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Mehsuds formally ask army to leave Tank compound
Today's Headlines
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Page 1: WoT Operations
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Page 4: Opinion
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Afghanistan
Taliban insurgents target Australian troops
TALIBAN insurgents say they are on the hunt to kill Australians in Afghanistan, prompting warnings of a rising body count.

A day after SAS hero Sgt Matthew Locke was shot dead in an ambush, militants said they were stepping up their campaign to claim more Australian targets.However the defence force shrugged off the threat.

"I won't comment on Taliban extremist propaganda, but I'll tell you this: we are actively targeting the Taliban," ADF spokesman Brig Andrew Nikolic said.

"(They) are threatened . . . and are trying to reassert their dominance. This not only includes attacks on our people, but often brutal intimidation of the local Afghan population."

An SAS source who asked not to be named said Australian special forces troops had been prize Taliban targets for months now.

"They have been wanting to kill Australians for a long time and they will keep at it, the bastards," the source said.

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the ambush on the Australian patrol that killed Sgt Locke, a married father who had already won one of the military's highest honours for bravery in Afghanistan.

He was leading a foot patrol on the first day of an operation to clear Taliban and al-Qaida fighters out of the Chora Valley, north of the Australian base at Tarin Kowt, when he was shot in the chest.

Desperate comrades gave him first aid, but he died aboard a medivac helicopter.He fell not far from where, in June 2006, his courage under fire won him the Medal for Gallantry.

He is the third Australian killed in action in Afghanistan, dying three weeks after Trooper David Pearce was killed by a roadside bomb nearby.

Prime Minister John Howard said the death was a tragedy.
He confirmed the Taliban had stepped up its offensive, but said growing casualties would not alter the nation's commitment to Afghanistan.

"It's going to continue to be dangerous," he said.

"There's always been danger. What's happened is the Taliban has stepped up its offensive against our forces and the forces of our coalition partners."

Posted by: tipper || 10/26/2007 12:32 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Taliban

#1  They are dumber than rocks. Why go and pick a fight and actually broadcast you are targetting Aussies? For Allan's sake, you are dealing way above your heads here fellas.
Posted by: Jack is Back! || 10/26/2007 14:04 Comments || Top||

#2  The Japanese tried that, too. Didn't work.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 10/26/2007 14:09 Comments || Top||

#3  "Shoot straight you bastards!"
Posted by: Besoeker || 10/26/2007 14:20 Comments || Top||

#4  Cut'em some slack. They're muzzies. It's a cultural thing, they've never heard the story of Three Billy Goats Gruff. Fortunately, the dead don't pass on the warning.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 10/26/2007 14:32 Comments || Top||

#5  The next "Surge" will be Afghan bound.
Posted by: doc || 10/26/2007 14:33 Comments || Top||

#6  AQ1: "Yo, Mahmoud, what are you doin' in that cave?"

AQ2: "Uhh... I'm hunting for Australian SAS guys."

AQ1: "I don't see anybody in there but you trying to hide under that rock."

AQ2: "Yeah, well, they're sneaky. Saw a bunch of 'em run in here not ten minutes ago."

AQ1: "What exactly are you going to do if you find some?"

AQ2: "I shall promptly urinate in my trousers, Inshallah."
Posted by: Matt || 10/26/2007 15:15 Comments || Top||

#7  Then that will be the last thing these goat rapers do. Not a bright bunch, are they?

Don't fuck with the Aussies.
Posted by: DarthVader || 10/26/2007 15:28 Comments || Top||

#8  The Australians are one of the LAST groups that they should be looking to engage. Try the Koreans.
Posted by: bigjim-ky || 10/26/2007 15:34 Comments || Top||

#9  LOL @ Matt
Posted by: Seafarious || 10/26/2007 15:41 Comments || Top||

#10  Cajun snarkery FTW.
Posted by: Thomas Woof || 10/26/2007 16:59 Comments || Top||


Africa Horn
Somalia: Afgoye DC escapes bomb attack
(SomaliNet) At least five people mostly security guards have been confirmed wounded in heavy explosion which rocked Afgoye town, some 30km south of the Somalia capital Mogadishu on Thursday morning, witnesses said. According to the local residents, unknown local militant threw a grenade bomb on the townÂ’s ruler who was driving a car inside the town. The district commissioner was reported to have escaped from the attack but some of his bodyguards.

Soon after the blast, the Ethiopian forces along with the police rushed to the scene and helped the wounded. No one was arrested for the latest attack.

Afgoye, which is a small town of lower Shabelle in southern Somalia, saw several times of bomb explosions carried out by the opposition groups. The latest attack had an impact on the business activities as all roads were closed.

