WARSAW - Poland will not send its 1,200 troops in Afghanistan to fight Taleban insurgents in the countrys volatile south, Defence Minister Bogdan Klich said in an interview published Friday.
Disappointing.
Klich told the newspaper Dziennik that Canada had asked the Poles to deploy in Kandahar province, a hotbed of fighting between the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Taleban and Al Qaeda fighters. I didnt accept the proposal. This province doesnt meet our base-line criteria, which hinge on reducing the risks to our contingent, Klich said.
In December, Poland pledged to raise its ISAF troop contribution to 1,600 this year. Warsaw had already increased the size of its contingent early last year from around 200 to 1,200. The Polish contingent is currently spread across five different regions of eastern Afghanistan, but from the autumn will be concentrated in the eastern Paktika province, Klich said.
ISAF commander, US General Dan McNeill, confirmed the plan to concentrate the Polish forces in one area. He told Dziennik that ISAF and Warsaw would be able to reach an understanding on the Poles role.
Elite Polish troops, who are not part of the ISAF contingent, are deployed in the south alongside the Canadians, but Warsaw does not comment on their operations.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/09/2008 00:00 ||
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" This province doesnt meet our base-line criteria, which hinge on reducing the risks to our contingent"
Translation: We can't go there. Someone might put an eye out.
Canada's minority Conservative government asked Parliament on Friday to extend the country's combat mission in Afghanistan to 2011, introducing a confidence motion that would trigger early elections if it is rejected.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative government is under pressure to withdraw Canada's 2,500 troops after the deaths of 78 Canadian soldiers and a diplomat. Canadian opposition parties have threatened to bring down Harper's government if he does not end the combat mission in 2009 when it is set to expire unless extended by Canadian lawmakers.
According to this poll, the Tories have a 37% share of the voters right now, which has gradually been coming up over the past year. The Liberals are at 28%, the NDP at 17%, the Queeeebeeeecois at 7%, and the Greens at 11%. I've read before that with 40% you can win enough ridings to have a majority in the House of Commons.
The confidence motion introduced Friday makes the two-year extension conditional on NATO providing more troops and equipment to back up Canadian forces in southern Kandahar province, a volatile former Taliban stronghold.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/09/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
You can take a majority with 37% depending on how that support is distributed. The Bloq Quebecois can hold more than half the seats in Quebec with that 7% and the Greens fail to take a single seat across the country with that 11% support. Conservative polling must look good and the Liberals must know it.
#2
Concur, Excalibur. Raw numbers are not representative because of distribution anomalies. A full fledged election campaign will bring out the screams of leftist outrage from the usual suspects. The conservatives are rolling in money from individual donations and the libs, dippers and greens are starving. More money = more effective election ads and communications. It should be an interesting year.
37% Conservative support bodes well if the other percentages hold. Greens will steal enough Liberal and NDP votes in swing ridings to put the Tories back in with a majority. (Nice to see the Canadian left divided for a change.) Be interesting to see how Harper governs should that happen.
But given those numbers, I'd be surprised if a no-confidence motion passes anytime soon.
And how pathetic it is that Canada has to resort to shaming the Europeans (UK, Holland excepted) into placing their troops in harm's way in Afghanistan. No beef with their soldiers. Their gutless, myopic politicians are, as usual, the problem.
(KUNA) -- A Turkish daily newspaper said Friday US Defense Secretary Robert Gates had sent a letter to his Turkish counterpart Wajdi Gonul calling on Turkey to send troops to Afghanistan to fight terrorism there.
The Turkish daily Hurriyet said Washington, which has been helping Ankara crack down on PKK Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq through supplying the Turks with intelligence reports on PKK activities there, "did not take long to ask Ankara to return the favor" and help Washington's anti-terrorism campaign in Afghanistan.
The letter was sent by Gates at the end of January. But it was delivered to the Turkish side on February 1, the paper said. "Turkey must play a more significant role against Taliban's terrorist activities in Afghanistan. Therefore, Turkey should send troops to that country's dangerous spots in the south and east to work under NATO's leadership," the letter said.
But Turkey had made it clear in the past that any of its troops sent to Afghanistan would only be involved in logistics activities that do not endanger their lives.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/09/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
The Turks are so obsessed with macho that once their military is there, it will be hard to control their passions. But while they might smite Taliban, their best use would be over towards the Iranian border, smiting Shiites.
Two top United Nations officials warned on Friday the situation in Sudan's western Darfur region was spinning out of control toward full-scale war.
Bet you didn't see that coming, did ya.
U.N. special envoy to Darfur Jan Eliasson told the Security Council the region's disparate rebel groups have made only limited progress in preparing for new peace negotiations and were not yet ready for serious peace talks. He said latest reports from West Darfur state that Sudanese government aircraft, army and militia had attacked three towns on Friday showed how "disturbing" the situation had become.
"It looks like a rather large-scale operation," Eliasson told reporters about the attacks. "The situation is running out of control. We cannot get the political talks going if we cannot have an atmosphere ... in which talks can take place."
Jean-Marie Guehenno, U.N. undersecretary-general for peacekeeping operations, also sounded pessimistic, saying a planned 26,000-strong peace force faced continued obstacles in deploying and might have to operate as hostilities continued.
Guehenno said in western Darfur the conflict was beginning to look like full-scale war. "For a peacekeeping force to operate in the midst of a war is a very dangerous position to be in," Guehenno said. Under such conditions "a peacekeeping force cannot by and of itself stop that violence."
Guehenno warned that the crisis in neighboring Chad and atmosphere of mistrust between Sudan and its neighbor risked widening the Darfur conflict beyond Sudan's borders.
The United Nations has been pushing the rebels and Sudan's government to hold new negotiations after a first round in Libya last October made little headway. Some rebel groups have signed a deal with the Sudanese government but the insurgents have split into many factions and others are still fighting for a renewed peace process.
"While the people of Darfur cannot wait for ever, we will have to accept that the steps toward an eventual peace agreement will be incremental and will take longer than we had initially hoped," Eliasson said.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/09/2008 00:00 ||
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The Archbishop of Canterbury was facing demands to quit last night as the row over sharia law intensified. Leading bishops publicly contradicted Dr Rowan Williams's call for Islamic law to be brought into the British legal system.
With the Church of England plunged into crisis, senior figures were said to be discussing the archbishop's future. One member of the church's "Cabinet", the Archbishop's Council, was reported as saying: "There have been a lot of calls for him to resign. I don't suppose he will take any notice, but, yes, he should resign."
Officials at Lambeth Palace told the BBC Dr Williams was in a "state of shock" and "completely overwhelmed" by the scale of the row. It was said that he could not believe the fury of the reaction.
The most damaging attack came from the Pakistan-born Bishop of Rochester, the Right Reverend Michael Nazir-Ali. He said it would be "simply impossible" to bring sharia law into British law "without fundamentally affecting its integrity". Sharia "would be in tension with the English legal tradition on questions like monogamy, provisions for divorce, the rights of women, custody of children, laws of inheritance and of evidence. This is not to mention the relation of freedom of belief and of expression to provisions for blasphemy and apostasy."
The church's second most senior leader, Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu, refused to discuss the matter. But he has said sharia law "would never happen" in Britain.
Politicians joined the chorus of condemnation, with Downing Street saying British law should be based on British values. Tory and LibDem leaders also voiced strong criticism. Even prominent Muslims were rounding on Dr Williams. Shahid Malik, Labour MP for Dewsbury, said: "I haven't experienced any clamour or fervent desire for sharia law in this country. If there are people who prefer sharia law there are always countries where they could go and live."
Khalid Mahmood, Labour MP for Birmingham Perry Bar, rejected the idea that British law forces Muslims to choose between their religion and their society. He said: "This will alienate people from other communities because they will think it is what Muslims want - and it is not."
The Muslim Council of Britain came to Dr Williams's aid, however, describing his comments in a lecture to lawyers and a BBC interview as "thoughtful".
"Thoughtful, huh?"
"Oh, yasss. Not that we have any idea what the hell he was thinking."
But Oxford University Islamic scholar Professor Tariq Ramadan admitted: "These kinds of statements just feed the fears of fellow citizens. I really think we, as Muslims, need to come up with something that we abide by the common law and within these latitudes there are possibilities for us to be faithful to Islamic principles."
The archbishop is likely to come under heavy fire next week at a meeting of the Church's General Synod. Liberal and feminist critics have been appalled by the thought of sharia law while evangelical opponents believe Dr Williams has failed to defend Christianity.
Was he thinking of becoming one?
The archbishop was already battling intractable difficulties within the church over gay rights, a row which began nearly five years ago and has brought him criticism from all sides. Later this year he has to face a conference of hundreds of bishops from around the world which threatens further bitter division. Dr Williams's opponents on the conservative evangelical wing - who resent his liberal beliefs on issues such as gay rights - were suggesting last night that the archbishop is finished.
"We hear the Unitarians have an opening."
The Reverend Paul Dawson of the Reform group of around 500 clergy said: "We are very sad that he does not seem to be able to articulate a clear Christian vision for Britain. It is true to say that there is a lot of dissatisfaction."
Dr Williams defended himself in a Lambeth Palace statement saying he had been trying to "tease out" the issue. The archbishop had said it could help build a better and more cohesive society if Muslims were able to choose to have marital disputes or financial matters, for example, dealt with in a sharia court. The adoption of some elements of sharia law "seems unavoidable".
"So we should just relax and enjoy it."
But the statement insisted: "The archbishop made no proposals for sharia, and certainly did not call for its introduction as some kind of parallel jurisdiction to the civil law."
Even fellow bishops, however, think this is precisely what Dr Williams did say. Bishop of Southwark Tom Butler, a liberal who would normally be expected to defend Dr Williams, said the archbishop had been entering a minefield and added: "It will take a great deal of thought and work before I think it is a good idea." He was more blunt in a circular to clergy in his diocese, saying he had yet to be convinced of the feasibility of incorporating any non-Christian religious law into the English legal system.
This article starring:
Archbishop of York
Bishop of Southwark Tom Butler
John Sentamu
Khalid Mahmood
Michael Nazir-Ali
Muslim Council of Britain
Reverend Paul Dawson
Rowan Williams
Shahid Malik
Tariq Ramadan
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/09/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Hey maybe Rowan could find himself a muslim bride with the muslim marriage service in the ad on the right.
#3
This reminds me so much of the episode of the English comedy "Yes, Minister", called 'The Bishop's Gambit'.
"Sir Humphrey explains that the Church is always seeking to maintain the balance of bishops between those who believe in God and those who don't."
The Cabinet Secretary informs Hacker that "modernist" is code for "non-believer". The PM wonders why, in that case, such a person could have been recommended for Bury St Edmunds. Sir Humphrey enlightens him that the CoE is primarily a social organisation rather than a religious one. Bishops therefore tend to be chosen more because of their public standing rather than their actual ideology.
#4
So, bottom line: What does it take to boot Archdruid Rowan William's a$$ out of office? William's call for islamic law brought into the British legal system is national suicide.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
02/09/2008 14:08 Comments ||
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#5
"The archbishop made no proposals for sharia, and certainly did not call for its introduction as some kind of parallel jurisdiction to the civil law."
