A very fair, honest look at this war's Ernie Pyle.
Michael Yon was not a journalist, and he wasnt sure what a blogger was. He had been in uniform but not in combat, and he wanted to keep it that way. He went to Iraq thinking he would stay for a month, and maybe find a way to write about the war after he got home.
Instead, he has spent most of the last three years in Iraq, writing prolifically and graphically, and racking up more time embedded with combat units than any other journalist, according to the United States military. He has been shot at, buffeted by explosions and seen more people maimed fighters and civilians, adults and children than he can count.
The easiest thing in the world to write about is combat, because all the drama is there, said Mr. Yon, a fit, ruddy-faced 43-year-old who was a Special Forces soldier more than two decades ago. He insists that he still does not really know the rules of journalism, but says he has recently, grudgingly, accepted that he has become a journalist. . . .
Mr. Yon, however, does not work for any organization; no news outlet pays him for the hundreds of dispatches and photos he has produced. He publishes his work on his own Web site, michaelyon-online.com (some will appear again in a book set for release in April), and he also posts submissions from military people serving in Iraq. He says contributions from his readers have paid most of his costs, though he declines to say how much they have given. . . .
He went to Iraq believing that the mainstream news media were bungling the story, and he still often criticizes the medias pessimism. But he has also praised particular reporters from major outlets, or defended the media in general, explaining how difficult and dangerous it is to cover the war.
Along the way, he created a niche outlet that is better reported than most blogs, and more opinionated than most news reporting, with enough first-hand observation, clarity and skepticism to put many professional journalists to shame. . . .
Posted by: Mike ||
01/21/2008 08:20 ||
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#1
The MSM is missing a bet by not recruiting a slew of Iraq and Afghanistan vets to be their future war correspondents.
They just don't get it that people who have never left the US or had any real world experience, usually know zip about anything other than what they see on TV. This makes them lousy reporters, much less "journalists".
They quality of their news would jump if they would pay for just a few vets to cover wars -- which in turn would increase their sales strongly. But theirs is a penny wise, pound foolish approach.
#2
The NYT commenting on Yon is like a buggy-whip manufacturer commenting on the advent of the automobile: he's come to understand that a significant development is going on, but he hasn't figured out what to do about it.
Posted by: Matt ||
01/21/2008 9:32 Comments ||
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#3
The MSM is missing a bet by not recruiting a slew of Iraq and Afghanistan vets to be their future war correspondents
Vets have cooties, especially those with combat experience. Didncha know?
#4
At first I thought it a petty, jealous piece to that the writer worked hard to fit into the NYT narrative. "seen more people maimed fighters and civilians, adults and children than he can count."
But I think what is really going on is that the NYT reporters have seen their recent stock quotes and are looking to Michael Yon to see what reporting opportunites exist after they receive their forthcoming pink slips from the NYT.
#5
I'm glad that the MSM is stuck on Stupid and I hope they never co-opt the real quality bloggers and/or the Soldier/Marine journalist.
The NYSlimes deserves to DIE Fifty Five thousand pitiless Deaths if for nothing but the Lies they told during the 60s in Vietnam and after...
the peerless ones, each convey a unique slant to the reader, with integrity and respect to our Marines, Soldiers and to the indigenous folks they cover.
A quake of moderate intensity was felt in Chitral and Swat districts on Sunday with a magnitude of 5.0 on Richter scale. According to Meteorological Center Peshawar, the tremor originated at 00:25 hours and its epicenter lied about 280 kilometers North of Peshawar in Hindu Kush Range (Afghanistan). The quake was felt only in Chitral and Swat districts.
Halliburton seems to have worked out the locating bug. Now let's see if they can fix the problem with repeating fire ...
Posted by: Fred ||
01/21/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
with deep wells dug under pakistan from the forts on the afghan side we should emplace a mile or two down at various depths and programed to go off in sequence 100s of large nukes. This to make a pressure release so all that pent up force creating the Himilayas and Hindu Kush and release itself in Pakistan - maybe even to the point of giving Afghanistan a sea coast.
Nothing need to erupt above ground if the placement is sure.
#2
I like it, sink them into the sea and be done with them.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
01/21/2008 14:10 Comments ||
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SEA OF PAKISTAN,
has a nice ring to it.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
01/21/2008 14:11 Comments ||
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3dc, et al: the problem is, the pressure is caused by pressure from the Indian subcontinent slamming into the Eurasian plate. It's pushing up territory, not pushing it down. All you would do would be make the mountains between Afghanistan and Pakistan higher, and rattle the Himalayas from the Hindu Kush to Burma. It might rattle China's cage a bit, but it wouldn't "sink" Pakistan. Take a long look at the area using Google Earth from about 50 miles - its unmistakable what's going on.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
01/21/2008 19:42 Comments ||
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Sudan has appointed Musa Hilal, a man Washington accuses of coordinating Darfur's marauding militias, to a central government position, a move condemned by international human rights campaigners.
