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Mortars land near Syrian presidential palace
Today's Headlines
Headline Comments [Views]
14:25 1 14:26 DarthVader []
11:43 1 17:27 Halliburton - Mysterious Conspiracy Division [1]
11:32 9 22:18 USN,Ret. [1] 
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10:32 1 23:07 Raider [1]
09:52 7 18:14 European Conservative []
09:38 5 12:02 swksvolFF [1] 
09:13 7 23:43 JosephMendiola [] 
08:57 1 12:24 Redneck Jim []
08:29 1 09:28 JohnQC []
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00:00 1 01:56 Redneck Jim []
00:00 8 20:20 SteveS [] 
00:00 5 20:37 European Conservative []
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00:00 24 19:47 DepotGuy [1] 
00:00 14 21:35 Frank G []
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00:00 2 23:15 JosephMendiola [1]
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00:00 1 10:34 Bill Clinton []
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00:00 2 10:34 Alanc [] 
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00:00 4 23:33 Grunter [1] 
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00:00 1 02:08 Redneck Jim [1]
00:00 2 17:15 trailing wife []
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00:00 1 12:32 Redneck Jim [] 
00:00 7 17:50 Dopey Sinatra9196 [2]
00:00 3 12:07 Mullah Richard [] 
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00:00 3 11:28 Ebbang Uluque6305 [1]
00:00 2 12:49 Redneck Jim []
00:00 9 17:36 Redneck Jim [1]
00:00 2 01:52 Redneck Jim []
00:00 7 00:03 JosephMendiola [1]
00:00 1 10:31 Bill Clinton []
00:00 2 14:34 rjschwarz [1]
00:00 1 07:31 JohnQC [1]
Government
IRS tax fraud: Agency wastes taxpayer cash on Blackberrys and aircards
Posted by: DarthVader || 02/19/2013 14:25 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  And now this agency is put in charge of Obamacare enforcement. Seems fitting.
Fraudulent agency for a fraudulent law.
Posted by: DarthVader || 02/19/2013 14:26 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Mortars land near Syrian presidential palace
[CHRON] A Syrian official says two mortars have exploded near one of President Bashar Assad's palaces in the capital Damascus.

The official said the rounds struck Tuesday near the southern wall of the Tishreen palace, in the capital's northwestern Muhajireen district, but caused only material damages.

No casualties were reported and it was unclear whether Assad was in the palace. He has two others in the city.
Posted by: Fred || 02/19/2013 11:43 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria

#1  Exploding mortars? What happened to the mortar shells?
Posted by: Halliburton - Mysterious Conspiracy Division || 02/19/2013 17:27 Comments || Top||


Science & Technology
Boeing Phamtom Eye - 10 Day Drone Endurance Using Ford Ranger Truck Engines
Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 02/19/2013 11:32 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  My FF ad-blocker Ghostery blocked this as being Brightcove.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 02/19/2013 11:46 Comments || Top||

#2  Worked for me, a bit heavy on hype, and damn few details, I'd class it as a second rate commercial.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/19/2013 12:39 Comments || Top||

#3  well it's just for recon

so far

Posted by: lord garth || 02/19/2013 14:58 Comments || Top||

#4  I'm glad they didn't use a Chevy engine in it.
Posted by: Yosemite Sam || 02/19/2013 16:51 Comments || Top||

#5  Ranger is a recce. I would guess the weaponized version would use a F-150 engine.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 02/19/2013 17:06 Comments || Top||

#6  Ford's engine is a small (2 liter) 4 cylinder without much power.

They use two.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/19/2013 17:38 Comments || Top||

#7  We are on our second Ford Ranger and they have hauled us all over New York City, the US and Canada for ten years now without missing a beat, so- go you good thing!
Posted by: Grunter || 02/19/2013 17:51 Comments || Top||

#8  drink up!
Posted by: Frank G || 02/19/2013 20:22 Comments || Top||

#9  sounds like the 2.0 liter originally in the Mustang II and Pinto. Good basic engines.

(must resist relating another Boeing automotive parts use, the Volt battery in the DreamFryer)
Posted by: USN,Ret. || 02/19/2013 22:18 Comments || Top||


Terror Networks
Internal dissention has exposed Qaeda's bigotry
More about the impact of Sayyid Imam Al Sharif, alias Dr Fadl.

This article starring:
Dr Fadl.
Sayyid Imam Al Sharif
Posted by: tipper || 02/19/2013 11:05 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


-Short Attention Span Theater-
Alec Baldwin’s Capital One Percenter RaceCard Commercial!!
Posted by: Beavis || 02/19/2013 10:44 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


Africa Subsaharan
French tourists seized in Cameroon near Nigeria border
Gunmen in northern Cameroon have abducted seven French tourists near the border with Nigeria, French President Francois Hollande has said.

He says they belong to the same family and were seized by a "known terrorist group based in Nigeria".

Mr Hollande added that the seven - who are said to include children - were probably taken to northern Nigeria.

Two militant groups are active there. One, Ansaru, claimed the abduction of seven foreign workers on Sunday.

Italian, British, Greek and Lebanese workers are thought to be among those being held after the attack on a construction project in Bauchi state.

Ansaru also says it is holding a French national, Francis Colump, who was seized in the northern state of Katsina.

Another Islamic militant group, Boko Haram, has staged many attacks across northern Nigeria in recent years.

A Cameroonian security official told France's AFP news agency that the family had been returning from a visit to Waza National Park when they were attacked.
Posted by: tipper || 02/19/2013 10:32 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  this is an exceptionally bad time to be a French hostage in West Africa.
Posted by: Raider || 02/19/2013 23:07 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Culture Wars
President finally shows his face after $1m golfing weekend with Tiger Woods
Posted by: tipper || 02/19/2013 09:52 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  He's doing his job, you know. The damage is being done. There's cap and trade, ObamaCare, the stimuli, the impending sequester, the downsizing of the military, the economy in ruins, the NORK nuke, the Iranian nuke, the Chinese throwing their weight around the eastern Pacific. He deserves a round of golf.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 02/19/2013 11:54 Comments || Top||

#2  Bet its not often Tiger gets to golf with someone who has screwed more people than himself.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 02/19/2013 12:04 Comments || Top||

#3  That's a keeper, swksvolFF!
Posted by: Mullah Richard || 02/19/2013 12:17 Comments || Top||

#4  The leg-humping media gets it's leg back.
Posted by: Muggsy Mussolini1226 || 02/19/2013 14:24 Comments || Top||

#5  Nome Rome burns while Nero fiddles golfs.
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 02/19/2013 17:06 Comments || Top||

#6  He won't say if Tiger Woods won, hell yes he won, otherwise Obama would announce it from LOUDSPEAKERS.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/19/2013 17:31 Comments || Top||

#7  The difference is that Tiger is paying for the people he screwed
Posted by: European Conservative || 02/19/2013 18:14 Comments || Top||


-Short Attention Span Theater-
Today's Idiot (with Down Under Language Alert)
Posted by: Grunter || 02/19/2013 09:38 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Well, if he's that stupid, he should just take a meat tenderizer to his privates to ensure he doesn't breed.
Posted by: Silentbrick - Schlumberger Squishy Mud Division || 02/19/2013 9:50 Comments || Top||

#2  Beauty mate!
Posted by: SAM at work. || 02/19/2013 11:02 Comments || Top||

#3  That is amazing!
Posted by: Glenmore || 02/19/2013 11:13 Comments || Top||

#4  Suffering from that well known Down under syndrome, usually caused by overindulgence in Fosters.
Posted by: tipper || 02/19/2013 11:33 Comments || Top||

#5  Had the good sense to at least protect his neck and face, for what thats worth.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 02/19/2013 12:02 Comments || Top||


China-Japan-Koreas
China's miltary Unit 61398 behind major hacking in the world - stealing 100sTB of data.
Posted by: Water Modem || 02/19/2013 09:13 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Apparently, someone has a good handle on what's being stolen from where.

100 TBs? That sounds like a lot but not so much when one considers many individual users have hard drives with that much storage. It all depends on how critical the info is and what it affects?
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/19/2013 9:42 Comments || Top||

#2  167 attacks on DOD networks in 7 years.
Posted by: lotp || 02/19/2013 10:48 Comments || Top||

#3  Surprise meter is stuck on zero.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 02/19/2013 11:26 Comments || Top||

#4  The Obumble admin has said it voice strong concern with the chicom government and will continue to do so. Peals of derisive laughter in Peking (they hate that version western name, hence it's use) ensued.
Posted by: NoMoreBS || 02/19/2013 12:31 Comments || Top||

#5  [hackers] stayed inside hacked networks for an average of 356 days, with the longest lasting 1,764 days

Sticking around for a year is more worrying than the hack itself.
Posted by: Frozen Al || 02/19/2013 12:34 Comments || Top||

#6  Funny how they have no problems going outbound through the Great Firewall, huh?
Posted by: Muggsy Mussolini1226 || 02/19/2013 14:20 Comments || Top||

#7  OTOH see NEWSMAX > OBAMA TO STRIKE BACK AT CHINA FOR CYBER-ESPIONAGE | OBAMA READY TO SANCTION CHINA FOR CYBER-ATTACKS.