The good archbishop needs to re-read the 9th commandment.
That part of his speech was carried on TV. He can't wish it away.
Posted by: john frum ||
02/09/2008 15:06 Comments ||
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#6
Unless he goes into rehab... then all is forgiven in today's culture...
Posted by: john frum ||
02/09/2008 15:06 Comments ||
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#7
Unless he goes into rehab... then all is forgiven in today's culture...
#9
Or is it kind of a Papal "until death do us part" thing?
I'm sure the British could find someone to ensure that happens, especially in Manchester and Liverpool. Just say he's a Rugby-hater.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
02/09/2008 22:21 Comments ||
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The Archbishop of Canterbury is said to be overwhelmed by the "hostility of the response" after his call for parts of Sharia law to be recognised in the UK. Friends of Dr Rowan Williams say he is in a state of shock and dismayed by the criticism from his own Church.
He expected polite silence in the face of his suggestion to negate every gain the English have made since the Magna Charta.
All the main political parties, secular groups and some senior Muslims have expressed dismay at his comments. However, the Bishop of Hulme, the Rt Rev Stephen Lowe, criticised the "disgraceful" treatment of Dr Williams.
Ahah. A bird of similar plumage.
The BBC understands from sources who work on Christian-Muslim interfaith issues that Dr Williams has faced a barrage of criticism from within the Church and has been genuinely taken aback by how his words were received.
My Gracious Lord of Canterbury has been wrapped up in his own thoughts, utterly disconnected from spirituality and the Christian tradition, for a long time now. Must be the herbs in that Druid ceremonial cup he imbibed when being invested in the Order of the Magical Oak a while back.
Perhaps he should consider another line of work. Maybe a rewarding career in the food service industry?
The bowling industry is hiring ...
BBC News religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott says both traditionalists and liberals in the Church have their own reasons for criticising Dr Williams. Traditionalists maintain that English law is based on Biblical values and that no parallel system could be tolerated in the UK.
That part of the argument's pretty fallacious. English law remained separate from canon law for a thousand years or so. It's based on Biblical values to the extent Britain is a Christian country, but it's also quite fluid -- too fluid in the opinion of some, since many principles today have drifted from the way they worked a hundred or two hundred years ago. Shariah, however, being rooted in the Koran and Mohammed's utterances and habits, can't change. Even if it does change in the face of some sort of transient humanitarian impulse, it's likely to change back as soon as the Salafists take over.
Liberal Anglicans believe giving Sharia legal status would be to the detriment of women and gay people.
Yeah, yeah. Those are the only issues of any import in the entire world.
Nah ... but they are indicative ....
Isn't it great how the Archbishop has united traditionalists and liberals?
Resignation call
Among those critical of the archbishop is the chairman of evangelical Church group Reform, the Reverend Rod Thomas. "The Church at the moment, and the country, needs a clear lead. The country is itself in a debate about its own sense of identity," he said. "The moral values that we pursue are ones that we need to know are clearly grounded, and it would be most helpful for the leader of the Church to be able to explain to people how the values we cherish stem from our Christian tradition."
The Archdruid's not real big on Christian tradition.
UKIP MEP Gerard Batten said it would be the "thin end of the wedge" and called on the archbishop to resign.
Good idea. Trade in the mitre for a paper hat.
He said: "I think he's shown he is totally unfit for the role he undertakes. He's not fit to be Archbishop of Canterbury, he doesn't seem to know what his own business is, and he's not fit to sit in the House of Lords. I think he should go."
This article starring:
Bishop of Hulme
Gerard Batten
Reverend Rod Thomas
Rowan Williams
Rt Rev Stephen Lowe
Posted by: Fred ||
02/09/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Yeah, these are the real telling moments:
1) That he's so isolated from other opinions that he thinks his own is the only correct one (endemic to liberals everywhere)
2) That Muslims came out against the idea.
This is just another example of a Western liberal desperately trying to kowtow before another culture. I swear, they have wet dreams about getting to kneel before others. Remember the scene in "The Phantom Menace"?
#4
"Good idea. Trade in the mitre for a paper hat."
Fred, I thought you had made a mistake and I was going to fix it with "Trade in the mitre for a paper tinfoil hat." Then I realized there's no need to trade. He probably already has several of those, made of double-strength Reynolds Wrap for extra protection, and wears them underneath the mitre. I'm sure he knows he can't be too careful when it comes to those mind-altering ol' cozmik rays...
#10
Down with Rowan Williams. Up with Rowan Atkinson. At least Black Adder stood up for freedom of speach and the idea that this nonsense kills comedy.
#11
As Supreme Governor of the Church of England, Queen Elizabeth should fire Williams. Alternately, she could contract out to Donald Trump to deliver the message.
#12
"is said to be overwhelmed by the "hostility of the response" after his call for parts of Sharia law to be recognised in the UK"
Of course he is shocked. Had he expected that kind of response, he never would have said it. But to be fair, I think part of what he is saying is actually true, he is just saying it wrong.
There are several concepts in Sharia that are also in our own cultural common law. Say, for example, the return to corporal punishment for minor crimes such as petty larceny. It would reduce prison overcrowding and could possibly do something that actually modifies behavior in an initial offender. Singapore does it and we used to do it. Dover, Delaware still had the whipping post on the city Green the last time I was there.
#13
The saddest part of all of this is that he is so oblivious to his own inadequacies to hold his high office that he won't resign and doesn't seen the honorable imperative so to do. A church leader should use the power of his position to advance his faith to others, and to proudly extole the virtues of his belief system. This foolish man thinks being pliant, apologetic and accepting is his job. His comments simply reflect his viewpoint of the future path of British culture-namely surrender to the power of a more enthusiastic (albeit evil) faith. He doesn't want to fight, confront or critique Islam, he wants to embrace dhimmitude and cultural suicide. Tragic further proof of the rot that will sink Albion into a sump of brooding moon-cult worshipers.
#14
He was probably surprised that there was anyone left in the Anglican Church. Clergy like him have been doing their best to abandon the faithful for years.
A WOMAN agreed to plant a bomb on a busy Sydney street in exchange for a promise of marriage from her prisoner boyfriend, a court has heard.
She sounds brilliant.
Jill Allison Courtney and Hassan Kalache are on trial in the NSW Supreme Court, charged with conspiring to bomb a public place and kill or maim passers-by.
Courtney occasionally whispered to Kalache during the court proceedings. In his opening address, the prosecutor, Anthony Cook, SC, said Courtney was "very much in love" with Kalache, who used the prospect of marriage "as an incentive" for her to carry out the plot. He said Kalache had suggested Courtney "place a bomb in a public place in Sydney and she, mainly because of her love for him, agreed that it would be done and that she would do it".
A search of Courtney's home found partial recipes for bomb-making and a wig which she planned to use as a disguise, Mr Cook said. The court heard that Kalache and Courtney had formed a relationship by July 2005 which was carried out through telephone conversations and her visits to him at Lithgow jail. In recorded phone conversations between July 1, 2005, and March 24, 2006, they spoke in code about an event which they at different times referred to as a "mission", a "party" and a "thing", Mr Cook told the court. One phone call revealed the marriage would "not take place until after [Courtney had] completed something", Mr Cook said.
Courtney also spoke to a friend about the plot and revealed that there would be "an explosion using some form of fuel which, when combined with oxygen, will form a vapour which will burn".
In a conversation recorded on March 21, 2006, the couple discussed when the plot would be carried out. Courtney had planned it to occur on a weekday. However, Kalache wanted it done on a weekend, and in a heavily populated location, Mr Cook said. Three days later Kalache called Courtney and she told him it was raining, which was "not good" for their "party".
"They are not talking about a backyard party that will be spoilt by rain," Mr Cook told the court. "They are talking about the carrying out of a mission which will be more difficult to carry out in the rain or cannot be carried out in the rain." The court heard that at one point the couple broke up over what appeared to be Courtney's reluctance to go through with the plot.
Mr Cook said a telephone conversation months later revealed Courtney asking Kalache to "come back to the mission question". "So if it was done, then what?" she asked him. "I told you I would get married to you straight away," he told her.
Courtney later aborted the plan after being warned by a friend she may have been under police surveillance. The pair have pleaded not guilty to both charges. The trial continues.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/09/2008 00:00 ||
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sounds like she has real self-esteem issues, but was willing to kill many of her fellow Aussies to solve em. I'd give her the chance to think long and hard about it in the graybar hotel. Say... a 100 years?
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/09/2008 9:17 Comments ||
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#2
Jill sounds a bit desperate. Don't they have eHarmony in Oz?
#3
What is the point of marrying a man already in prison? It's not as though he could achieve a single one of the commonly accepted husbandly duties, nor she any wifely ones. Letters and phone calls don't count -- any pen pal, even one in another country, could accomplish that much.
The Anvers Court of Appeals on Thursday acquitted seven members of the leftist Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C), including the group's leader, and sentenced three others to suspended sentences for unauthorized possession of firearms and false identity papers. All three, including a suspect wanted in Turkey in connection with a 1996 assassination of a prominent Turkish industrialist, were then released, considering the time they had already spent in jail.
Their arrests in Belgium followed the discovery of an arms cache on the Belgian coast in 1999. The judge ruled, however, that the group had no intention of committing terrorist acts in Belgium and added it was not up to the court to assess how the suspects felt about terrorism in general. While acquitting the DHKP/C members of terrorism charges, the court also declined to take into consideration their terrorist activities in other countries.
"If the court acts on the basis of the presumption that the DHKP/C's terrorist activities in Turkey, Germany or the Netherlands do not affect the trial in Belgium, it is certain that such an attitude is in violation of the basic principles of the international fight against terrorism, including the relevant UN Security Council decisions," read a statement from the Turkish Foreign Ministry yesterday.
It said the ruling will contradict EU laws and EU Council decisions designating the DHKP/C a terrorist group. "It is certain that such rulings will encourage terrorist groups," said the statement. It also implied that Turkey might take the ruling to the European Court of Human Rights, saying Ankara will look into ways to appeal.
The DHKP/C, responsible for many terrorist attacks in Turkey, has been on the EU's terror list since May 2002. EU Council officials, contacted by Today's Zaman, declined to comment on the ruling, saying they were still expecting further information on its content. An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, made clear that the decision on what measures to be taken toward a particular group designated as a terrorist organization by the EU was up to individual member states. But if a member state opposes the designation of a group as a terrorist organization, it is expected to bring forward its objections to the council, said the official, adding, however, that there has been no such request from Belgian authorities.
The decision was met with criticism in the Belgian media as well. Newspapers presented a hypothetical situation for Belgium in which al-Qaeda terrorists, after committing many acts of violence elsewhere in the world -- but none in Belgian territory -- come to the country and ask for asylum.
Thursdays decision is the latest shocking development in the course of the lengthy trial process of the DHKP/C members. It came at the end of a retrial, after Belgiums highest court had ordered a retrial in April of last year, saying that one of the judges handling the first trial in 2006 appeared not to have been impartial.
