The UN General Assembly on Monday strongly condemned the increasing violence and terrorist activity by the Taliban, al-Qaida and other extremist groups in Afghanistan and called for stepped-up efforts to to help the nation build a stable future after two decades of war.
A resolution, adopted by consensus and cosponsored by over 100 countries, stressed "the urgent need" to tackle the upsurge in violent criminal and terrorist activities - including by those involved in the narcotics trade, which has had an upsurge in opium poppy production this year.
It also backed the Afghanistan Compact, a five-year blueprint adopted by the Afghan government and the international community in January 2006 to help the rebuild the country's government institutions and promote the rule of law, human rights and national reconciliation. While the resolution is not legally binding, its support by the 192-member General Assembly was a reflection of the strong international backing for Afghanistan at a difficult time.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/06/2007 00:00 ||
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Link ||
[3 views]
Top|| File under: Taliban
#1
While the resolution is not legally binding
**yawn** a reflection of the strong international backing for Afghanistan
hahahahahahaha...
Horn of Africa enemies Ethiopia and Eritrea may return to war over their disputed border in a matter of weeks if there is no major international push to halt them, an influential think-tank warned on Monday. A 1998-2000 war on the boundary killed 70,000 people and brought untold hardship to two of the worlds poorest nations. Now analysts are warning of a repeat as troops build up ahead of an end-November deadline by an independent boundary commission for Ethiopia and Eritrea to mark out their border.
The risk that Ethiopia and Eritrea will resume their war in the next several weeks is very real, wrote the International Crisis Group (ICG) in a report on the growing crisis. A military build-up along the common border over the past few months has reached alarming proportions. There will be no easy military solution if hostilities restart - more likely is a protracted conflict on Eritrean soil, progressive destabilisation of Ethiopia and a dramatic humanitarian crisis. The ICG urged the United States and the United Nations to flex their muscles to give both sides the clearest possible message that no destabilising unilateral action will be tolerated.
The US has muscles to flex. I was unaware that the UN had any muscle other than a sphincter.
Washington sees Ethiopia as its best ally in the region, but ties with Eritrea have deteriorated so much it may put Asmara on its list of terrorism sponsors for backing Somali Islamists. The ICG cited US estimates that Eritrea had 4,000 soldiers, supported by artillery and armour, in the supposedly demilitarised TSZ as well as 120,000 troops nearby.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/06/2007 00:00 ||
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[3 views]
Top|| File under: Global Jihad
#1
The Ethiopians may be our most effective ally in the WOT. They are very worthy of our support.
#2
Zawi threatening "the Colonel/Leader" plus any and all moder non/anti-Islamist Govts in NORTH AFRICA - D *** NG IT, YOU JUST KNOW SEGOLENE [France]ISN'T LIKE THIS ONE BIT, ZAWI!
An Egyptian court sentenced two police officers to three years in prison each Monday for torturing a minibus driver after his arrest, in a high-profile case that called new attention to police brutality here.
The incident caused national uproar after a cell phone video of the officers sexually abusing the victim, Emad el-Kabir, 22, was leaked to bloggers and appeared on the Internet. El-Kabir rejoiced in the courtroom upon hearing the verdict against his assailants - Islam Nabih, a police captain, and Reda Fathi, a noncommissioned officer. "God is great! Thank God!" shouted el-Kabir. "I regained my right. I don't want anything more than that." His eyes full of tears of joy. "I feared only God, and God rewarded me, I'm happy," he added.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/06/2007 00:00 ||
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A leading opponent of plans to build Europe's largest mosque in east London has seen a chilling "obituary" for him posted on the internet.
The film on video-sharing website YouTube is entitled In memory of Councillor Alan Craig and contains pictures of him with his wife and two young daughters. It was apparently posted in retaliation for his opposition to the mosque. Mr Craig has now contacted police in fear of his family's safety and demanded that the video be taken down.
Islamic group Tablighi Jamaat wants to open the 12,000-capacity "megamosque" in Newham near the main 2012 Olympic site. The FBI has described the group as "a recruiting ground" for al Qaeda, which it denies. Shoebomber Richard Reid and 7/7 bombers Mohammad Sidique Khan and Shehzad Tanweer were members.
Mr Craig, 61, a member of the Christian Peoples Alliance on Newham council, has led a local campaign against the mosque which is planned for the site at Abbey Mills next to West Ham Tube station. The businessman today said he would be seeking advice about whether his 40-year-old wife, Sally, and daughters were safe. He said: "Targeting me is one thing. But to use my wife and children is outrageous. This video obituary is either a threat or a very sick joke. Some people will look at this as an open invitation to take me out because I am opposing the mosque. That is not the way to operate in a democracy."
It's the way classic fascisti operate, but don't go calling that a spade.
The video opens with its title and the words "To God we will all return" before showing a series of photos of the councillor, his family and political allies set to Elvis Presley singing You Were Always On My Mind. The two-minute video ends with the message "The mosque will be built in time for the 2012 Olympic Games."
The video was posted by abdullah1425 whose page on YouTube claims he is 23-year-old Muhammad from Stevenage. It has links to material relating to Tablighi Jamaat. In one comment to another user posted on the site he said: "Jihad starts from the moment your mother gave birth to you."
There is a link directly to the page from the mosque's official website but a spokesman promised to take it down if anything "inappropriate" was found. He added: "We are not responsible for the content of external websites. But we condemn totally anyone who incites violence."
#2
The video was posted by abdullah1425 whose page on YouTube claims he is 23-year-old Muhammad from Stevenage.
So, when will the proper authorities be interviewing this "Muhammad from Stevenge"? I should think that they would have quite a few pointed questions, if not outright charges awaiting him. Perish the thought that "racial" sensitivities might prevent them from inquiring.
It has links to material relating to Tablighi Jamaat. In one comment to another user posted on the site he said: "Jihad starts from the moment your mother gave birth to you."
In light of his veiled death threat, it's pretty safe to say that Muhammad doesn't regard jihad as a "strictly spiritual quest".
There is a link directly to the page from the mosque's official website but a spokesman promised to take it down if anything "inappropriate" was found.
I doubt many at the mosque were wracked by pangs of conscience over this.
He added: "We are not responsible for the content of external websites. But we condemn totally anyone who incites violence."
Oh, I'm rather confident you do, at least when you're speaking English. However, as usual, you just can't promise that there won't be "actions" should some more cartoons be published. I wonder how much longer Europe is going to play along with this farce. Already, there are cracks forming as they slingshot terrorist suspects back to their countries of origin knowing full well they await torture in less-than-kind hands.
So much for Europe's much vaunted "humanitarian" values that obliges them to oppose capital punishment so vociferously. No doubt more than a few of the extradited terrorists will experience Sudden Adult Death Syndrome during interrogation back in their home countries. How tidy that Europe can wash their hands of that and still maintain plausible deniability.
All of this increasingly points towards a Europe whose adamant refusal to act in resolutely measured steps will, instead, collapse into its usual lowest-energy-state of mass murder and mayhem.
#3
Pretty much any opposition to anything these goat rapers do will result in a threat, or actual death. Time for some preemptive strikes on the radical mosques of Britain, I am thinking.
#5
If they build it, it shall be put to the torch.
If Her Majesty's government cannot or will not defend the people, it shall fall to the people to defend themselves. Do we have the spine for it? One thing is certain: The day some goatraping c*nt posts a threat about me on YouTube - a threat using a picture of my family - I will not go whining to the police about it.
#6
As in WWII, the first "encounters" with the enemy are constrained by civilized norms of behavior. As the situation deteriorates and the enemy demonstrates repeatedly that it has no such norms, then the response becomes increasingly brutal, based upon the realization that only extreme measures will achieve the required result. This is why the allies were able to raze Hamburg and Dresden (amongst others). This will happen as the muzzies continue to press.
#7
Aye, the sad thing is they do not get it. The future would be a better place if they did.
Posted by: kelly ||
11/06/2007 13:24 Comments ||
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#8
I try to put myself into the shoes of Mr. Alan Craig, the target of the YouTube threat posted by abdullah1495.
If I were Mr. Craig and learned that abdullah1495 had been identified and located, and later found dead with a case of lead poisoning to either temple, I must confess that a smile and shrug of the shoulders would be about as much emotion as I could muster under the circumstances. Just saying...
Posted by: Mark Z ||
11/06/2007 13:55 Comments ||
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The British army in Iraq set out on Monday details and conditions of potential deals for Britain's several hundred Iraqi staff who will be offered a chance to resettle in the Britain or receive cash. According to a statement by the British troops in Iraq issued on Monday, London has set out conditions and criteria for applicants from its former Iraqi staffers who worked for British troops, embassy and institutions in Iraq, to receive help under a new plan.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband revealed on October 30 a new plan to compensate and resettle several hundred Iraqis, many of them interpreters, but set conditions that restrict eligibility. Miliband said in a statement that was posted on the British Foreign Office website that the help plan 'reflects our judgment that the circumstances in which Iraqi locally-employed staff have served have been uniquely difficult.'
Thousands of Iraqis have been directly employed by British troops since the invasion of Iraq in 2003 but under the new plan only a few hundred will qualify for help. The main criterion restricts applicants to only Iraqis who worked continuously for the British for 12 months since January 1, 2005 and until August 8, 2007. The assistance package offers cash payment of up to 18-months salary and the minimum of six months or the option of settling in Britain as asylum seekers on the basis of an 'exceptional leave' outside British immigration rules.