Minister of Federal Affairs Abdel Basit Sabderat confirmed Hilal had been picked as his new adviser. The presidency had earlier denied the appointment. "Yes he is appointed ... adviser to the minister," Sabderat told Reuters, but gave no further details. Hilal is the leader of the Mahamied clan, part of the powerful Arab Rizeigat tribe in Darfur.
Hilal told Reuters he would be based in Khartoum, but said the post could require travel to outlying regions. The ministry coordinates regional administrations with central government.
Washington says Hilal is the coordinator of the Janjaweed militias accused of war crimes in Darfur. He denies atrocities and says he mobilised his tribesmen to defend their lands after a government call to "popular defense".
Human Rights Watch urged U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to press Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir to revoke the appointment and to investigate Hilal for crimes in Darfur. "Musa Hilal is the poster child for Janjaweed atrocities in Darfur," Richard Dicker, International Justice Programme director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement. "Rewarding him with a special government post is a slap in the face to Darfur victims and to the U.N. Security Council," he added, noting that Hilal was subject to a U.N. travel ban for his role in Darfur.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/21/2008 00:00 ||
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3 guesses which EU country is going to get to sell the technology -- and the first 2 don't count.
The United Arab Emirates is set to launch a nuclear programme, becoming the first Arab state to go ahead with announced ambitions to develop nuclear power.
Flush with petrodollars, the government in Abu Dhabi is preparing a policy document that will soon be sent for comment to world powers, including the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, and to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UNs nuclear watchdog.
Six Arab Gulf states, including the UAE, last year asked the IAEA to study the feasibility of a joint nuclear programme in a move seen as a political response to Irans nuclear activities.
The UAE, however, is making clear that its project will not involve uranium enrichment, the most sensitive part of a programme and that it would instead import nuclear fuel from international sources.
The world community has been calling on Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment, which could produce fuel both for peaceful use and for atomic weapons. If anything the fact that were not enriching will embarrass the Iranians and make people ask whether enrichment is essential, said one UAE official. The UAE will also be ready to sign a so-called additional protocol with the IAEA, allowing for extra scrutiny of its activities, says the official.
Several Arab states outside the Gulf have also expressed interest in nuclear power over the past year but the UAE is expecting to be the first to forge ahead with its plans.
Last week, it signed a nuclear co-operation agreement with France during President Nicolas Sarkozys visit to the Gulf. French oil company Total has joined with other French firms in submitting a proposal to the Abu Dhabi authorities to develop two new reactors.
Although a major oil producer, the UAE argues that it needs nuclear energy to satisfy soaring demand for power and desalinated water.
With electricity demand soaring by 10 per cent a year, the UAE is expected to double its power capacity over the next decade to supply the rapidly-growing population and many industrial ventures. Officials say that faster growth as a result of economic diversification could eat away at hydrocarbons exports.
At least 82 African would-be migrants, mostly Somalis, have drowned off Yemen after their wooden boat capsized in choppy waters as it neared the end of its voyage from Somalia, Yemeni officials said.
The incident occurred a few kilometres off the town of Ahwar in the southern Yemeni province of Abyan on the Gulf of Aden late on Friday, the officials said. They said local fishermen rescued 30 passengers and recovered bodies of 22 others after the boat ran into rocks and capsized.
Survivors told authorities there had been about 140 people aboard the boat. "Around 60 bodies washed up on shores of Ahwar today (Sunday) and up to 28 people are still missing," a local official in Ahwar told Deutsche Presse-Agentur in Sana'a by phone.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/21/2008 00:00 ||
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Doesn't say a lot about your old home when your new one's Yemen...
#2
At least 82 African would-be migrants, mostly Somalis, have drowned off Yemen after their wooden boat capsized in choppy waters as it neared the end of its voyage from Somalia, Yemeni officials said.
Raj Doesn't say a lot about your old home when your new one's Yemen...
I bet the sharks rejected every migrant... way too bony...
Moderate British Muslims in the police, Armed Forces and Civil Service will one day revolt against the system to "crush it from within", according to Omar Bakri Mohammed, the notorious Islamic extremist.
Extremist, eh? Perhaps one day they'll refer to him as a 'terrorist'.
In claims condemned as a cynical attempt to create division, the co-founder of the extremist al-Muhajiroun group said that Britain was "digging a deep hole" for itself by allowing Muslims into the Services and Whitehall.
