The editor of a small Finnish culture magazine was fired on Friday for publishing new Prophet Muhammad cartoons satirising the global row over the caricatures, said the magazine. Jussi Vilkuna, the editor-in-chief of Kaltio, was sacked after he refused to remove the cartoons from the publication's website as
Posted by: Fred ||
02/24/2006
21:11 ||
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#1
Any chance of getting the cartoons? Or the rrrrrrest of the story?
Reminds me of when I was six years old in Germany at a port city (Sassnitz?). My family was pointing out the flags of various ships, and every time someone pointed out a Finnish flag I heard "finish" flag, and wondered if the ship was ready for the scrap yard. I forget who finally clued me in to the awful truth.
#5
It was a bad post. The server gagged, which is why it cuts off in the middle of a sentence. I didn't realize it made it through -- the real one's up for tomorrow.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/24/2006 22:53
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#6
so maybe I didn't FUBAR my link the other day???
Nahhhh.... I did
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/24/2006 23:41
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An accountability court in Rawalpindi ordered the confiscation of the property of Asif Ali Zardari in Hyderabad, Nawabshah and Sanghar districts on Friday. The decision comes following Zardari's declaration as a proclaimed offender last year in the BMW case.
Looks like a good, old-fashioned Roman-style proscription coming his way. Caligula would be impressed.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/24/2006
20:51 ||
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Gomez Addams, AKA Asif Zardari
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/24/2006 21:16
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He has a moustache an Eagle could land on! Then crap on his face.
If the United States launches an attack on Iran, the Islamic republic will retaliate with a military strike on Israel's main nuclear facility. Dr. Abasi, an advisor to Iran's Revolutionary Guard, said Tehran would respond to an American attack with strikes on the Dimona nuclear reactor and other strategic Israeli sites such as the port city of Haifa and the Zakhariya area.
Haifa is also home to a large concentration of chemical factories and oil refineries. Zakhariya, located in the Jerusalem hills is - according to foreign reports - home to Israel's Jericho missile base. Both Israeli and international media have published commercial satellite images of the Zakhariya and Dimona sites.
Abasi, a senior lecturer at Tehran University, was quoted in the Roz internet news site, identified with reform circles in Iran. Oh, he sounds like a real reformist.
#2
Sounds like a belecose Iranian threat of war no matter what any one does.
The UN should be on notice. No requests for UN permission are required. Nations have the right to premptive acts of defense. The US has the right to aid it's allies and Israel has the right to act before Iran strikes.
#6
If you have any airforce left after a strike and it can get over Iraq and not get shot down by our aircraft and isn't wiped out by Israel after it gets over the border, we surrender. You obviously have UFOs. I for one welcome our new alien, Islamic overlords!
#7
They are undoubtedly planning a solely missile attack against everybody. They have become convinced that their missiles make them both unstoppable and invulnerable.
It seems that they don't really have much of an appreciation for scale.
#8
Okey Dokey, so instead of waiting for March 28, ergo proving the Lefty MSM wrong, Iran decided to up the ante and attack first [Samarra?]??? IRAN > D*** YOU, DUBYA, WE DEMAND/WANT TO BE INVADED - ATTACK US NOW OR WASHINGTON WILL GLOW IN THE DARK!
VOTE FOR HILLARY AND MOTHERLY COMMIES, INFIDEL DEVILS = SAVIORS!?
#9
moose - wait til their missiles fail to make it past the Iraq *ahem ....Arrow* border....turban-tightening extremes!
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/24/2006 21:57
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#10
Throttle back, Joe. Here, have a patented lime slider with a gin drop tank. Happy Saturday night in Guam.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
02/24/2006 22:05
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#11
I would imagine an Israeli Reactor would be heavily reinforced and dug in deep. The one or two that would actually make a direct hit would not be a game ender (besides the core would be nice and cool weeks before things go their).
Two wild card variables thou,
1) Syria are they going to jump over the cliff with Iran? (Personally I think Baby Assad will be thinking more along saving his own a*s.
2) How will Israel respond to being hit with missiles?
3) Iran knows its the end would they pull the WMD tips out of storage? Their missiles are not accurate enough for buildings or even reactors but cities very doable.
The victim of a fatal Stevenson Expressway traffic accident who attracted the attention of FBI terrorism investigators was a physician from Puerto Rico who had real estate and business investments in the Chicago area but no known ties to terrorism, his attorney and authorities said Thursday. Lafi Hussein Nofal, 45, died Wednesday in a chain-reaction wreck on the southbound Stevenson near the Harlem Avenue exit. Authorities said they found a check for $2 million and "other financial instruments" in the car, drawing the attention of the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force. However, the FBI released a statement early Thursday saying there was no known terrorism link and referred further questions to the Illinois State Police.
....
Nofal's lawyer said her client was in town from Puerto Rico to deal with a lawsuit related to an Oak Lawn gas station he co-owned. She said the suit concerns property worth more than $1 million. The lawyer, Roxolana Harasymiw, said she did not know what money or documents were in the car but said she thinks Nofal would have had documents related to the lawsuit, and his business interests involved large amounts of money. More at link
Six members of a fringe church in Kansas picketed Thursday outside the funeral of a Minnesota soldier who was killed in Iraq, leading to a heated exchange with the grieving mother.
The six men and women, standing outside the Anoka funeral for Cpl. Andrew Kemple, 23, who died Feb. 12 after his vehicle came under fire, are members of a church in Topeka, Kan., that espouses the belief that God is killing American soldiers because they fought for a country that tolerates homosexuality.
They were countered by a group of 20 affiliated with the Patriot Guard Riders, a rapidly growing nationwide movement organized to offset the fringe group's message.
"We're just trying to show honor and respect for families," said John Lutsch, a St. Cloud resident who heads the Minnesota branch of the Patriot Guard. "I was appalled when I read about these protests, that they'd use a solemn occasion like this as a forum for their views."
He was interrupted by Steve Drain, who bellowed that God hates gays and their enablers and "so, therefore, God hates the U.S. military."
According to an account reported by the Minneapolis-based Star Tribune, about a half-hour before the service, Deirdre Ostlund, Kemple's mother, approached the six Kansans and told them in a cold fury: "I'm Andrew's mother and I want you to know you are truly hateful people."
As Ostlund turned away to enter Zion Lutheran Church, Shirley Phelps-Roper taunted her: "Adulterer! You can't admit you sent your own child to hell! If she does not heed this warning, she will look up from hell with him."
Phelps-Roper is the daughter of Fred Phelps, the pastor of the nondenominational Westboro Baptist Church. During the 1990s, church members were known mostly for picketing funerals of AIDS victims.
Minnesota is one of at least 14 states considering laws that would make funeral protests illegal.
The Patriot Guard got its start in Kansas last October when motorcycle-riding veterans became fed up with the Westboro church's picketing and decided to show up and place themselves between the demonstrators and mourners. The organization has grown quickly with chapters in nearly every state and more than 8,700 members, about 100 of them so far in Minnesota, Lutsch said.
Just as the funeral service was starting Thursday, the six Kansans got into their van and drove away as the Patriot Guard mockingly serenaded them, "Hit the road, Jack, and don't you come back no more...."
A few minutes later, Deirdre Ostlund stood before a packed church sanctuary, just to the right of her son's flag-draped coffin.
"Nothing can separate us from the love of God, and Andrew knew that," said Ostlund, of Forest Lake. No matter what he did, God loved him. And now, nothing will ever separate me, or any of us, from Andrew."
Kemple was a 2001 graduate of Cambridge-Isanti High School. Inspired by the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, he joined the Army in 2003.
The member of the 101st Airborne Division was the 30th military member from Minnesota to die in Iraq.
#1
...the pastor of the nondenominational Westboro Baptist Church.
He's no pastor, they're not Baptist, and they're sure no Christian Church. They're just a nasty family cult who get press because they push the right buttons to get decent people outraged, and the MSM likes to show them because doing so casts a bad light on real Christians.
#4
I'm fully prepared to join in a demonstration at his lynching.
Posted by: Mike ||
02/24/2006 19:25
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I'll donate the rope. Phelps and his ilk are the Christian looking glass image of Islamism. They are shameless and beyond redemption. It is a deep and fervent hope of mine that Fred Phelps is finally found and photographed dead of AIDS induced cardiomyopathy slumped over the tied-down body of his underage boy toy.
A Sudanese man has been forced to take a goat as his "wife", after he was caught having sex with the animal.
The goat's owner, Mr Alifi, said he surprised the man with his goat and took him to a council of elders.
They ordered the man, Mr Tombe, to pay a dowry of 15,000 Sudanese dinars ($50) to Mr Alifi.
"We have given him the goat, and as far as we know they are still together," Mr Alifi said.
Mr Alifi, Hai Malakal in Upper Nile State, told the Juba Post newspaper that he heard a loud noise around midnight on 13 February and immediately rushed outside to find Mr Tombe with his goat.
"When I asked him: 'What are you doing there?', he fell off the back of the goat, so I captured and tied him up".
Mr Alifi then called elders to decide how to deal with the case.
"They said I should not take him to the police, but rather let him pay a dowry for my goat because he used it as his wife," Mr Alifi told the newspaper.
German police launched a nationwide raid against a suspected spy ring. One report links the suspects, who were interested in missile technology, with Iran.
The early morning raid on Thursday covered 12 locations across four German states, and netted an unspecified number of suspects, according to Germany's federal prosecutor.
"The accused are suspected of attempting, in the service of a foreign intelligence agency, to obtain parts for delivery systems and conventional weaponry for armed forces," the prosecutor's office said in a statement.
Police would not say what foreign agency that might have been, but a source told the Reuters news agency that the country involved was Iran. Police were interrogating the suspects after raids in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia and Saarland. Two men were arrested in Frankfurt, according to a police spokeswoman.
Second espionage case in a month
Prosecutors charged two German citizens last month with espionage for helping an unidentified intelligence agency acquire "dual-use" missile technology. The term is applied to technology that can be used for both conventional machines and weapons.
Germany, together with France and Great Britain, has been unsuccessfully negotiating for the end of Iran's nuclear program ambitions. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has not ruled out referring Iran to the UN Security Council for sanctions -- a move advocated by the United States.
Russia is currently trying to broker a deal by which Iran would avoid the Security Council, but no longer have control over its uranium-enriching process.
Posted by: Captain America ||
02/24/2006
16:46 ||
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If they want missile technology we should send them some.
A US federal judge ordered the Pentagon on Thursday to release the identities of hundreds of detainees at Guantanamo Bay to The Associated Press, a move which would force the government to break its secrecy and reveal the most comprehensive list yet of those who have been imprisoned there.
Some of the hundreds of detainees in the war on terror being held at the US military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have been held as long as four years. Only a handful have been officially identified.
US District Judge Jed S Rakoff in New York ordered the US Defence Department to release uncensored transcripts of detainee hearings, which contain the names of detainees in custody and those who have been held and later released. Previously released documents have had identities and other details blacked out.
The judge ordered the government to hand over the documents by March 3 after the Defence Department said Wednesday it would not appeal his earlier ruling in the lawsuit filed by the AP.
On January 23, Rakoff ordered the military to turn over uncensored copies of transcripts and other documents from 317 military hearings for detainees at the prison camp. There were another 241 detainees who refused to participate in the Combatant Status Review Tribunals and the Defense Department said no transcripts exist of those hearings.
Posted by: Captain America ||
02/24/2006
16:40 ||
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The vast majority of Democrats do not beleive we are in a war. That many of them are in the government bureaucracy and Judicial organs is very worrying. They just don't "get it". People like this "Judge" need a visit and sit down talk by people from high level operatives in or inteligence agencies to educate them. If they persist in their assholery after that remove them from their positions using existing law.
Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
02/24/2006 18:07
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#8
Well, unless they plan to disappear these turd burglars, sooner or later they will need to release their identities. So the question becomes, at what point are they of such little value that it doesn't matter.
I doubt there are many left there we intend to hang. And fewer still we want to try in a civilian court. So what do you do with the buggers?
Optimum, I would guess we send them back to their home countries, at least if they show any inclination to hang them. Maybe some of the more cooperative ones will quietly retire from the scene, and a few will be allowed to run free while we watch their every move.
#10
Interesting location, CF, the proctologists will be excited.
Posted by: Captain America ||
02/24/2006 18:40
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This is stupid. If the military doesn't want the unfound camel jockies to know that Abdulla what's his name is in Cuba, then the judge is doing nothing but helping our islamic enemies.
I'm willing to bet the moron was offended by the Muhamhead cartoons too.
#12
Actually, the IRC does know. They have observers on site. However, they've agreed to abide by the rules which limits transmission of detailed information. So I doubt that anyone is 'disappearing' as in Cuba proper, N.Korea, Iran, etc. So what's the reason for this action?
Congress has long ago gone AWOL on its responsibility of oversight of the judiciary, particularly since some members of that branch now actively believe they are indeed the new Princes, Barons, and Dukes to rule America. They're back!
#13
The Dems, espec their national Leadership, "get it" - the question is do GOP-Conservatives get it?
The WOT for the Left is about getting the Right to save and justify their -ism for the Left, and to force knowingly Failed Socialism, includ Communism, and OWG upon an unsuspecting population. When it comes to electing a Dem POTUS in 2008 and beyond, Dubya and GOP'ers are ADOLF HITLERS whom need to be wiped out, NOT just merely defeated in elec years; when it come to unducing America to dev new Global Empire and spreading [anti-American] Amer "Liberalism"/
Socialism around the world, Dubya-GOP are mere unruly, active-agressive, incompetent Male Brute LIMITED SOCIALISTS/COMMUNISTS whom need PERFECTOID/PERFECTNIK/PERFECT-ISTA MOTHERLY COMMIES AND REGULATORY/TOTALITARIAN CENTRALISTS TO TEACH THEM THE WAYS OF STALINISM AND MARXTOPIANISM, or in the alt to "spank" GOP-Conservative Rightist Bad Boyz by exterminating them. The Lefties are RINOS, etc. for a reason, and that reason is, ultimately, to kill you, yours, and free America as we Americans know it. The DemoLefties prob is not alleged "Fascist' SOCIALIST America waging war - its Fascist-Rightist America winning the war and COMMUNIST SOCIALIST AMERIKA, i.e. weak Amerikan SSR/USR/USSA under OWG, NOT BEING THE FINAL OUTCOME OF THE WOT AND AMER'S FIGHT FOR "RIGHTEOUS" EMPIRE IN RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION AFTER 9-11. The DemoLefties are waiting for American Hiroshima(s) and Anti-American Global=Geopol "BRINKMANSHIP" to "justify" Americans losing control of their own Govt., their own Country, and to PC wipe out Bush, wipe out the GOP, and wipe out any anti-Clinton, anti-Left fractions of the NPE. Rest assured the Commie AIrborne will be here in America only to "help" America and America's "surviving leadership" whom hath suffered greatly under Male Brute, warmongering GOP-Rightism whom brought America to the brink of nuclear war and national destruction. ONLY A MOTHER(S) AND OWG CAN "SAVE" ALL MEN AND MALE BRUTE AMERICANS FROM THEMSELVES
[theme from DRAGNET/WHITE RABBIT] - what more proof does anyone need of INCOMPETENT AMERICA, INCOMPETENT AMERICANISM, and INCOMPETENT AMER FASCISM/FASCIST SOCIALISM than VPOTUS "Dickie's Got a Gun... Whole World come Undone" CHENEY shooting his family's own friend ala QUAIL/
TWEETIE-GATE, by "accident"??? The world must be saved from America, so that Butterflies, Quails, and Bad Ole'Puddy Tats, etc, ... and nay the SUN ITSELF, might live.
#14
The Left > America, "Fascist" Amerika, Dubya, and Cheney, etal. to come = LIKE AEROSMITH'S SONG "GOTTA TAKE 'EM DOWN EASY". Russia-China contain or restrain America's foreign policies -milactions overseas; while domestically the Dems induce Washington to take over everything and anything, i.e. to Subsidize, Martialize, Militarize, Bureaucratize, Centralize, Welfarize, Statutize/Legalize, Nationalize................
......@Socialize and Stalinize unto infinitum.
The Left > FASCISM = DE-REGULATED COMMUNISM, COMMUNIST CAPITALISM, etal.SOCIALISM.
There was a streaker during the men's curling bronze medal match today at the Winter Olympics.
A man wearing what appeared to be a strategically placed rubber chicken ran onto one of the covered sheets of ice not being used in the arena. He danced around for a bit but never tried to approach any of the players.
A couple of security officials from the venue hovered near the streaker for several seconds before finally covering him and leading him away.
I don't know if you all know this guy - hes been posting for several years and is for the most objective
Friday, February 24, 2006
# posted by Zeyad : 2/24/2006 11:00:00 PM
Fierce streetfighting at my doorstep for the last 3 hours. Rumor in the neighbourhood is that men in black are trying to enter the area. Some armed kids defending the local mosque three blocks away are splattering bullets at everything that moves, and someone in the street was shouting for people to prepare for defending themselves.
There's supposed to be a curfew, but it doesn't look like it. My net connection is erratic, so I'll try to update again if possible. The news from other areas in Baghdad are horrible. I don't think it's being reported anywhere.
My father and uncle are agitatedly walking back and forth in the hallway, asking me what we should do if the mob or Interior ministry forces try to attack us in our homes? I have no answer for them.
Posted by: Yosemite Sam ||
02/24/2006
15:44 ||
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#6
it's called:
"we've had enough"
signed, The Shia
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/24/2006 22:28
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#7
Yes the ROP at it's best. I guess the ISALM assumption is even if the world gets "converted" you still have to choose a side. Will it be Sunni or Shiite?
Sort of like matter antimatter. complete destruction.
Posted by: Bill Nelson ||
02/24/2006 22:44
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From Geostrategy Direct, subscription
ABU DHABI The United Arab Emirates' Dubai has begun a $15-billion plan to build an aerospace industry for both civilian and dual-use aircraft.
The plan calls for the establishment of production and maintenance infrastructure that would first focus on passenger aircraft.
In a future stage, the aerospace industry would produce air transports that could be used for military cargo or airborne early-warning and alert platforms, officials said. They said there were no plans to build fighter-jets.
The plan, termed Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, or DAE, was designed for rapid implementation. Officials said that by 2015 Dubai would become a regional aircraft maintenance and production hub.
"Within 10 years, DAE will become an integral part of the global aerospace industry," said Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of Dubai's Civil Aviation Department and chairman of DAE. "We are putting down a marker for the future. DAE signals our clear intention to become one of the driving forces of the global economy and reflects confidence in our ability to achieve this."
DAE planned to acquire Western aviation technology for the Gulf region. The new industry, expected to generate 30,000 jobs, would produce components and fuselages for new aircraft models, including the Airbus A350. Better think about that before I get on an A350.
DAE also plans to develop other aerospace sectors. Officials said this would include space services and launch and aviation IT systems. Pretty ambitious program, I'd say.
"DAE expects to take this to the next level and establish an aircraft final completion facility in Dubai," DAE said in a statement.
Mohammad Al Zarouni, managing director of DAE, said the project would focus on servicing the huge number of aircraft expected to arrive in the Middle East. Al Zarouni said more than 60 percent of global civilian aircraft orders would come from Middle East airlines.
DAE would be located in the 140-square kilometer Jebel Ali Airport City in Dubai. Officials said DAE would enable Dubai to participate in major aircraft manufacturing programs.
Posted by: Al-Aska Paul ||
02/24/2006
15:37 ||
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"Better think about that before I get on an A350."
You might consider not flying on any Airbus Aircraft.
Officials said this would include space services and launch and aviation IT systems.
UAE is what 25 degrees north? Not great, but still better than Florida's 35-36 N. for launches. Wonder what Pakistan and India will say about it, they're down range.
From Geostrategy-direct, subscription.
Authorities in Turkey have uncovered Italian-made aluminum that is linked to Irans nuclear program.
Turkish security services in December intercepted two large trucks carrying nearly four tons of an aluminum alloy produced in northern Italy. The goods were destined for Teheran. Not alloys for your run-of-the-mill soda pop cans.
The specialty metal was believed intended for use in Iranian missiles or uranium enrichment, specifically in manufacturing a large number of centrifuges used in uranium processing.
The intercepted shipment resulted from coordination between the Turkish MIT (Milli Istihbarat Teskilati), Italys SISMI (Intelligence and Military Security Service) and the CIA. Nice to see the agencies cooperating.
The trucks were stopped at a narrow border pass at Gurbulak/Bazargan between Iran and Turkey. Good place to stop them, no way out.
According to Turkish and Italian press reports, three aluminum containers, each weighing 3,233 kilograms, were found on the two trucks. They were being sent to Shadi Oil Industries in Iran, believed to be a cover for the nuclear program.
The oil company was to transfer the goods to Iran and the Step Standard Technical Components Industry and Trading Corp. that is owned by two Iranians in Istanbul named Mohammad Javad Jafari and Mahin Falsafi. The manufacturer was the Milan company called Fond.
Officials of the Turkish Atomic Energy Agency (TAEK) investigated the shipment and identified the goods as being dual-use items that could assist Iran's nuclear program.
The aluminum containers could be utilized in enriching uranium needed for the production of nuclear weapons," the TAEK report stated.
Italians, Germans .... lots of people looking to cash in
Posted by: Al-Aska Paul ||
02/24/2006
15:21 ||
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The EU industry is not up to speed on dual use export items as it appears? Or is it just greed and stupidity?
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFPN) -- After supporting the Global War on Terror for three years, Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicle No. 3 (UAV-3) received its official homecoming today when its wheels touched down at 11:30 a.m. Pacific Time at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
(PressZoom) - During its overseas deployment, UAV-3 logged more than 4,800 flight hours supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and the Combined Task ForceHorn of Africa.
On hand at the homecoming event, were Maj. Gen. Curtis Bedke, commander, Air Force Flight Test Center; Randy Brown, director, Global Hawk Systems Group; Gary Ervin, sector vice president, Northrop-Grumman Integrated Systems Western region and Maj. Mike Lyons, Global Hawk pilot and chief of standardization and evaluation, 12th Reconnaissance Squadron.
The Global Hawk program is managed by Aeronautical Systems Centers Global Hawk Systems Group of the Reconnaissance Systems Wing here.
....
follow the link
Edited for brevity.
Venezuela plans to prohibit Continental Airlines and Delta Air Lines from flying into this South American nation and is restricting flights by a third major U.S. carrier, American Airlines, the head of the nation's federal aviation agency said. Francisco Plaz, president of the National Aviation Institute, said Thursday the action was taken because the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration had established a similar ban on some Venezuelan carriers serving routes to the United States 10 years ago due to safety violations and has failed to recognize improvements since then. The orders would take effect on March 1, Plaz told the local Globovision television channel.
In 1996, the FAA ruled that Venezuela must tighten its airline safety procedures and downgraded its civil aviation authority, restricting flights because Venezuela allegedly didn't meet international safety standards. Venezuelan officials say they have improved safety standards since then. "We have exhausted all avenues with the U.S. aeronautical authority," the National Aviation Institute said in a statement. "We have been forced to reduce the frequency of flights of U.S. airline companies from the U.S." U.S. aviation authorities have "failed to give Venezuelan airlines the rights they deserve under bilateral agreements," the statement said.
Posted by: Dar ||
02/24/2006
15:01 ||
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This just might turn out to be terrorism-related, so I'm posting it. It got big play in the Chicago tube and papers.
(CBS) CHICAGO A stunning discovery inside a car involved in a deadly crash on the Stevenson Expressway Wednesday has sparked a federal investigation. Two people were killed in the crash involving a number of cars and semi trucks.
CBS Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports one of the people killed was carrying several suspicious items. State police investigators along with the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force are looking into why a check written for a large sum of money, along with a sizeable amount of cash and multiple IDs, were found in a 1999 Kia Sportage involved in the accident, District Chicago Master Sgt. S. Nowak said.
There were at seven vehicles, including two semis, involved in the 1 p.m. crash that had the southbound Stevenson shutdown for more than six hours Wednesday and left two people dead. The fatal victims were identified as Dorothy L. Walsh, 76, of 4001 S. Maplewood Ave., and Lafi Nofal, 45, of 10240 S. 86th Court in Palos Hills, who was a passenger of the Sportage, according to Nowak.
"I heard a loud noise, looked in my mirror, saw a semi jackknife. Two seconds later, a Jeep rear ends me, Omar Majdobah said. "It was mayhem. Four or five cars, two nearly totaled, two semis hugging each other."
In addition to the fatalities, at least four other people were injured in the crash, including the driver of the Sportage, Amjad J. Husein, who was taken to MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn with serious injuries, Nowak said.
One of the truck drivers, Benton D. Chapman, of Oklahoma, was later cited with driving too fast for conditions and for equipment violations, according to Nowak. Chapman was also taken to MacNeal where he was likely treated and released, the master sergeant said.
But it is what authorities found in the wreckage, specifically in the car of the 45-year-old man who died in the crash, that has drawn top-level investigators. Sources originally told CBS 2 he was carrying a $1 million check, plus other checks, a large amount of cash and nearly a dozen unused credit cards. Thats prompted calling out members of the elite FBI Joint Terrorist Task Force.
The FBI is now saying several "financial instruments" were found in the car. A spokesman has confirmed "...we are at the scene assisting the Illinois State Police investigating things that came up in the accident."
Sources caution against reading too much into the presence of the terrorist task force, which has a number of financial crimes specialists. They hint that the investigation could just as likely lead to a major counterfeiting operation as it could terrorism or terrorist financing.
And there you have it.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/24/2006
14:55 ||
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What's a "financial instrument"? Is that a cop code word for stolen credit cards or something?
Posted by: Laurence of the Rats ||
02/24/2006 15:21
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The article mentions a $1 million check, plus other checks and a multitude of virgin credit cards. Also a number of IDs. Doesn't sound like the deceased Lafi Nofal and the injured Amjad J. Husein were exactly model citizens.
By Guy Dinmore in Washington
Published: February 23 2006 19:07 | Last updated: February 23 2006 19:07
The intelligence wing of the US marines has launched a probe into Iranâs ethnic minorities at a time of heightened tensions along the border with Iraq and friction between capitals.
Iranian activists involved in a classified research project for the marines told the FT the Pentagon was examining the depth and nature of grievances against the Islamic government, and appeared to be studying whether Iran would be prone to a violent fragmentation along the same kind of fault lines that are splitting Iraq.
The research effort comes at a critical moment between Iran and the US. Last week the Bush administration asked Congress for $75m to promote democratic change within Iran, having already mustered diplomatic support at the UN to counter Iranâs alleged nuclear weapons programme.
At the same time, Iran has demanded that the UK withdraw its troops from the southern Iraqi city of Basra which lies close to its border. Iran has repeatedly accused both the US and UK of inciting explosions and sabotage in oil-rich frontier regions where Arab and Kurdish minorities predominate. The US and UK accuse Iran of meddling in Iraq and supplying weapons to insurgents.
US intelligence experts suggested the marinesâ effort could indicate early stages of contingency plans for a ground assault on Iran. Or it could be an attempt to evaluate the implications of the unrest in Iranian border regions for marines stationed in Iraq, as well as Iranian infiltration.
Other experts affiliated to the Pentagon suggest the investigation merely underlines that diverse intelligence wings of the US military were seeking to justify their existence at a time of plentiful funding.
Lieutenant-Colonel Rick Long, a marines spokesman, confirmed that the marines had commissioned Hicks and Associates, a defence contractor, to conduct two research projects into Iraqi and Iranian ethnic groups.
The purpose was âso that we and our troops would have a better understanding of and respect for the various aspects of culture in those countriesâ, he said. He would not provide details, saying the projects were for official use only.
Marine Corps Intelligence defines its role as focusing âon crises and predeployment support to expeditionary warfareâ. It also provides threat and technical intelligence assessments for the Marines.
Marines swimming in funds for outside consultants or is this indicator 11?
#2
wow this seems very peculiar but then again im no expert, Maybe Dan D or one of the real clued up guys can help with this one. My thoughts are first that the Marines are just rying to get more involved with the whole terror thing so as to get funding (and the terrs) not that blatently obviously but i'm thinking how all the other three main services squabble for funding and resources and even who does what mission. Second thought is someone has been paying attention and sees the Marines as one of the if not the best tool with which to tackle terrorists - kind of an elite army if you like but how that conficts with spec ops i wouldnt and dont claim to know. Third is yeah were just months away from a whole big pile of shit hitting the Iranian reactor fans and this is absolutly vital to security. perhaps getting ready to lock down districts of certain heavily Iranian populated towns in the event of protests or far worse (not that i think there would be alot). Very interesting. OT, any burgers play EVE Online??
#3
Possibly prepping the future battlefield for follow on ops. ID'ing whose likely to play ball, local politics/players to be noted or courted, and whose cities will need protection or sanctioning if/when we clip the persians. OTOH, I never discount the $$$ factor. $$$ is policy most of the time.
OS or OP would prolly have sight pictures on this.
#5
Technically speaking this should have been done by the CIA. That the Marines need to obtain a contractor says volumes about their faith in CIA data and intelligence.
#7
Having the USMC directing an intelligence project at your country is sort of like getting a voicemail message from Tony Soprano. It can't be good news.
Posted by: Matt ||
02/24/2006 15:36
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Top||
#8
Which might be why this has been published ....
AN army of senior golfers have shot down a former US president in the Battle of Medway.
Maidstone's Medway Golf Club refused former president Bill Clinton a round of golf on Thursday because the crowded course was hosting its midweek championships.
The rejected Mr Clinton instead played at Sanctuary Lakes Golf Club at Point Cook, where he happily signed autographs and posed for photos.
The incident has left Medway red-faced, but yesterday members were standing firm on their presidential snub.
"We can't deprive the paying members of their golf, even for an ex-president," said 62-year-old member Wendy Alley. "But it would have been a buzz for the ladies. There's no Monica Lewinsky here -- we're better."
Ms Alley's regular golf partner, Lorraine Bramley, agreed: "We would have played with him -- golf, that is."
London's mayor has been suspended from office for four weeks for comparing a Jewish journalist to a concentration camp guard. Imagine if he'd said something nasty about Mo (ptui).
Can't imagine that he would.
The Adjudication Panel for England ruled Ken Livingstone had brought his office into disrepute when he acted in an "unnecessarily insensitive" manner.
The ban is due to begin on 1 March and the mayor's deputy Nicky Gavron will stand in for Mr Livingstone. The mayor said: "This decision strikes at the heart of democracy."
Just started caring about that, did you?
He added: "Elected politicians should only be able to be removed by the voters or for breaking the law.
"Three members of a body that no one has ever elected should not be allowed to overturn the votes of millions of Londoners."
Mr Livingstone said he would announce what action he would be taking next week.
The hearing followed a complaint from the Jewish Board of Deputies, which had not called for the mayor to be suspended over the comment he made to the Evening Standard's Oliver Finegold outside a public-funded party. The chairman of the panel, David Laverick, said it had decided on a ban because Mr Livingstone had failed to realise the seriousness of his outburst. He said: "The case tribunal accepts that this is not a situation when it would be appropriate to disqualify the mayor.
