Six insurgents were killed as part of Operation Mountain Lion in eastern Kunar province, where seven children were killed Tuesday in a rocket attack blamed on militants.
Afghan and coalition soldiers killed six insurgents in eastern Afghanistan Wednesday as they launched a new 2,500-troop operation with predawn air and ground strikes, the coalition said. "The operation began with predawn air-and-ground assaults today (Wednesday) in the Pech River Valley, an area notorious for terrorist activity," the coalition said in a statement. The insurgents were killed in a neighbouring district of the province, which borders Pakistan. The operation, involving 2,500 troops from the Afghan army and various coalition regiments, aimed to "disrupt insurgents activities, deny them sanctuary and prevent their ability to resupply," it said. It was a "comprehensive effort to kill, incapacitate or capture terrorists operating in the region" that would continue "as long as necessary." On Tuesday, seven children were killed and 30 wounded when a rocket slammed into a primary school yard, in an attack blamed on Taliban militants and allies.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/13/2006 00:00 ||
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Heavy fighting has subsided in Chad's capital after breaking out at dawn, between government troops and rebels trying to overthrow the president. A BBC correspondent in N'Djamena said gunfire and shelling began at dawn and lasted for some two hours. Speaking on the radio, President Idriss Deby said government forces had destroyed a small rebel column that attempted to enter the capital. He said that government troops were in "complete control" of N'Djamena. Only sporadic gunfire could be heard around the capital following his announcement.
Speaking from near the parliament in the north-east of the city, correspondent Stephanie Hancock told the BBC News website that the area was in the hands of government forces and they had piled bodies of what they said were rebels on the front steps of the National Assembly. Many more had been rounded up and were being guarded by troops. Mr Deby, who said he was talking from the presidential palace in the capital, said elections scheduled for early next month would go ahead as planned.
Foreigners have been rushing to muster points in the city from where they can be evacuated. French troops have also taken up positions in the capital.
The United Force for Change rebels have vowed to overthrow Mr Deby before the polls, which the opposition are boycotting. A rebel spokesman said rebel forces were moving into the capital from the east, having made rapid advances in recent days, and would overthrow the president "by nightfall".
The UN refugee agency's Myriam Houtart in the city told the BBC she believed that fighting was moving towards the city centre where the presidential building is located. "We are hearing gunfire and mortar fire," she said. "We have helicopters flying over the city. They have progressed towards the centre of the city." She said a lot of people were staying in their houses.
An army source told AFP news agency that fighting broke out when troops attacked rebel positions near the city. A day earlier, the rebels were said to have moved from the east of the country to within 100km (65 miles) of the capital. Earlier this week they were fighting in Mongo - some 400km east of the capital. Security in the capital was tightened overnight, with armoured vehicles and a heavy army presence on the streets. On Wednesday, people had been queuing at banks to withdraw money and there were reports that many expatriates were preparing for a speedy exit.
The rebels accuse Mr Deby of being a dictator and say they want to organise a national forum that will lead to a transitional government and on to democratic elections.
With them in charge of counting the votes
Chad, which is rich in oil, has been hit by the conflict in the neighbouring Sudanese western Darfur region, with hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing across the border. Mr Deby's government blames Sudan for inspiring the uprising - an accusation Sudan denies. Sudan accuses Mr Deby of supporting the Sudanese rebels in Darfur who belong to his ethnic group. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said the situation was undermining efforts to stabilise the situation in Darfur.
Chad's former colonial power, France, flew in an extra 150 troops from Gabon on Wednesday to supplement the 1,200 troops already in the country. The French Defence Ministry have acknowledged that one of its mirage jets in Chad fired warning shots towards rebels advancing on N'Djamena from the east on Wednesday.
Posted by: Steve ||
04/13/2006 12:34 ||
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Outlaw killed in 'shootout' with Rab
A regional leader of outlawed Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP-ML) was killed during a 'shootout' between Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) members and his accomplices at Digholia upazila in Khulna.
Muslim gangbangers go to jail, communist gangbangers go on a late night "road trip"
The dead was identified as Md Shahidul Islam alias Hath Kata Shaheed alias Keherman, 41, of Kafila village under Bakerganj upazila in Barisal.
Alas, poor Shahidul, we knew thee not at all
According to a Rab press release, the outlaw was arrested at midnight on Tuesday at Eastern Jute Mill area under Khanjahan Ali Police Station of the city.
"Evening, Shahidul. Stick 'em up, youse coming with us"
Following his confessional statement,
"The number 7 pliers, please."
Rab members took him to Senhati Putibari Jarha Battala area at around 3:25am the same night to recover illegal arms.
"Put him in the car, we're running out of dark"
As soon as they reached the spot, the accomplices of Shahidul opened fire on them.
'It's the RAB! And they've got Shah! Quick, open fire recklessly!"
The law enforcers retaliated triggering a 15-minute long gunfight.
They seem to be in a hurry tonight.
At one point, Shahidul got caught in the shootout while his accomplices fled.
"Ouch, ouch, hey come back"
He died on the spot, says the press release.
"Urp, gurggle.....rosebud..."
Two guns, three cartridges, two bullets and a dagger were recovered from the spot.
And a partridge in a pear tree
Shahidul was an accused in 13 cases filed with the Digholia, Khalishpur and Khanjahan Ali police stations in Khulna and Ishwardi Police Station in Pabna, says the Rab press release. He was the ringleader of a gang of robbers of the Sunderbans. Besides, he was involved in looting arms and ammunition from Shiromoni Cable factory in Khulna city in 1998 and from the storeroom of Daulatpur Jute Mills at Khalishpur in 2000.
Simple, yet heavily armed factories
Body of the slain outlaw was handed over to his family members yesterday afternoon.
"Here's your boy. Have a nice day"
Youth killed by rivals
Apr 12: A youth was killed in an attack by his rivals in an area in the town recently. The victim was identified as Suman Kumar, a driver of Beparipara area in the town. Police and local sources said the allock was the sequel to a dispute between Sumon and his rival traders over the share of money from the sale of drugs.
Been shorting your bro's in the trade, eh?
Following the dispute his rival traders hit Sumon on hand with a brick bat critically injuring him.
You don't see many brick bat references these days
Sumon was immediately rushed to Jhenidah Sadar Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Young man murdered in Narsingdi
Apr 12: An unidentified youth was killed by miscreants at Bandar village under Sadar Upazila recently.
Damm them miscreants!
Police and local sources said the miscreants kidnapped the youth from some where else supposedly for previous enmity, took him to a paddy field at Bandar village and strangled him. After that the miscreants fled leaving the body the paddy field at the village. Police on information rushed to the spot, recovered the body and sent it to Sadar Hospital for autopsy.
"Paging Doctor Quincy!"
Posted by: Steve ||
04/13/2006 07:53 ||
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Apr 12 : A notorious terrorist was killed, his accomplice and a rickshaw puller were injured in a bomb attack at Mollahpara area in Jessore town on April 3. Ripon (27), son of Waliur Rahman of Mollahpara Amtola Square and ringleader of a terrorist group in the town, ...
... but not Islamic terrorists ...
... was going to Jessore town by a rickshaw along with his accomplice Khokon (28).
Not an armored rickshaw, unfortunately, which becomes important as we go along ...
When they reached Mollahpara Basantola area, terrorists Liton and Faruque hurled three hand bombs on them.
Which made short work of the straw and bamboo rickshaw ...
They also stabbed Ripon with sharp weapons.
"OOoch! Ouch! Dang those are sharp!"
Ripon, Khokon and rickshaw puller Rafique were injured critically in the incident. They were admitted to Jessore General Hospital. The doctors on duty there, referred Ripon to Dhaka. He died on the way at Daulatdia Ferryghat. His body was sent for post-mortem.
Daulatdia Ferryghat not being a Level 1 Trauma Center.
Police Super of Jessore and Officer-in-Charge of Kotwali thana made vigorous search in the area for the attackers but could not trace them.
"Spread out boys and do a vigorous search! I'll be at the donut shop."
They recovered one country made pistol, one round of cartridge, two 'ramdaos' and three hand bombs from the area.
Hokay, I have no clue what a 'ramdao' is, let alone two of them.
Father of Ripon said Liton was a hardened criminal and had been hiding in Bangaon area of India for a long time.
Came across the border for a little pillaging and insurrection ...
He is accused in twelve systems several murder cases. He came to Jessore town three days ago. He killed his son to establish supremacy in the area.
