NATO troops in eastern Afghanistan fired 20 artillery rounds at Taliban inside Pakistan after co-ordinating with Islamabad, officials said Tuesday. The ISAF said in a statement it fired the rounds Sunday after Taliban attacked its troops in Afghanistan's Paktika province with rockets from across the border. "The artillery fire caused a secondary explosion at the rocket launch site, which indicates additional munitions in the location," it said. The Pakistan Army said in a statement only that NATO troops "engaged the fleeing militants on (the) Afghan side of the border and informed (a) Pakistani post on the Pak-Afghan border".
Posted by: Fred ||
11/19/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
So, NATO can fire iside Pakiland as long as it is not US forces doing since they seem too have very good aim
Posted by: chris ||
11/19/2008 7:49 Comments ||
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#2
and of course cosult with Islamabad so they can tell their guys too get the hell out of there
Posted by: chris ||
11/19/2008 7:50 Comments ||
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NEW DELHI: Even as the world's largest supertanker the Saudi Sirius Star continues to be in the grip of pirates of the coast of Somalia, the Indian navy appears to have taken the lead in the fight against pirates.
An Indian warship deployed in the Gulf of Aden fought Somali pirates and destroyed their vessel after a brief battle, the navy said on Wednesday.
Two accompanying speed boats sped away after the main vessel was blown up late on Tuesday.
"INS Tabar retaliated in self defence and opened fire on the mother vessel," the navy said in a statement.
"As a result of the firing by INS Tabar, fire broke out on the vessel and explosions were heard, possibly due to exploding ammunition that was stored on the vessel."
Naval officers on board the warship said they spotted pirates moving on the deck with rocket propelled grenade launchers.
"On repeated calls, the vessel's threatening response was that she would blow up the naval warship," the navy said.
India deployed INS Tabar, a naval warship, to escort Indian ships after the country's shipping firms said they were losing $450,000 a month on cost overruns and delays in meeting deadlines.
Crew members are reluctant to sail in the Gulf of Aden, one of the world's most important sea trade routes, fearing attacks by pirates.
Meanwhile, Saudi supertanker Sirius Star was hijacked over the weekend and has anchored off the coast of Somalia in Eyl, even as pirates took over another Iranian-operated cargo vessel with a Hong Kong flag 'Delight. US navy commander Jane Campbell of the Bahrain-based 5th Fleet said the status of the crew and cargo was not known. There are some Indians among the 25-member crew.
In the first-ever action after being deployed in the Gulf of Aden, the Indian navy on November 11 thwarted an attempt by pirates to capture an Indian merchant vessel in the region. The ship, M V Jag Arnav, had recently crossed the Suez Canal and was eastward bound when it was surrounded by pirates, who tried to board and hijack the ship, navy sources in New Delhi said.
When the 38,265-tonne bulk carrier, owned by Mumbai-based Great Eastern Shipping Company, raised an alarm, it caught the attention of the Indian naval warship, INS Tabar, which was patrolling in the Gulf of Aden waters.
Posted by: john frum ||
11/19/2008 05:57 ||
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#1
PIB Press Release
Ministry of Defence
INS Tabar, which is currently in the Gulf of Aden for Anti-Piracy Surveillance and Patrol Operations, encountered a pirate vessel, 285 NM South West of Salalah (Oman) on the evening of 18 Nov 08, with two speed boats in tow. This vessel was similar in description to the 'Mother Vessel' mentioned in various Piracy bulletins.
INS Tabar closed the vessel and asked her to stop for investigation. On repeated calls, the vessel's threatening response was that she would blow up the Naval Warship if it closed her. Pirates were seen roaming on the upper deck of this vessel with guns and Rocket Propelled Grenade launchers. The vessel continued its threatening calls and subsequently fired upon INS Tabar.
On being fired upon, INS Tabar retaliated in self defence and opened fire on the mother vessel. As a result of the firing by INS Tabar, fire broke out on the vessel and explosions were heard, possibly due to exploding ammunition that was stored on the vessel. Almost simultaneously, two speed boats were observed breaking off to escape. The ship chased the first boat which was later found abandoned. The other boat made good its escape into darkness.
INS Tabar is on Anti-Piracy Mission in the Gulf of Aden since 02 Nov 08. The operation is being controlled by Western Naval Command since mid Oct 08. During this period, she has successfully escorted approximately 35 ships, including a number of foreign flagged vessels, safely during their transit through pirate infested waters of the Gulf of Aden and also prevented two hijacking attempts on 11 Nov 08. The Indian Navy has been patrolling the piracy infested water in keeping with the Government guidelines to protect our sea borne trade, instill confidence in our sea faring community as well as function as a deterrent for pirates.
Posted by: john frum ||
11/19/2008 6:03 Comments ||
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#2
the Indian navy appears to have taken the lead in the fight against pirates.
Good for them. I have a feeling that India will be the future of the free world. Too bad taking the lead only means having taken a few pot shots at a couple of dhows.
