Posted by: ed ||
07/15/2006 08:36 ||
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The money quote:
the Taliban have taken such a beating that tribal leaders have appealed to president Karzai for mercy. While the tribal chiefs can't keep all their young men from running off with the Taliban (who pay well), they can appeal to Karzai to ask the Americans to take more prisoners and ease up on their generous use of smart bombs.
Al
Posted by: Frozen Al ||
07/15/2006 9:38 Comments ||
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Ummmmmm....no
Posted by: Frank G ||
07/15/2006 9:59 Comments ||
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Hokay, write us a memorandum in triplicate and we'll get back to you....never.
Posted by: DanNY ||
07/15/2006 10:38 Comments ||
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Midnight basketball and a jobs program, perhaps?
#5
No prisoners. Erase the next generation and stop this shit. These fools always surrender then sneak back to kill you another day. Get rid of them. No more lefty bitching about how many prisoners are being held. It's past time these fools realize there are consequences when you play games with guns.
CAIRO, Egypt - Jordans King Abdullah II met in Cairo with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Friday in a hastily-called meeting to discuss escalating Mideast violence. The two leaders of moderate, U.S.-backed Arab regimes - the only countries in the region to sign peace treaties with Israel - discussed the Israeli incursions into the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, which have killed 86 Palestinians in Gaza and 61 people in Lebanon, many of them civilians.
Abdullah and Mubarak met, had lunch and then Abdullah left for Jordan a few hours later, Egypts official news agency reported.
"Okay, we're agreed. You don't let the Paleo nutters into your country, and I won't let them into mine."
Jordan and Egypt have taken a lead in efforts to support Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas amid infighting between his Fatah faction and the militant group Hamas, which runs the Palestinian government, as well as in Israeli-Palestinian clashes. Egypt has also played a mediating role in the current escalation between Israel and Hamas officials.
US President George W. Bush phoned Mubarak early Friday to talk about the escalations in Lebanon and Gaza, the agency reported. The two leaders tackled ways to contain the current exploding situation on the Lebanese stage and violence in the Gaza Strip, it said.
"George, quickest way I know to stop the fighting is let the Israelis do as they wish. Believe me, my country has experience in this."
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/15/2006 00:00 ||
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"This came after Muslim groups and trade unions in South Africa called for the government to cut ties with the Jewish state and impose a trade boycott."
Just exactly what does South Africa have to trade? They're no longer exporting anything, just like Zimbob's country.
#3
South Africa has one of the world's best arms industries, developed during the apartheid period. Their 155mm howitzers (both towed and self-propelled) are used as a benchmark for judging other artillery. They developed a whole series of infantry weapons and light armoured vehicles that have been combat tested and even adopted by the US : the Rhino wheeled APC and the 6-shot 40mm gernade launcher. Also, South Africa is one of the world's biggest diamond exporters and Israel is a diamond cutting center. During the "Pariah" decades of the 1970s, 80s, and early 90s, the two countries developed a wide-ranging trade relationship that included Taiwan as well.
An Islamist cleric and politician from Bangladesh has been allowed to enter Britain this weekend, The Times of London reported.
The Home Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office considered revoking Delwar Hossain Sayeedi's visa, the newspaper said. But officials decided in the end to take no action.
Sayeedi, a member of Bangladesh's parliament, is known for anti-Western rhetoric and was accused of war crimes last year, the Times said. In one e-mail, an Islamic affairs adviser in the Foreign Office suggested that a Home Office official was biased and said that barring Sayeedi from the country might offend centrist Muslim leaders.
Sayeedi's schedule for the weekend includes a housing fair at the London Muslim Center and a rally with anti-war Member of Parliament George Galloway
#1
In one e-mail, an Islamic affairs adviser in the Foreign Office suggested that a Home Office official was biased and said that barring Sayeedi from the country might offend centrist Muslim leaders.
Fifth Column anyone?
Posted by: Tony (UK) ||
07/15/2006 9:34 Comments ||
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By implication, centrist Muslim leaders support islamic war criminals.
Posted by: ed ||
07/15/2006 9:37 Comments ||
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Fifth Column anyone?
PC run amok, I suspect. Take an Islamacist as 'advisor' and then be sure never to do anything he doesn't like.
IT is unlikely Australian troops will become directly involved in the escalating Middle East conflict, defence analysts say. But Australia's close ties with the United States, Israel's strongest ally, means intelligence is almost certainly being channelled through the Pine Gap listening facility near Alice Springs.
Israel has launched a cross-border operation into Lebanon, including airstrikes that have killed scores of civilians, after militant group Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers last week.
Dr Michael McKinley, of the Australian National University's (ANU) department of political science and international relations, said he did not believe the US would become directly involved either. But any escalation involving Iran could change the situation, and Australia did have specialised tanks that could be used in the Middle East, he said.
