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Today: 59 articles and 182 comments as of 11:35.
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Government amends Lebanon constitution for presidential election
Today's Headlines
Headline Comments [Views]
Page 1: WoT Operations
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Afghanistan
Afghan cops kill 3 Talibs in Ghazni, defuse burka boomette in Jalalabad
Three Taliban militants, including a local commander, were killed while a waist-coat filled with explosives was recovered from a woman in Afghanistan, police said on Monday. The two suspected militants and their commander were shot dead in the southern province of Ghazni, provincial police chief Khan Mohammad told KUNA. He said the commander had been identified as Mullah Alam. The Taliban did not confirm the killing of their commander in clash with the police.

A day earlier, the militants said they had shot dead all the seven people, who were kidnapped about a week back in the same province.

Meanwhile, police said they had recovered explosives from a woman in the eastern province of Nangarhar. The elderly Afghan woman, whose name was not disclosed, was carrying a waist-coat filled with explosives, said police officials. She had wrapped herself in a shuttle-cock burqa (veil), usually used by Pashtun women to cover their faces and body. The arrest was made in the city of Jalalabad, bordering the neighbouring Pakistan. In recent months, suicide attacks have been mounted in the settled areas of Pakistan as well.
Posted by: Seafarious || 12/25/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


India-Pakistan
Mosque siege ends in Kashmir: captives freed, captors killed
Srinagar: Police on Monday night rescued all the five civilians held captive by militants inside a mosque in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district and killed all the three militants, ending the 24-hour hostage crisis.
A happy ending!
The security personnel lobbed tear gas shells, forcing the three militants to come out. They then engaged the captors in a gun battle in which two militants were killed, police sources said.

Another militant fled and took shelter in one of the minarets of the mosque and engaged the police in an encounter for nearly an hour, after which he too was eliminated.
I love these heart-warming postscripts!
DIG H.K. Lohia said all the five hostages were unharmed and the mosque suffered no damage in the gun battle. Earlier in the day, three of the five hostages tricked their way to freedom even as the hostage drama rolled into the second day.
Posted by: john frum || 12/25/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Cockles: toasty.
Posted by: Seafarious || 12/25/2007 0:33 Comments || Top||

#2  Not as toasty as the miscreants, though. LOL.
Posted by: Seafarious || 12/25/2007 0:34 Comments || Top||

#3  "We're going to run out unless we can get to that mule and get some more. I'll go. This is no time for bravery. I'll let ya!"
Posted by: Besoeker || 12/25/2007 5:59 Comments || Top||

#4  Happy endings always make my Christmas wonderful!
Posted by: DarthVader || 12/25/2007 9:50 Comments || Top||


Troops destroy militants' trenches in Swat
Several trenches were destroyed as several gunship helicopters pounded Taliban positions in the Bamakhela area of Matta tehsil in Swat on Monday evening, while the death toll from Sunday’s suicide attack rose to 14.

Mingora Media Centre In-charge Colonel Nadeem told Daily Times that the helicopters had targeted Taliban positions at Bamakhela this (Monday) evening. He, however, did not disclose the number of militant casualties.

The troops had earlier targeted militant positions using artillery on Sunday night. However, no casualties were reported.

Officials said the troops controlled the area from Charbagh to Kalam after the two-day operation. He said people had welcomed the soldiers as they reached Kalam with heavy weaponry and handed over control of a police station and police post to local administration.

According to Online, when the Pakistan Army reached Kalam, local dignitaries, including Union Council nazim Kalam Habibullah, Haji Seikhi Malik, Hameed Kalami, Haji Shah Jehan Kalami and local media person Rehmat Din Siddiqi, accorded them a warm welcome and presented flower garlands to them.

Two civilians killed: Separately, two people were shot dead by the security forces for violating the curfew in Swat on Monday. One of the dead has been identified as Akbar Zada, while the identity of the other is not known. Also on Monday, the local administration relaxed the curfew from 7am till 6pm in Mingora. However, a curfew has been imposed till 6pm in the areas of Thal Kabal and Fiza Ghat to Kalam, reported Online.
Posted by: Fred || 12/25/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: TNSM


Three killed in Parachinar clashes
Three people were killed and 20 others injured in sectarian clashes in Parachinar on Monday while a curfew remained imposed in the area without any break, Aaj television reported. According to the channel, 11 people have been killed so far during the clashes in Parachinar, and residents are facing shortage of edibles due to curfew. The political administration told the channel that talks were underway with tribal elders to restore peace in the area. The channel also reported that a security official was also missing from Kurram Agency’s Bagan area.
Posted by: Fred || 12/25/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Takfir wal-Hijra


Bugti elder gunned down
Bugti tribe leader Wadaira Wazir Khan Nothani along with his two companions was killed, while three others were injured in an ambush near Nelagh hill some 20 kms off Dera Bugti town on Monday evening.