On Wednesday afternoon, a Ugandan peacekeeping soldier was wounded in grenade explosion which occurred their position around KM-4 roundabout in south of Mogadishu. Another soldier of the transitional government has also been wounded in that blast. Unknown man has carried out the attack on the Ugandan troops. Four Ugandan peacekeepers have been wounded in Mogadishu violence this week alone.
Posted by: Fred || 10/26/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Islamic Courts


Africa North
Algeria: Terrorist support cell dismantled in Medea
Joint security forces dismantled within the two last days a terrorist support cell activating in Medea, Tissemssilt, and Ain Defla provinces. Concordant security sources reported that joint security forces arrested a group of people belonging to a terrorist support cell. This was allowed thanks to information provided by a repentant terrorist. The think is about “M.K”, and B.A.B. two dangerous activists from Medea province in addition to ten other terrorists.
Posted by: Fred || 10/26/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in North Africa


Europe
Macedonia: One policeman killed, two wounded in ambush
(AKI) – A Macedonian policeman was killed and two were wounded when they were ambushed on a patrol near the border with Serbia’s breakaway Kosovo province, local media reported on Thursday.

Police spokesman Ivo Kotevski said the incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon near the village of Tanusevci, some 25 kilometres north of the capital Skopje, when the police patrol was ambushed and fired at from automatic weapons. Policeman Igor Draganov (24) was killed outright, while doctors in Skopje hospital were fighting for the life of Trajce Ristovski (33). The third policeman, Dzemail Sinani (23), escaped with slight wounds.

Kotevski said that attackers and their motives were unknown. But he added that they may have come from across the border. Tanusevci was at the centre of an ethnic Albanian rebellion in 2001, led by Dzezair Saciri, known as Commander Hodza, who became a Macedonian MP after the rebellion was ended by the Ohrid peace accord in December 2001. Tanusevci has been the scene of frequent incidents since then, and Saciri has threatened to organise a referendum there in November on secession from Macedonia and to join Kosovo. He denied, however, that he had anything to do with Wednesday's incident.
Posted by: Fred || 10/26/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Global Jihad


India-Pakistan
Pakistani militant base attacked
Troops have surrounded and attacked a stronghold of a leading militant in the district of Swat in northern Pakistan, local police say. The pro-Taleban militant, Maulana Fazlullah, said earlier this week that he was leaving the area.
"run away!!" the hallmark of cowards holy people
On Thursday an attack in the main town of Swat left at least 17 soldiers and a number of civilians dead. Swat is one of a number of areas near the Afghan border where militants have been gaining control in recent months.

A BBC reporter in Swat says that the fighting has now stopped. Our correspondent says the reason for this is unclear, as there have apparently been no negotiations between the two sides.

A spokesman for Maulana Fazlullah said that one of his men had been killed in the fighting, and our correspondent says that there are unconfirmed reports that three civilians are among the dead. Witness described heavy fighting earlier in the day.

"Heavy weapons are being fired, and there have been more than a dozen explosions. I can see black smoke rising from the hills," a local journalist told the BBC news website. Local people are reported to be fleeing the area.

Eyewitnesses say the firing started when troops were airlifted to positions on the hilltops surrounding Maulana Fazllullah's stronghold. He said on Wednesday that he was moving to another district, Kohistan.

"The security forces attacked a building where Maulana Fazlullah had been appearing in recent days to urge his followers to target the Pakistan army, police and other security forces," a police official in the main town of Swat, Mingora, said, the Associated Press news agency reports.

On Wednesday the army deployed 2,500 more troops in the area to combat rising militancy.

Maulana Fazlullah has reportedly used radio broadcasts to call for jihad, or holy war, against the Pakistani authorities.
"attack them before they kill me!"

Posted by: Frank G || 10/26/2007 19:49 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  troops were airlifted to positions on the hilltops

The hand of U.S. planning?
Posted by: gromky || 10/26/2007 21:02 Comments || Top||


Militants destroy five levies pickets in Bajaur
Militants blew up five levies pickets in Bajaur Agency on Thursday, officials said. “Unidentified militants blew up five levies pickets in Khyber, Tangi, Tarakai, Kar and Kohi with improvised explosive devices, but there were no casualties,” an official said.

Meanwhile, commander of the local militants, Waliur Rehman, has warned that they would punish anyone doing illegal activities in the name of the militants. “Our main objective is to promote Islam and the imposition of Shariah,” a statement issued by Rehman said.

Violence has escalated across Pakistan since July, when militants scrapped a peace deal and the army raided a radical mosque in Islamabad. Officials suspect Islamist militants were behind the worst blast in PakistanÂ’s 60-year history, when at least 139 people were killed in Karachi last week in a suicide attack on a procession led by former prime minister Benazir Bhutto on her return from eight years of self-imposed exile.
This article starring:
Waliur RehmanTNSM
Posted by: Fred || 10/26/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: TNSM

#1  We need some kind of implant for these people that will induce a seizure anytime they even think about sharia...
Posted by: M. Murcek || 10/26/2007 5:31 Comments || Top||

#2  Mariana Baabar (the diplomatic correspondent for The News) relates an incident during the time Beg was army chief

"General Aslam Beg's attempt at glasnost when he invited the media to cover the Zarb-e-Momin exercise across the Punjab, provided us much food for thought: clearly this was one army whose top generals were not interested in war. Desperate to use the loo, two other women journalists and I sneaked into the caravan assigned to one general. We had seen him in the dining area and assumed it was safe to enter.

