[Iran Press TV Latest] Following reports that the UK supports peace with the Taliban, a former member of the militant group says British forces have paid and trained the militants in southern Afghanistan.
Mullah Abdul Salam Hanafi told the benawa news website that the British forces have trained Taliban militants in Helmand for years.
If, indeed, the Brits were training Talibs, what exactly were they training them to do? To be better militants, or to be policemen and farmers? There's no nefarious purpose in the latter...
Hanafi claims Taliban militant were paid USD 300 per month by the British.
He also claimed that Taliban leader Mullah Omar is being kept in the Pakistani city of Karachi.
Also by the British, no doubt.
Hanafi was the governor of central Urozgan Province under the Taliban regime.
What is the verbose gentleman doing now for employment?
The developments come as senior officials in the UK have floated the idea of making peace with the Taliban -- the militant group whose uprooting was one of the main objectives of the 2001 US-led invasion.
Nine years later, Afghanistan remains unstable and civilians continue to pay the price.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/10/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
While little that comes from a mullah's mouth can be trusted, the Taliban are not included in the list of terrorist orgs and not sanctioned....and 'Charles in Charge' has urged the world to adopt Islamic principles to deal with the much bigger threat of environmental disaster ;)
World Cup madness has come to this troubled nation, creating a dangerous cat-and-mouse game between fans eager to watch televised soccer matches and Islamic militants determined to stop them.
The militia group al Shabaab, which controls most of south and central Somalia, has declared the World Cup un-Islamic and banned watching the games on television. By al Shabaab's logic, the World Cup interferes with the militant group's "jihad," to overthrow the government, because young Somalis are too busy watching the games to fight on their behalf. While the group hasn't yet laid out specific consequences for those defying the ban, the militants have been known to behead or amputate limbs of people who oppose them.
Undeterred Somali soccer fans, whose national team failed to qualify for the tournament, are going underground in search of ways to watch the world's largest televised sporting event, which opens Friday in South Africa.
In recent days, wealthier Somalis in both government-controlled and and al Shabaab run areas have been lining up at electronics shops to buy satellite dishes to watch at home. Local technicians willfor a feepatch together dishes and wires to rig televisions to show the games. "I don't like my children watching TVbut I don't want to miss watching the World Cup," said Abdullahi Sheikh, a 49-year-old Mogadishu resident who was in line to buy a television and a dish at a shop in town. "It's an amazing event to watch!"
Al Shabaab controls much of Somalia by force. But the militant group's ad-hoc prohibitions have alienated most Somalis. At various times, and in various places around the country, the militants have banned mustaches, dancing and celebrating religious holidays. For followers of the World Cup, the most dangerous ban is the one on soccer. In 2006, the militant group, which was then the armed wing of the government, the Union of Islamic Courts, launched a violent campaign against Somali fans.
These days, the only public place to watch games safely is at the Dhamuke Cinema, part of a small patch of government-controlled territory in the capital Mogadishu. Dhamuke remains one of the few cinemas al Shabaab hasn't destroyed or shut down. The cinema hosts hundreds of teenagers from around the city to watch movies and soccer matches via satellite.
Dhamuke, which is open every day from 10 a.m. to midnight, is almost always full of young people eager to escape the social strictures imposed in other parts of Somalia. Boys and girls are allowed to sit togethera taboo in al Shabaab-controlled areas. Older soccer addicts also occupy the folding metal chairs. On nights when soccer isn't on, the audience watches whatever else is on handAmerican movies, Bollywood flicks and films in Swahili and Somali. When one finishes, another reel starts rolling. Price of admission is 2,000 Somali shillings, or a few pennies.
Outside of the government-run area, the cinemas will be dark because showing the games is too dangerous. Over the past few years, militants have hurled grenades into cinemas in several towns, killing and injuring people. In a Mogadishu café on a recent afternoon, young men huddled to discuss their plans for watching the game. "If we have no jobs and can't watch or play football it's heartbreakingand unacceptable," said Said Haji, a 22-year-old Somali sipping coffee. Mr. Haji lives in the government-controlled area, and will be able to go to the cinema. "Some of my friends don't have that chance," he says.
Some young men say militants have deprived them of one of their only means of entertainment. "We can't play football, we have no cinemas to watch the World Cup and we don't have jobs," said Mohamed Nur, a 24-year-old World Cup fan. "We wake up, and go to sleep, alone." But not all Somali soccer fans have been dissuaded. People who can't find a cinema are likely to tune into local radio stations that broadcast soccer matches, which haven't yet been banned by al Shabaab. They can also look up scores in Internet cafés. And at informal gatherings, men of every age will debate the merits of their favorite teams late into the nightand as it happens in so many places, sometimes come to blows.
[Al Arabiya Latest] Egypt's public prosecutor dismissed a complaint brought forth by Islamists seeking to ban "Arabian Nights" which they judged to be immoral.
Prosecutor Abdul Megid Mahmoud threw out the case, saying the epic tales had been published for centuries without problems, and had been an inspiration to countless artists.
The case was brought forward by a group of Islamist lawyers after a new edition was published by the government-run General Agency for Cultural Palaces.
They had filed a complaint to the public prosecutor against the publication of the classic "One Thousand and One Nights," known in English as "Arabian Nights," because they said it was lewd.
