The US commander of International Security Assistance Force in the Andar district of Ghazni Province in Afghanistan has embraced Islam. The website of Afghanistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms this story.
The commander of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) embraced Islam in the presence of 2,000 people on Thursday. Cap. Cormier Michel - 45 - commands 300 ISAF troops in the Taliban-infested district. The Ghazni governor, district chief, provincial council members, local officials, elders, ISAF soldiers and students attended a ceremony marking the commander's conversion to Islam. The ceremony, which lasted well over three hours, concluded with chants of 'Allah-o-Akbar (Allah is Great).
Cap. Michel, who changed his name to Abdul Wahed, started his brief speech with Bismillah (In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent and the most Merciful). During the last five years, Abdul Wahed pointed out, he had been studying Islamic books and he concluded that Islam is the first religion. "Abdul" means "slave of" in Arabic. I don't suppose that Michel is a slave to the US Constitution.
Islam is a religion of peace and brotherhood, but terrorists and extremists are bringing a bad name to it," he noted. Reality dictates: every advance of islam has come through either use of military force, or the threat of same. During the Cold War, US troops were made to understand the nature of Communism. Theater troops need at least a base understanding of the jihad obligations that fall on Muslims.
#1
"The nature of Communism" > See AMERICAN THINKER - INORDINATE FEAR? Communism is bar none the greatest genocidal -ism in recorded history, ala death tolls depicted in the BLACK BOOK OF COMMUNISM.
After the ceremony, Abdul Wahed said he had informed his wife in the US about his acceptance of Islam. "My spouse did not show any negative reaction, but recommended not to marry another woman."
#9
2 years ago my Landlady called me all in tears. My landlord had just got back from Afghanistan and informed her they could no longer live together as he had converted to Islam. He is still a Master Seargent in the US Army. She refused to convert so they are now divorced. This is not so unlikely.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
11/08/2007 7:35 Comments ||
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#10
"My spouse did not show any negative reaction,
Nor would I show any negative reaction during a long-distance phone call from a war front. BUT I would immediately thereafter move all funds to new accounts in my name only, ditto house and cars, and change my will. I would consult a lawyer to be certain I knew all my rights. Then I'd wait quietly to see whether this was something he'd done to be more effective out there, or something that he was bringing home, and how that would effect things. After all, everything I'd done could be easily enough changed back, should I desire.
Mr. Wife gave me both general power of attorney and a specific one for selling our house, back when he spent much more of his time travelling abroad. (That year he spent over 200 days away, mostly in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, was a doozy. His current schedule is much more family friendly.) I've never needed to exercise either, but they were always there should something happen to him out there.
#12
During the last five years, Abdul Wahed pointed out, he had been studying Islamic books and he concluded that Islam is the first religion.
First of all, this is pure bull-hockey. I seem to think at least 2 monotheistic and multiple polytheistic religions LONG preceded Islam. And, echoing others here, I'ma thinking there's more to this story than reported. His name, his age/rank, etc. alone raise more questions than Chris Matthews could think to ask.
Posted by: BA ||
11/08/2007 9:03 Comments ||
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#13
Just like "Cap. Abdul Wahed", I too have been studying islam for the past 5-6 years. Based upon my studies of islam, I can only conclude that no mentally stable and well adjusted human being would willingly convert to islam. Deacon Blue's antedote is as equally disturbing as is the story of Cap. Wahed.
Posted by: Mark Z ||
11/08/2007 9:13 Comments ||
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#14
1. Linguistics. I dont speak Arabic, but Im guess Abdul is a cognate to the Hebrew oved, which can mean slave, servant, or (slangily) just "worker" The verb form can mean to serve a master, to worship G-d, or just to work. Pagan worship is referred to as "avodah zarah" , "bad worship" or "avodah kochavim" "worship of the stars"
2. Tactics
Even if this not an undercover op, it would make sense to use this guy's new situation for all hes worth
#16
You know, there's a CBC correspondent who regularly reports out of Afghanistan named Michel Cormier. Who wants to bet that this is a *very* mangled report of a journalist's conversion?
Posted by: Mitch H. ||
11/08/2007 12:11 Comments ||
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#18
"You know, there's a CBC correspondent who regularly reports out of Afghanistan named Michel Cormier. Who wants to bet that this is a *very* mangled report of a journalist's conversion?"
Dang! I think you're right.
Posted by: Dave D. ||
11/08/2007 15:20 Comments ||
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The governor of South Darfur ordered the UN humanitarian director to leave the state, which has been the scene of recent fighting and where the United Nations plays a key role in coordinating aid to almost 1 million people, the UN said Wednesday.
UN deputy spokeswoman Marie Okabe said the UN official has not been ordered to leave the country by the government in Khartoum, "but rather has been forced to leave South Darfur." "This is a directive from the state governor and is being taken up... with central authorities in Khartoum," she said. "The United Nations is extremely concerned about the potential ramifications of this decision" because the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, known as OCHA, "plays a pivotal role in South Darfur."
Posted by: Fred ||
11/08/2007 00:00 ||
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RIYADH - Gulf Arab defence ministers met in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to discuss joint defence against emerging regional powers, which diplomats said was an apparent reference to Iran.
Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries share US concerns that Irans nuclear energy programme is a cover for developing nuclear weapons. They have announced plans for their own nuclear energy programme. We are here to discuss developing defence in the Gulf countries ... in the light of changing sources of threat, the rise of the terrorism danger and emerging regional powers, Deputy Saudi Defence Minister Prince Abdul-Rahman bin Abdul-Aziz told a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council. We must work hard to develop our armed forces so that they can secure regional stability and the safety of oil sources, he said, in comments carried by Saudi media.
The Gulf Cooperation Council includes Saudi Arabia other oil and gas producers Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. The loose economic and political alliance also includes Bahrain, where the government is wary of Iranian territorial designs because of its Shiite majority population.
Posted by: Steve White ||
11/08/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
TOPIX > GULF, ME STATES STOCK UP ON SOPHISTICATED ARMS. Near-term - Fear of IRAN, Long-term - ISRAEL BEING SOLE/DOMINANT REGIONAL NUKE POWER.
A 23-year-old who called herself the "Lyrical Terrorist" has become the first woman in the UK to be convicted under the Terrorism Act. Samina Malik from Southall, west London, has been found guilty at the Old Bailey of owning terrorist manuals. Malik worked at WH Smith at Heathrow Airport until her arrest last October.
The jury heard Malik had written extremist poems praising Osama Bin Laden, supporting martyrdom and discussing beheading. She had earlier been found not guilty of the more serious charge, under Section 57 of the Act, of possessing an article for a terrorist purpose. She denied the charges.
"Lies! All lies!"
Malik burst into tears in the dock when the verdict was read out.
"Waaaaaah! They're onto me!"
Following the verdict, Judge Peter Beaumont QC, the Recorder of London, told Malik: "You have been in many respects a complete enigma to me."
"Other than you're guilty as hell, of course."
She had posted her poems on websites under the screen name the Lyrical Terrorist, prosecutors said. Malik said the poems were "meaningless", but prosecutor Jonathan Sharp said: "These communications strongly indicate Samina Malik was deeply involved with terrorist related groups."
Police said they had found a "library" of extreme Islamist literature in her bedroom including The Al-Qaeda Manual and The Mujahideen Poisons Handbook. The court also heard she had written on the back of a WH Smith till receipt: "The desire within me increases every day to go for martyrdom."
