Drew: Nope, not making this up. Friggen dumb schills....
BRITISH troops are to scale back attacks on the Taliban after killing 7,000 insurgents in two years of conflict, defence sources said last week.
British paratroopers have returned to southern Afghanistan in increased numbers this month. For the first time, members from every battalion of the regiment will be fighting together on one battlefront. The paratroopers of 16 Air Assault Brigade killed at least 1,000 Taliban during their first deployment to Helmand province in 2006. Since then another 6,000 Taliban insurgents have been killed by British troops, the sources said.
The paratroopers commanders hope they can cut the deaths, which they fear are a boost for the Taliban when fighters recruited from the local population are killed, as the dead insurgents family then feels a debt of honour to take up arms against British soldiers. We aim to scale back our response to incidents to avoid getting sucked into a cycle of violence among local tribesmen, said one officer. This way we aim to continue the process of reducing the Talibans influence in Helmand.
#5
Ah the Basra doctrine, I say we ask them to leave the battle field then, The UK's Labor government doesn't know how to fight or win. Send them to Kosovo so we can pull our troops out. Let them not fight there.
#8
TOPIX > TELEGRAPH.UK > TURKEY: NATO MAKING A BIG MISTAKE IN AFGANISTAN. Winning "Hearts and Minds" more important than militarist force, plus FYI letting Turkey into the EU; + THE WAR WILL BE WON IN KABUL; + AVOIDING NATO: THE MILITANT'S NEW STRATEGY IN AFGHANISTAN. "Soft Targets" preferred???
#9
RUMORMILLNEWS > MUSHARAFF SEEKS RUSSIAN, CHINESE, ABD IRANIAN COLLABORATION IN DEFENSE, GAS, AFGHANISTAN.
IMO, 'Tis okay wid OSAMA BIN LADEN becuz his + Radical Islam's Jihad is headin' solely for RUSSIA-CHINA + SCO anyway. NO MATTER WHAT TERROR VIOLENCE HAPPENS IN ISRAEL ANDOR EUROPE, OSAMA'S TRUE TARGET = FOCII IS NOW SQUARELY RUSSIA + ASIA.
A coalition helicopter has supplied the Taliban militants with heavy weapons and food, says Ahmad Joyenda, Afghan parliamentary member.
"And it happened again, it was repeated on March 28, also in the same area. Although the National Security Department has said nothing, but the local people, they confirm [it], they are sure that it's true," Mir Ahmad Joyenda told Press TV in an exclusive interview on Monday.
"It's not the first time weapons are dropped there," he added rejecting the report by the head of Afghanistan's intelligence service Amrullah Saleh who told a parliament security committee that "the coalition helicopter dropped by mistake to Taliban militants food and weapons intended for a police checkpoint in a remote section of Zabul province."
"Mistakenly, it was dropped somewhere far from the checkpoint. Later, the Taliban came and picked it up," Saleh told reporters. "what does it mean the mistake? they wanted to bomb it but they actually dropped the weapons," the lawmaker commented.
Before the weapons were dropped, the area was already cordoned off by the US-led coalition forces, Joyenda explained adding, the local people said nobody was allowed to enter the area.
Earlier on Monday, Hamidullah Tukhi, a lawmaker from Zabul, told the security commission that the weapons were dropped 100 meters from the home of a Taliban commander named Mullah Mohammad Alam. He said the supply contained heavy machine guns, AK-47s, rockets and food.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/15/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
dropped 100 meters from the home of a Taliban commander
So now we know where he lives - 100 meters from where the weapons were dropped. I guess he'll have to move.
Al Qaeda and Taliban militants on the Afghan-Pakistani border are increasingly facing pressure on two fronts and they can be squeezed with more coordination between the neighbors, a U.S. official said on Monday.
Pakistani forces have also been fighting the militants, based in semi-autonomous tribal regions along the border, who have unleashed an unprecedented wave of violence in Pakistan since the middle of last year. "To some extent, the extremists in those areas are now fighting on two fronts," U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher told a news conference in Kabul. "They have to deal with pressures from the Pakistan side and the pressure from the Afghan side. The more we can do that in concert with each other, the more squeezed the al Qaeda and Taliban supporters in those areas will feel," said Boucher who makes regular trips to both Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Relations between the neighbors have been dogged by Afghan complaints Pakistan is not doing enough to wipe out Taliban sanctuaries and stop the flow of fighters and arms into Afghanistan.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/15/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Let's see now. There's Pak soldiers on the east. There's Afghan troops on the west. Then there's "made in USA" coming in from the sky. I count three fronts. God love 'em all.
Posted by: Jack Slineger4174 ||
04/15/2008 10:19 Comments ||
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(AKI) - Thousands of websites in the United Arab Emirates were blocked on Monday, according to an email statement sent by DU, one of the country's major Internet service providers, to all its users. The list of websites that have been blocked does not only include anti-Islam sites or those that are deemed morally inappropriate, but also various information sites such as the Arab Times.
In the past, only the Ittisalat Internet service provider blocked the access to sites that were considered "morally harmful". The Internet users in the free-trade zone of Jabal Ali and Media City, were excluded from the move to censure the websites.
Limiting access to the Internet in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East is not a new phenomenon. A joint report carried out by Oxford, Cambridge, Toronto and Harvard universities listed Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Tunisia and Yemen in a list of countries that filter out websites. A well-known Saudi blogger, Fuad Ahmed al Foran, was jailed last December for criticising the government in Riyadh in his blog and a Bahraini blogger and human rights activist, Abdullah Mohsen, was also recently arrested.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/15/2008 00:00 ||
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Suspected terrorist Abdullah Ahmed Ali is alleged to have vowed "to teach the West a lesson it will never forget" during a 16-minute video recording played out at his trial in the UK.
Eight men, all in their twenties and from London, deny that they planned to kill thousands by detonating home-made bombs on mid-air transatlantic flights in August 2006.
Prosecutors say the footage shows 27-year old Ali wearing a black and white headscarf in front of a black flag with Arab script.
It is claimed six defendants in total recorded suicide videos. The tapes were allegedly found in the car of one of the accused, while copies were found in his garage. Eight men, all in their twenties and from London, deny that they planned to kill thousands by detonating home-made bombs on mid-air transatlantic flights in August 2006.
The suspects' arrests sparked major disruption to British and European airports, with hundreds of flights grounded. The men are accused of planning to assemble bombs using chemicals smuggled on board in soft drinks containers. Airlines swiftly brought in new limits on the amount of liquids and gels allowed in hand baggage.
#2
Try it again, Ali. Just to make sure that we really learn your lesson.
Posted by: Jack Slineger4174 ||
04/15/2008 9:43 Comments ||
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#3
I wonder what the Arab script on that black flag says and why the reporter felt it was unworthy of getting translated. I mean the guy put it prominently in his suicide video and everything.
#8
In the video, Mr Ali, 27, said: Sheikh Osama warned you many times to leave our lands or you will be destroyed and now the time has come for you to be destroyed.
Mr Alis 16-minute tirade was delivered as he sat in front of a black flag, wearing a chequered headscarf and a black shirt. The video was filmed at a flat in Walthamstow, east London, which Mr Ali and his associates allegedly turned into their bomb factory.
On screen he became intensely animated, jabbing his finger at the camera and pausing twice to mop sweat from his face with a towel.
Off screen a voice, which was not identified, was heard asking Mr Ali to explain why he was prepared to take part in the attacks despite the fact that innocent people would die.
Mr Ali responded: "You show more care and concern for animals than you do for the Muslim ummah [the Islamic nation]. Those who know me, who really know me, will know that I was the happiest person that they could ever have imagined and those that know me know that I was over the moon that Allah has given me this opportunity to lead this blessed operation.
Thanks to God I swear by Allah, I have the desire since the age of 15 or 16 to participate in Jihad in the path of Allah. I had the desire since then to punish the kuffar [unbeliever] for the evil they are doing. I had the desire since then for Jannah [paradise] for the Koran. I want to go to my prophet and his companions. Leave us alone. Stop meddling in our affairs and we will leave you alone."
#9
Leave us alone. Stop meddling in our affairs and we will leave you alone
Works with me!!!
But first...
Stop using the oil WE discovered and exploited (and created an use for in the first place anyway), and resultant oil money and influence to subvert and bully and even sometimes wage war against us;
AND
Stop playing the victim card handed to you by our own guilt-mongering fifth column, to fuel resentment and even hatred among your rubes against us, and tell them that if your societies are dysfunctional and less advanced than others, it is because we wronged you and we must pay for that, forever and for all times;
AND
Stop immigrating in mass to our own homelands, after chazing us from yours (and once here, being culturally assertive and disrespectful - up to and including fostering civil unrest, rampant criminality, anti-white racism, sexual predation, overuse of our collapsing welfare - to the host country, way more like colonizers than migrants).
