NAIROBI, Kenya: Most Kenyan troops will soon leave the port city of Kismayo which they took control of more than a year ago after ousting al-Qaida-linked militants, a Kenyan military spokesman said Friday.
The Kenyan army command will leave Kismayo soon, said Col. Willy Wesonga. Sierra Leonean troops will replace Kenyan forces that will move to the Gedo region, he said. Only small Kenyan units will remain in Kismayo, Wesonga said.
The announcement comes as Kenyan forces are accused of misconduct including of backing one Somali militia against others in Kismayo, an issue that led the Mogadishu-based Somali government to demand a more neutral force in Kismayo. Kenyan troopswere accused mid-last year of backing one militia, the Raskamboni brigade, against others in deadly fighting there. The Raskamboni brigade which helped Kenya to push al-Shabab militants out of Kismayo in 2012 is led by Ahmed Madobe, a Somali warlord who has established a local administration in Kismayo that is independent of the central government. Madobe is a key power broker around Kismayo, although he is not backed by the federal government in Mogadishu.
Kismayo is important for Kenya, which seeks a friendly buffer zone near its border with Somalia one of the main reasons it sent troops to Somalia in late 2011 to fight the rebels of al-Shabab, Islamic extremists linked to al-Qaida.The rival militias appear to be interested in the economic engine of Kismayo. Its port generates a reliably large income and has been the export point of Somali-made charcoal that the United Nations has deemed illegal.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/02/2014 00:00 ||
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Soddy Arabia ...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face... n diplomats and military officials refused to meet with a bipartisan delegation of senior congressional staffers who visited the Middle Eastern country last week, an unusual snub that suggests increased tension between the U.S. and a key ally. The delegation was comprised of "high level" staff from three House committees: Intelligence, Homeland Security, and Armed Services.
"Everyone on the trip definitely took it as a snub," one of the staffers who went on the trip, speaking on condition of anonymity ... for fear of being murdered... , told the Washington Examiner. The staffer said that the delegation asked to meet with representatives of Saudi Arabia's Foreign Affairs Ministry and Defense Ministry during the week-long trip, but the Saudis denied both requests.
The rejection is especially unusual because the Saudis paid for the delegation's visit, but did not allow them to talk to their most natural counterparts in the Saudi Arabian government. The aide, who has visited the country multiple times on such delegations, said every previous trip featured a meeting with at least one of the two ministries.
The snub stems from Saudi anger over what they see as President B.O.'s weak response to the Syrian civil war and U.S. attempts to get a nuclear deal with Iran, according to the staffer. The Iranian negotiations are most troubling to the Saudis, according to the aide, saying they think Obama is being "shortsighted" in his strategy for preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.
Gulf Arab states have been watching with grave concern Obama's hopes to negotiate an end to Iran's nuclear program, even as the regime gets closer to obtaining a weapon. Many, especially Saudi Arabia, see Iran's ambitions as an existential threat.
#1
"The rejection is especially unusual because the Saudis paid for the delegation's visit, but did not allow them to talk to their most natural counterparts in the Saudi Arabian government."
...I could see Mrs. Phester doing something like this after a forgotten anniversary, etc. Yeah, they're pissed about Syria...
#3
Don't blame them.
I mean, at this point, what is there to say?
Or you could just let the US govt lie to you, like it does with the rest of us. And the House of Saud can afford to pay for you to be snubbed.
Posted by: ed in texas ||
02/02/2014 12:32 Comments ||
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US President Barack Obama plans to travel to Saudi Arabia in March on a mission to smooth tensions with Washington's main Arab ally over US policy on Iran's nuclear programme and the civil war in Syria, a newspaper reported.
They dissed a Congressional delegation on their visit; maybe the Saudis will let him meet with the lead janitor at the Ministry of Tourism. Hope somebody on the President's staff speaks Tagalog.
The man grew up in Indonesia; it's not that far away.
Obama is preparing to meet the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia, for a summit, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing unnamed Arab officials briefed on the meetings.
"This is about a deteriorating relationship" and declining trust, said a senior Arab official in discussing the need for the summit, which was pulled together in recent days, the newspaper reported.
