effectiveness of the aid. If supported by the participants, there will be commitment in moving in this direction.
RFE/RL: We have heard that Karzai will be visiting Demark. Could you tell us about the purpose of this visit and whether you will accompany him?
Abdullah: Before that, Mr. President Karzai will attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland and he will be giving speeches in different sessions there. I will be traveling with him and later he will visit Denmark, one of the Scandinavian countries -- all of which have been assisting in Afghanistan's reconstruction process. Denmark is the only country that, despite invitations to visit, Karzai has not been able to go to. Before the London conference Karzai will have a one-day official visit to Denmark.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/27/2006 02:01 ||
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This is Abdullah Abdullah, is this not Nazar? No sir, I am waiting for Nazar this is Abdullah Abdullah. No sir, this IS Nazar, I can hear you. I am awaiting a call form the Foreign Minister. I am Abdullah Abdullah the Foreign Minister can you still hear me? No sir.
The UN is preparing to intervene in the Darfur crisis in Sudan after admitting that an African Union mission has failed to curb the violence that has seen two million people displaced and thousands killed.
Yeah boy, the UN is on the move now. Wonder if the mighty Uruguayans are available?
With violence increasing over the past few months, Kofi Annan, the UN secretary-general, said the replacing of the AU force with a UN one is "now inevitable". The UN plans to put in a bigger, better-financed force with a mandate not just to monitor events as the AU had been doing but to fire back at and hunt down those responsible for the ethnic cleansing.
The UN force will be at least as good as the AU one. In fact, you won't be able to tell the difference.
Mr Annan said he wished efforts to resolve the crisis had borne fruit. "Alas, the opposite is true. People in many parts of Darfur continue to be killed, raped and driven from their homes by the thousand. The number displaced has now reached two million, while three million [half the total population of Darfur] are dependent on international relief for food and other basics. Many parts of Darfur are becoming too dangerous for relief workers to reach."
Although the AU force has grown to 7,000 today, it is largely ineffective, short of equipment and money and unable to protect even refugee camps. Transition from an AU mission to a UN one will take about nine months. The UN security council is expected to meet in the next month or two to give its approval, and a further six months or so will be needed for logistical arrangements.
Six months? Who's in charge, the French?
In spite of threats from the international community, the Sudanese government has failed to rein in the Janjaweed or even stop its air force bombing villages.
Mr Annan said: "Any new mission will need a strong and clear mandate, allowing it to protect those under threat by force if necessary, as well as the means to do so. That means it will need to be larger, more mobile and much better equipped than the AMIS (African mission)." The UN said it wanted the US and European countries to help form a tough mobile force. But this has met with resistance so far in Washington and Europe and the preference is for a largely African force.
Toldya so.
The AU, at its summit in Khartoum last week, exasperated western diplomats by failing to discuss in any detail the Darfur crisis. But it did agree a resolution supporting the take-over of the force by the UN. The AU said it was struggling to find the £10m a month needed to maintain it.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/27/2006 00:13 ||
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Could be worse - like having the Pakistanis run things.
#2
There's nobody left to protect! These guys have fucked around for almost three years while people were murdered , raped and driven from their homes by arab militias. Arguing and debating the "technical" definition of genocide, and endlessly dicussing their expense accounts in commitee. Limp-dick, worthless, and at the same time enormously expensive.
#3
The UN is preparing to intervene in the Darfur crisis in Sudan after admitting that an African Union mission has failed to curb the violence that has seen two million people displaced and thousands killed.
But it's still not genocide as far as Goo-fi is concerned.
A row has erupted in Egypt after the president's son suggested that electoral gains by the Muslim Brotherhood were won using illegal campaign tactics. Hosni Mubarak's son, Gamal, who heads the policies secretariat in the ruling party, said the Brotherhood's gains stemmed from evasion of laws and the illegal exploitation of religion during campaigning. In an interview published on Wednesday, he said the law might need to be amended to include a mechanism to prevent what he called "this type of infringement".
Heh. The Brotherhood might cut Gamal off from his rightful place as the hereditary presidency.
Although Gamal has repeatedly denied any presidential ambitions, opposition politicians are convinced that the Mubarak family is preparing him as Egypt's next leader. Hosni Mubarak, 77, has ruled Egypt since 1981 under emergency laws which give the government the power to hold people in detention indefinitely without charge.
Or, on preview, what the rest of the post said.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/27/2006 00:00 ||
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From East-Asia-Intel, subscription.
Beijing is beefing up its internal security forces in the face of growing domestic unrest, which leaders fear is a harbinger of future instability. China had 74,000 protests riots and disturbances in 2004 and the problem is growing.
According to U.S. China specialists, the large number of protests is a worrying sign for Beijing, since such protests and unrest have often preceded the fall of the ruling dynasty or government in Chinese history. Chinas military is in the process of cutting 200,000 troops from its regular army forces and most are being transferred to the Peoples Armed Police, as the security forces are called. Most of the current internal security troops have been deployed to areas in or near Xingjian and Tibet, Chinas two western provinces. The Tibetans did not exactly appreciate the manner in which the Chicom hosts came to visit.
Two senior Chinese generals said last week that China is stepping up training and equipment for 1 million PAP troops. Wu Shuangzhan, a PAP commander, and Sui Mingtai, a political commissar, wrote a recent article in Qiushi, a publication of the party's governing Central Committee, that the police troops should become an extremely combat-effective force to deal with sudden incidents.
The current euphemism for 'riots'.
The Chinese are worried about attacks by terrorists, saboteurs and the need to stem large-scale mass incidents.
The current euphemism for 'insurrection'.
The two generals also said China is being destabilized by enemy forces from the West. "Western hostile forces have never abandoned political plots to Westernize and divide our country," the generals said.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
01/27/2006 00:00 ||
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heh heh - tanks in the Olympics? Synchronized uprising crushing as an event?
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/27/2006 0:17 Comments ||
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#2
Xingjian was mainly muslim and borders AQ countries. In fact AC would like the province. (Was as in the Han are moving there in mass - I will disagree with the State Dept and think that movement is a good thing.)
#3
Displacing and outbreeding Muslims is a good agenda for China.
China must remenber to staty in power on must feed the masses and meet their actual aspirations. The oil must flow and workers must have real jobs for that to workout right.
#4
I see a healthy contempt for Muslims here. Unfortunately, US wide that attitude is held by less than 30%. Off topic but if any Muslim denies the "72 virgins" shahid incentive, read then this exposition of Muslim "heaven" by Rabbi Finestone (Los Angeles):
... are other delights as well, according to a Hadith in an authoritative collection called Sunan al-Tirmidhi, which would be on the shelves of any Muslim scholar. In my edition, published in Beirut, it can be found in a section called "The Book of Description of the Garden," chapter 23, titled "The least reward for the people of Heaven," Hadith number 2562. The Hadith reads literally as follows: "Sawda (Tirmidhis grandfather) reported that he heard from Abdullah, who received from Rishdin b. Sad, who in turn learned from Amr b. al-Harith, from Darraj, from Abul-Haytham, from Abu Said al-Khudri, who received it from the Apostle of God [Muhammad]: The least [reward] for the people of Heaven is 80,000 servants and 72 wives, over which stands a dome of pearls, aquamarine and ruby, as [wide as the distance] between al-Jaabiyya and Sana." That these 72 wives are virgin is confirmed by Quran (55:74) and commentaries on that verse. Al-Jaabiyya was a suburb of Damascus, according to the famous 14th century commentator, Ismail Ibn Kathir, so one personal jeweled dome would stretch the distance from Syria to Yemen, some 1,600 miles.
#5
Well, if you sleep with dogs (Iran), you get up with fleas. Where the hell do you think all this islamic fascism started and is funded from?
Of course the joke is that we buy at Walmart, which buys from China, which then buys its oil from Iran. Guess where our dollars go? BTW, I check the little "Made in ..." markings before I purchase. And yeah, I understand that some cheating on that does happen and will till our government panics [only after being exposed for being AWOL on the job] and gets around to hammering the importers and sellers for fraud.
#6
Now Taiwan needs to seize this beautiful opportunity to give the chicoms some real headaches. With 200,000 of their bad boys tied up with the hicks, there has never been a better time. By the way are we witnessing the "meltdown" in china? I have missed the curve on these things before, and just wonder if it is really starting to happen.
#7
The two generals also said China is being destabilized by enemy forces from the West. "Western hostile forces have never abandoned political plots to Westernize and divide our country," the generals said.
Great Britian, Israel, and the United States to blame again.
#8
Ignore the external factors, the Chinese do, and instead look at Chinese history to see how the government is interpreting events.
For example, their terrible overreaction to Falun Gong is because the movement reminds them of the "Son of Heaven" and his Tai-Peng Rebellion, perhaps the second bloodiest conflict in human history.
Other events remind their leaders of other parts of their history. The Tiananmen Square protests scared the heck out of them, because they imagined them to be the return of the Cultural Revolution's Red Guard, intent on destroying everything and mass slaughter.
Chaos erupting throughout the country in protests no doubt also has some horrifically bloody historical precedent. Only a Chinese historian could guess what the Chinese leadership imagine these protests to be.
The point is that "nothing is new in Confuscianism", so everything is just some element of the past, replayed with different characters.
#9
' "Western hostile forces have never abandoned political plots to Westernize and divide our country," the generals said.' Yeah, its all part of a dastardly plot to raise your per capita income of $35K per year.
From East-Asia-Intel, subscription.
SEOUL -- China is demanding rights to develop North Koreas abundant uranium resources in return for emergency economic assistance, a Japanese newspaper reported last week from Seoul. Yer running up quite a tab, Kimmie, and we need some of it paid back.
