GHAZNI, Afghanistan - The Taleban on Friday refused to allow an Afghan medical team access to 21 South Koreans and said it would free two who are gravely ill only if the government released two imprisoned rebels.
The team of doctors and nurses had volunteered to treat the captives, most of whom are said to be ill after more than two weeks in captivity, and travelled to southern Ghazni province where the aid workers were kidnapped.
But the Taleban said it had refused to allow them access to the hostages. If they are concerned about their health, they must release two of our prisoners in exchange for the two hostages who are very sick, said Taleban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi. Ahmadi said Tuesday two of the 16 women in the group were suffering serious medical problems.
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/04/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
The talibunnies who talked so somebody here should have been shot on the spot for giving an unsatisfactory answer. After all that's what they do.
#3
The Taleban on Friday refused to allow an Afghan medical team access to 21 South Koreans and said it would free two who are gravely ill only if the government released two imprisoned rebels.
Immediately execute two of the imprisoned terrorists on the kidnappers' list for their non-compliance. Kill another two prisoners each day if all of the hostages are not released.
Security authorities have identified the body of the suicide bomber who plowed his car into a convoy of Spanish tourists in early July, killing eight of them and two Yemenis, the official Saba news agency reported. The Spanish tourist group was visiting a temple linked to the ancient Queen of Sheba in the central province of Marib when it was targeted.
Saba said DNA tests of human remains found at the site of the bombing indicated the attacker was 21-year-old Abdu Mohammed Saad Ahmed, a Yemeni citizen. Thursday's report said Ahmed lived in the capital, San'a, and was recruited by Hamza Ali Saleh al-Dhiyani, a taxi driver who gave the suspect driving lessons and then took him to Marib to introduce him to other members of the terrorist cell. The group included a total of eight Yemenis and two foreigners, Naif Mohammed al-Qahtani, a Saudi national, and Ahmed Bassiouni Dewidar, an Egyptian, according to Saba.
Seven members of the cell were reportedly tasked with planning and supervising the attack, while two others from Marib provided shelter and protection. Police earlier thought Dewidar, an alleged al-Qaida operative who was killed three days after the attack while resisting arrest, was the mastermind behind the operation. But Saba said the government's investigation revealed Dewidar had offered logistical support to the group. Fifteen people have been detained in connection with the investigation, but the members of the terrorist cell who are still alive remain at large, according to Saba.
Posted by: Seafarious ||
08/04/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
Do they have DNA swabs for all Yemini citizens? I'm being factitious, but I'm curious if anyone here knows how they might make this kind of ID.
It certainly wouldn't HURT to have swabs of eveyone in Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan though. If they complain, take them out of the DNA pool altogether.
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - To some, they are terrorist sympathizers. To others, they are champions of Turkey's ethnic Kurd minority. On Saturday, 21 lawmakers backed by a political party accused of links to the Kurdish rebel group PKK take the oath of office in Turkey's new Parliament, marking the first time the group is represented in the legislature since its ouster in 1994 over alleged ties to the militants.
For many Kurds, the revival of the Democratic Society Party raises hopes for a new era in their struggle for more rights. But many Turks are afraid of a party suspected of being under the influence of an organization labeled terrorist by the United States and the European Union and which has fought to carve out a separate Kurdish state. The Turkish military has been fighting the PKK - formally known as the Kurdistan Workers' Party - for decades in a conflict that has killed as many as 40,000 people, most in the predominantly Kurdish southeast. Kurds make up about 20 percent of Turkey's more than 70 million people.
The 550-member Parliament will be dominated by the Islamic-oriented ruling party of Prime Minister Recep Tayip Erdogan, who led supporters to a resounding triumph in the July 22 elections. But the Kurds will now have a platform to push for more control over their affairs. Their presence in Ankara could antagonize other lawmakers who view Kurdish separatism as a threat to national sovereignty.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/04/2007 01:28 ||
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#1
what a mess.
Posted by: AT ||
08/04/2007 3:41 Comments ||
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WASHINGTON (AP) - Congress and the White House struggled Friday over expanding authority to eavesdrop on suspected foreign terrorists in a high-stakes showdown over national security. The House rejected a Democratic proposal opposed by President Bush that would give him that authority for only four months. The largely party-line vote in favor of the bill was 218-207.
Not completely party-line then, as a few Blue Dogs had to have crossed over.
Senate Democrats, meanwhile, prepared to concede to a bill supported by the White House limiting that authority to six months. It also would allow the director of national intelligence and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to carry out the expanded eavesdropping for four months before a court signs off on it.
The House vote left the bill's fate in doubt. ``I hope that there are no attacks before we are able to effectively update this important act,'' said Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas, top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee.
Bush earlier Friday coupled his demand for legislation with a threat to veto any bill that his intelligence director deemed unable ``to prevent an attack on the country.'' ``We've worked hard and in good faith with the Democrats to find a solution, but we are not going to put our national security at risk,'' Bush said after meeting with counterterror and homeland security officials at FBI headquarters. ``Time is short.''
Presidents have authority to call Congress back in session from a recess, but the last time it was used was in 1948, by Harry Truman.
Oh, that would crinkle the Dhimmis' panties. Have Bush put them on the spot like that? Heh.
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/04/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
It would just be so fun, to watch Bush call Congress back from their recess. They've all complained about Iraqis, during 120-130 degree weather, taking a break. (I'm on break with those kind of temps)
Hummmm have to go check my Texas history to see if Bush ever called state Congress back in session. It does happen, often.
