"The main reasons behind the fall of the pro-Moscow regime in Kabul were not defeat on the battlefield nor military superiority of the resistance but the regime's failure to achieve economic sustainability and its overreliance on foreign aid," says a document called Economic Development in Afghanistan during the Soviet Period 1979-1989: Lessons Learned from the Soviet Experience in Afghanistan.
In fact, it says, the Soviets focused too much on security. "The emphasis on the security situation in Afghanistan compromised sound economic development during the period 1979-1989 ... The Afghan economy continued to be overly dependent on foreign aid. The study argues that without breaking this dependency, no long-term solution to stabilize Afghanistan is possible."
The authors say Afghanistan should redevelop its petroleum wealth as part of the solution. "Revenues from the sale of natural gas were a substantial part of Afghan state income until 1986. The development of oil and natural gas industries has great potential to benefit the Afghan economy."
Other lessons Defence researchers gleaned from the Soviet period include:
-- "Successive battlefield victories do not guarantee strategic success."
-- "Engaging and enfranchising local populations and power centres is of critical importance."
#1
Jihad is the controlling purpose of muslims. It cannot be stopped. If you launch limited war against them, you fail in the end. We need to wage the same war of de-conversion that they wage against us. I would start by dealing with Mecca, Medina, Karbala and Qom. Neutralize those jihad viral carriers, and you eliminate islam as an ideology.
#3
This is one of the big elements I suggested at the very onset of the Afghan campaign. Because the Afghan minimum wage is about $50 a month, we could have employed almost every unemployed man in the country. 1.67 million men for just $1B a year.
We could have put this army of manpower to work rebuilding their country, buying every bit of food the farmers could grow to feed them, and sending their wages home for their families. Maybe $2B a year total, which by our standards is peanuts.
They would be digging canals, preparing new land for farming, rebuilding entire towns, planting forests, mining mountain passes for professionals to pave as roads, and anything else we could think of.
The women would be set up as town councils, with micro banks to create all sorts of small businesses as the family business for when the men returned home. Mandatory secular school for all children.
The central government would be given a MacArthur constitution, in force without change for 10 years, and their government would be required to function to modern standards. Their courts would be Common Law, and no Sharia at all. All religious sermons would have to be approved by the government.
Most of our soldiers would become a de facto border patrol, to keep out the Pakistanis.
The first few years, western professionals would run the government while training Afghans to do their job. Then the Afghans would run the government while the westerners supervised, until they were confident that they knew every aspect of their job. Then the westerners would monitor them for another two years. Government employees would also cross train in other offices, so they could either move laterally or be competent in promotion.
Yes, it is utterly authoritarian. And yes, after a decade or two, it would be fully functional, and the old ways would be dead and forgotten. Then we could leave, and no Pakistani could cross the border into Afghanistan without total supervision and control.
Democracy would start from the bottom up, and it would be run by the women, not the men. Voting would be mandatory, at least until everybody understood how it worked.
When we left, we could completely leave. Their economy would be so good that little or nothing would be left of the public works projects, as it would pay too little. Their economy would probably have a growth rate between 10-20%.
#4
Muslims put jihad obligation over economic interests. When the Soviets invaded Central Asia's latrine, they posed grandiose development schemes. For Pashto Muslims then and now, emulation of and co-operation with the despised disbeliever (kaffir) is anathema. They only co-operate for the same reasons why the Soviet Union allied with the West in WW2.
Taliban will stop fighting when there are no kaffirs in their filthy little country. We need to destroy the most dangerous sections, while partitioning the rest. Forget about the UAE and Cologne connections: 9-11 was made in Pashto, Afghanistan. We need to think of them as having the humanity of a cockroach.
#5
Anonymoose has got it right here. The benighted souls in these countries have equal creation, and they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. That they live in foul cultures, which deny these, is a horror that they must overcome. Perhaps with the slight help that we can offer, they will.
I recognize you from 'back in the day' as the kids say. About the time I found the 'Burg on the internets, I was saying make that sh*thole a showcase but then the whole Iraq thang, and I'ma still hoping for a showcase, now in Iraq, to redirect the foul Izlamoids.
So, whatever. Let's show the Religion of Peace our generosity or our fury. I just want them to process the message ASAP that they can never win.
(AKI) - (by Syed Saleem Shahzad) - Opium cultivation is the prime source of income for the Taliban and enables the militants to buy arms for their insurgency against the Afghan government.
But they rely on an efficient distribution system and regional experts believe that senior Afghan officials are colluding with the Taliban for their own gain.
Zaid Hamid, security expert and head of the Pakistani think-tank, BrassTacks, told Adnkronos International (AKI) that several players were involved in the game of drug trafficking and the collusion of Afghan officials was crucial. "The total drug economy of Afghanistan is estimated to be 150 billion dollars out of which only one billion dollars returns to Afghanistan," Zaid Hamid told AKI.
"The rest is laundered through the international banking system which indicates that several other players are involved in the game of drug trafficking and the receipts to the Afghan insurgency are very small."
Hamid said that Russian and Chinese anti-narcotics forces had recently told their colleagues in Pakistan that the flow of drugs from Afghanistan into their respective countries had reached a crisis. "They are facing a crisis-like situation," he told AKI. "The figures provided to Pakistan suggested the majority of the drug smuggling is taking place through northern corridors (a non Taliban area)".
"These routes linked Afghanistan to Central Asian states, Afghanistan to Russia and from the Afghan province of Badakshan to Tajikistan and to China. The third route is coming from Afghanistan to Pakistan to the UAE (United Arab Emirates) through the Arabian Sea. "With this course, the receipts of money coming back to Afghanistan is very small, according to notes given by the Russians to Pakistan."
Former Pakistani spy chief, Ret. Gen. Hamid Gul, told AKI the drug trade had been one source for fuelling the Afghan resistance against Soviet Russia.
Gul, former head of Pakistan's Inter-Services-Intelligence, was the spymaster and the main architect of the Mujahadeen's resistance to the Soviets during the late 1980s. "The real component in this economy has always been the external factors, not the local farmers and the warlords," he said.
