Found this nifty story on a visit to Chuck Simmins' crib. Thanks Chuck!
Lord Stanley's Cup stood sentry over the proceedings from a shaded stoop nearby as Team Canada took on a badly outmatched Team Task Force in front of more than 100 Canadian and coalition soldiers at Kandahar Airfield.
Down by several goals, Cpl. Mike Loder of the 2nd Royal Newfoundland Regiment in Grand Falls-Windsor, N.L., tried to rally his troops by getting into a scuffle with [Tiger] Williams, the legendary Toronto Maple Leafs tough guy who's never shied away from a fight. "I knew he was one of the harder Toronto Maple Leafs to ever play the game, and one of my definite idols," a beaming Loder said afterwards, dripping with sweat under the typically oppressive Afghanistan sun. "As we were picking at each other, I kind of figured he wanted to go for a little brawl."
The fight, such as it was - and Tiger wasn't pulling his punches, Loder said - was no less one-sided than the game. "He made more contact than me, I think," Loder grinned. "This is Tiger - he'd really do it. That's good, though."
For his part, a tongue-in-cheek Williams was less than apologetic. "You ever heard of a camel fly? They bite you in the face . . . I was just trying to wipe it off, but he didn't realize I was coming to his aid," he said as he signed autographs and posed for photos with fans. "It's OK. He's young, he'll learn as things go on. But he's battle-ready, I'll tell you that."
Between his shifts, former Toronto Maple Leafs defender Dave Hutchinson provided a running play-by-play commentary for Terry Kelly, a blind singer-songwriter from Newfoundland who sang the national anthem. And so untested was Tugnutt, the former goaltender for the defunct Quebec Nordiques, that he placed an order for an iced cappuccino from Tim Hortons that was delivered to his net midway through the third period.
Canada's top soldier, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Rick Hillier, had been talking about suiting up and doing battle on a line with Williams and another well-known tough guy, former Detroit Red Wings forward Bob Probert. But even though he was kitted out in a Team Task Force jersey with his name on the back, Hillier opted to settle for dropping the ball during the ceremonial opening faceoff. "We got a whole bunch of young men here - it's all men on our Task Force Afghanistan team - this is the experience of their lives to be playing the NHL players, their sports heroes, and I didn't want to take even a second away from them doing that," Hillier said. "I'm quite content to watch here - I've got my sweater on, as you can see - and they know which team I'm cheering for."
Williams, who is on his second visit to Afghanistan, appeared to get a little emotional when he talked about the sacrifices Canada's soldiers are making - and about what he considers a shortage of support from the home front. "You don't have to agree with what's going on, but you do have to support them, because they're our soldiers and we all should be very proud of them," he said. "To see the conditions that they have to put up with every day, the heat and the dust, never mind all the stuff that you could come home in a bag . . . it's tough. It's a tough deal."
Mark Napier, a two-time Stanley Cup winner who scored 235 goals with four different teams during his 11-year NHL career, conceded the teams weren't very evenly matched. But he said the experience of visiting Afghanistan has been one he's never likely to forget. "Back home in Canada, you hear so many negative things about the military, and now you get here and find out it's not even close to what's portrayed back home," Napier said. "I'm so proud of being a Canadian and of what this military does, and how good they are." He rejected praise that the former NHLers had sacrificed much in coming to Afghanistan to put up with the oppressive heat and difficult conditions - noting those are things the soldiers put up with on a daily basis. "I've never played in anything this hot," he said. "I've never had so much fun, either."
Mogadishu's new mayor has used his swearing-in ceremony to ask residents of Somalia's capital to hand in their weapons and help the country's fragile interim government. Mohamed Dheere - a warlord who has fought to gain control of the city for more than a decade - said in his speech on Friday that anyone who refused to disarm would be punished. "No weapons are allowed in the city," he said. "Anyone who violates this directive will be punished."
He was sworn-in a mayor shortly after Somalia's interim government and its Ethiopian allies succeeded in imposing a state of relative calm on the east African nation's wartorn, seaside capital. Over the last month Somalia's government has cut a peace deal with rival tribal factions which ended some of the worst of the violence.
At the same time, a major military offensive by the Ethiopian army succeeded in infliciting substantial damage on followers of the Islamic Courts Union - a well-armed opposition movement which briefly controlled Mogadishu and large parts of Somalia at the end of 2006.
This article starring:
Mohamed Dheere
Islamic Courts Union
Posted by: Fred ||
05/06/2007 00:00 ||
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"No weapons are allowed in the city," he said. "Anyone who violates this directive will be punished."
(Except me and mine of course)
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
05/06/2007 16:22 Comments ||
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A former Islamic militant has disclosed for the first time the extent of the Al-Qaeda terror network in Britain.
Hassan Butt, who was stabbed in the street recently after publicly denouncing fundamentalist violence, revealed that more than 100 jihadis held an Al-Qaeda summit in London four years ago to coordinate their British activities into a single force.
Among those present was Mohammed Junaid Babar, a US citizen who later became a supergrass after being arrested by the FBI. His evidence was crucial to the conviction last week of the Islamist Crevice gang, who had plotted to set off bombs in among other targets the Bluewater shopping mall in Kent and the Ministry of Sound nightclub in London.
#4
Butt who was stabbed and beaten up near his home in Manchester last month after saying on American television that violence was a cancer in Islam is prepared for further serious reprisals.
Clean out the whole nest. Manchester does not need a single muslim.
Riot police in Paris fired tear gas into crowds which gathered after Nicolas Sarkozy's presidential election victory.
The disturbances happened at the Place de la Bastille, a popular hub for demonstrations and strikes. Thousands of police have been deployed in the capital and its suburbs. Railway stations are also under high surveillance in case gangs of youths travel to disrupt victory festivities.
The trouble followed news that Sarkozy - a right-wing Conservative - is thought to have beaten socialist Segolene Royal by six points to replace Jacques Chirac. Sarkozy - who in his victory speech vowed to represent all of France - said: "The French people have chosen change. They have decided to break with the ideas and habits of the past. I will rehabilitate work, authority, morality, respect, merit. I will restore honour to the nation and national identity - I will bring French pride back to the French people."
