[Tolo News] Insecurity has caused the closure of 80% of schools in Helmand, local officials say.
According to the governor of Helmand, the main reasons for the closure are insecurity, burning of schools, and intimidation of teachers by the Taliban.
The governor of Kandahar also says some of the schools in the province are still closed.
But the Afghan minister of education, in a recent speech in London, has said there are signs showing that the Taliban are no more against girsl' education in Afghanistan.
Helmand governor says teachers and students in the province are under great threats of the Taliban and presence of the Taliban in the province is the main reason for the closure of schools.
"Around 80% of schools under ministry of education are still closed in Helmand," Governor of Helmand, Gulab Mangal, said.
Mr Mangal added that some families do not send their children to schools because they fear the Taliban.
"If there is no security, schools cannot function. Last year some krazed killers, especially Pak Taliban burnt some schools," he said.
Meanwhile, ...back at the ranch... the governor of Kandahar also cites insecurity and presence of Taliban as the main challenge to reopen schools there.
"Lack of sufficient security is one of the main reasons that the schools have remained closed, Governor of Kandahar, Toryali Weesa, said.
Previously, there have been incidents of gas poisoning in some schools in different parts of Afghanistan, and unknown groups have sprayed acid on school girls in the south to threaten them not to go to school.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/16/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
"Helmand governor says teachers and students in the province are under great threats of the Taliban and presence of the Taliban in the province is the main reason for the closure of schools."
[Tolo News] Afghan Chief of Security Council said on Monday that if Taliban refuse to reconcile with central government, they will come under huge military pressures.
At an exclusive interview with TOLOnews, Spanta Head of Security Council commented that cut-thoats, who fail to accept Afghan constitution, should be fought with.
Mr Spanta underlined that there are some circles within the Afghan government that hold Taliban-like thoughts.
Al-Qaeda's support to the Taliban leadership hampers peace talks with the Taliban, he said.
"It's basically impossible to hold talks with bully boyz who are part of the al-Qaeda network, because our legitimacy and our national and international commitments prevent us from doing so," he said.
Peace with the Taliban does not mean to accept all of their preconditions, but it's more like reinforcing the government's gains in the past years, he said.
"Within the government there are different tendencies, some want to seriously fight against the Taliban... and some others, while not being Talibs, think like them," he said.
He suggested that the only way to win the fight against terrorism is to target cut-thoats' havens outside Afghan borders and those who prepare the ground for terrorism growth.
Meanwhile, ...back at the ranch... officials at Ministry of Defence have remarked that security transition will start in July this year.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/16/2011 00:00 ||
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Abyei has oil and fertile land. It occupies the border between north and south Sudan, and is crawling with militias. Two rival ethnic groups assert the right to belong here: the Misseriya, Arab nomads, and the Ngok Dinka, sub-Saharan cattle herders. It is the most contested and the most violent piece of land in the country.
JUBA, Sudan - South Sudans polling centres closed their doors on Saturday after a week-long vote on independence from the north that could end a vicious cycle of civil war with the creation of the worlds newest state.
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, leading a mission observing the vote, said turnout could reach 90 percent and that it seemed likely the south had voted for independence.
Jimmuah might finally have stumbled into doing something right...
Exhausted polling staff processed a straggle of voters on the final day in the southern capital Juba. Some officials were so tired they were sleeping behind their dusty stalls.
Final results are due before Feb. 15 but could be announced as early as the beginning of next month. Of course there will be independence, we can smell it, said Santino Riek.
The vote caps a 2005 peace agreement that ended decades of civil war between the mostly Muslim north and the south, where most follow Christianity and traditional beliefs. Northern officials have appeared increasingly resigned to losing the oil-producing south which makes up a quarter of the countrys land allaying fears conflict could reignite.
Carter, leading one of the largest observation missions, told reporters in Khartoum a handful of centres had reported 100 percent turnout and were already tallying the results.
We already know that in the south theres been about an average of 90 percent (participation) from the stations weve observed and I think they are representative, Carter said.
In the few centres where he had seen counting under way, he said, the votes were practically unanimous in favour of separation with only a few ballots to the contrary.
Its highly likely that the referendum result will be in favour of separation, Carter said, but added that no one should prejudge the outcome.
At least 60 percent of registered voters needed to take part for the result to be binding. That point was reached just four days into the vote, according to the organising commission.
Carter also said the vote had probably met international standards and Khartoum said it would recognise the result, meaning all southerners must do now is wait to celebrate their independence day, likely on July 9.
Unless the north finds a pretext, cancels the whole show, and restarts the civil war.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/16/2011 00:00 ||
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a successful, fair, democratic vote...and then Jimmuh has to put his stank on it
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/16/2011 8:05 Comments ||
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Libyan leader claims protesters led astray by WikiLeaks disclosures amid reports of unrest in Libya
The Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, has condemned the uprising in neighbouring Tunisia amid reports today of unrest on the streets of Libya.
