CAIRO Egyptian activists behind an uprising that toppled president Hosni Mubarak on Tuesday rejected talks with the ruling military junta, demanding an end to military trials of civilians prior to any dialogue.
The ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which took power when Mubarak was ousted in February, had invited 1,000 representatives of youth groups who took part in the January 25 revolt to attend a meeting on Wednesday.
In a statement, 23 pro-democracy groups, coalitions and parties including the prominent Coalition of Revolution Youth and April 6 movement said they would boycott the meeting.
We will not accept any dialogue while military trials of civilians are taking place, they said.
They also cited rights violations by members of the military police and accused the military council of failing to investigate the claims of abuse. Such a dialogue cannot take place while there are laws criminalising demonstrations, strikes and peaceful sit-ins and freedom of expression, the groups said.
They also object to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces ban on criticism of the army in the media.
The military, which has repeatedly assured it was defending the goals of the revolution for political reform, was first idolised by the public for refusing to fire on protesters. But three months after the revolt, activists are frustrated by the slow pace of democratic change, and have increasingly directed their anger at the ruling military council.
While the revolt achieved its aim of toppling Mubarak, the military retains its absolute and unelected power in Egypt.
Unexpectedly!
Earlier this month, Amnesty International said the continued trial of civilians by military courts raised doubts about its commitment to the rule of law.
Trials of civilians before military courts violate fundamental requirements of due process and fair trials, and that their continued use raises questions about the Egyptian militarys commitment to establish the rule of law in Egypt, the reports summary said.
It makes abundantly clear that the military won't allow itself to be pushed aside. Whether they join up with or are co-opted by the Muslim Brotherhood is the next big question.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/01/2011 00:00 ||
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[Emirates 24/7] Ailing former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak ...The former President-for-Life of Egypt, dumped by popular demand in early 2011... is not well enough to be moved to prison from his hospital in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, the country's public prosecutor said on Tuesday.
I thought he'd been spirited away. Was he spirited back again?
"After having examined (Mubarak's) medical file and evaluated (facilities) at the hospital in Tora prison, the committee has decided not to transfer the patient outside Sharm el-Sheikh for the moment," the prosecutor said.
Mubarak has been in jug in hospital since April 13 after reportedly suffering a heart attack during questioning about the killing of anti-regime protesters and fraud.
The 83-year-old is said to be suffering from "episodes of unconsciousness due to circulatory problems and low blood pressure," the statement said.
He also suffers "an irregular heartbeat which could lead to a sudden heart attack," it said.
The former president is described as "generally weak and depressed, and he has trouble getting out bed without help."
The prosecutor also said Mubarak had suffered from "bile duct tumours which have been operated on abroad," without elaborating.
In March 2010, Mubarak went to Germany for surgery. Doctors at the time said Mubarak had suffered from chronic calculus cholecystitis -- an inflammation of the gall bladder accompanied by gall stones -- and a duodenal polyp.
They said he also had a growth removed from his small intestine.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/01/2011 00:00 ||
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And won't be as long as the (suddenly rich) Doctors have their say.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
06/01/2011 0:42 Comments ||
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[Maghrebia] Following the death of the late Osama bin Laden ... who is no more... and Muammar Qadaffy's ... Custodian of Wheelus AFB for 42 long years ... allegations of al-Qaeda involvement in the February 17th uprising, many Libyans are speaking out against claims that the terror group has a presence in the country.
"It is a scarecrow used by the regime to frighten the West and to attract compassion, but in truth I do not think that al-Qaeda exists in Libya because the Libyan people are good religious people who are characterised by tolerance," said Gheith Saghou, an English teacher from An Nawfaliya in western Ajdabiya.
"Members of al-Qaeda may be located anywhere in the world," he said. "Despite the fact that their presence in Libya was not proved, there are some ideas linked to al-Qaeda here. This does not prevent us from entering a dialogue with members, to convince them to abandon the ideas on which we disagree. This will naturally create a method of tolerance and dialogue for al-Qaeda rather than the ideas that they were framed with."
