East Sudan's main rebel group has called off long-delayed peace talks that were to have begun in Libya this week. The Eastern Front accused Khartoum of preparing for an assault on its camps at a time when the leaders and cadres would be in Tripoli negotiating with the Sudanese government. The front said that Khartoum was recruiting the Janjaweed militia in eastern Sudan as it had done in the troubled western region of Darfur where the gunmen are accused of wreaking mayhem. An Eastern Front official told reporters: "This is a very divisive policy that pits members of the same community against each other."
Last month, the front accused the Sudanese army of attacking its camps in the eastern Hamesh Koreb region. UN troops have since been deployed to the region. The peace talks - the first between the Eastern Front and Khartoum - were initially due to have taken place last November but have been postponed several times since and had been set to begin on Tuesday in the Libyan capital. Like their rebel counterparts in Darfur, the Eastern Front complains of marginalisation by the government in Khartoum, which it accuses of exploiting natural resources such as oil, natural gas, gold and other minerals at the expense of the local population. The Eastern Front was founded by eastern Sudan's two main rebel groups, the Beja Congress and the Free Lions, early last year and claimed to have launched its first offensive against government positions in the Red Sea state last June.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/08/2006 00:00 ||
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Secretary General of the Algerian National Liberation Front Party Abdulaziz Belkhadem called Tuesday all Muslims to explain the true tolerance of Islam to the international community, the Algerian news agency reported. Meanwhile, a group of Representatives of The Algerian National Public Council sent a message of protest to the Danish Ambassador to Algiers in which they urged the Danish government to apologize and to sue the newspaper that published the unjustifiable sacrilegious caricatures.
Thereby demonstrating that they have no frigging clue what tolerance is.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/08/2006 00:00 ||
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U.S. counterterrorism officials said Wednesday that a suspected member of a U.S.-based terror cell was one of a number of convicts who escaped from a prison in Yemen Friday.
Jaber Elbaneh, who has been charged along with the so-called "Lackawanna Six," is believed to have escaped along with Jamal al-Badawi, the suspected mastermind of the attack on the USS Cole.
Elbaneh, a 36-year old American of Yemeni decent, was charged in an FBI criminal complaint with conspiring to provide material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization. Elbaneh, who is from the Buffalo suburb of Lackawanna, is believed have attended an Al Qaeda training camp in Afghanistan before the Sept. 11 attacks with the six other Yemeni-Americans, also from the Buffalo area, who were convicted on terrorism charges.
U.S. officials believe that following the terror training in Afghanistan, Elbaneh went to Yemen where he was arrested sometime in the last three years.
Officials say Elbaneh and the others "have extensive contacts throughout Yemen and the region and are undoubtedly getting help getting out of the country."
Interpol said the 23 convicts escaped through a 140-yard-long tunnel "dug by the prisoners and co-conspirators outside." A Yemeni official said the prison was at the central headquarters of the country's military intelligence services, in a building in the heart of the capital city of San'a.
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/08/2006 20:57 ||
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Police had Hamza 'murder evidence' 7 years ago: Phone-tap record inadmissable in UK will be used by Americans. America will use phone tap evidence gathered by Britain seven years ago to try to jail Abu Hamza al-Masri for life on terrorist offences.
Via Tim Blair
Snippets: HOOK-handed cleric Abu Hamza cheated on his first wife with a HOOKER, The Sun can reveal. And it was the fall-out from his fling that transformed terrorist recruiting sergeant Hamza jailed for seven years yesterday into a religious fanatic. Egyptian-born Hamza now faces a renewed extradition bid by the US, where he is wanted on terror charges that could lead to a 99-year stretch. And proceedings to strip him of his British citizenship will re-start. But Hamza could be free in two years if time on remand is deducted. Be sure check out Hook's ex-wife and current black curtain.
Hamzas current wife Nadjet Kamel Mostafa and her seven children are costing taxpayers more than £1,200 a week. That's over $2100 a week or $109,000 a year. No wonder every muslim terrorist wants to move to Britain and live on the dole. Hell, I wouldn't mind for that kind of scratch.
Posted by: ed ||
02/08/2006 13:15 ||
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#1
Ironically, I was recently listening to "Hook in Her Head" by the Throwing Muses.
Posted by: Mike ||
02/08/2006 14:03 Comments ||
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#3
Cheating his wife with a prostitute (presumably an infidel, thus living the Great Lion of Islam's Hidden Secret Fantasy) is not pretty, I'll give you that...
But... when you think that his actual wife is most probably a porky, middle-aged (unless he married her at 6), submissive, sexually repressed, burka-clad islamic housewife whose body has been deformed by successive child bearing up to the point one cannot determine anymore when she's pregnant or not by sight alone... then it becomes an option.
I mean, it's not like he was going to let off some steam by masturbating, poor disabled Freedom Fighter.
While the Chinese get blamed for having an adventurous foreign policy, they are actually quite prudent. The Chinese often turn down opportunities to get their weapons, or troops (as trainers, advisors, or whatever) into distant lands.
A recent example of this occurred when leftist Evo Morales, the newly elected president of Bolivia, visited China. He made a big pitch for significant aid, apparently invoking revolutionary rhetoric about " fighting the Imperialists."
The Chinese made polite noises, promised some aid, and did not commit themselves. This seems to be in keeping with recent Chinese policy, to be publicly somewhat distant from the US, but to support its actions or at least not oppose them when it comes to real issues.
#1
Well, Bolivia is kinda-sorta like Afghanistan, in the big global strategic picture.
It's poor, it's landlocked, it's hard to get to, and there's no infrastructure to speak of. They don't get anything from backing Morales even if they did.
There's some natural gas there, but Morales is going to screw up _that_ industry whether they back him or not. And unlike Venezuela, even if they did set up there, it's not like they could actually transport the gas out of the country; there aren't any pipelines going to the pacific. The last I heard they cancelled the one that would have gone to Chile.
Posted by: Phil ||
02/08/2006 18:26 Comments ||
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#2
Is there a Pulitzer for "most optimistic headline of the year"?
#3
I just realized, the word I was looking for was "cul-de-sac."
Posted by: Phil ||
02/08/2006 19:02 Comments ||
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#4
The CCP/CCCC is still experimenting with Commie-controlled Fascism, eg managed capitalism,
"Communist Capitalism", etc. Chavez demand for a "Million Man" Army to resist alleged US invasion-imperialism is likely too risque' for the Chicoms to tolerate its Stalinist bureaucrats and Army-controlled companies getting too [locally] wealthy and laissez faire.
#6
Just a ploy. This is to cover their own claim over their "sphere of influence" - and to tell us to butt out when they make their moves to subjugate others.
Australia's main opposition Labor party says violent protests prompted by cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad are an assault on fundamental freedoms in Western democracies. Labor's Kevin Rudd says the protests are repugnant and should not be tolerated. Mr Rudd says any decision on whether to publish the cartoons in Australia should be made solely on editorial grounds. "This is a free country, and we should not be stood over by any group, including militant Islamist groups," he said. "These decisions should be taken on their journalistic merits by Australia's news media. "We should not be kow-towing to anybody when it comes to freedom in this country."
New Zealand protests Around 800 people joined protests at the weekend against the publication of the cartoons by two New Zealand newspapers. The prime minister, Helen Clark, has accused the newspapers of "bad manners". New Zealand exporters are concerned that the papers' decision to republish the images could harm trade with Muslim nations. The chairman of New Zealand Meat and Wool, Jeff Grant, says Middle Eastern markets are worth up to US$274 million to New Zealand.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/08/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
Bugger the "bad manners" Helen, give us some Haka and sing it with enthusiasm please. We'll enjoy it a damn site more than your leftest drivel.
KA MATE! KA MATE!
We're going to die! We're going to die!
Chorus
KA ORA, KA ORA!
We're going to live! We're going to live!
Leader
KA MATE! KA MATE!
We're going to die! We're going to die!
Chorus
KA ORA, KA ORA!
We're going to live! We're going to live!
All together
TENEI TE TANGATA PU'RU-HURU
This is the man, so hairy
NA'A NEI TIKI MAI WHAKA-WHITI TE ...
who fetched, and made shine the
... RA! HUPANE! KA-UPANE!
sun! Step upwards! Another ... !
#4
For the unitiated in Rugby: Generations of rugby players have bad sweats about this song since this is the Haka the battle cry of the best players in world New Zealand "All Blacks" and is usually followed by a nightmarish defeat for their opponents.
It is derived from one of the many battle cries of the Maoris (New Zealand first inhbitants)
COPENHAGEN, Denmark - The Associated Press protested Wednesday the misleading inclusion of an AP photograph in a pamphlet purporting to show images offensive to Islam. The picture shows a bearded man wearing fake pig ears, a pig nose, and a pink embroidered cap on his head. He was wearing the costume while participating in a pig-squealing contest at an annual festival in a farm village in southern France last summer.