In Lille, just before 22h00, around 200 anarchists French youths with black flags grouped around the Grand Place and chanted "Fascist Sarko, the people will have your hide". After pelting riot police, the demonstrators were dispersed. One demonstrator was injured. Firemen in the south of Lille have answered 20 alarms for torched vehicles. Around 100 demonstrators grouped around the Place Kléber in Strasbourg slightly after 21h00 and chanted "Sarkozy fasciste".
#3
So you're calling for the death of a popularly elected leader, before he's even in office mind you, and claiming the right to violently install someone more to your liking, and he's the fascist?
Posted by: Baba Tutu ||
05/06/2007 21:49 Comments ||
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Once Sarkosy is installed in office, I hope he has the courage to call out France's equivalent of the National Guard or even its own military to put down further Muslim discord. Be it armed response, curfews or even mass arrests, the French people need to have it demonstrated to them that what is French is worth preserving. Such actions might stiffen what little backbone there is that still remains. Moreover, typical Muslim intolerence must be met with even greater levels of severity in order to re-establish the pecking order. Anything less will merely continue the status quo.
US President George W. Bush telephoned France's new president-elect Nicolas Sarkozy to congratulate him on his victory in Sunday's presidential election, a White House spokesman said.
"President Bush called President-elect Nicolas Sarkozy to congratulate him on his victory," said Gordon Johndroe, spokeman for the White House National Security Council. "The United States and France are historic allies and partners. President Bush looks forward to working with President-elect Sarkozy as we continue our strong alliance."
#4
While I do not envy Sarkosy the tasks that confront him, he has the chance to build a legacy unheard of since De Gaulle. If he can subdue the banlieus and put an end to Muslim led violence, all France should kiss his ass feet.
#5
That wasn't violence, that was the gnashing of teeth and rending of garments at Democrat National Committee HQ..
They're running out of weasel holes to hide in. Before November they said Bush should listen to the generals. Now they won't listen to Petraeus let alone give him a hearing. They've whined about getting the approval of other nations, i.e. France. Now watch as that excuse rant disappears below the surface, too.
What's left? A Munich signed agreement with Syria and Iran for a formal alliance?
#9
Good luck Nic. Yer gonna need a lot of it. Maybe the U.S. can help you with the task of taking your country back. I'm sure their are plenty of people in the military that would much appreciate an invite to invade France and free it again.
#10
The notion of all the lefties around the world who are having stomach pains this evening is giving me the warm fuzzies, soon to be augmented by several drams of The Good Stuff...
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
05/06/2007 19:39 Comments ||
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I feel a strange urge to bond intimately with Sarko supporters, thanks, John Frum :-)
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/06/2007 19:44 Comments ||
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#12
Let's see.
To the North, Canada.. Conservative.
To the South, Mexico.. Conservative.
Germany.. Conservative.
France.. Conservative.
Oh my, I'd say that's a "trend".
Place your bets on the UK now.
Congratulations France.
Posted by: get your gun lb ||
05/06/2007 20:14 Comments ||
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The other day Britain's Conservatives came out ahead against the Labour Party in local elections, get your gun lb. I imagine the sports aren't getting good odds on Labour for the next Parliamentary election, even though apparently they don't have inspirational leaders.
#14
Now, if we can add a conservative U.S. President to that list, we'll be in good shape.
Posted by: Mike N. ||
05/06/2007 20:55 Comments ||
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#12, don't forget about CHINA, as MAOISM as originally premised by MAO TSE-TUNG/ZEDHONG is ideo closer to RIGHTIST CONSERVATISM, including "FASCISM" or ULTRA-RIGHT SOCIALISM
=GOVTISM, than to the Leftist forms. Mao went off the track when he + his top clique started listening to STALIN's rants agz the USA-West. Post-USSR, the Lefties includ Commies now recognize the need for national-global MATERIALISM + CONSUMERISM, etc. [by definition CAPITALISM] WHICH THEY NEVER WOULD HAVE ACHIEVED UNDER COLD WAR LEFTIST-COMMIE TOTALITARIANISM. ANGRY LEFT > one major reason for on-going intra-Lefty internal disension is factionalism between traditional anti-Materialists versus those in favor of Materialism.
MUSLIM radicals have established their own draconian court systems in Britain. Controversial Sharia courts have been set up in major towns and cities to impose Islamic law and enable Muslims to shun the legitimate British legal system.
Last night religious leaders and politicians expressed outrage that Sharia law is gaining an increasing foothold in our society. Critics insisted that the Government is allowing a two-tier legal system to flourish in the name of political correctness and that the authority of UK justice is being undermined.
The Daily Express can reveal that one of the controversial courts has been set up in the home town of the 7/7 London bombings ringleader. Mohammed Siddique Khan was responsible for the Edgware Road Circle Line explosion which killed six people and injured 120. Our investigation has found that the Sharia court system has been set up in the heart of Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, and that it is a model for others across the country which are operating outside the British legal process.
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#1
I was twice in UK and read some history. From my experience Britts are a bit slow and laid back, and it takes some time to piss them off. But, when they are realy pissed, they are determined to resolve the problem by any means.
#3
Brits, time to nip this sh*t in the bud. Sharia law needs to be banned in Britain as subversive and a threat to the established government. Sharia law needs to be outlawed as a threat to human rights. Next thing you know, the Islamics will want to try you under their law in your country.
#4
The Dewsbury court is called the Sharee Council another term for Sharia and operates as a Muslim judiciary making decisions by which attendees must abide. In many countries, hard-line interpretations of the Islamic law allow people to be stoned to death, beheaded or have their limbs amputated. Non-Muslims are excluded from the secretive court which is registered as a charity to receive Britishtaxbenefits.
Charitable status allows the organisation to claim tax relief and apply for government grants and trustee funding. Between April 1999 and April 2004 its gross annual turnover rocketed from £2,500 to above £177,000. At the end of the last financial year it recorded total funds of £255,000 but it is not known if or how it charges for use of the service.
Just another Islamic obscenity masquerading as reality.
BAN SHARIA LAW, NOW! This star chamber of horrors is a legal abomination and must be proscribed in all Western countries. To allow this Neanderthal code the least vestige of legal credibility is to relenquish authority over to barbaric savages.
The West must become increasingly unfriendly to Muslims if it wishes to survive. There is no reciprocity with Islam. It is an all or nothing proposition that promises complete disaster for this world's non-Muslim population. How it is that this remains entirely unclear to so many of our politicians is something for future criminal courts to decide.
