[Tolo News] A report of Afghan immigrants in Iran being recruited and paid to join pro-government forces in the Syrian civil war sparked outrage at Parliament in Kabul this week.
Based on an investigations, the Iranian government, often through proxies, has paid $500 to impoverished Afghan immigrants in Iran to join their paramilitary forces in Syria fighting in favor of Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad Oppressor of the Syrians and the Lebs... .
MPs on Saturday claimed Iran was exploiting the desperation of Afghans living in Iran.
"Iran is taking advantage of their poverty and is sending them to fight in Syria," Bamyan MP Safora Ilkhani said. "We condemn this action of Iran and we are strongly against it."
Iran and Afghan relations have frayed at times over the issue of Afghan immigrants and refugees. Afghan officials have often complained of mistreatment and neglect, particularly in the case of refugees. But most recently, tensions heightened after Iran executed a number of Afghan drug smugglers against the wishes of the Kabul government.
Kunduz MP Shukria Paikan on Saturday was incensed by the report. "Weren't the previous cruelties, such as torture, hanging, imprisonment and addiction enough?"
"Today, they are sending our youth to fight their battle in Syria for them," Paikan said.
All together, MPs were adamant that the Afghan government further investigate the matter.
"It is Afghan government's responsibility to obtain documents and evidence of this matter and talk with the Iranian government to prevent it," Balkh MP Ahmad Farhad Azimi said.
The report of Afghans in Iran being recruited to fight in Syria originated from a Wall Street Journal investigation. The report stated that in return of $500 per month and education opportunities for their children, Afghan immigrants have been hired to fight against anti-government groups in Syria.
Afghan religious leaders based in Qum have since confirmed the accuracy of the WSJ report.
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05/18/2014 00:00 ||
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[Tolo News] Runoff candidates Abdullah Abdullah ... the former foreign minister of the Northern Alliance government, advisor to Masood, and candidate for president against Karzai. Dr. Abdullah was born in Kabul and is half Tadjik and half Pashtun... and Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai have begun preparing for the brief campaign period that will take place before the second round scheduled for June 14.
Although both contenders have the same two week window to try to secure a victor for themselves, Abdullah heads into the runoff election with a leg-up on Ashraf Ghani after ending the first round vote count nearly 14 percent ahead.
Perhaps his significant lead is why Abdullah's campaign reported only modest plans for the upcoming campaign period.
"We are planning for the runoff, but at this time, our campaign will not be expanded and we will only have a couple trips to provinces for a number of gatherings," Abdullah campaign team member Syed Fazel Aqa Sancharaki said on Saturday.
In contrast, Ashraf Ghani's team seem to be more inclined to take advantage of the campaign period as much as possible.
"This time we will try to travel to the provinces where we couldn't go in the first round, if it is possible we will go to other provinces as well...," Ashraf Ghani campaign team member Abbas Noyan said.
Abdullah campaign has expressed apprehensions about security threats to the runoff round. There were a number of attacks on Abdullah campaign staff and even on Abdullah's own motorcade during the first campaign season.
The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has tried to reassure the candidates and encourage them to conduct their campaigns with confidence.
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05/18/2014 00:00 ||
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#1
"Iran is taking advantage of their poverty and is sending them to fight in Syria," Bamyan MP Safora Ilkhani said. "We condemn this action of Iran and we are strongly against it."
Yet another example of poverty causing unrest and war. Almost sounds like a 1960's D.C. Vietnam protestor statement.
[AnNahar] Libya's government accused an "outlaw" retired general and his irregular forces Saturday of trying to carry out a coup as they fight to crush Islamist turbans in the restive eastern city of Benghazi.
Khalifa Haftar, who lead ground forces in the 2011 uprising that toppled Muammar Qadaffy ...The late megalomaniac dictator of Libya, admired everywhere for his garish costumes, funny hats, harem of cutie bodyguards, and incoherent ravings. As far as is known, he is the only person who's ever declared jihad on Switzerland... , used warplanes and helicopters Friday to support an offensive in pitched battles that killed 37 people.
In response to his vow to continue his campaign until Benghazi is "purged of terrorists," the army announced a no-fly zone over the port city and vowed to shoot down any aircraft that defies the ban.
The government, parliament and army charged that Haftar's operation was tantamount to a coup against the central authorities.
It is "an action outside state legitimacy and a coup d'etat," they said in a joint statement read on state television ... and if you can't believe state television who can you believe?
by Nuri Abu Sahmein, the head of the General National Congress.
