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Sword-wielding man injures 4 worshipers at Indonesian church
Today's Headlines
Headline Comments [Views]
13:59 4 22:01 Sloluting and Tenille8977 [17]
13:31 7 18:18 newc [21]
12:53 14 22:22 KBK [16]
12:45 10 23:05 Sock Puppet of Doom [18]
09:55 7 15:37 JohnQC [6]
09:13 4 21:52 KBK [16]
04:56 7 14:21 g(r)omgoru [8]
04:43 16 15:17 newc [11]
04:37 3 13:27 Woodrow [6]
04:22 6 18:01 Phinenter Borgia4439 [17]
04:03 8 17:03 S. Omolet4728 [16]
04:00 3 23:03 Sock Puppet of Doom [18]
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-Lurid Crime Tales-
Donald Trump Jr.'s wife taken to hospital after getting letter with white powder, police
[ABC] Donald Trump Jr.'s wife was taken to a hospital in New York today after opening a package at her home that contained an unknown white powder, police said.

Vanessa Trump was being examined at New York-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center as a precaution, according to cops.

The suspicious letter was sent to Trump Jr.'s apartment in Manhattan this morning, police said. Emergency medical services, firefighters and police were called to the apartment just after 10 a.m. after Vanessa Trump opened the letter, police said.

She and two other people at the apartment were decontaminated by firefighters at the scene before being taken to the hospital, according to cops.

"The substance was deemed to be non-hazardous and is being transported to a lab in New York City for further analysis," said NYPD spokesman J. Peter Donald.

Secret Service was also investigating, the NYPD said.
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2018 13:59 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [17 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Anyone surprised?
Posted by: Rex Mundi || 02/12/2018 14:50 Comments || Top||

#2  "Not Anthrax, just cocaine."
Posted by: Skidmark || 02/12/2018 15:41 Comments || Top||

#3  Someone trying to send a message? Spured on by CNN/MSNBC/PMS/etc...
Posted by: CrazyFool || 02/12/2018 21:26 Comments || Top||

#4  I suspect there are going to be words spoken to the Secret Service head.
Posted by: Sloluting and Tenille8977 || 02/12/2018 22:01 Comments || Top||


Nunes Gunning For Top Obama Official Who Lied Under Oath About Dossier
[CND] House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes said phrase three of his investigation will expose former CIA Director John Brennan, former DNI Director James Clapper, and former national security adviser Susan Rice for lying about the Steele dossier.

Nunes said he has evidence showing Brennan perjured himself in public testimony before Congress about his role in elevating the discredited anti-Trump dossier to trigger the phony Russia investigation.

During his testimony in May 2017 before the House Intelligence Committee, Brennan denied the dossier was part of the intelligence community’s publicly released conclusion indicating that Russia meddled in the 2016 presidential election "to help Trump’s chances of victory."

Brennan swore under oath that he wasn’t aware of who compiled the dossier, but the recently released Nunes memo reveals that numerous senior national security and counterintelligence officials at the Justice Department and FBI were aware that the dossier was funded by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the Democratic National Committee.

Phase three will identify how Obama used Brennan, Clapper, Rice, and others to collect the dossier and use it as a basis of their intelligence reports to launch the Russia investigation against Trump.

"John Brennan did more than anyone to promulgate the dirty dossier," a senior investigator working with Nunes told Real Clear Investigations. "He politicized and effectively weaponized what was false intelligence against Trump."

Phase two of Nunes’ investigation exposed how former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s top two confidants, Sidney Blumenthal and Cody Shearer, were feeding inaccurate information to former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele to use in his dossier.

Phase one was Nunes’ first explosive memo revealed surveillance "abuses" by the Obama DOJ and FBI officials by using the discredited dossier to obtain a warrant from the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to spy on Carter Page, a part-time volunteer to Trump’s 2016 campaign.

Steele was hired by Fusion GPS to compile the 35-page dossier, which contained a slew unverified claims the FBI admitted it couldn’t corroborate.

The FBI and DOJ also failed to notify the FISC that Fusion GPS was given more than $9 million to fund the dossier by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign and the Democratic National Committee.

Nunes’ investigation seeks to piece together the entire puzzle about how Obama used Brennan, Rice, Clapper, and others to take the dossier ‐ which has Clinton’s fingerprints all over it ‐ and elevates it to the highest levels of our government to trigger the Russia investigation.

By doing so, they legitimized a piece of political opposition research and weaponized it to derail Trump’s presidency.
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2018 13:31 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [21 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Please Nunes, start naming and demanding criminal charges. Getting time to put up Devin.
Posted by: Woodrow || 02/12/2018 13:40 Comments || Top||

#2  From what I can tell, this is on a predetermined flight plan. The American people have to be prepared for the extent of the donk corruption. All I can counsel is patience.
Posted by: S. Omolet4728 || 02/12/2018 13:57 Comments || Top||

#3  Goodness. This looks big.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/12/2018 15:14 Comments || Top||

#4  Compared to what is coming, Watergate will look like a minor burglary bungled by a bunch of amateurs.
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom || 02/12/2018 15:57 Comments || Top||

#5  Better be more substantive than lying to the FBI not under oath or just another round of kabuki theater.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 02/12/2018 17:28 Comments || Top||

#6  At the end of the day, if no one looses his job or goes to jail, then there is zero incentive not to do this all again.
Posted by: Iblis || 02/12/2018 18:03 Comments || Top||

#7  We have come a long way.
Much more to come.
Posted by: newc || 02/12/2018 18:18 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Culture Wars
Behold - Barack Obama's Official Portrait
[NY Times] - WASHINGTON ‐ With the unveiling here Monday at the National Portrait Gallery of the official presidential likenesses of Barack Obama and the former first lady, Michelle Obama, this city of myriad monuments gets a couple of new ones, each radiating, in its different way, gravitas (his) and glam (hers).
He looks like he's taking a crap...
Posted by: Raj || 02/12/2018 12:53 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [16 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Why? The only picture I want to see of Bin Obama would be in the wanted Post Office posters.
Posted by: Woodrow || 02/12/2018 13:05 Comments || Top||

#2  His looks like a bad photoshop, plus Raj’s observation.

Hers looks like an artsy fashion shot, where the clothes matter a good deal more than the person holding them up.

Together they look like they don’t belong together, a bad omen for their future happiness.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/12/2018 15:19 Comments || Top||

#3  Some have criticized the backdrop but I have a shower curtain just like that so I think it's kind of nice.

However, what's with those freakishly large hands and that chair? Did the artist skip school on the day they did perspective?
Posted by: SteveS || 02/12/2018 15:23 Comments || Top||

#4  Mr. Obama against greenery, with flowers that have symbolic meaning

Symbolic meanings?
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/12/2018 15:31 Comments || Top||

#5  Symbolic meanings?

Pansies?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 02/12/2018 15:32 Comments || Top||

#6  Those 3-leafed plants look like poison ivy to me...how prophetic
Posted by: Warthog || 02/12/2018 15:35 Comments || Top||

#7  Flowers from Chicago, Hawaii, and Kenya. Indonesia will soon by protesting no doubt.
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2018 15:35 Comments || Top||

#8  A fruit in a tree?
Posted by: BrerRabbit || 02/12/2018 17:32 Comments || Top||

#9  interesting picture

try causally crossing your arms and putting them in the same position as Obama; your thumbs will both be at the top of the hand position; Obama has one thumb up and one pinky up

he actually has two right hands (odd, you would have thought two left hands)
Posted by: lord garth || 02/12/2018 18:23 Comments || Top||

#10  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNI07egoefc
Posted by: S. Omolet4728 || 02/12/2018 18:37 Comments || Top||

#11  Obama Portrait Unveiled At Smithsonian Museum - Small Dead Animals
Posted by: newc || 02/12/2018 18:52 Comments || Top||

#12  Soetoro in Kudzu. Quite unique.
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2018 20:33 Comments || Top||

#13 
Posted by: KBK || 02/12/2018 21:37 Comments || Top||

#14  As you can see, he actually does have large hands.
Posted by: KBK || 02/12/2018 22:22 Comments || Top||


Behold - Michelle Obama's Official Portrait
Have at it, gang!
[DailyCaller] An official portrait of former first lady Michelle Obama was unveiled at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery Monday morning.

The painting was done by Baltimore artist Amy Sherald, who is known for her social justice painting style.
There's a 'social justice painting style'? I learn something new every day!
"Let’s just start by saying, ’Wow,’ again. Let me just take a minute. It’s amazing. Wow," Obama said after the portrait was unveiled. The moment was met with a gasp and applause.
"Wow" as in 'cool' or "wow" as in 'what the fuck is this shit'? You make the call!
Posted by: Raj || 02/12/2018 12:45 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [18 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Voting for 'what the fuck is this shit'? I mean, I didn't know she was white.
Posted by: Woodrow || 02/12/2018 13:07 Comments || Top||

#2  Looks like a guy in drag...
Posted by: Iblis || 02/12/2018 13:30 Comments || Top||

#3  social justice painting style?
Fascist Chic? Like the posters we still see in places like Cuba and North Korea?
Posted by: magpie || 02/12/2018 14:00 Comments || Top||

#4  I hope nobody had to pay for this.
Posted by: gorb || 02/12/2018 14:09 Comments || Top||

#5  I hope Mooch did
Posted by: Frank G || 02/12/2018 15:14 Comments || Top||

#6  It appears that both model and artist wore dresses by the same designer to the reveal, but only one of them has an eye for what she looks good in.

Honestly, the face in the portrait does not look to me like Mrs. Obama.

The gown is dramatic, though.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/12/2018 15:52 Comments || Top||

#7  An example of the painter's other work.
Posted by: charger || 02/12/2018 18:24 Comments || Top||

#8  https://www.reddit.com/r/The_Donald/comments/7x59qb/michaels_portrait_explained/

NSFW
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 02/12/2018 19:42 Comments || Top||

#9  Dude - I was all set to throw a steak on the grill until that. Appetite now trashed, I owe you one, you magnificent bastard!
Posted by: Raj || 02/12/2018 20:09 Comments || Top||

#10  We need a laugh meter.
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom || 02/12/2018 23:05 Comments || Top||


Europe
"Those people who ate with me, drank, danced, laughed – they talk about me as ‘stupid German whore'."
[VladTepesBlog] I am afraid that in the next election, in four years, we can see a new phenomenon – Muslims will sooner or later establish their party and because they already have a large electorate, they will become unstoppable. With the help of the left wing and almost all parties, they will begin to change the rules and we will be the one who will have to adapt. As we know, many Muslims believe that unbelievers should be converted or taxed (jizyed), or oppressed with other methods. Many Muslims, mostly those choosing this political, state-controlled [Muslim] Islam, wonder how they can promote their own interests – and they don't even deny it. As long as they continue to do so, they will continue to grow in Germany. We know about FB profiles, which clearly call for the Islamization of Germany, where we find posts contrary to the constitution, and such discussions can be found everywhere. FB profiles where a dog pees on the Israeli flag, profiles spreading hatred and call for violence against us. And these profiles are not removed, as well as Salafite profiles! Despite the fact that FB is very thoroughly controlled in this country. Profiles of people expressing anti-Islamic views are blocked. If we don't wake up quickly, the whole situation will end tragically.
Long and detailed article from an interview of a German social worker.
Posted by: KBK || 02/12/2018 09:55 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [6 views] Top|| File under: Moslem Colonists

#1  What she’s missing is that is a deliberate colonization of Europe by Mohammedans.
Posted by: KBK || 02/12/2018 10:16 Comments || Top||

#2  Deliberate colonization, and deliberate invitation dating back to the oil crisis in the 1970s. Bat Yeor’s Eurabia was published in 2005.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/12/2018 10:30 Comments || Top||

#3  ‘Stupid German whore'." Merkel?
Posted by: Woodrow || 02/12/2018 12:30 Comments || Top||

#4  Once the tipping point arrives the Germans that can afford to leave will leave. Where is a good question, and will they be accepted is another one, and will they vote for more insanity in their new homes is the real kicker.

Anyway, those that *Can* leave are the ones that make the German economy hum, so within a year or they will have to put up East German style walls or sink down into being a well-watered Egypt-style nation.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 02/12/2018 13:28 Comments || Top||

#5  Where's my femto-violin?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 02/12/2018 14:12 Comments || Top||

#6  As much as I hate to say it, until the MSM in this country prints or features stories like this, the average person will never hear about it, let alone believe it.

Actually, that’s not entirely true. I know highly educated and intelligent individuals (i.e. above average) with influential positions in some of the most important government institutions and agencies who would not believe that someone with Rebecca Sommer’s background would ever say such things because it’s simply not politically correct to do so.

Such is the extent and effectiveness of the brainwashing and indoctrination that has taken place here. That’s probably the scariest thing of all.
Posted by: Eltoroverde || 02/12/2018 14:35 Comments || Top||

#7  "Rebecca gets red-pilled by reality."

A book forthcoming?
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/12/2018 15:37 Comments || Top||


Science & Technology
Amazon Echo - SNL
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2018 09:13 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [16 views] Top|| File under:

#1  And that is why I dropped SNL in the late 79's.
Posted by: Skidmark || 02/12/2018 9:39 Comments || Top||

#2  And this is why we dumped Amazon.

Amazon’s Alexa is a CRAZY SJW LIBERAL! | Louder With Crowder
Posted by: Woodrow || 02/12/2018 12:44 Comments || Top||

#3  So...Let me understand this: You are paying someone to plant a listening device (a.k.a. 'bug') in the privacy of your home?
Posted by: magpie || 02/12/2018 14:03 Comments || Top||

#4  It turns out that most of the new tv's have microphones, and you don't know if they are on.

https://www.howtogeek.com/233742/how-to-stop-your-smart-tv-from-spying-on-you/

https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/talkingtech/2018/02/07/your-smart-tv-may-prey-hackers-and-collecting-more-info-than-you-realize-consumer-reports-warns/311903002/
Posted by: KBK || 02/12/2018 21:52 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Culture Wars
Gaystapo Olympian: 'Mike Pence Doesn’t Stand For Anything That I Really Believe In.'
[Hot Air] The inauguration of President Trump has ushered in an ugly time of politicization for the sports world. With the Olympics here, we are getting a fresh wave of it in social media and from a willing press.

Gus Kenworthy, a skier, decided to make a random statement about his sexuality in order to bash Vice-President Pence. While stating he is so honored to be competing for America, he’s proud to represent the LGBT community. While displaying a photo of himself and figure skater Adam Rippon on Instagram, Kenworthy ended it with, "Eat your heart out, Pence. #TeamUSA #TeamUSGay"

Rippon was not pleased to learn that Pence would be leading the American delegation to the Olympics so he went public about it last month. (L.A. Times)
Rippon said of Pence: “I don’t think he has a real concept of reality. To stand by some of the things that Donald Trump has said and for Mike Pence to say he’s a devout Christian man is completely contradictory. If he’s OK with what’s being said about people and Americans and foreigners and about different countries that are being called ‘shitholes,’ I think he should really go to church.”

Rippon is 28 years old and only came out in late 2015. Pence’s office has reached to him but so far there has been no meeting between the two. It seems to me if these two guys were serious about bringing people together with civility, then a meeting would have been accepted by now. Pence tweeted his support, too. (L.A. Times)
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2018 04:56 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [8 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The line between asking tolerance and demanding submission was cross many many miles ago.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 02/12/2018 7:05 Comments || Top||

#2  The line between asking tolerance and demanding submission was cross many many miles ago.

