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Thousands flee Mogadishu, over 80 killed
Today's Headlines
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Page 1: WoT Operations
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Africa Horn
Thousands flee Mogadishu, over 80 killed
MOGADISHU, Somalia - At least 80 Somalis have been killed in heavy fighting in Mogadishu within the past 48 hours, witnesses and doctors said on Saturday, as residents continued to flee the beleaguered Somali capital.

A day after heavy shelling and gunfire claimed over 50 lives, residents said new bodies were discovered on Saturday morning in southern Mogadishu, where Ethiopian troops backing the shaky Somali government have been fighting Islamic insurgents for two days. The fighting is some of the heaviest the war-ravaged city has seen since April. Hospitals are overflowing with patients and doctors say they lack medicine, beds and space for the wounded. “The patients are overwhelming us,” said Dr. Dahir Dhere, the head of the Medina Hospital.

Those wounded during the fighting were admitted at the city’s three main medical centers, doctors and staff in Medina, Keysaney and Deynile hospitals told the Associated Press by telephone. “The death toll continues to mount and more than 250 people _ mainly civilians _ who were wounded in the fighting and the subsequent shelling are being treated at the hospitals,” said Dr. Hassan Gutale.
Posted by: Steve White || 11/11/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Islamic Courts

#1  Mog and Gazoo compete over the title of bigest shithole on earth. So far, it's a tie.
Posted by: twobyfour || 11/11/2007 2:55 Comments || Top||

#2  Don't forget Swat and Wazoo, they're certainly in the running ...
Posted by: Steve White || 11/11/2007 15:36 Comments || Top||

#3  Just patches of dirt with funny names. It's the assholes running around on that ground (and their puke ideology) that define the state of nature there...
Posted by: M. Murcek || 11/11/2007 21:53 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Algerian army outmanoeuvred a wider offensive plan
Preliminary investigations unveiled that the terrorist assault aimed Thursday at the military aircraft in Djanet has been meant at destroying the aircraft fleet stationed in the airport. The prompt intervention of the army has outmanoeuvred the attempt allowing the recovery of heavy weapons. A military official source reported that the armed forces have responded promptly to the terrorist assault and outmanoeuvred a wider offensive plan. The same sources made clear that the army, under the commandment of the 4th military region chief of staff, has led a wide scale raking operations to chase the terrorist group. The source told El Khabar that the 10-member terrorist group is being besieged and the army will take control over them within the forthcoming hours.
Posted by: Fred || 11/11/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in North Africa


India-Pakistan
While Pak Burns Perv Releases Top Talib Murders Into The Wind
President Pervez Musharraf's newly declared state of emergency, his government has just let more than two dozen militant Islamists out of jail. Protesters might be even angrier if Musharraf disclosed the names of some of those freed militants. Taliban sources tell NEWSWEAK that the top man on the list was Mullah Obaidullah Akhund—the highest-ranking Taliban official ever captured by the Pakistanis. As one of Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar's closest confidants and his defense minister until the post 9-11 invasion of Afghanistan, Obaidullah was No. 3 in the group's hierarchy and a member of its ruling 10-man shura (council).

His arrest on Feb. 26 seems to have been anything but a coincidence. That was the very day that Vice President Dick Cheney arrived in Islamabad on an unannounced visit to demand a crackdown on Taliban operations in Pakistan. Washington was out of patience with Taliban commanders not only roaming free in Pakistan's tribal lands but even being allowed to hide in plain sight in cities like Quetta--the provincial capital near the Afghan border where Obaidullah was captured, along with the Taliban's senior Zabul province commander, Amir Khan Haqqani and another Mullah Omar confidant, Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Osmani.

Obaidullah, Haqqani, Osmani and others might still be in jail if not for a Pakistani military convoy that encountered a rockslide on a highway in South Waziristan in late August. The vehicles were quickly surrounded by fighters loyal to the notorious Pakistani tribal warlord Baitullah Mehsud, a veteran Taliban supporter who operates training camps for suicide bombers in his territory. More than 250 government troops were in the convoy, and they all surrendered without a shot being fired. Mehsud later beheaded several of his captives before Musharraf agreed to a prisoner swap.
Jumpin' Jimminy Crickical! it all sounds soo Coincedinkyical! like it 'twer prearrainged or sumthin?
more Perv and ISI funnies at the linky
Posted by: Red Dawg || 11/11/2007 13:08 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under:

#1  And exactly how is this supposed to inspire confidence that Musharraf really is an honest participant in the fight against global terrorism?
Posted by: Zenster || 11/11/2007 14:17 Comments || Top||

#2  Mushy is coming out of the closet, I think.
Posted by: lotp || 11/11/2007 14:18 Comments || Top||

#3  "Mehsud finally released the last 211 surviving hostages on Nov. 4, the day after Musharraf declared a state of emergency and began rounding up dissidents in the name of confronting 'extremism and terrorism.' In exchange for the freed troops, the tribal warlord got the men he wanted out of jail."
It appears Prev traded at an exchange rate of 1 terrorist for each 8 or 9 soldiers. I'm not sure he got a good deal on that, but I guess 211 more beheadings would be bad press too.