Iff true, I have to wonder how this will affect any US response vee ongoing China-vs-Japan islands dispute in NE Asia.

AGain, THE WORSE THE CHAOS OR ANARCHIES FOR THE USA, THE BETTER FOR ANTI-NATIONALIST, ANTI-SOVEREIGN, + ANTI-CONSTITUTIONAL ANTI-US GLOBALISTS + ALIGNED AS PER OWG + NAU 2015, I.E. JUSTIFYING A US SUBORNED UNDER SAME.

E.G. WORLD NET DAILY > OBAMA ADVANCES GLOBALIST TWO-OCEAN PLAN.

Trans-Pacific Partnership [TPP] = US, Asia Trans-Pacific Union?; + Trans-Atlantic Trade + Investment Partnership = US, EU Trans-Atlantic Union???

Again, ideally or conceptually the OWG + NAU will have the Power-n-Authority, + $$$, not Washington DC any longer or in altern only in part. WHATEVER THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE "PECKING ORDER" FOR SCARCE $$$ IN 2013 + PREVIOUSLY WILL BE WORSE COME FEBRUARY 2015 OR ASAP THEREAFTER.

My belief remains steadfast that US Politicos covertly know that US-specific sovereign power-n-authority will be transferred to the OWG + NAU + any Trans/Interim in 2015 or ASAP after - THE PROB IS THEY DON'T KNOW JUST HOW MUCH, BUT THEY'RE STILL GOING TO COMMIT/BIND THE US TO SUCH ANYWAY.

By extension, ABOVE > USA = POTUS BAMMER MUST DE FACTO "LOSE" AMAP OR IN WHOLE AGZ CHINA IN NE ASIA OR EAST ASIA [ECS + SCS] EVEN IFF THE US = OBAMA SEEMINGLY "WINS".
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 02/19/2013 23:43 Comments || Top||


Terror Networks
How Social Networks Are Dealing With Terrorists
Posted by: tipper || 02/19/2013 08:57 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  They're not.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/19/2013 12:24 Comments || Top||


Home Front: WoT
LYONS: The Islamic cloud over Brennan and Hagel
Posted by: tipper || 02/19/2013 08:29 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  And Obama?
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/19/2013 9:28 Comments || Top||


The Grand Turk
Turkey crackdown on radical group after US embassy attack
Turkish police launched a massive nationwide crackdown Tuesday against a radical Marxist group which claimed a suicide bomb attack against the US embassy this month, the state-run Anatolia news agency reported.

Police issued arrest warrants for 167 people in 28 cities as part of the operation against the Revolutionary People's Liberation Front (DHKP-C), which is classified as a terrorist organisation by the United States, Anatolia said.

A Turkish guard at the US embassy in Ankara was killed in the February 1 attack and three other people including a journalist were wounded.

The outlawed DHKP-C has waged a string of attacks over the past few decades that have left dozens of people dead, including prominent political and military figures.

The fiercely anti-US group has threatened further attacks on other US diplomatic facilities in Turkey.

Posted by: tipper || 02/19/2013 03:34 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:


Home Front: Culture Wars
Chicago Teachers Union demands end of standardized testing
[DAILYCALLER] The Chicago Teachers Union urged school administrators nationwide to discontinue the use of standardized tests, deriding them as corporate tools.
"Corporates are ucky, y'know."
Not to mention it was not long ago that the Freakonomics man demonstrated he could differentiate the test results of classes taught by good teachers from those who either fed their students the right answers or those who replaced wrong answers in Chicago city schools. If I recall correctly, some Chicago teachers lost jobs over it.
The CTU recently released a report arguing that standardized tests are a faulty measure of student achievement. They also advance a pro-corporate agenda, the report said.
"We wouldn't want our kiddies to grow up and work for soulless companies!"
"Corporate interests continue to push towards a test‐centered public education system that is clearly harmful to students," according to the report.
"Students never had to take tests in the past. Why should they now?"
The union's anti-testing push is part of a broader campaign by teachers unions nationwide. Teachers at one Seattle high school recently went on strike, refusing to administer a test that they feared would be used to hold them accountable.
"If youse guys don't pass the test, it'll look like we didn't teach you nothin'!"
"But Miz Bleps, you din't teach us nothin'!"

Anti-testing efforts have also appeared in Providence, Rhode Island, and Portland, Oregon.
So as you can see they've taken root even in highly conservative states...
With propositions to tie teacher pay to student achievement gaining popularity among education reformers, teachers unions have stepped up efforts to end standardized testing. Without tests, administrators will have no data upon which to base merit pay for teachers.
"But really, it's a matter of principle!"
Opposition to standardized tests put teachers unions at odds with reformers on the left. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel lost a merit pay battle with the CTU in September. And President Obama has supported policies that reward states for evaluating teachers based on students' test scores.
"But that's, like, outcome-based education! It's corporate!"
But teachers unions have found a key ally in their push to abolish tests: the students themselves.
"No tests? Kewl!"
Posted by: Fred || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "Why should WE work for our pay?"
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/19/2013 1:43 Comments || Top||

#2  Why am I not surprised?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 02/19/2013 5:02 Comments || Top||

#3  The answer is to get the government out of teaching!

It's a total failure.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 02/19/2013 5:48 Comments || Top||

#4  perhaps instead the students could be evaluated on the logic and spelling in their tweets and text messages
Posted by: lord garth || 02/19/2013 5:49 Comments || Top||

#5  Please add government "means testing" to the prohibition. :-)
Posted by: Besoeker || 02/19/2013 6:50 Comments || Top||

#6  Fire 'em all and replace them with the first x number of names in the phone book. Couldn't be worse and would likely be better.
Posted by: Spot || 02/19/2013 7:57 Comments || Top||

#7  No need for testing. No need for teaching. No need for anyone to hire the output of today's Chicago public school system.
Posted by: Glenmore || 02/19/2013 8:10 Comments || Top||

#8  The only testing that should be done is the testing of the marketplace when the kiddies leave school.

You got a good job that you wanted? You pass.
You can't get hired for anything more complicated than asking "want fries with that"? You failed.

Posted by: Alanc || 02/19/2013 8:32 Comments || Top||

#9  Opposition to standardized tests put teachers unions at odds with reformers on the left. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel lost a merit pay battle with the CTU in September.

Irony at its finest. No wonder the home schooling movement keeps growing. One can't trust public education.
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/19/2013 8:37 Comments || Top||

#10  Of course the military uses standardize tests in their school systems. They seem satisfied with the tool in accessing student progress. Of course, in their environment 'Go - No Go' training can have a terminal effect out in practice.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 02/19/2013 9:01 Comments || Top||

#11  No tests? That's like having a football or basketball game without a score. Why bother? For unions, teachers and students, the work is much easier by not bothering with testing. However, when the student gets out, someone is going to have to evaluate their capabilities/performance somewhere down the line. Imagine a pilot, brain surgeon, ship's captain, welder, construction worker, engineer, soldier, teacher, etc. not having any checks along the way in his/her education; CHAOS.
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/19/2013 9:20 Comments || Top||

#12  Indoctrinating children with Marx just cannot be tested.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 02/19/2013 10:00 Comments || Top||

#13  Indoctrinating children with Marx just cannot be tested.

If only it were Marx.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 02/19/2013 10:07 Comments || Top||

#14  Hmmm, teachers going on strike?

Reminds me of the philosophers' strike in Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The only difference is the philosophers were actually doing something.
Posted by: Bill Clinton || 02/19/2013 10:40 Comments || Top||

#15  No need for testing. No need for teaching. No need for anyone to hire the output of today's Chicago public school system.

Somehow I think the taxpayers will end up being the employer of choice.
Posted by: lotp || 02/19/2013 10:56 Comments || Top||

#16  "But here we are at a time in the world, the information age, the age of technology, and yet 30% of people who enter high school in this country do not graduate. 44% of people who start a four-year college program do not finish it in four years. What is that about? Think back to a darker time in this our history. Two hundred years ago when slavery was going on it was illegal to educate a slave, particularly to teach them to read. Why do you think that was? Because when you educate a man, you liberate a man." World Renowned African America Neurosurgeon Ben Carson - National Prayer Breakfast

Hussein and his Marxist comrades intends to enslave the people of America. No better place to start than to replace knowledge with socialist dogma in the minds of our children.
Posted by: Dino Shomomp7692 || 02/19/2013 11:12 Comments || Top||

#17 
Posted by: Nero || 02/19/2013 14:52 Comments || Top||

#18  Nero, ya wanna put a warning on that, NSFV (not safe for viewing)?
Posted by: Alanc || 02/19/2013 15:20 Comments || Top||

#19  Ching batto unt mighty pension.

