U.S. Special Operations Forces have had countless close shaves this month - not just with the enemy, but with razors and foamy cream.
After almost a decade of growing long beards as a show of deep respect for Afghanistan's male-dominated, bearded tribal culture, many of these elite warriors have been ordered by top brass to shave their faces clean.
Some veteran special ops troops fear they face a harder time getting taken seriously by local leaders they depend upon for intel about their bearded enemy, the Taliban.
"Now we look no different than the Brits or Russians before us," a dewhiskered Green Beret team leader with five Afghanistan tours told the Daily News, referring to two countries whose past wars here ended badly. "Growing a beard dramatically helps us."
Even former Afghan war commander Gen. Stanley McChrystal "should have grown a beard" to help win over the tribes, argued the Green Beret, who cannot be identified because of his mission.
Long beards, khaki ball caps and Oakley wraparound sunglasses have long been the iconic image of U.S. secret warriors here.
But commanders now want "professional-looking" soldiers in the field - at least those who deal mostly with Afghan troops, not civilians. They note that the ball caps are often adorned with macabre skulls, sending the wrong message to a populace weary of war and death.
Special ops troops living in or near villages can keep their beards, but are encouraged to adopt the traditional Afghan pokol cap instead of a billed cap.
#2
Are they trying to morph this into Vietnam to suit their narrative?
This just seems so McNamara-esque.
Posted by: no mo uro ||
08/09/2010 4:02 Comments ||
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#3
Who ever did this needs to CM'd yesterday, cashiered and retired to make room for those focused on victory. You think the Army at Trenton or Gettysburg looked clean shaven, how about the 101st at Bastogne? This is pure militarism over military. A unit prepared to parade is unprepared to fight, a unit prepared to fight is unprepared to parade. There are plenty of palace guards across the globe that are worthless in a real fight, but they certainly as hell are "professional-looking".
#4
I was wondering how this author, James Gordon MEEK, understands the Afghan people to be "a populace weary of war and death".
The last I was told the Afghanis lived and breathed war on a similar level to that of a New York media hick living for Starbucks and Sex in the City.
Posted by: Bacon in the Mosque horror ||
08/09/2010 7:47 Comments ||
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#5
I suspect that the military command has been ordered to do this prior to pulling most SOF out of the country. It is plainly obvious that NATO is just treading water, with no real strategy, in a situation of growing expense and slow attrition.
UCW has failed because the real action is in Pakistan. Afghanistan is just shadow boxing next door to the real war, handling its overflow.
We should have built a new government for Afghanistan from the start, but we didn't, because of some stupid ass cultural sensitivity. So now we have to pay the price.
Because of all of this crap, when we go back, and we will have to go back, it will have to be against Pakistan, and with bombers.
#7
U.S. Special Forces ordered to shave off beards, some against command because it helps relations
Hopefully this story is crap. If not, it's clueless. Can't command find something to do better than to issue these kinds of orders? Maybe they could fix the ROEs instead. Mulims like beards. Leave them alone.
#8
I have few doubts in believing this story, because it always happens in the US military. Civil War, WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Eventually the REMFs put their foot down and demand that combat troops keep their uniforms prettier, shave daily (especially during water shortages), properly and frequently salute REMF officers, and to NOT use bad language.
Hell, even MacArthur (PBUH) decided to withhold condoms, to prevent soldiers from engaging in immoral behavior with Korean girls. This lasted for a month, until the Theater Medical Officer got the VD stats.
It is the only recorded case of a Theater Medical Officer being so enraged that he physically jumped up on MacArthur's (PBUH) desk and chewed Him out. Allegedly. Likely apocryphally. But the point was made.
#11
not too mention beardless men would typically put a target on your ass in that part of the world.
Posted by: chris ||
08/09/2010 16:59 Comments ||
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#12
If you really need to perform a covert operation and disguise yourself as a native, what better way than to shave your beard, wear some special wrap-around sunglasses, and maybe a snappy baseball cap with "I love the U.S" on it. And a bulls-eye on your jacket. Nobody will suspect a thing.
#15
Hell, if winning means wearing their stupid man-dresses and growing beards - so be it. I understand the bitch about dumb baseball caps - there are plenty of turbans to put on if you really want to go native. I've been w/the grunts and the logistics groups, there's plenty of good troops and the obligatory 10% of morons in both organizations.
#16
This sh*t's been going on forever. When I worked for G-2 in Germany (back during the Baader-Meinhof era), some clueless upper-echelon idiot decided that our agents had to have regulation military haircuts, even though they wore civilian clothes and their job at that moment was to gather local intel about the Baader-Meinhofs and other anarchist assholes. This was during an era of longer hair on men.
So command (not our Colonel) basically fixed it so that our agents couldn't go out on the economy, blend in, and learn stuff that might save us some grief (and even some lives) - but gee whiz, they sure looked spiffy! The agents were livid, but really had no choice.
Some of the REMFs aren't even in the rear - they're just clueless, and adept at getting our people killed. I wonder if they have to go to Stupid School to get that way, or if it's a natural talent. >:-(
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
08/09/2010 22:38 Comments ||
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#17
I wonder if they have to go to Stupid School to get that way, or if it's a natural talent.