In a speech last night Gaddafi, an ally of the ousted president, Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, said he was "pained" by the fall of the Tunisian government. He claimed protesters had been led astray by WikiLeaks disclosures detailing the corruption in Ben Ali's family and his repressive regime.
The leaked cables were written by "ambassadors in order to create chaos", Deutsche Press-Agentur reported Gaddafi as saying.
A trial due to open in Nigeria at the end of the month is set to disclose embarrassing details of an extensive arms smuggling operation run by Iran's Revolutionary Guards to supply guerrillas in West Africa.
A key defendant in the trial, which is due to start in Abuja on January 31, is Azim Aghajani, an Iranian national who has been identified by intelligence officials as a senior officer serving in the Qods Force of Iran's Revolutionary Guards. Aghajani faces charges relating to the seizure of a cargo of weapons hidden in 13 shipping containers at the Nigerian port of Apapa, in Lagos, in October.
The weapons, which included rocket-propelled grenades, machine guns and assault rifles, had been concealed in a cargo of construction materials and were discovered following a tip-off by the CIA to Nigerian security officials.
Well done, CIA! (It's so nice to be able to say that!)
Nigerian officials claim the containers were dispatched by the Qods Force of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, the unit responsible for supporting overseas Islamist militant groups.
The Iranians used a French based shipping group to transport the weapons cargo, which was intended for distribution among a number of Islamist militias in Nigeria and other rebel groups in West Africa.
They included the "Hisbah" Islamist militia, which is seeking to impose Sharia law in the north Nigerian province of Kano, and rebel groups fighting for control of Nigeria's lucratic oil revenues in the Nile Delta. Nigerian officials claim some of the weapons were also destined for rebel groups based in Senegal and Gambia.
"This was a sophisticated operation undertaken by Iran's Revolutionary Guards to destabilise a number of governments in West Africa," said a Western security official who has been closely involved in the case. "It is a major diplomatic embarrassment for Tehran at a time when Iran claims it seeks to improve relations with countries in the region."
Do they need to find a new distribution route, or can they just wait for the fuss to die down?
Two Iranian citizens claiming to be businessmen sought refuge in the Iranian embassy immediately following the seizure of the weapons, sparking a tense diplomatic stand-off between Iran and Nigeria.
Intelligence officials in Nigeria established that the two Iranians were senior officers serving in the Qods Force of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, who were named as Azim Aghajani and Ali Akbar Tabatabaei, who is described as the commander of Qods Force operations in Africa.
Iran made secret representations to the Nigerian government to allow the arms shipment to be returned to Iran, together with the two Revolutionary Guards officers.
Oh my.
When the Nigerians refused Manoucher Mottaki, who was then serving as Iran's Foreign Minister, made an emergency visit to Abuja in November during which he persuaded Nigerian officials to release Tabatabaei, who was allowed to fly back to Tehran on the Foreign Minister's private jet. Tabatabaei is now understood to have been redeployed to Venezuela to oversee Iran's intelligence operations in Latin America.
Wouldn't it be fun if the CIA found him again!
But the Nigerian authorities insisted that Aghajani must remain in Abuja and face trial on arms smuggling charges.
Prosecution officials predict all the details relating to Iran's involvement in the arms shipment will be revealed during the trial of Aghajani, who was earlier this week granted bail by the trial judge until the end of the month.
Why would they do a silly thing like that?
Nigeria has also demonstrated its displeasure at Iran's attempts to arm anti-government rebel groups by providing the UN committee with responsibility for monitoring sanctions against Iran with full details of the arms shipment. Under UN Security Council Resolution 1747, which was passed in 2007, Iran is banned from the purchase or export of weapons.
An eight-member UN team, including representative from all five permanent members of the UN Security Council, is due to visit Nigeria to investigate the shipment shortly before the trial begins.
And then, a Stern Note, perhaps? That'll teach 'em.
A day after UKs former home secretary Jack Straw blamed some Pakistani Muslim men for targeting vulnerable White girls sexually, UKs Hindu and Sikh organizations also publicly accused Muslim groups of the same offence.
Straw, in an interview to the BBC recently, had said, there is a specific problem which involves Pakistani heritage men who target vulnerable young white girls they see these young women, white girls who are vulnerable, some of them in care who they think are easy meat.
Feeling emboldened by Straws statement, UKs Hindu and Sikh organizations have also come in open and accused some Pakistani men of specifically targeting Hindu and Sikh girls. This has been a serious concern for the last decade, said Hardeep Singh of Network of Sikh Organizations (NSO) while talking to TOI on Monday.
Sikhs and Hindus are annoyed that Straw had shown concern for White girls and not the Hindu and the Sikh teenage girls who have been coaxed by some Pakistani men for sex and religious conversion.
Straw does other communities a disservice by suggesting that only white girls were targets of this predatory behaviour. We raised the issue of our girls with the previous government and the police on several occasions over the last decade. This phenomenon has been there because a minority of Islamic extremists view all non believers as legitimate targets, said director NSO Inderjit Singh.