A White House spokeswoman declined to comment.
Relations have been tested on a number of fronts. Members of Saudi Arabia's ruling family threatened a rift with the United States to protest against perceived American inaction over Syria's civil war, which has killed more than 100,000 people, as well as the recent US outreach with Iran.
King Abdullah is also to use the meeting to question Obama on why he decided against airstrikes in Syria, which Saudi and other Arab officials believe strengthened Assad, the newspaper reported.
"The meeting in many ways will get back to basics," said a Saudi official briefed on the meetings, according the Wall Street Journal. "Why did Obama do it the way he did it?" I suspect the language was a tad stronger than that.
US and other security officials said earlier this week that "moderate" Syrian rebel factions were receiving light arms supplied by the United States.
The Arab Spring as well as a November agreement between Iran and other world powers that curbs parts of Tehran's nuclear programme, has angered Saudi Arabia, along with other Arab states and Israel.
Obama's visit comes after a mission to Riyadh by US Secretary of State John Kerry. Jawn must've really grovelled to get his boss an appointment.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/02/2014 00:00 ||
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#4
That was back when announcers knew the game and the phrase color commentary wasn't dog whistle racism.
Me, I'm turning the announcers off and putting something more interesting on; like: The Sounds of the Jake Break, Cows in Anguish, or Yoko Ono: Unpolished.
#5
Why don't they just have everyone stay home and watch it on TV? Then it could be like that old Star Trek episode with a director cuing the cheering effects and all the rest of the high-tech stuff.
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/02/2014 15:58 Comments ||
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#15
M'Lady and I are playing music. She playing her songs on guitar and vocal, I on my clarinet.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
02/02/2014 18:23 Comments ||
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#16
I tried watching the Puppy Bowl. Suddenly an ugly bull dog face appeared on screen. It was Moochelle blathering on about something. I changed channels.
[DAWN] LAHORE: The Jamaat-e-Islami ...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores... wants an overseeing body of religious parties and seminaries to 'monitor' proposed talks between the government and the Taliban and to counter attempts to 'sabotage' the peace efforts. It also considers it necessary to disown the methodology of forcible enforcement of Shariah.
"The religious parties should hold seminars, conferences and public meetings under the supervision of the Wifaqul Madaris (seminaries' association) so that the government may not get a chance to give an impression that the Taliban understand only the language of gun," JI Amir Syed Munawar Hasan said here on Friday.
The religious parties' committee, he suggested, should guide the Taliban (about the right way to enforce Shariah) and to present the correct religious viewpoint on Shariah. He said the Wifaqul Madaris should not only monitor the talks but also play its role to remove the confusion to avoid deadlock in the dialogue process with the ultimate goal of ending terrorism and restoring peace.
Hasan alleged the US and India would try to sabotage the talks. He said the unity of religious parties was also essential to effectively counter the propaganda in the media and support the talks process. He said it was essential (for the religious parties) to disown the elements who believed that Shariah could be enforced through gun.
The Shariah, he said, be enforced only through the implementation of the teachings of the Holy Koran and the Sunnah.
"There is no difference of opinion on enforcement of Shariah although there may be differences on the mode of its enforcement."
Posted by: Fred ||
02/02/2014 00:00 ||
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[DAWN] GHALANAI: Different tribes of lower Mohmand Agency ... Named for the Mohmand clan of the Sarban Pahstuns, a truculent, quarrelsome lot. In Pakistain, the Mohmands infest their eponymous Agency, metastasizing as far as the plains of Peshawar, Charsadda, and Mardan. Mohmands are also scattered throughout Pakistan in urban areas including Karachi, Lahore, and Quetta. In Afghanistan they are mainly found in Nangarhar and Kunar... on Friday announced full support to government in its efforts to wipe out the menace of militancy and terrorism and vowed to fight shoulder to shoulder with the security forces till elimination of the last turban.
This was stated by the elders of Mamzai, Babazai and Inzari Miangan tribes of Pandilai tehsil during a jirga held at Ekkaghund tehsil and presided over by assistant political agent Naeem Khan.