Posted by: Darrell || 11/11/2007 14:27 Comments || Top||

#4  #1 And exactly how is this supposed to inspire confidence that Musharraf really is an honest participant in the fight against global terrorism?

at this juncture who has any confidence in Perv? I can't think of any group other than his small and shrinking court of flunkies.

Does anyone believe him or in his ability to move Pakistan forward, if so who is this mysterious person or group?
Posted by: Red Dawg || 11/11/2007 14:48 Comments || Top||

#5  Does anyone believe him or in his ability to move Pakistan forward, if so who is this mysterious person or group?

That "mysterious person" would seem to be George Bush. Much like that undead zombie, the Road Map for Palestinian statehood, far too much political capital has been invested in Pakistan for anyone in this administration to slowly back away from it. While our logistical dependence upon Islamabad remains a given, contingencies for this eventuality should have been worked out in the last year or two. Long ago, a multinational force should have already crushed, dismantled and scattered Pakistan to the four corners. Their proliferation of nuclear technology to Iran wholly justifies this all by itself.
Posted by: Zenster || 11/11/2007 15:04 Comments || Top||

#6  Who is worse: Mushy or Karzai? We should charge both with Fraud.
Posted by: McZoid || 11/11/2007 16:32 Comments || Top||

#7  George Bush. Much like that undead zombie, the Road Map for Palestinian statehood, far too much political capital has been invested in Pakistan for anyone in this administration to slowly back away from it. While our logistical dependence upon Islamabad remains a given, contingencies for this eventuality should have been worked out in the last year or two. Long ago, a multinational force should have already crushed, dismantled and scattered Pakistan to the four corners.

PakLand population: 164,741,924 (July 2007 est.)

heh Zen have you visualized that logistics train back into to Pak's unique geography with a huge international Army sounds easy eh... NOT.

Like Iraq, a less sinister Pakland could arise, in fact will arise [IMHO] by changing its current path to a possible nuclear holocaust and/or a fascist Islamist State.

We've more than just one shot in Pakland.

for instance, here's one, if we assume that the majority of Pak voters eventually elect Butto, and her proven companion Lady Luck helps her survive I believe she is wise enough to know how to maneuver her power visa-vi the ISI, be adroit with the old boys guard and persuade enough of them to begin dismantling the Hard Core Islamists within their own ranks.

If enough of ISI Hard core die, quit or change she will be able to choke off the support for the fascist Islamist and Talibunnies and we can all watch them wither away...over time like we did al-Qaeda these last few months in Iraq..

there are other fair to middling *scenarios also..

Heh maybe president Bush ain't so dumb today. He's a Veteran btw.



/*9.99 Quake..
Posted by: Red Dawg || 11/11/2007 17:28 Comments || Top||

#8  My friend Venkat told me in early 2002. "The US needs to take out Musharraf if they want to hit the terrorists".

I am starting to think my friend with the heavy accent was right.

By the way he told me the US should hit Al Jazerra as well. Very wise man that Venkat.
Posted by: airandee || 11/11/2007 17:58 Comments || Top||

#9  This is just the beginning of the Paki meltdown. I expect them to spiral directly into full war with India. Pakistan is the source of all the warring, jihad or otherwise along their borders and in India and Afghanistan too. It's an erupting quagmire.
By the way, I heard Bush say today that he cares about the people of Pakistan. I know this is true. He cares about the people of Mexico too.
Posted by: wxjames || 11/11/2007 18:13 Comments || Top||

#10  If enough of ISI Hard core die, quit or change she will be able to choke off the support for the fascist Islamist and Talibunnies and we can all watch them wither away...over time like we did al-Qaeda these last few months in Iraq..

No real arguments here, Red Dawg. Your's is also a major "if". Who's to do all this here killin' of the ISI? It doesn't seem like anyone within Pakistan's borders has the determination, spine or sufficient lack of fear-dependence-involvement (pick one) with these vermin. I'm certainly willing to take a chance with Bhutto at the helm but her life expectancy is likely to be shorter than that of an unlocked Corvette in Compton.