But Yang Jang-Suk, director of North-East Asia team at the Korea Trade Promotion Corporation (KOTRA) said he could not confirm the report by Tokyo's Sankei Shimbun. "I don't know for sure, so I will say no more."
Yang is in charge of South-North economic cooperation and has been negotiating mining rights for North Korean natural ore. We did note a certain degree of reluctance on the part of our counterparts to make progress, Yang said, but I suspect it had more to do with the fact that they were conscious of the Chinese interest in exploring iron ore mines in the same area as we plan to invest.
"And they were beating us to the punch."
Mineralogists say North Koreas natural ore is more than 30 times that of South Korea's, both in variety and estimated reserves. The country has some of the worlds highest-quality tungsten and uranium. South Korean experts say the uranium mines in Baekchon, South Hwanghae Province and Sackju, North Pyongan Province, produce high-quality ores. They believe Pyongyang will exploit these reserves to develop nuclear weapons. Hmmm...never thought of that angle...
Former Unification Minister Chung Dong-Young told a press conference earlier this month that Pyongyang is demanding a light-water reactor generator to utilize its uranium reserves for energy development. "We demand a light-water reactor, or we will blow Seoul off the map, so what do ya say, southern comerade?"
Others worry that if China and North Korea jointly develop those uranium mines, a nuclear-free Korean peninsula will become a fantasy. And they will certainly not advertise the fact if they develop them together, said an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. A nuclear-free Korean peninsula is already a fantasy. /reality check
Not advertise? Kimmie's been shouting at the top of his short lungs.
North Korea last month stopped negotiating with China for a 7 billion Yuan [$868 million] investment in iron ore mines in Musan, North Hamgyong Province. Consequently, three Chinese steel companies -- Tunghwa, Juanggang and Yenben Tentz -- withdrew their investment plans. We will regroup and talk to our PLA associates about the next move.
Pyongyang was reportedly angered that news of the plan had been leaked to Chinese media before Pyongyang had authorized the project. Welcome to the Wonderful World of Press Leaks, Kimmie.
According to Korean Mining Corporation, North Korea has been opening its coal mines to Chinese business interests. Pyongyang granted a mining agreement in South Hamgyong Province to a Chinese company to explore and import 20,000 tons of anthracite stone from the mine. The mine has 20 million tons of reserves.
And plenty of starving, unfortunate political prisoners to haul out the ore.
The Ryongdam coal mine, another coal mine in North Pyongan Province, which can produce 3 million tons of anthracite a year, went into a joint venture with the Chinese Wookwang business group early last year. North Korea exports $25 million worth of anthracite to China every year, according to KOTRA.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
01/27/2006 00:00 ||
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Not to worry - the MSM > its only Uranium, not Plutonium, etc., ergo NorKor is not developing any nukes nor has the materials to build nukes, thus Dubya and Clintonian Fascist = De-Regulated/
Limited Communist USA has no need to invade innocent, Solyent Green-happy NorKor.
#2
The Ryongdam coal mine, another coal mine in North Pyongan Province, which can produce 3 million tons of anthracite a year, went into a joint venture with the Chinese Wookwang business group early last year. North Korea exports $25 millionworth of anthracite to China every year, according to KOTRA.
ANTHRACITE: Preminum Hard Coal
25,000,000 BTUs Per Ton
Fuel Unit Cost $/Ton Unit Cost $/MMBTUs
|
$100.00______|________$4.00
$110.00______|________$4.40
$120.00______|________$4.80
$130.00______|________$5.20
$140.00______|________$5.60
$150.00______|________$6.00
$160.00______|________$6.40
$170.00______|________$6.80
The Ryongdam coal mine alone produces 3,000,000 million short tons of ANTHRACITE per year.
3,000,000 short tons x $100 per = $300,000,000.00
price range before discounts:
plus shipping
the Norks peasents may have to eat air and bark, but at least they have heat and extra cash.
A Turkish-born Australian citizen has been sentenced in the Northern Territory Supreme Court to five-and-a-half years' jail for people trafficking. Mehmet Seriban, 39, pleaded guilty to the charges.
Seriban arrived in Australia illegally in 1995, was granted a temporary protection visa and then Australian citizenship in 1998. Between November 1998 and February 2000 Seriban helped move 30 people, including four family members, from Turkey to Indonesia and onward to Ashmore Reef. He was responsible for organising and paying for their transport, accommodation and food. In sentencing today, Justice David Angel said the passengers had to endure rotten food, hunger and engine fumes, and fresh water ran out within days.
He sentenced Seriban to a non-parole period of two years and nine months in prison, backdated to March 2004. Justice Angel said he doubted Seriban would re-offend when released from prison.
Seriban's defence lawyer says the asylum seekers his client brought to Australia were not "queue-jumpers". Jon Tippett, QC, says the people Seriban helped were genuine asylum seekers. "The whole idea that these people are coming to Australia on boats and they're queue-jumping as genuine refugees is a lie," he said. "And it ought to be treated by the Australian community as a lie and the Government should not be believed when it puts to the Australian community a refugee policy that is based on untruths." Besoeker post.
#1
Sweet! Enter Australia illegally and get citzenship in three years. Gotta give Mehmet credit for his create "friends and family" reunification plan.
Posted by: ed ||
01/27/2006 17:36 Comments ||
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create = creative
Posted by: ed ||
01/27/2006 17:41 Comments ||
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Selected passages; Original article offers contextual support.
Why Turin is a Likely Target for a Terrorist Attack
There are essentially three factors that make Turin a high-value target.
First, from a timing perspective, it makes sense to target the city during the Olympics. During the games, the city will be under intense global media coverage, with the attention of millions worldwide focused on the competition. In addition, February is close to the Italian general elections, which are to be held in May.
Second, Turin presents a range of attractive targets for Islamic terrorists. Sensitive targets in the city of Turin include the extensive railway system, which literally encircles the town, and the main railway stations (Porta Nuova and Porta Susa), the underground railway, Caselle airport, the public transportation system, religious centersin particular the Cathedral of St. John the Baptistand the business district in the city center.
Thirdly, Turn holds important symbolic value for Islamic militants. While Rome is Italy's political heart and Milan its primary financial center, Turin is the economic capital of the country. FIAT, the most prominent Italian industrial corporation, and other major companies are located in the city or its hinterland. An attack against Turin would represent an assault on the economic powerhouse of the country and inflict a massive symbolic, if not actual, blow to its entire economic system.
Also, Turin has one of the largest Muslim populations in Italy, and it is possible that individuals could provide logistical support to terrorists and help with reconnaissance of potential targets.
Europe is suffering a side-effect of the US-led war in Iraq as militants recruit volunteers across the continent to go and join the insurgency there, the European Unions counter-terrorism chief said.
Its a fact that in several European countries, the police have had to arrest people who were actively trying to recruit people from Europe to join the jihad in Iraq. Thats a complication, Gijs de Vries told Reuters in an interview.
To keep track of these people is a complication. These are the unintended side-effects of that war. We must live with that reality, and we must do everything we can to limit the risk of attacks in Europe being the result.
De Vries was speaking after cases in Europe raised concerns about the extent of recruitment activity. Spain this month detained 15 people suspected of mobilising Islamist fighters for Iraq, and said one of the recruits had killed 19 Italians in a suicide bombing in Iraq in 2003.
French officials last year said several young men from Paris had already died in fighting or suicide operations in Iraq. Police in southern France detained four men and two women last week in a probe into Islamist recruitment for the insurgency.
De Vries said most foreigners fighting in Iraq were from North Africa, Saudi Arabia or other non-European countries, but a number were from the continent.
We do not know how many of them will survive, we do not know how many of them will return, he said.
But we do take very seriously the risk that some may return, having picked up skills that would be extremely dangerous if practised in Europe.
De Vries said some of the recruitment activity in Europe was traceable to the network of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, Al Qaedas leader in Iraq, but other groups were also involved.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/27/2006 02:09 ||
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Typical Euro-speak, equating an oportunity with a "complication." I guess similar logic would have made the Normandy landing a "complication" for the United States.
#3
"... side-effect of the US-led war in Iraq as militants recruit volunteers across the continent to go and join the insurgency ..."
Hey, it's a FEATURE, not a bug!!
...about its newest citizens. Why do they all seem to be so *angry* all the time?
Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) chief Jørn Holme said the greatest anti-terrorism challenge facing Norway is its own citizens, particularly second generation immigrants. At a terrorism seminar staged by the Nordic Council on Wednesday, Holme argued that asylum seekers and immigrants are not the greatest threat to Norway, but rather possible discontent among its own citizenry. "The struggle against terror is not just waged in distant lands, but also through good integration policy involving dialogue and respect," Holme said. Specifically Holme said it was vital to gather those in the danger zone and find them employment, and pointed out that this applied just as much to Norwegian youth attracted to neo-Nazi groups as it did to second and third generation immigrants recruited to extremist Islamic circles. Holme said that the task of identifying the small group of extreme Islamists that use or encourage violence was far more difficult than the public imagined and that "sooner or later" Norway, like the rest of Europe, must be prepared for a terrorist attack.
"Yass, these extremists materialize from nowhere, and leave no clues. They have no identifying characteristics, no traits in common, and none of them ever ever ever visit Mullah Krekar's gazebo for coffee and jihad. Whoops, did I say jihad? I meant to say it's impossible for us to do anything. So you should prolly just kiss your wives 'n' kiddies goodbye right now; we're toast."
"There are many extremist networks that are in fact waging a war against us. This is a very unusual situation that we must learn to live with," Holme said.
Why?
If Denmark declared war on you, would you "learn to live with it?" When Russia parks tanks nearby do you roll over and go back to sleep?
