Several lawmakers — mostly Muslim fundamentalists and tribal representatives who oppose women's political rights_ are challenging the appointment of Kuwait's first female Cabinet member as unconstitutional, one of them said Tuesday. Ten legislators had signed a request to discuss the appointment in Parliament, a step that could lead to taking it to the Constitutional Court, legislator Faisal al-Mislim said. Massouma al-Mubarak, a U.S.-educated university teacher and women's rights activist, was appointed Sunday but has not assumed her post. She is awaiting a decree from the emir or his deputy the crown prince, both of whom are ailing. The measure is only procedural.
Al-Mubarak's appointment became possible when lawmakers in this tiny, oil-rich country granted women the right to vote and run for Parliament on May 16. Kuwaiti women had been kept out of the political scene by a 43-year-old election law that limited political rights to men. On Sunday, al-Mubarak was given the planning and administrative development portfolios in Cabinet. Tribal representatives and fundamentalists believe women should not mix freely with men and should stay home to care for their families. Now that al-Mubarak has been appointed, some are claiming that she does not satisfy one of the conditions for becoming a minister, which is being an "eligible voter." They say al-Mubarak cannot be considered an eligible voter because she is not registered as one. Voter registration takes place every February.
"If the appointment came after registration, we couldn't have argued," al-Mislim said. "Yes, we opposed giving women political rights, but it is now law. However, the execution of this law was hasty and constitutionally questionable." Lawmaker Deiffallah Bou Ramia, who collected the 10 signatures, was not available to comment, but his media adviser, Nasser al-Hussaini, said the request for discussion would be filed next week. Al-Mubarak said constitutional scholars had ruled that voter registration was not a requirement, and "those who want to throw doubts ... will look for a reason" to do so. The prime minister, Sheik Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah, said Monday that al-Mubarak's appointment was constitutional, and the "decision has been made."
Kuwaiti women have reached high positions in oil, education and the diplomatic corps, but they were kept out of politics until recently because of the now-amended election law. Al-Mubarak expected the decree finalizing her new job to be signed by Crown Prince Sheik Saad Al Abdullah Al Sabah when he is released from the hospital Wednesday. He was admitted June 9 suffering from high blood sugar levels.
Soon to be followed by a succession of nebulous complaints that should keep him in hospital for the duration of Ms. al-Mubarak's term...
Saudi police arrested a suspicious person who was spotted while scrutinizing a building that houses the offices of a U.S. company in east Riyadh. Daily al-Riyadh said Tuesday the man was spotted going around the building in his car several times in the neighborhood of Janadriya, sparking the suspicion of the company guards. Police ordered the man to stop and shot him when he tried to escape. "The man suffered a minor injury and was rushed to hospital, as policemen cordoned off the area and conducted searches for more suspects," the paper said. The identity of the suspect was not released.
Posted by: Steve ||
06/14/2005 09:06 ||
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#1
Probably just a Jehovah's Whitness or something.
#2
Something is in the works:
"Sent: Sunday, June 12, 2005 8:26 AM
Subject: Warden Message.
WARDEN MESSAGE
June 8, 2005
The Embassy requests that wardens pass the following message in its entirety to members of the American Community:
The American Embassy advises American citizens in Saudi Arabia that Saudi Public Security has notified residents of Western housing compounds in the Dhahran region of a possible terrorist threat against compounds housing Americans. Following consultations with Saudi authorities, the U.S. Embassy is aware of no specific terrorist threat at this time. American citizens should, nonetheless, maintain a heightened awareness of their surroundings and be alert to possible security threats.
German police have arrested three Iraqi citizens suspected of funding a militant Kurdish organisation operating in Iraq, Ansar al-Islam. Prosecutors said the three live in southern Germany, but did not say where they had been arrested. Police searched 24 properties as part of the investigation into the activities of the three men and a further 11 suspects. US officials say Ansar al-Islam is part of the al-Qaeda network. The three men were identified as Dieman A I, 39, from Nuremburg; Kawa H, 33, from Munich; and Najat O, 43, from Buehl. They are suspected of donating money to Ansar al-Islam, collecting contributions for the group and providing courier and other logistical services for it in Germany. A prosecutors' statement said that while the funds were believed to have been used to plot attacks in Iraq, there was no evidence that they had been earmarked for attacks in Germany.
Posted by: Steve ||
06/14/2005 08:20 ||
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A white-bearded cleric on Tuesday disputed FBI allegations that his 22-year-old grandson received jihadist training at his Islamic seminary near Pakistan's capital, calling the charges "a pack of lies."
And if you can't trust the word of a white-bearded Pakistani cleric with his own madrassah.......
Qari Saeed-ur Rehman, head of the Jamia Islamia madrassah in Rawalpindi, said his grandson Hamid Hayat and son-in-law Umer Hayat, 47, were wrongfully arrested in California last week, and he dismissed suggestions they were linked to an al-Qaida cell. "Hamid Hayat never received religious education at my madrassah. There is no terrorist camp here. We reject such FBI allegations," Rehman, a supporter of Afghanistan's former Taliban regime and a critic of the U.S. government, said in an interview with The Associated Press.
Yeah, a trustworthy sort....
"All allegations leveled against them by the FBI are a pack of lies," he added.
"Lies, all lies!"
The Hayats were arrested on charges of lying to federal investigators after what the FBI said was a yearslong investigation into possible connections between some members of the large Pakistani community in Lodi, Calif., and Osama bin Laden's terrorist network.
Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Steven Lapham said Hamid Hayat, a U.S. citizen, traveled repeatedly to Pakistan where he "learned to kill Americans" while attending a terrorist camp for six months in 2003 and 2004. According to an FBI affidavit, Umer Hayat said his son was drawn to jihadist training camps in his early teens while attending Rehman's 550-student madrassah, which is at a grand mosque in a teeming commercial district of Rawalpindi, about eight miles from Islamabad, the capital.
Ground Zero for the auto weapons and explosives set.
Pakistan's government, a key ally in the U.S.-led war on terrorism, denies there are any terrorist camps in the country. Officials say al-Qaida bases along the border with Afghanistan were smashed by Pakistani army operations in 2004.
What about the ones in the capital? Hello?...
Rehman said that during the 1980s, his seminary sent students to fight alongside other "holy warriors," known as mujahedeen, against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan — a struggle coordinated by Pakistan's intelligence agencies with CIA support — but the cleric denied producing jihadists today.
"A number of students from the madrassah went to Afghanistan to fight against Soviet troops, and at the time the Americans were providing funds to mujahedeen. Pakistan's government was encouraging students to go there," Rehman said. "It is a part of history and who can deny it? We are not doing it now because it is not the policy of government."
Can't tell if his lips fell off, must be the beard
Rehman said that both Umer and Hamid Hayat had visited the seminary but neither studied there.
"No, certainly not. They just came for the elk hunting season."
Rehman's son Attiqur Rehman, who is also a cleric at the madrassah, said Hamid Hayat lived at a village near Islamabad from April 2003 until this May 27, marrying in 2004. He said Hamid went to the United States last month to arrange for his wife to emigrate there.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Steve ||
06/14/2005 15:54 ||
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COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 13 (UPI) -- A lawyer for a Somali asylum-seeker has asked a federal judge to bar prosecutors from using statements his client made to the FBI after his arrest in Ohio. Lawyer Maher Sherif told the Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch that the entire case against Nuradin Abdi comes from the defendant.
After Abdi's arrest, Attorney General John Ashcroft said publicly that he had planned to blow up a shopping mall in Columbus. But the formal charges include lying to federal authorities about an alleged 1999 visit to a terrorist training camp in Ethiopia and immigration violations. According to Sherif, the FBI held Abdi for several days in 2003 without telling him he was a suspect or notifying him of his rights and obtained an arrest warrant only after he had made incriminating statements. Sherif has also asked to have the trial moved out of Ohio because of the government's mall claim.
Posted by: Steve ||
06/14/2005 09:11 ||
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Asylum-seeker who told the FBI he was a badboy? No asylum DW! You no savy. Counselor Sherif should clarify whether it was the right to be free from the consequences of personal idiocy, the right to lie on asylum applications, or the right to foolish counsel that was violated.
#2
So grant the shyster's motion and turn the clown over to immigration and deport him. Is that what he wants?
Posted by: Bobby ||
06/14/2005 10:10 Comments ||
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Oh nooooooo. If he's deported to Skinnyland he ain't gonna be paying any fees. Sherif don't like it. Sherif's hoping it can be dragged out meaning more time and more fees for appeals and public pronouncements to the media about the horror.