Mahmoud also made reference to a 1985 ruling which allowed the book to be published, saying the latest case brought no new elements.
First published in mediaeval times, the collection of tales including "Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves" is told by Sheherazade to put off her execution by a king who wants to bed his country's virgins before executing them.
In 2003, the head of General Agency for Cultural Palaces was sacked by Culture Minister Farouq Hosni after it published three novels Islamists described as obscene.
In their complaint against "Arabian Nights," an Islamist group of lawyers, calling themselves Lawyers Without Borders, catalogued references to sex which they said "called to vice and sin".
Posted by: Fred ||
06/10/2010 00:00 ||
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[3 views]
Top|| File under: Global Jihad
#1
In that the Egyptian upper and intellectual classes think of the Arabian Nights as the Egyptian equivalent of Shakespeare, *and* hold those opposed to it as being country peasant "Poor Bedouin Trash", I don't think any ban will be happening soon.
#2
These raving lunatics will prevail, nothing that Muhammad didn't have a say on is heresy (To them) anyone so insecure as to dynamite ancient stone statues of Buddha will not slow at destroying their own heritage as well.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
06/10/2010 23:52 Comments ||
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[Al Arabiya Latest] Uganda has backtracked on a decision to bar Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir from the African Union summit in Kampala next month, saying the leader, who is wanted for war crimes, has actually been invited.
Sudan reacted angrily to an announcement by Uganda over the weekend that Bashir had not been invited to the July meeting. Khartoum demanded an apology from Uganda and called on the AU to switch the summit to another venue.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/10/2010 00:00 ||
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[3 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Sudan
Prince Charles yesterday urged the world to follow Islamic 'spiritual principles' in order to protect the environment.
In an hour-long speech, the heir to the throne argued that man's destruction of the world was contrary to the scriptures of all religions - but particularly those of Islam.
He said the current 'division' between man and nature had been caused not just by industrialisation, but also by our attitude to the environment - which goes against the grain of 'sacred traditions'.
Charles, who is a practising Christian and will become the head of the Church of England when he succeeds to the throne, spoke in depth about his own study of the Koran which, he said, tells its followers that there is 'no separation between man and nature' and says we must always live within our environment's limits.
The prince was speaking to an audience of scholars at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies - which attempts to encourage a better understanding of the culture and civilisation of the religion.
His speech, merging religion with his other favourite subject, the environment, marked the 25th anniversary of the organisation, of which he is patron.
He added: 'The inconvenient truth is that we share this planet with the rest of creation for a very good reason - and that is, we cannot exist on our own without the intricately balanced web of life around us.
'Islam has always taught this and to ignore that lesson is to default on our contract with creation.'
Clearly, clear thinking isn't the prince's forte'. How long has this practicing Christian been reading the Koran, pray tell? And with whom did he most regularly discuss what he discovered therein?
#6
Lies and deception is a practice of Muslims and their enablers such as Prince Charles. Biblical scripture, the basis for true Christians, is in direct conflict with the teachings of Mohammed.
#7
The best comment so far is that the Queen should send Charles on an extended goodwill tour of the Ummah. From Oceania, through South and central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. And while he is about it, he can spread his ecumenical ideas about Anglican Christianity as well.
Should take some 8-10 years to do it right. Bon voyage!
#10
Actually because Muslims tend to imitate Arabs (a pastoral or desert people) it is weel known that in mixed countries Muslims districts have less vegetation than districts of other confessions. In some way they recreate the desert Arabs like.
BTW why shouldn't this bozo recommend the Israeli way to save the world? After all Arabs had made a desrt from Judea and they made it flower again.
PS for all rantburgers: Tonight before going to sleep don't forget to bless George Washington.
#11
Too much inbreeding, all right. The guy needs a lonely planet type visit to Yemen, where he can preach his drivel to the locals all he wants, and see how they receive it.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
06/10/2010 11:04 Comments ||
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#12
His speech, merging religion with his other favorite subject, the environment, marked the 25th anniversary of the organization, of which he is patron.
Prince Charles is no more embracing Islam then he his promoting Christianity. Hes prosthelytizing Anti-Capitalism. He recognizes that a group of Islamic scholars are both a receptive audience and potential allies in his pseudo-religion of eco-justice. Its easy to dismiss him as a flake and a fool but it would be a mistake to underestimate the influence he wields. His access to wealth and the levers of power make him more dangerous then silly.
Actually because Muslims tend to imitate Arabs (a pastoral or desert people) it is weel known that in mixed countries Muslims districts have less vegetation than districts of other confessions. In some way they recreate the desert Arabs like.
They're intent on getting rid of the trees that might shelter Jews.
Posted by: Rob Crawford ||
06/10/2010 13:01 Comments ||
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#17
British PR takes another hit. Nice timing Chuck.
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/10/2010 18:38 Comments ||
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#21
it's about time for him too have an accident in a Pris tunnel
Posted by: chris ||
06/10/2010 20:07 Comments ||
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#22
Allahn wishes to violently chime-in on Pr. Chas.(5X daily)...
Those advanced facial "gin-blossoms" and her pitiful badly-sculpted, never-been-broken, Scotish snot-locker, places this UK monarch apologist in the cross-hairs of a slow Sharia death.
