Well, yesterday I celebrated my first Christmas away from the states. I'm at a little outpost in Afghanistan training Afghan soldiers where I have the distinction currently of being the lone American (everyone else is either recently reassigned or on leave). Aside from the Afghans the place is mostly French Canadian, with a bomb-sniffing K-9 guy hailing from Tanzania. The French Canadians celebrate Christmas very differently (i.e. wrong) than we do. They stay up late to count down until midnight and then celebrate. I didn't have the heart to tell them that they'd gotten it confused with New Year's. I imagine in a few days we'll celebrate New Year's Morning. One of the unit's few long-suffering Anglophones told me that it was a first for him too.
Anyway, I wasn't having any of this nonsense, and chose to go to bed at a civilized hour. I'm soon roused by someone pounding on my door and trying to get in (I'd jammed it shut. The French Canadians have a bizarre habit of wandering into our clearly labelled room in the middle of the night, running off when we wake up and ask them who the hell they are and what the hell they want. This has happened at least 5 times. It had been a while since the last time, but since I've been here alone I've figured better safe than sorry). I get up and open the door to see what he wants. The guys says that some Canadian general just helicoptered in, and he brought the US ambassador to Canada with him. He said the Ambassador wants to meet all of the Americans on the post. I say, "Well, that's me," and go to see the Ambassador. He's a good dude, just a little suprised to have come all the way here and found just one American. So I end up staying up have the night for the celebration, which consisted of Hot Pockets and nonalcoholic beer. All in all, one of my stranger Christmases.
Posted by: Mike ||
12/27/2007 17:02 ||
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#1
What an utterly charming story! I look forward to reading about his New Year's celebration... and not reading until much later about the celebrations when he returns to the bosom of his family.
Informed sources have told «Echourouk» that the members of the terrorist organization (Salafist Group for Call and Combat) have decided to operate differently while carrying out their terror acts. According to declarations by arrested individuals, the new method used for their acts consists using suicide belts instead of cars or trucks. This method was used in the last attack that targeted the Algerian president during his visit to Batna (eastern Algeria), when a suicide bomber blew himself up amidst the crowd.
The terrorists were forced to change their operational methods owing to the tight security measures implemented by security services throughout the major cities and to the reinforcement of check points across the country to prevent such attacks. This information has been taken seriously by the security services and put them in high alert. While the threat of exploding cars and trucks seems to be more or less under control, here comes this news to add pressure on the elements of security services.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/27/2007 00:00 ||
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AN ELECTRICIAN accused of being a Muslim unholy holy warrior claimed he was hunting Nessie during an cough alleged jihad training course.
Somali-born Kader Ahmed, 20, told a court he went on a trip arranged by preacher Mohammed Hamid, 50, to Scotland at Christmas 2004. He said they visited Inverness and Loch Ness and added: "I'd never been to Scotland before. It was very cold when we went up. It was snowing. OK...
Ahmed, from east London, admits going on camping trips and paintballing sessions with Hamid's group, who included four of the men later convicted of the plot to bomb London on July 21, 2005.
But the trainee electrician, who was 17 when he met Hamid, told Woolwich Crown Court he assumed it was harmless fun "like Scouts or Cadets". And Islam is Peaceful
His barrister, Hugh Mullan, asked him: "Was the atmosphere solemn and militaristic?" It was fairly busy - a lot of tourists. They were kind of shocked at the big beards but we spoke to them just to break the ice." Ya we just came to blow up Nessie. Allan should be please, what'ya thing bout that?
He said: "When I first went (to Hamid's house),it was all open. There were a lot of people my age saying, 'We're gonna do this, we're gonna do that'.
"It was friendly and warm. It was just relaxed, just people talking." Don't you just love the sweet smell of C-4, reminds me of the Hajj
Mr Mullan asked him: "Did you think you were being trained to go and fight in a foreign country?"
Ahmed replied: "Never, no." We thought staying here for jihad would save on air miles
He accepted the terrorists convicted of the July 21 plot were part of the extended group that used to attend Hamid's events in 2004 and 2005. But he said he was with Hamid on a camping trip in France in the immediate aftermath of the failed bomb attack and did not know his acquaintances Ramzi Mohammed, Hussain Osman and Muktar Ibrahim had been arrested until he returned.
He said: "We thought it was like a frame-up."
"They keep picking on us!"
He said he later subscribed to a theory that the same anti-Muslim elements were responsible for faking the September 11 attacks on America and the London attacks. Think he's guilty?
The trial continues.
#8
Sounds like a guy that needs to go swimming in Loch Ness, in his undies, in January, holding a very large and heavy anchor. Maybe Nessie will rescue him (or eat him for lunch).