#4
If I had to place a bet, I'd wager there isn't a lot of fee income you could generate from a Somali refugee, and government reimbursement (if there's any) doesn't exactly scream 'gravy train', either.
#6
Raj, I wouldn't be surprised if Maher Sherif weren't being paid by the local jihadi-wannabes. More cash available there than from the government.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
06/14/2005 12:53 Comments ||
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Sharif hasn't mentioned yet that if aquitted he will immediately file a civil suit and want many millions of dollars. I say guilty and gone to skinnyland.
#2
I agree, but remember how Elliot Ness got Al Capone - income tax evasion. Results are important, too.
Posted by: Bobby ||
06/14/2005 10:12 Comments ||
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It would be nice if the U.S. used immigration law to fight illegal immigration....
When the Border Patrol was folded into Homeland Security and a new agency (Customs and Border Patrol), the Customs-mentality became dominant. Hence immigration laws are use more to fight terrorism than curb illegal immigration.
MANILA (Reuters) - Communist rebels ambushed an army convoy in the northern Philippines on Tuesday and killed at least 10 soldiers, the deadliest attack on the military by the rebels this year, security officials said. The ambush in Ilocos Sur province, 300 km (185 miles) north of the capital, came two days after security forces killed 14 suspected communist rebels in a raid on a farming village in the northern province of Pampanga, near the capital Manila.
"The rebels were out to embarrass our government," said Lieutenant-Colonel Preme Monta, a military spokesman in the northern Philippines.
"They wanted to disrupt a state-sponsored ceremony to remember an important World War II battle in the north." He said the ceremony, which was due to be attended by U.S. and British officials, was canceled after the attack due to security concerns and to allow the army to find those responsible.
Pissed on your little party, huh?
An army spokesman in Manila said 10 soldiers were killed and several were missing in the attack. Local police said 13 troops had died. The soldiers were on their way to Cervantes town in the province when the heavily armed rebels attacked their truck, police said. Monta said the rebels burned the military truck and retreated to nearby hills.
Since 1969, communist guerrillas from seven rival factions have been separately waging a countryside war to overthrow the Philippine government, which also faces Muslim separatist rebels and home-grown Islamic militants. Talks to end the conflict, the longest communist rebellion in Asia that has killed more than 40,000 people, have been stalled since August.
Maybe because of little "incidents" like this?
The rebels say they wanted the removal of the terrorist label that Washington has placed on them before resuming formal talks brokered by Norway.
How about no.
Posted by: Steve ||
06/14/2005 10:14 ||
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If you don't stop labeling us a terrorists, we are going to blow up some more schools.
The French TV Channel 5 stated today that a ransom of 75 millions US Dollars was paid to Haiyat Ulama Moslemen of Hareth Al-Thari to release the French journalist Florence Aubenas. The TV stated that this ransom was paid to save Jacque Chirac in the next election. FA was kidnapped in Jan 2005 by one of the terrorists group which has a link with Al-Thari group. Althari is like the God-father for the terrorists groups and the outside negotiations with the kidnappers always occur through him and his group. Today the Iraqi forces and US forces raid his house and found arms but he was not there. Many times this man and his son and his group stated that they got strong link with the terrorists groups and they pay a great respect and support for Zarqawi.
n a news conference often interrupted by laughter over her ironic account, Aubenas said her kidnappers made her wear a T-shirt reading "Titanic" and asked her for the email address of French President Jacques Chirac. Aubenas said she could not comment on the conditions leading up to her rescue but only talk about her time in captivity.
#4
I don't trust the French any farther than I can throw them (and with my bad back that's not too far) but $75 million is too large a ransom to believe. This sounds bogus.
#5
Agree... some money probably exchanged hands but certainly not 75 million.
You might not think much of the French press but this would be out there and it would NOT be good for Chirac.
And whatever, Chirac as no chance to be elected again... he's as lame as a duck can be.
#6
Maybe 75 million francs? What'd that be - about $1.98?
Posted by: Bobby ||
06/14/2005 17:31 Comments ||
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WHAT THE F***!
Yeah lets give money to the terrorists to fund their cause. And to encourage them to kidnap MORE folks. How stupid is that.
GEEEEEZZZZZ. Is this for real?
This only reinforces how glad I'm American and not French.
Posted by: Jan ||
06/14/2005 17:53 Comments ||
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Reporter without borders reported that the kidnappers had asked for a 15 millions dollars ransom, this seems more believable.
Note that money is not important here, the main concessions were probably political and done in favor of the syrian power and/or Hezbollah (you can expect France to oppose to the Hezbollah's disarment even more than before...).
Iraq's al Qaeda vowed to kill anyone negotiating with the U.S.-backed Iraqi government in a Web statement on Tuesday, a sign the group was worried about possible divisions among its Sunni Muslim allies.
The group led by Jordanian Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was responding to what it said were reports that tribal leaders in Iraq's third-largest city Mosul, the scene of frequent outbreaks of guerrilla violence, were seeking talks.
"Liars claim that the sheikhs of tribes in Mosul plan to hand over mujahideen (holy fighters) and assist the crusaders and apostates, and we do not know which tribes or sheikhs they speak of," the Sunni Muslim group said.
"We will impose God's punishment on anyone who stands by the crusaders or becomes their ally or supports them. The righteous swords are unsheathed and hunger for blood," it said in a statement posted on an Islamist Web site.
The Iraqi government said on Sunday some rebels had approached it looking for peace terms but gave no details of who had made contact.
Zarqawi issued a similar warning in an audio tape attributed to him in April, referring to reports that U.S. and Iraqi officials had offered to negotiate with some militants.
Zarqawi's group is the deadliest among several waging an insurgency against U.S. forces and the Iraqi government. Rebels include secular nationalists from Saddam Hussein's ousted Baath party and foreign Islamists.
The Shi'ite-led Iraqi government has often said it is willing to talk to rebels who stop fighting.
"We reiterate that there will be no dialogue with the Jews and Christians other than the sound of bullets, blood and fire," Al Qaeda Organisation for Holy War in Iraq said in a separate Web statement.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
06/14/2005 15:57 ||
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well I must admit, this sounds like they're really afraid of the negotiations.
#2
Hmmmmm - lessee. You're an Iraqi jihadi who's tired of killing your countrymen and hiding from them because they're so pissed at you.
But if you stop killing them and agree with the freely elected government that you'll become a regular citizen again, your buddies in al-Q will kill you.
What to do, what to do?
Maybe put those hard-earned killing skills to use one more time and KILL THE AL-Q LOWLIFES would be a good idea, no? ;-p
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
06/14/2005 16:23 Comments ||
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Or even easier, drop a dime and call the evil crusaders and let them do the dirty work.
Al
Posted by: Frozen Al ||
06/14/2005 19:01 Comments ||
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#4
better yet - kill yourself and take out your scumbag friends. Allah and George W guarantee the virgins, k?
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/14/2005 19:20 Comments ||
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Security forces have captured a reputed key member of Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi's al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorist group who is accused of building and selling cars used by suicide bombers, the government said Tuesday.
Al-Qaeda in Iraq and other extremist Islamic groups have been blamed for many of the suicide car bombings, beheadings and attacks that have killed at least 1,009 people since the Shiite-led government was announced on April 28. According to the announcement, al-Bazi built and sold remote-controlled bombs used in roadside attacks from an electronic repair shop in Balad, 50 miles north of Baghdad. It added that al-Bazi sold the bombs for about $18,000 each "and was involved in building suicide vehicle" bombs and land mines that were used in Balad and Samarra, 60 miles north of Baghdad. One such suicide car bomb attack Monday in Samarra and an ensuing gunbattle between insurgents and police killed three policemen and a civilian.
The government statement said al-Bazi "was also an active weapons dealer selling missiles, guns, mortars and hand grenades. Iraqi security officials believe he is a primary suspect for providing weapons and the training for attacks against the Iraqi people, the Iraqi government and the Iraqi security forces."
This article starring:
ABU AHMED
al-Qaeda in Iraq
ABU MUSAB AL ZARQAWI
al-Qaeda in Iraq
HUSEIN IBRAHIM
al-Qaeda in Iraq
JASIM HAZAN HAMADI AL BAZI
al-Qaeda in Iraq
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
06/14/2005 15:55 ||
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I wonder if they will be able to make him talk?
#2
Too bad they no longer are the suicide drivers and have started using remotes.
How about having him test drive a car :)
Posted by: Jan ||
06/14/2005 18:13 Comments ||
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Indeed. Send out in the middle of an empty field and have him demonstrate is technique. On satellite TV.
