[Quqnoos] A massive operation is to launch in Taliban strongholds in the Afghan western province of Herat prior to August polls, officials said. The major offensive will target any militant elements known as a threat to the upcoming Afghan polls in the relatively peaceful Herat province, said provincial police chief, Brig Gen Esmatullah Alizai. "Afghan and International troops will be reinforced to open the operation in the outskirts of Herat city," Gen Alizai added.
Happy hunting, gentlemen. The more y'all do for yourselves, the fewer foreigners will be needed.
Although the targeted locations have not yet revealed but insurgents' presence is reported in the provincial capital's nearby districts of Guzara, Robat Sangi and Khosh-e Kohna. The operation is termed similar to the on-going US offensive in the southern Helmand province where more than 5,000 multinational troops, mostly American, are battling the Taliban militants.
Herat police chief voiced of preparations to safeguard the national polls in the restive districts, added that tribal elders vowed to support the operation. "If the security situation gets better, we welcome the elections and will take part in it," Ahmad, 34, a resident of Herat city said.
At least 100 policemen are under special training in the province to protect the ballots and pave the ground for people to cast their votes.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/05/2009 00:00 ||
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[Quqnoos] Poppy cultivation has shrunk down by 60 percent in one of the major Afghan drug producing province, officials said
That's rather a lot. Well done, all!
The poppy growing in the Afghan southern Uruzgan province has 'remarkably' fallen down this year despite no major efforts have taken place by the central government, said provincial governor Asadullah Hamdam. "This has been the decision of people [farmers] to avoid growing poppy and hashish this year," governor Hamdam further said.
There is no exact statistics that how many hectares of lands are grown poppy this year but government officials in the restive Afghan province are optimistic to eradicate all poppy farms in Uruzgan.
The claim of a major downsize in the level of drug production in Uruzgan comes as poppy cultivation jumped to a record level in the province in 2008, according to a UN report.
What changed since last year, pray tell?
Posted by: Fred ||
07/05/2009 00:00 ||
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Morocco has shifted from mass arrests to tight surveillance in its fight against Islamic militants and hopes a new campaign to reinforce the authority of state-appointed imams will cut off support for jihadism.
As militants reach a growing audience through DVDs and the Internet, the government has tried to seize back the initiative, revising laws governing mosques and adding new theological councils to tighten control of religious life in the regions. Now it is preparing to send 1,500 supervisors into the north African country's towns and villages to make sure that imams are preaching the moderate local version of Islam and respect for King Mohammed in his role as leader of Morocco's Muslims.
Suicide bombings in May 2003 killed 45 people and tarnished a reputation for stability that helped staunch U.S. ally Morocco draw growing numbers of tourists and record foreign investment. An anxious security sweep saw the closure of unregulated mosques and the arrest of more than 3,000 people on terrorism-related charges. "The security services may have been badly prepared, which explains why we arrested thousands of people," said Moroccan political analyst Mohamed Darif. "They have now begun to master the situation and no longer arrest just anyone."
Around a third of those rounded up since 2003 remain in prison and Islamist advocacy groups say many are held on flimsy evidence after being forced to sign false confessions, something the government denies. Security experts say the authorities have a better grip on the situation after building up a database of potentially dangerous Islamists and managing to infiltrate some networks to ward off attacks before they happen.
European governments are hungry for Morocco to share its knowledge, fearing Algeria-based Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb could use the kingdom as a springboard for attacks in Europe, according to European security experts. "There's a suspicion that a lot of traffic goes through Morocco and lots of people who are important in facilitating that are sitting in Morocco," said Peter Neumann, director at the Centre for Defence Studies at King's College London.
Last year Sheikh Mohammed Maghraoui, a Saudi-funded religious figure, told followers that girls as young as nine could marry. His comment was interpreted as a fatwa, or religious edict, and was condemned by media and human rights groups. The government ordered the closure of dozens of Koranic schools linked to Maghraoui. In Morocco, only the Senior Council of Ulemas, or religious experts, is authorised to issue religious decrees.
