Hi there, !
Today Fri 02/15/2013 Thu 02/14/2013 Wed 02/13/2013 Tue 02/12/2013 Mon 02/11/2013 Sun 02/10/2013 Sat 02/09/2013 Archives
Rantburg
531208 articles and 1854437 comments are archived on Rantburg.

Today: 56 articles and 194 comments as of 6:04.
Post a news link    Post your own article   
Area: WoT Background    Non-WoT    Opinion        Politix    Main Page
KCNA confirms: Pudgy sets off a nuke
Today's Headlines
Headline Comments [Views]
18:23 0 [336073]
17:53 0 [336088]
14:03 4 18:20 BrerRabbit [336074]
13:03 6 22:42 CrazyFool [336102]
13:02 11 22:50 European Conservative [336131] 
13:02 6 20:52 Frank G [336115]
11:48 8 18:52 JosephMendiola [336103]
09:32 9 22:37 Bill Clinton [336151] 
08:44 3 23:36 JosephMendiola [336107]
08:09 0 [336070]
06:49 7 23:45 Frozen Al [336103]
02:57 3 19:25 Raider [336070]
01:22 15 16:56 JohnQC [336072]
00:00 19 22:17 SteveS [336084]
00:00 2 08:09 JohnQC [336073] 
00:00 4 12:10 Besoeker [336074]
00:00 3 10:22 trailing wife [336071]
00:00 2 11:32 Besoeker [336080]
00:00 0 [336087] 
00:00 19 00:41 JosephMendiola [336084]
00:00 1 01:25 JosephMendiola [336072]
00:00 0 [336069] 
00:00 0 [336070] 
00:00 0 [336100] 
00:00 0 [336081] 
00:00 0 [336085] 
00:00 0 [336069]
00:00 4 11:46 Pappy [336073]
00:00 0 [336086]
00:00 0 [336072] 
00:00 1 02:36 Redneck Jim [336071]
00:00 0 [336072] 
00:00 0 [336076] 
00:00 5 12:28 Muggsy Mussolini1226 [336073]
00:00 0 [336070] 
00:00 0 [336077] 
00:00 1 02:41 Redneck Jim [336088] 
00:00 3 14:12 Mullah Richard [336073]
00:00 0 [336087] 
00:00 0 [336071] 
00:00 0 [336077]
00:00 0 [336077]
00:00 1 11:11 Bill Clinton [336072] 
00:00 1 02:21 Redneck Jim [336069]
00:00 2 02:33 Redneck Jim [336086]
00:00 0 [336077]
00:00 4 13:58 Procopius2k [336084]
00:00 0 [336085]
00:00 6 22:43 Bill Clinton [336088]
00:00 8 11:21 Raider [336082]
00:00 0 [336071]
00:00 4 20:51 Frank G [336101] 
00:00 0 [336072] 
00:00 2 02:25 Redneck Jim [336071]
00:00 7 11:28 GolfBravoUSMC [336068] 
00:00 23 23:09 JosephMendiola [336104] 
Home Front: WoT
Islamist Censorship Charges On
It's all about framing the debate.
Now sharia advocates are trying to stop the use of the word “Islamist.”
Star quote:

When one side of the argument is censored or restrained, conspirators are allowed to perpetrate a fraud on the majority.
Posted by: tipper || 02/12/2013 18:23 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336073 views] Top|| File under:


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Armed men "behead" Syria poet statue
Unidentified members of an armed group in northern Syria have cut off the head of a statue honoring Abbasid-era poet Abu al-Alaa al-Maari, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Tuesday.

"An armed group in the [rebel-held] town of Maaret al-Numan have cut off the head of a sculpture honoring the memory of poet and philosopher Abu al-Alaa al-Maari, who was born in the town," said the Britain-based Observatory.

Abu al-Alaa al-Maari, was born Ahmed Bin Abdullah Bin Suleiman in Maaret al-Numan in 973. He lost his eyesight at a young age but rose to become one of the greatest Arab poets known for his criticism of Islam and other religions.

In one of his best known works, he wrote: "There are two kinds of people in the world. Those who have a mind and no religion, and those who have religion but no mind."
Posted by: tipper || 02/12/2013 17:53 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336088 views] Top|| File under:


Home Front: Culture Wars
BuzzFeed notices that ObamaCare sticks it to the young and healthy
Posted by: DarthVader || 02/12/2013 14:03 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336074 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Slowly, the dim bulb brightens.
Posted by: DarthVader || 02/12/2013 14:03 Comments || Top||

#2  When do those who voted for champ realize they been had with shiny objects and a fast-talking charlatan?
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/12/2013 17:10 Comments || Top||

#3  Heath re-distribution. "Sharing" the illness around (punishing those who keep healthy).
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 02/12/2013 18:17 Comments || Top||

#4  I make a point to thank every young chump person I can for volunteering to pay for my health insurance. Wadda a bunch of rubes.
Posted by: BrerRabbit || 02/12/2013 18:20 Comments || Top||


Government
State of the Union: Will Obama Tell Young People He's Screwing Them Big Time?
Posted by: DarthVader || 02/12/2013 13:03 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336102 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Of course not, the scam's in full swing,"He's the Lightbringer and GOD." (Remember)
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/12/2013 13:18 Comments || Top||

#2  Think of it as evolution in action.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 02/12/2013 13:20 Comments || Top||

#3  They voted disproportionately for him. Let'm enjoy the moment life.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 02/12/2013 13:53 Comments || Top||

#4  Would they hear it if he did?
Posted by: rjschwarz || 02/12/2013 14:40 Comments || Top||

#5  Would they hear it if he did?

Not as long as they are allowed to live in their parent's basement and listing to their iPhone that their parents pay for.
Posted by: DarthVader || 02/12/2013 14:43 Comments || Top||

#6  Even if he did they would swear they were enjoying it and cry out to their god: 'Oh Bama! Oh Bama! OH YES! OH BAMA!!'.
Posted by: CrazyFool || 02/12/2013 22:42 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Culture Wars
Obama '09: Stimulus Will Lift 2 Million Out of Poverty; Today: 2.6 Million More in Poverty
Posted by: DarthVader || 02/12/2013 13:02 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336115 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Obama '09: Stimulus Will Lift 2 Million Out of Poverty; Today: 2.6 Million More in Poverty

It only depends on where you set the line.

Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/12/2013 13:15 Comments || Top||

#2  Hey, if he hadn't lifted 2 million out of poverty there would be 4.6 million more in poverty now, right?
Posted by: Glenmore || 02/12/2013 14:40 Comments || Top||

#3  “The different branches of Arithmetic are Ambition, Distraction, Uglification, and Derision.” – Lewis Caroll
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/12/2013 17:07 Comments || Top||

#4  FYI the US Debt Clock as per "National Debt" also appears to be off by as much as a mere or lowly US$180.0Bilyuhn.

Uh, uh, NO BIG???
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 02/12/2013 18:49 Comments || Top||

#5  Glenmore...LOL....freshman logic demonstration for the dems.
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 02/12/2013 19:33 Comments || Top||

#6  "People saved from poverty? A quadrillion. Prove me wrong!"
Posted by: Frank G || 02/12/2013 20:52 Comments || Top||


Fifth Column
Ft. Hood Hero: Barack Obama ‘Betrayed’ Me
Posted by: DarthVader || 02/12/2013 13:02 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336131 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Can't have him diminish his legacy. Thus, you get screwed.
Posted by: DarthVader || 02/12/2013 13:04 Comments || Top||

#2  Nov 12 2009: John Brennan to lead White House investigation into what US Intelligence knew about.....

Are there any additional questions ?
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2013 13:39 Comments || Top||

#3  Sorry, honey. You expected anything else?
Posted by: Barbara || 02/12/2013 18:28 Comments || Top||

#4  Honey, get in line...
Posted by: tu3031 || 02/12/2013 18:52 Comments || Top||

#5  And it's a loooooooong line.... :-(
Posted by: Barbara || 02/12/2013 19:43 Comments || Top||

#6  There's a reason Obama wanted Life-Long Secret service protection for him and his family.
Posted by: Charles || 02/12/2013 20:54 Comments || Top||

#7  @Barbara
There's an even longer list of those who were never fooled in the first place
Posted by: European Conservative || 02/12/2013 21:14 Comments || Top||

#8  Oh great, executive orders to stop "climate change".

Translate: Green Dictatorship
Posted by: European Conservative || 02/12/2013 21:34 Comments || Top||

#9  "Right now, countries like Germany focus on graduating their high school students with the equivalent of a technical degree from one of our community colleges, so that they’re ready for a job. "

WTF is he talking about?
Posted by: European Conservative || 02/12/2013 21:47 Comments || Top||

#10  WTF is he talking about?

He is talking about how much we suck and need to give more money to the teacher's unions.
Posted by: DarthVader || 02/12/2013 22:09 Comments || Top||

#11  Thanks for the swift Rantburg translation service
Posted by: European Conservative || 02/12/2013 22:50 Comments || Top||


Washington Post erroneously reports Sarah Palin joining Al Jazeera

The Washington Post has erroneously reported that Sarah Palin, the former vice presidential candidate and former Fox News contributor, is joining the Qatari-owned news network Al Jazeera.

"Late last week Al Jazeera America announced the former vice-presidential candidate would be joining their news network," the Post's Suzi Parker writes today in a post on the She The People blog, titled "Sarah Palin’s plan to reach ‘millions of devoutly religious people’ through al-Jazeera."

Parker calls this "a cautionary tale about what can happen when politics and celebrity meet."

But Parker's report is a cautionary tale about what can happen when writers cite satirical websites, such as The Daily Currant.

On Feb. 4, the Daily Currant published a satirical piece stating that Palin was "bouncing back by joining the fledgling Al Jazeera America news network as a host and commentator." Parker cites this piece and uses quotes that the Currant attributes to Palin, including:

“As you all know, I’m not a big fan of newspapers, journalists, news anchors and the liberal media in general,” Palin told the Web site The Daily Currant. “But I met with the folks at Al-Jazeera and they told me they reach millions of devoutly religious people who don’t watch CBS or CNN. That tells me they don’t have a liberal bias.”

Al Jazeera spokesman Stan Collender confirmed to POLITICO that Sarah Palin is not joining the global news network, which -- as Parker notes -- was recently called “an anti-American terror mouthpiece" on Fox News, where Palin was a contributor. (I've written at length about American opposition to Al Jazeera.)
Posted by: Beavis || 02/12/2013 11:48 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336103 views] Top|| File under:

#1  And this got past all of their layers of fact checkers because they suck, or because they want to smear her?

I think we all know the answer to this one.
Posted by: DarthVader || 02/12/2013 13:05 Comments || Top||

#2  Sarah Palin would have more credibility if she joined Al Jazeera than if she joined WaPo.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 02/12/2013 13:07 Comments || Top||

#3  Fake but 'Accurate'?
Posted by: Mullah Richard || 02/12/2013 14:15 Comments || Top||


#5  About as accurate any anything concerning Palin that WaPo has ever published.
Posted by: Neville Spawn of the Swedes8523 || 02/12/2013 17:16 Comments || Top||

#6  I'm not surprised with Wapo. I would be surprised if Palin joined al-jizz.
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/12/2013 17:52 Comments || Top||

#7  "And this got past all of their layers of fact checkers because they suck, or because they want to smear her?"

No reason it can't be both, Darth.
Posted by: Barbara || 02/12/2013 18:35 Comments || Top||

#8  "He [Elvis] works at the Mocha Moose in Wasilla"
> D *** NG, I KNEW IT!
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 02/12/2013 18:52 Comments || Top||


China-Japan-Koreas
KCNA confirms: Pudgy sets off a nuke
With double-plus good hand-wringing from the NYT. Nothing can be done, nothing we do works, so we might as well just go along and accept it.
WASHINGTON -- North Korea confirmed on Tuesday that it had conducted its third, long-threatened nuclear test, according to the official K.C.N.A. news service, posing a new challenge for the Obama administration in its effort to keep the country from becoming a full-fledged nuclear power.

The K.C.N.A. said the North used a "miniaturized and lighter nuclear device with greater explosive force than previously" and that the test "did not pose any negative impact on the surrounding ecological environment."
'Miniaturized and lighter' may not mean what we would take it to mean: a device that could be mounted on a missile. But I'll bet that's what the Norks want us to think.
Early Tuesday morning in Washington the office of the director of national intelligence, James R. Clapper Jr., issued a statement suggesting the North Koreans were, on their third try, beginning to produce nuclear devices with substantial explosive power. "The explosion yield was approximately several kilotons," the announcement said, which was less specific than a South Korean Defense Ministry estimate of six to seven kilotons. That would be far greater than the yield of less than one kiloton detected in the North's 2006 test, but it is unclear how it would measure up to the last test, in 2009, which had estimated yield of two to six kilotons. By comparison, the first bomb the United States dropped on Japan, which devastated Hiroshima in 1945, had an explosive yield of 15 kilotons.
Six kilotons can still ruin your day...
The test drew a crescendo of predictable and ineffectual international condemnation Tuesday, with President Obama calling it a "highly provocative act" that demands "swift and credible action by the international community" against North Korea.
Really? Like what, exactly...
Russia, Britain, South Korea and the United Nations also quickly condemned the blast. The head of the international nuclear watchdog called the test "deeply regrettable" and the United Nations Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting at 9 a.m. in New York to take up the matter.
At which time the Security Council will agree that the test was 'deeply regrettable'. By the time they do that it will be time for lunch...
Preliminary estimates by South Korea suggested that the test was much more powerful than the previous two conducted by the North.
Since those two were, in essence, partial fissiles...
The test is the first under the country's new leader, Fat Boy Kim Jong-un, and an open act of defiance to the Chinese, who had urged Pudgy Mr. Kim not to risk open confrontation by setting off the weapon. In a relatively muted statement issued several hours after the blast, China expressed its "staunch opposition" to the test but called for "all parties concerned to respond calmly." And it was unclear how China would act at the Security Council meeting on Tuesday.
Did the Chinese close the railway at the border? Did they turn off the spigot at the State Bank? Unless and until they do those things, everything they say is for consumption by gullible Western leaders, diplomats and the media and certainly not an indication that they are displeased with their lap dog. The Chinese consider western leaders to be saps, and unfortunately they're mostly correct in that assessment...
The nuclear test, came the same day Mr. Obama is to use his State of the Union address to call for drastically reducing nuclear arms around the world, potentially bringing the number of deployed American weapons to roughly 1,000 from the current 1,700.
Good idea. Cut the number of American devices the same day the Norks explode their first uranium device. The world will get the message, you bet it will...
Even before the North conducted Tuesday's test, the Obama administration had already threatened to take additional action to penalize the country through the United Nations.
Like what, exactly...
But the fact is that there are few sanctions left to apply against the most unpredictable country in Asia. The only penalty that would truly hurt the North would be a cutoff of oil and other aid from China. And until now, despite issuing warnings, the Chinese have feared instability and chaos in the North more than its growing nuclear and missile capability, and the Chinese leadership has refused to participate in sanctions.
Said another way, the Chinese are pleased with what the Norks are doing and are simply being duplicitous in their relations with the West...
Suet Face Mr. Kim, believed to be about 29, appears to be betting that even a third test would not change the Chinese calculus, and later Tuesday, the North Korean Foreign Ministry warned of "second and third measures of greater intensity" if Washington remains hostile.
By which he means, if we refuse to provide food aid...
The test set off a scramble among Washington's Asian allies to assess what the North Koreans had done.

