Hi there, !
Today Fri 03/14/2008 Thu 03/13/2008 Wed 03/12/2008 Tue 03/11/2008 Mon 03/10/2008 Sun 03/09/2008 Sat 03/08/2008 Archives
Rantburg
531688 articles and 1855967 comments are archived on Rantburg.

Today: 69 articles and 376 comments as of 10:55.
Post a news link    Post your own article   
Area: WoT Background    Non-WoT    Opinion    Local News       
Qaeda in North Africa grabs two Austrian hostages
Today's Headlines
Headline Comments [Views]
Page 1: WoT Operations
27 00:00 anymouse [4] 
4 00:00 Zenobia Chomosing5881 [3] 
1 00:00 Old Patriot [3] 
2 00:00 legolas [3] 
0 [3] 
0 [3] 
15 00:00 Galactic Coordinator Spereting7009 [4] 
4 00:00 Mullah Richard [3] 
2 00:00 Abu Uluque (aka Ebbang Uluque6305) [3] 
0 [3] 
1 00:00 3dc [4] 
1 00:00 Icerigger [3] 
0 [3] 
0 [3] 
0 [3] 
0 [3] 
2 00:00 Old Patriot [3] 
6 00:00 ed [4] 
Page 2: WoT Background
2 00:00 trailing wife [3]
10 00:00 JohnQC [3]
6 00:00 Phort Barnsmell7838 aka Broadhead6 [4]
16 00:00 JosephMendiola [4]
3 00:00 tu3031 [3]
3 00:00 Frank G [3]
1 00:00 Albert Shinegum1493 [3]
7 00:00 bigjim-ky [3]
22 00:00 Frank G [4]
5 00:00 Old Patriot [3]
0 [3]
4 00:00 ed [3]
6 00:00 Redneck Jim [3]
2 00:00 Fred [4]
0 [3]
2 00:00 ed [3]
4 00:00 mhw [4]
8 00:00 3dc [4]
Page 3: Non-WoT
1 00:00 JohnQC [3]
6 00:00 DMFD [4]
10 00:00 Pappy [3]
6 00:00 Bright Pebbles [3]
1 00:00 Icerigger [4]
0 [4]
2 00:00 Crigum Oppressor of the Brontosaurs2334 [3]
19 00:00 Icerigger [3]
12 00:00 Redneck Jim [3]
21 00:00 ed [3]
0 [3]
6 00:00 ed [5]
28 00:00 ed [3]
12 00:00 trailing wife [4]
Page 4: Opinion
2 00:00 Phort Barnsmell7838 aka Broadhead6 [3]
11 00:00 crosspatch [5]
4 00:00 no mo uro [3]
1 00:00 bigjim-ky [3]
0 [3]
3 00:00 ed [3]
3 00:00 Frank G [3]
17 00:00 JohnQC [3]
Page 5: Russia-Former Soviet Union
0 [4]
5 00:00 OldSpook [4]
1 00:00 JosephMendiola [3]
5 00:00 JosephMendiola [3]
12 00:00 Anonymoose [3]
0 [4]
1 00:00 Icerigger [3]
11 00:00 crazyhorse [4]
4 00:00 Seafarious [4]
5 00:00 JosephMendiola [3]
1 00:00 JosephMendiola [3]
Afghanistan
Coalition Detains 10 Suspected Taliban
The U.S.-led coalition says it has detained 10 suspected Taliban insurgents in southern Afghanistan. Coalition troops were targeting a Taliban commander in Uruzgan province, coalitioni officials said. Those detained Saturday are going to be questioned about their role in the militant movement. Southern Afghanistan is at the center of the Taliban-led insurgency.
Posted by: Fred || 03/11/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Africa Horn
Bandits force UN to halve Darfur food aid
A surge of bandit attacks has forced the UN to halve deliveries of emergency food in Sudan’s war-torn Darfur region, aid officials said on Monday. The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) said an increase in attacks on its road delivery convoys in Darfur coincided with a cash crisis threatening to ground its air link to the region. “This is an unprecedented situation,” said the WFP’s Sudan representative Kenro Oshidari. “Our humanitarian air operation for aid workers could be forced to stop flying because we have no money, at a time when our helicopters and aircraft are needed more than ever because of high insecurity on the roads.”

The WFP said 45 contract trucks had been hijacked since the start of the year, along with six of its own passenger vehicles. Twenty-three drivers were still unaccounted for and 37 trucks were still missing, the agency added. In the latest incident, a WFP vehicle was seized outside the gates of the agency’s base in the North Darfur town of Kutum on Sunday morning. The driver escaped unharmed.