Just betchya he'll do allah proud.
Posted by: Michael ||
06/14/2005 18:17 Comments ||
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Ima thinking we could combine this with the old TV Game show skit where various participants got keys to start a new car, with only one working...Abu can ride shotgun for all the key tries :-)
Wheels of Misfortune!
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/14/2005 18:49 Comments ||
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Article: It added that al-Bazi sold the bombs for about $18,000 each
$18K a bomb? All right, that's it - I'm switching careers.
Posted by: Matt ||
06/14/2005 13:11 ||
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Lots of good stuff here, but this is a sample:
Ramirez is powerful, and threw his Algerian to the ground. The man continued to fight wildly until Ramirez's knee smashing the back of his skull knocked him out. The Algerian with Welch in the other room was not yet cuffed when he started to fight, but Welch knocked his man out with punches.
But the "martyr" that LTC Kurilla had jacked against the wall by the collar with his left hand, simply reached down with his mouth and grabbed a hunk of Kurilla's left forearm and began to rip as he punched at Kurilla, scraping his nose. Kurilla responded by punching him in the face three times and taking him to the ground.
Meanwhile, with Ramirez's guy unconscious, he rushed into the room where Kurilla was fighting and smashed the guy in the face three more times until he went limp.
Some quagmire.
Posted by: Matt ||
06/14/2005 13:58 Comments ||
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Highly recommended, from a blogger no less. Read the whole thing, especially his description of how the MSM really works. He nails it.
#4
Heh, not to pick nits, but he's a blogging journalist. Some of us very old folks (phil_b you gotta be a crusty old fart like me, right?) round here might remember what that actually is, lol. ;-)
This Michael Yon guy is very very good. I'm dumbfounded that I haven't run across him before - or wasn't paying attention (*slaps forehead*) if I did.
#5
.com, I'm 'only' early-50s. Otherwise my remark about 'bloggers' was really to say that blogs look like becoming (and arguably already are) the medium for serious news reporting and the MSM print media just becomes something to keep the grocery flyers dry.
#7
phil_b - Just funnin' - I'm in the same age category and agree wholly with your remarks about him as a blogger / writer / serious newsman - and what he represents. Yon is easily among the best of the Blogosphere in writing skills - and willing & able to go to the sharp pointed end to get the scoop, thus, IMHO, the same can be said of that Lost World of Journalism. I'm impressed, to say the least, heh.
He really nailed me to the wall. I emailed the link to many people - and one response pointed out that he's a throwback to an age when reporters were credible.
#8
phil_b - Just funnin' - I'm in the same age category and agree wholly with your remarks about him as a blogger / writer / serious newsman - and what he represents. Yon is easily among the best of the Blogosphere in writing skills - and willing & able to go to the sharp pointed end to get the scoop, thus, IMHO, the same can be said of that Lost World of Journalism. I'm impressed, to say the least, heh.
He really nailed me to the wall. I emailed the link to many people - and one response pointed out that he's a throwback to an age when reporters were credible.
#9
Matt - OMG! Those poor Algerians! Beaten-up by big meanie Americans before they can target and murder women and children and get their 7 or 17 virgins-who-cannot-possibly-be-deflowered!
Torture! Its all Rummie's and Bush'es fault!
/Sarcasm
Seriously this is a very good read! One for the bookmarks!
One killed in 'encounter'
Another suspected underground party activist was killed in an 'encounter' with the police at a village under Kushtia Sadar early Monday raising the death count in incidents of 'crossfire' and 'encounter' involving law enforcing agencies to 332333334 335 since June 2004.
The police said the deceased, identified as Shamimur Rahman Shamim alias Raza, 35, a local leader of Gana Mukti Fouz of Sramajibi Mukti Andolon, was wanted in a number of criminal cases.
He needed killin' allright ...
A squad of the Kushtia police went to Bhabanipur village after getting information about a gunfight between two groups of criminals on a field there at about 4:00am, said the police.
"Mount up, boys. There's a shootout at the Bhabanipur Corral"
As the police encircled the spot, both the feuding groups fired shots at them, prompting the law enforcers to retaliate.
"It's da law! Let um have it!"
About an hour later the groups retreated and the police found the body of Raza on the spot.
"Hey, look what I found!"
The police recovered a pipe gun and 11 bullets from the spot. Four policemen, including two sub-inspectors, were injured in the gunfight and were undergoing treatment at Sadar Hospital. The body of Raza was sent to the morgue for autopsy.
"Paging Doctor Quincy"
2 robbers killed in shootout with police, another beaten to death
June 13 : Two robbers were killed in a shootout with police while another died of mass beating in Gouripur bus stand area of Daudkandi upazila on Sunday night. Police said a gang of seven robbers, who were travelling in a Comilla-bound bus in the guise of passengers, swooped on the passengers as the vehicle reached Gouripur bus stand area at about 11 pm and looted their valuables at gun point.
"Yar, we be highwaymen! Hand over your booty!"
When the robbers were fleeing with the booty, local people rushed to the spot, caught one of the bandits and gave him good thrashing.
As the critically injured robber was taken to Gouripur hospital, doctors declared him dead.
"He's dead, Jim"
Later, local people also caught another bandit, Kajol and gave him a mass beating.
And a fun time was had by all. Well, except for Kajol
Police chased the other members of the gang and when they reached Haripur village of Daudkandi upazila, the robbers opened fire on the law enforcers, who also returned the fire. Two of the robbers—Gulzar Hossain Sumon, 25, and Akther Hossain, 22, -- were killed on the spot during the shootout.
Sounds like a good shooting, for a change
Police arrested another member of the gang, Anwar Hossian, and recovered a gun and three rounds of cartridge from the spot. A case has been filed with Daudkandi thana.
Seven pirates arrested
MUNSHIGANJ, June 13: Seven pirates including a gang leader were arrested from the river Meghna in the district on Wednesday, reports BSS. Police said the gang of the pirates were taking preparation when the police swooped on them.
"Avast, ye scurvy dogs! Git yer hands up!"
The arrested are Ujjal, 28, (gang leader), Jasim, 27, Arfan, 26, Khalil, 35, Ramiz, 32, Ripon, 35, and Sufian, 24. The sources said the pirates had been committing robbery in the river for long. Among them, Ujjal and Jasim were wanted in several cases including murder.
Young man killed in Rajshahi
A young man was killed at Bagmara in the Rajshahi city Monday morning. The victim is Mofazzal Hossain Mafzal, 25, of village Sanjuria of Bagmara. The Bagmara police said Mafzal had an affair of love with an SSC examinee, Kulsum, of the Tahirpur High School. The police said the family of the girl beat him to death when he went to met Kulsum Sunday night.
25 year old came sniffing around a daughter of mine in high school, I'd consider beating him to death myself
Kulsum's father, Abdul Barik, an employee of the Department of Agriculture Extension, alleged that Mafzal was an armed activist of the Purba Banglar Communist Party. He used to demand tolls from him. Barik said Mafzal went to his house at about 11.00 pm, along with his associates, demanded tolls and attacked him.
Dating his daughter, and robbing him as well. That'll get you in with the family, I don't think
The local people rescued him. They caught hold of Mafzal and beat him. He was found dead next morning. Mafzal's brother Anisur Rahman filed a case with the Bagmara police on Monday accusing seven, including Barik.
2 notorious snatchers held in Ctg
CHITTAGONG, June 13: - Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) people today rounded up the ringleader of a snatcher group and one of his close associates from city's Faridarpara area under Chandgaon police station.
The RAB squad also seized a USA origin revolver, an Italian automatic pistol and 11 rounds of live ammunition from the detainee.
No shutter guns for these guys
The detainees were identified as Mohammad Nizamuddin (28) son of Mohammad Nurul Islam of village Mohammadpur in Chatkhil and Mohammad Shafi (31) son of Nurul Islam of village Daouspur of Langudu police station in Rangamati. Sources informed that a squad of the RAB-7 raided a den of snatchers adjacent to Liton Tower at Faridarpara near Baddarhat crossing at about 10:00 a.m. The squad caught ringleader Mohammad Nizamuddin and one of his associates Shafi from the den. Both the detainees confessed to the RAB squad that they had direct involvement in most of the sensational snatching incidents took place in the port city over the last couple of months.
I'm sure they confessed of their own free will
The detainees were taken to the RAB headquarters for questioning after recording a case with Chandgaon police station in connection with the raid. Chandgaon police claimed that the detainees had been the masterminds of the sensational snatching of Taka 1.1 million of the Premier Fashion Ware Limited at city's College Road area.
