Five years ago, Iraqi insurgents figured out that the easiest way to kill a lot of Americans, fast, was to shoot down their helicopters — especially the lumbering Chinook transports than can carry an entire platoon of 40 people. The Taliban quickly caught on. Since at least April, Taliban fighters in southern Afghanistan have been trying to shoot down a British Chinook. On Wednesday, they succeeded. Luckily, no one was killed.
“The incident happened after two helicopters dropped off cargo and passengers a few miles north of Sangin,” the British Ministry of Defense reported. One Chinook caught fire and made an emergency landing. The accompanying Chinook plucked the downed chopper’s crew and sped away. Later, a NATO jet bombed the Chinook’s wreckage, to prevent it falling into Taliban hands. After some investigation, the MoD attributed the shoot-down to “RPG and small-arms fire.”
For years, the Brits have been short of helicopters in Afghanistan. The shortages have gotten so bad that the MoD is using unprotected, chartered civilian choppers in dangerous areas. Some of these have been shot down, and their crews killed. When the Taliban destroyed a civilian Mi-26 in southern Afghanistan in July, they issued a press release mistakenly claiming theyÂ’d killed a Chinook.
While U.S. forces in Afghanistan rely more and more on aircraft for resupply, the Brits donÂ’t have the same huge air fleets to call upon. ThereÂ’s a tension in the MoD between using vulnerable choppers or sending ground convoys along AfghanistanÂ’s IED-infested roads. Last week, British forces sortied a near-record ground convoy: 100 vehicles in a line five miles long.
#3
My understanding of the incident is that they were dropping off some SAS . They called in an airstrike to stop the technology falling into enemy hands (new model chinooks only rly available for SF's)
Credit to SFSG pilots tbh .
And yes , years of underfunding by successive incompetent governments looking to chop off easy money have lead to severe shortage of quality equipment across the board , under the disguise of making a 'more streamline adaptable force' .
US PRESIDENT Barack Obama last night demanded that Libya put the Lockerbie bomber under house arrest as anger at his release grew in the United States. They'll no doubt comply immediately. It doesn't pay to wrisk the wrath of the Won...
In a radio interview, the president said the US administration had been in contact with the Scottish Government to register its objection to the move, which Mr Obama called "a mistake". I think they let him go on purpose...
His comments came as concern grows about the effect the decision to free the one man convicted of murdering 270 people on 21 December, 1988, will have on Scotland's relations with the US. At a guess, I'd say that B.O. & Joe will puff and blow for awhile, then Attention Span Deficit Disorder will set in -- at the earliest the next time a celebrity keels over dead, at the latest when they decide they need the kilt & caber vote to swing the 2010 elections.
CBI Scotland has raised fears about an impact on trade and tourism and US politicians have joined American relatives in condemning justice secretary Kenny MacAskill who made the decision to free Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi. No doubt people will continue coming by to see the memorial at Lockerbie. Al-Megrahi having been released by a gracious nation more concerned with mercy than with justice won't really have an effect.
Stephanie Bernstein, the widow of Michael Bernstein, a prosecutor who tracked down Nazi war criminals, said: "He is flying back to Tripoli on Gaddafi's private plane. He is going to be greeted like a hero by Gaddafi. To Muammar the guy is a hero: he murdered a couple hundred people as an instrument of Libyan state policy. Or at least he took the fall for it.
"MacAskill talks about showing compassion and mercy. This is weakness. This is how it will be seen by Gaddafi. This is how it will be played within Libya and this is how it will be seen by every single person that wants to do harm to people all over the world." They still occasionally wear the kilts, they sometimes quote Robert Burns, but they're really just Luxembourgeouis with a brogue.
Susan Cohen, whose daughter Theodora was one of many students killed on the flight, said: "I think this has been despicable. He was convicted of mass murder, but you've let him out on the most sickening grounds possible. Shame on Scotland. We were told about this proud little country, but you are still in the grip of the British Empire." "Aye, lassie! We arrrre the Scots, a prrrrroud and harrrrdy people! We arrrre the descendents of Rrrrroberrrrt Brrrrruce and Mel Gibson! We... Whoa! Is that Elvis?"