#5
A Krivak-III armed to the teeth with Sizzler anti-ship missiles is perhaps not the vessel one targets with RPGs
Posted by: john frum ||
11/19/2008 7:18 Comments ||
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#6
even if taking the lead by shooting ata couple of dhows, at LEAST they have the balls too do so
Posted by: chris ||
11/19/2008 7:44 Comments ||
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#7
and noy worry about the human rights groups saying that they where hugely overmatched and should have boarded them and taken prisoners which would have cost Indian sailors some lives. Does anyone else think that maybe Saudis are funding the pirates too do this since the Shabaab has aken over most of somalia aga(only GOD knows why)? too may be get that oil price up again
Posted by: chris ||
11/19/2008 7:46 Comments ||
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#8
Tabar: Prepare to be boarded! "mothership": Silly Indian warship! We will blow you up! Tabar: Wrong answer.
*BOOM*
#11
The probably used their 4" gun unless the skipper wanted to try out a sizzler. If he was angry, he would use one of the two CIWS 30mm gatlings that would cut the other ship in half.
In any event, not a whole hell of a lot of a contest.
Bet the Saudis send the Captain a nice gift basket and all expense paid week long shore leave for the crew at one of Dubai's finer five star hotels.
#14
One reason why pirates in the Caribbean were successful was not that they had more powerful ships than the Spanish warships.
They had faster ones.
Posted by: European Conservative ||
11/19/2008 10:18 Comments ||
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#15
They used their AK-630 guns
From wikipedia The AK-630 is a Russian fully automatic naval six-barreled 30 mm Gatling gun. It is mounted in an enclosed automatic turret and directed by radar and television detection and tracking. The system's primary purpose is defense against anti-ship missiles, and other precision guided weapons. However it can also be employed against fixed/rotary wing aircraft, ships and other small craft, coastal targets, and floating mines.
It can be described as the Russian counterpart to the United States Phalanx CIWS.
Posted by: john frum ||
11/19/2008 10:45 Comments ||
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#16
This is exactly the required prescription. Sink their asses and let the sharks feast. Just a couple more of these incidents will get to their hearts and minds more efficiently than a century of talking. The bravado on deck of popping off their AK's and brandishing their RPG's quickly turned to liquid shit dribbling down their legs when the first bursts from those gatling guns started hitting the deck and chopping them into dogfood. Congrats to the Indian Navy.
#21
I would not be surprised to see a court action in the Hague alleging war crimes
Posted by: john frum ||
11/19/2008 11:44 Comments ||
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#22
Interesting.
The Indian warship responded with the _weakest_ weapon on its deck and the target was destroyed by the secondary explosions.
As I mentioned earlier over on the bar, small patrol boats could do most of what's needed to supress the problem.
* The ship in question is about two-fifths the size of a Burke. It's a little larger than a LCS, but apparently a bit better armed for this actual sort of littoral warfare.
#25
Hopefully they'll clean out the nest and then go after the Indonesian pirates (at least until the Chinese protectors start grumbling and make themselves known).
#26
Wonder if the speed boat that got away had enough fuel to make it to a port or if ran out. I rather like the idea of them drifting without fuel, running low on water somewhere out there on the Gulf of Aden.
#27
Or another pirate ship on the team picked them up.
Posted by: ed ||
11/19/2008 12:52 Comments ||
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#28
This is exactly the required prescription.
It's a good start. An improved prescription would include no attempt to take the pirates alive whatsoever, followed by a coastal bombardment of Eyl and the use of helicopter gunships to reduce what remains of the pirate haven to twitches and rubble.
And a complete cessastion of the delivery of 'aid' (ie the wages of permanent anarchy) to Somalia.
#29
Meanwhile NATO and the Euros are still formulating RoEs from Brussels. Wusses.
Yes, sadly. And as EU-rope (and maybe soon the USA too) is taking a leave from History, exiting not with a bang, but with a whimper, the ascending of India is evident. Just see which country will soon have cruise missiles, which fleet is growing, heck, even which country has just sent an engine on the moon,... it's not the UK, it's not France, not Spain, etc, etc...
Sad, but like g(r)om sez, even civilizations goes senile, though for that one, it's real hard to determine if it's suicide or assisted suicide (thanks, cultural marxism, thanks, socialism).
Most of Australia's navy is to be given two months off over Christmas as part of a new strategy to cope with crew shortages, the defence minister says. Joel Fitzgibbon said the extended break was a way of encouraging sailors to stay in the service.
The number of sailors who stay aboard docked ships will be reduced, to make sailors' duties more family-friendly.
Mr Fitzgibbon rejected claims by the opposition that the move would affect national security. The opposition said the venture was an admission that the government had failed to recruit enough sailors.
Posted by: john frum ||
11/19/2008 13:16 Comments ||
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#32
Pirate is just Somali for Al Qaeda. Sink 'em all.
Posted by: john frum ||
11/19/2008 13:58 Comments ||
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#34
"Indian Navy destroys Somali pirate mothership"
"As a result of the firing by INS Tabar, fire broke out on the vessel and explosions were heard, possibly due to exploding ammunition that was stored on the vessel."
Works for me. :-D
Welcome, India, for the continuing fight for freedom
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
11/19/2008 14:11 Comments ||
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#35
Here is a view of the coastal buildings at Eyl in Somalia. Nice targeting set up. Elongated line of buildings, if you know what I mean.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
11/19/2008 14:21 Comments ||
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#36
It seems to me that, due to the world banking crisis causing problems with easy money transfers, clamping down on terrorist financiers, and other shadow actions, that terrorist organizations are getting into piracy as another type of fundraising. It could also be criminal syndicates. Regardless, the Somalis have the base, a lawless non-state, like Afghanistan was, to set up shop.