The AP sent out the photo describing the pig-squealing contest on Aug. 14, 2005. The photo had no connection with Islam or the caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad published in a Danish newspaper in September.
A blurry, black-and-white copy of the picture was included in a brochure that a delegation of Danish Muslim leaders carried on a Mideast tour to Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and Turkey, in December and January. "The photograph was taken at an agriculture fair last summer and is totally unrelated to the current controversy," said AP's Director of Photography Santiago Lyon.
Jack Stokes, an AP spokesman, said the picture was used "completely out of context and without permission. "AP is attempting to contact the distributors of this unrelated photo to protest its misrepresentation and demand that they stop immediately," he said.
The brochure purported to show examples of anti-Muslim images from Europe, said Ahmed Akkari, a spokesman for the group. Included were 12 controversial drawings of the Prophet Muhammad that were published in Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten, he said. The group received copies of the AP picture in threatening anonymous letters last year, Akkari said. "We did not find it ourselves," he told the AP, saying he had been unaware of the origin of the photograph and said he believed it was sent to the group as an example of a provocation.
When told about the background of the original AP photo, Akkari said: "I have no comments."
#1
AP is really ticked about its photo being used. If the Muslims thought MSMs defense of free speech was unacceptable, wait til they see the fury of MSMs reaction to copyright infringement. The praying man and dog shot looks like a photo or still from a candid snap or video. Local horny dog wanders into mosque and humps the first likely looking thing. Probably played on Funniest Videos more copyright outrage. The third countertoon pencil sketch of Mohammad the pedo, shows a lack of experience and frankly no sense of humour. So a coupla photos and a bad attempt at creating a vile countertoon would appear to be the work of muslims at least muslim tampering with the photos, the sketch is just bad. So, wouldnt that make the perpetrators apostates for having done so. Created forbidden images, etc? Arent apostates supposed to be beheaded.
At the very least, there ought to be a fatwa. Big un.
Lightly EFL
A French court refused to order the confiscation of a magazine on Tuesday which local Muslim organisations tried to prevent from publishing controversial cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.
The satirical weekly Charlie-Hebdo was due to publish on Wednesday 12 cartoons originally printed by the Danish paper Jyllens-Posten which have caused outrage in the Muslim world. "This is good news to us all," Charlie-Hebdo editor Philippe Val told reporters after the ruling. "We are defending the principle of the right for caricature and satire."
The judges rejected demands by French Muslim organisations, including the French Council of Muslim Faith (CFCM) and the Grand Mosques of Paris and Lyon, which had argued the paper was undermining the principle of the respect of faiths. The court did not rule on the contents of the claim, but rejected it on a technicality, saying the plaintiffs had failed to follow several points of procedure in filing their suit.
Sources at Charlie-Hebdo said the weekly's offices and some staff had been placed under police protection ahead of Wednesday's publication, which will also feature a cartoon of Prophet Muhammad burying his face in his hands and saying: "It's hard to be loved by fools". Oh, dear. Poor Mohammed.
#1
Actually, it's "it's hard to be loved by dumf*cks", but the idea is there...
Charlie Hebdo is a long-running, hard-biting, often offensive leftist satirical weekly, with caricatures I think you couldn't see in the USA (such, I don't know, as Shiraq being "persuaded" to be candidate for the 2002 presidential elections by being fellated and sodomized by Sarko and I-don't-remember-who, while doing the double "V for victory", you see the type).
I used to read them back in the olden days... they ARE funny!
Redaction is partaged between idiotarian and anti-idiotarian, apparently the latter have won.
Reason why they're antimuslim is because they're aggressively atheist and opposed to organized religion.
I've bought this issue, which apparently sells very well, well beyond usual runs, and I've got mixed feelings; editorials are pretty clear on where they stand and pull no punches, but they also shoot at "others fundamentalisms" (read : jewish and christian), so I feel they miss the point a little bit, like the Mo' cover, which doesn't acknowledge IMHO the "rotten roots" of islam as established by the Prophet(tm).
Cover of this week edition
Old cartoon from the 2002 nigerian beauty contest riots (already an organized wave of letter, threats,... at the time).
*Miss potatoes bag election, organized by Muhammad*, old Mo' : "I choose the Belle-de-Fontenay" (Miss France organizer).
(2006-02-07) A spokesman for the Childrens Television Workshop (CTW), producers of Sesame Street, today said that global riots in response to Danish editorial cartoons connecting the prophet Mohammad with terrorism have nothing to do with the teachings of Islam, but are the natural legacy of a generation raised on violent cartoons like Bugs Bunny and the Road Runner.
If you expose children, even peaceful Muslim children, to thousands of hours of Looney Tunes, you produce a generation of desensitized brutes, according to the unnamed CTW spokesman. They cant comprehend the real impact of their violent acts, because animated victims of firebombings, gunshots and beheadings always immediately appear, clean and unharmed, in the next scene. The rioters are innocent victims of exported American cartoon culture.
In order to combat the effects of violent TV, and unwarranted prejudice against Muslims, CTW will introduce a new peace-loving Islamic Muppet character to its flagship Public TV show.
Proceeds from the sales of the new Sesame Street plush toy, Tickle Me Imam, will go to the United Nations Fund to Aid Islamic Respectability.
#3
Right, SteveS: it's getting so bizarre that it's hard to tell parody from reality anymore. I've often thought a headline here was Scrappleface, only to find out it was real.
Via Western Resistance
The Prophet, who shares a remarkable likeness to the King, can be viewed in all his finery at www.velvetprophet.com - or soon, in the offices of several major Islamic organizations. The Velvet Prophet team is giving original, hand-painted Velvet Prophets to several of the groups inciting rage in Muslim communities. Gift recipients include Jamaía Islamiya, Arab European League, Muslim Council of Britain, Hizb-ut-Tahrir, Islamic Defenders Front, Islamic Circle of North America and the Organization of the Islamic Conference. These organizations, which were appalled by a few cartoons, will see for themselves that the Prophet looks much more dignified on black velvet.
The Velvet Prophet is also available to mere infidels. ... Support a good cause at www.velvetprophet.com
Posted by: ed ||
02/08/2006 16:43 ||
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Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 7, 2006; Page A11
The Pentagon yesterday announced a $439.3 billion budget request that adds billions for new initiatives to fight terrorism and other "irregular" conflicts without cutting major conventional weapons systems -- effectively postponing what defense budget analysts predict will be tough decisions down the road.
The defense budget includes $5.1 billion to increase Special Operations Forces by 4,000 in 2007, with plans to add a total of 14,000 troops at a cost of nearly $28 billion through 2011. The elite troops -- now numbering about 52,000 -- are skilled in combating terrorism and insurgents, and in working with foreign militaries, but they have been stretched thin by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Joint Chiefs chairman, Gen. Peter Pace, and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld discuss the budget. (By James A. Parcell -- The Washington Post)
Other new budget initiatives include $1.7 billion for unmanned aerial drones for intelligence gathering and $181 million for increased training in languages such as Arabic for special operations and military intelligence personnel.
To strengthen homeland defense, the budget also requests $1.7 billion to develop new vaccines against biological weapons and to increase the military's ability to locate and "neutralize potential nuclear threats," Pentagon comptroller Tina Jonas said.
Much bigger sums go toward continuing conventional weapons systems, with $15 billion for new helicopters and fighter jets such as the Joint Strike Fighter and Air Force F-22, and $11.2 billion for two new Navy DD(X) destroyers, one Virginia-class submarine and two Littoral Combat Ships aimed at expanding the Navy's ability to operate in coastal areas.
The Army, the branch that won the biggest increase, is allocated $6.6 billion to expand and modernize its brigades to deploy more rapidly, and $3.7 billion for research on the Future Combat System, a network of lighter ground vehicles, aerial drones and sensors.
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said the Pentagon's budget increase -- 6.9 percent more than Congress enacted for 2006, and 4.8 percent more than requested for 2006 -- is needed because as the military counters new threats, it cannot afford to lose superiority over other military powers.
"We have been successful in deterring the threat from large armies, navies and air forces . . . those threats haven't disappeared," Rumsfeld said at a Pentagon briefing yesterday. "That does require investment. The investment is large." He added that defense spending remains low in historical terms as a percentage of gross domestic product.
As budget pressures mount, defense analysts see a growing problem with the Pentagon's reluctance to cut more traditional weapons systems. They say this could eventually crowd out initiatives to transform the military to meet future threats. "Not only did they not address the funding mismatch, but their plan calls into question whether these [new initiatives] will be doable in coming years," said Steven M. Kosiak, a defense budget expert at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, a think tank.