"Hi Pop! Good to see you're in town ... hey! That hurts!"
A case has been filed with Kotwali thana in this connection.
Posted by: Steve White ||
04/13/2006 01:27 ||
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The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is set to open a post in Bangladesh amidst growing concerns the south Asian country could turn into a major terrorist nexus.
#5
First teh FBI, now the Digger Feds? Bangladesh is clearly becoming the place to be to polish one's resume! I look forward to interesting news items in the next 6-12 months.
An appeals board said a Buena Park man accused of having ties to terrorism but never charged should be deported to Jordan, overturning a judge who blocked his deportation on grounds that he would be tortured.
The nine-page ruling by the Board of Immigration Appeals was a double victory for the government in its nearly two-year battle to deport Abdel-Jabbar Hamdan, father of six U.S.-born children. While the panel granted the government's appeal to overturn the deportation ban, it also denied Hamdan's appeal for asylum. The opinion, dated April 7 but released Tuesday, does not mean Hamdan will be leaving the country soon. His attorneys said they would appeal the ruling to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which is reviewing a separate petition for Hamdan's release. He has been jailed 21 months.
A magistrate last month said Hamdan's "indefinite detention" violated a 2001 Supreme Court ruling and recommended his release.
Virginia Kice, spokeswoman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said government lawyers didn't know what effect the ruling would have on the petition. Hamdan's lawyer, Stacey Tolchin, said she didn't expect it to make a difference.
Hamdan, 45, was arrested in July 2004 and charged with overstaying the student visa he was issued 27 years ago. After his graduation from USC, he worked from 1990 to 2001 as a fundraiser for the Holy Land Foundation, an Islamic charity that U.S. officials said had ties to the Palestinian group Hamas, declared a terrorist organization by the U.S. government.
The government closed the Texas-based charity in December 2001. Hamdan and three charity officials were arrested about three years later. The charity's president, chairman and director of endowments were charged with terrorism-related crimes. They were ordered released on their own recognizance by a federal judge, who said the government had failed to prove they were a danger to the community and were flight risks. They are awaiting trial.
Hamdan was accused of having ties to terrorism but not charged. Instead, he was convicted of violating immigration law and ordered deported. But his deportation to Jordan was blocked by an immigration judge who found he would be at risk of torture because of his alleged ties to Hamas. He has remained jailed while the government appeals the ruling.
Although Hamdan has denied knowing that any money he raised went to Hamas, the appeals board said he should have known that the Holy Land Foundation was funding terrorists. The government's evidence showed that the foundation's "leaders were actively involved in meetings with terrorist leaders of Hamas," and the group also helped fund "Hamas-controlled charitable organizations and [provided] support to the orphans and families of Hamas martyrs and prisoners," according to the opinion.
In a previous interview, Hamdan said the money he raised was to meant to fund Palestinian schools and hospitals and to help poor families. "What has happened here is that the government just doesn't like his politics," Tolchin said. "That's why they're trying to deport him. They never presented evidence that he supported terrorist activity or Hamas."
"We are gratified by the decision," Kice said. Dont let the door hit ya where the mighty Allan split ya!
HONOLULU -- Authorities have taken four men into custody in Honolulu because federal agents said the men were trying to smuggle a shipment of weapons through Honolulu International Airport to Indonesia.
Honolulu was the center of an international arms deal worth more than $3 million, according to agents with the Homeland Security Department and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. The deal was stopped with the help of the American company that was supposed to supply the equipment.
The shopping list included submachine guns, pistols, sniper rifles and equipment and weapons for fighter aircraft. The weapons included 882 Heckler and Koch MP5 submachine guns, 800 Heckler and Koch 9mm handguns, and 16 Heckler and Koch sniper rifles.
The men came from Detroit and the far east to meet at Honolulu International Airport on Thursday and Friday. The federal government monitored the meeting at the airport and arrested the men when they went to another location to view the weapons and equipment. All of the men face up to 25 years in prison.
The Indonesians apparently claimed the weapons were going to the Indonesian government, which until recently was banned from U.S. weapons sales, according to sources. Because the men were all private individuals, there was no way to be sure the weapons would not end up in the hands of terrorists, local agents said.
Detention hearings for the men are scheduled for later this week.
Pakistani forces have killed an Egyptian al-Qaida terrorist wanted by the United States over the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombings in Tanzania and Kenya, a Cabinet minister said Thursday.
Vultures at the ready, accordian lady warming up the crowd, fat lady on standby in dressing room
Mohsin Musa Matawalli Atwah, 45, was killed late Wednesday in a Pakistani military raid, led by helicopter gunships, on a hideout in the remote North Waziristan village of Naghar Kalai, near the Afghan border, the minister said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.
"I confirm the death of this Egyptian terrorist," the minister said without elaborating further.
Another senior Pakistani intelligence official said military reports from the field indicated that Atwah had been killed in the attack, in which at least six other militants were believed killed. The official also declined to be identified because of the sensitive nature of the case.
U.S. authorities have posted a $5 million bounty for Atwah, who is accused of involvement in the Aug. 7, 1998, bombings of the embassies in Tanzania and Kenya that killed 12 Americans and more than 200 Africans. It was unclear when Atwah may have come to Pakistan, but there had been speculation that he had previously lived in Somalia under the protection of local warlords.
Neither FBI officials in Washington nor U.S. or Egyptian diplomats in Islamabad were able to confirm if Atwah had been killed.
Posted by: Steve ||
04/13/2006 13:01 ||
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#1
Is he the latest #3?
Posted by: john ||
04/13/2006 13:26 Comments ||
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Karachi, 13 April (AKI) - (by Syed Saleem Shahzad) - Pakistani security officials have said they have killed a top al-Qaeda leader, Abdul Rahman Al-Mohajir, in the tribal area of North Waziristan, but local sources on Thursday cast doubt on the report by a private Pakistani TV channel. According to officials cited on Wednesday by the channel, Geo News, the Egyptian born Abdul Rahman was one of seven people killed in a military operation in the troubled region.
"The operation was conducted at 11:15 pm on Wednesday involving two special gunship helicopters which have special night navigation facilities," a local source told Adnkronos International (AKI) in a telephone interview from North Waziristan which lies on the Pakistan-Afghan border. "They had specific target information on which a specific hide-out was hit in Angar Village situated 6 kilometres south of Miranshah (the district headquarter of North Waziristan)," the source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AKI.
"Several people were killed in the air radi but there is no confirmation on who they were, because the Pakistani armed forces do not have any land access to that place and immediately after the raid, local pro-Taliban (militants) surrounded the whole area and took away the bodies of the deceased. The casualties could only be confirmed from the blood spots at the site," the local source explained.
The name of the militant allegedly killed is similar to one of several aliases known to have been used by Muhsin Musa Matwalli Atwah, for whom the US government has set a bounty of 5 million dollars for killing or capture. Pakistan's military spokesperson Major General Shaukat Sultan said he had no information on the Geo News report, when asked about it by the Reuters news agency.
According to Pakistani sources, the US government has provided special gunship helicopters to the Pakistani armed forces which have special night navigation facilities. There are 10 such helicopters based in North Waziristan to carry out such operations. Pakistani forces generally carry out operations in the night for their own safety as the heavy presence of pro-Taliban militants in the area makes it difficult for the military to operate in broad daylight.
According to sources, there are some 27,000 pro-Taliban fighters gathered in North Waziristan to support the Talibans spring offence against the US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan and to deter the movement of the Pakistani forces in North Waziristan. Many of them have recently come various districts of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province, the province of Punjab and the southern-port city of Karachi, besides those from the local North Waziristan tribes and Afghan refugees. Sources say that they are all organized under the command of Maulana Sangheen Khan Zadran, a commander of Afghan origin.
Additional: MIRAN SHAH, Pakistan (AP) - Pakistani army helicopters struck a militant hideout in northwestern Pakistan in an attempt to kill a wanted senior al-Qaida operative, security officials said Thursday, Seven suspected militants and two children were believed killed, but it was unclear if the operative was among them. The target of the Wednesday-night raid in the North Waziristan tribal region village of Anghar Kalai was identified as Mohsin Matawalli Atwah. Pakistani authorities were trying to determine the identities of the slain militants who were quickly buried in the area.
The two Pakistani security officials, based in the capital, Islamabad, said Wednesday's operation targeted Atwah and another al-Qaida militant, identified as bomb-making expert Abdul Rahman al-Masri. An intelligence official in Miran Shah, a town on the Afghan border in North Waziristan, said the raid targeted a house where a group of militants were being sheltered by a local tribesman.
