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38 die in Kurd, ISIS battles in Raqqa
Today's Headlines
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Afghanistan
MoD Orders Troops To Stop Militia Groups In Nangarhar
[Tolo News] Chief of Army Staff Qadam Shah Sahim, in a visit to Achin district in Nangarhar
The unfortunate Afghan province located adjacent to Mohmand, Kurram, and Khyber Agencies. The capital is Jalalabad. The province was the fief of Younus Khalis after the Soviets departed and one of his sons is the current provincial Taliban commander. Nangarhar is Haqqani country..
, ordered Afghan National Army (ANA) troops to bring an end to militia group activities in the eastern province.

"We have bad experiences from establishing militia groups. We will not let anyone build militia [groups]," Shahim said.

"We welcome those who support the Afghan army and police force members in the framework of public uprisings, but we will not allow anyone to establish militia -- privately," he added.

The governor of Nangarhar, Salim Khan Kunduzi, meanwhile said any move which is out of government's framework is not acceptable. But he said militia groups should operate within government's structures.

He said: "We support those who defend the people but those who defend the people should work in a proper framework."

Nangarhar residents also announced their support for the security forces, and said the main reason behind the delay in military operations is a lack of air support for the Afghan troops.

Meanwhile,
...back at the Council of Boskone, Kinnison began his slow infiltration of the sewer system...
a number of Nangarhar tribal elders and residents met with President Ashraf Ghani
...former chancellor of Kabul University, now president of Afghanistan. Before returning to Afghanistan in 2002 he was a scholar of political science and anthropology. He worked at the World Bank working on international development assistance. As Finance Minister of Afghanistan between July 2002 and December 2004, he led Afghanistan's attempted economic recovery until the Karzais stole all the money. ..
on Saturday evening where they shared their concerns over insecurity and activities of militia groups in parts of the province.

Ghani promised the tribal elders he would address their concerns as he said he feels their pain and understands the problems they are enduring.

He assured the residents he would send a delegation to the province to assess their problems and find a solution for them.

He said 2015 had been a challenging year and that it was the sacrifices of security and defense forces that enabled the country to overcome problems and defeat the enemy.

He said the international community has reaffirmed its support to Afghanistan.

He said he has directed the Ministry of Defense (MoD) to continue military operations against Daesh [Islamic State] fighters in Achin district.
Posted by: Fred || 01/04/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Africa North
Ajdabiya and Derna Shoura Councils deny terrorist links.
Tripoli, 3 January 2016:

Ajdabiya Revolutionaries’ Shoura Council has today denied that it has pledged allegiance to IS. It put out a statement carried on a Libya Dawn media site, saying that the group photographed with a black IS banner was made up of individuals acting without the authority of the Council.

Likewise Derna Shoura Council has denied any links to Al-Qaeda. One of their senior commanders, Saad Al-Tayra was quoted by the Libya Observer as saying that if the council fighters were linked to Al-Qaeda they would make no secret of it. Instead, he said, they were simply conservatives.

Tayra insisted that the IS forces in the Fatayah hills above Derna had almost been defeated. Their request to be allowed to withdraw to Sirte, presumably by sea, had been turned down. Tayra added that once IS had been defeated in Derna, the Council’s fighters would move on to Sirte to defeat them there.
Posted by: badanov || 01/04/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Africa Subsaharan
Ivory Coast leader grants clemency for political prisoners
Recall we followed the turmoil in the Ivory Coast closely at the time. This seems like a positive step forward.
Ivory Coast's President Alassane Ouattara announced Thursday in his New Year's address that he had reduced the sentences of 3,100 prisoners held over bloody post-election unrest.

Around 3,000 people died in five months of violence in 2010-2011 in the west African nation following elections that saw Ouattara unseat then president Laurent Gbagbo. The crisis erupted after the strongman leader refused to concede defeat, sparking months of violence that eventually drew in international troops.

"I have decided to use my right of clemency to grant full and partial sentence reductions," Ouattara said.

"This decision will allow thousands of inmates to get their freedom back and for others to see their terms shortened," he added. "It concerns a total of 3,100 people."

He did not give a breakdown of how many prisoners would go free immediately and how many would remain behind bars.

Campaigners cautiously welcomed the announcement. "Ordinary prisoners will be pardoned but for political prisoners, that grace does not solve the problem," said Seri Gouagnon, a Gbagbo supporter.

"The most important thing is that he follows through on the announcement," Desiree Douati, the head of a group that represents the families of those in prison in Ivory Coast, AFFDO-CI, told AFP.

Ouattara, a former economist, won a second five-year term by a landslide in October in the nation's first peaceful vote in more than a decade. He has been credited with reviving the economy of the war-scarred country, the world's leading cocoa producer, investing in huge infrastructure projects that have helped raise annual growth to around nine percent.

Gbagbo, who was eventually defeated by pro-Ouattara forces backed by the UN and France, is now awaiting trial before the International Criminal Court in the Hague.

The 2010-2011 crisis was a bloody epilogue to a decade of upheaval, splitting west Africa's economic powerhouse between a rebel-held north and a loyalist south.
Posted by: Steve White || 01/04/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:


Mali extends state of emergency
Mali has extended by three months a nationwide state of emergency initially imposed following a deadly jihadist attack on a hotel in the capital in November, officials said Wednesday.

