[Pak Daily Times] The Taliban on Saturday said that NATO was heading for defeat in Afghanistan after the alliance announced plans to begin withdrawing troops from the country from next year. "It has become clear that after nine years of occupation, the invaders are doomed towards the same fate as those that tread this path before them," the group said in an emailed statement. "Their troop surges, new strategies, generals, negotiations, and propagandas have been of no avail," it added. Taliban said the withdrawal plans were a sign the force had "exhausted" itself and the surge of soldiers against the Taliban had failed.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/21/2010 00:00 ||
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[Tolo News] The United Nations, aka the Oyster Bay Chowder and Marching Society special representative to Afghanistan has said that Taliban's contact with the Afghan government and a surge in operations in the south show the Taliban are tired of the fight
Staffen de Mistura, the UN special envoy said in Kabul that talks for bringing an end to the Afghan war have entered into a sensitive phase and involved sides understand that end of the war is approaching and they prepare themselves for talks.
The reason for the presence of foreign troops in Afghanistan is 9/11 and the forces haven't been sent to turn Afghanistan into Swiss and to expect a high management without corruption and respect to human's rights, he said.
But some Afghan political analysts have a different hold of the war and argue that military pressures could be effective on high level Taliban officials.
An Afghan political analyst, Haroun Mir told TOLOnews: "These pressures could be over mid-level commanders of the Taliban who participate in operations and live in Afghanistan, but the Taliban leadership will be under no sort of pressures."
Meanwhile, ...back at the ranch... the Guardian has quoted some donors that military offensives have increased three times in Afghanistan after Gen. David Petraeus took the command of foreign forces in the country.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/21/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
Crush them Patton style or they'll be back sooner than you think.
The Government is in secret talks to send taxpayer-funded British mercenaries to war torn Somalia to confront the pirates attacking commercial shipping and behind the kidnapping of Paul and Rachel Chandler.
A Sunday Telegraph investigation can reveal that senior Foreign Office officials have held detailed discussions with a British security firm employing former members of the Special Boat Service (SBS) about setting up and running the operation.
I can't imagine the circumstances in which I'd want former members of the SBS as my enemy ...
The controversial plan -- indirectly funded with aid money from British taxpayers -- will see the ex-special forces team sent to train Somali nationals to take on the pirates along the country's lawless coastline.
Acting as "mentors" the ex-SBS men will be allowed to accompany the new crews on patrols going into action in armed encounters with the gangs.
The plan is particularly sensitive because previous attempts to train Somali military recruits have seen them swap sides and join the pirates or Islamic insurgents, taking their weapons and equipment with them.
Operating in fast boats capable of outrunning the pirates' converted fishing vessels, the plan is to retake the coastline and prevent the pirates from putting to sea or returning to shore with kidnap victims.
#2
The plan is particularly sensitive because previous attempts to train Somali military recruits have seen them swap sides and join the pirates or Islamic insurgents, taking their weapons and equipment with them.
Same thing or worse will be the result once again. 'Partnering' with these vermin is not the answer. Training the wrong bloody people. Train, arm, and legally protect the SHIP CREWS!
#4
I cannot comprehend the resistence to modest levels of shipboard armaments and training for merchant vessels. Merely arming the crew with small arms and some specific resources to repel boarders and destroy small boats that come along side wpould seem to be more than enough. A few crewmen with those added skill sets, arms lockers locked in territorial waters of any nation and available for inspection, what is the beef? Instead, piracy is flourishing and will only continue to grow, and unless we see a national will to burn these people out at the source, this will worsen. Piracy is an ancient problem and as I recall, Caesar had a pretty good answer.
The west coast of Africa. Are they franchising?
A maritime security alert has been issued after five people were killed in a speedboat attack near an oil rig in the Gulf of Guinea. Suspected pirates attacked a craft belonging to Cameroonian security forces killing the pilot, a mechanic and three soldiers from the Rapid Intervention Battalion. Cameroon deployed the Rapid Intervention Battalion in April to ensure security in the Bakassi peninsula after a series of attacks. I wonder if they're known as the "elite" Rapid Intervention Battalion? Sounds like there's still some bugs in the system...
Pirate activity is spreading outwards from the Niger Delta, with the Bakassi peninsula being an area of particular concern.