The attack, which was backed by helicopter gunships, killed seven militants, including five non-Pakistanis, and two young brothers who lived in the house, aged two and two months, said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
U.S, and Egyptian diplomats in Islamabad could not confirm if Atwah was targeted in the attack.
Maj.-Gen, Shaukat Sultan, the top Pakistan army spokesman, confirmed the raid but did not have information on suspected militant casualties, "We had information about the presence of foreign militants, It was a sting operation and the target was knocked out." Sultan said.
Sting operation, huh? Invite him to a Tupperware party, did you?
Posted by: Steve ||
04/13/2006 12:27 ||
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DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Suspected Islamic militants triggered a bomb in a bazaar in northwestern Pakistan early Wednesday, shattering about 10 music shops, police said. No casualties were reported. The explosion occurred at about 1 am before business hours in a market with shops selling music and video cassettes and CDs in Bannu, a city on the edge of a lawless northern tribal region bordering Afghanistan, a Bannu police official said on condition of anonymity because he was unauthorized to talk to the media.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/13/2006 00:00 ||
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Ummmmmm. Ten music shops? Does that seem like a lot to anyone else?
Posted by: Mike ||
04/13/2006 14:47 Comments ||
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Bannu, a city on the edge of a lawless northern tribal region bordering Afghanistan
Appears they just moved over the edge as of yesterday...
KARACHI: The stunned crowd that took the dead and the injured to the three hospitals of the city on Tuesday, was so emotionally charged that it ended up manhandling and threatening doctors and paramedics at the institutions. Doctors at Jinnah, Liaquat and Civil hospitals all said that the mobs were hysterical and went straight at the staff. A doctor at Liaquat National Hospital said that the crowd had beaten up the doctors.
"Our doctors have strict orders to come straight to work in such an emergency. We try to save people who are breathing their last. But what are we supposed to do about people who are already dead," the doctor asked.
The biggest threat came when doctors had to "treat" Abbas Qadri, who was already dead. "He was already dead on arrival and we had people with guns telling us to ensure that he lived. We could not tell them he was already dead because we were afraid they would kill us," said the doctor who refused to be identified.
This never happens in Chicago ...
Posted by: Fred ||
04/13/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
Maybe they threatened the docs with guns because they watched "A Bridge Too Far" on cable and were impressed by James Caan's portrayal of Eddie Dohun.
#2
The biggest threat came when doctors had to treat Abbas Qadri, who was already dead. He was already dead on arrival and we had people with guns telling us to ensure that he lived.
shoulda told them that Abbas Qadri's only hope was in the hands of Jesus.
#6
Should've pulled the Weekend at Bernies thing, doc...
"Are you okay, Abbas?"
Nod the head
"Should these guys with guns leave?"
Nod the head
"Okay, Abbas says you should leave."
#10
"There's a big difference between mostly dead and all dead. Mostly dead is slightly alive. With all dead, well, with all dead there's usually only one thing you can do."
"What's that?"
"Go through his clothes and look for loose change."
Posted by: Mike ||
04/13/2006 12:34 Comments ||
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#11
zenster...sometimes you really piss me off and sometimes you are really funny.
#12
With the most advanced (very costly) diagnostic tests possible. After of course the "hopeful" have contributed vast sums of coin.
Posted by: steven ||
04/13/2006 13:57 Comments ||
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#13
Maybe disguise a grenade as one of those really big pills, stuff it down his throat and then send them all on there way.
Posted by: Mike ||
04/13/2006 17:52 Comments ||
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#14
#11 "There's a big difference between mostly dead and all dead. Mostly dead is slightly alive. With all dead, well, with all dead there's usually only one thing you can do."
"What's that?"
"Go through his clothes and look for loose change."
Reporters Without Borders (Reporters Sans Frontières/RSF) voiced concern on Wednesday about the disappearance of Munir Mengal, the head of Baloch Voice, a Balochi-language television station based in the United Arab Emirates. Mengal has been missing since arriving in Karachi from Bahrain on April 7. His family alleges that Military Intelligence officers arrested him at the airport.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/13/2006 00:00 ||
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GHALANAI: Two missiles were fired on Tuesday from the Afghanistan side towards Pakistani border village Ghatghai in Mamoond tehsil of Bajaur Agency. A mosque was damaged, but no casualty was reported. A local said on Wednesday that missile pieces found from the debris showed that it was Russian-made. A military source said they had no report regarding a missile attack from across the border.
Apparently they knew what they were shooting at, since they hit a mosque.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/13/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
Retaliation for the Pakistan launched rocket attack that killed Afghani school kids 2 days ago?
Posted by: ed ||
04/13/2006 0:11 Comments ||
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No the US doesnt play that way...I wonder who they were after...hehehe.
Top leaders of the Sunni Tehreek (ST) were among 57 people killed in a suicide bomb attack during a special Eid Miladun Nabi congregation arranged by the Jamaat-e-Ahle Sunnat (JAS) at Nishtar Park on Tuesday evening. An estimated 100 people, including children, were injured in the attack, and at least ten are in critical condition. The death toll has now risen to 57, while there are also reports that some people are still missing, Sindh government spokesman Salahuddin Haider said.
On Tuesday, approximately 15,000 men and children headed for Nishtar Park at Numaish for Maghrib prayers after an Eid Miladun Nabi procession. A stage was set up at the front of the park where about five rows of top JAS leaders, including ST people, congregated. Thousands of other ST followers followed the prayers behind on the ground. At about 7:00pm a suicide bomber came to the front of the stage during the third rakaat of Maghrib prayers and detonated explosives around his torso. About 150 men were on the stage at the time. The suicide bomber was believed to be closest to ST leader Abbas Qadri, who is usually accompanied by many guards.
My guess would be that he was the target. I never caught on to the idea of "hey, look at me" praying, but I'd say that was what did Qadri in.
According to the bomb disposal squad (BDS), the bomb weighed about five kilogrammes and consisted of locally made highly explosive material. BDS officials told Daily Times that they had cleared the area around the stage on Tuesday afternoon prior to the congregation, and this helped them later rule out that a bomb had been planted in the stage.
So the explosives had to walk in. With 15,000 of the Faithful™ in attendance, it'd be hard to check them all for explosives, even if they'd allow doggies around the mosques.
The suicide attackers head has been found and the police are likely to issue a sketch soon.
It'll be interesting to see who he is, and who he's associated with...
An emergency was declared in all Karachi hospitals. The injured and dead flooded Liaquat National Hospital, Civil Hospital Karachi, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. Highly emotional ST supporters thronged the hospitals where chaos and mayhem ensued.
It's understandable that people would be highly emotional about the carnage, despite the fact that being highly emotional about most things seems to be one of those things you get with your turban when you become a Muslim...
'Nother words, their leadership is effectively wiped out. For those who aren't up on their Pak beastiary, maulanas are the Pak version of mullah; a hafiz is somebody who's memorized the Koran; a haji is someone who's made the trip to Mecca and stampeded around the stone representing the Moon God; and a pir is a saint (self-proclaimed is okay).
The Special Investigation Group (SIG) of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) visited the site of the blast on Wednesday and collected forensic evidence. The team also visited the Edhi mortuary at Sohrab Goth and inspected the body of the man suspected of being the suicide bomber. FIA sources said that the SIGs preliminary report said the suspected suicide bomber had a beard and appeared to be in his mid-thirties. However, the report said that it was difficult to say anything about his ethnic background as stitching and surgery might have affected his facial features.
Mid-thirties with a beard describes about a third of the participants in the periodic mob scenes we see in Karachi, another third being mid-twenties with a beard and the other third being mid-40s with a beard...
The report said the bomb was locally assembled and contained plastic explosives packed with small metal ball bearings which increased the lethality of the blast.
Agencies add: Police fired teargas to disperse angry rioters who burned buses and tyres on Wednesday. The clashes between youths and police followed similar riots on Tuesday night when three gas stations and more than a dozen vehicles were torched. In some areas unknown persons burnt three buses and forced shopkeepers to close their shops. Police fired a few tear-gas shells to disperse them, said Sindh government spokesman Salahuddin Haider. Police said they arrested some people during the protest. Witnesses said gunmen opened fire near a bazaar in a southern district of Karachi to force the shopkeepers to close their businesses.
That's the emotionalism we were discussing earlier. Western emotionalism runs to blubbering and hand-wringing; Pak emotionalism runs more toward gunfire and arson.
