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Afghan capital hit by blasts, gun attack
Today's Headlines
Headline Comments [Views]
Page 1: WoT Operations
5 16:44 Zhang Fei [336087] 
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Page 2: WoT Background
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Page 4: Opinion
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Page 6: Politix
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Good morning
Posted by: Fred || 04/15/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336092 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Birthday/Daily Gam Shot

Claudia Cardinale aka Jill McBain in "Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)" aka Claudia in "8½ (1963)" aka Angelica Sedara / Bertiana in "The Leopard (1963)" aka Princess Dahla in "The Pink Panther (1963)" aka Mrs. Maria Grant in "The Professionals (1966)" aka Molly in "Fitzcarraldo (1982)" (age 74)



I dreamed I was featured in Rantburg wearing my Maidenform Bra.
Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 04/15/2012 4:02 Comments || Top||

#2  Happy Birthday/Daily Gam Shot 04/14

Julie Christie aka Diana Scott in "Darling (Won AW) (1965)" aka Lara Antipova in "Doctor Zhivago (1965)" aka Clarisse / Linda Montag in "Fahrenheit 451 (1966)" aka Constance Miller in "McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971)" aka Jackie Shawn in "Shampoo (1975)" aka Phyllis Mann in "Afterglow (Nominated for AW)(1997)" aka Fiona Anderson in "Away from Her (Nominated for AW)(2006)" (age 71)


Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 04/15/2012 4:02 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan
The Battle for Highway 1
The Taliban fighter crouched in a muddy field about 100 yards from Highway 1. The mid-afternoon sun melted the last patches of winter's snow as he waited for an American convoy to pass.

Three miles away, Lt. Col. Robert Horney and his soldiers pulled on body armor and climbed into their vehicles. The trucks were rolling when one of Horney's junior commanders suggested that he delay the convoy until dark, when insurgents rarely attack vehicles with improvised explosive devices, or IEDs.

"We are the U.S. Army," Horney thought to himself with some irritation. "We go where we want to go."
Besides, I don't listen to chicken little lieutenants.
The vehicles rumbled down a rutted dirt road, through a small village and toward a highway culvert where the Taliban had set about 40 pounds of explosives in a yellow plastic jug.

The Taliban fighter pressed a button, and a charge of electricity raced through copper wire.
Journo school teaches this breathless prose.
The highway exploded, shooting chunks of rock and dirt hundreds of feet in the air, nearly missing one of the American trucks. It shook and then lurched hard to the left.

"IED, IED, IED," Horney's soldiers yelled.

They called the name of the gunner, exposed in the turret. He did not respond, so they yanked on his pants. The gunner's ears were still ringing from the blast when he ducked into the vehicle to say that he was all right.

The bomb tore a five-foot-deep hole in an already pockmarked highway that the U.S. government paid $230 million to pave and that Horney's troops were supposed to protect. It showed that even as the U.S. military has pushed Taliban fighters from many strongholds, the enemy retains significant havens in this region only 40 miles from Kabul, the capital.

Horney noticed the hastily buried wire glinting in the sun and followed it until he reached the spot where the insurgent had been waiting. He approached a nearby farmer, gray-bearded and bent from a life in the fields.

Why didn't he report the bomber to Afghan soldiers a short walk away? Horney asked. The Taliban were everywhere, including the Afghan army, the farmer replied. "There is no one I can trust," he insisted.

The two spoke for a few minutes about the man's crops and his nine children. As Horney shook his hand and turned to leave, the farmer had a question. "Was anyone hurt?"
Posted by: Bobby || 04/15/2012 08:49 || Comments || Link || [336087 views] Top|| File under:

#1  So we have CO's that can speak Pashtun?

Posted by: Bill Clinton || 04/15/2012 12:16 Comments || Top||

#2  the Taliban had set about 40 pounds of explosives in a yellow plastic jug.


Big Jug, barrel in fact or misprint?
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 04/15/2012 12:19 Comments || Top||

#3  A 5-gallon jug of water weighs 40 lbs., and it's a, uh, jug...
Posted by: M. Murcek || 04/15/2012 13:49 Comments || Top||

#4  So we have CO's that can speak Pashtun?

Yes.
Posted by: Secret Asian Man || 04/15/2012 15:43 Comments || Top||

#5  Why didn't he report the bomber to Afghan soldiers a short walk away? Horney asked. The Taliban were everywhere, including the Afghan army, the farmer replied. "There is no one I can trust," he insisted.

Sad to say, but he's right...
Posted by: Zhang Fei || 04/15/2012 16:44 Comments || Top||


Kabul hit by coordinated attacks
Gunfire followed by several explosions shook Kabul on Sunday afternoon, in what appeared to be a coordinated attack.

Explosions were first heard in an area near Western embassies and a major NATO military camp, usually a heavily guarded area of the city. Soon afterward there was shooting near the Parliament and reports of explosions in other parts of Kabul.

In the upscale residential neighborhood of Wazir Akbar Khan, police rushed down the road that led to the German Embassy and Camp Eggers, a NATO camp that includes many top officials that run the NATO training mission. Several Western countries, including Britain and the U.S., have their embassies in the area.

Several explosions that sounded like bombs were followed by blasts from several rockets in the area. Sirens blared at nearby embassies warning people to “duck and cover and get away from the windows.” Each explosion caused windows to shake in nearby houses. Smoke could be seen coming from some buildings, and witnesses said that smoke seemed to be billowing from the German embassy.

A reporter in Kabul said terrorists militants who had staked out positions in a tall building were firing rockets in different directions. It was unclear what they were targeting.
Posted by: ryuge || 04/15/2012 06:23 || Comments || Link || [336094 views] Top|| File under:


Afghan capital hit by blasts, gun attack
At least a dozen large explosions and automatic gunfire rocked Kabul on Sunday in what appeared to be a coordinated attack across several areas of the city centre and concentrated on the heavily guarded diplomatic area, Reuters witnesses said.

Gunfire appeared to be coming from various directions in the barricaded diplomatic area of the city, close to both the U.S. and British embassies, and embassy alarms were sounding.

Smoke billowed from the direction of the German embassy, while explosions from rocket-propelled grenades rocked nearby buildings. The embassies were not immediately available to comment.

Afghan security forces were scrambling to reinforce areas around the so-called green zone.
Followup from Reuters here.
Posted by: tipper || 04/15/2012 06:15 || Comments || Link || [336129 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Tet in burkas?
Posted by: Glenmore || 04/15/2012 7:40 Comments || Top||

#2  Maybe the Germans can bring in some gun support from Iran to help out
Posted by: Angoth Platypus6189 || 04/15/2012 8:00 Comments || Top||

#3  Must be the Spring offensive (tm) .
Posted by: Omereger Noodleman6811 || 04/15/2012 8:05 Comments || Top||

#4  Live updates
Posted by: tipper || 04/15/2012 13:25 Comments || Top||

#5  Dressed in women's burqas? We may want to issue the troops X-ray sunglasses as a precaution.
Posted by: trailing wife || 04/15/2012 13:35 Comments || Top||

#6  Yuck!

"Looks like she's got Buckwheat in a leg-lock"
Posted by: Frank G || 04/15/2012 13:59 Comments || Top||

#7  Kabul + three other major Afghan Cities-Provinces.

* See also BHARAT RAKSHAK > KABUL HIT BY MULTIPLE BLASTS, GUN ATTACKS; EMBASSIES, NATO HQ, PARLIAMENT KEY TARGETS | TALIBAN ROCK KABUL WID WAVE OF TERROR ATTACKS.

* SAME > TALIBAN ATTACKS A MAJOR BLOW TO FALSE OPTIMISM OF WESTERN POLICY.

versus

* WORLD NEWS > BOLD TALIBAN ATTACKS UNLIKELY TO ALTER US AFGHAN PLANS.

* BHARAT RAKSHAK > RUNNING SCARED OF PASHTUNS: TO CHECK THE TIDE OF [growing]PASHTUN NATIONALISM, PAKISTAN'S ISI IS PROMOTING NON-PASHTUN TALIBAN WHOM MAY SOON BE IN CONTROL OF SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 04/15/2012 21:59 Comments || Top||


Dupe URL: 59 Taliban killed in offensive by Afghan commandos near Pak border
 Afghan forces backed by air support from Nato aircraft have launched a broad sweep of the country's northeast borders killing 59 Taliban insurgents in a major offensive in a province that serves as a militant supply route from Pakistan.

The Afghan forces are for the past three days combing mountainous region in Kamdesh district in Nuristan province, which touches Pakistan, in a spring onslaught on Taliban bases.

