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USS Stennis Now On Station
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Afghanistan
'Taleban win support through intimidation'
Even though the majority of the Afghan people have rejected the political agenda of the Taleban, there has been an increase in its activities over the past one year or so. Former Afghan foreign minister Dr Abdullah Abdullah told The Peninsula yesterday: "The Taleban agenda has been rejected but at the same time they are getting support in certain parts of the country. They are doing this by carrying out attacks on civilians and through assassinations."

Abdullah is here attending the 2007 US-Islamic World Forum which is being held at the Ritz-Carlton. The seminar concludes today. The former minister called for continuing international efforts to help with the situation in his country. "There are a lot of positive developments but security is still a challenge. Security is related to Al Qaeda and the Taleban. Millions of refugees have returned back to the country and life has changed," he said.

Hr did say the militant groups were continuing to use Pakistan as a launch-pad for attacks across the border. "The role of Pakistan is the key to the issue. However, they are also trying to fight the militants and I hope they will extend those efforts," said Abdullah.

Stating that the country was going through a "challenging time", he said Afghans were trying their best to get out of the ashes of 25 years' of war and destruction. "The support of the international community is needed," he said. According to the diplomat, President Hamid Karzai was doing his best to tackle the various problems besetting Afghanistan.

As for the country's continuing opium production, he said that cultivation of the crop was partly related to terrorism. "This is the second-biggest challenge we are facing." Income from opium sales is widely believed to fund militant groups with the money used to acquire weapons. According to Abdullah, the reason that opium was such a cash crop was because of there being such a high demand in international markets, primarily for heroin.
Posted by: Fred || 02/20/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [8 views] Top|| File under:

#1  We are way past the time we place nice. GW needs to ignore the US-left, anti-Americans (not sure what the difference is), and the "Arab-street". Launch on North and South Wazoo and anhialate AQ and terrorist bases, and those that sympathize. Piss on them all.
Posted by: anymouse || 02/20/2007 1:56 Comments || Top||

#2  The role of Pakistan is the key to the issue

They need to decide asap what side they are on!!!!
Posted by: Ebbolump Glomotle9608 || 02/20/2007 6:00 Comments || Top||

#3  They know what side they're on, EG9608. They're playing the "long game", waiting us out.
Posted by: Spot || 02/20/2007 7:54 Comments || Top||

#4  with enough heat and dopents Wazoo would make a great solar cell.

Posted by: 3dc || 02/20/2007 22:53 Comments || Top||


Africa Horn
Activist blasts Muslims, Arabs over Darfur stance
A human rights activist from Darfur yesterday blasted the Arab and Muslim world for what he described as its hypocritical stand on the troubled region in Sudan. He said Muslims from the rest of the world should be ashamed of their indifference towards fellow Muslims being persecuted in Darfur.

Ironically, it is the Jews and Americans who are supporting the 'innocent Muslims being targeted' in the region and providing food and shelter to nearly 250,000 Darfur refugees who have fled to neighboring Chad, said Mohamed Adam Yahya. Yahya is the founder and executive director of the US-based ‘Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy’, a body committed to preserving human rights and ethnic communities in Darfur.
Posted by: Fred || 02/20/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Thats is good: about time anyone began to point the indifference of Muslims when anyone not belkonging to the master race is the victim of abuse.

Because of its attitude towards slavery it is Africa (and between African-Americans) where Islam is most vulmnearble. Once Africa falls the whole house of cards will follow.
Posted by: JFM || 02/20/2007 5:08 Comments || Top||

#2  Thats because the Arabs want sharia law throughout Africa!!!!!!
Posted by: Ebbolump Glomotle9608 || 02/20/2007 5:53 Comments || Top||

#3  Bravo. Let's see how long he sings this tune, though.
Posted by: Ptah || 02/20/2007 7:39 Comments || Top||

#4  The only slavery we care about is the one where we get to feel guilty for Republican racism. (You know, the slavery in the South we supported as Copperheads and continue to support by muslims as Copperheads.)
Posted by: The Democratic Party || 02/20/2007 10:36 Comments || Top||

#5  c'mon. arabs can't be outraged about EVERYTHING y'know. and concern for plight of black people (even though they're muslim) in africa takes a decidedly lower priority than Jew hatred.
Posted by: PlanetDan || 02/20/2007 12:19 Comments || Top||


Somalia Forms Anti-Terror Military Force
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) - Somalia's government has formed an anti-terror unit trained by Ethiopian troops to quell growing unrest in the
The paramilitary force began operations on Monday after being trained by the Ethiopian troops, Deputy Defense Minister Salad Ali Jelle said.
capital and a senior defense official said it went into operation on Monday.

The paramilitary force began operations on Monday after being trained by the Ethiopian troops, Deputy Defense Minister Salad Ali Jelle said. "It is a government plan to fight terrorists and bring them to justice," Jelle told The Associated Press.

He refused to provide more details about the unit. But another government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said it numbered around 700 soldiers.
This article starring:
Deputy Defense Minister Salad Ali Jelle
Posted by: Steve White || 02/20/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under:


Arab League bemoans members’ unpaid pledges
KHARTOUM - Arab League countries were urged to fulfil their pledges to bolster the ailing peacekeeping force in Darfur during a meeting held Monday in Khartoum to review last year’s Arab summit. ‘Arab countries are urged to stand by their commitments in favour of an African force,’ the summit’s follow-up committee said in a statement issued after a brief meeting in the Sudanese capital.

So far, only 10 percent of the 150 million dollars pledged in Khartoum last year for the African Union (AU) peacekeeping force in Darfur has been paid up.
Sudanese Foreign Minister Lam Akol also said at the opening of the meeting that he banked on ‘better Arab financial effort to support the African force.’ So far, only 10 percent of the 150 million dollars pledged in Khartoum last year for the African Union (AU) peacekeeping force in Darfur has been paid up.
Wotta surprise.
Arab League Secretary General Amr Mussa conceded on Sunday that commitments -- notably to assist the Palestinians, Somalis and people of Sudan’s Darfur region -- had not been met. ‘We did what we could in the present circumstances,’ the secretary general told reporters upon arrival. Mussa however insisted he remained confident that more funding was in the pipeline. ‘We have many pledges and we are monitoring this very closely with the African Union.’
Oh yes, the check's in the mail!

This article starring:
Amr Mussa
Arab League
Lam Akol
Posted by: Steve White || 02/20/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Many single A leagues have trouble paying for the central office, it's a lack of populaton base. Sure the Dearborn Bomb Squad can fill a stadium and sell cable rights, but they're an exception, most of the league compares to the South Bend Shaheeds, barely getting by, mainly on in-stadia concessions.

PEANUTS! Infidel? PEANUTS? Got your PEANUTS! Right here. COKE! COKE! CHIP, CHIP, CHEESEBURGER, CHEESEBURGE No infidel twenties please. PEANUTS! Allah is kind to me infidel, no change.
Posted by: Shipman || 02/20/2007 0:36 Comments || Top||

#2  Har har! [Pointing and laughing!] :-)
Posted by: gorb || 02/20/2007 5:35 Comments || Top||

#3  So far, only 10 percent of the 150 million dollars pledged in Khartoum last year for the African Union (AU) peacekeeping force in Darfur has been paid up.

The remaining 90% was reassigned for funding Paleostinian terrorism.
Posted by: JFM || 02/20/2007 6:05 Comments || Top||

#4  commitments -- notably to assist the Palestinians, Somalis and people of Sudan’s Darfur region -- had not been met

Nice to see they're equal opportunity liars, and the Palestinians are being shorted as well.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/20/2007 6:45 Comments || Top||

#5  I bet the 10% who paid feel like suckers.
Posted by: Spot || 02/20/2007 7:56 Comments || Top||

#6  Palestinians? Darfur? Screw that. Tell them this will force cutbacks in those swell banquets.
Then watch the money flow in...
Posted by: tu3031 || 02/20/2007 8:56 Comments || Top||

#7  The remaining 90% was reassigned for funding Paleostinian terrorism.

Actually, JFM, I'd be willing to bet the remaining 90% has been paid...just to the other side, in Darfur's and Somalia's cases. Remember, the Janjaweed (Arabs in Darfur) and Islamic Courts (Somalia) has to be backed by someone. It's a shame these African nations can't realize that the Arab League is probably funding their enemies. If you're an African Muslim, you're still not "Muslim enough" according to the Arabs.
Posted by: BA || 02/20/2007 11:04 Comments || Top||


Arabia
Gulf states prepare for war with Iran
Gulf Cooperation Council militaries have launched an effort to bolster the air defense and navies to prepare for any war with Iran.

Western industry sources said Gulf Arab states such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates have led the way with procurement and development programs meant to bolster defenses in the Gulf. The sources said the three GCC states envisioned an Iranian attack on their oil facilities amid any U.S.-led war against Teheran. "The key threats will be an Iranian attack on oil facilities or on oil ships in the Straits of Hormuz," a Gulf industry source said. "These countries need an answer to these threats and quickly."

The sources said the GCC focus would be on attack helicopters, fast attack craft, radars and air and missile defense. They said GCC states expect massive Iranian missile fire in any war with the United States
Posted by: ryuge || 02/20/2007 02:44 || Comments || Link || [11 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Meanwhile, Oil Prices Rise to Near $59 a Barrel
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 02/20/2007 5:07 Comments || Top||

#2  Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates

Larry, Curly, and Mo
Posted by: gromgoru || 02/20/2007 6:31 Comments || Top||

#3  This means they have approached the US and demanded more security.