Speaking exclusively to The Sunday Telegraph in Lebanon, where he moved in August 2005 at about the time it emerged the British authorities might charge him with incitement to treason he claimed police officers, soldiers and civil servants would one day become radicalised. "When you start to ask Muslims to join your Army and your police you are making a grave mistake. That British Muslim who joins the police today will one day read the Koran and will have an awakening," he said. "Those moderates are one day going to be practising Muslims. Now what happens if they are British police or in the Army and they have weapons? How much information do they have about you that they will use to serve the Global Struggle?
"They will revolt against the system if they have been failed by your foreign policy which is oppressive against Islam, or have been contacted by people who believe Britain is a domain of war."
In remarks almost certain to cause widespread anger among the survivors and relatives of victims, he also claimed that the world was a better place after the July 7 bombings in London. "I believe it is a better place for Islam and Muslims but not for non-Muslims. What's happening around the world is good and positive for Islam."
The comments were condemned by moderate Muslim leaders. Ibrahim Mogra, the chairman of the Interfaith Relations Committee of the Muslim Council of Britain, said: "This is part of an attempt to create divisions both within the Muslim community and the wider society.
"On the contrary, the more a Muslim police officer becomes a practising Muslim, the more loyal he will become, the more he will realise his duty to his country and the need to contribute to its well-being." He added: "People are entitled to their views, but we actually have our own scholars and imams, who are still in this country, not abroad, and who talk about contributing to Britain and the responsibilities that we have to it."
Bakri Mohammed came to Britain in 1985 after being expelled from Saudi Arabia. He was rapidly derided as "the Tottenham Ayatollah". His inflammatory pronouncements have included calling the September 11 terrorists the "Magnificent 19". He disbanded al-Muhajiroun in 2004. Shortly after the July 7 attacks Tony Blair announced the group would be banned as part of a series of measures against condoning or glorifying terrorism.
After Bakri Mohammed left for Beirut he was banned from returning to Britain. The Government deemed his presence "no longer conducive to the public good".
In Beirut last week, a relaxed Bakri Mohammed sipped freshly-squeezed strawberry juice in an upmarket restaurant overlooking the Mediterranean. He took pleasure in hearing media reports about Abid Javaid, 41, of Thornton Heath, Surrey, a civil servant in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, who was exposed late last year as a leading member of the extremist organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir (HT), which Mr Blair had wanted to ban.
This was despite Bakri Mohammed's admission: "I left HT in 1996 and they condemn what I stand for."
Bakri Mohammed readily confirmed that he had officiated at the wedding of Pc Alexander Omar Basha, his relative by marriage. In October, however, when the diplomatic protection officer faced controversy after being excused guard duties at the Israeli embassy, Bakri Mohammed admitted Pc Basha's views were far more moderate than his own and even complained: "If I'd have known [he was a policeman at the time of the wedding] I would never have married them. My advice to all Muslims in the police is to leave their jobs." "And to hook up on welfare, as allan intended the Master Religion's members to do so".
#1
Did the family join you in Beirut yet cowardly holy man, or do you stlll need them to stay in Britain so you can sponge off of their welfare checks?
The Reverend Ike of Islam...
BOGOTA - Colombias second largest rebel group, the ELN, freed nine hostages on Sunday in a rural southern province after holding them for more than two weeks, authorities said. The release came as President Alvaro Uribe and the countrys largest rebel group, the FARC, remained deadlocked over a deal to free scores of their hostages, including French Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt and three Americans held for more than five years.
The hostages were released to a commission from the Red Cross in Narino province close to Ecuadors frontier, a spokesman for the international agency said. During the afternoon, the people who were captured 14 days ago were released, Samaniego municipality mayor, Yamile Montenegro, told reporters.
Violence from Colombias four-decade-old conflict has eased under President Alvaro Uribe, a Washington ally who has received billions in US aid to fight cocaine traffickers and Marxist rebels involved in Latin Americas oldest insurgency.
But FARC - the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - is still fighting in rural areas and authorities say it is holding around 700 hostages for ransom and political leverage, including around 45 they want to swap for jailed rebels. Families of kidnap victims hope that release could signal the freeing of other FARC hostage.
The ELN, or National Liberation Army, is involved in fledging peace talks with Uribes government, but little progress has been made to determine key elements to any accord.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/21/2008 00:00 ||
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Posted by: Ebbolulet Dark Lord of the Swedes9659 ||
01/21/2008 12:48 ||
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#1
It's good that we have moved on from accidently offending people and elliciting random sponaneous worldwide violence. I wonder if my landlord will mind if I begin excavating a bomb shelter.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
01/21/2008 13:56 Comments ||
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#2
Not if you make it big enough for him and his family too.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
01/21/2008 14:18 Comments ||
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If they pi$$ on it before they shred it there won't be so much dust. Of course, that always it makes it harder to burn afterwards. Perhaps they could just feed it to a pig.