"14 armed insurgents were killed, 34 wounded and 18 others arrested by Afghan forces during the last 24 hours," the interior ministry said in an statement.

Kamdesh is a strategic base for the Taliban in eastern Afghanistan and serves as a spring board for militants crossing from Pakistan's turbulent Wazirstan province, a spokesman of the Nuristan province said.

Nato's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) spokesman said that 32 other militants had been killed in recent days.

According to the sources, about 400 Afghan policemen are assisting Afghan commandos in the sweep across the province, considered to be a den of Taliban commander Maulvi Nazir and Haqqani network.The interior ministry said that Afghan forces were in the restive province to stay. "This time we are not going to just conduct a big operation and leave."

They said that the Afghan forces had gained control of the main road through Kamdesh for the first time in years.

The ministry said that after the combing operations, security personnel would set-up more check-posts to control infiltration of militants.

The commandos and the policemen descended into the area by helicopters, a defence ministry statement said.

The ministry said the new operation was another example of successful transition of combat operations from the US-led forces to the Afghan Army. "We expect to see more such types of Afghan-led operations in spring and summer."

The defence ministry said that on April 12, 8 Taliban militants were killed and 19 others apprehended, while on April 11, 5 insurgents were killed and 18 arrested.

They said the Afghan Police had captured Taliban's deputy shadow governor of southern Helmand province 'Janan' who is famous under the name of Syed Ghulam.
Posted by: trailing wife || 04/15/2012 01:12 || Comments || Link || [336090 views] Top|| File under:


59 Taliban killed in offensive by Afghan commandos near Pak border
 Afghan forces backed by air support from NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A collection of multinational and multilingual and multicultural armed forces, all of differing capabilities, working toward a common goal by pulling in different directions...
aircraft have launched a broad sweep of the country's northeast borders killing 59 Taliban cut-throats in a major offensive in a province that serves as a Death Eater supply route from Pakistain.

The Afghan forces are for the past three days combing mountainous region in Kamdesh district in Nuristan province, which touches Pakistain, in a spring onslaught on Taliban bases.

"14 armed cut-throats were killed, 34 maimed and 18 others set to sit in solemn silence in a dull, dark dock, in a pestilential prison with a life-long lock by Afghan forces during the last 24 hours," the interior ministry said in an statement.

Kamdesh is a strategic base for the Taliban in eastern Afghanistan and serves as a spring board for faceless myrmidons crossing from Pakistain's turbulent Wazirstan province, a front man of the Nuristan province said.

NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) front man said that 32 other faceless myrmidons had been killed in recent days.

According to the sources, about 400 Afghan coppers are assisting Afghan commandos in the sweep across the province, considered to be a den of Taliban capo Maulvi Nazir and Haqqani network.The interior ministry said that Afghan forces were in the restive province to stay. "This time we are not going to just conduct a big operation and leave."

They said that the Afghan forces had gained control of the main road through Kamdesh for the first time in years.

The ministry said that after the combing operations, security personnel would set-up more check-posts to control infiltration of Death Eaters.

The commandos and the coppers descended into the area by helicopters, a defence ministry statement said.

The ministry said the new operation was another example of successful transition of combat operations from the US-led forces to the Afghan Army. "We expect to see more such types of Afghan-led operations in spring and summer."

The defence ministry said that on April 12, 8 Talibs were killed and 19 others apprehended, while on April 11, 5 cut-throats were killed and 18 set to sit in solemn silence in a dull, dark dock, in a pestilential prison with a life-long lock.

They said the Afghan Police had captured Taliban's deputy shadow governor of southern Helmand
...an Afghan province populated mostly by Pashtuns, adjacent to Injun country in Pak Balochistan...
province 'Janan' who is famous under the name of Syed Ghulam.
Posted by: || 04/15/2012 00:53 || Comments || Link || [336080 views] Top|| File under:


Drone Crashes in Ghazni as US Refuses to Halt Attacks in Pakistan
An unmanned US aircraft crashed in Ghazni province on Saturday morning because of a mechanical failure, according to an Isaf spokesperson.

Isaf confirmed via phone Saturday that a drone had crashed in "eastern Afghanistan" without anybody being harmed, with initial reports indicating that there had been a mechanical failure.

"There was no enemy activity in the area at the time," the Isaf front man said.

Afghanistan National Directorate of Security provincial intelligence chief Syed Amirshah Sadat told TOLOnews on Saturday morning that the crash had occurred in Ghazni, although he said it happened Friday night.

Meanwhile,
...back at the buffalo wallow, Tex and his new-found Indian friend were preparing a little surprise for the bandidos...
US officials told the News Agency that Dare Not be Named on Friday that the White House has no intentions of ending CIA drone strikes against bully boy targets on Pak soil, amid fresh calls from the country for the strikes to end.

On Thursday, Pakistain's parliament unanimously approved new guidelines for ties with the US. One condition of the new guidelines was for the US to end liquidation drone strikes on its territory.

It is not the first time Pakistain has demanded an end to the strikes, with the Pak parliament passing a resolution with this demand in 2008.
Posted by: trailing wife || 04/15/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336077 views] Top|| File under:


Two Children Dead in Helmand Bomb, Locals Cut Off Suspect's Ears
[Tolo News] Two children were killed after the car they were travelling in hit a roadside kaboom in the Afghanistan's southern Helmand
...an Afghan province populated mostly by Pashtuns, adjacent to Injun country in Pak Balochistan...
province on Thursday, the provincial governor's office said.

Local residents of the area retaliated by capturing the man they believed was responsible for the landmine and cut off his ears, according to a statement from the Helmand Governor's office.
Goodness. They certainly don't play around.
The car, which was part of a wedding party, hit the improvised bomb in the road around 9 a.m. Thursday, killing an 10-year-old and an 11-year-old and wounding six others in the same car.

The local residents of the Safar area in Helmand's Garamsir district where the incident occured wanted "to punish the criminal themselves", the statement said.

Helmand Governor Mohammad Gulab Mangal said he strongly condemned the attack and offered his condolences to the families of the dead children.

"By carrying out of such an evil, anti-Islam acts of gunnies once again declared that they only fight with innocent civilians in the country," the statement said.

This comes two days after three jacket wallahs targeted the police office in the Musa Qala district of Helmand province, killing eight Afghan coppers.

Also this week, three NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A cautionary tale of cost-benefit analysis....
soldiers have died from IED's in southern Afghanistan. One NATO soldier was killed Thursday following an IED blast, a day after another NATO soldier died after coming into contact with an IED.

Both deaths were confirmed by Isaf, but no further details of the soldier's names, nationality, or which province the blasts occurred in were given.

Meanwhile a British soldier died in hospital on Sunday two months after he was maimed by an IED in Helmand near the picturesque provincial capital Lashkar Gah.

Helmand province has seen some of the fiercest fighting between Islamic fascisti and the NATO-led mission in recent years. It has one of the highest casualty rates for civilians and soldiers among all Afghanistan's provinces.
Posted by: trailing wife || 04/15/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336076 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Ask the people in charge why Helmand was done half assed hint the letter A and stupid ghouls= Ass Backwards! (Those in Charge suits and ties etc like the cease fire bi ch!
Posted by: Captain Shereter8304 || 04/15/2012 18:52 Comments || Top||

#2  Map and computer stuff they started really going ghoul right before the Africa buildup and housing boom!
Posted by: Croper Poodle7818 || 04/15/2012 18:55 Comments || Top||


31 Killed in Nuristan Commandos Operation
As many as 31 people have been killed in an Afghan commandos operation in eastern Nuristan province in the past three days, local officials said.

One Afghan police officer, a civilian, and 29 Islamic fascisti were killed during a military push to clear Islamic fascisti from the Kamdish district, head of the provincial media office Mohammed Zareen said.

The civilian was killed by an cut-thoat who was shooting at the security forces, added Zareen.

Another 35 people have been maimed - four Afghan commandos, one civilian and 30 cut-thoats, he said.

Kamdish district shares a border with Pak and has been under cut-thoat control for more than a year.

Last week some members of Parliament called for extra troops to be sent to Nuristan province and for more efforts to be made to bring it under Afghan cops control.

The operation is continuing in Kamdish, with a focus on five villages including Benooz and Paeen, Zareen said.

The residents of Kamdish have urged the government to continue the operation, according to TOLOnews' local news hound.
Posted by: trailing wife || 04/15/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336077 views] Top|| File under:


Drone Crashes in Ghazni as US Refuses to Halt Attacks in Pakistan
An unmanned US aircraft crashed in Ghazni province on Saturday morning because of a mechanical failure, according to an Isaf spokesperson.