In the term of reference "line crossed" are you referring to the subject at hand, BLM and Affirmative Action, or one or more of the organizations found at this link ?
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2018 7:28 Comments || Top||

#3  Gus Kenworthy, a skier,and drama queen.
Posted by: Thring Juse9824 || 02/12/2018 8:02 Comments || Top||

#4  “I don’t think he has a real concept of reality."

Just a guess - he's not a MENSA candidate.
Posted by: Raj || 02/12/2018 9:54 Comments || Top||

#5  no skier is a MENSA candidate, not even close
Posted by: 746 || 02/12/2018 12:59 Comments || Top||

#6  Fudge Packing is an Olympic sport? If he sticks a landing, does he hit the shit?

Or, we demand you stop the Bible. What a pathetic drama arse hat.
Posted by: Woodrow || 02/12/2018 13:15 Comments || Top||

#7  Poor Pence, I'm sure he's crushed.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 02/12/2018 14:21 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Politix
Ruth Bader Ginsburg: 'Sexism' and a 'macho atmosphere' doomed Hillary Clinton
[Wash Examiner] Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said Sunday "sexism" and a "macho atmosphere" helped doom Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign.

"I think it was difficult for Hillary Clinton to get by even the macho atmosphere prevailing during that campaign, and she was criticized in a way I think no man would have been criticized," Ginsburg said during a discussion at Columbia University.

The liberal-leaning associate justice, who is 84 years old, shared a stage with CNN reporter Poppy Harlow and took a long pause before continuing.

"I think anyone who watched that campaign unfold would answer it the same way I did: Yes, sexism played a prominent part," she said.

Harlow had asked Ginsburg to clarify her statement late last year to Charlie Rose, then a journalist at PBS, that sexism "no doubt" contributed to Clinton's loss. Rose left PBS in November after facing sexual misconduct allegations.

Despite arguing that in 2016 sexism kept Clinton from the presidency, Ginsburg said Sunday she believes the country is ready for a female president.

"I think we were and will be the next time. Anyway, we should be careful about not getting me too much into the political arena," she said.
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2018 04:43 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [11 views] Top|| File under:

#1  In a rational world it would be obvious that Trump supporters include lots of brilliant and well-informed people. That fact - as obvious as it would seem - is invisible to the folks who can't even imagine a world in which their powers of perception could be so wrong. To reconcile their world, they have to imagine all Trump supporters as defective in some moral or cognitive way, or both.

http://blog.dilbert.com/post/153080448451/the-cognitive-dissonance-cluster-bomb
Posted by: Herb McCoy7309 || 02/12/2018 4:55 Comments || Top||

#2  The transition from SCOTUS to the Politburo was so long ago. Junking the Article V process for SCOTUS decrees made it so.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 02/12/2018 7:06 Comments || Top||

#3  they have to imagine all Trump supporters as defective in some moral or cognitive way, or both.

And I really don't mind.
Posted by: Skidmark || 02/12/2018 7:44 Comments || Top||

#4  She is a defective drunk. Long overdue exit. She reminds me of the cartoon of her as a robotic Dialect wheel chaired menace of evil. Couldn't find it but it was right on the money.
Posted by: Dale || 02/12/2018 8:10 Comments || Top||

#5  A community which became devoid of 'macho atmosphere.'
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2018 8:22 Comments || Top||

#6  Sexism and a macho atmosphere doomed Hildo?

How did this loon Ginsberg make it in such a toxic atmosphere? Not because she is worth a damn as legal scholar and pillar of justice.

Is it possible that the American people realized Hildo is an evil bytch who would do great harm to the U.S.?
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/12/2018 8:32 Comments || Top||

#7  folks who can't even imagine a world in which their powers of perception could be so wrong
It's a fallen world, get used to it. People like Ginsberg can serve as a useful lesson for the rest of us.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 02/12/2018 9:02 Comments || Top||

#8  Strange, I was under the misunderstanding it was the voters, Electoral College and her personality that made her a loser again. Thanks for making it clear, Ruth.
Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839 || 02/12/2018 9:19 Comments || Top||

#9  Fifteen months after the fact and they're still crying over it - isn't it great?
Posted by: Raj || 02/12/2018 10:01 Comments || Top||

#10  Buzzy Ginsberg is an aclu piece of work.
Posted by: Mugsy Glink || 02/12/2018 10:42 Comments || Top||

#11  Herb McCoy7309,
Thank you for that link.
Posted by: S. Omolet4728 || 02/12/2018 13:17 Comments || Top||

#12  Ruth must have been talking about Shrillary's rapist husband. It's hard to make out from the translated drunken gurgles.
Posted by: Woodrow || 02/12/2018 13:18 Comments || Top||

#13  Just go away Ginsburg. Nobody wants to hear your crinkled trap flap.
Posted by: DarthVader || 02/12/2018 13:57 Comments || Top||

#14  And Ginsburg swore an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution -- Not so much.

http://dailysignal.com/2012/02/08/justice-ginsburg-i-would-not-look-to-the-u-s-constitution/
Posted by: S. Omolet4728 || 02/12/2018 14:09 Comments || Top||

#15  Obviously, we need a lot more of both.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 02/12/2018 14:10 Comments || Top||

#16  A house needs to fall on her.
Posted by: newc || 02/12/2018 15:17 Comments || Top||


-Land of the Free
Congress' budget deal affirms church access to FEMA disaster aid
[Wash Times] Churches for decades have had to fend for themselves when hurricane winds ripped off the chapel roof while the nonprofit YMCA next door ‐ because it’s not religious ‐ pocketed Federal Emergency Management Agency payments to repair similar damage to its building.

That treatment of houses of worship was written out of U.S. law last week.

A provision tucked into the budget deal that President Trump signed into law Friday put churches on equal footing with YMCA, senior centers and other nonprofit groups when it comes to FEMA disaster relief.

The Bipartisan Budget Act made churches, synagogues, mosques and other houses of worship permanently eligible for FEMA’s Public Assistance Program grants, which can pay for the removal of debris and repairs to buildings, parks and recreational facilities owned by nonprofits.

"Congress has delivered a big victory for houses of worship," said Diana Verm, legal counsel at the nonprofit religious liberty law firm Becket that represented Texas churches and Florida synagogues last year in challenging the FEMA policy. "This is a happy ending for a long story for houses of worship responding to disasters."
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2018 04:37 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [6 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "This is a happy ending for a long story for houses of worship responding to disasters."

Buying the evangelical vote.
(is that too cynical?)
Posted by: Skidmark || 02/12/2018 7:47 Comments || Top||

#2  It isn't just evangelicals. There are plenty of denominations that will bend over backwards to avoid offending you in any way. You may not get a lot of religious fervor there, maybe a cup of coffee and a donut. But the Gospel is there if you look for it.
Posted by: Abu Uluque || 02/12/2018 9:37 Comments || Top||

#3  Strong signal Christians are not blacklisted. Except at Target. Does that buy votes? No but it does point out the relief track records. My own observation, Churches are far more effective, efficient that Federal DNC Unions.
Posted by: Woodrow || 02/12/2018 13:27 Comments || Top||


-Short Attention Span Theater-
What's That Mark on U.S. Figure Skater Mirai Nagasu's Thigh?
[PJ] After figure skater Mirai Nagasu became the first women's skater to nail a triple axel in an Olympic event, all anyone could talk about were the strange markings on her upper thigh. Was it a tattoo? A bruise? Some sort of kinesthetic tape?

But before we get to that, let's recap her performance from Sunday night in the women's individual portion of the team event in Pyeongchang, S. Korea.

The 24-year-old Nagasu wasn't just the first American to land a triple axel at the Olympics, she was also only the second American woman to land the jump in an international competition. The first was completed by Tonya Harding ‐ nearly 27 years ago. The only other women to land the jump in an Olympic competition were Midori Ito and Mao Asada, both from Japan. Here's the amazing feat:

Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2018 04:22 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [17 views] Top|| File under:

#1  [LOAD MORE] - so damn annoying, PJ Media...
Posted by: Raj || 02/12/2018 9:41 Comments || Top||

#2  Kinesthetic tape. I don’t know if figure skating has the same rules as gymnastics, but for gymnasts a visible tattoo — or even nail polish — could result in a deduction back in the day. Probably still true, as I haven’t noticed anything bolder than face and hair glitter on the gymnastics girls.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/12/2018 10:54 Comments || Top||

#3  PJ seems to want another click. So often it seems they bury what you're looking for, to get that additional click.

So, I leave.
.
Posted by: OregonGuy || 02/12/2018 13:07 Comments || Top||

#4  I don't care.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 02/12/2018 14:14 Comments || Top||

#5  Small image at Yahoo News:

Not a tattoo. Not a bruise. It was KT Tape, an “elastic sports tape designed to relieve pain while supporting muscles, tendons, and ligaments,” according to the brand’s website.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 02/12/2018 16:37 Comments || Top||

#6  [LOAD MORE] - so damn annoying, PJ Media...

That little annoyance is SO easy to fix. Click on the link, when you get to the page. Click in navigation field and add this to the end of the line "?&singlepage=true" without the quotes.

Then hit return. The page will load without the [LOAD MORE] nonsense.
Posted by: Phinenter Borgia4439 || 02/12/2018 18:01 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Politix
Ex-wife of Rob Porter fires back at White House amid abuse scandal
[The Hill] Jennie Willoughby, an ex-wife of former White House staff secretary Rob Porter, fired back at President Trump and the White House after Trump praised Porter following domestic abuse allegations.
Reject me at your own peril! I will not remain silent.
In a piece published in Time, Willoughby wrote about how it felt to watch Trump and other members of the White House come to Porter's defense, even after Porter announced he was resigning following multiple reports that he was abusive to his ex-wives, including Willoughby.

"I can’t say I was surprised. But when Donald Trump repeated twice that Rob declared his innocence, I was floored," she wrote.
I have now become a handsomely paid spokesperson for sexual cannibalism.
"What was his intent in emphasizing that point? My friend turned to me and said, 'The President of the United States just called you a liar.' Yes. And so he did," she wrote.

She also cited Trump's tweet Saturday in which he said lives are being ruined by "a mere allegation" and questioned whether there was "such thing any longer as Due Process?"
"There it is again. The words 'mere allegation' and 'falsely accused' meant to imply that I am a liar. That Colbie Holderness is a liar," she wrote. "That the work Rob was doing in the White House was of higher value than our mental, emotional or physical wellbeing. That his professional contributions are worth more than the truth. That abuse is something to be questioned and doubted."

Willoughby went on to write in Time that the issue is deeper than Trump. Society as a whole, she said, has a "fear of addressing our worst secrets."

Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2018 04:03 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [16 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The country and the Trump administration meaning nothing. Porter must DIE! It's all about ME, ME, ME !
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2018 4:17 Comments || Top||

#2  You sound surprised Besoeker - haven't you yet grasped that "I won't accept any limitations on my behavior - making sure that there are no adverse consequences for me is society's duty!" is what modern feminism (and the rest of the isms) is all about?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 02/12/2018 4:44 Comments || Top||

#3  As the causative factors are further revealed through her very public statements, they may indicate Mr. Porter is indeed guilty of the charges and simply fled the union for her safety.
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2018 7:57 Comments || Top||

#4  Seems to me the Democratic memo(?), the Grassley referral, and the Nunes Memo have disappeared.

We had two senior DoJ officials suddenly resign over the weekend.

I don't want to make light and marginalize domestic violence and spousal abuse, but all of this and the phoney feud between Pence and the Olympian, seem to smack of "Squirrel" as the media has done a deep dive into the trivial to avoid covering the dossier and the false narrative.

Rather than report how the dossier was a set up, as was the surveillance of Porter, they are going to other topics.
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom || 02/12/2018 12:54 Comments || Top||

#5  FBI sat on his background check just for this kind of PR.

My own experience with FBI background checks. If the subject is married the FBI normally delve first into details of their marriage.
Posted by: Woodrow || 02/12/2018 13:31 Comments || Top||

#6  Always willing to stoke the fires of conspiracy - is it possible the FBI 'lost' the information on Porter's (alleged) abuses to further embarrass the POTUS?

Somebody tell me it can't be!
Posted by: Bobby || 02/12/2018 15:10 Comments || Top||

#7  Aren't these investigations handled by contractors? Mine always have been.
Posted by: S. Omolet4728 || 02/12/2018 16:25 Comments || Top||

#8  Jennie and Rob did not choose wisely.
Posted by: S. Omolet4728 || 02/12/2018 17:03 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Culture Wars
Say What ...
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 02/12/2018 04:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [18 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Now they are seeing the writing on the wall.
Posted by: newc || 02/12/2018 4:35 Comments || Top||

#2  Well painted.
Posted by: Woodrow || 02/12/2018 13:20 Comments || Top||

#3  Don't forget how much like the YF-23 that the new Chinese stealth fighter looks.
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom || 02/12/2018 23:03 Comments || Top||


-Lurid Crime Tales-
FBI's Lisa Page to Peter Strzok: ‘I Truly Hate' Pro-Lifers
[Breitbart] Text messages released this week between disgraced FBI attorney Lisa Page and agent Peter Strzok, show Page saying, "I truly hate" pro-lifers and the two discussing shutting down the 2016 March for Life on the national mall.

Page and Strzok ‐ both married ‐ were reportedly carrying on an affair.
"It’s not surprising that these people would hate pro-lifers so much that they would want to abuse their authority to cancel the March for Life," Operation Rescue President Tony Newman told LifeSiteNews. "Given their extreme political bias against those who hold pro-life views, one can only expect them to stoop to criminal conduct."

As Breitbart News reported, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) said the latest batch of text messages between Page and Strzok, who were involved in the investigations into allegations President Donald Trump aided Russian "collusion" in his election and Hillary Clinton’s email scandal, reveal FBI views of Trump were more than just biased, they actually show "animus" toward the president.

Trump has been hailed by national pro-life leaders as "the most pro-life president in modern history."

Related: Daily Caller - Changes In Abortion Legislation Are Sweeping Across The Country. Here’s What You Need To Know
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2018 03:49 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [10 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I suspect you'll find the left's and Deep State's continuous attack on President Trump and vitriol toward conservatives is grounded in their fear of Roe vs. Wade one day being overturned.

The Canaanite God Molock must not go hungry.
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2018 3:59 Comments || Top||

#2  You are like Kurt Cobain. "I hate my life and I want to die" except you would have no life other than a painful extraction of your limbs while you were in the womb as you bleed and try to cry but lacking vocal chords, you know.. .

Straight up, you hate BeyBeys, puppies, bunnies, and Duckies.

Posted by: newc || 02/12/2018 4:24 Comments || Top||

#3  How is butchering the unborn a benefit to society?
Posted by: Skidmark || 02/12/2018 7:50 Comments || Top||

#4  How is butchering the unborn a benefit to society?

Unwanted pregnancies impede urban commerce. The business of legalized abortion both helps solve the problem and produces handsome dividends through fees and repurposing.
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2018 8:05 Comments || Top||

#5  What a pair of malcontents Strzok and Page are. Page hates pro-life supporters and Strzok can smell Trump supporters in Walmart.

Abortion has become big business with profiteering due to re-purposing.
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/12/2018 8:46 Comments || Top||

#6  Gradually the meaning of "choosing life" vs. "choosing death" is becoming clearer for the electorate. Maybe another 45 years is needed.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 02/12/2018 9:05 Comments || Top||

#7  Since a disproportionately large amount of mothers seeking abortion are black, does this mean that these tools are racist for wanting black bey beys dead?