The government on Monday submitted a bill authorising the fresh extension to March 31 "because of serious threats to the security of persons and their property", according to an official statement. The National Assembly passed the bill unanimously in a vote on Tuesday, a parliamentary source told AFP.

Mali initially declared a state of emergency after 20 people, 14 of them foreigners, were killed in an attack claimed by two jihadist groups on the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako on November 20. It was extended twice, and the latest 10-day period was due to expire on Thursday.

Northern Mali fell under the control of jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda in 2012. The Islamists were largely ousted by a French-led military operation launched in January 2013, but large swathes of Mali remain lawless and prone to attacks.
Posted by: Steve White || 01/04/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Arabia
Gulf states back Saudi in its fight against 'terrorism'
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Arab League
...an organization of Arabic-speaking states with 22 member countries and four observers. The League tries to achieve Arab consensus on issues, which usually leaves them doing nothing but a bit of grimacing and mustache cursing...
on Sunday expressed support for 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...
's ongoing fight against "terrorism."

The six-member regional bloc's secretary general Abdullatif al-Zayani said that the GCC, which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar
...an emirate on the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It sits on some really productive gas and oil deposits, which produces the highest per capita income in the world. They piss it all away on religion, financing the Moslem Brotherhood and several al-Qaeda affiliates...
and Saudi, "stands side by side" with Riyadh, holding Iran as responsible.

His remarks came after Tehran lashed out at Riyadh for the executions of 47 people, include Shiite preacher Nimr al-Nimr and al-Qaeda ideologue Fares al-Shuwail .

Early Sunday, Saudi's embassy in Tehran and its consulate in Mashhad were attacked by Iranian protesters in reaction to Nimr's death.

The Gulf states - especially Bahrain - have long-accused Tehran of meddling in their affairs.

The Arab League later on Sunday also announced its support to Saudi Arabia in its attempt to combat terrorism, its secretary general said.

Nabil al-Arabi also denounced attacks on the Saudi embassy and consulate in Iran, describing the incidents as flagrant violation of international principles and denounced Iran's interference in the region.

Kuwait on Sunday also expressed its backing of Saudi measures aimed at safeguarding the kingdom's national security.

Meanwhile,
...back at the Council of Boskone, Helmuth had turned a paler shade of blue. Star-A-Star had struck again...
Jordan condemned the storming of the Saudi embassy and consulate by Iranian protestors, calling the act a "flagrant violation of international law," the official Saudi Press Agency quoted a Jordanian minister as saying.

The country's minister of state for media affairs said Jordan stands in solidarity with Saudi against extremism and terrorism, denouncing Iranian interference.

However,
there's more than one way to skin a cat...
the European Union
...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing...
's foreign policy chief warned Iran's foreign minister on Sunday that renewed tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia could wreck efforts to find a political solution for the crisis in Syria, according to Rooters.

Federica Mogherini said in a statement that she had spoken by telephone with Iran's foreign minister, Javad Zarif, at length on Sunday morning after violence erupted in Iran following Saudi Arabia's execution of the Shiite preacher.

Mogherini said that she had been informed of the storming of the Saudi embassy in Tehran by protesters and of steps taken by the Iranian authorities to defuse tensions and protect the Saudi diplomats.
Posted by: Fred || 01/04/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Saudi Arabia

#1  The Sudan, UAE, + Bahrain have repor all followed the KSA's lead and demanded that Iran's diplomats leave the country ASAP.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 01/04/2016 23:40 Comments || Top||


Soddis sever diplomatic ties with Iran
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia severed all diplomatic ties with Iran Sunday, the Saudi foreign minister announced in a press conference.

The major diplomatic move comes after Iranian protestors stormed the Saudi embassy in Tehran Saturday night in response to the execution of 47 people suspected of being terrorists. Among them was the Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, whose death was condemned by the Ayatollah Khamenei.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said Iran's diplomats had 48 hours to get the hell out of the country.

"The kingdom, in light of these realities, announces the cutting of diplomatic relations with Iran and requests the departure of delegates of diplomatic missions of the embassy and consulate and offices related to it within 48 hours," he said. "The ambassador as been summoned to notify them."

Iran is a mostly Shiite Muslim country that has for decades been at odds with Saudi Arabia, a mostly Sunni kingdom that has long been a close U.S. ally.
According to Khaama (Afghanistan):
Saudi Arabia has given an ultimatum of 24 hours to Iranian envoy in Riyadh to leave the country.
"Pack your spit and get out."
Posted by: Steve White || 01/04/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran

#1  How ugly do you suppose this is going to get???

Shia vs. Sunni ultimate Islamic civil war?
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom || 01/04/2016 1:17 Comments || Top||

#2  FOX news view
Posted by: Skidmark || 01/04/2016 1:34 Comments || Top||

#3  Shia vs. Sunni ultimate Islamic civil war?

We're allowed to dream.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 01/04/2016 4:52 Comments || Top||

#4  Prelude to war? I mean the non-proxy kind?
Posted by: Sven the pelter || 01/04/2016 7:04 Comments || Top||

#5  How ugly do you suppose this is going to get???