This time, we don't need nation building. We or someone else with a sense of duty, like India, just need to have the will to do the dirty job and destroy this plague.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
11/19/2008 14:33 Comments ||
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#37
Tne "nest" as you put it is being supported by Iran and has been since late 1992. Ironically, the problem could be resolved by a half-dozen WWII submarines with deck guns. We have so modernized our navy that the most primitive of pirates can make monkeys out of the brass hats.
#39
rjschwarz: You are spot on. The UNSC is composed of nations that do three things. They must be economically powerful, they must be militarily powerful, and they must be willing to project that military force.
This means, the current lineup from most powerful to least powerful, should be:
1) The USA
2) The EU, as a bloc.
3) Russia
4) China
5) India
And possibly Japan, but only if learns to project military force. Importantly, this forum *will* exist, even if it not in the UN, or even officially, because it is based in power, not jawboning.
As the EU is not capable of doing anything as a "bloc", I'd separate them into the countries. So, I'd move #'s 3 to 5 one spot up, and perhaps put the UK at #5
#42
Do you really think that a single Burke class or a simple drive by, by a carrier couldn't end this mess IF WE HAD THE WILL TO DO IT?
A Burke can only be in one place at one time, and costs over a billion dollars.
How much did India spend on the Tabar?
We need to be able to build something like the Tabar, and not a 600 million dollar ship with one gun and one short-range CIWS missile system. (Which, btw, we just did).
#43
The pirate's mistake was not have held their fire until the boarding party arrived. If they had, they would have inflicted casualties on the Indians, probably got themselves some hostages and got away under the protection of the hostages.
This scenario would probably mean no more boardings of suspected pirate vessels and the whole piracy interdiction model falls down.
#44
INS Tabars operation came nine years after the Indian Navy flexed its muscles in international waters by seizing a Japanese-owned freighter, the Alondra Rainbow, from Indonesian pirates.
For nearly five years now, caution and discretion at the external affairs ministry tacitly encouraged by the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) have constrained naval headquarters from exercising what it sees as the Indian Navys rightful role on the high seas as an emerging power and the largest neighbourhood force with legitimate interests in the Gulf and Southeast Asia.
At the US department of defence here, officials who are aware of tensions between naval headquarters in New Delhi and the external affairs ministry, were smiling in the knowledge that the trigger which set off yesterdays action has the potential to change the course of defence relations between and among nations.
The Pentagon has been lobbying in New Delhi for five years for India to join the US-led Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) aimed at stopping shipments of weapons of mass destruction globally.The Indian Navys leadership has tilted towards joining the PSI in internal discussions in South Block, but political correctness has cast a veto over a decision in favour of the initiative.
Posted by: john frum ||
11/19/2008 17:18 Comments ||
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#45
The pirate's mistake was not have held their fire until the boarding party arrived.
The Tabar's boarding party are not regular sailors. There is a detachment of MARCOS (Marine Commandos) aboard. The MARCOS unit was setup with the help of the US Navy. They were originally trained by the SEALs.
Legacy BTW of the Reagan administration
Posted by: john frum ||
11/19/2008 17:21 Comments ||
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#46
How much did India spend on the Tabar?
325 million.
More expensive than a typical Krivak because of the non Russian equipment on board (French and Indian sonars, ECM etc)
Posted by: john frum ||
11/19/2008 17:32 Comments ||
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#47
I would like to see who owned that mother ship and where it's engines came from. That would be the start of a good trail to who is funding this. My only guess is in the relationship Sudan has with Somalia and with the Indonesian Pirates in Asia. Another commom thread of muzzies working together. But I'm just guessing.
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
11/19/2008 17:53 Comments ||
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#48
Apparently a number of these ships are captured trawlers?
Posted by: john frum ||
11/19/2008 18:18 Comments ||
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#49
The German Bundesmarine has asked the German parliament for a robust mandate so it can fight pirates in that area. The vote is expected to come in December.
It will be approved.
Posted by: European Conservative ||
11/19/2008 18:23 Comments ||
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#50
John, these anti-piracy operations are going to expose the need for small heavily armoured craft suitable for contested boardings. It doesn't matter how good the troops are, they will be sitting ducks in an inflatable or similar. It's probably been at least a 100 years since the last contested boarding of a ship by a western navy.
#51
Wow 50 comments - pretty close to the target of 142 which was set when Madonna was begging for a male partner in a 3 way with Anglie Jolie.
Posted by: Jack is Back! ||
11/19/2008 19:27 Comments ||
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#52
The loss of one Mothership and a few bodies will be figured in in the cost of doing business. The cost of doing business needs to be made prohibitive.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
11/19/2008 19:49 Comments ||
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#53
From the BBC piracy discussion thread: The British government could help finance the pirates and then get a return on the spoils ...........or is this illegal now
#54
same BBC thread also had this: We need to show care and understanding to the pirates, helping them to feel that they have a stake in the well-being of the whole world rather than feeling excluded and turning against everyone. Perhaps a task force from a conflict study course at one of our fine metropolitan universities should be dispatched to help resolve the situation.
#55
Actually the pirates are going after the wrong sort of targets. It's really easy to get rid of hot autos in Africa. They should be after Japanese car carriers going to Saudi and EU.