Iraqis who do not qualify under those criteria are given the option to apply through a special refugee programme, which would require their presence as registered refugees in a third country. Under this provision, many hundreds of Iraqi interpreters would have to travel mainly to neighbouring countries, such as Syria and Jordan, and apply for refugee status - an onerous process that may take months. Syria and Jordan, which bear the brunt of the exodus of Iraqis from the violence-beleaguered country, have already tightened entry regulations.
Iraqi interpreters and staff who work for the coalition troops in Iraq face, along with their families, death threats and social exclusion. Some have already fallen victim to target killings.
A man accused of helping plan a series of failed terrorist bombings in London two years ago has pleaded guilty to having information useful to terrorists. Adel Yahya, 24, of London, was due to face a second trial next week on charges of conspiracy to murder, Metropolitan Police said.
A jury convicted four men of conspiracy in July but was unable to agree on verdicts for Yahya and Manfo Kwaku Asiedu, 34. The charges stemmed from failed attempts to detonate explosives on London subway trains and a bus on July 21, 2005 - just two weeks after terrorists killed themselves and 52 bus and subway passengers in the capital.
This article starring:
ADEL YAHYA
al-Qaeda in Britain
MANFO KWAKU ASIEDU
al-Qaeda in Britain
Posted by: Fred ||
11/06/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
These guys fled persecution got free education healthcare and welfare cqs and how do they repay you!!!!
Makes me sick but i blame the preachers/religion they follow which teaches hate for the infidels!!!!
Posted by: Paul ||
11/06/2007 6:27 Comments ||
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#2
You put down cheese you get mice.
Deport them and their family. Cut off all entitlements to them and their indigenous equivalents. Put them all to work and they will have much less time for plotting for the Devil.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - A team of U.S. experts has begun disabling North Korea's nuclear weapons-making facilities, a U.S. official said, the first time Pyongyang has ever moved to scale back its development of atomic bombs.
U.S. State Department spokesman Tom Casey told reporters Monday in Washington that the disabling of the North's nuclear reactor at Yongbyon ``is a positive first step in this process, and we certainly hope to see it continue.'' He had no details about what specific steps the team was conducting. ``This is going to be a process that is going to take some time,'' he said.
The North shut down Yongbyon in July and promised to disable it by year's end in exchange for energy aid and political concessions from other members of talks on its nuclear program: the U.S., China, Japan, South Korea and Russia.
The main U.S. envoy to the talks, Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, has said the experts would take steps that would require the North to take at least a year for the reactor to be restarted.
Posted by: Steve White ||
11/06/2007 00:00 ||
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[10 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
NKors Start Disabling Nuke Program by taking so far produced material elsewhere... for the right price.
#2
Various Netters remind that NK's Yongbyon is one of several NK-claimed/reported indigens nuke facilities, and the only one to be formally
"disabled", NOT destroyed, under the Six-Party auspice.
This could be the start of a real and major foreign policy victory for the US (and the Administration). Obviously its just a step but it is a major one.
As if a healthy sense of skepticism is unwarranted regarding North Korea's track record of actually following through on its promises. I'd wager only the Palestinians have made a more dismal showing in that respect. The administration had best be exceptionally careful about prematurely trumpeting this as some "major foreign policy victory". History has proven itself rather unkind to those who have previously trusted the North Koreans.
#7
It's correct to be skeptical regarding NorK, but still, this is a sign of progress. Compare it to what passed for progress before: Carter, Clinton, and Halfbright.
#8
As Ronnie Reagan said, trust, but verify. The stooges mentioned above ( Carter, Clinton, and Halfbright + I might add the UN ) only wanted to tout themselves as diplomats, regardless of their non-results.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
11/06/2007 11:50 Comments ||
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#9
I get the feeling what they're doing is the same as pulling a single cotterpin and pronouncing "It can't run now". (But Cotterpins are cheap and quickly replaced.)
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
11/06/2007 12:50 Comments ||
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#10
TOPIX/CHOSUN ILBO > STRIPPED DOWN/AUSTERE WARSHIP SPOTTED IN NORTH KOREAN HARBOR. Its a Cold War Soviet = Russ KRIVAK-class, spotted by Google Earth in NK harbor of Nampo. Just in time - also from TOPIX > SOUTH KOREA PLANS ROUTINE BMD EXERCISES, vv threats from the NOKORS.
#11
Yep they're dismantling it because there is a rumor that an unnamed facility in an unnamed part of an unnamed Syrian Dictator's country is in need of repair parts.
Otherwise, look in the yellow pages under nuclear materials.
Do you suppose that the Iranians would like some good low mileage enriched uranium?
#12
ION, TOPIX > DAILY ESTIMATE > EXPANDING THE [US] NUCLEAR NAVY. USG/House 2008 budget debate. All nuke power, all the time, forever.* YET ANOTHER REASON WHY I TELL GUAM LOCALS THAT GUAM'S SELF-DETERMINATION ISSUE vv USA IS PARAMOUNT, + THAT GUAM'S WASH DELEGATE + GOVT NEEDS TO CEMENT GUAM AS A SPACEPORT/SPACEPLANE PORT - NOW, NOT TOMORROW. That GLOBAL PROMPT STRIKE, GMD-TMD, SEA BASING-MOB, etal., once made cheap effective and mass producable, means the USAF in LR will likely be the last of the major [non-Grunt] US armed services to still have utility for Guam, and be the last to leave besides NASA/SPAWAR.
But hey, I'm just a simple Madonna fan from Guam - what do I know or remember [Paula Abdul]5, 10 - 40 yarns ago!? BIG TECHS, WINNING BATTLES, TELLING THE TRUTH, ETC. > PROB EXPLAINS WHY I'M NOT A GENERAL OR ADMIRAL.
#2
King Abdullah Bin-Abd-al-Aziz Al Saud needs to be shown some pictures of Benito Mussolini's last moments.
the Saudi king gave a speech in which he talked about the need for dialogue between religions to promote peace.
Then he proceeded to sell all present some Florida real estate.
"All religions encourage people to love the next person," he said. "If everyone followed the principles of their religions, and that which Allah ordered, the world would be free of clashes,"
Not so fast there, Kingy Boy. Not everybody follows Allah's orders and more than a few of us regard him as Satan's butt boy. Nice of you to toss in your little qualifier so that you can blather on about how "the world would be free of clashes", but only under Islam's not-so-benevolent guidance.
"Allah gave us reason in order to reject atheism, and gave us faith and the capacity to distinguish between good and evil," he said.
Notice how he doesn't mention his own personal choice.
"In every civilisation there is a positive side that must be followed when there's a possibility of conflict with other civilisations."
That "positive side" is beginning to look a lot like one that is uncontaminated by Islam, although I'm sure the King views things rather differently.
"The moment has come to restart proactive dialogue which destroys negative ideas and gives humanity hope for a bright future," he said.
Build some churches and synagogues in Saudi Arabia and maybe I'll believe you. Until then, pound hot sand. Right about now, your future is looking really bright, blindingly bright, in fact.
#6
At the dinner, the Saudi king gave a speech in which he talked about the need for dialogue between religions to promote peace.
...but then...
Church relations with Muslims were badly strained last year after a speech by the pontiff in Germany linking Islam to violence. Benedict later said he regretted that Muslims were offended by his remarks, and the Vatican has since tried to improve relations with the Muslim community.
There's the problem. The Pope will listen politely while the King blathers about Satan's butt boy (thanks for that one, Zen). But when the Pope speaks Muslims around the world take offense, seethe, issue threats and riot. A dialog means both parties get to speak but it's no good if one party threatens to kill the other for speaking the truth.
#7
Given the speed of the spread of islam in Europe and lack of resistance to same, I suspect the King was in Rome to surrepitiously measure the Vactican for drapes. The King won't be around to see the drapes hung, but his great grandchildren most certainly will.
Posted by: Mark Z ||
11/06/2007 12:43 Comments ||
Top||
#8
Mark, The Vatican ain't Europe and there are a whole lot of Catholics in the world that won't let some Wahhabist measure it for drapes. They might not be in Europe (at least "old" Europe), but they sure are in lots of other places in the world and they WILL go and defend their Church. Count on it.
I hope (pray) you're right, but I'm not so certain.
I don't doubt that there would be many (MANY) Roman Catholics (RC) willing to go on a crusade to defend Vatican City (VC), but that such a defense would be necessary presupposes that Italy at large has been lost. And therein lies my point. I recommend to you Mark Steyn's treatise America Alone. At present, indigenous RC in Italy are not birthing enough to even replace themselves. And what, might I ask, are they replacing themselves with? A generation of men and women willing to die for their faith and freedom in face of the muslim onslaught? I currently find little or no evidence for that.
As goes old Europe so goes VC. Forgive my pessimisim, but I come to RB everyday to find out what islam is up to throughout the world. I'm not optimistic. Hopeful, but not optimistic.
Posted by: Mark Z ||
11/06/2007 13:39 Comments ||
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#11
Bernard Lewis has forecast that Italy will be ther first major Euro country to go Islamic, by the end of the century. I suspect it will have and Islamic government before then. Or a civil war. Italian's choice.
