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Osama bin Laden sleeps widda fishes
Today's Headlines
Headline Comments [Views]
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Page 6: Politix
2 00:00 Zebulon Thranter9685 [2]
-Obits-
BBC's Osama obituary
Apparently he was an anti-communist financial wizard.
Posted by: phil_b || 05/02/2011 03:26 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  great link Phil B, i enjoyed reading that Obit.

He certainly understood finance. He wasn't stupid. Civil engineers are clever as a rule because they have some maths up their sleeve and they look at the underlying structure of things.

Not their surface but how they work and how they are put together.

He applied that to our society and went to kick us where it hurt, using our freedom and openness against us.

Bin Laden made money off 9/11 too. Someone with his financial nous knew how to short / buy put options on US airline stocks.
Posted by: anon1 || 05/02/2011 4:41 Comments || Top||

#2  Just heard on BBC the house was only built five years ago with military permission!
Posted by: Angeretle Snore6772 || 05/02/2011 8:27 Comments || Top||

#3  One of Bin Laden's goals was to shock and destroy the US economy, which would affect our warfighting ability. He failed in this.

However, the Congress has succeeded in this beyond the wildest dreams of Bin Laden. So who is the real enemy here? If this country goes bankrupt, we will be easy pickin's for our enemies.
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 05/02/2011 20:05 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Russia says has 'serious doubts' West not targeting Kadhafi
[Emirates 24/7] The Russian foreign ministry on Sunday said it had "serious doubts" the West was not targeting Libyan leader Muammar Qadaffy
... Custodian of Wheelus AFB for 42 long years ...
and his family after Tripoli said Qadaffy's son was killed.

"The claims of the coalition members that strikes over Libya do not have the physical destruction of Moamer Qadaffy and members of his family as their goal cause serious doubts," the ministry said in a statement.

It called on the Western coalition to "cease fire immediately."

"Reports of casualties among civilians are being received in Moscow with increasing concern," the foreign ministry added.
Posted by: Fred || 05/02/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Why would they doubt the word of "Western" leadership?
Posted by: gr(o)mgoru || 05/02/2011 5:22 Comments || Top||


Doubt cast on Gaddafi son death claim
[Al Jazeera] Libyan state television has shown what it called footage of the body of Muammar Qadaffy's son who was allegedly killed in a NATO air raid.

Moussa Ibrahim, the Libyan government front man, said on Sunday the Libyan leader and his wife were in the house of his 29-year-old son, Saif al-Arab Qadaffy, in Tripoli when it was hit by at least one missile fired by a NATO fighter jet late on Saturday.

Al-Arab's compound in the city's Garghour neighbourhood was attacked "with full power" in a "direct operation to assassinate the leader of this country", Ibrahim said, calling the strike a violation of international law.

"What we have now is the law of the jungle," he said.

"We think now it is clear to everyone that what is happening in Libya has nothing to do with the protection of civilians."

Ibrahim had earlier taken journalists to the remnants of a house in Tripoli, which Libyan officials said had been hit by at least three missiles.

It appeared unlikely anyone inside could have survived.

Rifle fire and car horns rang out in Benghazi, the rebel stronghold in Libya's east, as news of the attack spread. Cars whizzed by the sea-front beeping their horns and shouting "God is greatest" as the night sky was lit up by red tracer fire.

But opposition fighters who control the region said they could not trust Qadaffy.

Lot of suggestions
Al Jizz's Sue Turton, reporting from Benghazi on Sunday, said there were "an awful lot" of suggestions in Libya that the news of the deaths could be fabricated.

"One of the main spokesmen for the Transitional National Council, Abdul Hafez Goga, is saying he thinks it could all be fabrication, that it may well be Qadaffy is trying to garner some sympathy," she said.

"Back in 1986, Qadaffy once claimed that Ronald Reagan, then US president, had launched a strike on his compound in Tripoli and killed his daughter.

"Many journalists since then dug around and found out that the actual child that had died had nothing to do with Qadaffy, that he sort of adopted her posthumously."

Saif al-Arab Qadaffy is the most unknown of the Libyan leader's children, Al Jizz's Anita McNaught, reporting from the Tunisia-Libya border, said.

"He's one of the low-profile of his children and has been largely invisible since the conflict began," she said.