The Times of Israel is liveblogging today's events. Thus far Sudan and the UAE are also expelling their Iranian diplomats, and the Arab League will meet shortly to discuss the situation. No doubt there will be more mustache cursing all around, and terrible, fiery threats. But at the moment all the parties are stretched and possibly overstretched by their current kinetic endeavours, and oil income is not at all what it was. To add insult to injury, the U.S. has begun exporting oil as well.

I have to wonder who exactly will vote for Former President Barack Hussein Obama as the next UN Secretary General after the past eight years, other than Cuba...
Posted by: trailing wife || 01/04/2016 12:20 Comments || Top||

#6  Spengler discusses the impetus for the Saudi executions and much else here.
Posted by: trailing wife || 01/04/2016 12:49 Comments || Top||

#7  Gee, the US could wind up being Iran's only ally.
Posted by: Matt || 01/04/2016 16:08 Comments || Top||

#8  Gee, the US could wind up being Iran's only ally.

"We'll always have Vienna"?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 01/04/2016 16:16 Comments || Top||

#9  The question we must ask ourselves and ask for our children.

Is there any way way way we can keep these murderous morons killing each other? Or would it be cheaper to nuke the lot?
Posted by: Shipman || 01/04/2016 18:17 Comments || Top||

#10  Just give enough help to whoever is behind to keep them from loosing, but not enough to make decisive victory possible.

See Iran/Iraq war for examples of same. We gave limited help to both sides at various times to keep it going for 8 years.
Posted by: Nguard || 01/04/2016 19:12 Comments || Top||


Europe
Man Charged after Car Attack on French Soldiers
[AnNahar] A Frenchie of Tunisian origin was charged on Sunday with attempted homicide after he tried to run down troops guarding a mosque in the southeastern town of Valence, a prosecutor said.

The individual, identified as Raouf El Ayeb, aged 29, was charged by an examining magistrate at a local hospital, where he is being treated after being injured in the attack, prosecutor Alex Perrin told AFP.

The magistrate has requested that Ayeb remain in jug, Perrin said.

The incident took place on Friday with the country was on high alert after the jihadist attacks in Gay Paree on November 13 that claimed 130 lives and left 350 injured.

Witnesses said the driver deliberately accelerated his car, a Peugeot station wagon, as he headed towards four soldiers in a car park outside a large mosque.

The driver bore down on the team a first time, prompting them to shout a warning, and when he made another approach, they opened fire, seriously injuring him in the arm and the leg.

One of the soldiers sustained leg injuries after being hit by the vehicle, and a 72-year-old worshiper was also hurt after being hit in the leg by a stray bullet.

On Saturday, Perrin said Ayeb told emergency responders he "wanted to be killed by soldiers and to kill soldiers... a way for him to appear like a martyr."

But, in his meeting with the examining magistrate, Ayeb "stepped back" from this statement, saying he only wanted to "run over" the soldiers, Perrin said on Sunday.

Investigators also found "jihadist propaganda images" on a computer at the man's home, and the assailant reportedly said the words "Allah is great" during the attack, Perrin said in Saturday's presser.

But, he added, motivation for the attack remained unclear and there was no indication the suspect was a member of any terror organization.
No. The motive is very clear: Sudden Jihad Syndrome, for which no formal organizational allegience is needed.
Posted by: trailing wife || 01/04/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  No organization will claim him as some PMS plagued weed smoking Los Vegas vagrant made his attack look like a total disaster. A kid driving a Cozy Coupe could have done a better job. I shall continue to shame his weak attempt at matrydom until he is arraigned, forgotten and receives the perscription for lithium his actions so richly deserve.
Posted by: Super Hose || 01/04/2016 0:47 Comments || Top||

#2  A behavior similar to gang initiation I suppose.
Gotta 'make your mark' to get in.
Posted by: Skidmark || 01/04/2016 1:00 Comments || Top||

#3  If they started boiling these guys to death in pig shit, the rest might get the message that the only thing awaiting them is hell.
Posted by: Silentbrick || 01/04/2016 13:49 Comments || Top||

#4 

It just made me think of this for some reason.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 01/04/2016 17:12 Comments || Top||

#5  I feel sorry for the pig shit. At least you can reuse it several times.
Posted by: gorb || 01/04/2016 22:45 Comments || Top||


Should France strip citizenship of convicted terrorists?
Yes. If they have chosen not to choose France in word as well as deed, why should France choose them?
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] The push by La Belle France's Socialist government to revoke the citizenship of convicted Death Eaters with dual nationality after the Gay Paree attacks has turned into a harsh political dispute, with the far right applauding the move while some on the left express indignation at what they call a divisive
...politicians call things divisive when when the other side sez something they don't like. Their own statements are never divisive, they're principled...
measure.

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...
submitted the proposal three days after the Nov. 13 attacks in Gay Paree that left 130 dead, in a shift toward a hard line on security. The idea appears to have strong support in French public opinion. Several polls over the past week suggest that 80 to 90 percent of the French are in favor of the measure.

Under current French law, citizenship revocation can only be applied to people who have been naturalized, not if they are French-born, and the procedure is rarely implemented.

The new rules would extend it to all dual nationals, but cannot be applied to people who are only French citizens, as La Belle France's obligations under international law prevent it from leaving a person stateless.

Opponents of the measure consider it would create two classes of citizens - dual nationals who could lose their citizenship and others who cannot - in opposition to the principle of equality set out in La Belle France's constitution.

