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At least 18 killed in explosions targeting Iranian embassy in Beirut
Today's Headlines
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Afghanistan
'Up to 12,000' Afghan Taliban eliminated in 2013, says UN
[Pak Daily Times] Up to 12,000 Afghan Taliban fighters have been killed, maimed or captured this year, according to a UN report, which said violence in the wartorn nation was at a three-year high.
Hurrah!
US-led NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A single organization with differing goals, equipment, language, doctrine, and organization....
forces are to withdraw the bulk of their 75,000 troops from Afghanistan by the end of next year after 13 years fighting the Taliban.

The paper for the UN Security Council warned that the bad boys' homemade bombs, which accounted for 80 percent of casualties among Afghan cops, were becoming increasingly sophisticated.

A particular concern was Afghanistan's developing mining industry, which uses large quantities of high explosives and detonating equipment.

The report warned that the Afghan authorities must strengthen regulatory measures to stop these explosives falling into the hands of the bad boys.

Afghan tribal elders are to meet for a grand assembly or "loya jigra" on Thursday to decide on the future of US troops in the country after 2014.

A similar deal between the US and Iraq collapsed, leading to a complete pullout of American forces and there are fears a repeat in Afghanistan could lead to chaos and violence if local forces are unable to cope with the Taliban.

The UN report said the government of President Hamid Maybe I'll join the Taliban Karzai
... A former Baltimore restaurateur, now 12th and current President of Afghanistan, displacing the legitimate president Rabbani in December 2004. He was installed as the dominant political figure after the removal of the Taliban regime in late 2001 in a vain attempt to put a Pashtun face on the successor state to the Taliban. After the 2004 presidential election, he was declared president regardless of what the actual vote count was. He won a second, even more dubious, five-year-term after the 2009 presidential election. His grip on reality has been slipping steadily since around 2007, probably from heavy drug use...
was facing "elevated levels of violence not seen since 2010".

Despite this, the report said, the Taliban had not made major gains or won significant popular support, and had suffered substantial losses.

"Losses on the bad boy side are difficult to estimate, but government sources and Taliban internal statistics alike estimate them at between 10,000 and 12,000," the report said.

A UN official clarified that "losses" include killed, maimed and captured Taliban. There was no independent confirmation of the figures and NATO does not give casualty counts for the Taliban.

Afghanistan has substantial mineral deposits -- up to $1 trillion worth according to a US survey -- and this wealth is seen as key to the country's prosperity after more than 30 years of war.

The report, submitted to the UN Security Council's committee on sanctions, called for a better regulatory framework for mining explosives and detonators to stop them being misused by the Taliban.
Posted by: Fred || 11/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Taliban

#1  How do you tell the difference from a Afghan and Pak Talibunny? On which side of the border they croak?
Posted by: Procopius2k || 11/19/2013 17:34 Comments || Top||


Africa Horn
South Sudan 'Deeply Regrets' U.N. Harassment
[An Nahar] South Sudan said Monday that it "deeply regrets" dozens of cases of harassment and threats against United Nations
...a formerly good idea gone bad...
staff by its army and police.

The government of the world's youngest country has faced pressure from the U.N. Security Council and the United States over beatings of U.N. staff and other incidents in recent months.

U.N. leader the ephemeral Ban Ki-moon
... of whom it can be said to his credit that he is not Kofi Annan...
complained in a report last week of 67 cases of "harassment, threats, physical assault, arrest and detention of United Nations staff" and seizure of U.N. vehicles between May 7 and November 5.

In one case on October 19, a female U.N. staff member was "severely beaten" in the capital, Juba, and then placed in durance vile
Don't shoot, coppers! I'm comin' out!
following "a traffic encounter with a military pickup carrying armed uniformed men," said Ban's report.

Diplomats said the case involved a convoy of South Sudan's president, Salva Kiir.

"We deeply regret both the character and the number of incidents that have occurred," South Sudan's U.N. Ambassador Francis Deng told a Security Council meeting on his country.

"The government is seriously committed to ending these violations. Orders have indeed been given toward that end and to hold those responsible accountable," Deng said, adding that the country's young army needed more training and "sensitization."