"The case tribunal is, however, concerned that the mayor does seem to have failed, from the outset of this case, to have appreciated that his conduct was unacceptable, was a breach of the code (the GLA code of conduct) and did damage to the reputation of his office."
Mr Laverick went on to say that the complaint should never have reached the board but did so because of Mr Livingstone's failure to apologise.
In a statement, the Board of Deputies of British Jews said it regretted the guilty result, but said Mr Livingstone had been "the architect of his own misfortune" by failing to recognise the upset caused. It added it had never sought anything more than an apology and an acknowledgement that his words were inappropriate for the "elected representative of Londoners of all faiths and beliefs".
But Deputy Mayor Nicky Gavron said the incident had been "blown out of all proportion" and described the decision as absurd.
Association of London Government chairman Sir Robin Wales added the "outrageous ruling" would stall the mayor in his work to increase police numbers and prepare the city for the 2012 Olympics.
Guess the next four weeks are really critical.
Mr Livingstone has said he was expressing his honestly-held political view of Associated Newspapers, but he had not meant to offend the Jewish community.
"No, no! Certainly not!"
The Evening Standard's editor Veronica Wadley said that Mr Finegold had behaved impeccably when he was insulted and accused Mr Livingstone of being stubborn.
The London Jewish Forum welcomed the ruling, with chairman Adrian Cohen calling for the mayor to create a strategy which would ensure London's Jews would be treated with respect. Conservative London Assembly Member Brian Coleman said Mr Livingstone had let Londoners down. All three called for the mayor to apologise. Baroness Hamwee, Liberal Democrat chair of the assembly, said she was "quite taken aback" by the length of the suspension.
If an appeal fails, Mr Livingstone will be responsible for paying his own legal costs, estimated at £80,000.
#1
Although I agree no unelected tribunal should judge a case such as this. I am happy he got gobsmacked anyhow.
Leftism = Anti-Semitism. How could one expect him to even grasp that it was wrong? It's second nature to true believers such as Livingstone. Politicains and true believers like Red Ken are as dangerous to our western culture as any real external threat is. We need to put the hurt on the left and not let up. This is just one reason of many for that.
Long (needs to be p. 49-ed) but interesting.Translated from the French: Caricatures danoises : lintolérable manipulation face à linacceptable capitulation
In the past weeks, one of Western democracy's essential principles, freedom of speech, has been under attack. With a number of exclusive informations, we shall attempt here to establish a frame of reference to help understand the context of the current situation.
A short recap of the facts
On September 30, 2005, a Danish newspaper, the Jylland-Posten, published twelve cartoons representing the prophet Muhammad. One showed him wearing a bomb-shaped turban with a lit fuse.
The newspaper chose to commission those cartoons after the Danish author Kare Bluitgen expressed regrets that he could not find an artist who'd dare illustrate his book on Muhammad.
On October 19, 2005, eleven ambassadors from Muslim countries, posted in Denmark, formally protested against the cartoons. At the time, the Danish Prime Minister refused to receive them.
On December 29, 2005, the Arab League condemned the cartoons.
On January 10, 2006, a Norwegian paper, Magazinet, published the cartoons.
On January 23, 2006, a boycott of Danish products was launched from Saudi Arabia.
On February 1st, the French daily France-Soir published the twelve Danish cartoons. The same evening, the paper's managing director, Jacques Lefranc, was fired by the paper's owner, the French-Egyptian businessman Raymond Lakah.
On February 8, the French satirical weekly, Charlie Hebdo, published all twelve cartoons as well as a number of cartoons of their own on the subject.
By the end of January, 2006, European embassies as well as cultural centers located in Muslim countries were trashed in the name of the defense of Islam.
Continued on Page 49
#3
Abbas Salimi Namin, head of Iran's Daftare Motaleat va Tadvin Tarikh institute (Institute on the Study of History) claims that the reaction of Moslems against the insults of the foreign media is normal and warns that one should expect even harsher reactions from the Islamic world if the insults continue. He rejected the view that Moslem should restrict their protests to the confines of the law and said one could not expect people to react within a certain framework and observe self-discipline because the insults were more destructive than the violence the protesters had caused.
Riyadh - Saudi security forces foiled a bomb attack on Friday against an oil gathering centre where two blasts were heard in Saudi Arabia's oil-rich Eastern Province, industry sources and residents said.
Security forces thwarted an attempt to attack the center in Abqaiq using car bombs, the oil sources said.
Residents of Abqaiq said that they heard two blasts near the plant and saw two burned-out cars outside. It was not immediately clear if the abortive attack was the work of suicide bombers.
Dozens of security forces and civil defense vehicles were seen outside the plant in Abqaiq, 35km south of Dammam, the main city of the Eastern Province, and about the same distance from the oil hub of Dhahran.
It was the first known attempted attack on an oil installation in Saudi Arabia, the world's top crude exporter, which has been battling a wave of violence by suspected al-Qaeda militants since May 2003.
A Saudi security expert said last September that the kingdom, which sits on a quarter of global oil reserves, had boosted spending on the protection of its oil industry to as much as $1,5-billion (about R9,1-billion) a year.
Saudi Arabia currently pumps around 9,5 million barrels of oil per day (bpd) and has an output capacity of 11 million bpd.
#1
THE Saudi branch of the Al-Qaeda terror network has claimed responsibility for the foiled attempt to blow up a major Saudi Arabian oil processing plant, in a message on its internet site.
Another heart-warming tale from South-Africa.
A man who stabbed his wife in the neck because she would not have sex with him and then proceeded to have sex with the bloodied woman has been convicted of murder.
The 41-year-old father will be sentenced in the Pretoria High Court on Friday for killing his common-law wife in June last year. He also faced a charge of rape, but he was convicted of attempted rape as the court could not determine whether his wife was alive or dead by the time he had sex with her.
Ick, ick, ick.
The woman died of her wounds at the scene in Nellmapius, Silverton.
The killer was also convicted of assault for kicking and slapping his 17-year-old daughter, who had tried to come to her mother's aid. The murder and attempted rape occurred in full view of the 17-year-old, her two-year-old daughter and Masebe's nine-year-old and three-year-old children.
His defence was that his 17-year-old daughter had stabbed her mother by mistake. He said the daughter wanted to stab him in order to protect her mother, but she stabbed the victim instead.
"I dune the rape, yer honor, but that kid, she went crazy! That can't be my fault!"
The court heard that the couple had quarrelled that evening because the accused wanted to have sex and his wife did not. The two eventually went to bed and the argument continued. The husband then went to the kitchen, fetched a knife and stabbed his wife.
Sounds like an interesting book.By John O'Sullivan A Throne in Brussels: Britain, the Saxe-Coburgs and the Belgianization of Europe
by Paul Belien
IN THE LAST FEW YEARS Belgian politicians have passed a law empowering them to arrest anyone for crimes committed anywhere, threatened to put Israel's prime minister, Ariel Sharon, under its provisions, generously amended the legislation slightly when Donald Rumsfeld said that NATO would have to move from Brussels if it remained on the books, and in general thrown about the weight of a much larger nation. Exactly how did the home of moules-frites and child rape acquire notions of such undeserved grandeur? Will this extraordinary non-nation prove to be the model for a united Europe? And how should the U.S. and its closest allies react to this possibility?
A measure of Islamic fundamentalists success in controlling society is the depth and totality with which they suppress the freedom and rights of women. In Iran for 25 years, the ruling mullahs have enforced humiliating and sadistic rules and punishments on women and girls, enslaving them in a gender apartheid system of segregation, forced veiling, second-class status, lashing, and stoning to death.
Joining a global trend, the fundamentalists have added another way to dehumanize women and girls: buying and selling them for prostitution. Exact numbers of victims are impossible to obtain, but according to an official source in Tehran, there has been a 635 percent increase in the number of teenage girls in prostitution. The magnitude of this statistic conveys how rapidly this form of abuse has grown. In Tehran, there are an estimated 84,000 women and girls in prostitution, many of them are on the streets, others are in the 250 brothels that reportedly operate in the city. The trade is also international: thousands of Iranian women and girls have been sold into sexual slavery abroad.
The head of Irans Interpol bureau believes that the sex slave trade is one of the most profitable activities in Iran today. This criminal trade is not conducted outside the knowledge and participation of the ruling fundamentalists. Government officials themselves are involved in buying, selling, and sexually abusing women and girls.
Many of the girls come from impoverished rural areas. Drug addiction is epidemic throughout Iran, and some addicted parents sell their children to support their habits. High unemployment 28 percent for youth 15-29 years of age and 43 percent for women 15-20 years of age is a serious factor in driving restless youth to accept risky offers for work. Slave traders take advantage of any opportunity in which women and children are vulnerable. For example, following the recent earthquake in Bam, orphaned girls have been kidnapped and taken to a known slave market in Tehran where Iranian and foreign traders meet.
Popular destinations for victims of the slave trade are the Arab countries in the Persian Gulf. According to the head of the Tehran province judiciary, traffickers target girls between 13 and 17, although there are reports of some girls as young as 8 and 10, to send to Arab countries. One ring was discovered after an 18 year-old girl escaped from a basement where a group of girls were held before being sent to Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. The number of Iranian women and girls who are deported from Persian Gulf countries indicates the magnitude of the trade. Upon their return to Iran, the Islamic fundamentalists blame the victims, and often physically punish and imprison them. The women are examined to determine if they have engaged in immoral activity. Based on the findings, officials can ban them from leaving the country again.
Police have uncovered a number of prostitution and slavery rings operating from Tehran that have sold girls to France, Britain, Turkey as well. One network based in Turkey bought smuggled Iranian women and girls, gave them fake passports, and transported them to European and Persian Gulf countries. In one case, a 16-year-old girl was smuggled to Turkey, and then sold to a 58-year-old European national for $20,000.
In the northeastern Iranian province of Khorasan, local police report that girls are being sold to Pakistani men as sex-slaves. The Pakistani men marry the girls, ranging in age from 12 to 20, and then sell them to brothels called Kharabat in Pakistan. One network was caught contacting poor families around Mashad and offering to marry girls. The girls were then taken through Afghanistan to Pakistan where they were sold to brothels.
In the southeastern border province of Sistan Baluchestan, thousands of Iranian girls reportedly have been sold to Afghani men. Their final destinations are unknown.
One factor contributing to the increase in prostitution and the sex slave trade is the number of teen girls who are running away from home. The girls are rebelling against fundamentalist imposed restrictions on their freedom, domestic abuse, and parental drug addictions. Unfortunately, in their flight to freedom, the girls find more abuse and exploitation. Ninety percent of girls who run away from home will end up in prostitution. As a result of runaways, in Tehran alone there are an estimated 25,000 street children, most of them girls. Pimps prey upon street children, runaways, and vulnerable high school girls in city parks. In one case, a woman was discovered selling Iranian girls to men in Persian Gulf countries; for four years, she had hunted down runaway girls and sold them. She even sold her own daughter for US$11,000.
Given the totalitarian rule in Iran, most organized activities are known to the authorities. The exposure of sex slave networks in Iran has shown that many mullahs and officials are involved in the sexual exploitation and trade of women and girls. Women report that in order to have a judge approve a divorce they have to have sex with him. Women who are arrested for prostitution say they must have sex with the arresting officer. There are reports of police locating young women for sex for the wealthy and powerful mullahs.
In cities, shelters have been set-up to provide assistance for runaways. Officials who run these shelters are often corrupt; they run prostitution rings using the girls from the shelter. For example in Karaj, the former head of a Revolutionary Tribunal and seven other senior officials were arrested in connection with a prostitution ring that used 12 to 18 year old girls from a shelter called the Center of Islamic Orientation.
Other instances of corruption abound. There was a judge in Karaj who was involved in a network that identified young girls to be sold abroad. And in Qom, the center for religious training in Iran, when a prostitution ring was broken up, some of the people arrested were from government agencies, including the Department of Justice.
The ruling fundamentalists have differing opinions on their official position on the sex trade: deny and hide it or recognize and accommodate it. In 2002, a BBC journalist was deported for taking photographs of prostitutes. Officials told her: We are deporting you because you have taken pictures of prostitutes. This is not a true reflection of life in our Islamic Republic. We dont have prostitutes. Yet, earlier the same year, officials of the Social Department of the Interior Ministry suggested legalizing prostitution as a way to manage it and control the spread of HIV. They proposed setting-up brothels, called morality houses, and using the traditional religious custom of temporary marriage, in which a couple can marry for a short period of time, even an hour, to facilitate prostitution. Islamic fundamentalists ideology and practices are adaptable when it comes to controlling and using women.
Some may think a thriving sex trade in a theocracy with clerics acting as pimps is a contradiction in a country founded and ruled by Islamic fundamentalists. In fact, this is not a contradiction. First, exploitation and repression of women are closely associated. Both exist where women, individually or collectively, are denied freedom and rights. Second, the Islamic fundamentalists in Iran are not simply conservative Muslims. Islamic fundamentalism is a political movement with a political ideology that considers women inherently inferior in intellectual and moral capacity. Fundamentalists hate womens minds and bodies. Selling women and girls for prostitution is just the dehumanizing complement to forcing women and girls to cover their bodies and hair with the veil.
In a religious dictatorship like Iran, one cannot appeal to the rule of law for justice for women and girls. Women and girls have no guarantees of freedom and rights, and no expectation of respect or dignity from the Islamic fundamentalists. Only the end of the Iranian regime will free women and girls from all the forms of slavery they suffer.
Dr. Donna M. Hughes is a Professor and holds the Carlson Endowed Chair in Womens Studies at the University of Rhode Island.
The author wishes to acknowledge the Iranian human rights and pro-democracy activists who contributed information for this article. If any readers have information on prostitution and the sex slave trade in Iran, please contact her at dhughes@uri.edu
#1
What would stop 90% of this crap would be an underground of women and girls, each of who are willing to die to stop this abuse--and even more willing to kill their abusers.
It is suicide to kill a rapist in Iran, but if the rape is discovered, your life is forfeit anyway.
So kill the rapist. Every girl in Iran must hear that message from another girl. Even if they are not brave enough to do it themselves, they will know that it can be done. And this knowledge is power.
Once such rapists start to die, no amount of governmental gynacide will restore the system. No rapist will ever again feel as safe. And how many women can the government hang for being raped, or for killing a rapist, until all women rise up against them?
#2
Anonymoose, few women think like this, not even in hyper-feminist hotspots. Its a fact of nature that womens rights have never been won by women but granted by men.
#3
You must have missed all those self-defense courses set up for women in the 70s and 80s, buwaya. Or the rapid rise in women learning to shoot well, since 9/11 (not me - I've been shooting for years).
#5
There is an expression that "When women stand up, men sit down". Any resistance at all increases the degree of difficulty by a factor of 10. Eventually, it just becomes too hard to try.
#7
I am all for manditory capitol punishment of any man involved in sexual slavery. This totally disgusts me. One of the reasons I am for a legal and regulated Sexworkers sex for hire. It cuts these scum right out of the equation. It also insures that only women are involved are those who want to be.
#8
Hyper is right. While I am not questioning the good intentions of Ms. Hughes, something about this article doesn't add up. Lost in translation, perhaps?
MANILA, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo announced she had quashed a coup plot Friday and declared a state of emergency, gambling that the backlash wouldn't leave her crippled.
It was one of the toughest and longest days yet for Arroyo, who already has withstood two coup attempts and numerous other crises during five tumultuous years in power.
She started with a pre-dawn meeting of her national security council and was still in the presidential palace in the evening, as opponents accused her of suppressing dissent.
Imposing a state of emergency is a dangerous move in a country still smarting from the martial-law decrees used by former dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
Riot police quickly used force to disperse two protests before they could gather steam. An army general was arrested and a police commander was relieved of his duties as military chiefs moved to quash the rebellion before it could get started.
The military has played major roles in two "people power" revolts and has a recent history of restiveness, so Arroyo ordered a massive security clampdown, with military camps barricaded to keep troops from joining the demonstrations.
Military chiefs said they backed Arroyo and that they had eased the threat of a coup, but hadn't wiped it out completely.
Arroyo vowed she was in control but clearly was worried about losing her grip on events as her opponents tried to hijack commemorations of the 20th anniversary of the "people power" revolt that ousted Marcos.
Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye told reporters that the commemorations have been canceled and that the military was ordered "to prevent and suppress lawless violence."
Arroyo said the political opposition, along with extreme elements of the political left and right, were determined to bring down the elected government.
"This is my warning against those who threaten the government: the whole weight of the law will fall on your treason," Arroyo said in a nationally televised statement in which she appealed for calm.
Her chief of staff, Mike Defensor, said no curfew will be imposed but the declaration bans rallies, allows arrests without warrants, permits the president to call in the military to intervene and lets her take over facilities including media outlets that may affect national security.
Arroyo's aides linked former President Joseph Estrada and several others to the coup plot. Estrada laughed off the allegations, saying he's been out of work and under detention for five years and didn't have the money to finance a coup. "I don't have any work, how can I finance?" he asked.
Former President Corazon Aquino and about 5,000 people were allowed to march peacefully to a memorial to her late husband Benigno, whose assassination in 1983 sparked massive protests that led to the revolt against Marcos. But Aquino, a one-time Arroyo ally, criticized the emergency declaration and reiterated a call for the president to "make the supreme sacrifice" and resign."I believe that during these times, we should not forget that many sacrificed to regain our democracy," Aquino said. "We cannot just keep quiet because that is what happened during martial law. Our dictator then believed that he can do anything to keep himself in power."
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines, the country's largest lawyers' group, said it will question the legality of Arroyo's declaration before the Supreme Court, according to its president, Anselmo Cadiz."It could result in more political hemorrhage and security risk," said Rep. Roilo Golez, Arroyo's former national security adviser, who withdrew support from her. "This could get out of control ... if her crisis team doesn't manage this well." Rep. Teodoro Casino, a leftist leader, said anti-Arroyo protests won't end.
The Philippine stock market and the peso both plunged.
U.S. State Department spokeswoman Janelle Hironimus said: "We are monitoring the situation carefully. We firmly support the rule of law and constitutional government. Violence should be avoided."
Arroyo survived three impeachment bids in September, when her dominant allies in the House of Representatives used a technicality to block complaints of alleged massive corruption and vote-rigging. Police already were on heightened alert nationwide as reports of a coup plot have been circulating for more than a week; even elementary school students were discussing it in detail.
#1
U.S. State Department spokeswoman Janelle Hironimus said: "We are monitoring the situation carefully. We firmly support the rule of law and constitutional government. Violence should be avoided."
Blanket statement to avoid picking sides. The event was really just the yearly EDSA rally that was full of Rumor or wanting of Coupe, the phils love their drama. The military did nothing and by 10PM Makati city police broke up the protestors that were left. Most were filtering home anyway because no one brought food to feed them, last big coupe the opposition purchased food and water to keep the people there. Yes, they will be happy to hang on and protest for a meal. Today all is quiet and clean up crews are out picking up trash.
Posted by: 49 pan ||
02/24/2006 18:15
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#2
Goodness, 49 Pan, it sounds like they could use a couple of rounds of community theater!
I guess it's a variation on "dog bites man." Sorta.
Bridal Registry is at Petsmart, PetCo, and the PuppyShop
NEW DELHI -- A 7-year-old girl wed a stray dog He was a Stray? So it was a Forced Marriage I take it.
as part of a ritual to ward off the "evil eye" on her and her family in eastern India, a news agency reported Wednesday. How romantic, I bet they both love Frisbee and long walks in the park.
Shivam Munda's upper teeth appeared before her lower teeth - considered a bad omen by members of the Santhal ethnic group to which she belongs, the Press Trust of India said in a report from Dhanbad, a coal mining town in the eastern state of Bihar. Ironically in US coal mining towns its believed to be a good omen because corn on the cob is considered a delicacy.
Kundan Munda, a coal mine worker, said his daughter Shes a coal miners daughter I tells ya
married the dog only to "remove the evil eye," a superstitious belief that some misfortune could befall her and the family, and that she would be free to marry a man later. Of course finding a man thats OK with a previous inter-species marriage might be tricky.
Friends and family participated in three days of traditional ceremonies and festivities that are part of a Santhal tribal marriage, Munda said, according to the report. The proud groom couldnt be reached for comment but it was reported that he was eating breath mints and had his nails clipped in anticipation of the honeymoon.
#2
I thought someone had posted a similar story here sometime last year. So I Googled "India Girl dog wed" and found stories on other such weddings. Apparently these interspecies marriages will break spells and ward off tigers, etc as well as evil eyes. I haven't tried Googling "boy wed sheep goat" yet ....
#5
Shivam Munda-Phydeaux says that her new husband Sparky will have to be a courteous husband, and learn to hold doors for her, and let her walk first. Also, no more peeing on fire hydrants. This reflects poorly on her, she said.
...and, nope, it wasn't a finger MCKEESPORT: Authorities are now investigating a strange incident in McKeesport. Someone brought a severed male body part to a Get-Go to heat up in the microwave, and now police are trying to find the culprit. Calling all cars...calling all cars. Be on the lookout for a steaming johnson...
McKeesport Police say a man walked into the store, located on Fifth Avenue, and asked the clerk to use the microwave oven. After the clerk noticed a strange smell coming from the microwave, she told police she opened the door and discovered human male genitalia wrapped in a paper towel cooking inside. Hey, buddy, you gonna want mustard on this?
McKeesport police told KDKA the man fled with the severed body part after she made the discovery. She then called the police. Gimmee that! That's mine!!!
Some people were shocked at the news. Ya think?
I mean what can you say. Hopefully, theyre looking for the person who it belongs to, said Sandy Furman of McKeesport. I mean, like, he might be wanting it back...
One man told KDKA he wasnt surprised by what happened. Why? Does this happens a lot around McKeesport?
"I think that's the one they ought to look for - the one who may be hurt," said Denny Adler, of McKeesport. "It's shocking that I'm not (surprised). It's just the nature of the beast." Denny Adler: The Sage of McKeesport.
Authorities are now trying to find the man who fled the store. I see some overtime for CSI:McKeesport.
When drinking in full regalia,
Sometimes your memory will fail ya,
But this man woke up thinking,
"I must really have been drinking,
I've gone and misplaced my genitalia!"
#1
Then as I walked down Second Avenue toward St. Mark's Place
Where all those people sell used books and other junk on the street
I saw my penis lying on a blanket next to a broken toaster oven
Some guy was selling it
I had to buy it off him
He wanted 22 bucks but I talked him down to 17
I took it home
Washed it off
And put it back on
I was happy again
Was there a King Missile concert in Pittsburgh recently?
#2
Move it along. Nothing to see here but stupid people...
This just in...
McKeesport Police Uncover Twist In Bizarre Case
(KDKA) McKeesport Theres a new twist in an extremely bizzare story out of McKeesport.
Police had been investigating a report that a customer handed a clerk a severed penis to heat up in the stores microwave. Investigators have since learned that it was not a real body part; but instead, it was part of a couples alleged plan to pass a drug test.
Oh, wow, man... According to McKeesports police chief, a man and a woman had inserted urine into a fake penis that the woman was planning to use to pass a drug test.
One of them then went into the store and asked the clerk to microwave the object, which they had wrapped in a paper towel, so the urine could reach body temperature.
Like could you warm up my Whizzinator, man? When the clerk noticed an unusual odor, she unwrapped the item to discover what she thought was a severed body part. Upon hearing media reports about the incident, the couple contacted police to explain the situation.
Ummmmmm...like, it ain't real, man. Can I, like, go now? The police chief told KDKA the couple will likely face charges.
Were Beavis and Butthead from McKeesport?
BAGHDAD, Iraq Al Qaeda in Iraq's leader in northern Baghdad was killed in a raid Friday, the U.S. military said. The military identified Abu Asma, also known as Abu Anas and Akram Mahmud al-Mushhadani, as an explosives expert with close ties to important car bomb manufacturers in Baghdad.
Buh-bye, Abu Anus. Only your fleas will mourn you.
He died in a northern Baghdad raid conducted by coalition forces with the help of Iraqi police, a military statement said. "Intelligence reports indicated Abu Asma was in possession of and expected to use suicide vests against the Iraqi people and security forces," the statement said. "He was directly responsible for many deaths and injuries of coalition and Iraqi security forces." No further details were provided.
They're still scraping Abu's details off the pavement.
Taken from the article, a note on a small gathering outside the Danish Embassy in D.C.
Update, Feb. 22: Thank you all who've written. Please be outside the Embassy of Denmark, 3200 Whitehaven Street (off Massachusetts Avenue) between noon and 1 p.m. this Friday, Feb. 24. Quietness and calm are the necessities, plus cheerful conversation. Danish flags are good, or posters reading "Stand By Denmark" and any variation on this theme (such as "Buy Carlsberg/ Havarti/ Lego" Ecco shoes) The response has been astonishing and I know that the Danes are appreciative. But they are an embassy and thus do not of course endorse or comment on any demonstration. Let us hope, however, to set a precedent for other cities and countries. Please pass on this message to friends and colleagues.
#1
Not a bad crowd for the middle of a work day (I'd estimate about 100 were there).
Christopher Hitchens was there and so was William Kristol. I heard that Cliff May from NRO was there, but I didn't see him.
I met Molly Henneberg of FNC's Washington Bureau, but didn't speak on camera. Still, I may have been on. If you saw it, I was the guy in the White Sox hat.
Christian youths burned the corpses of Muslims on Thursday on the streets of Onitsha in southeastern Nigeria, the city worst hit by religious riots that have killed at least 146 people across the country in five days. Christian mobs, seeking revenge for the killings of Christians in the north, attacked Muslims with machetes, set fire to them, destroyed their houses and torched mosques in two days of violence in Onitsha, where 93 people died. "We are very happy that this thing is happening so that the north will learn their lesson," said Anthony Umai, a motorcycle taxi rider, standing close to where Christian youths had piled up the corpses of 10 Muslims and were burning them. Dozens more corpses had been thrown into the back of pick-up trucks by security services overnight, residents said.
Uncertainty over Nigeria's political future is aggravating regional, ethnic and religious rivalries in Africa's most populous nation and top oil exporter. Elections are due next year and many Nigerians believe President Olusegun Obasanjo and some state governors will try to stay on after eight years in power. The prospect angers those who want their own ethnic or regional blocs to have their turn. Militants in the oil-producing Niger Delta have waged a three-month campaign of attacks and kidnappings, which has cut exports and driven up world oil prices. One of their demands is greater control over their region and its resources.
There was no fighting in Onitsha on Thursday but Emeka Umeh, of human rights group the Civil Liberties Organization, called it "the peace of the graveyard". Some charred corpses were still lying on the streets and hundreds of Muslim men, women and children fled the city crammed into open-top trucks for fear of more killings. Thousands more were hiding in army barracks and police stations. Umeh said most of the bodies his group counted were Hausa, but some Ibo were killed too. The Hausa are the main ethnic group in northern Nigeria and most are Muslim, while the Ibo are dominant in the southeast and almost all are Christian.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/24/2006
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#1
Good grief, payback's a bee-yatch. Although, I would've hoped the Christians (of which I am one) wouldn't stoop to the muslims' level. Turn the other cheek (on a personal level), but I don't know what I'd do if they'd killed my daughter (as was reported yesterday, several Christian children were murdered in the whole cartoon protest brewhaha). I'm not calling for eye-for-eye at all (in fact, I'd argue against it), but for a country that's more used to tribal warfare, it's understandable this would be the results.
Posted by: BA ||
02/24/2006 9:55
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#3
It's easy for us to condemn from over here, we don't have to live with it. Sounds like the Christians tried turning the other cheek for a long time, and when that didn't work they tried something new. How's that saying go? Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results? Something like that.
#5
"We are very happy that this thing is happening so that the north will learn their lesson," said Anthony Umai, a motorcycle taxi rider
Me too, very happy.
BA, turning the other cheek only results in being stabbed in both lungs. There is a time to defend your right to exist. In Nigeria, that time is now. When will it be now in your town ?
#10
WXJ: I probably didn't explain myself clearly enough. I believe that Christ's teaching of turn the other cheek is for PERSONAL use only, not against someone else. In other words, smack me, I turn the other cheek...but smack my wife, daughter or son (or country, for that matter), I'm wide open to immediate retaliation. And, even for my personal use, if I get smacked a 2nd time ("run out of cheeks"), then it's time for retaliation (much like, fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on me). I think Nigeria has long past turning the other cheek. I was just noting that while I'm glad they smacked the muslims and smacked 'em hard, I don't like seeing the "after-action" of burning the corpses, which in my mind, is a very "tribal" or "muslim" thing to do (remembering how they treated our contractors' bodies in Iraq that one time and how - rightly - angry we were). Like BH says, it's very difficult for us to condemn from over here, but (and this is as a CHRISTIAN, not an American) I don't like seeing that level of brutality anywhere, but especially from my brothers. That is, I don't (as a Christian) feel we should sink to "their level."
Posted by: BA ||
02/24/2006 11:12
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#11
Christian youths burned the corpses of Muslims on Thursday on the streets of Onitsha in southeastern Nigeria, the city worst hit by religious riots that have killed at least 146 people across the country in five days. Christian mobs, seeking revenge for the killings of Christians in the north, attacked Muslims with machetes, set fire to them, destroyed their houses and torched mosques in two days of violence in Onitsha, where 93 people died.
I disapprove of the response, but not because the response was retaliation: BA and I agree on the limits of "turn the other cheek". However, "eye-for-eye" NEVER works if the retaliation is not directed at the true perpetrator. As I bolded in the quote above, the muslim killers were in NORTH Nigeria, while the Muslim victims were in SOUTHEAST Nigeria.
"We are very happy that this thing is happening so that the north will learn their lesson," said Anthony Umai, a motorcycle taxi rider, standing close to where Christian youths had piled up the corpses of 10 Muslims and were burning them. Dozens more corpses had been thrown into the back of pick-up trucks by security services overnight, residents said.
There is absolutely zero percent chance of this happening, for several reasons:
1. The dead muslims would certainly have tried to fight back, and happened to lose. The Imams up north would declare them sahids, and state that their biggest problem right now is deciding which of 72 virgins to hump next.
2. Despite the claim that Muslims care for each other, the truth is that such care is mostly verbal, and only displayed when the Muslim speaker in question needs to incite fellow Muslims. Since the attack is not personal, direct, and up close, the Northern Muslims will care about the SouthEastern Muslims as much as they care for the Palestinians.
3. The perpetrators were Christian youths. Other than the locals, nobody really worries about rioting youths. It's when the ADULTS do this stuff that people will start worrying: Adults shoot GUNS. Adults PLAN their attacks. Adults direct the youths to attack where it REALLY HURTS. Adults VOTE and change governments. Adults act on principle and have a greater capability of digging in for the long haul and being a dagger, not a thorn, in one's side. Adults determine if the youths continue rioting or get grabbed by the ear, whupped, and grounded.