Texas's legislative branch of government meets every other year (yea it's got its pluses and minus, don't spend as much money, but when in session, it's spend, spend, spend) The only real power a Texas Gov has is calling back this legislative branch to an extended service.
It's such political fun, to see, will the Gov do it or not? Power play comes at the end of the Congressional session. The Gov didn't get what he wants, so he calls the state Congress back in session for a month. Still doesn't get it? Calls them back for another month.
Memory serves me, Bush didn't have to do it.... cause he had some sane Democrats, ala Bob Bullock, to deal with. Could do some Texas dealin' and folks agreed.
Thought he could bring that to Washington..... he tried it.... got stabbed in the back, more than once.... Kept thinking..... the Texas way...
I think he is finally learning, Washington just doesn't work the Texas way.
Man -- would it ever drive the Netroots nuts, if Bush called Congress back into session? Got to wonder, what impeachable offense he would commit in doing this?
Kinda wish he would do it.... just cause... this US Congress of ours, has just got to get a grip......
My early leaning, that now seems to come from some foreign century, taught me than was a sharing a power, for that thing called "checks and balance."
Lately.... Congress seems to think, they rule. But the really frighting thing is, it's not "Congress" as a collective rule, it's the individuals that think they have the power over the presidency....
Such as, a Demo House Pres of the night, gravelled the vote to a close.... then opened it back up to only Democrats...
Deep down in their hearts, some of them, reached in, and found the power to bring that vote to 218-207. Are the Blue Dogs maybe getting the message from those that voted them in?
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/04/2007 1:48 Comments ||
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#3
Congress and the White House struggled Friday over expanding authority to eavesdrop on suspected foreign terrorists in a high-stakes showdown over national security.
How are they "struggling"? The White House wants expanded authority and, despite the Dems best efforts to limit it, Congress granted it.
Posted by: AT ||
08/04/2007 4:20 Comments ||
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#4
If they really struggle, maybe they will have a "sleep-over." Hey, I don't have much sympathy for Congress and their difficulties. I wish they [Congress] would consider the difficulties our military guys and gals experience in far away places.
#5
I keep saying that the quickest way of ending political opposition over surveillance for tracking down domestic Muslim radicals is by forcing all politicians to fly on commercial passenger carriers. They can go first class, they can bump us regular Joes all they want, but NO MORE special military flights or use of private air transportation. You would see bills like this pass unopposed and profiling would be put in place faster than the devil can get his shoes on.
WASHINGTON - President George W. Bush signed a bill on Friday aimed at avoiding another Sept. 11-like attack by providing more money to high-risk cities and expanding air and sea cargo screening. The measure carries out some recommendations of the commission that investigated the 2001 attacks. It authorizes more than $4 billion in grants for rail, transit and bus security and provides money to help communities upgrade their communications.
There is still other work to be done, Bush said as he signed the legislation. He cited the need to reform the dysfunctional way Congress oversees intelligence and counter-terrorism activities and the urgent need to expand the governments powers to eavesdrop on telephone calls and e-mail from abroad.
Bush had threatened to veto the legislation over a provision that would have allowed union rights for some 45,000 airport workers. Democrats, for whom the bill was a high priority since they took control of Congress last year, backed away from that demand and approved the bill last week.
It requires screening of all cargo on passenger planes within three years. Within five years, all US-bound cargo must be inspected before it is loaded on ships. Democrats have pushed the cargo screening requirement for years, arguing it would guard against terrorists slipping explosives into the United States. But opponents said 100 percent screening was costly and unnecessary.
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/04/2007 00:00 ||
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US State Department Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey condemned Congressman Tancredos comments regarding attacks on holy sites if Islamist militants attacked the US.
He told reporters at the State Department press gaggle on Friday that the US respects all religions and their holy sites. It is absolutely outrageous ... for anyone to suggest attacks on holy sites, whether theyre Muslim, Christian, Jewish or those of any other religion. We want to have good ... relations with countries, certainly in the Middle East and the broader Muslim world, he said.
Posted by: Seafarious ||
08/04/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
Asked if he was talking about bombing Mecca, Tancredo replied: "Yeah."
And the congressman and presidential candidate is not backing down from these comments. He told an audience in Iowa today, almost exactly two years later, that as president he would advocate the very same position.
#3
I really like Tancredo. Simple and honest. A leader on illegals. Now out front on the Muzz. The gawddamned State Dept. wussies ought to listen up and quit worrying about kissing Saudi asses.
#5
NEWSMAX > OBAMA has reportedly argued that [as POTUS?]the USA will never resort to using nukes in response to terror events, ostensibly including terror events inside the USA proper. WHile nice and PC for the home folks, Terrorists + suppor anti-US Govts will interprete Obama's message as THEY CAN USE NUKES-WMDS AGZ THE USA WID NO FEAR OF EQUAL OR HIGHER US RETALIATION, i.e. THE USA WILL RESPOND ONLY WITH CONVENTIONAL NON-NUCLEAR ASSETS. REGARDLESS OF MAGNITUDE OF DAMAGE + CASUALTIES, THE USA CANNOT RESPOND WITH ITS FULL FORCE/MIGHT???
#8
Driving home today, talk radio... out of San Antonio, a guest host in for a local regular. I'm listening, he's talking to some Demo that turned out to be a "Professor of Psychology" advising Demos.
Anyway, I've never heard this substitue local before..... didn't pay much attention (should have been listening to the Book on Tape in my CD player and my blood pressure wouldn't have risen so high)
Anyway, guest host, not the "expert" goes into this long monologue of how he has studied all the presidents, and studied those that had intelligence, and those that didn't. He has come to the conclusion, that the Ppesidents with the most intelligence, have been the most successful.