The European Union's new anti-terror coordinator said more attacks by Islamic extremists or their sympathizers were "probable" inside the union and warned of the threat posed by an al-Qaida-affiliated group in North Africa.
Gilles de Kerchove, appointed the EU's anti-terror chief in September, called on the EU to increase border protection to combat new dangers in the area, including the spreading of Islamist violence in countries like Algeria, where responsibility for recent bombings has been claimed by the Al-Qaida in Islamic North Africa group. "The proximity to Europe means we have to beef up our border protection," de Kerchove said.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/06/2007 00:00 ||
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[7 views]
Top|| File under: al-Qaeda
#1
Actually, the EU is the biggest threat to Europe.
#4
GUAM K57 Radio this AM > only part part/segments of the story, but I believe Dubya made a speech link bwtn the borders and product/consumer safety, hence activists and pols this AM were calling for certain Fed Agencies to have selective or expanded powers of nationwide foods-prods recall??? FOODS/PRODS SAFETY + BORDERS = BIG[GER] GOVT = OWG.
#5
WORLDNEWS/YAHOO NEWS > US DEFENSE SECRETARY WARNS CHINA OF IRAN THREAT. China has little or nothing to gain by Radical Iran possessing nuclear weapons, should suppor proposed third set of UNO sanction agz same.
Kurds and Turkish nationalists took to the streets of German cities Saturday to demonstrate against one another as tension rose amid portents of war in Turkey's south-east. Apart from a brawl in the port city of Hamburg, the demonstrations passed off without violence. The nationwide turnout on both sides totalled more than 10,000, according to police figures. German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble warned in the newspaper Bild am Sonntag, set to appear Sunday, that the ethnic conflict could radicalize both Kurds and Turks living in Germany. He appealed for protests to stay peaceful.
One of the biggest protests against the Kurdistan Workers Party PKK was held in the southern city of Nuremberg, with 7,000 Turkish nationalists joining the march.
At a pro-PKK demonstration in Hamburg, 2,000 people marched past shoppers along main streets under close scrutiny by the police. There was a punch-up when a man held a Turkish flag over them from a bridge.
In the western city of Cologne, police kept rival groups apart.
A week ago Turks and Kurds brawled with one another in Berlin, injuring more than a dozen people.
Two French ex-detainees at the Guatanamo Bay prison camp have asked French judges to question US General Geoffrey Miller, the camps former commander, as part of a probe into allegations of torture and illegal arrest. Lawyers William Bourdon and Jacques Debray representing the two former prisoners asked investigating judges last month to summon General Geoffrey Miller as quickly as possible and consider charges if he fails to cooperate, according to a letter seen by AFP.
Two chances of the good general appearing, slim and none.
The two ex-prisoners, Nizar Sassi and Mourad Benchellali, have filed a complaint for illegal arrest, arbitrary detention and torture after they were captured in Afghanistan in late 2001 and sent to Guantanamo in early 2002.
Standard al-Q tactics; complain of torture.
They were transferred to France in July 2004 and went on trial in 2006 on terrorism charges. Hearings in that trial are due to resume next month.
Nice speedy hearing. I sense the hand of Carla del Ponte.
The lawyers argued that Miller, who ran the detention camp of prisoners taken in the US-led war on terror from its 2002 opening until 2003, had a personal responsibility in the management of Guantanamo in total violation of international law and French law.
Just more leftie harrassment. Let's see how quickly Sarko handles this.
This article starring:
Geoffrey Miller
Jacques Debray
Mourad Benchellali
Nizar Sassi
William Bourdon
Posted by: Fred ||
11/06/2007 00:00 ||
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Link ||
[3 views]
Top|| File under: al-Qaeda
#1
Standard al-Q tactics; complain of torture.
Hey, it works for Andrew Sullivan.
BAGHDAD (AP) - The U.S. military on Tuesday announced the deaths of five more soldiers, making 2007 the deadliest year for U.S. troops despite a recent downturn, according to an Associated Press count.
At least 852 American military personnel have died in Iraq so far this yearthe highest annual toll since the war began in March 2003, according to AP figures.
The Grim Milestone passed despite a sharp drop in U.S. and Iraqi deaths here in recent months, after a 30,000-strong U.S. force buildup. There were 39 deaths in October, compared to 65 in September and 84 in August.
Five U.S. soldiers were killed Monday in two separate roadside bomb attacks, said Rear Adm. Gregory Smith, director of the Multi-National Force-Iraq's communications division.
"We lost five soldiers yesterday in two unfortunate incidents, both involving IEDs," Smith told reporters in Baghdad's heavily-guarded Green Zone.
Some 850 troops died in 2004, mostly in larger, more conventional battles like the campaign to cleanse Fallujah of Sunni militants in November, and U.S. clashes with Shiite militiamen in the sect's holy city of Najaf in August.
But the American military in Iraq reached its highest troop levels in Iraq this year165,000. Moreover, the military's decision to send soldiers out of large bases and into Iraqi communities means more troops have seen more "contact with enemy forces" than ever before, said Maj. Winfield Danielson, a U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad.
"It's due to the troop surge, which allowed us to go into areas that were previously safe havens for insurgents," Danielson told the AP on Sunday. "Having more soldiers, and having them out in the communities, certainly contributes to our casualties."
#2
This is the kind of news commentary we should welcome. Even the most ignorant Oprah fan will recognize this as an outrageous misrepresentation and subesquently question the author's credibility. Keep it up, diummies.
#5
This week seems to have had a number of deadly attacks against us - more than the past few months. Statistics? Complacency? Re-establishment of effective cell networks? There have been a LOT of seemingly successful raids, caches found, etc., but obviously some key players are still on the loose.
#6
Teevee news last night covered the funeral of a 52-year old DC National Guardsman, killed by a roadside bomb after only 9 days in theater. He was a father of 6, granddad of 2.
When you're working with numbers this small, it doesn't take much to cause a blip. One attack that kills 5 Americans could be a 12% increase month over month.
#8
This sort of reporting is one of the major reasons there is a steady decline in newspaper circulation. People just don't trust what they read in the paper has any relation to facts.
#9
And the deadliest year in the Pacific was the last one if I recall correctly. Clearing the Philippines, Okinawa, Iwo Jima weren't walkovers. Which would have been dwarfed by a direct assault upon the home islands had not fate intervened in the form of another option.
#10
Actually, alot depends on what happens in Nov. and Dec. But if the current downtrend in casualties continues, the casualty rate in 2007 will be signifantly less than they were in 2006.
Once you take the larger number of combat troops in 2007 into account, the casualty rate per 1000 troops is down from last year.
Al
Posted by: Frozen Al ||
11/06/2007 19:12 Comments ||
Top||
Prior to 1966 - 3,078 (Total up through 31 Dec 65)
1966 - 5,008
1967 - 9,378
1968 - 14, 589 (Total while JFK & LBJ were on watch - 32,053)
1969 - 9,414
1970 - 4,221
1971 - 1,381
1972 - 300 (Total while Nixon was on watch - 15,316)
Source of these numbers is the Southeast Asia Statistical Summary, Office of the Assistant Secretary or Defense and were provided to the author by the US Army War College Library, Carlisle Barracks, PA 17023.
Numbers are battle deaths only and do not include ordinary accidents, heart attacks, murder victims, suicides, etc.
The United States transferred 11 inmates from its Guantanamo Bay prison camp for suspected terrorists, sending eight to Afghanistan and three to Jordan, the Defence Department said on Sunday. These detainees were determined to be eligible for transfer following a comprehensive series of review processes, it said in a statement. The transfer is a demonstration of the United States desire not to hold detainees any longer than necessary.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/06/2007 00:00 ||
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[4 views]
Top|| File under: al-Qaeda
Karachi- Former Pakistani prime minister and leader of the largest opposition party, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), said on Tuesday that she would not negotiate with President Pervez Musharraf.
Before boarding a flight to Islamabad, the PPP leader told reporters that she had no intention of meeting Musharraf who declared a state of emergency in Pakistan on Saturday.
However she said she would address a planned rally in Rawalpindi on 9 November. She was traveling to Islamabad to attend a meeting of opposition parties.
Bhutto returned to Pakistan last month after eight years of self-imposed exile. She was believed to have been in power-sharing talks with Musharraf.
Musharraf declared the state of emergency on Saturday saying that the country needed to curb extremism.
He suspended the constitution and sacked the country's chief justice, Iftikhar Chaudhry, who is under house arrest. Television channels in the country have also been blacked out.
Soon after the imposition of emegency rule, Bhutto said the suspension of the constitution was "undemocratic" and that it would only encourage Islamic extremists.
Reports say that dozens more people were arrested on Tuesday as part of the government crackdown on pro-democracy activists. Clashes were also reported between the police and protesters.
As many as 2,500 lawyers in Pakistan were arrested on Monday for protesting against the imposition of emergency rule.
Chaudhry addressed lawyers in Islamabad by telephone and called on them to "rise up" and restore the constitution.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
11/06/2007 14:48 Comments ||
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#2
Does anyone here think Bhutto could keep the nation together if Musharraf stepped down or was killed? It seems to me the country is split into three factions. Islamic nuts, Military nuts, and secular folks. I think the seculars are for Bhutto but they are the weakest of the three. I could be wrong of course but it seems a joint Bhutto/Musharraf government was their best hope.