The Sunni Tehreek said the burials of Abbas Qadri, Akram Qadri and Iftikhar Bhatti had been postponed until Thursday, when thousands of people are expected to turn out.
That'll present a fine opportunity for another boom...
The funerals of Hafiz Mohammed Taqi and Hanif Billo and of some of the other victims were held peacefully earlier.
Nobody important attended, huh?
Nobody has claimed responsibility for the attack. Jihadis are all out against President Musharraf, so they may be involved, said Haider, adding that Baloch rebels could also be on the list of suspects. Indian and Afghan involvement could not be ruled out, he added.
I'd lean more toward the sectarian killers, myself. Brelvis aren't high on the totem pole of devoutness. Look to see what groups are in contention with Sunni Tehrik for control of their mosques (and the money flowing through them). The ST engages in periodic gang wars with the MQM, and also with the local Shia groups. They might want to check turban size and color, if that survived on the head. If the Afghans were going to boom somebody — and it's probably still too early for them to have a state-controlled setup to do so — I think they'd more likely boom the TNSM leadership, or Fazl, or Sami. And the Hindoos aren't really into suicide boomings as an arm of state policy.
Gen Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz condemned the heinous act and ordered increased security at religious sites. The Sindh government announced a three-day mourning period. The government has set up three investigation committees to find the men behind the blast. One committee is headed by the Sindh IG, the second by the DIG (Investigation), and the third by a high court judge.
The barn door will now be locked, to be quietly reopened in a month or two.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/13/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
I'd lean more toward the sectarian killers, myself. Brelvis aren't high on the totem pole of devoutness. Look to see what groups are in contention with Sunni Tehrik for control of their mosques (and the money flowing through them). The ST engages in periodic gang wars with the MQM, and also with the local Shia groups. They might want to check turban size and color, if that survived on the head. If the Afghans were going to boom somebody and it's probably still too early for them to have a state-controlled setup to do so I think they'd more likely boom the TNSM leadership, or Fazl, or Sami. And the Hindoos aren't really into suicide boomings as an arm of state policy.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
speculation,
maybe it's a splody reacharound payback from the shia.
Or the first move by the recent illegal sunni immigrants from Iraq and their local helpers trying to stir up the same kind of shit.
Pakistan army's helicopter gunships have killed a number of foreign militants, in a night time strike on their compound in a tribal area bordering Afghanistan, a military spokesman said on Wednesday. Major-General Shaukat Sultan told Reuters: "The operation was successful. It is now over. We have confirmed reports that a few foreign militants were killed in the compound, but details are still coming."
The military used Cobra helicopter gunships in Wednesday's attack on the hideout in a village called Nagar, 6km south of Miran Shah, the main town in North Waziristan. The attack occurred at around 11.15pm (1815 GMT), and the helicopters were ordered into the air after the military received information about the presence of foreign fighters, Sultan said. The army has used artillery and helicopter gunships to quell pro-Taliban tribals and around 250 people have been killed since early March.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/13/2006 00:00 ||
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New article out has the Pakistanis claiming Abdur Rehman al-Misri was who they were targeting
Sorry Steve, but an announcement this joyous deserves no less than the Fat Lady.
April 13 (Bloomberg) -- A senior al-Qaeda operative in Iraq was killed by U.S. forces near Baquba, a city northeast of Baghdad, the U.S. military said today.
Rafid Ibrahim Fattah, also known as Abu Umar al-Kurdi, visited Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran during the past 15 years, U.S. military spokesman Major General Rick Lynch told reporters in Baghdad during a televised briefing.
Touring the holy places
Abu Umar, who was killed in a March 27 raid, ``formed specific relations with al-Qaeda senior leadership to include Bin Laden and al-Zawahiri,'' Lynch said, referring to al-Qaeda's top two commanders, Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri. ``The al- Qaeda network gave him the title of al-Qaeda Ambassador and he established liason between terrorist networks.''
Another position opens for al-Qaeda Number 3, please submit resumes
Posted by: Steve ||
04/13/2006 15:01 ||
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CV's and DNA samples, please
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/13/2006 15:12 Comments ||
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"Rafid Ibrahim Fattah, also known as ... Heszizz in Abu Hundred-Pieces.
Baghdad, 13 April (AKI) - A man in Iraq who is suspected of having killed more than 40 people while masquarading as a police officer has been arrested, the Iraqi security ministry, announced on Thursday. The suspect, identified as the "terrorist" Sattar Jabbar, was caught thanks to the "co-operation of security forces in the province of Diyala (north-eastern, mostly Sunni populated)," the ministry said in a statement. It did not provide any further details.
"We can say no more"
Iraq's security ministry, which is distinct from the interior ministry, has a brief to cooperate with the defence ministry to hunt down terrorists. On Wednesday, interior minister, Bayan Jabr, denied that it was his own ministry which has been responsible for abductions, torture and murders of thousands of people.
Instead Jabr, a former Shia militia member who is widely blamed by the country's Sunni community for allegedly masterminding sectarian attacks, claimed that the Facility Protection Service (FPS), set up by the Americans to guard official buildings, was responsible. He also claimed that elements among the 30,000 private security guards operating in Iraq were complicit in the killings.
Posted by: Steve ||
04/13/2006 12:24 ||
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A snippet:
One member of the Pulitzer-winning AP team was AP stringer Bilal Hussein. Hussein's photos have raised serious, persistent questions about his relationship with terrorists in Iraq and whether his photos were/are staged in collusion with the enemy. I've learned of an intriguing news development that strengthens those lingering suspicions.
This afternoon, in response to a tip from an anonymous military source in Iraq, I contacted both the AP reporter embedded with the Marines in Ramadi, Todd Pitman, as well as AP's media relations office headquartered in New York concerning Hussein's whereabouts. No word from Pitman. But at 6:20pm EST, I received the following e-mail response from AP:
We are looking into reports that Mr. Hussein was detained by the U.S. military in Iraq but have no further details at this time.
Jack Stokes
The Associated Press
Corporate Communications
According to my tipster, Hussein was captured earlier today by American forces in a building in Ramadi, Iraq, with a cache of weapons.
Posted by: ed ||
04/13/2006 08:13 ||
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#1
yeah i saw this on LGF earlier and was so excited almost over joyed then i've heard nothing since... hes dead jim? lets hope so eh!
He describes Zarqawi, a Jordanian and the leading Jihadi militant in Iraq, as his "beloved brother" and calls on Muslims to support him. "I have lived with him up close and have seen nothing but good from him," Zawahiri says in the video.
The tape dated November 2005 appeared on the internet on Thursday.
Zawahiri said he was making the video to mark the fourth anniversary of the December 2001 battle of Tora Bora, in which US forces fought with Osama Bin Laden and al-Qaeda fighters in Afghanistan. Zawahiri has twice appeared in videos in January this year where he called on US President Bush to admit defeat in Iraq and Afghanistan and also taunted US forces on a Pakistan air strike which failed to kill him.
#1
ah, for a brief second I thought the headline said Zarqawi was in the video. If true, I would finally have to eat that piece of crow pie. But no. Ol Zarky still hasn't been seen since mid last year. Dead (or possibly imprisioned). That's what I think, and I'm sticking to it.
A car bomb has killed at least 20 people outside a Shia mosque north of Baghdad. The explosion on Wednesday in the town of Howaydir was the latest in a wave of attacks against Iraq's Shia majority that many feel will push the country close to a full-scale communal conflict in the vacuum left by bickering politicians. The car bomb in Howaydir exploded near a mosque and a crowded market. Hospital officials said casualty tolls were expected to rise as ambulances were still rushing in with victims. Last week, a triple suicide bombing at a Shia mosque in Baghdad killed up to 90 people.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/13/2006 00:00 ||
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Shia mosques keep getting blown up, but Tater's Shia mosque doesn't. Bad and good - while it would be great to be rid of him, it would certainly result in widespread riots etc. His demise needs to look like the result of a tooth infection or maybe a heart attack. You'd think in the 45 years since they tried it on Castro the CIA would have figured out how to do it, but no.
#3
that many feel will push the country close to a full-scale communal conflict
HEY!! This guy changed his macro!! Can he do that? I thought they were only allowed to use "on the brink of civil war" and "torn by sectarian strife".
What next? Hmm? A tinderbox ready to explode??? Jeesh, will we now have to endure full paragraphs of imagery and sound effects, instead of concise macros to inform us that they are "on the brink of a civil war"??