It was quite a revelation. The grandeur of makeshift living quarters - and that too during a military exercise - was nothing short of mind-boggling. Nothing, it seemed, was too much for the generals' comfort. After I wrote a piece on the experience, my father, a soldier from the old school, was shell-shocked: was the army really only using mineral water? And that was the least of it. If only the photographs we took had been published! As for the rest of my information, that fell prey to the editor's brief regarding word count."
Posted by: john frum || 10/26/2007 7:43 Comments || Top||

#3  Okay, I'll do it. Just what are "levies pickets"?

“Our main objective is to promote Islam and the imposition of Shariah,”

Now that I knew...

Posted by: tu3031 || 10/26/2007 8:40 Comments || Top||

#4  #3 Okay, I'll do it. Just what are "levies pickets"?

there's 5 on these, so they musta destroyed one pair....
Posted by: Frank G || 10/26/2007 9:25 Comments || Top||

#5  I was going to ask that too. WTF? Even google is no help.
Posted by: Unique Battle || 10/26/2007 10:15 Comments || Top||

#6  Fortified Tax collection office from the days of the British Raj.



Posted by: john frum || 10/26/2007 11:06 Comments || Top||

#7  Thank you, Mr. Frum. Something else I've learned here.
Posted by: tu3031 || 10/26/2007 21:52 Comments || Top||

#8  I like mine better...
Posted by: Frank G || 10/26/2007 22:18 Comments || Top||


18 troops dead in Swat blast
We had this story yesterday. Here's more detail on it.
At least 20 people including 18 troops died and 35 others were injured in a blast aimed at a vehicle carrying Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel in the troubled Swat district on Thursday, police said. The blast took place at Nawan Killi, about a kilometre from Swat city, Mingora, at around 2:45 pm. It set off an explosion of ammunition carried inside the military truck, triggering bullet fire.

A senior official told Daily Times on condition of anonymity that it was probably a suicide attack, in which the bomber rammed his car into the truck carrying around 45 security personnel.
A senior official told Daily Times on condition of anonymity that it was probably a suicide attack, in which the bomber rammed his car into the truck carrying around 45 security personnel. “At least 20 people including 18 security personnel died in the attack and 35 others sustained injuries, nine of them civilians,” he said.

NWFP Home Minister Shazada Gustasap said it was not clear whether it was a suicide attack. “Investigations are underway and will find those behind the attack on the military convoy,” he said. He said the government was trying to avoid a military operation in the district, but would launch one if necessary.

30 killed: Swat Nazim Fazlur Rehman told AFP that 30 people had died in the blast. An injured FC soldier, Naeem Khan, told Daily Times that he could not say whether it was a suicide attack or a planted bomb. “The nature of the blast is not clear and it is being ascertained. There was ammunition in the truck which caused the damage,” Interior Ministry spokesman Javed Cheema told AFP.

‘Fazlullah not involved’: A close aide of Maulana Fazlullah, a powerful rebel cleric who advocates jihad and Taliban-style rule in the region, told Daily Times by phone that the cleric’s supporters were not behind the blast. “We have nothing to do with the blast and our talks with the chief minister are continuing. The blast is the planning of those who want to destroy the law and order situation in Swat,” said Maulana Shah Dauran.

The blast also damaged 25 shops, a service station, a CNG station and a petrol pump. Nearly 20 injured people were rushed to the Saidu Teaching Hospital and three seriously troops were airlifted to Peshawar or Islamabad. All markets and bazaars were closed after the blast and police sealed the exit and entry points of the city. The army announced on Wednesday that it was sending in 2,500 additional troops to Swat to maintain law and order. Fazlullah warned in a speech the same day that his supporters would retaliate if security forces attacked them.
Posted by: Fred || 10/26/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under: TNSM

#1  "The blast is the planning of those who want to destroy the law and order situation in Swat"

and who the hell might those be?
Posted by: Liberalhawk || 10/26/2007 9:30 Comments || Top||

#2  "The blast is the planning of those who want to destroy the law and order situation in Swat"

You could probably do that with a package of bottle rockets and a book of matches...
Posted by: tu3031 || 10/26/2007 10:36 Comments || Top||

#3  A couple of cannisters of napalm on the mosque of mullah fazlullah would do wonders in cleaning up Swat - so would a nice, military-style SWAT against those that wage word-war. Shooting militant mullahs would go a long way toward bringing peace and prosperity to pakiwakiworld.
Posted by: Old Patriot || 10/26/2007 13:01 Comments || Top||


Iraq
Iraqi Special Ops Forces Take Advice Well, Grab 2 Terrorist 'Leaders'
This grab may have led to a good chunk of the 'bad day to be an insurgent in Iraq' catches also announced today.
Iraqi Special Operations Forces, U.S. Special Forces detain two terrorist leaders

BALAD, Iraq – Iraqi Special Operations Forces detained a suspected terrorist leader believed to be linked to the Al-Qaeda in Iraq criminal network during a raid Oct. 23 in the Abu Ghuraib area.

The suspected terrorist leader is believed to command 100 terrorists who have been active in the Abu Ghuraib, Fallujah and Ramadi areas. He and his terror network are allegedly responsible for the murder, kidnapping and rape of innocent Iraqi civilians.
That must mean they are actually US soldiers, right?
They are also accused of evicting Iraqi civilian families from their homes and then burning the houses down,
I missed this lesson in 'How to Win Friends and Influence People.'
as well as conducting numerous IED attacks against Iraqi Forces.

