"I summon my blue-eyed slaves anytime it pleases me. I command the Americans to send me their bravest soldiers to die for me. Anytime I clap my hands a stupid genie called the American ambassador appears to do my bidding. When the Americans die in my service their bodies are frozen in metal boxes by the US Embassy and American airplanes carry them away, as if they never existed. Truly, America is my favorite slave."
A reliable source has said selected members of the Jewish community working in or near the WTC were told hours before: "Don't go to work on Tuesday." We surmise Israeli intelligence knew, as they did the US Marine barracks in Beirut...
Which is an indication of how carefully they check the sources of the items they post.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has been invited to visit the US by Vice President Dick Cheney. King Abdullah also held a meeting with Cheney at his farm in Janadriyadh, near Riyadh, during which the two leaders reviewed their bilateral relations, and the situations in Palestine and Iraq as well as issues that came to the forefront during the Saudi-US summit at President George W. Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/06/2005 00:00 ||
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Getting invited by Cheney is like being suddenly called into the principal's office. You have no clue whether it's for praise or an a** whooping.
"the two leaders reviewed their bilateral relations"
If Jordan has good relations, which it does, with the U.S., then why review them. This does not make any sense. But wait, until.....I read the Jerusalem Post.
Folks, this may not amount to anything but something big is going down. On the one hand, you have Cheney reviewing relations with Jordan. On the other hand, you have the Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz that had briefing with Jordan's Abdullah, yesterday. I can't remember the last time that a U.S. HIGH official and an Israeli HIGH official got together back to back with the leader of a Muslim country, just for the hell of it. Here is the link to the JPost article... The article contains a lot of political correct gibberish except for one sentence. I will quote it here "Describing the meeting as warm and fruitful, Mofaz discussed with the Jordanian king an array of issues that included the security situation in the region.
Also, I hear that ElBaradei is going to finally send the Iranian nuclear weapons issue to the U.N. Security Council for a vote. Perhaps, the reason why, as we read yesterday, that an Iranian terrorist diplomat wants to speak at the U.N. Bottomline, I think that some terrorist state or supporting state is about to get a bunker buster rude awakening. I could be wrong and/or wishful thinking.
Kuwaitâs Emir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah will return home within 10 days from Switzerland after undergoing surgery in the United States, the prime minister said yesterday. âRest assured ... his highness the emir is fine and will, God willing, return to the country within 10 days,â Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah told the state news agency KUNA upon his arrival from Switzerland where he was checking on the emirâs health. The ruler of the Gulf Arab state, who is in his late 70s, had traveled to Switzerland from the United States on Sunday after having two operations on his leg. He suffered a limited brain haemorrhage a few years ago.
I'm very worried for him. I hope he doesn't become stable...
Posted by: Fred ||
08/06/2005 00:00 ||
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Here's to hoping that some surgeon left an instrument in his body....
But seriously, Switzerland? No doctors of Islam available to treat him?
Posted by: Mark E. ||
08/06/2005 19:46 Comments ||
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Islam frowns on Sex change operations Mark. He's a dawg now.
A leader at a mosque visited by one of the London July 21 bombing suspects says he warned police that Hamdi Issac was dangerous more than two years ago.
An elder at the Stockwell Mosque in south west London says he wrote to a senior police officer urging him to help deal with a group of young people who had been "harassing" and intimidating the moderate Muslims.
"We believe that this group is trying to undermine both the authority and moderate approach of the center's management, imams and community... " said a copy of the letter shown to Channel 4 News.
"They have an agenda to turn this center into another Finsbury Park Mosque" -- referring to another mosque in north London known for extreme Islamist preaching.
This is excellent news, and I have to give Toaha Qureshi credit for trying. Was he the only one to complain? Did the other trustees support his complaint? Will the police take such complaints seriously in the future?
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
08/06/2005 17:10 ||
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A Muslim cleric says there are "similarities" between new powers to tackle Islamist extremism and Hitler's demonisation of the Jews. Tony Blair wants measures to exclude foreigners who preach hate and to close places where terrorism is condoned. Dr Mohammed Naseem, chairman of the Birmingham Central Mosque, said: "I see the similarities...I am saying these are dangerous times." Last week Dr Naseem questioned whether Muslims were behind the London bombs.
"Coulda been Lapplanders, y'know. I seen some of 'em around..."
He made the comments after terror suspect Yasin Hassan Omar was arrested in the Small Heath area of the city in connection with 21 July attempted bombings.
Birmingham MP Khalid Mahmood called for Dr Naseem to resign after the comments, insisting the cleric had brought his role into disrepute but the chairman retaliated by saying 4,000 worshippers had voted for him to stay. However, following the anti-terrorism proposals unveiled on Friday Dr Naseem told the BBC's Radio 4 Today programme that he saw "similarities" between Mr Blair's approach to Britain's Muslim community and Hitler's demonisation of Jews early in his time as German Chancellor. "I think he is not very wise in the way he did it. I am saying he is not handling the situation wisely, because he says one thing at one time and another at another," he said. He [Hitler] was democratically elected and gradually he created a bogey identity, that is, the Jewish people, and posed to the Germans that they were a threat to the country. On that basis, he started a process of elimination of Jewish people. I see the similarities. Everything moves step by step. I am saying these are dangerous times and we must take note of this."