The defense buildup has seen Pentagon spending on weapons procurement double in current dollars from $42 billion in 1996 to $84 billion in 2007, and that is unlikely to last, analysts say. The cost of research and development has also grown, reaching $73.2 billion in the 2007 budget.
Exacerbating the cost crunch are expanding personnel expenditures such as pay, health benefits and recruiting costs. "People costs for the U.S. military have grown tremendously," up 35 percent in real terms since 1999, Kosiak said.
The 2007 budget reflects some efforts to rein in personnel costs. For example, the military pay raise is only 2.2 percent, and the budget includes a plan to increase the cost sharing for health benefits paid by military retirees younger than 65 from 12 percent to as much as 26 percent, Pentagon comptroller Jonas said. Otherwise, she said, health care benefits would rise from the 2007 budgeted amount of $39 billion to more than $50 billion in 2011.
The Air Force and Navy will cut personnel by several thousand each. And the additional Special Operations Forces will come by shifting manpower within the services, causing no net personnel increase. The Army, however, dropped a plan to cut budgeted Army National Guard positions by 17,000, after an outcry from state officials and Congress. The Army will amend the budget to reflect the switch, said Maj. Gen. Edgar E. Stanton, director of the Army budget, at a separate briefing yesterday.
One way the Pentagon is skirting difficult choices, analysts say, is by including items not related to the wars in the multibillion-dollar supplemental funding requests made each year for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The request for 2006 totals $120 billion with another $50 billion requested so far for 2007.
"The political incentive seems to be there for putting things in the supplemental," Kosiak said. He noted that the supplemental appropriation has been increasing faster than estimates for the cost of the wars, now running at $5.8 billion a month for Iraq and $800 million for Afghanistan.
EFL
Airport-Style Bomb-Screening of Passengers Starts Yesterday at New Jersey Commuter Train Station
Commuters heading to work in Manhattan walked through metal detectors Tuesday at a busy train station and fed their bags into X-ray machines at the start of a test of an airport-style security screening program.
The $1 million test program was being run on PATH trains, which take passengers between New Jersey and New York City using tunnels under the Hudson River. It is a response to the train bombings in Madrid and London.
The test at the Exchange Place station was designed to see how well the technology works for large numbers of daily rail travelers. The equipment was desensitized so keys, loose change and cell phones would not set off alarms. The scanners are intended to detect large quantities of metal, as in the explosives vests used by suicide bombers in the Middle East, said Doug Bauer, an official with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
In an effort to keep passengers moving quickly through the system, commuters will not be required to take off their shoes or empty their pockets. The screening process should take about one minute, officials said. On Tuesday, many commuters made it through in about 30 seconds. About 15,000 passengers a day pass through the Exchange Place station.
A second phase of the program at a yet-to-be-named rail station will test bomb-detection technology such as infrared cameras, said Larry Orluskie, a Homeland Security spokesman.
#1
The machines are there, and there are about eight staff plus about ten cops milling around, but I haven't actually seen them put anyone through a scan, so I don't think they're running it all the time.
Edited for length The sheriffs of El Paso and Hudspeth counties are expected to testify today before a congressional subcommittee in Washington, D.C., about the standoff last month near Sierra Blanca in which U.S. officers squared off with armed drug smugglers -- some of whom were dressed as Mexican soldiers. The sheriffs were invited to testify by Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee's Subcommittee on Investigations, who initiated an investigation following the standoff.
Sheriff Leo Samaniego of El Paso is scheduled to speak as Vice Chairman of the Texas Border Sheriff's Coalition, which stands to gain $34 million if an immigration bill circulating the Senate passes, he said.
#1
Instead of being heckled and ridiculed yesterday in Aflanta, President Bush could have better spent his time visiting El Paso and Hudspeth counties. Just my umble opinion.
Ibrahim's the one with the D-cup on his head. I think I've got it down now.
WASHINGTON: Amid an international outcry over cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad (PTUI peace be upon him), some Muslim leaders have expressed concern about depictions of the Prophet (may toads infest his underwear peace be upon him) at US public buildings, including the Supreme Court.
At the same time, they draw a sharp contrast between the cartoons, which they consider blasphemous and designed to offend, and statues or sculptures meant to honour the Prophet (salaami salaami baloni peace be upon him) as a historical figure and lawgiver. We have expressed the Muslim communitys concerns about a variety of images of the Prophet Muhammad (may his drip dry clear peace be upon him), whether it be in textbooks, editorial cartoons or even in the Supreme Court, Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), said.
The sculpture at the countrys top court is part of a marble frieze depicting 18 influential lawgivers, including Moses, Confucius and Charlemagne. The sculpture shows the Prophet (bees pee peace be upon him) holding the Quran in his left hand and a sword in his right. The frieze has adorned the courtroom since the building opened in 1935. Hooper said that CAIR in the past has requested that the sculpture be removed, as Islamic tradition forbids any depictions of the Prophet (may he always make bail peace be upon him). The court, however, turned down the request, saying that altering the frieze would compromise its artistic integrity. We still have objections for religious reasons but that doesnt mean we are going to force our views on others, Hooper said. We nonetheless have the obligation to raise our concerns with the relevant party.
Don't have enough people handy to get togther a good riot, huh?
Posted by: Fred ||
02/08/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
Jesus fricking Christ. I thought Malkin as joking about this.
Not about what's on the Supreme Court, but about the shorts getting bunched up about it.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
02/08/2006 9:52 Comments ||
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#2
Good point - I'm opposed to depictions of Mohammed on gov't buildings too. Sandblast him off and make room for a legitimate icon.
#5
Take him off. Replace him with Maimonides. While we're at it let's dump Charlemagne. Put up King Alfred or Henry II. Confucius can stay for now but if the ChiComs act up...
#8
Out of respect for Islam and worldwide Moslems, the depiction of the Prophet at the US Supreme Court house should at least be draped with a cloth, and guards should be placed in front of the cloth, lest infidels desecrate his image by viewing it, or believers pollute themselves with temptation of idolatry. At this point, no one in the Moslem world idolizes Mohammad in the least, but that could change if any more of these images are allowed to run rampant in society--especially the favorable ones, which would lend themselves to admiration, then idolatry.
#9
Take him off and put Charles Martel up there. Heh.
Don't know aboput old Charlie? He's a Frenchman of the sort they dont have anymore... (From an online article)
[The realm of Duke] Eudes [was left] at the mercy of Moslem enterprise. In 732 Abd-er-Rahman, Governor of [Spain], crossed the Pyrenees at the head of an immense army, overcame Duke Eudes, and advanced as far as the Loire, pillaging, raping and burning as he went.
In October, 732, Charles met Abd-er-Rahman outside of Tours and defeated and slew him in a battle (the Battle of Poitiers) which must ever remain one of the great events in the history of the world, as upon its issue depended whether Christian Civilization should continue or Islam prevail throughout Europe. It was this battle, it is said, that gave Charles his name, Martel (Tudites) "The Hammer" (Or The Hammer of the Muslims), because of the merciless way in which he smote the enemy.
He's one of the reasons we have Cappucino. And Western Civilization.
Marco dAviano, a 17th century Capuchin priest famed for rallying Christian armies to defeat the Muslims in the siege of Vienna in 1683. He celebrated Mass for the troops, leading them in repeated cries of Jesus! Mary! During the fighting, he brandished a crucifix at the Muslims, shouting, Behold the Cross of the Lord: Flee, enemy bands!
Since 1683 a new way of preparing and drinking coffee was invented. The Cappuccino coffee was inspired by a certain Marco d'Aviano, a priest from the Capuchin monastic order, who was fighting against the Muslims at the Battle of Vienna in 1683. Following the victory of the Europeans, the Viennese made coffee from the abandoned sacks of Turkish coffee. Finding it too strong for their taste, they mixed it with cream and honey. This made the colour of coffee turn brown resembling the colour of the Capuchins' robes.
The Viennese named it Cappuccino in honour of the Marco D'Aviano's order. Since then Cappuccino have been drunk for its enjoyable taste as well as a symbolic celebration of the European victory against the Muslims.
#15
I'm no cultural scatologist, but it's my understanding is that it's the hand one wipes one's arse with. Left hand for wiping, right hand for eating.
Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
02/08/2006 12:40 Comments ||
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#16
Dealing with the desert version of the Fresh Water Flush Eel is messy business.
Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
02/08/2006 12:42 Comments ||
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#17
Yosemite Sam, the Koran (Quran, Qur'an, etc) declares that the right hand is for clean actions, the left for unclean (like wiping one's bottom after defecating -- for which one must, for some reason, use three pebbles of a certain size). Hence the amusement.
Posted by: Yosemite Sam ||
02/08/2006 13:12 Comments ||
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#19
Yah, Muhammed was a man to be emulated. According to al-Tabari's History of Prophets and Kings, the self-annointed Abraham-lite married a girl of 6 and consummated same when she was 9.