Posted by: BrerRabbit || 02/20/2007 8:07 Comments || Top||

#4  Jeebus, I saw the headline and thought "The South will rise again!" Picturing LA, MS, AL, TX and FL going to war against Iran single-handedly! The MMs would never know what hit 'em.
Posted by: BA || 02/20/2007 11:30 Comments || Top||

#5  At least Kuwait is supportive. The majick kindgom can foad.
Posted by: Broadhead6 in Iraq || 02/20/2007 12:25 Comments || Top||

#6  Back to the Big Sandy for BH, evidently. Good hunting and come home safe, amigo.
Posted by: Seafarious || 02/20/2007 14:10 Comments || Top||


Yemen: Al Houthi Should Form Political Party
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has called on Al Houthi and his followers to establish a political party not based on religious, sectarian or racist foundations in order to help find a peaceful solution to the ongoing conflict in Yemen's Saada province, Al Jazeera.net reported Feb. 19. Saleh also said "the leaders of terrorist elements" should surrender and give up their arms and adhere to the official state curriculum.
Posted by: Fred || 02/20/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [9 views] Top|| File under:


Somali migrants killed at sea by Yemen
The number of mostly Somali migrants who drowned on 12 February off the Yemeni coast has increased to 107, Somali community officials in the capital, Sana’a, said on Sunday. “The number of migrants who drowned increased from 30 to 107 [as more bodies were found]. Most of them are Somalis and about 20 percent of them are from Ethiopia,” Sadat Mohammed, Head of Refugee Affairs at the Somali Community in Sana’a, told IRIN. He also said more people were still missing at sea.

When nearing the Yemeni coast, smugglers often force people to jump off and swim to shore so the smugglers can escape being arrested or shot at by Yemeni coastguards.
Mohammed said that Yemeni coastguards were responsible for the recent increased number of deaths of migrants making the perilous journey across the Gulf of Aden. “This problem [deaths of migrants] occurred after the Yemeni coastguards began firing at smugglers’ boats. This information was circulated among smugglers, who then began taking new sea routes,” he said.

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) recently confirmed that smugglers were taking new and more hazardous sea routes to Yemen as a result of increased security patrols along the Yemeni coast. When nearing the Yemeni coast, smugglers often force people to jump off and swim to shore so the smugglers can escape being arrested or shot at by Yemeni coastguards, Somali community leaders said.
This article starring:
Sadat Mohammed
Posted by: Fred || 02/20/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [9 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Aren't Muslims such great humanitarians to their own kind?
Posted by: Sneaze || 02/20/2007 0:13 Comments || Top||

#2  If only we adopted the same policy toward muslim migrants.
Posted by: Excalibur || 02/20/2007 10:38 Comments || Top||

#3  friggin amazing that people assigned to block illegals are shooting at smugglers...whoda thunk it?
Posted by: Frank G || 02/20/2007 20:24 Comments || Top||


Britain
Police 'should pursue terror suspects into mosques'
Posted by: anonymous5089 || 02/20/2007 12:37 || Comments || Link || [6 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Oops, forgot to include comment #9 :

Dragonhead, China / 3:14am 20 Feb 2007 This is a case of 'Those that are doing it and those who are letting them do it'.
Whether it is a religious place of worship or not should have no bearing on the matter at all. In Iraq it seems to make not a jot of difference to the terrorists (Muslims All) who have killed many in the mosques, women and children included.
It is convenient to bar police chasing 'Real Terrorists' to be impeded by Muslim clerics, who by their very actions are harbouring and giving aid to TERRORISTS, in this case no alleged about it, as later conduct ot the individual has confirmed.
These are the very Terrorists the decent Muslims roundly condemn as being outside the tenets of the Muslim faith!!! PARDON ME?
Whether for religious reasons or political ones, even for something more un-acceptable, these clerics should be arraigned and charged with being accessories to terrorist activities.
Normally one sees those who help prison escapers, robbers, murders etc in the dock being jailed.
This double standards issue is atrocious. They chose to come to the UK, for whatever reason, as did many others from all over the world have done. Their religion makes them no better or worse than the Jew, Hindu,Sikh, Christian, of whatever nationality. They have a moral right to assist in stamping out the evils of terrorism. Don't make me laugh, have you not woken up yet, home grown suicide bombers causing carnage indescriminately in the name of 'I am hacked off with the way the INFIDELS are treating my brothers brigade'? Spare my days how bloody gullible you folk are.
Hard decisions have to be made before it becomes mandatory for you to bow to Mecca five times a day! Rabble rouser? Red-neck? Christian heretic? I am none of those. I am a REALIST who has lived in a Muslim country, speak a fair amount of the languages still (Arabic, and Bahasa Indonesia, Bahasa Malaya).
I can't believe the response from supposedly intelligent people in sound mind.
Maybe it is too many years being 'shafted' by political parties, having too many sanctions put upon you, or the destruction of the family etc etc
On your present course I personally see NO FUTURE AT ALL FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM (maybe that will become a thing of the past after May) NONE AT ALL. YOU ARE ALL BEING SCREWED AND ABOUT TO BE COUNTER SUNK unless you wake up and see things as THEY REALLY ARE.


Posted by: anonymous5089 || 02/20/2007 12:40 Comments || Top||

#2  allan forbid the ploice follow some baby-killing, burka-wearing, murdering islamo-terrorist into an islamic house of worship.
Posted by: anymouse || 02/20/2007 13:58 Comments || Top||

#3  If they run into a mosque, that building should be bulldozed and replaced with a pig farm. Scorched earth.

It might take a couple hundred times but the mullahs might finally get the hint.
Posted by: Icerigger || 02/20/2007 14:16 Comments || Top||

#4  Yep. This ain't 12th-century France, and there ain't no hunchbacked bellringers shoutin' "SANCTUARY!"

And you ain't Maureen O'Hara, pal.
Posted by: mojo || 02/20/2007 14:32 Comments || Top||

#5  Now I just wonder. What would've happened if a British Jew were to kill somebody and when run to hide in a synagogue. What I wonder about, how many UK synagogues would be torched during the next week?
Posted by: gromgoru || 02/20/2007 18:28 Comments || Top||


BBC survey: War with Islam unjustified
A survey conducted by the BBC shows that residents of Europe, North America and Asia believe there is no justification for war between the West and Islam, Army Radio reported on Sunday night. According to the poll, only 28% of those surveyed felt that the confrontation between the two cultures was unavoidable. Over half of the participants attributed the ongoing tension to political causes. In addition, 58% said they believed minorities were contributing to fanning the flames of the conflict. Over 1,000 people from 27 different countries participated in the survey, the report said.
Posted by: Fred || 02/20/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [6 views] Top|| File under:

#1  All that survey indicates is that 58% of 1000 people sampled from 27 countries deserve to end up like Daniel Pearl.
Posted by: anymouse || 02/20/2007 1:58 Comments || Top||

#2  Ask the residents of London SE3 who've had thousands of somalis dumped in their area and I suspect you'd find a much higher percentage recorded.
Posted by: Howard UK || 02/20/2007 3:42 Comments || Top||

#3  Howard

Try W12,NW10,W3 etc.You are not alone London is full of somalians,Asians,East Europeans etc

Gravy train for benefits is London!!!!

BBC is left wing so dont pay any attention.From what i hear on the ground the average Joe is pissed off and frustrated with Labour and Muslims in general.Marches are needed by the English as the silent muslims wont speak out about the enemy within!!!!
Posted by: Ebbolump Glomotle9608 || 02/20/2007 4:44 Comments || Top||

#4  Agreed we SE3 isn't as bad as West London or the East End biut the influx did seem to occur overnight - along with the disappearance of peace and quiet in my neighbourhood. A patriotic AND intelligent alternative to the BNP is required for the English/Brits to rally around.
Posted by: Howard UK || 02/20/2007 6:44 Comments || Top||

#5  Whatever the hell happened to the Tories, Howard?
Posted by: Spot || 02/20/2007 7:58 Comments || Top||

#6  The Tories are infected with the same PC bug as the other mainstream parties. Cameron is not Thatcher.
Posted by: Howard UK || 02/20/2007 8:15 Comments || Top||

#7  Most of these BBC readers have blind anger against "the man" so they believe everything is a conspiracy of the government to have an iron grip over the people. The rest are muslims who hate the west anyways. People wake up!
Posted by: Angenter Crolugum3645 || 02/20/2007 8:55 Comments || Top||

#8  Cameron is not Major.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 02/20/2007 9:03 Comments || Top||

#9  My mate took part in a march on sunday but because they were connected to football hoolie firms the media did not cover it.

There is alot of pissed off people who dont know how to react.I think also years of IRA bombing we have become customed/apathetic to disruption/terror!!!!
Posted by: Ebbolump Glomotle9608 || 02/20/2007 9:04 Comments || Top||

#10  Now that is interesting, Ebbolump Glomotle9608. There have been predictions here that the football hooligans would be the first to take matters into their own hands.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/20/2007 9:38 Comments || Top||

#11  Yep. The riots in Oldham in the summer of 2001 were caused by visiting Stoke City fans - allegedly.
Posted by: Howard UK || 02/20/2007 10:03 Comments || Top||

#12  I am profoundly encouraged that even a farce of a BBC poll has to acknowledge 28% of respondents may be sane.
Posted by: Excalibur || 02/20/2007 10:38 Comments || Top||

#13  ...residents of Europe, North America and Asia believe there is no justification for war between the West and Islam...

Yeah, so tell islam to stop attacking the West. Bingo, war over.
Posted by: Parabellum || 02/20/2007 17:28 Comments || Top||


Terror suspects put on control orders 'should be prosecuted'
More terror suspects should be prosecuted rather than left in legal limbo under virtual house arrest, John Reid has been warned. Lord Carlile of Berriew urged the Home Secretary to devise an alternative to control orders, under which terror suspects face restrictions on their activities.