Uh uh uh uh uhhh.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 02/19/2013 16:14 Comments || Top||

#20  Nero---she has wintered well.....
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 02/19/2013 16:27 Comments || Top||

#21  nero - talking about busting Fred's bandwidth - you shattered it!
Posted by: illeagle || 02/19/2013 16:40 Comments || Top||

#22  LOL AP, never get in front of school teacher in a free buffet line. You may trust me completely in this matter.
Posted by: Shipman || 02/19/2013 16:42 Comments || Top||

#23  Shipman, the equivalent of getting between a camera and a politician?
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/19/2013 17:02 Comments || Top||

#24  Fire 'em all and replace them with the first x number of names in the phone book.

Some teachers support these policies but make no mistake – many don’t. This about Unions NOT teachers.
Posted by: DepotGuy || 02/19/2013 19:47 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Aide: Egypt flooded tunnels to cut Gaza arms flow
[Ynet] 'We don't want to see these tunnels used for illegal ways of smuggling either people or weapons that can really harm Egyptian security.' National security adviser to Morsi says, adding that president will respect peace treaty with Israel

Egypt will not tolerate a two-way flow of smuggled arms with the Gazoo Strip
...but a one way flow to the Gazooks is okay...
that is destabilizing its Sinai peninsula, a senior aide to its Islamist president said, explaining why Egyptian forces flooded sub-border tunnels last week.

The network of tunnels has been a lifeline for some 1.7 million Paleostinians in Gazoo, bringing in an estimated 30% of all goods that reach the enclave and circumventing a blockade imposed by Israel for more than seven years.

But Essam Haddad, national security adviser to President Mohamed Morsi told Rooters in an interview: "We don't want to see these tunnels used for illegal ways of smuggling either people or weapons that can really harm Egyptian security." He said that under a deal brokered by Cairo to end fighting in November between Israel and the Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason, movement that rules the Gazoo Strip, the Israeli stranglehold on the coastal territory had been considerably relaxed. Egypt has eased border controls to allow in construction materials, notably from Qatar.

"Now we can say that the borders are open to a good extent - it could still be improved - and the needs of the Gazook people are allowed in. Building materials are allowed in for the first time," Haddad said.

"And on the other side, we would not like to see arms smuggled through these tunnels either in or out, because we are now seeing in Sinai and we have captured actually across Egypt heavy arms that could be used in a very dangerous way."
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: Hamas

#1  Egypt will not tolerate a two-way flow of smuggled arms with the Gazoo Strip that is destabilizing its Sinai peninsula,

IN, is OK, OUT (Shot at us, Just won't do)
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/19/2013 2:02 Comments || Top||

#2  Flood the tunnels half way so that cargo can be floated from one end to the other a lot easier.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 02/19/2013 14:34 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Politix
Sequester jitters: Defense cuts could hit Democratic districts the worst
[WASHINGTONTIMES] When the behemoth, possibly inevitable $1.2 trillion in spending cuts descend on March 1, the Democrats will be sitting pretty, perched in the most advantageous position. Right? Wrong. A careful new study from Bloomberg Government upends that logic.

The analysis shows that Democratic congressional districts will be harder hit by the military cuts than Republican districts, and that eight of the top 10 districts that will experience the deepest cuts are represented by Democrats.

Uh-oh.

Here is the logic, according to Bloomberg government defense analyst Robert Levinson.

He notes that "Democrats won 47 percent of the seats in the House of Representatives in the 2012 election, but 58 percent of the military's fiscal 2012 prime contract spending went to companies performing work in those districts. Among the top districts, military spending in those represented by Democrats averaged $893 million this year, vs. $573 million in those represented by Republicans."
Posted by: Fred || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Good, let the cuts hurt.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/19/2013 1:29 Comments || Top||

#2  "Democrats won 47 percent of the seats in the House of Representatives in the 2012 election

While it is true, the Donks went from 192 (2010) to 201 (2012) seats; it was a pickup of 9 seats. The Pubs control the House 46% to 44%.

Maybe there is a silver lining to be had here. If the Donk districts lose House seats due to sequestration, the Pubs will increase their hold on the House. The Donks are hoping to win the House in 2014 so they can realize the glory days of (2008-2010) unrestricted spending. It was also a time when they were able to realize their decades long wet dream of shoving Obamacare down the throats of the American people and thereby gaining control of 1/6th of the economy. Should the Donks win the House, they will push gun-control, amnesty, climate change (formerly referred to as global warming), more green energy flops and carbon credits down our throats, tell us to swallow, to shut up, and to like it.
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/19/2013 8:29 Comments || Top||

#3  ...Remember a few years ago when the USN closed a big facility in always reliably Democratic Puerto Rico? The locals had been b!tching about it for years, and it got worse when a civilian employee was accidentally killed...and when the Navy closed the place, the screams of outrage were monumental.

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski || 02/19/2013 9:19 Comments || Top||

#4  That is usually how it is Mike. Soldiers cause trouble (like a college, young kids just do that) and some people scream loudly about it.

Then the base closes and they realize that 60% of their economy is based on those kids and the woe is us screams are heard.
Posted by: DarthVader || 02/19/2013 9:42 Comments || Top||

#5  Democrats aren't supposed to have jobs anyway, they're supposed to be on welfare. Like the parasites they are.
Posted by: Silentbrick - Schlumberger Squishy Mud Division || 02/19/2013 9:45 Comments || Top||

#6  Well the dems, when they did the last BRAC on Military bases made sure they shut down everything they could in Republican states.

Cuts both ways, you hate the military but you want to feed at the trough of the spending.

Screw you, I hope it hurts.
Posted by: Bill Clinton || 02/19/2013 10:38 Comments || Top||

#7  In Puerto Rico there were some who wanted the land to build condos and resorts on. The Navy had it all turned into federally protected land instead. That's when the screaming really started.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 02/19/2013 14:40 Comments || Top||

#8  Remember a few years ago when the USN closed a big facility in always reliably Democratic Puerto Rico?

Roosevelt Roads and Vieques Island. One of the fastest base-shutdowns ever.

In Puerto Rico there were some who wanted the land to build condos and resorts on.

Including Puerto Rico's governor; supposedly there were already talks with developers in the works.
Posted by: Pappy || 02/19/2013 15:18 Comments || Top||

#9  In Puerto Rico there were some who wanted the land to build condos and resorts on. The Navy had it all turned into federally protected land instead. That's when the screaming really started.

My guess is that they wanted the Federal government to cover the cleanup costs and grant the land to them, but the Feds decided it was cheaper to just leave the land as is.
Posted by: Zhang Fei || 02/19/2013 16:09 Comments || Top||

#10  I'm sure for a small grant, someone with credentials from higher education can find some sort of new and very local species that will obstruct any clean up on Vieques.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 02/19/2013 17:26 Comments || Top||

#11  ...Similar situation at Fort Monroe, VA - the developers were salivating over what might well have become the most expensive real estate between NYC and Hilton Head...until the Feds let slip how much unexploded ammo was lying around, dating back to the Civil War. HINT: at least once or twice a year, EOD got a workout. Nobody was going to pay eight figures for the possibility of a UXO beneath the azaleas, so...

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski || 02/19/2013 19:28 Comments || Top||

#12  Once upon a time even Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee voiced her opposition to defense cuts. 'Course they were in her district. That thar Military Industrial Complex sure is some cunning sumbitches.
Posted by: DepotGuy || 02/19/2013 20:10 Comments || Top||

#13  ..Similar situation at Fort Monroe, VA

And Camp Pendleton. The Marines made a significant amount of land a nature preserve/wildlife sanctuary. Not by chance, it's on the northern and eastern areas of the base, areas most coveted by developers.
Posted by: Pappy || 02/19/2013 21:08 Comments || Top||

#14  and south - Trestles
Posted by: Frank G || 02/19/2013 21:35 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
EU Amends Syria Sanctions to Boost Protection of Civilians
[An Nahar] The European Union
...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing...
on Monday renewed sanctions against Syria while amending them to enable nations to provide more "non-lethal" and technical support to help protect civilians.

A statement agreed by EU foreign ministers said the bloc's sanctions were renewed for three more months until end-May, while "amending them so as to provide greater non-lethal support and technical assistance for the protection of civilians."

The ministers' talks on Syria largely focused on a request by Britannia, backed by Italia and a handful of EU allies, to lift an EU arms embargo barring the supply of weapons to the rebel coalition battling Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad
Light of the Alawites...
Though the arms embargo was maintained, the agreement to boost "non-lethal" support and "technical assistance" went some way to meeting Britannia's calls for more support for the opposition Syrian National Coalition.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague had called for changes to the existing arms ban "so that we can provide a broader range of support to the National Coalition."

"We give them strong political and diplomatic support. We also give them assistance in terms of equipment at the moment to help them try to save people's lives," he added. "I think there is a broader range of equipment that we could give to them."

The EU's wide-ranging sanctions against Syria, including the arms ban but also targeting scores of Assad cronies and regime-friendly firms, as well as oil, trade and finance, expire at the end of the month and a deal to renew the package required unanimity.