Fehriye Erdal, one of the three DHKP/C terrorists sentenced to suspended imprisonment in the case, is wanted in Turkey for involvement in the 1996 murder of industrialist Özdemir Sabancý. In the 2006 ruling, she was sentenced to four years in prison, but, in a development that outraged Turkey, she escaped before her conviction despite being under surveillance by Belgian security forces and is still on the run. The DHKP/C was also considered a terrorist group in the 2006 decision.
I am terrified, said Köksal Toptan, speaker of the Turkish Parliament, of Thursdays decision. It is absolutely terrifying that a group designated as a terrorist organization all across the world is not seen as a terrorist organization.
Toptan continued: Terrorism needs to be combated across the globe. Otherwise the entire world will lose the fight against it. Such a decision coming from a court in Belgium, a central EU state, means encouragement of terrorism.
According to Toptan, a mentality that lets people walk free of the court because they have not committed any crime in Belgium cannot be part of any global effort to counter terrorism. No one would feel they have to help others in the fight against terrorism.
The decision appears to be a blow to the Belgian government, which has been pressing for a tougher stance against terrorism. Interior Minister Patrick Dewael, who earlier lashed out at the DHKP/C as a terrorist group, was silent after Thursdays ruling, saying he would respect the judiciarys decisions.
Reports said Belgian intelligence and security organizations, eager to pursue a tougher fight against terrorist groups, were disappointed because they are concerned this would make Belgium look like a backyard of terrorist organizations.
#3
a mentality that lets people walk free of the court because they have not committed any crime in Belgium cannot be part of any global effort to counter terrorism. No one would feel they have to help others in the fight against terrorism.
A judge's ruling. Wotta shock.
Posted by: Bobby ||
02/09/2008 7:27 Comments ||
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PRISTINA, Serbia - Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said on Friday about 100 countries were ready to recognise the provinces independence from Serbia as soon as it was declared. We have confirmation by around 100 countries that they are ready to recognise Kosovos independence immediately after we declare it. We will have a powerful and massive recognition, he told a news conference.
Thaci was speaking after his regular weekly meeting with Joachim Ruecker, head of the Kosovo mission of the United Nations which has administered the territory since NATO expelled Serbian forces in 1999. Thaci did not name any countries or specify when he plans to declare independence.
The date for the declaration is the subject of great speculation in Kosovo, with mid-to-late February or early March heavily backed. Thaci has made clear the timing will be carefully coordinated with Western powers.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/09/2008 00:00 ||
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The public transport sector says the government is saddling it with the responsibility of tackling face-covering clothing, such as burqas or niqabs.
The cabinet decided Friday that wearing burqas and other forms of face-covering clothing in trams, buses and metros must be banned. The public transport companies are requested to include the ban in their codes of conduct in the months ahead. If they refuse, the cabinet will force them via "other regulations", Home Affairs Minister Guusje ter Horst said after Friday's week cabinet meeting.
Public transport companies sector organisation Mobis does not want the burqa to be excluded. Mobis fears violent incidents if for example a bus-driver refused to take someone wearing a burqa.
Mobis says the cabinet is passing on the responsibility for the ban to the sector. Mobis chairman Maarten van Eeghen also says burqas form no social security problem in his view.
The cabinet originally only wanted to ban burqas at schools and for civil servants. The Christian democrats (CDA), the biggest government party, also wanted a ban on public transport. The ban at schools and for civil servants, like the ban in public transport, with not be laid down in legislation but via codes of conduct.
A general ban on wearing the burqa in public places would according to the cabinet be in conflict with the constitutional freedom of religion. The opposition conservatives (VVD) and Party for Freedom (PVV) say a general ban would be constitutionally allowed. PVV leader Geert Wilders argued that "you cannot participate in Dutch society walking around like a penguin."
Radio programme Stand.nl presented the statement Friday: "A burqa ban in public transport is useful." Among those responding, 70 percent agreed.
Posted by: tipper ||
02/09/2008 00:00 ||
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The Catholic church is propagating its Lent fast this year as the 'Christian Ramadan.' It is thereby hoping to appeal to young people, De Volkskrant reports.
"The image of the Catholic Lent must be burnished. The fact that we use a Muslim term is related to the fact that Ramadan is a better-known concept among young people than Lent," said campaign leader Van der Kuil Het of the Lent fast, which began on Wednesday.
In the past, the Catholic church had strict rules for the Lent period of 40 days before Easter. But since 1967, the action has focused on collecting funds for the third world. "Now we also want to bring back spirituality and sobriety," according to Van der Kuil.
Posted by: tipper ||
02/09/2008 00:00 ||
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#6
Here's an idea. How about Dutch Muslims call Ramadan..."Lent"! Ya know, for the "young people".
No? Don't think that would work? How about you ask anyways just to see what happens. I'll bet it would be fun...
#8
I've had the occasion to explain that Hanukkah is kind of like a Jewish St. Patrick's Day, to communicate the fun, nationalism, and essential lack of religious gravitas (minus getting falling-down drunk via green-tinted beer -- ick!). But I've never equated the one with the other. Hopefully we've got a translation error, or an overenthusiastic reporter. If one of our Dutch correspondents would be so good as to check this out, I'd be grateful.
#9
Well TW as a person that resided in Savannah for 7 years. Also, traveled down when I wasn't a resident for the St Pats Rugby tournament. Let me tell you green beer is wonderful. It really colorful on it's return as well.
#11
Last year, a retiring Dutch Catholic bishop made a one-day headline when he suggested referring to God as "Allah". Multi-Culti as only the Dutch can do it.
#14
From my perspective, Beavis, the first problem with green beer is that it's beer, although I understand a great many people differ from me on that one (isn't it wonderful -- more for you-all!). The second problem is that it's been adulterated, but so long as it's enjoyed fully in both directions... ;-) Whereas at Hanukkah we play betting games with a little top and eat fried things. So it isn't really like St. Patrick's Day at all. Just like Ramadan and Lent, in fact.
It's stupidity like this that's led to Catholicism and Dutch Protestantism (whichever variety that is; I lose track of all the sects, I fear) losing adherents, while American-style Evangelical Christianity in small house churches apparently is growing by leaps and bounds.
#16
among St. Pat celebrants, it's commonly thought that the green beer has "magical" powers, allowing the drinker to consume a LOT more without being a drunken ass. Those that are disabused of that notion frequently suffer memory loss as well, and repeat the same again the next year
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/09/2008 18:00 Comments ||
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#17
It would be unkind for me to snicker at your comment, Frank, so pretend I didn't. ;-)
The city of Amsterdam has developed teaching material warning children against the politics of Geert Wilders, newspaper De Telegraaf yesterday reported. Wilders calls the campaign "sickening".
After all, the tranzis know who their enemies really are.
The newspaper quoted from a letter that the city council has sent to three hundred primary and secondary schools in Amsterdam. Primary school heads believe that the letter is intended to anticipate the anti-Islam film that Wilders, MP and leader of the Party for Freedom (PVV), intends to release in March.
The letter, which the newspaper claims is intended as teaching material, contains cartoons of Wilders, Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende and a white family that wants nothing to do with a polite Islamic boy. The text reads: 'If you say bad things about someone, they will feel hurt. They may not dare to say anything in return, because they are afraid of being hurt even more. Then there is not much left of freedom of speech,' according to De Telegraaf.
The Amsterdam council, which is dominated by Labour (PvdA), concludes the pamphlet with the words, 'Unfortunately there are politicians who think they will become more popular by being extremely negative about certain groups of people. They think you should be able to say anything, even if it is hurtful. But this does not make things very pleasant in the Netherlands, as before you know it, they are setting one against the other'.
A spokesman for the Amsterdam city council stated that the message did not only refer to Wilders' opinions. Moreover, the 'teaching letter' also calls on pupils to talk to each other and respect each other's views, the spokesman pointed out.
Wilders responded indignantly to the letter. "Sickening. Leaflets like this should not be subsidised. The contents are prejudiced and inaccurate. If you decide to do this, then write about the cowardice of the PvdA and the multicultural drama as well."
Posted by: tipper ||
02/09/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Everybody together now,to the Bangles tune "Walk like an Egyptian" "Walk like a Penguin"
Posted by: Steven ||
02/09/2008 0:22 Comments ||
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#2
The Dutch PvdA made a deal with the devil. The devil's reps in Holland have come to collect. Dutch Socialist Leader in Fear of Muslim Party Members Wouter Bos, the leader of the Partij van de Arbeid (PvdA), the Dutch Labour Party, is worried about the high number of immigrants in the ranks of his own party. Bos won the Dutch municipal elections on 7 March by catering for the immigrants, who consequently tipped the balance in favour of the PvdA. Almost half the elected PvdA politicians in major Dutch cities where the PvdA is the largest party, such as Amsterdam and Rotterdam, are now Muslims.
Posted by: ed ||
02/09/2008 6:02 Comments ||
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#3
'If you say bad things about someone, they will feel hurt. They may not dare to say anything in return, because they are afraid of being hurt even more. Then there is not much left of freedom of speech,'
Or they may decide to cut your head off and all your friends will stand by and do nothing expect blame you for making them angry.
#4
The kids will be apprised of the true nature of Muslims by the time they get old enough to vote. The cartoon will be seen for what it is, but by that time, it will be too late. They may not have the luck of the Ancient Athenian kids who supported Socrates, were devastated at the court decision mandating his death, grew up, and eventually banished the ringleaders.
#5
Speaking to journalists at the Deutsche Welle in Bonn, Wolfgang Huber, head of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany, slammed the proposal by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams to introduce parts of Islamic Shariah law for Muslims in Britain. Williams also said introduction of some aspects of Islamic or Shariah law was "unavoidable" in Britain to promote social cohesion. "Hoping to achieve integration through a dual legal system is a mistaken idea," Huber told Deutsche Welle in an exclusive interview. "You have to ask the question as to what extent cultural characteristics have a legitimate place in a legal system. But you have to push for one country to have one system."
Williams, head of the 70-million member Anglican Church, provoked an outcry in an interview with the BBC on Thursday by saying a single approach to the legal system with one law for everybody was "a bit of a danger." He also called into question whether the current legal system could fulfill the demands of a "multi-faith society." The archbishop also stressed that "nobody in their right mind would want to see in this country the kind of inhumanity that's sometimes been associated with the practice of the law in some Islamic states, the extreme punishments, the attitudes to women."
"Recipe for chaos"
Williams' interview prompted strong reactions from policymakers in Britain. The idea of formalizing Islamic Shariah law in Britain would be "catastrophic" for social cohesion, David Blunkett, a former Home Secretary and prominent member of the government of Tony Blair, said on Friday, Feb. 8.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown gave a blunt response to the issues on Friday. "The prime minister is clear that in Britain, British laws based on British values will apply," a spokesman said.
Culture Secretary Andy Burnham added that there is no basis for applying different laws to people of different religions, saying: "You cannot run two systems of law alongside each other. That would be a recipe for chaos."
Britain's Muslim Council wants debate
The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), Great Britain's largest Muslim association, also said it rejected a "dual legal system" but was in favor of a larger debate on the issue.