Attack of the Killer Mosquitos
Barisal, June 13:—Hundreds of people of at least 13 villages under Kalapara, the coastal upazila of Patuakhali district fled from their houses after life became intolerable by attacks of the swarms of unknown variety of mosquitoes since last five days. Reports received from Kalapara said since last Thursday June 9, swams of mosquitoes, locally named as 'Jongli Masha', came from the marsh of the area attacked the local residents people and domestic animals. At least 31 people became seriously ill and huge number of domestic and poultry animals died by this mosquito bites.
Bah, that's nothing. The mosquitoes in Alaska carry off moose.
The conditions in Khazura, south and west Khazura, Naioripara, Senapara, Khasipara, Sharifpara, Hosenpara, Kalaiapara, Sangjompara, Pakupara, Lemurchar, Momipur were worst.
Hundreds of people of these villages fled from their houses and took shelters in different areas of Mahipur and Alipur fishing port of the upazila to save them selves from the mosquito bites. Ambia Khatun of Kazuria, Afzal of Senpara, Riaz of Naioripara, Toiab of Sharifpur, Delip of Pakupara, Wangchu of Sangjogpara said the mosquito bites created heavy allergy and burning.
Sohrab Hossain and Syed Fakir, local union parishad members said these types of mosquito attacks were unprecedented in last half century and even at the daytime it became impossible to stay inside the house.
Local educational institutions either declared closed or arranged classes outside the rooms to save the students and teachers from the mosquito attacks. Uses of the different types of insecticides, burning of incense (Dhup-Dhuna), coconut-coir also failed to give protection from mosquito bites.
Try some DDT. Oops, sorry, we have to protect the environment. Too bad.
Barek Molla, U P chairman of Latachapli union said due to extreme heat and shortage of rain, the leaves from the trees planted under coastal forestations and Khazuria, Lemurchar, Momipara, Gangapur reserve forest areas, fall in to the stagnant waters of the canal, marshes and ditches and contaminated waters by rotten leaves became the breeding field of the mosquitoes.
We have sent describing the conditions to the upazila and district administrations, the UP members and chairman said. Abdul Barek Mia, upazila nirbahi officer acknowledging the receipt of the letter said upazila live stock officer was asked to go to the spot and investigate the matter immediately. Dr.Jasimuddin, upazila medical officer said a medical team is prepared to go to the spot for treatment and examination of the mosquito-bite victims.
Posted by: Steve ||
06/14/2005 09:40 ||
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You know, I am suprised that Bushhitlerrummyhalliburton Inc. haven't tried using mosquitos on the bad boyz in Iraq. Spread a little malaria, lots of nuisance and then after all the boyz are dead just have Dupont come in and fumigate the place.
Posted by: Jack is Back! ||
06/14/2005 10:33 Comments ||
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June 14, 2005: Israel has a new crowd control weapon; a "Sound Cannon" called, "The Scream" (for the effect it has on people, causing them to cover their ears and scream in pain). The new device got its first use (aside from tests on volunteers) against Palestinians and Israelis protesting the security wall. The next major use is expected to be against violent demonstrations by Israeli settlers this August, as the government forces Israeli settlers out of their Gaza settlements. The government won't release technical details on The Scream, but from what has been discussed, it appears to be generate low frequency sound in a focused beam. There have been several "focused sound" devices showing up lately. This one uses low frequency sound to act on the inner ear, and induce nausea, dizziness and pain. The low frequency approach also means that it's probably very difficult to protect yourself from the sound, or its effects. An elaborate (sound dampened) helmet might do the trick, or some kind of sound canceling device. To prevent people from coming up with counter-measures, the Israelis are trying to keep technical details secret.
Israel has been trying to develop new non-lethal weapons, to deal with violent Palestinian demonstrators for over five years. There has not been much success in this area. The protestors who are violent, and have to be dealt with non-lethal weapons, tend to spread out and not provide easy targets. Such protesters are also pumped up, and resistant to a lot of the existing "non-lethal weapons." Tear gas and rubber bullets have, at best, partial success in dealing with violent demonstrators. The Scream may have better results, if the effect of getting zapped keeps protestors disoriented for a while.
The Scream is truck mounted, and apparently emits a blast of focused sound every ten seconds at a crowd. After less than a minute of this, most people are covering their ears (which doesn't stop the sound), looking dizzy and rather uncomfortable. The demonstration thus changes into a mass sick-in. The Scream appears to have a range of 400-500 meters, and troops in the vehicle, and behind it, appeared un protected from the sound, and unaffected by it as well.
Posted by: Steve ||
06/14/2005 09:38 ||
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Anybody want to put a stopwatch on Human Rights Watch?
#4
Actually, I think one of the most disruptive things that could be done at Edinburgh would be for the *protesters* to pass around huge amounts of some potent laxative. Imagine what the city would be like if, say, 300,000 people all shit on the streets at once? I think it would send a powerful message to the G8 leaders.
Posted by: Mike ||
06/14/2005 14:09 Comments ||
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Personally, I believe the most effective crowd control device to be the flamethrower. I'd say it's certain to end any protest rather quickly and I'm sure with all these new thermobaric weapons, we can find something even nastier than napalm.
#16
What? They can build a sound cannon but they can't take 1 minute a day to call home? What kinda country are you building over there? I hear some parts aren't clean. Is that true? With all this sound cannon effort you'd think you could clean up a little....
#18
Ohh.. Chinese opera - makes a "cat fight" sound nice. (Opps the wife will kill me if she sees this... As a young girl she considered being a Chinese Opera star...)
Eeenah yah!
OOOOOOOOOOh Yow!
Cymbal noise
Gong
Fan.nn.nn ...
Almost as bad as the sixty's morning wake up soundcasts in every neighborhood in Taiwan..
First - Be kind to your web footed freinds.
Next - chun bei ta..ah..min chun bei ta..ahmin...shen bei ta .. ah min.. chun be tah ah min....
(no idea what the h' it was saying but it is seared in my mind....)
Third... (I think...)
Nat Anthem...
San min jue ei .....
(all that bit about... our aim shall be to found a free land world peace be our stand... lead on comrades vanguards ye are hold fast your aim by sun and star. Be earnest and brave your country to save one heart one soul one mind one goal....)
Then...
Chinese Opera!!
No pillows thick enough to block it!
It surounds and envelopes you...
From all sides the sound comes with cracking speakers, feedback, record players slighted off...
Argh!
Yes.. the perfect torture!
Except maybe the chinese mercury torture.
June 14, 2005: Armed civilian security contractors, already unpopular with Iraqi police, recently tangled with American marines, and came out second best. In Fallujah, a convoy of vehicles, carrying 16 American employees of Zapata Engineering, and three Iraqi translators, were stopped by marines near Fallujah. The Zapata convoy was first reported to have fired at some Iraqi civilians, and a little later, marines in an observation said someone in the Zapata convoy fired at them. A mobile marine unit was notified, and the Zapata convoy was stopped, and the 19 people in it were arrested. The Zapata employees said that they had just fired warning shots at Iraqi vehicles that got too close to them. This is a standard practice, but the bullets have to go somewhere. Sometimes the "warning shots" hit people, or come close to doing so. That's what may have happened here. The contractors complained of verbal abuse from some of the marines, who commented on the high pay the contractors receive. Two of the contractors were former marines, which apparently did not spare them from the verbal jibes.
While several suicide car bomber attacks are made each day in Iraq, and even more attacks by gunmen in cars, the biggest danger on Iraqi highways remains the reckless driving habits of Iraqis. Foreign workers know that a little gun fire can warn away aggressive Iraqi drivers, as well as truly suicidal terrorists. This was believed to be the first time marines had arrested civilian contractors. However, Iraqi police have had similar run-ins with these armed civilians as well. The problem is that the country is awash with weapons, so many that each family is legally entitled to hold one assault rifle or other firearm. Many households have several weapons, and, in a popular Middle Eastern custom, these will be fired into the air during celebrations. Hundreds of people are killed or injured each year when these bullets return to earth. This, however, has not stopped the people of Iraq, or any other Middle Eastern country, from continuing this practice. However, allowing armed foreigners to freely fire warning shots is gradually coming to an end. There's more enthusiasm for this than for disarming all Iraqis. The civilian contractors will protest, and some may be withdrawn, but the change will come.