"He hasn't been visible in any significant form. He hasn't appeared on TV or made any speeches, he hasn't been on any crowd-rallying marches."
Posted by: Fred || 05/02/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:


Arabia
Relatives fearful over Bahrain trials
[Al Jazeera] In Bahrain, human-rights workers say at least 50 medical staff are still missing after a crackdown on hospital care for injured anti-government demonstrators.

There are fears that some of the jugged staff could face stiff sentences for treating protesters. Among them is Dr al-Dallal, a prominent physician jugged on March 17 during a military raid at Salmaniyah hospital in Manama.

His wife, Fareeda al-Dallal, was also jugged and beaten under custody last Tuesday. Al Jizz spoke to her about her arrest and the fears she has about the safety of her husband.
Posted by: Fred || 05/02/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [6 views] Top|| File under:


Charities unjustly associated with terrorism: IIROSA chief
[Arab News] Adnan Khalil Basha, secretary-general of the International Islamic Relief Organization, Soddy Arabia (IIROSA), said his organization and similar charities have been unjustly associated with terrorism.
But 1/5th of charitable donations are supposed to go to support jihadis. If they aren't associated with terrorism they're doing it wrong... unless we're defining terrorism differently, of course.
Basha said no legal ruling has been made against his organization and other Islamic charities. He was speaking at a presser on Sunday at the IIROSA headquarters in Jeddah to announce its sixth General Assembly meeting. The meeting is to be held on Thursday under the chairmanship of Abdullah bin Abdul Mohsin Al-Turki, secretary-general of the Mohammedan World League.

Basha said IIROSA has been working to combat poverty, illiteracy and ignorance that leads to extremism and then terrorism.

He added that although IIROSA faces difficulties transferring money for projects abroad, the organization expects to overcome these obstacles with the support of the Saudi government.

"These challenges have helped the charity reconsider itself, become organized and work on delivering quality services," he said.

Basha said work is under way to bring all charity organizations under an umbrella body, something that is being carried out with the support of the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
OIC is an international organisation with a permanent delegation to the UN, with 57 member states. It represents all countries with substantial Moslem populations (as opposed to the Arab League, which excludes members not of the Master Race) except those which member countries block from joining. These include India, which has more Mohammedans than does Pakistain, whose membership is vetoed by Pakistain...

A number of government ministers and eminent Islamic scholars and renowned personalities from the Kingdom and other countries, such as Morocco, Yemen, Thailand, Nigeria, India, Kenya, Uganda and Sudan, will attend the General Assembly meeting to discuss a host of issues related to charity work.

Participants will present suggestions and ideas to upgrade the organization's work and boost its various activities to cope with the requirements of the contemporary age and keep pace with new developments in humanitarian work.

The event will also include a seminar to highlight charity work and a function to honor supportive participants of both genders.

Basha explained that at the local level, IIROSA gave SR10.8 million in cash and food baskets, clothes and other gifts to 33,752 people across the Kingdom. He added that last year IIROSA helped some 2.9 million people in 58 countries, sponsored 29,296 orphans in 21 Asian, African and European countries, and administered 30 orphanages.

The secretary-general also revealed that the organization last year implemented 47 health projects. In the field of education, IIROSA is sponsoring 39 educational institutions and programs in addition to four vocational centers to benefit 39,244 male and female students.

IIROSA last year launched six new real estate endowment projects consisting of residential towers in Makkah at a cost of SR500 million. Proceeds from the projects would be used to finance the activities of the organization's various departments. The projects generate annual revenue of SR45 million.
Posted by: Fred || 05/02/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [6 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda


China-Japan-Koreas
ROK Military Promises More Effective Defense Strategy
In which the ROK military realizes that they've geared up to fight the wrong war.
South Korea's military strategy against North Korea will shift from thwarting a full-scale, conventional attack to dealing with limited, unconventional acts of aggression, Defense Minister Kim Tae-young told President Lee Myung-bak on Tuesday. "We admit that there are deficiencies in our ability to deal with infiltrations and unconventional tactics and we need to refocus the direction of our military build-up strategy," Kim said in a meeting between Lee and top military commanders.

South Korea's military build-up so far had primarily focused on dealing with a full-blown war with North Korea, while an infiltration by North Korean commandos or other unconventional tactics were given a lower priority, followed by potential threats from neighboring countries. But the sinking of the Navy corvette Cheonan has prompted a rethink.