Call me back when the Adults start going after the REAL perpetrators.
#12
Let's see, Muslims feel free to protest over cartoons even though some of them are unrelated and outright fabrications. They destroy the property of individuals and corporations who have absolutely nothing to do with the publication or origin of these cartoons.
However ill-thought-out it may be, it should hardly be much of a surprise if some southern Nigerians have taken it upon themselves to express their dissatisfaction with the way their fellow northern Christians are being raped and slaughtered.
At some point Islam must realize that its collective conduct is setting a defacto standard. When that selfsame standard is returned in kind, it really can't be much of a shock to anyone. In the case of fighting fire with fire, Islam's love of collective punishment, as in 9-11 for US government intervention or burning Danish embassies for the cartoons, will finally come back to haunt them.
Countries forced to intervene and thwart Islamist terrorism will likely be obliged to use collective punishment in order to impress upon the Muslim population as a whole the dire mistake that supporting terrorism represents. This payment in kind will first happen in less restrained countries and slowly expand in scope and usage until major superpowers are forced to obliterate entire Islamic nations at a stroke with each increasingly heinous atrocity. Islam, and Islam alone can change the outcome of this forbidding scenario. No one else is obliged to resolve this issue for them, not that anyone can save this world's Muslim population if they themselves are not motivated to do so.
I fear it will take the vaprization of at least a few Islamic countries before the import of correcting their collective behavior becomes clear. Personally, between 9-11, Bali, Madrid, Beslan, London and Darfur, I am already at the point where even another single atrocity needs some sort of decisive response in kind. The outrageous spectacle of Islamists being handled with kid gloves simply goes beyond the pale.
CAIRO, Egypt Shots and an explosion have been heard at an oil refinery in eastern Saudi Arabia, the pan-Arab satellite channel Al-Arabiya TV reported Friday. A Saudi oil official said there had been an explosion at the refinery near Dhahran, but he did not know the cause. The channel's reporter speculated that the shooting and the explosion may have been part of an attempt to break into the refinery.
CAIRO, Egypt - An explosion occured Friday at a major oil refinery in Buqayq, eastern Saudi Arabia, a Saudi oil official said.
The pan-Arab satellite channel Al-Arabiya TV reported the authorities foiled an attempt to bomb the refinery with two vehicles packed with explosives. The channel did not give a source for the report, which appeared on its scrollbar.
Earlier Al-Arabiya quoted its reporter in the kingdom as saying shots as well as an explosion were heard, and they may have been part of an attempt to attack the refinery.
The oil official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he did not know the cause of the explosion in Buqayq, which lies 45 miles southwest of Dammam.
Saudi Interior Ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. Mansour al-Turki told The Associated Press in Cairo: "I have no information. I am following this up."
The Baqiq refinery is a major oil complexs on the eastern side of Saudi Arabia.
The al-Qaida terror group has long called for attacks on Saudi oil installations, accusing the country's government of selling oil to the West at cheap prices. The group is run by the Saudi-born Osama bin Laden who seeks to topple the Saudi monarchy and replace it with an Islamic state.
The Saudi authorities have said their oil facilities are well protected.
The blast damaged a pipeline at Buqayq, a large complex that processes crude oil 45 miles southwest of the oil hub of Dammam on Saudi Arabia's Gulf coast, the Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya said. Oil stopped flowing briefly but then resumed, it reported.
Security guards opened fire on the explosives-packed cars as they attempted to drive through the facility's gates, the Saudi-owned television network said. The two cars bore logos of Aramco, the state oil company that owns the facility.
One vehicle was stopped, and two people inside it were killed. The other vehicle exploded when the guards fired on it, the Al-Arabiya correspondent said. None of the guards were hurt, he said.
#4
Binnys boys threaten UAE,
Kuwait releases all of their prisoners
then the Bugtistinians pipeline blows up
Then the holey shrine of Hidey Maddy
Now the Soudis oil
Are you guys sure you dont wanna bit of foreign investment in your port thingumys?
#10
Heh, probably never heard of this place, eh? Mebbe only the old hands will realize it's typical Saudi goofiness. Buqayq, my ass. This is Abqaiq (ab-cake), aka Baqaiq (back-ache, lol). It's spelled that way on the highway signs and even designated within Aramco as ABQ. Buqayq. Lol. Saudi fuckwits. BTW, it's very easy to fake an Aramco vehicle - they're all Crown Victorias or Caprices and dumped, after a few years, on the auction block, so it's easy to pick one up and reapply the logos.
#11
for .com's attention:
Core area resignations may start rolling in now.
Thank goodness Stabilizers were not touched.
Crude cannot be stopped briefly because of liquid inertia so that rumor cannot be true. Gate valves are primarily used to stop feeding a fire.
My guess these people came from southeast of Hofuf.
.com did you work in core area. Heard of OSPAS?
#14
Correcto mundo .com
I have a 5 digit badge number. Was in OSPAS for 14 years. WestPark huh! Now there is North, and East Parks, plus the old LIP area. West Park is now a part of Main Camp. Women can drive out there without leaving camp. The camp bypasses the old Palace hotel. Perimeter of camp now has 24/7 lights and motion detection. Boy Scouts can only camp inside the 4 compounds, just by the jebels.
On the phone to Dh today. Wife is there with one kid. Two other kids flying back tonight from US. I expect the gossip will take on a feel of "well is the the right timeto consider leaving?" I expect the 1600 or so US expats will seriously consider sending all family home, leaving it a bachelor camp by Sept. After 70 years it is a funny way to see the place heading. Do you check out the Aramcobrats chat site? That must be buzzing.
#15
Lol. A "5 digit badge number" - this means I can get a loan from you to, say, buy a small Caribbean nation, lol. Good for you - but I'm thinking you're right about exit time approaching...
I was a lowly contractor - don't shun me! - lived in Zahra in al Bustan Village - and my JVC Co was in the al Rashid PetCtr. When the Khobar Massacre occurred, I saw a small exodus of my friends remaining there - mostly among Aramcons. I expect there was another immediately after the Yanbu attack, just not felt much in Dhahran. Now they've tried Abqaiq... That's the Big Banana, alright, heh. Glad that IS went gonzo on them.
Wymyns driving all over inside Aramco areas, lol, I'll bet that gives IndSec some heartaches, lol.
If I'm not mistaken, the wait list on the One bdrm units is loooong. They're gonna have to do something, such as let Aramcon solos (having sent family back to The World) to share the 2's and 3's, else they'll have a riot on their hands. I wish I could toss some names out into the void here, but I know that wouldn't be appreciated - whether they're still there or back here.
I certainly hope you're being careful and staying in-camp as much as possible. IS is a weird outfit, but they're some serious people, as far as I could tell, and I don't think you'll see them bail on you. I was once part of a "lunch group" that went into Khobar for Thai food every Wednesday - the one near the old al Shula Mall ruins. It continued until the Khobar Massacre - then I think they abandoned it.
I'm not a "brat", technically, since a contractor, so I'm not aware of their chat scene / site, lol.
You may enjoy this site. I'll wager you've been there long enough to have serious overlap with the author.
#16
BTW, since I smoked, I was out in the Plaza of the Core Area 4-5 times a day and I used to go to the Dining Hall a bit - and if you saw me you just might remember, lol. I had a Fu Manchu beard, classic gray, of 14" length - that seems to be its limit. :-)
#17
.com, I follow your comments often here. It is fun to see how people are slowly becoming more aware of what is happening. In many ways it is like 1938. But I have said too much here. It is best to keep a low profile on the web. Too many ears and eyes. In my situation I have to just be satisfied with just reading Rantburg. I am sure you understand. Just wanted you to know that you have a reader of your comments back on main camp. The locals have not gotten round to blocking the site, but now that I have said this, they may start. Whoops. Take care, fellow cartoonist....
#18
This was a gold flight. In those days, part of oil royalties was paid to the Saudi Arab government in solid gold. (They certainly were foolish to stop demanding gold and start accepting dollars.) The gold, in the form of British sovereigns, was picked up in Montreal, Canada. The seals had been taken out of the front half of the cabin, and the gold, packed in what looked like nail kegs, was lashed down in their place. There was thirteen tons of the stuff, worth eleven million dollars. I was glad to see it there. I didn't know how much I was worth to the company, but I knew they were going to take damned good care of that gold.
King Abdul Aziz was visiting town. He brought with him the usual mob of soldiers and hangers on. They took over Hamilton House and every other empty house in town. This put a major workload on the company, though the biggest job was cleaning up after they had left. All the houses the King's men had occupied had to be completely redecorated, and almost rebuilt. Building fires in the kitchen sink to cook coffee and slaughtering sheep in the bathtubs tend to run down a place.
King Saud was, in many ways, even a bigger headache. He liked to bathe only in ZamZam water from the sacred well in Mecca. So we brought in a 10,000 gallon tanker full of the stuff, installed a special water heater, and piped it into the royal suite bathroom. He also didn't like the smell of food cooking, so a duct was run from the kitchen vent all the way around the house to the far side, and a big fan installed to blow the odors the other way. I guess that if you're king, you're entitled to have things the way you want.
#21
:) I'm humbled - seriously so. I don't do it much, anymore, since most everyone's heard 'em by now, lol. I'm cutting back across the board, in fact. I wish you could take over for me! Please don't be a stranger -- especially when I get things wrong - and I'm sure I do, lol. There are other vets from Lalaland here, too - GK (Gasse Katz) and Mike Kozlowski immediately come to mind.
You should find yourself howling at the Larry Barnes memoirs - if you haven't checked them out before - they're hysterical and enlightening - as Sea seems to have found, heh.
Your insights would be appreciated here, to whatever extent you feel comfortable, especially regards both ends of the situation, from historical perspectives (e.g. the reference to 1938 went over my head!) to what's afoot now - I've been gone since mid-2003.
Now I'll embarrass you - I really miss you guys, lol. A solid percentage of the best people I ever met were there, in the Great Litterbox. Smart, tough, truly worldly, canny, amazingly generous, hard-working folks who have learned how to manage the most insane shit with ease - and elan, I must add, lol - while weenies back in The World bitch about most every little inconvenience. Please take care (duh - me telling you, lol) and help us out when you can. From dodging prayer times to driving there to enduring security searches to dealing with the Govt and IS - I'll wager that at least 50% of what I've posted here is disbelieved or not understood, lol.
There was an empty area in front of the mosque that looked just right for a park, so I made up a drawing showing lawns, walks, hedges, benches, bushes, trees. I presented it to my boss, Frank Lincoln, who passed it on upward. Amazingly, it was approved and constructed. Barnes park was born. At least that is what I called it. No one else did.
Whenever something is accomplished, it appears that a new problem is introduced. The park was no exception. The local population soon decided that all this green grass and leaves would make excellent fodder for their sheep and donkeys. In a few days most all the greenery had been grazed out of existence. Was my humanitarian idea doomed to die? No. Once again American inventive genius was to save the day.
I lined up a meeting with the Emir of Saudi Camp and the Chief of Police and made a suggestion to them. The next day notices were posted throughout the area stating that any animals found in the park after that date would automatically become the personal properly of the Chief of Police. He was more than willing to enforce the edict. Instantly the animals disappeared and the grass grew. Unfortunately, Arabs aren't much to sit in parks, but that is beside the point.
#23
Funny, sad, and several boggles to come, Sea, heh. It really is an eye-opener that everyone should read just to get the bits about the Saudis they won't get anywhere else. ;-)
#24
'Looking back over my shoulder' He ends with the comment about retirement 'come on in the water's fine. ...and the old Lucky McKlusky etc. etc. Yess, know it well. In fact know some of the people in the book, and their children. I have it in PDF format if you would like it. But I don't know how to forward it. I have all the rest of the books like 'Kings and Camels' 'Big Oil Man from Teaxs', 'Out in the Blue' which is recent. Autor was at Stenike giving away some copies 2 years back. Basicallly these are all Aramcon accounts of life in Arabia. Barnes' was a private printing. Have to go now. Bye.
I tell ya, if he comes back stateside and begins contributing, we could all learn some truly fascinating stuff about The Magic Kingdom... the bit about the 5-digit EmpNo makes him a bona-fide "old hand" and, being in OSPAS - they control the entire process once the oil is out of the ground, I assure you he knows stuff that will evoke the entire range of reactions, lol... I've got my fingers crossed he'll do just that.
As an example, he could sketch out everything you'd need to know, at the detailed level, for making The Republic of Eastern Arabia a reality.
Expats are a whole nother animal, and those that thrive in the wild and wooly bits of the world are even beyond that. And .com, I don't know about anyone else, but I believe everything you say... even about the Vegas showgirls. Of course, Mr. Wife tells me I'm gullible... ;-)
Spring is only a month away, and preparations for Nauroz (the Persian new year) are well under way. In Iran this year, however, Nauroz was due to come with a deadly dimension: the start of a new phase of a broad-based anti-US resistance movement stretching from Afghanistan to Jerusalem.
Wednesday's attack on a revered shrine in Iraq could change all this.
The presence in Iran of the Palestinian groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad, as well as members of the Hizb-i-Islami Afghanistan, is well known, as is the presence of other controversial figures related to the "war on terror", such as al-Qaeda members. Security contacts have told Asia Times Online that several al-Qaeda members have been moved from detention centers to safe houses run by Iranian intelligence near Tehran.
The aim of these people in Iran is to establish a chain of anti-US resistance groups that will take the offensive before the West makes its expected move against Tehran.
Iran has been referred to the UN Security Council over its nuclear program, which the US and others say is geared towards developing nuclear weapons. The International Atomic Energy Agency is due to present a final report to the Security Council next month, after which the council will consider imposing sanctions against Tehran. Many believe that the US is planning preemptive military action against Iran.
With Wednesday's attack on the Golden Mosque in Samarra in Iraq, home to a revered Shi'ite shrine, the dynamics have changed overnight. Armed men detonated explosives inside the mosque, blowing off the domed roof of the building. Iraqi leaders are trying to contain the angry reaction of Shi'ites, amid rising fears that the country is on the brink of civil war. At least 20 Sunnis have been killed already in retaliatory attacks, and nearly 30 Sunni mosques have been attacked across the country.
The potentially bloody polarization in the Shi'ite-Sunni world now threatens to unravel the links that have been established between Shi'ite-dominated Iran and radical Sunni groups from Afghanistan and elsewhere.
Two of the 12 Shi'ite imams - Imam Ali al-Hadi, who died in AD 868, and his son, Imam Hasan al-Askari, who died in 874 - are buried at the mosque. The complex also contains the shrine of the 12th imam, Mohammed al-Mahdi, who is said to have gone into hiding through a cellar in the complex in 878, and is expected to return on Judgment Day.
Nevertheless, the sanctity of the tombs is of equal importance to Sunnis. Like the tombs of the Prophet Mohammed, Imam Ali and Imam Hussain, no self-respecting Muslim, whether Shi'ite or Sunni, would ever think of attacking such a place.
Further, the custodians of the shrine in Samarra have for many centuries been the descendants of Imam Naqi, called Naqvis, and they believe in Sunni Islam, as does the vast majority of the population of Samarra.
The present custodian is Syed Riyadh al-Kilidar, whom this correspondent met before the US attacked Iraq. Riyadh was arrested by US troops after Iraq was invaded, but released after brief detention.
The same is true of the Mosa Kazim Shrine in Baghdad, where the custodians have for many centuries been descendents of Imam Mosa Kazim. They are called Mosavis, and are Sunni Muslim. The previous custodian was Sayed Sabah bin Ibrahim al-Mosavi, whom this correspondent also met before the US invasion. He was a member of the Iraqi parliament during Saddam Hussein's era. After the US invasion he moved to Pakistan. Now the shrine is managed by Najaf Ashraf (al-Hoza).
Both the Ansar al-Sunnah Army and the Mujahideen Shura Council - an alliance that includes Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's al-Qaeda-affiliated group - are suspected of perpetrating the attack. Both groups have insurgents operating in Samarra, and have claimed responsibility for attacks against US and Iraqi forces there in recent weeks. No group has claimed responsibility for the Samarra attack.
Given that the sensibilities of both Shi'ites and Sunnis have been violated by the attack, the foreign factor in the Iraqi resistance could be curtailed.
At the same time, escalating sectarian strife will hamper the national resistance movement in cities such as Basra in the south and Baghdad, which have strong Shi'ite populations. People in these areas could quickly turn against what is perceived as a largely Sunni-led resistance, with a strong al-Qaeda link.
Leaders have scrambled to limit the damage. Shi'ite Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani immediately called for seven days of mourning following the attack, and urged Shi'ites to take to the streets in peaceful demonstrations. The cleric, who rarely appears in public, could be seen on Iraqi state television in a meeting with other leading ayatollahs.
Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who was in Lebanon as part of a regional tour, headed back to Iraq to join his supporters, who were already out in full force. Speaking to al-Jazeera television on Wednesday, Muqtada blamed all parties in the ongoing Iraq conflict for the attack. "It was not the Sunnis who attacked the shrine of Imam al-Hadi ... but rather the occupation; the Takfiris [those who accuse other Muslims of being infidels], al-Nawasib [a derogatory reference to those who declare hostilities against others] ... and the Ba'athists," he said. "We should not attack Sunni mosques. I ordered the [Imam] al-Mehdi Army to protect the Shi'ite and Sunni shrines and to show a high sense of responsibility, something they actually did."
The violence comes at a time that Iraqi leaders are trying to form a new coalition government that will bring Sunnis, Shi'ites and Kurds together. This process, like the resistance, is now also in jeopardy, as calls for separate, quasi-independent regions are bound to intensify.
The anti-US resistance movement had wanted to use Shi'ite Iran as the final base to link the resistance groups of this whole region. If the current volatile situation results in Shi'ites sitting on one side, and Sunnis and al-Qaeda-linked groups on the other, this is unlikely to happen.
Instead, Iraq could become a new battlefield, not only against US-led forces, but between different factions. Iran, meanwhile, would be left to deal with the West on its own.
#1
Muqty is talking pro-Sunni, but i heard somewhere in the MSM that its mainly his guys who are doing the reprisals. Im not sure whats really going with him.
#3
"The aim of these people in Iran is to establish a chain of anti-US resistance groups that will take the offensive before the West makes its expected move against Tehran."
The invasion of Iraq in 2002 was described (I believe) by Victor Davis Hanson as the longest telegraphed punch in the history of warfare, giving Saddam all kinds of time to prepare, misdirect, and stash whatever he wished.
Too bad the lesson wasn't learned while dealing with Iran.
#4
The bombing of the shrine was terrible, but its def. going to completely bacfire on al qaeda. They are unfortunately brutal but fortunately stupid. When your group is too radical for al-sadr thats saying something. I think in the end this attack is going to unite the sunnis and shites against the terrorists. BTW You would never ever read an article like this from the associated press.
I am skeptical of his sources, and would welcome comments. His thesis is that Iran is not waiting for us to attack but is instead trying to turn Iraq into chaos to prevent us from doing anything there.
Among his tidbits of evidence is that the explosives were placed so as not to harm the tombs in the shrine, just the dome. Not sure if this is checkable here.
1) Zarq is the main suspect
2) Zark has ties support from Iran
3) The main retaliation, per Iraqi blogger Zayed seems to be pushed by Mucky Sadr
4) Mucky is in Iran's pocket.
I think it possible, verging on probable, that the blast is a strategic initiative by Iran to cause enough civil war in Iraq to fracture it allowing them to pick up the Shiite portion around Basra, which is oil-rich and contains the best access to the sea.
#7
"I ordered the [Imam] al-Mehdi Army to protect the Shi'ite and Sunni shrines and to show a high sense of responsibility, something they actually did."
BS. His "black clad al-Mehdi Army is up to it's hips in the current attacks on Sunni practitioners.
#8
Tomb of the Prophet? I thought he was assumed bodily into heaven or something like that. Isn't that the whole and sum of why Jerusalem is important to Muslims?
Posted by: Mitch H. ||
02/24/2006 17:49
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#9
...longest telegraphed punch in the history of warfare, giving Saddam all kinds of time to prepare, misdirect, and stash whatever he wished.
Too bad the lesson wasn't learned while dealing with Iran.
While I wish we could be more covert, with today's instant communications and the need for political backing for any such move, it's virtually impossible not to telegraph our punches.
After backing calls by Muslims for respect for their religion in the Mohammad cartoons row, the Vatican is now urging Islamic countries to reciprocate by showing more tolerance toward their Christian minorities.
"Ummm... Nope. We couldn't do that! We got laws against that sort of thing!"
Roman Catholic leaders at first said Muslims were right to be outraged when Western newspapers reprinted Danish caricatures of the Prophet, including one with a bomb in his turban. After criticizing both the cartoons and the violent protests in Muslim countries that followed, the Vatican this week linked the issue to its long-standing concern that the rights of other faiths are limited, sometimes severely, in Muslim countries. Vatican prelates have been concerned by recent killings of two Catholic priests in Turkey and Nigeria. Turkish media linked the death there to the cartoons row. At least 146 Christians and Muslims have died in five days of religious riots in Nigeria. "If we tell our people they have no right to offend, we have to tell the others they have no right to destroy us," Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Vatican's Secretary of State (prime minister), told journalists in Rome.
I'd say they don't have the right to destroy us whether they're offended or not. Tits and tats are usually the same size and shape, so they could maybe feel free to offend us back. It just takes a lot more to offend Westerners than it does to offend Muslims, probably because we've have so much experience offending each other.
"We must always stress our demand for reciprocity in political contacts with authorities in Islamic countries and, even more, in cultural contacts," Foreign Minister Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo told the daily Corriere della Sera. Reciprocity -- allowing Christian minorities the same rights as Muslims generally have in Western countries, such as building houses of worship or practicing religion freely -- is at the heart of Vatican diplomacy toward Muslim states. Vatican diplomats argue that limits on Christians in some Islamic countries are far harsher than restrictions in the West that Muslims decry, such as France's ban on headscarves in state schools. Saudi Arabia bans all public expression of any non-Muslim religion and sometimes arrests Christians even for worshipping privately. Pakistan allows churches to operate but its Islamic laws effectively deprive Christians of many rights. Both countries are often criticized at the United Nations Human Rights Commission for violating religious freedoms.
The natural extension of "reciprocity" would, of course, be the right to prosyletize. That's forbidden in virtually all Moose limb countries.
Pope Benedict signaled his concern on Monday when he told the new Moroccan ambassador to the Vatican that peace can only be assured by "respect for the religious convictions and practices of others, in a reciprocal way in all societies." Morocco is tolerant of other religions, but like all Muslim countries frowns on conversion from Islam to another faith.
Wouldn't that tighten the old turbans? On the other hand, I'm not sure I'm comfortable with the thought of Arab Baptists...
Christians make up only a tiny fraction of the population in most Muslim countries. War and political pressure in recent decades have forced many to emigrate from Middle Eastern communities dating back to just after the time of Jesus. "Enough now with this turning the other cheek! It's our duty to protect ourselves," Monsignor Velasio De Paolis, secretary of the Vatican's supreme court, thundered in the daily La Stampa. "The West has had relations with the Arab countries for half a century, mostly for oil, and has not been able to get the slightest concession on human rights," he said.
#7
Wouldn't that tighten the old turbans? On the other hand, I'm not sure I'm comfortable with the thought of Arab Baptists...
I don't know, plains...I'm Baptist and we have some FINE BBQ (pork no less) dinners on the grounds! A lot better than the other options, lol!
I actually see this as a HUGE movement in the Catholic church (from touchy-feely "turn the other cheek" stuff to actually (albeit, only verbally) fighting back). Those of us on the Protestant side of the house have always been fighters. Heck, in my church, we PRAISE our troops, encourage them to attend in uniform, and around July 4th have a service dedicated to the military (with the respective songs sung for each of the armed services, including Coast Guard). Even ask for all veterans to stand (who, obviously, mostly are out of uniform) and I'm always shocked how many vets (even of the WWII age) we have in our congregation. These statements are a few days old and COULD (I don't know for sure) have pushed the Nigerian Christians into actually (physically) fighting back against the Muslims there. Much like Radio Free Europe, or Bush's SoTU address to the Iranian PEOPLE, this serves to encourage a specific people (in this case, Catholics) to rise up and have "permission" to fight back!
Posted by: BA ||
02/24/2006 11:00
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#8
"Enough now with this turning the other cheek! It's our duty to protect ourselves"
#9
I wonder if we've reached a tipping point on Islamism.
I say, yes. Modern communication (e.g., newspaper cartoons) and mobility have exponentially increased the points of contact that Islam has with the outside world. The global population is beginning to notice how so much of that contact generates nothing but friction. All of this is augmented by the frequency and way that Islam itself voluntarily instigates this friction and does so in a spectacularly offensive and atrocious manner.
The tipping point is being reached. Once the world perceives that the cost of trying to co-exist with Islam far exceeds the cost of exterminating Islam, the scales will tip and Islam will become an object of study for historians and a few brave archaeologists in lead lined suits scholars.
#12
I'm Baptist and we have some FINE BBQ (pork no less) dinners on the grounds! A lot better than the other options, lol!
I actually see this as a HUGE movement in the Catholic church (from touchy-feely "turn the other cheek" stuff to actually (albeit, only verbally) fighting back). Those of us on the Protestant side of the house have always been fighters. Heck, in my church, we PRAISE our troops, encourage them to attend in uniform, and around July 4th have a service dedicated to the military (with the respective songs sung for each of the armed services, including Coast Guard). Even ask for all veterans to stand (who, obviously, mostly are out of uniform) and I'm always shocked how many vets (even of the WWII age) we have in our congregation. These statements are a few days old and COULD (I don't know for sure) have pushed the Nigerian Christians into actually (physically) fighting back against the Muslims there. Much like Radio Free Europe, or Bush's SoTU address to the Iranian PEOPLE, this serves to encourage a specific people (in this case, Catholics) to rise up and have "permission" to fight back!
I was referring to the idea of some of the fire and brimstone Baptist preachers I've run into, and more of them that I've heard of. Qazi, Fazl, and Sami are fire and brimstone preachers, too. My point was that it may actually be easier to change the theology than it will be to change the temperament. The Christians of Alexandria and Antioch were noted for their penchant for rioting before the Profit (PTUI) was a gleam in his daddy's eye. Imagine a post-Muslim Middle Eastern Protestantism, where everybody's free to issue his own fatwah.
Nor would I wax too rhapsodical over Protestantism's sterling record in defending the faith. Episcopalians, Unitarians, United Methodists, and the National Council of Churches Nobody Goes To are all Protestant, despite their occasional emulation of St. Peter in the Garden.
It would be amusing to watch a church full of Pashtuns passing the snakes, though.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/24/2006 15:15
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#13
lol, Fred! Now, I'm gonna have a mental image of a snake-handling Pashtun, lol.
You're right on the Protestant thing though. I'd maybe reclassify Baptists into those hated "Evangelical" categories. I actually think those churches you mentioned who are getting into touchy-feely political arenas are NO CHURCHES at all, but just religious country clubs who are falling for today's multi-culti, "diversity" driven, "tolerant", open-minded to the point of their brains falling out crowds.
Posted by: BA ||
02/24/2006 15:32
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#14
empty ritual centers for people without the imagination to become wiccans.
#15
Ok, now I've got an image of snake-handling Pushtuns with their brains falling out, while the preacher thunders about fire and brimstone from the pulpit, and the choir sings in the background. Thank goodness I've already eaten lunch, and it isn't quite time for tea!
#23
When the last pope kissed the koran I almost schit my pants. Enough is enough and I wish this pope nothing but good luck. Heh, maybe we will get lucky and he'll call for another crusade!?
What I don't get is how anyone can expect a terrorist worshipper to act civil. Muhamhead never did and the porkoran is pretty clear about the conversion or death thing.
Some wives and daughters of newly elected Hamas lawmakers sat in a back row cradling poster-sized portraits of their husbands and fathers as the Palestinian parliament was sworn in.
When the names were read off, muffled voices followed a brief silence: "He is not here. ... He is in prison."
Posted by: Captain America ||
02/24/2006
05:53 ||
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ah, too bad. The murderers remain in prison. I look forward to the outrage from the left.
Bangladesh has signed a $93.6 million deal with China to procure 16 fighter jets for its air force, the countrys acting defense minister said Feb. 23.
Each fighter plane would cost 5.85 million dollars, Hafizuddin Ahmed, the countrys water resources minister who is also acting minister of defense, told the national parliament, according to the state-run BSS news agency.
The minister did not indicate what kind of planes were being bought but Lieutenant-Colonel Nazrul Islam, spokesman for the countrys armed forces, identified them as F-7 fighter jets.
Dhaka and Beijing have strong defense ties and much of Bangladeshi military hardware is purchased from China.
Last April, Chinese premier Wen Jiabao visited Dhaka as part of his maiden South Asian tour when the two countries signed a raft of agreements covering development, trade, economic and defense cooperation.
China is also Bangladeshs biggest source of imported goods, this year surpassing India for the title for the first time since the country became independent in 1971.
Posted by: john ||
02/24/2006
05:48 ||
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Bangladesh is one of the world's poorest, most densely populated and least developed nations. The government launched reforms in the 1990s to establish a more open, market-based economy and to accelerate economic growth. However, massive flooding in 1998 destroyed most of the rice crop, shattering the economic progress being made. Nearly 30 million people were affected by the floods, and the impact is still being felt today.
The minister did not indicate what kind of planes were being bought
#6
Wonder who they think that they are going to be able to fight with these?
Indeed, especially since BD is surrounded on three sides by India and the fourth side by the Bay of Bengal which is the stomping ground of the Indian Navy carrier group.
Latest word on the Indian MRCA contract is that the tender documents are being rewritten to include the Navy. Total will be 200 aircraft with a probable mix of planes from two vendors.
In the running - the F-18 SH, the F-16, the Mig-35 (an upgraded Mig 29 with French avoinics and a new thrust vectoring engine), the Rafale, the Eurofigter typhoon.
Posted by: john ||
02/24/2006 17:12
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Congratulations, Bangladesh. You've taken nearly one hundred million dollars out of the mouths of your populations and bought...Chinese knockoffs of MiG freaking twenty-ones.
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
02/24/2006 19:08
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Some state leaders are divided over Treasurer Peter Costello's claims that people should be stripped or refused their citizenship if they do not embrace Australian values.
New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma says he agrees with Mr Costello and has suggested taking the action even further by applying it to people on temporary or long-term visas.
Treasurer Peter Costello has been accused of being deliberately divisive, and preparing for a return to racist immigration policies after comments made in a speech last night.
Islamic groups say it is an appeal to conservative voters but Mr Iemma says it is completely reasonable.
"No matter what your religion or the colour of your skin, this is a warm and generous and welcoming country - leave the extremism and leave the fights behind," he said.
Victorian Premier Steve Bracks says Mr Costello is playing politics.