Clearly yes..crickets from the CBC
Posted by: Warthog || 02/12/2018 9:30 Comments || Top||

#8  Unwanted pregnancies impede urban commerce.

Sometimes I think you're just poking me for fun, B.
Nappies, pre/post natal vitamins, OB/Ped and precare services, specialty nutrition, 'toys', clothing and entertainment are Billion dollar industries.

With such a commerce footprint I'm amazed there is any support for baby killers.
Posted by: Skidmark || 02/12/2018 9:51 Comments || Top||

#9  Lisa Page is a strong argument for post birth abortion.
Posted by: DarthVader || 02/12/2018 10:42 Comments || Top||

#10  PP is a a way of laundering taxpayer's money to the dem party.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 02/12/2018 11:36 Comments || Top||

#11  Bingo! to Bright Pebbles on comment #10
Posted by: warthogswife || 02/12/2018 13:30 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan
U.S. massive bomber strikes insurgents' positions in N. Afghanistan
[XINHUANET] The U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber has joined Afghan and coalition aircrafts to pound murderous Moslems' positions in northern Afghan provinces, authorities said Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the corpse count of murderous Moslems climbed to 28 after a B-52 warplane struck an Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems....
(IS) terrorist group hideout in northern Jawzjan province, provincial deputy Police Chief Abdul Hafiz Khashi told Xinhua on Wednesday.

Earlier reports said that 13 IS gunnies bit the dust after the bombing which occurred in Sar Dara locality of the mountainous Darzab district in Jawzjan, 390 km north of Kabul.

Violence has escalated in the previously peaceful northern region over the last few years as Afghan forces together with troops of NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A collection of multinational and multilingual and multicultural armed forces, all of differing capabilities, working toward a common goal by pulling in different directions...
-led Resolute Support and United States Forces-Afghanistan pushed against the gunnies in the south and east.

"United States Forces-Afghanistan launched a series of precision strikes in Northern Afghanistan in a direct effort to destroy murderous Moslem revenue sources, training facilities, and support networks. Over the past 96 hours, U.S. forces conducted air operations to strike Taliban
...Arabic for students...
training facilities in Badakhshan province, preventing the planning and rehearsal of terrorist acts near the border with China and Tajikistan." the coalition forces said in a statement on Tuesday.

The strikes also destroyed stolen Afghan National Army (ANA) vehicles that were in the process of being converted to boom-mobiles by Death Eaters, it noted.

"During these strikes, a U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress dropped 24 precision guided munitions on Taliban fighting positions, setting a record of the most guided munitions ever dropped from a B-52." the statement said.

Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [18 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State

#1  24 is a magic number that keeps turning up in these reports. Story in that somewhere.
Posted by: M. Murcek || 02/12/2018 10:00 Comments || Top||

#2  How many bombs can a single B-52 carry, M. Murcek?
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/12/2018 11:02 Comments || Top||

#3  24 is a magic number that keeps turning up in these reports.

12 munitions on each of 2 pylons.
Posted by: Skidmark || 02/12/2018 11:05 Comments || Top||

#4  Bin Obama, "war crimes against jihad, send me DNC money"!
Posted by: Woodrow || 02/12/2018 12:25 Comments || Top||


Government
Trump wants $1.5T infrastructure spending boost, cuts to red tape
Posted by: Skidmark || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [10 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The lack of consistency of funding is what makes this all so expensive.

I am no fan of this give every Prez a trillion dollars to grease the palms of whatever.

Fiscal responsibility comes later but for now if you do this bullshit thing, I want you all (And the States as well) A Five Year Warrantee on all projects here-forth.

Maybe if the political winds led you to shitty contractors, you would not have to pay so much for infrastructure.

Courtesy MR Sessoms.
Posted by: newc || 02/12/2018 4:07 Comments || Top||

#2  How about a bill forcing states to pay to maintain our investment. Get all this BS back into the state houses.
The idiot mouthbreathers in DC are not worth this amount of play.

Get government back at home again.
Posted by: newc || 02/12/2018 4:09 Comments || Top||

#3  Addendum: "Maybe if the political winds led you to shitty contractors, you would not have to pay so much for infrastructure."

Should read : Maybe if the political winds led you to shitty contractors before, Holding them accountable would you to ensure (Or Insure) you would not have to pay so much for infrastructure.
Posted by: newc || 02/12/2018 4:13 Comments || Top||

#4  I believe in one big piece of red tape. The funds have got to go to infrastructure, not lost in states' magic money pools of fungible redirection.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 02/12/2018 7:17 Comments || Top||

#5  Oh boy.
More state run toll roads.
Posted by: Skidmark || 02/12/2018 7:28 Comments || Top||

#6  Oh boy.
More state run toll roads.


As planned, life spans and human footprints in rural areas continue to decline. Travel and migration btwn competing urban collectives however, must be drastically reduced or at least restricted.

The voters, I fear they doth move around freely in too much excess.
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2018 7:39 Comments || Top||

#7  I'm afraid any good will towards infrastructure was blown with the 2 year budget the President just signed. I have no interest in continued borrowing from my grand children
Posted by: Thring Juse9824 || 02/12/2018 8:00 Comments || Top||

#8  Trump is a real estate subsidy seeker this is the easiest way to stealthily subsidize RE values nearby spending.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 02/12/2018 11:41 Comments || Top||

#9  So much for a balanced budget...
Posted by: Raj || 02/12/2018 11:43 Comments || Top||

#10  I get concerns. Feel the same way about the debt. But a lot needs to be repaired. And it's better to have a contractor overlooking the program rather than a Chicago Mullah conman.
Posted by: Woodrow || 02/12/2018 12:58 Comments || Top||

#11  I agree with newc, find a way to encourage states to fix their own infrastructure. The Feds can pay for the Interstate highway system.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 02/12/2018 16:32 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Rantburg Exclusive: YPG/SDF Describe Completely Annihilating A Turk Fire Control Base
This base is located behind Turk/FSA lines.

Posted by: Ulaigum Ebbineng7056 || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [15 views] Top|| File under: Sublime Porte

#1 

via GIPHY

Posted by: Injun Bucket8891 || 02/12/2018 1:00 Comments || Top||


Iraq
Iran-backed Shiite militias used US Abrams tanks against Kurds in Iraq
[atimes] Pentagon investigation has found that Iran-backed Shiite militias got their hands on US-made M1A1 Abrams tanks and used them against US-backed Kurdish forces last fall.

Posted by: 3dc || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [10 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran Proxies

#1  The PMF, which were fighting as part of the Iraqi security forces, had appropriated the tanks from ISIS in Tikrit in 2015 and in Mosul last year. ISIS had originally captured the armored vehicles from the Iraqi Army when it made its initial advances in Iraq.

According to the article, there was the threat that American funds would be withheld if the Iraqi government did not confiscate the tanks.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/12/2018 11:18 Comments || Top||

#2  Hard for me to believe that its as simple to operate as "forward, back, left, right, fire".
Posted by: Skidmark || 02/12/2018 15:38 Comments || Top||


Two policemen wounded as bomb attack targets police vehicle in Kirkuk
Kirkuk (Iraqinews.com) – Two security men were seriously wounded in a bomb attack that targeted their police vehicle in one of Kirkuk villages on Saturday night, a security source was quoted as saying.

Speaking to Shafaq News website, the source said, “A bomb exploded on Saturday night while a police vehicle was passing by Tal Khadija village in Kirkuk’s al-Rashad district, leaving two policemen seriously wounded.”

“The two security men were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment,” the source pointed out.

Iraqi forces took over Kirkuk in mid October in response to a referendum Kurdistan Region held in September for independence from Iraq. Kirkuk is one of the areas where Baghdad and Erbil dispute sovereignty.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [14 views] Top|| File under:


Arabia
Saudi regime forces kidnap three youths in Shia-populated Qatif
[PRESSTV] Saudi regime forces have nabbed
Drop the gat, Rocky, or you're a dead 'un!
three young Shia men, including a minor, in the kingdom’s Shia-populated and oil-rich Eastern Province as the Riyadh regime presses ahead with its brutal clampdown against members of the religious community.

Local sources, requesting anonymity, told Arabic-language Ahrar television network that Saudi troopers arrested brothers, Hani and Ali al-Faraj, after they raided their house in Qatif region, located more than 420 kilometers (260 miles) east of the capital Riyadh, on Sunday afternoon.

Hussain al-Zanadi was rounded up in a street as well.

Eastern Province has been the scene of peaceful demonstrations since February 2011. Protesters have been demanding reforms, freedom of expression, the release of political prisoners, and an end to economic and religious discrimination against the oil-rich region.

The protests have been met with a heavy-handed crackdown by the regime. Security forces have increased security measures across the province.

Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [12 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran Proxies


India-Pakistan
Two suspects arrested over gang rape of 13-year-old girl in Larkana
[DAWN] Police on Sunday placed in durance vile
Drop the rod and step away witcher hands up!
two suspects over charges of raping a 13-year-old girl in Gharibabad locality of Larkana, officials said.

The victim’s father lodged a complaint with the police on Friday, after which a case was registered Under Section 376 of Pakistain Penal Code, said SSP Tanweer Hussain Tunio.

The complainant had informed the police that his daughter was lured by five persons who reportedly gang-raped her at a deserted place.

Police arrested two accused and sent them to Chandka Medical College where their DNA samples will be taken, said SHO Abdul Malik.

Moreover, raids are being carried out to arrest the three remaining accused, who still remain unidentified.

Rights groups have frequently pointed out the increasing number of sexual assault cases against women in Pakistain.

Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [9 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Just about 8,000 miles from Texarkana.
Posted by: Harcourt Slinetle5580 || 02/12/2018 8:23 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
IDF, Syrian rebels identify regime targets hit in Saturday morning reprisal strikes
[IsraelTimes] Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says at least 6 pro-regime fighters killed, others critically maimed in IAF strikes that hit Syrian, Iranian positions
A cute map and photos can be seen at the link.
The Israeli army identified some of the targets of the retaliatory Arclight airstrikes it conducted in Syria after an Iranian drone infiltrated Israeli airspace the day before, while Syrian rebel forces provided details on the rest.

The targets included anti-aircraft missile batteries and an anti-missile defense system near Damascus and a mobile command center near Palmyra, according to the military.

Continued on Page 49
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [18 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria


Africa North
Morocco foils massive cocaine smuggling attempt
[XINHUANET] Moroccan authorities foiled on Sunday an international attempt to smuggle 541 kg of cocaine at the port of the financial city of Casablanca.

According to a statement from the Moroccan Interior Ministry, the banned substance was concealed in a shipping container from South America.

The operation led to the arrest of 6 people, including the criminal mastermind of this criminal network, a Brazilian national, the statement said.

Five cars intended to be used for the transport of the drug were also seized aw well as large sums of money in national and foreign currencies, it added.

The preliminary investigation reveals the dangerous nature of this criminal network, its transnational ramifications and links with cartels in Latin America, which now exploit the strategic location of the Kingdom as a transit point to Europe, the same source pointed out.

Investigation is underway to arrest all the people involved in this drug-trafficking attempt, it noted.

Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [13 views] Top|| File under: Narcos

#1  Cocaine from South America? That would be Hizb’allah, then, presumably with Al Qaeda in North Africa at the receiving end.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/12/2018 0:04 Comments || Top||

#2  On its way to Europe in the flotilla of migrants.
Posted by: Skidmark || 02/12/2018 0:18 Comments || Top||

#3  Cocaine from the Andes via W. Africa to Europe
Posted by: Skidmark || 02/12/2018 0:28 Comments || Top||

#4  Thank you!
Posted by: Skidmark || 02/12/2018 1:54 Comments || Top||

#5  Thank You, Skidmark.
Posted by: newc || 02/12/2018 4:17 Comments || Top||

#6  This route has been used since the mid-nineteen eighties, and in that early period involved relatives of the top people in Brazil's government. The route was interdicted for a time and a new one opened through Mali. Undoubtedly, Mauretania has been used for years. Whack-a-mole.
Posted by: Clurong Peacock9529 || 02/12/2018 7:35 Comments || Top||

#7  But remember, enlightened Eurines will always hasten to screech that it's Americans demand for illegal drugs that sustains the world markets for said same.
Posted by: M. Murcek || 02/12/2018 7:49 Comments || Top||

#8  Thank you!

You’re welcome, Skidmark. Next time, replacing the square brackets with angle brackets, set the URL as follows:

[a href=“URL”]text to be seen by the reader[/a]
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/12/2018 11:11 Comments || Top||

#9  There is a Slick Willy joke there somewhere.
Posted by: Woodrow || 02/12/2018 12:35 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
UN chief Guterres calls for immediate de-escalation in Syria
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] United Nations
...boodling on the grand scale...
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday called for an immediate de-escalation in Syria after Israel carried out raids inside the war-torn country.

Guterres is "following closely the alarming military escalation throughout Syria and the dangerous spillover across its borders," UN front man Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

Israel targeted what it said were Iranian positions inside Syria after one of its warplanes was hit by Syrian air defences and crashed.

The Israeli raids came after it intercepted what it said was an Iranian drone entering its airspace.

Guterres stressed that all concerned in Syria and in the region must abide by international law.

"He calls on all to work for an immediate and unconditional de-escalation of violence and exercise restraint," Dujarric said.

It was the most serious confrontation between Iran and Israel since Syria’s war began in 2011 and came amid growing alarm over Syrian government offensives against rebel-held Eastern Ghouta and Idlib.

The Syrian people are suffering "though one of the most violent periods in nearly seven years of conflict," said the UN statement.

Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [12 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria

#1  As long as Israel wasn't involved it was perfectly all right for Tony?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 02/12/2018 2:28 Comments || Top||

#2  Send in the mighty Blue Helmet brigade!
Posted by: Raj || 02/12/2018 9:36 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan
Taliban key commander among 8 killed in Afghan northern Takhar province
[XINHUANET] A Taliban
...the Pashtun equivalent of men...
key commander Mir Wali is among eight forces of Evil who were killed in Darqad district of Afghan northern Takhar province on Sunday, as cleanup operation continues in the restive district, police front man in the province, Abdul Khalil Asir said.

"The security forces in crackdown against Taliban rebels attacked several villages including Basir Khil, the stronghold of Taliban in Darqad district, and killed eight faceless myrmidons including Taliban notorious commander Mir Wali and his lieutenant Qari Sefat on Sunday morning," Asir told Xinhua.

More than a dozen forces of Evil sustained injuries in the ongoing operations which started on Thursday, the official said.

Mir Wali had served as a military commander of the Taliban group in the northern Takhar province and his physical elimination could serve as a major blow to the krazed killer group, the official said.
Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [16 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


China-Japan-Koreas
North Korea not likely to attack any country
[PRESSTV] North Korea is not likely to attack any of its neighboring countries despite what the United States is trying to imply, says An American political analyst.

Keith Preston, the Virginia-based Director of AttacktheSystem.com, made the remarks in an interview with Press TV about the standoff between Washington and Pyongyang over North Korean ballistic missile and nuclear weapon programs.

US Vice President Mike Pence said Saturday that "there is no daylight" in the standoff although both Koreas were seemingly closer following the North’s agreement to send athletes to the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

While many expected the standoff to be toned down, Pence said that nothing had changed and South Korean President Moon Jae-in was also in favor of keeping the North under pressure.

Preston said Sunday that Pyongyang was trying to separate Seoul from Washington.

"Right now, it looks like the North Korean strategy is to try to drive a wedge between the United States and South Korea," Preston said.