Once that is done, we may live as equal, and never interract again, except for the necessary economical exchanges (but see first point). As I said, that's what I'd prefer (and with some adjustment, it works for all third world countries, islamic or not).
Stop claiming rights over our own achievements (asserting that they were made possible only because we were taught by you, and/or because we plundered you and impoverished you) and saying that you are culturally superior;
AND
Stop asserting that our own homelands are bound to be eventually conquered (for our own good, because your religion/civilization is superior) and added to the already long list of territories you stole from other people and then eventually ruined and made miserable after you pressured the original inhabitants to exhaustion and poverty and drove them into minority status or exctinction, all this said over and over by your Learned Elders big and small, in accordance to islamic prophecies and tradition, and what you see as favorable historical circumstances.
And I could even add too that the population growth of the muslim world (regardless of shrinking birthrate in several countries, I mean generally, as the majority of the coming human global population growth is going to be from muslim and/or african countries) has been made possible solely thanks to the West's scientific advances.
Just for the record, back in the 19th, in french-colonized north africa, good samaritans were very worried that the natives were eventually going to go extinct, as birthrates were low due to the dire living conditions (farming methods were less advanced than what was found in Europe in the dark ages, with bottom productivity and zero structural develoment, islam had brought what were once very rich and fertile areas back in antiquity down to near stone age standards), and mortality rates were high, especially among children.
And now, you've got the algerian authorities saying that algeria was as advanced as France when it was colonized, with a more advanced political tradition, and that all the woes of algeria are due to french imperialism. Nice.
#13
I wonder if he considers Britain part of his "lands"? Because it's not. Maybe he should return to his "land". When he gets out in about 50 years.
Saw the pictures of these mooks. The all look like Richard Reid types. The "I'm to stupid to light a fuckin match" types.
#14
Tu - Mohammhead didn't have matches so there isn't any need for the Moose-limbs to have any 'fuckin matches' either :)
And to add to Anymous'es excellent rant....
And stop insisting that we suffer your hatred, your hate speech in your mosque's every friday, your incitement to murder and kill innocents, destroy cultural icons - all in the name of your pathetic 'god' -- all the while you call for the murder of anyone who disagrees with you or your 'god'.
Your insistance that we surrender our freedom of speech simply because your religion, your 'god' is so pathetic that it/he cannot take any competitiion - not even that of a stupid cartoon.
Your lecturing on the immodesty of our women just because you are so sexually immature that an exposed ankle turns you into a raging sex-maniac who can't stop himself from raping whatever woman (or boy) the hapless ankle belongs too. You may choose to treat your women like cattle (or even worse) but we choose not to. Stop insisting that we do.
Almost unnoticed amid the wide-scale protests by Tibetans over the past month is the social unrest among the roughly 8 million Muslim Uighurs in China's resource-rich far western territory.
Recently, hundreds of Muslim women in black veils gathered outside the market in this oasis city in an impromptu protest. Some carried signs demanding an independent state in the region, which is rich in oil, coal and minerals. "I saw the demonstration myself. There were 500 to 700 women in black, waving placards for East Turkestan," said Wu Jiangliang, a hydroelectric company employee. Police moved quickly to quell the March 23 protest, arresting numerous women and shooing others away. It drew only minor notice.
China also has broken up what it said were two terrorist rings that intended to disrupt the Beijing Olympics and thwarted what it said was a terrorist attempt last month on a commercial airliner.
As the state employed a firm hand against restive Uighurs, pronounced WEE-gers, they also publicly demonized those behind the unrest. Critics say that while the state has stabilized ethnic areas, the harsh language may exacerbate tensions. "The problem is that China's policies are alienating," said Nicholas Bequelin, a Hong Kong-based researcher for Human Rights Watch, an advocacy group. "They are efficient in that political repression works. But they increase ethnic tensions."
Conversations in the marketplaces and along the sandy streets of this city reveal that Han Chinese and Uighurs live side by side but share little except mistrust and fear. "I don't have Chinese friends," said a Uighur shopkeeper who identified herself only as Ayguzal. "Chinese people never come in here."
Since 2006, controls have stiffened. Muslim shopkeepers aren't allowed to pray in their stores, and state employees are discouraged from practicing any religion.
Tensions in Khotan rose early this year when state security arrested a prominent Uighur jade merchant, Mutallip Hajim, who was known to help young Muslim students. On March 3, police gave Hajim's body to his family, saying he had died of a heart attack. He was 38.
#3
Goverment importation of ethnic Han into the area to increase both presence and rational for whatever "protecting" needs to be done.
Posted by: steven ||
04/15/2008 9:25 Comments ||
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#4
A friend of mine went to this area several years back, and it resembles nothing like what we think of as China. The people do resemble the citizens of the "istans" a LOT more than Chinese. And, even though it's majority Muslim, he was more scared of the Chinese *police* than the locals.
Posted by: BA ||
04/15/2008 9:30 Comments ||
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#5
Sad to say it but the Chinese plan of ethnic cleansing by getting Han into Tibet and East Turkestan is a good one, if the Chinese government lasts long enough to see it through.
If the ChiCom government falls we'll get Yugoslavia like ethnic cleansing in both areas.
Former French movie star Brigitte Bardot went on trial Tuesday in Paris on charges of "inciting racial hatred" by using a Muslim slur.
Prosecutors asked the court to give the former sex symbol a two-month suspended prison sentence and fine her $23,760 for saying Muslims were "destroying our country and imposing its acts," according to Reuters. "I am a little tired of prosecuting Mrs. Bardot," Prosecutor Anne de Fontette told the court.
Then why are you?
This is the fifth such trial for the blonde, best known for her films of the 1950s and '60s. She has been fined four times for inciting racial hatred. "I am fed up with being under the thumb of this population which is destroying us, destroying our country and imposing its acts," Bardot said, according to Reuters.
Anti-racist groups had complained about comments the star had made about the Muslim feast of Eid al-Adha, which requires the slaughtering of a sheep or other animal. Bardot is a prominent animal rights activist.
Bardot's previous actions include the writing a book that attacked gays, immigrants and the unemployed.
Posted by: tu3031 ||
04/15/2008 16:57 ||
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#1
somebody send the prosecutors to ride point in Mosul
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
04/15/2008 19:26 Comments ||
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#7
No, Jim, but she was not on trial for slander. She was on trial for saying bad things about Muslims, which in France, is considered to be inciting racial hatred, even though Islam is a religion, not a race.
Posted by: Rambler in California ||
04/15/2008 19:47 Comments ||
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#8
Is BB the only person in France who doesn't have her head in the sand? I hope not.
Don't think so. Yea, there is a lot of leftists embedded in a judicial branch (same in US, Canada, UK, you name it). But the pressure cooker seems to be gathering the steam inside and one day, the valve won't help anymore. I'd think that French would be probably more inclined to go ballistic, than, for instance, Swedes, or I hate to say it, Brits. Sarky is sometimes a semi-waffle, but for the most part, I think he is keenly aware of the danger and so far, bare few steps back, he is mostly going forward, starting with rebuilding bridges with US that his pusillanimous predecessor burned so thoroughly.
I see the counter-islam slowly building up. Strangely, more so in places that one would assume they would be succumbing quickly. Maybe it is the exposure. There is way more islamists in France than in UK and yet, UK seems to be crumbling right in front of your eyes. The counter-islamist movement in Turkey seems to be on the rise, the honeymoon with AKP is over and islamists are starting to be now on a defensive. In Iraq, many young people got thoroughly disillusioned, seeing the islamism first hand. Mind you, they were not indoctrinated in leftism (western style, guilt ridden, appeasing, spineless), so chances are that a strong secular core is growing there as we speak. Will take a time to establish itself, perhaps 10 years, but it is irreversible, I think.
Silvio Berlusconi wasted no time in naming key cabinet posts Tuesday, a day after his emphatic victory in Italian elections, as he vowed to crack down on illegal immigrants and a criminal "army of evil."
The media tycoon said his full cabinet would take shape within a week, to include Franco Frattini, the current justice commissioner of the European Union, as foreign minister and longtime aide Gianni Letta as deputy prime minister. The Milan billionaire, who won a third term as premier by a solid margin on Monday, said the crucial economy portfolio would go to Giulio Tremonti, who served in the role under his previous government.
Berlusconi, 71, vowed to cooperate with Italy's neighbours in "deporting non-EU citizens who are here and do not have work or home and are forced into crime in order to live."
"We need to step up neighbourhood police who can be an army of good ... placing themselves between the Italian people and the army of evil," Berlusconi said in a telephone interview with Rai Uno television.