(SomaliNet) In a move that has prompted a mass exodus of locals in fear of military presence, more army personnel have been deployed on the Kenya-Somalia border.
Kenya's military Spokesman Bogita Ongeri said the Kenyan Government opted to deploy additional officers to tighten security along the borders. He said Kenyan security agencies were on alert following increasing insurgency in Somalia that has seen militia groups take control of most areas.
Witnesses say military personnel were spotted in lorries being deployed to Elwak and Liboi from Isiolo.
The deployment follows a US security alert that insurgents had planned to attack on the day of the sixth anniversary of Kikambala bombings.
Kenya Red Cross officials said they were working closely with local leaders to address needs of people fleeing their homes in Elwak town and its environs. "The displaced people are fleeing in fear of increased military presence in Elwak after the recent abduction of Catholic nuns by suspected Somalia bandits," said a KRC spokesman Titus Mungou.
Meanwhile, security agents are on high alert ahead of next week's sixth anniversary of the Paradise Hotel bombing in Kikambala. Sources said there were fears terror suspects could attack to mark the anniversary. "We are generally on alert because you never know what these people are planning and given what is happening in Somalia," said a senior officer.
At the weekend, the US heightened its travel advisory for Kenya, citing security concerns in North Eastern Province. An alert from the US State Department said there was continuing threat from terrorism. It warned of possible terrorist attacks in Kenya, saying those responsible for past attacks in Nairobi and Kikambala were still active.
"The US continues to receive indications of potential terrorist threats aimed at American, Western, and Kenyan interests in Kenya," read the statement in part.
It added that terrorist acts could include suicide operations, bombings, kidnappings, attacks on civil aviation, and attacks on maritime vessels in or near Kenyan ports. "This replaces the Travel Warning of August 22, 2008, to note increased security concerns in northeast Kenya near the Somali border."
The statement cited the recent kidnapping of two Italian nuns from El Wak by armed Somali militia.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/19/2008 00:00 ||
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BEIJING - A Hong Kong ship loaded with wheat bound for Iran was hijacked by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden on Tuesday, maritime officials said, the latest raid in the Horn of Africa's perilous waters. The Delight, with 25 crew members on board, was captured off the Yemen coast at around 0600 GMT and is currently sailing towards Somalia, an official at Hong Kong's Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre told Reuters by telephone.
"We know the ship is going to somewhere in Somalia," said the official. "We are in contact with the company security officer who is in contact with the ship," he added, but said he did not know of any ransom or other demands.
Using larger "mother ships" to increase their reach, the heavily armed pirates usually pull up on either side of a target in speedboats and board, firing guns or even rocket-propelled grenades just over the bridge if the captain tries to escape.
Ship owners are negotiating ransoms in most cases, with crew released unharmed. But the heightened risk means insurance premiums are rocketing.
And the bad guys use the loot to buy better guns, boats and tracking equipment, so that they can hijack more ships.
And some carriers are now taking the long route around the southern tip of Africa, rather than the Suez Canal, pushing up the cost of commodities at a time of global uncertainty.
The Delight was the third ship sailing under a Hong Kong flag alone to be seized in the area this autumn. "We have now a total of two Hong Kong vessels held by Somali pirates, and one has been released," the official at the Maritime Rescue Centre said. The crew members on the Delight are from Iran, Pakistan, Indian, the Philippines and Guyana, the official said. They were carrying 36,000 tonnes of wheat to Iran's Bandar Abbas port.
Posted by: Steve White ||
11/19/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Someone on the internet suggested that Obama taking out the pirates might be a nice, easy, low entanglement way for him to show he's a tough guy. Whatever it takes, these piss-ants piss me off.
PErsonally I think it would be nice if one of our allies (perhaps two) stepped up. Say the Japanese and the Germans who both have navy's more than adequate and could use a little experience and the target has so few political liabilities it seems a great place to start.
#3
Obama won't tackle this problem head on by targetting the pirate mother ships, bases, etc, because that would require throwing pretty much all 'international law' out the window.
In part, this is a failure of the transnational order. Specifically, its inability to deal with parties outside nation states or within non-functioning states.
On the plus side this may be the death of flags of convenience. Liberian registered ships are going to wait an awfullly long time for the Liberia Navy to come to the rescue.
#5
I would say, let these countries with their merchant fleets deal with these pirates. It would not take very long for the US to stop this stuff in its tracks. Give the pirates at Eyl 24 hours to let the hostages go or the town and everything is leveled. Then we will start on the next pirate haven town. I think that one town should be enough.
What is going to happen is that everyone will be playing footsie with the pirates and making continuous calls to Brussels for nuanced instructions. Arrrrr, my a$$.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
11/19/2008 0:48 Comments ||
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#6
DODO, the above article has claimed that another navy has stepped up to the challenge with the Im=nfian ship destoying a pirate mothership. Not France England or germany,and you would think the big badass Iranians after all their shit talking would do something about it since theirs seem too get hijacked a good bitif they are up too the job then let them do it
Posted by: chris ||
11/19/2008 7:55 Comments ||
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#7
I have no probelms with the Indian navy or any other navy attacking pirates.
I feel strongly that countries that criticize the United States and refuse to provide support to the United States not derive any benefits from the American military.