The WFP said it was delivering about half the amount of food aid it would expect at this time of year because of the hijackings and the reluctance of new drivers to come forward. Demand for food aid was about to surge in the build up to the May-October rainy season. “If WFP cannot maintain deliveries it will be forced to reduce rations in some areas,” said WFP spokeswoman Emilia Casella. Agencies are running the world’s largest aid operation in the western Sudanese region of Darfur where international experts estimate five years of conflict have killed 200,000 people and driven 2.5 million from their homes.
Posted by: Fred || 03/11/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Sudan

#1  See THE OIL DRUM > FOOD TO 2050[long]? World will have to produce 50% more food than now, but wid environ-correct tech, i.e. NOT WID THE EFFICIENT BUT ALSO OIL-DEPENDENT DASTARDLY GADGETS IN USE NOW.

BUY YOUR HORSE-AND-HAND PLOWS FUTURES NOW.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 03/11/2008 2:22 Comments || Top||

#2  Turf war!
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 03/11/2008 7:17 Comments || Top||

#3  A couple of helicopter gunships riding shotgun would put a stop to that shit, y'know.
Posted by: mojo || 03/11/2008 11:15 Comments || Top||

#4  When I saw the Headline, I thought it was about the bandits at Turtle Bay.
Posted by: Mullah Richard || 03/11/2008 11:26 Comments || Top||


Somalia: Grisly Scenes as Ethiopian Troops Vacate 30th Avenue
Five dead bodies were discovered and buried Sunday in the Somali capital after Ethiopian troops vacated 30th Avenue, a major thoroughfare that runs adjacent to Mogadishu's main Bakara market. The Ethiopian army contingent had been stationed at 30th Avenue for the past nine days, residents said. A local who returned to his home after the Ethiopians left the area told Garowe Online that he saw the dead bodies, who were all men. He described dead body parts bit off by wild animals after the corpses lay on the streets for several days.

The troops were dispatched to 30th Avenue last Saturday, when rebels and government troops fought for hours along the road and into Bakara market, killing scores of people. Police officers stationed at three locations inside Bakara market were abruptly withdrawn today, following several grenade attacks last night and today, officials said. Casualty reports were difficult to confirm but the police withdrew to the outskirts of Bakara and took control of strategic roads leading into the market.

The free movement of people and traffic resumed after the security forces left the market, although stores did not open for business. Police spokesman Abdullahi Shasha told reporters later today that security forces had detained several people for attacking the police at Bakara last night and this morning.
Posted by: Fred || 03/11/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Islamic Courts


7 Ethiopian troops killed in Somalia
Heavy explosions have killed at least 7 Ethiopian and Somali government soldiers, destroying the troops' water tank north of Mogadishu. This was the second time that insurgents targeted Ethiopian soldiers taking water to their base in the Fagah district north of the capital, Press TV correspondent reported Monday.

In related news, deputy chairman of Somalia's central Hiiraan region escaped an assassination attempt which left two of his bodyguards dead. This is while on Sunday, Hiiraan Governor Yusuf Hagar Dabaged threatened to take tough measures against all groups supporting insurgents who are trying to topple the country's interim government. Dabaged told reporters that the insurgents are getting local support for their guerrilla attacks on government security forces and installations, and warned unnamed businesspeople in the region about offering support to the insurgency.

On the same day, rebels also raided a government location in south Mogadishu, killing three soldiers and wounding a few others.
Posted by: Fred || 03/11/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Islamic Courts


Africa North
Al-Qaeda claims Austrian hostages
Militant group al-Qaeda in Islamic North Africa has said it took two Austrian tourists hostage in Tunisia last month. The declaration, made in an audio broadcast aired on al-Jazeera TV, said the duo were kidnapped on 22 February. A spokesman who called himself Salah Abou-Mohammad said it was retribution for the West's support of Israel.

Austria's foreign ministry said two Austrians had been missing in Tunisia since mid-February. The al-Qaeda spokesman said the pair were in good health. Austrian authorities did not release their names, saying only that they were a 51-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman, the Associated Press news agency reported. "We tell Western tourists that at the same time they are flowing into Tunisian lands seeking joy, our brothers are being slain in Gaza by the Jews with the collaboration of the Western states," the al-Qaeda spokesman was quoted by AP as saying. "The mujahideen have previously warned and alerted them that the apostate Tunisian state cannot and will not be able to protect you, and the hands of the mujahideen can reach you wherever you are on the Tunisian soil."

It is reported the couple were last heard from in the southern Tunisian town of Matmata. "The spokesman said in the tape that the group will announce its conditions for the release of the two tourists at a later stage," an al-Jazeera broadcaster was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying.
Posted by: Fred || 03/11/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in North Africa

#1  "We tell Western tourists that at the same time they are flowing into Tunisian lands seeking joy, our brothers are being slain in Gaza by the Jews with the collaboration of the Western states,"

But I thought you guys welcomed and celebrated such death. You should be thanking us instead.
Posted by: xbalanke || 03/11/2008 13:19 Comments || Top||

#2  This sh$$ will continue until we show these bas$$$$s we won't put up with it, by going completely Genghes Khan on them. They'll stop immediately when we begin destroying THEIR homes and killing THEIR children. The lesson may need to be repeated a time or twelve, but eventually it'll sink in.
Posted by: Old Patriot || 03/11/2008 15:02 Comments || Top||


Britain
London bomb probe man admits to al Qaeda handbook
Ugly mutt.
A man arrested as part of the investigation into the July 7, 2005 London bombings pleaded guilty on Monday to possessing an al Qaeda handbook.