Malik said she had only called herself the Lyrical Terrorist "because it sounded cool".
"And it made the guys all hot for me!"
She was convicted of having articles "likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism".
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, said: "Malik held violent extremist views which she shared with other like-minded people over the internet. She also tried to donate money to a terrorist group.
"She had the ideology, ability and determination to access and download material, which could have been useful to terrorists. Merely possessing this material is a serious criminal offence." There goes the UK market for Paladin Press...
Malik was bailed under what the judge described as "house arrest" until her sentencing on 6 December. He warned her that "all sentencing options" remained open to him.
#2
Awwwwww...boo hoo hoo. Don't cry my Brave Jihadi Bitch. Inshallah. Inshallah...
And she seemed like such a tough broad if you read her "poems".
Extracts from Samina Malik's poems
'How to behead' - extracts
"It's not as messy or as hard as some may think
It's all about the flow of the wrist
Sharpen the knife to its maximum
And before you begin to cut the flesh
Tilt the fools head to its left
Saw the knife back and forth"
"No doubt that the pu_k will twitch and scream
But ignore the donkey's ass
And continue to slice back and forth
You'll feel the knife hit the wind and food pipe
- But Don't Stop -
Continue with all your might
About now you should feel the knife vibrate
You can feel the warm heat being given off
But this is due to the friction being caused."
'The Living Martyrs' - extracts
"In did we sleep
While in our broken lands did mothers sleep
The chaos and the pain
Blood pouring everywhere like rain
Common for a sister became ra_e
By that stinking kuffar ape"
"The child born free of sin
Rewarded with gun rattle
Piercing through his father's head
Unaware he is now dead
Until girl is taken from her mother's hand
And she has now become sand
And this is from those claiming to be humane
Driving me insane
For the living martyrs are awakening
And Kuffars world soon to be shaking
We stand firm to our belief
Knowing with Allah is only relief"
I look forward to her new ones on prison life. Broomsticks, mop handles, the not so gentle touch of Knuckles, your new "best girlfriend"...
#3
Police said they had found a "library" of extreme Islamist literature in her bedroom including The Al-Qaeda Manual and The Mujahideen Poisons Handbook
Strictly for poetically inspirational purposes only, I'm sure.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday she would bring a new Iraq measure to the House floor shortly to provide $50 billion in funds for the war, while requiring U.S. troops to begin redeploying out of Iraq immediately and conclude by the end of next year.
In last year's election, the American people called for a new direction; nowhere was that direction more called for than in the war in Iraq, Pelosi told reporters. And so in the next day or so, we once again bring to the floor legislation that makes a distinction, a clear distinction: choose a new direction from the Bush foreign policy in Iraq.
The California Democrat said the bill would leave a small force in the country to pursue Al Qaeda, protect U.S. interests and train Iraqi security forces. The bill would also require that U.S. interrogators abide by guidelines set forth in the Army field manual and that troops spend more time at home between deployments.
This measure, as with everything House Democrats have proposed to end the war in Iraq, would face significant hurdles in the Senate and would likely face a veto from the president.
The House could vote on the new measure as soon as Friday.
Posted by: Frank G ||
11/08/2007 15:41 ||
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#1
Setting yourself and the boys up for another big Democratic win, Mrs. Speakah?
The friggin dirty hippies are gonna be back on your lawn again pissin off the neighbors...
#6
Someone should explain to her she's the speaker of the house, not the frigging President. She should also be forced to read the Constitution, especially the enumerated powers of each position. Then someone should kick her where her brains are - in the seat of her pants.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
11/08/2007 19:02 Comments ||
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#10
You could e-mail the Speaker, but like a first-term Congressman from Iowa, she only accepts e-mails from 'constituents'. So you'll have to send her a fax. A letter takes three or four weeks.
Posted by: Bobby ||
11/08/2007 22:24 Comments ||
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#11
And, yeah, that's my pet peeve.
Ya gonna lecture the whole country, Madame, ya ought to take messages from all of us.
Egotistical airhead.
Posted by: Bobby ||
11/08/2007 22:26 Comments ||
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#12
SCUM.
Pelosi is a primary reason that in 2008 I will probably vote republican for the first time in my entire life. Hillaryor any other democrat for that mattermust be stopped.
I know many of you here at Rantburg are opposed to abortion. I remain pro-choice only because there is not yet realistic gender equality in our society. Once women enjoy true socioeconomic parity with men, then all bets are off and there had damn well better be some paternal influence over whatever right to abort or bear a child. Ultimately, the invention of an artificial womb will obviate the need for abortion so that if a father opposes abortion, the foetus can be brought to term ex-vitro. This would go a long way towards eliminating a lot of the inequity involved.
That said, I hope like Hell Giuliani gets the republican nomination. His pro-choice stance will enable me to vote for him with a clean conscience.
Please remember, I regard abortion as the absolute single worst form of contraception imaginable and non-medically justified late-term abortion as nothing but murder. Yet, I am still obliged to support the attainment of socioeconomic parity for women before I can countenance any illegalization of abortion. Women must have sufficient control over their bodies and lives to overcome this imbalanced social construct.
WASHINGTON - Strained by extended tours in Iraq, growing numbers of military reservists say the government is providing little help to soldiers who are denied their old jobs when they return home, Defense Department data shows.
The Pentagon survey of reservists in 2005-2006, obtained by The Associated Press, details increasing discontent among returning troops in protecting their legal rights after taking leave from work to fight for their country.
It found that 44 percent of the reservists polled said they were dissatisfied with how the Labor Department handled their complaint of employment discrimination based on their military status, up from 27 percent from 2004.
Nearly one-third, or 29 percent, said they had difficulty getting the information they needed from government agencies charged with protecting their rights, while 77 percent reported they didn't even bother trying to get assistance in part because they didn't think it would make a difference.
Legal experts say the findings might represent the tip of the iceberg. Formal complaints to the Labor Department by reservists hit nearly 1,600 in 2005 the highest number since 1991 not counting the thousands more cases reported each year to the Pentagon for resolution by mediation.
And a bump in complaints is likely once the Iraq war winds down and more people come home after an extended period in which employers were forced to restructure or hire new workers to cope with those on military leave, they said.
Among the survey's findings:
_About 23 percent of reservists reported they did not return to their old jobs in part because their employer did not give them prompt re-employment or their job situation changed in some way while they were on military leave.
_Twenty-nine percent of those choosing not to seek help to get their job back said it was because it was "not worth the fight." Another 23 percent said they were unsure of how to file a complaint. Others cited a lack of confidence that they could win (14 percent); fear of employer reprisal (13 percent), or other reasons (21 percent).
_Reservists reported receiving an average of 1.8 briefings about their job rights and what government resources were available. This is down slightly from the 2.0 briefings they reported getting in 2004.
"Most of the government investigators are too willing to accept the employer's explanation for a worker's dismissal," said Sam Wright, a former Labor Department attorney who helped write the 1994 discrimination law protecting reservists.
"Some of it is indifference, some of them don't understand the laws involved," Wright said. "But the investigators establish for themselves this impossibly hard standard to win a case. As a result, reservists lose out."
Under the law, military personnel are protected from job discrimination based on their service and are generally entitled to a five-year cumulative leave with rights to their old jobs upon their return. Reservists typically file a complaint first with a Pentagon office, the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), which seeks to resolve the dispute informally.
If that effort fails, a person typically can go to the Labor Department to pursue a formal complaint and possible litigation by the Justice Department.