Britain, which has 1.7 million Muslim citizens, had to "face up to the fact" that some of them did not relate to the British legal system, said Williams. Integration has been widely debated in the UK since four British Islamists killed 52 people in suicide bombings on London transport in July 2005.
Williams proposed that Muslims should be able to choose whether to have issues like marital disputes or financial matters dealt with in Shariah-compliant proceedings or the existing legal system.
Shariah councils exist in UK
"We're looking at a very small aspect of Shariah for Muslim families when they choose to be governed with regards to their marriage, divorce, inheritance, custody of children and so forth," said Ibrahim Mogra, of the Muslim Council of Britain. Islamic Shariah Councils, which have no legal authority under the British system, deal with everything from banking to alcoholism, forced marriage and divorce -- an issue that features in 95 percent of the cases brought before the councils. Under English law, people may settle disputes in front of an agreed third party as long as both sides agree to the process.
Tariq Ramadan, and Islamic scholar who teaches at Oxford University said Muslims needed to find a way to merge religious beliefs and law. "[Williams'] kinds of statements just feed the fears of fellow citizens," he told the Guardian newspaper. "I really think we, as Muslims, need to come with something that we abide by the common law and within these latitudes there are possibilities for us to be faithful to Islamic principles."
Posted by: Fred ||
02/09/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Tariq Ramadan, and Islamic scholar who teaches at Oxford University said Muslims needed to find a way to merge religious beliefs and law. "[Williams'] kinds of statements just feed the fears of fellow citizens,"...
Oh, that's just great. Rowan Willians gives a smooth operator like Tariq Ramadan the opportunity to triangulate Christians against Islam and the secular state. Williams doesn't have a clue as to the stakes involved here, and he dithers on accordingly.
#2
Christopher Howse, a columnist for the Daily Telegraph , also draws a bead on Tariq Ramadan in this blog post.
Tariq Ramadan, (Mr Ramadan as Douglas Murray calls him) had a book of his quoted by Dr Rowan Williams during Thursday nights unwise lecture. I can hardly think of a less reliable guide to the real state of Muslim belief and practice.
Professor Ramadan was barred from entering France for some time by Nicolas Sarkozy (as Interior Minister). He lives in England now because he is denied a visa to take up an academic job in America. So he has to make do with a fellowship at St Antonys College Oxford and a part-time professorship at some Dutch university. Lucky to have either, I suppose.
Professor Ramadan shares a first name with Tariq bin Ziyad, the commander of the Muslim army that conquered Spain in 711. An heroic namesake to live up to, indeed.
Spains conservative opposition, seeking to make immigration a major issue ahead of next months elections, says it wants to restrict use of the Islamic veil.
The number of foreign residents in Spain has gone from very low levels to 10 percent of the population in about a decade and the conservative Popular Party (PP) wants to make immigration a major election issue for the first time.
The PP will announce its immigration policy on Saturday (today). Its going to deal with defending equality between men and women and ensure that the veil isnt used for discrimination in schools or anywhere else, the PPs justice spokesman Ignacio Astarloa said late on Thursday. Party leader Mariano Rajoy, who wants migrants to sign a contract promising to respect Spanish customs, said he also wanted to enforce bans on genital mutilation and polygamy.
The governing Socialists, who lead by 4-6 percentage points in polls ahead of the March 9 vote, have said the PP proposals have a whiff of xenophobia and address non-existent problems. Until this week, the PP had focused on the deteriorating economy, but analysts believe the immigration proposals are aimed at working class voters competing with new arrivals for jobs and public services.
Spain has not had the sort of immigrant tensions that other parts of Europe have seen but there have been several cases of schools trying to make Muslim girls take off headscarves. Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said he wanted to apologise to Spains immigrants for statements by the PPs economic spokesman, Miguel Arias Canete, who complained they were overloading hospitals.
Youve got to have some really discriminatory, putrid ideas, said Zapatero, in response to Arias Canetes use of the example of an Ecuadorean woman taking advantage of the Spanish health service for a free mammogram. Immigrant groups have also reacted with horror to the PPs proposals, which generated unease on the streets of Canada Real, a shantytown on the outskirts of Madrid. Its just to win votes, said Moroccan Ali el Moaffati, who has lived in Spain for 32 years. The most important thing to us is that they leave us in peace.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/09/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Headline's misspelled?
Spain opposition wants to restrict Islamic veil evil.
GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba - Somewhere amid the cactus-studded hills on this sprawling Navy base, separate from the cells where hundreds of men suspected of links to al-Qaida and the Taliban have been locked up for years, is a place even more closely guarded a jailhouse so protected that its very location is top secret.
For the first time, the top commander of detention operations at Guantanamo has confirmed the existence of the mysterious Camp 7. In an interview with The Associated Press, Rear Adm. Mark Buzby also provided a few details about the maximum-security lockup. Guantanamo commanders said Camp 7 is for key alleged al-Qaida members, who must be kept apart from other prisoners to prevent them from retaliating against long-term detainees who have talked to interrogators. They also want the location kept secret for fear of terrorist attack.
This all seems sensible to me: it's like having a special section at a domestic prison for the 'worst of the worst'. These individuals are indeed that, and we don't want them to have access to anyone, let alone Mahmoud the Weasel. But as you read on you'll sense the outrage of the AP reporter.
Many operations have been classified since the detention center opened in January 2002 in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. More than four years passed before the military released even the names of detainees held on this 45-square-mile base in southeast Cuba and it did so only after the AP filed a Freedom of Information Act request.
Not clear to me why an FOIA would work, and further, why the AP would want to know.
Detainees have been held in Camp Echo and Camps 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Journalists cleared by the military have been allowed to tour some of these lockups, where 260 men are held, but aren't allowed to speak to detainees. Some lawmakers and other VIPs have passed through, and the International Red Cross has access, but doesn't divulge details of visits with prisoners.
Camp 7, where 15 "high-value detainees" are held, is so secret that its very existence was not publicly known until it was mentioned in December by attorneys for Majid Khan, a former Baltimore resident who allegedly plotted to bomb gas stations in the United States. Previously, many observers believed the 15 were being held in Camps 5 or 6, which are maximum-security facilities.
And that was a fine arrangement.
"Under the gag order ... we are prohibited from saying anything more about their camp," lawyer Gitanjali Gutierrez, who met with Khan in October, said Tuesday. Most of the lawyers' notes and memos have been stamped "top secret" by the government.
Buzby told the AP he is sharply limiting to a "very few" the number of people who know Camp 7's whereabouts. He described it as a maximum security facility that was already built when President Bush announced in September 2006 that 14 high-value terrorism suspects had been transferred from CIA secret detention facilities to Guantanamo. An additional detainee, Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi, arrived last April. "They went straight into that facility," Buzby said.
Buzby, who heads all military detention operations on Guantanamo, said he controls Camp 7, but would not discuss whether the CIA might still be talking with the high-value detainees.
"None of your business!"
Paul Rester, the military's chief interrogator at Guantanamo, told AP he has been interviewing one of the Camp 7 detainees and that others may be interrogated, depending on intelligence needs.
But other key military commanders on the base have been told to leave Camp 7 to others. "Not everybody, even within the Joint Task Force, has access or even knowledge of where Camp 7 is," said Army Col. Bruce Vargo. As commander of the military's Joint Detention Group at Guantanamo, Vargo is responsible for the camps holding 260 detainees. But not for Camp 7.
Isn't that the way the military works? You have responsibility for your command but not for someone else's. Camp 7 is someone else's responsibility. And the way that paragraph reads, I'm betting the AP reporter omitted Col. Vargo's patient explanation of exactly that.
Red Cross representatives have visited Camp 7 and all the other detention facilities at Guantanamo, confirmed Geoff Loane, head of the humanitarian organization's delegation in Washington. He declined to give details.
Buzby said the 15 are kept isolated in part to protect other prisoners. "Detainees have told us a lot of things about this group of people, and if there were potential for retribution it would be a very, very dangerous situation," he said.
Mixing these 15 detainees in would cause all the rest to shut up. It would lead to violence, after which the administration would be accused of 'failing to protect the inmates'. That would be a two-fer for the progressives and for al-Qaeda.
For his part, Vargo said he is preoccupied by the possibility of an al-Qaida attack on Guantanamo. "Although we are trying to be open, security is paramount," he said. "I mean, if you can fly a plane into the towers, you can attack Guantanamo if that's what you choose to do. It's something I think about on a day-to-day basis."
Which is his job. After WTC there isn't any part of our country or military that is immune to al al-Qaeda attack.
Vargo declined to discuss whether the U.S. has received information that al-Qaida may be planning such an attack. "We have intelligence reports, but I don't want to release what we know for obvious reasons," he said.
"I can say no more!"
While some military personnel have reportedly grumbled about being kept out of the loop, others don't mind. Army Col. Larry James, whose team of psychologists assists interrogators, said he does not want to know where Camp 7 is. "I learned a long, long time ago, if I'm going to be successful in the intel community, I'm meticulously in a very, very dedicated way going to stay in my lane," he said. "So if I don't have a specific need to know about something, I don't want to know about it. I don't ask about it."
Sounds like a professional man. Good for him.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/09/2008 13:18 ||
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#5
tw: I enjoy both the twisted artistry, but more so the bitter irony were something like that to have actually taken place.
There he was, the operations officer for al-Qaeda, among their best and brightest, and then, by their standards to be made a thing lower than an animal to Muslims, a woman.
Even changing his genetic code to transform him into a pig would not create the terrible pain in him of being a woman. For such men are horrible misogynists. They hate and fear women and must continually despise and belittle them.
Remember the reaction at Abu Ghraib of the Muslims put under the control of women? They practically soiled themselves, curling up in a ball in the corner and crying. In their twisted reality, it was far worse than a savage beating.
#6
Oh, I don't disagree philosophically, Anonymoose, it's just that the photoshop is very disturbing. Don't forget the popularity of sex change operations (in both directions) in Iran, where I believe it's publicly funded.
Up to six Guantanamo detainees will face charges related to the September 11 terror attacks on the United States, according to a New York Times.
Citing people who were briefed on the case, the report said those charged would include Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, a former top aide to Osama bin Laden, who admitted being the main planner of the attacks. Military prosecutors are considering seeking the death penalty for Mohammed, the Times reported, but no final decision has been made.
The prosecutors are focusing on the September 11 attacks to bolster the military commission system's credibility before a new president takes office in January 2009, the Times reported. "The thinking was 9/11 is the heart and soul of the whole thing. The thinking was: go for that," the unnamed official told the Times.
CIA director Michael Hayden for the first time admitted publicly that the agency had used "waterboarding", or simulated drowning, in interrogations of three top al-Qaeda detainees nearly five years ago. The technique, which critics say is tantamount to torture, was used on Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Abu Zubaydah and Abd Al-Rahim al-Nashiri at a time when further catastrophic attacks on the United States were believed to be imminent, Hayden said.
A classified Pentagon assessment concludes that long battlefield tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, along with persistent terrorist activity and other threats, have prevented the U.S. military from improving its ability to respond to any new crisis, The Associated Press has learned.
