Hi there, !
Today Tue 12/17/2013 Mon 12/16/2013 Sun 12/15/2013 Sat 12/14/2013 Fri 12/13/2013 Thu 12/12/2013 Wed 12/11/2013 Archives
Rantburg
533553 articles and 1861513 comments are archived on Rantburg.

Today: 63 articles and 124 comments as of 23:07.
Post a news link    Post your own article   
Area: WoT Operations    WoT Background    Opinion        Politix   
Deadly clashes in Bangladesh after top JI leader hanged
Today's Headlines
Headline Comments [Views]
Page 3: Non-WoT
5 15:59 Shipman [9] 
1 23:35 badanov [7] 
1 02:55 Besoeker [4] 
9 20:20 GolfBravoUSMC [7] 
2 16:00 JohnQC [6] 
0 [8] 
0 [11] 
0 [4] 
7 15:56 Shipman [4] 
0 [4] 
2 15:14 Dopey Sinatra [8] 
2 18:48 Bangkok Billy [8] 
0 [4] 
2 23:56 Secret Asian Man [9] 
3 05:06 g(r)omgoru [9] 
2 15:51 Shipman [4] 
12 19:12 Airandee [8] 
7 23:46 Rob Crawford [7] 
Page 1: WoT Operations
8 19:16 49 Pan [4]
3 14:34 Zhang Fei [1]
3 13:42 g(r)omgoru [3]
0 [7]
0 [7]
0 [7]
0 [7]
1 06:00 Tiny McGurque9810 [6]
0 [9]
8 20:05 Silentbrick - Schlumberger Squishy Mud Division [3]
0 [3]
0 [1]
0 [4]
0 [3]
0 [8]
1 18:41 M. Murcek [8]
0 [3]
0 [4]
0 [4]
0 [3]
4 15:43 Phaiger Floling6286 [7]
Page 2: WoT Background
0 [3]
0 [5]
0 [3]
0 [3]
1 02:06 newc [5]
0 [7]
1 19:38 Steven [13]
0 [3]
0 [8]
0 [4]
0 [7]
5 11:46 Besoeker [3]
1 04:43 gorb [7]
0 [3]
0 [7]
0 [5]
3 17:36 SteveS [8]
5 12:22 AlanC [3]
1 04:51 g(r)omgoru [1]
0 [4]
0 [5]
Page 4: Opinion
16 23:47 Rob Crawford [6]
0 [4]
Page 6: Politix
8 18:03 Bill Clinton [3]
-Signs, Portents, and the Weather-
Cairo Sees First Snow in Years as Cold Snap Hits Egypt
[An Nahar] A regional cold snap spread to Egypt on Friday, with some Cairo suburbs seeing snowfall for the first time in years, a weather official said.

The Middle East has been hit by a fierce winter storm, with temperatures in Egypt plummeting over the past two days as torrential rain also lashed parts of the country.

"It is the first time in very many years" that it has snowed in the suburbs of Cairo, said Ali Abdelazim, an official at the meteorological center.

"The whole garden was white," Karim Kheirat told Agence La Belle France Presse by telephone from the new town of Medinati northeast of the capital.

"It's the first time in my life that I have seen it like this."

Other suburbs of the capital also saw light snow showers, residents said.

In the Sinai Peninsula, the storm deposited a blanket of snow several centimeters (inches) thick in the mountainous area around Saint Catherine's monastery for the first time in decades.

Mokhtar Hussein, who lives in the area, said he had not left his house since Thursday because of the weather.

"We aren't leaving the house at all because the whole town is covered in snow," he said.

On the Mediterranean coast, gardens, streets and houses in the town of Ras al-Bar were covered by a layer of white after heavy snow, resident Rania al-Mubashir said.

The northern coastal city of Alexandria only received light snowfall, but authorities shut the port for the third consecutive day because of the bad weather and strong winds.
Posted by: Fred || 12/14/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Did they have to put studded hooves on the camels, or just chain them up??
Posted by: USN, Ret. || 12/14/2013 15:12 Comments || Top||

#2  That's not funny, that's..... Ummm no wait.
Upon further review.... Yes.. That is deemed purdy funny.
Posted by: Shipman || 12/14/2013 15:51 Comments || Top||


-Land of the Free
The Reason for the Season, December 14, 2012: Resisting Oppression
Celebrate His birth: Make a leftist politician and his supporters unhappy. It's easy!

Posted by: badanov || 12/14/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Michael Bublé - Home For the Holidays.
Posted by: Besoeker || 12/14/2013 2:55 Comments || Top||


This Week in Guns, December 14th, 2013


By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com

Proof positive why draconian firearms laws should allow only cops to have ARs: This particular cop only wounded three students in his safety demonstration.

Dick Heller, famed for the Heller gun law SCOTUS decision, is suing Washington, DC over their gun registration laws.. That's the ticket. More people's judges deciding your Gawd given rights. I have a lot of faith in our legal system to undo draconian gun laws.

The rumor is that in New York so far compliance with the new gun laws is less than 10 percent at the moment. Even so, gun owners are worried about what the state will do next. New York is a exemplar of what happens when a political entity tightens gun laws so much that confiscation becomes the end purpose. Those who haven't registered their guns still get to vote.