She warned that the pictures of Megrahi leaving Scotland would be remembered forever. Until the next celebrity's a goner, anyway...
The issue has once again highlighted the divide between the British and American relatives of those who died in the Lockerbie bombing. "Wouldn't y'like to see m' sporrrrran, lassie?"
"No. Shuddup."
"Wouldn't y'like some haggis?"
"Piss off. You're just a wimpy little red-headed man with a funny hat. Go toss your caber."
British relatives, most of whom believe Megrahi is innocent, welcomed the decision to release him. Dr Jim Swire, whose daughter Flora was on Pan Am Flight 103, said: "I don't believe for a moment that this man was involved in the way that he was found to have been involved." "No, lassie! 'T couldna been him!"
But Dr Swire reiterated his regret that Megrahi's appeal against his conviction had been dropped. "I feel despondent that the West and Scotland didn't have the guts to allow this man's second appeal to continue, because I am convinced had they done so, it would have overturned the verdict against him." "'M assurrrrred that therrrrre'rrrre people searrrrrchin' ferrrrr the real crrrrriminal rrrrright now!"
"Right. O.J., I suppose?"
"No, lassie! He's in jug!"
However, there was anger from Lockerbie over Megrahi's release. The self-styled "Baby of Lockerbie" described the decision as "quite disgusting". Aimee Guthrie was born within an hour of the disaster to a couple who ran a hotel in the Borders town. Now approaching her 21st birthday, she said she would have preferred it if Megrahi had been left to die in jail. "Let 'im rot. He took the fall, and you're not getting the guys that actually did it."
There was also a fierce debate over how Mr MacAskill's decision had affected the reputation of Scotland's legal system. There's a debate about that? The description that pops to mind is "dishwater."
Despite his claims to support the original verdict on Megrahi's guilt, some claimed the justice secretary had caved in to those who said that Scottish judges, police and prosecutors had got it wrong. "Aye! They'rrrrre wrrrrong! I c'n feel it in m' bauns!"
Leading QC Paul McBride said: "This has left the Scottish justice system a laughing stock in the world." Sort of a judiciary Soupy Sales...
He said it is the first time a convicted criminal had been allowed to return to his country of origin. "I have dealt with these cases for foreign nationals and they have always been sent to a home or hospice in Scotland," he said. He coulda been left to rot, followed by rigor mortis and decomposition without ever opening the cell door. As soon as he shuffled off the mortal coil the door coulda been bricked over and forgotten. Instead he gets to dine on a few tasty viands with Qadaffy and say goodbye to his family.
But Scottish Law Society president Ian Smart said the decision had upheld the reputation of the legal profession. "Aye! That's rrrrrright! Scots justice has always had the rrrrrrreputation of being silly. Afterrrrr all, we'rrrrrre the folk who prrrrroduced James I of England! Therrrrrre werrrrrre five just like him rrrrrruling Scotland!"
He said the doubts were only over evidence, not process. "Hoot, mon! Prrrrrocess we got! 'Tis the facts give us trrrrrouble!"
Retired judge Lord McCluskey said: "There is no reason for us not to show compassion -- apart from revenge, which isn't the sweetest of virtues." "The dead ha' been dead ferrrrr 21 yearrrrrs, laddy! 'Tis time they werrrrrre forrrrrgotten, as though they neverrrrr werrrrrre!"
In Libya, Youssef Sawani, director of the Gaddafi International Charity, said: "It shows justice can be done and that the issue is not one of revenge."
Posted by: Fred ||
08/22/2009 00:00 ||
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#3
I think this was done with the purest of Scottish motives: he has expensive, terminal cancer, and they don't want to pay for it. EU Human Rights lawyers were probably getting all ready to force them to cough up hundreds of thousands of pounds, to fruitlessly try to save the sack o' crap.