Government officials say counter-terrorism is not the main goal of the imam training programme. They say the aim is to ensure that imams have the necessary skills to do their job and are in tune with modernising reforms carried out since King Mohammed came to the throne in 1999. Knowing a few verses of the Koran will no longer be enough to confer authority. They will be taught how to dispense advice, arbitrate in disputes, help with literacy programmes among the poor and made aware of new laws such as one giving married women more rights.
"This is more than just a response to 2003. It's a demand from society today that the state does what is necessary," said Hakim el Ghissassi, a cabinet member at Morocco's Ministry for Religious Endowments and Islamic Affairs. "In this era of satellite TV, people no longer accept to see religious officials who are not trained."
Morocco is also sending religious experts to Europe under agreements with countries including France and Spain that have large Moroccan expatriate populations. A new European Council of Ulemas will help improve Islamic instruction in Europe and ensure imams are better trained and more socially involved, said Ghissassi. "If today we deny religious instruction to the young, where will they look for it?" said Ghissassi. "On extremist Internet sites with self-proclaimed radical Imams."
Some analysts are doubtful that improving the quality of Islamic instruction will stop young, second-generation Moroccans in Europe signing up for jihad. "It's not the control of religious organisations that will put an end to terrorism," said Olivier Roy of France's National Scientific Research Centre (CNRS). "The young who radicalise do so outside the context of the mosque."
#1
FTA: Some analysts are doubtful that improving the quality of Islamic instruction will stop young, second-generation Moroccans in Europe signing up for jihad. "It's not the control of religious organisations that will put an end to terrorism," said Olivier Roy of France's National Scientific Research Centre (CNRS). "The young who radicalise do so outside the context of the mosque."
It makes me wonder where Mr. Roy has been doing his "research". The zoo?
The head of Mossad, Israel's overseas intelligence service, has assured Benjamin Netanyahu, its prime minister, that Saudi Arabia would turn a blind eye to Israeli jets flying over the kingdom during any future raid on Iran's nuclear sites. Earlier this year Meir Dagan, Mossad's director since 2002, held secret talks with Saudi officials to discuss the possibility. "The Saudis have tacitly agreed to the Israeli air force flying through their airspace on a mission which is supposed to be in the common interests of both Israel and Saudi Arabia," a diplomatic source said last week. Although the countries have no formal diplomatic relations, an Israeli defence source confirmed that Mossad maintained "working relations" with the Saudis. The Israeli press has already carried unconfirmed reports that high-ranking officials, including Ehud Olmert, the former prime minister, held meetings with Saudi colleagues. The reports were denied by Saudi officials.
John Bolton, the former US ambassador to the United Nations who recently visited the Gulf, said it was "entirely logical" for the Israelis to use Saudi airspace. Bolton, who has talked to several Arab leaders, added: "None of them would say anything about it publicly but they would certainly acquiesce in an overflight if the Israelis didn't trumpet it as a big success." Arab states would condemn a raid when they spoke at the UN but would be privately relieved to see the threat of an Iranian bomb removed, he said. Referring to the Israeli attack on an alleged Syrian nuclear facility in 2007, Bolton added: "To this day, the Israelis haven't admitted the specifics but there's one less nuclear facility in Syria . . ."
Recent developments have underscored concerns among moderate Sunni Arab states about the stability of the repressive Shi'ite regime in Tehran and have increased fears that it may emerge as a belligerent nuclear power. "The Saudis are very concerned about an Iranian nuclear bomb, even more than the Israelis," said a former head of research in Israeli intelligence.
The Israeli air force has been training for a possible attack on Iran's nuclear site at Natanz in the centre of the country and other locations for four years.
#1
The Sunni v Shiite conflict entered the next dimension, after the Shiites took Baghdad. With US troops out of the cities, the proxy contest will heat up.
Saudi Arabia has indicated to Israel that it would not protest use of its airspace by Israeli fighter jets in the event the government resolves to launch a military assault against Iran, according to a report which appeared in the British newspaper The Sunday Times.
