Almost 10 years to the day after the U.S. Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania, dozens of Kenyan anti-terrorism police busted their way into two homes in this sleepy resort town on the Indian Ocean.
The early-morning raids on Aug. 3, including one based on information from FBI agents, produced a frenzy of front-page headlines and some boasting on the part of Kenyan authorities, who cast the operations as evidence of their hot pursuit of terrorist sympathizers.
But the raids did not turn up the intended target: al-Qaeda operative Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, considered the chief organizer of the embassy bombings and a 2002 attack on a hotel near here. Mohammed is a man with more than 15 aliases who has been in Kenyan custody twice and targeted by U.S. airstrikes across the border in Somalia -- only to slip away again and again.
Over the years, the pursuit of Fazul and two other suspects in the embassy bombings has enraged Kenyan Muslims, who have complained of being harassed by Kenya's U.S.-funded anti-terrorism unit. In Somalia, the American military has carried out six airstrikes. The only target confirmed dead in the strikes is Aden Hashi Ayro, the leader of a Somali insurgent faction described by U.S. officials as a top al-Qaeda commander who aided the embassy bombing suspects. Many civilians have also been killed in the strikes, drawing criticism that the tactic is inspiring radical Islamist insurgents in that fragile country.
"The pursuit of these four suspects has had a huge impact in the Horn of Africa," said Ali Said, director of the Center for Peace and Democracy, based in the Somali capital of Mogadishu. "They always say, 'We almost found him!' But then they don't find him. After a decade, they are still after these suspects, still bombing the wrong places, killing cows and camels and herders and arresting the wrong people. . . . The whole community is paying the price."
Posted by: Fred ||
08/16/2008 01:01 ||
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#1
Boo-freekin-hoo. Well then...if you want the Keystone cops routine to stop, then give up the rat-bastard terrorist.
(SomaliNet) The Union of Islamic Courts [UIC] says it has mediated a peace agreement between two rival clans who had clashed at the border between Middle Shabelle and Hiran regions.The clashes claimed lives of many people.
One the officials of the UIC operating at the border between the two regions, Osman Osoble, said that they have mediated a peace agreement between two rival clans.
Osman said that the agreement was based on the adherence of the Islamic shari'ah.
The official said that hundreds of people had been killed in the fighting between the two rival clans living in Middle Shabelle and Hiiraan regions.
He also stated that they had captured militias from the two clans who had plans to carryout killings in order to provoke further confrontations between the two sides. The official added that they were still hunting for some of the clan militias.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/16/2008 00:54 ||
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Mauritania's junta brushed aside international condemnation and named a new prime minister to head a transitional government ahead of promised elections. Junta leader General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz tasked the ambassador to the European Union, Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf -- a longtime ally -- with forming a new government after consulting political parties.
Observers say the ambassador, given his European diplomatic contacts, may have been appointed in a bid to stave off an international backlash over the coup.
Most international eyes are on Georgia right now. I think the Mauritanian generals have a near blank check for the next month or so ...
After ousting Mauritania's first democratically elected President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi in a coup on August 6, Ould Abdel Aziz formed the State Council comprised of 11 military officials to the government and promised to hold elections quickly.
The general began consulting political parties about the formation of a transitional government earlier this week.
Ould Mohamed Laghdaf trained as an engineer and his close association with the general meant his name had been widely circulated as a possible candidate for prime minister. He is a member of the influential Tajakant tribe and hails from the southwestern region of Hodh Chargui, which is considered key elector ally.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/16/2008 01:01 ||
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A militant group in Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta region has handed over two German hostages kidnapped last month.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) said they rescued the two men from another militant group who had kidnapped them. They are being treated for injuries they suffered during their kidnapping, the German foreign ministry told the Associated Press news agency.
The construction company the pair worked for, Julius Berger, suspended its operations in the Niger Delta after the kidnapping in July. It is the first time a militant group has rescued hostages from another.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/16/2008 01:01 ||
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Kidnapped westerners "rescued" usually means ransomed - for lots of money so the kidnappers can continue to fund their kidnapping activities, etc., etc.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
08/16/2008 20:33 Comments ||
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The number of illegal immigrants entering Italy doubled in the first seven months of the year compared to the same period in 2007, Rome says. The figures come in spite of a government crackdown on crime and an increase in the number of deportations.