"This account is fully documented on how the CIA was involved in the 1980s to raise the money for the Afghan resistance against the Soviets through the smuggling of drugs and of course CIA officials also raised money for themselves."
Gul was head of Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence service between 1987 and 1989 and worked closely with the CIA during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.
He reportedly became disillusioned with the US when it failed to follow through on Afghanistan after the Soviet withdrawal and called on Muslims to unite and confront the US in its war on terror after the September 11 attacks.
Various statistics confirmed the claim that several players are involved in the game of drug trafficking beside the Taliban.
Gul endorsed British media reports that Ahmed Wali Karzai, the brother of the current Afghan president was involved in the drug trade. "Everybody in Afghanistan and Pakistan knows that the powerful person in the distribution of drugs is Ahmed Wali Karzai, the brother of Hamid Karzai," Gul told AKI.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/12/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Yeah, Karzai, our tool, has been bought out by Talibunnies. Time to cut him off. Why have the poppy fields not been flamed with napalm ? Bush/Cheney need to come up with some idiot answer. An ideal opportunity for Rice to spout another non-sensical explanation before she departs to the garbage pile of history.
#2
Hamid said that Russian and Chinese anti-narcotics forces had recently told their colleagues in Pakistan that the flow of drugs from Afghanistan into their respective countries had reached a crisis.
Just goes to show that every cloud has a silver lining.
Posted by: Abu Uluque6305 ||
07/12/2008 11:52 Comments ||
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Sudan formally asked the Arab League on Saturday to hold an emergency meeting of foreign ministers after reports the International Criminal Court's (ICC) prosecutor may seek the arrest of Sudan's president. A senior European diplomat said on Friday the ICC's prosecutor would likely seek President Omar Hassan al-Bashir's arrest in a new Darfur war crimes case he will open on Monday.
Sudan has said any such move could undermine the Darfur peace process. Two senior government officials told Reuters Sudan would likely seek Chinese, Russian and African support at the United Nations to help block any warrant for Bashir.
The issue could also pit the demands of the U.N.-backed ICC against U.N. interests in deploying a peace force in Darfur -- home to the world's largest humanitarian operation -- and aid officials fear a potential backlash.
Sudan's main rebel groups, who have also been accused of rights abuses, said on Saturday any ICC arrest warrant for Bashir would be a triumph for justice, and pledged to hand over their own commanders if sought by the court.
An Arab League spokesman said Sudan had submitted a written request to convene a meeting of Arab foreign ministers, and that League Secretary General Amr Moussa was working on the issue.
"Amr Moussa is in Paris and is consulting with Arab foreign ministers for an extraordinary meeting of the council of foreign ministers," Arab League spokesman Abdel-Alim al-Abyad said. The officials are in France for a summit of European Union and Mediterranean leaders.
Egypt's state news agency MENA said Sudan wanted the meeting "to look into the situation between Sudan and the International Criminal Court". The Cairo-based Arab League said it was still too early to say when or where such a meeting would take place.
Sudanese officials said they were also seeking broader international support to stymie any arrest warrant. "Contacts are already established with China and Russia ... and they have shown their support ... But it's informal so far," said one senior government source on condition on anonymity.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/12/2008 10:32 ||
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United Nations officials say the International Criminal Court may seek an arrest warrant Monday for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in connection with war crimes in the Darfur region. The court says chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo will submit evidence Monday alleging crimes committed in the region over the last five years. President al-Bashir is among several top Sudanese government officials that could be named in the case.
Sudan's ambassador to the UN, Abdalmahmood Abdalhaleem Mohamad, says Khartoum will continue its policy of not cooperating with the ICC, no matter who is named as a suspect: "For us," he said, "It does not exist. We are not part of it; we are not party to the Rome Statute. So like the US, which is not a member, we are not a member."
He also warned that the ICC's actions could undermine the peace process in Darfur. He said the move could bring about serious repercussions: "All options are open for our reaction to this revelation, and indeed [ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo] is playing with fire. The UN has a very constructive engagement with Sudan; they are dealing on various tracks [with regard to] the peace process and humanitarian.... The ICC is going to spoil all these things and bring us back to square one and put the security of the entire population in jeopardy. He is opening the gates of fire for the whole country and this should be stopped without any delay."
When asked if the move would endanger UN peacekeepers in Sudan, Ambassador Abdalmahmood said, "The Sudan government is careful to its commitment. The UN also promised to guard against any threat to this commitment. The UN should also play a role in safeguarding this cooperation and partnership. The Sudanese government is not at all hostile to the United Nations. [The UN staff and peacekeepers] are the guests of the entire country but if there are any threats to security and stability of the country we are all in one boat. The entire country would suffer, not just one group here and there.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/12/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Muslims only join the UN in preparation for its takeover by the Organization of the Islamic Conference. Western Civilization gets nothing from the UN, and their NYC properties should be turned into condos.
Bashir is about to be indicted for genocide. His people don't want that. They say it'll start a "fire."
Isn't there one already going on? How many burnt-out villages? Crops? Livestock? PEOPLE?
Those at the U.N. seem more concerned about the reprisals Sudan may take against peacekeepers and providers of humanitarian aid than about thwarting this obscene regime.
Granted, we should be concerned about the safety of those people. But I get the drift it is being used, by some in the U.N., as a reason NOT to indict Bashir, as a reason NOT to take stronger actions to enforce the peace by those same peacekeepers.
So...because the regime might get more violent, we should allow our indictment against Bashir to be dropped, and let the violence continue there?
And isn't that PRECISELY what terrorism seeks to accomplish? Since terrorism, and the threat of yet more bestial violence WORKS, many think we should not oppose it.
Do we really mean it when we say "never again" about genocide? I doubt it.
Does anyone REALLY think that any genocidal regime will EVER stop what it is doing, by peaceful means? By conciliation? By negotition and diplomacy? When has THAT ever happened?