Attacks in the Gulf of Guinea are often more violent than other piracy hotspots around the world, including off the coast of Somalia so vessel operators are advised to exercise caution.
#1
There a a lot of piracy operations all over the world now. Somalia is getting the press, but the Straits of Malacca has been infested with pirates for a long time, as well as the west coast of Africa. You just don't sail your yacht around the world as freely as you once did.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
11/21/2010 14:25 Comments ||
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#2
They got nothin' on the Rapid Action Battalion. When RAB does it, it goes the other way around.
#3
Muslim-controlled Nigeria is where the piracy against Cameroon is based; just like Muslim-controlled Somalia is where the Gulf of Aden pirates are based. Notice a pattern?
#4
They got nothin' on the Rapid Action Battalion. When RAB does it, it goes the other way around.
Bangladesh may be only inches above sea level, but it's still essentially solid ground -- a lot easier to hit the thing you're shooting at when you and it aren't moving in different directions along all three axes... or so it seems to me, gromky.
[Arab News] Nigeria's drug enforcement agency says Europe was the destination for a recent catch of 286 pounds (130 kilograms) of high-quality heroin hidden inside a shipment of auto parts sent from Iran.
Agency chairman Ahmadu Giade says the drugs were worth $9.9 million. He says the US helped Nigerian officials find the illegal shipment but did not give details on the collaboration. He also says arrests have been made but did not elaborate in his statement on Saturday.
The catch comes after Nigerian officials seized a shipment of military-grade weapons, allegedly from Iran, in Lagos' busiest port last month.
Nigeria this week reported Iran to the United Nations, aka the Oyster Bay Chowder and Marching Society over the weapons shipment, which contained artillery rockets, mortars and ammunition.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/21/2010 00:00 ||
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But after all that investment in material, men, and transport, all Iran gets out of it is sunk costs, when they really need the money. They've got a struggling home economy as well as all those little wars to finance, after all.
#3
from what i have read about the edl they are working class guys who are fed up with the PC nature towards the Pakistani community and the lack of action against anjem Choudry and his pals!
Posted by: Paul D ||
11/21/2010 10:19 Comments ||
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#4
EDL IN THE UK
versus
* IIRC ISRAEL MIL FORUM > ALL OF THE UK POLITICAL PARTIES NOW HAVE MUSLIM LEADERS [3 MPS tote in UK Parliament].
AND
* TOPIX > IRELAND FEARS CIVIL UNREST OVER EU BAILOUT. Locally perceived loss of Irish national sovereignty due to EU = SSSSSHHHHHHH, aka UK/London-induced Financial Crisis???
LONDON, Nov 20 (KUNA) Thousands of protesters took to the streets to march against the war in Afghanistan Saturday as Nato leaders discussed bringing an end to the nine-year conflict. Demonstrators were led by military families as they carried anti-war placards and banners against cuts to government spending.
As the march moved from Hyde Park, central London, protesters chanted: "When they say warfare, we say welfare".
The demonstration took place as the Prime Minister attended a Nato summit in Lisbon, where an agreement was reached which will see Afghan forces take over full responsibility for the country's security in 2014. The coalition government has stated that Britain's combat role in Afghanistan will end by 2015.
Many of the protesters said the Government's commitment to end Britain's combat role over the next four years was not soon enough.
Seamus Milne, a commentator for the Guardian newspaper, said: "In Lisbon today the Nato leaders will try to make it appear that they are bringing an end to this war, a war that is now in its 10th year.
"This talk of an exit strategy is clearly a sham." John Hilary, the executive director of War on Want said: "We have a message for (Prime Minister) David Cameron and his Liberal Democrat allies.
"Do not dare to tell us that there is no money for public services and public sector workers.
"We want the 11 billion pounds that is being spent on the war in Afghanistan to go on things we need in this country. "Bring home the troops and bring justice to the people of Afghanistan."
Organisers said 10,000 people attended the demonstration and that there were no reports of trouble. A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said there had been no arrests but would not make an estimate of the crowd's size.
In other words, not anything like 10,000. Sky News says 2,000 at peak. The Daily Mail has a photo of the crowd. It's not quite so bad as more reporters than marchers, but it's certainly not the million who marched against going into Iraq in 2003.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/21/2010 00:00 ||
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After some meetings with government and Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV) officials, Barclays prepared a report on Venezuela, according to which by the end of the year, the Venezuelan oil industry will place bonds in order to pay debt with the BCV and feed the Central Bank's securities trading system. The investment bank added that there will be a new devaluation in 2011.