Iraq is somewhat stabilized precisely because it is we who have gone in and done the killing. I don't see how anything like that is going to happen inside Pakistan unless—once again—we go in and do a whole messa atritting on the ISI. If we don't, at some point India will probably be obliged to do it just because of the nusiance factor.
Posted by: Zenster || 11/11/2007 18:43 Comments || Top||

#11  Try this Minister Zen, consider first when you preach to a Rantburger you're sermonizing to a member of the choir.

To our ever lasting distress Give us a break with the Fire and Brimstone..

Because we've been repeatedly upchucked upon by you, The Preach projecting Tsunamis of Looming Calamities, wave upon wave of Distressing Dire and Woe Betide Us Warnings!

ZEN and his COMMING ATTRACTIONS:

THE MUSLIM GIANTGANTICA (100 yards tall all muslim, guaranteed) and his BIZZILION UMMAH MARCH.

be afraid Zen... We Aren't.
Posted by: Red Dawg || 11/11/2007 19:39 Comments || Top||

#12  I have a deep abiding faith that we will win.

The "West" will win out, including of course India, Australia, Japan etc.

No matter how fucked some our fellow citizens and Politicians are, We will be Victorious! Even if PakLand melts down and the Natives go ape-shit, we shall persevere!

~:) /my sermon..
Posted by: Red Dawg || 11/11/2007 19:48 Comments || Top||

#13  I imagine India could do a job on Pakistan if they ever decided to go on the offensive. The problem is that China might take advantage of the situation.
Posted by: trailing wife || 11/11/2007 21:32 Comments || Top||

#14  We'll see yer scraggly beards 'n' turbans and raise yeh 4 Ohio Class boats...
Posted by: M. Murcek || 11/11/2007 21:48 Comments || Top||

#15  THATS IT!! Time to NUKE Prickistan!
Posted by: Chinesing Dark Lord of the Geats3511 || 11/11/2007 22:01 Comments || Top||


Judges ruling on Musharaf faced sex blackmail by ISI
SOME of Pakistan’s Supreme Court judges and their children were secretly filmed in compromising positions with lovers and prostitutes as part of a dirty tricks campaign by the country’s feared military intelligence.

Videos were sent out to at least three of the 11 judges in September as they were deciding whether General Pervez Musharraf was eligible to run for president while still army chief. One showed a judge with his young mistress while another was of a judge’s daughter having sex with a boyfriend. “The message was clear,” said a British barrister who was told about the tapes by a Pakistani counterpart. “If you rule the wrong way, these will become public and your family destroyed.”

The judges then gave an ambiguous ruling, allowing Musharraf to be elected but declaring that they would decide on his eligibility later. It was a fear that this ruling, due last week, would go against him that led Musharraf to declare the state of emergency that has plunged the country into crisis.

Although Musharraf claimed he had acted to prevent extremists taking over the country, the judiciary appears to have been his principal target. No jihadi leaders have been arrested but he sacked Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, the chief justice, and eight of the 11 Supreme Court judges and scrapped the constitution.
Extremists got a holiday, judges got jugged ...
Since declaring the state of emergency last weekend, Musharraf has placed most of the country’s top judges and human rights activists under house arrest. Lawyers have so far led most of the protest rallies and hundreds have been arrested. The sacked judges have been replaced by others who swore an oath of allegiance to Musharraf.

According to western diplomats, it was Musharraf’s intelligence chiefs who talked him into the desperate measure by convincing him that the Supreme Court was about to overturn his reelection as president. But it might have been false information. Rana Bhagwandas, a Supreme Court justice who is under house arrest in the judges’ colony in Islamabad, said his colleagues had not reached a verdict. Others claim the judges were poised to confirm Musharraf’s election by a narrow margin, fearing the instability that would be created by a ruling against him. One retired general said he had been told that the judges were 6-5 in favour of upholding Musharraf’s reelection.
Problem with living in a country where everyone lies as a matter of habit and course is, well, that you can't believe anyone ...
The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) service has been reeling from Supreme Court rulings this year which have exposed illegal operations such as the kidnapping of Baloch nationalists and the detention and torture of terrorist suspects in secret jails.

According to government and Supreme Court sources, hidden cameras continued to be used to compile compromising evidence against judges until a few weeks before the emergency was declared. The family of a woman who was having an affair with a Supreme Court judge said they were devastated to learn that her trysts had been filmed.

According to judicial sources, several judges had been receiving visits from prostitutes as “payment in kind” from private clients to whom they had given legal advice. “The ISI was sending the girls and the judges were enjoying it without knowing they were being filmed. Now they have videos of several judges,” one court source said last week.