RAMALLAH, WEST BANK Every month, Fatma Nofal cashed a $500 check from a brother who works abroad to support their family here. But on Monday the debit note from the US's Chevy Chase Bank was rejected.
"This is the first time that I've gotten that answer," says Ms. Nofal, as she walked out of a central Ramallah money changer with no place to redeem the check. "I don't know what to do."
Nofal is one of many Palestinians feeling the pinch of an economic boycott of the Hamas-run Palestinian Authority (PA), as a cutoff in ties by the US, Europe, and Israel touches off a financial crisis that could snowball. Already retailers won't accept credit from public servants out of concern they will never be repaid, lines are growing at some gas pumps amid a shortage of fuel, and a top Israeli bank said it will no longer work with Palestinian counterparts.
"The situation is deteriorating in a dramatic and tragic way," Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told reporters Tuesday.
The growing hardship comes amid an unprecedented Israeli shelling of Gaza that has killed 13 militants and four civilians - including a 7-year old girl - in retaliation for cross-border salvos of primitive rockets by Palestinian militants.
The economic pressure is aimed at forcing Hamas's fledgling government to relent on its refusal to meet international demands to recognize Israel, give up its weapons, and honor previously signed peace agreements. But it is still unclear whether the economic sanctions will prompt a Palestinian about-face or backfire by rallying sympathy for the embattled Islamic cabinet and undermine a year-old calm in violence. Interesting choice of words considering those pesky "cross-border salvos".
"I don't think that Hamas is for sale. If they gave in to the international demands, they wouldn't be Hamas anymore," says Gershon Baskin, the cochairman of the Israel-Palestine Center for Research and Information in Jerusalem. "They'll be viewed by the public as being victimized, and in the short run, they'll be able to pull through." Short run? maybe. Long run doubtfull.
US and EU sever millions in aid
Last weekend, both the US and the European Union made long-awaited announcements that they would sever tens of millions of dollars in budgetary aid to the PA. Also, Israel has frozen transfer of customs taxes collected for the PA. Newly appointed Palestinian Finance Minister Omar Abdel Rzeq said he is awaiting some $50 million in financial aid from Arab countries. C'mon youse guyz...we need bullets over here.
The international aid is potent leverage because PA spending accounts for half of gross domestic product in an economy beleaguered by more than five years of violence with Israel, economists say. The government has already failed to pay March salaries. Meanwhile, the anticipation of a cash crunch is trickling down to consumers and businesses alike.
"If the PA acts like a pariah, then they can't be surprised if they're being treated like a pariah," said Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev, who argued that the policy to isolate Hamas is working.
While Hamas is likely to remain popular, the crisis could undermine public confidence in its ability to govern, analysts say. That would give Mr. Abbas political capital to dissolve the recently elected parliament.
"[Palestinians] may say, 'We like you in our heart, but it seems to us that it is not the best time for you to be in power,' " says Samir Barghouti, a Ramallah economic consultant to the EU. "Nobody can predict the scenario, but there will be instability, and the president will be involved. It could be a reason to organize a new election."
At Rainbow 86 dry cleaners in central Ramallah, manager Khaled Kuran held a fist full of unpaid bills from officers in the Palestinian security services, and vowed not to fill new orders for government employees. And cash only to clean the blood stains off the cuffs!
"The people's salary is mortgaged to the bank," says Mr. Kuran, a supporter of the deposed Fatah party. "The government needs a political program. They need to think for themselves. Go to Hizbullah, go to Iran [for help], but don't sit there weak." Uh-hem you might want to clear it with the Mo-Bros before opening that line of credit.
That difficulty has become clearer after Israeli gas company Dor Alon drastically reduced supply to the West Bank and Gaza because of the PA's unpaid debt, threatening a halt in vehicle traffic and factory activity.
And Israel's largest bank, Bank Hapoalim Ltd., is severing ties with Palestinian counterparts, removing a key monetary link with the outside world.
A Bank Hapoalim spokesperson says that the bank worries a relationship with Palestinian financial institutions that bankroll the new government could expose it to Israeli and US legal sanctions on doing business with Hamas.
But Palestinian businessmen describe the move as a politically motivated "financial disengagement" from the Palestinians, cutting an economic umbilical cord that has developed over nearly 40 years of Israeli military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.
"Going cash-only is going to create an environment where less transactions can be done, and lower volumes of goods can be moved," says Sam Bahour, a technology consultant based in Ramallah. "It's one more notch in the collapsing of the economy."
Banks won't pay
Because Bank Hapoalim served as an intermediary to clear US checks for Palestinian financial institutions, Nofal's Ramallah money changer explained he couldn't be sure whether the bank note would be honored.
Palestinians didn't expect such a quick deterioration after Hamas's rise.
"Everything is in the hands of the government. A solution has to be found so stability can be achieved," says Nofal, who explained that, like the Palestinian economy, most of her family's income comes from abroad. "Every time things are expected to improve, they only get worse. People voted Hamas because they wanted change, but look at the crisis after the Hamas victory," she says.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said last week the Islamic militants had inherited a penniless government and accused the US of "blackmail" for cutting aid. At a Ramallah sandwich shop, owner Wael Rabiyeh speculated that business might drop by next week because of the crisis, but added that he blamed Israel rather than the government.Naturally
"Even if I lose money, our self esteem is more important than economic gains," says Mr. Rabiyeh. "It's not because of Hamas ... it's because of people who claim [to support] democracy and then fight democracy." Hint Democracy doesnt insure good government, it just allows you the opportunity to vote out bad government.
Can a Hamas-led PA survive?
On Tuesday, a Hamas spokesman described Israel's sanctions as a "declaration of war." Indeed, if the new government collapses, say observers, the Islamic militants will have little incentive to uphold the year-long calm in suicide attacks on Israel. There it is again.
"If Hamas fails, it will realize that it's due to Israel, Europe, and the Americans," says the economist Mr. Barghouti. "So if it has to give up power, Hamas's message to the world will be: You did not give us an opportunity to be part of the political process, so we will return to military activities." How can you argue with Paleo logic?
Palestinians didn't expect such a quick deterioration after Hamas's rise.
Proving they're even dumber than we thought they were.
Cause, meet effect.
Ain't democracy grand? As ye sow, so shall ye reap. You voted for Hamas, assholes - looks like you're getting reaped.
Is there something in the water....?
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
04/13/2006 12:38 Comments ||
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Better make that low end pin on the sympathy meter out of titanium, 'cause mine's pegged HARD against it. The Paleos did this to themselves and they deserve whatever bad comes of it--and worse. Besides, it's as Allan wills, right?
Posted by: mac ||
04/13/2006 12:57 Comments ||
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#8
This story would fill me with warm fuzzies if I thought there was a chance that the world would actually let them live with the consequences of their actions. They'll show some pictures of big-eyed little children and weeping women, maybe hide the more psychopathic members of the family for a day or two. And the world will go "awww" and give them whatever they ask for. They have the measure of us. Our humanity will destroy us in the end.
#11
BH, I don't think so. This has already dropped out of the news cycle. No one really likes these guys. The ones that say they do are really just supporting their anti-Israeli antics. They have had almost 60 years of welfare from the world and donor fatigue has finally set in. There is no compelling desire to give them so much as a crust of bread as long as they can afford "celebratory gunfire" and can indulge their mindless attempts to kill Jews with rockets.
#12
For decades the Palestinians have portrayed themselves as desperate, forgotten by the world and as having nothing to lose. Now they're getting a whiff of real desperation and finding out things could be quite a bit worse.
The irony will be lost on them, but I'm amused.
Posted by: Baba Tutu ||
04/13/2006 15:13 Comments ||
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#13
Fear not, gallant paleos, Prodi is coming to your rescue!
#14
threatening a halt in vehicle traffic and factory activity.
No more car swarms? Whatever shall the family do on the weekends now!? Also, I wasn't even AWARE there were factories in Paleo territory. Isn't that like saying "Here's a big, expensive symbol of the West, lets bomb it"?
Posted by: Charles ||
04/13/2006 15:37 Comments ||
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#15
RWV, that sounds like wishful thinking, but I hope you're right. My perfect scenario: Move the paleos to NKor, and give the North Koreans a state next to Israel. I can't think of a more deserving people than the paleos to live under Kimmy's regime.
#16
Someone better call HRW and Amnisty International! The Paleos may have to cut down on their Jew-killing to be able to afford to feed their children. We just can't have that!