#1
Importantly, Straw is the former home secretary, as he would have never said this when in office, and will likely not hold office again. And, while it's good that the Hindu and Sikh community are jumping in as well, the bottom line is a big "so what?" to their statement of the obvious.
Only the current government could change things by ordering the police to target these Pakis, and it probably won't.
#2
I'm not so sure. The problem under Blair and Brown was that the Muslim community was/is an important Labour constituancy. Now that the Tories are in, there is no need to treat them with kid gloves.
Al
Posted by: Frozen Al ||
01/16/2011 13:38 Comments ||
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#3
"Now that the Tories are in, there is no need to treat them with kid gloves."
Boxing gloves would work for me.
A whiff of grape is good too.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
01/16/2011 13:59 Comments ||
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#4
"Only the current government could change things by ordering the police to target these Pakis, and it probably won't."
Moose, the problem is that you are not allowed to target Muslims, even if they are targeting a particular group (or groups) of victims. It's just part of their culture, after all.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia ||
01/16/2011 14:22 Comments ||
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#5
The difference is that more parents will be encouraged to say to their daughters what I felt compelled to say to my nieces in Sydney when they were in their early teens: "don't you ever go out with Muslim boys. They treat non Muslim girls as prey." The girls, well aware of the Muslim rape gangs like the Skafs at that time, just said "don't worry. We know"
SEOUL: South Korea is gearing up for more possible provocative acts by the North as tensions remain high on the Korean peninsula.
The South's military said exercises will be tougher for its troops this year, to increase their readiness. The tougher exercises however did not dampened the spirits of the young men in South Korea's military.
About 1,600 young South Koreans, who are the first batch of Korean men to enlist in 2011, swore their oath and raised their hands to salute as they took part in the military enlistment ceremony in January.
Since the attack on Yeonpyeong island in November last year, the military has said it would improve the combat capabilities of its ground forces.
Kim Sang Ki, Army Chief of Staff, said: "We will train our soldiers' combat capabilities, so that they will be able to fight the enemy and win."
I rather thought that was a basic point of military training, at least in countries other than Belgium.
Military service is compulsory for all young and healthy men over the age of 18 in South Korea and they have to serve about 21 months.
Experts said the recent attacks by North Korea has somewhat changed the image of the military in South Korea. More young men who have to do their mandatory military service in the coming years now better understand why it is so important that the military remain strong and ready for combat.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/16/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
In addition to a 21 month service, they should recall them every 5 years or so for a "refresher" training. Getting them some experience in Afghanistan in a combat role might be worthwhile, too.
I believe they currently have served in only non-combat roles in Afghanistan to date.
AFP: National police are investigating claims that a dozen Canadians have received Al-Qaeda training aimed at carrying out attacks in Canadian cities, a police official said.
The Hong Kong-based Asia Times reported that the Canadians arrived in Afghanistan last February and moved to Pakistan after nine months. They received explosives training, the Times reported, but there was no indication of when they would return to Canada. Right after they get their tickets punched, hopefully.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said an investigation was underway.
"Any information that we receive, we look at assessing its credibility and then taking proper actions to ensure that Canadians and our allies are kept safe,"assistant commissioner Gilles Michaud, head of the national security program, told AFP. "If the conclusion is that the threat is credible, appropriate measures are taken." "And then we punch their tickets!"
The report, citing "well-placed Taliban sources,"said British, Americans and Germans are also receiving militant training.
[Asia Times] Well-placed Taliban sources say that a group of Canadians is receiving terrorist training in al-Qaeda camps in North Wazoo for attacks in Canada.
Arif Wazir, a local jihadi told Asia Times Online, "In the first stage of their journey, the Canadians went to Afghanistan
There were plants and birds and rocks and things ...
in February 2010; there were 12 of them. After nine months, al-Qaeda's leaders decided to send them to North Waziristan and they reached Darpakhel in November last year.
"In Afghanistan they received basic jihadi training, while currently they are busy doing some special courses. Their main learning is how to use sophisticated weapons, and how to connect with local smuggling networks in North America. They are also learning how to use ordinary material like sugar and basic chemicals to make powerful explosives. These militants will then return to their country to execute al-Qaeda's plan of targeting big cities in Canada," the jihadi said.
It seems that the Canadians joined the Egyptian group Jihad al-Islami (JAI), which helped them travel to Afghanistan. The leader of the group goes by Abu Shahid. The 30-year-old, who sports a golden beard, converted to Islam in 2007 and joined the JAI, for whom he is a fundraiser. Shahid is responsible for the Canadians in North Wazoo. Talibunny sources say that the 12 will remain in Wazoo until it is felt that they are trained well enough to successfully carry out terrorist attacks in Canada. Shahid seems confident he can recruit more Canadians.
