The number of Pakistanis fleeing to eastern Afghanistan to avoid violence in their country has risen to about 10,000 in recent weeks, a US military official said on Tuesday. Commanders had reported last month that the number was only between 300 and 400 families. But Col Jeffery Johnson, the US command surgeon in eastern Afghanistan, said thousands more had crossed over the border and been taken into the health care systems in Khost and Paktika provinces. That was really a response to some of the turmoil that was taking place inside of Pakistan and the people there understood that their lives potentially could be better if they were in Afghanistan, Johnson told a Pentagon press conference via video hookup from Afghanistan.
Human Rights Watch and the UNHCR asking for donations in 5 .. 4 .. 3 ..
Violence also has increased in Pakistan over months of political upheaval, including unrest leading to parliamentary elections that could threaten the rule of President Pervez Musharraf.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/20/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
oretty bad when you living would be better in afghanistan than pakiland
Afghanistans attorney general has suspended militia leader Abdul Rashid Dostum from his government post for not cooperating with an investigation into a raid on a rival, an official said on Tuesday.
Dostum, one of the most ruthless warlords to emerge from Afghanistans decades of conflict, holds the largely symbolic post of chief of staff to the militarys commander-in-chief, President Hamid Karzai. The leader of Afghanistans ethnic Uzbek minority, Dostum has been accused of assaulting, with his men, a former ally and rival, Akbar Bai, and some of the mans relatives on February 3, said Rahmatullah Nazari, head of documentation in the attorney generals office.
The incident led dozens of police to surround Dostums house in a tense standoff which authorities said ended only when the general agreed to cooperate with an investigation. Based on a petition by Akbar Bai and police reports, Dostum is accused of attacking and beating Akbar Bai, Nazari said.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/20/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
I have a grudging respect for Dostum. He resisted the Taliban to an extent only equalled by Massoud in the Panjshir Valley.
And note he is accussed of beating someone. No shooting, bombing or really nasty stuff. By the standards of the region, this was a polite warning.
#2
This is not good, not good at all. Nothing Dostum does (or has done) should be characterized as "largely symbolic." Dostum has the personality, military skills, western contacts, and leadership abilities needed in that region. It the General delivered it, I suspect Akbar Bai might have needed a good thrashing. President Karzai may have just made a fatal wrong turn.
Posted by: ed ||
02/20/2008 07:23 ||
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#1
But President Obama may move the troops from Iraq to Darfur - he's said we need to get out of Iraq, and now he's saying we need to take action to fix Darfur. (On humanitarian grounds I actually agree about Darfur, but pragmatically I don't see any path to success there, so why try.)
#2
Several African countries, including Libya, Nigeria and South Africa, have expressed deep reservations, fearing the plan signals an unwanted expansion of American power on the continent or is a cover for protecting Africa's vast oil resources on the United States' behalf.
Parrating diplomatic instructions from friends in Moscow and Peking obviously.
#3
Ok, but what about all the secret bases established during the UIC counter-offensives? Seem to remember something about spooky showing up unexpectedly.
I know President Bush is essentially doing his victory lap but I liked his response to the situation in Darfur - where is the UN and its ability to muster strength to its words, china is in a position to help but has focused on only protecting oil fields.
#4
He said no "new" "U.S. bases". Nothing about using bases of other friendly countries, or aircraft carriers, or secret bases hidden in volcanoes.....
Posted by: Steve ||
02/20/2008 16:30 Comments ||
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#5
or secret bases hidden in volcanoes.....
Who told you about the Kilimanjaro base? That wasn't supposed to be known until after the earthquake division sunk Somalia into the sea!
#6
As long as US SOCOM keeps the big base in Djibouti, the US really does not need more than one other permanent base in Africa. Sierra Leone and Liberia are both trying to get the US Africa Command base located within their boundaries - that single other base would be enough to have US forces in command of the Africa coastal zone around the continent. With a single carrier battle group including a MEU, the US could control the battlelines up to 200 miles inland, just by having that CBG transit between the two locations. And that presumes that the CBG in cruising at 25 miles off of the coast, which is out of range of most African militaries.
Chadian President Idriss Deby Itnoon Thursday declared a state of emergency in the country, according to reports reaching here from the Chadian capital of N'Djamena.
In an address on national television and radio, Deby said that as allowed under the constitution, he had signed a decree to make his government take on exceptional power for 15 days from Friday. The measure was to tighten security after a rebel attack on N'Djamena this month, said the reports, quoting the address by Deby. The emergency measures include a ban on most meetings, the government control of what is published in the press, extra power to local government to control the flow of people and vehicles and a curfew from midnight to 6 a.m..
Posted by: Fred ||
02/20/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
How are those French reinforcements coming along?
(Xinhua) -- Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno appointed a close ally Mahamat Ali Abdallah Nassour as defense minister on Friday amid a state of emergency in this central African country. According to reports from N'Djamena, Chad's capital, soldiers and police tightened security and searched from house to house for rebels across the country. The new defense minister, Abdallah, previously the mining minister, had acted as head of government while Deby hid from the rebels storming the capital.
Deby declared on Thursday a nationwide state of emergency after a rebel attack on N'Djamena. Allied rebels, with some 3,000 fighters, staged an offensive in the capital in a bid to overthrow the government of Deby from Feb.2 to Feb 3. After violent fighting, they gave up the aborted attempt and withdrew to the central part of the country before starting their southward movement.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/20/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
When you're under attack , it's a bit late to be thinking about a "Defense Minister".
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
02/20/2008 13:04 Comments ||
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Top US and North Korean nuclear negotiators met Tuesday to try to resolve a snag stalling the six-party talks aimed at ending Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions, but with no signs of a breakthrough, Japan's Kyodo News Agency reported from Beijing.