[Kyodo: Korea] North Korea's permanent representative to the United Nations has requested that Pyongyang be allowed to inspect the site of the sinking of a South Korean warship to verify international investigations that found the country responsible for the incident, the North's state media said Wednesday. Sin Son Ho filed the request in a message sent to Claude Heller, Mexico"s ambassador to the United Nations and the rotating president of the U.N. Security Council for June, on Tuesday, the Korean Central News Agency said.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/10/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
"How did they catch us?"
"Who cares? This'll deflect attention for months!"
[
ork]
Posted by: Bobby ||
06/10/2010 6:21 Comments ||
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#2
That was supposed to be [
ork].
I was sure I looked at it.
Posted by: Bobby ||
06/10/2010 6:22 Comments ||
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#3
And that time, I DID do preview. [backslash nork]
Seems to take the backslash as a carriage return.
Posted by: Bobby ||
06/10/2010 6:24 Comments ||
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#4
Bobby, in some programming languages, a backslash-n combination means a new line in the output.
Use a forward slash. (/Java instructor)
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia ||
06/10/2010 7:24 Comments ||
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#5
The UN is about equality not virture. And money, lots of money. Power too. Oh, and young boy vacations.
[Kyodo: Korea] China has lodged a protest with North Korea over the fatal shooting of three Chinese people in a border area, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Tuesday. ""China has attached great importance to that (incident) and has immediately launched a solemn representation to the DPRK,"" Qin Gang said at a news conference, referring to North Korea by its formal name, the Democratic People"s Republic of Korea.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/10/2010 00:00 ||
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[1 views]
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A report released this week by the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (ITIC) said new details have emerged which show how approximately 40 operatives from the Turkish Islamist IHH organization carefully prepared a violent ambush on navy commandos last week on board the Mavi Maramara ship, and acted with the full backing of the Turkish government.
The IHH operatives were armed with knives, axes and other weapons, communicated with one another using walkie talkies, set up a control room onboard the ship, and maintained close ties with Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, the report said.
In addition, the Mavi Maramara ship was purchased by the IHH from a major shipping company owned by the Istanbul Municipality, which is run by the ruling AKP party, it has emerged.
Continued on Page 49
Ayann Hirsi spoke in Santa Monica....
On May 24th, at Track 16 Gallery in fashionable Bergamont Station in Santa Monica, CA, dozens of marginal works of art were nearly destroyed by the exploding heads of some of SoCal's finest and most dogmatic liberals, as a roomful of them were injected with some cognitive dissonance when author Ayaan Hirsi Ali spoke.
One very confused and shaken white-haired gentleman could barely form a question, stammering that he had "great respect" for her but disagreed with almost everything she said. As he rambled on, many of his colleagues began to call at him "What's your question?" and "No speeches, ask a question!" He finally concluded with a semi-coherent plea along the lines of, "Well, how do we deal with these extremists?"
Ali replied that once you have decided to "deal" with the jihadists, you have legitimized their demands of submission, and that you cannot "deal" with fanatics who wish to destroy your nice free society with bike paths and reusable shopping bags and replace it with a totalitarian theocracy.
She deftly fielded a question about the "perversion" of Islam by fanatics by proclaiming that she was more concerned about the perversion of the word "liberalism," because of the willingness of many Western liberals to accept and excuse some of the most heinous criminal acts committed by practitioners of the Muslim faith, like arranged marriages, spousal abuse, subjugation of women by force, denial of education to females, and female genital mutilation in the name of multiculturalism and a so-called "respect" for other civilizations. American liberals, she said, appear to be more uncomfortable condemning the ill treatment of women under Islam than most conservatives are. This led her into a repudiation of multiculturalism, and how, despite some honorable intentions in its origins, it had mutated into a belief system that actually denies access to the freedom and justice guaranteed by the American Constitution by allowing injustice to continue within protected minority communities by not encouraging them to assimilate and become full Americans.
The best question of the evening came from a young man who simply asked what would be the best way to bring about an "Enlightenment" in the Muslim world. She replied that the best way would be to ask them questions about their religion and cause "cognitive dissonance" among those who blindly follow the violent exhortations of their imams. I actually laughed out loud when she used those words, as the cognitive dissonance occurring at that moment in the Track 16 gallery was practically audible. I could swear I heard the word "What?!?" thudding over and over again in the formerly comfortable brains of those around me.
The only applause of the night (!) signaled the end of the evening, and as I lined up to have my book signed by Ms. Ali, I was struck by how short the line was. Out of the 150 to 200 people I guessed were in attendance, only about 25 or so lined up to greet this remarkable individual. As I made my way down the line, I passed pockets of fervent discussion, and caught fragments here and there. I overheard one rather agitated gentleman say, "I just think there are problems in this country that she just doesn't understand! I mean, what's the difference between a fanatical mass-murdering Taliban regime and a mass-murdering evangelical Christian in the White House, which this country voted in for eight years?!?"
