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IDF targets Beirut, Tripoli ports & Hizbollah leadership
Today's Headlines
Headline Comments [Views]
Page 1: WoT Operations
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-Lurid Crime Tales-
Indo-Pak Foreign Secy-level talks officially called off
Toughening its stand after the serial bomb blasts in Mumbai, India on Saturday formally told Pakistan that the Foreign Secretary-level talks had been called off.

The talks were scheduled for July 20.

New dates for the talks, meant to review the third round of composite dialogue, have also not been proposed.

The new dates will be decided later, diplomatic sources said.

The decision was conveyed by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to the Pakistan High Commission, a day after the government emphasised that the attacks in Mumbai had "vitiated" the atmosphere for the talks.

This move will also be conveyed by Indian High Commission in Islamabad to Pakistan Foreign Office.

Earlier, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran said that the Mumbai blasts had put a "question mark" on the peace initiative with Pakistan as "it is becoming difficult" for India to take forward the process in view of the terror strike.

"Each time such incident takes place, we point out that our ability, like in any democracy, to take the peace process forward is dependent on public opinion," he told reporters.

"We have to take people along. Every time something like this takes place, it undermines public opinion. Negative public opinion and anger is created and whether we like it or not, it puts a question mark on the process," Saran said.

Refusing to specify what could be the threshold for tolerance of terrorism, he simply said that "as a result of this terrible terrorist incident, it is becoming difficult to take the peace process forward."

Another Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed said that the talks with Pakistan were not on New Delhi's immediate agenda.

Saran, however, emphasised that India was "very much committed" to the peace process with Pakistan and pointed out that New Delhi had initiated a number of confidence-building measures, most of which relate to Jammu and Kashmir.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 07/15/2006 18:12 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Afghanistan
Lions of Islam in Drag
AFGHAN, COALITION FORCES INTENSIFY OFFENSIVE IN URUZGAN
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan –
Afghan National Army and Coalition forces attacked more than 40 extremists in Chora, Kala Kala, and Khorma districts during separate operations July 13 and 14 in Uruzgan Province in an effort to disrupt and deny enemy operations in those areas. In Deh Rawod, two extremist suicide bombers, wearing burkas and disguised as women, were killed during a cordon and search of a compound. Elsewhere, near the district of Khas Uruzgan, ANA and Coalition forces repelled an attacked by 20 enemy fighters with small arms fire, killing one extremist.
Sounds like more range time is in order.
The joint patrols took precautions to avoid harm to Afghan civilians during each operation, and there were no reports of Afghan civilian injuries.
And if women were reported killed how would we know they weren't other Lions in drag - do we go lifting all the womens' burkas?
Posted by: Glenmore || 07/15/2006 12:04 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  And if women were reported killed how would we know they weren't other Lions in drag - do we go lifting all the womens' burkas?

Simple: Just check for hairy legs! Err, nevermind. :-)
Posted by: gorb || 07/15/2006 12:37 Comments || Top||

#2  Is this the Lions of Islam new uniform?
Posted by: JohnQC || 07/15/2006 12:39 Comments || Top||

#3  What would Allah do?
Posted by: Captain America || 07/15/2006 13:46 Comments || Top||

#4  Allah would prolly nail em, dead or alive.
Posted by: bigjim-ky || 07/15/2006 16:18 Comments || Top||

#5  ok, that was over the top.
Posted by: bigjim-ky || 07/15/2006 16:19 Comments || Top||

#6  The Towel-heads lose - it is prophesied in the Bible - see file:///C:/Net4TruthUSA.com/NS-TroubleInIsrael.htm - It is about time Israel woke up and defended itself
Posted by: Dave Todeschini || 07/15/2006 21:15 Comments || Top||

#7  "Disguised as women" > Iff SALADIN or SULEYMAN were alive, they'd be imprisoned or tortured for humiliating God and Islam.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 07/15/2006 22:37 Comments || Top||


British troops capture key Afghan town
Hundreds of British troops have been involved in a major operation to secure a town in southern Afghanistan from the Taliban. An Army spokesman said that nearly 1,000 British soldiers - including some in support roles - were involved in the operation in Sangin. Two British troops were injured but both are expected to make a full recovery.

Details of the attack are sketchy, but it is believed that a large number of soldiers from the 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment were helicoptered into the area before dawn, to take back control of the town from Taliban militants. One of the helicopters came under a rocket propelled grenade attack, and British soldiers fired back one missile and a number of rounds of canon fire in response. Troops from the United States, Canada and other coalition countries were involved in the operation.

Three-hundred British soldiers are now on the ground in the town, which the Taliban had been using as a base from which to attack British troops. All six of soldiers who have lost their lives since the deployment of British forces to the Helmand region have died in the vicinity of the town.
Good job. News reports of 10 taliban killed in Sangin.
Posted by: ed || 07/15/2006 09:22 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Excellent!
Posted by: Captain America || 07/15/2006 9:52 Comments || Top||

#2  Not very clear. I gather that Sangin has a small Afghan army garrison, and about 40 British troops keeping overwatch on the town. The Taliban were never able to control the town, but committed lots of assets because of its strategic location.

This means that were finally able to secure greater priority targets elsewhere, so were finally able to relieve the soldiers defending Sangin.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 07/15/2006 10:09 Comments || Top||

#3  If they thought the odds of 6-8 Brits to the talibs was bad, I wonder if the talibs can do higher math?

After all, the Brits do have to return the favor for the last time they were in Afghanistan.

And Karzai better figure out which side he's on, blood does not outrank future potential of the country, his job is to guide Afghanistan forward, not back to the 600s.
Posted by: anonymous2u || 07/15/2006 12:35 Comments || Top||

#4  10 Talibs killed and two Brits lightly wounded. You don't need to be a genius to work out who's winning this mini-war in Helmand. Maybe even the Taliban-hype merchants in the British media will get the picture soon.
Posted by: Apostate || 07/15/2006 15:10 Comments || Top||


Coalition forces kill 9 Taliban
Afghan and US-led coalition forces killed nine militants after suspected Taliban fighters attacked two army checkpoints in the latest fighting to rock southern Afghanistan, an Afghan official said on Friday. Six militants were wounded in three hours of clashes but escaped, and one other militant was arrested, said Mohammed Zahir Khan, chief of Khas Uruzgan district in southern Uruzgan province where the fighting occurred late on Thursday.

Meanwhile, a suicide bomber was the sole victim in a failed attack on Friday on an Afghan police convoy in the country's east, police said. The attack happened in the Gurbuz district of southeastern Khost province bordering Pakistan, said provincial police chief Gen Mohammed Ayoub. The attacker, on foot, ran at a police pickup truck that was driving slowly on a bumpy road and detonated his explosives short of the vehicle, killing only himself, Ayoub said.
Posted by: Fred || 07/15/2006 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  premature emasculation....
Posted by: Frank G || 07/15/2006 9:11 Comments || Top||


Arabia
Yemen acquits 23 of aiming to fight US forces
Meanwhile, in Yemen ...
SANAA - A Yemeni court on Saturday acquitted 23 men on charges of forming an armed group that planned to go to Iraq and fight US-led forces there. But the court found 21 of the men guilty of faking official documents, and handed down jail terms of between three years and two months, and three years and four months. Two men were acquitted of all charges.
They'll all be out within a year on an amnesty, so no need to tunnel to the nearest mosque ...
Earlier this month, another court acquitted 19 men, including five Saudis, charged with planning attacks against US interests in the Arab country due to lack of evidence.
Posted by: Steve White || 07/15/2006 15:11 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Yemen Jails 12 Officers Over Prison Break
A Yemeni military court has sentenced 12 intelligence officers to prison terms ranging from eight months to three years over a prison break by 23 Al-Qaeda operatives in February, a state-run website reported yesterday. In a ruling issued Wednesday behind closed doors, the court also ordered the men’s dismissal from their posts for negligence.

On Feb. 3, the prisoners tunneled their way out of the high-security prison run by the intelligence services in Sanaa. The mass escape embarrassed the Yemeni government and dealt a major blow to its efforts to net Al-Qaeda members. The Defense Ministry’s www.26sep.net website said the court found the officers guilty of negligence facilitating the escape.

Among the jailbreakers were 13 people convicted over the 2000 bombing of the US destroyer USS Cole and the 2002 attack on the French oil tanker Limburg off the Yemeni coast. The authorities have said the men dug a 44-meter-long tunnel from their cell to a nearby mosque using cooking tools. Nine of the escapees have been recaptured or gave themselves up to the authorities. Fourteen others are still on the run and are being sought under international arrest warrants, according to security officials.
Posted by: Fred || 07/15/2006 14:29 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  They will wait a week before they escape, too.
Posted by: gorb || 07/15/2006 21:47 Comments || Top||


Bangladesh
Tales from the Crossfire Gazette (weekend edition)
Two top leaders of Purba Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) Lalpataka faction were killed in a shootout between Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and the outlaws' cohorts in Pabna early yesterday.
You begin to wonder just how many commies could be left in B'desh ...
The dead were identified as PBCP Lalpataka chief adviser Kamrul Islam alias Kamrul Master, 55, and operations commander Md Abdul Latif alias Jhunu Maker, 40.

Rab-12 sources in Pabna said they had arrested Jhunu Maker at Mirpur in Dhaka on Thursday.
"Jhunu! We heard youse was around here. Why don't youse come wit us for a 'chat'?"
Following his painfully extracted statement, the Rab members also arrested Kamrul Master at Goran of Khilgaon in the capital the same day.
A two-fer!
Upon their information, ...
"Shafiqul, you want the number 6 pliers?"
"Cheez no, it's covered with Master's blood. Hand me the number 5, that'll do in a pinch ..."
... the Rab members took the two to Tebunia in Pabna sadar upazila yesterday to recover hidden firearms and arrest other outlaws, Rab sources said.
I have no idea where that is.
But as soon as the law enforcers reached Tebunia Shahapur area at about 3:30am, ...
...that magic moment ...
...the PBCP outlaws ambushed the Rab team, who also returned fire.
"We got 'em in an ambush, boys! Pour out the lead!"
Kamrul and Jhunu got hit with bullets while trying to escape from the Rab custody and died on the spot, Rab said.
Bet they didn't run too far in their curly-toed slippers, what with each getting one behind the left ear and one behind the right ...
The law enforcers rushed the dead bodies to Pabna General Hospital where the doctors confirmed their death.
What's the rush? They're dead for cryin' out loud.
The Rab recovered two pipe-guns and three bullets from the spot.
Not much of a haul, but they got what they went out for ...
Kamrul Master, son of Hamid Sardar of Daspara village of Pabna sadar upazila, was accused in twelve systems numerous cases, including 15 for murder, and was on the "most wanted" list of criminals.
Every commie in B'desh is on the 'most wanted' list.
Jhunu was accused of five murder charges, Rab sources said.
He was just a rookie ...
Kamrul's political career started with his involvement with the Naxal Movement. Later, he formed the PBCP Lalpataka and became famous as an intellectual leader. Kamrul was general secretary of the PBCP five years ago and later became its chief adviser. He had been involved in underground politics since the Liberation War.
Should have gotten religion, Kamrul, you don't see any of them Islamicists in any crossfires, do you?
Posted by: Steve White || 07/15/2006 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  That Naxal Movement requires a prescription, doesn't it?
Posted by: Inspector Clueso || 07/15/2006 12:44 Comments || Top||

#2  Don't think about it.
Posted by: 10 ft pole collection agency || 07/15/2006 18:42 Comments || Top||


Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
46 kafirs and munafiqs killed, wounded in Chechnya over the past 24 hours
According to the spokesman of the Military Council of the State Defense Council - Majlisul Shura of the Chechen Republic of Ickeria 24 kafirs and munafiqs were eliminated and at least 22 of kafirs and munafiqs were wounded during the combat operations of the Mujahideen in various parts of the country on July 12-13.

According to the source the fiercest firefight occurred in Nojay-Yurt district of the country at Dagestan border, where the mobile squad of Mujahideen has entered into a combat with a numerous gang of munafiqs. During the fierce firefight, which lasted for several hours, at least 15 munafiqs were eliminated, scores of national-traitors (according to reconnaissance unit 12 men) were got wounded. Mujahideen have lost 2 of their fighters, a few one incurred wounds.

Another combat has occurred between the villages of Dargo and Belgatoy. According to the Chechen sources during this clash 3 kafirs were eliminated and more 5 kafirs were wounded. Mujahideen lost one fighter.

In Itum-Kali district of the country the sabotage squad has blown up an army truck with kafirs. According to the Chechen command as a result of the explosion 4 invaders were eliminated and 3 others were wounded.

2 kafirs and 1 munafiq have been eliminated and another one wounded in the capital Jokhar on July 12. It is reported that mobile squad of Mujahideen attacked the enemy at night. Outposts and patrols had been subjected to attacks.

The Chechen side also reported on artillery bombardments and aerial raids in Nojay-Yurt and Vedeno districts of the country. No information is available regarding casualties of these strikes.
Posted by: Fred || 07/15/2006 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Ok, I know what a kafir is, being one myself and all, but what is a munafiq?
Posted by: trailing wife || 07/15/2006 0:20 Comments || Top||

#2  Munafiqs are "hypocrites," in this case non-Salafist Moose limbs.
Posted by: Fred || 07/15/2006 0:50 Comments || Top||

#3  Phony Muslims? In 2001, CAIR wouldn't accuse al-Qaeda of being non-Muslim - or apostate - because they claimed that "takfir" insults were un-Islamic. However, in the case of the "tunnel bomb" plotters, CAIR asked the media to refrain from labelling the would-bes as Muslim. I guess for CAIR, it depends on whose agendas they share.
Posted by: Anginens Threreng8133 || 07/15/2006 6:30 Comments || Top||

#4  what illiterate mutherfucker wrote this shit?
Posted by: Thromort Glomoger4987 || 07/15/2006 11:47 Comments || Top||

#5  Maybe their old writer's gone on to work for Goebbels?
Posted by: Fred || 07/15/2006 13:07 Comments || Top||


China-Japan-Koreas
Unanimous UNSC resolution demands NORKs dismantle missle program [UPDATED]
from Fox news broadcast of press conference with Bolton. Link to online story as it's posted. Resolution imposes embargo of missile technology, parts etc.

Asked about Iran, he said "I've been working on North Korea for the last 11 days, we'll start on Iran in about an hour."

Asked how this resolution might be enforced, he said "There are national technical means to monitor compliance and there are national means to enforce it.
U.N. passes resolution condemning N. Korea

UNITED NATIONS - The U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution Saturday condemning North Koreafs recent missile tests and demanding that the reclusive communist nation suspend its ballistic missile program.

The agreement was reached after a last-minute compromise between Japan, the United States and Britain, who wanted a tough statement, and Russia and China, who favored weaker language.

The deal culminated 10 days of difficult negotiations.

The council has acted swiftly and robustly in response to the reckless and condemnable act of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, said Japan's Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Chintaro Ito.

In the final negotiations, the council was divided on one issue: if the resolution should be adopted under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, which allows for military force to make sure the resolution is obeyed.

China had threatened to veto any resolution that mentioned Chapter 7 and in the final compromise it was dropped. The resolution adopted Saturday by a 15-0 vote states that the Security Council was acting under its special responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.
So Bolton is saying that the resolution doesn't rule out UN-approved intevention but if the UN doesn't do it, we will?
It demands that North Korea suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile program, and that Pyongyang re-establish a moratorium on missile launching.