"Libya is now considered an unstable place until Qadaffy goes and his regime falls," said Adel Mohamed Najib, a student at the University of Garyounis. "If the crisis in Libya does not come to an end soon, there is a possibility that al-Qaeda will appear."
Mohamed Issa from Al Marj said: "There are some young people who, due to repression and pressure, went to Iraq and Afghanistan to fight... but that was due to the political vacuum. It does not mean that al-Qaeda exists in Libya -- on the contrary."
"If there are any cut-thoat groups, it is due to the lack of real democracy -- in the Middle East especially," said Amine Imam, a forensic doctor from Derna. "People always look for something better; in Libya the future was unclear and youth had no ambition, which led some to resort to extremism."
Imam said that it would be easy to change this behaviour, by "building new ideas, improving education and providing entertainment and sports", and giving young people a way to build their nation.
"Young people agree with al-Qaeda on certain ideas, but they are not al-Qaeda and they are not against the United States of America," he said. "On the contrary; we respect them, and we hope that the people who are oppressed and poor will defeat al-Qaeda."
Ahmed Khalifa, a media professional from Benghazi, said, "I do not consider the method of jihadist organisations to bring about change with force as acceptable in many cases, because of the bad echoes relating to the actions of these organisations towards the states they are fighting with."
"There is clear evidence that the methods of al-Qaeda and other jihadist organisations had a negative impact on the reputation of Islam in the rest of the world," he said, adding that the organisation's methods are "no longer feasible".
Posted by: Fred ||
06/01/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
Well...there ya have it. There's no AQ in Libya.
(So says a teacher, a student, a doctor, a media professional, and a guy from Al Marj.)
WASHINGTON, May 31 (Yonhap) -- U.S. government officials and experts focused on coordinating monitoring terms of possible food aid to North Korea during their trip to the communist nation last week, the U.S. administration said Tuesday.
Good lord, we're getting ready to feed the Nork army. Again.
"While they were there, they discussed, specifically related to the food assessment, monitoring terms necessary to ensure that if indeed we did provide humanitarian aid to North Korea, that it would reach those for whom it's intended," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in a press briefing.
Robert King, special envoy for North Korean human rights, led a team of officials and experts to Pyongyang last week before the Obama administration makes a decision on whether to resume food aid to the hunger-stricken nation.
The spokesman acknowledged it is a "pressing" issue to decide on humanitarian aid for North Korea but said it is still too early to talk about the details of what King's team found there.
Toner did not confirm when King will return to Washington, where he is supposed to attend a Congress hearing on Thursday. Toner also did not confirm whether the United States had briefed South Korean officials on the outcome of the fact-finding mission.
King said in a separate meeting with reporters in Beijing over the weekend that his team was "received at the highest levels" in Pyongyang.
Did King pay for dinner?
Toner said King met with several North Korean officials, including First Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan, Vice Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho and Ri Gun, director general for North American Affairs at the foreign ministry.
Toner said the food assessment experts will remain in North Korea until Thursday and the Obama administration will make a final decision after they present related reports.
"Obviously we have to wait for the food assessment team to get back, and then we'll look at (that information), and we'll compare it to the other data that we have, before a decision's made," he said.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/01/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
"While they were there, they discussed, specifically related to the food assessment, monitoring terms necessary to ensure that if indeed we did provide humanitarian aid to North Korea, that it would reach those for whom it's intended,"
BULLSHIT it'll be "Consficated" before you finish releasing it.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
06/01/2011 0:45 Comments ||
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#3
A few months ago there was speculation that all the market was tied up in the manufacture of dehydrated foods for the government. That this was a back door for O to donate these items to the Norks without any congressional interference.
NATO allies agreed on Wednesday to extend its military campaign in Libya for another 90 days until late September.
"NATO and partners have just decided to extend our mission for Libya for another 90 days," said NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
"This decision sends a clear message to the Gadaffi regime: We are determined to continue our operation to protect the people of Libya," he said, adding that NATO will "sustain" its effort to fulfil its UN mandate.