"The North Koreans understand that their ability to negotiate with Americans is not going to be particularly strong at this point so instead I think they are turning In the other direction trying to extend an olive branch to the South Koreans," he argued.

Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [21 views] Top|| File under: Commies

#1  Keith Preston a (former?) member of the anarcho-syndicalist Workers Solidarity Alliance and was at the founding convention of the Love and Rage Anarchist Federation. It should also be mentioned that he was a member of the syndicalist union the Industrial Workers of the World.

Note: the latter was know to be a haven for unionists, socialists, anarchists, Marxists, and radicals.

So this clown is a wobblie and an anarchist. Meets the criteria for political idiocy pretty squarely. The BS article closes out the idiot trifecta.
Posted by: Injun Bucket8891 || 02/12/2018 0:51 Comments || Top||

#2  Really? For your consideration.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 02/12/2018 7:15 Comments || Top||

#3  Don't discount the tens of thousands of DPRK expatriated 'workers' (mercenary labor slaves) serving in Southeast Asia states.
Posted by: Skidmark || 02/12/2018 7:41 Comments || Top||


-Short Attention Span Theater-
Puerto Rico hit with partial blackout after power plant explosion
Posted by: Skidmark || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [7 views] Top|| File under:

#1  There is my favorite place with the mayor with t-shirts.
Posted by: newc || 02/12/2018 0:23 Comments || Top||

#2  What does the "partial blackout" mean here?
More than 400,000 power customers have remained in the dark more than five months after Hurricane Maria slammed Puerto Rico
and that was before the explosion. "PR blackout gets even worse" is more accurate.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 02/12/2018 0:37 Comments || Top||

#3  San Juan Mayor: You know this is Trump's fault?
Posted by: Frank G || 02/12/2018 7:37 Comments || Top||

#4  Outside of two privately owned ~500MW power plants
on the southern coast of PR, the only other major power producers in the territory are government run. From what I hear from folks who were there VERY recently, the gov. units were poorly operated and minimally maintained.

There are some small private solar and wind farms, but they don't produce much in the grand scheme of things (<80MW ea.)
Posted by: Mullah Richard || 02/12/2018 9:11 Comments || Top||

#5  gov. units were poorly operated and minimally maintained.


That deserves Captain Obvious.
Posted by: AlanC || 02/12/2018 9:16 Comments || Top||


Iraq
Mosul Kleen-up Kontinues: 6 turbans permanently unwound - and a tunnel - 1 big turban bound

Six Islamic State militants killed in airstrike by int’l coalition on Mosul

Nineveh (Iraqinews.com) – Six Islamic State militants were killed in an airstrike by the U.S-led international coalition warplanes on Mosul city, a security source was quote as saying Sunday.

Speaking to Baghdad Today news website, the source said, “The U.S.-led international coalition carried out an airstrike in coordination with the Nineveh Operations Command, targeting Islamic State remnants in Badush village in northwestern Mosul.”

“The air raid left six Islamic State militants dead and one of their tunnels completely destroyed,” the source pointed out.

Security troops arrest Islamic State leader, relative in Mosul

Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Security troops have arrested an Islamic State members, along with one of his relatives in Mosul, the local affairs department in Nineveh said on Sunday.

“Troops managed to arrest an Islamic State leader, along with one of his relatives who is an army conscript, while he was at the nationality department in Nineveh,” the statement added.

“The leader was recognized by the intelligence sources of the department,” it said, adding that the militant used to work at the group’s Hisbah ( vigilantism) department.

His relative, according to the statement, knew about his involvement with IS and that he facilitated smuggling him to Baghdad after liberation of Nineveh.

The two suspects were extradited to authorities in question so legal measures would be taken.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [15 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Iranian officials say hacks on newspapers' websites are from US, Britain
Yesterday it was Syrian news websites, today it’s Iran’s. So many possibilities, including an autistic lad sitting alone in his bedroom, working for approval or Bitcoins.
[Ynet] Iranian telecommunication officials said Sunday that hackers who accessed the websites of some of the country's dailies are from the United States and Britannia.

A statement carried by the official IRNA news agency quotes the officials as saying the hackers targeted 30 websites on Saturday, including some belonging to Iranian newspapers. It added, however, that the websites were poorly secured.

Late on Saturday hackers accessed the dailies' websites and changed their Farsi top stories to a contrived report about the death of the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

No one has grabbed credit for the cyberattacks.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [12 views] Top|| File under:


The Grand Turk
Turkey’s pro-Kurdish opposition party elects new leaders
Stubbornness incarnate.
[IsraelTimes] The Sick Man of Europe Turkey
...just another cheapjack Moslem dictatorship, brought to you by the Moslem Brüderbund....
’s pro-Kurdish opposition elects new co-presidents following a crackdown on the party for alleged terror links that led to the jailing of one of its leaders and hundreds of arrests.

The Peoples’ Democratic Party or HDP ‐ the second-largest opposition party represented in the Ottoman Turkish parliament ‐ unanimously elects politician Pervin Buldan and deputy co-chair Sezai Temelli amid heavy security in Ankara.

Buldan is picked to replace tossed in the slammer
Drop the gat, Rocky, or you're a dead 'un!
HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtas, who has been behind bars since November 2016, pending trial on terror charges for alleged links to outlawed Kurdish bad boys. Prosecutors are seeking a 142-year prison sentence if he is convicted of leading a terror organization, engaging in terror propaganda and other crimes. Demirtas denies the accusations.

Demirtas, who ran against President Sultan Recep Tayyip Erdogan the First
... Turkey's version of Mohammed Morsi but they voted him back in so they deserve him. It's a sin, a shame, and a felony to insult the president of Turkey...
in Turkey’s first direct presidential election in 2014 and led HDP to parliament in two general elections in 2015, said he would step down as co-chair and not stand for re-election.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [13 views] Top|| File under:


Arabia
Saudi Public Prosecution is now hiring women investigators
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] The Saudi Public Prosecution has announced that it is hiring Saudi women as investigation officers. The application process will start on Sunday, February 11, and will continue until March 3, al-Madina Arabic newspaper reported.

Attorney General Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb said all applicants must be Saudis of good conduct, qualified for the position, have a relevant university degree with no less than a C grade. They should also pass aptitude tests and physical exams to prove their fitness for the position.

"The hiring process is a rigorous one as we are looking for the most qualified of candidates to take on such a critical job. After meeting all the application requirements, candidate will sit through an interview," said al-Mojeb.

He said candidates once selected would have to take up various specialized roles including criminal investigation, testifying in courts, supervising the execution of penal verdicts, inspecting prisons, listening to complaints of inmates, overseeing prisoner release, and briefing the minister of interior on important reports, in addition to executive roles.

Al-Mojeb said the prosecution formed a committee to supervise family reconciliation.

"The head of the Committee is Ahmad al-Zahrani and its members include Abdullah al-Sharif and Nasser al-Oud. The bureau decided to form the committee to give more importance to family issues and reconciliation before taking any legal action," said al-Mojeb.

Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [12 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Saudi Arabia

#1  Wow, hell has froze over.
Posted by: Woodrow || 02/12/2018 13:09 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
2 children among six injured in cross-LoC firing by Indian forces
[DAWN] At least six persons, including two children, were maimed in Azad Jammu and Kashmire (AJK) during separate incidents of "unprovoked" Indian shelling from across the restive Line of Control (LoC), civil and military officials said.

Muhammad Shah Nawaz, 25, and Hassan, 9, were maimed in Simti Majhan and Tarkundi villages of Nakyal sector in Kotli district after being hit by splinters from mortar shells, said Nakyal Assistant Commissioner Waleed Anwar.

Both victims have been admitted to a local health facility, he added.

Also in Kotli district, Saima, 10, was injured in Junoobi Grid village of Tatta Pani sector and Nagina Aqsad, 36, was injured in Chattar village of Khuiratta sector, said a police official.

He said the victims had been admitted to District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital Kotli.

An 18-year old man, identified as Muhammad Nazeer, fell victim to Indian shelling in Poonch district when he was riding his cycle of violence through Dhar Bazaar of Battal sector, said Poonch Deputy Commissioner Raja Tahir Mumtaz.

Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [25 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan

#1  So, "Go to Work with Dad" day didn't turn out so well.
Posted by: Skidmark || 02/12/2018 11:07 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Trump says unsure Israel seeks peace with Palestinians
[IsraelTimes] US President Donald Trump
...New York real estate developer, described by Dems as illiterate, racist, misogynistic, and what ever other unpleasant descriptions they can think of, elected by the rest of us as 45th President of the United States...
says in an interview with Israel Hayom that he is "not necessarily sure" Israel is seeking to reach a peace agreement with the Paleostinians.

Trump has previously denounced the Paleostinians for what he sees as their unwillingness to negotiate, but he has largely refrained from criticizing Israel.

In the interview, Trump notes that while US-Israel relations were "great," peace with the Paleostinians would make them "a lot better."

"Right now, I would say the Paleostinians are not looking to make peace. They are not looking to make peace," Trump tells the paper. "And I am not necessarily sure that Israel is looking to make peace. So we are just going to have to see what happens."

Trump also expresses concerns about Israeli settlement building, although his administration has been far less critical of settlements than that of his predecessor Barack Obama
It’s very rare that I come to an event where I’m like the fifth- or sixth-most interesting person....
"The settlements are something that very much complicates and always have complicated making peace, so I think Israel has to be very careful with the settlements," he says.
All true, with a strong hint to the Palestinians that this time they need to make it worth Israel’s while to come to the table.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [9 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Yea, well, Donald - how about you make peace with democrats first?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 02/12/2018 2:29 Comments || Top||

#2  The headline, as usual, is reversed to favor the barbarians whom have been sacking my Israel since they claimed my lad back from the un-faithful whordes that poisoned the land and create only destitution.

Curse the Palestinians as there is no such thing. Invaders on my lawn.
Posted by: newc || 02/12/2018 2:59 Comments || Top||

#3  The question you need to ask Trump is:
Will the "Palestinians" allow Israel to live in peace.
Posted by: newc || 02/12/2018 3:02 Comments || Top||

#4  During the campaign Trump changed his position e.g. on Syrian refugees and anti-islamic free speech.

When he realized that his initial positions were disliked by critical parts of his base he (IMHO) corrected himself.

Trump voters who don't like this statement on Israel should let him know.
Posted by: Elmerert Hupens2660 || 02/12/2018 11:27 Comments || Top||

#5  (202) 456-1111 The White House, Phone.
Posted by: Woodrow || 02/12/2018 12:33 Comments || Top||

#6  This is just part of the negotiating game intended for audiences in blue-state US as well as the West Bank and Gaza. It is a pretty tepid claim after all because he doesn't really believe it but wants that out there so he can be seen as a neutral in discussions.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 02/12/2018 13:33 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Five inspectors stripped of badges as ATC penalty
[DAWN] An antiterrorism court on Saturday took five police inspectors into custody after stripping them of their shoulder badges for their failure to submit investigation reports in six hate speech cases against the leadership of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement
...English: United National Movement, generally known as MQM, is the 3rd largest political party and the largest secular political party in Pakistain with particular strength in Sindh. From 1992 to 1999, the MQM was the target of the Pak Army's Operation Cleanup leaving thousands of urdu speaking civilians dead...
The court has repeatedly been directing the investigating officers to file reports and also asking their high-ups to ensure timely submission of final investigation reports for the last many hearings while the judge had also issued warrants for the arrest of IOs over their extended absence and passed direction to stop their salaries during previous hearings.

When the ATC-I judge, who is jointly hearing around 35 identical cases related to hate speeches of the MQM founder, took up the cases on Saturday for hearing, the investigating officers ‐ inspectors Hameed Gabol, Mumtaz Hussain Chandio, Wasiq Jokhio, Naseeruddin Marwat and Moslem Tunio ‐ turned up before court.

However,
Caliphornia hasn't yet slid into the ocean, no matter how hard it's tried...
the judge became visibly irked when the IOs informed him that they had not brought the final investigation reports in the six cases and sought more time.

Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [15 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Africa Horn
Somali Security Forces Repulse Al-Shabaab Attack In Afgoye
[RADIOSHABELLE] A Somali official says the government forces have repulsed an attack by Al-Shabaab
... Somalia's version of the Taliban, functioning as an arm of al-Qaeda...
gunnies in Afgoye district in Lower Shabelle region on Saturday evening.

Confirming the incident to Radio Shabelle, Abdulkadir Osman Mursal, the commander of Afgoye district Police force said the overnight assault has inflicted casualties on civilians.

Mursal commended Somali security personnel for their quick response to counter an attack on the town, adding that Al-Shabaab has suffered irretrievable losses during the gunbattle.

The head of Afgoye Police station sent his condolences to the families and friends of all those who suffered in the attack and wished a swift recovery for those injured.

Meanwhile,
...back at the pound, the little lost dog had finished eating the rat terrier...
Al-Shabaab has claimed of seizing briefly the control of the town from Somali forces following the raid which forces the local troops to retreat to Mogadishu.

Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [11 views] Top|| File under: al-Shabaab (AQ)


Arabia
51 Saudi aggression air strikes hit Yemen over 24 hour
[SABANEWS.NET] The US-backed Saudi-led aggression coalition warplanes have launched more than 51 strikes on several provinces of Yemen
...an area of the Arabian Peninsula sometimes mistaken for a country. It is populated by more antagonistic tribes and factions than you can keep track of. Except for a tiny handfull of Jews everthing there is very Islamic...
during the past 24 hours, according to reports combined by Saba News Agency on Sunday.

In Saada province, three civilians' cars were destroyed in an air strike that targeted Aal-Ali area in Razeh border district.

Also in Saada, the warplanes of aggression waged six strikes on Dhahir district, four air strikes on Taibah-Asm and Faraa areas in Kutaf district, and 19 Arclight airstrikes were waged on Mudaba and Thaban areas of Baqem district and on Majaza of Asir.

Meanwhile,
...back at the buffalo wallow, Yellow Wolf clutched at his chest and fell from his horse...
artillery and missile force of Saudi aggression shelled several areas of Razeh district and the areas of Aal-Sheikh and Aal-Muqnea of Munabeh district, killing dozens of sheep.

In the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, the fighter jet launched a strike on Hodeidah airport.
In Yemen province of Jawf, five airstrikes were launched on Khub-washaaf district.

In Hajjah province, the warplanes launched nine strikes on Haradh and Medi districts.

In Saana province, three airstrikes hit Nehm district.

In Saudi border province of Najran, the US-backed Saudi aggression coalition warplanes waged three strikes on Talaa site.
Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [19 views] Top|| File under: Houthis

#1  I prefer those over passive-aggressive air strikes
Posted by: Frank G || 02/12/2018 14:38 Comments || Top||

#2  Yeah, bomb it like you mean it!
Posted by: SteveS || 02/12/2018 15:10 Comments || Top||


Africa Subsaharan
Oxfam faces more sex abuse and prostitution claims from Chad after Haiti
[XINHUANET] The Oxfam, an international anti-poverty charity, which has been hit by a sex abuse scandal in Haiti, now is facing more sex allegations from Chad.

The charity, one of the biggest and best known in Britannia, was plunged into crisis after it was revealed that its staff, including its local director, paid for sex in Haiti where they were based in 2011 after a devastating earthquake.

The Sunday Times reported in London that more than 120 aid workers with leading charities in Britannia have been accused of sexual abuse in the past year.

The newspaper said the figures fuelled fears that paedophiles were targeting overseas aid organizations.