Dera Bugti district police officer (DPO) told APP that Wadaira Wazir Khan was proceeding to Sui from Dera Bugti town along with his six companions. As their vehicle reached near Nelagh hill, unidentified armed assailants opened fire at their vehicle. As a result Wazir Khan and his two companions were killed instantly, while three others were critically injured. They were rushed to the district hospital.
Posted by: Fred || 12/25/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Pak Talib front claim attack on military convoy
An umbrella group of Islamic militants said on Monday it was responsible for a suicide attack on a military convoy that killed five civilians and four soldiers in northwestern Pakistan. The suicide bombing on Sunday evening in the Swat region also wounded 13 civilians and 10 soldiers. “That was just a warning shot. The government should expect more if our demands are not met,” said Maulana Mohammed Umer, a spokesman for the newly formed Tehreek-e-Taliban, a coalition of Islamic militants committed to waging holy war against the government.
Posted by: Fred || 12/25/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Iraq
Terrorists Celebrate Christmas with Mass Murder of Bayji Civilians
BAYJI, Iraq – Iraqi citizens were attacked and killed by a terrorist using a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device near Bayji’s north gate Dec. 25.

The latest reporting on the number of killed in the blast is 20. Additionally, 80 more Iraqis were wounded in the attack. A Concerned Local Citizen stated the SVBIED consisted of two unidentified individuals driving a blue KIA truck.

Most of the wounded were transported to the Bayji hospital. The severely wounded were transported to the Tikrit hospital.

“The enemy is making last-ditch efforts to derail and discredit the local Iraqi Security Forces by targeting innocent citizens of Bayji,” said Lt. Col. Peter Wilhelm, the 1st Battalion, 327th Regiment commander, responsible for the Bayji area of Salah ad Din Province. “As the enemy continues to feel increasing pressure from all sides, to include a more viable Iraqi Security Force, this senseless attack today just demonstrates the enemy’s desperation as Iraq and its citizens are making significant strides for peace.”

Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition Forces are currently on the scene.
Posted by: Glenmore || 12/25/2007 11:29 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in Iraq

#1  The terrorists are now know there are two forces they cannot defeat. The US Military and now the Iraqi military.

They have only one hope. That is the defeat of weak politicians in Washington DC. By slaughtering innocent civilians these cockroaches are hoping the American politicians will cry uncle.
Posted by: www || 12/25/2007 12:07 Comments || Top||

#2  ... if every Washinton DC congress criter should absolute resolve, not one backing down, this blood shed would stop. But hang on, since they won't show absolute resolve, jihadist murderers of innocents will shed blood for a hundred more years.
Posted by: www || 12/25/2007 12:10 Comments || Top||

#3  ummm, the Washington politicians have been crying uncle since we rolled into baghdad
Posted by: sinse || 12/25/2007 12:50 Comments || Top||


Turkish army claims massive toll from Iraq bombing raid
The Turkish military Tuesday claimed to have inflicted massive losses on Kurdish rebels in recent bombing raids in northern Iraq as Iraqi Kurds reported a fresh strike by Turkish warplanes in the region.

"It is understood that between 150 and 175 terrorists... were rendered ineffective" in a December 16 strike, the general staff said in a statement on its web site.

"The figure does not include the terrorists who were rendered ineffective as a result of hideouts or caves collapsing in the air raid."

The statement added that many rebels were also wounded in the operation and taken to hospitals in Arbil, Raniyah, Kaladiza and Choman in the north of Iraq.

The December 16 bombing was the first Turkish air strike against Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) targets in northern Iraq since October when parliament authorised cross-border military action against the armed separatist group.

The PKK said at the time that five of its militants and two civilians were killed.

The strike, which was backed by artillery, destroyed all of its targets including 16 command, training and logistical bases as well as 182 hideouts, 10 anti-aircraft defence positions and 14 ammunition depots, the army said.

That attack was followed by a small-scale ground operation in which Turkish troops penetrated "several kilometers" into northern Iraq from the southeast Turkish province of Hakkari.

A second air raid on December 22 targeted "hideouts and anti-aircraft positions belonging to the PKK," the army said.

Since then, officials in northern Iraq have reported two other Turkish air raids, including a brief one on Tuesday which the Turkish army has not confirmed.

An official from the Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga security force said Turkish planes bombed three villages in northern Iraq on Tuesday, targeting rebel bases in the Kurdish province of Dohuk.

