"He's a good boy. Really."
One is called a poet, a propagandist and Osama Bin Laden's protector. The other drove the Al-Qaeda chief around during the years he was plotting his worst terrorist attacks Sept. 11, the US Embassy bombings in East Africa, the USS Cole strike. Both Ali Hamza Ahmad Sulayman Al-Bahlul and Salim Ahmed Hamdan are from Yemen. Al-Bahlul, the seemingly flashier of the two, was Bin Laden's bodyguard in 2001 and "wore an explosives-laden belt" while protecting his boss, the US military alleges. Al-Bahlul apparently was a man of many talents and allegedly worked in the Al-Qaeda media operation before becoming a gunman. Bin Laden "personally tasked" Al-Bahlul to create a videotape glorifying the Al-Qaeda bomb attack against the USS Cole in a Yemeni port in 2000, killing 17 American sailors, according to US military prosecutors. "He is cultured and peace-loving. He speaks English and enjoys reading and writing poetry," Al-Bahlul's father, Hamza Ahmed, told the Associated Press.
"He likes curly-toed slippers and boom belts. Just your typical Arabian lad."
The Pentagon has accused Al-Bahlul of being a "key Al-Qaeda propagandist who produced videos glorifying the murder of Americans to recruit, inspire and motivate other Al-Qaeda members" to attack Americans. The media expert wasn't so successful, however, on Sept. 11, 2001 the day Al-Qaeda staged its hijacked plane attacks against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Bin Laden asked Al-Bahlul to set up a satellite connection so the Al-Qaeda leader and other members could watch news reports of the attack from Afghanistan, according to the US military charges, but failed "because of mountainous terrain." Al-Bahlul followed up by obtaining media reports of the attacks and their economic impact for Bin Laden, military prosecutors say.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/26/2004 10:22:55 PM ||
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#1
He speaks English and enjoys reading and writing poetry
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
I like killing infidels
Especially the Jew.
.
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
08/26/2004 7:59 Comments ||
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#2
I'm really starting to flinch when people talk about "peace". These guys are ruining a perfectly good word.
#3
Peace means submission to Islam. The peace of submission, not the western term for Peace of non-conflict. So the father is basically saying his son is a Jihadist which makes sense if they're rubbing elbows with Bin Laden.
My question is how good a bodyguard one would be while wearing an explosives laden belt. I mean its one thing to take a bullet for Bin Laden, but its another to have that bullet cause you to explode, increasing the changes Binnie is killed.
The crisis between the government and Sheikh Hussein Badr Al-Din Al-Houthi has been accelerating and increasing in terms of the scale of human and property losses. The War, however, has taken on a new appearance, as Al-Houthi's followers have begun to conduct guerrilla raids and have adopted war of attrition techniques. Such tactics were apparently not anticipated by military commanders, who declared the end of military operations three weeks ago, and said Al-Houthi's insurgency was dying. Sources reported that during the past two days the clashes between the military forces, (consisting of regiments from different army divisions), and Al-Houthi's followers, resulted in the deaths of 30 people, 11 of whom were troops and including a colonel who was killed in an ambush.
Let's calculate the kill ratio here hmm, carry the 3, times 6 toes, square root of 47, ... Nah, ain't lookin' too good.
The circle of military clashes has widened, reaching the Al-Buq'a area close to the Yemeni-Saudi border. 10 kilometers off Maran, fighting is still intensive in the areas of Al-Ruzamat, Al-Hamazat, Nashoor, Shafi'ah, and Hamdan bin Zaid. Al-Tajamou Weekly mentioned in its August 23rd issue that some 47 corpses and 39 wounded troops had arrived on August 22nd in Sana'a. Al-Wahdawi Weekly said in its August 24th issue that 120 corpses were found in the mountains and the fortifications restored by the army, after the attack carried out on Monday August 23rd. "Al-Houthi's Second-in-Command was killed in the attack along with three other leaders in the latest clashes," Al-Wahdawi added. Yet the same newspaper also reported that Al-Houthi's followers had announced regaining the areas earlier declared to be controlled by the army. "Media means do not have access to information about human and material losses. Yet, hospital corpses reveal the fact, and so does thousands of wounded scrambling into hospitals in Sa'ada, Hajah and Sana'a," said the newspaper. Al-Wahdawi quoted Yahya Badr Al-Din, Member of Parliament and brother to Hussein Al-Houthi as saying: "My brother was never the political leader of an organization that violates law."
"No, no! Certainly not!"
"What will the government gain from killing my brother?" he exclaimed.
They'll be rid of him permanently?
What will the government gain from keeping him alive?
He added: "Why doesn't our government reflect the example of the Iraqi one? The wise men assembled and offered Moqtada Al-Sadr the chance to participate in the political arena."
"And look at how well that worked!"
Posted by: Fred ||
08/26/2004 11:39:26 PM ||
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Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri has been arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences. He was arrested on Thursday morning at Belmarsh prison, in south-east London, where he is being held while he fights an attempt to extradite him to the US. Mr Abu Hamza is currently being questioned on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. Police said a 47-year-old man was held under the Terrorism Act on Thursday. The offences Mr Abu Hamza is being questioned over are alleged to have taken place in the UK. The Crown Prosecution Service say they are working with the police to see if charges will be brought. If they are, the charges will be given priority over the US extradition attempt. The 11 charges the US authorities want Mr Abu Hamza to face include giving advice to those involved in a Yemen kidnapping in which three Britons died in 1989. Other allegations include attempting to set up a terrorist training camp in the north-western state of Oregon and sending someone to Afghanistan to fight for the Taleban. But Mr Abu Hamza's legal team say he will not get a fair hearing if he is extradited to the US.