The United States approached South Sudan's U.N. mission last week and China made a similar complaint on behalf of the Security Council.
Posted by: Fred || 11/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:


Africa North
EU Worried by Libya's 'Deteriorating Security'
[An Nahar] EU foreign ministers on Monday expressed concern
...meaning the brow was mildly wrinkled, the eyebrows drawn slightly together, and a thoughtful expression assumed, not that anything was actually done or indeed that any thought was actually expended...
over the "significant deterioration" in Libya as troops deployed and militias were ordered out of the capital following deadly festivities.

"The EU is concerned by the significant deterioration of both the political and security situation in Libya and condemns the violence in Tripoli
...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn...
on 15 November," the European Union
...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing...
ministers said in a joint statement.

The unrest erupted Friday when former rebels from Misrata fired on protesters, triggering festivities that killed 43 people and maimed 450.

"The EU urges all parties to avoid further bloodshed and refrain from further violence," the statement said.

It urged authorities to continue efforts to integrate forces of Evil by disarming them and blending them into official security forces.
Posted by: Fred || 11/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Arab Spring

#1  But, but, but, the theory says that People are naturally good and, once you remove the tyrants oppressing them, will happily line up in front of McDonalds.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 11/19/2013 7:23 Comments || Top||

#2  We are seeing Yugoslavia, remember Yugoslavia?

When Marshall Tito died, the power that kept the lid on all of the petty ancient blood feuds and rivalries was taken away and all hell broke loose.

Unfortunately for Libya, the country never really had a chance to develop the social glue to become a functioning society. The 40 years under Kaddafi short-circuited that development.

Now the country is the Christopher Hitchens "Tribes with Flags" with centers of power everywhere. The central government has done a SNL imitation of our Congress when firm decisive leadership was needed.

While most Libyan just want to get on with their lives, the power hungry are poised to turn Libya into Somalia or the Sudan. I would venture a protectorate or a coalition of EU countries could help put the pieces back together.
Posted by: Bill Clinton || 11/19/2013 10:34 Comments || Top||

#3  Why do we listen to Bill?

He's an EX president and a very poor one, we don't like him, or Hillary as an office holder.

Yup he's better than Obama, but you measure the difference with a micrometer, not a yardstick.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 11/19/2013 11:18 Comments || Top||

#4  Yup he's better than Obama, but you measure the difference with a micrometer, not a yardstick.

RJ, if one looking in from outside can be permitted an observation: Bill Clinton was/is an American crook---meaning he knew the red lines and where they pass.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 11/19/2013 15:03 Comments || Top||

#5  RJ, I am fairly certain that the commentator is not really former President Clinton. It's what they call a pseudonym, sort of like your real Christian name isn't Redneck, because redneck isn't in the Bible, so your folks wouldn't have used it. Altho Nimrod is in the Bible which is cool.
Posted by: Shipman || 11/19/2013 15:57 Comments || Top||

#6  Ms. Shipman, I don't care what they say about your jawbone or your ass; I have always thought you a mighty handsome woman. And "Claire" is a perfectly good Republican cloth cloak, yet you choose not to use it in this august forum. Why, oh why? Please clarify.
Posted by: Zenobia Floger6220 || 11/19/2013 17:57 Comments || Top||

#7  I imagine that if you use your pseudonym long enough and people recognize you by that name, well you are Red Neck Jim or you are just kin, and your daughter calls you Uncle Daddy. Well just sayin, got to go check my mailbox and go turkey huntin,Thanksgiving is nextt week.
Posted by: Unlucky Otto Driver || 11/19/2013 20:53 Comments || Top||


U.S. Military Ready to Train Libyan Troops
[An Nahar] The U.S. military said Monday it hopes to train 5,000 to 8,000 Libyan army troops as Tripoli
...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn...
struggles to contain violence from heavily armed militias.

The training, requested by Libya's prime minister, would be carried out by the military's Africa Command at a base in Bulgaria, Pentagon front man Colonel Steve Warren told news hounds.