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
12/27/2007 20:30 Comments ||
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THE COUNCIL ON American-Islamic Relations, Sacramento Valley (CAIR-SV), held its fifth annual banquet at Sacramentos Radisson Hotel on Sept. 8. Let the Conversions Conversation Begin was the theme of the fundraising event which drew more than 500 guests. This is the same chapter that Boxer sent the money back to
Following welcoming remarks by master of ceremonies Omar Dajani, CAIR-SV president Dr. Hamza El-Nakhal and CAIR-CA chairman Fouad Khatib, executive director Basim Elkarra presided over the awards presentations.
The Outstanding Community Service Award was given to Farouk Fakira for his services to foster harmony among diverse communities. Elkarra presented the Distinguished Service Award to the Interfaith Service Bureau for the groups work to promote justice.
In his keynote address to the CAIR banquet audience, Prof. David Cole shared his thoughts on President George W. Bushs approach to the war on terror, dubbed the paradigm of prevention by then-Attorney General John Ashcroft. Read Cole's Bio. He's not just a Dhimmi but a true Fifth Column fanatic.
The strategy the Bush administration has adopted has not only made us less free and compromised basic fundamental principals of the rule of law, but has ultimately made us less safe from the very threat that the Bush administration claims it is fighting, Cole argued. Cole, an activist attorney who has challenged the USA Patriot Act in court.
The co-author of Less Free, Less Safe, Why America is Losing the War on Terror applauded CAIR for standing up for the principles that this country stands for and creating a culture that caused the Bush administration to feel the neednot the desireto back down.
Attorney General Alberto Gonzalezwho resigned so he could spend more time trying to remember what he did as attorney general, Cole quipped, said its okay to use what he called alternative interrogation tactics, but what the rest of the world knows as torture, to get information from people. I keep searching for another word but traitor will do
Posted by: Icerigger ||
12/27/2007 06:30 ||
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When Benazir Bhutto announced her return to Pakistan, Al Qaeda and their Islamic allies repeatedly promised to kill her. Shortly after her arrival, the terrorists wrapped a baby in explosives and tried to hand it to her. They killed many, but failed in their objective.
More recently, they strapped bombs to a 15-year-old boy, but that too failed. But today they gunned her down and for no apparent reason other than nihilism, they set off a bomb to kill many more in the crowd.
But despite the terrorists many warnings and attempts, many on the Left have decided (shock of shocks) to blameBush for the assassination. How very brave.
Frankly, since Bhutto spent her life railing against Islamism, I'm rather surprised they are even feigning respect for her. If she had been an American, they would have demonized her as a neocon.
Posted by: Mike ||
12/27/2007 14:33 ||
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#1
Our wonderful liberal left. Moral cowards. The lot of them.
#4
He made a bad choice of words when saying the U.S. needs to consider what impact does it have on whether or not theres going to be martial law continuing in Pakistan. He should have said whether or not martial law will be reinstated it was lifted nearly two weeks ago. A minor slip, maybe, but not a subject he wants to mess up on when he is already considered weak in the area of foreign policy.
--CBS, Nancy Cordes
According to this article, an Obama spokescritter seems to be blaming Hillary's vote on the Iraq war for the murder of Ms. Bhutto, while Edwards comes off like a grownup and Biden rightfully bitchslaps Richardson.
Posted by: Mike ||
12/27/2007 17:24 Comments ||
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#6
Despite the competition from Bill Richardson, Ron Paul is determined not to give up his "#1 wackjob" crown:
Ron Paul blames the assassination of Benazir Bhutto on the interventionist policy of the United States, and says Al Qaeda is justified in being annoyed at us.
This story was posted to the Washington Post on the 26th. It bears watching to see if the troop deployment will still going forward since Bhutto's assasination.
Beginning early next year, U.S. Special Forces are expected to vastly expand their presence in Pakistan, as part of an effort to train and support indigenous counter-insurgency forces and clandestine counterterrorism units, according to defense officials involved with the planning.
These Pakistan-centric operations will mark a shift for the U.S. military and for U.S. Pakistan relations. In the aftermath of Sept. 11, the U.S. used Pakistani bases to stage movements into Afghanistan. Yet once the U.S. deposed the Taliban government and established its main operating base at Bagram, north of Kabul, U.S. forces left Pakistan almost entirely. Since then, Pakistan has restricted U.S. involvement in cross-border military operations as well as paramilitary operations on its soil.