Isaf confirmed via phone Saturday that a drone had crashed in "eastern Afghanistan" without anybody being harmed, with initial reports indicating that there had been a mechanical failure.

"There was no enemy activity in the area at the time," the Isaf front man said.

Afghanistan National Directorate of Security provincial intelligence chief Syed Amirshah Sadat told TOLOnews on Saturday morning that the crash had occurred in Ghazni, although he said it happened Friday night.

Meanwhile,
...back at the buffalo wallow, Tex and his new-found Indian friend were preparing a little surprise for the bandidos...
US officials told the News Agency that Dare Not be Named on Friday that the White House has no intentions of ending CIA drone strikes against bully boy targets on Pak soil, amid fresh calls from the country for the strikes to end.

On Thursday, Pakistain's parliament unanimously approved new guidelines for ties with the US. One condition of the new guidelines was for the US to end liquidation drone strikes on its territory.

It is not the first time Pakistain has demanded an end to the strikes, with the Pak parliament passing a resolution with this demand in 2008.
Posted by: trailing wife || 04/15/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336073 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Wouldn't it be better to admit the truth.

pakistan has waged war on the west and we are countering their attacks?
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 04/15/2012 9:55 Comments || Top||


Africa Horn
Five Killed, Six Wounded in Sudanese Air Raid
[An Nahar] Five people were killed and six maimed in Sudanese Arclight airstrikes on Bentiu, capital of the oil-rich South Sudan border state of Unity, on Saturday.

"Three bombs were released next to Bentiu Bridge, and at the moment one person is confirmed killed. But they did not break the bridge," said Gideon Gatfan, front man of the Unity State government.

The bridge links Bentiu to a road leading to the border between Sudan and South Sudan some 60 kilometers (35 miles) to the north which has been the theatre of fierce festivities in recent days.

It was the second air raid reported by South Sudanese officials on Bentiu since Thursday.

The South Sudan army claimed Saturday to still be in control of the oil hub of Heglig after Khartoum said it had launched an offensive to recapture the area seized by Juba's forces on Thursday.

The festivities are the worst since South Sudan's independence from Sudan last July under a 2005 peace accord and have brought the two former foes the closest yet to a return to outright war.

No information was available early Saturday on the positions of the two armies.

Some two million people died in Sudan's 22-year civil war, one of Africa's longest, before the peace deal opened the way to South Sudan's independence.

When the South separated, Khartoum lost about 75 percent of its oil production and billions of dollars in revenue, leaving the Heglig area as its main producer.
Posted by: Fred || 04/15/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336073 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Sudan


Danish navy frees hostages from pirates off Somalia
[Shabelle] The Danish navy captured 16 Somali pirates and freed 12 captives when it intercepted a "mothership" vessel off the Horn of Africa, it said on Thursday.

The Danish warship Absalon, serving in NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A cautionary tale of cost-benefit analysis....
's counter-piracy mission Ocean Shield, stopped the vessel off the east coast of Somalia on Wednesday, boarded it without resistance, placed in long-term storage the suspected Somali pirates and found the hostages.

"The operation was carried out without use of armed force," the Danish navy command said in a statement.

"As the Absalon approached the ship and hailed it, they surrendered right away," navy front man Mikael Bill said.

Held by the pirates were three Iranians and nine Pak hostages, the original crew of the vessel, a Jelbut-type fishing boat seized by pirates about a month ago, Bill said.

The navy calls such a boat a "pirate mothership" because it is big enough to operate on the high seas and serve as a support vessel, carrying equipment for pirates who tend to use small skiffs to approach and board ships.

The hostages were on their way home on Thursday after giving testimony, but the suspected pirates will remain held aboard the Absalon until Denmark determines if it can hand the pirates over to a country in the region for prosecution, Bill said.

It was the second time in just month-and-a-half that the Absalon placed in long-term storage pirates and freed hostages offSomalia.

At the end of February, the Danish navy ship opened fire on a suspected pirate vessel which disobeyed orders to stop, killing two hostages but freeing 16 others and capturing 17 suspected pirates.

Piracy is rife off the Horn of Africa, disrupting important shipping lanes between Europe andAsia, putting seamen, vessels and cargoes at risk, and costing shipping companies huge sums to protect themselves.

It has been a huge problem as pirates from lawless, poverty-strickenSomaliaseek ransoms to release ships and hostages.

Although anti-piracy operations have succeeded in reducing the numbers of vessels and hostages taken in the past few years, efforts to stamp out piracy are hampered by the unwillingness of many countries to prosecute captured pirates in their courts.

The problem of finding courts to try pirates stems partly from a lack of a functioning judicial system and prisons inSomalia, but also reluctance by other countries to receive captured pirates.

Most European countries, includingDenmark, have been unwilling to bring suspects from eastAfricato their jails and courts, which means navies engaged in anti-piracy missions often must release captured pirates without prosecution.
Posted by: Fred || 04/15/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336101 views] Top|| File under: Pirates

#1  but the suspected pirates will remain held aboard the Absalon until Denmark determines if it can hand the pirates over to a country in the region for prosecution, Bill said.

Y'know, I've been to sea. It can be very dangerous, especially at night. I mean, a guy goes for a walk, and Splash! he falls overboard. If the lookout doesn't see him, he may be shark food before they even know he's gone. It could happen to several of the pirates, since they aren't familiar with the ship and all.

Of course, if the Absalon had yard arms, they could solve the problem very quickly...
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia || 04/15/2012 0:33 Comments || Top||

#2  Well, we can only hope that some of these incidents are never reported ...

Posted by: crosspatch || 04/15/2012 1:19 Comments || Top||

#3  From Wikipedia: "The two ships in the Absalon class, named after Danish archbishop and statesman Absalon, received full operational status in 2007."
Interesting that the most successful ships against Islamic piracy are named after an archbishop!
Posted by: SLindsey || 04/15/2012 11:04 Comments || Top||

#4  kinds spoiled it for me.. a warship named after a Bishop... what's wrong with "Thor's Hammer" or something like? I seem to remember Norway naming some small missle boats after Odin's ravens....
Posted by: Lionel Spimble1621 || 04/15/2012 13:09 Comments || Top||

#5  I don't think the US or any of its citizens has any right to complain about the Absalon's name. When we tried to build a version of it we wound up trading away the ship's ability to _do_ anything for a 45 knot sprint speed. Oh, and our 45 knot target cost twice as much as well.
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain || 04/15/2012 13:13 Comments || Top||

#6  Lionel? *ahem*
Anchorman?
Posted by: Frank G || 04/15/2012 13:58 Comments || Top||

#7  Were any skeggöxes used?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 04/15/2012 14:44 Comments || Top||

#8  I don't think the US or any of its citizens has any right to complain about the Absalon's name.
Right now we have the USS Murtha and the USS Jimmah Carter. I'd take a bishop over these two anyday.
Posted by: USN, Ret. || 04/15/2012 17:00 Comments || Top||

#9  And the USS Gabriel Gifford. Nothing against Ms. Gifford, but she did nothing heroic, all she did was get shot by a madman*.


*Yes, I know "alleged" madman.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia || 04/15/2012 17:05 Comments || Top||

#10  Why did the pirates give up without a fight?
I know! I know!
The Danes had one of those dragon thingies on the bow.
Posted by: Richard Aubrey || 04/15/2012 21:40 Comments || Top||

#11  Tie ropes to them and throw them over the bow. Measure the ropes to ensure they hang around the props. When someone asks what you are doing, scream at them that their islamaphobia is showing.
Posted by: Silentbrick - Halliburton Lost Drill Bit Division || 04/15/2012 22:26 Comments || Top||


Kenya police capture Al Shabaab recruit
[Shabelle] Police said Friday they were interrogating a suspected terrorist who has confessed having traveled toSomaliato receive Al-Shabaab
... Harakat ash-Shabaab al-Mujahidin aka the Mujahideen Youth Movement. It was originally the youth movement of the Islamic Courts, now pretty much all of what's left of it. They are aligned with al-Qaeda but operate more like the Afghan or Pakistani Taliban...
training.

Abdullah Abdul Majid aka Abul was jugged on Thursday last week on suspicion of involvement in the grenade attacks atNairobi's country bus station which killed nine people and maimed dozens others last month.

The 28-year-old has since told police he is a resident of Majengo,Mombasa. He was picked up fromNairobi's Eastleigh Section III by Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) detectives.