"We're in discussions with the Libyans on the exact number, but we're prepared to provide training for 5,000 to 8,000 personnel," Warren said.

"This hasn't been finalized yet, but that's the plan we're working towards," he said.

The program would focus on basic combat training for conventional Libyan troops, he added.

The duration and cost of the training remained unclear as well as whether the Pentagon would provide weapons or equipment to Libyan forces.

There were also plans to train a separate counter-terrorism unit, Admiral William McRaven, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, said over the weekend.

Training government forces in a country plagued by volatile divisions and militias with shifting loyalties will carry some dangers, McRaven acknowledged.

"There is probably some risk that some of the people we will be training with do not have the most clean record," McRaven said Saturday at a defense forum at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Caliphornia, an impregnable bastion of the Democratic Party,.
Posted by: Fred || 11/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Arab Spring

#1  The US left Libya un-determined. Solidify it or have another camp o roaches there. Libyans are quite peaceful people, unless there are militias.

Give them credit
Posted by: newc || 11/19/2013 0:23 Comments || Top||

#2  What could go wrong?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 11/19/2013 15:05 Comments || Top||


Bangladesh
Razakars were for peace! Claims Nizami's counsel in war trial
[Bangla Daily Star] The Razakar force was only formed to ensure law and order during the war, claimed the defence for war crimes accused Motiur Rahman Nizami
...During the liberation war of 1971, Nizami formed the Al-Badr Force and acted as its supreme commander. The Al-Badr militia took active part in rape, extortion, looting and killing of Bangladeshis who supported the liberation, including a pre-planned massacre on December 14, 1971, when the Al-Badr militia along with Pakistan Army rounded up hundreds of doctors, professors, writers, and other Bengali intellectuals, and executed them...
yesterday before the International Crimes Tribunal-1.

The defence compared Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's March 7 speech with a speech Nizami delivered in Chittagong during the war where he said, "Pakistain is the house of Allah."

To the surprise of most in the courtroom, defence counsel Tajul Islam made the comment about the Razakar force, historically known as one of the vicious auxiliary forces of the Mighty Pak Army.

His statement was in response to the prosecution argument that Nizami's speech on September 10, 1971, incited Razakars to commit war crimes.

Tajul also said Jamaat chief Nizami was a "patriot" who had called upon his follower to restore peace in the country.

One of the charges against Nizami was that he incited people to commit war crimes through a speech he delivered at the Mohammedan Institute of Chittagong on August 3, 1971 during a meeting of the Chittagong City unit of the Islami Chhatra Sangha, then student wing 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 maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. 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...

Nizami in the speech had said, "Pakistain is the house of Allah."

Tajul yesterday argued that "Pakistain is the house of Allah" was a rhetoric and it revealed Nizami's love for the country. "He did not incite people to commit crimes with his speech."

He then went on to compare Bangabandhu's March 7 speech with Nizami's. He said Bangabandhu's speech caused a national upsurge and he had made the speech against his own country but we do not call it incitement.

Tajul yesterday claimed that the charge against Nizami that he used religion to incite Razakars and young men to commit war crimes was vague.

Tajul said the prosecution had not brought in any witnesses to prove the four charges of inciting people to commit crimes against humanity, rather it relied solely upon four documents.

The defence counsel claimed that incitement to commit crimes against humanity was not an offence under customary international law and that incitement to commit genocide was an offence.

If the prosecution could prove that Nizami's was an incitement to commit genocide then it would be an offence but it did not mention that.

He claimed that to consider an incident an act of genocide, the victims have to be of one of four groups, based on religion, nationality, ethnicity and race.

He said, "There is no mention of the said four groups in the documents upon which the prosecution relied."

According to historical documents, three million people were killed and nearly a quarter of a million women were raped by the Pakistain army and its auxiliary forces, including the Razakar and Al-Badr forces, during the nine-month-long Liberation War.

Nizami is facing 16 war crimes charges for his alleged involvement in crimes against humanity and genocide during the Liberation War in 1971.