Critics have condemned the orders for imposing a near-imprisonment on people without the allegations against them being examined in court. Lord Carlile, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, made clear that he believed more prosecutions should be mounted against terror suspects on orders. He said information used against terror suspects on control orders, such as financial support for Iraqi insurgents or apparent references to planned atrocities, might be "progressed to evidence of significant terrorism crime". He said police, prosecutors and security services should examine whether suspects on a control order could be prosecuted under normal criminal law.

Lord Carlile said: "It is a given that it would be far better for prosecutions to occur, of course provided they pass the usual threshold standards." He also repeated his call for a change in the law to allow intercept evidence, such as telephone taps, to be made admissible evidence in some prosecutions. Although he described the control order system as a "justifiable and proportional safety valve", Lord Carlile said the Government needed to think ahead to what might replace it.

Nineteen terror suspects have been placed on control orders since the beginning of last year. Three have absconded since the summer and are still on the run. Lord Carlile said their disappearance did not undermine the control order system, but underlined the need for "constant reconsideration of the surveillance and observation" of suspects.

Lord Carlile's report on the 2005 Prevention of Terrorism Act follows a judgment last week at Manchester Crown Court in which a control order was quashed on the grounds that the defendant had been deprived of his liberty. Mr Reid said: "The Government is committed to having the strongest ... armoury to protect the public from terrorism. Control orders were never our preferred option but they remain an essential measure."

David Davis, the shadow Home Secretary, called for a review of all control order cases. "We have said from the beginning that it is better to lock up a terror suspect," he said. "This demonstrates ... that control orders are being used instead of prosecutions."

Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, said: "We feared control orders would be used to circumvent due process and avoid bringing people before the court. This report suggests those fears were well founded."

Shami Chakrabarti, the director of Liberty, said: "Three control orders have resulted in escape and five have been quashed - these orders are clearly a sloppy substitute for criminal law."
Posted by: Fred || 02/20/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [6 views] Top|| File under:


Down Under
Iraq welcomes Australian troop boost
The Iraqi Government says it is very supportive of Australia's decision to boost its troop numbers in Iraq. Prime Minister John Howard announced yesterday that up to 70 military trainers from Australia would join troops in Iraq.

Iraq's Deputy Foreign Minister Labeed Abbawi says the trainers will support the Iraq military, and early withdrawal of troops would have negative consequences. He told ABC's Lateline program the deployment is a good decision. "The main thing is not the numbers, the main thing is that we do have people to come here and to help train within an agreed program, if the Iraqis do need some more, I think they will talk with Australians on this and I hope they will get a positive response," he said.

In making the announcement yesterday Mr Howard attacked federal Labor leader Kevin Rudd for opposing the idea. "I mean he cannot have it both ways, he's now classically having a bet each way," he said.

But Mr Rudd maintains there are better ways to train Iraqi security forces than sending more Australians. "We don't believe any additional troops should be sent, that's clear cut and I won't budge on that," he said.
Posted by: Steve White || 02/20/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Hail to the Aussies! To H*ll with PelosiMurtha.
Posted by: anymouse || 02/20/2007 2:15 Comments || Top||

#2  Thank you Diggers!
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/20/2007 5:11 Comments || Top||


Europe
EU anti-terror chief asks U.S. to uphold human rights
Posted by: anonymous5089 || 02/20/2007 12:57 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The EU is totally undemocratic, the USA should start asking about the human rights of journalists who've investigated, and staff who've blown the whistle on the MASSIVE fraud and corruption in the EU.

The EU is a slow coup.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles in Blairistan || 02/20/2007 14:15 Comments || Top||

#2  EU, slow death of Europe.
Posted by: DarthVader || 02/20/2007 14:20 Comments || Top||

#3  The guy's got a point.
Let's just shoot them from now on...
Posted by: tu3031 || 02/20/2007 16:00 Comments || Top||

#4  Everytime US, or anybody, kills a Lion of Islam(TM) they're upholding human rights.
Posted by: gromgoru || 02/20/2007 18:22 Comments || Top||

#5  George Bush freed 25 Million people from tyranny. What has Europe done lately?
Posted by: Anonymoose || 02/20/2007 18:32 Comments || Top||


Germany's parallel Muslim universe
Posted by: ryuge || 02/20/2007 09:24 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The Ummah colony in Germany more like!
Posted by: Bright Pebbles in Blairistan || 02/20/2007 9:44 Comments || Top||

#2  How about....infestation of Germany?
Posted by: anymouse || 02/20/2007 10:08 Comments || Top||

#3  Martin Luther would have known how to address the problem directly.
Posted by: Excalibur || 02/20/2007 10:13 Comments || Top||

#4  "Disturbing as this trend may be, it cannot be pinned exclusively on Muslim groups. Under the guise of religious tolerance, German society stood blithely by as some parts of its Muslim communities began turning into parallel societies. For years, the country's courts have been excusing Muslim girls from coed swimming lessons and class outings - citing the most absurd reasons for their rulings."

The idea expressed in this paragraph is that Germans are partly to blame for fostering a separate Muslim society. In the broader debate about compatibility of Muslims in Western societies, there needs to be some consistency-either accommodating Muslim demands causes radicalization, or refusing Muslim demands causes radicalization. The confusion from that side of the pond is stunning. This is a land of great philosophers-come on, guys, get your story straight.
Posted by: Jules || 02/20/2007 11:18 Comments || Top||

#5  How about:

everything "causes" Moslem radicalization (and seething).
Posted by: Kalle (kafir forever) || 02/20/2007 11:37 Comments || Top||

#6  You don't think it can't happen here: In the Anchorage Daily News today - "In downtown cemetery, a spot for Muslims"

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/anchorage/newcity/story/8656164p-8547115c.html
Posted by: anymouse || 02/20/2007 11:50 Comments || Top||

#7  anymouse - in case you're interested, I posted that article in today's Rantburg on the local page.
Posted by: ryuge || 02/20/2007 12:21 Comments || Top||

#8  Thanks...I missed it.
Posted by: anymouse || 02/20/2007 13:37 Comments || Top||

#9  For years, the country's courts have been excusing Muslim girls from coed swimming lessons and class outings - citing the most absurd reasons for their rulings.

My understanding is that coed, nude swimming is common in German swimming pools. Can anyone corroborate?
Posted by: KBK || 02/20/2007 13:56 Comments || Top||

#10  My understanding is that coed, nude swimming is common in German swimming pools.
Depends upon the pools, but it does occur, and it's not rare. Most pools post whether nude swimming is allowed, and at what times. Spas in Wiesbaden usually allowed nude bathing on Wednesdays and Fridays, I believe.
Posted by: Old Patriot || 02/20/2007 15:16 Comments || Top||

#11  ...thers nothing like swimmin,
with bow legged women.
Posted by: Jack Nickleson || 02/20/2007 15:24 Comments || Top||

#12  Fear of losing her headscarf

In the following years, the German courts stuck to their guns. In another regional case, the judges had to decide whether a class excursion was mandatory for a Muslim girl. In their ruling of 2002, they parroted the language of a fatwa issued two years previously. The former chairman of the Islamic Religious Community in Hesse had stipulated that a Muslim woman not accompanied by a mahram, a male blood relative, must not stray more than 50 miles from her home - because this is the distance a caravan of camels can travel in 24 hours.

Camels are something of an anomaly on the German autobahn these days. Sympathetic judges nonetheless recommended sending the 15-year-old brother along as a mahram. Given her fear of losing her headscarf or violating other religious laws, the schoolgirl's condition, they argued, was comparable to that of a "partially mentally handicapped person." She therefore needed somebody to accompany her; otherwise, she should not be forced to take part in the trip, they reasoned.


Yup! that's what Islam does to you; turns you into a "partially mentally handicapped person."
Posted by: tipper || 02/20/2007 17:58 Comments || Top||

#13  There is a notable difference, however. Most of the Moslems in Germany are Turks, who came there to work; unlike those in France and Britain, who came there from Africa to get on the dole.

That explains why there has been such little civil discord in Germany compared to other countries.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 02/20/2007 18:35 Comments || Top||


Fifth Column
Group Wants Congressman Virgil Goode to Explain Comments About Muslims
Posted by: Icerigger || 02/20/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under:

#1  What's to explain? Makes a perfect sense.
Posted by: twobyfour || 02/20/2007 0:23 Comments || Top||

#2  Can I use a baseball bat?
Posted by: Congressman Goode || 02/20/2007 6:32 Comments || Top||

#3  What I meant was...Muslims are bugger eating cave men who get sexually excited when smelling animal dung. Is that better ?
Posted by: Virgil Goode || 02/20/2007 12:10 Comments || Top||

#4  Dear Sir,

Your clarification is greatly appreciated. Yes you may use a bat but me thinks dipping it in pig's blood first may be more polite.

This guy is a real American with brass balls to boot! Give em hell Virgil!
Posted by: Icerigger || 02/20/2007 12:24 Comments || Top||

#5  Didn't Abraham Hooper say something about the flag over the WH?
Posted by: anonymous2u || 02/20/2007 13:54 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Politix
Ohio Gov: No Iraq refugees
Gov. Ted Strickland on Wednesday had a message for President Bush: any plan to relocate thousands of refugees uprooted by the Iraq war to the U.S. shouldn't include Ohio.
Asstard.
The Bush administration plans to allow about 7,000 Iraqi refugees to settle in the United States over the next year, a huge expansion at a time of mounting international pressure to help millions who have fled their homes in the nearly four-year-old war.
"I am sympathetic to the plight of the innocent Iraqi people who have fled that country. However, I would not want to ask Ohioans to accept a greater burden than they already have borne for the Bush administration's failed policies."
The United States has allowed only 463 Iraq refugees into the country since the war began in 2003, even though some 3.8 million have been uprooted.

