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North Korea 'launches long-range rocket'
Today's Headlines
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China-Japan-Koreas
North Korea 'launches long-range rocket'
North Korea has launched a long-range rocket, South Korean news sources have reported.

A previous launch in April failed when the rocket broke up after take-off.

North Korea says it plans to put a satellite into space, but many countries believe the tests are a cover for weapons development.

The US and other nations had previously warned the launch would constitute a test of long-range missile technology banned under UN resolutions.

South Korean television network YTN said the rocket was launched from a site on the west coast of the North.

The Japanese government, which put its armed forces on alert ahead of the launch, said the missile appears to have passed over Okinawa.

It said it had not attempted to intercept the rocket.
Posted by: tipper || 12/11/2012 20:34 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  If it actually passed over Okinawa in one piece, it actually traveled some 1,500 km.

Almost the distance from Tehran to Tel Aviv.
Posted by: Mullah Richard || 12/11/2012 21:00 Comments || Top||

#2  Iff it did pass oer OKINAWA, then it would appear than Japan's MSDFfailed to shoot it down for some reason.

* TWITTER@TODAYONLINE > Twithead/User repors that the Rocket is expected to land in the Pacific Ocean circa 300-km east of the Philippines.

* Also, as per DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > FOUR CHINESE WARSHIPS PASS THROUGH CONTINGOUS ZONE IN SOUTHWESTERN JAPAN, off Yonaguni-jima to enter into the East China Sea.

COINCIDENCE?

Iff I were to speculate, these are prob returning escort ships from the PLAN "LIAONING' CV Task Group on TX in WESTPAC???
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 12/11/2012 21:16 Comments || Top||

#3  TOPIX > [SCMP] > JAPAN MAKES NO ATTEMPT TO SHOOTDOWN NORTH KOREA ROCKET.

* SAME > NORTH KOREA CALLS ROCKET LAUNCH SUCCESSFUL DESPITE CRITICISM.

* KOREA HERALD > SOUTH KOREAN DEFENSE CHIEF SAYS FIRST, SECOND STAGE SEPARATION FROM NORTH KOREA ROCKET WAS SUCCESSFUL.

---------------

ION TOPIX REGIONAL ....

* TOPIX > [Asia News Network = ANN] VIETNAM MILITARY ISSUES DECREE FOR FOREIGN SHIPS.

THIS MAY NOT END WELL, COME POST-JANUARY 1st, 2013 VEE CHINA as by my read Vietnam's new decree is applicable to Vietnam's claims on disputed islands in the SCS, i.e. the Chinese-claimed Nanshas [Spratlys] + Xishas [Paracels].

* SAME > JAKARTA: NO "OVERT THREAT" FROM CHINESE PUSH, ala South China Sea claims = new Sansha.

* SAME, BHARAT RAKSHAK > INDIA HAS TO ACCEPT'S CHINA'S PRESENCE IN "EXCLUSIVE" AREAS: SALMAN KHURSHID, i.e. in India's own perceived historical "backyard" = disputed regions ostensibly for the sake of peace.

* BHARAT RAKSHAK > [Times of India] DON'T BE ON THE BACK FOOT:THOSE WHO SEEK TO DISTORT/DISPUTE NAVY CHIEF JOSHI'S MESSAGE [vee China = South China Sea] DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND SEAPOWER.

* BHARAT RAKSHAK > TAIWAN'S "STATUS QUO" IS JUST NO GOOD ENOUGH.

Posted by: JosephMendiola || 12/12/2012 0:01 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Obama recognises Syria opposition coalition
The US has formally recognised Syria's opposition rebel coalition as the "legitimate representative" of the Syrian people, says President Obama.

Speaking to ABC News in the US, Mr Obama said the coalition was now "inclusive enough, is reflective and representative enough".

He described the move, which follows the UK and France, as "a big step".

Activists say some 40,000 people have died in more than 18 months of battle against President Bashar al-Assad.

Mr Obama said the emerging coalition had earned the right to represent the Syrian people, but issued a note of caution as well.

"Obviously, with that recognition comes responsibilities," Mr Obama said.

"To make sure that they organise themselves effectively, that they are representative of all the parties, [and] that they commit themselves to a political transition that respects women's rights and minority rights."

Recognition does not mean the US will begin arming rebel groups, but officials told ABC that might be approved if it was thought to help achieve a political solution in Syria.

Mr Obama warned that the US would not support extremist elements within the opposition coalition.

"Not everybody who's participating on the ground in fighting Assad are people who we are comfortable with," he said.

"There are some who, I think, have adopted an extremist agenda, an anti-US agenda, and we are going to make clear to distinguish between those elements."
Posted by: tipper || 12/11/2012 20:31 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Israel won't renew transfer of PA tax funds for at least four months
FM says PA won't see 'one grush' of tax revenues; FM repeats threats to 'bring down Hamas' and respond to Gaza rockets with ground operation, and says some EU foreign minister's 'take Israel's destruction for granted.'
Those foreign ministers not only take it for granted, they're annoyed that it hasn't happened already...
Posted by: tipper || 12/11/2012 14:52 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  All nice + good, but methinks the greater reason is that Tel Aviv wants to see how the PA's new US$100.00MIlyuhn per month "stimulus" from its Arab neighbors will work out.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 12/11/2012 18:54 Comments || Top||


Home Front: WoT
CAIR: Michigan Governor Urged Not to Sign Anti-Islam Legislation
Posted by: tipper || 12/11/2012 14:47 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Outside of his anti-Islam activism Yerushalmi is notable for saying, "There is a reason the founding fathers did not give women or black slaves the right to vote." He has also claimed that people of the Jewish faith "destroy their host nations like a fatal parasite."em>

Quite an invective. Call me racist, but Julius and Ethel aside, the societal motivations of contemporary folks such as Deborah Wasserman Schultz, Ayers and Dohrn, Raum Emanuel, Bernie Madoff, and George Soros, only to name a few, might make an interesting study.
Posted by: Besoeker || 12/11/2012 15:40 Comments || Top||

#2  well, if these laws are anti-muslim, then it should be easy to prove them Anti-U.S. Constitutional...the heraldonline reads like a muzzy version of pravda...
Posted by: Broadhead6 || 12/11/2012 16:30 Comments || Top||

#3  Doesn't islam contain in it Sharia law which establishes religious, legal, business and economic practices. Doesn't Sharia law also establish punishment for violations of Sharia law? Isn't the concern about establishing a system within our country that would supplant and/or operate in parallel with our legal system?
Posted by: JohnQC || 12/11/2012 16:37 Comments || Top||

#4  Besoeker, for the people you named, their faith (and that of their fathers) is Marxism, not Judaism.
Posted by: Rob Crawford || 12/11/2012 17:36 Comments || Top||

#5  Very true Rob. I guess the overriding question is why ?
Posted by: Besoeker || 12/11/2012 18:18 Comments || Top||

#6  And, now Steven Chowder has been assaulted, on camera, with death threats in the background being yelled. Wisconsin really is going to look easy compared to what's about to come.
Posted by: Charles || 12/11/2012 19:43 Comments || Top||


Europe
Arrests made after after bomb found at Bonn train station
The bomb, which was found on Monday afternoon, caused major delays in the Bonn region during the evening rush hour. It also disrupted long-distance trains traveling through the region.
Salafist Christmas surprise
Posted by: European Conservative || 12/11/2012 14:02 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


Science & Technology
Scientists May Have Finally Unlocked Puzzle of Why People Are Gay
I've had the feeling that certain people are programmed in a complex society not to propagate, of whom gays are a subset, in order to help society. It appeared that this was genetic and as such according Darwinian theory, should also apply to lower order life forms such as ants and bees. Sure enough on the same day as they find that it's not genetic but epigenic for gays, they also find the the same epigenic changes apply to bees as well.
Lesbians get it from fathers, gay men from mothers?

Scientists may have finally solved the puzzle of what makes a person gay, and how it is passed from parents to their children.

A group of scientists suggested Tuesday that homosexuals get that trait from their opposite-sex parents: A lesbian will almost always get the trait from her father, while a gay man will get the trait from his mother.

The hereditary link of homosexuality has long been established, but scientists knew it was not a strictly genetic link, because there are many pairs of identical twins who have differing sexualities. Scientists from the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis say homosexuality seems to have an epigenetic, not a genetic link.
Posted by: tipper || 12/11/2012 13:29 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I thought it was show tunes...
Posted by: tu3031 || 12/11/2012 17:39 Comments || Top||

#2  Well, it couldn't be strictly genetic or else it would weed itself out of the population over time, and the greater a society's acceptance of gays the quicker they would disappear.

The really interesting thing, of course, is the possibility of a 'cure.' If you know what epigenetic changes cause the trait, you could potentially create a treatment to prevent / reverse it. So, how long until we see state laws proposed to outlaw curing homosexuality?
Posted by: Iblis || 12/11/2012 18:16 Comments || Top||

#3  I read a publication a few years ago that spoke of possible genetic links to homosexuality. It was picked up by the gay community as proof that there was no "choice" in the matter. Then, just as fast, the hand wringing began about the possibilities of genetic "cures" for homosexuality through so called designer babies and the fear that gays would be selected against by parents. This article makes more sense that it would be from a change in gene expression rather than the underlying DNA.
Posted by: Lowspark || 12/11/2012 19:17 Comments || Top||

#4  Yeah. What Iblis just said. Guess I should read previous comments before posting.
Posted by: Lowspark || 12/11/2012 19:23 Comments || Top||

#5  Interesting. Now if they can just figure out why people are Democrats...
Posted by: SteveS || 12/11/2012 19:53 Comments || Top||

#6  Now that's just gay.

Sorry... had to say it.
Posted by: DarthVader || 12/11/2012 20:41 Comments || Top||

#7  No. It's because of an atrophied amygdala.
Posted by: gorb || 12/11/2012 21:27 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Politix
California: A new 'Mad Max' sequel?
"Let's be honest, we don't have enough police officers. We have too many criminals living in this city. We have had 45 murders this year ... that's far too high for a city of this size," Penman said.

Talking to a local group, Mr. Penman also said, "Go home, lock your doors and load your gun."

"Penman was stating the obvious in what is happening throughout the state," Sam Paredes told us; he's the executive director of Gun Owners of California, a gun rights group. "Law-abiding citizens are buying more guns than ever." He estimated that 1 million guns will be sold in the state this year. "With all the stories and articles about prison realignment," in which state prisoners have been released, or sent to local jails, "people are realizing that their primary means of defense is themselves."

Unfortunately, the Democrats' new two-thirds-plus supermajority in the Legislature may embolden them to go to extremes. Mr. Paredes warned that Democrats will try to pass more gun-control legislation, in particular requiring the registration of ammunition and defining "assault weapons" so narrowly as to include hunting rifles.
Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 12/11/2012 12:48 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Seems like California is getting to a Mad Max scenario for real.
Posted by: JohnQC || 12/11/2012 16:41 Comments || Top||

#2  They keep electing Pols whom don't close the loopholes + keep diverting $$$ from where it was intended, etc.

CONGRATULATIONS, THE PLAN WORKED, ARE WE NOT HAPPY ... ... NOW WHATS THE PROBLEM!?
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 12/11/2012 19:00 Comments || Top||


-Short Attention Span Theater-
Interesting police gun buy back
Posted by: Besoeker || 12/11/2012 12:19 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


Home Front: Culture Wars
The "New Normal" Dream Job: California State Workers Earning $822,000
Psychiatrists were among the highest-paid employees in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and New Jersey, with total compensation $270,000 to $327,000 for top earners. State police officers in Pennsylvania collected checks as big as $190,000 for unused vacation and personal leave as they retired young enough to start second careers, while Virginia paid active officers as much as $109,000 in overtime alone, the data show.

The numbers are even larger in California, where a state psychiatrist was paid $822,000, a highway patrol officer collected $484,000 in pay and pension benefits and 17 employees got checks of more than $200,000 for unused vacation and leave. The best-paid staff in other states earned far less for the same work, according to the data.
...
Mohammad Safi, graduate of a medical school in Afghanistan, collected $822,302 last year, up from $90,682 when he started in 2006, the data show. Safi was placed on administrative leave in July and is under investigation by the Department of State Hospitals, formerly the Department of Mental Health.
Posted by: tipper || 12/11/2012 11:42 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Earning is the wrong word. Being paid is the correct term. Extorting 822,000 from taxpayers is even more correct.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 12/11/2012 14:34 Comments || Top||

#2  It's not going to get any better with a union-bought Democratic supermajority
Posted by: Pappy || 12/11/2012 15:01 Comments || Top||

#3  Questioning the compensation of our future FEMA overlords shall not go unpunished.
Posted by: Besoeker || 12/11/2012 15:55 Comments || Top||

#4  Read the article. It's not surprising -- a state that would tolerate the city council of Bell City paying themselves the way they did would certainly tolerate this.

Best part of it is how little shame the participants have until they're caught -- then as usual it's all "no comment".
Posted by: Steve White || 12/11/2012 16:47 Comments || Top||

#5  You could get by in CA on that salary.
Posted by: Iblis || 12/11/2012 18:12 Comments || Top||

#6  California's "MAX MAX" goes nationwide - who knew???
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 12/11/2012 19:02 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Politix
Downsizing the Military - The First Cuts
The Army weight standards don't alter with the seasons, so those now in the first 'cut' really can't be surprised. However, this should only be phase one of which phase two will never be implemented - that is all those raters, who filled in the boxes on the evaluation/fitness reports validating that the now discharged soldier met height and weight requirements, also need to the be booted for a lack of integrity. 'Special trust and confidence' is more than lacking.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 12/11/2012 08:38 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  What about the bureaucrats and politicians. When are we going to have standards for them?
Posted by: JohnQC || 12/11/2012 9:57 Comments || Top||

#2  Gen. Raymond T. Odierno to the white courtesy phone please, General Odierno. The company weight-in cannot start without you.

Leadership... it must begin at the fok'n TOP!
Posted by: Besoeker || 12/11/2012 10:04 Comments || Top||

#3  [weigh-in] sorry
Posted by: Besoeker || 12/11/2012 10:07 Comments || Top||

#4  Concur Beso -- Officers and SNCOs should be first in line for weigh-ins & last in-line for Chow. That's leadership. Problem is - we have some @ssholes in both rank strata that believe in RHIP (rank has its priveleges) and have joined the unwritten military union. I see a lot of this in the CS communities amongst the SNCO ranks - E-7 thru E-9. Not good. However, I'm not referring to the muscle-heads who have 9% BF but are over their ht/wt standards. I believe commonsense should dictate, always. If a guy can run a good first class PFT I usually don't care how they look in uniform.
Posted by: Broadhead6 || 12/11/2012 10:52 Comments || Top||

#5  Hooah BH-6. You either 'shake chutes' or you don't jump next time, rank immaterial.

Perhaps it isn't as prevalent in CONUS, but walking out of the DFAC (Dining facility) with an armload of styro-boxes full of Class-1 (chow).... "for the folks back at the company" should have been outlawed long ago.

CS (combat service) units should be the first to feel the reduction if force in my opinion. It won't happen however, the mix is wrong... as you well know.
Posted by: Besoeker || 12/11/2012 11:02 Comments || Top||

#6  Hussein has added 101 new federal workers per day to his regime since his "re-election", as Hussein continues to aggresively downsize and ravage the US Military from within.
Posted by: Dino Shomomp7692 || 12/11/2012 11:38 Comments || Top||

#7  "CS (combat service) units should be the first to feel the reduction if force in my opinion. It won't happen however, the mix is wrong..."

-concur. I've been w/both the grunts and the CS community. There are billets that can go away in the CS as well as be civilian-ized. We have gotten rid of both grunt battalions and CLB's this yr.
Posted by: Broadhead6 || 12/11/2012 13:39 Comments || Top||

#8  I've seen a couple of BFSB (Battlefield Surveillance Brigades) that could be down away with... or reverted to their previous status as Military Intelligence Brigades.
Posted by: Besoeker || 12/11/2012 13:42 Comments || Top||

#9  All they have to do is threaten it and the services will eat each other in an effort to save their own.
Posted by: 49 Pan || 12/11/2012 16:10 Comments || Top||

#10  Econ travails aside, oncew again the US has not a direct military confrontation wid a major nuclear power since 1962's Cuban Missle Crisis + 1973's Yom Kippur war, both vee the then-USSR - the closest we've come since 1973 is when Billary sent USN CV's to the Taiwan Straits in the 1990's.

Iff the above US-vs-USSR Cold War confrontations can be ascribed as "Brinkmanship widout War/Blood", history would suggest any post-9-11 US-vs-China or US-vs-Iran confrontation, espec the former, would be "Brinkmanship wid War/Blood" [Limited?]???

THE TRUE METTLE OF THE BAMMER ADMIN + ANY "ANTI-US" OWG + OWG "UNION/GLOBALISM" MAY BE DETERMINED IN 2013.

A WEAKENED OR DEFEATED US FOREIGN POLICY = MORE GEOPOL CHAOS = MORE GOVT-LED, GOVT-CENTRIC SOCIALISM AT HOME, LOCAL + OWG NAU???
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 12/11/2012 19:22 Comments || Top||


Iraq
US Troops 'Secretly' back in Iraq?
Over 3,000 US troops have secretly
Be vewy, vewy quiet...
returned to Iraq via Kuwait for missions pertaining to the recent developments in Syria and northern Iraq, Press TV reports.
And Press TV supposedly got the information from the Russians.
According to our correspondent, the US troops have secretly entered Iraq in multiple stages and are mostly stationed at Balad military garrison in Salahuddin province and al-Asad air base in al-Anbar province.
Actually a sensible plan (except for the not-secret-anymore part), so unlikely to be true.
Reports say the troops include US Army officers and almost 17,000 more are set to secretly return to Iraq via the same route.
Posted by: Glenmore || 12/11/2012 06:29 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Memories from lovely Balad.
Posted by: Besoeker || 12/11/2012 9:10 Comments || Top||


Europe
"The Innocent Prophet," new anti-Islam film, set for Friday debut
Lights, camera, and...probably more insult than action with the Friday release of a new anti-Islam film reportedly mocking Islam in the manner of the 14-minute "Innocence of Muslims" trailer that enraged Islamic communities worldwide in September, according to Australia's News Network.

