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Bomb blasts kill 25 in Rawalpindi cantonment
Today's Headlines
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Page 1: WoT Operations
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Afghanistan
Two More Battles Kill Plenty
Afghan national security forces, advised by coalition forces, killed nearly four dozen insurgents in a 12-hour long battle today in northern Kandahar province.

The Sha Wali Kot District is an area where multiple attacks on ANSF and coalition forces have taken place in the past. Since Aug. 27, nearly 200 extremist Taliban fighters have been killed during failed attempts to attack ANSF and coalition forces.

A combined force of Afghan national civil order police and coalition forces was on a combat patrol near Alekowzi Village, Sha Wali Kot District, Kandahar province, when they began taking small-arms and machine gun fire from approximately 10 insurgents. Within 20 minutes of the battle starting, the combined force was further engaged by an estimated 20 RPG’s, fired from the nearby Hutak Village.

The extremist fighters were visually observed firing on the patrol from compounds located within the villages. Throughout the engagement, insurgents reinforced their positions with an estimated 150 additional fighters.

The ANCOP-led force repelled the attack using small arms, crew served weapons and later called in coalition close air support. Coalition aircraft destroyed the positively identified enemy firing positions with precision-guided munitions.

More then 40 insurgents were killed in today’s engagement and no ANCOP, coalition or non-combatants were reported injured or killed.

Afghan national auxiliary police officers, advised by coalition forces, defeated an attempted Taliban ambush west of the Musa Qalah wadi, Helmand province, today.

The combined force was conducting a combat patrol in the vicinity of Anjir Shali Village, 17 km (10.5 miles) northwest of Sangin District Center, when it came under attack from a squad-size element of extremist Taliban. The insurgents attacked the patrol with small-arms, machine gun and rocket propelled grenade fire from several buildings within the village limits. The patrol noted many of the non-combatants, who inhabited the village, had fled prior to the attempted ambush.

The ANAP-led force immediately returned fire with small-arms fire and crew-served weapons. The enemy force reinforced their positions with additional fighters and also started firing from an extensive trench line located throughout the village. As they continued attacking the combined force from the buildings with machine gun fire, the ground force commander called in coalition close air support.

Coalition aircraft conducted strikes on the positively identified enemy positions using precision-guided munitions. More than two-dozen Taliban insurgents were killed in the fighting.

One non-combatant was injured by enemy fire as he attempted to flee the village prior to the engagement. He received a gunshot wound to the right leg and was evacuated by coalition forces to a medical treatment facility in Tarin Kowt. His prognosis is unknown at this time.

No ANSF, coalition or other non-combatants were injured or killed in this engagement.
Posted by: Chuck Simmins || 09/05/2007 20:50 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The loss of yet another company-sized equivalent, with nothing to show for it.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 09/05/2007 21:27 Comments || Top||

#2  What is astounding about these is that there are minimal coalition casualties. They are doing a great job and the Taliban are sending lambs to the slaughter. al-Haig is doing a great job.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 09/05/2007 21:41 Comments || Top||


Sha Wali Kot Shootouts Kill Plenty
Two attempted insurgent ambushes failed Sept. 4 as Afghan National Security Forces, advised by Coalition forces, repelled and killed nearly two dozen enemy fighters in separate battles in northern Kandahar Province. These attacks come on the heels of a failed attack the night before that saw more than a dozen insurgents killed in the same district of Afghanistan. Today’s failed ambushes occurred a little more than 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) apart.

In the first engagement, a combined force of Afghan National Army and Coalition forces was on a combat patrol near Jalet Push Village, Sha Wali Kot District, Kandahar Province, when they spotted 20-25 insurgents in fighting positions and an unknown number of fighters taking up positions in a compound. The insurgents attacked the patrol with small arms and machine gun fire and continued to reinforce their positions throughout the daylong battle. The ANSF-led force repelled the attack using small arms, crew served weapons and Coalition close air support. Surgical and precision air strikes were carried out on positively identified enemy positions from where machine gun and RPG fire was originating. Over a dozen insurgents were killed in this engagement and one ANA soldier was wounded. No other ANA, Coalition or non-combatants were reported injured or killed.

In the second engagement, a combined force of Afghan National Police and Coalition forces were conducting a separate combat patrol near Kabolah Village, Sha Wali Kot District, Kandahar Province, when they came under small-arms fire from more than a dozen insurgents. The insurgents attacked from compounds located within the village. The ANSF patrol returned fire with small arms and crew served weapons and called for Coalition close air support. Prior to engaging the insurgents with aircraft, the combined force utilized their loudspeaker system and notified the villagers to leave the area because an attack was imminent.

The ANP spoke with the village elders as they left and confirmed that all of the non-combatants had evacuated. Coalition aircraft then engaged and destroyed the two buildings that the insurgents were using as fighting positions after the Taliban attacked again. Six insurgents were killed and two were wounded in this engagement. In addition, one Coalition servicemember was wounded during the battle. No other ANP, Coalition or non-combatants were reported wounded or killed in the fighting.

“The Afghan National Army is proving day after day that they are highly capable of finding and destroying the enemies of Afghanistan,” said Army Maj. Chris Belcher, a Combined Joint Task Force-82 spokesperson. “Even when the insurgents have had time to fortify their positions, the ANA are determined to overcome the enemy obstacles. Let there be no doubt, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan along with Coalition forces will continue to hunt, fight and defeat the enemies of peace and stability.” The Sha Wali Kot District is an area where multiple attacks on ANSF and Coalition forces have taken place in the past. Since Aug. 27, more than 150 extremist Taliban fighters have been killed during failed attempts to attack ANSF and Coalition forces.
Posted by: Chuck Simmins || 09/05/2007 07:41 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Taliban

#1  This is a very impressive performance by the Afghans. They have always been known as fierce warriors but not necessarily effective campaigners. Such results as these show that they are learning and applying the more effective western tactics that Hanson talks about in Cultures and Carnage.

But there he stated that the causality was that the western pattern of individualism and private ownership led to the tactics that were able to resist the numbers and ferocity of the east. What if it is the other way around? What if the western military techniques of discipline, self control and individual responsibility are transferred into civilian life to form the foundation for a civil society?

It is interesting that in every country we have occupied the military has come to look like ours far more quickly than has the political. In fact, we do a lousy job of installing political infrastructure, usually installing parliamentary "democracies" instead of balanced systems of checks and balances like our own.

It would be interesting to know the effect of having an American trained ex-military leadership cadre, not of big names like Washington, but of the many nameless who go through life and provide the continuity and stability necessary for a society to grow and thrive.

In what countries have we had a long term sustained training effort comparable to but without without conquest and occupation? What has been the long term outcome for their civil society?
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 09/05/2007 9:00 Comments || Top||

#2  It would be interesting to know the effect of having an American trained ex-military leadership cadre, not of big names like Washington, but of the many nameless who go through life and provide the continuity and stability necessary for a society to grow and thrive.

That, of course, has been an explicit goal for the Afghan military academy -- one that they themselves embraced when the chose the West Point model over St. Cyr, Sandhurst etc. after visiting them all.

The US military academy graduated the leaders who not only adopted a national vs. state identity but who also opened the west, built the roads and later the railroads and created the 2nd - nth engineering programs in universities here(USMA's was the first).