These Talibunnies gave the names of some of the Canadians being trained. These couldn't be independently verified and include: Jeam Paull (local name Sadiq Ullah), Leman Langlois (Sana Ullah), James Richard (Abdur Rehman), Otto Paul (Abu Usman), Thomas (Abdullah) and Paul Gall (Hafiz Ullah).
In the desert you can't remember your name ...
In October 2010, eight foreigners were zapped in an American drone attack in the region. These included: Brusly (local name Fayaz), Gagarin Gill (Siraj), Smith (Jamal), Anderson (Waqas), Peterson (Shaheen), Walsh (Mustafa), Johnson (Wisal) and Peterson McKenzie (Usman). Previously, in September 2010 a senior German militant named Abdul Ghaffar was zapped in a drone strike.
On December 15, 2010, another drone zapped two Brits in Darpakhel. They were identified as Stephen, 48, and Darry Smith, 25. Stephen (Abu Bakkar) went to Afghanistan in 2009 and joined al-Qaeda. He was accompanied there by Smith (Mansoor Ahmed).
In October last year, another British senior terrorist named Abdul Jabbar was zapped by a drone in North Wazoo. He was planning to establish a Taliban base in the UK for attacking Europe.
NJ governor Chris Christie has nominated a Muslim lawyer who defended Islamist terror suspects after 9/11 for a seat on the state's top court.
Sohail Mohammed "worked in the aftermath of the attacks to try to foster trust between American Muslims and law enforcement, particularly federal officials," according to The New York Times.
Christie met him at an annual Ramadan dinner at the American Muslim Union some time back, and has praised the Muslim lawyer.
Mohammed gained notoriety defending The Fort Dix Six, would-be Islamist terrorists who plotted to shoot up the Fort Dix in January 2006.
"If these people did something, then they deserve to be punished to the fullest extent of the law," Mohammed said of his clients then. "But when the government says -- 'Islamic militants,' it sends a message to the public that Islam and militancy are synonymous."
"Don't equate actions with religion," he said.
Mohammed mainly works on immigration issues. He has also arranged job fairs that help Muslims to find employment in the FBI and other law enforcement, and has given many lectures on Islam and Muslim culture to the FBI.
Ibrahim Hooper of CAIR praised the nomination.
"It's just more evidence of the growth and maturity of the American Muslim community and our contributions to American society," The Daily Reporter quotes Hooper. "We have a large number of young Muslim attorneys coming up through the legal system, which is a fairly recent trend. It used to be that Muslim parents wanted their children to become doctors or engineers."
Rep. Peter T. King, the new chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security is readying a controversial investigation next month into the radicalization of Muslim youth by local religious leaders.
Gonna grab some guns while you're at it, Pete?
King said he has been hearing more stories from federal law enforcement officials that U.S. Islamic leaders have not cooperated with investigations or are instigating trouble.
"There's a systematic effort to radicalize young Muslim men," said King. "It would be irresponsible of me not to have this investigation. If it was coming from some other demographic group, I would say the same thing."
American Islamic leaders said King was being unfair to the Muslim community, which they said had worked with U.S. law enforcement to stop terrorism.
Rep. Keith Ellison said in an interview that he recently went to King on the House floor and volunteered himself and other witnesses as proof that several terrorist plots were initially brought to the attention of officials by Muslims.
"I walked up to him like a colleague and said, 'Pete, I'm kind of concerned about this,' " Ellison said.
Though considering Ellison's offer, King remains unmoved by criticism, stating that his weeklong hearings will go forward.
King noted that the Fort Hood shooter had worshipped at a mosque in Falls Church, Va., where U.S.-born Anwar Awlaki was once a spiritual leader.
King cited three other cases: A young Muslim in Ashburn, Va., was arrested for planning to blow up subway lines feeding the Pentagon; another young Muslim in Portland, Ore., is accused of attempting to bomb a Christmas tree lighting ceremony; and a new convert in Baltimore has plotted to blow up an Army recruiting station.
He said there were signs in each of these cases of influence by local Muslim leaders, and added that 15% of young Muslim Americans in a Pew poll believed suicide bombing was justified.
"I also know of imams instructing members of their mosques not to cooperate with law enforcement investigating the recruiting of young men in their mosques as suicide bombers," said King. "We need to find the reasons for this alienation."
Ellison described a case in which five young men in Virginia traveled to Pakistan to join militant groups, only to "have their parents step forward to stop them" by tipping off the police. He mentioned Faisal Shahzad as well, who was sentenced to life in prison last year for trying to bomb Times Square.
A Muslim immigrant from Senegal alerted police to the suspicious SUV.
Corey P. Saylor, national legislative director for CAIR, said two people from his organization had alerted police to possible terrorist plots.
Saylor said that King's investigation was a "witch hunt." But Ellison said, "I don't think Pete King is an evil person. He's concerned about public safety and homeland security. And there have been cases where Muslims have done awful things. But it's a narrow investigation, and it's going to make a particular group feel targeted."
#3
The Muslims doth protest too much.