Genocidal regimes and dictators are such because they use force against their own people. They only understand force. They feel contempt at any non-violent approach to solving problems. And because they only understand force, it is force which is the ONLY way of getting rid of them. Unless they die of natural causes, internal coups, revolution on a massive scale, etc. But they NEVER voluntarily give up power, or stop slaughtering.
Darfur will continue. Until it is FORCED to stop. In truth, the ones most qualified to do a regime change there are other Islamic States. So why aren't they railing at Sudan and threatening regime change? Because they do NOT truly disapprove of the genocide. Which makes THEIR attitudes a subject in dire need of DEEP investigation. But that's another matter.
The indifference of the Arab/Muslim world leaves dealing with Sudan to the non-Islamic nations.
The genocide-beset people of Darfur will WELCOME the indictment, fully knowing the further danger it'll put themselves into. We need know no more than that to indict that evil man. For YEARS now, these victims have been BEGGING for the U.S. to intervene militarily, and end this horror.
Bosnia's genocide got the intervention it needed. Meanwhile, for many years before and several years since, the Sudanese first genocide was going strong. And it was a far WORSE genocide than Bosnia. Nothing was done. We defended Muslims who were being genocided, but the Muslim world has no interest in returning the favor for the black people of Sudan. To them, genocide against Muslims is evil; genocide BY Muslims is dandy.
Normally, I'm a dove. But where genocide is concerned, I hold entirely different views. Simply because it's necessary, and humane, to do so. There is no excuse for war - ordinarily. Genocide is one of the VERY FEW legitimate reasons.
Genocide, tolerated ANYWHERE, toward ANYONE, always spawns more genocides.
If we'd acted against Sudan in the '80's or '90's, perhaps Rwanda, Bosnia, Zimbabwe, Myanmar and N. Korea would never have become humanitarian horrors. The success of the Sudan genocide emboldened the others.
And remember this, too: If Bashir's indictment gets thwarted because of those fears of reprisals on peacekeepers, it'll be a green light for them to proceed in Darfur full blast. It means they know they'll never have to pay for their crimes. And why? Because they are able to intimidate the rest of the world. Those who seek to fight terrorism can, themselves, be terrorized.
Of COURSE, the regime will step up violence, particularly against the "foreigners" there who are trying to prevent janjaweed attacks, protecting refugee settlements, and who are providing vital humanitarian aid. But that should be expected - and planned for. It should NOT be used as an excuse to stop going after this regime full blast.
Sudan is bestial and supremely violent, supremely contemptuous of human life within its own borders. Because they'll likely extend that contempt to peacekeepers "on the ground" people are fearful of indicting Bashir. So if those fearful people get what they want, so does Bashir. Makes one wonder what "standing up against genocide" means to those fearful people.
Throwing the baby out with the bathwater, however, seems to be highly favored by many in the U.N. Let terrorism win, then, because that is what they seek to do, even if they think they are seeking peace.
Genocide can never be stopped, or even thwarted, by peaceful means. Period.
Posted by: Holly B. ||
07/12/2008 22:22 Comments ||
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The United States Friday warned Sudan against retaliating against U.N. peacekeepers, foreign diplomats or others for expected genocide charges against the country's president, Omar al-Bashir. Action by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against the Sudanese leader is expected Monday.
With the expectation that the ICC chief prosecutor will seek an arrest warrant against the Sudanese leader Monday, the Bush administration is making clear that it expects Sudan to uphold its international obligations for the safety of diplomats and other foreigners in that country.
Sudan's U.N. ambassador has insisted publicly that Khartoum will not retaliate against U.N. peacekeepers for what would be an unprecedented ICC action against a sitting world leader.
But U.S. officials are deeply concerned about an attack by unidentified gunmen earlier this week in Darfur that killed seven U.N. troops, and warnings by Sudan that action against Mr. al-Bashir would have grave repercussions.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/12/2008 00:00 ||
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French President Nicolas Sarkozy has welcomed his Syrian counterpart, Bashar Assad, to the Elysee Palace.
They mean 'counterpart' in the loosest possible way ...
The meeting, part of a weekend of diplomatic efforts centred on the Middle East, marks a return to the world stage for the Syrian president.
Relations between the two countries became strained following the assassination in 2005 of Lebanon's former Prime Minister, Rafiq Hariri. France accused Damascus of involvement, an allegation denied by Syria.
And now Sarko has let them off the hook ...
Mr Sarkozy will later host a meeting between Mr Assad and Lebanon's newly-elected president, Michel Suleiman, a day after the formation of a new unity government in Beirut. Mr Suleiman told the Associated Press that Lebanon wanted an "exchange of ambassadors and diplomatic relations" with Syria.
The two countries have not had diplomatic relations since Rafiq Hariri's death.
The Paris visit is a big boost for Mr Assad, helping Syria to break out of its diplomatic isolation, says BBC world affairs correspondent Nick Childs. But critics correctly say it is too much of a reward, when there are still serious question-marks over human rights in Syria and its alleged role in the killing of Hariri.
Earlier on Saturday, Mr Sarkozy held talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who will be a key player in the French leader's plan for a union of Mediterranean states, our correspondent adds. Mr Sarkozy is hosting a summit on Sunday to launch this union, which will be attended by 43 leaders of countries in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. Only Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is expected to boycott it.
#2
There has been some talk that the half dozen or so top Syrian leaders could suddenly retire to Paris, with guaranteed personal wealth, assuming that the Alawite government suddenly collapses.
A female soldier who once fought off a suspected Iraqi insurgent has won a place in the final of Miss England. Katrina Hodge, 21, will participate in the contest in July, having already won the Miss Tunbridge Wells crown.
L/Cpl Hodge was nicknamed Combat Barbie in 2005 after being given a bravery commendation for saving the lives of members of her regiment in Iraq. They were held at gunpoint when their vehicle overturned but L/Cpl Hodge punched the gunman and took his rifles.
She said: "I was in complete shock at first. The force of the accident caused our vehicle to roll over three times and threw us off guard.
