(SomaliNet) The powerful Islamists controlling the capital of Somalia Mogadishu and other key parts in southern the country said on Friday it is more inevitable that war rage between its fighters and Ethiopian troops who had already occupied parts of Mudug region in central Somalia.
Sheikh Ahmed urged the Islamic Courts to exercise the children with the Islamic religion to get more martyrs...
The leader of executive council of Islamic CourtsSheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed said his Islamic militiamen will engage in fierce fighting with Ethiopian troops if Ethiopians don't stop provocation against Somali's soil. "The Ethiopians (our enemy) reject the rising Islamic light and they use unwise so called Somalis," Sheikh Ahmed said in a ceremony on opening new Islamic Court named Nasrudin in Mogadishu. Sheikh Ahmed urged the Islamic Courts to exercise the children with the Islamic religion to get more martyrs.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/26/2006 00:00 ||
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Looks like Somalis will insist on getting a bellyful of martyrs.
Posted by: ed ||
08/26/2006 0:44 Comments ||
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With dealing with Islamists, war is always inevitable.
#4
And if history is any indication, you'll get your islamic asses seriously kicked by Ethiopia, you worthless losers.
Allan decrees it.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
08/26/2006 18:40 Comments ||
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God, I am so looking forward to this : the Islamists make their move in the rump state of Somalia, and now do the expanionist move on the Puntlanders and Somalilanders. So, all of the really committed Islamists are in on the move, and the Ethiopian Army can clean all the major rats out of the nest with the coming war. Hopefully, the Ethiopians will be merciless in their approach to the Somali Islamists.
Egyptian police arrested 16 members of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood on Friday, a member of the organization said. Brotherhood member Abdel Moneim Mahmoud said the 16 were meeting at a home in Kafr el-Sheikh province when police stormed inside. Those arrested included Mahmoud Ezzat, the fourth-ranking member of the organization, Mahmoud said. Police declined comment. Hundreds of Muslim Brotherhood members have been arrested since March during a wave of demonstrations against extension of Egypt's emergency laws.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/26/2006 00:00 ||
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GOVERNMENT security agencies are reviewing the terrorist status of Islamic extremists allegedly distributing pamphlets calling for a holy war to destroy Israel.
Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said Australian security agencies examined the group, Hizb ut-Tahir, when it came to their notice a year ago, and considered whether to list it as a proscribed terrorist organisation. "And the decision that was taken by competent agencies at that time was there was insufficient evidence for the legal criteria for proscription to be satisfied," he said today.
With alleged links to the London bombings, Hizb ut-Tahir is reportedly distributing pamphlets through suburban Sydney calling for a holy war. The leaflets call for a jihad to destroy Israel and use key dates in the Muslim calendar to signal the coming destruction of the Jewish state, News Limited newspapers have reported.
The group is banned in Germany and British Prime Minister Tony Blair has called for it to be outlawed in the UK. But it remains legal in Australia despite calls for it to be banned.
"I am certainly aware of the additional material that has been circulated." Mr Ruddock said. "I've drawn it to the attention of competent agencies and if they form a view that that alters their opinion as to whether or not it constitutes a terrorist organisation, that matter can be brought to our attention and we can have a look at it."
NSW Premier Morris Iemma earlier urged the extremists to leave that sort of hatred overseas. Mr Iemma said legitimate debate, free speech and opinions were welcome in Australia. "However, the sort of inflammatory language about conflicts in wars overseas, leave them behind," he said. "Leave the conflicts, the old wars and the hatred behind."
You're asking them to leave the Master Religion behind and become Aussies. I don't think that's going to happen.
A Turk with German residency held at the prison camp in Guantanamo Bay for more than four years was kept blindfolded and in chains on his flight home in a U.S. plane, his lawyer said on Friday.
The Americans are incorrigible... He was returned home in chains, humiliated and dishonoured to the very end...
"The Americans are incorrigible, they have not learned a thing. He was returned home in chains, humiliated and dishonoured to the very end by the Americans," lawyer Bernhard Docke said. "It was a giant American transport aircraft and he was alone in it with 15 U.S. soldiers. He was chained down, his feet were chained, and his eyes covered."
Maybe because he's dishonorable and should be humiliated at every turn?
Murat Kurnaz was unable to attend a news conference in his home town of Bremen on Friday, Docke said, because he is still suffering from the effects of his captivity at Guantanamo on Cuba, where the United States is holding hundreds it suspects of backing Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda or the Islamist Taliban. Kurnaz was dubbed the "Bremen Taliban" because he was born in Germany and was in the process of becoming a German citizen when he was arrested in Pakistan in late 2001.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/26/2006 00:00 ||
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Behold Germany's newest hero.
Posted by: ed ||
08/26/2006 0:46 Comments ||
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"The Americans are incorrigible, they have not learned a thing. He was returned home in chains, humiliated and dishonoured to the very end by the Americans,"
Saying this days after several well published passenger revolts on commercial airlines because of suspicious acting ME males. Clueless and incorrigible. Would have been a better approach to complain he didn't get Karr's travel accommodations.
#6
"The Americans are incorrigible, they have not learned a thing. He was returned home in chains, humiliated and dishonoured to the very end by the Americans," ...
When I read that I consideered it a compliment to us. Thanks, Bernie!
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/26/2006 12:17 Comments ||
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(AGI) - Rome, Aug 25 - Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alima repeated today that he doesn't consider Hezbollah merely a terrorist group. "An organisation that has 35 members in parliament and three ministers cannot just be described as a terrorist group", D'Alema declared in an interview with the Israeli newspaper 'Haaretz'.
Spoken like a good Socialist.
"Hezbollah is not considered to be a terrorist group by the EU, nor in my own opinion", adding "Hezbollah is a military organisation, but also a force that presents itself at the elections". So, he stressed, "the paradox is that we support (Lebanese premier Fuad) Siniora, a democratic leader, and Siniora praises Hezbollah as defender of the Lebanese patria. It is important to understand the complexity of the situation, because with a simplistic view, one faces the enemy in the wrong way.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/26/2006 00:00 ||
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"No never! Wonderful chaps! Used to their mothers flowers and all that."
Mussolini wasn't a thug, either, once he became part of the Italian government, right? After all, he was the leader of a military-type organization that was a force that presented itself at the elections, and a defender of Italia too.
Yes, it's a complicated situation full of bullshit nuance....
WaPo, front page. A bit long, with a lot of personal touches, but not much editorializing.
The Marines already are saying their goodbyes. The 4th Civil Affairs Group, a reserve unit based in Washington, is leaving for Iraq -- again.
Lance Cpl. Norman Tompkins Jr., 26, knows the drill by now. This will be his third trip to Iraq in four years. He has taken leave from his jobs as a fire alarm inspector and volunteer firefighter and loaded his iPod with 4,500 songs.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Bobby ||
08/26/2006 07:59 ||
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May God keep them, and all the rest, safe in the palm of His hand as they do the job they were sent to do.
SUSPECTED Australian terrorist David Hicks could be sentenced to death if a new military commission system passes through the United States Congress, his military lawyer has claimed.
US Major Michael Mori said the new US legislation would allow the presiding military officer to order capital punishment for Hicks. However, the Australian Government today said it had received assurances from the United States that it would not seek the death penalty.
Hicks, 31, has been in US custody in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, since January 2002, a month after he was captured fighting among Taliban forces in Afghanistan. The Adelaide-born Muslim convert is accused of having trained with Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda terror network and has been charged by US authorities with aiding the enemy, attempted murder and conspiracy.
He was to have been tried by a military commission, but the US Supreme Court has ruled the commissions unlawful, forcing the US Administration to revamp the process.
Major Mori said the Australian Government had previously secured concessions from the military prosecutors office protecting Hicks from the death penalty, but the same concessions would not automatically continue under the new system.
The system under consideration includes provisions that preclude US authorities from agreeing to any concessions, he said. "That old system is gone, and so there can be no more concession, it has to be looked at anew under this new legislation that may pass," Major Mori told ABC radio.
"The new commission will have the power to judge the death penalty, and that raises serious concerns. "And unfortunately we fear that they may try to prosecute David and subject him to the death penalty."
Major Mori said his client's case had been dragged back to 2003, when they began battling against the old military commission, and he faced another long stint in custody. "It took almost over two years just to get to the Supreme Court to rule it as illegal," he said. "And unfortunately, if the Australian government goes along again with an unfair system, they're condemning David Hicks to another two and a half years of detention at Guantanamo."
Guess you should have taken the old deal, eh counseler?
Speaking at a candlelit vigil for Hicks in Adelaide earlier this week, Major Mori said it would take at least two years to mount a legal challenge to the new system if the Australian Government did not act first to bring his client home.
He urged the Government to re-evaluate their position considering Hicks had been in custody for almost five years. "Let him give him back to his family, let him get on with his life as a jihadi," Major Mori told ABC radio.
But a spokesman for the Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said the Australian Government had been assured the US Government would not seek the death penalty for Hicks. He said although the new legislation may allow the death penalty, the US government's undertaking would be reflected in any trial of Hicks. "We've received all sorts of assurances relating to the trial of Mr Hicks, one of which is the US won't seek the death penalty," the spokesman said to AAP. "Of course, when they introduce the legislation they may have death penalty provisions in there, but our concern is that Mr Hicks won't be subjected to the death penalty and we've been given repeated assurances to that effect."
#1
wasn't he claimed as "suicidal" by dear old Pops Hicks? Give him a razor to shave with
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/26/2006 8:29 Comments ||
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Laws are always passed with a "Geandfather" clause, that means that crimes commirred before the law was passed are not subject to the new law, they must be prosecuted under the old laws then in effect at the time of the crime's commission.
This prevents "Revenge" laws from being implemented.
Example, Okay we have to do something about all those repeat Jaywalkers, lets pass a law that Jaywalking convictions carry the Death Penalty, no appeal, now search the files for past-convicted Jaywalkers and Hang them.
Nope, can't do that.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
08/26/2006 8:29 Comments ||
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I hate to break this to you, but spelling violations have no "carry-over" constraints, Redneck Jim.