More than 15,000 illegal immigrants entered the EU via Italy between January and July, Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said. Mr Maroni, whose Northern League party formed part of the right-wing government coalition, has campaigned strongly against clandestine immigration.
Most of the illegal immigrants come across the Mediterranean Sea from North Africa. Many illegal immigrants arrive on boats organised by people traffickers.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has launched a crackdown on crime, which most Italians associate with illegal immigration. He brought in stringent new measures making it an offence punishable by up to four years jail to enter the country illegally.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/16/2008 01:01 ||
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#1
How about cracking down on the traffickers instead?
#2
Perhaps it is due to the crackdown that they are just getting a better handle on the number of illegal immigrants flowing into their country.
Also, as in our own country, if the number of deportations has increased, a good number of those probably just come right back in again.
It would have been a better article if the reporter had given us some idea of how the ratio of deportations to entering illegals impacts the overall number of illegal immigrants.
#3
About the only thing that might help is for an Italian naval response. Actively patrol for unauthorized ships, then tow illegal ships back to their native waters before disabling them, so they cannot be used for that purpose again without major repairs.
#4
What!!!The Vatican actively encourages sanctuary protection and relocates refugees through its churches and members here in the US and Canada,but wants to deport these poor asylum seekers for not speaking Italian?
#5
What!!!The Vatican actively encourages sanctuary protection and relocates refugees through its churches and members here in the US and Canada,but wants to deport these poor asylum seekers for not speaking Italian?
The Vatican doesn't have anything to do with what the Italian government does, except the limited influence of any other sovereign state.
As for the US and Canada, blame the bishops, especially the USCCB. The Vatican can remove bishops for limited reasons (say, straying from dogma or financial mismanagement), but they don't really have any direct control of a diocese's 'pastoral duties'.
#2
Cyanide as a weapon is not very effective. It generally has to be used in a small, contained area with a captive group of people. The reason it works quickly in execution chambers is because the condemned try to hold their breath, then inhale a bunch a once.
One AZ prisoner kept breathing normally, and it took him several painful minutes to die. This is important because most people who inhale some would leave the area quickly when their breathing became painful.
Though oddly enough some people have a genetic flaw so they can't smell the characteristic bitter almond smell.
#4
Doc White, you probably know this. I thought cyanide was so dangerous because it causes nitrogen uptake in hemoglobin where oxygen is normally attached. So a couple of lungfuls can be very dangerous. Just leaving the affected area doesn't mean you'll recover. You immediately need oxygen. Even then, residual damage may occur. Nothing to regard lightly.
#5
Woozle, carbon monoxide works that way; it binds to hemoglobin more tightly than oxygen, and doesn't let go. Cyanide ions poison the mitochondria, preventing the body from gaining energy aerobically.
Posted by: Eric Jablow ||
08/16/2008 13:00 Comments ||
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A Guantanamo Bay detainee says that he wants nothing to do with his trial, calling it a legal farce and telling his lawyer not to defend him.
Ali al-Bahlul, a Yemeni who was allegedly Osama bin Laden's personal secretary, left the courtroom midway through his pretrial hearing and said he plans to return only on the days he is convicted and sentenced. "You can continue your legal play," al-Bahlul said before returning to his maximum-security cell at this US Navy base in southeast Cuba.
His lawyer, Air Force Maj. David Frakt, later told reporters that al-Bahlul "thinks the circus has gone on long enough."
Well alrighty then ...
Al-Bahlul, 39, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted on charges of conspiracy, solicitation to commit murder and supporting terrorism. Military prosecutors say he created a propaganda video glorifying al-Qaida's October 2000 attack on the destroyer USS Cole in Yemen that killed 17 American sailors.
Critics say a one-sided trial would damage the image of justice being served in the United States' first war-crimes tribunals since the World War II era.
And there are always critics. And they're always critical of everything we do. None of the critics are critical of Ali, near as I can tell.
The first Guantanamo trial ended last week with the conviction of Salim Hamdan, a former driver for Osama bin Laden who was sentenced to five and a half years in prison.
Last week, Gareth Pierce, a prominent human rights lawyer said that Hamdan's verdict has no legal justification because the verdict comes from a tribunal that were simply soldiers in a military trial without any legal credibility.