In terms of India (whose merchant ships are getting attacked as well), I believe they were ready to send combat troops to Afghanistan, but we did not want them to, because that would not go down well with the Pakis. (John Frum would know more)
#9
"A Hong Kong ship loaded with wheat bound for Iran was hijacked by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden " so the Iran wheat crop wasn't so good this year. Importing both gasoline and wheat with oil at $60 is not good for the Iranian economy.
#10
Sludge: Honestly couldn't tell you if India was prepared to send troops, although given their history, and muslim population, I'm skeptical.
A somewhat dated list of countries contributing in Iraq follows. I would specifically oppose using U.S. forces to rescue any ships from any Arab or other European country. I support all of their rights to pick and choose where they send forces, but I don't think they should be allowed to count on U.S. if they choose not to support us.
ALBANIA: 120 non-combat troops, mainly patrolling airport in Mosul; no plans to withdraw.
ARMENIA: 46 soldiers serving under Polish command through end of 2006; no plans to withdraw.
AUSTRALIA: Roughly 470 troops and support personnel in Iraq, plus several hundred in the Persian Gulf region; no dates set for any pullout.
AZERBAIJAN: 150 troops, mostly serving as sentries, on patrols and protecting a dam near the city of Hadid Ha; no plans to withdraw.
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: 36 experts identifying and destroying unexploded ordnance; experts being rotated every six months; no plans to withdraw.
BRITAIN: About 8,000 troops in southern Iraq, roughly 2,000 others in the Persian Gulf region.
BULGARIA: Deployed 120 non-combat troops to guard refugee camp north of Baghdad after pulling out 380 infantry troops in December.
CZECH REPUBLIC: 100 military police training Iraqi officers; mission extended to end of 2006.
DENMARK: 530 troops patrolling southern city of Basra; parliament on Tuesday cut force by 80 and extended mission to June 30, 2007.
EL SALVADOR: 380 soldiers doing peacekeeping and humanitarian work in Hillah; no immediate plans to withdraw.
ESTONIA: 40 troops, mostly infantry, serving under U.S. command in Baghdad, manning checkpoints, patrolling neighborhoods, searching houses for weapons, escorting convoys; extension beyond end of 2006 expected.
GEORGIA: About 900 combat forces, medics and support personnel serving under U.S. command in Baqouba; no plans to withdraw or reduce contingent.
ITALY: About 2,600 troops, most in southern city of Nasiriyah, involved in training, security and reconstruction; force to be reduced to 1,600 by mid-June and remaining troops expected to be withdrawn by year's end.
KAZAKHSTAN: 27 military engineers; defense minister has suggested a pullout by July.
LATVIA: 135 soldiers, mostly infantry, manning checkpoints, patrolling and escorting materials; mission expires at end of 2006.
LITHUANIA: 60 soldiers, mostly infantry, serving with Danish contingent near Basra in southern Iraq; mission to last at least through end of 2006.
MACEDONIA: 32 troops providing security in Taji, north of Baghdad; no plans to withdraw.
MOLDOVA: 11 bomb defusal experts; mission expires in July; extension expected.
MONGOLIA: 160 troops; no plans to withdraw.
NETHERLANDS: 15 soldiers as part of NATO mission training police, army officers; mandate expires in August.
POLAND: 900 non-combat troops; commands multinational force south of Baghdad; mission expires at end of year; government weighing whether to extend.
ROMANIA: 860 troops, including 400 infantry, 150 mine experts, 100 military police, 50 military intelligence plus medics and U.N. guards; no plans to withdraw.
SLOVAKIA: 104 troops stationed in Hillah in Polish sector, mostly engaged in de-mining; no plans to withdraw.
SOUTH KOREA: In process of reducing its 3,200-member contingent in northern Iraq by 1,000 troops by end of year.
ALBANIA: 120 non-combat troops, mainly patrolling airport in Mosul; no plans to withdraw.
ARMENIA: 46 soldiers serving under Polish command through end of 2006; no plans to withdraw.
AUSTRALIA: Roughly 470 troops and support personnel in Iraq, plus several hundred in the Persian Gulf region; no dates set for any pullout.
AZERBAIJAN: 150 troops, mostly serving as sentries, on patrols and protecting a dam near the city of Hadid Ha; no plans to withdraw.
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: 36 experts identifying and destroying unexploded ordnance; experts being rotated every six months; no plans to withdraw.
BRITAIN: About 8,000 troops in southern Iraq, roughly 2,000 others in the Persian Gulf region.
BULGARIA: Deployed 120 non-combat troops to guard refugee camp north of Baghdad after pulling out 380 infantry troops in December.
CZECH REPUBLIC: 100 military police training Iraqi officers; mission extended to end of 2006.
DENMARK: 530 troops patrolling southern city of Basra; parliament on Tuesday cut force by 80 and extended mission to June 30, 2007.
EL SALVADOR: 380 soldiers doing peacekeeping and humanitarian work in Hillah; no immediate plans to withdraw.
ESTONIA: 40 troops, mostly infantry, serving under U.S. command in Baghdad, manning checkpoints, patrolling neighborhoods, searching houses for weapons, escorting convoys; extension beyond end of 2006 expected.
GEORGIA: About 900 combat forces, medics and support personnel serving under U.S. command in Baqouba; no plans to withdraw or reduce contingent.