#4
When I first saw the headline, I was worried about my relatives in West Virginia. But then I read the first sentence and realized that they were referring to some Australian guy.
#5
I believe Redneck is referring to 'ex post facto law' which is Constitutionally prohibited. However, there was no precedent for Nuremberg which the US participated in and who's entire proceedings were 'ex post facto'. Now the SCOTUS ruled in 1946 in Yamashita versus Styer that the tribunals were legit. That resulted in several deaths, including Yamashita's. What the recent SCOTUS ruling governed was the composition of the tribunals as authorized by the legislative branch, not the specific crimes and their punishments as previously executed.
#1
Good. The rotten shithead scumbag. I hope they nail all of the corrupt creeps who were in on this, as well... especially that Phillip Bloom asshole.
#2
I wish you'd quit mealy-mouthing, flyover, and say what you really think
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/26/2006 8:13 Comments ||
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Nasty. He's going to the regular Bureau of Prisons lockup. Not as nice or safe as at the military confinement facility at Fort Leavenworth.
Since he plead, they don't have to wait for the appeals to process before the service secretary can strip him of his commission. The papers should be FedEx'd yesterday.
#4
Bid rigging the funds delegated for vital post-war reconstruction. Obstructing aid to war torn people in desperate need of succor. Palpably interfering with the installation of democracy amidst our most vile enemies. Prolonging the fatal danger our troops are exposed to.
Grind these disgusting maggots under a boot-heel. NOW.
Clerics in part of earthquake-hit Kashmir have told aid agencies to fire all local women employees or face violent protests, officials and religious leaders said yesterday.
The threat, given to district officials and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Bagh city on Tuesday, will dent hopes that the October 8 quake could have a positive effect on women's rights in the conservative region. "We have told the administration that we won't allow NGOs to exploit our women and asked them to give a date suitable to them for removal of all female workers," Syed Atta Ullah Shah, prayer leader of the Bagh central mosque, said.
"We don't like them furriners sniffin' 'round our wimmins!"
"If our demand is not met then we will take direct action and extreme steps. There will be demonstrations and damage may be caused to public property and a law and order situation would be created in the area," he added.
"We'll seethe! We'll roll our eyes! We'll spew spittle, and you won't like it!"
The religious leader said locals were angered by "obscene" activities at NGOs. "They hire beautiful girls and take them to Islamabad for enjoyment. They keep women in offices as decoration pieces because we know that women have no work and there no such work that men cannot do," Shah said.
I pass the Clue Bat to Seafarious and Lotp ...
Aid groups say female workers are vital to ensure that religious and social conventions are respected when dealing with women in the devastated region, especially for health matters.
But that's a western conceit ...
The UN, which has co-ordinated aid efforts after the quake, said it was aware of the issue. "Discussions are going on with the government and clergy. Things are not finalised yet," Raabya Amjad, public information officer for the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs said.
"We hope to bore them to death, because as you know we're the UN so it isn't as if we can do anything about it," Amjad added.
#1
Quite simply, fools like this should be stomped on. If that isn't possible, then great care should be taken that not one penny of aid ever pass through their greedy fingers.
#3
Must be one expected symptom of swallowing the drivel from their clerics that they were not i-slamic enough, hence the quake. Next one is never too far away.
#4
I think the NGOs should retaliate by pulling ALL their aid workers from Kashmir and Pakistan, and refuse to come back until these idiots are dead and gone. Let the locals take care of the dead and disabled from the quake, do all the rebuilding, and fund all the necessary recovery. If it doesn't get done, tough sh$$.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
08/26/2006 11:16 Comments ||
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Evacuate the women and send Ray Nagin. He knows reconstruction better than anybody in New York City.
Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) legislator Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali on Friday rejected US intelligence agencies' reports regarding Osama Bin Laden's presence in Chitral as "unauthentic and unjustified".
"Long tall turban? Talks to himself a lot? Never seen him. Certainly not 'round these parts. Nope. Nope."
Speaking in the National Assembly on a point of order, Chitrali said that the mountainous Chitral area shared a border with five countries, but was completely peaceful. He said that the CIA and FBI had set up offices in Chitral, but had left the area after locals protested their presence. "Neither have we sheltered anybody nor will we tolerate foreign interference in the area," he said.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/26/2006 00:00 ||
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Want a peek at the story as it was originally submitted? You know, before the front desk cleaned it up. Well, I snagged a blue-penciled copy out of the editor's waste basket and thought you all might like to see it ...
Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) legislator Maulana Abdul Allahu Akbar Chitrali on Friday rejected further payment from US intelligence agencies' operatives for any new reports regarding Osama Bin Laden's presence in Chitral, seeing as how the local currency looked "unauthentic and the large amount being paid seemed unjustified".
Speaking in the National Assembly while suspended on a meat hook and held at gunpoint, he talked of fetching an order of beer, pizza and dialysis medicine for Osama, from Papa Chitralis All Night Go-Go Bar and Discount Pharmacy. He also said that finding virgin goats for bin Laden in the mountainous Chitral area was nearly impossible because it shared a border with five other Islamic countries, but insisted that after banging one, Osama was completely peaceful for another five minutes. He said that the incriminating negatives he submitted to the CIA and FBI were top-drawer material and that he had set up bin Laden like a cheap pup tent using promises of fresh goats from veterinary offices in Chitral, but the old jihadi had a bent crank and hadnt left the area until after getting a few of the younger locals to bend it like Beckham even though they protested about their being paid for such services in Koranic lessons, not to mention the rather disturbing presence of Ayman al-Zawahiri. "Neither virgin goats nor fresh young boys have we any more of since we sheltered those two hose monsters and anybody will tell you that neither the goats nor sheep will be of much use if we tolerate Osama ever again making use of vibrating foreign objects so large they caused radio interference in the area for miles around," he said.
The Turkish embassy in Islamabad has declined a memorandum presented by a two-member delegation of the Hizbut Tahrir on the fall of the Ottoman Caliphate 85 years ago, said a Hizb spokesman Friday. "In the memorandum we had contended that Mustafa Kamal (Ataturk) was responsible for the destruction of the caliphate and this act caused a huge catastrophe across the entire Muslim world," said Shahzad Shaikh, Hizb spokesman, at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club.
According to him, the Turkish embassy had refused to receive the memorandum on the grounds that its contents were against Turkish laws and constitution. "The head of the Turkish mission told our representatives Imran Yousufzai and Fayyaz Sharif that he could not receive the memorandum because it was insulting Turk laws and its constitution and its status as a secular state," said Shaikh. He regretted that the Turkish government had "done away" with its "past stature" as leaders of the Muslim world. "It is a caliphate that could restore the lost glory of the Muslims," he claimed.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/26/2006 00:00 ||
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ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain on Friday warned ministers and MNAs not to bring their private guards on Parliament House premises. "I think they (the ministers and MNAs) will act upon the rules. If not, they know what can be done under the rules," he said after MNA Riaz Hussain Pirzada raised the issue. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Sher Afgan Niazi also favoured banning the entry of private guards and weapons on Parliament House premises.
Pirzada said that a large number of private guards of MNAs and ministers gave the impression that everyone in Pakistan was scared of terrorism. "What impression will this have on foreigners? Moreover, the guards often misbehave with other MNAs, breaching their privileges," he said, adding that the private gunmen also breached parliamentary privileges. Pirzada said that the MNAs and ministers should ask Islamabad police for security. "Let Islamabad be a safe haven," he said while criticising the provincial chief ministers for bringing personal guards on Parliament House premises." Dr Niazi asked the NA speaker to issue directions for arresting private guards who moved on Parliament House premises with weapons.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/26/2006 00:00 ||
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The Interior Ministry said on Friday that 134 incidents of terrorism had taken place in the country during the first five months of the year.
134 deaders in 150 days. That's a corpse a day, pretty near...
Addressing the National Assembly's Question Hour session, Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao said that 129 people had been killed and 354 injured in terrorist acts occurring between December 2005 and April 19, 2006. But despite repeated requests by the opposition, Parliamentary Secretary for Interior Sanaullah Khan Mastikhel refused to release details about those arrested in connection with these incidents, declaring that a new question be submitted before he could answer their queries.
Doesn't want to go into a breakdown of who's doing the killing...
However, the Interior Ministry revealed that 26 vehicles, 625 shops, eight buildings, seven electric polls and six banks had been either destroyed or damaged by terrorist acts. The Sindh government alone, it said, had intimated losses of more than Rs 15 million due to terrorism-related incidents.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/26/2006 00:00 ||
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Just another hint that Pakistan is TERRORISM CENTRAL and needs sorting asap!!!!!
Iraqi anti- corruption officials disclosed Friday that holdings of the Saddam regime had been located and confiscated in Paris, London, Tunis and Baghdad itself.
Al-Irakiya television cited anti-corruption agency spokesman Ali al-Shabut as saying the authorities were investigating corruption allegations dating back to 1968, the year Saddam came to power.
The report said Saddam and his functionaries had deposited state funds in accounts using invented names. But it did not specify whether the holdings now confiscated consisted of money, securities, real estate or other types of assets.
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/26/2006 00:00 ||
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BAGHDAD - In a bid to try to end the sectarian violence and push the process of reconciliation in conflict-torn Iraq, Baghdad was getting ready on Friday for a conference of clan and tribal leaders. Some 600 clan and tribal leaders from around Iraq were expected to attend the conference.
Topics of debate are to include proposals to disband the militias, easing the recriminations being imposed on former members of the erstwhile ruling Baath Party of ousted dictator Saddam Hussein, and stopping the Sunni and Shiite extremists gangs in their efforts to drive away families. The conference is part of the Iraq governments effort to try to reconciliate the countrys diverse ethnic, religious and social groups.
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/26/2006 00:00 ||
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I hate to say it but killing this entire top-tier of tribal command might be the best thing possible. These are the movers and shakers in prolonging all of the sectarian strife. Snuffing their hide-bound @sses might make room for individuals who will truly respect the Korbin Dallas School of Negotiating.