According to The Sunday Times, Mossad chief Meir Dagan held secret meetings with Saudi officials who gave their tacit approval to Israel's use of the kingdom's airspace.
"The Saudis have tacitly agreed to the Israeli air force flying through their airspace on a mission which is supposed to be in the common interests of both Israel and Saudi Arabia," The Sunday Times quoted a diplomatic source as saying last week.
Posted by: lord garth ||
07/05/2009 00:21 ||
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#2
Even if the Saudis HAD made such an agreement it would never have been for public display. So somebody released a false statement in order to shake someone or something up. Or somebody released a true statement in order to get it denied and prevent such an attack from being made.
#3
Considering the attack by the Israelis--which didn't happen--that destroyed a nuke facility in Syria--which didn't exist--that nobody can prove, and nobody saw coming, going, or happening, except for those explosions--which didn't happen, it strikes me the Israelis could go through SA and apologize later on, presuming anybody found out about it.
Remember? Syria IADS had not a clue. Not a clue.
Posted by: Richard Aubrey ||
07/05/2009 8:03 Comments ||
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#4
"Israelis could go through SA and apologize later on, presuming anybody found out about it"
I agree, Richard - except I don't see why they should apologize.
Israel needs to quit being nice to those who would destroy her.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
07/05/2009 8:19 Comments ||
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#5
Barbara.
Because apologizing afterwards, in this case, is an insult.
"Sorry we were so superior to your bassackwards version of air defense. We knew in advance we'd be taking advantage of you and we felt bad. We really did. We promise not to do it again, unless we really, really need to."
Posted by: Richard Aubrey ||
07/05/2009 8:27 Comments ||
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#6
I like the way you think, Richard. :-D
From your lips keyboard to the Israelis' ear eyes.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
07/05/2009 8:30 Comments ||
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#7
So Iran will watch the sky while Subs rain death?
#9
Wahabis despise Khomeinists more than Jews, but I don't believe Saudi leaders would make contacts with Israeli diplomats. Who remembers the reports from Gulf War 1 command center, of Saud personnel cheering when Saddam's scuds struck Israel? That is not to say that the Sauds might have obliquely signalled tacit approval, given deniability.
#10
Interesting, even if coincidental, that such speculation comes out on the same day that Biden said this on ABC:
When asked whether the Obama administration would restrain Israeli military action against Iran, Biden responded: "Israel can determine for itself - it's a sovereign nation - what's in their interest and what they decide to do relative to Iran and anyone else."
Stephanaopoulos posed the question three times, and each time Biden repeated that Israel was free to choose its actions. "If the Netanyahu government decides to take a course of action different than the one being pursued now, that is their sovereign right to do that. That is not our choice."
It seems that Iranian nukes, not North Korean missles, were seen as the most pressing geo-political worry by many world leaders this weekend.
British militants are pushing for the overthrow of the Pakistani state.
Shocka ...
Followers of the fundamentalist group Hizb ut-Tahrir have called for a "bloodless military coup" in Islamabad and the creation of the caliphate in which strict Islamic laws would be rigorously enforced.
But if they can't have a bloodless coup, one with buckets of blood would be fine ...
Members of the group, which describes itself as the Liberation party in Britain but is banned in Pakistan, revealed last week that it had targeted the country as a base from which to spread Islamic rule across the world.
Hmmm, militant Islamicists who want to spread their 'faith' to the rest of us. Can't be a threat can they ...
The Sunday Times has obtained the names of a dozen British Hizb ut-Tahrir activists based in Lahore and Karachi, or commuting between Britain and Pakistan. There are believed to be many more.
You could count on it ...
Tayyib Muqeem, an English teacher from Stoke-on-Trent, said he had moved to Lahore to convert Pakistanis to the movement.
But the pickings are better at Finsbury Park ...
At Lahore's Superior College, where Muqeem has set up a Hizb ut-Tahrir student group, he said the organisation's aim was to subject Muslim and western countries to Islamic rule under sharia law, "by force" if necessary.