Not a very scintillating exchange I know, but as I left the gallery that evening, I realized that the real crux of the matter, and the truly paralyzing aspect for the liberals around me, was simply that -- her courage. To the Hollywood community, a community that did not even have the courage to list Theo Van Gogh during the 2005 Oscar ceremony as one of the people in film who had died that year, a woman willing to continue espousing her deep convictions after being threatened with death by the same people who had murdered her colleague was utterly confounding. And for someone like me, a person who writes from behind a mask, not even for fear of death but of the economic retribution I might face from the supposedly tolerant community in which I live and work, the evening I spent in a room with Ayaan Hirsi Ali was all the more humbling.
#1
I mean, whats the difference between a fanatical mass-murdering Taliban regime and a mass-murdering evangelical Christian in the White House, which this country voted in for eight years?!?
Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain.
#2
As I have said many times; I used to believe that liberals were, collectively better educated and likely smarter than we conservatives/libertarians. I truly do not believe that anymore. The conservative and libertarian movements have their share of bozos and idiots. However, the liberal movement is chocked full of educated ignoramuses with little common sense or wisdom.
#4
"I mean, what's the difference between a fanatical mass-murdering Taliban regime and a mass-murdering evangelical Christian in the White House, which this country voted in for eight years?!?"
IOW: Muslims are bad, but it's OK because we have decided the man who took them on killed lots of their more fanatical ranks.
Why don't you go move your sorry a$$ to Afghanistan or Somalia and tell me what you think after living there for a while.
Pakistan's next priority in the fight against the Taliban is North Waziristan, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Wednesday.
In an interview at the end of the third summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), Qureshi said the army was moving toward an offensive in North Waziristan in a 'calculated fashion' after an earlier successful operation in South Waziristan.
"Our next priority is going to be North Waziristan, but we have to time our operations in line with our resources. At the moment we are consolidating our position in South Waziristan," he said.
Referring to the recent terrorism incidents in Punjab, the minister said the provincial government is coming out of denial about the threat from militants.
Both from within and outside the country, the PML-N government in Punjab has come under increasing fire for not doing enough to deal with militants that are believed to be becoming stronger in southern parts of the province.
"I think they are coming out of the denial that they were living in," the foreign minister said.
Asked when the government will launch a crackdown in Punjab, Qureshi said some lower level militants had been picked up and some eliminated.
Militant leaders have fled Af-Pak: Qureshi said Pakistan's military successes in the tribal belt and areas like Swat and Malakand had forced some militant leaders to flee outside the Pakistan-Afghanistan theatre, and move to other countries with a known al Qaeda presence.
"Our information is that they have gone into areas like Somalia, Yemen and other destinations," he said "The tribal belt is no longer the safe haven that it used to be," he added.
Referring to Pak-Afghan ties, Qureshi said relations had improved markedly in the two years since a democratic government took power in Pakistan.
Asked whether India's presence in Afghanistan was still worrying Pakistan, Qureshi said the security challenges facing Afghanistan could be helped more by Pakistan than India. "So I think that an exaggerated (Indian) presence would not be in order," he said.
Referring to the dialogue process between India and Pakistan, the foreign minister said that both sides had to spend time to bridge the trust gap and think of confidence building measures that will restore the shaken confidence between them.
India's Interior Minister P Chidambaram is due to hold bilateral talks with his Pakistani counterpart on the sidelines of a regional ministerial meeting in Islamabad on June 26. reuters
Posted by: Fred ||
06/10/2010 00:00 ||
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Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan
The capital police and the city administration were completely unaware of the existence of the terminals for NATO trucks carrying supplies to Afghanistan, which were attacked on Tuesday night by unidentified militants, sources told Daily Times on Wednesday.
At least 80 NATO vehicles loaded onto 60 trucks were completely burnt in the attack that killed seven people and injured another four, on the outskirts of Islamabad on Tuesday.
"Police did not know that NATO supplies were arriving at this place, which is why we could not take appropriate measures. The temporary terminal was set up just six days ago," Deputy Inspector General Police Bin Yamin told Daily Times.
Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Amir Ali was also found unaware of the presence of a large number of sensitive supplies in the populated area of Dhoke Paracha, a mere 10-minute drive from the local police station.
"A judicial inquiry by the additional deputy commissioner (Revenue) has been ordered to determine as to why the local administration was unaware of this activity," he said.
According to sources, the managers of the NATO supply operations have introduced a unique mechanism of 'mobile terminals' where supplies are not stocked at any one particular place, rather the off-loading of supplies from trucks coming from Karachi, and their up-loading onto other vehicles destined for Afghanistan, take place simultaneously.
"Generally, the process of off-loading and up-loading takes place simultaneously. This time, however, hundreds of vehicles loaded with heavy machinery for NATO forces were stuck at this terminal. On the other hand, vehicles meant to take the supplies to Afghanistan were nowhere in sight. The management started the off-loading and up-loading process only hours before the attack," said trucker Muhammad Bashir, who has been driving for NATO for four years now. Imranul Haq, another driver standing by his burnt vehicle, told Daily Times that they take instructions from 'invisible' managers through middlemen, to bring the supplies to the marked area. "We only truck the supplies from Karachi Port to the marked area. Trucks from Afghanistan then take over the process. We have also been transporting goods to mobile terminals located between Taxila, Hassan Abdal and the Hattar industrial area," he said.