Posted by: Howard UK ||
08/26/2004 13:41 ||
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#1
Well it is about allah damned time! He should have his balls cut off and fed back to him raw, wrapped in bacon. It should be done on closed circuit pay per view, with all of the proceeds being used to finance our defensive war against the âslim ummah.
#9
Back in the day when hanging was de rigour at San Quentin, they would select a few ropes, carefully measure and cut them to size for the intended end user, and then attach to each a stone weight equal to the heft of the condemned. They would tag them with the recipientâs name/number and leave them hanging for months until all the stretch was taken out of them. On the day before the blessed event the best of the lot was selected and tied to the gallows. If it had been cut too long, the ill-fated fellow would merely bounce off the floor â causing sheepish grins and consternation all around. If too short, the body could not attain the velocity necessary in order to produce a satisfying snap, thus breaking the neck for a nearly instantaneous death, rather than the slower, more gruesome strangling a non-snapping event produces. (See above: sheepish grins and consternation.) A rope with the stretch left in will give that unintended bungee cord effect and not allow for the snapping thingy. (See above: slower, more gruesome strangling.)
So clearly no one would want to use a new rope. Except for mojo. And Mike. And the rest of us.
#11
Tobacconist-
Good detail! And if you happen to get hung in Iran, like a mouthy 16 yo girl, they just hoist you up by the rope and let you kick and strangle for minutes on end. Allah sure is merciful. BTW- I would not object to Cap'n Hook getting offed that way.
Indonesia has told Australia not to lecture or pressure Jakarta about dealing with the Bali bombers, warning it could result in a backlash by Islamic fundamentalists.
"You know what they're like..."
Indonesia's chief foreign affairs spokesman Marty Natalegawa rebuffed Foreign Minister Alexander Downer's suggestion Australia could seek to extradite some of the bombers. Dr Natalegawa said it was ridiculous to suggest the bombers were escaping punishment for their crimes. "That's not quite the case when we look at where we are factually, because most of the bombers are behind bars and justice has been served." Prime Minister John Howard on Wednesday vowed to push Indonesia into ensuring militants convicted of the Bali bombings were punished after a court dropped charges against one of the bombers. Jhoni Hendrawan, alias Idris, was on Tuesday sentenced to 10 years in prison for involvement in the bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Jakarta last year. But he was cleared of helping plan the October 2002 Bali bombings following a decision by Indonesia's Constitutional Court last month which barred the use of retroactive anti-terror laws enacted after the deadly attacks.
There aren't any laws in Indonesia against killing 202 people. 201's the limit...
Dr Natalegawa denied the bombers were getting away "scot-free" and warned Australia against making suggestions they were.
"Y'go making suggestions like that, bad things could happen!"
"What kinda bad things?"
"Let's just say... Do yer drinkin' at home!"
"To have an overbearing expression of interest in the micro-management of the trials may have the deleterious impact of leading to accusations Indonesia is bowing to foreign pressure," he said.
"Yeah! An' that overbearing expression of interest in the micro-management of the victims' funerals really stuck in our craw, too!"
"This type of comment may give credence to critics of the government. Our recommended approach would be to have confidence in the legal process and in the corridor of law rather than so-called diplomatic pressure." Prominent Islamic firebrand and suspected Jemaah Islamiah spiritual leader Abu Bakar Bashir and his supporters have accused the Indonesian government of bowing to foreign pressure by seeking to re-try him next month for terrorism.
After running this site for just under three years, I've come to the conclusion that "Islamic firebrand" is a poor translation of "bloodthirsty lunatic." It's starting to wear. We need a better translation.
Mr Howard said he would leave no stone unturned to ensure the militants were punished, and said he would "put all the legitimate pressure we can on the Indonesian government to make certain that these people remain in jail". Mr Downer phoned his Indonesian counterpart Hassan Wirayuda and said Australia could seek to extradite some of the bombers to face justice if Indonesian legal efforts failed as a result of the Constitutional Court ruling. But Dr Natalegawa said it was unlikely Jakarta would ever agree to Indonesian citizens being deported to Australia to face court. "That's certainly not on our horizon. We are firmly focused here," he said.
Posted by: tipper ||
08/26/2004 1:46:51 AM ||
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Why not bomb the F out of Jakarta and warn the Indos not the lecture the Aussies, else it could cause a backlash.
Posted by: ed ||
08/26/2004 9:16 Comments ||
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#2
looks to me like Jhoni Hendrawan cooperated and got a lighter sentence.
#3
Indonesia has told Australia not to lecture or pressure Jakarta about dealing with the Bali bombers, warning it could result in a backlash by Islamic fundamentalists.
Translation: Indonesia has no control over its population.
#4
Jhoni Hendrawan, alias Idris, was on Tuesday sentenced to 10 years in prison for involvement in the bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Jakarta last year.
1.) What does "involvement" mean?
2.) How does a 10-year sentence for the killing of a dozen people compare to sentences for similar crimes passed down in other nations?
