On this day in history:
1584 - Sir Walter Raleigh is granted a patent to exploit Virginia. (I hope they mean the colony)
1941 - The Kingdom of Yugoslavia joins the Axis powers with the signing of the Tripartite Pact.
1949 - To force collectivisation by way of terror 92,000 people from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are deported to remote areas of the Soviet Union. (Sean Penn's kind of people)
1957 - The European Economic Community is established (West Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg).
1965 - Civil rights activists led by Martin Luther King, Jr. successfully complete their 4-day 50-mile march from Selma to the capitol in Montgomery, Alabama.
1975 - Faisal of Saudi Arabia is shot and killed by a mentally ill nephew. (Inbreeding)
1979 - The first fully functional space shuttle orbiter, Columbia, is delivered to the John F. Kennedy Space Center to be prepared for its first launch.
Armed men have shot dead a Sudanese worker for a Canadian aid group in Darfur in the latest of a string of attacks on international organisations in Sudan's violent west, his employer said on Tuesday.
The country director of Fellowship for African Relief (FAR) said it appeared the attackers were trying to steal a satellite phone when the Sudanese site manager was killed at his house in the remote village of Kongo Haraza late on Monday.
But there have also been fears that international aid workers and peacekeepers could be targeted in Darfur after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Sudan's president earlier this month.
FAR country director Mark Simmons told Reuters that Adam Khatir (39) had first been ambushed on Saturday.
The men demanded a satellite phone and beat Khatir when he could not provide one, said Simmons. "They came to his house at 9pm on Monday and when they didn't find a phone there they shot him ... He was shot dead," he added.
Khatir had been working in his home village for the past five years, building up local agriculture through seed donations and training, said Simmons.
Aid groups have been under increased pressure in Darfur since the ICC issued its arrest warrant for President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, who is accused of orchestrating war crimes in Darfur.
He responded to the warrant by expelling 13 foreign aid groups, accusing them of spying for the global court.
Algeria's National Gendarmerie thwarted an attempt to smuggle 116 anti-personnel mines Monday (March 23rd) in Tlemcen, Echorouk reported. After responding to a high-speed car crash, officers uncovered the ordnance hidden inside a wrecked Audi. The mines were allegedly bound for al-Qaeda workshops, where TNT would be extracted for manufacturing explosives and suicide belts. Two men are under arrest for weapons trafficking.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/25/2009 00:00 ||
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Maulana Sheikh Abdus Salam, a founding member of Harkatul Jihad al Islami (Huji) and the ameer of Islamic Democratic Party (IDP), was taken on a four-day remand yesterday in connection with the bomb attack on a CPB rally on January 20 in 2001 that killed five people.
He was arrested by the intelligence on Monday at his home in Bashundhara Residential area.
CID inspector Matiar Rahman produced him before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's court yesterday seeking remand for seven days and the court granted four days.
According to CID sources, six others were placed on remand this month in connection with blast at the CPB rally at Paltan Maidan.
Salam went to Afghanistan in the early 80s and returned in 1989. He studied in Kowmi madrasa in Bangladesh and also in Pakistan.
The government banned the organisation in October 2005 and the USA blacklisted it in June last year. IDP also applied to the Election Commission (EC) for registration in November 2008 but the EC rejected its application.
According to sources, two of Salam's party leaders, Maulana Abu Taher and Arif Hasan, are accused in a case filed in connection with the grenade attack on an Awami League (AL) rally on August 21, 2004. They are now in jail.
Two other Huji leaders Maulana Monir and Hafiz Idris, arrested for their involvement in various militant activities, have jumped bail.
Three Huji other leaders Maulana Sheikh Farid, Maulana Abdul Hai and Mufti Shafiqur Rahman are accused in the Ramna batamul blast case and are absconding.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/25/2009 00:00 ||
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A BDR man of 9 Rifles Battalion in Bagaichhari upazila of Rangamati district died of cardiac arrest yesterday, sources said.
Check out the rhythm strip, right. He had a 'Q on ST' syndrome! No wonder he croaked ...
Mohammad Mizanur Rahman, 40, son of Taher Uddin of Jaldhaka upazila of Nilphamari district was a Sepoy (No. 43305) of the battalion.
Marissha BDR zone and Khagrachhari Adhunik Sadar Hospital sources said Mizanur was beaten became senseless at about 11:20am and later rushed to Bagaichhari Upazila Health Complex where the attending doctors declared him dead. "He's dead, Jim."
The body was sent to the sadar hospital morgue for autopsy. "Dr. Quincy, paging Dr. Quincy!"