Posted by: Fred || 11/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


The Grand Turk
U.S. to Keep Patriot Missiles in Turkey for Another Year
[An Nahar] The United States will keep two Patriot missile batteries in Turkey for another year to help bolster the country's air defenses against threats from Syria's civil war, the Pentagon said Monday.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu of Washington's decision in talks at the Pentagon that focused on the conflict in Syria, a front man said.

Hagel "conveyed to Minister Davutoglu that the United States has decided to continue its contribution of two Patriot batteries under NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A single organization with differing goals, equipment, language, doctrine, and organization....
command and control for up to one additional year," Pentagon front man Carl Woog said in a statement.

Turkey had made a formal request to NATO to extend the deployment of the surface-to-air Patriot missiles, which are designed to counter aircraft and short-range missiles.

The United States, the Netherlands and Germany have provided a total of six Patriots along the Turkish border with Syria.

Turkey was once an ally of Syrian Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad
Horror of Homs...
but now backs the opposition fighting to topple the embattled leader.

At Monday's talks, Hagel and Davutoglu also discussed "the imperative to eliminate the regime's chemical weapons and achieve a political transition" in Syria, Woog said.
Posted by: Fred || 11/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria


Home Front: WoT
U.S. Top Court Refuses to Take on NSA Surveillance
[An Nahar] The U.S. Supreme Court Monday blocked a challenge to the National Security Agency's vast email and telephone surveillance program.

Without giving any explanation, the country's top court rejected the appeal filed by the Electronic Privacy Information Center, or EPIC, asking the justices to halt the spy program.

"The ongoing collection of the domestic telephone records of millions of Americans by the NSA, untethered to any particular investigation, is beyond the authority granted by Congress to the FISC," EPIC said, referring to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.

The government had asked the Supreme Court to reject the appeal, saying the surveillance program, in place since 2006, had been authorized by the FISC.

This is the first appeal to the communications surveillance directly filed to the Supreme Court since former contracter Edward Snowden leaked details about it to the media.

Other lawsuits on the NSA program could reach the Supreme Court, after being heard by lower courts in Washington and New York.
Posted by: Fred || 11/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Without giving any explanation

Now, that's interesting.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 11/19/2013 4:23 Comments || Top||

#2  Wha...What, No Obama blamers?!
Posted by: Unavimp Bumble8207 || 11/19/2013 6:14 Comments || Top||

#3  Move along now, nothing to worry about, nothing to see here.
Posted by: Besoeker || 11/19/2013 6:33 Comments || Top||

#4  #2 given that he's put on the bench those who interpret the piece of paper formerly known as the Constitution as a living breathing document rather than with strict construction, why should there be any reason to believe that which gives the government ever more power and the citizenry ever less liberty would be the result? /rhet question
Posted by: Procopius2k || 11/19/2013 7:33 Comments || Top||

#5  The [previously prohibited by law] monitoring of US Citizens can have at some point, but one purpose. CONTROL !

Posted by: Besoeker || 11/19/2013 7:41 Comments || Top||

#6  Hummm... maybe I was wrong, maybe having a 50 units of fire stashed isn't crazy after all.

This is curious and worrisome.
Posted by: Shipman || 11/19/2013 16:05 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Anti-polio drive put off in Rawalpindi
[Pak Daily Times] The district health authorities on Monday postponed the anti-polio
...Poliomyelitis is a disease caused by infection with the poliovirus. Between 1840 and the 1950s, polio was a worldwide epidemic. Since the development of polio vaccines the disease has been largely wiped out in the civilized world. However, since the vaccine is known to make Moslem pee-pees shrink and renders females sterile, bookish, and unsubmissive it is not widely used by the turban and automatic weapons set...
drive in the city and Cantonment areas, keeping in view the situation emerged after the Raja Bazaar tragedy.

However,
ars longa, vita brevis...
the five-day campaign scheduled to start from November 18, would continue in the remaining parts of the district.

Talking to APP, District Health Officer Dr Javaid Hayat said the drive was still on in all tehsils.

He expressed the confidence that the health teams would commence the anti-polio drive in Rawalpindi and Cantonment areas by tomorrow (Wednesday).