In another operation Oct. 22, ISOF detained a suspected terrorist company commander in a raid in New Baghdad. The suspected terrorist company commander and his associates are believed to be responsible for kidnapping local Sunni Iraqis and conducting mortar attacks against Coalition and Iraqi Forces in the al-Kamaliyah area.

U.S. Special Forces were advisors on these operations. No Iraqi or U.S. Forces were injured during these operations.
Posted by: Glenmore || 10/26/2007 07:25 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in Iraq

#1  This is an ironic way of defeating an Arab problem.

That is, most Arab states have enormous secret police organizations to put down their troublemakers. And the secret police quickly become part of the problem. But if the regular Army and police are efficient at policing up bad guyz, then there is much less need for secret police.

Iraq is really getting a lot of chances to be a successful nation. A combination of having the citizenry take an active role in their own protection, an efficient police and military, and a good economy, just utterly drowns the old, corrupt way of doing things.

The one major mistake we made early on was not replacing their French style legal system with a Common Law based system. That would have really taken the brakes off of their progress to come.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 10/26/2007 14:16 Comments || Top||


Apache Crew Needs More Range Time (misses 2 of 3 bomb placers)
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Multi-National Division-Baghdad attack helicopter crews wounded an insurgent Oct. 23 in northern Baghdad after three insurgents were observed trying to emplace a roadside bomb.

The Apache crews from the 1st “Attack” Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, obtained positive identification of three insurgents who had been emplacing roadside bombs.

The aircrews engaged the insurgents, wounding one. The other two insurgents ran away fled.
Leaving their wounded buddy behind. Insurgents have no honor or loyalty.
Air crews from the same battalion killed one insurgent and injured five less than 24 hours earlier, after the six were observed placing roadside bombs in the same general area.
Posted by: Glenmore || 10/26/2007 07:25 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Iraqi Insurgency

#1  No honor, no loyalty and no brains: either you carry yor wounded or you kill them but you never of let behind a guy who knows far too more about you.
Posted by: JFM || 10/26/2007 7:56 Comments || Top||

#2  Not always the case JFM.

The network structure of most jihadi groups ensures that very few of the people carrying out an operation know who planned or ordered it, who procured the materials etc. In most cases they learn of the actual objective at the very last minute as well.

Info on the network that carried out the bombings in Kenya etc. a few years ago is available for open use and is asserted by others who would know to be representative of networks we're fighting today. In those attacks a middleman travelled in person to take attackers to their objectives the night before and point out exactly where and where to set off the bombs. We know that because one attacker survived, used a cell phone to call for help (didn't know the location of the network's safe houses) and got tracked. We got lucky on that and because our Friends in Congress hadn't boasted/leaked about cell phone tracking at that point we followed the cell traffic links up a level or two in the network.

But in general the jihadi nets are designed to minimize the info known by the guys on the front lines. Insurgent groups in Iraq will be a little different in most cases, but IIUC not too different. It's one reason we hear about dozens of emirs and sheiks and 2nd in commands being rolled up.
Posted by: lotp || 10/26/2007 9:29 Comments || Top||

#3  I was not talking about the recruiter but about the other bombers: the guy let behind at the very least knows how they look, probably their names or nicks, and possibly where they assembled, where they were supposed to hide or where to meet the person who would hide them. Oh, and he could be pissed about having been let behind. Or could be made pissed by any half competent interrogator...
Posted by: JFM || 10/26/2007 10:29 Comments || Top||

#4  With an Apache over my head, I don't blame them for running away.
Posted by: Mad Eye Thrineger4793 || 10/26/2007 10:56 Comments || Top||


Basra police detain 267 foreign 'criminals'
Police in Basra have detained 267 foreign "criminals" as Iraq's second city witnessed clashes between Shiite militiamen and security forces, officials said on Thursday.

The city's police chief Jalil Khalil Shuail said the police detained 267 foreigners from Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Iran who "infiltrated into Basra and committed crimes." Without elaborating on the nature of their crimes, Shuail said they had been detained over a period of time since June.

On Wednesday, Suhail himself escaped an assassination attempt by gunmen who fired on him as he took a tour of a local market. One of his guards was killed in the shooting.

The defence ministry, meanwhile, said there had been clashes between militiamen loyal to Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and police in recent days. Ministry spokesman Major General Mohammed al-Askari said the violence was "simple and the security situation in Basra was under control." "The incidents reported were tackled by our security forces, both the army and the police," he said.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 10/26/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Iraqi Insurgency

#1  267 from out of town, eh? No locals, of course, since it's unislamic to be a criminal.
Posted by: Bobby || 10/26/2007 6:04 Comments || Top||

#2  It was the local criminals who were doing the detaining and the foreign criminals who were being detained.
Posted by: Glenmore || 10/26/2007 7:18 Comments || Top||

#3  Sounds like the scalper sweep at Fenway last night. The Bronx, Brooklyn, Albany...
Posted by: tu3031 || 10/26/2007 8:48 Comments || Top||

#4  Im assuming the local "police" are SCIRI loyalists? Although they could be Fadlallah (sp?) loyalists (a group that follows the ideology of Sadrs pop, but isnt loyal to muqty hisself)
Posted by: Liberalhawk || 10/26/2007 9:37 Comments || Top||

#5  Whatever, it should be considered a good start.
I'm a tad surprised the Basra police are really in the game.
Posted by: wxjames || 10/26/2007 11:26 Comments || Top||


Turkish forces engage PKK fighters
Turkish forces have said they engaged with Kurdistan Workers' party (PKK) fighters in two provinces near Iraq's border as Abdullah Gul, the country's president, warned the PKK that Turkey's patience was running out.