#18
Any society that can't understand cause and effect is a bad place to send valuable foreign aid.
Posted by: Mike ||
04/13/2006 16:18 Comments ||
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#9 Ptah - I was being sarcastic.
I wonder, since they do get their water from the Israelis (god knows they can't do anything themselves), if it's ever occurred to them that the Israelis could do to the paleos what the paleos definitely would do to the Israelis if the water situation were reversed.
They should be grateful they don't get their water from Egypt.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
04/13/2006 19:00 Comments ||
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I have to agree with the sandwich shop owner about "self esteem". The Palestinians have to ween themselves off aid sometime and develop some type of economy. This is could be the global equivalent of welfare reform. Unfortunately, I expect the Euros to cave in at any moment and re-start the subsidies for terror, corruption and dysfunction.
An Israeli airstrike has killed two armed Palestinians near the Gaza border, the latest in attacks that have killed civilians as well as resistance fighters. An Israeli military spokeswoman said its aircraft on Wednesday fired at two men who had approached the frontier carrying rifles. Palestinian security forces said the men belonged to al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and were on their way to plant bombs.
Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades has carried out dozens of rocket attacks against Israel. The Palestinian government, which the Islamist group Hamas took over after winning a January election, said Israel's recent attacks in Gaza were aimed at strangling the new administration. Israel, the United States and the European Union have cut direct aid to the Palestinian Authority since Hamas's election victory and have urged it to renounce violence and recognise the Jewish state and interim Israeli-Palestinian peace deals. In a statement, the Hamas cabinet called the EU action collective punishment and a "green light to the Israeli occupation to continue its aggression against the Palestinian people".
Posted by: Fred ||
04/13/2006 00:00 ||
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nice mission, Paleos!
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/13/2006 0:25 Comments ||
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If you mean "a green light to stomp on your little pointy heads when you launch your play-toy rockets into Israel", well, yeah. I thought that was pretty clear.
The US is to field test an innovative Israeli set-up designed to act as a "force field" around armoured vehicles, protecting them from rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) and anti-tank missiles, according to a Fox News report.
The system, dubbed "Trophy", uses radar to track incoming threats and then destroys them when they're in range by attacking the warheads with an "invisible force", according to Fox. Quite how it does this is, unsurprisingly, classified, but Defense Update understands Trophy is "designed to form a 'beam' of fragments, which will intercept any incoming HEAT threat, including RPG rockets at a range of 10 metres to 30 meters from the protected platform".
The countermeasure is, then, actually physical - a fact confirmed by Defense Update, which explains the system has "an automatic reload mechanism to handle multiple attacks", although that's about as specific as it gets.
The sceptical among you should note that Trophy has allegedly completed "hundreds of live tests with the Israel Defense Forces and demonstrated effective neutralisation of anti-tank rockets and guided missiles, high safety levels, insignificant residual penetration, and minimal collateral damage".
Trophy is claimed to be effective against several simultaneous threats from different directions, whether the protected vehicle is stationary or moving, and in all weathers. According to Fox, Trophy will soon get a chance to strut its stuff in Iraq.
#3
This stuff, high energy lasers being deployed late this year and into next year, microwave weapons (including the active denial system that causes pain without lasting damage) ....
lots of interesting stuff getting ready to be fielded.
#4
Read about this in this months Scientific American along with an article on updated armor technology involving fluids that change viscosity IIRC. The "force field" system uses a magnetic field to disrupt the copper plasma jet of the shaped charge. By the way they had a really neat article on slide rules and another on deisel fuel from coal.
#5
Amazing how far we have come since the beginning of the last century and surprising that we still face the same problems that they faced thousands of years ago. The 21st Century is here.
#7
and the poor bastard whose chair is atop the dilithium crystal core will never have children
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/13/2006 11:22 Comments ||
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but this system is not the force field one - this one uses projectiles and not any force fields att all. I'm sure this is not the force field jobby thats been talked about- this is more like the Shorta systems the russians had i believe. It says Trophy is "designed to form a 'beam' of fragments, which will intercept any incoming HEAT threat, including RPG rockets at a range of 10 metres to 30 meters from the protected platform". Beam of fragments does not mean a laser beam or any other beam for that matter, its a load of something yeah but not a beam i'm sure, i think its like flechettes (that the right word?) that just maul the incoming round ripping it to peices before it hits.
#9
Slat armor is low tech, cheap, always available and very effective against RPGs. As for Trophy, I would worry about it detonating a fragmentation warhead that then takes out the radar.
Posted by: ed ||
04/13/2006 12:05 Comments ||
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lol good point there - also around infantry i can't help but think this could be dangerous to our own guys on foot.
#13
Jonny Quest! Best Saturday Morning Cartoon Ever!
Posted by: Mike ||
04/13/2006 16:21 Comments ||
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#14
This may be the 21st century, but where are the g**damn flying cars? I was promised flying cars.
Posted by: Scott R ||
04/13/2006 17:21 Comments ||
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"flechettes (that the right word?) that just maul the incoming round ripping it to peices before it hits."
Not flechettes (those are little arrows). Probably more like shotgun pellets; I think it is like a claymore going off. I wonder if it is "detrimental" to the troops around the vehicle.
Posted by: Mark E. ||
04/13/2006 19:20 Comments ||
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#16
Beware, the scientists are among us...http://amazing1.com/emp.htm
#17
there you go again, ruining a good joke! We were having fun until you came along and made the thing real. Always spoiling a good time there skidmark!
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
04/13/2006 22:55 Comments ||
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Blasts blamed on Tamil Tiger rebels have killed 16 people in Sri Lanka's northeast and injured dozens more. The latest violence triggered fresh fears that planned peace talks may be cancelled and a civil war could restart.
Lemme 'splain something to yez: Explosions do not endanger peace. They break peace.
Kickstarting the ol' cycle of violence.
I think it's more like getting your pants leg caught in the chain of your cycle of violence...
Two policemen died in a claymore mine ambush on Wednesday while one soldier and four civilians were killed in a blast in a crowded marketplace in the port town of Trincomalee, the army said.
Claymore mines are not something that you accidentally set up and detonate.
Another nine people died in riots that followed.
I try to avoid riots, myself. But then, I do live someplace relatively peaceful, without Claymores going off periodically. It'll probably come someday, but not now...
An army spokesman said of the second attack: "It was blast by an army point by the clock tower."
"Hey, Mahendrajayajushkalakshmivarman! Let's go accidentally blow up the army point by the clock tower!"
"We think it was LTTE. We don't think it was a grenade. With the soldier, they only found half his body," he added, referring to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels.
Comes as a surprise, huh? I had the perps pegged as the Mormon Liberation Front, too. All the signs pointed to it...
More than 30 people have now died since Friday in a dramatic rise in violence in what looks to be the bloodiest few days since a 2002 ceasefire halted two decades of civil war that killed more than 64,000 people. Peace talks between the government and the LTTE are planned for next week in Switzerland, but diplomats are increasingly doubtful the meeting will take place.
It's pretty obvious at least one faction doesn't want them to...
The LTTE, who have run a de facto state across a seventh of Sri Lanka since the truce, were not immediately available for comment but they have denied carrying out recent attacks. Few analysts believe them.
If you can't believe the Super Mario Brothers, who can you believe?
In Trincomalee, which has large populations both from Tamil and Muslim communities as well as Sri Lanka's Sinhalese majority, the attack was followed by angry rioting in which officials and witnesses said Tamil shops were attacked and burnt. Police said some 50 people were injured but a curfew had restored order. Earlier, international truce monitors described the situation as out of control.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/13/2006 00:00 ||
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I think it's more like getting your pants leg caught in the chain of your cycle of violence... heheh
The U.S. Central Command is preparing contingency plans for the prospect of an American-led war against Iran.
Officials stressed that Centcom has not received orders to strike Iran's nuclear facilities. But they said the command is conducting exhaustive research as part of a process which Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld called 'not unusual' and discussed at length yesterday at the Pentagon.
Officials said Centcom's war planning was based on a thorough study of Iranian capabilities, threats, intentions and Teheran's presumed assessments of U.S. military power. They said U.S. military planners would base contingency drafts on the need to surprise Iran in any confrontation.
"Clearly this country, for the better part of 15 years, has had various contingency plans," Rumsfeld, who would not discuss planning on Iran, said. "That's what this department does is plan for various contingencies. And it's not unusual, and one would be critical of the department were they not to have done so."