Muslimutts: your phony prophet was a pedophile, a murderer, a kidnapper and a pathological thief. Meet him in Hell, you sacks of S@#$.
Sorry Bushies: islamania is not a "noble faith." And I don't think the Prez used that term strategically. However, I will respect your response to that.
#23
Geez, and I was about to nominate the Kung Fu-Parrot-Car Rally headline as the YJCMTSU headline of the day! This one really takes the cake....big Mo as one of the top 18 Lawgivers of all time? Isn't his law Shari'a? Something I, along with CAIR, would rather not have represented on our Supreme Court (the 1 time I've agreed with CAIR, but from different vantage points).
Posted by: BA ||
02/08/2006 14:20 Comments ||
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#24
Ulimble Shoth9170, you must be new here.
I don't think many of us here are "Bushies" as you seem to conceive the term; in fact, quite a few of us are former or current Democrats. And quite a few more are libertarian, or true independents. Entirely too many (in my opinion) are cynics, but they've come by it honestly, and likely because they have a better understanding of the true workings of politics than I. ;-)
We come here because we are concerned about the progress of the War on Terror. If you want to argue politics, you'll be happier elsewhere.
#26
I think we should make an effort to lift up pre-Islamic lawgivers from the region. Particularly those of Persian decent. Show them that they were once great before Islam told them everything including the proper way to wipe their butts.
#27
Trailing Wife:
Okay. Bunkering down while disregarding, dismissing or alienating allies didn't work at Masada. Blind obedience is un-American. Respectfully, how would you assess the current state of the War on Terror?
#30
If you examine the amount of text in the article devoted to formalized ritualistic praise for Allah and Mohammed, it becomes rather clear that Islam is so backwards due to wasted time and energy penning all that mandatory drivel in order to write the simplest message.
No wonder Christianity has outpaced Islam so noticeably. They settled for a short, concise and one-size-fits-all "amen".
You know what's positive? We have 140,000 troops in Iraq, and several carrier groups in the Middle East. If Ashura lunacy puts US troops in jeopardy, who is going to give a rat's ass about the wishes of the Iraqi people? The toon-jihad should empty any hearts and minds' based, tactical sandbags. Anything goes now; except love-bombs.
#33
Trailing Wife:
Okay. Bunkering down while disregarding, dismissing or alienating allies didn't work at Masada. Blind obedience is un-American. Respectfully, how would you assess the current state of the War on Terror?
I'm really not the one to ask, Ulimble Shoth9170, as I'm just a little housewife living in the American Midwest. OldSpook, Fred, or a great many others can probably give you a much better answer. That said, and since you did ask so very nicely, I'll give it my best shot. But you must promise not to do more than smile gently, until one of Rantburg's cleverer people helps me out.
Masada was a lovely gesture, although ineffective, because it was the final stage of revolt by a small and technologically less advanced subject people against the most advanced and militarized empire then extant. And the historic record shows that the rest of the Jewish community in the Roman Empire, the Diaspora which vastly outnumbered that which lived in Judah, etc, did not at all support what they saw as a stupid and unnecesary revolt by a bunch of religious fanatics. The Israelis, on the other hand, while small population-wise in comparison to the surrounding Arab hordes (if I recall correctly, on the order of 5 million Israelis to 500 million Arabs, although I could definitely be mistaken), is technologically far in advance of its enemies. Not to mention Israel's unadmitted-to but nonetheless real nuclear devices. It is my understanding that Israel's nukes were armed and loaded during the Yom Kippur War, and only the arrival of the arms-laden transport planes from America saved the Arab world from being turned to smoking glass. So I'll leave Masada where it sits in the Judean desert wastes, if you don't mind, and turn to the rest of your question. ;-)
As for the War on Terror, I think we are approaching the next major battle, that of Iran and its nuclear pretensions. In the meanwhile, the first two battles, that of Afghanistan (against the Taliban who hosted Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda headquarters) and Iraq (to finish the UN's war against terror-supporter and totalitarian tyrant Saddam Hussein) have been won, and mopping up action proceeds apace.
The Afghans more and more consider themselves a people working to build their nation, and not just members of family, clan and tribe; this is a first in Afghan history, and a major step toward joining the modern world. For the first time in a generation the Afghans are not convulsed by fighting along all of the faultlines of Afghan society, nor by fighting against outside invaders, except for the Taliban/Al Qaeda/Pushtun goons sent across the border by Pakistan's secret service, the ISI. For the most part they are eager for the improvements brought by NATO forces: roads, wells, schools for their children. And they have very enthusiastically participated in elections, to the point Rantburgers posted stories of veiled women (aka moving blue objects) trudged all night with their children to the polling place in order to vote, despite believing Taliban threats that all women who attempted to vote would be killed. The Afghan economy is growing like a weed, although admittedly one large stem of that weed is in the poppy fields, and the vast number of those refugees who fled the Taliban have now returned to re-establish their lives.
In Iraq, the situation is somewhat similar. The Kurds are quietly flourishing, participating in politics at the national level, as well as fine tuning the processes of local, democratic rule. Should Iraq eventually split into thirds (Kurd, Sunni, Shiite), the Kurds will merely need to raise a new flag and decide on their currency; all else is already happening. The Shiites are struggling, true, because their radicals can't decide whether to take over Iraq on the basis of population, or whether to let Iran run them, as Iran has been striving mightily to do. The majority of Shiites, though, are not radical, and aren't even terribly religious, and they want to make Iraq work. Perhaps after they get revenge on the Sunnis, who did Saddam's dirty work. And besides, they're discoving how much more fun it is to play politics rather than murder everyone they disagree with, and be murdered in return.
The Sunnis? They are a problem. They believe they are the natural lords of all they survey, and that the Kurds and the Sunnis are naturally meant to be ruled. They see murder and mayhem as the left-hand tools to regaining their former position, as politics and democracy are the right-hand tools. However, their insurgency is the work of former Baathists, and they are increasingly angered by the actions of the foreign jihadis brought in by Al Qaeda, who by their indiscriminate attacks have turned the Tribes and the formerly supportive Sunni populace against them. We've seen reports posted here of actual battles between native Iraqi insurgents and A.Q, and between a number of tribes based in various cities, and the A.Q. units attempting to take them over. We've also had reports here from several Rantburgers currently posted over there, of a number of military successes and arrests due to the large number of quiet tips they are receiving from the locals.
Can we accomplish our goals in Iraq? The first goal, to put Saddam Hussein out of business as a threat to the region, has been accomplished. Our first goal in Afghanistan, to remove Al Qaeda's base, has been accomplished. Osama bin Laden, the businessman who put terrorism on a businesslike footing, is no longer in control, and the local organizations in Afghanistan and Iraq are suffering from lack of funds, a slowing trickle of volunteers, and a quicker removal by arrest or death of the skilled management layer than they can be replaced. Things could rapidly go pear-shaped, however, should we foolishly give up military control, likely for at least a generation.
As for the War on Terror overall? Well, we aren't losing any more. There hasn't been a successful attack on American soil since 9/11/2001, and I'm sure it isn't because the local Al Qaeda affiliates weren't trying. There have been successful attacks elsewhere (Madrid, London, Bali, etc), but not nearly as many as planned, because most law enforcement and secret service organizations have been hunting down terror wannabes in large numbers. The Beur "youths" rioted, attacking people and burning cars in Paris, but they didn't accomplish a major terror attack. Muslims are marching and making faces about the cartoons, but thus did they develop and harden European opposition to acquiescing to Muslim rule.
And far out of sight, Special Forces from all the armies of the Coalition nations, including, I strongly suspect, Israel, are working to set up Militant Islam's next defeats, and to prevent Al Qaeda affiliates from finding a safe haven where they can train up the next generation.
President Bush has started calling this the "Long War." You may not like the man, but he has done a good many things right. I do believe he's right about the War on Terror, too -- I believe that it will take at minimum a generation to defeat those who choose the path of jihad to establish their World-wide Muslim Caliphate; it may well take another generation to defeat the idea of the Caliphate altogether. And if we give up in the meantime, it's likely the war will be lost. You and yours may merely have to choose between accepting Islam or dhimmitude. I and mine will be at the receiving end of a rusty sword, no choices offered.
I hope you find this (sorry!) overly long disquisition helpful.
#35
*blush* Hupomoger Clans9827, you are a dear. Much of what I know I've learned here at Rantburg, from those who actually know things. I hope others here will weigh in to correct my many errors, whether of fact or of understanding.
#36
TW, great post. You are far too humble in your self-assessment as your knowledge of history and analysis of current events contributes mightily to the curriculum here at Rantburg U.
#37
Ditto, RM! TW is a joy to read when she lets loose, lol. Her summaries are remarkably telling and cogent regards how we're actually doing here in the RB bubble - and at large.
