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Syria troops, Hizbullah advancing on Qusayr
Today's Headlines
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Page 6: Politix
6 23:55 Redneck Jim [5]
Africa North
Coptic schoolteacher detained for 'insulting' Islam in Egypt's Luxor
[Al Ahram] Public prosecutors in the Upper Egyptian Luxor governorate on Thursday ordered the detention of a Coptic-Christian schoolteacher for four days pending investigation on charges that she had insulted the Islamic faith.

Demyana Emad, a 23-year old social studies teacher, was charged with insulting Islam and the Prophet Mohamed at a primary school in south Luxor, state news agency MENA reported on Thursday.

The complaint was first filed in April when the head of the parents association at the Sheikh Sultan Primary School lodged a complaint with the Luxor Educational Directorate.

Emad, for her part, denies the accusations and has demanded that additional witnesses be brought to support the accusations. She says that, during a Thursday hearing, several Islamic "extremists" had incited school students to testify against her.

Recent years have seen mounting tension between Egypt's Coptic-Christian minority -- thought to account for roughly 10 percent of Egypt's population of almost 90 million -- and the Moslem majority.

Similar accusations were made in July of last year, when a Coptic teacher was sentenced to six years in prison for posting pictures on Facebook deemed defamatory to Islam and Prophet Mohamed.
Posted by: Fred || 05/10/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Arab Spring


Africa Subsaharan
Arch Druid Tutu: I won't vote for the African National Congress again
"I have voted for the ANC, but I would very sadly not be able to vote for them after the way things have gone," he wrote in a piece for Prospect magazine, which was carried by the Mail&Guardian.
Confronting evil with common sense, truth, and sanity makes me very sad.
"I am not a card-carrying kommunis member of any political party," he said. Tutu said there was a need for change in the country.
"Change" defined as, from your hand to mine, better known as unimpeded social justice.
The African National Congress had been "very good" with substantial help and a blind eye from the west at leading the country in the struggle to be free from ppression.

"They were a good terrorist freedom-fighting unit. But it doesn't seem to me now that a freedom-fighting unit can easily make the transition to becoming a political party."
The light bulb came on! Ah yes, governance is quite difficult whilst simultaneously engaged in rape, pillage, and plunder. New oppressors worse than old oppressors ek se.
He said the "first thing" the next elected Parliament had to do was to change the electoral system so one was elected on the basis of the constituency, and would be accountable to the electorate. "Those in Parliament are accountable to their party first rather than the electorate."

Tutu wrote that although the country had the capacity to be one of the most vibrant countries in the world, it had the most unequal society in the world. "We can't hold our heads up with pride when you think of the levels of violence in our country."
Simply keep your head below the top of the security wall and you'll be fine.
He wrote that South Africans were "amazing." They had been committed to freedom during the political struggle, and had been ready to lay down their lives. "But now one can point to so many instances of corruption, of unaccountability," he wrote. "Seeing how standards have dropped is so galling, because it seems to give ammunition to those who would say: 'we warned you that once you had a black majority government you would see a steady decline in standards."
I'm afraid the naysayers need no additional proof in that regard.
Posted by: Speasing Jomong8481 || 05/10/2013 07:18 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  better known as unimpeded social justice.

Permit me to suggest that Sud Afrika has has just about all the social justice it can handle. Nice that Desi has finally wised up. Sad that Yet Another People's Revolution was just Let's throw out those rascals and put our rascals in.

It has always been a wonder to me that the American Revolution didn't turn into this. (not until lately anyway) George Washington could have been President for Life if he wanted.
Posted by: SteveS || 05/10/2013 10:45 Comments || Top||

#2  Holy men should stay out of politics...separate church and state...unless you want Copts going to jail for insulting the Prophet. Stay in the church and preach the gospel according to Matthew, Luke, Mark and John. Leave it to Mandela to preach the gospel according to Karl Marx.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 05/10/2013 11:30 Comments || Top||

#3  The punchline is there won't be another election.
Posted by: Rob Crawford || 05/10/2013 12:54 Comments || Top||


Bangladesh
Eight dead in new Bangla textile disaster
[Al Ahram] A fire at a garment factory killed eight people Thursday in the latest disaster to hit Bangladesh's textile industry, still reeling from the death of more than 950 people in a building collapse.

The cause of the fire was not known, but authorities said it broke out during the night on the third floor of an 11-storey building housing garment factories of the Tung Hai group in Dhaka's Darussalam district.