The United States sent aloft aircraft equipped with delicate sensors that may, depending on the winds, be able to determine whether it was a plutonium or uranium weapon. The Japanese defense minister, Itsunori Onodera, said Japan had ordered the dispatch of an Air Self-Defense Force jet to monitor for radioactivity in Japanese airspace. Japan's new prime minister, Shinzo Abe, told Parliament that the country was considering "its own actions, including sanctions, to resolve this and other issues."
If you want to resolve it, suggest ever so obliquely that your country may have to assemble and test nuclear devices of its own. That will get a response from the Chinese, I guarantee it.
But the threat may be largely empty, because trade is limited and the United States and its allies have refrained from a naval blockade of North Korea or other steps that could revive open conflict, which has been avoided on the Korean Peninsula since an armistice was declared 60 years ago.
It's an unfortunate fact of life, one that we've commented on extensively in the past here at the Burg: Seoul is within artillery distance of the North Koreans. The Norks do not need a nuke, they just need to threaten to start firing from the ten thousand plus tube and missile launchers they have aimed south. That, not a nuclear test, is what stops us from doing anything overt to shut down the Norks.
It may take days or weeks to determine independently if the test, was successful.
It already has been. There's seismic evidence. The South Koreans call it a six kiloton device. The world has noticed. The Norks have accomplished everything they set out to do.
American officials will also be looking for signs of whether the North, for the first time, conducted a test of a uranium weapon, based on a uranium enrichment capability it has been pursuing for a decade. The past two tests used plutonium, reprocessed from one of the country's now-defunct nuclear reactors. While the country has only enough plutonium for a half-dozen or so bombs, it can produce enriched uranium well into the future.

After the detonation, the K.C.N.A. news agency said that the test demonstrated that North Korea's nuclear deterrence that has become "diversified." South Korean officials said they were studying whether it meant that North Korea had actually used highly enriched uranium for bomb fuel, rather than plutonium.

No country is more interested in the results of the North's nuclear program, or the Western reaction, than Iran, which is pursuing its own uranium enrichment program. The two countries have long cooperated on missile technology, and many intelligence officials believe they share nuclear knowledge as well, though so far there is no hard evidence.
Other than the hundreds of Nork scientists and engineers in Iran, the extensive communications back and forth, the Iranian tech people in Pyongyang, and the complete cooperation on missile tech. Nope, no hard evidence at all says the NYT!
Iran is preparing for two important sets of negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations's nuclear regulatory body, starting in on Wednesday, and later this month with the six world powers seeking to curb its nuclear program.
Which will work about as well as the IAEA's efforts to curb North Korea...
Yukiya Amano, the director general of the I.A.E.A., which is based in Vienna, said in a statement on Tuesday that North Korea's action was "deeply regrettable and is in clear violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions."
Thanks for that Mr. Amano. What a hard hitting statement. Lunch?
He also offered to "contribute to the peaceful resolution" of the North Korean nuclear issue by "resuming its nuclear verification activities in the country as soon as the political agreement is reached among countries concerned."
Which will occur around the twelfth of Never...
The timing of the test was critical. It came just as a transition of power is about to take place in South Korea, and the North detested the South's departing president, the hard-line Lee Myung-bak. By conducting a test just before he leaves office, the North could have been sending a message and giving his successor, Park Geun-hye, the chance to restore relations after the breach a test will undoubtedly cause.
If Park is smart she'll reject that nonsense, seal the border, do everything she can to ignore the blandishments from the North and make sure her military -- and her countrymen -- are ready.
While intelligence officials in Washington and Seoul are jittery about the North's progress, there is still no proof that it has yet mastered the difficult technology of miniaturizing bombs so they can be fitted to ballistic missiles.
But instead of doing anything about it now we'll wait until the Norks have a basketball-sized device. Then we'll wring our hands, proclaim it to be too late to do anything, and blame George Bush.
But arms experts declared a recent rocket launching a success, suggesting the country was making advances that could eventually allow it to lob a nuclear-tipped missile as far as the United States mainland.
Posted by: Steve White || 02/12/2013 09:32 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336151 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Meanwhile, at the Situation Room...

Sir, do you know what this means?!

Yes. For the speech tonight, increase clenched fist hand gestures by 25%. If that doesn't work, begin plans to re-arrange the alphabetical order.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 02/12/2013 10:44 Comments || Top||

#2  From Bharat Karnad's blog:

Officially, South Korean siesmic sensors read 4.7+ on the Richter scale, the US 4.9+, Japanese 5.2+, but the most reliable read is from the Russian station at Petropovlovsk on the Kamchatka Peninsula nearest to the test site with 5.3-5.5+ Richter. Petropovlovsk also has, according to this source, a radionuclide detection facility. While the Granite stratum of the Hamygeong test site dampened/suppressed the shock waves, the 5.5 on Richter translates into a certifiably estimated 20-30 Kiloton explosion.
Posted by: john frum || 02/12/2013 11:21 Comments || Top||

#3  thanks. 20-30 kT is a lot! They have "made the grade" with their bomb design. There's nothing screwed up with the technology if they got that kind of yield. Please post links - to any follow-up confirmations on size of the blast.
Posted by: Raider || 02/12/2013 12:29 Comments || Top||

#4  by the way Rantburg - that photo is a classic. Brings back a lot of smiles :-)
Posted by: Raider || 02/12/2013 12:30 Comments || Top||

#5  How do we know North Korea even has nukes and doesn't just blow up a Chinese built one once in awhile so that we think they do? It would be pretty cheap insurance by China to protect their crazy little minion.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 02/12/2013 14:36 Comments || Top||

#6  " ...A certifiably estimated 20-30 kiloton explosion" > Wehell its just NOT a 6-7 kiloton'er now is it???

It would appear that NOKOR's past "failures" weren't "real" failures after all, just POTEMKINIST FUN'NIN lest there be serious-to-catastrophic, Iran- or Hard Boyz-styled "workplace/industrial accidents"???

* BHARAT RAKSHAK > [The Hankyoreh] US EXPERT SAYS SEOUL + WASHINGTON EMPHASIS ON NORTH KOREAN DE-NUCLEARIZATION HAS [utterly] FAILED.

It ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY CATEGORICALLY UNDENIABLY ... ...@etc. has not succeeded.

* FOX NEWS, CNN > US CALLS NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR TEST "PROVOCATIVE" + A THREAT TO INTERNATIONAL SECURITY.

Yes, but IMO not in the way its being portrayed in the MSM-Net - all I'm going to say is that the situation or circumstance is more complicated than it appears.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 02/12/2013 18:45 Comments || Top||

#7  still waiting for a good estimate of the size of the NORK nuke. Have seen numbers as high as 20-30 kT, but also lower numbers around 10-20 kT. Just the same - it's a serious amount of BANG an it means they've got their weapon designs working.
Posted by: Raider || 02/12/2013 19:23 Comments || Top||

#8  NO, it means that they got a weapon somewhere else, and set it off.

They can no more "Build" A nuke than i CAN.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/12/2013 19:26 Comments || Top||

#9  On the other hand there are a few of us here that were prefix "5" at one time....
Posted by: Bill Clinton || 02/12/2013 22:37 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Wresting Islam from Islamists
Written by a Muslim "intellectual"... enough said.
Muslims are contesting the rule of the Muslim Brotherhood and the tyranny of the clerical custodians in Egypt and Iran.

Hamid Dabashi is Hagop Kevorkian Professor of Iranian Studies and Comparative Literature at Columbia University.
Things are different on this side of the pond, Professor Dabashi. But we wish you well, truly we do.
Posted by: tipper || 02/12/2013 08:44 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336107 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "...Islam will resume its multi nefarious course of non-creative and critical super-sensitive non-conversation with the kuffars and will thus become what it has always been to Muslims - integral to their expansive cosmopolitan(?, huh, say what)? cultures...", caliphate, anyone?

I am shua the Bambied One has backed up his ammo supply for this issue. /sarc
Posted by: Injun Stalin7884 || 02/12/2013 20:00 Comments || Top||

#2  Unfortunately the opposition to the MB + hardline factions tend N-O-T to have armed wings, only activist or political.

UNLESS SOMETHING CHANGES, ADVANTAGE = GOES TO MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD, ETC. GROUPS + THEIR ARMED WINGS.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 02/12/2013 23:20 Comments || Top||

#3  To paraph SLY STALLONE as John Rambo in RAMBO IV > "DID YOU BRING ANY GUNS WID YOU ... NO, THEN YOU'VE CHANGED NOTHING"!

Lest we fergit, even Super-Lib CAPT. HAWKEYE PIERCE [Alan Alda] from TV's M*A*S*H surrendered like France to well-armed Chicoms + seemingly "rogue" US Soldiers when "properly motivated" from gun/bayonet point.

HAWKEYE is living proof that the DemoLeft is absolut correct in that iff all the Guns are taken away from Private, Law-abiding Americans, THE CHICOMS ETAL. WON'T HAVE ANY GUNS TO POINT AT AMERICANS [but weirdly-n-mysteriously, + only coincidentally PDeniably, will]. IFF AMERS GAVE UP ALL THEIR GUNS OR WEAPONS, CLEARLY THE REST OF THE WORLD WILL, E.G. GLOBAL-JIHAD-N-BEHEADING HAPPY GLOBAL JIHADIS.

Yuuup - 'tis clear as day.

lol.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 02/12/2013 23:36 Comments || Top||


Muslim Brotherhood snubbed by Egyptian scholars
The battle of the grand muftis. Which mufti will Obama support when the fighting starts?
EGYPT’S leading religious scholars have spurned the ruling Muslim Brotherhood’s choice and picked an apolitical Islamic law professor to be grand mufti – the country’s top cleric.

“Dr Shawki Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam, professor of Islamic law in Tanta University, got the highest number of votes and the matter has been sent to the president to issue his decision,” a statement from al-Azhar seat of learning said yesterday.

The post of carries wide influence over legislation and social affairs, and president Mohamed Mursi, a Muslim Brotherhood member, is expected to formalise the appointment soon.

The contender groomed by the Brotherhood, Abdul Rahman al-Bar, 50, a 30-year veteran of the conservative Islamist group and member of its decision-making Supreme Guidance Council, was not even in the top three nominees, officials said.

The grand mufti delivers televised sermons on major Muslim holidays and is empowered to issue opinions (fatwas) on any matter, influencing legislation on social and cultural issues, public behaviour and court rulings.

Dr Allam chairs the department of jurisprudence in the sharia law faculty in al-Azhar’s university in the northern Nile delta town of Tanta.

A panel of Islamic scholars took the decision after “detailed study of the applicants based on scientific legal standards, the adoption of al-Azhar’s moderate agenda and an estimation of their psychological and moral suitability”, the official statement said.

Insiders said the Brotherhood had pushed for Mr Bar despite warnings his candidacy would be seen as part of a power grab to dominate all state institutions.
Posted by: tipper || 02/12/2013 08:09 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336070 views] Top|| File under:


Home Front: Politix
Obama's Hypocritic Oath-VDH
In 2008 Obama was not just a fierce critic but a sanctimonious critic of just the sorts of practices and protocols that he has later embraced. Why? Partly, Senator Obama was inexperienced and really believed that the presidency would be as easy a task as had been his opportunistic brief tenure as a senator. Partly, because during the 2007--08 campaign the media never asked questions of Obama in the manner that they did other candidates, he naturally assumed, quite correctly, that they were so invested in his symbolism that they would never critique him when he was president. And partly, as a man of the Left Obama believed that the means really are justified by the ends -- and so the reactionary Bush should be judged by standards that can hardly apply to the egalitarian progressive Obama.

Will the abject hypocrisy continue for another four years? There is no reason to believe that Obama has become more circumspect and now understands that he cannot meet the very expectations he demanded of others, or that the media will try to salvage their tattered reputation by applying the same scrutiny to Obama that they did to others. But who knows -- in 2016 we may see a young charismatic senator like the Barack Obama of 2007 who creates a messianic persona through hypnotizing the media, insisting that the incumbent is an utter failure, and promising "hope and change."
Posted by: Beavis || 02/12/2013 06:49 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336103 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Oddly, there has never been any acknowledgment by the administration that Obama adopted the policies of his predecessor that he had once damned, much less that in the case of drone assassinations he far exceeded them

Not at all "odd" when you consider these were neither the policies of Bush or Obama, but those of a faceless, runaway, three letter agency with a secret, unlimited budget.
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2013 7:42 Comments || Top||

#2  There is no hypocrisy in the pursuit of power. It's self rationalizing, self justifying. Such creatures have no shame. Hypocrisy is something those out of power talk about. Got to remember, regardless of the extent of voter fraud, a (literally) hell of a lot of people voted for power rather than truth.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 02/12/2013 8:37 Comments || Top||

#3  It truly makes you question the psychological make up of a man who can engage in such double talk and hypocrisy and still sleep at night. I guess that is a talent (or skill) most successful politicians possess; although despite his faults I found it quite lacking in our previous president, and admirably so I might add.
Posted by: Eltoroverde || 02/12/2013 9:08 Comments || Top||

#4  Narcissism:
A a generalized personality trait characterized by egotism, vanity, conceit, or selfishness. However, narcissism has subsequently included particular meanings in specific fields, including:
A central concept of psychoanalytic theory
A mental illness
A social or cultural problem
A personality trait.