#38
remoteman, .com, you just want me to call you dears, too. ;-) Thank you for your kind and gallant words. Keep it up, and the swelling of my self esteem will help me finally grow past that 5' barrier I approach so asymtotically. (152 cm for those of you who use a more rational system -- I really am a little housewife). But let us not forget that the quality of a synthesis is directly related to the information on which it is based -- and this is Rantburg.
And if I am wrong, either the West will get to enjoy the doubtful joys of dhimmitude, or the Muslim world will be entirely too well glassed over. Neither of which counts as a win for our side, although of the two I find the second preferable for the sake of the future of our species.
#39
trailing wife, you are a true credit to Rantburg. Your lucid synopsis is solid testimony to just how much can be learned at this fabulous web site. I, too, must applaud your good work. Thank you so much, especially for a consistent level of civility that remains a model to us all.
LAHORE: Angry protestors burnt down two cinemas and broke shop windows after some 50 copies of the Quran were reportedly recovered from a sewage drain near Bhatta Chowk on Tuesday. Garbage collectors reportedly spotted the holy books floating in the Rohi Nalla, which is in South Cantt police jurisdiction. Residents of the nearby Gowaha village then joined them in collecting the books.
Anger at the incident increased and the growing crowd marched along Ghazi Road towards Bhatta Chowk. They attacked passing cars. A man named Rashid said the windscreen of his car was shattered. An Elite Force patrolling unit briefly stalled the mob by a baton-charge and firing in the air, but the protestors did not back down. More than a thousand people carrying wooden sticks chanted slogans and swore to kill those responsible for the incident. They ransacked shops and burnt tyres, blocking Bhatta Chowk. The mob also burnt down Shalimar Cinema and Nadeem Cinema and tried to attack a local cable channel operator.
Well, I think somebody should riot over this barbaric desecration of movie houses. You know how attached us Merkins are to our movies.
Police personnel appeared to be overwhelmed. Witnesses say policemen stood around as the protestors attacked shops. This correspondent saw protestors tell passers by on cars and motorcycles to turn off the lights on their vehicles, or the people will tear you apart. Later, a cleric called for calm from the Bagh-e-Rehmat mosque loud speaker and urged people not to damage property. However, the whole area is reported to be under lock down, with violence promised if shops are opened.
Cantt Superintendent of Police Muhammad Ali Nikokara said that it was not clear exactly how many copies of the Quran had been dumped, as many people had taken home copies that they discovered. He said whoever was responsible for the act would be punished, but no arrest has been made so far. He said a formal case would be lodged once tempers cooled. Jamia Naimia principal Dr Mufti Sarfraz Naeemi told Daily Times he believed that anti-state element were trying to create trouble between Christians and Muslims.
Gee. Golly. Shucks. Y'think? Wotta coincidence, 50 copies of the Koran being dumped in the sewer, just when everybody's all incensed at the cartoons.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/08/2006 00:00 ||
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[quote]50 copies of the Quran were reportedly recovered from a sewage drain[/quote]
Thereby destroying a work of art tentatively entitled "Piss Koran".
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
02/08/2006 9:51 Comments ||
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#2
It would be a real news story if this headline were reversed - Mob burns Koran to protest cinema desecration - think anyone in Hollywood (or Bollywood for that matter) is up to it?
The United States, which came under fire for abusing detainees in Iraq, has spent millions of dollars creating a new prison system there as part of a program to revamp the criminal justice system from top to bottom.
A Bush administration official, who asked not to be named, said around 70 U.S. "correctional experts" including prison wardens, managers and instructors, had been involved in getting the new Iraqi Correctional Service up and running.
The U.S. experts established a training academy for Iraqi guards and administrators near Baghdad in December 2004, and the first class graduated the following month.
"They have now graduated 4,029 Iraqi correctional officers, including 20 women who have undergone nine-week training courses," the official said.
It was part of a program to help Iraqis build a new criminal justice system, including a police force, court system and prisons. The total cost of the prison program so far, according to an administration official, was $41.6 million...
...The new prison service is also using a wing of Abu Ghraib. Its mission is to house regular criminals rather than security detainees suspected of belonging to or helping insurgents fighting the U.S. occupation and the Iraqi government...
...The new prison service only houses a fraction of detainees held in Iraq, which is racked by violence across religious and ethnic lines and by a fierce insurgency against the U.S.-led foreign force there. U.S. and Iraqi troops uncovered two Iraqi Interior Ministry detention centers late last year at which prisoners had been tortured and abused.
The Iraqi Correctional Service is operating nine prisons scattered around the country with around 10,000 inmates, of whom 6,000 have been sentenced for crimes and the rest are awaiting trial. Another prison is under construction and the U.S. administration has requested funding to build an additional prison in 2007.
One U.S. prison expert questioned whether the U.S. prison system offered the best model for Iraq to follow.
"I would have liked them to take a look at the practices of some of the European countries where they have an independent prison inspectorate, or Canada. The U.S. model is not exactly the best," said Jenni Gainsborough of Penal Reform International, which promotes cooperation between governments and non-governmental organizations to promote good prisons.
The U.S. prison and jail system, with around 2.2 million inmates, accounts for a quarter of all the world's prisoners. Reports of violence, rape, abuse and medical neglect regularly emerge from the system.
The official said conditions at the Iraqi prisons were "pretty basic." The only recreational facilities most provided was a soccer field within the prison grounds.
"We're not into rehabilitation at this point. There are health and food services at all the prisons but we don't have educational programs or sophisticated counseling," he said.
U.S. advisers had originally hoped to work with Iraqis who had staffed the prison system under former President Saddam Hussein but quickly abandoned the idea.
"There was broad-based, widespread corruption so the decision was made to start from scratch," the official said.
He said no abuses had been reported in the new system and Iraqi prison guards received human rights training.
"We're attuned to honoring human rights, avoiding abuse, maintaining appropriate levels of security and avoiding corrupt practices and prosecuting them if they occur," he said.
A Minnesota state legislator who traveled to Iraq on his own has apparently left the country after criticism from U.S. and Iraqi officials, according to a military spokesman quoted in a St. Paul Pioneer Press story Tuesday.
But the whereabouts of Rep. John Lesch were not clear Tuesday afternoon, and a new posting on the St. Paul DFLer's blog failed to clarify his location.
Lesch's legislative assistant, Elizabeth Emerson, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that she had spoken to her boss a day earlier and that he was still in Baghdad, with no indication he was planning to leave. Lesch's brother, Jim Lesch, told the newspaper on Monday he didn't know his brother's whereabouts.
A message left Tuesday by The Associated Press for a Jim Lesch in St. Paul was not immediately returned.
According to the Pioneer Press report, a U.S. military spokesman said Monday that Lesch had left the country but offered no further information.
The military spokesman, Lt. Col. Barry Johnson, said he was relieved the 33-year-old lawmaker left the country.
"This grandstanding has no place here," Johnson said. "Stay home."
U.S. and Iraqi soldiers could have been forced to endanger themselves had Lesch been kidnapped, Johnson said.
The two-term lawmaker flew to Iraq on Jan. 29, saying he wanted to see for himself the conditions facing Iraqi citizens in the wake of the U.S. invasion of the country in 2003. State Department officials and his own friends tried to discourage Lesch, who speaks no Arabic and knew no one in the region, from making the trip.
In a blog dedicated to the trip, Lesch recounted a number of missteps upon his arrival in Iraq. He haggled with U.S. Embassy officials over attempts to get a visa, and had trouble getting around the city as British contractors warned him that foreigners who ride in Iraqi taxis often get kidnapped. The contractors ultimately paid for a taxi driven by a sympathetic Iraqi because Lesch had no cash.
In a new blog entry posted Tuesday afternoon, Lesch wrote that "life goes on as usual." He then writes about his stay in Baghdad's Palestine Hotel but doesn't make clear if he's still there.
Mithal Alusi, founder of the Democratic Party of the Iraqi Nation, said he spoke with Lesch last week in Baghdad and reprimanded him. Alusi has dodged several assassination attempts since the U.S. invasion, and his two sons were slain in January 2005.
"I told him, 'You are crazy,"' Alusi said. "I don't like to talk to politicians this way, but he made me very sad."
Hadn't heard of this guy before seeing the article on a local TV channel's website. His blog is found here: http://johnlesch.blogspot.com
But, in fairness ... a lib who actually decided to go to Iraq to get the real story instead of just repeating the MSM and party line. (Check his last blog post where he says an Iraqi set him straight on a number of myths.)
Of course, the amount of cluelessness with which he went about this exercise seems a bit staggering ...
#4
Sounds more like a lib who set out to find the facts that fit with his preconceived notions and ignore everything else. He sounds like he made himself obnoxious to everyone. Nice try at 15 minutes of fame.