#5
Don't they have laws about practicing law without proper authority? How about impersonating a barrister or a judge? Prosecute them. Lock them up and throw away the key. Oh, and make sure the toilets in their jail cells face Mecca.
#6
That's how they do it. Stick the knife in a bit at a time so the intended victim can get used to dying a bit at a time instead of all at once. Denial is key here.
The French polls prolly close around 2 or three o'clock Rantburg Daylight Server Time (RDST). France has made itself a very hard bed, now comes the time to lie in it. Let's keep it civil here, our French posters have been very tolerant of our barbs and jabs, and I for one value their involvement and viewpoints, and wish them and their country well. Wake up France, it is time to light the beacon of liberte once more. Liberte of conscience, liberte of thought, liberte to vote for someone other than a socialist for once in your jaded lives. :)
#1
If la belle France has had the wisdom to elect Sarkosy, it will be the first truly significant indication of a national will to survive. The Gallic legacy of artistic achievement, culinary transcendency and scientific endeavor is well worth preserving, but it first and foremost must be done by the French themselves. Such an effort will require shaking off several decades of collective delusion and adversarial posturing which has done great damage both internally and abroad.
#2
I will be up watching the Euro coverage live. I'll post any comments here.
I've never had a problem with the French people, but its political class. Guys like Chirac, who would probably be in the pokey if he weren't president from corruption charges from his Paris mayorship, to Villepin, who's never been elected by the people to anything.
The police and counterintelligence units are first rate, and there's been a lot of cooperation on that level between the U.S. and France.
Any indignation I had over those first two individuals, and France, evaporated when Sarkosy had the stones to call a spade a spade during the suburbian riots.
France will vote tonight for a sea-change or a continuation of its current course.
#3
Well said, folks. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Hey! Could this be a turning point for the Islamic Crusaders?
Posted by: Bobby ||
05/06/2007 7:50 Comments ||
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3,000 cops deploy in Paris
just the beginning of Sarko's police state and barbarity
/Royal rant
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/06/2007 8:41 Comments ||
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Being British, I cannot say we have done any better in confronting domestic islamism. In fact, in some ways I am more optimistic the French will show a firm hand when the time finally comes.
That said, France has a long history of grotesque antisemitism - in England this is limited to the chattering classes in the media, the universities and old guard Tories - which prevents them from siding with Israel. And French notions of gloire continue to see unilateral intervention in Africa and elsewhere and a simple-minded opposition to the Anglosphere at all points. Frankly, if the French can only decide to get out of the way at the UN this will be an enormous improvement.
And I would, of course, whole-heartedly and enthusiastically welcome a France which decided to side with democracy and human rights and with arm force when necessary. The Crusades were born at the Council of Clermont in France. Were a new Crusade to be declared in France it would make up for all prevarication and obstruction that have ever been born there.
#6
The France has too many similarities to Estonia these days to treat it as a coincidence.
FR is mobiliznig to resist the islamist aggressors, while EST the russian aggressors who came not as refugees but as occupants.
Upon victory of Sarko, riots are threatened - while on May 9, the communism fans (mainly russian) inside and from outside EST are mobilizing to overthrow the existing EST government, emails circulating about armed resistance these days.
Question is, has it always been better to observe the things from a distance (or collaborating like naive Chamberlain with treaty signed with nazi Germany in 1936-40) until the double trouble is imminent. It has been easier to silently observe, indeed, just with a cost of solution being multiplied and solution shifted into future.
Another question is, how riots in France (I am 99% sure that they will be triggered) will shadow the unrest and russian imperialistic acts in Estonia.
#11
Good thoughts, Seafarious. The French voters have done their part. Time spent gratuitously insulting the French would be better spent ensuring the election of a capable commander-in-chief in our next elections. Thanks to all from France and elsewhere who take the time to contribute and help us understand what is going on around the world - without the MSM filters.
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/06/2007 20:15 ||
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FREEREPUBLIC > HILLARY'S FRENCH LESSION [Dick Morris]. In USA, women typically vote to the left of men, in France men vote to the left of women. Hopefully, MORRIS, FRANCE = EUROS has finally recognized the merits of Amer's model of democratic individualism, which has resulted in pervasive, continuing Amer prosperity and influence, versus the OVER-REGULATED, OVER-TAXED, STAGNANT=STATIST FRENCH-EURO MODEL(S). SSSSSHHHHHHHHH, YOU JUST KNOW ITS DUBYA'S FAULT SARKOZY WON.
Thompson's Politics Much Like McCain's
But Unlike the Senator, Actor Is GOP's Darling
Washington Post Sunday, May 6, 2007; Page A01 Front page "news", right? Hey, I consider this an "Opinion" piece, but the Washington Post considers it Front Page News. Who am I to argue?
You can't buy this kind of advertising.
Fred Thompson fervently backed the Iraq war, railed against an expanding federal government, took stands that occasionally annoyed his party and rarely spoke about his views on social issues during his tenure as a senator from Tennessee or in his writings and speeches since leaving office. What else do inquiring minds need to know? What's up with Obama?
No wonder I like this man.
In short, the man some in the GOP are touting as a dream candidate has often sounded like the presidential hopeful many of them seem ready to dismiss: Sen. John McCain (Ariz.).
With some in the party clamoring for an alternative to their current field of presidential contenders and Thompson's allies hinting strongly that he will run, 400 conservatives flocked to Newport Beach, Calif., on Friday night to hear the actor-turned-politician-turned-actor address the annual dinner of the Lincoln Club of Orange County, a group that credits itself with pushing Ronald Reagan to run for governor of California in the 1960s. Thompson delivered a vision of cutting taxes, reducing the size of government, overhauling Social Security and staying in Iraq until "there is some semblance of stability."
He also called for "reform-minded, change-minded leaders," a profile that McCain -- whom Thompson described as "a man of the highest integrity and courage" in 1999 when he co-chaired the Arizonan's presidential run -- has worked hard to lay claim to over the past decade. Thompson was one of only four GOP senators to back McCain's bid in 2000, and a former aide to the Tennessean said McCain "was far and away his best friend in the Senate." Thompson/McCain? Kinda catchy.
Posted by: Bobby ||
05/06/2007 07:16 ||
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wonder how the WaPo found out what GOPers think. God knows there's none in that newsroom! Expect to see a lot of poorly thought out/poorly written hit pieces on Fred T. They're deathly afraid of him. I actually saw one piece of shit article that said he, in between a divorce and marriage, actually......dated women! The horror!
