KABUL - Afghanistans parliament has granted immunity to all Afghans involved in the countrys 25 years of conflict, lawmakers said on Thursday, despite calls by human rights groups for war crimes trials.
Carla del Ponte just poured herself a strong drink ...
The decision passed on Wednesday in the lower house, Wolesi Jirga, would also cover fugitive Taleban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar and former prime minister Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, who now heads his own incompetent militant group, critics and supporters of the move said.
Gul is responsible for more than just the recent chaos, he was the bad boy who pushed Afghanistan into final civil war after the Russkies left.
Rights groups have strongly pressed the government to punish those guilty of abuses, including some members of parliament and senior government officials, saying justice was vital for peace. But the national assembly said its motion would help reconciliation in a nation shattered by years of war and civil strife that have left almost no family untouched by tragedy. In order to bring reconciliation among various strata in the society, all those political and belligerent sides who were involved one way or the other during the 2-decades of war will not be prosecuted legally and judicially, the motion passed by the assembly says.
The United Nations in Kabul objected immediately. For any process of national reconciliation to succeed, the suffering of victims must be acknowledged and impunity tackled, it said in a statement. No one has the right to forgive those responsible for human rights violations other than the victims themselves.
Who are represented by a government, who just decided to forgive them. And who exactly are you to talk about who does the forgiving -- who elected you?
The Wolesi Jirga elected in late 2005 includes former senior communist officials, ex-Mujahideen (holy warrior) leaders who fought the Soviets and some former Taleban.
In a way, this provides immunity for all, Shukria Barakzai, a leading woman activist MP, told Reuters. She was among a small group of delegates who left the session in protest.
Haji Mohammad Mohaqiq, a former Mujahideen leader who was among the key legislators behind the amnesty, said it was in line with Karzais efforts to push national reconciliation. He also believed the immunity would cover Omar and Hekmatyar. This is a law and the law will be implemented on all individuals equally, he told Reuters.
The decision was approved days after Karzai again indicated he could consider talks with Taleban leaders to end the bloodshed after the countrys most violent year since the Talebans ouster. One of Karzais advisers on Wednesday clarified talks would not be held with the Taleban as a political, ideological or military group.
I personally think it's a mistake, but I'm sitting in my comfortable study in the States, not in Afghanistan, so I'm really not in a position to judge. Sure would like to see Omar and Gul have work accidents in the real near future.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/02/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
I am absolutely furious by this and other political moves this week in Afganistan . To top it all off , I have just read about this , and that does truely rip at the gut as an ex-serviceman .
#2
immunity on WHAT? Surely if say, Gulbudin walks into a bank in Kabul and robs it tomorrow, hes not immune.
If I read this right, it doesnt exempt Omar for continued war now, nor would it protect him from transfer to the US for 9/11. I think its more about insuring Hek that he wont be persecuted for bombing Kabul back in the '90s, and that lower level guys wont be tried for stuff they did then.
#4
Afghanistan is too big, its population is too spread out and its economy is too small to stand against terrorists on its own. Its doomed to be a terrorist haven or one of the biggest welfare countries on the planet. I think its time to rethink the strategy there.
Posted by: Mike N. ||
02/02/2007 19:45 Comments ||
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The United States believes that Somali Islamists who had, until recently, been running parts of the country, are regrouping in Saudi Arabia and Eritrea, the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs said in an interview with the Financial Times on Thursday.
Jendayi Frazer also told the business daily that it was going to be a while before it could be confirmed who had survived the Ethiopian invasion of Somalia in December, and the subsequent US air strikes in the country, and who had not. It is going to take some time for the fog of war to clear up and we have an ability to see who is still operating and how they are operating, she was quoted as saying by the FT.
Speaking from Addis Ababa, she did say, however, that she was very concerned that elements of the defeated Islamists were trying to reconstitute themselves either out of Saudi Arabia or Eritrea. We have to engage with the Saudi government and their services to try to prevent that from happening as well as engage regionally.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/02/2007 00:00 ||
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Good. You need fewer bombs when they bunch up like that.
Smugglers carrying asylum seekers in fishing boats from Somalia have started taking new routes across the Gulf of Aden to Yemen as a result of the increased security patrols along the Yemeni coast, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said on Wednesday.
The refugee agency said that last weekend a boat with 130 people on board had arrived in the region of Jebel-Reidah, about 100km south-east of Mayfa'a, where there is a reception centre for refugees. According to the UNHCR, seven people drowned after being forced to disembark offshore in deep water. Villagers who live close to the shore buried the bodies and the survivors were transferred to Mayfa'a Reception Centre where they are being looked after by UNHCR and local NGOs.
At the end of last week, 136 Somalis and 96 Ethiopians were picked up by Aden security and immigration authorities in Imran, a fishing town near Aden. According to the security officials, the new arrivals, who included a number of women and children, were found on Al-Azizyia Island in the Red Sea and were transferred by coastal guards to Imran. UNHCR said that this indicated that smugglers have started taking new routes to Yemen as a result of the increased security along the Yemeni coast and the vigilance of coastal guards who tried last December to arrest smugglers. The new drop-off point near Aden is hundreds of kilometres away from Mayfa'a Reception Centre. The journey from Somalia to Aden takes three days, instead of the usual 48-hour voyage.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/02/2007 00:00 ||
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So now they are not 'fleeing terrorists,' but 'asylum seekers': after throwing the BS flag I find this can actually be a good thing: 3 days vs. 2 increase exposure to the elements as well as chance for discovery by 50%.
good hunting boys. Where is that Marine Surface Group anyway????