French authorities have not said how many of those locked away
Drop the rod and step away witcher hands up!
over the Gay Paree attacks are dual nationals.
Posted by: Fred || 01/04/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Just kill them and deport their families.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 01/04/2016 4:07 Comments || Top||

#2  France is an excellent example of how the liberal west is entirely unprepared to meet the Islamist threat. For starters, no death penalty...
Posted by: Iblis || 01/04/2016 16:44 Comments || Top||


New Years Eve: Tahrir Style Sexual Harrassment in Cologne, Germany
[PamelaGeller]
Posted by: Elmerert Hupens2660 || 01/04/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  God created man and woman, Sam Colt made them equal.


Just sayin'.
Posted by: AlanC || 01/04/2016 8:30 Comments || Top||

#2  Photo: Invader Sex Attackers in Cologne
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 01/04/2016 17:13 Comments || Top||

#3  Alleged mass rape is more than just alleged mass sexual harassment.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 01/04/2016 23:43 Comments || Top||


The Grand Turk
Turkey's top religious leader says presenting cemevis as alternative to mosques a 'red line'
[TODAYSZAMAN] In an apparent criticism of the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) promise to grant cemevis -- places of worship for Alevi Muslims -- legal status, Religious Affairs Directorate President Mehmet Görmez has said presenting cemevis as an alternative to mosques is a red line for the directorate.

The Milliyet daily reported on Saturday Görmez stating the Religious Affairs Directorate has two "red lines" with regards to the demands of Alevis. "One of them is defining Alevism as a path separate from Islam since its 1,000-year-old history refutes this claim. The second is presenting cemevis as an alternative to mosques and as the place of worship of another belief," Görmez was quoted as saying.

However,
corruption finds a dozen alibis for its evil deeds...
he added he believes Alevis have the right to perform their traditions and beliefs.

Görmez's statements come soon after Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu announced a series of reforms his new government aims to implement within the next six months, including granting legal status to the places of worship of minority Alevi Muslims.

The Sick Man of Europe Turkey
...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire....
's Alevis have long complained of discrimination in the mostly Sunni country, including the non-recognition of their cemevis as places of worship.

Davutoglu said last month that cemevis would be given legal status, but did not elaborate.

Posted by: Fred || 01/04/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  To ME, every "Mosque" is a red line.

Sorry. It is how it is, cretins.
Posted by: newc || 01/04/2016 0:48 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Arrest warrants for top brass of MQM reissued
KARACHI: An antiterrorism court reissued on Saturday arrest warrants for almost the entire leadership of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, including its chief Altaf Hussain, in around 10 cases for delivering and listening to a speech criticising the military establishment.

ATC-I Judge Bashir Ahmed Khoso again issued non-bailable warrants against Mr Hussain, Waseem Akhtar, party’s nominee for the position of Karachi mayor, Farooq Sattar, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Rashid Godil, Khawaja Izhar ul Hasan, Qamar Mansoor, Kail-ul-Wara, Salman Mujahid Baloch, Rehan Hashmi and around 10 others for Jan 15.

The court reissued arrest warrants after the police remained unable to execute the previous warrants issued on Dec 22.

The police had submitted charge sheets in around 10 cases last month and shown the MQM leaders as absconders except Rauf Siddiqui, who is on a pre-arrest bail.

The prosecution said that the MQM chief in his July 12 speech had allegedly accused the Rangers chief and his subordinates of violating the army code of conduct during the ongoing Karachi operation while the other party leaders were booked for allegedly listening to their party chief’s speech.

The cases were registered under Sections 120-B (punishment for criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging or attempting to wage war or abetting waging of war against Pakistan), 122 (collection arms, etc with intention of waging war against Pakistan), 123-A (condemnation of the creation of state and advocacy of abolition of its sovereignty) and 109 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 and Section 25-D of the Telegraph Act at Steel Town and different police stations of the city.

Over 100 cases were registered across the country against Mr Hussain and other party leaders for his July 12 remarks.

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2016
Posted by: badanov || 01/04/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Fazl wants parliament informed about army chief's Kabul visit
[DAWN] Maulana Fazlur Rehman
Deobandi holy man, known as Mullah Diesel during the war against the Soviets, his sympathies for the Taliban have never been tempered by honesty ...
, the extremely fat chief of his own faction of Jamaat Ulema-e-Islam
...the political wing of the Pak Taliban...
, has called upon 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...
to take parliament into confidence about the army chief's visit to Afghanistan on Dec 27.

Speaking at a presser at the party's secretariat on Sunday, he said the prime minister should explain whether or not Gen Raheel Sharif
..Pak chief of army staff, meaning he pulls the strings on the Nawaz Sharif puppet to make it dance and sing and not do much at all....
had proceeded to Kabul
...the capital of Afghanistan. Home to continuous fighting from 1992 to 1996 between the forces of would-be strongman and Pak ISI/Jamaat-e-Islami sock puppet Gulbuddin Hekmayar and the Northern Alliance, a period which won Hek the title Most Evil Man in the World and didn't do much for the reputations of the Northern Alliance guys either....
with his permission.

"I am sure that such high-level talks can't take place without the prime minister's consent," the JUI-F chief said when informed that federal ministers had expressed their ignorance in the Senate about the outcome of Gen Raheel's meetings in Kabul.