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"We will keep up the pressure to see it through," Rasmussen said in a statement after the North Atlantic Council, the decision-making body of the 28-nation alliance, agreed to extend the mission.
An alliance diplomat said the extension officially starts from June 27, taking the mission through until end September.
"Our decision also sends a clear message to the people of Libya: NATO, our partners, the whole international community, stand with you," Rasmussen said.
"We stand united to make sure that you can shape your own future. And that day is getting closer."
NATO warplanes began air strikes on leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime on March 19.
A BOAT crammed with nearly 1000 illegal migrants, most of them from sub-Saharan Africa, has reached Sicily after sailing from Libya.
Border police commander Francesco Fallica called the landing overnight near Ragusa "biblical". Wait till the "Camp of Saints" scenario really gets under way.
The 963 migrants were crowded into a 20-metre long, barely seaworthy boat. He told Sky TG24 TV that some were so stressed by the voyage they fainted after police helped them ashore. A police motorboat came to their aid as they approached Sicily.
Reports said the boat left Libya four days earlier. Most aboard were Africans, although some came from Bangladesh. Bangladeshis are fleeing Libya?
Tens of thousands of illegal migrants have sailed to Italy in smugglers' boats this year, fleeing north African revolts and unrest. Those without jobs and who are ineligible for asylum are deported. Only if you pay the Duck protection money to take them back and he's rather too busy right now to enter into negotiations.
As President Obama honored fallen soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, three members of the Westboro Baptist Church protested the ceremony, holding signs that read "Pray for more dead soldiers" and "God hates your prayers," as the controversial group has become known to do. They were met by about 70 counterprotesters, including members from a group just as contentious as the church: the Ku Klux Klan.... Is there any way to arrange it so that they start fighting and both sides lose? I recall the KKK and the Stalinists once did that somewhere in the south a few years back. Greensboro maybe? Anyways, both sides suffered casualties and my thought was, "good..."
Posted by: Mike ||
06/01/2011 09:37 ||
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#1
I fear that some day ordnance will be expended on the Phelpsites and injure innocent people.
#4
Smart PR move on the part of the Klan : joining counter-protests against a group even more unpopular than they are. It gets them visibility and permits them to appear more reasonable in comparison.
#1
Islamic sentiments are common in the armed forces," a senior navy official told Asia Times Online on the condition of anonymity as he is not authorized to speak to the media.
More evidence that Islam is to blame and their wretched book which preaches hatred of non muslims!
#4
ION INDIAN DEFENCE FORUM > PAK ISI SCRIPTED MUMBAI ATTACK [aka "26/11"], AL-QAEDA CLEARED IT: SHAHZAD BOOK [slain Pak Journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad].
ARTIC = "Mumbai" was also proposed by AQaeda Associate Illyas Kashmiri to wholly eliminate US-NATO/Allied mil pressure agz AFPAK Militants by unilaterally intentionally induc MAJOR INDO-PAK WAR, hence expanding the war theater + destabilz regional geopolx in favor of AQ + Radical Islam.
PROPOSED TO AQ BY IILYAS KASMIRI of the HUJI Group, CARRIED OUT by the LeT.
and
* SAME > [long]ANALYSIS: CHINA DRAWS A LINE [agz US] ON PAKISTAN, BUT AN APOCALYPSE IN THE MAKING?
ARTIC = IIUC, RISING CHINA NEITHER DESIRES NOR IS READY FOR ANY MILPOL =PLA? INTERVENTION AGZ USA IN PAKISTAN - UNFORTUNATELY, CHINA'S "LITTLE BROTHER" + BFF, POST-ABBOTTABAD/OSAMA PAKISTAN GOVT. HAS ITS OWN IDEAS.
versus
* SAME > PAKISTAN BLAMES INDIA + US FOR PNS MEHRAN ATTACK: ASIAN DEFENCE [Blog-Forum].
PAK-perceived wily dastardly "dirty Hindu/
Bharat" India's RAW, + the US CIA's, "footprints" allegedly emerging in the Mehran incident.