Then, his stunning moment. He states he voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004, but has finally come to realize, Bush just doesn't have the intellect for the job. He just doesn't. Stated he has finally decided, "Bush is just way over his head in this job. He's never had the mental intellect to be president. He just doesn't know what he is doing."
His answer as to the current candidate for president, based on their intellect? It's Obama... just a genius fellow, he just has to be a great president! The smartest person of all the candiates in the current race! Intellect.... it's the new black.....
I got some friends with lots of intellect. I'll take common sense any day.
I turned him off! Didn't just change the station. Turned the entire system, radio... OFF
#10
I would prefer more proactive approach than Tancredo has on his mind. His is a version of MAD, tailored to our times and circumstances.
Imagine if one day the Ka'aba stone (meteorite really), placed in its silver vagina enclosure, was simply gone. Poof!
It would be interesting to watch how it would reacted to in the Dar-ul-Islam. Probably there would be many mohammedans that would see it as a legitimate sign that what they adhered to was false, as they always suspected but kept to themselves.
So, are there means to do it? The "Rod from God" is one. Some problems with precise targetting, but some form of flexible correctional navigation is possible, even with the speed that this device would acquire for its strike. The effect would have almost supernatural character--as the rod would travel through the atmosphere, it would collect a static charge due to the electric potential differences in upper layers and the surface (Ka'ba, in our case). For all practical purposes, it would appear as if a lightning bolt would strike the object. The rod itself would not be noticed, not at it's approach because of a small crossection of about 1ft, nor at the time of impact, as the discharges would take place in the approach and obscure the rod. The rod would pulverize anything within 0.5m to 0.7m perimeter and continue about another 120 feet through the ground (less if there is a basalt stratum to meet it). There would be a slight cave-in, in the place of impact, a crater of sorts about 2ft deep in the center, but nothing else would indicate that any object just went through this location. The electrostatic discharges may continue for some 10 to 20 seconds and about at that time, the sound reminding of thunder will catch up with the event. The rod would heat up some, but not as much as for instance meteorites or bolides, as its path is straight as opposed to usual largely parallel-to-surface path of heavenly bodies that have to travel a great deal of distance through the atmosphere, and it is tipped with DU, functioning as ballast, a thermal shield and finally as a hammer.
There may be another way--no lightning show/thunder, no effects whatsoever, beyond the fact that one moment the Ka'aba stone will be still there, another it will be gone. Poof. Like magic. This option is still in a theoretical stage, although devices based on the same principle have been already constructed and tested (don't try to find in in journals/papers, there were some good reasons that these experiments were not published in that form, except in one obscure book of a limited edition and buried under pages of unrelated stuff... one of main reasons was a potential for misuse--there is a "side effect" that may be not desired if there are many uses, another was that the physics of it is a tad unorthodox). Unfortunately, the device, as it has been constructed, has some constraints that would make it unsuitable for this particular project... it may work, but the "side effect" would be a prominent feature... but where there's a will, there's a way to make it an equivalent of a surgeon's scalpel (as the precision goes, that is where the similarity ends).
#13
#10 - if the Kaaba vanished in the manner you described, it wouldn't be for long. By a miracle it would reappear, either there or elsewhere, and some Islamic sleight-of-mind would fill in the gaps. Allahu akhbar! Just take a few days, is all. Black stones are a dime a dozen.
#14
Or it would be replaced with a Red Sea fish that has pattern reminding of Alahu Ackbar on its side. I wonder how long the fish would last, though. Maybe they have to leave it for several days in formaldehyde and encast in clear resin. Then position it in such a way that the worshippers would kiss it on its mouth.
Already then. Let's nuke it. ;-)
Maybe we don't have to. There is an old Arab prophecy form 10th century, or rather a fragment, that says the Mecca/Medina would be burned by fire and dust (burned by dust also) that there will be nothing left alive, plant, animals, nor people and the places would be just heaps of rubble. The deed would be done by muslims that would unite against the rulers of Mecca when Khalifate would be in its most powerfull form, it says.
#15
In order to hold pilgrimages - an excuse for clerics to assert their authority - pious idiots need a destination. For Muslims, Mecca is their deity's contact point with earth, thus it is indestructible according to their dogma. If we destroyed it, Islam would go the way of Druidism and Egyptian and South American sun worship.
#16
The State Department must have really got their collective panties in a wad when Reagan joked about the USSR being gone in 5 minutes. "My fellow Americans, I'm pleased to tell you today that I've signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes."
__President Reagan on live radio, August 1984. Bunch of wuzzies in State. Do your job whatever it is and STFU about the candidates. We have an American way. Screw the Saudis and what they think. They have been complicit in terrorism for a long while. They ain't such great allies. Let em think they might lose Mecca or some other holy site. So far, the muzzies haven't really paid much of a price--a price that gets their attention.
But seriously, folks. Someone should pin a medal on Tancredo. It's long past tea for some very explicit messages to be sent Islam's way. Many need to include various visions of a world no longer plagued by Muslim terrorism. More than a few need to include specific reference to a world no long plagued by Muslims, period. At all. Ever again.
Islam continues to violently agitate for its own demise. At some point it will force us to oblige its death wish. The 9-11 atrocity should have been a significant tipping point, yet it was not. One more atrocity like 9-11, Bali, Madrid or London should result in some brutal and drastically disproportionate retaliations. Islam needs to spend the next several decades walking on eggshells if it wants to survive. I have ZERO expectation that Muslims will be able to contain their violence in order to avoid such an outcome. There is no coin of sufficiently small denomination that I would deign to bet on Islam being around in another 100 years.