Oil-for-Food has had its first airing in federal court, and the verdict is in. South Korean businessman Tongsun Park was accused of conspiring to act as an unregistered agent of Saddam Hussein's Iraq in shaping the United Nations Oil-for-Food program. He has been found guilty.
Excellent. He was so deep in Saddam's pocket he was coated with lint. Now let's see if he'll roll for a lighter sentence, because if not he should be turning boulders into gravel for years to come.
Park's conviction comes at a time when the scandal-ridden U.N. is demanding $1.8 billion for the renovation of the same Turtle Bay headquarters where the grand U.N. conclave has been failing utterly to cope with such urgent matters as the nuclear crisis in Iran, the missile crisis in North Korea and the long-running genocide in Sudan. Against this backdrop, Park's trial can be viewed as the best argument in ages for letting the U.N. even stay in the country. The U.N. itself operates immune to any system of justice, with a resulting lack of accountability that explains much of its corruption, both financial and political. But at least the U.N.'s current location puts within reach of the law some of the private players who feed illicitly off the U.N. stew of money, secrecy, diplomatic immunity, and privilege.
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/15/2006 00:00 ||
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If this was a Bush hack, we'd expect it to be bold print, front and center on the cover page of tabloids and magazines and the first minute of broadcast news. That it involves the UN, the sweetheart of the left, it'll be buried by the same usual suspects.
(Indian) Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran has said that the recent terror attacks are all inter-linked. "We'll review the progress of cooperation with Pakistan. Showing no tolerance to terror is only option," Saran said. Saying a segmented approach to terrorism won't do, he asked those fighting the menace to share information.
Secretary level talks scheduled between India and Pakistan have been cancelled after New Delhi said it was convinced of Pakistan's involvement in the serial blasts in Mumbai. The July 11 blasts, which were one of the worst to have hit India, claimed 179 lives and injured 770 people.
Pakistan, on its part, has consistently been denying any involvement in the Mumbai blasts and has offered assistance in the investigations.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Mumbai and made a direct reference to the Pakistani connection in the blasts. He said that the peace talks would not continue unless Pakistan curbed cross border terrorism. "We have been trying to normalise relations with Pakistan but we have explained to the government of Pakistan at the highest level that unless Pakistan curbs terrorist activities, no government can continue with a peace process. "Pakistan had assured us in 2004 that it would not aid and abet terrorism on its soil it has to fulfill that obligation," said Singh. The talks were to be held on July 21, during which the two sides were to review the third round of their composite dialogue.
There has been another fallout of the serial blasts in Mumbai. Two MPs Sandeep Diskhit and Brinda Karat, who were to travel to Pakistan on Sunday, to take part in the Commonwealth parliamentarians' conference in Islamabad have cancelled their visit. The Commonwealth conference is being held to discuss gender issue.
Posted by: ed ||
07/15/2006 09:26 ||
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ISLAMABAD: Those behind the suicide attack in Karachi will not go unpunished, Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao told a news channel on Friday. "It is a very tragic incident in which Allama Hassan Turabi has been martyred," Sherpao said, adding that identification and checking of suicide bombers was a difficult task, but the administration and the law enforcement agencies had been alerted against such attacks. "We expect people to remain peaceful," Sherpao said.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/15/2006 00:00 ||
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The ceasefire between the security forces and tribal militants known as the Taliban may be extended to facilitate the ongoing negotiations for durable peace in North Waziristan. A senior government official, asking not to be named, said on Friday that the ceasefire expiring on July 25 could be extended if talks did not yield the desired results by that date. "I think both sides can extend the ceasefire period," he said. Declining media requests to share the issues both sides were discussing, the official said that "secrecy" could help the talks succeed. The official said the jirga would decide as to which demands of the Taliban were acceptable.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/15/2006 00:00 ||
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India is stepping up efforts to get the United States to hold the sale of F-16 fighter planes to Pakistan until the Musharraf government delivers on its promise to curb terror.
Interlocutors have conveyed Indias strong feelings on the issue to the Bush Administration. The back channels have been active since the serial blasts in Mumbai. A senior government source said credible evidence of a Pakistani link to the blasts will strengthen Indias case. Security agencies are in the process of piecing the evidence together.
The strongest message the US can give Pakistan (on the terror issue) is to put the F-16 deal on hold, said former Indian ambassador to Islamabad, G Parthasarthy.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: john ||
07/15/2006 00:00 ||
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I agree with the PM. Stop the sale to Pakland. At the same time, strongly encourage the Indians to buy from US inventory. Lockheed doesn't mind where the sale occurs, just as long as enough are produced and sold to keep the line open. We'd be much better to have any of our equipment in India. Anything in Pakland would soon be detoured to China on loan. They just tried to buy an F-16 engine for $4mil so they could copy it. Imagine what they'd do for the Paks if they had an entire plane to disassemble.