Col. David Hackworth (pbuh) told a great story in his autobiography "About Face" that speaks directly to your question, Barbara:
"Years before...a bright, forward-thinking German general divided his officers into four classes: the clever, the stupid, the industrious and the lazy. The general believed that every officer possessed two of these qualities. The clever and lazy, for example, were suited for command (they'd figure out the easiest way to do a task); the clever and industrious were suited for high-level staff. The lazy and stupid, he maintained, were an unfortunate by-product of any system and could be slotted in somewhere; but the stupid and industrious were just too dangerous, and the general's standing order wss to have them removed from the military completely, the moment they were identified."
The stupid and industrious have been running the armed forces for a long time now - every Rantburger who's ever worn the suit probably has numerous stories about his/her favorite S&I superior.
Posted by: Ricky bin Ricardo (Abu Babaloo) ||
08/09/2010 23:12 Comments ||
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[Tolo News] The spokesperson for the WikiLeaks site, Daniel Schmitt said the site is to disclose 15,000 other US military classified logs on Afghanistan.
While emphasising on the publication of more US secret documents, Mr Schmitt said WikiLeaks is responsible for the world not for specific individuals or any countries' interest.
Pentagon calls the leaked files a serious threat worsening stability and security in the region, especially in Afghanistan, but WikiLeaks commented the publication of these logs help increase the understanding of people on what is going on in the region.
"From our prospective, transparency and knowledge about ongoing issues like war are the only things that can help to create something remotely like safety, so they will directly contribute to the public understanding what is going on in these regions. And from public scrutiny hopefully also influence the politics to develop in a better way."
"I can assure that we will keep publishing documents, that is what we do, so there will be more publications in the future," he said.
The WikiLeaks highlighted that there are reports that Pentagon is against the leak of the secret files, but it hasn't been contacted directly or indirectly by the US Defence Department.
"We have not been contacted at all even though rumours about upcoming publications have been in the air quite a while," he said.
During the last month, the whistle blower WikiLeaks website unveiled some 92,000 US military classified files and the documents significantly shed light on the Afghan civilian deaths in the conflict and the Pakistan Spy organisation's relations with the Taliban insurgents.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/09/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
If Obama had some stones he would order the CIA to wipe out everybody associated with WikiLeaks..
#3
Mr Schmitt said WikiLeaks is responsible for the world not for specific individuals or any countries' interest.
You see, we answer to a higher power.
But, Mr Schmitt, you and your cohorts are personally responsible for each and every death caused by your leaks. Not that that every bothers people like you.
#4
Treason and espionage are still crimes even for this justice department. Shut down the operation and arrest everyone who has touched the information.
#7
These people should be told in no uncertain terms that they ARE going to be held responsible for the consequences of their actions. If people die due to the deliberate acts of Wikileaks, then the Wikileaks people should die just the same.
Posted by: No I am The Other Beldar ||
08/09/2010 11:45 Comments ||
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#8
I'm important! Pay attention to me!!!! How dare you ignore me ????????!
You know, you may not _want_ anyone's attention if you live in a country of 200,000 people that's so fucking bankrupt it can't afford a coast guard.
[Al Arabiya Latest] Moroccan rights activists lashed out at forced marriage campaigns organized by Western Sahara's Polisario Front in the Tindouf camps on the borders with Algeria.
More than 1200 underage males and females were married against their will by leaders of the Algeria-backed Polisario front for the liberation of Western Sahara from Morocco. The marriages took place in Tindouf, the movement's headquarters in western Algeria.
Polisario authorities set up fully furnished tents for the newly-weds and promised a regular provision of foodstuffs for each couple every two weeks in addition to financial support.
According to Moroccan analysts, leaders of the rebel group are trying to make up for the loss of its members after hundreds decided to leave the camps and return to Morocco and to guarantee that younger generations will continue with the struggle for independence.
They are also trying to discourage the ones who stayed from following the returnees' example, especially that life in Morocco is more comfortable and more economically prosperous than the relatively harsh conditions in the camps.
Activist Naba al-Moussawi, who recently returned from the Tindouf camps, said the rights of Sahrawi girls are systematically violated by the Polisario leadership under the guise of marriage.
"They strip the girl of her innocence and say they are marrying her to preserve her chastity," she told Al Arabiya. "This is against women's rights and all international laws and agreements."
Another returnee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said she managed to avoid forced marriage by running away from the camp.
"They force girls as young as 13 years old to marry in order for the movement to guarantee enough offspring for its cause," she told Al Arabiya.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/09/2010 00:00 ||
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[Ennahar] Al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has no significant popular support and has no capacity to do harm to even worry the Algerian government.
See the report on the salafist men invading the streets of Algiers, then read this post again.
The days when the mere mention of the word Al Qaeda shook the Algerian government are gone away. According to the latest report of U.S. State Department, Algeria has more concern to the extent that transnational organization has no more popular support.