Christopher Hill, chief of the US delegation to the six-way talks, met with his North Korean counterpart Kim Kye-gwan in the Chinese capital at a time when the nuclear negotiations remain stalled over Pyongyang's obligation to submit a list of its nuclear programs, the news agency said. The six-party talks chaired by China involve North and South Korea, the US, Japan and Russia.
"We discussed ideas that China has had, and how things could be moved," Hill said at Beijing's international airport, shortly before departing for Seoul, his next stop in a tour of the region. "It was a good, substantial discussion," the US assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs said of his talks with Kim, according to the report.
The nuclear negotiations have hit a snag over whether North Korea should declare all its nuclear programs first or whether compensation measures, including the country's delisting from a US terrorism blacklist, should be completed before the list's submission. "I think they understand our point of view," Hill said of the North Koreans. "But we won't have a complete and correct declaration until we have a complete and correct declaration, so I'm not sure yet if we have an understanding on that," he said..
The leftist Socialist People's party leader gives the extremist group Hizh ut-Tahrir, a piece of his mind. In an uncharacteristic move, Villy Søvndal, leader of the Socialist People's Party, responded to the Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir's demonstration last Friday, by severely criticising them in his blog. He stated in his blog that the group was to 'seek other pastures' and that their 'undertakings had no perspective, nor future, in Denmark'.
'If they want to live in a religious dictatorship so badly, they can go to those countries in the Middle East where such dictatorships exist,' he said.
In an interview with Jyllands-Posten newspaper, he continued to lash out at the extremist group whose demonstration had delivered a direct threat towards Danish society, telling them to 'go to hell'. 'If they want to live in a religious dictatorship so badly, they can go to those countries in the Middle East where such dictatorships exist,' he said.
The hostile tone of the demonstration has had Pia Kjærsgaard launching a new proposal in parliament to ban the controversial group, but Søvndal said he did not want them banned. 'Instead of turning them into martyrs with a ban, they must be put in the spotlight. It would expose their completely ridiculous views,' he said.
'It is strange that religious representatives should be given preferential treatment in a secular democracy. If the minister wanted to speak with ethnic minorities, she could have spoken with members of city council who were democratically elected.'
About the meeting, Søvndal said: 'It is strange that religious representatives should be given preferential treatment in a secular democracy. If the minister wanted to speak with ethnic minorities, she could have spoken with members of city council who were democratically elected.'
He warned against putting religious figures in a position where they were thought to represent the views of ordinary immigrants. His criticism echoed along the corridors of parliament. Pia Kjærsgaard, leader of the Danish People's Party agreed with him and stated that it was 'foolish' and 'naïve' of the integration minister to think that anything constructive would come out of a meeting with the Islamic Society.
New Alliance party leader, Naser Khader also called the minister 'very naïve' for agreeing to meet with Ahmad and said that the society was a 'world champion in saying one thing and doing another'. Hornbech dismissed the critique saying that the Islamic Society had asked for a meeting which she had agreed to because she was 'an integration minister for everyone in Denmark' and that she would not refuse anyone beforehand.
#1
I believe the militant Islamists are going to start hearing more of that and not just from Europe. Other Muslims are going to get tired of them. The intimidation is starting to become ineffective. Al Qaida has lost Iraq, they and the Taliban have lost Afghanistan and the people are turning against them in Pakistan too.
There was a time when all Islamists had to do was say "boo!" and people would pee all over themselves. Not anymore. "Go to hell" is going to be a more common response going forward, I think.
#4
Once the Soci@lists wakeup and realize that the Islamists represent a real threat to their grasp on power, I'd expect there will be a quick jettisoning of the whole multi-culti garbage. We might be seeing the beginnings of that.
#5
tu3031: muslims wielding cluebats against the fascists in their midst is the best of all possible worlds. We need more, and we need it yesterday.
I hadn't dared to dream of the day when the socialists would wake up...but true - anything perceived as a threat to their powerbase will be met with fierce resistance. I would suspect, that such enlightenment will be temporary, and they'll try to put the blame on others rather than accept it themselves for having courted the islamists in the first place.
Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
02/20/2008 17:31 Comments ||
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A Turkish ground offensive against Kurdish rebel hideouts in northern Iraq remains an option, the foreign minister said on Tuesday. "The option for a ground operation is open," CNN-Turk television quoted Foreign Minister Ali Babacan as saying. He said the timing of any operation would depend on weather conditions. Turkey has staged aerial attacks against suspected rebel camps in northern Iraq since December.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/20/2008 00:00 ||
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Airline KLM refused to take Geert Wilders on a flight to Moscow on Monday morning because of problems with the Freedom Party (PVV) leader's security. After consultation the delegation of which Wilders was a part departed for Russia without him. KLM says that the MP had "specific requests regarding his security." Since these requests had not been submitted to the airline in advance, they could not be met, a spokesperson said.
Wilders denies this vehemently. "There were absolutely no extra requests made. This trip was prepared and they knew I was coming."
The parliamentary foreign affairs committee travelled to Moscow on Monday for a working visit. Wilders serves on this committee but had to return home after being refused for the flight. "Unbelievable," the politician said.
Wilders will most likely be able to travel to Moscow sometime later today. Speaker of Parliament Gerdi Verbeet said on Monday she regretted that Wilders had been restricted in his work as MP because of security measures. Verbeet said everything would be done to make sure Wilders was able to visit Moscow.
I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that they gladly embraced Mullah Krekar and his ilk a while back
Norway's state police agency in charge of national security reported Tuesday that Islamic extremism "will represent a considerable challenge" for Norway in coming years, and that it sees "indications of rising radicalism" both inside and outside the country.