* DEFENCE FORUM INDIA > [Wikileaks = US Ambassador ANNE PATTERSON] PAKISTAN LIKELY TO USE NUCLEAR WEAPONS AGZ INDIA "ONLY A FEW DAYS INTO [Indo-Pak]WAR", in order to prevent its defeat.
IMO read, TEN DAYS TO REGIONAL, GLOBAL? NUCWAR? AFTER ANY FUTURE NEW PAK ISI-APPROVED/ORDERED, MILTERR-EXECUTED "MUMBAI II" OR OTHER HIGH-PROFILE, MASS-CASUALTY STRIKE, as New Delhi = Centre has already stated it will have no choice but to respond unilaterally, militarily agz the Party(s)-responsible [read, PAK] iff another "Mumbai" scale or worse attack occurs.
* SAME > KHAROTABAD: "MURDERED" RUSSIANS OR CHECHENS WERE NOT TERRORISTS. Quetta.
Post-Abbottabad/OBL looks like someone wants RUSSIA involved in PAK affairs to counter US Drone strikes???
versus
* DAILY TIMES.PK > {ALexei Navalsky] PUTIN'S RUSSIA COULD FACE REVOLTS IN 5 YEARS [Year 2015-2016].
Russia's very own "ARAB SPRING"" + OTHER NATIONAL PROTESTS.
* DEFENCE FORUM INDIA > CHINA'S ETHNIC UNREST [Inner Mongolia = North China, Xinjiang = West China, Tibet] - PRESSURE BUILDING | INNER MONGOLIA PROTESTS PROMPT CRACKDOWN, HU CHUNHUA, CPC CHIEF IN INNER MONGOLIA, ORDERS CENSORSHIP OF INFORMATION, CLAMPDOWN ON [foreign]VISITORS.
Minority ehtnic Mongols demand GUARANTEES from Beijing as per MONGOL-SPECIFIC LAND OWNERSHIP, GOVT. SHARING, CULTURAL, ETC. RIGHTS vee Majority Han Chinese.
[Dawn] Terrorists had entered the PNS Mehran base after breaching Pakistain Air Force`s security parameters on the southern side, about 800 metres from the naval airbase, bigwigs of Pakistain Navy said at a news briefing here on Monday.
The revelation indicates a dangerous gap of coordination in intelligence and security matters among different wings of defence services.
According to the officials, after breaching security the bully boyz crossed the runway on the PAF side of the base, quickly moved towards the Mehran base and positioned themselves behind bushes and attacked the Orion aircraft parked on the tarmac, destroying two of them.
One of the officials, however, said he was not blaming the other service because that was for the inquiry committee to determine but hastened to add that even the gate of PNS Mehran was the responsibility of the PAF.
The fact that bully boyz did not attack the PAF facilities and rushed towards the PNS base gave credence to the view that they had predetermined targets and were facilitated from within. But when the official was asked about any inside help the bully boyz received, he said it would be premature to say anything about that.
When asked why the PN did not take appropriate security measures when there had been two attacks on its buses, he said appropriate security measures had been taken. "We were prepared but not specifically for Mehran," he added.
He said the attackers had moved quickly, demonstrating their commando skill, and engaged Rapid Response Force personnel in intense firing, at some point forcing troops to pull back. Two bully boyz moved to Fokker squadron position and the other two hid in the bushes.
When the attack started there were 11 Chinese and six American technicians on the base for helping in the maintenance of the assets. They were quickly whisked away in separate vehicles. The official said the vehicle carrying the Chinese came under attack, but the driver sped away through the hail of bullets.
Answering a question, the official said that some time after the attack Air Force personnel also moved in but they were deliberately kept on the other side of the runway for operational reasons. He praised the help rendered by Rangers and said that their APC effectively deterred the terrorists.
The official gave details of the inner and outer security cordons and posts and the Rapid Response Force. It emerged that the authorities did not expect any attack from the backyard which has marshy land and residential areas.