"All those who took part in this coup bid will be prosecuted," said Abu Sahmein, who was flanked by recently appointed Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani and armed forces chief of staff Abdessalam Jadallah al-Salihin.
Haftar threat to purge Benghazi was an affront to the authorities, who have struggled to stomp out lawlessness in the North African nation, which is awash with weapons and effectively ruled by a patchwork of former rebels.
Once seen as heroes, ex-rebels, particularly Islamists, have been blamed for attacks have killed dozens of members of security forces, judges and foreigners in Benghazi, the cradle of the 2011 revolt.
Earlier this year Haftar stirred passions when he announced in an online video an "initiative" under which he said the interim government and parliament would be suspended.
That sparked rumors on social media that a coup might be in the offing, but the government was quick to quash them and insist it was in control.
The army says Haftar is backed tribes, officers who defected from the army as well ex-rebels who are opposed to the central government.
Earlier Saturday, Haftar front man Colonel Mohammad Hijazi called on people living in the western Benghazi district of Guwersha and the southern one of Sidi Fradj to evacuate their homes.
He did not say if this was the prelude to attacks on those neighborhoods, which are known to be bastions of the Islamists.
The army's high command upped the ante by declaring all of Benghazi and its suburbs a "no fly zone until further notice," state-run Lana news agency said.
"All military planes flying over the city will be shot down by army units... and units of the revolutionaries (ex-rebels)," it said.
It is not clear if the army has the means to carry out its threat, which came as local sources said mediation was underway to try to prevent new fighting in Benghazi.
The health ministry said 37 people were killed and 139 maimed in Friday's festivities.
The violence came weeks after the government acknowledged for the first time the existence of "terrorist groups" in Libya and said it was mobilizing against them.
It also comes two weeks after jihadist gunnies, including Ansar Sharia, stormed police headquarters in Benghazi, triggering fighting that killed nine soldiers.
Haftar's forces Friday pounded former rebel groups, focusing in particular on Ansar Sharia, an organization designated by the United States as a terrorist group, the army said.
The offensive also comes at a time of high political tensions in Libya where Islamists and liberals are in a tug-of-war, particularly after the disputed election this month of Thani, who is backed by Islamists.
Haftar defected from Qadaffy's forces in the late 1980s and spent nearly 20 years in the United States before returning home to join the uprising. He has been accused of being in the pay of the Americans.
In other developments, voting was underway 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... Saturday for local councils to replace those formed after the uprising, with an average turnout at polling stations after a lackluster campaign.
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05/18/2014 09:15 ||
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[Al Ahram] The European Union ...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing... said Saturday it would not send observers to Egypt for the country's May 26-27 presidential election, as certain conditions necessary to do the job have not been met.
A front man for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said the bloc had begun to deploy a mission in the second half of April, but standard EU observation rules "include a number of specific requirements that need to be in place for the election observers to be able to perform their duties."
"Despite our best efforts, these requirements have not been met and the timely deployment of the EOM is no longer possible," the front man said in a statement.
Giving details of the issue, a European source said the observers were meant to be deployed throughout Egypt, but "it proved impossible to have the telecommunication equipment and medical kits essential to ensure the security and safety of observers released on time".
"It is now too late for the long term observers to conduct a meaningful observation," said the source.
As a result, the European Union would send a team that would have a "more limited nature and scope of elections' observation, restricted only to Cairo".
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[AnNahar] The United States said Saturday it was preparing cut staff levels at its Nairobi embassy because of the mounting threat of attacks in Kenya by Islamist bad boys.
A statement from the U.S. ambassador to Kenya, Robert F. Godec, said the embassy was "continuously reviewing and updating its security measures, and expects to take additional steps in coming days, to include on U.S. staffing."
"Based on the security situation, the embassy is reviewing its staffing with an eye toward reduction in staff in the near future," the U.S. State Department said in a separate statement from Washington.
Godec said the U.S. "continues to receive information about potential terrorist threats aimed at both Kenyans and the international community," adding that "the most important responsibility of every U.S. ambassador and embassy is to protect American citizens."
The move comes amid a wave of shootings, bombings and grenade attacks in Kenya's capital Nairobi and port city of Mombasa that authorities have blamed on bully boyz connected to Somalia's al-Qaeda-linked Shabaab rebels.