Strickland, a Democrat who opposed the war as a U.S. House member, said Ohioans cannot be expected to have open arms for Iraqis displaced by the war. More than 100 Ohioans have been killed since the war began. "I think Ohio and Ohioans have contributed a lot to Iraq in terms of blood, sweat and too many tears," Strickland said. "I am sympathetic to the plight of the innocent Iraqi people who have fled that country. However, I would not want to ask Ohioans to accept a greater burden than they already have borne for the Bush administration's failed policies."
This article starring:
Gov. Ted Strickland
Posted by: Fred || 02/20/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [11 views] Top|| File under:

#1  If I was Bush I would set up the resettlement center in Cleveland.
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom || 02/20/2007 3:09 Comments || Top||

#2  Since when do mere governors set national immigration policy?
Also, Strickland has delayed all death sentences which had been scheduled since his inauguration. In pre-election debates, his opponent predicted that Strickland, being a psychologist, would go soft on criminals.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 02/20/2007 4:38 Comments || Top||

#3  During his campaign, Reverened Strickland (he's an ordained Methodist minister) advertised on Christian radio and talked about how he was going to govern according to his "faith in Jesus Christ."

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. . . . Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Apparently, Reverened Ted believes that the political expediency of his partty overrides the Gospel.

Hypocrite.
Posted by: Mike || 02/20/2007 6:01 Comments || Top||

#4  Smart guy---muzzies are poison.
Posted by: gromgoru || 02/20/2007 6:14 Comments || Top||

#5  That's what happens when one party stays in power so long it becomes corrupt. The other can win with a donkey. Taft screwed things up just like Nixon. And it didn't have to be but somehow always is.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 02/20/2007 6:51 Comments || Top||

#6  Mike, I think if you asked Mr Strickland about that verse, it would not-so-surprisingly be missing from his copy of the Bible.
Posted by: Swamp Blondie || 02/20/2007 8:20 Comments || Top||

#7  If the refugees are largely those people who worked as interpreters for us I say 'Welcome to America'. To bug out and leave them to be executed for helping us would be horribly immoral.
Posted by: Glenmore || 02/20/2007 8:52 Comments || Top||

#8  SPoD-

As a former Clevelander, I say go for it, but only feed 'em kielbasa and dumplings in front of a big screen showing a Browns game. After a few good sized plates of that, they'll be feeling way too sleepy to even consider anything illegal.

Better yet, put 'em in the Dawg Pound for a couple of Sundays. They'll think they never left home.

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski || 02/20/2007 11:08 Comments || Top||

#9  Let's take a peak into the good Govenor's brain.
I would not want to ask Ohioans to accept a greater burden than they already have borne for the Bush administration's failed policies.

Exactly what is the burden of a few immigrants ?
And, if a few are a burden, then what are numbers so great that english is no longer spoken ? A catastrophe ? A collapse ?
Finally, what would he call a situation where they marched in the streets demanding political gratuities and entitlements and waving flags of other nations ? The Apocalypse ?
We call it home.
Posted by: wxjames || 02/20/2007 12:44 Comments || Top||

#10  "To bug out and leave them to be executed for helping us would be horribly immoral." US Democrats are working hard to make the first part happen & thus ensure the second. The "immoral" part doesn't matter to them, & especially not to the Rev. Strickland. His own website states he used to have a plaque in his office saying:
"And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”—Micah 6:8
Just another hypocrite, that is to say, another politician.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 02/20/2007 13:20 Comments || Top||

#11  I dunno Mike - For true Cleveland indoctination and assimilation, I'd have to suggest force feeding them old Ghoulardi shows.

They'd never turn the TV off.





Posted by: GORT || 02/20/2007 13:49 Comments || Top||

#12  Absolutely the LAST thing we should be allowing into this country is more Muslim immigrants, Iraqi or otherwise. I say good on the Gov. Even if he is POS Donk.

Posted by: Chiper Threreger8956 || 02/20/2007 15:42 Comments || Top||

#13  The governor now says he welcomes the refugees, he was just expressing frustration with the war in Iraq. What a pain those bloggers are, to be sure!
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/20/2007 15:52 Comments || Top||

#14  Thanks for the link, TW! Dear heavens, the e-mail and phone calls to the Gubner's Mansion must've been blistering!

“I was expressing frustration about all this, but I don’t think I came across as a very nice person.”

You're not, Ted. You're not.
Posted by: Mike || 02/20/2007 16:29 Comments || Top||

#15  Gort -
Oh, amen to THAT. And how about a Reuben at the Sportsmens' over on 9th and St Clair?...

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski || 02/20/2007 16:29 Comments || Top||

#16  Kids, I just did some Googling around, and as far as I can tell, Rantburg is the only blog linking to this story.

If Rev. Gov. Ted got hit by a flurry of e-mails and calls today from angry Netizens, and that's what prompted his climbdown, it started here. In Rantburg.

Behold the Power of the 'Burg
Posted by: Mike || 02/20/2007 17:02 Comments || Top||

#17  http://www.rightangleblog.com/story/ted_strickland_flip_flops_on_immigration

He was for it before he was against before he was for, etc....
Posted by: Shush Omolung9989 || 02/20/2007 21:15 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Women's rights activist minister killed
A SUSPECTED Islamic militant shot dead a female provincial minister at a political meeting in central Pakistan today because she was not wearing Muslim clothing, officials said. Zill-e Huma, the Punjab province minister for social welfare, was shot in the head at a function in Gujranwala city, provincial law minister Raja Basharat said. "She was shot dead by a fanatic when she was meeting with party workers," he said.

Officials said Huma was known for promoting women's rights. "He killed her because she was not observing the Islamic code of dress. She was also campaigning for emancipation of women," local police officer Nazir Ahmad said. "The suspect is an extremist and he has a history of targeting woman whom he believed to be immoral."

The Government of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has made some progress on women's rights in recent years, as part of the pro-US ruler's policy of "enlightened moderation" designed to tackle extremism. The Government introduced a Bill in Parliament on February 13 seeking to end the forced marriage of women and girls and allowing females to inherit property, officials said.

Gujranwala, some 250km southeast of Islamabad, was hit by riots in April 2005 after police stopped armed Islamic activists from disrupting a mini-marathon involving female competitors.
This article starring:
Nazir Ahmad
Raja Basharat
Zill-e Huma
Posted by: tipper || 02/20/2007 08:58 || Comments || Link || [11 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Surprise meter must be broken, darn it (tap, tap). Coming to a theater near you sooner than later.
Posted by: anymouse || 02/20/2007 10:12 Comments || Top||

#2  The accused, identified as Mohammad Sarwar, was immediately arrested by police.

Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat told Reuters the gunman had been implicated in six previous murder cases but had never been convicted because of a lack of evidence.

"He revealed during interrogation that he is against the involvement of women in politics and government affairs," Basharat said.

Basharat said the gunman was not a member of any Islamist group. "He is basically a fanatic," he said.
Posted by: tu3031 || 02/20/2007 10:30 Comments || Top||

#3  There won't be any evidence to convict this time either.
Posted by: BrerRabbit || 02/20/2007 10:34 Comments || Top||

#4  And the left, the feminist left included, just love Islam.

Now, what did Churchill say about crocodiles' feeding habits?
Posted by: Howard UK || 02/20/2007 10:38 Comments || Top||

#5  You know the feminist left only goes after white men. Anyone else they won't, cuz' they would get shot.
Sad fact, but true of most political groups in the US. They go after the soft targets with lawyers since they know they are safe. Anyone else they roll over and surrender (cartoon fiasco)since there is an actual risk of getting hurt/killed.

Damn cowards, the lot of them.
Posted by: DarthVader || 02/20/2007 11:06 Comments || Top||

#6  I remember seeing a wedding party walking up a road, think it was outside of Lahore. Have photo of it someplace but as we drove by I saw the bride. She couldn't have been over 8 years old.

You guys are completely correct. Welcome to Islam and the liberals that endorse it. All for want of white Christian hating.
Posted by: Icerigger || 02/20/2007 12:21 Comments || Top||

#7  If the Pak police knew this guy had a history, why didn't they just put him to sleep?
Posted by: Xenophon || 02/20/2007 18:45 Comments || Top||


FO reiterates resolve to fight Taliban
Pakistan reiterated on Monday that it was fully committed to stopping the use of its territory for terrorist activities and was cooperating with NATO and Afghanistan to curb terrorism and extremism in the border region.

Foreign Office spokeswoman Tasneem Aslam told a weekly press briefing that Pakistan had deployed more than 80,000 troops and maintained 1,000 military posts along the border with Afghanistan, and had lost 700 troops in fighting in the region. She said Pakistan was doing whatever it could and it was the responsibility of the Afghan government and its Western allies to concentrate on the situation in Afghanistan.

She said the Taliban were a threat to both Pakistan and Afghanistan and Pakistan on its part was taking all possible measures to address the issue with a combined approach of military action and socio-economic uplift. Aslam said Pakistan enjoyed excellent relations with Iran and rejected media reports that the Pakistani ambassador had been summoned to the Iranian Foreign Office in connection with a border violation.

She said Iran had not accused Pakistan of supporting terrorists. She said in fact the Pakistani envoy had a meeting with the Head of the Asian Desk at Iran’s Foreign Office to review the situation in the border areas and discussed a bomb blast in Zaidan. The Iranian side shared the results of its preliminary investigation into the blast with the Pakistani envoy besides information on drug trafficking and human smuggling.
Posted by: Fred || 02/20/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [9 views] Top|| File under:


UN: Talibanization poses threat to Pakistan
The top UN diplomat in Afghanistan said Monday that Talibanization posed a threat to the region, particularly neighboring Pakistan, and warned that the hardline group's rule was not an experience worth repeating.