Indian police investigating serial bombings in Mumbai were surprised when a "woman" wearing an all-covering burqa and acting suspiciously turned out to be a man, a report said on Friday. The man told police he had disguised himself as a woman so he could meet his girlfriend, additional police commissioner Bipin Bihari told the Press Trust of India. The man said he was scared of his girlfriend's parents.
The official said police spotted the man at Mumbai's international airport, where security forces were keeping a strict watch after seven blasts killed 179 people on trains and stations along the western rail line on Tuesday. Women officials who were asked to investigate the burqa-clad suspect were in for a surprise when the man lifted his veil. Police were investigating the man's background. "We cannot take chances in the present circumstances," Bihari said, referring to tight security and a massive hunt for the Mumbai bombers.
After the attacks - the worst in India in 13 years - security has been stepped up at railway stations and airports across the country. Meanwhile, Indian police named a third suspect in the train bombings as investigators cast a wide net in their hunt for the assailants.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/15/2006 00:00 ||
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At first I thought the post was about these people.
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Thousands of Iraqis demonstrated in Baghdad on Friday praising the leader of Lebanons Hezbollah group and denouncing Israel and the United States for attacks against Lebanon. Some protesters said they were ready to fight the Israelis.
The demonstrations started immediately after Muslims left Friday prayers in mosques around the county. Thousands of people chanted slogans and carrying banners denouncing the Israels attacks on Lebanon. No, no to Israel, no no to America, chanted some of the more than 5,000 demonstrators in Baghdads eastern neighborhood of Sadr City. Oh God make (Hezbollahs leader) Hassan Nasrallah victorious.
Let everyone understand that we will not stand idle, read one of the banners carried by the demonstrators. Iraq and Lebanon are calling, enough silence Arabs, read another.
In the Shiite holy city of Karbala, Sheik Abdul Mahdi al-Karbalai, representative of Iraqs top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani said we condemn the Zionist terrorist offensive against Lebanon that targeted the infrastructure of this country, while Hezbollah hasnt targeted the infrastructure of the Zionists. They targeted military facilities.
You're a little confused as to what is and isn't a military facility, Sheik, let me help adjust you with this nightstick ...
In the southern holy city of Kufa, Sheik Asaad al-Nassiri, an aide to radical, anti-US cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, said we condemn and denounce the crimes of the Zionist enemy committed against our Lebanese people. This offensive is considered an oppressive act against the Lebanese people and is targeting the legitimate resistance that has been an example of bravery, al-Nassiri said.
You knew Mookie was going to take advantage of this.
Hundreds also took to the streets in the southern cities of Kut and Amarah denouncing the offensive.
Al-Sadr, a Shiite who launched two uprisings against the Americans in 2004, said in a statement that our hearts are aching because of what is happening in Lebanon, the attacks by the terrorist Zionist enemy under cover from America which is the enemy of people.
Despite the occupation and the difficult situation that we are passing through we put our hands in yours and we are with you not with your enemy, al-Sadr said. no and 1,000 no to Israel.
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/15/2006 00:00 ||
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Bring back Saddam
Posted by: Captain America ||
07/15/2006 0:31 Comments ||
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The demonstrations started immediately after Muslims left Friday prayers in mosques around the county. Tell you most of what you need to know.
The Clerics are loyal to Iran for the most part. The new governmet need to "address" this.
#4
Nevermind that the powers that be allowed them to seethe all they wanted to. That says something about how much trust/distrust they have of coalition force motivations and behavior. The ironic thing is that they probably aren't all that aware of it.
#5
Shouldn't Binnie be airing his biggest blockbuster video hit - "this is the big one, all jihadis around the world must kill, maim or explode right now. Every muslim must join the jihad, Allan says so" - any moment now?
Some 1,500 Arab Israelis, including Knesset members protested in Nazereth on Saturday against the campaign in Lebanon. A pamphlet distributed at the scene called on the government to "end the war crimes" and the "killing of children" that the writers alleged that Israel was performing in Lebanon. MK Wasal Taha (Balad), who also participated in the rally, told Army Radio that "undoubtedly the State of Israel is committing crimes in Lebanon: killing children, killing civilians."
Posted by: Fred ||
07/15/2006 12:50 ||
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2X4
Youre talking to the wrong person.
Duck soup is my favorit dish
Posted by: Elder of Zion ||
07/15/2006 13:23 Comments ||
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These are Israeli citizens, they have a right to protest. Even if they are completely wrong and wrong-headed. Even if they're sympathetic to the other side. Even if they'd be treasonous if given the right opportunity.
And it's better to have them in the open so that the Mossad knows exactly who they are.
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/15/2006 13:35 Comments ||
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nice that they went to Nazareth to do it? Isn't that in the WB proper?
Posted by: Frank G ||
07/15/2006 13:53 Comments ||
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No, it's in the northern part of the country not too far from Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee = Lake Kinneret. Bethlehem is on the west bank, though.