Called "The Innocent Prophet: Life of Muhammad from the Point of View of an Ex-Muslim," the film has reportedly prompted Belgium to preemptively issue a terror alert, said The National Turk, while Australian troops are gearing up for heightened protest activity in Afghanistan, reported Australia's News Network.

The new film's trailer can be seen in several languages here.

"The Innocent Prophet" is a collaborative work by a former Muslim from Pakistan now living in Spain, Imran Firasat of Mundo sin Islam (World without Islam), and the virulently anti-Muslim US Christian pastor Terry Jones, according to Newser.
Posted by: tipper || 12/11/2012 03:40 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "Virulently anti-Muslim", yet he has less blood on his hands than respected member of the press Al Sharpton.
Posted by: Rob Crawford || 12/11/2012 9:13 Comments || Top||

#2  Are we going to see more protests, seething and rage, and violence in the muslim world?
Posted by: JohnQC || 12/11/2012 16:16 Comments || Top||


-Short Attention Span Theater-
Riot gear is ready if needed, Michigan State Police say
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 12/11/2012 03:30 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Thoughtful of Champ and the MSM to inject himself in this State's Rights issue. Perhaps he can fly in and joint the protestors.

What vengeful move he will undertake to punish Michigan ?
Posted by: Besoeker || 12/11/2012 11:08 Comments || Top||

#2  What vengeful move he will undertake to punish Michigan ?

Reinstate Governor Granholm?
Turn Detroit into an uninhabited wasteland?
Reanimate undead zombie Mayor Coleman Young?
Posted by: SteveS || 12/11/2012 12:21 Comments || Top||

#3  "Turn Detroit into an uninhabited wasteland?"

It's halfway there already, Steve. :-(
Half? Optimist...
Posted by: Barbara || 12/11/2012 12:56 Comments || Top||

#4  "Perhaps he can fly in and joint the protestors."

Just a typo, or a Freudian slip, B? ;-p

God knows he's got choom joint experience....
Posted by: Barbara || 12/11/2012 12:58 Comments || Top||

#5  A typo, but I'm sure he'd be quite familiar with a "joint" barb. :-)

Posted by: Besoeker || 12/11/2012 13:38 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Islamic Fascism: the Nazi Connection
Posted by: tipper || 12/11/2012 03:28 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  You don't have to scratch too deep.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 12/11/2012 7:53 Comments || Top||

#2  Mo supposedly descends from Ishmael (son of Hagar the handmaiden) and recognized by some as the patriarch of Islam. Muslims have been PO'd for a long time. Reminds one of a modern day leader of a powerful country.
Posted by: JohnQC || 12/11/2012 9:47 Comments || Top||


Home Front: WoT
Anger and an Arrest as a Leader of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood Visits Brooklyn
Posted by: tipper || 12/11/2012 02:24 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


-Short Attention Span Theater-
Tech collapse forecast on 12.12.12
Astrologist Jessica Adams has warned all computer users to back up their data tonight.
It's an astrologist. What do Rantburg's computer people say?
In an interview with news.com.au, Ms Adams said the date 12.12.2012 will bring about disaster for the internet and media world.

'On 12.12.12 the world is feeling the impact of a stressful pattern between Mercury, the planet which rules the media, and Neptune, the planet that rules leaks (like Wikileaks) and also flooded computer networks,' said Adams.

However, others do not share her pessimism, with the unique date expected to see a record number of couples tying the knot.

Attorney-General Greg Smith said Wednesday would usher in the last chance to get married on a date with the same number for the day, month and year for nearly 90 years.

'For many couples, a special date like this has an irresistible appeal, with the extra advantage that it is an easy anniversary date to remember,' Mr Smith said in a statement on Sunday.
Posted by: tipper || 12/11/2012 02:20 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  What next, first it was the election, then my Twinkie and I still have to put up with the dynamic duo Harry Reid and Pelosi. Calgon take me away.
Posted by: Dale || 12/11/2012 7:22 Comments || Top||

#2  others do not share her pessimism but not about 12/12/12.
Posted by: JohnQC || 12/11/2012 9:30 Comments || Top||

#3  Remember all the havoc created by Y2K? Me neither.
Posted by: Raj || 12/11/2012 10:02 Comments || Top||

#4  It's the concert for Sandy victims. All life as we know it will end on Springsteen's encore
Posted by: Frank G || 12/11/2012 10:16 Comments || Top||

#5  Is this based on Greenwich Mean Time or Siderial Time?
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 12/11/2012 11:36 Comments || Top||

#6  Y2K was a real thing. A lot of us did a lot of work upgrading systems to avoid the potential problems. That's why you don't remember.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 12/11/2012 12:06 Comments || Top||

#7  Remember the 9/9/9 flap?

Yeah that didn't end the tech world either.
Posted by: DarthVader || 12/11/2012 12:16 Comments || Top||

#8  eu6305 - I was there with you, brother; I had to check on Windows & Web apps correctly reading 'expanded' mainframe dates.

What I should have said was the Y2K hype was exponential; the aftermath, not so much...
Posted by: Raj || 12/11/2012 14:58 Comments || Top||

#9  Y2K was a real thing

Yes, and there's a big difference between "let's work the problem" and "OMG WE ARE ALL GONNA DIE!!!"
Posted by: Pappy || 12/11/2012 15:12 Comments || Top||

#10  the impact of a stressful pattern between Mercury, the planet which rules the media,

I could have sworn the planet that ruled the media was Uranus. Obviously, my grasp of astrology lacks opposable thumbs.
Posted by: SteveS || 12/11/2012 15:22 Comments || Top||

#11  Where I worked we were long overdue for an upgrade when Y2k came around so it was actually a good thing. Forced our DBA to get up off of his butt.

But I don't think I'm gonna lose any sleep over Uranus.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 12/11/2012 15:57 Comments || Top||

#12  You should, Uranus rules COBOL and lesser flavors of FORTRAN.

Posted by: Shipman || 12/11/2012 16:40 Comments || Top||

#13  It apparently has struck FREEREPUBLIC.

WE'RE [not] DOOMED, I TELL YA, WE'RE ]not]DOOMED!
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 12/11/2012 19:05 Comments || Top||


Terror Networks
USAMA alogrithm shows which terrorists should disappear first
Posted by: Besoeker || 12/11/2012 01:55 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


Home Front: Culture Wars
Americans protest drone use within and outside of US
[Iran Press TV] Americans have staged a protest against the use of drones both domestically and internationally, voicing their concerns about the violation of civil rights, Press TV reports.

A recent rally held by mainly Christian peace organizations in front of CIA headquarters in Virginia was to protest against the increasing usage of drones by the US both abroad and in its own skies.

"What is happening is a proliferation, it is a militarization of our police source, I think we are going down the wrong path," said protester Malachy Kilbride.

As the US is considered as the international leader in drone warfare, many Americans are concerned about privacy violations, constitutional rights and public safety regarding the surveillance of its own people.

According to the US Federal Aviation Administration, there will be over 10,000 commercial drones flying in the American airspace within the next five years.

The rally did not only focus on the domestic usage of drones, it also voiced concerns about the so-called "double tapping" attacks used in countries such as Pakistain, Yemen, Afghanistan and Somalia, meaning that a second attack always follows the first one, targeting the rescuers trying to help the initial victims.

"They hit them twice, it is insidious and immoral and it is shameful, it is shameful on our government for doing such a thing," said organizer Jack McHale.

With the movement gaining momentum, similar rallies are expected to be held in the next coming months.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I had heard the EPA was using drones (Fox news reported this IIRC) in order to do overflights on farms/ranches etc - I'm not a fan of that in the least.
Posted by: Broadhead6 || 12/11/2012 8:28 Comments || Top||

#2  And a hunting group in Pennsylvania has shot down drones run by an animal rights group that were disrupting their events.
Posted by: Eric Jablow || 12/11/2012 8:53 Comments || Top||

#3  Don't need them here are home, but I love the way they are used against Islamists. Yeah, I'm a redneck.
Posted by: rel56 || 12/11/2012 11:33 Comments || Top||

#4  10,000 - I thought I read it was 30,000???

What could possibly go wrong???
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 12/11/2012 19:26 Comments || Top||

#5  When drones are outlawed, only outlaws will have drones. And we'll make them in our mom's basement. It's not that hard.
Posted by: SteveS || 12/11/2012 19:47 Comments || Top||

#6  See also WAFF, TOPIX > NEXT/NEW GENERATION UCAVS TO HAVE "DEATH RAY" LASERS | [Tweaktown.com] NEXT MILITARY DRONES TO SPORT DEATH LASERS, courtesy of DARPA + HELLADS Project.

ARTIC = Laser-armed UCAVS as designed to possess internal equivalent of an "unlimited ammo magzazine".

IIUC, underwing LR Missles + Rockets + Cannons + Gatlings to become the UCAV's secondary armament vee primary Lasers???

DARE THIS MEANS THAT THE FUTURE US-WORLD OF
"SOLYENT GREEN" WON'T BE USING PEOPLE-SCOOPING FRONT-LOADERS, HAUL/DUMP VEHICLES, + COMBINES WHEN ITS TIME TO "HARVEST" THE [Human]CROPS FOR FOOD???

D *** NG. I KNEW IT!
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 12/11/2012 21:29 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
TTP claims responsibility for attack on Bannu police station
[Dawn] Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistain (TTP) front man Ehsanullah Ehsan while talking to Dawn.com's correspondent accepted responsibility for today's attack on Kaki cop shoppe near Bannu, which killed eight people, including two jacket wallahs, and injured six others.

The TTP front man said that two suicide bombers were sent to carry out the mission adding that the attack was carried out in retaliation to the recent killing of Ibrahim Mehsud, a nephew of former TTP chief Baitullah Mehsud who was killed in a US drone strike in August 2009.

Both the bombers reportedly blew themselves up during the attack.

DPO Bannu, Nisar Tanoli confirmed that three police officials were killed whereas two civilians and an off-duty serving army-man who were offering Fajr prayers in the mosque inside the compound were also killed in the attack. He further added that six people were maimed in the attack.

Militants attacked Kaki cop shoppe, 15 kilometres south of Bannu, injuring two coppers including the Station House Officer (SHO) in an exchange of fire during the early hours of Monday.

According to Dawn.com sources, Army arrived at the site of attack and surrounded the area whereas local villagers also supported the security personnel during the clash.

Hospital sources confirmed receiving six bodies and several injured, including the SHO of Kaki cop shoppe.

While talking to Dawn.com's correspondent, security sources said that two forces of Evil blew themselves up inside the cop shoppe whereas three local civilians aiding the security forces were killed during the clash.

The forces of Evil were holed up in a mosque inside the cop shoppe compound, enabling the attackers to resist the security forces and to prolong the gun-battle for three hours.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [2 views] Top|| File under: TTP


China-Japan-Koreas
Nork Rocket Launch Delayed
North Korea has postponed the launch of a space rocket, a spokesman said Monday. The North attributed the delay to a technical glitch found in the "first-stage control engine module."

That is presumably the thrust vector control, a device that changes the direction of the engine nozzle and thus the position of the rocket itself.

The North's official KCNA news agency quoted a spokesman for the Outer Space Technology Committee as saying scientists found "a technical glitch" in the module and decided to extend the launch window by one week until Dec. 29.

On Dec. 1, the North announced a plan to launch a satellite in a southward direction from a launch pad in Cholsan, North Pyongan Province between Dec. 10 and 22. But on Sunday morning, it suddenly announced the possibility of a delay.

Satellite pictures show the North transporting the rocket and other equipment from Pyongyang to the launch site in Tongchang-ri, North Pyongan Province last Saturday.

The South Korean government believes the North will launch the rocket between Dec. 23 and 29, given the time needed to repair the first-stage booster and weather conditions. A South Korean government source said North Korean leader Fat Boy Kim Jong-un marks the first anniversary of his promotion to supreme commander on Dec. 30 and the North seems in a hurry to launch the rocket to mark the anniversary.

Camouflage netting still covers the launch pad, so it is hard to tell what is going on.
Which is what camouflage netting is supposed to do...
Posted by: Steve White || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The KCNA is repor December 29th of this year.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 12/11/2012 0:26 Comments || Top||

#2  That swirling sound is someone's career circling the bowl.
Posted by: SteveS || 12/11/2012 0:55 Comments || Top||

#3  couldn't pass the smog check
Posted by: Frank G || 12/11/2012 14:37 Comments || Top||

#4  They discovered a rare species of quail - that hasn't been eaten yet.
Posted by: Pappy || 12/11/2012 19:13 Comments || Top||

#5  Ooooooh, "a technical glitch".
This could be fun. And exciting!
Posted by: tu3031 || 12/11/2012 19:18 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Arms dealer among 39 detained
[Dawn] Around 39 suspects were locked away
Maw! They're comin' to get me, Maw!
by the Rangers in separate raids in parts of the city on Sunday morning.

Arms and ammunition were also seized during the raids, said a Rangers front man. Rangers personnel rounded up 24 suspects in targeted operations in Surjani and Ghass Mandi, and seized arms and ammunition.The front man said that an arms supplier affiliated with a political party was also detained.

He said 19 weapons of different calibre, including SMG, MP-5 rifles and pistols, and a large cache of ammunition, including armour-piercing bullets, satellite phones, daggers, telescopes, binoculars and laser range finder were seized.

The Rangers also conducted a similar operation in Bilal Colony, Korangi, and detained 15 suspects, including four hardened criminals, and seized over 40 weapons, the front man said.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


Terror Networks
Reuters downplays seriousness of Jihad Jane case
Colleen LaRose was passing time on the Internet, when the call to martyrdom arrived from halfway around the world. The American known as Jihad Jane read the words "Kill him" on her computer screen. The order came from an al-Qaeda operative on March 22, 2009. LaRose thought this was it, her chance to become somebody.

LaRose was a recent convert to Islam. She found a place for herself quickly, raising money and awareness online for the plight of her fellow Muslims. They were underdogs, just like her.

During her darkest days, LaRose had experienced incest, rape and prostitution. She had subjected herself to drinking and drugs, from crack to crystal meth. Now, if she accepted the order to kill, she would surrender her life to a higher power: Allah.

The man who issued the command called himself Eagle Eye. LaRose knew him only online, and that he claimed to be hiding in Pakistan. Eagle Eye wanted her to fly to Europe to train as an assassin with other al-Qaeda operatives, then to Sweden to do what few other Muslim jihadis could: blend in.

They believed that her blonde hair and U.S. passport would help her to get close to the target: Lars Vilks, a Swedish artist who had blasphemed the Prophet Mohammad by sketching his face on the head of a dog. Eagle Eye told LaRose, "Go to Swede and kill him."

The case was so serious, officials said, that they charged LaRose with crimes that could keep her imprisoned for the rest of her life. But an exclusive Reuters review of confidential investigative documents and interviews -- including the first with Jihad Jane herself -- reveals a less menacing and a more preposterous undertaking than the U.S. government asserted.

Today LaRose says of the plan to kill Vilks, "I got so close to being able to do this." In truth, what happened proved more farcical than frightful, more absurd than ominous.
Posted by: ryuge || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Is Belarus' dictator planning a return to serfdom?
Posted by: ryuge || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:


Africa North
US sending 20 more F-16s to Egypt
Instability in Egypt, where a newly-elected Islamic government teeters over an angry population, isn't enough to stop the U.S. from sending more than 20 F-16 fighter jets, as part of a $1 billion foreign aid package.
This seems .. unwise...
The first four jets are to be delivered to Egypt beginning Jan. 22, a source at the naval air base in Fort Worth, where the planes have been undergoing testing, told FoxNews.com. The North African nation already has a fleet of more than 200 of the planes and the latest shipment merely fulfills an order placed two years ago. But given the uncertainty in Cairo, some critics wonder if it is wise to be sending more top gun planes.

“Should an overreaction [by Egypt] spiral into a broader conflict between Egypt and Israel, such a scenario would put U.S. officials in an embarrassing position of having supplied massive amounts of military hardware … to both belligerents,” said Malou Innocent, a foreign policy analyst at the Cato Institute. “Given Washington's fiscal woes, American taxpayers should no longer be Egypt’s major arms supplier.”

“Given Washington's fiscal woes, American taxpayers should no longer be Egypt’s major arms supplier.”
The U.S. government ordered and paid for the fighter jets for Egypt's military as part of foreign aid for Egypt back in 2010, when Hosni Mubarak ruled. The fighter jets were supposed to be delivered in 2013, and delivery will go ahead as scheduled even though Hosni Mubarak has been removed from power and replaced by Mohamed Morsi, who led the Muslim Brotherhood before becoming Egypt's president.

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, (R-Fla.), who chairs the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, recently criticized U.S. military aid to Egypt:

“The Obama administration wants to simply throw money at an Egyptian government that the president cannot even clearly state is an ally of the United States,” Rep. Ros-Lehtinen said.

The $213 million order, which is paid for by U.S. taxpayers and is part of Egypt's foreign aid package from America, had to be approved by lawmakers in Washington.While the basic F-16 has been a military workhorse for top air forces for more than 25 years, the cockpit electronics are constantly updated and the models Egypt is getting are the best defense contractor Lockheed Martin makes.