"The success of Algerian counter-terrorism security services, combined with the rejection of terrorism expressed by the populations appear to have reduced the effectiveness of Al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) during the past two years," we read in this report published before yesterday on the website of the State Department. It was during these two years just as the Algerian security services have decided to strengthen their workforce by hiring 100,000 new elements, between the gendarmes and police.
The operation resulted in a greater security presence in most major urban centers, airports, structures and institutions and sensitive borders.
"The initiative was effective in reducing the impact of terrorist incidents and has also demonstrated the determination of the Algerian Government for fight against terrorism," said the U.S. report. And as further evidence of such determination to uproot terrorism, the American document said that Algeria has hosted the meeting last August of Chiefs of militaryStaff of Mali, Libya, Mauritania and Niger .
This key meeting of the Sahel countries, was in fact to develop a regional strategy against terrorism, and establish a regional center in Tamanrasset. Also on the list of positive points in the assets of Algeria in the fight against terrorism, the report mentions that ransoms: "On the international plan to condemn the payment of ransoms to terrorists."
This is not a scoop media as saying that the security situation in Algeria has been marked by a decrease in the number of terrorist attacks. This, even though armed Islamists still rage against isolated populations. The Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), now Al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) since he had formally pledged allegiance to Al Qaeda in 2006, "has been driven to resort to kidnapping for ransom and operations developed against Westerners in the Sahel region, "reported the American document in his section reserved to terrorism in North Africa.
"The anti-terrorism operations of the Algerian government, which included an increased security presence and the dismantling of several networks of support and recruitment, have diminished the ability of Al Qaeda to commit such attacks in major cities of Algeria ", says the State Department rejoicing that "there was no suicide after the month of March." Moreover, Ramadan 2009 was almost "silent".
However, this period is deemed conducive to terrorist attacks and jihad. But Al Qaeda has not completely disappeared from the Algerian security landscape. AQIM has committed deadly attacks by resorting to ambushes and roadside bombs. "These operations are particularly common in the region of Kabylia, east of Algiers," wrote the report which reiterated in the sense that the year 2009 was punctuated by attacks. There are, in particular the attack on 9 March when two people were killed during the kamikaze attack against a communal guard post at Tadmait in Kabylia, 70 km east of Algiers. There was the attack on June 17, against a police vehicle accompanying the Chinese workers at a site near Bordj Bou Arreridj which killed 18 policemen.
On October 22, 2009, terrorists killed seven people and wounded three elements of security accompanying the workers of a Canadian company. "The majority of these attacks occurred in remote areas," say the Americans who believed that "AQIM has no significant popular support and is not assessed as strong enough to destabilize the Algerian government". For the State Department, these attacks "seek first to discourage foreign investors to settle in Algeria."
Stifled, cornered, Al Qaeda has no way to survive but to resort to acts of banditry as false roadblocks and kidnapping on isolated roads. "In addition to having to depend heavily on money from ransoms especially in the Sahel, Al Qaeda is also funded by smugglers and drug traffickers who swarm in the Sahel, the U.S report concludes : "The Algerian security forces must continually adapt to the changing tactics of AQIM and must admit that an organization that was essentially a local threat has become regional in scope and has international links."
Internationally, the document of the State Department believes that Al Qaeda remains a threat. "The core of Al Qaeda in Pakistan is still the main terrorist threat to U.S. territory and the presence of Al Qaeda in Africa poses a challenge for many countries," said the State Department.
The number of terrorist attacks worldwide and the number of victims in 2009 are at their lowest levels in four years. Extremists have conducted 10,999 attacks worldwide in 2009, killing 14,971 people, according to the report.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/09/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
Versus
To wit,
IRNA > WEST WILL EVENTUALLY TALK TO TALIBAN [ + AL QAEDA?]: FORMER BLAI AID [Jonathan Powell].
US-WEST may likely follow Britain's historical example of firstly trying to wage War agz Enemies, then engage in Diplomacy + Negotiations, + lastly to recognize now former Enemies as de facto Statesmen = sovereign Nations???
The US will sell Saudi Arabia F-15 fighter jets without long-range weapons and other advanced equipment as a result of Israeli pressure, the Wall Street Journal reported Sunday.
The report states that 84 fighter jets will be supplied to Saudi Arabia over a ten year period, but these will not be as technologically advanced as those used by the US.
The $30 billion defense package is said to be one of the biggest deals of its kind to date.
During months of behind-the-scenes negotiations, officials including Defense Minister Ehud Barak reportedly conveyed grave concern to the US regarding the proposed deal, on the basis that if advanced weaponry is supplied to other countries, Israel's military advantage in the region would be diminished and security would be compromised.
According to the report, Israel still has some reservations about the proposed plan, despite assurances and clarifications from US officials. However, Israel is not expected to challenge the progression of the deal. The process could start moving forward as early as next month.
The Wall Street Journal quoted Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell as saying: "We have been working very closely with the Israeli government at the highest levels to address their concerns on this and other issues."
He added: "Israel is not the only one with security concerns in the region and we have responsibilities to other allies as well."