But the Pentagon has been frustrated by the inability of Pakistani national forces to control the borders or the frontier area. And Pakistan's political instability has heightened U.S. concern about Islamic extremists there. According to Pentagon sources, reaching a different agreement with Pakistan became a priority for the new head of the U.S. Special Operations Command, Adm. Eric T. Olson. Olson visited Pakistan in August, November and again this month, meeting with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, Pakistani Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman Gen. Tariq Majid and Lt. Gen. Muhammad Masood Aslam, commander of the military and paramilitary troops in northwest Pakistan. Olson also visited the headquarters of the Frontier Corps, a separate paramilitary force recruited from Pakistan's border tribes.
Now, a new agreement, reported when it was still being negotiated last month, has been finalized. And the first U.S. personnel could be on the ground in Pakistan by early in the new year, according to Pentagon sources.
U.S. Central Command Commander Adm. William Fallon alluded to the agreement and spoke approvingly of Pakistan's recent counterterrorism efforts in an interview with Voice of America last week. "What we've seen in the last several months is more of a willingness to use their regular army units," along the Afghan border, Fallon said. "And this is where, I think, we can help a lot from the U.S. in providing the kind of training and assistance and mentoring based on our experience with insurgencies recently and with the terrorist problem in Iraq and Afghanistan, I think we share a lot with them, and we'll look forward to doing that."
If Pakistan actually follows through, perhaps 2008 will be a better year.
Posted by: Delphi ||
12/27/2007 12:27 ||
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#1
Loudly announce the deployment has been cancelled, and send 'em in in 2s and 3s, all plainclothes...
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
12/27/2007 13:22 Comments ||
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#2
Aren't we at about the time for the Punjab and Sindh to reunite with the Raj, and the Pashtun and Balochs to wander off into greater Afghanistan or new PashBalistan? Conglomeration didn't seem to work, so maybe atomization is due it's chance.
In light of the death of Benazir Bhutto by a suicide bomber, I was reminded of a story I saw on the BBC website back in 2002. I noticed that usually when a suicide bomber kills people, the carnage created by the shrapnel is what is usually reported. Rarely, do you find references to whether or not, the bomber may have been sick with diseases like hepatitis, AIDS etc. Or that people may have been killed by body fragments by the bomber or the other victims. By blowing him or herself up, the terrorists are also practising biological warfare at the same time. Also, the victims may be subject to long term health risks as a result. I was always puzzled by this omission in the media, regardless of where it takes place.
Suicide bombers may not just cause carnage when they blow themselves up - they may also spread disease from beyond the grave.
Israeli doctors have analysed bits of bone embedded in a bomb survivor, and found that they tested positive for the liver infection hepatitis B. The team believe this is the first recorded instance of human fragments acting as foreign bodies in a blast injury.
New Scientist magazine reports that a team of emergency staff at the Hillel Yaffe Medical Centre in Hadera headed by Dr Itzhak Braverman treated 32 victims of one blast. They used CT scans to check for metal fragments in the survivors.
In one 31-year-old woman, the scan revealed dense fragments in her neck, breast and groin. Further analysis revealed they were not bits of metal but shards of bone from the suicide bomber. Dr Braverman sent a fragment to the Institute of Forensic Medcine in Tel Aviv to be tested. It came back positive for hepatitis B.
No-one had considered this danger before.
Dr Braverman said: "As a result of that case, all survivors of these attacks in Israel are now vaccinated for hepatitis B."
He said it might also be wise to test for other diseases that could potentially be spread in the same way. These include four kinds of hepatitis, dengue fever, syphilis, CJD and possibly malaria.
Doctors are most concerned about the potential for spreading HIV. Dr Braverman said HIV tests on the bone fragment taken from the woman tested negative. However, he added: "These test kits are designed for blood. It is very hard to test bone."
Only 50 cases of HIV/Aids have been reported in the West Bank and Gaza. However, the true extent of infection is difficult to assess.
Dr Mary Ramsey, a consultant in public health medicine at the UK Public Health Laboratory Service, said there was a risk of infection from hepatitis B whenever the virus came into contact with an open wound. "This is why health workers in the UK are generally vaccinated against the disease," she said. "The good news is that we can vaccinate after exposure to the virus."
#2
IIRC, one sucide bomber during the 2nd intifada has strapped bags of hiv-tainted blood (found in gaza, the land of "50 aids-stricken people", sic), in an attempt to spread that disease to wounded victims.
#5
The Paleos used nuts, bolts, ball bearings as schrapnel. Also they used their own bone fragments. They laced the schrapnel with rat poison to cause complications with Israeli hospitals treating the victims. There are papers in the Israeli medical literature about it. Has been for years. This is not news. It is all thoroughly disgusting.
And these terrorist morons want a state? Turn off the water and let their Egyptian, Saudi, and other handlers take up the slack.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
12/27/2007 15:40 Comments ||
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#6
"Only 50 cases of HIV/Aids have been reported in the West Bank and Gaza."