Except in the sense of primary narcissism or healthy self-love, narcissism is usually considered a problem in a person or group's relationships with self and others.

Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2013 9:13 Comments || Top||

#5 
those of a faceless, runaway, three letter agency with a secret, unlimited budget.


The FFA?
Posted by: Rob Crawford || 02/12/2013 11:01 Comments || Top||

#6  TPC
Posted by: Classical_Liberal || 02/12/2013 17:00 Comments || Top||

#7  DNC?

Al
Posted by: Frozen Al || 02/12/2013 23:45 Comments || Top||


Africa Subsaharan
Video: Stoning of a 15 year old girl in Mali
Posted by: tipper || 02/12/2013 02:57 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336070 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Ahh, the lions of Islam, the Religion of Peace the people that are held out as poor victims of the Jews.

Disgusting scum.
Posted by: Alanc || 02/12/2013 7:59 Comments || Top||

#2  Video removed by the Lions of Facebook.
Posted by: remoteman || 02/12/2013 16:37 Comments || Top||

#3  I wonder if I can make a personal donation to the French Foreign Legion. Maybe buy them a few extra bullets??
Posted by: Raider || 02/12/2013 19:25 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Culture Wars
Same-sex US military couples to get family benefits
The Pentagon will extend some family benefits to same-sex partners of US military members, Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has said.

The benefits include child care, legal help, joint duty assignments, emergency leave, and transportation.

Others such as healthcare and housing allowances cannot be offered without a change in federal law, he said.

The move comes more than two years after the US Congress repealed a ban on openly gay military members.

Mr Panetta said he had ordered each military service to make the changes by 1 October.

"It is a matter of fundamental equity that we provide similar benefits to all of those men and women in uniform who serve their country," Mr Panetta said on Monday.
Posted by: tipper || 02/12/2013 01:22 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336072 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Child Care?

For a couple of queers, they can't have children, not together anyway.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/12/2013 2:18 Comments || Top||

#2  Numerous US Army Joint Domicile assignments are now available on Johnson Island. See your career manager for details.
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2013 3:42 Comments || Top||

#3  Others such as healthcare and housing allowances cannot be offered without a change in federal law, he said.

BS Leon. There's already court law when the Pentagon argued 'women' weren't allowed the same pay and benefits based upon 'law'. At the time it was about housing allowance, but the legal principle was established in court that they were. Can't wait till they apply for base/post housing, are refused, and the courts say otherwise. You threw away the defense that Congress makes the laws when you opened the door by your political action.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 02/12/2013 8:48 Comments || Top||

#4  BTW, Congress never repealed Article 125 of the UCMJ.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 02/12/2013 8:50 Comments || Top||

#5  How do these benefits compare to hetero benefits? The Navy Seal trigger puller who iced Bin Laden is having difficulty getting any benefits for his service. Go figure.
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/12/2013 8:51 Comments || Top||

#6  But, but, but I thought it was about the "glass ceiling", equality, career opportunity, promotion and advancement.

Do you mean there is a financial component ?
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2013 9:10 Comments || Top||

#7  ..same whine B. They argued back then they couldn't 'afford' it. The court saw otherwise.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 02/12/2013 9:12 Comments || Top||

#8  Wait until installation housing offices are besieged by requests for "exceptional family member" quarters, and military hospitals are full of military members and "dependents" suffering from with HIV.
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2013 9:28 Comments || Top||

#9  Well, at least we can pinpoint the date when it stop being a military organization and just another welfare/social justice program of the Party(tm).
Posted by: Procopius2k || 02/12/2013 9:45 Comments || Top||

#10  JohnQC, the Esquire story was false - and aimed at promoting a political push for Obamacare.

The SEAL in question did not serve a full 20 years, nor was he medically retired, so he is not eligible for a pension any more than others who served and left early would be.

He, like all veterans who've served in combat, is eligible for 5 years of health care through the Veterans Administration. Apparently he was unaware of this (surprising, since it's part of outbriefings) or did not apply.

The reporter intentionally chose to describe that as denial of benefits, and refuses to change the story even when the details were confirmed, making clear the political bias and agenda.
Posted by: lotp || 02/12/2013 10:13 Comments || Top||

#11  It will be interesting to see if the courts do to the military what they did to public schools.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 02/12/2013 11:33 Comments || Top||

#12  I'm not going anywhere near that link to Johnson Island.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 02/12/2013 13:12 Comments || Top||

#13  Used to be a tradition that one of the chemical branch officers graduating from Command and General Staff College* would replace the one sent to Johnston Island the previous year. Wonder if that 'Lucky Pierre' opportunity is still operating?

* cause you use to be obligated for two years active duty for attending the school and couldn't get out of it by putting your papers in. On the other hand, you could pick up a follow on assignment to Hawaii.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 02/12/2013 13:51 Comments || Top||

#14  Shooter story has the aftertaste of budget scare tactics.

the good folks at thisainthell.us are throwing flags as well.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 02/12/2013 14:21 Comments || Top||

#15  Thanks lotp. Never thought too much of Esquire.
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/12/2013 16:56 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Pakistan Taliban 'Ban Vulgar Films, Viagra'
[An Nahar] The Pak Taliban have warned shopkeepers in a popular market to stop selling "obscene films" and Viagra-style male potency pills.

Shopkeepers told Agence La Belle France Presse Monday that they found handwritten pamphlets containing the warnings after opening Saturday in Karkhano market on the edge of the northwestern city of Beautiful Downtown Peshawar.
...capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly known as the North-West Frontier Province), administrative and economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. Peshawar is situated near the eastern end of the Khyber Pass, convenient to the Pak-Afghan border. Peshawar has evolved into one of Pakistan's most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities, which means lots of gunfire.
"Selling sex drugs, vulgar films and obscene movies are against Sharia," said copies of the pamphlet distributed in the name of Tehrik-e-Taliban Khyber.

"All those involved in this business are warned to quit this occupation and start a lawful business or face the consequences," it said.

Those who received the threatening letter spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity because of fear of Taliban reprisals.

Dozens of shops in Karkhano openly sell pornographic films and male potency tablets, according to witnesses.

The market borders the tribal district of Khyber, where fighting has recently intensified in a long-running Pakistain military operation against the Taliban and other Islamist militias on the Afghan border.

Shopkeepers selling music and films are routinely threatened across the northwest, where hundreds of DVD and CD shops have been bombed in the past by gunnies who deem their business un-Islamic.
Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336087 views] Top|| File under: TTP


Bangladesh
B’desh approves controversial war criminal law
Bangladesh's cabinet approved changes to war crime laws to make sure opposition leaders on trial for alleged atrocities during the 1971 war can be swiftly executed if convicted.

The move came amid demonstrations by hundreds of thousands of people in Dhaka for the past week demanding quick executions of the 10 alleged war criminals currently being tried on such charges as genocide and rape. Two others have already been convicted.

The protests began after the war crimes tribunal last week gave a life sentence to a leader of the largest Islamic party -- a term critics said was too lenient.

Cabinet secretary Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said the cabinet, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, approved the changes, allowing the state and victims to contest the life term for Abdul Quader Molla of the Jamaat-e-Islami party. The cabinet also set a 60-day limit for the Supreme Court's Appellate Division to dispose of appeals, Bhuiyan said, meaning someone who gets a maximum death sentence can be hanged this year.

Bhuiyan said, "Previously there were no rules on disposing of an appeal at the Appellate Division. Now, a new rule has been added under which an appeal (against a war crime verdict) must be disposed of within 45 days. If not possible... the Appellate division will get another 15 days. The total is 60 days."

The parliament "will pass the law within a few days", he added.

The war court, called the International Crimes Tribunal even though it has no international oversight, last month sentenced an Islamic TV preacher to death for murder during the 1971 war.

Last Tuesday, Molla, Jamaat's fourth-highest ranked leader, who was accused of mass murder, became the first opposition leader to be sentenced. Eight other Jamaat officials, including its head and deputy head and two senior officials of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), are also being tried by the tribunal.

Both Jamaat and BNP have called the cases "show trials" aimed at barring the leaders from upcoming polls. International rights groups have questioned the proceedings.

The life term for the Jamaat-e-Islami party leader sparked nationwide protests with Jamaat rejecting the verdict and its supporters clashing with police, resulting in at least four deaths.
Posted by: ryuge || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336071 views] Top|| File under: Jamaat-e-Islami


Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Chechen leader demands ban on sorcerers, psychics
Ramzan Kadyrov, leader of the Chechen Republic, has ordered a crackdown on sorcery, psychic and faith healing, calling those who participate in such practices "charlatans." During a meeting in Grozny with municipal leaders, Kadyrov claimed that false healers and wizards are "banned by Islam," and will not bring Chechen citizens any relief from sickness or suffering.

Kadyrov warned those who engage in sorcery, faith healing, and psychic practices that they will feel the force of Chechnya's security services. Chenchya's citizens who seek the services of these practitioners might also face detention and arrest by security forces.

The citizens of the republic hold a variety of folk beliefs. Many believe that evil djinn have been attracted to the region because of the deaths and destruction from prior wars in Chechnya.
Posted by: ryuge || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336088 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Finally some sense.
Wipe out the REAL baddies and Fakes.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/12/2013 2:15 Comments || Top||

#2  RJ, just for my peace of mind you DID leave off the /sarc tag by accident, right?

The despicable irony of using "banned by Islam,"
just below the entry of the stoning of a 15 yr old girl is way beyond nauseating.
Posted by: Alanc || 02/12/2013 8:04 Comments || Top||

#3  Many believe that evil djinn have been attracted to the region

Having been victimized by evil gin myself, they have my sympathy.
Posted by: SteveS || 02/12/2013 10:44 Comments || Top||

#4  RJ, just for my peace of mind you DID leave off the sarc tag by accident, right?

No, iI didn't, they're scum, and prey on people in pain, they need to be eliminated.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/12/2013 16:53 Comments || Top||

#5  No need to worry ... they already saw it coming.
They left.
HAHAHA !!!!
Posted by: Raider || 02/12/2013 19:28 Comments || Top||

#6  Boy howdy, sometimes you just can't make this stuff up.
Posted by: Bill Clinton || 02/12/2013 22:43 Comments || Top||


-Lurid Crime Tales-
$1m reward offered for fugitive ex-cop
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336084 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I have to wonder iff he ever became a lay Minister like he desired many years ago.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 02/12/2013 1:29 Comments || Top||

#2  Meanwhile In Los Angeles...
Posted by: tipper || 02/12/2013 1:38 Comments || Top||

#3  So far he is inside the LAPD's OODA loop. So far. I would imagine that LAPD is asking for and/or getting outside help in getting inside Dorner's OODA Loop.
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 02/12/2013 1:52 Comments || Top||

#4  Yp, they'd rather shoot him than clean house.

Or probably shoot him and NOT clean house, the LAPD badly needs a roto-rooter through it.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/12/2013 2:10 Comments || Top||

#5  Video of him possibly purchasing scuba gear in Torrance has now turned up. I'd be looking a bit further south. Interesting, his sympathizers and Charles Manson-like cult following. Local law enforcement now referring to his murderous acts as "domestic terror". If he's picked up by the Mexican police, $1m won't begin to cover the damages.
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2013 4:31 Comments || Top||

#6 
Yp, they'd rather shoot him than clean house.


They've been cleaning house; he thought he'd make up some BS to ride the gravy train of being a "whistle blower". He's a lying, cowardly sack of shit who got caught lying, got punished for it, and has been so coddled by "affirmative action" he thinks its a horrid injustice.

Frankly, I'm disgusted at the number of people who haven't looked beyond his BS and bought into the legend he created in his own mind.
Posted by: Rob Crawford || 02/12/2013 8:53 Comments || Top||

#7  It is interesting that Dorner is out in the wind this long. There is a lot of heat on him. The climate of L.A. seems to be that there is little trust of the police. I have seen blogs/comments that would indicate that some are not very sympathetic to the cops or authority (The Rodney King and OJ responses). I wonder, if Dorner is getting help from some of these people?
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/12/2013 9:13 Comments || Top||

#8  Teevee nuus just announced authorities believe... "he may have had help".
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2013 9:14 Comments || Top||

#9  Washington Times short article ref accomplices. This has the potential to get very ugly.
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2013 9:35 Comments || Top||

#10  I figured as soon as he burned his vehicle up in snow country he was already in Mexico (or very close). Why else burn it and draw attention to the location if not misdirection?

He's probably in Brazil by now.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 02/12/2013 14:39 Comments || Top||

#11  Sounds like they've cornered him.
Posted by: Vespasian Oppressor of the Visigoths8235 || 02/12/2013 16:48 Comments || Top||

#12  Breaking
Posted by: tipper || 02/12/2013 17:01 Comments || Top||

#13  Big Bear Shoot out
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 02/12/2013 17:02 Comments || Top||

#14  Looks like he was not as smart and wiley as we thought. He seemed to have hung around Big Bear and now is in his last stand, maybe.
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 02/12/2013 18:05 Comments || Top||

#15  What has often happened in the past in cases like this is the cops will fire "tear gas" into the cabin and the next thing you know the cabin will be engulfed in flames. Ooops, they'll say, the tear gas canister must have accidentally ignited a curtain. A prominent example that comes to mind is the Symbianese Liberation Army. But there have been others. Well, there was the Branch Davidian compound in Waco too. Hope the owners of the cabin have insurance.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 02/12/2013 18:20 Comments || Top||

#16  Who gets the $1.2 million reward, Both guys or the one who made the call?
Dorner broke into an cabin off Route 38, on the mountain resort area where days ago his truck was found burning. Two people were held there until Tuesday morning, when Dorner left in a white pickup believed to belong to the occupants, who he left bound inside. One managed to escape and call authorities around 12:50 p.m. local time.