#18
The Euros and others are posting this video of a savage caning as corporal punishment in Muslim Malaysia. The Malay Tamil website that first posted it, was shut down by the authorities. I will leave it as cut-and-paste; the Mods might want it sink trapped. Their call.
#19
#17 Zen what you write is so incredibly concise and spot on to me. You are one the primary reasons I love Rantburg. I hope you don't mind but I must admit plagiarizing many of posts your on other sites where they don't "get it". FYI I always use these little thingies "" when I do
#20
Thank you very much, Glosh. I'm honored that you think so. Others here are better at it than I and their work is what draws me to this site as well. By the way, welcome to Rantburg.
#21
Been a fan for YEARS of RB I mainly post snark comments. I find the level of discourse here beyond reproach and the incredible knowledge of the posters inspiring. I had clear my conscience.
#22
Actually, Foggy Bottom is just taking a page out of the Arab playbook. Let me explain:
1) Tancredo spoke in English
2) State spoke in Arabic
Each side hears what they want :-)
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/04/2007 11:55 Comments ||
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#23
#21 Been a fan for YEARS of RB I mainly post snark comments.
Nasal snorting during laughter resulting from "snark" releases synaptic vesicules or neurotransmitters in upright primates that stimulate thought, rapid recall, and discourse. It's all good.
ISLAMABAD: US President George Bush telephoned President General Pervez Musharraf on Friday to reassure him after US threats of unilateral action against Al Qaeda on Pakistani soil, a Foreign Office statement said on Friday.
The call from Bush to his embattled ally in the war on terror comes after recent statements from US officials, and Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama, warning of possible US strikes in Pakistani tribal areas. President Bush stated that the United States fully respected Pakistans sovereignty and appreciated Pakistans resolve in fighting Al Qaeda and other terrorist elements, the statement said. He said that such statements were unsavoury and often prompted by political considerations in an environment of electioneering. He agreed that such statements did not serve the interests of either country, it added. The FO statement said that the US president had telephoned his Pakistani counterpart to congratulate him and the Pakistani nation on the countrys 60th Independence Day.
The statement said that President Bush praised the role Pakistan and President Musharraf were playing for peace and security in the region and appreciated the courage and sacrifices of the Pakistani armed forces in the war against terrorism. The statement said that President Musharraf also raised the issue of recent legislation on funding for Pakistan adopted by the US Congress on the implementation of the 9/11 commissions recommendations. He expressed concern over elements that reflected negatively on the Pakistan-US bilateral cooperation and relations, said the statement.
It said that President Bush explained the contents of the bill to President Musharraf and told him that he did not foresee adverse impact of any of the Pakistan-specific provisions on the existing cooperation between the two countries. He said the US Congress had recently approved nearly $150 million for development in FATA this year. Bush said this showed the strong commitment of the US to support Pakistan. The FO statement said that President Bush reaffirmed the US desire to build a strong and long-term strategic relationship with Pakistan as it served the interest of both countries and the world.
ISLAMABAD: Aabpara Market Traders have asked Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to compensate them for the damage caused by a suicide bomb blast in the market so that they can restart their business.
The affected traders have staged a sit-in in front of the market for the last seven days. At least 20 shops and stalls were affected by the suicide attack that claimed 15 lives. The traders said the government had promised to give Rs 50,000 to each of the injured, Rs 100,000 to the bereaved families and a handsome amount for the traders to enable them to restart their business. No political figure or minister bothered to visit the affected shopkeepers, they complained.
Suckers. Did you expect Perv to feel your pain?
They said customers were not coming to the market out of panic and their business was declining day by day. We have been protesting for seven days but no one turned up to compensate us, they said. They demanded release of the handsome amount as per the governments promise at the earliest. They said their families were suffering a lot due to the market closure and the government should realise this fact.
The injured from the blast said they were being given no special treatment contrary to the government claims. They turned me into a newt I have returned from the Polyclinic without taking medical aid Raja Riasat, 55, told Daily Times. He said he got better was too injured to line up for medical examination. The traders urged the government to arrange for medical treatment of their colleague Chaudhry Amjad, whose legs were injured badly. They said Amjad had not recovered even after four operations.
We are ready to support the government in the fight against terrorism but the government should not ignore us, they said. They said it was unfair to force them to pay security fee of the damaged gas meters to the Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL).
Muhammad Sarfraz of Muzaffargarh Nihari House told Daily Times that SNGPL had demanded Rs 45,000 to restore his gas connection. He said his hotel was directly hit by the blast but SNGPL cared only for its dues. He demanded the government to help the traders. Chaudhry Saeed, Chaudhry Mobin, Iqbal Khan, Shahid Abbasi, Kamran Abbassi, Abdul Hameed, Mehboob, Chaudhry Amjad, Tasveer Abbassi, Sabir, Ibrar Abbassi are among the affected traders.
Aabpara Traders Action Committee (ATAC) Vice President Arshad Abbasi has urged the government to increase the compensation amount for the injured and the bereaved families. Five mobile phone shops, a medical store, two hotels, a saloon and many stalls were badly damaged in the blast, said Abbasi.
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/04/2007 00:00 ||
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LAHORE: Lawyer MD Tahir on Friday served a legal notice on Tom Tancredo for his statement and asked him for public apology. He said if Tancredo would not seek apology he (Tancredo) would be sued for $500 million damages for hurting religious sentiments of 1.5 billion Muslims across the world. He said only a sick-minded person could ever think of injuring feelings of Muslims because Muslims never ever thought of attacking the US.