#6
Why not bomb the F out of Jakarta and warn the Indos not the lecture the Aussies, else it could cause a backlash.CAVEAT: I think Indonesia is an ally in the WOT, despite the countryâs unique (and to the West) often inexplicable social-political gaffes (note: I previously posted about these cultural differences at some length). I also think the MSM tries to capitalize on the ethnocentricity of the West, and the fears of the West, to boost interest in what would otherwise be the rather mundane and tedious administration of justice executed on murderous islamofascists.The now infamous â10-year sentenceâ and âBali bombings acquittalâ are a MSM red herring. THERE IS NOTHING UNUSAL GOING ON HERE, AND IT DOES NOT MEAN INDONESIA SUPPORTS ISLAMOFASCISTS. Indonesia, despite its own unique and inexplicable gaffes, is not Malaysia.
Substitute a U.S. Judge and verdict and see how the story plays out. Congress passes a law. The law is applied retroactively against a murderous terrorist involved in a bloodthirsty massacre. On appeal the terrorist prevails because ex post facto laws are unconstitutional. Meanwhile, on a separate charge the terrorist is given a ten year sentence for minor involvement in another terrorist act. The prosecution (in the massacre case) plans to re-file charges under older law that wonât be retroactive with respect to the massacre. EVERYONE EXPECTS THE MURDEROUS TRAITOR WILL EVENTUALY BE EXECUTED FOR HIS CRIMES. Pretty mundane and tedious, isnât it?
No matter how the MSM spins this tale, no matter how alarming they make these developments seem, THE STORY ISN'T OVER AND THE RI GOVERNMENT ISN'T PLAYING FAVORITES WITH an ISLAMOFASCIST. Despite the alarming title, this story (Bali bomb verdicts start to unravel; login = trufan, password = trufan, HT to bugmenot.com) is quite a bit more balanced and includes the following:
However, an expert on Indonesian law said Australians need not be overly worried that the perpetrators of the Bali attacks would walk free. "People shouldn't be afraid of it. There are plenty of other grounds on which the Indonesians can get these people," said Tim Lindsey, an associate professor at the University of Melbourne Asian Law Centre.
Murder, arson and illegally transporting explosives were more conventional charges they could face which would also carry hefty [editorial note: "hefty," like as in "death"] sentences.
The principle of double jeopardy - not trying someone for the same crime twice - would not apply if the Bali bombers' appeals were accepted, as the verdicts would not be reversed but quashed, Dr Lindsey said. "That means they never existed."
And the RI Government starts fresh so that it can TRY HIM FAIR, HANG (or shoot) HIM FAIR.
via Herald Sun Terror and the law
26aug04
ATTORNEY-General Philip Ruddock's warning that Australia is a terror target is hardly a surprise. But it is comes as an angry nation fumes over the news that one of the confessed Bali bombers has been cleared on a technicality. A court ruling means that terrorist Idris, one of those responsible for killing 202 people, including 88 Australians, cannot be found guilty because the law under which he was charged was retrospective. However Idris will not go free, because he has also been jailed for 10 years for playing a minor role in last year's suicide bombing of a Jakarta hotel, which killed 12 people. But his success in ducking the Bali charge raises the prospect that other Islamic extremists among the convicted Bali bombers could be freed if they appeal. Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer suggests that Indonesia should simply charge Idris with murder. Murder is murder and does not need to be related to terrorism to justify a charge. Australians are entitled to demand that Canberra push this point hard in Jakarta. There will be some shorts in a bunch over this one.
Posted by: .com ||
08/26/2004 3:02:27 AM ||
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...Funny that yesterday it was announced that the RAAF will be purchasing cruise missiles...
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
08/26/2004 9:16 Comments ||
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A Philippine official has made it clear that a suspected Abu Sayyaf rebel accused of kidnapping admitted he was trained by Indonesian members of the Southeast Asian terror group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI). Nidjal Padjiran's admission was made while he was questioned after his arrest last month in southern Zamboanga city for his alleged role in kidnappings in the southern Philippines, the Philippine Star daily Thursday quoted state prosecutor Peter Medalle as saying. Padjiran said he and other Abu Sayyaf members were trained in bombing and other fighting warfare techniques on southern Jolo island in 2002 by two Indonesian militants belonging to al-Qaeda-linked JI, according to Medalle. However, a handcuffed Padjiran shook his head when asked by reporters Wednesday if he had been trained by JI, the report said, adding that he did acknowledge he was once a member of the Abu Sayyaf.
The Philippine military has been told by many former Abu Sayyaf hostages about the terror training in the southern Philippine island of Jolo's jungles, which draw concerns from the United States over reported JI camps in the country's volatile south. Padjiran has been charged for his alleged involvement in the kidnapping of six priests in Jolo, Sulu in 2002, outgoing Justice Secretary Merceditas Gutierrez said. Two of the hostages were beheaded and the rest escaped. Padjiran allegedly may have also been involved in the 2000 abduction by Abu Sayyaf rebels of 21 mostly Western tourists from the Malaysian resort of Sipadan, and a bomb attack that killed a US soldier and two Filipino civilians in Zamboanga in October 2002.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
08/26/2004 2:25:31 AM ||
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A bomb exploded at a busy morning market in Thailand's troubled Muslim-dominated south Thursday, wounding at least 20 people, a police official said. The device hidden in a motorcycle blew up at a market where police and soldiers often stop for breakfast in the Sukhirin district of Narathiwat province, police Lt. Col. Amnuay Pongsawat said. Police believe the bomb was triggered by remote control when a truck carrying security officials arrived. Four soldiers, six police officers and about 10 bystanders were wounded in the attack, seven of them seriously. The blast also damaged motorcycles and trucks parked nearby, he said. The attack came as a once-formidable Thai separatist group, the Pattani United Liberation Organization, posted a message on its Web site warning southern Muslims against frequenting nightclubs, police checkpoints, airports, railways and areas where important Thai officials may travel.