ITALY: About 2,600 troops, most in southern city of Nasiriyah, involved in training, security and reconstruction; force to be reduced to 1,600 by mid-June and remaining troops expected to be withdrawn by year's end.
KAZAKHSTAN: 27 military engineers; defense minister has suggested a pullout by July.
LATVIA: 135 soldiers, mostly infantry, manning checkpoints, patrolling and escorting materials; mission expires at end of 2006.
LITHUANIA: 60 soldiers, mostly infantry, serving with Danish contingent near Basra in southern Iraq; mission to last at least through end of 2006.
MACEDONIA: 32 troops providing security in Taji, north of Baghdad; no plans to withdraw.
MOLDOVA: 11 bomb defusal experts; mission expires in July; extension expected.
MONGOLIA: 160 troops; no plans to withdraw.
NETHERLANDS: 15 soldiers as part of NATO mission training police, army officers; mandate expires in August.
POLAND: 900 non-combat troops; commands multinational force south of Baghdad; mission expires at end of year; government weighing whether to extend.
ROMANIA: 860 troops, including 400 infantry, 150 mine experts, 100 military police, 50 military intelligence plus medics and U.N. guards; no plans to withdraw.
SLOVAKIA: 104 troops stationed in Hillah in Polish sector, mostly engaged in de-mining; no plans to withdraw.
SOUTH KOREA: In process of reducing its 3,200-member contingent in northern Iraq by 1,000 troops by end of year.
In the specific case of Afghanistan, the Indians were interested because they have a long history with Afghanistan. In fact, I believe after the US, India has provided the most aid to Afghanistan post-Taleban (mostly in the form of infrastructure, schools, etc). The Afghan Parliament even has has the phrase "A gift from the Indian people" written on it. The Taleban were historically aligned with the Pakis, so the Indians have definite strategic interests in Afghanistan. To this end, they have even created a huge Embassy in Afghanistan on the border with Pakistan-nothing's as effective as squeezing them from both sides!
I do belive the Indians were against the Iraq war though, which brings up a point: Do we base our relationships with other countries, including emerging global powers like India, on one single issue (Iraq) or do we use a broader perspective in creating alliances for the next few decades (at the very least). Should we be only allies with nations that agree with us on EVERY issue--no room for disagreements? If that's the case, we'll continue to have less powerful "allies" that agree with us all the time solely because they need our protection (like most countries on your list).
Side point... India does have a muslim population but it is only 13% of the population. That's still a sizeable number, but it is still a minority. Their international policies aren't generally similar to that of your average muslim nation. take their close defense partnership with israel, for instance.
#12
I would find it interesting if the US responded to the pirates depending upon the ships taken. If a Panamanian flagged ship, or Liberian for that matter is grabbed, than so be it. Let Liberia and Panama secure the release.
If a US flagged ship is grabbed hell and all the fury of the US Marines and Navy fall up on Somalia leaving dust and rubble. Let that be known and you might see the rolls of Panamanian and Liberian flagged ships drop and the number flagged by the US rise.
#13
It has been mentioned before, but what if the pirates are targeting specific ships as a means of smuggling without raising undue attention? They are Islamists, affiliated with AQ. Mo bin Laden was a dockworker in Yemen before building his construction empire in Saudi. Osama hung around the port of Latakia in his youth.Weapons smuggling into Afghanistan and other areas is done via containers. The chemical tankers, crude, Russian weapons, fertilizer, cement, and even radioactive scrap metal have been intercepted; they could be stockpiling components for a huge event. Iranian ships have been captured twice, once with mysterious but deadly cargo. Hong Kong and the Philippines could be carriers of weapons or missiles from China or North Korea. The foreign crews could be complicit, giving forewarning of cargo contents. There have even been quite a few Russian and Bosnian hostages, well-treated and released without incident. And piracy is not limited to the Gulf of Aden, as there are other African incidents,such as off Nigeria, plus Indonesia and South America all have reported attacks. Wired.com has reported Hezbollah subs in South America. Israel has intercepted barges of cement, concealing missiles and other weapons. I think this is way more than an insurance scam and needs to be shut down as of yesteryear.
#14
Do we base our relationships with other countries, including emerging global powers like India, on one single issue (Iraq) or do we use a broader perspective in creating alliances for the next few decades (at the very least).
There are issues and there are issues. For example, I have never raised the issue of Iraq in the context of our nuclear cooperation with India. Separate issues.
Also, I specifically said that I supported their right to pick and choose where they send forces. Refusal to support the U.S. in Iraq or Afghanistan doesn't require retaliation or need to spill into other areas.
However, I feel strongly that the use of the U.S. military should be limited to those who are prepared to use their military in support of the U.S. The "broader alliances" you refer to tend to be one way; we provide the muscle and get little in return, e.g. NATO.
MOGADISHU - The oil-laden Saudi super tanker hijacked this weekend by Somali pirates is anchored off the Somali port of Haradhere, an official from the nearby northern breakaway state of Puntland told AFP Tuesday. We have been receiving some information and we now know that the ship is anchored near Harardhere, a small village and known piracy hub some 300 kilometres (180 miles) north of Mogadishu, said Puntland presidential adviser Bile Mohamoud Qabowsade.
The Sirius Star and its crew of 25 were captured far out to sea, off the coast of Kenya or Tanzania.