The Dutch government froze development aid to Pakistan on Monday in response to President Pervez Musharraf's declaration of emergency rule, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said. The move was intended to pressure Musharraf to restore democratic and constitutional processes and to confirm its intentions to go ahead with parliamentary elections in January, said spokesman Francesco Mascini said.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/06/2007 00:00 ||
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[7 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan
#1
For a moment there I thought the title says Dutch government freezes aid to Palestine.
President George W Bush on Monday exhorted President Pervez Musharraf to hold elections and relinquish his army post as soon as possible. Our hope is that he will restore democracy as quickly as possible, he said, reported AP.
However, the president made a point of praising Pakistans cooperation in the war on terror and seemed resigned that there is little concrete action he can take to influence Musharrafs behavior.
Take off uniform: Earlier, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called on General Pervez Musharraf to stick to his word and take off his uniform. She sought to underscore US opposition to the emergency, a senior US official said. According to CNN, she had told reporters that it would be best for Pakistan to return to a constitutional path.
US reviewing aid: Defence Secretary Robert Gates, on a visit to China, called the events of the past few days in Pakistan disturbing. He said the US is reviewing its aid to Pakistan as a result of Musharrafs actions but would be mindful not to do anything that would undermine ongoing counter-terrorism efforts.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/06/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
Take Bush's advice - open y9our borders, let peopel cross them freely like we do with Mexico.
Oh nevermind, Perv already does that with the Taliban.
#2
Bush should be more concerned with securing the nukes the Pakistanis have, securing logistics line for our fores in Afghanistan, and pursuing terrorists and Taliban that are harbored in PAkistan under the support of Pakistan's ISI.
Time to pay the butchers bill will be nasty if you dont fix things George, you idiot. You're only making it worse letting Fallon at DoD and Rice with State screw things up further. IMHO.
#3
OS, do you know for a fact, that Bush isn't interested in securing those nukes, and that he has done absolutely nothing now, or even in the past to secure them?
Seems, I remember, some "leaked" reports several years ago, that SEALs had those nukes secured.
I gather from your words Bush should be more concerned with securing the nukes the Pakistanis have, securing logistics line for our fores in Afghanistan, and pursuing terrorists and Taliban that are harbored in PAkistan under the support of Pakistan's ISI that none of that is being done?
You have your sources. But, Bush may be that dumb (I don't think he is) but our military is far too smart and capable to not be doing this.
#5
SHerry, the military is quite capable. And indeed had plans etc for this. But the State Department and the old-time Eastern Elite have Bush's ear now. And thats why he has gotten so badly stuck on stupid recently. He truly is just an Ivy League frat-boy with a Harvard MBA who depends far too much on management instead of leadership - and thats whats hurting him now (and has hurt him before - look at his appointments, his awarding Tenet a medal instead of firing him, immigration, the utter lack of any work on the border, allowign cronies to stay far too long after they should have left, his inept and completely wimpy handling of nearly open rebellion at CIA, non-prosecution of constant leaks that damage the nation, etc).
He is depending on the opinion of people in his staff, Washington insiders, and self-entitled public officials whose vested interest are not the best interests of the nation. All that instead of governing strongly from principles.
He truly has become what I was hoping he would not be when I voted for him in 2000 and 2004: a bad choice surrounded by worse choices. His only advantage is that his opponents would have stunk far worse than he.
#6
the state of emergency has nothing to do with securing the borders. Its Perv arresting the judges who said he couldnt run for Prez again while remaining a military officer, and closing newspapers he doesnt like.
Maybe thats a good idea, but lets be clear about what is happening.
#7
The problem is that this has been obvious for a couple of years now. And state dawdled. Now the bill for inaction is coming due.
And the problem is that there is neither civilian nor military government at the moment that is capable of controlling Pakistan. The best bet is the military, and the reason they are more important is they have the nukes. They also tend to be more secular than the sectarians in the civilian side. Yet State and CENTCOM (Fallon) actions to date have done nothing but threaten to weaken the military, and promote a weak, ineffective civilian government - one that will allow the ISI a free hand due to its weakness, and will demoralize the Pak military - causign defections, and rendering it incapable of doing even minor things against the Taliban and tribe in Pakistan.
Thats the bill tats coming due, and as usual, Bush refuses to fire someones butt for setting up this mistake, nor does he change the direction. He leaves a butcher's bill that will be paid in blood by US troops in Afghanistan who have to deal with the increasing support of the Taliban from the unchallenged safety of Pakistan (and covertly, the support of the ISI).
We need decisive leadership, not a managerial approach.
Its not at all clear to me that a military govt has a better chance of keeping the necessary degree of order in Pakistan than a civilian govt (and note, our needs are for military action against AQ in NWFP, and maintaining govt control of the nukes - we (the US) DONT need "order" in the sense of preventing lawyers from rioting in Karachi)
" and the reason they are more important is they have the nukes."
More important, or the best bet for maintaining order. yes, the most important thing is to keep the nukes from being misused. If pakistan had a civilian govt, would the military decide to let the nuke loose in response?
"They also tend to be more secular than the sectarians in the civilian side."
There is intense Islamism in the military, IIUC, the whole campaign to Islamize Pakistan is largely a legacy of Gen Zia al Haq. Many of the civilian pols, like Bhuttos PPP are as secularist as any force in Pakistan. Now of course the military is more secular than the Islamists in MMA, but so is everyone. And the military is willing to work with the MMA - while Perv is arresing Qazi, hes apparently working with some of Qazis rivals in the MMA.
"Yet State and CENTCOM (Fallon) actions to date have done nothing but threaten to weaken the military, and promote a weak, ineffective civilian government - one that will allow the ISI a free hand due to its weakness, and will demoralize the Pak military - causign defections, and rendering it incapable of doing even minor things against the Taliban and tribe in Pakistan."
We've supported military rule in Pakistan since 2001, and the military has failed to crush the Islamists, and has managed to alienate most of the population. ISTM that its wise of Centcom and State, and whomever else in the admin, to finally unchain us, at least a little bit, from Perv.
Its also not clear to me how exactly we've been weakening the military. We've encouraged a deal between Perv and Bhutto, which was probably the best opportunity for a smooth transition.
#9
The best result would be if Pakistan divides, somewhat peacefully, and the nukes are secured. The nation has always been somewhat of a fiction and barely stable at the best of times.
Yeah Baluchistan areas might be absorbed by Iran, and Pashton by Afghanistan and Punjab by India but I can live with that. Dividing ethnic groups has always led to friction anyway.
The White House said on Monday that it couldnt support emergency rule in Pakistan. White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said in a statement, The US is deeply disturbed by the proclamation of an emergency in Pakistan. We cannot support emergency rule or the extreme measures taken during the emergency. Such actions ... damage the progress Pakistan has made on its path to democracy. It said the US president had not spoken to Gen Musharraf since he imposed emergency rule on Saturday.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/06/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
Locke wrote that there can be no freedom without law. Where civil authority is unable to contain a security threat, then civil rights must be suspended. Mushy didn't suspend civil liberty on his own accord; his hand was force by Air Force and Islamabad based Chiefs of Staff.
While Condi made the inevitable statements of regret, it is essential that the President link the string of bombings in Pakistan, to the MMA and their allies: Taliban/al-Qaeda.
#2
it is essential that the President link the string of bombings in Pakistan, to the MMA and their allies: Taliban/al-Qaeda.
Don't hold your breath. Bush seems to have stripped his gears about how and when to spotlight responsible parties. He has bound America to Musharref at the wrist and ankles. Either we use our support to drive Pakistani leadership away from its perennial indulgence in terrorism or we confiscate their nuclear arsenal and walk away from their shitstorm. To do neither will damn us both in equal measure.
#3
Such actions ... damage the progress Pakistan has made on its path to democracy.
I gotta add: To bloody Hell with Pakistan's "path to democracy"! Who gives a rip about them having an opportunity to collectively install another terrorist government like the Palestinians did? Right now, as with Iraq and Afghanistan, a military dictatorship focused on eradicating terrorist groups would serve America's and the world's interests a whole lot better than paying lip service to democracy. You do not crush terrorism with democracy. You crush terrorism with an iron fist and worry about nurturing democracy later. Leave even a shred of terrorism in place and it can just as easily poison all hopes for democracy. Especially so with Islamic terrorism.
The White House had damn well better get behind Musharref in force to stabilize the shitheap we've helped to create. We should use Musharref's vulnerability to once and for all time separate the conjoined twins of Pakistan's military and terrorism. If not, we'd better make damn sure to grab their nukes and get the Hell out of Dodge.
#4
"a military dictatorship focused on eradicating terrorist groups would serve America's and the world's interests a whole lot better than paying lip service to democracy"
mebbe. Im thinking this one over.
I certainly dont think after the Hamas win especially, we need to be rigid about pushing democracy in the muslim world. I sympathize with your reaction.
OTOH, Im not sure that applies that well to Pakistan. First, I dont see the MMA as nearly as strong electorally as Hamas. Theyve never come close to winning a national election. So Im not sure the risk of an Islamist win is that big.
Second, Im not sure the military can make a coup stick. Pakistan, for all its backward pockets, has more advanced elements than Paleo society does. Those, plus the elements that are anti-Perv for other reasons, will make it very hard for Perv to keep the lid on.