#4
It's good for Israel that all of the Middle Eastern countries are armed with American weaponry. That way, the chances of a unitary Middle Eastern empire are minimal - any country that attempts it will face a cutoff of American munitions and spare parts, while the countries defending themselves will get as much US equipment as they can absorb. Because let's face it - the moment a single Middle Eastern empire emerges, Israel is done as a viable nation. Think Constantinople vs the Ottomans.
[Ennahar] Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said he was prepared Saturday to meet the new Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos and "turn the page" in the diplomatic crisis between the two countries for two weeks.
"I'm ready to move on and look towards the future. I'm ready, President Santos" Chavez said in a televised address.
The Venezuelan head of state said he had asked his Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro to inform Sunday his Colombian counterpart Mariangela Holguin his desire to meet "face to face" President Santos in Caracas or Bogota.
"If he (Santos) cannot come in the next three or four days, I am willing to travel to Colombia for a meeting," he said.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/09/2010 00:00 ||
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Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has urged Colombia's largest left-wing rebel group to free all its hostages.
Mr Chavez has in the past successfully brokered a deal with the Farc rebels to release some of their hostages.
Last week, the Farc said they were willing to search for a political solution to the 46-year-old conflict.
And the new Colombian President, Juan Manuel Santos, has also signalled he would be willing to talk to the rebels if they freed their hostages.
'No future'
Speaking on his television show, Alo Presidente, Mr Chavez said the guerrillas "should come out in favour of peace".
"They have no future by staying armed," he added, and told them to stop their campaign of kidnapping.
His message echoed that of the new Colombian President, Juan Manuel Santos, who in his inaugural address on Saturday said the door to dialogue with the Marxist group was open, but only if they freed their hostages first.
Fondelibertad, a department attached to the Colombian defence ministry which is responsible for co-ordinating anti-kidnapping efforts, says Colombian rebel groups are still holding 79 people as of February 2010.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/09/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
Love is in the air...
One week ago the War was certain, now he wants to make children with colombians...
Hugo notices Venezuelan army is good for nothing more complicated that oppressing the populace, backs down from threat of war with Colombia.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez urged rebels in neighboring Colombia to lay down arms on Sunday and warned the new government of President Juan Manuel Santos to avoid accusations Venezuela helps the leftist guerrillas.
Though ideologically opposed, socialist firebrand Chavez and U.S. ally Santos want a new start in relations for the sake of peace in the volatile Andean region and the restoration of their annual $7 billion bilateral trade.
Chavez wants to meet directly with Santos, who took office on Saturday, but warned any repetition of his predecessor President Alvaro Uribe's claims that Caracas shelters Colombian "terrorists" would torpedo the reconciliation efforts.
"Let's be clear. If Venezuela is respected, there will be progress. If there's lack of respect to Venezuela, nothing new or good will be possible," Chavez wrote in a weekly column.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/09/2010 00:00 ||
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Authorities in Hamburg said Monday they had shut down the mosque in Hamburg where members of the Sept. 11 plot had met.
The Taiba mosque, formerly known as the Al Quds mosque, was “immediately closed,” according to a statement by the Hamburg Interior Ministry. The daily newspaper Hamburger Abendblatt reported that police searched the mosque in the St. Georg neighborhood shortly after 6 o’clock in the morning.
Mohamed Atta and other members of Sept. 11 plot used the mosque on Steindamm, near Hamburg’s main train station, as a meeting place. A report released in May by the Interior Ministry said that the mosque “remains the central attraction for the Jihadist scene.”
According to the newspaper report, a group of ten people who met at the mosque traveled from Hamburg to the border region between Pakistan and Afghanistan in March 2009, likely with the goal of training at a militant camp there.
German intelligence officials have expressed concerns over the growing number of young Germans drawn into the militant Islamist scene and the possibility that they will return from the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region to commit acts of terror.
In addition to closing the mosque, authorities banned the cultural association that ran it.
Days after President Asif Ali (Ten Percent) Zardari said the doors had never been closed for talks with hard boys, the Taliban have announced that their leadership would hold negotiations only if troops are "completely" withdrawn from Pakistain's northwest and adjoining tribal belt. The Taliban's condition for talks was conveyed by unnamed hard boy leaders to 'The News' daily.
The hard boys said their leadership would hold negotiations on one point -- "complete withdrawal" of troops from all parts of the northwestern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province and the tribal areas. "Taliban do not want to see Pakistain weak but the government's steps always negate our stance because of which the leadership of the Taliban is left with no option but to take steps for their defence," said one of the Taliban leaders who was contacted by the newspaper for comments on Zardari's statement.
This Taliban leader did not "advance any explicit argument in support of suicide kabooms in Pakistain," the report said.
The daily quoted another source among the hard boys as saying that all hard boy groups in Pakistain, which are "almost united at the moment," are considering Zardari's comments as their victory.
He said the hard boy leadership in the tribal areas, where security forces are currently conducting operations, feels that perhaps security forces are "finding a safe exit for themselves" because of which Zardari made such a statement.
Zardari, who is currently on a visit to Britain, told the media that his government had never closed the door for talks with the Taliban.