Major Iqbal of the battalion said "his death was natural" and they will hand over the body to his family after the autopsy. When your heart stops, you naturally die.
With the death of Sepoy Mizanur, eight BDR men, including pesh imam of central mosque at BDR headquarters, have died since March 9. A dead imam? Now that warms my heart
Posted by: Fred ||
03/25/2009 00:00 ||
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In a chilling reminder of how the militants are still alive and kicking, the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) yesterday unearthed a mini-ammunition factory inside a madrasa-cum-orphanage in a remote village of Bhola.
During the bust, they recovered a huge cache of firearms and ammunition, explosive substances, four pairs of German-made uniforms and booklets on jihad, Moulana Moududi and al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden. Maulana Mawdoody was known as "the Great Apostasizer" for his habit of declearing people infidels. That way the Faithful™ had a religious obligation to kill people he didn't like.
Besides, the elite crime-busters arrested four suspected militants--Abul Kalam, Abdul Halim, Jasim and Moulana Mohammad Russell. The raid was still on as of filing this report at 1:00am.
Earlier at night, the coastal district's Superintendent of Police Azizur Rahman told The Daily Star that the arrestees did not yet disclose their organisational identity. But the materials seized suggest they are lined to a banned Islamist group like Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB).
Following up leads, a team of Barisal Rab-8 had been keeping a close watch on Green Crescent Madrasa in Ramkeshob village under Borhanuddin for the last one week. Then at around 11:00am yesterday, they stormed the building that stands on a four-acre land.
The seizure list includes nine firearms, 2,500 bullets, 3,000 grenade splinters, an explosives blaster, 200 gram gunpowder, bullet-making components and equipment, two walkie-talkies, two bows, two remote control devices, binoculars and a book on how to operate firearms.
Pretty well furnished, the seminary has no signboard. It drew attention of the neighbourhood, but few knew it was a militants' den capable of making improvised explosive devices (IED) and assembling ammunition. Rab officials said they suspect it might have been used for training militants.
Lt Commander Mamunur Rashid who led the operation told The Daly Star that the madrasa, launched recently, is circled by a trench-like canal to keep off the locals. In the daytime, the occupants would use a hanging bridge over the canal to get in and out. But they would remove it at night-time so no-one could gain access to the premises.
Referring to the items recovered, Mamun said, "We've found materials needed to assemble bullets. They include percussion caps, cartridge cases and bullet heads. And all these are made in the UK."
About the blasting machine, Mamun said it is a military item that can detonate wired-up explosive devices planted in the distance. It is usually used in training on how to explode bombs. "The recovery also indicates they [the militants] have all equipment necessary to make IEDs," he continued.
In primary interrogations, the arrestees told the Rab officials that they were recruited by one Moulana Mohiuddin.
They also said Faisal Mostafa, a Bangladeshi expatriate in London, has been financing the madrasa. He is nephew of former BNP minister and ex-lawmaker from Bhola-3 Major (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed. Faisal, who has been living abroad for over two decades, often comes to Bangladesh. Now he is on a visit to Chittagong.
His father Golam Mostafa, Major (retd) Hafizuddin's cousin, too is settled in London.
Contacted, Faisal's father-in-law Shahidul Haque Naquib Chowdhury, who was the founder president of Bhola BNP, said they are shocked to know of the arms haul. As far as he is concerned, he continued, Faisal and a few of his friends have been running an NGO named Widows Ammunition Fund Green Crescent. Their organisation is headquartered in Doulatkha of Bhola.
He said the building has been constructed on a piece of land that he sold to Faisal. He was told it would be used as a vocational training school for orphan children.
The Rab team hauled in 11 students of the madrasa for questioning. But they could not capture Kajal, caretaker of the building, as he has gone to Chittagong with Faisal. The students told the Rab officials that the madrasa is only a month old.
Those involved in the operation said they can tell from the interior and exterior and tile floors that a handsome amount of money had been spent on construction of the building.
This article starring:
Moulana Mohiuddin
Posted by: Fred ||
03/25/2009 00:00 ||
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#1
" ...unearthed a mini-ammunition factory iinside a madrasa-cum-orphanage..."
Pakistan has tipped off British government about more than 20 Britons believed to have spent time with radical militant groups and then returned to the UK. A Sky TV report said the tracked men may have trained with extremist outfits. A dossier is likely to be handed over to British anti-terrorist teams 'soon'. The suspects -- aged between 17 and 23 -- have created "sufficient suspicion" for the ISI to believe they pose a 'potential danger' to Britain. At least four are thought to have been fighting in Afghanistan, and intelligence officials say they have heard 'English accents' while listening to satellite and mobile phone chatter between the UK and the Tribal Areas.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/25/2009 00:00 ||
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#1
Well, with their English accents, they will blend in here even better than they did in the Tribal Areas.