After the attack the authorities have cleared the bushes that provided cover to the bully boyz and the PAF has blocked the overall view by placing containers in front of the parking bay. On the night of May 22, C-130 transport planes of the PAF were parked there. But the bully boyz had a clear idea of the target of their attack, which was Navy`s Orion aircraft.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/01/2011 00:00 ||
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[Dawn] Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman Deobandi holy man, known as Mullah Diesel during the war against the Soviets, his sympathies for the Taliban have never been tempered by honesty ... warned here on Monday that the country could face a survival threat if government and military launched an operation in the North Wazoo Agency.
Speaking at a presser after meeting members of an all parties conference here at the party secretariat, the JUI leader said: "Pakistain will not stay safe if the government went ahead with a military operation under American pressure."
He said that the government should not yield to US pressure and chalk out its own policy. Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that there was growing anxiety among the military ranks over the existing uncertain situation in the country.
He said that army generals were responsible for this uncertainty and wrong policies had led to isolation of the armed forces. He cautioned that if the uncertainty continued within the army, America and its allies would table a resolution at the United Nations ...aka the Oyster Bay Chowder and Marching Society... to take over Pakistain`s nuclear assets, which would be dangerous for the entire region.
He said that JUI believed in strong and professional army and would not like to weaken this national institution.
The JUI chief criticised Interior Minister Rehman Malik Pak politician, current Interior Minister under the Gilani administration. Malik is a former Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) intelligence officer who rose to head the FIA during Benazir Bhutto's second tenure. He later joined the Pak Peoples Party and was chief security officer to Bhutto. Malik was tossed from his FIA job in 1998 after documenting the breath-taking corruption of the Sharif family. By unhappy coincidence Näwaz Shärif became PM at just that moment and Malik moved to London one step ahead of the button men. who had stated that there were serious threats to his (Maulana Fazl`s) life.
The statement he said was given before his return from abroad and said that it had amazed him that Rehman Malik knew in advance about the threat to his life.
The JUI head said that he was not bothered by the threats and didn`t trust the interior ministry`s statements. He said that like his predecessor, (Gen (retd) Pervez Perv Musharraf), ... former dictator of Pakistain, who was less dictatorial and corrupt than any Pak civilian government to date ... President Asif Ali President Ten Percent Zardari ... sticky-fingered husband of the late Benazir Bhutto ... was also using the National Accountability Bureau for victimisation of his political opponents.
He alleged that political workers and leaders were being blackmailed through NAB and said that JUI could not be pressurised through such tactics.
It is unfortunate that the army took all the important decisions and the democratic governments were helpless to the point that they were losing public confidence rapidly. "The country lacked democratic culture because the rulers didn`t want to promote a culture of tolerance where democracy could gain currency and the people feel betterment in their lives."
He said that the problem of terrorism had become global as it was not the problem of Pakistain and Afghanistan only. Therefore, he added, concerted efforts were needed to resolve the lingering crisis in the region.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/01/2011 00:00 ||
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Top|| File under: Jamaat-e-Ulema Islami
#1
Until people in muslim countries like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are taught they can be friends with people from different religions THERE WILL NEVER BE PEACE IN MY LIFETIME!
[Dawn] ISLAMABAD: All opposition parties met here on Monday to devise a joint strategy for the budget sessions of the two houses of parliament, but, according to sources, failed to reach an agreement.
But the parties invited for the meeting by Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan decided to meet again on Friday morning, hours before presentation of the budget, to consider the same agenda of taking a unified position on the budget and implementation of the May 14 resolution of the two houses of parliament on the May 2 US raid in Abbottabad.
The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, which has become the second largest opposition group in parliament after the PML-Q joined the ruling coalition, has reservations over the PML-N move to unite the opposition parties on one platform because the two parties have been in a row over the position of leader of opposition in the Senate.
"No such decision of a united opposition or taking a united stand has been taken in the meeting," JUI-F General Secretary Senator Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri told Dawn after the meeting held in the chamber of Chaudhry Nisar at the Parliament House.
But, he said there was a consensus that all opposition parties should put pressure on the government to immediately set up an independent commission to investigate the Abbottabad raid.
He said it was on the PML-N`s demand that they had agreed that the constitution of the commission should be the starting point for implementation of the resolution.