Posted by: Frank G ||
07/15/2006 14:00 Comments ||
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I've been to both places (Bethlehem and Nazareth), but can't say I'm all that knowledgeable except for a couple main cities. Here's a map I use from time to time to interpret news stories...
#10
MK Wasal Taha (Balad), who also participated in the rally, told Army Radio that "undoubtedly the State of Israel is committing crimes in Lebanon: killing children, killing civilians."
Everybody knows only Muslims are allowed to do that!
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
07/15/2006 15:25 Comments ||
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A couple of American tourists visiting Tiberias on Saturday, noted that in spite of the two rocket attacks on the city, they were still safer there than in Washington D.C., where they live. They told Army Radio that the crime rate in the American capital was more dangerous than the rockets that have been falling on Tiberias.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/15/2006 12:42 ||
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Brown nosers.
Posted by: ed ||
07/15/2006 12:49 Comments ||
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I think it would be hilarious to impose a concealed carry law on D.C. After a month and a dozen or so repeat offenders meeting their maker, to watch the crime rate fall through the basement to the anguished cries of the gun control crowd.
Israeli strikes against civilian targets in Lebanon and Gaza, from power stations to bridges, stirred growing international condemnation on Friday and warnings the conflict could spread. But Hizbollah guerrillas, who Israel says triggered the action with missile strikes on Israel and the capture of two of its soldiers, were also urged to curb their operations.
That's fairly unusual...
"One can ask oneself whether there isn't a sort of desire to destroy Lebanon," French President Jacques Chirac said of Israeli attacks that have killed 66 people, almost all civilians. "I find, honestly, like most Europeans, that the reactions are completely disproportionate." He described Hizbollah guerrillas who fired rockets on to the territory of the Jewish state as "completely irresponsible".
Take the next step, Jaques: Assume they were in Switzerland or Belchium, and rocketing French towns and kidnapping French troops. The Swiss or Belchian government is unable or unwilling to control them. Would you retaliate?
Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora urged President George W. Bush by telephone to use all his influence on Israel to "stop its aggression on Lebanon, reach a comprehensive ceasefire and lift its blockade", the prime minister's office said in a statement. "President Bush stressed that he was keen on pressing Israel to contain the damage to Lebanon and to avoid inflicting harm on innocent civilians," the statement said.
All Leb has to do is shut down the state within its state. But it's too weak to do that.
Tall order. Perhaps they'd like some help?
Bush said on Thursday "Israel has the right to defend herself", and made clear he felt its actions were justified. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, speaking on Thursday night, described Israeli action as a measured response.
I get such a good feeling when the Great White North acts like the Dominion of Canada instead of like Luxembourg...
Top U.N. relief co-ordinator Jan Egeland said those who had seized Israeli soldiers and fired rockets into Israel from both Gaza and southern Lebanon bore their share of the blame. "They don't seem to care the slightest bit that it is the children and the women and the civilians who bear the brunt of all of this," he told a news conference in Geneva.
From the headline, I expected the howling to be a lot more one-sided. They're still being pretty balanced, except for Jacques.
Israel says Hizbollah has launched 130 missiles in the last 48 hours, killing two Israeli civilians and wounding over 100. Residents in northern Israel have taken to bomb shelters. Egeland called Israeli targeting of civilian infrastructure a violation of international law and of common sense. "You are supposed to do something with the armed troops, you are not supposed to hurt the children and people who had nothing to do with all of this."
Posted by: Fred ||
07/15/2006 00:00 ||
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Moud > has already said or indic that any mil action against Iran by Israel = US = West justifies Iranian retaliation = Islamist/Muslim terror, includ strikes against Israel and USA-West proper. Dubya & Admin better order extra Secret Service-FBI personnel and other security measures.
#2
Is that any different from what they are doing now?
Funny how Israeli strikes against **TERRORIST** (and their enablers) targets in lebanon and Gaza draws quick comdemnation while the thousands of missles, rockets, and suicide bombs against innocent civilians nary gets a mention.
#5
It would be great if instead of a bird there were a cow in the graphic. :-)
Chirac seems to be all over the map the last year or so. Threatening terrorists with nuclear attacks on one hand, and trying to beat up on the Israelis on the other. Time for him to go. Isn't there a minimum limit on how much of his brain must be functioning before he's removed from office?
#6
Egeland called Israeli targeting of civilian infrastructure a violation of international law and of common sense
I am usually a very polite person but I would like to take the opportunity to ask Mr. Egeland to take his finger out of his fuking nordic asshole and shut the fuck up !
As to Messieur Chiracccc... he can lick Mr. egeland's finger (the one he just took out of his rectum). IMHO Shirac can talk again only after he develops a solution to the Islamization of his country, one that would not involve licking of Imam ass and other sharia cunts.
Comments anyone ???????
Posted by: Elder of Zion ||
07/15/2006 11:26 Comments ||
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Thank you Darrell
Tough situations sometimes require that you say the truth.