Tom Koenigs, the UN special representative to Afghanistan, also criticized a senior Pakistani official who last week likened the Taliban resistance to a nationalist struggle against foreign forces. There is "a danger of Talibanization of the region ... particularly of Pakistan," Koenigs told reporters. "Other states should look at this experience (of Afghanistan) and make it very clear that they don't want to repeat this experience." Koenigs said that some Pakistani politicians and officials were underestimating the Taliban's threat to international peace and security, just as the international community did when the Taliban first rose to power in the 1990s.
Posted by: Fred || 02/20/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [9 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Pakistan's Parliament took the time to amend their constitution to declare the Ahmadiyah sect a "non-Muslim minority." They could do the same thing to al-Qaeda, Taliban, Jamaat-i-Islami, et al. They won't because they use jihadis for their own purposes.
Posted by: Sneaze || 02/20/2007 0:11 Comments || Top||


International-UN-NGOs
Bush's policies draw flak at US-Islamic gabfest
Strong indictment of some policies of the present US administration, and a call for Islamic reformation were among the observations witnessed at the concluding plenary session of the fourth US-Islamic World Forum yesterday.
The Fourth one? How'd we miss the other three? No one sent me a ticket, and I darned sure never saw an agenda ...
Sudan’s former prime minister Al Sadig AbdulRahman al-Mahdi stated that he could not see any further development regarding dialogue so long as the Bush administration’s policies continued to be the same. “There is ‘mutual demonisation’ between the US and the Islamic world. But ‘Yankeephobia’ is limited whereas ‘Islamophobia’ is widespread,” he explained, while asserting that there has to be a change from the Americans.
Because it's all our fault, you see; Islamic terrorists have been unfairly demonized everywhere in the world.
Referring to the Iranian nuclear imbroglio, the Sudanese leader maintained that Iran is entitled to nuclear technology as 36 other countries. “Iran needs to be policed, but should not be approached with double standards,” he cautioned.
No one argues that Iran can have nuclear power for electricity generation. That's permitted by their signature with the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The concern is nuclear weapons, and Mahmoud and Mad Mullahs™ keep doing things that make a reasonable person think that Iran is building those.
Al-Mahdi also raised the need for Islamic reformation. “We Muslims should understand how to deal with the past, modernisation, fanaticism, violence, and good governance among others,” he said.
Almost sounds like an apostate. Wonder what good holy men think of that?
Afghanistan’s former minister of foreign affairs, Abdullah Abdullah observed that his people have gained a lot from the partnership with the US. Pointing at the ‘little understanding’ that exists between the Islamic world and the US, he urged the delegates to take the message from the Forum to their respective countries.

The Washington Post’s columnist David Ignatius was of the view that the US has to take a serious approach to solving the Palestinian problem and shift its focus in Iraq. “There has to be a timetable to end the occupation in Iraq, and shift the focus to the crisis that has developed because of the invasion,” he said.
Thanks for the Democrat point of view, Dave, way to stick up for your country when abroad. And it always revolves around the Paleos, doesn't it.
Ignatius stated that the ‘civil war in Iraq’ has to be curtailed from spreading in the region and the humanitarian crisis addressed. “There is also a need to think about how to protect the region’s oil supplies, talk to the neighbours, and make multilateralism work,” he added.
Because multilateralism has worked so well everywhere it's been tried ...
The Daily Star (Lebanon) editor-at-large Rami Khouri remarked that the severity and direction of negative change in the Middle East in the last five years has become so bad that the region is on the verge of a crisis. “It is taking us back to the post-colonial order of the 1920s. The Middle East is the only part of the world that suffers the ravages of the post-colonial and neo-colonial orders,” he said. Khouri, who was of the view that the present challenges require a much bolder solution, suggested that the Brookings Institution and Qatar should henceforth focus on smaller meetings.
Perhaps that's just what we need, since 1920 is about when the region was altered in ways that made everything worse. Thanks, Mr. Sykes-Picot and Mr. Churchill.
The speaker also observed that the most important process happening in the region is the beginning of the end of impunity for people who use political violence. “The action against Iraq’s Baathist officials and the international tribunal set up by Lebanon to probe Hariri’s assassination are indications in this regard,” he added.
The former being much more successful than the latter so far, not that anyone at the conference would admit that ...
Speaking from the audience, the president of Washington-based Education for Employment Foundation L Michael Hager recommended that the UN and the Alliance of Civilisations have to be involved in the dialogue.
Because you just can't get anything done these days without the involvement of the U.N. ...
Posted by: ryuge || 02/20/2007 03:23 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "Gee, what do you want to talk about?"

"I dunno. The usual I suppose."
Posted by: gorb || 02/20/2007 5:14 Comments || Top||

#2  Al-Mahdi also raised the need for Islamic reformation

Like what, denoucing Muhammad's call to kill us?
Posted by: Icerigger || 02/20/2007 7:08 Comments || Top||

#3  On another news:

US bombers draw Flak from Germans.
Posted by: JFM || 02/20/2007 8:12 Comments || Top||

#4  But ‘Yankeephobia’ is limited whereas ‘Islamophobia’ is widespread...

Yep. I can just feel the love...
Posted by: tu3031 || 02/20/2007 8:34 Comments || Top||

#5  Again, Bizarro world, with sudanese leaders lecturing the USA about rights and respect and tolerance... named al mahdi too, to add to the dark humor... oh, and was he in charge around the times 2,5 milions south-sudanese were genocided by the gvt??? Or perhaps when UBL lived there? I should check the archives to get references to al turabi and his importance in setting the sunni islamist international, or try to find back that article about the role of sudan in muslim nuke proliferation,... but why bother? Black is white, right is left, up is down,...
Posted by: anonymous5089 || 02/20/2007 10:57 Comments || Top||

#6  Bush must be doing it right he pisses off the liberal loonies as well as the mooselimb loonies.
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/20/2007 19:01 Comments || Top||

#7  Sykes (British) and Picot (French) were two different people.
Posted by: mac || 02/20/2007 20:37 Comments || Top||


Iraq
BBC : Rape claim splits Iraq government
An allegation that Iraqi police raped a Sunni woman while enforcing a new security plan in Baghdad has opened sectarian splits within the government.
The woman said she was assaulted at a police garrison on Sunday where she was falsely held for supporting insurgents.

Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, who is Shia, dismissed the claims, but senior Sunni officials insist it is true. Mr Maliki accused "known groups" - taken to mean Sunni political parties - of fabricating the story, to discredit the security forces.

Observers say the row could undermine the security plan, in which mainly-Shia police are deployed in Sunni areas.

The woman, whose identity has not been confirmed, made the rape allegation in an emotional interview with Arabic TV network al-Jazeera. She was arrested in her Baghdad neighbourhood of Amil for helping insurgents and taken to a police facility where she claims she was assaulted by three officers.

Mr Maliki ordered an investigation into the case on Monday night, but cleared the three men hours later. "Medical examinations showed the woman had not been subjected to any sexual attack," a government statement said. "The prime minister has ordered that the honourable officers accused be rewarded," it added without elaborating.

But an aide of Vice President Tariq Hashimi, a Sunni, said the prime minister's office had acted in haste, and doctors had in fact confirmed rape had taken place. Sunni politicians have accused the police of a series of human rights abuses perpetrated on their community and of turning a blind eye to attacks on them by Shia militants.

The woman was named Sabrine Janabi by al-Jazeera, but Sunni politicians said this was not her real name.

The US military, whose medical staff oversaw the woman's examination, said it was aware of the various reports, but could not confirm anything.
Posted by: anonymous5089 || 02/20/2007 12:42 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under:

#1  This should be easy to prove. Were there four male witnesses to the rape? If not, it was not rape and the woman should be stoned as an adultress. At least according to Sharia.
Posted by: Rambler || 02/20/2007 13:52 Comments || Top||


Taha Yassin Ramadan Says U.S. Tortured Him
Former Iraqi Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan, now awaiting execution, said in a sworn statement that he was tortured by U.S. personnel for three weeks after his 2003 arrest, according to a copy of the document made available by his lawyer.

According to the statement, dated March 22, 2006, and handwritten in Arabic, Ramadan said ``methods of torture'' were used against him after he failed to provide information on the whereabouts of deposed President Saddam Hussein while he was in hiding, or on the Iraqi resistance. The statement said Ramadan was held in a compound at the Baghdad airport, where he was kicked, beaten with an aluminum pipe and given limited access to water and a bathroom for 20 days. ``If these allegations are true, then the U.S. should set up an independent investigation,'' said Said Boumedouha, a London- based Middle East researcher for Amnesty International, an international human-rights organization. ``How can you say this trial was fair if some of the people were ill-treated or tortured before they were brought to court?''

Ramadan's co-defendants Hussein, Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti and Awad Hamed al-Bandar have already been executed by hanging. Ramadan was initially sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in the 1982 killing of 148 Shiite Muslims in the village of Dujail. An appeals court on Feb. 12 ruled the sentence too lenient and ordered his execution.
This article starring:
Amnesty International
AWAD HAMED AL BANDARIraqi Baath Party
BARZAN IBRAHIM AL TIKRITIIraqi Baath Party
TAHA YASIN RAMADANIraqi Baath Party
Posted by: Fred || 02/20/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [9 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Damn, using the "Method" and sowing Sedition, we may win this thing after all.
Posted by: Shipman || 02/20/2007 0:45 Comments || Top||

#2  Too bad they didn't make him listen to Yanni CDs. That might have done more damage.
Posted by: Mullah Richard || 02/20/2007 9:07 Comments || Top||

#3  An appeals court on Feb. 12 ruled the sentence too lenient and ordered his execution.