The main challenge facing the new government is to pull Italy out of a deepening economic slump. More than half of Italians surveyed at the end of March -- 51.4 percent, way up from 36 percent a year ago -- felt that their personal economic situation had worsened. The economy grew just 1.5 percent last year, and the outlook for 2008 is bleaker still at 0.6 percent.
Berlusconi said he had no plans to rest before taking up his duties as prime minister for the third time since 1994. "I'm at my desk at 7:15 and am bursting with energy from all my pores. I'm not tired at all, I just have a hoarse voice, which is understandable."
Praise and criticism began pouring in on Tuesday, with US President George W. Bush saying he was eager to work again Berlusconi who was one of Bush's strongest European allies, notably in the run-up to the Iraq war.
Under Berlusconi, Italy contributed troops to the March 2003 invasion despite massive opposition at home.
The Italian billionaire will be a precious ally to opponents of a strong euro and of European budgetary discipline, notably for French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who vowed to "deepen the traditional bond of friendship" between their two countries.
And Russian President Vladimir Putin will likely be the first to congratulate Berlusconi in person, with plans to stop in Italy on Thursday as part of one of the Russian leader's final trips before he steps down on May 7, the Kremlin said.
In Brussels, German euro MP Martin Schultz, head of the Socialists in the EU parliament, warned that Berlusconi's alliance with the "extreme-right, openly xenophobic" Northern League party, represented a "real danger for Italy and for Europe."
(AKI) - (by Hamza Boccolini) - One of the most popular Jihadist web forums, the al-Qaeda linked Ekhlas website, has launched a section in Italian. Ekhlas was previously entirely in Arabic.
Ekhlas' Italian section appears to take the place of the blog of the former imam of the northern Italian city of Carmagnola, Abdul Qadir Fadlallah Mamour and his wife, Barbara Farina. Mamour's blog, which was shut down by the Italian postal police on 22 February, was the first al-Qaeda website in Italian.
Managing the content of this new Italian section of Ekhlas is a figure that goes by the name Nahir al-Murtadin, which in Arabic means "killer of apostates". He does not appear to have a good command of the Italian language.
The inaugural posting on the new Italian language page is a welcome message. "In the name of Allah, the compassionate, the merciful, praise to Allah. Allah who guides us in the way of the Koran and of the Sunnah. The forum Al-Ekhlas begins an Italian section today. In the name of the administration of the forum, I encourage all our brothers and sisters who have knowledge of the Italian language to bring life to this section."
Currently, only a dozen people, have taken part in the new forum, including four or five who are residents in Italy. All of them show a less than perfect command of written Italian. Among the forum participants is a posting from Brahim33 who, writing in ungrammatical Italian, talks about the "lives of Arab Muslims in this country [Italy], where there are few who love [al-Qaeda leader] Bin Laden and who love the mujahadeen." He talks about how "they have fear when I speak to them of Jihad in Afghanistan, in Iraq. They give you a look and they think that you're a terrorist."
Among the first few topics of discussion in the Italian section of was the conversion to Christianity last month of the deputy director of Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, Magdi Allam. Two articles on Allam's conversion to Christianity during Easter this year were posted on the site, both highly critical of the media emphasis on the Egyptian journalist's conversion.
The first article was taken from an Italian blog written by "Dragor" while the second is an article published by a Roman Muslim, Amina Salina, and was published on the website Dialogo.net. The site follows inter-religious dialogue in Italy.
The new section of the forum also had postings which appear to confirm its ideological and organisational links to Mamour, who managed the first al-Qaeda website in Italian.
The second document posted in this new section is in fact the Italian translation of a recent audio message by Bin Laden, threatening European countries, which had already appeared on the blog run by Mamour. Another posting has the theme of "Arab names" which has been published in the past by the blog of Barbara Farina, who goes by the name of Umm Osama [mother of Osama] in jihadist circles.
On 22 February, the Italian postal police closed four pro-Islamic blogs which posted proclamations by al-Qaeda leaders in Italy and which were hosted by Splinder, an Italian web server. The Digos, Italy's anti-terrorist police, in Verona, charged seven people in connection with the closure of the blogs. The main blog was managed from Senegal by Mamour, who had already been expelled from Italy. The second blog was linked to his wife, and was also managed from Senegal. The other two pro-Islamic blogs were managed from within Italy.
The seven people charged by Digos police were all Italians, who had no prior criminal records, and were all caught up within the web of Islamic proselytism through the blog Qital, which was managed by Mamour. All four of these blogs were written in Italian, and called on Muslims to wage "a holy war against the unbelieving Westerners".
The blogs praised the deeds of the mujahadeen and also published the messages by Bin Laden and his second in command, Ayman al Zawahiri, after every attack that was carried out by al-Qaeda. However it will be more difficult to close this type of website as Ekhlas, like all other Arabic language sites, is hosted by web servers that are not located in Italy.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/15/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
See also FREEREPUBLIC > ISLAMIC MILITANTS DEMEAN POPE, THREATEN ROME.
Instapundit has a podcast interview. Well done, Rantburgers! It certainly looks like lots of people no longer get their information about the war on terror from the main stream media.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
04/15/2008 19:08 Comments ||
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#3
Finished it last night - there were some entries from his blog, but nested in new material. For those who haven't read his blog regularly, it will be an eye-opener from what they get from the MSM. Good pics of the Kurilla incident. Well worth the $. He and Totten rule!
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/15/2008 19:15 Comments ||
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#4
From the Publisher
I HAVE NEVER BEEN PROUDER TO PUBLISH A BOOK
Michael Yon changed my mind about the war in Iraq, by making me understand it for the first time.
From the very beginning I was against the war. I thought it would be a disaster, another Vietnam. And until I had the privilege of working on this book with Michael I was always for immediate pull-out: why should one more American die for a doomed effort?
Michael--who is as close to totally non-political as anyone I know--showed me two things. First, because I judged by Vietnam, the war of my youth, I had radically underestimated what American soldiers could do. I knew they could blow away any regular opponent on any battlefield. But wage a counterinsurgency against an enemy with broad support in the population? Win the "hearts and minds," to use the Vietnam era phrase that now can be used only ironically? That was asking too much, I thought.
I was 100 percent wrong. Today's American soldiers excel at counterinsurgency, because they excel at the most important thing: winning over the people by inspiring them with their own courage and compassion, discipline and determination. Reading this book is like watching the movie Apocalypse Now, but in an alternate universe in which the opposite always happens. Every time our soldiers get into an incredibly tense situation with some Iraqis who might be friends or might be enemies or murderers, some situation in which what's needed is amazing calm and courage to keep things from blowing up and ending in a blood bath, our guys pull it off!
Just wait until you read the Chapter "High Noon" (my favorite), the story of the American soldiers who have to arrest a corrupt but politically popular Iraqi police chief we had put in office in the first place because he had been a real hero in fighting the terrorists. He had to be removed by Americans to show the Iraqis we really did believe in the rule of law. The whole thing could have blown up into a one-town civil war with hundreds dead on both sides. Won't tell you how it ends, but you will be amazed and very proud.
The other thing Michael helped me understand is the difference between terrorists we just have to kill (often foreigners, or local criminals) and local insurgents we should have been working with all along. For almost five years I could not tell from watching the news--and certainly not from listening to the Administration--who the enemy was, what they wanted or why they were fighting. Not surprisingly it turns out that understanding the various people we were fighting--some of whom have since become great allies--was the key to winning the war, which we are now clearly doing.
I am convinced that everything I once thought about the war was wrong. The truth is we are doing a great thing in Iraq, most of the Iraqi people really do want to be a united democratic nation and already consider America their greatest friend and ally. It would be a crime to turn tail now and abandon them now.
I owe all that to Michael's book, which is why I believe publishing Moment of Truth in Iraq may be the best thing I have ever done for my country.
#5
Its a shame more "middle America" has never heard the real story of the war (that Yon tells), and just as bad, its a shame that liberals are generally too hostile to even listen and too stupid to consider that they were WRONG (excepting a few rare ones, like the publisher above)
Pakistan has decided to approach friendly countries such as China, Saudi Arabia and others to generate $500 million to $1 billion in the current fiscal year, in a bid to mitigate financial woes owing to rising petroleum, wheat and palm oil prices.
Isn't that what their new Swedish AWAACs aircraft cost? Or the new French attack submarine they bought? Or the 3 frigates they are buying from China?
The finance ministry has projected to generate additional $2.5 billion till June 30, in order to control the dwindling foreign currency reserves that have already fallen to around $13 billion. The foreign currency reserves of various banks are around $2.5 billion and the remaining precious reserves are with the central bank.