Encouraged by Hizballah's perceived victory in Lebanon, another radical Islamic party may declare an Islamic caliphate in the Gaza Strip on Friday, another step in its effort to see Islam rule the world.
The Hizb ut-Tahrir (Liberation Party) advocates replacing all Muslim governments in the world with one Islamic leader who would then declare the establishment of a worldwide Islamic caliphate.
Although the move has been described as largely symbolic, it highlights a growing trend among Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, analysts say.
Hizb ut-Tahrir, an international Sunni Islamic movement, has gained popularity with Palestinians since Hizballah put up more of a fight in southern Lebanon than Israel and the world expected.
The group rallied thousands of Palestinians to take part in a demonstration in Gaza City on Tuesday, which marked the anniversary of the collapse of the Ottoman Empire (the Islamic Turkish Empire that ruled the Middle East for some 400 years).
According to the Jerusalem Post, protesters called for Israel to be wiped off the map and they called for the establishment of an Islamic caliphate to rule the Palestinian Authority.
One observer, who asked not to be named, said the idea of declaring a caliphate is more symbolic than substantial - a sign of increasing support for Hizb ut-Tahrir, which few people took seriously before this. Many people were surprised at the turnout for the rally, he said.
Jordanian officials recently arrested members of the group in Jordan, after their leader, Ramzi Sawalhah, called for the Jordanian monarchy to be replaced by an Islamic caliphate.
Founded in Jordanian-controlled East Jerusalem in the early 1950s, Hizb ut-Tahrir has now spread to some 40 countries, including the U.S. Because the group believes in one Islamic leader, it has tended to shun the idea of becoming involved in local politics.
Islamic expert Dr. Yoram Kahati of the International Policy Institute for Counter-Terrorism said that although the group operates worldwide, Arab states and others have outlawed the group.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, however, was unsuccessful in banning the group in England, where it is believed to have its headquarters.
"They are not very active," said Kahati. During the years of the Palestinian Authority they opposed the peace process, he said.
Kahati downplayed the significance of a caliphate declaration in the Gaza Strip, saying it would be "meaningless" since most people there are more worried about being able to buy food for their families.
The Hamas government there could have two reactions: either seize the opportunity or dismiss it as irresponsible, he said.
Hizb ut-Tahrir was one of the first groups to develop the radical Islamic ideology that affected many other better-known groups that are active today, said Kahati. Recently, the group did declare itself an official political party in Lebanon, he said.
The group believes in bringing about change through indoctrination and not necessarily through force, said Kahati, though it is not opposed to force. "Only once they come to the conclusion that they have enough power, then they support taking [over] by force," he said.
In May 2003, Dr. Ariel Cohen described Hizb ut-Tahrir as "an emerging threat to American interests in Central and South Asia and the Middle East" in an article on the Heritage Foundation Website.
"Its proclaimed goal is jihad against America and the overthrow of existing political regimes and their replacement with a caliphate, a theocratic dictatorship based on the shari'a (religious Islamic law). The model for Hizb ut Tahrir is the "righteous" caliphate, a militaristic Islamic state that existed in the 7th and 8th centuries under Mohammad and his first four successors, known as the "righteous Caliphs," said Cohen.
On what is described as the official website of Hizb ut-Tahrir the group said it was founded "in order to resume the Islamic way of life and carry the Islamic call to the world."
A commentary on the site described as "political" and dated July 25, 2006 (while the Hizballah-Israel war was in full swing and Hizballah rockets were raining down on Israel) says that weapons should be acquired to vanquish Israel and its allies.
"If 'Israel' is capable of hitting targets through its air force, then the intensive acquisition of missiles, especially if their delivery systems are upgraded to help them track their targets accurately, will paralyze and deter the entity of the Jews. Then they can be confronted and vanquished together with those who stand behind them...
"It has become apparent to anyone with eyesight that the armies of the Muslims are capable of curbing the freak entity of "Israel" and even wiping it out of existence if they had the true resolve and if they acquired the willpower and the effective weapons to fight their battle against the enemies of the [the people]," it said.
Reserve soldiers and bereaved family members protesting the failures of the war in Lebanon formed a procession of cars from Mazkeret Batya to Jerusalem, calling on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Amir Peretz, and IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz to resign. The procession left from the gravesite of St.-Sgt. Rafenael Muscal, who was killed in Maroun al-Ras, and was expected to arrive in another hour at the grave of former prime minister Golda Meir at Mt. Herzl.
The demonstrators said they saw in Golda Meir an example of a leader who showed her responsibility by resigning after the Yom Kippur War. The protesters planned to hold a short rally near the grave, and then to return to the protest tent across from the prime minister's office.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/26/2006 00:00 ||
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Unfortunately losers like Olmert cling to power until forced from it.
#2
Remember, Lebanon = Syria, etal. > the IDF may be the Lebanese + Syrians only hope of escaping takeover by Radical Iran, ala NORTH KOREA and CHINA. Moud's boyz may be Muslim and hate Israel, but neither are they for Lebanon, Syria, nor the entire ME-Muslim World NOT being dominated or controlled from Tehran. LIKE THE NORKIES, THE LEBBIES-SYRIANS HAVE TO DECIDE WHO AND WHAT THEY ARE, WHAT THEY WANT, AND WHAT THEY WANT TO BE - IFF THEY DON'T, THE RADICAL IRANIANS WILL DECIDE IT FOR THEM. RADICAL IRAN HAS DECIDED THERE ARE NO BORDERS BETWEEN IT AND BERUIT = JERUSALEM, ETAL., NOR BETWEEN TEHRAN AND REST OF THE WORLD.
Top leaders of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party on Saturday gave Abbas the go-ahead to begin forming a unity government with Hamas in an effort to end internal feuding and international isolation, a party member said. The Fatah Central Committee gave Abbas "all the powers to begin consultations with all the national factions in order to form a national unity government," Fatah member Hani al-Hassan said.
The central committee's meetings, which began Wednesday, were the first gathering of its kind since the party's stunning defeat by Hamas in parliamentary elections held in January. Hamas, which heads the Palestinian government, has since been marginalized by the international community and has come under a crippling economic boycott for refusing to recognize Israel. Abbas believes that forming a coalition will force Hamas to moderate its anti-Israel stance and help open the way for the renewal of broader peace talks. "The problem is not between Fatah and Hamas as it is portrayed by some, it is how to save the Palestinian national project and face the current crisis," al-Hassan said.
This assertion, as well as claims of a unity government agreement, have been rejected by some members of the Palestinian parliament. "There is no discussion of a unity Palestinian government, except for the discussion in the media," said Palestinian parliament member, Mahmoud Dahlan in an interview with "Haaretz" in Gaza. According to Dahlan, there is no real attempt from the part of the government or factions to a get the Palestinians out of their current crisis.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/26/2006 00:00 ||
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Good, now the IDF doesn't have to worry about which Palestinian lawmakers it kills.
Sixty-three percent of Israelis want Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to resign in a sharp public rebuke over his handling of the war in Lebanon, a newspaper poll showed on Friday. The Yedioth Aronoth poll showed for the first time a majority favoured Olmert stepping down, along with a big jump in support for the right-wing Likud party and its leader, Benjamin Netanyahu.
Another poll in the Maariv newspaper showed that only 14 percent of Israelis would vote for Olmert if new elections were held today, while 26 percent would back Netanyahu, a former prime minister. The Yedioth poll said 45 percent would support Netanyahu as prime minister in new elections. Yedioth, Israel's biggest circulation daily, called the survey results a political "earthquake" for Olmert, whose centrist Kadima party crushed Netanyahu's Likud in general elections in March. A similar poll published a week ago showed 41 percent wanted Olmert to resign.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/26/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
Israelis are like Americans they don't like to lose or even the perception of losing. Olmert going to the UN for a cease fire really pissed them off.
UNITED NATIONS With increasing signs that several fellow Security Council members may stall a United States push to penalize Iran for its nuclear enrichment program, Bush administration officials have indicated that they are prepared to form an independent coalition to freeze Iranian assets and restrict trade.
The strategy, analysts say, reflects not only long-standing U.S. frustration with the Security Council's inaction on Iran, but also the current weakness of Washington's position because of its controversial role in a series of conflicts in the Middle East, most recently in Lebanon.
Despite assurances from Russia and China in July that they would support initial sanctions against Iran if it failed to suspend aspects of its nuclear program, Russia seemed to backtrack this week after Tehran agreed to continue talks, but refused to halt enrichment. A Security Council resolution gives the Islamic Republic until Aug. 31 to stop uranium enrichment, which could provide fuel to produce electricity or possibly atomic weapons, or face penalties.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei B. Ivanov said Friday that as long as Iran was willing to negotiate, it was "premature" to punish the country and perhaps permanently isolate it.
"I do not know cases in international practice or the whole of the previous experience when sanctions reached their goals or were efficient," Ivanov said.
"Apart from this, I do not think that the issue is so urgent that the U.N. Security Council or the group of six countries" the U.S., China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany "should consider the introduction of sanctions. In any case Russia continues to advocate a political and diplomatic solution to the problem."
French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said Iran's response was "not satisfactory" but France wanted to avoid a new conflict that could lead to "a clash of civilizations."
"But the worst thing would be to escalate into a confrontation with Iran on the one hand and the Muslim world with Iran and the West," he said on French radio. "That would be the clash of civilizations that France today is practically alone in trying to avoid."
U.S. Ambassador John R. Bolton said in an interview late this week that the United States planned to introduce a resolution imposing penalties such as a travel ban and asset freeze for key Iranian leaders soon after the Aug. 31 deadline, and seemed optimistic that China and Russia would agree to it once they saw the text. "Everybody's been on board," he said.
But in case Russia and China do not accept it, the U.S. is working a parallel diplomatic track outside the U.N., Bolton said.
Under U.S. terrorism laws, Washington could ramp up its own sanctions, including financial constraints on Tehran and interception of missile and nuclear materials en route to Iran, Bolton said, and the U.S. is encouraging other countries to follow suit. "You don't need Security Council authority to impose sanctions, just as we have," he said.