The truth is never pleasant
I promise to wash my mouth and apologize after Egelund and Chirac quit their jobs :)
Posted by: Elder of Zion ||
07/15/2006 11:37 Comments ||
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"The truth is never pleasant"
I disagree. Just consider John Bolton at the U.N. I find that to be very pleasant.
...We are especially concerned by the failure of the Iranian government to engage seriously on the proposals made by the P-5 countries and Germany. In this context, we stand fully behind the decision by Foreign Ministers on July 12.
We are seriously concerned by North Korea's ballistic missile tests and urge it to return to a moratorium on such launches, to the Six-Party Talks, and to full implementation of the September 19, 2005 agreement.
The Russian Federation and the United States are actively working for the unity among the UN Security Council members on these sensitive issues. We will continue consultations with our G-8 partners to strengthen the global non-proliferation regime
Through our cooperation in the field of nuclear nonproliferation we seek to improve the security of our own peoples and of all others in the world community. In doing so, we are building on the unique historic roles and responsibilities of the United States and the Russian Federation in nuclear science and technology, both military and civilian. We are united in our determination to help make the benefits of nuclear energy securely available to all for peaceful purposes.
#1
George swaps spit with Putty, appeasement at hand.
Posted by: Captain America ||
07/15/2006 17:56 Comments ||
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Bush was and is using economic levers to bring Russia to join the unanimous UNSC resolution on NORK and this joint statement. Don't underestimate what it took to get this in public.
Bush and Putin spoke at a news conference just hours after the breakdown of talks to bring Russia into the World Trade Organization, a long-sought goal of Putin's. He had hoped to announce an agreement on the WTO before hosting the G-8 summit. Susan Schwab, the top U.S. trade negotiator, later told reporters that reaching a deal could take another two to three months.
The talks broke off because of differences over assurances the United States was seeking over the protection of U.S. copyrights and patents and promises that Russia would accept greater amounts of U.S. farm goods.
Bush said the administration believed Russia needed to offer more in trade concessions to satisfy the Congress. He said both sides would continue to negotiate to get a deal. The United States is the only country that has yet to signoff on Russia's membership in the WTO.
ROME - Italy began evacuating its nationals from Lebanon on Saturday and France was preparing to do the same as Israeli planes pounded the country. Some 410 people left Beirut on an Italian convoy early on Saturday, Italys Foreign Ministry said. The group was mostly made up of Italians and other Europeans, who were expected to arrive in the Syrian port city of Latakia in the coming hours.
Two C130 Italian military aircraft will then fly the group back to Rome, with help from a commercial flight departing from Cyprus, the ministry said.
About 1,000 Italians were still in Lebanon and had not indicated they wanted to leave, the Foreign Ministry said.
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/15/2006 15:46 ||
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About 1,000 Italians were still in Lebanon and had not indicated they wanted to leave, the Foreign Ministry said.
BEIRUT, Lebanon - Irans embassy in Beirut issued a statement late Saturday denying Iran had any troops in Lebanon - disputing an Israeli claim that 100 Iranian soldiers helped Hezbollah attack an Israeli warship, Irans official news agency reported.
"No, no! Certainly not!"
The statement, reported on the agencys Web site, called the Israeli report meaningless. It is an attempt to escape reality with the aim of covering up (Israels) inability to confront the Lebanese nation and resistance, the statement said.
Since he's a diplomat he's practiced for years to keep his lips from falling off.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad condemned Israels military offensive in Lebanon, telling state television the Zionist regime behaves like Hitler. The fake Israeli regime has been imposed in the region on the basis of a false conspiracy to organize aggression and oppression, he was quoted as saying. The survival of this regime is not possible without oppression and aggression, he said.
Few people know more about using oppression and agreession to keep a regime around than the Mad Mullahs.
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/15/2006 15:40 ||
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Of COURSE they don't have soldiers in Lebanon.
They're Revolutionary Guard. Don't report to the Army leaders, their leash is held by the MM.
LONDON - Britain is to send two Royal Navy warships to the Middle East as part of the contingency planning for a possible evacuation of its nationals from Lebanon, the Ministry of Defence in London said on Saturday. The vessels -- the fleets flagship aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious and HMS Bulwark -- will be sent to the region but had been given no specific tasking, a spokeswoman said. As you would expect we are monitoring the situation closely and are engaging in prudent contingency planning. As part of this HMS Illustrious and HMS Bulwark will shortly head towards the region, she added.
The carrier has to have some escorts but these aren't mentioned. I'd expect a couple of frigates and a nuclear attack sub at the minimum.
Sky News television reported that the Illustrious was currently berthed in Gibraltar, Britains overseas territory on the tip of southern Spain, and had been due to return to Portsmouth, on Englands south coast. The vessel, or Lusty as she is affectionately known by her crew, has recently been on patrol in the Mediterranean. HMS Bulwark is an amphibious assault ship that has recently been on duties in the northern Gulf.