Islamabad is going to launch convertible bonds by offering OGDC shares in the international market to generate approximately $1 billion, as well as issuing GDRs of National Bank of Pakistan to generate $500 million before June 30, 2008, official sources in the finance ministry confirmed while talking to The News here on Monday.
To bridge the remaining gap of $1 billion out of the total projected additional inflows of $2.5 billion, sources said that the coalition government is set to approach China, Saudi Arabia and other friendly states to achieve its desired objective in the remaining two and a half months.
President Musharraf is currently visiting China where he discussed the possibility of bilateral loan on soft terms and conditions with Beijing authorities, the sources said. Musharrafs six-day visit to China ending April 15 is his first trip abroad since a new government packed with opponents was sworn in last month.
Chinas foreign currency reserves are over $1500 billion and Beijing is among the capital exporting countries. China may provide $500 million in loans to Islamabad in order to remove the financial woes due to higher POL and commodities prices.
Pakistans oil import bill has surged by $3 billion so far against its budgetary estimates, and wheat import also burdened the economy by $1 billion, sources maintained.
Sources added that Finance Minister Ishaq Dar would give final touches to the proposed strategy for seeking financial assistance. Assistance from Saudi Arabia would come in the shape of deferred oil payment and in various forms from other friendly countries in the next two months, to accomplish the required homework before the scheduling of any high-level visit of leaders.
The sources also said that Pakistan Development Forum (PDF) is likely to be held in May 2008. Representatives of bilateral and multilateral donors will participate in this upcoming event to be held in Islamabad, to give a detailed input to creditors for generating the desired amount in a short span of time.
Answering a query about the Finance Ministrys expected inflows from the multilateral creditors in the remaining months of the current fiscal year, sources said that Islamabad would get assistance from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank as per schedule. However, additional funding on immediate basis could not be arranged from multilateral creditors.
Although, the official said that there is a possibility to arrange commodities related financing from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB). We will present all the proposals before the Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, who will give his final approval about the future course of action for generating $2.5 billion additional financing, a high-level official in the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) said. He added that the finance minister would decide this crucial issue after his return from attending the WB, IMF annual spring meeting currently underway in Washington, USA.
Posted by: john frum ||
04/15/2008 07:17 ||
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#1
Expense vouchers to Uncle Sam for a few more fake offensives against the taliban ought to cover the shortfall.
Posted by: ed ||
04/15/2008 7:40 Comments ||
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#2
Islamabad is going to launch convertible bonds by offering OGDC shares in the international market to generate approximately $1 billion,"
Bet the whole world's lining up for these 'investment grade' securities as we speak...
A Lashkar-e-Taiba operative, arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police in February, has provided investigators with new insights into the command-level architecture of the 2006 Mumbai serial bombings that claimed 209 lives.
Sabahuddin Ahmed told the interrogators that the bombings were executed under the command of Mohammad Yusuf, code-named Muzammil, who controls the Lashkars military operations outside Jammu and Kashmir. Lashkars overall military chief Mohammad Azam Cheema supervised the operation.
Ahmeds testimony corroborates the findings of the Mumbai Police, which said the bombings were executed by Pakistani Lashkar operatives with assistance from members of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). By Ahmeds account, the Lashkar saw the Mumbai attacks as a model operation, since Indian investigators were unable to link its perpetrators to Pakistan.
While several Indians including Mumbai residents Mohammad Faisal Sheikh, his brother Muzammil Rehman Sheikh and former SIMI Maharashtra general-secretary Ehtesham Siddiqui are now being tried for their alleged role in the citys suburban train system, none of the Pakistani perpetrators could be arrested or conclusively identified.
Sabahuddin, who allegedly commanded the Lashkar cell that attacked the Indian Institute of Science and a Central Reserve Police Force camp in 2007, worked at the Lashkars central offices during 2006-2007. He later became the firstand so far, onlyIndian known to have commanded a Lashkar cell involving Pakistani nationals.
Mumbais Anti-Terrorism Squad is also investigating the possible role of the SIMIs former general-secretary, Safdar Nagori, in the Mumbai bombings. He was held at Indore last month along with 13 other SIMI leaders who, police allege, were involved in recruiting and training new cadre for the Lashkar-led jihad at camps across southern, central and western India.
Questioned after being administered hypnosis-inducing drugs, Nagori said he was present in Mumbai at the time of the bombingssuggesting a possible link between the SIMIs leadership and the terror strikes. He was known to have participated in a meeting at Ujjain a week before the bombings, where the SIMI discussed plans to escalate the jihad.
However, police sources familiar with the investigation said Nagoris statement has not, so far, been corroborated by material evidence or the confessional statements of close associates, including the Sheikh brothers and Siddiqui. While narco-analysis was a key tool in the bombings investigation, it is known that it elicited fantasies and false statements from several suspects.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/15/2008 00:00 ||
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#7
As if I gave a damn what they thought or think. The sooner we tell those turban-wearing, goat-fornicating death cultists EXACTLY what we think of them, the sooner they'll get the message.
Posted by: Thaimble Scourge of the Pixies4707 ||
04/15/2008 8:52 Comments ||
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#8
Hate to break it to you A-rabs, but we see NO light when we look down the tunnel. All is very dark. If we ever figure out some alternatives to your oilpatch, you better start packin' your camels.
#9
The "poor light" is due to less illumination - from the hate-filled distorted press of Hamas and other Arab outlets, to the blind stupidity of Islam, its no wonder they have a "poor light" to see us by; their entire world view is dim.
#11
In the Arab world, the results of a poll are largely determined by who took the poll. With all the violence against those with dissenting views, sensible people either tell the pollsters what they think they want to hear or they duck the questions entirely. So, who took the poll? It was conducted by a Univ. of Maryland prof and Zogby Intl. They polled in Saudia Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Lebanon, and the UAE. Any questions? Doesn't seem too hard to predict the results without doing the ground work. Polls of people who are not free to dissent are meaningless.
Posted by: Jack Slineger4174 ||
04/15/2008 10:34 Comments ||
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#12
A) I don't believe UN/MSM/Liberal polls
B) They asked the terrorists how they felt
C) Duh! What other responses would they expect?
#16
That's a pity, RJ, because it should be very short. As in, "there ain't a hope in Hell that those people would be stupid enough to let any of us come over to their country to screw it up like we've done this one" short. We should ban all Muslim immigration for any reason and justify it by claiming we're protecting against a common (to Muslims) mental disease--Sudden Jihad Syndrome.
Posted by: Thaimble Scourge of the Pixies4707 ||
04/15/2008 17:48 Comments ||
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#17
They have mistaken me for someone who gives a rat's ass.
BAGHDAD - US and Iraqi forces plan to stay put in a southern sector of Baghdads Sadr City where they are battling militiamen rather than push deeper into the Shiite bastion, a top US general said on Monday. There are no plans to go beyond where we are, said Major General Jeffery Hammond, commander of US forces in Baghdad.
Hammond said the main aim of the push into Sadr City was to stop lethal rockets that are being fired from Sadr City towards the heavily-fortified Green Zone, the seat of the Iraqi government and US embassy. My aim is to push the 107-mm rockets out of the range, Hammond told a group of journalists from Western media outlets on Monday.
Hammond said the strategy of the security forces was paying dividends and that it was becoming more difficult for the criminals to fire off rockets and mortars.
Posted by: Steve White ||
04/15/2008 00:00 ||
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#2
As opposed to those new, nerfed, non-lethal rockets which just give migraines to everyone within a hundred yards of the impact point.
Posted by: Mitch H. ||
04/15/2008 6:26 Comments ||
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#3
May sound wimpy at first, but after some reflection, a perfect strategy: their sacred Islamic pride wounded, the outraged and insulted Lions of Islam (sic) will hurl themselves against the accursed crusader infidels, coming out from behind the skirts and shorts of women and children in doing so.
Increased security brought about by military success against insurgents in the western portion of Iraqs Anbar province is enabling a drawdown of U.S. forces there as well as enhanced regional reconstruction efforts, a senior Marine commander told Pentagon reporters today. Our troops are, by a f'n mile, the best in the world. Give them a mission and stay the F*CK out of the way
The insurgents, by and large, have been killed marginalized in western Anbar, Marine Corps Col. Pat Malay, commander of Regimental Combat Team 5, told Pentagon reporters during a satellite-carried news conference from Camp Ripper, Iraq. Malays area of operations comprises about 30,000 square miles, an area about the size of South Carolina.
During a previous Iraq tour in Fallujah two years ago, Malay recalled, multitudes of foreign fighters were entering western Iraq from Syria. Today, there are very few foreign fighters in his area of operations, he observed. "They know when the come through here, we kill them."