WELLINGTON - Saudi Arabia will send about 350 students to study at New Zealands eight universities this year, Tertiary Education Minister Michael Cullen said on Thursday. The undergraduate and postgraduate students would come under Saudi Arabias King Abdullah expanded scholarships programme for Asia and Oceania.
To be followed by a dedicated mosque, Wahabbite literature and a spittle-spraying iman.
They will join more than 500 students from Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia and Oman, who are currently enrolled in other New Zealand educational institutions.
Cullen said the expansion of King Abdullahs scholarships programme would not only boost New Zealand earnings from export education, but also strengthen cooperation and understanding between New Zealand and the countries of the Gulf region.
And it'll teach you how to be proper dhimmis.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/02/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
At least in On The Beach folks had a year or so before the fall-out reached them. Now we take the enemy inside the castle and every lock on every door and every bar on every gate is rendered useless.
Muslim soldiers serving in the Spanish army in the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla are sparking controversy among security experts. Some doubt their loyalty to Spain and fear they could side with neighbouring Morocco in case of a conflict between the two countries.
Located on Morocco's Mediterranean coast, Ceuta and Melilla have belonged to Spain for centuries, but Rabat continues to claim sovereignty over them.
They also claim most of Andalusia and for the same reason ...
About a third of the enclaves' population of some 70,000 each is estimated to be Muslim, a proportion corresponding to their number among the total 8,000 soldiers stationed in the two strategically important military outposts.
Officially, Ceuta and Melilla are presented as models of a harmonious coexistence between Catholics, Muslims and the smaller Jewish and Hindu communities, but the reality is less rosy. If a conflict erupted with Morocco over sovereignty or some other issue, "I'm not certain the Muslim soldiers would obey me," one commander said.
Which means you're certain they won't ...
Muslim soldiers are Spanish citizens, but they, their parents, grandparents or greatgrandparents were usually born in Morocco, where they retain family ties. They are schooled in the Muslim faith by Moroccan imams, who often pass to them a reverence for King Mohammed VI, regarded as the spiritual leader of Moroccan Muslims.
#2
Because of their higher birth rate, Muslims are expected to become the majority in Ceuta and Melilla in a little over a decade.
High birth rates are common in the muzzie world. Jeez when do they have time for the old "bim datta bom datta boo" with praying 6 times a day and terrorist activities?
#5
Does the raping include boys, girls, sheep, and camels?
Probably, but those don't tend to produce the same kinds of high birthrates.
Unless there's been a sudden surge in Minotaur-like children and the MSM is keeping it quiet . . .
Posted by: The Doctor ||
02/02/2007 8:56 Comments ||
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At the start of the US Civil War, southern students at West Point immediately left the school, when the loyalty question arose. Western countries should not be allowing Muslims in our militaries. They lack even local loyalties.
#7
...We stick our fingers in our ears and sing so we cannot hear you, la la la la la...now quit asking hard questions and turn over the guys who murdered our cameraman.
Love,
The Spanish Government
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
02/02/2007 9:28 Comments ||
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#8
do not promote Islam as a part of Spanish culture.
From Muslim invasion to Lepanto the only part Islam has taken in Spanish culture has been as the ennemy who needs to be fought.
#10
If a conflict did break out, possibly over Ceuta or Melilla - security experts wonder, would the Muslim soldiers act like Spanish patriots, or would they turn their weapons against their Christian comrades-in-arms?
"Wondering experts" indeed. Since we'll not be hearing the opinions of the late Army Captain Christopher Seifer or Air Force Major Gregory Stone, SGT Hasan Akbar, please give us your opinion on the topic.
#11
At least the Spaniards are finally discussing the risk, instead of flaccidly waiting for the change of rulers. Acknowledging a problem is the necessary first step toward solving it.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush will request slightly more than $100 billion to cover war operations in Iraq and Afghanistan for the rest of this year and an even larger amount for fiscal 2008 that begins on October 1, congressional sources said on Thursday.
The administration, which will submit the war cost proposals along with its annual budget on Monday, will provide details of its war spending plans to try to placate critics who have accused it of using a shadow budget to fund the war.
For the current fiscal year, the White House will ask Congress to approve an additional $93 billion for the Defense Department to conduct the two wars and about $7 billion for State Department activities, a Senate aide said. Including other items, the request will total "a little over $100 billion," according to the Senate aide. That would come on top of $70 billion Congress already approved for the wars this year. At about $100 billion, the fiscal 2007 emergency request would be the biggest so far.
For 2008, the administration will ask for an amount "larger than the $100 billion in the fiscal 2007 request," the Senate aide said.
House and Senate aides said the administration was trying to detail the 2008 costs in advance, responding to complaints from Congress about the long line of "emergency" spending bills that have mostly funded the Iraq war since the U.S. invasion in 2003.
The Congressional Budget Office estimated Bush's planned troop buildup could cost at least double the administration's initial estimate and involve more than twice the number of troops. The price tag could reach about $13 billion for a four-month mission, the nonpartisan CBO said. The roughly 20,000 combat soldiers Bush said he was going to deploy to Iraq might have to be augmented by 28,000 support troops, it said.
A U.S. defense official said the Pentagon did not believe the CBO's figure for support troops was realistic. "Our estimate is that it would be far less than their worst-case scenario," commented the official, who said he would not comment on the record or offer an alternative figure as military planners were still working on their estimates. In January, the Bush administration estimated a cost of $5.6 billion to dispatch 21,500 troops.