Khalid Khaliq, 34, was one of four people arrested in May last year by officers investigating the attacks, which killed 52 commuters on London transport. The other three, including the wife of one of the bombers, were freed without charge.

Khaliq, a native of Beeston in Leeds, the town that was home to several of the bombers, pleaded guilty to possessing "a document or record, namely the al Qaeda training manual, containing information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism".

Although the charge did not refer to the 2005 attacks, the police said last year it was a result of evidence obtained during the investigation into the strikes, the first Islamist suicide bombings in Western Europe. Khaliq is due to be sentenced on Tuesday at Leeds Crown Court. The maximum sentence for the charge is 10 years.
Posted by: Fred || 03/11/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in Britain

#1  ION, BIGNEWSNETWORK > 25 INDIAN SAILORS ABOARD MISSING SHIP REPORTED AS DEAD. Alleged SOP to sailors' families by Shipping Agency - WHEREABOUTS OF VESSEL NOT KNOWN AT THIS TIME.

AND YES, MISSING VESSEL IS LARGE ENUFF TO CARRY MULTIPLE NUKE-WMDS DEVICES.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 03/11/2008 2:43 Comments || Top||

#2  Link, Joe?
Posted by: lotp || 03/11/2008 13:58 Comments || Top||

#3  I found this link.
Posted by: ryuge || 03/11/2008 16:55 Comments || Top||

#4  Thanks, ryuge.
Posted by: lotp || 03/11/2008 22:11 Comments || Top||

#5  Missing in the Black Sea?

Ya know, it's not like there's a back way out of the Black Sea.
Posted by: Abdominal Snowman || 03/11/2008 22:34 Comments || Top||

#6  There are some god awful ships running those waters. I know someone whose Ukrainian father is a captain on Greek merchants ships with a third world crew plying the Black and Aegean Seas. A few years ago his ship also broke apart and sank in bad weather. Thankfully all were rescued.
Posted by: ed || 03/11/2008 22:41 Comments || Top||


Home Front: WoT
Imam Masood convicted of fraud
A United States federal court in Boston on Monday convicted Imam Muhammad Masood, who pleaded guilty to five counts of an indictment charging him with fraud and misuse of immigration documents, as well as making false statements to Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Sentencing will take place on May 22 and could include imprisonment for each of the counts charging fraud and misuse of documents required by the immigration laws, and five years’ imprisonment for the charges of false statements and false statements relating to the registry of aliens, to be followed by three years of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine and a mandatory special assessment of $100 on each charge.

Imam Masood, who headed an Islamic Centre and mosque in Sharon, Massachusetts, is the brother of Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, founder of the banned Lashkar-e-Tayyaba. He has said that he has nothing to do with his brother nor does he share his views.
This article starring:
Lashkar-e-Tayyaba
Posted by: Fred || 03/11/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Global Jihad

#1  OTOH, INDIA DAILY > DEMOCRACY LOST: INDIA'S GOVT TAKEN OVER BY CRIMINALS - OVER 1300 CRIMINAL CASES ARE PENDING AGZ GOVT MP's AND MPLA's!?
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 03/11/2008 2:39 Comments || Top||

#2  Sounds like the U.S., Joe.
Posted by: Abu Uluque (aka Ebbang Uluque6305) || 03/11/2008 11:41 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Twin suicide blasts kill 24 in Pakistan's Lahore
LAHORE, Pakistan (Rooters) - Two suicide car bombers struck in the Pakistani city of Lahore on Tuesday, killing 24 people and wounding scores, most of them in an attack on a government security office, police and officials said. More than 500 people have been killed in Pakistan this year in militant-related violence, including a campaign of suicide bombings.
Quagmire!
One bomb went off near the entrance of the city-centre Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), badly damaging the multi-storey office and nearby buildings. The agency focuses on illegal immigration and people smuggling. "It is now more obvious that the terrorists are targeting the law enforcement apparatus of the state," city police chief Malik Mohammad Iqbal told reporters.

Interior Ministry spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema said the bomber at the FIA building killed 21 people, 12 of them agency staff.

At about the same time, a second suicide bomber in a car struck in a mainly residential neighborhood of the eastern city, about 10 km (six miles) away, killing three people including two children, he said. In all, 170 people were wounded, he said.