LOL , remind me never to appeal in Iraq
Posted by: MacNails || 02/20/2007 10:41 Comments || Top||

#4  Got any proof of that, Taha? No?

Next!
Posted by: mojo || 02/20/2007 10:52 Comments || Top||

#5  And, WTH does US troops roughing him up have to do with the "fairness" of the IRAQI trial, overseen and implemented by IRAQI citizens. Here's hoping his "appeal" is carried out as quickly as Sammy's!
Posted by: BA || 02/20/2007 11:09 Comments || Top||

#6  An aluminum pipe, because, if I to were to be beaten with a pipe, I'd be able to distinguish stainless steel from aluminium from tool steel, as he was, for sure.
Posted by: anonymous5089 || 02/20/2007 13:11 Comments || Top||

#7  Couldn't be beaten with aluminum pipe, caught Taha in a lie. Aluminum pipe would be too low tech for 'Merkans. We would use titanium, Hastelloy, or some other exotic formulation in our pipe.

Ten of diamonds, off with yer head.
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 02/20/2007 17:20 Comments || Top||

#8  Aluminum pipe is a lousy choice, it will bend, use Titanium, same weight, heft, and it won't bend when you whack him.I'm thinking something like a 5 cell Maglite would be ideal.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/20/2007 19:02 Comments || Top||

#9  What's that flashlight called that you have to swing a lot to make it light?

Sounds like the appropriate one to use.
Posted by: 3dc || 02/20/2007 23:11 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Top Hamas official: US 'sowing sedition'
A senior Hamas official on Monday accused the United States of "sowing sedition" among the Palestinians, hours after US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice held a rare summit with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

Moussa Abu Marzouk, Hamas's deputy political leader, told a Palestinian rally at the Yarmouk refugee camp near this Syrian capital that US policy was based on "sowing sedition among the peoples and states of the region through dividing the Middle East into two camps: A sane moderate camp and a insane non-moderate one."

Monday's three-way summit - initially billed as a new peace push - produced few results amid concerns over an emerging Palestinian unity government led by Hamas. Rice said following the two-hour meeting in Jerusalem that the two sides exchanged views of the political future and agreed to hold another summit. On Sunday, Rice said in the West Bank city of Ramallah that she wouldn't judge the new Palestinian government until it has been formed.

Abu Marzouk, who lives in exile in Syria, thanked Abbas for resisting what he called "US pressures" exerted by Rice during her visit. "These pressures exerted by Rice on Abu Mazen during Sunday's and Monday's meetings to abandon the agreement [with Hamas] and promising him support, and his resisting these pressures deserve appreciation," Abu Marzouk told the rally.

The international community has demanded that any Palestinian government recognize Israel, accept previous peace deals and renounce violence, but the coalition government deal, forged earlier this month in Saudi Arabia, only pledges to "respect" past peace agreements.
This article starring:
Chairman Mahmoud Abbas
Condoleezza Rice
MUSA ABU MARZUKHamas
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
Posted by: Fred || 02/20/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under:

#1  How fast they stop being revolutionaries and become the establishment.
Posted by: gromgoru || 02/20/2007 6:19 Comments || Top||

#2  A senior Hamas official on Monday accused the United States of "sowing sedition" among the Palestinians,

Faster, please.™
Posted by: xbalanke || 02/20/2007 12:12 Comments || Top||


Southeast Asia
Thai Army paranoia gives Muslim militants room
Since its September coup, the Thai army has become so preoccupied with politics it is neglecting the Muslim far south, where 2,000 people have been killed in three years of unrest, analysts and officials said on Tuesday. "Their minds are elsewhere, playing at politics in the capital, so there's much less emphasis on the south," said one Bangkok-based security consultant who did not want to be named for fear of repercussions from the post-coup administration.

Army-installed interim Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, himself a former army chief, has made several visits to the three southernmost provinces in his five months in office to try to break an intensifying cycle of Muslim separatist violence. But beyond his publicised meetings with community leaders in the 80 percent ethnic Malay Muslim region, military, police and government workers on the ground worry only about jockeying for position after the shake-up of the coup, the analyst said.

The coup's top brass are so paranoid about a lingering threat from ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra they have moved radio- and phone-tapping kit from the south to Bangkok, he added. As a result, the authorities appeared to have had little prior warning of the series of around 50 bombs that exploded on Sunday evening across the region, killing eight people and wounding more than 50.

"The operation must have involved maybe 200 people and taken a lot of coordination," the consultant said. "But most of the surveillance equipment has been moved to Bangkok to listen in to old politicians." A senior provincial official in the south confirmed much phone-tapping equipment had been moved after the Sept. 19 putsch.

Political preoccupation is not only reason for the government's lack of progress in tackling the unrest in the south, which dates back to Bangkok's annexation of the independent Sultanate of Pattani a century ago. Muslims are terrified to come forward because they fear retribution from a militant movement which has never gone public and treats suspected informants or spies with savage brutality, including beheading.

"When a teacher was shot and set ablaze in the middle of a Muslim village, nobody dared give police details," said Pranai Suwannarat, head of a multi-agency body charged with developing the relatively poor region. "No one wants to be seen as siding with the government, or they will face similar fate," he told Reuters.

The militants, who have so far shown no desire to hook up with international movements such as al Qaeda, also appear to be cunning and sophisticated enough to adapt their tactics to keep one step ahead of security forces. For instance, since army patrols started carrying mobile phone signal jamming equipment, more roadside bombs were being detonated by remote-control triggers, such as those for garage doors or cars, officials said.

Statistics show that in the three years since Bangkok pumped 25,000 troops into the provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani, which have a combined population of 1.8 million, the level of violence has risen dramatically. Pranai said the number of recorded incidents -- everything from arson attacks to bombs to drive-by shootings of both Muslims and Buddhists -- topped 2,000 in 2006, an increase on the previous two years.

A vague bid by Surayud to enlist Malaysia's help to open a channel to the militants might also backfire as many in the Buddhist minority fear Bangkok becoming too pro-Muslim in its attempt to restore security. "Clashes between Buddhists and Muslims may be inevitable if the government fails to stop the attacks," said Srisompob Jitpiromsri of Pattani's Prince of Songkhla University
Posted by: ryuge || 02/20/2007 08:26 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under:

#1  This has been my assessment, the govt has been ignoring the southern threat almost completely.
Posted by: Angenter Crolugum3645 || 02/20/2007 8:52 Comments || Top||

#2  This is a feature, not a bug, and the entire reason the Thai gov't was overthrown in the first place.
Posted by: Seafarious || 02/20/2007 9:04 Comments || Top||

#3  Agreed, and I don't expect a new muslim military leader to crack down anytime soon. He's too busy blaming Thaksin Shinawatra for bombings and kissing up to Malaysia. The govt might as well be run by ladyboys!
Posted by: Angenter Crolugum3645 || 02/20/2007 9:09 Comments || Top||

#4  Given that "The militants, who have so far shown no desire to hook up with international movements such as al Qaeda..."

-- would one be justified in saying that these "militants" are simply "hooked up" with Islam? would that mean that one should stop looking at the Long War as some sort of action against Al Qaeda? could it mean that the whole non-Moslem world is at war with Islam? if it's not something in the water, is there something in the Koran that would explain it?
Posted by: Kalle (kafir forever) || 02/20/2007 11:43 Comments || Top||


JI's Omar Patek 'in the bag' yet?
The military seemed surer than ever yesterday that capturing elusive Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) bomb expert Omar Patek is at hand, even stopping short of claiming that it knows the exact whereabouts of the high-value terrorist. "There are sightings of him in Sulu, so we are working on that," Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr., Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff, told TEMPO at Camp Aguinaldo yesterday morning.

Patek, who carries million bounty for his involvement in the 2002 Bali bombings in Indonesia, is being coddled by the Abu Sayyaf Group together with Dulmatin, his alleged cohort. Asked if the military could present Patek this week, Esperon replied: "We hope we can get him (Patek) but we will not promise you that this will be done within one week." Reports had surfaced recently that Patek was wounded in a clash with military elite units in Sulu last year but Esperon would not confirm their veracity.
This article starring:
DULMATINJemaah Islamiyah
OMAR PATEKJemaah Islamiyah
Abu Sayyaf Group
Jemaah Islamiyah
Posted by: Fred || 02/20/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under:

#1  This looks like Phil IO to keep the hunt in the press. When Esperon talks its politics, when Gen Sabban talks its about dead terrorists.
Posted by: 49 Pan || 02/20/2007 8:51 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Iran sets condition to halt nuke program
Iran's chief nuclear envoy said Tuesday his country wants to negotiate over its uranium enrichment program, on the eve of a
U.N. Security Council deadline that carries the threat of harsher sanctions. But the country's hard-line president said Iran will halt enrichment only if Western nations do the same.

Sanctions could be triggered by a report from Mohamed ElBaradei, the head of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency, to his agency's 35 board-member nations, expected Wednesday. That report is expected to say Iran has expanded enrichment activities instead of freezing them.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, speaking to a crowd of thousands in Iran, said his country was ready to stop its enrichment program, but only if Western nations do the same — something the United States and others with similar programs are unlikely to even consider. "Justice demands that those who want to hold talks with us shut down their nuclear fuel cycle program too," he said. "Then, we can hold dialogue under a fair atmosphere."

The White House dismissed Ahmadinejad's call. "Do you believe that's a serious offer?" White House press secretary Tony Snow asked. "It's pretty clear that the international community has said to the Iranians, `You can have nuclear power but we don't want you to have the ability to build nuclear weapons.' And that is an offer we continue to make."