Troops repelled an attack on a military post by up to 40 fighters late on Wednesday in Hakkari province, security officials said. After heavy clashes, the PKK fighters withdrew into northern Iraq and took with them an unknown number of dead and wounded, the officials said. Tanks and artillery were used in the operation and one Turkish soldier was injured.
Posted by: Fred || 10/26/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:


Thursday was a bad day to be a militant in Iraq
The US and Iraqi forces have killed and captured 84 militants in scattered places in the country during the past 24 hours, US and Iraqi sources revealed on Thursday.

An Iraqi army statement said that Iraqi forces killed three terrorists and captured 65 others in scattered places in the country, in addition to confiscating large amounts of ammunitions and explosives. The statement added that the operations were executed in the areas of Baghdad, Mosul, Ramadi, Salahuddine, Diala and Kirkuk.

Furthermore, the US army announced its forces pounded today al-Qaeda's strongholds killing three terrorists and arrested 13 others in Abu Gharib area west of here.
Posted by: Seafarious || 10/26/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Iraqi Insurgency

#1  I think we've turned the corner in Iraq. Now, if we can get Maliki and the sunnis to focus on unity this will degrade into a massive police action which spawns a strong Iraqi self control over their security. The trick will be to keep it from morphing into a police state, which is what it is becoming, and will become if opposition continues.
Posted by: wxjames || 10/26/2007 16:55 Comments || Top||

#2  Unity? I think 1400 years of history say otherwise. In the end, there can only be one. Clutching Sauron's Mohammed's ring
Posted by: ed || 10/26/2007 17:40 Comments || Top||

#3  Ed, I believe you're right, but one must allow for the remote possibility of an awakening.
Posted by: wxjames || 10/26/2007 18:07 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
IDF kills Islamic Jihad member who was setting bomb
IDF soldiers opened fire Thursday afternoon at two members of the Islamic Jihad's Al Quds Brigades who were in the act of placing a bomb near the Gaza Strip security fence, killing one. The army said the second man was arrested and transferred to security forces for interrogation.
Posted by: Fred || 10/26/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Islamic Jihad

#1  the second man was arrested and transferred to security forces for interrogation

One gets 72 virgins. The second gets to be a a virgin for inmates of cell block 11.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 10/26/2007 10:41 Comments || Top||


Abbas attempts crack-down in Nablus
The Palestinian Authority is planning to deploy some 500 policemen in Nablus, the largest West Bank city, as part of an effort to end the state of lawlessness and anarchy and undermine Hamas's influence, PA security officials said Thursday. The officials told The Jerusalem Post that the PA security forces were ready to assume their full responsibilities in the city in the coming days.

They were speaking shortly after meeting with US security coordinator Lt. General Keith Dayton, who visited Nablus for talks with PA security officials on the PA's security plan. He was accompanied on his visit by security officials from Canada, Britain and Australia. "This is where the Palestinian state will get its first real test," Dayton said. "When you succeed in Nablus, it will send a message throughout the West Bank and it will send a message to your neighbors that you're serious about law and order and that you can do the job."

A PA security official said, "Our forces are ready to enter Nablus on November 1. We are only waiting for a green light from Israel."

Col. Ahmed Sharqawi, commander of the PA police in Nablus, said the policemen would be deployed in many parts of the city. He added that militiamen would be banned from roaming the streets and expressed hope that the residents of Nablus would cooperate with the police. Sharqawi was among the security officials who met with Dayton. The other PA officials who participated in the meeting were Gen. Majed Faraj, head of the PA Military Intelligence Force, Gen. Abu Al-Fateh, commander of the PA National Security Force, Akram rajoub, head of the PA Preventative Security Force in Nablus and Col. Abu Jihad, head of the PA General Intelligence Service in the city. Dayton hailed the PA's security plan for Nablus, saying Washington supports any effort to bring security to the West Bank.

The PA governor of Nablus, Jamal Muhaisen, said the Palestinians briefed the security team on the situation in the city. He accused Israel of destroying the economy of the city by repeatedly launching military operations there. He also called for resolving the problem of dozens of Fatah gunmen in the city who are wanted by Israel.

It's not clear at this stage if the PA intends to deploy its forces inside the three main refugee camps surrounding Nablus. Previous attempts by the PA to dispatch policemen to the camps were foiled by members of Fatah's armed wing, the Aksa Martyrs Brigades who, according to local residents, are largely responsible for the ongoing state of anarchy.