"We're going through a very crucial phase of transition," Cheema told a news conference, referring to the new government. "Perhaps one answer could be that the terrorists are trying to put maximum pressure on the government that is in the making," he said.

Police said the second car bomb blew up after it was stopped at the gate of an advertising agency office, near the Lahore home of Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. "Unfortunately our enemy is nameless, faceless," Cheema said, adding that bombers worked in small groups or even alone.

Musharraf condemned the blasts. "Acts of terrorism cannot deter the government's resolve to fight the scourge with full force," the state news agency quoted him as saying.
Posted by: anonymous5089 || 03/11/2008 09:30 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  As ye sow, good people of the stans...
Posted by: M. Murcek || 03/11/2008 12:09 Comments || Top||

#2  Surely Not enough Sharia Law/Islam in Pakistan is the CAUSE these nutters fight for sponsored by our friends? and allies? the Saudis!!!!
Posted by: Paul || 03/11/2008 14:07 Comments || Top||

#3  When will the Punjabis get smart and wage war on the Pashtuns? Pashtun = cockroach in human form.
Posted by: Pancho Phaling1080 || 03/11/2008 17:04 Comments || Top||

#4  Long as you're killin sombody you be makin Allah happy.
Posted by: Zenobia Chomosing5881 || 03/11/2008 18:20 Comments || Top||


6 suspects held in Tank
The army on Sunday arrested six suspected militants in areas where troops have battled pro-Taliban fighters in recent months.

The arrests were made in the town of Tank in Swat, a mountain valley where followers of a pro-Taliban cleric tried to seize control and declare Islamic law last year. Violence blamed on Al-Qaeda and Taliban-linked militants has spiked recently in the country. Moderate parties, who triumphed in the general elections last month, have vowed to combat spreading extremism but have yet to map out their strategy.
Posted by: Fred || 03/11/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Rocket damages Panjgur airport
A rocket fired by militants damaged a portion of the Panjgur airport radar room on Monday, police said. The militants presumably wanted to target the radar system, but the rocket hit the adjoining area of the radar room. The militants fled after airport security guards returned fire. The police have registered a case.
Posted by: Fred || 03/11/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  This was before or after the metal detectors and TSA style checking?
If they don't have that I hope no real airports let them land.
Posted by: 3dc || 03/11/2008 23:04 Comments || Top||


Top militant escapes helicopter attack
A senior militant commander escaped a helicopter gunship strike,
"Curly-toed slippers, don't fail me now!"
while his daughter and another girl were injured when the helicopters pounded a house in Matta’s Piochar area on Monday, locals said.
"Daddy! Come back, Daddy!... Owwwww!"
The strike was executed on intelligence reports suggesting the presence of militant commander Lal Din, alias Baray Mian, in the house. Separately, troops conducted a search operation in the Dherai area to arrest commander Idrees, who is among the top 10 lovers aides of Maulana Fazlullah. However, the operation ended without any arrest.
Posted by: Fred || 03/11/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: TNSM

#1  Pupa, did mommy say we had to move?
Posted by: Icerigger || 03/11/2008 2:15 Comments || Top||


Iraq
Admiral Fallon Resigns as Head of Centcom
Just breaking --- I read an article the other day -- was about Fallon NOT being a person for war -- rather negotiate and didn't won't to attack Iran.

Article speculated, that if he stepped down -- Iran is back in the cross hairs.


WASHINGTON — Admiral William Fallon, the head of U.S. Central Command, which leads U.S. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan is stepping down, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced Tuesday.

Gates said Fallon said misperceptions about differences between his ideas and U.S. policy are making it too difficult for him to operate. Gates said their differences are not extreme, but the misperception has become too great.

I don't know whether he was misinterpreted or whether people attributed views to him that were not his views, but clearly there was a concern," Gates said.
Posted by: Sherry || 03/11/2008 15:29 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Good.
Posted by: RWV || 03/11/2008 15:36 Comments || Top||

#2  Redacted by moderator. Comments may be redacted for trolling, especially if you're a multi-nymed one from Toronto.
Posted by: Huport Bourbon3420 || 03/11/2008 15:42 Comments || Top||

#3  Here's the article The Man Between War and Peace

and here's the article with Admiral Fallon's opinion: Commander Rejects Article of Praise
Asked about the article yesterday, Fallon called it "poison pen stuff" that is "really disrespectful and ugly." He did not cite specific objections.

Both articles, especially the Esquire one, well, interesting.... I find it rather biased... I'm trying to be nice!
Posted by: Sherry || 03/11/2008 15:44 Comments || Top||

#4  Hum -- reading more -- maybe the article is what is meant when Gates talked of misperceptions about differences between his ideas and U.S. policy
Posted by: Sherry || 03/11/2008 15:58 Comments || Top||

#5  Now added to the Fox article:

The misperceptions relate to an article published last week in Esquire magazine that portrayed Fallon as opposed to President Bush's Iran policy. It described Fallon as a lone voice against taking military action to stop the Iranian nuclear program.