As the likelihood grows that a North Korean submarine or semi-submersible was responsible for the sinking of the Cheonan, the military intends to bolster its capability to deal with these so-called "asymmetric" threats such as the North's fleet of 100 subs and 180,000 special forces troops, the largest in the world.

North Korea has a large number of vessels that can rapidly deploy special forces commandos across the heavily-armed border. They include around 130 hovercraft capable of traveling at high speeds across the muddy tidal flats of the west coast and 90 high-speed landing vessels. This is why the ministry told the president it intends to revise its strategy to deal with the threat "along the northwestern coast."

The military also plans to start special classes for troops within this month to help them understand the security threats.
Posted by: Steve White || 05/02/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Good, but Seoul must always be ready for Kimmie's option as per engaging in US-VS-CHINA NUC BRINKMANSHIP, espec iff the DPRK's econ situation + Dynasty's, Regime's + NORCOMMIE ability to maintain power + prevent takeover by China becomes untenable.

Given the MSM-Net Repors of hunger slowly but surely spreading into the depths of the DPRK Armed Forces, the ROK + USA + JAPAN should expect a higher probability of Kimmie launching a milstrike agz NAJOR NON-SOUTH KOREAN TARGETS TO INCLUDE EVEN AGZ BEIJING.

For now however, sonething nice to think about ...

* WORLD NEWS > "KOREAN WAVE" [ROK popular culture] SET TO SWEEP NORTH KOREA, ACADEMICS SAYS.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 05/02/2011 1:46 Comments || Top||

#2  PEOPLE'S DAILY FORUM > {SecState HILLARY]NORTH KOREA MUST TALK FIRST WID SOUTH, before it should expect the USA = WASH DC to support, engage in any resumption of nuclear talks.

IOW, IIUC HILLARY IS SAYING THAT THE DPRK SHOULD APOLOGIZE FIRST TO THE ROK FOR THE CHEONAN, YEONGPYEONG MIL INCIDENTS.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 05/02/2011 1:53 Comments || Top||


Fifth Column
Reaction from the lunatic fringe
Jim Geraghty, National Review

Cindy Sheehan, today:
I am sorry, but if you believe the newest death of OBL, you’re stupid. Just think to yourself–they paraded Saddam’s dead sons around to prove they were dead–why do you suppose they hastily buried this version of OBL at sea? This lying, murderous Empire can only exist with your brainwashed consent–just put your flags away and THINK!

I have a hard time bearing much ill will to Sheehan, no matter how nonsensical or inane her utterances get; who knows what the depths of grief can do to a parent’s mind? The widespread politicization of the grief, and the notion of the worst event in your life suddenly turning you into a celebrity with admirers, probably spurs one to react in strange ways.

But the degree to which the “anti-war” crowd – who today applauds war kinetic military action against Libya without Congressional approval, and who is today applauding unilateral military action on foreign soil without the host government’s knowledge or consent or U.N. approval — exploited Ms. Sheehan remains unforgivably appalling. They lost interest in Sheehan right about the moment she ran against Nancy Pelosi for Congress....
Posted by: Mike || 05/02/2011 14:25 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Ah, reduced to commenting on a Facebook page.
Remember the good old days? The press at Crawford hanging on every word? Mo Dowd elevating you to some kinda antiwar goddess? Going to movie premieres with Sean Penn? Bending over with Medea to be used by Hugo and Fidel and every other anti American slob out there?
Thanks, Casey. It was fun while it lasted...
Posted by: tu3031 || 05/02/2011 15:11 Comments || Top||


Home Front: WoT
White House Officials Debate Releasing Photographs of Bin Laden’s Corpse
The Obama administration has photographs of Osama bin Laden’s dead body and officials are debating what to do with them and whether they should be released to the public, officials tell ABC News.
Posted by: Zebulon Thranter9685 || 05/02/2011 11:56 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Head on a stick, baby! Let's see 'em.
Posted by: tu3031 || 05/02/2011 12:37 Comments || Top||

#2  Head on a stick, baby! Let's see 'em.