Maybe Dr. Naseem should think seriously about moving...
He added that the measures proposed by Mr Blair would be "appropriate" if there was evidence that foreign nationals were in the country fomenting terrorism. "A government is entitled to take measures to safeguard the country and the nation, but the problem is that the government speaks with so many tongues that one is confused. Up to last week, we were given to believe that the terrorists were home-grown, 'clean-skinned' and Muslim. The measures being taken are against those who come to this country who are asylum-seekers and they are supposed to be misusing or abusing hospitality. Mr Blair told the Cabinet last week that people blame anything but faith, including poverty, discrimination and the war on terror for the bombings, so the message seemed to be that they are blaming everything else, but they should be blaming faith."
Dr Naseem stood for the Respect-Unity Coalition in Birmingham Perry Barr during the recent general election in Mr Mahmood's constituency and received 2,173 votes. As part of the anti-terrorism measures unveiled on Friday, Mr Blair announced a ban on two radical Islamist organisations, Hizb ut-Tahrir and al-Muhajiroun, even though their leadership insist that they do not advocate violence in the UK. Stating the obvious but the Jews were not blowing themselves up on tubes and plotting to kill everyone on the planet...
Posted by: Kent Mccord ||
08/06/2005 08:31 ||
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Hitler was evil, therefore everything Hitler did was evil. The logic is clearly fallacious, yet to even suggest that something Hitler did might possibly be justified in certain circumstances is guaranteed to get you howled down.
Pakistan and Britain have signed an extradition treaty to facilitate the exchange of persons wanted in acts of terror and other crimes, diplomatic sources said. The two countries have been working on the wordings of the treaty for months but they speeded up this process in the aftermath of the 7/7 terrorist attacks in London, government sources said. It was soon after the London blasts that the two sides agreed to give final touches to the extradition treaty, they said, adding that Britain wanted suspects with links to the London bombs handed over to the British authorities. The recent unannounced visit of Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri to London played a key role in the finalization of the extradition treaty, a source said, adding that in the next few days the Cabinets of the two countries would ratify it.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/06/2005 00:00 ||
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Nuclear negotiators said Saturday they had no plans to suspend North Korean disarmament talks despite a lack of progress, and Washington and Pyongyang scheduled a meeting to discuss how to speed up the process. The Americans will stay "as long as we make progress," U.S. envoy Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill said as delegates prepared to start a 12th straight day of talks. However, he warned, "If we're not going to make progress we're not going to be here." Hill said the 11th day of talks on Friday was "rather excruciating" and produced little. "We got some things done, but it's not as much as I'd like and it's not going to get us there in the time span that we think we ought to get there," Hill told reporters. He expressed hope that the meeting Saturday with the North and China would help speed up the process.
Read the link for some vintage examples of diplospeak.
An official, Robert Pape, from the US foreign affairs department said that there is a high possibility of terror attacks in The Netherlands as of the 15th of August. He said that the public transport system in Amsterdam could be at risk. He also said the Dutch terror level should be raised and that Dutch authorities should take the threat more serious then they do right now.
Dutch government officials said they have everything under control and would act when there would be any indication of a real threat.
Nuttin' to see, move along, let's go, move along now, nuttin' to see ...
#1
I wonder what the Dutch will do when (not if, when) they get hit. Their multi-culti experiment is not working as well as they thought, and the Dutch do have rather active football hooligans...
Posted by: Tony (UK) ||
08/06/2005 14:22 Comments ||
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Beware the ides of August.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis ||
08/06/2005 14:41 Comments ||
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You need to differentiate the Dutch people from the Netherlands government. The Dutch people have had it with multiculti. It is the government that is pushing it and the government that is unresponsive. The reaction of the Dutch people will be brutal. They have had it with young islamic toughs and their crimes. To quote a friend. âWe need to start putting them on trains back to islamland.â
A majority of Dutch people want a ban on public officials wearing Muslim headscarves, a significant fall in religious tolerance from two years ago when most people did not back a ban, a poll showed on Friday.
The survey, conducted by pollsters TNS Nipo for Binnenlands Bestuur, a weekly newspaper for government employees, showed that 58 percent of Dutch people want local authorities to ban Muslim officials from wearing headscarves at work. The poll of 433 people conducted in May also showed that 83 percent want a ban on more orthodox Islamic clothing such as veils that cover the face and long robes for men. The murder last year of an outspoken Dutch filmmaker critical of Islam by a Dutch-Moroccan man has stoked hostility towards the almost 1 million Muslims living in the Netherlands who make up 6 percent of the population. "The Dutch have left tolerance behind them. Just two years ago, the majority of the population had no problem with an official with a headscarf," the newspaper wrote. "That picture has changed. In 2005, the majority do not want to be confronted with a government functionary in Islamic clothing, be it a veil, long robe or a more modest headscarf."