The chief justice himself was the subject of a separate ISI smear campaign during the government’s attempt to have him dismissed in March. Among the affidavits claiming he had used his influence to help his son get a plum government job was an anonymous letter which implied a sexual impropriety. The letter was denounced as “scandalous” by the judges shortly before Musharraf was forced to climb down and reinstate Chaudhry in July.

A military source who was privy to the dirty tricks campaign said it had failed. “They tried their best to blackmail the judges, but when the judiciary got public support, it was like getting new oxygen,” he said.

A western diplomat said intelligence officials had visited judges as they deliberated on Musharraf’s case. “They met judges and put pressure on them. They claim they knew the decision was going to go against the president, but I’ve serious doubts about their intelligence work. They convinced him of something that wasn’t true.”
Posted by: john frum || 11/11/2007 11:46 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: ISI

#1  Note, they're not ashamed by their actions, only that they were caught. Brave, Brave, Muzzies.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 11/11/2007 13:20 Comments || Top||

#2  Not unlike Bill Clinton, eh Redneck Jim?
Posted by: Darrell || 11/11/2007 17:38 Comments || Top||


FATA PML leader kidnapped
PESHAWAR: Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA) Pakistan Muslim League (PML) chief organiser Malik Zahir Shah was kidnapped in Khyber agency’s Bara tehsil on Saturday. According to sources, one Mustaqeem belonging to Malik Din Khel tribe had come to visit Malik Zahir and had tea with him. Later, when they were going on a car, unidentified armed men intercepted their car and kidnapped Zahir.
Posted by: Fred || 11/11/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Chaman crossing sealed, reopened after talks
Afghan border security forces sealed the Pak-Afghan border at Chaman in protest against the reactivation of the biometric system of identification, FC spokesman Major Irfan said here on Saturday. The installation of the biometric system is meant to stop illegal movement across the border. The border remained closed for more than five hours and was reopened after FC Col Masood held negotiations with Afghan officials.
Posted by: Fred || 11/11/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Three rockets hit Risalpur
PESHAWAR: Unknown miscreants fired three rockets that landed in Nowshera district’s Risalpur area late on Friday, police said. Fakhrul Islam from the Risalpur Police Station said that one of the rockets landed in an empty plot, the second in fields and the third one hit a bulb factory’s empty building. He said that the rockets landed some five to six kilometres away from Pakistan Air Force (PAF) installations.
Posted by: Fred || 11/11/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Suspected ULFA rebels blow up power transmission tower in NE India
Insurgents Saturday blew up a power transmission tower in India's Northeastern state of Assam, disrupting power supply. The transmission tower belonged to the state-run North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) and was blown up by an improvised explosive device in Assam's Sivasagar district this morning, an Assam police spokesman told Indo Asian News Service. There were no casualties as a result of the blast, but power supply in the area was disrupted, the spokesman said.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, but police suspect the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) to be behind the attack.
I'm not familiar with ULFA. Who are they and what do they want?
Last Thursday, a bomb disposal squad of Assam Police defused a high intensity bomb, suspected to be planted by ULFA, near a railway station also in the Sivasagar district. Last Tuesday, police recovered two bombs from the same district -- one planted near an oil pipeline belonging to the state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, the news agency said.

Indian security forces are on alert across Assam, especially in the vital oil and gas installations, railway stations, and government buildings, for fear of rebel attacks during the ongoing festive season, the spokesman said.
Posted by: Seafarious || 11/11/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I'm going to form "a group" and blow up a cherry bomb in a trash can to get some national attention. If I do...can I make thugburg?

Maybe rantburg readers should form a group. How about RRA (Rantburg Readers of America). However, there are multiple nationalities reading rantburg so perhaps it could be GRR (global rantburg readers). But in keeping with typical naming systems perhaps it should be more along the lines of ULFRR or PFLRR (you can easily guess) - which lends itself intto LURE... (Liberated, United Rantburg Elites) or PURGE (Popular United Rantburg Gentleperson's Entertainment?). The possibilites are endless....
Posted by: Unutle McGurque8861 || 11/11/2007 6:12 Comments || Top||

#2  I wants to join the El Aska armed wing of RAA.
Posted by: Thomas Woof || 11/11/2007 10:18 Comments || Top||

#3  I'm a charter member of the NAAPWT.
(National Association for the Advancement of "Po white Trash")
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 11/11/2007 13:25 Comments || Top||


Pakistani soldiers go missing in troubled valley
About seven Pakistani soldiers have gone missing in northern Sawat valley, a day after 60 earlier kidnapped soldiers were released by militants. Local Taliban militants have claimed kidnapping them.