He has told police he was born inSoddy Arabia, but he has not been able to produce his passport.

During a series of interrogations, Majid has confessed to police that he had traveled toSomaliafor training with other Mujahideen after listening to preaching sessions from various Sheikhs--including Shamir and Aboud Rogo.

Police Spokesman Eric Kiraithe said the suspect has so far told police how he crossed intoSomaliain January 2011 with one of his Mombasa-based friends he identified as Dhulkarner who is currently inSomalia.

"On arrival inSomaliaat Dobley, he was met by Al-Shabaab members who inducted him into Mujahideen. He stayed in Dobley for two weeks while arrangements were being made for his transfer to Baidoa," the suspect told police.

Later, together with other foreigners, they were taken for training at Abadajira, a prison camp for former President Siad Barre, just outside Baidoa.

"At Abadajira, we were trained on how to use grenades, pistols and AK47 rifles. It was a three month course attended by 300 trainees," the suspect adds in his statement to the police.

After graduation, the suspect told police they were divided into two groups; one remained inMogadishuand another near the Kenya-Ethiopia border.

Majid was in the group that remained inMogadishu.

He claims he traveled back to Kenya to see his mother, police believe he is not genuine because even after returning back to Kenya he has never traveled to Majengo, Mombasa to greet his mother.

Police said they had been able to independently verify Majid's statement and that he had indeed traveled toSomaliawhere he received terrorism training.

Police believe he was deployed toKenyaby the Al-Shabaab command to act as a local spy. He is still being held by the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) who are still interrogating him.

"The investigation on his this man is still going on, appropriate action will be taken," Kiraithe said.
Posted by: Fred || 04/15/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336088 views] Top|| File under: al-Shabaab

#1  http://www.afrepren.org/news.htm -next time you hear it is for Democracy or real security from someone higher up FRAG the. The US is getting used and screwed for a few dumb ass crackers in suits some of them even have stars on their shoulders! Giant US military base Africa and a CHINKO wind farm next door what dumb asses like them chips by the way!
Posted by: Ho Chi Sperese2612 || 04/15/2012 19:27 Comments || Top||

#2  the-them oops!
Posted by: Bigfoot the Bunyip8859 || 04/15/2012 19:27 Comments || Top||

#3  Funny how the problem is STILL dumb-ass crackers even when the president's kenyan.

Bah, humbug.
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain || 04/15/2012 19:48 Comments || Top||


South Sudan Army Says Still in Control of Disputed Oil Hub
The South Sudan army claimed Saturday to still be in control of Heglig after Khartoum said it had launched an offensive to recapture the disputed oil hub.

"The SPLA is controlling Heglig," front man Philip Aguer told AFP. He said that the Southern army had repelled soldiers of the Sudanese Armed Forces in the village of Kelet some 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Heglig on Friday, the fourth day of the worst festivities since South Sudan's independence last year.

"Yesterday, there were festivities between their patrols and SPLA. ... SPLA has destroyed two tanks belonging to the SAF," Colonel Aguer said.

Aguer said the SAF bombed the border areas of Jau and Panakuach, in northern South Sudan's Unity State, on Saturday, as well as Heglig, the main producer of Khartoum's oil.

No information was available early Saturday on the positions of the two armies.

A Unity State government front man, reached by telephone in the state capital Bentiu, confirmed the aerial bombings near the border.

"The areas in the north of Unity State are still subject to Antonovs (planes)," said the front man, Gideon Gatfan.

"We don't have the updates yet between Heglig and Kelet. But all those areas they are subjected to bombing," he added.

On Friday, the SAF said it had launched a counter-attack towards Heglig and were close to the town.

Khartoum had vowed to react with "all means" against a three-pronged attack it said was launched by South Sudanese forces.

The festivities have brought the two former foes the closest yet to a return to outright war.

Some two million people died in Sudan's 22-year civil war, one of Africa's longest, which ended with a peace deal in 2005.

Neither army has provided casualty figures but one Southern soldier in Bentiu said earlier: "There are so many bodies at the front line, so many dead" that it is impossible to bury them or bring them back.

Juba has refused to withdraw from Heglig unless certain conditions are met, including Khartoum's pullout from the neighboring Abyei region it holds and which, like Heglig, is claimed by both sides.

When the South separated last July, Khartoum lost about 75 percent of its oil production and billions of dollars in revenue, leaving the Heglig area as its main producer. Its output roughly fulfilled domestic requirements.

But Tuesday's attack caused a total production shutdown in the area, said Ahmed Haroun, governor of South Kordofan state, where Heglig is located.

World powers including the African Union
...a union consisting of 53 African states, most run by dictators of one flavor or another. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established in 2002, the AU is the successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was even less successful...
, United Nations
...Parkinson's Law on an international scale...
, United States and China have called for restraint and voiced deep concern at the escalation of violence.
Posted by: trailing wife || 04/15/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336071 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Who is the real attacker?

The one conducting the aerial bombardment.
Posted by: American Delight || 04/15/2012 8:42 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Sinai tensions rise as two Egypt police officers killed in clash with Islamists
Egyptian security official says three Palestinians arrested en route to Cairo terror attack; Egypt's military announced military operation to eradicate terror in the northern peninsula last week.

Two Egyptian police officers were killed in shootout with Islamist militants on Sunday, as tension continued to rise following attempts by Egypt's military to curb terror activity in the desert peninsula.

According to reports, the two were killed, along with three wounded police officers, after Salafi militants opened fire at a patrol car in the town of el-Arish from an ambush.
Recently, there have been reports of intensified activity by Egypt's security forces, mainly in the northeastern corner of the peninsula, along the border with Gaza. Only last week, Egypt announced an extensive military operation to eradicate terror in the northern Sinai, centering on the el-Arish-Rafa-Sheikh Zowaiid triangle.

Meanwhile, details regarding clashes in el-Arish came as DPA reported that Egyptian security forces arrested three Palestinians, suspected of planning to execute a terror attack in Cairo.

According to a senior Egyptian security official cited in the report, an investigation of the suspects, arrested on Friday, indicated that they infiltrated Egypt using Gaza's tunnel systems, and that they paid a large sum of money to a person who was meant to drive them to the Egyptian capital.
Posted by: tipper || 04/15/2012 05:25 || Comments || Link || [336096 views] Top|| File under:


Egypt Detains PRC Members In Sinai
(Ma'an) -- Security services in the Sinai peninsula believe three Paleostinians seized on Friday after entering Egypt are snuffies linked to the Popular Resistance Committees.

The men, residents of Jabaliya in the Gazoo Strip, were placed in long-term storage after coming into Egypt via underground tunnels to purchase weapons from an Egyptian middleman, security officials told Ma'an. They were suspected to be en route to Libya, officials added.

The assessment followed more than 10 hours of interrogation after they were placed in long-term storage. Their car was pulled over Friday in a sting operation by the police and army in Deir al-Abed.

Five Egyptian security services are taking part in the investigation, a Ma'an news hound said.

In August 2011, Israel blamed the PRC's Nasser Salah al-Din Brigades for a deadly attack from the Sinai targeting the southern port city of Eilat.

Two months later Egypt placed in long-term storage Muhammad Eid Musleh Hamad, the head of the "Jihadists and Takfiris
...an adherent of takfir wal hijra, an offshoot of Salafism that regards everybody who doesn't agree with them as apostates who must be killed...
movement" in northern Sinai, and two others it accused of planning the operation.

There was no indication the three alleged PRC operatives jugged in Egypt were involved in attacks against Israel.

The Egyptian government's authority in Sinai has weakened since the fall of Hosni Mubarak
...The former President-for-Life of Egypt, dumped by popular demand in early 2011...
in February 2011 and on Sunday, Egyptian officials announced plans to increase security.

Maj.-Gen. Ahmad Jamal said that the interior ministry decided to send 2,000 officers and soldiers from the special forces to the north of Sinai in order to increase security control of the area, in particular to protect the peninsula's natural gas line.
Posted by: trailing wife || 04/15/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336078 views] Top|| File under:


Africa Subsaharan
Boko Haram kills new spokesman
There is likelihood that the Boko Haram sect might have killed its present spokesman, Abu Qaqa II, last week. The new spokesman, who took over from Abu Qaqa I, who is now with the State Security Services (SSS) on detention after his arrest in January, was accused of planning to defect sometime last week. The killing, according to reliable security sources, was at the behest of the group's leader, Abubakar Shekau.