On Friday a double kaboom in a Nairobi market left 10 people dead and scores maimed. The State Department said it had noted "an increase in the number and an advance in the sophistication of these attacks".
According to U.S. embassy staff, security around the embassy has already been stepped up but that certain departments currently based inside the compound could be relocated to embassies in neighboring Tanzania or Æthiopia, which are seen as a far lower risk.
Embassy staff said the ambassador has already signaled internally this week that the "footprint" of the Nairobi embassy, which has more than 1,000 staff, would be reduced.
At least 200 people were killed when al-Qaeda bombed the U.S. embassy in Nairobi in 1998, and U.S. diplomats then moved to a more secure compound outside the city center.
Any decision to cut staff at the U.S. embassy would be another major blow to Kenya's position as an east African regional hub for embassies and businesses -- who already have to deal with rampant crime including burglaries, muggings and carjackings.
"If the Americans decide to make a structural adjustment rather than a temporary relocation of staff, then other countries are certain to follow. It shows they know something and haven't been reassured by the Kenyan authorities," a European diplomat, who asked not to be named, told Agence La Belle France Presse.
Earlier this week Britannia, La Belle France and Australia also issued updated travel advice for their citizens in Kenya, telling them to avoid Mombasa and in some cases the capital.
The advice prompted a British tour operator to evacuate hundreds of tourists staying in a beach resort south of Mombasa by special charter flights.
The Kenyan government has expressed "disappointment" and has branded as "unfriendly acts" the issuing of negative travel advice.
Kenya has been targeted by the Shabaab since sending troops to war-torn Somalia in 2011. Kenyan soldiers are still posted in southern Somalia as part of an African Union ...a union consisting of 53 African states, most run by dictators of one flavor or another. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established in 2002, the AU is the successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was even less successful... force supporting the country's fragile internationally-backed government.
The Shabaab grabbed credit for the high-profile attack on Nairobi's Westgate shopping mall last September in which at least 67 people were killed.
[Al Ahram] Nigeria is likely to refer the Islamist militant group Boko Haram to the United Nations Security Council for sanctions, a Western diplomatic source said on Saturday.
"Nigeria has agreed in principle to a draft resolution at the U.N. Security Council to impose sanctions on Boko Haram," a the source said.
Nigeria, currently a member of the 15-country council, will have to make the request first before possible sanctions can be examined, the source said.
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05/18/2014 00:00 ||
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[Haaretz] La Belle France and five African states Saturday "declared war" with Islamist Death Eater sect Boko Haram ... not to be confused with Procol Harum, Harum Scarum, possibly to be confused with Helter Skelter. The Nigerian version of al-Qaeda and the Taliban rolled together and flavored with a smigeon of distinctly Subsaharan ignorance and brutality... , after the group kidnapped more than 200 school girls in northern Nigeria.
During an anti-terrorism summit hosted by French President Francois Hollande ...the Socialist president of La Belle France, an economic bad joke for la Belle France but seemingly a foreign policy realist... in Gay Paree, Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan ... 14th President of Nigeria. He was Governor of Bayelsa State from 9 December 2005 to 28 May 2007, and was sworn in as Vice President on 29 May 2007. Jonathan is a member of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP). He is a lover of nifty hats, which makes him easily recognizable unless someone else in the room is wearing a neat chapeau... and representatives from Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Benin agreed on a mutual action plan to stop Boko Haram.
"We are here to declare war with Boko Haram," Cameroon's President Paul Biya told journalists at the end of the summit, which was also attended by the United States and Britannia.
Only a few hours before the summit began, about 200 Boko Haram gunnies killed two people and kidnapped 10 others in the town of Waza, near Cameroon's border with Nigeria.
An Nahar notes the kidnappees were Chinese road workers, normally better guarded by Cameroonian Special Forces.
Boko Haram was "a menace for the whole of West Africa and now also Central Africa, with established links to AQIM (Al-Qaeda in the Magreb) and other terrorist organizations," said Hollande.
The participants of the summit decided to strengthen the exchange of intelligence information in West Africa, coordinate the actions of their armies and military missions in Africa and increase border controls.
"These turbans already caused hurt in the sub-region. Allowing them to continue will place the entire sub-region, if not Africa, at risk of disorder," said Chad's President Idriss Deby.
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05/18/2014 00:00 ||
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#1
But of course we are on board. Chad is part of France, and we desperately need airlift and drones.
Fu- you Americans! Uncultured, crass Americans! We hate all of you! Fu- the Germans are here! Hello Americans! We love you!