Norway's contribution to NATO forces in Afghanistan is the main reason Norway is now viewed as a "legitimate target" of Islamic extremists, the PST claimed in its latest terrorism evaluation.
Of course! Whatever else could it be?
The PST, in charge of intelligence gathering in Norway, repeated earlier claims that most Islamic extremist activity in Norway comes in the form of support operations for terrorist activity overseas. It occurs "primarily in the form of money transfers to persons or groups overseas that are believed to be tied to extremist Islamic organizations," wrote the PST in its evaluation.
The PST said that's likely to continue, but rising radicalism in Norway "makes the national terror picture more unpredictable." Experience in other countries indicates that radicals "can quickly develop operative intentions and capacity," and be motivated by local political issues. They thus can "respond negatively" to national events or controversial political issues in Norway.
That raises the possibility, according to the PST, that radicals in Norway can travel to areas of conflict, reside in terrorist training camps, take part in jihad or "...support or take part in terrorist actions in Norway."
The PST said it also was focusing on persons tied to both right-wing and left-wing extremist groups and animal rights activists. The number of persons tied to such groups was said to be "stable." The number of registered threats against Norwegian officials, though, has increased during the past three years.
PSTs evaluation was described as "an analysis of expected development within the PST's main areas of responsibility, with focus on what can affect Norwegian security and damage national interests."
The evaluation is based on "various sources," according to the PST, including its own operative division and information from speciality institutions.
#2
Do they still have the beserker spirit, or is Odin wrapped in his linen sheets sleeping soundly? Will we hear the immigrant song of Led Zeppelin or crappy loudspeaker pr system invented by an infidel pre-recorded 'must humble blah blah blah but best hits of' Mullah Hula?
#1
The political administration of North Waziristan and all sub-tribes and clans of Wazir and Daur tribes have agreed to jointly struggle against extremism and terrorism throughout the agency,
the newly created unified Taliban command in Pakistan, has backed the new agreement.
Convolution within convolution. Alice in Wonderland world. A Looking-glass nonsense poetry, "Jabberwocky," which can be read only by holding it up to a mirror. Such are the treaties of this region.
Since it's WaPo, seek and ye shall find the usual hand-wringing.
In the predawn hours of Jan. 29, a CIA Predator aircraft flew in a slow arc above the Pakistani town of Mir Ali. The drone's operator, relying on information secretly passed to the CIA by local informants, clicked a computer mouse and sent the first of two Hellfire missiles hurtling toward a cluster of mud-brick buildings a few miles from the town center.
The missiles killed Abu Laith al-Libi, a senior al-Qaeda commander and a man who had repeatedly eluded the CIA's dragnet. It was the first successful strike against al-Qaeda's core leadership in two years, and it involved, U.S. officials say, an unusual degree of autonomy by the CIA inside Pakistan.
Having requested the Pakistani government's official permission for such strikes on previous occasions, only to be put off or turned down, this time the U.S. spy agency did not seek approval. The government of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf was notified only as the operation was underway, according to the officials, who insisted on anonymity because of diplomatic sensitivities.
Officials say the incident was a model of how Washington often scores its rare victories these days in the fight against al-Qaeda inside Pakistan's national borders: It acts with assistance from well-paid sympathizers inside the country, but without getting the government's formal permission beforehand. It is an approach that some U.S. officials say could be used more frequently this year, particularly if a power vacuum results from yesterday's election and associated political tumult. The administration also feels an increased sense of urgency about undermining al-Qaeda before President Bush leaves office, making it less hesitant, said one official familiar with the incident.
#2
Perhaps the defeat of the Islamists, as well as, coincidentally?, himself in what appear to be fair elections will make Perv more amenable to action. Like the surge, something that we will learn to regret not having done sooner. Thank you Department of Islamic State.
Some officials also emphasized that such airstrikes have a marginal and temporary impact. And they do not yield the kind of intelligence dividends often associated with the live capture of terrorists -- documents, computers, equipment and diaries that could lead to further unraveling the network.
Perhaps. But I expect it flushes a few of them from hiding places, and sows a certain degree of mistrust in their ranks.
Posted by: Rob Crawford ||
02/20/2008 8:57 Comments ||
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#5
Some officials also emphasized that such airstrikes have a marginal and temporary impact. And they do not yield the kind of intelligence dividends often associated with the live capture of terrorists -- documents, computers, equipment and diaries that could lead to further unraveling the network.
But they're dead and the lawyers and "human rights" groups are out of the picture, so I guess I can live with it...
Former religious affairs minister Ejazul Haq said on Tuesday that he might form his faction of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) in future. Express News quoted Ejaz as saying that flour, sugar and power crises were the main causes of the PML-Quaids defeat in the polls. Speaking at a press conference in Haroonabad, the former minister said that February 18 elections had set a standard for free and fair polls in the country.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/20/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
"flour, sugar and power crises"
Mexico has corn shortages, due in significant part to diversion of US farm output to fuel production. Pakistan has sugar shortages - perhaps related to increased sugar-to-ethanol production in (for instance) Brazil. Flour shortages? Perhaps some diversion of farmland to corn (for ethanol) production, but most wheat lands are not suited to corn in the first place. Increased demand? Weather related crop shortfalls? Speculation? Something else? But not good for Pakistan, or South Africa, or .... pick a place where people depend on food imports. If these shortages are real, and if they last any length of time, they WILL lead to political upheavals all over the world. And political instability is bad for economies everywhere.
In Mondays polling, the JUI-F chief was defeated in Dera Ismail Khan, but retained a National Assembly seat from Bannu.