"This is a great day for Lockheed Martin and a testament to the enduring partnership and commitment we have made to the government of Egypt," said John Larson, vice president, Lockheed Martin F-16 programs. "We remain committed to providing our customer with a proven, advanced 4th Generation multirole fighter."
And the money was good, seeing as it came straight from Uncle Sugar...
A Pentagon spokesman said the U.S. and Egypt have an important alliance that is furthered by the transfer.

"The U.S.-Egypt defense relationship has served as the cornerstone of our broader strategic partnership for over thirty years," said Lt. Col. Wesley Miller. "The delivery of the first set of F-16s in January 2013 reflects the U.S. commitment to supporting the Egyptian military's modernization efforts. Egyptian acquisition of F-16s will increase our militaries' interoperability, and enhance Egypt's capacity to contribute to regional mission sets."
Such as?

I get that when Hosni was in power, and especially when Qadaffy was running loose, having a reasonably well armed Egypt was a way to keep the Libyans from getting too frisky. And it was a relatively inexpensive way to show the Arab world that we are at least somewhat even-handed in our approach to the Middle East. But now that the Muslim Brotherhood is trying to establish the caliphate in Cairo, it doesn't seem that we have a joint mission with the mighty Egyptian air force any more.
Last month, State Department official Andrew J. Shapiro explained why the administration plans to continue military aid to Egypt:

“I know that the uncertainty over the Egyptian transition has prompted some in Congress to propose conditioning our security assistance to Egypt. The administration believes that putting conditions on our assistance to Egypt is the wrong approach, and Secretary Clinton has made this point strongly. Egypt is a pivotal country in the Middle East and a long-time partner of the United States. We have continued to rely on Egypt to support and advance U.S. interests in the region, including peace with Israel, confronting Iranian ambitions, interdicting smugglers, and supporting Iraq,” he said.
I would appreciate having Mr. Shapiro explain exactly how selling more F16s to the Muslim Brotherhood-led Egypt advances peace with Israel, let alone how it supports Iraq. I think Mr. Shapiro and Foggy Bottom are about three years behind in their thinking. The big problem is that the leadership doesn't know what to think about Morsi and the Brotherhood, so the arms programs are on autopilot.
Posted by: Steve White || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Madness writ large! Redux of the Romans arming the Goths.
Posted by: borgboy || 12/11/2012 0:18 Comments || Top||

#2  We give Egypt massive foreign aid (bribe) not to attack Israel, Egypt replies by buying our military equipment. It's win-win!
Posted by: gromky || 12/11/2012 0:30 Comments || Top||

#3  Plus, they can sell the engines to the Chinese for cash to buy food. It's globalization in action, man!
Posted by: SteveS || 12/11/2012 1:15 Comments || Top||

#4  No longer maintainable after the fiscal cliff.
Posted by: Besoeker || 12/11/2012 2:37 Comments || Top||

#5  Are you people ... Never mind. I withdraw the question.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 12/11/2012 4:11 Comments || Top||

#6  Say you were an Israeli pilot doing a routine patrol over international airspace over the Israeli/Egyptian border....
and you got a visual of an American F-16 with Egyptian markings?

You might hit the target acquisiton laser and paint him...
and then think about Obama's mother.
Posted by: Threater Flusoper9823 || 12/11/2012 4:56 Comments || Top||

#7  How many of last rounds's airplanes still fly? What about the round before? Inshallah maintenance plus the fine dust of the Egyptian desert, which gets into everything...
Posted by: trailing wife || 12/11/2012 9:34 Comments || Top||

#8  Egyptian F-16 squadrons will be authorized to wear the distinctive silver, embroidered cuff title bearing Champ's name. Not certain which name however.
Posted by: Besoeker || 12/11/2012 9:45 Comments || Top||

#9  the IFF wil be soooo confusing
Posted by: Frank G || 12/11/2012 10:03 Comments || Top||

#10  And of course the electronics will have a secret "kill switch" in it, that the Isreali's just so happen to have.

/sarc
Posted by: Charles || 12/11/2012 11:43 Comments || Top||

#11  Are you people ... Never mind. I withdraw the question.

Sorry, g(r)omgoru. We've lost control.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 12/11/2012 11:45 Comments || Top||

#12  And of course the electronics will have a secret "kill switch" in it, that the Isreali's just so happen to have.

I'm thinking that kill switch is more likely to be in the hands of the Chinese.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 12/11/2012 11:46 Comments || Top||

#13  can't believe we are doing this. how much longer before Egypt joins Sudan and starts making missile parts for Iran???
Posted by: Raider || 12/11/2012 14:48 Comments || Top||

#14  How do you think the missiles got to Gaza, Raider? Star-trek-style transporter?
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain || 12/11/2012 16:25 Comments || Top||

#15  I understand that parts are being transported thru the Sinai with the knowledge of the Egyptians. But the outright manufacture of missile parts would be a step up for them.
Posted by: Raider || 12/11/2012 17:30 Comments || Top||

#16  and just yesterday we were reading about the loss of some F-16 engines from Israel. wonder where they will show up????
Posted by: USN,Ret. || 12/11/2012 22:24 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Indian troops' firing kills one, wounds three in Pakistani village
[Dawn] Cross-border fire from Indian troops killed a man and maimed three other civilians in two Pak villages, local officials said on Monday.

The shooting was reported along the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border that separates Indian and Pak-administered zones in the Himalayan region of Kashmire.

"A civilian was killed and three others, two women and one man, were maimed in firing by Indian troops in Madarpur village on the LoC late Sunday," local government official Sardar Khalil Ahmed told AFP.

A house in the Pak village of Battal also caught fire after shells went kaboom! and Sherlocks have been sent to assess further damage in the remote mountainous area, he added.

Local cop shoppe chief Sardar Farooq confirmed the incident and casualties.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan

#1  Any little girls & their kittens?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 12/11/2012 4:13 Comments || Top||


Africa North
UN blacklists MUJAO
[Magharebia] The UN Security Council last Wednesday (December 5th) sanctioned al-Qaeda splinter group Movement for Tawhid and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO). Under the resolution, "UN member states have to freeze the assets of groups and individuals on this black list, impose a ban on arms sales and a travel ban on all of its members," according to AFP.
They can, however, still accept VISA and MasterCard...
The UN said that the MUJAO had seized heavy machine guns, rocket propelled grenades, explosives and other military equipment from Mali military arsenals since moving into the country.

"The MUJAO's leaders are known to be narcos, involved in the drug trade in the Sahel," the UN statement added.

Following the passage of the UN resolution, MUJAO leaders Hamada Ould Mohamed Kheirou of Mauritania and Ahmed al-Talmasi of Algeria were put on international lists of known terrorists.

A source close to Kheirou's family spoke to Magharebia on December 9th.

"He belongs to the Tagounanet tribe in Lebeiratt, Trazra province, in southeast Mauritania. He joined al-Qaeda in 2003 when he left to fight against international forces in Iraq. He climbed the ladder in al-Qaeda until he became the head of the Sharia committee, and was later appointed as head of the judiciary council in Gao after MUJAO controlled the city," the source said under condition of anonymity.

According to analyst al-Mokhtar al-Salem, "the area of Lebeiratt -- from where Ould Mohamed Kheirou hails - is also the home of the great Mauritanian scholar Lemjidry Ould Hob Allah, who brought Wahhabism to the East in the 19th century".
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in North Africa


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Video shows Syria militants get a child to behead prisoner
[Iran Press TV] A shocking video has surfaced on the Internet showing bully boyz in Syria having a child behead a kidnapped man.

The clip, recently posted on YouTube, displays a child using a sword to chop off the head of the kidnapped whose hands are tied up.

The incident is believed to have taken place in the western city of Homs, located about 160 kilometers north of the capital, Damascus
...Capital of the last overtly fascist regime in the world...

The video also displays one of the bully boyz at the scene showing the severed head and placing it on the dead body.

Other beheaded prisoners can also be seen in the footage. However,
Switzerland makes more than cheese...
the identities of the victims are not known.

Experts say the Arabic language spoken by the bully boyz does not belong to Syrian people and they are believed to have Saudi accents.

On November 29, a similar footage surfaced online displaying foreign-backed bully boyz in the country killing 10 unarmed Syrian prisoners.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda

#1  Obama, Miz Hillary, and Susan Rice must be sooooo proud
Posted by: Frank G || 12/11/2012 10:01 Comments || Top||

#2  You're tax dollars at work. Nice to know we always back the right groups.
Posted by: rel56 || 12/11/2012 11:10 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Salafist preacher warns of 'Islamic revolution' if opposition attempts coup
[Al Ahram] Leading member of the Salafist Call in Alexandria Saeed Abdel-Azim warned on Monday of an "Islamic revolution" if Egypt's political opposition "attempted to overthrow" the country's elected president, Mohamed Morsi.

"If secularists try to topple President Morsi or storm the presidential palace, we will not stand still," Abdel-Azim declared at a Monday conference in the coastal city of Alexandria. "We will organise a massive Islamic revolution in Egypt involving unprecedented numbers."
Can the secularists arrange it so that Azim swings early?
The popular Salafist preacher also accused leaders of Egypt's political opposition of "receiving foreign funds" and of being influenced by the US, which, he alleged, was trying to sow chaos in Egypt for Israel's sake.

"They are the enemies of Islam," Abdel-Azim said of certain opposition leaders.

He went on to voice his displeasure with the cancellation of President Morsi's 22 November decree, which, he said, had served to "protect the president's decisions [from a hostile judiciary] so he might combat widespread corruption."

It was not the first time for Abdel-Azim to make such statements.

On Saturday, he made a similar statement at a presser held by Egypt's Islamic Coalition, attended by several Islamist figures including Moslem Brüderbund number-two Khairat El-Shater.

At the conference, Abdel-Azim accused opposition leaders -- especially reform campaigner Mohamed ElBaradei
Egyptian law scholar and Iranian catspaw. He was head of the IAEA from December 1997 to November 2009. At some point during his tenure he was purchased by the Iranians. ElBaradei and the IAEA were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for something in 2005. After stepping down from his IAEA position ElBaradei attempted to horn in on the 2011 Egyptian protests which culminated in the collapse of the Mubarak regime. ElBaradei served on the Board of Trustees of the International Crisis Group, a lefty NGO that is bankrolled by the Carnegie Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, as well as George Soros' Open Society Institute. Soros himself serves as a member of the organization's Executive Committee.
-- of standing against the implementation of Islamic Law in Egypt, which, he said, was "non-negotiable."

"The hostility towards Islam is clear, but a constitution that does not represent Islamic Law is unacceptable," he said.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Salafists

#1  Can the secularists arrange it so that Azim swings early?

A swinging Azim should be the symbol to kick off the festivities.
Posted by: AlanC || 12/11/2012 11:36 Comments || Top||

#2  Shoot the preachers first.
Posted by: Muggsy Mussolini1226 || 12/11/2012 12:22 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Despite ban on collection of hides Banned outfits earned over Rs780 million
[Dawn] Though the government had banned collection of sacrificial animal hides by outlawed organizations, they earned over 780 million by selling hides collected during Eidul Azha this year.

Sources told Dawn that the Punjab government has expressed displeasure over the failure of the police and the civil administration in enforcing the ban. The proscribed organizations also intimidated those officials who tried to stop them from collecting hides.

The provincial government had issued directives on October 11 and 15, strictly banning the collection of hides by proscribed organizations during Eidul Azha. The police and civil administration had also been directed not to allow such outfits to display banners or set up camps to collect hides.

Citing reports by the Intelligence Bureau Punjab about the details of sacrificial hides collected by the banned outfits and the estimated amount they earned from its sale, the home department has asked the police and the civil administration to submit their replies why they failed to check the activities of the banned
...the word banned seems to have a different meaning in Pakistain than it does in most other places. Or maybe it simply lacks any meaning at all...
organization
s.

The intelligence reports said the outlawed outfits had earned Rs78,210,500 from the sale of the hides.

According to the intelligence reports, on October 27 when a station house officer (SHO) in Jhelum tried to stop the workers of Jamia Hanfia Taleemul Islam from setting up a hide collection point, he was threatened. As a result, the police let them continue their illegal activity.

In another incident on October 28, the Bhalwal police in Sargodha had to eat a humble pie for a lawful action. The City police had jugged
Drop the heater, Studs, or you're hist'try!
three workers of a banned organization -- Qari Mohamamd Nazir, Mohammad Akram and Burhan Haider -- for collecting hides. But the police had to release them on October 30 reportedly on the orders of their senior officer.

However,
a poor excuse is better than no excuse at all...
the FIR has not been quashed.

The counter-terrorism department of Punjab had drawn the attention of the Punjab police chief towards the ineffective enforcement of law against the proscribed organizations that set up camps to collect sacrificial hides for fund raising during Eidul Azha every year. Those found involved in such an activity were to be booked under the Anti-Terrorism Act. But no effective action was taken against them by the district administration and the police.

The Intelligence Bureau reported the names of the banned organizations and the number of hides they collected from different cities. According to the reports, Jaish-e-Mohammad
...literally Army of Mohammad, a Pak-based Deobandi terror group founded by Maulana Masood Azhar in 2000, after he split with the Harkat-ul-Mujaheddin. In 2002 the government of Pervez Musharraf banned the group, which changed its name to Khaddam ul-Islam and continued doing what it had been doing before without missing a beat...
(Al-Rehmat Trust) collected 222 hides in Chakwal, 356 in Attock, 49 in Multan, 120 in Khanewal, 150 in Vehari, 125 in Rajanpur, 4,000 in Lahore, 500 in Bahawalpur, 220 in Rahimyar Khan, 488 in Hafizabad, 65 in Mandi Bahauddin, 145 in Gujrat, 425 in Sialkot, 250 in Gujranwala and 105 in Kasur.

Likewise, Jamaat-ud-Dawa
...the front organization of Lashkar-e-Taiba...
Pakistain (under observation) Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation collected a total of 92,800 hides in the province. Of these 695 were collected in Chakwal, 256 in Jhelum, 542 in Multan, 960 in Khanewal, and 4,000 in Vehari.

Other cities and the number of hides are: Sahiwal, 6,000 hides; Pakpattan, 1077; Okara, 1,300, D.G. Khan, 125; Muzaffargarh, 250; Rajanpur, 180; Layyah, 550; Lahore, 60,000; Bahawalpur, 600; Rahimyar Khan, 370; Bahawalnagar, 130; Hafizabad, 512; Mandi Bahauddin, 540; Gujrat, 810; Sialkot, 1,100; Norawal, 2,000; Gujranwala, 5015; Sheikhupura, 385; Nankana Sahib 1,013; and Kasur 4013.

Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (defunct SSP) collected 170 hides from Chakwal, 328 from Attock, 362 from Multan, 550 from Vehari, 98 from Sahiwal, 1,000 from Okara, 60 from D.G. Khan, 530 from Muzaffargarh, 725 from Layyah, 2,100 from Lahore, 255 from Bahawalpur, 200 from Bahawalnagar, 512 from Hafizabad, 592 from Mandi Bahauddin, 440 from Gujrat, 550 from Sialkot, 1,000 from Narowal, 500 from Gujranwala, 301 from Sheikhupura and 212 from Nankana Sahib.

Tehrik-e-Jaffaria Pakistain/Shia Ulema Council collected 184 hides from Chakwal, 85 from D.G. Khan, 110 from Muzaffargarh, 220 from Layyah, 90 from Mandi Bahauddin, 112 from Gujrat, 800 from Norowal and 300 from Gujranwala.

Likewise, Sunni Tehrik
...formed in Karachi in 1992 under by Muhammad Saleem Qadri. It quickly fell to trading fisticuffs and liquidations with the MQM and the Sipah-e-Sahaba, with at least a half dozen of its major leaders rubbed out. Sunni Tehreek arose to become the primary opposition to the Deobandi Binori Mosque, headed by Nizamuddin Shamzai, who was eventually bumped off by person or persons unknown. ST's current leadership has heavily criticized the Deobandi Jihadi leaders, accusing them of being sponsored by Indian Intelligence agencies as well as involvement in terrorist activities...
managed to collect 175 sacrificial hides from Attock, 96 from Multan, 8,000 from Lahore and 120 from Mandi Bahauddin. Ansarul Ummah (Harkatul Mujahideen) collected 250 hides from Attock and Jamaat Al-Furqan collected 10 hides from Multan, 22 from Pakpattan and 419 from Hafizabad, Al-Maymaar Trust (Al-Rasheed Trust) got 100 hides from Rahimyar Khan while Al-Badar Mujahideen collected 407 hides from Hafizabad.

The intelligence reports also pointed out that neither the police nor the civil administration had made serious efforts to enforce the government's policy as unauthorised banners were prominently displayed and collection points set up by the banned organizations all over the Punjab.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in Pakistan


ANP wants lasting solution to Karachi crisis
[Dawn] Showing concern over lawlessness in Bloody Karachi
...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It may be the largest city in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
, Awami National Party president Asfandyar Wali Khan has asked President Asif Ali Ten Percent Zardari
... husband of the late Benazir Bhutto, who has been singularly lacking in curiosity about who done her in ...
to convene a meeting of all stakeholders to find out permanent solution to the crisis-like situation in the port city.

"Bloody Karachi is mini-Pakistain and the situation (there) is very serious and intolerable. Therefore, President Zardari should bring all stakeholders to the negotiation table to meticulously discuss the issue and work out a durable solution," he told a presser at Chief Minister's House after presiding over party provincial working committee meeting on Sunday.

The ANP chief said that all stakeholders should put their heads together and hold serious debate on Bloody Karachi. The number of stakeholders involved in Bloody Karachi issue was increasing day by day, he said.