A security forces vehicle went missing Saturday while traveling from Malakand division to Sawat district, said military spokesman, Waheed Arshad. He said it was not immediately known whether the soldiers were of Pakistan army or Frontier Corps (FC) personnel.

Meanwhile, a purported spokesman for local Taliban militants, Siraj-u-Din, talking to local newsmen from unknown location, claimed that they have kidnapped seven soldiers including a Major and Captain. He said the soldiers were on routine patrol when militants attacked them and took them as hostages. They have been shifted to unknown place, he added. Security forces have been fighting local Taliban militants in Sawat since last two weeks. The latest kidnapping incident took place a day after militants released 60 soldiers of FC.
Posted by: Seafarious || 11/11/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: TNSM

#1  Talibunnies don't have to kidnap local Pak soldiers; they all obey the same jihad fatwas.
Posted by: McZoid || 11/11/2007 5:49 Comments || Top||

#2  Fascinating
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 11/11/2007 6:56 Comments || Top||

#3  a secret file and a map marking militants’ positions had been seized from the soldiers and they had been taken to Imam Dheri, the headquarters of Maulana Fazalullah’s movement.
Posted by: john frum || 11/11/2007 7:23 Comments || Top||


Iraq
Sunni, Shia Sheiks Present United Front Against al-Qaeda
CAMP STRIKER — A short-notice reconciliation meeting of regional sheiks with potential for impact throughout Iraq was held Nov. 8 in Al Bassam, an area approximately 16 kilometers west of Baghdad city center.

The conference was called by a highly influential leader, Abu Maruf, with less than 24-hours notice, to make a public declaration of unity amongst the tribes against al-Qaeda and to map the way ahead for their region.

“We were notified of the meeting at about 8 p.m. the night before,” said Lt. Col. Brian Coppersmith, commander of War Rakkasans, 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). “We weren’t sure why the conference was being called on such short notice. We have learned that things move fast when they are this good.”

Coppersmith was invited by Abu Maruf to observe the event.

Members of more than 30 tribes attended the conference; both Sunnis and Shias were represented. Their differences were set aside for the day as they publicly united with one voice and vowed to fight al-Qaeda and work toward a lasting peace for their region.

Maruf facilitated the conference and announced the formation of the Baghdad Brigade which will provide support to the region stretching from Yusufiyah to Taji. The brigade will consist of not only military elements, but also be the umbrella organization for their socio-political initiatives.

Coppersmith said this show of accord across sectarian and tribal lines may be an indicator of better things to come in this part of Baghdad.

The soldiers of 1-33rd Cav. Regt. will play a part in this new awakening.

“We will act as facilitators,” Coppersmith said. “We will assist by giving it structure and prioritizing meetings focusing on security, reconciliation and essential services. We will put substance to the initiatives with money and effort and help them put words into action.”

More than 350 officials of varying ranks and positions within their tribes were present to participate in the conference. In addition to the public declarations of unity, the tribal sheiks declared their support for a representative government and council members were voted on immediately following the speeches. Meetings with key ministries of the government of Iraq have been scheduled for the near future.

At the conference, in addition to the 1-33rd Cav. Regt., military advisors from the 1st Cavalry Division and the 3rd Marine Regiment were present with their Iraqi counterparts. The diversity of uniforms and unit patches present is another indicator of the distances the sheiks traveled to participate in this conference. Sheiks from as far as 30 to 40 kilometers north and south of Abu Ghraib traveled to attend the conference.
Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 11/11/2007 10:25 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under: Iraqi Insurgency


Joint operation retakes area from extremists
Operation Broken Hearts, a combined operation focused on restoring order to the Jabella region which was destroyed by recent sectarian violence, began Oct. 31. Operation Broken Hearts lasted for three days, and was conducted by Iraqi Security Forces and Paratroopers from Military Transition Team 0820, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division.

The ISF conducted raids of extremist locations and worked to establish a neighborhood watch program. During the raids, Iraqi police officers moved into extremist-controlled locations, turning the buildings into front offices for the IPs and allowing the original owners to return.

During the raids, the ISF found a large cache containing 25 60mm mortars, one 60mm mortar tube and base plate, eight 80mm mortars, six 120mm mortars, 30 rocket propel grenades, two grenade bodies, three pistols, four batteries, six battery chargers, five radios, one anti-tank mine, and 30 AK 47s.
Posted by: Fred || 11/11/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Iraqi Insurgency


Ten suspects detained as Coalition forces target al-Qaeda
Coalition Forces detained 10 suspects Saturday during operations to disrupt al-Qaeda in Iraq in central and northern Iraq.