He said Tuesday's air strike lasted around 10 minutes shortly after midday, and hit the villages of Rikan, Shezee and Samjuhu in the border region of Al-Amadiyah.

"The villages were deserted," the official said on condition of anonymity.

The series of raids have been coordinated with the US military in Iraq and US President George W. Bush spoke to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday.

Turkish news agency Anatolia said Bush gave his backing for military strikes on PKK bases and that the two men hailed the cooperation in Ankara's battle against the outlawed group.

They agreed to continue sharing intelligence and again classed the PKK as a "common enemy", Anatolia said, stressing that Erdogan told Bush that Turkey's military operations were only targeting rebels.

Turkey had complained the Iraqi government and its US backers were not doing enough to halt PKK attacks inside Turkey from sanctuaries in northern Iraq.

An estimated 3,500 PKK militants are based in northern Iraq and use camps in the region as a springboard for attacks across the border on Turkish targets.

Ankara has accused Iraqi Kurds, who run an autonomous administration in the north of the country, of tolerating and supporting the PKK.

Iraq officials have protested over the Turkish raids.

Since 1984, the PKK's armed rebellion against Turkey for Kurdish self-rule has claimed more than 37,000 lives. The group is classed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

Turkey, which has the second largest army in the NATO military alliance after the US with 515,000 troops, has moved around 100,000 soldiers up to its 380-kilometre (235-mile) border with Iraq.
Posted by: tipper || 12/25/2007 10:46 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under:

#1  OK i have a few questions i'm sure at least one of you rant burgers can answer. PLease not joseph mendola i don't understand that shit you type. 1. If the US considers the PKK a terrorist org. then why have they let them build up bases and supply depots and such in northern iraq? Or was the US somehow backing this org. at one time, other than when Saddam was in power?
Posted by: sinse || 12/25/2007 12:54 Comments || Top||

#2  I would suggest you use common sinse. Barzani's Kurdish faction is supporting the PKK, and Barzani has been for the most part pro-American. Although we oppose the PKK we have tended to support Barzani and Talibani's Kurdish party to insure that the Kurds stayed united as we battled the baathist remnants, alqaeda in Iraq, and the shiite militias and special groups. We are walking a geopolitical tightrope, and we seem to have come down on the side that let us down at the beginning of the War to liberate Iraq. However I think we allowed the Turks to stew in their own juices for a period of time.
Posted by: Josep Mendiola || 12/25/2007 15:13 Comments || Top||

#3  Barzani and Talibani support Turkish Kurds in their struggle for some form of autonomy, in a cultural sense at the least. Unfortuntely, because of Turkish density, obtusenes, and shortsightedness, the only Kurdish group that has some clout are the Kurdish commies (PKK). Since no political representative bodies of Kurds are allowed, what remains is outlaws.

Turks learned a wrong thing from the Armenian experience. Genocide won't fly anymore, so they decided for a cultural erasure, instead of giving enough political rights to Kurds to defuse support for extremists within Kurdish communities.

Needless to say Turks won't be successful and at some point in time, it will kick them back into their collective ass.

Now, in the present situation, Iraqi Kurd leadership knows that the deal is to let Turks to gorge hemselves upon some of their deranged Turkish Kurd brethren in order to prevent a real and wider conflict. That wouldn't be fortunate at the present juncture in time. They may publicly protest and give lip service to sensibilities, but they are not interested to get wrecked what they buit during the last 17 years.

They do dream of a Greater Kurdistan that would comprise Iraqi, Turkish and Iranian areas, but they well know the time is not now. With enough patience, and after waiting centuries a few more years or a coule of decades is not that a big price to pay. Their opportune moment will come one day.
Posted by: twobyfour || 12/25/2007 15:54 Comments || Top||

#4  And sinse, don't undrestimate Joe, nor his ability to express himself with a crystal-clear clarity ! ;-)
Posted by: twobyfour || 12/25/2007 15:57 Comments || Top||

#5  PLease not joseph mendola i don't understand that shit you type

What part of fuck off don't you understand?
Posted by: Thomas Woof || 12/25/2007 18:03 Comments || Top||

#6  Shit makes better points than you do since.

So get back in your smelly box and get fu'cking lost.
Posted by: RD || 12/25/2007 18:26 Comments || Top||

#7  Shit makes better points than you do sinse.

So get back in that smelly box of yours and get fu'cking lost.