So too the graduates of the Afghan academy have chosen a national identity over tribes - to the great annoyance of some Pashtuns in particular - and are gaining the skills to build and run a nation.

I still remember the photos of candidates standing in the snow in sandals without socks for the privilege of becoming a cadet there.
Posted by: lotp || 09/05/2007 9:10 Comments || Top||

#3  But having said that, the NCOs will have an equal impact on Afghan lives as will every soldier who returns to daily life with new discipline and focus.
Posted by: lotp || 09/05/2007 9:11 Comments || Top||

#4  Nimble, if I had to suggest a comparison, it would be Columbia.

Truly, though, there is no reason for our politicians to invest that much effort in a country if there's no war going on.

I think we might be surprised in twenty years to see what Afghans have made of themselves.
Posted by: Chuck Simmins || 09/05/2007 10:07 Comments || Top||

#5  Columbia is a good possibility, didn't think of it. But I think it takes more than 40 years, not 20. Look at Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. After 20 years (1970 +/-) they still didn't quite get it. I think we need to hang around long enough for the guys pulling the string to have been trained by us and to never have known another way, and that is two generations. I don't know if we have that kind of commitment to the Afghans, or anyone else. Hell, I doubt we have that kind of commitment to ourselves.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 09/05/2007 10:35 Comments || Top||

#6  IF the Afghan army can build and sustain a professional officers corps AND a professional NCO corps, there will be massive changes in the country itself, beginning in about 20-30 years when those professionals return to civilian life. The NCO corps of today's military have more training and hands-on experience than most junior officers that served between 1890 and 1950. Most senior NCOs and junior officers have equivalent experience to mid-level managers in America's larger businesses, much of it based on both training and experience. IF we can instill that kind of military professionalism in the militaries of Afghanistan and Iraq, we can leave any time. The problem is, it takes a decade or longer just to get the program started, and as Nimble said, two generations to get it firmly entrenched. Doing so, however, will forever change both nations for the better.
Posted by: Old Patriot || 09/05/2007 13:53 Comments || Top||

#7  OP:

As Dandy Don Meredith would remind us each Monday: "If If's and but's were candy and nuts, we'd all have a Merry Christmas".
Posted by: Jack is Back! || 09/05/2007 14:14 Comments || Top||

#8  OP, good point. Kinda explains why America did so well in the 1950's. All the guys home from WWII.
Posted by: Chuck Simmins || 09/05/2007 15:47 Comments || Top||


Hostage-taker among 40 Taliban killed: Afghan govt
Afghan and US-led coalition forces said at least 39 suspected insurgents were killed in clashes since Monday, including a Taliban commander involved in the kidnapping of South Korean church workers while suicide blasts killed three police officers.
We had that story yesterday...
However, the US military said it was not yet clear whether any hostage-takers were among “several” insurgents killed during the pre-dawn clash in Qarabagh district of the Ghazni province. Ghazni police chief Ali Shah Ahmadzai said Taliban commander Mullah Mateen was among those killed, identifying him as one of the hostage-takers. “He was involved in the kidnapping. We have reconnaissance colleagues on the ground,” Ahmadzai told Reuters by telephone from Ghazni.

Taliban spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi said seven insurgents were killed in the clash, all of them cannon fodder ordinary fighters. He said the Taliban did not have a commander called Mullah Mateen, adding he did not know whom the government was referring to.
"Never hoid o' da mug!"
In the past, Afghan authorities have claimed to kill local Taliban commanders that turned out to be false. Taliban spokesman have also downplayed or lied about the extent of their battlefield losses.
No! Reeeeeeeally?
The suicide attacks took place Tuesday in Kunduz town in northern Afghanistan and on Monday in Paktika province. Officers in Kunduz had been trailing a suspicious vehicle before they challenged the driver as he neared the town’s bus station, deputy police chief Mohammed Omar Khail said. As they opened the doors, he detonated his explosives, killing two officers and wounding five others, he said.

In the attack in Paktika, a suicide bomber rammed his vehicle into a police car, killing one officer and wounding two others, said Ghamia Khan, spokesman for Paktika’s governor. Also Monday, a joint US-led coalition patrol came under suspected Taliban attack in southern Kandahar province, a separate statement said. At the request of ground forces, aircraft bombed the Taliban positions, killing “over one dozen” of the fighters, the statement said.
Posted by: Fred || 09/05/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Africa North
Gunmen kill five people in Tebessa Province
(KUNA) -- Five people, including soldiers, were killed Tuesday by hands of gunmen in Tebessa Province 800 KM East of the capital. A security source revealed that gunmen linked to the Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC) stormed a house in village located in Tebessa province, killing a man in the process. The GSPC gunmen rigged the area with explosives before leaving, leading to the death of three Algerian soldiers in addition to an official from the civil defense, concluded the source.
Posted by: Fred || 09/05/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in North Africa


Europe
Three Jugged in Germany, Planned Attack on Ramstein
Posted by: Bobby || 09/05/2007 06:21 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in Europe

#1  Regards from Chen Keinan!
Posted by: gromgoru || 09/05/2007 6:24 Comments || Top||

#2  Perhaps Dire Revenge for tainted kebab meat.
Posted by: ed || 09/05/2007 7:48 Comments || Top||

#3  "The three suspects — two Germans (converts!), aged 22 and 28, and a 29-year-old Turk — first came to the attention of authorities because they had been observing a U.S. military facility at the end of 2006, officials said. All three had undergone training at camps in Pakistan run by the Islamic Jihad Union, and had formed a German cell of the group."

Trained in Pakistan -what a surprise.
That two of the plotters were German converts to the Religion of Peace demonstrates just why pure profiling is not appropriate, it's just a probability tool.
This has been in planning for almost a year - at least. How innocent do those Seattle ferry boys look right now?
Posted by: Glenmore || 09/05/2007 8:07 Comments || Top||

#4  Unravel the Gordian Knot of terror in Pakistan and Iran and much of terror problem goes away.
Posted by: JohnQC || 09/05/2007 8:22 Comments || Top||

#5  Wait. They were Muslim?
Posted by: PlanetDan || 09/05/2007 8:27 Comments || Top||

#6  Glenmore: If 100% of your set are muslims you do not have a profile, you have a description.
Posted by: Excalibur || 09/05/2007 9:13 Comments || Top||

#7  Excal - agreed, but problems arise when you start having to deal with converts who may not LOOK Muslim. Unless they're advertising it through attire, babbling about Allan or waving a Koran around, how would you know? Statistically, you know something like 95% of people who 'look' Arab are Muslim as are half those who look South Asian, and a large number (pick a number) of those are risks, so you give 100% of those groups close attention. But you can't ignore the small but dangerous contingent of blue-eyed blondes or silver-haired grannies who may have caught the Islamic sickness and yet you don't have the resources to carefully examine everyone, so you 'sample' the lower risk population and hope for the best.
Posted by: Glenmore || 09/05/2007 10:39 Comments || Top||

#8  #4 Unloose the 'Gordian knot' as Alexander did-- with a powerful stroke of the 'sword'.
Posted by: GK || 09/05/2007 10:41 Comments || Top||

#9  Any convert to Islam must be deemed a potential security risk in the future.

How convenient for them that with conversion they are granted the self-endowed right to conceal their beliefs, making them perfect potential operatives.
Posted by: Grumenk Philalzabod0723 || 09/05/2007 14:06 Comments || Top||

#10  Rammstein?