Despite security gains in Iraq, there is still a "significant" risk that the strained U.S. military cannot quickly and fully respond to another outbreak elsewhere in the world, according to the report. Oh well. I'll guess if one comes along we'll just have to nuke it.
Last year the Pentagon raised that threat risk from "moderate" to "significant." This year, the report will maintain that "significant" risk level pointing to the U.S. military's ongoing struggle against a stubborn insurgency in Iraq and its lead role in the NATO-led war in Afghanistan.
The Pentagon, however, will say that efforts to increase the size of the military, replace equipment and bolster partnerships overseas will help lower the risk over time, defense officials said Friday. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the classified report.
Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has completed the risk assessment, and it is expected to be delivered to Capitol Hill this month. Because he has concluded the risk is significant, his report will include a letter from Defense Secretary Robert Gates outlining steps the Pentagon is taking to reduce it.
The risk level was raised to significant last year by Mullen's predecessor, Marine Gen. Peter Pace.
On Capitol Hill this week, Mullen provided a glimpse into his thinking on the review. And Pentagon officials Friday confirmed that the assessment is finished and acknowledged some of the factors Gates will cite in his letter.
"The risk has basically stayed consistent, stayed steady," Mullen told the House Armed Services Committee. "It is significant."
He said the 15-month tours in Iraq and Afghanistan are too long and must be reduced to 12 months, with longer rest periods at home. "We continue to build risk with respect to that," he said.
Other key national security challenges include threats from countries that possess weapons of mass destruction, as well as the need to replace equipment worn out and destroyed during more than six years of war.
On a positive note, Mullen pointed to security gains in Iraq, brought on in part by the increase in U.S. forces ordered there by President Bush last year. There, "the threat has receded and al-Qaida ... is on the run," he said. "We've reduced risk there. We've got more stability there as an example."
The annual review grades the military's ability to meet the demands of the nation's military strategy which would include fighting the wars as well as being able to respond to any potential outbreaks in places such as North Korea, Iran, Lebanon or China.
The latest review by Mullen covers the military's status during 2007, but the readiness level has seesawed during the Iraq war. For example, the risk for 2004 was assessed as significant, but it improved to moderate in 2005 and 2006.
Last year, when Pace increased the risk level, a report from Gates accompanying the assessment warned that while the military is working to improve its warfighting capabilities, it "may take several years to reduce risk to acceptable levels."
Gates is expected to tell Congress that while the primary goal is to continue to increase the size of the military, it is also critical to step up efforts to work with other nations as well as other U.S. agencies to bolster fragile governments through economic development and other support.
And it will reflect his drumbeat for the use of more "soft power" to defeat terrorism, which includes the greater use of civilians in areas such as political development, communications and training.
Pentagon leaders argue that nontraditional conflicts such as the insurgents and terrorists facing coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan will be the main military battlefields for years to come. And defeating them, they say, will require more than military hardware or "hard power."
#1
A classified Pentagon assessment concludes that long battlefield tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, along with persistent terrorist activity and other threats, have prevented the U.S. military from improving its ability to respond to any new crisis
ROTFLMAO. It's war asshats. I'm sure WWII prevented the US military from improving its ability to respond to any new crisis too! This is not a test. Repeat, this is not a test. This is the real thing.
This is exactly what Rummey was trying to root out of the bureaucracy. It's the same crap as attempting to reassign Petraeus. THIS IS THE WAR. The culture within the walls is still focusing on the 'next big one in Europe'. Someone needs to bitch slap the upper echelons real hard.
#2
Some people do get it, I think, P2k. But they're looking out towards the next operations looming on the horizon.
From where I sit I see a lot of behind the scenes efforts to enable military to work with our own and other civilian agencies, emergency responders etc. Sooner or later we are likely to be hit with a major attack here which will trigger waves of jihadi/leftists from the south and maybe the north to come over the borders. There's more than one leader* who's thinking about the possibility that our troops may well be doing counterIED patrols and responding to WMD attacks within our homeland.
Or other non-force-on-force operations in places like friendly south American countries or oil/resource rich African states.
It's a juggling act, since the Army is also transitioning to the brigade combat team model from the WWII division as the unit of deployment. That's being done in parallel with the surge in Iraq, Afghanistan heating up and our Spec Ops being heavily deployed. Oh, and along the way, some Spec Ops experts are trying to teach elements of the regular army how to do the advisor role effectively in places like Anbar province.
And yes, in the meanwhile we are indeed using up / wearing out materiel and equipment, as always happens in war.
*(Wells has been pushing to have us figure out ahead of time how to integrate C2ISR systems to make data sharing work across military & civilian agencies if need be.)
#3
BTW, COL Ryan's slides (2nd link in that comment above) pack a lot into a small space. This interview with him at Ft. Leavenworth is worth a read, too. He volunteered to come back on active duty status after 9/11. Really impressive guy whose opinions about asymmetric warfare are based on experience in depth.
In this interview, Ryan talks at length about the decision to deploy
elements of an institutional training division into a combat zone to pick up this training and advisory mission, and stresses the difficulty thereof especially given that advisor skills are somewhat enigmatic to the institutional Department of Defense.
As Ryan notes, When you say you need advisors, you either look to Special Forces or you put your hands in your pockets and start kicking stones, because theres no definition of advisors and theres no advisory training outside of SF.
Based on his own background in SF and past foreign internal defense work in both permissive and non-permissive environments, Ryan also expounds in great detail on what makes a good (and bad) advisor, explaining that its largely a function of temperament and personality and noting that these are not qualities the Army is presently equipped to measure and track.
In addition, he discusses what he considers the lack of a plan to reconstruct the security forces mechanisms and infrastructure within Iraq and the inability of US-based staff action processes to keep up with theater requirements.
#5
lotp, those are intriguing and informative posts. Given the significant possibility of a Democratic administration, I hope there is also a study underway to determine how the military is going to get all of that done with chewing gum and baling wire. Assuming, of course, that the officer corps does not resign en masse.
Posted by: Matt ||
02/09/2008 10:41 Comments ||
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#6
Yup, that's the challenge. And IIUC the Pentagon is trying to get at least this coming fiscal year's funding secured because it might get really bad the year after.
And if the Clinton machine takes power again, you know they WILL sabotage ANY efforts to share data between military leaders and civilian authorities even after a major attack.
O'bama will Pre-emptively surrender before such an attack is deemed necessary.
BTW, I'm not kidding about concerns re: IEDs here in the US.
#9
From an Air Force point of view, there is a certain amount of truth here. The war was initially a relief for the AF. Operation Northern Watch and Southern Watch meant that the AF had been flying combat in Iraq continuously since the end of the first Gulf War. The ability to actually blow away the bad guys was good. The problem is that the airplanes are pretty much worn out and there is NO money to refurbish them. Quite rightly, the Army and Marines get first call on the available funds, but the AF senior leadership is desperate to "recapitalize" (Air Staff speak for buy new airplanes) and there is no money. They submit budgets with reductions across the board to "free up" funds for "recapitalization" and Congress just takes the money rather than let them buy new airplanes with it. The F-15s are grounded because of metal fatigue. The KC-135s and F-16s aren't far behind them. The AF is on a going out of business curve. I wouldn't be surprised to see it merged with the Navy into some purple suit air force in the next administration.
#10
The AF pulled about 200 fighter pilots out of Iraq and reassigned them to "fly" RPVs. The force is steadily shrinking and manned planes are being replaced by cheaper unmanned vehicles.
Former terrorists Walid Shoebat, Kamal Saleem and Zak Anani addressed cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, during their annual political forum. They shared their experiences as terrorists and helped cadets understand the Islamic fundamentalist mind set.
During the event a Jordanian college student, identified as Omar Khalifa of Metro International, approached Kamal Saleem and spoke to him in Arabic, "you are an enemy of Islam and you must die." The incident was reported to Military Police, who investigated Khalifa's threat.
"The men receive threats of this nature all of time and we take each one very seriously," said Keith Davies, Executive Director of the Shoebat Foundation. "That is why each of the men live in seclusion."
Numerous media outlets (New York Times, the Associated Press, The Colorado Springs Gazette, the Rocky Mountain News) did not report on the former terrorists' message, but instead focused on the [inaccurate] media statements distributed by CAIR (Council for American Islamic Relations), in an all-out campaign to discredit the speakers credentials and background.
"We have all been told that Islam has been hijacked by extremists, said Walid Shoebat. "Yet CAIR, who professes to be Moderate Muslims are the Three Ex Terrorists biggest critics, and pull out all stops to try and keep out voices from being heard. I beg to ask the question; if CAIR is indeed moderate as they claim, then WHY are they not supporting our campaign against 'extremists? If they are sincerely against the Fundamentalist Muslim agenda why do they appose us?"
According to the Air Force Academy's public affairs office CAIR spokesman, Ibrahim Hooper, contacted them numerous times criticizing the scheduling of the three men, and requesting an opportunity to have a CAIR representative share with cadets information about the Islamic faith. The Academy informed Hooper that the event was not about religion, but about terrorism, and he denied CAIR's request.
Each of the men can document their stories and identities. Shoebat has spoken at more than 50 events, including many prestigious organizations and venues. He has also addressed audiences at numerous government agencies, who always scrutinize his credentials and background, and they have cleared him each and every time. He has spoken at the National Constitution Center, Columbia, Stanford and Harvard universities, the Department of Homeland Security, and the FBI Academy, to name only a few. The advisory board of the Walid Shoebat Foundation is comprised of Generals and other senior officers from the U.S. Military.
Posted by: Eric Jablow ||
02/09/2008 0:59 Comments ||
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#3
What would happen if an American threatened a terrorist sympathizer in the same way? It would be freaking front-page news throughout the entire world. But this, nothing. Surprise, surprise.
#9
Indeed, Hupoque the Anonymous2184. And dear lotp is an officer's wife, for her sins. She just forgot to do a smiley thingy. Even crackerjack programmers forget sometimes, based on the ones I've seen here at Rantburg. Goodness knows I forget often enough, but then when I took CS113 the second time I got an F, neatly beating out the D I'd got the first time, and thus proving conclusively I wasn't meant to be a computer jockey. Quite unlike 50% of my siblings, who smile gently at me at the oddest times. (As do some of the denizens here, but we'll not talk about that!)
#10
TW__I see I'm behind the curve. I also understand your comments about computer education. I should have flunked a course in Fortran for the IBM360, Lo, these many years ago, but the computer lost my course registration, and I've been banging on keyboards ever since... 8p
#12
That's ok, Hupoque the Anonymous2184. I have the advantage of you in longevity at Rantburg (or not -- so many old hands have taken Fred's clever anonymizer names that with my porous memory I've completely lost track of them. Sorry, guys!) and the lack of a paying day job to distract me. It was Fortran I on punch cards that done me in, coupled with a complete inability to accept the possibility that my logically thought out work could possibly need debugging. Ah, well. I'm much better at my true calling of following Mr. Wife's career halfway round the world and back again, pouring tea for them who appreciates it, and studying here at Rantburg University. :-)
There are rifts in Taliban ranks and if sources are to be believed, the supreme leader, Mullah Muhammad Omar, has sacked Tehrik-i-Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud from the rank and file and asked him to disband the movement in Pakistan. There are also reports that differences have cropped between senior leadership of Tehrik-i-Taliban and its chief Baitullah Mehsud over the announcement of ceasefire by the latter.