Minister for Interior Rehman Malik said that the government would review the arrangements of NATO supply movements in the wake of the latest attack on the organisation's convoy. Talking to media at Chaklala Airbase, he said certain elements were stealing oil and goods carried by NATO trucks from Karachi Port. A criminal element is involved in these incidents besides the terrorists, he added.
A special police team has been constituted to hunt down people involved in torching the NATO trailers, a police spokesman said.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/10/2010 00:00 ||
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[6 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan
[The News (Pak) Top Stories] Expressing serious reservations over non-acceptance of its demands, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has threatened to part ways with the government.
The sources said that the reservations of the JUI-F on different issues could not be removed during a lengthy meeting between Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Monday.
Rehman Malik, however, assured the Maulana that he would convey the grievances to the prime minister. "I will not go into details about the delay in acceptance of demands but will convey the JUI's reservations to the prime minister," Malik told newsmen after the meeting.
The JUI-F chief told newsmen that the party would not only quit the federal cabinet but would also part ways with the treasury benches in the two houses of parliament.
To a question, he said the JUI-F would be forced to give a deadline to the government if their demands were not accepted. "The government has not taken practical steps on even a single clause of the written agreement," he said.
During the meeting, Rehman Malik and Maulana Fazlur Rehman discussed matters relating to non implementation on the written agreement between the JUI-F and the government at the time of joining the coalition government.
The Maulana made it clear that they would not tolerate this attitude of the government anymore as it had been ignoring their demands. He was of the view that their party's demands were thrown into a dustbin.
During the meeting, the JUI-F chief also expressed serious reservations over the military operation in the tribal areas and the search operation in Kala Dhaka area of Mansehra district and non implementation of Shariah. It may be pointed out here that the JUI-F ministers walked out of the cabinet meeting held at the Parliament House before the announcement of the budget on Saturday when their recommendations were not included in the budget documents.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/10/2010 00:00 ||
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[5 views]
Top|| File under: Jamaat-e-Ulema Islami
[Geo News] A Jirga meeting of Ahmed Zai clan in South Wazriristan, expressing concern on civilian casualties in drone attacks, have demanded end to the predator strikes in the Agency, Geo News reported Wednesday. But we already knew which side they're on...
The Jirga meeting was held in Wana where schools and other educational institutions remained closed on the occasion. For the occasion of the drone attacks or the jirga? Being in a madrassa must not feel too very secure lately...
Ulema and notables of the area attended the meeting besides Taliban of peace committee. So-o-o-o-o... The Taliban showed up to issue a statement demanding an end to drone attacks. Wotta surprise.
The meeting decided to ensure peace in the area and to extend cooperation to the government officials for keeping the development process moving forward.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/10/2010 00:00 ||
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[5 views]
Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in Pakistan
#2
Holbtrooke has been a pompous ass nearly all his life. It's good for him to be treated like an infectious leper
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/10/2010 10:15 Comments ||
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#3
smart diplomacy triumph #219
Posted by: lord garth ||
06/10/2010 13:10 Comments ||
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#4
But I don't understand - he does a wonderful Mark Twain show.
Oh, wait - they're not talking about Hal? ;-p
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
06/10/2010 13:16 Comments ||
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#5
"A June 9 visit to Islamabad by Holbrooke has been canceled 'after he was informed that no important officials would be in Islamabad on the day because of prior commitments'"
They're all washing their beards hair that day.
Or whatever day he wants to come.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
06/10/2010 13:18 Comments ||
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#6
But I don't understand - he does a wonderful Mark Twain show.
After your Holbrook showed that he and Helen Thomas have much in common a few years ago, I'd rather not think of any of his other roles. He played Shylock at a DC production of The Merchant of Venice, and explained that, "There is no forgiveness in Judaism. None."
Posted by: Eric Jablow ||
06/10/2010 20:17 Comments ||
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Maulana Ilyas Chinioti, a member of the PML-N and the Punjab provincial assembly, condemned Nawaz Sharif's statement in which he had sympathised with the Ahmedis and called them his brothers. The meeting's participants demanded that Nawaz Sharif immediately withdraw his statement.
[Dawn] A gathering of the leaders of 13 religious and political parties in Lahore claimed that the attack on Ahmedis on May 28 was part of a conspiracy to repeal the laws against them, BBCUrdu reported.
The meeting was held in an office of the Majlis Ahrar Islam in Lahore's Muslim Town. The parties concluded that a conspiracy was in place to debate the laws against Ahmedis, the report said.
Maulana Zahidul Rashdi, who is a founding member of the Muttahida Tehrik-i-Khatm-i-Nabuwat and also the Secretary-General of the Pakistan Shariat Council, read the joint statement at the meeting's conclusion: The attack on Ahmedis is being used as an excuse to generate suspicions regarding the concept of khatm-i-nabuwat.
The gathering was attended by leaders of the Jamaat-i-Islami, Jamiat-i-ulema-i-Islam Fazlur Rahman group, Jamaatud Dawa and Markazi Jamaat-i-Ahl-i-Sunnat among others.
During the meeting, Maulana Ilyas Chinioti, a member of the PML-N and the Punjab provincial assembly, condemned Nawaz Sharif's statement in which he had sympathised with the Ahmedis and called them his brothers.