A report by the American Bar Association as early as 2004 noted problems in which the government was "not seen as an aggressive advocate for the returning veteran." A presidential task force chaired by former Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson earlier this year found that agencies could do a better job of educating troops and veterans. The report did not address government enforcement of the law.
Just ask Ret. Marine Lt. Col. Steve Duarte, who won a court judgment of more than $430,000 from Agilent Technologies Inc. in March 2005 after turning to a private lawyer after losing his job. Duarte was a senior consultant when he was mobilized twice from October 2001 to April 2002 and from November 2002 to July 2003.
When Duarte returned from the second mobilization, Agilent did not reinstate his previous position but assigned him to a special project. He soon received a poor job evaluation that differed from previous positive reviews and was terminated four months later.
Duarte said he contacted the Pentagon and Labor Department, both of which turned him away. Labor Department lawyers allegedly said he didn't have a case unless he specifically heard his employer say they were terminating him for military reasons.
"I am not a lawyer, but I expected various government agencies like ESGR and the Department of Labor to help me," Duarte said in documents provided to the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee, which is reviewing the Labor Department's practices.
"I felt as though they were on the side of the large corporations," he said.
Eileen Lainez, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said: "We carefully consider information our members provide, and we actively work to develop solutions where needed." The Labor Department has said it has been working to better educate troops and veterans about their rights.
Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., who chairs the Senate Health Committee, said he was troubled by the findings. He said he plans legislation to hold agencies accountable by requiring them to collect and release employment data.
The Labor Department currently releases an annual report on employment complaints to Congress, but the figures do not include Pentagon data. The report, which is due to Congress on Feb. 1, has yet to be released this year.
Posted by: Delphi ||
11/08/2007 08:31 ||
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#1
Well, yes. Our congresscritter wrote the law so that the action was civil and not criminal. The employee, of much less means, must sue the employer. The government doesn't represent the soldier/employee. He has to get his own representation. Meanwhile, government subsidized free legal programs would rather go into court to sue the government to force funding dictates in the great socialist collective, rather than expend resources representing people like this.
This is fertile ground for the Donks to recover some points by moving it from a civil court status to a criminal civil rights status and put the Trunks on the defense of protecting businesses. I wouldn't bet on it, cause in their heart, they do hate the tools of the oppressor troops.
#3
Something is amiss here. A Reservist returning from active duty should have a lot of cash sitting around, or at least a healthy reserve, unless his family has spent his money in his absence.
Because this is a trial of fact, it is a slam dunk for any lawyer, with 10 minutes before a judge. There is no defense argument, except either "We didn't employ him before he left", or "We have gone out of business since he left."
No excuses for delays or continuances, and the vet's lawyer asks for his own fees to be paid by the employer.
Any extra costs should be the lawyer adding icing on the cake like the vet cannot be denied regular promotions, lose any regularly offered benefits at the time of his call-up, and cannot be terminated until a minimum time, say six months, has passed.
#5
I can speak from experience that one they are done with you there is a very significant portion of the Army and VA that don't gve a rats ass about helping reservists or recently discharged.
#6
It's shameful that they don't get more help. I have to also feel a bit sorry for the employers. These guys are gone for a long time and they need to get on with their business. Do they just fire the guy that they hired to take his place? It's difficult for everyone and the government should help.
Don't expect any help from the Dems. They are too busy making up bogus figures about 1 out of 4 homeless being vets. If they bitched about the plight of the reservists, they might actually have to do something helpful for the military members and they don't want to do that.
#7
#3 Something is amiss here. A Reservist returning from active duty should have a lot of cash sitting around, or at least a healthy reserve, unless his family has spent his money in his absence
'Moose, why should a reservist have a pile of cash when returning from callup? Most of the reservists have civilian lives, and civilian expenses, before they get called up. Many take a cut in pay when called up. The mortgage and other expenses don't go away during callup. If the reservist is a single kid, fresh out of high school, sure, he could come home with a wad of cash. However, if he is a married man (or woman) with a house, a car payment, and a couple of kids, making good money in the civilian world, most, if not all of the salary and benefits will get eaten up by the expenses back home.
#8
Having been thorugh the mill three or four times with the VA, and about to go again, I can truly state that half of those out there that are "trained" to help don't know which way to look to see the sun rise. I received three or four briefings before I retired, and 80% of the information I got was either useless or wrong. The same is true of just about every government agency that "offers assistance" to the average person - they know their job so well, they CANNOT explain it to someone that isn't as deeply enmeshed in the "system" as they are. A private attorney knowledgable in the system can do wonders. The same is true of talking to other Vets, but ONLY those that have been in the same or a similar situation. Some of the "counsellors" at the DAV can't explain how to convert military medical jargon into what the VA can understand, for instance, or tell you how to word a letter to get your point across. That failure will almost always get a request denied. The fact that the "right" path is usually so convoluted and inobvious even a snake couldn't follow doesn't help any.
Government agencies exist to perpetuate and expand government agencies. Any other benefits are purely coincidental.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
11/08/2007 19:15 Comments ||
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#9
unacceptable delays, refusals, and incompetence. Fix it!.
that said, Teddy doesn't give a rat's ass either, except as an election sword
Posted by: Frank G ||
11/08/2007 19:59 Comments ||
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#10
OldSpook: Yours was my big point. Once you are out, nobody gives a shiat for you, except family. The only plus is that sometimes you can use that obstinate bureaucracy against those that try to mess with you.
For instance, my HOR in the Army was Texas, for tax purposes. But I hadn't got the mud off my boots before the new State I was living in tried to dock me for back taxes for all my time in the Army.
My response to them was a copy of my DD214, with a cheery note that if they had any arguments, to take it up with the Pentagon. They shut up real quick.
These vets returning from service should *expect* to get screwed with by just about anybody, and to have *zero* support or respect by any governmental anything. They have to come home looking for a fight.
When they show up for work, they should already have a copy of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (or "USERRA") in their pocket. If their boss says they are fired, before they leave the building, they should have shown it to him, the BIG boss, and the legal department, if they have one.
If the stupid bastards were dumb enough to fire a reservist, then they are dumb enough to believe that doing so could put them out of business.
If they still choose to fire him, they are boned.
When he contacts a lawyer, he will probably slaver like a hungry pit bull facing a juicy steak at the prospect of utterly raping that business.
From that point on, it may not even need to go to court, as the lawyer can call them up and demand not only reinstatement, but start demanding other stuff in exchange for not suing their pants off.
In my case, I would demand the job of the boss who fired me, in place of him, who should be out on the street. And, if I'm in a surly mood, I might even ask for BACK PAY, for the time I was on active duty. With a drooling lawyer demanding it for me, they would hopefully be pooping themselves before they even hung up, and begging me to come back to work for them.
ISLAMABAD - Former premier Benazir Bhutto on Wednesday urged Pakistanis to join mass protests against a state of emergency, setting up a tense showdown with military ruler President Pervez Musharraf. Bhutto said she would hold a rally in Rawalpindi on Friday despite police threats of a crackdown, and called for a long march on November 13 from Lahore to the capital if Musharraf does not repeal emergency rule.
Things aren't looking good for ya, Perv. Perhaps you should consider a nice villa on the Red Sea? Lovely this time of year. I think you have friends who could help with expenses ...
Police tear-gassed and baton-charged hundreds of Bhuttos supporters outside the parliament building in Islamabad shortly after she spoke, an AFP reporter witnessed. At least three were arrested. I appeal to the people of Pakistan to come forward. We are under attack, Bhutto told a news conference after holding talks with other opposition leaders in Islamabad.