He said the health officials had been directed to remain vigilant, particularly in areas where polio virus was found during last year's campaign. He said that all possible steps had been taken by the Health Department to make the campaign a success.

Javaid said that as many as 1,365 mobile teams had been constituted for the door-to door vaccination of children. "Besides, 350 special centres have been set up to facilitate parents so that their children can be vaccinated in nearby areas."

To a question, he said that sufficient quantity of vaccine was available, and that no stone would be left unturned in efforts to make the campaign a success.
Posted by: Fred || 11/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan

#1  They Murder Polio workers, let their children die.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 11/19/2013 11:21 Comments || Top||


'Trying Musharraf for treason tactic to divert attention'
[Pak Daily Times] The PML-N government has decided to try Parvez Musharraf for imposing Emergency in November 2007, thereby ignoring the ones who took over the country through military takeovers.

A press statement was issued on Monday.

He said the aim and purpose of Article 6 was to stop unconstitutional takeovers, and the 18th Amendment to the Constitution made abetment and validation of takeovers acts of high treason as well. "It is obvious that the current development of trying Musharraf for treason is a tactic to divert public attention from the meticulously planned sectarian killings," said the statement. "These killings themselves were an attempt to unleash mad religious frenzy to divide the working classes who are protesting on serious issues like inflation, unemployment and unconstitutional privatisation."

He said the PPP had sought the review of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
...9th PM of Pakistain from 1973 to 1977, and 4th President of Pakistain from 1971 to 1973. He was the founder of the Pakistain Peoples Party (PPP). His eldest daughter, Benazir Bhutto, would also serve as hereditary PM. In a coup led by General Zia-ul-Haq, Bhutto was removed from office and was executed in 1979 for authorizing the murder of a political opponent...
's judicial murder, which would have laid bare the doings of Zia ul Haq
...the creepy-looking former dictator of Pakistain. Zia was an Islamic nutball who imposed his nutballery on the rest of the country with the enthusiastic assistance of the nation's religious parties, which are populated by other nutballs. He was appointed Chief of Army Staff in 1976 by Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, whom he hanged when he seized power. His time in office was a period of repression, with hundreds of thousands of political rivals, minorities, and journalists executed or tortured, including senior general officers convicted in coup-d'état plots, who would normally be above the law. As part of his alliance with the religious parties, his government helped run the war against the Soviets in Afghanistan, providing safe havens, American equipiment, Saudi money, and Pak handlers to selected mujaheddin. Zia died along with several of his top generals and admirals and the then United States Ambassador to Pakistain Arnold Lewis Raphel when he was assassinated in a suspicious air crash near Bahawalpur in 1988...
and his military, political and judicial partners in subverting the constitution. "Unfortunately, the Supreme Court of Pakistain does not have the time to hear the reference."

Trial of Musharraf for the military takeover of October 12, 1999 would have exposed the back channel diplomacy between the military, Nawaz Sharif
... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf...
and foreign countries, said the statement.
Posted by: Fred || 11/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


JI says it can move court against Sethi
[Pak Daily Times] 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 maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. 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...
(JI) front man Dr Farid Ahmad Paracha has condemned allegations levelled by veteran journalist Najam Sethi
Publisher of Pak Daily Times, Friday Times, and my hero...
in a private TV programme in which he blamed JI for supporting General Zia ul Haq
...the creepy-looking former dictator of Pakistain. Zia was an Islamic nutball who imposed his nutballery on the rest of the country with the enthusiastic assistance of the nation's religious parties, which are populated by other nutballs. He was appointed Chief of Army Staff in 1976 by Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, whom he hanged when he seized power. His time in office was a period of repression, with hundreds of thousands of political rivals, minorities, and journalists executed or tortured, including senior general officers convicted in coup-d'état plots, who would normally be above the law. As part of his alliance with the religious parties, his government helped run the war against the Soviets in Afghanistan, providing safe havens, American equipiment, Saudi money, and Pak handlers to selected mujaheddin. Zia died along with several of his top generals and admirals and the then United States Ambassador to Pakistain Arnold Lewis Raphel when he was assassinated in a suspicious air crash near Bahawalpur in 1988...
and receiving funds from the ISI.