Think of it more as a 'quantitative easing' ...
In its report, Barclays said that in the first quarter of 2011, and specifically in the first weeks of the year, the government will devalue its currency by 15 percent.
"A Castro-communist system is being established. It seeks to eliminate the private enterprise. With the elimination of the private sector, economic growth is not likely to occur."
-- Rafael Alfonzo
Venezuelan authorities are changing their perception about currency adjustments and have said that they cannot repeat the mistakes they made during the 2005-2010 period, when the exchange rate was pegged and the average inflation rate reached 22 percent. They consider that after the devaluation in January, the consumer price index will end at the same levels of 2009.
Barclays said that if the government devalues the Venezuelan bolivar, the benchmark rate of the Transaction System for Foreign Currency Denominated Securities (Sitme) operated by the Central Bank will also be adjusted.
The British investment firm said that according to the reports provided by the Venezuelan authorities, Pdvsa will offer USD 2.5 billion in bonds to the BCV. Barclays expects Pdvsa to pay USD 1.8-2.0 billion out of a loan of USD 4.8 billion it has with the BCV. To make this payment, PDVSA is expected to make a private placement to the BCV of the new PDVSA 17 with a notional value of about USD 2.5 billion.
As regards the oil sector, Barclays expects more FDI in this area (USD 40 billion in the next five years) and a real possibility of increasing oil production by 400,000 bpd by 2013 in what has been called early production and 1.0 million bpd by 2016.
Expropriation measures, controls and legal uncertainty are the main factors hindering economic growth in Venezuela, said Rafael Alfonzo, the head of the Center for Dissemination of Economic Knowledge (Cedice-Libertad).
"A Castro-communist system is being established. It seeks to eliminate the private enterprise. With the elimination of the private sector, economic growth is not likely to occur."
Posted by: Steve White ||
11/21/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
I'm surprised they still have 15% to devalue.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
11/21/2010 15:05 Comments ||
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#1
If everyone else were able to follow Ventura's lead and aviation travel began to slump, security procedures would change rather rapidly I suspect. I have always thought the Gov's TSA procedures were a sign the enemy was, if only in a minor way, defeating us.
#5
Ventura is a drama queen. Must be nice going through airline security 4 times a week and just now have an epiphany.
It is called courtesy. Instead I get one rich lawyer hiding behind his current wife with a sad face and another rich lawyer telling me to suck it. This admin is a f@k up from the neck up. Congratulations, you have talked me out of my initial position. What say you Disney Corp, still running those cy young pics of Obama in four months?
#6
I am still going to travel, and I will decline the back scatter irradiating device. So they will have to touch my junk.
But these people need to remember, when the Nazi's tried to defend themselves by saying they were just following orders, they were hanged anyway.
And we are on our way to that point. I think a lot of these people working for these agencies believe they are immune from any backlash, they should not forget that their victims for the most part live where they do. Just food for thought.
Posted by: Secret Asian Man ||
11/21/2010 16:13 Comments ||
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#7
Everyone who is angry at the TSA procedures should keep in mind that it is only because of a certaion religion that this has to be done.
Everyone who criticizes TSA should also admit this.
Everyone who defends TSA should also admit this.
Then we might make some progress.
Posted by: Lord Garth ||
11/21/2010 18:02 Comments ||
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[Dawn] The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has submitted the preliminary investigation report pertaining to the attack on the Crime Investigation Department (CID) offices in Civil Lines in Bloody Karachi to the Interior Ministry.
The report concluded that the blast that struck the CID offices on November 11 killing at least 17 people was a suicide kaboom, sources said. The report further stated that the attack bore similarity to the one on the FIA building in Lahore.
Moreover, 400-500 kilograms of TNT was used in the attack, sources quoted the report as saying.
Furthermore, the report stated that Bloody Karachi has several groups that can stage an attack of this kind.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/21/2010 00:00 ||
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[Dawn] Pakistain said Saturday it would never allow any expansion in the campaign of drone strikes by the United States on its territory.
The Washington Post reported Friday that the US was seeking to expand the areas inside Pakistain where Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) unmanned aircraft -- used for surveillance and to launch missile strikes -- could operate.