Joe haz more heart and class than your entire retarded lineage.
Posted by: RD || 12/25/2007 18:29 Comments || Top||

#8  Merry Christmas, RD, even to sinse, right? ;-)
Posted by: twobyfour || 12/25/2007 20:51 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
No charges for Israeli officers who ordered Lebanon cluster bombing
Woohoo!
The Israeli army on Monday said it will not press charges against officers who ordered the use of cluster bombs during last year's war in Lebanon, brushing off international criticism that the weapons unnecessarily put Lebanese civilians at risk.

Announcing the results of a more than year-long probe, the army said investigators determined Israel's use of cluster bombs was a "concrete military necessity" and did not violate international humanitarian law.

Lebanese officials accused the army of covering up war crimes.

Cluster bombs open in flight and scatter dozens of bomblets over wide areas. The United Nations and human rights groups have accused Israel of dropping about 4 million cluster bomblets during its 34-day war against the Hezbollah guerrilla group.
Not enough.
They say as many as 1 million bomblets failed to explode and now endanger civilians, and earlier this year, the bleeding hearts at U.S. State Department said Israel probably misused American-made cluster bombs in civilian areas. More than 30 people have been killed by cluster bomb and land mine explosions in Lebanon since the 2006 summer war.
Did they count the ones that didn't explode? My understanding was that the failure rate for a bomblet was between 1 and 3 percent -- that makes the unexploded count around perhaps 100,000, not 1 million.
In a statement, the army said its chief investigator, Maj. Gen. Gershon HaCohen, determined "it was clear that the majority of the cluster munitions were fired at open and uninhabited areas, areas from which Hezbollah forces operated and in which no civilians were present."

It said cluster bombs were fired at residential areas only "as an immediate defense response to rocket attacks by Hezbollah" and that Israeli troops did everything possible to minimize civilian casualties. "The use of this weaponry was legal once it was determined that, in order to prevent rocket fire onto Israel, its use was a concrete military necessity," the statement said.
What a concept: The protection of innocent Israeli lives justifies the use of cluster bombs. Wow. I gotta go sit down and absorb this. Of course it means that Lebanon's going to have to get its $hit together now.
No mention of any wrongdoing by the Hezbies in firing rockets at Israeli civilians. Perhaps it's because they're just Jooooz, eh?
The conclusions were passed on to the military's advocate general, Brig. Gen. Avihai Mendelblit, who accepted the recommendation and decided not to press charges. The investigation was launched following the war.

In Beirut, a Lebanese government official rejected the Israeli military prosecutors' decision, saying Israel's use of cluster bombs has been condemned by the whole world. "The Israeli decision indicates that there is no difference between the judicial authority and political authority in Israel. They all work to commit and cover up crimes which are against humanity," the official told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with government regulations.
And it also puts Israeli lives on a par with Lebanese lives. Somthing that is going to be hard to swallow publicly, isn't it?
Always humerous to listen to a Lebanese 'government' official. Which Syrian master is pulling his strings?
The conflict erupted on July 12, 2006, when Hezbollah men attacked an Israeli border patrol, killing three soldiers and capturing two.
Oh yeah, now we remember who started it ....
Amnesty International has harshly criticized Israel for bombing civilian areas and using cluster bombs during the fighting. It also has criticized Hezbollah for firing nearly 4,000 rockets at Israeli cities and towns.
Apparently AI didn't have any reps in any of the areas on the receiving end of their indirected attacks on civilian centers, otherwise they may have been calling for the cluster munition strikes.
Tie 'em out in the open next time ...
The fighting left 159 Israelis dead, including 119 soldiers, while in Lebanon more than 1,000 people died, most of them civilians, according to counts by human rights groups, the Lebanese government and The Associated Press.
And a zillion Hezzies didn't show up for work after that.
Israel failed to win the freedom of the soldiers, and Hezbollah has given no signs of life from the pair, who were severely wounded.
Yeah, but let's see if the Hezzies start that $hit again any time soon.
Posted by: gorb || 12/25/2007 01:12 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Prepare for concentrated howling from what used to be Europe.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 12/25/2007 9:57 Comments || Top||

#2  My question is to the Lebs, what the hell is an islamic terrorist organization doing ruling your south and executing illegal rocket attacks into Israel.