Quite frankly, I think weve killed a lot of them, and I think that the enemy is having a more difficult time recruiting to the numbers that they have in the past, Malay said. In addition, foreign fighters no longer are transiting across the Syrian border into Anbar province, the colonel said. "Can you hear me now?"
With insurgents on the run in western Anbar province, the resultant reduced violence has enabled a drawdown of U.S. forces in his sector, Malay said. Three of his commands five battalions have rotated home over the past three months, he noted.
With insurgents on the run in western Anbar province, the resultant reduced violence has enabled a drawdown of U.S. forces in his sector, Malay said. W00t! W00t! "We have killed all of the enemy we can find, and there seem to be few left, so we are going home. Out." So, only 2 battalions of Marines cover the former "Kaliphate". SPIT! F'n cowardly punks deserving only death.
......clip.....
Citing recent humanitarian assistance efforts in Anbar province, Malay pointed to the story of Amenah, a 2-year-old Iraqi girl from Haditha who was flown to the United States in February for surgery on her ailing heart. Surgeons at Monroe Carell Jr. Childrens Hospital at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., were able to correct Amenahs congenital heart defect, Malay said. Today, Amenah is a healthy little girl, he noted, while the Haditha hospital is now receiving much-needed upgrades so it can attend to other sick children. Where we save little girls and the good Sgt. Frank W and his Marines kicked ass and took names...until the f'n spitLAWYERS and John 'rat-f*ck' Murtha slandered these fine boys.
The American public should be very proud of U.S. servicemembers efforts in Anbar province, Malay said. Amen, brother.
Theyre the next great generation, and they are winning here, Malay said of the Marines, sailors, airmen and soldiers serving in Anbar. Its mind-boggling; the changes that have taken place here. Semper Fi, Marines. Good to have you home.
Posted by: Brett ||
04/15/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Don't forget to thank the Guard and Reserve folks that backed those Marines up. The Army Reserve Combat Engineer unit where I was once a member lost several folks supporting in Anbar (looking for ied's, found them). The combat engineer is in front of the infantry so they can get to the battle. And the Air Guard unit I belonged to at a later date flew those A-10's everyone likes so much. (OK; I kind of mixed the services a bit but I am proud of the folks I served with and their kid's who were there when 9/11 popped)(Yup; I'm prejudiced).
#2
Thanks, Tipover, for your service and for reminding us that it isn't just the Marines who are protecting us. All of our armed service personnel have a job to do that fits into the most incredible fighting force ever.
Posted by: Jack Slineger4174 ||
04/15/2008 10:03 Comments ||
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Radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr is demanding the Iraqi government reinstate all security forces fired for abandoning their duty in recent fighting.
That's make sense. Not a lot of sense, but sense. Of a sort...
The powerful cleric said Monday the forces were obeying their religious leaders and should be honored for their devotion.
In that case, shouldn't their religious leaders be signing their paychecks?
Iraqi officials dismissed 1,300 soldiers and policemen Sunday for refusing to fight against Shi'ite militias in Basra and other Shi'ite strongholds. Authorities have admitted some of the soldiers and police handed over their weapons and equipment to the militias, including al-Sadr's Mahdi Army.
So what, precisely, would be their worth as soldiers and policemen?
Posted by: Fred ||
04/15/2008 00:00 ||
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Tater is in no position to demand jack sh*t. He got his a$$ handed to him on a platter, and even his Iranian sugar daddies are smart enough to cut their losses and show him the way to the egress.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
04/15/2008 1:08 Comments ||
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#2
Heh! You've got to admire the nerve of the little shit! The GOI should issue a counter-demand that he replace the black wheel on his head with a set of Playboy bunny ears.
I look forward to grooming it. And maybe selling it to a glue factory.
Posted by: Mitch H. ||
04/15/2008 6:28 Comments ||
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#5
memo from Iraq army command........the element of surprise in future operations requires that we give the chain of command split orders so that each faction within our structure will compromise any operation to only 50% probability.
#6
lotta work to embed that many Mahdi spies and fifth columnists, now they've thrown away their worth. Tater's pissed. Good. F*ck him
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/15/2008 7:43 Comments ||
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#7
Some say he's being kicked out of Iran 'cuz the Mahdis lost. Mebbe he says hes returning to Najaf & Karbala in triumph, like MacArthur to the Philippines, 'cuz his guys won. This has to be sorted out somehow. Any ideas?
(AKI) - A large amount of Iranian-made heavy weapons have been discovered in the port city of Basra in southern Iraq, according to Iraq's defence minister Abdel Qader Jassim. "Weapons made in Iranian factories were found in some of the arms depots of the rebels forces," said Jassim in an interview with the Iraqi newspaper al-Sabah. "These weapons reached Iraq directly from Iran and it makes us think that the authorities in the Islamic Republic had authorised its transfer to our country," he said. "Someone in Tehran is pulling the strings of the revolt by the Shia extremists with the aim of destabilising Iraq."
The declaration of the Iraqi minister comes after statements made two weeks ago by an American military spokesman on Iran's direct involvement in the attacks on Baghdad's fortified Green Zone and other clashes in Najaf and Basra between the Iraqi security forces and the militias of radical Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/15/2008 00:00 ||
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Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter laid a wreath of red roses at the grave of Palestinian Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat during a visit to the West Bank City of Ramallah on Tuesday. I'd have laid a "wreath" of summin' else.
"He and Mrs. Carter and his son Jeff wanted to pay their respects to President Arafat," Carter's trip director Rick Jasculca told Cybercast News Service. But the former president didn't make any comments there, he said. Which "former President," Jimmuh or Arafish?
Dubbed the "godfather of terrorism," Arafat was linked to the deaths of two American diplomats in the Sudan in 1973 -- one of many terror acts laid at his feet. Twenty years later, Arafat became the first PLO leader to sign a peace agreement with an Israeli Prime Minister -- Yitzhak Rabin -- in 1993. He was considered Israel's peace partner (although many Israelis never believed it) until the beginning of the violent Palestinian uprising in September 2000. Arafat managed the terror war against Israel until his death in 2004. I guess Suha Arafat's still too busy in Paris shopping?
U.S. officials have emphasized that Carter is visiting the Middle East as a private citizen and not as a representative of the U.S. government. If only they'd follow that up with revoking that citizenship. More at link, but I couldn't stomach it all.
Posted by: BA ||
04/15/2008 15:34 ||
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#1
What is it with liberals "paying their respects" to dead terrorists lately?
PA Representative in Lebanon: The PLO. Proceeds Through Phases, Without Changing; Once We Get Jerusalem, We Will Drive Jews Out of All of Palestine, Allah Willing
Palestinian Authority representative in Lebanon Abbas Zaki gave an interview to NBN TV on April 9, 2008. Zaki, aka Sharif Mashal, is a former Palestinian Legislative Council member for Hebron, former Fatah operations head, and current PLO Central Council member. He headed the PLO Lebanon Committee and the Palestine National Liberation Army's political commissariat, and was an opponent of the Oslo Accords. [1]
Abbas Zaki: "We believe wholeheartedly that the Right of Return is guaranteed by our will, by our weapons, and by our faith."
Interviewer: "Do you still believe in weapons, not just in negotiations?"
Abbas Zaki: "The use of weapons alone will not bring results, and the use of politics without weapons will not bring results. We act on the basis of our extensive experience. We analyze our situation carefully. We know what climate leads to victory and what climate leads to suicide. We talk politics, but our principles are clear. It was our pioneering leader, Yasser Arafat, who persevered with this revolution, when empires collapsed. Our armed struggle has been going on for 43 years, and the political struggle, on all levels, has been going on for 50 years. We harvest U.N. resolutions, and we shame the world so that it doesn't gang up on us, because the world is led by people who have given their brains a vacation - the American administration and the neocons."
[...]
Young Palestinian: "As I recall, the invasion of 1982 and the destruction of South Lebanon was not just in response to missile attacks, but in response to operations as well. Israel does not use only the missiles as a pretext. It uses any activity of the Resistance as a pretext."
Abbas Zaki: "The important thing is that in any operation, Israel will pay a price. We don't want cases in which you don't kill even a chicken, but Israel kills 20 of you. I salute any operation that makes Israel pay a heavy price.
[...]
"The PLO is the sole legitimate representative [of the Palestinian people], and it has not changed its platform even one iota. In light of the weakness of the Arab nation and the lack of values, and in light of the American control over the world, the PLO proceeds through phases, without changing its strategy. Let me tell you, when the ideology of Israel collapses, and we take, at least, Jerusalem, the Israeli ideology will collapse in its entirety, and we will begin to progress with our own ideology, Allah willing, and drive them out of all of Palestine."