The jirga unanimously declared that anti-state elements and forces of Evil would not be allowed to shed the blood of innocent rustics for completion of their vested agenda.
The elders said people of Dawezai tribes had rendered great sacrifices for the country and would continue to do so in future."We are ready to extend all out support to the government to ensure public security and safety and would cooperate with our security forces till elimination of last turban from the area," the elders vowed.
Tribal elders also decided that if any one found to shelter or involved in any antistate elements he would be fined Rs2 million.
The tribal elders underlined the need for the peace committees to intensify search of Death Eaters in the area.They vowed to deal with iron hands the enemy of peace.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/02/2014 00:00 ||
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[DAWN] The Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat ...which is the false nose and plastic mustache of the murderous banned extremist group Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistain, whatcha might call the political wing of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi... (ASWJ) on Friday night ended a sit-in at the Guru Mandir traffic intersection after successful talks with AIG police Bloody Karachi ...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous... Shahid Hayat Khan and others.
According to DIG (east) Munir Ahmed Sheikh, the protesters ended their sit-in after presenting three main demands.
The sit-in had started after Juma as the district south police blocked a road leading to the Iranian consulate in Clifton.
The ASWJ leaders, including Maulana Mohammed Ahmed Ludhianvi, Allama Aurangzeb Farooqi, addressed the protesters.
An ASWJ spokesperson said they had three main demands: "The interference of Iran in Pakistain must be stopped; detained 'sectarian' suspects are brought before the media and the Iranian consul general's undesirable activities must be stopped."
The Iranian consulate has already denied the allegations. No, no! Certainly not! Meanwhile, ...back at the wreckage, Captain Poindexter wished he had a cup of coffee. Even instant would do... a portion of the road leading to the Iranian consulate in Clifton remained blocked from the Dau Talwar to Park Tower to prevent the protesters from staging a protest demonstration there, said Clifton ASP.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/02/2014 00:00 ||
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[DAWN] Pakistain's top judge has taken suo motu ...a legal term, from the Latin. Roughly translated it means I saw what you did, you bastard... notice on reports of the discovery of mass graves in Khuzdar district of insurgency-hit Balochistan ...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it...
At least thirteen bodies were recovered last week from two separate graves found in Tutak area of Khuzdar, said to be one of the most sensitive districts of the province.
The corpses, most of which were decomposed and beyond recognition, were discovered after a local shepherd reported to security personnel the discovery of bones, body parts and the possibility of a suspected grave in the area.
Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Gilani on Saturday summoned the Inspector General of Police in Balochistan and Deputy Commissioner Khuzdar on February 4 and has ordered them to submit a detailed report on the incident.
The chief justice took notice on a statement by the Voice of Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP).
Earlier, the Balochistan government said it had formed a judicial commission to launch a probe into the discovery of the 13 corpses.
Balochistan High Court judge Justice Noor Mohammad Muzkanzai was appointed the head of the commission.
According to a statement issued by the Balochistan's Interior Ministry, the commission would submit its report in a month's time after conducting the investigation.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/02/2014 00:00 ||
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[DAWN] The Pak Taliban have nominated the names of five political and religious leaders to mediate peace talks with government negotiators, their front man said on Saturday.
The names include Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf ...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations.... (PTI) chief Imran Khan ... aka Taliban Khan, who ain't the brightest knife in the national drawer... , Maulana Samiul Haq ...the Godfather of the Taliban, leader of his own faction of the JUI. Known as Mullah Sandwich for his habit of having two young boys at a time... , former chief holy man of the Lal Masjid in Islamabad Maulana Abdul Aziz, Professor Mohammad Ibrahim of the Jamaat-e-Islami ...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores... (JI), and Mufti Kifayatullah, a former politician of the Jamaat Ulema-e-Islam ...Assembly of Islamic Clergy, or JUI, is a Pak Deobandi (Hanafi) political party. There are two main branches, one led by Maulana Fazlur Rahman, and one led by Maulana Samiul Haq. Fazl is active in Pak politix and Sami spends more time running his madrassah. Both branches sponsor branches of the Taliban, though with plausible deniability... (JUI-F) from Mansehra ...a city and an eponymous district in eastern Khyber-Pakthunwa, nestled snug up against Pak Kashmir, with Kohistan and Diamir to the north and Abbottabad to the south... said to have close ties with the Taliban.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf... said his government had decided to pursue peace talks with Talibs to end years of violence despite a recent spate of attacks.