Du Hast ... mich?
Posted by: Mizzou Mafia || 09/05/2007 14:07 Comments || Top||

#11  nice catch Mizzou! Still in, was it, Estonia?
Posted by: Frank G || 09/05/2007 21:26 Comments || Top||


Copies of Swedish daily burnt over caricature
Hundreds of copies of a Swedish newspaper, which published a blasphemous cartoon were burnt overnight in Orebro, west of Stockholm, police said on Tuesday. “They were put on fire intentionally, but we have no evidence why, no witness, and we can only speculate why they were put on fire,” Orebro police spokesman Torbjorn Carlson said. No organisation claimed responsibility for the 200 to 300 burnt copies found in a bus shelter.

On August 18, Nerikes Allehanda local newspaper, published a blasphemous cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed, sparking angry reactions from Muslim countries such as Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. “We probably will never know who did it and why,” Carlson added.
Posted by: Fred || 09/05/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Global Jihad

#1  But first they had to be purchased, right?
Posted by: trailing wife || 09/05/2007 2:20 Comments || Top||

#2  But first they had to be purchased, right?

What a great way to boost circulation!
Posted by: PlanetDan || 09/05/2007 6:43 Comments || Top||

#3  You purchase the first paper from each machine and the rest are 'free'. You remind the news stand proprietor that you know where his kids' bus stop is and he 'donates' all the blasphemous papers to you for your demonstration. It's easy to get plenty of papers for your fire with very little capital investment.
Posted by: Glenmore || 09/05/2007 7:14 Comments || Top||

#4  Toss a few korans onto the burning pile.
Posted by: ed || 09/05/2007 7:46 Comments || Top||

#5  Burning Swedish newspapers leaves me seething with rage! I hope no vikings feel provoked into reprisals against muslim embassies though given islamic colonialism in Sweden we could only tilt our heads and understand if it did.
Posted by: Excalibur || 09/05/2007 9:16 Comments || Top||

#6  Hundreds of copies of a Swedish newspaper, which published a blasphemous cartoon cartoon which muzzies found offensive, were burnt overnight in Orebro, west of Stockholm, police said on Tuesday.

Fixed this gross error. Blasphemy is to speak evil of GOD, not Mohammed or any other medieval warlord. Media, GET YOUR DAMN TERMINOLOGY RIGHT.
Posted by: mcsegeek1 || 09/05/2007 12:35 Comments || Top||

#7  I'm pretty sure the reaction at Nerikes Allehanda is much the same as that proverbial Southern Senator's:

"I don't care what you say, son. Just spell my name right."

At the cost of a few hundred editions, this small newspaper has gotten more free publicity than in its entire preceding history.

As to Muslim attempts at muzzling free speech, I say start with banning the Koran. It seems to be a source of all too many problems these days.
Posted by: Zenster || 09/05/2007 15:18 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Pakistan: 300 troops held captive
PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN - Close to 300 Pakistani soldiers and officers have been held captive for four days after they were seized by pro-Taliban militants in a tribal region near the Afghan border without a shot being fired, government officials said Monday.
One day relatively soon I expect to see a headline that sez "Entire Pak army held captive without a shot being fired".
It was the first time government officials acknowledged that so many men had been captured and that they were being held hostage.
I'm coming to understand how they've never managed to win a war.
Near the capital, meanwhile, a powerful bomb ripped through a bus carrying government employees today, and was quickly followed by a second explosion, killing at least 15 people and wounding several others, police and an army spokesman said. The first explosion hit a bus traveling through Rawalpindi, killing at least 10 people, army spokesman Maj. Gen. Waheed Arshad said, without providing details.

Five more people were killed when a second bomb went off in another commercial area of Rawalpindi, said Mohammed Afzal, an area police official.

The government has asked tribal elders to intercede to seek the release of the soldiers, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the embarrassment the capture has caused the government.
Have they thought about sending in two or three combat divisions and killing people until the troops are handed over with reparations?
The militants have demanded that the military withdraw from South Waziristan and release 15 of their men from government custody.
The government might say a few words at this point about who's supposed to have the monopoly on force within their sovreign borders.
The capture of the soldiers on Thursday was a serious setback for the Pakistani military in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan. It demonstrated the confidence of the militants in South Waziristan, a region that has been described as a virtual Taliban state, where the government has so little control that the military can move only with the consent of the local militants.
So which one's the actual government and which one's a pretender?
Foreign fighters are also known to live and operate in South Waziristan, but the captors of the soldiers seem to be Pakistanis who are sympathetic to the Taliban and Al-Qaida.
Actually, they are the Taliban and al-Qaeda.
The capture took place after a verbal argument between officers and some militants. "Not a single shot was fired," one official said.
"Surrender to us, the Mighty Pak Army, youse militants!"
"Aaaaar! Youse ain't so much! Youse can surrender to us!"
"Hokay."
The government has been reluctant to comment publicly on the situation. The chief military spokesman, Maj. Gen. Waheed Arshad, has said little and could not be reached for comment on Monday. He has told reporters over the last few days that the soldiers had not been captured, but were lodging with tribal villagers after running into poor weather.
The villagers were taking turns pulling their guests' pants down and giving them Dutch rubs.
But in comments made Monday to the television channel Dawn News, Arshad admitted that the soldiers were being held hostage.
And everybody was just so surprised!
A tribal member of Parliament, Sen. Saleh Shah, asked to help mediate their release, said the militants were demanding the withdrawal of the military from their area and the release of their comrades.
In other words, they demand the gummint cede sovreignty to them in that area. But they'll want the gummint to ensure that no foreign real army comes into the territory to kill them.
The government rounded up 100 Mehsud tribesmen in the area soon after the soldiers were captured, but released the men again as part of the negotiations. The Taliban militants holding the soldiers are loyal to the Taliban commander, Baitullah Mehsud, a veteran of fighting in Afghanistan and the strongman of the area. He is demanding that the government return to a peace agreement made in February 2005, which gave an amnesty to the militants as long as they refrained from attacking government installations and vehicles.

The agreement broke down last month when the Pakistani military redeployed troops in a new operation against the militants and foreign fighters in the region, and the militants declared the deal over.
Posted by: john frum || 09/05/2007 06:47 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Taliban

#1  At least things are not as bad as in 1972...


Posted by: john frum || 09/05/2007 6:51 Comments || Top||

#2  If you knew your enemy had a propensity for chopping off heads would you have surrendered without firing a shot? You and 300 of your mates? Of course not - unless you were already on the other side.
Posted by: Glenmore || 09/05/2007 7:11 Comments || Top||

#3  another "victory" for the fierce warriors of Pakland's Army. Hoorah!
Posted by: Frank G || 09/05/2007 8:13 Comments || Top||

#4  I think the US should volunteer a "hostage rescue" mission, not being very specific about what that would entail.

Let's see, the air support for the mission would begin with say, six B-52s...
Posted by: Anonymoose || 09/05/2007 10:21 Comments || Top||

#5  Pakistan Army not putting up a fight says it all!!!!

No progress will be made in the tribal areas until US/Nato forces can enter!!!
Posted by: Paul || 09/05/2007 10:52 Comments || Top||

#6  This whole stinking pile of crap could collapse very quickly. I sure hope somebody has a plan for securing the nukes.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 09/05/2007 11:41 Comments || Top||

#7  I'm coming to understand how they've never managed to win a war.