Posted by: Fred ||
08/06/2005 00:00 ||
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Actually, it might be more practical if all the Muslims simply wore no clothes. Or, at least transparent attire.
Posted by: Captain America ||
08/06/2005 1:27 Comments ||
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It would be more practical if they withdrew to Islamic nations that would be match for their belief system.
So saturday, Matt, Erin, myself and a few others went to DC to crash a rally held by those loonies that think that 9/11 was caused by the US Gov't in order to steal our freedom. Yeah.
So I covered my hat in tinfoil and drove off to matt's place where he'd constructed two large signs. Mine said "The CIA killed Dumbledore!" and had a picture of a wizard, while his said "Dick Cheney is a Giant Communist Robot!" and had a picture of some sort of crazy queen of france arm'd robot.
Certainly, we thought, we'll be yelled at - people will get angry at us very quickly. Not the case...
They took us seriously... They asked to have their pictures taken with our signs. They invited us to the day's events. They gave us a large sign they'd made too! Oy...
Posted by: Mike ||
08/06/2005 09:24 ||
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For some reason, I keep thinking of a picture of the ghost of Dumbledore standing next to Obi Wan Kenobi, Yoda, and the redeemed Anakin Skywalker.
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (AP) - Canada is developing its own version of a no-fly list in an effort to prevent terrorist attacks and make air travel safer, the federal transport minister said Friday. The Canadian list could help satisfy American demands that Canadian airlines provide passenger lists for all flights that go through American airspace. Washington also has been pressuring Ottawa to take a greater role in protecting North American and its own security, particularly along the 4,000-mile border with the United States.
The Canadian program will identify people who pose ``an immediate threat to aviation security'' and will work with airlines to stop suspects from flying, Transport Minister Jean Lapierre said in Halifax, the provincial capital of Nova Scotia. ``This list is going to be revised regularly,'' said Lapierre, adding that the list would be ready by 2006 and shared with all airlines, sea ports and border crossings.
Lapierre also said he plans to meet with key players in the ground transportation system in light of the recent subway attacks in London. ``We know now that all modes of transport are at risk,'' said the minister.
Opposition Leader Stephen Harper said he saw little new in the transportation minister's announcements. ``We've had lots of security announcements from this government and very little action,'' said Harper, leader of the Conservative Party. ``This is part of a pattern of phony announcements. I'll believe it when I see it."
Ditto.
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/06/2005 0 ||
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At the top of the list: Air France.
Posted by: Matt ||
08/06/2005 0:08 Comments ||
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Technically, Air France is on the "no-land" list...
#3
I'm guessing the list will include Danes, Jews, Christians in general, and American Republicans (but moonbats are welcoms).
But they won't list moslems, or anyone from the Middle East (except for Israelis), Pakistan, etc. - it wouldn't be PC and might hurt somebody's precious widdle feelings.
Actually, I don't think Canada cares if terrorists live there, as long as they do their actual terrorizing in the U.S., not in Canada. :-(
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
08/06/2005 0:24 Comments ||
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Ouch, Sea.
That left a mark. ;-p
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
08/06/2005 0:25 Comments ||
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Except in Canada "no-fly" means no zipper.
Posted by: Captain America ||
08/06/2005 2:25 Comments ||
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haven't they been doing this all along?!
I guess I just assumed
Posted by: Jan ||
08/06/2005 23:57 Comments ||
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Federal agents arrested a Border Patrol agent Thursday in Escondido who is suspected of being an illegal immigrant who was smuggling other illegal immigrants into the United States. Department of Homeland Security agents, assisted by Escondido police, pulled over 28-year-old Oscar Antonio Ortiz of San Diego at about 2:30 p.m. while he was driving on Valley Parkway near Interstate 15 and took him into custody, authorities said... a second Border Patrol agent who lives in Encinitas has also been under investigation.
Ortiz's application to work for the Border Patrol, filed in Oct. 30, 2001, claimed he was born in Chicago, Ill., and he submitted a birth certificate, according to U.S. District Court documents in San Diego.
"However, a records check revealed it was a doctored birth certificate," Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Jennings said. "The records check revealed that he was born in Tijuana."
Ortiz was to appear in federal court today on one charge each of conspiracy to smuggle illegal immigrants into this country and falsely claiming U.S. citizenship, Jennings said. The maximum penalty for conviction could be 10 years for conspiracy and three for falsely claiming citizenship.
A Border Patrol spokesman in San Diego declined to comment, citing further investigation.
The case developed out of a U.S.-Mexico drug smuggling investigation tied to an Encinitas street gang. At least 33 people, 10 of them believed to be members of the gang, were charged during the multi-agency Operation Straight Flush. North County Regional Gang Task Force detectives worked with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, as well as other agents. Officials said Ortiz's home was among those searched in early June when the first arrests in the case were made.
The Border Patrol agent who lives in Encinitas has three cousins in the street gang and he was also under investigation... Cell phone conversations between Ortiz and the other agent as they discussed smuggling illegal immigrants into the United States east of Tecate are noted in the court documents...