Gareth Pierce is just the sort of Brit solicitor you'd expect a journalist to go to for a quote. She's real big on defending terrorist thugs, and has surprisingly little compassion for their victims ...
This article starring:
Ali al-Bahlul
Posted by: Fred ||
08/16/2008 01:01 ||
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#1
So what are you waiting for, flush the toilet.
And since when do prisoners tell judges when they are going to come to court?
A federal appeals court has ruled Saudi Arabia could not be held liable for the September 11 attacks against the United States despite charitable donations that ended up in the hands of al-Qaeda.
Upholding a 2006 decision by a lower court, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan on Thursday ruled inadmissible a lawsuit in which families of victims of the 9/11 attacks charged that Saudi Arabia, four Saudi princes, a Saudi charity and bank had given material support to al-Qaeda.
The victims and their families argued that because the defendants gave money to Muslim charities that in turn gave money to al Qaeda, they should be held responsible for helping to finance the attacks.
But the court in its ruling said that the "Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976" granted the Saudi defendants immunity from prosecution on U.S. soil.
It also ruled that a charity named in the suit, the Saudi High Commission for Relief to Bosnia and Herzegovina, was also immune under the same law as it was "an agency or instrumentality of the Kingdom."
Exceptions to the immunity provisions did not apply in the case, the court ruled, "because the Kingdom has not been designated a state sponsor of terrorism by the United States."
Posted by: Fred ||
08/16/2008 00:18 ||
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#1
BIGNEWSNETWORK > UAE DEMANDS IRAN SHUT DOWN OFFICES ON THREE DISPUTED ISLANDS.
#2
I read the Statement of Claim and only certain members of the House of Saud were named.
Five million US was discovered buried - with weapons - near the main Saudi oil facilities last year. I can't see anyone but a rogue royal handing over the donation. That money should be traceable to accounts. But, there was no followup. Bad royal, don't do that again.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman has contacted Altaf Hussain of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to express his reservations over the party's talk of 'Talibanisation' and urged him to present evidence of madrassa involvement, if any, in religious militancy so that action could be taken.
Sources said that Rehman urged Hussain to give any evidence to the Wafaqul Madaris Al Arabia, the biggest madrassa education board. However, sources said that both leaders decided no statements would be issued without solid evidence.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl Karachi president Qari Muhammad Usman confirmed that Rehman and Hussain talked on the telephone but no one from the MQM leadership could be immediately contacted.
MQM sources said, however, that a party meeting was held at the London Secretariat where Hussain strictly stopped MQM leaders, including parliamentary members and senior workers, from making any statements that created rifts.
The JUI-F's Fazlur Rehman met the president of the Wafaqul Madaris Al-Arabia Pakistan, Maulana Saleemullah, late Thursday night at Jamia Farooquia in Shah Faisal Colony where they discussed seminaries and especially the deportation issue of foreign students, by the government. Rehman and Sallemullah were both unhappy about the talk of 'Talibanisation' raised by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement in Karachi. According to sources, both men were of the view that such a "conspiracy" would widen the gap among MQM, madrassas and the religious segment of society. It was during this meeting that they decided Altaf Hussain should be contacted.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/16/2008 01:02 ||
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Advisor to Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik Friday warned the warring tribesmen in Kurram Agency to remain peaceful and cooperate with the law enforcing agencies or face the operation by law enforcing agencies. "I give 72 hours deadline to the warring tribesmen of restive Kurram Agency to remain peaceful or face the operation," he said after a meeting with MNAs and Senators from FATA.
Flanked by NWFP Governor Owais Ahmad Ghanni and NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti , the advisor said that Kurram Agency problem is deep rooted and would be solved by taking all the stakeholders on board. He said that a grand jirga comprising Shia and Sunni elders would be Constituted within the next five to seven days to negotiate with the warring tribes to find durable solution to the problem.