Nevertheless, Ahmadinejad's speech was unusually conciliatory, avoiding fiery denunciations of the West. Iran's call for talks — voiced separately on Tuesday by Ahmadinejad, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and senior nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani — suggested an attempt to convey flexibility on the eve of the deadline.

Mottaki, in Turkey, said talks on the nuclear dispute should try to achieve an agreement allowing "Iran to achieve its rights" while eliminating "concerns" about its nuclear ambitions. Larijani, in Vienna, said his country was "looking for ways and means to start negotiations."

But the officials did not offer what the Security Council is demanding — an immediate and unconditional stop to enrichment. Iran has long insisted that it will not stop its nuclear activities as a condition for negotiations to start.

The United States and its allies suspect that Iran is using its nuclear program to produce an atomic weapon — charges Iran denies, saying its aim is to generate electricity. Enriched to a low level, uranium is used to produce nuclear fuel, but further enrichment makes it suitable for use in building an atomic bomb.

Asked what Iran was seeking, Larijani said: "Constructive dialogue that could ... address the concerns" of both Tehran, which insists on enrichment as its right, and the world powers that fear the program would be used to develop nuclear arms.

While telling reporters his country was prepared to deliver "assurances that there would be no deviation ... toward a nuclear weapons program," he offered no new suggestions — and indirectly ruled out suspending enrichment, saying that was just a "pretext" to put political pressure on his country.

Larijani was even more direct in rejecting an enrichment freeze as a precondition for negotiations in talks with ElBaradei, according to diplomats familiar with the substance of their conversation.

"He ruled out suspension and said Iran was not afraid of (U.N.) sanctions," one of the diplomats told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because his information was confidential. The diplomat said Larijani told ElBaradei that Iran could consider an enrichment freeze only as a result of talks — and not before sitting down at the negotiating table.

Iran has rejected the Security Council resolution as "illegal," and said it would not give up its right to enrich under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.
Posted by: ed || 02/20/2007 19:11 || Comments || Link || [8 views] Top|| File under:


Iran's First Nuclear Reactor Postponed Indefinitely
(Bloomberg) -- Iran's first nuclear reactor won't start as expected this year because of supply and financing delays and it may be postponed indefinitely, the Russian agency building the power plant said.
Boy howdy that's a shame, Mahmoud will have this white elephant albatross issue hanging over him next election ...
United Nations sanctions over Iran's enrichment program are making it difficult for the Islamic Republic to find non-Russian suppliers for cooling systems and other components needed to finish the Bushehr reactor, Russian officials said. ``The schedule for the Bushehr plant will need to be corrected,'' said Sergei Novikov, spokesman for Russia's Atomic Energy Agency, by phone in Moscow today. The Iranians stopped making scheduled payments to Russia more than a month ago, after insisting on paying in euros instead of dollars, Novikov said.
Hey, that bankruptcy of Bushithler's AmeriKKKa thingy seems to go pretty well...
So the Russkies didn't want Euros, did they? Smart enought not to buy into the currency of a dying continent ...
Iran's Atomic Energy Organization rejected the accusation over payments, a spokesman, who declined to be identified, said by phone. Iran has made all payments and Russia is responsible for providing all the nuclear plant's equipment, he said. Russia says Iran is responsible for procuring non-Russian components.
Nice squeeze play. Pretty soon the Iranians will start to think that the US is in cahoots with the Russians, and you know what kind of mistrust that will bring with the Mad Mullahs™ ...
Russian Atomic Energy Agency chief Sergei Kiriyenko, a former prime minister, said in Tehran in December that Bushehr would start producing electricity by November, provided Iran meets all payments and secures supplies of key reactor components from non-Russian producers. If those criteria are met, Kiriyenko said Russia would supply fuel to the reactor six months from the start of production.

``The problem of equipment supplies is even worse than the lagging payments,'' said Andrei Cherkasenko, Chairman of ZAO Atompromresource, a non-state company that helps finance nuclear projects for the Russian government, in an e-mailed statement. A non-Russian company has agreed to supply the cooling systems, though no sooner than at the end of this year, Cherkasenko said, declining to name the company. ``That means the reactor cannot be completed for several months after this.''
And just wait til Condi gets done with their banker ...
Russia may not want to complete the reactor, said Ruslan Pukhov, director of Moscow-based Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies. The $1.3 billion project, started in 1995, isn't profitable and has been a constant headache for Russia, he said. ``If Bushehr ceased to exist, it'd be easier for everyone involved, apart from the Iranians, of course,'' Pukhov said.
Heh.
Iranian negotiators are expected to fly to Moscow next week to discuss the Bushehr delays, RIA Novosti reported today, citing an unidentified Russian government official.
Posted by: anonymous5089 || 02/20/2007 12:32 || Comments || Link || [9 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Cash flow problem, Iran. Must be bad if the Russians refuse to work for ya. Peaceful solution to the plutonium production crisis, so far. I like it. Let's extend the squeeze to the petroleum sector. Only trouble is that the EU will keep trading with Iran, and if the MMs don't pay, then the EU taxpayer will cover. No problem.

Just do not lecture the US about morals.
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 02/20/2007 14:42 Comments || Top||

#2  Just do not lecture the US about morals.

That takes all the fun out of it, AP.
Posted by: Seafarious || 02/20/2007 15:17 Comments || Top||

#3  "Just do not lecture the US about morals."

Paul, I'm trying to figure out how the EU can lecture about something they know nothing about.

Oh, wait - it's the EU. Nevermind.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 02/20/2007 16:39 Comments || Top||

#4  Wait till the Iranians need to import gasoline at market prices to continue to sell it domestically at $0.37 per gallon.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 02/20/2007 17:25 Comments || Top||

#5  Don't get yer minds in a twist, Ladies. It is just the EU equivalent of a Zen koan. Get beyond it, and you can see clearly forever, LOL!
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 02/20/2007 17:26 Comments || Top||

#6  And: KERRRRRRRPLLLLUNK...........

(Putin hissyfit from a couple af days ago sliding into place)
Posted by: Lurker || 02/20/2007 17:31 Comments || Top||

#7  In possibly related news, DJ offered a hudna today:

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday that Iran would only halt its uranium enrichment program and return to negotiations if other Western nations do the same. "Justice demands that those who want to hold talks with us shut down their nuclear fuel cycle program too," Ahmadinejad told a crowd of thousands in northern Iran one day ahead of a U.N. Security Council deadline. "Then, we can hold dialogue under a fair atmosphere."
Posted by: Seafarious || 02/20/2007 17:38 Comments || Top||

#8  Putin. Our financial advisor told us not to sell you things on credit.
Ahmadinejad. Your financial advisor is a Jew!
Putin. That's why we have things to sell.
Posted by: gromgoru || 02/20/2007 18:34 Comments || Top||

#9  "We're Big, WE're important, (Stop snickering)We're to be taken seriously. (Stop Giggling dammit) We're A NUCLEAR NATION, (Stop laughing at us, we're serious) WE're dangerous, and not to be laughed at (Quit that)
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/20/2007 18:46 Comments || Top||


BBC : Tehran alarm over US tough talk
What will alarm Tehran about the latest details of US military planning for a strike on Iran is the fact that there are now two possible triggers for an attack. One is, as expected, the nuclear programme. But the new one is any major attack on US forces in Iraq that could be traced back to Iran.

With the head of the UN nuclear watchdog Mr ElBaradei saying it could take Iran another six to 12 months to get 3,000 centrifuges running, and four to six years to be able to produce a bomb if it wanted one, there is still time for negotiations on the nuclear front.
It took the U.S. four years to build a bomb with the Manhattan Project in the 1940s, and we had to invent all the theory and the engineering. The Mad Mullahs™ already know what the end-object is and roughly how it works, they just have to purify enough uranium and do the machining. They have today's knowledge, skills and technology. Why is that going to take six years?
But it is tensions over Iraq that have escalated sharply in recent weeks with the US arresting Iranians they say are members of the elite Qods Brigade of the Revolutionary Guards.
Unfair, so unfair! It's not fair, it's not! Not!
There is also a feeling among many analysts that the US has started building a case for war against Iran over its alleged interference in Iraq.
Which we should have been doing since 2003 ...
For many in Iran it seems unfair that the full blame for the violence in Iraq is suddenly being put on them and not on Sunni Arab countries that also back groups inside Iraq. They argue that the disintegration of Iraq is not in Iran's interests and they would like a stable neighbour with a predominately Shia government in power.

The US making public their targets for a possible military strike on Iran is likely to be seen in Tehran as part of ongoing Western pressure. In public, Iranian officials always brush off such news as psychological warfare by the US. The timing - just before the 21 February deadline set by the UN for Iran to halt its nuclear programme - is also likely to be seen as a threat intended to persuade Iran to back down.

In the Iranian establishment it appears there are deep differences of opinion about how grave the situation is.

Many Reformists™ and Moderates™ are very worried America is preparing for war, but Hardliners™ like President Mini-me Ahmedinejad seem to dismiss the risk believing their own propaganda that Iran is too powerful a nation to be attacked by the West.