~ Robin Williams
#2
The participants of the summit decided to strengthen the exchange of intelligence information in West Africa, coordinate the actions of their armies and military missions in Africa and increase border controls.
[The Peninsula] Saudi companies have been ordered to exclude Dutch firms from future projects over an anti-Islamic stunt by a far-right Dutch politician, in a royal decree made public by the Makkah Chamber of Commerce.
The decree bans "Dutch firms from taking part in future projects in the kingdom, whether directly or through sub-contracting," according to a chamber circular yesterday.
It also reduces to a minimum the number of visas "for Dutch companies and investors who are not part of vital projects in the kingdom".
And it orders an end to visits by trade delegations between the two countries. In November, anti-Islamic politician Geert Wilders printed stickers imitating the Saudi flag. The Dutch foreign ministry said that Soddy Arabia ...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face... feels "insulted" by Wilders, and front man Friso Wijnen said this could entail "commercial measures against the Netherlands".
The Dutch government distanced itself from Wilders' actions at the time, pointing out that the populist firebrand ...firebrands are noted more for audio volume and the quantity of spittle generated than for any actual logic in their arguments... is not part of the government and his ideas are not representative.
Attempts to prosecute him for his claims have failed. He was acquitted on charges of inciting hatred in 2011, with judges arguing that his comments were directed against a religion rather than an ethnic group.
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[Ynet] Seven men suspected of fighting in Syria have been placed under formal investigation following their arrest in Strasbourg, said a judicial source on Saturday, weeks after La Belle France unveiled policies to prevent French Moslems from becoming radicalized.
Confirming a report in Le Monde newspaper, the source said the men aged 23 to 25, who were placed in durance vile Yez got nuttin' on me, coppers! Nuttin'! in the eastern French city on Tuesday, were under investigation for criminal conspiracy in relation with a terrorist undertaking.
They were suspected of travelling to Syria late last year to join the uprising against Syrian Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad Terror of Aleppo ... .
[AnNahar] A U.S. federal judge has ordered President Barack Obama We're gonna punish our enemies and we're gonna reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us... 's administration to temporarily stop force feeding a Syrian detainee, who was born in Leb, at Guantanamo Bay prison and hand over videotapes of his treatment.
Abu Wa'el Dhiab, 42, was cleared for release by the B.O. regime in 2009 but has remained at the U.S. naval base in Cuba for more than a decade without charge or trial.
Lawyers from London-based human rights When they're defined by the state or an NGO they don't mean much... group Reprieve have sought to secure 140 to 150 videos of Dhiab being force-fed or forcibly restrained.
U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler ordered the B.O. regime Friday to preserve and provide videotapes of the forced feeding and so-called forcible cell extractions of Dhiab between April 9, 2013, and February 19, 2014.
Reprieve describes a forcible cell extraction as the process by which detainees are "often violently" forcibly restrained and taken to the force-feeding chair.
Kessler also ordered the administration to stop force-feeding Dhiab until Wednesday.
U.S. government lawyers confirmed in a filing that Dhiab, who was born in Leb, was on the list for force-feeding, a rare acknowledgement as prison authorities have refused to provide information about hunger strikers and their treatment since late last year.
"Despite Gitmo's media blackout on information about force-feeding and brutal 'forcible cell extractions,' we've managed to get some key information out," said Dhiab attorney and Reprieve strategic director Cori Crider.
"Everything we've learned is highly disturbing.
"JTF-GTMO (Joint Task Force-Guantanamo) also has a history of losing inconvenient evidence, including similar tapes of the Gitmo riot squad, so let's hope that these recordings don't go the way of the waterboarding tapes before them."
U.S. Justice Department attorneys said in a filing Thursday that Dhiab's lawyers have yet to prove that his forcible cell extractions were "unlawful."
"His motion is completely devoid of any details regarding specific instances of mistreatment," they added.
"Rather, he has only raised vague and speculative allegations of FCE abuse based almost entirely on statements of other detainees that provide no information about petitioner whatsoever."
Reprieve notes that Dhiab's return to Syria is now "impossible" because of the brutal civil war there that has already claimed more than 150,000 lives.
The father of four's health has "deteriorated significantly," and he is "profoundly depressed" and confined to a wheelchair, it added.
#1
The father of four's health has "deteriorated significantly," and he is "profoundly depressed" and confined to a wheelchair, it added. Posted by TW.