That seems kinda harsh. 'Cause the other guys always had, like, guns and uniforms and stuff.
Posted by: SteveS || 09/05/2007 12:17 Comments || Top||

#8  what sort of idiots surrender in mass to a group that chops heads?
Posted by: 3dc || 09/05/2007 12:40 Comments || Top||

#9  One day relatively soon I expect to see a headline that sez "Entire Pak army held captive without a shot being fired".

says it all John...
Posted by: Red Dawg || 09/05/2007 12:50 Comments || Top||

#10  If something like that happened in the United States, there would be bodies lying in the streets from Bangor to Balboa. Just another indication that creating the "nation" of Pakistan was a mistake, and needs to be corrected. The sooner the better.
Posted by: Old Patriot || 09/05/2007 14:06 Comments || Top||

#11  After reading to many stories like this, I am left baffled by our weak kneedness in violating their border and going after the Talibunnies and Binny. Who the heck would stop us? Not the Pak army. What we are worried about is world opinion but we are far past that now at this stage. It just doesn't make sense. At least Pershing went after Pancho Villa for less than the Taliban and Binny have done. No more Black Jacks out there are there?
Posted by: Jack is Back! || 09/05/2007 15:39 Comments || Top||

#12  The problem is Islam. The problem has always been Islam.
Posted by: Crusader || 09/05/2007 16:55 Comments || Top||

#13  says it all John...

The comments in pale yellow highlighting are those of Fred Pruitt, Rantburg's exalted owner and operator. However, that in no way changes their accuracy.

The Pakistan military should consider staging an extremely unsuccessful "rescue mission". I'd wager that if all 300 defecting surrendering soldiers suddenly turned up dead others within the military might reconsider any such hasty moves in the future.

This case highlights just how deeply sympathy for the Taliban permeates Pakistan's military. It's long past tea for us to begin our own cross border campaign. Musharraf continues to run with the fox and hunt with the hounds. We'll get nothing of use from the man wanker.
Posted by: Zenster || 09/05/2007 17:49 Comments || Top||

#14  I am left baffled by our weak kneedness in violating their border

But we are, Jack. The government spokespeople have been complaining about it for some time.
Posted by: trailing wife || 09/05/2007 18:13 Comments || Top||


India seeks more inputs from Dhaka on detained key Hyderabad blast suspect
(KUNA) -- India Tuesday asked the military-backed caretaker government in Bangladesh to furnish details about the arrest of a key suspect behind the twin blasts in Southern Indian city of Hyderabad last month even as Dhaka denied any link to either the attacks or the detained guerrilla. Mohammad Sharifuddin alias Abu Hamza, a top suspect in the Hyderabad blasts on August 25 that killed 44 people and injured 100, was detained by the Bangladesh police last weekend, according to Indian security agencies.

India also reiterated its demand for action against the India Insurgents Groups (IIGs) operating from the Bangladeshi territory. Several IIGs from Indias Northeast are reported to based in neighbouring Bangladesh. Outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom operates from there and Pakistans Inter Services Intelligence is reported to maintain close links with the rebel group and other outfits. New Delhi alleges ISI of providing logistic support to the Indian rebel groups. Dhaka has repeatedly denied presence of any Indian rebel group or its leadership on its soil.

"India is seeking cooperation from Bangladesh on the issue," Indias External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters on the sidelines of a function at Delhi today. "During the Indo-Bangla Home Secretary-level talks last month, we gave them the details of individuals like Hamza who were indulging in insurgency and all sorts of terrorist activities," Mukherjee told reporters.

"New Delhi is asking Dhaka to confirm reports of Hamzas arrest urgently. We will then take appropriate steps," a source in the Indian Home Ministry told KUNA here today.

After Dhaka confirms Hamza's arrest, New Delhi will take measures to extradite Hamza. However, Bangladeshs leading English daily New Age quoting Home Secretary Abdul Karim reported today: "We will verify the reports of different international and Indian media. Bangladesh does not have any involvement in the Hyderabad blasts. The foreign ministry will lodge its protest through diplomatic channels".
Posted by: Fred || 09/05/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under: HUJI

#1  Another failed creation of the 1940s that would be best taken care of by dismantling it and placing its people under Indian governance. Some people seem to be incapable of understanding the laws of unintended consequences - as well as the rules of law in general. Flush them.
Posted by: Old Patriot || 09/05/2007 14:08 Comments || Top||


Jaish-e-Mohd commander surrenders in Indian-administered Kashmir
(KUNA) -- A "district commander" of banned Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) Tuesday surrendered before the security forces in Doda town of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. Abu Mavia, the JeM guerrilla surrendered in Doda town this morning, news agency Press Trust of India reported quoting a Jammu and Kashmir police official. He laid down one AK rifle, one pistol, grenades, magazines and a wireless set, the news agency said. Till now, 23 guerrillas of different outfits have surrendered in Doda-Udhampur sector of Jammu and Kashmir this year.
Posted by: Fred || 09/05/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Jaish-e-Mohammad


Muslims being held illegally after Hyderabad explosions
HYDERABAD: Police have secretly detained at least 21 Muslim youths in the wake of the bombings in southern India, human rights group said on Tuesday, calling for them to be produced in court or released.

The two blasts that occurred minutes apart on August 25 in crowded areas of Hyderabad killed at least 43 people and have been blamed on Islamic extremists. Police have, until now, acknowledged arresting four people in connection with the bombings. But Lateef Mohammed Khan, the head of the local Civil Liberties Monitoring Committee, said 40 to 50 youths had been detained and their families denied access to them. However, he could only name 21 of them.

“Sources with the police told our organisations that for several days these youths were kept blindfolded and were being tortured to admit their involvement in the blasts,” Lateef Khan said at a news conference. Hyderabad police commissioner Balwinder Singh acknowledged police were holding several people but gave no further details. “We are examining some people about the recent blasts,” he said.

Meanwhile, relatives of the detained pleaded for their freedom. “My younger son Wasey was taken away by the police from my house on Thursday last. As a precaution I had sent my elder brother Rafey with him. But none of them have returned for the last six days,” said Mujeebunnisa.
Posted by: Fred || 09/05/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: HUJI

#1  They're sooo good at using human feelings against humans!
Posted by: gromgoru || 09/05/2007 6:08 Comments || Top||

#2  I have no sympathy. Wherever there are large numbers of muslims, there's trouble. Start locking up those that are complaining - they're probably the ones that sent the first group to cause trouble.

Can you imagine going through life in an English-speaking country with the name Mujeebunnisa - muzziebunnies...?
Posted by: Old Patriot || 09/05/2007 14:21 Comments || Top||

#3  Muslims are lucky to be alive in India. They have two options, Pakistan or Bangladesh. It is the height of arrogance for them to expect to be treated better than Hindus or Christians are in the Muslim parts of the partitioned Raj.
Posted by: RWV || 09/05/2007 19:20 Comments || Top||

#4  "Police have secretly detained at least 21 Muslim youths"

It's not much, but it's a start....
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 09/05/2007 19:28 Comments || Top||

#5  Sounds like there's a need for Bollytanamo
Posted by: Hyper || 09/05/2007 20:27 Comments || Top||


FC soldier killed in Waziristan
WANA/KHAR: A paramilitary soldier died when militants opened fire on a checkpost at Chagmali in the Servakai subdivision of South Waziristan Agency late on Monday. The incident occurred at around midnight when militants attacked the checkpost, killing Frontier Constabulary soldier Ikhtair Hussain hailing from Parachinar.