He said that every Urdu speaker in Bloody Karachi should not be considered worker of Mutahidda Qaumi Movement and every Pakhtun should not be treated as member of ANP.

"I have personally discussed Bloody Karachi situation with President Zardari recently and suggested him to work out sustainable solution," Mr Khan said, adding that new delimitations and preparation of new voter lists ordered by the Supreme Court might change the scenario in Bloody Karachi.

The ANP president, who remained out of media for long time due to his illness, spoke elaborately on Afghanistan. He was optimistic that situation would remain normal after NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A single organization with differing goals, equipment, language, doctrine, and organization....
's pullout from the war-torn country in 2014. He termed release of Taliban leaders by Pak government a major and positive step.

"I am optimistic that at least there will be no sustained or organised war against state institutions in Afghanistan in the coming days. However,
today is that tomorrow you were thinking about yesterday...
stopping murder of individuals would take time," he said.

The ANP chief urged Pakistain and Afghanistan to adopt confidence building measures, end mistrust and go for actionable intelligence sharing. To a question about Afghan government's allegations that Pakistain was interfering in its internal affairs, he said that both neighbours should stop the blame game and build trust.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Africa North
Update On The Deepening Egyptian Financial Crisis
Spengler, writing at PJ Media, gives the latest details translated from Egypt's Arab language press as the country careens toward its most likely status as North Korea on the Nile.
Posted by: trailing wife || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  FTA: The difference between Egypt and a banana republic is — the bananas.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 12/11/2012 0:04 Comments || Top||

#2  #1....no bananas but 20 top of the line F-16s on the way.
Posted by: borgboy || 12/11/2012 0:29 Comments || Top||

#3  If he was a muslim would he act/behave/do anything differently?
Posted by: mossomo || 12/11/2012 16:48 Comments || Top||


Top Morsy aide: Small, powerful minority behind Egypt's political upheaval
[CNN] A top aide to Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy blamed a small but powerful minority for the political upheaval that has plagued the country ahead of a planned constitutional referendum.

The statements are the latest in a volley of accusations between Morsy's supporters and opponents, and they highlight a political crisis that at times has spilled into the streets, prompting the president to deploy troops and tanks to protect government buildings.

"You have the majority of the poor people, the simple, definitely for the president and for the constitution," Muhammad Rifaa al-Tahtawi, Morsy's chief of staff, told CNN on Sunday.

"You have a majority among the elite who are not for this constitution. Businessmen, media people. They are definitely a small minority, but powerful minority."

Al-Tahtawi's comments followed calls by the opposition for new, nationwide protests while accusing Morsy of risking a "violent confrontation" by moving forward with the scheduled vote Saturday.

But al-Tahtawi dismissed the threat, saying the issue would be decided by the people.

"If we do not manage to come to terms, let us go to the people," he said.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [2 views] Top|| File under: Arab Spring

#1  Elders of Zion? Freemasons?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 12/11/2012 4:14 Comments || Top||

#2  Florida Orange JUICE Co-op?
Posted by: AlanC || 12/11/2012 8:44 Comments || Top||

#3  The Illuminati.
Posted by: Pappy || 12/11/2012 13:12 Comments || Top||

#4  Pink Mafia
Posted by: Muggsy Mussolini1226 || 12/11/2012 15:25 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Two Rangers among seven killed in Karachi violence
[Dawn] Two officials of Rangers among seven people were killed in different incidents of violence in Bloody Karachi
...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It may be the largest city in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
on Monday, DawnNews reported.

In Sohrab Goth's Al-Asif Square neighbourhood, two Rangers officials were killed while three others sustained injuries when unidentified gunnies, riding cycle of violences, opened fire on a Rangers' vehicle.

The incident spread fear among residents of the area. The injured were shifted to a local hospital and heavy contingents of police and Rangers cordoned off the site.

Speaking to media representative, a front man of the Rangers declared the incident as reaction to ongoing search operations being carried out by the agency across the city. He said that such incident will not deter morale of soldiers of the agency and vowed to continue performing their duties.

On the other hand, two cracker blasts, within minutes gap, by unknown myrmidons spread fear in Orangi Town area. Two people including a traffic police constable got injured in the kaboom.

Earlier, two people were killed in separate firing incidents in Quaidabad and Nusrat Bhutto Colony.

An official of the bomb-disposal squad, identified as Abbas Naqvi, was targeted killed near Gulbahar's Katchi Ground. The incident forced people to shut their small businesses in the locality.

Meanwhile,
...back at the hoedown, the fiddler suddenly struck a sour note. The dancing stopped abruptly. Everyone looked at Bob!...
a man was bumped off in Jamshed Quarter's Usmania Colony while another man, identified as Zahid Khan, was killed in Garden area.

Moreover, an angry mob set a blaze a passenger bus near Jail Chowrangi amid protests against authorities over a reckless traffic accident.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


Good morning
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Ms. Heldsimpers looking coy and coquettish. Part of the collection of women who are bathed and over-dressed.
Posted by: JohnQC || 12/11/2012 9:03 Comments || Top||

#2  Welcome, Instapunditeers!
Posted by: trailing wife || 12/11/2012 10:09 Comments || Top||

#3  Warning, Eye Protection Required

Birthday Gam Shot

Nikki Benz [Ukrainian][Selected Short Subjects(age 31)


Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 12/11/2012 11:15 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Islamist rebels seize key north Syria army base: NGO
[Al Ahram] Rebels led by the radical Islamist group Al-Nusra Front seized a strategic army base in the northern Syrian province of Aleppo
...For centuries, Aleppo was Greater Syria's largest city and the Ottoman Empire's third, after Constantinople and Cairo. Although relatively close to Damascus in distance, Aleppans regard Damascenes as country cousins...
on Monday after weeks of fierce fighting, a watchdog said.
It was the last major military base west of Aleppo remaining under army control.

"Al-Nusra Front, alongside several Islamist rebel battalions linked to it, have seized control of the army base headquarters at Sheikh Suleiman," Syrian Observatory for Human Rights director Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP.

Base 111, with its headquarters in the village of Sheikh Suleiman, sprawls over nearly 200 hectares (500 acres) of rocky hills about 25 kilometres (15 miles) from Aleppo city.

"It is a significant win for the rebels. It proves the army is still suffering major military losses," said Abdel Rahman, adding that the rebels seized up to 10 military vehicles and at least one tank.

Several other rebel groups grabbed credit for the capture.

"We the battalion of Ahrar Daret Ezza (Free Men of Daret Ezza) of the Free Syrian Army, with the help of other rebel brigades, have freed Base 111," said a rebel front man, in to a video statement posted online.

But Abdel Rahman insisted Al-Nusra and its allies were behind the capture.

"The mainstream Free Syrian Army may want to claim this victory -- but it is not theirs. It is Al-Nusra Front's and groups linked to it," he said.

According to an AFP journalist who covered the festivities around Sheikh Suleiman, many of the fighters were foreigners from other Arab countries and Central Asia who have joined the insurgency against Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad
Supressor of the Damascenes...
's forces.

Abu Talha, a rebel chief in the area, is from Uzbekistan.

Another video posted online showed Muhajireen battalion fighters linked to Al-Nusra standing before black flags and reciting the Mohammedan profession faith inside the abandoned base.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria


All data on US RQ-170 spy drone fully decoded: Iran cmdr.
[Iran Press TV] Senior Iranian commander Brigadier General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh says all data on the US RQ-170 spy drone which was captured by the Iranian military last year has been decoded.

Commander of the Aerospace Division of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said on Monday that the data has been "fully decoded."

Hajizadeh stated that the IRGC has also discovered all the areas the drone had flown over.

On December 4, 2011, the Iranian military's electronic warfare unit announced that it had successfully downed the US RQ-170 reconnaissance and spy drone in the eastern part of Iran with minimal damage.

The aircraft, designed and developed by the American company Lockheed Martin, had crossed into Iran's airspace over the border with Afghanistan.

The Iranian commander noted that the US President Barack Obama
Ready to Rule from Day One...
had told Israeli officials that the drone was doing a spying mission on Iran's nuclear sites, but after decoding, IRGC experts found out that the aircraft had not conducted "even one nuclear mission."
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran

#1  It says, "Drink...More...Ovaltine".
Posted by: tu3031 || 12/11/2012 1:05 Comments || Top||

#2  The drone would have been a great place to hide a trojan virus.
Posted by: linker || 12/11/2012 5:52 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Politix
No breakthrough in Obama, Boehner fiscal cliff talks
[Iran Press TV] US President Barack Obama
I mean, I do think at a certain point you've made enough money...
and Republican House Speaker John It is not pronounced 'Boner!' Boehner
... the occasionally weepy leader of House Republicans...
have discussed the ways to avoid the so-called "fiscal cliff," but reached no deal to tackle Washington's deficit woes.

The White House said after the Sunday talks that "the lines of communication remain open," but it gave no details on the negotiations.

The Democrats and Republicans are trying to reach a deal to stop automatic spending cuts and tax increases, which will take effect on January 1, 2013, if no deal is reached.

Obama's most recent proposal to stave off the "fiscal cliff" calls for USD 1.6 trillion in new revenues, achieved in part by letting the Bush-era tax cuts expire for the wealthiest Americans, as well as USD 600 billion in spending cuts and a handful of other measures.

The Republicans have put forward a counter offer that is made up of USD 900 billion in spending cuts and USD 800 billion in new revenues achieved through tax reform that precludes rate increases.

The White House says it will not accept a deal unless tax rates for the wealthiest Americans rise.

The Republicans, however, say that tax hikes would hurt a still fragile economy.

On Friday, Boehner accused Obama of recklessly pushing the US to the fiscal brink over tax hikes, saying the deficit talks had "no progress."

Meanwhile,
...back at the sandwich shop, Caroline was experimenting with ingredients of increasing volatility...
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde has said that the US needs a balanced and comprehensive approach regarding the looming "fiscal cliff" to tackle its deficit woes.

"The best way to go forward is to have a balanced approach that takes into account both increasing the revenue, which means, you know, either raising taxes or creating new sources of revenue, and cutting spending," said Lagarde in an interview on Sunday.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Defense cuts which will further weaken America. It was the Champ's endgame strategy all along.
Posted by: Besoeker || 12/11/2012 2:42 Comments || Top||

#2  Unless and until we have a political party which will cut non-defense spending by 40-75% and is prepared - really prepared - to deal with the potential short-term unrest this will cause - the country will continue to decline and may end up being destroyed.

I suspect a deal has already been reached to go off the cliff.

Boehner, the quintessential country club Republican, desires defense cuts (as many RINO's do) but cannot overtly push for them, it would be political suicide. Also, he does not wish to offend any of the groups who get the magic checks who aren't affiliated with the defense industry. Going off the cliff is the perfect fig leaf for him in both of those areas, plus he can claim he tried to protect the wealthy job creators but Obama wouldn't budge, so he can blame the next recession on someone else.

Obama, as Besoeker says, also wants to gut the defense infrastructure of this country and use the revenue so obtained to buy more votes with more entitlement/welfare/public sector jobs he can hand out as a result. When tax rates go up on everybody and the next recession occurs, he can blame the Republicans for it, saying that all the jobs lost were due to the cuts mandated by the fiscal cliff.

Going off the cliff is a win/win for these two.

So that is what will happen.
Posted by: no mo uro || 12/11/2012 6:35 Comments || Top||

#3  1. Revoking the Bush era cuts for >$250k income only produces $35B to $60B per year. I don''t see how this sums to $1.6T over 10years.

2. Back in 2000, the Defense budget was about $300B. Granted that probably wasn't enough but now the Defense budget is about $700B. After the drawdown in Afghanistan, it seems we could get by on $500 without too much trouble.

3. Its a shame we can't get smart Bain types or retired Fed employees to go through the discretionary budget and get rid of the fluff. However, in many agencies (Patent and Trade, Passport and VISA office, etc.), there simply isn't much fluff.
Posted by: lord garth || 12/11/2012 9:43 Comments || Top||

#4  Well, they are not too good at math in Washington.
Posted by: JohnQC || 12/11/2012 9:51 Comments || Top||

#5  Hat tip to the brave Governor and people of Michigan as they pass the "Right to Work" legislation.

Strange is it not, "choice" is a sacred, ethical principle of freedom or entitlement... unless used in the context of... "Right to Work" ?
Posted by: Besoeker || 12/11/2012 9:56 Comments || Top||

#6  B, The left ought to love the principle of "choice" since they embrace it is so many other contexts.
Posted by: JohnQC || 12/11/2012 10:00 Comments || Top||

#7  I particularly enjoyed the Michigan State Police spokesman who said... "we will not allow the protests to become a Wisconsin situation".

Use of Remington-870's and #6 shot authorized as far as I am concerned.
Posted by: Besoeker || 12/11/2012 10:12 Comments || Top||

#8  ..or whiff of grape. Known to work on the Paris crowds.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 12/11/2012 10:31 Comments || Top||

#9  youtube has some good vids of unionistas doing what they do best...I'm sure it will endear them to the avg joe in MI. As soon as MI passes the anti-CAIR legislation I will be proud of my home state again. This RTW bill was a step in right direction...
Posted by: Broadhead6 || 12/11/2012 16:33 Comments || Top||

#10  Use of Remington-870's and #6 shot authorized as far as I am concerned.

#6?

Really, Besoeker?

Why so small? I use bigger on seaducks and geese.
Posted by: no mo uro || 12/11/2012 19:52 Comments || Top||

#11  Because the unionistas are thin-skinned?
Posted by: SteveS || 12/11/2012 19:56 Comments || Top||


Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Azeri riot police detain dozens of anti-govt. demonstrators
[Iran Press TV] Riot police in Azerbaijan have tossed in the slammer
Drop the rosco, Muggsy, or you're one with the ages!
dozens of opposition activists trying to stage a peaceful demonstration against the government of President Elham Aliyev in the capital Baku.

The arrests came after hundreds of people gathered near the Fountains Square in central Baku on Monday where they demanded the resignation of President Aliyev and the dissolution of parliament.

The opposition parties including Azerbaijan Popular Front Party and Musavat (equality) Party say the sitting politicians are corrupt and do not represent the will of the people.

Marking International Human Rights Day, the protesters chanted, "Freedom" and "Resignation".

"With this protest, we have managed to draw the international community's attention to the alarming situation regarding human rights
...which are usually entirely different from personal liberty...
, media freedom, and political atmosphere in Azerbaijan," said leader of the Musavat Party, Isa Gambar during the protest.

Carrying Azerbaijan's national and opposition party flags, protesters also demanded release of people nabbed
Drop the rosco, Muggsy, or you're one with the ages!
during the previous rally.

On November 17, a similar protest occurred in the same city where security forces arrested dozens of anti-government demonstrators including journalists who covered the protest rally.

The Azeri protesters are furious about the gap between the rich and the poor, rampant corruption and an economy highly dependent on oil in the country of nine million.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran


Economy
US study sees China as No. 1 economy by 2030
[Iran Press TV] China's economy is likely to surpass the United States in less than two decades while Asia will overtake North America and Europe combined in global power by 2030, a U.S. intelligence report said on Monday.

"Meanwhile,
...back at the Esquimeau village our hero was receiving a quick lesson in aeronautics......
the economies of Europe, Japan, and Russia are likely to continue their slow relative declines," it said.

The report, "Global Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds," was issued by the National Intelligence Council, an analytical arm of the U.S. government's Office of the Director of National Intelligence. In addition to U.S. intelligence analysts, the report includes the views of foreign and private experts.

It is the fifth report of a series - the previous one was released in 2008 - that aims to stimulate "strategic thinking" among decision makers and not to predict the future.

The health of the global economy increasingly will be linked to progress in the developing world rather than the traditional West, the report said.

"As the world's largest economic power, China is expected to remain ahead of India, but the gap could begin to close by 2030," it said.

"India's rate of economic growth is likely to rise while China's slows. In 2030 India could be the rising economic powerhouse that China is seen to be today. China's current economic growth rate - 8 to 10 percent - will probably be a distant memory by 2030.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  As per earlier MSM-Net Artics, I'm interpreting "Asia" to mean China + India combined, + NOT counting Japan???

* BHARAT RAKSHAK > [Times of India = Global Trends 2030] ISLAMIST TERRORISM [violent] MAY END BY 2030, SAY HELLO TO ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL TERRORISM.

Bloodless, but still mainly State-sponsored.

THE XEROX IS COMING, THE XEROX IS COMING!

IIUC, BOTH THE US + RADICAL ISLAM LOST THE GWOT = WAR FOR SECULAR OWG-NWO AS WELL AS OWG ISLAMIST CALIPHATE???

This news isn't gonna go down well wid the Hard Boyz.

Posted by: JosephMendiola || 12/11/2012 0:24 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Blasphemy accused arrested
[Dawn] One was not expecting another blasphemy case springing up so soon after the courts acquitted a Christian girl, with an underdeveloped mind, of the charge for lack of evidence.

But it has, that too from a trader against his professor uncle with whom he has a dispute over property.

On Sunday, the Industrial Area Police locked away
Don't shoot, coppers! I'm comin' out!
the professor after a street protest over the area cop shoppe not registering an FIR, and will produce him before a court on Monday to seek his physical remand.

Meanwhile,
...back at the argument, Jane reached into her purse for her .38...
Superintendent of Police Khurram Rasheed, has been deputed as investigation officer of the case, Dawn has learnt.

It is worth mentioning that Sheikh Usman, a trader of Rawalpindi, accused his uncle, author of several books, of writing blasphemous comments in two of his books.

Usman also contacted holy mans and local residents and on Saturday held a protest against the Industrial Area police because they initially refused to register an FIR against his uncle, who is a PhD scholar and came to Pakistain in 1987, after spending 12 years in the United States.