The two-time premier said that key US ally Musharraf must restore the constitution, announce the date of parliamentary elections due in January and quit his role as chief of the powerful army by November 15. God willing, there will be a flood of people. If I am arrested, people should continue the struggle, the 54-year-old added.
I think she's trying to have a Yeltsin moment.
Nearly 1,000 people rallied peacefully in the capital earlier and another 200 protested in Peshawar. She rejected a warning by the police chief in Rawalpindi that her Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) would not be allowed to stage its rally there, due to a ban on such gatherings and because of a risk of suicide bombings. If they try to flout the ban, the law would take its course, the garrison citys police chief Saud Aziz told AFP.
And then you did nothing about it. I'm betting the police won't fire on Bhutto supporters. And that means, eventually, that Perv is toast.
Posted by: Steve White ||
11/08/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
I definitely believe Musharaff is afraid of Miss Bhutto's presence and people's preference.
#5
my impression is that Bhutto doesnt have quite the level of popularity that Yeltsin did in summer of '91. More support for Khan and Sharif. Though she may be hoping to gain some popularity with this.
Better to let BB have it as a result of a semi-peaceful, semi-legitimate process than to descend into the kind of chaos that might open the door to some lunatic mullah.
President General Pervez Musharraf has told government parliamentarians that he will not decide on when to hold general elections under dictation from the US.
"Yeah! See how independent I am?"
The president told the parliamentarians that he was under pressure from the West and the United States to hold elections as per schedule, but he made it clear that the decision would be taken in the best interest of the country, said a minister who attended the special meeting of the ruling coalition called by the president on Wednesday. The president gave no specific timeframe for holding elections and removing his uniform, only saying they would be held as soon as possible, the minister said.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/08/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
This dictator will not be dictated to...
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
11/08/2007 9:32 Comments ||
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#2
Perv is toast. He has too many armed adversaries in town to survive.
President George Bush said on Wednesday that he had spoken to President General Pervez Musharraf and urged him to end the state of emergency and give up his military post. My message was very plain ... The US wants you to have the elections as scheduled and take your uniform off, Bush said at a joint press conference here with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Sarkozy said Musharraf should hold elections in Pakistan as rapidly as possible.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/08/2007 00:00 ||
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President George Bush said on Wednesday that he had spoken to President General Pervez Musharraf and urged him to end the state of emergency and give up his military post.
And for Christsakes, shape up, quit rambling, get rid of the uniform, and wear a tie.
#2
Dammit all! I should just change my name to Chavez or Castro and the press I would get would be outstanding. I'd have movie stars and super models visiting and wanting to hang out with me...
The White House on Wednesday warned President General Pervez Musharraf that US patience is not never-ending, and that it expects him to return soon to the path of democracy. This is not a never-ending process, said US national security council spokesman Gordon Johndroe. They need to release the people that theyve arrested, they need to stop beating people in the streets, they need to restore press freedom and they need to get back on the path to democracy soon now." He said Washington expected Musharraf to make clear in the next several days that he was lifting the state of emergency.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/08/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
Seems as though Bush is either posturing or building in plans for Iraq being a de facto US military base/staging area indefinitely.
#2
I think Bush thinks he's got Morticia in position to take the reins when Perv self-destructs. At this point it looks like Mr. President General is well on the way to a classic crash-and-burn, but I wouldn't count too heavily on the Bhuttos or the Sharifs. They resemble Khaleda and Hasina in Bangla too closely for my comfort.
And both of them make their alliances where they feel they're needed.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/08/2007 8:59 Comments ||
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#4
I tend to agree with 2 and 3. Bhutto may be our best bet, but you cant count too heavily on her (and less on Sharif, IMO) And there really isnt a better alternative. In the long run, I still dont see Punjab/Sind going to the Islamists while the civilians rule, but I dont expect any effectiveness in taking on Swat/FATA/NWFP under them. Not that theres been much effectiveness under Perv. Which leaves the 64000 dollar q, what DO we do about the AQ leadership in NWFP? I suspect, as long as things are on the upswing in Afghanistan (whether they are and will be and why is another discussion) and theres no big AQ terror hits outside Afghanistan/Iraq, we just contain them, at least for some time.
short term, Im not sure how a pro-Bhutto strategy ties into US aid policy. She hasnt called for a cutoff of aid, has she? If Perv comes down even harder on her supporters, she will have to, no?
#6
I think the way things are with Perv we have an open ended commitment to a bad situation in Afghanistan that will never get better as long as he is in power. Besides that, he seems to be losing his grip. I'm sure he could live quite comfortably in the south of France. He should get out while the getting is good.
#11
I suspect, as long as things are on the upswing in Afghanistan (whether they are and will be and why is another discussion) and theres no big AQ terror hits outside Afghanistan/Iraq, we just contain them, at least for some time.
At least until the Marines arrive, and want a turn playing with the toys.
Former premier Benazir Bhutto held a meeting with US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne Patterson in Islamabad on Wednesday, Geo news reported. According to the channel, Bhutto showed anxiety in the meeting over the suspension of the Constitution and the imposition of emergency. Bhutto said restoration of the Constitution and a free democratic system was essential for transparent elections, the channel reported. Patterson also met with Attorney General Malik Qayyum earlier.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/08/2007 00:00 ||
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Police across Punjab on Wednesday launched a massive crackdown against Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders and workers to foil their Rawalpindi rally and arrested around 400 of the partys workers, according to AFP.
PPP sources revealed that police in Lahore had raided the PPP Secretariat in Faisal Town and arrested about 100 workers from there. The police also raided the residences of PPP leaders, including Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Naveed Chaudhry, as well as arresting 50 PPP workers from their houses.
Baton-charged: Meanwhile, riot police tear-gassed, baton-charged and arrested PPP leaders and activists when they tried to stage a sit-in outside Parliament House while lawyers and workers of various political parties were arrested across the country.
In Peshawar, the government either arrested or placed under house arrest 10 leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the Awami National Party (ANP) and the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI).
The arrested PML-N leaders from the NWFP include Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Pir Sabir Shah, Abdus Subhan Khan and Haji Muhammad Afzal. The arrested ANP leaders are Asfandyar Wali Khan, Bashir Ahmed Bilour and Syed Aqil Shah. The arrested JI leaders are Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Shabbir Ahmed Khan and Dr Iqbal Khalil.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/08/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
Perv's gone from passively rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic to actively tossing the passengers over the side.
MINGORA: Security forces are reinforcing positions at the Fizaghat and Ghalkedro hilltops in preparation for a major push against the forces of Maulana Fazlullah, witnesses and officials said. Heavy weapons are being taken to the hilltops ... the government is likely to react as the Maulana does not understand the language of talks, a senior government official said.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/08/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
Google search explains it... Okay Swat is a vally and Mingora is in the valley. So Perv is getting ready to recapture Swat.
#5
The galaxy of about 150 hotels, land of water falls, lakes, pastures, site of hiking and glaciers, having all the latest facilities of the modren age. Surrounded by lush green mountains, covered with forests and vegetation, a diverse and oldest cultural values to witness and above all the friendly and hospetile people. strawberries are found every where in the forests of Kalam. Don't forget to have a gesture of it. See you there at the top of the mountains....INFIDEL!