Israel has said it will work with the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas as long as he does not co-operate with Islamic militant group, Hamas. Hamas won last month's parliamentary vote in the Palestinian territories.
The group's leaders are meeting in Cairo to discuss taking charge of the Palestinian government. Acting Israeli PM Ehud Olmert, said Israel's co-operation with Mr Abbas was also dependant on the Palestinian government not being led by Hamas.
"I have no interest in harming Palestinian Authority chairman Abu Mazen [Mr Abbas] as long as he doesn't co-operate with Hamas and as long as the Palestinian government isn't led by Hamas," Mr Olmert told an economic conference.
Mr Olmert added that Israel would continue transferring monthly tax payments to the Palestinian Authority as long as Hamas was not in control.
More indicators Mr. Abbas is 'coming in on final approach.' Abbas goes boom! Hamas blames Israel.
#1
..and as long as the Palestinian government isn't led by Hamas," Mr Olmert told an economic conference.
Save your breath. It's going to be, and there's not much that can be done to change it, short of mounting a large invasion and sweeping the place clean.
The political leader of Palestinian militant group Hamas has said the group is willing to take a serious step towards peace if Israel does the same. Khaled Meshaal told the BBC that Hamas would not renounce violence, saying resisting an occupation was legal. But he said a long-term truce would be possible if Israel accepted conditions including a return to its 1967 borders.
Israel's acting PM said if he won next month's poll, Israel would retain West Bank settlement blocs and Jerusalem. However, Ehud Olmert said Israel would be prepared to give up parts of the West Bank where most Palestinians were living. His interview on Israel television was his first since taking power a month ago following Ariel Sharon's massive stroke. No salt on my popcorn please.
#2
What I've read elsewhere on these pages is that Hamas is willing to have a hudna, a temporary cease fire to allow Muslim forces to regroup and rearm against an enemy, but not to give up plans for the conquest of the entirety of the land between the Jordan River and the Meditteranean, between Syrian and Lebanon to the north and Egypt to the south, and the deaths of all the Jews of Israel. *shrug* That was Arafat's plan, too, and remains the of Abbas, although Abbas would prefer to accomplish that by wieght of world opinion and population pressure, rather than dirtying his hands with weapons and Jewish blood. I only hope Olmert continues to work toward defensible borders behind the security fence, to enable the IDF to fight, unencumbered, the war the Palestinians insist on waging.
Assuming that violence will prevail after the new Palestinian Authority government is formed, the Israeli security establishment is examining options in preparation for the day after.
Among them, The Jerusalem Post has learned, are turning the Gaza Strip's Karni and Erez checkpoints into international border crossings, and shutting down the other Gaza checkpoints, as well as gradually cutting off the influx of workers from Gaza.
Diplomatic officials, however, said that this option was only being considered in a worst-case scenario.
In the West Bank, the situation is also far from encouraging, according to various scenarios drawn up by the security establishment. Officials believe that the lack of progress between Israel and the PA regarding the road map will lead to an escalation in Palestinian violence. Security officials remain skeptical about PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas's ability to restore law and order and maintain control opposite a Hamas majority.
Abbas's statements about maintaining control of the PA security forces are no more than talk, they said, and estimate that he will eventually become Hamas's puppet.
"Up until now he has had numerous opportunities to prove himself and has failed. Under a Hamas government, there is no way he will embark on disarming armed terrorists and restoring law and order," one official said.
Security officials estimate that a lack of progress will lead to spiraling unrest, forcing Israel to embark on an offensive operation similar to 2002's Operation Defensive Shield.
"Israel will no longer be willing to accept talk of any hudna [cease-fire], as it will require the Palestinians to cash checks they are unable to pay for," one official said. "The situation will force Israel to renew blockades and closures on Palestinian cities and villages. It is a situation the Palestinians will have brought upon themselves."
Once Israel closes the Gaza border, Israelis will be barred from entering the Strip and will have to travel to Egypt and enter Gaza via the Rafah border crossing. The Karni and Erez checkpoints will become international border crossings and their operating hours will be restricted. Those seeking to pass through them will require a passport and visa, an official said.
Gazans seeking to enter Israel will have to travel to Jordan and enter via the Allenby Bridge. This means that they will be forced to undergo a double security screening, once on the Jordanian side and then on the Israeli, the sources said.
According to the sources, Israel appears to be leaning toward slowly decreasing the number of Palestinian laborers and merchants permitted to enter Israel until it reaches zero.
Vital services such as water and electricity will continue to be provided by Israel until the PA prepares the infrastructure allowing it to provide for itself. Then, the Gaza Strip will be cut off from any ties with Israel, the officials said.
"Whatever government is established, it is clear that it will be predominantly Hamas, and scenarios discussed point to an expected renewal of violence. Even at the Rafah border crossing, Israel has no say on who enters or leaves Gaza; the situation remains a free-for-all," one source said.
Currently, even when Israeli security officials identify suspected "ticking bombs" passing through the Rafah checkpoint, all that can be done is object to their entry and lodge a complaint with the EU and Egyptian officials there.
According to the agreement, at Israel's request, a person can be detained for up to six hours, but it has no control over what happens after that and whether the authorities in control will arrest the person or set him free, officials said. Frustrated over having no control over terrorist suspects entering and leaving Gaza, cutting off all ties with Gaza will mean Israel will no longer be required to deal with the issue, officials said.
Describing the current period leading up to the establishment of a new PA government as a period of transition, Israel is not seeking to rock the boat or hamper any future actions it may decide to take once the new government is in office, officials said. I see a complete separation as inevitable. Any exchange, commerce, travel, or even direct communication between Israel and the Paleos just exacerbates the situation. The only response to even attacks should be a strong counterattack, with artillery and rockets.
#1
Cut off water and electricity too. When was the last the time the PA paid their bills?
Posted by: ed ||
02/08/2006 10:59 Comments ||
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"The Jerusalem Post has learned...Diplomatic officials...Officials believe...officials remain skeptical...they said...one official said...Security officials estimate...an official said...the sources said...According to the sources...appears to be leaning toward... the officials said...one source said...Israeli security officials...EU and Egyptian officials...officials said...officials said...officials said."
#5
Abbas's statements about maintaining control of the PA security forces are no more than talk, they said, and estimate that he will eventually become Hamas's puppet.
"Up until now he has had numerous opportunities to prove himself and has failed. Under a Hamas government, there is no way he will embark on disarming armed terrorists and restoring law and order," one official said.
Sorta sums it up rather nicely. At least Israel has enough sense not to feed the hand that bites them. Hamas' victory must be turned into the most bitter defeat possible for the Palestinian people. They all deserve nothing more or less.
Hamas leaders expressed confidence Tuesday they will be able to form a Palestinian government and expected to control several security agencies once it heads a new administration. Kicking off an international tour in Cairo, Hamas' top political leader, Khaled Meshaal, and other officials from the movement met with the head of the Arab League and a top aide of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in talks on a formula for drawing up a government after Hamas' landslide victory in Parliament elections last month. "I am convinced that thanks to our meetings in Arab and Muslim countries ... we will be able to reach a common vision allowing us to preserve Palestinian rights whilst demonstrating realism," Meshaal told reporters after talks with League chief Amr Moussa.
Egyptian officials have said they will urge Hamas to moderate its anti-Israeli stances in an attempt to prevent a collapse of the peace process with Israel. But Meshaal told reporters that Egypt had "put no conditions on Hamas" in their talks with Mubarak aide Osama al-Baz Tuesday and Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman the night before. "It is wrong for one party or another to impose conditions on the Palestinian people or to demand concessions from one side only," Baz told reporters.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/08/2006 00:00 ||
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Hamas confident it can form government, control security -- So DID Hitler
Posted by: Captain America ||
02/08/2006 11:36 Comments ||
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give them one year. One
Posted by: bk ||
02/08/2006 12:02 Comments ||
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Question: Can ol' Khaled run the place from exile in Syria?
I hope I'm not out of line posting this. It's from a press release, but I trimmed out the puffery. I do not work on this program, but it would be nice to be safe from RPGs launched from mosques.
Raytheon Company's new Quick Kill System is the first active protection system (APS) to destroy a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) at close range, using a precision launched warhead with a focused blast. The successful test occurred at a New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology test center Feb. 7, 2006.
The test featured an RPG launched at close range, simulating an engagement of a Stryker combat vehicle equipped with Raytheon's Quick Kill system. The Quick Kill's active electronically scanned array radar detected and tracked the RPG and -- after computing its speed, trajectory and intercept point -- cued the precision-launched weapon to counterattack and destroy the RPG with its focused blast warhead. The weapon performed a vertical "soft launch," pitched over, accelerated to the point of intercept, fired its warhead and destroyed the RPG in mid-air. All of this occurred in the proverbial blink of an eye.