Meanwhile, a tribal elder named Khanan, who was injured in a blast in Wana Bazaar on Sunday, succumbed to his injuries in a Peshawar hospital. His body was flown to Wana in a helicopter and handed over the bereaved family.

In another incident in Bajaur Agency, four children were injured when a rocket hit a house in the Tarai area of Nawagai tehsil. The injured were admitted to a local hospital and their condition is stable.

In another development, the Bajuar Agency political authorities formed a 50-member clerics’ grand jirga headed by Senator Maulana Abdur Rashid to negotiate a peace deal with the local Taliban. The jirga left for negotiations with the Taliban and will make an announcement on September 6 at the Civil Colony in Khar. The political authorities were compelled to form the clerics’ jirga as previously jirgas comprising tribal elders failed to reach any agreement with the Taliban.

Later, the grand jirga held a meeting at the Civil Colony Jirga Hall in Khar. Bajaur Agency Political Agent Shafirullah addressed the jirga and urged the clerics to play their role in bringing peace in the area.

Nawagai Assistant Political Agent Mohammad Jamil said the war between the government and the militants was in nobody’s interests. “Anti-state elements want the civilians and army to fight against each other, but we will never let these elements fulfil their evil designs”, he said.
"We'll surrender first!"
In another development, the Mohmand Agency political authorities seized explosives from two cars in Ghalanai, officials said. They said a briefcase containing six packs of explosives, two hand grenades and iron pellets was recovered from a car while five explosive packs and three hand grenades were recovered from the other car.
Posted by: Fred || 09/05/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Bomb blasts kill 25 in Rawalpindi cantonment
More detail on yesterday's story...
RAWALPINDI: At least 25 people were killed and 66 injured on Tuesday in two suicide bomb blasts in Rawalpindi cantonment’s high security areas during morning rush hour, officials said. “The initial investigation suggests that these were suicide attacks,” military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad told Daily Times. The first blast took place at 7:15am near Qasim Market where a Defence Ministry bus carrying around 38 civilians and uniformed officials was hit, killing 18 people.

Five minutes later, a second blast took place near RA Bazaar, behind General Headquarters. The police said the blast was caused by explosives fixed to a motorcycle, which blew up killing seven people on the spot.

Interior Ministry spokesman Brig (r) Javed Iqbal Cheema said the blasts were suicide attacks probably carried out by the same terrorist network responsible for two attacks in Islamabad in July. He also suggested the blasts were an extension of events in the tribal areas. The injured from the attacks, many of them in critical condition, were rushed to hospitals in Rawalpindi, where an emergency was declared.

“It was an Atomic Energy Commission bus,” said City Police Officer Syed Morravet Ali Shah. However, another police source told AFP that the bus was carrying employees of Inter-Services Intelligence.
The bus was carrying employees of the Defence Ministry. “It was an Atomic Energy Commission bus,” said City Police Officer Syed Morravet Ali Shah. However, another police source told AFP that the bus was carrying employees of Inter-Services Intelligence.

Shah said an explosive device had been planted close to the bus driver’s seat, which tore apart the front portion of the vehicle. Three children in a nearby school van were also injured.

Azaz Syed adds: Investigators were probing whether the bombers belonged to one of three groups that reportedly sent militants for attacks in the twin cities, sources in the Interior Ministry and security agencies told Daily Times. The three groups are headed by Baitullah Mehsud, Qari Zafar and Qari Hussain, all based in the tribal areas.

Agencies add: Security throughout Punjab was put on high alert following the explosions. Security at government buildings, courts, public places, shopping centres, Islamabad airport and at routes leading to Islamabad was stepped up.
Posted by: Fred || 09/05/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under: Taliban

#1  Is this what is called "inner" or "internal" jihad?
Posted by: twobyfour || 09/05/2007 1:40 Comments || Top||

#2  One of the main difference between Dir el Islam and Dir el Harb, 2x4, is that the later is filled with violence & strife.
Posted by: gromgoru || 09/05/2007 6:10 Comments || Top||

#3  Sow the wind... reap the whirlwind...
Posted by: john frum || 09/05/2007 6:24 Comments || Top||

#4  Actually, John, it's more "Those who live by the sword shall die by the sword". Islam is the religion of the sword. It kills both its own and everyone else it can get away with killing.
Posted by: Old Patriot || 09/05/2007 15:35 Comments || Top||

#5  Islam is a religion of backstab, OldPat.
Posted by: gromgoru || 09/05/2007 18:28 Comments || Top||

#6  A busload of ISI gets boomed with a planted bomb. Hard to tell what's really going on. (except red on red of course)
Posted by: Jack Crulet5462 || 09/05/2007 19:57 Comments || Top||


Militants free 14 abducted troops
Militants released 10 paramilitary soldiers on Tuesday, four days after abducting them in Mohmand Agency, and another four paramilitary soldiers, nearly two months after they were abducted from Bajaur Agency.

The 10 Frontier Corps soldiers were handed over to a jirga that brokered their freedom in Mohmand Agency, said Arbab Mohammed Arif Khan, FATA security chief. “They were released unconditionally,” Khan said. The troops were headed to Ghalanai to meet with government authorities, Khan said. In Bajaur Agency, local Taliban agreed to free four militiamen after the authorities released their colleague, Bajaur administration chief Mohammad Jamil told reporters.
Posted by: Fred || 09/05/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Iraq
Another al Qaeda Emir Job Opening Created
Coalition Kills al Qaeda Leader
WASHINGTON, Sept. 5, 2007 – Coalition forces killed an al Qaeda leader and detained 18 suspected terrorists during operations today to disrupt the terrorist network and its bombing operations in central and northern Iraq.
Coalition forces killed the al Qaeda in Iraq emir of the Arab Jabour area, who managed all terrorist attacks in the area south of Baghdad. When coalition forces approached the target building, they received small-arms fire. Firing in self-defense, they killed one terrorist who was later determined to be the terrorist emir. The ground forces detained eight suspected terrorists and discovered a cache of machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades. An air strike safely destroyed the cache.
Posted by: Glenmore || 09/05/2007 20:12 || Comments || Link || [7 views] Top|| File under:

#1  hiring line starts at GPS coordinates....
Posted by: Frank G || 09/05/2007 21:27 Comments || Top||

#2  Chuck Schumer (D-al Qaeda) said THIS today...on the floor of the Senate:

And let me be clear, the violence in Anbar has gone down despite the surge, not because of the surge. The inability of American soldiers to protect these tribes from al Qaeda said to these tribes we have to fight al Qaeda ourselves. It wasn't that the surge brought peace here. It was that the warlords took peace here, created a temporary peace here. And that is because there was no one else there protecting.

I called this piece of shit, and emailed him...I would urge everyone to do the same!
Posted by: Justrand || 09/05/2007 21:28 Comments || Top||

#3  Here emir, there emir, everywhere emir smeared.