#2
Yeah, and these foreign occupiers sell home boiled corn in the streets of LA, just as in the filthy streets of their open sewer homeland. But disobeying food preparation regulations, is the least of the lawbreaking menace of the occupying bean eaters.
Posted by: Vlad the Muslim Impaler ||
08/06/2005 4:08 Comments ||
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Put a sock on it, Vlad. That's not the kind of language we want here.
-- AoS
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/06/2005 12:35 Comments ||
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Actually, I wouldn't mind (legal) immigration, even in very large numbers, if we didn't have a massive welfare state and we didn't have this anti-America multicultural indoctrination.
If people want to come here to work and assimilate and speak English and be Americans, I'm fine with that. I read Mexifornia and the author talks about how foreign children used to be immersed in our classes, speaking only English and being taught American values. The teacher would have the student talk a little about his homeland and then ask "and why did your parents come here?" thus reinforcing this is a better place so don't screw it up like the place you left. Under those conditions, we could have far more legal immigrants.
#6
Jackel, I'm with you on that. But the truth to the matter is that's not what's happening. In Colorado, the schools teach in Spanish, they aren't learning English. They aren't finishing school, instead getting pregnant and dropping out of school because they don't understand English (probably).
I would love that folks are coming to America because they like our way of life and customs. But they are coming here because of all the free services we give them. Emergency medicaid needs to be reworked. More to be said, but it's very late.
Posted by: Jan ||
08/06/2005 23:47 Comments ||
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Iran yesterday rejected a broad package of trade and technology incentives offered by the European Union if it agreed to abandon nuclear fuel work, a move that risks an international crisis. "The proposals are unacceptable," nuclear negotiator Hossein Moussavian said, describing them as a "clear violation" of agreements between Iran and the European Union. "They negate Iran's inalienable right," he said. EU negotiators have called for an emergency meeting of the UN watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, which could refer Iran's nuclear dossier to the Security Council for possible sanctions. But a defiant Iran said it would also stick by its plans to resume uranium conversion, a preliminary stage in the nuclear fuel cycle, despite warnings that it would trigger an international crisis. The European Union said Tehran, accused by arch-enemy the United States of seeking to build an atomic bomb, must commit "not to pursue fuel cycle activities" if it wants to benefit from the EU incentives.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/06/2005 00:00 ||
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But, I thought they were gonna think on it for a few days before telling the E-3 to get bent.
Not good sport, don't ya know.
Posted by: Captain America ||
08/06/2005 1:33 Comments ||
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Thats what the EU3 gets...what it deserves!! They have given Iran 6 months valuable time (with no repercussions) to solving their nuclear containment packaging problem, and when that's done, you can bet your farm, The Bomb will be next!!
#3
If there's one word in the English language that leads me to believe its user is a pompous, arrogant, self-important son of a bitch, it's 'unacceptable'. God damn it, that word just fucking grates.
EFL
The Iraqi prime minister said Friday that the country's leading Shiite Muslim cleric hopes the constitution being drawn up will enshrine Islam as the main source of legislation â something opposed by Kurds and some Iraqi women activists. A younger radical Shiite cleric, meanwhile, urged Iraqis to participate in the constitutional process but added that he personally would not vote in elections planned for year's end because of the presence of foreign troops.
Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari commented on the constitution after spending nearly two hours with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the most influential cleric in the Shiite Muslim community, which makes up 60 percent of Iraq's population. The two were believed to have talked about recent developments ahead of Sunday's meeting of political leaders from Iraq's various communities to try to resolve differences over the charter. The proposed constitution is supposed to be presented to the National Assembly by Aug. 15 so legislators can debate its final wording. A referendum on the charter would be held by mid-October, and approval would lead to national elections by mid-December.
Al-Jaafari later met with radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who has toned down his opposition to the U.S.-led coalition since his supporters staged a failed uprising last year, and Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Saeed al-Hakim, one of four Shiite grand ayatollahs but who does not have a high profile politically. After that meeting, al-Jaafari was asked whether al-Sistani wants Islam to be the main source of legislation or one of the sources. "Ayatollah al-Sistani does not want to impose dictation on drafting the constitution, but according to my knowledge he hopes that Islam become the main source of legislation," al-Jaafari replied.
Al-Sadr also told reporters that every Iraqi should be involved in the constitutional process, although he added that he would not participate in the planned Dec. 15 elections. "I will not take part in the presence of occupiers, but I will give the freedom to whoever wants to join," he said. ...
Posted by: ed ||
08/06/2005 02:54 ||
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Fred or Paul could prolly parse this story better than me, but it looks interesting...
After the successful implementation of ordinances and laws barring all the candidates holding only seminary degrees from contesting any elections, the tide of disqualification has now turned against senators, members of provincial assemblies and Member National Assemblies. This move would deal a severe blow to the polity of MMA, majority of which came through seminary degrees to parliament. The MMA hosts about 63 MNAs, 200 MPAs in all four provinces and 18 senators. Besides it has complete provincial rule over NWFP, and shares the government of Balochistan, all of which are potential disqualifiers if this rule is implemented. Some government supporters can also be potential affectees of this ordinance, if implemented. The degrees from the seminaries cannot be equivalent to any matriculation or FA Degrees, because seminaries do not impart any general knowledge necessary for a valid educational degree.