"I think this is a cumulative kind of thing," Gates countered. "It isn't the result of any one article or any one issue."

Fallon has had a 41-year Navy career. He took the Central Command post on March 16, 2007, succeeding Army Gen. John Abizaid, who retired. Fallon previously served as commander of U.S. Pacific Command.

It was often reported that he and Gen. David Petraeus butt heads about troop levels in Iraq, which the two denied, but was an ongoing dispute that simmered below the surface within the Pentagon. Fallon is responsible for not only Iraq and Afghanistan. The article noted that the troop numbers were so taxed in Iraq that it was hurting operations in Afghanistan.

Centcom's second-in-command Gen. Martin Dempsey will now take over Fallon's post.
Posted by: Sherry || 03/11/2008 15:59 Comments || Top||

#6  Does this mean his resume to the Clinton-Obama-DNC organization made it? To be on the campaign trail for the party by fall in 10, 9, 8, ....
Posted by: Procopius2k || 03/11/2008 16:20 Comments || Top||

#7  Scuttlebutt was that Fallon is opposed to the surge and wants it drawn down quicker than Gen Petraus.
Posted by: OldSpook || 03/11/2008 16:38 Comments || Top||

#8  Nothing is as it seems. Fallon is an expert on Iran and he was probably very aware that one does not just casually attack them. Trouble is, that this can be mistaken for "McClellan-itis", an unwillingness to attack.

However, Fallon has been on the job long enough to do what was absolutely critical--to point out what needs to be done in an attack. A reality check against those who think it would be a 'walk in the park'. There is always an abundance of militarists who underestimate what is involved in a war.

On the flip side, Fallon might be a "build up" commander, to be replaced by an "execution" commander. Two very different sets of skills involved in those jobs as well. (See Frederick William I and Frederick the Great of Prussia as examples.)
Posted by: Anonymoose || 03/11/2008 16:44 Comments || Top||

#9  I don't know anything except what I read from various sources (none more comprehensive than this one, to be sure). But it seems to me there is a lot of tension about the ongoing optempo within the military. There are those voices who say it simply cannot be sustained any longer and that we need near immediate change. There are others who are less alarmist and want to finish the job, especially in Iraq, before we do any significant drawdown/reduciton in op tempo. Does this square with those in the know?
Posted by: Remoteman || 03/11/2008 16:44 Comments || Top||

#10  Wasn't Adm Fallon the one who was so warm/fuzzy towards China?
Posted by: tipover || 03/11/2008 16:46 Comments || Top||

#11  #10 Wasn't Adm Fallon the one who was so warm/fuzzy towards China?
Posted by: tipover


that's been the general implication among posts/comments here....
Posted by: Frank G || 03/11/2008 17:01 Comments || Top||

#12  Ed Morrisey (now at Hotair) adds this:
"Allegedly he isn’t a big fan of Petraeus either, so bear that angle in mind too as explanations emerge. Stand by."

I think Petraeus has proven himself a lot more than Fallon in the ME theater

see, also, this: "As he was preparing to take command, Fallon said that a war with Iran 'isn’t going to happen on my watch,' according to retired Army Col. Patrick Lang."

shouldn't that be on the table if the Iranians make it happen? Sounds perfect for Obama SecDef
Posted by: Frank G || 03/11/2008 17:11 Comments || Top||

#13  and announced yesterday, Cheney -- who leaves March 16 bound for Oman, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank and Turkey -- will also pursue US diplomatic efforts to isolate Iran and prod US oil-exporting allies to help rein in skyrocketing prices.
Posted by: Sherry || 03/11/2008 17:38 Comments || Top||

#14  The guy's been doing this for 40 years, he's probably plain tuckered out. He had a distinctive career, to say the least, without any major F-ups.
Posted by: Zenobia Chomosing5881 || 03/11/2008 18:19 Comments || Top||

#15  ZC5881 - I'd certainly say he's put in his time, and if he disagrees with the C-in-C policies, he has every right to resign or retire. Good for him. How long before he's on the political hustings? From a comment at ASOHQ:

11 Fallon's a Clintonista, Billy Jeff handed him his fourth star ala Weasly Clark. Expect him to endorse Obama shortly with an expectation of serving that malodorous administration as NSA or SecDef.
Posted by: Alamo at March 11, 2008 04:00 PM


Any Clark connection makes him suspect in my mind
Posted by: Frank G || 03/11/2008 18:40 Comments || Top||

#16  ION, WAFF.com EU, RUSSIA HEADED FOR CONFRONTATION OVER ABKHAZIA [Georgia], + WAPO OP-ED > NATO SHOULD PROTECT UKRAINE AND GEORGIA, + WAFF/TOPIX > EUROPE CANNOT GO ANY FURTHER + RUSSIA: NO MORE NATO EXPANSION.