Third, its a huge embarrasment to the US. Leaving aside the way someone like Putin or Hu Jintao will use any US "hypocrisy" on democracy, and leaving aside the hearts and minds struggle, theres the simple fact that Rice has already made it clear we DONT want a coup. At this point its an open act of defiance, and letting Perv get away with it confirms the perception of US weakness.
#5
The military, with Musharref at their head, have demonstrated they can neither govern nor rule Pakistan. The civilians, lead by Benazir Bhutto, have demonstrated they are incapable of governing. The jihadis/Islamists/Deobandis demonstrated when they took over Afghanistan that while they may rule, they foster Caliphatist terror groups in their midst as well as ruling only by imposing increasing terror on the population. The Pakistanis cannot rule or govern themselves, the Indians certainly don't want to take on the problem. And I strongly suspect that while Russian and China enjoy profitting from Pakistan, they would not want to take over direct rule, either.
Sadly, Pakistan is too big to enclose withing a wall like the Gaza Strip. I'm afraid I lack the imagination to suggest a solution, since Pakistan has neither a Ghandi nor a Moses waiting in the wings.
#8
"The civilians, lead by Benazir Bhutto, have demonstrated they are incapable of governing. "
Have they? They have shown themselves incapable of governing without a certain degree of corruption. My sense is that most Pakistanis ahve decided that what theyve gotten from the military these last 8 years is bad enough, they will tolerate a certain degree of corruption, and would prefer to begin to fight it using democratic tools rather than the quicker but ultimately costlier tools of military rule.
#9
Maybe it is time for Perv to go...IF there is a plan to secure the nukes. The fact of the matter is that, sooner or later, Perv will go. And what then? Maybe Bush in all his wisdom is trying to force the issue. Maybe he has a plan. We can only hope so. Maybe he has decided that Pakistan is now a more immediate threat than Iran.
But apart from the nukes there is that Taleban/al Qaeda safe haven in Pakistan. It's like Vietnam all over again. The commies had a safe haven in North Vietnam just like the Taleban have in Pakistan. Why did we go to Afghanistan? To get Binny and Zawahiri. Where are they now? In Pakistan. We will never achieve our goals in Afghanistan while Perv is in power in Pakistan.
Didn't Bush himself say, if you're not for us, you're against us? Perv is not for us. Didn't Bush say, no safe haven for terrorists? Pakistan is a safe haven for terrorists.
#10
#5 -- you make it sound like a military dictatorship is Pakistan's only option at the moment. Wait a sec -- they've already got one. Never mind.
Anguper Hupomosing9418, I'm barely an amateur, let alone anything close to a professional, but I don't think the Pakistanis are capable of a proper military dictatorship. They're entirely too corrupt, and there are too many weapons -- a proper military dictatorship needs to maintain a monopoly on violence, I think.
Gen Pervez Musharraf may review the decision to doff his uniform due to the imposition of emergency and promulgation of the PCO, high-level government sources said.
Asked whether Gen Musharraf would doff his uniform before taking oath, his spokesman Maj Gen (r) Rashid Qureshi said: The effort is to adhere to the schedule of the third phase of transition as far as humanly possible.
He said the democratic process would not be derailed. However, The president has not given any date [for doffing his uniform] because of legal reasons, he added. Petitions challenging Musharrafs presidential candidature are pending with the SC, where only four judges have taken oath under the PCO, sources said. The matter may not be decided until the SC gets the required number of judges.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/06/2007 00:00 ||
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The government has decided to monitor 21 national Urdu and English language newspapers to ensure implementation of the newly promulgated Press, Newspapers, News Agencies, and Books Registration (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007. Special officers have been asked to scan news, editorials, and readers letters containing material against President Musharraf and the armed forces, an Information Ministry official told Daily Times. He said provincial information departments were also directed to monitor the newspapers. Thirteen Urdu and eight English newspapers had been listed by the Press Information Department (PID) to monitor.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/06/2007 00:00 ||
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Police arrived at the Jang printing press on Monday and tried to stop the printing and distribution of a special supplement of the groups evening paper, Awam, on the current emergency situation. Jang Editor Mehmood Sham said some Sindh Information Department officers asked press workers to stop the printing of the supplement. Sham said that Awams editor, Nazir Leghari, tried to convince the officers that they had printed such supplements on several occasions in the past. However, Sham added the authorities warned them that if they did not comply the printing press would be sealed. PID Director Aziz Memon told Daily Times that there had been some confusion, but matters were now resolved.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/06/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
Is the Rantburg strategic stockpile safe?
Posted by: Thomas Woof ||
11/06/2007 8:58 Comments ||
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#2
we could always get some of those Hollywood writers to do some work here while their strike continues.
Police came down hard on protesting lawyers and arrested hundreds of anti-government protesters on Monday as demonstrations erupted countrywide against the imposition of emergency rule. Police used baton-charges to quell demonstrations by lawyers at courts in Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Multan. Hundreds of opposition activists, lawyers, civil society members and some journalists were arrested.
Lahore: The biggest protest was in Lahore, where lawyers clashed with police at the Lahore High Court building. Some 2,000 lawyers gathered at the court building and planned to march along The Mall to the Punjab Assembly.
However, large numbers of police deployed outside the LHC warned the lawyers not to exit the court premises as demonstrations were banned. However, this did not deter the lawyers, and a crowd of black coats tried to rush out the LHC gate, which was blocked by the police. A shoving match ensued and clashes broke out. Lawyers pelted police with stones, and police retaliated with baton-charges and volleys of teargas shells. The police charged inside the LHC premises and chased the lawyers, up to 250 of whom were dragged outside and bundled into police vans. The protesting lawyers had also tried to ransack the chambers of the LHC chief justice. There were several injuries in the clashes on both sides.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/06/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
Lawyers pelted police with stones, and police retaliated with baton-charges and volleys of teargas shells.
Police stoned, lawyers cracked... So far, Mushy's emergency is rather enjoyable.
#2
It's a self-fulfilling prophecy. By storming gates and throwing rocks, the sharks are proving Perv right. The US has activist judges and powerful trial lawyer lobbies, but they're amateurs compared to Paks.
President Pervez Musharraf gave a firm commitment to UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and US Secretary of State Condolezza Rice that he would hold elections on schedule by January just before imposing a state of emergency, The Guardian reported on Monday.
Should have known better. His lips were moving.
Pakistans government, over the weekend, ignored British and US efforts to clarify the situation. Calls to Islamabad by both British Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Ms Rice went unanswered. The showdown was postponed until Mondays scheduled meeting between the Pakistani leader and Western ambassadors in Islamabad, the report said.
The breakdown in communications was partly a result of chaos in Pakistan but it also reflects the limits to US and British influence in the region. London, in particular, relies on the Pakistani government for help in the battle against the Taliban, including lines of supply to British troops in Afghanistan through northern Pakistan, and surveillance of the flow of would-be suicide bombers between the two countries.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/06/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
Calls to Islamabad by Miliband and Rice went unanswered
Shocked, I'm sure, by how their vitally important opinions were totally unwanted.
#4
Cut the aid, the islamowhackos will take over, then we'll have to spend the "savings" on more bombs and missiles to root 'em out...
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
11/06/2007 11:55 Comments ||
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#5
will cutting aid make the Islamists take over? Some of the aid is civilian, and much of the military aid has gone for fighter jets and stuff like that.
Some of the aid is going for counter insurgency ops, but how effective has that been? The Islamists have basically taken over much of NWFP. Theyre not going to take over Punjab as the long the army doesnt want them to, with or without our aid.
The savings arent what its about - its to show that Perv cant just do whatever he wants with no consequences.
Police on Monday arrested another 35 lawyers and political workers from different parts of the federal capital. Since imposition of emergency on Saturday night, the security agencies started rounding up prominent politicians, lawyers and social activists. So far 78 people have been arrested in Islamabad in the ongoing crackdown. A senior police official told Daily Times that the capital police had arrested around 20 lawyers, including Abdur Rasheed, additional secretary Supreme Court executive body, and Jahanzeb Khan Jadoon, Rashid Awan, Malik Azam, members of the executive body, from Islamabad. He said a number Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) workers had also been arrested from different parts of the federal capital.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/06/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
To what political groups do the various arrestees belong? I know they are opposed to Musharraf's emergency decrees, but are they on the side of his moderate/democratic opposition or on the side of his Islamist (alleged) opposition? Or some other entity? Or multiple groups?
Micro-grants assist Shar Ar Rabea businesses
Multi-National Division Baghdad PAO
BAGHDAD Multi-National Division Baghdad Soldiers, in conjunction with the local Iraqi government, distributed micro-grants to 29 small business owners in the Jamia neighborhood of western Baghdad Oct. 30.
Soldiers from Company B, 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, with the help of the Khadra Neighborhood Advisory Council, paid 29 business owners their micro-grants to start rebuilding their businesses.
The recipients of micro-grants received between $2,000 to $2,500 which can be used to renovate their business, buy inventory or offices supplies, hire workers or pay for any other business related expenses.
This was the second group of micro-grants distributed since 1-64 Armor has been operating in the area, bringing the total number of micro-grants paid in the area to 71, with a total dollar value of $168,000 to local businesses. Even if every penny of it is just plain bribe money it is still a good 'investment'.