Finally, another bit of invective against Lt Col. Robert Bateman's oath, or disregard for it, regarding taking guns from your cold, dead hands. I am sure Col. Bateman is shaking in his jackboots.

Rantburg's summary for arms and ammunition:

Pistol ammunition prices were mixed to lower, as were rifle ammunition prices.

Prices for all classes of firearms were mixed.

Pistol Ammo

.45 caliber, 230 grain, From Last Week: -.02 each
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Ammo Supply Warehouse, Wolf Polyformance, steel cased, .32 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Ammo Supply Warehouse, Wolf Polyformance, steel cased, .31 per round (-.02 from last week)

.40 Caliber Smith & Wesson, 180 grain, From Last Week: -.02 each
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Selway Armory, Ultra Max, reloaded, .28 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Freedom Munitions, reloaded, .25 per round (+.01 from last week)

9mm Parabellum, 115 grain, From Last Week: +.02 Each
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Cheaper Than Dirt, Brown Bear, .26 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Freedom Munitions, reloaded, .23 per round (-.01 from last week)

.357 Magnum, 158 grain, From Last Week: Unchanged
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Munire, Blazer (JHP), .46 per round
Cheapest Bulk 500 rounds: Freedom Munitions, No label, .41 per round

Rifle Ammunition

.223 Caliber/5.56mm 55 grain, From Last Week: Unchanged
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Munire, Monarch, steel cased, .27 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 500 rounds: Ammo Supply Warehouse, Wolf Polyformance, steel cased, .30 per round (-.01 from Last Week)

.308 NATO 145 grain, From Last Week: Unchanged (2 Weeks)
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Munire USA, Prvi Partizan, brass cased, .60 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1000 rounds: Ammo Supply Warehouse, Prvi Partizan, brass case, .60 per round (Unchanged)

7.62x39 AK 123 Grain, From Last Week: -.01 each
Cheapest, 20 rounds: Alamo Ammo, Wolf Polyformance, steel core and case, .25 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 1000 rounds: Wideners, Wolf Polyformance, steel case, .23 per round (Unchanged from Last Week)

.22 LR 40 Grain, From Last Week: +.03 each
Cheapest, 50 rounds: Ammunition to Go, ATR, .12 per round
Cheapest Bulk, 5,000 rounds: Bullets.com, Unknown, .10 per round (-.02 each from Last Week)

Guns for Private Sale
Rifles


.223/5.56mm (AR Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $804 Last Week Avg: $769
California: Private Build: $1,100
Texas: DPMS Sportical: $620
New York: Red X Arms: $900
Virgina: Palmetto State: $700
Florida: DPMS: $700

.308 NATO (AR-10 Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $1,500 Last Week Avg: $1,407
California: Sig Sauer Patrol: $1,750
Texas: DPMS: $1,300 (Prolly Same Gun)
New York: None available
Virginia: Smith & Wesson M&P10: $1,400
Florida: Armalite: $1,550

7.62x39mm (AK Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $710 Last Week Avg: $770
California: Saiga: $750
Texas: Home Build (Bulgarian, plum furniture): $850
New York: Saiga: $600 (Same Gun)
Virginia: AK-47U: $750 (Same Gun)
Florida: WASR: $600

7.62x54mm (Dragunov Pattern Semiautomatic) Average Price: $1,375 Last Week Avg: $1,450
California: Romak PSL: $1,250
Texas: Romak PSL: $1,250
New York: None
Virginia: Romak: $1,800 (Same Gun)
Florida: Romak: $1,200 (Same Gun)

Pistols

.45 caliber ACP (M1911 Pattern Semiautomatic Pistol) Average Price: $528 Last Week Avg: $599
California: Para USA: $400
Texas: Springfield: $750
New York: Sig Sauer: $500
Virginia: Rock Island Armory: $450
Florida: Taurus: $540

9mm Beretta 92FS or other Semiautomatic Average Price: $371 Last Week Avg: $361
California: Glock 26: $450
Texas: Smith & Wesson 915: $325
New York: Glock 19: $405 (Same Gun)
Virginia: Smith & Wesson 9C: $375
Florida: Ruger P95: $300

.40 caliber S&W (Glock and other semiautomatic) Average Price: $410 Last Week Avg: $419
California: Glock 35: $450
Texas: Tanfoglio Witness : $350
New York: Ruger P94: $400
Virginia: Glock 19: $450
Florida: : Smith & Wesson MP40: $400

Used Gun of the Week: (From Texas)

Colt Single Action Army pistol chambered in .45 ACP

Chris Covert writes Mexican Drug War and national political news for Rantburg.com and BorderlandBeat.com. He can be reached at grurkka@gmail.com.
Posted by: badanov || 12/14/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [7 views] Top|| File under:

#1  My M1911 1917 Colt 45acp ser # 319,xxx

Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 12/14/2013 1:44 Comments || Top||

#2  GB, 98-99% NIB. She's stunning. Nice grips, too.
Posted by: Steven || 12/14/2013 3:08 Comments || Top||

#3  Indeed GB...nice piece...those interested in ammo prices might try this link

http://gunbot.net/
Posted by: Warthog || 12/14/2013 10:24 Comments || Top||

#4  GBMC, mine's a bit more 'broken-in' - don't have serial # handy, but no more than a '1' where you have the '3.' My grandfather was issued it in 1915. Inherited it with one mag still loaded - but spring still works (haven't tried the ammo, but it LOOKS clean.)
Posted by: Glenmore || 12/14/2013 10:39 Comments || Top||

#5  Very nice firearm GB.
Posted by: JohnQC || 12/14/2013 10:52 Comments || Top||

#6  The response to Bobber Baitman is worth the read.