Posted by: tipper || 02/12/2013 18:54 Comments || Top||

#17  Neither, the cops will claim "Existing Conditions" and refuse to pay.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/12/2013 19:23 Comments || Top||

#18  Seems #15 EU is prescient.
Posted by: Barbara || 02/12/2013 20:53 Comments || Top||

#19  It occurred to me earlier that this is essentially a domestic disturbance between the LAPD and Dorner, and like a big domestic dust-up, will end with some gun play, a little property damage, a death or two, and the house on fire.
Posted by: SteveS || 02/12/2013 22:17 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Firing during PTI elections injures three
[Dawn] At least three people were maimed in Lahore in a firing incident during the Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaaf's (PTI) intra-party elections held on Monday whereas police tossed in the slammer
I ain't sayin' nuttin' widdout me mout'piece!
eight suspects accused if disrupting law and order, DawnNews reported. The incident occurred when an argument erupted between two contending groups of the PTI, both of whom accused each other of rigging the intra-party polls.
Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336069 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan

#1  Yup, separate the women for easy slaughter.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/12/2013 2:21 Comments || Top||


Southeast Asia
Policeman injured in southern Thailand
A policeman was injured in a clash with suspected terrorists militants in Pattani province on Monday afternoon.

The battle broke out at about 3:40 p.m. when a police team rushed to Ban Pho after receiving a report that a number of terrorists militants were hiding in a house there. Pol Cpl Sukri Sribu was injured in the clash.

The police team continued to lay siege to the house, according to reports.
Posted by: ryuge || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336069 views] Top|| File under: Thai Insurgency


Africa Subsaharan
Americans are Satanists - Zanu-PF loyalist
[NEWS24] A staunch Zanu-PF loyalist and war veterans' leader Jabulani Sibanda has urged Zimbabweans not to vote for the Movement for Democratic Change in the upcoming elections, saying the party (MDC) represented "American interests and Americans are Satanists", according News Day.

Addressing a campaign rally at a growth point in Mhondoro, Sibanda who is known for intimidation crusades across the country, likened Zanu-PF to the biblical "first fish" from where Jesus' disciples fished a coin when they ran out of cash.

"Zanu-PF is your first party. [President Robert] Mugabe is your first leader. Jesus said the first fish, not second, third or fourth. President Mugabe is your salvation. He represents the people's interests, while [Morgan] Tsvangirai ...and all the other parties are puppets of the West," said Sibanda.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336080 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Jabulani Sibanda, in his capacity as the chairman of the war veterans association, indicated that the former guerillas would go back into the bush if Mugabe lost the 2008 presidential election to Simba Makoni.[4

Wikipedia
Posted by: Injun Stalin7884 || 02/12/2013 11:14 Comments || Top||

#2  One Party state fully explained.
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2013 11:32 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
34 Charged over Arsal Army Ambush, Municipal Chief Summoned
[An Nahar] Suspected members of an armed group were on Monday charged in connection with the ambush of an army patrol in the northeastern town of Arsal that left two soldiers dead.

State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr charged 34 people and summoned Arsal municipal chief, Ali al-Hujairi, to question him as a witness, the state-run National News Agency said.

Two of the suspects are in custody while the identities of 25 others are known and investigators are trying to identify the rest, it said.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336076 views] Top|| File under:


Home Front: Culture Wars
Hamtramck mosque proposals spark fight
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336071 views] Top|| File under:

#1  We took a vote at the White Eagles Club pig roast. They can shudup and stays where they is! No more discussion.
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2013 3:34 Comments || Top||

#2  How long until they demand changes to the location name?!?
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 02/12/2013 5:47 Comments || Top||

#3  I'm sure the original name is a misspelling anyway, Bright Pebbles.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/12/2013 10:22 Comments || Top||


Africa Subsaharan
Seven suspects arrested for attack on Kano Emir
[Guardian Ng] SECURITY operatives in Kano State have arrested seven suspects who were involved in the attack on the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, on January 19, after the first suspect that was arrested provided useful information that led to the arrest of six more suspects.

In a press briefing in his office Monday, the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, Ibrahim K. Idris, disclosed that immediately after the attack on the emir, police received a distress call and operatives were immediately mobilised to the area and cordoned the place where the event took place.

According to him, the first suspect, "Adamu Sani, who hails from Tofa council of Kano State, was intercepted and arrested at a nipping point along Sabuwar Gandu by Mobile Policemen. He voluntarily confessed to have participated in the attack on the emir's convoy and so many other co-ordinated attacks in the state."
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336081 views] Top|| File under:


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Kerry Seeking to Unblock $700 Million for Palestinians
[An Nahar] Secretary of State John Kerry is working to try to free up almost $700 million in aid for the Palestinians which has been held up in Congress, a top U.S. official said Monday.

"The secretary feels extremely strongly that it is time now to get this support to the Palestinian Authority," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.

The department was working with Congress "to get appropriated money released for the Palestinian Authority because we think it's very, very important that they remain effective in supporting the needs of the Palestinian people."
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336073 views] Top|| File under: Palestinian Authority

#1  Moron or motivated by kickbacks?*













*O'k it's a trick question.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 02/12/2013 1:13 Comments || Top||

#2  Me thinks they'll use it on narcotics. heh
Posted by: Mikey Hunt || 02/12/2013 1:45 Comments || Top||

#3  Just a Useful Moron.
Due for a permanent fall.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/12/2013 2:30 Comments || Top||

#4  That's his first move out of the box? Did his mother have any children that lived?
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/12/2013 8:38 Comments || Top||

#5  The only thing we should "help" the PA do is get into a vicious fight with Hamass.
Posted by: Muggsy Mussolini1226 || 02/12/2013 12:28 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Marzouki party withdraws exit threat
[MAGHAREBIA] Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki's secular Congress for the Republic (CPR) will remain part of the coalition government, pending the resignation of key ministers from the ruling Islamist Ennahda party.

"We have decided to freeze our decision to withdraw our ministers from the government, but if in one week we don't see any changes, we will quit the government," AFP quoted CPR chief Mohamed Abbou as saying on Monday (February 11th).

Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali also reiterated Monday that he had "no other choice but to form a transitional, non-partisan government".

"The situation is difficult and urgent, and there is a danger of violence," Jebali told Le Monde. "I cannot wait," he added.

Jebali on Saturday threatened to quit, warning of chaos unless a new Tunisia government were formed.

The killing of opposition leader Chokri Belaid last week has triggered the greatest political crisis in the country since the revolution.
Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336069 views] Top|| File under: Arab Spring


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
The View From Israel: Obama Visit To Prevent Strike On Iran
[Jpost] Reason behind the urgency of Obama's trip is to tell PM to leave the Iranian nuclear issue to the US, officials tell Army Radio.
I can't comment. I need some aspirin, chamomile tea, and a long nap.
The main purpose of US President Barack Obama
I mean, I do think at a certain point you've made enough money...
's visit to Israel in the spring is to warn Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu against attacking Iran, unnamed officials told Army Radio on Sunday.

According to the officials, the urgency of the trip is because in his speech to the United Nations
...an organization originally established to war on dictatorships which was promptly infiltrated by dictatorships and is now held in thrall to dictatorships...
in September, Netanyahu had flagged the spring of 2013 as a significant time in the context of the Iranian nuclear threat.

Therefore, they said, Obama is concerned that the prime minister will decide to attack Iran now when he is backed by a new government and can establish a new security cabinet, without Dan Meridor and Benny Begin, two Likud MKs and alleged opponents of such a strike who lost their Knesset seats in the recent elections.

The officials told Army Radio that the US president subsequently decided to transmit a direct message to Netanyahu: "Don't attack Iran, let me handle matters with the Iranians according to my understanding, and if necessary I will take action, we have capabilities that you do not."

At the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday morning, Netanyahu said that he and Obama, when they spoke last month about the visit, agreed that it would focus on three central issues: Iran's race toward nuclear weapons; the instability in Syria and how that impacts on regional security, and both Israeli and US interests; and efforts to move forward the diplomatic process with the Paleostinians.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336084 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The main purpose of US President Barack Obama's visit to Israel in the spring is to warn Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu against attacking Iran,

If the Israelis had a sense of humor, they would do it in the middle of BHO's visit. "It was a dark and stormy night..."
Posted by: SteveS || 02/12/2013 0:20 Comments || Top||

#2  Is that before, or after, "Sequestration" kicks in???
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 02/12/2013 1:20 Comments || Top||

#3  We're supposed to believe that O chose a face to face confrontation? Instead of.
(i) Promulgating an Imperial decree from a podium on front of a WH.
(ii) If he doesn't want the details to be public, sending a flunky to inform the quarrelsome Judeans of the Imperial will.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 02/12/2013 2:12 Comments || Top||

#4  Does this mean he'll have to stay on in Israel? What about Michelle, Grans, and the kids ?
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2013 3:59 Comments || Top||

#5  Besoeker e's all yours.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 02/12/2013 8:08 Comments || Top||

#6  Could you be bribed g(r)om? I have coupons for a tour of a brewery only a short flight away....
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2013 8:12 Comments || Top||

#7  Ok. You got me. Now what have you got to offer 6000000 other Israelis?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 02/12/2013 8:19 Comments || Top||

#8  Well, there are all those American Jews who voted for him .....
Posted by: lotp || 02/12/2013 10:01 Comments || Top||

#9  Ever been getting ready to go out on the town and meet up with a date, and that guy you know but don't really like knocks on the door, comes on in, grabs a beer, plops on the couch, and tells you to have a good one when you politely state your plans.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 02/12/2013 10:30 Comments || Top||

#10  Well, there are all those American Jews who voted for him .....

Meaning what, exactly?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 02/12/2013 11:16 Comments || Top||

#11  We've managed to turn otherwise intelligence people into low information voter.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 02/12/2013 11:31 Comments || Top||

#12  If the Israelis had a sense of humor, they would do it in the middle of BHO's visit

If the Israelis had a sense of humor, Mr. Netanyahu would have a pressing visit to Canada at that time.
Posted by: Pappy || 02/12/2013 11:51 Comments || Top||

#13  Bibi: "Piss off, kid."
Posted by: Muggsy Mussolini1226 || 02/12/2013 12:29 Comments || Top||

#14  Paul Mirengoff has an opinion on the subject:

I don’t put too much stock in this report. No doubt Obama and Netanyahu will discuss Iran, and no doubt Obama will argue against an Israeli strike. But whether Obama’s visit is primarily motivated by fear that Netanyahu is poised to strike Iran, as opposed to a desire to intercede on behalf of the Palestinians, remains unclear.

But this much seems clear: Netanyahu would be a fool to step aside and let Obama “handle matters with the Iranians according to [Obama's] understanding.” And this too: if Obama wanted to instill that kind of trust in Netanyahu, he should have nominated someone other than Chuck Hagel for Secretary of Defense.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/12/2013 12:35 Comments || Top||

#15  the whole thing is a moot point ... at this moment. Given the latest N-test in N. Korea it's a pretty good bet that the Iranians know exactly what their bomb design needs to be. For all we know - they may be putting the finishing touches on their first nuke weapon today. If Bibi doesn't hit Iran in the next 2 weeks ... then Israel may as well settle in and live with a new Cold War in the ME.
Posted by: Raider || 02/12/2013 14:19 Comments || Top||

#16  And Iran sends a proxy nuke around the horn for Israel. This is getting to be a Roentgen game of chicken on the Iranians' part.
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 02/12/2013 16:55 Comments || Top||

#17  Raider that's awfully pessimistic. What about that huge plant explosion in Iran? Wasn't that the main Processing site?
Posted by: Charles || 02/12/2013 21:09 Comments || Top||

#18  Charles ... I suppose my comment was pessimistic. But I have seen no confirmation that there really was an accident at Fordow. I have been assuming that by now Mossad would leak out some details of a major accident at Fordow ... if one occurred. It is in Israel's interests to report mishaps within Iran. Likewise, even scientific organizations that have access to satellite photo's should be able to confirm activity at Fordow that is consistent with a rescue scene at a major disaster. We have heard absolutely nothing. Hence, with a lack of corroboration I have been assuming that the reports of a major problem are overblown.
Posted by: Raider || 02/12/2013 23:50 Comments || Top||

#19  AFAIK the Bammer hasn't revoked or taken back his March 2013 deadline for Iran to formally put its NucProg under UN IAEA Supervision - the March 2013 deadline per se would be moot iff Japan + China start a shooting war oer in NE Asia.

IMO Benji will likely wait until after March deadline has passed - March or after will also give him + Tel Aviv time to analyze the effects of "sequestration" cuts on the US = USDOD's to support Israel or carry out Iran attack.

ALA "ARAB/ISLAMIC/MUSLIM SPRING" REGIONAL + TRANS-REGIONAL WAVE, A WANNABE OR DE FACTO NUCLEAR IRAN IS NO LONGER ISRAEL'S ONLY EXISTENTIAL OR NUCLEAR THREAT/PROB IN THE NIDDLE EAST, + Israel can't fight all of them even wid US help, e.g. US-led GMD-TMD no matter how effective the latter.

The US-West cannnot do nothing - they must maintain a potent MilPol presence in the ME + North Afriqque, etc. just for simple, all-around Nuclear Deterrence for the sake of both Israel + themselves.

Again, RISING IRAN = RISING CHINA = WILL OBAMA MAKE UNILATERAL HE-KEPT-US-OUT-OF-WAR/NUCLEAR WAR CONCESSIONS TO IRAN THAT WON'T BE ACCEPTED OR TOLERATED BY BOTH THE US MAINSTREAM/
ELECTORATE + US OVERSEAS ALLIES???

Iff Iran = China concedes > GOOD FOR US-SPECIFIC "SOLE" SOVEREIGNTY + GEOPOL CREDIBILITY, BAD FOR ANTI-US GLOBALISTS + ANTI-US OWG + NAU 2015; iff Iran = China does not concede = war?, BAD FOR US "SOLE SOVEREIGNTY + GEOPOL CREDIBILITY, GOOD FOR ANTI-US GLOBALISTS + ANTI-US OWG + NAU 2015.