Holme said that the PST and Norway did not need stricter anti-terrorism laws, and was glad that there were no controversial measures like the evil Chimpy McHalliwarmongerer's US Patriot Act in effect. "The PST and the courts have gotten new methods. Now it is important that they are used and evaluated," Holme said.
#4
"There are many extremist networks that are in fact waging a war against us. This is a very unusual situation that we must learn to live with," Holme said.
#5
"The struggle against terror is not just waged in distant lands, but also through good integration policy involving dialogue and respect," Holme said.
I would hope that he means immigrants' attitude toward the country in which they now live...
The reshuffling of U.S. Army Europe continued Thursday with the announcement that dozens of Germany-based units will be inactivated, changed or moved later this year. About 7,200 military positions and 11,000 family members will be affected, with about 4,800 positions being moved to the U.S. or elsewhere, and 2,400 being reassigned within Europe, according to Maj. Gen. Mark Hertling, USAREURs deputy chief of staff for operations... See chart on bottom of linked page.
#4
I was fortunate enough to spend four years at Fleigerhorst Kassern in Hanau, I commanded two companies in 1AD's Aviation BDE. Sending the Aviation Brigade home will be a great event.
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
01/27/2006 11:34 Comments ||
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#5
I can't believe they're inactivating the 523rd Dental Company - what about the tradition, the esprit-de-corps, the pain meds?
#6
I spent three tours in Germany (10 years total), all in the Wiesbaden area. I retired in '91, my unit deactivated in '92 after 40 years in the same place. The duties my unit had were taken over by a new unit at RAF Molesworth, about six miles from where I lived when I was stationed a RAF Alconbury. I'm glad I spent so much time in Europe, but I'm also glad to live in the US!
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
01/27/2006 18:26 Comments ||
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#7
Wiesbaden was a great place, we had a sister company there and I was fortunate enough to spend lots of TDY time there from '90 to '94.
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
01/27/2006 18:34 Comments ||
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#8
Wiesbaden is indeed lovely. The trailing daughters loved wandering the pedestrian shopping zone in the city center when they were little. It was smaller and more charming than the Fussgaengerzone in Frankfurt.
Canadian Prime Minister-elect Stephen Harper has defended plans to send military ice-breakers to the Arctic in defiance of criticism from Washington.
2006, when the seeds of the Ice War were planted
US ambassador David Wilkins said on Wednesday that Washington opposed the plan and, like most other countries, did not recognise Canada's claims. Mr Harper said his mandate was from the Canadian people, not Mr Wilkins. Mr Harper's Conservatives have promised to defend Canada's northern waters from claims by the US, Russia and Denmark.
"We will fight them on the beaches, we will fight them on the hockey rinks, we shall never surrender! By the way, can you loan us a few guns?"
And a plane to get us to where you're violating our sovereignty?
The Conservative plans include the construction and deployment of three new armed heavy ice-breaking ships and an underground network of listening posts.
Damm expansionist Canadians!
The BBC's Lee Carter in Toronto says Canada has only recently woken up to the fact that, with global warming being blamed for melting ice in the Arctic, the so-far-mythical northwest passage, which could link the Atlantic and the Pacific, may in fact become a reality. The US and Canada, together with Denmark, Norway and Russia, have competing claims on parts of the Arctic and the economic bounty they may yield, including trade routes, fishing rights, pelts of cute baby seals, and oil and gas. The US has challenged Canada's current claims, saying that it considers much of the region to be international waters. Ambassador Wilkins described the Canadian position as creating a problem that did not exist, prompting an angry reaction from Mr Harper. "The United States defends its sovereignty, the Canadian government will defend our sovereignty," he said. "It is the Canadian people we get our mandate from, not the ambassador of the United States."
Will we see Canadians marching with signs protesting "No Blood for Ice"?
Mr Harper had criticised election opponents for attacking the US in a bid to win votes.
Posted by: Steve ||
01/27/2006 07:56 ||
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The BBC's Lee Carter in Toronto says Canada has only recently woken up to the fact that, with global warming being blamed for melting ice in the Arctic, the so-far-mythical northwest passage, which could link the Atlantic and the Pacific, may in fact become a reality.
#4
The BBC's Lee Carter in Toronto says Canada has only recently woken up to the fact that, with global warming being blamed for melting ice in the Arctic, the so-far-mythical northwest passage, which could link the Atlantic and the Pacific, may in fact become a reality.
*sigh*
I wonder if anyone's pointed out to them that even at the largest temperature increase predicted, the Arctic will still be below freezing.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
01/27/2006 9:39 Comments ||
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#5
I suppose it's a reasonable tradeoff. We don't put up too much of a stink about their claims to the Arctic, and they'll do the same for us regarding the Straits of Hormuz.
#11
I think there is an interesting and deliberate political dance being started here. I think that the Americans would rather see the North West Passage being in Canadian waters because it gives them more influence than if it were international waters. (Do the Americans really want Russian and Chinese warships freely bobbing around up there?) And there is no better way for the US to put pressure on Canada to actually beef up its military than by "taking away" our True North.
Note, too, that the NORAD agreement is up for renewal. This time though it is to be signed with no renewal date. There is also negociation to include naval defenses of North America and not just air defense.
So what is in the best strategic interest of the US? International waters to the north of Canada or joint defense of a major shipping lane and potentially massive natural resource?
#12
I like your analysis Canuck, and I like Mr. Harper's reminder to the citizens that Canada is a sovereign nation, and as such is required to define and muster some defense of its borders.
A defense that might even require some amount of pointy and projectile-flinging objects, persons trained in the use of said objects, and vaguely menacing floating personnel containers, perhaps also appointed with pointy and projectile-flinging objects.
Welcome back to the Anglosphere, cousins! We've missed you.
#20
Thus Article 16(4) of the Geneva
Convention provided that: There shall be no suspension of the innocent passage of foreign ships through straits which are used in international navigation between one part of the high seas and another part of the high seas or the territorial sea of a foreign State.
#23
Gosh Phil details, details. You know Canada would never stop anyone from entering or exiting their waterway, or country for that matter, two days ago when there was a shootout at the border the guards ran.
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
01/27/2006 18:06 Comments ||
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#24
I say good thing he is asserting his "Canada first" mind set. I have no problem with that. Canada is not 52nd a US state like many wish it was.
All my lefty Canadian pals are frothed up because he said "God Bless Canada". He is a "radical fundementalist" they think. They are young and beleive the Liberal party propaganda.
Message to PM elect Harper. Don't take lessons from us. We haven't got that down yet.
#28
I'd like to see one historical source that says this region is contested, i.e., show me one historically alternate name for the Queen Elizabeth Islands, in Russian, Chinese, Danish, or whatever.
All this "contested" bullshit is just coming out of the woodwork now. This isn't Antarctica. Land claims have been settled a long time ago, +/- Hans Island.
Posted by: Rafael ||
01/27/2006 22:59 Comments ||
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United States intelligence agencies have been hunting for one of al-Qaida's most notorious members - an expert in poisons and lethal chemicals. But NBC News has learned they have been trying to find him by using a photo of the wrong man on his wanted poster. For a year and a half, the U.S. government has been asking for the public's help in finding Midhat Mursi al-Sayid 'Umar, also known as Abu Khabab al-Masri, a dangerous al-Qaida operative. But now intelligence officials admit to NBC News they were using a photo of a different man. Abu Khabab is allegedly bin Laden's expert on poisons. He was shown on a State Deparment Rewards for Justice Web site, with a $5 million bounty on his head.
NBC News noticed that the photo seemed to bear a striking resemblance to a radical London imam, Abu Hamza Al-Masri. NBC then located an early television interview with the imam, and compared it with the wanted poster. There are similarities: the unusual white patch of hair, the fold of the shirt collar and the strip of white over his shoulder. After NBC news shared its findings with the CIA, a CIA spokesman then admitted a human error and said, at some point, an incorrect photo was provided for the Web site. However, the official insists all other intelligence on Abu Khabab is accurate.
I saw this report yesterday, and to my untrained eye, NBC was absolutely right. The feds had a pic of ol' hookboy masquerading as the kabobinator...
It's embarrassing, says NBC News terrorism expert Roger Cressy. It's a bit of a black eye, but it's not going to have any long-term impact on the CIA or its ability to fight the war on terror. The hunt for Abu Khabab may now be over. Pakistani intelligence officials say he was killed recently in the Predator missile attack in Pakistan. And that photo on the State Department Web site? It has been replaced with a silhouette.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/27/2006 02:13 ||
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#1
There'll only ever be one Hookboy.. and a fugly sight he is too.
Posted by: Howard UK ||
01/27/2006 8:36 Comments ||
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#2
I find it interesting, and honorable, that the CIA did not pass the buck to the FBI or State Dept on this one. I have seen this happen twice where the correct photos are submitted and someone inserts a "Newer" but unconfirmed photo thinking they are doing the right thing, only to have to retract it and reprint thousands of posters. Tracking these photos are tricky, I suspect the picture they accidentally put there deserves a spot on the list somewhere anyway.
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
01/27/2006 9:17 Comments ||
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#3
"It's a bit of a black eye, but it's not going to have any long-term impact on the CIA..."
God forbid someone was held responsible for an error or anything like that.
Posted by: Mark E. ||
01/27/2006 16:20 Comments ||
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Jan. 25, 2006 Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is fighting back at suggestions made by one of his predecessors and an unreleased Pentagon study that said the war in Iraq is straining the military and creating the risk of "breaking the force." "The force is not broken," Rumsfeld told reporters this afternoon. "I just can't imagine someone looking at the U.S. armed forces today and suggesting they're close to breaking. That's just not the case."