Its a Military Man weighing in against a member of the military, and I appreciate the counter against some nobody trying to be somebody's parti discussion du jour. Le tyrant petite is obviously refuted for waiving his pencil thin understanding of the constitution, and my second reaction to that rag with, hell then I'm gonna buy or manufacture as many ar15shotguns as possible as quickly as possible, which would meteor the market value, then sell at a 50% margin to a product which say $1000 increases 1000% value, to the government, who would have to come up with the money. It would ruin the value of the dollar, and guess what, there are people on both sides of the law who would never give up all of their firearms, so there would be no effect on firearms.

That is, unless the pencilwrist is being dishonest and fails to expand of the necessary of the necessaries of state: authoritarian takeover and shutdown of private manufacturing facilities, including any and all facilities which may or could contain tools used in the manufacturing of firearms. Firearm being anything which uses the expansion of gas to propell a mass over distance, then you are talking potato guns so now he is talking about, well, everything.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 12/14/2013 11:46 Comments || Top||

#7  LTC Bateman should re-read his Constitution. He either has forgotten certain parts of the Constitution, selectively obeys it, or he never took his oath seriously in the first place.
Posted by: JohnQC || 12/14/2013 14:13 Comments || Top||

#8  Making comments for action against US civilians while representing the Armed Forces should be a no no, at the very least it justifies the loonies.

And he is supposed to be some sort of tactician? Where does he account for foreign governments and criminals funneling in weapons and ammo, right Mexico?
Posted by: swksvolFF || 12/14/2013 15:43 Comments || Top||

#9  Glenmore:

Sounds absolutely exciting. I'd love to know more about it. Have you researched it. I'd be willing to help.
Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 12/14/2013 20:20 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Libya Grand Mufti condemns illegal sales of flour
[Libya Herald] The Grand Mufti, Sheikh Sadek Al-Ghariani, has issued a fatwa forbidding bakeries from selling subsidised flour privately for profit.

The flour they bought at discounted prices from government stores had been subsidised to keep down the cost of bread so that everyone could afford it, a statement from the Grand Mufti's Dar Al-Ifta said, explaining that it was haram (forbidden) to sell it on for profit.

The statement said that some bakers were obtaining large quantities of flour at discounted prices and selling some of it off to animal breeders and farmers at less than the market price of animal feed. It was dishonest and could cause shortages, it added.

The only time bakers could sell the flour, the fatwa ruled, was if it had gone off and was unfit for human consumption.

Libyans like to buy bread in bulk quantities once if not twice daily and it is quite common to see large amounts of stale bread thrown out. Much of this is collected for animal feed.
Posted by: Fred || 12/14/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under: Arab Spring


Tunisia 'deal' in doubt as 92-year-old spurns premiership
[Pak Daily Times] An overnight deal between Tunisia's main parties to end a protracted political crisis was thrown into doubt Thursday after the agreed choice of interim premier had second thoughts about taking the job.

Mustapha Filali, who is 92 and served as agriculture minister under Tunisia's founding president Habib Bourguiba, ruled himself out after earlier indicating he was ready to accept the job.

Filali would be the oldest person ever appointed as prime minister, according to Guinness World Records, and the continuing efforts being made to secure a change of heart were a mark of the difficulty the Islamist-led government and the mainly secular opposition have had in coming up with a mutually acceptable nominee.

Fethi Ayadi, a leader of the ruling Islamist party Ennahda, said the negotiators were still trying to persuade Filali to agree to head the planned new government of technocrats. "We have communicated with Mr Filali to convince him to take on this responsibility. If he refuses, we will respect his opinion," Ayadi told Shems FM radio.

The ruling Islamists and the opposition have been unable to agree on a premier since hard-won negotiations opened on October 25 to form a government of independents, draft a much-delayed constitution and prepare for elections as part of efforts to end the political impasse. "I have not proposed myself as a candidate, it is they who have proposed me," Filali told Mosaique FM radio.

"I will not accept this mission... I reject it because of my age, and because of the scope of the responsibilities and problems."

Houcine Abassi, a mediator from the powerful UGTT union confederation, announced on Thursday that a compromise had been reached on the choice of prime minister following a fresh round of talks.
Posted by: Fred || 12/14/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under: Arab Spring


Caribbean-Latin America
Mexico's Congress approves historic oil reform
[Pak Daily Times] Mexico's Congress approved historic energy reform on Thursday aimed at luring foreign oil firms back into the country and ending the state's 75-year-old monopoly following a heated debate.

After a marathon session that lasted nearly 24 hours, the lower house voted 353 to 134 for the legislation championed by President Enrique Pena Nieto, one day after it passed the Senate.

Supporters pumped their fists and chanted "Mexico!" after the vote, while leftist opponents shouted "traitors" following a debate during which a couple of politicians scuffled and another stripped down to his underwear in discontent.

Pena Nieto welcomed the vote on a "fundamental transformation that will drive economic growth and generate jobs in our country."