An investigation by the Times published Friday exposed the Oxfam sex scandal, saying it led to Oxfam's director in Haiti, Belgian national Roland van Hauwermeiren resigning from the organization.

More trouble emerged for Oxfam Sunday when the Observer newspaper in London reported claims that in 2006, aid workers with the charity used hookers while working in Chad.

Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [11 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Following the Clinton initiatives of spreading uh...aid to impoverished peoples.
Posted by: Skidmark || 02/12/2018 0:33 Comments || Top||

#2  Time for another Band Aid concert.
Posted by: Alistaire Dingle5847 || 02/12/2018 2:07 Comments || Top||

#3  Man, these elites just like to fuck little kids for some reason! They get caught doing it again and again. And always the most vulnerable ones. Right after an earthquake, that's vile.
Posted by: Herb McCoy7309 || 02/12/2018 4:02 Comments || Top||

#4  There is a really perverse vileness and evilness about this. If the reality of this were exposed, decent people everywhere would either be shocked beyond belief or start searching for ropes, pitchforks and lamp posts.
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/12/2018 8:53 Comments || Top||

#5  A man and a young prostitute were in bed together. After consumation, the young prostitute says: "Sugar, are you a #pedophile?" The man says, "That's an awful big word coming from a 9-year old."
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/12/2018 8:59 Comments || Top||

#6  Shut these assholes down, preferably in a very public, very harsh fashion.
Posted by: Raj || 02/12/2018 9:49 Comments || Top||

#7  Remember Oxfam going into a frenzy of righteous indignation over waterboarding?
Posted by: magpie || 02/12/2018 13:52 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Turkey-led forces advance on one of Afrin’s largest towns following latest gains against Kurdish fighters
[ALMASDARNEWS] Following a new day of gains, the Ottoman Turkish Army and allied Free Syrian Army
... the more palatable version of the Syrian insurgency, heavily influenced by the Moslem Brüderbund...
militias are now advancing on one of the largest towns in Syria’s Afrin region. It is unclear weather or not Kurdish forces will attempt to defend the stronghold.

On Sunday morning, The Sick Man of Europe Turkey
...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire....
-led forces resumed their assault across Afrin from multiple directions.

In the region’s northeast, Free Syrian Army rebels ‐ backed up by Ottoman Turkish Army support fire ‐ managed to seize the villages of Saar Najkeh and Arabiwiran as well as the a string of hilltops nearby to them.

In the south Afrin, pro-Ankara forces captured the village of Haj Iskandar after hours of festivities with Kurdish rear-guard units.

The taking of Haj Iskandar has now put Turkey-led forces within three kilometers of the town of Jandairis ‐ one of the largest population centers in the Afrin region and, presumably, a stronghold for Kurdish paras.

In any case, it remains to be seen whether or not Kurdish forces make a determined fight to hold Jandairis when the inevitable attack by the Ottoman Turkish Army and allied militias comes.

Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [23 views] Top|| File under: Sublime Porte

#1  These are kill boxes the YPG is using against the Turks. They are pockets of Syrian areas the Kurds are using as kill zones since they are not attacking the Turks on Turkish soil which would trigger NATO member defence agreements.

The Turks loose blood everytime they advance and then more come in to die to try to hold the ground. The Kurds are giving and then retaking ground every day.
Posted by: Omeger Gray6606 || 02/12/2018 4:28 Comments || Top||

#2  Yesterday it was reported with video that a Turk helicopter was downed. What was not reported was a second larger helicopter was downed killing 9 Turks being transported in the Afrin area.
Posted by: Omeger Gray6606 || 02/12/2018 4:53 Comments || Top||

#3  Thank you so much for explaining, Omeger Gray6606! Deliberate kill boxes had not occurred to me.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/12/2018 10:01 Comments || Top||

#4 

These are the YPG kill boxes in green along. Yellow is the traditional Afrin Canton. The green indentions at the top and left side of the maps were for the most part the same 23 days ago. They have not changed much at all.

The Turks cannot do a thunder run for two reasons; 1) The mountains. Several Turk road construction pieces were destroyed by the YPG preventing the Turk armor from having the ability to clear the mountains. 2) When tank does get to the front line or beyond, it is easily taken out by ATGMs.

The YPG cannot fire across the border into Turkey or the NATO agreement is triggered that requires NATO to come to NATO allie Turkey.

The Turks have the ability to race back across the border to regroup and attack again. In one battle the Turks and their Islamic FSA attacked 4 times in the North but lost dozens of people.

At the same time, the YPG is getting stronger and stronger as help arrives from across the region. They are now venturing behind the FSA/Turk lines at AZAZ to the right in guerilla search and destroy missions against the Turks at their assembly points.

The YPG has come a long way since Kobane and fighting with rusty AK47s. Many commenters here said they needed artillery. Now they have artillery and ATGMs and the mountains.
Posted by: Ulaigum Ebbineng7056 || 02/12/2018 18:43 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan
Taliban invites GOP senator for ‘mutual talks’ in Doha
[PRESSTV] Taliban
...the Pashtun equivalent of men...
has invited a US senator for "mutual talks" in the Qatar
...an emirate on the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It sits on some really productive gas and oil deposits, which produces the highest per capita income in the world. They piss it all away on religion, financing the Moslem Brotherhood and several al-Qaeda affiliates. Home of nutbag holy manYusuf al-Qaradawi...
i capital Doha, where the so-called Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has an office.

The terror group’s social media accounts extended the invitation to Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul over his latest comments about the United States’ long war in Afghanistan, The Washington Times reported Sunday.

"We invite the respectable US Senator Rand Paul, in his official capacity to visit our political office in Doha for mutual talks," read a Twitter post by the self-declared Information Committee of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

It further suggested that the US should withdraw its forces from the war-ravaged country for peace to emerge.

"We’ll prove to Mr. Rand Paul, the immediate US withdrawal from [Afghanistan] will bring peace to our country & will enhance international security," the group added in the social media post.

’No US victory in Afghanistan’
The Kentucky politician had criticized investment in the war on Afghanistan during an interview with Fox News on Thursday.

"The war in Afghanistan is costing us $50 billion a year... It’s time to come home. There is no military victory there," Paul said.

On August 21, Trump announced he would prolong the military intervention in Afghanistan.

The United States -- under Republican George W. Bush’s presidency -- and its allies invaded Afghanistan on October 7, 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror.
Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [12 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


#2  Sen. Paul should think twice before accepting an invitation for talks in a country ruled by Islamists. Insult their religion and it's off with your head!
Posted by: jpal || 02/12/2018 10:32 Comments || Top||

#3  Maybe Mullah Mohammad Omar will invite Jesse Jackson too.
Posted by: Woodrow || 02/12/2018 12:40 Comments || Top||


Southeast Asia
Sword-wielding man injures 4 worshipers at Indonesian church
[IsraelTimes] Perpetrator's motive in bloody assault during Sunday Mass is unknown, police say
Ooh, ooh — can I guess?
Indonesian police have shot a sword-wielding man who attacked church congregation during Sunday Mass, injuring four people including a priest.

Around 100 people were attending the mass at the church in Sleman town, Yogyakarta province when a man wielding a one-meter-long sword and began attacking people seemingly indiscriminately.

"Four people have been injured in the incident ‐ quite seriously ‐ but we still cannot determine the perpetrator’s motive," Yogyakarta police front man Yulianto told AFP.

A congregation member Andhi Cahyo said a few minutes after the mass started, a congregation member barged into the church with a bleeding head. A young man holding a sharp weapon was chasing him.

"Everybody started panicking and screaming, I was scrambling to save my wife and children," Cahyo told AFP.

People in the church ran out through another door and the assailant pursued them while also destroying church property.

He also attacked a priest who was standing at the altar.

Police arrived on the scene shortly after the attack and fired a warning shot into the air to subdue the perpetrator, who refused to surrender.

"After the warning shot was fired, the attacked charged towards the officer with his sword. The officer then shot him below his stomach, but he managed to injure the cop before being subdued," Cahyo said.

All victims have been taken to Panti Rapih hospital for treatment.

The incident was the latest attack in the world’s most populous Moslem-majority country against a minority group in Indonesia, which is home to significant numbers of Christians, Hindus and Buddhists.

In 2016 several children were maimed after a man allegedly threw Molotov cocktails at a church during a Sunday service.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [16 views] Top|| File under:

#1  There can be only one...
Posted by: Raj || 02/12/2018 9:30 Comments || Top||

#2  "Police arrived on the scene shortly after". Wonder how long that took.
Posted by: Woodrow || 02/12/2018 12:21 Comments || Top||


Iraq
PM Abadi decreases KRG's budget share even further from all-time low, MP
Now that ISIS is no longer a threat, and the internally displaced can return home, PM Abadi is getting mean.
[Rudaw] Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has decreased the KRG’s share of the Iraqi budget for 2018 even further from the all-time low since 2003, a Kurdish MP of the Iraqi parliament has claimed.

Masoud Haider, a Gorran MP, told Rudaw Sunday that PM Abadi has sent a revised budget bill to the Iraqi parliament that would decrease the KRG’s share by about 50 billion Iraqi dinars ($42.6 million).

The Kurdish MPs once again on Sunday boycotted an Iraqi parliament session when the parliament wanted to include the second reading of the budget bill at last minute.

Salim al-Jabouri, the Iraqi parliament speaker, has confirmed that the Iraqi Federal Government has made changes to the bill, but did not give details as to whether it included changes to the budget.

The Kurdistan Region requests the Iraqi parliament to allocate 17 percent of the budget as was the case since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, a demand opposed by PM Abadi, who argues that Erbil is entitled to no more than 12.6 percent from Iraq's overall budget.

Kurdish MPs have already rejected the 12.6 percent argument, and with today’s announcement, they are more disappointed than ever.

Haider who sits on the finance committee of the Iraqi parliament told Rudaw that they were "surprised" by the new change made to the bill.

"This shows that Abadi wants to make problems and complications so that the bill would not pass," Haider claimed.

PM Abadi has said on more than one occasion that the bill has to pass at the earliest time possible.

The Kurdish MPs have tried to pressure Abadi to listen to the International Monetary Fund’s recommendation that 12.6 percent is not sufficient to cover the needs of the people in the Kurdistan Region for 2018.

Abadi attended a January 31 session of parliament that was boycotted by all Kurdish factions. After the session, the prime minister met with a delegation of Kurdish MPs, but he refused to amend the bill.

Three Kurdish MPs, including Haider, in the Iraqi parliament had their membership suspended for 15 days and salaries cut for these days after they blocked the parliament from its second reading of the budget bill last week.

A concern of the Kurdish representatives is that the current funds allocated to the Kurdistan Region "does not suffice for even one province," Kurdish MP Arafat Karam pointed out, according to the parliament’s statement on Monday’s session.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [9 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iraq


Afghanistan
5 Taliban militants killed, 4 wounded in US airstrikes in Uruzgan
[Khaama Press] At least five Taliban
...Arabic for students...
Lions of Islam were killed and four others were maimed in the Arclight airstrikes conducted by the US forces in southern Uruzgan province of Afghanistan.

According to the local security officials, the airstrikes were conducted in the vicinity of Tarinkot city, the placid provincial capital of Uruzgan province.

The security chief of Uruzgan Abdul Qawi Omari confirmed that the US forces based in Afghanistan carried out a series of airstrikes amid ongoing operations in outskirts of Uruzgan.

He said at least five Taliban Lions of Islam were killed and four others were maimed in the airstrikes.

According to Qarwi, several weapons and ammunition belonging to the Taliban Lions of Islam were also destroyed during the airstrikes.

The anti-government armed holy warrior groups including the Taliban Lions of Islam have not commented regarding the report so far.

According to reports, clearance and counter-terrorism operations are underway in the remote areas in the outskirts of Tarinkot city.

The officials are saying that the operations were launched nearly a week ago and are still being conducted with the support of the US and the Afghan Air Forces.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [15 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Taliban infiltrator kills 16 pro-government militia men in Helmand
[Khaama Press] A Taliban
...the Pashtun equivalent of men...
infiltrator has killed at least sixteen pro-government militia men in southern Helmand
...an Afghan province populated mostly by Pashtuns, adjacent to Injun country in Pak Balochistan...
province of Afghanistan.

A local security official speaking on the condition of anonymity said the incident took place late on Saturday night in the vicinity of Greshk district.

The source further added that the Taliban infiltrator rubbed out sixteen men and beat feet from the area by taking the weapons and ammunition of the dear departed individuals.

According to the security source, the incident took place in Baba Wali Hotel area of Greshk district.

The local government and security officials have not formally confirmed the incident so far.

The Talibs and other bully boy groups fighting the Afghan government have not commented regarding the incident yet.

Helmand is among the volatile provinces in southern Afghanistan where the Talibs are actively operating in its various districts and often carry out insurgency activities.

Insider attacks by the Taliban affiliates are not new as numerous incidents have been reported from the restive parts of the country in the past as well, including some deadly attacks on Afghan army and police forces.
Andalou Agency adds that it was three infiltrators, and:
Both sides sustained casualties during the festivities, the front man said as he declined to share any further details.

According to Ashna Radio, Songaryans -- a local armed force formed by the NDS to infiltrate and target the Taliban in Helmand -- itself became a victim of Taliban infiltration.

Taliban front man Qari Zabehullah Mujahed grabbed credit for the attack and said three infiltrators were involved in the attack "inside military center close to Turabi Hotel area of Greshk Helmand."
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [18 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Rising tensions among Pak-Afghan forces along the Durand Line
[Khaama Press] Reports emerging from the eastern Kunar province
... which is right down the road from Chitral. Kunar is Haqqani country.....
indicate growing tensions among the Afghan and Pak forces along the Durand Line amid persistent cross-border shelling by the Pak military.

The provincial governor Wahidullah Kalimzai says thousands of artillery shells have been fired on various parts of Kunar province during the past several months.

Kalimzai further added that the issue was repeatedly shared through diplomatic channels with the Pak government but there has been no change in the cross-border shelling.

He said the Afghan forces have started to retaliate the shelling and during the recent days have started to shell the areas from where the shelling take place.

This comes as talks are underway between the Afghan and Pak officials on diplomatic level to resolve the tensions and improve the bilateral relations which have been marred mainly due to the circumstances surrounding the fight against the terrorism.

The Afghan officials believe that the ongoing violence in the country has links with the leadership councils of the Taliban
...Arabic for students...
and Haqqani network based in Pakistain, a claim which has repeatedly been rejected by Islamabad.

In the meantime, the ministry foreign affairs of Afghanistan said Saturday that no progress was made in the second round of talks between Islamabad and Kabul regarding the fight against terrorism, reduction in violence and peace and reconciliation.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [10 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Africa North
Egypt jails 17 for life over deadly 2014 unrest
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] A Cairo court on Sunday handed 17 people life sentences over unrest that saw the deaths of three civilians, including a journalist and a teenager, during anti-government protests in 2014.

The court sentenced 16 others to prison terms ranging from seven to 15 years. Fifteen others were acquitted in the verdicts, announced live on state television
... and if you can't believe state television who can you believe?
Mayada Ashraf, who worked for privately owned newspaper al-Dustour, was shot in the head while she was covering festivities in Cairo’s northern Ein Shams neighbourhood on March 28, 2014.

A Coptic Christian woman and a 13-year-old boy were also killed in the unrest.

They were all killed as festivities broke out between security forces and supporters of Islamist president Mohammed Morsi, who was ousted by the army the previous year.