"Stop that unseemly frivolty and mirth!"
I sometimes wonder how Thailand manages to have any Muslims at all. The (Buddhist) Thais' relaxed attitudes toward life, their liking for jokes and puns, the pretty girls and often raunchy conversation must drive proper turbans nuts. But I repeat myself...
Posted by: Fred ||
08/26/2004 11:52:59 PM ||
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The imported turbans prolly do not need boom belts. Just a quick trip thru the Bankok red light district, the internal cranial pressure goes screaming past "Never Exceed" and ...
Like a vampire Vs. daylight, but a lot more exothermic.
Posted by: N Guard ||
08/26/2004 6:59 Comments ||
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Posted by: Fred ||
08/26/2004 16:46 Comments ||
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#2
no its different now, Allawi signed on, as well as Sistani and Tater. Deal is done.
Which doesnt mean Tater wont violate it. But its really a different game if he does that, now that Sistanis involved. Sistani loses ALOT of face if Sadr breaks this deal.
#4
If Tater and the Tots looted the mosque, even Sistani cannot ignore that. If Sistani lets it go, then all this holy mosque⢠Sh*t is just that, and Sistani's word is worthless, even to Joe Average Sit'ite. If Iraq is going to grow and evolve, it will have to be done through these convoluted events. Ima not optomistic, but I hope for the better.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
08/26/2004 17:56 Comments ||
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#5
I hate to be a critic, but anyone ever notice how much these triple holy places look like grand Florida hotels of the 1920s? Tacky is Tacky.
#8
Why do I get the feeling that this agreement isn't going to do a thing to help the Govt. of Iraq gain any credibility with the Iraqis? I hope Sistani isn't a Khomeni wolf in sheep's clothing.
#9
Expect Sadr to back out of the deal.
He has broken every one so far.
I expect Sadr to be taken out with a 7.62X54R just to make it look like a "muslim" did it. We got to wack this dirt ball. No Sadr, no more crap from the fool.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/26/2004 14:40 ||
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Militants are increasing attacks to portray the pullout as a defeat, while Israel has carried out tough crackdowns to show it's leaving of its own volition.
Ahhhh... "Hezbollah history rewrite - the sequel". Fooling themselves will not help reforms or building a society from the suicide death cult loserville's now in place. Rockets into Israel will only bring fresh Gaza rubble and heliozapping
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/26/2004 15:11 Comments ||
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Posted by: Fred ||
08/26/2004 13:42 ||
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Swine. The fact that they would do such a thing makes it crystal clear that the "insurgents" have no interest in participating in a self-supporting Iraq. All they care about is wreaking havoc and gaining dominion over the people.
Posted by: Chris W. ||
08/26/2004 13:54 Comments ||
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#2
It's an economic war.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/26/2004 14:17 Comments ||
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The Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) on Tuesday arrested a man with close links to outlaws in Khulna region suspecting his role in the grenade attack on an Awami League (AL) rally in Dhaka. The elite force arrested Kamrul, who maintains close ties with the Janajuddho faction of outlawed Purba Bangler Communist Party, for suspected role in the attack that killed 19 people and injured over 200 others. Sources said Rab officials were grilling him in an undisclosed place in Dhaka to find out clues to the crime and operatives who probably carried out the well-orchestrated bombing in the heart of Dhaka.
A source said Rab officials were reeling from the ruling alliance pressure to release Kamrul as he enjoys the backing of two influential legislators -- one from Khulna and the other from Pirojpur. Sources in Dhaka and Khulna said Kamrul's two younger brothers Shoeb, also known as Ripon, and Sumon alias Babu, are self-styled commanders of the Janajuddho hit men and most trusted confidants of faction boss Tapan. Kamrul does not have any official link to the outfit, but works secretly for it, they said.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/26/2004 12:18:27 PM ||
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Suspected rebels killed four alleged police informers and a policeman in separate shootings in insurgency-hit Kashmir, police said yesterday. Masked militants shot dead two Muslims overnight at close range in the village of Safarwaw Gund near Kangan, a well-known picnic spot 40km northeast of the summer capital Srinagar, a police spokesman said. Late on Monday, rebels also shot dead two other Muslims in the southern Pulwama and central Budgam districts at close range, the spokesman said. "The four were suspected to be police informers," the spokesman said, adding that three of the victims were killed after being abducted from their homes. In another attack late on Monday, suspected rebels shot dead a policeman at a busy bus stand in Sopore town, 50km north of Srinagar, police said. A taxi driver was injured in the shooting. The policeman worked with the counter-insurgency wing of the local force. No rebel group has claimed responsibility for the five killings.