* CHINA-DEFENSE-MASHUP > NAVY LEADER SAYS BUDGET ISSUES TO THREATEN READINESS.

Once again, as per poten "sequestration" cuts, the USS "GEORGE WASHINGTON" CVN + Battle Group may be the USDOD-Navy's ONE-N-ONLY OVERSEAS DEPLOYABLE CARRIER IN CASE OF INTERNATIONAL CRISIS/CRISES.

"MIGHTY GEORGE" = "GLOBALIST/GREEN GEORGE"???

[North-Korea-vs-Mighty-George here].

* RELATED WAFF > [StrategyPage] RUSSIA CREATES HYPER-SPEED HARPOON, Air-to-Ground/Surface TLCM.

IIUC, 2.5X the Speed, but only 1/3rd the distance or range of the older, slower US-MADE "HARPOON". OTOH DATS WHY CHINA HAS DF-21 ASBMS/ACBMS + NORTH KOREA HAS HIGH RIDGES + MOUNTAINS.

Lest we fergit, CHINA was time back mulling converting YUAN-class strategic subs to carry anti-Carrier SLBMS + SLCMS, + construction of multi-armed ARSENAL/FIRE SHIPS???

* DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > CAN OBAMA DO A NIXON-TO-CHINA ON IRAN?

1972's "Ping-Pong" Nixon/Tse-Tung Diplomacy = 2013"s "Soccer/Jalai/Cricket" Diplomacy. I can think of other, ethnically-correct traditional games but AFAIK the US doesn't have a team that knows or plays such. FORREST GUMP + PADDLE, I'M LOOKING AT YOU!

* SAME > [AsiaSociety.org] MABUHANI: CHINA NOT PREPARED TO BE WORLD #1, US NOT READY TO BE WORLD #2.

* STRATEGYPAGE > TERRORISTS CLOSER TO GRABBING A [Pakistani]NUKE.

* CHINESE MILITARY FORUM > [CNBC.com] ECONOMIST PETE SCHIFF: US WILL WIN THE [Global] CURRENCY WAR, BUT THEN IMPLODE.

* CHINESE DAILY FORUM > US ECONOMY [+ Govt-Politicos] IS NOW DANGEROUSLYD ETACHED FROM REALITY.

* DAILY TIMES.PK > US MUST CHANGE BEFORE DIRECT TALKS: AHMADINEJAD.

Khamenei, FM, + now Moud.

IRAN = CHINA = DRAWING "LINES IN THE OCEAN/WATER", NOT "LINES IN THE SAND"???

Iran 3, Bammer = USA 0???
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 02/13/2013 0:41 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
SC questions Qadri's right to move court against ECP
[Dawn] The Supreme Court has ordered Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri to submit required documents pertaining to his dual nationality and regarding his claims of being a stakeholder in Pakistan's democratic system.

A three-member bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justices Gulzar Ahmed and Sheikh Azmat Saeed, was hearing on Monday Qadri's petition for the reconstitution of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

The petition calls for the reconstitution of the commission on the basis that the ECP's chief and four members were not appointed according to the provisions of the constitution.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336077 views] Top|| File under:


Africa North
Algeria dismantles arms trafficking network
[MAGHAREBIA] Algerian security forces arrested ten suspected members of an arms and ammunition trafficking network in El Bayadh APS reported on Sunday (February 10th). The investigation reportedly began after a 35-year-old bus driver was arrested for selling ammunition at a weekly market.
Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336072 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in North Africa


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Iran supporting up to 50k militia in Syria
(UPI) -- Militias fighting for Syrian President Bashar Assad have a second goal of keeping Iran's influence in Syria if Assad falls, officials tell The Washington Post.

As many as 50,000 militiamen backed by Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah Shiite Islamic militant group and political party are being cultivated inside Syria to preserve and protect Tehran and Hezbollah's interests in a post-Assad Syria, the U.S. and Middle Eastern officials told the newspaper.
One assumes they haven't sent their very best, given how they performed thus far...
"It's a big operation," a senior Obama administration official told the Post.

longer article at the WaPo
Posted by: lord garth || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336073 views] Top|| File under:

#1  From Egypt to Syria?
Seems Iran might be kinda soft at the moment.
Posted by: Skidmark || 02/12/2013 6:07 Comments || Top||

#2  Iran providing support to the Assad regime proxies?

Sanctions on Iran aren't worth spit.
It does seem Iran is spread thin.
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/12/2013 8:09 Comments || Top||


Twin Suicide Attacks Kill 14 Syria Security Officers, Says NGO
[An Nahar] Jihadist rebels killed 14 Syrian intelligence officers in twin suicide car bomb attacks against their offices in the northeast province of Hasakeh on Monday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

"At least 14 members of state security and military intelligence were killed when Al-Nusra Front fighters detonated car bombs in front of the state security headquarters and a military intelligence building in the town of Shadada," the watchdog said, citing sources on the ground.

The Observatory said that the number of fatalities was expected to rise since many others were wounded and in critical condition.

It added that clashes were continuing in the town, whose inhabitants -- including many employees of a nearby oilfield -- have largely fled.

Al-Nusra Front has been blacklisted by Washington as a terrorist organization for its deadly suicide attacks, but it has meanwhile traction on the ground as a fearless fighting force in the revolt against President Bashar Assad's regime.
Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336077 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Hamas Launches Own Official News Agency
[An Nahar] The Islamist movement Hamas which rules Gaza has set up its own news agency, called Al Rai (Opinion), the Palestinian territory's Hamas government announced on Monday.

"The first official news agency of the (Hamas) government has been established under the name of Al-Rai agency...under the supervision of the government information office," the office's director Salameh Maaruf told Agence France Presse.

"It will be an important source of information on government activities, news releases and letters from the (Gaza) prime minister," Ismail Haniya, he said.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336073 views] Top|| File under: Hamas

#1  "The first official news agency of the (Hamas) government has been established under the name of Al-Rai agency...under the supervision of the government information office,"

Our own MSM certainly proves the "gov't information office" supervisory model works. Best of luck to them. Helen Thomas grins affectionately.
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2013 3:56 Comments || Top||

#2  What?

ABC/NBC/CBS/CNN/MSNBC/etc... aren't enough? They need another one?
Posted by: CrazyFool || 02/12/2013 5:27 Comments || Top||

#3  Will Farfour be doing the Weather?
Posted by: Mullah Richard || 02/12/2013 14:12 Comments || Top||


Good Morning
Posted by: badanov || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336068 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Birthday Gam Shot

Silvia Saint [Czech][NSFW Selected Short Subjects Filmography](age 37)



Intelligent Design


Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 02/12/2013 0:18 Comments || Top||

#2  Jeri Ryan was married to Jack Ryan, former Senator of Illinois. Jeri and Jack were divorced. During the 2004 Senate election, the divorce records were illegally unsealed by the Barack Senate Obama campaign for the 2004 Senate election. There were allegations in the records that Jack Ryan had wanted to have what Jeri considered weird sex--too weird for her and they were divorced. Jack Ryan withdrew from the race. Obama went on to win the 2004 Senate election paving the way for the 2008 presidential election. And yet we still know very little of Barack Obama's background.
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/12/2013 7:52 Comments || Top||

#3  Barack Senate Obama delete a few too many words. More coffee.
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/12/2013 7:53 Comments || Top||

#4  Correction: the Ryan divorce records weren't 'illegally' opened -- there was a court order based on the 'public need to know' about a political candidate for the US Senate. That this played into the Democrats' hands by destroying the man who was thought to be a formidable candidate against Champ made it all the sweeter.

But it was a court that did the dirty work, as frequently happens in Illinois.
Posted by: Steve White || 02/12/2013 10:23 Comments || Top||

#5  That's even worse.
Posted by: Whiskey Mike || 02/12/2013 11:03 Comments || Top||

#6  In Illinois there is no difference at all between a Democrat Campaign office and a court. The courts are for all intents and purposes a wholly owned subsidiary of the Democrat party.

Been that way since before I lived there in '69 and nothing significant has changed.
Posted by: Alanc || 02/12/2013 11:22 Comments || Top||

#7  Illinois, the State with four branches of government:
Executive
Legislative
Judicial
Penal
Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 02/12/2013 11:28 Comments || Top||


China-Japan-Koreas
USGS confirms 4.9 artificial earthquake in North Korea: it's another nuke
Location on Google Maps

Five things to know about North Korea's planned nuclear test (from last week)

Yonhap news link
Posted by: gromky || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336104 views] Top|| File under:

#1  initial estimate from skor is that is was 10-15 kiloton equivalent; about the same strength as the two that were dropped on Japan in 1945
Posted by: lord garth || 02/12/2013 0:17 Comments || Top||

#2  As per YONHAP, its been reduced or corrected to 6-7 kilotons.

* FYI KYODO NEWS > PAKISTAN FIRES [test-fires] NUCLEAR-CAPABLE, BATTLE-FRONT TACTICAL MISSLE.

* DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > US, WEST IGNORING PAKISTAN'S NUCLEAR THREAT, espec after 2014 when formal Govt/Power-sharing starts taking place vee the Talibunnies.

Right now, though, IRAN needs Pakistan's Nuke Arsenal to mainly to deter US-Allied Milaction agz its NucProgs + in defense of Iran's strategic interests includ Hezbollah, until such time Iran per se is ready to do so in its own.

* TOPIX > [US News & World Report] FACING A NUCLEAR IRAN, ISRAEL MUST RETHINK ITS NUCLEAR AMBIGUITY.

No more hiding by Israel per the real size or strength of its Nuclear Arsenal. ISRAEL IS POTENS FACING SEVERAL NUKE-WANNABE, ISLAMIST, POST-SPRING MUSLIM STATES.

* SAME > [Reuters] NETAYAHU: NEW IRAN CENTRIFUGES COULD SHORTEN PATH TO ATOMIC BOMB.

The sound you're hearing is Iran's Clerics + Radical Islam's Hard/Burqua Boyz happily skipping along throughout their day.

[NORTH KOREA-VS-USN'S-POTENTIALLY-ONLY-WORLD-DEPLOYABLE-CVN-THANKS-TO-SEQUESTRATION-USS-GEORGE-WASHINGTON here].
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 02/12/2013 0:43 Comments || Top||

#3  OOOOPPSIES, forgot DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > VIDEO: CATALONIA CALLING THE CHINESE NAVY.

Pro-Independence Activists supporting a supposition of a future independent Catalonia offering "Base Rights" to China + PLAN in Baracelona + Tarragona, to offset the wily dastardly French + Spanish just a short distance away.

As said the other day, CHINA MAY HAD FORMALLY REJECTED THE JAPAN-PROPOSED IDEA OF "ISLAND-SHARING VEE THE DISPUTED SENKAKUS/DAOYUS, BUT WILL IT STILL DO SO IFF THE SAME WAS OFFERED BY THE DEBT-N-SEQUESTRATION BURDENED USA = BAMMER ADMIN.???

E.G. WORLD MILITARY FORUM > EXPERTS SAY CHINA SHOULD CONSIDER/MULL PURCHASING JAPAN'S FORMER "NORTHERN TERRITORIES" FROM RUSSIA IN EXCHANGE FOR THE DIAOYU ISLANDS.

Intehwesting, but unlikely, as Mama Russia is more interested in making sure SCO-CSTO BFF China stays out of Russia's Far East AMAP ALAP.

Chinese Perts, however, acknowledge the importance of Sakhalin to any PLA conventional force mass attack agz Japan.

* Also from WORLD MILITARY FORUM > UAE "KHALEEJ TIMES" FOREIGN MEDIA: JAPAN CAMP OF ANY SINO-JAPANESE MILITARY CONFLICT OVER THE DIAOYU ISLANDS IS LIKELY DOOMED TO FAILURE UNLESS THE US CAN INTERVENE ON JAPAN'S SIDE WID ITS NUCLEAR AIRCRAFT CARRIERS. CHINA ROUGHLY HAS UP TO 90 DAYS TO MILITARILY FORCE JAPAN INTO PRO-CHINA SURRENDER OR CEASE-FIRE BEFORE JAPAN CAN CONVERT ITS LARGE STOCKPILES OF NUCMATS INTO NUCLEAR WEAPONS FOR USE IN COMBAT AGZ CHINA.

* SAME > CHINA'S PLAAF SHOULD CONDUCT ROUTINE OVERFLIGHTS + SURVEILLANCE OVER THE OKINAWA TROUGH [CHINA'S PRIMARY DELIMITATION OF THE "CONTINENTAL SHELF" IN THE EAST CHINA SEA], + NOT FEAR OR BE BOUND TO JASDF "IDENTIFICATION ZONE" AIRSPACE RESTRICTIONS.

* GLOBALNATION INQUIRER.NET > OBAMA MOVES TO ELEVATE STATUS OF US ARMY IN PACIFIC.

USARPAC to now be commanded by a four-star Top Egg. Just more proof to me that my home island of Guam is now a [transit] node for CONUS-based US Army-Marine RDF/RRFS, at least for a while.

* DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > [The Trumpet] RUSSIA JOINS CHINA IN PROVOKING US ALLY. Idea of US MilPol Conflict wid both Russia + China is just too much for war-weary US.


ARTIC = denotes than in a so-called "MULTI-POLAR WORLD", ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.

"Murphy's Laws" applicable.

RELATED YOMIURI SHIMBUN > RUSSIAN PATROL PLANES [2 ea. IL-38's] COME CLOSE [again] TO JAPAN.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 02/12/2013 1:17 Comments || Top||

#4  In the meantime, our president is trying to downsize our nuclear arsenal unilaterally.
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/12/2013 7:55 Comments || Top||

#5  his SOTU speech tonight was going to call just for that JohnQC. Oops! Reality sucks, huh?
Posted by: Frank G || 02/12/2013 8:11 Comments || Top||

#6  China's patience with North Korea wears thin after latest nuclear test
China may agree to stiffer sanctions or reduce aid to Pyongyang but is unlikely to cut off its long-time ally, say analysts
Posted by: tipper || 02/12/2013 8:23 Comments || Top||

#7  This is when the "more flexibility" kicks in.
Posted by: Mugsy Glink || 02/12/2013 8:35 Comments || Top||

#8  South Korea should conduct a test next week. See how China like that.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 02/12/2013 8:41 Comments || Top||

#9 
Reality sucks, huh?