Coalition forces captured a wanted individual during operations northeast of Baghdad targeting an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq financier. Reports indicate the wanted individual is an associate of senior terrorist leaders in the region, and his sons are believed to be snipers for the terrorist network. Upon entering the target area, Coalition forces called for a building’s occupants to come out and the occupants complied without incident. The ground force found multiple weapons and detained five other suspects on site.

During operations south of Mosul, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual believed to be a military commander familiar with improvised explosive device attacks and an associate of senior al-Qaeda leadership in the area. As Coalition forces entered the target area, they called for a building’s occupants to come out and they complied. The wanted individual was identified by a family member and a civilian on site, and he was subsequently detained along with one other suspect.

In other operations in the Bayji area, Coalition forces detained two suspects while targeting foreign terrorist facilitators, media networks and al-Qaeda leadership responsible for improvised explosive device attacks in the region. “We are continuing to take the fight to the enemy,” said Maj. Winfield Danielson, MNF-I spokesman. “Iraqi and Coalition forces are diminishing al-Qaeda’s ability to attack the Iraqi people.”
Posted by: Fred || 11/11/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in Iraq

#1  we are truly inside their communications ring...and tightening it daily!

In a sane world (circa 1945) our media would be trumpeting our victories and praising our heroic fighting forces on Veteran's Day.

God bless our brave men & women serving worldwide, but especially in Iraq and Afghanistan. Future Vets that this Vet is frankly in awe of!
Posted by: Justrand || 11/11/2007 9:56 Comments || Top||


Iraqi Police, U.S. Special Forces detain 4 extremists in Samarra
Iraqi Police, advised by U.S. Special Forces, detained four suspected extremists and recovered several weapons during operations near Samarra Nov. 8.

The raid was conducted after a group of armed individuals were observed manning an unauthorized traffic checkpoint in the area earlier in the day. Further investigation led Iraqi and U.S. Forces to a site where suspected members of an extremist group were meeting.

During movement to the site, an Iraqi Police emergency action platoon and U.S. Special Forces were engaged by enemy fire coming from two trucks. The joint force returned fire, destroying one truck. Four extremists were killed by a supporting Air Weapons Team. Along with a platoon from 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry, Iraqi Police and U.S. Special Forces were able to secure the objective without further incident.

Iraqi Police and U.S. Special Forces detained three suspected foreign extremist fighters and one suspected Iraqi extremist. Recovered in the operation were 10 rocket propelled grenades, five RPG-7 launchers, eight improvised mortar tubes, three suicide bomber vests, two DSHKA heavy machine guns and one PKM machine gun.
Posted by: Fred || 11/11/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in Iraq


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Gaza: IDF wounds Islamic Jihad terrorist
Israeli Defense Forces attacked a car carrying Islamic Jihad gunmen near the Jabalya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip on Saturday, wounding one person, the faction said. An air strike minutes later targeted a rocket launcher ready to fire, the IDF said, and two civilians were wounded, according to Palestinian health officials.

The first attack by ground forces targeted a rocket squad, the IDF said. Two rockets were fired from the site at southern Israel earlier in the day, it added. One gunman was wounded, and a second who was traveling in the car escaped before the vehicle was hit, Islamic Jihad said.

The military said the air strike targeted a rocket launcher armed with a projectile. A prominent Gaza physician and a 21-year-old civilian were hurt in the attack, according to Dr. Moaiya Hassanain of Gaza's Health Ministry.

On Friday, IDF soldiers wounded two Lebanese nationals who infiltrated into Israel through the northern village of Ghajar, which straddles the Israeli-Lebanese border. Troops spotted two suspicious figures crossing into the northern part of the village from Lebanon while carrying a bag, which was later discovered to contain drugs. Ghajar has been used as a crossing point in the past to smuggle drugs into Israel from Lebanon.

The troops opened fire, wounding both of the infiltrators. One was immediately caught and the other ran away but was later apprehended by the IDF. The detainees were evacuated in moderate condition to Ziv Hospital in Safed and later to security forces for interrogation.
Posted by: Fred || 11/11/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Islamic Jihad

#1  IDF wounds Islamic Jihad terrorist

"Wounds"? More time at the range!!!
Posted by: Zenster || 11/11/2007 0:32 Comments || Top||

#2  Zen, if jihadi is wounded well, given the quality of medical facilities in Paleostan, you may as well stick a fork in him, mayhaps. But yea, more range time's in order.
Posted by: twobyfour || 11/11/2007 2:53 Comments || Top||

#3  And i think it's gonna be a long long time
Till touch down brings me round again to find
I'm not the man they think i am at home
Oh no no no i'm a rocket man
Rocket man burning out his fuse up here alone


Gaza Mars ain't the kind of place to raise your kids
In fact it's cold as hell
And there's no one there to raise them if you did
And all this science i don't understand
It's just my job five days a week
A rocket man, a rocket man
Posted by: Frank G || 11/11/2007 6:32 Comments || Top||


Southeast Asia
Thai terrorists shoot 72 year old man in the back
Tu-wae Maha, brother-in-law of a former senior police officer in the South was shot by unidentified attackers on Sunday morning in Narathiwat province, according to police in Rue-Soh district. The 72-year-old man was found lying in a pool of blood when police arrived before he was immediately sent to hospital with serious injuries.