Posted by: Steve ||
06/14/2005 09:36 ||
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This story, without the perspective, of course, was reported yesterday on NPR as "Marines shooting at contractors"
Posted by: Mountain Man ||
06/14/2005 12:54 Comments ||
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LH, that requires the mindset too. I admit that that's not stated enough, but that's the backing. Remember some comments to the effect that you act as you train, which led to multiple (Western European???) troops surrendering during fighting exercises?
That'd explain why not enough Iraqis fight back, considering that apparently in the 2003 war they surrendered to TV news crews, not just to CNN in 1991 ...
Posted by: Edward Yee ||
06/14/2005 13:20 Comments ||
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TW - if the contractors were reported as still alive, it's proof the report was a lie.
I definitely wouldn't want Marines shooting at me. I'm not done living yet.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
06/14/2005 16:29 Comments ||
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June 14, 2005: Iraq, beset by a massive suicide bomber offensive in Baghdad, found a way to effectively fight back. On May 22nd, the Iraqis brought together seven army infantry battalions, and nine Special Police battalions, plus contingents from five American brigades, and proceeded to lock down the entire city. In addition to dozens of new check points, the police commandos started working down a list of dozens of newly identified terrorists, and locations they operated out of. This list was compiled from information captured in April and May, plus stuff extracted from captured terrorists, and lots of tips from Iraqi civilians. The United States contributed computer support and aerial reconnaissance to help put together the hit list. After three weeks of "Operation Lighting," the number of car bombs going off was down 38 percent, and the number of these weapons discovered before they could go off was up 23 percent. There was also a ten percent decline in the number of roadside bombs going off, and 18 percent fewer ambushes of convoys and patrols.
The terrorist organizations were obviously disrupted. This was done with 61 raids on specific locations, and 251 cordon and search operations in neighborhoods or areas where terrorist activity was know, or suspected. A lot of the intel information did not provide a specific building address, but rather a stretch of a particular street, or part of a neighborhood. These raids and searches led to 992 arrests and the discovery of 45 weapons caches (often containing bomb making materials, including finished bombs.) Also captured was lots of cash (over $100,000 worth) and many documents (paper and electronic.) Some of the raids resulted from specific information picked up in earlier raids or searches.
They bagged another car bomb maker today
American troops mostly provided backup or security for the Iraqis, who actually went in and did most of the searches and made the arrests. Thus there were no language problems, and the Iraqis, naturally, were more likely to spot something that was out of place.
"Operation Lighting" is the largest operation the Iraqi security forces have conducted so far, and is something of a test of the recruiting, training and leadership of the force. It appears to be working. The suicide bombers are increasingly blowing themselves up at check points, unable to get through to their targets. The Iraqi people are angry at the terrorists, and now blame these "foreigners" for the countries security problems. The Sunni Arab groups (former Saddam supporters) providing cover and other aid for the al Qaeda terrorists, are themselves split over this connection to the hated terrorist group. Al Qaeda glories in the mayhem it is creating, but the war in Iraq is increasingly one between Iraqis and al Qaeda terrorists from other Arab countries. Not exactly what Osama bin Laden had in mind as an aftermath for September 11, 2001.
Posted by: Steve ||
06/14/2005 09:31 ||
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Operation "Lighting"? As in "Track Lighting" or "Fluorescent Lighting"?
What's next? Operation Wainscotting?
In all seriousness, it is good to hear continued storied about Iraqi security troops and civilians increasingly taking these matters into their own hands. The Islamofascists are continuing to demonstrate their belief that the only good moderate Muslim is a dead Muslim.
Posted by: Dar ||
06/14/2005 9:45 Comments ||
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Obviously this article cannot be correct. I didn't read this in the NY Times.
Posted by: Jack is Back! ||
06/14/2005 11:09 Comments ||
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I was in Iraq on business when the car bombing of civilians began.
I can tell you that almost universally, from talking to Iraqis in cafes and restaurants, that the Iraqis are supremely p.o.ed at the jihadist and suicide bombers.
They know full well that the Saudis, Kuwaitis, Syrians and Iranians do not want them to succeed as a democracy. Very few of them want a theocracy.
I am cheering for these guys as should any one with any common sense or understanding of humanity.
#4
Obviously Strategy is a "white christian" website.
I wouldn't doubt it a bit if they abuse the koran either. Those crazy bastards would probably deny George Bush attacked the twin towers and pentagon, or that he spreads aids on purpose in africa.
June 14, 2005: The U.S. Army is adding "Peacekeeping 101" to the training it gives company and battalion commanders headed for Iraq. Over there, American combat troops are getting lots of peacekeeping experience, when they aren't engaged in combat operations. Actually, company and battalion commanders are getting lots of peacekeeping jobs, mainly because they tend to be the "go-to guys" in the areas where their units operate. Most foreign NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) are staying out of Iraq because of the terrorism. Al Qaeda is hostile to non-Moslems, and most NGOs are run by Christians, or non-Moslems. The terrorists are also hostile to foreigners of any nationality, unless they are al Qaeda members. Thus American commanders find themselves the logical people military reconstruction and Civil Affairs personnel will turn to. In addition, local Iraqis looking for help, as well as whatever NGOs in the area.
So far, the commanders have been improvising. Their division or brigade staffs sometimes create short documents giving tips and guidelines for how to handle peacekeeping duties. And these officers also make use of Internet resources, especially army controlled bulletin boards and download sites for material, and advice, on what to do. Now the army is going to develop some more systematic training.
American combat commanders have found themselves in this kind of situation for over a century. When the American Civil War ended, it was officers in command of units occupying the southern states that were often called upon to sort out "peacekeeping" situations. This meant getting involved with local government, or lack of same. Officers had to improvise and use their imaginations. It happened as recently as the U.S. Army operations in Bosnia and Kosovo in the late 1990s.
As much as the army tries to provide military Civil Affairs units, and civilian operators (either U.S. government, local government, or NGOs) for this sort of thing, power tends to devolve to American combat commanders. In situations where there are still a lot of armed hostiles running around, it's the nearest American combat commander who has the most options. People looking for peace, and some relief, regard the American commanders as the people most likely to get the job done. So far, these officers have been successful, although the degree of success varied according to individual talent for this sort of thing, and how intense the combat situation was. In the past year, more and more "hot zones" in central Iraq have calmed down. This has allowed combat commanders, who are still running patrols and raids, to spend more time on the reconstruction and government aspects of peacekeeping.
In addition to more peacekeeping training for commanders, the army is also adding more people, especially at the battalion level (the smallest unit that has a staff for the commander), who can take care of some of the peacekeeping details. But in Iraq and Afghanistan, the local leaders (tribal or religious), often want to see the local "American Amir" (commander) to discuss, and resolve problems. It's been that way for over a century, and is not likely to change in the future.
One of the reasons our occupation of Japan went so well was that Gen Douglas MacArther filled the role of Emperor.
Posted by: Steve ||
06/14/2005 09:18 ||
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This is a very good sign. I am reminded of how the military was a superb peacemaking force after the Indian Wars, post Civil War. Their reports of the time show them to be skilled negotiators, involved in inter- and intra-tribal disputes, Indian and settler disputes, and Indian and military disputes. One of their more effective tools was hiring many "braves" not just as liasons, but as scouts "blueshirts", and eventually soldiers. All too soon, full blooded Indians were being trained as Reserve Officers.
#2
Anonymoose, this was bad why? ("full blooded Indians were being trained as Reserve Officers")
And this is good news! A heckuva lot more of the world is in the stages of warlordism than we'd like to admit, so I agree that this is a good improvement. Ever hear of "battationcommandersonline.mil"? ;) (It's the name of a StrategyPage article about the rise of battalions as the smallest, yet vital strategic unit.)
Reminds me of how the Special Forces do things back in Afghanistan ...
Posted by: Edward Yee ||
06/14/2005 13:25 Comments ||
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"One of the reasons our occupation of Japan went so well was that Gen Douglas MacArther filled the role of Emperor"
the other reason is that the New Deal bureaucrats who actually ran the occupation pretty much ignored MacArthur, IIUC. although that was pretty close to the old Japanese system too.
#4
Sheesh, Lh, methinks you understand incorrectly, and I won't insinuate you'd make shit up to support your thoughts, nay, but that only took 15 seconds to disprove. There are hundreds of links, of course, but one that particularly grabbed my attention did so because it was first-hand knowledge. Y'know, someone who was actually there, on the scene, knew the players, etc? I know first-hand experience is something you've derided in the past, but I found it rather more compelling than your dismissive forty-eighth-hand view.