Officials will have to release them so we know how to fashion the memorial Pez dispensers.
Posted by: gorb || 05/02/2011 13:15 Comments || Top||

#3  Given who is taking credit, pictures would be for the best.
Posted by: Iblis || 05/02/2011 13:49 Comments || Top||

#4  Given who is taking credit, a live interview with the guy who pulled the trigger (a .50 cal Barrett at close range? yuck!) would be best.
Posted by: RandomJD || 05/02/2011 15:01 Comments || Top||

#5  well al queada had no qualms about posting the beheading of Nick Berg!
Posted by: chris || 05/02/2011 16:08 Comments || Top||

#6  It violates the Geneva Convention (or the Left's interpretation of it) but then Obama can't resist the spotlight and the world needs definitive proof. Also, they apparently began this op in August, although W really began it and deserves credit for the black ops, Obama gave the official go-ahead on Friday but this intel was based on info from "tortured" Gitmo-detainee KSM. Brennan said they watched the kill in real-time in the situation room, declining to reveal the technology to do so, and now we hear he used his wife as a human shield but was killed by a head shot right through the eye! Then the press conference was announced late Sunday night and still delayed another hour, although Fox was the last to know. Reports the body was fishfood by 2am EST from the USS Carl Vincent in the Arabian Sea, so his head on a pike is out-of-the-question. Huffington Post already has posted pics/video of Binny's bedroom--the Left must be having a major crisis, on maximum torque to spin this!
Posted by: Gerthudion Unump7993 || 05/02/2011 16:14 Comments || Top||

#7  It only violates the Geneva Convention if the photos are of soldiers or "lawful combatants". Osama was neither and thus it is perfectly legal to show a body of a mass murderer and terrorist.
Posted by: DarthVader || 05/02/2011 17:23 Comments || Top||

#8  Using a civilian as a human shield (willing or not) is also a violation of the Geneva Convention. Not to mention the cold-blooded murder of 3,000 people and so many afterwards.

And of course the lawful combatant qualification which Darth mentioned. hiding in civilian populations, not being a recognizable combatant (uniform, badge) etc...

I'm betting there is a great 'Whailing and Gnashing of Teeth' over at the ACLU HQ today.
Posted by: CrazyFool || 05/02/2011 19:00 Comments || Top||

#9  Beautiful operation but the honorable burial at sea bothers the crap out of me. For years we’ve heard Muslims and the administrations (Bush and Obama) denounce UBL’s action as anti-Islamic, so why then bestow that honor on this scumbag. It’s akin to have given Hitler a Requiem Mass. This height of political correctness make us look weak kneed.
Posted by: jack salami || 05/02/2011 22:27 Comments || Top||

#10  Jack, in the best Islamic tradition they beheaded the beast then cast the carrion into the sea.

The trophy is in a jug somewhere. Trust me.
Posted by: Skidmark || 05/02/2011 23:22 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Hundreds join Quetta rally to honour bin Laden
QUETTA: Hundreds erupted into the streets of Quetta on Monday to pay homage to the late Osama bin Laden,
He's dead, Jim!
chanting death to America and setting fire to a US flag, witnesses and organisers said.

Angry participants belonging to a religious party in Quetta, the capital of southwestern province Baluchistan, were led by federal politician Maulawi Asmatullah. They also torched a US flag before dispersing peacefully.

It was the first rally in Pakistain after the United States announced that bin Laden had been killed in an overnight commando mission in Pakistain.

Organisers said between 1,000 and 1,200 people attended the rally, but witnesses put the figure closer to 800.

"Bin Laden was the hero of the Mohammedan world and after his martyrdom he has won the title of great mujahed (Mohammedan fighter)," Asmatullah said.
Posted by: Fred || 05/02/2011 13:28 || Comments || Link || [6 views] Top|| File under: Jamaat-e-Ulema Islami

#1  Looks like the Drone Guys must've been out celebrating in Vegas and missed a good opportunity.
Too bad...
Posted by: tu3031 || 05/02/2011 15:17 Comments || Top||

#2  Hundreds, a thousand even, of protesters, in a big, Binny-friendly place like Quetta, is a pretty meager showing.
Posted by: Glenmore || 05/02/2011 16:08 Comments || Top||

#3  They also torched a US flag before dispersing peacefully.

1 - Did they have to?

2 - Could they try again?