Earlier today, congressional Democrats released a report written by former Defense Secretary William Perry and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. The report described a combat force under "enormous strain," that if "not soon relieved, will have highly corrosive and potentially long-term effects on the force." The report concluded that the Army and Marines would not be able to sustain their current fighing capability without "doing real damage to their forces."
Another report commissioned by the Pentagon last year but not released publicly warned of an Army fast becoming a "thin green line" as it overextends itself in the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The report concluded that as the conflicts progressed, it would be harder for the Army to maintain current troop deployments in Iraq as the number of future recruits diminishes.
That possibility would make it harder to keep the necessary number of troops available to break the insurgency in Iraq, according to the report written by former Army officer Andrew Krepinevich of the Center for Statistical Budgetary Assessments.
Though he hadn't read the reports by Perry and Krepinevich, Rumsfeld took issue with their analyses and called them at various turns "out-of-date or misdirected," "a misunderstanding of the situation" and "not consistent with the facts."
Couldn't use the words he really wanted to use, I guess.
Noting the current force is "battle hardened," Rumsfeld derided comparisons with a peacetime force or the implication that the current force had been weakened as a result of its combat experience. "The implication is almost backward in a sense, for the world saw the U.S. go halfway around the world they saw what the U.S. military did in Iraq and the message from that is not that this armed force is broken but that this armed force is enormously capable," he said.
The Syrians and Iranians took note even if the Democrats didn't.
Rumsfeld took several jabs at the fact that the Democratic report was crafted by former members of the Clinton administration. "There's no question that during the period of the '90s a number of aspects of the armed forces were underfunded, and there were hollow pieces to it," he said, "and today that's simply not the case."
Rumsfeld continued: "People do not understand all the changes that are taking place. Ask yourself: Do the authors of these reports really have a clear idea of what's been happening here over the past five years?
"These are the people who were here in the '90s, and what we're doing is try to adjust what was left us to fit the 21st century."
When asked why the Pentagon was outsourcing a critical outside report, Rumsfeld replied, "The best way to get knowledge is to look at people with different views." He added, "It's a useful thing to invite people to make comments and criticisms and to opine on this and opine on that. Then the people who are really in the gearbox making this work take all that and make judgments on it, and that's what we do and it seems to work pretty well."
Krepinevich's study was presented to the Pentagon last November at a cost of $137,000. Interestingly, the phrase that's garnered Krepinevich's study so much attention, "the thin green line," is not new it first appeared in a report he wrote in August 2004 for his think thank, the Center for Strategic Budgetary Assessments. The text of that "thin green line" report appears verbatim, including some new paragraphs, as a full chapter in his new 136-page report.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/27/2006 00:28 ||
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#1
quoting Perry and Albright is like having Martha Stewart as your corner manager in a boxing match. They don't have a f*&king clue, and you are screwed....
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/27/2006 0:40 Comments ||
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#2
Best part of the briefing --
SEC. RUMSFELD: Why don't you just report the news instead of what might be the news?
#3
Agreed, but I liked the part where Rummy said he didn't read either report.
Posted by: Captain America ||
01/27/2006 2:27 Comments ||
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#4
I probly shouldnt laugh, but did anyone notice the balding of HalfBright? Looks like she placed her piehole in a light socket. Looks like Beetlejuice.
Posted by: Captain America ||
01/27/2006 2:28 Comments ||
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#5
The Army was broke in the 70's. Easily identified by high levels of AWOL, desertion, Article 15s, Courts Martial, race riots, drug abuse, etc. Another indication that dead tree media is unable to perform the function of information source for the republic in order to have a well informed citizenry. So again, why do we have a First Amendment for the Press and not the Internet? How about reversing that.
#9
the phrase that's garnered Krepinevich's study so much attention, "the thin green line," is not new � it first appeared in a report he wrote in August 2004 for his think thank
WASHINGTON â Despite persistent disillusionment with the war in Iraq, a majority of Americans supports taking military action against Iran if that country continues to produce material that can be used to develop nuclear weapons, a Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll has found.
The poll, conducted Sunday through Wednesday, found that 57% of Americans favor military intervention if Iranâs Islamic government pursues a program that could enable it to build nuclear arms.
Support for military action against Tehran has increased over the last year, the poll found, even though public sentiment is running against the war in neighboring Iraq: 53% said they believe the situation there was not worth going to war.
The poll results suggest that the difficulties the United States has encountered in Iraq have not turned the public against the possibility of military actions elsewhere in the Middle East.Bush ratings sink in latest poll
Support for a potential military confrontation with Iran was strongest among Republican respondents, among whom 76% endorsed the idea. But even among Democrats, who overwhelmingly oppose the war in Iraq, 49% supported such action.
In follow-up interviews, some respondents said they believed Iran posed a more serious threat than Saddam Husseinâs Iraq did.
âI really donât think Saddam had anything to do with terrorism, but Iran, I believe, does,â said Edward Wtulich, of Goshen, N.Y. He was among the 1,555 adults who participated in this weekâs survey, which has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. âIran has been a problem, I think, for years,â Wtulich said, âand weâve known about it.â
Wtulich, a registered Democrat and retired manager for the New York City Housing Authority, said he supported taking a hard line with Iran despite the strain of the Iraq war on the U.S. military.
âIt makes me scared,â he said, âbut we may not have a choice.â
Experts said the publicâs views on Iran appeared to have hardened in part because of the more aggressive anti-Western posture of Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Elected last year, he has riled the international community with remarks denying the Holocaust and with declarations that Iran will defy European and U.S. pressure and continue to pursue efforts to enrich uranium.
His comments have fostered an impression of him as âvery reckless, a real rogue, as opposed to simply a populist,â said political science professor John Mueller of Ohio State University, who is an authority on wartime public opinion.
Poll respondents expressed a strong preference for the United States working with allies to fight international law violations or global aggression.
The American publicâs position on Iran appears to have hardened over the last year, a period marked by an increasing international focus on Iranâs nuclear program. When a similar question was asked in a Times poll last January, 50% favored military action against Iran.
Regarding Iraq, the latest poll shows that although most Americans remain disenchanted with the war, opinions have stabilized, at least for now. The percentage saying they believe the situation in Iraq was not worth going to war over dipped slightly, to 53%, compared with 56% in a survey a year earlier. Somebody needs to help this guy with the definition of most
When asked who was winning the war in Iraq, 33% said the United States, 7% said the insurgents, and 55% said neither side was winning.
Americans remain divided over how long U.S. forces should stay in Iraq: 40% believe the United States should remain in Iraq for âas long as it takes,â 36% want U.S. troops withdrawn within a year, and 14% support immediate withdrawal.
Respondents were also divided, largely along party lines, over whether the Iraq war is really part of Washingtonâs war on terrorism; 51% say it is, 46% say it is not. President Bush has repeatedly cast Iraq as the central front in the war on terrorism. But many of his administrationâs prewar claims about Iraqâs ties to Al Qaeda have turned out to have been overstated or based on unreliable intelligence sources.
The poll also found that 32% of Americans believed that terrorism around the world had increased because of the Iraq situation, 17% believed it had decreased, and 47% believed the problem was about the same.
#2
Unfortunately, with too many Short-Attention-Span Americans the support is all too fickle. I remember support for OIF running near 70% before the MSM and Dem efforts kicked into high gear. I think the support reflects an assumption of any military action being purely air strikes.
#5
53% support the Iraq effort and 57% want to go after Iran. That's pretty close. This is also from the LA Times, Pravda on the Pacific. If they hadn't oversampled democrats the numbers would be even better. I read this as a pretty strong statement in favor of going after the MM.
#6
Good point about the LAT. One would normally need to skew their polls 5-10% towards the conservative perspective to obtain a legitimate reading of public opinion.
#7
Another interesting item in all of this is if Iran had her own "issues" to worry about, things in Iraq would get better as a result.
Posted by: RJB in JC MO ||
01/27/2006 18:31 Comments ||
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#8
Check out the Fox poll
NEW YORK Americans think Iran is the country that poses the greatest immediate danger to the United States today, taking over the number one spot from North Korea. A FOX News poll released Thursday shows the public is concerned about Iran attacking the United States with nuclear weapons, and even more concerned about Iran supplying nukes to terrorists.
If Iran were to obtain nuclear weapons, an overwhelming 91 percent of Americans say they are concerned it would sell them to terrorists, including 68 percent that say they are very concerned.
In addition, eight in 10 Americans are concerned Iran would use nukes to attack a neighboring country (54 percent very concerned), and 73 percent are concerned it would attack the United States (47 percent very concerned).
Iran tops the list when respondents are asked to say which country without being read a list poses the greatest immediate danger to the United States. Today a 28 percent plurality says Iran, up from 18 percent a year ago. North Korea, which was first on last years list, comes in second this time around at 17 percent, down from 26 percent (January 2005). Iraq (16 percent) and China (14 percent) are other common mentions.
Opinion Dynamics Corporation conducted the national telephone poll of 900 registered voters for FOX News on January 24-25.
Over half of Americans think Iran is either an immediate (16 percent) or near-term threat (40 percent) to the United States, while about a third (34 percent) think it is more likely to be a long-term threat. Few think Iran does not pose a threat at all (7 percent).
Most of the public believes Iran wants to use uranium enrichment for military purposes (82 percent) rather than for the peaceful purposes it claims (8 percent). Furthermore, 68 percent believe Iran currently has a nuclear weapons program, up from 60 percent a year ago (January 2005).
"These broad evaluations of Iran as a present and growing threat highlight the truly perilous situation most Americans see outside our boarders," says Chris Anderson, Opinion Dynamics senior researcher. "We havent even finished one war and many already see the potential need for another."
By a wide margin, Americans think Iran is more of a threat to the world than Iraq was before the United States took military action there. Nearly half (47 percent) think Iran is more of a threat than Iraq was, while 25 percent think less of a threat and 19 percent the same.