A Bush administration official said details of both years' war spending proposals would be provided in the budget book outlining the 2008 spending plans. It also will include a forecast for war spending in fiscal 2009 but not beyond that. "That's about as far out as you can realistically project," the official said.
The Bush administration hopes plenty of details on the spending plans will satisfy congressional demands. "We're going to try to be much more transparent on the costs of the war," White House spokesman Tony Snow told reporters.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/02/2007 00:00 ||
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A take your 'non-binding resolution and shove it' moment on the way.
#2
If he can time this bill to arrive at or near the same time the Senate votes on their symbolic bill, he deserves a congratulations from war supporters. It would put the donks in a position to look like they're playing both sides of the fence. We all know they are, but this would highlight it a bit.
Posted by: Mike N. ||
02/02/2007 19:28 Comments ||
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(2007-02-01) A day after a Turner Broadcasting guerrilla marketing campaign for an adult cartoon put Boston on full terror alert, the company said it would reconsider other "edgy" marketing plans it was about to launch.
Turner had placed dozens of battery-operated light boards displaying an obscene gesture throughout each of the 10 major U.S. cities. A series of Boston bomb scares sparked by the devices forced authorities to shut down roads, bridges and a section of the Charles River yesterday.
An unnamed spokesman for Turner said the company would now review plans for the following guerrilla marketing campaigns designed to "generate buzz" about the cartoon.
Renting a 747 painted with the shows name and flying it past skyscrapers in major cities
Hiring young men to show up in malls, on buses and other heavily-trafficked areas who would suddenly whip open their coats to reveal a special vest with blinking lights, and begin shouting the theme song of the show.
"Abducting" strangers, blindfolding them, forcing them to their knees and then broadcasting their videotaped "confessions" that they love the cartoon.
Hiring young men to suddenly stand up on buses and airliners and loudly declare that the new cartoon is "da bomb."
Planting hundreds of improvised advertising devices (IAD) that would suddenly flash, make a loud noise and scatter thousands of promotional fliers all over the road or sidewalk.
Mounting a "viral" marketing campaign in which dozens of journalists would each receive an envelope containing a white powder along with a note daring the recipient to hold his breath until the debut of the new cartoon.
Calling the White House, Pentagon, Supreme Court and other famous places and claiming to have planted a "dirty bomb" on the front steps, which turns out to be a paper bag full of dog droppings with the shows logo stamped on the bag.
KARACHI - Pakistani authorities have arrested more than 500 people in recent days, all believed to be Afghans, for travelling on fake Pakistani passports, an immigration official said on Thursday. The suspects were arrested in the southern port city of Karachi after they were deported from Jeddah, having gone to Saudi Arabia for the annual Haj pilgrimage.
"Hey Mahmoud, look at this. This guy's trying to enter our country with a false passport!"
"Ummm, you're right. What about his other passports, are they legit?"
They have been arrested under the foreigners act and investigations are being conducted to find out how they obtained these passports, senior immigration official Khaleeq-uz-Zaman told Reuters.
And let's face it, who knows more about fake passports than the Pakistanis?
He said 202 of them were arrested at Karachi airport after they were deported from Saudi Arabia in two batches beginning on Tuesday. They included 45 women. He said 305 others had been arrested in similar circumstances since Jan. 20.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/02/2007 00:00 ||
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investigations are being conducted to find out how they obtained these passports,
The efforts could include more air patrols by Air Force and Navy fighter planes along the Iran-Iraq border to counter the smuggling of bomb supplies from Iran, said a senior Pentagon official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Such missions also could position the Air Force to strike suspected bomb suppliers inside Iraq to deter Iranian agents that U.S. officials maintain are assisting Iraqi militias, said outside military experts.
Bush warned two weeks ago that U.S. forces would take a harder line against Iranians in Iraq, vowing to "seek out and destroy" weapons supply networks that endanger U.S. troops. He expanded the warning Monday in a National Public Radio interview, saying Iranian threats to the Iraqi people also would be considered unacceptable.
The tough stance has been backed by other military moves. Bush this month ordered a second aircraft carrier group, led by the John C. Stennis, to the Persian Gulf, a measure described as a warning to Iran. The stepped-up presence and visibility of U.S. warplanes is seen as likely to reinforce that message. "Air power plays major roles and one of those is as a deterrent, whether it be in border control, air sovereignty or something more 'kinetic,' " said the senior Pentagon official, using jargon that refers to offensive military action.
#1
...Way doable. Just one problem - a bunch of approximately innocent people are going to die because the stuff will be smuggled in alongside women and children. Are we ready?
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
02/02/2007 11:07 Comments ||
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approximately innocent people
You remaind me of my mentor's second favorite story, Mike. A mathematician gives a lecture on applying mathematics to biology. The lecture deals with a mathematical description of an elephant. The lecture starts with the sentence "Let us approximate an elephant by a ball of appropriate dimensions".
Posted by: Mike N. ||
02/02/2007 19:48 Comments ||
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#6
IRAN is reportedly building 000's? kilometers-long TRENCHES alongst its eastern border areas wid Afghanistan + contrux some near Yemen, all for the Iran-claimed purpose of stopping/
interdicting "drug smuggling???
Joe, you definitely need to check a map. Not only is Yemen on the other side of Persian Gulf/Gulf of Oman, but separated by large chunks of SA, UAE, Oman--thusly almost as far away from Iran as Jordan is, as crow flies.