"As I came round, the Iraqi suspect was standing over us with the rifles. I knew if I didn't act fast then our lives would be in danger. I punched him and the force startled him enough for me to retrieve the rifles from him."
Miss Hodge, a military clerk with The Adjutant General's Corps, will go on to appear at Miss World 2008 if she wins the English title. "I was delighted to have been selected for the Miss England final and it is a great honour," she added. "Being a part-time model and a serving soldier is certainly a world apart. I want to use this competition to highlight the work that the Army are doing and what they have done for this country."
She is currently serving at Frimley Park Hospital in Camberley and will take part in the Miss England national finals on Friday.
#4
Wow, what a walking recruiting poster THAT is! Just tell all potential recruits their name will be entered into a drawing for a date with Katrina. Britain may have to double the size of its military... Too bad Harry's stuck in the Navy at the moment.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
07/12/2008 15:01 Comments ||
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#5
And the money quote from the Weekly World News article:
SEXY soldier Katrina Hodge shows the weapons of mass distraction which make her a Miss England semi-finalist.
Heh
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
07/12/2008 19:30 Comments ||
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With John McCain and Barack Obama each making a special effort to attract voters from the opposing party, the veep-stakes contest is especially interesting this cycle.
For McCain, some have speculated that he may pick Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, the Democrats' vice presidential nominee in 2000 who has since abandoned his party to become one of McCain's biggest boosters. For Obama, the Republican name most often floated is Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, who is conservative on some issues but has become an outspoken opponent of the Iraq war.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/12/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
The Iraq war is a done deal. All this is political posturing.
#3
Naive children should probably not go to Iraq to posture. And if they do go, they should carefully follow all the advice and instructions of their military security escorts and not run around playing 'look at me.' AQ is gravely wounded but not dead, and would like nothing better than to embarrass the US military by killing a foolish senator or two.
Posted by: Frank G ||
07/12/2008 10:19 Comments ||
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#9
That will really lend gravitas to Hussein's visit. Is Weaslly Clark going ? Of course not, the Army would cut off his treacherous nuts if he showed up. IED ? IRAM ? Never know, there's accidents waiting round every corner.
#13
How about they just ignore his visit. Don't meet him at the airport. Require ID he doesn't have when he wants to get in the base.
It's not like he'll treat the military any worse if they blow him off. And if he tries maybe whisper in his ear that the Army has all the guns. That might open his eyes a little.
India has a "fair amount" of intelligence inputs about Pakistan's involvement in the Monday's suicide attack on its Embassy in Kabul, National Security Advisor M K Narayanan said on Saturday.
"We not only suspect but we have a fair amount of intelligence (on the involvement of Pakistan)," Narayanan told television channels when asked whether India suspects Pakistan's involvement in the attack.
"The ISI needs to be destroyed. We made this point, whenever we have had a chance, to interlocutors across the world... there might have been some tactical restraint for some time, obviously that restraint is no longer present," he said.
Posted by: john frum ||
07/12/2008 11:54 ||
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#1
pakistan and iran need to be defeated in the WOT
Posted by: Paul ||
07/12/2008 12:06 Comments ||
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#2
From MK's lips to God's ears ...
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/12/2008 12:11 Comments ||
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#3
The ISI is the world's heroin trafficking network. They have access to more money than the entire budget of Pakistan. They can recruit, train, and arm a larger army than the country of Pakistan can if they want to. There's a lot you can do with nearly 200 BILLION dollars a year in drug money.
There, fixed it for you. The ISI is just the nose of the beast. There is no part of Pakistan that doesn't think it's superior to the rest of the world, and that they should force the world to follow their "advice". The sooner Pakistan disappears, the faster the world can get "better" for everyone.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
07/12/2008 14:47 Comments ||
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#5
There are some things that an Indian NSA, or indeed an Indian politician, will never say in public...
Posted by: john frum ||
07/12/2008 15:53 Comments ||
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A Lashkar-e-Islam (LI) commander said on Friday that LI chief Mangal Bagh has given his consent to a jirga's peace agreement with the government and said the LI would abide by all the terms and conditions.
"We will however continue our activities against criminal elements in Bara," the commander quoted the LI chief as telling the jirga.
Locals said the 18-member jirga of the Afridi tribes called on Mangal Bagh in Tirah Valley and briefed him about their agreement formed with the government on Wednesday.
JUI-F jirga: A separate jirga of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) also met the LI chief in Tirah on Friday evening and discussed with him an end to the ongoing fighting between Ansarul Islam (AI) and his outfit in the remote valley.
The JUI-F had constituted a jirga three days ago to meet aggrieved parties in all the tribal agencies and discuss the restoration of peace and stability in the area. JUI-F's provincial general secretary Shujaul Mulk is leading the jirga. JUI-F information secretary Haji Jalil Jan told Daily Times that the jirga would meet AI chief Qazi Mahboob on Saturday.
Jan said the jirga members would leave for Aurakzai Agency on Saturday evening and reach Hangu district on Sunday morning.
There shall be a grand jirga in Hangu on Sunday where the JUI-F delegation will present its report on its meetings with the LI and AI chiefs and its peace plan for the rest of the tribal agencies, said Jan.
According to locals, around 50 activists from the LI and AI have been killed and scores of others injured in clashes between the two militant outfits in Tirah Valley over the past 20 days.
25 LI militants freed: Also on Friday, the Khyber Agency political administration freed 25 more LI militants from Central Jail, Peshawar, officials told Daily Times.
The number of those freed from captivity after the agreement between Afridi tribes and political administration has now reached 33.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/12/2008 00:00 ||
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Unmanned United States drones armed with missiles have stepped up patrols over villages along the Pak-Afghan border, hunting for Taliban and Al Qaeda militants and fraying nerves below.
Pashtun villagers living on the frontier call them 'buzzers', and the aircraft have increasingly taken to the skies, causing sleepless nights and occasionally raining down death. "We're sick of these drones, they're driving us crazy," said Sher Shah, a government official in South Waziristan's Wana. "They fly so low at night we can't sleep!"