Here, please try the latkes and honey. It won't upset your stomach.
[Ynet] In new NSA document leaked by Edward Snowden, Israel is said to spy on US to learn its true positions on Mideast issues.
Can you blame them?
A new NSA document, stolen by whistleblower Edward Snowden and released recently through journalist Glenn Greenwald, states that CIA investigations "ranked Israel the third most aggressive intelligence service against the US," according to a Newsweek report on Friday.
The NSA addressed America's complex intelligence relationship with Israel in the document, saying that, "The Israelis are extraordinarily good (Signals Intelligence) partners for us, but on the other (hand), they target us to learn our positions on Middle East problems."
Cooperation between the two countries may be unparalleled when spying on third parties, but the leaked paper puts Israel just behind China and Russia in its attempts to gather intelligence on the US.
Newsweek previously published two reports accusing Israel of broad spying networks aimed at the US. Israeli officials vehemently denied the claims saying that the articles were, "tainted with a whiff of anti-Semitism."
Meanwhile, ...back at the Council of Boskone, Helmuth ordered the entire 614th quadrant searched. The Green Lensman must be found!... US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel visited Israel on Thursday and responded to the Newsweek reports saying that, "I have heard of that report. I'm not aware of any facts that would substantiate the report."
[Breitbart] Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) is investigating allegations the Department of Homeland Security has deleted records related to a list of terrorists the agency maintains as part of a "hands off" policy on some of the individuals on the list.
Grassley released emails last week describing the alleged terrorist "hands off" list at DHS which apparently resulted in the deletion of records of an individual who was allegedly a member of the Muslim Brotherhood and a "close associate" of a supporter of "Hamas, Hizbollah, and (Palestinian) Islamic Jihad."
#1
Senator Grassley might be surprised to learn that "hands off" lists [or Afghan "do not detain - do not capture" annotations] are a bit more pervasive than he might think. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it turns to absolute kak and innocent people sadly become dead.
I might offer Dr. Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi of the infamous FOB Chapman cock-up, Nidal Hasan, and the Tsarnaev brothers as possible examples.
#3
Our greatest enemies are not the jihadists, nor islamic terrorists, but rather our own so called leaders.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
05/18/2014 13:28 Comments ||
Top||
#4
Under the TSA Act, one of TSA's (and hence DHS') most significant duties was "to enter into memoranda of understanding with Federal agencies or other entities to share or otherwise cross-check as necessary data on individuals identified on Federal agency databases who may pose a risk to transportation or national security."
I would be made as h*ll if DHS was letting people who pose a risk fly on an airplane with me or my family.
[DAWN] The Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf ...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations.... (PTI) called on the government on Saturday to break the deadlock in the talks with the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistain (TTP), saying that there had been a respite in terrorist attacks since initiation of the dialogue.
"The PTI reiterates its support for dialogue and wants the government to break the current deadlock," Shah Mehmood Wormtongue Qureshi, the party's vice chairman, said. He termed the resumption of talks as "the only way towards peace".
Talking to Dawn after attending a PTI core committee meeting at the Bani Gala residence of party chief Imran Khan ... aka Taliban Khan, who ain't the sharpest bulb on the national tree... , Mr Qureshi said that Rustam Shah Mohmand -- the party's representative in the government committee holding talks with the Taliban -- had briefed the members on the progress made so far.
However, there's more than one way to stuff a chicken... at the press briefing following the meeting, Mr Khan focused on the ongoing tug-of-war between the PTI and a TV channel and did not talk about much else.
He accused Prime Minister 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... of turning parliament into a 'dummy' institution by not attending National Assembly sessions. "Parliament has no value if the chief executive does not come there. The parliament is becoming a dummy," Mr Khan said when asked why he had not raised the issues in parliament.
Implying that parliament had lost its importance, he said that under Pervez Perv Musharraf ... former dictator of Pakistain, who was less dictatorial and corrupt than any Pak civilian government to date ... and Asif Ali Zardari, prime ministers Shaukat Aziz and Yousuf Raza Gilani ... Pakistain's former prime minister, whose occasional feats of mental gymnastics could be awe-inspiring ... would come to the house, but at that time power was centred with the president.
Mr Khan reiterated his demands for a vote recount in four National Assembly constituencies and resignation of all members of the Election Commission. He said there was no use of holding fresh elections without first holding accountable those who, according to him, had rigged last year's polls.