"We never closed the dialogue," Zardari said, skirting the question as to when talks could actually resume. "We had an agreement, which they (the Taliban) broke. (Talks will resume) whenever they feel we're strong enough and they can't win, because they won't win. It will be a painful difficult task, but defeat is not an option for us," Zardari said.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/09/2010 00:00 ||
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[Geo News] Pledging continued support for Pakistan's flood recovery effort, the United States has said the reconstruction phase following the current relief work will likely need more international aid overtime than committed to the key South Asian country after a deadly earthquake in 2005.
"What makes this unique is the scale of the disaster and its effect throughout the entire country," U.S. ambassador to Pakistan, Anne Patterson, said. "The (7.6-magnitude) earthquake and the displacement of 2 million people from the Swat Valley (in anti-militant operation last year) were more localized. So while the loss of life in this disaster may be less, the economic impact and the need for reconstruction assistance over time could well be greater," the diplomat added, speaking from Islamabad via teleconference with American journalists.
The United States, she said, is working with the federal Pakistani government and established NGOs to provide immediate life-saving aid to the victims of the worst floods in Pakistan in 80 years. The UN now estimates that nearly 1500 people were killed, a million people remain homeless, and 4.5 million people have been affected across the country as the initial flood waters moves through the Indus River system toward the Arabian Sea. It would be as if the Missouri, Arkansas and Red Rivers all overflowed at once and then dumped huge amounts of water and debris into the Mississippi, Patterson said, explaining enormity of the disaster to Americans.
The ambassador estimated that the number of affected people is expected to rise to 6 million by the end of the week. "Countrywide, 92 bridges have been destroyed, and more than 200 major roads have been damaged. There are four major dams at risk. Crop and livestock loss will affect long-term livelihood and food security. International organizations believe that up to 2.5 million people will require food assistance. We anticipate that with additional rains this weekend, waters will still be high next week," she informed.
The U.S. engagement with this flood crisis began last Friday when the Government of Pakistan asked that U.S. helicopters and aircraft, assigned to support the Pakistan interior ministry's air wing, support flood relief, Patterson said.
"We agreed immediately and began to consider what other ways we could help. In the meantime, these U.S. aircraft have rescued over a thousand people and airlifted over 37,000 pounds of supplies."
The U.S. has already committed $35 million in assistance to flood-affected populations. President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have vowed to stand by Pakistan in the hour of crisis. Hillary, throw a ten spot in for me too. I'll owe ya...
Sure you will...Will do, sire sir.
"The money will be provided by USAID to international organizations and established Pakistani NGOs to provide food, health care, and shelter for those displaced by the floods. This is being supplemented by existing programs that we had in place to help many of these same people who were formerly displaced by fighting in Swat. And we are working now to identify gaps," the top U.S. diplomat in Islamabad said. Maybe you can train them in Java and help them set up help desks...
In response to a question, the ambassador underscored the United States' close working relationship with Pakistani government in the ongoing relief effort and praised the federal disaster management authority for doing a good job.
"There are always, in situations like this, NGOs that are associated with what we would call extremist groups who have been active delivering supplies. But they are totally, in my view, overcome by the enormous number of local and highly reputable NGOs and the international NGOs who have already mobilized for this crisis. We are working with already 13 international and local NGOs trying to get money to them as quickly as possible so they can provide services throughout the country. So we think the government is particularly the federal disaster management authority is doing a good job in delivering support to the people."
Posted by: Fred ||
08/09/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
And American Muslims will use this as an excuse for why "restrictions" against giving zakat should be loosened (like Pres. Obama promised in Cairo).
Posted by: American Delight ||
08/09/2010 5:56 Comments ||
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#2
you have too pretty much bend over aand kiss your own ass too get some help here, kinda like the unemployment geting cut too about 2 million for 2 months but lets rush a bunch of shit too these ppl who hate everything about us.Goddamned when is the government gonna learn you can't buy their love.
Posted by: chris ||
08/09/2010 11:59 Comments ||
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[Geo News] Amir Jamat-e-Islami Karachi, Muhammad Hussain Mehanti has termed (Sindh) Governor House 'a safe haven for terrorists' and ruled out establishment of peace in Karachi until and unless there is a 'change in Governor House'.
He said this with reference to the recent targeted killings and incident of violence in the Karachi while addressing an all parties press conference here at Idara-e-Noor-e-Haq.
Representatives of Pakistan Muslime League-N, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Samiul Haq), Jamait Ulema-e-Pakistan, Tehreek-e-Insaf and other parties were present on the occasion.
They said a game of bloodshed was played on the streets of the metropolis over the past week but the law enforcement agencies across the board remained silent spectators.
Muhammad Hussain Mehanti noted that public transporters were the worst-hit in these incidents, as 10 transporters lost their lives.
Amir Jamat-e-Islami Karachi demanded of the judiciary to take suo motto notice of these recent incidents of killings and unrest in the city.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/09/2010 00:00 ||
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ARBIL / Aswat al-Iraq: A meeting was held between Dawlat al-Qanoon (State of Law) leader Nouri al-Maliki and Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barazani to discuss the crisis of forming a new government, according to BarazaniÂ’s press advisor Faisal Dabbagh on Sunday.