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/06/2007 8:38 Comments ||
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What the left fails to understand is that so much of what gives them hives are the exact things that make people like me think Thompson is the man. Cuban cigars, heavy chested blondes and Texan plain speaking are exactly what the President of the United States needs. We need a man who is going to lay into the jihadis with both fists.
#4
I love the fact that the left is wetting themselves in terror over this man, and he isn't even running yet.
The fits they will throw if/when he does run will be of mythical proportions. Instead of BDS we have now, it will be TDS.
Tens of thousands of supporters lined the roads and showered rose petals on Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Saturday as he travelled from Islamabad to Lahore via GT Road to address a reception of the Lahore High Court Bar Association.
The chief justice, sitting in a vehicle driven by his lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan, set out from Islamabad in a convoy of around 30 cars displaying black flags at around 7:45am, ignoring the governments advice that he travel by road. The convoy had swelled to over 200 cars and was several kilometres long by the time it reached Ravi Bridge at around 5:00am on Sunday morning, a journey that would normally take four hours taking almost 21 hours. Thousands of opposition supporters and lawyers stayed up all night in anticipation and still thronged the Lahore High Court building and areas surrounding it on The Mall as they waited for his address.
The convoy was repeatedly held up along the way by crowds of supporters in Rawalpindi, Mandar, Gujjar Khan, Jehlum, Kharian, Lala Musa, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Kamoke, Muridke and Kala Shah Kaku.
Lawyers and opposition activists welcomed the convoy at each place, thousands lining the streets and chanting anti-government slogans, playing drums and setting off fireworks. Jubilant supporters clutching their children struggled through a boisterous crowd in Gujranwala to see Justice Chaudhry as his car passed by. In Gujrat city, a white horse pranced in front of his car and fireworks exploded as his convoy edged through the crowds. Speaking to reporters outside the CJPs residence, Ahsan said that two government vehicles with electronic jamming equipment had been deputed to travel with the chief justices convoy to block mobile phone communication and television transmissions.
Islamabad police diverted traffic on Islamabad Highway to other routes and escorted the convoy of the CJP up to Karal Chowk, where security duties were transferred to Punjab police. As the CJPs convoy neared Sawan Bridge, a gas pipeline burst and caught fire. The CJPs supporters termed it an attempt by government agencies to scare people accompanying the chief justice. However, the government said it was an accident. An SNGPL team later extinguished the fire.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/06/2007 00:00 ||
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I can't see that pic without remembering a comment (by Raj?): "he's baked!"
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/06/2007 8:55 Comments ||
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Muhammad Bashar al-Faydi the official spokesman for the Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq (AMSI) evaluated Sharm al-Sheikh conference as a failure. He called Iraqis to not expect benefit from the conference in the special interview with Arabs Today. We consider Sharm al-Sheikh conference is a final attempt by the international community and the occupation forces to support this government. So we do not see anything in this step, just a failure. It is not possible to expect hope from this conference to get Iraq out of crisis." Told al-Faydi.
Sheikh al-Faydi said that the international community is trying to remove the current government which is involved committing crimes against the Iraqi people from the crisis and supports those crimes in every way. He said, "Unfortunately, the international community is trying every effort to support this government which is accused of being behind many of the crimes and spreading sectarianism in Iraq through the issuance of the documents of the international community."
al-Faydi pointed out that the document seeks to build government positions opposite to what the international community wants and sees in Iraq. He added, "We have considered the provisions of this document trying to help to the current Iraqi government not to the people," pointing out that it would be better for the international community to disassociate themselves from this government and not to support it. He continued as saying, "There are articles which can be considered good at first glance, but most of them are generally bad. There is an article calling for the dissolution of the militias and integrating them into political and military institutions of the government. There are questions on it wondering how is it possible to reward militias on their crimes by agreeing to integration? It is known by the world that they are responsible and stand behind the crimes in Iraq and the spread of sectarianism. Those militias are directly responsible for the daily bloody violence suffered by the Iraqi people.
This article starring:
MUHAMAD BASHAR AL FAIDI
Association of Muslim Scholars
Association of Muslim Scholars
Posted by: Fred ||
05/06/2007 00:00 ||
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Every time I worry about Islam coming into the the 12th Century I see a fine picture of Green Turban Man riding to the rescue with his trusty made in England sabre.
Sorry about that Suez things guys. Don't know what the hell we were thinking.
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni will soon visit Cairo for talks on the Arab peace initiative, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abdul Gheit said on Saturday night. "The trip was planned before the publication of the Winograd report and it is still possible," Gheit told Al-Arabiya.
Gheit went on to say that the current situation in Israel would not allow him or the Jordanian foreign minister to make their planned trip Jerusalem, a trip that he emphasized was approved by the Arab League as part of its efforts to convince Israel to accept the Arab plan. Livni's office said there were ongoing discussions about a possible visit to Egypt, adding that the foreign minister may make the trip on Thursday.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/06/2007 00:00 ||
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Tzipi Livni auditions for "Lets make Condi look good" club's presidency.
"The person who will inherit the defense portfolio from me will receive a ministry in better condition than the one I headed," Defense Minister Amir Peretz said in a Channel 2 TV interview aired on Saturday.
Peretz was responding to the Winograd Committee's interim report, published on Monday, which put the most of the blame for the outcome of the Second Lebanon War on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Peretz and former IDF chief of general staff Lt. -Gen. [res.] Dan Halutz.
Peretz, in a statement echoing the aftermath of the 1973 Yom Kippur War, said that Israel was captive to a "defense concept" which was nourished by experienced individuals, and hinted they were the ones to blame for the war. He said the concept was broken during his tenure, in spite of his lack of experience.
Peretz was opposed to bringing forward general elections, saying such a move would introduce "unwanted factors" in the government. He said he was planning to ask for the finance portfolio after the Labor primaries late May, regardless of who won the party chair. In a response apparently directed at the Winograd Committee members personally, Peretz said that "if we would have not gone to war, the process of erosion of the military would have continued unchecked." He emphasized that relations between him and Olmert were good during the war, and that they were "completely coordinated."