Just waiting for them to open their can of whoopass over here, and they will see what going tribal actually means for their kith and kin in the UK, a tipping point may actually be reached.
WASHINGTON (AP) - North Korea is loading a Taepodong rocket on its east coast launch pad in anticipation of the launch of a communications satellite early next month, U.S. officials say. U.S. counterproliferation and intelligence officials have confirmed Japanese news reports of the expected launch between April 4 and 8.
Analysts have been watching for signs of a satellite or missile on the launch pad in Musudan-ni, the northeast coastal launch site. Satellite imagery from March 16 showed progress toward mounting a rocket, with a crane hovering over the launch pad, said Christian LeMiere, an editor at Jane's Intelligence Review in London.
He said that once mounted, scientists would need at least a week to fuel and carry out tests before any launch. Images from earlier this month did not indicate the rocket or missile had been mounted, he said Wednesday.
Posted by: Steve White ||
03/25/2009 17:58 ||
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#1
CHINESE MIL FORUM > NORTH KOREA TO SELL 1/72-SCALE MODEL OF MISSLE TO BE LAUNCHED APRIL 4-8th.; + DPRK MISSLE LAUCH PUTS US IN A DILEMMA [ Regional, Geopol].
#2
Also on CMF > CHINESE INTERESTS CAUGHT IN US DRONE ATTACKS [in BALOCHISTAN, PK agz Talib, AQ Leadership = also where CHIN has substantial econ investments as per its national-geopol agenda e.g. GWADAR Port, Pakistan-China Pipeline STRATEGIC DEV + Chin Firms]; + CHINESE "ANJIAN" ['DARK SWORD' = Russ SUNBURN Derivative] CAN ENDANGER US NAVY CARRIERS. NEW CRUISE MISSLE "CARRIER-KILLER" believed to have/use STEALTH TECHS.
Why have Iraq and Afghanistan produced only 5 Medal of Honor recipients, none living?
The number of Medal of Honor recipients from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan can be counted on one hand. Each of the five acted spontaneously and heroically to save the lives of comrades. Each exemplified the medal's criteria of "gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of one's own life above and beyond the call of duty." And each was killed in action or died from wounds received in action.
Now, 146 years after the first Medals of Honor were awarded -- to living soldiers -- it remains to be seen whether anyone will ever again earn a Medal of Honor and survive to accept it.
Continued on Page 49
#1
Would it be hard to search to find 'bitchn' about the 'large' number of lesser awards handed out 'compared to other wars' (ie Silver/Bronze Stars w/V device etc)? Even in peacetime the awards process was hijacked for administrative purposes (de facto PCS awards for just doing a clean tour).
#2
This has long been my argument. There is now only one living MOH recipient for every 3.4 MILLION Americans. Most Americans have never met one, and have no idea what a MOH represents.
Again, as evidenced by the notorious Phoenix Sky Harbor outrage against MOH recipient, WWII ace USMC pilot Joe Foss.
Combine that with some of the awesome, almost super human acts of heroism in Iraq and Afghanistan we have been reading about here on Rantburg, and you have to ask the question: what is the problem here?
Contrary to practice, death should almost disqualify a recipient, as only part of the purpose of the MOH is directly to them for their heroism. The MOH is as much presented to their family, their community, their State and their nation for having produced them.
They need to see it on living heroes, not just on tombstones and in decorative cases on walls. It is not a work of art for a museum. And for the rest of their lives, MOH recipients have the duty to display the MOH, as there is nothing in their lives they can subsequently do that is more important than this honorable display.
Were a MOH recipient to be elected President of the United States, their being President would be secondary to being a MOH recipient. While as President he would be Chief Executive of the government, as a MOH recipient, he would be a representative not just of the nation, but all Americans.
#3
Be on guard, it could also be a SHE recipient! In fact, some of the females soldiers are brilliant at logistics, physical outdoor labor AND management. There are lots of women soldiers and women vets today. In fact, someday we could have a female POTUS who is a living Medal of Honor recipient. Dont laugh because stranger things have happened. If Obama can be elected with his light resume, anything is possible.
#5
There's something about these valor award puff pieces which brings out the callous contrarian black-hearted bastard in me, but I have to argue that there's fewer MoH awards because the War on Terror environment provides fewer demands for MoH behavior.