The insurgency has escalated recently despite a dialogue launched in January between India and Pakistan aimed at ending their nearly six-decade-old dispute over the future of the Himalayan region. Meanwhile, separatist guerrillas have started a campaign of arson in Jammu and Kashmir to "teach a lesson to informers and their families", police officials here said. The guerrillas set ablaze and reduced to ashes the house of Ali Akbar in Galuti village in Rajouri district, about 180 km north of winter capital Jammu on Monday night, officials said. Police believe the attack was a follow-up to a threat by the Hizbul Mujahideen group that it would act against people who had fled their homes in remote villages if they did not return. The threat had been made a few days ago through notices pasted on mosques in areas near the Pir Panjal mountain range. Akbar's house of bricks and mortar with eight rooms spacious was reduced to rubble in the fire allegedly lit by Hizb cadres. Akbar had fled Galuti following a gun battle in which security forces killed two Lashker-e-Taiba terrorists on December 20 last year. There are many like Akbar in remote villages who abandoned their properties and fled to the safety of towns to save themselves from the guerrillas.
Posted by: TS(vice girl) ||
08/26/2004 9:25:46 AM ||
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Tribesmen in a near-inaccessible Pakistani valley have risen up against a chief who has imposed Taleban-style laws. After returning from Saudi Arabia to the Tirah valley in Pakistan's Khyber Agency, tribal chief Haji Namdar set about enforcing laws echoing the Ministry for the Suppression of Vice and the Promotion of Virtue in Taleban-run Afghanistan. But after operating fairly discreetly since last November, his organisation has now split into two factions, with some tribal chiefs accusing him of "religious terrorism". Initially, the valley's mainly Afridi tribes people welcomed the organisation's commitment to curbing lawlessness. It offered an alternative to the Khyber Agency's official administration - a political agent endorsed by the government - which many regarded as incompetent. But the tide of popular support slowly disappeared. As one tribesman put it: "The organisation is effectively mirroring what the Taleban did in Afghanistan. It won public support by addressing the security deficit and then it shifted focus to introducing a more rigid form of Islam."
Former federal minister and a local tribal chief, Malik Waris Khan, told the BBC: "Initially, it did some laudable deeds like settling old tribal disputes. But then it started losing direction. People grew weary of it because of the use of violence to make people pray." Volunteers hit men for not covering their heads or not growing beards in what is deemed the proper style and length. Music was banned, as was television. Every worshipper had to sign the mosque's register to verify they had offered prayers. Haji Namdar's opponents say he ran three private jails with names such as Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib to punish those who defied his orders. A group led by tribal chief, Haji Malik Zareef, rebelled against Haji Namdar. The factions have been involved in fierce clashes and a number of lives have been lost. Haji Malik Zareef says: "Haji Namdar had resorted to religious terrorism. He started doing things that were completely unacceptable to the tribes. People were beaten up with batons like animals."
Many are questioning why the central government has remained silent on the Tirah valley issue when it is more active on hard-line Islamists in other tribal areas. Tribesman Ghalib Afridi says: "On the one hand the Musharraf government is telling the world it is against religious extremism, but at home he is turning a deaf ear to it." Governance in the Khyber Agency has often been a grey area, with a number of private, armed organisations operating in the name of improving security. Perhaps surprisingly, the security chief in the tribal lands, retired Brigadier Mehmood Shah, says the government has no objection to organisations that "help it improve law and order in the tribal areas". However, Brigadier Shah says the government will not permit them to run private prisons, make arbitrary arrests or set up radio stations.
Posted by: Paul Moloney ||
08/26/2004 6:55:32 AM ||
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Doctors say at least 25 bodies and more than 100 wounded have been brought to the Middle Euphrates hospital after the explosions. They are appealing for aid from hospitals in other southern cities in Diwaniyah, Hilla and Karbala. The wounded, the majority of them men, are stretched out in the hospital's garden and groaning in agony in the corridors. Witnesses say hundreds had gathered at the mosque, preparing to greet Iraq's Shiite Muslim spiritual leader Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, when the mortars struck at around 8:00am local time. "There were hundreds of us," witness Hani Hashim said. "We came early this morning to the mosque. We were waiting for Sistani, inside and outside. Then at 8:00am, two mortars exploded, one near the outer gate and the other inside the compound." It is not immediately clear where the mortars came from.
Posted by: Paul Moloney ||
08/26/2004 4:57:41 AM ||
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#1
Well it's pretty clear to me, they came from Sadr and his allies (Iran). Sadr has been trying to eleminate all contenders for leading the Sheites. Iran would love to claim that mantle and Sadar is a stupid tool. This is no Bathist strong hold.
#6
Forensic tests take a bit of time and quite a bit of effort but they can show what kind of mortar was used and also generally show where the mortar was fired from.
Gunmen wearing desert uniforms and driving Hummers perhaps?
Posted by: Murat ||
08/26/2004 9:44 Comments ||
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#11
Looks like fairly incontrevertible proof, shit-fer-brains.
Posted by: Howard UK ||
08/26/2004 10:13 Comments ||
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#12
"Ofcourse the USA would never do such thing, killing Muslims."
>Of course we would Murat, but give us some credit - we'd do a better job then just 25 kia's and 100 wia's - double that number and you'd be a little closer. Silly boy.
#13
Amateurs. A high tech cluster bomb would have gotten the whole lot.
Posted by: ed ||
08/26/2004 10:26 Comments ||
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#14
Yep, that's why we've been bending over backwards fo Al-Sistani. MuRAT, you truly are a dumbass troll, and your patter gets worse every post...regression therapy for Islamic poisoning?
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/26/2004 10:52 Comments ||
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#15
Wow tough words from Frank Gabble, hope you enjoy bending over to Al-Sistani
Posted by: Murat ||
08/26/2004 11:08 Comments ||
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#16
Ofcourse the USA would never do such thing, killing Muslims.