Moreover, he said, the JUI-F had informed all opposition parties that a three-day meeting of the party`s Majlis-i-Shoora had been convened by Maulana Fazlur Rehman Deobandi holy man, known as Mullah Diesel during the war against the Soviets, his sympathies for the Taliban have never been tempered by honesty ... in Islamabad from June 10 and only after that meeting the party would be able to make any commitment to them.
Replying to a question, Maulana Haideri admitted that his party was not on good terms with the PML-N over the issue of the leader of opposition in the Senate.
He said his party had a clear majority in the Senate but the PML-N had been manoeuvring to get the opposition post despite having only seven senators.
Aftab Sherpao of the PPP-S, Prof Khurshid Ahmed of Jamaat-i-Islami, Maulana Ataur Rehman of the JUI-F, Abdul Rahim Mandokhel of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party and Zahid Hamid of the PML-N also attended the meeting.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/01/2011 00:00 ||
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DIALA / Aswat al-Iraq: Head of the Security Commission in Diala Provincial Council announced today that Diala Operations Command implemented a military maneuver for all types of military and police forces with live ammunition, with the participation of army air force.
Muthana Al-Timimi told Aswat al-Iraq the maneuver was made in Miqdadiyah area, 45 km northeast of Baaquba, with all forces participation, in addition to artillery forces.
"The maneuver proved the ability of the Iraqi forces to control all areas of Diala, which were described as "hot".
Baaquba, center of Diala province, lies 57 km northeast of the capital, Baghdad.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/01/2011 00:00 ||
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[Arab News] One of Iraq's deputy presidents has stepped down, a top Shiite leader said on Monday, a sign of divisions in the coalition government formed by Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish factions.
Adel Abdul-Mahdi's resignation came as Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki fends off critics who say he has not delivered on power-sharing promises since forming a fragile multisectarian government in December after nine months of political deadlock.
Ammar Al-Hakim, the leader of the Iranian-backed Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (ISCI), said Abdul-Mahdi, a senior Shiite politician in ISCI, had presented his resignation but it had yet to be approved by President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd.
"We were supposed to present this resignation before, but the president was abroad, so once he came back the resignation was submitted to him," Hakim said.
Abdul-Mahdi, a Shiite, was one of three deputies appointed by Parliament this month to the government led by Al-Maliki.
Hakim said he hoped the resignation would prompt others to follow suit to reduce the size of the government. There have been divisions among the Shiite allies.
The vice president's post is largely symbolic as it carries no real power but it was a part of the power sharing deal between Iraq's political factions to form the government.
Abdul-Mahdi's departure is unlikely to pressure the coalition, which still has the backing of most other Shiite blocs in the government, including the powerful Sadrist bloc with 39 seats in Parliament.
But it highlights increasing political wrangling in Iraq as US troops prepare to withdraw by the end of the year.
Opposition leaders are already seeking to pressure Al-Maliki, who faces a self-imposed early June deadline to show progress to Iraqis demanding much-needed basic services after years of war and violence.
More than eight years after the US-led invasion that toppled Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein, Iraqis complain their governments have not done enough to resolve day-to-day problems such as supplying electricity and creating jobs.
The Sunni-backed Iraqiya alliance, led by former premier Iyad Allawi, also criticizes Maliki for failing to form a national advisory body Allawi was meant to head and delaying the naming of key posts such as the defense and interior ministries.
Iraq was ravaged by sectarian violence unleashed by the invasion. Overall violence has dropped sharply from the dark days of sectarian slaughter in 2006-07, but attacks by beturbanned goons and Shiite militia continue daily.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/01/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
One vice president is useless enough. What do you need with three of them? Glad one resigned. At least one more to go...
Posted by: American Delight ||
06/01/2011 7:24 Comments ||
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#2
We did the heavy lifting in regards to Saddam, now it is time for the Iraqis to demonstrate that they deserve the chance that they have been given.
Egypt's opening of its border with the Gaza Strip initially appeared to be a boon to residents of the blockaded Palestinian territory, a major offense to Israel, and a political win for the transitional government in Cairo.
Amid several days of only modest traffic across the frontier, those expectations have been upended.