Posted by: Fred ||
05/06/2007 00:00 ||
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I have seen this mug lots o' times and it just now hit me: he reminds me of somebody else who used to pull things outs (thin air) his pockets: Captain Kangaroo. But the good, late Capt served a useful purpose, he kept us little kids entertained and we learned sumpin. can't say that so far Amir Putz's kids have learned anything ( he's still in office, right?)
The refusal of the international community to deal with the new Palestinian Authority "unity government" has resulted in renewed tensions between Fatah and Hamas, PA officials here said over the weekend. PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas were scheduled to meet late Saturday to discuss ways of defusing the tensions and avoiding a new crisis between the two parties, the officials told The Jerusalem Post.
Meanwhile, PA and Hamas officials rejected a US plan to ease Palestinian movement in the West Bank in return for Palestinian measures aimed at halting the firing of rockets on Israel from the Gaza Strip.
"Tensions between Fatah and Hamas are very high," said a senior PA official. "The situation could deteriorate into violence at any moment." The official denied reports in the Arab media according to which Abbas had threatened to resign if the US and EU didn't lift financial sanctions imposed on the Palestinians after Hamas came to power in January 2006.
Abbas, who returned recently from a tour of a number of EU countries, was quoted as telling his aides that he failed to make progress in persuading the international community to end the boycott of the new Hamas-led unity government. "The president is very disappointed," said another PA official. "But I'm not aware of any threat by him to resign." Haniyeh was quoted over the weekend as saying that the PA government might be forced to resign because of the continued sanctions. He also talked about the possibility of dissolving the PA in protest against the sanctions.
Tayeb Abdel Rahim, a senior Abbas aide, said the current crisis in the PA was one of the worst [he had witnessed.] "The Palestinian cause is no longer receiving the same attention it used to receive by the world," he said. He expressed deep disappointment with the international community's stance toward the new Hamas-led coalition, warning that the PA's very existence was now at stake "because of the world's refusal to honor the democratic choice of the Palestinians."
Fatah spokesman Jamal Nazzal rejected as "collective suicide" Haniyeh's talk about dismantling the PA, saying such a move would only serve Israel's interests. Israel, he claimed, has always "wanted to destroy the PA. That's why we find it strange that Hamas is now calling for the dismantlement of the PA. Hamas never accepted the establishment of the PA and considered it back then as a form of infidelity and treason," he said.
Maher Mikdad, another Fatah spokesman, accused unnamed elements in Hamas of trying to torpedo efforts to achieve rapprochement between the two sides. "There are some in Hamas who are opposed to the Mecca unity agreement [between Fatah and Hamas] and don't want stability and peace between the two parties," he said. "These elements are responsible for the growing tensions and attempts to renew internal fighting."
Commenting on the new US plan, Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal told supporters in Damascus: "I officially declare Hamas's rejection of this document or any American, European, Israeli or even Arab project that diminishes the Palestinian cause like this. It is a formula of lifting the roadblocks in return for halting the resistance."
Mashaal expressed regret over the fact that some Palestinian officials had welcomed the plan. "The Zionist and American schemes to trigger Palestinian civil war will fail," he added. "Those who are bidding on an internal Palestinian explosion are living in an illusion. The only explosion will be in the face of the Zionists."
Posted by: Fred ||
05/06/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
Int'l community has fueled Fatah-Hamas tensions
Actually, it is a lack of fuel in the form of international monetary aid that has for once elicited an unhearlded degree of candor from the Palestinian factions. Their implaccable hatred for each other rivals even their desire for genocide against the Jews. Exposing this societal ulcer for exactly what it is has been a huge step forward in proving how intractable this collection of deceitful barbaric thugs has been and continues to be.
He expressed deep disappointment with the international community's stance toward the new Hamas-led coalition, warning that the PA's very existence was now at stake "because of the world's refusal to honor the democratic choice of the Palestinians."
The world honors "the democratic choice of the Palestinians" by not rushing in and killing the entire Hamas government, as it should. That in no way obilges anyone of sound mind to fork over financial support for this assemblage of murderers. Democracy is not in and of itself a passkey to global approval. Honesty in government, the intent to peacefully coexist with others and intellectual transparency are what garners respect from the international community. Absolutely none of which has ever been forthcoming and has still yet to come from the Palestinians.
#2
Meanwhile, PA and Hamas officials rejected a US plan to ease Palestinian movement in the West Bank in return for Palestinian measures aimed at halting the firing of rockets on Israel from the Gaza Strip.
apparently, they haven't suffered enough. Smack em down some more. Hard
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/06/2007 8:53 Comments ||
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#3
"the democratic choice of the Palestinians"
Wearing tights does not make me Rudolf Nureyev and I wouldn't expect the National Ballet to hire me.
Jordan would assume future security responsibility over the West Bank and perhaps Gaza alongside the Palestinians -- possibly facilitating the declaration of Palestinian independence before President Bush leaves office
Desperate for a Mideast breakthrough, Palestinian, Jordanian and Israeli academics and officials have begun secret talks on forging a confederation between Jordan and a future Palestine, ABC News has learned. According to the plan, Jordan would assume future security responsibility over the West Bank and perhaps Gaza alongside the Palestinians -- possibly facilitating the declaration of Palestinian independence before President Bush leaves office.
The three sides reason that Israel is more likely to agree to the establishment of a Palestinian state with a Jordanian guarantee that a future Palestine will not rise up against it. Jordan and Israel have shared close military and intelligence ties since the two states signed a peace accord in 1994. A leading figure affiliated with Israel's opposition party, Likud, told ABC News, "The old paradigm of negotiations failed and new ones are necessary." Speaking on the condition of anonymity he added, "This [the confederation option] creates a whole new paradigm with which to operate."
With the ruling Kadima party disgraced following a damning government inquiry into its conduct during the war in Lebanon last summer, a poll released Wednesday in the Israeli paper Maariv showed Likud and its leader Benjamin Netanyahu would sweep the next elections.
Continued on Page 49
#1
a Jordanian guarantee that a future Palestine will not rise up against it.
That and a dollar will get you a cup of coffee. Islamic perfidy knows no bounds. Trust Jordan as fas a you can throw it. No recognition of Israel, no renouncement of terrorism, NO DEAL.
One interim solution is to deploy the 20,000 strong Palestinian Badr Brigade, currently based in Jordan, to the West Bank. Founded in the 1960s to fight Israel, the Badr Brigade is trained by Jordan and answers directly to Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas.