Supreme Court Bar Association secretary Sarfaraz Cheema termed the statement as an eye-opener for the whole Muslim community. He urged Muslims in particular and US government in general to take notice of blasphemy committed by Tancredo. He said Tancredo had hurt feelings of Muslims. He said the statement was meant to create clash between the civilisations.
He said, We will sacrifice our lives for the sake of our religion. He urged Muslims all over the world to be united against the anti-Islamic elements. He criticised the Pakistan government for helping the US in war against terrorism. He said the US was responsible for terrorism across the world, adding that this statement could be a cause of terrorism. The West has no respect for Muslims emotions, he said.
Posted by: Seafarious ||
08/04/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
The West has no respect for Muslims emotions, he said.
Bingo! And the shyster in the back turban wins an exploding Miss Piggy doll.
#3
blasphemy ? we don't believe in blasphemy MD Tahir. We separate church and religion - not something failed states like Pakiwakiland could comprehend, moron!
#4
Really? I would like to sue ALL 1.5 Billion Moslems for all of the Taqiaa money they have stolen from others over all of history. Any way we could get an estimate on that? Oh, and also... about that Blasphemy charge......
#7
He said only a sick-minded person could ever think of injuring feelings of Muslims because Muslims never ever thought of attacking the US.
Well, who took down the towers? And hit the Pentagon? Tahir ought to pray that his fellow travelers change their ways so that some serious bombing does not occur. Does he not get a glimmer that we are a little pissed over here. If Tancredo promised to deliver, I would vote for him.
#9
If Tancredo is smart(and has the $$$) he would lure them into a huge debacle of a case on TV. Drag out every deplorable aspect of Islam and leave THEM licking their wounds.
#10
He said Tancredo had hurt feelings of Muslims.
Oh, boo hoo. Cry me a river and fill it with herring. Like we're not supposed to be offended by Islam's routine depiction of Infidels as dogs, pigs and monkeys?
Tell ya what, Tahir, I've got your public apology right here. Speak into the microphone, sweetie.
#11
The Burg is in rare form this morning. Can't top these comments so I'll just snicker. Except to say that Trancredo has been telling it like it is for years and is one of the few politicians in America with an ounce of integrity.
Posted by: Abu Uluque6305 ||
08/04/2007 13:20 Comments ||
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#12
He said, We will sacrifice our lives for the sake of our religion.
And for the sake of mine I pray....
"Go!" The demons came out and went into the pigs. Suddenly, the whole herd rushed down the cliff into the sea and died.....
Posted by: Frank Zappa ||
08/04/2007 13:56 Comments ||
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#14
With leather? Yes, with leather.
Posted by: Mike N. ||
08/04/2007 18:46 Comments ||
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#15
Muslim libel-chill is only a cover for surrogate sharia enforcement.
We have to fight anti-blasphemy laws in the guise of "aggravated harassment" by ANY necessary means. That concept is subversive to the highest degree. Any lawyer who proffers it for criminal code enforcement should be disbarred for life.
Muslim lawyers can blow their threats out their ears.
A few parents, who had been sending their children to madrassas for Islamic education, expressed concern when contacted by Daily Times over what their children might be learning. Some of them said they pulled their children out and decided to ask maulvis to teach them at home while others said they preferred the madrassa environment.
Although I have met the maulvi sahab who was teaching my sons and he seemed like a decent enough man, it is a scary thought what my children must have been learning, Saera Imdad told Daily Times. My husband and I discussed pulling them out but it seems unreasonable to judge all maulvis as terrorists. Saeras two sons go to the mosque daily so that they can read the Quran with meaning and reference to the Hadith and Sunnah. She believes that clerics who teach at home fail to give their students as good an education as a mosques environment can offer. Saera knows a group of eight mothers who send their children to the mosque to learn the Quran after school. Our children study together. We used to meet often and realized that our kids had reached the age when they should start reading the Quran, so we decided to enroll them all together after school at a nearby mosque. But now, four of us have taken our children out of the madrassa for fear of any violence, said one of the mothers.
Maliha Nishat sends her two sons to a madrassa but has recently employed a maulvi to come to her house. I would be more satisfied if they are taught under my supervision, she said. I really dont trust what my children might be learning in a madrassa even if I have complete faith in their teacher. Malihas husband takes a keen interest in making sure the boys learn proper wazu and namaz, and from a young age, read the Quran with understanding so that it becomes a habit in their later years. When asked why only boys were being sent to madrassas, Saera said that mothers with daughters felt that girls could learn the essentials of religion from their mothers. One such mother is Uzma Naz who has eight-year-old twins, a daughter and son. Her daughter has been studying the Quran at home while her son goes to a madrassa. The method used by the maulvi saheb who comes home to teach my daughter, and the maulvi saheb at the madrassa seem pretty much the same. Both children have equal knowledge and are learning at approximately the same pace. Therefore, I decided to teach my son at home as well, she said.
Saera said most mothers had been taking Arabic and Quran classes as well. Our children go to private schools where they study well but when we see their seniors, we fear that our kids might just go astray and not know their religion at all.
Posted by: Seafarious ||
08/04/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
"Send us your children so that we may educate them in the ways of the Religion of Peace or we'll shoot them."
Around 300 masked Urdu speaking Taliban are among those who have taken possession of the shrine of Pushtoon freedom fighter Haji Sahib Turangzai and an adjacent mosque in Mohmand Agency, Daily Times learnt on Friday.
No one recognises the Urdu speakers guarding the shrine. I talked to an Urdu-speaking Taliban who belonged to Punjab and could not speak Pushto, a man, asking not to be named, told Daily Times. He added that nearly 300 Urdu speakers were among the 3,500 local Taliban present in the area.