"Delivering arms might bring about a new military balance on the ground," said an internal paper on the matter drafted for the member states by Ashton's service.

"But it could also fuel further militarization of the conflict, increase risks of dissemination among krazed killer groups and of arms proliferation in a post-Assad Syria," said the paper, which was obtained by Agence La Belle France Presse.

Options that were up for discussion on the table were restricting the embargo to the Syrian government, exempting members of the opposition Syrian National Coalition from the arms ban, or amending the embargo to allow some weapons to be delivered with a view to increasing the protection of civilian populations.
Posted by: Fred || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria


India-Pakistan
Shia surgeon, son shot dead in Lahore
[Pak Daily Times] Lahore General Hospital Ophthalmology Department head Prof Dr Ali Haider and his 12-year-old son were rubbed out by two unidentified motorcyclists in the Gulberg area on Monday.

Dr Haider, a resident of Hali Road Gulberg, was going to drop his son Murtaza at school in his car when two motorcyclists intercepted them near FC College Bridge and opened fire. As a result, Dr Haider was struck down in his prime, while his son received fatal bullet wounds. They were taken to a nearby hospital, where Murtaza died shortly after his admission to the facility.

The family members of the late doctor informed the police that Dr Haider had no enmity.

They strongly condemned the incident and demanded immediate arrest of the culprits. Police have shifted the bodies to the morgue for autopsies, and started the paperwork but haven't done much else against unidentified persons.
Posted by: Fred || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Lashkar e-Jhangvi

#1  Let them kill doctors, Nobody to heal them.

And the others will leave.
So, they're screwing themselves here.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/19/2013 13:01 Comments || Top||

#2  Let them kill doctors, Nobody to heal them.

But the Sunnis are killing Shia doctors, leaving nobody to heal the Shiites, since nowadays in Pakistan f ewer and fewer Sunni doctors will treat non-Sunni patients.
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/19/2013 17:15 Comments || Top||


The Grand Turk
Jihad not related to terrorism, Turkish FM Davutoglu says
The taqiyya, it is thick in the air today.
[Hurriyet Daily News] There is no connection between jihad and terrorism, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said yesterday, adding that suggestions to the contrary come from American neo-cons
That is to say, Jews...
and Israelis.

"Jihad is the name of fighting for our honor if required but firstly it means fighting against our own self's limits, according to us," Davutoğlu said yesterday in Istanbul at the headquarters of the Independent Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (MÜSİAD), where he attended the conference "Turkey in the light of international developments, 2013."

"For us, jihad is a sacred notion; let us not taint this notion by using it like neo-cons and pro-Israelis in America," Davutoğlu said while condemning an opposition party deputy who asked the Turkish government on its policy regarding the jihadist movement in Syria at a Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission meeting on Feb. 15.

Davutoğlu also criticized the particular deputy for asking question in English instead of Turkish since the session was held in the Turkish Assembly, albeit with EU officials.

"A mentality has appeared now that is tainting these notions [of jihad]; they have introduced [this usage] into our culture, and they even use it in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, which was founded with help that came from a jihad fatwa [during Turkey's Liberation War]," Davutoğlu said.

Davutoğlu also told an anecdote about a Turkish diplomat named Cihad Erginay -- who is Turkey's envoy to the Czech Republic -- in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington.

"His name is also jihad; the ones who greeted him in the airport were walking behind and yelled at him 'Cihat,' then everybody hits the deck," Davutoğlu said, adding that this was part of the outcome of the misunderstanding of the word jihad.

Question over al-Nusra Front

Meanwhile,
...back at the dirigible, Cynthia backed into the galley, the barbecue fork held in front of her. Jack! she called. Where the hell are you?...
Aykan Erdemir, a main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy told the Daily News on the phone yesterday that he was the one to ask Davutoğlu if Turkey considered the al-Nusra Front in Syria, which identifies itself a jihadist movement, as a terrorist organization like the U.S. and NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Originally it was a mutual defense pact directed against an expansionist Soviet Union. In later years it evolved into a mechanism for picking the American pocket while criticizing the cut of the American pants...
do.

"It was a yes or no question; in not answering it, he called me an Orientalist, which is total defamation. Does he also blame al-Nusra for Orientalism? Do you count this organization as a terrorist organization or not, that was the question. The Turkish public must be informed about Turkey's position," Erdemir said.
Posted by: Fred || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "You're an Idiot" Says Redneck Jim.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/19/2013 1:35 Comments || Top||

#2  Now that is some mental gymnastics that even Jilani would admire.

Does this kind of thinking cause brain damage or is it the result of brain damage?
Posted by: Bill Clinton || 02/19/2013 10:36 Comments || Top||

#3  In other news, water is no longer considered to be 'wet'.

Film at 11 (10PM CST)
Posted by: Mullah Richard || 02/19/2013 12:07 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Members of banned group arrested
[Dawn] Five members of Hizbut Tehrir were tossed in the slammer
Please don't kill me!
in Sadiqabad on Saturday night, charged with distributing literature that contained anti-military and anti-state material.

The city police chief, Azhar Hameed Khokhar, told Dawn that the men were prominent members of Hizbut Tehrir, an organization banned by the government.

"They were already on our wanted list, since they've been involved in such incidents in the past. Fresh charges are being filed in this arrest," he said.

"These arrests are not related to the New Katarian incident," Khokar added, referring to a recent police encounter there.

The five men were identified as Saad Jugranvi, Khalid Qadeer Butt, Qadir Ali, Muhammad Junaid and Muhammad Asif.
Posted by: Fred || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Hizb-ut-Tahrir


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
FSA: We will Treat Hizbullah Fighters as 'Mercenaries'
[An Nahar] The Free Syran Army Military Commander General Salim Idris said on Monday that he ordered his fighters to treat Hizbullah's captives as "mercenaries and not as prisoners of war".

Idris elaborated that Hizbullah's fighters will be tried in military courts: "They will not be treated following the conditions mentioned in the international law and which mention a trade between the prisoners of the parties at war".

He noted: "We welcome all international parties wanting to be reassured about process undertaken during the trial".
Posted by: Fred || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: Hezbollah


Africa Subsaharan
Govt gives terms for talks with Boko Haram
[Guardian Ng] FOR the Federal Government to engage in direct negotiations with Boko Haram
... not to be confused with Procol Harum, Harum Scarum, possibly to be confused with Helter Skelter. The Nigerian version of al-Qaeda and the Taliban rolled together and flavored with a smigeon of distinctly Subsaharan ignorance and brutality...
, the group has to constitute a credible leadership or its leader Ibrahim Shekau has to publicly renounce violence and embrace dialogue as a path to peace.

This was the position of the Federal Government as articulated Monday by the National Coordinator of Counter Terrorism and Insurgency in the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj.-Gen. Sarkin Yakin Bello.

Besides, an Islamic group, Ansaru, Monday grabbed credit for the kidnapping of foreigners on a construction site in Bauchi last weekend.

Meanwhile,
...back at the argument, Livia grabbed for Jane's hair to make her point. Jane elbowed her in the face in rebuttal...
President Goodluck Jonathan
... 14th President of Nigeria. He was Governor of Bayelsa State from 9 December 2005 to 28 May 2007, and was sworn in as Vice President on 29 May 2007. Jonathan is a member of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP). He is a lover of nifty hats, which makes him easily recognizable unless someone else in the room is wearing a neat chapeau...
has ordered the nation's security agencies to take "all necessary actions" to locate and rescue the kidnapped foreigners.

Jonathan also commiserated with the family of the guard who was reportedly killed in the attack on the site.

Bello also disclosed that the country would soon set up a National Counter Terrorism Centre that would serve as a processing centre for all intelligence, which would address the peculiar security challenges of the country.

Bello said at the National Defence College, Abuja while addressing visiting top United States military leaders and their Nigerian counterparts that Nigeria had a primary interest in the containment of the beturbanned goons in Mali as the country had been providing safe haven for the Boko Haram elements in Nigeria.

Noting that membership of the terrorist groups also included nationals drawn from Niger, Chad and Cameroun, Bello declared that "to finally solve the Boko Haram challenge in Nigeria, the umbilical cord between it and other terror groups need to be broken. And that is what is happening right now in Mali. Most of the snuffies in Northern Nigeria come from Mali. So, we have a primary interest to contain the beturbanned goons in Mali. There is a containment interest, which is in our national interest. That (Mali) is where Boko Haram members get their training, funding and bases. They are well established there."