Back home in Libya, he can look forward to advanced medical care like drinking camel dung tea and using the Koran as a pillow, while he gets to experience the pure, unadulterated joy of cancer without pain medicine.
#6
Note how he went into the freedom plane in white hospital garb and emerged in Libya dressed in a suit like he was a banker or Keith Obermann or something.
Posted by: regular joe ||
08/22/2009 11:01 Comments ||
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#7
The Scots have always had more in common with the French than with the English, though even the English are totally wussified these days.
#9
Modern Scot stubborness dates to their post-Reformation love of Roman Catholicism. The "saxons" went one way, the "celts" had to go the other way. Brits call that mentality, "cheek."
#10
Ha ha funny. The 'laughing stock of the world' title belongs solely to the US, for recognition of its hard work in intelligence gathering in Gitmo. No credibility whatsoever, at least among rule abiding people. Funny.
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
08/22/2009 18:50 Comments ||
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#14
49Pan, the proper term is "maroon", but that's ok. Al-Megrahi will suffer, regardless of who provides his medical attention. Had an uncle that was diagnosed with prostate cancer in the early 1970's. It took eight years before it killed him, after spreading to pretty much his entire body. He was on morphine the last three years, and still in agony. Perhaps Al-Megrahi should have been sent to the Taliban - they have an abundant supply of heroin.
No amount of compassion can alleviate the pain of the loss of 270 people. All the people involved in that tragedy should be forced to experience the pain and agony of terminal cancer - with nothing more than chamomile tea and glucosamine for treatment.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
08/22/2009 20:52 Comments ||
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#15
OP, did the prophet(bees pee upon him) have camomile tea and glucosamine? If not, then they are un-Islamic, and al-Meghari should die without them.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia ||
08/22/2009 22:03 Comments ||
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#16
Thanks OP, I was trying to not call snakes 5238 an ass. What a stupid comment. I hope Al Megrahi suffers in his last days, there should be no compassion for him. As for snakes, he's probably some 16 year old that still sleeps with his mommy.
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
08/22/2009 22:24 Comments ||
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CARTAGENA, Colombia -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is a liar and a troublemaker. Congressmen and columnists can say this, but President Obama is correct not to do so, even though his critics want a tougher U.S. policy against the Venezuelan.
A testament to the success of diplomatic finesse is that Chavez and his pan-regional socialist dreams have been losing ground in Latin America since the inauguration of Obama and his appointment of Hillary Clinton as secretary of state.
In the past week alone, two Chavez allies have broken ranks. Ecuador and Venezuela were teamed against neighboring Colombia over a guerrilla war there. But Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa has just accepted an olive branch offered by Colombian President Alvaro Uribe.
Ecuador's vice president went so far as to add that his country would not let Chavez drag it into war with Colombia, and its defense minister snubbed a renewed Venezuelan attempt to classify Colombia's FARC guerrillas as legitimate state actors. The minister said that Ecuador had "zero tolerance" for the FARC. While Venezuela clearly harbors and funnels arms to the FARC -- despite Chavez's patently false denials -- American and Colombian officials say that Ecuador has been cracking down on the guerrillas along its border. A Colombian raid of a FARC camp inside Ecuador in 2008 led to a rupture in relations between the two countries.
The September deadline for Iran set by the administration to enter into talks is "not an open window for just delay and kind of rope-a-dope, you have to get somewhere," she says. Mrs. Clinton adds the U.S. is drawing up a list of tougher sanctions against Iran with other countries in case Tehran doesn't bite. "I think it's important for Iran to know that we're not talking about anything other than change in behavior, a change in actions, that could bring benefits to them." But not a change in regime, at least not with an overt U.S. push. Mrs. Clinton doesn't go beyond offering "vocal support" for democrats, saying "It would not be useful."
So can you trust Mahmoud Ahmadinejad...
"No"
... and the mullahs to negotiate in good faith...