This breaking news story will be updated
Posted by: lotp || 07/15/2006 15:10 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  !!!!
Posted by: Dave D. || 07/15/2006 15:23 Comments || Top||

#2  Wonder what Bolton means by "national means?"
Posted by: JohnQC || 07/15/2006 16:02 Comments || Top||

#3  ABM systems?
Posted by: Tony (UK) || 07/15/2006 16:11 Comments || Top||

#4  Probably stop & search operations, land & sea.
Posted by: Throger Thains8048 || 07/15/2006 16:27 Comments || Top||

#5  Typical diplospeak, everybody agrees on a resolution that nobody fully comprehends.
Posted by: Captain America || 07/15/2006 17:29 Comments || Top||

#6  Bolton seemed happy maybe he knows something we don't.
Posted by: djohn66 || 07/15/2006 18:17 Comments || Top||

#7  I am guessing, based on his wording, that he told the rest of the Security Council that if they did not stop NORK's missile program, we would. They could play or could be visibly irrelevant.
Posted by: lotp || 07/15/2006 18:19 Comments || Top||

#8  Yup. And he's going to tell them the same thing about Iran.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 07/15/2006 18:23 Comments || Top||

#9  Lord I love this guy. Thank you Bush for putting him in there after that despicable display of cowardice in the Senate hearing. And I can't imagine the patience it takes not to begin slitting throats at the UN. If patience is a virtue (not using the Devil's Dictionary entry here), then he's certainly a better man than me.
Posted by: Hupinetle Sninetle9012 || 07/15/2006 18:35 Comments || Top||

#10  Another thought comes to mind...

Negroponte. Why didn't we hear anything worth noting from him? Is he a real diplomat, and I use the term with all possible venom?

It does not make me feel good about Homeland Security. We don't need smooth-talking ass-kissers anywhere in the government.
Posted by: Hupinetle Sninetle9012 || 07/15/2006 19:09 Comments || Top||

#11  He's National Intel Director, not a diplomat any more....
Posted by: Frank G || 07/15/2006 19:22 Comments || Top||

#12  Oops, you're right about the title. However, that doesn't really answer my questions. I think he is a diplomat, not a doer.
Posted by: Hupinetle Sninetle9012 || 07/15/2006 19:43 Comments || Top||

#13  You are right about the homeland defense burocracy though. Bunch of idiots.
Posted by: DarthVader || 07/15/2006 20:48 Comments || Top||

#14  Q.: How come Hizbullah gets a missle program and NORKs don't?

A.: Hizbullah only want to kill Jews!

sarcasm off
Posted by: borgboy || 07/15/2006 21:11 Comments || Top||


Europe
France mobilizes military for potential evacuation of Lebanon
(KUNA) -- France decided Saturday to take a number of precautionary, military measures in view of the deteriorating situation in Lebanon and the continued Israeli attacks against targets, both civilian and Hezbollah, in that country. A statement from the Defense Ministry said "the safety of French nationals is a primary concern for the Minister of Defense" and as a result units were being deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean.

These units will be in place to allow French nationals desirous of leaving Lebanon, because of the ongoing turmoil, to leave the country. The statement said that an air group made up of transport planes and helicopters was being deployed to Cyprus and the "Jean de Vienne" frigate had received orders to make for the Eastern Mediterranean.

In addition, a landing ship with four helicopters and a hospital unit with two operating theatres is heading to the area on Sunday, the statement said. France has also put additional military resources on alert and has chartered a number of civilian aircraft and maritime vessels to be ready for an evacuation. The French government on Friday warned its nationals not to travel to Lebanon and told the 15,000 or so nationals and dual nationals to stay indoors because of the Israeli bombings.
Posted by: Fred || 07/15/2006 13:28 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Let's see if they keep it to that, or try to overtly meddle.
Posted by: lotp || 07/15/2006 14:30 Comments || Top||

#2  Maybe they can fly them out on an Airbus 380?
Posted by: Perfesser || 07/15/2006 14:49 Comments || Top||

#3  I feel much safer (sarcasm on).
Posted by: Whaling Unomoger7693 || 07/15/2006 15:17 Comments || Top||

#4  "the safety of French nationals is a primary concern for the Minister of Defense" and as a result units eunuch's were being deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean."

"These units
eunuch's will be in place to allow French nationals desirous (desirous? Even war is sexual, with these people.) of leaving Lebanon, because of the ongoing turmoil, to leave the country."
Posted by: Thramp Ebbaise4171 || 07/15/2006 15:31 Comments || Top||

#5  (desirous? Even war is sexual, with these people.)

Désirous = bad translation for désireux, willing to/wishing to; as for sexuality, your generated name phonetically "dip it and f*ck".
Posted by: anonymous5089 || 07/15/2006 15:34 Comments || Top||

#6  LOL, anon5089.
Posted by: lotp || 07/15/2006 15:38 Comments || Top||

#7  I can't wait till I tell my wife about my generated name. Me thinks she'sgonnalikeit.
Posted by: Thramp Ebbaise4171 || 07/15/2006 15:39 Comments || Top||

#8  Am I the only one who chuckled over advice the French government give their nationals and "dual-nationals"? Would a normal person need a GOVERNMENT telling you to stay indoors if there are bombs falling outside? Or they are so dependent on big brother making their decisions for them, even their own survival needs to be ordered from above?

I'll like to see whom those ships will take aboard...
Posted by: T || 07/15/2006 16:45 Comments || Top||

#9  We are all French now.
Posted by: Hezbollah || 07/15/2006 19:10 Comments || Top||

#10  Oui, oui, oui. All the way home.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 07/15/2006 19:13 Comments || Top||

#11  It's almost August, the French are heading to the Med anyway...except for the old people
Posted by: Frank G || 07/15/2006 19:24 Comments || Top||

#12  #8 T: "Or they are so dependent on big brother making their decisions for them, even their own survival needs to be ordered from above?"

They're EUros - whaddaya want?
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 07/15/2006 19:38 Comments || Top||

#13  Love the pic of Laurel and Hardy in Sons of the Desert, I believe. These guys won the battle with total incompetence. The movie was a riot!
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 07/15/2006 20:48 Comments || Top||

#14  Evacuate? What for? Give it a week and shit will be back to normal, complete with group hugs at the UN. Israel will pull back after first inflicting some heavy damage here and there. We've seen this movie before.

Not sure about the prisoners though. They might be dead by now. If not, they will used as bargaining chips. A prisoner exchange, and things are back to the way they were. I give it a week.
Posted by: Jack Shiraq || 07/15/2006 22:47 Comments || Top||

#15  I'm afraid that I - the eternal pessimist - agree with Jack.
Posted by: xbalanke || 07/15/2006 23:24 Comments || Top||


Belgian extremist leader Dyab Abu Jahjah wants to go to Lebanon to fight “the Zionists”(Tm)
The Belgian citizen from Lebanese descent Dyab Abu Jahjah, founder of the Arab European League, posted a message on the website of this organisation (www.arabeuropean.org) two days ago, expressing his will to go back to Lebanon. Under the title “The homeland is calling”, the post of Abu Jahjah leads to think that he wants to go to Lebanon to fight “the Zionists”.

He wrote: “The Zionists will not get us on our knees, their pride and arrogance can not match our belief in the justice of our cause, and in the evil that they represent in this world (…) This might be the last text I will write before going home on a trip that might be my last (…) I lived my life for this Nation, and not a hair in me will hesitate in laying it down for this Nation too. The fight for Arab Unity, Liberation, Freedom and Socialism is the essence of Justice in the Homeland and beyond. Some people call it a fight for god, some people call it a fight for mankind, in essence it is one and the same fight for freedom and justice (…) When oppression rises above the sun to cover it, and injustice defies the wind and the Wicked and the Evil feast on the Flesh of innocent men, women and children. From within the darkness and the orgy of blood, a sword will shine, and the brave will murmur: “What a beautiful day to die””
He might possibly go, but I doubt it. The head cheeses talk a great martyrdom, but they're usually running for their lives when the rockets hit. This is directed more toward the rubes, who're willing to go off and do the bidding of their local holy man or Fearless Leader™...
Founded a few years ago, the Arab European League (approximately 1 000 members) is regarded by most of the European security services as an extremist organization advocating a communitarian model of society. For instance, the League asks the recognition of Arabic as an official European language. In the past, the League had various problems for its anti-Semitic messages. Dyab Abu Jahjah himself was accused to be linked to the Hezbollah, but he is more clearly aligned on the Syrian Baathist policy, both nationalist and socialist.
Posted by: anonymous5089 || 07/15/2006 12:26 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Dumb bastard.
Posted by: JohnQC || 07/15/2006 12:42 Comments || Top||

#2  I hope all the extremist go to Lebanon and die.Makes our job easier that way!!!!!
Posted by: Spavins Ebbinetch7827 || 07/15/2006 12:54 Comments || Top||

#3  My response to Dyab Abu JahJah is:
" Komt A her mein kleine Shepsale Und Ich will been gelernen Karate !"

to those non-Yiddish speaking souls, "Shepsale" is "little lamb" and understanding the meaning of this is reserved to people who have seen the early Israeli movie "Shablul".
Posted by: Elder of Zion || 07/15/2006 12:58 Comments || Top||

#4  You're such a tease, Elder!
Posted by: lotp || 07/15/2006 13:00 Comments || Top||

#5  Sorry LOTP

I had a bad weekend (what with all this bombing going on) and I am taking it out on you and Ol' Mr. Dyab.
BTW have you seen the movie ?
Posted by: Elder of Zion || 07/15/2006 13:05 Comments || Top||

#6  Never had the pleasure, Elder. Tell us about it!
Posted by: lotp || 07/15/2006 13:08 Comments || Top||

#7  Its a comedy in which someone wants to improve his self defence skills after being mobbed by some aggressive guys. He enroles in a Karate class given by a homosexual Karate teacher (Uri Zohar, before he became religious).
I think you can imagine the rest of it !
Posted by: Thonglip babu 3412 || 07/15/2006 13:14 Comments || Top||

#8  Hold me back! Hold me back! I'll moiderize them!
Posted by: Dyab Abu Jahjah || 07/15/2006 13:43 Comments || Top||

#9  Book his flight. He'll be there.
You betcha...
Posted by: tu3031 || 07/15/2006 14:18 Comments || Top||

#10  The IDF has got his picture...we hope he stays there
Posted by: Flomogum Cromock3369 || 07/15/2006 14:31 Comments || Top||

#11  The Belgian government should be more than happy to book him a one-way flight on El-Al, via Tel Aviv.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 07/15/2006 14:37 Comments || Top||

#12  Why not charter a few 747's and pack the whole of the Arab league onto them for a 'Club Leb' adventure?

They'll not need return tickets...
Posted by: Tony (UK) || 07/15/2006 14:44 Comments || Top||

#13  Not 747s, use Airbuses.
Posted by: Perfesser || 07/15/2006 14:51 Comments || Top||

#14  Why not charter a few 747's and pack the whole of the Arab league onto them for a 'Club Leb' adventure?

Better yet, contract the transport to Argentina, with a C-130 specification.
Posted by: mrp || 07/15/2006 14:56 Comments || Top||

#15  He really does want to go and fight, but unfortunately he can't go right now because he has to collect some clothes from the dry cleaners next week.
Posted by: Kratos || 07/15/2006 15:22 Comments || Top||

#16  Isn't Captain Hook in Lebanon?
Posted by: Robert Crawford || 07/15/2006 15:26 Comments || Top||

#17  Nope, it's his boss omar bakri (see this for example).
Posted by: anonymous5089 || 07/15/2006 15:30 Comments || Top||

#18  Didn't Churchill sy that it was better to jahjah than warwar?
Posted by: 11A5S || 07/15/2006 15:41 Comments || Top||

#19  My apologies for the #14 comment. It was unfair to the people of Argentina and Lockheed.
Posted by: mrp || 07/15/2006 16:12 Comments || Top||

#20  I think we can all agree that he looks dashing tho. The very model of a modern muzzie man. I like his moisturizer foundation, and his clothing kit.
Posted by: Lawrence of Wheeee || 07/15/2006 18:47 Comments || Top||

#21  good eye, Lawrence. Looks like he tweezed the unibrow too...
Posted by: Frank G || 07/15/2006 18:52 Comments || Top||

#22  Go ahead. The Belgians won't miss you.
Posted by: DarthVader || 07/15/2006 20:35 Comments || Top||


Home Front: WoT
Terror Suspects Targeted Flood Wall
The suspects in a terrorist plot targeting lower Manhattan hoped to unleash a catastrophic flood by destroying a huge underground wall that keeps Hudson River water out of the World Trade Center site, two law enforcement officials said Thursday. It was unclear how the suspects hoped to bring down the so-called slurry wall, which was quietly put under 24-hour police protection in recent weeks once details of the plot began to emerge, the officials told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because the scheme was still under investigation.

A yearlong investigation had revealed that the eight suspects "specifically wanted to take out the slurry wall in hopes of flooding the financial district," one of the officials said. The vulnerability of the wall - viewed each day by hundreds of tourists visiting ground zero - became a concern for law enforcement and engineers following the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

The FBI and police did not mention the retaining wall as a target last week while confirming reports that plotters envisioned an attack in the fall on rapid transit tunnels, which run under the river and connect to the Trade Center site. The plot also allegedly involved suicide bombers on trains. The FBI and NYPD declined comment Thursday.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred || 07/15/2006 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


India-Pakistan
Over 600 nationalist militants surrender in SW Pakistan
(KUNA) Over 600 nationalist militants Saturday laid their arms in Pakistani Southern insurgency-hit Baluchistan province and announced support to the government in its war against terrorism, said an official. The militants of important tribal chieftains, close aids of Akbar Khan Bugti, head of nationalist insurgency in the province, surrendered in Dera Bugti district, said Razaq Bugti, spokesman for the provincial government, while talking to KUNA.

He said the militants while surrendering arms claimed responsibility for their anti-state activities. They announced support to the government, he said, adding that the development will help pace development work in the province. Nationalist militants had been waging low-insurgency in the province since decades to acquire maximum provincial autonomy.
Posted by: Fred || 07/15/2006 13:30 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Wonder if that was their part to get support for thier forces in Iran's Baluchistan SE territories.

This sounds oddly more like a temporary truce to concentrate attention to thier mutual enemy the terrorist than a outright surrender to the Pakistan government.

Jeff over at http://www.jeffkouba.com/myblog/blogger.html

has been on the Baluoch elements in both Pakistan and Iran for sometime and how we (the US) have been finding like minded groups like we did with the Kurds in both regions worthy of support.
Posted by: C-Low || 07/15/2006 15:09 Comments || Top||


Religious leader, three killed in Karachi explosion
KARACHI - A Pakistani Shiite religious leader and three others were killed in a suicide bomb attack in the port city of Karachi. Allama Hassan Turrabi, his nephew and two police guards were taken to hospital after sustaining serious injuries in the attack.

However, Turrabi and his nephew later died of their injuries, regional Home Minister Rauf Siddiqui confirmed. Earlier, Karachi’s chief of police, Niaz Siddiqui, told reporters a suicide bomber, who had strapped explosives to his body, blew himself up as Turrabi arrived at his house in Abbas. A child was also killed in the attack.

Siddiqui said that the attacker’s head and both legs were lying at the scene of the blast, adding, that police had found a hand grenade, which had not detonated. The attacker is believed to have carried the grenade, but had been unable to hurl it over Turrabi’s vehicle, the official added.

Turrabi was the leader of the six-party Islamic opposition alliance, Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA). Hundreds of people gathered outside the hospital chanting anti- government slogans. Turrabi’s body was being transferred to a Shiite mosque in Karachi.
Posted by: Steve White || 07/15/2006 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The attacker is believed to have carried the grenade, but had been unable to hurl it over Turrabi’s vehicle, the official added.