Talking to Geo TV, Fazl said victory and defeat were part of the game as far as elections were concerned. The JUI-F believed in keeping the democratic process forging ahead, and the party would continue to play its due role in parliament, he added. Fazl was of the view that irregularities were committed in some constituencies. Despite these reservations, he offered his congratulations to the victors. In Mondays polling, the JUI-F chief was defeated in Dera Ismail Khan, but retained a National Assembly seat from Bannu (NA-26).
This article starring:
MAULANA FAZLUR RAHMAN
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl
Posted by: Fred ||
02/20/2008 00:00 ||
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Awami National Party (ANP) chief Asfandyar Wali Khan said on Tuesday that though his party would have to form a coalition government in the NWFP, it would head that government, Geo News reported. Asfandyar said the ANP would become a part of the coalition in the centre on the basis of issues like peace in Pakistan, especially in the NWFP, and brotherly relations with neighbours, the channel reported.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/20/2008 00:00 ||
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A spokesman for President Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday dismissed calls for the former general to quit after his allies conceded defeat in crucial parliamentary elections. Musharraf, who secured his second term as president last year, faces threat of impeachment if opposition parties come into power. They are way off in their demands, Major General Rashid Qureshi told AFP. This is not the election for president. President Musharraf is already elected for five years, Qureshi said.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/20/2008 00:00 ||
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Pakistani Opposition leader Nawaz Sharif said Tuesday that President Pervez Musharraf should step down after voters handed a devastating defeat to the ruling party in parliamentary elections. Sharif told reporters that Musharraf had said he would quit when people "want him to do so. And now the people have given their verdict."
Posted by: Fred ||
02/20/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
lol Fred--that's an uncanny resemblance.
So now Sharif and Bhutto's parties will try to form a government together, and they will likely not have the 2/3rds majority needed to impeach Mushy. So guess what will happen next--Sharif will try to win additional support from the smaller more extremist parties. To get their support, the two main parties will have to make concessions--like give up cooperation with the US, rollback the war against the Taliban etc...
So is democracy in Pakistan in our best interest? I hope someone in power has really thought through this...
#2
I'm waiting for John Frum's analysis, but it looks to this uninformed observer like the outcome of the Pakistani elections was better than anything we could have reasonably expected. The Islamists lost a lot of ground. Musharaf's party lost big but still has influence, and by not 'stealing' the election, they have retained/obtained some credibility. No party has dominant control, so the government will have to be a compromise of the parts - and that is a good thing. (Except it can give undue influence to small fringe groups if that's what it takes to get a coalition to critical mass - oops, scary analogy.) They won't be able to impeach Musharaf, but I should think they can replace him through normal channels in good time. And a measured, legal transition is a good thing.
(Xinhua) -- The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has won the largest number of National Assembly (NA) seats, but not secured a majority, according to initial incomplete results shown by local TV channel Geo on Tuesday.
The PPP has secured a total of 88 NA seats, followed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with 65 seats in the second place, Geo reported, adding that 254 seats among a total of 269 have been polled. Thus even if all the remaining votes go to PML-N, PPP will still get the largest number of NA seats in the general elections. The former ruling party Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) won 37 NA seats so far, the Geo report said.
The polling staff have been counting the votes. However, no party will gain majority votes in the elections because there are only 15 seats unannounced. Former Chief Minister of Punjab Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, a top leader of PML-Q, Tuesday said he accepted the election results with open heart. However, it will take time for the Election Commission of Pakistan to release the official results of the polling on Monday.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/20/2008 00:00 ||
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Pakistan Tuesday formally lodged protest with the Danish government over re-publication of blasphemous cartoons in the Denmark newspapers. The Danish Charge d'Affaires was called to the Foreign Office by Akbar Zeb, Additional Secretary (Europe) to lodge a strong protest over the re-publication of the blasphemous cartoons in Denmark, said a foreign office statement.
"Since hurting sentiments of other religions was not responsible behaviour, the Danish Government was obliged as a responsible government to stop the publication of the cartoons," said the statement.
While lodging the protest, it said, the Additional Secretary said that the re-publication of the cartoons had deeply offended Muslim Feeling and Sentiment all over the world. "While we upheld freedom of the press, freedom of expression should not be taken as a license to insult and malign other religions", it added. In fact, the publication of the cartoons was an abuse and perversion of freedom of expression, which showed disrespect for the beliefs of other people. The Additional Secretary underlined that the publication of the cartoons was counter to the efforts of countries and people who wished to build bridges amongst civilizations. "Since hurting sentiments of other religions was not responsible behaviour, the Danish Government was obliged as a responsible government to stop the publication of the cartoons," said the statement.
The Charge d Affaires said that the Danish Government did not have any hand in the publication of the cartoons and that he would convey the sentiments of the Government of Pakistan to his Government, it added.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
02/20/2008 13:33 Comments ||
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#2
The Charge d Affaires said that the Danish Government did not have any hand in the publication of the cartoons and that he would convey the sentiments of the Government of Pakistan to his Government, it added.
February 19, 2008: Strapped for cash, and qualified pilots, the Iraqi Air Force has adopted a clever solution for both problems. It is buying Cessna 172 single engine aircraft for training pilots. This is a common aircraft for the task, and those equipped for training are often called the T-41. But Iraq is also buying Cessna Grand Caravan 208B aircraft. Affectionately known in some circles as "the pickup truck with wings."
This is also a single engine aircraft, but is larger than the four seat 172, and can carry nine passengers, or about a ton of cargo. The 208Bs are being equipped with the same sensors and targeting pods used on the Predator UAV. The 208B can be rigged to carry Hellfire missiles as well, giving the Iraqis an aircraft that can act as an Predator clone, a personnel transport or a cargo hauler. Many are available on the used aircraft market for about $2 million each. And pilots can be quickly trained on the 172, and easily transition to the 208B.