The Tung Hai's owner was among the victims, but there were no workers among the casualties since there was no overnight production, police and fire service officials said.
Posted by: Fred || 05/10/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:


Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Six-year push for Stalin monument in Yakutsk comes to fruition
Provocative comment thread at link.
Posted by: ryuge || 05/10/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Stalin died in 1953. Doubt it will take quite 60 years for great monuments to Champ to begin to appear, but I'll surely be long gone by then anyway. An obvious upside.
Posted by: Besoeker || 05/10/2013 8:10 Comments || Top||

#2  Provocative comment thread at link.

Autocracy is always appealing to those who cannot thrive by skill, smarts, and a work ethic.

Like Democrats.

The evil that is the left is like a tumor that can never be completely removed, due to the fallen nature of man.

All you can do is craft societies that keep it in remission.
Posted by: no mo uro || 05/10/2013 9:46 Comments || Top||


Home Front: WoT
US Coast Guard vessel give-away
No problem, our borders are secure and free of drug smugglers, illegals, and terrorists right?
It's a 40 year old ship. The Nigerians want it, they can have it.
Posted by: Besoeker || 05/10/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  probably cost more too make it a reef or scrap iyt than too give it away
Posted by: chris || 05/10/2013 0:52 Comments || Top||

#2  Whuzzabout the Philippines - two hand-me-down, ex-HAMILTON-class vessels aren't gonna do much agz the PLA, PLAN, CMS-SOA, etc. vee China's new increasingly militarized offshore Sansha province in the disputed SCS.

Things continue to be highly tensive ...

* INDIAN DEFENCE FORUM > [GAM News Online] PHIL SOLGEN:"WE WANT LEGAL, NOT JUST MORAL, VICTORY IN WEST PHIL SEA ROW [wid China = SCS]".

PHIL Solicitor-General Francis Jardeleza.

"Legal" by itself isn't enuff either, as the PHIL must have a strong economy in order to have a strong Military, etc. that can reliably defend what the UNO = UNCLOS + other Internationally recognized Regulatory Bodies/Orgs can't, or won't.

* TOPIX > CHINA WARNS US [again] NOT TO TAKE SIDES IN DIAOYU ISLANDS ROW.

* SAME > CHINA'S ARMY OF WA. China's silent intervention in Myanmar is increasingly not-so-silent, or neutral, anymore???

* CHINA DAILY FORUM > JAPAN DECLARES PROPAGANDA WAR ON CHINA, KOREA, AND RUSSIA OVER DISPUTED TERRITORIES.

* CHINESE MILITARY FORUM > PHILIPPINE NAVY STRAFES CHINESE [fishing] BOAT, KILLING ONE.

* RELATED DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > SHOOTING CALLS FOR STRONG COUNTER-MEASURES - OPED- GLOBALTIMES.CN.

This may NOT end well.

ARTIC = denotes or infers that the PHIL may had shot at a Taiwanese Fishing boat out of angst agz mainland China over the disputed SCS.

THE PHIL HAVE A MUCHO BEEF AGZ BEIJING, THUS THEY INVADE SABAH = MALAYSIA, + NOW FIRE AT A TAIWANESE FISHBOAT???

* SAME > PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD ADMITS SHOOTING AT TAIWAN BOAT | INQUIRER.GLOBALNATION.NET.

-------------

FYI CHINESE MILITARY FORUM > AFP [Armed Forces of PHIL = PHIL Navy] READY TO REPEL CHINESE FLEET[fishing = circa 30 ea. vessels], repor headed to the disputed Spratly Islands [China = Nansha Islands].

Don't think Taiwan, let alone Beijing = mainland China, is gonna stand for the PHIL using de facto heavily armed Navy warships to oppose unarmed Fishing Boats.

* DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > JAPAN PROTESTS TO CHINA OVER OKINAWA CLAIM.

* SAME > BLOGGER = opined that any INTER-CHINESE [PRC-ROC] REUNIFICATION SHOULD INVOLVE THE FORMAL ANNEXATION BY POST-REUNIFIED CHINA OF THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE PHILIPPINES???

Oh my.

* SAME > [Ladakh]INCURSION WON'T PUSH INDIA INTO SIGNING BORDER DEAL [wid China]: KHURSHID - TIMES OF INDIA.