French deputies adopted Wednesday a revision of the country's constitution to allow a new EU reform treaty to be ratified by parliament, despite criticism that it should be voted on in a referendum.
"Trust us. It's For the Children (TM)."
The measure was adopted by a vote of 304 to 77, with 100 lawmakers choosing to abstain. The Senate must next vote on the text January 29, before its final adoption by both houses on February 4.
The opposition Socialist Party previously announced it would abstain from the vote on the 'constitutional' amendment, arguing the EU treaty should be ratified by referendum. "Our vote doesn't reflect the content of the treaty," Socialist lawmaker Jean-Jacques Urvoas said, noting the majority of the party backed the text in an internal vote -- although a number of party members oppose it.
Signed in Lisbon last month, the EU charter aims to streamline decision-making of the 27-member bloc, replacing a more ambitious EU constitution that was rejected by French and Dutch voters in referenda in 2005.
France's Communist Party has denounced as a "coup d'etat" the government's decision to ratify it by parliamentary vote, judging the new EU document no different than the past one.
I never thought I'd agree with Commies, but I've made *one* exception. This being it.
But the ruling Union for a Popular Movement party overwhelmingly backs the treaty, which was seen as a victory for President Nicolas Sarkozy, who pushed for it after his election in May.
Once they adopt the 'constitutional' change, the National Assembly and the Senate are expected to ratify the Lisbon treaty in early February.
Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) has announced to fight legal battle for release of 14 Muslims including 12 Pakistan nationals arrested in Spain under terror charges.
Kinda reiterates which side PML-N is on, doesn't it?
In a statement PML (N) said the arrested men are Islamic scholars and they have no link with terrorism.
"Our holy men often use timers and large quantities of ball bearings in their research."
Muhammad Afzal, PML (N) leader in Spain, has said his party will fight legal battle for release of the innocent detainees and to foil propaganda linking Muslims to terrorism.
"C'mon, now! When have you ever heard of a Muslim being involved with terrorism?"
On Saturday, Spains Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba had contended; "after finding explosive materials police arrested those accused of involvement".
"But those were holy explosives! They don't count!"
Rubalcaba told a news conference that civil guard police had arrested 12 Pakistanis and two Indians. Rubalcaba said; "Saturdays raids were distinct from a number of operations in recent years which were largely against groups that sought to finance groups or recruit members to fight. Here we are looking at something different: a well-organised group who were going beyond ideological radicalism to acquiring materials to make explosives and therefore eventually to carry out violent attacks.
A range of bomb-making materials had been found including four timers. Computers were also seized in the raid, he claimed.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/21/2008 00:00 ||
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A spokesman of ISPR has contradicted a news item appearing in a section of the press on Sunday (20 Jan) that Afghan National Army fired Artillery rounds which fell in Ghulam Khan area and some coalition spy planes flew over Pakistani territory in North Wazirastan Agency late Friday night. The Spokesman said that there is no truth in the news.
Afghan National Army in retaliation to an attack on their Tarkhobi post did fire a few artillery rounds on miscreants but within their own territory and no artillery shell fell within Pakistan side of the border, he added. He also clarified that there is no truth of violation of Pakistani airspace by coalition spy plane.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/21/2008 00:00 ||
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Three more Scotland Yard investigators Sunday left for London with material, evidence and statements they had collected into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
The International detectives had arrived in Islamabad on the request of government of Pakistan to help facilitate the Pakistani investigating agencies, probing into the killing of the former premier. A six-member Scotland Yard team had also proceeded to London last Monday, taking necessary data and information they had gathered during the 10-day investigations and development made in this regard.
The international investigators during their stay visited Liaqat Bagh many times, the DHQ, RGH and MH hospitals, recorded statements of the police officials and people close to the deceased PPP chairperson. The team collected samples and also took photographs and video footage of the vehicle and place, where Benazir Bhutto was killed. The team members witnessed demonstrations time and again, of the stopping of Benazirs vehicle to understand and assess the situation. The international investigators called on the doctors and also witnessed the body parts of the unidentified victims of the blast at mortuary of DHQ hospital. The team has taken all the evidences and samples with them to come up with concrete assessment after comparison of their findings on the basis of their investigations done so far at the Scotland Yard headquarters.
The sources said that until the detectives reach a conclusion, the team members would be shuttling between London and Islamabad. The team was seen off at the Islamabad airport by the British High Commission officials, officials of Interior Ministry and police officers.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/21/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Have it your way mooks, we havent racked up hundreds of thousands of dead in this conflict. And we havent really took the gloves off yet. In fact we've been giving you the soft-power version of warfare so far.
But, if you want to do it the hard way, we can certainly oblige you.
#5
...and what normally happens in Europe once people feel threatened?