"I remain persuaded that we would be able to do anything that our nation asks us to do," Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, director of strategic policy and planning at Centcom, said. "And any nation that somehow miscalculates in that regard is making a tremendous mistake."
Kimmitt told Arab journalists in a briefing in London that the United States remains committed to resolving the crisis with Iran through diplomacy. But he said Centcom was studying a range of scenarios, including the prospect of an Iranian-sponsored Islamic insurgency campaign in wake of a U.S. military confrontation with Teheran.
"This entire issue of Iran has to be focused not simply on the specific issues within Iran," Kimmitt said on April 10. "But any time we review a situation whether it is diplomatic, economic or military, we always take into account the fact that the problem cannot be seen in isolation. But it does have ripple effects throughout the area."
In a Pentagon briefing on Tuesday, Rumsfeld and Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff outlined the war planning process. They said a U.S. regional military command, such as Centcom, routinely reviews threat scenarios and submits recommendations to the Pentagon.
"Then they take one of them in sequence, and they'll say, 'Here are the assumptions that we're going to operate on. How do you feel about that?'" Rumsfeld said. "Then Pete [Pace] and I and others and the chiefs will talk about the assumptions and we'll get that right. Then they'll go back out and they'll start to develop a plan based on those assumptions for that particular niche. Then we work through that that may take six months back and forth, back and forth. Then they'll take another piece of their responsibility and do the same thing."
Pace traced the numerous discussions that preceded the U.S.-led war in Iraq in 2003. He said that in late 2001 Rumsfeld "once it became apparent that we may have to take military action" asked then-Central Command chief Gen. Tommy Franks to draft war plans against Iraq.
"Over the next two years, 50 or 60 times, Tom Franks either came to Washington or by video teleconference, sat down with the secretary of defense, sat down with the Joint Chiefs and went over what he was thinking, how he was planning," Pace said "...What happened was, in a very open roundtable discussion, questions about what might go right, what might go wrong, what would you need, how would you handle it, and that happened with the Joint Chiefs and it happened with the secretary."
Pace said that Franks, who since retirement has opposed the U.S. military presence in Iraq, met the Joint Chiefs before President George Bush relayed the final order for war against Iraq. The chairman said the Joint Chiefs determined that Centcom's plan was solid and its resource requirements would be fulfilled.
"We had then and have now every opportunity to speak our minds, and if we do not, shame on us because the opportunity is there," Pace said. "It is elicited from us. You know, we're expected to. And the plan that was executed was developed by military officers, presented by military officers, questioned by civilians as they should, revamped by military officers, and blessed by the senior military leadership."
Officials said Central Command was preparing to restructure and significantly reduce the U.S. military presence as part of the war against Al Qaida in the region. They said more than 200,000 American soldiers supported by 50,000 allied troops serve in Centcom's area of command, which extends from Egypt in the west to Kirgyzstan in the east. Since January, about 27,000 U.S. soldiers have left Iraq.
"After Iraq and Afghanistan are stabilized Washington will maintain sufficient forces in the region to respond, to deter, and to prevent," Kimmitt said. "But it will be a fraction of what we have today because the U.S. does not to give the impression that we are there permanently and give weight to the Al Qaida arguments that say that the only reason the Americans are there is to permanently occupy."
Kimmitt said Al Qaida has formed a small presence in Iran and could seek to establish training bases in the country. He called on Teheran to arrest these operatives.
"It is not only in failed states that Al Qaida can find safe havens," Kimmitt said. "It is also in advanced nations as well."
Kimmitt said the United States has sought talks with Iran regarding the future of Iraq. He said the talks suspended until the formation of a government in Baghdad would be restricted to security issues, particularly Iranian intervention in Iraq.
"The specific brief of the talks is to discuss with Iran some of the security concerns the two countries have with regards to Iraq," Kimmitt said. "We are talking about narrow focus talks with Iran which is a geographical neighbour and there are some concerns about its behavior in Iraq."
During the briefing, Kimmitt maintained that the prospect of a civil war in Iraq remained "very low." He said the Iraqi military, unlike that in Lebanon or Yugoslavia, has remained stable despite rising sectarian tension.
"Where there has been sectarian violence you have not seen the Iraqi security forces break down and the military break down and say 'I am going to my people Ramadi or Faluja or Basra, Suleimeniya," Kimmitt said. "At this point I still believe the chances for full-scale civil war to be low, but I also believe that we must stay vigilant every day to ensure that doesn't happen."
#1
The U.S. Central Command is preparing contingency plans for the prospect of an American-led war against Iran.
We already have one. For high threat countries, it is updated every year or less. They are just updating it with all the current intel and will updated it weekly at least now that Iran is in the crosshairs.
Franks did only eight media briefings during the main Afghan and Iraqi campaigns. But no one should underestimate his power and influence. His war plans all but eviscerated the militarys cherished Powell doctrine, articulated by now Secretary of State Colin Powell, which called for the use of overwhelming force against the enemy. Franks instead went into Iraq with just one Coalition soldier for every 2.5 Iraqi troops. Unhappy with how the heads of the Marine Corps, Air Force, Army and Navy nitpicked his plans for the Afghan war, Franks says he made clear to his civilian bosses at the Pentagon that the other generals presence at his daily satellite briefings was not helpful and that he wanted to be left the hell alone to run the Iraq War. He largely got his wish.
... After 9/11, Franks wrote a war plan for Afghanistan in 10 days. It relied on air power, Special Forces troops and Afghan militias. Not everyone in the military liked it, just as they didnt like his plans for Iraq. Franks was accused of trying to please Defense Secretary Rumsfeld and President Bush, rather than holding out for what was best for the forces on the ground.
What Went Wrong
Franks now bristles at these suggestions. He maintains that, in Iraq, having a smaller force gave the U.S. an element of surprise. He believes that the quick rush to Baghdad saved Iraqs oil wells from destruction, prevented total sabotage of its water supply and thwarted deadly missile attacks on U.S. forces. The only people who were surprised by Baghdads quick fall on April 9, 2003, he says, were the cable news folks, like al-Jazeera and CNN.
Franks says his biggest surprise of the campaign was the failure to find WMDthe reason we went to war. Every sign, he insists, from Arab leaders to intelligence estimates, had indicated that Saddam had them. The only time a dead certainty applies is in a dream world, he says.
While the campaign was formidable, the turbulent aftermath is likely to make Franks legacy more mixed. Things in Iraq went as I had expected, not as I had hoped, says Franks, who retired two months after formal hostilities ended. The U.S. let Americans and the world think the post-war phase would be over as quickly as the hostilities, he explains, while the Iraqis expected to go from the dark ages to the prosperous middle class overnight.
Franks clearly is disappointed in the Iraqis, who, in his view, initially chose looting and insurgency over pulling themselves together to reform their country. And he faults the international community, which never committed serious numbers of peacekeepers or funds to help Iraq after Saddam. During the planning, Franks and his team expected that 150,000 international troops would join U.S. forces in the post-war phase. They never materialized.
Could the current guerrilla war have been prevented, as critics contend? Franks says he isnt sure. Knowing what he knows now, he would still attack with the same size force. But, he adds, he would handle the approach and reconnaissance around key towns differently. Yet he doubts that either would have changed the final result, although other strategists surely will disagree. Flooding the country with cash to quickly employ angry young Iraqis might have helped too, he adds.
What Lies Ahead
Franks believes that five years is a realistic timeline for the U.S. to be involved in Iraq, noting that the country has to dig itself out of a 30-year hole. He says, It takes time to solve problems when youre talking about 25 to 26 million people.
Looking back, Franks believes that the world is far safer without Saddam Hussein. And he is distressed by what he calls the U.S.s flogging of itself. Says Franks: America is not responsible for terrorism against America. Terrorists are responsible.
Meanwhile, Franks hopes that we continue to fight terrorists outside the U.S.: If you want your grandchildren to grow up in an open society, wed better deal with the problem as far away from here as possible, even though thats not easy or easily affordable. He adds: The blessings of this country are not by accident.
#13
There are two General Franks. One was in command of a Corps in Iraq War I. General Tommy Franks was in command in Afghanistan and Iraq War II. I believe somebody is getting their General Franks mixed up. Everything I've read and heard General Tommy Franks say is supportive of the War. who since retirement has opposed the U.S. military presence in Iraq I believe this was inserted by the writer and he's the one who has his Franks mixed up, although I've not read or heard the other General Franks point of view lately.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
04/13/2006 13:29 Comments ||
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#14
Why bother bombing nuclear facilities? Iran has only 9 refineries and a limited number of hydroelectric generation facilities. A few well placed sorties turn off the electricity for the country. It is very hard to produce nuclear weapons as you sit in the dark with no gasoline and no electricity. Of course, they mullahs may not notice the difference.