What makes you think reality will change anything with him?
Posted by: Rob Crawford || 02/12/2013 8:55 Comments || Top||

#10  #8 better Japan or, since we're having a problem keeping air craft carriers fueled, how about selling one/two to Tokyo. They used to know how to use them. Let Beijing reap what it sows.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 02/12/2013 9:10 Comments || Top||

#11  Or Taiwan?
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 02/12/2013 10:28 Comments || Top||

#12  The reall effect is on Japan. They will scale up their military and go nuclear. This is the end of the old agreements limiting the size & role of Japan's military.

This could also upset the Israeli Govt a lot. How do we know this wasn't a secret test of an Iranian bomb? And even it was a N. Korean nuke - how do the Israelis know the N. Koreans won't sell the plans to the Iranians?? It's a mess.
Posted by: Raider || 02/12/2013 11:19 Comments || Top||

#13  The WH and the leftist media are busy today.

The challenge:

How do we blame this on the Republicans?

Posted by: lord garth || 02/12/2013 11:45 Comments || Top||

#14  Background
Posted by: newc || 02/12/2013 11:55 Comments || Top||

#15  So is this what Achmadinejad meant when he said Iran is already nuclear? Is this what Netanyahu means when he says Iran is speeding up its nuclear program? I'm thinking if the NORKS can do it and they're cooperating with the Iranians then the Iranians can do it too. For all we know it could have been an Iranian or possibly a jointly produced nuke that was detonated and they are just trying to fool the Israelis into believing it's strictly a NORK bomb.

Thanks for all the hand wringing Clinton, Bush and Obama. Thanks for all the trade agreements with China that have enriched that country and the fiscal policies that have brought our country to the brink of bankruptcy. Thanks a whole bunch. Morons.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 02/12/2013 12:08 Comments || Top||

#16  Coming soon, a two theater conflict against a Western, one(-) theater war force.
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2013 12:14 Comments || Top||

#17  North Korea, Iran and Pakistan are all proxies for China. None of these states would have ballistic missiles or nuclear warheads without tutelage from the Chinese.

Don't forget about the warhead blueprints recovered from Libya. They were of a Chinese nuke warhead for one of their early missiles. AQ Khan got it from the Chinese and provided all his centrifuge customers with it.
Posted by: john frum || 02/12/2013 12:22 Comments || Top||

#18  "Don't forget about the warhead blueprints recovered from Libya."

Is there a link for that? Would like to read that story.
Posted by: Raider || 02/12/2013 12:27 Comments || Top||

#19  It's only a decade old. From the WaPo via the Seattle Times
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 02/12/2013 12:36 Comments || Top||

#20  But I'm sure it's Not As Important As Michelle's Fabulous Bangs.
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain || 02/12/2013 14:12 Comments || Top||

#21  She does have great bangs though.
Posted by: Unang Omeans6347 || 02/12/2013 20:12 Comments || Top||

#22  nice wig
Posted by: Frank G || 02/12/2013 20:53 Comments || Top||

#23  FYI DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > INDIA SEES PAKISTANI HAND IN NORTH KOREA NUCLEAR TEST - TIMES OF INDIA.

Indjuh believes Pakistan gave North Korea the HEU Enrichment + Cascade Techs for their test bomb???

and

* BHARAT RAKSHAK > [Bharatkarnad.com] NOKO/PAK H-BOMB TEST SUPERIOR TO INDIA'S S-1.

Nuke test allegedly may be a DPRK/NOKOR-controlled test of a PAKISTAN-designed NucBomb as modified or improved upon by SSSSHHH ...CCCCCCC CHINESE SCIENTISTS???

-----------

More NT News ...

* Also from TIMES OF INDIA > OBAMA PLEDGES TO DEFEND ALLIES AFTER NORTH KOREA NUCLEAR TEST.

* TOPIX > [GPB.org = Georgia Public Broadcasting] DID NORTH KOREA TEST A "MINIATURE" NUCLEAR BOMB?

* ASAHI SHIMBUN > NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR TEST GROWS WID "SMALLER, MORE POWERFUL" DEVICE.

IMO read, COVERT COMMANDO + PROXY MILITANT-TERROR GROUPS.

* WORLD NEWS > [McClatchy Newspapers] EXPERTS: US MUST PREPARE FOR THE DAY NORTH KOREA CAN PUT A NUCLEAR WARHEAD ON A ROCKET.

US-World may have to learn to live wid a North Korea/DPRK as a de facto NUCLEAR WEAPONS POWER.

Ditto as per RISING IRAN + other possible POST-"ARAB SPRING" ISLAMIST GOVTS-STATES IN THE MUSLIM MIDDLE EAST + NORTH AFRICA.

* SAME > NORTH KOREA NUKE TEST HERALDS NEW + RISKY JONG-UN STRATEGY.

* DAILY YOMIURI > ANALYSIS; NORTH KOREA PLAYS "NUCLEAR [Missle] CARD", to maximize its barter or negotiation advantages vee the USA.

versus

* WORLD NEWS > [WND = Joseph Farah'S G2 Bulletin] US, IRAN BOTH SHIFTING FOCUS TO ASIA.

* SAME > [SCMP] CHINESE LEADER MUST KEEP BRASH + RECKLESS PLA IN CHECK - OR RISK WAR.

* SAME > [The Himalayan] ABU SAYAFF THRIVING IN THE PHILIPPINES.

AS = renamed one day to "Al-Qaeda-in-the-Philippines"? NUCLEAR?

Manila now faces two threats - LOCAL MOROS + FOREIGN JIHADISTS/ISLAMISTS to its south in Mindanao; + CHINA + PLA in the SCS + to the far North of Subic Freeport + ex-Clark AFB + Manila Metro, AKA WHERE THE USDOD + PHIL ARMED FORCES ARE NOT.

"Oh, give me a home where the Carabaos roam, + nothing but Coconut trees + Geckos ply all day".

THE US DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH MARINES FACING THE CHINA-CLAIMED/CONTROLLED SOUTH CHINA SEA, + NOTHING TO FACE CHINA NORTH OF THE MANILA REGION.

* DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > HEAD OF US MARINES SAYS TRAINING MISSIONS WID VIETNAM [+ other SE Asian Countries] A POSSIBILITY.

USMC Commandant Gen. James Amos.

VERSUS

* DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > [AsiaSociety.org] MABUHANI: CHINA NOT PREPARED TO BE THE WORLD'S NO. 1, US IS NOT READY TO BE THE WORLD'S NO.2.

D *** NG IT, "KILLER DAN" = "HOW CAN WE WIN THE WAR"!
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 02/12/2013 23:09 Comments || Top||


Africa Subsaharan
Nigeria: Army Arrests Eight Boko Haram Suspects in Kaduna Village
[ALLAFRICA] Men of the Nigerian Army manning a check-point in Kagoro, Kaura local government area of Kaduna state on Saturday evening intercepted eight people suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect.

It was gathered that seven men and a woman were arrested while travelling in an Opel Vectra Saloon car with registration number, AY-386-KPN with Improvise Explosives Devices (IED) materials.

According to a resident, Bulus Bawa, "When the men were arrested, we saw cooking gas cylinders, coils of wires and other devices used for producing bombs in the car. They were taken away from Kagora to Kafanchan Divisional Police Headquarters," he said.

A security source in Kafanchan confirmed to Daily Trust that the suspects confessed to have been travelling from Kano to Lafia.

"They were taken away from the police headquarters in Kafanchan at about 10am to a military base in Kaduna," he said.

When contacted, the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations 1 Division, Colonel Sani Usman confirmed the arrest.

He said, "On Saturday evening some suspected terrorists, including a woman were intercepted at a military check point in Kagoro. They were carrying weapons and Improvised Explosive Devices (IED's) when our men intercepted them."

Usman added that, "investigation has commenced into the matter," and assured the general public of the safety of their lives and properties in the state.
Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336100 views] Top|| File under: Boko Haram


China-Japan-Koreas
Talk of Nork Nuclear Test 'a Hasty Conclusion'
A quasi-official North Korean website has accused the outside world of drawing a "hasty conclusion" that the North is about to conduct another nuclear test.
Perhaps China scolded its dog...
Reacting to the announcement of and "important decision" by North Korea, "the U.S. and hostile forces jumped to conclusions that [Pyongyang] is planning a third nuclear test," the Uriminzokkiri website quoted the weekly Tongil Sinbo as saying last Friday.

Some experts believe the piece is a way hinting at a U-turn over the nuclear test under pressure from China, but a government official here said it is more likely to be a tactical deception.

"The North has already gone too far with preparations to stop the nuclear test," he said. "If the regime was really calling it off it would have announced it in a more prominent official publication like the Rodong Sinmun daily."

Ryu Dong-ryeol of the Police Science Institute said the regime often uses the Tongil Sinbo or the Chosun Sinbo, a pro-Pyongyang mouthpiece in Japan, for smoke-screen tactics because it doesn't have to take responsibility for what appears in them, unlike official organs like the Rodong Sinmun.
There's propaganda and then there's official propaganda...
Meanwhile, Pyongyang's official KCNA news agency said Tuesday that the North will continue to launch long-range rockets "to ensure its own security."
Posted by: Steve White || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336086 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "Hasty Conclusion" > Hehe, reminds me of post-Wedding Massacre Sir Lancelot in that "Monty Python" classic.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 02/12/2013 1:33 Comments || Top||

#2  I'm reminded of the TV broadcast where they said "He's not here", but we were.

Your lies are out.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/12/2013 2:33 Comments || Top||


N. Korea will launch more long-range rockets
SEOUL, Feb. 12 -- North Korea said Tuesday that it will continue to launch long-range rockets along with the pursuit of "all-out action of high intensity" to ensure its own security. The message carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) was reached at the meeting of the Political Bureau of the ruling Workers' Party Central Committee that was held Monday.

"The bureau stressed the need to continue launching satellites of the Kwangmyongsong series and powerful long-range rockets," the news outlet said in a lengthy report monitored in Seoul.

Pyongyang launched the three-stage Unha-3 rocket in late December, which is estimated to have a range of roughly 13,000 kilometers. The launch was the second undertaken last year and the fifth overall since 1998.

The KCNA report added that there is a need to "stage an all-out action of high intensity for reliably protecting the security and sovereignty of the country," citing a grave security situation on the 65th anniversary of the founding of the communist nation. It said the (North) Korean People's Army (KPA) must keep itself fully ready for combat and maximize its preparedness.

"Once an order is issued, the KPA should blow up the stronghold of aggression at a strike and wipe out the brigandish U.S. imperialists and the South Korean puppet army, and thus accomplish the historic cause of national unification," it said in an English dispatch.
Posted by: Steve White || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336084 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Nuke em from orbit, it's the only way to be sure.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/12/2013 2:27 Comments || Top||

#2  "Once an order is issued, the KPA should blow up the stronghold of aggression at a strike and wipe out the brigandish U.S. imperialists and the South Korean puppet army, and thus accomplish the historic cause of national unification,"

Brigandish imperialists? A lot of war-like rhetoric.

Good background on Norks nuke program up until 2006

So what can be done?: 1. Target leadership (Possible), 2. Targeted strikes on nuke and rocket facilities (Possibility), 3. Invasion (doubt that we have the resources for such a long-term, costly war), and 4. sanctions (haven't worked).

As in the 1950s, China is still in the background supporting the Norks. Unlike the 1950s, we owe them a lot of money.
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/12/2013 8:36 Comments || Top||

#3  Winter famine's pretty bad this year, huh?
Posted by: lotp || 02/12/2013 9:54 Comments || Top||

#4  Most of the targets available to match the tech level of the Norks equipment would be large (Big Blue) urban areas of the Pacific coast. And the problem is? Well, other than fallout drift, but those of us who grew up during the era of above ground nuke testing seemed to have fared well enough.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 02/12/2013 13:58 Comments || Top||


Caribbean-Latin America
2 more grenades detonate in Nuevo Laredo, 1 dead -- UPDATED

For a map, click here. For a map of Tamaulipas state, click here
UPDATED


By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com

Two more grenades were detonated in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas Monday evening, -- one near a local college -- killing one unidentified individual late Monday morning, according to twitter reports, government press releases and Mexican news accounts.

A tweet issued by the US Consulate at around said that two explosions were heard, presumably near their offices.

A report released by the Tamaulipas state Procuradura General del Estado (PGE), or attorney general said that grenades were detonated in two separate incidents in the city starting at 1150 hrs.

The first grenade exploded near the intersection of Avenida Alvaro Obregon and Privada I. Tamez, near Johann Gutemberg college, wounding one unidentified woman. Her wounds were originally characterized in the PGE press release as not serious. However, late twitter reports said the victims wounds were labeled as grave. Two sedans also were damaged in the incident.

The unidentified woman who was wounded in the attack later died in the attack.

The second incident took place near the intersection of Avenida Juarez and Calle Bolivar. That incident caused damage to the facade of a business, which subsequently closed. An SUV also was damaged in the incident.

The grenade attacks are the second in a week. An attack took place last Thursday near the US Consulate when two rival gangs exchanged gunfire. Three grenades were detonated, but no one was reported wounded, nor was damage reported. Mexican federal security forces intervened, forcing the armed groups to flee the scene.

The Tamaulipas PGE denied last week's grenade attack even took place.

Getting news from Nuevo Laredo has been problematic. Local drug groups routinely intimidate local and foreign reports into not reporting incidents such as Monday's attacks. Because of the threats and intimidation, local government officials must resort to social media such as Twitter to spread the word about danger zones in the city as they arise.

A tweet released Monday said that bots were being use to suppress reports.

A late tweet posted just two hours before press time reported gunfire in Riveras del Bravo colony on Avenida Ruiz Cortez.