Hey, I'm not picky; I believe in equal opportunity. Screw with Americans, and I'll support killing your ass, no matter what denomination you are.
#18
Murat: Of course we'd kill muslims...heck they practically beg us to everyday. I don't see what the big deal is about killing members of a death cult.
Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
08/26/2004 12:35 Comments ||
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#20
Hey, I'm not picky; I believe in equal opportunity. Screw with Americans, and I'll support killing your ass, no matter what denomination you are.
But what if the Americans started it first?
#22
Murat - this highlights the difference between our culture and yours.
We could easily turn Iraq into glass, tomorrow if we wanted to. But though we could, we won't.
Muslims would if they could, but they can't.
That's a difference important for you and yours to remember.
Posted by: B ||
08/26/2004 12:48 Comments ||
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#23
now if we killed our enemies like the turks do then maybe we could get somewhere..
Posted by: Dan ||
08/26/2004 12:51 Comments ||
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#24
You know, it just occured to me that the Iman Ali Mosque is founded on the location of where Ali was killed by soldiers of the then-Caliphate, who one can safely conclude were Moslems, way back when...
Posted by: Phil Fraering ||
08/26/2004 13:11 Comments ||
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Well, what is "it"?
Culpability for the deaths of 100s of 1000s of fellow citizens through gassing, ethnic exterminations, and political reprisals?
Breaking UN resolutions agreed to as a condition of surrender from the 1st Gulf War?
Hiding illegal weapons and weapons programs?
Siphoning Oil For Food dollars for personal gain and power?
Use of Iron Maidens, meat grinders, and eye gouging to punish people you imagine are against you?
Bribing families to sacrifice their babies as martyrs for a violent religion?
As far as our generation is concerned, all of these actions started in the dear ol Mid East.
What we did start is the idea (and the ACTION) that megalomaniacal murderers should be forcibly removed from power-hence Saddam's removal from Iraq. We are all in debt to George Bush for being the sole leader in the world in this century to ENFORCE rule of law.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
08/26/2004 01:05 ||
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#1
Here are two seemingly conflicting quotes from the same Sheik:
"It's not like before. The area we control has significantly shrunk. We are losing...
"They (the Americans) are trying to maintain their control on Najaf because they have failed everywhere else in Iraq," said Sheikh Ahmed al-Shaibani. ...because of our previous victories.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
08/26/2004 3:03 Comments ||
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#2
Sadr losing parts of Najaf
What I want to know is, when is Sadr going to lose his life?
via Al Guardian
Ewen MacAskill and Conal Urquhart in Ramallah - Thursday August 26, 2004
A British journalist, Ewa Jasiewicz, was ordered to be deported from Israel yesterday after a court ruled that her "naivety" could be exploited by Palestinian militants. Jasiewicz, 26, a freelance journalist who writes for the leftwing monthly Red Pepper, went to court after being refused entry to the country on August 11. She has been detained at Ben Gurion airport since then. I'm so sorry, young lady, but you're a tool. Best you run along home, now.
As well as working as a journalist, Jasiewicz has also worked as a human rights activist in the West Bank. Can you say "cover"? I knew you could.
She is to appeal against the decision. The court granted her a 48-hour reprieve to allow her to take the appeal to the supreme court. Sure, okay. Maybe they'll find your act a tad more worthy. No, no - don't thank us, we do this for all the lost causes and boneheads.
The editor of Red Pepper, Hilary Wainwright, said the suggestion of naivety was absurd. "Anyone who cares about democracy and freedom of the press must urge the British government to intervene," she said. Red Pepper? Not Green? How curious.
Yes, call in the government, their our tool, now.
Yael Barda, Jasiewicz's lawyer, said: "Two judges in Israel have decided that Ms Jasiewicz is not a security threat, yet they have denied her entry into Israel because of her ideological beliefs." How, um, terminally embarassing to be declared too dense to recognize you're simply a tool. Publicly. By a Government. But of course the LLL has no shame, so it will be lost upon her - a mere wind passing aloft, unheard.
Posted by: .com ||
08/26/2004 12:18:20 AM ||
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They don't feel shame like we do...
Posted by: Fred ||
08/26/2004 0:20 Comments ||
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" For the last eight months Ewa Jasiewicz has been living in Baghdad and Basra, supporting human rights groups, womens organisations, families, workers, trade unionists and Palestinian refugees. She also lived for 6 months with terrorists communities of resistance in Jenin and Nablus in Occupied Palestine, volunteering with Paramedics at the Red Crescent Society, monitoring checkpoints, delivering food and medicine, accompanying council workers, teachers and children during curfew [during curfews you don't accompany people, because they are supposed to stay indoors], and organising demonstrations [oh yes, that's what journalists do in foreign countries?]. She has written for Red Pepper, Electronic Iraq, Z-Net, Counterpunch, Infoshop, Occupation Watch and The Socialist Review in the US.
Sorry, she is not "naive", but she's not a "journalist" either. Just because you write about what you do doesn't make you a journalist.
#4
Another James Miller. The process of natural selection amongst asshats continues apace..
Posted by: Howard UK ||
08/26/2004 5:08 Comments ||
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#5
I gritted my teeth and had a two-minute look at the Red Pepper website wherein our heroine has vented her feelings. Concerning her detention, she said that she was being treated "not bad, but 50 million times better than Palestinian prisoners."