Pakistan could face suspension from the Commonwealth unless it lifts its state of emergency and holds fair and free elections set for January, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said on Wednesday. The Commonwealth has called a special ministerial meeting for next week to discuss Pakistans situation. Suspension is one of the tools that is available and will no doubt be discussed at the Commonwealth heads of government meeting if there is no change in the situation that we see at the moment, Miliband told the UK Parliament. He also called on Musharraf to release political prisoners, energetically pursue reconciliation with the opposition, step down as army chief by November 15 and relax media restrictions.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/08/2007 00:00 ||
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#2
They were a colony. Zimbobway is in the commonwealth too. It lends a certain aura of respectability to tinhorn dictators and the Brits think it gives them leverage when they have reunions.
#5
TW - dunno if you saw my late evening message yesterday, so here it is again:
"Thanks for pitching in, tw.
You're right - I've been swamped since the last week of October, between my job and my business (this is my busy season). Except for Thanksgiving week - which I alway spend with family and friends in NC - I won't be able to come up for air until the first week in December. Drive-by snark will be attempted when possible.
But I am investing in popcorn futures - the better to serve the 'Burg upon my return. :-D"
Appreciate your picking up my slack. I now return you to your regular programming. ;-p
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
11/08/2007 12:29 Comments ||
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#6
Not to fear - The 2010 Commonwealth Games are to be held in Delhi.
Perhaps a certain ME nation on the rise could take their place..
#7
The house noted that the proclamation of emergency and the PCO had been necessitated in view of terrorism in the country and disharmony among the pillars of state, due to the judiciary"
Yall are all ignoring that they're actualy getting rid of the MUSLIM judges who want to void any/all elections and pick their own Leader.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
11/08/2007 19:25 Comments ||
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#8
I didn't see it Barbara, but I'll do my best to cover for you, popcorn-wise, until you're ready to take over again. I wish you many sales and fewer than usual emergency runs until then. ;-)
Former premier Nawaz Sharif urged the West on Wednesday to abandon President General Pervez Musharraf. Talking to the Associated Press, Sharif said Pakistan was heading deeper into chaos and Musharraf had outlived his usefulness in fighting terrorism. He also ruled out teaming up with Benazir Bhutto unless she cut off talks with Musharraf.
One man is holding the entire nation hostage for his personal interests, Sharif said, referring to the US-allied military leader who declared emergency rule over the weekend, and has since rounded up thousands of opposition activists and protesting attorneys.
Extremists benefit: The political forces, the lawyers and civil community that believe in moderation and democracy, they are sidelined today. Who is going to get the benefit? It will be the radicals and extremists, they will thrive now, Sharif said in a telephone interview from Saudi Arabia. Mr Musharraf is a man who has outlived his utility in terms of fighting any battle against terror. Sharif said thousands of his party members had been rounded up in the past four days. He urged the public to protest against Musharraf, and predicted that unless the state of emergency was reversed and Musharraf ousted, the country could be pitched toward catastrophe. Even the ruling junta today does not know how to go get out of this situation they have got into, he said.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/08/2007 00:00 ||
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Pakistan on Wednesday strongly condemned the suicide bombing in Baghlan province of Afghanistan, which killed at least 50 people including schoolchildren and parliamentarians. This despicable act of terrorism underlines the need to combat the ever-increasing terrorist danger at national, regional and global levels. We express sympathy with the families of the innocent victims, said a statement issued by the Foreign Office.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/08/2007 00:00 ||
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Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Wednesday formally contacted Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) for exploring the possibilities to unite all opposition parties on a single platform against President General Pervez Musharraf.
Both the parties agreed to continue their deliberations in this regard, Daily Times has learnt. This was the first ever interaction between JUI-F and PPP after Benazir Bhuttos arrival in the country on October 18. The sources said a two-member PPP delegation led by Deputy Secretary General Senator Raza Rabbani met with Maulana Fazlur Rehman at his residence in Islamabad.
Syed Khurshid Shah MNA accompanied Rabbani, while Maulana Fazl was accompanied by Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, former NWFP chief minister Akram Khan Durrani, Maulana Muhammad Khan Shirani and Azam Swati. Both the delegations dwelt on the national political scenario and agreed to continue deliberations for exploring the possibilities of joint working in future.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/08/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
I was afraid of this. The socialists are starting to work with the Deobandis in an unholy coalition against the strongman.
The police have not yet found a Turkish national, who came to the city along with a Tebleeghi Jamaat group 10 months ago and disappeared, police sources told Daily Times on Wednesday.
Sources said Turkish citizen Serife Tetik and her son Hadit Dogan submitted an application to the Pakistani Embassy in Ankara on July 17, stating that her son Needet Tetik went to Pakistan on January 13, 2007, along with a group of Tebleeghi Jamaat members.
The man later went missing for several months. Needets mother claimed that he called her on July 16 and told her that he was in prison, sources added.
The mother, in her application, asked the authorities if Needet was in jail and that if he could be brought back to Turkey and tried in a Turkish court. On July 19, the Pakistani Embassy in Ankara forwarded the appeal to authorities in Pakistan. On July 23, the Interior Ministry issued directions for an inquiry into the matter. After more than three months, the police said Needet was neither in Central Jail Kot Lakhpat, nor in District Camp Jail.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/08/2007 00:00 ||
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I've been following this, as some of the writings about the meetings have at times, popped up.
Senior religious leaders in Iraq are preparing to sign an unprecedented fatwa against violence that will help reconcile the rival Sunni and Shia branches of Islam and herald new hopes for peace in the war-torn country.
The fatwa, negotiated by the peace organisation run by the Anglican Vicar of Baghdad Canon Andrew White, will mark a significant move towards a settlement between the Shia and Sunni communities and ease the process towards a political solution.
It comes in the context of plummeting fatalities among both coalition troops and civilians and is a further vindication of thesurge security strategy of US General and Iraq commander David Petraeus.
Canon White, who will tonight be presented with the first Woolf Institute Pursuer of Peace Award in London in recognition of his work in the Middle East, said the fatwa was to be signed by Sheikh Ahmed al Kubaisi, acknowledged by Iraqis as the senior Sunni religious authority and whose Friday sermons from Dubai reach 20 million, and Ayatollah Sayyid Ammar Abu Ragheef, chief of staff for Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani, leader of the Shia community in Iraq and beyond.
The fatwa, which will have the equivalence of statutory authority for all Shia and Sunni Muslims in Iraq, is the culmination of years of dialogue with religious leaders behind the scenes in Iraq and throughout the region by Canon White. It follows a meeting in Cairo in August organised by Canon Whites Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East, at which the two Islamic leaders were present and where they agreed to end terrorist violence and to work towards the fatwa.
The meeting was described by the Wall Street Journal as truly historic. Robert McFarlane, a former national security adviser to Ronald Reagan, wrote in the Journal: A fatwa such as this will carry the force of law for all followers. Think about that. After more than four years of brutal warfare and untold suffering, the leading religious authorities in Iraq have joined hands and said Enough, and have committed to use their authority to bring peace to their country. Robert McFarlane has been present at several of these meetings and has written of them
Speaking to The Times in London, Canon White, who has seen six of his Baghdad church leaders killed and 45 members kidnapped and not returned since the present campaign began, said: The fatwa will definitely happen. He said that a military solution to Iraq on its own had no chance of working. One of the key things is getting the governments to recognise that. But a reconciliation solution on its own would also be ineffective.
There is not a quick, easy solution, he continued. This is long-term work. We have to engage with these people continually. The key thing is talking to them every day. Never before has there been a Sunni-Shia fatwa against violence. It has never been heard of in history. Will it make a difference? Not immediately. But I hope eventually it will.