War. Carnage. Genocide.
Europe has become pathetic at sorting out problems overseas, but that visceral hatred of 'the other' is still there.
Strangely, it is always America that is described as degenerate and fascist, while it is solely in Europe that actual dictatorships and totalitarian regimes spring up. Jean-François Revel
Posted by: Tony (UK) ||
01/21/2008 18:58 Comments ||
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#6
TOPIX > IRAN, SYRIA DIVIDE GERMANY.
*ION, Also from TOPIX > MIRONOV: MEDVEDEV, PUTIN TO RULE RUSSIA UNTIL 2033, + BBC - PUTIN CAN BE PRESIDENT AGAIN:KREMLIN ALLY.
Muhammad Ayn-al-Nas, a 26-year-old Moroccan, started his journey in Casablanca. After flying to Turkey and then to Damascus, he reached his destination in a small Iraqi border town on Jan. 31, 2007. He was an economics student back home, he told the al-Qaeda clerk who interviewed him on arrival. Asked what sort of work he hoped to do in Iraq, Nas replied: "Martyr."
Algerian Watsef Mussab, 29, who arrived in Iraq via Saudi Arabia and Syria, said he had come for combat. He complained that the Syrian smugglers who brought him to the border took his money, but he contributed what he had left to the insurgent cause a watch, a ring and an MP3 player.
Hanni al-Sagheer, a computer technician from Yemen and aspiring suicide volunteer, gave the clerk his home telephone number and also that of his brother.
Their stories are among the individual records of 606 foreign fighters who entered Iraq between August 2006 and August 2007. The cache of documents was discovered last fall by U.S. forces in the northern Iraqi town of Sinjar. Some include pictures bearded men in a turban or kaffiyeh, some smiling and some scowling in addition to names and aliases, home countries, birthdays and dates of entry into Iraq. Many list their occupations at home, whether plumber, laborer, policeman, lawyer, soldier or teacher. There is a "massage specialist," a "weapons merchant," a few "unemployed" and many students.
The youngest was 16 when he crossed into Iraq; the oldest was 54. Most expressed interest in a suicide mission.
The records are "one of the deepest reservoirs of information we've ever obtained of the network going into Iraq," according to a U.S. official closely familiar with intelligence on the insurgent group al-Qaeda in Iraq.
#1
It boggles the imagination as to how many of these birds managed to cross the border from Syria then walked right into a lethal trap in Anbar. No need to keep count.
BAGHDAD - Tens of thousands of Iraqis streamed home on Sunday from Ashura ceremonies in Karbala that were hailed by Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki as a sign of stability after they passed relatively peacefully.
Doesn't fit the narrative so you'll won't read this at the NYT.
Around two million Shia pilgrims descended on Karbala, 100 kilometres south of Baghdad, for the climax on Saturday of the 10-day rituals which commemorate the slaying of the revered Imam Hussein by the armies of the Sunni caliph Yazid in 680.
Fleets of buses began ferrying pilgrims, many of whom had walked to Karbala as part of their pilgrimage, to their hometowns soon after ceremonies ended on Saturday and the exodus from the shrine city was continuing on Sunday.
Officials said the ceremonies in Karbala itself were staged without incident-in contrast to previous years when they were violently disrupted by Sunni insurgents.
The Ashura ceremony this year is clear evidence that security and stability have became an obvious reality, Maliki said in a statement. Peoples help, high awareness and their feeling of responsibility along with the awareness of security forces aborted the plans of some perverted groups ... who tried to incite chaos in some provinces, he added.
He was referring to members of a Shia messianic cult which staged an uprising in the southern cities of Basra and Nasiriyah on Friday, attacking police posts and Ashura ceremonies in the apparent belief that their actions would speed up the return of Imam Mahdi.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/21/2008 00:00 ||
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Makes me think of those cargo cults where natives devised icons that they believed would draw ships with western goodies, for trade. In fact, cargo-shamans have the same credentials as the self-appointed "prophet" of the Muslims.
I notice the doctors don't have blood streaming down their faces.
White clothing. Probably to show off the amount of blood from their self-inflicted injuries. Gotta show the neighbors just how Islamic they are!
Gads. If we could just come up with five or six of these days of mourning in a row for this that or the other prophet or imam or injustice that might solve 70% of the problem over there.
#4
Interesting that the (presumably) medical personnel are wearing latex gloves - don't they think Allan will protect them?