JRPI - Japan Policy Research Institute: "Writing a new Constitution was supposed to have been undertaken by the Japanese themselves. However, as is well known, this aspect of Japanâs âregime changeâ became GovSecâs most impressive and lasting achievement. Although it was written during one tumultuous week in February, 1946, some seven months before I arrived, work on it continued because debates in the House of Peers resulted in certain amendments, as well as because of some difficulties in the Japanese translation of the document itself. Two factors played an important role in convincing MacArthur to ignore the Far Eastern Advisory Commissionâs (FEAC) [your New Deal Doods] purely hortatory edict that any constitutional change needed its imprimatur. [Sound like typical bureaucratic power gamers, no?] First, all of the Japanese drafts amending the existing Constitution were deemed to be badly flawed and insufficient. Second, the FEAC was going to be replaced by the FECâthe Far Eastern Commissionâwhich was intended to project a greater international voice in supervising Occupation policy. SCAP was most concerned that possible Soviet intervention might threaten its goal of the new Constitutionâs early completion."
Not only was it the case that the New Deal Bureaucrats were the ones ignored, especially in the single-most important aspect of the occupation, but they were summarily sideline by the guy you imply was a mere figurehead. Sheesh, who'da thunk it, eh?
#6
"any of the most interesting parts of the book discuss how, after the early punitive phase of the Occupation, the reform process was a collaborative one in which progressive Japanese academics and civil servants worked closely with New Deal Americans to revolutionize thinking on such issues as womenâs rights, in the face of resistance from the defenders of the Old Order often with surprising results. In October 1947, for example, Japanese legislators abolished the crime of adultery when SCAP insisted that the law, which had previously only applied to women, be enforced for men as well. "
Ok, mac had more influence than a figurehead emperor. The new dealers had much influence as well. Certainly this was NOT an occupation primarily of military folks.
BTW, my dad was there. Very briefly, before his ship went back to California.
#9
Hey, you've got your hands full, today, defending All Things Liberal. So it's no biggie, you just posted a common, though incorrect, off-hand brain fart remark.
Mac was anything but perfect, as are all of us, but he knew the Japanese very well and was no figurehead. Hell, even PBS acknowledges it.
So go fight the good fight on those other fronts. It's cool.
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/14/2005 15:40 Comments ||
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"BTW, my dad was there."
My kind of guy. A (now deceased) friend of mine was there, as well. His name was Dr Richard Johnson. He served on the economics team (of Mac's staff) that helped rebuild them into an economic powerhouse. Dr Johnson went on to become a major player in the US banking industry, founding the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking, SWGSB - "swigsbee" to most of the bankers in America. He told me that "emperor" Mac was a very quick study and usually pointed out the hows to them when they were working with their Japanese counterparts - how to communicate with them to make sure they understood the reasons behind the reforms, because then they would enthusiastically implement them. Apparently, he was more detail oriented than his legend implies, and definitely more involved than the revisionists have asserted. FWIW.
A Hamas militant injured in an explosion in his house in the Shatti camp in Gaza died Tuesday from his wounds. A statement by the group's military wing, al-Qassam Brigades, said Bilal al-Kassami died from wounds he suffered while carrying out a "jihadist" mission in the camp of Shatti. Monday's explosion in the crowded camp in western Gaza largely destroyed Kassami's house, which burst into flames, causing panic among the population. Palestinian sources said the explosion was probably caused by a technical mistake as the militant was preparing an explosive charge.
A classic case of "Red Wire Syndrome"
Posted by: Steve ||
06/14/2005 09:14 ||
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Truly heartwarming too heal these tales of Darwinsism at work.
Posted by: Charles ||
06/14/2005 9:30 Comments ||
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I love these stories too! The only thing that would make them better would be to read that the asshat didn't die outright but rather lingered on for about 10 minutes, flailing his broken limbs and choking on his own blood.
Posted by: Dar ||
06/14/2005 9:34 Comments ||
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Paleo advances in civilization: one-by-one
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/14/2005 9:36 Comments ||
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Who dares to say arab culture is not on the cutting edge of science! I'm sure the Paleo ejit was on the verge of some remarkable breakthrough in bombmaking technology. They better not short him on the 72 just because he blew up in his own home.
Davids Medienkritik and No Pasaran Present...
...On June 27, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder will be in Washington, DC for perhaps his final official state visit...We want to give him a warm sending-off, so...
...Live at 12:30 PM on June 27 at Lafayette Park directly across from the White House! Everyone is invited to attend...
A Demonstration against Anti-American Bias in German Media and Politics and for German-American Friendship and Cooperation
Sponsored by Davids Medienkritik and No Pasaran!
We have the official permit and we have already reserved a stage with podium, microphone and amplifiers. Ray D. will be there live to discuss bias in the German media and to do blog readings. We will also supply signs and banners. We would like to ask readers for recommendations and suggestions for possible speakers and slogans: Please feel free to write your ideas in the comments section or email us.
Above all: Plan to be there! It all happens in two weeks.
We will provide more details in the coming days.
Posted by: too true ||
06/14/2005 09:07 ||
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Ah man, I wish I could get to DC. Rock the mic dude!
Afghan authorities have captured a Taliban regional commander wanted for the assassination of a leading anti-militant cleric last month, police said on Tuesday. Haji Atiqullah was wounded and captured during a shootout in the southern city of Kandahar on Monday night after attempting to assassinate a local militia commander, a senior police officer in the city said. Atiqullah, who was in charge of foreign relations in Kandahar during the Taliban's rule, was wanted for the assassination of Mawlavi Abdullah Fayaz, a prominent critic of the Taliban shot dead last month by gunmen riding on a motorcycle. Taliban spokesman Abdul Latif Hakimi confirmed the arrest and said Atiqullah had been an important commander in Kandahar. A local militia commander named Mandoi was wounded along with a bodyguard in the attack on Monday night in which Atiqullah opened fire on them from a motorcycle, the police said.
Authorities have accused the Taliban of being behind a suicide bombing of a mosque in Kandahar during a memorial service for Fayaz on June 1 which killed 20 people. The Taliban have denied involvement in the attack, part of a surge in militant violence seen in the run-up to parliamentary elections due in September. Earlier on Tuesday, the U.S. military said U.S. and Afghan forces had killed two militants and detained 12 others after a clash north of Kandahar on Sunday. On Monday, a suicide bomber rammed a car packed with explosives into a U.S. military vehicle near the city, killing himself and wounding four American soldiers, one seriously. Goverment spokesman Jawed Ludin told a news briefing the attack on the Americans, which was claimed by the Taliban, was under investigation. He said the head of the suicide attacker had been found and from his appearance, he may have been a foreigner.
"The ear kind of looks Saudi"
"But this lip... This is definitely an Uzbek lip!"
If only someone could give them a hand ...
About 150 insurgents have been killed in violence this year, according to U.S. and Afghan government figures. Dozens of government security men have also died in the fighting, as well as 13 U.S. soldiers since March.
This article starring:
ABDUL LATIF HAKIMI
Taliban
Goverment spokesman Jawed Ludin
HAJI ATIQULLAH
Taliban
Mawlavi Abdullah Fayaz
Posted by: Steve ||
06/14/2005 09:02 ||
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Security forces have captured a reputed key member of Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi's al-Qaida in Iraq terrorist group who is accused of building and selling cars used by suicide bombers, the government said Tuesday. Jassim Hazan Hamadi al-Bazi, also known as Abu Ahmed, was arrested June 7, it said in an announcement. It added that he was part of an al-Qaida cell run by a man identified as Hussayn Ibrahim. Al-Qaida in Iraq and other extremist Islamic groups have been blamed for many of the suicide car bombings, beheadings and attacks that have killed at least 1,009 people since the Shiite-led government was announced on April 28. According to the announcement, al-Bazi built and sold remote-controlled bombs used in roadside attacks from an electronic repair shop in Balad, 50 miles north of Baghdad.
Bombs"R"Us
It added that al-Bazi sold the bombs for about $18,000 each "and was involved in building suicide vehicle" bombs and land mines that were used in Balad and Samarra, 60 miles north of Baghdad. One such suicide car bomb attack Monday in Samarra - and an ensuing gunbattle between insurgents and police - killed three policemen and a civilian. The government statement said al-Bazi "was also an active weapons dealer selling missiles, guns, mortars and hand grenades. Iraqi security officials believe he is a primary suspect for providing weapons and the training for attacks against the Iraqi people, the Iraqi government and the Iraqi security forces."
String him up...
Posted by: Steve ||
06/14/2005 08:58 ||
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al-Bazi sold the bombs for about $18,000 each Golly, Mr. Wife is in the wrong business!