Earlier in the year, shortly after his arrest, Abu Qaqa I had revealed that death for a member suspected of defection plan or disloyalty is always the only option. He had said that such applies especially to members who are non-Kanuri like the sect leader, Shekau.

Qaqa noted that even the members sent on suicide missions by compulsion must never be Kanuri, which is how the leader safeguards his tribesmen from death, while exposing others to bombing that consumes their lives.
The same sentiment which requires a beautiful goat that's been trifled with be sold on to the next village for food, not made into a feast for the home folks.
Since Abu Qaqa II was accused of trying to denounce the sect after intensive trailing by the security agency that saw him changing locations severally, his group felt the best for him was death.

Abu Qaqa II whose real name is Mohammed Anwal Kontagora was from Kontagora in Niger State. He took the name Abu Qaqa in February this year after the original Abu Qaqa, 42, also known as Abu Dardaa, Mohammed Shuaibu, Mohammed Bello, Abu Tiamiya and Abdulrahman Abdullahi, was arrested.

Kontagora, like his predecessor, was non-Kanuri, so his case as applicable to every non-Kanuri was said to have been decided summarily by the sect leader. After elimination of the spokesman, the source revealed that Boko Haram is shopping for a new spokesperson that would be dubbed Abu Qaqa III.
The first one arrested, the second bumped off ... who wouldn't want to be the next Abu Qaqa?
The vacuum created by Abu Qaqa II's assassination was said to have been responsible for the silence of Boko Haram over the Easter Sunday killing in Kaduna by the group. The sect never owned up or disassociated itself from the Easter Sunday bomb blast that killed so many commercial motorcyclists and tea vendors.
Posted by: ryuge || 04/15/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336093 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "Greetings, infidel scum! I am the new spokesman for Boko H-"
[BANG!]
"Tough crowd. Urk! Rosebud!"
Posted by: PBMcL || 04/15/2012 16:47 Comments || Top||


Arabia
Qaida Attack Kills 12 in Yemen's Aden
Twelve people including four coppers were killed on Saturday in an attack by Al-Qaeda-linked forces of Evil on a checkpoint in Yemen's southern port city of Aden, police said.

"Armed men from Al-Qaeda attacked a security forces checkpoint at Jawala at the northern entrance to Aden, killing four coppers," a police source told AFP.

The source, updating an earlier toll, said eight assailants were killed as security forces responded.

The attack comes after at least 222 people including 183 forces of Evil were killed in five days of festivities this week around the strategic southern town of Loder which Al-Qaeda is trying to seize, according to local sources.
Posted by: trailing wife || 04/15/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336080 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in Arabia


Bangladesh
Rab 'shootout' kills youth in capital
[Bangla Daily Star] A youth was killed in a 'shootout' between his cohorts and members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) at Panthapath in the capital early yesterday.
If it's in the capitol, it should be easy enough to find on the map...
The dear departed Masud Rana Tusher,
A three-namer -- that's more than most...
, 32
That's a mature adult where I come from, not a mere slip of a youth. But do go on, O Daily Star reporter...
was a carjacker, said Raihan Uddin Khan, operation officer of Rab-2. Tusher was a resident of Mohammadpur.
Which is...somewhere. It must be, with the name of the prophet and all.
It's a western suburb of Dhaka. Good schools. Nice Chinese restaurants.
SM Kamal, commanding officer of Rab-2, told The Daily Star that a patrol team signalled a speeding microbus to stop at the check post near Bashundhara City at around 4:20am.
As The Bible says, paraphrasing, What does it prophet a man to run a checkpoint, but lose his life?
The driver of the microbus slowed down but as Rab neared the vehicle, he sped up, said Rab officials.
Bad move. The Rab doesn't like being dissed like that -- remember the professor who didn't like them blocking his driveway?
The criminals on board opened fire on the Rab patrol team,
Random fire from a speeding microbus? That'll work well...
prompting them to fire back
They had no choice, poor dears, however much they might dislike the inevitable outcome.
and at one stage the microbus stopped and around four criminals decamped, they added.
Downright romantic, the Bangla bad guys are. The only thing missing are the names, Bonni Fatima and Achmed Clyde, and a Tommy gun.
The elite force then discovered the body of Tusher lying inside the abandoned vehicle.
"That Tusher?"
"Yeah, that's him boss. Don't look so good don't he?"
"Death will affect your looks."

They seized the microbus and recovered one pistol and four bullets from the scene.
Now cleaned and polished by the newest member of the team, and returned to their velvet bags in the evidence locker.
However,
a poor excuse is better than no excuse at all...
family members of the dear departed gave a different account of the incident.

They said that Rab claimed Tusher and his gang were involved in carjacking in the capital but they failed to mention any case against him in this connection.
Unlikely the late Tusher would say to Ma, "Ma, I'm charged with carjacking. Think of the new business that will generate! We'll be able to pay off the mortgage! I'll save the farm!!"
Ibrahim Hossain Titu, Tusher's younger brother, said his brother was a fruit vendor in Chittagong Road area.
In Mexico they call fruit vendors halcones; in the US we call them lookouts. Prolly got a small cut everytime he ID'd a car to jack.
He said someone called Tusher on his mobile at 10:30pm and after that Tusher left his residence. He could not be reached over his mobile since then.
Mamoud the Weasel calling at the behest of the station chief. Setting up a meet, a late night meet, near the orchard, by the farm near Highway 66. 0100 hrs, don't be late and don't bring gun.
Titu said when they rang up Tusher again early morning a person at the other end said that Tusher was injured in a road accident and was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Where Dr Quincy and Jim patiently await. All enter there eventually, having abandoned both hope and life.
Posted by: Fred || 04/15/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336072 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I love that the Daily Star always reports on the number of bullets that were "recovered" at the scene with that number generally being tiny. The Rab also nabbed one whole pistol this time, but failed to find even a single shuttle gun.
Posted by: Odysseus || 04/15/2012 8:49 Comments || Top||

#2  Hey, give the staff correspondent some credit. At least she tried to get both sides of the story. when was the last time our media elites did that?
Posted by: badanov || 04/15/2012 12:03 Comments || Top||


26 Jamaat leaders held in Satkhira
[Bangla Daily Star] Police locked away 26 leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami
...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores...
in a house at Sora village in Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira on Saturday.

Alamgri Hossain, officer-in-charge of Shyamnagar Police Station, said the Jamaat leaders, all rokons of the organization, were locked away while holding a "clandestine" meeting to carry out subversive activities against the state.

The locked away include Shyamnagar upazila unit nayeb-e-ameer of Jamaat Maulana Oheduzzaman, Alamgir Kabir, Israfil, Abdul Aziz, Abdul Mannan, Mofazzal Hossain, Lutfar Rahman, Rafiqul Islam, Aminur Rahman, Arafat Hossain, Motaleb Hossain, Abdur Rahman, Siddique Gazi, Abu Bakkar Gazi, Hafizur Rahman, Imam Hossain and Abdul Kalam.

The OC said acting on a tip-off they conducted a drive at the house of Jamaat leader Abdul Jalil in the evening and locked away them.

The locked away will be charged with sedition, he added.
Posted by: Fred || 04/15/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336078 views] Top|| File under: Jamaat-e-Islami


Europe
Barred Lufthansa Flytilla Passengers To Go To Airport Anyway
(Ma'an) -- "Passengers on Lufthansa flights have not committed any offense, and do not accept these mafia-methods, favored by governments complicit in the imprisonment of the Paleostinian people," a group organizing a visit by foreigners said Friday.

"Therefore, with the support of many friends, they will appear as scheduled at their airports boarding this weekend, a reminder that the West Bank, nor the rest of Paleostine, does not belong to Israel," they said.

The mayor of Bethlehem on Tuesday urged Israel not to humiliate hundreds of tourists invited to the week-long tour.

Some 25 organizations have invited internationals to visit Paleostine from April 15-21 and Mayor Victor Batarseh urged Israel to let them enter and not to humiliate them.

"We demand our international friends have access to Bethlehem," the mayor said. "It is our right to welcome visitors."

Paleostinian organizations have arranged a week-long program, starting Sunday, which includes helping to build a school in Bethlehem and day trips to Hebron, the Jordan Valley, Ramallah and Jerusalem.
How sad. Here they've gone to all the trouble and expense of arranging activities and excursions, and no one will come... again. A fetal country could go broke that way.
All visitors to the West Bank must first pass Israeli border control and many arriving in Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport do not tell Israeli security if they will be visiting Paleostinian areas as this leads to interrogation and often deportation. But the campaign has asked its guests to be open about their plans to visit the West Bank.
Posted by: trailing wife || 04/15/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336075 views] Top|| File under:

#1  let em waste their money flying in and then deport their asses to Gaza
Posted by: Frank G || 04/15/2012 9:50 Comments || Top||

#2  Why don't the Gazans just build their own airstrip?