The army chief held talks with the Afghan leadership and reportedly offered Pakistain's role in ending insurgency in that country.

Maulana Fazl said if Pakistain could play a role in reconciliation, the Afghan government should take advantage of it and come up with a positive response. It was a very positive approach by Pakistain for bringing peace to Afghanistan, he added.

He said tension between Pakistain and India had eased after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Lahore last month. He said parliament should hold a candid debate on the country's relations with Afghanistan and India.
Posted by: Fred || 01/04/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Cook gave vital info; cops ignored it
[Daily Excelsior] The uneventful drive back from a religious shrine on Friday evening didn't take much time to turn into a nightmare for Madan Gopal, one of the three kidnapped by the forces of Evil who stormed the Pathankot air base on Saturday morning.

Gopal, the cook of former Gurdaspur Superintendent of Police Salvinder Singh, Salvinder and the latter's jeweller friend, Rajesh Verma, were kidnapped on Thursday late night. And on Friday early morning, at around 2 a.m., Gopal and Singh were freed.

Gopal alleged that not only was the vital information he shared with the police immediately after he was freed ignored but also he was brutally tortured by the Punjab
1.) Little Orphan Annie's bodyguard
2.) A province of Pakistain ruled by one of the Sharif brothers
3.) A province of India. It is majority (60 percent) Sikh and Hindoo (37 percent), which means it has relatively few Moslem riots....

Police.

On their way from Pathankot to Gurdaspur, the ordeal of the trio started at Kolian area where Gopal and others were signalled to stop by five men dressed in Army fatigues and carrying assault rifles. They already had another vehicle which they had obtained after murdering a taxi driver.

It was nearly midnight and they were on a isolated stretch when the uniformed men stopped them.

"Verma was driving the SUV with Singh sitting next to him while I was in the middle passenger seat. In a flash, we were overpowered with Verma being the first one to be forcefully evicted and stuffed inside the boot," said Gopal.

"They dragged Singh out of the car and sandwiched him between the front and middle seats, something they did to me as well. Two of them sat on us after tying up our limbs, taping our eyes and gagging our mouths," he added.

Two of the attackers then sat over the duo. Gopal recalled the attackers talking to each other but is fairly certain that the language used by most of them "wasn't Punjabi".

"Only one of them uttered few words in broken Punjabi, which is why I could not comprehend much. From the voices, I could sense they were young men," said Gopal.

Neither Gopal nor Singh (in his purported disclosure to the police) could remember the routes they were driven on in the hijacked car but it was a dense forest close to the base where they were eventually dumped. The assailants drove away with Verma still inside the boot.

Gopal then heard his senior's voice: "Madan let's try and get out of this forest." It was Singh who managed to free himself first and he freed Gopal.

"The darkness, dense bushes and tall grasses made it extremely difficult for us to navigate out of the forest. When we eventually did, after walking for two hours and even encountering a canal, we were in a village," said Gopal.

Villagers helped Singh to contact his seniors. "He called up Gurdaspur SSP Gurpreet Singh and told him that those who had kidnapped us could be turbans," recounted Gopal.

He added that his hope of police rushing him to safety was immediately dashed when they were taken to the Sadar cop shoppe in Pathankot.

"I was repeatedly assaulted even as I kept insisting that whatever I had told them was true. My fears were proved right when the base was attacked but the local police as well as some intelligence officers kept torturing me even after the shootout started. This is all I get after serving this force for 40 years," said Gopal, a Class IV staff of Punjab Police, who got an extension after retiring last year.

Posted by: Fred || 01/04/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistain Proxies

#1  Ah, a simple matter of too many swoops have spoiled deh cook.

Maurice, change the voltage regulator immediately, we must ride!
Posted by: Shipman || 01/04/2016 18:42 Comments || Top||


Lt Col among 7 security personnel, 5 militants killed; another seriously injured
[Daily Excelsior] Twelve persons including seven security personnel of elite National Security Guards (NSG), Army and Indian Air Force (IAF) and five bandidos Lions of Islam have been killed so far in the gunbattle inside IAF air base at Takki Chowk here, which raged for second consecutive day today with IAF saying the combing operations were still on and they couldn't say as to how many more bully boyz were still inside the base.

Three security personnel gave up the ghost sustained by them during shootout with the bully boyz overnight while Lt Col Niranjan E Kumar of elite NSG was killed this morning while defusing a live Improvised Explosive Device (IED) tied with body of one of the slain bully boyz inside the air base.

Official sources told the Excelsior that the bully boyz including four slain ultras and others, who were still holed-up inside the air base, were bearing explosive laden belts with their bodies. Slain ultras had tied belts with their abdomen and it was being anticipated that remaining bully boyz might also be bearing the similar belts.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred || 01/04/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Jaish-e-Mohammad


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Netanyahu vows crackdown on 'Arab crime'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced Saturday the murder of two people in Tel Aviv by a shooter suspected of being an Arab Israeli, pledging a crackdown on crime in that community.

A man police identified as Nashaat Melhem shot up a pub Friday, killing the two and wounding seven others before fleeing. He remained on the lam late Saturday, with thousands of police searching for him.

The shooting came amid a wave of Paleostinian attacks on Israelis, and while police said there was a "strong possibility that this was a terrorist attack", Netanyahu did not define it as such.