And who the hell are these "Lebanese officials"?
Posted by: Woozle Uneath8763 || 12/25/2007 10:59 Comments || Top||

#3  "lebanese officials" could also be interpreted as Hezzbollah front man
Posted by: sinse || 12/25/2007 12:58 Comments || Top||

#4  Next time, use cluster bombs on Beirut. That seems to be the heart of terrorism in that part of the world anyway, so why not? The Christians can move the government to a northern city and watch.
Posted by: Old Patriot || 12/25/2007 13:20 Comments || Top||


Escort of the Gazan police commander arrested on charge of treason
Ma'an exclusive – The leader of the Hamas-affiliated Palestinian police of the deposed government in Gaza Strip, Yousif Az-Zahhar, said on Sunday that one of his escorts was arrested.
Good help is hard to find ...
Az-Zahhar said that the man was not a member of Hamas movement or its military wing the Al-Qassam Brigades. He was rather affiliated with one of the Palestinian factions which joined the Hamas-affiliated Executive Force. He was selected to escort the police commander due to the reputation of his family in terms of the number of its members having been killed by the Israelis.
I think I read this book. The guy they arrested isn't really the guy they think he is. He's actually Jack Armstrong in disguise. He infiltrated the Imperial Guard so he can find out where they're holding the beautiful but dumb Cynthia. He's gonna escape two chapters from now and then he's gonna fight a duel with Zahhar. Zahhar's gonna cheat, but Jack's gonna win.
Yousif Az-Zahhar, who is brother of the prominent Hamas' leader Mahmoud Az-Zahhar explained that his escort was being interrogated on charge of collaboration with the Israeli intelligence. Nothing has been verified yet, he said.

In a different regard, the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing affiliated to Hamas, said that they revealed some details about the assassination of a number of their prominent leaders. The spokesperson of Al-Qassam Brigades Abu Ubayda said that his men continue to detect for collaborators with the Israeli occupation, and that some of those who assisted the Israelis in the targeted assassination of Palestinian resistance' leaders have been revealed.
This article starring:
ABU UBAIDAHamas
MAHMUD AZ ZAHARHamas
YUSIF AZ ZAHARHamas
Posted by: Fred || 12/25/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Hamas

#1  Somebody must have made a suggestion or started a rumor as to why so many leaders have been eliminated by Israel, and fingered this guy. Red on Red, methinks.
Posted by: Ptah || 12/25/2007 5:46 Comments || Top||

#2  Let 'em keep digging - they'll never figure out that the mole is Haniyah himself! Paying him $40K a month right out of the CIA slush fund may be expensive, but it's working. They'll never find the secret Swiss account, either, just as they never found Arafart's CIA account. Nobody screws the paleostains quite like another paleostain. Before long, Ham-ass won't have any leaders that haven't been turned.
Posted by: Old Patriot || 12/25/2007 13:24 Comments || Top||


General Commander of Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades dies of his wounds
Ma'an – The General Commander of the Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, the armed group affiliated to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine PFLP, Muin Al-Masri aged 40 died on Saturday night of his wounds sustained in an internal explosion in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip months ago, Ma'an's reporter said. Palestinian medical sources mentioned that Al-Masri was hospitalized after he was seriously injured months ago, yet he died last night of his injury.
Oh, I like it! A lingering death, in the throes of agony...
Festering septic ooze...

This article starring:
MUIN AL MASRIPopular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
Posted by: Fred || 12/25/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: PFLP

#1  sustained in an internal explosion
Yes, yes this time it was the chili.
Posted by: Thomas Woof || 12/25/2007 0:16 Comments || Top||

#2  So is George Habash (جورج حبش) of the PLFP of yore in retirement? And were are his digs?
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 12/25/2007 0:30 Comments || Top||

#3  months? the smell musta been ....islamic
Posted by: Frank G || 12/25/2007 0:45 Comments || Top||

#4  A minute with a pillow?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 12/25/2007 5:36 Comments || Top||


Hamas-affiliated police in Gaza seizes Fatah member and release another
Ma'an – The Palestinian police affiliated to the Gaza-based de facto government said on Sunday evening that they seized Mu'in Musallam, a member of Fatah regional leadership in northern Gaza Strip.

Police said in a statement that "the apprehension was in coordination with the Attorney General after Musallam and the director of the interior ministry's office have forged a passport for a dead man. The passport was seized and police is investigating the incident.

Separately, the Hamas-affiliated police in Gaza Strip released the director of the Palestinian electricity company Sulaiman Abu Sahmadana on bail after detaining him for months.
Posted by: Fred || 12/25/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Hamas


Israel kills two Hamas men in Gaza
Israel mounted an air strike in the Gaza Strip on Monday, killing two Hamas militants and wounding two, the Palestinian group and medical staff said. Hamas, which seized control of Gaza in June when it routed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s forces, said the four men were travelling in a car near the border fence with Israel and close to the al-Bureij refugee camp when the attack occurred. Israel has killed more than 20 militants in the past two weeks in increased military action in the coastal territory. The Jewish state carries out frequent raids into Gaza to try and stop militants from firing rockets at southern Israeli towns.
Posted by: Fred || 12/25/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Hamas