As each of the business owners receives their grant, Soldiers from Bravo Company monitors their progress to ensure the grant provides the necessary boost. The unit plans to continue issuing these grants in order to revive Shar Ar Rabea, one of the most famous shopping streets in Baghdad prior to the war.
#1
I can't say enough about the power of micro grants to improve the economy in an area. These 29 will probably result in twice that many businesses recovering, perhaps 500 people being hired, their families being supported. Other businesses will spring up to provide supplies, tax revenues will jump. The effect goes on and on.
There is tons of money available in the US for anybody who wants to start a small business and asks for it. Other than grants, you can also get low interest loans and low cost insurance. What you need is a business plan in hand, which is normally about five pages long.
Hint: Don't start a restaurant. They typically have a six month 50% failure rate.
Second Hint: If you put "robotics" in the title of your business, DARPA will be there in a heartbeat, with a suitcase full of money.
Istanbul - The Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US president George W. Bush have agreed on a new military mechanism to fight the Kurdish rebels of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) in northern Iraq.
Following their meeting at the White House on Monday, the two leaders agreed to form a tripartite military mechanism involving the deputy chief of the Turkish General Staff, General Ergin Saygun, his American counterpart General Cartwright and the commander of US troops in Iraq, General David Petraeus.
Bush, for the first time, declared the PKK, which is based in northern Iraq and launching attacks into Turkey, an enemy of the United States.
The two leaders also announced a new intelligence deal reached between the two sides.
In order to chase down people who murder people, you need good intelligence. We talked about the need for our militaries to stay in constant contact, Bush said.
According to the diplomats, this is based on the sharing of real-time intelligence which enables Turkey to act instantaneously.
Erdogan who previously accused Washington of dragging its feet in giving support to Turkey's fight against the PKK, told reporters that he was satisfied and "got what he wanted".
In his press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, the Turkish premier told reporters that Turkey is on the threshold of using its right to self-defence granted under international laws.
We took a (cross border) operation decision, not war. That type of decision will be determined by the military, Erdogan said.
Turkey has massed nearly 100,000 troops on the Iraqi border for a possible operation.
More than 40 Turkish civilians and soldiers have been killed in PKK attacks in the past month.
The public pressure on the government of Erdogan's Justice and Development Party, known as the AKP, to stop the PKK attacks, is increasing day by day.
Erdogan also told reporters that Turkey has started to impose an embargo to the regional Kurdish administration in northern Iraq. If we cant get what we want, there will be more sanctions he said.
In brief: Sgt. Dan Powers is a squad leader with the 118th Military Police Company. He was stabbed in the head with a nine-inch knife. Thanks to fast-acting medical professionals, Powers survived.
Today, he sometimes takes aspirin for the headaches but that's all
#3
Rockets not only still coming, but are getting bigger, longer-ranged, and multi-purposed [read-Nukes-WMDS]. BE GRATEFUL IT APPEARS THE COMMIES DIDN'T GIVE THE TERROR ORGS THEIR NUCLEARIZED MORTARS + OTHER SIMIL ROCKET ARTY. THE LATTER > IT COULD BE WORSE FOR ISRAEL.
The leader of Hamas on Monday dismissed a US-sponsored Mideast peace conference planned for later this year, saying it was meant to distract the region as Washington prepared for an attack against Iran. He also warned Palestinian leaders against making concessions to Israel during the meeting.
"Strategically, it (the US) is setting the stage and covering up for the upcoming American war in the region," Khaled Mashaal told a press conference at a forum of Palestinian intellectuals in Damascus, where the political chief of the Palestinian faction has his headquarters. "There are preparations for an aggression against Iran, and could include other parties - Syria, Lebanon and Hizbullah. Therefore, America is distracting us with a false game and is preparing itself for the real one," he said.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/06/2007 00:00 ||
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#2
FREEREPUBLIC/TOPIX > IRAN > US GLOBAL ARROGANCE RENDERED IMPOTENT IN CONFRONTATION. Piety + belief in God-Islam has made Iran = Iranian people the superior over America and any obstacle.
* I hope the Vatican, Mullahocracy, + world is closely watching COMET HOLMES, as it is a true MARIAN EVENT/WARNING - the risk to Earth stems NOT [somuch]from the destabilization and partition/split-up of Holmes' rocky core, but on how its exit journey past Mars, Jupiter, etc. is affected = altered by the gravitational forces-dynamics of Earth's planetary neighbors. I can say much more buts its personal.
Holmes doesn't want to come here. The recent auction prices for meteorites has plummeted. I suggest it go directly to Tehran or Qum.
Posted by: Jack is Back! ||
11/06/2007 9:14 Comments ||
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#5
And why would we need to distract him? Somebody like George Bush needs to explain to him that the peace conference is not a "false game", it's his last chance for course adjustment before our State Department totally loses its influence at the White House and payment comes due for all those Hamas rocket and suicide attacks on Israel. George Bush is going to be able to say that he gave diplomacy a fair chance before the U.S. stomped Iran and Israel stomped Gaza and Syria.
#7
With Obama modeling himself in the image and style of Abraham Lincoln, "W" knows that all though he would "walk softly and carry that Big Stick", America is harder to swallow putting a black man in the number one chair; Hillary on the other hand has greater than a 50/50 chance of not 'pushing the button' as regarding the Iranian crisis. The only way to trump that would be to preempt November, and by my estimates, atleast by March 2008!!
#8
Keeping tabs on Gaza, Khaled? Watching it on Damascus Action News every night? Heading back anytime soon, "freedom fighter", or are you satisfied with the title of Biggest Jihadi Weenie Boy in The Middle East?
If the deployment of additional Palestinian Authority security forces in Nablus succeeds in establishing order in the city, then the IDF will permit a similar deployment in another PA city, Defense Minister Ehud Barak told PA Prime Minister Salaam Fayad during a meeting in Jerusalem Monday night. The defense minister also noted that IDF troops would continue to operate in the territories despite the increased PA security presence.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/06/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
"If the deployment of additional Palestinian Authority security forces in Nablus succeeds in establishing order in the city"
The Islamic Jihad is willing to stop firing rockets at Israel if Israel stops its attacks in Gaza, Al-Quds Brigades spokesman Abu Hamza said Monday.
"Please stop killing us!"
In an interview to the Palestinian Ramatan news agency, Abu Hamza stressed that if there were a "national Palestinian consensus" that it refrain from targeting Israel, the group would abide by it. "We are willing to stop shooting rockets if all the Palestinian factions reach an agreement [to do so], and if Israel promises to stop its attacks against Palestinian citizens."
According to Abu Hamza, the Islamic Jihad was considering a proposal made by another Palestinian faction - which he did not identify - that it stop rocket attacks in return for the aforementioned demand.
In related news, following mediation by several groups, Hamas has agreed to transfer control of the Gaza Strip back to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Kuwaiti-based daily Al-Kabas reported Monday. According to the report, based on "reliable Palestinian sources," the proposal includes Hamas rescinding control of the Strip's various security installations.
Being required to govern has really limited their ability to be terrorists.
The mediation efforts reportedly began several days ago primarily by Qatari officials, headed by the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. During a meeting in Qatar's capital Doha between Thani and Hamas's leader Khaled Mashaal "significant progress" was made, according to the report. Abbas, the paper further claimed, conditioned the agreement on Palestinian Prime Minister Salaam Fayad remaining in power until parliamentary and presidential elections.
Hamas agreed to Abbas's conditions, Al-Kabas reported. Already three weeks ago, Haniyeh hinted that his group would eventually rescind control of Gaza. "Our rule in Gaza is temporary. We have made progress in reconciliatory talks with Fatah," Haniyeh then said.
This article starring:
Islamic Jihad
Posted by: Fred ||
11/06/2007 00:00 ||
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#3
Even the most cursory examination of previous "promises" to halt such attacks makes any such notion entirely laughable. Keep up the pressure until the Gazans themselves are killing these rocket crews. Only then will we know that they are genuinely sincere about it.
Sri Lankas government vowed Monday to continue hitting Tamil Tiger leaders with air strikes as a way of bringing peace to the island, following a raid last week that killed the rebels political chief.
The bullish warning from Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake came as Colombo appeared to be shifting away from its public commitment to a moribund peace process, and toward a belief that it can now win the 35-year-old war. Speaking in the state-run Daily News newspaper, the premier said the governments aim was to eliminate LTTE terrorism and bring peace to the country. Our security forces are targeting the hiding places and safe houses of terrorist leaders to deal a mortal blow to the Tigers, he told the paper.
They will not stop the relentless pursuit of terrorists, he added, spelling out that the rebels could expect even more government attacks. On Friday the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) lost their top political leader and de facto number-two, SP Thamilselvan, in a government air raid - the highest-ranking LTTE member to be killed by government forces. The funeral for Thamilselvan took place in rebel-held territory later Monday.
The LTTEs supremo, Velupillai Prabhakaran, has vowed to step up his campaign for independence from the majority Sinhalese nation following Fridays raid, and security has been boosted around the capital. Thamilselvans death has been seen as another nail in the coffin for peace hopes - as well as a sign that the gloves have again come off. Sri Lankas defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said the LTTE were never interested in peace anyway.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/06/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
Go go Sri Lanka...they appear to be applying modern techniques to warfare instead of the old incompetent ways. I'll bet when this is all said and done, that there's a big US hand behind all their recent successes - a lot of them are due to technical intelligence like tracking and bugging.