Import 20,000 more terrorists. Yeah sure, that's gonna be a big help. What sort of super-crack are these idiots smoking? The Palestinians simply have to go. There can be no expectation of any lasting peace between them and Israel. Gaza and the West Bank need to be flushed out into Jordan and Lebanon and to hell with any objections from the Pan-Arab community. This tiresome charade lost all promise of hope a long time ago. End it now.
#3
The problem as I see it is that nobody speaks for "the Palestinians". So imagine they declare a state, Jordan enters a confederation, guarantees security, Israel withdraws and then Syrian-backed Palestinian Islamic Jihad begins a suicide bombing campaign or rocket attacks from the West Bank anyway.
What then?
In order for this to work, the main organizations would need to disband and I don't see that happening. The leadership of the PIJ isn't going to give up their power nor are the leaders of Hamas or Fatah.
What has to happen at some point is someone needs to take control of the Palestinians and be the one entity that can be bargained with. Right now, nobody can make promises for "the Palestinians" because there are too many loose cannons.
#4
The Palestinians speak just fine for the Palestinians. King Abdullah can't control the Palestinians within his borders, what odds he'll control -- rather than abet -- the Palestinians in the Territories. Look what a bang up job the Egyptians are doing in their area of responsibility -- as they facilitate the movement of arms and supplies across their border. And where do the Palestinian tunnels get the supplies for air conditioned, paved and lighted tunnels that end up near Egyptian army supply depots?
#5
Why, TW, I thought everyone knew - all that good stuff comes from funds the Euros and UN send for sewage treatment plants and other icky infrastructure stuff.
Posted by: Bobby ||
05/06/2007 7:54 Comments ||
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#6
I can't believe Jordan would want to get any closer to the Paleos. Jordan knows they are nothing but trouble, and ungovernable. Besides, selling out the Paleos is an Arab tradition.
#7
Maybe that's the whole idea, close enough to cheat them, no closer.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
05/06/2007 9:22 Comments ||
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#8
Jordan and Israel have shared close military and intelligence ties since the two states signed a peace accord which lifted all responsibility and liability for Amman, due to their stinky kidz.
#9
However, the brigade's staunch affiliation with the PLO and the Fatah party could spark additional unrest between the dueling Hamas and Fatah factions
The leader of Hamas rejected an American proposal for a detailed timeline to ease Palestinian movement and improve Israeli security, instead threatening new violence against Israel despite wary Palestinian government support for the U.S. plan.
The Hamas leader, Khaled Mashaal, said Israel is planning a military operation against the Palestinians. "We in Hamas are also preparing ourselves for battle, and we expect hot months," he said from the safety of his palais in Damascus. He urged all Palestinian groups to "seriously prepare themselves for battle."
"In the meantime, I'll stay here on my Louis XIV couch with a beer and a big bowl of popcorn."
Israel said Mashaal's comments show the true nature of the group. "We never had any illusions as to the policies and goals of the Hamas and unfortunately his remarks do not come as a surprise," Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said.
In the Gaza Strip, Islamic Jihad militants on Saturday fired three rockets toward Israel, damaging a house in the town of Sderot to avenge the killing of three members of the group by Israeli undercover troops a day earlier. Hamas' military wing warned that Israel would pay a price for the killing of the three Islamic Jihad members. "We warn the enemy of an explosion that will not be merciful to anybody, and the fire, if ignited, will not be inextinguishable," said a spokesman, Abu Ubadya, on the group's Web site.
Now we know where the KCNA editorial writer went!
The U.S. document was recently given to Israel and the Palestinians. It calls on Israel to remove many West Bank roadblocks, improving operations at Gaza's crossings and arrange for truck convoys between the West Bank and Gaza, two areas separated by Israel.
Continued on Page 49
#1
The U.S. document was recently given to Israel and the Palestinians. It calls on Israel to remove many West Bank roadblocks, improving operations at Gaza's crossings and arrange for truck convoys between the West Bank and Gaza, two areas separated by Israel.
#2
The Hamas leader, Khaled Mashaal, said Israel is planning a military operation against the Palestinians. "We in Hamas are also preparing ourselves for battle, and we expect hot months," he said. He urged all Palestinian groups to "seriously prepare themselves for battle."
Israel: "We should talk about [insert subject of choice here]."
Hamass: "No. I want to talk about battle!"
I sure hope Olmert either steps down or truly figures it out, including getting rid of all cronies who don't belong where he put them.
#3
No incremental alterations to the status quo. Nothing of substance must change until Palestinian recognition of Israel and a genuine abandonment of terrorism happens first. Until then, they must continue to rot and starve. Nowhere has Muslim perfidy and the intolerable lopsidedness of negotiating with Islamic entities been shown to greater effect than in dealing with the Palestinians. That must change for once and all, and the time for it is now.
The USS Hawaii, a Virginia-class nuclear submarine, officially becomes an active weapon system today at a commissioning ceremony at the U.S. Naval Submarine Base in Groton.
Two areas inside the Navy's newest nuclear attack submarine a 7,800-ton vessel that's longer than a football field reveal both the heights achieved by today's military technology and the boat's awesome firepower.
First, there is the USS Hawaii's control room. For the uninitiated, it's much like a video game arcade. Gone is the old hull-penetrating peri-scope, replaced by cameras that take feeds from exterior sensors mounted on masts. All the crew's visual information comes via high-definition television, the familiar circular sonar screen sweeping the sea for blips replaced by streaming video.
Sailors today even drive the massive military weapon system with a joystick. "Yeah, sometimes it feels like a video game," said Master Chief David Collins of Gales Ferry, who serves as pilot of the USS Hawaii, the latest addition to the Navy's nuclear arsenal. "The biggest difference, I would say, is the technology," the 23-year Navy veteran said during a media tour of the sub yesterday.
Then, there is the torpedo room. The USS Hawaii, like other Virginia-class subs, has four 21-inch torpedo tubes and 12 vertical launch tubes with Tomahawk missiles. A new design that changes how the sub carries its 4,000-pound torpedoes has resulted in increased room within the craft. That space can be filled with additional torpedoes, for a maximum of 24, or berthing can be created for 30 SEAL commandos.