Look at Paul R. Smith's award. It's classic MoH material, a self-sacrificing forlorn hope in a key moment which pulled victory out of a possible reverse. Moments like that have been thankfully rare, outside of Second Fallujah, Ramallah during 2007 and the sieges in the cities of the south during the spring and summer of 2004.
Metals of Honor are for the wild men who charge machine gun nests, drop on grenades, and perform other patently self-sacrificial acts of heroism which should get warriors killed, and usually do. These are acts which were routinely required by the demands of mass infantry warfare. Throughout the 20th century, military tactical science's key and proper focus was on eliminating the need for this sort of thing. A Metal of Honor should be the result of a tactical situation gone horribly, horribly wrong, such that the only solution was in some warrior's personal willingness to literally spend himself to prevent disaster. Above and beyond the call of duty.
On the other hand... we don't ask soldiers or marines to make massed attacks, or to "go over the top" any more. Personal armor & dispersed infantry tactics means that their lives aren't routinely expended in the common course of a successful attack. Self-sacrifice takes a lot more effort now, than it did in the days of machine gun nests & open-field regimental charges.
What's being acknowledged with these awards? Bravery, or self-sacrifice? There's a certain sneaking suspicion, here, that we've somehow encoded bravery, no matter how extreme, as a part of the definition of duty, which makes it impossible to get past the threshold of "above and beyond" without actually dying.
Posted by: Mitch H. ||
03/25/2009 11:37 Comments ||
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#6
callous contrarian black-hearted bastard in me
Is there a web-link, support group, society or club?
#7
They don't award them because as soon as they do, the media will be all over this "supposed American hero" and watch every step he makes, every time he picks his nose at a stoplight, every time he takes a floozy home from a bar, all the while saying hurtful, destructive things about America. "Today it was revealed by our crack investigative team that Joe P. Medalofhonor can't keep his checkbook balanced. If this is so, then what can it mean for the rest of America? More at 10"
#8
Early on in the war, there was a fuel truck driver whose truck took an RPG. He could have jumped out of the truck and saved himself, but there were many soldiers around that would have died. He heroically drove the truck away while he was on fire. He lived, but was severely disfigured and had his hands just about burned off. I think he was from Visalia, Ca.
What ever happened to him? I would appreciate it if someone could find out.
#10
Two generations ago you could ask a kid who his heroes were, and he could name at least one real person.
Today if you ask a kid the same question you'll only get fictional characters.
We no longer want real heroes. If someone starts looking suspiciously heroic, the media go out of their way to destroy that person. Just another example of the conscious, methodical and inexorable destruction of American culture.
FYI -- Teddy Roosevelt. Only MOH winner to ever serve as president.
#11
Trader: Yup, that there is a textbook spoonerism.
I suck. Oh, well.
Iblis: they gave Teddy a Medal of Honor in 2001?
Posted by: Mitch H. ||
03/25/2009 14:10 Comments ||
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#12
What happens when your Marine platoon moves into a well coordinated ambush?
Well, if you are CAPT BRIAN CHONTOSH, you jump out of your vehicle, carve an "S" into your chest and charge into an entrenched enemy position.
#14
Having a spent a year over there myself, here's a few thoughts:
1. Lower-level medals are now given away like candy. I got a Bronze Star (Meritorious), and I can honestly say I don't feel comfortable having it for what I did. Don't know if that's the military's way of compensating for tightening up the higher level valorous awards.
2. The very nature of the conflict limits the opportunities for MOH-type behavior. Arabs don't like to stand and fight for long periods, and if your opponent won't stick around to duke it out, do-or-die heroics usually aren't required.
3. It feels like the burden of proof has shifted to the troops. I was in a convoy that got hit by an IED. I eventually got around to applying for the Navy's Combat Action Ribbon, but after reading the instruction, I lost interest. I had to prove that my vehicle was the target and not the one behind me. On the other hand, if you were in a helicopter that got shot at, everyone onboard got a CAR. (The Army's Combat Action Badge requirements are much looser, but that doesn't help me.)
4. MOH requirements have evolved over time. During the Civil War, it was given to entire units that reenlisted. For a time, Navy personnel who risked life and limb during engineering casualties could get it. It looks like it has gotten to the point where the prevailing thought with the paper-pushers is "Since you're still alive, it couldn't have been that dangerous."
#15
I am with Mitch H on this one
The highest levels of heroism frequently come about because someone high up screwed up. E.g. the heroism of the DDs and DEs in the Battle off Samar in WWII would not have been possible if Halsey had not screwed up and left the Straights unguarded.
Since Vietnam, our enemies have been less capable and our generals more cautious, so the chances that our conventional troops will find themselves unsupported and surrounded by overwhelming numbers of the enemy is pretty slim.