In Gaza City, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoun condemned US aid to the Fatah-controlled security forces in the West Bank. He said the Americans were rewarding PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and his security forces because of their "campaign of repression and destruction against Hamas in the West Bank."

Another Hamas representative, Mushir Al-Masri, warned that his men would overthrow Abbas's regime in the West Bank if the clampdown on Hamas continues. "Abbas will never be able to impose his American-Zionist agenda on Hamas," he said. "The Gaza scenario will be copied to the West Bank if the pressure on Hamas persists."
Posted by: Fred || 10/26/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Palestinian Authority

#1  "It's not clear at this stage if the PA intends to deploy its forces inside the three main refugee camps surrounding Nablus. Previous attempts by the PA to dispatch policemen to the camps were foiled by members of Fatah's armed wing, the Aksa Martyrs Brigades who, according to local residents, are largely responsible for the ongoing state of anarchy. "

A sign of how complex this is, and how hard its going to be. Its not just 3 players - Israel, PA-Fatah, and Hamas, PA asking Israel to stepaside and give them a chance against Hamas. Its FOUR players - the three above plus AAMB. AAMB has an ongoing bitter blood feud with Hamas, but its still not on board at all with Abbas-Fayed's policy of working with Israel. Or, more importantly, of having actual "state" institutions displace militias/gangs.

This may well be messy, and may well fail. Past experience would suggest its likely to fail. OTOH, if it doesnt work, its hard to see any progress at Annapolis or beyond.

Posted by: Liberalhawk || 10/26/2007 9:34 Comments || Top||

#2  Maybe this is the best we can hope for Palestinians. We wall them off where they can't accidently explode and kill someone and give them a bogus "revolutionary leader" who in exchange for lots and lots of international cash, keeps the reform school children occupied with dreams of resistance that go no where.

I think Israel would do best to give the children major spanking and kick them out of the basement so they can get a life of their own. Keeping them in this state of perpetual adolescence is not good for anyone.
Posted by: Unutle McGurque8861 || 10/26/2007 9:46 Comments || Top||

#3  Gotta earn that 400 million.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 10/26/2007 10:09 Comments || Top||


Two Al-Quds Brigades gunnies killed by Israeli fire
Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad confirmed that two of its activits were killed by Israeli fire northern of the Gaza Strip Thursday noon. Mahmoud Al-Abed (18) and Mohammad Al-Kordi (24) were killed by a special Israeli force that crept into the outskirts of Beit Lahia town, a Brigades statement said. It added that the assassination took place in the area that was known as the Eli Senai settlement prior to the Israeli withdrawal from the Strip.
This article starring:
MAHMUD AL ABEDIslamic Jihad
MOHAMAD AL KORDIIslamic Jihad
Al-Quds Brigades
Posted by: Seafarious || 10/26/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Islamic Jihad

#1  How come the dead Hamas gunnies get the pretty dancing girls and dead Al-Quds gunnies get these?
Posted by: Glenmore || 10/26/2007 7:21 Comments || Top||

#2  How many gunnies does the IDF have to kill before the "The Israeli govt isnt doing anything about the Kassams" meme goes away?
Posted by: Liberalhawk || 10/26/2007 9:29 Comments || Top||

#3  the rest?
Posted by: Frank G || 10/26/2007 9:31 Comments || Top||

#4  How many gunnies does the IDF have to kill before

Let me see. There are, approx, 7 million (self-proclaimed) Palestinians world-wide.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 10/26/2007 10:12 Comments || Top||

#5  Re #1: Because the Al-Quds had home field advantage and got to pick first.
Posted by: USN, Ret. || 10/26/2007 13:21 Comments || Top||

#6  Actually, #1 and #5, the pretty girls are what the imams and mullahs describe, while the reality is what you see. Kinda makes it all worthwhile in the end, doesn't it?
Posted by: Old Patriot || 10/26/2007 21:27 Comments || Top||

#7  Do the Palestinians hold to the same standard of female beauty as the Egyptians: 100 kilos? If yes, dear USN, Ret. got it right!
Posted by: trailing wife || 10/26/2007 22:10 Comments || Top||


Two Hamas gunnies killed in Israeli shooting
Two Hamas activists were killed in an Israeli shooting in southeast Gaza early Thursday, the organization said. The Martyr Ezz Eddin Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said in a release, a copy of which was obtained by Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), "The two martyrs were killed in a shooting by an Israeli special task force that infiltrated into eastern Abssan Town when they were present near the border with Israel." "The two martyrs are Ayman Safifas and Ahmed al-Tabsh whose corpses were have been taken to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis. They were hit in different parts of their bodies in a shooting by occupiers," Palestinian medical sources said.
"What parts?"
"Diff'rent parts!"

This article starring:
AHMED AL TABSHHamas
AIMAN SAFIFASHamas
Posted by: Seafarious || 10/26/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Hamas

#1  "Parts is parts"

Posted by: Liberalhawk || 10/26/2007 9:27 Comments || Top||

#2  They were hit in different parts of their bodies in a shooting by occupiers

Somebody is going to get, at least, a very serious chewing out by his platoon Sgt. for "rock-n-rolling".
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 10/26/2007 10:15 Comments || Top||


Paleo fighter dies in "special mission"
Hamas' military wing, Martyr Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, said on Wednesday one of its fighters was killed early Wednesday during a "special mission." In a press release, the brigades identified the fighter as Mohammad Hameed, 21, from Jabalia camp north of Gaza, but did not reveal any information on the operation he was involved in.
Either red wire-green wire or his tunnel collapsed on him.