The U.S. has had broad restrictions on almost all trade with Iran since 1987. Exceptions include the import of dried fruits and nuts, caviar and carpets. In addition, U.S. companies can obtain licenses to do limited trade in agriculture and medicine. The United States also initiated the Proliferation Security Initiative, involving a coalition of countries that have agreed to intercept shipments of materials to Iran that could be used for weapons of mass destruction.
"We will continue to enhance PSI to cut off flows of materials and technology that are useful to Iran's ballistic missile program and nuclear programs," Bolton said. "We will be constraining financial transactions under existing terrorism laws."
He said Washington was focusing on European and Japanese banks to restrict business with Iran, because most of Tehran's transactions are done in U.S. dollars, euros, British pounds and yen. "There aren't a lot of opportunities to sell in other currencies," he said.
Bolton and U.S. Treasury officials refused to provide details on which countries might be interested, citing the "sensitivity" of the talks.
But Treasury spokeswoman Molly Millerwise said they had already seen results, including Union Bank of Switzerland cutting off relationships with Iran.
"We're seeing more financial institutions around the world looking at the actions and messages emanating out of Iran from their nuclear ambitions to state sponsorship of Hezbollah and asking themselves, 'do we really want to be Iran's banker?' " she said in an e-mail.
Though U.S. officials said pursuing parallel paths is "common sense" and highlights what they consider to be the inefficiency of the Security Council, some analysts said the move would underline Washington's inability to win over the council and the lack of options against a newly emboldened Iran.
"When you start doing things that would be better with the Security Council's endorsement, does it show weakness or strength?" said George Perkovich, the director of the nonproliferation program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "Iran could argue that 'the U.S. couldn't even get the Security Council backing, and so we are winning.' "
Perkovich said even traditional U.S. allies were fatigued by dealing with so many conflicts and didn't want to add Iran to a list that includes Afghanistan, Iraq and Lebanon.
"There is a general reluctance to follow the U.S. lead," he said. "Our negotiating power is diminished, which is regrettable."
Russia and China have specifically objected to the use of a U.N. charter measure known as Chapter 7 that would open the door to military action or sanctions. But Bolton said that a resolution on North Korea passed unanimously in July might create a new template for dealing with those concerns.
That resolution instituted a ban on supplying technology and goods related to North Korea's missile and nuclear programs, and got around China's and Russia's doubts about Chapter 7 with other legally binding language that would prevent an Iraq-style invasion.
"There are some aspects of the North Korea resolution that will be useful," Bolton said. "A lot of this is just going to have be played out."
#6
"But the worst thing would be to escalate into a confrontation with Iran on the one hand and the Muslim world with Iran and the West," he said on French radio. "That would be the clash of civilizations that France today is practically alone in trying to avoid."
Why are you delaying the inevitable, France? Shortage of white flags?
#7
For the french Establishment, the clash of civilization is an american creation and a real bopogeyman; it's kinda contradicts their notion of the end of History/end of Nations/end of capitalism (aka the anglosaxon world order).
See this for a genesis of this worldview
#8
Not to mention the stark terror that French leaders feel. They know it is likely that their decades of both discrimination against their Muslims and dhimmi behavior towards Arab countries means France will go up in flames when this clash of civilizations erupts so openly they cannot ignore it any longer.
#10
Not to mention the stark terror that French leaders feel.
Ms Lotp, yes, very, very true IMHO.
I'm certainly biased by my reading and the conservative/rightwing free radio I listen to, but the fear element is here in full effect. As acknowledged in public by a french official during a very interesting french tevee talkshow, one of the various reasons France didn't join in OIF is that the RG police intelligence told the gvt the 'hoods would have erupted in flames if so. And don't forget the response to the november ramadan riots was to throw more money, promote multiculturalism, affirmative action, etc, etc... IE caving in and appeasement, while police was prevented from any kind of meaningful response to this, past a pure "management".
France has stuck herself into a situation where she's held hostage by her "guests", because none of the Establishment pol has the will to do the very painful and demanding necessary moves to exit that trap (and there are the petrodollars too, and ideology...).
In France, the gvt doesn't govern anymore, it can't enforce its sovereignty over areas beyond its control (100 torched cars a night, at the very least, "traditional" riots on Xmas, 1st january, 14th july, a huge underworld economy based on haschich traffic from north africa...), all it can do is smother the middle class, keep the system on life support (subsisiding the "dangerous classes" with welfare money taken from the middle class) and wait for the "true" crisis to erupt, someday.
They're not only inept (they KNOW perfectly what's going on), they're deluded (they think they can ride the tiger and have to fight their "ennemies" anyway).
#11
Does our leadership in any way think trade sanctions will avert nuclear war? If they do, then take away the Persian hash-hish they are smoking. This is not a situation where you can gradually ramp up diplomatic rhetoric and then all sing kumbaya. This is a situation of travelling down a road with two cliffs. You can now jump into smaller cliff of conventional war or wait until until the road runs out and are forced to fight in the nuclear chasm. The choice is thousands dead no or millions dead later. Judging from the lack of military preparations, our leaders have already chosen millions of dead.
Posted by: ed ||
08/26/2006 16:42 Comments ||
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#13
Bush administration officials have indicated that they are prepared to form an independent coalition to freeze Iranian assets and restrict trade.
If this is the best they can do, they are not fit for leadership.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei B. Ivanov said Friday that as long as Iran was willing to negotiate, it was "premature" to punish the country and perhaps permanently isolate it.
The fact that negotiating with Iran has NEVER produced a single substantive result throughout the entire post-Shah period renders the above absolutely meaningless.
"I do not know cases in international practice or the whole of the previous experience when sanctions reached their goals or were efficient," Ivanov said.
Then why is Ivanov even wasting his breath blathering on about exploring diplomatic solutions with a regime that has flouted every single attempt at such throughout its entire history?
In any case Russia continues to advocate a political and diplomatic solution to the problem."
The only issue being solved is Russia's cashflow problem by selling Iran every last bit of nuclear and military hardware they can unload before the mullahs get their @sses roasted with atomic bombs. Russia's one significant contribution to this problem has been to pour gasoline on the fire.
"But the worst thing would be to escalate into a confrontation with Iran on the one hand and the Muslim world with Iran and the West,"
Too late. It's already begun, and we didn't start it. But we will certainly finish it. Only the blindest of the blind do not realize this.
Perkovich said even traditional U.S. allies were fatigued by dealing with so many conflicts and didn't want to add Iran to a list that includes Afghanistan, Iraq and Lebanon.
Too effing bad! World Wars just happen to involve lots of other countries. Obviously, there just haven't been sufficient numbers of Islamic atrocities to convince these morons yet. Just wait, you'll get your wish. Idiots!
#14
Talk about cliffs, ed, you're jumping now - yet there is no evidence you can point to that proves your presumptions and assertions. None. They do not have a deliverable nuke now or they'd be holding parades and dancing about in leotards with vials of enriched uranium.
That we haven't knocked off the Mullahs yet is all you have to back up your claims. I always enjoy your posts - except on this topic. You've decided, without a shred of real evidence, to say Bush isn't going to do anything. Fine - that's just your completely unsubstantiated opinion, not fact. I believe otherwise - that he will try to bring the Congress onboard and, failing that, act alone as President - and the bulk of available evidence is on my side. The timeline is unknown to us. It's likely unknown to Bush, too, but he knows more about it than we do. The heavy water story today certainly indicates that the Doomsday Date is further off than we think - meaning he's on top of things and the Dire Moment is, indeed, much further down the line. There may be plenty of time to try the sanctions game - can you say for certain? No. Neither can I.
You nor I know what the Bush admin knows. We don't even know what they think except that which has been said publicly. And publicly, repeatedly, Bush has said that Iran must not have nukes.
The intel situation today, especially given the gravity of the situation, certainly sucks. Bush is having to run a race on 6 cylinders. Suck to be him, IMHO.
There are three course of "action" available, I believe:
1) Do nothing, Euro-style, until the Mullahs have a deliverable nuke. Then reap the resulting terror you predict.
2) Get the US Senate to take the threat seriously, to take the protection of Israel and everyone else within range of Iranian missiles seriously. To wake the fuck up and match the House with a Joint Resolution that gives Bush the authority (actually the "blessing" of the Congress) to act against Iran.
3) Bush can take his chances and go it alone - for he is empowered to protect National Security. This is a problematic choice - look at the Dhimmis in the US who are already chomping at the bit to impeach him for merely trying to track jihadi phone calls into the US. Let the Dhimmis gain control of the House and impeachment charges will be immediately filed. The circus will end any serious efforts to stop Iran. If he goes ahead and takes them down, as we know he must, he will surely be convicted, too, if the Dhimmis hold the House.
Right now, at this moment, it is a political impasse.
Believe me when I say that I am as frustrated with the pace of things regards Iran as you are. But we can stop the circus from coming to town in November - if we're willing to back up our big talk. We can kick the Senate in the ass with letters and emails and support for those who aren't idiots and for those who seek to replace idiots. We can do something about this, other than just moan and groan and issue dire warnings.
He's doing what he can, as he sees it. That he sees more about Iran, its intentions, its progress, and the threat than we do SHOULD be obvious. That he is worth his word should also be obvious.
I'm really tired of this shit. All of this, the reality that Bush has to deal with - not the fantasy of do it my way on my schedule cuz I say so - should be intuitively obvious to the casual observer. Give the man a fucking break - he's earned that much, at least. When the shit hits the fan, whether it's a flying Iranian nuke or 1500 aimpoints being obliterated across Iran, then (and only then) will we know for certain who's right.
#15
Would somebody get real? The country is not ready to take action on Iran. Bush cannot engage in military action of the type necessary in Iran without the country behind it. This is the next step. There are a lot more steps to go through to get a sufficent number on board. It's not like the Iranians can nuke NYC tomorrow. And as an added bonus, the UN may be finished by the time Bush gets done.
#16
The Russians are nuts to think they can escape the destruction. When the bombs go off, any surviving missiles will be launched at any and all infidels in range. Say goodbye to Volgograd, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Athens, Rome, Paris, Berlin, London. Take small comfort in the knowledge it was your technical help and smuggled machines that made it possible.