The 17 tossed in the calaboose
You have the right to remain silent...
for life were convicted of membership in an illegal organization ‐ a reference to Morsi’s banned Moslem Brüderbund ‐possession of weapons and holding an illegal gathering.

In 2015, the prosecution ordered the trial of 48 people in connection with the deaths of Ashraf and the two other civilians.

A statement then said they were all members of the Brotherhood, which Egypt blacklisted as a "terrorist group" following Morsi’s ouster by the army.

The 2014 protests broke out as then army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sissi announced he was running in that year’s presidential election.

Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [9 views] Top|| File under: Muslim Brotherhood


Africa Subsaharan
Cameroon separatists kill 3 soldiers in overnight attack
[PRESSTV] Separatist fighters in Cameroon
...a long, narrow country that fills the space between Nigeria and Chad on the northeast, CAR to the southeast. Prior to incursions by Boko Haram nothing ever happened there...
killed three soldiers and maimed four others during an attack overnight in the English-speaking Southwest region, two military sources and a separatist commander said on Sunday.

The attack in the town of Kembong came hours after President Paul Biya said in a televised address that the situation in Anglophone Cameroon was stable, despite ongoing widespread fighting.

Separatists have killed 25 soldiers and coppers in a series of raids over the past year in a bid to gain independence for the Anglophone Southwest and Northwest regions.

"ADF forces carried out the attacks," said Cho Ayaba, the leader of the Ambazonian Defense Force, an armed separatist group.

The crisis began in 2016 when the government cracked down on English-speaking lawyers and teachers who protested against working in French.

Civilians were killed, and subsequent violence against protesters has helped boost support for a separatist movement, including gangs looking to form a new state called Ambazonia, in a campaign to split Cameroon's English-speaking minority from Yaounde.

An army crackdown on the insurgency has forced more than 40,000 people to flee to neighboring Nigeria, according to the United Nations
...a formerly good idea gone bad...
Residents in the Anglophone regions told Rooters last week that the army burned houses in the village of Bole and shot residents on Feb. 2.

An army front man said claims that houses were burned and people shot in Bole were "totally false", and he denied that soldiers were mistreating residents in other villages.

Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [20 views] Top|| File under:


Iraq
Dujail District Difficulties: 6 took rounds of bullet, 8 kaboomed
Not quite sure where Dujail District is, but it is suddenly newsworthy.
Six family members killed, injured in Salahuddin armed attack

Salauddin (Iraqinews.com) – Six people from the same family were killed and injured in an armed attack in Dujail district, south of Salahuddin, on Saturday night, the Interior Ministry’s media office was quoted as saying.

In a statement, a copy of which was obtained by Alforat News, the media office said, “An armed group opened fire on a house in al-Jumhuri area, east of Dujail district, leaving three of the family members who were inside the home dead and three others injured.”

The office added that security forces launched a manhunt to arrest perpetrators of the shooting, and opened a probe to determine circumstances of the incident.

Eight people killed, injured in northern Baghdad bomb blast

Baghdad (Iraqinews.com) – Eight people were killed and injured in a bomb blast that rocked a northern Baghdad district on Saturday night, a security source was quoted as saying.

The Kuwaiti al-Watan newspaper quoted the source saying, “A roadside bomb went off in Dujail district, 70 km north of Baghdad, leaving two persons dead and six others injured.”

“Security forces cordoned off the blast site and prevented passers-by from approaching in anticipation of any other bomb attack,” the source said.

Despite the presence of Islamic State remnants in nearby areas, it is rare for the Shia-dominated Dujail district to witness bomb blasts or violent acts as it is considered one of the calmest towns in Iraq.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [19 views] Top|| File under:


The Grand Turk
Russian-Turkish axis in Syria faces meltdown
Couldn’t happen to a more deserving wannabe sultan.
[atimes] With suspicions running high that the nominal allies drew each other's blood on February 3, Ankara may well seek a modus vivendi with the US

Two things differentiate the downing of a Russian Su-25 ground-attack jet in the western province of Idlib on February 3 from the drone attacks on the Russian air base at Hmeimim a month earlier.

One, Russia could thwart the attack on January 5 by a wave of drone aircraft but singularly failed to anticipate the use of man-portable air defense systems by extremists operating in Idlib under Turkish watch. Russia lost an ace fighter pilot in the latter attack.

Two, Moscow sensed an American hand in the drone attack on January 5, but this time around Russia’s Tass news agency promptly highlighted an American denial on record. The Kremlin’s Dmitry Peskov made a point of cautioning against speculations “before one gets precise information as to how terrorists in Syria got that particular man-portable air defense system and other weapons that they have.”

Suffice to say, the air is thick with innuendos and dark hints that Russia and Turkey may have drawn each other’s blood on February 3, despite notionally being allies in Syria’s hybrid war.
Posted by: 3dc || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [13 views] Top|| File under: Sublime Porte


Science & Technology
Trump administration plans to privatize International Space Station
Posted by: Skidmark || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [10 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Okay... in that situation the Russians take their modules and walk. Not clear what the Japanese or the EU does. Will enough key pieces be left for a viable station or are companies better off going to Bigelow and get their own structure to be launched by Blue Origin or SpaceX's BFR?
Posted by: 3dc || 02/12/2018 0:48 Comments || Top||

#2  Get in the Delorian. Where we are going we don't need space stations. We have electric cars in space!
Posted by: newc || 02/12/2018 4:16 Comments || Top||

#3  Not clear what the Japanese or the EU does.

With China flexing its muscles, it's pretty clear what Japan will do.

Re EU. Over the years I formed an explanation that, IMO, best fits EU behavior: they know they're dying and they're trying to take the rest of the World with them.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 02/12/2018 4:40 Comments || Top||

#4  ...When my dad worked at NASA, he was part of the ISS design team, and back in the day when it was still Station Alpha and later Space Station Freedom, there was supposed to be a limited commercial presence aboard from the beginning. Seeing as how it's only going to get more expensive to run the ISS - and it only has another six years of real operations life left - this is not a bad idea, especially under a Trump administration, and it's very unlikely we'll ever look up and see a giant "DRINK COKE" logo overhead. But at this point, corporations aren't likely to invest all that much, because after Starman they know they can do it on their own, and not have to worry about a new administration changing the rules on them.

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski || 02/12/2018 5:37 Comments || Top||

#5  Disassemble it and sell the pieces, small enough to fit the mass market - Buy a piece of space and history! [You laugh, but how many 'pet rocks' were sold?]
Posted by: Procopius2k || 02/12/2018 7:20 Comments || Top||

#6  not have to worry about a new administration changing the rules on them.


Sorry Mike, but Obola proved that as long as there are pens and phones the tyrannical will always be able to change anything.
Posted by: AlanC || 02/12/2018 9:11 Comments || Top||

#7  Waitamimit! There's gonna be a Howard Johnson's and a Bell Picturephone(c) up there now!?
Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839 || 02/12/2018 9:22 Comments || Top||

#8  Bigelow Aerospace. The inflatable space station company
Posted by: 3dc || 02/12/2018 9:27 Comments || Top||

#9  Cool. Donald move the UN headquarters! Preferably to a shallow orbit.
Posted by: Woodrow || 02/12/2018 12:48 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan
Asking the Hard Questions About Afghanistan – Free Range International
Posted by: newc || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [9 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Shedding a little light:
for Afghans, duping well-meaning but ignorant foreigners into funding their wars is the national pastime. The artistry and skill of separating foreigners from their money has been passed down from fathers to sons among regional tribal elders and modern-day politicians for millennia. Simply stated, this is what they do.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 02/12/2018 0:39 Comments || Top||

#2  Near the conclusion:
President Trump should form a team of advisors to develop an actual tangible goal and strategy to achieve it... I doubt President Trump will form the committee or if he does they can’t or won’t clearly state a Final Result Desired. Not because the questions above are hard to answer, they aren’t. Rather the answers these questions produce cannot be sold to the American people which means new tactics are just the noise before eventual defeat.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 02/12/2018 0:45 Comments || Top||

#3  Baba Tim has been to every province in that place.
Posted by: newc || 02/12/2018 0:56 Comments || Top||

#4  Point of Order - the one invader who did succeed were the Mongols. They didn't play by the local's rules.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 02/12/2018 7:09 Comments || Top||

#5  The enemy no longer requires remote “safe havens” in places like Helmand province to plan attacks on our homeland. And even if they have a few safe havens our current ability to detect and destroy them is light years ahead of where it was in 2001. So, ask yourself, what are we really getting in return for our investment?

The guy makes a good point. Money might be better spent on a wall or infrastructure instead of an endless war.
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/12/2018 8:24 Comments || Top||

#6  What is the end-game? What does “success” even look like?

Make Afghans, Muslims and other international players understand that organizing and facilitating asymmetrical attacks on the US and the West in general is a deadly mistake, always. IOW restore and enhance US & Western deterrence after the challenge of 9/11.

This would have been the essential and indispensable objective after 9/11. Rebuilding Afghanistan & the ME, stabilization, development, aid etc would have been options only after achieving this central objective.

Alas, what happened was tactics without a strategy and a political framework. Western deterrence has faded away further. Others have been emboldened to challenge the West.

Now the rational assumption is that Western threats are empty bluster.
Posted by: Elmerert Hupens2660 || 02/12/2018 8:34 Comments || Top||

#7  achieving this central objective
That is the crux of this issue. The electorate can't or won't face it. Our officialdom is not serious in its refusal to face it. Last I checked (about 2002) the USA doesn't even have publicly available college instruction in Dari, the lingua franca of Afghanistan. Dari (despite what the internet says) is not the same as Persian.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 02/12/2018 9:12 Comments || Top||

#8  We continue moving forward because no one has learned how to back away gracefully.
Posted by: Skidmark || 02/12/2018 9:54 Comments || Top||

#9  Dari language skills would have been an elements of the optional program after deterrence was restored.

Making the Taliban share in the terrorists' fate, whether the Afghans approved or not, and holding the Afghan people accountable for having tolerated the Taliban, that was the indispensable goal.

Some in the Bush administration paid lip service to it in the immediate aftermath of 9/11. Nothing more was done about it later.

The Afghanistan intervention is tactics without strategy that even worked as a political conduit for the importation of Afghanistan's alien tyranny into the West.

Ultimately the Afghanistan war has rendered Western deterrence less than credible.

The consequences are emboldened enemies, war in Europe, a cancerous police and surveillance apparatus in the West, tensions in Asia, and the prospect of asymmetrical WMD attacks.
Posted by: Elmerert Hupens2660 || 02/12/2018 11:47 Comments || Top||

#10  An interesting read. Mining in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan may hold 60 million tons of copper, 2.2 billion tons of iron ore, 1.4 million tons of rare earth elements such as lanthanum, cerium and neodymium, and lodes of aluminum, gold, silver, zinc, mercury and lithium.Sep 4, 2014

Yes to completely wiping out the Turbanbunnies.
Posted by: Woodrow || 02/12/2018 13:38 Comments || Top||

#11  If Afghanistan has all that wealth the US should set up something akin to the privateers of the Elizabethan era. Allow mining companies to legally take over responsibility and use mercs to pacify lawless zones in the name of the flag.

Left would hate it, but it'd be better than throwing blood and lives into a black hole.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 02/12/2018 16:28 Comments || Top||

#12  W's first big mistake was trying to create Democracy in Afghanistan instead of setting up a MacArthur style occupation. If the Imperial Japanese could be made peaceful I believe the Afghan tribes could have been. If not, destroy and move on.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 02/12/2018 16:30 Comments || Top||


-Signs, Portents, and the Weather-
US DoD Nuclear Posture Review (Feb 2018)
Strong stuff. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth in certain quarters, very different quarters than were doing so when the last one was released in 2010.
Posted by: Skidmark || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [14 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The Obama rot
Posted by: Injun Bucket8891 || 02/12/2018 1:03 Comments || Top||

#2  No wonder they took that BS artistry obama manufactured down.
Posted by: newc || 02/12/2018 4:21 Comments || Top||

#3  Somebody leaked a draft to Huffpoo a month ago, so they could bash the scary POTUS with their cherry-picking. Here
Posted by: Bobby || 02/12/2018 18:41 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Tit For Tat: Syria Regime Strikes Kill Six Civilians in Ghouta, Rebel Rockets Kill 2 Kids
[AnNahar] Syrian regime air strikes killed six civilians including two children overnight in Eastern Ghouta after a day of respite from deadly bombardment of the rebel enclave, a monitor said Sunday.

Since February 5, Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad
Trampler of Homs...
's regime has intensified its bombardment of the besieged region outside Damascus, killing more than 245 civilians including dozens of children.

On Saturday, the Damascus government eased up its strikes on Eastern Ghouta as it faced Israeli air raids on what Israel said were regime and Iranian targets inside the country.

But the regime raids picked up again on Saturday night, killing six civilians and wounding more than 50 others, the Britannia-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said.

Five of those, including two children, were killed in the region's main town of Douma, Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said.

Western powers have expressed alarm over the government's campaign against Eastern Ghouta, where 400,000 people have been besieged since 2013, facing severe food and medicine shortages.

The U.N. Security Council is considering a draft resolution demanding a 30-day ceasefire in Syria to allow for urgent deliveries of humanitarian aid, according to the text seen by AFP on Friday.

Rebels fire rockets at elementary school in Damascus, 2 children killed

[ALMASDARNEWS] The rebel forces in the East Ghouta region of Damascus fired several mortar shells and rockets into the Syrian capital on Sunday, an al-Masdar field correspondent reported this afternoon.

According to al-Masdar’s correspondent in Damascus, the rebel forces fired more than 40 rockets and mortar shells into the the Qassa, Bab Touma, Duwela, and Jaramana districts of the capital, killing at least five civilians and wounding ten others.

Among the five civilians killed were two children that were leaving their school in the Jaramana district on Sunday ‐ three of their classmates were also seriously maimed.

Several rockets struck the area around the Jaramana elementary school, forcing the Syrian government’s civil defense forces to rush to the scene of this attack in order to help escort the children to safety.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [11 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria


Slain ISIS militants left without brains and limbs after failed assault on key town in southeast Idlib, foreign jihadis kaboomed
[ALMASDARNEWS] The Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems....
terrorist group has suffered major losses among its ranks during recent festivities against the Syrian Arab Army in the southeastern countryside of Idlib province.

On Saturday, a short but very bloody battle took place between between elite troops of the Syrian Army’s elite Tiger Forces Division and Islamic State Lions of Islam just north of the town of Abu Daleh in southeast Idlib province.

For ISIS ‐ desperately attempting to expand its foothold in southeast Idlib ‐ the battle was a total disaster. Not only did the terrorist group fail to capture Abu Daleh or any other nearby villages, but it also lost dozens of fighters ‐ some sources say as high as 50.

Initially, pro-army sources spread several pictures of the aftermath of the battle which showed many ISIS corpses. Since then however, video footage has been released that depicts in greater detail the extent to which the terrorist group suffered losses.

Five foreign jihadists killed by roadside bomb in rural Idlib

[ALMASDARNEWS] Five foreign jihadists from the Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP) were killed on Sunday after their military vehicle struck a roadside kaboom in rural Idlib.

According to pro-opposition activists, the TIP fighters were traveling along the Idlib-Ariha Highway on Sunday, when a roadside exploded in the eastern countryside of the Idlib Governorate.

The jihadist rebels have accused Syrian Army spies of carrying out the attack; however, no one has officially grabbed credit.
Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [17 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State


Arabia
Philippines says more than 2,200 citizens in Kuwait want to go home
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] More than 2,200 Filipinos are ready to take up President Rodrigo Duterte’s offer to repatriate workers from Kuwait due to reports of abuse, the Philippine labor minister said on Sunday.