You mean memorizing the Koran ain't enough to rule Pakistan? Color me shocked.
It is pertinent to note that regime of late President Zia-Ul-Haq had directed the University Grants Commission (UGC) in a 1982 notification to accept the degree of Shahadat Alalamia equivalent to MA Arabic, and MA Islamiat. The Higher Education Commission also verified this only a few days ago. The degree holders were also viable for the post of a lectureship. The decision of Election Commission does not interfere or affect these qualifications in the education sector, but only disqualifies them for candidacy of any elections.
JUBA, Sudan - Thousands of Sudanese government troops and ex-rebel fighters deployed here Saturday ahead of the funeral of Sudanâs vice president and former southern guerrilla leader John Garang. As residents of Juba prepared a massive send-off for Garang, two planeloads of Sudanese soldiers, including members of the elite presidential guard, landed at Juba airport on Friday and were immediately deployed around town. Heavily armed troops with rocket-propelled grenade launchers and assault rifles were positioned at 10-meter intervals on the streets of Juba, which was rocked by deadly violence after Garangâs death, an AFP correspondent said. Those soldiers joined fighters from Garangâs ex-rebel Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) who entered Juba for the first time on Wednesday to help quell the violence and provide security for the funeral.
Half a million people, including Sudanese President Omar el-Beshir, South African President Thabo Mbeki, Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni are expected to attend the service. Officials from the African Union and the United Nations were also expected.
Garang was killed on July 30 when Museveniâs presidential helicopter on which he was returning to southern Sudan from Uganda crashed in what Sudanese, Ugandan and SPLM/A officials had repeatedly said was an accident due to poor weather. But on Friday, Museveni said it may not have been an accident, becoming the first official of any government to publicly suggest the crash may have been the result of foul play. âSome people say accident, it may be an accident, it may be something else,â Museveni told thousands of mourners in the southern Sudanese town of Yei where Garangâs coffin had been brought in an airborne funeral procession to Juba. âThe (helicopter) was very well equipped, this was my (helicopter) the one I am flying all the time, I am not ruling anything out,â he said, adding that an unspecified âexternal factorâ could have been responsible.
He's also thanking his lucky stars and stroking his rabbit's foot.
Salva Kiir, Garangâs successor as SPLM/A chief declined to comment on the specifics of Museveniâs remarks but said no cause had been ruled out pending an international investigation of the crash. But in Khartoum and Juba, senior SPLM/A officials cautioned against making any assumptions about the cause of the crash as did a diplomat in Bor, Garangâs birthplace where his coffin was brought after Yei.
"Boss! We're going to need a new cover story real soon now!"
Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail meanwhile called on Uganda to cooperate with the investigation into the crash. â(Garangâs) visit was to Uganda and the aircraft and its crew were Ugandan,â Ismail told the official SUNA news agency. However he expressed displeasure that the Ugandan authorities only informed Sudan about the disappearance of Garangâs helicopter several hours after they found out. Sudanese Information Minister Abdul Basit Sebdarat went further still, calling Museveniâs comments âextremely worryingâ. âUttering statements or speculations ahead of the investigation would harm the probe and the chances of finding the facts, the official SUNA news agency quoted Sebdarat as saying.
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/06/2005 00:00 ||
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Pakistani scientists are fine-tuning a new version of nuclear-capable missile, which could suggest the country will test fire it soon, an official at one of Pakistanâs main nuclear facilities said on Friday. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the media, refused to say whether it was a long-range missile, or provide any other details. âOur scientists have started putting the final touches on a missile and Pakistan may test it soon,â the official said.
"We call it the 'V-3'," he added.
The local Nawa-i-Waqt newspaper had reported Friday that Pakistan was likely to test fire a ballistic missile before Aug. 14. But army spokesman Gen. Shaukat Sultan refused to confirm the report, saying he had no such information.
"I know nothing. Now go away."
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/06/2005 00:00 ||
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Khannnn!
Posted by: Captain America ||
08/06/2005 1:13 Comments ||
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So, the North Koreans have a new missile.
Their Pakistan-based test site is so convenient.
Posted by: john ||
08/06/2005 8:26 Comments ||
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One of the most senior ministers in the royal Nepalese government said on Friday that the government was ready for talks with Maoists to resolve the decade-old armed insurgency that has claimed over 12,000 lives. Vice-Chairman of the Council of Ministers Kirti Nidhi Bista told a group of civil society leaders that the government also agreed that dialogue was the only way to settle the armed conflict. He said, âThe government knows that the only way to settle the problem is not through guns but through dialogue.â
And I thought the village defense teams were doing a bang-up job.
He also told the civil society leaders to help the government by trying to bring the Maoists to the negotiating table. He added that King Gyanendra who seized all executive powers on February 1 was sincere in his commitment to returning the country to a multi-party democracy for which elections would be held. He appealed to them ânot to doubt King Gyanendraâs commitment to democracyâ.
"No, no! Certainly not!"
