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1,400 French soldiers in Mali for ground assaults: minister
Today's Headlines
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Page 1: WoT Operations
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Page 4: Opinion
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Page 6: Politix
7 22:17 Barbara [336092]
23 18:31 JohnQC [336096]
-Lurid Crime Tales-
Fast & Furious: Man claims to have shot BP Agent Brian Terry
Posted by: Besoeker || 01/18/2013 02:53 || Comments || Link || [336074 views] Top|| File under:

#1  But who put the guns in his hands?
Posted by: JohnQC || 01/18/2013 12:14 Comments || Top||

#2  more like who will put the gun to the back of his head before he makes it to trial?
Posted by: Broadhead6 || 01/18/2013 12:55 Comments || Top||

#3  The question is, who's paying him now to turn himself in?
Posted by: Pappy || 01/18/2013 14:40 Comments || Top||

#4  ...and the weapons used Gustavo, can you tell us more about your weapons.
Posted by: Besoeker || 01/18/2013 14:42 Comments || Top||


Africa Horn
Over 100 people killed, 70,000 displaced in Sudan's fresh tribal clashes

[Xinhua] Over 100 people were killed and about 70,000 others displaced in recent tribal festivities between the Arab Abballa and Beni Hussein tribes in Jabel Amir area of Sudan's North Darfur state, the United Nations
...an international organization whose stated aims of facilitating interational security involves making sure that nobody with live ammo is offended unless it's a civilized country...
-African Union
...a union consisting of 53 African states, most run by dictators of one flavor or another. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established in 2002, the AU is the successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was even less successful...
Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) said in a statement on Thursday.

"According to Government figures, an estimated 70,000 people have been displaced and more than 100 killed since the festivities broke out," the statement said.

The mission reiterated commitment to work with all parties to tackle humanitarian needs, saying that "UNAMID is committed to engaging with all stakeholders to address the current humanitarian needs of thousands of civilians who were displaced in the North Darfur villages of Saraf Omra, Kabkabya and El Sereif."

UNAMID deployed a team, consisting of civilian, military and police personnel, to the three affected areas, the statement said, adding that "the team found evidence of mass displacement, including those displaced from their homes in villages around El Sereif, along with workers who said they had fled from the work sites at the Jabel Amir gold mines as a result of the fighting."

Meanwhile,
...back at the wrecked scow, Harrigan had lost the feeling in his legs from the cold. I told 'em they'd never take me alive, he thought. I was right!...
UNAMID Acting Joint Special Representative and Joint Chief Mediator Aichatou Mindaoudou urged all concerned parties in the region to facilitate the work of the mission.

"I urge all parties to enable both UNAMID, UN agencies and their humanitarian partners to be given full access to all areas of Darfur, so affected populations can receive needed protection and assistance," Mindaoudou was quoted by the statement as saying.
Posted by: Fred || 01/18/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336071 views] Top|| File under:


Africa Subsaharan
Ensure safety of envoys, US tells Zim
Washington - The United States on Thursday called on Zimbabwe to ensure the safety of its diplomatic staff
when they are giving handouts
after the US ambassador was prevented from giving a speech in the eastern city of Mutare (formerly Umtari).

Ambassador Bruce Wharton had been on his first visit to Manicaland province to observe USAID projects and meet with business people on Wednesday, and had been due to give a speech at a library, the State Department said.
Another Library speech? Yikes!
He was met by about 130 supporters of President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party, and spent "about 15 to 20 minutes listening to their chanting and carping, but the protesters refused to engage in constructive conversation", the statement said.

He did not manage to give his speech.
However, Bruce did manage to get out alive.
Posted by: Spereng Crinemble9387 || 01/18/2013 03:06 || Comments || Link || [336074 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Jeez, it's only taken since 1981 or so to tell you to get tf outa there.
Posted by: Injun Stalin7884 || 01/18/2013 14:01 Comments || Top||


Gabgbo's youth leader Goudé arrested in Ghana
[FRANCE24] Charles Ble Goude, a former youth leader and close ally of Ivory Coast's ex-president and international war crimes defendant Laurent Gbagbo
... Former President-for-Life of Ivory Coast from 2000 to 2011. Laurent lost to Alassane Ouattara in 2010 but his representtive tore up the results on the teevee and he refused to vacate the presidential palace. French troops assisted the Oattara forces in extricating him from his Fuhrerbunker...
, was jugged
Book 'im, Mahmoud!
in neighbouring Ghana on Thursday, a Ghanaian official and exiled Gbagbo supporters said.

As head of the Young Patriots street militia, Ble Goude was a powerful member of the old regime. He rose to become minister of youth before fleeing at the end of a civil war sparked by Gbagbo's refusal to accept a 2010 election defeat to Alassane Ouattara
...the current president-for-life of Ivory Coast. He actually beat his predecessor in an election before having to eject him from the presidential palazzo....
"I can confirm that we have arrested someone we believe is the former Ivorian youth minister," Larry Gbevlo-Lartey, Ghana's national security coordinator, told Rooters.

"There's a warrant for his arrest and we have been looking for him for sometime now. We're taking him through the process and we'll later hand him over," he said.