It is being stated that senior leaders of Tehrik-i-Taliban, Pakistan have expressed indignation over the ceasefire announced by its chief Baitullah Mehsud saying that the latest announcement will badly damage the reputation of the Tehrik. A well-informed Taliban source said that the government wanted to create a rift in the Taliban ranks and the latest announcement was part of that campaign. Report about a meeting of Taliban leaders under the chairmanship of Baitullah Mehsud is wrong, as Taliban leaders have lost contacts with each other since long, he said.
According to him, Taliban militants were being chased and killed in Swat and some parts of tribal areas and offer of truce by the purported Taliban spokesman was severe blow to the Taliban movement. He said that Taliban supreme leader, Mullah Muhammad Omar, had already sacked TTP chief Baitullah Mehsud and ordered him to disband the Taliban movement in Pakistan, as the Taliban activities had been affecting their jihad against the foreign forces in Afghanistan.
An official source maintained that the government would never enter into dialogue with the militants as they had been bringing bad name to the country. Talks will be held with tribal elders and maliks; not with Taliban militants, he added. He said that the reports about talks with Taliban had created a lot of problems for the government. Talks will only be held with those tribal elders, who enjoy the support of tribesmen, he went on to say.
An important Taliban leader said, while pleading anonymity, that Taliban fighters in Pakistan considered Mullah Muhammad Omar as their leader and they would lay their arms if asked by him. In the presence of foreign troops in Afghanistan they will never stop their activities, he said.
A spokesman for Afghan Taliban earlier stated that there would be no negotiations until US and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) troops withdraw from Afghanistan. The Taliban will never negotiate with the Afghan government in the presence of foreign forces, he said. Even if Karzai gives up his presidency, its not possible that Mullah Omar would agree to negotiations.
The Taliban leader said that they were the followers of Mullah Omar and they would never leave their leader alone in the fight against occupation forces. As far as Baitullah Mehsuds offer of ceasefire is concerned, that might be his personal desire and it is not necessary that Taliban fighters will accept his decision, he said.
"Just as Mullah Omar is giving strategic direction for the Taliban from Quetta, al Qaeda senior leadership is in the FATA (Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas bordering Afghanistan) doing its planning," a senior U.S. administration official said on Friday, without giving the source of the intelligence.
"The iconic leaders of al Qaeda -- Zawahri, bin Laden and people like (Abu Laith) al-Libi are in the tribal areas of Pakistan," the official added.
From Thursday, but I'm enjoying the thoughts of Gadahn splattered by a Predator somewhere in the hills of Wazoo. And I'm hoping his last words were a cry for his mother.
Thats what Taliban sources along the Afghan-Pakistan border are wondering about the American-born al-Qaida member. Gadahn, known as Azzam al-Ameriki (Azzam the American), joined al-Qaida in 2003 and has appeared in several bombastic al-Qaida videos since then. Federal prosecutors indicted the Californian for treason in October 2006, and he's now on the FBI's Most Wanted List.
U.S. intelligence officials have heard the same rumors, but tell NBC News that they have no information to suggest Gadahn is dead. They specifically deny that Gadahn was killed in the same Predator missile attack that killed al-Qaidas #4, Abu Laith al-Libi, last week near the town of Mir Ali in Pakistans North Waziristan province. Gadahn was visiting Mir Ali at the time, according to a local man who describes himself as a friend of Gadahns.
Jihadist sources on the Pakistan side of the border are telling local journalists they are worried. One who described himself as a very close friend of Gadahn said the 28-year-old California native had until recently been spending most of his time in the populated areas of South Waziristan, near the towns of Wana, Azam Warsak and Shahkai.
The same friend said Gadahn had left for North Waziristan a week before the Predator attack in Mir Ali, where he was supposed to attend an important meeting. The friend said that, after the Predator attack on January 31, they lost all contact with Gadahn.
"All our friends are worried about him but so far we could not make any contact with him. We had sent two of our friends to Mir Ali to locate him and provide us with details about him," the supposed friend explained. He added that other militants who traveled with Gadahn also were missing.
The self-described friend said Gadahn and his comrades may have decided to remain silent due to security reasons, or perhaps Gadahn was killed in the attack.
Both intelligence and law enforcement sources says they have heard the same reports, but they tell NBC News they do not believe that Gadahn was killed in the Predator attack. However, they note that they are having difficulty determining the identities of the 13 people killed in the attacks.
Gadahn was last heard from on January 6,when a jihadist website posted several links to a 50-minute video featuring Gadahn, released by the media arm of Al-Qaida. Gadahn delivered most of the statement in English, but spoke in Arabic on several occasions to deliver Koranic recitations, religious rhetoric, and messages to Arabic speaking persons. One of these Arabic statements called on Muslims to greet President Bush during his January trip to the Middle East with "bombs and booby-traps."
Gadahn also suggested the U.S. had lost in both Afghanistan and Iraq. How, Americans might ask, is it possible that the strongest and best-equipped army on earth has been defeated by lightly-armed mujahidin? The answer is self-evident: Right triumphs over might! he said.
The U.S. government is offering a $1 million reward for information which leads to Gadahns capture.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/09/2008 00:00 ||
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...Ya know, what we need to do is start a big 'Azzam-bit-the-big-one' PR campaign. If he is alive, he won't be able to resist poking his head up and screaming something about infidels.
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
02/09/2008 0:28 Comments ||
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Still missing? I hope he's still DEAD.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
02/09/2008 1:45 Comments ||
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The self-described friend said Gadahn and his comrades may have decided to remain silent due to security reasons, or perhaps Gadahn was killed in the attack.
I don't understand, doesn't being zapped by a predator make you "remian silent due to security reasons" in the first place?
Posted by: Ol Dirty American ||
02/09/2008 13:17 Comments ||
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I hope he is alive, getting waterboarded, and singin like a bird.
In a startling revelation, the Israeli Ambassador in New Delhi, Mark Sofer, has said that his country had assisted India in 'turning around' the situation during the 1999 Kargil war with Pakistan.
During the Kargil war, while everyone else imposed an unofficial arms embargo, Israel supplied India with laser guided bombs, laser target pods, unmanned aerial vehicles, battlefield radars, and artillery rounds, some straight from its own military supplies, some within 24hrs of request. They also provided satellite data. This is why the then Indian defense minister George Fernandes later issued an order that Israeli companies were to be preferentially treated in future arms purchases. During the 1971 Indo-Pak war, Israel had also supplied mortars and ammunition to India. They didn't even have diplomatic relations then but the Mossad trained India's RAW and the SPG (who guard Indian leaders) also received Israeli training. Israeli and Indian pilots flew in secret wargames, exposing the Indians to the F-16s that the Pakistanis use, and the Israelis to the Mig-29s and Sukhois that the Arabs use.
In an interview with a weekly, the envoy disclosed how defence ties between the two countries got a boost after Kargil when Israel came to India's rescue at a critical time, helping turn around the situation on the ground. 'I think we proved to the Indian government that you can rely on us, that we have the wherewithal. A friend in need is a friend indeed,' he said.
He also disclosed that Indo-Israeli defence ties would go beyond mere selling-buying of arms. 'We do have a defence relationship with India, which is no secret. What is secret is what the defence relationship is? And with all due respect, the secret part will remain secret,' he said in the interview to Outlook weekly magazine.
Comments, John Frum?
After the 1998 nuclear tests, questions were asked about the visit by Abdul Kalam to Israel 18 months previously. Many rumors of possible nuclear collaboration but nothing confirmed. Since then we have had reports of hundreds of Indian scientists in Israel working on joint projects, Israel testing its submarine launched cruise missiles at the Indian missile test range.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/09/2008 00:00 ||
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Around 300 people, including 80 security personnel, have been killed in incidents of violence since trouble in the Swat valley began in February 2007 and the operation began on October 26.
The situation in the scenic valley, once a tourist resort, is still far from normal. Estimates collected on local level suggest that over 0.6 million people were affected by the violence directly or indirectly. Many of them have migrated to other areas for fear of lives while others shifted as their houses were destroyed in crossfire.
According to statistics compiled by a local journalist, 136 civilians have been killed in Swat and 40 in Shangla district. Security forces have detained around 800 people, 350 of who are being questioned outside Swat. The rest have been locked up in various police stations in the valley.
Around 110 militants have surrendered to the security forces after facilitation by local elders. Trouble in the valley has also cost millions of rupees in losses to the hotel industry, transporters and businessmen, who depend on tourism. Continuing curfew brought social life in Mingora city and nearby areas to a standstill.
The District Council has been closed since the fighting broke out government offices have not been able to work.
Houses of Swat District Nazim Jamal Nasir Khan and former federal minister Amir Muqam were burnt. The latter narrowly escaped a suicide attack in Peshawar. A former member of the NWFP Assembly Pir Mohammad Khan was killed in the attack.
Former federal minister and Awami National Party (ANP) leader Afzal Khan Lala was injured in a firing incident. Former provincial minister Asfandyar Amir Zeb and nazim Bakhtmand Khan were killed, along with their five colleagues in a landmine blast.
Mullah Fazal Ahad, now known as Mullah Fazlullah, launched an FM radio some three years ago and gained public support by his fiery speeches against the government and in support of his own brand of Sharia or Islamic law. The firebrand cleric, also known as Mullah Radio, began to construct a religious seminary in his headquarters in Imam Dheri by collecting donations through his FM channel.
As his influence in the area increased, he resorted to coercing people to follow his regulations in a bid to Islamise the Swat valley. Federal and provincial government authorities were alarmed when followers of the cleric forcibly stopped health teams from administering anti-polio drops to children in areas under his influence. Earlier, the fanatics had blown up and burnt several CD shops and music centres and warned the rest to close down their business dubbing them as devilish instruments. To control the situation, district police officer Yameen Khan called security forces in Swat.
A truce in May 2007 briefly stopped violence but thousands of followers of Fazlullah announced a war against the government after the Lal Masjid operation in Islamabad.
The militants swiftly spread from Imam Dheri to Shangla and Swat and seized police stations and officers and beheaded policemen and FC personnel. This prompted the authorities to land regular troops in the area.
The cleric and his followers had warned of suicide attacks, and carried out the first one in the Rahimabad area on July 12 . The attack killed four policemen including a station house officer. It was followed by two more suicide attacks one near Seend Police Lines on an FC convoy that killed 21 FC troops, and the second in Matta tehsil that killed 12 army men, two policemen and seven civilians.
Taliban threat looming: People of Mingora city and nearby towns are wary of a comeback by militants, who they believe have not been eliminated completely. People believe Taliban power and support bases are still intact and they have gone underground to evade arrests or being killed. No major militant leaders have been killed or arrested during the operation, they say.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/09/2008 00:00 ||
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UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Thursday he hopes relations between the world body and the United States will improve after President George W Bush leaves office next year.