Just thinking of targeting and intelligence gathering.
Posted by: Halliburton - Mysterious Conspiracy Division || 05/02/2011 19:08 Comments || Top||


Heat on Pakistan as bin Laden killed near capital
[Yahoo/Reuters] Pakistan declared the killing of Osama bin Laden a "major setback" to global terrorism, but it will inevitably come under pressure to explain how the al Qaeda leader was holed up in a mansion near a military facility.
Within walking distance of a military facility, in fact...
Bin Laden was killed in a dramatic night-time raid by U.S. helicopters and troops on his hideout in Abbottabad, home to Pakistan's main military academy and less then two hours' drive from the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.
... with no Pak involvement and certainly no prior tip-off. Mahmoud the Weasel gut nuttin', as Joe would say...
"Osama bin Laden's death illustrates the resolve of the international community, including Pakistan, to fight and eliminate terrorism," the government said in a statement. "It constitutes a major setback to terrorist organisations around the world."
"We're... ummm... happy. Yes, of course we're happy. Glad he's dead and all that..."
However, it was not clear whether the Pakistan military was involved in the operation and there was no official comment from the government for several hours, raising the possibility that Islamabad was taken by surprise.
I'd call it a probability, a virtual certainty, in fact...
That bin Laden, mastermind of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, was not hiding in mountains along the border but in relative comfort in a town hosting the main military academy and home to scores of retired and serving officers will bolster those who have long argued that Pakistan has been playing a duplicitous hand.
It is kinda hard to explain, isn't it?
Just 10 days ago, Pakistan's army chief addressed cadets at that very academy, saying the country's military had broken the back of militants linked to al Qaeda and the Taliban.
Posted by: Fred || 05/02/2011 10:40 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan

#1  "Within walking distance of a military facility, in fact..."

You know, hadn't thought of this until now - given the size of the facility and the number of troops there...you know there had to be a contingency plan, just in case.

And it would have been a beaut.

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski || 05/02/2011 12:23 Comments || Top||

#2  That raises a very pointed issue. Imagine what would happen if the Mexican military did a similar op just outside the USMC Air Station in Yuma? Within minutes, the place would look like Har Megiddo (apocalypse), with heavily armed Marines blowing the snot out of anything armed that wasn't them.

But the Pak army did nothing, even though they are technically in the middle of a civil war of sorts.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 05/02/2011 12:45 Comments || Top||

#3  Had he stopped paying the rent?

Posted by: Bulldog || 05/02/2011 13:04 Comments || Top||

#4  Had he stopped paying the rent?

That could indeed be an excuse.

He may have also quit having everyone over for croquet parties or declined their latest dinner invitation (which may have gotten their moustaches spinning).

Either way, he (or one the minions) severely p*ssed someone off within the Paki military 'superstructure'.
Posted by: Mullah Richard || 05/02/2011 14:35 Comments || Top||

#5  I doubt that Mullah Richard.

I think Obama gave the Paks an ultimatum and the Paks gave the only acceptable answer. The Paks have probably been using OBL as a bargaining chip and the US finally got tired of the haggling.

We gave them our Best and Final Offer ("We'll let you breathe") and the Paks said "OK".
Posted by: Frozen Al || 05/02/2011 15:41 Comments || Top||

#6  Nonetheless, there must have been a few clenched butts on that chopper (and in the Situation Room) when they lifted out - hoping that no one had managed to round up a couple of MANPADs in the last 40 minutes.
Posted by: KBK || 05/02/2011 16:07 Comments || Top||

#7  Maybe the Pakistani soldiers at the military base are only armed like American soldiers inside bases in America (or even A'stan?)
Posted by: Glenmore || 05/02/2011 16:10 Comments || Top||


This must be the 21st century: Pakistani IT consultant liveblogs the raid on Twitter
Bonnie Malkin, The Telegraph (UK)

Sohaib Athar, who uses the Twitter handle "ReallyVirtual", recorded the helicopter attack that led to the death of the al-Qaeda leader.

At 1am local time, he noted on his Twitter page that a helicopter was hovering overhead, a "rare event" in sleepy Abbottabad. The noise from the aircraft was annoying, and he tweeted: "Go away helicopter – before I take out my giant swatter :-/". But the commotion only got worse. Minutes later he wrote: "A huge window shaking bang here in Abbottabad Cantt. I hope its not the start of something nasty :-S" Then, when the sound of the helicopter stopped following an explosion, he tweeted "seems like my giant swatter worked !"....

Shortly later he went offline for a few hours, returning in the morning to work out what had happened. He retweeted a post from Munzir Naqvi: "I think the helicopter crash in Abbottabad, Pakistan and the President Obama breaking news address are connected." Soon another Twitter user had confirmed the news. Mr Athar tweeted "RT @ ISuckBigTime: Osama Bin Laden killed in Abbottabad, Pakistan. ISI has confirmed it [[ Uh oh, there goes the neighborhood :-/"".