Mr Bracks says Mr Costello is trying to divert people's attention from the Government's role in the AWB scandal.
"The reality is that people coming into our country come in accepting our values," he said.
"It's self evident, they come in accepting democracy, accepting of course the rule of law more broadly, accepting freedoms that we have here.
"That's what they accept when they come in and they sign on to that, of course they do, so Peter Costello's intervention is really about diversion from the Federal Government."
Queensland Premier Peter Beattie says Mr Costello's comments were a cheap shot for populist approval
"If Peter Costello is trying to appeal back to the 1950s to become the Prime Minister, I think that's a retrograde step," Mr Beattie said.
"I just think sometimes leaders have got to stand up - and I know what I'm saying will not be popular in some places - but someone's got to have the guts to say to Peter Costello, if you want to be prime minister, find the things that bring us together, not the things that divide us."
But NSW Opposition Leader Peter Debnam says he also endorses Mr Costello's comments.
"One of the things I think we need to get rid of is the political correctness and Peter was certainly putting his foot on that last night," Mr Debnam said.
#1
This is issue is a disaster for the Australian Labour Party. Watched the deputy leader of the ALP blather and squirm on this issue this morning and was then forced to say he completely agreed with Costello.
Posted by: Howard UK ||
02/24/2006 7:59
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"The reality is that people coming into our country come in accepting our values," he said.
Like the fine fellows who gang-raped a girl and said they were justified in doing it because she was dressed like a whore, which is to say she was covered head-to-toe with muslin.
Or the imam who declared that gays should be killed.
Or the one who told kids not to eat bananas because the Jews were poisoning them.
Yep, every immigrant to Australia embraces Australian values.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
02/24/2006 8:04
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Here is the US Citizenship oath. Appears a few here have violated it. Good luck in Oz.
The oath of allegiance is:
"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."
In some cases, INS allows the oath to be taken without the clauses:
". . .that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by law. . ."
#6
Reminds me a (French) TV movie: a Jewish woman survives WWII and gets French nationality through a decree of De Gaulle. She is advised to go collect the document and there a low-grade employee makes her sign a receipt and gives her the document.
-Woman: That is all?
-Employee: Yes. That is all.
-Woman: What? No ceremony, no oath of allegiance like in the United States?
-Employee in an arrogant tone: Here we are in France! (Remember that teh scene is supposed to happen in 1945 ie when this guy should have shown some modesty).
Ever thought that our lack of an oath of allegiance was a bad idea, that it converted what should be the joining of a citizen to a nation into just teh product of a bureaucracy.
#7
Reminds me a (French) TV movie: a Jewish woman survives WWII and gets French nationality through a decree of De Gaulle. She is advised to go collect the document and there a low-grade employee makes her sign a receipt and gives her the document.
-Woman: That is all?
-Employee: Yes. That is all.
-Woman: What? No ceremony, no oath of allegiance like in the United States?
-Employee in an arrogant tone: Here we are in France! (Remember that teh scene is supposed to happen in 1945 ie when this guy should have shown some modesty).
Ever thought that our lack of an oath of allegiance was a bad idea, that it converted what should be the joining of a citizen to a nation into just teh product of a bureaucracy.
#8
"The reality is that people coming into our country come in accepting our values," he said.
"It's self evident, they come in accepting democracy, accepting of course the rule of law more broadly, accepting freedoms that we have here.
"That's what they accept when they come in and they sign on to that, of course they do
Oh no they dont. They come because they heard about the welfare and the incredible health, education and infrastructure benefits. Many are blissfully unaware of our values and our laws (speaking from the Canadian experience, very similar to other dem countries) and couldnt give a bigger hoot about them.
Its why it costs a bleeding fortune to provide the services and support for attempting to assimilate muslim immigrants. They insist their religious laws are more important than assimilating, they are only here for the services which must be provided to all. They will not socialize (and will barely speak to) anyone outside their own sect. The kids are not allowed to play with or communicate with the infidels. Their youth are not allowed to work with the opposite sex or with alcohol or pork or . which leaves them with precious little employment opportunities. And on and on.
They DONT accept anything of law or democracy or freedom. They are biding their time, just like they did till run out of their own far-flung village, until their particular sect rises again to power. All they need in this country they all believe and profess is enough kids.
Posted for its weirdness and potential interest for computer geeks.
Even for the crazy world of quantum mechanics, this one is twisted. A quantum computer program has produced an answer without actually running.
The idea behind the feat, first proposed in 1998, is to put a quantum computer into a superposition, a state in which it is both running and not running. It is as if you asked Schrödinger's cat to hit "Run".
With the right set-up, the theory suggested, the computer would sometimes get an answer out of the computer even though the program did not run. And now researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have improved on the original design and built a non-running quantum computer that really works.
They send a photon into a system of mirrors and other optical devices, which included a set of components that run a simple database search by changing the properties of the photon.
The new design includes a quantum trick called the Zeno effect. Repeated measurements stop the photon from entering the actual program, but allow its quantum nature to flirt with the program's components - so it can become gradually altered even though it never actually passes through.
"It is very bizarre that you know your computer has not run but you also know what the answer is," says team member Onur Hosten.
This scheme could have an advantage over straightforward quantum computing. "A non-running computer produces fewer errors," says Hosten. That sentiment should have technophobes nodding enthusiastically.
#5
The new design includes a quantum trick called the Zeno effect. Repeated measurements stop the photon from entering the actual program, but allow its quantum nature to flirt with the program's components - so it can become gradually altered even though it never actually passes through.
A message praising the violent attack on the Italian consulate in the Libyan city of Benghazi last Friday appeared on Thursday night on Islamic internet forums linked to the al-Qaeda terror network. The message, which lasted 2 minutes and 40 seconds and was signed 'the throat cutter', announced that a film was being made on the attack against the consulate. It said: "The Italian consulate in Benghazi, one of the most important cities for Libya and Jihad, was destroyed and set on fire. You will see similar things in the future."
The message broadcast a short video with as soundtrack music used for films by the group of Abu Musab al Zarqawi, al-Qaeda's leader in Iraq. The images showed the Italian consulate after the attack last Friday, during which 14 protesters died and the damages on the building.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
02/24/2006
01:14 ||
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Yes, yes, yes! Kill all the infidels in dir el sociopath, and eat sand.
A cleric who offered $1 million and a car for the death of those cartoonists who drew blasphemous caricatures said yesterday that suicide bombers had volunteered to kill the blasphemers.
Yousaf Qureshi, the prayer leader at the 300-year-old Mohabat Khan mosque in Peshawar, announced the reward on Friday. The blasphemers will not live and there are mujahedin who visited me to assure that such people will not be allowed to live for their unpardonable act, the cleric told a news conference. Mujahedin suicide bombers have contacted us and they are ready for this mission. They are college and university students.
Qureshi is considered close to the Jamaat-i-Islami party, which is at the forefront of the ongoing campaign against the cartoons in Pakistan.
The imam also hit back at criticism from both Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) chief Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu that rewards for murder were forbidden by the Holy Quran. The OIC secretary-general is ignorant of Islamic teachings, he said.
He said the Danish foreign minister lost sense after he realised the strength of the Muslim worlds reaction to the cartoons.
The only solution to the crisis was the trial of the blasphemers under Islamic laws, Qureshi said. Nothing else is accepted than capital punishment under Islamic laws to the cartoonists, he said.
"Nope, nope, can't do nuttin' else, religion of peace demands death, nope."
Our correspondent adds from Peshawar: Maulana Qureshi, defending his decision regarding reward for killing of the cartoonist, said Muslims have the right to do so as the act was initiated by the United States and its allies. The US and its allies are not only involved in aggression against the Muslim countries but they are also announcing rewards against Muslim leaders, the prayer leader added.
Qureshi said the government is unable to denounce the plots against the Muslim as the rulers are more interested in power than their religious obligations. However, he praised the NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani for leading a peaceful demonstration. But he was harsh about the silent role of the chief ministers of the other three provinces.
He urged the government to demand of the Danish government to extradite the cartoonist.
Which will never happen, thus providing Qureshi, Qazi and the rest with a convenient excuse to whip up the masses ...
Qureshi condemned the government, for what he called, demolishing the houses and killing of innocent people just to please the Western world. "Mujahideen are being bombed and targeted in Pakistan.
The imam demanded of the government to ask all the foreign countries to withdraw their troops from Pakistan at the earliest.
There are foreign troops in Pakland?
He demanded an end to the military operation in the tribal belt.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
02/24/2006
01:11 ||
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A cleric who offered $1 million and a car
How the fu*k are they going to drive a car when they're in a million pieces?
Posted by: Howard UK ||
02/24/2006 4:48
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Yousaf Qureshi, the prayer leader at the 300-year-old Mohabat Khan mosque in Peshawar, announced the reward on Friday
#3
What a clever idea: announce that anyone coming to Scandanavia from Pakistan is likely to be a murderer. How many will be able to illegally immigrate now, d'you suppose?
#9
mhw---maybe a driver and bus with 72 virginians. I think that we have driven this logic over the cliff and it's time to be done with it.....next story, please.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
02/24/2006 12:22
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Posted by: Mullah Richard ||
02/24/2006 14:04
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#13
Robert, those Saudis came here legally. My question is about those who don't. I can see all Pakistanis, in fact all those with darker skins, being stopped at various Scandinavian borders because of the perceived risk that they might be potential murderers.
#15
The best thing about all this cartoon crap is that even the Hate America First liberal flag burners have been forced to see the true face of pIslam.
#16
Blasphemy! Destroying the Moonbat Khan mosque would put the homeless mujahedin back on the street! (give the money and car to good ole' mom and it's ok) :)
The arrests of several Marines charged with stealing and reselling ballistic vests and other military items destined for U.S. troops in Iraq were isolated incidents in a system that works to ensure full accountability of all controlled equipment, a Marine Corps spokesman told American Forces Press Service today.
Abuses of this system won't be tolerated and the violators will be held fully accountable, Maj. Doug Powell, a Headquarters Marine Corps spokesman, said.
The Department of Homeland Security announced yesterday that nine people, including several Marines at Camp Pendleton, Calif., were arrested following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service.
Several additional suspects in the investigation are believed to be serving in Iraq, according to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement release. Some of the ballistics vests, stolen from Camp Pendleton, were later resold on the Internet and illegally exported to customs agents posing as international arms merchants, the release said.
Yesterday's announcement followed the sentencing of Erika Jardine, a Vista, Calif., resident, to six months in jail followed by three years of supervised release, a community service obligation and a $6,500 fine. Officials said she sold and illegally exported 18 stolen military ballistic vests to undercover customs agents.
Information developed through the Jardine case led agents to several Marines at Camp Pendleton who allegedly sold her small-arms protective inserts, or SAPI plates, and outer tactical vests, officials reported. ICE and DoD investigators began working with the North County Regional Gang Task Force in San Diego to target civilians and military members who possessed or were distributing stolen government property, they said.
The Camp Pendleton investigation, lead by NCIS, focused on identifying the amount and type of U.S. military gear being stolen. The goal was to disrupt the operations as quickly as possible to reduce the thefts' impact on the operational readiness of Marines preparing for overseas deployments, officials said.
Ultimately, the investigation identified 12 Marine suspects as well as several civilians, officials said. More arrests are expected as the investigation continues, officials said.
The Marines involved will be held fully accountable for the actions, Powell said. "This type of activity will not be tolerated," he said.
The theft or resale of military-issued items is not only a violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, but also a breach of the Marine Corps ethos, officials said.
The investigation also resulted in the recovery or purchase of more than $63,000 in equipment. It included 104 SAPI plates, worth $500 each; 14 outer tactical vests, worth $577 each; seven Kevlar helmets; three fragmentation vests; 74 M16 magazines; two gas masks; and more than 100,000 Iraqi dinars, officials reported.
The Marine Corps works to ensure accountability of military equipment through a system that includes bar coding of equipment, quarterly inventories and periodic field audits by the inspectors general, Powell said.
While acknowledging the gravity of the case, Powell said the thefts had no impact on Marine Corps readiness. The thefts identified represent "a fraction of 1 percent" of all protective equipment the Marine Corps has fielded, he noted. So far, the Marine Corps has sent more than 240,000 SAPI plates and more than 190,000 outer tactical vests to the field, he said.
But Immigration and Customs Enforcement Assistant Secretary Julie Myers said the case flies in the face of the effort to ensure deployed U.S. troops have all the protections they need while serving overseas. "At a time when our troops in Iraq need all the body armor they can get, it is extremely troubling to see bulletproof vests destined for those troops being stolen from our military bases at home for resale to the public," she said. "It is even more troubling that individuals would try to sell these items for profit to people they believed were international arms dealers."
Ed Bruice, spokesman for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, said the case "goes straight to the heart of force protection."
"We will continue to partner with ICE and other agencies around the world to safeguard our troops, especially those on the front lines who are depending on gear such as these vests to save their lives," he said.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
02/24/2006
01:10 ||
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#1
too bad we cannot bring back the firing squad....seriously, what a bunch of selfish assholes - I hope they receive general court martials across the board and hard time in Kansas. I imagine one of these clowns will roll over on the others and get a plea down.
#2
According to an article I posted yesterday, the civilian woman who was selling the stuff on Ebay has been very helpful in building cases against the others -- as well she should, since Erika Jardine was the one who went looking for suppliers on the base to begin with.
#3
Jardine got a slap on the wrist compared to the punishment she originally faced: .... a maximum possible sentence of 20 years imprisonment, a $500,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release and a $200 special assessment.
#4
In the past week or so the MSM has been bleating on about the (Marine or soldier, don't remember which) who was mustering out of the military and was required to pay for the body armor his buddies had to cut off him when his humvee got boomed.
#5
The emphasis on punishment seems limited to the marines (not fit to use a capital 'M'), and while I find it beyond disgusting behaviour, what is going to happen the the civilians? Are they civil service or contractors? They should be receiving the same sort of treatment as the uniformed member ( less any "Special High Intensity Training" that Real Marines provide to these sh!tbags. I do not want to see the civvies let off just because they are civvies. send all of them to Kansas.
#7
I would be surprised to see that happen unless they dropped the dime on the rest of the gang. It will likely take them longer to see the slammer because things like this just work slower in civilian coruts. One area where the military is more efficient.
#8
Oh for the good old days, prior to theUCMJ,when these shitbirds would dealt with under the "rocks and shoals" system and placed in a "red-line brig." Disgrace.
The violence in Iraq after the bombing of a Shiite mosque this week has abruptly thrown the Bush administration on the defensive, and there were signs on Thursday that American officials recognized new perils to their plans to withdraw troops this year. The American enterprise in Iraq seemed beleaguered on two fronts, political and military.
Senior administration officials in Washington and Baghdad said the next few days would test American and Iraqi resolve, as the United States military, despite pressure to intervene and angry accusations that it stood by while Iraq erupted in revenge killings, holds back to see if Iraqis can quell violence themselves. An unusual daytime curfew in Baghdad scheduled for Friday Prayer could help, the officials said.
Iraqis and some American officials also said the Bush administration might have to rethink its political strategy in Baghdad.
Before any major military operation, there are always tell tale signs. With all the talk about Israel or the United States bombing Iran's nuclear weapons program, it would be wise to check for the signs before taking the pundit prattle too seriously.
1. The U.S. Navy stages a "surge exercise" and moves six carrier battle groups into the Indian Ocean.
2. A "regularly scheduled exercise" moves Patriot Missile Batteies to Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. These exercises happen from time to time, but if they happen when other things are happening
3. -- Movement of B-52 and B1B bombers to the island of Diego Garcia (in the Indian Ocean).
4. -- Deployment of F117 stealth bombers and F-22 fighters to anywhere in the Persian Gulf.
5. -- Deployment of B-2 Stealth Bombers to Guam, where there are special facilities for maintaining these aircraft.
6. -- Lockdown of Whitman Air Force Base (where most B-2 bombers are stationed) in Missouri.
7. -- Increased delivery of Pizza to Pentagon
8. Sudden loss of cell service near some air force bases (from which heavy bombers would depart). At the same time, there would be sightings of Middle Eastern looking guys around these bases, trying to get their cell phones to work, while being observed by what appears to be FBI agents.
9. Deployment of KC-135/KC-10 aerial tankers to Diego Garcia, Guam and the Persian Gulf.
10. America asks nations neighboring Iran for basing and over flight rights.
11. Pentagon orders 10 million gallons of Windex. Gotta clean up all that glass after we get done making those parking lots..
These warning signs are no secret, and intelligence officers regularly run down their check lists. As a result, nations will sometimes stage a false alert by deliberately performing many of the items on someone's check list, with no intention of following through.
#4
You hit the nail on the head tipper! I would also add that items 3,4, and 5 will also be evident by increased com-trail displays over the US sky; and although not so noticeably seen in the public, a quiet movement of Israelis and jews out of Arab lands to the US and other western nations 30 days prior. A top secret request from Israel!
Items 1, 5, and 9 will be tipped off to the Iranians by Russian spy satellites which will spawn abrupt troop and missile movements preimptively which ironically will be 'factored in' the US's response as it's detection grid 'lights up'!
Right now we have a carrier (the Reagan) in the gulf along with an expeditionary strike group (special ops capable) and another carrier (the Roosevelt) in the Mediterranean on a 'port visit'.
The Enterprise and the Eisenhower are in the Atlantic ... somewhere.
A reminder about strikes, tho: The B2s struck Kosovo IIRC from Whitman AFB in Missouri, then refueled over the Atlantic and returned home. That was also the first combat use of the JDAMs it carries and the combination -- planes coming stealthily from another hemisphere, precision attacks on the Serbs without massive collateral damage, safe return to their home base -- rather changed the equation about bombing campaigns.
After Saddam invaded Kuwait and the Saudis asked us to intervene, the F-117 Night Hawks flew from Saudi bases, but again despite the massive anti-aircraft defenses around Baghdad we took out their command and control networks at night with no casualties to men or machines.
The point? First, that obvious major deployments of ships and planes may not be a requirement for a massive, but precision, attack on Iranian facilities. And second, that there may well be other capabilities in the pipeline. If we're contemplating sale of the F-117 to allies, it's not the cutting edge any more.
#6
If I were an officer at the Pentagon and I wanted to confound the bad guys, I'd start holding pizza parties for my department every Friday. Really big pizza parties. Maybe I'd order a few deployments to coincide.
Posted by: Mike ||
02/24/2006 7:56
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A tactician friend pointed out to me that there are two different ways that we can attack Iran, and that we need to focus on both for a favorable outcome.
The first is an "acute" attack, like in GW 1, that lasts from 1-30 days and emphasizes anti-missile defense as much as combined air attack offense. This is the war that everybody thinks of as the war; but in truth is only the "mission accomplished" part of the war.
The second is a "chronic" attack, that lasts from 30 days to as long as a year or more. It is designed to so thoroughly reduce Iran that large sections of the country can be sliced off, and Iran permanently partitioned.
The purpose of this is so that we go one step beyond the temporary partitioning of Iraq after GW 1, with its northern and southern "no-fly" zones, and "give" large chunks of Iran to adjacent nations that can both rule them and defend them.
This second part answers the question "What do you do with Iran once you have beaten it?" And it is just as important as defeating Iran in the first place, neutralizing their nuclear ambitions and missile programs.
Unlike Iraq, ruled by minority Sunnis, but still ruling "Iraqis", be they Kurds or Shiites; Iran's Persians are the majority, and do not see their hated minority Kurds, Arabs, Baluchs or Azeri as anything other than useless subjects. Foreigners living in their country.
This means that unlike Iraq, Iran is ripe for partition, enlarging their neighbors with their kind of people, and diminishing Persia from being an inherently large, powerful and unstable state to one that is more equal in size and strength to its peers.
We also learned our lesson with Iraq. That while we thought we could force Saddam to concern himself with his own people in favor of building up his military, he was left with enough resources so that by utterly despising his own people, he still could mount a threat.
So the Partitioning of Iran would be done specifically to prevent them from regaining their threatening stance, even if they committed their entire nation to do so.
#8
Actually all the "movement" is probably pointed at the Euros. They really don't like folks pulling triggers so they may become more accomadating in pressuring the Iranians. My bet would be to start looking where the four recently refitted "boomers" are, since they can carry something like 150 cruise missles. Very accurate and almost no risk involved, not to mention there isn't a whole bunch the Iranians can do to stop an attack like that.
#13
"What do you do with Iran once you have beaten it?"
While a good salt massage (ideally, each granule is laser etched with "US Embassy 1979"), certainly seems a splendid idea, an incredibly vigorous rendition of the Snoopy happy dance also comes to mind.
#14
IIRC, I saw a statistic somewheer to the efefct that most of the people living in Iran today were born after 1979. They're no fans of the mad mullahs; in fact, they'd love to be rid of them as much as we would. Take down the mullahocracy, and suddenly you've got another friendly country in the Middle East.
Posted by: Mike ||
02/24/2006 15:11
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#15
Take down the mullahocracy, and suddenly you've got another friendly country in the Middle East.
Yeah anyways.
Posted by: Rafael ||
02/24/2006 15:45
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Posted by: Eric Jablow ||
02/24/2006 18:18
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#18
Iran's Persians are the majority
If they are, then only just. There hasn't been an accurate census for over 20 years and Persians could well be less than 50% of the population as they are more urbanized than other groups and hence have a lower birth rate.
#19
"What do you do with Iran once you have beaten it?"
I have my barf bag ready again, incase "W" puts out signals to rebuild Iran, as he did in Iraq, now the muslim mosques! I will just throw up at the thought of such hypocrasy; praying all along that doesn't happen during hurricane season here in the US again.
If Iran doesn't back down before the 'button is pushed' NOT A PENNY toward reconstruction afterwards!!
A series of large-scale terrorist attacks militants planned to make on Fatherland Defenders' Day has been prevented in Chechnya, the North Caucasus republic's interior minister said Thursday. Ruslan Alkhanov said policemen had been monitoring a gang led by Isa Muskiyev, suspected of "supervising" gangs acting in the republic's Shali, Kurchaloi and Argun districts.
Alkhanov said 11 powerful self-made explosive devices had been seized from a cache in Grozny. "They were made in the form of buckets and canisters containing metal balls and reinforced concrete parts filled with explosives and covered with sealing foam," the minister said. Besides, the cache contained seven artillery shells militants had planned to use as landmines, four grenade launchers and many ammunition items for small arms.
Alkhanov said the search for militants who had planned attacks was underway. A source in the republic's law enforcement agencies said another two caches had been discovered in Chechnya's Vedeno and Shatoi districts.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
02/24/2006
00:57 ||
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#1
The headline should be
Series of Attacks by Islamists disrupted in Chechnya.
A recent upsurge in violence in Somalia's capital has focused attention anew on the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in the chaotic Horn of Africa state. The violence had killed at least 22 people and wounded more than 140 since Saturday.
Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys, said by the United States to be linked to al-Qaida, is prominent among the religious nutcases fundamentalists increasingly projecting themselves as an alternative to the numerous armed groups running the clan-based fiefdoms that comprise Somalia. Somalia has been without an effective central government since forever 1991, when warlords overthrew the government and then began fighting each other.
Wednesday, Aweys pledged to keep fighting a new alliance arrayed against him in Mogadishu, the Somali capital. Mogadishu was calm Thursday as elders sought to buy him off mediate.
Aweys described his rivals as "forces of evil" supported by Western powers.
Always supported by evil Western powers. No one's ever supported by evil China.
His rivals, meanwhile, describe the fundamentalists as terrorists, accusing them of killing moderate intellectuals, Muslim scholars and former military officials in a string of unexplained murders. Islamic militias have set up their own courts in some parts of Mogadishu, where they shut down bars and destroy shops that reproduce or sell pirated DVDs and music cassettes.
Counterterrorism experts in the U.S. and elsewhere have long worried that al-Qaida could find a haven in Somalia, taking advantage of its utter, complete lawlessness instability and perhaps finding hosts among men like Aweys. The United States linked Aweys, who has vowed to establish an Islamic state, to al-Qaida shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Aweys has said such allegations were invented by his enemies.
"Lies! All lies!"
Last year, U.N. experts monitoring an arms embargo on Somalia reported that Islamic hard-liners were importing heavy weapons and establishing military training camps. Among them were members of Al-Ittihad al-Islami, which wants to impose Islamic law in Somalia and allegedly has ties to al-Qaida.
The arms embargo works as well as everything else the U.N. does.
Also last year, the International Crisis Group reported the emergence of a Mogadishu extremist cell led by a young Somali militant trained in Afghanistan, where al-Qaida was once based. The International Crisis Group, a private think tank which tracks conflicts around the world, noted that al-Qaida contributed to attacks on U.S. and U.N. peacekeepers in Somalia in the early 1990s and used the country as a transit zone for attacks in neighboring Kenya and later as a hiding place for some of its leading members.
Saturday, a coalition of warlords and businessman announced they were taking a stand against the fundamentalists. They said in a statement they would "eradicate the extremists, terrorists and their supporters so as to pave the way for a peaceful country for the Somali children." The emergence of the coalition is evidence the warlords see the fundamentalist as a serious threat. With stakes high on both sides, it could signal the start of a significant deterioration in security in an already lawless land.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
02/24/2006
00:55 ||
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Al Q barkin' up the wrong tree.
Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
02/24/2006 2:35
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We may not personally go back into Somalia right now to clean up the fundies; but we do have the Ethiopians right next door who have made it clear that they will not tolerate a jihadi Somalia on their borders. Plus they have half a million troops just sitting around, since the border dispute with Eritrea has cooled down.
#3
The border dispute will flare up again as soon as someone looks at something cross-eyed. It gives the lads something to do when they've finished their chores.
The United States has officially asked Yemen to arrest a prominent scholar whom Washington accuses of funneling funds to terror groups, Yemeni state media said yesterday. Sheikh Abdul-Majid Al-Zindani, 56, is listed by the United Nations and the United States as one of the financiers of terror activities.
The American side has asked the Yemeni government to arrest Sheikh Al-Zindani, freeze his assets and prevent him from traveling abroad, said the Defense Ministrys newspaper 26 September.
And keep him away from cell phones.
Quoting official sources, the paper said President Ali Abdullah Saleh has received a message from US President George W. Bush in which he criticized Saleh for letting Al-Zindani join the official delegation that accompanied him to the OIC summit held in Makkah last December. The message noted that Al-Zindani is listed on the UN list of terror financiers, and that taking him abroad as part of an official delegation is a violation of the UN resolutions, said the paper.
It added that Bush warned Saleh that such personal ties with Al-Zindani could harm joint efforts of both countries (US and Yemen) and their partnership in the fight against terrorism.
According to the report, the Yemeni government asked the United States to present clear evidence proving the charges against Al-Zindani before Yemen could take any measure against him.
So that Zindani can kill the ones who squealed on him.
The US Treasury Department added Al-Zindani in February 2004 to the list of people suspected of supporting terrorist activities, dubbing him as a loyalist to Osama Bin Laden and supporter of Al-Qaeda. It accused him of playing a key role in the purchase of weapons on behalf of the terror network and other terrorists. A senior Yemeni government official said yesterday that the government could take any measure against Al-Zindani except handing him over to the United States. Whatever happens, we would not hand him over to the Americans. It is against our constitution, the official told Arab News, asking anonymity.
"And you know how important the law is to a Yemeni!"
Al-Zindani, who chairs the central committee of Yemens biggest opposition party (Islah), has abruptly changed his flamboyant ways of speech and now rarely attends public meetings after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the US.
The United States accuses Al-Zindani, who runs Sanaa-based Al-Iman Islamic University, of supporting terrorist causes.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
02/24/2006
00:53 ||
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Yemen has reluctantly agreed to arrest Zindani, but only after completion of his current term at the Combone School of Mines and Tunneling.
One phenomenon that I noted to Bill Roggio the other day is that these reprisal attacks aren't targeting US troops - the 7 soldiers who were killed yesterday all died as the result of IED attacks in traditional insurgent areas.
Iraq's government put Baghdad under curfew on Friday in a bid to stop sectarian violence among crowds from rival mosques on the Muslim day of prayer, setting a critical test for its authority and its U.S.-trained forces.
After two days of reprisal attacks on minority Sunni mosques following Wednesday's suspected al Qaeda bombing of a Shi'ite shrine, the United States and United Nations are backing efforts to avert a slide toward all-out civil war that could wreck U.S. hopes of withdrawing troops and inflame the entire Middle East.
U.S. President George W. Bush called for calm and the U.N. envoy invited all parties to talks on a way out of the gravest crisis Iraq has faced since the U.S. invasion three years ago. Sunni political leaders pulled out of negotiations on forming a government from groups elected in a ballot in December.
Shi'ite Iran maintained its fiery rhetoric against the U.S. role in its neighbour; some suspect Tehran could try to divert U.S. pressure on it by fuelling trouble in Iraq, where Washington hopes a friendly democracy would transform the oil-rich region.
Senior Iraqi officials said leading clerics, including the revered Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, were making strenuous efforts to rein in Shi'ite militants -- but one said privately he feared even Sistani might be unable to control some gunmen, as evidenced by the dozens of attacks on Sunni mosques so far.
U.S. forces, mistrusted on both sides and whose prospects for departure Bush has staked on forging a stable, national unity government, have adopted a low profile in the capital.
The largely untested Iraqi police and army will be in the front line of Shi'ite-led government attempts to stop previously expected protest marches on Friday over the bloodless but symbolic bombing of Samarra's Golden Mosque and revenge attacks that officials reckon have killed more than 130 people.
Seven U.S. soldiers were killed in two attacks on Wednesday.
Residents reported fierce clashes in at least two areas in and around Baghdad overnight, both in areas where sectarian tensions are exacerbated by communities in close proximity.
Friday will be a test of the loyalties of Shi'ite militias nominally following the ruling Islamist parties, which have called for order, and of the loyalties of U.S.-trained troops and police, many of them drawn from those very militia groups.
Outspoken young Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and Abdul Aziz al-Hakim of the powerful, pro-Iranian SCIRI party joined calls for restraint. But their respective and rival militias, the Mehdi Army and Badr movement, have been out on the streets.
Competition for influence among these Shi'ite factions nominally united in the ruling Islamist Alliance may play a role in how events develop, analysts say.
"No one should move," one government source said of the curfew, which was announced on state television. "Police will detain anyone who goes out, even to go to prayers."
Extending an overnight shutdown, it will last until 4 p.m.
(1300 GMT), after midday prayers, in Baghdad and surrounding provinces where Sunnis and Shi'ites live side by side.
The 130,000 heavily armed Americans stand ready in the background to keep order; some see them as the only real force capable of stemming a full-scale assault by majority Shi'ites on Sunni neighbourhoods around the capital after years of restraint in the face of Sunni rebel attacks that have killed thousands since U.S. forces overthrew Sunni leader Saddam Hussein in 2003.
"The issue hangs on the next few days. Either the gates of hell open into a civil war or the Shi'ites will take more power," said Baghdad political science professor Hazim al-Naimi.