Meanwhile, another group of civil society leaders held a mass meeting in the Nepalese capital Friday calling for the âimmediate restoration of democracyâ. With the top leaders of political parties sitting among the audience, the civil society leaders severely criticised them for their mistakes that brought about the present situation in the country. The political leaders listened silently to their criticisms.
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/06/2005 00:00 ||
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âThe government knows that the only way to settle the problem is not through guns but through dialogue.â
Only true if the dialogue considered is surrender to the Maoists. He who blinks first loses - and the government is blinking.
The Election Commission rejected yesterday most of the presidential registrations received from independent candidates, saying many of the hopefuls failed to win the approval of at least 250 elected members of Parliament and Municipal Councils. Around a hundred people withdrew registration forms over the past week while only 30 candidates from 16 parties turned in acceptable applications, the commission said. Nine independents, among them four women, did not get the required 250 signatures of elected national or local officials, it said. Applicants have until tomorrow to object in case they were rejected and the commission will publish the final list of candidates on Aug. 13, less than a month before the country's key vote on Sept. 7.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/06/2005 00:00 ||
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Ghoos, so many choices
Posted by: Captain America ||
08/06/2005 1:18 Comments ||
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Vote or die
Posted by: Captain America ||
08/06/2005 1:19 Comments ||
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A crucial meeting on Iraqâs constitutional stalemate was put off yesterday by an emergency session of the Kurdish autonomous Parliament as sustained rebel attacks left over a dozen people dead... Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said the meeting to end the deadlock on drafting a new constitution and resolving outstanding questions was postponed for Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani. âThe meeting of leaders was delayed from today to Sunday in order to allow Barzani to attend a meeting Saturday of the Kurdish Parliament before coming to Baghdad as the head of a delegation of Kurdish parliamentary groups,â said a statement from Talabaniâs office. The issues yet to be decided on include federalism, official languages, the relation between religion and state, the name of the republic, the rights of women and the question of the oil-rich center of Kirkuk which Kurds want included in their own autonomous region.
Iraqi leaders have pledged to draft the new basic law by Aug. 15 ahead of a referendum in mid-October, to be followed by national elections in December and possible formation of a new government by early 2006. Mahmud Othman, a Kurdish member of the constitutional committee, told AFP the delay was to give the Kurdish autonomous Parliament time to discuss the charter. âThe leadership in Kurdistan asked for the Kurdish committee members to come back and explain to our Parliament what has been discussed in Baghdad,â said Falah Mustafa, a spokesman for Barzaniâs Kurdistan Democratic Party. âWe are worried about comments from some on the committee regarding federalism, Kurdish rights, democracy and womenâs rights,â Adnan Mufti, head of the Kurdish regional Parliament and senior official of Talabaniâs Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Party told AFP from Arbil. He said the Kurds were ready to endorse the charter âif all parties understand a constitution should be based on rights for all Iraqis, if not we cannot reach an agreement.â
âWe are insisting on federalism, there is no way to have a unified Iraq without federalism.â Mufti said he hoped Baghdad would accept Kurdish federalist demands, but added three issues could be problematic â the future of Kirkuk, the name of Iraq and the role of Islam. âWe want Islam to be a main source of legislation, but not the main source,â Mufti said. âIraq is a country for all â Christians and Yezidis, as well as Sunni and Shiite.â
Iraqi Premier Ibrahim Jaafari said meanwhile the Shiite cleric Ayatollah Ali Sistani was ready to accept a federal Iraq. âSistani does not disagree with the principle of federalism if the Iraqi people choose it,â Jaafari told reporters after meeting the reclusive cleric at his home in Najaf. This could boost hopes of an agreement between members of a committee tasked with drafting the constitution by the deadline. The conference is due to report back by Aug. 12 and any matters still unresolved will be put to the full Parliament for decision by majority vote. Iraq will be a parliamentary republic with a strong prime minister and a figurehead president, according to the latest draft of the constitution.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/06/2005 00:00 ||
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#1
Let's do this. All the woman who want a voice and not live in the 14th century will move to northern Iraq with the Kurds. Then flush the toilet after them.
Posted by: Captain America ||
08/06/2005 1:31 Comments ||
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Mauritania was calm Thursday amid signs of national approval of the ousting of President Maaouyia Ould Taya, despite foreign condemnation of the coup in the oil-rich northwest African country. Hospital and military sources said the coup, staged Wednesday while Ould Taya was in Saudi Arabia for King Fahd's funeral, was entirely bloodless, and dismissed firing heard in Nouakchott as warning shots. Officials of all three hospitals in the city said they had received no casualties from bullet wounds or other violent injuries. A police officer who backed the coup told AFP, "we did not face any incident requiring the use of force."
The capital was returning to normal Thursday, with businesses and government offices reopening and traffic resuming, while the presence of troops on the streets was greatly reduced. The airport, closed for several hours Wednesday, was also operating normally, and unlike previous coups in a country which has known long periods of military rule, no curfew was imposed or checkpoints set up. Some residents had spent much of the night driving through the streets in small convoys, sounding their horns in approval of the ousting of Ould Taiya, who had kept Mauritania in a tight grip for more than two decades since seizing power, also in a bloodless coup. Witnesses contacted by telephone said the rest of the country was also calm as it awaited the next moves from the new ruling Military Council for Justice and Democracy, chaired by Colonel Ely Ould Mohammed Vall, the country's police chief, and comprising 16 colonels and a naval commander.