Posted by: Mike ||
02/20/2008 08:01 ||
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#1
Excellent idea!
Posted by: Rob Crawford ||
02/20/2008 8:52 Comments ||
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#2
...giving the Iraqis an aircraft that can act as an Predator clone.
Cause, you know, it takes at least a generation of youth with hands on experience with the Next Generation[tm] consoles to get the hang of the modern VideoGame War[tm] tech. (Noticing nervous Top Guns concerns about the enlisted back stateside operating UAVs from their remote game studios command centers.)
#7
And I remember Sky King 'bombing' the bad guys on Saturday morning with bags of flour, ably assisted by his bombadier/ niece, Penny.
(Cessna 310 twin)
#10
I've done "bombing" out of a 210. Hay Bales to cattle stuck by a flood, long time ago when I was still rated. Did it out of a 172, but that was full cans of beer as well, but that was Texas, an impound lake, and a bass boat with guys we knew in it, heh.
I've always wanted a P210 with the turbocharged conversion work. Climbs at 2100fpm, runs on JetA, and cruises at over 200kts, 1300nm range. Great single engine AC. Roomy too with good cargo capacity, and the P model is pressurized so you can go up to 18000 with that engine. Haven't made them since 1985 tho. I guess I'm old.
Anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr threatened to lift a six-month cease-fire by the end of the week, officials said Wednesday a move that could send his Shiite militia fighters back out on the streets and jeopardize recent security gains that have led to a sharp decline in violence.
Iraqi police, meanwhile, held funerals Wednesday for 14 officers killed the night before as they responded to a rocket attack launched from a predominantly Shiite neighborhood against U.S. bases in the capital. In a separate attack, three American troops were killed by a roadside bomb Tuesday night in northwestern Baghdad, the U.S. military said. Their names were not released.
Al-Sadr's Shiite Mahdi Army is among the most powerful militias in Iraq, and the cease-fire he ordered last August has been credited with helping reduce violence around Iraq by 60 percent or more in the past six months.
Sheik Salah al-Obeidi, a spokesman for al-Sadr in the Shiite holy city of Najaf, said that if the cleric failed to issue a statement by Saturday saying that the cease-fire was extended, "then that means the freeze is over." Al-Sadr's followers would be free to resume attacks. Al-Obeidi said that message "has been conveyed to all Mahdi Army members nationwide."
The threat was confirmed by another al-Sadr official, who asked not to be named because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
The U.S. military has welcomed the cease-fire, saying it is a major factor in the sharp decline in violence. But it has insisted on continuing to stage raids against what it calls Iranian-backed breakaway factions of the Mahdi Army militia moved that have angered the cleric's followers.
Influential members of al-Sadr's movement said earlier this month they had urged the radical cleric to call off the cease-fire, which was initially set to expire at the end of the month.
...
Posted by: ed ||
02/20/2008 07:42 ||
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#1
You'd think Tater would wait till the surge force has been completely drawn down (summer) - or even till theres a new US prez, since theres like a 5-50 chance it will be someone committed to a quick drawdown of remaining forces - why call off the ceasefire NOW?
1. Hes got superior insight into the US electoral process, and thinks the hardliner in the race is going to win, and wants either A. To get the offensive underway before that or B. wants to influence the US election
2. Hes hurting from the surge, too many of his cells are being broken up, too much progress is happening, and he has to try to stop it now before its too late
3. His friends in Teheran are pressing him to attack now for their own strategic reasons, in an attempt to gain leverage and so press to relieve pressure on Hezb, Hamas, etc.
#2
He will always "threaten" to end the ceasefire. That is a source of power for him. But when the time actually comes, he will back down because he has little support even among other Shiites.
#4
i wish he would put and end too it so we could finally wipe his rag tag "militia" off the face of the earth. They kinda reamind me of the milituia that used too arm themselves in the swamps of florida and georgia and i guess southern alabama
On the other hand, what if he released his 'lions of islam' and nothing happened?
Must have at least crossed his mind....
Posted by: Bobby ||
02/20/2008 12:12 Comments ||
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#6
Of course, it's the AP that want us to believe that the entire reduction in violence is completely the result of Mookie and other, non-military actions.
Posted by: Bobby ||
02/20/2008 12:23 Comments ||
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#7
Have to agree that he has more power in saying so than doing so. If he get his butt kicked by the IA then he is done and he fails his poobah 'infidel antics' class.
From the other end, if his troops or irun is chomping at the bit for a fight that will also hurt his power if he does not do something, by which he fails his poobah 'jihad theories' class.
Tough spot. I'd suggest to him to do it over spring break when he is in dubai playing goat golf.
#8
The way it will probably play out is that some "breakthrough" will be engineered so that he can claim something as some sort of victory and extend the ceasefire. It might not be anything real, it is possible he could simply make something up. In that case we would likely not refute it unless there was some major problem with doing so.
#10
That was a huge mistake on our part not to take out Tater in An Najaf siege in August 2004. Once he got his sorry a$$ out of a crack, he got some legitimacy with the Iraqi govt and he has been an abcess on the body politic since then.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
02/20/2008 15:04 Comments ||
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#11
The "Taliban Surge" + Mugniya/Mugniyeh, Africa, now Sadr > looks like the "Final/Decisive Battle" for IRAQ ISN'T GOING TO BE FOUGHT SOLELY INSIDE IRAQ. Risque' harbinger for IRAN, + AMER HIROSHIMAS. RADICAL ISLAM WANTS A BLOWOUT???