Posted by: ed ||
08/26/2006 17:27 Comments ||
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#17
The Iranians have had the machinery for at least 3000 P1 centrifuges (2 SWU/year) and years ago announced plans to manufacture 50,000 manufacure more. On April 11, 2006, Iran announced that it had enriched a small quantity of uranium to 3.5 percent in its experimental 164-centrifuge test cascade. It also announced plans to begin building a 3,000-centrifuge cascade by the end of 2006. A cascade of 3000 P1 centrifuges would produce enough HEU for 1 crude bomb or 2-3 implosion type bombs/year. On that timeline by 2007E, the Iranians will have the material for 2-3 bombs based on the Chinese 2nd gen design used by Pakistan and distributed thoughout the muslim world. This assumes there are not thousands of other centrifuges chugging away these last few years in tunnels under Tehran. The Iranians have the machinery to manufacture them and their public announcements were to have 50,000 in operation at Natanz. Gotta be a real believer to think they haven't been using that machinery to make centrifuges and sticking them in tunnels. especcially when even the US found traces of HEU.
The Iranians have announced they already have 85 metric tons of UF6 and an untraceable domestic source of uranium. They have had these several years to produce on the sly enough HEU for several bombs. Using just the publicly announced centrufuges and heavy water reactors are on line, the Iranians will be able to produce at least 50 crude and 100-150 implosion type atomic bombs/year. Then with tritium extraction, you can see where I am going. When dealing with the Iranians, look at capabilities. The malevalence is a given.
Posted by: ed ||
08/26/2006 18:00 Comments ||
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#18
even the UN found traces of HEU
Posted by: ed ||
08/26/2006 18:01 Comments ||
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#19
No argument regards the malevolence or intentions... just about whether or not it makes sense to bash Bush. Reality's a bitch - and he has to deal with it. We can putter about here and say anything - and there are no ramifications, no blowback. I believe he's doing what he can and will, in the end, decap the Mullahs and send them back to their beloved 7th century - and free the majority (?) of Iranians from Persian rule in the process.
#20
Would somebody get real? The country is not ready to take action on Iran.
The lack of preparation is the fault of our leadership. It is their job to identify the threats, devise a strategy, and provide the materiel to defeat our enemies. They are worse than useless in this case.
Posted by: ed ||
08/26/2006 18:13 Comments ||
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#21
I'm with Fly - I think it will be dealt with, I just hope it's in time - W will have to do it alone (without Israel IMHO), with only Australia as foreign support. Air strikes only.
your mileage may vary
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/26/2006 18:22 Comments ||
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#22
It's doubtful airstrikes will destroy HEU or even the mullah's government. And how do you destroy from the air the core beliefs of a predatory religion?
Posted by: ed ||
08/26/2006 18:31 Comments ||
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#23
Re #20 - If TODAY is Doomsday, then you're right. It's not, so you're...
Get real, indeed. The message is constantly put out and the attempt to "educate" the US public has been going for almost 3 years - obviously not to anyone here's satisfaction. And the MAIN reason is that Bush is having to do it against the flood of BDS from almost the entire MSM. We've never had this level of subversion and Fifth Column sedition, before. It's damned tough slogging, but he hasn't given up - why have you?
Maybe you've made a damned fine case for roving mobs knocking off the seditious bastions of the media... but not for bashing Bush.
Since we don't know the timeline, how can you prove it has failed? How can you go ahead and make that claim and blame Bush? Your decision to do so is, shall we say, premature...
This bitching and blaming shit is great blog stuff, very inspiring and such, spiffy theater even, but it has no bearing whatsoever upon reality.
#24
Nevermind. Fuck it. Reality just is, as .com used to say. Deal with it. Everything is fantasyland. Just don't bitch when people point out where the border is.
#25
The Mullah's government will be toppled by the actions to be taken. I'd rather have W's popularity ratings than Ahmadinajihad's That is why they will focus first on sanctions, to show the Iranian people they have a pariah regime and to cut off trade, especially imports of gasoline. After that the gasoline refineries get taken out. If that isn't enough, I'd bet the planners have a series of steps to bring on civil war, including letting the Kurds loose. W has to get his ducks in a row before he starts shooting, thanks to the CIA. How about giving him a chance to do it?
#26
For Flyover, if he cares to listen. I have always supported GWB and seldom criticize him. He has been a fine president and will probably be remembered as a great one. However, he has never used the bully pulpit to educate the American people. Perhaps he started where I have ended up - I believe that it is a waste of time and energy to even try to engage the moonbats. He gets it, but it often looks like he doesn't even have complete control of the Executive branch.
This means that he will have to make the decision as president and give the order on his own authority. It needs to be before the November election, because the Trunks don't look so healthy now, and I doubt that they will find their mojo before the election. Imagine Pelosi as speaker and the troll from Detroit as Judiciary chair. Educate the Senate? LOL. I have Opie Graham for one of my senators. And McCain? He is just Clinton without the intern. He feels compelled to start talking when the refrigerator light comes on in the morning. Must have to get a lobotomy to sit in the Senate.
The 'intelligence' agencies have given us ample evidence not to rely on them or even trust that they mean well. I hope the president has an accurate picture, because a surprise here will cost a lot of American lives. Such a surprise will negate all the things that I said about the president in the first paragraph.
#28
I hope the president has an accurate picture, because a surprise here will cost a lot of American lives. Such a surprise will negate all the things that I said about the president in the first paragraph
It's not for nuthin that the home of our special ops people in Iraq is close to the Iranian border.
But there's no certainty in this business. Just some important judgement calls with big risks on all sides.
#29
Let's be realistic, the ChiComs, the Ruskies, the NoKo, and the Irants are at varying stages of war with the US.
The Ruskies are still trying to do payback for their getting thumped in Afganistan with US provided Stinger missiles.
The ChiComs are staging a long-view war, low-profile war while it builds its intelligence, weaponry, and geopolitical posture.
Both are heavily invested in an Iranian success and are hardly honest brokers on the UNSC.
Posted by: Captain America ||
08/26/2006 20:01 Comments ||
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#30
Went outside to muck out the fish pond and pleased to know the debate has been continuing.
lotp,
How many troops do you think the US can put on the ground in Iran? How long do you think our stocks can support them in difficult terrain? Why is the US not building munitions stocks to fight a nation of 70 million? Why are not training more troops and, if neccessary, placing them in the reserves? How about opposition? If the Iranian mullahs were willing to lose 1 million to Iraq, how many are they willing to lose to the Great Satan's meat grinder? Remember, even though Iran has less than 1/4 the US population, has 1/2 as many 18 years olds as does the entire USA. If from the air, how many days and nights of dead babies on TV can the US take before it pulls an Israel? How are we preparing the battlefield or making allies of Iranian minority nations. If the Persians don't overthrow the mullahs, how has the administration prepared us the conquer, kill or occupy the Persians? Is the US still on the territorial integrity fantasy?
Flyover,
I think the Bush administration is very good tactically but have failed strategically. For instance I think Iraq has gone better than expected when the goal is to lead the population to democracy. The failures begin by not being able to identify who is the enemy, let alone conveying that to the American people. Is it any wonder that the US seems directionless and doesn't know how to pursue victory? Instead the US is expending resources in Afghanistan and Iraq when we should have taken Saudi Arabia in 2001, destroyed wahabism, and become the world's oil linchpin. From the very defensible Arabian peninsula, the Iranians could be taken at our leisure. Instead the US is sending out of the country $200 billion more each year for oil imports and spending $100 billion each year for little military or political gain.
Now to go cut some bushes.
Posted by: ed ||
08/26/2006 20:17 Comments ||
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#31
First things first and credit given where it is due. Flyover, please keep up the good work. Your posts in this thread have been on-topic and exceedingly cogent. You have made exceptionally good points using solid logic and I cannot bring myself to snipe at what is obviously well-thought-out discourse.
Ed, thank you for modifying your original message of futility. However disappointed you or I may be with Bush, I still refuse to give up all hope that he will somehow find the wherewithal to finally confront the Iranians.
If the Iranian mullahs were willing to lose 1 million [troops] to Iraq, how many are they willing to lose to the Great Satan's meat grinder?
If you have followed my own postings regarding this, then you'll know that myself and many others here do not believe that a conflict with Iran will involve troops at all. Iran is simply too vast and possesses extremely varied terrain, including numerous mountain ranges. A land battle is entirely out of the question.
Beyond that, as I have also mentioned, I feel that the era of nation-building is over and done with. Especially so in Iran's case. Our only obligation is to go in and cripple Iran to whatever degree we deem necessary or whatever we can achieve given the circumstances. Of course, it is my hope that we can incite a complete and total overthrow of the mullahs, but I will settle for at least temporarily neutering Iran militarily.
The lack of support America faces in this, combined with the incredibly mercenary (and even predatory), self-interest being exhibited by foe and ally alike make this particular foray fraught with tremendously thorny ramifications. That said, I do not believe that we have sufficient leeway to permit these implications to substantially alter the complexion of this case. The threat of Iran's accession to nuclear weapons is simply too dire for us to allow any economic propwash to hobble our priorities.
Carry on. I am so enjoying this thread. This is what Rantburg is all about.
#32
I agree with much of the frustration, but I think at least SR-71 is misreading the domestic situation. Clear-eyed observers like Jay Cost are predicting fairly small GOP midterm losses, with little chance of actually losing either house. (Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if the Repubs actually netted a Senate seat.)
Bush doesn't want to disrupt this outcome, so. isn't likely to show any real aggression until after election day. Unless his hand is forced, of course...
#33
Nice stuff, flyover. Rational and reasoned. Word, in fact, except for the leaving part. Don't give up on the 'Burg. It's Saturday - many regulars aren't around to chime in. You are definitely NOT alone. Frank and NS and lotp didn't fear the spittle or the bandwagon effect of righteous ranting, however misdirected, and neither do I. In fact, you've brought me out of hibernation, today. Stay the course, as Bush is doing.
Heavy sigh. I kinda liked lurking. This is how I see it, for what it's worth.