If diplomacy fails, 59 percent support using "whatever military force is necessary," to keep Iran from getting nuclear weapons; however, when presented with specific military options support drops. Some 51 percent support using only air strikes, and 46 percent support using air strikes and ground troops.
A 54 percent majority is confident in the ability of the Bush administration to handle the situation with Iran, while slightly fewer (46 percent) are confident in the ability of the United Nations to handle Iran.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,182909,00.htm
#9
Goodness - if those numbers rise above 100%, then the Dhimmidonk and RINO Senators might begin to feel that they may possibly have sufficient ass coverage to pick up on the House resolution that would authorize Bush to do something.
#10
Let's see....a poll comes out that OVERWHELMINGLY supports military action against Iran and SUDDENLY... the new Dem talking point is that they've always been for being tough on Iran. For the last 24 hours, I've heard the point made at least 5 times that Bush has not been strong enough.
#11
But the moment the shooting actually starts, the Dhimmocrats will be pissing and moaning about what a "unilaterilist cowboy" Bush is. Regardless if he got every nation on Earth short of France and Germany to contribute aircraft for the bombing runs.
President Pervez Musharraf has said in an interview with CNN that besides the United States, Al Qaeda also violates Pakistans sovereignty as it operates from within Pakistani territory.
While we are angry at the violation of (our) sovereignty by the US, I am also angry at the violation of (our) sovereignty by Al Qaeda, Gen Musharraf told CNNs Richard Quest at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
He said he believed around five or six Al Qaeda operatives were killed in the Bajaur air strike.
But, he added that the US attack was an unjustified violation of an agreement that Pakistani forces should handle operations against Al Qaeda inside their territory.
Pakistan summoned the US ambassador to protest shortly after the attack.
We were disappointed, President Musharraf told CNN. Intelligence is coordinated between our two countries, and there is cooperation on both sides at a strategic and tactical level. So its a disappointment and we hope this is not repeated.
Asked whether he had received assurances that the attack would not be repeated, President Musharraf said he was pretty confident. This assurance was there and we hope that it doesnt happen again.
He said operations against Al Qaeda along the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan had been successful even though bin Laden and al-Zawahiri remained at large. He highlighted the death last month of a top Al Qaeda official, Abu Hamza Rabia, north of the border town of Miram Shah.
We have arrested about 700 al Qaeda operators ... innumerable people have been eliminated, arrested and deported. The latest was Hamza Rabia, the number three man of Al Qaeda, whom we got in the mountains. This is a lot of success.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/27/2006 01:59 ||
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Interpol has issued international notices, at Pakistan's request, seeking the arrest of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and her husband on corruption charges, officials say. Speaking by phone from France, Interpol spokeswoman Rachel Billington confirmed that "red notices" had been issued for Bhutto and her husband Asif Ali Zardari, but that it was up to member countries to decide what, if any, action to take.
Pakistan's Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao said the government's anti-corruption body had requested Interpol issue the notices. Bhutto, who was prime minister in the late 1980s and early 1990s, lives in exile in England and the United Arab Emirates. She and her husband are wanted in Pakistan in connection with several graft cases.
Ah, Pakistan! Where even the good guys are bad guys...
Posted by: Fred ||
01/27/2006 00:00 ||
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#2
I doubt it. Bin Laden hates Bhutto and even helped to bankroll a vote of no-confidence against her back when she was Prime Minister. She supported the Taliban in its beginnings for reasons of realpolitick, but she was hardly as enthusiastic as her successor, for instance.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/27/2006 1:58 Comments ||
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Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva Sergei Ordzhonikidze announced Thursday that the Disarmament Conference (CD) is not performing well. Sergei Ordzhonikidze made this announcement at the Conference on Disarmament, the world's sole multilateral forum for disarmament negotiations. In 2005, the Conference was not able to reach agreement on a program of work -- the seventh consecutive year during which it was unable to do so -- and so was unable to start work on substantive issues. While there was agreement on most of the elements of a program, the main differences remained on the matters of prevention of an arms race in outer space and nuclear disarmament. This session will last till 31 March, will pick up again from May 15 to June 30, and from 31 July to 15 September.
Meh. Should we have the staff bring us Thai or Ethiopian today? All this fondue is starting to drive me crazy. Geneva is so dreadfully dull in winter. Really, couldn't we go to Rio next time?
#4
Who exactly is this committee trying to disarm?
In theory: the planet.
In practice: the US and Israel.
In earnest: Nobody--its just an excuse to hold a conference, look important, misuse some funds, and seem important while accomplishing nothing of impact.
#5
Seven years of Disarmament Conferences down the drain! Might as well join the fuckin Peace Corps!
Nah. Guess we'll have to sit here in Geneva doing nothing and collect our exorbitant salaries.
Disarmament is hell!!!
Three Iraqi electoral lists, consisting of 80 seats, have agreed to unite to bolster their negotiating position in the future government, liberal politician Adnan Pachachi said Friday....
...Pachachi said that along with the secular list of former prime minister Iyad Allawi's 25 seats, the new group will include the religious Sunni National Accordance Front, with 44 seats, and the more secular Sunni National Dialogue Front of Saleh al-Mutlaq and his 11 seats.
Pachachi, who ran on Allawi's list, added that a number of other smaller political parties are interested in joining, which might increase the group's size to 88 seats.
While most political groups in Iraq have agreed on the need for a national unity government representing all Iraqis, there are fears that the dominant conservative Shiite United Iraqi Alliance, with 128 seats, will not feel the need for a very broad government.
The Arab League was scheduled to hold a national unity conference at the end of February in Baghdad to address these divisions, but Pachachi said that it would probably not be held until a new government is formed.
"A number of Iraqi figures told Arab League secretary general Amr Moussa they would prefer the conference be held after the government is formed and he assented," said Pachachi.
"He added, however, that if the differences continue and the government ends not being one of national unity, it is very possible the conference will be held to resolve these problems." The electoral priorities are shaping up to be that the first government must be a unity government; and that though there are many political parties for the time being, that they should organize into a few powerful blocs. Then, the critical phase will be when these blocs evolve into having philosophical, rather than sectarian, principles.
Salt shaker required until we get further corroboration. As readers know I think that there were ties between Iraq and al-Qaeda, but I would be quite leery about taking this guy at face value, if for no other reason than that he seems to be coughing up everything - WMDs, al-Qaeda, et al. and we've never heard of him till now.
The Iraqi general who served as a top lieutenant to Saddam Hussein said Thursday that he personally witnessed Osama bin Laden inspecting Iraqi air force facilities in Baghdad.
Speaking in halting English, former Iraqi Gen. Georges Sada described the bin Laden visit to ABC Radio's Sean Hannity.
"I can make sure one thing - I know - I have seen by my eyes. It was in '84, '85, Osama bin Laden himself was coming to Iraqi air force headquarters."
Gen. Sada explained: "At that time he was looking for contracts to build air fields in Iraq."
The top Hussein lieutenant said he had no idea if the visit was part of any alliance between bin Laden and the Iraqi dictator.
Bin Laden's 1984 trip to Baghdad has never before been revealed, though a 1998 visit during which the al Qaeda chief allegedly met with Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz was reported by the Weekly Standard two years ago.
In an interview that appeared in Thursday's New York Sun, Gen. Sada confirmed that Saddam had spirited his weapons of mass destruction out of the country before the U.S. invaded in March 2003.
"Saddam realized, this time, the Americans are coming," he told the Sun. "They handed over the weapons of mass destruction to the Syrians.
Gen. Sada's allegations are detailed at length in his newly released book, "Saddams Secrets.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
01/27/2006 02:02 ||
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#1
True or not it will at least shut the Dems up for a few days.
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
01/27/2006 9:35 Comments ||
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#2
Sounds slightly like or reminiscent of Sabah Khodada / Salman Pak? He was a captain though AFAIK. Confirms Romanian Ceacescu defector Ion Mihai Pacepa's "sarindar" theories (he's the guy who sold Saddam the stuff in the first place) & Debkafiles analysis. Also consistent with Kamel docs.
Palestinians have reacted to Hamas's unexpected sweep of the legislative elections with a mixture of excitement and uncertainty. a tad long, but an interesting look at the street (per Al J)
Minutes after official results gave the Islamic group an overwhelming win in the formerly Fatah-dominated legislative council on Thursday, Hamas supporters came out full force into the city streets to celebrate.
Gaza City was enveloped by a sea of green flags, as cars carrying the group's trademark colour sped through streets, blowing horns below a display of fireworks that lit up the wet sky.
Women and children sang in the streets, neighbours distributed sweets and congratulated one another on the group's upset victory, which surprised nearly everyone.
"I voted for Hamas but truthfully I did not expect them to win at all. It was a surprise to everyone - no one expected this to happen," said Basma Ghalayini, 22, who cast her ballot for the group in what she described as a "sympathy vote".
Even diehard Hamas supporters were taken aback by the win, as sources began to indicate throughout the day that Hamas, not Fatah as initial exit polls suggested, was the victor.
More popular
"I stayed up until 7pm inside one of the polling centre to try and keep track of the votes. Thank God, we were expecting Hamas to bear results, but in this way? Never," Asma al-Kurd, a social worker from the Dair al-Balah district of central Gaza, said.
"I suppose we have more popularity in the Palestinian street than we expected. The Palestinian street has proven they want change."
Not everyone is as excited by the results as al-Kurd.
After erupting in early and wild celebrations the previous night, Fatah supporters mainly stayed indoors, though sporadic cars carrying their trademark yellow flags eventually joined the mass celebrations in Gaza City.