The source said that most of the Urdu-speaking Taliban belonged to several banned jihadi organisations operating in Kashmir. They have joined the local Taliban to give a tough time to the government if it tried to vacate the tomb and mosque, the source said. Some Taliban have good command over English, Urdu, Arabic and Pushto and are issuing statements in several languages to the national and international media, the source said.
The source said the Taliban had only one rocket launcher with six mortar shells, while each Talib carried a klashnikov rifle. About 250 armed Taliban are guarding the shrine while around 3,250 have taken positions in the surrounding hills, he added.
Meanwhile, the Taliban said they are not ready to vacate the shrine and mosque, but jirga member Maulvi Abdul Jabbar said he was hopeful the Taliban would vacate the two places on Sunday.
Usman Gurubz, spokesman for the local Taliban, said the two sides Taliban and the jirga were continuing talks over the issue. However, he said the Taliban did not intend to vacate the two buildings.
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif - A military jury sentenced a Marine to 448 days in prison on Thursday after he was found guilty of conspiracy in the 2006 murder and kidnapping of an Iraqi grandfather. The jury at Californias Camp Pendleton found Cpl. Marshall Magincalda guilty on Wednesday of larceny and housebreaking. He was also convicted of participating in a conspiracy to murder, kidnap, commit larceny and obstruction of justice, make a false official statement and break into a house.
Because he has spent the last 450 days in detention, the punishment means Magincalda will be released from the brig on Friday and reduced in rank to private.
Six others have been convicted in the Hamdania, Iraq case, one in a series in which US troops have been accused of abuse or killings of Iraqi civilians. The others in the case have received sentences of between no additional time in prison and eight years behind bars.
A separate jury also at Camp Pendleton near San Diego is considering the sentence on Friday for the ringleader of the plot. That jury found Sgt. Lawrence Hutchins III guilty of unpremeditated murder, larceny and other crimes on Thursday. The prosecution had sought to convict Hutchins of premeditated murder, with a series of witnesses testifying that he led the plot involving eight Americans. Witnesses said Hutchins congratulated his squad after the crime, saying We just got away with murder. One said the men had been inspired by the 1999 movie The Boondock Saints, in which vigilantes in Boston kill mobsters.
The unit initially targeted a Hamdania terror suspect in the 2006 incident, but grabbed his neighbor during the night when they could not find him. Hutchins and another Marine shot Hashim Ibrahim Awad, 52, a father of 11 and grandfather of four, and then the unit set a AK-47 assault rifle and shovel next to the corpse to suggest he had been an insurgent planting a bomb.
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/04/2007 00:00 ||
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BAGHDAD - Weeping tears of joy and pride, Iraqs soccer champions arrived home on Friday to celebrate the Asian Cup victory that inspired their nation, but heavy security meant few Baghdadis were able to join the party.
There is no happier moment, goalkeeper Noor Sabri told Iraqiya state television in the airport arrival lounge, choking back tears as other players behind him sobbed. I dont know what to say. All I can say is congratulations to the mothers of the martyrs, he said, paying tribute to victims of his countrys sectarian strife.
Player Ali Rahima said: We hope that this unity will not be only for football. We hope everybody will unite to bring happiness to the Iraqi people.
Hundreds of Iraqis managed to negotiate a series of security checkpoints in blistering summer heat to reach the airport in the hope of catching a glimpse of their heroes. People have been dancing and chanting and singing all day. We havent gotten tired, a government employee who was at the airport told Reuters.
But most of the city remained locked down in a weekly curfew for the Muslim day of prayer. The majority of Iraqis would see the players only on television. Its a shame that this team brought us the happiness of our lives, and we still cannot celebrate them properly, said Ammar Hussein, 33. The Baghdad resident said he did not dare take to the streets for safety reasons. This is our story. It is the story of Iraq that we always worry about the security situation even when we are supposed to be happiest.
The team, nicknamed the Lions of Mesopotamia, were due to be whisked to the Green Zone for an official ceremony inside the heavily fortified compound that protects US and Iraqi authorities.
Their victory last Sunday triggered nationwide euphoria. Iraqis hailed the multi-ethnic team, which includes members of different religious sects, as proof the country could overcome the divisions that have led to bloodshed. Since the victory, the team has been feted in boisterous celebrations in Dubai and Jordan.
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/04/2007 00:00 ||
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The United Nations Security Council has decided to delay the publication of a presidential statement calling for Hizbullah to release captive reservists Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev immediately and without preconditions.
Earlier, the council approved the statement unanimously.
According to Israel Radio, publication of the statement was delayed due to opposition from Qatar. Tell me again about the "moderate gulf states"?
BIBNEEN, Lebanon (AP) - In the unkempt cemetery of this hilltop town lie six of Lebanon's young soldiers, killed in battles with Islamist militants in a Palestinian refugee camp not far away.
Three months of fighting at the Nahr el-Bared camp has for the first time made the military popular in Lebanon - but for impoverished towns like Bibneen, the army has long been a way of life and a source of income for youth who otherwise can find no work.
The toll paid by Bibneen is evident at its cemetery. "Do not count as dead those killed for the sake of God, for they are alive with their Lord," reads a Quranic verse carved into the six soldiers' tombstones, standing amid the weeds and litter. A seventh Bibneen resident killed in the battle is buried in the nearby city of Tripoli.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/04/2007 01:26 ||
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#1
Typical NPR-esque boilerplate trash.