Explaining that the Federal Government was not averse to negotiating with the terror group as a way of bringing peace, Bello said that "if a credible leadership shows itself, government is ready to negotiate with them. If (leader of the Boko Haram sect, Ibrahim) Shekau can come out, using his usual medium, to renounce violence, the government will be ready for the dialogue."
Posted by: Fred || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Boko Haram


Government
City spends $585,000 on study of how to save money
[BALTIMORESUN] Why did Baltimore need to pay outside consultants half a million dollars for a report that says the city's financial future is grim?
Probably because a city govt largely made up of friends and relatives of Dem politicians didn't have anyone who could spell well enough to put the report together.
Some city residents wondered as much after Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake called for a new trash collection fee, a smaller city workforce and cuts to employee benefits as a way to deal with the projected $750 million, 10-year budget shortfall the consultants projected. For a city as financially strapped as Baltimore, couldn't that work have been done in house?
A smaller city workforce would involve dumping some of those friends and relatives. Cutting city employees' benefits would show a lack of "compassion for the working man" so that ain't gonna happen, even though they're gonna vote Dem from long-established habit; the city's had two Republican administrations since 1943, both of them Theodore McKeldon, and he's dead now. A new trash collection fee will bring in new funds which can then be pissed away on projects that don't involve filling potholes or tearing down rotting, boarded up row homes, or changing the oil in garbage trucks. That's assuming any of the recommendations are put into effect at all.
The answer, according to city budget director Andrew Kleine, is no.
Those who've heard of it are still working on that "i before e except after c, except when the word's weird" thingy. They're not in the majority, mind you.
Though the city's finance department makes three-year projections, it lacked both the manpower and the skill set to make long-term actuarial projections and propose reforms, Kleine said. Many of the more than 100 proposed reforms will be detailed Wednesday when Rawlings-Blake releases the full report, officials said.
It's just a report, not actual legislation. That would involve the city council, which feels "compassion for the working man."
"We just didn't have the staff or the expertise to do this," Kleine said. "Our core function is to formulate the budget and monitor the budget."
"City budget directors aren't involved in putting together actual budgets, y'know. We just formulate 'em. We can add and subtract pretty good, but all those graphy thingies are hard. It's best to call in outside experts for that sort of thing."
As for the cost, Public Financial Management Inc. of Philadelphia won the contract in 2011 with a proposal to charge the city $460,000, beating two other finalists whose work would have cost taxpayers $500,000 and $507,000, respectively.
Shucks, I'da done it for them for a mere $400k flat.
But the scope of the needed work grew over the past year, Kleine said, and city officials added another $125,000 to the deal -- meaning the consultants were paid $585,000 in all.
We call that sort of thing "requirements creep" in the consulting game. Other times we call it "money in the pocket."
Even so, Kleine said, it was money well spent.
"Oh, yeah. If you're gonna piss it away, this is the way to do it."
Public Financial Management assigned 20 employees to the project, with two workers logging more than 750 hours, he said. The company and its subcontractors did in-depth research on the "best practices" of other jurisdictions, conducted interviews, made actuarial predictions and suggested reforms.
Two guys with more than 750 billable hours between them? And actuary contractors don't come cheap. And another eighteen guys to google "best practices city management," make phone calls, and generally pass verbal gas. Lotsa travel in there, per diem, and all that. It's stuff like this that keeps MBAs off foodstamps.
Posted by: Fred || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  How much is it going to cost to actually save any money? "Stop spending," in two words. Now that didn't cost anything.
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/19/2013 7:39 Comments || Top||

#2  Fred said: We call that sort of thing "requirements creep" in the consulting game.

In my section of the consulting scam game we called it scope creep (or gallup in some cases). ;^)

Schedule, funtionality, cost...pick two.
Posted by: Alanc || 02/19/2013 8:47 Comments || Top||

#3  Fred's on a roll today. LOL.
Posted by: KBK || 02/19/2013 10:04 Comments || Top||

#4  Think how much they could save if they spent a cool million!
Posted by: Iblis || 02/19/2013 15:04 Comments || Top||

#5  Please don't get me started on women buying new shoes and bags and telling their husbands how much they just SAVED!
Posted by: European Conservative || 02/19/2013 20:37 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Seven dead as political agent's office hit
[Pak Daily Times] Seven people, including two civilians, were killed on Monday in an attack on the office of the chief administrator for the neighbouring Khyber tribal region, police and witnesses said.

The attackers wearing levies uniform reportedly aimed to free colleagues under detention. Two kabooms were heard, followed by gunfire at the compound of Muttahir Zaib Khan, where tribal officials and members of political parties had gathered for talks.

The blasts were heard by residents living across the Old Bara Road. "At least five people were killed and seven others injured in the incident," Jamal Shah, front man for the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), told Daily Times.

The dead included three personnel of the Khasadar Force (tribal police) and a line officer. The identity of the fifth victim could not be ascertained.

Police sources said that two civilians were also killed when the gunfire erupted following the attack. At least two suicide kaboomers entered the office of the political agent where a Jirga was being held with elders from Khyber tribal region, discussing the upcoming election process in their areas.

"It appears the cut-throats attacked the compound of the political agent freeing prisoners who were brought to the political agent's office," said a security bigshot. The office, seat of power in Khyber tribal region, is surrounded by two checkposts manned by the army. The jihad boys' penetration deep into the heart of the Cantonment area comes as an alarming bell for the provincial government of the Awami National Party, which lost its senior minister Bashir Ahmed Bilour, and failed suicide attack on Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti.

Landikotal Assistant Political Agent Khalid Mumtaz Kundi was among those injured in the attack. He was shifted to the Combined Military Hospital. Army personnel also participated in the operation against the attackers just moments after reaching the site, according to Mumtaz Khan, a shopkeeper in the nearby super market.

"Security forces sealed off the area around Bara and Mall Road. A search operation was conducted in the area to ensure it was cleared of attackers," he told Daily Times.

Bomb Disposal Squad Additional Inspector General Shafqat Malik believed that one of the suicide attackers entered the control room and went kaboom!, destroying it completely. He sid the second jacket wallah detonated his explosives near the hall where a jirga was underway. About eight kilogrammes of high-quality explosives were used in each of the jackets, said the bomb disposal squad chief. "We were meeting Political Agent Muttahir Zaib on the code of elections in the Tribal Areas when the attackers, which I believe were two, entered and launched the attack," Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf
...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations....
(PTI) Khyber Tribal Region President Iqbal Afridi said. "First they opened fire and lobbed a hand grenade and killed two local police officials. Then they entered in the compound and a shootout erupted," senior police official Imran Shahid told AFP.
Posted by: Fred || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: TTP

#1  Were they "Civilians" BEFORE they died, Probably not.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/19/2013 2:08 Comments || Top||


China-Japan-Koreas
Iran 'Paid Millions for Ringside Seat at N.Korean Nuke Test'
Iranian scientists witnessed North Korea's latest nuclear test last Tuesday, a western diplomatic source has told Japan's Kyodo News.

Kyodo on Friday reported that Tehran asked in November for Iranian scientists to be allowed to witness the nuclear test and offered to pay tens of millions of U.S. dollars. According to the source, the suggestion came from Iran's vice president and chief of the country's nuclear agency in a national security meeting with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and senior ministers on Nov. 22 last year. Ahmadinejad authorized that the payment be made through Bank of Kunlun in Beijing.

Kyodo said it is unclear whether the Iranian scientists actually witnessed the test.
Guess...
The unnamed source was quoted as saying the proposal casts further doubt on Iran's claims that its nuclear program is peaceful. He added it would be "very worrying" if Iran got nuclear test knowhow from North Korea.

Kyodo said Iranian defense ministry officials have been in North Korea since October last year as part of bilateral cooperation in missile and nuclear arms development. They are apparently housed in a military facility 85 km from the border with China.

North Korea has sold missiles to Iran in the past as the two international pariahs boost military ties.
Posted by: Steve White || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Yup, GUILTY, blast them. (Our of a cannon, preferably)
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/19/2013 1:48 Comments || Top||

#2  Milyuhns + Dilyuhns + ... ...

We'll see in March 2013 or ASAP after, iff no progress still in P5+1 talks + Iran still refusing to put its NucProg under UNIAEA supervision.

FYI TOPIX > AT PENTAGON, "PIVOT TO ASIA" BECOMES "SHIFT TO AFRICA".

Read, NOT IRAN???

versus

* TOPIX, WORLD NEWS, DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > IRAN AYATOLLAH [NOT Khamenei]: I WILL [peacefully]RETURN LANDS OF AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA, + TAIJIKISTAN, back to Iran.

* RIAN > RUSSIAN MILITARY CHIEF [CoGS Gen. Valery Gerasimov] PREDICTS RESOURCE WARS SOON [circa Year 2030], as over ...

> Fuel + Energy Resources.
> Markets.
> "Living Space".

Besides also Food + Water.

Lest we fergit, 1990's NET > CHINA'S DEMAND FOR 1/2 OF CONUS-NORAM FOR "LIVING SPACE" DUE TO EXCESSIVE POPULATION; + SINO-RUSSIAN "WAR AGZ THE USA IS NOT ONLY POSSIBLE BUT DESIRED" STARTING IN 2018 [IIRC Russia = 2017-2022, China = more flexible, EARLIER].
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 02/19/2013 1:48 Comments || Top||

#3  Why shouldn't they have a ringside seat, it was probably their bomb?
Posted by: Alanc || 02/19/2013 8:21 Comments || Top||

#4  I love it personally. No doubt AlanC is right: it was their bomb, and the Norks STILL extracted cash from them.