"Only the U.S. military is preventing war in some areas."
A senior official in the Shi'ite Alliance said: "The question is how long will the Shi'ite public keep on heeding Sistani and staying calm...Things could spin out of control and then nothing will stop Shi'ite anger if attacks continue."
Bush, keen for progress toward a troop withdrawal from Iraq before congressional elections in eight months, said: "I appreciate very much the leaders from all aspects of Iraqi society that have stood up and urged for there to be calm."
Australian Prime Minister John Howard told Australian radio on Friday there was now no early prospect of coalition forces being withdrawn although "the signs were looking good" until the mosque attack.
Among Thursday's dead were 47 people, apparently both Sunnis and Shi'ites, whom gunmen dragged from vehicles after a demonstration to show cross-sectarian solidarity near Baghdad.
Many of the 27 million Iraqis stayed at home amid a security clampdown on the first of three days of national mourning.
"I stayed home," Nasser Ahmed, a Sunni shopkeeper, said in Baghdad. "I was expecting mass killings in the streets."
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
02/24/2006
00:49 ||
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IT IS NO SECRET that the Bush administration and the old guard at the CIA have not, in many instances, seen eye to eye over the last several years. Leaks and anonymously-sourced complaints from agency officials have dominated above-the-fold news stories. The rancorous bureaucrats at the agency have been so hostile to the administration, in fact, that Senator John McCain warned, on ABC's This Week, in November 2004, that "This is a dysfunctional agency and in some ways a rogue agency."
Porter Goss, who became the director of Central Intelligence in April 2005, has confronted this highly-politicized bureaucracy. The result has been a staggering amount house cleaning. Various press accounts have discussed the ongoing purge of senior-level officials from Langley. But the bureaucrats who once ran the nation's supposedly super-secret spook organization aren't going down without a fight. Bureaucracies die hard.
Enter Paul Pillar.
Few, if any, old guard bureaucrats have been more vocal in their opposition to the Bush administration than the man who was the former National Intelligence officer for the Near East and South Asia at the CIA from 2000 to 2005.
We still don't know who leaked Pillar's own National Intelligence Estimate, which painted "a dark assessment of Iraq," to the New York Times in September 2004. That leak, which was disclosed just several weeks prior to the presidential election, seemed perfectly timed to discredit the Bush administration and its policies. But it is clear that Pillar long ago discarded his "neutral role" as an intelligence analyst and "inject[ed] himself in the political realm," as Guillermo Christensen, himself a 15-year veteran of the CIA, recently explained in the Wall Street Journal.
It is no surprise, then, that upon departing Langley we find Pillar continuing his career as a critic of the Bush administration in the pages of Foreign Affairs Magazine. With more than a dab of irony, Pillar claims to expose the ways in which the administration "disregarded the community's expertise, politicized the intelligence process, and selected unrepresentative raw intelligence to make its public case."
But while there are certainly legitimate, rational criticisms to be made of the Bush administration's prosecution of the war on terror, the war in Iraq, and the intelligence that informs its handling of both, you will not find any of them in Pillar's piece. Instead, Pillar demonstrates that he himself is a master of the art of politicizing intelligence. Far from being a dispassionate analyst, Pillar practices the very same "manipulations and misuse[s]" he claims to expose.
CONSIDER, for example, Pillar's discussion of the prewar investigation into Iraq's relationship with al Qaeda. The "greatest discrepancy," Pillar claims, "between the administration's public statements and the intelligence community's judgments concerned not WMD (there was indeed a broad consensus that such programs existed), but the relationship between Saddam and al Qaeda. The enormous attention devoted to this subject did not reflect any judgment by intelligence officials that there was or was likely to be anything like the 'alliance' the administration said existed." Moreover, "The intelligence community never offered any analysis that supported the notion of an alliance between Saddam and al Qaeda."
The only reason analysts investigated the relationship, according to Pillar, was because they were continually peppered with pointed questions by the administration, which was on a pre-determined path to war. And the administration's fixation on this non-existent relationship diverted the CIA's preciously scarce resources. So much so that "It is fair to ask how much other counterterrorism work was left undone as a result."
It would be difficult to construct a more skewed history of events.
TO UNDERSTAND how out-of-step with reality Pillar's narrative is, consider what the Senate's bipartisan investigation into the uses of prewar intelligence had to say about the CIA's investigation into Iraq's al Qaeda ties. Far from being an unjustified concern of the Bush administration alone, Pillar's own division at the CIA was independently investigating the issue as the war approached.
The Senate Intelligence Committee's Report on the U.S. Intelligence Community's Prewar Intelligence Assessments On Iraq, released July 7, 2004, discusses "five primary finished intelligence products on Iraq's links to terrorism" produced by the CIA. The last two of these, versions of a document called Iraqi Support for Terrorism, are of paramount importance since they were produced in the months leading up to the war.
On September 19, 2002, according to the Senate Intelligence Report, the CIA's first version of Iraqi Support for Terrorism was "disseminated to 12 senior officials by the CIA Directorate of Intelligence." Interestingly, "it was not drafted to respond to a specific request." Instead, "CIA officials decided that new intelligence warranted another look at the issue." (Emphasis added)
That there was "new intelligence" that demanded attention should come as no surprise. On October 7, 2002 George Tenet, then the DCI, reported to Congress that there "growing indications of a relationship with al Qaeda," which " suggest that Baghdad's links to terrorists will increase, even absent U.S. military action." The paper was initially drafted by "a senior analyst from the Near East and South Asia Division," who "worked closely with the Iraq analysts in the Counter Terrorism Center's (CTC) Office of Terrorism Analysis." Was this analyst Pillar himself? We don't know. But at the very least it must have been one reporting to him.
The CTC later took over responsibility for editing and publishing updated versions of the analysis, which included additional "intelligence collected from detainees between September 2002 and January 2003." A second version of Iraqi Support for Terrorism was then disseminated to a wider audience in January 2003, on the eve of Secretary of State Colin Powell's presentation to the United Nations in early February, with "references to highly sensitive sources and methods" edited out.
Thus, contrary to Pillar's claims, his own division at the CIA thought there were good reasons based on "new intelligence" to investigate the matter--without any "specific request" from the Bush administration--in the months leading up to the war.
Why did officials at the CIA think that the issue warranted an additional investigation? The reality of this matter is far more complicated than the quick and dirty narrative Pillar gives us.
ALTHOUGH the Senate Intelligence Report is heavily redacted, the excerpts of Iraqi Support for Terrorism that were made available for public consumption, as well as the Senate Intelligence Committee's own analysis, paint a very different picture than the one Pillar wants us to see. The CIA, we learn, had failed to collect first-hand human intelligence inside either the Iraqi regime or al Qaeda. Despite this poor collection effort, however, the CIA had acquired intelligence on a relationship between the two--primarily from foreign government services and open sources.
The Senate Intelligence Committee concluded, for example that "despite four decades of intelligence reporting on Iraq, there was little useful intelligence collected that helped analysts determine the Iraqi regime's possible links to al-Qaida." In fact, the CIA "did not have a focused human intelligence (HUMINT) collection strategy targeting Iraq's links to terrorism until 2002." The CIA's intelligence collection was so bad that the agency did not have "any unilateral sources that could provide information on the Iraq/al-Qaida relationship" and was "entirely dependent on foreign government services for that information."
It is true that the CIA refrained from concluding that an "operational relationship" existed--a conclusion that was more forcefully echoed by the 9/11 Commission. But, this was because the CIA did not have "credible reporting on the leadership of either the Iraqi regime or al-Qaida, which would have enabled it to better define a cooperative relationship, if any did in fact exist."
PILLAR DOES NOT TELL US about the old guard at the CIA's poor track record in collecting intelligence. That is not surprising. Good bureaucrats, after all, defend the bureaucracy from outside criticism.
Instead, he pretends to dismiss the issue with absolute certainty--as if he had been reviewing concrete intelligence collected by his colleagues over all these years.
Nor does Pillar tell us that when the CIA revisited the issue they did compile evidence of a relationship. Any intelligence analysis, by its very nature, must deal with vagaries and uncertainties. But here we come to the most egregious aspect of Pillar's Foreign Affairs piece. He avoids substantive discussion of the actual intelligence the CIA had amassed from various other sources; evidence that, in many instances, cuts against his out-of-hand dismissal.
Again, we turn to what Pillar's own division at the CIA told the administration on the eve of war. "Our knowledge of Iraq's ties to terrorism is evolving," the CIA wrote in Iraqi Support for Terrorism. "Regarding the relationship between Iraq and al Qaeda," the CIA assessed, "reporting from sources of varying reliability points to a number of contacts, incidents of training, and discussions of Iraqi safehaven for Osama bin Laden and his organization dating from the early 1990s."
There was evidence that al Qaeda had metastasized inside regime-controlled Iraq. According to the Senate Intelligence Report, "Iraqi Support for Terrorism described a network of more than a dozen al-Qaeda or al-Qaeda-associated operatives in Baghdad, and estimated that 100-200 al-Qaeda fighters were present in northeastern Iraq in territory under the control of Ansar al-Islam." Furthermore, "A variety of reporting indicates that senior al-Qaeda terrorist planner al-Zarqawi was in Baghdad between May-July 2002 under an assumed identity." Regarding those hundreds of al Qaeda operatives who set up shop in northeastern Iraq, "it would be difficult for al-Qaeda to maintain an active, long-term presence in Iraq without alerting the authorities or obtaining their acquiescence."
Alarmingly the CIA noted, "The most disturbing aspect of the relationship is the dozen or so reports of varying reliability mentioning the involvement of Iraq or Iraqi nationals in al Qaeda's efforts to obtain CBW training." Elsewhere, the CIA's analysts noted that they could not determine if some of these nationals were working for the Iraqi regime or not. But still, "The general pattern that emerges is of al Qaeda's enduring interest in acquiring, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) expertise from Iraq."
(It is worth remembering that one of Pillar's colleagues, Michael Scheuer, was once able to determine that Iraq was, in fact, aiding al Qaeda's pursuit of CBRN expertise.)
There is much more to this story, of course. There is a vast body of evidence that indicates there was an ongoing relationship between Iraq and al Qaeda. Pillar, however, would prefer not to debate the meaning of this evidence. It may turn out that the bureaucracy he served missed quite a bit over the last decade. It may also turn out that Pillar's own understanding of the terror network was inadequate.
In either case, it is safer for Pillar to pretend that the relationship was a fantasy of the administration that decided it was time for his CIA to undergo a radical change.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
02/24/2006
00:47 ||
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There's been several excellent pieces unmarking Pillar. If you want to know what's been wrong with the CIA, Pillar is Exhibit A.
Posted by: Captain America ||
02/24/2006 0:56
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Out with the trash. This moron is exactly the type that needed to be purged in the first place.
#3
find out who he hung with - there's usually a deeper rot
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/24/2006 13:05
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It's past time to put a stop to people like Paul Pillar and to warn others off. We are in a war. If one aids the adversary in any way are a committing treason. People who work in our national Intelligence agencies should know what the act of treason will get them if they should open their mouths to the press or anyone else during a time of war.
I suggest he be found in his car on some back road with a handgun in his hand and a hole in his head. Make sure it is ruled suicide because it really is.
A GREAT DEAL of public and political controversy has arisen in recent days over the proposed deal to allow the United Arab Emirates (UAE) state-owned company Dubai World manage several major U.S. ports, with critics arguing that doing so will leave the United States more open to a terrorist attack. In evaluating this argument, it is worth examining how al Qaeda itself views the UAE, a task made far easier by drawing on a newly-released al Qaeda document from 2002 that contains a list of demands to UAE officials if they wish to avoid terrorist attacks on their soil.
To begin with, it is important to recognize that the UAE is not Iran and has entirely justifiable reasons for claiming that it is both one of the most moderate countries in the Arab world as well as a valuable partner in the U.S.-led war on terrorism.
Ironically, during his defense of the UAE's record on cooperation, Defense Secretary Rumsfeld failed to mention one of their most significant achievements to date: the November 2002 capture of Abd Rahim al-Nashiri, a senior al Qaeda leader generally regarded as the mastermind of the USS Cole bombing and the head of the terror network's maritime operations. While this would indeed be a significant achievement in its own right, it is made all the more remarkable by the fact that the UAE had been directly threatened by the al Qaeda leadership several months prior to al-Nashiri's capture.
According to the now-declassified al Qaeda document labeled AFGP-2002-603856 by the United States, al Qaeda explicitly threatened UAE officials with attacks if they refused to cease cooperation with the United States. Written between May and June 2002 and addressed in particular to officials in the emirates of Abu-Dhabi and Dubai (the UAE is a federation of seven emirates), the document claims that the UAE has engaged in "spying, persecution, [sic] detainments" against al Qaeda members operating on its soil at the behest of the United States, noting that, "authorities have recently detained a number of Mujahideen and handed them over to suppressive organizations in their country in addition to having a number of them still in its custody" and that "these practices bring the country into a fighting ring in which it cannot endure or escape from its consequences." These threats appear to suggest that whatever else al Qaeda thinks of the UAE, it does not regard the nation as being among its friends.
Yet the document also provides ample ammunition to those concerned over the UAE port deal, with its al Qaeda author asserting to the Abu-Dhabi and Dubai officials that "we have infiltrated your security, censorship, and monetary agencies along with other agencies that should not be mentioned" and that "we are confident that you are fully aware that your agencies will not get to the same high level of your American Lords. Furthermore, your intelligence will not be cleverer than theirs, and your censorship capabilities are not worth much against what they have reached . . . you are an easier target than them; your homeland is exposed to us."
In a rare window into al Qaeda's strategic mindset, the author explains, "our policies are not to operate in your homeland and/or tamper with your security because we are occupied with others which we consider are enemies of this nation. If you compel us to do so, we are prepared to postpone our program for a short period and allocate some time for you." A list of demands is then presented to the UAE to avoid the prospect of al Qaeda attacks, consisting only of releasing all known al Qaeda members detained by the UAE since the September 11 attacks as well as anyone else who had been detained on suspicions of involvement with the attacks. It should be noted that the UAE did not comply with these demands and while the nation has been spared any terrorist attacks to date this appears to be due more to al Qaeda's limited resources than a lack of desire. For instance, an audio message in March 2005 by Saudi al Qaeda leader Salih al-Oufi called upon fellow jihadis to carry out attacks against "crusader" targets in the UAE as well as Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait.
THE ISSUE of whether or not the UAE should be allowed to manage U.S. ports highlights many of the paradoxes involved in fighting al Qaeda in the Middle East as well as the dangers of over-simplifying or mischaracterizing U.S. allies in the region. The UAE has been a valuable U.S. ally in the areas of both military cooperation and counter-terrorism and should be rightly recognized as such. Yet it also faces a number of serious problems with regard to al Qaeda infiltration. The UAE is by no means the only Gulf state dealing with this issue, but it is currently the only nation that is seeking to manage major U.S. ports. It is by no means unreasonable for U.S. policymakers to seek strict assurances that these concerns will be rigorously addressed by the UAE before allowing one of its state-run corporations to manage such a sensitive and vulnerable aspect of U.S. infrastructure.
Finally, the debate over whether or not Dubai World should be allowed to manage U.S. ports should serve as the backdrop for a larger national debate on what American policy should be towards corporations, some of them fully or partially state-owned, heralding from countries where al Qaeda or its supporters are known to be active either by having infiltrated local government agencies or in some cases as having the support of established religious leaders or political parties.
Dubai World, which has never been linked to al Qaeda in any fashion, is well within its rights to complain that political opposition is only organized against them while ignoring the far greater number of U.S.-based businesses coming from other Gulf states with far greater levels of al Qaeda infiltration (most notably Saudi Arabia). Therefore, it is extremely important for supporters of the Dubai World deal to recognize that there are entirely valid security concerns relating to the UAE, just as opponents must recognize that these same security concerns are equally valid relating to a number of other countries as well.
Dan Darling is counterterrorism consultant for the Manhattan Institute Center for Policing Terrorism.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
02/24/2006
00:46 ||
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#1
Good piece, Dan.
Stop playing the fear card, know who you're friends are.
Posted by: Captain America ||
02/24/2006 0:54
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I LIVE IN NYC AND DO NOT WANT ARABS IN CONTROL OF OUR PORT. IS THAT MAKES ME PARANOIC. I DON'T THINK SO.
#4
Americans had best wake up. The entire government is indebted to Japan, China, Saudi Arabia, et al. due to the continual overspending by Congress of hundreds of billions per year. Would it be very painful for Americans to ante up in taxes to pay as we go ? Unh huh. Will it be painful when these people demand payment ? Duh, yeah. We can't pay. We will refuse. What will the response be ? In the mean time, we are now selling real assets to foreign interests. They will not always behave in the manner we expect. Look for a great deal of future turmoil, thanks to American over indulgence. trouble is on the way. Prepare your children and grandchildren for a much rougher go in the future.
"IRAN CONTINUES TO HOST senior al Qaeda leaders who are wanted for murdering Americans and other victims in the 1998 East Africa Embassy bombings. We have called repeatedly for these terrorists to be handed over to states that will prosecute them and bring them to justice. We believe that some al Qaeda members and those from like-minded extremist groups continue to use Iran as a safe haven and as a hub to facilitate their operations."
So said a high State Department official in a speech in Washington on November 30. The assertions by Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs R. Nicholas Burns were nothing new. Though often overlooked, they have been the position of the U.S. government for some time. As discussion of Iran's nuclear program and its hardline president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad intensifies, Iranian aid to al Qaeda should not be allowed to drop off the radar screen.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
02/24/2006
00:43 ||
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#1
Dan,
You might also look into Iran's relationship with Cuba's Castro and Venezuela's Chavez. They have become vocal supporters of the Iranian Nuclear ambitions and are stirring up a second front against the U.S. in Latin America. Taken in context with the fake "outrage" troubles around the world you end up with a picture of Iranian provacateurism trying to distract the west from acting in its best interests.
Posted by: DanNY ||
02/24/2006 6:08
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Personally I think the Iran-Cuba and the Iran-Chavez relationship is largely rhetorical and has very little operational implication
On the other hand the Cuba-Chavez relationship is both rhetorical and operational (e.g., Cuban security types are wandering around Venezuala).
Posted by: I. B. DePrimate ||
02/24/2006 13:36
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Since it seems there will be an air show over Iran in the not to distant future, perhaps a few units could be set aside for ...um, targets of opportunity?
Iraqi authorities struggled to contain a convulsion of sectarian violence on Thursday in which more than 150 people died in massacres, armed clashes, suicide bombs and reprisal attacks on Sunni mosques.
A day after the destruction of the gold-domed mosque in Samarra, one of the holiest Shia shrines, Sunni religious authorities said 128 Sunni mosques had been attacked and three clerics killed.
The fallout from the attack also hit home on the political front as Sunni leaders suspended participation in talks to form the new government and senior Sunni religious figures made unprecedented criticisms of their Shia counterparts for "encouraging protests".
The government also ordered a daytime curfew in Baghdad and three neighbouring provinces on Friday in response to the violence.
Shias, including members of Moqtada al-Sadr's Mehdi army, took to the streets on Thursday vowing revenge for the attack on the shrine.
In the deadliest single incident, 47 people were dragged from their cars in the province of Diyala, north-east of Baghdad, and shot dead. Their bodies were dumped in a ditch. Officials said the gunmen, suspected of being Sunni insurgents, had planned to kill people returning from a demonstration against the bombing of the mosque. In Baquba, also north-east of Baghdad, at least 16 people were killed in a suicide bomb attack at a market.
Three Iraqi journalists were shot on the outskirts of Samarra after reporting on the bombing. Atwar Bahjat, a respected correspondent for al-Arabiya satellite channel, was killed with two colleagues from a local media company.
Al-Arabiya said Bahjat, who was born in Samarra to a Sunni father and a Shia mother, had been conducting interviews when two gunmen approached in a pickup truck. They shot in the air and shouted: "We want the correspondent." The gunmen then shot the three and fled, the station reported.
President Jalal Talabani's office said the killing was "a criminal and cowardly act" and praised Bahjat and her colleagues as professionals who "never stopped defending the truth". In Basra, police said Mehdi fighters had broken into a prison, removed 12 Sunni prisoners and shot them dead. Mahdi fighters also fought gun battles with Sunni insurgents in the town of Mahmudiya. In Shia strongholds in Baghdad, al-Sadr's gunmen roamed the streets. The radical Shia cleric, who cut short a visit to Lebanon, said: "If the authorities can't protect us then we will defend our holy places with our blood."
There were also indications that Sunni insurgents were fighting back. Four US soldiers were killed on patrol near Hawija, 240km north of Baghdad, and three others died when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb near Balad, 80km north of Baghdad, according to the US military.
Talabani, gathered political leaders for a crisis meeting at his home in Baghdad. Some Sunnis boycotted in protest at what they said was the inadequate protection given to Sunni targets in the past two days. The leaders of the Iraqi Accordance Front, the largest Sunni bloc, announced that they were suspending their participation until Shia leaders apologised for anti-Sunni violence.
Sunnis accuse Shia parties of running death squads from the interior ministry, and demand that security be transferred into more neutral hands. This week both British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and the United States ambassador, Zalmay Khalilzad, backed those calls. But a senior western diplomat in Baghdad said on Thursday night: "After [the] attack on the shrine, it is difficult to imagine that the Shia will relinquish control of anything."
No group has yet claimed responsibility for Wednesday's dawn attack on the mosque, which houses the graves of two ninth-century imams, but suspicion has fallen on Sunni militants such as al-Qaeda in Iraq, led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
The Mujahideen Council, a militant organisation that includes Zarqawi's groups, blamed the Iraqi government and Iran yesterday, and promised revenge for attacks on Sunnis.
International condemnation continued, with US President George Bush calling the bombing "an evil act" intended to create strife. "I am pleased with the voices of reason that have spoken out," he said. "And we will continue to work with those voices of reason to enable Iraq to continue on the path of a democracy."
Iran's President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said the bombing was the work of Zionists and the CIA.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
02/24/2006
00:42 ||
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#1
I'll take Iranian proxies for a thousand, Alex.
Ask yourself who has the most to gain from a fractious Iraq.
Posted by: DanNY ||
02/24/2006 6:17
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Today is the critical day, but I am 'pleasantly' surprised that there have been so 'few' killings so far. Given the magnitude of the instigation and the justified rage of a huge number of Iraqis, I think it is commentary on the fundamentally civilized nature of Iraqis that wholesale vengeance has NOT broken out.
#3
This whole episode is a lesson in the egomania of the state of Islam.
Flaming lunatics led by egocentric madmen shooting and slashing in all directions, Islam 2006.
#4
Form what I'm reading at other sources, it seems that things are cooling off, that religous leaders from both sides are calling for calm and that people are actually using the event to pull together rather than break apart.
This dome destruction could be a watershed event, just not the one that the MSM was hoping for.
President George W. Bush's disclosure of detailed intelligence about a thwarted al Qaeda plot to attack Los Angeles could prove damaging for U.S. national security, the top Democrat on the Senate intelligence committee said in a letter released on Thursday.
In a Feb. 17 letter to U.S. intelligence chief John Negroponte, Sen. John Rockefeller of West Virginia echoed a warning from CIA Director Porter Goss that revelations about intelligence successes or failures against al Qaeda can aid America's militant enemies.
"Why then did the president and the assistant to the president for homeland security and counterterrorism describe in great detail the information about this plot contained in a highly classified October 2004 CIA document?" Rockefeller wrote.
White House officials were not immediately available for comment.
The Senate Democrat was referring to a Feb. 9 presidential speech in which Bush disclosed new details of a 2002 al Qaeda plot to use shoe bombs to hijack a plane and fly it into the 1,017-foot-(310-metre) high US Bank Tower in Los Angeles.
The Bush administration cited the same plan to attack West Coast targets using hijacked planes last October as being among 10 disrupted al Qaeda plots.
But Bush, while facing criticism over his decision to authorize warrantless eavesdropping inside the United States, provided the public with a more detailed account in his Feb. 9 speech.
He said Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, al Qaeda's operational mastermind behind the Sept. 11 attacks, planned to use four Southeast Asian men in a second-wave attack on Los Angeles and trained the cell's leader on how to use a shoebomb.
Frances Townsend, Bush's homeland security and counterterrorism adviser, also disclosed intelligence details about the plot.
Rockefeller said Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and other senior officials have disclosed sensitive information for political purposes on a range of issues from prewar Iraq to National Security Agency eavesdropping.
The disclosures have all been potentially damaging to U.S. interests, Rockefeller said. At the same time, the administration has sought to blame lower-level officials for damage caused by unauthorized leaks.
"Given the administration's continuing abuse of intelligence information for political purposes, its criticism of leaks is extraordinarily hypocritical," Rockefeller wrote.
"The president and other senior members must set an example for others to follow," he added.
A spokesman for Negroponte's office would confirm only that the director for national intelligence had received the letter. Rockefeller spokeswoman Wendy Morigi said the senator has not yet received a response from Negroponte.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
02/24/2006
00:41 ||
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#1
Rocky off his nut
Posted by: Captain America ||
02/24/2006 0:45
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Americans fought a revolution to get rid of inbred hereditary monarchs. What a shame the founding fathers forgot about the corrosive effects of hereditary Senators and Representatives who carpetbag to out of the way districts and buy their seats.
P.S. Isn't Rockefeller the leading suspect in the NSA leak investigation>
Posted by: ed ||
02/24/2006 0:56
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#4
"Why then did the president and the assistant to the president for homeland security and counterterrorism describe in great detail the information about this plot contained in a highly classified October 2004 CIA document?"
Um, because the Democrats,READ YOUR PEERS, have been screaming for just one example of how the wiretaps helped save Americans! THATS WHY YOU OLD MAN!!! BFOTO
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
02/24/2006 1:29
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#5
"Why then did the president and the assistant to the president for homeland security and counterterrorism describe in great detail the information about this plot contained in a highly classified October 2004 CIA document?" Rockefeller wrote.
Who has the authority to classify information? The President.
Who has the authority to declassify information? The President.
Who should be tossed out of office, disgraced, and then cast out from society? Sen. Rockefeller.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
02/24/2006 8:01
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#6
A classic case of yelling, "Stop, thief!" as you run away with the goods.
#7
You mean Nagin calling for more welfare for N.O. is scrappleface and this isn't? Man, what a tangled web we weave, Sen. Rocky! Good grief, if this isn't the most blatant example of the pot calling the kettle black, I don't know what is??!!!!
Posted by: BA ||
02/24/2006 9:16
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#8
Rockie is just throwing up a smokescreen because he was one of the leakers of the NSA program to the NY Times...
#10
I think he is just gettting his deck stacked so that, if in the event of another attack ( remember we have to righ ALL the time, the bad guys only have to be right ONCE) he, or some other anti-Bushnut can say, " See I tol' ya so. Now maybe somebody will listen to me."
NARATHIWAT, Thailand -Two Thai Muslims including a village chief were shot dead by suspected Islamic militants in separate attacks on Thursday in Thailands troubled southern provinces, police said. One was shot three times early Thursday morning by two suspected militants as he rode his motorcycle to take morning tea. Its the work of militants because he was a village chief who was considered by militants as their target, a police official said.
In the second attack, a rubber-tree tapper was shot dead by an unknown number of gunmen.
Thailands south, where most of its minority Muslim population lives, has been hit by two years of unrest that has left more than 1,100 people dead in near-daily shootings, bombings and arson attacks.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/24/2006
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The editor of an Indian magazine has been arrested for publishing the offensive caricatures of Prophet Muhammad (PTUI PBUH) that had angered Muslims worldwide, the police said on Thursday. Alok Tomar, editor of Hindi magazine Senior India, was charged with hurting the religious sentiments of a community and causing harm to national integration, media reports said.
That's the sort of laws they want for Europe and the U.S., of course...
Deputy police commissioner Praveer Ranjan confirmed Tomar's arrest but gave no further details. Police said they had seized all copies of the magazine, which is published fortnightly in New Delhi. Senior India's publisher and other staff were not available for comment.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/24/2006
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The Israel Defense Forces blew up an explosives factory in Nablus yesterday, as part of a major operation that the army has been conducting in the city for the last three days. At least three Palestinians were wounded in yesterday's operation.
According to the IDF Spokesman, one of the wounded Palestinians was an armed man who was shot during an exchange of fire, a second was shot as he was throwing a Molotov cocktail at the Israelis, and the third was shot after throwing a solar heater onto the troops from a rooftop.
A solar heater? What's next, gonna try to fry the Israelis with a magnifying glass?
No IDF soldiers were wounded in these incidents, or in two other incidents in which bombs were thrown at them.
Throughout the three-day operation, the IDF has imposed a curfew on the city's Balata refugee camp, and Balata residents accused Israel of impeding ambulance access.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/24/2006
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Police have arrested 12 Nigerians in Amsterdam and Zaandam suspected of internet fraud in an operation that also involved the US Postal Service. Many of the fraudsters victims came from the US. The US had sought the extradition of four suspects. The other Nigerians were wanted in the Netherlands, said Dutch police, who did not rule out more arrests. The police operation began in September last year and culminated in raids on Tuesday on a Zaandam apartment and seven houses in Amsterdam. Police seized EUR 25,000, computer gear and false travel documents.
We could handle two things at once if we made it known that the 419 scam artists were including pics of the Profit (PTUI) in their e-mails ...
#1
The Dutch don't have a death penalty, do they? (Not the one for grannies in nursing homes and other people inconvenient to the state-monopoly health care system, I'm talking about real criminals here.)
Posted by: Mike ||
02/24/2006 15:13
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Weeks before one of its companies sought U.S. approval for its ports deal, the United Arab Emirates contributed $100 million to help victims of Hurricane Katrina, officials confirmed Thursday. The Bush administration said the money it received from the United Arab Emirates was nearly four times as much as it received from all other countries combined. Other countries, including some in the Middle East, also pledged large contributions but have not yet sent the money.
Kuwait just donated $25 million in the past few days as well.
These might be the same five hard boyz that Fred notes in a post below, or they might be five more new awardees of the white raisins.
BALATA REFUGEE CAMP, West Bank - Israeli troops on Thursday killed five Palestinians, including a top militant who said just a day earlier that he would never be caught, in the largest West Bank military operation since Israel's pullout from the Gaza Strip last summer. "you'll never get me alive, coppers!"
"Bang!"
"Hey, maybe was psychic?"
The three fugitives from the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades were hiding in a crawlspace above the bathroom of a Balata house when soldiers ringed the building. A gun battle ensued, and at one point, the gunmen threw an explosive device toward the soldiers. Two soldiers were wounded, one seriously. "what's that smell?" "I smell militants. Or the sewer's backed up again"
At the time of the blast, a group of medics and journalists had assembled nearby, after being prevented by troops from entering the camp, witnesses said. One medic, Khaled Saragic, said that when a soldier standing next to a jeep heard the blast, he started firing toward medics and journalists, wounding three people. "oops, sorry Medics. I was figuring the journalists were packing..."