A nice bulldozer and steel landing plates, and you're off to the races.

I know it ain't ideal, but it has gotta beat the living sh*t outta looking like a gawddam fool every time they try to fly there.
Posted by: badanov || 04/15/2012 10:47 Comments || Top||


Home Front: WoT
Obama Administration Leaks Another Israeli Defense Secret
Another example of President Obama's love for Israel.
The leaks continue from the B.O. regime with regard to Israeli defense secrets. On Sunday, the New Yorker printed a report stating that US had worked with the Iranian opposition group Mujahideen-e-Khalq (MEK). The US was apparently receiving intelligence from the group, including intercepted cell phone calls and text messages. But sources also confirmed that Mossad was helping to funnel resources and train members of the MEK.
So they threw their own intelligence source under the bus in order to sabotage Israel? How very clever, to be sure. The director of the CIA must be livid.
Champ and the NYT consider this a two-fer...
As Seymour Hersh writes:

[E]arly last month NBC News quoted two senior Obama Administration officials as confirming that the attacks were carried out by M.E.K. units that were financed and trained by Mossad, the Israeli secret service. NBC further quoted the Administration officials as denying any American involvement in the M.E.K. activities. The former senior intelligence official I spoke with seconded the NBC report that the Israelis were working with the M.E.K., adding that the operations benefitted from American intelligence. He said that the targets were not "Einsteins"; "The goal is to affect Iranian psychology and morale," he said, and to "demoralize the whole system--nuclear delivery vehicles, nuclear enrichment facilities, power plants." Attacks have also been carried out on pipelines. He added that the operations are "primarily being done by M.E.K. through liaison with the Israelis, but the United States is now providing the intelligence."

So what would be the purpose of the leak this time? The same as the last time: it's supposed to tip off the Iranians to efforts against them, and it's supposed to dissuade the Israelis from doing anything to stop the Iranian nuclear program. And those efforts are largely Israeli -- Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta
...current SecDef, previously Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Panetta served as President Bill Clinton's White House Chief of Staff from 1994 to 1997 and was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1977 to 1993....
has already denied any US involvement in the liquidations of the Iranian nuclear scientists.

This leak is just the latest in a pattern of leaks from the B.O. regime, which has already leaked information about a covert Israeli deal with Azerbaijan to use airbases in that country as a staging point for an attack on the Iranian nuclear facilities. In 2010, the B.O. regime leaked information of a covert deal between Israel and Soddy Arabia to use Saudi airspace for such an attack.
Posted by: trailing wife || 04/15/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336101 views] Top|| File under:

#1  This will not end well for Obean.
Posted by: gorb || 04/15/2012 0:59 Comments || Top||

#2  O has kowtowed to our enemies or adversaries and has and is continuing to stab our allies in the back. Just whose side is he on, hmmmmm?
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 04/15/2012 3:09 Comments || Top||

#3  Shapiro delivers, as per usual, his copy and paste conjecture complete with the typical asked and answered set-up question. It appears as if this is now his chosen vehicle to speculate motivation thus allowing him to finish with his assumed conclusions. Not bad when you consider he has literally written books on the evils of propaganda.
Posted by: DepotGuy || 04/15/2012 9:52 Comments || Top||

#4  The first anti-American President.
Posted by: Hellfish || 04/15/2012 11:37 Comments || Top||

#5  This poster shows a bit too much love for the MEK.

Google them - Islamic militants, leftists (communists) and have killed US citizens in the past.

Surely the real scandal is that people in our government are in bed with such scum?
Posted by: denisnealson || 04/15/2012 11:38 Comments || Top||

#6  Oh yes, did I mention the MEK were allied to Saddam Hussein and helped him put down kurdish and shiite rebellions?

Getting in bed with these guys is no different to how the CIA got in bed with OBL and his pals in the late 80s. Lets hope it doesn't end the same way that did.
Posted by: denisnealson || 04/15/2012 11:45 Comments || Top||

#7  Remember a Moslem will have more loyalty toward a fellow Moslem than they will toward their home country....oops....what is his home country? Have we settled that yet?
Posted by: Bill Clinton || 04/15/2012 12:24 Comments || Top||

#8  No.
Posted by: KBK || 04/15/2012 20:31 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Militants attack Pakistan jail, 300 escape, police say
DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistain - Around 300 prisoners beat feet from a jail in northwest Pakistain early on Sunday after it was attacked by Islamist faceless myrmidons armed with guns and rocket propelled grenades, a senior police official told Rooters.

Some of those who beat feet were jihad boys, an intelligence official said.
Update: nearly 400 escaped
AFP - Some 384 prisoners including gunnies beat feet early Sunday from a jail in northwestern Pakistain after an attack by Death Eaters armed with guns, grenades and rockets, according to officials.

More than 150 gunnies stormed the central prison outside the restive northwestern town of Bannu bordering the lawless tribal regions where Taliban and Al-Qaeda linked gunnies are active.

The attack started at around 1:00 am (2000 GMT) and continued for two hours, with gunnies in cars and pick-up trucks shooting and lobbing grenades to force their way into the prison, a security bigshot told AFP.

"Some 384 prisoners, including some hardcore krazed killers, have beat feet during the attack," the official said.

"Preliminary information suggests that there were some 944 prisoners in the jail according to the tally late Saturday," he said.

A large number of gunnies had recently been moved to the jail from neighbouring Kohat and Lakki Marwat prisons, which are being converted into internment centres to rehabilitate former Death Eaters, the official said.

A former member of the airforce sentenced to death for an attack on former president Pervez Perv Musharraf
... former dictator of Pakistain, who was less dictatorial and corrupt than any Pak civilian government to date ...
was among the beat feet krazed killers, he said.

Police confirmed the attack but did not give any figures for the escapees, saying they were still investigating.

"There was an attack on the central jail and some prisoners beat feet," senior Bannu police official Iftikhar Khan told AFP.

"At least three police officials were maimed in the attack," he said.

The attackers outnumbered the security forces at the prison and gunnies fled before reinforcements reached the jail.

Shafiq Ahmed, another police official said that security forces had imposed a cordon and a search operation was launched in the area.

"We have tossed in the slammer four of the beat feet prisoners," Ahmed told AFP.
Posted by: || 04/15/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336077 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Organized by the ISI?
Posted by: Water Modem || 04/15/2012 2:20 Comments || Top||


Eight Shia Muslims Gunned Down In Quetta
QUETTA: Hundreds of infuriated demonstrators poured out onto the streets in the troubled southwestern city of Quetta on Saturday, blocking traffic and setting fire to tyres in protest against the day's incidents of sectarian violence in the city.

All commercial markets and business centers were closed and traffic was barely visible.

Several angry protestors gathered at Mizan roundabout, while hundreds of other demonstrators gathered outside the BMC hospital, torching a vehicle and a cycle of violence parked there.

Gunmen had rubbed out eight Shia Moslems in separate incidents of sectarian violence in the Quetta on Saturday.

Senior police officer Shaukat Ajmad said that assailants opened fire on a car Saturday, killing six people in Quetta, reported the News Agency that Dare Not be Named.

The incident happened on Brewery Road in the Killi Ibrahim Zai area of the city.

The victim's bodies were shifted to Bolan Medical College hospital where they were identified as Abdullah, Juma Ali, Muhammad Ali, Syed Asghar Shah and Eid Muhammad, while identity of the sixth dead could not be ascertained. All of them were said to belong to the ethnic Hazara Shia community.

A senior local police official Malik Arshad confirmed the incidents and casualties and said: "The killings were part of sectarian violence in the city."

In another incident of firing, person or persons unknown riding bikes opened fire on people standing on a roadside on Sabzal road, in which one person identified as Gul Muhammad was killed while another, identified as Muhammad Hasan, was injured.

The dead and the maimed were shifted to BMC hospital.

In a third incident, gunnies shot up a policeman, who succumbed to his wounds, within the jurisdiction of Shalkot cop shoppe.

Meanwhile,
...back at the wrecked scow, a single surviver held tightly to the smashed prow...
a 15-year-old boy, identified as Sabir, was maimed on Toghi road when enraged people who were staging demonstration against the murder retorted to gun sex.