Check Hek's boyz
Posted by: Frank G || 07/15/2006 9:17 Comments || Top||


2 militants killed in held Kashmir
Security forces raided a rebel hideout in Indian-held Kashmir on Friday and killed two militants, the army said. The incident occurred near the Aragram village, 60 kilometres north of Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu-Kashmir state, said Lt Col VK Batra, a spokesman for the Indian army. He said the militants were killed during a gunfight, which started when the soldiers were searching the village after receiving information that militants were hiding there. Batra said the army suspected the rebels belonged to Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Posted by: Fred || 07/15/2006 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Militants claim killing 14 security personnel
A spokesperson for tribal militants on Friday claimed to have killed 14 security personnel in two separate incidents in the Dera Bugti district. Wadera Alam Khan, who called the Quetta Press Club via a satellite phone from an unknown location, said that they had killed eleven security personnel in Pashinbogi area and seized their weapons. He said a land mine killed three FC officials and injured another three. However, when contacted by Daily Times, officials of the security agencies denied the claims, saying, “Those miscreants are losing control over the area and are making false claims to regain their lost image”.
Posted by: Fred || 07/15/2006 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Top Bugti commanders and 38 others surrender
QUETTA: Two top commanders belonging to the militia of tribal chief Nawab Akbar Bugti, Wadera Khan Mohammad Masuri and Riaz Gul Masuri, have surrendered to the government along with 38 other tribesmen, Dera Bugti DCO Abdul Samad Lasi said on Friday, APP reported. Lasi called the commanders' surrender "a milestone for peace in the area", saying that both were responsible for operating "the entire terrorist network of the nawab in Dera Bugti". He said that the surrender would also encourage the "remaining miscreants to leave Nawab Bugti" and surrender.
Posted by: Fred || 07/15/2006 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


India's most wanted terrorist is faceless
`Rahil Abdul Rehman Sheikh,' reads the text on the top of the dossier on India's most wanted terrorist — the man believed to be the principal executor of the Mumbai serial bombings, which claimed 200 lives. There is no photograph below it: for all of his adult life, Sheikh refused to have one taken, on the ground that graven images were forbidden by Islam.

A picture is not the only thing we do not know about Sheikh's terror career. Since at least February, police in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Delhi have all been attempting to locate the man alleged to be responsible for the second-largest terror strike in Indian history. Indian communications intelligence personnel intercepted conversations between Sheikh and the Lashkar's overall military commander, Azam Cheema — but little else.

Operating under the direct command of a Dhaka-based Lashkar-e-Taiba commander code-named `Junaid' — about whom little is known other than that he is a Pakistani national — Sheikh's principal tasks were to funnel funds to field units, and ensure that fresh recruits could travel safely to training camps in Pakistan. He travelled frequently to Dhaka to meet Junaid.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred || 07/15/2006 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Tried ISI HQ?
Posted by: Hupinetle Sninetle9012 || 07/15/2006 0:39 Comments || Top||


Principal organiser of bombings in safe house in Kathmandu?
MUMBAI: Rahil Abdul Rahman Sheikh, identified by India's covert services as the principal organiser of the July 11 serial bombings, may be holed up in one of the several Kathmandu safe houses operated by the Lashkar-e-Taiba. Intelligence sources said Sheikh, along with Zulfikar Fayyaz Qazi and Zabiuddin Ansari, set up escape plans weeks before the bombings, in anticipation of what is being described as the largest counter-terrorism sweep since the 2001 attack on Parliament House. Police have named the men as key figures in Lashkar cells operating out of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Delhi — networks whose relationship with the bombings was first reported in this newspaper.

Sheikh, a resident of Mumbai's Grant Road area, handled communication between these cells and the Lashkar's Pakistan-based commander for operations targeting India, Azam Cheema — the man who would have authorised and overseen the serial bombings. Sheikh was also responsible for funnelling Lashkar recruits, raised mainly from the ranks of the Students Islamic Movement of India, to training camps in Pakistan.

Gujarat's Anti-Terrorism Squad identified Sheikh, along with Qazi, as the architects of the attempted bombing of an Ahmedabad-Mumbai train on February 19. A malfunctioning timer — and a corrupt railway guard, who pilfered the suitcase from the train in Ahmedabad before it commenced its return journey to Mumbai — prevented the loss of dozens of lives in the attack, the first in Gujarat where RDX was used.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred || 07/15/2006 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


There were 24 armed fidayeen
Conspirators used e-mails, hid behind women
The men who planted explosives on Mumbai's train were heavily armed and numbered nearly two dozen. Investigations by the security agencies into the 7/11 Mumbai blasts have revealed that the executioners of the plan were ready for a fidayeen encounter with the police in case of any confrontation.

Those who executed the plot on that fateful Tuesday had arrived on the scene hours before the strike and are believed to have fled the country soon after the bombs went off, highly placed sources told the Pioneer.

Continued on Page 49
Posted by: john || 07/15/2006 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  They don't say anything about videotapes. Spanish investigators of the 3-11 atrocity had early video proof on the perpetrators.
Posted by: Anginens Threreng8133 || 07/15/2006 4:23 Comments || Top||

#2  Videotapes would have been less than worthless in this case. You cannot believe the crowding in India's train stations. You could lose a fully-armed infantry batallion, clad in red jump-suits, in the main train station in Mumbai, Dehli, or any other major Indian city.
Posted by: Old Patriot || 07/15/2006 14:29 Comments || Top||


Iraq
Iraq PM denounces Israel over Lebanon, Gaza
REUTERS - read with caution
BAGHDAD, July 15 (Reuters) - Iraq's U.S.-backed government denounced Israel's "criminal" raids on Lebanon and Gaza and the prime minister warned on Saturday that violence could escalate across the Middle East.

In a rare public foray into affairs beyond Iraq's borders, the premier's office said in a statement: "Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki denounces the Israeli raids on Lebanon and warns of the consequences of escalation in the region.

"The prime minister calls on Arab foreign ministers to meet to take a clear stand that condemns the criminal acts in Lebanon and Gaza and affirms this assault will make Lebanon's people more united and cohesive in the face of the Israeli challenge."

Arab foreign ministers held an emergency meeting in Cairo on Saturday to discuss ways to end Israeli attacks.

The Iraqi government, installed two months ago in a U.S.-sponsored electoral process, has focused its foreign policy on mending frosty relations with its neighbours, partly to improve security by hindering foreign aid to guerrilla groups.

Other Arabs have been suspicious of Iraq's new rulers, partly because of the dominant U.S. military role in Baghdad. Maliki has been at pains recently to demonstrate independence and to improve ties with the mostly Sunni Muslim Arab leaders.

Some of his fellow Shi'ite Islamists in the coalition government, notably followers of radical young cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, have voiced support for Hizbollah, the militant Shi'ite group that is the main target of Israeli attacks in Lebanon.

The democratic rise of Islamist leaders from Iraq's Shi'ite majority oppressed under Saddam Hussein, has created delicate diplomatic problems for the United States, particularly in view of those leaders' links to Shi'ite Iran, Washington's most powerful enemy in the region and a supporter of Hizbollah.

As elsewhere in the Middle East, criticism of Israel, the United States' closest ally there, is also widespread in Iraq.

The speaker of parliament, a Sunni, accused "Jewish Israeli Zionists" this week of fomenting sectarian unrest in Iraq to thwart efforts by Sunnis and Shi'ites to build an Islamic state.

Washington has taken a dim view of Mahmoud al-Mashhadani's comments. A person speaking in Baghdad on Saturday on condition of being quoted only as a Western diplomat told reporters: "It is a shame that the speaker of parliament would make comments like that. It doesn't show responsibility...

"These comments are not representative of the government."
Posted by: Sherry || 07/15/2006 19:20 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Wow, what an unexpected and shocking developement.
One might think he had better things to worry about.
Posted by: bigjim-ky || 07/15/2006 19:59 Comments || Top||

#2  like his personal safety....withdraw any US security for him, thankyouverymuch
Posted by: Frank G || 07/15/2006 20:01 Comments || Top||

#3  Think he's worried that violence might spread to Iraq?
Posted by: Hupinetle Sninetle9012 || 07/15/2006 20:03 Comments || Top||

#4  or knee-jerk anti-Jooooos response
Posted by: Frank G || 07/15/2006 20:05 Comments || Top||

#5  The Iraqi government, installed two months ago in a U.S.-sponsored electoral process....

Rooters still can't handle free elections. Incredible editorialising.
Posted by: Inspector Clueso || 07/15/2006 20:08 Comments || Top||

#6  I've never, ever, met an Arab that could talk about Israel without losing his cool and devolving into spittle. It's obviously congenital indoctrination.

On the other hand, I have met a couple of Persians (who had escaped the "revolution" and were living in the US) that could contain themselves, but others who had the same stupid knee-jerk you refer to.

It's an eye-opener to see someone you thought you knew well suddenly become a stark raving lunatic who's lost any capacity for rational thought. All you can do is write them off.
Posted by: Hupinetle Sninetle9012 || 07/15/2006 20:12 Comments || Top||

#7  Gee, it sure looks like the "light unto the Muslim nations" project is going well.
Posted by: Kratos || 07/15/2006 20:38 Comments || Top||

#8  It's congential. The Arabs don't get it. The Persinas don't get it. The rest of them don't.
Europe enables them and we do too.

#10
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom || 07/15/2006 20:59 Comments || Top||

#9  And in the Rooters sidebar"Israelis kill 35", and no mentions of deaths in Israel...
Posted by: Capsu78 || 07/15/2006 21:18 Comments || Top||

#10  those'r Jooos, they don't tally with the tranzis. Go Israel!
Posted by: Frank G || 07/15/2006 21:27 Comments || Top||

#11  Be a very different situation if Saddamn was still in power. One benefit from that war.
Posted by: DoDo || 07/15/2006 21:55 Comments || Top||

#12  maybe Islam and democracy really aren't compatible.
Posted by: 2b || 07/15/2006 21:59 Comments || Top||

#13  maybe Islam and democracy really aren't compatible.

Told you so!
Posted by: Jack Shiraq || 07/15/2006 22:38 Comments || Top||

#14  I don't say that lightly because I believe all are created equal. But I'm not sure that a religion that requires that church and state to be inseperable can function as a democracy when that religion is based on the concept that there are good people and then there are infidels which need to be eliminated from society to solve societies ills. I know I'm not saying anything that anyone doesn't know already - but these societies that are born and bred on the concept of victimization - anything and everything wrong can be blamed on the jews - aren't going to be able to rally the people away from demogogues who are willing to say - everything would be ok if we could just get rid of the jews.

But keep in mind - that the problem plaguing Islamic countries is exactly the same problem that plagues our own Democratic party. If your life isn't going well - blame "The Man". It's easy to see exactly the same dynamic at play here at home, and in Europe. Our Democrats are also willing to fall prey to the same self-destructive behavior be it on crime, illegal immigration, poor schools, poverty etc. You don't need to actually DO anything - you just blame a convenient Satan (George Bush, ENRON, or OTHER people who drive SUV's etc.) and you are absolved of your responsibility to make difficult choices or personal sacrifice. Thus you see the Democrats and self-proclaimed liberal elites allowing themselves to be willing participants in policies that are clearly self-destructive. To prove my point - look at how they are willing to work against their own interests on the war in Iraq or immigration or tax cuts. It's because there will always be a segment of society willing to whipped up into following someone in a position of power that is willing to tell them that they needed not do anything other than blame Someone Else(TM) and that by blaming Someone Else(TM) their job is done and they are superior for doing so.

Just scream heretic, or witch or racist or sexist and viola! you have not only identified and solved the problem - but you have established your own superiority in the process.

Islam as a religion demands that its followers identify infidels and eliminate them. But it's not that different than what the far left of our Democratic Party - or the European elites are doing as well.
Posted by: 2b || 07/15/2006 23:40 Comments || Top||


Rebel Ambush Kills 12 Iraqi Soldiers
Gunmen ambushed an Iraqi Army checkpoint in northern Iraq yesterday, killing 12 soldiers and wounding one, in one of the deadliest single attacks in months against the US-trained Iraqi forces. In more bloodshed that has pushed Iraq close to sectarian civil war, bomb and mortar rounds aimed at mosques killed 14 people in and near Baghdad, while in the south gunmen sprayed a minibus with machine-gunfire, killing five Shiite pilgrims.

Gunmen in four cars and armed with rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns attacked an army checkpoint in the town of Rashad near Kirkuk, 250 km north of Baghdad, Iraqi army Maj. Gen. Anwar Hamad Ameen said. “This area is a stronghold for Takfirists and terrorists,” Ameen told Reuters.

A bomb struck a Sunni mosque in Baghdad after Friday prayers, killing 14 people and wounding five, defying a driving ban aimed at preventing such attacks, while mortars barraged a Shiite mosque north of the capital. The attack against the Sunni mosque occurred about 2 p.m. as worshippers were leaving after religious services in northern Baghdad, police Lt. Mohammed Khayoun said, adding that the bomb was planted near the door of the mosque.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred || 07/15/2006 14:56 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Gunmen kidnap Iraqi Olympic chief
Police and Interior Ministry sources said gunmen wearing blue camouflage Interior Ministry uniforms stormed a hall in central Baghdad at about 2 p.m. (11 a.m. British time) and killed a bodyguard of Olympic Committee chief Ahmed al-Hadjiya.

Hadjiya and about 20 bodyguards, along with at least eight committee officials and the hall's guards, were then bundled into a convoy of vehicles and driven off, making a total of about 50 people, police sources said.
"Hande hoch!!" "No problem, gov, we gives."
Posted by: KBK || 07/15/2006 10:28 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Assad pledges Syrian help for Lebanon
First comment by Assad
DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Syria will put its resources at the disposal of Lebanon to help cope with Israeli attacks devastating the country, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told Lebanese President Emile Lahoud by phone on Saturday.

The official news agency SANA said Assad expressed solidarity with Lebanon, where Israeli bombing has killed around 100 civilians since Hizbollah captured two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border operation on Wednesday.

It was the first comment by Assad since the confrontation began between Israel and Hizbollah, which is backed by Syria and Iran.

SANA did not say whether Assad discussed Hizbollah during the telephone call with Lahoud and gave no details on what kind of help he was offering.

The ruling Baath Party said in a communiqué on Friday that Syria fully supports Hizbollah, although Washington has said Damascus must pressure Hizbollah to release the Israeli soldiers and stop its cross-border attacks.

Syria's border crossings have become Lebanon's only outlet to the world after Israel blockaded the country and attacked its airport and seaports.
Posted by: Sherry || 07/15/2006 19:26 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Hasn't Syria helped enough?
Posted by: Iblis || 07/15/2006 19:50 Comments || Top||

#2  He does have a knack of opening his gob at the most inopportune times.
Posted by: Tony (UK) || 07/15/2006 19:53 Comments || Top||

#3  And Israel has the most wonderful knack of shutting Assad's mouth too. Violently.
Posted by: DarthVader || 07/15/2006 20:32 Comments || Top||

#4  Clever, Now will the Lebanese be stupid enough to use the resources put at their disposal by thier former overlord?
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 07/15/2006 20:47 Comments || Top||

#5  And they will all go dowwn together.
Posted by: 49 Pan || 07/15/2006 20:54 Comments || Top||

#6  One has flashbacks of the WW 2 Italian Army promoting its machismo to the Reich. (Except the Arabs ain't the Reich...performance of Muslim SS Division and losses in '48, '56, '67, '73, and '82 proved that...)
Posted by: borgboy || 07/15/2006 21:15 Comments || Top||

#7  Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Posted by: gorb || 07/15/2006 21:21 Comments || Top||

#8  The smartest thing Lebanon can say in response to Baby Assad is thanks, but no thanks - you've "helped" enough already.

Syria and Iran will gladly "help" Lebanon until the last Lebanese is dead.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 07/15/2006 21:32 Comments || Top||

#9  Would you like the green or red targets? How about somes Migs? Only shot down once.
/Bashir
Posted by: ed || 07/15/2006 22:08 Comments || Top||


Egypt confirms ship hit off Lebanon, crew safe
An Egyptian civilian ship off the coast of Lebanon was hit during an exchange of fire between Hizbollah and the Israeli military, Egypt's foreign ministry confirmed on Saturday, but the crew of 12 survived.

"The 12 sailors have reached Syria safely," Foreign Ministry spokesman Alaa el-Hadidi said, adding there were no casualties among the crew of the Egyptian-owned ship.

The Egyptian ship was hit early on Saturday after Hizbollah launched an attack against a fleet of military vessels Israel has deployed to impose a naval siege on Lebanon after Hizbollah captured two Israeli soldiers on Wednesday.