Buckets of blood, etc ...
In a caliphate, "every woman would have to cover up" and stoning to death for adultery and the chopping off of thieves' hands would be the law, he said.
He added that Islamic rule would be spread through "indoctrination" and by "military means" if non-Muslim countries refused to bow to it. "Waging war" would be part of the caliphate's foreign policy.
A big part, in fact ...
One of Hizb ut-Tahrir's strategies in Pakistan is to influence military officers, he revealed. Shahzad Sheikh, a Pakistani recruit and the group's official spokesman in Karachi, talked openly about persuading the army to instigate a "bloodless coup" against the present government who, he said, were "worse than the Taliban".
"It is the military who hold the power (in Pakistan) and we are asking them to give their allegiance to Hizb ut-Tahrir," he said. "I can't explain to you in detail how we are trying to influence the military . . . We never disclose our methodology of change. You may say it's a coup."
Don't count on Bambi speaking out against that kind of a coup, either ...
#1
These idiots need to be hunted down in the UK and then hung from the Tower of London. Of course that will never happen. Instead they will continue to be on the government dole, free to spread their filthy brand of islamic hell on the world.
#3
What one politician does, another can reverse, Paul2. Your current prime minister is not at all fond of his predecessor or his predecessor's policies.
#4
The Tower of London isn't really a good place to hang anyone, but Tower Bridge is. Imagine driving across and seeing the bodies of 20-30 militants hanging above you. Just the thought of it cheers me up immensely.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
07/05/2009 13:04 Comments ||
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[Kyodo: Korea] The United States will press China and other key players to enforce U.N. sanctions imposed against North Korea in response to its nuclear test in May, the government said Saturday, following Pyongyang's firing of ballistic missiles. ''North Korean missile launches highlight the importance of fully implementing the provisions of the U.N. resolutions,'' said a State Department spokesman. ''North Korea should refrain from actions that aggravate tensions and focus on the denuclearization talks and implementation of its commitments on the Sept. 19, 2005, joint statement.''
Posted by: Fred ||
07/05/2009 00:00 ||
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[Kyodo: Korea] The Japanese government lodged a protest with North Korea through diplomatic channels in Beijing over its launching of multiple ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan on Saturday, Japanese officials said. Tokyo said in the protest that Pyongyang carried out a ""grave act of provocation toward neighboring countries, including our country, in terms of security,"" adding that it infringes on U.N. Security Council resolutions demanding that North Korea cease all activities related to its ballistic missile programs.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/05/2009 00:00 ||
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Seoul will raise the issue of a South Korean citizen who has been held incommunicado in North Korea for over three months during the ASEAN Regional Forum in Thailand later this month.
Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan told reporters Thursday the issue will have to be brought to the international forum. Last year, Seoul took the issue of a South Korean tourist shot to death in the North's Mt. Kumgang resort to the ASEAN forum.
The foreign minister also said consultations among the five members of six-party nuclear talks excluding North Korea on the sidelines of the forum are unlikely.
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/05/2009 00:00 ||
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[Geo News] The president Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Imran Khan has ruled out terrorism's links with the religion of Islam and urged scholars, hailing from all school of thoughts, to devise joint strategy to end misnomer linked to Islam. This he said while expressing condolence with the son of martyred Molana Sarfaraz Naeemi, here on Saturday. "No religion can allow suicide bombing", he said adding that there is no solution to this problem in Islam as he termed the suicide bombing an entirely political issue. "Pakistan is heading towards disaster as the ruling political leadership is in pursuit of dollars for their personal gains", Imran stated adding, "The growing extremism in Pakistan cannot be curbed as long as US stays in Afghanistan".
Posted by: Fred ||
07/05/2009 00:00 ||
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#2
"No religion can allow suicide bombing", he said adding that there is no solution to this problem in Islam as he termed the suicide bombing an entirely political issue"
that's why they shout 'politics is great' when they detonate
Posted by: lord garth ||
07/05/2009 0:20 Comments ||
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The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has asked the federal government to take concrete steps to end drone attacks and ensure the safe return of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their homes.