Two suspected militants have been killed and 12 others captured in a clash with Afghan and US-led coalition forces in southern Afghanistan.
"Hmmm... Turbans... Automatic weapons... Explosives... Riding motorcycles... Legume, I suspect these may be militants!"
"Inspector! How do you do it?"
A US military statement said the clash occurred north of the southern city of Kandahar. Separately, police say 18 commanders linked to an anti-government warlord, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, have surrendered.
Hek's boys packing it in, huh?
There has been an increase in militant activity in the south and east of the country after a lull during the Brutal Afghan winter. The incident happened when the Afghan and coalition forces spotted a group of 15 rebels moving in a narrow valley and blocked their way, a US military statement said. Two militants were killed and another wounded in the gun battle.
"Rosebud!"
"Rosebud!"
"Owwww!"
The soldiers detained 12 rebels from the group after a "complete search of the area," the statement said. About 150 rebels have been killed in violence this year, according to the US and Afghan government figures quoted by the Reuters news agency. The commanders linked to Gulbuddin Hekmatyar were said to have surrendered as part of a reconciliation drive aimed at former militants. The fighters are said to have given themselves up in the south-eastern town of Gardez on Sunday. Gulbuddin Hekmatyar's group, Hezb-e-Islami, is suspected of carrying out a string of attacks against US and Afghan troops.
I believe he's issued a press release or two saying the same thing
Last month, the Afghan government extended its amnesty scheme to include top figures in the former ruling Taleban, and Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.
This article starring:
GULBUDIN HEKMATYAR
Hezb-e-Islami
Hezb-e-Islami
Posted by: Steve ||
06/14/2005 08:33 ||
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A 100% loss rate. A good day's work. Welcome to Bagram Talib boyz.
Posted by: ed ||
06/14/2005 10:59 Comments ||
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At least 22 people have been killed in a suicide bombing in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk. Police say most of the dead were civil servants lining up outside a government-owned bank to get their salaries or pensions. They believe the bomber walked up to the queue with up to 30kg (66lbs) of explosives hidden under his clothes. Among the 50 people wounded were 10 children, who had small stalls on the side of the road.
The explosion took place near a bridge over the road, and people were killed both on the bridge and on the ground, the Associated Press news agency reported. The blast outside the al-Rafidain bank also set at least two nearby cars on fire and sent glass and rubble flying into the street. At least one report says bodies are trapped under the rubble.
"I came here to get my wages and I brought my grandson with me who insisted on accompanying me," Hussein Mohammed, a 70-year-old retired employee of the Northern Oil Company with his head swathed in bandages, told AP. "The bomb exploded as we queued outside the bank," he added.
Kirkuk, 290km (180miles) north of Baghdad, is an ethnically mixed city wanted by the Kurds as the capital of their autonomous region in the north. It houses communities of Kurds, Arabs, and Turkmen vying for control. Correspondents say the city, a major oil-producing centre, has been the focus of intense ethnic rivalry since Saddam Hussein's fall from power. The bombing came a day after four separate attacks killed at least 11 people in Iraq. More than 900 people, mostly Iraqis, have died in insurgent attacks across the country since the government of Prime Minister Ibrahim Jafaari took office six weeks ago.
Ansar al-Sunna has claimed responsibility for this blast
Posted by: Steve ||
06/14/2005 08:30 ||
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The story here is that ethnic Nepalese who live in South Bhutan have been kicked out by the government because they are not indigenous Bhutanese, and they mostly live in refugee camps where they have become increasingly radicalised. But instead of HAMAS, they have been good recruiting ground for Maoists.
The (foreign) minister added that now, while Bhutan remained committed to resolving the problem through the bilateral process, the security situation in Nepal had deteriorated, particularly near the camps. The infiltration of the camps by the Maoists and other related developments were of utmost concern to Bhutan, he said. "The Maoists in Nepal are not satisfied by just carrying out their activities on Nepalese soil," he said. "They are intent on spreading their 'revolution' to other parts of the region. Even Ms. Christina Rocca, US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, during her visit to Nepal in May, 2005, has called the Maoist a security threat to the whole region. She said the Maoists had made clear their intention to impose a 'one-party people's republic' and to export their revolution to neighbouring states. We feel that such a regime would almost certainly threaten stability in the region."
Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk pointed out that the Maoists had infiltrated the camps in Nepal which had become breeding grounds for various radical political parties and terrorists groups. Some of the main radical parties were the Bhutan Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist, Maoist), the Bhutan Gorkha Liberation Front, and Bhutan Revolutionary Students Union. He pointed out to the Assembly members that allowing the highly politicised camp people into Bhutan would mean importing ready-made radical political parties and terrorists to duplicate the violence, terror, and instability the Maoists had unleashed in Nepal. "Because of our small size, Bhutan is not in a position to absorb even a fraction of the violence and lawlessness that pervades Nepal," he said. "In the last eight to nine years, over 11,000 people have been killed in Nepal."
Well, someone is finally paying some attention to an extremely important story. The New York Times today has a nice piece on the growing number of sub-Saharan Africans now turning up as jihadis in Iraq. What is truely alarming is that about one quarter of the 400 foreign fighters captured are from that region. While the pipeline has been known to be open for the past couple of years, drawing militants from Nigeria, Niger, Mali and Mauritania, the intelligence community often dismissed or downplayed the information in my discussions with them. The belief was that EUCOM, the military command responsible for Africa, was hyping its reporting in order to have a terrorist threat in its theater of operations, thereby justifying increased military spending.
That sort of small minded thinking kept more attention from being focused on what is now being recognized as not only a problem but a potentially-grave threat in Iraq as well as West Africa. It is also the same small-minded thinking that led the FBI to dismiss out of hand public statements by Gen. Charles Wald, EUCOM's deputy commander, supporting my findings and more on al Qaeda's presence in West Africa and its use of diamonds. For the rest of the blog, go here.
#4
Phil_b, remember that there were anti-US marches in Nigeria after 911. There are plenty of non-Arab Muhammadans.
Posted by: James ||
06/14/2005 11:29 Comments ||
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#5
"Sub-Saharan? They should be easy to spot in a crowd of Iraqis, then"
Im not sure what to say. last time we had this discussion it was east africans in Pakistan. I went on and on about migration patterns, diversity in the Islamic world etc. Turned out the guy was just well hidden, and had folks delivering food for him. Damn, I looked pretty foolish, didnt I?
Well I'll repeat. There WERE migrations around and across the arab world through history. Including the movement of slaves, who were later released. I point again to Jericho, a Palestinian town where most the (Sunni Muslim, arab, Palestinian) inhabitants are black, which I assume must be related to a local concentration of of African slaves.
Iraq is a lot closer to Africa than Pakistan, and was once the wealthy center of the Islamic world, and must have had huge numbers of slaves. And other migrants.
Anyone here whos actually BEEN to Iraq? Ex-GI maybe, or an Iraqi?
#6
Sub-Saharan is kind of a sloppy term. The area of the Sehal (I probably misspelled that) is "sub-Sahara," but includes quite a few non-blacks (lots of Arabs, some Berbers and similar). It's majority black, but not to the extent of the more southern states.
Northern Nigeria (where the sharia states are), and a swath of Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad, Sudan (remember them?) are all Sahel. I can more easily believe those people are ones referred to here.
But I've never actually been to Africa, so it really could be islamified blacks.
#7
Assumptions, liberalhawk. I just meant that the bone struckture and body type of the sub-saharans is likely to be visibly different than that of the Iraqis. To the accustomed eye, these things jump out, like the difference between Japanese, Korean and, say, Vietnamese.
#8
japan of course lived in an incredible degree of isolation for over a thousand years - and probably long before that. To a lesser extent Korea and Viet Nam. Im just thinking that Mesopotamia, for long the seat of empires, importer of slaves, drawer of migrants was more of a melting pot. I could be wrong.
#9
lib: one of the Iraqi bloggers mentioned that some Basrans can and do get confused for black Africans, and Somali expat workers confused for Basrans. As I understand it, the southern Shia areas have a lot of genes left over from the centuries when the Arabs imported east African slaves to work the sugarcane.
The blogger noted that the gentlemen in question were doing construction work in his Baghdad neighborhood, but everybody was suspicious that they were al Queda jihadis or something. So the locals do make that assumption, although they were wrong in this case. This was in 2003, I seem to remember...
Posted by: Mitch H. ||
06/14/2005 16:11 Comments ||
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#10
wow. Iraqi bloggers actually giving facts about Iraq, instead of our speculations.