Mr Athar describes himself as "an IT consultant taking a break from the rat-race by hiding in the mountains with his laptops." But his peace and quiet was not to last. During the morning he acknowledged: "Uh oh, now I'm the guy who liveblogged the Osama raid without knowing it."...
Posted by: Mike || 05/02/2011 08:41 || Comments || Link || [6 views] Top|| File under:


Bin Laden's death: Hillary Clinton nearly blew the whistle on ISI safehouse
Times of India's headline, not mine.
In fact, top US officials have openly suggested for months that the Pakistani military establishment was hiding bin Laden. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton came closest to publicly exposing Pakistan's role last May when she accused some government officials there of harboring Osama bin Laden and Mullah Omar.

''I am not saying they are at the highest level...but I believe somewhere in this government are people who know where Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida and where Mullah Omar and the leadership of the Taliban are,'' Clinton said on May 10 last year, adding, ''We expect more cooperation (from Pakistan) to help us bring to justice capture or kill those who brought us 9/11.''
Posted by: phil_b || 05/02/2011 03:12 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  UN must declare Pakistan a terrorist state now that OBL was found in a military Town!
Posted by: Angeretle Snore6772 || 05/02/2011 7:19 Comments || Top||

#2  Not yet. Lets get Zawahiri, and then we can turn our attention to Pakistan in a little different light.

But my guess is that Zawahiri is probably now under house arrest in the Presidential palace or something.

Posted by: crosspatch || 05/02/2011 15:58 Comments || Top||


Terrorists find sanctuary in Pakistan: India (Osama location proves it)
Posted by: Water Modem || 05/02/2011 02:32 || Comments || Link || [6 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Apparently alot of Pakistani Generals lived in the area where OBL was killed!

Hamid Gul will be crying today HA HA!
Posted by: Angeretle Snore6772 || 05/02/2011 7:14 Comments || Top||


'Pakistan still safe haven for militants'
[Iran Press TV] A US military report says Afghan beturbanned goons continue to enjoy sanctuary in Pakistain's border regions with Afghanistan, since the US-led invasion in 2001.

"The concern about the role of safe havens in Pakistain and the role of actors in Pakistain remains a significant challenge," Times of India quoted a US senior defense official as saying at a Pentagon briefing on Saturday.

According to the official, Pentagon has sent its six-monthly report to Congress on progress made in war-torn Afghanistan.

He added that the United States is looking for continued and increased cooperation with Pakistain on the border, the report added.

The Pentagon report notes that Talibs are able to regenerate command, control and operational capacity from the region.

The report warns that the beturbanned goons will likely retain operational momentum in areas where the support structures exist.

It also urges Pakistain to do more to eliminate safe havens for the Talibs.

Earlier this month, Washington acknowledged that the Taliban have gained strength in Pakistain's border regions with Afghanistan.

The report concluded that there remains no clear path toward defeating militancy in Pakistain.

The US military carries out aerial operations on the Pak regions, which are home to Death Eater hideouts, but the unauthorized US drone attacks have often led to the death of civilians.

Last year alone, some 1,200 Paks were killed in over 100 such strikes, according to reports.

The strikes have further fueled the anti-US sentiment already on the rise in the region.

Insecurity is also rising in Afghanistan despite the presence of about 150,000 US-led foreign troops.
Posted by: Fred || 05/02/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [6 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan

#1  Hello! The Asian Times has a very interesting story on the connection of Saudi and Paks. The Arab world turmoil may have influenced the Osama exposure.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/ME03Df02.html
Posted by: Dale || 05/02/2011 6:58 Comments || Top||

#2  Every top terrorist is caught/killed in Pakistan!

Cut aid TODAY!
Posted by: Angeretle Snore6772 || 05/02/2011 6:59 Comments || Top||

#3  Can't cut aid as long as you need to supply 100,000 troops in Afghanistan through Pakistan. It's a road use tax (even if the road is 'use at your own risk.').
Posted by: Glenmore || 05/02/2011 10:01 Comments || Top||

#4  It's a road use tax (even if the road is 'use at your own risk.').
Then there's the fuel tax. Groan.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 05/02/2011 11:45 Comments || Top||


Iraq
Iraqi lawmakers approve $400M payment to Americans
[Pak Daily Times] Iraqi politicians approved a controversial $400 million settlement Saturday for Americans who claim they were abused by Saddam Hussein's regime during the 1990 invasion of Kuwait.