Also, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel charged that soldiers were impeding the movement of ambulances. Late Thursday afternoon, they said, four ambulances were trapped inside the camp. "waaaahhhh"
Keep the guns and ammo from coming in, and the hard boyz from making an early exit ...
The military denied that soldiers fired indiscriminately or that ambulances were detained. However, the army said ambulances were checked because of attempts to smuggle fugitives out of the camp.
The military said it was not aware of such incidents, and said all gunfire was directed toward armed Palestinians or those throwing firebombs. AKA the targets
Since the Balata sweep began Sunday, eight Palestinians have been killed by army fire, including the five shot dead Thursday. More than 50 Palestinians have been injured by live rounds and rubber-coated steel pellets, Palestinian hospital officials said. The military said 15 fugitives have been arrested.
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas condemned the operation and warned it would endanger a cease-fire that has been in effect for a year, according to the Palestinian WAFA news agency.
In Gaza, Hamas backers marched toward the Palestinian parliament building to protest the Israeli operation in Nablus. After winning elections last month, Hamas has taken control of the parliament. Addressing the rally, incoming Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas denounced the "aggression committed against our people" and expressed solidarity with the Palestinians resisting the Israeli military in the refugee camp. He said Hamas has a two-pronged program for the people: "One hand resists and the other hand builds."
One of those killed Thursday was identified as Mohammed Shtawi, a top Al Aqsa fugitive. On Wednesday, Shtawi told an AP reporter that earlier in the day soldiers surrounded his hideout for five hours, but he and several friends slipped away. "They will never catch me," he said at the time. Knock on wood? No? Bad mistake...
Technically he's correct ...
Israeli forces have been carrying out nightly arrest raids in the West Bank, rounding up suspected militants, but the incursion into the Balata camp is the largest and longest since the summer pullout from Gaza and part of the West Bank. Dozens of army vehicles and hundreds of soldiers are involved.
Israeli security officials have been warning that with the pullout, Palestinian militants would switch their operations to the West Bank. Nablus has been a focus of attention for months, with soldiers keeping a tight grip on the city, which is encircled by roadblocks.
The Israeli military said troops entered Balata after receiving warnings that Al Aqsa and two other militant groups in and around the West Bank city of Nablus were planning attacks against Israelis. Before the raid, soldiers in the Nablus area seized four bomb belts, said Maj. Sharon Assman, an army officer in the area. Such belts are used in suicide bombings.
On Thursday morning, dozens of jeeps patrolled Balata and sealed off the refugee camp of 18,000 people from adjacent Nablus. Balata is a stronghold of the Al Aqsa group, a violent integral part offshoot of Abbas' Fatah Party. Al Aqsa fugitives have been skulking around moving from hideout to hideout since the army raid began.
Fighting in Balata began at midmorning Thursday when one of the jeeps broke down on the outskirts of the camp. Several teens began throwing stones at the vehicle, witnesses said. Soldiers opened fire, killing a 19-year-old man. The Israeli military said soldiers fired at the man because he was holding a firebomb. In another area, Palestinians threw stones at a jeep and soldiers opened fire, hitting one man in the jaw, witnesses said.
An AP photographer who heard the shots and rushed to the scene found the man lying on the ground, with blood gushing from a large hole in his jaw. Bystanders quickly bundled him into an ambulance, and hospital officials later reported he was in serious condition. The Israeli military said the man was targeted because he held a firebomb.
Also, a 22-year-old man was shot and killed by a bullet to the chest while he was standing on his roof in Balata, witnesses said. The military said he was armed when he was shot and that he was an Al Aqsa fugitive. nice sniping!
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/24/2006
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#1
Reach out and touch someone, that be you.
Posted by: Captain America ||
02/24/2006 0:41
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Speculation - Hamas is ratting on their rivals ?
#3
I would say that is an affirmative on the Hamas fingering of AAMB. Just like Fatah had been fingering Islamic Jihad for the Hellfire Express. Old Arab custom - scream and yell about the Jews, but use them to kill your political opponents.
#6
Another article I read sez Fatah is cranking up the seetheometer and getting more violent now that Hamas gets all the pretty girls...
* I just remembered, it's over at "The Hot Zone with Kevin Sites" at Yahoo! news, in his photo essay of a Fatah funeral. In which he notices there's a lot more swagger and bullets than actual grief.
NABLUS: Israeli troops killed five Palestinians on Thursday during the biggest raid against West Bank militants for months, stoking tension as Hamas Islamists held talks to form a new Palestinian government. This is a war crime aimed at continuing the escalation and undermining Hamas efforts to form a government, said Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri. We are committed to resistance and the occupation will pay the price for these crimes.
"We will have Dire Revenge!"
Abu Zuhri did not say exactly what Hamas would do.
"We'll think of somethin'! Prob'ly blow up a bus, maybe a disco. Something like that."
Like there's something else they could do?
Though formally committed to destroying Israel, it has largely followed a truce for the past year. Its election victory last month knocked any hopes that Middle East peacemaking might be revived. Medics said three gunmen were among the dead in Nablus on Thursday. Two other men were shot dead when Palestinians confronted troops with stones and petrol bombs.
Brought stones to a gunfight, did they?
Posted by: Fred ||
02/24/2006
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Note the inflamming "shot dead" remark in the final paragraph.
________________
"War means fighting, and fighting means killing!"
Gen. Sherman
ROME - A former detainee at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq claimed on Thursday that Italian-speaking men had interrogated inmates, prompting a quick denial from the office of President Silvio Berlusconi. Ali Shalal El Kaissi, an Iraqi who said he had been detained from October 2003 to January 2004, told Rainews 24 that a fellow inmate had described being questioned by two Italian speakers at the notorious US-run jail.
In comments first published on the Internet late Wednesday and broadcast on the television chain Thursday, Kaissi said fellow-inmate Haitham Abu Gaith, a former diplomat, heard Italian spoken by two of his interrogators.
Doesn't pass the sniff test.
The station described Kaissi as the man hooded in black who appeared in photographs taken at Abu Ghraib that revealed the widespread abuse of detainees by US guards at the Baghdad jail.
Berlusconis office issued a quick denial of any knowledge that any Italians were involved in interrogations there. The government has no knowledge of Italian citizens at Abu Ghraib, it said. The government categorically rules out that any (Italian) servicemen or public agents could have been there.
Kaissis comments were carried Thursday in most newspapers in Italy, where the governments support for the US-led invasion of Iraq has stirred strong public criticism.
Where it's meant to influence the upcoming elections.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/24/2006
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NSA released a piece of critial intercept this morning:
Bobby "Bacala" Baccalieri: The world really went downhill, since 9/11. You know, Quasimodo predicted all of this.
Anthony 'Tony' Soprano Sr.: Who did what?
Bobby "Bacala" Baccalieri: You know, the middle east. The end of the world.
Anthony 'Tony' Soprano Sr.: Nostradamus. Quasimodo's the hunchback of Notre Dame.
Bobby "Bacala" Baccalieri: Oh, right. Notredamus.
Anthony 'Tony' Soprano Sr.: Nostradamus and Notre Dame, that's two things different completely.
Bobby "Bacala" Baccalieri: It's interesting that they'd be so similar, though. You know, I always thought "Ok, you got the hunchback of Notre Dame. But you also got your quarterback and your headback of Notre Dame".
Anthony 'Tony' Soprano Sr.: Notre Dame's a ****ing cathedral!
Bobby "Bacala" Baccalieri: Obviously, I know. I'm just saying. It's interesting, the coincidences. What, you're gonna tell me you never pondered that?
Anthony 'Tony' Soprano Sr.: No
Rajshahi University Islami Chhatra Shibir President Mahbubul Alam Shalehi, a key suspect in the killing of Prof S Taher Ahmed, is still not arrested despite his public appearance, giving rise to suspicions that authorities are reluctant to arrest him.
Reeeeeeally? That's never happened before, has it? Especially in Bangla...
Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Commissioner Nayeem Ahmed has confirmed five people including Shalehi are found to be involved in the murder. "Four were arrested and we are looking for Shalehi."
"Didja try his house?"
"He ain't there. The guy that answered the phone said he wudn't."
Police sources said they could not arrest Shalehi even after he took part in a Shibir rally due to "a deliberate delay" by the government high-ups in giving a green signal in this connection. The delay was a result of the pressure by Jamaat-e-Islami, a major component of the four-party ruling alliance, they added. The police on February 5 sought the government nod to arrest Mohiuddin and Shalehi, who the arrestees -- Jahangir, Abdus Salam and Nazmul -- named as the masterminds. The approval for Mohiuddin's arrest came just hours before the confession made by Jahangir before a magistrate on February 7. But the police had to wait five more days to get the nod to arrest Shalehi. However, the police delayed their efforts to arrest the Shibir leader apparently due to threats of creating violence by top Jamaat-Shibir leaders.
Yep. Terrorism works.
Police officials said there are similarities in the killings of Prof Taher and his economics department colleague Prof Yunus, who was killed in December 2004. In both the cases the suspected killers were found to have had links with Shibir, student wing of Jamaat, and were sheltered by party's top leaders. "We've noticed strong efforts by Jamaat-Shibir leaders to save Shalehi although confessions of three held killers go against him," observed a senior police official.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/24/2006
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PRIME Minister John Howard has defended Treasurer Peter Costello's comments about Islamic extremism that have angered the Muslim community.
But then, most things anger the Muslim community, don't they? I do hope the U.S. administration is watching Australia, though. They could learn something...
In a speech to the Sydney Institute last night, Mr Costello said anyone not prepared to accept Australian values, and who had citizenship of another country, should not remain an Australian citizen.
"Y'don't like it? Piss off!"
He said anyone who believed Islamic sharia law could co-exist with Australian law should move to a country where they felt more comfortable. Muslim leaders hit back today, calling on Mr Howard to censure Mr Costello over his remarks.
"He must be killed!"
But Mr Howard told Southern Cross Broadcasting the Treasurer's comments were similar to some of his own and Mr Costello should not be censured. Asked why not, Mr Howard said: "Because what he said was fundamentally accurate."
But... but... That's never been an excuse before has it?
"He's not trying to stir up hostilities with Islamic people any more than I was when I made some comments three days before the Cronulla riots," he said. "I made some comments to the effect that there was a section of the Islamic community, because of its extreme views and its rejection of the fundamentals of our society that posed a problem. I also expressed a concern about the attitude of some, I stress some, in the Islamic community towards women. I thought both those statements were perfectly acceptable."
"Unless you're fond of wearing a turban, of course..."
Mr Howard refused to be drawn on whether those who advocated sharia law society run according to a fundamentalist interpretation of Islamic teaching should leave the country. "I think what Peter was doing was to make the point that a belief in that would be inconsistent with Australian values," he said. Mr Howard said he supported multiculturalism if it meant simply showing respect and tolerance for other people's cultures. But he said Australia could not have a federation of cultures. "Over the years at its zenith the more zealous multiculturalism base said that this country should be a federation of cultures," he said. "You can have a nation where a whole variety of cultures constantly influence and mould and change and blend in with the mainstream culture."
Howard believes in the melting pot, which any good multiculturalist will tell you simply doesn't work. The fact that it did work and that it continues to work all around them won't change that opinion.
Mr Howard said Australia had a core culture as an offshoot of western civilisation with a heavily Anglo-Saxon identity and Christianity as the great moral shaping force.
"And we'll be happy to keep it, thankew very much."
Appearing before the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee in a briefing yesterday, Shin Bet chief Yuval Diskin devoted most of his security review to Hamas' rise to power in the Palestinian Authority. "In the long run, the Hamas organization poses a strategic threat to Israel," he warned. "We must not fall into the 'honey trap' it is setting for us and agree to its proposals for a 10-year hudna and de facto recognition of Israel. I'm not sure we haven't fallen into the trap already."
Diskin explained that Hamas is trying to get Israel and the world to consent to its ostensibly recognizing Israel in practice, then hold its fire for 10 years while using the time to build its military might against Israel. "We need to be very careful of the vague statements Hamas is bandying about and its sweet words. They must recognize Israel de jure, and not de facto," he said.
Asked by MK Danny Yatom (Labor) what he means by defining Hamas as a strategic threat, Diskin said: "If a radical Sunni Hamas state arises across our border, all the extremist radical elements will come there from throughout the world and from countries like Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Yemen and will deploy along the state's borders. From my standpoint, a state like that, with military capability and the ability to carry out terrorist attacks, is a strategic threat to Israel." Diskin warned that such a state could have a radiating effect on Israeli Arabs, which could be a serious problem.
However, Diskin thinks Hamas will make an effort to prevent terrorist attacks in the near future to prove to the world that it has firm control on the ground. He noted that Islamic Jihad and the Popular Resistance Committees remain active. On Saturday, the Shin Bet assassinated a senior Islamic Jihad operative in Nablus, but despite such successes the group is still capable of terrorist attacks.
Diskin stressed that the government's decision to stop transferring tax revenue to the PA might make it more difficult for Hamas to solidify its rule. Hamas needs $1.5 billion a year and is unlikely to raise that much from donations, he said.
Diskin got into a verbal spat with MK Ran Cohen (Meretz), who criticized his appearance before students at the pre-military academy in the settlement of Eli, during which he termed the disengagement plan "uprooting." "When you meet with that public and use the term 'uprooting,' you're fawning on those who used that expression to oppose the disengagement," Cohen charged.
Diskin replied that he was merely using the term in its technical Hebrew sense of removing something from its place, and that he had also employed the term during government discussions.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/24/2006
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ROME - The United States should close its Guantanamo Bay prison as swiftly as possible, Italys Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was quoted as saying on Thursday, a week before meeting US President George W. Bush in Washington.
Berlusconi, one of Bushs staunchest European allies, made the comment in an interview with Al Jazeera, in which he was asked if Guantanamo should be closed down. Yes, I have spoken about it with many of my colleagues and I too think that these centres, where episodes have taken place that have been condemend by the whole world, must be closed as swiftly as possible, said Berlusconi.
It's not possible right now. Thanks for asking.
The comments were contained in a transcript of the interview made available to Italys ANSA news agency. The interview, recorded in Rome on Tuesday, is to be broadcast by the Qatar-based channel on Friday.
Bush is to hold talks with Berlusconi at the White House on February 28.
Posted by: Steve White ||
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#1
That's right Berlu, we'll move these turds over to your villa.
Posted by: Captain America ||
02/24/2006 0:44
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Pandering for the elections, which he will probably lose to Prodi anyway. Thanks, Silvio!
Announce it's closing in two weeks, shut it down as promised, and never let anyone know what happened to the people held there.
"Oh, we just followed the Geneva Conventions. Each of them had their cases reviewed [already done], and then they were handled accordingly."
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
02/24/2006 8:06
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They are not criminals!
They are illegal combatants captured on a battlefield!
Under the Geneva Convention we are fully within our rights to have shot them on the field of battle.
Time for Rice to make a formal announcement to that effect with the stipulation that further comments will be the basis of determining American interests concerning the commentors.
In which Frank J at IMAO pretty much sums up my feelings regarding the port thingy, plus he has a great guest editorial that's a must read.
The more I learn about this issue with the ports, the more I learn I don't know anything from which to form an opinion. Despite my capitalistic instincts, I would have assumed the U.S. government ran our ports. As for reality, I don't know what "owning" a port entails. I could probably look that up, but it sounds boring. Thus, I don't trust Congress on this issue, because people in Congress seem to be dumber and have shorter attention spans than me.
Anyway, the UAE seems like moderate Muslims in that, deep down, they want to kill us all and force Islam upon the world, but they have better things to do. They're a modern economy, and I don't really see them sacrificing that to blow a few things up.... even to kill Jews. Plus, they are an ally.
Still, they have radical Muslim beliefs. If selling the port were like contracting out our airline security, I'd be against it even if I found it highly unlikely for the UAE to sponsor attacks against us. But, if selling out ports to them is no more dangerous than selling them the Dairy Queen down the street, then I don't see any problem ("Now that they control how many pieces of crushed Butterfinger go in our Blizzards, they'll be able to kill us all!").
Since I don't know, it would seem the safe thing to do would be against selling the ports since it's like I'm going to make any money from it. Still, if selling the UAE the ports is inconsequential to security, to deny them would kinda be a slight when we need allies. It would be like, "I'm not selling my Hyundai Santa Fe because you're a Muslim!" That could hurt feelings, and hurting people's feeling is wrong when it isn't especially humorous.
I really need someone smarter to steal an opinion from here, but anyone who understands this issue entirely must have spent lots of time reading really boring stuff, and people who spend lots of time reading really boring stuff are suspect to me.
I think I won't have an opinion on this. I can do that, right?
UPDATE: If you come to IMAO to get your opinions and thus need my opinion, I currently lack a coin to flip. Any suggestions?
UPDATE 2: The Ubeliever had pointed out this page where I can flip virtual coins. Now, the question is what coin should I use and what should being for the port be heads or tails? Should I put up a poll? Should I put up a poll on having a poll?
Not having an opinon and trying to artificially manufacture one is hard...
#2
"As for reality, I don't know what "owning" a port entails"
Having to deal with the Longshoremans union. Which means having to interact with large adult males who spent most of their school time junked up on Ritalin because the teacher couldn't handle normal male behaviors at that age. You're payback for all their pent up excitement.
You get to deal with government bureaucrats who weren't on Ritalin because they lack the normal lower brain stem group most humans were born with for the last 10,000 years.
#5
"but anyone who understands this issue entirely must have spent lots of time reading really boring stuff, and people who spend lots of time reading really boring stuff are suspect to me."
Sorry to be one of those suspect people who read really boring things, and I haven't read through all of the information, but one of the facts that I've picked up from this situation is that the UAE doesn't have to keep its' records on U.S. soil. THAT means that the U.S. courts can't touch 'em should they decide to take actions that are "less than ally-like"...
#6
one of the facts that I've picked up from this situation is that the UAE doesn't have to keep its' records on U.S. soil. THAT means that the U.S. courts can't touch 'em should they decide to take actions that are "less than ally-like"...
That alone is enough for me to maintain my standing opposition to this entire deal. We are at war. We have no way to scan all incoming overseas containers, diplomatic seals or not. Until we do, this deal stinks like sh!t.
BAGHDAD - Iraq has cancelled all police and army leave and extended curfew hours in Baghdad and other cities to help staunch sectarian violence, an interior ministry source said on Thursday. Security personnel have been placed on the highest alert, the official said. Curfew hours were extended indefinitely in Baghdad and will now run from 8 pm to 6 am (1700 to 0300 GMT), instead of 11 pm to 5 am.
The moves are in response to incidents around Iraq since the bombing of a major Shiite shrine in Samarra on Wednesday.
Iraqi police and army officials said on Thursday at least 40 bodies were found in one spot just south of Baghdad. It was not clear if the number included the 53 people already reported by police to have died in Baghdad since Wednesdays bombing. At least 25 people have been killed in Basra, 550 km (340 miles) southeast of Baghdad, police said.
A bomb targeting an Iraqi army foot patrol killed 12 people and wounded 21 in the city of Baquba, 65 km (40 miles) northeast of Baghdad on Thursday, an army source said.
Posted by: Steve White ||
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When this contingent of the Indian Air Force spots an advancing Pakistani troop, it has orders to open fire. Nothing unusual in that, except that they will not be firing at their traditional enemies but rather shielding them from a common foe.
Believe it or not, an IAF contingent flew off to the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday with its task cut out: to give air cover to Pakistani ground troops stationed at Bukavu, one of the areas worst hit by the civil war in Congo. Both the Pakistani and Indian troops are part of a UN peacekeeping force.
Currently, there are more than 17,000 UN troops in Congo, of which one Pakistani brigade is stationed in Bukavu, located in eastern Congo on the banks of Lake Kivu. An Indian brigade is stationed on the other side of the lake at a place called Goma. The situation in the area is still volatile. The main task of the IAF contingent will be to protect the Pakistani soldiers when they step out of their camps for action. Moreover, Indian and Pakistani soldiers will be sharing the same camp and eating at the same mess, said an IAF officer.
The IAF contingent called Indian Aviation Contingent (IAC) II comprises 285 personnel, including 40 pilots. They will be flying nine helicopters five MI-17 and four MI-35 attack helicopters. Group Captain Rajan Kapur, with more than 5,000 hours of flying experience, heads the team. Air Marshal Ajit Bhavnani, vice-chief of air staff, flagged off the contingent on Wednesday.
While the IAC II will act as a deterrent to any attack on Pakistani soldiers, it will also provide mobility to ground troops, the officer said. Besides pilots, technical experts, medical, support and administration staff are also part of the team.
The contingents job becomes more important as the first ever elections are scheduled to be held in the African republic later this year.
The IAF at present has three operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Besides Bukavu, it has the IAC I stationed at Goma. The IAF also maintains an airfield for UN aircrafts under the Air Field Services (AFS) contingent at Kindoo. Besides these, it runs a primary school for local children in Bukavu.
Posted by: john ||
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Lets home the Indian Air Force does not have to ring back to Delhi for "permission" to provide support, as the Paki armor did for Task Force Ranger in Somalia in 1993.
A worldwide row over cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) may have to be solved through the United Nations, said Danish Prime Minster Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Thursday. "I would not rule out the idea that, at the end of the day, the solution to the crisis will be found at the UN," Rasmussen told reporters after a meeting of parliament's foreign policy committee.
I think I would. Matter of fact, the idea never even occurred to me.
He said he still favoured a Europe-led solution to the crisis, noting that the crisis between Denmark and the Muslim countries had evolved into a matter for the European Union.
Which is in fact loads more effective than the UN, just as a tortoise is faster than a slug.
EU foreign ministers were likely to discuss the matter on Monday, he added, calling European cooperation in the case "precious".
Posted by: Fred ||
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Yea, the UN is the root of all that's good and right. You betcha
Posted by: Captain America ||
02/24/2006 0:39
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Is Rasmussen known for his humour? European foreign ministers are certainly precious.
#5
Me, too, LH. Just not sure the UN can fill those shoes. If I had just one word to describe the UN, what would it be? Ethicless? Impotent? Catatonic?
#7
Which is in fact loads more effective than the UN, just as a tortoise is faster than a slug.
ROFLMAO! Fred, that is a classic in the RB vernacular. Into the files it goes! If we look at this story, we realize the Europe has a long way to go before it will stand up to Islam for its own rights and heritage.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
02/24/2006 12:19
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I, for one, think that this is a splendid idea. Imagine what perfect reciprocity the Arab world would experience. Consider the endless letters of reprimand and innumerable stern warnings issuing forth from First Avenue and 46th Street. It would be a perfect mirror of the same dynamic and steely resolve shown by the UN towards condemning Arab anti-Semitism. Reaching a final position and path of action with respect to the Danish cartoons could take years, maybe even decades! By all means, let the UN resolve this nettlesome and vital issue.
The Sanaa University teachers syndicate, in cooperation with the General Students Union, held a rally Tuesday, Feb. 21. The rally included students and denounced the Danish caricatures insulting the prophet Mohammed (PTUI pbuh), which were republished by other European newspapers. Many speeches were made at the rally to denounce and disapprove of insult to the prophet.
They're referring to the cartoons they've never seen, of course...
The speeches assured that the caricatures were a series of campaigns fueling hatred and abhorrence, as well as inciting alienation and collision between civilizations. Demonstrators called for continuing public boycotts and forming national committees to boycott the goods of all countries that offended the prophet. The demonstrators affirmed that all protests should be civilized, peaceful and free of violence.
The mere fact that they're "demonstrating" over cartoons that they've never seen casts some doubt on whether they're "civilized." The ashes of multiple embassies say they're not peaceful, though perhaps Yemen will be different...
The head of the Students Union confirmed that the rally was meant to encourage the spirit of resistance and enhance awareness of threats targeting Islamic nations in this critical period. The Students Union leader requested Yemens government and all other Arab and Islamic governments to withdraw their ambassadors from countries that insulted the prophet and cancel all forms of cooperation with them.
They obviously haven't thought that one through. If they don't want help, they should say "no, thank you."
The student leader also called for forming a joint Arab-Islamic market to activate the boycott, as Arab and Islamic markets are the biggest consumers.
Biggest consumers of what?
Posted by: Fred ||
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Sheikh Abdulmajeed Al-Zindani, head of the opposition Islah partys Shoura Council and Al-Iman University head, confirmed that European insult to the prophet is due to their ignorance of his value. He added that researchers and Orientalists who studied his profile made fair judgments about him.
He's referring to pious scholars like... ummm... himself, of course. Besides being head of Yemen's Islamist opposition and a molder of young minds, Zindani's also a member of the Supreme Council of Global Jihad...
Additionally, Al-Zindani disclosed formation of a public legal committee to defend the prophet, adding that it has collected YR 5 million in fees for lawyers who will sue Yemeni journalists who republished the offensive caricatures. Al-Zindani declared that republishing the caricatures repeated the insult. He said that they will see to it that anyone insulting the prophet will stand trial, explaining that it is the judiciary that has the right to condemn those republishing the caricatures.
It will also demonstate the utter lack of freedom of the Yemeni press.
In a press release, journalist Al-Jaradi, Journalists Syndicate information committee secretary, called on Al-Zindani to use the money to indict the U.S. Administration, whose soldiers tore the Quran and threw it in the dirt.
The U.S. has studiously — and stupidly — tried to stay out of the cartoon fray. It's done us a lot of good, hasn't it?
Al-Jaradi told News Yemen network that Al-Zindani should do that instead of suing Yemeni journalists who republished the caricatures out of good will to defend the prophet. He added, If the journalists were wrong, many scholars have asserted that they were free of bad intentions, a matter that was met by an understanding, which led the judiciary to free them.
"Dudn't matter. Dudn't matter. They still gotta die."
Al-Jaradi said he is sure that many Al-Iman University scholars are wondering about Al-Zindanis insistence in this matter. Al-Jaradi stressed the necessity of the presence of an establishment specialized in issuing fatwas in Yemen, which should be done through competent individuals capable of issuing fatwas.
In normal countries, those bodies are known as "parliaments," and their fatwahs are called "laws."
Posted by: Fred ||
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"...an establishment specialized in issuing fatwas in Yemen.."
Shin Bet chief Yuval Diskin revealed yesterday that the security forces had recently captured a Fatah cell that was planning a two-tier attack on Jerusalem's Gilo neighborhood, using mortar shells and light weapons' fire.
Appearing before the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Diskin said the cell was uncovered in Bethlehem at the beginning of this month, in a joint operation of the Shin Bet and Israel Defense Forces' undercover units. The cell's five local operatives from the Popular Resistance Committees were arrested, but their leader, Jaber Ahras, a member of the Palestinian National Security Service, is still at large.
Taking the fall is for little guys.
The cell was caught with an IDF-issue 60-millimeter mortar launcher, eight shells ready for launching and a machine gun. According to the Shin Bet, the cell's capture foiled plans to attack Gilo a day or two later. The cell had already carried out shooting attacks in the area, without causing casualties.
Learned to shoot from Hek, did they?
The leader, Ahras, is a Gaza Strip resident who has lived in Bethlehem for the past few years and operates out of the Palestinian government building there. The Shin Bet holds him responsible for the murder of two IDF soldiers in a shooting attack on the Tunnels Road in 2003.
Posted by: Steve White ||
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I wonder what type of Israeli response an attack on Jerusalem might evoke????
Gunmen have shot dead 130 people in two days of sectarian violence in Iraq after the bombing of a revered Shia shrine, prompting renewed political paralysis and warnings of civil war. The spiralling violence threatens to derail negotiations on setting up a government of national unity, with the main Sunni political party declaring a boycott of talks with the Shia-led government over the reprisal attacks. The main Sunni alliance, the National Concord Front, also boycotted an emergency meeting of national leaders held by President Jalal Talabani in a bid to restore calm.
If they boycotted that particular meeting, that means they don't want to restore calm. They think they're going to get concessions out of the violence, and they think they can stop it when they're ready.
"To put out the fire is a holy duty and will be achieved through national unity," Talabani told reporters after the meeting.
"National unity" isn't going to do it. Destroying the killers, and not innocent bystanders, will do it.
The surge in sectarian violence follows the bombing Wednesday morning of a Shia shrine in Samarra, north of Baghdad, and reprisals against Sunni mosques nationwide. Eighty bullet-riddled corpses were brought to the Baghdad morgue between Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning, the deputy director of the morgue, Doctor Kais Mohammed, told AFP. "I've only been able to carry out autopsies on 25 of them," he said, adding that all had been shot. Many of the bodies, which were dumped in Baghdad and its suburbs, could not immediately be identified, but they were widely believed to be those of Sunnis.
The question I have is which Sunnis? Are they the local hard boyz, rounded up and offed even though there's no evidence that they did what everybody knows they did, or are they the nearest guys with the right colored turban?
Another 47 bodies of men shot to death were discovered along with 10 burned out cars alongside a road near Nahrawan, southeast of Baghdad, police said. The corpses were found near a brick factory and it was not immediately known if the victims were workers from the factory.
My guess would be that they were, and that they weren't bad guyz. There's nothing wrong with killing people that need killing, but just picking people out and slaughtering them at random is stoopid. It's a waste of ammunition, and it makes the underlying problem worse.
One Sunni was also killed Thursday and two wounded in a drive by shooting outside a Sunni mosque in Baquba, northeast of the capital, and a Sunni sheikh was shot dead in Hillah, south of Baghdad, police said.
My first guess would be that the drive-by killing targeted a bad guy — the murder rings are run from the mosques. My first guess on the sheikh would be Zark's guys, but he could also be another targeted killing. [Insufficient data! Bzdeep! Shutting down!]
Iraq has placed its security forces on high alert and cancelled all leave. The night curfew in Baghdad was brought forward from 11:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Wednesday. The upsurge in killings came after suspected al-Qaeda linked militants bombed the 1,000-year-old Imam Ali al-Hadi mausoleum, one of the countries' main Shia shrines, in the town of Samarra, north of Baghdad.
If all those 130 corpses belonged to suspected al-Qaeda militants, then they'd be accomplishing something. If most of them are brick makers they're being stoopid. I'm guessing that there's at least some thought going into the carnage, since they dragged a dozen or so foreigners out of jug in Basra and killed them. But it's also providing the excuse for the guys who didn't throw Sammy out of office to strut around waving guns and looking ferocious.
Early Thursday police also reported finding the bodies of three Iraqi journalists working for Dubai-based Arabiya satellite television who were kidnapped near Samarra Wednesday evening while reporting on the shrine bombing. "The bodies of the presenter Atwar Bahjat, of cameraman Adnan Abdallah and of soundman Khaled Mohsen were found early this morning some 15km north of Samarra," police said.
That one sound like it's probably murder most foul...
In other violence, at least 12 people were killed in a powerful roadside bomb attack in Baquba, 60km northeast of Baghdad, of which eight were Iraqi army soldiers and four other civilians, police said, adding 20 others were wounded. Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, renewed calls to his community to remain calm and forsake revenge for the bombing of the shrine.