#1  And keep at it, good sirs.
Posted by: Ptah || 12/25/2007 5:47 Comments || Top||

#2  Now GAZA would be a great place for cluster munitions. Set them all to explode between 10 minutes to 90 minutes after hitting the ground, and put about 10 million of the little rascals into the "strip". By the time the last one explodes, paranoia would be so high in Gaza that even the camels and donkeys would be afraid to open their eyes.
Posted by: Old Patriot || 12/25/2007 13:29 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Government amends Lebanon constitution for presidential election
Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's Government on Monday adopted a constitutional amendment bill to allow the election of Lebanon's army commander Gen. Michel Suleiman as president.

According to Naharnet, the government also approved a motion calling for an extraordinary legislative session by parliament as of January 1, to tackle the amendment bill. This session can last until March 17, 2008. The bill amends the third clause of article 49 of the constitution, which bars the election of senior public employees for president.

The move by the Siniora Government is apparently aimed at cornering Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri into either accepting the constitutional amendment and calling the house to tackle and ratify it, or rejecting the approach and, therefore, appearing as leading an effort to foil Suleiman's election.

Berri has already said that he will not receive the constitutional amendment draft law which the government referred to him on Monday. "The draft law will be written down by an unconstitutional and illegitimate government," Berri told al-Diyar daily in remarks published Monday morning. He said: "We don't need to amend the constitution if they want to elect (Army Commander) Gen. Suleiman president as article 74 is clear in this matter." Berri stressed that he will keep calling for presidential sessions until an agreement was reached.

Hezbollah-led opposition sources warned Premier Fouad Siniora's government against taking executive decisions. The sources said the "opposition will respond by taking appropriate measures."
Posted by: Fred || 12/25/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under: Hezbollah


Good Christmas morning
Posted by: Fred || 12/25/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "God Bless Us, Every One!"
Posted by: Frank G || 12/25/2007 0:06 Comments || Top||

#2  Frohe weihnachten und gluckliches neues jahr....y'all
Posted by: TZSenator || 12/25/2007 0:09 Comments || Top||

#3  For those of you who are Christian, or who celebrate Christmas anyway, Merry Christmas to you! For those of you who aren't, have a lovely, quiet day going to the movies and eating Chinese.
Posted by: trailing wife || 12/25/2007 0:18 Comments || Top||

#4  thank you, TW - and God bless you, the Trailing Husband , Trailing Daughters and all your family, Mazal Tov!
Posted by: Frank G || 12/25/2007 0:24 Comments || Top||

#5  îæì èåáý
Posted by: Frank G || 12/25/2007 0:25 Comments || Top||

#6  wellll, crap! That didn't cut n paste right.....

nevermind
Posted by: Frank G || 12/25/2007 0:27 Comments || Top||

#7  Thanks, TW. Merry New Year. Tried to find Tommy and the Greyhounds "Technicolor Christmas" for you and struck out. I can find references to it, but no lyrics. Anybody know the words?

Posted by: mom || 12/25/2007 0:35 Comments || Top||

#8  Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and utterly non-denominational winter-season festival greetings to all Rantburgers!
Posted by: Jonathan || 12/25/2007 0:57 Comments || Top||

#9  Dogpile on Jonathan! :-)
Posted by: gorb || 12/25/2007 2:30 Comments || Top||

#10  Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays to all good Rantburgers everywhere!
Posted by: DMFD || 12/25/2007 3:20 Comments || Top||

#11  Blessed and merry Christmas to all, and should I add, Joyeux Noël!
Posted by: anonymous5089 || 12/25/2007 4:26 Comments || Top||

#12  Leise rieselt der Schnee.

Posted by: Besoeker || 12/25/2007 4:41 Comments || Top||

#13  Now that is a present I would like to unwrap... and I would also like to see what is in that huge box...

Merry Christmas to one and all!
Posted by: Tarzan Glinert8370 || 12/25/2007 5:33 Comments || Top||

#14  #5 îæì èåáý

That is obviously dolphin-speak for happy holiday. Same to you!
Posted by: Titus Phomock7595 || 12/25/2007 5:38 Comments || Top||

#15  A Merry Christmas to everyone!
Posted by: Ptah || 12/25/2007 5:43 Comments || Top||

#16 
Posted by: anonymous5089 || 12/25/2007 5:50 Comments || Top||

#17 

"îæì èåáý"..... Loosely translated from classic dolphinian: "I, _____, pledge to support Hillary Clinton at my Iowa precinct caucus on January 14, 2008."