Anyone who knows anything about the subject knows that Palestinian prisoners are treated with kid gloves in Israeli jails. As an example, they are given top-quality meals. (Their hunger strike has nothing to do with the food).
TGA is right. The woman is no journalist. And two minutes was enough time to find out that Red Pepper is the kind of magazine that doesn't let the facts interfere with propaganda.
Six British Harrier jump-jets will be deployed in Afghanistan to assist coalition forces ahead of the country's election this fall, officials said Wednesday. The Royal Air Force's GR7 jets will be based in the former Taliban stronghold of Kandahar, in southern Afghanistan, defense chiefs said in a statement. It will be the first time that Britain has deployed combat aircraft in Afghanistan, despite its heavy involvement in the U.S.-led coalition that toppled Taliban.
The decision to send the jump jets, famous for their vertical takeoffs and landings, comes as Afghanistan faces a tense period in the run-up to October's election. The Harriers are expected to spend nine months in Kandahar, providing close air support and reconnaissance for coalition troops. Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon said their deployment underlined Britain's commitment to the NATO mission in Afghanistan. "The Royal Air Force crews will provide a highly capable and credible force which will contribute to improving the security environment in the region," he said. Initially, 315 army and air force soldiers will be sent to Afghanistan along with the warplane, but that deployment will later be reduced to 230, officials said. The first group of British soldiers will be sent to Afghanistan on Thursday, including engineers who will prepare Kandahar airfield for the Harriers, officials said. The soldiers also will prepare for the arrival of the main British deployment, which is to be operational by the end of September ahead of Afghanistan's national election on Oct. 9.
Now let's see if the French and Germans will increase their NATO commitment to Afghanistan.
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/26/2004 12:01:57 AM ||
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....The Royal Air Force: Another reason there will always be an England.
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
08/26/2004 0:29 Comments ||
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My wife is a poll worker. I'm sure that she will want a jump-jet at her precinct as well.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
08/26/2004 0:36 Comments ||
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It's times like these I wonder why we ever told the buggers to get lost!
#4
Roll out the Sopwith Camels of the esteemed Royal Flying Corps.. Chocks away Ginger, let's bag some wogs...
Posted by: Howard UK ||
08/26/2004 6:05 Comments ||
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Nice training for our boys in a combat zone enviroment , as long as pilots and support staff are rotation .
Personally I would like to see more than 6 aircraft plus logistics
Jay Deshmukh, Agence France Presse
The smell of burned flesh filled the air and blood smeared the deserted streets of Najaf's Old City yesterday after heavy US airstrikes on Shiite militia positions around Iraq's revered Imam Ali shrine. From early yesterday, heavy US artillery fire followed fighter plane missile attacks, devastating neighborhoods in the historic heart of the central city. As the US campaign lessened in the hot afternoon sun, frightened residents barricaded themselves indoors, determined to bear the brunt of the crippling summer heat rather than wander the empty streets. Those who did venture out, or peep through the broken windows or blasted door frames, could barely disguise their fear. "It was the heaviest attack in many days especially the first during daytime," said Ali Jasim, a 36-year-old civil servant holed up in one house. "Not only did airplanes drop missiles, but Apache helicopters fired at suspected militiamen in our area and tanks crawled all over the place firing at whatever they saw. All the three at the same time." One young man who was standing outside his house shot by soldiers from the helicopter, he said. "You can see his blood all over that corner in the mud," Jasim said pointing.
Shiite militia holed up in the neighborhood fought against the American and Iraqi soldiers. "The militia has a lot of snipers around. They shot at a lot of Iraqi soldiers who have been moving around in the area since Tuesday," he said. Hundreds of heavily-armed Iraqi National Guardsmen and US Marines had fanned out across the Old City around the shrine late Tuesday. But the Iraqi security troops were invisible in the afternoon. Some residents thought they would return later for another overnight assault. Instead, US tanks crawled through the streets and Humvees were stationed at various intersections. Thick black smoke rose from a nearby residential block. "The worst thing is that all entries to the city were blocked. Many of us who have families and had gone out early in the morning were worried as they could not get back to their homes," said Sayed Haider Al-Yasiri. Guiding an AFP correspondent to a nearby street corner, Yasiri pointed out an unexploded bomb lying outside a shuttered shop. "Look at this and see what has happened out here. Imagine if a child picks it up," he said, dressed in a white robe and chewing on a mouthful of tobacco.
Scared residents of the Old City, who have born the brunt of the battle since fighting first flared three weeks ago, were yesterday helpless and angry with the US military. "We want to get rid of the militia, but not in this way. Such heavy pounding would destroy whatever is left of our homes," said Mohammed, a taxi driver. The mute spectators to the fight are dozens of those broken lampposts, hanging electric wires, spent cartridges and glass splinters, gaping holes and the fear etched on people's faces. "Why can't there be a peaceful solution to this whole issue?"
Because Tater won't vacate the mosque? Because his cannon fodder's defending him with their blood?
Posted by: Fred ||
08/26/2004 10:31:59 PM ||
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My question is why do we still have "civilians" in this town? Wouldnt it be prudent to abandon ones home if it has become a war zone rather than bitch and moan when you have to see one of tater's tots get opened up on a nearby wall? You know, there wouldnt even be a fight there if tater wasnt pussy and hiding out in the mosque.