Rehman Malik said that the jirga members would visit Kohat and Parachinar for talks with both factions. Rehman Malik said that seven relief camps have been setup by NWFP government to provide relief to 219,000 displaced tribesmen of Bajaur Agency. He said that federal government will provide Rs.100 million and 50 trucks of food and other edibles among the affectees of Bajaur Operation. He said that Rs.150million has already been distributed by the NWFP government on rehabilitation of displaced people.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/16/2008 01:01 ||
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(PPI)-- Describing the ongoing uprising against the economic blockade of the Kashmir valley as peoples' revolution, the Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Mohammad Yasin Malik has sought international community's intervention to rescue Kashmiris. Addressing a protest demonstration at Lal Chowk in Srinagar, the JKLF Chairman said: "Indian troops have unleashed a reign of terror and killing. They are firing on unarmed Kashmiris, killing and injuring them." He appealed to the people to continue their protest peacefully and urged the international community to intervene and "ensure safety and security of people of Kashmir, who are facing bullets for staging peaceful protests." Earlier, the demonstrators led by Yasin Malik staged a sit-in at Lal Chowk. They offered funeral prayers for those killed in police and troops firing in Kashmir during the recent Anti-India protest demonstrations.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/16/2008 01:01 ||
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Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday vowed to maintain the writ of the government in the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (Fata) and sought cooperation from the opposition and tribesmen to bring peace to the area.
"The government intends to eliminate terrorism and extremism that have disturbed peace in our society, and the government could not spare any one who is involved in these heinous crimes," he said while responding to a point of order in the National Assembly.
The point of order was raised by Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, who pointed out that situation became very grave due to heavy shelling and bombardment in Bajaur, Mohmand agencies and Michni areas, and a huge number of people had been displaced who needed shelter.
The prime minister said the role of the state is to protect life and property of the people, and if the government fails to do so, it has no right to remain in the power. "We are here to protect the life and property of the people ... otherwise I have no right to be the prime minister. The government is actively engaged in bringing peace which is vital for economic progress as bomb attacks result in the flight of capital from the country," he added.
He said the NWFP government entered into agreements with local people to maintain peace but regretted that girl schools, CDs and barber shops were torched and FC people were targeted.
He said when the writ of the government was challenged and the FC and the Army were attacked, then it became imperative for the government to take action. The prime minister said that he had sought briefing from the Army chief on the prevailing situation.
He said the elements bent upon destroying the peace were unpatriotic as there were only a few of such persons and most of them were foreigners, including Chechens and Uzbeks. The PM said development of tribal areas is also a priority of the government as the foreign terrorists, who are one per cent of the total population of these areas, exploit poor people for their nefarious designs while use of power is the last option for the government to tackle the situation. "The excessive use of power erodes the authority of the state," he added.
Referring to the situation arising out from Bajaur and Mohmand agencies, the prime minister said he has sent his adviser on interior to ensure shelter for the displaced persons of these areas. He said the government would also welcome NGOs and philanthropists that want to cooperate with the government in this regard.
He said members of the National Assembly from Fata were taken into confidence before launching action in these agencies against the foreign terrorists who are there to destroy peace and are playing the lives and property of the local people are really patriotic.
He said that He informed the House that security forces have captured a number of terrorists from Rawalpindi. He assured the House that the government will take it into confidence and would welcome proposals of the members to mitigate the situation.
Earlier speaking on a point of order, PPP-S leader Aftab Ahmed Sherpao expressed his concern over the migration of people, escaping air strikes against terrorists, from Bajaur Agency. The former interior minister said that at least 200,000 people have left their homes fearing collateral damage in the action against terrorists. He said the government has so far not provided them any help in the form of shelter, food or medicine and these people have been left on their own. He said the government needs to play a pro-active role in the situation, which was getting very serious.
Sherpao called for an immediate end to the air strikes by gunship helicopters as it was also claiming innocent lives. Commenting on the Fata situation, Engineer Amir Muqam of the Q-League claimed that civilians also lost their lives in ground operation and air strikes. He reckoned the present loss 10 times more than the loss in operations by the previous government. He called for taking him and other members into confidence on the situation.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/16/2008 00:54 ||
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The militants arriving from Chechnya and Uzbekistan want to destabilise Pakistan but the government would establish its writ at every cost, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Friday.
Speaking in the House in response to a point of order raised by former interior minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, the prime minister said the government would not allow two parallel governments in the Tribal Areas, adding that action against the militants was essential.
Gilani said Pakistan was envisioned free of terrorism and extremism by the government, and a political dialogue with all the stakeholders would be initiated for the purpose.