Posted by: Besoeker || 12/25/2007 5:50 Comments || Top||

#18  Merry Christmas

Have a great Chrissy Everyone - I hope you enjoy my psychiatric christmas songs!

Schizophrenia --- Do You Hear What I Hear?

Multiple Personality Disorder --- We Three Queens Disoriented Are

Amnesia --- I Don't Know if I'll be Home for Christmas

Narcissistic --- Hark the Herald Angels Sing About Me

Manic --- Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn and Streets and Stores and Office and Town and Cars and Buses and Trucks and Trees and Fire Hydrants and ...

Paranoid --- Santa Claus is Coming to Get Me

Borderline Personality Disorder --- Thoughts of Roasting on an Open Fire

Personality Disorder --- You Better Watch Out, I'm Gonna Cry, I'm Gonna Pout, Maybe I'll tell You Why

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ---Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells ...

Agoraphobia --- I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day But Wouldn't Leave My House

Autistic --- Jingle Bell Rock and Rock and Rock and Rock ...

Senile Dementia --- Walking in a Winter Wonderland Miles From My House in My Slippers and Robe

Oppositional Defiant Disorder --- I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus So I Burned Down the House
Posted by: anonymous5089 || 12/25/2007 6:18 Comments || Top||

#19  Merry Christmas to all
Posted by: john frum || 12/25/2007 7:30 Comments || Top||

#20  utterly non-denominational winter-season festival greetings

I'd like protest this egregious and offensive hemisphericism.

Bloody hot Christmas here (Perth) today, over 40 degrees.

Merry Christmas everyone.
Posted by: phil_b || 12/25/2007 7:30 Comments || Top||

#21  Messed up the tags. Should be an close italics tag at the end of the first line. Rather spoiled the joke.
Posted by: phil_b || 12/25/2007 7:32 Comments || Top||

#22  S rozhdyestvom from me, the Tsar and the Tsarevich to all denizens of the 'Burg!

BTW....anyone else feel like Toys R Us took over their house? ;)
Posted by: Swamp Blondie || 12/25/2007 7:49 Comments || Top||

#23  Hyvaa joulua everyone . . . not that I could understand if you gave the appropriate response. :-)

According to this site, Arabic for Merry Christmas is a bit different than "Iraqi" for the same. I suppose that the "Iraqi" version, must be an accent or a dialect.
Posted by: ryuge || 12/25/2007 8:32 Comments || Top||

#24  Gloria in excelsis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis.
Posted by: Mike || 12/25/2007 8:39 Comments || Top||

#25  Merry Christmas, everyone!
Posted by: mrp || 12/25/2007 8:51 Comments || Top||

#26  And from the Ukraine, Khristos rodyvsya - slavite yoho!

A very merry Christmas to those who celebrate it, and warm wishes for our Rantburg friends who don't.

Mr. Lotp, the young person who shares our house right now and I are heading off to dinner with my siblings a state away. The van is loaded down with a couple day's worth of baking: 2 flavors of kipfil (apricot & lekvar), Russian nut cookies, 2 flavors of Hungarian style streudel (poppyseed & cherry), lemon-cinnamon cookies and some traditional Ukrainian foods for my sister who married out into a very traditional Italian family.

What with all the butter and cream cheese in those things, we'll all weigh a little more coming home than we are going out. ;-)

May your day be filled with peace and joy.
Posted by: lotp || 12/25/2007 10:09 Comments || Top||

#27  Merry Christmas, Rantburgers all! And double that for Fred.

[And for the non-Christians (such as me) among us, enjoy a nice day off from work. ;-p]
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 12/25/2007 10:47 Comments || Top||

#28  Happy Festivus!
Posted by: Frank Costanza || 12/25/2007 10:57 Comments || Top||

#29  Happy Festivus!

Oh Nooooooo...!
Posted by: George Costanza || 12/25/2007 11:05 Comments || Top||

#30  Merry Christmas, everyone!
Posted by: Rob Crawford || 12/25/2007 11:06 Comments || Top||

#31  A very Merry Christmas to all, and especially to the brave men & women of our armed forces making it possible for the rest of us to celebrate the day.
Posted by: PBMcL || 12/25/2007 11:13 Comments || Top||

#32  You've got to pin me George before the night is over.
Posted by: Frank Costanza || 12/25/2007 11:24 Comments || Top||

#33  Best wishes to all, then gifties, turkey, and National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets.
Posted by: Seafarious || 12/25/2007 11:37 Comments || Top||