Taha Nabil, a 25-year-old police officer in the bloated Palestinian security forces whose functioning is likely to be streamlined by the new Hamas government, expressed his concern for the future and his shock that what he called a newcomer like Hamas could win so overwhelmingly.
"I see all these celebrations, and, well ... I just hope it's for the best," said Nabil, fireworks blasting all around him.
"Since I'm a police officer and a Fatah supporter, I am not very happy by the results. I just hope the fruits of the victory will not be exclusively for one party or people. Who is Hamas anyway? We were the ones who began the revolution. Hamas have only been around for 10 years, and suddenly, out of nowhere, they changed Gaza."
No celebration
As it turns out, a large number of Fatah supporters, such as Abu Ahmed Hindi, 32, decided to vote for Hamas. Still, Hindi was not celebrating in the streets, but sat drinking tea with friends taking in the scenes instead.
"Even though I am a long-time Fatah supporter, I voted Hamas, and I am happy for their win, which was completely unexpected. I hope Fatah takes this as an opportunity and this period to learn from their mistakes, and go forward from here," said Hindi, a merchant in Gaza's upscale Remal neighbourhood. Sorry Hindi, but your Fatah party may never get a chance to return. Smoldering ruins dont need no politics.
The Hamas vote was as much a call for change as it was a vote against the ruling party, say Palestinians.
Corruption and rampant mismanagement prompted angry and fed-up residents to give their "protest votes" to Hamas, according to 29-year-old shopkeeper Khamas Illawaya, who voted for Hanan Ashrawi's Third Way list. Welcome to democracy. where grudge voting can produce some truly surprising and undesirable results. Strategic voting, yaaas.
"The Palestinian street is only 30% Hamas, but the corruption of Fatah and its failure to answer to the concerns of the Palestinian people gave Hamas a far greater number of votes than expected. The people chose change, not Hamas," said Ilawya. Hamas take note. 30%, huh. If daily deliveries of milk and honey dont commence immediately, the streets gonna get noisy and gunny.
"I firmly believe Hamas is willing to make compromises and accept any state on this planet for the interest of its people," added Illawya, as a friend of his burst into the store, handing out celebratory sweets. What the hell is in those sweets, Illawya? Youve had far too many today. Boy are you in for a surprise. Sleepless night
"I didn't sleep all night," chimed in Subhi Nakhal, a teacher.
"I really feel as if a great load has been lifted off my chest. We have hope now - for the first time in 10 years, we have hope."
Nakhal, who says he barely has enough money to feed his family and who has been chasing the former Fatah government for medical compensation for his sick son for months, believes the secret behind Hamas's success is their effective management and administrative skills, and their social welfare programmes. $25,000 for every suicide bomber and a new house
"The feeling of oppression is a very powerful factor," he said.
Palestinians say now that the vote is over, they expect Hamas to perform as promised and warn that they are anxious to see quick results. Very quick results not a patient people. And another reality of democracy elections promises mean diddly.
"Change is always a good thing. Its not about Fatah or Hamas, it's about changing the faces that represent us. Our hope is that the results are for the benefit of the people.
"They won based on the banner of 'change and reform', and we hope that is not merely a slogan. There must be real changes, even if they are only economic and social changes and not political," said storekeeper Osama Nabulsi.
"Do you think anyone likes the situation we are in? They are sick of the same old situation. What has Fatah done for us during the past 10 years? Nothing."
Certain priorities
Nabulsi and his brother, Khalid, say they are not concerned how the world might perceive the new parliament, likening the situation to the 2001 election of the hawkish Sharon government.
The Palestinian people, they say, have certain priorities, first among them personal security and survival.
A family with 10 children living under the poverty line is not going to think first about relations of the new parliament with Israel or the US or the EU. He is going to think about how he can feed those children," said Nabulsi.
"Not everything is about peace. We have to get our house in order. We are suffering from a real moral crisis. We need to learn some manners. Still a little shaky on the cause and effect thing, huh? Damn right on the last three points. Try thinking about Point 1.
Nabulsi continued: "We need to learn how to raise our children properly. We need to clean our streets. And, mostly, we need security. We need to do all of these things before we make can even speak about a state." Hang onto your kaffiya, Nabulsi. Its going to be a bumpy ride.
Olmert government`s decision Friday, Jan. 27 to transfer NIS 200 m tax returns to new Palestinian government next month is criticized.
Former FM Likuds Silvan Shalom says the transfer of moneys to the Hamas-ruled administration is "scandalous," and sends a wrong signal to donor-countries for their relations with the terrorist regime.
Hours after its election victory emerged, Hamas posted through a third party a threat that any holdups in funds transfers to the new Palestinian administration would be casus belli. It would prompt large-scale attacks inside Israel and disrupt its March 28 elections - acting prime minister Ehud Olmerts prospects in particular. Hamas sources evinced an interest in an open-ended truce with Israel.
However Olmerts military and security advisers warn that Hamass only goal is not peace but time to achieve full control of all Palestinian security and intelligence services in preparation for full-scale war against Israel. It will then employ its parliamentary majority to oust Abu Mazen as PA chairman. There is a good chance that something is going to happen soon. Hamas may not be able to make payroll as soon as the end of this month.
The United States would have to freeze millions of dollars in aid to the Palestinian Authority if a Hamas-led government comes to power and refuses to renounce terror, a senior U.S. diplomat in Jerusalem said Friday.
Jacob Walles, the U.S. consul-general in Jerusalem, said the U.S. would not deliver assistance to terror organizations, members of terror organizations or ministries controlled by people belonging to terror organizations. The United States, the European Union and Israel all consider Hamas to be a terrorist group.
Hamas won an overwhelming victory in Palestinian legislative elections on Wednesday, capturing 76 of 132 seats. The victory stunned the world and sent Israel, the U.S. and Europe scrambling to figure out how to deal with the sudden rise of the group responsible for dozens of suicide bombings against Israel.
The U.S. gave the Palestinian Authority $400 million in direct aid last year and several million more through various U.N. charities, Walles said. Some of the money was handed directly to Palestinian ministries. "I don't see how we would do that if those ministries were controlled by Hamas," Walles said. "At this point, Hamas has to make a choice. The onus is on them," he added. "If you want to be part of the political process ... you need to recognize Israel, you need to disarm and you need to renounce terror and violence. The choice is theirs."
Without Western financial aid, the bankrupt Palestinian Authority, which ran a $1 billion operating deficit last year, would almost surely collapse. Foreign donors have poured about $1 billion annually into the Palestinian Authority, financing vast reconstruction efforts in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The United States is the single largest donor country, and along with Europe provides the vast majority of the foreign aid to the Palestinians. Rest at link.
Posted by: ed ||
01/27/2006 15:56 ||
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probably for the moment. Wait until our EU and russian "partners" in the roadmap pay up and start pressuring us.
#3
"Without Western financial aid, the bankrupt Palestinian Authority, which ran a $1 billion operating deficit last year, would almost surely collapse."
Not to worry...surely the Arab nations will pony up the dough.
#4
Not another f&cking red cent to these ungrateful murderous b@stards! Let them watch their pro-terrorist government crumble around their ears.
Any government that continues to supply financial aid to the Palestinian Authority must be regarded as a terrorist sponsor. The Palestinians, with their endless blood lust, have finally painted themselves into a moral and ethical corner. The level of moronic idiocy exhibited by these f&ckwits is simply beyond belief.
#5
Renouncing terrorism by Hamas is always suspect. Shut off their money. Game over. We have taken enough hits this year, and we are hemmoraging cash. Time to start tightening our belts and this is as good a place as any. Let Chiraq give EU tax dollars if he wants.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
01/27/2006 22:21 Comments ||
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Arab League: Hamas will have to recognize Israel
[I didn't use this title because the underlying message is more important]By Ora Koren, Aluf Benn, Lilach Weissman, Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondents, and Haaretz Service
DAVOS - Hamas will have to accept the Beirut initiative, which calls for full Arab recognition of Israel, despite its declared stands, Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa said Friday, following the Hamas victory in the Palestinian legislative elections.
...and run up the green standard of New Hamastan
Hamas members on Thursday lowered the Palestinian flag from the roof of the Palestinian parliament and replaced it with their green banner. Palestinian sources said that at the same time, members from the Al-Aqsa Brigades, the military wing of the Fateh Movement, arrived to the parliament and started breaking its windows and shooting in the air. Large police forces arrived in the area and cordoned off the parliament to contain the skirmishes.
This is the point where we would all stand and sadly sing the Paleo anthem, if there was one.
Israel's acting prime minister has ordered faster construction of the West Bank separation barrier after chairing his first government-level discussion of the project. The decision, which followed hints by Ehud Olmert that he could set Israel's borders unilaterally should he win general elections on 28 March and should peace talks remain stalled, drew censure from Palestinians who consider the barrier a land grab. Roughly half of the 600km (370 mile) network of fences and concrete barricades has been built, some on occupied land where Palestinians seek statehood. Several parts of the project have been held up by Palestinian appeals to Israel's Supreme Court.
Israel calls the barrier a bulwark against Palestinian bombers. A senior official said that Olmert, who assumed power after Ariel Sharon, the prime minister, suffered a stroke on 4 January, reiterated the incumbent's orders to step up construction. An official said: "He made it very clear that the fence has to be completed as quickly as possible." The prime minister's office said in a statement that Olmert recommended rerouting the barrier northeast of Jerusalem so as to enclose a Jewish settlement, Ramot, within the city limits while excluding the nearby Palestinian village of Bait Iksa.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/27/2006 00:00 ||
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An official said: "He made it very clear that the fence has to be completed as quickly as possible..... we have new contracts pending in Arizona, Texas, California, and New Mexico."