#1
Much of the problem lies with only a few on the Israeli side saying in response that once East Jerusalem is cleared of Muslims, the Israel will evict Muslims from the rest of Israel as well.
The Islamic Jihad movement in Gaza has slammed on Tuesday the statements of former U.S. president Jimmy Carter, after he termed the rockets attacks on Israel as "a big crime." Carter, who is visiting in the region, paid a visit to the southern Israeli town of Sderout, which has been a subject for homemade rockets' attacks carried out by Gaza militants. Carter said rockets "are a crime against humanity."
Dawood Shihab, spokesman for the Islamic Jihad movement in Gaza, said in response that "Carter's statement of describing resistance as a crime against humanity is in itself an overthrow on the morals of humanity."
"Why didn't he (Carter) go to visit the West Bank to see the settlements, the wall and the roadblocks, and why he didn't go to visit Gaza to see how one million and a half Palestinians are slowly killed by the blockade," said Shihab.
Carter is also determined to visit in Damascus and meet with Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal, in spite of Israeli and U.S. opposition. "Carter should visit the Israeli jails and see how 12,000 Palestinian prisoners are held in prison for no reason and living in miserable conditions, instead of giving the occupation excuses for its crimes," said Shihab.
He, meanwhile, slammed Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni's visit to Qatar and her meeting with Arab leaders, saying that "this visit is condemned and unaccepted as long as the occupation continues its crimes against our people."
#1
He done laid down with the dogs, but even the fleas rejected him.
Posted by: Bobby ||
04/15/2008 6:30 Comments ||
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#2
Good ole Jimmuh. He's managed to piss off the Muzz and the Israelies in one fell swoop. Let's see if he can wring pencilneck's neck before he departs. Might as well shit on everyone on the same trip. Peanut Head just improves with age.
#4
I just hope nothing happens to his security detail. I would hate to see any federal agent hurt because of this man's irresponsibility and complicity with would be genocide. There has to be some point at which the Secret Service says they cannot safely provide protection to the man, especially given the Israelis perfectly understandable position on the matter. Frankly, I am amazed Israel is allowing him into the country at all.
Israel's secret service declined to assist U.S. agents guarding former U.S. President Jimmy Carter during a visit in which Israeli leaders shunned him over his plans to meet Hamas, U.S. sources said on Monday. "They're not getting support from local security," one of the sources said, on condition of anonymity.
An Israeli security source said the Shin Bet security service provided no protection to Carter during his visit to the Jewish state because no request was made. Asked about the Israeli account, Carter's delegation, which had previously declined to comment, told Reuters in a statement: "The Carter delegation inquired with both the lead agent of the Secret Service detail (protecting Carter) and the State Department Regional Security Officer and were told unequivocally that an official request for assistance had been made."
American sources close to the matter said the Shin Bet, which helps protect visiting dignitaries and is overseen by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office, declined to meet the head of Carter's Secret Service detail or provide his team with assistance as is customary during such visits.
Carter, who brokered Israel's first peace treaty with an Arab neighbour, Egypt, signed in 1979, met Israel's largely ceremonial president, Shimon Peres, on Sunday. But Israel's political leadership, including Olmert, steered clear of the Nobel Peace Prize winner.
The former U.S. leader has angered the Israeli government with plans to meet Hamas's top leader, Khaled Meshaal, in Syria, and for describing Israeli policy in the occupied Palestinian territories as "a system of apartheid" in a 2006 book.
Carter has defended talks with Hamas as an opportunity to gauge the group's willingness to accept Arab peace overtures. He visited the Isaeli border town of Sderot on Monday and said he was "distressed" by cross-border rockets fired by militants in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. "I think it's a despicable crime for any deliberate effort to be made to kill innocent civilians," Carter said, adding that he hoped a ceasefire would be reached soon.
Israel said it rejected Carter's request to meet jailed Palestinian uprising leader Marwan Barghouthi, who is seen as a possible successor to President Mahmoud Abbas. Barghouthi was convicted in 2004 of murder by an Israeli court over the killing of four Israelis and a Greek Orthodox monk in attacks by Palestinian militants. He is serving five life sentences.
An American source described as "unprecedented" the lack of Shin Bet cooperation with the U.S. Secret Service, which protects all current and former U.S. presidents, as well as Israeli leaders when they visit the United States.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/15/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Maybe he should wear a wedding dress and see what good it will do him.
#4
"I think it's a despicable crime for any deliberate effort to be made to kill innocent civilians," Carter said, adding that he hoped a ceasefire would be reached soon.
Oh, the good old "terrorism is a criminal act" argument. In any other part of the world, lobbing rockets across a sovereign nation's borders is an *Act of War*. The Israelis are bigger men than Carter will ever be.
Posted by: BA ||
04/15/2008 9:23 Comments ||
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#5
Israel said it rejected Carter's request to meet jailed Palestinian uprising leader Marwan Barghouthi, who is seen as a possible successor to President Mahmoud Abbas.
Well, see, Jimmy, when you have to go to a jail to try and meet the possible successor to the presidency because he's a mass murderer serving 5 life terms, the people you think you can deal with might have..."issues"?
#6
Latest news is that Israel has denied him permission to cross into Gaza. Now if Rice would just deny him permission to cross into the United States...
#7
Latest news is that Israel has denied him permission to cross into Gaza.
Israel realises the crossing would probably be fatal (Unlike Jimmah) and doesn't want to be held responsible.
Smart folks, Stupid Ex-President.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
04/15/2008 14:45 Comments ||
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#8
Let's see what else Jimmy's done so far today.
First stop: Shutdown for a trip to Gaza
"I haven't been able to get permission to go into Gaza. I would like to. I asked for permission. But I was turned down. But maybe we can find a way to circumvent that," Carter said.
...and maybe they can find a way for your senile old terrorist loving ass to step on a mine when you try to come across the wire? It must be a joy being on his Secret Service detail.
Second stop: Visit Arafat's tomb
Former US President Jimmy Carter laid flowers at the tomb of the late Palestinian leader Yassir Arafat in an official ceremony at the Muqata'a, the Palestinian presidential compound, in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Tuesday.
Carter stood in respectful silence for one minute, then remarked on the historic role that Arafat played, saying that Arafat was a personal friend of his. It was the first visit by a high-ranking American official to Arafat's grave.
Sorry, boys. We don't see him as "a high-ranking American official". We see him as America's Loony Uncle in the Attic.
Third stop: Hug a Hamas guy
RAMALLAH, West Bank - Former President Jimmy Carter embraced a leading Hamas figure Tuesday, according to participants in a meeting that infuriated Israeli officials already upset by Carter's freelance Mideast peace mission.
At a reception in the West Bank town of Ramallah organized by Carter's office, the former president hugged Nasser Shaer, a senior Hamas politician, meeting participants said. Embraces between men are a common custom in Arab culture.
"He gave me a hug. We hugged each other, and it was a warm reception," Shaer told The Associated Press. "Carter asked what he can do to achieve peace between the Palestinians and Israel ... and I told him the possibility for peace is high."
Yes, Jimmy. As usual, it looks like they saw you coming. Fortunately for you and unfortunately for us, he didn't explode.
Get rid of the pic you use for this dhimmi. Show him as he looks now--old, senile and crazed. That's closer to the real man.
Posted by: Thaimble Scourge of the Pixies4707 ||
04/15/2008 17:52 Comments ||
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#13
And Jimmuh ain't an "American official" anyway, ya twits. He's just a stupid peanut farmer who USED to be an American official. Private citizen these days, except he still gets SS protection and a nice retirement.
Israel requested the hook-up to the BMEWS for early warning to defend itself against Iranian missile attack. Tuesday, April 15, Irans deputy C-in-C Mohammad Reza Ashtiani threatened to eliminate Israel from the scene of the universe if it launches a military attack on the Islamic state.
DEBKAfiles military sources report the system operates from three global centers the US Thule Air Base in Greenland, where the 12th Space Warning Squadron is located; the Clear Air Force Station in Alaska and the British RAF long-range radar station at Fylingdales, Yorkshire, in England.
This is the third time Israel has been connected to the BMEWS. The first was in 1991 before the first Gulf War and the second in 2003 before the US invasion of Iraq. Then, Israel feared Iraqi missile attack, which indeed materialized in 1991. Now, US military sources interpret the request as signifying Israels sense of the need to prepare for an Iranian missile attack in the not-too-distant future.
Such an attack could develop from a US or Israeli strike against Iran, or any war situation involving Israel, Syria or Hizballah. Tehran might also stage a pre-emptive strike if early intelligence was received of an impending US or Israeli attack on Iran, Syria or Hizballah.