Some take a middle position - arguing that the talk of war is a bluff - a means to pressure Iran. But they concede there is a possibility of an accidental war if Iranian Revolutionary Guards, for example, retaliated ?!!! against US forces in Iraq.
That would indeed be a strong possibility, at least until we killed all the IRG hard boyz ...
They compare the situation to the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers last summer by Hezbollah in Lebanon which triggered the war there. The argument is that if America provoked Iran enough by arresting key military figures inside Iraq ...
?!!! Oh, and are they admitting (again) they're operating in iraq?
... then their colleagues might be tempted to take Dire revenge and perhaps kidnap US soldiers ...
Because kidnapping is a valid, accepted tool among Nation-States.
... which would provide an excuse for air strikes on Iran.
And who knows more about kidnapping than the Iranians?
Among the Iranian people there is not much awareness of the drum beats of war. The local media is heavily controlled and censored and many Iranians do not speak a foreign language to allow them to access the international press. Independent websites in Persian have been filtered by the government, including the BBC's own Persian language site, in what some here believe is a deliberate attempt by the government to keep its own people in the dark.
That's usually what dictators do.
Unsubstantiated rumours circulate about when an attack might come but everyone goes about their lives as normal. There is no sense that people are preparing for difficult times ahead - but there is uncertainty and confusion about the future.
Posted by: anonymous5089 || 02/20/2007 12:19 || Comments || Link || [12 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Btw, the iranian media situation and access to foreignnews strangely reminds me of France's (well, except for arabic-speaking sat TV, of course, which are freely available, unlike, say, FNC).
Posted by: anonymous5089 || 02/20/2007 12:30 Comments || Top||

#2  ... then their colleagues might be tempted to take Dire revenge and perhaps kidnap US soldiers ...

This is the stuff that has me worried - that some Quds Force idiot is going to decide on his own to start the Third Persian Gulf War without the Mullahs' permission. It sounds a lot like the beginning to WWII in Asia, if you think about it - Japanese officers, having convinced themselves that they were doing the right thing, pretty much started a war with China on their own. And the Japanese government - unable to repudiate them because their next target might BE the government - had no choice but to back them up. If Quds Force or an RG unit decided to take matters into their own hands (and there's a strong possibility that the original hostage crisis in '79 wasn't planned by the Ayatollahs - they just went along with it once they realized nothing was going to happen)the MMs wouldn't dare try to stop them for fear that they'd be next.

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski || 02/20/2007 16:44 Comments || Top||

#3  It took the U.S. four years to build a bomb with the Manhattan Project in the 1940s, and we had to invent all the theory and the engineering. The Mad Mullahs™ already know what the end-object is and roughly how it works, they just have to purify enough uranium and do the machining. They have today's knowledge, skills and technology. Why is that going to take six years?

Because here in America we don't have 60-80% of our cash going to graft and kickbacks, 50-80% of materials "Vanish", And Work Stoppages 5 times a day to listen to brainwashing propoganda.
6 years sounds incredibly short given those "Conditions".
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/20/2007 19:10 Comments || Top||

#4  I guessing 75% of the Iranian nuclear program is just a Potemkin village.

The other 25% scares the bejesus out of me.

Posted by: john || 02/20/2007 19:53 Comments || Top||

#5  And why WOULD the citizens of Iran be afraid of an American attack? It is obvious that we're tied down in Iraq, so there is not going to be any ground invasion. Very likely, it will be a short and precise air campaign with most of the ordinance dropped on suspected nuke fabrication sites. I think there are only two or three in subterranean bases built under university buildings. The JDAM has changed the way warfare is done, and soon will change the way warfare with the United states is regarded: "I don't live near a military base, so why should I worry?" will be the response of a large proportion of the population.

Posted by: Ptah || 02/20/2007 20:37 Comments || Top||

#6  Independent websites in Persian have been filtered by the government, including the BBC's own Persian language site

I wonder how much the BBC has self-filtered?
Posted by: Pappy || 02/20/2007 21:12 Comments || Top||

#7  The BBC is the subcontractor doing the censoring for the Ayatollahs, so it is in their interest not to self censor too much, at least in the Farsi version.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 02/20/2007 21:19 Comments || Top||


Former Lebanon PM consulting with Saudi, Syria & Iran
Former Lebanese Prime Minister Salim Al-Hoss on Monday described as positive his talks with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad in Damascus. In a statement issued by his office, Hoss said the talks focused on "the latest political developments in the area." He also said the talks "provided an opportunity for consultation on a wide range of issues of bilateral interest against the backdrop of the grave dangers looming over the area, specifically in Iraq and Palestine." The statement pointed out that discussions between Hoss and Assad also focused on "the current political crisis in Lebanon and ways of dealing with it." The two men also discussed bilateral relations between Lebanon and Syria.

Hoss, who paid an official visit to Syria at the invitation of the Syria's president, had paid a similar visit to Saudi Arabia the day before during which he conferred with the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques, Saudi King Abdallah bin Abdel-Aziz over the latest regional political developments specifically those of them with direct impact on the Lebanese domestic scene. Hoss is to fly to Tehran next Monday to confer with Iranian officials on the Lebanese crisis, the statement said.
This article starring:
Bashar Al-Assad
Salim Al-Hoss
Saudi King Abdallah bin Abdel-Aziz
Posted by: Fred || 02/20/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [8 views] Top|| File under:


Top army chief against military rule in Lebanon
Army commander General Michel Suleiman said that while the conflict in Lebanon is sectarian, the military is not divided, declaring he is against military rule in Lebanon. "Despite all what has happened … the soldier from Akkar and the soldier from Hermel carry out one order from one command, and sit together shoulder to shoulder to safeguard the country," Suleiman said in an interview published by the daily An Nahar on Monday.

He was referring to last month's street clashes that pitted activists from Saad Hariri's Al Mustaqbal group against Amal and Hezbollah supporters in Beirut. At least four people were killed and more than 160 wounded. "They (troops) are even more conscientious than many leaders in this country," Suleiman said.

He expressed regret over the sectarian divide "even if it is given a political shape. If the Lebanese do not have the wish to build a unified country, it would be impossible to force them to. The military carries out the wish of the Lebanese, and is the tool that can implement the citizens' choice if they want one, free, independent and sovereign country. My plan is to salvage (both) the country and the army; then the peaceful, democratic presidential elections. After that … I will quit the army command."

He said he was against military rule in Lebanon, emphasizing that "Lebanon is unique in its structure and cannot be governed militarily or dictatorially." Asked whether he was considering running for presidential elections, Suleiman said: "I will not do anything against the constitution."
This article starring:
Al Mustaqbal
General Michel Suleiman
Saad Hariri
Hezbollah
Posted by: Fred || 02/20/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [7 views] Top|| File under:

#1  How about if the military is IDF?
Posted by: gromgoru || 02/20/2007 6:16 Comments || Top||

#2  Just kidding Michel. We're not going to occupy your pseudo-country---just depopulate its southern part.
Posted by: gromgoru || 02/20/2007 6:18 Comments || Top||

#3  As if the pipsqueak Lebanese army is capable of such a thing... come back when you actually control the southeastern half of your country, yutz, then you can make veiled threats of Napoleonism & actually have some credibility.
Posted by: Mitch H. || 02/20/2007 10:41 Comments || Top||


ElBaradei: Still time to talk to Iran on nukes
Muhammad ElBaradei, chief of the UN nuclear watchdog agency, said Monday there is still time to negotiate with Iran about its nuclear program, noting that it would take years for Teheran to produce weapons. He also said international cooperation and more aid for poor countries are needed to build a secure world free of nuclear weapons. "Our system is based on a combination of inequality and insecurity," ElBaradei said in a speech at the London School of Economics.
This article starring:
London School of Economics
Muhammad ElBaradei
Posted by: Fred || 02/20/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [10 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Muhammad ElBaradei heir to the canned goat in tomato sauce empire.
Posted by: Shipman || 02/20/2007 0:47 Comments || Top||

#2  There will be plenty of time after they nuke Joooos.
Posted by: JFM || 02/20/2007 8:13 Comments || Top||


Syria relaxes restrictions on Iraq refugees
DAMASCUS - Syria has relaxed measures introduced last month that limited the stay of Iraqi refugees to two weeks, a representative for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said Monday in Damascus.

Previously, authorities demanded that Iraqi refugees leave Syria for one month once their residency permits expired and only after that period could they return and reapply. Now, Iraqis who are fleeing the violence back home can stay for a month before applying for a three-month permit which can be renewed by leaving Syria and returning as early as the same day, UNHCR representative Deitrun Gunther told AFP.

‘Iraqis can come into Syria for a period of one month. Then they have to report to immigration to apply for a three-month permit,’ Gunther said. Once a three-month permit is issued, ‘they must go back to Iraq but can come back to Syria the same day,’ she said, instead of having to wait a month in the war-torn country.

The changes came into effect on February 15 and have not been officially announced, though immigration services have been notified of the changes, she said.
Posted by: Steve White || 02/20/2007 00:00 || Comments || Link || [8 views] Top|| File under:



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Two weeks of WOT
Tue 2007-02-20
  USS Stennis Now On Station
Mon 2007-02-19
  64 killed in Delhi-Lahore train boom
Sun 2007-02-18
  Iraqi, Coalition forces detain 21 suspected terrs
Sat 2007-02-17
  Algeria: Police kill 26 bad boyz, arrest 35 after attacks
Fri 2007-02-16
  Attempt to hijack Maretanian plane painfully foiled
Thu 2007-02-15
  Al-Masri said wounded, aide killed
Wed 2007-02-14
  Bombs kill nine on buses in Lebanon
Tue 2007-02-13
  Tater bugs out
Mon 2007-02-12
  140 arrested in Baghdad sweeps: US military
Sun 2007-02-11
  Petraeus takes command
Sat 2007-02-10
  Iraqi and US forces push into Baghdad flashpoints
Fri 2007-02-09
  Hamas and Fatah sign unity accord
Thu 2007-02-08
  UN creates tribunal on Lebanon political killings
Wed 2007-02-07
  Fatah, Hamas talks kick off in Mecca
Tue 2007-02-06
  Yemen prepared to grant top Sheikh Sharif asylum


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