The constitutional changes must now be approved by a majority of 32 state legislatures, with most expected to give their backing.

The legislation is the centerpiece of Pena Nieto's reform agenda, which has led to overhauls of education, tax collection, banking and telecommunications to boost Latin America's second biggest economy.

But opening the oil and gas industry to private investment is a highly sensitive issue in Mexico, where many look back with pride at the expulsion of foreign companies by president Lazaro Cardenas in 1938.

Supporters insist that state-run energy firm Pemex urgently needs outside help to reverse a downward trend in production, build refineries and drill for shale gas and deep-water oil deposits.
Posted by: Fred || 12/14/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [8 views] Top|| File under:

#1  ...many look back with pride at the expulsion of foreign companies by president Lazaro Cardenas in 1938.

Foreign oil companies should keep this firmly in mind in any investment decisions. Fool me once...
Posted by: PBMcL || 12/14/2013 9:18 Comments || Top||

#2  Lucita: Carlos Brown, please come back. I promise to be good this time.
Posted by: Dopey Sinatra || 12/14/2013 15:14 Comments || Top||


China-Japan-Koreas
$16 Million Gold Mao Idol Unveiled in Communist China
[An Nahar] A gold and jade statue of Mao Zedong worth more than $16 million was unveiled Friday, in the latest example of Communist China's indecision over how to commemorate its founding father's 120th anniversary.

The statue, 80 cm (32 inches) tall but weighing more than 50 kilograms, was put on display in the southern boom town of Shenzhen, China National Radio (CNR) reported.

The city was little more than a fishing village a few decades ago, and its booming prosperity epitomises China's transformation since the days of Mao's command economy.

The figure depicts the founder of the People's Republic of China reclining in a chair, legs crossed.

A team of 20 artists took eight months to complete the 100 million-yuan ($16.5 million) work, which is accented with precious stones and rests on a base of white jade, CNR said.

It did not specify who had commissioned or paid for the statue.

But conflicting signals have emerged from China's leadership about their approach towards commemorating the 120th anniversary of Mao's birth on December 26.

President Xi Jinping, who has moved to cut back on lavish banquets and other over-indulgences since taking office, told officials in Mao's home province of Hunan last month that celebrations should be "solemn, simple and pragmatic".

The state-run Global Times, which is close to the ruling Communist Party, reported Thursday that an event titled "Reddest is the Sun and Dearest is Chairman Mao" scheduled for Beijing's Great Hall of the People on the anniversary, has been rebilled as a "New Year's Gala" and its poster redesigned.

Party authorities had informed the organizer any Mao-themed events required advance approval, he told the paper.

According to the Global Times, a 100-episode TV series on Mao slated to run in December on state broadcaster China Central Television will not be shown, with a series on a Chinese military leader running instead.

Hunan provincial officials have spent 15.5 billion yuan ($2.54 billion) on 16 projects linked to the occasion, according to state media, including the renovation of a tourist center and building high-speed rail stations and highways.

After being exhibited in Shenzhen, CNR said the gold statue will be placed in the Mao Zedong memorial in his birthplace Shaoshan.
Posted by: Fred || 12/14/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [9 views] Top|| File under:

#1  More likely it is gold plated tungsten, some contractor would have made off with most of the real gold.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 12/14/2013 0:46 Comments || Top||

#2  I agree with AH - Mao Z murdered millions of people and savagely screwed millions more in prisons on whims, and revenge plots ... F his memory, he was a butcher.

Short Attention Span Theater - Break --

Chairman Mao goes potty on the potty

I've heard that Mao ZeDong used modern toilets like how you would use a squatty potty. That is, he would put both feets on the lid, squat, and poop in that position(because he's so used to using squatty potties when he was young)

Posted by: Au Auric || 12/14/2013 2:29 Comments || Top||

#3  Well, they've been buying a lot of gold.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 12/14/2013 5:06 Comments || Top||


Europe
Ukraine opp digs in as Yanukovych faces EU, Russia choice
[Pak Daily Times] Ukraine protesters reinforced their positions in Kiev on Friday as they prepared for another mass rally to pressure the president to turn the country away from historical master Moscow toward the EU.

Experts say time is running out for President Viktor Yanukovych to make a decision on a future direction for his politically volatile nation, which is split between a Ukrainian-speaking, pro-EU west and a Russian-speaking, Moscow-leaning east.

He can either sign a deal with the European Union
...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing...
that would put his ex-Soviet nation on track to eventually joining the bloc, or join a Moscow-led Customs Union, which Russia sees as a future alternative to the EU.

Analysts say either choice would further divide Ukraine and jeopardise Yanukovych's chances for re-election in 2015.
Posted by: Fred || 12/14/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:


India-Pakistan
'Conduct of judges is more important than knowledge of law'
[Pak Daily Times] Supreme Court's senior most judge Justice Nasirul Mulk has said that the conduct of judges is more important than knowing the law.

He asked every judge to observe the highest standards of judicial conduct. Justice Mulk expressed these views during the certificate-awarding ceremony of a one-week orientation course on "Criminal Trial and Appreciation of Evidence" for civil judges cum judicial magistrates, who hailed from across the country, Azad Jammu and Kashmire and Gilgit-Baltistan. The event was held at the Federal Judicial Academy (FJA) on Friday.