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
01/21/2008 9:54 Comments ||
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#5
Training and education, versus Religion, guess which won. (Ain't Religion)
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
01/21/2008 16:11 Comments ||
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#6
The thing that always gets me, really bad, is to see fathers putting scalp wounds on their sons and having blood go everywhere. That is sick. Do that in this country and you will be brought up on child abuse charges, except for San Francisco, where they give you a certificate in red printing.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
01/21/2008 22:52 Comments ||
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#7
Last time I bled like that, religion had nothing to do with it. (Low hanging pipe, sharp end, 17 stitches)
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
01/21/2008 23:55 Comments ||
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(KUNA) -- A senior Iraqi police officer who was seriously wounded in armed clashes with a local armed group last week passed away. A senior police officer based in the southern city of Al-Nasiriah, where the clashes took place, told KUNA on Sunday that Brigadier Abdel Amir Jabbar succumbed to his critical cuts last night. The officer, who was shot with sniper fire, underwent treatment at a makeshift hospital of the American Army. Scores of people including five security personnel were killed in the clashes that pitted the government regulars against a radical group, called "Jund Al-Samaa," (Arabic for soldiers of the heavens).
Posted by: Fred ||
01/21/2008 00:00 ||
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#4
"Iran is still on the path towards obtaining nuclear capability" [BOLTON}
Also, BOLTON vv AFP > "In the next year the use of force by the US is highly unlikely ...the calculus of the entire region [ME] will change" WHEN IRAN DOES DE FACTO ACQUIRE NUCLEAR CAPABILITY/WEAPONS. BOLTON > IRAN NUKE CAPABILITY > INFERS IRAN NUKE RETALIATORY ABILITY WHICH IN TURN MEANS ISRAEL [+ OTHER US ALLIES] IS IN REAL DANGER FROM A NUCLEAR IRAN. 2-3 NUKE BOMBS WILL DESTROY ISRAEL - Best time for Israel, World to stop Iran is NOW, BEFORE IRAN DEVS NUKE CAPABILITY.
#5
ION, WAFF > EUROPE: PLATFORM FOR THREAT AGAINST US FROM ISLAMIST EXTREMISTS? + RIAN > PREVENTING NUCLEAR TERRORISM WORLDWIDE. NUCMATS SMUGGLING/PROLIFER on the increase, raising the definite likelihood of NUCLEAR/WMD "DIRTY BOMB" TERROR ATTACK OCCURRING OVER TIME.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday night appealed to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the Mideast Quartet and the Arab League to exert pressure on Israel to remove the blockade from the Gaza Strip and resume fuel supplies.
Have the rockets stopped yet? I thought not.
The appeal came after Gaza City plunged into darkness as Hamas officials shut down the territory's only power plant. The move was made after Israel reportedly blocked a shipment of fuel that powers the plant.
Health Ministry official Dr. Moaiya Hassanain warned that the fuel cutoff would cause a health catastrophe. "We have the choice to either cut electricity on babies in the maternity ward or heart surgery patients or stop operating rooms," he said.
Maybe you could power the generators with rockets? You seem to have enough of those.
Israel sealed all crossings into Gaza last week because of a spike in rocket barrages, cutting off fuel, food and medicine. Several weeks ago Israel reduced the fuel supply as a pressure tactic. Abbas also appealed to Israel to lift the blockade, said the PA president's spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh.
Israel's appealed to the Paleostinians to stop rocketing their towns, too.
Earlier, exiled Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal urged the PA president and Arab leaders to forget their differences and help the beleaguered Gazans.
Why? Are they running low on rockets?
The plea was rare show of emotion for the hard-line Khaled Mashaal, who lives in exile in Damascus, Syria. "All Arab leaders, exercise real pressure to stop this Zionist crime ... take up your role and responsibility," he told Al-Jazeera satellite TV in a live interview from Syria. "We are not asking you to wage a military war against Israel ... but just stand with us in pride and honor."
"And send us more rockets! We'll take it from there!"
Mashaal said he had been in contact Sunday with some Arab countries including Egypt and Saudi Arabia to see if they would pressure Israel. He also said he asked Egypt if it would provide fuel to Gaza plant. Egyptian officials were not immediately available for comment.
This article starring:
Khaled Mashaal
Hamas
Posted by: Fred ||
01/21/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
hard-line Khaled Mashaal, who lives in exile in Damascus, Syria.
I don't believe he's in exile. The Jooooos would prolly welcome his return to Gaza, so they can kill his cowardly ass
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/21/2008 5:03 Comments ||
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#2
You're right Frank.
The plea was rare show of emotion for the hard-line Khaled Mashaal, who lives in exile hides in Damascus,..
Posted by: Fred ||
01/21/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Disproportionate retaliation would end the Hamas missile-genocide. However, Israel is under pressure to exercise restraint. The Euros are already blind-eyeing the Paleo diversion of aid to war operations.
#3
The Israelis should deploy two Phalanx guns (called C-Ram) to protect Sderot. This was mentioned on Strategypage, but maybe the Israelis didn't get the memo.