Ban said that he a good relationship with Bush, but that I hope we will have an even stronger partnership between the United Nations and United States when the next president takes office in January. I have been watching the debates and presidential campaigns and I think you have very good candidates, he told the Economic Club of Chicago.
Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are battling for the Democratic presidential nomination. On the Republican side, Senator John McCain has all but secured his partys nomination for the November election.
Regarding Darfur, Ban, when asked what the United States should do to further assist the United Nations in Sudans strife-torn region, the UN chief pointed to the need for helicopters and other much-needed resources. I would urge the United States and other Western powers to provide necessary assistance, he said. They should really commit themselves when they have been talking loudly to the resolution of the Darfur situation.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/09/2008 00:00 ||
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hee hee - LOVE the graphic
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/09/2008 11:03 Comments ||
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I would urge the United States and other Western powers to provide necessary assistance,
Sure, commensurate with all the assistance we got for Iraq.
It's not entirely fair to call it WaPo hand-wringing; what I read was just the horrible cost of war.
On the third floor of the Amman Palace hotel, above a city block crowded with appliance dealers and video-game vendors, six Iraqi children formed a semicircle around their therapist and practiced how to breathe.
To the right of the therapist sat Abdullah, a 7-year-old boy missing his left foot and left eye. The afternoon sun slanted across his face, which once had been so erased his father failed to recognize it and now was a mottled mask of flesh grafted from his back. Two boys wore leg casts. A third had a burnt face. Three of the children sat in wheelchairs. Zaineb, an 11-year-old girl who could barely move her crippled legs, wore a black wool cap over her broken skull.
"The pain will be there," the therapist said. "But if we focus on it, that will only make us feel worse."
Five years of war have disfigured the people of Iraq, hobbling and maiming many thousands of them. There are no definitive counts. But Health Minister Salih al-Hasnawi said the number of wounded Iraqi civilians is "of course" higher than the estimated 151,000 who died from violence in the first three years of the war, the figure given in a recent survey by the World Health Organization and the Iraqi government.
"For any explosion, it is five to one, or seven to one, wounded to dead," Hasnawi said.
About 50 of these wounded Iraqis have been living in the Amman Palace hotel, while half that number are in the Jordan Red Crescent hospital up the hill. Dozens more, limbless and broken, arrive in Amman each month asking to be remade. They stay an average of 53 days, sometimes more than a year, attended by a team of orthopedic, plastic and maxillofacial surgeons from the Geneva-based Doctors Without Borders organization.
"Fear is legitimate. It's all right to be afraid, but we must not let it wear us out," the therapist said.
The lives these people knew in Iraq changed in a moment, with no time for them to react. The young boy standing at his grandfather's funeral when the suicide car bomb exploded. Neighborhood kids playing soccer when a mortar shell landed among them. A hotel clerk hailing a taxi when a bullet passed through his thigh.
Now they have nothing but time: for the melted gums and charred skin, the hair implants and the plastic legs, septicemia and osteomyelitis, antibiotic resistance and opiate addictions.
More at link, but I get the picture.
Posted by: Bobby ||
02/09/2008 09:28 ||
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If Al Qaeda in Iraq had not made and set off the bombs, these children would not have been injured. Had Saddam Hussein not made his plans to fight the invasion based on a terror war after losing, these children would not have been injured. Had the Shiite Sadrites and the Badrites not made covert war and torture their policy, with the avid support of the mullahcracy in Iran, these children would not have been injured. I'm with the gentleman quoted yesterday about the Navy SEALS who died getting the evil men who put suicide vests on two retarded women, sent them into the Baghdad pet market, and blew them up: we are fighting evil, and if you can't tell the difference, or can and refuse to support what we do, please go to Hell.
If the facts are as they are presented here, I find myself on the side of the soldiers, again.
Seems like this Iraqi guy abandoned his family in favor of 72 virgins.
What bugs me most about this incident is the fact that they felt a need to try to cover up what happened.
The former commander of a U.S. Army sniper team testified Friday that he ordered one of his soldiers to kill an Iraqi who had stumbled on their hiding place, saying that was the only way to ensure the safety of his men in hostile territory. Justifiable.
The testimony came as the U.S. military reported that five more soldiers were killed in two separate incidents in Iraq. You mean the sniper team could have been just as dead?
Sgt. Michael A. Hensley, who was a staff sergeant at the time of the killing last spring but was later demoted, gave his testimony on the opening day of a court-martial hearing a murder charge against Sgt. Evan Vela. Murder?! This is an overcharge. Anyone involved in leveling this charge needs to spend a month on the front line as part of a refresher course in reality.
Another member of the sniper unit testified the soldiers had been pushed to the brink of physical and mental exhaustion before the May 11 killing of Genei Nasir al-Janabi.
Hensley said that he and the other members of the sniper team had all fallen asleep, then awoke to find an Iraqi man squatting about three feet from them. That's not part of sniper training school!
Hensley said he ordered the Iraqi to lie on the ground and was searching the man when he saw "military-aged men" who he thought were carrying weapons about 100 yards away. Enough to make anyone nervous! Except an overzealous prosecutor, of course.
He said the Iraqi on the ground began yelling and he decided that killing the man was the only way to keep the sniper hideout from being discovered by what he believed was a group of approaching insurgents. He issued the Iraqi his Darwin Award on the spot!
"I told Sgt. Vela to pull out his 9-mm (pistol) and 'crack it.' I told Vela to shoot," said Hensley, who was acquitted in November of murder charges in this shooting and two earlier killings but was convicted of lesser charges. He received immunity for testifying Friday.
When asked why he didn't kill al-Janabi himself, Hensley said: "Sgt. Vela happened to be the guy with the pistol. The Iraqi's head was at his (Vela's) feet. I would have gladly shot him myself." >:-}
"Sadly, Sgt. Vela's foot was in the way."
Military prosecutors say the killing of al-Janabi along with two other slayings April 14 and April 27 occurred near Iskandariyah, a mostly Sunni Arab city 30 miles south of Baghdad.
Vela, from St. Anthony, Idaho, also is charged with planting an AK-47 on the dead man's body in an attempt to cover up what happened.
That's where they went wrong. If an Iraqi stumbles into your camp and starts yelling to his 'insurgent' pals who are coming that way, you can tap him. That's within the rules of war, and there's no need to cover it up.
Mustafa Ghani al-Janabi, al-Janabi's 17-year-old son, testified that he had been detained by the soldiers along with his father. He said that after about an hour, the soldiers let him go, but kept his father. During a break outside the court-martial at Camp Victory, near Baghdad airport, the boy said Hensley and Vela "destroyed my family's future because of what they did." You'll have to talk to your father about that one when you get sent off to paradise. He's the guy on the bed with the 72 doe-eyed virgins. Wait until he takes a break before you bother him. You'll be the last one he expects to see there.
He said he thought the court proceedings were fair, but added that if no one was found guilty in his father's death, "then I wouldn't say it is a just system I would say it is a game." What if your dad is the one they find guilty?
Earlier, Vela's lawyer said during his opening statement that his client was too exhausted to know what he was doing or to make any sort of moral judgment about the order Hensley gave him. Didn't he just wake up from a nap?
"He was suffering from sleep deprivation and had no ability to think that morning," attorney James Culp told the court.
Another defense lawyer, Daniel Conway, told reporters during the lunch break that Vela had slept just 2 1/2 hours during a 74-hour period last spring. "The Army took the best and brightest and pushed them beyond their breaking point," he said. Must be a defense lawyer from Berserkeley.
On June 22, Vela gave a statement to military investigators saying he killed one of the Iraqis. But Culp said Friday that the statement was given under duress, saying Vela was not permitted to use the latrine or to eat during a seven-hour interrogation. Hey, isn't that "torture" of some kind?
Two other soldiers Hensley, of Candler, N.C., and Spc. Jorge G. Sandoval Jr., of Laredo, Texas have faced similar charges in al-Janabi's killing as well as the other two slayings. They were acquitted of murder but convicted of planting evidence on the dead Iraqis.
Sounds right to me. Again, this isn't murder. But if it's lawful, you don't plant evidence and you don't lie to your superiors.
Sandoval was sentenced to five months in prison, his rank was reduced to private and his pay was withheld. Hensley was sentenced to 135 days confinement, reduced in rank to sergeant and received a letter of reprimand. The soldiers were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, based at Fort Richardson, Alaska.
Vela testified at Hensley's court-martial in late September, under a deal that bars his account of events from being used against him at his own court-martial. Vela said Hensley told him to shoot an Iraqi who had stumbled on their snipers' hideout although the man was not armed and had his hands in the air as he approached the soldiers. This means less than nothing to me. Perhaps the guy had decided that the risk of parading around in black jammies and sporting an AK-47 was higher than the risk of stumbling across a special forces hideout that particular day. Everything was understandable and by the book until the guy thought he'd raise a ruckus to try to direct the terrorists to the hideout before he got silenced for good.
#1
I think we've seen a number of posts here on isolated sniper teams either killed or doing an Alamo to know what happens when 20/20 rear vision kicks in.
Once derided as a white elephant, the U.S. Marine Corps' tilt-rotor aircraft, the V-22 Osprey, is proving its mettle in Iraq, military officials said.
The Osprey, which takes off and lands like a helicopter but flies like a plane, was designed to replace the Corps' aging and less-capable helicopter fleet. But a series of accidents involving the planes left 30 people dead from 1991 to 2000, and critics said the Osprey never would be able to replace the Vietnam-era CH-46 Sea Knight, which was the Corps' airlift workhorse.
The military, which has ordered 360 of the aircraft, said the 10 deployed to Iraq are doing what they are supposed to do -- carrying troops faster, farther and safer than the copters can.
Last September, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 left for Iraq's western Anbar province on the first deployment of the V-22. Since then, the planes have logged more than 2,000 flight hours, initially doing routine cargo and troop movements from base to base in an area about the size of South Carolina.
In December, commanders gave the planes a more risky mission called "aero-scout" in which a group of V-22s flies into a relatively unsecured location and drops off Marines for a search mission. The planes sit on the ground until the Marines load up and then fly off to somewhere else for another mission.
The Osprey's speed has been a lifesaver, too, squadron officials said. For instance, they said two V-22s were dispatched to fly a more than 130-mile round trip in the remote western desert to pick up a wounded Marine and get him to a hospital. The planes were able to do so in an hour, something no helicopter in the Marine inventory could do, squadron officials said.
Commanders in Iraq have allowed little media coverage of the V-22s since their arrival, wanting to get crews used to their mission and to keep insurgents from targeting the planes for propaganda purposes. The planes have not come under direct fire, officials said. Critics said the plane is lightly defended, with only one rear-mounted gun.
It's not an air superiority fighter.
But Marines said the Osprey has enough power and speed to get out of a hostile zone faster than any helicopter, and the aircraft can fly higher, allowing it to be out of range of shoulder-fired missiles.
The Osprey seems to have become a favorite of commanders who need to get to places quickly, including Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. military commander in Iraq. Petraeus used one to fly around the country on Christmas Day to visit troops. "Gen. Petraeus flew in the jump seat and was very impressed by the aircraft's capabilities," according to Col. Steve Boylan, a spokesman for the general.