The New Zionist Secret Weapon...
Nablus Ma'an Wild boars released by Israeli settlers have attacked and seriously wounded a Palestinian man in the northern West Bank, Palestinian security sources said. Smithers...release the pigs!
53-year-old Hikmat Abdul Mu'ti from the town of Beit Rima was hospitalized ten days ago after the animals attacked him while he was walking to his fields. According medical sources at Yasser Arafat Hospital in the city of Salfit, the man sustained a 'deep wound,' and is still in the hospital. I wuz just walkin along and...FILTHY ZIONIST WILD BOARS!!!
The security sources said that settlers from the Ariel settlement deliberately release wild boars, especially in Kana valley fields which belong to the West Bank village of Deir Istiya. In the past these boars have been known to damage crops in that valley and frequently attack farmers. Eat pork, Mahmoud!
The Palestinian police reported about another similar attack by a boar against a woman and her child from the village of Sarta near Salfit. It's a conspiracy, I tells ya!
Palestinian farmers appealed to the governor of Salfit and the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture as well as humanitarian organizations to visit the area and see first hand the suffering and the material losses caused by the boars. Oh, god. More "suffering"...
#3
Damn those jooooos! The chewing gum that gives aids, and the candies that turn pious muslim egyptian wimmen into sluts were bad enough already, but this is low. Next thing you know, you'll have israeli female soldiers who will strip to lure innocent paleos boys and shoot them!
#4
Wild boar tastes so good!
mmmmmm mmmm mmmm
The question is how to fix it....
Barbecue it Mongolian style with venison?
Steam it in a Polynesian luau?
Do it Cuban style?
Maybe a traditional US barbecue the question being dry rub or wet..?
Maybe one of the French or Italian roasts?
#6
If the "Wild Boars" were kept in a pen and then released they weren't wild. Merely feral. Israelis deliberately released them? Remember the source of the story.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
02/20/2008 11:34 Comments ||
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#7
Assuming it's not hysteria, you've got to admit the paleos are good at propaganda, they know how to press the right buttons, unclean animals, random acts of nuisance aimed at collectivities, targeting of innocent wimmen and kiddies,... this reminds me that right in the middle of the frenzy about the dutroux pedophilia crimes which swept western Europe, there were reports coming from paleos sources that israeli soldiers were... raping children. This was not very sophisticated, but they sure were able to identify what were the buttons at the time.
#12
I raised a pig for 4H when I was in high school, and trained her to attack. Full-grown, she was about 7feet long and weighed about 350 pounds. Teeth that can crush pine cones can also crush bones. Pigs are smarter than dogs, and can be trained to do much, much more. I'd like to see a batallion of trained attack pigs turned loose in Gaza...
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
02/20/2008 14:24 Comments ||
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#14
I was canoeing on Arkansas' Buffalo river in the spring of 1975: got out to take a stretch and was attacked by a wild boar (accompanied by her 3 kids) - I ran like hell for the canoe, jumped in and paddled mightily away. Those critters can be big and mean...
But I disagree the pigs: Worth every penny against elephants.
Never had a problem with elephants.
Posted by: Rob Crawford ||
02/20/2008 16:46 Comments ||
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#16
Don't forget the Soviet Mine Dogs of WW2. Now, if I could only find the ASL rules for them again.
Posted by: Eric Jablow ||
02/20/2008 20:51 Comments ||
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#17
Old Patriot: Pigs are smarter than dogs, and can be trained to do much, much more. I'd like to see a batallion of trained attack pigs turned loose in Gaza...
Agree OP, they are down right Clever!
Tips For those of you thinking about getting Special Force Hogs.. :)
Always keep 'em hungry, they be Deadly as hell then! And fiendishly persistent, for instance when a Paleo carries truffles or grub of any kind he's as good as ET!
Never fall asleep in the same room with them.. It's not nice to wake up being Eaten!!
":(
/you dirty minded types can just GO STRAIGHT TO THE SINK TRAP BY YOURSELVES!
The Israeli Air Forces 122 Nachshon special missions squadron has taken delivery of the Eitam a modified Gulfstream G-550 executive jet, fitted with the newest Israeli airborne early warning system (AEW & C) developed by Israels Elta Systems.
Crammed onto the new, extra-small Eitam platform is a long-range intelligence, target tracking and operational control system that can produce aerial pictures deep inside enemy territory, while warning attack formations of approaching threats.
Its electronic support measures (ESM) and communications equipment in support of AEW & C enable the Israeli Air Forces intelligence and electronic warfare arms to operate hundreds of kilometers inside enemy territory. Eitam can cover Syria, without leaving Israeli air space and target Iran from a great distance.
The new craft can stay airborne for 10 hours at the relatively safe altitude of 40,000 feet. It also has an in-flight refueling capacity.
This third-generation system developed by Israel Air Industries/Elta Phalcom is the first to be fitted into such a small airframe. Eitam is therefore a smaller target than the conventional, large and expensive AWACs craft. Wonder if India will be interested?
A 10-year-old boy was killed and two other minors were wounded Tuesday in an exchange of fire between Hamas gunmen and IDF Israeli troops in the central Gaza town of Deir el-Balah, Palestinian medics said. Palestinian security officials said army forces operating in the town came under heavy fire from Hamas. The troops shot back and the children were apparently shot in the crossfire, the officials said.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/20/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[5 views]
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#1
Sounds like they were being used as Human Shields by the brave Lions of Islam.....
#2
The other possibility is they were not caught IN the crossfire but were the Gaza shooters in the crossfire. If they can chop heads at 12 then they can certainly shoot a gun at 10.