The JI reserves the right to initiate legal proceedings against the anchorperson, Paracha said.

In a rejoinder issued on Monday, the JI leader said that "so called intellectuals are trying to create unrest and anarchy in the country to fulfil foreign agenda".

He said the JI's struggle for restoration of democracy was a matter of record and it had offered huge sacrifices against dictatorial rule.

Paracha said that Najam Sethi was "out of his senses most of the time" and did not know what he was saying.

He added that it was the Pakistain National Alliance (PNA) and not the JI which had joined Zia ul Haq's government and "therefore blaming JI alone for joining Zia ul Haq is a clear act of dishonesty".

He also pointed out that during Zia ul Haq rule, the JI had suffered the most as the party mayor of Bloody Karachi
...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
was unlawfully removed and JI student's wing, Islami Jamait-e-Talaba, was penalised the most.

Paracha said that the JI had repeatedly denied having receiving funds from the ISI. He said Najam Sethi's allegations that former JI leader Qazi Hussain Ahmad
... third president (1987--2009) of the PakJamaat-e-Islami. Qazi was also head of the Muttahidah Majlis-e-Amal until his ego became bigger than the organization. Qazi is what is known as a fiery preacher, which means he has lots of volume, a good delivery, and not a lot of reverence for coherence. He was the patron of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, Rasool Sayyaf and Osama bin Laden during the war against the Soviets. He used to recommend drinking camel's urine to maintain good health before his kidneys started to go...
had confessed to receiving ISI funds were "frivolous and concocted".

"In fact, Qazi sahib himself had filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging this allegation."

He said the JI had challenged political parties to produce any proof in this regard but no such evidence was ever produced before the court.
Posted by: Fred || 11/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Jamaat-e-Islami


Govt forms body to probe ISI 'funding'
[Pak Daily Times] The Interior Ministry has formed a committee, headed by a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) assistant director general (ADG), over the Supreme Court's directives to probe alleged funding of politicians by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

The four-member committee was formed on Monday, following Asghar Khan's allegations about ISI's funding of politicians. The committee will be chaired by FIA ADG Muhammad Ghalib Bandeesha, and comprises three director-level officials, including Qudratullah Khan, Najaf Kalli Mir and Dr Usman Anwar. The committee would begin its regular investigations from today (Tuesday) and submit its final report to the Interior Ministry. ISI's former DG Mehmood Durrani had last year told the SC that funds were distributed among politicians upon directives of Aiwan-e-Sadr cell head Ajlal Haidar Zaidi.
Posted by: Fred || 11/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Bilawal wants crackdown on 'hatemongers'
[Pak Daily Times] Pakistain People's Party (PPP) Patron-in-chief Bilawal Baby Bhutto Zardari
...Pak dynastic politician, son of Benazir Bhutto and grandon of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. As far as is known, Bilawal has no particular talents other than being pretty and being able to memorize political slogans, but he had the good luck to be born into the right family and he hasn't been assassinated yet...
has asked the government to launch a crackdown on "hatemongering elements" and invoke the concerned laws to curb hate speeches, hate crimes and incitement to violence before the violence spreads in other parts of the country.

Condemning the violence in Kohat and elsewhere, Bilawal said, "Hatemongers have started operations to sow the seeds of hatred and fuel the fire thus every citizen of Pakistain should play their role and defeat the followers of Goebbels in sectarian colours."

"If hate speech, hate crimes and incitement to violence laws are not implemented across the board, authorities will be held responsible for the spread of violence."

The PPP leader said bully boyz "want us to fight against ourselves" and the spate of current infighting seems to have served the agenda of krazed killers. "They want to divide us and hate each other but we won't let them succeed," he pledged. "My prime minister should do what he was elected to do. He should return to the country and lead the nation with a strong message of unity. Opposition will support him."
Posted by: Fred || 11/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan

#1  why do muslim countries hate freedom of religion?
Posted by: Ulusoth Shereter7931 || 11/19/2013 16:54 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Israel 'holding suspected Qaeda activist since 2010'
[Pak Daily Times] Israel has secretly locked away
Into the paddy wagon wit' yez!
a suspected al Qaeda biological weapons expert for more than three years, court documents disclosed on Monday, after the man appealed to the Israeli Supreme Court to free him.