Police decided to send the application to the legal branch for seeking an opinion but on Sunday SP Khurram Rasheed got instructions from senior officers of his department to register the FIR.

However,
there's more than one way to stuff a chicken...
the accused informed the police that he would voluntarily surrender because he had not done anything against the law.

Complainant, Sheikh Usman, who runs a shop of bedsheets on Benazir Bhutto
... 11th Prime Minister of Pakistain in two non-consecutive terms from 1988 until 1990 and 1993 until 1996. She was the daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, founder of the Pakistain People's Party, who was murdered at the instigation of General Ayub Khan. She was murdered in her turn by person or persons unknown while campaigning in late 2007. Suspects include, to note just a few, Baitullah Mehsud, General Pervez Musharraf, the ISI, al-Qaeda in Pakistain, and her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, who shows remarkably little curiosity about who done her in...
Road, told Dawn that both books of his uncle have been published and are available in the market.

"I learnt about the blasphemous comments, so I contacted Mufti Ismail and Mufti Mushtaq of Rawalpindi. Both agreed with me that the literature was blasphemous. So I filed an application against him but federal police were not willing to lodge an FIR. We had no choice but to hold a protest against the police," he said.

While replying to a question about the property dispute, he said: "I don't care about the property. I just know that my uncle was involved in blasphemy, which is not acceptable."

Replying to a question, SP Khurram said: "The accused claims that there was a dispute of Rs50 million between him and his nephew but so far we do not have any proof."

The SP also said that he did not know whether the professor (about 60 years old) was employed in any kind of profession or not.

"Investigation in the case would start after seeking physical remand from the court," he added.

Chairperson, Human Rights Commission of Pakistain, Zohra Yousuf, told Dawn that she had learnt that there was a property dispute between the uncle and the nephew, so the police should have investigated the issue before lodging the FIR.

"There are so many incidents in which the law has been misused and usually the police claim that the suspect gets arrested for his own safety, which is totally wrong. Police should provide safety to suspects rather than arresting him," she said.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


-Signs, Portents, and the Weather-
7.1-magnitude quake hits Indonesia's Banda Sea
[Iran Press TV] An earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale has struck Indonesia's Banda Sea, but no tsunami warning was issued.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake hit at 01: 53 a.m. local time (1653 GMT) on Monday, some 215 kilometers (134 miles) northwest of the Tanimbar Islands.

The USGS also added that the quake's epicenter was at a depth of 157 kilometers (96 miles).

Minutes after the earthquake, head of the quake and tsunami unit at the Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, Suhardjono issued a statement saying that "We have not received any damage report so far."
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Guam has just been very brief ground rumblers that last barely 1.5-2.0 seconds.

* ION SCIENCE DAILY > GRAVITY MAPS OF MOON REVEAL DEEPLY FRACTURED CRUST.

As per 2030 + GUAM/EARTH-VISIBLE MOON EXPLOSIONS, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS LOOKS LIKE IT MAY NOT BE TOO DIFFICULT AFTER ALL FOR COMET APOPHIS TO WIPE OUT THE MOON = TURN INTO EARTH-THREATENING MOON CHUNKS.

NO - SHOEMAKER-LEVY 9 JUPITER CHUNKS???

Espec iff the problem wid our desired future OWG-NWO is that there is no effective OWG-NWO because the international community can't agree to anything except to argue about everything, HENCE OUR OWG = SPACE GOVT-ORDER HAS NO EFFECTIVE SPACE DEFENCE TO PROTECT SAME.

OOOOOOOOOOOPPPPPSSSS.

And thusly Virginia, we learn once again again why God + Guam Taotamonas like MADONNA.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 12/11/2012 0:40 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
TTP threatens attacks on 'secular parties' as blast targets ANP rally
[Dawn] The Pak Taliban have threatened to stage further attacks targeting political gatherings of the country's secular Awami National Party (ANP) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement
...English: United National Movement, generally known as MQM, is the 3rd largest political party and the largest secular political party in Pakistain with particular strength in Sindh. From 1992 to 1999, the MQM was the target of the Pak Army's Operation Cleanup leaving thousands of urdu speaking civilians dead...
(MQM), their front man said on Monday, the same day a blast near an ANP gathering in Charsadda injured seven people.

The kaboom in a car-park outside the venue of a public gathering scheduled to be addressed by ANP Chief Asfand Yar Wali Khan in Charsadda's Kulladher district. The bomb went kaboom! shortly before the formal launch of the event before the ANP leaders had arrived at the venue.

Medical Superintendent of Charsadda Hospital Dr Mohammad Nawaz confirmed seven people, including two coppers, were maimed in the blast. Security sources said that 500 grams of kaboom was used in the making of the bomb, which exploded remotely.

Speaking to a Dawn.com correspondent from Qazi's guesthouse an undisclosed location, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistain (TTP) front man Ehsanullah Ehsan grabbed credit of the blast, threatening further attacks against "the country's secular parties".

The attack on the ANP gathering "is just a beginning. The attacks will intensify on both the secular ANP and MQM's political gatherings," threatened the TTP front man, cautioning the general public to stay away from the rallies.

Ehsan said the ANP and MQM would be on their hit-list because of their enmity towards the Taliban.

Ehsan added that the ANP and MQM because of their enmity towards Taliban would be on their hit list and their political gatherings will be targeted.

"We request the public to avoid attending such rallies in their own interest," said the front man.

About TTP stance on other political parties, he said, though they are all one, as far as their secular ideology is concerned, Taliban would announce their strategy regarding other parties later.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: TTP


Europe
Spanish counter-terror chief: Al Qaeda may have chemical weapons
Goodness. One does hope he's getting paid top dollar for that insight.
A top Spanish intelligence officer said Al Qaeda terrorists in North Africa could be in possession of chemical weapons. Commissioner-General Enrique Baron, told a strategic security conference that it was believed that Al Qaeda of the Islamic Maghreb (AQMI) could have acquired such arms in Libya or elsewhere during the Arab Spring. He also warned that the group was inciting attacks against Spain.

Addressing the conference, Commissioner Baron said, "The Al Qaeda of the Islamic Maghreb has acquired and used very powerful conventional arms and probably also has non-conventional arms, basically chemical, as a result of the loss of control of arsenals."

The most likely place where this could have happened was in Libya during the uprising which overthrew the Gaddafi regime, he said.

He told the audience that AQMI, which is now occupying the northern part of Mali along with other Islamist groups and local Tuareg tribesmen, posed the greatest terrorist threat to Spain. It had frequently said that a main goal was to "recover Al Andalus".
Posted by: ryuge || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  No comments were forthcoming from Salmon Pak tomato blight laboratories.
Posted by: Besoeker || 12/11/2012 2:52 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Killing sparks protest in Mardan
[Dawn] A man was killed and his minor son was injured when a policeman allegedly opened fire on them in Dubai Adda village here on Sunday.

After the incident, the relatives and residents of the area placed the body on the road to protest against the killing and demanded immediate arrest of the accused constable Karim Dad. The road remained blocked to traffic for several hours.

According to local residents, constable Karim Dad opened fire on Khalid Shah and his minor son when they were taking wood from a wood-cutting machine to their home. As a result, Khalid Shah died instantly, while his son was maimed.

The people ended the protest after senior coppers assured them of the arrest of the accused policeman and registration of a case against him.

The officials of Chora cop shoppe, however, said the man was mistakenly killed as the constable was shooting a mad dog at the time.

In Kohat, police recovered the missing head of the body of a slain man and tossed in the slammer
Into the paddy wagon wit' yez!
an accused during a raid at a house in College Town here on Sunday.

The police acting on a tip-off arrested the accused, Shabbir Khan, who led the police team to the graveyard where the head was buried.

The victim, Allah Din, hailed from Jacobabad, Sindh.

His body was found packed in a gunny bag in Bilitang village a month ago.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


-Lurid Crime Tales-
Parents of ex-U.S. Marine jailed in Mexico say he's losing hope
Please share this with everyone who you think may be able to help....
Posted by: Uncle Phester || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  See, he wasn't working for Holder & Co. for the 'Get out of Jail Free' card for actually providing weapons to cartel butchers. Laws are for little people.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 12/11/2012 7:58 Comments || Top||

#2  The moral of the story is: Stay out of Mexico.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 12/11/2012 12:01 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
US Labels Syrian Opposition Group As Terrorists
[Times of Israel] The B.O. regime announced its intention to categorize a Syrian rebel group -- with alleged ties to al-Qaeda -- as a terrorist organization, as part of its effort to blunt the influence of snuffies as the US steps up cooperation with the Syrian opposition.

The State Department's action would block Jabhat al-Nusra's assets in the US and bars Americans from doing business with the group.

The move hasn't been announced officially, but was included in the Federal Register on Monday. Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland on Monday called the group "little more than a front for al-Qaeda in Iraq." She assigned blame to Syrian Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad
Before going into the family business Pencilneck was an eye doctor...
for creating an environment that jihad boy groups like al-Nusra could exploit.

Jabhat al-Nusra has grabbed credit for suicide kabooms on Syrian government targets, raising fears of growing Islamic extremism among the opposition.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
... sometimes described as America's Blond Eminence and at other times as Mrs. Bill, never as Another Bainbridge Colby ...
is traveling to North Africa this week to try to bolster moderates hoping to end Syrian President Bashir al-Assad's regime.
Posted by: trailing wife || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in Iraq

#1  Same flash mob Arab Spring democracy seekers who turned violent in Benghazi over the failure to receive arms shipments through Turkish middlemen....or was that someone else ?
Posted by: Besoeker || 12/11/2012 2:58 Comments || Top||


Arabia
Warplanes Strike Marib Areas after Deadly Ambush
[Yemen Post] Yemeni warplanes raided early Sunday areas in Marib province a day after an Al-Qaeda ambush that killed a key military officer and seven others including local security officers, local sources told the Yemen Post.

A citizen was killed during the raids in the Wadi Abida district where tribal saboteurs have repeatedly attacked the Marib-Ras Isa oil pipeline since last month.

The ambush yesterday was carried out while the victims were patrolling the area to prevent more attacks on the pipeline.

The Arclight airstrikes were focused on suspected areas where Al-Qaeda gun-hung tough guys are living in Marib, according to the sources.

In late last month, rustics bombed the Marib oil pipeline shortly after completing the repairs in the notorious Wadi Abida district forcing the army to shell it killing two suspected saboteurs.

Separately, Almasdar Online reported a fresh kaboom has hit the natural gas pipeline in the southeastern Shabwa province, but Yemen LNG and the oil and minerals ministry declined to comment.

The website quoted local sources as saying they heard big kabooms in the Usailan area and saw fire flames at the pipeline.

Yemen's oil and gas pipelines have been repeatedly attacked in the past few years mostly by tribal saboteurs and Al-Qaeda jihad boys.

Two of the country's three oil pipelines have been out of commission in Marib and Shabwa due to repeated attacks since last month.

And the Balhaf LNG plant restarted early this month after the shutdown because of a late October attack on the pipeline, which carries natural gas from Block 18 in Marib to the plant in Shabwa.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in Arabia


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Iran can outdo US in drone technology: MP
[Iran Press TV] An Iranian politician says the Islamic Theocratic Republic has reached a level of expertise that can outdo the US in drone technology.

Hossein Naqavi Hosseini, the front man of Iran Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said on Monday that it is "unbearable" for the United States, which claims to possess the highest drone technology, that Iran has been successful in controlling a US unmanned aerial vehicle and "even directing it."

On December 5, the Islamic Theocratic Republic captured a US spy drone over the Persian Gulf upon its intrusion into Iranian airspace. A commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said the data on the spy drone had been "fully extracted."

The Iranian politician also stated that the capture of the US drone conveyed a message to the world that the US technologies cannot remain unchallenged.

Iran has released footage of the captured drone, which is a long-endurance ScanEagle aircraft manufactured by Insitu, a subsidiary of Boeing.

On Friday, Pentagon front man George Little acknowledged that the unmanned aerial vehicle is a US-made ScanEagle.

Naqavi Hosseini further stated that intrusion into Iran's airspace is blatant violation of international law by the US, and the Islamic Theocratic Republic reserves the right to take legal action against the move.

Last year, the Iranian military also grounded a US RQ-170 spy drone while it was flying over the Iranian city of Kashmar, some 225 kilometers (about 140 miles) from the Afghan border.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran

#1  Give Obama four more years...
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 12/11/2012 4:15 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Israel tanks, bulldozers enter Gaza in 1st post-truce incursion
[Iran Press TV] Israeli forces have conducted a limited incursion into the Gazoo Strip's southern city of Khan Yunis for the first time after a cease-fire agreement ended the Israeli regime's offensive on the blockaded coastal sliver.

Local sources reported on Monday that the Israeli army tanks and bulldozers launched the brief intrusion into the eastern city of Khan Yunis in southern Gazoo.

The Tel Aviv regime's recent incursion of the coastal enclave comes for the first time after an Egypt-mediated cease-fire put an end to Israel's deadly offensive on the Gazoo Strip on November 21.

Israeli military has already breached the truce deal on several instances.

On November 23, Israeli forces opened fire on a group of farmers in the village of Khuzaa, east of Khan Yunis, killing a young Paleostinian and injuring seven others only two days after the cease-fire entered into effect.

Over 160 Paleostinians, including women and kiddies, bit the dust and about 1,200 others were maimed in the Israeli aerial raids on Gazoo that were carried out during the eight-day period of November 14-21.

Paleostinian resistance fighters incessantly poured rockets and missiles on the Israeli cities, killing at least five Israelis, including one soldier, in retaliation for the deadly attacks on besieged territories.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Hamas

#1  Israeli military has already breached the truce deal on several instances.

Those Juices are so mean! Just because their innocent neighbors are trying to commit mass murder, is that any reason to fight back?
Posted by: SteveS || 12/11/2012 0:52 Comments || Top||

#2  Border berm busting bastids of the 14th Ben Gurion St. Pancake Bulldozer Brigade. IMA cheering them onward!
Posted by: Besoeker || 12/11/2012 2:18 Comments || Top||

#3  Nothing about this on Haaretz, JPost or YNET.

May just be IranPressTV hype of a fence repair op.
Posted by: lord garth || 12/11/2012 9:29 Comments || Top||

#4  "Paleostinian resistance fighters incessantly poured rockets and missiles on the Israeli cities, killing at least five Israelis, including one soldier, in retaliation for the deadly attacks on besieged territories."

That was a funny sentence.
Posted by: rel56 || 12/11/2012 10:37 Comments || Top||

#5  "This way to the egress, ya animals!"
Posted by: Muggsy Mussolini1226 || 12/11/2012 12:16 Comments || Top||

#6  Of course it's from the Iran Press TV.
The Paleos only acted in retaliation, yeah right
State side media isn't much better
Posted by: Jan at work || 12/11/2012 14:17 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Libya disbands Supreme Security Committee
[Magharebia] Libya's interior ministry is moving forward with plans to dissolve the Supreme Security Committee by December 31st, Libya Herald reported on Sunday (December 9th).

"From next month, only the fighters that have signed contracts with the ministry will be paid," said Hashim Bishar, the Committee's Tripoli
...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn...
chief.

"For the first time since the revolution, there will be regular operations in the cop shoppes in all different areas," he added.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Arab Spring


India-Pakistan
Extremists will not be allowed to impose their agenda: PM Ashraf
[Dawn] Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Monday said the government would safeguard the fundamental rights of the people, adding that, Islamic fascisti would not be allowed to impose their agenda on the public, DawnNews reported.

Speaking at a ceremony in Islamabad on the International Human Rights Day, Prime Minister Ashraf said the government had successfully ratified seven out of the nine international conventions relating to human rights
...which are usually entirely different from personal liberty...
-- those mostly include the rights for children, women and the elderly.

The premier added that Pakistain's Constitution ensured rights for all sections of society and that the country was also aware of its obligations on an international level.

The prime minister said democracy and peace were mandatory, adding that, the public should stand by the government's efforts to sustain democracy, to foster tolerance and to safeguard the rights of the people.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Ashraf referred to the steps taken by the government with respect to safeguarding the people's rights.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
'Friends of Syria' set for Marrakech
[Magharebia] The "Friends of Syria" group will meet in Morocco on Wednesday, AFP reported on Monday (December 10th). Arab and Western states will consider two key issues concerning the 21-month Syria conflict: the political transition in the event of Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad's
Leveler of Latakia...
exit, and the mobilisation of humanitarian aid as winter sets in.

More than 100 delegations are expected to attend the Marrakech event.

Wednesday's meeting will reportedly address ways of supporting the National Coalition. The Gulf Co-operation Council, La Belle France, Britannia and Turkey have all formally recognised the coalition as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria

#1  Looking at the world through the sunset in your eyes
Traveling the train through clear Moroccan skies
Ducks and pigs!? and chickens call
Animal carpet wall to wall
American ladies five-foot tall in blue


Sweeping cobwebs from the edges of my mind
Had to get away to see what we could find
Hope the days that lie ahead
Bring us back to where they've led
Listen not to what's been said to you


Wouldn't you know we're riding on the Marrakesh Express
Wouldn't you know we're riding on the Marrakesh Express
They're taking me to Marrakesh
All aboard the train, all aboard the train


I've been saving all my money just to take you there
I smell the garden in your hair


Take the train from Casablanca going south
Blowing smoke rings from the corners of my mouth
Colored cottons hang in the air
Charming cobras in the square
Striped djellebas we can wear at home Well, let me hear you now


Wouldn't you know we're riding on the Marrakesh Express
Wouldn't you know we're riding on the Marrakesh Express
They're taking me to Marrakesh


Wouldn't you know we're riding on the Marrakesh Express
Wouldn't you know we're riding on the Marrakesh Express
They're taking me to Marrakesh
All on board the train, all on board the train
All on board
Posted by: Dopey Sinatra9196 || 12/11/2012 14:52 Comments || Top||

#2  I used to think that song was an advertisement for the American Express card.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 12/11/2012 15:49 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Global 'Malala' war chest for girls' education launched
[Dawn] Pakistain's President Asif Ali Ten Percent Zardari
... husband of the late Benazir Bhutto, who has been singularly lacking in curiosity about who done her in ...
Monday announced a 10-million-dollar donation for a global war chest to educate all girls by 2015 set up in the name of Malala Yousufzai, who was shot by the Taliban for campaigning for girls' education.