#15
Why not open up with economic sanctions ala Paleo V 2.0? it is working so good there that in one week the seethers are down to crumbs, the same thing could be done in Iran; admittedly it might take longer. And include the "we won't sell you goods" upgrade, so even if they continue to take in dollars, euros, lira, monopoly, whatever, they can't eat it, can they?
Jus' wonderin' is all.
Personnaly I am still partial to a zero-dark-thirty aluminum overcast followed by iron rain.
#16
Refineries? - check
Hydroelectric generation? - check
(Remember to knock out all the other generating facilities)
Shut down port facilities and airfields. One way or another, seal air vents and doorways to underground facilities.
A sustained propaganda effort along the lines of: "The current Iranian rulers have been dedicated to terrorism since 1979. They have loudly proclaimed their intent to use nuclear weapons as instruments of terror, and we take them at their word." Make sure this message gets into Iran, over and over again.
These sanctions are within the power of the US to take. Other sanctions only work if the rest of the world cooperates - ain't gonna happen. Fifth column support for Islamic fascism is world-wide, not just a problem in the west.
Be prepared for a storm of MSM confusion and discord, massive outbursts of terror in Iraq and nearby countries, and for $5 - $10/gallon gas domestically (if not outright shortages of fuel). Consider gas rationing.
The other alternative is go back to the mentality of the 50's, buy Geiger countries, stock up on food & build fallout shelters.
Not a pleasant choice.
#18
Dang it. The Iranians have got illegal satellite dishes all over the place. EVERY SINGLE NIGHT they should be receiving a "Horrors of Nuclear War" channel, filled with the most nightmarish programming we have. If nothing else, show the movie "Threads" over and over again.
Give them 40 years of nuclear terror month on end until we get it through their thick head what they are facing.
TEHRAN: Iran has vowed to expand its nuclear program dramatically despite international condemnation that followed its claim of being able to enrich uranium fuel.
As the head of the UN nuclear watchdog arrived in Tehran in a desperate bid to defuse the crisis, Iran's armed forces chief of staff was in no mood to back down.
"When a people master nuclear technology and nuclear fuel, nothing can be done against them," said General Hassan Firouzabadi.
"The West can do nothing and is obliged to extend to us the hand of friendship."
World powers are scrambling to find consensus on how to contain Iran's nuclear activities, which the US and others fears could result in an atomic bomb.
Iran is basking in national pride after regime scientists successfully enriched uranium to make nuclear fuel a milestone in its atomic drive and officials pledged to move rapidly to industrial-scale work.
The international community united in condemning the move although differences remain over what should happen next, with Washington demanding "strong steps" from the UN Security Council and Russia warning against the use of force.
Representatives of the five permanent members of the Council plus Germany are to meet in Moscow next Tuesday to discuss the crisis, China's UN envoy said.
Iran's announcement is also a blow to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director Mohamed ElBaradei, who arrived in Tehran overnight for talks with the regime's top nuclear negotiator.
"We hope to convince Iran to take confidence-building measures including suspension of uranium enrichment activities until outstanding issues are clarified," ElBaradei told journalists at the airport.
"I would like to see Iran has come to terms with the request of the international community."
ElBaradei hopes the nuclear crisis still could be resolved through political dialogue.
He must give a report at the end of April on Iran's nuclear activities to the UN Security Council and the 35 states of the IAEA's governing council.
The US accuses Iran of seeking to secretly build nuclear weapons, charges denied by OPEC's number two oil exporter which insists the drive is aimed purely at electricity generation.
The Security Council has set April 28 as a deadline for Tehran to halt the ultra-sensitive uranium enrichment, a process which can be extended to make the fissile core of a bomb.
#4
The west can't stop anything. It didn't keep us from getting all that gold out of the Sierras and it sure as he|| didn't stop the cowboys or cavalry from kicking @ss and taking names. Now as to a whole sh!tload of JDAMs, Cruise Missiles, Fertilizer and FA ordnance, you just gotta know that's gonna leave a mark.
#9
I believe I just heard the gauntlet hitting the field.
Note to self; Must buy popcorn futures.
We haven't seen this level of saber rattling since the Cuban missle crisis.
#11
And El Barahdei will give 'em a clean bill of health. Nope no weapons here, just peaceful islamist nuclear power (heh, heh). And the UN will now tell the world to back off and leave the peaceful Iranians alone.
It's just electricity, and he'll bet every non muslim ass on it.
Oh, yes we can. Whether we do or not, and just how thoroughly and permanently we stop you, is only a matter of will-- and of how much guilt we're willing to bequeath our grandchildren.
But we can stop you. Make book on it.
Posted by: Dave D. ||
04/13/2006 14:39 Comments ||
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#15
The guy's got a point: as far as I know we don't have any ballistic missile submarines named The West. But any one of these ends the party pretty quick.
Posted by: Matt ||
04/13/2006 16:35 Comments ||
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#16
I am Islam, hear me roarI am Islam, hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
And I know nothing but Koran
'cause it's all I've heard before
Five times I been down on the floor
No one's ever gonna keep me down again
#17
Sure we can we just have to try a little harder.
Posted by: Ol Dirty American ||
04/13/2006 17:13 Comments ||
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#18
"Shock And Awe" initiating operation Iraqi Freedom saw the use of 800 Cruise missiles and 6,000 smart J-DAMS!! Information has it that the production facilities contributing to the massive output of such components and parts doubled their continuing output! And this without MOABs and tactical nuke bunker busters comin a callin!
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.
Six insurgents were killed as part of Operation Mountain Lion in eastern Kunar province, where seven children were killed Tuesday in a rocket attack blamed on militants.
Outlaw killed in 'shootout' with Rab
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is set to open a post in Bangladesh amidst growing concerns the south Asian country could turn into a major terrorist nexus.
An appeals board said a Buena Park man accused of having ties to terrorism but never charged should be deported to Jordan, overturning a judge who blocked his deportation on grounds that he would be tortured.
HONOLULU -- Authorities have taken four men into custody in Honolulu because federal agents said the men were trying to smuggle a shipment of weapons through Honolulu International Airport to Indonesia.
Pakistani forces have killed an Egyptian 
Another senior Pakistani intelligence official said military reports from the field indicated that Atwah had been killed in the attack, in which at least six other militants were believed killed. The official also declined to be identified because of the sensitive nature of the case. 
DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Suspected Islamic militants triggered a bomb in a bazaar in northwestern Pakistan early Wednesday, shattering about 10 music shops, police said. No casualties were reported. The explosion occurred at about 1 am before business hours in a market with shops selling music and video cassettes and CDs in Bannu, a city on the edge of a lawless northern tribal region bordering Afghanistan, a Bannu police official said on condition of anonymity because he was unauthorized to talk to the media.
KARACHI: The stunned crowd that took the dead and the injured to the three hospitals of the city on Tuesday, was so emotionally charged that it ended up manhandling and threatening doctors and paramedics at the institutions. Doctors at Jinnah, Liaquat and Civil hospitals all said that the mobs were hysterical and went straight at the staff. A doctor at Liaquat National Hospital said that the crowd had beaten up the doctors. 
Top leaders of the 
Al-Qaeda number two 
A car bomb has killed at least 20 people outside a Shia mosque north of Baghdad. The explosion on Wednesday in the town of Howaydir was the latest in a wave of attacks against Iraq's Shia majority that many feel will push the country close to a full-scale communal conflict in the vacuum left by bickering politicians. The car bomb in Howaydir exploded near a mosque and a crowded market. Hospital officials said casualty tolls were expected to rise as ambulances were still rushing in with victims. Last week, a triple suicide bombing at a Shia mosque in Baghdad killed up to 90 people.
An Israeli airstrike has killed two armed Palestinians near the Gaza border, the latest in attacks that have killed civilians as well as resistance fighters. An Israeli military spokeswoman said its aircraft on Wednesday fired at two men who had approached the frontier carrying rifles. Palestinian security forces said the men belonged to al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and were on their way to plant bombs.
Blasts blamed on Tamil Tiger rebels have killed 16 people in Sri Lanka's northeast and injured dozens more. The latest violence triggered fresh fears that planned peace talks may be cancelled and a civil war could restart.