The announcement of the coup, several hours after troops took over key buildings in Nouakchott, said, "The military and the security forces have unanimously decided to put an end to the totalitarian practices of the regime from which our people have suffered so much in the last years." The new junta pledged to "establish favourable conditions for an open and transparent democratic system on which civil society and political players will be able to give their opinions freely. "The military and security forces do not intend to hold power for longer than a period of two years, which is considered essential to prepare and establish true democratic institutions," the statement said. It also vowed to respect all international treaties and conventions already ratified by Mauritania.
The news brought hundreds of people on to the streets of Nouakchott in apparently spontaneous demonstrations of support, but opposition political parties Thursday called for the new rulers to put their promises into effect swiftly. The Union of Forces of Progress called for "respect for the republican framework of the state and the formation of a transitional government of national union, representative of the political spectrum." The Popular Front hailed the stated objectives of the junta and called for rapid changes, including "the opening of an era of tolerance and the release of all prisoners of conscience." But Ould Taya's Republican Democratic and Social Party called on all Mauritanians to reject "anti-constitutional change" and said it supported the former regime. Sources close to the junta said no member of Ould Taya's government had been detained or interrogated by the new leadership.
Military officers contacted by AFP indicated the coup had been popular among the armed forces. One, who had not joined in the rebellion, said "the proof is that there was no resistance or hesitation following the coup, with units swiftly rallying to the change." There was no immediate reaction from the country's Islamists, who in recent months had been targeted by Ould Tahya in a crackdown on dubious allegations that they were linked to terrorism.
As the ousted president was given refuge in Niger, the coup was condemned by the African Union, the European Union, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and the United States. But the Arab League, of which Mauritania is a member, was slow to react, as was virtually every other African country. The AU reaffirmed its "total rejection of any unconstitutional change of government and the importance of respect for constitutional order," while Annan's spokesman said he "condemns any attempt to change the government of any country unconstitutionally" and insists that political disagreements be settled peacefully through democratic means. Britain, speaking as holder of the EU presidency, said it "condemns any attempt to seize power by force" and "calls upon all sides to ensure full respect for democracy, human rights and the rule of law." Washington, which saw Ould Taya as an ally in the "war against terrorism" despite criticising abuses of his regime, called for the ousted president to be reinstated.
Israel also condemned the coup but said it would wait to see how it would affect ties with one of the only three Arab countries with which it has diplomatic relations. But there was no immediate threat of international sanctions, while Australian oil company Woodside Petroleum said its offshore drilling operations in Mauritania had been unaffected by the coup. Mauritania sits on some one billion barrels of oil and 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas, according to the government, but has scarcely begun production.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/06/2005 00:00 ||
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Posted by: Captain America ||
08/06/2005 1:20 Comments ||
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#3
The only thing the junta can do that would both give them tremendous international credibility and give one in the eye to the African Dictator's Union, would be to immediately forward a request to the US, the EU and the UN, in that order, to provide assistance in democracy building, transparency, and neutral oversight of their national elections. This would piss off Bob and the others so much they would want to invade to stop it.
Captain (r) Khalid Sultan, Lahore district coordination officer (DCO), on Friday imposed a ban on the use of loudspeakers in mosques except for Friday sermons. The DCO has also banned wall chalking and graffiti on walls in the city.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/06/2005 00:00 ||
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Just have them hand out cheap pagers. A chorus of chirping cheap call contraptions. If that doesn't get Allah's attention...
Jhang police on Friday confiscated copies of a daily and a monthly paper and sealed two printing presses in Rabwa. The papers belong to Ahmadis. The police also arrested two people including the editor of the daily during an operation. According to police spokesman Munawar Shahid, Jhang SSP Hamid Mukhtar Gondal ordered a DSP to seize the papers and the presses. Police sealed the two presses, seized daily newspaper Al-Fazal and a monthly magazine. Offices of both the papers were in the same building however it was not confirmed whether a single person owned the presses and the papers. Gondal told Daily Times that the papers' were publishing objectionable material. A case has been registered.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/06/2005 00:00 ||
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Let the plunder begin. When does "taking by the right hand" of their wimmen begin?
Posted by: ed ||
08/06/2005 3:04 Comments ||
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A former Sipah-i-Sahaba leader and a member of the NWFP Assembly has claimed that âit will be difficult for the government to really ban us,â adding, âif we wanted to, we could bring life in Pakistan to a standstill and take controlâ. The challenge comes from Ibrahim Qazmi, a 28-year-old cleric whose interview appears in Fridayâs Washington Post. Datelined, Landi Arbab in the Frontier, the report bears the by-line of Post reporter NC Aizenman.