Tonights award to Canon White is being made by the influential Woolf Institute of Abrahamic Faiths, based in Cambridge and dedicated to promoting understanding between Muslims, Christians and Jews. Institute director Dr Edward Kessler said the award was for Andrews tireless work in bringing hope to broken people in a torn region.
Canon White, Vicar of St Georges Church in Baghdad and International Director of the Iraqi Institute of Peace, has in recent years acted as a negotiator in many conflict and hostage situations including the siege of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem in 2002 and the riots between Muslims and Christians in Northern Nigeria in 2004. In July this year he briefly left Iraq after receiving death threats for attempting to secure the release of five British hostages seized in May.
It's not a problem solved, but rather, a recognition of a problem and a baby step is being taken.
If violence is decreasing in Iraq, it may be because insurgents are running out of people to kill, House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-Mars) (D-Wis.) said Monday.Except for 30,000 additional American targets
There are fewer targets of opportunity, Obey said in a speech to the Democratic National Press Club.
Obey was responding to a question about reports touted by Republicans that security is improving in Iraq and that President Bushs surge strategy is working. He stressed that military success has not led to political reconciliation.
The issue has never been military, Obey said. The issue has always been political improvement. For the Democrats
As the Houses top appropriator, Obey has his head in rectal defilade hands on the nations purse strings, giving him a significant say on the war in Iraq.
#1
The issue has never been military, Obey said. The issue has always been political improvement. This is called moving the goalposts, he added.
Fixed.
#3
I first began to suspect there was something wrong with Wisconsin when they voted for Fritz Mondale for president against Ronald Reagan back in 1980. The only other state Mondale carried that year was his own Minnesota.
This would make sense if Iraq were becoming devoid of human life. A more likely explanation is the terrs are running out of people they are able to kill and running out of places to hide.
Lawmakers from Hamas convened a session of the Palestinian parliament Wednesday for the first time since the group violently seized Gaza from the rival Fatah movement last June.
With around 40 Hamas parliamentarians in Israeli jails and Fatah members staying away, only 28 of the legislature's 132 members took their seats in Gaza City's seafront parliament building.
Another seven took part by conference call from the West Bank abroad and lawmakers present - all from, or backed by, Hamas - said 35 of their jailed colleagues had appointed proxies, bringing the total number to 70, just over the 67 required for a quorum. Fatah said the tactic was not legal.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/08/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
not a lawful quorum by Robert's Rules of Order, but then Robert's never anticipated the Paleos
Posted by: Frank G ||
11/08/2007 7:38 Comments ||
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They've discovered that propaganda works well, especially with a willing audience.
It's a tale worthy of its own movie script: The Gaza Strip's isolated and cash-strapped Hamas rulers plan to build a $200 million (140 million) media city and movie production house that will be part tourist attraction and part effort to cement control of the territory it seized by force in June.
So far, though, the Islamic group has raised only a tiny fraction of the money it needs for its own Hollywood, at a time when the Gaza economy has ground to a standstill and its people are struggling to feed themselves because of Israeli and international sanctions against the Islamic group listed as a terror organization.
Continued on Page 49
#1
This would all be the usual laughable and pathetic Palestinian misappropriation of funds save for one thing: Islam in general and the Palestinians in particular are past masters at manipulating media outlets for propaganda purposes. Couple this with how incredibly effective even the most obvious fabrications are within the abjectly credulous environs of Islamic culture and there is little doubt that Hamas could well make this into one well-oiled propaganda machine.
If Israel has any brains, they'll let Hamas sink every last cent of their $200 million into this fantasy factory and then blow it straight to hell on opening night.
#2
Zahar has written seven novels, including a 1980 romance called "Beautiful Woman."
it's a novel about a wealthy Hamas businessman who procures a hooker for the night and falls in love... but he has a wart on his nose and she thinks it makes him handsome....
Posted by: Frank G ||
11/08/2007 7:43 Comments ||
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#4
"If Israel has any brains, they'll let Hamas sink every last cent of their $200 million into this fantasy factory and then blow it straight to hell on opening night"
It did occur to me that perhaps this is not the optimal time to be making an investment of this magnitude in such an obvious target, though perhaps they expect to keep kids there 24/7 as human shields.
#5
It will never happen. Given the leve of corruption and graft, it would take 200 billion to build a 20 million project...
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
11/08/2007 9:34 Comments ||
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#6
I can see the Universal Studios rip-offs now: "Men In Black" becomes "Women In Black", "Jimmy Neutron" becomes "Jimmy Jihad", the kids help E.T. head to Mecca...
#1
'Muslims are forbidden to live in an infidel country. Sheik Fawzan Al-Fawzan issued a fatwa forbidding Muslims to live in the countries of the infidels'.
Does that mean the Muslims in US & Europe should go to an Islamic Country????Problem solved!!!!
Abu Bakr is encouraging bombing in the US and should be arrested!!!!!
Posted by: Paul ||
11/08/2007 7:17 Comments ||
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#2
I don't know how you propose to arrest him in Indonesia. The Russians would just feed him some Polonium.
#3
I support hacking this guys limbs off with a chainsaw and parking a bus on his chest until he bleeds out.
Either here or in Indonesia. Unlike him, I'm not picky...
#5
Darrell: I've been advocating just that for some time now. Not Polonium, too fancy. Just have the CIA do what they are supposed to do, and give him a fatal heart attack or fatal slip and fall in the local gay men's bathhouse.
After you do about 500 of these loudmouth instigators and financiers, I think they would start to get the message. Priests of any stripe, and even Imams, are a lot more inclined to send others to their painful death than face any risk themselves.
#6
Targeted assassinations of Islam's elite represent one of the only ways to avoid far more extreme measures in crushing this dangerous ideology. The longer we delay in adopting this strategy, the greater the number of surrounding Muslims that will die along with each one of these high value targets. Let there be no doubt that stopping Islam will require the execution of these extremist ideologues. The only question is how few or many other Muslims will have to die along with them. None of this even accounts for how any delays will also incur a greater number of deaths in the West.
Just think of it as a mathematical function whereby the blast radius of each event assumes and increasingly larger diameter the further off it is in the future. Right now, at T=0 the event's envelope is the size of a .50 caliber bullet. At T=+10 years, (i.e., in another decade), it will likely have expanded to that of an ICBM.
#8
The longer this WOT goes on, the more likely Indonesia will be effectivelu destabilized unto Radical Islamism. E.g. SPACEWAR/GLOBAL ANALYSIS > the WOT = fate of OWG Global Caliphate-Jihadist State, etc. could very well be decided in ASIA-PACIFIC = the PACIFIC, NOT IN ME OR IRAN.
Conisder FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE > FBI: TERRORISTS MOVING TOWARDS GREATER USE OF WMDS, ATTACKS ON SOFT TARGETS, as traditional targets are slowly but steadily HARDENED + Terror/Radicalist-induced LARGE SCALE OPERATIONS FAIL OR BECOME STALEMATED. Terrorists are trending/moving towards MORE HIGH PROFILE, HIGH-CASUALTY, PC OR ISOLATED SPECIFIC ATTACKS ON SPECIFIC TARGETS.
As before, the Osama I know is IRAN-CENTRIC - NUTHIN WOULD BE OVER FOR OSAMA PER SE AND ALIGNED UNTIL AFTER RADICAL ISLAM WINS OR LOSES THE BATTLE FOR IRAN! NO BATTLE = US INVASION OF IRAN > means for Osama the WOT GOES ON INTO PERPETUITY UNTIL RADICAL ISLAM WINS OR IS WHOLLY DESTROYED!