"There was a despicable murder here yesterday, incomprehensible cruelty", he said after lighting a candle outside the pub.

The attack was condemned by the council of Arara, the suspect's hometown, as well as by the head of the Joint List, which groups parliament's main Arab parties.

"I appreciate the condemnations of the crime from the Arab sector; I must say I expect all Arab members of parliament, without exception, to condemn the murder," the premier said.
Posted by: Fred || 01/04/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Racist!!!!
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 01/04/2016 4:07 Comments || Top||


Thousands attend funeral of slain Palestinians
Thousands of Palestinians gathered on Saturday in Hebron to bury 14 men whose bodies had been held by Israel after being killed allegedly after carrying out attacks.

Israel handed over the bodies of 23 Palestinians on Friday in an apparent bid to ease tensions, of which 14 were from the southern West Bank city.

The Al Hussein mosque was overflowing with people, where the 14 bodies were on display before prayers, wrapped in Palestinian flags. Relatives kissed the foreheads of the deceased, some of which were covered with flags of the Hamas and Islamic Jihad groups.

Prayers were also held in Hebron's only stadium next to Al Hussein, while hundreds of others waited outside the mosque in the cold.

Heavy rain began as the bodies were carried out of the mosque and those attending began seething rolling their eyes grimacing fiercely making faces cursing mustaches chanting "There is no god but God".

The funerals of the rest of the Palestinians handed over by Israel were to take place on Saturday throughout the West Bank. A military spokeswoman said that, after Friday's handovers, the army would have returned a total of 76 bodies and was still holding two. Police could also be holding more bodies, she said.
Posted by: Steve White || 01/04/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I remember in the "beginning" of WOT, somebody (Derb I think) suggested bombing such funerals.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 01/04/2016 4:04 Comments || Top||

#2  Oooppps
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 01/04/2016 4:04 Comments || Top||

#3  Oooppps

I removed the double, g(r)omgoru. No big deal, it happens to most of us sooner or later. I blame it on stray gamma rays passing through space.
Posted by: trailing wife || 01/04/2016 9:08 Comments || Top||

#4  Gracias, bella donna.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 01/04/2016 9:19 Comments || Top||

#5  Heh, belladonna, she do make the heart race.
Posted by: Shipman || 01/04/2016 19:01 Comments || Top||

#6  Grammar ray
Posted by: Sven the pelter || 01/04/2016 19:25 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Iran voices ‘regret’ over attacks on Saudi embassy
[IsraelTimes] Riyadh defends carrying out executions, says severed ties with Tehran shouldn't affect peace talks on Syria, Yemen

Iran has expressed "regret" over two attacks on 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...
n diplomatic missions and said it will spare no effort in arresting and prosecuting those responsible.

Iran's UN envoy Gholamali Khoshroo said in a letter to UN Secretary-General the ephemeral Ban Ki-moon Monday that the Islamic Theocratic Republic "will take necessary measures to prevent the occurrence of similar incidents in the future."

Saudi Arabia severed ties with Iran on Sunday after protesters attacked its embassy in Tehran and consulate in Mashad. The violence stems from Saudi Arabia's execution of a prominent opposition Shiite holy man over the weekend, which predominantly Shiite Iran has denounced.

Khoshroo said more than 40 protesters at the embassy have been tossed in the slammer
Youse'll never take me alive coppers!... [BANG!]... Ow!... I quit!
and handed over to judicial authorities and that Sherlocks are seeking other possible perpetrators.

In the letter, obtained by The News Agency that Dare Not be Named, he said Iran supports the Vienna conventions on the protection of diplomats and diplomatic property. Khoshroo asked that the letter be circulated to all 193 UN member nations.

Saudi Arabia's UN Mission, meanwhile, insisted the kingdom granted "fair and just trials" to 47 people who were executed last weekend, responding to concerns raised by the UN chief over the fairness of the judicial proceedings.

The Saudi mission, in a statement sent to The News Agency that Dare Not be Named on Monday, expressed "deep regret" at a statement from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's front man on Saturday saying opposition Shiite holy man Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr and a number of other prisoners executed were convicted after trials "that raised serious concerns over the nature of the charges and the fairness of the process."

The Saudi statement assured the UN chief of "the independence and impartiality of the judiciary authority." It said state-appointed lawyers were provided to some of the defendants, and that appeals in some of the cases took up to 10 years.

The statement said the final rulings against the 47 people executed were reached "based on their own criminal and illegal actions" without consideration of their intellectual, racial or sectarian background.

Saudi Arabia's UN envoy tried to allay fears that the Saudi-Iranian rift would derail peace efforts in Syria and Yemen. Two UN diplomats were dispatched to Riyadh to keep diplomatic gains afloat.

"From our side, it should have no effect because we will continue to work very hard to support the peace efforts in Syria and Yemen," Saudi Ambassador Abdallah al-Mouallimi told news hounds.

The envoy said Saudi Arabia "will attend the next Syria talks and we are not going to boycott them because of Iran" but he also took a swipe at Iran's role in the search to end the nearly five-year war in Syria.

"The Iranians even before the break of diplomatic relations have not been very supportive, not very positive in these peace efforts," said Mouallimi.

"They have been taking provocative and negative positions.. and I don't think the break in relations is going to dissuade them from such behavior."