Poverty: He termed poverty as the prime reason for instability in the Tribal Areas. "The terrorists exploit and use the poor people for their objectives," he added. Gilani said the army high command had held a briefing for the members of parliament belonging to the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA) for consulting them on possible operations against militants in the area.
He assured the House that the federal government would fully co-operate with the provincial administration to resolve the issues of displaced people in Bajaur and other Tribal Areas.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/16/2008 00:50 ||
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Top|| File under: al-Qaeda
#1
"The terrorists exploit and use the poor people for their objectives,"
Finally, someone addresses the real cause regarding the link between poverty and terrorism. It is not "poverty" that causes terrorism, it is that agitators who are often wealthy organize them to do their bidding.
The government on Friday warned the militants operating in the Tribal Areas to surrender or face military action. "We've two options: Either to keep mum and handover the country to Taliban, or to take action," said Adviser to PM on Interior Rehman Malik. A cantonment will be established in Swat to ensure army presence in the area, he added. Malik also appealed to the Sunnis and Shias in Kurram to end fighting, saying "Action may be initiated within 48 to 72 hours if the two sides did not stop fighting". He said the NWFP government had set up seven relief camps for 219,000 displaced people of Bajaur. The NWFP governor said 462 militants had been killed in Bajaur operation, while 22 army and FC personnel had also been "martyred". Ghani said 3,000 Afghan, Chechen, Uzbek and Arab militants were present in Bajaur.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/16/2008 00:50 ||
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Top|| File under: TTP
#1
Is this along the style of "when-your-getting-creamed-demand-the other-side-to surrender"? Moslums seem to like to use that one, too much.
Posted by: Richard of Oregon ||
08/16/2008 10:48 Comments ||
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The NWFP government's peace agreement with Swat militants is intact, and the government is still ready to hold negotiations to end unrest in the district, NWFP Senior Minister and head of the government's peace committee Bashir Ahmad Bilour said on Friday.
Talking to Daily Times, Bilour said the provincial government did not start the military operation against the militants. "This [operation] is the government's reaction to the militants' actions they took in violation of the peace agreement signed with the government," he said.
Bilour said the NWFP government was ready to talk to the militants in accordance with the peace deal the two sides signed on May 21, 2008. He said the militants did not honour the agreement.
The NWFP government re-launched the military operation against Swat militants on July 29 after the militants asked the provincial government to quit within five days for "not honouring the peace agreement".
Bilour also called "baseless" the reports about the issuance of an ordinance by the provincial governor for the imposition of the magistracy system in the NWFP. An Urdu-language newspaper reported on Thursday that the NWFP governor had signed an ordinance to impose the magistracy system in the province.
Bilour, who is the local government minister in the NWFP cabinet, said President Pervez Musharraf had given legal cover to the local government system and that parliament would have to amend Schedule 6 of the Local Government Ordinance, with a two-thirds majority for the revival of the magistracy system.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/16/2008 00:42 ||
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Lal Masjid clerics on Friday threatened that the government would be responsible for any untoward incident if it did not release Maulana Abdul Aziz and resolve all problems related to the mosque before Ramazan.
They issued this fresh threat during a protest after midday prayer. Seminary students and other protesters shouted slogans against the US and President Pervez Muharraf. Police ringed the venue to counter violence.
Maulana Amir Siddique, deputy chief cleric of Lal Masjid, threatened that the mosque students would get Aziz released by themselves if the government failed to do so before Ramazan.
"The government should fulfill our demands, otherwise it will be responsible for any untoward incident," he said.
He said Lal Masjid clerics had stopped tent classes at the site of demolished Jamia Hafsa as a goodwill gesture, adding the government should reconstruct the seminary and start dialogue with the clerics to resolve all issues.
"They (seminarians) would start reconstruction of Jamia Hafsa by themselves if government don't do it," he said, also demanding reopening of Jamia Fareedia.
Delivering Friday sermon, Maulana Abdul Ghaffar, the chief cleric, said Musharraf should be held accountable. "People will not forgive the government if it gives Musharraf a safe passage," he said.
He claimed that Musharraf had confessed to selling Pakistanis to the US in his book so he should be put to trial. He went on to demand registration of murder cases against Musharraf for those killed in military operations against Lal Masjid clerics and militants in tribal areas. He condemned the arrest and prosecution of Dr Aafia Siddique in the US.