Samer al Baraq studied microbiology in Pakistain, underwent military training in Afghanistan and was recruited in 2001 to al Qaeda by Ayman al-Zawahri, who is the group's leader today, Israeli prosecutors said in documents seen by Rooters. They said he was planning attacks against Israelis. But Al Baraq, 39, has not been charged and has been held since 2010 in administrative detention, a policy by which Israel jails suspected hard boyz without trial, based on evidence presented in a closed military court.

Israel says the practice pre-empts bad boy attacks against it while keeping its counter-intelligence sources and tactics secret. In October, Al Baraq appealed to Israel's Supreme Court to end his military detention. Asked if his client denied the allegations.
No, no! Certainly not!
against him, al Baraq's lawyer, Mahmid Saleh, told Army Radio: "If he is such a senior terrorist, then why hasn't he been prosecuted? There is no evidence against him." According to a court document al Baraq was once detained and questioned in the United States and was later tossed in the calaboose
Drop the rosco, Muggsy, or you're one with the ages!
in Jordan for five years. He was tossed in the calaboose
Drop the rosco, Muggsy, or you're one with the ages!
in 2010 when trying to enter Israel from neighbouring Jordan.

In its response to al Baraq's appeal, Israel's prosecution said letting the detainee go would endanger the entire region. The Supreme Court was due to hold a hearing in the case later on Monday. According to court documents seen by AFP, the Israeli security establishment told the high court ahead of a Monday hearing it believed that Samer Al-Barq is "an activist in the global terror group al Qaeda, with extensive knowledge in non-conventional arms, especially biological weapons". His petition to be released from administrative detention should be rejected by the court, since he would significantly boost the development of "global jihad" infrastructure in the region if freed, the documents said.

Under what Israel calls "administrative detention", suspects can be imprisoned without trial by order of a military court. Such orders can be renewed indefinitely for up to six months at a time. "We petitioned the court because in three days the Israeli authorities will be renewing his administrative detention order," Barq's attorney Mahmid Saleh told AFP ahead of Monday's hearing. Mahameed said his client's family originated in the northern West Bank village of Jayyus, while Barq himself was born in Kuwait 39 years ago, and studied microbiology in Pakistain in 1997.

According to the court documents, Barq received military training in Afghanistan in 1998, and in 2001 was recruited by al Qaeda and acquired "knowledge and experience" in non-conventional weaponry. Barq was involved in planning attacks on Israeli and Jewish tourists in Jordan during 2001, and agreed to train Paleostinians to manufacture poison to use against Israelis, the document said.
Posted by: Fred || 11/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda

#1  Way more prudent than certain US presidents I might mention.
Posted by: gorb || 11/19/2013 0:50 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Geagea: Hizbullah is an Unconstitutional and Illegitimate Armed Group
[An Nahar] Lebanese Forces
A Christian political party founded by Bashir Gemayel, who was then bumped off when he was elected president of Leb...
leader Samir Geagea
... Geagea was imprisoned by the Syrians and their puppets for 11 years in a dungeon in the third basement level of the Lebanese Ministry of Defense. He was released after the Cedar Revolution in 2005 ...
noted on Monday that Leb's constitution and National Pact make no reference to resistance movements.

He declared during a presser: "The lack of reference renders Hizbullah an unconstitutional and illegitimate gang and we will never recognize its legitimacy."

"It is not a resistance, but an organized gang that does not abide by the law," he added.

"I challenge anyone to prove to me where the National Pact makes a reference to a resistance movement in Leb," he continued.

"Anyone who claims otherwise is altering historic facts and treaties," he stated.

Moreover, Geagea said that Hizbullah's actions over the past eight years had not served Leb, but only itself and Iran.