That being said, the stories I have read have shown today's troops to be the most corageous America has ever fielded. America's Finest are truely awe inspiring.
Posted by: Frozen Al ||
03/25/2009 15:42 Comments ||
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#16
Having not served a day, I have a sneaking suspicion that Dreadnought may be a tad modest. I appreciate your service and obviously so did the officer who recommended you.
Part of the value of these medals is for the rest of the nation. They identify those among us who have defended us all. I think far too few MOHs are awarded, for a lot of reasons. And it's too bad. Because I suspect there has been a lot of courage above and beyond over the last 5 years. And as a nation we should recognize it and appreciate it.
I urge you all to proudly display your medals for your children to see so they know the courage to serve and defend their country runs in their blood.
#17
thank you for your service (and modesty), Dreadnought
Frank
Posted by: Frank G ||
03/25/2009 17:04 Comments ||
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#18
LBJ biographer Robert Caro has called the medal "one of the most undeserved Silver Stars in history."
I would nominate John F'n Kerry's Silver Star as another example.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia ||
03/25/2009 17:06 Comments ||
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#19
Technology has reduced close quarter' combat. And that is where most MoH awards are earned.
#20
Seems to me, most MOH's come when someone's really in the s***. Perhaps that happens less these days because the Armed Forces are more professional and less likely to leave troops in untenable situations?
You are both too kind. Unfortunately if you were privy to the machinations and politicking that some went through to get awards, especially the Bronze Star (M), you'd be sick. Also I grew up in the Navy Surface fleet where the philosophy long ago on medals was summed up as "Handshake in lieu of first award," so perhaps I'm conditioned to look at large numbers of administrative (not valorous) awards skeptically.
Personally, I think the root cause of a lot of this the same self-esteem building crap that's infected the rest of our society, but that's a different post.
#24
BTW, the first time I was leaving Iraq they put my boss (a LtCol) in for a Bronze Star, he told his boss (the full bird) he would flat refuse to wear it as he didn't think he rated it. They withdrew the award write up shortly after.
#25
I respectfully disagree about there having to have been a momentous failure as a prerequisite to heroism. In fact, the best recommendation for a MOH is that they severely damage the enemy forces, and do so in a way that uplifts the war effort. The very best way is to plow through the enemy "like a hot knife through butter."
An excellent example, which merited a Silver Star, was of Army Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester from Kentucky, who along with her Staff Sgt., wiped out an enemy ambush killing 27 enemy. With an M203 grenade launcher and hand grenades she cleaned their trenches.
This was close to MOH standards, and she should have been sent on tour throughout the US on a recruiting drive. The importance of her actions is found in the the idea: "I am a woman and I did this." She doesn't have to say that, but that is what everyone she met would think.
Time and time again, especially in Iraq, the numbers really start to add up. Snipers with 200 kills in their book, soldiers and Marines facing off against hundreds of enemy and winning through discipline and backbone, though wounded multiple times. Etc., etc.
Not all of MOH caliber, of course, but there's got to be some in there.
#26
Dreadnought, I suspect I've lived a couple of times the number of years you have. I doubt there's much in the way of machinations and politics involved with medals that would surprise me as that sort of thing is endemic in all human activity. Ever thought about the politicking that goes into electing a Pope? But 99 times out of 100 you had to at least be near the shooting to get the award and that's good enough for me.
I'm a pretty self-deprecating sort myself and I've never thought well of those who feel compelled to have a Wall of Fame. But modesty can be taken too far. Consider, should you hide your light under a basket? I hope as you get older you appreciate more what an amazing and wonderful thing you all did, liberating 25 million people from the clutches of one or the other dictatorships in spite of all the machinations and politicking here and there. The medal is a small token of your nation's thanks and admiration.
Srinagar (PTI): The 17 militants killed in Kupwara were from Lashkar-e-Toiba and equipment seized from them indicated that Pakistani security forces had assisted them in infiltrating Indian territory, the Army on Wednesday said.
The terrorists killed in the operations belonged to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and were "highly trained, well-kitted and indoctrinated", Army's Srinagar-based 15 Corps Brigadier General Staff Brig Gurmit Singh told reporters here.
He said "the map, guidance systems and equipment (with terrorists) is indicative that the state and security forces assistance from across the border was there as such material is not usually there in the civil domain."
23 AK assault rifles, one pistol, four Under Barrel Grenade Launchers (UBGLs), 19 UBGL grenades, two hand grenades, two global positioning systems and 10 radio sets were recovered from the slain militants, Singh said.