Iran has achieved a landmark, with 3,000 centrifuges fully working in its controversial uranium enrichment program, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced Wednesday. "We have now reached 3,000 machines," Ahmadinejad told thousands of Iranians gathered in Birjand, in eastern Iran, in a show of defiance of international demands to halt the program believed to be masking the country's nuclear arms efforts.
Ahmadinejad has in the past claimed that Iran succeeded in installing the 3,000 centrifuges at its uranium enrichment facility at Natanz. But Wednesday's claim was his first official statement that the plant is now fully operating all those centrifuges.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/08/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
These are synchronized devices, how immune to vibration are they?
#2
In fact, they have probabably been running most of them for quite a while now. I wonder how many years it would take for those centrifuges to whip up enough U238 for an A-bomb if they were all turned on at the same time.
#3
NEWSMAX > USA:IRAN'S CHEMICAL, BIO WEAPON/WARHEAD THREAT REAL. In event of conflict, Iran has the BC and missle capability to hit US forces as far away as Oman, or the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa.
#4
ASIA TIMES > IMPERIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR US BUILDERS. Contruction, Education, and "Nation-Building"? is the new "Gunboat Diplomacy"??? + PLAN B [for Bombs]IF IRAN FANTASY FAILS.
#5
gorb, it's U235 that can sustain a chain reaction; U238 is good for making armor-piercing ammo.
The centrifuges are a 'cascade' each one generates a slight enrichment of U235 and sends it on to the next for a little more enrichment. (At a relatively early stage (?5-10% U235?) you can use it to fuel a nuclear reactor. It has to be nearly pure U235 to make an efficient bomb.) It takes just a short time to attain the enrichment in ONE centrifuge, but much longer of course (?months?) to get all the way through the cascade. Once the cascade is full though, it only takes that short cycle time of a single centrifuge to get each incremental batch of ~pure U235 out. I don't know how many centrifuges are in a cascade, nor how much U235 comes out of a functioning cascade per day, but it sounds like 3000 centrifuges is enough to make the process work, but not enough to collect bomb fuel fast enough to meet their desires.
And 3dc, yes, the centrifuges are sensitive to vibration, though I would assume they are well-isolated from all but the most severe shocks. They are also very sensitive to leakage - lots of tubes and connections and seals etc. tying all those moving parts together. And leakage is bad in two ways: 1) you lose some of the U235 you are working so hard to concentrate, and 2) you contaminate the workplace and workers with stuff which is really not healthy for children and other living things.
#6
Typically the uranium is dissolved in hydroflouric acid creating uranium hexaflouride gas. This stuff is extremely corrosive and very bad stuff to breathe. The U235 is then separated by means of the centrifuge.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
11/08/2007 8:50 Comments ||
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#7
Thanks Glenmore. I was thinking the UF6 would be heavier for U238 and therefore easier to separate out. Looks like they have to wait for enough of the lighter U235 variety of UF6 to be left behind that it's worth trying to enrich it. I can imagine this process taking much longer than if they were trying to separate out the heavier one. Looks like this is the lesser of two evils, but I still don't like it.
#8
FRONTPAGE MAGZ > THE NEED FOR MISSLE DEFENSE. Article reminds that Iran is working on both LR Missles + deliverable nuke weapons, both which may become operation 2013-2015 IFF NOT SOONER. IRAN'S CLANDESTINE NUCPROG IS FOCUSED ON DEV BOTH URANIUM AND PLUTONIUM NUCMATS FOR WEAPONS [I.E. NUKE BOMBS AND WARHEADS]. US DIA estimates Iran may be able to accurately hit the USA wid LR ICBMS by 2015.
UPI > BMD FOCUS > SM-3 TECHNOLOGY IS "MATURE". US AEGIS includ SM-3 Missle Sys are world's weapon-of-choice as illustrated by recent successful BMD tests + overall test record. AEGIS/SM-3 , however, while great remains subject to the chaos and other normal constraints of human warfare. USN - AEGIS is deployed aboard SIX US DESTROYERS [90-loads ea.], for a total of 540 potential hits agz enemy missles or other targets, plus THREE US CRUISERS [122-loads ea] or 366 potential targets, for a gross cumulative total of 1096 potential hits agz enemy missle or targets, EXCLUSIVE OF OTHER USN SUPPORTING COMBAT SYSTEMS. USN = USA desires to expand on the numbers.
#9
An overpressure of ~6000lb/sq in. can do a number on anything, especially a high-speed, highly-calibrated centrifuge. Several such blasts could wreck the whole cascade.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
11/08/2007 21:47 Comments ||
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#10
From what I understand, the centrifuges aren't just "centrifuges" but "ultrafuges". This means that their rotors spin at trans-sonic velocities in a high vacuum environment. Here's a good link:
A gas centrifuge tube spins very fast to create an artificial gravity. The tubes do not spin end over end like a cheerleader's baton but around their long axis, like an axle. With the tube spinning at full speed, uranium, in the form of a gaseous compound, uranium hexafluoride, is introduced through a small feed tube running along the axis of the centrifuge tube. With these huge pseudo-gravitational fields, the heavier uranium-238 will be slightly more concentrated around the outside of the centrifuge tube than the lighter uranium-235, which will be slightly more concentrated along the central axis of the spinning tube. If the uranium hexafluoride were removed from the central axis of the tube, it would have a higher concentration of uranium-235, or be 'enriched,' compared to what went in. But the enrichment effect is small. There is, however, a simple but quite clever trick that dramatically increases the amount of enrichment possible in one centrifuge. If one end of the tube is heated, convection currents form. (Remember that in the spinning tube the centrifugal forces are such that 'up' is toward the central axis of the tube and 'down' is out toward the wall of the tube. So the heated gas 'rises,' going to the center, while the cooler gas fills in to replace it along the 'bottom,' that is, along the wall.) The lighter uranium-235 molecules will spend, on average, a little bit more time near the axis being swept along toward the cool end of the tube while the heavier uranium-238 molecules will spend a little bit more time near the wall of the tube, being swept toward the hot end. Now, rather than having the gas be slightly enriched toward the center of the tube, it is more enriched at one end of the tube. The degree of enrichment depends now on the length of the tube. Early experimental gas centrifuges had rotor tubes a meter long and the newest rotor tubes can be 10-12 meters long and get enrichment factors per stage a hundred times higher than the gas diffusion process.
The spindle speeds are rated at multi KRPM's and therefore must operate in evacuated chambers in order to rotate fast enough to create the "artificial gravity" required to enhance isotopic separation. This means the entire assembly must be very delicately balanced. Consequently, this sort of apparatus is extremely sensitive to shocks of any sort.
I must also wonder how the entire chemical process is affected by trace reactive elements that "cling" to the various isotopes of UHF6. According to leaked reports, the Iranians have had a lot of difficulty in the "gassification" process thereby conteminating the product to be separated. Let's all hope this is true, because even slight contamination of the fissile material, especially with 238U "poisons" the nuclear reaction and can attenuate device yields by huge percentages.
#12
REALCLEARPOLITICS > WOULD IRAN DO THE UNTHINKABLE; + STRATEGYPAGE > RUSSIA: NATO PLANS TO INVADE. Russia's Govt and many people believe NATO plans to eventuall attack and invade Russia.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy reiterated on Wednesday that an Iran with nuclear weapons is "unacceptable," but backed the country's aspirations for a civil nuclear program.