It is up to us. We have the power to decide who will lead the fight for our lives and our way of life... as well as those legislators who will either support those leaders or try to subvert and dilute the effort, whatever their motives. Everything pivots on our domestic politics.
Putting our money and efforts behind the good ones, the ones who aren't gutless turds who triangulate Moonbat-style against the very source of the freedoms they enjoy, who don't pray to their secular Gawd for more American dead so they can posture a claim for a return to power, who aren't tools of Stalinist propaganda bullshit designed to destroy us from within, who aren't anti-American Tranzis who lack the balls to even protect their own citizens, much less meet the threat of IslamoNazism, who hate themselves so much they work toward their own doom - and hope to drag us down with them, who have never had to defend anything and project their own fears as fear-mongering by those who have sacrificed for the American Way, who aren't worth warm spit as citizens and don't produce even a fraction of what they consume and presume is their birthright, who deserve no quarter and will cower before the righteous when the Day of Retribution cometh, is our charge. Do it and American can survive. Fail, and we are indeed in the deepest kimchi. Personally, the impeachment circus that would follow a shift in the House to the Dhimmis would cripple us in the WoT - though it would probably result in a Pubbie Prez in 2008 as the backlash caught up. There'd be a shitload of "Oh fuck!" realizations among those who sat out November. There's damned little comfort in that, however.
Many seem eager to punish Bush, because of failing to meet their personal expectations, for not chiming in on their personal pet peeve - immigration or whatever. Many think he can just whack Iran if it suits him. Almost (?) as many want to impeach him for simply trying to protect us in obviously constitutional efforts. Go figure, eh? I'd say he does have just about the toughest uphill battle imaginable - on all issues - and the ankle-biting doesn't help - it makes it even harder.
Sure, I have issues with him, too, I have quibbles and complaints which are VERY important and MUST be addressed NOW. Goddamned slacker! Bash that bitch! Lol. Yeah, right. I should run for Prez so I can teach those DhimmiDonks a lesson or three and whack all the judges who choose to ignore their oaths, the constitution, existing law, and promote their agendas... and I'd thump the NYT, et al, for being seditious asshats, frog-marching Pinchy off to prison for starters... and blow Hell out of the Mullahs yesterday. Those McInerny aimpoints have been very carefully chosen - and those Pentagon planners know far more than we do about where, when, and how to bring Iran low... and release lotsa groovy footage of pinpoint Mullah vaporization. It'd be easy, I'd just issue the orders and then go clear some brush at the ranch. While there I'd kick off my plan to lay waste to the US Senate and frog-march Kennedy and Kerry, et al, off via the 6 o'clock news... Fuck it, I'm the Prez. It's my party, I can kill if I want to. Best guess: I'd last about a week before being impeached - maybe a month before being convicted - and back on the street, lol.
The consequences of ignoring the political reality. The one we can ignore, but Bush must deal with.
IWWIWWIWI*. The war-cry (read: tantrum) of the brave 3 yr old. "Waaaaa! Bush didn't do everything my way! Bush didn't meet my schedule! Bush is shit! Everything he did is shit! Wotta bum! Throw him out! Throw all of them out!" Sad that this seems acceptable nowadays. Aw hell, let's call a spade a spade: it's fucking pathetic. Reminiscent of the Firesign classic: "What have you done for me, lately." Pfeh. It's futile and short-sighted. It's cowardice when resolve is most needed.
Stick around, flyover. The "fun" has been underway for years - and will continue for a few more, methinks. You're just a little too nice is all. Get meaner and nastier, like the opposition. I'll lose some "friends" for truth-telling, but hey, I think it's important. Go ahead and call stupid cliff-jumping behavior what it is: thoughtless posturing... or is it just frustration release? Whatever, it's obviously disingenuous and misdirected - thus more harmful than helpful. That's the simple truth of it, no matter how good it feels to post it. I can handle folks letting off steam, but the anger should, at the very least, be directed where it belongs. In this case, it's our internal enemies in the MSM and the Congress who are attempting to further isolate Bush and make what needs to be done seem unnecessary, outrageously unilateral, dangerous - all that Tranzi and Stalinist agitprop. I look forward to the day that we drop the pretenses and starting laying waste to the internal enemies - take that how you wish, lol.
We will take on the threats as they bubble to the fore in lethality and danger. Today / soon, the Mullahs - with the Syrians and Hezb's and more in the bargain. This is one of the few engagements I can see that can actually be decisively handled via air power and minimal boots. We can set them back, at the least, and probably get regime change, too. It depends upon when and how - and I trust those guys at the Pentagon know this. Lotsa serendipitous bonus points in a minimal boots success, given our current situation. Tomorrow, the Saudis, with the PakiWakis and Hamas and Wahhabist funding of hate centers across the world in the bargain. Next Golden Dragon HS - that will be an interesting game. The Russkies will be marginalized along the way - they've made it clear enough that they're triangulating whores. Lol, our dance card is booked for a coupla decades. It sure would make the going easier, the footing would be far more sure if we cleaned up here at home, first. That's where the rub is, IMO. I'm rather bloody-minded about this, in fact, watering the Tree of Liberty bloody. I've got a prioritized list, should the WH ask... Lol, I'm just saying...
Stay cool, flyover, you're a welcome voice to many, I believe. Most certainly to me. I, too, value ed's and SR-71's comments. I've been catching up on months of events and commentary and find real value from both. But not on this topic. Here, they have decided to abandon the only hope they have, the only hope that we have, of stopping the greatest terror threat we've even seen: Mullahs with nukes. As you said, it ain't over, yet. The Day has not come, so the final word has not been written. I trust Bush will be Bush - and keep his word: Iran must not have nukes. Whatever it takes. He's the first politician in my lifetime who even comes close to deserving such high praise and trust.
To ed and SR-71, please accept my comments as intended - honest and unvarnished disagreement on the most important issue to come along in my lifetime. It's my "style". If I've overstated your positions or misread you, then I apologize. Otherwise, if my comments are unacceptable to you, well, such is life in the blogosphere - I simply cannot apologize for telling the truth as I see it. I can only wonder when, and why, good folks started giving up when there is no substantive evidence, no reason beyond growing frustration (we're obviously not very good at waiting and trusting), for doing so. As for the last comment, ed, You are still discounting the complicity of the enemies within, IMO, and expecting Bush to magically overcome the endless BDS diatribe. As for whacking the Saudis, lol, I'm sure with you there, Bro. The Iranian nuke program came to light since I last opined on how to deal with the Saudis, and the Mullahs have leap-frogged them into the #1 position for action. The obvious part, to us and the Bush admin as well, has to be that dealing with the problem, not the symptoms (e.g. Syria) is the right move. Bringing the public along to accept the threat reality is the toughest chore on the list. Damned-near everyone is working against Bush. November is where we, the sheeple, can do something about it. Just preventing the loss of the House and/or Senate would send a surprising message of realism to them both - and might force them off the Kool Aid and cowardly BDS / RINO triangulation rampant now. It seems everyone has bought into the "The House is lost!" meme - which can become self-fulfilling if not proven wrong by the only poll that counts. Flyover's right - November is where the rubber meets the road. If the House goes Dhimmidonk then we automatically lose 2 years - and that's 2 years of the best hope we have: Bush.
To lotp - I agree with your comments, both here and on the other thread - re: the economic effects, which Ahmedjihadi couldn't care less about, it must be a factor in our equation - but it cannot be deemed greater than allowing them to acquire nukes. Perhaps the timing is, indeed, one of the issues being factored in. If we can think of it, then it's a certainty that Bush & Co have.
To Zenster - I agree with your post on the other thread, but this comment came out TODAY. Let the effect be felt, be absorbed, be used to lever the Senate off its collective ass. I believe there is time for this to happen, assuming the Dhimmidonks don't control the House or Senate after November. If they do or if I'm wrong, then the issue is already decided and we will have to rely upon Bush entirely. Yeah, I don't like it either, but that's why he was elected - to make the hard choices - though we didn't know it at the time in 2000. If Iran is allowed to go nuclear, the blame belongs to the US Senate and to the gutless, don't worry, be happy, electorate. May our internal enemies roast in Hell, too. I'd sure like to help with that, lol, for that is where Bush is being stymied and demonized in hopes of preventing him from acting - hell, all of the important issues we face. I like your #31, too. Well said. We're all in this together - and I do believe this is one of those "it's for all the marbles" moments. May we have the fortitude and resolve to face it head-on.
To Shieldwolf on the other thread. Word, Bro. You nailed it.
Sheesh. I've left out tons of relevant shit, but I'm tired. So sue me, lol. November. Everything hinges on November.
Please direct comments to the topic, not to me - I won't answer them. This is the most important shit in the world, IMO.
We've missed you and been worried about you, darlin'. How are you doing? (I won't ask who what you've been doing. ;-p)
Now if TGA would just come back....
Now I'll go back and actually read your post, .com. :-D
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
08/26/2006 21:23 Comments ||
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#37
Welcome back, .com.
re: the economic effects, which Ahmedjihadi couldn't care less about, it must be a factor in our equation - but it cannot be deemed greater than allowing them to acquire nukes.
Bah! Don't do it .com. You are both sorely needed and missed hereabouts, by myself included. It's good to know that you're all right and I hope all is well with you. trailing wife has been taking up the slack in the troll-skinning department, but your pyrotechnics will always take the prize.
My education continues here at Rantburg. I cannot thank you enough for your eye-opener about the role Moderate Muslims play in "where jihadis come from." That single rant of yours forever changed my position on Islam and continues to serve me in good stead as I very slowly convert some of the liberals I know over to understanding the Islamofascist threat.
Stick around, buddy. Your post was a real breath of fresh air.
#45
Goddamit to Hell, .com. Do NOT Do Things Like That. Everyone here was worried about you! People even accused random anonymous strangers of being you in disguise.
*deep breath* *another deep breath*
Ok, I'm glad it's over, whatever it was. I'll be good now. Welcome back, .com! There's tea in the O Club if you would like some. And the really good champagne for everyone else. [I'm going to have to be really, really, really good with my housekeeping budget all the rest of the year for this! Definitely playing against my strengths here, darn it!]