Ghaffar called for a halt to the ongoing military operation in Bajaur and Swat.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/16/2008 00:35 ||
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Officials from Hamas have met with a top Jordanian security official to try to patch up ties soured since 2006 by charges that the Islamist Palestinian group was planning to carry out attacks in Jordan. Hamas' leader in the Gaza Strip Ismail Haniyeh said on Friday that the contacts, involving two Hamas officials and Jordan's intelligence chief, Mohammed al-Thahabi, could help reconcile Hamas with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' secular Fatah faction. It's an attention span thing. It's like this: it doesn't -- Whoa! Was that Elvis?
"These are positive developments and a beginning which we hope will succeed. There are great causes and common interests between us in Palestine and our people in Jordan," Haniyeh said during Friday prayers at a Gaza mosque.
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Jordanian sources confirmed that intelligence officials had met members of the Islamist group in recent weeks but gave no details on what was discussed. The sources did not say whether further meetings were planned.
The Hamas official said Jordan was interested in reviving contacts with the group, but did not give further details.
Relations between Hamas and Jordan began deteriorating in 1999 when Jordan forced Hamas leaders to suspend their activities in the Hashemite Kingdom, a move which lead to Hamas' departure.
Relations were further strained in 2006 after Jordan said it uncovered a network of Hamas militants who planned attacks inside Jordan, an accusation Hamas has denied.
Jordan, which signed a peace accord with Israel in 1994, maintains good relations with the United States and the West, and is seen as an important moderate player in regional diplomacy.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/16/2008 01:01 ||
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Iran is open to dialogue to resolve the standoff on its controversial nuclear programme, but will not give up its right to possess atomic energy, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday. "We believe that dialogue is the best way to resolve the issue and we are always ready for dialogue," Ahmadinejad told reporters in Istanbul after talks with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul.
But negotiations had to take into account Iran's right to develop nuclear energy technology, he added. "Those who do not respect that will lose themselves. There will be no change in the will of the Iranian people," he said.
Iran is risking a possible fourth round of UN sanctions after it failed to give a clear response to an incentives package offered by six major world powers in return for halting its uranium enrichment activities.
Earlier this week, Iran said it was ready to hold more delaying talks with the European Union on the package offered by Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States. Iran's top nuclear negotiator met with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, in Geneva in July. They also spoke on the phone earlier this month. "The talks in Geneva were positive ... and we believe that a positive direction was found," Ahmadinejad said.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/16/2008 01:01 ||
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Top|| File under: Govt of Iran
#1
I understand Iran expects these seemingly endless talks to result in Iran doing just what they've been intending to do all along. What I don't understand is what the "Rest of the World" expects from these talks?
#2
Isn't this story from 2006? Oh, that's right - they're still playing Groundhog Day!
Posted by: Bobby ||
08/16/2008 12:56 Comments ||
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#3
"Iran is open to dialogue"
The problem is that dialog is the only thing Iran is open to and dialog for the sake of dialog solves nothing. What they have rightly understood is that we (the West in general) tend to value words more than actions. Witness Russia driving ever deeper into Georgia while saying they are withdrawing.
We have become a culture of idiocy and hold people responsible for their words, but not for their actions.
#4
For example, you can get probation for killing a human being if it is your first offense but you will get jail for taunting a racial minority or homosexual.
Maj.-Gen. Claudio Graziano, head of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on Thursday accused Israel of unilaterally violating UN Security Council Resolution 1701, the cease-fire agreement that ended the 33-day-long Second Lebanon War.
Ambassador Dan Carmon, head of Israel's UN delegation, met with the UNIFIL chief on Friday over the remarks he made about Israel.
Graziano made his comments at a press conference at UN headquarters in New York. He said that continued Israel Air Force flights in Lebanese airspace and Israel's refusal to submit maps of areas on which it dropped cluster bombs during the war constituted a "permanent violation of 1701."
Graziano also referred to the village of Ghajar, which sits on the Israel-Lebanon border, as "a permanent area under occupation."
The Italian general, meanwhile, said that Hezbollah recognizes Resolution 1701, and that the militant Lebanese group and UNIFIL forces enjoy excellent cooperation with one another. He added that apart from UN and Lebanese soldiers and local hunters, no one is armed south of the Litani River.