#2
Since the MSM decided they needed someone who sounds an expert to further undercut the war effort; plus, the public attitude towards reporters is a problem for them, so they are trying to pump up their "base of knowledge" credentials.
Posted by: Captain America ||
02/02/2007 20:22 Comments ||
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Prob goes back to pre- and post-9-11 allegations that a number of Radic Islamist = Khobar/9-11 operatives were US-trained, including the receipt of training at CIA camps in southern USA + USDOD Defense Language Institute in California, ... etal [ e.g. see C2CAM Show].
#5
The immediate or direct, surreal implication is that MOUD + MADMULLAHS are covert/shadow US-Western operatives, which by extens also immed or dir implies that Radical Iran is a US Proxy helping the alleged "Crusader/Christian Cause" agz Islam/Radic Islam???
#6
Iff US Army SPECFORS/SPECOPS were involved, iff histoire' [Rush Limbaugh] is any measure, the new Iraqi Army + police would already be contained, captured, or destroyed, Baghdad + Iraq would be part of IRAN as we speak/post - Army SPECS don't play around when comes to war, destruction, and conquest.
The Poster admits to ommitting certain portions of this document that did not conform to his own, personal agenda.
LTG Petraeus Confirmed to be New MNF-I Commander:
After confirmation from the Senate, LTG David H. Petraeus is scheduled to arrive in Baghdad in preparation to assume command of Multi-National Force-Iraq. Although there is no set date for the change of command, President Bush said last week that he wanted Petraeus to go to Baghdad as quickly as possible in order to begin implementing the new US strategy for stabilizing the country.
In his confirmation hearings last week, LTG Petraeus emphasized the need not only for the additional 21,500 US troops, but also for additional resources and support from all government agencies in order to carry out the mission. Petraeus stated, if we are to carry out the Multi-National Force-Iraq mission in accordance with the new strategy, the additional forces that have been directed to move to Iraq will be essential. Greatly increased support by our governments other agencies, additional resources for reconstruction and economic initiatives, and a number of other actions are critical to what must be a broad, comprehensive, multifaceted approach to the challenges in Iraq.
Iraqis Claim 200 Shia Cult Fighters Killed in Battle North of Najaf:
According to media reports, Iraqi officials claim an estimated 200-400 Shia cult members were killed and more than 100 were captured in a fight between the cultists and Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and Coalition Forces January 28-29.
Open-source reports indicate the 24-hour fight broke out after Iraqi officials learned of a large number of heavily-armed Shiite-led cult fighters outside of Najaf and sent local ISF to investigate. US forces and Coalition air support assisted as the fight escalated, reportedly killing large numbers of enemy fighters, but also resulting in the crash of a US helicopter and the death of its two crewmen. News reports also claimed approximately ten Iraqi soldiers and policemen were killed in the fight.
Iraqi officials claimed January 29 that over 200 militants were killed in a battle between US-backed Iraqi troops and a religious group allegedly plotting to kill Shia religious leaders and pilgrims during a festival celebrating Ashura.
Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said the raid was targeting a predominantly Shia group called the Jund al-Samaa, or Soldiers of Heaven, which aims to clear Iraq of temporal leaders in order to hasten the return of the Mahdi, a messianic figure in Islam.
Iraqi Legal Authorities Trained on New Military Code:
Nearly two dozen Iraqi military lawyers selected to be military judges and prosecutors met in Baghdad January 20 to attend a three-week course covering the new procedures for court-martials and disciplinary proceedings that are contained in the new military justice penal code and court-martial procedures that the Iraqi Parliament will soon enact.
Mayor and Police Fired in Diyala:
Approximately 1,500 police officers in Iraq's Diyala Governorate and the mayor of the provincial capital, Baquba, have been fired. Provincial police chief Ghanim al- Qurayshi said January 28 that the officers fled rather than fight when Baquba was attacked by insurgents in November 2006.
Qurayshi also said Mayor Khalid al-Sinjari was suspected of collaborating with Sunni insurgents. Qurayshi took over police operations in Diyala after his predecessor was fired in December 2006.
Communications:
Throughout Iraq, insurgents have attacked water and electricity plants to spread
chaos and disrupt progress, but they have allowed the communications sector
to rebuild - primarily because they rely on mobile phones to plan their attacks.
Iraq Women in Business Conference:
On January 25, USAID's Izdihar Private Sector Development Project organized the Women in Business Conference: A promise for Economic Progress at the al- Rasheed Hotel in the International Zone. Over 60 women representing NGOs, businesses and government agencies engaged in lively discussions of issues facing Iraqi women entrepreneurs, such as access to small business loans, NGO registration processes, gender equality, business planning, and microfinance.
One of the conference highlights was the presentation by the Executive Director of the Izdihar-supported Small Business Development Center in Hillah, an Iraqi businesswoman, who shared the experience of running a business association that provides consulting and training for local businesses. USAID's Izdihar project supports five Small Business Development Centers throughout Iraq.
CCCI Convicts 11 Insurgents:
The Central Criminal Court of Iraq convicted 11 security detainees January 13-18, for various crimes including possession of illegal weapons, taking advantage of someone elses legal documents and illegal border crossing.
The trial court found one Iraqi man guilty of illegal possession of special category weapons in violation of Order 3/2003. Multi-National Forces (MNF) conducted a raid of the defendants compound near Tameem, Iraq. MNF searched the buildings and found numerous explosives, including 35 pounds of ammonium nitrate. On January 15, the trial panel sentenced him to 15 years imprisonment.