"No"
... and implement any deal if you do get one?
"No, we don't trust any of them. We would not reach any agreement with the Iranian government that we did not think could be verified by external means."
The experience with North Korea since the Clinton administration struck a deal in 1994 would seem to be a cautionary one for Iran. Mrs. Clinton disagrees. "I think we made progress, then we backslid, then we made some more progress" in North Korea, she says. "I guess I would question the wisdom of the Bush administration reacting to the discovery that there had been cheating on the framework agreement and withdrawing everyone. I think countries test limits, especially countries with the world view like the ones we're discussing. I think it's better to discover their efforts to circumvent the agreements and the limits and then" - she hits an open palm against the arm of the couch - "come down harder. Don't withdraw, don't leave the field. Look at the result of that. They began reprocessing plutonium. That was not in anyone's interest."
Clearly North Korea believes it to be in their interest, madam secretary.
#4
.....but for the photo op with her on the tarmac just back from Iran with a piece of paper in her hand waving in the wind and declaring 'peace in our time', she'll shill to get the world to forget about Bill upstaging her with those two useful idiots [like he's done to her with other bimbos].
[Asharq al-Aswat] -- The way some apologists of the Khomeinist regime put it the current power struggle in Iran is between the mass of the poor led by the populist Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the "rich and privileged" Tehranis whose leader is Mir-Hussein Mousavi.
Ahmadinejad himself played that tune during the ceremony in which he took the oath of office for a second four-year term as President of the Islamic Republic. He declared war on "the aristocracy of wealth" and vowed to "uproot the rentier elements".
At the other end of the spectrum, some critics of the Khomeinist regime present Ahmadinejad as the leader of a Stalinist group determined to prevent Iran from liberalizing its economy, and praise Mousavi as a pro-market reformer.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred ||
08/22/2009 00:00 ||
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James Taranto, "Best of the Web" @ the Wall Street Journal
It's been just over a year since the Rev. Rick Warren asked then-Sen. Barack Obama, "At what point does a baby get human rights, in your view?" The next president of the United States answered with a glib dodge: "Well, you know, I think that whether you're looking at it from a theological perspective or a scientific perspective, answering that question with specificity, you know, is above my pay grade."
At the time, we quipped: "Obama just can't win with these right-wingers, can he? For months they've been blasting him for acting like the Messiah. Now they're attacking him for acknowledging he's not God. Well, not yet, anyway."
We thought we were kidding....
"We are God's partners"?! Hmm, God & Obama? No, wait! Obama & God. Yeah, that's much better!
As Tevi Troy notes at National Review Online, "The reference to the 'who shall live and who shall die' prayer was strange. . . . Is this really the context in which he wishes to discuss health reform--a powerful and unseen being making determinations of life and death? One would think that he would want to avoid anything that could raise the specter of rationing, death panels, or the like."
Further, "We are God's partners in matters of life and death" is not part of the Rosh Hashanah liturgy. Those words are Obama's. Granted he is in a higher pay grade than he was a year ago--but not nearly as high as he seems to think.
Both the glib "above my pay grade" and the grandiose "we are God's partners" reflect a disturbing callowness on the president's part. Someone who seeks power over life-and-death matters--whether by running for president or by pushing for legislation vastly expanding governmental authority over medical choices--ought to be able at least to make a pretense of maturity and humility....
Posted by: Mike ||
08/22/2009 09:39 ||
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#5
Actually, forthright comment on the abortion issue is hard to find anywhere. In cowardly anonymity, I have to say that I support the right to early term abortion, but would compel full disclosure of the reasons for the unwanted pregnancy, and legalize fines for the reckless and stupid. Needless to say, penalties would fall hard on the human alley cats who coerce girls into unsafe sex.
#6
There's a big difference between praying that God is on your side, and that you are on God's side. Lincoln noted this often. I wonder how the POTUS views the issue?
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 last night demanded that Libya put the Lockerbie bomber under house arrest as anger at his release grew in the United States.