Britains Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is currently advising its nationals against all travel to Lebanon. The country has an estimated 10,000 citizens in Lebanon. They have been warned by the FCO and officials on the ground to be prepared to depart at short notice.
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/15/2006 15:37 ||
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Ok, so the US has 3 carriers "in the Pacific" (NORK, anyone?) 1 in the South China Sea and 1 in the Atlantic. So the Brits will do carrier duty in "the middle east", where we also have a command ship in the Mediterranean and the Iwo Jima strike group in the Red Sea.
... Both weapons systems indicate a level of sophistication which Hezbollah likely does not possess, but their Iranian backers do. A guided missile system, either from the ground or from UAVs, further implicates the Iranian government in its involvement in this war. A ground based system requires radar and other sophisticated support systems, which require technical expertise and maintenance support, as well as technical training. For Hezbollah to have succeed in this strike using a ground based anti-ship missile system, it would have needed to deploy and fire these missiles without prior testing of the radar along the Lebanese coast. An anonymous Israeli intelligence official claims "about 100 Iranian soldiers are in Lebanon and helped fire the Iranian-made, radar-guided [C-802] at the ship late Friday."
Posted by: Fred ||
07/15/2006 13:30 ||
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Is it safe to assume this would be the weapon of choice for threatening the Straight of Hormos?
#2
...It would be - but any kind of ground-launched missile site, even a mobile one, would stand out like a sore thumb just long enough for its crew to get an up-close and personal demonstration of US bombing capabilities.
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
07/15/2006 16:08 Comments ||
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(KUNA) -- Syria on Saturday denied reports indicating that Israeli forces attacked Syrian military sites on the Syrian-Lebanese borders. "Press reports suggesting that Syrian military sites on the Syrian-Lebanese borders have come under Israeli attacks are baseless", a Syrian media official said as quoted by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA). The source affirmed that "no attcks have occurred on Syrian military or non-military sites", according to the agency.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/15/2006 13:26 ||
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Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday spoke by phone with his Lebanese counterpart Fuad Saniora, who requested Turkish mediation for a cease-fire to end the spiraling violence in the Middle East, an official said. The Turkish premier told Saniora Turkey would "make every kind of contribution" for a cease-fire, Erdogan's spokesman, Akif Beki, told The Associated Press, but gave no further information.
Predominantly Muslim Turkey has been trying to play a mediating role between Israel and Palestinians and has criticized Israel, a close ally, for using excessive force in its offensives in the Middle East. Earlier on Saturday, Erdogan racheted up the criticism, accusing the country of engaging in ruthless violence. Erdogan also called on the powerful Group of Eight nations, currently meeting in Russia, to reach a joint decision that would allow the United Nations Security Council to establish a cease-fire to end the spiraling violence.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/15/2006 13:20 ||
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Erdogan racheted up the criticism, accusing the country of engaging in ruthless violence.
Oh, yeah. Just the guy you want to play mediator....
LONDON - Syria is telling Lebanons Hizbollah movement to stop firing rockets at Israel in a conflict sparked by the capture of two Israeli soldiers, Syrias ambassador to London said on Friday.
Uh-huh, sure. Perhaps Pencilneck is getting worried?
When asked whether Syria was telling Hizbollah to stop firing rockets at Israel, the ambassador, Sami Khiyami, told the BBC: Of course.
This is a movement that is completely independent. We have good relations with it, he said. Hizbollah was created to fight Israels former occupation of southern Lebanon and is backed by both Iran and Syria. Syria does not wish at all to be involved in the conflict. Its really seeking to ease down tensions and to reach a settlement that would stop completely the violence.
"Because we know we'd get our butts kicked if the Jooozs come north," he admitted.
The most important thing today is to concentrate on stopping the violence, on negotiating exchange of prisoners and on devising ways and means to bring peace to this poor Middle East, Khiyami said.
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/15/2006 00:00 ||
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#2
I am beginning to question the veracity of the Syrian ambassador. /sarcasm off
Posted by: Captain America ||
07/15/2006 0:35 Comments ||
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#3
I actually think he's serious about wanting to ratchet down the level of violence and enter negotiations. By now Syria has got to realize their miscalculation.
#4
Baby Asswipe has been wearing Depends every since those low passses over his place. Now that the road to Damascus is being regularly attacked, he's having to change every 15 minutes.
#8
#1 actually it can be Hiz or Hez (phonetic translation) but the end part should be Allah as the name means 'party of god' so they are saying Allah and we just hear it with western ears as Hezbollah.
In fact it would be Hezballah
or Hizb'allah
or Hizballah or any of a number of spellings but always with allah as the suffix.