Qazmi calls President Pervez Musharraf a âtool in the hands of Western forcesâ who continues to remain incapable of stopping the radical Islamic movement in Pakistan. Qazmi and many of his co-militants were arrested after 9/11 but released after a few days. Qazmi was out in just 10 days. He told the American journalist âwith a chuckleâ, âSo you see, despite the ban, we have only gotten strongerâ. The report observes that Qazmiâs story âunderscores Musharrafâs contradictory record as one of the most important allies in President George Bushâs war on terrorismâ.
It also claims that although the Pakistan Army killed more than 300 militants in a campaign against Al Qaeda bases near the Afghan border last year, it has since proved âunable or unwillingâ to stop fighters from the ousted Taliban militia from slipping back into Afghanistan to launch bombings and attacks.
Human rights activist Afrasiab Khattak told the newspaper, âThe crackdown after September 11, 2001, was just window dressing for Western consumption. None of the top Pakistani leaders were arrestedâ. The report quotes âanalystsâ to assert that President Musharrafâs resolve would likely continue to be counterbalanced by the same domestic political problems that have bedevilled him in the past, one being the militaryâs reluctance to âdefangâ militant organisations that were sponsored in the 1980s to fight in Kashmir. An unnamed Pakistani intelligence official told the Post correspondent that many military and political leaders believe the Kashmiri militant groups were still a vital lever against India. âThe idea of the authorities nabbing the people who challenged the Indian army in Kashmir sounds scary to all decision-makers,â he added.
The report quotes PPP Senator Raza Rabbani as saying, âEven if I were to give him the benefit of the doubt, I donât think he (Musharraf) has the structures in place to implement such policiesâ. Samina Ahmed of the International Crisis Group told the Post, âThe people who created the Taliban are now effectively running half of Pakistanâ. Qazi Hussain Ahmed told the newspaper that his party had criticised some extreme Taliban practices, stressing that Islam prohibited terrorist attacks on innocent civilians. As for Kashmiri fighters, he said they were justified in their âholy warâ against India, and the same was true of the Taliban fighting the US-backed government in Afghanistan.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/06/2005 00:00 ||
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Please, Mr. Qamzi, do continue talking.
I'm sure Musharraf doesn't feel even the least bit threatened, and even if he did, he and his minions army would never do anything to harm you....
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
08/06/2005 0:32 Comments ||
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i have a feeling mr qazmi will not live too see 29
#3
only the WAPO would give credibility and print to the rantings of a know-it-all 28 year old. I agree the little fly will most likely be swatted before he hits 29. Darwin in action.
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.
Kuwaitâs Emir 
Iran yesterday rejected a broad package of trade and technology incentives offered by the European Union if it agreed to abandon nuclear fuel work, a move that risks an international crisis. "The proposals are unacceptable," nuclear negotiator Hossein Moussavian said, describing them as a "clear violation" of agreements between Iran and the European Union. "They negate Iran's inalienable right," he said. EU negotiators have called for an emergency meeting of the UN watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, which could refer Iran's nuclear dossier to the Security Council for possible sanctions. But a defiant Iran said it would also stick by its plans to resume uranium conversion, a preliminary stage in the nuclear fuel cycle, despite warnings that it would trigger an international crisis. The European Union said Tehran, accused by arch-enemy the United States of seeking to build an atomic bomb, must commit "not to pursue fuel cycle activities" if it wants to benefit from the EU incentives.
Pakistani scientists are fine-tuning a new version of nuclear-capable missile, which could suggest the country will test fire it soon, an official at one of Pakistanâs main nuclear facilities said on Friday. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the media, refused to say whether it was a long-range missile, or provide any other details. âOur scientists have started putting the final touches on a missile and Pakistan may test it soon,â the official said.
One of the most senior ministers in the royal Nepalese government said on Friday that the government was ready for talks with Maoists to resolve the decade-old armed insurgency that has claimed over 12,000 lives. Vice-Chairman of the Council of Ministers 
The Election Commission rejected yesterday most of the presidential registrations received from independent candidates, saying many of the hopefuls failed to win the approval of at least 250 elected members of Parliament and Municipal Councils. Around a hundred people withdrew registration forms over the past week while only 30 candidates from 16 parties turned in acceptable applications, the commission said. Nine independents, among them four women, did not get the required 250 signatures of elected national or local officials, it said. Applicants have until tomorrow to object in case they were rejected and the commission will publish the final list of candidates on Aug. 13, less than a month before the country's key vote on Sept. 7.
A crucial meeting on Iraqâs constitutional stalemate was put off yesterday by an emergency session of the Kurdish autonomous Parliament as sustained rebel attacks left over a dozen people dead... Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said the meeting to end the deadlock on drafting a new constitution and resolving outstanding questions was postponed for Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani. âThe meeting of leaders was delayed from today to Sunday in order to allow Barzani to attend a meeting Saturday of the Kurdish Parliament before coming to Baghdad as the head of a delegation of Kurdish parliamentary groups,â said a statement from Talabaniâs office. The issues yet to be decided on include federalism, official languages, the relation between religion and state, the name of the republic, the rights of women and the question of the oil-rich center of Kirkuk which Kurds want included in their own autonomous region.