If they were really interested in helping America they would cooperate and help.
That speaks volumes right there.
on the other hand Peter needs to be cautious and careful. His every move will be watched.
Every word dissected.
He must stick to facts and document his findings in iron clad ways. the American Muslim community is being radicalized. The masjids are being penetrated by both Sunni Al Qaeda and Somali fascists, as well Shia fascists via Iran and it's allies.
Make no mistake about this.
They are howling in protest because they have been found out.
They are in the process of self inspection trying to 'out' anyone in their communities who might 'sing' to the feds.
They are a very difficult community to penetrate.
Heck, out police cannot even enter their mosques without obtaining prior permission.
What other religious or civic community gets special treatment that way?
[Geo News] U.S. embassy on Saturday ruled out reports suggesting involvement of NATO in any cross border shelling incident on January 13.
Spokesman for U.S. embassy while commenting on the reports that NATO forces were involved in a cross-border shelling incident on January 13, which left eight Pak civilians killed, said that these reports are baseless and incorrect.
The front man said, "U.S. Embassy officials confirmed with NATO commanders and found that no NATO force was involved in any attack on January 13 in or affecting Pak territory."
"All NATO operations in Afghanistan conducted along the Afghanistan-Pakistain border region are closely coordinated with the Government of Pakistain," said the front man.
"We can't speak for the locals, however. They're so cute, playing with their new toys!"
Posted by: Fred ||
01/16/2011 00:00 ||
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[Tolo News] President B.O. Friday met with Pakistain's President Asif Ali President Ten Percent Zardari ... husband of the late Benazir Bhutto, who showed remarkably little curiosity about who actually done her in ... and discussed Islamabad officials' role in regional stability and peace in Afghanistan.
During the meeting President B.O. has underscored the importance of cooperation to improve security and stability in Afghanistan.
"The discussion focused on our shared efforts to fight terrorism and promote regional stability, specifically on the importance of cooperating toward a peaceful and stable outcome in Afghanistan," the White House said.
On Thursday President Zardari flew to Washington to participate in memorial services for Richard Holbrooke on Friday.
Richard Holbrooke, the former US special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistain, died after undergoing a lengthy heart operation in December.
It is believed that Pakistain could play a vital role in stability and peace in the region only if officials in Islamabad stop snuffies to use Pakistain against its neighbours.
Afghan and western officials have long accused Pakistain of fueling insurgency in Afghanistan, but Pak officials have strongly rejected the allegations.
Recently US Vice President Joe Foreign Policy Whiz Kid Biden ... an example of the kind of top-notch Washington intellect to be found in the World's Greatest Deliberative Body ... visited Afghanistan and after talks with senior Afghan officials flew to Pakistain to visit officials in Islamabad.
During his stay in Pakistain, Biden urged the country to do some more to root out Taliban and al-Qaeda sanctuaries on its territory.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/16/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
I've heard a lot of euphamisms - #2, the Think Tank, Sit on the Throne...
The Indian government says it could cut troops in Indian-administered Kashmir by one quarter. The region, which witnessed a violent separatist insurgency for nearly two decades, is one of the most heavily militarized in the world.
I'll wait to hear from John Frum as to whether this is a good idea or not.
Home Secretary G.K. Pillai said in New Delhi Friday that the government plans to pull out 25 percent of the troops deployed in Indian Kashmir over the next 12 months. "We hope that in populated areas, security forces should be minimum strength, and if possible, if we can manage with local police that would be most ideal situation," Pillai said.
The government had promised to explore the possibility of reducing troops in Kashmir last year after more than 100 people were killed in widespread protests. It was the worst violence witnessed in the region since it was wracked by a violent Muslim separatist insurgency.
The insurgency has abated, but the region continues to be restive.
As a result there is still a heavy and visible presence of soldiers across towns and cities in the region. The government does not disclose the exact number of troops deployed in Jammu and Kashmir, but there are an estimated 300,000 to half-a-million Indian troops.
Their withdrawal has been a long standing demand in Kashmir, where their presence is deeply resented by the remaining Muslim residents of the region. Observers say the troops fuel anger against Indian rule.
Yes, the soldiers are resented -- the Hindu residents no longer live there.
Pillai said that if there is peace in the region, and there is no violence, then the government will ensure that troop numbers are reduced and the army is used at the borders with Pakistan to prevent infiltration by Muslim militants.
"That will be one of the confidence-building measures that people dont feel harassed by the over presence of security forces while they go about their daily lives," Pillai added.
Last year, the government removed 16 military bunkers from Srinagar, the summer capital of Kashmir. The government has also said it hopes to work out a political solution for the region within a few months.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/16/2011 00:00 ||
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Videos posted by activists show non-violent demonstration, while army chooses different footage to justify use of tear gas, "skunk" water.
In a rare move, the IDF this week posted a video on YouTube showing Palestinian violence at Friday's anti-barrier demonstration in the West Bank village of Bil'in.