When asked about the smuggling of weapons into Lebanon, Graziano said he could not ensure that the area under his jurisdiction would be impenetrable, though he said there is no evidence of arms smuggling nor has there been movement of armed gunmen.
Graziano would not comment on the newly sworn-in Lebanese cabinet whose guidelines state that Hezbollah has the right to "liberate occupied lands," but he did say it was important for Lebanon to carry out its obligations as well.
The United States has expressed anger at the new Lebanese president, Michel Suleiman, and Prime Minister Fouad Siniora for yielding to Hezbollah's demands on various matters.
Israeli defense officials have said the new Lebanese government platform is a worrisome development that attests to Hezbollah's growing strength as well as the continuing disintegration of Resolution 1701.
Israeli defense officials believe Hezbollah is seeking a new pretext for prolonging its armed struggle with Israel. One of the possibilities being examined by the Shi'ite organization is attempting to down Israel Air Force planes during their sorties over Lebanon.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/16/2008 01:01 ||
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#1
You'll have to bring it up at the next General Assembly meeting at the UN, dude.
#3
When asked about the smuggling of weapons into Lebanon, Graziano said he could not ensure that the area under his jurisdiction would be impenetrable, though he said there is no evidence of arms smuggling nor has there been movement of armed gunmen.
Provisional Friday Prayer Leader of Tehran Seyyed Ahmad Khatami here Friday considered Israel's threats outdated and ineffective, while warning Tel Aviv if they would stupidly make slightest mistake, Iran's response would drive them crazy. According to IRNA Political Desk reporter, Tehran's interim Friday preacher addressing thousands of Tehrani worshipers at central campus of Tehran University referred to the anniversary of Lebanese Hezbollah's victory in its 33-Day War on Israel, adding, "That war proved that the enemies of nations live at glass palaces that are instantly breakable when faced with might of nations and their resistance."
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.
A federal appeals court has ruled Saudi Arabia could not be held liable for the September 11 attacks against the United States despite charitable donations that ended up in the hands of al-Qaeda.
Advisor to Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik Friday warned the warring tribesmen in Kurram Agency to remain peaceful and cooperate with the law enforcing agencies or face the operation by law enforcing agencies. "I give 72 hours deadline to the warring tribesmen of restive Kurram Agency to remain peaceful or face the operation," he said after a meeting with MNAs and Senators from FATA. 
(PPI)-- Describing the ongoing uprising against the economic blockade of the Kashmir valley as peoples' revolution, the Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Mohammad Yasin Malik has sought international community's intervention to rescue Kashmiris. Addressing a protest demonstration at Lal Chowk in Srinagar, the JKLF Chairman said: "Indian troops have unleashed a reign of terror and killing. They are firing on unarmed Kashmiris, killing and injuring them." He appealed to the people to continue their protest peacefully and urged the international community to intervene and "ensure safety and security of people of Kashmir, who are facing bullets for staging peaceful protests." Earlier, the demonstrators led by Yasin Malik staged a sit-in at Lal Chowk. They offered funeral prayers for those killed in police and troops firing in Kashmir during the recent Anti-India protest demonstrations.
Lal Masjid clerics on Friday threatened that the government would be responsible for any untoward incident if it did not release Maulana Abdul Aziz and resolve all problems related to the mosque before Ramazan. 
Iran is open to dialogue to resolve the standoff on its controversial nuclear programme, but will not give up its right to possess atomic energy, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday. "We believe that dialogue is the best way to resolve the issue and we are always ready for dialogue," Ahmadinejad told reporters in Istanbul after talks with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul.
Provisional Friday Prayer Leader of Tehran Seyyed Ahmad Khatami here Friday considered Israel's threats outdated and ineffective, while warning Tel Aviv if they would stupidly make slightest mistake, Iran's response would drive them crazy. According to IRNA Political Desk reporter, Tehran's interim Friday preacher addressing thousands of Tehrani worshipers at central campus of Tehran University referred to the anniversary of Lebanese Hezbollah's victory in its 33-Day War on Israel, adding, "That war proved that the enemies of nations live at glass palaces that are instantly breakable when faced with might of nations and their resistance."