Major powers turned over to the 15-nation UN Security Council on Thursday details of energy and economic incentives they offered to Iran if it suspends its nuclear ambitions and stops uranium enrichment. The three-page incentive package, which had not previously been published in full, includes a pledge to "actively support" the building of new light water power reactors in Iran. Iran has not responded to the offer, made in June. In response, the key negotiators Germany, the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China referred the issue back to the council in a meeting in Paris on Wednesday. The 15-member body will attempt to adopt a resolution next week that would make the suspension mandatory.
If Iran still does not comply, the six nations said they would consider sanctions against Tehran. "I think the first step ... is we will move to make mandatory the requirement that Iran suspend its uranium enrichment activities with some reasonably short time fuse on that," US Ambassador John Bolton said. "And that then would be followed by looking at targeted sanctions," Bolton said. "We hope to move as quickly as possible, possibly within the next few days but realistically early next week.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/15/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
Sheeze! With any luck the time these idiots get around to actually doing anything about it beyond a strongly worded letter there may not be an Iran to talk to.
Then of course the Vampire Vulture Elite will claim all the credit for 'resolving the crisis'.....
HELSINKI - The European Union expressed concern on Friday that the situation in the Middle East could deteriorate further after Israels military offensive in Lebanon, with conflict possibly spreading to Syria. We consider the situation to be very bad and there is still the possibility that it could get worse and that the conflict could spread, especially to Syria, said Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja of Finland, which holds the rotating EU presidency.
This is in no way desirable. The consequences could be really uncontrollable, he told a news conference.
Light dawns in Europe. Unfortunately it likely will cause them to blame the Israelis and demand that they stop fighting ...
Tuomioja said EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana would go on Saturday to the Middle East and that there might be a meeting of the quartet which has tried to revive peace talks. The UN representatives are travelling today to the region, Solana will be there tomorrow, I expect, and we know that there are lower level American representatives also talking with the governments, he told Reuters.
Because when it comes to being ineffective there's no one as good as Solana ...
I am sure the Russians are also there. At present, there is no scheduled meeting of the quartet, but that could take place very shortly.
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/15/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
Stop worrying Uros...it's not a bug, it's a feature.
#3
Laughable from those neither capable or willing to defend themselves.
Sit down and STFU unless you plan on sending troops to help wipe this group of assclown, sectarian fascists out. Them and "The party of God" proxies they employ in Leabanon.
#6
And Chirac thinks that Israel wants to destroy Lebanon. What a moron. Everybody except Syria and Iran wants to see Hizbollah trampled. And there should be G8 consensus on doing exactly that. France deserves to be marginalized and humilitated.
#7
France destroyed Lebanon circa 1920 when they annexed the Bekka and turned a christian majority state into a state where christians were bearly 50%. It all went downhill from there.
#8
They worry most, not because violence could spread to Syria or because "the situation in the Mideast could deteriorate further", but because it will expose the idiocy of their worldview that evil doesn't exist in the world and that there is never a need for military force-words are enough to stop terrorists. If their worldview comes tumbling down, then what? They stand to lose their prestige as world-class negotiators, they stand to lose much in financial terms because of their activities in the area, and horror of horrors, red-state Americans' worldview that evil exists, oft expressing itself in terror attacks, might actually gain ground in the international community. What a nightmare!
Their failure in "negotiations" with Iran should have proved the idiocy of their addiction to words, but we still have a lot of buy-in from the international community that a few well-turned phrases at closed-door council meetings are enough turn terrorists into cuddle toys.
#13
HELSINKI - The European Union expressed concern on Friday that the situation in the Middle East could deteriorate further after Israels military offensive in Lebanon, with conflict possibly spreading to Syria.
I am sorry Mr. Errki, wake up you stupid Finn ! it has already spread, it is all over your godforsaken Eurabian sub-continent. Stop mumbling MSM stupidities and take a look at your vermin filled backyard !
As for the rest of your hopes for the Quartet reviving the ""peace talks"" - I garantee you that even if you bring forth the awsome Quintet, we are not in the mood for music right now !
There would be no talks until we wipe out Hizballah and their puppeteers from Lebanon, and if it takes cutting off one of Assad's testicles in the process - tough shit !
Until they return the kidnapped soldiers there would be no talks (besides the sound of screeming shrapnell).
So the Sissy Euro's and the impotent UN assholes should either shut the fuck up or deliver those soldiers back to us pronto.
Posted by: Elder of Zion ||
07/15/2006 11:57 Comments ||
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#15
Btw, one very real worry of at least the french authorities is the explosion of the muslim 'hoods if/when open war breaks out with syria and iran; there was some talk of foreign intervention during the ramadan riots, I wouldn't be surprized to have iran, which boasts now of owning every terrorist outfit in the world, to retaliate against the euros by stirring ethnic/social troubles; in France, as there's an omnipresent low-level intifada (30 000 torched cars a year, about 1000 no go zones where any police incursion leads to spontaneous rioting,...), it wouldn' pose any problem for them.
#16
We all know the Eurabs have no balls.
Now we no they dont have brains as well!
They simply cant see beyond their Pate De Fois Gras and their fat pensions.