Investigators found six bullet casings at the crime scene. They were later able to determine that the victim was on his way to a rubber plantation on his motorcycle when he came under attack. He had been planning to inspect the plantation after news emerged that rubber trees had been felled by an unknown group of locals. Witnesses said he was shot from behind by two men on a motorcycle.
Posted by: ryuge || 11/11/2007 05:06 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Thai Insurgency

#1  Michael Moore's Minute Men hard at work in Thailand.
Posted by: Excalibur || 11/11/2007 11:06 Comments || Top||

#2  Make no mistake about it: terrorists who will bind your hands and then slit your throat and who will use kids to deliver bombs will also shoot you in the back.
Posted by: Darrell || 11/11/2007 13:27 Comments || Top||

#3  Brave lions of Islam.
Posted by: danking70 || 11/11/2007 13:52 Comments || Top||


Sri Lanka
24 killed in Sri Lanka fighting
Sri Lankan troops killed 23 Tamil Tiger rebels in clashes in the north of the island, while a soldier was also killed in the fighting, a military spokesman said on Saturday.

The clashes, in the northern district of Vavuniya and northwestern district of Mannar on Friday, were the latest engagements in a renewed civil war between government forces and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) fighters. “Troops attacked terrorist bunkers in Vavuniya in two separate places. Intercepted communications said eight terrorists were killed,” a spokesman at the Media Centre for National security said.

The spokesman added that a further 15 rebels were killed and more than 20 wounded in a series of small arms engagements and artillery and mortar fire in Vavuniya and Mannar districts, while a soldier was also killed in the fighting in Vavuniya.

The Tigers, who say they are fighting for an independent state for minority ethnic Tamils in the north and east, said the military had exaggerated the figures.

“There is fighting regularly in those areas but the military claim is not correct, they always exaggerate the figures,” rebel military spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiraiyani told Reuters by telephone from rebel-held Kilinochchi. There was no independent confirmation of how many people were killed in the fighting or what had happened. Military analysts say both sides tend to exaggerate enemy losses and play down their own.

The fighting follows a major battle in the Jaffna peninsula on Wednesday in which the military said they killed 60 rebels. The Tigers said 20 soldiers were killed and more than 100 wounded in the clash, and that just one of their fighters was killed.
Posted by: Fred || 11/11/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Bush extends Iranian asset freeze
President George W Bush on Friday extended by one year a freeze of Iranian government assets in the United States that has been in place since the 1979 Islamic revolution, the White House said. The measure was ordered by then president Jimmy Carter on November 14, 1979, 10 days after Islamist militants took over the US embassy in Tehran where they eventually held about 60 hostages for 444 days. The crisis led to the end of US-Iranian diplomatic relations in 1980. The asset freeze, which has been renewed every year, is a source of resentment in Iran. Washington has since reinforced a sanctions regime on the Islamic republic that has hurt the Iranian economy.
Posted by: Fred || 11/11/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran

#1  Now, if there was an easy way to freeze their asses....
Posted by: twobyfour || 11/11/2007 2:35 Comments || Top||

#2  There is, twobyfour. Send Algore over to give them a lecture on Global Warming.
Posted by: Glenmore || 11/11/2007 8:17 Comments || Top||

#3  Glenmore: "Send Algore over to give them a lecture on Global Warming."

Sadly, the Geneva Concention expressely FORBIDS such a drastic action. While silent on such things as "carpet bombing" and even "nuclear devastation", it clearly states:
"Inflicting bombastic windbags on an innocent population is crime against humanity"

Still, we could THREATEN them with alGore!
Posted by: Justrand || 11/11/2007 9:51 Comments || Top||

#4  No problem, twobyfour, just call in the Halliburton FYA Division, motto: "No ass too big, no bum too far, we freeze 'em and pack 'em in packs of four"!
Posted by: Tony (UK) || 11/11/2007 11:47 Comments || Top||


Good morning - Armistice Day Edition
Posted by: Seafarious || 11/11/2007 11:11:11 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  After taking time to remember the sacrifices of those who preserve and protect our liberty, I hope the remaining doughboys and all other vets have the happy Armistice Day or Remembrance Day they have earned.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 11/11/2007 11:18 Comments || Top||

#2  I was kind of hoping for lady Liberty today, not to take anything away from Ms Falkenburg of course.
Posted by: Bertie Ebbaigum2982 || 11/11/2007 13:06 Comments || Top||

#3  WHY WE FIGHT

to keep all the Jinx Falkenburgs' of this World Free...
:)
and Family, Flag and Country, Constitution and my Brothers and Sisters serving or not.. and the critters too at home..

thanks Sea
:)

on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice...