Young men from Bibneen and other Sunni towns and villages of northern Lebanon form the backbone of the force that is waging the army's drawn-out, two-month fight in the Palestinian camp.
poor, widdle soldier's only join the military because they are dumb, impoverished, "youth" who can otherwise find no work due to the fact that evil war prevents them from fishing peacefully and living in perfect harmony. And, of course, despite the fact that the army appears, on the happy surface, to have high moral and be a symbol of increasing nationalist unity, every one who is anyone knows that "frustration is starting to mount as the fighting drags on" in a "drawn-out, two-month [!] fight".
gag. It only needs the sound effects of babies crying, women wailing, and clanking pots to be complete.
Posted by: AT ||
08/04/2007 4:05 Comments ||
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#2
This exemplifies the "resistance-is-futile-surrender-to-the-terrorists" meme.
#3
Hmmm, gotta say, I didn't read the article that way. I thought the article was pretty positive in tone regarding the soldiers. It's the sort of article one could write about young men in the American south who join the Army or Marines because that's what Dad and Grandpa did in their time.
I saw it as honoring these men for their service to a greater good, that is, a country that would be worth having.
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/04/2007 12:02 Comments ||
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#4
Steve - maybe you are right and I have just become too cynical. But to me this just follows the exact format of every single, solitary NPR piece. They go like this:
1. It was a dark and stormy night - the mood is set, be it in a local school or in the hills of Afghanistan or busy city of Lebanon. Lots of adjectives and soothing background music.
2. Meet X - in this case, Walid. You know - the Joe normal we can all relate to. Usually, as in this story, Walid will have a family member or friend standing by to give him depth.
3. About this time we get the "clanging pots" as I call them. A series of NPR sound effects that usually include the interviewer starting an interview with the interviewee. This will fade to the back and the translator or the narrator will voice-over them. Most favored sounds are children playing, women talking as they clang pots in the kitchen. Each piece will have sound effects specific to the piece, for example - if it is about school lunches - you will get cafeteria sounds - or a war zone, you will hear shooting mortars, etc.
4. The Truth(TM) that feeds the lie. In this case, the fact that we revere the sacrifice of sons who must fight for freedom. The Truth(TM) is most often centered around mother-hood/apple pie and the children; the benefit of education; the pain of loss or poverty; the power of hope; the unquenchable nature of the human spirit - etc., etc.
5. After examining the happy surface, it is now time to look just beneath to see the dark evil that is hiding there - because every single NPR piece can be summed up thus "UNDERNEATH EVERY HAPPY SURFACE LIES DARKNESS.
In this case - the dark and sinister is that these peaceful fishermen really don't want to fight for freedom - they just want to fish. And it is so sad, such a waste, they might as well go home because resistance is futile!
I could go on...but you get the point.
Posted by: AT ||
08/04/2007 22:08 Comments ||
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The U.N. Security Council voiced grave concern on Friday about reported arms smuggling from Syria into Lebanon, but stopped short of accusing Lebanon's Hezbollah of violating U.N. resolutions by rearming. A much-revised policy statement issued by the 15-nation council dropped wording directly targeting Syria and Iran over the arms smuggling that the United States, Britain and France had sought to include in early drafts.
The statement, finally agreed to after some three weeks of backstage haggling, said only that the council "expresses grave concern at persistent reports of breaches of the arms embargo along the Lebanon-Syria border."
Original drafts had said Syria and Iran must enforce an embargo on arms supplies to non-government groups in Lebanon, decreed in the Security Council resolution adopted after last year's war between Israel and Hezbollah. The final text referred only to "states ... in the region."
Nevertheless, U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said the statement read out by council President Basile Ikouebe of Congo Republic sent a "strong message that Syria needs to do more ... to stop arms shipments across its border into Lebanon." The wording was stronger than previous council statements, he said.
On Thursday, President George W. Bush ordered a freeze on the U.S. assets of anyone Washington deems to be undermining Lebanon's pro-Western government. That move followed repeated U.S. calls for Damascus to stop meddling in Lebanon.
U.N. officials have quoted Israeli and Lebanese government reports that arms from Syria are reaching both Hezbollah and Palestinian guerrilla groups in Lebanon. An expert team sent by the world body reported in June that Lebanese border security was incapable of stopping the smuggling.
TONED DOWN
Damascus has denied involvement. Syrian U.N. Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari said on Friday his country had been extremely cooperative on border security, holding 12 high-level meetings with Lebanese officials. But he also implied that events on the Syrian-Lebanese border were no concern of other countries. "I wouldn't see Syria putting its nose in demarcating the lines between Canada and the United States," he said.
Also toned down in the statement was the reference to Hezbollah, which diplomats said had been the subject of last-minute negotiations between the United States and Qatar, the only Arab country currently on the Security Council.
Council statements, unlike resolutions, are non-binding and need unanimous approval to pass. The final version expressed "concern about the recent statement by Hezbollah that it retains the military capacity to strike all parts of Israel."
Earlier drafts called the statement by Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah a "blatant violation" of the U.N. resolution, which says the only arms in Lebanon should be those of the Lebanese government. Arab analysts said Qatar had been concerned such wording could be used in future resolutions as a basis for action against Hezbollah.
Friday's statement also expressed concern over increased Israeli violations of Lebanese air space, urged Israel to provide detailed data on its use of cluster munitions in Lebanon and demanded that Hezbollah free two Israeli soldiers whose abduction sparked last year's war.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/04/2007 00:00 ||
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#3
...but stopped short of accusing Lebanon's Hezbollah of violating U.N. resolutions by rearming. A much-revised policy statement issued by the 15-nation council dropped wording directly targeting Syria and Iran over the arms smuggling
So it must be that friggin Tooth Fairy doing all this arms smuggling...