Duterte asked Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific on Friday to provide flights for Filipinos who want to leave Kuwait, after the body of a Filipino worker was found in a freezer of an abandoned apartment.

"We have been informed that as of Friday there were 2,200-plus Filipinos who are willing to go home," Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III told Rooters, adding that some of them had overstayed their visas and applied for an amnesty.

The airlines have arranged free charter flights, and Bello said almost 500 Filipino workers were due to arrive soon.

The Philippines suspended sending workers to Kuwait in January after reports that abuse by employers had driven several to suicide. Duterte said on Friday that that suspension would remain indefinitely.

Kuwait’s Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled al-Jarallah expressed "surprise and sorrow" at Duterte’s remarks in January, saying that legal proceedings had been taken in the cases of the four suicide cases mentioned by the president.

More than 250,000 Filipinos work in Kuwait, the Philippine foreign ministry estimates, most as domestic helpers. There are also large numbers in the United Arab Emirates, Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
and Qatar
...an emirate on the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It sits on some really productive gas and oil deposits, which produces the highest per capita income in the world. They piss it all away on religion, financing the Moslem Brotherhood and several al-Qaeda affiliates. Home of nutbag holy manYusuf al-Qaradawi...
.
Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [10 views] Top|| File under:

#1  ...Hmmm.

This strikes me as a little unusual, as in the past Third Country Nationals (or TCNs, the folks from all over the world but mostly Turks, Filipinos, Malaysians, Indians, and Pakistanis) have their passports confiscated on arrival, and they don't get 'em back until they have served out every minute and every dime of their contracts. I'm guessing whatever happened in Kuwait was/is bad enough that the employers were told that if somebody wants to go, let 'em.


Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski || 02/12/2018 5:45 Comments || Top||

#2  I feel so broke up I want to go home.
Posted by: AlanC || 02/12/2018 9:27 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Canadian-Iranian dies in Iranian custody, officials claim he committed suicide
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] An Iranian-Canadian dual citizen and environmental activist imprisoned by Iranian authorities last month has died in prison, his son wrote on Twitter on Saturday.

Kavous Seyed-Emami, 63, was managing director of the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation, which seeks to protect Iran’s rare animals, and a US-trained scholar in sociology.

Seyed-Emami’s son, the Iranian musician Raam Emami, wrote on Twitter that his father was tossed in the clink
Please don't kill me!
on Jan. 24, and that his mother had been informed of Emami’s death on Feb. 9. It was not immediately clear where he was tweeting from.

Iran’s judiciary on Sunday claimed that the activist did away with himself in detention because of the weight of evidence against him in a spying case.

"The news of my father’s passing is impossible to fathom," son Raam Emami wrote. "I still can’t believe this." The family has asked for an independent autopsy, he said.

On Saturday, Jafari-Dolatabadi said Iran’s security forces had arrested several people who had been "gathering classified information in strategic areas ... under the coverage of scientific and environmental projects".

"He was one of the defendants in a spying case and unfortunately he did away with himself in prison since he knew that many had made confessions against him and because of his own confessions," Tehran’s prosecutor Abbas Jafari-Dolatabadi told the semi-official ILNA news agency.

Authorities on Friday called Seyed-Emami’s wife to say her husband had did away with himself in Tehran’s Evin prison, his son tweeted.

Colleagues arrested
The Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI), a non-profit group based in New York, said at least nine other staff members and executives of Seyed-Emami’s organization had been arrested on the same day as him, citing a relative of one of those detained.

They include an Iranian-American dual national, Morad Tahbaz, CHRI said. A US State Department spokeswoman said the United States was "aware of reports that a US citizen has been detained in Iran".

Separately, Iran’s judiciary has announced in recent weeks the suicides of two Iranians among those arrested during nationwide anti-government protests last month.

Their families, rights groups and lawyers have rejected the explanations of their deaths and demanded an independent investigation.

An Iranian official in Tehran said more arrests were expected in connection with Seyed-Emami’s organization.

"A group of those who gathered strategic intelligence and handed it over to foreigners have been identified. Some of them were arrested and some others might be arrested soon," the head of Tehran’s Justice department Gholamhossein Esmaili told ILNA.

In 2003, an Iranian-Canadian photographer, Zahra Kazemi, was beaten to death in Evin prison after she was detained while taking pictures. Her death led to a downgrading in diplomatic relations between Iran and Canada.

There is currently no Canadian embassy in Iran, which does not recognise dual nationality. A spokeswoman for Global Affairs Canada, which manages Canadian foreign and trade relations, said on Saturday the government was aware of reports of the death of a Canadian citizen in Iran.

Dozens of dual nationals are in jail in Iran, mostly on spying charges.

Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [24 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran


Arabia
King Salman: Diversity of cultures is a demand for coexistence
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] Saudi King Salman
...either the largest species of Pacific salmon or the current Sheikh of the Burnin' Sands, King of the Arabians, Sheikh of the Burning Sands, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Lord of Most of the Arabians....
bin Abdulaziz said that diversity is a demand for coexistence in a speech delivered at al-Yamamah palace on Sunday on the occasion of al-Janadriyah 32 National Heritage and Culture festival.
Nice words. When Christian churches are built and Jews don’t have to lie to enter the country I’ll be even more impressed.
King Salman welcomed the festival guests in his speech and expressed the Kingdom's desire to promote interaction between different cultures and achieve coexistence and tolerance amongst peoples.

"We are aware of the importance of cultures as a backbone in shaping the identity and values of nations," the King said.

The King emphasized the importance of the common humanitarian dimension in every culture.

"The cultural dimension has become the main factor in the relations between States and peoples, it is important to strengthen it for the international peace and security," he said.

Scholars and representatives
The King also welcomed India's scholars and representatives as the guests of honour in this years festival.

President of the Council of Pak Scholars Dr. Hafez Mohammad Taher al-Ashrafi expressed his thanks to the Saudi King and the Crown Prince for their hospitality

"What we have found in this festival represents a great history for this country, it sends a message to the people’s calls for mercy, forgiveness and moderation, which is a legitimate demand encouraged by our religion," Dr Ashrafi said.

"Your highness has been honored to serve the most sacred areas of the earth; which are the two holly mosques, the Islamic world witnesses how you are doing your best to serve the two holy mosques and their visitors," he added.

Dr Ashrafi stressed the appreciation of the festival guests and participants towards King Salman’s contribution of to Islamic nations, international peace and security and his efforts to serve the culture and heritage through the festival.
Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [15 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Saudi Arabia


-Signs, Portents, and the Weather-
The Biggest Risks Facing the World in 2018
[SmallWarsCouncil] All of the risks point to profound social instability. If accurate, and I think we can already see that is the case, the threat of extremism for both state (hyper-nationalism) and non-state actors will increase overwhelming our capacity to manage it if we have a threat based strategy where we are constantly responding to threats. Any hope of success in my view is the necessity to shift more effort towards prevention. Arguably our new national security and defense strategies are largely neglecting prevention to rebuild credible deterrence. This is understandable based on years of under investing in our military, but perhaps also short sighted.

As in previous years, the 13th edition of The Global Risks Report is based on the annual Global Risks Perception Survey (GRPS)1, completed by 900 members of the World Economic Forum’s global multi-stakeholder community. Respondents are drawn from business, academia, civil society and the public.
Posted by: newc || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [11 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Prob a Demo upset in November is the biggest risk.
Posted by: Skidmark || 02/12/2018 2:16 Comments || Top||

#2  My matrix is quite different of course, but much that is presented is an accurate accord of what we have been seeing.

Emerging known-knowns.

The goal is to seek knowledge in the known un-knowns.

Posted by: newc || 02/12/2018 3:54 Comments || Top||

#3  Al Gore and Christine Lagarde (IMF) are on the Board of Trustees. So far as I can tell, the Leadership of the WEF is made up of globalists with linkages to other globalists orgs. I don't mean to stick my head in the sand; they have a few points which the U.S. is addressing--terrorism, cybercrime, corruption, unemployment. One problem I didn't see mentioned was opioids and drugs. One other threat not mentioned is from the globalists themselves.
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/12/2018 10:39 Comments || Top||

#4  We see an even stronger interconnectivity between “failure to climate change adaptation“, with “food and water crises”, “extreme weather events” and “large scale involuntary migration”.

If it’s Al Gore, et al, they mean catastrophic global warming, global cooling not even being on their radar. The thing is, mass migrations occur because people believe they will not be stopped. Shut the borders tight, and they’ll make shift at home.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/12/2018 10:59 Comments || Top||

#5  ...completed by 900 members of the World Economic Forum’s global multi-stakeholder community.

Sounds like reason enough to ignore it right there.
Posted by: Raj || 02/12/2018 11:05 Comments || Top||

#6  Most recent migrations have occurred because migrants are encouraged and rewarded for migrating. The Open Society has aggressively pushed open borders as a plank of the NWO. Policies such "Sanctuary Cities" encourages illegals to come to the U.S. and stay without penalty. Wars have created a flood of migrants up through Europe. Human trafficking, the desire for cheap labor, and the promise of new voting blocs for certain parties has caused increased migration--both legal and illegal.
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/12/2018 11:32 Comments || Top||

#7  The threat of Al Gore's hot air flatulence should not be dismissed.
Posted by: Woodrow || 02/12/2018 13:33 Comments || Top||


-Short Attention Span Theater-
Cow urine to be promoted as health drink in India’s Uttar Pradesh
[Dhaka Tribune] The Uttar Pradesh government’s ayurvedic pharmacy at Pilibhit in India has proposed to collect, process and sell packaged bottles of cow urine.

Dr Prakash Chandra Saxena, principal and superintendent of Government Ayurveda College and Hospital in Pilibhit, said: "Not just for medicinal purpose, we will promote cow urine as a health-giving drink. We have prepared a plan and will discuss it with Ayurveda department in Lucknow for approval," reports the Times of India.

He further added: "Drinking 10ml to 20ml cow urine daily will act as a preventive against seasonal diseases, like fever, cough and stomach-related ailments. Daily consumption of cow urine will also help increase people’s immunity. Our aim is to make cow urine easily available to common public."

"At a later stage, we may plan to prepare medicines using cow urine for other diseases, including cancer and skin-related problems. As ayurvedic medicines have no side-effects, its demand is increasing in the country," said Dr Naresh Chandra Gangwar, in-charge of the pharmacy.

In July 2017, the centre set up a 19-member panel, including three members linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Vishva Hindu Gay Pareehad (VHP), to carry out, according to an inter-departmental circular and members of the panel, scientifically validated research on cow derivatives including urine, and their benefits.

The department of science and technology, department of bio-technology, and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) of the Ministry of Science and Technology in collaboration with IIT-Delhi initiated the national program called Scientific Validation and Research on Panchagavya (SVAROP).

The Adityanath government has also cleared setting up 1000-capacity gaushalas (cow-shelters) in seven districts of the state and 16 urban locations in the first phase of the project.

Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [23 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Using cows as purification units.
Posted by: Skidmark || 02/12/2018 0:20 Comments || Top||

#2  It's got electrolytes!
Posted by: Alistaire Dingle5847 || 02/12/2018 1:41 Comments || Top||

#3  #2It's got electrolytes!
Posted by: Alistaire Dingle5847 2018-02-12 01:41


Beat me to it.

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski || 02/12/2018 5:46 Comments || Top||

#4  Cow Nectar has been available for ages, it’s already bottled and sold.
Posted by: Betty Hatfield5124 || 02/12/2018 6:18 Comments || Top||

#5  As they say in & around Boston, that's wicked pissah!
Posted by: Raj || 02/12/2018 9:50 Comments || Top||

#6  Some bibulous Brahmans of Boston
Delighted in dancing the Charleston.
When they stopped for a rest,
They would bottle their best
For the silver-tongued scholars of Allston.

Reincarnation, like. Meh. Raj, I wish I had a cool backstory involving Brockton, but I only know the place by reputation. Used to ride the P&B occasionally, but never inland.
Posted by: Zenobia Floger6220 || 02/12/2018 12:10 Comments || Top||

#7  Oh cow urine. Now that's got to be better.
Snark.

Camel Urine in the Hadiths
Posted by: Woodrow || 02/12/2018 13:03 Comments || Top||

#8  Will it ferment?
Posted by: Skidmark || 02/12/2018 22:16 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Rebel commander and 2 bodyguards blown up by bomb attack in southwest Syria
[ALMASDARNEWS] A rebel commander and two of his bodyguards have been killed by an liquidation kaboom in southwest Syria. The party responsible for the attack is unknown.

On Sunday, a vehicle with five Syrian snuffies (one of them a commander) aboard was struck by a roadside kaboom whilst traveling along the main road between the towns of Mashara and Naba Alsakher in southeast Quneitra province.

The attack killed the rebel commander, identified as Abu Hamza al-Naba, and two fighters (who were his bodyguards) instantly. The other two ranks also present in the car who were not killed nonetheless sustained injuries.

All five snuffies were members of the Free Syrian Army
... the more palatable version of the Syrian insurgency, heavily influenced by the Moslem Brüderbund...
affiliate group Asoud al-Rahman. They were the target of a well-planned liquidation plot (not at all an uncommon thing in rebel-held southwest Syria) by an unknown party.

Suspicious exist that Syrian pro-government spies may have been the perpetrators of the attack.
Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [23 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Israeli Iron dome system deployed near ceasefire line between Israel, Syria
[XINHUANET] An Israeli Iron dome system is deployed on the Israeli occupied Golan Heights near the ceasefire line between Israel and Syria on Feb. 11, 2018. The Israeli army launched a large-scale attack against the Syrian aerial defense system and Iranian targets in Syria after an Israeli F-16 fighter was hit by missiles from Syria and crashed on Saturday morning.
As I recall, Israel annexed that portion of the Golan Heights after the Six Day War, not merely occupied it.
Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [14 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria


Africa Subsaharan
Zimbabwe: Zim Army On 'High Alert' As Mugabe Allies Plan to 'Foment Disharmony Within the Military' - Report
[All Africa] Zim-bob-we's army has reportedly been placed on high alert following reports that ex-president Bob Muggsy Mugabe
Nonagenarian President-for-Life of Zim-bob-we who turned the former Breadbasket of Africa into the African Basket Case. Dumped in November 2017 when the Missus decided she wanted to be president, and opposed heer might against Crocodile Mnangawa Important safety tip: If your opponent goes by the name Crocodile andf your title is Shopper in Chief let him win....
's allies could be "regrouping and planning to foment disharmony within the military".

According to the privately owned Zim-bob-we Independent newspaper, the Zim-bob-we Defence Forces (ZDF) Commander Phillip Valerio Sibanda has warned the soldiers against taking bribes from ex-Zanu-PF officials linked to former first lady Grace Mugabe's Generation 40 (G40) group.

The G40 members, who were expelled from the ruling Zanu-PF party when Mugabe was ousted in November, were reportedly coalescing around Grace.

Reports last weak indicated that members of the G40 were about to launch a new party in Zim-bob-we.

Mugabe's nephew Patrick Zhuwao, who was also a member of the G40 said, however, that the new political outfit was not an avenue to bring back" his ousted uncle.

The group was said to have over the past few weeks intensified its sharp attacks on the new government, criticising the military's involvement in ending Mugabe's 37-years reign.

The Zim-bob-we Independent said that as fears of a military disturbance grew, Sibanda had since told the presidential guard unit that "there are clandestine plans to foment disharmony within the military following the formation of the new political party".