For being all full of army-first juche, the Norks are pretty good robber-baron capitalists...
Posted by: Steve White || 02/19/2013 9:51 Comments || Top||

#5  the Norks are pretty good robber-baron capitalists...

If they ever open up a used car lot...
Posted by: SteveS || 02/19/2013 10:13 Comments || Top||

#6  Next time the ringside seats should be a LOT closer - want them to be sure to have a good view of the reaction.
Posted by: Glenmore || 02/19/2013 11:08 Comments || Top||

#7  ION DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND > NORTH KOREA THREATENS TO CONDUCT FOLLOW-UP NUCLEAR TEST + [finally]"DESTROY" SOUTH KOREA.

And NOKOR did so while at the UN talks.

* RELATED DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > SOUTH KOREA FACES "FINAL DESTRUCTION" | NORTH KOREA WARNS SOUTH KOREA OF "FINAL DESTRUCTION".

versus

* DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > [Information Clearing House = LONG] WHY NORTH KOREA NEEDS NUCLEAR WEAPONS?

* TOPIX > [Times of Oman] NORTH KOREA COLLAPSE MAY NOT BE DRASTIC FOR CHINA.

ARTIC = DPRK 3rd Nuclear Test a "GAME-CHANGER" for both the US + China.

* RUSSIA TODAY > NORTH KOREA SEEKING MEMBERSHIP IN NUCLEAR CLUB: EXPERT. Alexander Zhebin of the Korean Studies Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

ARTIC = NORTH KOREA may be seeking INDIA-STYLE sttaus widin the Nuclear Club, where NOKOR = India is allowed to dev its own NucWeaps + externally purchase NucTechs + NucMats, etc. from around the World WHILE ALSO NOT BEING FORMALLY VIEWED BY THE NUCLEAR CLUB AS A NUCLEAR WEAPONS STATE.

IRAN???

CAN DEV NUCWEAPS WHILE NOT OFFICIALLY BEING SEENS AS A NUCLEAR WEAPONS STATE BY THE CLUB - OOOOOOOOOO, you just know Iran's Mullahs will be po'ed iff the DPRK can pull it off but Iran can't.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 02/20/2013 0:03 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Assad says confident of winning Syria war
[Pak Daily Times] Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad
Despoiler of Deraa...
said he is confident his troops will win the conflict ravaging Syria, as new calls were made on Monday for the International Criminal Court
... where Milosevich died of old age before being convicted ...
to launch a probe into war crimes. Assad's comments, published in Leb's pro-Damascus
...The place where Pencilneck hangs his brass hat...
newspaper As-Safir, came as the European Union
...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing...
renewed sanctions against Syria while amending them to enable nations to provide more "non-lethal" and technical support to help protect civilians. As-Safir said that Assad had met with unnamed Lebanese politicians in Damascus during which he assured them that Syria's future belonged to his camp. "We are sure we will win, we are reassured by the political and military developments," Assad was quoted as telling the visiting politicians, the Lebanese newspaper said. "We are convinced that the future is ours... Syria has the willpower to defeat the conspiracy," said Assad, according to As-Safir. He said those "loyal" to his regime "represent the absolute majority of Syrians"
Posted by: Fred || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria

#1  You can make this bet. The bet is Basher Al-Assad to be President of Syria on 1st of July 2013. PaddyPower Link. Odds are 4/5 No, 10/11 Yes. Of course, the bet wasn't "Will Assad end up like Kadaffy?"
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/19/2013 9:09 Comments || Top||

#2  The Syrian Rebels repor claim they don't have the weapons to end the war - I could be wrong, but IMO the FSA may actually be hoping that Hezbollah gets rid of Baby Assad [+ Al-Qaeda, etc. foreigners] for them ...???

To wit,

* TOPIX > SYRIAN REBELS THREATEN TO HIT HEZBOLLAH TARGETS IN lEBANON.

* SAME > TENSIONS RISE IN SYRIAN CRISIS BETWEEN FOREIGNERS [Qaeda, Taliban, etal.] AND LOCALS [domestic Rebels e.g. FSA].
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 02/19/2013 23:15 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Tunisia PM Says Plan for New Government Has failed
[An Nahar] Tunisia's Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali announced late on Monday that his plan for a new government of technocrats has failed, but he left the door open for compromise and did not say he would stand down.

"I say in all clarity that the initiative I presented -- that is to say, a government composed of members not belonging to any political parties -- failed to reach a consensus," Jebali said after talks with party leaders.

"Another form of government" was still a possibility, he added.

The prime minister had vowed to step down if his controversial proposal to form a non-partisan administration, designed to avert political turmoil in Tunisia but opposed by his Islamist party Ennahda, was thwarted.

"I will go tomorrow (Tuesday) to the president to discuss the next stages, but I noted progress during the political discussions in terms of seeking a consensus around another solution," Jebali said.

He said this new formula should emerge "in the coming days," adding further delays to the search for a solution to a political crisis triggered by the liquidation of a leftwing politician.

Jebali insisted that despite its failure, his initiative had at least succeeded in "getting everyone around a table" and in preventing Tunisia "from falling into the unknown."

Rached Ghannouchi, the veteran leader of Jebali's Ennahda party, said the representatives of some 15 parties had agreed at Monday's meeting on the need for a government with "political competences" and tasked with holding elections as soon as possible.

"We in Ennahda want to ensure that Jebali continues to chair (the cabinet), and so do all those who took part in this meeting," he told Agence La Belle France Presse.

Aziz Kirchen, representing President Moncef Marzouki's Congress for the Republic, said an agreement had been reached for "the formation of a mixed government" of politicians and technocrats, but without giving details.

Jebali first proposed his initiative in the wake of public outrage over the the murder in broad daylight of Chokri Belaid, a leftist opposition leader and fierce critic of the ruling Islamists.
Posted by: Fred || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Arab Spring

#1  "I say in all clarity that the initiative I presented -- that is to say, a government composed of members not belonging to any political parties -- failed to reach a consensus,"

There, that ought to fool anybody.
It's screwed up enough to fool the proles.
And the Intelligent don't vote.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/19/2013 1:42 Comments || Top||

#2  Boy howdy!! Nothing gets by ole Jebali does it?
Posted by: Alanc || 02/19/2013 10:34 Comments || Top||


-Lurid Crime Tales-
Mentally ill roundup plan after train pushes
[NYPOST] The city is making a major push to sweep the streets of dangerous, mentally ill New Yorkers -- and has even compiled a most-wanted list, The Post has learned.
The city's most visible lunatics will now be locked away until the ACLU gets writs of habeas corpus. Less visible mentally ill will continue walking the city streets, speaking with invisible companions and shrieking at people who don't live in their world, which is most of us.
The measure follows a pair of high-profile subway-shove fatalities from December allegedly involving mentally ill individuals.
And attention span's stretched all the way from December to February? There can't be much more left remaining.
The city has already drawn up a list of 25 targets, sources said.
"Alright, McGonigle! Tell me why this particular 25 are the worst?"
"Well, chief, you see this guy, number 11? We had him, but he gnawed through the bars and flew away."

"After the Queens subway attack [of immigrant Sunando Sen], the [city] decided to take a proactive approach
Ahah. Yes. Proactive is good.
to track down the most dangerous mental-health patients that currently have mental-hygiene warrants" out for them, a law-enforcement source said.
"Mental hygiene warrants" are served by men in white coats driving around the city with butterfly nets close at hand.
Those warrants mean that the patients are not wanted for a crime but instead are being sought because they are not getting their court-ordered treatment.
"What kinda 'court-ordered treatment,' McGruder?"
"Y'see this guy, chief? They prescribed a nice canvas jacket with very long sleeves for him, along with some nice rubber padding for the walls of his room!"

There are a handful of cops assigned to the detail,
They're known as "the guys that drew the short straws"...
which began working in the past few weeks, the source said.
"Alright, team! Let's go catch loons!"
"You go first!"
"No, you go first!"

Cops in the NYPD's Real Time Crime Center are using high-tech methods to first track down the individuals,
"What kinda 'high-tech methods?'"
"We got this computer program that tracks paths of destruction, chief. All we gotta do is fire it up and it'll tell us which way the target's moving!"
"You can't call 'em 'targets,' McGregor! That implies yer gonna shoot 'em!"
"We are, chief! See, we got these dart guns with hypodermics in 'em. All we gotta do is pull the trigger [pffft!]... Oops. Sorry, chief."
[Swoon!]

and detectives on the street have been assigned to then go after them and take them to hospitals, law-enforcement sources said.
"'Scuse us, sir! We're from the NYPD... Grab him, McMurphy!"
"Aaaiiieee!"
"McMurphy! My Gawd! Look out for his... whatever those are!"