Iraqis Get Ideas From S.C. Prisons:
Iraqi prison officials looking to rebuild their nation's jail system toured a South Carolina state prison January 29, gathering ideas - including electronic door locks and an onsite license plate plant - to take back to Iraq.
A delegation that included US Justice Department officials and their Iraqi counterparts visited the maximum security Broad River Correctional Institution, where the Iraqis watched inmates make South Carolina license plates and traffic signs. Iraqi prisoners don't have a place to work, one visitor said through an interpreter. The plant enables an inmate to help himself and his family. We can have productive inmates, not just consumer inmates, said the warden of a Nasiriya prison, whose name was withheld by the Justice Department for his own safety. The group was also interested in the prison's security system, which includes electronically locking doors and video monitoring.
Muslim Brotherhood Leaders Calls for End to Violence:
The leader of Egypts Muslim Brotherhood appealed to Sunni and Shiite religious scholars to work together to end Iraqs sectarian violence. Mohammed Mahdi Akefs statement was posted January 26 on the groups website and called on Harith al-Dhari, head of the influential Sunni Association of Muslim Scholars, and top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani to work for an end to the sectarian violence in Iraq.
Posted by: Bobby ||
02/02/2007 06:02 ||
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HT to Malkin and LGF
A photograph and videotape of a Texas soldier dying in Iraq published by the New York Times have triggered anger from his relatives and Army colleagues and revived a long-standing debate about which images of war are proper to show. Well, that debate may have been revived, but any debate about whether NYT journalists are honorable people has been resolved forever.
The journalists involved, Times reporter Damien Cave and Getty Images photographer Robert Nickelsberg, working for the Times, had their status as so-called embedded journalists suspended Tuesday by the Army corps in Baghdad, military officials said, because they violated a signed agreement not to publish photos or video of any wounded soldiers without official consent. Inflicting pain on miltary families isn't enough to get your card pulled.. You gotta violate a written agreement.
New York Times foreign editor Susan Chira said Tuesday night that the newspaper initially did not contact the family of Army Staff Sgt. Hector Leija about the images because of a specific request from the Army to avoid such a direct contact. "And we at the NYT always honor specific requests from the Army."
"The Times is extremely sensitive to the loss suffered by families when loved ones are killed in Iraq," Chira said. "We have tried to write about the inevitable loss with extreme compassion." I didn't think "extreme compassion" and "unrestrained glee" were compatible emotions, but I guess I don't understand the subtleties of journalism.
Posted by: Matt ||
02/02/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
Do you want to know what a company does when it is in a death spiral? look at the new york times. Good bye you scum organization.
Registration is NOT required to contact the editor
Posted by: Bobby ||
02/02/2007 5:59 Comments ||
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#3
Even back in the early 90s we had a joke about if you saw a press guy and a enemy who do you shoot first? The press guy, the camera does more damage.
#4
Shooting the messenger makes a lot of sense. Once again the press scores one for pornography. NYTs is not any different than Al Jazeera--probably worse if anything.
#5
I heard this one Hannity Wed. afternoon. Supposedly the still photos were printed, and the freakin' video posted on their website. Nothing but death pron junkies, like the beheaders.
This p!sses me right off, and I don't even have many military connections (except 1 friend who's in country right now). Supposedly, he was shot in the head. Can't imagine the video was pretty. The DoD should pull ALL NYTimes "passes" ASAP over this! Good gawd, when even my blood boils and I want to shoot the nearest reporter, this is beyond the pale. I'm one of the most calm, level headed people you could meet, but shoot the messenger becomes more and more appealing every day.
Posted by: BA ||
02/02/2007 12:12 Comments ||
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#7
Whenever a MSM reporter dies in a war zone, you would think they are f*ckin hero. But ask the MSM for a little decency about our military and they don't have an ounce.
#8
These NYT guys and their stringers are the enemy, so treat them like the enemy. Pictures like these are weapons of war, so the photogs are legimate targets, IMHO. A couple of them popped will stop this in a New York Minute.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
02/02/2007 22:24 Comments ||
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UNITED NATIONS - Four years after the UN Security Council ordered the shutdown of the troubled oil-for-food program for Iraq, some Iraqi officials still appear intent on using it for illegal gains, it was disclosed on Wednesday.
The United Nations has been trying to close down the $64 billion program since the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, which ousted Saddam Hussein from power. It stepped up its efforts after an outside investigation found evidence of mismanagement and corruption by UN officials, contractors and Saddams government.
Little of which has been detailed in public. Is the shutdown a way of deep-sixing the records?
But a few outstanding contract and payment disputes have kept the last remnants of the program alive, and the Security Council last year called on UN managers to resolve all outstanding issues so it could be ended definitively in 2007.
However, former Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in a Dec. 8 letter made public on Wednesday, said that task had been complicated by allegations from two vendors that authentication documents needed to clear some of the last payments have been improperly withheld by authorities in Iraq.
Furthermore it has also been alleged that payments have been requested from the vendors as a condition for authentication, added Annan, whose term as UN leader ended on Dec. 30. These complaints have been shared with the Iraqi authorities but regrettably we have received no response, Annan said in the letter, addressed to the Security Council.
And Kojo needs his cut.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/02/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
This is historical. Why this has not been severed is beyond me. Should we deep six the UN?
My mother saw this interview and called me all upset about Iraq - no fu*king wonder. I'm including the link, and some of the most ridiculous portions of the transcript.