#34  And a "Gelukkig Kerstmis" (Merry Christmas) from the dark underbelly of Rotterdam city :-)
Posted by: Drive by lurker || 12/25/2007 12:04 Comments || Top||

#35  Sun Dan Qui La
(phoneticly)
Posted by: 3dc || 12/25/2007 12:12 Comments || Top||

#36 
Posted by: 3dc || 12/25/2007 12:13 Comments || Top||

#37  Wasn't anything like that under my Christmas tree... There WAS a smiling little boy opening presents, which is, in some ways, better. May you all have the kind of joy that only this day can bring, all year long.
Posted by: Old Patriot || 12/25/2007 12:26 Comments || Top||

#38  ... Merry Christmas
Posted by: Rantfan || 12/25/2007 13:35 Comments || Top||

#39  Merry Christmas all.
Posted by: Whiskey Mike || 12/25/2007 13:42 Comments || Top||

#40  Veselé Vánoce!

/česky
Posted by: twobyfour || 12/25/2007 15:00 Comments || Top||

#41  Merry xmass to all you Rantburgers

I have to admit Christmas music is far better than Hannukah music. However, this has a down side. Last week I was standing in line at an airport and a volunteer brass band was playing Christmas music. The instruments hadn't been tuned. Groan.

Anyway, may all your dreams come true.
Posted by: mhw || 12/25/2007 15:28 Comments || Top||

#42  Mele Kalikimaka, everyone! And phil_b -- don't take any chances. Always keep a cold beverage handy in those torrid conditions.
Posted by: Angie Schultz || 12/25/2007 16:08 Comments || Top||

#43  Merry Christmas to All!
Posted by: Darrell || 12/25/2007 16:10 Comments || Top||

#44  #5 îæì èåáý
Posted by: Frank G


Frank, I've said that myself several times. Gaelic, isn't it?
Posted by: Almost Anonymous5839 || 12/25/2007 16:11 Comments || Top||

#45  To all my right-wing friends:
Merry Xmas And A Happy New Year.

To all my left wing friends:
Merry Xmas
Please accept with no obligation implied or implicit my best wishes for an environmentally conscious socially responsible low stress non-addictive gender neutral celebration of the summer solstice holiday practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion
of your choice or secular practices of our choice with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all . . .
and a fiscally successful personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2008
but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures and without regard to the race creed, color age physical ability religious faith choice of computer platform or sexual preference of the wishee.
Posted by: tipper || 12/25/2007 17:15 Comments || Top||

#46  A Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to each and every Rantburger, one and all!

And a belated Happy Hanukkah!
.
Posted by: RD || 12/25/2007 18:35 Comments || Top||

#47  Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.
Posted by: Icerigger || 12/25/2007 20:27 Comments || Top||

#48  Well, does not hurt to be more iclusive... ;-)

Veselé Vianočné Sviatky!
/slovensky

Wesołych Świąt Bożego Narodzenia!
/po polsky
Posted by: twobyfour || 12/25/2007 20:48 Comments || Top||

#49  Rest your burdens and enjoy the day. Merry Christmas ALL. Heathen and Christian alike.
Posted by: Skidmark || 12/25/2007 22:39 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
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On Sale now!


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.
Click here for more information

Meet the Mods
In no particular order...
Steve White
Seafarious
tu3031
badanov
sherry
ryuge
GolfBravoUSMC
Bright Pebbles
trailing wife
Gloria
Fred
Besoeker
Glenmore
Frank G
3dc
Skidmark

Two weeks of WOT
Tue 2007-12-25
  Government amends Lebanon constitution for presidential election
Mon 2007-12-24
  Hindu nationalists win Indian election
Sun 2007-12-23
  Somalia Islamic movement appoints new leadership
Sat 2007-12-22
  Paks raid madrassah after mosque boom
Fri 2007-12-21
  France Detains Five Men In Connection With Algeria Bombing
Thu 2007-12-20
  Hamas leader appeals for truce with Israel
Wed 2007-12-19
  Turkey's military confirms ground incursion; claims heavy PKK losses
Tue 2007-12-18
  Turkish Army Sends Soldiers Into Iraq
Mon 2007-12-17
  Paks form team to rearrest Rashid Rauf
Sun 2007-12-16
  Kabul cop shoppe boomed, 5 dead
Sat 2007-12-15
  Mehsud to head Taliban Movement of Pakistan
Fri 2007-12-14
  Khamenei appoints Qassem as Hezbollah military commander
Thu 2007-12-13
  Leb car boom murders top general
Wed 2007-12-12
  Qaeda in North Africa claims Algiers blasts
Tue 2007-12-11
  Taliban abandons Musa Qala

Better than the average link...



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