The premier named a four-member committee comprising his Advisor on National Affairs Irfan Siddique, veteran journalist Rahimullah Yusufzai, former ambassador and expert on Afghanistan affairs Rustam Shah Mohmand and former ISI official Major (Retd) Amir Shah to facilitate the dialogue.
Speaking to Dawn.com on Saturday, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistain (TTP) front man Shahidullah Shahid said the five "mediators" would facilitate peace talks between the government team and the TTP.
The banned hard boy group announced the names after a meeting of its central shura (council) which was held at some holy man's guesthouse an undisclosed location.
"The Taliban are entering talks with clear intentions and an open heart," said Shahid.
"Our emir Mullah Fazlullah ...son-in-law of holy man Sufi Mohammad. Known as Mullah FM, Fazlullah had the habit of grabbing his FM mike when the mood struck him and bellowing forth sermons. Sufi suckered the Pak govt into imposing Shariah on the Swat Valley and then stepped aside whilst Fazlullah and his Talibs imposed a reign of terror on the populace like they hadn't seen before, at least not for a thousand years or so. For some reason the Pak intel services were never able to locate his transmitter, much less bomb it. After ruling the place like a conquered province for a year or so, Fazlullah's Talibs began gobbling up more territory as they pushed toward Islamabad, at which point as a matter of self-preservation the Mighty Pak Army threw them out and chased them into Afghanistan... supports the five-member committee we have nominated.
"Our shura will communicate its stance to the five nominees who will mediate talks with the government team," he said.
Speaking to DawnNews, Professor Mohammad Ibrahim confirmed that he had been contacted by the TTP to "act as a solicitor" on their behalf.
"It does not matter what side we represent. We will try to fulfill our responsibility to bring peace in the country...and hope that we will be able to achieve lasting peace," he said.
Maulana Abdul Aziz also confirmed that he had been contacted by the TTP, though he said he would decline to be a part of the process if he feels the government was not serious in negotiations or in implementing Shariah law in the country.
Meanwhile, ...back at the revival hall, the congregants were being herded into the paddy wagon... PTI chief Imran Khan sent a message from his official Twitter account that the "TTP should select their own Taliban representatives 4 (for) peace talks".
However, death is not the end. There remains the litigation over the estate... Khan said the party would discuss how it could assist in the dialogue process at a meeting of its core committee scheduled for Monday.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/02/2014 00:00 ||
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[Ynet] Oxfam's war on Israel defeats war on poverty, even at Paleostinian laborers' expense. Still, Israel cannot bury its head in the sand
The Israeli SodaStream factory is an economic business. A source of employment for work weary Jewish employees and Paleostinian laborers in need of an income. They come there for the money, not because of politics. They stay there and work with each other peacefully, for the same reason.
The factory is located near Ma'ale Adumim, within a settlement bloc which is supposed to be part of the State of Israel according to every possible outline. As far as the boycott movement is concerned, that's enough to wage a war against it. The factory's success around the world is an Israeli source of pride; the boycotts against it are an Israeli problem. This is a battle aimed at harming the economy regardless of religion, race and the Green Line.
Scarlett Johansson got caught up in our mess against her will. SodaStream suggested that she become its spokesmodel; Johansson agreed. She has Jewish roots from home and blonde roots in her hair. What comes first is unclear. In any event, the Israelis were happy to adopt both.
What bubbles in the soda factory in Ma'ale Adumim burst in Hollywood. A superficial world, superficial problems. Johansson was hit with a huge wave of protests. She stepped into the breach. She is in favor of a Paleostinian state and in favor of Israeli soda which matches a green approach. She is in favor of peace and against boycotts. As simple as it may sound, the issue turns complicated when it comes to the State of Israel.