The Saudi envoy spoke as the UN Security Council haggled over the wording of a statement on the Saudi-Iranian tensions.

In a letter to the council, the Saudi ambassador called on the council to "take all appropriate measures to ensure the inviolability of diplomatic facilities and the protection of all Saudi diplomats in Iran."

UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura was in Riyadh for talks and was to head later this week to Tehran to seek assurances that hard-won gains in the Syria grinding of the peace processor were not in jeopardy.

De Mistura is counting on broad support to launch peace talks between 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 government and the opposition in Geneva on January 25 -- the culmination of a three-month effort involving all key players.

Both Iran and Saudi Arabia have a crucial role in the diplomatic push to end the nearly five-year war in Syria and to bring about a political settlement for Yemen.

The UN envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, heads to Riyadh on Wednesday to push for a renewed ceasefire.
Posted by: trailing wife || 01/04/2016 00:00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran


Iran's president condemns attack on Saudi embassy in Tehran
[TODAYSZAMAN] Iranian President Hassan Rouhani pledged to protect the security of foreign missions and prosecute those responsible for attacking Saudi diplomatic posts, in a series of messages posted on his personal Twitter account on Sunday.

Rouhani blamed "extremist individuals" for the attacks, which targeted the Saudi embassy in Tehran and consulate in the northeastern city of Mashhad in response to 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...
's execution of prominent Shi'ite holy man Nimr al-Nimr.

He also condemned Saudi Arabia's execution of Nimr, calling it a violation of "human rights
When they're defined by the state or an NGO they don't mean much...
and Islamic values" and accusing the Sunni monarchy of pursuing "sectarian policies which have destabilized the region in recent years."

Demonstrators protesting Nimr's execution broke into the Saudi embassy building in Tehran earlier on Sunday, smashed furniture and started fires before being ejected by police.
Posted by: Fred || 01/04/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran

#1  Just ask the Americans how much we respect foreign embassies....
Posted by: Sven the pelter || 01/04/2016 12:00 Comments || Top||

#2  Iranian President Hassan Rouhani pledged to protect the security of foreign missions

Well, we know the Chinese embassy will be safe.
Posted by: Pappy || 01/04/2016 16:18 Comments || Top||

#3  My kittuahs can see lasing, it's weird. Matter of fact they go bat-shit crazy about lasing. I dunno, Chinee have no Kittuahs?
Posted by: Shipman || 01/04/2016 18:46 Comments || Top||


U.S. needs 'more time' to impose Iran sanctions
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] The White House expects Iran to finish work needed to trigger implementation of an international nuclear deal in the coming weeks, but Washington needs more time to prepare sanctions over its ballistic missile program, a U.S. official said on Saturday.
"Don't bother us widdat. We're workin' on gun control!"
The administration had additional diplomatic and technical work to complete before announcing any new sanctions related to the missile program, but the delay was not a result of pressure from Tehran, said deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes.

"We have additional work that needs to be done before we would announce additional designations, but this is not something that we would negotiate with the Iranian government," Rhodes told news hounds in Hawaii, where President Barack Obama
I mean, I do think at a certain point you've made enough money...
is on vacation.

President Hassan Rouhani ordered his defense minister on Thursday to expand Iran's missile program, in defiance of the U.S. threat to impose sanctions over a ballistic missile test Iran carried out in October.

Meanwhile,
...back at the wreckage, Captain Poindexter wished he had a cup of coffee. Even instant would do...
implementation of the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers was on track after Iran shipped its stockpile of low enriched uranium out of the country, though it still had many other important things to complete, Rhodes said.

"I would expect the Iranians to complete the work necessary to move forward with implementation in the coming weeks," Rhodes said. "We are on track to see the implementation of the Iran deal move forward."
Posted by: Fred || 01/04/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran

#1  How much more time? January 2017.
Posted by: Sven the pelter || 01/04/2016 12:02 Comments || Top||

#2  How much more time?

Until Israel takes care of it---just like Osirak
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 01/04/2016 12:53 Comments || Top||

#3  I can't wait for a WH announcement of aid to Iran as an offset for the impact of Saudi oppression.
Posted by: Skidmark || 01/04/2016 14:55 Comments || Top||

#4  Meh, din't wake me, this is just a hilarious dream. Super Hose proved it 2 nights ago. Joe! Is the only reality.
Posted by: Shipman || 01/04/2016 18:49 Comments || Top||


Trump: Iran deal was so bad it’s suspicious
Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump says the nuclear deal with Iran is so bad, he is close to wondering whether it was done poorly on purpose.
The man says what a lot of people are thinking to themselves. That's a substantial part of his appeal right there...
“It’s almost like there has to be something else going on,” he said Saturday night at a rally in Biloxi, Miss. “I don’t think there is, I just don’t think they’re competent.”

Trump said he couldn’t believe the U.S. would agree to a deal with Iran that did not include the return of Americans held prisoner in Iran.

“Who would make that deal?” he asked, suggesting Tehran was celebrating as the agreement was being negotiated.

The billionaire businessman said American negotiators should have began the process by insisting on getting the prisoners back. He said Iran would have refused, but afterward, “you double and triple up your sanctions” and it would change Iran’s tune.

Trump pledged of the prisoners: “They will be out before I take office.”