The Predators, capable of carrying two anti-tank Hellfire missiles, can remain aloft for up 24 hours -- providing the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) with a wealth of intelligence beamed live from its hi-tech cameras. They have struck several times in northwest Pakistan this year, killing dozens of suspected militants.
Sometimes villagers can spot the drones -- a tiny speck in the sky -- and even fire at them with rifles. At other times the drones are too high to see, but you know they're there from the distinctive and incessant buzz given off by their rear-mounted propeller engines. The buzzing often gets louder at night as the drones patrol at lower altitudes in the darkness, villagers say.
Residents of Bajaur, another militant-plagued region on the Afghan border, said drones flew overhead all night on Thursday. "The sky is not safe, the earth is not safe, where should we go?" asked Jabbar Shah, a resident of Inayat Kalay village, about 10 kilometres from the border. "We don't know when they will strike and who they will hit. It's very worrying," he said.
Jabbar doesn't understand cause and effect yet ...
The Tribal Areas became a sanctuary for Al Qaeda and Taliban militants fleeing from Afghanistan after US-led forces ousted the Taliban in 2001. Al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden is also believed to be hiding on the mountainous border.
According to analysts, the Predator activity -- which Pakistan does not officially allow -- is a sign of growing US frustration with Pakistan's inability to tackle the militants. Some US politicians, including presidential candidate Barack Obama, have even suggested that the United States should attack Al Qaeda inside Pakistan without Pakistani approval.
Pakistan, which has been trying to negotiate peace with the militants, has ruled out allowing foreign troops on its soil.
For the time being, at least, it looks as if the United States will rely on its drones, and people on the border will continue living in fear.
Malik Khairdin, a tribal elder in Wana, said he had stopped letting too many cars park outside his house or allowing guests to stay because that might be spotted by the drones. "We fear we might be hit on suspicion of being Al Qaeda," Reuters quoted him as saying.
On Friday, tribesmen staged a protest by convening a jirga against the unusual increase in drone flights over South Waziristan and its adjoining areas, Online reported. Tribal leader Malik Nur Zada informed the jirga that the tribesmen were greatly disturbed by the spy planes due to the noise.
Addressing the jirga, Political Agent Fazal Rabbi Khan assured the tribesmen that their problems would soon be sorted out, adding that several developmental projects were progressing in the area.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/12/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
heh..."they're driving us crazy"
make that "crazier"
Posted by: Frank G ||
07/12/2008 0:18 Comments ||
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#2
perhaps the Taliban Air Force could take action? Mahmoud in a lawnchair with 75 helium balloons and an AK
Posted by: Frank G ||
07/12/2008 0:20 Comments ||
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More in this article including: WANA: Eleven people including nine security personnel were injured during US air strike in Angoor Ada area near Wana. According to sources, US jets carried out bombardment in Angoor Ada area on Thursday night. Nine security officials and two civilians were injured whereas four vehicles were destroyed in the airstrike. The injured were shifted to Wana hospital.
A private TV channel reported that at least nine people, seven of them soldiers, were injured overnight in a mortar attack in a Pakistani tribal area bordering Afghanistan, a security official said Friday. A market and a Frontier Corps camp in the Angoor Ada area of South Waziristan came under attack from across the border, following an assault by Taliban insurgents on a camp of US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan. Many mortars were fired from across the border, which hit a market and the Frontier Corps camp, injuring two civilians and seven soldiers, a local security official told AFP on condition of anonymity. According to a private TV channel, the rockets and shells were fired by US forces from Machidad camp which was attacked by Taliban. After the attack carried out by Taliban on Machi-dad camp, allied forces fired more than sixty shells on Pakistan's soil.
Ten mortar shells have also been fired from the Afghanistan side, which landed in Angor Adda, Baghar and Mousa Naka, the locals said.
According to the local people, rockets are being fired on daily basis in Pakistani area, which created sense of harassment among the inhabitants and started migration to safer areas.
..
It was further learned that the native tribal masses held a local jirga that was attended by 30 tribal notables who register protest in the traditional way by beating drums with specific tune and while addressing the Jirga Malik Nur Zada a tribal notable informed that the tribal masses were severely disturbed with spying planes flights due to their heavy noise.
any way a speaker on a predator could play those drum licks?
US gets ready for ‘hot pursuit’
Hafiz Sanaullah
PESHAWAR: Perhaps Pakistanis are taking it light but Washington means it. Nobody knows whose fault it is behind the spill over of the US war on terror from the bordering Afghanistan to the tribal areas of Pakistan. The Washington-Islamabad-Kabul troika must be blamed for its failure in coordination at least. Several past attempts against terrorism resulted in split because of lack of confidence coupled with suspicion against each other. The US is suspicious of Pakistan. Washington believes its more calls went unheard by Islamabad. Why not more calls for Karzai? one wonders. Kabul is playing blame game. Karzai has thrown the entire dirt on Islamabad bothering little about his own responsibility. Pakistan is feeling uneasy amidst its sacrifices as frontline ally, doing more than more without recognition. Karzai thinks it is he to rule Kabul and Pakistan to fight militants. Pakistan says Karzai should act on its own side of the border and let Pakistan do so on its side of the border. Once little mouth became louder mouth when Karzai declared Afghan forces would enter into the tribal areas of Pakistan and themselves pick Baitullah Mehsood and Maulana Fazlullah and others. Pakistanis raised their eyebrows over such a statement from a person who was provided bread and butter with shelter for over twenty years in a country whom Karzai declared his second home. But some Pakistanis believe and rightly believe it was not Karzai. It was his master's voice.