COOPER: So, where is the war right now?
WARE: Well...it's hard to see how the war is not in an intractable position. I mean, there's a lot of activity, but there's no progress, either politically, economically or militarily. Nope, nada, not a thing.
COOPER:...Supporters of the war and Cheney point to the democratic elections that have been held.
WARE: Right...But what's the reality? What's it like for the ordinary Iraqi on the street? And their common retort is, if this is democracy, then we'd rather have the old ways. The ordinary Iraqi wants Saddam back. Sure.
Sorry, can't have him now.
COOPER: Before the break, CNN's Michael Ware was describing his near execution by al Qaeda insurgents in Iraq. That's what happens when you try to befriend them, you lunatic.
Ware: The American war in Iraq made Zarqawi. It turned him from a relative nobody into one of the superstars of global jihad Try DEAD and a big fat JOKE to al Qaeda.
What al Qaeda in Iraq has now done is declared this western part of the country an Islamic state. Within this Islamic state, they intend to rule by Sharia law, pure Islamic law. AQ is doing so well that it can dare declare a part of American-occupied Iraq an al Qaeda Islamic state, a country within the American occupation. Is that so? What utter BS. Have you ever seen such adulation for terrorists in your life?
There is an interesting bit at the beginning about Green Berets and Kurds chasing AQ out of Iraq before the invasion. Of course, relayed in the context of yet another coalition failure.
#1
Ware's an idiot, with a peculiar admiration for a vile and unimpressive enemy. I once over-heard him breathlessly describing how "insurgents" or some such were so strong in some area of Anbar that Marine units were "cut off" and down to short rations/supplies, etc., due to the jihadis' military prowess.
This all reminds me of the even more astounding (yes, more) comment by a younger newsmagazine type (not sure which mag) who remarked at an embassy social event how the enemy "made an effort to hit military targets". I'm not kidding. This was at the height of the mass barbarian terror campaign of huge car bombs against markets and bus-stations, etc., in Baghdad.
Two problems with many (not all, but many) journalists - they're not very bright, and besides they inhabit utterly bizarre inverted moral universes.
As for Cooper, while he's not a bad guy, note what a weak and uninformed counter he offers about "no progress" - ahemm, how about the huge increases in quality and quantity of Iraqi security forces, and the fact that they have responsibility for large areas of the country and very often take the lead in joint operations? And his comment about not political or economic progress is ridiculous as well.
Sadly this is the average level of ignorant, tendentious crap that passes for "analysis" in most of the MSM, most of the time.
#2
Ware and Kevin Sites both crave so much recognition they can't possibly cover a story without making themselves out to be the center of each report. I wouldn't let either one of them near my people.
re: our men and women serving in the WOT all over the world.
Here they have the greatest story of all to convey/report yet they've both already proven thats not good enough. Nope that won't fly if you're a Guru Star, you'd have to credit someone besides yourself.
Rapporteurs, Attention whores of the lowest order.
#3
Amazingly off the mark, yet delivered in tones more profound than would be used by anyone here, ie those who actually have an idea of what's really going on. I hope your mother feels better after your little talk, cajunbelle.
#4
As per the script . . . "this war is unwinnable".
Talk about no imagination. . .
Posted by: no mo uro ||
02/02/2007 6:19 Comments ||
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#5
Hey! C'mon now, let's be fair. Ware said this:
There's one of the most progressive constitutions in the Arab world in place in Iraq.
On the other hand, Ware said -
Now, what we're seeing is the old becoming new again. I mean, in many ways, this is again staying the course. There's no radical shift in strategy.
O.K., so he's an idiot.
Posted by: Bobby ||
02/02/2007 6:27 Comments ||
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#6
Meh. Sounds like the same crap that Al-Jizz and BBC vomits outta my TV. The world's media have merged into one giant echo chamber for enemy propganda. Reinforcing Verlaine's point that the Bush admin's greatest failing has been clueless, total, abject failure to engage the infowar.
Thus, we've reached the point where those with first-hand knowledge to the contrary are routinely dismissed as toothless hicks, paid ideologues, or otherwise having illegitimate motivations. What I find most depressing is how so many of our own families have been torn apart by moonbats who trust the idiot box in the living room more than close relatives who have actually spent time in the sandbox.
Propganda is meant to dehumanize, and it's working.
Does the press directly receive cash from the Democrats and our enemies, do they do this out of their own convictions, or are they just attention whores?
Posted by: Rob Crawford ||
02/02/2007 8:20 Comments ||
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#10
If I read or watch the MSM, it is only to see what the enemy (the MSM) is doing in the way of propaganda. Verlaine stated it well: "Two problems with many (not all, but many) journalists - they're not very bright, and besides they inhabit utterly bizarre inverted moral universes. Some are amoral in their approach to reporting [if that is what you can even call it]. The fact that Ware almost got executed by AQ seems to have little effect on his fawning over the terrorists. Reinforces the not very bright stupid thesis.
#11
Hugh Hewitt interviewed Ware several months back and reached the conclusion that he has been co-opted. The deal, he gets the inside track from the terrorists "prospective" and pedals it in the MSM.
In short, Ware is a whore who has been found scared shitless. No wonder Time Mag and now CNN hold him in such high esteem.
Posted by: Captain America ||
02/02/2007 10:42 Comments ||
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#12
Ask yourself: Is Ware any different than Dan Rather et al fawning over Saddam in order to get the inside track?