June 1, 1954, IKE signs Armistice Day change to Veterans Day

To every man and women Veteran today living and passed on, Thank You and God Bless ... on every day of the year.

My Pop slipped away this year.. July 30 2007... Navy, Pharmacist’s Mate WWII Veteran

also, yesterday we had another Birthday.

Happy B Day USMC! 11/10/1775

OORAH!

Semper Fi!!
Posted by: Red Dawg || 11/11/2007 18:02 Comments || Top||

#4  a(n inadequate, I know) thank you to all who have served, doing the hard tasks to keep us free!

hoist a beverage with me. Thank you!
Posted by: Frank G || 11/11/2007 18:10 Comments || Top||

#5  shamelessly stolen from Rodger
“ Dear Son:

I wish I had the power to write
The thoughts wedged in my heart tonight
As I sit here watching that small star
And wondering where and how you are.
You know, Son, it's a funny thing
How close a war can really bring
A Father, who for years with pride
Has kept emotions deep inside.
I'm sorry, Son, when you were small
I let reserve build up that wall;
I told you real men never cried,
And it was Mom who always dried
Your tears and smoothed your hurts away
So that you soon went back to play.
But, Son, deep down within my heart
I longed to have some little part
In drying that small-tear stained face
But we were men - men don't embrace
And suddenly I found my Son
A full grown man, with childhood done.
Tonight you're far across the sea,
Fighting a war for men like me.
Well, somehow pride and what is right
Have each changed places here tonight.
I find my eyes won't stay quite dry
And that men sometimes really cry.
And if we stood here, face to face
I'm sure, my Son, we would embrace.
Son, dads are quite a funny lot,
And if I've failed you on some spot
It's not because I loved you less
But just this cussed manliness.
And if I had the power to write
The thoughts wedged in my heart tonight,
The words would ring out loud and true,
I'm proud, my Son, yes proud of you..

”
“ He signed it "Dad"and walked down to the corner and dropped it in the mailbox. As he returned home and reached his own doorstep he was handed the war department telegram, the one that began with the fateful words "We regret to inform you."

I'm glad that I can believe his son knew he had written that letter.


Ronald Reagan, "Stories in His Own Hand"
Posted by: Frank G || 11/11/2007 18:48 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
34[untagged]
8Govt of Pakistan
4Iraqi Insurgency
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2al-Qaeda in North Africa
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2Global Jihad
2Islamic Courts
1Thai Insurgency
1TNSM
1al-Qaeda
1Govt of Iran
1Hamas
1Hezbollah
1ISI
1Islamic Jihad
1Muslim Brotherhood

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Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has dominated Mexico for six years.
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In no particular order...
Steve White
Seafarious
tu3031
badanov
sherry
ryuge
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Two weeks of WOT
Sun 2007-11-11
  Thousands flee Mogadishu, over 80 killed
Sat 2007-11-10
  Sheikh al-Ubaidi, four others from Salvation Council in Diyala killed by suicide boomer
Fri 2007-11-09
  AQI Is Out of Baghdad, U.S. Says
Thu 2007-11-08
  Militants now in control of most of Swat
Wed 2007-11-07
  Swat's Buddha carving has been decapitated
Tue 2007-11-06
  Suicide bomber kills scores in northern Afghanistan
Mon 2007-11-05
  Around 60 Taliban, four police dead in Afghan attacks
Sun 2007-11-04
  Opp vows to resist emergency
Sat 2007-11-03
  Musharraf imposes state of emergency
Fri 2007-11-02
  Anbar leaders visit US, stress partnership
Thu 2007-11-01
  Bus bomb kills eight, injures 56 in Russia
Wed 2007-10-31
  Iraqi Special Forces Detains AQI Commander in Khadra
Tue 2007-10-30
  Crew of North Korean Pirated Vessel Regains Control
Mon 2007-10-29
  Baghdad: Gunmen kidnap 10 anti-al-Qaida tribal leaders
Sun 2007-10-28
  80 Talibs escorted from gene pool at Musa Qala

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