He said, "The conduct of a judge is more important than his/her knowing of the law. As you know all that judges are termed as 'honourable' or 'your honour', therefore, they should be honourable in all manners, whereas the lawyers are called as 'the learned lawyer' or 'the learned counsel', therefore, they should also observe the highest standards of legal conduct."

Regarding the incumbent Chief Justice of Pakistain Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, he said, "Chief justice of Pakistain takes keen interest in the district judiciary because he believes that 80 percent of the litigation comes to the district judiciary, therefore, all possible steps will be taken to strengthen the district judiciary. It was the district judiciary was extensively discussed during the first full reference meeting of the honourable CJP."
Posted by: Fred || 12/14/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [6 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan

#1  He signed....
Posted by: Shipman || 12/14/2013 15:54 Comments || Top||

#2  Maybe in Whackyland.
Posted by: JohnQC || 12/14/2013 16:00 Comments || Top||


LHC disposes of notice in acid attack case
[Pak Daily Times] The Lahore High Court on Friday disposed of a notice on an incident reported in press that a man threw acid on face of his wife and challan
... list of charges ...
has been submitted before the Anti-Terrorism Court, Faisalabad
...formerly known as Lyallpur, the third largest metropolis in Pakistain, the second largest in Punjab after Lahore. It is named after some Arab because the Paks didn't have anybody notable of their own to name it after...
.

The LHC earlier had called report from the district and sessions judge, Chiniot as the incident was reported in a press that husband threw acid on the face of his wife.

The judge reported that Langrana police started the paperwork but haven't done much else against accused Arshad, jugged
Drop the heater, Studs, or you're hist'try!
him and submitted challan before the trail court.

It was reported that the woman had an exchanged marriage (wata sata). In view of this matter, relation between spouses and other family members remained sour. Utterance of harsh words and disputes had become an order of the day even on trivial issues. The estranged woman left home and went to her parents.

The husband went to his in-laws' house to reconcile and bring her back but she refused to settle on the matter. In reply, he got raged and threw a bottle of acid on her face, thus burning her severely. She was shifted to Allied Hospital in a critical condition.
Posted by: Fred || 12/14/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [8 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Another minor girl raped, teenage accused arrested
[Pak Daily Times] LAHORE: A four-and-a-half-year-old girl was raped by her teenage relative in the limits of Shahdara police area on Friday.

The affected minor was immediately shifted to Services Hospital for a treatment. Doctors said her condition was critical but hoped that she would be recovered soon. Police have started the paperwork but haven't done much else against enjugged
... anything you say can and will be used against you, whether you say it or not...
accused identified as Rashid alias Majo, 13, on complaint of victim's father, Pervaiz.

Police said the minor, resident of Fazal Park, was playing with other children in a park situated near her house when the culprit, said to be her relative, took the girl to a nearby place and molested her. Local people reached the spot, caught him red-handed and thrashed him. Police also reached the spot and arrested the accused.

Earlier, during last three months, around six to seven minor or teenagers were raped in different areas of the city including a five-year-old girl who was left outside Sir Ganga Ram Hospital after being brutally raped by faceless myrmidons in Mughalpura area. Another minor was raped in Race Course area, an 11-year-old disabled girl was sexually assaulted by an unknown man in Shadbagh police area few days back.
Posted by: Fred || 12/14/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [11 views] Top|| File under:


India summons US ambassador over arrest of diplomat
[Egypt Independent] The Indian Foreign Ministry summoned on Friday the US Ambassador to New Delhi Nancy Powell to protest the arrest of an Indian diplomat in New York over visa fraud.

Devyani Khobragade, Deputy Indian Consul General in New York, was tossed in the calaboose
You have the right to remain silent...
Thursday after she gave officials false information in order to obtain a visa for her Indian housekeeper in New York.

Indian authorities expressed anger over what they said was Khobragade's "humiliating" arrest, saying the allegations did not justify her arrest. She was locked away
Maw! They're comin' to get me, Maw!
after dropping her kids off from school.

The Indian diplomat was released later with a US$250,000 bail.
Posted by: Fred || 12/14/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [9 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The nonchalant attitude most big cities take towards illegal immigrants makes me wonder if there is some back story to this.
Posted by: SteveS || 12/14/2013 14:49 Comments || Top||

#2  The maid servant/Nanny is a jhuggi walli. Uneducated, illiterate or semi illiterate. This is completely normal behavior for India.

And, completely to be expected for an imported nanny/ maid servant. This is they way it is done. She must have pissed someone off. I like her picture, she has that arrogant look I've come to expect from high status Indian babes.

They all change when you...never mind.
Posted by: Secret Asian Man || 12/14/2013 23:56 Comments || Top||


Science & Technology
US military reveals laser can down drones, mortars
[Pak Daily Times] The US Army has for the first time successfully tested a vehicle-mounted laser that managed to shoot down incoming mortar rounds and drone aircraft, officials said Thursday.

Installed in a dome-shaped turret atop a military vehicle, the high-energy laser hit more than 90 mortar bombs and several small unmanned planes over a six-week test at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

The experimental weapon, dubbed the High Energy Laser Mobile Demonstrator (HEL MD), likely would not be operational until 2022 if the Army decides to purchase the system, according to officials.