He's just the latest piss ant
Posted by: Captain America ||
02/02/2007 10:46 Comments ||
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#13
Marines cut off by being surrounded with short rations/supplies simply means that they have a target rich environment and multiple avenues of attack.
You attack through an ambush, jackass.
When Sherman left Atlanta behind, where were his supply lines? He marched all the way to the Atlantic coast without supply lines and left total destruction in his wake without them.
When the US Army units in Bastogne (101st Airborne) were cut off and surrounded by Nazi forces they ordered the commanding officer to surrender. The response was historic and classic. The US Army held out in Bastogne from the day of the surrender demand (Dec 21st) for 5 more days (the lead elements of the relief force entered the city on Dec 26th).
BTW, I have some serious disagreements with the Wikipedia article regarding the Battle of the Bulge, particularly the statement "In its entirety, the Battle of the Bulge was the most bloody of the comparatively few European battles American forces experienced in WWII,"
At Khe Sanh, Vietnam, the US Marines were surrounded and cut off by North Vietnamese regular forces (about 2-3 division-sized forces) from Jan 21 through April 8. Resupplied only by difficult and dangerous air missions, the III Marine Amphibious Force held and held and held until releived during Operation Pegasus.
Again, I have some issues with the Wikipedia source, particularly the statement "The battle itself was as a tactical victory for the Marines, but the strategic implications of the battle remain unclear."
Also from Wikipedia regarding Fallujah, "an abortive US operation to recapture control of the city in Operation Vigilant Resolve, and a successful recapture of the city in November 2004 called Operation Phantom Fury which resulted in the reputed death of over 5,000 insurgent fighters and the loss of over 95 American Marines KIA and over 1,000 wounded. According to local sources, hundreds of civilians were among those killed. One Marine, Sgt. Peralta killed during the battle has been nominated for the Medal of Honor after being killed protecting fellow Marines by covering a grenade with his body just before it exploded.
In November, 2004, the U.S military launched a major operation, Operation Phantom Fury, in the city in an attempt to wrest control of the city back from the combination of insurgents and radical Sunni clerics, into whose hands the city had fallen. Estimates by one Iraqi N.G.O put the number of deaths in the operation at 4000-6000, but the very generality of such an estimate might be said to undermine its claim to veracity. There is also a clear distinction to be drawn between combatant and civilian deaths. In addition, it should be noted that all civilians were instructed by the Iraqi government to leave the city before the operation took place. There were reports that cluster bombs and white phosphorus, a controversial incendiary weapon, were used on the city. Initially the Pentagon denied the use of the latter weapon but later, after testimony by U.S soldiers, admitted using it.[5] A State Department official had called earlier reports of cluster bomb use "totally false," but there was no official statement on the events of November, which had been reported in several sources (for details, see US occupation of Fallujah)."
Again from Wikipedia regarding Najaf, "In August 2004, fighting broke out again between American troops of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, the 1st Cavalry Division's 1st Battalion, 5th US Cavalry Regiment and 2nd Battalion, 7th US Cavalry Regiment, 15th Forward Support Battalion and as-Sadr's Mahdi Army. The battle, which was mostly centered around Wādī' as-Salām Cemetery and the southwestern portion of the city, lasted three weeks and ended when senior Iraqi cleric Ayatollah Alī as-Sīstānī negotiated an end to the fighting. Thousands of Mahdi Army guerrillas were killed and considerable damage was inflicted on the old town and cemetery. The main shrines again suffered only superficial damage."
Ware clearly does not understand how the US military operates, has no comprehension of its history or history in general, and can see nothing except disaster when American troops go in harm's way. He's a jackass of the most supreme order - one with a microphone and a TV camera and one who's apparently incapable of using his computer for anything more than bashing the military. I found these references and could probably find a thousand more in the time it took to type this comment. Of course, Ware cannot bother himself with the facts.
#14
The hopeless nature of Wares conclusions may prove to be myopic. However, it seems unreasonable to suggest that he is a less then sincere in his analysis. Regardless of the liberals Un-winnable War mantra, the fact that he treats the surge, withdrawal, and division options with equal skepticism seems to contradict the accusation that he is a propagandist for the left. Furthermore, his actual reportage, for the most part, has been superior to the average Stringer hounding scuttlebutt over Daiquiris in the Green Zone Lounge. For those that disagree with his speculations - by all means call him on it but it seems premature to question his integrity.
Much thanks for that. Mom is getting there through constant "re-education". Fortunately, the remaining members of my family reside in Louisiana where almost no one watches CNN.
#14 DepotGuy
I'm sure Ware is sincerely in awe of his terrorist buddies. But he's not bright enough nor does he know enough about military strategy to be providing analyses.
#16
"I'm sure Ware is sincerely in awe of his terrorist buddies."
Terrorist buddies? cajunbelle, Are you suggesting that Ware is somehow in collusion with terrorists? If so, perhaps you could provide some empirical evidence to support your charge.
#17
He spends more time with terrorist/insurgents than Coalition soldiers, and if he spent half as much time glorifying Coalition efforts as he does the head-choppers, we might get some decent press back home.
#18
There is no doubt in my mind that Ware is collaborating with the terrorists. You follow his reporting journal and you will see he gets more insider scoups (witness his sniper sniff video in recent weeks) than any other fawning accomplice.
Posted by: Captain America ||
02/02/2007 20:26 Comments ||
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Israel made significant achievements during last summer's war in Lebanon, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the Winograd Committee on Thursday, saying that while the country did not win the war in the way many wanted to see, it did not lose it either.