* TOPIX > RUSSIA's ETHNIC MINORITIES SEEK AUTONOMY/POLITICAL FREEDOM.

Again from WAFF > AZERBAYCAN [AZERBAIJAN/AZERIS] VERSUS ARMENIA + AZERBAYCAN TO USE FORCE IN KARABAKH [Nagorno-Karabakh].
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 03/11/2008 19:30 Comments || Top||

#17  Bush said he wasn't going to let the Iranians get Nukes. He appointed Fallon, Mr. Nice-Guy Clinton-Admiral Barnett-Gapmeister to head up CentCom under Mr. Slick-Operator Gates from the Anti-BusHitler-CIA and Dr. Can't-We-All_Get_Along Rice at the subversive Department of State and they proceeded to generate soft power policies culminating in the NIE that the CIA types thought would end his ability to deal with Iran.

But none of the huggy-bear kissy-face policies paid off. And now everybody in the Gulf and Europe is recognizing that they come in range long before we do. So "Fox" Fallon has decided he can't implement the orders that are coming down the pike and decides to jump ship. I hope he finds it in himself to speak out promptly about what has lead him to leave his senior command during war time. And I hope it's better than Wesley Clark pablum.

And I hope Bush can clear the decks of Clintonistas among the 2 and 3-stars befor he leaves office. And I hope Nutjob can read the tea leaves. Cause Bush won't be letting Iran get Nukes. Looks like he's been misunderestimated again.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 03/11/2008 19:42 Comments || Top||

#18  I should have added that the one bright lining in the dark clouds has been Gates apparent recognition of exactly what we're dealing with over the last year. I hope he continues to grow in the job as this action leads me again to believe he has.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 03/11/2008 19:44 Comments || Top||

#19  Don't let the door hit you in the ass...
Posted by: Chuck Simmins || 03/11/2008 19:48 Comments || Top||

#20  Spook86 speculates that the replacement will be Gen. James N. Mattis USMC. Ponder that, Nutjob.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 03/11/2008 19:52 Comments || Top||

#21  NS; nice, cogent summation. TY.
Posted by: Whiskey Mike || 03/11/2008 20:17 Comments || Top||

#22  time to take over the saudi oil fields ... screw all this
Posted by: legolas || 03/11/2008 21:29 Comments || Top||

#23  good a Marine ... 3-2-1 baboomb
Posted by: legolas || 03/11/2008 21:32 Comments || Top||

#24  See also FREEREPUBLIC > SIX SIGNS THAT WE ARE HEADED TOWARDS WAR WITH IRAN.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 03/11/2008 22:01 Comments || Top||

#25  Can't get rid of Clinton's weak sisters soon enough. Mattis would be an excellent replacement. He gets it and is willing to fight.
"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for 5 years because they didn't wear a veil," Mattis continued. "You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them."

Just don't let the politicians leave the task half finished.
Posted by: ed || 03/11/2008 22:25 Comments || Top||

#26  Can't say too much other than his rep at PACFLT and PACOM was that he as an appeaser and fancied himself as a modern day MacArthur (i.e., warrior-statesmen). He butted heads with a lot of folks with his attitude on WESTPAC issues. I can assure you his selection as CENTCOM was as a surprise to everyone in the PACOM AOR.
Posted by: anymouse || 03/11/2008 23:53 Comments || Top||

#27  Mattis is a non-nonsense Marine's Marine.
Posted by: anymouse || 03/11/2008 23:55 Comments || Top||


Bomb Hits Iraqi Bus; at Least 16 Killed
BAGHDAD (AP) - The U.S. military said Tuesday that three American soldiers were killed the day before by a roadside bomb north of Baghdad, bringing to eight the number of troops who died that day.

In southern Iraq, meanwhile, a roadside bomb hit a bus that was traveling from Basra to Nasiriyah, killing at least 16 civilians on board, according to a Nasiriyah policeman. At least 22 others were wounded in the attack, which took place about 50 miles south of Nasiriyah.

An interpreter also was killed on Monday along with three soldiers when they were hit by the bomb in eastern Diyala province, a military statement said. Another soldier was wounded in the attack.

On Monday in Baghdad, five American soldiers on a foot patrol were killed when a suicide bomber detonated his explosives vest after approaching them. The attacks marked the deadliest day for American forces in Iraq since Sept. 10, when eight soldiers died in two road accidents and two Marines were killed fighting insurgents in Anbar province.

Three other American troops and an Iraqi interpreter also were wounded in the Baghdad attack. Iraqi police said two civilians also were killed in the bombing.

The attack in Baghdad showed the insurgents' ability to strike in the heart of the heavily fortified capital, as well as in restive Diyala province.
"Quagmire!" returns.
The suicide bomber hit the soldiers after they had left their Humvees and were chatting with shop owners, an Iraqi police officer who witnessed the attack said on condition of anonymity as he wasn't authorized to speak to the media.