This article starring:
MOHAMAD HAMIDHamas
Martyr Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades
Posted by: Seafarious || 10/26/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Hamas

#1  "Special Mission" as in "Special Olympics"?
Posted by: Frank G || 10/26/2007 8:27 Comments || Top||

#2  [span class=ChurchLady]
Isn't that special?
[/span]
Posted by: Mike || 10/26/2007 8:43 Comments || Top||

#3  Looks like a tunnel man...

The Qassam Brigades said Hmaid was a member of the 'Tunnels Special Unit', in the northern Gaza Strip.

Since their tunnels appear to cave in, what's so "special" about em?
Posted by: tu3031 || 10/26/2007 8:57 Comments || Top||

#4  they take easypass?
Posted by: Liberalhawk || 10/26/2007 9:26 Comments || Top||

#5  "Special Mission" as in "Special Olympics"?

Even if you win, you are still Palestinian.
Posted by: Excalibur || 10/26/2007 9:59 Comments || Top||

#6  LH is on a roll today. LOL!
Posted by: Steve White || 10/26/2007 10:44 Comments || Top||


Southeast Asia
Three Thai soldiers injured in bombing
Three soldiers were injured when insurgents detonated a five-kilogramme bomb against their patrol along a railroad track in the southern province of Narathiwat on Friday morning. Police said the remote-controlled explosive was triggered when eight soldiers were patrolling to check the safety of the track in Cho Airong district. The blast (sic) was reportedly hidden in an iron box and covered by grass.
Posted by: ryuge || 10/26/2007 06:12 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Thai Insurgency


Sri Lanka
Detailed account of the LTTE attack on the SR Airbase
Very detailed account of an LTTE suicide sapper attack on an airfield with devastating results. I have just kept a few ...interesting... pieces here, so go read it all
LTTE attacks Air Base ignoring human cost
The targets of terror outfits are unpredictable. But their final goal is always aimed at terrorising society to bring pressures on Governments to accede to their demands or to put a stop to any campaign against them.
...
However, their second attack within a week, this time targeting the air assets of the Sri Lanka Air Force came in a well planned manner. The aim of the LTTE is to get rid of the huge pressure exerted by the Air Force, which has made it tough going for the outfit in the Wanni.
...
Having failed in three consecutive attempts to make use of their novel but crude air capability to destroy SLAF air assets, in early this year, Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran this time retained high faith on their usual ground fighters to launch this attack on the Anuradhapura air base.

It was around 3.30 a.m. when the Airmen manning the guard post close to the new Nuwara road in the North Eastern edge of the runway from the direction of the Nuwara Wewa, detected the Tiger infiltration into the air base by cutting open the barbed wire fences of the Air Base.
...
Therefore, it is believed that the Tiger cadres who infiltrated the Air Base were highly trained cadres on mine clearing and were capable of defusing sound mines which needs higher level of training.
...
But the gunner on top was hit by Tiger fire and vthe APC ground to a halt close to the hanger of the Air Base with damage caused to its tyres.
...
The group moving from the southern direction of the runway first fired RPGs at two PT-6 basic trainer aircraft parked at the south east end of the runway. The two aircraft were damaged in the Tiger fire.
...
The group moving from the southern side of the runway had reached the centre of the runway and fired another RPG at two MI-24 combat helicopter gunships. One helicopter gunship was completely destroyed in the fire but the damages caused to the other helicopter were minor.
...
As the team reached the middle of the runway the group was fired at from the Air Traffic Control tower located on the Northern end of the runway. From the southern end too there was stiff resistance to the group. As the LTTE team reached the centre of the runway from the southern flank there was an explosion as one suicide cadre was hit by Air Force fire.
Some eight or 10 Tiger cadres were believed to have died in the blast and the entire group was liquidated except for one or two cadres.

...
The fourth attack of the LTTE directed towards the B 200 T Beech craft parked in the Northern side of the runway. The beech craft surveillance plane were reduced to ashes in the Tiger fire. Then the K-8 jet trainer parked closer to the hanger was hit by Tiger fire and it went up in a blaze and was completely destroyed.
...
By this time the Tiger cadres started directing fire at the Hangar. Due to the fire directed at the hangar three aircraft, one MI-17 Medium Lift helicopter, PT-6 Basic Pilot Trainer aircraft and a Bell jet ranger 206 helicopter were destroyed.
...
While the guns were blazing inside the airbase the two Tiger fixed wing aircraft appeared on the scene and dropped four bombs, but no damage was done by this since the bombs fell on a vacant plot close to the Army camps.
A few cattle lying closer to the airbase were killed by these bombs. ...
...
In the search operations troops took a head count of 19 Tigers dead and collected their strewn body parts. Therefore, it has now been confirmed that 21 senior level Black Tiger cadres were killed in the attack.
And by head count they REALLY mean it!
Posted by: Brett || 10/26/2007 13:48 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  alot of good news in the WOT today
Posted by: sinse || 10/26/2007 15:33 Comments || Top||