Global Oppression would make a nice name for a metal band. Hey, Megadeth was good enough!
Commander in Chief of IRI Army said here Monday global arrogance, despite access to advanced conventional and nonconventional weapons, has faced defeat in confrontation with our combatants' spirit of piety and iron will.
Major General Ata'ollah Salehi made the comment during an address at the 31st IRI Army Officers Graduation Ceremony, adding, "The importance of strengthening our armed forces spiritually is no less than fortifying their physical, technical and tactical capabilities." Major General Salehi said, "Our armed forces, particularly the champion IRI Army, relying on their spiritual and physical strength, resisted bravely against the entire threats posed by the global arrogance, particularly those by the United States, during the course of the (Iraqi) imposed war."
He added, "The superiority factor of our armed forces over the other armies is this very same spirit of human resistance and exemplary bravely, that has roots in our forces' strong belief in God."
"The IRI armed forces are entirely ready for effective confrontation with any possible threats against Iran's international borders", said Major General Salehi.
He added, "During our constant visits of the IRI Army units at the country's various borders we have noticed how innate the competence of our forces has got, although thanks to the increased threats of the enemies their war readiness and spiritual strength is at peak currently."
The Commander in Chief of the IRI Army reiterated, "By accusing the Islamic Republic of Iran baselessly, the global arrogance is after ruing the prestige of our sacred political system at global scene."
He added, "But today, relying on the prophetic leadership of the Supreme Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, it is we that are warning the US against the contiguous occupation role of its forces as a serious threat against regional and world security."
#1
If any Iranians managed to visit Iraq on a pilgramige to Sadr's Mosque they will know most of the anti-American rhettoric is bullshit and may not stand as firmly as hoped.
#2
"During our constant visits of the IRI Army units at the country's various borders we have noticed how innate the competence of our forces has got, although thanks to the increased threats of the enemies their war readiness and spiritual strength is at peak currently."
Good. Either stress or complacency will get to them after a while...
The Iranian Air Force commander declares Iran will shatter the image of enemies in the event of any military strike on the country.
In the event of an attack on the Islamic Iran we will 'bury their remaining credibility', Amir-Ahmad Miqani told a congress in Central Province arranged to commemorate the memory of 1400 army soldiers who were martyred during the Iraqi imposed war against Iran.
"Iran has enjoyed the best defense and military readiness over the last three decades."
The enemy thought that it could determine the destiny of the Iranian nation by imposing an unfair war on the country. In the war Iran exported the Islamic Revolution to the world and the export of the revolution awakened the nations," the top military official stated.
Miqani stressed that the hands of arrogant powers would be cut off from the Muslim countries in the near future, saying that the US failure in Lebanon and Palestine stems from the spirit of the Islamic Revolution.
Iran ready to repel any attack
The Commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has slammed the United States sanctions and threats, describing them as threadbare.
Major General Mohammad-Ali Jafari called for constant vigilance to confront the plots hatched by the Islamic Republic's enemies, warning that if they were contemplating an attack on the country they would be sent back home defeated.
The Iranian Commander played down the US psywar against the country saying it had been going on for years now, and that it would lead nowhere.
Jafari added the country's armed forces were ready to repel any offensive that might be launched against Iran.
Government officials would unite more than ever in the face of such threats to secure the interests of the Islamic Republic, he said.
#3
tattooed on their foreheads after we capture them.
Industrial staples...not tattoos
Posted by: Frank G ||
11/06/2007 11:08 Comments ||
Top||
#4
It will be the "Mother of all battles" no doubt. Didn't Iran fight the Iraqi military to a stalemate after 8 years? The US beat Iraq in 8 minutes? Now we've got Call of Duty 4 shipping tomorrow and Americans will be playing "kick Iranian ass" across the nation (oh that level on the demo was freaking great).
This is typical nonsense rhettoric to bolster the ignorant.
#9
The US should call the operation "Thunder Sword", not something idiotic like "Valiant Shield". The First burst should never mind any nation building consequences, destroying along with the usual list of Command Centers, armories, and Communication hubs, all bridges, dams, electrical grids, and fuel depots. Tactical nukes of low yield should be utilized behind tracer bunker busters at all nuclear, chemical, and biological sites. 'Agent Orange' the border with Iraq on the Iranian side. Napalm the border with Afghanistan! If a non nuclear missile happens to get through to Israel or hit a Carrier, destroy Qom with 4 Moabs! Close the Strait Of Hormuz anyway, sever all oil pipeline arteries out of the country! for after the first strike, the Iranians are going to swear off every ounce of oil to Russia and/or the Chicoms...make them sweat out the spike with the rest of the world.
#10
The Iranian Air Force commander declares Iran will shatter the image of enemies in the event of any military strike on the country.
Gonna be down there at the end of the runway waving goodbye to the boys like in the movies if the shit hits the fan, General?
Because I'd say you've gotta better chance at burying most of your pilots rather then anybody's "remaining credibility".
And you know it...
#12
I'm fairly certain SMN is a professional. Be careful with your identiy. You could get in a heap of trouble releasing this sort of SUPER THINKING into the non-classified world.
Posted by: Thomas Woof ||
11/06/2007 18:27 Comments ||
Top||
#13
with this threat on the horizon, I don't understand why we don't push ANWR development as a national security issue - right before heating oil bills hit the roof. Let the enviros and donks defend why we shouldn't increase our domestic oil supply
Posted by: Frank G ||
11/06/2007 18:57 Comments ||
Top||
#14
"Enviros and donks defend why we shouldn't increase our domestic supply" > REDDIT - US OIL FIELDS MOSTLY TAPPED OUT article.
#16
I bought a sprocket at the bike shop yesterday... guess it was a promotion?
Posted by: Frank G ||
11/06/2007 21:18 Comments ||
Top||
#17
JPOST > ISR Transport Minister MOFAZ:2008 WILL BE DECISIVE/DECIDING YEAR FOR STOPPING IRAN. Iran's nucprog/nucdev efforts is proceeding like an express train, while other efforts to stop or hinder Iran is like a slow train.* IDF INTEL CHIEF also warned a major Govt committee on Tuesday 11/6 that Iran could have nuclear bombs by 2009. REGION [WORLD?] IS ENTERING A "NUCLEAR REALITY" WHICH MAY FUNDAMENTALLY ALTER THINGS = BALANCE OF POWER IN THE ME FOR THE WORSE. NO ONE KNOWS WHAT WILL BE THE FINAL OUTCOME.
A Lebanese newspaper, Al-Akhbar, reported on Monday that the Hizbullah terrorist organization held a large training exercise in southern Lebanon over the past three days. According to the report, thousands of Hizbullah gunmen trained in close proximity to the northern Israeli border.
IDF forces on the border and UN soldiers stationed in southern Lebanon closely observed the exercise. Israeli sources noted that Hizbullah fighters who moved south of the Litani river during the exercise were not armed, in accordance with international agreements.
Hizbullah attempted to maintain secrecy about the large-scale training, but senor members of the terrorist group later confirmed the Al-Akhbar report.
The exercise allegedly indicated that rockets and missiles currently in the Hizbullah arsenal are able to strike anywhere deep inside Israeli territory including Tel Aviv. Hizbullah chief Hassan Nasrallah oversaw the large training operation personally.
Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora denied that any large Hizbullah exercise took place, saying that the newspaper report was probably just about a "simulation" of some kind.
Later on Monday, it was reported that Israeli warplanes dropped flares over the southern coast of Lebanon. The overflight mission was apparently executed in response to the Hizbullah training exercise.
A large-scale exercise by Hizbullah would be consistent with a report from several days ago by the French newspaper Le Figaro that Hizbullah, a Shiite terrorist organization, is expanding its foothold in Lebanon. In particular, the newspaper noted that Hizbullah control and activity is not limited to the area north of the Litani River; rather, the group has reconstituted its strength in southern Lebanon, as well, including in those areas under official UNIFIL control.
According to Le Figaro, witnesses in southern Lebanon saw caravans of trucks moving into the area and Hizbullah men digging inside orchards and then immediately covering over the ditches they dug. They also heard suspicious explosions.
A French military source said that the Lebanese government was aware of the stepped up Hizbullah activity south of the Litani. "Yet, for now, it is not doing a thing about it," the French source added.
#1
See also TOPIX > ISRAEL - REGIONAL THREATS GROWING; + maybe also NOWPUBLIC > THERE IS NO MIDDLE GROUND. Blogger denotes Chris Hutchens' article point that there can no compromise wid terrorists, iff only becuz the latter won't adhere to any save chaos and anarchies. * REDDIT > MESSIANIC SECT WITH ATOMIC/NUCLEAR BOMBS.
#2
ALso from TOPIX > SAUDI ARABIA > ISRAELI F-35 MAY SPARK STEALTH ARMS RACE IN MIDDLE EAST. Iff Israel gets one and any, America's Muslim Allies in ME want it too.
The International Atomic Energy Agency is not only neglecting its duties of preventing nuclear proliferation, but acting as an obstacle to those trying to preserve the status quo, the Foreign Ministry's Director-General Aharon Abramovitch said on Monday. Addressing the Saban Forum in Jerusalem Abramovitch said the UN nuclear watchdog provides an excuse to states that prefer not to join the international community's efforts to prevent a nuclear Iran.