British police halted their attempt to arrest a former Israeli general on war crimes charges following his arrival at London's Heathrow Airport in 2005, fearing an armed confrontation, according to a BBC report on Tuesday. Maj.-Gen. (res.) Doron Almog, former OC Southern Command, evaded arrest by heeding a warning not to disembark from an El Al flight in September 2005. British detectives were waiting to arrest him for allegedly ordering the demolition of Palestinian homes in Gaza in 2002.
The BBC claimed to have seen documents revealing that police were concerned about a clash with Israeli air marshals on the plane and thus Almog was able to return home. According to the BBC, documents show that the senior counter-terrorism officer responsible for the operation could not get confirmation that his team had the right to board the plane, and allegedly El Al refused them permission. "Another consideration was that El Al flights carried armed air marshals, which raised issues around public safety," explained Detective Supt. John MacBrayne, the head of the operation. "There was also no intelligence as to whether Almog would have been travelling with personal security as befitted his status, armed or otherwise."
MacBrayne concluded there were "real risks" to the police and to the public and he was concerned about the "international impact of a potentially armed police operation at an airport."
Posted by: Fred ||
02/20/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[7 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
What does a good cop do when he gets orders indicating his superiors are insane?
#2
Not an enviable position, I dunno, Quit probably, simple refusal will get him fired anyway.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
02/20/2008 11:52 Comments ||
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#3
Almog, former OC Southern Command, evaded arrest by heeding a warning not to disembark from an El Al flight in September 2005"
Seems like a good result all round: British police were ready to arrest him - which would have resulted in a hugely embarrassing diplomatic situation with potentially years of fall-out (think the Pinochet stupidity) - but he conveniently got tipped off to stay on the plane and, for good measure the officer responsible, no doubt accompanied by full-time airport police, conveniently if improbably 'could not get confirmation that his team had the right to board the plane'. Makes the police look daft but that;s a small price to pay.
#4
Palestinian campaigners have filed private criminal complaints of "war crimes" against Israel military personnel by using a loophole in Britain's Universal Jurisdiction Legislation, since the law does not require the "war criminals" to be citizens of Britain and the alleged crimes did not have to be committed on British soil. London law firm Hickman and Rose, led by Israeli-born lawyer Daniel Machover, has been able to successfully exploit the law.
So, if they scoop him, who puts him on trial? The Brits? The ICC? "Palestine"?
(Xinhua) -- A delegation from Hamas movement headed for Cairo for talks with the Egyptian officials on reopening a crossing point between the Hamas-ruled Gaza and Egypt, a Hamas website reported on Tuesday.
Reopening Rafah crossing, which was closed last June when Hamas took over Gaza by force, was the main purpose of the visit, according to Palmedia.net news website. The talks will also tackle several outstanding issues between the two sides that emerged after Hamas militants blew up the mutual borders in January, the report said without elaborating.
On Jan. 23, militants from Hamas' armed wing blew up fence walls at Egypt-Gaza borders, allowing thousands of Gazans to flock into the Egyptian side to stock up on basic necessities. Also in January, Hamas officials, headed by exiled leader Khaled Mashaal, held talks with Egypt over Rafah crossing. Hamas refuses to reopen the crossing according to an international deal that stipulates the presence of European Union monitors and security forces of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on the crossing. The Islamic movement insists that the crossing should reflect "pure Egyptian-Palestinian sovereignty."
Hamas ousted Abbas' Fatah movement and routed his security forces last June, seizing control of the coastal strip and drawing an unprecedented Israeli blockade.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/20/2008 00:00 ||
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(Xinhua) -- The deposed Hamas government Tuesday urged Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to stop his "playful" meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. "We call on and advise President Abbas to immediately halt these meetings which don't help the Palestinian people," said Taher al-Nounou, spokesman for the government that Abbas fired last June when Hamas took over Gaza Strip by force. "The meetings take place despite the continuation of the aggression, assassinations and the plans to make Jerusalem Jewish," al-Nounou continued.
Abbas and Olmert are due to meet in Jerusalem later in the day to discuss ways of speeding up negotiations that were resumed at a U.S.-hosted peace conference last November. "This meeting is one of the useless summits which only give justifications for the occupation to keep on its aggression and terror on the Palestinian people," al-Nounou added.
The discussions will take place as Olmert threatens to boost restrictions on fuel deliveries to the impoverished Hamas-run territory in response to the stepped-up rocket attacks against Israel. Al-Nounou said the Palestinian Presidency and Israel "have common interests to build pressure on the Palestinian (Hamas) government and force Gaza to give up."
Posted by: Fred ||
02/20/2008 00:00 ||
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[6 views]
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THE Indonesian Health Minister has said the United States and the World Health Organisation are part of a global conspiracy to profit from the spread of bird flu and the US may use samples to produce biological weapons.
The views of Dr Siti Fadilah Supari threaten to undermine efforts to control the spread of avian influenza. With 104 deaths, nearly half the world total, Indonesia is the new hotspot for the virus.
The views of Dr Siti Fadilah Supari, outlined in her new book, threaten to undermine efforts to control the spread of avian influenza. With 104 deaths, nearly half the world total, Indonesia is the new hotspot for the virus.
Despite claims by the minister that she has agreed to share virus samples and allow all nations access to resulting vaccines, Indonesia is still blocking sharing samples from human victims. Applications to send more than 200 samples from chickens to an Australian laboratory had also been refused, inquiries by the Herald have revealed.
In the book, Dr Supari writes that WHO laboratories forwarded influenza viruses to Western companies so they could profit by selling vaccines back to developing countries: "The system of world health management has been very exploitative. It has been controlled by inhumanly desires, based on the greediness to raise capital and to control the world."