That's working well, isn't it?
Posted by: Fred ||
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"The main Sunni alliance, the National Concord Front, also boycotted an emergency meeting of national leaders held by President Jalal Talabani in a bid to restore calm.
If they boycotted that particular meeting, that means they don't want to restore calm. They think they're going to get concessions out of the violence, and they think they can stop it when they're ready. "
Mebbe. Or mebbe theyre afraid of losing support in their own community if they talk.
"Are they the local hard boyz, rounded up and offed even though there's no evidence that they did what everybody knows they did, or are they the nearest guys with the right colored turban? "
well thats the problem with having militias run around killing people with zero judicial procedure A. You will likely kill the nearest guys B. Even if you kill the right guys, the folks who mistrust you have every reason to think that you didnt. (and if anyone thinks the shiite militias, or even the Iraqi security forces, are in position to carefully identify and execute the right bad guys a la the IDF, then ive got a nice bridge to sell you - and BTW, the Israelis arent looking to share a state with the Pals long run)
Once again, look at the Brits in Malaya. A govt has to act like a govt, and use processes of law. In an emergency you of course suspend that - but declaring an emergency is a major concession of how bad things are (and an act the Iraqi govt has NOT done)
"Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, renewed calls to his community to remain calm and forsake revenge for the bombing of the shrine.
That's working well, isn't it? "
Now youre sounding like the NYT. 130 dead isnt 500 dead. or 2000 dead. And the Shiites have been subject to extreme provocation for 3 years. I aint calling for nobody to be killed, but Im not sure 130 reprisal deaths is panic button time. Seems to me thats still restraint, and restraint largely cause of Sistani. Anyway, lets see if the Friday sermons lead to more or less violence.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday rejected an Afghan minister's request that the names of Pakistani missiles be changed because they coincided with those of former Afghan rulers.
"How we gonna change 'em to the names of Pak heroes? We ain't got none!"
Pakistan Foreign Office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam told the BBC that Islamabad could not fulfill the request because Pakistan and Afghanistan shared a common history and hence common heroes.
"So we'll just have to use theirs. They ain't got no missiles, so they ain't usin' 'em!"
On Wednesday, Afghan Information Minister Syed Makhdoom Raheen had requested the Pakistani government not to give its military missiles former afghan rulers' names. "Education and culture institutes should be named after Afghan leaders like Shahabud Din Ghauri, Mehmood Ghaznavi and Ahmad Shah Abdali instead of naming destructive devices after them," he said. Three Pakistani missiles are named Ghauri, Ghaznavi and Abdali.
Posted by: Fred ||
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Pathetic. Revealing. And just another notch in the limited existence of Pakistan.
And the strengthening of Afghanistan, proving their worth. I still have great hope for Afghanistan and a slow, successful future.
Grenades and other explosives, recovered by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on December 14 last year from a hideout of Jama'tul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), were destroyed at an army demolition ground in Gazipur Wednesday noon, reports UNB.
Following a court order, some 34 items including 27 hand grenades, 107 detonators, 32 power gel, 18 water gel, 2.95 kg potassium chlorite, 600 grams gunpowder, 16 kg ammonium nitrate, 500 ml facial quality picric acid, 9.1 kg lead styphnate, 39.95 gram lead azide, 62 batteries and 12 circuits were destroyed at the Sreepur demolition ground of the Army Ordnance Corps.
They're saving the shutter gun for the midnight stroll.
According to statements by JMB military wing chief Ataur Rahman Sunny and his sidekick Enayet, intelligence wing of RAB made the haul of arms and explosives from a house at Dakkhin Manda in the city on December 14.
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M.A. NIAZI The Muslim world, awakened, refuses to go back to sleep. If one was to take the precedent of the Quranic desecration at Guantanamo Bay, the protests should have petered out by now. But they continue. Muslim governments all have a hard task containing the rage that Muslims are feeling because of the insult to their Prophet (PTUI PBUH), and which is being fuelled by their sense of helplessness at what is to be done.
The current round of tiresome riots is lasting longer because it's consciously being fuelled by your local Learned Elders of Islam. Your "sense of helplessness" isn't tugging at my heartstrings, because you're not too helpless to incinerate a few embassies. The rubes are always willing to be whipped up, and the holy men are always happy to whip them up, and do date there hasn't been any penalty to either of them, with the exception of a few corpses here and there who're never the holy men and seldom the guys waving their fists.
There is now a move to convene the OIC Foreign Ministers on this issue. That it has come so late indicates that it is not an initiative from the member governments, but is the result of a need felt to dissipate the heat the members are facing. Because the members' interests are disparate, it is unlikely to come up with any strong action.
That's kinda the story of the OIC, the Arab League, the EU, and the UN, isn't it? If everybody's interests are different, joining them together in a single body makes no real sense it's a "government of national unity" on an international scale. The net result is some really good lunches and a fairly hefty printer's bill.
It has already been warned by the European Union that any sanctions against Denmark will be met with all-EU sanctions against the sanctioners.
Look, Maudette! Vertebrates!
While one head of government might be willing to take on the EU head-on, as Iranian President Mehmood Ahmedinejad has done over his country's nuclear issue, for 57 heads of government to do so is almost unthinkable.
For 57 heads of government to all agree on anything is almost unthinkable. The results, should they manage to accidentally do so, would be even more unthinkable.
One solution would be for the OIC to issue guidelines suggesting various levels of sanctions, which members could adopt as they wished, but who would vote for them, and then not follow them? The easiest way out would be to pass a resolution condemning the cartoons in the strongest of terms, maybe call on the Danish government to apologise, and to call for the passage of laws by Western countries protecting religious figures from blasphemy.
That's the ultimate objective, isn't it? If I were to hop into my trusty time machine and go back to 1955 and tell my father that the world was considering imposing blasphemy laws like they have in half-savage Pakistan he'd look at me like I was stoopid. If I were to go back to 1804 and tell President Jefferson he'd look at me the same way.
There would be no 'or-else'. If the countries addressed refused to tremble in their shoes, too bad.
I dunno about you, but I refuse to tremble in my shoes.
Yet it is certainly interesting that the OIC is moving to tackle this issue. The last parallel protests, during the Rushdie affair, moved the OIC Foreign Ministers' Conference in 1990 in Cairo to insert as Item 87 (of 95) of its Final Declaration the following: "The Conference expressed profound concern on the continued attempts to vilify or denigrate the noble values of Islam, its most respected and revered personalities and places of sanctity. It urged the Member States to take steps to safeguard the lofty Islamic principles and to adopt coordinated efforts to face any blasphemous attempt. The Conference urged the international community to respect the sentiments of all religious communities and not to allow any transgression of norms of civility and morality under the cover and pretext of freedom of thought or expression."
That was when Salman Rushdie published the Satanic Verses and ended up with a fatwah on him from the Islamists in Iran. At the time rest of the Muslim world joined in the hooraw, with similar riots and mayhem to those going on today. Some things never change; they're just events that are supposed to lead to an ultimate objective.
The OIC members were much more militant and upbeat then, as the meeting was in progress (31 July-5 August) when Iraq invaded Kuwait (August 2), and the loss of innocence that followed the Gulf War was still in the future, and 9/11 not even on the horizon.
The OIC spent its time after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait dithering and ultimately sold Kuwait down the (Euphrates) river, as did the Arab League.
Therefore, the OIC governments are feeling much more heat this time around, and feel the need to relieve pressure from their publics.
It's a good thing the civilized world feels no pressure from its publics. It might lead to a clash of civilizations.
Are Muslims more radicalised now than then?
Lots of them are, but not all. Arabs and Paks seem to be more nutty than most, but that's always been the case.
Perhaps. Have their frustrations at their helplessness grown?
Somehow they're frustrated at living in kleptocracies and dictatorships, but somehow also they prefer to emigrate rather than hang their tormentors. The ones who don't emigrate are rewarded by occasionally being allowed to riot and burn down a few embassies or churches.
Probably. Have they grown more dissatisfied with their regimes, more disillusioned with their ability to defend not just their vital national interests, but also the collective interests of the Muslims as a whole? It seems likely. Will they be fobbed off with a mere resolution at the OICFMC? Probably not.
I'd guess they will be.
Will they be moved to do something about it? At this point, unlikely.
"Doing something about it" at this point would be a stoopid move. First of all, not all of the Muslim world is willing to be ordered around by the nearest holy man. Second, not every Muslim majority country is willing to lie down with the holy dogs for fear of catching fleas. It's still early in the game to be expecting them to be willing to join the lemmings.
The problem is that the civilised solutions to this issue are simply not satisfying enough.
Ain't that the truth? And the civilized solutions aren't going to come from the Muslim world, either.
The special reverence in which the Prophet (PTUI PBUH) is held, demands that the blasphemers be punished according to Sharia, which prescribes the death sentence, and the death sentence alone.
You're free to impose the death sentence on each other, but keep your grimy ways out of our countries.
However, that is not a feasible option at this point.
Not at this point.
A Muslim government may emulate the Israeli example of sending in assassins (as it did with Iraqi nuclear scientists), but it would come under tremendous pressure, perhaps too much to expect it to bear.
Somebody might finally get the idea of sending assassins back, and the targets would be the holy men.
A boycott of Danish goods is questionable: pork is not halal even if it is Pakistani (a few wild pigs are consumed by foreign and local non-Muslims); milk will not become haram just because it is Danish.
Too bad. You're picking on Denmark because it's not a European economic powerhouse and you expected it to fold quickly. It's tried to be accomodating, but it hasn't groveled, which is what you demand. And I'm willing to eat more havarti and Danish ham's perfectly halal for me. Life's tough, ain't it?
The demand for legislation protecting the revered figures of all religions is compatible with the concept of freedom of expression, because it is feasible to place restraints on freedom.
No, it's not. In most of the West the constraints are placed by good taste, which isn't legislated, and which is routinely violated with regard to Christian and Jewish religious figures.
However, it could lead to rather odd situations. It might mean, for example, that anyone who claims some form of prophethood within the Abrahamic tradition, as did Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormons, and Mirza Ghulam Ahmed, founder of the Ahmadi Jamaat, in the 19th century, or even godhead within the Vedic or Buddhist tradition, as did the Maharishi in the 20th, would be as protected as Muhammad (PTUI PBUH), Jesus Christ, Buddha or Ram.
So much for the Mormons, the Ahmadis, and the Maharishi School of Yogic Flying. And then, there are the Jews. There's gotta be some way to keep them from being covered...
It might even provoke a spate of declarations of revelation, for the Western understanding of freedom of expression, freedom of conscience and toleration equates these religious leaders with whoever else might make a claim.
L. Ron Hubbard, call your office!
It is also not just a matter of hurt feelings. Blasphemy against the Prophet (PTUI PBUH) is severely punished, even though other forms of abuse, while hurtful, are to be ignored, or merely rebutted. Denials of the prophethood of Muhammad (PTUI PBUH) can be ignored, for example, or debated, but they are not in themselves blasphemous. After all, a non-Muslim by definition is a denier. However, it is reasonably clear that certain mocking or insulting portrayals or epithets are unacceptable, such as the Danish cartoons.
So what's your bitch? You've just negated your own argument.
So should Muslims ask for very specific legislation about the person of the Holy Prophet (PTUI PBUH)?
Sure they will. They're just working out the wording right now, aren't they?
They can ask, and probably should, but this creates difficulties of its own. The USA was the first state to declare a complete separation between church and state. No religion is to be 'established' in the USA under the First Amendment, in the sense of having special privileges or any superiority over others. To ask it to pass a law specific to the Holy Prophet (PTUI PBUH), would technically be asking it to 'establish' Islam.
No "technically" about it. Your god's no more important than my god or lack thereof.
Here we do see the seeds of a clash of civilisations. The honour of the Prophet (PTUI PBUH) is not open to compromise for Muslims. Nor is the prohibition on 'establishing' any religion for Americans of whatever creed. Ask we must. Refuse they must. And pity the poor soul who is both 'we' and 'they'. Muslims hold that they are bound by everlasting and immutable limits, prescribed by the Almighty Himself in the Quran and through the Sunnah. Americans (and the West as a whole) hold that the only absolute is freedom, and any limits are determined by the people, who can change them as they will. These are incompatible. Either Muslims must accept mutability, or the West must reject its own principles.
I can see a reasonable compromise. How about if we keep our freedom, treasuring it and exploring its practical limits the more each and every day. We can laugh and have fun and pinch girlies and argue over the fine points of individual liberty and whether pigs have wings. We'll invent things, and we'll send men to the moon and we'll cure cancer. And you can remain in your Islamic paradises, speaking only to other Believers, trading only with other Believers, marrying only your own close relatives. Withdraw from international bodies that include Infidels. Return to your immutable world and keep doing the same things over and over, generation after generation, just like they do in Peshawar. Keep on bitching about the effects while you're revering the Cause.
Meanwhile, of course, expect Muslims to subside into inaction once again, at least until next time. Many have noted that all the Muslims of today need is the right leader, who is not present among the luminaries gracing OIC Summits.
Don't worry the Mahdi's out there, just waiting for the main chance. Though I don't think much of a society that needs a leader for everything...
If pushed enough, though, the Ummah will search for a leader in earnest, and find him, even if it means forcing him to accept the task.
They're big on Fearless Leaders...
The main problem before the world today is not how to avert a clash of civilisations, but how to manage it in a way that prevents some form of ultimate disaster. After all, even in warfare, there is a difference between warfare between 'terrorists' and counter-terrorists, in which anything goes, and that between two armies observing the rules of war, and the courtesies of the profession of arms.
Yeah. Jihad is the only answer.
AN AFTERTHOUGHT...
The real difference between the civilized world and the Third World is the latter's search for that Fearless Leader. They've gotta have him. They're enthralled by the idea of standing around in large groups, chanting in unison, of believing in something. It can be a holy man like Qazi or Tater, or it can be a tin hat dictator like Sammy or Hugo or Bob Mugabe, but they've got to have somebody with all the answers.
We in the West elect our leaders and they then begin their inevitable slide in popularity until they're safely out of office. We feel free to disagree with them, even make fun of them, even the ones we like. We change "leaders" with only slightly less frequency than we change our socks (or pantyhose, as the case may be). Once you're in power in the Third World you can stay there until you die, even if you're a nut like Turkmenbashi, or a complete incompetent like Bob. And the chances are that your kids or other close relatives will follow you.
I think this is why so many of us feel a visceral aversion to the giant papier mache puppet crowd that comes crawling out from under their rocks for every summit meeting. They're people in search of Fearless Leader. They've got to have someone tell them all the answers, rather than discovering them for themselves. To get those answers they're happy to tromp through the streets, exulting in the bravery of numbers. If they ever get their way we, too, can live in a soiety where innovation is ordered from the top, rather than emanating from garages or small businesses or people's dreams.
Posted by: john ||
02/24/2006
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#1
The main problem is these folks need a real education and not a religous one.
Hell, its all a quantum condition anyway.
I don't want any religion telling me what to do.
#9
They better hope we keep "observing the rules of war, and the courtesies of the profession of arms". Not even Mr. PBUH will be able to help them if something happens to make the gloves come off. Cartoons will be the least of their problems.
Nice job sexing it up too, Fred.
What struck me the most about this piece was the sense of entitlement this paki feels.
I am supposed to care about his religion, his god or his prophet.
And he expects me to follow his religious laws.
Where the hell does this sense of entitlement come from?
And how can it be made plain, to all like him that many people just don't give a damn.
Posted by: john ||
02/24/2006 17:22
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#11
Wait until I explain to him how his god is a promoted kitchen god. Cause... the family kitchen god never failed Abraham's clan but the City GOD of UR was a Joke.
Course now I will have many crazed religions after me for speaking this truth...
Remember UR had the City God
There were Crossroads gods
There were faimly kitchen Gods
When UR was doing fine - Everybody was buried in huge graveyards in front of the CITY GOD's image.
By Abraham's time... UR had been repeatedly ravaged by barbarians for hundreds and hundreds of years.
The City HAD DONE POORLY.
His family like the others now buried their dead at home where the family god could watch over them.
Abraham's father still worshiped the City God & The Family God & the Crossroads ones
Abraham got disgusted and gave up on the CITY and ITS GOD. He did not give up on THE GOD OF HIS FATHERS the FAMILY GOD.
He may have still honored the Crossroads gods too..
#12
I am supposed to care about his religion, his god or his prophet.
And he expects me to follow his religious laws.
Where the hell does this sense of entitlement come from?
They call themselves the Band of Brothers, about 50 men - and a few women - all Democrats, all opposed to the Bush administration's handling of Iraq, and all military veterans. One more thing: They're all running for Congress this year.
Not since 1946 have so many vets from one party come together in a political campaign, they claim. Their wildest dream is to give the Democratic Party the extra edge it needs - by boosting its weak image on defense and patriotism - to end Republican control of the House.
They also know it's a long shot: Many are running against incumbents in safe Republican districts. Many also face competitive primaries against Democratic opponents with more political experience and access to money.
Among the Democratic vet candidates, 10 have served in either Afghanistan or the current Iraq war, or both. Only one - Maj. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, who is competing for the seat of retiring Republican Henry Hyde - was recruited by the national Democratic Party. Political handicappers give her the best shot at making it to Washington of all the Democratic vets running. Handicappers also mention Patrick Murphy of Pennsylvania - an Iraq vet trying to unseat a first-term Republican, Mike Fitzpatrick, in a Democratic-leaning district - as having potential, though fundraising has been slow.
The only other Democratic Iraq war vet with a national political profile, Paul Hackett of Ohio, dropped out of his US Senate race Feb. 14 under pressure from party leaders. They wanted to avoid a costly primary and instead steered Mr. Hackett back to a second try at the House seat he almost won last year. His surprise near-victory in a special election for a presumed safe Republican seat earned him national notice - and may have inspired other Democratic war vets to jump into politics.
Mike Lyon, who launched the Band of Brothers political action committee in December, has found the going tough. He's raised only $40,000 so far. "If resources continue to flow the same way, not many [will win] - I'm being frank," says Mr. Lyon, who is based in Richmond, Va. "But if we can go out and build awareness about their campaigns and provide resources to level the playing field for the November general [election], then I think a lot of these guys will be competitive. We're still getting the lay of the land."
Analysts agree that the novice candidates have their work cut out for them. They have to develop a full congressional agenda, campaigning ability, and networking skills that show they're ready for prime time. Being a Johnny-one-note against the war isn't enough, say political observers. "They're running for Congress, not commander in chief," says Amy Walter, a specialist in House races for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. "Obviously, Iraq's an important issue, but at the same time, they need be able to talk about healthcare, the economy, gas prices."
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which recruits and helps candidates the party believes can win, has not made a special effort to recruit Iraq war vets, says spokeswoman Sarah Feinberg. "What we have done is to recruit the best possible candidate in every district," she says.
But as the election year unfolds - including Republican-dominated scandals and low presidential popularity - analysts don't rule out the potential for a national wave that could make some usually safe seats competitive. GOP control of the House remains slim, with 230 Republicans, 202 Democrats, 1 independent, and two vacancies.
"The Democrats' best chance of winning a majority is to expand the playing field beyond the three dozen or so [seats] that have been in play in recent years," says Rhodes Cook, an independent political analyst. Candidates with the Iraq credential could end up being "a twofer for the Democrats. Not only do they have the goodwill of the recent Iraq war vet, but [they] also help offset a party weakness, which is being kind of light on defense."
The Republicans have one Iraq war vet running for Congress, Van Taylor of Texas, who is trying to knock off Rep. Chet Edwards (D). Carl Forti, spokesman for the National Republican Campaign Committee, says 38 Republicans with military experience are running for Congress. When asked if any of the Democratic vets pose a threat to any Republicans, his answer is simple: "Zero."
Still, "being a vet is a good résumé item to have," says Mr. Forti. "It brings a certain level of approval."
Posted by: Bobby ||
02/24/2006
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"It brings a certain level of approval."
There would more approval if their 2004 standard bearer would release all his military recrods.
#2
The problem with putting a vet in power, regardless of party, is they will only get burned by the Dems once. Then they will do whats "right" instead of the blind followership the Dems are expecting. This is FID 101, take them down from the inside, I just might vote Democrat!
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
02/24/2006 1:25
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#3
It's unfortunate that I no longer live in Virigina. I'd be happy to vote for James Webb.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/24/2006 1:46
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This is interesting, I've talked to a lot of my peers about the prospect of running for local offices after we get out. The thing is most of us lean conservative tend to vote republican but actually don't care for either major party. We've discussed setting up a third party that's more libertarian in nature and just flooding a region with candidates accross the spectrum of seats and then expanding via grassroots means. Being a vet does bring some credibility but you'll always have someone questioning your service which is hard to take.
#5
The only other Democratic Iraq war vet with a national political profile, Paul Hackett of Ohio, dropped out of his US Senate race Feb. 14 under pressure from party leaders.
No mention that this "pressure" included rumors about Hackett abusing Iraqi corpses.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
02/24/2006 8:52
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BH6: Is there a way you guys can tag up with the Free State/Libertarian movements? I see this as a serious (if still, small) movement in this country. I, for one, have begun to get fed up with both parties too, although the Republicans down in my neck of the woods tend to be a LOT more conservative (Constitutional) than others.
Posted by: BA ||
02/24/2006 9:03
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I keep reminding myself that *every* unit has one guy in it who is a luser. He is always whining and bitching, he says his last unit was really great but this new unit sucks. He doesn't do his job and has mastered malingering. He spends half his week in the dispensary, and the other half bumming smokes and drinks. He also brags a lot and "one-ups" the other guys about what a hot shit he is. He knows the CO and the first shirt have a down on him, 'cause they're always f'in with him.
If he is a "luser plus", he is also a racist who probably also hates women, a barracks thief and a drug dealer. In this case, invariably the luser has one amazing talent: avoiding the CID.
#8
These poor fools are donks ? In order to be a donk in the House of Reps, you MUST vote straight donk on all issues. It doesn't matter what you think or what you stand for, the party comes first, and that's it.
Repeat after me: Hillary is the queen, the light, and the source. Bless Queen Hillary, bless Queen Hillary.
#9
BA: Thanks for the info, I'd imagine that is a definite possibility though I must admit I am not too familiar w/the Free State/Libertarian movements. I will google them and find out more. The platforms I've discussed w/my peers are based on some libertarian principles like being pro-gun, minimizing governmental intrusions, pork barrel reform, de-regulating "junk laws", term limits (though I'm not sure if the libertarian party takes a stance on that either way) & maintaining the original intent of the the U.S. Constitution. I think where we differ w/a lot of tradtional libertarians on the national level is that we want a wall on the U.S./Mexico border a long w/serious law enforcement of such. I could go all day as I have strong opinions as to which direction I think the country needs to go to improve but in the interest of not coming off like an ass or boring anyone I'll digress. I think you get the drift anyhow. The bottom line is that though most of us tend to lean right we're not satisfied w/some of the things we've seen w/the replublican party. Everything ranging from the aforementioned border fiasco to members of the party getting caught up in illegal schemes is criminal (no pun intended). We take integrity, U.S. sovereignty and not fleecing the hard working American tax payer extremely serious.
#10
Well, guys and gals, just make sure you're not going up against one of the boys. This from their former Golden Boy...
Paul Hackett has been a popular guy this fall. The tough-talking Iraq combat veteran turned a special-election fight in Ohios Second District into this summers political sleeper hit, energizing Democrats and converting Republicans in the deep-red counties outside Cincinnati and pulling 48 percent of the vote in a district where John Kerry got a mere 36 percent. Soon the national party came courting: Hackett met several times with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Sen. Chuck Schumer, chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), both of whom encouraged him to run for the seat of Ohios senior senator, Republican Mike DeWine, in 06. Hackett said he wouldafter been told by Ohio Congressman Sherrod Brown that he wasnt planning to runand on October 3 he publicly threw his hat in the ring.
Then, last week, his phone rang again. It was Sherrod Brown calling to tell Hackett hed changed his mind: he was running after all. Then Schumer called, and this time he wasnt delivering a pep talk. Hackett got the distinct sense that he was being asked to make way for the party insider. Schumer didnt tell me anything definitive, he says. But Im not a dumb ass, and I know what he wanted me to do.
DSCC spokesman Phil Singer insists that We didnt play any role in bringing Brown in. We were as surprised as anyone else when he decided to reconsider. Putting a positive spin on the contest, Singer notes that six months ago, reporters were writing off the state for Democrats. Now weve got two excellent candidates who would be good senators and can beat Mike DeWine in 2006. Hackett, who says hes still considering his options, is less sanguineand less diplomatic. The Democratic Party is like an addict, he says. Theyre addicted to failure. I want to help the party. The question is, how do you help someone that doesnt want help?
#11
The Democratic Party is like an addict, he says. Theyre addicted to failure. I want to help the party. The question is, how do you help someone that doesnt want help?
It's simple, really. You hold an intervention, and when the addict protests, tell 'em it's 'for your own good'.
#12
Broadhead6, if I might suggest... Please consider running -- the first time, at least -- on the Republican ticket. While the Libertarians sound like a better fit, philosophically, you cannot effect change if you don't get elected. Unfortunately, Libertarians don't get elected; the party isn't big enough to provide enough votes. And the Republic needs what you and your comrades have to offer.
#13
I'm with TW on that one, BH6. While I fall more along the lines of your belief (split somewhat between the Libertarian Party and the Constitution Party), the only REALISTIC way to get elected is by having an "R" after your name. Then, affect change from within. It's time to get that party back to the basics, and call me an optimist, I believe it can be done. In this fight, I'm 100%+ behind our Prez, but domestic issues (like you) I have a lot of beef with him. Starting with Illegal Immigration, but also including, Spending total (not just pork barrel), taxation (I'd like to see the Fair Tax or some flat tax implemented), bring back the line-item veto, doing away with Fed. Depts/agencies that aren't Constitutional (like Reagan tried to do w/ Dept. of Education), etc.
Posted by: BA ||
02/24/2006 13:06
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TW/BA - Duly noted points, thanks. For the record, I was a member of the College Republicans many moons ago. I'm independent as far as voting is concerned now, but like I said I tend to vote Repub because so many of the Dems just seem to be such wimps.
Anyways, I wanted to postulate a theory to you all I've been stewing on the past six months here in Iraq wrt the major parties vs. running independent. I'd love to get your input.
-If, a group of veterans or like minded citizens were to start a third party, say near a military base or in that county/district. As a by product, not only do you have the military credibility but you also could be exposing every 18-23 year old service person that does a hitch through that area a different political philosophy. Maybe the information of this third party started by no non-sense service oriented folks works its way back to the home towns of the above mentioned demographic in maybe a grass roots fashion. Or say, more to the point, in your home town, you good Rantburg citizens noticed such an endeavor by an independent party w/noted military and some combat background. This group targets getting seats at the local level (which I believe is possible in comparison to state level politics where the "R" or "D" are more imperative). Do you think it is plausible that at that local level what I call a "beach head" or a foot hold for future follow on through put could be created? Would you consider voting for something like this at the local level? Obviously proper marketing and the foundation of the platform are extremely important. I could go on all day about it but let's just stream line it to what I mentioned in the prior posts along w/even some stereotypical democratic platforms like sound environmental stewardship so that future Americans can enjoy our natural resources, etc. (I'm an advid outdoorsman and hunter so I've secretly hugged more than a few oak trees in my day.) I didn't articulate my theory as well as I would have liked but for the sake of brevity I think you get the drift and I don't want to run the bandwidth to death.
BA - My wife actually mailed me the Fair Tax Book Boortz promoted. I've yet to digest his book though. I concur w/you on the WoT vs. domestic issues angle wrt the Prez. The man's got an unbelievabley tough job but the immigration reforms are too long in coming. One of the military's mandates is to protect the borders and sovereingty of the nation. I'd love to see us start going down there in deployment rotations to augment are border patrol brothers. Okay, enough of my literary diarhea and delusions of grandeur, thanks for giving it a look.
#17
Good luck to ya, BH6! Actually, I think you're right in that it would be easier to run independent in local elections. However, local elections tend to not really (unfortunately, the should) affect national-type issues. Mostly getting into zoning, local (police) law enforcement issues, and for larger cities/counties, things like traffic, water/sewer, development, etc. It IS a good way to cut your teeth though, as a stepping stool to the next level (State). The one area where locals COULD have a say in national issues is potentially illegal immigration.
Good on your wife for the book. I haven't read it yet either, but my Congressman (John Linder, R-GA) is the guy who wrote it and the main thrust behind it. I love Boortz philosophically, but I also believe that he's done his research and he can find nothing wrong with it. The way Rep. Linder explains it (I've been to 2 Town Hall meetings when he's back in town where he explains the Fair Tax), it sounds like a win-win for all! Here's my explanation of it in a nutshell:
(1) Disbands the IRS, all of their regulations, etc. and sets up the Federal Govt's income (taxes) basically as a nationwide sales tax. This actually cuts withholdings from your paycheck for ALL Fed. Gov't income (not just withholdings for Income Tax, but also, Social Security, Medicare, etc.)
(2) Gives a "Pre-bate" every month up to the poverty level for real necessities to EVERYONE (e.g. you get a check to cover housing, food, clothing for the month based on the poverty level, which is something around $20,000/year income for a 4-person family). THIS is important in that it shuts up the arguments about cutting back welfare/food stamps/etc.
(3) Sets the Federal sales tax at around 28%. Most people gasp at this number, but if you tell them to go and look at their paystub, and total up how much they DON'T receive that's withheld for Federal Income Tax, Social Security, Medicare, etc., they'll realize it's a win-win for most people (middle class). You would receive your ENTIRE paycheck (no Federal Withholdings).
(4) It captures taxes from illegal immigrants. Currently, we all know, a lot of illegals get paid "off the books", in cash, etc. Because the employer does this, they DON'T pay Federal Income Taxes (basically). By switching this to a sales tax system, the Feds start collecting money from every Jose, Pepe and Jesus out there that buys a cup of coffee at the gas station every morning.
(5) The tax would ONLY apply on NEW items. That is, if you buy something used (home, car, something off Ebay, etc.), you wouldn't pay ANY Federal sales tax on that item!
(6) It's a way for the power of the purse strings to fall back to the people, where it belongs. You don't want to give the Feds ANY money? Buy used products all year long...or don't buy anything at all. I know, that's realistically impossible, but in theory, it should give us more power in how much money Washington gets every year.