"The rate of climb is exceptional, and it can fly about twice as fast as a Black Hawk [helicopter], without needing to refuel as frequently," Boylan said. "Beyond that, its automatic-hover capability for use in landing in very dusty conditions, even at night, is tremendous."
Petraeus chose the Osprey for that mission because it was the only aircraft in the inventory that could fly around the country without refueling and not rely on runways, Boylan said.
Despite glowing remarks from troops in Iraq, the planes have an overarching reliability problem, according to critics. "The Marines will tell you it's a new plane, and all new aircraft have problems, but it's not a new plane; it's been around for a long time now," said Philip Coyle, former chief of the Pentagon's weapons testing division. "It seems like every time one problem is fixed another one comes along, and I just don't think the program will be able to get over that."
Marines contend the planes have performed well, with six to eight aircraft out of 10 available at any one time.
No serious reports of mechanical problems have been reported with the planes in Iraq, according to Marine Corps officials in Washington, and a shortage of spare parts has been alleviated.
Critics such as Coyle said they aren't convinced the planes are the answer for the Marines. "It has flown more than 2,000 hours in Iraq, but most of that has been carefully coordinated to minimize the risks," he said.
Is there something wrong with avoiding risk when you can avoid risk?
"The program is like a bad poker hand. They keep putting money into it when they should have spent it on a new helicopter system."
The Marine commands in Washington and Iraq said they do not let the critics faze them. "As with any first-time deployment, new lessons are learned every day," one Marine deployed with the Osprey squadron said.
#3
NATOPS (Naval Aviation Ops manual - correct me if ima wrong!) is written in blood. Every platform has problems as the MV-22 has. The strategic, operational, and tactical benefits are weighed by very smart people. The MV-22 is here to stay - nuff said.
Posted by: Bangkok Billy ||
02/09/2008 13:05 Comments ||
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NATOPS (Naval Aviation Ops manual - correct me if ima wrong!) is written in blood.
You are correct Sir!
Posted by: Hupumble Dark Lord of the Faith9512 ||
02/09/2008 22:33 Comments ||
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Hamas leaders spoke to the Arabic language Ash-Sharq il-Awsat newspaper recently and explained that as Muslims, they are allowed to lie. In an interview printed on Thursday, senior Hamas terrorists explained, A Muslim is permitted to say things that oppose his beliefs in order to prevent damages or to be saved from death.
This approach, known in Arabic as taqiyya, was behind several Hamas leaders recent public expression of support for Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, they explained. Senior Hamas terrorists in Samaria, who were recently released from jail, publicly expressed disapproval with the Hamas takeover of Gaza and said they supported the PA forces. The sources quoted in Ash-Sharq il-Awsat explained that the Samarian terrorists announcement was not a sign of dissent within Hamas ranks, but rather a permitted use of taqiyya to deceive Abbas and avoid prison sentences.
Posted by: john frum ||
02/09/2008 07:19 ||
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DUBAI Seventy men and women, young and old, from across the world are planning to sail to Gaza from the island country of Cyprus this August to break the siege of Gaza and jolt the world to see the plight of the Gazans.
I'm already giggling about this.
Defying sanity all odds, these Palestinians, Americans, Israelis, Europeans, Africans, Australians, Canadians and other nationals, including a Holocaust survivor, all aged between 24 and 85 years, intend to sail on three hovercrafts, travelling for 20 hours.
The wall between Gazoo and Gyp is down. Why not just walk across?
One of the key activists is in Dubai to raise money for the hovercrafts. Speaking to Khaleej Times yesterday, Los Angeles-based American, Greta Berlin, said, The Israelis are committing a slow-motion genocide in Gaza and the world doesnt care. We are not going to let the world turn away from the genocide of 1.5 million people. Israel says Gaza is no more occupied and if that is true, we do not need their permission to motor in to Gaza.
And if the Israelis were smart, they'd let these kooks into Gaza.
The activists, mostly unsuccessful professionals and unemployed students, have managed to raise US$60,000 and need another US$190,000 to buy the boats and have to raise the money to embark on their Herculean mission.
They didn't put up any money themselves, did they? They never do.
About 15- 20 journalists would also accompany the group.
I'm just betting the NYT and WaPo turn this opportunity down. It'll be a collection of 'progressive' newspapers -- Robert Fisk, of course.
Greta, 67, who visits Palestine every two years, is hoping that people in the UAE would come forward to support their cause so that they could leave as planned.
Ever think of staying in Gaza? I'm sure they need your inspiring leadership, Greta.
Palestine is the sacrificial lamb for the guilty conscience of Europe and the Jews are taking advantage of it. What we are doing is very daring and we are at risk of being killed. Everyone who has asked to be onboard clearly knows that. We wont consider ourselves martyrs (if we die in the process) but activists, she says.
The only ones who will kill them are the Gazooks.
The president of an American-based company and mother of two Palestinian-American children adds, You can either spend the end of your life watching television or do something valuable. This is our passion and all of us are connected to Palestine in some way.
She certainly sounds .. um .. 'connected' to Palestine. In some way. Wonder if she wears an abaya?
She said that almost all of the activists who had visited Gaza had been shot, teargassed or beaten.
Or flattened.
Berlin and the group had tried to sail even last summer. However, after the takeover of Gaza by Hamas, they had to abandon their attempt.
What's wrong with Hamas? And by the way, Hamas is still in charge.
Nevertheless, they have renewed their passion to go to Gaza this fall and hope to set sail by August. Once they manage to get to Gaza, some people will get off and fish with the fishermen, who often face Israeli naval restrictions and suffer virtual destitution, while many would live with the Palestinians and take their children to school everyday.
I'm rather guessing the kiddies can find the school. The Gazooks more likely will want you to haul ammo.
When we get to Gaza, everyone will make individual decisions on what we want to do and how long we plan to stay, she says, adding that they might even start a regular ferry service between Cyprus and Gaza.
Until the Gazooks seize your boats for use in smuggling.
The second option would be to turn in the boats over to the Palestinians so that they can use it as fishing boats. Before leaving, they would all be given training on non-violence, sea emergencies and first aid.
Training the Gazooks in 'non-violence'? Stop, yer killin' me!
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/09/2008 00:00 ||
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intend to sail on three hovercrafts, travelling for 20 hours.
Odd, hovercraft go very fast, a guess would be around 60MPH cruising, they're also very vulnerable to rough weather, requiring extremely smooth seas for the craft to "Sail" and not swamp and sink.
Run out of fuel, or have some engine trouble and they sink as well. Wind also is a big factor.
I'm praying for squalls. At the least these fools will be seasick a lot.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
02/09/2008 2:38 Comments ||
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I'm sure the Cyprus government will be delighted at the, shall we say, 'opportunities', a Gaza-Cyprus ferry service will create.
The head of the Arab League said Friday that he was leaving Lebanon after failing to get feuding Lebanese factions to agree on an Arab plan to elect a new president and end the country's deepening political crisis.
After two days of talks with leaders from the pro-government and opposition factions, Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa said more discussions are needed before an agreement could be reached to break the presidential deadlock, which has entered its third month.
Lawmakers on both sides have agreed to back Army Commander Gen. Michel Suleiman as a compromise candidate, but the parliament must first amend the constitution to allow a sitting military chief to become president.
This process has been complicated by the opposition's demand for a new unity government that would give it veto power over major decisions. Opposition boycotts have thwarted attempts to choose a president by preventing a two-thirds quorum.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/09/2008 00:00 ||
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Top|| File under: Govt of Syria
POPE Benedict XVI today denounced a "macho mentality" leading to violence and discrimination against women in some cultures, while noting that "natural differences" exist between the sexes.
"There exist places and cultures where the woman is the target of discrimination, where she is underestimated for the single reason that she is a woman,'' Pope Benedict said during a meeting with secular participants of a pontifical council, in remarks that also touched on the importance of marriage and the family.
He urged Christians to engage "to promote a culture that gives a woman the dignity she is due, in law and in deed''.
But the Pontiff also said it was critical not to erase sexual differences created by God.
"Woman must be able to contribute to the construction of society by emphasising her 'feminine genius','' Pope Benedict said.
#2
He urged Christians to engage "to promote a culture that gives a woman the dignity she is due, in law and in deed''.
I believe the United States Armed Forces have done more of that in the last couple years than all the Western Liberal/Socialist politicians and "women's" special interest groups have done in a decade (+). Not talk, action!
#2
The article's quotes from the book reveal that Mr.Risen was getting a tad too excited while writing it, and no doubt overexcited when it was published. Unhealthy, that.
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.
WARSAW - Poland will not send its 1,200 troops in Afghanistan to fight Taleban insurgents in the countrys volatile south, Defence Minister Bogdan Klich said in an interview published Friday.
(KUNA) -- A Turkish daily newspaper said Friday US Defense Secretary Robert Gates had sent a letter to his Turkish counterpart Wajdi Gonul calling on Turkey to send troops to Afghanistan to fight terrorism there.
The Archbishop of Canterbury was facing demands to quit last night as the row over sharia law intensified. Leading bishops publicly contradicted Dr 
The Archbishop of Canterbury is said to be overwhelmed by the "hostility of the response" after his call for parts of Sharia law to be recognised in the UK. Friends of Dr Rowan Williams say he is in a state of shock and dismayed by the criticism from his own Church. 
GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba - Somewhere amid the cactus-studded hills on this sprawling Navy base, separate from the cells where hundreds of men suspected of links to al-Qaida and the Taliban have been locked up for years, is a place even more closely guarded a jailhouse so protected that its very location is top secret.
Up to six Guantanamo detainees will face charges related to the September 11 terror attacks on the United States, according to a New York Times.
"Just as Mullah Omar is giving strategic direction for the Taliban from Quetta, al Qaeda senior leadership is in the FATA (Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas bordering Afghanistan) doing its planning," a senior U.S. administration official said on Friday, without giving the source of the intelligence.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Thursday he hopes relations between the world body and the United States will improve after President George W Bush leaves office next year.
DUBAI Seventy men and women, young and old, from across the world are planning to sail to Gaza from the island country of Cyprus this August to break the siege of Gaza and jolt the world to see the plight of the Gazans.
![](http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/2008/02/now-what-if.html#readfurther">What If</a><br />
<br />
Now, What If
?<br />
<br />
Now, what if our ideals destroy our sense of reality and lead us down the wrong path? What if Bush is really a great president?<br />
<br />
By Mogens Rukow<br />
<br />
What if Bush
? What if Islam
? Think, what if the intelligentsia
? What if multicultural
? Think, what if Arafat
? What if my a.. was
? What if you could go on forever?<br />
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Posted by: SR-71 ||
02/09/2008 23:05 <A HREF="comments.php?D=2008-02-09&ID=224792&HC=2">Comments</A> ||
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<a href="http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3116029,00.html" target=_blank>German Bishop Protests Against UK Shariah Comments</a>
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<img src="images/druid.jpeg" valign=top align=right />As the Archbishop of Canterbury comes under fire for suggesting parts of Shariah law be applied in the UK, the head of Germany){kind=link}