I looked on Google maps and Harardhere really is at the ass end of the earth ...
Posted by: Steve White ||
11/19/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Hmm... How about the Saudi's pay the $10M and then spend $20M on bombing the entire region - including its entire port. How many dumb bombs can 20M buy?
I think the rest of the free world could even chip in on gas.
A suspected U.S. missile strike hit a village deep inside Pakistani territory Wednesday, officials said, killing six alleged militants and indicating American willingness to pursue insurgents beyond the lawless tribal regions.
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The attack was the first to hit an area outside the semiautonomous tribal belt that directly borders Afghanistan, something which could trigger extra anger among Pakistanis.
Hours after the strike, a large Islamist political party warned it would block two major supply routes for U.S and NATO forces in Afghanistan that run through Pakistan unless the attacks ended. "If these missiles attacks continue, then we will ask the people to create hurdles in the way of supplies for NATO," Qazi Hussain Ahmed, chief of Jamaat-e-Islami, told reporters.
The party has shown it can easily mobilize thousands of supporters at short notice. The supply lines have never been blocked by protests but militants and criminals often attack trucks traveling with them.
Javed Marwat, a local government official, told The Associated Press that two missiles destroyed a house in Indi Khel village in Bannu district. Two Pakistani intelligence officials said their agents reported that militants from Central Asia were among the six killed.
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Until Wednesday, all the attacks since August were in North and South Waziristan, two tribal regions where the government has ceded much of its limited control to militants. U.S. officials say they want to help Pakistan regain sovereignty over such areas. The Bannu district, which falls under the control of the regional government, begins roughly 18 miles away from the border with Afghanistan.
Two other intelligence officials, both based in Bannu, said militants had begun moving farther away from the border, including to their district and other settled areas, in an apparent bid to avoid the missile strikes.
Posted by: ed ||
11/19/2008 07:49 ||
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Xinhua: A major al-Qaeda operative of Arab origin was among the five militants killed in a suspected United States missile strike in northwest Pakistan on Wednesday, private TV channel Geo reported. The Geo quoted security sources as saying that the al-Qaeda militant was identified as Abdullah Azam Al-Saudi, a senior member of al-Qaeda.
Ululululu!
Posted by: ed ||
11/19/2008 8:11 Comments ||
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#2
The attack was the first to hit an area outside the semiautonomous tribal belt that directly borders Afghanistan, something which could trigger extra anger among Pakistanis.
*Yawn* Farting in the general direction of a koran could trigger extra anger among Pakis.
#3
AFP: According to US intelligence shared with Pakistan, al-Saudi was the main link between Al-Qaeda's senior command and Taliban networks in the Pakistani border region, an Islamabad-based senior security official said. "He was the man coordinating between Al-Qaeda and Taliban commanders on this side of the border, and also involved in recruiting and training fighters," the official told AFP.
Posted by: ed ||
11/19/2008 8:30 Comments ||
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#4
go ahead and block the convoy paths sounds like more missile strikes too me
Posted by: chris ||
11/19/2008 10:08 Comments ||
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#5
Gotta say that I've become rather impressed with the intel that allows us to make these sorts of strikes. Too bad the political will didn't exist to do similar things in Syria and Iran going back to 2005. Mighta changed a lot of things.
Three tribal elders on Tuesday escaped from Taliban captivity in Bajaur Agency, claiming presence of a large number of foreigners in the Taliban ranks. Malak Bakht Munir and two other tribal elders told reporters that the foreigners included Chechens and Uzbek, Tajik, Sudanese and Afghan nationals. The Taliban kidnapped seven elders of a Mamoond tribal lashkar on Monday. Munir said their hands and legs were tied with chains and they were led blindfolded to a house. "The Taliban were warning us that we will be beheaded in a day or two," he said.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/19/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
does this surprise anyone?
Posted by: chris ||
11/19/2008 1:12 Comments ||
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#2
Illegal immigrants seem to be a problem everywhere. Probably there for the economic opportunities.
Posted by: Richard of Oregon ||
11/19/2008 9:27 Comments ||
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#3
Great! It's a three-fer. Kill all three for the price of one.
Only kinda, sorta. Victory in Iraq, but not defeat for our enemies. They just moved to a more favorable battlefield. The whole point of going into Iraq in the first place was to get them to fight us on a battlefield more favorable to us (than A'stan) - which they did, and they lost heavily. But they learned their lesson and returned to Somalia and Afghanistan, where conditions are more favorable for them. Sneer though we do at their religion, it does give them a much stronger 'will' to fight than we as a people have anymore - since for too many of us our diety is ourselves.
Indian troops have killed four suspected militants close to the Line of Control (LoC) in Indian-held Kashmir (IHK). A police spokesman said on Tuesday that the four were killed overnight in the mountainous Uri district near the LoC. The gun battle erupted hours after the region voted under tight security for a new state government, with a boycott call by Muslim separatists triggering clashes but failing to shut down the ballot.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/19/2008 00:00 ||
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At least 10 people were killed in clashes between the Taliban and pro-government tribal leaders in Bajaur Agency, officials said on Tuesday.