It fires 20mm airburst that would take out almost all of the rockets fired, and because the Israelis are so concerned about harming Gazans, most of the 20mm frag would be too small to hurt anyone.
The cost of a Phalanx is small change to the Israelis, and nothing says "FAIL" to your enemies like "Your weapons are useless".
Posted by: Ebbolulet Dark Lord of the Swedes9659 ||
01/21/2008 14:47 ||
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#1
WAFF.com > MEMRI > Liberal Arab website AAFAQ - THE ERA OF IRANIAN HEGEMONY IN THE MIDDLE EAST IS NOW UPON US. "The Iranians are advancing" and succeeding in their struggle to ensure that the future destiny of the ME Region including GCC is ANTI-US/WESTERN + IRANIAN/IRAN-CENTRIC.
See also GLOBAL ANALYSIS: POST-NIE IRAN A GLOBAL SUPERPOWER BY 2020?
#2
PAYVAND > IS THE US ON THE BRINK OF WAR WITH IRAN?
SCOTT RITTER ]paraph]- THE WAR IN IRAQ IS PART OF A [decades-old?]LT STRATEGY BY NEOCONSERVATIVES FORMULATED TO DIVIDE THE WORLD [including World Islam = Muslim World] INTO SPHERES OF INFLUENCE WHICH WOULD THEN BECOME DOMINATED AND CONTROLLED.
Payvand article refers to CHYCHO.org and GYWNNETH DYERS SECRET on Iran issue [ANTIWAR.com].
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran's supreme leader Monday reversed a decision by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and ordered him to implement a law supplying natural gas to remote villages amid rising dissatisfaction with the president's performance. The move by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was a major rebuke to the hardline president, whose popularity has plummeted amid rising food prices and deaths due to gas cuts during a particularly harsh winter.
In response to a request by the conservative-dominated parliament, Khamenei ordered the president to implement a law spending $1 billion from the Currency Reserve Fund to supply gas to villages after he balked for budgetary reasons. "All legal legislation that has gone through (the required) procedures stipulated in the constitution is binding for all branches of power," Parliamentary Speaker Gholam Ali Haddad Adel quoted the supreme leader as saying in a statement.
Haddad Adel called Ahmadinejad's refusal to implement the law "surprising" and said his appeal to Khamenei was aimed at "defending the dignity of the legislature." His comments, which were broadcast live on state-run radio, prompted chants of "well done" from the chamber.
"We don't want (you) to bring oil money to our table ... just restore heating gas immediately," lawmaker Valiollah Raeyat said in an open session of the parliament last week.
Iran has the second largest natural gas reservoir of the world but its supply network has been overwhelmed by high demand. Both reformists and conservatives are increasingly asking the president why Iranians are dying from the cold while sitting on the massive gas fields. As much as 22 inches of snow fell in areas of northern and central Iran in early January, the heaviest snowfall in more than a decade. Local media have reported 64 cold-related deaths this winter and say gas cuts are to blame.
State Inspection Organization chief, Mohammad Niazi, said Monday that Ahmadinejad's administration ignored suggestions to set aside gas supplies in case of an emergency, the official IRNA news agency reported Monday. "Earlier, (we) had warned executive officials about saving fuel but unfortunately warnings were not heeded ... there is no strategy for gas supply in the country," he said.
Ahmadinejad, who portrayed himself as a champion of the poor when he swept to power, is being challenged not only by reformers but by the same conservatives who paved the way for his victory in 2005. Even conservatives say Ahmadinejad has concentrated too much on fiery, anti-U.S. speeches and not enough on the economyand they have become more aggressive in calling him to account.
#1
I think that AJ is about to discover what the Shah discovered: there isnt enough infrastructure to build the infrastructure. Having the legislature decide to run gas lines to remote villages is quite different then bringing and installing piping up a 500 mile goat path. At least he wont have to discover how the right of free expression can do to power grid requirements.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
01/21/2008 16:32 Comments ||
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#2
At this point, there's even less natural gas infrastructure than the Shah had.
#3
The Shah had grand ideas that didn't meld with reality. Much of the money that he had budgeted for infrastucture went to shipping companies that charged him to stay at anchorage for months waiting to unload at inadequate port facilites. After the equiptment was unloaded it rotted on the pier. I am doubtful that AJ has made a great study of lean manufacturing techniques. When you factor in bribery and hiring in capble but connected firms, the odds agaibst progess are steep.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
01/21/2008 20:09 Comments ||
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Michel Mouawad , a key member of the March 14 majority ruling alliance strongly criticized yesterdays speech of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah . Unfortunately Hezbollah is acting as if it is not part of Lebanon he said .