The Frontier Corps (FC) paramilitary troops were called in to maintain peace in the city. Heavy contingents of FC, police and Anti-Terrorist Force (ATF) were deployed on sensitive points including Mizan Chowk, Jinnah Road, Brewery Road, Sariab Road, Airport Road, Sabzal Road, Alamdar Road and other areas.

The Hazara Democratic Party (HDP) has called for a wheel-jam strike within the city on Sunday. Meanwhile,
...back at the wrecked scow, a single surviver held tightly to the smashed prow...
the Tahaffaz Azadari Council has announced a seven-day mourning in the city.
Posted by: trailing wife || 04/15/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336088 views] Top|| File under:

#1  What side will Mc Cain take are they his brothers or sisters in arms and heroes or the enemy? Does anyone know if Mc Cain supports the Muslim Brotherhood one of the earliest allies of Nazi Germany?
Posted by: Elmeart Angiting7506 || 04/15/2012 19:01 Comments || Top||


Imran Fears Of Suicide Attacks If Nato Supply resumes
LAHORE: Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf
...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations....
(PTI) Chairperson Imran Khan
... aka Taliban Khan, who ain't the sharpest bulb on the national tree...
on Saturday said that the NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It's headquartered in Belgium. That sez it all....
supply has already been resumed in the name of so called 'national interest', DawnNews reported.

The PTI chief added that, as a response, if there is any suicide kaboom in the country, the common people would have to bear the cost of it.

Addressing a meeting in Lahore, Khan said that the political actors have gathered on one platform and formed a consensus on the PCNS recommendations in order to cover up for each others' corruption.

Khan's remarks came after the parliament reached a consensus to no more let Pakistain serve as conduit of arms to Afghanistan, but gave a green signal for a resumption of non-lethal NATO supplies to the war-ravaged country.

Imran said the system of slavery is prevalent in the country and people are being economically prosecuted.

Politicians fear that if PTI comes to power then they will have to face accountability, Khan said.

"People want a change and only PTI can bring this change," PTI chairman added.

"Around 80 percent of the people have joined PTI on the recommendation of their children," Khan revealed.

"All the corrupt politicians have reached a 'so-called consensus' just to avoid the change but they will not be able to stop the 'tsunami' of the youth," the PTI chairman asserted
Posted by: trailing wife || 04/15/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336074 views] Top|| File under:


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Flytilla Round-Up
To be updated as news comes in.
'Flytilla' organizers: Activists manage to board Israel-bound flights

Organizers of the pro-Palestinian fly-over have stated on Twitter and other social networks that in spite of European airport security measures, some of the activists managed to board flights bound for Israel.

Paris: 3 of 4 activists allowed entry

Three out of the four activists that arrived in Israel on a flight from Paris and who were held for questioning at Ben Gurion Airport were allowed to enter Israel. The entry of the fourth activist was forbidden.

Turkey prevents activists from boarding

Organizers of the pro-Palestinian 'flytilla' have stated that Turkish authorities have prevented pro-Palestinian activists from boarding flights to Israel.

Geneva: 20 activists board planes

Several dozen pro-Palestinian activists protested at Geneva airport today, saying authorities prevented them from boarding a Tel Aviv-bound flight as part of a "fly-in" that Israel has vowed to block.
 
"The information we got from activists is that over 20 were able to board the plane," said Anas Muhammed, spokesman for the "Welcome to Palestine" campaign. "

Israel blocks entry to 6 pro-Palestinian activists

Foreigners arrive in Israel as part of 'Welcome to Palestine' fly-in protest; activists from Canada, Portugal and France denied entry. In Paris, dozens protest Israel entry ban: 'France new Israeli settlement?'

PARIS -- As hundreds of police officers deployed at Ben Gurion Airport Sunday morning in order to prevent the entry of foreign activists who are due to arrive in Israel as part of the "Welcome to Palestine" fly-in protest, dozens gathered at Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport protest their "exclusion" from Israel.
 
Three people who arrived aboard an El Al flight from Paris Sunday morning were questioned at a booth set up by the Interior Ministry at BG Airport. They were subsequently released and allowed entry into the country. 
 
However, a Portuguese national who arrived aboard a Royal Jordanian flight from Amman and a Canadian national who took an American Airlines flight to Israel were both denied entry and later expelled.
 
Another four French women were denied entry to Israel at around noon. The four, who arrived on a flight from Switzerland, are expected to be deported.

Some of the foreign activists received notices alerting them to the fact that their flights to Israel had been cancelled while others managed to issue their boarding cards but are not sure they will be able to reach the Palestinian Authority. During the protest they called out: "Today the barrier is here" and "Israel get out, France is not yours."
 
A sign waved by the protesters read, "France, a new Israeli settlement?"

The activists in Paris sought to make it clear that they were not operating against Israel, rather they were seeking to carry out a "pacifist action" and go to Bethlehem to see the situation with their own eyes.
Liars believed by fools.
The flytilla organizers briefed activists from around the world through social networks on methods of challenging the airports and governments and how to reach the airports with boarding cards in hand.

"The (foreign) governments must pressure Israel so that it will allow the arrival of visitors into the occupied territories. This blockade is a breach of the fourth Geneva Convention. Israel has turned Palestine into a huge prison," they wrote.
 
The organizers noted that the Oz Unit at the Immigration Authority chose to halt its strike due to the flytilla and claimed: "Racism unites the government and its employees."

Palestinian fly-in organizers said a number of foreign activists have arrived in Bethlehem. They said Turkish and Swiss authorities prevented pro-Palestinian activists from boarding flights to Israel.
 
Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch on Saturday expressed satisfaction with the cooperation of foreign airlines who he said are preventing those identified by Israel as pro-Palestinian activists from boarding their flights.

About 100 protest in Brussels airport

About 100 pro-Palestinian activists staged a protest at Brussles national airport in Zaventem on Sunday morning after several "flytilla" demonstrators were barred from boarding flights to Israel.
Pay attention to us, we failed.
Posted by: trailing wife || 04/15/2012 06:09 || Comments || Link || [336090 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Update from Ynet:

Fifty-nine pro-Palestinian activists were detained at the Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday including 42 who were transferred to the Givon Prison, twelve who were sent back to their countries of origin and nine who are held in a detention center. Three activists await flights back home.
Posted by: trailing wife || 04/15/2012 14:33 Comments || Top||


Southeast Asia
Three arrested in two bombings in southern Thailand
Police have arrested three people thought to be involved in two bombings in Yala last month. Evidence shows the three suspects might have colluded in the blasts in Yala's municipal area on March 31 in which 11 people were killed and more than 100 wounded.

Pol Maj Gen Peera said some residents might have seen other suspects who fled on motorcycles after the attacks. He is seeking help from the public in providing details about these other suspects, who remain at large.

He also urged locals to keep an eye out for three stolen vehicles that could be used to transport bombs. Security sources were yesterday checking an intelligence report that terrorists insurgents were modifying several pickup trucks, including some with Bangkok and Lampang number plates, and planned to use them to carry out car bombings in the deep South.

In Narathiwat, a bomb went off near a roadside billboard near the provincial airport yesterday. No one was injured. Police said the five kilogram explosive was packed in a large metal box and left beside the billboard. The blast ripped the board and tore down a tree. It also shattered the windows of a pickup truck that was passing through the area.
Posted by: ryuge || 04/15/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336087 views] Top|| File under:


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
U.N. Unanimously Approves Syria Observer Force
[An Nahar] The U.N. Security Council on Saturday unanimously passed its first resolution on the Syria crisis, allowing an advance party of ceasefire monitors to go to the country on the brink of civil war.

U.N. Resolution 2042 approved the first 30 unarmed military monitors, who U.N. officials said could leave for Damascus
...The City of Jasmin is the oldest continuously-inhabited city in the world. It has not always been inhabited by the same set of fascisti...
within hours.

The resolution also calls upon the Syrian government to "implement visibly" all commitments under special envoy Kofi Annan
...Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh and so far the worst Secretary-General of the UN. Annan and the UN were the co-recipients of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize for something or other that probably sounded good at the time. In December 2004, reports surfaced that Kofi's son Kojo received payments from the Swiss company Cotecna, which had won a lucrative contract under the UN Oil-for-Food Program. Kofi Annan called for an investigation to look into the allegations, which stirred up the expected cesspool but couldn't seem to come up with enough evidence to indict Kofi himself, or even Kojo...
's peace plan -- including the withdrawal of all troops and heavy guns from Syrian cities.