He was speaking to the American Jewish Committee, which honored Sarkozy with its Light Unto the Nations Award during his first official trip to Washington as president. Sarkozy urged a continuation of dialogue with the Islamic Republic, but reiterated statements he made at the United Nations General Assembly earlier this fall, saying, "Nuclear weapons for Iran is unacceptable." But fundamentalism and terrorism could grow, he warned, if deprived of their "lifeline" or nuclear energy. "I believe that Arab countries, including Iran [sic], have a right to civilian nuclear power," Sarkozy said, mentioning Syria as well.
Sarkozy also praised Israel as a "miracle" and emphasized the obligation the world has to guarantee Israel's security, following its emergence out of the ashes of the Holocaust. "Israel's security is nonnegotiable," he said. He added, though, that an important move for Israel's security would be the establishment of a Palestinian state. He suggested that, "Instead of having two states, I think you should have two nation-states."
Posted by: Fred ||
11/08/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
They already have plenty of chemical weapons and are used to using them with Iraq. There are a lot of things unacceptable about Iran.
#2
I was just reading, that the UN got rid of Iraq's chemical weapons production years before we invaded, but Iran has been perfecting theirs over the years. If we hit Iran, we need to hit them hard for a good while.
#3
All verbiage. The Paleos will neither recognize Israel nor disarm the militias. And the Muslims will embrace nuclear jihad unless we stop proliferation, contain the Pakis and force the liquidation of jihadis from Waziri/Pashto rat holes.
#4
It's certainly encouraging to see Sarkozy voice the same sentiment. This meme needs to spread and it won't if we're the only ones intoning it. The "civil nuclear program" backing is just a sop to notify the Iranians that they aren't fooling anyone with their current centrifuge subterfuge.
#5
YNETNEWS/LUCIANNE > US FEARS ISRAELI STRIKE AGZ IRAN, in reaction to Moud's announcement today as per Iran having 3000 working centrifuges + IRan's nucprgs being "irreversible".
#8
But-t-t, as per Israeli medias SARKOZY > also wanrns that DENYING NUCLEAR ENERGY TO ARABS/MUSLIM NATIONS MAY DRIVE THEM TOWARDS ISLAMIST FUNDAMENTALISM.
Interpol got approval on Wednesday to issue red notices for five Iranians and one Lebanese member of Lebanon's Hezbollah militia in connection with the 1994 bombing of a Jewish centre in Argentina in which 85 people were killed.
Despite heavy diplomatic pressure from Iran, delegates at the world police body's annual general assembly in Morocco ( pictured top right) voted by 66 percent in favor of issuing the "Red Notices" seeking the extradition of the wanted people, delegates said.
Argentina last year ordered an international warrant for the arrest of former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and eight other Iranians on charges of masterminding the attack. Interpol said in March it would issue its own wanted notices against six people, leaving out Rafsanjani.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/08/2007 00:00 ||
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Free Patriotic Movement chief Gen. Michel Aoun warned that the Hezbollah-led opposition will raid all government institutions, including the Serail, if the ruling coalition elected a President by a simple majority.
Aoun also warned against "confrontation" in the event that the majority March 14 Forces resorted to electing a new head of state by a half-plus-one vote of the MPs or if the status quo continued. "When a popular action takes place, everything will be raided," Aoun said in an interview with the satellite Al-Jazeera news network.
Aoun accused March 14 of trying to "completely eliminate" the opposition. "We have given up a lot of our demands. What is left for us is to pack our bags and leave the country," Aoun said.
Aoun reiterated that "going back to the people" was the best alternative for deciding on the next president. "Let the people vote for the next president, and not just a few leaders," he insisted.
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11/08/2007 00:00 ||
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Some information on five Iranians and one Lebanese put on Interpol's most-wanted list in connection with 1994 bombing that killed 85 people at a Jewish center in Argentina:
ALI FALLAHIAN: Former Iranian intelligence minister and midlevel cleric who graduated from seminary in Qom, Iran, widely seen as breeding ground of Islamic militants. Now on Experts Assembly, elected body responsible for appointing Iran's supreme leader. Has been accused of links to other attacks - slaying of three Iranian Kurd dissidents in Berlin and murders of five Iranian political dissidents; denies involvement.
IMAD MOUGHNIEH: Only non-Iranian sought by Argentina. Served as intelligence officer for Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. U.S. has put $25 million bounty on him. Allegedly involved in kidnappings of Westerners in Lebanon in 1980s and suicide attacks on U.S. Embassy and U.S. Marine base in Lebanon - bombings that killed more than 260 Americans. Whereabouts unknown.
AHMAD VAHIDI: General in Iran's Revolutionary Guards regarded as father of country's missile program. Believed to working in Defense Ministry, but little information publicly available.
MOHSEN RABBANI: Mid-ranking Iranian cleric was cultural attache at Iranian Embassy in Argentina in 1994. Also has been implicated in 1992 terror bombing at Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires. No longer in Iranian government.
MOHSEN REZAEI: Commanded Revolutionary Guards during Iran's 1980-88 war with Iraq. Retired from military and entered politics. Now serves on Expediency Council, body that arbitrates between Iran's parliament and Guardians' Council.
AHMAD REZA ASGHARI: Served as third secretary in Iranian Embassy in Buenos Aires, but believed to have been linked to Revolutionary Guards. Not known whether he still works for Iranian government.
Posted by: Steve ||
11/08/2007 00:00 ||
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
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 US commander of International Security Assistance Force in the Andar district of Ghazni Province in Afghanistan has embraced Islam. 
RIYADH - Gulf Arab defence ministers met in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to discuss joint defence against emerging regional powers, which diplomats said was an apparent reference to Iran.
A 23-year-old who called herself the "Lyrical Terrorist" has become the first woman in the UK to be convicted under the Terrorism Act. 
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday she would bring a new Iraq measure to the House floor shortly to provide $50 billion in funds for the war, while requiring U.S. troops to begin redeploying out of Iraq immediately and conclude by the end of next year.
ISLAMABAD - Former premier Benazir Bhutto on Wednesday urged Pakistanis to join mass protests against a state of emergency, setting up a tense showdown with military ruler President Pervez Musharraf. Bhutto said she would hold a rally in Rawalpindi on Friday despite police threats of a crackdown, and called for a long march on November 13 from Lahore to the capital if Musharraf does not repeal emergency rule.
MINGORA: Security forces are reinforcing positions at the Fizaghat and Ghalkedro hilltops in preparation for a major push against the forces of Maulana Fazlullah, witnesses and officials said. Heavy weapons are being taken to the hilltops ... the government is likely to react as the Maulana does not understand the language of talks, a senior government official said.
Former premier Nawaz Sharif urged the West on Wednesday to abandon President General Pervez Musharraf. Talking to the Associated Press, Sharif said Pakistan was heading deeper into chaos and Musharraf had outlived his usefulness in fighting terrorism. He also ruled out teaming up with Benazir Bhutto unless she cut off talks with Musharraf.
If violence is decreasing in Iraq, it may be because insurgents are running out of people to kill, House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey 
French President Nicolas Sarkozy reiterated on Wednesday that an Iran with nuclear weapons is "unacceptable," but backed the country's aspirations for a civil nuclear program. 
Some information on five Iranians and one Lebanese put on Interpol's most-wanted list in connection with 1994 bombing that killed 85 people at a Jewish center in Argentina: 