In the past, the city Department of Health would ask cops for help finding mentally ill people who aren't taking their court-mandated meds so they could be taken to clinics. But that only applied to those who had known addresses -- and patients who went off the grid were rarely pursued, the sources said.
Because once they're off the grid they're not dangerous anymore.
Posted by: Fred || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Sounds like "Men in Black 4".
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/19/2013 1:31 Comments || Top||

#2  Sounds like a government failing at the basics.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 02/19/2013 7:40 Comments || Top||

#3  The city's most visible lunatics will now be locked away

Will Bloomberg be considered?
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/19/2013 8:39 Comments || Top||

#4  If they can find doctors for a Death Panel, they certainly can find shrinks for the Imminent Danger Panel to provide the fig leaf piece of paper to ward off the ACLU.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 02/19/2013 8:58 Comments || Top||

#5  I have a mental picture of keystone cops meets wile e. coyote meets The RAB before this ends.
Posted by: USN,ret || 02/19/2013 9:02 Comments || Top||

#6  Mentally ill --- somebody incapable of grasping the true glory of the glorious leader?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 02/19/2013 9:25 Comments || Top||

#7  This won't cause any paranoia, of course.
Posted by: Muggsy Mussolini1226 || 02/19/2013 14:23 Comments || Top||

#8  Sez the Bloomin' idiot hisself: "everybody in dis burg is nutz 'cept me and thee, and sometimes I wonder about thee".
Posted by: Rivrdog || 02/19/2013 14:44 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan
Former Pakistani Taliban No 2 arrested in Afghanistan: reports
[Dawn] Afghan intelligence officials on Monday claimed to have enjugged
Maw! They're comin' to get me, Maw!
the former second-in-command of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistain (TTP), Maulvi Faqir, along with "four accomplices" while he was trying to enter Pakistain's Tirah Valley from Afghanistan's Nangarhar
The unfortunate Afghan province located adjacent to Mohmand, Kurram, and Khyber Agencies. The capital is Jalalabad. The province was the fief of Younus Khalis after the Soviets departed and one of his sons is the current provincial Taliban commander. Nangarhar is Haqqani country..
province.

"Maulvi Faqir and his four accomplices who had entered Nangarhar from Bajaur Agency, aka Turban Central
...Smallest of the agencies in FATA. The Agency administration is located in Khar. Bajaur is inhabited almost exclusively by Tarkani Pashtuns, which are divided into multiple bickering subtribes. Its 52 km border border with Afghanistan's Kunar Province makes it of strategic importance to Pakistain's strategic depth...
were apprehended near Basawal on Torkham Road near the border of Khyber Agency's Tirah Valley," an Afghan intelligence official said on condition of anonymity.

"Yes I can confirm their names as they had told us. Maulvi Faqir, Shahid Umar, Maulana Hakeemullah Bajauri, Mualana Turabi and Fateh are the people who have been arrested," he replied when asked about the identity of the arrested people.

"They were traveling in a vehicle when (we) intercepted near Basawal village of Nangarhar," he added.

The Afghan intelligence official, who identified himself with the name Abdullah, said: "Arms and ammunition have also been seized from their vehicle. The five are in the custody of Afghan intelligence officials who are interrogating them."

Maulvi Faqir was the deputy amir (second-in-command) of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistain (TTP) and the Taliban chief in Bajaur Agency, but was later removed from his position in March 2012 on suspicions of entering into a peace deal with the Pak government.

Faqir Muhammad, who hails from Chopatra Village of Bajaur Agency, was first part of the Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi, and later the deputy chief of TTP until March 2012 when he announced himself as the TTP chief after the death of Baitullah Mehsud. Faqir had also publicly accepted his ties with al-Qaeda network and had been accused of a number of cross-border attacks in Bajaur Agency and the settled Lower and Upper Dir district.
Posted by: Fred || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in Pakistan


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Iran Parliament Apologizes to Khamenei over Infighting
[An Nahar] Iran's parliament has apologized to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for a heated row during an impeachment session, joining the president, speaker and chief justice in pledging obedience to the supreme leader.

Khamenei at the weekend had rebuked the deputies for their role in the squabbling that broke out in the February 3 impeachment session, during which President Mahmoud Short Round Ahmadinejad and speaker Ali Larijani got into verbal fight.

"For our part, we apologize for what happened ... during the impeachment," of the labor minister Abdolreza Sheikholeslam, said a statement signed by 265 members of the 290-seat parliament, media reported on Monday.

The parliamentarians emphasized that obedience to the leader, who had dubbed the impeachment as a "bad decision", was a "religious and legal obligation".

Following Khamenei's criticism, Ahmadinejad, the speaker and the judiciary chief Ayatollah Sadeq Larijani expressed "obedience" to him in separate letters, media reported.

The parliamentary row, which was broadcast on radio, came as parliament proceeded to impeach Ahmadinejad's labor minister for refusing to sack Tehran's ex-prosecutor Saeed Mortazavi as head of a wealthy social welfare organization.

In that session, Ahmadinejad played a video recording which allegedly incriminates Fazel Larijani, a brother of both the parliament speaker and the judiciary chief, who is a direct appointee of Khamenei.

Fazel is shown in the clip as allegedly trying to bribe Mortazavi in exchange for political support from the parliament and the judiciary.

Larijani in response charged that Ahmadinejad was impeding justice by shielding his inner circle from judicial investigation.

Candidates seeking reelection and those who seek to become deputies, have to be vetted by the Guardians Council, whose members are appointed by Khamenei.

The rift between Ahmadinejad and the parliament and judiciary, two bodies which are dominated by conservatives critical of his administration, first surfaced in April 2011 when the president challenged a ruling by Khamenei, who has final say on all state matters.
Posted by: Fred || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran


Syria Rebels seize key checkpoint near Aleppo airport
[An Nahar] Syrian rebels seized a key army checkpoint near Aleppo airport on Monday as they fought with troops to control several airports in the north, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.

"The rebels seized a checkpoint several hundred meters (yards) away from Nayrab military airport," on the road leading to Aleppo international airport, Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman told Agence La Belle France Presse.

Rebels also clashed with troops along the airport road, he added.

A military source in Aleppo speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity said that later Monday the rebels tried but failed to raid the international airport's fuel storage warehouse.

"The army fought off the raid," said the source, adding that festivities broke out just 200 meters (yards) away from the airport and were "very fierce."

The advance is the latest in a series by the rebels since they captured last week air bases at al-Jarrah, Hassel and Base 80, also in Aleppo province.

On February 12, rebels launched a battle to capture the main air base and international airport in Aleppo province, in a bid to stall the air force's deadly firepower and to capture ammunition from its warehouses.

The rebels are trying to capture the international airport, which has been closed since January 1.

The Syrian army, meanwhile, is preparing to "cleanse" in the next 48 hours turban-held areas in the strategic northern province, the pro-regime Watan newspaper reported.

Troops were now focused on "putting a stop to battles taking place around Base 80" which is tasked with securing the international airport and nearby Nayrab military base, al-Watan said.

"The army should impose its control on Base 80 (after) cleansing areas seized by gunnies," it said, adding that "the security situation in Aleppo is improving."

Near the capital, rebels stormed an intelligence bureau in the town of Nabuk, killing at least eight officials there.

Rebels also overran a checkpoint in southern Daraa province, freeing up a road leading to Jordan, said the Britannia-based monitoring group, adding that the border post is still in regime hands.

At least 122 people were killed in violence across the country on Sunday, said the Observatory.
Posted by: Fred || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria


Africa North
Chokri Belaid statue destroyed by vandals
[MAGHAREBIA] Vandals destroyed a statue erected in honour of slain Tunisian opposition leader Chokri Belaid, Tunisie Numerique reported on Monday (February 18th). The Sunday night incident came just hours after Tunisian artists installed the memorial in El Menzah, the site of Belaid's killing.

"This is a criminal act. Those who did this are inhuman, they have exceeded all limits," AFP quoted Belaid's widow Besma Khalfaoui as saying.

Belaid, a fierce critic of the Ennahda-led government, was bumped off in broad daylight on February 6th. His murder sparked a public outcry in Tunisia, plunging the country into its worst political crisis since the revolution.
Posted by: Fred || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Salafists

#1  I'd check the Islamic, sounds like them.
"No graven Images," Remember.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/19/2013 12:32 Comments || Top||


Europe
Bulgaria presses EU to toughen stance on Hezbollah
[Ynet] Bulgaria urges EU to blacklist Hezbollah, accused of planning Burgas 2012 attack, which killed 5 Israelis

Bulgaria urged other European governments on Monday to take a harder stance towards Hezbollah after blaming the Islamist movement for a bus bombing that killed five Israelis at a Bulgarian Black Sea resort last year.

Bulgaria's implication of Hezbollah in the attack in the city of Burgas has reignited a debate over Europe's approach to the Shi'ite Mohammedan group.

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov was expected to present detailed findings of an investigation into the July 2012 Burgas attack at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday.

On his way into the meeting, Mladenov told news hounds Europe should take collective measures against Hezbollah.