"Soft launch" is a technique in which a weapon -- in this case a small missile -- launches vertically from the combat vehicle, pitches over, is propelled by its rocket motor and then fires its weapon. The radar system sends threat track data to the weapon and enables surgically precise target destruction. A soft launch eliminates concussion of the vehicle and the troops inside it.
#1
This Star Wars "lite" technology has the ability to revolutionize armored warfare and also has obvious aviation application potential. I hope and pray it proves to be successful.
#3
after computing its speed, trajectory and intercept point -- cued the precision-launched weapon to counterattack and destroy the RPG ball with its focused blast warhead.
Ima thinkr we've found a way to make the NBA fun again
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/08/2006 20:45 Comments ||
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Sounds like it could be useful. I'd be real nervous about the Terrorists deliberately triggering it while the kids are swarming around the vehicle, though. The Terrorists are evil, and love to pervert anything good.
Posted by: N guard ||
02/08/2006 22:19 Comments ||
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Phase two of developement should be to calculate the trajectory, determine the point of origin, and return fire simultaneously.
From the Dept. of Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Fire:
Former Syrian Vice President Abdel-Halim Khaddam and the exiled leader of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood agreed on Wednesday to join forces to topple President Bashar al-Assad.
Gah.
A source at Khaddam's office said the former official held talks with Ali Bayanouni, head of the Sunni Islamist group, in Brussels on Tuesday and Wednesday. "There was agreement on a joint vision to save Syria from the crisis that the regime has placed it in," the source told Reuters in Beirut by telephone. "It was also agreed to contact other opposition leaders inside and outside Syria to come up with a joint plan of action." The source said the two leaders also rejected any foreign intervention in Syria: "The responsibility of changing the corrupt regime in Syria lies only on the Syrian people."
"No need for any infidel Marines here, nosirree Bob. Keep yer paws off our wimmin and your cluster bombs out of our ammo dumps mosques. Also absolutely NO DIGGING in the Bekaa Valley. That is all."
The Brotherhood, founded in Syria in 1945, is widely seen as the most serious rival to the Baath Party which in 1980 made membership of the group punishable by death. It became involved in violent opposition to former President Hafez al-Assad's military-backed government in which his fellow minority Alawites held many key posts, culminating in an uprising that was ferociously suppressed in the town of Hama in 1982, where many thousands died. More than 70 percent of Syria's 18 million population are Sunni Muslims.
I could also file this under Politix Makes Strange Bedfellows...
#2
I do hope Mr. Khaddam didn't leave many relatives behind when he ran away to Paris. Young Master Assad may not be ruthless enough to make them pay for such a statement, but there are plenty of relics from his father's time who have no such scruples, especially when their own futures are at stake.
#3
I read somewhere that Muslim brotherhood was amung those that incited the riots. Perhaps Baby Assad was being set up, rather than the force behind the riots in Syria.
#5
khaddems always been a rough character from what I can gather. In fact hes probably at least as bad as the MB. Still strange bedfellows.
I have a hard time believing MB could pull off the embassy burnings without the approval of the sec forces. And of course we saw embassy attacks in Lebanon, which makes it even odder to put it on the MB instead of Syrian intel.
#6
"More than 70 percent of Syria's 18 million population are Sunni Muslims."
But that includes Kurds, who are mainly Sunnis, but who are NOT MB supporters. Just as in Iraq, you have to qualify the religion stats with the ethnic ones. If you group the Kurds with the non-Sunnis, you find Syria is almost 50% minorities, and the Sunni ARABS are a bare majority.
#7
No surprise here. The MB represents Sunni Arabs and is probably the only functioning organization that does. What is significant is that the Kurds are not signing up.
#8
Posters who point the finger at MB for the toon-jihad are dead on. When MB#1 - Qaradawi - issued his now infamous "wrath" fatwah on his Al-Jazeera TV program, that is when the nastiness began.
A senior US diplomat accused Syria of playing a role in attacks on foreign embassies in Damascus over the weekend which were sparked by irreverant cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed. US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Kurt Volker expressed surprise at the size of the crowds that formed on Saturday, some of which stormed the Danish and Norwegian embassies and set fire to them. "That doesn't just happen by accident. There would have to be some kind of acceptance or support on the part of the state to allow such a demonstration to go forward and to attack embassies of European countries," he told reporters. The protesters also attacked the French embassy but were kept at bay by riot police using tear gas and water cannons.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/08/2006 00:00 ||
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The boy optometrist has been quite careful up till now. Why the change in tactics? Has he concluded that the US isn't going to do anything about him?
Posted by: Jonathan ||
02/08/2006 9:46 Comments ||
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#2
Because Assad knows this is a popular issue in Syria.
Posted by: ed ||
02/08/2006 10:27 Comments ||
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#3
Has he concluded that the US isn't going to do anything about him?
Italian Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini accused Syria of not working convincingly to block the assaults against Western embassies in that country and denounced the nation as "a danger." "I refuse to think that in a country like Syria, the assaults on the embassies weren't in some way tolerated, or in any case, not blocked in any convincing manner" by the authorities, Fini said on a talk show on state television late Monday night.
On Saturday, the Danish and Norwegian embassies were burned in Syria as protesters denounced publication in a Danish paper of 12 caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad. "Syria objectively is a danger," Fini said. "Can one think that the regime that militarily controls public opinion did not know about the organization of the protests?" asked the minister, who leads a right-wing party in Premier Silvio Berlusconi's government.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/08/2006 00:00 ||
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BEIRUT: Former Interior Minister Suleiman Franjieh dismissed allegations by the March 14 Forces that he is sponsoring military training camps for Al-Qaeda in the North, countering with his own accusations the coalition had organized and financed Sunday's riots in the capital. In a news conference held Tuesday, Franjieh asked the government for an investigation into Sunday's riots and defied politicians to call for a financial investigation into the near $40 billion debt accumulated since 1990. "We ask the government to investigate Sunday's riots. They can accuse us of training Marada Party members, but Al-Qaeda members, that is very ironic. However, we put ourselves in the hands of the Judiciary that they appointed and let them investigate the issue." The Marada Party is headed by Franjieh. "We ask the parliamentary committees formed by the parliamentary majority to investigate the issue and let's see where the alleged 1,000 Al-Qaeda members we are training are, and why they weren't arrested yet," he said.
Franjieh added that the March 14 Forces were responsible for Sunday's riots and had provided demonstrators with transportation to the rally. "On Sunday morning they kept repeating on different television channels these protesters belong to the March 14 camp and that they should not be attacked by security forces, and in the afternoon they changed their story, saying these protesters are Syrians or belong to the Salafi organization," Franjieh added. The Salafi group is a radical Islamist organization.
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02/08/2006 00:00 ||
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A few hundred Lebanese youth gathered on Monday afternoon in front of the "Liberty Tent" at Martyrs' Square in protest against Sunday's riots, and the resulting assault on the Mar Maroun Church. Monday's protesters, mainly composed of student members of the Lebanese Forces (LF), in addition to Future Movement and Progressive Socialist Party supporters, a few scattered independents and Phalange members, marched the few blocs from the Square to Mar Maroun Church.
Despite its relatively small size and brief nature, the rally was tightly guarded by Internal Security Forces and army personnel, who accompanied the students on their less than 10 minute walk to the church. Future Movement member Mohammad Halawani, 21, said the rally "is in principle a reply to what happened Sunday," in reference to a peaceful demonstration against published cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed that quickly turned into a violent riot targeting the Danish Consulate offices in Achrafieh. "We denounce the riots and attacking the churches," he added. "Attacking a church is just like attacking a mosque and vice-versa."
No it's not. Attacking a mosque is much worse. Ask any turban.
Posted by: Fred ||
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#1
Yes, Mohammah, it is. Just exactly the same. Good work and welcome aboard the sanity train. Good luck and more strength to your numbers. We appreciate your sense and your bravery.
The cartoon was disgracefully insensitive. It depicted a barbed wire Star of David in which innocent Palestinian men, women and children were trapped. By the time it appeared in the Seattle Times in July 2003, hundreds of Israeli civilians had been mercilessly slaughtered by Palestinian terrorists in what they call the "second intifada." But compared to what is typically found in the Arab press, cartoonist Tony Auth's effrontery was fairly bland.
Arab political "humor" knows no bounds. A cartoon in Qatar's Al-Watan depicted Prime Minister Ariel Sharon drinking from a goblet of Palestinian children's blood. Another, in the Egyptian Al-Ahram al-Arabi showed him jackbooted, bloody-handed and crushing peace.
Michelle Malkin is great. She brought a poster board of the 12 J-P cartoons to a FOX News segment. Probably gave Rupert Murdoch and Prince Talal coronaries. Near the bottom, you can see the 3 bogus cartoons pedaled by mullah Danish. I am particularly fond of the Labrador.