Palestinians hoping for easier transit and increased trade have been frustrated by bureaucratic hurdles and Egypt's refusal to open the border to trade.
Egypt, which was pressed to open the border by a pro-Palestinian population eager for a break from the policies of the old Mubarak regime, now faces greater pressure to allow commercial trafficraising its security and political burden.
And in Israel, some officials now say the opening could yield political dividends by bolstering a claim there is no more blockade of Gaza. Egypt's border opening "illustrates to the world that Gaza is not under an Israeli siege," Israeli cabinet minister Dan Meridor argued in an interview with Israel Radio. "Gaza is not under closure, because it is open to Egypt."
A full opening at Egypt's Rafah border, analysts say, could allow Israel to separate itself more definitively from Gaza, foisting humanitarian and security responsibilities for the enclave onto Egypt.
#2
foisting humanitarian and security responsibilities
Clearly, this writer doesn't think the Paleos should take care of their own security and humanitarian problems. I thought that's what Hamas was supposed to do. That's why they were 'elected'. Where's the UN when you need them?
Posted by: Bobby ||
06/01/2011 5:55 Comments ||
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#3
Is there anything that doesn't cause frustration among Palestinians?
Snow.
"But there ain't no snow in Gaza!"
Well, there ya go...
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/01/2011 8:55 Comments ||
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#4
"But there ain't no snow in Gaza!"
And if there was, it would be from the perfidious Juice messing with the weather.
#9
I thought closing the border sowed frustration. Now opening the border sows frustration. Reminds me of my cat. Paws at the door. Makes a big stink till you let him out. Within seconds, something displeases him. So he scratches and wails until you can't stand the racket and let him back in. In, out, in, out, and if you tire of the game before he does, he'll punish your recalcitrance by pooping somewhere very personal.
#10
The Paleos are well-aware that they are on their own iff-n-when the Arab-Muslim local, regional existential fight agz Israel is over, moreso iff Israel survives.
Again, unfortunately for the Paleos MUSLIM/ISLAMIC HISTORY = indics that ANY DE FACTO SUCCESSFUL DEFEAT OR DESTRUCTION OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL DOES NOT MEAN THEY GET TO CONTROL THEIR LANDS OR A SOVEREIGN PA STATE.
Ancient Israel-Judaea, Egyptians, Sejik + Ottoman Turks, Persians, Syrians, Meso-Babylonians, even vee the ancient Phoenicians.
Now comes the Sunni-KSA-versus-Shia-Iran struggle for domination of Islam + Islamic World per se.
Wish 'em luck becuz they are gonna need it whether Israel exists or not.
[Arab News] Jordan's main opposition party, the Islamic Action Front ...Jordan's branch of the Moslem Brüderbund... (IAF), and the country's strongest pro-democracy coalition on Monday urged the resignation of Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit's government for its failure to adopt the needed reforms.
"The way out of the deep crisis we experience lies in the formation of a national reform government, to be led by a national personality which believes in reforms and adopts a program with clear objectives, including the adoption of real, political and constitutional reforms," the IAF said in a statement.
The IAF, the political arm of the Moslem Brüderbund movement, considered last week's resignation of two Cabinet ministers indicative of Bakhit's failure to fight corruption and "the unprecedented political, economic and social crisis Jordan is grappling with."
Bakhit said that the Justice Minister Hussein Megalli and Health Minister Yassin Hosban resigned on Thursday to concede responsibility for the "mistakes" committed in their ministries that enabled the convicted businessman Khalid Shahin to flee from the country on Feb. 25.
In his resignation letter to the prime minister, Megalli said that he had decided to resign because he found the "path of reforms deadlocked."
Local media on Monday expected more cabinet ministers to quit in connection with Shahin's affair that dominated the thinking of the Jordanian public opinion over the past three months.
Shahin was serving a three-year jail term after the State Security Court found him guilty of bribery in his bid to obtain a 1.2-billion-dollar contract for the expansion of the country's sole refinery.