"As for the reported suggestion by the US to carry out dronezaps beyond our tribal areas, Pakistain's position is very clear -- we would never allow this to happen," foreign ministry front man Abdul Basit told AFP.
"The Americans should rather revisit their dronezap policy and stop carrying out strikes in our tribal areas."
Washington has massively ramped up its drone campaign against Islamic fascistiin areas near the Afghan border over the past two months, and argues they are highly effective in the war against al Qaeda and its allies.
But the policy is deeply unpopular among the Pak public, who see military action on Pak soil as a breach of national illusory sovereignty and say some attacks have killed innocent civilians.
Citing unnamed US and Pak officials, The Washington Post said Friday that US officials were eyeing areas surrounding Quetta, where the leadership of the Afghan Taliban is believed to be hiding.
The request also sought to expand the boundaries for drone strikes in the tribal areas, the report said.
"We already have issues with American drone strikes, which are known to Washington," Basit said.
"These strikes violate our illusory sovereignty, cause collateral damage and above all are producing (a) drone-hardened generation."
Pakistain has repeatedly said there is no justification for the drone strikes, describing them as "counter-productive" and a violation of the country's illusory sovereignty.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/21/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
I haven't had a good drink in awhile so....
If drone strikes in Quetta are not acceptable....
what about a buff ArcLight Mission?
Posted by: Water Modem ||
11/21/2010 3:00 Comments ||
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#2
or a fleet of Q-F150's? Drinks in the O-Club!
Posted by: Frank G ||
11/21/2010 12:21 Comments ||
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BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: Al-Iraqiya bloc would hold an important meeting later on Saturday to settle on the cabinet portfolios it plans to demand in the new Iraqi government, a bloc member and legislator said on Saturday.
A consultative meeting is scheduled to be held today (Saturday) between al-Iraqiya and the National Dialogue bloc to take a final decision to agree on the ministerial posts it plans to select, Kadhem al-Shimari told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.
Shimari said that al-Iraqiya will get six to seven ministries that will be announced today, concentrating on the service ministries, such as municipalities, justice and agriculture.
He pointed out that his bloc would present broad services for citizens if it succeeds to get the relevant ministries.
Posted by: Steve White ||
11/21/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
The use of phosphorous against civilians is banned under international law. Israel admitted to using white phosphorous during the Gaza War two years ago, and the U.N. and human rights groups said that amounted to a war crime.
Sorry guys, no matter what "human rights groups" claim, there is a major difference between using between using smoke to screen movement or mark a position and using it as a chemical attack
[An Nahar] Diplomatic sources stated on Friday that Israel's decision to withdraw from Ghajar is aimed at cornering Hizbullah on the eve of the announcement of the indictment in the investigation into the liquidation of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
They told the Central News Agency that the withdrawal "is not an innocent decision at all."
"The silence on Leb's official front helps Israel's campaign against the Lebanese government," they added.
Meanwhile, ...back at the ranch... European diplomatic sources said that Israel aims to "corner Leb through cornering Hizbullah in order to deepen the division between the state and the party."
They noted that upon Israel's withdrawal, Hizbullah would attempt to infiltrate Ghajar while the Lebanese state would try to prevent it.
A Lebanese diplomatic source told the Central News Agency that Leb has not yet received from the U.N. Interim Force in Leb Israel's decision for withdrawal, adding that its timing is not related to political developments.
"Should it withdraw from Ghajar, the majority' position would be bolstered at the national dialogue, while the opposition would have to acknowledge the March 14 Those are the good guys, insofar as Leb has good guys... forces' choice to resort to diplomacy," it pointed out.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/21/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
ION ISRAEL NN > MAJORITY OF [Polled/Surveyed] PA ARABS SEE TWO-STATES AS A "TEMPORARY SOLUTION", on the road to the etablishment of a REAL ARAB STATE OF PALESTINE, by VIOLENT FORCE iff necessary + WHERE JEWISH ISRAEL NO LONGER EXISTS.
[An Nahar] President Michel Suleiman received on Friday a written letter from his American counterpart Barack B.O. Obama congratulating him on Leb's Independence Day.
The message was delivered to him on Friday by General James Mattis, the U.S. Central Command chief, during a meeting that included U.S. Ambassador to Leb Maura Connelly.
Mattis had pledged on Friday that his country would continue to support the Lebanese army, a week after Washington lifted a freeze on military aid to Beirut.