The Oxfam organization, which fights poverty and inequality around the world, didn't like Johansson's soda campaign. The battle against Israel defeats the battle against poverty. All is fair, even laborers' future. There is no point in writing about the hypocrisy while reports are being published about the massacre taking place in Syria since the agreement with the West. Justice is not pursued in the international arena, only interests.
But there is a point in understanding reality. Israel is in the midst of a battle against the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. We cannot bury our heads in the sand, even if it matches someone's ideology. The good news is that at the moment, despite the boycotts and racket, the Israeli economy is stable. The problem is that our friends are less stable. Pressure has an effect, even if we've found a new heroine in the history of the Jewish people.
In the Israeli government, there is no agreement about anything. Not even about this critical battle. Lapid talks about the economic danger of the boycotts; as far as Bennett is concerned, there is only growth. Livni is making peace; Uri Ariel is praying against it. We are lacking an organized policy, there is an abundance of soda, and at least one beautiful Scarlett on our side. Well, that's something too.
[Ynet] In segment not included in award winning documentary 'The Gatekeepers,' former Shin Bet chiefs Yuval Diskin, Avi Dichter discuss their experiences with terror threats
In 2012, the six surviving former heads of Israel's internal security service, known as the Shin Bet, went on camera to give an honest account of their experiences.
The film, "The Gatekeepers," directed by Dror Moreh, was nominated for an Academy Award for best documentary and received wide international acclaim.
Continued on Page 49
[Ynet] Lebanese politician critical of Iranian-backed group says unmanned planes used over his home; army confirms Hezbollah tracked boom-mobile across Leb-Syria border
Hezbollah is proving once again that its fight is not only against Israel, but is also focused on its own internal interests in Leb and Syria. After dispatching thousands of its fighters to the battlefields of Syria, on behalf of ally and sponsor Bashir al-Assad, who has sustained major military losses, it has now begun to support the beleaguered president by supplying him with unmanned aerial vehicles.
In November 2013, the Lebanese media revealed that security forces there had foiled a massive attack, involving a booby-trapped vehicle carrying 400 kg of explosives and other ammunition. The vehicle was discovered by seemingklhy miraculous means in the country's Bekaa region, an area under Hezbollah control, several hours before the start of celebrations for Leb's 70th independence day.
Lebanese security sources said that the organization had spotted the vehicle, and obtained information that it had entered the Bekaa region via the country's eastern border with Syria. "The organization is monitoring and supervising the border using drones at night," the sources said.
Beyond its deployment of drones on the Syria-Leb border, it appears that Hezbollah has stepped up its use of them as a tool in its struggle against political foes inside Leb itself. Samir Geagea ... Geagea was imprisoned by the Syrians and their puppets for 11 years in a dungeon in the third basement level of the Lebanese Ministry of Defense. He was released after the Cedar Revolution in 2005 ... , a veteran Lebanese Christian politician and senior member of the country's anti-Hezbollah March 14 Alliance, said this week that an unmanned aerial vehicle had spent several hours flying above his home in the village of Maarab, an area with many Christian residents.
Geagea, who was the target of an liquidation attempt in 2012, told the Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya TV network that, "the murder preparations continue, and to my knowledge they will try to kill me, given the enormous implications this will have for the March 14 Alliance, and for Lebanese politics in general." Geagea did not expressly identify Hezbollah, but vowed: "They will not succeed."
He connected this attempt on his own life to text messages and threats sent to his wife, a member of the Lebanese parliament for the same Alliance, as well as to other political liquidations in the country. These killings include that of former Lebanese finance minister Mohamad Chatah, a well-known vehement critic of Hezbollah, in the heart of Beirut last month.
Geagea said that the Lebanese army had been unable to identify the origins of the drone over his house, but ruled out the possibility that it came from Israel, as the IAF was not given to operating in that area.
Hezbollah is believed to possess close to 200 Iranian-made drones, and some are, of course, destined for Israel. A proportion of those planes are set aside for one-way missions on strategic sites inside Israel, or IAF bases in the next conflagration. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah's drone collection includes a variety of models, among them "suicide" model aircraft that can fly at very low altitudes, evading Israel's radar systems.