These sources stressed that Iran could even decide to lash out against Israel after the event in reprisal for an American assault, not necessarily on its nuclear sites but on Revolutionary Guards bases involved in directing, arming and training militias for attacks on US troops in Iraq. In such a contingency, Tehran could decide to hit back at US bases and strategic sites in the Persian Gulf and Middle East at large, including Israel.
The hook-up to the US early warning system will give Israel a better chance to prepare its Arrow and Patriot missile defense systems and the US to prepare its own Israel-based Patriot batteries - in good time to ward off an Iranian missile attack. The BMEWS would start beaming data on an incoming Iranian missile at the launching stage and before it is airborne.
American military sources have no doubt that if an Iranian missile barrage targets Tel Aviv, Israel will counter with a missile attack on Tehran or Damascus.
#1
American military sources have no doubt that if an Iranian missile barrage targets Tel Aviv, Israel will counter with a missile attack on Tehran or and Damascus and Qom and Natnaz and Esfehan and Bushehr and Shiraz and Kermanshah...
US military sources? interpret the request as signifying Israels sense of the need to prepare for an Iranian missile attack in the not-too-distant future.
#3
ION WAFF.com > LIBYA - RUSSIA TO GIVE LIBYA SU35'S + TOR M3 SYSTEMS IN ARMS DEAL.
* ANSAMED > ISRAEL: HAMAS GAZA ARMY TAKING SHAPE. 20,000-strong original PA force which Israel believes will engage in Terror-style "defensive" military schemas = aymmetric warfare agz the IDF. E.G. NEW HAMAS ARMY CAN ALLOW IDF TO INVADE DEEP INTO GAZA CITIES WHERE IT WILL THEN MIL RESIST IN URBAN TUNNEL WARFARE [interlocking]WHILE ROCKETS + SAPPERS STRIKE IN IDF REAR. + CITIES, ala STALINGRAD/WAR OF THE RATS???
* FARSINEWS > IRAN TO INSTALL SECOND URANIUM PROCESSING PLANT, in central city of Ardakan.
They threaten to eliminate israel if attacked. They threaten to eliminate israel if not attacked. So what's all the fuss about? I guess the only difference here is whether or not the time they attack is of their own choosing or not.
Gotta keep the rubes distracted ...
Iran will destroy Israel if Israel attacks Teheran, Iranian Deputy Chief of Staff Mohammad Reza Ashtiani warned Tuesday in response to a threat issued last week by National Infrastructure Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer. "We are not worried by the recent Israeli maneuvers, but if Israel wants to take any action against the Islamic republic, we will eliminate Israel from the universe," the Iranian Mehr agency quoted Ashtiani as saying.
Ben-Eliezer had warned that "Iran will be wiped off the face of the earth if it dares to fire any missile at us."
Later in the week, Ben-Eliezer would not retract his statement: "I do not regret the threats I directed at Iran and its leaders. I am sick of receiving threats to Israel's existence on a daily basis."
#2
Lest we fergit, ANSAMED/OTHER > ZAWAHIRI: IRAN IS THE COMMON ENEMY TO BOTH AL QAEDA, USA. Zawi criticizes US GOP POTUS Candidate MCCAIN for inferring that AQ is in formal collusion wid Iran???
OTOH, FREEREPUBLIC Poster(s) > IRAN still believed to hold AT LEAST ONE OF OSAMA BIN LADEN'S SONS + OTHER TOP AQ BIGWIGS, ergo OSAMA = AQ [per se] will allegedly/seemingly NOT initiate any Terror attacks agz Iran??? OTHER NON-AQ MILITANT GROUPS???
#4
You know, Persians (Regular Rezas and Sarahs) don't have to take this shit. They just need to gather all the mullahs against a big wall.
I don't need no arms around me
And I dont need no drugs to calm me.
I have seen the writing on the wall.
Don't think I need anything at all.
No! Don't think I'll need anything at all.
All in all it was all just bricks in the wall.
All in all you were all just bricks in the wall.
#5
The Iranians do NOT want the Israelis using the Samson Option - the level of fallout present throughout most of Iran would be unbelievable. Of course, if the Israelis go all out, the level of fallout throughout the Arab region would be unbelievable. Last projection I read on the Option was 120 million Arab/Persian dead with the first 72 hours.
#7
The question is, how would that fallout effect the rest of the world. Chernyobel's fallout spread some distance. Someone must have done a prediction somewher as this is one of the most likely scenerios.
#9
"They are not near Baghdad. Don't believe them.... They said they entered with... tanks in the middle of the capital. They claim that they - I tell you, I... that this speech is too far from the reality. It is a part of this sickness of their plan. There is no an... - no any existence to the American troops or for the troops in Baghdad at all."
Baghdad Bob, April 5, 2003
#10
Best "Baghdad Bob" cartoon I've seen shows Bob in front of TV cameras declaring the US is nowhere near, and Schwarzkopf waving hello in the window behind him.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
04/15/2008 22:43 Comments ||
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#11
Last projection I read on the Option was 120 million Arab/Persian dead with the first 72 hours.
When that day comes,would be nice to have a paid holiday enacted.
A series of conflicts with insurgent groups along Iran's borders may be impelling Tehran to back its own allies in Iraq in what it regards as a proxy war with the U.S., according to security experts and officials in the U.S., Iran and Iraq. Dozens of Iranian officials, members of the security forces and insurgents belonging to Kurdish, Arab Iranian and Baluch groups have died in the fighting in recent years. It now appears to be heating up once again after an unusually cold and snowy winter.
In recent weeks, Iranians have begun the now-routine bombardment of suspected rebel Iranian Kurd positions in northern Iraq, and guerrillas have claimed incursions into northwestern Iran. Some Iranians blamed Sunni Arab radicals for an explosion Saturday that killed 12 and injured 202 at a gathering where a preacher criticized the Wahhabi form of Islam that inspires Osama bin Laden.
None of the groups appear to pose a serious threat to Iran, but Tehran regards them as Washington's allies in an effort to pressure it to scale back its nuclear program and withhold support for militant groups fighting Israel. American and Iraqi officials in turn accuse Iran of supporting Shiite Muslim militias and other militant groups in Iraq to keep the U.S. preoccupied and the Baghdad government weak.
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#1
I would love it if it were true. More than likely, US supplied weapons for the military and police for the Kurds is ending up in Iran. I would love it if we were waging a covert proxy war against Iran like they are doing to us. Payback is a bitch, ain't it Allie-Ahole?
#3
U.S. Aiding Iran's Rebels: If we aren't, we should be
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/15/2008 9:59 Comments ||
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#4
A series of conflicts with insurgent groups along Iran's borders may be impelling Tehran to back its own allies in Iraq in what it regards as a proxy war with the U.S., according to security experts and officials
#5
"It will give more encouragement to Iran's hard-liners to step up their own efforts to assist anti-American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Bruce Riedel, a former CIA analyst now at the Brookings Institutio
Dude, you've gotten a little behind in your reading. Suggestion: start with the folder marked Iran - 1979
WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States and Iran have been conducting secret back-channel discussions on Tehran's nuclear program and frozen relations between the two countries, The Independent reported Monday.
The British newspaper quotes former US under secretary of state Thomas Pickering as saying that a group of former US diplomats and foreign policy experts had been meeting with Iranian academics and policy advisers "in a lot of different places, although not in the US or Iran" for the past five years.
"Some of the Iranians were connected to official institutions inside Iran," Pickering told the paper.
The Independent reported that the contact group was put together by the UN Association of the USA and facilitated by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, a think-tank chaired by former chief UN weapons inspector Rolf Ekeus. "We discussed what's going on domestically in both countries and wide-ranging issues," The Independent quoted Pickering as saying.
He added that although none of the group members was from the US or Iranian governments, "each side kept their officials informed," according to the British paper.
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04/15/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
WORLDNEWS/TOPIX > RUSSIAN TYCOON - NUCLEAR POWER STATUS FOR IRAN [US-World recognition] MAY SOLVE CRISIS.
HMMMM, wid this, ISLAMIC UNITY CHARTER wid Pakistan, etc., + joining the SCO + NET other > CLEARLY IRAN + ISLAMISTS ARE AIMING FOR EUROPE, NOT RUSSIA-CHINA + ASIA.
*WORLDNEWS > IRAN NOW THE REASON FOR BUSH'S WAR IN IRAQ; + US HEGEMONY IS NOT GUARANTEED + IRAQ:US, IRAN BOTH ARM THE SAME MILITIAS.
ALso on WORLDNEWS > SOUTH CHINA SEA TROUBLES THREATEN ASIAN FOOD SUPPLIES. Guam-WESTPAC is
affected wid this one.