Well, hell - they lie about everything else....
(Except their desire to murder all Jooooooos)
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
12/27/2007 19:22 Comments ||
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#7
Well, they never reported Yassir Arafat's case, Barbara.
Posted by: Eric Jablow ||
12/27/2007 22:15 Comments ||
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#8
And the Phrog doctors covered it up when he died of it, too, Eric.
*Spit*
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
12/27/2007 22:29 Comments ||
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RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (AP) - Pakistani opposition leader Nawaz Sharif announced Thursday his party was boycotting next month's elections following the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. He demanded that President Pervez Musharraf resign immediately.
AHHHHHH, SHADDUP. No one with any sense listens to you.
"The holding of fair and free elections is not possible in the presence of Pervez Musharraf. After the killing of Benazir Bhutto, I announce that the Pakistan Muslim League-N will boycott the elections," Sharif told a news conference, referring to his party.
Sharif urged other parties to join the boycott of the Jan. 8 parliamentary elections. A collective response, including by Bhutto's own party could seriously undermine the legitimacy of the vote as Musharraf attempts to engineer a transition to democracy after eight years of military rule. "I demand that Musharraf should quit immediately," he said. "Musharraf is the cause of all the problems. The federation of Pakistan cannot remain in tact in the presence of President Musharraf."
Sharif, 57, was a longtime rival of Bhutto as the two vied for power in the late 1980s and 1990s. He was ousted in the 1999 coup that brought Musharraf to power.
Still a little angry about that, too.
Sharif said after three days of mourning, he would chalk out a strategy to challenge Musharraf's rule but he rebutted suggestions that he could gain political capital from her demise. "I think nobody stands to gain and nobody should be looking for any gains," he told the British Broadcasting Corp. "It's a very serious situation for the country today."
As word of Bhutto's death spread throughout a shaken and distraught Pakistan, Sharif rushed to the Rawalpindi hospital where she died and sat silently next to her body. "Benazir Bhutto was also my sister, and I will be with you to take the revenge for her death," he said afterward, his eyes at times welling up with tears. "Don't feel alone. I am with you. We will take the revenge on the rulers."
Bhutto, like Sharif a two-time former prime minister, was hopeful of winning a third term. Election authorities have disqualified Sharif from contesting a seat because of court convictions.
Bhutto's death will leave Sharif as the most prominent leader of a secular political party in Pakistan.
Except that his party isn't secular.
For Sharif, the path forward was far from clear. "I think we all have to seriously think about how to move ahead because such incidents are something absolutely unusual or unheard of," he told CNN. "We have never been confronted with this kind of a situation in our public life in Pakistan."
Sharif, a law graduate and the son of a leading industrialist who is considered religiously conservative, rose to prominence under Gen. Zia ul-Haq's military regime in the 1980s, becoming the chief minister of the eastern province of Punjab.
Got his start with ul-Hag, which tells you a lot right there.
He went on to lead the Pakistan Muslim League and became Bhutto's chief rival in the struggle for power during a turbulent decade of civilian rule. Sharif was ousted in 1999 by then-army chief Musharraf. Sharif went into exile, living for most of the time in Saudi Arabia, before returning last month to challenge Musharraf once more.
Hardline clerics are using Pakistan's blasphemy laws to persecute members of a small Islamic splinter group they say are not proper Muslims. The two million-strong Ahmadiyya community, based in Rabwah in the Punjab, risks charges of "impersonating Muslims" under the country's controversial religious laws. Shameen Ahmad Khalid, a community leader, said: "We have people serving long jail sentences for blasphemy or for 'posing as Muslims'."
The laws mandate three years' imprisonment for Ahmadis who dare to call themselves Muslims, call their places of worship mosques, recite the Koran or announce the azan, the call to prayer.
Twenty years ago, the people of Rabwah were charged with impersonating Muslims. Since the charges are still outstanding, the town's 50,000 inhabitants have to hide their Islamic habits, keep their beards trimmed and avoid using Muslim invocations.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred ||
12/27/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
Yep, I always record what these deem as "not proper moslem" and I always tend to find out, it is better to not have lived in the first place. Kind of like the guy who killed Christ. "Also not a not "proper Moslem" as He actively rejects Islam on an HOURLY basis" Cain offering what he WANTS to GOD.
Yup, it is always up to a man under the guise as a "moslem" to persecute anyone he wants for any reason that is "unislamic" May as well not start living because one day you will be deemed "unislamic" because some man walks up to you and tells you you are. Such a peaceful feeling to know that God is such a petty, immature, unknowing, and approving of the daily carnage and death and destruction.