No fresh exchange of fire has occurred since last evening and the army was carrying out combing operations in Drangyari and Hafroda forest area after the five-day encounter, which left eight army personnel, including Major Mohit Sharma.
The army officer strongly refuted LeT's claim that they killed 25 soldiers during the encounter saying "eight soldiers including Major Mohit Sharma made the supreme sacrifice."
LeT has claimed responsibility for the Kupwara siege and threatened to intensify attacks across the Kashmir valley.
Posted by: john frum ||
03/25/2009 17:27 ||
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#1
Posted by: john frum ||
03/25/2009 19:02 Comments ||
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#2
the picture, she no linky
Posted by: Frank G ||
03/25/2009 19:04 Comments ||
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#3
ION LET, see WAFF > LET [LASHKAR-E-TAIBA = "Army of the Pure"]: LIBERATE KASHMIR AND TO ATTACK INDIAN INSTALLATIONS AND INDIAN MILITARY FORCES/PAKISTAN TERROR ARMY ECLIPSING AL QAEDA.
/LET THREATENS OSAMA AND AL QAEDA.
US CIA, WASHINGTON fear LET-CENTERED, LT STRATEGIC TERROR THREAT TO EUROPE, ESPEC GREAT BRITAIN. The LET has harshly criticized OSAMA BIN LADEN + AL QAEDA as not caring about KASHMIR = LOCAL ISLAMIC ISSUES/STRUGGLES vee AQ's
"INTERNATIONAL AGENDA".
Also in ARTIC, AUTHOR ZAHID HUSSEIN > warns that LET has the capability to DESTABILIZE THE ENTIRE REGION, + has the ability to CREATE CONDITIONS
"WHERE PAKISTAN CAN BE PUSHED INTO NUCLEAR WAR".
* LET's INDIAN STRATEGY = DESTABILIZE ENTIRE SOUTH ASIAN REGIONS AMAP ASAP, + INDUCE "GREAT POWER" MILITARY CONFRONTATION, ESPEC AMONG TWO OR MORE [major?]NUCLEAR POWERS???
The Tamil Tigers on Wednesday fired surface-to-air-missiles (SAM) at two Sri Lankan Air Force helicopters over the northern battle zone but the choppers narrowly escaped the attack, military authorities here said.
"Two Sri Lanka Air Force helicopters, engaged in assisting evacuation of army casualties in Puthukkudiyiruppu had a miraculous escape this morning (Wednesday) at 11.00 a.m. when the Tigers inside the 'No Fire Zone' fired anti-aircraft missiles on them," the military said on Wednesday.
"Both helicopters carrying injured soldiers, however, continued their mission despite the barrage of LTTE missiles," the military said in a report, adding that the choppers with injured soldiers aboard arrived at their destinations as planned. Huh. Must have been using them wrong. That, or they got corroded in the jungle.
The defence ministry quoting Air Force spokesman, Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara, said that the pilots of the Bell-212 choppers "managed to take the injured personnel to safety from the risk imposed with evasive air manoeuvers (by) evading the missile attack". And a quick change of trousers.
"LTTE terrorists have fired the missiles from the government declared No Fire Zone," the air force spokesman said, citing pilots and technical sources.
An orphanage run by a British charity in Bangladesh has been raided by local security forces who say that it was being used as a training camp and arms factory for Islamic militants. The Rapid Action Battalion said today that it had arrested four people, including a teacher and three caretakers, and was searching for the head of the charity, a British citizen known only as CliveNigel Faisal.
The arrests came after a raid yesterday on the Green Crescent madrassa and orphanage on the remote southern island of Bhola, Lt Col Munir Haque, an officer involved in the operation, told The Times. "We found small arms -- about nine or 10 in total -- plus equipment to make small arms, about 3,000 rounds of ammunition, two walkie-talkies, two remote control devices and four sets of army uniforms," he said.
"We also found enough explosives and other equipment to make several hundred grenades. We found some ordinary Islamic books, but others that are in line with extremists like bin Laden."
He said that there were about 11 children between the ages of 7 and 8 at the compound at the time of the raid, but no other adults.
Locals told the officers that the madrassa, or Islamic seminary, was a British charity financed by "Faisal", who they said had lived in Britain for 25 years.
Green Crescent's web site, www.greencrescent.org, shows that it is involved in projects in Bhola, as well as several others around Bangladesh and at least one in Pakistan. The charity, which is registered in the UK under the number 1099233, was founded in 1998 by students in Britain and Bangladesh, and is based in Stockport, six miles from Manchester.