The call for Bakhit's resignation also came on Monday from the March 24 Youth group, which has set July 14 a date for a marathon rally to protest the failure to adopt the required political and constitutional reforms in the country, including an independent judiciary.
"We hereby promise our people that we will not back down in our struggle to accomplish radical reforms and disclose all corruption files and ensure punishment of those involved," the gathering said in a strongly-worded statement.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/01/2011 00:00 ||
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Evil words in Islamic Republic: A senior Iranian cleric, who is known as President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's spiritual mentor, urged followers to continue suicide attacks against Israelis, including children. If nutjob is stupid enough to believe in the twelfth imam, why not go for the gold?
Ayatollah Mohammad Taghi Mesbah, considered one of the Islamic Republic's most radical clerics, issued a religious edict on his website whereby suicide attacks are not only legitimate but are a must for every Muslim, a special paper by the Middle East Media Research Institute shows.
The senior cleric was responding to a question from a follower regarding the difference between "martyr's death" and "suicide." The man, who wrote "anonymously", noted that "some people say that martyrdom operations are considered suicide and that they are haram (forbidden) because they contradict Islam."
In response, Mesbah expressed his regret that his follower has fallen victim to "propaganda of the enemies of Islam." He added that the follower was wasting his time instead of focusing on "uprooting the Zionist regime."
"When protecting Islam, the Muslim people depend on martyrdom operations. It not only is allowed, but even is an obligation," Mesbah wrote.
The follower presented another question regarding Islam's position on harming Israelis, wondering whether Hamas and Jihad actions against Israeli civilians are forbidden. He also asked: "How about the Israeli children killed in such attacks?"
The Iranian Ayatollah did not see fit to forbid the killing of children, only noting that Israelis can be harmed unless they openly express their objection to their government's position. He added that even in such cases, harming civilians is permissible if "they are used as human shield and fighting the aggressors depends on attacking those civilians."
Beyond these insights, the cleric did not offer further instructions and failed to censure the killing of children. And now he'll just sit back and see what happens to his trial balloon.
Notably, for the followers of Mesbah, his words are considered as a binding religious edict. On several occasions in the past, Iranian President Ahmadinejad also spoke in favor of "martyrdom acts."
BAGHDAD Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Tuesday called for Damascus to enact reforms that would help stabilise Syria, where 15 people died in the latest crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.
Not so much fun when your neighbor starts poking around your own internal affairs eh, Pencilneck?
Malikis remarks, which did not contain specific proposals, came as Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem visited Baghdad, where the two politicians pledged to boost trade and economic ties.
Prime Minister Maliki expressed Iraqs desire for a stable Syria, and for the implementation of reforms that could help to achieve security and stability, a statement from Malikis office said. It added that Maliki pressed for stronger economic and commercial ties, which Muallem also emphasised, but did not give further details.
A joint news conference between Muallem and Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari scheduled for Tuesday afternoon was cancelled, an AFP reporter said.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/01/2011 00:00 ||
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Some ominous political news for President Obama the day after he chose Memorial Day to name a new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff:
With just 15 months until the 2012 presidential election, Obama's overall job approval among Americans has sunk back down into the 40s.
But now a new poll of nearly a quarter-million Americans finds the commander-in-chief's job approval is even worse among members of the military, present and past.
A new Gallup poll finds that slightly more than a third of those military members (37%) approve of their commander's overall job from January of last year through April 2011.
This compares to Obama's 48% approval among nonmilitary Americans during the same period, Gallup reported.general martin Dempsey 5-11
The disapproval gap crosses all age groups. Men, especially veterans over 40, tend to disapprove of Obama more than women.
This would seem to indicate failure of this president's major public relations effort to be seen supporting veterans' affairs.
#4
Perhaps due to Obama threatening to cut off their salaries by refusing to sign any budget that didn't provide funding for Planned Parenthood. Threatening the Baby-savers in an effort to save the baby-killers?
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.
[Dawn] Terrorists had entered the PNS Mehran base after breaching Pakistain Air Force`s security parameters on the southern side, about 800 metres from the naval airbase, 
Maulana Fazlur Rehman
Asif Ali 