Yeah, that is the kind of God I sign up for, every morning in fact. SARCASM.
Idol worship means YOU make GOD in YOUR Image. Not the other way around. Islam is doomed.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said on Wednesday that the religious forces would not retreat until the US and its allies vacated their bunkers.
With reference to his address at a meeting in the Bakakhel area of FR Bannu, Aaj TV quoted Fazl as saying that the MMAs performance during its five-year rule in the NWFP was exemplary.
He said the province had prospered despite economic sanctions and extreme pressure from the international community and the central government. He said his party believed in dialogue, which is essential to durable peace in the region. He said any rigging in the polls would have grave repercussions.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/27/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
coming from someone who still lives in the stone age capital of the world what would he consider prospering? New korans?
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maualna Fazlur Rehman has stopped attending public meetings in the wake of intelligence agencies reports that pro-Al Qaeda organisations in Pakistan are planning to kill him, presumably for his offering support to the United States against militants along the Durand Line.
Letter: Sources said that the Crisis Management Cell, after receiving reports from intelligence agencies, sent a letter to Fazl five days ago, revealing the threats of potential suicide attacks on him. The letter has also been forwarded to the provincial and federal authorities concerned.
The sources said that according to secret agencies reports Muhammad Tariq Musa, a resident of Multan, had been tasked to kill Fazl. The reports said the Taliban had chosen Musa to kill the JUI-F chief because of the formers proficiency in Seraiki and Pushto languages that will help him get into the processions of the Maulana.
The sources said Fazl did not attend a public meeting a few days ago due to fear of an attempt on his life. Fazl has assured his former Taliban well-wishers that he is ready to remove all reservations of the Taliban, the sources said.
The sources said that the Taliban believed Fazl supported the government in its operations against Lal Masjid, in Swat and Waziristan. The Taliban believe that Fazl had supported the government in its operations against mujahideen during the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal government in the NWFP. They (Taliban) believe that in his recent meetings with US officials, including Ambassador Anne Patterson, Fazl had offered the US his support against militants and in return sought their help in becoming the prime minister of Pakistan, the sources said.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/27/2007 00:00 ||
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...they are racists refusing to recognize the humanity of their victims. Furthermore, the Dignity and Honor of Palestinian women are harmed by these actions and/or non-actions. And finally, anyone choosing to challenge these results is a poopyhead.
A research paper that won a Hebrew University teachers' committee prize finds that the lack of IDF rapes of Palestinian women is designed to serve a political purpose. The abstract of the paper, authored by doctoral candidate Tal Nitzan, notes that the paper shows that "the lack of organized military rape is an alternate way of realizing [particular] political goals."
The abstract of the paper, authored by doctoral candidate Tal Nitzan, notes that the paper shows that "the lack of organized military rape is an alternate way of realizing [particular] political goals."
The next sentence delineates the particular goals that are realized in this manner: "In the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it can be seen that the lack of military rape merely strengthens the ethnic boundaries and clarifies the inter-ethnic differences - just as organized military rape would have done." The paper further theorizes that Arab women in Judea and Samaria are not raped by IDF soldiers because the women are de-humanized in the soldiers' eyes.
[Prize committee chair] Gurevitch said that observers do not have the right to demand a particular explanation to a given phenomenon.
The paper was published by the Hebrew University's Shaine Center, based on the recommendation of a Hebrew University professors' committee headed by Dr. Zali Gurevitch. "I do not have the entire text in front of me," Gurevitch said, when contacted by Arutz-7, "and I don't think we can jump to conclusions based on partial sentences, but I can say the following: This was a very serious paper that asked two important questions: Is the relative lack of IDF rapes a noteworthy phenomenon, and if so, why is it that there are so few IDF rapes when in similar situations around the world, rape is much more common?"
Observers and Academia
Arutz-7: "Can't it just be that Israeli soldiers come from a culture that very much condemns rape? And why not mention the much-touted 'purity of arms,' i.e., the high moral conduct, of the Israeli Army?"
Gurevitch said that observers do not have the right to demand a particular explanation to a given phenomenon. He said that the researcher had done a serious job, based on interviews with 25 soldiers and other accounts, and that the right-wing should not jump to the conclusion that this was simply another "secular, left-wing" generality.
Makor Rishon editor Amnon Lord, who first publicized the story, wrote that not only did researcher Nitzan not consider Jewish tradition as an explanation, but neither did she "raise the possibility that her initial assumption - namely, that the situation in Judea and Samaria is just like any other situation of conquest - may be wrong."