Chris Covert writes Mexican Drug War and national political news for Rantburg.com
Posted by: badanov || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336101 views] Top|| File under:

#1  wounding one unidentified individual late Monday morning, according to twitter reports,
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/12/2013 2:39 Comments || Top||

#2  Going off by themselves, are they? Usually, they need someone to throw them.
Posted by: Muggsy Mussolini1226 || 02/12/2013 12:19 Comments || Top||

#3  If you noticed, nowhere in the story was it written "the grenades detonated" or "grenades detonated themselves".

Ever wonder why it was written that way?

In Tamaulipas state in Mexico, like a shooting gallery that Nuevo Laredo has become, government officials will not report such incidents as a grenade attack even if they know which drug cartel participated in the attack.

And in Nuevo Laredo attacks such as the two grenade attacks are almost always caused by individuals who throw or will launch grenades at a target, and then disappear. Many times witnesses will either not witness the event or they, like police, will not report on the grenade attack.

I think you should agree if I do not write "grenade detonated" or "the grenade detonated itself", the clear meaning was that someone there caused the grenades to explode. It should be implicit in the story that when a grenade attack takes place, someone probably caused that grenade to detonate. It is especially critical that the reader makes the presumption in this case since it is likely either the attacker was not seen, or was seen and witnesses are too afraid to report what they saw.

I appreciate being shown errors. I usually operate on a deadline and sometimes late at night, or I am just plain too tired to catch something.

But what bothers me is when a grammar Nazi puts forth the effort to point out something said Nazi did not read. It is most irritating since the writer did not write it.

In that case, not only is said Nazi wasting my time as well as his/hers, said Nazi is looking foolish.

So please, pretty please with sugar on top, next time read the f*cking article.
Posted by: badanov || 02/12/2013 19:19 Comments || Top||

#4  as you were, Chris. It's all good. Thanks for your posts
Posted by: Frank G || 02/12/2013 20:51 Comments || Top||


The Grand Turk
Man Killed by Own Hand Grenade at Kurd Protest in Turkey
[An Nahar] A 19-year-old Kurdish man was killed late Sunday when a home-made grenade exploded in his hands during a demonstration in Turkey's Kurdish-majority southeast, local authorities said.

The man was one of 100 demonstrators who had gathered in Diyarbakir city to protest ahead of the 14th anniversary of jailed Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan's capture in Kenya on February 15.

He was preparing to launch the grenade at police when it exploded in his hand, Diyarbakir governor Mustafa Toprak was quoted as saying by the state-run TRT channel.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336088 views] Top|| File under:

#1  A 19-year-old Kurdish man was killed late Sunday when a home-made grenade exploded in his hands

Appropiate, very appropiate.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/12/2013 2:41 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Shura Council committee says female protesters should take responsibility, if harassed
[Egypt Independent] Shura Council's human rights committee members said on Monday that women taking part in protests bear the responsibility of being sexually harassed, describing what happens in some demonstrators' tents as "prostitution."

Major General Adel Afify, member of the committee representing the Salafi Asala Party, criticized female protesters, saying that they "know they are among thugs. They should protect themselves before requesting that the Interior Ministry does so. By getting herself involved in such circumstances, the woman has 100 percent responsibility."

During the committee meeting on Monday, Afify called for penalizing children, even if it does not conform to international charters to which Egypt is signatory, and criticized foreign-funded organizations, which adopt western thought, he said.

Salah Abdel Salam, a member representing the Salafi Nour Party, said that as long as women protest in places full of thugs, they should take responsibility for the harassment they face.

Mervat Ebeid, member representing Wafd party, said all societal categories are to be blamed for sexual harassment. She also said that knowing there are many thugs present at demonstrations, women should take responsibility when deciding whether to attend protests.

Reda Saleh al-Hefnawy, member representing FJP, demanded penalizing those who incite sexual harassment. He also called on women not to stand among men during protests.

On the other hand, Nabil Azmy, member representing Egypt Party, criticized what he described as 'post-revolution attacks on women.' He suggested that the solution would be arresting thugs and street children as well as detaining their parents for endangering their children's lives.

Major General Abdel Fattah Othman, vice-chief of the public security department, said Egyptian law doesn't include the term 'sexual harassment,' but does legislate against indecent assault and rape.

Security presence in Tahrir or in places of protests in sensitive, Othman said, suggesting that security personnel would get attacked if they were present at demonstrations.
Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336085 views] Top|| File under: Arab Spring


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Assad Says Syria Will not Submit to 'Plots'
[An Nahar] Syrian Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad
Horror of Homs...
on Monday stressed that his regime, battered by nearly two years of revolt, will not submit to pressure or "plots" against it, reported state news agency SANA.

"Syria will remain the beating heart of the Arab world and will not give up its principles despite the intensifying pressure and diversifying plots not only targeting Syria, but all Arabs," Assad said at a meeting with a Jordanian delegation in Damascus.
...The capital of Iran's Syrian satrapy...
The statement came after Syrian opposition chief Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib said he had received "no clear response" from Damascus over his offer of dialogue.

Khatib said in late January he was prepared to hold direct talks with regime representatives who did not have "blood on their hands," and so long as the discussions addressed replacing Assad.

The Assad regime had said it was open to talks but without pre-conditions.
Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336071 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria

#1  What about "Polls", as in "Voted" OUT.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/12/2013 2:36 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
If separate polling stations set up Mohmand women to cast vote in polls
[Dawn] The residents of Mohmand tribal region have said that they will allow female members of their families to cast votes in the upcoming general elections if separate polling stations are set up for them.

The rustics would allow their women to cast votes if government ensured their security and established separate polling stations for them, Said Rehman, a resident of the region, told Dawn.

However,
there's more than one way to skin a cat...
in the prevailing situation it was not safe for the women to visit polling stations, he added.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336077 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Africa North
Malian army evacuates Gao market
[News24] Malian soldiers on Monday evacuated the main market in Gao over fears of an attack, after the northern city was shaken by three days of suicide bombings and guerilla gun battles claimed by Islamists.

"We fear an attack, that is why we are evacuating the Gao market for security reasons," said a high-ranking officer. Vendors were packing up their merchandise and leaving the Washington Market, which is near the central police station that Islamist gunmen used as a base for a guerilla attack on the city on Sunday.
Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336087 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in North Africa


The secret war behind Benghazi - NY Post
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336074 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The Joint Special Operations Command, which Brennan controls, is a collection of special forces outside of the regular military command originally formed as a hostage-rescue team. But in the middle of last summer, say Murphy and Webb, troops operating clandestinely under JSOC began infiltrating Libya.

The painful irony here is the "hostage-rescue team" mentioned above was the element formed by the Army and commanded by the late COL Charlie Beckwith to rescue Americans held captive after the storming of the US Embassy in Tehran, Iran on 4 Nov 1979.
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2013 3:27 Comments || Top||

#2  Ronald Reagan was advised by those around him not to go into Granada to provide safety for Americans who were there. There was concern whether Americans would support such an invasion. Reagan said:
“Trust the people -- that is the crucial lesson of history.”

Currently, the current regime has little trust of the American people. That is a huge problem. There is no honesty regarding the Benghazi debacle. There is no honesty regarding Fast and Furious.
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/12/2013 9:07 Comments || Top||

#3  Conclusion: At war with the American people?
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/12/2013 9:26 Comments || Top||

#4  Gabe Gomez Web Site
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2013 12:10 Comments || Top||


Libyan leaders visit Benghazi
[MAGHAREBIA] Amid mounting concerns about the Tripoli
...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn...
government's ability to restore order, Libyan General National Congress President Mohamed Magarief and Prime Minister Ali Zidan visited Benghazi on Friday (February 8th).

The national leaders met local councillors, who voiced frustration at the pace of economic and security improvements in Libya's second largest city.

A number of civil society organizations plan to march this Friday (February 15th) to push for greater federalism, as well as the formation of a 60-member constitution drafting committee.

Activists are also calling for stepping up security, activating the army and police and holding previous governments accountable.

In Benghazi, people are demanding that corporations once based in the city but transferred to Tripoli under Qadaffy -- including the National Oil Corporation, Brega Oil Company and Libyan Airways -- be returned to the east.

On Saturday, a number of Benghazi political parties issued a joint statement criticising the GNC for mismanagement and inaction, and demanding that the government improve security.

Signatories to the statement included the Justice and Construction Party, the Party of Change, the Islamist al-Wattan Party and the National Front.

"Libya needs assistance and expertise in the field of security, since this is one of the biggest challenges facing it at the current stage, agreed Benghazi native Hussein Elmsallati, a 39-year-old anchor for Libya FM Channel.

"I think also that we should co-ordinate with the United Nations
...an idea whose time has gone...
in terms of consultations and programmes on national reconciliation and mechanisms of action for the committees drafting the constitution," Elmsallati added.

Meanwhile,
...back at the Alamo, Davy was counting their remaining cannon balls and not liking the results...
residents of Benghazi said they hoped that the visit by Zidan and Magarief could lead to change.

"This is a visit to the city where the first spark of the revolution erupted," Nahla Bashir said. "Now, this city is a hotbed of tension."
Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336073 views] Top|| File under: Arab Spring

#1  Meanwhile back in the U.S., no one's talking about Benghazi. Will the Pubs have the cajones to hold up nominations for Benghazi info?
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/12/2013 8:44 Comments || Top||

#2  Could someone in the administration please comment on the 5 months of impacts of our closed mission and annex in Benghazi ?

Oh, no noticeable impacts? Well, what were we doing there in the first place ?
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/12/2013 9:06 Comments || Top||

#3  When Hillary was asked during hearings about weapons being moved from Benghazi to Turkey to Syria, she feigned surprise and said: "That's the first time I've heard of that." Kind of like slick Willy's response, "I didn't have sex with that woman."
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/12/2013 9:24 Comments || Top||

#4  The national leaders met local councillors, who voiced frustration at the pace of economic and security improvements in Libya's second largest city

Get in line; the US Embassy (Tripoli) staff and the FBI are ahead of you.
Posted by: Pappy || 02/12/2013 11:46 Comments || Top||


Libya enquiry clears interior minister
[MAGHAREBIA] Libya's Supreme Court on Sunday (February 10th) cleared Interior Minister Ashour Shuwail of any link to the Moamer Kadhafi regime, Libya Herald reported. It dismissed the appeal of the Integrity Commission against Shuwail's appointment.
Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336086 views] Top|| File under: Arab Spring


China-Japan-Koreas
Suspicious seismic activity in North Korea
Seismic activity has been detected in North Korea in what could be a sign of a widely anticipated nuclear test. The US Geological Survey reports it had detected a tremor with a 4.9 magnitude. South Korean media also said it had detected a "man-made earthquake" in its northern neighbor.
Posted by: ryuge || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336071 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "Man-made earthquake" > Uh, uh, JONG-UN = "PUDGY" WENT OUT FOR A WALK???

gut nuthin.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 02/12/2013 1:27 Comments || Top||

#2  How about some more "Man Made" Earthquakes there.
And their Capitol.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/12/2013 2:25 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Egypt Police Clashes with Protesters at Morsi's Palace
[An Nahar] Egyptian police fired tear gas and water cannon at stone-throwing protesters outside the presidential palace on Monday as the opposition rallied to mark the second anniversary of Hosni Mubarak's overthrow.

The clashes broke out after several hundred protesters marched to the palace, the site of increasingly frequent clashes, on a day of marches against Egypt's new Islamist president, Mohamed Morsi.

Police first used water cannon and then charged at protesters in armored vans, firing volleys of tear gas.

Opposition groups called for the protests to demand that Morsi fulfill the goals of the revolution which brought him to power along with his long-banned Muslim Brotherhood movement.

Among their key demands are a new unity government, amendments to a controversial Islamist-drafted constitution and the sacking of Egypt's prosecutor general.

The interior ministry said an "angry minority" provoked the clashes when they tried to remove a barbed wire barricade at the gate of the palace in northern Cairo.

Activists are also furious that no one has been held accountable for the deaths of dozens of protesters in past months in clashes with police.

Monday's protests drew a far lower turnout than the anti-Morsi mass rallies of November and December, after the president adopted now repealed powers placing his decisions above judicial oversight.

About 1,000 protesters gathered in central Cairo's Tahrir Square, a protest hub. "The revolution continues" read some banners, as others chanted "After blood has been spilled, there is no legitimacy."

Protesters briefly blocked a major bridge as well as trains in a central metro station, scuffling with passengers and metro police, witnesses and state media reported.
Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336070 views] Top|| File under: Arab Spring


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
13 Dead, Dozens Hurt in Blast at Turkey-Syria Border Crossing
[An Nahar] At least 13 people were killed and dozens maimed when a Syrian mini-bus went kaboom! Monday near the border between Turkey and Syria, officials said, though the cause was not immediately clear.

"All possibilities are on the table, including political motives," Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said after unidentified explosives triggered the "powerful blast".

The Syrian-registered mini-bus, which was traveling from the direction of Syria, went kaboom! in a busy parking lot barely 40 meters (yards) into the buffer zone of the Cilvegozu crossing in the Turkish town of Reyhanli.

It sparked a fire that damaged about 15 vehicles, a foreign ministry official told Agence La Belle France Presse.

The official put the likelihood of it being a terrorist attack at "51 percent," but stressed the local prosecutor's office was still investigating.

"We have unfortunately lost 13 people: three of them Turks and rest Syrians," Prime Minister Recep Tayip Erdogan said, adding that another 27 people were severely maimed.

Dozens of mortar shells have landed on Turkish soil in recent months, including a deadly incident in October when five Turkish non-combatants were killed by Syrian shelling.

Erdogan said the blast underscored why Turkey is prioritizing counter-terrorism efforts and maintaining a hard line against the regime of Syrian Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad.
Leveler of Latakia...
"We will not make concessions on either issue," he said.
Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336072 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria


Caribbean-Latin America
Mexican coppers smoke 5 bad guys in Reynosa

For a map, click here. For a map of Tamaulipas state, click here

A total of at least five armed suspects were killed in an armed encounter with a Policia Federal road patrol in Reynosa, Tamaulipas Monday, according to Mexican news reports.

News accounts published on the website of El Diario de Coahuila and La Silla Rota news dailies said that a group of armed suspects ran into a Policia Federal road patrol in Reynosa municipality on Bulevar Luis Echeverria, sparking a pursuit and a running gunfight.