Mouawad added : His speech yesterday indicated that Lebanon can no longer accommodate Nasrallah nor Hezbollah . Nasrallah s only interest is in establishing an Islamic state in Lebanon similar to that of Iran.
Mouad also said : If Nasrallah is truly interested in Lebanon as a state , he should respect the laws of the Lebanese state which has the exclusive right to the decision of peace and war.
Nasrallah , who appeared in public for the first time in 18 months yesterday delivered a televised speech during the last day of Ashura in which he tried to incite Israel to a have another fight with his organization, just like 2006 when Hezbollah kidnapped two Israeli soldiers . The kidnapping led to a devastating war that lasted for 34 days and claimed more than 1200 Lebanese lives , mostly civilians and children.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/21/2008 00:00 ||
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Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
01/21/2008 13:54 Comments ||
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#2
An Adam Sandler movie . . . that might actually be good.
Scary.
Posted by: Mike ||
01/21/2008 14:04 Comments ||
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#3
Saw a preview for this.
No, it won't be good.
Posted by: Rob Crawford ||
01/21/2008 16:23 Comments ||
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#4
Dunno about good - but the trailer sure is funny.
And Adam Sandler is actually cute. When'd that happen?
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
01/21/2008 16:39 Comments ||
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#5
I'm still convinced that some conservative with some money could pull another Mel Gibson by making an unabashedly pro-American, old school John Wayne style movie, like The Green Berets.
Not only would most of it be subsidized by the US military, but you could depict al-Qaeda with hideous realism and leave people puking in the aisles.
Showing US personnel working with Iraqi military not just in combat but in heart-wrenching humanitarian missions. Hire people like Michael Yon for advisers, and have real veterans acting the part. Not a Hollywood star in the bunch and breaking all the Hollywood rules.
Posted by: Tony (UK) ||
01/21/2008 18:37 Comments ||
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#7
Make Gates of Fire - Michael Yon's story of the Deuce-Four. Bruce Willis already wants to do this one.
Guaranteed it would be a blockbuster.
Its a story of heroes. OUR Heroes.
Especially the climactic fight scene whree LTC Kurialla goes down but fights on, Yon runs in and goes after the bad guy, and the 1SG ultimately gets him ina vicious man-to-man combat.
Seriously, go reread the entire series at Yon;s site, and tell me that isnt a movie waiting to happen. Even has ahappen ending: LTC Kurilla recovers and goes on to command a battalion of Rangers!
#8
And Sandler must be hitting the gym - he's got some bulked up guns I dont recall seeing before (look at the middle picture on the photo part of the website).
#9
Gates of Fire? I thought you were referring to the awesome book about Thermopylae by Steve Pressfield. I'd like to see either. I'd also like to see somebody make Fields of Fire. Webb's a dick but that was a damn good 'Nam book - showed the traitorous media for what they were.
#11
Good find, Barbara -- Mr. Wife and the trailing daughters will love it. Mr. Sandler clearly got one of those fashion makeovers -- we're assured that's all it takes. And equally clearly Mr. Sandler has been drinking beer in outside-Hollywood bars, along with his co-writers. Perhaps he'll produce Mr. Willis's project with the profits.
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.
A quake of moderate intensity was felt in Chitral and Swat districts on Sunday with a magnitude of 5.0 on Richter scale. According to Meteorological Center Peshawar, the tremor originated at 00:25 hours and its epicenter lied about 280 kilometers North of Peshawar in Hindu Kush Range (Afghanistan). The quake was felt only in Chitral and Swat districts.
Sudan has appointed Musa Hilal, a man Washington accuses of coordinating Darfur's marauding militias, to a central government position, a move condemned by international human rights campaigners.
At least 82 African would-be migrants, mostly Somalis, have drowned off Yemen after their wooden boat capsized in choppy waters as it neared the end of its voyage from Somalia, Yemeni officials said.
Moderate British Muslims in the police, Armed Forces and Civil Service will one day revolt against the system to "crush it from within", according to 
Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) has announced to fight legal battle for release of 14 Muslims including 12 Pakistan nationals arrested in Spain under terror charges. 
Three more Scotland Yard investigators Sunday left for London with material, evidence and statements they had collected into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
BAGHDAD - Tens of thousands of Iraqis streamed home on Sunday from Ashura ceremonies in Karbala that were hailed by Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki as a sign of stability after they passed relatively peacefully.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday night appealed to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the Mideast Quartet and the Arab League to exert pressure on Israel to remove the blockade from the Gaza Strip and resume fuel supplies. 
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran's supreme leader Monday reversed a decision by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and ordered him to implement a law supplying natural gas to remote villages amid rising dissatisfaction with the president's performance. The move by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was a major rebuke to the hardline president, whose popularity has plummeted amid rising food prices and deaths due to gas cuts during a particularly harsh winter. 