Demographic Fears
Nitzan's paper did, however, give much space to the explanation that the Israeli soldiers refrained from rape out of demographic considerations. She explained at length how fearful the Jewish population is of the growing Arab population, and how in cases of wartime rape, the baby is generally assumed to be of the mother's nationality.
"It is noteworthy," Lord concludes, "that Palestinian propaganda around the world frequently accuses Israelis of murder and rape. Such that this situation is unique: An army is found blameworthy of rape, and is also blameworthy of not raping."
#3
Welcome to bizarro-world. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Posted by: Tony (UK) ||
12/27/2007 5:10 Comments ||
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#4
The Hoola-Hoop principle in action.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
12/27/2007 7:21 Comments ||
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#5
1. why would you want too rape pali women, have the scientist considered studying the looks of them. 2. anyone ever seen Girls od the IDF , that would explain why they are content at having sex with these women instead.
#6
Nitzan's paper did, however, give much space to the explanation that the Israeli soldiers refrained from rape out of demographic considerations. She explained at length how fearful the Jewish population is of the growing Arab population, and how in cases of wartime rape, the baby is generally assumed to be of the mother's nationality.
He shakes his head in disbelief. And this won a prize at a Hebrew university.
#7
I can't wait until next weeks article from Berkley declaring that "The lack of White on Black crime shows how the Bush Junta doesn't like Bloack People."
#10
The author and her professor should be sent to Gaza for field studies.
Posted by: ed ||
12/27/2007 8:58 Comments ||
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#11
possible explanations
1.demographic stuff
Unlikely. There ARE consensual relationships between Israelis and Pals from time to time, and even some marriages. I dont buy that any demographic thing would prevent rape
2. Jews dont rape.
Sadly, the occasional occurrence of Jew on Jew rape in Israel, makes this an unlikely event as well.
3. The IDF is a very disciplined force, and rape is generally a question of indiscipline.
Posted by: Abu Uluque6305 ||
12/27/2007 12:19 Comments ||
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#15
Tal Nitzan should be asking, why is it our men our so honorable. But sadly honor is something liberals by their very nature do not understand nor identify with.
Tal Nitzan might have done a paper on why Muhamhead taught that muzzies raping victims was Jim Dandy OK. Which would make Nitzan admit there is good and bad and the Jew side is the good compared to Islam. Something this fucktard could never do.
#16
Where normal people see "decency" the Left sees "racism". It takes a sick, sick mentality to view the world this way and it is disgraceful for this academic to impugn the men and women who maintain his country's existence.
#19
"In the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it can be seen that the lack of military rape merely strengthens the ethnic boundaries and clarifies the inter-ethnic differences - just as organized military rape would have done."
Ummmmmmm...what?
So what do doctoral candidate Tal Nitzan and Dr. Zali Gurevitch propose that the IDF do to solve what they seem to see as a very important issue?
Party hearty with the Pali chickies in Gaza?
Must not take much to get your doctorate at Hebrew U...
ISRAEL and Egypt traded accusations over the smuggling of weapons from the Egyptian Sinai into Gaza, a day before Israel's Minister of Defence, Ehud Barak, was scheduled to meet the Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak, in the Sinai resort of Sharm el Sheikh.
Israel's Foreign Minister, Tzipi Livni, was quoted as having told the Parliament's foreign affairs and defence committee on Monday that the Egyptian failure to secure the border with Gaza was "terrible, problematic and damages the ability to make progress in the peace process".
In response, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Tuesday saying that "the Israeli minister would do better to concentrate on negotiation efforts with the Palestinians" rather than speaking "without weighing her words about things she should not deal with without having enough information".
Adding to the friction, Israeli officials said on Tuesday that individuals from the Israeli defence establishment had sent a videotape, or tapes, to colleagues in the Israeli embassy in Washington showing Egyptian border guards not only turning a blind eye to the cross-border smuggling but in at least one case helping it. Israeli security officials say that tens of tonnes of explosives and weapons have been smuggled through tunnels running beneath Egypt's border with Gaza since Israel's withdrawal from the area in 2005. The rate of the smuggling has stepped up since the Islamic group Hamas took control of Gaza in June, they say.
The videotape was seen by American officials, most likely in the Pentagon, the Israeli officials said. But it was not shown to Congress because of diplomatic considerations - to the chagrin of some Israelis who have been lobbying the US Senate to withhold some military aid to Egypt unless it takes action against the smuggling. "We know that if we finally have a large, important country like Egypt that is ready to be at peace with us," one non-military official said, "it is not so smart to mess with the aid Egypt gets from Uncle Sam."