How ironic that the "Great/Major" Powers try to avoid confrontation only to see lessor Powers/Nations renew the flames, e.g. Afghan-vs-Pak border clashes + ASEAN???
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 05/10/2013 3:16 Comments || Top||


Olde Tyme Religion
Pope Tawadros II begins historic visit to Vatican
[Al Ahram] Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II has arrived in Rome to begin a historic visit to the Vatican. The pope will meet with his Catholic counterpart, the recently elected Pope Francis, on Friday.

The visit will be the first time a Coptic Orthodox leader has visited the Vatican in 40 years. This is also the first overseas trip by Pope Tawadros II since his anointment in November.

The meeting between the two popes will aim to foster greater dialogue between Catholic and Coptic Christians.
Posted by: Fred || 05/10/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  It may signal pre move discussions. Egypt is not too keen on their Coptic brethren.....
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 05/10/2013 20:47 Comments || Top||


Government
State Department orders firm to remove 3D-printed guns web blueprints
Posted by: JonC || 05/10/2013 09:48 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  It's already up someplace else. They're losing control and starting to become desperate. The mask is about to fall. Their true nature is about to come out.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 05/10/2013 9:51 Comments || Top||

#2  They could just buy up all the ink.... :-(
Posted by: Besoeker || 05/10/2013 9:52 Comments || Top||

#3  "The ban, by the State Department citing international arms control law..."

First, I wasn't aware that the State Department had jurisdiction to shutter this sort of information.

Second, how is this company subject to 'international arms control law'? I thought that US citizens are governed solely by US laws. If they meant that there was a US law which was enforcing international arms control laws in the US they should have stated that.
Posted by: JonC || 05/10/2013 9:53 Comments || Top||

#4  American Samizdat.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 05/10/2013 9:57 Comments || Top||

#5  New York senator Charles Schumer said that legislation should be created to prevent people from making 3D printed guns.

Newsflash, Chuck. You don't need a 3D printer to make a gun. People have been doing it since colonial times.
Posted by: SteveS || 05/10/2013 10:37 Comments || Top||

#6  When butter is outlawed, only outlaws will have butter.
Posted by: Besoeker || 05/10/2013 10:39 Comments || Top||

#7  So, what does that mean for the 100k+ people who already downloaded the files?
Posted by: Titus Ulans4144 || 05/10/2013 11:25 Comments || Top||

#8  Internet's said "Molon Labe"
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 05/10/2013 11:27 Comments || Top||

#9  Right. Like that'll work.
Posted by: Cheager Angoluque6848 || 05/10/2013 11:30 Comments || Top||

#10  Come and get them.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 05/10/2013 12:08 Comments || Top||

#11  And that video they all blamed Benghazi on is still out there. Might as well decree to put light back into the sun.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 05/10/2013 12:12 Comments || Top||

#12  Apparently no one in the government thought of torrent sites.

It is already out there. The internet is forever and you don't have control.
Posted by: DarthVader || 05/10/2013 12:19 Comments || Top||

#13  The internet is forever and you don't have control.

They're working hard to change that; it will take a lot of fighting and a little luck to stop them.
Posted by: Glenmore || 05/10/2013 12:41 Comments || Top||

#14  So - under what authority does the State Department 'order' private firms around?

This seems much like a lawyer sending someone an 'order' to cease and desist doing something. The laywer has no such authority and has to go thru a court.
Posted by: CrazyFool || 05/10/2013 13:10 Comments || Top||

#15 

If the discussions and debate were intellectually stimulating, I wouldn't mind commenting but frankly, even I know you can't put SH*T back into a horse...
Posted by: Chock Ebburt4695 || 05/10/2013 13:27 Comments || Top||

#16  This is the state department - so I think the correct term is more like 'put the SH*T back in the bull...'
Posted by: CrazyFool || 05/10/2013 13:44 Comments || Top||

#17  I don't think it works with either animal, but am unwilling to conduct the experiments.
Posted by: Rob Crawford || 05/10/2013 14:30 Comments || Top||

#18  Because ITAR restrictions worked so well when they tried it on crypto back in the '90s. Managed to take something that was obscure and nerdy and turn it into well-known and cool to work on.