A JI delegation, led by Secretary General Liaquat Baloch, on Saturday called on Interior Minister Rehman Malik and expressed concern over the expanding military operation in the conflict-hit areas of the country. The delegation expressed concern that American and Indian interests were trying to destabilise Pakistan, gain control of its nuclear assets and create rifts between the army and the people, a statement issued by the JI said.
Malik said despite political differences with the government, no one doubted the patriotism of the JI, added the press release. "If they do, we'll have them beaten to death!"
Posted by: Fred ||
07/05/2009 00:00 ||
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#1
concrete steps are kind of hard to throw at drones.
[Iran Press TV Latest] Ahead of a complete US withdrawal from Iraq, US Vice President Joe Biden warns that Washington would disengage politically if violence in the country intensified.
A senior US official told reporters on Saturday that Biden said that America's role in Iraq was switching from deep military engagement to one of diplomatic support..
He however warned "if by the actions of different parties in Iraq, Iraq were to revert to sectarian violence or engage in ethnic violence, then that's not something that would make it likely for us to remain engaged."
"If it actually reverts to violence, then that would change the nature of our engagement. He was quite direct about that," said the official.
Biden was addressing newly sworn-in American soldiers at Camp Victory near Baghdad a day after meeting with Iraqi leaders when he warned of a "hard road ahead if Iraq is going to find lasting peace and stability."
US combat forces left the country's cities and towns on June 30 and handed over security control to the country's 500,000 police and 250,000 soldiers.
At least 133,000 US troops are now based outside major cities to play a training and support role in the country. Under a security agreement signed last November, all US forces should be out of Iraq by the end of 2011.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/05/2009 00:00 ||
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#1
thanks Joe! You just added to the violence by confirming their goal. STFU moron
Posted by: Frank G ||
07/05/2009 11:57 Comments ||
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#2
"If it actually reverts to violence, then that would change the nature of our engagement. He was quite direct about that," said the official.
Which would have as it's origins the Bush Administration's failure in Iraq which we have indicated was the problem all along.....
#4
"IF you oppose our wishes, we will quit" This guy sums up the perfect "sick man" politician. Here's to reading his name in the breaking news section soon.
#1
Actually the most notorious book burning preceded Kristallnacht by several years. The book burning, carried out in large part (but by no means entirely) by the Nationalsozialistischer Deutscher Studentenbund (National Socialist German Student Union) was just one effort of the Säuberung (cleansing) program.
Posted by: Lord garth ||
07/05/2009 10:59 Comments ||
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#2
Muslims riot everywhere when a single koran is damaged or destroyed. But they are free to burn the holy texts of the real religions.
#5
Hold on to your turban for the outrage from Western human rights orgs and liberals....wait for it....just one more minute...any time now....(crickets chirping)...
[Emily LaTella]
Nevermind!
[/Emily LaTella]
[Iran Press TV Latest] Former US lawmaker Cynthia McKinney, who is in an Israeli jail for trying to take humanitarian aid to Gaza, says the White House has done nothing to secure her release.
McKinney has been in Israeli custody since Tuesday when she and 20 other humanitarian activists were arrested by the Israeli Navy while trying to take humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip. Speaking to Press TV from inside the Israeli jail, she said US taxpayers paid for Israel's 22-day war on the Gaza Strip.
"Operation Cast Lead was made possible by the US taxpayers' gift to the Israeli war machine in the form of F16s, helicopters gunship, white phosphorous, uranium cluster bombs and anything that kills," she told Press TV from inside the Israeli jail on Saturday.
Uranium cluster bombs?
She also criticized US President Barack Obama and his special envoy for their policies in the region, saying she was seeking to do what "neither President Obama nor his special envoy has done and that is to visit Gaza in the aftermath of Operation Cast Lead."