Egypt has rejected Israeli accusations of laxity and collusion with Hamas along the border, contending that its peace agreement with Israel does not allow it to deploy enough guards to secure the area. At a news conference with the Prime Minister of Israel, Ehud Olmert, in Sharm el Sheikh last month, Mr Mubarak said the Egyptian forces had seized more than 100 tonnes of explosives destined for Gaza since the start of the year.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/27/2007 00:00 ||
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TEHRAN, Iran - Russia is preparing to equip Iran with a powerful new air defense system that would dramatically increase its ability to repel an attack, Iran's defense minister said Wednesday.
The S-300 anti-aircraft missile defense system is capable of shooting down aircraft, cruise missiles and ballistic missile warheads at ranges of over 90 miles and at altitudes of about 90,000 feet. Russian military officials boast that its capabilities outstrip the U.S. Patriot missile system. The S-300 is an improvement over the Tor-M1 air defense missile system. Russia delivered 29 Tor-M1s to Iran this year under a $700 million contract signed in December 2005.
The Iranians also have a bunch of older I-HAWKs, SA-2s and SA-5s which wouldn't bother American or Israeli strike aircraft too much.
"The S-300 air defense system will be delivered to Iran on the basis of a contract signed with Russia in the past," Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said, according to state television. Najjar didn't say when or how many of the S-300 anti-aircraft missile defense systems would be shipped to Iran, and Russian officials declined to comment.
According to Spook 86, each S-300 battery weighs in at ~$300 million, plus more in 'service' after the sale. That's a lot of oil to pump, and it may also mean having Russians 'advisors' sitting at each site telling them when they can play with their toy.
The Tor-M1 is capable of hitting aerial targets flying at up to 20,000 feet. "While Tor-M1 missiles can hit targets at low altitude, S-300 missile have an extraordinary performance against targets at high altitude," Najjar said.
The Tor-M1 is the system the Israelis beat in Syria when they launched their September raid. I'm betting that the S-300 purchase has a lot to do with that. Perhaps everything to do with that.
Russian officials wouldn't comment on the Iranian statement. Russian officials have consistently denied they were selling the S-300 to Iran. Iranian media reports have claimed the S-300 missile systems could inflict significant damage to the U.S. or Israeli forces, were they to attack Iran.
Unless we can turn it off the way the Israelis turned off the Tor-M1. Just saying ...
Teams led by Mikhail Dmitriyev, head of the Russian Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation, and Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi, regarded as the father of Iran's missile program, held talks in Tehran this week on ways to step up defense cooperation. Dmitriyev told the Russian Itar-Tass news agency Wednesday said air defense and radar systems were priorities in Russian-Iranian defense discussions.
Big priorities, I'd say, since the main Iranian air-defense system, the vaunted Tor-M1, has been demonstrated to be a failure against American/Israeli air strike squadrons. The Iranians got a wake-up call that buying cheap doesn't always pay off, and the Russians have realized, to their dismay, that one of their more dependable export weapons systems can't play with the first team. And they need to stroke the Iranians who I suspect have been jawing in their ears about the failure in Syria.
Memo to the Iranians: it's not just the Tor-M1. Lots of Russian weapon systems don't work very well. Just a happy thought to remember as you threaten Uncle Sam with Dire Consequences. Cheers.
Posted by: Steve White ||
12/27/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
The Indians evaluated the S300 systems. There are rumors that at least one battery was bought (to protect the BARC nuclear complex in Mumbai against air-strikes).
It is telling that India hasn't bought any more (if they even bought any at all) of the units.
They don't seem too impressed by them.
Or by the S400s that the Russians were offering...
They were more interested in the Patriot and Arrow systems. They're now working on their own anti-missile systems.
India has a lot of Russian air defence equipment that they're replacing with Indian, Israeli and French equipment but tellingly, not Russian.
Posted by: john frum ||
12/27/2007 0:12 Comments ||
Top||
#2
ION, IRAN-DAILY > CHINA'S FUEL OIL RESERVES for strategic contingency e.g. war [Taiwan]. Artikle -interesting in that it indics NORTH KOREA lost its [fuels]ability to attack South Korea long ago.
#3
Perhaps the Russians are just hoping to test out various technologies on various losers around the world before they put together a serious system.
Perhaps they're bunding up big toilet paper tubes with duct tape and selling them to the bad guys. Free money, basically. And they don't have to pump any oil to get it.
#5
usually when you have old Russian equipment you wouldn't want too replace it with new russian equipment because the old was shit. Just think of the up keep cost on this type of weapon system that is junk. And, what altitude does the stealth bombers ly in at?
#7
In any case, and as an aside, the israelis sure must have a serious and pressing issue to deal with that syrian site, to decide it was still worthwile to bomb it, even if it showed the iranians their air defense system meant crap to their airforce.