Of late, a threat came from Americans. The hot pursuit chorus voices, calling for operation against the militants inside the tribal areas, are growing day by day. Three US congressmen revealed that American commandos are ready to raid the tribal belt in hot pursuit. President Bush has gone too far. He gave the line to the next US president saying that Pakistan would be a challenge for him and not Iraq and Afghanistan. The increase in the strength of American marines to 40,000 is nowadays talk of the day since Afghanistan based NATO forces chief expressed inability to fight against Taliban with the existing strength of force. Pakistan opted for and initiated dialogue with the militants which the US and west opposed. Pakistan says talks are on with those Taliban who are willing for peace accord. Protagonists of dialogue believe the militants would be binding under the accord to desist from attacks. The US and west say talks would refresh the militants for more attacks on their interest. Pakistan gave second thought to dialogue and planned to carry out operation to wipe out the militants from their hideouts. But the missile attack by the US drone in Mohmand tribal agency on June 11 killing 11 Pakistani security personnel and eight civilians raised the morale of the militants for strengthening the backing of the masses. Pakistan described this attack as cowardly. The US regretted but not apologized. However, Washington assured such attack would not be repeated. The US does not seem to be serious. Its drones' intrusion into the space territory of tribal areas has become daily routine, panicking the tribesmen in the tribal belt. The US led forces advanced and concentration on the Pakistani tribal border must be embarrassing the newly elected democratic govt. Just on the night between Thursday and Friday, a Pakistani check post came under mortar shelling attack in Zaira Laita in Angur Adda, 25 kilometer west of Wana, headquarters of South Waziristan, wounding eight Pakistani security personnel. Moreover, 10 mortar shells were fired on the mountains inside Pakistan from Barmal area of Afghanistan and these mortar shells burst with a big bang in Angur Adda, Baghar and Musa Neka creating great panic in these three areas. Unilateral US action inside Pakistan would, no doubt, inflame the Pakistanis at the public level both in settled and tribal areas and trigger retaliatory attacks.
Amidst blame game of Karzai and US threats, NWFP remained in the grip of militancy. The uncertain situation of insecurity was so escalated that even Peshawar, the provincial capital was threatened to be occupied by the militants. The kidnapping of 16 Christians from the heart of Peshawar worked. Islamabad initiated military operation, and blew over two dozens hideouts of Mangal Bagh, chief of Lashkar-e-Islam in Bara. His house was turned into debris. He and his volunteers quietly slipped into deep remote and inaccessible valley of Tirah. A tribal jirga intervened and made Mangal Bagh binding to accept the government terms.
This followed Hangu operation at the pattern of Bara operation. The troubled Doaba was occupied by the militants as they besieged the police station to free their over half a dozen militants including their commander. However, the military cleared the area from the militants.
The US must give Islamabad free hand to initiate tackling with the militants in its own way. It should also ask the same to Kabul and keep Karzai's mouth shut against Pakistan. Islamabad know that the moment suicide bomb explosion shook the Indian Embassy in Kabul, it was Karzai who phoned the Indian prime minister holding Pakistan responsible for it even before letting the dust to settle. It was another matter that India evaded blaming Islamabad. Pakistan denied involvement and White House supported.
Analysts say the US should refrain from physically entering into Pakistan in hot pursuit and leave it to Islamabad to clear the mess. The US is in haste which won't work.
#12
They don't like the noise of a Predator drone, eh? Time to send across 10 B-52s loaded to the max with 500lb bombs. Fly the BUFFS at 45,000 feet, with TOT of 2AM. Let them start dropping bombs from the south, working north until bombs have been dropped on the entire NWFP. I don't believe there'll be much complaining about "mere" drones ever again. However, in case there is, rinse and repeat three or four nights in a row.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
07/12/2008 14:56 Comments ||
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#13
I'll get you my pretty, and your little taliban too!
Lal Masjid deputy cleric Amir Siddique on Friday accused the PPP-led government of toeing the policies of President Pervez Muharraf and pledged to continue the movement launched by Abdur Rashid Ghazi for enforcement of the "Islamic system".
Delivering a Friday sermon, he said the rulers were trying to impose "Jewish" policies appease their "foreign masters". He said, "The US and its cronies want to kill every Muslim who believes in jihad." Calling Musharraf the "mother of all evils", Siddique said his policies had plunged the country into darkness.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/12/2008 00:00 ||
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Talks have succeeded between the Tehreek-e-Taliban and political authorities in Jamrud tehsil, defusing tension in the area, Dawn News reported on Friday. The channel quoted official sources as saying that the talks were held in the Malagori area of the Jamrud tehsil, adding that the Tehreek-e-Taliban said that it would not challenge the writ of the government and would maintain peace in the area. Separately, a temporary ceasefire was announced on Friday between the Lashkar-e-Islam (LI) and the Ansarul Islam in Tirah Valley.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/12/2008 00:00 ||
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The United Nations (UN) has agreed to establish an independent commission to investigate the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Friday.
The Pakistani request will not be referred to the UN Security Council (UNSC), since UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has the authority to appoint a commission.
Qureshi told a news conference at the UN after a meeting with Ban, "Responding positively to the issue, the secretary-general indicated that further consultation with Pakistan and others within the organisation would be required to examine the modalities and structure of a commission to determine the circumstances of, and responsibilities for, the assassination of Benazir. The objectives for the commission are to identify the culprits, perpetrators, organisers and financiers of the assassination." He explained that the secretary-general would appoint "well-respected, eminent people" to the independent commission in consultation with the Government of Pakistan.
Qureshi's announcement was later confirmed by the secretary-general's office.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/12/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Let's see:
1) Scene hosed down and thoroughly distorted by a year's worth of vigorous public activity: Check.
2) Enough time has passed that memories are starting to fade: Check.
3) Bhutto dead: Check.
4) Time to pay off or kill key witnesses: Check.
5) Bhutto's body unavailable: Check.
6) Time for ISI to destroy any possible crime scene evidence: Check.
A strong political debate is being waged in Baghdad on the role the Shiite supreme religious authority in Najaf, Grand Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani, played in negotiations between Iraq and the US on a memorandum of security.
Al Sistani insisted on including a timetable for the withdrawal of American forces.
This intervention by Al Sistani has brought to the fore the differences between the major political parties in the Iraqi government.
The Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council led by Abdul Aziz Al Hakim has accepted Al Sistani's demand for a definite timetable for the withdrawal of US forces in Iraq. But the position of the mainly Sunni Iraqi Accord Front and the Kurdish bloc was that the subject of withdrawals was not to be raised in the current negotiations, Kurdish political sources told Gulf News.