The "Malala Fund for Girls' Right to Education" aims at raising billions of dollars to ensure that all girls go to school by 2015 in line with United Nations
...an idea whose time has gone...
Millennium goals.

Pakistain Education Minister Waqas Akram signed the agreement with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization head Irina Bokova.

"A young determined daughter of my country was attacked by the forces of darkness," Zardari said at the high-profile "Stand Up For Malala" event at the Unesco headquarters in Gay Paree.

"We are facing two forces in the country; Malala represents the forces of peace and we are fighting with the forces of darkness, hatred and violence," he said.

The ceremony drew French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, former British premier Gordon Brown
... the hapless former British PM ...
, the UN Special Envoy for Global Education, and the former presidents of Finland and Chile.

UN Secretary General the ephemeral Ban Ki-moon
... of whom it can be said to his credit that he is not Kofi Annan...
, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
... sometimes described as The Heroine of Tuzla and at other times as Mrs. Bill, never as Another Al Haig ...
and the EU's top diplomat Catherine Ashton send special videotaped messages of support.

The 15-year-old schoolgirl, who is recovering in a British hospital after being brutally attacked on her school bus on October 9, will herself join the campaign when she is better.

Ziauddin Yousufzai, Malala's father, a former teacher and headmaster has been appointed to help in what Brown has dubbed a new 'Malala Plan' to get all girls into school around the world by the end of 2015.

Zardari slammed Islamic fundamentalists for giving the religion a bad name.

"The first word of the holy Koran is 'iqra' which is read," he said, attacking the "fringe minority of darkness, of hatred, of conflict.

"What gun-hung tough guys fear is a girl with a book in her hand," he said.

The UN estimates that 61 million children do not go to school and girls account for two-thirds of this number.

In an attack that shocked the world, Malala was shot in the head as punishment for the "crime" of campaigning for girls' rights to go to school.

She survived the murder attempt but requires reconstructive surgery after the bullet grazed her brain, coming within centimetres of killing her.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Africa Horn
Somalia's tentative recovery
[Dawn] FINALLY, some good news from Somalia: according to a new issue of the French weekly Gay Paree Match, the Somali shilling has doubled in value against the dollar over the last two years. The international airport at Mogadishu has been refurbished, and now boasts of a duty-free shop. Turkish Airlines operates three weekly flights to Istanbul as a result of a visit by Recep Erdogan, the Turkish Prime Minister. Tellingly, the immigration form for arriving passengers no longer contains the old entry for firearms being carried in.

The same issue of the magazine informs us that the price of fish has shot up because of new restaurants opening up to cater for the increasing number of foreigners and returning expatriate Somalis. A new six-story hotel is coming up in the capital. Male and female students are returning to schools and university.

In large measure, this return to normality is due to the defeat of the terrorist group Harkat al-Mujahideen al-Shabaab
... the successor to the Islamic Courts...
by the forces of the African Mission for Somalia established by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). This force, sanctioned by the UN, has been very successful in pushing the forces of Evil out of Mogadishu, and from other towns as well. The effort to eject the hard boy thugs out of the country began last year, and has made steady success.

The other factor underpinning the Somali success story is the return of some 300,000 migrants who had been forced to leave their country due to the complete breakdown of law and order. With their money and their entrepreneurial spirit, the rebuilding of Somalia is under way. Scattered across North America and Europe, this diaspora made its mark by dint of hard work and self-help.

Considering that Somalia was for years synonymous with our notion of a failed state, this recovery is nothing short of miraculous. For decades, the country was caught up in murderous tribal warfare that destroyed much of Mogadishu. A slice of this mayhem was captured by the Nineties film Blackhawk Down that depicted the failed American effort to restore some order and bring in food supplies. In the event, Bill Clinton pulled out US forces after they lost a number of soldiers. The Pak contingent sent as part of a UN peacekeeping force also sustained heavy casualties.

Whatever was left was demolished by the Shebab in their bid to impose a Taliban-like theocracy on Somalia. These holy warriors modelled themselves on the Afghan and Pak Taliban, banning everything from music to sports. Symbolising the return to sanity is the reopening of the National Theatre, a building earlier used by the Shebab as an arms depot and then as a public toilet.

I went to Mogadishu in the mid-Sixties for a vacation from university when my father was sent there by Unesco to establish a university and a public education system for the newly independent state. It was a small, sleepy town then with proud but friendly people. I recall being very struck by the fact that when our driver brought my father home from work, he would come and chat with us in the living room for a little while. His brother, my father told us, was the education minister.

Since that trip, I have followed the travails of the country with growing dismay. Repeated bouts of famine, in part caused by the civil war, only hastened Somalia's descent into chaos. After a provisional government was established with international support, the country was again subjected to yet another round of violence when the Shebab attempted to take control. For years, Mogadishu was a divided city with the young forces of Evil calling the shots.

The country is also plagued by a nest of pirates who prey on ships sailing hundreds of miles from the coast. Their links to the Shebab have been reported, and their depredations have been the subject of widespread international concern and action. The success of these pirates illustrates what happens when a state loses control, and has some parallels with Pakistain's tribal areas.

The return of a tenuous stability augurs well for this east African state. If it can build democratic institutions, it might well emerge from decades of violence and abject poverty. Luckily, it has many well-wishers: the West as well as its neighbours realise that a collapsed Somali state means trouble for the entire region.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: al-Shabaab


Africa North
Droukdel threatens Sahel states
[Magharebia] Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) just released a video warning African and European states against any military intervention in northern Mali.

"If you want peace and security in your country, we are for it. If you want war, the Sahara is a large graveyard for your soldiers and a disaster for your interests," AQIM chief Abdelmalik Droukdel
... aka Abdel Wadoud, was a regional leader of the GSPC for several years before becoming the group's supremo in 2004 following the death of then-leader Nabil Sahraoui. Under Abdel Wadoud's leadership the GSPC has sought to develop itself from a largely domestic entity into a larger player on the international terror stage. In September 2006 it was announced that the GSPC had joined forces with al-Qaeda and in January 2007 the group officially changed its name to the Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb....
said in a new video released by Sahara Media on Saturday (December 1st).

"This war is going to make us more determined to hit your interests, which are numerous in the Sahel, and which we have not yet targeted," he said. The AQIM leader also claimed that his fighters had access to large quantities of weapons.

"The Great Sahara will be a grave for your soldiers," he said. "We are men of war, and we have extensive experience and long breath. In addition, God has endowed us with a stock of weapons and young people, and therefore, it will be a long war, and also a sacred war for the sake of Islam."

Directing his warning at Mauritania, Senegal
... a nation of about 14 million on the west coast of Africa bordering Mauretania to the north, Mali to the east, and a pair of Guineas to the south, one of them Bissau. It is 90 percent Mohammedan and has more than 80 political parties. Its primary purpose seems to be absorbing refugees...
, and Niger, Droukdel (aka Abou Moussaab Abdelouadoud) said: "When your house is made of glass do not throw stones at people."

His comments come in response to the decision by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to deploy 3,300 troops to oust Islamist Death Eaters and their al-Qaeda allies from northern Mali.

It also coincides with news that Algerian terrorist Mokhtar Belmokhtar (aka "Laaouar") quit AQIM after being fired as one of its two top commanders in northern Mali.

Confusion and anxiety at the top of al-Qaeda's Maghreb branch are apparent, according to analyst Mokhtar al-Salem.

The Droukdel terror tape was timed to influence the diplomatic negotiations now under way in Ouagadougou between Ansar al-Din and the Malian government, he said.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in North Africa


Nine hurt as unknown attackers shoot at Cairo protesters
Nine people were injured when unknown attackers opened fire at protesters camping at Tahrir Square on Tuesday. Police cars surrounded the square, the first time they have appeared in the area since November 23.

The attackers also threw petrol bombs which started a small fire, according to witnesses. Many protesters, awakened by the commotion, chanted, "The people want the downfall of the regime," as recorded recitations of the Koran were played over loudspeakers in the square.
Posted by: ryuge || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  It's a shame!
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 12/11/2012 4:24 Comments || Top||

#2  unknown attackers opened fire at protesters camping at Tahrir Square

recorded recitations of the Koran were played over loudspeakers in the square.

"Unknown", my infidel @ss.

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski || 12/11/2012 5:39 Comments || Top||


China-Japan-Koreas
Experts Look to Broader Nork Sanctions Regime
What would we do without experts?
Experts have told Daily NK that they expect a slightly different style of sanctions to be placed on North Korea if it goes ahead with its proposed long-range rocket launch later this month.

After the North’s previous launch in April, the UN Security Council placed sanctions on a number of organizations that were thought to be helping facilitate North Korea’s trade in and development of weapons of mass destructions (WMD).

However, experts expect any sanctions this time to not only target agencies directly implicated in WMD activities, but also to target a broader range of entities with economic clout in the North. It is an opinion based on the belief that cutting off funding sources can help to stop Pyongyang from conducting missile launches and nuclear weapons tests in future.

Cho Bong Hyun, a researcher with the Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK) Economic Research Institute told Daily NK, “If we do not cut off North Korea’s lines of credit then sanctions cannot be effective. Therefore, they will try to strengthen economic sanctions. The trade that is currently going normally could be faced with more difficult conditions, and humanitarian assistance could be stopped, too.”

Cho added, “In addition, it looks like a number more individuals and institutions will be added to the UN Security Council sanction list.”

Another anonymous researcher commented, “The best thing would be to apply financial sanctions in order to freeze North Korean funds, as was done with Banco Delta Asia (BDA). The BDA issue created fresh resistance in North Korea; however, freezing North Korean funds can still inflict a huge blow on their money channels.”
Each time the Norks do what they're not supposed to do, the sanctions should become tighter, broader and more biting. Each time they transgress we turn up the pressure. That's the only language they understand.
Some voices have suggested that the role of the UN North Korea Sanctions Committee should be improved, with disciplinary actions for those who fail to support it.

Baek Seung Joo of Korea Institute for Defense Analyses said, “Currently, sanctions against North Korea have been implemented across multi-faceted areas, but the problem is whether or not the sanctions are being implemented correctly. There need to be measures to warn those countries who are not actively taking part in the sanctions, and more monitoring of those countries which must apply them.”

Of course, one such country is China, whose full cooperation is essential if the sanctions are to succeed. China has criticized North Korea’s latest launch plan, but it remains to be seen whether this will translate into action.
North Korea does nothing big without China's approval...
“The international community must emphasize China’s role as a permanent member of the UN Security Council,” Baek explained. “Even if the international community imposes sanctions on North Korea, these will not be effective if China supports North Korea. China must take responsibility for its actions.”
Posted by: Steve White || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Yeah, cuz sanctions have done a great job keeping Iran from developing its WMD program...
Posted by: American Delight || 12/11/2012 6:18 Comments || Top||

#2  The "experts" on North Korea have never failed us before.
Posted by: ToursLepantoVienna || 12/11/2012 12:11 Comments || Top||

#3  In Jong-un's defense, the day or time will come when US-led international sanctions will pro forma stop being about the DPRK, + start being about China vee the DPRK.

* E.G. WAFF > [Strategypage] CHINA HIDES BEHIND THE WHITE, i.e. the white-painted ships of its Coast Guard = CMS vee disputed islands in the East China Sea + espec the South China Sea.

ARTIC = denotes that CHINA IS CLAIMING AS ITS OWN MOST OR ALL OF OFFSHORE AREAS OF THE PHIL, BRUNEI, MALAYSIA, TAIWAN, + VIETNAM IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA NOT FORMALLY RECOGNIZED AS SOVEREIGN TO SAME UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW [UNCLOS-ITLOS = disputed]. India + US have announced that they will not recognize China's claims to the bulk of the SCS, islands + sea area, + will be expecting their Naval Warships to pass through unmolested or unharmed by China even after January 1st, 2013.

Reminds me of the USN versus Cuba-bound incoming Soviet merchant/cargo ships + Subs during the 1962 Cuban Missle Crisis.

MORE ...

* WAFF > PHILIPPINES WANTS REARMING OF JAPAN TO BALANCE [counter] CHINA.

PHIL FM Albert del Rosario.

RELATED CHINESE MILITARY FORUM > PHILIPPINES BACKS REARMING OF JAPAN.

SAME > JAPAN LDP IS WINNING ... MORE TROUBLE AHEAD FOR CN-JP [China-Japan] RELATIONSHIP | [Yahoo News, Reuters] JAPAN LDP ON TRACK FOR BIG ELECTION WIN: SURVEYS.

Return of Conservative LDP + ex-PM Shinzo Abe - Party anticipated to win over 300 seats in 480-seat Lower House of Japan's Parliament [Diet].

* DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > [Sidney Morning Herald = SMH.com] CHINA PRODDING RISE OF JAPAN'S HAWKS.

* WORLD NEWS > JAPAN COULD SOON BECOME THE NEWEST AND MOST VORACIOUS ARMS BUYER ON THE PLANET.

* BHARAT RAKSHAK > CHINA'S MILITARY CROSSROADS.

Rise of MilPol = Geopol-aggressive, PLA or PLA-focused military influence in CPC + Beijing Govt. to "hallmark" a future China, notsomuch the country's economic proficiencies or strengths at that time.

versus

* WORLD NEWS > US ADMIRAL:[Sino-Japanese, SCS]ISLANDS DISPUTE CAN BE AVERTED WIDOUT WAR.

Sorry, Admiral, but once again IMO Rising China wants its "Post-US", "future World #1" "Manifest Destiny" ASAP AMAP ALAP - CHINA WILL EITHER BACK DOWN, OR CHINA + PLA WILL SUDDENLY START SHOOTING. HISTOIRE' SUGGESTS CHINA WILL LIKELY DO THE LATTER, NOT THE FORMER.

WILL TAIWAN = USA, + JAPAN, GIVE CHINA BASE RIGHTS FOR THE PLA ON TAIWAN PROPER + OKINAWA, WILL THE US ACCEPT ROUTINE PLAN, PLAAF MILEXS IN WESTPAC???
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 12/11/2012 22:11 Comments || Top||

#4  Iff China backs down, it will use its massive trade + currency surplus, etc. vee the USA as a weapon agz the US.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 12/11/2012 22:13 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Tunisia leaders to discuss cabinet reshuffle
[Magharebia] Tunisia's governing troika is set to discuss President Moncef Marzouki's proposal to reshuffle the cabinet, President's Chief of Staff Imed Daimi said this week.

"The declarations about a possible withdrawal of confidence from Marzouki represent an impulsive and thoughtless reaction at political and media levels," TAP quoted Daimi as saying on Tuesday (December 4th).

Earlier last week, Marzouki called for creating a "competent technocrat cabinet and not a party political one".

"If the festivities continue and the government's response is not adequate, there will be chaos and a deadlock," the president said in a televised address on November 30th.

The speech was in response to a general strike in Siliana, which ended on December 2nd after the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) reached a compromise deal with the government.

Meanwhile,
...back at the pie fight, Bella opened her mouth at precisely the wrong moment...
Health Minister Abdellatif Mekki told Nessma TV on December 1st that the shake-up might include the president himself.

"We're prepared to review everything in the presidential institution, starting from the secretary of state to the president himself; it's not a sacred thing," he said.

Constituent Assembly (ANC) member Iyed Dahmani said that opposition members were preparing to present a motion to withdraw confidence from the Ennahda-led government.

"We need one-third of the Constituent Assembly members to sign in order to present the motion," he said in a press statement.

For his part, Former Prime Minister and Nidaa Tounes leader Beji Caid Essebsi had earlier demanded that the interim government resign but the president continue to run the affairs of the country and appoint the incumbent prime minister to form a new government.

Mahmoud Baroudi, an NCA member from the Democratic Alliance, told Magharebia that "the resignation itself may create vacuum that may pose a threat to the administration of state".

"Today, we must talk more about concords because no single party can run the state alone," he added. "There must be dialogue because the troika itself is threatened with rifts, especially after the talk about the motion under which the president may be sacked following his recent statements."

Baroudi added that the idea of cabinet reshuffle had been in the pipeline for a while.

"I think that the reason for delay is the examination of general budget, and also because Ennahda is witnessing internal conflicts about supporting this or that minister," he told Magharebia.

"There are differences of opinions and positions within the troika as well," Baroudi said. "For example, we are about to discuss the budget, and yet we don't have a finance minister."

Finance Minister Houcine Dimassi resigned in July, while Minister in charge of Administrative Reform Mohamed Abbou quit in June.

According to Ennahda front man Nejib Gharbi, the expected changes will include some of the ministries that didn't perform well. As a cost-cutting measure, other ministries might also be merged.

Behind the scenes, there is talk about the possibility of changes in the industry, environment and education portfolios. The opposition, however, demands reshuffles in sovereign ministries - justice, interior and foreign affairs.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


Afghanistan
Taliban envoys invited to attend conference in Paris
[Iran Press TV] Taliban Spokesman Zabihollah Mojahed says the representatives of the political branch of the group have been invited to attend an international conference in the French capital, Gay Paree, Press TV reports.