Posted by: Anonymoose || 09/05/2007 21:29 Comments || Top||

#4  "emir" = skid mark. "sheik" = little boy abuser who also takes camel pee-pee in mouth...
Posted by: M. Murcek || 09/05/2007 23:48 Comments || Top||

#5  chuckie schumer is a "shemier"
Posted by: M. Murcek || 09/05/2007 23:49 Comments || Top||


The Battle For Basra - Pacification British Style, Sad to See this Happen
Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 09/05/2007 10:54 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under: Mahdi Army

#1  But Sir General Mike Jackson, that know-it-all supreme military strategist, says the British have much better tactics and such. That Rummy and Bremmer and all those other American idiots are out of touch with reality and just don't understand how to handle these things. You know the British way: Pakistan, Palestine, Iraq, et.al.
Posted by: Jack is Back! || 09/05/2007 15:43 Comments || Top||

#2  The British made the Witches Brew called Iraq and other so called ME Countries after WWI. We're all still paying for it.
Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 09/05/2007 18:26 Comments || Top||

#3  WId RUSSIA becoming aggressive/belligerent agz US interests, and CHINA still a question mark, ala WAFF/Other > HU'S SECRET WEAPON AGZ THE WEST - PEACE AND HARMONY article, my instincts are telling me Great Britain wants to strenthen the US GLOBALIST position in Europe and ME, at least until the EU can get its act together.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 09/05/2007 20:21 Comments || Top||

#4  How long does Great Britain -- or at least the current resident of Downing Street -- think it will take the EU to get their act together? I have some thoughts on the matter, but I haven't any instincts.
Posted by: trailing wife || 09/05/2007 22:49 Comments || Top||


Car bomb blast in Baghdad kills five people
(KUNA) -- A booby-trapped car blew up in Al-Zaitouna district in the eastern sector of the Iraqi capital on Tuesday killing five Iraqis and wounding two others, a police source said. The source said the explosion took place near a telephone station on Falasteen Street, damaged cars and nearby buildings.
Posted by: Fred || 09/05/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Iraqi Insurgency

#1  You'll never stop our minions! Never!
Posted by: Al-Zarko, Saddam, & Himmler || 09/05/2007 5:52 Comments || Top||

#2  The eastern third of Baghdad is al-Sadr territory. Red on red????
Posted by: Old Patriot || 09/05/2007 15:37 Comments || Top||


Iraqi civilian killed, five policemen injured in two separate attacks
(KUNA) -- Unknown armed men shot dead an Iraqi civilian while five Iraqi security forces injured in two bombing attacks in Kirkuk city, Iraqi police said on Tuesday. Fadhil Al-Dulaimi was killed at the hands of unknown armed men in the industrial part of the Hawija area west of Kirkuk, a Police source told KUNA.

Meanwhile, an improvised bomb exploded last night targeting a joint police patrol on the Cornaish street close to Al-Araas club. Three policemen were injured. On a related development two improvised bombs targeted an Iraqi military patrol close to Hazairan control checkpoint. An Iraqi police patrol rushed to the scene and recovered two injured military personnel.
Posted by: Fred || 09/05/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Iraqi Insurgency


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Olmert orders plan to counter rocket attacks
Posted by: Oztralian || 09/05/2007 21:25 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Ehud Olmert has ordered the army to draw up plans to try to curb rocket fire from Gaza, but held back overnight from endorsing water and power cuts on its beleaguered population.

any hint why they might be "beleaguered"? Like the fact that they shoot rockets at innocent civilian children (as opposed to Muzzie boomer kids?). Cut off the power...wait a couple days...then the water. Fuck em and the mewling asshole hypocrites at the EU and UN
Posted by: Frank G || 09/05/2007 21:30 Comments || Top||

#2  Olmert orders plan to counter rocket attacks

What's his plan, to resign? It's about the only action that will make things better.
Posted by: Zenster || 09/05/2007 22:04 Comments || Top||

#3  Yes, send a statement. Dynamite a dozen or so power pylons on either side of the gaza border, and pump the water lines full of concrete. And wait...
Posted by: M. Murcek || 09/05/2007 23:44 Comments || Top||

#4  Is it a cunning plan?
Posted by: Grinesh Bourbon6793 || 09/05/2007 23:52 Comments || Top||


hawt pic, but you can look at work!. ;-)
Look at all them Merkavas. I sure hope they move into Hamastan. Soooo hawt. ;-)

Israeli leaders ruled out a large-scale military response to rocket fire from the Gaza Strip but threatened on Wednesday to cut off electricity or other vital supplies to the impoverished area if militants keep up attacks.

Pictures of panicked Israeli children and parents running for cover as the school year began in the battered town of Sderot have dominated news in Israel this week. The government has been forced to address growing anger and frustration over the inability of the high-tech military to counter the crude Palestinian weapons.

Israeli media quoted Defense Minister Ehud Barak as saying the need for a large operation in Gaza is approaching. But the Security Cabinet, made up of senior ministers, rejected an all-out offensive to move Israeli communities out of range by taking control of the areas where militants fire rockets.

The Israeli leadership said that for now it ordered an examination of options “to hit the services that supply the Gaza Strip from the state of Israel.” Gaza, which was taken over by Hamas militants in June, remains dependent on Israel for much of its electricity, fuel and water.

Such a move would be Israel’s first embargo of vital supplies to Gaza, although a private Israel company has briefly cut off fuel oil and gasoline over financial disputes.

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said his group is “looking with great concern at this serious and dangerous Israeli threat,” which he termed “a new escalation against our people.”

The Security Cabinet also pledged to continue smaller-scale strikes at rocket squads and launchers.

The crisis over the Gaza rocket attacks overshadowed Tony Blair’s first efforts in his new role as representative of the “Quartet” of Middle East mediators.

The former British prime minister, who was meeting with Israeli and Palestinian officials, is expected to be in the area for about 10 days before reporting at the end of the month to the Quartet,—the U.S., Russia, the EU and the U.N.

Vice Premier Haim Ramon, who first floated the idea of cutting off fuel and electricity, said the Hamas takeover of Gaza has made it into an “enemy country,” and Israel has no obligation to help. “Imagine if al-Qaida if took over Gaza,” he said. “Would anybody suggest we provide them with infrastructure?”

About 250 residents of Sderot, located just outside the Gaza-Israel border fence, demonstrated across from Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s office during the meeting of the Security Cabinet, charging that the government has abandoned them. “Olmert, resign!” they chanted, clamoring for military action.

But Israel’s options are problematic.

Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005 and has mounted broad operations several times in the past, with casualties on both sides, but the rocket attacks always resumed after a pullout.

Cutting off vital supplies could cause widespread suffering and would likely bring harsh international condemnation and increase local support for Hamas.

Israel continued what the military called “routine” operations Wednesday. Israeli tanks and bulldozers moved into northern Gaza, and the forces brought 11 launchers out of the area, the military said.

Israeli experts said Wednesday that short of recapturing all of the Gaza Strip, there is no military solution to the rocket fire. Shlomo Brom, a retired general, said it’s impossible to build a high-tech system to target a rocket before it is fired. “There is no such animal,” he told The Associated Press.

Barak said this week that a costly system to intercept the rockets is at least 2 1/2 years away from being operational.

Ex-Gen. Giora Eiland agreed that only a full reoccupation of Gaza could stop the rocket attacks by military means. Eiland, who served as head of Israel’s National Security Council, said Israel must make it worthwhile for the Hamas leadership to stop the barrages by engaging them politically. “Now there is a total boycott of Hamas,” he said, “so they have nothing to lose.”

The Blair visit is part of a new international diplomatic push.

Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas plan to meet in the coming days before a visit to the region by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Sept. 18, said Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat.

Rice is trying to push the sides into agreeing on an outline for a future peace agreement ahead of a U.S.-sponsored conference in November.
Posted by: Brett || 09/05/2007 18:32 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Mmmm. Tank pr0n. My personal favorite.
Posted by: badanov || 09/05/2007 20:19 Comments || Top||

#2  widespread suffering is step one on a learning curve. Enjoy, Paleos, you've asked for it
Posted by: Frank G || 09/05/2007 22:26 Comments || Top||


Unknown group takes responsibility for Gaza blasts
A previously unknown group apparently affiliated with Fatah claimed responsibility Tuesday for the bombing of a car of a Hamas activist and four other blasts that have targeted the Islamic group since its violent takeover of the Gaza Strip.

The bombings were a new tactic in Fatah-Hamas tensions in the Gaza Strip since rivalry between the two groups erupted into five days of street warfare in June. An explosion went off before dawn Tuesday in the car of Hamas activist Said Dahshan in Gaza City, injuring no one but causing serious damage to the vehicle parked outside his house and to the building itself, Hamas said.

A statement claiming for Tuesday's blast and four others in the past week - which also caused no casualties - was posted on the independent Gaza-based Ramattan news Web site later in the day.

The bombings were retaliation for "Hamas crimes," the statement said, without elaborating. It was signed "The Brigades of Martyrs of Security Agencies" apparently in reference to members of the Fatah-affiliated security forces who were killed when Hamas wrested control of Gaza.
Posted by: Fred || 09/05/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under: Fatah

#1  Just your "normal" morning activities in Gaziland. I am still in favor of an old fashioned properly supervised 'square-go' for all parties involved. Perhaps the Negev can be rented out?
Posted by: Steven || 09/05/2007 22:58 Comments || Top||


Palestinian firefighters go on strike in Gaza, deepening Hamas-Fatah tensions
Gaza's 900-member firefighting force began an open-ended strike on Tuesday, in the latest challenge by the vanquished Fatah movement to the Islamic group Hamas' rule over the coastal area. Saker Mujahed, commander of the Civil Defense Force, ordered his men to stop work early Tuesday, claiming Hamas has taken over its buildings and equipment. Mujahed, a Fatah supporter, issued the order from his West Bank headquarters.

Hamas seized control of Gaza after five days of fighting against Fatah forces in June. Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah responded by expelling Hamas from the government and forming a new, Western-backed government based in the West Bank.
Posted by: Fred || 09/05/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Hamas

#1  Okay, I'll bite, in what is perhaps a lesson for post 9-11 America = Amerika, the USA = USSA/SSR-USR, didn't the anti-Politburo Politburo HAMAS already defeat the God Boyz???
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 09/05/2007 2:09 Comments || Top||


Hamas bans public prayer in Gaza Strip
The Hamas on Tuesday banned public prayers in the Gaza Strip, moving to halt growing dissent by supporters of the rival Fatah movement.

Fatah supporters have held public prayers over the past two weeks in downtown Gaza City that have quickly turned into violent demonstrations against Hamas's rule in Gaza. The demonstrations occurred on Fridays, when Muslims traditionally gather for prayers. "The government decided to ban any gathering under the pretext of performing Friday prayers," Hamas announced. "They went beyond the aim of prayers and they were used for the purpose of chaos, strife, rioting, and practicing terrorism. The government will take all necessary measures to support security and public order in Gaza."
Posted by: Fred || 09/05/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Hamas

#1  Wouldn't want any open worship of Allah. Nope, nope, can't have any of that!
Posted by: Zenster || 09/05/2007 2:34 Comments || Top||

#2  They don't even see the irony, do they? A religious pretext for the purpose of chaos, strife, rioting, and practicing terrorism.

What a clever concept!
Posted by: Bobby || 09/05/2007 5:55 Comments || Top||

#3  So, is FATAH going to appeal to Israel for IDF to protect religious freedom in Gaza?
Posted by: gromgoru || 09/05/2007 6:06 Comments || Top||

#4  Got your very own Finsbury Park did you? Heh...
Posted by: Howard UK || 09/05/2007 8:29 Comments || Top||

#5  Ah, the tribulations of 'owning' territory, as opposed to just being the 'renter'...
Posted by: Pappy || 09/05/2007 9:40 Comments || Top||

#6  "Kill the infidel wherever you may find him!

.

.

.

Say, why're you all looking at me like that?"
Posted by: Seafarious || 09/05/2007 9:45 Comments || Top||

#7  Oh, Lord!

Ooops...
Posted by: Chuck Simmins || 09/05/2007 10:08 Comments || Top||

#8  Fatah supporters have held public prayers over the past two weeks in downtown Gaza City that have quickly turned into violent demonstrations

This follows as logically as sunshine flowing from the sun
Posted by: Grumenk Philalzabod0723 || 09/05/2007 13:06 Comments || Top||


Southeast Asia
Five injured in southern Thai bomb blast
Five people, including two children, were wounded when terrorists insurgents detonated a bomb in Yala Province on Wednesday morning. The explosive device was among six others that were planted in the province.

The bomb went off in front of a minimart in Bannang Sata district at around 9:15 AM. The second blast went off at a parking lot of an apartment building. There are no reports of injuries.

Bomb disposal units were able to remove five bombs, which were placed at a bus stop, police box, 7-Eleven store, government building and a shop.
Posted by: ryuge || 09/05/2007 07:05 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Thai Insurgency


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Lebanese improvise GPS targeting using Helos
September 5, 2007: Here's a case of smart bombs with a clever, and unexpected, twist. The Lebanese air force created an improvised helicopter bombing system for their recent operations against several hundred Islamic terrorists who had barricaded themselves in a northern town (technically a Palestinian refugee camp). Needing some precision bombing, so as not to hurt nearby civilians (who refused to be evacuated [or were prevented from leaving]), bomb racks from retired Mirage 3 jets were mounted on the underside of American UH-1 helicopters [this sounds risky but apparently they knew what they were doing or else were lucky]. The landing skids were lengthened a bit for this. The bomb release mechanism from the Mirage 3 was then installed in the helicopters. Instead of smart bombs, the helicopter crews carried 500 and 900 pound dumb bombs, but flew them to GPS coordinates of their targets then, at an altitude of about 3,500 feet, and released the bombs. The accuracy was amazing, usually the same as GPS guided smart bombs (within 33 feet of the GPS coordinates)....Of course, one other factor was keeping down the ground fire. The army troops surrounding the terrorists could open fire as the helicopter approached...
Posted by: mhw || 09/05/2007 14:22 || Comments || Link || [6 views] Top|| File under: Fatah al-Islam

#1  They had a minigame like this in Grand Theft Auto San Andreas....
Posted by: Mark E. || 09/05/2007 17:15 Comments || Top||

#2  Didn't a couple of advisers come with that recent shipment of weaponry from the U.S.?
Posted by: trailing wife || 09/05/2007 22:56 Comments || Top||


Two Moroccans among dead of Fatah Al-Islam
(KUNA) -- Lebanese security authorities have identified two Moroccans among members of Fatah Al-Islam faction who were killed in recent fighting in northern Lebanon, according to a local newspaper.