#2
Remember that movie Escape From New York? That is how I envision the palestinians after the wall is built. Of course, that's probably not far from what it looks like now.
#2
And how many months will this proposal be "negotiated" before Iran declines. And what will the proposal after that one be? And how many months will that successor proposal be "negotiated" before Iran declines it as well? And what will the proposal after that one be? And how many months will that successor to the successor proposal be "negotiated" before Iran declines that one as well? And what will the proposal after that one be? And how many months will that successor to the successor to the successor proposal be "negotiated" before Iran declines that one as well? And how many stupid proposal/"negotiate"/Iran-declines cycles will we witness until the world wakes up one day with the realization that IRAN HAS *WON* by buying all of this "negotiating" time and that they now possess the nuclear means to fulfill their wet-dream of a nuclear attack on Israel?
#3
I don't want to GIVE them anything. Oil-fired and gas-fired power plants are a lot cheaper and quicker to build and a lot cheaper for them to fuel. And they can afford them -- just look at all the money they've had for tunnels and nukes and missiles. But if I do have to give them something, I'll choose to give them fusioning plutonium at 3,000 ft over Qom. That will be a gift that will be memorable and will even impress North Korea and Pakistan.
#4
Actually, thorium based reactors that cannot breed weapons grade material would make a lot of sense. Exactly why America is supposed to foresake so much treasure to an oil-rich petroleum exporting country is beyond me. I can only assume that we must be punished for insisting upon rational solutions to problems, unlike most of the remaining world.
#9
The Iranians have used their wealth on developing expensive reactors and weapons systems. They do not have the refining capacity to produce their own gasoline and fuel oil, and they are a major oil exporter. We owe them nothing. That is the wonderful thing about freedom of choice. You can choose to be smart or stupid with your God-given wealth. The Iranian people need to make the choice, and live with the consequences.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
01/27/2006 22:30 Comments ||
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#10
But for now, you diplomatically make them "an offer they can't refuse".
The ultimate dipfufflebarg - and when refused, allows even EU dips to gehey with numbing Iran.
But, I ponder, is it dipsy enough to get MSM beating drums?
Russia's offer to enrich uranium on Iran's behalf is "not sufficient" to resolve the stand-off over Tehran's nuclear programme, Iran says.
Iran's top negotiator said it had merits but was not enough to provide "for Iran's nuclear energy needs".
Iran had earlier reacted warmly to the proposals, raising hopes it might be the key to unlocking the crisis.
While US President Bush praised it as "a good plan", his secretary of state accused Iran of using delaying tactics.
"One cannot say that it is a negative proposal," said Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, on his return from talks in China.
He said it would be further considered, and could be "part of a package", but was not the whole solution.
The Russian proposal involves uranium bound for Iranian power plants being enriched in a joint venture on Russian soil.
Russia would also take back Iranian nuclear waste for reprocessing.
The theory is that if Iran has no enrichment capability, and no nuclear waste, it cannot refine the uranium further to the high quality required to make a nuclear weapon.
Tehran denies US claims that it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons, and says it simply wants to produce nuclear energy.
Posted by: Captain America ||
01/27/2006 16:58 ||
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yawn
Posted by: Bobby ||
01/27/2006 17:21 Comments ||
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Russia plan 'not enough' for Iran
It never is, kufr.
Posted by: ed ||
01/27/2006 17:39 Comments ||
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Russia's offer to enrich uranium on Iran's behalf is "not sufficient" to resolve the stand-off over Tehran's nuclear programme, Iran says.
#4
Nothing will ever be enough for megalomaniacs (with the emphasis on maniac).
Even if they managed to turn Israel and the U.S. into smoking craters, they wouldn't be satisfied. Nothing in this life will ever satisfy them.
They remind me of the definition of a Puritan: A person who fears that somebody, somewhere, might be having fun.
Of course, when they die, they're not going to be satisfied, either, when they find out what's really in store for them. (Hint: it'll be HOT)
Since they can't be satisfied in life, and they won't be satisfied in death, let's dispatch them ASAP to their special seats in Hell so at least somebody (i.e., the sane world) will be satisfied in this life.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
01/27/2006 19:32 Comments ||
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Tehran, 27 Jan. (AKI) - Iran's chief nuclear negotiator said Friday that a compromise proposal by Russia - allowing Tehran to enrich uranium on Russian soil - was not enough to meet Tehran's energy needs. Speaking to reporters on his return from a visit to China, Ali Larijani said "Russia's initiative should be more comprehensive" and needed to be "discussed and improved. The US and the European Union are pressing to have Iran's case referred to the UN Security Council and a board meeting of the UN's atomic watchdog will debate this next week.
Regarding the Russian proposal, Larijani said its "capacity is not sufficient for Iran's nuclear technology. It can be part of a package and taken into consideration within it." Iran says it only wants nuclear technology to generate electricity, not make weapons. Iran has said it plans to build as many as 20 nuclear power reactors, generating 20 GW of electricity over the next two decades. It has still not completed its first reactor, being built with Russian assistance in Bushehr. "It cannot be said that it is a negative proposal. We therefore considered it worthy of studying, and worthy of completion," Larijani said.
"Could take years of study, and many, many luncheons."
Posted by: Steve ||
01/27/2006 07:52 ||
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Iran goes Tepid ... At some point, Iran will go "Ballistic."
EFL
Iran has congratulated the Islamist Palestinian group Hamas for its election victory and praised voters for choosing "to continue the struggle and resistance against occupation". "even if it doesn't exist"
Hamid Reza Asefi, the foreign ministry spokesman said in a statement on Thursday faxed to journalists:"The Islamic republic of Iran congratulates Hamas and all the Palestinian soldiers and the great Islamic people."
Iran and Hamas are allies and declared in December that they represented a "united front" against Israel. "The Palestinians have voted for the resistance and have shown their loyalty," Asefi said.
"The result of these elections will reinforce the unity of the Palestinian people in defending their rights. The massive participation of the Palestinians shows their will to continue the struggle and resistance against occupation."
Although Iran is a vocal supporter of Hamas - as well as the Palestinian resitance group Islamic Jihad and the Lebanese Shia movement Hizb Allah - the clerical regime denies allegations it finances these groups.
"*cough*cough* No, Of course not! We expect the Europeans to do that for us"
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/27/2006 00:30 ||
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This puts Iran in an uncomfortable position if Hamas makes any compromises in its articles of incorporation or makes any conciliatory statements.
US President George W. Bush yesterday gave public support for a Russian plan to end the Iran nuclear dispute. Bush told a news conference he would support a civilian nuclear energy program in Iran if all the nuclear fuel was manufactured in Russia and the Russian authorities collected all the waste that could be used for nuclear weapons.
Earlier in the day, China and Iran expressed support for the Russian proposal, and both said they opposed the threat of sanctions from the UN Security Council. Top Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani, on a one-day trip to Beijing seeking Chinas support, said the Russian proposal that uranium be enriched on Russian soil needed further discussion. The Russian suggestion is a useful one, but needs to be discussed further, Ali Larijani told a news conference in Beijing. He told Reuters later that Iran was willing to show flexibility on the issue, but rejected the language of force, an apparent reference to the threat of sanctions.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/27/2006 00:00 ||
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This makes the U.S. look good in the world. We look reasonable and the plan is a good comprimise. But we all know Iran is never going to agree to the Russian plan in the end. They probably just want more time to stallllll (continue enriching Uranium) in talks...
#4
I suspect the Iraniacks will agree to it in the end, but pursue a duel program of development; one allied with the Sov's and another clandestine program at home. This would buy them some time, good press, and provide suitable cover for status as "legitimate" peaceful use developers.
#8
Even if the mullahs agreed to this, what are the guarantees that over time material wouldn't be skimmed from the stuff sent back? Pinch a little here, pinch a little there.....as long as the amount is within the typical range of MUF, no one would be likely to notice.
#10
Of course, this puts Putin squarely on record as bearing responsibility for the outcome ....
However nice it would be to see RaPutin's mammary gland pinched in the Bendix, all of his previous dealings heretofore have greatly sucked the mighty wind. Russia's trustworthiness rates a bare few microns in front of Iran's.
It is difficult to resist the notion that overtly hostile entities like Iran should merely be prohibited from possessing any nuclear technology whatsoever. Attempts to acquire same should be met with strategic or economic blockades.
Too many other disreputable governments will be following Iran's lead for there to be any sort of uncertain or inconsistent diplomatic policy regarding this. We must set the standard for the numerous other similar confrontations that will follow this one.
China and Iran have expressed support for a Russian proposal to resolve Tehran's standoff with Western governments which suspect it of secretly planning to build a nuclear bomb. Top Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani, on a one-day trip to Beijing to seek China's support, said on Thursday the Russian proposal - that Iran's uranium fuel be enriched on Russian soil rather than in Iran - needed further discussion.
Tehran has previously shown little interest in the idea, intended to ensure it does not covertly divert enriched fuel towards a weapons programme. It had repeatedly insisted it has no plans to build bombs but has the right to enrich uranium fuel on its territory for nuclear power generation. "The Russian suggestion is a useful one, but needs to be discussed further," Larijani told a Beijing news conference.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/27/2006 00:00 ||
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China, Iran warm to Russian offer stall for time.
Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, has assured the son of Rafiq al-Hariri, the slain former Lebanese prime minister, that the Bush administration will keep the pressure on Syria to respect Lebanon's independence. Rice on Thursday met Saad al-Hariri, who entered Lebanese politics after the 14 February 2005 killing of his father, in her office and invited in cameras to record the event.