I'll join Barbara and go back and read your post now.
#47
Damn, lol, you're a buncha hard-headed folks! I'm embarrased that the topic (focus, people, focus!) isn't being addressed - and I can't think of anything more important at this moment. Thx for the welcome, lol, now get back to work whooping up on IslamoNazis, Tranzis, Stalinists, and Lefty Moonbats! :-)
#50
Thanks for the vote of confidence, .com. I guess frustration is the real problem, but I just can't see how all of it can be pinned on Bush - he has to fight off most of the world in everything he tries to do. And I believe he'll be there for us, no matter what it demands of him - including sacrificing himself.
I myself have made a stupid comment or three about Bush - mostly in frustation. But I think he is the best man we have for the job at hand. Honest, Stright-dealing, and just right. I think flyover's comments at the time help strighten me out :)
In reality I think he is keeping his eye on the ball and not allowing himself to be distracted by secondary issues. Immigation is being attended to - it isn't what we like but I think its what he can get. The NYT treasons are being investigated. The blogshere is busting open the MSM and exposing their staged scenes and bias (Bush can't confront the MSM directly).
The Israel-Lebanon war didn't turn out quite the way we like but it did help expose the MSM's flat out bias and place the U.N. front and center stage.
BEIRUT, Aug 26 (Reuters) - The magnitude of the Israeli response to Hizbollah's cross-border operation in July took the Lebanese guerrilla group by surprise, Hizbollah deputy leader Naim Qassem said in an interview published on Saturday.
Qassem told an-Nahar daily that Hizbollah had expected an Israel attack at some stage as part of a joint plan with the United States but it had no indication it would come in July.
"We were expecting the Israelis would respond at the most by bombing for a day or two or some limited attacks or targeting certain places, such that it would not go beyond three days and some limited damage," he said.
After Hizbollah fighters seized two Israeli soldiers on July 12, Israel started bombing Lebanon's civilian infrastructure in a one-month war which displaced more than 900,000 people.
Israeli attacks killed close to 1,200 people in Lebanon, mostly civilians, and did damage worth billions of dollars. Israel lost 157 people, mostly soldiers inside Lebanon.
Qassem said: "Frankly we were surprised by the great size (of the Israeli response) and by this serious attack."
Two days after the war began, Hizbollah learned that Israel and the United States were planning an attack in September or October. U.S. media have also said the United States was enthusiastic about Israeli plans to strike at Hizbollah.
"Israel was not ready. In fact it wanted to prepare for two or three months more, but American pressure on one side and the Israeli desire to achieve a success on the other ... were factors which made them rush into battle," Qassem said.
The Hizbollah official said the guerrilla group would coordinate with the Lebanese army as it moves into parts of south Lebanon dominated by Hizbollah.
But Hizbollah will not give up the concept of resistance against Israel, on the grounds that Israel continues to occupy the Shebaa farms region, holds Lebanese prisoners and overflies Lebanese territory almost every day.
"The justifications for ending it (resistance) are not yet there. When we agree on a defence plan to confront Israel, defining the job of the resistance, the army and the Lebanese people, then we will see what the rules and roles are," he said.
The Shebaa Farms is a small patch of land claimed by Lebanon, but occupied by Israel since it captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 war. The United Nations deems the territory Syrian until such time as Syria cedes it to Lebanon.
Israel wants the Lebanese army and a strengthened U.N. peace force to disarm Hizbollah and keep it away from the Israeli border, but Qassem said disarmament was an internal Lebanese matter and Hizbollah fighters will stay in their villages.
The army and the United Nations would not go searching for arms but would stop people carrying them in public, Qassem said.
#2
Israeli attacks killed close to 1,200 hezb fighters and human shields people in Lebanon, mostly bad guys civilians, and did damage worth billions of dollars
What a victory for Hezbollah!
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/26/2006 13:29 Comments ||
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The European Union is to mount the biggest military operation in its history after agreeing yesterday to commit more than 7,000 ground troops for a United Nations mission policing the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire.
They say they will, anyway.
The EU, at a meeting of its foreign ministers in Brussels, also agreed to send a further 2,000 specialist forces, mainly providing naval and air support.
Kofi Annan, the UN secretary-general, in Brussels to cajole hesitant countries, expressed his delight and said that more than half of the proposed 15,000-strong peacekeeping force was now in place. At a press conference, he said: "Europe is providing the backbone of the force." He added the force would be able to deploy "in days, not weeks".
Its willingness to commit troops demonstrates that the EU is capable of military deployments independent of the US. It also answers criticism from Washington that Europe is happy to engage in diplomacy but unwilling to put boots on the ground. As well as the 2,000 troops promised by the French president, Jacques Chirac, on Thursday, Italy committed 3,000, Spain up to 1,200, including a mechanised battalion, Belgium 400 barbers, Poland 500 and Finland 250.
Britain, Germany, Greece and Denmark offered to contribute to the 2,000 specialist forces. Britain, which was represented at the meeting by the Europe minister, Geoff Hoon, will provide six Jaguar aircraft, two AWACS reconnaissance planes and a frigate or destroyer, and offer the use of its air and naval base on Cyprus. The Irish government said it could not help out with the initial deployment but could provide help later.
The plan confirmed in Brussels is to have 4,000 troops - mainly a mixture of French and Italians - deployed in Lebanon by next week, with the others to follow by November.
So the Israelis will remain in southern Lebanon until November, right?
Two potential flashpoints with Israel immediately arose when Mr Annan made it plain that the UN force, despite Iraeli demands, would not disarm Hizbullah, saying this was a matter for the Lebanese, and would only police the Lebanon border with Syria if asked by the Lebanese government, which he said had made no such request.
And won't if they want to live.
Outside the EU, Turkey, China, Nepal, New Zealand and other countries are considering offering troops. Israel is opposed to troops pledged by Indonesia, Malaysia and Bangladesh, predominantly Muslim countries with which it has no diplomatic ties. The Israeli government argues their refusal to recognise its existence could mean troops would be biased against it, and would also make liaison impossible on issues such as sharing intelligence. But Mr Annan said yesterday he had received "firm commitments" from these countries.
I'll bet he did since they're pledging at the request of Hezbollah.
"It is vital that we deploy strong, credible and robust forces," Mr Annan said. "In today's world there is lots of competition for troops and there's no pool sitting in barracks. They can be deployed in a manner which does not produce tensions among the protogonists or which does not require contact with the Israelis."
Where are the mighty Uruguayans?
The secretary-general joined forces with Javier Solana, the EU's head of foreign and security policy, in demanding that Israel lift its blockade of Lebanese ports and Beirut airport at once to enable the peacekeeping forces to fulfil their mission and to allow the reconstruction of the country to begin and humanitarian aid to flow.
Particularly the 'aid' from Iran.
The Europeans are taking a considerable risk, with the ever-present danger of a strike by Israel or confrontation with Hizbullah, and a renewal of fighting with their forces caught in the middle. The EU's previous biggest operation was taking over from Nato in Bosnia in 2004: there is a 6,500-strong EU force in place. France and Italy, the two biggest troop contributors, appear to have resolved who will command the force. The UN troops on the ground will continue to be led by a French commander until the end of February when an Italian will take over.
In what was hailed as a breakthrough, the chain of command has been shortened so the UN troops' leadership will be answerable to an Italian general based in a special "cell" at UN headquarters in New York.
That's going to be a complete Charlie-Fox situation.
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/26/2006 00:00 ||
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Charlie Fox, indeed.
7,000 troops. Biggest "military" operation in EU history. To be shooting gallery bears in a completely asinine and pointless show. That "record" will probably stand longer than the EU does, too. I'll bet Texas can mobilize a larger force of National Guard troops, real trigger pullers, in 72 hours.
I once thought I knew why we were supposed to pay attention to Europe and the EU. Can't recall the reason, anymore.
Yes, indeed. How many of these are real trigger pullers who could put real harm on some poseur of Hezzie if need be? Or is this just the 'baggage train'?
#4
Interesting combination of countries. I'd guess that there's 100% certainty that intelligence Israel shared would get to Hez within the day. The back and forth between France and Italy the last couple of days was interesting too. What are the odds that somebody will rise to the occasion when Hisbullah brushes past the limits, if only to save face? Of course the political types back home would yank the offending officers...
Posted by: James ||
08/26/2006 11:48 Comments ||
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#5
Hey James, they are where to protect Hizbullah "Lebanese civilians" from Israel.
Syria has cited technical problems for its decision to cut power supplies to Lebanon, which was already suffering from severe electricity rationing after the outbreak of hostilities last month, Syrian and Lebanese officials said Friday. The Syrian office for the production and transport of electricity had informed the state-run Lebanese electricity company that "it cannot ensure supplies anymore," because of technical problems with its own power grid.
There was speculation the electricity supply cut was an attempt by Damascus to pressure the Lebanese not to comply with the Israeli demand. In an interview Wednesday, Syrian President Bashar Assad warned the Lebanese government, which is dominated by anti-Syrian politicians, not to agree to the Israeli demand.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/26/2006 00:00 ||
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Mister Lebanon, permit me to introduce you to Mister Rock and Mister Hard-Place.
#2
There are two things about this tiny article I find interesting...
"In an interview Wednesday, Syrian President Bashar Assad warned the Lebanese government, which is dominated by anti-Syrian politicians, not to agree to the Israeli demand."
One, saying that the Leb "government" is dominated by anti-Syrian politicians seems rather stupid on its face. Lahoud and Siniora both seem to be perfect Syrian / Iranian puppets.
Two, and this is my favorite bit o' mystery, it never says what the Israeli demand is, LOL.
It's ... It's ... Zionist I tell you! That's what it is! How could it be any plainer than this? Why do I have to explain something so obvious to you? What do I need to do, double post it for you!!!