And of Secretary of State John Kerry: “I can’t believe they didn’t walk from that negotiation.”

“People want, not that phony Obama change,” he added. “People want strength, they want competence.”
Posted by: Steve White || 01/04/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  **** COUGH **** COUGH **** ...

I could say something, but won't for now - I'll just go wid ...

* [1970's = 1990's "LITTLE DUBYA + GANG" here].
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 01/04/2016 0:15 Comments || Top||

#2  I sure hope Trump has good security.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 01/04/2016 4:02 Comments || Top||

#3  “It’s almost like there has to be something else going on,”

Nice to know he's reading the Burg.
Posted by: Besoeker || 01/04/2016 6:56 Comments || Top||

#4  he nuclear deal with Iran is so bad, he is close to wondering whether it was done poorly on purpose.

You could say the same about Fast and Furious, the IRS scandal, Gibson Guitar, Benghazi, the "Not-Affordable" Health Care Act which was not read prior to passing, and a whole host of other things associated with this administration. If one assumes the left and this administration thrives on chaos, it all makes sense. The left creates the problems and chaos and then promises people that they are the chosen ones to solve the chaos and problems.
Posted by: JohnQC || 01/04/2016 9:09 Comments || Top||

#5  Doesn't John Kerry have a daughter married to a prominent Iranian? Or was he just the best man at the wedding?
Posted by: jvalentour || 01/04/2016 14:35 Comments || Top||


RFNS missile cruiser Varyag replaces missile cruiser Moskva in eastern Med
MOSCOW, January 3. / TASS /. The flagship of Russia’s Pacific Fleet, the Varyag guided missile cruiser has passed the Suez Canal and entered into the Mediterranean Sea, Roman Martov, chief of information support department at the press service of the Eastern Military District, told reporters on Sunday.

In December 2015, TASS reported that Varyag would be dispatched off the Syrian coast to replace the missile cruiser Moskva.

The Moskva cruiser is taking part in the Russian operations against the Islamic State and Jabhat Al-Nusra terrorist groups (both groups are banned in Russia).

In late November, after the Turkish Air Forces attacked the Russian bomber Su-24M in Syria, the Moskva cruiser equipped with the Fort air defense system (similar to the system S-300) was dispatched off the coast of Latakia (Syria) with an air defense mission.

On September 30, Russia launched its anti-terrorist mission in Syria by the request of the country’s President Bashar al-Assad. Initially, the air group comprised about 50 aircraft and helicopters, including the Su-34 and Su-24M, Su-25, Su-30cm, Mi-8 and Mi-24 bombers. Later, the group received another 12 bombers and fighters. In total the air group comprises 69 aircraft. On November 17, the mission was strengthened with the long-range aviation - 25 missile carriers Tu-160, Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 and the ships of the Russian Navy.
Posted by: badanov || 01/04/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The real or main striking power in Russia's post-Soviet Navy lies in select Surface Warfare vessels, espec the revitalized KIROV-vlass Battle Cruisers, as the bulk of Russia's Cold War and post-Cold War Nuclear Submarines have become too problematic to rely on.

One has to respect Darth Vlad/VladVedev for trying to change things around.

THE US-WEST CANNOT ALLOW THE ISIS/ISIL = HARD BOYZ TO GET CONTROL OF RUSSIA'S, CHINA'S + INDIA'S NUKES.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 01/04/2016 0:25 Comments || Top||

#2  Variag is Russian for Viking. It's been a long time since vikings visited Dar.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 01/04/2016 4:06 Comments || Top||

#3  How long was Moskva deployed? Six months? Not too bad.
Posted by: Shipman || 01/04/2016 8:02 Comments || Top||

#4  He has come a long way to relieve the Moskva, bet he transfers to the Black Sea Fleet.
Posted by: Shipman || 01/04/2016 19:03 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
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Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has dominated Mexico for six years.
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Two weeks of WOT
Mon 2016-01-04
  38 die in Kurd, ISIS battles in Raqqa
Sun 2016-01-03
  Fierce Fighting Erupts Between Afghan Forces, Taliban In Marjah
Sat 2016-01-02
  Death sentences for nine 'hardcore terrorists' in Pakistan
Fri 2016-01-01
  New Year's Eve terror attack thwarted in NY
Thu 2015-12-31
  ISIS executes 40 civilians in Ramadi
Wed 2015-12-30
  Blue on Blue: 38 Bad Guys die in bombing attack in Nangarhar
Tue 2015-12-29
  North African al-Qaeda says top figure killed in ambush
Mon 2015-12-28
  Iraqi airstrike kills ISIS Top Dawgs
Sun 2015-12-27
  Syrian Rebels Mourn Loss of Leader, Name Replacement
Sat 2015-12-26
  One Killed as Bomb Blast Rocks Ahmadi Mosque in Bangladesh
Fri 2015-12-25
  30 ISIS Bad Guys die in Fallujah
Thu 2015-12-24
  ISIS troops forced out of Ramadi
Wed 2015-12-23
  Driver Shouting 'Allahu Akbar!' Runs Down 11 French Pedestrians
Tue 2015-12-22
  Tunisia dismantles cell recruiting women for Islamist militant
Mon 2015-12-21
  Afghanistan: Taliban 'take centre of Helmand district'

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