The settlement is part of a deal reached between Storied Baghdad
...located along the Tigris River, founded in the 8th century, home of the Abbasid Caliphate...
and Washington last year to end years of legal battles by US citizens who claim they were tortured or traumatised, including hundreds held as human shields.

Many Iraqis consider themselves victims of both Saddam's regime and the 2003 US-led invasion and wonder why they should pay money for wrongs committed by the ousted dictator. Lawmakers approved the settlement by a majority after listening to the foreign and finance ministers as well as the head of the central bank describe why it was necessary, said Abbas al-Bayati of the State of Law political bloc.

Another politician, Mahmoud Othman, said by approving the settlement, Iraq would be protecting itself from more lawsuits in the future that could have been well above the $400 million that was agreed to.

"They explained very well what was the settlement and how it will be negative if we don't approve it," he said. "That's why people were persuaded."

Lawmakers affiliated with anti-American holy man Moqtada Tater al-Sadr
... the Iranian catspaw holy man who was 22 years old in 2003 and was nearing 40 in 2010. He spends most of his time in Iran, safely out of the line of fire, where he's learning to be an ayatollah...
rejected the settlement, said one of the bloc's politicians, Hakim al-Zamili. Al-Zamili said he was surprised that so many politicians who had been arguing against the legislation before Saturday's session reversed course at the last minute. "It's better to compensate the Iraqi deaders and detainees than the Americans," he said. Saddam's regime held hostage hundreds of Americans during the run-up to the Gulf War, using them as human shields in hopes of staving off an attack by the US and its allies. Most of the Americans had been living and working in Kuwait and after being taken hostage were dispersed to sites around Iraq.
Posted by: Fred || 05/02/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under: Iraqi Baath Party


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Iran pres. vows to fight global arrogance
[Iran Press TV] Iran's President Mahmoud Short Round Ahmadinejad warns hegemonic powers and Israel that he will fight them by relying on divine assistance and with a well-calculated plan.

"I will remain on the path of the Just Jurisprudent and will oppose arrogant [powers] and the Zionist Regime [of Israel] until the last breath," Ahmadinejad said on Sunday.

Ahmadinejad said the enemies tried for years to insinuate that the Islamic Theocratic Republic of Iran is inefficient, therefore the biggest service to the Islamic establishment was to prove the country's efficiency.

"Those who cannot find fault with the government's management abilities and its economic policies have designed a new game, but they are mistaken," the president added.

The Iranian president made the remarks during an address in the Sunday cabinet meeting.

Ahmadinejad also praised the efforts of his ministers in different fields such as reforming subsides, development and meeting the country's fundamental needs.

The president expressed gratitude for the support of Islamic theocracy'>Iran's Fearless Leader, the doddering but still vicious Ali Khamenei
Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei for his government.
Posted by: Fred || 05/02/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [6 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran

#1  Bin Laden dead,Short Round and Gadaffi next!
Posted by: Angeretle Snore6772 || 05/02/2011 7:02 Comments || Top||

#2  Ahmadinejad said the enemies tried for years to insinuate that the Islamic Theocratic Republic of Iran is inefficient, therefore the biggest service to the Islamic establishment was to prove the country's efficiency.



Next thing U know he'll issue an executive order to improve customer service.
Posted by: anonymous2u || 05/02/2011 15:24 Comments || Top||

#3  "Iran pres. vows to fight global arrogance"

Look in the mirror and start there, you ignorant runt.

"Next thing U know he'll issue an executive order to improve customer service."

The beatings beheadings will continue until morale improves.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 05/02/2011 16:30 Comments || Top||


Iran's president backs down on political challenge
[Arab News] Iran's diminutive President Mahmoud Short Round Ahmadinejad attended a Cabinet meeting Sunday after more than a week's absence that raised tension with the country's supreme leader, state TV reported.

The recent confrontation between Ahmadinejad and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei involved the president's dismissal last month of the country's most powerful intelligence chief, Heidar Moslehi.

Khamenei quickly reinstated Moslehi in a slap to Ahmadinejad. In apparent protest, the president skipped two Cabinet meetings this past week.