K.M. Mamunur Rashid, another officer involved in the raid, said that the charity had plans to build two more madrassas, although there were no details on the charity's site. "It is a big madrassa and we have so far gathered that this whole compound is being used for militant training," he said.
Bangladeshi media reported that security forces suspected the compound was being used by Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), a banned militant group. The authorities have long viewed madrassas as potential recruiting grounds for militant groups such as JMB, which was blamed for a series of bomb attacks in the country in August 2005.
The compound bore no sign. Residents referred to it simply as the school for "jihadis," speaking in awe of the expensive horses stabled within its high walls - and the extremists who rode them bareback in the dusty fields around it.
In classrooms nearby, teachers drilled boys as young as eight in an uncompromising brand of Islam that called for holy war against enemies of the faith. Sitting cross-legged on the floor of the Darul Uloom Madina school, they recited verses from the holy Quran.
Both facilities are run by an Al Qaeda-linked terror network, Jaish-e-Muhammed, in the heart of Punjab. Their existence raises questions about the government's pledge to crack down on terror groups' accused of high-profile attacks in Pakistan and India.
Jihadis: There, would-be jihadis practice martial arts, archery and horse-riding skills and get religious instruction, according to a former member of Jaish-e-Muhammed, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "You can say Jaish is running its business as usual," said Amir Rana, from Pakistan's Institute for Peace Studies, which tracks militant groups. "The military wants to keep alive its strategic options in Kashmir. The trouble is you cannot restrict the militants to one area. You cannot keep control of them."
Recruit: A top police officer said the madrassas in the area were used to recruit teens and young men for jihad in the NWFP or in Afghanistan. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
A guard wielding an automatic weapon stood at the gate of the Usman-o-Ali school and turned a visiting journalist team away. But the head teacher at nearby Darul uloom Madina allowed the group a tour and an interview.
Attaur Rehman said none of the students were allowed to be recruited for jihad while studying there, but added that he could not stop them joining up after they graduated. "Pakistani citizens, and especially Punjabis, are the Taliban trainers in the area for bomb-making," said Asadullah Sherzad, police chief in Afghanistan's insurgency-wracked Helmand province, adding there are around 100 Punjabis at any one time in that area of Afghanistan.
A police officer in Bahawalpur said Jaish members were not believed to be training with weapons in the town's schools and other facilities, adding that law enforcement agencies had infiltrated the group. He spoke on condition of anonymity because sections of the government and security agencies disagreed on the need to crack down on the group.
Jaish is believed to have been formed in 2000 by hard-line cleric Masood Azhar after he was freed from an Indian prison in exchange for passengers on a hijacked Indian Airlines flight that landed in southern Afghanistan the same year. Azhar was born in Bahawalpur, though the government says his current whereabouts are not known. A small stall outside the Usman-o-Ali school sells his speeches and writings.
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03/25/2009 00:00 ||
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#1
"Pakistani citizens, and especially Punjabis, are the Taliban trainers in the area for bomb-making,"
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has issued a list of members of banned outfits and ordered all banks to scrutinise the list before opening accounts or transferring money, sources told Daily Times on Tuesday.
A bank official, seeking anonymity, said the purpose of the list was to stop the banned outfits from operating their accounts and transferring money. However, people would face delays in opening accounts or transferring money, as it would take time to scrutinise the list, he added.
SBP spokesman Syed Waseemuddin said Pakistan was bound to follow the instructions of the United Nations, which had banned several religious outfits for their alleged involvement in terrorism. He said the list, provided by the UN, was regularly updated.
Last year, the United Nations Security Council had placed sanctions against Jamatud Dawa, a front organisation for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LT), declaring it a terrorist organisation.
The council panel has designated four men linked to the Mumbai attacks as terrorists subject to sanctions. The four men are believed to hold leadership positions in the LT that India accuses of orchestrating the November 2008 attacks that left over 180 dead in Mumbai.
The Security Council's Al Qaeda and Taliban sanctions committee added them to its list of terrorists subject to the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo under a council resolution adopted in 2008.
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03/25/2009 00:00 ||
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QUETTA: Four persons were injured in a bomb blast here at a cold drink shop in busy Liaqat Bazaar Tuesday afternoon.
DIG (Operations) Quetta police, Wazir Khan Nasir told reporters that the bomb was planted in the shop and exploded when a number of customers were sitting there. As a result, four persons were injured of whom one sustained critical injuries. The shop was completely destroyed.
The injured had been identified as Amir, Rehan, Munir while identification of the fourth injured could not be ascertained.
They were rushed to civil hospital where condition of all injured is stated to be stable. Police officials rejected possibility of suicide attack and said it was a time bomb.