An IDF spokesman told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday that the video was made in response to the high level of media focus on the weekly Bil'in demonstrations following the death the previous Saturday in a Ramallah hospital of Jawaher Abu Rahma, a village resident. Palestinians claim that Abu Rahma died from tear gas she inhaled the day before at an anti-barrier protest. The IDF says she was being treated for medical complications unconnected to tear gas.
Israel used centrifuges identical to those in Iran to test out worm that set Teheran's nuclear program years back; virus was authorized by Bush administration, rather than allow an Israeli attack.
[Ma'an] The Paleostinian president's advisor to the PLO said Saturday that the body's leadership had not taken an official stance on the situation in Tunisia, contradicting a prior statement expressing solidarity.
PLO advisor Ahmed Abdel Rahman said the Executive Committee had not met and therefore had not issued an official statement. Still, he extended condolences to the families of Tunisian victims, the official Paleostinian Authority news agency WAFA reported.
Rahman's remarks came hours after an Executive Committee statement praised the "unprecedented courage of the Tunisian people and their heroic sacrifices for their just rights."
The statement also called the spontaneous uprising across Tunisia one "against corruption and oppression," and reaffirmed that the Tunisian people possessed creative power in exercising self-determination, democracy and development.
Tunisian authorities declared a state of emergency Friday following weeks of violent protests. President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali quit after 23 years of authoritarian rule and decamped the country.
Tunisia hosted the PLO from 1982-1992 after the Paleostinian leadership was forced to leave Beirut at the height of the Lebanese civil war.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/16/2011 00:00 ||
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[Ma'an] Popular Front for the Liberation of Paleostine official Kayed Al-Ghoul said Saturday that calm in the Paleostinian territories was an internal issue that should not be dictated by Israel.
Al-Ghoul said the implementation and timing of periods of calm should serve Paleostinian resistance to the occupation, and ease Paleostinians' suffering.
Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason, recently held a series of talks with factions in the Gazoo Strip, urging them to stop firing projectiles into Israel and comply with an unofficial ceasefire. The meetings followed weeks of rising tension along the border with Israel.
Gazoo Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh on Thursday met with security commanders in Gazoo and called on armed Paleostinian factions to refrain from actions that could endanger Gazoo, instructions interpreted as a call to join Hamas' two-year ceasefire with Israel.
The Gazoo-based premier said his decision was an effort to prevent Israel from "taking advantage" of the pretext cited by its army for firing on Gazoo following rocket attacks.
Al-Ghoul, a PFLP central committee member, told Ma'an Radio that it was wrong to deal with the occupation by acquiescing to Israeli demands.
"Several years ago calm was presented as an Israeli demand. Some claim that they are distancing Paleostinians from a new Israeli attack. We say this is the wrong way to deal with occupation."
The PFLP official said a ceasefire with Israel should facilitate the withdrawal of occupying forces from the Paleostinian territories.
Otherwise, Israel was using the calm to enforce its position as occupier, he said.
Al-Ghoul said that for several years, PFLP had affirmed that calling for calm should not be a response to Israeli threats.
He called for a united leadership of resistance to be formed to discuss the ceasefire and decide on actions according the interests of Paleostinians.
"Submitting to Israeli threats means that we will always be under this pressure."
Posted by: Fred ||
01/16/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
Al-Ghoul? Really?
Fred's making that sh*t up. Ima call hijinx on that one
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/16/2011 8:13 Comments ||
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#2
Next week I'm gonna find a quote by al-Zombi.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/16/2011 10:08 Comments ||
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#3
;-)
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/16/2011 12:11 Comments ||
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[Ma'an] Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason, and Islamic Jihad on Saturday expressed their respect for the Tunisian people, whose uprising led to the ouster of President Zine El Abidine Ban Ali.
Ben Ali decamped Tunisia on Friday with members of his family and his inner circle to escape deadly protests against his 23 years of authoritarian rule.
Hamas front man Sami Abu Zuhri applauded the Tunisian people's expression of their right to choose their leadership democratically without foreign intervention.
Meanwhile, ...back at the ranch... Islamic Jihad congratulated the Tunisians on gaining their freedom "through blood, sacrifices and the expression of free will."
The Tunisian uprising was a message to hegemonic powers that a nation could restore its freedom, the Islamist movement said.
"It is also a message to Arab and Islamic countries to pay attention to the aspirations of their people that are rejecting hegemony and tyranny before it is too late."
Arab governments reacted cautiously to the news of Ben Ali's dramatic ouster.
The Arab League, based in Cairo, urged "all political forces, and representatives of Tunisian society and officials, to be united for the good of the Tunisian people and to achieve civil peace."
It called on all concerned to "work together for the return of calm and security and stability," and to reach "a national consensus to bring the country out of this crisis while guaranteeing the respect of the will of the Tunisian people."
Qatar, which enjoyed close diplomatic relations with Tunisia, said it "respects the will and choice of the Tunisian people," a foreign ministry spokesperson said.