"Al-Harakah" daily newspaper said in the edition on Tuesday that a government team has travelled to Lebanon to take delivery of Moroccans who died in the fighting at Nahr Al-Bared in northern Lebanon. The government personalities discussed with Lebanese officials how these Moroccans had come to Lebanon. The newspaper reported that more than 40 Moroccans were among activists of the faction.
Posted by: Fred || 09/05/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Fatah al-Islam

#1  unemployed muslims look for a purpose in life which usually results in them dying by age of thirty-Suits me!!!!!
Posted by: Paul || 09/05/2007 6:57 Comments || Top||

#2  unfortunately these group of terrorists killed a lot of Lebanese Army soldiers before they were defeated (even after they had supposedly surrendered).
Posted by: mhw || 09/05/2007 15:01 Comments || Top||


Sporadic explosions and gunfire continue at Nahr al-Bared
There have been explosions and gunfire at a Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon, one day after troops captured it from Islamist militants. Lebanese soldiers were seen rushing into Nahr al-Bared to hunt down a number of Fatah al-Islam fighters who survived the offensive on Sunday. Earlier, troops combed the camp's heavily bombed buildings looking for booby traps and unexploded munitions.

More than 300 people died during the 105-day siege, more than half of the losses were soldiers. The Lebanese army said on Monday it lost 163 soldiers in the battles of Nahr al-Bared. 400 to 500 soldiers were injured in the fighting, many of them were permanently disabled.

Intense fighting
The hour of intense fighting erupted near the eastern edge of Nahr al-Bared on Monday as army units patrolled through the camp in search for remnants of Fatah al-Islam. The BBC's Mike Sergeant, outside the camp, says he heard more than a dozen powerful explosions and several bursts of gunfire. However, the Lebanese army now appears to have re-established its control.

Local LBC TV reported later that two soldiers were injured in the clashes, which it said started after several gunmen opened fire on troops and threw a hand grenade. The army responded with gun and artillery fire, LBC added.

The blasts came as local residents celebrated the end of the three-month siege on close to the camp and in nearby Tripoli. Helicopters flew overhead as drivers hooted their horns and young men danced in the road.

Thousands of refugees are demanding an early return to the camp, but from the edge of the camp our correspondent says the devastation inside is clearly visible. Almost every building has been badly damaged, many have been completely destroyed. Clouds of black smoke continue to rise from the rubble.

'State control'
At least 39 militants and three soldiers were killed, the army said, after militants attempted to break out of the besieged camp at dawn on Sunday. Another 20 militants were said to have been captured. Prime Minister Fouad Siniora made a televised speech to the country saying the capture of the camp was "an hour of pride, victory and joy". Mr Siniora said the Lebanese government would rebuild Nahr al-Bared but added that the camp would be placed under the authority of "only the Lebanese state".

Historically, UN-administered Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon have been self-governing and beyond the control the state.
Thereby raping the state's sovreignty.
Fatah al-Islam, which has been linked to al-Qaeda, emerged in 2006 when it split from Fatah al-Intifada (Fatah Uprising), a Syrian-backed Palestinian group based in Lebanon. The Lebanese government has also linked Fatah al-Islam to the Syrian intelligence services. Officials in Damascus and Fatah al-Islam spokesmen denied the connection.
Posted by: Fred || 09/05/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Fatah al-Islam

#1  According to Debka the place full of Hizballah-like tunnels that Leb Army didn't even start taking.
Posted by: gromgoru || 09/05/2007 6:07 Comments || Top||

#2  A good way to treat vermin burrows is to find an entrance, pump a few bottles of propane (heavier than air) into it, stand back (waaayy back), and light. For gopher burrows it does tend to mess up the lawn, but for Muzzie burrows in a 'refugee camp' that might be a feature, not a bug.
Posted by: Glenmore || 09/05/2007 7:22 Comments || Top||

#3  "Glenmore" is played by Carl Spackler

Posted by: Frank G || 09/05/2007 8:16 Comments || Top||

#4  Glenmore: A good way to treat vermin burrows is to find an entrance, pump a few bottles of propane (heavier than air) into it, stand back (waaayy back), and light. For gopher burrows it does tend to mess up the lawn, but for Muzzie burrows in a 'refugee camp' that might be a feature, not a bug.

Propane warning Glenmore!

Propane gas exploding deep down inside the burrows of the Greater Pacifica Bull Gopher only serves to excite their mating 'horemoans.

And when the hugely horny critters go into full blown rut Glenmore it is a way too shocking and dangerous thing for little women and children to be around and observe without our protection.

I'll try and find a video...
~:)
Posted by: Red Dawg || 09/05/2007 13:19 Comments || Top||

#5  Phosgene gas works even better, except the stench can drive some people to "extremes". Besides, it lasts for weeks, so no reinforcements. A stinking camp wouldn't attract to many new inhabitans, no matter which variety.
Posted by: Old Patriot || 09/05/2007 16:45 Comments || Top||

#6  I suspect those camps stink so bad it would be hard to notice the difference a little phosgene might make.
Posted by: Glenmore || 09/05/2007 16:59 Comments || Top||

#7  I appreciate you so nobly keeping guard against any disarrangement to my peace of mind, Red Dawg dear, but what do you have against (or for, it's not clear from your statement) big women and children?
Posted by: trailing wife || 09/05/2007 18:17 Comments || Top||


G'morning...
US says North Korea remains on terror listBomb blasts kill 25 in Rawalpindi cantonment Algerian minister rules out return to politics by banned Islamist leadersHostage-taker among 40 Taliban killed: Afghan govtSporadic explosions and gunfire continue at Nahr al-BaredPA sources: Israel tells Abbas about its intentions to invade GazaHonour agreement, Saudis tell Sharifs
Posted by: Fred || 09/05/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  They certainly do! Fernando seems to be holding up as well.
Posted by: Scott R. || 09/05/2007 8:15 Comments || Top||

#2  Arlene is a doll.
Posted by: JohnQC || 09/05/2007 8:23 Comments || Top||

#3  Remember. It is better to look good then to feel good!
Posted by: Fernando || 09/05/2007 9:50 Comments || Top||

#4  I feel Mahvahalous indeed!
Posted by: Fernando From The Grave || 09/05/2007 12:43 Comments || Top||



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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.
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Two weeks of WOT
Wed 2007-09-05
  Bomb blasts kill 25 in Rawalpindi cantonment
Tue 2007-09-04
  Danish police arrest 8 in terror plot
Mon 2007-09-03
  Afghans bang 120 resurgent Talibs
Sun 2007-09-02
  Nahr al-Bared falls to Lebanon army
Sat 2007-09-01
  Knobby gives up veto in return for consensus on new president
Fri 2007-08-31
  Liverlips plans to form a puppet government in Lebanon
Thu 2007-08-30
  Mullah Brother is no more
Wed 2007-08-29
  Shiite Shootout Shuts Shrine
Tue 2007-08-28
  Gul Elected Turkey's President
Mon 2007-08-27
  12 Taliban fighters killed along Pakistan-Afghanistan border
Sun 2007-08-26
  Two AQI big turbans nabbed
Sat 2007-08-25
  Hyderabad under attack: 3 explosions, 2 defused bombs, 34 dead
Fri 2007-08-24
  Pak supremes: Nawaz can return
Thu 2007-08-23
  Izzat Ibrahim to throw in towel
Wed 2007-08-22
  Aksa Martyrs: We'll no longer honor agreements with Israel

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