Israel said that a missile fired at an Israeli naval vessel off Lebanon missed its target and hit the Egyptian civilian boat instead. Egypt's state news agency MENA reported the ship was hit by mistake by Israeli fire.

"It (the ship) was hit and it was damaged," Hadidi added, saying it appeared the vessel was caught in crossfire between Israeli forces and Hizbollah. But he said it was too early to say which side had fired the shot that hit the ship.

"It's a war zone," he said.

The official Syrian news agency SANA said the sailors were receiving treatment in a Syrian hospital.

The sailors were transported to the port of Tartous, where a health official said most of them were in a stable condition, except for one sailor who had serious wounds, SANA said.

Israel has vowed to recover the captured soldiers and smash Hizbollah. Israeli warplanes have struck targets across Beirut and southern Lebanon, killing at least 103 people.

The violence is the fiercest since 1996 when Israel launched a 17-day blitz on Hizbollah strongholds in south Lebanon, four years before ended a 22-year Israeli occupation there.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 07/15/2006 17:26 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Hmmm. No indication of what type of ship it is.

Isn't it odd that it headed for Syria?

Hezb spotters who got too close?
Posted by: Hupinetle Sninetle9012 || 07/15/2006 20:18 Comments || Top||

#2  IMO more akin to the wilful murder of Russian diploms, i.e. an attempt to disguise weakness andor looming defeat by wilful expansion of hostilities to third-party nations. * EGYPT = ROADRUNNER > THE WILE E. COYOTE OF MADMOUD = RADICAL IRAN IS AFTER HIM. World Muslim nations are all future provinces of the Radical Iranian Shia Empire-Global State, where Tehran, NOT Cairo-Alexandria, or Instanbul, etal. traditional centres of Muslim power law and thought, has the final say.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 07/15/2006 22:11 Comments || Top||


Hezbollah missiles could hit Tel Aviv
JERUSALEM - The Lebanese Shia militia Hezbollah has rockets capable of reaching Israel’s economic capital of Tel Aviv, an Israeli military intelligence official told AFP on Saturday. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters that Hezbollah was believed to have around 150 long-range rockets capable of reaching targets between 45 and 200 kilometres (25 to 120 miles) away.

He said that Israel believed the Lebanese militia could use these rockets to target Tel Aviv, a city of more than one million people located around 120 kilometres south of the Lebanese border.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah boasted in May that his movement had no fewer than 12,000 missiles in its arsenal. Around 100 are believed to be Zelsal-1 missiles, with the necessary 150-kilometre range to reach Tel Aviv, according to the authoritative Jane’s Defence Weekly.
The Zelzal missile is one of a family of solid-fuel missiles, according to Wikipedia. The Iranians developed these with considerable help from the Chinese in the early 1990s. According to Missile Threat, the three variants (-1, -2, -3) have at best a simple, inertial guidance system with ranges of 150 to 400 km and a 600 kg payload. Apparently they're mobile enough to be mounted on a truck launcher. According to the latter source, Hezbollah received about 220 of these or variant type missiles from Iran in 2004; they're stored in the Bekaa.
Posted by: Steve White || 07/15/2006 15:25 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Peretz to declare ‘special situation’ at home, 700 rockets fired at Israel so far
This isn't gonna be over in a day or two, folks. It's a real war and not a 'police action'. But then, regulars at the Burg already knew that ...
Defense Minister Amir Peretz is set to declare Saturday the coming into effect of a “special situation” in the home front. The announcement will enable the security forces to instruct the shutting down of schools, to operate essential industries and to close certain areas for traffic. The declaration is aimed at narrowing the damages of the expanding fighting in the north.

Peretz ordered the Home Front Command chief to conduct a detailed mapping of the areas in which the instruction is set to be implemented. This will serve the IDF chief of staff, the Northern Command chief and other bodies in giving out instructions that will protect and save lives and property.

In the framework of this new decree, the authorized elements will be able to issue orders in designated areas that will be defined as exposed to the rocket threat, in order to protect the population.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and the government’s secretary Israel Maimon were notified of the decree Saturday afternoon. The cabinet is set to discuss an expansion of the decree within 48 hours, and it will also be discussed by the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

In a briefing held by the senior IDF Air Force, Navy and intelligence officials on Saturday it was reported that some 700 rockets have been fired at Israel’s territory in recent days, 100 of which on Saturday alone.

Major-General Gadi Eizenkot, head of the General Staff Operations Directorate, said that “the attacks were aimed at hurting Israeli civilians. We are making a great effort to curb the terrorists’ capabilities. The people of Israel, who have shown impressing resilience, are being asked to remain in protected areas.”

“I can say that the enemy has sustained much greater damages than it expected. And we are pleased with the scope of our strikes against Hizbullah,” he stated.
Posted by: lotp || 07/15/2006 14:54 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Israel Presses On With Gaza Strip Air Assault
Reprieved by the US in the UN Security Council on Thursday, Israel yesterday pressed ahead with its Gaza air assault in a bid to retrieve a captured soldier and stop rocket attacks. Meanwhile, the pullback of some ground troops from Gaza was seen by Palestinians as the sign of a reduction in aggression. Also yesterday, Palestinians blew a hole in a wall on the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, allowing 500 people who had been stranded owing to closures related to the assault to cross into the territory.

Gunmen, believed to be from the armed wing of the governing Palestinian movement Hamas, blew a hole in the wall around 70 meters from the Rafah border terminal, allowing hundreds of travelers into Gaza, witnesses said. The border crossing, Gaza’s sole gateway to the world, has been closed since June 25, when an Israeli soldier was seized by Palestinians not too far away, sparking the worst Israeli-Palestinian crisis in months.

Israel’s Air Force carried out at least two overnight raids on Gaza, while artillery pounded the north and south of the Palestinian territory throughout the day as part of a campaign to secure the release of Cpl. Gilad Shalit. One raid struck the house of a Hamas MP, whose administration has been directly targeted in the offensive, in Beit Lahiya in north Gaza, and a bridge in the central part of the territory.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred || 07/15/2006 13:58 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Tiberias attacked by Hizbullah rockets
Resort town under attack: Hizbullah fired several rocket barrages at the northern city of Tiberias on Saturday evening. At around 6 p.m., five rockets began landing in the city one after the other. Some 31 people were hurt, including a man who was lightly injured after his house was directly hit by a rocket. About thirty people suffered from shock.

All the injured were taken to the Poria Hospital in Tiberias for medical treatment. Later, at around 7:25 p.m., a second barrage landed north of Tiberias. About 54 people were injured by Katyusha rockets in Tiberias throughout Saturday, including seven who were wounded by Shrapnel. The rest suffered from shock.

An inquiry revealed that five rockets hit the city, one of them landing near the Pagoda restaurant on the shores of Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee). The restaurant is closed on Saturday, so there were no injuries.

Magen David Adom crews, fire fighters and police forces deployed in the rocket landing areas. Many residents gathered to watch the wreckage, but quickly left the area following a police announcement that warned of another Katyusha barrage expected to hit the area. residents were asked to leave the place and enter secure zones.

Ilan Shukrun, an eyewitness, was about 100 meters (328 feet) away from the place hit by the rocket. "We heard a terrible noise. My children started crying, it was terrifying. We keep on hearing about falls in Kiryat Shmona. Maybe this is the time to support the residents there. No one was prepared for it," he said.
Posted by: anonymous5089 || 07/15/2006 13:40 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Sailor's body found after warship strike
Bodies of two of the four missing Israeli soldiers on a warship that was attacked by Hizbullah off the coast of Lebanon were found Saturday aboard the damaged vessel, military officials said. Two of the bodies of the misssing soldiers were recovered, but the IDF spokesman would confirm only that one body was found on the ship, and said the other three soldiers were missing.
Posted by: Fred || 07/15/2006 13:21 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


IDF deploys 3 Patriot batteries in Haifa (UPDATED)
In the Signs and Portents category,
The IDF has stationed three Patriot anti-ballistic missile batteries in Haifa Saturday, aimed at intercepting missiles launched at the area. Two of the batteries were deployed Saturday morning, and the third one was placed in the area in the afternoon.

Patriot missiles were stationed across the country for the last time in 2003 during the Iraq War.

The American-made Patriot batteries are part of Israel’s antiaircraft defense system. The Patriot system, which was initially designed to serve as an air defense platform, later assumed the role of an anti-ballistic system. The Patriot is still in use in Israel, and the country simultaneously continues to develop the Arrow missile aimed at intercepting ground-to-ground missiles fired at the country.

IDF sources said that the batteries’ deployment is the result of “an evaluation of the situation,” and confirmed they were placed in Haifa in wake of the current confrontation on the northern border.

The army is aware that in light of the developments in the operation, Hizbullah may employ different means in order to target Israel’s home front. “In addition to the long-rang rockets Hizbullah possesses, it may also use explosive drones or any other weapon,” a senior officer said.
Posted by: lotp || 07/15/2006 12:56 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The first assumption would be against Syrian missiles, however, they would also be very effective against larger, explosive packed suicide planes.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 07/15/2006 14:28 Comments || Top||

#2  I attended a fascinating talk given by the Israeli Minister of Defense (can't remember his name now) during the first Gulf War. He described how the Israelis were hacking the Patriot missiles and improving them as the Scuds were raining down on Israel. All of those improvements have been incorporated into the newer generations of Patriots.
Posted by: xbalanke || 07/15/2006 21:50 Comments || Top||


Barrage of rockets falls on Safed, Kiryat Shemona
A barrage of Katyusha rockets fell in Safed and Kiryat Shemona on Saturday evening. MDA teams rushed to the area to determine whether anyone was wounded.
Posted by: Fred || 07/15/2006 12:39 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Missile, Not Drone, Hit Israeli Warship
A missile fired by Hezbollah, not an unmanned drone laden with explosives, damaged an Israeli warship off Lebanon, the army said Saturday. The attack late Friday alarmed Israel because initial information indicated the guerrillas had used a drone for the first time to attack Israeli forces.

But the army's investigation showed that Hezbollah had fired an Iranian-made missile at the vessel from the shores of Lebanon, said Brig. Gen. Ido Nehushtan. "We can confirm that it was hit by an Iranian-made missile launched by Hezbollah. We see this as very profound fingerprint of Iranian involvement in Hezbollah," Nehushtan said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Another Hezbollah missile also hit and sank a nearby merchant ship at around the same time, Nehushtan said. He said that ship apparently was Egyptian, but had no other information. Nehushtan said the body of one of the four Israeli soldiers missing in the attack was found aboard the damaged warship. Other Israeli military officials said two bodies had been found.
Posted by: ryuge || 07/15/2006 06:47 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  ...Getting some slightly confusing signals on this one, as I've seen the UAV story and now 'an Iranian-made missile'. I'm betting now on the missiles (though I wouldn't completely rule out the existence of jerry-rigged UAVs)but I want a bit more info on the Egyptian craft that was sunk and what sank it.

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski || 07/15/2006 7:50 Comments || Top||

#2  It was a sea skimming missile with a rocket engine. Released video showed a night time rocket plume then a detonation on the horizon.
Posted by: ed || 07/15/2006 9:04 Comments || Top||

#3  Reports around an Egyptian cruise ship was hit as well.
Posted by: Jitle Chomotch5994 || 07/15/2006 9:05 Comments || Top||

#4  Cruise ship? Can't wait to hear those casualty figures. Iran is doing a lot of painting...into a corner.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 07/15/2006 9:06 Comments || Top||

#5  Let's see how Mubarak deal with this publicly.
Posted by: lotp || 07/15/2006 9:13 Comments || Top||

#6  Fox sez - Chinese design, Iranian-made: Silkworm?
Posted by: Frank G || 07/15/2006 9:20 Comments || Top||

#7  Debka sez d same :
http://www.debka.com/article.php?aid=1184
Posted by: Duh! || 07/15/2006 9:24 Comments || Top||

#8  I assume it was a bearing only attack and maybe when the C-802s radars fired up one picked the target the other picked the Egyptian vessel. Maybe chaff was used.
Posted by: 6 || 07/15/2006 9:25 Comments || Top||

#9  C-801 according to latest from Israel.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 07/15/2006 9:27 Comments || Top||

#10  Oh, well, a sea-skimming missle is much more comforting than a prop driven drone!
Posted by: Rory B. Bellows || 07/15/2006 9:56 Comments || Top||

#11  J-Post say's it's a C802.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3275923,00.html
Posted by: Angereper Glolutle6535 || 07/15/2006 10:12 Comments || Top||

#12  As of this post [Guam time], FOX NEWS says Israel says its a C-802, aka [dual-use = nuke capable]SILKWORM-type, allegedly provided to Iran's IRGC from China, to which Iran per se denies receiving any such same.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 07/15/2006 22:16 Comments || Top||


Report: Israel gives Syria ultimatum
London-based Arabic language newspaper Al-Hayat says Israel gave Syria 72 hours to stop Hizbullah’s activity, bring about release of kidnapped IDF troops. ‘Israel will not end military activity until new situation created that will prevent Syria, Iran from using terror organizations to threaten its security,’ newspaper quotes Pentagon official as saying

Al-Hayat reported Saturday that “Washington has information according to which Israel gave Damascus 72 hours to stop Hizbullah’s activity along the Lebanon-Israel border and bring about the release the two kidnapped IDF soldiers or it would launch an offensive with disastrous consequences.”

The report said “a senior Pentagon source warned that should the Arab world and international community fail in the efforts to convince Syria to pressure Hizbullah into releasing the soldiers and halt the current escalation Israel may attack targets in the country.”

Al-Hayat quoted the source as saying that “the US cannot rule out the possibility of an Israeli strike in Syria,” this despite the fact that the Bush administration has asked Israel to “refrain from any military activity that may result in civilian casualties.”

The report also mentioned that President George W. Bush has repeatedly put much of the blame for the recent escalation on Syria.

“It is no coincidence that the Hizbullah operation comes at a time when the international community is working to impose sanctions on Iran due to its nuclear program and settle the score with Syria by establishing an international court to try those behind the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri,” the Pentagon source said.

According to the source, Hizbullah made the same mistake as Hamas when it did not predict the ramifications of its actions and ignored the regional and international changes since the fall of Saddam Hussein.

The source said that Israel has indicated that it “will not end its military activity until a new situation is created that will prevent Syria and Iran from using terror organizations, such as Hamas and Hizbullah, to threaten its security.”
Posted by: ryuge || 07/15/2006 06:38 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Ahmadinejad doesn't have the intelligence to comprehend the balance of forces. And he has been holding huge rallies, in which he boasts about destroying Israel. When the humiliation of Hizbollah reaches the streets of Teheran, ego will lead the Ayatollah puppet to launch his long range missiles at Israel. Then, he will meet his doom.

BTW: Daily Alert is full of good links today. Cut and paste because AOL won't let me tag-link:
http://www.dailyalert.org/
Posted by: Anginens Threreng8133 || 07/15/2006 6:53 Comments || Top||

#2  Okay, I was off by about 5 days. Better to windex my crystal ball now. ;-)
Posted by: twobyfour || 07/15/2006 6:55 Comments || Top||

#3  This so looks like a Rove setup and the Syrians and Iranians are falling right into the trap. :)
Posted by: djohn66 || 07/15/2006 6:56 Comments || Top||

#4  Actually, it was an Iranian setup originally, but it got modified and improved by creative minds. Ahmadinutjob will be in awe and then in shock when the improved version gets its full play.
Posted by: twobyfour || 07/15/2006 7:03 Comments || Top||

#5  72 hours. That should be enough time for the reserves to have been active for 24 hours and have all the kinks worked out.

Heh.

More popcorn, please.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 07/15/2006 7:12 Comments || Top||

#6  re: reservists, my thought too, NS.
Posted by: lotp || 07/15/2006 7:26 Comments || Top||

#7  I think in this Syria is just Iran's bitch. Israel can do whatever it likes whenever it likes to Syria. Time to go after the head.