The weapon, with three to five lasers, is designed to protect remote bases from mortar, artillery or rocket fire. Such attacks were frequent against "forward operating" bases in Iraq and Afghanistan over the past decade.

The laser used in the test this month had a strength of 10 kilowatts (kW), but the program will next use more powerful lasers of 50 kW and then, finally, 100 kW, officials said.

"If you're engaging a target at the same range, a 100 kW laser will destroy the target in one-tenth of the time than the 10kW would," said Terry Bauer, a program manager at Boeing, the lead contractor on the project.
Posted by: Fred || 12/14/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  A development on the old MTHEL program?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 12/14/2013 5:04 Comments || Top||

#2  Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't.
Posted by: Besoeker || 12/14/2013 7:16 Comments || Top||

#3  "Put auxiliary power to forward shields!"
Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839 || 12/14/2013 11:04 Comments || Top||

#4  And it took 6 buses, Besoker
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 12/14/2013 11:47 Comments || Top||

#5  I'm sure the disarmament-by-goldbricking crowd will render this sort of thing useless enough by the time 2022 rolls around. IF we still have a defense budget by then.
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain || 12/14/2013 11:50 Comments || Top||

#6  Only 6? I'd call that a bargain.

Posted by: Besoeker || 12/14/2013 11:50 Comments || Top||

#7  Can blind peeps, no go.
Posted by: Shipman || 12/14/2013 15:56 Comments || Top||


Southeast Asia
Thai protest leader wants 12 months to push through reforms
[Pak Daily Times] The leader of a protest group trying to overthrow Thailand's government and scrap planned elections said on Friday the prime minister should either step down or be forced out, and his movement would then need around a year to push through reforms.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has called an election for Feb. 2 in an effort to end the street protests but Suthep Thaugsuban, a veteran politician who resigned from parliament to lead them, has rejected the move.

Knowing that allies of Yingluck's brother, ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, would probably win any election, he wants an unelected "people's council" to run the country.

On Friday, presenting his ideas to the media, Suthep said he would meet military chiefs on Saturday to discuss his strategy, but he rejected any idea of cutting a deal with Yingluck, who heads a caretaker government now that the king has endorsed the election date.

She will hold a forum on Sunday to discuss reforms but says they can only be drawn up and implemented after the election.
Posted by: Fred || 12/14/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [8 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Sounds like the Thai military ginned up the protests in order to re-install dictatorship. The civilian government has been chipping away at the privileges of the military officialdom, which have hobbled the Thai economy to the extent that it has now fallen behind China in nominal GDP per capita.
Posted by: Zhang Fei || 12/14/2013 15:43 Comments || Top||

#2  The Thai military has been actively NEUTRAL in this situation. How has the Yingluck "chipped" away at the privileges of the military?
Posted by: Bangkok Billy || 12/14/2013 18:48 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Iran claims second monkey launch into space and back
Iran claims to have sent a monkey into space for the second time, representing the country's latest step toward sending humans into space. Iran's President Hassan Rouhani tweeted about it on Saturday. He said, "In total, this is the 2nd monkey sent into space & returned in perfect health to #Iran. I congratulate the Leader, scientists & the nation."

The monkey, named Fargam, was launched 75 miles into space and back during the 15-minute mission, Iranian state news agency IRNA said.

Iran made a similar claim in January, saying then that it had launched the first monkey into space, strapped snugly into a rocket, and returned it safely to Earth. That announcement was met with skepticism by some.
Posted by: ryuge || 12/14/2013 05:16 || Comments || Link || [9 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Iran made a similar claim in January, saying then that it had launched the first monkey into space, strapped snugly into a rocket, and returned it safely to Earth. That announcement was met with skepticism by some anyone allowed to walk around without a keeper.

FTFY.

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski || 12/14/2013 8:20 Comments || Top||

#2  Iranian space launch technique?
Posted by: 3dc || 12/14/2013 8:57 Comments || Top||

#3  notice you don't see Ahmadinnerjacket around anymore? Yep
Posted by: Frank G || 12/14/2013 10:00 Comments || Top||

#4  Well, if Iranian claims are true, they are at least launching living cargo, better than our live lifting capability.
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 12/14/2013 12:03 Comments || Top||

#5  A sub orbital flight with a 20 kilo bio payload is perfectly reasonable. That said, why all the fuss? Unless it was launched from the f- 313, in which case I advise panic.
Posted by: Shipman || 12/14/2013 15:59 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Culture Wars
Media Matters punches Fox's fist with its face, declares 'victory'
from The Other Perfesser:

My suspicion?

Media Matters is moving on to help Hillary, although it can’t announce it as such. The War with Fox News and Limbaugh and much of conservative media was lost. The new war is beginning, and Media Matters doesn’t want to fight old and losing battles.

As much as I detest how Media Matters has poisoned the public discourse, the folks at Media Matter are not stupid people. But they must think you are, otherwise they would not have declared victory.
Posted by: badanov || 12/14/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [7 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Cookies r gud.
Posted by: badanov || 12/14/2013 23:35 Comments || Top||


The newest Chinese city: Detroit
Detroit, broke with almost no prospects for recovery, is the fourth most popular U.S. destination for Chinese real estate investors. In fact, it was bad news--the city's July 18 bankruptcy filing--that triggered renewed interest. "While the bankruptcy is viewed as a bad thing elsewhere, it raised the exposure level of Detroit's real estate market in China," says Evonne Xu, a Michigan attorney catering to Chinese purchasers.