McKinney along with her group refused to sign a document admitting they violated Israel's blockade soon after they were taken to custody. Family, friends and supporters say Cynthia McKinney believed she was in international waters and was free to pass. "The Israelis hijacked us because we wanted to give crayons to the children of Gaza," McKinney said.
They are due to appear in an Israeli court on Sunday.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/05/2009 00:00 ||
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#1
What? do you want the feds you slapped around to come bail you out of jail you crack wh@@e?
#2
It must drive Stormfronters and Ku Klux Kretins crazy (an admittedly short drive) that the sleaziest black politician this side of Zimbabwe is a fellow Jew-hater.
#10
She also criticized US President Barack Obama and his special envoy for their policies
As General Powell recently said, "he really has gone too far." There really is little left to do at this point with those crayons save the drafting of Articles of Impeachment and forwarding to through the Embassy to the CCB. Make it so!
#11
It's damn bad enough this hag roam America spouting her hate and bigotry, now the pwold gets to see our bafoons. I need a rock to crawl under. Hope they keep her and force her to 1,000 hours of community service on the gaza border.
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
07/05/2009 21:34 Comments ||
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[Jerusalem Post Middle East] American engineers who serve as consultants for the Egyptian military have recently informed Israel that Hamas has succeeded in digging 60-meter deep smuggling tunnels to avoid detection and destruction by the IDF, defense officials said on Thursday.
The American engineers, deployed as consultants along the Philadelphi Corridor in Egyptian Rafah, have been using technology that can detect seismic movements to uncover tunnels. But it is more difficult to detect them once they have reached the 60-meter depth, the engineers told their Israeli counterparts.
According to IDF assessments, Hamas now has several hundred active tunnels under the Philadelphi Corridor, even though close to 300 were reportedly bombed by the Israel Air Force during Operation Cast Lead in December and January.
Digging to the new depths required special techniques, one official said. "The Palestinians are experts at digging tunnels," the official said. "They reach 60 meters, pump out the groundwater, and pump in air so they can continue digging."
So the IAF doesn't necessarily have to bomb the tunnel so long as they clobber the pumps ...
If the pumps are on the power grid, that's even easier to attack. If gasoline-powered, the CO2 no doubt becomes an issue at depth...D
efense officials said that since Cast Lead, Cairo had increased its efforts to uncover and destroy smuggling tunnels. The Egyptian efforts have also focused on stopping weapons before they reach the Philadelphi Corridor and as they make their way to the border with Sinai.
A senior IDF officer said the army was reassessing the effectiveness of bombing tunnels from the air. "We found that it takes the Palestinians just a few days to rebuild the tunnels after we bomb them," the officer said.
According to a recent report on Al-Arabiya TV, the tunnel-smuggling industry in Gaza is valued at $200 million annually, yielding huge profits for the Palestinian and Egyptian owners of the tunnels. There are 800 tunnels along the Gaza-Egyptian border, Al-Arabiya said. "These tunnels are the lifeline of the Gaza Strip. This is the only place where you don't feel you are in a besieged city. All products are available - electronic appliances, flour, sugar and all other food products - and even diapers and Viägra pills," according to a transcript of the TV report provided by MEMRI: The Middle East Media Research Institute.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/05/2009 00:00 ||
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#1
Then call Globalgeophysical. They will find the rats.
#2
once groundwater starts to flow into a well, the well is doomed unless they can seal it
yes, you can pump it out for a time but as the flow continues it decreases the integrity of the tunnel structure
IIRC, at one time the water table was only 50 m below the surface in Gaza; overpumping has been ongoing for many years, it may be at 55m or lower by now
Posted by: lord garth ||
07/05/2009 0:14 Comments ||
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#3
This could be one of the shovel ready jobs in the Gaza stimulus package earmark.
#5
Yep. Geophones, active sonar....and dynamite would be a good start, all right.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
07/05/2009 2:54 Comments ||
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#6
All this should remind the world that Gaza has a common border with an arab speaking state. So much for the starvation-siege crap on al-Jazeera/al-Arabiya. Watch them on tvweb60.com (they have the "panda cam" and "gorilla cam" too)
[Straits Times] MORE than a thousand Muslim rebels have been killed in the southern Philippines over the past year, despite the recovery of only 278 bodies, a military spokesman said on Saturday.
Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Ponce also said he knew of only 22 soldiers killed in the fighting, despite claims by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that its rebels had killed 500 soldiers in its current offensive.
In August three MILF commanders broke a 2003 ceasefire and began attacking Christian communities in Mindanao, after the Supreme Court suspended a draft accord on Muslim self-rule in the southern Philippines.
In Manila, armed forces spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Brawner earlier issued a statement saying that military fatalities against the rebels 'do not even reach a hundred.' Speaking during a military patrol in Banasilan, in central Mindanao, Col Ponce pointed out MILF positions on hills in the distance.
Despite having the MILF in their sights, Col Ponce told AFP, the military was not actively attacking the rebels. 'We are on a defensive stance. We are not conducting offensive operations. We are just conducting law-enforcement operations,' he said.
The last gunbattle had been five days ago, although there had since been instances of bombs and mortar attacks, Col Ponce said.
'If the rogue MILF attacks civilian communities... that is the time we will do a counter-action,' he said.
International aid agencies say that more than half a million civilians have been displaced by the fighting that began in August.
Although many civilians have returned to their homes in recent weeks, several hundred still remain in evacuation centres due to fears of more MILF attacks, said Col Ponce.
The 12,000-member MILF has been waging a separatist rebellion since 1978 to carve out an Islamic state in the southern part of the largely Catholic Philippines.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/05/2009 00:00 ||
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The most important group of religious leaders in Iran called the disputed presidential election and the new government illegitimate on Saturday, an act of defiance against the countrys supreme leader and the most public sign of a major split in the countrys clerical establishment.
A statement by the group, the Association of Researchers and Teachers of Qum, represents a significant, if so far symbolic, setback for the government and especially the authority of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose word is supposed to be final. The government has tried to paint the opposition and its top presidential candidate, Mir Hussein Moussavi, as criminals and traitors, a strategy that now becomes more difficult if not impossible.
This crack in the clerical establishment, and the fact they are siding with the people and Moussavi, in my view is the most historic crack in the 30 years of the Islamic republic, said Abbas Milani, director of the Iranian Studies Program at Stanford University. Remember, they are going against an election verified and sanctified by Khamenei.
#1
The Assembly of Experts has no day to day role in running Iran, but they can ensure that the ruling Ayatollah complies with shiite principles of "Islamic Government." They have the power to terminate status, and examine all financial accounts. It appears they won't whitewash Khomenei, after his hardline Friday Prayer speech. Its funny: acting like an oligarch is okay, as long as you don't act like a dictator. Makes sense in Persia.
[Iran Press TV Latest] After his reelection as Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad extends an invitation to his American counterpart Barack Obama for a debate before the eyes of the world.
Addressing Iranian heads of medical universities on Saturday, President Ahmadinejad offered to debate President Obama at the United Nations headquarters in New York before the eyes of all nations of the world.
President Ahmadinejad had previously urged a debate with former US president George W. Bush.
The Iranian president wrote an 18-page letter to President Bush in 2006 that touched on religious values, history and international relations. The letter was viewed as an offer extended to the United States for dialogue.
However, the Iranian official's letter never received an answer from the former US president.
Under the former US president, Washington pursued a carrot-and-stick policy toward Tehran over its nuclear program and by setting preconditions, snubbed calls by President Ahmadinejad for talks on the long-standing dispute.
Meanwhile President Obama has adopted a new tone for engaging Tehran, drawing a sharp line between his foreign policies regarding Iran and that of his predecessor.
The call for talks come as earlier in February, Ahmadinejad expressed willingness for dialogue but stressed that negotiations should be held "in a climate of fairness with mutual respect."
Earlier in May a report by the Israeli daily Haaretz said the United States had set October as its deadline for engaging Iran in the first round of talks over the country's nuclear activities.