Oil refineries and Druzistan.
Posted by: phil_b || 07/15/2006 7:35 Comments || Top||

#8  Leave Iran alone. Iran will lose a lot of face if Israel whips Syria's butt. Everybody likes to follow the strong horse, right? After the thunder run through Damascus, Bolton aksk for sanctions against Iran. The Chinese may object, even the Russians, but that will be it.

Then the quarantine, no gasoline. Let the Iranians finish the job themselves.

Then meet at the UN with Ralph Peters to draw the new boundaries.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 07/15/2006 8:30 Comments || Top||

#9  Any Israeli commenters care to share whether Israelis are pissed off enough for the IDF to make a right turn and go to Damascus?
Posted by: ed || 07/15/2006 9:07 Comments || Top||

#10  I suspect that the Israeli commenters are otherwise occupied at the moment?

The guy I'd like to hear from is TGA, but he's busy also.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 07/15/2006 9:14 Comments || Top||

#11  Grom can you speak to the level of mobilization?
Posted by: 6 || 07/15/2006 9:27 Comments || Top||

#12  I don't think Iran can be left alone. They will regard it as a victory, including almost sinking an Israeli warship. This is perfect opportunity to attack Iranian refineries, power plants and nuclear facilities, including the completed reactor (but not yet fueled, I think) at Bushear.
Posted by: ed || 07/15/2006 9:42 Comments || Top||

#13  Bushear Bushehr
Posted by: ed || 07/15/2006 9:44 Comments || Top||

#14  6 I don't know any more than you do. I think, it's just IAF reserves.
IMO, what's going on in Lebanon is twofold.
(i)The Lebs are being shown that there is a price.
(ii) IDF getting a bit of live fire training---everybody but infantry got a bit slack fighting Paleos: shit like a tank running into a mine ambush, or a missile ship being struck by shore to sea, are not something that's supposed to happen in IDF.
Posted by: gromgoru || 07/15/2006 9:57 Comments || Top||

#15  The biggest change happened more than a decade ago when the bad guys lost the Soviet nuclear shield.
Posted by: Odysseus || 07/15/2006 10:16 Comments || Top||

#16  The 72 hours notice is also for the US to fully prepare its anti-missile systems for Iraq and any naval vessels in the area.

Please note that the US Navy currently has only a few vessels in the Red Sea, and no carriers within attack range of Iranian missiles. This means that the primary US targets in the region are the airbases in western Iraq and Bagram in Afghanistan.

Using missiles carrying 1000-pound bombs to attack an airfield is a wasteful expenditure of an expensive damn missile. The odds of it hitting near enough to do much of anything is low. And once those planes are scrambled, it's party time.

That would be sweet as far as we are concerned, as the Iranians would have started the war, our airbase assets could disrupt their C&C and missile targetting, and so when our aircraft carriers arrived, Iran would be our bitch.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 07/15/2006 10:23 Comments || Top||

#17  LOL, Anonymoose. You got me with your close. :)
Posted by: Hupinetle Sninetle9012 || 07/15/2006 10:34 Comments || Top||

#18  IDF official quoted in Haaretz denies it.
Posted by: Perfesser || 07/15/2006 11:36 Comments || Top||

#19  Israel has plenty to do to take down Hizb'Allah systematically. Syria, though is the next logical target to dismantle. The US has a dog in this one, also. Taking Hizb and Syria out of the fight isolates Iran. Administrative Nut Job can only do mischief, serious mischief, mind you. Then there you have a causus belli, and whatever mischief on our side can be done and he and the MMs can be toppled more actively than anyone has been doing.

Now is the time to take out Syria, and then Iran. A nuclear-armed Iran will mean many more casualties. Hell, even the Saudis would like Iran neutralized. Takes the pressure off their own nuke program, nutty as it is.
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 07/15/2006 12:17 Comments || Top||

#20  Alaske Paul,
I agree with you that this is the golden opportunity to take out syria or at least to shake it considerably.
I dont think Israel would do anything serious along these lines, though, because I dont think Olmert can afford a major war with Syria right now.
So, I think it's up to Dubia to up the ante on the asshat.
Think he will folloow up on it ??
Posted by: Elder of Zion || 07/15/2006 12:22 Comments || Top||

#21  Elder of Zion: I am curious, what do you think the ante would be?
Posted by: JohnQC || 07/15/2006 12:44 Comments || Top||

#22  This has subsequently been disavowed by IDF
Posted by: Captain America || 07/15/2006 13:55 Comments || Top||

#23  It has to be disavowed by the IDF, because that would be the only way that baby Assad would comply. He would loose face big-time if he was seen bending to the will of Israel. It has to look like his (Assad's idea) "for the sake of peace in the region".
Posted by: freddy || 07/15/2006 15:13 Comments || Top||

#24  Unless ordinary Syrians want to be future citizens of Radical Iran, Syria has a stake in ISRAEL defeating the various terror orgs in southern Lebanon. SO MANY QUANDRIES, NOT ENUFF POPCORN - FTLG, STAY ARMED BOYZ AND GIRLZ.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 07/15/2006 22:24 Comments || Top||


Dupe entry: 'Four Israeli troops missing after warship hit
Posted by: Oztralian || 07/15/2006 00:56 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  What does "Dupe entry" mean?
Posted by: trailing wife || 07/15/2006 10:51 Comments || Top||

#2  It means that URL was posted already, either today or previously. The mods should have caught this and not forwarded it - our bad. ;-)
Posted by: lotp || 07/15/2006 10:52 Comments || Top||


Israel hits another Gaza ministry
The Palestinian economy ministry and a bridge in the Gaza Strip have been targeted by Israeli air strikes, according to Palestinian officials. The ministry building caught fire as a result of the air strike, causing severe damage. The raid followed a similar strike on the Gaza building of the foreign ministry on Thursday. The offices of the prime minister and interior minister have also been destroyed. The second attack destroyed a bridge near the Bureij refugee camp. Palestinian officials said there were no casualties in either raid.

The north and south of the Palestinian territory was hit by artillery fire throughout Friday as Israel tried to secure the release of Corporal Gilad Shalit and stop rocket attacks.
Posted by: Fred || 07/15/2006 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Southeast Asia
Soldier, two students hurt in school blast
A home-made bomb exploded at a school in Sungai Padi district yesterday, injuring a security officer and two students. The bomb was detonated by mobile phone near the entrance of Thai Rath Wittaya 89 school around 7 am, after security officers spotted a suspicious object wrapped in a plastic bag. The bomb seriously injured Snr Sgt-Maj Pongpraram Phewlueng, 46. Two students, Sahira Sahae-Duerus, 8, and Asari Wati Dueloh, 12, were slightly hurt.

Shortly afterwards, an eight-member military unit was hit by a booby trap while removing road spikes to clear the way for troop reinforcements who rushed to the bomb-hit school. The soldiers were unharmed, but Anirute Jehpor, 16, a resident who was driving behind the military vehicle, was severely injured in the blast.

In Yala, investigators named Rommuelee Jeh-ha Samoh, 20, as one of the attackers of the security officers who escorted teachers to Ban Lak Ket school in Yaha district on Thursday, when one officer was wounded. He was placed on the most-wanted list of Muslim insurgents as an ambush unit leader in the Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK) radical group.

An intelligence source said a number of rubber-pressing machines had been stolen in the three southern provinces. The cylinders from the machines can be used as containers for bombs, in the same manner as fire extinguishers, but their explosive power is much greater.

Elsewhere in the same province, Tuanyunu Pasae, 52, a village headman in Muang district was shot dead by two drive-by gunmen. Meanwhile, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Chidchai Wannasathit said an explosion at a market in Narathiwat's Waeng district which killed an officer on Thursday, might have been the work of the RKK group.
Posted by: ryuge || 07/15/2006 07:07 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Gotta feeling India is about to punish Pakland.
Posted by: phil_b || 07/15/2006 7:37 Comments || Top||

#2  Isn't this taking place in Thailand?
Posted by: trailing wife || 07/15/2006 10:52 Comments || Top||

#3  Yeah - the Islamic war against Thai schools. Unfortunately, it's a great strategy.
Posted by: gromky || 07/15/2006 10:54 Comments || Top||


Sri Lanka
16 killed as LTTE, army clash
At least 16 persons, including 12 soldiers of the Sri Lankan Army (SLA), were killed in a major confrontation between the military and the LTTE in Vakaneri, Batticaloa, on Friday morning. "Yes, there was a battle with the LTTE. However, we are not in a position to confirm the number of those killed", the army spokesman, S.A.P.P. Samarasinghe told The Hindu .

However, a spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said both sides had approached it for facilitating handover of the bodies of the 12 soldiers in LTTE's possession. The army spokesman said a search and clear operation conducted by troops in Vakaneri area came under LTTE mortar and small arms fire. Troops retaliated and reinforcements were rushed to the area.
Posted by: Fred || 07/15/2006 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Isn't that Cheech in the picture?
Posted by: Inspector Clueso || 07/15/2006 18:20 Comments || Top||

#2  Luigi from the Mario Brothers
Posted by: Frank G || 07/15/2006 18:58 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Hizbullah hid rockets in houses; Israel seeks "significant transformation" in region
Money quote at the end of the article.
Officer says Israeli planes struck houses in Southern Lebanon villages used by Hizbullah for concealing long-range rockets. ‘We have no intention of hitting civilians, but those who live by the sword are bound to get hurt,’ he states

A senior IDF official revealed Saturday that Hizbullah has been hiding a large quantity of long-range rockets in specially-designed rooms built in houses in Southern Lebanon villages, operating under the assumption that the Israeli army will have difficulty in locating them and that it would prefer not to harm villages.

According to the official, the rockets that have been concealed are capable of reaching a range of 40-70 kilometers (roughly 25-43 miles). “We took the gloves off in this confrontation, we targeted these places and will hit every convoy transporting arms, even if there are Iranian elements within it,” he stated.

However, as the IDF intelligence unit believes that there are those in Lebanon capable of bringing about a significant turnabout in the country by curbing Hizbullah, it was decided that the pressure exerted on the Lebanese government will be limited, so as not to jeopardize this possibility.

Three days after the onset of the large-scale operation in Lebanon, army sources estimate that Hizbullah’s head Hassan Nasrallah had expected a much more restrained Israeli response to the kidnapping of two soldiers on its border. “He didn’t expect us to reach all those villages and substantially damage the long-range rocket infrastructure,” the senior officer said.

According to the officer, civilians who were storing the rockets in their houses have been hit in some of the strikes. “We have no intention of hurting civilians, but those who live by the sword are bound to get hurt,” he stressed. The strike on Beirut, he stated, was also a surprise for Nasrallah. “It’s true that he has surprises for us as well. Some we know of, some we don’t,” he said.

According to an assessment formulated by the IDF intelligence unit, there are positive forces in Lebanon capable of bringing about a much desired transformation in the country by pushing Hizbullah aside and undermining its strength. The recent operation will therefore refrain from pressuring the Lebanese government in order not to weaken these forces.

In the last three months no official element in Lebanon has confronted Hizbullah and the regime has regularly complied with the organization’s demands. However, the IDF believes that some in the neighboring state are strong enough to stand up to Hizbullah, and that they must be encouraged to act.

“We have no problem with having a Lebanese APC patrolling the border once this happens,” a senior officer said.

However, an army official stressed that the IDF will not be content with having the current round of fighting on the northern border end with vague achievements. Pushing Hizbullah away from Southern Lebanon and the deployment of a Lebanese division in the area will not satisfy Israel, which aims for a significant transformation in the region.
yep.
“We are seeking for law enforcement and order. Such deployment without arranged understandings is out of the question,” the officer said.
But the left in Israel is already pushing to stop well short of that, as this editorial in Haaretz demonstrates.
Posted by: lotp || 07/15/2006 17:15 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Few Israelis would give a piece of ratshit for what a Haaretz editorial says.
Posted by: Apostate || 07/15/2006 17:44 Comments || Top||

#2  lotp, good comments...

I don't see the Israeli left holding sway whilst the country is on war footing, with three kidnapped soldiers at risk and rockets reining down on civilians.

The UN fartwicks, combined with the Arab League fartwicks, will howl, but national security is preeminent. So far, Bush seems to get it.
Posted by: Captain America || 07/15/2006 17:44 Comments || Top||

#3  A senior IDF official revealed Saturday that Hizbullah has been hiding a large quantity of long-range rockets in specially-designed rooms built in houses in Southern Lebanon villages, operating under the assumption that the Israeli army will have difficulty in locating them and that it would prefer not to harm villages.

Butt-loads of secondary explosions should dispel that idea.

Fuck anyone who lets terrorists store explosives in their house. Let's start fighting according to the Geneva Conventions -- this is a violation, the use of civilian structures for military use. The Israelis are released from targeting restrictions; any restraint they use from now on is by choice, not legal necessity.
Posted by: Robert Crawford || 07/15/2006 18:21 Comments || Top||

#4  Damn stright RC. Israel should make this very-very public and let everyone know that Hizbullah ( if not Lebanon ) have VIOLATED THE GENEVA CONVENTION and will no longer be given GC protections.

Since when has Hizbullah given any Israeli GC accomodations?
Posted by: CrazyFool || 07/15/2006 18:46 Comments || Top||

#5  Here, let me fix that quote for you:

"...and will hit every convoy transporting arms, even especially if there are Iranian elements within it."
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 07/15/2006 19:03 Comments || Top||

#6  I'm guessing anyone with a "Home Makeover" that wasn't on an episode on TV should get ready to become stars on the Isreali edition.

"Tonite Ty does a makeover of a poor farmer with a missle too big for his garage."
Posted by: Capsu78 || 07/15/2006 21:23 Comments || Top||

#7  AM News > Israel wants the terror orgs not only de facto, verifiably disarmed but replaced by formal Lebanese Army units.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 07/15/2006 22:26 Comments || Top||


Israel has attacked Syrian territory
Les forces israéliennes viennent de mener un raid contre la 3ème légion syrienne à Jdeidet Yabous en plein territoire syrien

The Israeli forces have just carried out a raid against the 3rd Syrian legion at Jdeidet Yabous within Syrian territory
I doubt it at this stage...
Posted by: Glenmore || 07/15/2006 14:39 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  In French.
Posted by: phil_b || 07/15/2006 14:48 Comments || Top||

#2  The link is in French.
Posted by: gromgoru || 07/15/2006 14:48 Comments || Top||

#3  BabelFish Translation: "The Israeli forces have just carried out a raid against the 3rd Syrian legion to Jdeidet Yabous in full Syrian territory"
Posted by: GK || 07/15/2006 14:55 Comments || Top||

#4  It's the Syrian side of the Masnaa crossing from Lebanon to Syria. Can't find it on a map, however. Apparently it's one of the more major crossing points and Syrian 'refugees' have been leaving Lebanon through it.
Posted by: Steve White || 07/15/2006 15:01 Comments || Top||

#5  Both Syria and Israel are denying this.
Posted by: Apostate || 07/15/2006 15:11 Comments || Top||

#6  I wouldn't be completely surprised if the IAF struck Masnaa, but there are a lot of civilians trying to get out of Lebanon passing through there, so it's a tough target.
Posted by: Steve White || 07/15/2006 15:25 Comments || Top||

#7  we are writing the flash when the information comes to us, the denial came later and we published when received as well
Posted by: libnanews || 07/15/2006 15:56 Comments || Top||

#8  It's right, denial is published here.
Posted by: anonymous5089 || 07/15/2006 15:58 Comments || Top||

#9  Since when does Syria have legions?

Al
Posted by: Frozen Al || 07/15/2006 16:24 Comments || Top||

#10  #9 Since when does Syria have legions?

Since they were conquered by Rome. They havent modernized since.
Posted by: Armylife || 07/15/2006 17:30 Comments || Top||

#11  X Fretensis still stationed in Syria?