The encounter ended in Zona Centro near the intersection of calles Matamoros and Palafox, where unofficially, five armed suspects were killed. At least two other armed suspects were wounded in the pursuit and gunfight.

An undisclosed number of weapons were recovered in the aftermath.

Chris Covert writes Mexican Drug War and national political news for Rantburg.com
Posted by: badanov || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336072 views] Top|| File under:


Iraq
Four killed in north Iraq suicide car bomb
Update: now nine dead.
[FRANCE24] A suicide boom-mobile near an army base in north Iraq killed at least four people on Monday, security officials said, the latest in an uptick in violence nationwide amid a political crisis.

The blast struck in the al-Muthanna area of djinn-infested Mosul, which lies 350 kilometres (220 miles) north of Storied Baghdad
...located along the Tigris River, founded in the 8th century, home of the Abbasid Caliphate...
, killing four people and wounding five others, according to security and medical officials.

Also north of the capital, a roadside kaboom killed a policeman and maimed two others in the disputed city of Kirkuk,
... a thick stew of Arabs, Turkmen, Kurds, and probably Antarcticans, all of them mutually hostile most of the time...
while a police brigadier general was badly maimed by a magnetic "sticky bomb" attached to his car, officials said.
Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336071 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in Iraq


Africa North
French, Malian troops control Gao; seek out rebels
[KANSASCITY] Malian soldiers scoured the city of Gao on Monday for remnants of the radical Islamic fighters who invaded the town and engaged in an hours-long fight with soldiers before French and Malian forces regained control.

Sunday's brazen assault marked the first time the jihadists had penetrated the city of mud-walled buildings since they fled two weeks ago. The attack also showed the al-Qaeda-linked krazed killers' intent to fight for control of Gao, which they had ruled for nearly 10 months.

However,
there's more than one way to stuff a chicken...
French President Francois Hollande
...the Socialist president of La Belle France, and a fine job he's doing of it...
said Monday his goal is that "not one space of Mali's territory be under the control of terrorists."

"The essential part of the Malian territory is today liberated, but we haven't finished our task. There are still terrorist pockets, notably in the extreme north of Mali, and operations are still being conducted by a certain number of groups," Hollande said from Gay Paree.

Lt. Col. Salihou Maiga with the national police said Monday that at least 14 suspects had been jugged
... anything you say can and will be used against you, whether you say it or not...
following searches in the area and would be transferred to Bamako, the capital.

At least five of them were being held inside a building that smelled of urine with a tiny barred window. The metal door was secured with two padlocks.

Inside the cop shoppe, at least eight people facing interrogation by authorities sat on the floor without handcuffs or restraints.

"People were terrorized by Sunday's attack, but all the people have returned to the city now," Maiga said. "Calm has been restored."

At least six French armored personnel carriers patrolled the empty downtown streets where the black-robed Islamic gunnies had battled for more than five hours with Malian soldiers the day before. The checkpoint to the city where jacket wallahs have now twice targeted Malian soldiers also was heavily fortified.

"Our forces are right now patrolling the city to dismantle the pockets of resistance," said Daouda Sidiki Dembele, a communications officer with the Malian army in Gao.

Hundreds of Gao residents gathered around the heavily damaged police headquarters in the center of the city early Monday where body parts lay strewn about. The al-Qaeda-linked cut-throats concentrated their attack on the police center in northern Mali's largest city.

"Yesterday we heard the gunfire and hid in our homes all evening," said Soumayla Maiga as he stood with friends near the heavily damaged offices. "We were stunned when we came out and saw what happened."

The radical Islamic fighters from the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa, or MUJAO, had ruled Gao for nearly 10 months before they were ousted at the end of January.

The black-robed jihadists, armed with AK-47 automatic rifles, returned to the city by crossing the Niger River in wooden boats to launch their assault Sunday afternoon, said French Gen. Bernard Barrera, citing the Malian military.

By nightfall French military helicopters flew overhead to patrol the city. Two kabooms rang out overnight, but early Monday the only sounds in the city were the morning call to prayer from mosques and barking dogs.

Malian Lt. Col. Nema Sagadam said it was unclear how many jihadist fighters had penetrated the city in Sunday's attack, though at least 10 were killed by Malian forces. Malian soldiers fired on the police building because the radical Islamic fighters were hiding inside, she said.

"We used heavy arms to attack the building because it was infested with cut-throats who were firing at people," Sagadam said.

The walls and ceiling inside the police building were heavily stained with blood, and the damage was consistent with an kaboom, suggesting a suicide bomber may have blown himself up inside the police offices during the fighting.
Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336070 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in North Africa


India-Pakistan
Karachi violence: Fifteen killed, alleged TTP militants arrested
[Dawn] At least 15 more people bit the dust on Monday as the ongoing wave of violence persisted in Bloody Karachi
...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
, DawnNews reported.

People were killed and injured in city's Ahsanabad, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Landhi Sherpao Colony, Lyari, Safora Chowrangi, Abul Hasan Isfahani Road and Garden areas.

The incidents spread fear among residents and shops and small businesses were reportedly shut in some areas of the city.

Meanwhile,
...back at the mall, Clarissa suddenly spied Mr. Bartlett at the checkout counter. He was buying Grecian Formula!...
special investigation department of CID police has tossed in the slammer
Into the paddy wagon wit' yez!
three people including two alleged members of banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistain (TTP) when they raided Manghopir and Shershah areas.

According to police, the arrested are involved in several acts of extortions and assassinations including attacks on foreign health teams.
Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336072 views] Top|| File under: TTP

#1  My level of confusion over the violence is increasing.

Now, isn't all of this violence because we've been oppressing the Moslems? And won't the violence stop if we would just try to understand? And maybe if we could get them to like us, the fighting would stop?

So, why then are they so intent on killing each other? It is not like this is Sunni against Shiia, this seems to be Sunni against Sunni and Shiia against Shiia. What is the point in all of this violence? Is there a collective insanity over there? Or is the collective insanity the religion? Or the goons and half wits that foist themselves off as holy men and religion leaders that are crazy?
Posted by: Bill Clinton || 02/12/2013 11:11 Comments || Top||


-Short Attention Span Theater-
Montana TV station hacker sends zombie alert
The Great Falls Police Department reports that it has not yet been called to investigate who hacked into a local TV station's emergency alert system and reported "dead bodies rising," which caused quite a few confused phone calls Monday afternoon.

The emergency alert was issued during the afternoon programming on KRTV. On the station's website and Facebook page, KRTV says the hacking came from an outside source and station officials are trying to find out how this happened.

The alert featured a scrolling warning for various Montana counties and a voice-over said there were "dead bodies rising from the grave and attacking the living" and urged people to use caution. It went on to say, "Do not attempt to approach or apprehend these bodies as they are extremely dangerous."

Lt. Shane Sorensen with the GFPD said the police department received phone calls from people who were concerned after they saw the message.

"We had four calls checking to see if it was true. And then I thought, 'Wait. What if?'" Sorensen said with a laugh. "We can report in the city, there have been no sightings of dead bodies rising from the ground."
Posted by: ryuge || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336082 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Change those default passwords, people. Yeah, I'm talking to you.
Posted by: SteveS || 02/12/2013 0:35 Comments || Top||

#2 
Posted by: ryuge || 02/12/2013 4:54 Comments || Top||

#3  LOL - April 1st came early this year.
Posted by: CrazyFool || 02/12/2013 5:17 Comments || Top||

#4  2X2L, calling CQ. 2X2L, calling CQ. Is there anybody on the air?
Posted by: Eric Jablow || 02/12/2013 6:45 Comments || Top||

#5  There's also the aspect of : the TV reports something that can't possibly be true.
And people call and check.
Posted by: ed in texas || 02/12/2013 8:39 Comments || Top||

#6  It's way too late.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 02/12/2013 8:42 Comments || Top||

#7  ed -- at least they called and checked.
Posted by: Rob Crawford || 02/12/2013 8:54 Comments || Top||

#8  I've been wondering what happened to all the Zombie's recently. Apparently they all moved to Montana. Go figure - I would have predicted Hawaii or The Bahamas :-)
Posted by: Raider || 02/12/2013 11:21 Comments || Top||


Southeast Asia
Philippine president visits rebel stronghold
Philippine President Benigno Aquino paid a historic visit Monday to Muslim rebel territory to advance efforts to end one of Asia's longest and deadliest insurgencies.

Four months after his government agreed on a plan with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for a final peace deal by 2016, Aquino visited the rebel stronghold in the far south as a confidence-building measure.

"We have just three years and four months left. We have to speed up everything we are doing now to make this (peace) permanent," Aquino said alongside MILF leader Murad Ebrahim just outside the insurgents' main base.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: ryuge || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336072 views] Top|| File under: Moro Islamic Liberation Front

#1  See also TOPIX, WORLD NEWS > [Khaleej Times] FILIPINO EXTREMISTS FACE NEW FOE: FELLOW REBELS.

D *** NG IT, this is the PHIL, N-O-T Libyuh or Syruh or AFPAK or ......!?
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 02/12/2013 1:25 Comments || Top||


Africa Subsaharan
Nigeria nabs polio naysayers
[News24] Three Nigerian journalists have been tossed in the calaboose
Maw! They're comin' to get me, Maw!
for inciting violence by saying on a radio show that polio
...Poliomyelitis is a disease caused by infection with the poliovirus. Between 1840 and the 1950s, polio was a worldwide epidemic. Since the development of polio vaccines the disease has been largely wiped out in the civilized world. However, since the vaccine is known to make Moslem pee-pees shrink and renders females sterile, bookish, and unsubmissive it is not widely used by the turban and automatic weapons set...
immunisations were an anti-Islam Western conspiracy, just days before health workers administering the vaccines were killed.

Gunmen on cycle of violences rubbed out the nine health workers in two separate attacks in Nigeria's main northern city of Kano on Friday.

Kano Police Chief Ibrahim Idris told Rooters on Monday three journalists from Wazobia FM had been tossed in the clink
Please don't kill me!
after they said on their show on Wednesday that immunisation against polio was anti-Islam and a Western conspiracy to cause infertility in women.

Some influential Mohammedan leaders in Kano openly oppose the vaccinations for the same reasons.

The killings could hamper efforts by global health organizations to clear Nigeria's mostly Mohammedan north of the virus that can cause irreversible paralysis within hours of infection.

Polio crippled thousands of people every year in rich nations until the 1950s. As a result of vaccination, it is now only endemic in three countries - Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistain.

According to the World Health Organisation, there were 121 new cases of polio in Nigeria last year, compared to 58 in Pakistain and 37 in Afghanistan.

In 2003, northern Nigeria's Mohammedan leaders opposed polio vaccinations, saying then they could cause infertility and Aids.

Their campaign against the treatments was blamed for a resurgence of the disease in parts of Nigeria and other African countries previously declared polio-free.
Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336085 views] Top|| File under:


India-Pakistan
Terror attacks part of conspiracy, says MQM
[Dawn] The Muttahida Qaumi Movement has termed the increase in target killings and incidents of terrorism in Karachi part of a well-planned conspiracy and called upon the country's leadership to take effective steps for protecting the life and property of citizens.

In a statement issued here on Monday, the party's Coordination Committee said that MQM chief Altaf Hussain had forewarned about the threats when terrorists started making Karachi a centre of their activities. At that time, other political and religious parties denied the reality and alleged that the Muttahida wanted to frighten the people and it was talking against a particular community.

The committee said that now media reports had highlighted that many areas in Karachi had become places similar to Waziristan where even law-enforcement personnel could not enter.

The MQM regretted that while most political and religious parties had been criticising the Sindh government over the incidents of terrorism and target killings they were still not speaking out publicly against elements responsible for violence, bloodshed and terrorism in Karachi.

It urged President Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah to act effectively to protect the life and property of citizens of Karachi.--
Posted by: Fred || 02/12/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [336077 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan



Who's in the News
33[untagged]
5Arab Spring
3Govt of Syria
3al-Qaeda in North Africa
3Govt of Pakistan
2TTP
1al-Qaeda in Iraq
1Hamas
1Jamaat-e-Islami
1Moro Islamic Liberation Front
1Palestinian Authority
1Thai Insurgency
1Boko Haram

Bookmark
E-Mail Me

The Classics
The O Club
Rantburg Store
Comments Spam
The Bloids
The Never-ending Story
Thugburg
RSS Links
Gulf War I
The Way We Were
Bio
Sink Trap

Alzheimer's Association
Day by Day
Counterterrorism
Hair Through the Ages







On Sale now!


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.
Click here for more information

Meet the Mods
In no particular order...
Steve White
Seafarious
tu3031
badanov
sherry
ryuge
GolfBravoUSMC
Bright Pebbles
trailing wife
Gloria
Fred
Besoeker
Glenmore
Frank G
3dc
Skidmark

Two weeks of WOT
Tue 2013-02-12
  KCNA confirms: Pudgy sets off a nuke
Mon 2013-02-11
  Seven killed, 11 injured in attacks across southern Thailand
Sun 2013-02-10
  Syrian troops, rebels clash over Damascus highway
Sat 2013-02-09
  India Executes Man Convicted in 2001 Attack on Parliament
Fri 2013-02-08
  Suicide bomber hits north Mali, troops clash in capital
Thu 2013-02-07
  Syrian Army Launches 'All-Out Attack' on Capital Region
Wed 2013-02-06
  Fat Lady Sings for Abd el Kader Mahmoud Mohamed el Sayed
Tue 2013-02-05
  Second big turban nabbed in northern Mali
Mon 2013-02-04
  Ansar Dine #3 arrested in northern Mali
Sun 2013-02-03
  Yemen Troops Kill 12 'Qaida Militants' in Restive South
Sat 2013-02-02
  Syria Suicide Attack on Regime Kills 53
Fri 2013-02-01
  Binori Mosque cleric among 10 killed in Karachi
Thu 2013-01-31
  Boko Haram 'commander' declares ceasefire
Wed 2013-01-30
  Mali and Niger forces retake Ansongo
Tue 2013-01-29
  Sahel jihadist groups splinter

Better than the average link...



Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
3.235.42.157
Paypal:
WoT Background (17)    Non-WoT (10)    Opinion (5)    (0)    Politix (2)