Ble Goude is wanted by Ivorian authorities for alleged kidnappings, illegal detentions, torture, incitement of hatred and economic crimes while a member of Gbagbo's inner circle.

He is currently also subject to United Nations
...what started out as a a diplomatic initiative, now trying to edge its way into legislative, judicial, and executive areas...
-imposed sanctions including a travel ban and asset freeze.

Exiled Gbagbo supporters living in La Belle France and Ghana said Ble Goude was arrested in the capital Accra around 8 AM (0800 GMT) by eight Ghanaian and Ivorian plain-clothes coppers. They said he was being incarcerated
Drop the rod and step away witcher hands up!
at the headquarters of Ghana's Bureau of National Investigations.

"We are deeply worried, because he was in Ghana where he was living underground. We fear there will be an extradition demand," Alain Toussaint, a former front man for Gbagbo now living in La Belle France, told Rooters.

Most top military and political officials from Gbagbo's regime were killed, are in jail in Ivory Coast or now living in exile, many of them in Ghana.

While Ghanaian police last year arrested former budget minister Justin Kone Katinan, Ivory Coast's request for his extradition has been stuck in the courts for months.

Ghana has previously stated it considers the exiles to be refugees and has yet to extradite any Gbagbo supporters.

Gbagbo was captured by French-backed fighters loyal to Ouattara as the post-election violence drew to a close in April 2011. He is now awaiting trial before the International Criminal Court
... where Milosevich died of old age before being convicted ...
in The Hague on charges that he was responsible for crimes against humanity during the post-election bloodshed.
Posted by: Fred || 01/18/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336071 views] Top|| File under:


Caribbean-Latin America
ICE helps take down huge Mex slave and prostitution ring
For a given definition of huge, anyway. But still, kudos to all involved.
Posted by: Besoeker || 01/18/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336069 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Additional
Posted by: Besoeker || 01/18/2013 2:49 Comments || Top||

#2  Like successful self defense with guns, be sure to watch while the MSM propaganda wing of those who support illegal immigration make sure this doesn't get the coverage it deserves.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 01/18/2013 10:26 Comments || Top||

#3  Good. As long as it isn't a catch and release program. In the past, the Feds haven't been too responsive to local law enforcement busts when it comes to immigration.
Posted by: JohnQC || 01/18/2013 11:02 Comments || Top||

#4  A pity ACORN isn't atill around in its original form -- think of the government loans that brothel keeper could've gotten!
Posted by: trailing wife || 01/18/2013 11:56 Comments || Top||

#5  Maybe that's why they were busted TW. When that ACORN-inspired revenue source dried up they were unable to write anymore checks for -er- contributions.
Posted by: CrazyFool || 01/18/2013 12:06 Comments || Top||

#6  68 less democratic voters...FLA DP is displeased...
Posted by: Broadhead6 || 01/18/2013 12:57 Comments || Top||


Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Ballet dancers acting badly
The artistic director of Russia's Bolshoi Theatre, Sergei Filin, is being treated in a Moscow hospital for severe burns to his face after a masked man threw acid in his face, police say.

The attack happened late on Thursday as Mr Filin, an award-winning ballet star, was walking home in central Moscow.

Doctors are now fighting to save his eyesight and Interfax news agency says he will be sent to a clinic abroad.

A Bolshoi spokesman said Mr Filin, 42, had suffered months of threats.

The BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Moscow says it is suspected that he was the victim of infighting and rows between different groups of dancers at the Bolshoi.
Posted by: tipper || 01/18/2013 10:25 || Comments || Link || [336108 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Infighting between groups of dancers? The Russian way--kind of like the Chicago way (except the concrete boots and a swim in Lake Michigan are missing).
Posted by: JohnQC || 01/18/2013 10:34 Comments || Top||

#2  And that's just the ballerinas . . . .
Posted by: gorb || 01/18/2013 13:40 Comments || Top||

#3  "when you're a Jet, you're a Jet all the wayyyy..!"
Posted by: Frank G || 01/18/2013 14:13 Comments || Top||

#4  From your first Pirouette to your last Dying Swan,
Your never alone, there's always someone creepy...

:)
Posted by: Shipman || 01/18/2013 16:28 Comments || Top||

#5  "Let's go Sharkss! Time to teach these brutess a lesson!"
Posted by: swksvolFF || 01/18/2013 16:33 Comments || Top||

#6  *giggle*
Posted by: trailing wife || 01/18/2013 23:16 Comments || Top||


Economy
Boeing scrambles to find fix so planes can fly
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 01/18/2013 11:41 || Comments || Link || [336101 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Quite a lively comments discussion in the article at the Seattle Times link.
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 01/18/2013 20:27 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Not enough evidence to arrest PM Ashraf, NAB chairman tells SC
[Dawn] Pakistain's top court on Thursday adjourned until Jan 23 a case alleging corruption by the prime minister, after the chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) said he lacked evidence to arrest him.

A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, was hearing the Rental Power Projects (RPP) case.

The chief justice asked the National Accountability Bureau to report again on progress in the long-running case after its chairman said there was not yet enough evidence to arrest Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and 15 others.