The vote had been expected Friday but was held up by Russian objections to much of the text. Russia's ambassador Vitaly Churkin said that "substantive changes" had been made to make it "more balanced."

Russia and China vetoed two previous attempts by the 15-nation council to pass a resolution on the crisis which the U.N. says has left well over 9,000 dead.

A new resolution with a full mandate will be required for the full monitoring mission of more than 200 observers.

The resolution called on Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad
Despoiler of Deraa...
and the opposition "to guarantee the safety of the advance team without prejudice to its freedom of movement and access."

It "stresses" that "primary responsibility" for the observers' safety rests with the Syrian government.
Posted by: Fred || 04/15/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336073 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria


Dupe URL: Nuggets from the Urdu press
Yunus Habib's gift of Rs 1.5 billion
Daily Mashriq reported that banker Yunus Habib told the Supreme Court that he had put together nearly Rs 1.5 billion on behalf of Army Chief Aslam Beg and distributed it to politicians and journalists to defeat the PPP in 1990 elections. After he said that he had no record of this distribution, the Court added that it had uncovered some details and would keep them sealed.
 
Mian Amir as new Punjab governor?
Reported in Mashriq after the debacle of the defeat of PPP leader Aslam Gill as Senate candidate because the PPP members of Punjab Assembly did not vote properly, the central PPP was enraged and wanted to change Governor Punjab Latif Khan Khosa. The new governor would be Lahore's ex-mayor Mian Amir Mehmood who is also the owner of University of Central Punjab and Dunya TV channel. Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was also trying to make Mian Amir join the PMLN.
 
Imran Khan fails in his saint's city
Reported in Jinnah the mammoth meeting of Imran Khan's tsunami party Tehreek Insaf failed in Gujjar Khan where his saint Dr Rafeeq Akhtar lived. Imran reached there two hours late, while two and half thousand chairs remained empty. This triggered speculation about the fizzling out of Tsunami Khan and that his party had probably lost steam.
 
Raja Zafrul Haq versus nationalities
PMLN leader Raja Zafrul Haq was quoted by Nawa-e-Waqt as saying that there was a conspiracy to divide Pakistan into nationalities instead of one nation on the pattern of the Soviet Union - which was a plan that his party would defeat.
 
Khaleda Zia took money from ISI
Incumbent prime minister of Bangladesh Hasina Wajed was quoted by Jang as saying that her opposition leader Khaleda Zia had received bribes from Pakistan's ISI on the eve of 1901 elections to defeat the Awami League of Hasina Wajed and to incite trouble in the north-western states of India through Bangladesh. In all, Khaled Zia received Rs 50 crores. At that time Pakistan itself was reeling under the scandal called Mehrangate.
 
Taseer's family will stay in Pakistan
Quoted in Jang daughter of late governor Punjab Salmaan Taseer, Sheherbano Taseer, said on the occasion of Women's Day in Lahore that despite the fact that her father was treated shabbily and her brother was being held by terrorists, her family would not leave Pakistan but stay to face the challenge.
 
Blasphemy law revives divine love
Famous TV preacher and scourge of minorities Amir Liaquat Hussain was quoted by Jang as saying that Blasphemy Law was a blessing that kept faith alive (imaan zinda rakhta hai). He said it was the love of Prophet Muhammad PBUH which kept the faith intact.
 
Osama's wives killed him through infighting
Daily Nawa-e-Waqt reported that Osama's many wives could have been the cause of his death because they were fighting among themselves while living with him. Intimate wife Amal and her son Khalid were convinced that wife Khairya was thinking of betraying him to the Americans after she had asserted that she would 'do the last great thing for Osama'. Osama was himself was suspicious but was helpless in the face of his wives and left the matter to Allah.
 
Arbab Raheem speaks up from Dubai
Daily Nawa-e-Waqt telephoned ex-chief minister Sindh Arbab Raheem in Dubai who immediately revealed that Zardari had made him the offer of office if he joined the PPP. Raheem said the country was tired of PPP's robbery (loot-maar) but the PML must unite once again against it.
 
Foreign affairs committee not too united
Quoted in Nawa-e-Waqt members of Senate standing committee on foreign affairs spoke differently on the subject. Salim Saifullah said good relations with neighbours were greatly needed. But others said that US alliance with India was a great hurdle. SM Zafar said that by boycotting the Bonn conference after the Salala attack by US greatly boosted the confidence of Pakistan.
 
Pasha was behind Imran Khan
Daily Jang reported that many people were happy that General Pasha of the ISI was not retained on another extension. One party was PMLN which thought that Pasha was behind the Imran Khan phenomenon directed against the PMLN to make it lose the coming election. The PMLN therefore was at the forefront of those who did not want any extension given to Pasha. Mashriq reported that Pasha's relations with the US had soured but that the new ISI chief was close to Army Chief Kayani and had served with him. Both are supposed to want that in relations with the US be normal.
 
Zardari is a fake Baloch
Politician with a funny bone JUI's Hafiz Hussain Ahmad stated in Nawa-e-Waqt that fake Baloch leaders like Zardari had damaged Balochistan. He said he was asking the army to quit Balochistan but the Baloch like Talal Bugti are inviting the Army in. He said warrants of Musharraf should be pasted on the gates of the GHQ in Rawalpindi.
 
Driver makes money off accidents
A driver called Sajid was reported by Jinnah to have earned Rs 77 lakh from the American embassy after he was wounded after his car was hit by an American. Later he got interested in doing more of the same for the Americans, which was hitting the car of the Iranian ambassador in Islamabad. He was being investigated.
 
Hindu girls being 'converted' and married
Daily Mashriq reported that the trend in Sindh to convert Hindu girls and marry them was on the increase thus damaging the family life of the Hindu minority there. The courts let this happen because the converted girls were made to tell the court that they had converted for real. Those involved in this were powerful local feudal lords.
 
Imran destined to win!
Writing in Jang Haroon Rasheed stated that Imran Khan was predestined by Allah to win and therefore it was not possible to understand his leadership according to reason. But people writing against him were motivated by personal animus, especially one popular English columnist (Ayaz Amir?) whose column was greatly admired who wanted to join Imran but was enraged by rejection by Tehreek Insaf. Most people were unable to understand Imran Khan.
 
'Fixer' fast bowler Amir in love
Daily Mashriq reported that young Pakistani fast bowler who had spent time in British jail for fixing a match has left prison with love in his heart. Sajida Malik his lawyer is the latest development in his life but the family says that relations between him and Sajida Malik are strictly professional.
 
Message for new ISI chief
Famous columnist Irfan Siddiqi wrote in Jang that the new ISI chief Zaheerul Islam was welcome to his job but he must keep in mind the fact that being lenient to the US was not in the interest of Pakistan. The arrest of Raymond Davis showed united action between the army and political leadership but letting him go in the end was not good. General Pasha was looked at by Americans with hostility because he had tried to keep the Americans within limits. This was very important.
Posted by: trailing wife || 04/15/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336078 views] Top|| File under:



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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.
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Meet the Mods
In no particular order...
Steve White
Seafarious
tu3031
badanov
sherry
ryuge
GolfBravoUSMC
Bright Pebbles
trailing wife
Gloria
Fred
Besoeker
Glenmore
Frank G
3dc
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Two weeks of WOT
Sun 2012-04-15
  Afghan capital hit by blasts, gun attack
Sat 2012-04-14
  U.S. drone strike kills 7 al-Qaeda members in Yemen
Fri 2012-04-13
  23 Reportedly Dead as Syria Regime, Opposition Trade Charges of Breaking Ceasefire
Thu 2012-04-12
  Nork rocket launched, then 'breaks up'
Wed 2012-04-11
  Syria denounced for not adhereing to agreed peace plan
Tue 2012-04-10
  Syrian Rebel Army Ready to Respect Truce
Mon 2012-04-09
  84 Dead, 200 Arrested as Violence Rages across Syria
Sun 2012-04-08
  Hugo off to Brazil for Emergent Care
Sat 2012-04-07
  Azerbaijani intel service jugs 17 hard boys
Fri 2012-04-06
  Mali rebels declare cease-fire after seizing north
Thu 2012-04-05
  Pakistan rejects US bounty on Hafiz Saeed
Wed 2012-04-04
  Yemeni airstrikes kill 43 al-Qaida militants
Tue 2012-04-03
  Oil Pipeline Blown Up In Southeast Yemen, Flows Halted
Mon 2012-04-02
  Twin explosions rocked Mombasa Saturday
Sun 2012-04-01
  Paris: Scientist accused of plotting to blow up 'city size of London'

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