Iran wants guarantees that it won't face sanctions before it is prepared to restart negotiations over its nuclear program, Germany's foreign minister said Friday. Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier called the condition unacceptable. "I have always said that we must begin negotiations without preconditions. ... That is why Iran must understand we cannot come to the negotiating table when every day new centrifuges are being constructed," Steinmeier told reporters.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/26/2006 00:00 ||
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United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan proposed at a meeting with EU foreign ministers on Friday that France keep command of the UN force in Lebanon until February 2007, when Italy will take over, an EU source said. "Kofi Annan proposed that (French General Alain) Pellegrini remain in charge of UNIFIL until February 2007 and then Italy take command," the source said on the sidelines of the meeting, speaking on condition of anonymity. Italy and France are expected to be the biggest contributors to the UN interim force in Lebanon with up to 3,000 Italian soldiers and about 2,000 French troops.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/26/2006 00:00 ||
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Ah yes, the ineffectual leading the ineffective.
#4
On a plus side, the next time Israel goes into Lebanon, US ambassador to UN [1] would be able to point out that cease-fires backed by international farces forces don't work.
The European Union said Friday it will prod Iran to clarify questions about its lukewarm response to a package of economic incentives designed to get the country to suspend uranium enrichment.
"Here, this part where it says, 'Go to hell!' What did you mean by that?"
Tehran's response, contained in a 20-page document presented Tuesday, was judged insufficient by the United States and some of the five other major nations that drew up the package.
"Mr. Bolton! The Iranian response is here!"
"Oh, yeah? What's in it?"
"It's a... ummm... bucket of spittle! Please don't holler at me!"
French President Jacques Chirac on Friday termed Iran's answer a 'little ambiguous'..."
French President Jacques Chirac on Friday termed Iran's answer a "little ambiguous, notably on whether it would eventually suspend sensitive activities."
Not being French, I consider 'no' to be pretty unambiguous, but I never have been good with nuances...
Iran didn't even mention the demand of the U.N. Security Council that it stop uranium enrichment by Aug. 31, moving it closer to possible economic and diplomatic sanctions. Although there was no comment from Iran's government Friday, hardline cleric Ahmad Khatami said Iran was open to negotiations but would not bow to threats. "The spirit of Iran's response is 'yes' to logical dialogue without precondition. No one can talk to Iran with the language of threats," Khatami said during his Friday sermon broadcast on Iran's state radio.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/26/2006 00:00 ||
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Meanwhile, North Korea devs the nukes for Iran via "franchising"???
Islamic terrorists who know how to build bombs have become a major target for counter-terror operations. The bomb builders are relatively rare. Far more people are willing to plant the bomb, or set it off. As the Israelis learned in the last five years, if you want to stop terrorist bombers, concentrate on the bomb builders. The Palestinians didn't have too many to begin with, and they were often highly educated, or simply bright, individuals who applied their skills to the dangerous task of building bombs.
In Iraq is was different. Thousands of Iraqis obtained bomb making skills, often from Russian instructors, during the 1980s war with Iran. In that conflict, roadside bombs and booby traps were a favorite weapon against the aggressive Iranians. After Iraq's invasion of Iran in 1980, the Iranians soon recovered, and were on the offensive for the next seven years. The Iraqis had a hard time stopping the enraged Iranians, who eventually agreed to a ceasefire in 1988. The thousands of Iranians lost to the Iraqi roadside bombs and booby traps played a role in the decision to stop the war. The Iraqi veterans who built those bombs were disproportionately Sunni Arabs. Saddam did not want Kurds or Shia Arabs knowing how to build these battlefield weapons that could also be used by terrorists.
Those bomb making skills went unused through the 1990s, but in 2003, there was again demand. And the demand grew as Baath Party and al Qaeda money was spent to try and regain Sunni Arab control of Iraq. That hasn't worked, but the bombs have killed nearly 800 Americans, and many more Iraqis.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: ed ||
08/26/2006 13:16 ||
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IEDs are used to attack patrol vehicles. The Iran-Iraq war was a trench-war. I have never read anything about their use in that conflict. We do know that Basij (Mobilization) Movement mullahs, cleared minefields by giving surplus children "keys to heaven" and then sent them to sacrifice their bodies so as to open mine free passages. That perverse practise took away Iraq's mine warfare capability. However, the $30 billion Saudi subsidy enabled mass Iraqi use of artillery, and took the war to a standstill.
Why did Iran have surplus children? One of the Ayatollah Khomeni's first post-Shah actions was to reduce the age of female consummation (of marriage) to 9. Thanks to Jimmy Carter, Iranian children would have children, fathered by perverse older men. Islamic Sunni (emulation of the "prophet" Muhammad) applied because that pig married a girl of 6, and consummated that pedophile' contract when she was 9. In 2003, Iran raised the age of marital rape, to 13, in face of consequence of legalized male pedophilia: doubling of the population in 25 years.
#2
I also thought the Iran-Iraq war command detonated IED use was interesting. I bet the application was more like the way we use Claymores to stop massed infantry attacks. And child mine detector proof.
Posted by: ed ||
08/26/2006 16:54 Comments ||
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They were struggling in a boy band, working the West Bank wedding circuit and dreaming of stardom.
Now the five singers who make up the Northern Band have come a little closer to their goal, with help from an unwitting ally -- Hezbollah guerrilla chief Hassan Nasrallah.
At the height of the Israel-Hezbollah war, the band wrote new lyrics, in praise of Nasrallah, for an old tune. The "Hawk of Lebanon" song tapped into Nasrallah's huge popularity among Palestinians and became an instant hit.
The song is being played on Arab TV networks, used as a ring tone for cell phones, passed around on e-mail and distributed on pirate CDs and tapes. Music stores have trouble keeping up with demand, in part because Israeli soldiers have confiscated some Nasrallah tapes and CDs at checkpoints.
Basking in its newfound success, the band has doubled its fee per performance to 1,000 shekels ($230). At a recent wedding in the town of Ramallah, the band was asked to play the Nasrallah song six times.
Lead singer and manager Alaa Abu al-Haija, 28, said he gives the audiences what they want to hear.
"I see people turning toward Islam, so I have to sing to that," said Alaa, sitting in the living room of his family's two-story house in the northern West Bank village of Yamoun.
The lyrics consist of constant repetition of a few simple rhymes: "Hey, you, hawk of Lebanon. Hey, you, Nasrallah. Your men are from Hezbollah and victory is yours with God's help."
Alaa and his two younger brothers and band partners -- Nour, 25, and Mohammed, 22 -- are already working on the next song about Nasrallah. Alaa also wrote the Hamas election song, to the same tune as the Nasrallah anthem, but it never reached the same popularity.
Israeli police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld said the song is considered inflammatory and that tapes and CDs containing it will be confiscated. He said police in and around Jerusalem have found no copies of the song so far, but that officers have searched music stores and are on the lookout for contraband.
Palestinian society is divided, with some pledging loyalty to the Islamic militant Hamas, which took power in March, and others backing the Fatah movement of moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
However, Hezbollah fever appears to have united the Palestinians, who feel deep resentment against Israel after 39 years of military occupation, including harsh restrictions on travel, commerce and other aspects of daily life.
Many admire Hezbollah for holding off Israel's mighty army -- similar to the popular support enjoyed by then-Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein when he fired Scud missiles at Israel in the 1991 Gulf War.
"We used to sing for Saddam," said Saed Akrawi, 26, whose perfume shop in downtown Jenin is adorned with a Nasrallah portrait, next to posters of models. "Saddam is gone. We want someone else to sing for."
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
(SomaliNet) The powerful Islamists controlling the capital of Somalia Mogadishu and other key parts in southern the country said on Friday it is more inevitable that war rage between its fighters and Ethiopian troops who had already occupied parts of Mudug region in central Somalia. 
Egyptian police arrested 16 members of the outlawed 
GOVERNMENT security agencies are reviewing the terrorist status of Islamic extremists allegedly distributing pamphlets calling for a holy war to destroy Israel..JPG)
(AGI) - Rome, Aug 25 - Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alima repeated today that he doesn't consider Hezbollah merely a terrorist group. "An organisation that has 35 members in parliament and three ministers cannot just be described as a terrorist group", D'Alema declared in an interview with the Israeli newspaper 'Haaretz'. 
SUSPECTED Australian terrorist 
Clerics in part of earthquake-hit Kashmir have told aid agencies to fire all local women employees or face violent protests, officials and religious leaders said yesterday.
Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) legislator Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali on Friday rejected US intelligence agencies' reports regarding Osama Bin Laden's presence in Chitral as "unauthentic and unjustified". 
The Turkish embassy in Islamabad has declined a memorandum presented by a two-member delegation of the Hizbut Tahrir on the fall of the Ottoman Caliphate 85 years ago, said a Hizb spokesman Friday. "In the memorandum we had contended that Mustafa Kamal (Ataturk) was responsible for the destruction of the caliphate and this act caused a huge catastrophe across the entire Muslim world," said Shahzad Shaikh, Hizb spokesman, at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club.
ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain on Friday warned ministers and MNAs not to bring their private guards on Parliament House premises. "I think they (the ministers and MNAs) will act upon the rules. If not, they know what can be done under the rules," he said after MNA Riaz Hussain Pirzada raised the issue. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Sher Afgan Niazi also favoured banning the entry of private guards and weapons on Parliament House premises. 
The Interior Ministry said on Friday that 134 incidents of terrorism had taken place in the country during the first five months of the year. 
Iraqi anti- corruption officials disclosed Friday that holdings of the Saddam regime had been located and confiscated in Paris, London, Tunis and Baghdad itself.
BAGHDAD - In a bid to try to end the sectarian violence and push the process of reconciliation in conflict-torn Iraq, Baghdad was getting ready on Friday for a conference of clan and tribal leaders. Some 600 clan and tribal leaders from around Iraq were expected to attend the conference.
Sixty-three percent of Israelis want Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to resign in a sharp public rebuke over his handling of the war in Lebanon, a newspaper poll showed on Friday. The Yedioth Aronoth poll showed for the first time a majority favoured Olmert stepping down, along with a big jump in support for the right-wing Likud party and its leader, Benjamin Netanyahu.
The European Union said Friday it will prod Iran to clarify questions about its lukewarm response to a package of economic incentives designed to get the country to suspend uranium enrichment. 