In a handout issued later, PTI information secretary Dr Shireen Mazari reiterated the party's position that "peace can only come through dialogue and never through a military operation, as our history has shown". Sure. Just ask any Carthaginian.
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[AnNahar] Syria's biggest Islamist rebel groups promised Saturday "a state of law, freedom and justice," just months after the largest among them had flatly rejected democratic principles.
"The Syrian revolution is committed to the respect of human rights When they're defined by the state or an NGO they don't mean much... that are also encouraged by our religion," said the covenant, which all but revoked a November denunciation of democracy by the Islamic Front, which had also called for the establishment of an Islamic state.
"The Syrian revolution is a revolution based on morals and values with the objective of achieving freedom, justice and security (for) the entire Syrian society, with its diverse multi-ethnic and multi-sectarian social fabric," added the statement, posted by the Islamic Front on Twitter.
The document was co-signed by the Ajnad al-Sham Islamic Union, the Army of Mujahideen, Failaq al-Sham and the Furqan brigades -- all important rebel groups.
It also said the revolt's goal is "to overthrow the current regime and all its symbols.... and to bring them to justice in fair trials, (steering) away from any acts of Dire Revenge™ or retaliation."
The rebels said they are committed to fighting both Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad Terror of Aleppo ... 's regime and the krazed killerIslamic State of Iraq and the Levant ... the current version of al-Qaeda in Iraq, just as blood-thirsty and well-beloved as the original... (ISIL), which has been in open war with rival opposition factions and jihadists since January.
It said decisions should be "entirely Syrian", rejecting jihadist bids to influence the revolt.
The covenant said the signatories welcome "the opportunity to communicate and cooperate with regional and international" powers in the bid to overthrow Assad.
After Assad unleashed a brutal crackdown on protesters in March 2011, Syria's rebellion grew from rag-tag groups of army defectors and civilians taking up arms to a massive array of Islamist and moderate rebel groups of different sizes, ideologies and international backers.
[Ynet] Just two weeks before the end of his term, Lebanese President Michel Suleiman ...before assuming office as President, he held the position of commander of the Leb Armed Forces. That was after the previous commander, the loathesome Emile Lahoud, took office as president in November of 1998. Likely the next president of Leb will be whoever's commander of the armed forces, too... stresses need for peace and security without Hezbollah.
Leb's President Michel Suleiman on Saturday urged Hezbollah to withdraw its forces from Syria to avoid future repercussions on the tiny Arab state that suffered through 15 years of its own civil war.
Suleiman made his comments in the mountain village of Brih during a ceremony on reconciliation between the Druse and Christian community in the area that witnessed deadly sectarian violence during Leb's 1975-90 civil war.
"I appeal for the return to Leb and to withdraw from neighboring arenas to avoid future repercussions on Leb," said Suleiman, a critic of Hezbollah backing Syrian Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad Before going into the family business Pencilneck was an eye doctor. If he'd stuck with it he'd have had a good practice by now... 's forces.
Hezbollah, which openly joined the battles in Syria last year, is not likely to abide by Suleiman's call. Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah has vowed to keep his fighters in Syria as long as needed to shore up Assad's struggle against Syria's rebels.
The Hezbollah fighters have been instrumental to Assad's success on the battlefield, and support from the Iranian-backed group appears to have tipped the balance into the government's favor - especially in areas on the border with Leb and near the Syrian capital of Damascus.
Suleiman's comments came a week before his six-year term ends.
Meanwhile in Syria, members of al-Qaeda breakaway group called the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant ... the current version of al-Qaeda in Iraq, just as blood-thirsty and well-beloved as the original... beheaded a local rebel commander of a rival group, activists said.
The Britannia-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the Ahrar al-Sham commander known as Abu al-Miqdam went missing four days ago. It said the man was found beheaded Friday in the central province of Hama.
Many rebels referred to Abu al-Miqdam as the "tank sniper" for his role in firing rockets at Syrian army tanks, according to opposition websites.
The Islamic State and rival Islamic groups including Ahrar al-Sham have been fighting each other in northern and eastern Syria since January. Activists say the internal fighting killed more than 6,000 people.
Meanwhile, ...back at the dirigible, Jack stuck the cigar in his mouth, stepped onto the gantry, and asked Got a light, Mac?