Olmert was the 77th witness to testify before the panel that he set up and which started its investigation into the handling of the war three months ago. The committee, headed by former Tel Aviv District judge Eliyahu Winograd, is expected to release an interim report in about a month and Olmert was the last to testify before the panel begins writing that report.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/02/2007 00:00 ||
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The European Union will continue to insist that before the Palestinian Authority government gains international legitimacy it must adopt policies reflecting a willingness to recognize Israel, forswear terrorism, and accept previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements, a senior EU official said Wednesday.
His comments came a day after Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Saltanov said that Moscow would use Friday's Quartet meeting in Washington to urge the lifting of economic sanctions on the PA. "Russia has always argued against the blockade and we expect the Quartet to listen to our view," Interfax quoted Saltanov as saying.
But the EU official said he did not envision a change in the EU position regarding the well-known three international principles for dealing with the Hamas-led PA government. The Quartet is made up of the US, European Union, Russia and the UN.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/02/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
Interesting. Can we get the original quote in Russian? The reason I ask is
'Obey' in Russian is merely a reflexive form of the verb 'listen'. Did they use ??????? or ????????? ?
GAZA CITY - The Islamist movement Hamas, heading the ineffectual Palestinian government, charged on Thursday that an Arab country had shipped weapons to the presidential guard which is loyal to the rival Fatah faction.
Heh. Wonder what country that might be? Bet it's on the Arabian peninsula.
A large cargo of weapons was transported yesterday, said spokesman Ismail Radwan. He said the shipment passed into the Gaza Strip via Egypt through a crossing on the border between Egypt, Israel and the Palestinian territory. These weapons are intended for the presidential guard and the Fatah putschists, Radwan charged.
Military jeeps and shells are among these weapons which come from an Arab country, whose name we do not wish to divulge, he added.
Go for it, you know who it is, make the Saoodis mad at ya.
The secular Fatah party, which is led by Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, denied having received any such shipment. Its a slanderous accusation throwing water into the fire, said spokesman Abdelhakim Awad.
Throwing water into the fire? Methinks Abdel needs some remedial spokespersing help.
The head of Egypts Gaza-based security delegation, Burhan Hammad, also similarly branded the allegations a total lie that he said intended to push bitter rivals Fatah and Hamas into an arms race.
He's just defending the Saoodis, you know that.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/02/2007 00:00 ||
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Syria conducted a successful test of the Scud D missile, a long range missile capable of hitting any point in Israel. In the past Syria tried testing the missile and failed. The missile fell apart in mid-flight over Turkish airspace.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/02/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
Hmm from wikipedia
'The SS-1e Scud-D variant developed in the 1980s can deliver a conventional high-explosive warhead, a fuel-air warhead, 40 runway-penetrator sub-munitions, or 100 × 5 kg anti-personnel bomblets.'
Seems a little dated to me . Could someone with knowledge on the subject enlighten me ? Have there been any improvements to this missle , i.e. with a decent guidance system , a different payload , range ?
And 'wth' was the missle doing over Turkish airspace anyway ? I havent really heard anything from their government as regards this . I would have though a massive outcry and something about infringing sovereign rights blah blah
I sure hope Israel are keeping there Eltra green pine and Patriot systems combinations in tip top shape .
Posted by: Howard UK ||
02/02/2007 8:13 Comments ||
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#4
The missile fell apart in mid-flight
This is successful?
Posted by: Mike N. ||
02/02/2007 8:39 Comments ||
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#5
..The Syrians have pulled this stunt before. Frankly all they've done is to give Sixth Fleet a beautifully planned data tracking flight. Won't take but a few days to put all those flight parameters into a disc and upload it into a Patriot battery computer.
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
02/02/2007 9:25 Comments ||
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#6
They got the thing off the launch pad and more than a few miles down-range. That's a success for those guys (and quite likely for Scuds in general).
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
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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.
KABUL - Afghanistans parliament has granted immunity to all Afghans involved in the countrys 25 years of conflict, lawmakers said on Thursday, despite calls by human rights groups for war crimes trials.
The United States believes that Somali Islamists who had, until recently, been running parts of the country, are regrouping in Saudi Arabia and Eritrea, the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs said in an interview with the Financial Times on Thursday.
WELLINGTON - Saudi Arabia will send about 350 students to study at New Zealands eight universities this year, Tertiary Education Minister Michael Cullen said on Thursday. The undergraduate and postgraduate students would come under Saudi Arabias King Abdullah expanded scholarships programme for Asia and Oceania.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush will request slightly more than $100 billion to cover war operations in Iraq and Afghanistan for the rest of this year and an even larger amount for fiscal 2008 that begins on October 1, congressional sources said on Thursday.
KARACHI - Pakistani authorities have arrested more than 500 people in recent days, all believed to be Afghans, for travelling on fake Pakistani passports, an immigration official said on Thursday. The suspects were arrested in the southern port city of Karachi after they were deported from Jeddah, having gone to Saudi Arabia for the annual Haj pilgrimage.
Israel made significant achievements during last summer's war in Lebanon, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the Winograd Committee on Thursday, saying that while the country did not win the war in the way many wanted to see, it did not lose it either. 
GAZA CITY - The Islamist movement Hamas, heading the 
Syria conducted a successful test of the Scud D missile, a long range missile capable of hitting any point in Israel. In the past Syria tried testing the missile and failed. The missile fell apart in mid-flight over Turkish airspace.