Posted by: borgboy || 07/15/2006 21:19 Comments || Top||

#12  borgboy - Would that it were.
Posted by: buwaya || 07/15/2006 21:30 Comments || Top||


IDF destroys Leb coastal radars used in attack on Naval vessel
Major-General Gadi Eizenkot, head of the General Staff Operations Branch, said in a briefing held at the Kirya base in Tel Aviv that “in the evening hours we destroyed all of Lebanon’s coastal radars. The reason for the radars’ destruction was the part they played in the attack on an Israeli missile boat on Friday, in which one soldier was killed and another three went missing.”
Siniora, I really don't think you're going to get that quick and easy ceasefire you're desperately hoping for -- not if your own radars are being used to attack Israeli assets.
Brigadier-General Noam Page of the Navy said that the IDF was not aware that Hizbullah had in its possession a C802 missile of the type fired at the boat. “We didn’t know such a missile threat existed in this sector, and therefore we didn’t act accordingly. In wake of the attack, we have instructed all our boats to act against this threat,” he stated.
Posted by: lotp || 07/15/2006 14:16 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I figured one was all they'd get.
Posted by: Omimble Fleating4579 || 07/15/2006 14:38 Comments || Top||

#2  Velvet glove, meet iron fist.
Posted by: Perfesser || 07/15/2006 14:48 Comments || Top||

#3  Israel with pants down once again.And lucky too a C-802 could have sink it.
Posted by: Flavick Sholusing1772 || 07/15/2006 17:29 Comments || Top||

#4  He could say it with straight face?! Brigadier-General Noam Page of the Navy said that the IDF was not aware that Hizbullah had in its possession a C802 missile of the type fired at the boat. “We didn’t know such a missile threat existed in this sector, and therefore we didn’t act accordingly. In wake of the attack, we have instructed all our boats to act against this threat,”
Posted by: Flavick Sholusing1772 || 07/15/2006 17:37 Comments || Top||

#5  Latest press conference by the IDF:

1) It was not known that Hizballah posessed this missile.
2) The defense systems were turned off to avoid friendly fire incidents.
3) There will be a full investigation of the incident.

Ok it was full incompetence.
Posted by: Flavick Sholusing1772 || 07/15/2006 19:03 Comments || Top||

#6  FS1772: Ok it was full incompetence.

Sounds like what happened with the Stark, which got nailed by two Iraqi Exocets back in the 80's. But I bet the Israelis never figured the Lebanese government was in cahoots with Hezbollah. Now they know, and Lebanon is going to need new radars before they can pull another stunt like this. Bet they never figured Israel would take the radars out.
Posted by: Zhang Fei || 07/15/2006 20:25 Comments || Top||

#7  Hizbullah IS PART and PARCEL of the Lebanese "government". Thought all parties understood that, esp. the Israelis who were let down at critical moments by the Maronites IN '82...
Posted by: borgboy || 07/15/2006 21:23 Comments || Top||


Siniora: Lebanese army will deploy in the south (UPDATED)
He thinks there's going to be a ceasefire sometime soon. Good luck with that belated plan.

This was a banner on Haaretz - more when the story is posted.
Next to the blue helmets, no doubt. Boy, didn't they do a helluva job?
yup. here's more on the press conference
Following Israel's military pressure on Lebanon, Fouad Siniora tells reporters, 'we'll work to extend state's authority over all its territories, in cooperation with United Nations in south Lebanon'; adds 'Lebanon is last to know what is happening, but first to pay price'
uh huh. well, if it's so hard for you to keep track of Hezboallah and Iranian agents in your country, Israel will have to do it for you.
So they're not actually going to extend state authority to south Leb, they're just going to "work" to do it. Do a Rantburg search on Resolution 1559 and you'll notice they've been "working" on it since before Hariri got boomed.
Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora called on Saturday for an immediate ceasefire, saying Israeli attacks had turned Lebanon into a disaster area in need of international aid. "We call for an immediate ceasefire backed by the United Nations," Siniora said in a televised message to the nation. "I declare today that Lebanon is a disaster zone in need of a .comprehensive and speedy Arab plan
which you didn't get from the emergency meeting of Arab states, who decided to do ... nothing..
and (it) pleads to its friends in the world to rush to its aid."
Hezbollah has to let the Israeli soldiers go and disarm.
At least 100 people, most of them civilians, have died in Israeli attacks on Lebanon since Hizbullah guerrillas captured two Israeli soldiers and killed eight on Wednesday.
The Hezbollah "guerrillas" have since bravely disappeared from the scene...
Four civilians have been killed by Hizbullah rockets in northern Israel since. "We call (for) ... work to extend the state's authority over all its territories, in cooperation with the United Nations in south Lebanon," A visibly emotional Siniora said.
Little late with that, Mr. PM
What it says, though, is that he realizes the root core problem: Lebanon isn't sovereign in the south. He just has to find a way to say that and not have Hezbollah kill him for it ...
The UN maintains a peacekeeping force in south Lebanon where Hizbullah guerrillas are active.
Yup - they try to keep Israel contained.
Posted by: lotp || 07/15/2006 13:39 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The Lebanese Prime Minister may as well own up to the fact that what he calls "south Lebanon" is actually the Sovereign State of Hezboallah and is rightfully being crushed for kidnapping and rocket attacks and missile attacks and failing to honor the sovereignty of its neighbor. Lebanon would do better to STFU and actively stay out of it as best they can.
Posted by: Darrell || 07/15/2006 14:36 Comments || Top||

#2  Umm, someone is already sending a peacemaking force into the south. Is that close enough to a peace keeping force?
Posted by: Omimble Fleating4579 || 07/15/2006 14:41 Comments || Top||

#3  Finding the price of the jackal's meal a bit more than you can afford, Fouad?
Posted by: gromgoru || 07/15/2006 14:51 Comments || Top||

#4  a comprehensive and speedy Arab plan

That would be a list of things to do with completion dates of "inshallah".
Posted by: Robert Crawford || 07/15/2006 15:27 Comments || Top||


IDF: IAF attacks Katyusha carrying vehicle in Lebanon
An IDF source reported that the IAF attacked a vehicle carrying Katyusha rockets traveling near Rajar village in Lebanon. (Ynet)
Posted by: anonymous5089 || 07/15/2006 13:38 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  So was it one of those big trucks with a pile of them on rails in the back, or donkey cart hauling one?
Posted by: Laurence of the Rats || 07/15/2006 18:37 Comments || Top||

#2  Rats: The answer depends on whether or not there have been any Iranian casualties yet. :-)
Posted by: gorb || 07/15/2006 21:51 Comments || Top||


IDF targets Beirut, Tripoli ports & Hizbollah leaders in Bekaa
The Israel Air Force continues its war against Hizbullah strongholds in Lebanon: Throughout the afternoon and evening hours on Saturday, the Israel Defense Forces continued to attack Hizbullah's stronghold in south Beirut, including Hizbullah's High Council and the organization's headquarters.

The al-Jazeera network reported that the IDF fired three missiles at the Tripoli port in north Lebanon. The Beirut port was also attacked.

During the day, the Air Force struck the offices and homes of three senior Hizbullah members and of a senior Hamas member across Lebanon.

The IDF struck several targets in the Baalbeck area in the northern Lebanon valley throughout the day. Eyewitnesses reported that the Israeli Air Force attacked about seven times in the region and that an army drone has circled over the area for about four hours.

Lebanese news channel al-Mustakbal reported that one of the strikes was aimed against member of Hizbullah’s High Council, Sheikh Muhammad Yazbek. The report said the Yazbek’s condition was unclear.

Another strike ion Baalbeck targeted the house of another senior Hizbullah official, Hussein Mussawi. According to initial reports, at least 20 people were injured in the attack, and it is uncertain whether Mussawi was among them.
Posted by: lotp || 07/15/2006 13:30 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:


Raids continue pounding Hezbollah's headquarters
(KUNA) -- Israeli army troops continued their military operations in Lebanon by committing a "genocide" resembling operation in the town of Mirwaheen south of Lebanon, killing 23 people, said a security source on Saturday.
23 people isn't genocide, even if it was 23 civilians, which I'd guess it's not...
The source added that a pick-up truck with two families on board was bombed by Israeli warplanes, killing members of both families. The security source told KUNA that the planes also launched missiles towards what were supposed to be Hezbollah targets.

Israeli warplanes performed six raids on the town of Balabak, eastern Lebanon. Meanwhile, Israeli helicopters launched four raids on the town of Zabqeen, south of Lebanon. Hezbollah's headquarters, located in the southern suburb was and still being pounded by the Israeli warplanes. More than 20 vital bridges were destroyed since Israel began its military operations in Lebanon which paralyzed transportation there. The death toll rose to more than 80 since the military conflict erupted four days ago.
Posted by: Fred || 07/15/2006 13:24 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The source added that a pick-up truck with two families on board was bombed by Israeli warplanes, killing members of both families.

In view of the situation I certainly would have post phoned the wedding.
Posted by: 6 || 07/15/2006 19:01 Comments || Top||


IAF strikes rocket launchers near Ghajar
The IDF struck a vehicle carrying launch equipment near the border town of Ghajar on Saturday. The operation was done in collaboration between the IAF and the OC Northern Command.
Posted by: Fred || 07/15/2006 13:19 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:


Siniora calls for ceasefire
Lebanese prime minister Fuad Siniora is calling for a ceasefire, Fox News reports. Details as we get 'em.
Posted by: Fred || 07/15/2006 13:17 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Nope. Better idea: "Let's hit 'em. Let's hit 'em all while we got the muscle" -- Frankie 'Two Angels' Pantangeli
Posted by: regular joe || 07/15/2006 13:22 Comments || Top||

#2  Bring me Nasrallah's head on a platter
Then We'll consider
Posted by: Elder of Zion || 07/15/2006 13:25 Comments || Top||

#3  This is the same Siniora who yesterday refused to denounce Hezbollah's attack on Israel, giving instead a mushymouth list of Israel's various offenses against Arabs.
Posted by: lotp || 07/15/2006 13:25 Comments || Top||

#4  Listened to him live (via translator) on CNN World. He was blabbering the usual stuff about solidarity, war crimes, etc, etc, and asking the Israelis pretty-please cut it out.

I don't think Siniora is in a position to denounce Hezbollah even if he wanted to, and I'm not sure he does.
Posted by: Steve White || 07/15/2006 13:43 Comments || Top||

#5  Without Hezbollah, Leb would probably be a stable country. Siniora's nightmare is a return to the civil war of the 80s. Hassan doesn't have to threaten to initiate it, just make sure that it's mentioned from time to time.

Leb's oligarchy is split between those who yearn for the comfort (and financial opportunities) of Syrian "protection" and those who want to have an independent country. The split isn't constant, as we can tell from watching Wally blow with the wind and Aoun act against what would seem to be his own interests.
Posted by: Fred || 07/15/2006 13:46 Comments || Top||

#6  PM Siniora, you have no friends in the world except the U.S. and Israel.
Posted by: Perfesser || 07/15/2006 14:50 Comments || Top||


Iran has some 100 soldiers in Lebanon
A senior IDF intelligence official says that Iran has approximately 100 soldiers in Lebanon and that they helped Hizbullah hit an Israel Navy ship with an anti-ship missile.
That explains that: Hezbollah doesn't have the infrastructure to maintain and operate UAVs, heavy missiles, drones, etc. But the Iranians do.

Now the Israelis have an interesting choice: they can hammer the Iranian operation in south Leb and pretend not to notice the dead Iranians, or they can escalate. Decisions, decisions ...
Posted by: Fred || 07/15/2006 13:17 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  What's behind door three?
Posted by: Whaling Unomoger7693 || 07/15/2006 14:56 Comments || Top||

#2  Probably less than 100 by now.
Posted by: gromgoru || 07/15/2006 14:57 Comments || Top||

#3  The fact that there are Iranian soldiers there shouldnt surprise anyone.

Israel can not attack Iran without help from the US... and if they are getting help from the US, we will not "half step it".
Posted by: Armylife || 07/15/2006 17:39 Comments || Top||

#4  Yes! Finally! I'm glad that Israel finally decided to go public with this. It supports the Jane Harmon statement someone posted - and indicates that Israel is sharing intel with the US in real-time. We get it from Israel 2 days later with this announcement. I've been waiting to see if that would be substantiated. She was ahead of the curve.

There is no doubt that this will have serious consequences in the US and should renew the US will regards dealing with Iran. A crystal clear cassus belli.
Posted by: Hupinetle Sninetle9012 || 07/15/2006 18:14 Comments || Top||

#5  Reminds me of when we were bombing Afghanistan in 2001. The Chinese swore there were none of their people in country, then complained when some were killed. Bush responded that the reports must be false, because of course there were no Chinese in country...

100 Iranians = high priority targets
Posted by: Iblis || 07/15/2006 18:19 Comments || Top||

#6  bet Alcee Hastings would cover it up....(Harman's replacement if Pelosi becomes Speaker)
Posted by: Frank G || 07/15/2006 18:51 Comments || Top||


Hizbullah leaders bravely leaving Beirut
Hizbullah leaders and operatives were leaving Beirut on Saturday following a massive IAF strike on an 11-story building that served as the organization's command center, initial intelligence revealed. Channel 2 reported that the move appeared to be made under heavy security.
Posted by: Fred || 07/15/2006 12:56 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I hope that they are leaving to have an unplanned meeting with their maker.
Posted by: twobyfour || 07/15/2006 13:16 Comments || Top||

#2  Fred,
Can you deliver the flight number ?
I promise to immediately relay it to the IAF Strategic Air Control Center !
Posted by: Elder of Zion || 07/15/2006 13:19 Comments || Top||

#3  Bravely bold Hizbollah rode forth from Lebanon.
They were not afraid to die, O brave Hizbollah.
They were not at all afraid to be killed in nasty ways,
Brave, brave, brave, brave Hizbollah!

They were not in the least bit scared to be mashed into a pulp,
Or to have their eyes gouged out and their elbows broken,
To have their kneecaps split and their bodies burned away
And their limbs all hacked and mangled, brave Hizbollah!

Their heads smashed in and their hearts cut out
And their livers removed and their bowels unplugged
And their nostrils raped and their bottoms burned off.

BUT...

When danger reared its ugly head, they bravely turned their tail and fled.
Yes, brave Hizbullah turned about
And gallantly, they chickened out. Bravely taking to their feet,
They beat a very brave retreat,
Bravest of the brave, Hizbullah.
Posted by: Scott R || 07/15/2006 13:28 Comments || Top||

#4  It's not just the leaders. According to this
Lebanese blogger
, all of the Hezbollah have disappeared.
Posted by: Kratos || 07/15/2006 13:46 Comments || Top||

#5  They are true cowards at heart. Typical terrorists.
Posted by: DathVader || 07/15/2006 14:20 Comments || Top||

#6  One of the things Brave Jihadi Warriors are good at: Beating feet...
Posted by: tu3031 || 07/15/2006 14:22 Comments || Top||

#7  If Hezbollah has bugged out, the Israelis should officially turn over all abandoned Hezbollah territory to the Lebanese army, on condition that the government of Lebanon votes that their army shall stay there a minimum of two years, and that no weapons other than Lebanese military weapons be allowed in there.

Any Hezbollah territory not firing weapons at Israel or Israeli forces now occupied by Lebanese army would become "safe havens". Shiites could live there under the protection of the Lebanese army, but no Hezbollah of any kind would be permitted in.

After two years, there is no way the Lebanese would permit Hezbollah to re-enclave their turf.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 07/15/2006 14:35 Comments || Top||

#8  Surely you jest, Anonymoose. The Lebanese Army was useless for controlling Lebanon before. What makes you think they've improved in the last few days?
Posted by: Darrell || 07/15/2006 14:41 Comments || Top||

#9  LMAO at the Hizballah song.

As for the Lebansese army, that is the only way this can end. The Israelis have to turn it over to the Lebanese. I don't mind if the US or NATO has to go in and help out. But the Israelis can't stay there and they can't leave a vacuum. Oh, and don't mention the UN cause I'll squirt coffee out of my nose...
Posted by: Iblis || 07/15/2006 18:24 Comments || Top||

#10  "When to evade destruction's hand, to hide they all proceeded.