âLook at this and see what has happened out here. Imagine if a child picks it up,â Take the child elsewhere. Houses and buildings can be rebuilt and you staying there isnt going to accomplish anything except for putting you and your children at risk. So if you are there it is of your own free will.
âWe want to get rid of the militia, but not in this way." Tater isnt going to come out if we offer him roses. He has proved that, so now we offer him bullets. He didnt want to play nice so we have to play hard. You want him out, this is what its going to take. You want an alternative when there isnt one.
#2
AFP reporter has no reports of civilian casualties so he, instead, detects the smell of burnt flesh. In the absence of refugees, the AFP reporter points out that people are inconvenienced by the daytime fighting which prevents them from taking a stroll. In the AFP all Iraqi windows are broken and all Iraqi housing districts are smoke-filled.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
08/26/2004 0:34 Comments ||
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Blood In Najaf (with apologies to Tex Ritter)
1. There was blood on the Imam and blood all around,
And a great big puddle of blood on the ground.
2. A Jihadi lay in it all covered with gore,
And he never will fire an RPG any more.
3. Oh, pity the Tater Tot, all bloody and red,
For a JDAM fell near him and bashed in his head.
4. There was blood on the Imam and blood all around
And a great big puddle of blood on the ground.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
08/26/2004 0:42 Comments ||
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"Smell of burned flesh, blood smeared...."
Hmmm, thought this might be an expose of conditions in a French retirement home during vacation season. Maybe the editor quashed it but decided to re-use the imagery.
#6
I heard on the radio a report that the US sent AC130's along the main street leading to the shrine, firing at all the cars parked along the road. All of the cars had "significant" secondary explosions. Hmmm...
#9
"You couldn't make this stuff up." Almost a comedy but dramtic to the max. AC-130s sanitiseing approachs, Apaches, noise, prayers, chanting and dancing. A devils dance.
For what? Freedom! Freedom from what? From something some hold dear. Tyrants! They know this and they use it. And GIs pay. It's the children that matter. Turn the next generation and civility has a chance. Try TV!
#10
This is his Apocalype Now moment and, well, there's no napalm, so...
One has to wonder what goes through the mind of an AFP reporter, thoroughly steeped in anti-US rhetoric and BS, seeing the Jarines & Cav reducing this "force" at will, using only a tiny fraction of their firepower, and applying it with great restraint. Anyone who is even remotely honest with himself has to be feel the quandry - the schizophrenia of their position. Everyone is changed by war - and those who force themselves to stay when they would rather run away screaming eventually begin to get it, much like the embedded press did during the push to Baghdad and early fighting in the city. This Jay Deshmukh, an unfortunate moniker (heh), will get it if he watches the US forces peacefully withdraw when the Shi'a "march" arrives.
And that's another topic... Sistani is reasserting himself, his power, with this grandstanding stunt. This march is meant to demonstrate it. A demonstration for Allawi, Tater, the US /UK, and Teheran. I think he'll turn out to be an asshole who'll demand to subvert any real democratic reforms, but we'll see.
#13
Yes, we do. We look forward to you writing the instructions for the nuke that will be used against us hassols. Thank you so much for bringing these delusions to our attention, brave 179. I hereby promote you to 178. Keep up the good work.
#14
Tell me, 179, does Stalinist bullshit like you just posted actually still have an audience in Europe? Are you backward ass swamp-dwellers and troglodytes really that gullible?
#20
Yep, there he is, on page 179 of the Roger Tory Peterson's Field Guide to the Trolls of Greater Rantburg & Vicinity the "Common Red Marxian Troll."
Posted by: Mike ||
08/26/2004 8:37 Comments ||
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...179, shaddup or we get the spiders.
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
08/26/2004 9:13 Comments ||
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#10-Yep, Sistani is just one more mystic posing as an Islamic savior.
To #179-Yes, there is truth in what you say- but you're missing the biggest other truth-that if your Islamic "brothers" would act like human beings, it wouldn't lead to others treating them like dirt. We aren't interested in installing puppet governments; we are interested in removing any and all tyrants from our world. Hopefully, your people will realize that it IS within themselves to join the modern world and leave worn-out ideas and death-producing cults behind you.
#26
Scared residents of the Old City, who have born the brunt of the battle since fighting first flared three weeks ago, were yesterday helpless and angry with the US military. âWe want to get rid of the militia, but not in this way. Such heavy pounding would destroy whatever is left of our homes,â said Mohammed, a taxi driver.
This guy sounds like he's either Palestinian, of Palestinian descent, or was educated in a Palestinian school.
#28
Summer phase, waiving his cute little hammer and sickle around.
Posted by: Mike ||
08/26/2004 14:30 Comments ||
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#29
Super Hose on your #2 comment: Right on the mark. A recent John O'Sullivan column discusses how readers must now be able to discern dailies such as the NYT with the skill of Kremlin Watchers. Of course those folks worked for intelligence or State. Only some of us can read an article like this one and see what is omitted, and know how to fill in the blanks. But it's damn hard to do even if your reading skills and antennae are top-level. Result: Most folks would read it and conclude only the innocent are the victims.
#31
that was just his braggin that among the Army of Stevesâ¢, that he had the biggest hose...
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/26/2004 18:41 Comments ||
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#32
You all of you scum, did you realize that this peoples are defending themselves against an army of invaders and another one of Iraqi mercenarythemselves for a puppet regime because scum like you hassols your country one day will be nuked
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.
Muslim cleric 