Some Indonesian samples had been sent to a US Defence Department laboratory, Dr Supari says, adding that "some of our seed viruses had been in a laboratory known as a facility developing biological weapons in a superpower country".
Privately, officials said Dr Supari's belief that she was engaged on a God-driven crusade against an evil and "neo-colonialist" world health system - on the book's cover she describes herself as the "divine hand behind avian influenza" - had caused her to lose touch with reality.
The President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, appears to have endorsed the book, having written its introduction. Dr Yudhoyono supports Dr Supari's claim that the virus is under control in Indonesia, stating the "occurrence rate and the number of affected areas are decreasing".
The WHO declined to comment and no US officials were available.
#2
Since they seem to want avian flu to become pandemic there the world should quarantine the whole place. Nothing & no one in, nothing and no one out.
#7
Dr Supari writes that WHO laboratories forwarded influenza viruses to Western companies so they could profit by selling vaccines back to developing countries
This is beyond Moonbat Stupid, if you don't trust vaccines, die then, improve the gene pool.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
02/20/2008 13:31 Comments ||
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#8
How do we have time for that when we are concetrating resources in the Earthquake and Tsunami Division of H-B???????
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown offered Lebanese counterpart Fuad Saniora his full backing Tuesday in attempts to end a power struggle between his government and the Syrian-backed opposition led by Hizbullah.
Following talks in London, Brown offered support to the Lebanese prime minister and the Arab League in their efforts to end an impasse over the election of a new president. "His government has our strong support as it works to restore and strengthen the integrity of Lebanon's institutions, and to protect Lebanon's future as a tolerant and diverse democracy," Brown said in a statement issued after the meeting.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/20/2008 00:00 ||
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[6 views]
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(Xinhua) -- The Lebanese army said on Tuesday that anyone who attempts to destabilize Lebanon will be punished according to the law. "The existing law should be implemented," the army's spokesman Col. Amin Saleh told Xinhua, referring to elements of rival groups who were engaged in violent clashes last week. "Any one who tries to damage properties of the others will be arrested," he said, adding that "the task will be carried out by the Lebanese army and the security forces, each group will have to control its elements."
Street clashes erupted in western Beirut between pro-government supporters and Hezbollah-led opposition loyalties during the weekend, leaving 24 people injured, and setting shops and buildings ablaze. The troops stepped in to restore order.
Senior Lebanese intelligence officers met Monday with representatives from Hezbollah and Amal movement (opposition) and pro-government Mustaqbal Movement of MP Saad Hariri, The Daily Star reported on Tuesday. The conferees agreed to lift immunity of elements who get involved in any disturbance, said the report, adding that they also agreed to establish contacts on the ground to prevent renewal clashes. Following the weekend's violence, the military command warned against further clashes and pledged firm actions.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/20/2008 00:00 ||
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Top|| File under: Hezbollah
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.
(Xinhua) -- Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno appointed a close ally Mahamat Ali Abdallah Nassour as defense minister on Friday amid a state of emergency in this central African country. According to reports from N'Djamena, Chad's capital, soldiers and police tightened security and searched from house to house for rebels across the country. The new defense minister, Abdallah, previously the mining minister, had acted as head of government while Deby hid from the rebels storming the capital. 
Top US and North Korean nuclear negotiators met Tuesday to try to resolve a snag stalling the six-party talks aimed at ending Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions, but with no signs of a breakthrough, Japan's Kyodo News Agency reported from Beijing.
The leftist Socialist People's party leader gives the extremist group 
Airline KLM refused to take Geert Wilders on a flight to Moscow on Monday morning because of problems with the Freedom Party (PVV) leader's security. After consultation the delegation of which Wilders was a part departed for Russia without him. KLM says that the MP had "specific requests regarding his security." Since these requests had not been submitted to the airline in advance, they could not be met, a spokesperson said.
Norway's state police agency in charge of national security reported Tuesday that Islamic extremism "will represent a considerable challenge" for Norway in coming years, and that it sees "indications of rising radicalism" both inside and outside the country. 
Pakistani Opposition leader Nawaz Sharif said Tuesday that President Pervez Musharraf should step down after voters handed a devastating defeat to the ruling party in parliamentary elections. Sharif told reporters that Musharraf had said he would quit when people "want him to do so. And now the people have given their verdict."
Pakistan Tuesday formally lodged protest with the Danish government over re-publication of blasphemous cartoons in the Denmark newspapers. The Danish Charge d'Affaires was called to the Foreign Office by Akbar Zeb, Additional Secretary (Europe) to lodge a strong protest over the re-publication of the blasphemous cartoons in Denmark, said a foreign office statement.
Anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr threatened to lift a six-month cease-fire by the end of the week, officials said Wednesday a move that could send his Shiite militia fighters back out on the streets and jeopardize recent security gains that have led to a sharp decline in violence.
A 10-year-old boy was killed and two other minors were wounded Tuesday in an exchange of fire between Hamas gunmen and IDF Israeli troops in the central Gaza town of Deir el-Balah, Palestinian medics said. Palestinian security officials said army forces operating in the town came under heavy fire from Hamas. The troops shot back and the children were apparently shot in the crossfire, the officials said.
THE Indonesian Health Minister has said the United States and the World Health Organisation are part of a global conspiracy to profit from the spread of bird flu and the US may use samples to produce biological weapons.
In the book, Dr Supari writes that WHO laboratories forwarded influenza viruses to Western companies so they could profit by selling vaccines back to developing countries: "The system of world health management has been very exploitative. It has been controlled by inhumanly desires, based on the greediness to raise capital and to control the world."