Egypt was equally prudent, saying it "affirms its respect for the choices of the Tunisian people, and is confident that the wisdom of the Tunisian brothers will lead to restraint and will avoid descending the country into chaos."
Sudan welcomed what its foreign ministry called the "choice of the people" as an opportunity to achieve national liberty and prosperity."
But the street had a different tone.
Egyptians rushed to the Tunisian embassy in Cairo on Friday, joining a group of Tunisians to celebrate Ben Ali's departure, and urging their compatriots to follow the example.
"Listen to the Tunisians. It's your turn Egyptians," chanted demonstrators, surrounded by heavy security.
In Jordan, where the grumble of discontent poured onto the streets with thousands demonstrating against soaring commodity prices, about 50 trade unionists held a sit-in outside the Tunisian embassy in Amman chanting "The Tunisian Revolution will spread."
Iraqi MP Talal Zobaie, who leads the moderate faction of Iyad Allawi's Iraqiya bloc, stressed that recent events constituted "a very clear warning to all the dictators and totalitarian regimes of the region, who have neglected their people and ignored their fundamental democratic rights."
In Kuwait, only the opposition Islamist MPs reacted, saluting "the courage of the Tunisian people."
Gulf power-house Soddy Arabia officially announced that it was hosting Ben Ali "out of concern for the exceptional circumstances facing the brotherly Tunisian people."
Meanwhile, ...back at the ranch... Libyan leader Moamer Qadaffy is due to address the Tunisian people later on Saturday, the official JANA news agency said, adding that he had spoken to Ben Ali by telephone during the day.
In Algeria, where riots have also rocked the country, the daily El Watan said the "popular revolution in Tunisia was a beacon for the Arab world."
Leb's Al-Akhbar headlined on "the gift from Tunisia to Arabs: the end of a dictator."
Posted by: Fred ||
01/16/2011 00:00 ||
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Terrorists Insurgents have used over 4000 different firearms to launch attacks in southern Thailand over the past seven years.
Adul Saengsingkaew, the deputy national police chief in charge of fighting the jihad in southern Thailand, said forensic tests showed that more than 4000 firearms had been used in attacks in Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and some districts of Songkhla since 2004. These included AK automatic rifles, M16 rifles, shotguns and a variety of pistols.
The deputy police chief said terrorist insurgent groups have divided areas in southern Thailand into operational zones for each group.
Violence in the southernmost provinces has been extensive since Jan 4, 2004, when four Thai soldiers were killed by 30 or so armed men who raided an army battalion in Narathiwat, stealing more than 300 assault rifles, 40 pistols and two M60 machine guns.
According to the police's database, there are now about 2,000 terrorists militants and 5,000 local supporters, 300 strategic leaders and 300 psychological leaders.
Statistics from the Royal Thai Police's front border operation center in Yala showed that, from 2004 to 2010, 11,523 violent attacks had taken place in Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala and four districts of Songkhla. These included 6,171 shootings, 1,964 bomb attacks and 1,470 arson attacks. All told 3,825 people had been killed and 545 injured.
The frequency of terrorist insurgent violence was highest in 2007, when there were 2,475 violent attacks.
I don't know if these are US planes or not. I don't know if they fell out of the sky or were shot down in Afghanistan and ended up in Iran or not. I don't know if they were flying over Iran or not.
The Revolutionary Guard in Iran has said it will soon put on display two spy planes that were supposedly shot down over Iran.
Officials in Iran have said the advanced reconnaissance planes had been operated by the US Navy.
They have claimed the two highly advanced spy planes were shot down earlier this month and are now in the possession of the Revolutionary Guard, which has accused the US Navy's 5th Fleet of having launched the planes.
5th Fleet ships are based in the Gulf. What are they doing there? I thought they were assigned to patrol Lake Wobegone.
While it has not been made clear by either the US or Iran when the planes were shot down, Iranian officials have said they delayed the announcement so as not to create tensions with the US. Because as everyone knows, they wouldn't want to cause us any trouble.
Iran is locked in a dispute with the US and its allies over Tehran's disputed nuclear program. Really? I had no idea.
Four pages long. Lots of references to unnamed "experts".
Though American and Israeli officials refuse to talk publicly about what goes on at Dimona, the operations there, as well as related efforts in the United States, are among the newest and strongest clues suggesting that the virus was designed as an American-Israeli project to sabotage the Iranian program.
#1
I won't slime the NYT for this story. It's a good one and told without all the usual Times' histrionics. Apparently they, like the rest of us, can't resist a good spy story. I bet the writers are, on the side, trying to get their first novels published.
One nugget: when Libya abandoned its nuclear program (thank you George Bush!), they surrendered their centrifuges to the US. These are the same Pakistani-made P1 models that Iran has. The CIA grabbed them and used them as a test bed for various purposes. One of things they discovered was how poorly made the P1 was and how susceptible they would be to becoming unbalanced.
The rest was obvious.