Posted by: Elder of Zion ||
07/15/2006 13:29 Comments ||
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#17
Amazingly, I find I have something in common with the EU.
(I know - it shocked me too.)
I, too, am worried.
Worried that the war to destroy the terrorists assholes Mideast Conflict won't spread to Syria.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
07/15/2006 19:09 Comments ||
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Syria will support Hizbollah and Lebanon against Israel's attacks on the country, the ruling Baath Party said on Friday, defying the Jewish state and its chief ally Washington. "The Syrian people are ready to extend full support to the Lebanese people and their heroic resistance to remain steadfast and confront the barbaric Israeli aggression and its crimes," said a communiqué from the party's national command issued after a meeting. It said Israel and the United States "are trying to wipe out Arab resistance in every land under occupation" and that President Bashar al-Assad was aware of the seriousness of the situation in the region.
The national command is the highest echelon of the Baath Party, which has been in power since 1963. The party considers the issue of Arab rights and regaining land occupied by Israel central to its legitimacy. Assad, who is shaped by his late father's lifetime of struggle with Israel, was not at the meeting.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/15/2006 00:00 ||
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
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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.
CAIRO, Egypt - Jordans King Abdullah II met in Cairo with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Friday in a hastily-called meeting to discuss escalating Mideast violence. The two leaders of moderate, U.S.-backed Arab regimes - the only countries in the region to sign peace treaties with Israel - discussed the Israeli incursions into the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, which have killed 86 Palestinians in Gaza and 61 people in Lebanon, many of them civilians.
By Claudia Rosett
(Indian) Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran has said that the recent terror attacks are all inter-linked. "We'll review the progress of cooperation with Pakistan. Showing no tolerance to terror is only option," Saran said. Saying a segmented approach to terrorism won't do, he asked those fighting the menace to share information.
ISLAMABAD: Those behind the suicide attack in Karachi will not go unpunished, Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao told a news channel on Friday. "It is a very tragic incident in which Allama Hassan Turabi has been martyred," Sherpao said, adding that identification and checking of suicide bombers was a difficult task, but the administration and the law enforcement agencies had been alerted against such attacks. "We expect people to remain peaceful," Sherpao said.
The ceasefire between the security forces and tribal militants known as the Taliban may be extended to facilitate the ongoing negotiations for durable peace in North Waziristan. A senior government official, asking not to be named, said on Friday that the ceasefire expiring on July 25 could be extended if talks did not yield the desired results by that date. "I think both sides can extend the ceasefire period," he said. Declining media requests to share the issues both sides were discussing, the official said that "secrecy" could help the talks succeed. The official said the jirga would decide as to which demands of the Taliban were acceptable.
Indian police investigating serial bombings in Mumbai were surprised when a "woman" wearing an all-covering burqa and acting suspiciously turned out to be a man, a report said on Friday. The man told police he had disguised himself as a woman so he could meet his girlfriend, additional police commissioner Bipin Bihari told the Press Trust of India. The man said he was scared of his girlfriend's parents. 
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Thousands of Iraqis demonstrated in Baghdad on Friday praising the leader of Lebanons Hezbollah group and denouncing Israel and the United States for attacks against Lebanon. Some protesters said they were ready to fight the Israelis.
Israeli strikes against civilian targets in Lebanon and Gaza, from power stations to bridges, stirred growing international condemnation on Friday and warnings the conflict could spread. But Hizbollah guerrillas, who Israel says triggered the action with missile strikes on Israel and the capture of two of its soldiers, were also urged to curb their operations.
Major powers turned over to the 15-nation UN Security Council on Thursday details of energy and economic incentives they offered to Iran if it suspends its nuclear ambitions and stops uranium enrichment. The three-page incentive package, which had not previously been published in full, includes a pledge to "actively support" the building of new light water power reactors in Iran. Iran has not responded to the offer, made in June. In response, the key negotiators Germany, the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China referred the issue back to the council in a meeting in Paris on Wednesday. The 15-member body will attempt to adopt a resolution next week that would make the suspension mandatory. 
HELSINKI - The European Union expressed concern on Friday that the situation in the Middle East could deteriorate further after Israels military offensive in Lebanon, with conflict possibly spreading to Syria. We consider the situation to be very bad and there is still the possibility that it could get worse and that the conflict could spread, especially to Syria, said Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja of Finland, which holds the rotating EU presidency.
Syria will support Hizbollah and Lebanon against Israel's attacks on the country, the ruling Baath Party said on Friday, defying the Jewish state and its chief ally Washington. "The Syrian people are ready to extend full support to the Lebanese people and their heroic resistance to remain steadfast and confront the barbaric Israeli aggression and its crimes," said a communiqué from the party's national command issued after a meeting. It said Israel and the United States "are trying to wipe out Arab resistance in every land under occupation" and that President Bashar al-Assad was aware of the seriousness of the situation in the region. 