The Taliban on Monday intercepted a convoy carrying 12 pro-government elders of the Mamoond tribe, local government official Israr Khan told AFP. The tribesmen opened fire and killed three Taliban, including their commander, he said. The elders then took refuge in a guesthouse belonging to a local tribal chief, but more Taliban arrived, who besieged the house and demanded the local chief hand over the elders. "They opened fire and lobbed hand grenades inside, killing four elders and three servants of the tribal chief," Khan said.
Swat: At least 17 Taliban were killed and several injured in clashes with security forces in Swat on Tuesday, a military statement said. "Security forces fired artillery on Taliban hideouts in Kabal tehsil of Swat, which triggered a crossfire, killing seven Taliban," the statement said. Troops also killed eight Taliban following an abortive attempt by them to ambush a convoy of security forces in Khawazakhela area, the statement added.
Separately, one soldier was killed when a security patrol came under attack by the Taliban in Kanjoo area. "Twenty-seven suspected Taliban were arrested during a search operation in Kanjoo area," the statement added. It said that two more Taliban were killed and five others wounded in clashes with security forces in Mian Keley village.
Shabqadar: Security forces and Taliban clashed in Mian Kalay and Noranai areas of Shabqadar tehsil in Charsadda district, killing two Taliban and two civilians, including a woman, and wounding several others.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/19/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Why do you see so many NEW toyota truckes in this area of the world? just wondering
Posted by: chris ||
11/19/2008 7:51 Comments ||
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The general inspector of the Electricity Ministry on Tuesday survived an attempt on his life in western Baghdad, the media spokesman for the ministry said. "Saadi al-Sudani, the general inspector of the Electricity Ministry, survived an assassination attempt when an explosive charge went off in front of his house in al-Qadisiya neighborhood in western Baghdad," Aziz Sultan al-Shimri told Aswat al-Iraq. "The explosion injured the eldest son of al-Sudani," he added, noting that the inspector was not hurt.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/19/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Waiting for the Electricity Minister (Or Someone like him) ?
Aswat al-Iraq: U.S. forces arrested ten wanted and suspected gunmen during a security operation in the north of Baghdad, the U.S. army said on Tuesday in a statement.
"U.S. forces arrested three wanted men and seven suspected gunmen during a security operation in al-Tarimiya region in the Iraqi capital Baghdad," said the statement received by Aswat al-Iraq. "One of the wanted men is believed to provide armed groups with refuge, while the other is involved with training al-Qaeda elements on how to use bombs, the third booby-traps cars," the statement added.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/19/2008 00:00 ||
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Aswat al-Iraq: The casualties from the car bomb explosion that ripped through Sinjar district in west of Mosul on Tuesday rose to one dead and 16 wounded, a security source said. "A car bomb went off in a village in Sinjar district, 120 km west of Mosul, killing one and wounding 16," the source told Aswat al-Iraq. A security source had said earlier that one civilian man was killed and four others wounded when a car bomb went off in a village in the district of Sinjar on Tuesday
Posted by: Fred ||
11/19/2008 00:00 ||
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Aswat al-Iraq: Iraqi security forces killed one gunman, arrested 14 others, and defused 232 bombs in separate areas of Baghdad in the past 24 hours, the official spokesman for the Baghdad operations command said.
"Iraqi forces found also amounts of weapons and ammunitions in the Iraqi capital Baghdad," General Qassem Atta told Aswat al-Iraq. "A total of 15 displaced families have returned to their houses," he added. "Four Iraqi security elements were wounded during the operations," Atta noted.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/19/2008 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.
NEW DELHI: Even as the world's largest supertanker the Saudi Sirius Star continues to be in the grip of pirates of the coast of Somalia, the Indian navy appears to have taken the lead in the fight against pirates. 
BEIJING - A Hong Kong ship loaded with wheat bound for Iran was hijacked by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden on Tuesday, maritime officials said, the latest raid in the Horn of Africa's perilous waters. The Delight, with 25 crew members on board, was captured off the Yemen coast at around 0600 GMT and is currently sailing towards Somalia, an official at Hong Kong's Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre told Reuters by telephone.
At least 10 people were killed in clashes between the Taliban and pro-government tribal leaders in Bajaur Agency, officials said on Tuesday.
The general inspector of the Electricity Ministry on Tuesday survived an attempt on his life in western Baghdad, the media spokesman for the ministry said. "Saadi al-Sudani, the general inspector of the Electricity Ministry, survived an assassination attempt when an explosive charge went off in front of his house in al-Qadisiya neighborhood in western Baghdad," Aziz Sultan al-Shimri told Aswat al-Iraq. "The explosion injured the eldest son of al-Sudani," he added, noting that the inspector was not hurt.
Aswat al-Iraq: U.S. forces arrested ten wanted and suspected gunmen during a security operation in the north of Baghdad, the U.S. army said on Tuesday in a statement.
Aswat al-Iraq: The casualties from the car bomb explosion that ripped through Sinjar district in west of Mosul on Tuesday rose to one dead and 16 wounded, a security source said. "A car bomb went off in a village in Sinjar district, 120 km west of Mosul, killing one and wounding 16," the source told Aswat al-Iraq. A security source had said earlier that one civilian man was killed and four others wounded when a car bomb went off in a village in the district of Sinjar on Tuesday
Aswat al-Iraq: Iraqi security forces killed one gunman, arrested 14 others, and defused 232 bombs in separate areas of Baghdad in the past 24 hours, the official spokesman for the Baghdad operations command said.