Von Schtinken stopped short, lowering the dagger and trying to control his features. If you light that thing, Herr Armschtröng, he pointed out, his voice tense, we all die!... United Nations ...where theory meets practice and practice loses... Secretary-General the ephemeral Ban Ki-moon ... of whom it can be said to his credit that he is not Kofi Annan... condemned a cut in water supplies in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo that he said has deprived at least 2.5 million people of access to potable water. In a statement released by his office late Friday, Ban noted that denying civilians essential supplies is a breach of international and humanitarian law.
Rebels from the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front shut down the main water pumping station in Aleppo, Syria's largest city, nearly two weeks ago to punish civilians living on the government-controlled side of the divided metropolis, the Observatory's Rami Abdurrahman said.
Abdurrahman, whose group collects information from activists inside Syria, said that the Nusra Front has tried to restart the water station, but that supplies are erratic and remain largely cut.
"They don't have specialists to deal with the pumps, and they've damaged the station," Abdurrahman said. "They've tried to resume pumping. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. The water comes and goes, but until now it's not flowing as usual."
Some residents have resorted to drinking polluted well water distributed in buckets and plastic jerry cans.
[Al Ahram] Syria's biggest Islamist rebel groups promised Saturday "a state of law, freedom and justice," just months after the largest among them had flatly rejected democratic principles.
"The Syrian revolution is committed to the respect of human rights ...which are usually entirely different from personal liberty... that are also encouraged by our religion," said the covenant, which all but revoked a November denunciation of democracy by the Islamic Front, which had also called for the establishment of an Islamic state.
"The Syrian revolution is a revolution based on morals and values with the objective of achieving freedom, justice and security (for) the entire Syrian society, with its diverse multi-ethnic and multi-sectarian social fabric," added the statement, posted by the Islamic Front on Twitter.
The document was co-signed by the Ajnad al-Sham Islamic Union, the Army of Mujahideen, Failaq al-Sham and the Furqan brigades -- all important rebel groups.
It also said the revolt's goal is "to overthrow the current regime and all its symbols.... and to bring them to justice in fair trials, (steering) away from any acts of Dire Revenge™ or retaliation."
The rebels said they are committed to fighting both Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad Oppressor of the Syrians and the Lebs... 's regime and the bully boyIslamic State of Iraq and the Levant ... the current version of al-Qaeda in Iraq, just as blood-thirsty and well-beloved as the original... (ISIL), which has been in open war with rival opposition factions and jihadists since January.
It said decisions should be "entirely Syrian", rejecting jihadist bids to influence the revolt.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/18/2014 00:00 ||
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[Iran Press TV] The three presidential candidates in Syria, including incumbent Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad The Scourge of Hama... , are pressing ahead with their campaigns as the June 3 election approaches, Press TV reports.
In interviews with Press TV, two Syrian presidential candidates Maher Abdel Hafiz Hajjar and Hassan Abdallah al-Nuri outlined their social and economic plans to end the deadly crisis which has been plaguing the Arab state since March 2011.
Hajjar underlined the need for Syria to "exit from the crisis" as soon as possible and said, "I am adherent to Syrians' national principles and I'm against the US-Zionist project. At the same time, I do not agree with the policies currently [being] implemented internally."
Nuri also told Press TV that economic reforms were needed to put an end to the foreign-sponsored crisis gripping Syria, with his main slogan being "Towards a free and smart economy."
"Although I do agree with the current president concerning his political file, I have a totally different view and strategy concerning the economic, social and administrative files," Nuri stated.
Meanwhile, ...back at the chili cook-off, Chuck and Manuel's rivalry was entering a new and more dangerous phase... "Together" is the main title of incumbent President Assad's election campaign. His pages on social media are full of mottos such as "Together we are stronger" and "Together we build Syria."
Posted by: Fred ||
05/18/2014 00:00 ||
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Posted by: Uncle Phester ||
05/18/2014 00:00 ||
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#1
"The Americans do not know most of the details, and their research institutes have presented very rough data regarding the scale models of aircraft carriers that we are building, Fadavi said, adding that the Iranian navy can sink these duplicated U.S. ships within 50 seconds.
"Unless the weather is icky, in which case we'll get pizza," he added.
#6
So, they have something that is better than the Russian/Sovier ASMs? Or the Backfires and Bears that launch missiles in fairly large numbers? Both of which the US Navy has been dealing with since the middle of the latter half of las century? These guys real are delusional
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
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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.
Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir 
Goodluck Jonathan
Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir 
Mehmood 
Pervez 
Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir 
Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir 
the ephemeral Ban Ki-moon
Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir 
Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir 