“Maliki and Barazani will hold a press conference after their meeting to announce the outcome of their talks,” Dabbagh told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.
Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki had arrived at Arbil Airport in a visit to discuss with the regionÂ’s leaders to consider ways to overcome the current crisis.
MalikiÂ’s last visit to the Kurdish city of Arbil took place on May 21, when he discussed with Barazani the political process and scenarios for forming a new government.
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani had met with Maliki on Friday and announced after the meeting that he did not have any reservations over the incumbent Iraqi prime minister. Talabani has reportedly advised Maliki to seek a meeting with Barazani and offer proper guarantees for him to allay Kurdish fears regarding pending issues between Baghdad and Arbil, namely article 140 of the constitution, the oil and gas sales, the Kurdish peshmerga militias and TalabaniÂ’s access to the presidential post.
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/09/2010 00:00 ||
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The U.S. will be giving Gaza Arabs a second chance, providing them with new greenhouses to replace the Gush Katif originals they demolished.
In 2005, as Israel withdrew its troops from Gaza and forcibly removed the Jewish residents of the area, a group of Jewish American donors came together to ensure that the famed Israeli greenhouses that produced $200 million of produce per year would not go to waste. The greenhouses were purchased for $14 million – much of it provided by the Gates Foundation - and turned over to Gaza Arabs.
But within hours of the withdrawal, many of the buildings had been damaged beyond repair. Terrorists and looters stripped them of their piping and electronic equipment and tore down their walls. Some greenhouses remained, several of which were destroyed in a second round of looting in 2006.
Now Gaza Arabs are going to get a second chance to try to recreate the thriving greenhouses of Gush Katif. The United States Agency for International Development is to sponsor a project termed Family Agricultural Greenhouses, which will construct three new greenhouses.
USAID hopes the three greenhouses will support 900 families in the Hamas-run Gaza region.
The project has approval from both the Palestinian Authority and the Israel Defense Forces. Israel is working with USAID to coordinate the transfer of goods into Gaza to complete the project.
Anita Tucker, a former resident of Gush Katif, doubts that the new plan will be successful. Tucker explained that while Gaza Arabs were at one point beginning to succeed in agriculture with help from their Jewish neighbors, the rise of the PA and later of Hamas created a situation in which rival terrorist groups battle for control at the expense of civilians, and ultimately destroy efforts to build local industry.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
08/09/2010 14:54 Comments ||
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#4
Send them the standing housing hulks from Katrina; does two things, cleans up the mess in LA, and gives them crap, something they would reduce useable goods to in a matter of minutes.
[Ma'an] Palestinian opposition factions including Hamas and Islamic Jihad convened Saturday in Damascus, where the Syria-based movements reiterated their objection to any kind of talks with Israel.
Faction leaders, including Hamas leader in exile Khalid Mash'al, warned in a statement the "serious outcomes of these negotiations [with Israel]" and vowed to take measures to thwart talks.
"The Palestinian Authority's negotiation team in Ramallah is not authorized to negotiate as they do not represent the Palestinian people's will," the statement added.
The opposition movements highlighted the need to bring about an end to Palestinian rivalry based on Palestinian rights, including the right to resistance and to reject all attempts "to blackmail resistance forces under the banner of reconciliation."
They called for more "dedicated efforts" to break the blockade of Gaza and to face Israel's settlement policy, home demolitions, and the illegal annexation of Palestinian land.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/09/2010 00:00 ||
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[Al Arabiya Latest] The lawyer defending a woman sentenced to death by stoning in Iran said on Sunday that he has applied for asylum in Norway, but hopes Iranian authorities will allow him eventually to return to his practice.
Mohammad Mostafaei told reporters he chose to flee to Norway after obtaining a one-year Norwegian travel visa. He also cited the Nordic country's prominent human rights profile.
The 31-year-old said he fled to Turkey last week after learning Iranian officials intended to arrest him. He flew to Norway Saturday after being detained briefly in Turkey over an undisclosed passport issue.
Mostafaei maintained a blog that sparked a worldwide campaign to free his client, Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani, a 43-year-old mother of two, who was sentenced to death by stoning after she was found guilty of adultery.
Her sentence, which has sparked an outcry in Western countries, has been temporarily halted by judiciary chief Sadeq Larijani.
Mostafaie, who says he has rescued 18 of his 40 clients facing death sentences in Iran in recent years, has himself faced increasing pressure from the authorities in Tehran and says he was finally forced to flee after a warrant was issued for his arrest at the end of July.
He told the press conference Sunday that he did not think his departure would have a negative impact on Mohammadi-Ashtiani's case, since other lawyers were prepared to pick up where he had left off.
And "this will highlight Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani case even more," he said, adding that he did not think Tehran would dare to allow her stoning sentence to be carried out or to harm her physically in other ways.