He refuted claims by Hizbullah members that they seek partnership with other Lebanese factions, saying that the party had disregarded and is still disregarding the country's interests by fighting in Syria alongside the Syrian regime.

Commenting on Hizbullah chief His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah
The satrap of the Medes and the Persians in Leb...
's recent remarks that the party does not need the support of all Lebanese parties, Geagea asked: "What then is left of the Lebanese people's ties among each other? This party exists in Leb and anything it does will affect all of us, so why shouldn't it need our support?"

"Nasrallah has not been officially tasked by anyone to administer Leb's strategic affairs," he continued.

In addition, the LF leader said that over the past eight years, Hizbullah has acted as an illegitimate gang, not a resistance, giving the example of the events of May 7, 2008, among others.

"Hizbullah's illegitimate actions have led to lawlessness in Leb where several regions are not subject to the law," he said.

"Hizbullah has been linked to terrorist activities abroad, such as Bulgaria and Thailand. Are these acts of a resistance or an illegitimate gang?" he wondered.

"Leb can no longer exist as a state and it can never enjoy any peace and prosperity as long as Hizbullah continues to conduct itself as it is," he stressed.

Addressing Nasrallah's remarks on the Syrian crisis, Geagea said: "It is unacceptable for him to alter historic facts linked to the unrest."

"He is trying to make the people believe that the Syrian regime, which is the example of innocence, is being attacked by the United States, other countries, and takfir
...an adherent of takfir wal hijra, an offshoot of Salafism that regards everybody who doesn't agree with them as apostates who most be killed...
is. This vision of the Syrian conflict is very far from the truth," he added.

"It is unacceptable for Nasrallah to alter historic facts to suit his interests," he stated.

"Poisoning the people's thoughts is more dangerous than bombings that had taken place in Leb in recent months and he should not undermine the people's intelligence," he declared.

Turning to some Lebanese powers that are fearful over the fate of Christians in the East, Geagea said: "It is very unfortunate that some sides are exploiting this issue for the sake of the Syrian regime."

"Some sides are portraying the conflict in Syria as being that of the regime against takfiris, while completely disregarding the Syrian people," he remarked in an indirect reference to Free Patriotic Movement
Despite its name a Christian party allied with Hizbullah, neither free nor particularly patriotic...
MP Michel Aoun
...a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hizbullah...
.

"These sides have forgotten the fate of former Presidents Bashir Gemayel and Rene Mouawad and other figures who have been assassinated," he added.

Addressing the dispute over the formation of a new government, the LF leader suggested the formation of a cabinet that does not include the March 8 and 14 camps because they are in disagreement over all pending issues.

A government that includes both of these sides will render it ineffective because their disputes will cripple it, he explained.
Posted by: Fred || 11/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Hezbollah



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Two weeks of WOT
Tue 2013-11-19
  At least 18 killed in explosions targeting Iranian embassy in Beirut
Mon 2013-11-18
  Syria Rebels Bomb Government Building, Kill 31
Sun 2013-11-17
  Hezbollah commander killed in Syria
Sat 2013-11-16
  Militias attack Libyan protesters, killing 31
Fri 2013-11-15
  Iraq Bombers Kill 43 as Millions Mark Shiite Holiday
Thu 2013-11-14
  Bomb blasts outside Karachi imambargahs wound 14
Wed 2013-11-13
  Syria Kurds Announce Transitional Autonomous Government
Tue 2013-11-12
  Gunmen gun down 'chief financier' of Haqqani network in Islamabad
Mon 2013-11-11
  Syria army retakes key base near Aleppo: State TV
Sun 2013-11-10
  Imambargah attacks leave three dead, spark outrage
Sat 2013-11-09
  Zawahiri Disbands Main Qaida Faction in Syria
Fri 2013-11-08
  'Mullah Radio' takes overTTP, terms talks 'waste of time'
Thu 2013-11-07
  Nigeria president seeks state of emergency extension
Wed 2013-11-06
  Mortar round hits Vatican embassy in Damascus
Tue 2013-11-05
  152 soldiers sentenced to die for mutiny in Bangladesh

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