In a new statement, Mojahed said that the Taliban will send two of its representatives to the conference.

The group says the Gay Paree meeting is a research event and the Taliban representatives have no plans to hold talks with the Afghan officials and international envoys.

Taliban has hailed the invitation as the sign of the group's kudos and pointed out that they will use the event as an opportunity to convey their views to the international community.

This is reportedly the first time that Taliban is invited to attend an international conference in Europe.

No formal negotiations have been held with the Taliban so far, but several informal contacts have been established.

However,
it's easy to be generous with someone else's money...
Taliban leaders have repeatedly said that they will not talk with the authorities in Kabul as long as US-led forces remain in Afghanistan.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: Taliban

#1  Will they argue about the shape of the table, as the North Vietnamese did?
Posted by: Pappy || 12/11/2012 15:07 Comments || Top||

#2  Shape of the carpet. Tables are an infidel invention.
Posted by: SteveS || 12/11/2012 15:23 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Rival protests to take place in Egypt on Tue.
[Iran Press TV] Egypt's Moslem Brüderbund Party has called on supporters of President Mohamed Morsi to attend rival demonstrations on Tuesday, after opposition groups called for anti-Morsi protests in the same day.

"We are calling for a demonstration Tuesday, under the slogan 'Yes to legitimacy'," said the Brotherhood's front man, Mahmud Ghozlan on Monday.

This comes after the opposition National Salvation Front issued a statement on Sunday saying that "The Front calls for demonstrations in the capital and in the regions on Tuesday (on December 11) as a rejection of the president's decision that goes against our legitimate demands."

The statement also added that "We reject the referendum which will certainly lead to more division and sedition."

The embattled Egyptian president backed away from a recent controversial decree that granted him sweeping powers late Saturday, but said the referendum on the constitution will go ahead on December 15.

Morsi's announcement provoked fresh protests outside the presidential palace on Sunday, with the opponents of the move shouting slogans against the Moslem Brüderbund.

Since the announcement of Morsi's controversial decree in November 22, tens of thousands of Egyptians have staged rallies in support of and against the draft constitution.

At least seven people were killed during fighting between Moslem Brüderbund supporters and Egyptian opponents.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: Arab Spring


India-Pakistan
Teacher beats student to death
[Dawn] The slogan of Maar Nahi Pyaar (love instead of punishment) of the Punjab education department, introduced by the previous provincial government, has proved to be an eyewash.

A class 8 student of Government High School, Pour Miyana, succumbed to injuries after a teacher beat him up for coming late on Friday.

The Punjab government had banned corporal punishment in government schools way back in September 2005. However,
corruption finds a dozen alibis for its evil deeds...
the facts suggest otherwise.

Hasnain Abid, 15, was beaten up by his teacher, Mumtaz Ahmed, with a stick for coming late to school. He was shifted to a local hospital where he died on Sunday. The student was buried in his native Jarikass village near Hassanabdal.

The hospital staff confirmed that the cause of death was torture.

Talking to newsmen, Abid Hussain, the father of the victim, said his son often complained about his teacher who used to beat students.

He said they were poor and his son traveled miles to reach his school even during the cold weather.

Saima Khalid Masood, vice-president of Human and Environment Development Association (HEDA), an NGO working in the area, was of the opinion that such incidents were 'detrimental' to the country's academic environment and could not be accepted under any circumstances.

She stressed that corporal punishment in schools must be monitored and the guilty teachers be brought to justice.

Another civil society activist, Munaza Peerzada, said under Article 25-A of the Constitution, there should be zero tolerance for corporal punishment.

When contacted, DSP Shahid Sarwar said that he himself attended the funeral of the victim to show solidarity and full support of the police and the administration.

The DSP said the teacher had been locked away
Drop the rod and step away witcher hands up!
and a murder case registered against him.

Meanwhile,
...back at the palazzo, Count Guido stepped from behind the suit of armor, sword in hand. Ciccolini snarled and reached for his own weapon...
taking notice of the incident, the district education department has suspended the accused teacher as well as the headmaster for negligence and ordered departmental inquiry against them.

An official from the district administration said the school had also been closed for an indefinite period to avert any untoward incident.

It may be recalled here that a grade 5 student of a private school, Maqsoodur Rehman, had died after being beaten by his teacher in Taxila on August 13, 2011.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Looks like this teacher didn't buy into the love instead of punishment philosophy.
Posted by: JohnQC || 12/11/2012 9:33 Comments || Top||


Soldier dies while defusing bomb in Bara
[Dawn] A security man was killed and his colleague received injuries when they tried to defuse a bomb in Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency on Sunday.

Officials said that soldier Hashim Khan and his colleague Zafar Ali spotted a bomb along the road during routine patrol in Sheen Qamar area. They were trying to detach the wires of the bomb when it went off, killing Hashim Khan on the spot and injuring Zafar Ali.

The injured was shifted to a military hospital in Beautiful Downtown Peshawar
...capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly known as the North-West Frontier Province), administrative and economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. Peshawar is situated near the eastern end of the Khyber Pass, convenient to the Pak-Afghan border. Peshawar has evolved into one of Pakistan's most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities, which means lots of gunfire.
while the body of the killed soldier was sent to his ancestral village.

In North Wazoo Agency, the bullet riddled body of a paramilitary soldier, who was kidnapped along with his colleague from a checkpost on Friday, was found in Miranshah
... headquarters of al-Qaeda in Pakistain and likely location of Ayman al-Zawahiri. The Haqqani network has established a ministate in centered on the town with courts, tax offices and lots of madrassas...
on Sunday.

Officials said that body of Hawaldar Adil Hussain was thrown near Miranshah Bazaar that was sent to his native town.

Adil Hussain and Niaz Ali were kidnapped from Bangi Dar checkpost by unidentified persons. Initially it was believed that kidnappers had shifted them to Afghanistan.

In Mohmand Agency
... Named for the Mohmand clan of the Sarban Pahstuns, a truculent, quarrelsome lot. In Pakistain, the Mohmands infest their eponymous Agency, metastasizing as far as the plains of Peshawar, Charsadda, and Mardan. Mohmands are also scattered throughout Pakistan in urban areas including Karachi, Lahore, and Quetta. In Afghanistan they are mainly found in Nangarhar and Kunar...
, a veterinary centre was blown up by unidentified snuffies in Pandiali tehsil on Sunday.

The residents of the area said that snuffies planted bombs at the veterinary centre in Dawezai Haji Kor area and destroyed the building.

The political administration called sniffer dogs to trace the accused involved in the attack. However,
a good lie finds more believers than a bad truth...
no arrest was made till filing of this report.

Meanwhile,
...back at the Hubba Hubba Club, Nunzio had his hands full of angry bleached blonde...
Mulla Jan, a resident of teshil Safi, died in Levies lockup due to illness on Sunday. Sources said that his body was shifted to his native village. He was placed in durance vile
Don't shoot, coppers! I'm comin' out!
several years ago in Safi area, they added.

In SWABI, the office of an international NGO, Marie Stopes Society, was damaged in a blast on Sunday.

The office is located a few yards away from the offices of district coordination officer and district police officer on Swabi-Topi Road.

Officials said that the kaboom weighing at least five kilogram was packed in a canister and left outside the main gate of MSS office. The kaboom went off at around 5:20am and damaged the main gate and boundary wall of the office, they added.

Police said that nobody was present in the office at the time of the kaboom.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: TTP

#1  Tell me again why we are there.
Posted by: rel56 || 12/11/2012 11:25 Comments || Top||

#2  Um, it's Pakistan?
Posted by: Pappy || 12/11/2012 19:08 Comments || Top||


High ratio of acquittal: Punjab to review ATC prosecutors' working
[Dawn] A worried Punjab government has decided to hold a monthly review of the performance of all prosecutors attached with anti-terrorism courts (ATCs) following a revelation that an extraordinarily high number of the accused in terrorism and kidnapping for ransom cases have been acquitted.

The 14 ATCs of Punjab have acquitted people facing terrorism charges in 370 cases over the past 11 months.

Acquittals in 255 cases were put down to backtracking by witnesses on statements they had earlier recorded before investigation officers.

In the remaining cases, the acquittals were due to lack of evidence or poor investigation.According to data compiled by the Punjab prosecution department, in January there were 346 cases pending in ATCs across the province.

During the year, 669 new cases were instituted. They were related to kabooms, acts of terrorism, kidnappings for ransom and possession of explosives.

Of the 1,015 cases, the courts decided 506. While 370 led to acquittals, there were convictions in 136 cases.

Punjab Prosecutor General Sadaqat Ali Khan told Dawn that the decision to review the performance every month of all prosecutors deployed in the ATCs had been taken because of the higher rate of acquittal.

He said most of the acquittals had taken place because of witnesses having backtracked on their statements. He said the witnesses tended to deny their earlier statements under fear of being harmed by those they were testifying against.

Islamabad police's Special Prosecutor Syed Mohammad Tayyab said the "witnesses do so under fear, because a compromise is reached or because of pressure from relatives".

He said a compromise was not allowed in cases of kidnapping for ransom. In such situations the aggrieved party simply backtracked on its statement instead of withdrawing the complaint, leaving the court with no option other than to acquit the accused.

In terrorism cases, however, mostly fear forces witnesses to backtrack.

The larger problem, experts say, is absence of investigative and forensics skills and equipment, due to which prosecution in most cases is based on testimonies. A shortage of funds has not been helping matters either.

"We have decided to record the witnesses' statements under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). Thus the statements will be recorded under oath by a magistrate.

"It will not be possible for a witness to retract his statement recorded under this section and in such a case the magistrate can testify to the statement," an official said.

"We have also planned joint training of prosecutors with officers of investigation agencies.

"The prosecutors will be trained to use the forensic evidence to prepare cases. This will reduce reliance on eyewitness accounts," he was confident.

FAISAL SHAHZAD'S AIDES: Those acquitted this year included four people charged with helping Faisal Shahzad, a Pak-American who tried to detonate a bomb in New York's Times Square in May 2010.

An ATC in Rawalpindi acquitted them in June. The four had been locked away
You have the right to remain silent...
in the wake of the attack which failed when the explosives in Faisal Shahzad's vehicle failed to detonate. He pleaded guilty and admitted to having got training from Pak Taliban in the tribal areas.

He was sentenced to life in prison in the United States.

LAHORE GPO ATTACK: The ATC in Lahore also acquitted an accused, Shahzad, in the Jan 2008 General Post Office Chowk suicide kaboom case on Wednesday after police failed to present concrete evidence against him.

The attack had had left 22 people dead, 19 police officials among them.

Shahzad, along with two others, was accused of planning the attack and helping the bomber.

UNWFP, NAVAL COMPLEX ATTACKS: An ATC in Rawalpindi acquitted in September all the three accused in two high-profile terrorist cases of the federal capital. The prosecution failed to prove its case against Noor Jehan, Rehmat Gul and Jamshed Khan in the United Nations
...boodling on the grand scale...
World Food Program and the Naval Headquarters terrorist attack cases.

They had been arrested by police in March 2010 for allegedly having planned attacks on the naval complex and the UN office in F-8 sector. The UN office was struck in Oct 2009 and five staffers were killed.

ANJUM AQEEL: In July, a Rawalpindi court acquitted Pakistain Moslem League -- N MNA Anjum Aqeel Khan, who was accused of escaping from the custody of police. All the 12 prosecution witnesses had backtracked. The Shalimar police had booked the MNA and his 15 supporters for forcibly freeing him in July last year.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


International-UN-NGOs
European Union accepts Nobel Prize
Just when you thought the Peace Prize couldn't become more irrelevant...
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  It's like a scarlet "Doh!" tattooed on their collective foreheads.
Posted by: SteveS || 12/11/2012 0:17 Comments || Top||

#2  So the EU/EUZ accepted the Nobel Prize for trying to work out their OWG EU Debt + Monetary woes instead of declaring war on one another like the old days???
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 12/11/2012 0:43 Comments || Top||

#3  and some folks have the gall to perpetuate the myth that this award is meaningless! (sarc/off)
Posted by: Broadhead6 || 12/11/2012 9:26 Comments || Top||

#4  Nice buffet, though.
Posted by: Mullah Richard || 12/11/2012 9:53 Comments || Top||

#5  Nice buffet, though.
Posted by Mullah Richard


...and you don't even have to worry about beating the Baptists to it!
Posted by: Besoeker || 12/11/2012 9:58 Comments || Top||

#6  I know you've seen this before but ...

Posted by: European Conservative || 12/11/2012 14:10 Comments || Top||

#7  Peak Irony?
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 12/11/2012 14:32 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Libyans demand end to security chaos
[Magharebia] Libya officially dissolved militias and gangs two months ago. So why is it taking so long for people to feel safe?

It is very hard to answer the question. According to Colonel Hassan Alakoui, Libyan security officials "are trying to take control of Benghazi, but there is a dark hand messing us up in terms of security."

"We don't know whose hand it is. Someone is waiting for the night to spread chaos, and so far, we have failed to arrest the culprits", he told Magharebia.

Students at the University of Benghazi are tired of waiting for the security apparatus to take shape, so they staged a sit-in on Thursday (December 6th).

Many of the same students were among the 30,000 Libyans who held the September 21st "Save Benghazi" rally to demand an end to armed paramilitary brigades. Chanting "Libya, Libya" and "No more al-Qaeda", hundreds of the protesters later stormed the compound of the hard-line Islamist militia Ansar al-Sharia
The same name as the Yemeni group, but presumably not the same group.
and forced the armed fighters to flee.

Ansar al-Sharia has been accused of involvement in the September 11th attack on the US consulate in Benghazi. Some fear the rogue militias could return to the forefront.

As novelist and Benghazi resident Mohamed al-Asfar notes, "Following the 'Save Benghazi' rally, the armed brigades disappeared from the streets."

"However,
a poor excuse is better than no excuse at all...
their arms are still with them, they are still organised and they can come back anytime," al-Asfar adds. "The return of armed brigades can take place any moment in view of a weak army and police and a weaker government."

Others wonder if the armed Islamists might be behind the on-going violence.

"There are hidden hands messing around with this country and don't want to see it stable as far as security is concerned," Youssef Mohamed, a young man, tells Magharebia.

"We still don't know why these groups are creating this security chaos in Libya," Mohamed adds.

The government is trying to bring the militias under control, authorities insist. Libyan Amy Chief of Staff Youssef al-Mangoush said this week that 15,000 revolutionaries had joined the Libyan army.

"We disbanded the brigades and they ended their service," he said. "We also started the integration of revolutionaries in state institutions."

Libya's nascent army has also been aided by unmanned drones from partner nations. According to military advisor Dhaoui Bouras, "These planes can make good contributions to the counter-terrorism effort based on intelligence and aerial reconnaissance by Libyans in the Libyan army."

"They are excellent for protecting security and providing information on suspicious movements," he says.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: Arab Spring


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Syrian attacks tank with hand grenade
Snackbar warning. This is precisely why armored vehicles are supposed to have infantry support. Did he actually destroy the tank, or just blow up his grenade on the surface? Hard to tell from this angle.



It's kinda smudgy, but it looked more like a BMP-1 (an armored personnel carrier) than an actual tank. BMP-1's armor is 6-33 mm (I think the 33 mm's likely the turret and/or the front glacis) so likely the grenade did some damage. By way of contrast, the T55 has 203 mm turret and 99 mm hull.

I think I'll learn to speak Arabic. It seems pretty simple since most of the language appears to consist of hollering 'Allahu Akbar.'
Posted by: gromky || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  gromky Hello. This is great I have learned a new language today. :)

Posted by: Dale || 12/11/2012 7:16 Comments || Top||

#2  Brave bastid he was, chucking a grenade down the hatch. Could have been a made for teevee event however.
Posted by: Besoeker || 12/11/2012 8:16 Comments || Top||

#3  Never bring an APC to a grenade fight!
Posted by: Raj || 12/11/2012 9:55 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Tunisia foils arms smuggling attempt
[Magharebia] Tunisia police tossed in the calaboose
Book 'im, Mahmoud!
two suspected arms traffickers from the Salafist stronghold of Jendouba, AFP reported on Saturday (December 8th). Police seized automatic weapons, taser guns, grenades and an unspecified amount of explosives and drugs,
One can't be a proper jihadi without being drugged to the gills, after all. Look at the historic example of the Hashashin.
According to Shems FM, another two men escaped the police action in Fernana, near the Algerian border.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Salafists


China-Japan-Koreas
USS Pueblo Has Gone Missing (really)
A couple weeks old but worth mentioning. Hat tip to One Free Korea.
On Jan. 23, 1968, the USS Pueblo, a Navy intelligence-gathering ship, was captured by North Korea. One person from each side of the battle died, and the 83 crew members were tortured and starved for 11 months, until the ship's commander, Capt. Lloyd Bucher, "confessed," although his confession contained a pun.

The ship remained in North Korea, which eventually docked it near Pyongyang, and turned it into a tourist attraction. Visitors can take a tour of the ship, and then watch a 20-minute video officials filmed of the North Korean view of the capture.

But now the Pueblo is missing, NKNews.org. reports. A tour company, Koryo Tours, discovered the disappearance after employees returned from a trip. There is evidence the ship was in place on the Taedong River recently.

It could be under renovation at the Fatherland Liberation Museum, said NKNews, but they don't know. It would seem that if such a symbolic vessel was going to be moved, the government would send a press release to people who would notice if it went missing.