Mahmoud Othman, leader of the Democratic Patriotic Alliance of Kurdistan, told Gulf News: "The Political Council for National Security, which includes the major political blocs in the country, had agreed not to press for a timetable for the withdrawal of US forces, but it seems the call by Al Sistani is the crucial one to determine the progress of the negotiations with the Americans."
In some Shiite neighbourhoods in Baghdad people have written slogans on walls reading: "Sistani is the national independence hero".
Resentment
Al Sistani's intervention has caused resentment among some political parties and the Kurds. They feel vital political decisions need to be made by political parties and not clergy.
Al Sistani's position was totally opposed to that of the Kurds who support the long-term presence of the American military.
A spokesman for Al Sistani said, however, he did not interfere with the details of the agreement such as a specific timetable. All he did was to call on the Iraqi Government to commit itself to the principle of sovereignty and national independence in any agreement with the Americans, the leader of the Shiite Islamic Council, Hamid Muala Al Saedi, told Gulf News.
Sources in Najaf told Gulf News Al Sistani told national security advisor Muwaffaq Al Rubaie when the latter visited him days ago that Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki must remember that the national independence of Iraq should be non-negotiable in Iraqi-US talks.
But Iraqi political parties opposed to Iranian influence in Iraq were angered at Al Sistani's attempt to influence the Government. They accused Iran of interfering in the Iraqi-US talks through Al Sistani.
Political researcher Amjad Hussain told Gulf News Iran has a "dangerous" denominational influence on Shiite religious authorities in Iraq.
#1
after sitting back and doing zip (which sometimes was productive in its' own way), this asshole is now the "national independence hero"?? LOL
Posted by: Frank G ||
07/12/2008 8:51 Comments ||
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#2
Sistani has been playing a major role all along. He has been active in all policy decisions so far coming from the dominant Shia segment of the govt. He has been trying to reach out to the American policy makers on several ocassions. It is we who ignore him at our peril.
Sistani has motives which we do not notice and we are foolish not to recognise his power within the body politic of Iraq.
He can be understood. Karbala and the Mosque there is THE senior Mosque of the Shia sect. The TRUE site, if you will, of what amounts to a sort of "Papacy" for the Shia. The Iranians are his natural competitors for Shia allegiance. Qom , in Iran, is a NOT the dominant locus of Shia religious authority. Qom and Iran are upstarts to Karbala and to the AYATOLLAH position of Sistani.
It is Sistani who is the "Pope" of Shia not anyone in Iran.
WHY ARENT WE USING HIM? WE could undermine Iran in so many ways with the manipulation of Sistani.
But can you see some hotshot American Colonel dealing with the Pope and the smoothies of the Vatican Curia? Its the same with Sistani...he is like a Pope and he is surrounded by a evolution of Shia smoothies and slicks...much like the Pope is surrounded by an oil and sugar slick circle of Cardinals. Except the Shia bunch are into knives and damnation deeper than the Cardinals are into poison and mafia-like intrigue ( it was the Barzinis all along).
Where is Colonel Michael Corleone when you need him. ( Give this job to Clemenza )
Look at Sistanis face.!! You dont get to be where he is without being both very very intelligent and very very dangerous to cross. That isnt Harry Reid you are looking at. This guy is bad news unless you are as smooth and devious as he is. He wont swerve and step aside for anybody. And that's a Turban on his head.
#5
I don't believe the story. Sistani has been "credited" with saying all kinds of things by the meida, most recently that he had encouraged 'resistance' by the JAM. Then his guys have to come out and say it is all bullshit.
It is not Sistani's style to tell the government what it has to do. Let me do some research on this article, I smell Iran's stinking hand in this report.
#6
Oh, here it is right here in the stuff that was posted:
A spokesman for Al Sistani said, however, he did not interfere with the details of the agreement such as a specific timetable. All he did was to call on the Iraqi Government to commit itself to the principle of sovereignty and national independence in any agreement with the Americans, the leader of the Shiite Islamic Council, Hamid Muala Al Saedi, told Gulf News.
Sources in Najaf told Gulf News Al Sistani told national security advisor Muwaffaq Al Rubaie when the latter visited him days ago that Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki must remember that the national independence of Iraq should be non-negotiable in Iraqi-US talks.
So what Sistani REALLY said was that Iraqi sovereignty must be respected. That sounds to be like something completely reasonable for him to say. And that is in character with what he has said in the past.
Looks like someone trying to make a tempest in a teapot.
#8
way to go al, baby. After being a p*ssy for the better part of 5 years, you open your holy pie-hole. That's after 4000 Coalition soldiers/marines have died, and countless Iraqis. You worthless p*ssy...crawl in hole and die. (not that I have an opinion)
#9
This is Iranian agitprop to discredit Sistani : he has been working behind the scenes for years, dragging the Shia politicians into agreements to make the country run for the benefit of the Iraqi people. He is effectively the Shia Pope for the majority of the Arab Shia world, and he has been trying to get the politicians to shake hands and do deals so that the reconstruction of Iraq can progress.
He is NOT an Iranian puppet, that is why the Iranians setup Tater and his Tots as the "Shia resistance". Remember, the militia that Sistani controlled was one of the first groups to get rolled into the Iraqi Army and Police, and have been among the most loyal and effective units in those forces. Only the Kurdish units have proven to be better, and the Peshmerga had 10 years of quiet training by US Special Forces and Israeli mercenaries.
#10
Thank you, crosspatch and Shieldwolf. And for your perspective, Angleton9. The Press can get so carried away when they've got a meme by the throat.
BAGHDAD - Hundreds of followers of a radical Shiite cleric in Iraq have taken to the streets to protest a proposed security agreement between Iraq and the United States. If they add each weeks demonstration numbers to a cumulative total they can reach the million man protest goal in about 60 years.
The supporters of cleric Muqtada al-Sadr say the proposed deal would lead to a permanent U.S. occupation of Iraq. They held their protest Friday in the southern city of Kufa and shouted slogans such as: "No to America."