The meeting's participants demanded that Nawaz Sharif immediately withdraw his statement.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/10/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
so according to MI Chinioti, the Ahmedis hired people to kill themselves to draw attention to the fact that people want to kill them
this simply adds to the extensive conspiracy theory universe that is pretty standard there
Posted by: lord garth ||
06/10/2010 13:47 Comments ||
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#1
Hospital Corpsmen are Navy. If you want to be accurate, there are Fleet Marine Force (FMF) Corpsmen. They can, if they want, wear Marine dress (with HM insignia). But they don't consider themselves Marines
#3
S'okay. It's just my guys are a bit touchy about that.
I once had to endure a 15-minute tirade from an FMF chief who got mistaken for a Marine by a family at Sea World (and who was promptly ribbed by the Marines with him).
#4
I'd heard from a prominent politician that it was Corpseman
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/10/2010 22:34 Comments ||
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#5
My nephew was an FMF Corpsman. He was a bit of a wimp and got a lot of harassment from the Marines. Personally, I never understood that. I would want to the Corpsman's very best friend in the world. That way, if we were ever in combat, and he had only one unit of blood, who would he give it to: me (his VERY best friend) or that son of a b*tch Gunny who had been harassing him?
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia ||
06/10/2010 23:56 Comments ||
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#6
By the way, there are no USMC Chaplains, either - they are Naval Officers,as well.
I used to have a pastor who had been a Navy chaplain with the FMF. He identified more with the Marines than the Navy.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia ||
06/10/2010 23:58 Comments ||
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Hezbollah on Wednesday saluted veteran US reporter Helen Thomas's "courage" for her controversial comments against Israel, which sparked a furor and forced her to retire.
"Respected American journalist Helen Thomas's answer shows ... a courageous, bold, honest and free opinion which expresses what people across the globe believe: that Israel is a racist state of murderers and thugs," Hezbollah MP Hussein Moussawi said in a statement.
Why apologize for communicating the truth, however it is done? Maybe this is Israeli humor, I don't know.
The Israeli government has apologized for sending the press a link to an online video parodying last week's deadly commando raid on a flotilla of pro-Gaza activists.The video, which promptly went viral, has stirred up further outrage about the fallout from the raid, with some calling for the video's apparent creator, a Jerusalem Post columnist, to be fired for spoofing the circumstances of an attack claiming nine fatalities.
The video shows people dressed up as Gaza activists, some in Arab-looking attire, singing "We Con the World" to the tune of the Michael Jackson hit "We Are the World" -- with the "we" being the activists seeking to break Israel's blockade of Gaza. Waving knives and batons, the faux-activists sing: "We'll make the world abandon reason / We'll make them believe that the Hamas is Momma Teresa," and, "As Allah has shown us / For facts there's no demand." You can watch the video here: See link if you would like to see the video. Again. :-)
The link had been "sent for our perusal" and "was not intended for general release," Israel's Government Press Office announced in its apology statement. "The contents of the video in no way represent the official policy of either the Government Press Office or of the State of Israel."
Israel maintains that the activists initiated the violence, and its footage from the attack shows Gaza activists waving knives and using batons. See link for "chilling" photos of flotilla raid
The music video may have been released inadvertently, but it has since become a viral hit online, clocking nearly 2 million hits on YouTube. CNN reports that the parody was the work of Jerusalem Post columnist Caroline Glick, who served in the Israel Defense Forces. Go Caroline! You've got my vote for a Grammy for best music vid of 2010!
[Ma'an] US President Barack Obama told reporters on Wednesday that Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip was unsustainable, after meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the White House for official talks. You can't dance with a bucket on your foot, either.
Obama said there remained "lots of work" before a peace agreement is reached, the online news site Palestinenote wrote, referring to Israel's raid on a Gaza bound aid flotilla in which nine passengers were killed in international waters.
"We condemned all the actions that led to the crisis," he said of the raid on the convoy. "We know the situation is unsustainable," the news site reported Obama as saying who "discussed how to promote a better situation in Gaza," with Abbas.
The Palestinian president said ahead of talks in the White House that ending the Gaza siege would be on top of the agenda with his US counterpart, with earlier reports suggesting Obama would discuss ways to increase aid to the coastal enclave. Meanwhile, the Reuters news agency reported that Obama offered 400 million US dollars in aid, as the global condemnation of the flotilla attack quickly turned to calls to end the siege on Gaza.
Israel must allow "more goods and services" into Gaza, Obama told reporters, after meeting with Abbas privately for an hour, and later with senior US and Palestinian officials including US Middle East envoy George Mitchell and chief PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat, Palestinenote reported.
Abbas told reporters that they held "very important discussions on Gaza. We appreciate the effort of the United States on improving the [Palestinian] economy and we are persistent about making more improvements. I highly appreciate Obama's persistence in continuing the push for peace. This is our interest, the world's and the United States'."
Thanking the US for its support of Gaza, Abbas said Obama's comments reflected "a positive signal that the US cares about the suffering [of Gaza's population.]"
Responding to remarks made by his US counterpart, calling on the PA to curb incitement against Israel, Abbas said " ... we have nothing to do with [it]. We are interested in peace with Israel in order to bring about an independent state," Palestinenote quoted him as saying.