(Xinhua) -- Hezbollah on Wednesday rejected a constitutional amendment bill adopted by the majority government to open the door for the election of Army Commander Gen. Michel Suleiman as president. The constitutional amendment bill by the government was tantamount to "usurping presidential powers," said a statement released by Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc.
"That provides clear evidence to the crime of premeditated usurping of authority and a coup against the constitution, despite (the fact) that what has been adopted by the government two days ago carries no constitutional or practical values," the statement said. The bill "is a provocative measure designed to test the opposition's response," the Hezbollah parliamentary bloc said, warning that "such a performance opens the door to new complications for which the authority would be held fully responsible."
Earlier on Monday, Lebanese government wrote down a bill amending the constitution that paves the way for electing Suleiman to the presidency. The government also approved a motion for an extraordinary legislative session of the parliament as of Jan. 1, 2008.
The two sides have agreed on Suleiman as the man for the top post, but still remain at odds over the election process and the shape of a new government.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/27/2007 00:00 ||
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Hezbollah on Wednesday launched a vehement attack on Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's majority government blaming it for a parcel of alleged violations, including "premeditated" seizing of presidential powers and pledged "new complications" to the already tense situation.
Working themselves up to that coup moment...
The stand was made in a statement issued by Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc following a meeting presided over by its chairman MP Mohammed Raad. A constitutional amendment bill by the government was tantamount to " seizing presidential powers," the statement said.
"That provides clear evidence to the crime of premeditated seizing of authority and a coup against the constitution, despite (the fact) that what has been adopted by the government two days ago carries no constitutional or practical values," the statement added. The constitutional amendment bill, aimed at facilitating the election of Army Commander Gen. Michel Suleiman president, "is a provocative measure designed to test the opposition's response," the Hezbollah parliamentary bloc charged. It threatened: "such a performance opens the door to new complications for which the authority would be held fully responsible."
Certainly the guys in the turbans couldn't be held responsible for their own actions. That'd never do.
Allan helps those who can't help themselves.
:-)
The Hezbollah bloc said the majority's rejection to the formation of a "national unity government" in which the opposition enjoys veto powers "exposed" that nominating Gen. Suleiman for the presidency was a mere "maneuver aimed at covering up their rejection of true national partnership."
Sure shows they don't want to give the Hezbullies the keys to the safe, doesn't it?
Realizing that Syria is behind Hezbollahs stand against the election of Suleiman as president, Paris told Damascus yesterday Either the president of Lebanon is elected based on a quorum of half plus one or General Suleiman should be elected without any preconditions. Hezbollah has been insisting on a quorum of 2/3 of the parliament as a prerequisite for presidential election.
And the only way to get that is to give in to their demands.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/27/2007 00:00 ||
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Former Lebanese president and Phalange Party leader Amine Gemayel, urged the Leaders of the pro-Syrian opposition to focus on Lebanon away from foreign allegiances. He asked, "What prevents the election of Gen. Michel Suleiman , who enjoys the unanimous support of the majority and the opposition?"
Gemayel said he is against amending the constitution , but supports it if it means the end of the presidential void . It is the best choice between two evils he said. Gemayel called for the election of the President of the Republic as soon as possible. He accused those who are delaying the election of acting against the interest of the Christians of Lebanon and of marginalizing the role of the Christians in the region.
Hezbollah ally General Michel Aoun, a Christian leader , is being blamed by the parliament majority for the delay in the elections. Aoun has a list of conditions that he wants the majority to agree to before the election. The opposition called Aouns conditions, extortion and blackmail. Aouns conditions are identical to those of Syrias , the majority claims
Posted by: Fred ||
12/27/2007 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.
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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.
Informed sources have told «Echourouk» that the members of the terrorist organization (Salafist Group for Call and Combat) have decided to operate differently while carrying out their terror acts. According to declarations by arrested individuals, the new method used for their acts consists using suicide belts instead of cars or trucks. This method was used in the last attack that targeted the Algerian president during his visit to Batna (eastern Algeria), when a suicide bomber blew himself up amidst the crowd. 
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maualna Fazlur Rehman has stopped attending public meetings in the wake of intelligence agencies reports that pro-Al Qaeda organisations in Pakistan are planning to kill him, presumably for his offering support to the United States against militants along the Durand Line.
TEHRAN, Iran - Russia is preparing to equip Iran with a powerful new air defense system that would dramatically increase its ability to repel an attack, Iran's defense minister said Wednesday..JPG)
Hezbollah on Wednesday launched a vehement attack on Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's majority government blaming it for a parcel of alleged violations, including "premeditated" seizing of presidential powers and pledged "new complications" to the already tense situation. 