The court had asked NAB chairman Fasih Bokhari to bring the NAB's record on the rental power projects case, expressing dissatisfaction over a report submitted by the bureau relating to the implementation of the court's 2012 verdict on the power projects.

On Tuesday, the court had ordered the arrest of PM Ashraf and 15 others allegedly receiving kickbacks and commission in transactions involving rental power plants when Ashraf served as federal minister for water and power.

During today's hearing, the chief justice remarked that the court had issued the order for all those accused in the case and not just for the prime minister.
Posted by: Fred || 01/18/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336068 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan

#1  Officer probing PM graft case dead
A Pakistani officer investigating a corruption case against the prime minister was found dead in the country’s capital Friday in what was likely an act of suicide, police said.

The body of Kamran Faisal was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his room at a government dorm in Islamabad, according to senior police officer Bani Yamin.

“Apparently it seems he committed suicide, but we are sending his body for autopsy to determine the cause of death,” Yamin said.

Faisal’s death came days after the Supreme Court ordered the arrest of Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and 15 others in connection with an old corruption case that the officer was investigating.

The prime minister was implicated in the case when he was minister of water and power. At the time, he oversaw the import of short-term power stations that cost the government millions of dollars but produced little energy.

Ashraf has denied the charges against him.
Posted by: tipper || 01/18/2013 10:40 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Culture Wars
How US Cities are Lining Up $$ for Climate Change
From my civil engineering daily news blog
A new report by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives highlights twenty local government across the country that are taking the initiative to combat global warming.

The report follows up an earlier survey ICLEI did of 298 American cities, which found that 74 percent had perceived changes in the climate -- including increased storm intensity, higher temperatures, and more precipitation.
That's weather, you saps, not climate!
Almost two-thirds are pursuing adaptation planning for climate change, compared to 68 percent globally, and virtually all U.S. cities report difficulties acquiring funding for adaptation efforts.
More money for more projects!
Only Latin American cities reported similar levels of difficulty.) And over one-third of U.S. cities said the federal government does not understand the realities of climate change adaptation.
Because the Feds have enough money troubles of their own.
Several examples from ICLEI's new report on local adaptation efforts include:

New York City, NY shouldered 43 deaths and $19 billion in damage from Superstorm Sandy. The city's sustainability plan, PlaNYC, includes $2.4 billion in green infrastructure to capture rainwater through natural methods before it can flood. New York is requiring climate risk assessments for new developments in vulnerable areas, as is restoring 127 acres of wetlands that serve as a natural storm barrier.
More examples and more links, if you're reslly interested.
Posted by: Bobby || 01/18/2013 14:38 || Comments || Link || [336097 views] Top|| File under:

#1  They need the money. They don't care what it's for.
Posted by: Iblis || 01/18/2013 16:51 Comments || Top||

#2  Bobby, how many of the initiatives are common sense responses to the fact that weather can be destructive, and how many are Chicken Little "The sky is falling!!!1!" expensive absurdities?
Posted by: trailing wife || 01/18/2013 16:58 Comments || Top||

#3  ...and virtually all U.S. cities report difficulties acquiring funding for adaptation efforts.

Hmmmmmmm. Perhaps the people smell...bullshit?
Posted by: tu3031 || 01/18/2013 19:18 Comments || Top||

#4  Wait till the Yellowstone Platea blows again. That will end the climate change discussion.
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 01/18/2013 20:32 Comments || Top||

#5  You Mean Obama Shit?

Yup. Stinks don't it. Just like Chronyism.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 01/18/2013 20:32 Comments || Top||

#6  tell me again how your major municipalities will "tackle" Climate Change? Increase funding to....?

I bet we both know the answer to that
Posted by: Frank G || 01/18/2013 21:55 Comments || Top||



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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.
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Two weeks of WOT
Fri 2013-01-18
  1,400 French soldiers in Mali for ground assaults: minister
Thu 2013-01-17
  41 snatched by AQIM in Algeria gas plant attack
Wed 2013-01-16
  France deploys armoured vehicles towards northern Mali
Tue 2013-01-15
  Pakistan paralysed after court demands PM arrest
Mon 2013-01-14
  Famed Tunisia Mausoleum Torched by Salafists
Sun 2013-01-13
  19 Killed in Failed French Raid to Free Somalia Hostage
Sat 2013-01-12
  French commandos attack al-Shabab base, explosions, gunfire heard
Fri 2013-01-11
  France confirms Mali intervention
Thu 2013-01-10
  Taliban suspects arrested over Karachi polio killings
Wed 2013-01-09
  Indonesia Foils Terror Plot on Tourist Spots
Tue 2013-01-08
  US drone attack kills four in North Waziristan
Mon 2013-01-07
  Syria Opposition Rejects Assad's Reconciliation Plan
Sun 2013-01-06
  Dronezap in South Wazoo send 18 TTP Jihadis to their rewards
Sat 2013-01-05
  Syria jets, troops wage offensive on rebels near capital
Fri 2013-01-04
  New U.S. Drone Strike Kills Three Qaida Suspects in Yemen

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