Al-Hariri heads the majority bloc in Lebanon's parliament. The assassination of Rafiq in Beirut set in motion a UN campaign to end Syria's domination of Lebanon. Syria, under UN pressure, withdrew its troops but its influence has not been entirely erased. "We will continue to make sure there is no intimidation of the Lebanese people," Rice said, "and that Syria respects its obligations" under UN resolutions calling for it to withdraw its forces from the neighbouring country. Lebanon can be certain of international support for its independence, Rice said.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/27/2006 00:00 ||
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Iran has said it had information that the United States, Britain and Israel had a role in two deadly military plane crashes in the last two months.
That's be agents 96, 009, and Aleph-41, of course. It's usually them.
It was the latest accusation by Tehran against the West in their sharpening confrontation. A day earlier, Iran blamed the United States and Britain for two bombings that killed at least nine people in the southwestern city of Ahvaz. Interior Minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi told reporters on the sidelines of a police seminar that "the information we have says that the US, Britain and Israel's intelligence agents intended to create insecurity in Iran".
We can only hope...
"Even my evaluation says that the crash of our C-130 and Falcon planes was done by their design, or maybe electronic interference."
Employed the old Zionist death ray, did they? That figures. We're insidious that way...
... all that money we gave Halliburton, we should get something for it ...
Pourmohammadi did not elaborate and did not give any evidence.
There is no evidence. The witnesses are all dead.
In early January, an Iranian military flight carrying a commander of the country's elite Revolutionary Guards and 10 others crashed while trying to make an emergency landing, killing all aboard.
Yeah, that was a good 'un. Took over the controls using a secretly implanted device with no serial numbers and crashed it. The secretly implanted device known as a "gizmo" self-destructed on impact.
On 6 December 2005, a military transport plane crashed into a 10-storey building near Tehran's Mehrabad airport, killing 115 people. The plane, a US-made C-130, had suffered engine trouble and the pilot was returning to the airport when the aircraft suddenly lost altitude and slammed into the apartment building. Most of the passengers were Iranian journalists.
That was a similar device, of course. It's known as a "thingummy," and it's less than two inches long. Placed anywhere near an aircraft engine, it causes it to fail on command, then slurps all the aerodynamic characteristics out of the plane, replacing them with those of a brick. It can be operated from a ground station or from outer space. Naturally, it self-destructs on impact.
Do not tell them about widgits ...
Posted by: Fred ||
01/27/2006 00:00 ||
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saw it on CSI - an entire plane control panel made of Dry Ice - which evaporated into Carbon Dioxide ...suffocating the....
*accckkkk*
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/27/2006 0:44 Comments ||
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Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
01/27/2006 7:19 Comments ||
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#4
Iran seems to be taking their PR from the "book of Democrats". They only need to place the blame on Bush within two hours of an event to be on par with the Dems.
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
01/27/2006 7:55 Comments ||
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#5
Probably the same guys that pulled the Wellstone job...
#10
so let's see the crash kills the top general who said "no way can we fight a war with the US"... and the US is supposed to have killed him. get a grip, Mo.
#11
In the "Couldn't Happen to a Nicer Bunch of Guys" department, I can only hope that this article is actually true. Blowing Iran's top brass out of the sky on a routine basis is just ducky with me. Faster, please.
The U.S. Navy is converting some of its prized nuclear strategic submarines to launch precision, conventional munitions strikes against terrorist bases and similar targets.
Four ultra-stealth Ohio-class SSBNs are having their 24 Trident II D-5 nuclear ballistic missiles removed and replaced with up to 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles. Defense Industry Daily reported Jan. 18.
The program is assured of bipartisan support with Democratic Sens. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut, Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut and Clarence Pell of Rhode Island all supporting it, DID said.
The Ohios are being converted into so-called "Tactical Tridents," designated SSGNs, with accommodation for 66-102 special forces troops, special attachments for new Advanced SEAL Delivery Systems (ASDS) or the older Seal Delivery Vehicle (SDV) "mini-subs," and a mission control center. In future, the SSGNs may also carry UUV underwater robotic vehicles and even UAVs for aerial operations, the report said.
"These modifications provide the (United States) with an impressive and impressively flexible set of conventional firepower, in a survivable and virtually undetectable platform that can remain on station for very long periods," DID said. The conversion program will cost $1.4 billion, it said.
The program will allow the Navy to avoid having to decommission the four Trident subs, the USS Ohio (SSBN 726), USS Michigan (SSBN 727), USS Florida (SSBN 728) and USS Georgia (SSBN 729).
Funding for the conversion was originally approved in the Fiscal Year 2002 military appropriations bill and it proved popular in Congress. The Senate approved funding four all four nuclear subs, where President George W. Bush had only asked to convert two of them.
To create a Tactical Trident submarine, two of the Ohio Class SSBNs' 24 large vertical missile launch tubes are converted to lockout chambers to enable exit from the hull underwater, the report said. However the ASDS program is suffering from serious development problems. Until those are sorted out, existing Seal Delivery Vehicles (SDVs) will have to be used instead, DID said.
The conversion costs for the four Ohios is far less than the $1.7 billion cost for each of the new nuclear-powered Virginia class (SSN-744).
BMD will cost $247 billion by 2024: CBO
Posted by: Captain America ||
01/27/2006 17:02 ||
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The program is assured of bipartisan support with Democratic Sens. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut, Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut and Clarence Pell of Rhode Island all supporting it, DID said.
#5
Don't we have sub bases in Maine and Washington as well? Cantwell and Murray (D-WA) and Collins and Snowe (R-ME) aren't mentioned. Isn't King's Bay, GA, also a base?
Posted by: Dar ||
01/27/2006 17:52 Comments ||
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#6
I wouldn't be at all surprised to hear that these subs, formerly homebased in Bremerton, are now to be based in Honolulu.
#7
As per GMD many US Navy surface ships and subs will also have BMD assets, including eventually anti-interceptor ability vv the Russians and Chicoms, etc.
HOUSTON Jan 26, 2006 â Oilfield services conglomerate Halliburton Co. on Thursday said 2005 was the company's best in its 86-year history, a year anchored by a profitable fourth quarter of strong sales and increased rig activity. Wait till we get to rebuild the Iran oil fields! The income reversed a loss from a year earlier. Special thanks to the Eartquake/Tsunami Division
Quarterly profit rose to $1.1 billion, or $2.08 a share, including a one-time tax gain of $540 million or $1.02 a share. Heh. Thanks Karl. That compared to a net loss of $203 million, or 46 cents a share last year, which included a $384 million loss from discontinued operations.
The results widely beat Wall Street's projections of 89 cents a share on revenue of $5.24 billion, according to analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial.
Revenue for 2005 reached nearly $21 billion, also beating analysts expectations of $20.4 billion.
Halliburton announced earnings after the market closed. The Houston-based company planned to discuss the results Friday morning in a conference call with analysts.
Shares of Halliburton rose 91 cents to close at $75.15 on the New York Stock Exchange. They added another 1.9 percent, or $1.45, in after-hours trading.
#4
Oh, Yeah? I work at a World Wide Chemical Company and the 2005 profits were the highest in the company's 90 year history. Neener-neener!
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
01/27/2006 19:43 Comments ||
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#5
Millions of Americans with mutual funds, millions receiving retirement checks from pension funds, universities and colleges with alumni endowments celebrate was well. How evil. Heh.
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.
The UN is preparing to intervene in the Darfur crisis in Sudan after admitting that an African Union mission has failed to curb the violence that has seen two million people displaced and thousands killed.
A row has erupted in Egypt after the president's son suggested that electoral gains by the 
Holme said that the task of identifying the small group of extreme Islamists that use or encourage violence was far more difficult than the public imagined and that "sooner or later" Norway, like the rest of Europe, must be prepared for a terrorist attack.
Canadian Prime Minister-elect 
Jan. 25, 2006 Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is fighting back at suggestions made by one of his predecessors and an unreleased Pentagon study that said the war in Iraq is straining the military and creating the risk of "breaking the force." "The force is not broken," Rumsfeld told reporters this afternoon. "I just can't imagine
someone looking at the U.S. armed forces today and suggesting they're close to breaking. That's just not the case." 
Interpol has issued international notices, at Pakistan's request, seeking the arrest of former prime minister 
Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva Sergei Ordzhonikidze announced Thursday that the Disarmament Conference (CD) is not performing well. Sergei Ordzhonikidze made this announcement at the Conference on Disarmament, the world's sole multilateral forum for disarmament negotiations. In 2005, the Conference was not able to reach agreement on a program of work -- the seventh consecutive year during which it was unable to do so -- and so was unable to start work on substantive issues. While there was agreement on most of the elements of a program, the main differences remained on the matters of prevention of an arms race in outer space and nuclear disarmament. This session will last till 31 March, will pick up again from May 15 to June 30, and from 31 July to 15 September.
Tehran, 27 Jan. (AKI) - Iran's chief nuclear negotiator said Friday that a compromise proposal by Russia - allowing Tehran to enrich uranium on Russian soil - was not enough to meet Tehran's energy needs. Speaking to reporters on his return from a visit to China, Ali Larijani said "Russia's initiative should be more comprehensive" and needed to be "discussed and improved. The US and the European Union are pressing to have Iran's case referred to the UN Security Council and a board meeting of the UN's atomic watchdog will debate this next week.
US President George W. Bush yesterday gave public support for a Russian plan to end the Iran nuclear dispute. Bush told a news conference he would support a civilian nuclear energy program in Iran if all the nuclear fuel was manufactured in Russia and the Russian authorities collected all the waste that could be used for nuclear weapons.
China and Iran have expressed support for a Russian proposal to resolve Tehran's standoff with Western governments which suspect it of secretly planning to build a nuclear bomb. Top Iranian nuclear negotiator 
Iran has said it had information that the United States, Britain and Israel had a role in two deadly military plane crashes in the last two months. 