The Israeli response to drone infiltrations is to deploy IAF warplanes, which have on at least two occasions managed to down Hezbollah's unmanned aircraft. The American-made "Hawk" surface-to-air missiles, long used by Israel, should help as well in this mission.
[An Nahar] Indonesians who have joined fellow bully boyz fighting in Syria could help reinvigorate a once-powerful bully boy group responsible for major bombings in the world's most populous Moslem country, a report said.
"The conflict in Syria has captured the imagination of Indonesian bully boyz in a way no foreign war has before," said a report by Jakarta-based Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict published this week.
It is a change of pattern for Indonesian faceless myrmidons who previously have gone to Afghanistan in the late 1980s and 1990s mainly for training, or to the Paleostinian territories to give moral and financial support to fellow Moslems, the report said.
"The enthusiasm for Syria is directly linked to predictions in Islamic eschatology that the final battle at the end of time will take place in Sham, the region sometimes called Greater Syria, or the Levant, encompassing Syria, Jordan, Leb, Paleostine and Israel," the report added.
This notion has attracted Indonesians from different radical streams to go or try to go to Syria, including the Jemaah Islamiyah, or JI, a group responsible for the 2002 bombings on the resort island of Bali which killed 202 people, mostly foreigners.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/02/2014 00:00 ||
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[An Nahar] Caretaker Najib Miqati lamented on Saturday the current state of affairs in Leb given that it is suffering from the impact of the Syrian crisis.
Commenting on claims that he has become a target for liquidation, he said: "I am performing my national duties and what pleases my conscience." Of course he's been targeted for assassination. He's a politician in Leb.
Media reports had said on Friday that the PM has become a target for liquidation in light of their circulation of a security document alleging that a political figure in Beirut or the northern city of Tripoli ...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn... may be targeted by a jacket wallah.
Miqati hails from Tripoli.
"It is unfortunate that all the Lebanese people's security and livelihoods have become at risk due to the local and regional situations," he added in a statement.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/02/2014 00:00 ||
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[An Nahar] Syria's foreign minister said Sunday his delegation had rejected a U.S. request for direct talks unless Secretary of State John F. I was in Vietnam, you know Kerry Former Senator-for-Life from Massachussetts, self-defined war hero, speaker of French, owner of a lucky hat, conqueror of Cambodia, and current Secretary of State... apologized for his remarks at the Geneva II talks.
"The Americans asked us to negotiate directly with them in Montreux," Walid Muallem told Syrian state media on the plane home from 10 days of peace talks in the Swiss cities of Montreux and Geneva.
"But we refused to do so before Secretary of State John Kerry apologized for what he said at the conference," Muallem added, in remarks carried by state news agency SANA.
Syria's government and opposition began the so-called Geneva II talks on January 22, with the participation of dozens of nations, including Russia, which backs the regime, and the United States, which supports the opposition.
In his opening remarks at the conference, Kerry said Syria's Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad Supressor of the Damascenes... "will not be part" of any transitional government.
"There is no way, not possible in the imagination, that the man who has led the brutal response to his own people could regain legitimacy to govern," Kerry said.
Muallem also dismissed the "coalition of the so-called 'opposition'" in his comments Saturday.
"If they do not abandon their illusions, they will get a rude shock because we are a country of institutions and a constitution and we have a president of the republic," SANA quoted him as saying.
The regime and opposition were unable to bridge the vast gulf between them during 10 days of talks, making no progress on ceasefires, humanitarian corridors or the question of a transitional government.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/02/2014 00:00 ||
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
US President Barack Obama plans to travel to Saudi Arabia in March on a mission to smooth tensions with Washington's main Arab ally over US policy on Iran's nuclear programme and the civil war in Syria, a newspaper reported.
[DAWN] LAHORE: The 
Mohmand Agency
a city and an eponymous district in eastern Khyber-Pakthunwa, nestled snug up against Pak Kashmir, with Kohistan and Diamir to the north and Abbottabad to the south...
Nawaz Sharif
Samir Geagea
Najib Miqati
[An Nahar] Syria's foreign minister said Sunday his delegation had rejected a U.S. request for direct talks unless Secretary of State 
Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir 