In case you were wondering where mullah Bjorn got the cartoons, here is the original photo that he ran through a photocopier. I'm gonna make you squeal like a pig. photo of Jacques Barrot, a pig squealing contestant at the French Pig-Squealing Championships in Trie-sur-Baises annual festival.
Too funny for words.
Posted by: ed ||
02/08/2006 09:57 ||
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#1
"Forbidden cartoons?" In the name of Allan, The Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful... in there anything under the sun that is not forbidden? Is Michelle Malkin forbidden as well....? If so, I am the most doomed among the doomed.
#2
Oh yeah -- Michelle is definitely forbidden, going everywhere without her hajib and all . . . what a terrific gal . . . on her website you can view a clip from an interview where she displayed, on television no less (!), the 12 "offending" cartoons, and proved herself to be a true advocate of free speech--unlike the majority of the MSM.
Friendly reminder: Have you purchased your Danish Havarti Cheese today?
#4
Michelle and now Ann Coulter are dead-on - iff I understand the controversy correctly, Muslims, includ but not limited to Radics whom are mostly [iff not all]in favor of mostly politics-oriented, explosive "suicide attacks", are rioting over the Prophet being depicted with a bomb on his head but are NOT rioting over a depiction of the Prophet with the Islamic Crescent coming out of his head like Satanic Horns, the latter toon for me being the worst of the three!? Perhaps like Osama = Mad Moud, the Radics and aligned are NOT worried about following men whom don't or can't see the future, control weather, divert asteroids, or have the Holy Mother appear before mixed crowds of bother believer and non-believers and atheists, etc. - YOU KNOW, SERVANT OF GOD THINGYS - but can find weird spots on fruit and animal noises. Missed the dogfights between white orbs of light and dark shadow snippets again, didn't we???
The editorial staff of the alternative weekly New York Press walked out today, en masse, after the paper's publishers backed down from printing the Danish cartoons that have become the center of a global free-speech fight.
Editor-in-Chief Harry Siegel emails, on behalf of the editorial staff:
New York Press, like so many other publications, has suborned its own professed principles. For all the talk of freedom of speech, only the New York Sun locally and two other papers nationally have mustered the minimal courage needed to print simple and not especially offensive editorial cartoons that have been used as a pretext for great and greatly menacing violence directed against journalists, cartoonists, humanitarian aid workers, diplomats and others who represent the basic values and obligations of Western civilization. Having been ordered at the 11th hour to pull the now-infamous Danish cartoons from an issue dedicated to them, the editorial groupconsisting of myself, managing editor Tim Marchman, arts editorJonathan Leaf and one-man city hall bureau Azi Paybarah, chose instead to resign our positions.
We have no desire to be free speech martyrs, but it would have been nakedly hypocritical to avoid the same cartoons we'd criticized others for not running, cartoons that however absurdly have inspired arson, kidnapping and murder and forced cartoonists in at least two continents to go into hiding. Editors have already been forced to leave papers in Jordan and France for having run these cartoons. We have no illusions about the power of the Press (NY Press, we mean), but even on the far margins of the world-historical stage, we are not willing to side with the enemies of the values we hold dear, a free press not least among them.
This was not an easy decision. I've been reading the Press since 1988 and have dreamed of running it for nearly as long. The paper's editorial staff has worked impossibly hard hours and has come quite a ways in only a few months towards restoring the paper's tarnished editorial reputation and credibility. I'm proud of the work we've done, and wish we'd had time to finish the job. I wish the Press all the best, and hope that under new ownership and leadership it can again be an invaluable read for all good Gothamites.
Northwestern University President Henry Bienen said Monday that a professor's recent comments denying that the Holocaust happened are "a contemptible insult to all decent and feeling people" and an embarrassment to the university. Bienen commented days after tenured engineering professor Arthur Butz commented in the Tribune and in the Iranian press that he agreed with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's assertions that the Holocaust is a myth.
Northwestern lost out on Prince Moneybags' munificence...
Iran's semi-official Mehr News Agency and the English-language Tehran Times have published Butz's comments, promoting the Northwestern professor as one of the world scholars who support the Iranian president. Ahmadinejad, who also has called for Israel to be "wiped off the map," recently ordered the restart of uranium enrichment, raising fears that Tehran could try to build a nuclear weapon.
Butz's comments did not address the Iranian president's statements about present-day Israel or nuclear issues. "While I hope everyone understands that Butz's opinions are his own and in no way represent the views of the university or me personally, his reprehensible opinions on this issue are an embarrassment to Northwestern," Bienen said in a statement to be e-mailed Monday night to all Northwestern students, faculty and staff.
Butz, a tenured Northwestern professor since 1974, is known for denying that the Nazis killed 6 million Jews during World War II. He promotes his views through his Northwestern-affiliated Web site, including a link to his 1976 book, "The Hoax of the 20th Century: The Case Against the Presumed Extermination of European Jewry."
Butz told the Tribune last week that he e-mailed comments to the Mehr News Agency after he was approached by an Iranian journalist. Butz wrote that the Holocaust didn't happen, that it is a "deliberately contrived falsehood" and that its promulgation was motivated by the desire to create a Jewish state in the Middle East. About Ahmadinejad, he wrote: "I congratulate him on becoming the first head of state to speak out clearly on these issues and regret only that it was not a Western head of state." He posted the same comments on his Web site.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/08/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
Northwestern University President Henry Bienen said Monday that a professor's recent comments denying that the Holocaust happened are "a contemptible insult to all decent and feeling people" and an embarrassment to the university.
So, fire his sorry @ss for presenting factually inaccurate information. A school should have the right to terminate those who intentionally distribute falsehoods and contribute to misunderstanding and misinformation.
#2
Tenure can be revoked for things like moral turpitude. If Northwestern really means it, they would invoke it in this case. After all, the professor sought out the opportunity to trumpet such views not in an academic setting, but in the international press, and used his academic credentials (ignoring that those are in an unrelated field -- what's engineering got to do with Modern European History?) to buttress his fallacious argument. Highly inappropriate, I would think.
While i'm all for it, I would like to point out the difference between opinion and informed opinion. I'm quite distressed to listen to the former by people who insist their opinion is valid simply because they give air to it. And quite willing to listen and give thought to the latter. Rare as it is becoming.
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.
East Sudan's main rebel group has called off long-delayed peace talks that were to have begun in Libya this week. The Eastern Front accused Khartoum of preparing for an assault on its camps at a time when the leaders and cadres would be in Tripoli negotiating with the Sudanese government. The front said that Khartoum was recruiting the 
HOOK-handed cleric 
Australia's main opposition Labor party says violent protests prompted by cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad are an assault on fundamental freedoms in Western democracies. Labor's Kevin Rudd says the protests are repugnant and should not be tolerated. Mr Rudd says any decision on whether to publish the cartoons in Australia should be made solely on editorial grounds. "This is a free country, and we should not be stood over by any group, including militant Islamist groups," he said. "These decisions should be taken on their journalistic merits by Australia's news media. "We should not be kow-towing to anybody when it comes to freedom in this country." 
The sheriffs of El Paso and Hudspeth counties are expected to testify today before a congressional subcommittee in Washington, D.C., about the standoff last month near Sierra Blanca in which U.S. officers squared off with armed drug smugglers -- some of whom were dressed as Mexican soldiers. The sheriffs were invited to testify by Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee's Subcommittee on Investigations, who initiated an investigation following the standoff.
The court, however, turned down the request, saying that altering the frieze would compromise its artistic integrity. We still have objections for religious reasons but that doesnt mean we are going to force our views on others, Hooper said. We nonetheless have the obligation to raise our concerns with the relevant party.
LAHORE: Angry protestors burnt down two cinemas and broke shop windows after some 50 copies of the Quran were reportedly recovered from a sewage drain near Bhatta Chowk on Tuesday. Garbage collectors reportedly spotted the holy books floating in the Rohi Nalla, which is in South Cantt police jurisdiction. Residents of the nearby Gowaha village then joined them in collecting the books. 
Hamas leaders expressed confidence Tuesday they will be able to form a Palestinian government and expected to control several security agencies once it heads a new administration. Kicking off an international tour in Cairo, Hamas' top political leader, 
A senior US diplomat accused Syria of playing a role in attacks on foreign embassies in Damascus over the weekend which were sparked by irreverant cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed. US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Kurt Volker expressed surprise at the size of the crowds that formed on Saturday, some of which stormed the Danish and Norwegian embassies and set fire to them. "That doesn't just happen by accident. There would have to be some kind of acceptance or support on the part of the state to allow such a demonstration to go forward and to attack embassies of European countries," he told reporters. The protesters also attacked the French embassy but were kept at bay by riot police using tear gas and water cannons.
BEIRUT: Former Interior Minister 