Israeli officials believe the head of IAEA, Mohamed ElBaradei is not forceful enough in the periodic reports he presents to the UN on the Iranian nuclear program. By stressing Iranian cooperation with the inspectors and the need for more time, Jerusalem believes that Elbaredi is playing into Iranian hands.
The IAEA chief has also come under sharp US criticism over moves that Washington sees as appeasing Iran - particularly a deal he negotiated for Teheran to explain outstanding questions over its nuclear program.
He defended the strategy in an interview with the state-run Egyptian daily Al-Ahram as a test for Iran to get down the road in building a bomb "show good intentions." "This situation, which might continue for two or three months, is an investment in peace," said Baradei.
He warned that the standoff between the West and Iran over the nuclear issue was adding "more fuel to a burning fire" in the Middle East. "The area is going through one of its worst moments and we cannot add more confrontations."
"In my opinion, what we should do now is to encourage Iran to cooperate because any attempt to isolate Iran ... means the hard-liners will take over the driver's seat," he said.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/06/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[5 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Iran
#1
"In my opinion, what we should do now is to encourage Iran to cooperate because any attempt to isolate Iran ... means the hard-liners will take over the driver's seat," he said.
It seems to me that we will know where to drop the bombs then.
#2
Israeli officials believe the head of IAEA, Mohamed ElBaradei is not forceful enough in the periodic reports he presents to the UN on the Iranian nuclear program.
It looks like Israel finally got the Rantburg memo.
By stressing Iranian cooperation with the inspectors and the need for more time, Jerusalem believes that Elbaredi is playing intobeing wanked by Iranian hands.
#3
The IAEA is not the problem. We are the problem for allowing our elected representatives to continue allocating our tax dollars to the United Nations. Cut off all funding to the UN, withdraw from the UN, expel the UN from the United Nations, Canada, Australia and other other country with the will to fight. Arrest all UN personnel attempting to cross the border.
#4
I like the lollipop graphic, and Excalibur, I like the way you think...
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
11/06/2007 11:52 Comments ||
Top||
#5
A 'pipe dream' Excalibur, "W" curled up like a 5am earthworm, with his feelings on the UN. Where did that "...if your not with us, your against us" rhetoric go? "This is a Crusade!"! "An Axis Of Evil!!" "He's a good man, I've seen his soul, in his eyes!"I bet he would even settle for Osama alive now...what the hell!!! First door, stage right...next!
Hundreds of Hezbollah guerrillas staged military-style exercises in southern Lebanon over the weekend, actions which are driving speculation that Hezbollah is preparing for its next war with Israel.
Hezbollah conducted maneuvers in south Lebanon in a rare show of force designed to deter Israel from repeating its 2006 invasion of the south, some security and political sources said. Israel conducted war games on the other side of the frontier about a week ago.
Two pro-Hezbollah newspapers reported on Monday that the Shi'ite Muslim group, which fought a 34-day war with Israel last year, staged one of its biggest maneuvers over the weekend under the direct supervision of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
According to the pro-Hezbollah media, the fighters - banned from carrying weapons under the terms of a UN ceasefire - carried out the exercises away from inhabited areas while Israeli warplanes and reconnaissance drones flew above the region.
Security sources confirmed the maneuvers took place but not on the scale reported by the newspapers. They said the exercises demonstrated that Hezbollah has relaxed a long-held policy of military secrecy, allowing Israel to know more about its capabilities in a new deterrence strategy.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/06/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[3 views]
Top|| File under: Hezbollah
Iran has backed away from an effort to stop an Interpol vote on putting five Iranians and a Lebanese man on the international police agency's most wanted list for a 1994 bombing in Argentina that killed 85 people, an Interpol official said Monday.
Iran's decision clears the way for a vote on the issue at the three-day Interpol general assembly that began Monday in Marrakech, Morocco. Delegates will be asked to adjudicate in a dispute between Interpol members Iran and Argentina over the July 18, 1994, bombing when an explosives-laden van leveled the seven-story Jewish community center in Buenos Aires.
Argentine prosecutors allege Iranian officials orchestrated the bombing and entrusted the Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah to carry it out. Prosecutors in Argentina say they have enough evidence for Interpol's 186-member general assembly to approve "red" notices for the six suspects which means they are wanted for possible extradition. While the red notice does not force countries to arrest or extradite suspects, people with red-notice status appear on Interpol's equivalent of a most-wanted list.
Many frustrated relatives of the victims are looking for support from Interpol because there have been no convictions 13 years after the attack. "I believe that insofar as any of them can be brought to Argentina to testify, that would be helpful," Diana Malamud, who lost her husband in the bombing, said of the progress toward an Interpol vote. "But I see it would be very difficult."
In the run-up to the gathering, Iran had sought to delay the issue until next year, said an Interpol official on condition of anonymity because of agency policy. But the government did not formalize such a request as the meeting opened. The vote on whether to issue wanted notices is expected Wednesday. A simple majority from delegates is needed for approval.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/06/2007 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[8 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Iran
#1
Oh my gosh, what's the world coming to?
Hezbollah planning a bombing?
Oh my gosh!!! I wouldn't have suspected them in a million years.
And Iran?? Heaven forbid those little darlings wouldn't harm a fly.
Yeah right, what's taken Interpol so long to connect the dots?
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
Horn of Africa enemies Ethiopia and Eritrea may return to war over their disputed border in a matter of weeks if there is no major international push to halt them, an influential think-tank warned on Monday. A 1998-2000 war on the boundary killed 70,000 people and brought untold hardship to two of the worlds poorest nations. Now analysts are warning of a repeat as troops build up ahead of an end-November deadline by an independent boundary commission for Ethiopia and Eritrea to mark out their border. 
A leading opponent of plans to build Europe's largest mosque in east London has seen a chilling "obituary" for him posted on the internet. 
The European Union's new anti-terror coordinator said more attacks by Islamic extremists or their sympathizers were "probable" inside the union and warned of the threat posed by an al-Qaida-affiliated group in North Africa. 
Two French ex-detainees at the Guatanamo Bay prison camp have asked French judges to question US General 
BAGHDAD (AP) - The U.S. military on Tuesday announced the deaths of five more soldiers, making 2007 the deadliest year for U.S. troops despite a recent downturn, according to an Associated Press count. 
The United States transferred 11 inmates from its Guantanamo Bay prison camp for suspected terrorists, sending eight to Afghanistan and three to Jordan, the Defence Department said on Sunday. These detainees were determined to be eligible for transfer following a comprehensive series of review processes, it said in a statement. The transfer is a demonstration of the United States desire not to hold detainees any longer than necessary.
Karachi- Former Pakistani prime minister and leader of the largest opposition party, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), said on Tuesday that she would not negotiate with President Pervez Musharraf.
President George W Bush on Monday exhorted President Pervez Musharraf to hold elections and relinquish his army post as soon as possible. Our hope is that he will restore democracy as quickly as possible, he said, reported AP.
Gen Pervez Musharraf may review the decision to doff his uniform due to the imposition of emergency and promulgation of the PCO, high-level government sources said.
The government has decided to monitor 21 national Urdu and English language newspapers to ensure implementation of the newly promulgated Press, Newspapers, News Agencies, and Books Registration (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007. Special officers have been asked to scan news, editorials, and readers letters containing material against President Musharraf and the armed forces, an Information Ministry official told Daily Times. He said provincial information departments were also directed to monitor the newspapers. Thirteen Urdu and eight English newspapers had been listed by the Press Information Department (PID) to monitor.
Police arrived at the Jang printing press on Monday and tried to stop the printing and distribution of a special supplement of the groups evening paper, Awam, on the current emergency situation. Jang Editor Mehmood Sham said some Sindh Information Department officers asked press workers to stop the printing of the supplement. Sham said that Awams editor, Nazir Leghari, tried to convince the officers that they had printed such supplements on several occasions in the past. However, Sham added the authorities warned them that if they did not comply the printing press would be sealed. PID Director Aziz Memon told Daily Times that there had been some confusion, but matters were now resolved.
Police came down hard on protesting lawyers and arrested hundreds of anti-government protesters on Monday as demonstrations erupted countrywide against the imposition of emergency rule. Police used baton-charges to quell demonstrations by lawyers at courts in Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Multan. Hundreds of opposition activists, lawyers, civil society members and some journalists were arrested.
President Pervez Musharraf gave a firm commitment to UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and US Secretary of State Condolezza Rice that he would hold elections on schedule by January just before imposing a state of emergency, The Guardian reported on Monday.
Sri Lankas government vowed Monday to continue hitting Tamil Tiger leaders with air strikes as a way of bringing peace to the island, following a raid last week that killed the rebels political chief.
The Iranian Air Force commander declares Iran will shatter the image of enemies in the event of any military strike on the country.
The International Atomic Energy Agency is not only neglecting its duties of preventing nuclear proliferation, but acting as an obstacle to those trying to preserve the status quo, the Foreign Ministry's Director-General Aharon Abramovitch said on Monday. Addressing the Saban Forum in Jerusalem Abramovitch said the UN nuclear watchdog provides an excuse to states that prefer not to join the international community's efforts to prevent a nuclear Iran. 
Iran has backed away from an effort to stop an Interpol vote on putting five Iranians and a Lebanese man on the international police agency's most wanted list for a 1994 bombing in Argentina that killed 85 people, an Interpol official said Monday.