Heh.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/16/2011 10:26 Comments ||
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#2
One thing that makes this story believable is that it got leaked to the NYT. Somehow the NYT, leaks, Israel, and the CIA all tend to go together.
#3
obviously the code is complicate, otherwise they would've published a downloadable patch. In fairness, of course
oh, and solidarity
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/16/2011 12:50 Comments ||
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#4
"Stuxnet tested in Israel"
That's what they want you to believe, Ah-ma-dinnah-jacket.
It was really your own people, who hate you with a white-hot passion and don't want to be turned into glowing green glass as soon as you do something stupid.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
01/16/2011 13:54 Comments ||
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#5
Hey Barb; I believe are correct"That's what they want you to believe". They have pointed the finger at Israel from day one. It continues to operate and more events are likely to occur. I look at those countries that missed out on all the fun, Russia, China, North Korea Germany, Cuba (oops where did that come from?). India was target number one at first then Iran.
The United States has extended sanctions to more than two dozen companies it says have been operating as fronts for Iranian businesses involved in Tehran's missile programs. The U.S. Treasury Department said Thursday that 24 of the firms have ties with the state-owned Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines, while two are affiliated with Aerospace Industries, a subsidiary of Iran's defense ministry.
The U.S. had previously blacklisted IRISL and AIO under sanctions targeting alleged supporters of what the United States describes as Iran's nuclear weapons development program. Tehran says its nuclear work is aimed at producing electricity.
The Treasury Department said 20 of the firms tied to IRISL are located in Hong Kong with another four in the Isle of Man, a self-governed British territory. The two AIO affiliates are Tehran-based companies.
The latest actions will cut off the designated firms from the U.S. financial and commercial systems. The move will also seek to freeze assets they may have under U.S. jurisdiction. Similar moves in the past have effectively cut off international financing to sanctioned entities.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/16/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
US Sanctions 26 Companies for Iran Trade
Hmmm.
1. CIA Toasters(With microphones included)
2. Radioactive toothpaste
3. Any other ideas? 23 to go.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
01/16/2011 15:13 Comments ||
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Damascus, Jan. 15 -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Lebanese parliament member Walid Jumblatt held talks here Saturday to discuss the deteriorating situation in Lebanon, Syrian official SANA news agency reported.
The talks focused on the latest development in Lebanon after the collapse of the government as 11 ministers from the 30-seat cabinet declared resignation on Wednesday, SANA reported.
Tensions among the Lebanese parties increased after leaks alleged that the UN-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon is expected to issue an indictment against members of the Lebanese Hezbollah group over the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri in Beirut in 2005.
In October 2010, al-Assad discussed with Jumblatt here efforts to solve the problems that posed a threat to Lebanon's security and stability.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/16/2011 00:00 ||
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TEHRAN - A defiant Iran said on Saturday its controversial uranium enrichment programme was progressing very strongly, as it opened the doors of two of its nuclear sites to foreign diplomats.
The declaration by foreign minister and atomic chief Ali Akbar Salehi came just days ahead of a high-profile meeting between Tehran and six world powers over the Islamic republics nuclear programme. Salehis remarks were also a reaction to a comment by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that Irans nuclear programme was being hampered by international sanctions.
The recent sanctions did not create any problems for our nuclear activities, Salehi told a news conference broadcast on state television from the central city of Arak. Our nuclear activities are going forward strongly. Our activities, especially in (uranium) enrichment, are also continuing very strongly ... The production of enriched uranium is growing.
Iran currently has around 3,200 kilogrammes (7,000 pounds) of uranium enriched to 3.5 percent level, and nearly 40 kilogrammes of the material refined to 20 percent level.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/16/2011 00:00 ||
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
Abyei has oil and fertile land. It occupies the border between north and south Sudan, and is crawling with militias. Two rival ethnic groups assert the right to belong here: the Misseriya, Arab nomads, and the Ngok Dinka, sub-Saharan cattle herders. It is the most contested and the most violent piece of land in the country.
JUBA, Sudan - South Sudans polling centres closed their doors on Saturday after a week-long vote on independence from the north that could end a vicious cycle of civil war with the creation of the worlds newest state.
AFP: National police are investigating claims that a dozen Canadians have received Al-Qaeda training aimed at carrying out attacks in Canadian cities, a police official said.
[Asia Times] Well-placed Taliban sources say that a group of Canadians is receiving terrorist training in al-Qaeda camps in North Wazoo for attacks in Canada. 
The United States has extended sanctions to more than two dozen companies it says have been operating as fronts for Iranian businesses involved in Tehran's missile programs. The U.S. Treasury Department said Thursday that 24 of the firms have ties with the state-owned Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines, while two are affiliated with Aerospace Industries, a subsidiary of Iran's defense ministry.
TEHRAN - A defiant Iran said on Saturday its controversial uranium enrichment programme was progressing very strongly, as it opened the doors of two of its nuclear sites to foreign diplomats.