"General Mattis came to Leb to reiterate ... the U.S. government's position that the United States is committed to the continuity of (the Central Command's) relationship with the Lebanese army and to supporting legitimate institutions of the Lebanese state," the U.S. Embassy said.
The general "pledged to continue to support training and engagement assistance to the Lebanese army in order to build greater military capacity and deepen our relationship," it said in a statement.
"The U.S. believes its assistance to the LAF (Lebanese armed forces) contributes to improving regional stability."
Mattis arrived on Friday for a brief visit, his first to Leb, during which he met President Suleiman, Defense Minister Elias al-Murr and Lebanese army chief General Jean Qahwaji.
The chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Howard Berman, last week lifted a hold on 100 million dollars in military aid to Leb.
The United States has provided 720 million dollars in aid to the Lebanese army since 2005.
But U.S. aid to Leb's military was suspended following a deadly skirmish between the Lebanese and Israeli armies in August.
Berman said he had received assurances that assistance to the Lebanese army had not fallen into the hands of Hizbullah, which fought a devastating war against Israel in 2006.
But he expressed ongoing concern over tensions between Leb and Israel in the wake of the 2006 conflict.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/21/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
I thought the article talked about Saruman. My mistake.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
11/21/2010 14:29 Comments ||
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#2
No, this guy's name is Suleiman. You know, like Suleiman the Magnificent.
[An Nahar] Hizbullah secretary general's political adviser Hussein Khalil thanked on Saturday Free Patriotic Movement Despite its name a Christian party allied with Hizbullah, neither free nor particularly patriotic... leader MP Michel Aoun ...a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hizbullah... for "his great national positions towards Leb and the Resistance That'd be the Hezbullies, natch... that he issued from Gay Paree."
He made his statements after holding talks with the MP at the head of a Hizbullah delegation in Rabieh.
Khalil added that the recent amendments to the Special Tribunal for Leb's Rules of Evidence and Procedures "did not surprise us and they do not concern."
"We are still counting on the Arab and regional efforts, especially the Saudi-Syrian one, to save Leb from its ordeal and the American pressure on the STL aimed at speeding up the so-called indictment," he continued.
"We hope that the Arab efforts would precede all other opposing ones because it is possible that they would lead Leb to the unknown," he said.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/21/2010 00:00 ||
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[An Nahar] Free Patriotic Movement Despite its name a Christian party allied with Hizbullah, neither free nor particularly patriotic... leader MP Michel Aoun ...a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hizbullah... on Saturday noted that political parties in predominantly Christian areas do not posses stockpiles of weapons, contrary to "some areas in the North, where the presence of weapons is evident."
Addressing a student delegation from the Notre Dame University (NDU), Aoun said: "Should some problems erupt in some areas, (Internal) Security Forces along with the army are sufficient" to contain the situation.
"You may hear a lot of news that the Lebanese Forces A Christian political party founded by Bashir Gemayel, who was then bumped off when he was elected president of Leb... possesses arms ... but no one has anything, meaning that no one is capable of doing anything," Aoun added.
"Some areas are safer than others, where both (political) camps possess weapons."
However, The infamous However... as the FPM leader stressed that his party had no intention to create unrest, he also stressed that it is capable of "self-defense."
Posted by: Fred ||
11/21/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
The have been studying Tai Chi, and watched a bunch of old Kung Fu reruns.
A Lebanese diplomat told As Safir Saturday that until this day, Israel has yet to take a tangible step in its decision to withdraw from the northern section of the village of Ghajar.
Even if the withdrawal does take place and the U.N. Interim Force in Leb is deployed there, the Lebanese state will not consider the mission complete until the Lebanese army is deployed in the village, it added.
The withdrawal process first takes place with Israel's pull out, which would be followed by UNIFIL deployment on the same day where it would check that the occupying troops had truly withdrawn from the village.
The following day, the Lebanese army would enter the liberated area, the source continued.
It noted that Israel's withdraw does not mean that it has fulfilled its commitments to international resolutions seeing as it is still obligated to withdraw from the Shabaa Farms and respect Leb's illusory sovereignty by ending its daily air, land, and sea violations against Leb and dismantling its spy networks in the country.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/21/2010 00:00 ||
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
previous attempts to train Somali military recruits have seen them swap sides and join the pirates or Islamic insurgents