Ahmadinejad's decision to back down and attend is likely an attempt to avoid backlash from Khamenei, who has been a strong supporter of the president. That relationship could be fraying by Ahmadinejad's repeated attempts to push the limits of his powers.

Last week, Khamenei made a rare public rebuke to Ahmadinejad, saying he will not hesitate to intervene in government affairs whenever necessary.

A serious fall from Khamenei's favor would leave Ahmadinejad's clout seriously diminished and test the loyalty of his main supporters, including the Revolutionary Guard that will have a central role in picking the candidates for his successor in 2013.
Posted by: Fred || 05/02/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran


Terror Networks
Hamas condemns killing of "holy warrior" bin Laden
The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas on Monday condemned the killing by U.S. forces of Osama bin Laden and mourned him as an "Arab holy warrior." "We regard this as a continuation of the American policy based on oppression and the shedding of Muslim and Arab blood," Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Hamas administration in the Gaza Strip, told reporters....
Of course you do. Once again demonstrating the Palestinian need to get on the wrong side of every opportunity.
Posted by: Mike || 05/02/2011 09:50 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Hey ismail......STUFF IT!!!!!
Posted by: armyguy || 05/02/2011 12:41 Comments || Top||

#2  But there is no joy in Mudville Gaza
Mighty Binny has tapped out...
Posted by: tu3031 || 05/02/2011 12:47 Comments || Top||


jihadist begin to respond
Posted by: Water Modem || 05/02/2011 02:54 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  thank you water modem that was really interesting. Those jihadists can froth and spittle but they can't attack the West again so easily.

They had the element of surprise that first time. We are not naive any more. You can't access a flight deck, in your wildest dreams.

Eyes are watching, ears are listening everywhere. Ordinary people will take action immediately like the brave souls on flight 93.

The only place they can hit is inside third world countries like Pakistan or Indonesia. They can't get us on our own soil any more I believe. Touch wood.
Posted by: anon1 || 05/02/2011 5:29 Comments || Top||

#2  They can't get us on our own soil any more I believe.
I don't believe that at all. There are plenty more 'instant jihadis,' like Major Hasan of Fort Hood scattered all over the world, ready for their Islamist awakening. Beslan wasn't that hard to pull off.
Perhaps there won't be further jihadi strikes that kill thousands at once, but there will most likely be thousands more jihadi strikes that kill a few each time.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 05/02/2011 11:43 Comments || Top||

#3  you have a good point, Anguper, about the scattered individuals.

But I just feel like this is an inflexion point. You know them when you see them. When 9/11 happened, i knew instantly we were at war.

Now Bin Laden has been caught, the smell of the air and the feel of the times just tells me the world has changed again and has moved on to new challenges.

now the threat is different i feel. Jihadis will fail and crumble away like communism after the berlin wall. not because osama has suddenly been killed but as a result of the sturdy, sustained efforts of our, mostly your, troops in the last decade. Generational change, too.

Now the threat is all china.... i feel in my bones. i don't think we'll see another 9/11
Posted by: anon1 || 05/02/2011 12:16 Comments || Top||



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Two weeks of WOT
Mon 2011-05-02
  Osama bin Laden sleeps widda fishes
Sun 2011-05-01
  Osama bin Laden dead
Sat 2011-04-30
  Saif al-Arab Gadhafi Reported Titzup
Fri 2011-04-29
  Blast kills 14 in Marrakesh; suicide bomber suspected
Thu 2011-04-28
  Some Syrian military units appear to be fighting each other.
Wed 2011-04-27
  Yemen's Ruling Party and Opposition To Sign Deal in Riyadh soon
Tue 2011-04-26
  NATO air strike pounds Gaddafi compound
Mon 2011-04-25
   470 inmates escape Kandahar jug
Sun 2011-04-24
  US carries out first drone strike in Libya
Sat 2011-04-23
  Yemen's president agrees to step down
Fri 2011-04-22
  Obama Authorizes Use of Drone Airstrikes in Libya...
Thu 2011-04-21
  Nigeria: Over 200 dead in the post-election riots
Wed 2011-04-20
  Syria government approves lifting state of emergency
Tue 2011-04-19
  Suicide Bomber Attacks Afghan Ministry of Defence
Mon 2011-04-18
  Five Hurt as Regime Agents Disperse Rallies in South Syria


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