#11
Arab is as much a cultural affiliation and language group as a racial category. My point was that the article is claiming this is new development, whereas I am saying this just more of the same, i.e. Arab Jihadis going to Iraq. If a dark skinned 'african looking' Arab could pass unremarked in Iraq, then this substantiates my argument.
According to the Delhi Police, Haroon Rashid, an Indian mechanical engineer, who is alleged to be a member of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba (LET), was arrested by them at the Delhi airport on May 16, 2005, on his arrival from Singapore where he had reportedly gone to do a training course. In a press briefing on his arrest, the Delhi Police claimed that he had links to an LET plot for a terrorist strike against the Kanpur-based plant of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The police gave the following details relating to him:
· Haroon Rashid (24) alias Farooq, is a mechanical engineer, who used to work with the HAL for over two years.
· He was a member of an LeT module, which had planned to attack the Indian Military Academy at Dehra Dun, but the plot was thwarted with the Arrest of two terrorists and the killing of three others during an encounter in a South-West Delhi area on March 5, 2005.
· He hails from Siwan in Bihar . He is believed to have returned to India to re-organise the LeT module that was neutralised after the March encounter.
· Rashid had resigned from HAL, Kanpur , in December 2004, to join a Singapore-based company and went to Singapore to do a 22-week preparatory course for graduate mechanical engineers in the Singapore Maritime Academy .
· During his stay in Singapore, he had allegedly passed on instructions and money from one Abdul Aziz, described by the Police as a Pakistan-based top LeT operative and head of the module, to its members in Delhi .
· He had been given 14,000 Singapore dollars (about Rs 3.6 lakh) of which he had already passed on 4,000 dollars to Shams (one of the killed militants) and the others in India.
· According to the Police, he revealed on interrogation that Shams had visited the HAL campus in Kanpur and stayed with him there to study the security details and plan a 'fidayeen' (suicide) attack. Later, the module had apparently decided to attack the IMA first. Rashid, who had graduated in Engineering from the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), had come in contact with Shams and another key member of the module, Doctor alias Amir in the university hostel in 2001.
This is the third piece of evidence coming to notice since 2002 relating to possible linkages between jihadi terrorists operating in India, Pakistan and the countries of South-East Asia. According to a White Paper issued by the Singapore authorities on Jan 7, 2003, on the Jemaah Islamiya (JI), a terrorist organization of South-East Asia, seven of the 31 suspected members of the JI arrested by them in December 2001, and September, 2002, were of Indian origin. Singapore, like Malaysia, has a large number of persons of Indian origin, who had migrated there from South India, mainly Tamil Nadu. The fact that some of these migrants had joined the JI indicated that the JI was apparently targeting this migrant community in its recruitment drive for volunteers to carry out terrorist activities against possible American and other targets in Singapore and other countries of the regionâŠThe second piece of evidence came in 2003, when the Singapore authorities were reported to have arrested two Singapore nationals who, according to them, had undergone training in a LeT camp in Pakistan . This gave the first clear indication of a link between the JI and the Pakistan-based LET. "The Hindu", the daily newspaper of Chennai, quoted the then Singapore Deputy Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, as saying: "They were involved with the Lashkar-e-Toiba, the Kashmiri groupâŠ"
The arrest of Rashid and the details regarding him as given by the Delhi Police provide corroboratory evidence of the apparent use of the Singapore territory by the LET for maintaining contacts with its cells in India and for passing on money and instructions to them from Pakistan. The details given by the Police so far do not indicate whether Rashid had any contacts with the JI during his stay in Singapore. It is also not clear whether he went to Singapore to do a training course on his own or on the instructions of the LET. If he had gone on the instructions of the LET headquarters in Pakistan, what was the purpose of the LET in instructing him to join the course? These are aspects, which need further investigation by the Indian Police authorities in collaboration with their counterparts in Singapore.
Posted by: Paul Moloney ||
06/14/2005 01:48 ||
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A bomb hidden in a pickup truck exploded in a bustling town in Indian Held Kashmir on Monday, killing 15 people, including the suspected attacker and a 14-year-old boy, and injuring at least 100 others, police said. The blast uprooted trees, shattered two cars and damaged a dozen shops, a school and a post office near a security forces' camp in the town of Pulwama, Deputy Inspector General of Police Owes Ahmad said. At least eight injured people were in critical condition, Ahmad said. Eleven civilians, three paramilitary soldiers and the suspected attacker were killed. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
Nearly 40 kilograms (88 pounds) of highly explosive RDX was hidden in the pickup truck, which had been carrying bricks and sand for construction of a perimeter wall around the area, about 50 kilometres south of Srinagar, Deputy Superintendent of Police Imtiyaz Ahmad told The Associated Press. "The attacker was riding the truck carrying the bomb and building material. The bomb detonated 500 metres short of the main buildings," Ahmad said.
An AK-47 rifle was recovered near the charred body of the unidentified attacker found in the truck, he said. Shortly after the explosion, angry residents came out into the streets protesting delays by officials in rescuing the wounded. Police fired tear gas and warning shots in the air to control the protesters.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/14/2005 00:00 ||
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LADAH: A bomb blast damaged a government-run embroidery centre in Sarwakai, South Waziristan. In another incident, unidentified men shot dead a man, Yasin, and critically injured another in Shaga. Meanwhile, a resident of Makeen, Asmatullah, who had been missing for the past three days, was feared kidnapped.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/14/2005 00:00 ||
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A suicide bomber rammed a car packed with explosives into a US military vehicle in southern Afghanistan on Monday, killing himself and wounding four American soldiers, one seriously, the US military said. The military denied Afghan police and army reports that at least five Americans had been killed in the attack in Mirwais Mina, about 10 km from the city of Kandahar.
Taliban guerrillas claimed responsibility for the attack. Taliban spokesman Abdul Latif Hakimi said it had been a suicide attack by a local named Haji Juma. "This was our work," he said. A Reuters Television News cameraman near the scene saw a US helicopter evacuating casualties. The troops were from a US Provincial Reconstruction Team based in Kandahar and the blast occurred as they were returning to their base from a patrol.
US military spokesman Colonel Jim Yonts said the attack had been carried out by a suicide bomber who drove a car packed with a large quantity of explosives into a US military vehicle. "The vehicle was struck by a suicide bomber who detonated his vehicle with the explosives," he said. Yonts said one of the US soldiers was seriously hurt, but his injuries did not appear to be life-threatening. The others were in stable condition.
This article starring:
ABDUL LATIF HAKIMI
Taliban
Colonel Jim Yonts
HAJI JUMA
Taliban
Posted by: Fred ||
06/14/2005 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.
Several lawmakers — mostly Muslim fundamentalists and tribal representatives who oppose women's political rights_ are challenging the appointment of Kuwait's first female Cabinet member as unconstitutional, one of them said Tuesday. Ten legislators had signed a request to discuss the appointment in Parliament, a step that could lead to taking it to the Constitutional Court, legislator Faisal al-Mislim said. Massouma al-Mubarak, a U.S.-educated university teacher and women's rights activist, was appointed Sunday but has not assumed her post. She is awaiting a decree from the emir or his deputy the crown prince, both of whom are ailing. The measure is only procedural.
Saudi police arrested a suspicious person who was spotted while scrutinizing a building that houses the offices of a U.S. company in east Riyadh. Daily al-Riyadh said Tuesday the man was spotted going around the building in his car several times in the neighborhood of Janadriya, sparking the suspicion of the company guards. Police ordered the man to stop and shot him when he tried to escape. "The man suffered a minor injury and was rushed to hospital, as policemen cordoned off the area and conducted searches for more suspects," the paper said. The identity of the suspect was not released.
German police have arrested three Iraqi citizens suspected of funding a militant Kurdish organisation operating in Iraq, 
One killed in 'encounter'
A 
Afghan authorities have captured a 
Two suspected militants have been killed and 12 others captured in a clash with Afghan and US-led coalition forces in southern Afghanistan.
A bomb hidden in a pickup truck exploded in a bustling town in Indian Held Kashmir on Monday, killing 15 people, including the suspected attacker and a 14-year-old boy, and injuring at least 100 others, police said. The blast uprooted trees, shattered two cars and damaged a dozen shops, a school and a post office near a security forces' camp in the town of Pulwama, Deputy Inspector General of Police Owes Ahmad said. At least eight injured people were in critical condition, Ahmad said. Eleven civilians, three paramilitary soldiers and the suspected attacker were killed. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