#2  What a great read. Thanks!
Posted by: gromky || 10/26/2007 15:45 Comments || Top||

#3  It has to be considered a big success for the Tigers, being able to destroy around a dozen aircraft including a surveillance plane.
Posted by: Albemarle Cleaque8456 || 10/26/2007 19:04 Comments || Top||

#4  Just to piss off Mario, we oughtta supply them with much more
Posted by: Frank G || 10/26/2007 19:13 Comments || Top||

#5  Big victory for the LTTE. StrategyPage says the Beech surveillance plane was responsible for the destruction of the LTTE navy.
Posted by: ed || 10/26/2007 19:30 Comments || Top||

#6  Certainly a success, but one borne out of desperation rather than grand strategy. They used up what was probably their "A" team. Black Tigers are suicide units, so they don't grow on trees. Well-trained ones, able to defuse a minefield, would be exceedingly hard to come by, I think. They're attacking the Air Force because the SRAF is bombing the crap out of them. Rather than, say, sending suicide squads to alter politics in the capital, or winning battles in the field, they do this rinky-dinky airbase raid. Damage, to be sure, but doesn't change the outcome of the war that the Tigers are currently losing badly.
Posted by: gromky || 10/26/2007 20:05 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Lebanon Troops Fire on Israeli Warplanes
Lebanese troops opened fire Thursday on Israeli warplanes flying low over southern Lebanon, but no hits were reported, Lebanese officials said.

Israeli warplanes frequently fly over Lebanese airspace in what Israel says are reconnaissance missions, but this was the first time the Lebanese army has fired on the aircraft since an Aug. 14, 2006, cease-fire ended a monthlong war between Israeli and Hezbollah guerrillas. Lebanese soldiers opened up with machine guns and light anti-aircraft weapons mounted on armored vehicles at two planes that flew by just east of Marjayoun town near the border at midmorning, a Lebanese security official said. A total of 150 rounds were fired, he added. A senior military officer also said the army "confronted" the Israeli planes, but gave no details.

The Israeli military does not comment on air operations, but there were no reports from Jerusalem of any planes being hit. Earlier this year, Lebanese and Israeli soldiers briefly exchanged fire near the border village of Maroun el-Rass where the U.N.-demarcated Blue Line was not clearly marked. There were no casualties.
Posted by: Fred || 10/26/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  These are the people Bush wants to train & equip.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 10/26/2007 10:04 Comments || Top||

#2  A total of 150 rounds were fired, he added

Sounds like Detroit on Halloween.
Posted by: Ulaising Jones3412 || 10/26/2007 17:21 Comments || Top||

#3  Look on the bright side. 150 large caliber rounds had to land somewhere.
Posted by: ed || 10/26/2007 18:58 Comments || Top||

#4  These are the people Bush wants to train & equip.

Regrettable. But the two countries haven't ever been 'neighbors' either.
Posted by: Pappy || 10/26/2007 20:08 Comments || Top||


Good morning
Posted by: Fred || 10/26/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "I'll fix your flat tire, Merle!"
Posted by: Zenster || 10/26/2007 1:39 Comments || Top||

#2  That won't be necessary, Zen. This particular Merle is not flat.
Posted by: treo || 10/26/2007 11:26 Comments || Top||

#3  That picture must of been taken before her car accident.
Posted by: Jack is Back! || 10/26/2007 14:03 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
54[untagged]
5Global Jihad
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3Govt of Iran
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2al-Qaeda
2Govt of Syria
2Hezbollah
2Islamic Jihad
2Palestinian Authority
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1Fatah
1Islamic Courts
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1Jemaah Islamiyah
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1Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal
1Govt of Sudan
1al-Qaeda in Iraq
1Govt of Pakistan
1al-Qaeda in North Africa

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In no particular order...
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Two weeks of WOT
Fri 2007-10-26
  Mehsuds formally ask army to leave Tank compound
Thu 2007-10-25
  India jails 31 for life over 1998 blasts
Wed 2007-10-24
  Binny demands reinforcements for Iraq
Tue 2007-10-23
  PKK offers conditional ceasefire
Mon 2007-10-22
  Bobby Jindal governor of Louisiana
Sun 2007-10-21
  Four dozen Talibs banged in Musa Qala area
Sat 2007-10-20
  Waziristan to be pacified 'once and for all'
Fri 2007-10-19
  Binny's handler was incharge of Benazir's security
Thu 2007-10-18
  Benazir Bhutto survives bomb attack
Wed 2007-10-17
  Putin warns against military action on Iran
Tue 2007-10-16
  Time for Palestinian State: Rice
Mon 2007-10-15
  Six killed, 25 injured as terror strikes Indian town of Ludhiana
Sun 2007-10-14
  Khamenei urges Arabs to boycott Mideast meet
Sat 2007-10-13
  Wally accuses Hezbullies of planning to occupy Beirut
Fri 2007-10-12
  Sufi shrine kaboomed in India

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