The Navy says Hawaii's mission will include anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, special forces delivery and support, and covert mine warfare. It'll be able to strike targets ashore with precision Tomahawk cruise missiles and conduct covert long-term surveillance of land and sea. "It's state-of-the-art," said Machinist Mate Andy Tapia of Lisbon, a nine-year submarine veteran, as he guided the media tour through the boat's torpedo room.
It's been almost two years since the sub was christened in June 2006.
Gov. Linda Lingle, the ship's sponsor, will be among the dignitaries, military personnel and others attending today's event, giving the crew its first order to "man our ship and bring her to life."
"When that order is given, the Hawaii will become a fully capable combat ship in the fleet," said Cmdr. David Solms, captain of the ship. Solms also will be promoted to the rank of captain today.
The approximately $2.5 billion sub, the Navy's first major combat ship designed for a post-Cold War environment, isn't expected to arrive at Pearl Harbor until early 2009. It's designed to operate in both the open ocean and nearshore shallows, and Hawaii has improved stealth, sophisticated surveillance capabilities and special warfare enhancements.
Even though the 377-foot ship the first of several Virginia-class subs anticipated to be based in Hawai'i was delivered to the Navy in December, ongoing work will keep it from arriving here far beyond today's commissioning in Groton, where the submarine was built.
Top-ranking Navy officials said the submarine will allow commanders to accomplish a broad range of missions. "Land, sea and undersea firepower, advanced sensors and other special features will enable Hawaii to execute numerous war-fighting tasks simultaneously here in the Pacific area of operations and wherever they need to go," said Rear Adm. Joseph Walsh, commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, in a written statement.
Today's ceremony has long been anticipated in Hawai'i. Bob Dewitz, a Navy League Honolulu Council member and chairman of the commissioning committee, said 2,500 people are expected for the commissioning, with about 50 from Hawai'i, including government and business leaders.
The ceremony will end tonight with a crew lu'au. A canoe club is bringing outrigger canoes, and entertainer Al Harrington will perform.
Today's events culminate a series of milestones in the submarine's construction and sea trials. In early December, during sea trials, the vessel, which can dive deeper than 800 feet, submerged for the first time and performed high-speed runs. Officials said the tests were so successful that the ship returned to port a day early. The Navy at the time said the Hawaii's performance was "superb."
The Virginia-class submarines are the future for the Navy. The Pentagon decided that production of the deeper-diving but more expensive Seawolf class, designed as a replacement for the Los Angeles class, would end after the third submarine.
Six of the newer submarines are being built now and are named for the states of Virginia, Texas, Hawai'i, North Carolina, New Hampshire and New Mexico. The Navy expects to pay for two Virginia-class subs per year in 2012, which is double the current rate, and is trying to get the price down to $2 billion a sub. Their role will be to operate in the nearshore shallows where ships and commerce are concentrated. The subs have six side-mounted sonar arrays, plus arrays in the bow, sail and nose, improving capabilities for eavesdropping and mapping the ocean floor and minefields.
After commissioning and acoustics and other testing, the Hawaii may get a several-month mission much like the first in the class, the USS Virginia but it will have to return to the Groton shipyard in spring 2008 for up to a year of improvements and fine-tuning called the "post-shakedown availability."
With a crew of approximately 134 officers and enlisted men, the Hawaii will spend most of the next year undergoing its shakedown cruise. "It's kind of like test-driving a new car," said Lt. Cmdr. Michael Quan, the boat's executive officer. "You take it out and see how it performs before bringing it back to the shop for improvements."
Those who have been assigned to USS Hawaii since it was turned over to the Navy last December expect few improvements will be needed.
The vessel will be based in Groton during its shakedown and post-shakedown testing. In 2009, the boat will be assigned to its permanent home base in Hawai'i. "This is as close as I get to Hawai'i," said Collins who, along with most of the other crew, likely will be reassigned to another ship before that.
#1
Question: as I understand it, we have a number of Los Angeles class boats decommissioned and sitting in the ready reserve. While the Virginia class boats sound great, it strikes me that, with the Navy's budget sorely tested elsewhere, we could do worse than to bring the Los Angeles boats back for a while.
I understand some of them need refueling, updating, etc., but that has to be cheaper than new $2 billion-plus submarines, at least for a while.
Opinions?
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/06/2007 13:22 Comments ||
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#2
Steve, makes sense to me, but there is a bit of the 'me too' syndrome in all the armed forces, and if the USAF gets the JSF and the USMC gets the Osprey, and teh army gets the next gen hummer as well as advanced body armor, gee, can't the navy get some new toys too? (lets forget that the USN also gets JSF and the USMC is part of the USN and that logic works. on a bigger scale, there is a lot of stuff owned by all the services that is in mothballs that is perfectly good for the warfighting going on and for the forseeable future, IMHO)
#3
I am certain that with some creative financing Australia or Canada could be convinced those Los Angeles-class SSNs would be a fine addition to the SSKs we/they currently deploy.
#4
As with aircraft carriers, I suspect that they will be discarding the notion of "class" in submarines after a while. Between boats, the upgrades and changes are so significant, and happening so quickly, that size is no longer a good comparison. Any rationale for uniformity is going right out the window.
The Los Angeles class was over-designed on the assumption that both computers (and their cooling systems), and missiles would be larger in the future. This ended up with lots of empty room inside them, and having to carry much more ballast than desired. They even had to put adapters in their tubes for their new smaller, better missiles.
And because of the proliferation of submarines in the world, I imagine that there will be entirely new paradigms of submersibles, some even unmanned, for ASW and anti-ship activities.
Some will be like listening posts, that can raise a floating antenna for a satellite burst transmission at intervals. They could either be moving or stationary on the sea bed, or both.
Some might just sit on the sea floor, only to surface to resupply surface ships. Like a pre-positioned undersea oiler.
Another kind might carry offensive weapons that would automatically engage enemy ships or boats that enter its range, when authorized. It floats to the surface, fires a missile or torpedo or two, re-submerges and moves a few miles.
#7
The Los Angeles class was over-designed on the assumption that both computers (and their cooling systems), and missiles would be larger in the future.
Who in the world came up with that brainstorm? OK, I could see wanting to make a longer-ranged missile, but computers getting larger? After 30 years of the opposite?
#9
Okay, crew costs and stealth, I can see that, though there isn't a potentially hostile navy out there (e.g., PLA-Navy) that can track an LA-class boat anyway.