I had heartburn mostly over the RATE of sales tax that would be needed (28% or so) to cover the current Federal budget. However, as Rep. Linder explains it, it makes sense. Economists have studied it, and say that the AVERAGE item on sale has a built-in 28% tax in it for all the firms involved in making that item to comply with current IRS regulations/paperwork/filings. For example (one from Rep. Linder)...take a loaf of bread...the farmer builds in to the cost of selling his wheat the costs for complying with IRS regulations (including, paying for any employees Social Sec., Medicare withholdings). That wheat goes to a manufacturer to process, who themselves have built-in costs (probably more than the farmer, as they have more employees), to the trucker who ships it to the grocery store and on and on. You see how those built-in costs (are passed on to the consumer ultimately) could add up to 28%. If you do away with all those IRS regulations and payments, theoretically, the price of that loaf of bread should drop by ~28%, which means that (again, in theory), the price (after the 28% sales tax proposed by the Fair Tax) should be what it is today. Obviously, there'd be some companies who keep the price as is and reap the benefits, and there'd probably be "growing pains" the first year or two in switching systems, but go look at your paystub and see how much is withheld for Federal Income tax, Social Security and Medicare combined (including your employer's portions). You'd be amazed!
Posted by: BA ||
02/24/2006 14:51
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#18
Si if you buy a house from someone else, is it used or would you pay sales tax on that? If the sales tax were only on new construction, that market would either die or the price of "used" homes would go up 28% to compensate.
#19
At the local level, it isn't party so much as affiliations -- that is, how many groups of acquaintances can you get to vote for you? eg. fellow church members, scouts, soccer parents, PTA, Lions/Elks/VA, etc. You and your wife will want to get involved in lots of local organizations, and get yourselves known to the members, who will suggest to their spouses and friends that they all vote for you because you're a good guy. I imagine you're right that in a community near a base being a vet would be a big draw, as long as you have those other connections to the outside community as well. And if you are successful as a group of independent candidates campaigning together (that part is important, too; people like to choose packages, not a one-off individual), then with time the Dems/Repubs will court you for their line-up -- easier to sell a proven quantity to a county or state electorate than a newcomer. I suspect that's a good piece of why Hackett failed the first time, in addition to it being noticed that he was talking out of both sides of his mouth, and why he was asked to give way to an old pol this time.
Good luck to you and your comrades, Broadhead 6. What you propose will do our country good.
#20
Interesting! While I would like a much simpler tax, you can't just shut down the IRS.
No, really.
Whaddabout all the unemployment? The accountants and tax attorneys - they'd all get laid off. Somehow it'd hafta be phased in , with early retirements, reassignments and absolutely horrendous whining and crying. It'd make Ahrnold's proposed changes last year look like a cakewalk.
Remember all the folks who you're going to lay off have votes, too.
Sigh. It IS a swell idea!
Posted by: Bobby ||
02/24/2006 16:56
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....and a very large percentage of those IRS "workers" vote democratic for some unknown reason.
QUETTA: Suspected tribal rebels blew up two pipelines supplying gas to the national grid Thursday in the latest violence to hit the southwestern Pakistani province of Balochistan, officials said. One blast hit a pipeline in the Pesh Bogi area, near the town of Dera Bugti where tribesmen and security forces are locked in a two-month-old standoff, local administration official Abdul Samad Lasi told AFP. The other blast knocked out a 15-inch gas pipeline from Pirkoh, while pipelines at Wells No 33 and 37 were slightly damaged by firing. However, with the Pirkoh Gas Plant shut down, only a small amount of gas was released. Lasi said the insurgents also fired some 20 rockets at paramilitary troops who have been deployed in the area to protect government installations. "They targeted eight check posts, bunkers and a paramilitary base but luckily no one was injured," Lasi said.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/24/2006
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#1
These balochis: harming infrastructure instead of blowing up civilians; are they really Muslim?
Yesterday the Shin Bet security service revealed that it arrested an officer in the Palestinian Authority security services in December who is suspected of involvement in a shooting attack that killed an IDF soldier in 2000. The soldier was killed near the Allenby Bridge when shots were fired at the civilian bus in which he was traveling. A civilian was wounded in this attack.
The arrested man is Nadim Awad of Nablus, a member of the PA's General Intelligence Service who was stationed in Jericho at the time. According to the Shin Bet, Awad confessed that he and two other PA security service personnel were involved in the attack, which he said was ordered by senior General Intelligence Service officers in Jericho.
Always get their man.
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02/24/2006
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BEIRUT - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made an unannounced visit to Lebanon on Thursday, keeping up US pressure on Syria and pointedly avoiding any encounter with the pro-Damascus President Emile Lahoud.
Amid stringent security measures in Beirut, Rice met leaders from the anti-Syrian parliamentary majority in a bid to shore up the governments drive for reform and full sovereignty. She also vehemently reaffirmed Washingtons call for Syria to cooperate fully with the inquiry into the murder of former prime minister Rafiq Hariri as the head of the probe held a new bout of talks in Damascus. The sole purpose of this trip is to express support for the Lebanese people and for the Lebanese government as they try to recover fully their sovereignty and they continue their efforts to reform, Rice told reporters.
During the visit, which was to last several hours, Rice met officials including Foreign Minister Fawzi Sallukh, Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir, and parliament majority leader Saad Hariri.
Rice said she would be telephoning parliament speaker Nabih Berri, seen as an ally of Damascus and compromise figure, but would not be meeting or even calling the under-fire Lahoud. I talked in the past to him and my message was it is his responsibility as president of Lebanon to be concerned by the sovereignty of Lebanon, Rice said when asked if she had a message for Lahoud. Rice had held talks with Lahoud on her last visit to Lebanon in July.
She said there was no need for her to visit Syria, which stands accused by a United Nations inquiry of being implicated in the assassination of former premier Rafiq Hariri in February 2005. Damascus denies the charge. The Syrian government is well aware of what it needs to do. And it does not need me to come there to tell them, Rice said. Syria should not be in a position to intimidate, or to continue to occupy by stealth, Lebanon and that there should be an understanding that Syria has responsibilities under (UN resolution) 1559, she added.
Slap.
Rice said she had spoken about the probe with Egyptian and Saudi leaders on the previous stages of her trip, as diplomats mooted an Arab initiative that would allow the inquiry to fulfill its demand of meeting Syrian President Bashar Al Assad. I did talk about it in Saudi Arabia and Egypt, just urging that it will be a common voice, urging that there would be a total cooperation with the investigation.
I think everybody is exactly on the same page about it. I think there will be more messages delivered to Syria about the importance of cooperation, she said.
Her comments came as the head of the probe, Serge Brammertz, visited Damascus for talks with officials on what his spokeswoman described as a very good working visit. But it must be a truly full cooperation, Rice insisted. A full cooperation means the the Syrians should cooperate in any way the investigators of Mr Bremmertz thinks necessary.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/24/2006
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Wally and Condi... »:-)
anyone who has followed* events in Lebanon for a few decades and is not totally wack from doing so, may enjoy this pic as I did.
The MMA has called for nationwide protests today against the publication of caricatures of Prophet (peace be upon him). The protestors will also condemn heavy-handed police tactics at previous anti-cartoon rallies, attacks on churches in Pakistan and the destruction of a holy Muslim shrine in Samarra, Iraq. Clerics will in their Friday sermons condemn the caricatures. Later demonstrations will be held outside the main mosques of the city. Jamaat-e-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad will address traders at Jamia Mosque Allama Elahi Buksh near Shah Alam Chowk at 4.30pm. The Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadis Pakistan will hold a protest on Lawrence Road, the Jamaatud Dawa near Chauburji Chowk, while Markazi-Ahl-e-Sunnat will organise a conference at Jamia Ghaus-ul-Qamar-ul-Islam, Cantt.
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02/24/2006
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Lebanese Ministerial Council's session on Thursday was canceled due to the absence of a group of ministers called "March 14 Alliance". Secretary-General of the Ministerial Council Suhail Bouji told reporters that Prime Minister Fuad Al-Siniora informed President Emile Lahoud over the phone that some ministers decided to boycott the session, and so it would be rescheduled. The five ministers representing the Iranian paymastersthe Syrian overseers Hezbollah and Amal movements, in addition to two other ministers, arrived to the Presidential Palace to attend the ministerial session, while all ministers of the "March 14 Alliance" did not show up.
The Lebanese government is formed of 24 ministers.
Meanwhile, Lebanese Minister of Telecommunications Marwan Hmadeh told reporters in the Freedom Square that the "March 14 Alliance" ministers will not attend Ministerial Council sessions in the Presidential Palace, demanding Lahoud to resign "as he is no longer the president of Lebanon". Hmadeh added that "as a president, Lahoud is over", calling for his resignation and asserting that the government will remain intact. Acting Minister of Interior Ahmad Fatfat said in similar statement that the Ministerial Council will continue performing its duties but without sessions in the Presidential Palace. Fatfat added that "Lahoud should respond to the demands of the Lebanese people and announce his resignation" to allow the chance for establishing a sovereign Lebanon.
The alliance ministers gathered in Shuhada Square after postponing the ministerial session and sent messages to Lahoud through the Lebanese media demanding his resignation. Youth groups supporting the "March 14 Alliance" also announced that their activities will continue until March 14 to make Lahoud resign.
WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. and North Korean officials will meet next month in New York to discuss a rift over Pyongyang's demonstrated alleged counterfeiting of American dollars, an issue that has contributed to North Korea's boycott of nuclear disarmament discussions.
At the March 7 meeting, U.S. technical experts will brief a Foreign Ministry delegation from Pyongyang on U.S. laws that were applied when Washington imposed sanctions several months ago in response to counterfeiting and other U.S. demonstrated facts allegations. State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said Thursday the purpose of the briefing ``is to respond to issues and concerns that the North Koreans have raised with regard to our actions.'' He said the decision to apply sanctions was unrelated to the six-party nuclear disarmament process.
"They know what they've done."
The North has denied the U.S. allegations and has ruled out participation in a new round until the sanctions are lifted. North Korea's U.N. ambassador, Pak Gil Yon, said at a reception Wednesday night in New York that resumption of the talks ``fully depends on the U.S.,'' according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency.
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Now I know what JFKerry meant by his meeting foreigner in NY.
Posted by: Captain America ||
02/24/2006 0:43
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WINDS OF CHANGE website reports that SYRIA may be getting ready to purchase NO DONG IRBMS from the Norkies.
LAHORE: The Lahore Anti Terrorist Court on Thursday acquitted Yousaf Masih, of alleged blasphemy in Sangla Hill, and 88 people of burning churches because of lack of evidence.
Joe's acquitted, but he's toast.
Justice Muqarab Khan gave the judgment on Wednesday and ordered the release of all accused. Masih was acquitted after the accuser told the court that Yousaf was not the man who burnt a Quran Mahal. Also, missionary representatives submitted that the arrested 88 Muslims were not those who set the churches and other missionary properties on fire.
"Ummm... No, yer honor! I wudn't them. It wuz... ummm... another 88 guys."
On February 18, the court ordered the release of 64 men, charged in the Sangla Hill Church case. The court ordered the men be released on bail bonds of Rs 50,000 each. The court also ordered the release of 11 under-aged children.
Posted by: Fred ||
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I don't suppose the neighboring mosques will take up a collection to rebuild the churches, being as Islam is such a peaceful and loving religion?
KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghanistan deported 47 Chinese women after picking them up from guesthouses in the capital for their alleged involvement in prostitution and selling alcohol, an official said Thursday.
Awww, hell! They threw the hookers out?
The women were put on a plane from Kabul on Wednesday following their arrest about three weeks ago from 22 cathouses guesthouses, said Abdul Jabar Sabet, a legal adviser at the Interior Ministry. The cathouses guesthouses were shut down. Many of them did not have restaurants or kitchens and were obviously cathouses brothels, Sabet said. Kabul authorities have occasionally cracked down on the growing vice industry.
And more often taken the bribe.
Dozens of bars, restaurants and cathouses guesthouses have opened around Kabul since the fall of the Taleban in 2001, catering to the burgeoning UN-paid European expatriate community and wealthy Afghans. Some establishments appear to have doubled as cathouses brothels, prompting concern among ordinary Afghans and outbursts from religious conservatives that the post-Taleban influx of foreigners is undermining the countrys strict Islamic mores. Under the Afghan constitution, selling alcohol is banned, but it is available in shops and some restaurants, where it is supposed to be only served to foreigners.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/24/2006
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I predict an exodus of NGOs to Bangkok and Amsterdam.
Posted by: ed ||
02/24/2006 1:32
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Didn't say the age of those deported. If they're under 16, what's the UN staff going to do?
Military operations against militants in North Waziristan were suspended and tribesmen given charge to flush out foreign terrorists, NWFP Governor Khalil-ur-Rehman told a Jirga. The governor, however, set no timeframe for tribal elders to purge North Waziristan of foreign militants.
Comes as a surprise, huh?
The government has suspended operations in North Waziristan because it believes that the tribesmen are able to restore peace and normalcy through their own customs and traditions, Rehman told Utmanzai Wazir and Daur tribes in Miranshah, regional headquarters of North Waziristan. Khalils visit to Miranshah follows last month disturbing images when local Taliban mutilated corpses after killing who they said were bandits. The announcement also comes days after Afghanistan delivered Pakistan a list of wanted Taliban leaders for their handover to Kabul. It doesnt mean that the government has backed out of its earlier determination rather we want to show that the tribesmen can improve the situation themselves, the governor told the Jirga elders.
I thought they'd already shown they either can't or won't?... Oh. Wait. I understand. That was in South Wazoo. Sorry for the mistake.
However, if there is no improvement (in the ground situation), the (military) operations would be resumed with full vigor and severity Governor Rehman warned the tribesmen. The tribesmen should realize the gravity of situation and discharge their responsibilities to evade further operations.
I'm sure they will do just as they always have.
The governor said the government was taking action against the elements that were our foes as well as enemies of the entire world and humanity. If we do not fix them up, others are ready to follow them till total elimination.
"Eventually the Americans will lose patience and do it for us. We'll bitch, of course, and probably ally with the Chinese."
Rehman lauded the tribesmen for their patriotic sentiments and loyalty to the country saying, Now again the time has come that the tribesmen should demonstrate the same spirit to uphold the dignity and prestige of the country.
The same spirit as what?
Posted by: Fred ||
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Groundhog Day?
Who knew?
Posted by: Captain America ||
02/24/2006 0:37
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The European Union will impose sanctions on people identified by the UN investigation probe as suspects in the murder of former lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. In a statement released late on Tuesday after a meeting of EU justice ministers, the 25-member bloc agreed to freeze the assets of and ban visas for the suspects that were named in the UN's commission report. The sanctions would affect people linked to planning, financing, organizing or carrying out the bomb attack that killed Hariri and some 22 others. No names were mentioned in the report.
Austrian Ambassador to Lebanon George Maunter-Markhof told The Daily Star newspaper that "this decision was taken to have the legal grounds ready for implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1636." He added: "No names of suspects were communicated from the UN to the EU yet, but they want to be ready so that when names are listed they can implement immediate sanctions."
Austria currently holds the presidency of the EU.
Last October the UN Security Council passed Resolution 1636, which stipulates that "all individuals suspected by the Commission or the Government of Lebanon of involvement in planning, sponsoring, organizing or perpetrating the murder be subject to travel restrictions and freezing of assets." A UN spokesperson said that a UN sanction commission was formed to look into the way to implement the sanctions and to identify the groups and individuals involved in the sanctions. The spokesperson added that it was up to the new head of the UN investigation team, Serge Brammertz, to identify the suspects in the assassination of Hariri. According to a report released last December by the UN commission headed by German prosecutor Detlev Mehlis, 19 individuals are "suspects" in the killing of Hariri. Twelve of the suspects are currently in the custody of Lebanese authorities. It is believed that the list of suspects identified by the UN probe also includes high-ranking Syrian officials. The U.S. Treasury Department decided in January to freeze the assets of Assef Shawkat, head of Syrian military intelligence.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/24/2006
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No hunting or fishing licenses will be granted, so there.
Posted by: Captain America ||
02/24/2006 0:52
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Former spokesman for the US Department of State Richard A Boucher has taken over the responsibility of Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs as the assistant secretary of state. He replaced Assistant Secretary of State Christina B Rocca.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/24/2006
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Rocca's Bio has already been wiped of the State Dept. website. She must be in a real hurry to spend more time with her family.
NEW DELHI - Washington and New Delhi may not be able to resolve differences over a groundbreaking nuclear deal before US President George W. Bush visits India next week, an official warned on Thursday. The inking of the pact, which would give New Delhi access to long-denied advanced nuclear technology was being touted as the highlight of Bushs three-day trip to India, starting March 1.
We simply dont know whether we will have an agreement before President Bushs visit. We are trying our best, said US Undersecretary of State Nicholas "Monty" Burns, who is in New Delhi to prepare the ground for the presidential visit. Both of us want to complete these negotations but there are still some remaining differences between us and those differences need to be worked out, Burns told reporters after talks here with Indian foreign secretary Shyam Saran.
He described his exchanges with Saran as good but stressed, There are still remaining differences.
Washington says India must put its fast breeder reactor programme, which can be used to produce plutonium for nuclear weapons, on a list of civilian facilities to be placed under international supervision. Indian scientists however say that this step will compromise the countrys strategic interests.
The scientific adviser to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh weighed in on Wednesday by saying outright India would not open the facility for international inspections. Who said we are going to put the fast breeder reactors in the civilian side? We cannot and will not do so, scientific adviser C.N.R. Rao told the Press Trust of India. We will accept only whatever is good for India ... The deal cannot be forced on us. The countrys interest will be protected, Rao said.
Indias junior foreign minister Anand Sharma also told parliament Thursday that India would separate its facilities voluntarily, and that the exercise would be based on the countrys national interests.
Indian media reports Thursday quoted unnamed government officials as saying that India was likely to tell Burns it would not place more than 32 facilities under safeguards compared to the 60 facilities Washington wants on the list. New Delhi would also agree to international safeguards for its fast-breeder reactors but not before 2010, the reports said.
Ahead of his visit, Bush said in Washington that the nuclear deal would take time and require patience to implement. Bush and Singh signed the deal in July, but it still needs the approval of the US Congress and the 44-member Nuclear Suppliers Group.
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At least 10 female workers were burned alive and over 100 injured in a fire at a composite textile factory that also had a garment section in the city last night. Sources said the fire broke out at a factory of KTS, a composite textile mill of Arina Group, at BSCIC Industrial Area in Kalurghat at around 7:20pm. The fire originated from an unknown source soon engulfed the entire four-storey building. Sources and witnesses said bamboos and woods used in an under construction part of the building fuelled the blazes. Twenty fire tenders rushed to the scene and rescued around 100 victims, some of whom severely burned, with the help of locals and pedestrians.
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Lawmakers kept on using defamatory, indecent and unparliamentary words to attack each other in parliament yesterday, ignoring the rules of procedure of the Jatiya Sangsad (JS). Offensive expressions by a number of lawmakers of both ruling BNP and main opposition Awami League (AL), forced the speaker to remind the House repeatedly that all unparliamentary words will be expunged from the House proceedings.
More, tediously explained, at the link, if you're interested.
Bangla is one of the poorest, most corrupt nations on earth, crawling with Islamists and robbers and Purbo-Banglar commies, and their parliamentary activity consists of verbal methane venting as all parties grab for the dwindling boodle. Further proof that "democracy" isn't the answer, liberty is.
Posted by: Fred ||
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MULTAN: A woman health worker of the Rural Health Centre in Matrain was allegedly gang raped by Union Council Nazim Malik Riaz Ahmed Arain, his brother Allah Nawaz and two accomplices Luddoo Dogar and Bashir Gujjar. According to reports, the woman health worker had refused to perform an abortion on a woman who one of them had gotten pregnant.
Now she do her own...
Allah Nawaz, along with his two accomplices Luddoo Dogar and Bashir Gujjar, entered the health visitors residence on Wednesday, tied up the guard and her brother Saqlain (10), and sexually assaulted her.
... thereby restoring everybody's honor all around, except for hers, of course...
DPO Arif Zaman said, We have registered a case and arrested all four rapists. The health visitor told reporters that Allah Nawaz brought a pregnant woman to the Health Centre six months ago for an abortion and said that she was his lover, and he wanted to get rid of the baby. I refused to perform the procedure, upon which he left after threatening me with dire consequences, she said.
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expect public outrage from women's groups, EU, UN, Amnesty, and all of the others who are so offended by such acts in ...oh, never mind.
#3
Somewhere in the Planned Parenthood national headquarters, someone's trying to find a phone number for Allah Nawaz, Luddoo Dogar, and Bashir Gujjar. "We'd like to offer you guys a job in our organization . . . ."
Posted by: Mike ||
02/24/2006 19:28
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(2006-02-23) New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin today reacted to shocking remarks by several city council members who suggested that able-bodied poor people who want to return to this flood-ravaged city should work for a living.
However, in his characteristic progressive style, Mayor Nagin took the opportunity to lay out what he called a bold, positive vision to make living in the Big Easy easier than ever for those who have opted out of the workforce.
The mayor called for rebuilding the core of each poor neighborhood around a magnificent public assistance office, where standing in line is replaced by lounging in luxurious recliners while government waiters, dubbed Blight Attendants, serve beverages and light snacks to the unemployed. In Nagins Nouveau New Orleans, welfare recipients will have the option of receiving payments by check, electronic funds transfer or in a combination of lottery tickets and the colorful casino poker chips that have become legal tender at so many locations nationwide.
The mayors plan was greeted with enthusiasm on the streets of New Orleans, where forlorn young men still line up daily in front of piles of rubble that used be public assistance offices. I came back to the city hoping to start a new life, said an unnamed 24-year-old homeless man. But theres no work to do here. Theres nothing but mountains of debris, busted down buildings and crowds of contractors and church people cleaning up the mess and rebuilding stuff. I dont know whether to blame FEMA or George Bush, but someone needs to stand up and take responsiblity.
#5
Nagin, in my opinion would be more effective at the governorship level in the future, however he should be kicked out of the next mayorship (ie slapped on the hand) simply for being selective in the evacuation proceedures at the convention center, the superdome and the bus pickup site! He discriminated!
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
The editor of a small Finnish culture magazine was fired on Friday for publishing new Prophet Muhammad cartoons satirising the global row over the caricatures, said the magazine. Jussi Vilkuna, the editor-in-chief of Kaltio, was sacked after he refused to remove the cartoons from the publication's website as
An accountability court in Rawalpindi ordered the confiscation of the property of Asif Ali Zardari in Hyderabad, Nawabshah and Sanghar districts on Friday. The decision comes following Zardari's declaration as a proclaimed offender last year in the BMW case.
MCKEESPORT: Authorities are now investigating a strange incident in McKeesport. Someone brought a severed male body part to a Get-Go to heat up in the microwave, and now police are trying to find the culprit.
BAGHDAD, Iraq Al Qaeda in Iraq's leader in northern Baghdad was killed in a raid Friday, the U.S. military said. The military identified Abu Asma, also known as Abu Anas and Akram Mahmud al-Mushhadani, as an explosives expert with close ties to important car bomb manufacturers in Baghdad.
CAIRO, Egypt Shots and an explosion have been heard at an oil refinery in eastern Saudi Arabia, the pan-Arab satellite channel Al-Arabiya TV reported Friday. A Saudi oil official said there had been an explosion at the refinery near Dhahran, but he did not know the cause. The channel's reporter speculated that the shooting and the explosion may have been part of an attempt to break into the refinery.
After backing calls by Muslims for respect for their religion in the Mohammad cartoons row, the Vatican is now urging Islamic countries to reciprocate by showing more tolerance toward their Christian minorities.
A cleric who offered $1 million and a car for the death of those cartoonists who drew blasphemous caricatures said yesterday that suicide bombers had volunteered to kill the blasphemers.
A recent upsurge in violence in Somalia's capital has focused attention anew on the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in the chaotic Horn of Africa state. The violence had killed at least 22 people and wounded more than 140 since Saturday.
The United States has officially asked Yemen to arrest a prominent scholar whom Washington accuses of funneling funds to terror groups, Yemeni state media said yesterday. Sheikh 
The editor of an Indian magazine has been arrested for publishing the offensive caricatures of Prophet Muhammad (
The Israel Defense Forces blew up an explosives factory in Nablus yesterday, as part of a major operation that the army has been conducting in the city for the last three days. At least three Palestinians were wounded in yesterday's operation. 
Police have arrested 12 Nigerians in Amsterdam and Zaandam suspected of internet fraud in an operation that also involved the US Postal Service. Many of the fraudsters victims came from the US. The US had sought the extradition of four suspects. The other Nigerians were wanted in the Netherlands, said Dutch police, who did not rule out more arrests. The police operation began in September last year and culminated in raids on Tuesday on a Zaandam apartment and seven houses in Amsterdam. Police seized EUR 25,000, computer gear and false travel documents.
ROME - A former detainee at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq claimed on Thursday that Italian-speaking men had interrogated inmates, prompting a quick denial from the office of President 
Rajshahi University 
In a speech to the Sydney Institute last night, Mr Costello said anyone not prepared to accept Australian values, and who had citizenship of another country, should not remain an Australian citizen.
ROME - The United States should close its Guantanamo Bay prison as swiftly as possible, Italys Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was quoted as saying on Thursday, a week before meeting US President George W. Bush in Washington.
A worldwide row over cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) may have to be solved through the United Nations, said Danish Prime Minster Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Thursday. "I would not rule out the idea that, at the end of the day, the solution to the crisis will be found at the UN," Rasmussen told reporters after a meeting of parliament's foreign policy committee. 
The Sanaa University teachers syndicate, in cooperation with the General Students Union, held a rally Tuesday, Feb. 21. The rally included students and denounced the Danish caricatures insulting the prophet Mohammed (
Shin Bet chief 
Gunmen have shot dead 130 people in two days of sectarian violence in Iraq after the bombing of a revered Shia shrine, prompting renewed political paralysis and warnings of civil war. The spiralling violence threatens to derail negotiations on setting up a government of national unity, with the main Sunni political party declaring a boycott of talks with the Shia-led government over the reprisal attacks. The main Sunni alliance, the National Concord Front, also boycotted an emergency meeting of national leaders held by President 
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday rejected an Afghan minister's request that the names of Pakistani missiles be changed because they coincided with those of former Afghan rulers.
Grenades and other explosives, recovered by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on December 14 last year from a hideout of Jama'tul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), were destroyed at an army demolition ground in Gazipur Wednesday noon, reports UNB.
The Muslim world, awakened, refuses to go back to sleep. If one was to take the precedent of the Quranic desecration at Guantanamo Bay, the protests should have petered out by now. But they continue. Muslim governments all have a hard task containing the rage that Muslims are feeling because of the insult to their Prophet (
It has already been warned by the European Union that any sanctions against Denmark will be met with all-EU sanctions against the sanctioners. 
One solution would be for the OIC to issue guidelines suggesting various levels of sanctions, which members could adopt as they wished, but who would vote for them, and then not follow them? The easiest way out would be to pass a resolution condemning the cartoons in the strongest of terms, maybe call on the Danish government to apologise, and to call for the passage of laws by Western countries protecting religious figures from blasphemy. 
Yet it is certainly interesting that the OIC is moving to tackle this issue. The last parallel protests, during the 
Therefore, the OIC governments are feeling much more heat this time around, and feel the need to relieve pressure from their publics.
A Muslim government may emulate the Israeli example of sending in assassins (as it did with Iraqi nuclear scientists), but it would come under tremendous pressure, perhaps too much to expect it to bear. 
However, it could lead to rather odd situations. It might mean, for example, that anyone who claims some form of prophethood within the Abrahamic tradition, as did Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormons, and Mirza Ghulam Ahmed, founder of the Ahmadi Jamaat, in the 19th century, or even godhead within the Vedic or Buddhist tradition, as did the Maharishi in the 20th, would be as protected as Muhammad (
Here we do see the seeds of a clash of civilisations. The honour of the Prophet (
Meanwhile, of course, expect Muslims to subside into inaction once again, at least until next time. Many have noted that all the Muslims of today need is the right leader, who is not present among the luminaries gracing OIC Summits. 
QUETTA: Suspected tribal rebels blew up two pipelines supplying gas to the national grid Thursday in the latest violence to hit the southwestern Pakistani province of Balochistan, officials said. One blast hit a pipeline in the Pesh Bogi area, near the town of Dera Bugti where tribesmen and security forces are locked in a two-month-old standoff, local administration official Abdul Samad Lasi told AFP. The other blast knocked out a 15-inch gas pipeline from Pirkoh, while pipelines at Wells No 33 and 37 were slightly damaged by firing. However, with the Pirkoh Gas Plant shut down, only a small amount of gas was released. Lasi said the insurgents also fired some 20 rockets at paramilitary troops who have been deployed in the area to protect government installations. "They targeted eight check posts, bunkers and a paramilitary base but luckily no one was injured," Lasi said.
Yesterday the Shin Bet security service revealed that it arrested an officer in the Palestinian Authority security services in December who is suspected of involvement in a shooting attack that killed an IDF soldier in 2000. The soldier was killed near the Allenby Bridge when shots were fired at the civilian bus in which he was traveling. A civilian was wounded in this attack. 
BEIRUT - US Secretary of State 
The MMA has called for nationwide protests today against the publication of caricatures of Prophet (peace be upon him). The protestors will also condemn heavy-handed police tactics at previous anti-cartoon rallies, attacks on churches in Pakistan and the destruction of a holy Muslim shrine in Samarra, Iraq. Clerics will in their Friday sermons condemn the caricatures. Later demonstrations will be held outside the main mosques of the city. 
LAHORE: The Lahore Anti Terrorist Court on Thursday acquitted 
KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghanistan deported 47 Chinese women after picking them up from guesthouses in the capital for their alleged involvement in prostitution and selling alcohol, an official said Thursday.
Military operations against militants in 
, who is in New Delhi to prepare the ground for the presidential visit. Both of us want to complete these negotations but there are still some remaining differences between us and those differences need to be worked out, Burns told reporters after talks here with Indian foreign secretary 
At least 10 female workers were burned alive and over 100 injured in a fire at a composite textile factory that also had a garment section in the city last night. Sources said the fire broke out at a factory of KTS, a composite textile mill of Arina Group, at BSCIC Industrial Area in Kalurghat at around 7:20pm. The fire originated from an unknown source soon engulfed the entire four-storey building. Sources and witnesses said bamboos and woods used in an under construction part of the building fuelled the blazes. Twenty fire tenders rushed to the scene and rescued around 100 victims, some of whom severely burned, with the help of locals and pedestrians.
Lawmakers kept on using defamatory, indecent and unparliamentary words to attack each other in parliament yesterday, ignoring the rules of procedure of the Jatiya Sangsad (JS). Offensive expressions by a number of lawmakers of both ruling BNP and main opposition Awami League (AL), forced the speaker to remind the House repeatedly that all unparliamentary words will be expunged from the House proceedings.
MULTAN: A woman health worker of the Rural Health Centre in Matrain was allegedly gang raped by Union Council Nazim Malik Riaz Ahmed Arain, his brother Allah Nawaz and two accomplices Luddoo Dogar and Bashir Gujjar. According to reports, the woman health worker had refused to perform an abortion on a woman who one of them had gotten pregnant. 