While Mostafaei is applying for asylum, it's unclear whether he will stay in Norway. He said he hopes international pressure will force Tehran to let him return to his practice.
"My greatest hope is that I can go back and continue my work in Iran. If the Iranian authorities will ensure my rights and safety, I'll go back," Mostafaei said through an interpreter. "Right now, I've lost the ability to work on the behalf of my clients. That means I've lost everything. Without that, it doesn't matter whether I'm in heaven or hell."
Late last month, Mostafaei - an outspoken lawyer who also has defended many juvenile offenders and political prisoners - was summoned for questioning by judicial officials at Tehran's Evin prison, released after several hours, then asked to return, which he failed to do. The same day, his wife, Fereshteh Halimi, and her brother, Farhad Halimi, were detained in a possible attempt to pressure Mostafaei to surrender if he wasn't already detained.
The lawyer said he considered turning himself in, but ultimately decided against it because "my wife would never forgive me."
Mostafaei said a friend drove him last week from Tehran to Khoy, in northwestern Iran, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) from the Turkish border. From there he made his way, by foot and on horseback, into Turkey, he said.
Authorities released his wife Saturday afternoon, Mostafaei said. He said he hoped she and their 7-year-old daughter would join him in Norway soon. He acknowledged, however, that "might take some time because the government may try to prevent their departure."
He said once his wife arrives, they will decide together if and for how long they plan to stay in Norway.
"In a way you can say that I have asked for asylum," Mohammad Mostafaie told AFP on the sidelines of a press conference in Oslo shortly after arriving in Norway after fleeing his country by way of Turkey.
The human rights lawyer added that he wanted to wait with the actual asylum application until he had had a chance to discuss the matter with his wife in Iran "on a secure phone line."
Posted by: Fred ||
08/09/2010 00:00 ||
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In Maine???
According to an annual poll conducted by the Maryland University, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is among the most popular world leaders in the Arab world.
The results show that the most admired leaders among Arabs are Hezbollah Secretary General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Iran's Ahmadinejad, Venezuela's Hugo Chavez and Syria's Bashar al-Assad.
The poll also reflects the disillusionment of participants with American policies in the Middle East, as nearly two-thirds voted against US President Barack Obama.
This is while in April and May 2009, 51% of the respondents in the six surveyed countries expressed optimism about American policy in the Middle East with Obama's leadership. In the 2010 poll, only 16% were hopeful, while 63% were discouraged.
The United States and Israel were listed as the region's worst enemies, while only 10 percent perceived Iran as a threat.
This year's poll, which is conducted by the US University of Maryland in conjunction with Zogby International, surveyed 3,976 people in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Jordan, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates from June 29-July 20, 2010.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/09/2010 00:00 ||
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#3
He's the 'strong horse', and we are led by a one-trick pony.
Posted by: Bobby ||
08/09/2010 6:46 Comments ||
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#4
The poll also reflects the disillusionment of participants with American policies in the Middle East, as nearly two-thirds voted against US President Barack Obama.
I guess the apology tour didn't work. I thought BHO was going to restore respect in the world for the U.S.A. Moral of the story: Maybe it is better to be feared.
Hezbollah says it is to prove through a "thunderous" revelation that Israel masterminded the former Lebanese premier Rafik Hariri's assassination.
The Lebanese resistance movement's Secretary General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah will provide "comprehensive" evidence, verifying that the 2005 murder benefited from Tel Aviv's engineering, said the group's media relations officer, Ibrahim Mousavi.
Speaking to the Palestinian Ma'an news agency on Saturday, he said that the evidence would be "revealing conclusive information."
Nasrallah said on Tuesday, "I accuse the Israeli enemy of the assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and... I will prove this by unveiling sensitive information at a press conference on Monday."
He has also warned of attempts by the Israeli side and the United Nations tribunal, which is probing the assassination, to link Hezbollah to the foul play.
The Special Tribunal for Lebanon, set up by the UN and the Lebanese government in May 2007, is to come up with the results of its investigation by the end of the year.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/09/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
Well alrighty then, AC DC is playing in ISRAEL!
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad insists that the anti-Iran sanctions will serve as a stepping stone to eradicate the domination of the US dollar in world markets.
Ahmadinejad said the countries that followed the US campaign for anti-Iran sanctions have deprived themselves of the opportunity to participate in Iranian economic projects, IRNA reported on Sunday.
Addressing a ceremony marking the international week of mosques, the Iranian president stressed that Iran would use Western sanctions to move towards developing the country's domestic manufacturing and globalizing Iranian-made products.
Ahmadinejad said the US-led sanctions was a form of a psychological warfare intended to force the Iranian nation into compromise, adding, "This nation will never compromise when it comes to its independence, integrity, principles and justice-seeking."
"If sanctions were to have any impact on Iran, it would not be during the tenure of [US President Barack] Obama."
Ahmadinejad went on to say that the only impact sanctions will have on the Iranian economy is that "they will help its flourishing."
The president said by adopting anti-Iran measures, the West has further discredited itself.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/09/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
Has Rantburg turned into Press-TV? Tons of articles from them, even on banal topics that don't have anything to do with Iran.