As part of the military's counterinsurgency plans, U.S. bases are now inside neighborhoods and more U.S. soldiers are getting out of their armored vehicles to patrol Baghdad on foot. While the face-to-face contact builds goodwill, it also gives suicide bombers, who often slip past security vehicle checkpoints by walking, better access to striking soldiers.

According to military figures, attacks in Baghdad are down 75 percent since June 2007, largely because of a boost in U.S. troops, a cease- fire by the radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia and the role of former Sunni militants and tribal groups who have switched sides to join U.S. forces against al-Qaida in Iraq. But some fear that violence in Baghdad and elsewhere will accelerate after the withdrawal of thousands of American troops.
All is lost!
Also Monday, a female suicide bomber killed a U.S.-backed Sunni leader who formed a group to fight against al-Qaida insurgents in central Iraq after his guards ushered her into the home without searching her.

And a rare suicide car bomb Monday evening in the northern Kurdish city of Sulaimaniyah outside a hotel killed at least two people and injured more than a dozen, hospital officials said.

On Tuesday in the northern city of Mosul, four police officers were killed by gunmen at a checkpoint, a provincial police official said on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to the media.
Posted by: anonymous5089 || 03/11/2008 09:20 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  It's damned near impossible to protect soldiers from suicide bombers on foot. At the same time, unless the soldiers get out of their vehicles and make friends with the locals, they'll have no warning of ANYTHING coming down. Smashing Iran, Soddy aRabida, and Syria would put a stop to 90% of this sh$$, but would require another 150,000 soldiers we just don't have - and don't seem to believe we need.
Posted by: Old Patriot || 03/11/2008 15:44 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Militants Launch Rocket at Israeli City
JERUSALEM (AP) - Paleostinian militants in Gaza launched a rocket Tuesday at the Israeli city of Ashkelon after several days of calm, Israeli police said.
The rocket landed in an open area just south of the city of 120,000 people, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. Nobody was injured.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had left Ashkelon a short time before the rocket hit.

The rocket fire came during a lull in fighting between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza. Intense violence had left three Israelis and 120 Paleostinians dead, including dozens of civilians.

During the fighting, dozens of rockets hit Israel every day, including many that targeted Ashkelon. It was the first time the coastal town was heavily bombarded by Paleostinian militants.

Israel pulled its forces out of Gaza last week and militants scaled back their rocket fire. Egypt has been serving as a mediator between Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers, but both sides denied there was an official cease-fire in place.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility from Gaza for the rocket fire Tuesday.
Posted by: anonymous5089 || 03/11/2008 09:18 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  sounds like that truce thingy is working splendidly....
Posted by: USN, Ret. || 03/11/2008 13:14 Comments || Top||

#2  Here is the US dept of state's idea of a truce - israel stops shooting - palis dont'. Sounds fair- no?
Posted by: legolas || 03/11/2008 19:48 Comments || Top||


Video: Lebanese Shiite Scholar Muhammad Ali Al-Husseini Criticizes Hizbullah for Threats
Video: Lebanese Shiite Scholar Muhammad Ali Al-Husseini Criticizes Hizbullah for Threats against Israel-

Grasping at Common Sense
Posted by: Icerigger || 03/11/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:


Southeast Asia
Village chief killed by Thai terrorists
One local official died and one was wounded as two assistant village heads were attacked by suspected terrorists insurgents, one in Pattani Tuesday morning, the other in Narathiwat on Monday night. Assistant village head Ayu Yama was gunned down in Pattani's Saiburi district. Ayu and his wife were travelling home by motorcycle when he was attacked. Mr. Ayu died at the scene while his wife was uninjured.

Meanwhile, in Narathiwat's Bacho district, assistant village head Adulkarim Naningpeng was ambushed on Monday night, wounded and sent to hospital. Police found his bullet-riddled car and some spent bullet casings at the scene. The authorities believe he was attacked by presumed terrorists insurgents as he had cooperated to convince persons involved with the jihad insurgency to turn themselves in to the police.
Posted by: ryuge || 03/11/2008 06:04 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:


Abu Sayyaf man in doc's kidnap held in Basilan
Police intelligence operatives on Monday arrested a suspected member of the Abu Sayyaf who allegedly took part in the abduction of a doctor in Isabela City, Basilan, ABS-CBN Regional Network Group reported. The Philippine National Police identified the suspect as Ronnie Tillung alias Taming Yakan. He was arrested at around 11 a.m. Tulling was allegedly involved in the kidnapping of Dr. Nilo Barandino, a local physician kidnapped on Nov. 28, 1992. Barandino was eventually freed and is now continuing his practice. Tuling was transferred to Zamboanga City and will be detained at the city jail.