No soldier in that gallant band hid half as well as he did.

He lay concealed throughout the war, and so preserved his gore-O..."
Posted by: Duke of Plaza-Toro || 07/15/2006 19:35 Comments || Top||

#11  "As for the Lebansese army, that is the only way this can end. The Israelis have to turn it over to the Lebanese."
Iblis, that depends on what you mean by "it". The Lebanese army can't subdue Hizbullah, so they just need to stay out of the way until Israel finishes bouncing the rubble. Hizbullah has not "bugged out" -- there's too many of them and too few bridges. They're just laying low.
Posted by: Darrell || 07/15/2006 19:45 Comments || Top||

#12  Darrell:

You are correct. The Lebanese army cannot confront Hizballah. Israel can and will. Once that's done Israel will have to hand over the areas previosuly controlled by Hizballah to the Lebanese army.
Posted by: Iblis || 07/15/2006 19:53 Comments || Top||

#13  Advancing to the rear I see!
Posted by: radrh8r || 07/15/2006 21:54 Comments || Top||

#14  Charger fan rdrh8r?
Posted by: Frank G || 07/15/2006 22:49 Comments || Top||


IAF bombs Lebanon-Syria border crossing
IAF planes bombed on Saturday the Masna border crossing between Lebanon and Syria, Al-Jazeera reported. Thousands have swarmed the crossing in recent days in an attempt to flee Lebanon.
Posted by: Fred || 07/15/2006 12:55 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


IAF strikes Hizbullah officials
The IAF struck the house of senior Hamas official Muhammad Nazal in Beirut. According to other reports, the IAF also struck the house of Hussein Musawi in the eastern city of Baalbek. 20 people are reported to have been wounded in that attack.
Fox News said they also struck Mullah Fudlullah's house...
Posted by: Fred || 07/15/2006 12:54 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


IAF strikes Tripoli port in Lebanon
Witnesses report IAF helicopter gunships fired rockets toward the port area in Lebanon's northern city of Tripoli early Saturday evening.
Posted by: Fred || 07/15/2006 12:53 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


US plans to clear citizens from Lebanon
Yup - gonna be a hard rain a-fallin' in that small country. Meteorologists predict the front will move north and east as well.
The United States is working on a plan to evacuate American citizens from Lebanon to the neighboring island of Cyprus, the U.S. Embassy said Saturday.

"We are looking at how we might transport Americans to Cyprus. Once in Cyprus, Americans can then board commercial aircraft for onward travel," an embassy statement said.

The US had already been calling its citizens to consider leaving Lebanon once the conditions enable such a departure. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Friday that the US is urging its citizens in Lebanon to "assess their personal security situation," and consider leaving the country when that becomes possible. According to McCormack, no American citizen has yet to leave Lebanon due to the closure Israel imposed on the country. "From the US government perspective, there aren't any ways to get out -- reliable ways to get out by air, land or sea," McCormack added.

Since the Beirut international airport has been taken out of commission by Israeli air strikes, the Pentagon is working on alternative plans to evacuate the American citizens from Lebanon. One possibility is to evacuate the Americans by helicopters to Cyprus.

Another that was considered was to move the helicopter carrier USS Iwo Jima and its seven ship group from the Red Sea through the Suez Canal to the shores of Lebanon. The Iwo Jima group is conducting exercises in Jordan and it will take approximately a week to gather the forces back to the ships and move the group to the shores of Lebanon.

In case there is a need for emergency evacuation the US may also ask Israel for a temporary cease fire in order to enable an air lift of the Americans from Lebanon.

The Arab American Institute (AAI) said Friday that it has received calls from many Arab Americans who are stranded both in Lebanon and in the Gaza Strip. The group called on the State Department to act promptly to evacuate American citizens from the fighting zones.

The State Department authorized the departure of all unessential personnel and family members from the US embassy in Beirut, but up to now no American citizen was able to leave.

Meanwhile, France was putting in place a special ferry to evacuate its citizens in Lebanon who wish to leave starting on Sunday, the foreign minister said. The ferry will transport to Cyprus any of the thousands of French who want out of Lebanon following recent IDF attacks on Hizbullah targets in response to the kidnapping of two IDF soldiers on Wednesday. Special Air France flights will bring evacuees to Paris from Cyprus, Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said Saturday.
Posted by: lotp || 07/15/2006 11:48 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Lebanon is one thing concerning evacuation. But in Gaza, if you are a US citizen, you are crazy to have gone there. Tough luck. Yer on yer own in Gaza, IMHO.
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 07/15/2006 12:22 Comments || Top||

#2  1) I would love seeing the Iwo Jima group parked in front of Beirut. Lot's of firepower Ya,know ... just in case the Mullahs decide to go berserk....

2) My heart goes out for all these poor arabo-french refugees that will have to fly "HOT-AIR FRANCE" to paris.. what with all the veiled Franco-muslim stewardesses :)
Posted by: Elder of Zion || 07/15/2006 12:29 Comments || Top||

#3  If a bunch of Americans assemble somewhere in Lebanon in preparation for an evacuation, don't they become a really tempting target for Islamic terrorists? And how do you evacuate thousands of Americans in such a way that you don't assemble lots of them together? This seems like something that could go really wrong.
Posted by: WhiteCollarRedneck || 07/15/2006 13:11 Comments || Top||


Israelis strike Tripoli in northern Lebanon, Southern Beirut
just breaking - no details yet. Strikes on south Beirut as well.
Posted by: lotp || 07/15/2006 11:31 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1 

A senior IDF officer reported that as a result of a similar strike on the same building on Friday, a large building collapsed, blocking the entrance to a command bunker where Hizbullah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah was believed to be located, Army Radio reported.

..if only this were true, wouldn't it be sweet!
Posted by: RD || 07/15/2006 11:53 Comments || Top||

#2  RD
repeat slowly after me:
"Yisgadal Veyiskadash Shmei Raba...." :)
I hope he has sons to say Kadish after him, because they are the next targets.
Posted by: Elder of Zion || 07/15/2006 12:02 Comments || Top||


Syria sez: We support Hizbollah
Or rather, the Baath party supports Hizbollah. Is that the same thing?

Syria will support Hizbollah and Lebanon against Israel's attacks on the country, the ruling Baath Party said on Friday, defying the Jewish state and its chief ally Washington.

"The Syrian people are ready to extend full support to the Lebanese people and their heroic resistance to remain steadfast and confront the barbaric Israeli aggression and its crimes," said a communiqué from the party's national command issued after a meeting.

Assad, who is shaped by his late father's lifetime of struggle with Israel, was not at the meeting.

Huh.

Via Hot Air
Posted by: Angie Schultz || 07/15/2006 10:54 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Thier turn is coming be patient.
Posted by: C-Low || 07/15/2006 11:07 Comments || Top||

#2  Asshat wants to stay alive, the Baathist are taking orders from Iran.
Posted by: djohn66 || 07/15/2006 11:08 Comments || Top||

#3  Just wondering -- can you get a full refund if the runways are blown up before your Damascus departure time? And can you get that in other currencies?
Posted by: Darrell || 07/15/2006 11:30 Comments || Top||

#4  Asshat is now feeling the "Pendulum Effect" shaking his chair ?
This is indeed time for a serious metalstorm and Explospeak.
I hope that by the time we finish with Nasrallah and his Iranian masters, Assad would become a tourist curiousity.
If this goes on I expect to be able to buy a piece of Assad on e-Bay soon.

Any bidder's ??
Posted by: Elder of Zion || 07/15/2006 11:33 Comments || Top||

#5  What do you expect to get for a worthless POS?
Posted by: Darrell || 07/15/2006 11:37 Comments || Top||

#6  Damn. This is the first thing posted in this category this morning. It's even on the newspaper! But I didn't see it on CNN or the BBC, so I figured it was new. Surely this is big news?

The Beeb's too busy announcing ISRAEL KILLS LEBANESE CIVILIANS. Someone at the BBC had to have himself a cigarette and some quiet time after that story came in.
Posted by: Angie Schultz || 07/15/2006 11:40 Comments || Top||

#7  Darrell,
I wouldn't loath hanging a stuffed piece of the asshat in my living room.
I think I'm gonna start bidding at 5 cents per Kilo....
Posted by: Elder of Zion || 07/15/2006 11:40 Comments || Top||

#8  Caller: Hello, Mr. Smyth - do you still own that building in downtown London, the one that used to have the optometry shop on the second floor.
Smyth: Why yes, I do.
Caller: I used to be the optometrist there, I was wondering if the space was available for rent?
Smyth: Certainly Dr. Assad. It was just vacated - are you interested in leasing it?
Caller: Yes, in fact perhaps a long term lease. Would it be available ... immediately?
Posted by: DMFD || 07/15/2006 11:46 Comments || Top||

#9  5 cents per Kilo -- much cheaper than lard.
Posted by: Darrell || 07/15/2006 11:48 Comments || Top||

#10  Well,
Lard doesn't stink !
believe me at this price it's a bargain
for example, you could put it in a small box and every time the kids refuse to do homework or eat their spinach you just go : "well, err.. then I may have to open the Asshat box !"
Posted by: Elder of Zion || 07/15/2006 12:10 Comments || Top||

#11  Mmmmmmmmm, lard!
Posted by: Homer Simpson || 07/15/2006 12:12 Comments || Top||

#12  The Baathists in Syria have the same genius for picking winners as the late Arafish (PBBUH).
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 07/15/2006 12:26 Comments || Top||

#13  Paul,
update.
PUBBAH has been replaced with MHRIHG
(May He Rot In His Grave)
Posted by: Elder of Zion || 07/15/2006 12:39 Comments || Top||

#14  Syria supports Hizbollah. It is only moral support since you might have some difficulty getting into Lebanon at this time. Oh well, just wait, the Israelis may save you the trouble of getting into Lebanon. They may be in Damascus in a few days or less.
Posted by: JohnQC || 07/15/2006 12:53 Comments || Top||

#15  Poor, poor delusional Syria. Thinking someone in Hizbollah is still in lebanon and not run like cockroaches or dead.
Posted by: DathVader || 07/15/2006 14:22 Comments || Top||

#16  Maybe, or maybe they think Israel will occupy part of Lebanon and they can do an insurgency number on them. Or both - flee to Syria or Iran and then infiltrate back later.
Posted by: lotp || 07/15/2006 14:36 Comments || Top||

#17  Angie,
I've just had a look at that thread from the BBC, and 8 of the top 10 recommended comments are in favour of Israel (at least 500 recommendations each).

I think this is encouraging..
Posted by: Tony (UK) || 07/15/2006 17:48 Comments || Top||

#18  Saw on the Beeb World Service today many "Lebanese" were fleeing to... Syria!

and 3 women in burqas walked across the rear of the shot as journo speaking so he isn't talking about the Maronite Christians...

Question for Rantburgers:

Do you think the trigger event of Hezbollah rocketing and kidnapping Israelis (which after all they lob rockets most days) has provided Israel a) with the short-term reason to wipe Hizballah out but more importantly to provide cover to go after the real goal:

Destroying Iranian nuke capability pre-emptively.

Are they trying to goad or otherwise get Iran into this so as to take out Ahmedinijad's nuke facility? It is a worthy goal it's got to be destroyed for Israel's survival, I'm thinking logically if I were Israel I'd rather get world condemnation over and done with in one big hit and take it all out now.
Posted by: Anon1 || 07/15/2006 23:46 Comments || Top||


Israel official: Iran helping Hezbollah
A missile fired by Hezbollah, not an unmanned drone laden with explosives, damaged an Israeli warship off Lebanon, the army said Saturday. Iranian troops helped fire the missile, a senior intelligence official said. One sailor was killed and three were missing.

The intelligence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the information, said about 100 Iranian soldiers are in Lebanon and helped fire the Iranian-made, radar-guided C-102 C-801 at the ship late Friday.

The attack alarmed Israel because initial information indicated the guerrillas had used a drone for the first time to attack Israeli forces. But the army's investigation showed that Hezbollah had fired an Iranian-made missile at the vessel from the shores of Lebanon, said Brig. Gen. Ido Nehushtan. "We can confirm that it was hit by an Iranian-made missile launched by Hezbollah. We see this as very profound fingerprint of Iranian involvement in Hezbollah," Nehushtan said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Another Hezbollah missile also hit and sank a nearby merchant ship at around the same time, Nehushtan said. He said that ship apparently was Egyptian, but had no other information. Nehushtan said the body of one of the four Israeli soldiers missing in the attack was found aboard the damaged warship. Other Israeli military officials said two bodies had been found.
Posted by: ed || 07/15/2006 08:51 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Israel strikes bridges, fuel depots in Bekaa near Syria
Israeli warplanes renewed attacks on Lebanon early Saturday, targeting bridges and fuel storage tanks and gas stations in the east and south, security officials said.

Hezbollah's Al Manar television station said at least three people were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Hermel, in the eastern Bekaa Valley. But security officials said six members of a family were injured when a rocket hit their house in Hermel.

Israeli fighter jets destroyed two bridges in eastern Lebanon, Lebanese officials said, declining to be named because they are not authorized to talk to the media.

The jets pounded a mountainous area near the border with Syria where radio and satellite TV antennas are located, they said.

Another strike targeted three bridges south of Beirut early Saturday, officials said.

Israeli jets also destroyed another bridge in the southern market town of Nabatiyeh, the officials said.

Jets also hit six gas stations and fuel tanks were also set ablaze in attacks along the coastal highway linking Beirut to the south of the country.

The Arab Al-Jazeera satellite TV channel also reported that Hezbollah's guerrillas had fired dozens of rockets at the Israeli town of Nahariya by the early hours of the morning.

In southern Lebanon, Israeli troops warned residents of the Lebanese border village of Marwaheen to evacuate in two hours or else the village would be destroyed, security officials said. No reason was given for the Israeli ultimatum.

About 150 Lebanese Sunni Muslim Bedouins left the village Saturday morning and assembled around a U.N. peacekeeping post seeking shelter, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to give statements to the media.

In Jerusalem, an Israeli army spokesman said Saturday that it attacked 44 Hezbollah targets in the past 24 hours, including the group's headquarters, al Manar broadcasting offices and several bridges in Lebanon, one on a Beirut-Damascus road.
Posted by: lotp || 07/15/2006 08:41 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  cutting off the resupply from Hezb's masters
Posted by: Frank G || 07/15/2006 9:09 Comments || Top||

#2  Cutting of exit routes to make it difficult the move the two Israeli hostages.
Posted by: ed || 07/15/2006 9:16 Comments || Top||

#3  Interesting that Israel has not taken out the Hezbollah TV station with HARM. You would think Hez would get a clue and go off the air. But then that might invite an attack. As long as they broadcast they're safe.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 07/15/2006 9:26 Comments || Top||

#4  The broadcast towers are RIGHT along the Syrian border. Patience, RBers.
Posted by: lotp || 07/15/2006 9:28 Comments || Top||

#5  If my direct TV can scramble during the 4th quarter of a tied playoff game due to "technical difficulties", I'm sure Ari in IDF Tech support could mess up the signal if the bosses wanted it done... without the muss and fuss of knocking out TV communications towers. May need them for the upcoming "woe is me" programing, when the Hizzies have to cry uncle.
Posted by: Capsu78 || 07/15/2006 12:29 Comments || Top||


More on drone attack on Israeli patrol boat
Follow-up from late yesterday's story.
Four Israel Navy sailors were reported missing after an explosives-laden drone, apparently launched by Hezbollah, hit a naval vessel off the coast of Beirut Friday night.

The blast caused a fire on board the ship, which had been stationed 16 kilometers off of the coast of Lebanon. After the fire was extinguished, it became clear that four soldiers were missing. Their families were notified soon thereafter. Israel Defense Forces teams, with the help of planes, helicopters and additional vessels, were searching for the missing troops at the site of the blast. The ship was towed back to Israel.