The report quoted the special US envoy on Iran, Dennis Ross, as saying that "unless the US sees a change in Iran's position on its nuclear program, Washington's stance toward Tehran will stiffen at that time."
Posted by: Fred ||
07/05/2009 00:00 ||
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#1
Obama would wipe the floor with you anyway - even being weal as he is.
Looks like the Iranians may hang you from a streetlamp anyways so whats the use?
#4
Obama would lose, horribly, without his teleprompter and a lot of help - if you take the blinders off, you can see that he is, after all, a fucking idiot who can read lines well and that's about it.
Remember, US presidential "debates" are NOT real debates -- they are dumbed down press Q&A sessions. They do not question each other, nor do they have to defend their position against others questions or analysis. US Politicians are wimps compared to parliamentarians when it comes to this.
#6
Having a 30 minute 'Question Time' in the US House once every other week, in which the President would walk in and answer the opposition, would do wonders for this country.
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/05/2009 10:58 Comments ||
Top||
#7
Agreed, assuming there were an effective and articulate opposition ...
#10
I watched all the Iran Presidential debates on Press TV links. Ahmadinejad is an inarticulate and insufferable bore, and a poor liar in spite of all his practise. Liars look down when they utter deceit; Ahmadinejad did exactly that. And he refused to explain his claim that angels accompanied him at his UN speech. He didn't want to have to say: I made it up to appeal to pious idiots. Then there was the $1-3 billion in unaccounted state funds. Actually he might have a kindred spirite in Hussein O. But all they would be debating would be the content of Obama's apologies.
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Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
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[Quqnoos] A massive operation is to launch in Taliban strongholds in the Afghan western province of Herat prior to August polls, officials said. The major offensive will target any militant elements known as a threat to the upcoming Afghan polls in the relatively peaceful Herat province, said provincial police chief, Brig Gen Esmatullah Alizai. "Afghan and International troops will be reinforced to open the operation in the outskirts of Herat city," Gen Alizai added.
Saudi Arabia has indicated to Israel that it would not protest use of its airspace by Israeli fighter jets in the event the government resolves to launch a military assault against Iran, according to a report which appeared in the British newspaper The Sunday Times.
British militants are pushing for the overthrow of the Pakistani state. 
[Kyodo: Korea] The United States will press China and other key players to enforce U.N. sanctions imposed against North Korea in response to its nuclear test in May, the government said Saturday, following Pyongyang's firing of ballistic missiles. ''North Korean missile launches highlight the importance of fully implementing the provisions of the U.N. resolutions,'' said a State Department spokesman. ''North Korea should refrain from actions that aggravate tensions and focus on the denuclearization talks and implementation of its commitments on the Sept. 19, 2005, joint statement.''
[Geo News] The president Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Imran Khan has ruled out terrorism's links with the religion of Islam and urged scholars, hailing from all school of thoughts, to devise joint strategy to end misnomer linked to Islam. This he said while expressing condolence with the son of martyred Molana Sarfaraz Naeemi, here on Saturday. "No religion can allow suicide bombing", he said adding that there is no solution to this problem in Islam as he termed the suicide bombing an entirely political issue. "Pakistan is heading towards disaster as the ruling political leadership is in pursuit of dollars for their personal gains", Imran stated adding, "The growing extremism in Pakistan cannot be curbed as long as US stays in Afghanistan".
The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has asked the federal government to take concrete steps to end drone attacks and ensure the safe return of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their homes.
[Iran Press TV Latest] Ahead of a complete US withdrawal from Iraq, US Vice President Joe Biden warns that Washington would disengage politically if violence in the country intensified. 
[Iran Press TV Latest] Former US lawmaker Cynthia McKinney, who is in an Israeli jail for trying to take humanitarian aid to Gaza, says the White House has done nothing to secure her release. 
[Jerusalem Post Middle East] American engineers who serve as consultants for the Egyptian military have recently informed Israel that Hamas has succeeded in digging 60-meter deep smuggling tunnels to avoid detection and destruction by the IDF, defense officials said on Thursday.