Aside from the Barandino kidnapping, the Abu Sayyaf has been tagged in other abductions, including the Dos Palmas resort (2001) and the Sipadan dive site (2000) incidents. Authorities have tagged the group as the Philippine arm of Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda terrorist network.
Posted by: Fred || 03/11/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:


Good Morning.
Posted by: Fred || 03/11/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Scroll up on Helen's picture until just her hair is visible. Is that a 'puppy' or a 'pig' in the top center of her hair? Time to change hairdressers, Miss Twelvetrees.
Posted by: GK || 03/11/2008 0:49 Comments || Top||

#2  I see the puppy! And if I turn my head sideways I can see a kitty in there too. Definite bad hair day.
Posted by: Scooter McGruder || 03/11/2008 2:40 Comments || Top||

#3  Well, *I* like it.
Posted by: Ptah || 03/11/2008 3:31 Comments || Top||

#4  Helen, I'm going to have to rearrange your hair.
Posted by: gorb || 03/11/2008 4:19 Comments || Top||

#5  Guys - I think you spent too much time as kids looking at the Hidden Pictures in "Highlights for Children".
Posted by: GORT || 03/11/2008 7:49 Comments || Top||

#6  And we know who spent too much time on Goofus and Gallant.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 03/11/2008 8:23 Comments || Top||

#7  Quiet, you mugs. She's thinking.
Posted by: Scott R || 03/11/2008 10:31 Comments || Top||

#8  What I see is all Woman.
Posted by: Deacon Blues || 03/11/2008 10:43 Comments || Top||

#9  You guys are all wrong. It's the last dirty old man that made indecent proposals to this poor young thing - with a 9th degree black belt in Karate.
Posted by: Old Patriot || 03/11/2008 13:52 Comments || Top||

#10  From the looks of things, I'm not sure if she would know what an indecent proposal is. There may be an opportunity here.
Posted by: gorb || 03/11/2008 14:06 Comments || Top||

#11  I dunno. I often have that same reaction reading the headlines in the day's bloid.
Posted by: Fred || 03/11/2008 15:48 Comments || Top||

#12  OK, so this week's theme is "Women With Names of Plants", right?
Posted by: Rob Crawford || 03/11/2008 16:54 Comments || Top||

#13  You have a plant named Helen?
Posted by: SteveS || 03/11/2008 18:44 Comments || Top||

#14  You have a plant named Helen?
Posted by: SteveS || 03/11/2008 18:44 Comments || Top||

#15  She doesn't do anything for me.
Posted by: Galactic Coordinator Spereting7009 || 03/11/2008 22:39 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
54[untagged]
4Taliban
2Jemaah Islamiyah
2Islamic Courts
1Govt of Sudan
1Hezbollah
1Palestinian Authority
1TNSM
1al-Qaeda in Britain
1al-Qaeda in North Africa
1Global Jihad

Bookmark
E-Mail Me

The Classics
The O Club
Rantburg Store
The Bloids
The Never-ending Story
Thugburg
Gulf War I
The Way We Were
Bio

Merry-Go-Blog











On Sale now!


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.
Click here for more information

Meet the Mods
In no particular order...
Steve White
Seafarious
tu3031
badanov
sherry
ryuge
GolfBravoUSMC
Bright Pebbles
trailing wife
Gloria
Fred
Besoeker
Glenmore
Frank G
3dc
Skidmark

Two weeks of WOT
Tue 2008-03-11
  Qaeda in North Africa grabs two Austrian hostages
Mon 2008-03-10
  Jaber al-Banna released on bail in Yemen
Sun 2008-03-09
  Chinese aircrew thwarts hijacking attempt
Sat 2008-03-08
  Police Believe Recovered Bike Was Times Square Bomber's
Fri 2008-03-07
  Viktor Bout arrested in Bangkok, indicted in U.S.
Thu 2008-03-06
  Times Square recruiting station boomed
Wed 2008-03-05
  Double kaboom at Pak navy college kills 5
Tue 2008-03-04
  Hamas claims 'victory' as Olmert dithers, IDF pulls out of Gaza
Mon 2008-03-03
  U.S. bangs Qaeda big in Somalia
Sun 2008-03-02
  70 Gazooks titzup in IDF operation
Sat 2008-03-01
  Colombia bangs FARC 2nd in command in Ecuador
Fri 2008-02-29
  Predator zap kills 10 in South Wazoo
Thu 2008-02-28
  VA imam thought to have aided al-Qaida
Wed 2008-02-27
  Boomer on a bus kills 40 near Mosul
Tue 2008-02-26
  Wheelchair boomer kills cop in Samarra

Better than the average link...



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.
44.211.24.81
Help keep the Burg running! Paypal:
WoT Background (18)    Non-WoT (14)    Opinion (8)    Local News (11)    (0)