Efforts to repatriate the ship to the United States have failed. In 2000, negotiators offered it during diplomatic talks with then-Secretary of State Madeline Albright, who was visiting. Later, in 2005 and 2007, Sen. Wayne Allard, who represented the ship's namesake county in Colorado, made attempts to bring the Pueblo home. There is still no resolution.
Posted by: Steve White || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The Norks will never give it up. I do wonder where it's gone, though.
Posted by: gromky || 12/11/2012 0:25 Comments || Top||

#2  Pudgy probably wanted to go water skiing...
Posted by: tu3031 || 12/11/2012 1:01 Comments || Top||

#3  Practically speaking, is there any reason why we don't just blow up the dang thing? And no, sanctity of NORK airspace or sovereignty is not a reason. Just a teensy sub-launched cruise missile. Or two, because anything worth blowing up is worth blowing up good.
Posted by: SteveS || 12/11/2012 1:08 Comments || Top||

#4  might it have sank from lack of maintenance?
Posted by: abu do you love || 12/11/2012 1:36 Comments || Top||

#5  Maybe they plan on using it for target practice for their upcoming rocket launch....
Posted by: CrazyFool || 12/11/2012 2:02 Comments || Top||

#6  No way. The Norks would never let their prize sink.

Practically speaking, the reason we don't sink it with SLCMs is that the Norks would go ballistic.
Posted by: gromky || 12/11/2012 2:03 Comments || Top||

#7  Hopefully the solar powered transmitters have not been discovered.
Posted by: Besoeker || 12/11/2012 2:26 Comments || Top||

#8 
Practically speaking, the reason we don't sink it with SLCMs is that the Norks would go ballistic.


Yeah, wouldn't want that bunch acting irrational.

/snark
Posted by: Rob Crawford || 12/11/2012 9:11 Comments || Top||

#9  Surprised an underwater demo team hasnt blown the keel. Also surprised the museum staff didnt take it on a night trip to Japan.
Posted by: Rjschwarz || 12/11/2012 11:35 Comments || Top||

#10  It could be being armed for a suicide run with a nuke. It's not I'm sure, but it's possible.
Posted by: Charles || 12/11/2012 11:45 Comments || Top||

#11  "the Norks would go ballistic."

What's the downside, gromky? ;-p
Posted by: Barbara || 12/11/2012 13:02 Comments || Top||

#12  "the Norks would go ballistic."

Unlike their missiles...
Posted by: Steve White || 12/11/2012 15:30 Comments || Top||

#13  Unlike their missiles...

We have a winner!

I still don't see why we can't lob a SLCM on a dark and moonless night. SecState Shrillary can make the innocent puppy eyes of plausible deniability and all the missile parts are stamped Made in China. Who us?
Posted by: SteveS || 12/11/2012 15:47 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Four shot dead in Dera
[Dawn] Four people, two brothers among them, were killed and three others injured when unidentified motorcyclists opened indiscriminate fire on a van they were onboard in the Sheikh Yousaf area here on Sunday.

Police said that a fruit trader, Haji Gul Mohammad, his two sons Anas and Ahsan, and employees Fazlur Rehman, Abid, Ismail and Zahid were going in the van to the fruit market when the gunnies riding two cycles of violence attacked them.

As a result, Anas, Ahsan, Ismail and Abid were killed on the spot, while others received injuries. They were taken to hospital.

The attackers escaped the area after the killing. The police registered the case and started investigation.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: TTP


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Iran threatened by possible US Air Force mutiny
[Iran Press TV] Recent intelligence sources have revealed that at least one and perhaps as many as three KC 135 Stratotankers have left the United States, traversing the Pacific Ocean, for use in refueling Israeli attack aircraft on missions against Iran.

Sources indicate that at least one of these aircraft, said to belong to a command of the Arizona Air National Guard stationed at Sky Harbor IAP/ANGB near Phoenix, may be the source of the missing aircraft.

That would indicate, were this the case, that the 197th Air Refueling Command Squadron was involved.

We have direct witness confirmation of one of these aircraft involved in behavior "outside any possible mission parameters."

There have been serious concerns as to good order and discipline since it was discovered that the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs had been used as a recruiting ground for cut-thoat sects.

In a series of reports by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation headed by Mikey Weinstein, a litany of serious violations including indoctrination in cut-thoat beliefs has become commonplace in the Air Force.

A further indication of a possible threat was referred to by President Barack Obama
I inhaled. That was the point...
when, on November 21, 2012, while returning from his Far East trip, a memorandum was issued warning of "Insider Threats" against the "US Government and the nation."

The memorandum advised close monitoring of military and civilian branches of the government for threats citing both "vast espionage" and use of "violence."
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [2 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran

#1  Awww, that's nuthin. You oughta see the real plan which involves finally unleashing all our captured alien spaceships...
Posted by: tu3031 || 12/11/2012 0:59 Comments || Top||

#2  The memorandum advised close monitoring of military and civilian branches of the government for threats citing both "vast espionage" and use of "violence."

That would explain the booing of Plugs at the recent Army-Navy game.
Posted by: Besoeker || 12/11/2012 2:31 Comments || Top||

#3  ...The Stratobladders...of DOOM!!!!


Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski || 12/11/2012 5:54 Comments || Top||

#4  Nah. They're get-home juice for the BUFFs...
Posted by: Muggsy Mussolini1226 || 12/11/2012 12:19 Comments || Top||

#5  Arizona Air National Guard? It's Sheriff Joe!!!
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 12/11/2012 15:51 Comments || Top||


Europe
EU: Our Treaties With Israel Apply Only To Pre-'67 Lines
But you, dear Reader, are not in the least surprised.
[Jpost] European Union
...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing...
foreign ministers strongly stated that all of the body's agreements with Israel only applied to the pre-1967 lines, as they spoke out on Monday against Israeli settlement plans including the development of E1.

A diplomatic source told The Jerusalem Post that he feared some of the language in the council statement was placed there to lay the groundwork for labelling and possibly banning settlement products in the future.

The EU said all of its agreements with Israel "must unequivocally and explicitly indicate their inapplicability to the territories occupied by Israel in 1967, namely the Golan Heights; the West Bank, including east Jerusalem; and the Gazoo Strip."

The council called for full implementation of existing EU legislations and bilateral arrangements applicable to settlement products.
Posted by: trailing wife || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Read, the PA needs land NOT the Egypt-claimed Gaza or Jordan-claimed West bank.

Israel gets ??? iff it does this mighty sacrifice?
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 12/11/2012 0:15 Comments || Top||

#2  Auschwitz borders.
Posted by: borgboy || 12/11/2012 0:26 Comments || Top||

#3  Amalek
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 12/11/2012 4:43 Comments || Top||

#4  So, our treaties with the EU should be back to the pre-'39 lines?

Silesian and Prussian Germans could not be reached for comment.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 12/11/2012 7:55 Comments || Top||

#5  Glad to see the EU living up to its antisemitic form, like usual.
Posted by: DarthVader || 12/11/2012 13:51 Comments || Top||

#6  The EU didn't exist in 1967
Posted by: European Conservative || 12/11/2012 17:13 Comments || Top||

#7  The EU didn't exist in 1967

A touch. A palpable touch. European Conservative for Snark of the Day!
Posted by: trailing wife || 12/11/2012 21:45 Comments || Top||


Arabia
Soldier Dies after Assault on Police Car Transporting Yemeni Convict
[Yemen Post] A soldier was killed and another two injured when gunnies attacked a police car in an attempt to release a convict in downtown Yemen's capital Sanaa on Saturday, security sources told the Yemen Post.

The gunnies, who were onboard two pickups, fired at and pursued the central prison truck to release, Saleh Al-Shatawai, who had been convicted to death, they explained.

"The incident took place early Saturday while the convict was leaving Althawra hospital where he was checked under the order of the prosecution," they said, but gave no more details including the charges for which Al-Shatawai has been convicted.

The guards of the police truck resisted the attack, with one of them killed and two injured as a result.

Separately, the security authorities defused an bomb that was placed inside the car of a senior security officer in Hadramout
...the formerly independent Qu'aiti state and sultanate, annexed by Communist South Yemen in 1968, encompassing a region along the Gulf of Aden, extending eastwards to the borders of the Dhofar region of Oman. The people are called Hadhramis and speak Hadhrami Arabic. The city Tarimis estimated to contain the highest concentration of descendants of the Prophet Muhammad (PTUI) anywhere in the world, approximately seven in every square yard...
province, state media reported.

The bomb was discovered immediately after the personal driver arrived to take Colonel Salim Ali Al-Sufra from his workplace, said Fahmi Al-Saiari, director of the Hadramout security office.

"The Colonel noticed the bomb under his car, which appeared as a strange stuff, and then called the authorities," he said, adding experts were sent immediately to defuse it.

Investigations have been launched into the two incidents, which came amid alarming security disorder and acts of sabotage in key parts of Yemen.

Tens of senior military and security officers including intelligence agents have been killed in main cities including the capital Sanaa so far this year.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in Arabia

#1  first shot should've been thru Al-Shatawi's head
Posted by: Frank G || 12/11/2012 7:50 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan
Why was doctor kidnapping in Afghanistan kept secret?
News about the rescue of American doctor Dilip Joseph by US Special Operations Forces in a raid on a Taliban hideout Sunday surprised many who were unaware that the terrorist insurgent group was even holding a US hostage.

The operation was launched when US military officials gathered intelligence that Dr. Joseph was "in imminent danger of injury or death". A member of the special ops rescue team was wounded during the raid and later died. Expressing his condolences, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said, "The special operators who conducted this raid knew they were putting their lives on the line to free a fellow American from the enemy's grip."

It's little wonder that the Special Operations Forces community like to keep all of the details under wraps. But why is it so important to keep even the identity of the kidnapping victim, including the fact that anyone was kidnapped at all, secret?
Posted by: ryuge || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Yes, because they wanted the rescue mission to work.

Next question?
Posted by: gromky || 12/11/2012 0:28 Comments || Top||

#2  Success has many fathers....?
Posted by: Besoeker || 12/11/2012 3:00 Comments || Top||

#3  I think the Obama administration didn't want to publically admit that the Taliban were still a viable source of opposition...

From Threat Matrix: Ten days ago, US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta claimed that the green-on-blue attacks, in which Afghan security personnel are killing Coalition forces, were evidence of the "last gasp" of the Taliban.
September 27, 2012 1:12 PM
Posted by: juandos || 12/11/2012 12:03 Comments || Top||

#4  They had to exfil a spook?
The doc worked his way in to a high priority asset/target?
Posted by: Skidmark || 12/11/2012 12:54 Comments || Top||


China-Japan-Koreas
Iranian Experts Helping with Nork Rocket Launch
The U.S. and South Korea believe Iranian missile experts secretly entered North Korea recently and are staying near the North's rocket launch pad in Tongchang-ri.

North Korea apparently invited Iranian missile experts to help with technical problems after the previous rocket launch in April failed.
Who else would you go to than Iranian experts -- look at what they've done with drone technology...
UPI said experts from Iran's Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group, which developed the Shahab-3 intercontinental ballistic missile, will be present at the North Korean launch. "The missile connection between North Korea and Iran, which started in the 1980s, appears to be more extensive than expected," said a government official here.
Expected by who?
North Korea and Iran began cooperating in the development of missiles and other weapons of mass destruction in the 1980s, when Tehran asked Pyongyang help in developing missile technology to counter attacks from Iraqi Scuds.

In 1987, Iran imported 100 Scud-B missiles with a range of 300 km and 12 mobile launch vehicles from North Korea and used them against Iraq.

Since then, North Korea has exported Scud-C (1992) and Rodong missiles (1994) to Iran and also dispatched experts to Iran in 1990 to help it build its own missile manufacturing plant. In 1997, the North provided computer software to Iran to produce Rodong missiles.

Experts believe Iran's Shahab-3 was based on North Korea's Rodong missile, which has a range of 1,300 km, while the Shahab-5 and Shahab-6 were modeled after the North's Taepodong-2 missile. Iran succeeded in putting satellites into orbit in February 2009 and February this year using rockets based on the Shahab missile.

Iran is now apparently returning the favors. "Iran obtained missile technology not only from China and Russia but also from Western countries such as Germany and the U.K.," said one rocket expert at a state-run research institute here. "All that missile technology ended up in North Korean hands."

A Defense Ministry official here said tight sanctions from the international community prompted North Korea to test a ballistic missile in Iran.
Posted by: Steve White || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "All that missle technology ended up in North Korean hands" > out the window there flies MI5 + German = Euro security???
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 12/11/2012 0:52 Comments || Top||

#2  FYI BHARAT RAKSHAK, DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > REUNIFICATION OF PAKISTAN AND INDIA ONLY SOLUTION TO KASHMIR CRISIS.

IOW, ambitious Rising Iran may in time have yet another independent or third-party source for LR Missle, Nuke Techs, ONCE REGIONAL ISLAMIC MILTERRS FINALLY TAKEOVER INDIA???
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 12/11/2012 0:59 Comments || Top||

#3  Iran,North Korea and Pakistan is the new axis of evil.
Posted by: Flineger Elmilet5035 || 12/11/2012 8:47 Comments || Top||

#4  IRAN is now officially denying any collusion or cooperation wid the DPRK on this matter.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 12/11/2012 21:31 Comments || Top||


Britain
Fifth of UK young prisoners Muslims
[Iran Press TV] One in five young men in British detention centers have been found to be Moslems, with some of them claiming to be mistreated because of their religion while serving time in prison.
No doubt the Iran Press TV reporter was appalled by this until he realized the odds that every single one of the miscreants was Sunni, and therefore the heretical apostates had it coming.
According to a report by the chief inspector of prisons, Nick Hardwick, one in five young men in youth jails across England and Wales are Moslems, representing a sharp rise from 13 percent in 2009-10 to 21 percent in 2011-12.

The study also found that the proportion of youth offenders in jug from black and minority ethnic communities has risen to 42 percent, from 39 percent in 2010-11.

Some Moslem prisoners felt more persecuted by staff, with more than two in five having been physically suppressed while serving time, compared with around one in three non-Moslems.

"They [Moslems] reported that they were more likely to have been restrained, more likely to be victimised by staff and found it more difficult to stay in touch with friends and families," Hardwick said in a joint report with the Youth Justice Board.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Global Jihad

#1  No surprise.

Many Muslims areas i know sell drugs,do card fraud and pray five times a day so no time for a job.
Posted by: Flineger Elmilet5035 || 12/11/2012 8:35 Comments || Top||

#2  Sorry, but I really don't care.
Posted by: rel56 || 12/11/2012 11:36 Comments || Top||

#3  I care. It would've been a lot better for them not to be in the country in the first place.

Benefits * Inferior culture = Crime.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 12/11/2012 14:37 Comments || Top||


Arabia
Bahrain sentences activist's daughter to jail: lawyer
[Dawn] A Bahraini court on Monday sentenced the daughter of prominent opposition activist Hadi al-Khawaja to one month in jail for taking part in an unauthorised demonstration, her lawyer said.
"Help me, Obi-wan! You're my only hope!"
Zainab al-Khawaja, the eldest of the Shia rights activist's daughters, was found guilty of entering the "prohibited area" of Pearl Square, the main symbol of 2011 protests crushed by security forces, on Feb 12, the lawyer said.
"Aren't you kinda short for a storm trooper?"
She also was fined 100 dinars ($258).
"But Alderan is peaceful!"
"You're far too trusting!"

Her lawyers disputed the charges, saying there was "no formal decision declaring that Pearl Square is a forbidden area".
"We have an emergency alert in detention block AA-23."
"The Princess? Put all sections on alert!"
"Obi-wan is here. The Force is with him!"
"If you're right, he must not be allowed to escape!"
"Escape is not his plan. I must face him, alone!"

Zainab al-Khawaja, whose father is serving a life sentence for plotting against the state, has faced justice on several occasions already this year.
"I don't like you either. You just watch yourself. We're wanted men. I have the death sentence on twelve systems!"
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Arab Spring


India-Pakistan
Blast hits Quetta's Sariab road
[Dawn] At least one person was killed and two injured on Monday when an kaboom hit Quetta, the capital of Pakistain's restive Balochistan
...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it...
province, DawnNews reported.

According to initial reports, the blast took place near the city's main Sariab road. Rescue officials confirmed at least one person was killed as a result of the kaboom.

The nature of the blast could not be ascertained as yet.
Posted by: Fred || 12/11/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:



Who's in the News
43[untagged]
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2al-Qaeda in Arabia
2Govt of Syria
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1al-Qaeda
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.

Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.

Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has dominated Mexico for six years.
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Two weeks of WOT
Tue 2012-12-11
  North Korea 'launches long-range rocket'
Mon 2012-12-10
  Rebels Seize Chunk of Aleppo Base as Fighting Rages across Syria
Sun 2012-12-09
  Mohammad Ahmed Almansoor Drone-zapped in North Wazoo
Sat 2012-12-08
  Abu-Zaid al Kuwaiti Drone-zapped During Breakfast
Fri 2012-12-07
  6 dead, 450 injured in clashes at Egypt's presidential palace
Thu 2012-12-06
  Two Dead as Egypt Islamists Overrun Opposition Tents
Wed 2012-12-05
  Hundreds of thousands besiege Egypt's presidential palace to protest draft constitution
Tue 2012-12-04
  Syria FM Spokesman 'Defects' from Regime, Leaves Syria
Mon 2012-12-03
  Car bomb in Syria's Homs kills 15: State media
Sun 2012-12-02
  Mullah Nazir orders out Mehsud Taliban fighters
Sat 2012-12-01
  Egypt assembly approves new draft constitution
Fri 2012-11-30
  Damascus fighting cuts off airport, Emirates suspends flights
Thu 2012-11-29
  Bomb injures top Talibunny Mullah Nazir
Wed 2012-11-28
  Packed Tahrir Square defiant as deadlock prevails
Tue 2012-11-27
  30 Inmates Escape as Gunmen Attack Nigerian Police Unit

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