The incident occurred at around 8:30 P.M., causing a fire close to the helicopter landing pad onboard. The ship's steering mechanism also sustained some damage. Several hours after the vessel was hit, an Israel Defense Forces spokeswoman said the damage was worse than originally thought. There were some 80 soldiers on board the ship when it was hit.

An army spokeswoman said later that Hezbollah continued to target Israeli vessels with a barrage of rockets after the hit, but missed and struck a civilian ship.

Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah said earlier Friday that the militant organization had sunk an Israel Navy ship off the Lebanese coast. "Now in the middle of the sea, facing Beirut, the Israeli warship that has attacked the infrastructure, people's homes and civilians - look at it burning," Nasrallah said in remarks broadcast live shortly after an Israel Air Force strike on Hezbollah's Beirut headquarters.

Hezbollah has never before used a remote-controlled unmanned aircraft to attack Israel. But in a signal of its growing capabilities, the guerrilla group has twice managed to fly spy drones over northern Israel in recent years. The drones caused great concern in Israel because they evaded the country's air defenses.
Belmont Club has more with commentary. It's hard to ignore the idea that Hezbollah received the drone from Iran. That means not just the UAV but also either 1) the training to operate it (not trivial) or 2) personnel that operated it for Hezbollah. If the latter, that puts Iranian military/para-military forces on the front line in Lebanon. That's a clear escalation.
Posted by: Steve White || 07/15/2006 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Steve, those operators could have been Iranian-trained Syrian military forces. At this stage, Iran prefers to spend their forward puppets.
Posted by: twobyfour || 07/15/2006 0:15 Comments || Top||

#2  according to Bill Roggio at the CounterTerrorism site...


While initial reports are stating an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) was used to ram the ships, an anonymous intelligence official indicates the Egyptian ship was struck by a UAV launched antitank missile. According to the intelligence official, the Egyptian ship was hit with a Raad anti-tank missile (this is a different weapon than the Raad rockets fired against the city of Haifa.)



The fact that two separate ships were struck at the same time, very likely with UAV fired antitank missiles, indicates a level of sophistication far beyond that of Hezbollah. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps and Imad Mugniyah clearly have a hand in these operations. The coupling of a UAV with an anti-tank missile requires extensive research, development and testing. It is unlikely Hezbollah conducted these efforts without attracting the attention of the watchful Israelis to their south. And the Iranians possess the technological capabilities; the Raad anti-tank missile is from their arsenal. The use of multiple UAVs over the mediterranian Sea indicates Hezbollah may have a fleet of these UAVs, whcih must be maintaned.
Posted by: 3dc || 07/15/2006 0:21 Comments || Top||

#3  What? No mention of the Egyptian vessel (merchant ship or cruise ship) that was also hit?
Posted by: Captain America || 07/15/2006 0:22 Comments || Top||

#4  How accurate a story are we getting from a reporter/news organization that doesn't know the difference between Soldiers, who operate on dry land, and SAILORS who work and fight ships! This little error got past the reporter, and the editor not once, but in two seperate stories! So how well did they check the rest of their facts? (assumed)censor
Posted by: Thruper Anguting5296 || 07/15/2006 0:22 Comments || Top||

#5  Hey TA-
Israel calls their sailors, soldiers. Look it up if you don't believe me.
Posted by: Penguin || 07/15/2006 0:33 Comments || Top||

#6  I am just accepting as fact that Iran has had RG units in Leabanon for years. This is just a more overt example of it.

Also it is a UAV or a Drone? They are 2 different things.

Many more questions yet than answers.
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom || 07/15/2006 0:46 Comments || Top||

#7  Expect an Israeli attack on Iran in the next 48 hours. I hope they attack those oil refineries. It would screw the Mullahs big time. Iran runs on cheap petrol. Without it there will be riots or worse.
Posted by: phil_b || 07/15/2006 1:06 Comments || Top||

#8  MORE IDF SHIPS

Saar 5



for the life of me I cannot understand Israels tactics to date? Does anyone else get the impression they're just pussyfooting around so far?
Posted by: RD || 07/15/2006 1:06 Comments || Top||

#9  Sill same ?. Do the Israelis have a terminal defense gun for their ships?
Posted by: 3dc || 07/15/2006 1:10 Comments || Top||

#10  Hmmm, phil_b. Wouldn't after the end of the G8 be more likely? I confess I haven't the first clue when Israel will step up the pace and begin going after the sponsors, not just the tools. In fact, I'm not (yet) convinced they will take full advantage of this 24K golden opportunity.

The one thing that gives me hope is Olmert's statement yesterday that this would not be over until Hezbollah was destroyed.

Just wondering aloud. Please post more of the logic behind your prediction, if you see this and have the time.
Posted by: Hupinetle Sninetle9012 || 07/15/2006 1:22 Comments || Top||

#11  3dc: Do the Israelis have a terminal defense gun for their ships?

That's a good question. I would think something like the Phalanx would have taken the drone out.
Posted by: Zhang Fei || 07/15/2006 1:22 Comments || Top||

#12  BTW, I'd say ship point defense would be an excellent application for MetalStorm.
Posted by: Hupinetle Sninetle9012 || 07/15/2006 1:26 Comments || Top||

#13  Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS. One mount, located forward. Ship-drivers can infer what that means...
Posted by: Pappy || 07/15/2006 1:32 Comments || Top||

#14  The hell of it is, the recent NATO naval exercise in the Black Sea, in which Israel participated (a NATO first) included a similar scenario. The Israeli ship provided a helicopter that launched a kamikaze attack against one of the "blue" ships.
Posted by: Rory B. Bellows || 07/15/2006 2:15 Comments || Top||

#15  phil_b, I think that attacking Iran in the next 48 hrs would be a bit of stretch. Hizbollah needs to be ground to dust and mopped up fist to a large degree. Syria is next. How soon depends on what can be pinned on them as casus belli. Sometimes the next weekend. It is possible that what is planned is to hit Iran at the same time, with some US support. If not at the same time, sometimes between August 1 to August 15.
Posted by: twobyfour || 07/15/2006 2:39 Comments || Top||

#16  PIMF: fist = first... albeit within the context, the 'fist' is, admittedly, fitting.
Posted by: twobyfour || 07/15/2006 2:41 Comments || Top||

#17  The SAAR 5 have the Phalanx and the Barak anti-missle system. If indeed it was a drone with an
anti-tank missile that was launched outside Barak envelope then was almost impossble to defend the ship Barak and Phaanx are prepared for such tny missiles. I think that is too much tech for Hizballah, so we are let that a simple drone penetrated one most sofisticated defenses of an Israeli ship...
Posted by: Clerert Uneamp2772 || 07/15/2006 2:41 Comments || Top||

#18  sorry i wanted to say that BaraK and Phalanx ARE NOT prepared for such tiny missiles
Posted by: Clerert Uneamp2772 || 07/15/2006 2:43 Comments || Top||

#19  CU, somehow, you got that across. ;-)
Posted by: twobyfour || 07/15/2006 2:53 Comments || Top||

#20  Israel can't let Iran fight a war against them through proxies. They have to make sure Iran pays a price. Iran for it's part will think they are beyond the reach of Israel.

The likeliest response is a submarine launched cruise missile from a submarine in the Indian Ocean. If there isn't a sub already there. I expect one is on its way.

Hitting oil refineries would make the price to Iran heavy.
Posted by: phil_b || 07/15/2006 3:32 Comments || Top||

#21  The IAF would not have disabled Beirut runways unless they wanted to make re-supply by Iran, impossible. Sunni attacks on Hizbollah, indicates that they are prepared to watch Israel crush Shiite terrorists. Ahmadinejad will have to attempt to match his genocidal rhetoric, with action. I cannot see any resolution to this conflict that doesn't include the destruction of the Ayatollah tyranny. Iranians who matter are well aware that 14 clerics have benefitted from sweetheart contracts, to the point that their personal wealth is over $100 million each. Leaving Teheran intact, while flattening Qom, militarized frontier districts, and the nuclear facilities, would cause the overthrow of the central government. Basiji elements are viewed as parasitic strike breakers. There is no scenario in which diplomacy is the monopoly approach to the genocidal, inter-generational threat posed by the human garbage that leads Iran. After the G8, something decisive will happen, and it will not cost many American or Israeli lives.
Posted by: Anginens Threreng8133 || 07/15/2006 4:06 Comments || Top||

#22  It was a silkworm, not a drone nor UAV, IDF states, the JP report was incorrect,
Posted by: twobyfour || 07/15/2006 6:18 Comments || Top||

#23  That huge 2x4, if true that's Persian for damn sure.
Posted by: 6 || 07/15/2006 6:34 Comments || Top||

#24  If it was silkworm it was a complete failure of Phalanx and the Barak anti-missile system and all detection systems or the ship captain was an idiot.

Note that Silkworm is a big slow missile and easy to destroy. A Sea Dart missile destroyed a Stix missile in the Koweit Liberation operation and a Sea Dart even isnt an anti-missile system .
Posted by: Flavick Sholusing1772 || 07/15/2006 6:35 Comments || Top||

#25  Jpost is reporting the civilian ship hit was sunk.
Posted by: phil_b || 07/15/2006 6:43 Comments || Top||

#26  Think that Silkworm.... seems like that's a generic name for Chineese anti-ship missiles, was a copy of an SSN-2 (Styx) a huge slow missile.

But yeah, if true, it does look like the IDF ships systems didn't do the job.
Posted by: 6 || 07/15/2006 6:48 Comments || Top||

#27  Hmmm, I think the Capt. of the ship got complacent if it was a silkworm probably did not think the hizzies had silkworms. As the boy scout motto sez "be prepared".
Posted by: djohn66 || 07/15/2006 6:49 Comments || Top||

#28  Does anyone else get the impression they're just pussyfooting around so far?
It's the legendary Restraint.
Posted by: eLarson || 07/15/2006 7:05 Comments || Top||

#29  Does anyone else get the impression they're just pussyfooting around so far?

Methinks its the gunslinger gettin' the bigmouth to draw first.
Posted by: BrerRabbit || 07/15/2006 7:34 Comments || Top||

#30  Doesn't matter WHAT hit the boat, all that matters is Isreal takes it up another notch. Start targeting where Hezbollahs money comes from, I'm sure the US will be willing to let the Isreali's stop in Airbases in Iraq quick, or even Air-to-Air refuel them if need be.
Posted by: Charles || 07/15/2006 8:07 Comments || Top||

#31  Not silkworm. It has a 1000 lb HE warhead that would have blown a corvette out of the water. I haven't seen pics of the damage but think it was a Chinese C-802 missile (Exocet ripoff) with a 360 lb warhead. Video of the attack showed it was a rocket powered missile launched at night (so radar guided).

Consequences of this attack is that at a minimum the Israelis need to missile attack Iranian assets such as refineries or the navy. Hopefully Israeli subs are ready and added hardpoints to long range cargo aircraft that can fly around Saudi and back.
In addition, the Syrian navy needs to be sunk or the AF destroyed.
Posted by: ed || 07/15/2006 8:09 Comments || Top||

#32  C-801, not C-802.
Posted by: ed || 07/15/2006 8:29 Comments || Top||

#33  C-801 of which Iran has hundreds.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 07/15/2006 9:05 Comments || Top||


Debka: In 1,000 sorties in 48 hours Israel’s air force has hit 100 Hizballah targets
Power is out in Beirut, streets are deserted and thousands are leaving.

Three Israeli airborne rockets destroyed Hizballah’s command and control center and Hassan Nasrallah’s residence in the southern suburb of Beirut as well as bridges and Hizballah bases and a second raid on Beirut international airport’s runways and fuel tanks. The Hizballah leader later broadcast a (recorded) threat of total war.

Thousands heading out of the Lebanese capital towards Damascus encounter difficulties after Israeli air strikes damaged the main highway.

Israel’s sea, air and land blockade and air bombardments of roads, bridges, airports and seaports are aimed primarily at preventing the delivery by Iran and Syria of replenishments for Hizballah’s depleted weapons stocks and manpower reinforcements. Its purpose is also to block escape routes to Hizballah operatives.

Earlier Friday, Olmert approved new targets and declared all-out war on the Hizballah in view of the escalated Hizballah rocket offensive.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 07/15/2006 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Sounds like the rats are trapped.
Posted by: JohnQC || 07/15/2006 10:24 Comments || Top||

#2  Unfortunately I have an American coworker in Beirut now who's stuck. It seems nobody from the State Department is doing anything and many Americans are heading to Syria for a flight out of the country.
Posted by: Jesing Ebbease3087 || 07/15/2006 11:54 Comments || Top||

#3  seems nobody from the State Department is doing anything

That's the way it is. The only kind of service you get there is the kind you have to bend over for. They'll run you around in circles for the tiniest thing because they are so inefficient and clueless it would kill you. Don't count on them for much. If they hand off the evacuation problem to the military, then something will happen.
Posted by: gorb || 07/15/2006 13:54 Comments || Top||


Missile hits civilian boat off Lebanon: Israel
A missile fired at an Israeli naval vessel off Lebanon hit a civilian boat, possibly from Egypt, the Israeli army said on Saturday. A spokeswoman said those on board were believed to have been evacuated, adding it was unclear if there were any casualties.

After initially saying the missile had been fired at an Israeli vessel in a fresh strike early on Saturday, the spokeswoman later said it had been part of an attack late on Friday when an Israeli warship was badly damaged. "At the same time as the incident took place in which an Israeli ship was hit, a merchant ship was also hit," the spokeswoman said.

Israeli media said the damaged missile ship was hit by an airborne drone packed with explosives. Four Israeli troops were missing after the warship was hit in an attack claimed by Hizbollah, Al Jazeera television said, as violence escalated between Israel and the guerrilla group.
Posted by: Fred || 07/15/2006 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Good morning...
Chirac presides over last Bastille Day paradeMissile hits civilian boat off Lebanon: IsraelAbdullah II, Mubarak meet, wring handsSyria tells Hizbollah to stop rocketing IsraelUN readies resolution on IranPrincipal organiser of bombings in safe house in Kathmandu?Tongsun Park guilty in Oil-for-Food scandalBlackbirds Attack Calif. Town's Residents
Posted by: Fred || 07/15/2006 00:31 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Sheena, me want loins for lunch.
Posted by: RD || 07/15/2006 1:18 Comments || Top||

#2  LOL, RD!

I have long ceased the practice of drinking simultaneously while reading Rantburg.
Posted by: Ptah || 07/15/2006 6:01 Comments || Top||

#3  ...SLIGHTLY o/t, but can anyone imagine the 'it girls' of today ever being able to do pics like that?..

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski || 07/15/2006 7:47 Comments || Top||

#4  They could do the pic. They couldn't do the face.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 07/15/2006 8:37 Comments || Top||

#5  Nimble-
Amen, brother, amen.

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski || 07/15/2006 9:01 Comments || Top||

#6  Gals today have a fear of heights.
Posted by: 6 || 07/15/2006 9:22 Comments || Top||

#7  Couldn't do the poise either.

And all the ickie dirt!
Posted by: CrazyFool || 07/15/2006 9:36 Comments || Top||

#8  I could see Kathy Ireland doing it...still tasty after all these years
Posted by: Frank G || 07/15/2006 9:58 Comments || Top||

#9  Ahh! 'tis a bonnie Irish colleen, literally! (G)
Posted by: Ernest Brown || 07/15/2006 11:43 Comments || Top||

#10  Frank,

Well, sure. A pin-up would be fine, because you wouldn't have to listen to her. Did you ever see "Alien from LA" on Mystery Science Theatre 3000?
Posted by: Eric Jablow || 07/15/2006 12:15 Comments || Top||

#11  with the sound off :-)
Posted by: Frank G || 07/15/2006 13:59 Comments || Top||

#12  Frank-
Now, what's the fun of MST3K with the sound off?

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski || 07/15/2006 15:56 Comments || Top||



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