Middle Kingdom, meet Motown.

Chinese shoppers can't resist a bargain. Where else can you buy a two-story home in the U.S. for $39? China Central Television, the state broadcaster, in March reported that two houses in Detroit cost the same as a pair of leather shoes. No wonder a poster on Sina Weibo, the Twitter-like service, asked, "Seven-hundred thousand people, quiet, clean air, no pollution, democracy--what are you waiting for?"...the Chinese buying up Detroit says less about the prospects of Motown than what they think of their own country. It's not like the Motor City is a good place to invest. It has what is surely the worst housing market in the U.S. "I've been in the Detroit area for 35 years," says Chen, the broker from Troy. "Thirty-five years ago downtown Detroit was like this, and it's not getting better."

She's right. After all, who can love a city where the most powerful figure is a bankruptcy judge, the state has had to take over the local government, and creditors are about to cart off the art museum?

But as grim as the future is for Motown, it is evidently better than China's, at least according to many Chinese. They are pouring their cash into Detroit.
Suckers...
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 12/14/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [8 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Buy now or be priced out forever!
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 12/14/2013 0:48 Comments || Top||

#2  If anybody could turn Detroit around that the Chinese.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 12/14/2013 5:20 Comments || Top||

#3  "Thirty-fiveyears ago downtown Detroit was like this, and it's not getting better."

Just like the Champ and Obamacare, nobody saw it coming :-(
Posted by: Besoeker || 12/14/2013 7:19 Comments || Top||

#4  They gonna bring their version of "Sharia" too?

The foot-hold of Maoism will be welcomed with open arms by the "Won".
Posted by: AlanC || 12/14/2013 8:45 Comments || Top||

#5  As long as they keep the *PDDG!

*Perpetually Disadvantaged Demographic Group.
Posted by: Secret Asian Man || 12/14/2013 10:11 Comments || Top||

#6  Ok, so what happens to us ?

Posted by: Besoeker || 12/14/2013 10:48 Comments || Top||

#7  Maybe they are taking the long view. In 135 years, Detroit real estate might be worth something again. Assuming the coming war in the Pacific doesn't invalidate all claims, and the French and Indian War doesn't jump off again.

Or maybe it's just a novely item for the nouveau riche. "Wanna see a picture of my summer home in Detroit?" Great fun at parties!
Posted by: SteveS || 12/14/2013 12:26 Comments || Top||

#8  new eastern Chinese Air Defense Identification Zone
Posted by: Frank G || 12/14/2013 15:04 Comments || Top||

#9  What happens to Dearbornistan when they Muhammadans get outvoted by the heathen Chinee?

Also, if enough buy in a given area, they can push out others. Then they incorporate their own city, and the race is on to gentrifying - plus other than corruption, they will not let violent crime (especially by outsiders) go a very long without consequences. Could become interesting.
Posted by: OldSpook || 12/14/2013 16:08 Comments || Top||

#10  Correct link:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonchang/2013/12/08/chinas-newest-city-we-call-it-detroit/
Posted by: Zhang Fei || 12/14/2013 18:17 Comments || Top||

#11  I don't think the average Chinese investor is familiar with the concept of property taxes, since property in China is bought on the basis of 70-year leaseholds, but no property taxes. In the years ahead, I expect to hear of a large number of delinquent real property tax auctions in Detroit.
Posted by: Zhang Fei || 12/14/2013 18:34 Comments || Top||

#12  The Chinese also landed on the moon; they are just 40 years behind us.
Posted by: Airandee || 12/14/2013 19:12 Comments || Top||


Center For American Progress Panel: End 'Christian Privilege' In Name Of Religious Freedom
[BREITBART] A panel discussion sponsored by John Podesta's Center for American Progress (CAP)
...and who would know more about religious hatred than the Center for American Progress...
on Thursday came to the conclusion that Christian conservatives use religion as a justification for their discriminatory behavior. Americans, they argue, will never enjoy full religious freedom until Christians' claims for religious liberty are defeated.
I'm sure that made a lot more sense in the original Gobbledygook.
According to Joel Gehrke at the Washington Examiner, the Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, president of the George Soros-funded Interfaith Alliance, said, "People [are] using the term 'liberty' when they really mean 'my liberty, your slavery.''

Gaddy argued that the left's view of religious liberty comes from an originalist reading of the Constitution that was universally understood in the early days of the nation. He said that, unfortunately, the American people have become "confused" and misled about the issue of religious liberty by the United States Catholic bishops.
Are those the bad bishops who oppose abortion or the good bishops who oppose the death penalty?
"You have the Catholic bishops advocating for 'religious freedom,' which doesn't look anything like what religious freedom is in the Constitution," Gaddy said. "Unless we do those kind of dramatic actions [such as the ACLU suing the USCCB] in order to get us back to what the foundation of religious freedom has been all the time, it's going to get worse and worse, with people using the term 'liberty' when they really mean 'my liberty, your slavery.'"

"See, I grew up in a part of the country where we really believed in religious liberty but we really enforced bondage on everyone else, and it was because we were Christians and we had the Bible," Gaddy said.