The explosion, however, could not cause any major life or property loss. Police along with bomb disposal squad reached the scene and cordoned off the area. A case had been registered and investigation started.
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03/25/2009 00:00 ||
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LAHORE: It has been reliably learnt that 20 Uzbek terrorists have entered Punjab, Geo news reported on Tuesday.
According to Regional Police Officer (RPO) Sargodha region, Mukhtar Gondal, nearly 20 suspected Uzbek terrorists have entered Punjab who could target Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Bhakkar and Sargodha.
Gondal said that security has been beefed up following the tip-off and search operation is underway. He said Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsood has dispatched the Uzbeks.
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03/25/2009 00:00 ||
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Gas supply to the Sui Power Plant was affected after unidentified men blew up two main gas pipelines in Peer Koh area of Dera Bugti district on Tuesday, sources in the district administration said. They said the men had planted explosives under the 20-inch and 16-inch diameter pipelines, supplying gas to the Sui plant from the Peer Koh gas field. The resulting explosions severely damaged portions of the two pipelines.
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03/25/2009 00:00 ||
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Ten whole days? Must have had trouble getting resupplied through the tunnels ...
A Qassam rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit the Ashkelon area Tuesday afternoon, after ten days of quiet. No injuries or damage were reported.
The last rockets to explode inside Israel hit the western Negev on March 14. No one was injured in the strike. The Qassam fire continued this month even though Hamas, the Islamist group that rules the Gaza Strip, recently condemned the Qassam fire from the Strip, saying that though it has fired thousands of rockets in the past, it was not behind recent attacks, and that the group was actively investigating who was responsible.
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03/25/2009 00:00 ||
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Police discovered a makeshift armored vehicle and a weapons cache in the Hebron area Monday night during a search for stolen vehicles.
Officers from the Etgar police unit, which combats car theft, and the Lahav unit, which fights organized crime, uncovered the cache, which included a sniper rifle.
Police conducted the search of the village of Yata based on intelligence information they had received.
During the course of the operation, police found a large container on which heavy stones had been placed. The stones were removed with the help of a tractor and an armored Isuzu van was discovered inside the container.
Steel planks, measuring five centimeters (two inches) in thickness had been welded to the vehicle and small slits had been cut in the planks to allow a weapon to be fired from within the vehicle.
In addition to the armored vehicle, police found a 7.62 caliber sniper rifle as well as hundreds of 7.62 caliber bullets, two boxes of 5.56 caliber ammunition and a telescopic scope.
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03/25/2009 00:00 ||
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BEIRUT - Syria has appointed its first ambassador to Lebanon and Lebanese President Michel Suleiman accepted his diplomatic accreditation on Tuesday, according to a statement from the Lebanese presidency. The Lebanese presidency named the diplomat as Ali Abdul Karim Ali. Lebanon last week opened its first embassy in Damascus and has named its ambassador as Michel Khoury. Syria had opened its Beirut embassy last year.
Syria has faced international pressure to establish formal diplomatic ties with Lebanon, which had been dominated for decades by its larger neighbour until the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. Establishment of formal relations had been a central demand of anti-Syrian Lebanese factions that won an election in 2005 following the Hariri killing and the withdrawal of Syrian troops who had first entered Lebanon in 1976.
Posted by: Steve White ||
03/25/2009 00:00 ||
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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.
Maulana Sheikh Abdus Salam, a founding member of Harkatul Jihad al Islami (Huji) and the ameer of Islamic Democratic Party (IDP), was taken on a four-day remand yesterday in connection with the bomb attack on a CPB rally on January 20 in 2001 that killed five people.
A BDR man of 9 Rifles Battalion in Bagaichhari upazila of Rangamati district died of cardiac arrest yesterday, sources said.
In a chilling reminder of how the militants are still alive and kicking, the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) yesterday unearthed a mini-ammunition factory inside a madrasa-cum-orphanage in a remote village of Bhola.
WASHINGTON (AP) - North Korea is loading a Taepodong rocket on its east coast launch pad in anticipation of the launch of a communications satellite early next month, U.S. officials say. U.S. counterproliferation and intelligence officials have confirmed Japanese news reports of the expected launch between April 4 and 8.
Gas supply to the Sui Power Plant was affected after unidentified men blew up two main gas pipelines in Peer Koh area of Dera Bugti district on Tuesday, sources in the district administration said. They said the men had planted explosives under the 20-inch and 16-inch diameter pipelines, supplying gas to the Sui plant from the Peer Koh gas field. The resulting explosions severely damaged portions of the two pipelines.