#2
So? If these jokers want to waste their time that's their problem. Looks to me like The Independent had a wet dream and printed it. Go back to sleep, dhimmis.
Israel believes its two soldiers kidnapped by Hizbullah have passed away and is not prepared to negotiate a swap of their bodies. Quoting an activist with a pro-Israeli U.S. organization, an-Nahar's Sarkis Naoum said the "price demanded by Hizbullah in return for bodies of the two soldiers is very high. That is why Israel is not prepared to negotiate for their bodies." Israel, the source added, is more interested in negotiating a swap of its soldier held in Gaza "who is believed to be alive, or at least he was believed to be alive two months ago."
The source said Israel "would not launch new war on Lebanon unless provoked by Hizbullah." He said Syria "thought after the 2006 war in Lebanon that it could imitate Hizbullah. It has a bigger army and more capabilities and tried to behave like Hizbullah."
"However, Syria found out after the Sept. 26 air raid, when Israeli jet fighters demolished a building allegedly used as a nuclear facility, that it remains weak militarily, especially in confronting Israel, so it gave up the idea," the source concluded.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/15/2008 00:00 ||
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A high-ranking Hezbollah official has said the party would launch an offensive on Israel in the Palestinian territories occupied in 1948 in case the Jewish state wages a new war.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, made the statement in an interview with Syrian magazine "al-Hakika," the Iranian News Agency Fars reported. "We would not initiate war but in case they wage any war in the future ...there will be a counter attack behind the front lines... and for the first time since 1948 in Palestine itself," the official reportedly said.
The Hizbullah Shura Council member also revealed in his remarks to the Syrian magazine that the body of slain commander Imad Mughniyeh was moved to Lebanon before Syrian secret service agents had the chance to examine it. Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah ordered Mughniyeh's body to be transferred "immediately" to Lebanon minutes after the bombing, Fars news agency quoted the official as saying. He added that Syrian President Bashar Assad asked Nasrallah to keep the identity of the assassinated official secret but the Hizbullah leader refused. The Shiite group accused Israel of killing Mughniyeh and pledged to avenge his death.
The Iranian news agency also quoted the Hizbullah Shura Council member as saying the investigation into Mughniyeh's killing "has ended but we will announce its results in the right time."
Posted by: Fred ||
04/15/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Yep, and as per TOPIX a KURDISH TERROR GROUP has vowed to initiate attacks agz TEHRAN and major Iranian targets due to Iran's persecution and support of Turkey's recent milop agz Kurds inside Northern Iraq.
This is originally from a UPI piece. I haven't found them particularly reliable, so salt to taste.
There are changes in the cards for the Middle East, predicts a Lebanese politician. Dory Chamoun, leader of the National Liberal Party, told this reporter that before there could be peace, there would be a new war between Israel and Syria; that Bashar al-Assad had a hand in former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri's assassination; and that Hezbollah's power in Lebanon -- already reduced to inducing traffic jams in downtown Beirut -- would suffer a new assault from Israel.
"The situation in the Middle East is not going to remain as it is," Chamoun said last week. "There is a peace process going on between Syria and Israel, which is on track. How to achieve it remains the question? It is a fact that the Golan Heights is to be divided. Israel wants part of the Golan Heights. This is something the old (former President Hafez) Assad refused."
Therefore, according to Chamoun, there will be a "mock-up war" between Syria and Israel. What exactly does he mean by a "mock-up war"? Chamoun explains: Syria will be allowed to reclaim, through this war, part of the Golan, while Israel continues to hold other parts. For the Syrians, it will be a great victory even though they would have to settle on less than the entire Golan.
And at the same time Israel will take advantage of the situation to hit Hezbollah once again; this time the Israelis will choose to fight in the Bekaa Valley, believes Chamoun. Israel hopes any peace deal with Syria includes a clause relating to Hezbollah and Hamas. "Israel might like to make peace with Syria, but with a promise from Syria to put an end to Hezbollah," he said.
He added that Hezbollah is getting weaker by the day. All it has achieved is to congest Beirut city center with its tents. At Hezbollah's instigation, thousands of Shiites have been camping in the refurbished city, an area of town badly damaged during the civil war and that was rebuilt thanks to Hariri. A billionaire who made his fortune in Saudi Arabia, Hariri was assassinated Feb. 14, 2005.
Speaking of Hariri, when asked if he knew who might be responsible for killing the former prime minister, Chamoun replied without hesitation, "Definitely the Syrians." He added that given the way regime works in Syria, the order had to come from the president, or at least he would know. "I don't think that anything of that magnitude could take place without Bashar knowing," said Chamoun.
Dory Chamoun, the son of former Lebanese President Camille Chamoun, said that dominating Lebanon is "a dream Syria has always had. All their regimes had an appetite to swallow up Lebanon. We are not going to allow it."
Syria, he said, tried making a deal during the first Gulf War, in 1990, when Hafez Assad, the father of the current Syrian president, saw an opportunity to conclude a deal with the Americans. "The old fox," said Chamoun, referring to Hafez Assad, "found an opportunity to make a deal with the Americans. He told them, 'I will be your ally against Saddam Hussein but in return I want Lebanon. I want to be able to use my air force and my navy in order to beat the (Christian Lebanese) resistance."
Chamoun, one of a half-dozen top Lebanese political figures to have had talks with administration officials, says that this time the White House appears "serious" regarding Lebanon. "The feedback is positive. Lebanon is on their agenda. They are earnest about wanting to help," said Chamoun. "For once, the United States is not going to trade Lebanon against something else to achieve some sort of peace with Syria," said Chamoun.
So what happens next January if the Democrats are in the White House? "I'm not worried because the policy on Lebanon is not guided by diplomacy; it is guided by security needs," Chamoun said.
And if the people in charge of the security of the United States decide that Lebanon must continue to be what it is today, then Lebanon must be safe and not fall into the hands of the Syrians. "Remember what happened when it was in the hands of the Syrians? All the worldwide terrorist organizations mushroomed in Lebanon. Again, I don't think they (the U.S.) can take the risk after 9/11," he said. "I think the whole strategy of the United States vis-a-vis our part of the world has changed 180 degrees. At one time the security frontiers of the United States used to be the oceans. Today the frontier goes all the way to Pakistan and Afghanistan. That sort of security policy, which the U.S. is following today, is going to be the guideline, whether they are Democrats or Republicans."
This article starring:
Dory Chamoun
Posted by: Fred ||
04/15/2008 00:00 ||
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[4 views]
Top|| File under: Hezbollah
#1
Ye sure, Israel will place half of itself under Sirian cannons so the Leb Maronites could go back to their EUro livestyle---overestimating both USA stupidity and USA influence on Israel, Dory.
#2
good story to play up, though, driving a wedge between Syria and the Iranian puppets
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/15/2008 8:06 Comments ||
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#3
That sort of security policy...is going to be the guideline, whether they are Democrats or Republicans
Don't be too sure. Obama will talk to anyone, give up anything!
#5
The idea that Israel would trust the Syrians at this point is mind-boggling. Much easier to just take out Assad and prop up a plyable Syrian general or support a Kurdish take-over/uprising to take Syria out of the game.
#6
"Much easier to just take out Assad and prop up a plyable Syrian general or support a Kurdish take-over/uprising to take Syria out of the game."
I like Door #2, rj. ;-p
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
04/15/2008 15:25 Comments ||
Top||
#7
DEBKA > AMID NEW IRANIAN MISSLE THREAT, ISRAEL REQUESTS TO CONNECT TO US [Global]BALLISTIC MISSLE EARLY WARNING SYSTEM [BMEWS]; + ANOTHER SYRIAN ARMORED DIVISION MASSES ALONG ISRAELI-LEBANESE BORDER.
OTOH, ANSAMED > SYRIA:IMPORTS FROM USA GROW DESPITE SANCTIONS [+ threat of war]; + ISREAL: IRANIAN MISSLE ATTACK [Shihab-3]SIMULATED, as per the Israeli HOMA PROJECT ["Wall"] = Israeli "Arrow" centric BMD Sys.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
The Islamic Jihad movement in Gaza has slammed on Tuesday the statements of former U.S. president Jimmy Carter, after he termed the rockets attacks on Israel as "a big crime." Carter, who is visiting in the region, paid a visit to the southern Israeli town of Sderout, which has been a subject for homemade rockets' attacks carried out by Gaza militants. Carter said rockets "are a crime against humanity." 
Israel's secret service declined to assist U.S. agents guarding former U.S. President Jimmy Carter during a visit in which Israeli leaders shunned him over his plans to meet Hamas, U.S. sources said on Monday. "They're not getting support from local security," one of the sources said, on condition of anonymity.