And service rivalries have something to do with this.
But for the money, I'd add certain needed surface combatants and run the LA-class boats til I didn't have any left in the ready reserve. Each one of those has a good 10 to 15 years in them, and as a taxpayer, I'd like to get the full value.
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/06/2007 21:03 Comments ||
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#10
FOX NEWS > DON HO funeral > the FOX TV anchor, whom shall remain un-named, said "TINY MUFFINS", or was it "MUFFLES", instead of "TINY BUBBLES" as Don's signature song???
#11
I seem to recall that the VA's are much stealthier than the LA boats
I was poking around on that a little while ago. I read that at full speed a new VA class sub makes as much or less noise than a 688 at five knots. I have also heard of the 688s that to find them you listen for the quiet spots in the ocean . . . .
"Hizbullah has rebuilt itself and is prepared for another Israeli strike," Naim Kassem, the deputy secretary general of the Iranian-backed terror organization told Al Jazeera TV on Saturday. "We have completed the groundwork necessary and we have new battle plans," Kassem added.
Kassem went on to say that Hizbullah was not expecting another round of fighting against Israel but that the organization was preparing itself nevertheless. Kassem also denied that his organization paid off or received intelligence reports from former MK Azmi Bishara during the Second Lebanon War. He said that the Israeli government was trying to divert attention from its own failures during the war, by placing blame on Bishara.
A high-ranking Lebanese official said that Hizbullah had been rearming itself at an accelerated pace. "All that Hizbullah has achieved in six years, since Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon, it has now managed to gain in only six months," the official was quoted by Army Radio as saying, adding that "Hizbullah renewed its rocket arsenal and built new concrete bunkers north of the Litani River and on the eastern border of Lebanon."
UN resolution 1701, passed at the end of the fighting last August, called on Hizbullah to completely cease rearming. Captured IDF reservists, Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, whose unconditional release was also demanded by resolution 1701, are still held by Hizbullah
Posted by: Fred ||
05/06/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
UN resolutions are for infidels.
Posted by: Bobby ||
05/06/2007 7:11 Comments ||
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#2
Is there anything Hiz can't do in record time and under budget?
#3
Cheap rockets used by Hizbs during the war might not have enough range and accuracy to hit targets in Israel. Hizbullah has larger and more expensive rockets, but not as many of them, and they require bigger and more sophisticated launchers, which are easier to target.
I don't believe that Hizbullah is as much of a threat as it was before the war.
#4
Hope you're right trenschol. Only thing I worry about is the IDF's early and perhaps decesive success against the medium range rocket store last go around. I gotta figure that iSource is gone.
#5
It isn't Hizb'Allah I am worried about, as the fact that Israel has lost its will to aggressively defend herself against them.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
05/06/2007 11:37 Comments ||
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#6
buy stock in who ever makes rockets or any missile in the US
i agree alaska paul but maybe they will pull one and kick the shit out of them for the last time
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/06/2007 10:15 ||
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#1
The Democrats suffer from what I'd call "Wrong Base Syndrome." Liberalism having won most of its big battles of the 20th century-- racial equality, rights for women, fair labor practices, etc.-- the Democratic Party is now left with little else to do but pander to a motley assortment of cranks, misfits, aging hippies, granola-munchers and parasites.
But along with the Iraq War came a fanatical, dedicated anti-war movement with lots of political energy and campaign cash, and the Democrats decided to take a ride on that tiger.
And now they can't get off. Democrat = anti-war anymore, and the Dems will either prosper by it or perish by it.
#4
Oh, no! If we don't do what they want, they'll stop supporting us! Who will support us then? We'll be all alone! They'll take all the money, too!
On the other hand, who will they throw thier support to?
Posted by: Nancy and Harry ||
05/06/2007 13:29 Comments ||
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#5
I will be so happy when the last bunch of old, aging baby boomer hippies dies off. The new bunch is just annoying, but lacking a lot of the clout and money the first bunch have.
#6
37 years ago I was literally arresting these mutts during the 1970's anti-war demonstrations. Composed of those who didn't serve and didn't want to (for the most part, along with political opportunists who did like Kerry) they were near orgasmic in their commitment to the anti-war movement to validate their lack of courage, sense of duty to country and commitment to their country when it was uncomfortable and inconvenient. Fast forward to today, and they are merely stoking the same feelings again, self-validating their past and their smug certainty that all the world needs is a commitment to peace and conversation to solve everything. Their world view is that we are all the same, and what is reasonable to them is of course reasonable to a muzzie in the taliban. It's all just a tragic misunderstanding caused by bushitler and the neanderthal right war mongers. Just a dose of flower power, some good doobies and some John Lennon and the entire mess can be cleared up.
Good American blood is always needed to clean up the idiocy these mutts produce in foreign policy mistakes, and the mistakes are legion.
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.
US President George W. Bush telephoned France's new president-elect 
MUSLIM radicals have established their own draconian court systems in Britain. Controversial Sharia courts have been set up in major towns and cities to impose Islamic law and enable Muslims to shun the legitimate British legal system.
Tens of thousands of supporters lined the roads and showered rose petals on Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Saturday as he travelled from Islamabad to Lahore via GT Road to address a reception of the Lahore High Court Bar Association.
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni will soon visit Cairo for talks on the Arab peace initiative, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abdul Gheit said on Saturday night. "The trip was planned before the publication of the Winograd report and it is still possible," Gheit told Al-Arabiya. 
"The person who will inherit the defense portfolio from me will receive a ministry in better condition than the one I headed," Defense Minister Amir Peretz said in a Channel 2 TV interview aired on Saturday. 
The refusal of the international community to deal with the new Palestinian Authority "unity government" has resulted in renewed tensions between Fatah and Hamas, PA officials here said over the weekend. PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas were scheduled to meet late Saturday to discuss ways of defusing the tensions and avoiding a new crisis between the two parties, the officials told The Jerusalem Post. 
The leader of Hamas rejected an American proposal for a detailed timeline to ease Palestinian movement and improve Israeli security, instead threatening new violence against Israel despite wary Palestinian government support for the U.S. plan. 
"Hizbullah has rebuilt itself and is prepared for another Israeli strike," Naim Kassem, the deputy secretary general of the Iranian-backed terror organization told Al Jazeera TV on Saturday. "We have completed the groundwork necessary and we have new battle plans," Kassem added. 