The US president further called on Israel to comply with an investigation into the flotilla raid, saying "The United Nations called for a credible investigation that meets international standards. That's what we expect. I've said to the Israelis directly 'it is in your interest to know exactly what happened.'"
Posted by: Fred ||
06/10/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
So did Obowma grab his ankles for Abbas like he did for China?
Historically, if the besieger has good supply, the defender is screwed. Only disease of the attackers and a relief force can usually saved those trapped in a siege area.
Cut of ALL aid, food, water and electricity and Gaza will be a land devoid of people in 6 months. Israel doesn't even have to break a sweat to do it.
#7
What a dangerous statement. People will die for that news quote. The other side of the coin would be that checking for weapons and weapon materials is the only chance to avoid real war. The obliterating kind of war.
Credible investigation meeting international standards, now WTF does that mean? Like the credible investigation into Honduran and Iranian elections? Forgive me if that standard seems a little wanting.
#8
To leftists, Helen Thomas's problem was saying what they all believe.
was being recorded saying ... and the video going viral. Fixed it for you. Ms Thomas has said the same and worse among her colleagues and friends, if reports are to be believed.
A recent leftist rally against a Jewish presence in Judea and Samaria in Tel Aviv's Rabin Square was crashed by proud nationalist Russian Israelis who aimed at making a mockery of the event.
Hundreds of people congregated on Saturday afternoon against Jewish Judea and Samaria, and in solidarity with Arab residents of Hamas-controlled Gaza and the recent terrorist-laden Gaza "aid" flotilla. The rally, called "The Government is Drowning Us All," was planned prior to the flotilla incident, but co-opted the issue on the day of the march.
However, the Sabbath-day event did not go off without a hitch. A large group of secular nationalist Russian Israelis infiltrated their march, holding banners in English and Russian ridiculing the leftists.
Continued on Page 49
[Al Arabiya Latest] A year after hundreds of thousands of Iranians poured onto the streets to protest President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's disputed re-election on June 12, 2009, the Persian section of alarabiya.net held an exclusive interview with Iranian reformist and opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi, who has been distinguished along the past year with his frankness and strictness in refusing the legitimacy of Ahmadinejad and in revealing the torture to which the detainees were exposed to in Iran's prisons.
Karroubi, who is one of the leading reformist trio in Iran that includes Mirhossein Mausavi and former president Mohammed Khatami, alleged that the detained protesters have been savagely raped in Iran's prisons.
Karroubi, who was a presidential candidate in 2009 election, chaired the Martyrs Association that took care of the families of martyrs of the Iraq-Iran war and the revolution. He was also a former parliament speaker.
The interview went as follows:
*Mr Karroubi, less than a month from now, the Green Movement will be a year old, you and Mr Mousavi announced in February that you would determine the strategy of the Green Movement and inform the people about it. Could you please explain this strategy?
There is a small introduction and it is that the regime made the issue so complicated and intricate. The basis for this Movement was protesting [last June's] election results. But it was also about other election results, because in recent years intractable forces had existed during other elections too. This recent election led to an explosion of the massive demonstrations and the people's protests. This is why the people's slogan was "Give our votes back." This is what we wanted too, as well as the formation of a trusted committee to examine the elections because we believes that if it were to be examined accurately and impartially, the election would have been annulled.
The fraud in this election was so monumental that no amount of reasoning could explain it. Therefore at the heart of our Movement was the election fraud and the fact that we must try to hold fair and free elections.
Unfortunately, because of the special events, the pressures and the imprisonments, up until now we have not dealt with the question of strategies in order to prevent an increase in the number of arrests. But at the very minimum, our demands are [an implementation] of the constitution which states that we can have free press and newspapers as well as the freedom to assemble without arms. We have made a request for holding free elections. This is the essence of our protest movement.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/10/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
OTOH WMF > RUSSIA: INDIA CAN BECOME A MEMBER OF SCO BUT NOT PAKISTAN.
versies
SAME > AHMADINEJAD THREATENS TO ATTEND SCO SUMMIT IN DEFIANCE OF RUSSIA + CHINA.
[Iran Press TV Latest] The commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says the nature of threats against the Islamic Revolution of Iran has changed.
"Last year's (post-election) sedition lasted for around eight months only, but it was much more dangerous than the (eight-year Iraqi) imposed war", said Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari.
He said the seditious moves were aimed at diverting the Islamic Revolution from its right path and slowing the momentum that the Islamic Republic had gained.
The top general said the IRGC has a duty to confront hard, security, intelligence, political and cultural threats, adding special training is required to tackle cultural threats.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/10/2010 00:00 ||
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Ahmadinejad has angrily warned that negotiations with Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany on his country's nuclear program would be terminated if the sanctions were passed.
"I have said that the U.S. government and its allies are mistaken if they think they can brandish the stick of resolution and then sit down to talk with us, such a thing will not happen," Ahmadinejad said.
Among those subject to the new travel restrictions are Javad Rahiqi, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran's Isfahan nuclear technology center.
According to the text, 22 of the entities are linked to Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, 15 are "owned, controlled, or acting on behalf of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps" and three are controlled by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines.
The western campaign was boosted by getting Russia and China onboard.
But Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, whose country has strong economic ties with Tehran, pressed for tempered sanctions.
"Sanctions are basically ineffective," Putin told AFP in an interview late Monday, adding Moscow was working with other countries to ease concerns over Iran's nuclear program.
"We are ready, together with the entire international community, to seek a resolution to Iranian nuclear problems and we will move down this path together," Putin said.
Susan Rice, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, also stressed that Washington remained "committed to the dual-track approach" of pressure through sanctions coupled with negotiations."
Ahmadinejad, however, urged Western powers not to dismiss the deal brokered by Turkey and Brazil last month, which he described as an opportunity that should be "put to good use."
"Opportunities will not be repeated," he warned.
Under the plan, Iran agreed to ship 1,200 kilograms (2,640 pounds) of its low-enriched uranium to Turkey in return for high-enriched uranium fuel for a Tehran research reactor that would be supplied later by Russia and France.
Ahead of Wednesday's meeting, the United States, France and Russia formally replied to the International Atomic Energy Agency to Iran's proposals for the nuclear fuel swap.
The three had proposed in October that they take most of Iran's low-enriched uranium (LEU) and turn it into the much-needed fuel for a reactor which makes radioisotopes for medical use. Tehran rejected that plan.
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06/10/2010 00:00 ||
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(CNSNews.com) - Amid growing concern about the illicit drug trade across the U.S.-Mexico border, the terrorist groups Hezbollah and Hamas have been linked to South American drug trafficking organizationsand the money Hezbollah and Hamas make from narco-trafficking is used to finance their organizations, according to the non-partisan Congressional Research Service (CRS).
International terrorist groups, including Hamas and Hezbollah, have also reportedly raised funding for their terrorist activities through linkages formed with DTOs in South America, particularly those operating in the tri-border area (TBA) of Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina,' stated CRS in an April 30 report.
We'vehad reports on that here before. But it's nice to see that the non-partisan Congressional Research Service has reported this to its masters. Also,
According to a 2006 report by the House Committee on Homeland Security, "Members of Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based terrorist organization, have already [illegally] entered to the United States across our Southwest border."
The report noted, for example, that in December 2002, Salim Boughader Mucharrafille, a cafe owner in Tijuana, Mexico, was arrested for illegally smuggling more than 200 Lebanese illegally into the United States, including several believed to have terrorist ties to Hezbollah.
A heated meeting ended in chaos on Staten Island on Wednesday night. The subject: a Muslim group looking to open a mosque at the site of a former convent.
It was stormy outside and stormy inside. The Q & A turned into mayhem. An overflow crowd grew until the gates around this meeting hall had to be secured by police. The hundreds inside were witnessing a spectacle. There was passion and loud interruptions.
This crowd was neither passive nor patient, loudly demanding answers about the mosque planned for an old convent on Greeley Avenue. Many objected to the idea of an Islamic house of worship in the neighborhood, admitting they are afraid of the property's new owners, the Muslim American Society or MAS.
"Just not for the neighborhood, just not for the neighborhood, I'm afraid," one woman said. "I'd like to know why the MAS is on the watch list for terrorism," another woman said. "Will you here and now denounce Hamas and Hezbollah as jihad terrorist organizations?" asked Robert Spencer, founder of "Jihad Watch."
MAS representatives denied any links to extremist groups and said the mosque would promote peace and understanding. "Muslim American Society is an independent organization, American organization, that has no links with the Muslim brotherhood," a MAS representative said.
Some residents said they were angry the sale was secretly brokered by a parish priest who recently resigned. Two hours into a meeting full of shouting and interruptions it was clear order could not be restored. "The meeting is over. Everyone please go home," screamed one of the moderators.
#1
For 1700 years it has been Islam's pattern of intolerance by erecting Mosques on Christian or Jewish sites. And then defending them to the death. That pattern has started in the United State of America.
#2
Personally, I think this should not be about American religious freedom or tolerance. It ought to be about investigating subersive islamic organizations dedicated to subverting our American laws, government, way of life, and institutions--in other words using our freedoms to takeover from within.
#4
Personally, I think this should not be about American religious freedom or tolerance
When the Founding Fathers introduced the First Amendment they were thinking in religions who _basically_ eve,n iof with some lapses supported the idea of live and let live, plus the idea of "Give to Caesar wjhat is from Cesar) not one who decalres itself at war with the rest of the world and who petends to regulate with what hand you clean yourself. Had they thought about the Aztecs, had they thought about Islam and known what Jefferson knew after reading the Koran (hat is why he started the Barbary Wars) the First Amendment would have very different wording.
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.
Prince Charles yesterday urged the world to follow Islamic 'spiritual principles' in order to protect the environment.
The capital police and the city administration were completely unaware of the existence of the terminals for NATO trucks carrying supplies to Afghanistan, which were attacked on Tuesday night by unidentified militants, sources told Daily Times on Wednesday.
[The News (Pak) Top Stories] Expressing serious reservations over non-acceptance of its demands, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has threatened to part ways with the government.
[Geo News] A Jirga meeting of Ahmed Zai clan in South Wazriristan, expressing concern on civilian casualties in drone attacks, have demanded end to the predator strikes in the Agency, Geo News reported Wednesday.