Similarly, ACLU senior counsel Eunice Rho continued the narrative that religious beliefs work to justify discriminatory behavior. Rho denounced attempts to pass a Religious Freedom Restoration Act in various states.

"These are very dangerous because they can allow religion to be used to harm others," Rho said.
Sorta like how Global Warming is being used to harm others...
Gaddy likened Christian florists who refuse to provide services to gay weddings due to religious beliefs to employers who would post "whites only" signs in their storefronts.

"I don't think we don't want to go down that road again," Gaddy said, and later agreed with another panel participant who said that liberals "need to start educating, and calling out, Christians for trying to exercise 'Christian privilege.'"
Posted by: Fred || 12/14/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [7 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Gaddy likened Christian florists who refuse to provide services to gay weddings due to religious beliefs to employers who would post "whites only" signs in their storefronts.

Last time I was out and about around town, noticed that there were plenty of gay florists. In America, you have the liberty to choose who you will do business with, and who you choose not to do business with.
Posted by: Guillibaldo McCoy1948 || 12/14/2013 1:32 Comments || Top||

#2  Gaddy likened Christian florists who refuse to provide services to gay weddings due to religious beliefs to employers who would post "whites only" signs in their storefronts.

Muslim florists are OK though.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 12/14/2013 5:19 Comments || Top||

#3  In America, you used to have have the liberty to choose who you will do business with, and who you choose not to do business with.

FIFY - see Affordable Care Act, etc... Notice how this Gaddy's instance that dictating to the florest's who he can do business with whoever they choose is a liberty.

What Gaddy would like is something like they have in Muslim Countries. Christians can only practice their religion in secret and only if it's approved (i.e. supports abortion, opposes death penalty, etc...). Cannot display any Christian symbols or sing / praise God / worship / pray openly where someone might see it.

Only the approved religions (Atheism, Obamaism, and of course Islam - because otherwise they will start sawing heads) are allowed to be practiced openly. And of course leave your morals and ethics at the door.

Christians and Jews, of course, are third class citizens.
Posted by: CrazyFool || 12/14/2013 6:06 Comments || Top||

#4  correction: Notice how this Gaddy's instance that dictating to the florest's who he can do business with is a liberty.

(posting at 3AM....)
Posted by: CrazyFool || 12/14/2013 6:08 Comments || Top||

#5  Soros. If I cared as little for my life as he does for others, he would have been dead long ago. Too bad such incivl nazi-helpers like him get the protection of common decency from the rest of us.
Posted by: OldSpook || 12/14/2013 16:10 Comments || Top||

#6  Ditto OS.

Apologies 'might' be appropriate to the late John Demjanjuk. Per usual, the working man and life-long taxpayer is hunted down jailed until dead. The super wealthy become international celebs. Same war, similar crimes.
Posted by: Besoeker || 12/14/2013 16:18 Comments || Top||

#7  This is sponsored by the guy who's Obama's new chief of staff, right?

Do these people know what fire they're playing with?
Posted by: Rob Crawford || 12/14/2013 23:46 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
30[untagged]
5Arab Spring
5Govt of Pakistan
3Govt of Syria
3al-Shabaab
3Jamaat-e-Islami
2Commies
2Govt of Iran
1al-Qaeda
1al-Nusra
1Hezbollah
1Islamic State of Iraq
1Islamic State of Iraq & the Levant
1TTP
1Lashkar e-Jhangvi
1Palestinian Authority
1Thai Insurgency
1al-Qaeda in Sinai Peninsula

Bookmark
E-Mail Me

The Classics
The O Club
Rantburg Store
The Bloids
The Never-ending Story
Thugburg
Gulf War I
The Way We Were
Bio

Merry-Go-Blog











On Sale now!


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.
Click here for more information

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
Skidmark

Two weeks of WOT
Sat 2013-12-14
  Deadly clashes in Bangladesh after top JI leader hanged
Fri 2013-12-13
  Bangladesh executes Islamist leader and convicted war criminal Abdul Quader Mollah
Thu 2013-12-12
  Boko Haram slaughters nine people in Borno
Wed 2013-12-11
  French Army Kills 19 Islamist Militants in Mali
Tue 2013-12-10
  MILF, Manila reach power-sharing agreement
Mon 2013-12-09
  Top Hizbullah Military Commander Ali Bazzi Killed in Syria Fighting
Sun 2013-12-08
  Gunmen Kill Nine at Baghdad Alcohol Shops
Sat 2013-12-07
  Gunmen kill ASWJ Punjab chief in drive-by shooting in Lahore
Fri 2013-12-06
  52 Killed as Militants Storm Yemen Defense Complex
Thu 2013-12-05
  At least 20 killed in attack on Yemen's defense ministry
Wed 2013-12-04
  Top Hezbollah Man Killed, Israel CreditedBlamed
Tue 2013-12-03
  Islamist attacks prompt 24-hour curfew in Nigeria's Maiduguri
Mon 2013-12-02
  North Yemen fighting kills more than 120
Sun 2013-12-01
  41 killed, 22 wounded in latest attacks in Iraq
Sat 2013-11-30
  Tuaregs Declare Return to War against Mali Army


Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
18.117.70.132
Help keep the Burg running! Paypal:
WoT Operations (21)    WoT Background (21)    Opinion (2)    (0)    Politix (1)