#10
For the UN to be "gravely concerned"can never be enough. It needs to go to the grave. We seem to be in dire need of a better, non-rogue nations enabler, as a reincarnation.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Friday that his country was not intimidated by American aid being given to other countries in the region and that it was merely an act of weakness on behalf of the US, Maher reported.
According to the Iranian news agency, Ahmadinejad said that the US wished to represent Israel - which is the main enemy of Arab countries - as a friend, and Iran - which is the Middle East's best friend - as the enemy.
Posted by: gromgoru ||
08/04/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
Ahmadinejad has really been off his psych meds for far too long.
#2
IRAN > Moud accuses USA of SEEKING ME DOMINANCE, [and SSSSSSHHHHHHH by extens WORLD DOMINANCE]. RIAN > see related posts > Russ views or claims that US's failure to renew START-1 is symbolic of America's attempt at US-SPECIFIC, UNILATERAL,
"FORCED WORLD/GLOBAL LEADERSHIP" BY THE USA UPON REST OF THE WORLD, or words to that effect.
The special UN fact-finding committee into Israeli reported inhuman practices against the people of the occupied Golan Heights on Friday arrived to the Qoneitra district to check on such alleged reports. The head of the committee, Sri Lanka's Ambassador to the UN Parsad Wassam told reporters that the special committee was launched in 1968 and has been visiting the areas once a year to check on reports of alleged "serious violations" to human rights by Israeli occupation troops against the Arabs. Wassam expressed gratitude to Syria's cooperation with the special committee and stressed that the facts compiled so far supported the claims of inhuman treatment. He added that the special committee was prevented, by Israeli troops, from doing its job on several occasions.
I presume that means the Israelis kept them from being fired on by the Oppressed.
He indicated that the special committee had received from Qoneitra Governor Nawaf Al-Sheikh Fares a "full report" on those practices and met on Thursday with six eyewitnesses who supported the claims.
"We seen it with our own eyes, effendi!"
The special committee also included, among its members, the ambassador of Malaysia to the UN Memidun Ali and the ambassador of the Senegal to the UN Musa Bukarli as well as others, who work in the human rights field.
Hmmm. Not many actual facts in this article, just a whole bunch of beard-stroking and back-patting.
#2
Hmmm. Not many actual facts in this article, just a whole bunch of beard-stroking and back-patting.
true, but it's a sorry fact that the UN has such a "fact-finding" committee comprised of muslims. I can't imagine any more blatant demonstration of bias.
Palestinians do not send other Palestinians into exile; Palestinians do not shoot other Palestinians; Palestinians do not betray other Palestinians, Palestinians do not resolve their political differences by gunfire, Palestinians do not collaborate with their enemies, do not betray their own people, Palestinians are not traitors to their own cause, Palestinians do not send Palestinians to Israeli jails.
#4
Those of us who know and understand something of Palestinian society were saddened by June's Gaza troubles
Only if you're Palestinian.
The "Gaza coup" was not launched in Gaza, but in Ramallah - and the forces that brought instability to the Gaza Strip were funded and armed by the US.
Just gotta blame it on some sort of outside entity. No way can Palestinians possibly be to blame for their own misery.
Hamas is not wedded to violence
Bullshit! Some direct quotes from the Hamas charter:
"Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it."
"There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors."
The author is a devout Muslim ass-kisser.
just one day after the resolution of the siege of the Church of the Nativity. Those in the church had, the day before, been sent out of the church to Europe - away from their families and into an involuntary exile. Their departure had been emotional: they had walked out of the church as their families, on the rooftops of Bethlehem, cheered and wept.
Absolutely no mention of how these terrorists defiled and vandalized one of Christianity's holiest shrines. I look forward to the day Mecca is forced to expiate these Muslim sins. Mark Perry is an Islamic apologist and needs to be horsewhipped.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
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.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Congress and the White House struggled Friday over expanding authority to eavesdrop on suspected foreign terrorists in a high-stakes showdown over national security. The House rejected a Democratic proposal opposed by President Bush that would give him that authority for only four months. The largely party-line vote in favor of the bill was 218-207.
LAHORE: Lawyer MD Tahir on Friday served a legal notice on Tom Tancredo for his statement and asked him for public apology. He said if Tancredo would not seek apology he (Tancredo) would be sued for $500 million damages for hurting religious sentiments of 1.5 billion Muslims across the world. He said only a sick-minded person could ever think of injuring feelings of Muslims because Muslims never ever thought of attacking the US. 
BAGHDAD - Weeping tears of joy and pride, Iraqs soccer champions arrived home on Friday to celebrate the Asian Cup victory that inspired their nation, but heavy security meant few Baghdadis were able to join the party.
BIBNEEN, Lebanon (AP) - In the unkempt cemetery of this hilltop town lie six of Lebanon's young soldiers, killed in battles with Islamist militants in a Palestinian refugee camp not far away.
The special UN fact-finding committee into Israeli reported inhuman practices against the people of the occupied Golan Heights on Friday arrived to the Qoneitra district to check on such alleged reports. The head of the committee, Sri Lanka's Ambassador to the UN Parsad Wassam told reporters that the special committee was launched in 1968 and has been visiting the areas once a year to check on reports of alleged "serious violations" to human rights by Israeli occupation troops against the Arabs. Wassam expressed gratitude to Syria's cooperation with the special committee and stressed that the facts compiled so far supported the claims of inhuman treatment. He added that the special committee was prevented, by Israeli troops, from doing its job on several occasions.