Guess someone found that script in the DoS files.
Posted by: Nero || 05/10/2013 15:41 Comments || Top||

#19  ITAR is for controlling international arms sales; seems to me that nothing was offered for sale, just posted for viewing. ITAR violation will be hard to prove.
Posted by: USN, Ret. || 05/10/2013 15:52 Comments || Top||

#20  Can you print 3D-printers with a 3D-printer?
Posted by: European Conservative || 05/10/2013 15:53 Comments || Top||

#21  Sorry, the genie is out of the bottle.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia || 05/10/2013 16:15 Comments || Top||

#22 
Can you print 3D-printers with a 3D-printer?


At least one of them has that as its goal. There are problems like motors and electronics, but most of the pieces they're using for those are dirt-cheap off-the-shelf pieces. The structural bits... they're getting there.
Posted by: Rob Crawford || 05/10/2013 16:50 Comments || Top||

#23  A 3-D printer and a robot could join forces and take over the world.
Posted by: Glenmore || 05/10/2013 17:06 Comments || Top||

#24  A 3-D printer and a robot could join forces and take over the world.
I am more worried about 3D printers and over-the-counter robotic technology being shared online & then used by jihadis. We're not far from robotic booby-traps with .45-ACP stingers.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 05/10/2013 17:46 Comments || Top||

#25  Ideas like the 3d printer or other technology will go viral and you cannot stop them. That is because regular joes are always more creative, smarter, and motivated than government bureaucrats.
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 05/10/2013 20:43 Comments || Top||

#26  And it is not too hard to get into their OODA loops. Bureaucrats are reactive, not proactive.
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 05/10/2013 20:45 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Culture Wars
Report: Malcolm Shabazz, Malcolm X's grandson, has died in Tijuana?
Malcolm Shabazz, the grandson of Malcolm X, has died, according to a family friend, who said she was confirming the news on behalf of the family per the U.S. Embassy. Early reports said he was killed in Tijuana, but details are still emerging.

"Too much tragedy for one family" was a common refrain as the announcement spread on social media, and condolences poured in.

"Family members have confirmed his death and that he was in Mexico but have not confirmed the exact location or circumstances of how Malcolm Shabazz died. Malcolm Shabazz is survived by two daughters, his mother and several aunts.
I think we can rule out old age.
Acute cirrhosis?
"Malcolm Shabazz pled guilty and was found guilty of manslaughter and arson and was sentenced to 18 months in Juvenile detention. His stay was extended and he was released four years later. Years later he told the Amsterdam News that he had not set the fire.
Posted by: Frank G || 05/10/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  update
Posted by: tipper || 05/10/2013 9:12 Comments || Top||

#2  Sounds like every cloud has a silver lining.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 05/10/2013 10:33 Comments || Top||

#3  Possibly too many TJ 'dog & pony' shows.

May have ended on on the 'wrong end' at one.

Eew
Posted by: Mullah Richard || 05/10/2013 12:48 Comments || Top||

#4  Perhaps he was on a religious retreat and something went wrong ?
Posted by: Chock Ebburt4695 || 05/10/2013 13:50 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
39[untagged]
8Govt of Pakistan
5Govt of Syria
3Hezbollah
3Arab Spring
2TTP
2Jamaat-e-Islami
2al-Qaeda in Iraq
1Boko Haram
1Hamas
1al-Qaeda in North Africa
1Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan
1Govt of Iran
1al-Nusra

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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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Two weeks of WOT
Fri 2013-05-10
  Syria troops, Hizbullah advancing on Qusayr
Thu 2013-05-09
  Nigerian cult ambush kills 46 policemen
Wed 2013-05-08
  Lashkar-i-Jhangvi's Karachi chief arrested
Tue 2013-05-07
  22 dead as police clash with Bangladesh Islamists
Mon 2013-05-06
  Tanzania police: 4 Saudis arrested after blast
Sun 2013-05-05
  Explosions shake Damascus, Syria blames Israel
Sat 2013-05-04
  Egypt: Mob lynches son of Muslim Brotherhood leader
Fri 2013-05-03
  Sarabjit Singh dies in Pak Jail
Thu 2013-05-02
  Brahimi to quit as Syria peace envoy: Diplomats
Wed 2013-05-01
  Three people arrested in Marathon bombings
Tue 2013-04-30
  'Missiles fired at' Russian plane with 159 passengers onboard flying over Syria
Mon 2013-04-29
  Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi survives assassination bid
Sun 2013-04-28
  Blasts at election offices kill eight in Pakistan
Sat 2013-04-27
  Afghan bus crash kills 30, Taliban blamed
Fri 2013-04-26
  Terror plot: Leaders jailed for Birmingham bomb plan


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