The newly appointed military chief was also believed to be on a nationwide tour to speak to the soldiers on issues including the welfare of troops, the role of G40, the operation which led to Mugabe's fall, and the plot to bomb the ex-president's dairy.

He was, according to sources, accompanied by incoming Zim-bob-we National Army (ZNA) commander Lieutenant General Edzai Absolom Chimonyo, army spokesperson Alphios Makotore and other senior officers.

Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [7 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Do you feel luck, Punk?
Well do ya?
Posted by: newc || 02/12/2018 3:51 Comments || Top||

#2  ...I said at the time that given the relative gentleness of the coup, the new management had probably let it be known that if everybody kept their mouths shut and behaved then they could enjoy a quiet, peaceful and alive retirement. A shame some people just can't take a hint.

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski || 02/12/2018 5:40 Comments || Top||

#3  the new management had probably let it be known that if everybody kept their mouths shut and behaved then they could enjoy a quiet, peaceful and alive retirement

Pretty much like our former monarchy.
Posted by: Skidmark || 02/12/2018 7:33 Comments || Top||

#4  ...I said at the time that given the relative gentleness of the coup, the new management had probably let it be known that if everybody kept their mouths shut and behaved then they could enjoy a quiet, peaceful and alive retirement. A shame some people just can't take a hint.

Oh wait, I'm on the wrong article. Or am I ?
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2018 7:42 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Day 3: Egypt's military says 16 militants killed in major Sinai operation
[AlAhram] The military issued the first casualty figures since Operation Sinai 2018 was launched on Friday, along with reports of krazed killer targets destroyed and raided in the counter-terrorism drive

Sixteen turbans have been killed and four tossed in the slammer
Drop the gat, Rocky, or you're a dead 'un!
in northern and central Sinai in a massive anti-terrorism operation waged by military and security forces, Egypt's army said on Sunday, in the first announcement of casualties since the campaign was launched two days ago.

Thirty other suspects have been captured and 66 targets, 4x4 vehicles, cycle of violences and arms caches used by turbans were destroyed in extensive raids in the border region, the military said in its statement.

Operation Sinai 2018 was launched on Friday morning, involving land, naval and air forces, as well as the police and border guards, targeting "terrorist and criminal elements and organizations" in northern and central Sinai, as well as parts of the Nile Delta and the Western Desert.

"The air force targeted and destroyed 66 targets used by terrorist elements to hide from air and artillery attacks, and to escape from their bases during raids," the statement said.

"Sixteen turbans have been killed," it added.

Egypt has for years been battling an Islamist militancy based in the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula that mainly targets security forces. The army said it has killed hundreds of turbans in military operations there.

Sunday's statement said that security forces also uncovered and destroyed a media centre with computers, wireless communication equipment, books and documents related to jihadi ideology. In addition, six farms used to grow illegal narcotics were found and destroyed.
According to TheTimes of Israel, an Egyptian Army spokesman described them as illegal opium fields.
Naval units from a Mistral helicopter carrier have continued to comb the coast of Arish, the capital of North Sinai governorate, while police and coastiess intensified security measures and patrols, including in Egypt's southern desert and through mountainous paths along the southern and western borders, to "thwart any attempt to sneak through international borders."
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [15 views] Top|| File under:


India-Pakistan
Kashmir gunfight enters second day, five soldiers dead
[Al Jazeera] A fierce shootout at an army base in Jammu city of Indian-administered Kashmire has entered the second day leaving at least six people, including five soldiers, dead, officials said.

Official figures released on Sunday said that three attackers have been killed and 11 people have been maimed in the ongoing attack on Sunjuwan army camp.

Indian Army chief Bipin Rawat has also rushed to Jammu to monitor the situation.

Officials said an unknown number of attackers are cornered inside the residential complex of the camp, where they are locked in a fierce standoff.

Hundreds of police, army and paramilitary soldiers were called in to dislodge the fighters, who have barricaded themselves inside multistorey buildings.

The vast army installation located in the city of Jammu is located close to several shopping centres and schools.
Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [28 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistain Proxies


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Palestinian Terror Official Agrees to Cooperate with Hezbollah to Act Against Israel
[Breitbart] Nayef Hawatmeh, secretary-general of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Paleostine
... a breakaway faction of the Pöpular Frönt för the Liberation of Paleostine. The are regarded as the most intellectual of Paleostinian fedayeen groups, smoking cheap cigarettes and drawing heavily on Marxist-Leninist theory to explain their crappy lives. They can occasionally be seen strutting through the streets of Paleostine, dressed up like soldiers and lugging firearms, though they seldom manage to hit anything and then usually by accident. This may be because of their habit of wearing black masks that cut off most of their vision. That would also explain their habit of occasionally walking into walls, which is a well-known attribute of those immersed in true understanding of the dialectic...
, has met Hezbollah commander Hassan Nasrallah and the two have agreed to act together against Israel, the Paleostinian terror figure told the pro-Iranian Al Mayadeen network based in Beirut.

The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Paleostine is the third-most important group under the umbrella of the PLO, behind Paleostinian Authority President the ineffectual Mahmoud Abbas
... a graduate of the prestigious unaccredited Patrice Lumumba University in Moscow with a doctorate in Holocaust Denial...
’ Fatah organization and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Paleostine.

Hawatmeh’s organization has carried out dozens of terrorist attacks against Israel, the worst of which is known in Israel as the Ma’alot massacre in 1974 when armed Paleostinians infiltrated from Leb and took over a school in the town of Ma’alot before murdering 22 hostages.

The organization maintains a so-called military wing to this day, active mostly in the Gazoo Strip under the name of the National Resistance Brigades.

"The meeting dealt with a number of issues, first and foremost the resistance and the need to fight off any Israeli aggression whether on the Leb or Paleostinian front," Hawatmeh told Al Mayadeen.

The Paleostinian jihadist highlighted that the Paleostinian "resistance is the mother of all resistance movements in the region and the Paleostinian revolution has managed to survive all attempts to destroy it."

Paleostinian terrorist groups regularly utilize the word "resistance" as a euphemism for terrorist attacks targeting Israelis.

Hawatmeh added that a PLO proposal to withdraw Paleostinian recognition of Israel is a move in the right direction and called on the Paleostinian organizations to take action to create a new reality on the ground.

Hezbollah and Iranian efforts to incite terror activity in the Paleostinian territories are ongoing, according to Israeli security services.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [15 views] Top|| File under: Hezbollah

#1  Any questions @therealdonaldtrump ?
Posted by: newc || 02/12/2018 4:18 Comments || Top||


Africa Subsaharan
Zimbabwe first lady relinquishes parliamentary seat
[XINHUANET] Zim-bob-wean first lady Auxillia Mnangagwa has relinquished her Chirumanzu-Zibagwe parliamentary seat to concentrate on her new role, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said on Saturday.

Addressing thousands of ZANU-PF supporters in the constituency that is in the president's home province of Midlands, Mnangagwa said his wife would now concentrate on her new role as the first lady of Zim-bob-we.

Auxillia Mnangagwa took over as member of parliament for the constituency in 2015, replacing her husband, who had been elevated to vice president of the ruling party and state.

The departure of the first lady from parliament and active politics comes amid calls from within and outside the ruling party for her to resign from the parliamentary seat so she can fully concentrate on her new role.

Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [12 views] Top|| File under:


India-Pakistan
'Won't work under leadership of children,' says Nisar on conflict with Maryam Nawaz
[DAWN] Former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan
...Former Interior Minister of Pakistain under Nawaz Sharif. He is the senior leader of the Pak Moslem League (N) and a close aide to Uncle Fester Sharif. He is noted for his vocal anti-American railing in the National Assembly. However (comma) Khan told the U.S. ambassador that he was in fact pro-American but he and the PML-N would have to be critical of US actions in order to remain publicly credible. Khan cited his wife and children's US citizenship as proof, which means he's lying to one side or the other and probably both. He wears a wig, but you probably guessed that, since hair doesn't grow naturally in that shape or texture...
said on Saturday he has made it clear that he would not serve in the ruling PML-N under the leadership of "juniors" ‐ a reference to Maryam Nawaz who is widely tipped to assume the mantle of the party in the future.

When questioned at a presser in Taxila about his previous remark that Maryam lacked the experience to lead PML-N, Nisar in turn asked whether he had said anything wrong at the time.

"You tell me, can I work under children?" he said in a reference to Maryam, adding that "a person has some dignity." He added that if such situation arises where he is asked to serve under a junior, he will take a decision once it happens.

Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [14 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Terror Networks
Abbottabad files reveal Iran helped train al-Qaeda recruits to hijack planes
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] The Abbottabad
... A pleasant city located only 30 convenient miles from Islamabad. The city is noted for its nice weather and good schools. It is the site of Pakistain's military academy, which was within comfortable walking distance of the residence of the late Osama bin Laden....
documents revealed that late al-Qaeda leader the late Osama bin Laden
... who is no longer with us, and won't be again...
insisted to use jets in attacks against the US even after the September 11, 2001 twin attacks.

Bin Laden urged his commanders to focus their efforts on aerial attacks against the US and its allies. Documents also revealed that Iran was involved in preparing for such attacks as it allowed al-Qaeda commission led by Younis al-Mauritani to train al-Qaeda recruits there and dispatch them to hijack planes.

"It’s important that the organization carries out operations that directly harm the American people’s security and economy. Executing operations inside the US and targeting oil-exporting countries are what affects people the most. There are ideas for plans that are bigger than the September 11 attacks but they need distinctive members," Bin Laden wrote in one of his letters.

Al-Qaeda also worked on sending young recruits to foreign universities to learn how to operate airplanes. An example is Naif Abdulaziz who was recently tossed in the slammer
Maw! They're comin' to get me, Maw!
in the US after the FBI found his fingerprints on an enrollment application at al-Farouk training camp in Afghanistan.

"We’ve sent some brothers to study at universities so they can buy material without raising any suspicions," Bin Laden said in one of his letters.

Bin Laden also proposed using private jets or helicopters to carry out suicide kabooms noting that such operations will have a huge impact following the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Letters exchanged between Bin Laden, Atiyatullah al-Libi, and Younis al-Mauritani also discussed which members to send to hijack planes and carry out suicide operations.

Younis al-Mauritani proposed recruiting Latins and Moslem African Americans as it’s difficult to expose their cover.

"We must also have a plan to incite strife between America’s components, the Anglosaxone, Latins and African Americans," Younis al-Mauritani said.

Younis al-Mauritani also voiced the importance of carrying out suicide operations using planes and noted that although the US has taken several precautions, there were gaps that the organization can make use of.

Bin Laden also issued an edict saying it was okay if Moslem civilians and children died during these operations.

"We must target the American people who can stop injustice against people that include Moslems. The Americans must know that we will not obstruct the path of jihad by shielding Moslems during our operations while fighting the enemy," Bin Laden wrote.

Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [11 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda

#1  Remind us again why Obama sent $bins to Iran on an unmarked planes near the end of his admin.? They trained AQ for 911 and they took and kept hostages from our embassy back in 1979. They also provided IEDs to Iraq AQ to be used against our forces.
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/12/2018 13:48 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Pro-gov’t ISIS Hunters release official statement after US airstrikes in Deir Ezzor
[ALMASDARNEWS] The pro-government ISIS Hunters released an official statement on Sunday condemning the US Coalition’s Arclight airstrikes that killed several members of the Syrian Armed Forces on February 7th.

The ISIS Hunters specifically condemned both the US Coalition and the Kurdish forces that are currently in control of the majority of the northeastern countryside of Deir Ezzor.

Below is the official statement that was released by the ISIS Hunters:

"Several of our brothers died under the fire of the US Air Force

On the morning of February 7, ISIS Hunters received intelligence information about a group of ISIS jihadists near as-Suwar village located on the territory occupied by Kurds.

Later our command received additional information that the group is moving towards Khusham village and immediately decided to move from the Euphrates and cut off the possible direction of jihadists offensive.

A number of gangs with mortars and technicals (sic) was spotted to the east from Khusham on the territory occupied by Kurds. SAA positions were attacked by spotted enemy and Hunters moved to cover SAA. Based on hostiles’ movement and actions they didn’t expect any heavy resistance. Almost immediately Hunters managed to suppress ISIS and make them retreat. (Later an intercepted radio traffic confirmed that the group was partly ISIS, partly Kurds and they retreated towards CONOCO factory)

At that moment first shells dropped, and jet fighters appeared, bombing our positions. They came from the direction where the hostiles were retreating, the jet fighters were covering the enemy.

Our people were still fighting, but when helicopters came ISIS Hunters were forced to retreat. They scattered around and came back in small groups. After bombardment finished it became clear that some of our brothers are dead... Hunters lost 20 heroes, but regular SAA units lost more men, unfortunately. Glory and peace to Syrian heroes killed by a sucker punch by US Air Forces, acting behind the backs of snuffies and Kurds.

Now we state, that Kurds are responsible for deaths of brothers! This nation has begun war against Syrian identity, occupied Syrian soil and resources belonging to Syrian people! Now they conspire with ISIS, shelter them from justice and use them against Syria. These American puppets has no longer right to occupy Syrian soil.

Since now there is no difference for us between ISIS and Kurds. Same terrorists, same attitude towards them. Kurds, be sure, ISIS Hunters are going to hunt you on Syrian soil like your ISIS mercenaries are hunted. Our brothers will be Dire Revenged!"

Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [14 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria



Who's in the News
32[untagged]
6Govt of Syria
4Taliban
4Govt of Pakistan
3Islamic State
3Sublime Porte
2Govt of Iran Proxies
2Govt of Saudi Arabia
1al-Shabaab (AQ)
1Hezbollah
1Houthis
1Moslem Colonists
1Muslim Brotherhood
1Narcos
1Govt of Iran
1Commies
1Govt of Iraq
1Govt of Pakistain Proxies
1al-Qaeda

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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.
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Two weeks of WOT
Mon 2018-02-12
  Sword-wielding man injures 4 worshipers at Indonesian church
Sun 2018-02-11
  Jaish-e-Mohammad targets sleeping families at Sunjuwan Army camp, kills two soldiers
Sat 2018-02-10
  TTP splinter group chief Khan Said ‘Sajna’ reported killed in US drone strike in Afghanistan
Fri 2018-02-09
  Houthi leader killed in precision strike along with 35 others
Thu 2018-02-08
  US kills more than 100 Assad regime fighters in largest deliberate strike against Syrian government forces
Wed 2018-02-07
  Israelis kill Ahmad Nasser Jarrar, terrorist behind murder of Rabbi Raziel Shevah
Tue 2018-02-06
  Chlorine gas dropped in rebel-held territory of Idlib, Syria
Mon 2018-02-05
  Russian, Syrian warplanes unleash all-out attack on ISIS in northeast Hama as army prepares to eliminate pocket
Sun 2018-02-04
  Bomb blast kills top military commander in S. Yemen Zoom
Sat 2018-02-03
  Ahrar Al-Sham’s top commander in northern Idlib has been assassinated
Fri 2018-02-02
  Four Migrants Critical after Being Shot in Calais Brawl
Thu 2018-02-01
  Robert Mueller Requests Postponement of General Mike Flynn Sentencing… It was a set up
Wed 2018-01-31
  Southwest State Confirms The Death Of Burhakabo Military Commander
Tue 2018-01-30
  Iraqi court sentences Al-Qaeda member to death over executing eight civilians in 2007
Mon 2018-01-29
  McCabe Resigns

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