We have biometrics data on all these mooks, don't we ...
Such demonstrations have become a weekly event, usually following prayers held in local mosques on Fridays.
#3
I'm pretty sure Sadr's in Qom, getting his "instructions" from the master-manipulators there. I do wish we'd do something there while all the rats are in one cage.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
07/12/2008 15:21 Comments ||
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(Xinhua) -- Lebanon finally formed a 30-member national unity government on Friday following a five-week political deadlock over key portfolios.
The new cabinet consists 16 ministers of the Western-backed ruling majority, 11 allied with the Shiite Hezbollah-led opposition and the rest three named by President Michel Suleiman. Following is the lineup of the new cabinet:
Prime Minister: Fouad Seniora
Deputy Prime Minister: Issam Abou Jamra
Defense Minister: Elias Murr
Foreign Minister: Fawzi Saloukh
Interior Minister: Ziad Baroud
Finance Minister: Muhammad Shatah
State Minister: Yousef Takla
State Minister: Khaled Kabbani
State Minister: Wael Abo Faour
State Minister: Nasib Lahoud
State Minister: Ali Qanso
State Minister: Jean Ogassapian
Justice Minister: Ibrahim Najjar
Administration Development Minister: Ibrahim Shamseddine
Public Works and Transportation Minister: Ghazi Ariedy
Telecommunications Minister: Gebran Bassil
Economy and Trade Minister: Muhammad Safadi
Information Minister: Tareq Mitri
Culture Minister: Tamam Salam
Minister of Refugee Affairs: Raymond Audi
Environment Minister: Antoine Karam
Youth and Sports Minister: Talal Arslan
Industry Minister: Ghazi Zoayter
Education Minister: Bahia Hariri
Agriculture Minister: Elias Skaf
Health Minister: Mohammad Khalifa
Energy Minister: Alan Toborian
Labor Minister: Mohammad Fneish
Minister for Social Affairs: Mario Aoun
Tourism Minister: Antoine Karam
Posted by: Fred ||
07/12/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
This list would be a lot more meaningful if we knew which group each person there was loyal to. I doubt more than a half-dozen are actually loyal to LEBANON.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
07/12/2008 15:24 Comments ||
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#2
if we knew which group each person there was loyal to
Each of the 30 is loyal to himself - just like politicians everywhere.
After weeks of political deadlock, Lebanon's Prime Minister announced Friday that a new 30-member cabinet had been formed, opening the door to reconciliation among fighting factions. The country, which has suffered repeated bouts of violence over the past two years, had been without a cabinet for six weeks. Aya Batrawy has more from our Middle East bureau in Cairo.
Lebanon's Prime Minister Fuad Siniora's new unity government gives 16 seats to the Western-backed parliament majority, 11 to opposition groups such as Hezbollah and three to be chosen by the Maronite Christian president.
Prime Minister Siniora expressed hope that this newly formed cabinet will bring peace among the various factions vying for power in Lebanon. "Today, through this national unity government, we have decided to manage our disputes through democratic institutions and dialogue, and not through force and intimidation," he said.
In May, after months of internal strife and violence, the Arab League brokered the layout for the newly formed Cabinet, which gave Hezbollah and its supporters in the government veto power over government decisions.
The announcement of a cabinet comes at a crucial time for Lebanon. The country was left without a president for nearly six months until former military chief General Michel Suleiman was chosen. During that time and after, violence spilled to the streets between the Muslim Sunni and Shiite and Maronite Christian communities. Over 80 people died in May alone.
There were fears that a second civil war would erupt, just eight years after the country's 15-year civil war was put to rest.
Analyst Jamil Mroueh of the Lebanese Daily Star newspaper expressed skepticism that this newly formed Cabinet will be able to revive Lebanon's economy, which was once a hub for tourism in the region, and settle deep political rifts. "I don't think that this Government is capable of doing anything about the economy or political stability if it does not set down to talk about issues in a manner that reconciles in a positive way," he said.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/12/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
I seem to recall that US Marines acted on behalf of South Leb's then Christian majority in 1958. Rod Parsley isn't the only one who wants to see that repeated.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
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Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
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Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
Sudan formally asked the Arab League on Saturday to hold an emergency meeting of foreign ministers after reports the International Criminal Court's (ICC) prosecutor may seek the arrest of Sudan's president. A senior European diplomat said on Friday the ICC's prosecutor would likely seek President Omar Hassan al-Bashir's arrest in a new Darfur war crimes case he will open on Monday.
The United States Friday warned Sudan against retaliating against U.N. peacekeepers, foreign diplomats or others for expected genocide charges against the country's president, Omar al-Bashir. Action by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against the Sudanese leader is expected Monday. 
A female soldier who once fought off a suspected Iraqi insurgent has won a place in the final of Miss England. Katrina Hodge, 21, will participate in the contest in July, having already won the Miss Tunbridge Wells crown.
With John McCain and Barack Obama each making a special effort to attract voters from the opposing party, the veep-stakes contest is especially interesting this cycle.
A Lashkar-e-Islam (LI) commander said on Friday that LI chief Mangal Bagh has given his consent to a jirga's peace agreement with the government and said the LI would abide by all the terms and conditions. 
Unmanned United States drones armed with missiles have stepped up patrols over villages along the Pak-Afghan border, hunting for Taliban and Al Qaeda militants and fraying nerves below. 
A strong political debate is being waged in Baghdad on the role the Shiite supreme religious authority in Najaf, Grand Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani, played in negotiations between Iraq and the US on a memorandum of security.
BAGHDAD - Hundreds of followers of a radical Shiite cleric in Iraq have taken to the streets to protest a proposed security agreement between Iraq and the United States. 
After weeks of political deadlock, Lebanon's Prime Minister announced Friday that a new 30-member cabinet had been formed, opening the door to reconciliation among fighting factions. The country, which has suffered repeated bouts of violence over the past two years, had been without a cabinet for six weeks. Aya Batrawy has more from our Middle East bureau in Cairo.