#3
..or CNN, MSNBC, NBC, CBS, ABC, LATimes, NYTimes, etc. At least the Iranians don't even pretend about supporting an unpopular authoritarian government and leadership.
A senior Iranian commander says the country's armed forces are boosting their surface-to-air firepower with the introduction of new anti-aircraft missile systems.
Iran's "artillery units will soon receive new anti-aircraft missiles and radar systems" to enhance the country's defense capabilities, Fars news agency reported the commander of the anti-aircraft post of the Khatamolanbia Headquarters, Brigadier General Ahmad Miqani, as saying on Sunday.
The military chief said that the Khatamolanbia anti-aircraft post is "rapidly upgrading its defense systems in every way."
He also noted that the country's artilleries have already deployed another anti-aircraft missile, named Mersad (Ambush), as operational.
Mersad medium-range missile system is the first domestically-built air defense system, which is said to be more powerful than the US-made Hawk missile.
It features cutting-edge technology that makes it able to destroy modern aircrafts at low and medium altitudes, Iran military officials say.
Mersad is also equipped with sophisticated radar signal processing technology, an advanced launcher, and contains exclusive electronic equipment for guidance and target acquisition.
It could be linked to other anti-aircraft batteries, providing the ability to combat electronic warfare.
Iran began mass-production of the missile earlier this year in order to deliver a sizeable number to the country's armed forces by year's end.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/09/2010 00:00 ||
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Top|| File under: Govt of Iran
#1
when are their homamade weapons not stronger than the US'? It can be powerful as hell but if it can't hit anything it doesn't do much good.
Posted by: chris ||
08/09/2010 11:54 Comments ||
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#2
So...how many bottle rockets does it take to bring down a fast moving combat aircraft?
Of course, fireworks ARE dangerous, and I'm sure all those crews will get proper training in them.
TEHRAN: Iran's state media say the country's navy has taken charge of four new Iranian-built submarines as part of Tehran's efforts to upgrade its defense capabilities.
The official IRNA news agency says Defense Minister Gen. Ahmad Vahidi and Navy chief Adm. Habibollah Sayyari attended Sunday's ceremony marking the delivery of the vessels to the Iranian Navy.
Iran has sought to upgrade its air defense systems and naval power, saying any possible future attacks against Iran will be air and sea-based.
The navy already owns seven submarines of this type which weigh 120 tons and were first launched in 2007.
Iran has described the Ghadir as stealth submarines, hardly detectable by sonar and aimed at coastal operations in shallow waters, notably in the Gulf. The vessel is based on North Korean models of the Yono class and can shoot torpedoes, but their main tasks appear to be moving commandos, laying mines and reconnaissance missions, experts say.
Iran's inventory of submarines patrolling Gulf waters also includes up to three Russian-built Kilo class diesel submarines bought in 1990s and a Nahang, an Iranian-built light sub weighing 500 tons that was first launched in 2006.
In 2008 Iran started building a new submarine named Qaem which is due to be launched within days, Iran's army chief Ataollah Salehi said last week, describing it as "semi-heavy" and capable of operating in the high seas such as the Indian Ocean or the Gulf of Aden.
Little information has been released about this home-produced vessel, which is said to be capable of firing missiles and torpedoes.
Posted by: john frum ||
08/09/2010 17:09 Comments ||
Top||
#5
Targets, and, somebody is forcing somebody to buy a lot of "mill" hardware that somebody does not have that big a gross national income, couple that with a refinery blowing up just a couple of days ago.......
The developers of the controversial mosque proposed near Ground Zero own only half the site where they want to construct the $100 million building, The Post has learned.
One of the two buildings on Park Place is owned by Con Edison, even though Soho Properties told officials and the public that it owns the entire parcel. And any potential sale by Con Ed faces a review by the state Public Service Commission. "We never heard anything about Con Ed whatsoever," said a stunned Julie Menin, the chairwoman of Community Board 1, which passed a May resolution supporting the mosque.
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#4
There needs a full blown investigation of the money, organizations, links and people behind the Cordoba House mosque. Little can be found out about Sammy and Sharif El-Gamal, the owners of half of the building site. Try to find out anything about them and there is nothing but murkiness and no transparency. There may or may not be a link with a guy named Moe El-Gamal of North Carolina who was under Federal indictment. Federal prosecutors say a he has been indicted on charges of illegally exporting controlled computer equipment to Libya. This project needs to see the light of day. So far taqiyya seems to be surrounding this project.
#5
Still, [El-Gamal] said, he was determined to buy the property. "The cost is not an issue," he said.
OK, that lit up my warning panels. There is some discussion on other sites that this individual was a WAITER in 2002. I have no confirmation as of yet. But the mayor and the governor are not doing their duty.
#8
This is looking more and more like a game with politically connected American based muslims trying to con their co-coreligionists to fork over $$ to subsidize the perks of the politically connected.
Posted by: lord garth ||
08/09/2010 16:08 Comments ||
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has urged Colombia's largest left-wing rebel group to free all its hostages.
Days after 