Asked whether that meant the EU should blacklist the movement, he replied: "Given the fact that we've already made quite firm statements about where we believe the responsibility for that attack lies, I think the answer is quite obvious".
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Hezbollah

#1  Tell me again.

What time is hell supposed to freeze over?
Posted by: Bill Clinton || 02/19/2013 10:31 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Netanyahu: Time For Palestinians To Recognize Israel
[Ynet] Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed negotiations with the Paleostinians in his speech at the Jewish Agency Board of Governors conference in Jerusalem and said "we need a peace based on mutual recognition. The time has come that the Paleostinians recognize the Jewish State."

Netanyahu added that "the Paleostinians also need to make concessions, not just Israel. I am not stating conditions to the talks and the Obama visit is a good opportunity to enter unhindered negotiations."
Posted by: trailing wife || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "Bibi says...the Obama visit is a good opportunity to enter unhindered negotiations."

Obama doesn't have a history of listening to others or of of negotiations.
Posted by: JohnQC || 02/19/2013 7:31 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
UN Secretary General condemns Quetta bombing
[PAKISTANTODAY.PK] UN Secretary General the ephemeral Ban Ki-moon
... of whom it can be said to his credit that he is not Kofi Annan...
"strongly" condemned the kaboom in southwestern Pakistain that killed 81 people,
The other two alternatives were to ignore it or to applaud it, so I guess he went with the one that was polite.
calling on authorities there to act quickly against those responsible,
We're talking about Pakistain as the govt and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi as the murderers. The last time this happened, which wasn't long ago, the Hazaras refused to bury the bodies of those murdered and they tromped through the streets hollering slogans against LeJ. At which point the students of one of the madrassahs came boiling out to thump them. At which further point there were no cops in sight to prevent the thumping.
his front man Martin Nesirky said Sunday.

Noting that this is the second attack against the Shia community in Quetta in the last few weeks,
Nor is it the last. It won't be while LeJ remains a "strategic asset" of the government and the government regards Shias, Ahmedis, Hindoos, and Christians as ninth-class citizens. Or maybe not as citizens at all.
Ban "calls for swift and determined action against those claiming responsibility and perpetrating such actions," Nesirky said in a statement.
"Oh, yasss! Only determination and swiftitude is required! Take them to court, where their guilt can be disproven and their carcasses freed to skulk the streets once more!"
He "reiterates the strong support of the United Nations
...an idea whose time has gone...
for efforts by the Government and people of Pakistain to protect religious and ethnic minorities and to combat the scourge of terrorism," the front man added.
"Watch His Excellency The Secretary General's lips as they pay service to such support! Truly such sentiments are not generated on a word processor with a macro set to the alt-F3 keys! Rather they come directly from His Excellency The Secretary General's heart!"
Posted by: Fred || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Noise, because he's expected to say SOMETHING.

Nobody's listening anyway.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/19/2013 1:56 Comments || Top||


LeJ must stop terrorism in the name of Islam: Imran
[Dawn] Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf
...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations....
(PTI) Chairman Imran Khan
... aka Taliban Khan, who is the lightweight's lightweight...
on Monday called out to the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi
... a 'more violent' offshoot of Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistain. LeJ's purpose in life is to murder anyone who's not of utmost religious purity, starting with Shiites but including Brelvis, Ahmadis, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Rosicrucians, and just about anyone else you can think of. They are currently a wholly-owned subsidiary of al-Qaeda ...
(LeJ) to quit terrorism in the name of Islam, holding the bully boy group accountable for the first time in a public speech.

"I explicitly take their name and call out to the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. If you carry out this terrorism in the name of Islam, then you couldn't be greater enemies of the religion," Khan told a presser in Islamabad, naming the feared bully boy group for the first time.

The PTI chief's presser follows a deadly bombing in Quetta claiming 84 lives, with most victims belonging mostly to the ethnic Hazara Shia community. It was the second deadly blast in the city in little over a month, with an earlier attack claiming 93 lives, also mostly Hazaras.

Both attacks were claimed by the feared bully boy group LeJ.

"Islam is the religion of peace. Attacking innocent civilians is outright terrorism," he said.

Critics have previously blamed Khan of not explicitly naming religious Death Eaters while condemning terrorism incidents, with detractors calling him 'Taliban Khan' for his advocacy of peace talks with the Pak Taliban.

Speaking to the media, Khan supported the demand of Hazara protestors for the deployment of Army in the placid provincial capital. He demanded that the culprits of the deadly bombing be brought to justice.

Khan also urged the chief justice to immediately take suo motu
...a legal term, from the Latin. Roughly translated it means I saw what you did, you bastard...
notice of the Quetta tragedy.

Terming immediate elections as the only solution to Pakistain's problems, the PTI chairman further said that if mid-term elections had been held, the situation would not be as gloomy.
Posted by: Fred || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Lashkar e-Jhangvi

#1  If they have elections in that pesthole now, it will only be a blood bath.

Imran Khan is the only guy in Pakistain that can say these kinds of things but he is probably more danger in power than anyone except Zawahieri
Posted by: Bill Clinton || 02/19/2013 10:34 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Egypt pound will not collapse: Presidential aide
He said on the way to the bank...
The Egyptian pound will not collapse and its incremental depreciation has stabilised, a senior aide to Islamist President Mohamed Mursi said on Sunday Al Ahramonline reported. Essam Haddad, Mursi's deputy chief of staff and foreign policy adviser, told Reuters in an interview that he did not expect the pound to fall further after it lost more than 8 percent against the dollar since the start of the year.

"I think it has reached a level of stability," he said. "So as long as it (depreciation) is going incrementally and in a way that is market-sensitive, then there is no harm in this."
Ben Bernanke says the same thing...
More than two years of political instability following the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak in 2011 has triggered a flight into dollars. The Egyptian pound has faced extra pressure since late last year, when violent protests against President Mohamed Mursi erupted, setting back hopes for economic recovery.

Presidential adviser Haddad said of the Egyptian currency: "What we have to be very careful of is to (avoid) a drastic change, or a complete fall or collapse. And this is something we are not seeing in the foreseeable future and we hope that it will recover."

A black market in hard currency has sprung up in recent weeks due to a shortage of dollars, with street traders quoting the pound at more than 7 to the dollar compared to an official rate of 6.73.

Regulated foreign exchange bureaux are swamped by demand for dollars and cannot meet the demand, the head of the foreign exchange department at the Chambers of Commerce said.

A senior business leader affiliated with the ruling Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan Malek, told Reuters in an interview that people expected further devaluation of the pound.

"I'm not, of course, a technical (expert) but people expect a little bit of devaluation in the future," he said when asked whether he expected a further depreciation of the currency to help exports and tourism.

He said the economy was going through a very difficult period because the transition to democracy launched by the 2011 uprising that toppled former President Hosni Mubarak was not yet complete and institutions were not working fully.

Asked about such concerns, Haddad said: "When the situation starts to stabilise more on the political side, I believe the Egyptian pound will be even stronger."

There had been calls from the business community to change the exchange rate to boost the economy by improving exports and making Egypt more attractive for foreign investors, and those changes had now occurred, he said.

"Market forces will act on this and decide what is the best value for the Egyptian pound," Haddad added.

Egypt's central bank governor said late on Sunday he had no fears of dollarisation and added the bank had reduced the amounts offered at its U.S. dollar auctions in order to set aside hard currency for imports of crucial goods.

Foreign investors are eyeing Egyptian households' dollar holdings as a critical gauge of trust in the authorities. Investors are watching closely for evidence of a significant rise in ordinary Egyptians' dollar holdings.

"I am not worried about dollarisation," Hisham Ramez said in an interview with CBC channel late on Sunday. "Household dollarisation is at far lower rates than those that would scare one," he said.

In an attempt to control the rate of the pound's decline, Egypt's central bank introduced regular dollar auctions in December. Having initially offered sums of $75 million per auction, the bank has reduced the amounts sold. Last week it offered $40 million at each of its dollar sales.

Reserves have fallen to $13.6 billion, less than the $15 billion needed to cover three months worth of imports.

"Of course it's not something good, not something comfortable," Ramez said, adding he had taken steps to counter this such as prioritizing certain imports including foodstuffs, production machines and their spare parts, and fertilizers. He said speeding up measures to secure a $4.8 billion IMF loan Egypt has requested would help the reserves recover.
On the other hand, Ynet adds:
Egypt's currency bureaus are being overwhelmed by demand for dollars amid a supply shortage fuelled by political crisis, the head of the foreign exchange department at the Chambers of Commerce said.

Mohamed el-Abyad said foreign exchange offices can only supply 20 percent of the dollars for which they receive orders.
Posted by: Steve White || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  It won't collapse, it has ALLREADY collapsed.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/19/2013 1:49 Comments || Top||

#2  Arafat announces Egyptian pound is "stable"
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 02/19/2013 7:51 Comments || Top||

#3  Sounds like Bernanke, Krugman and the other idiots should be jealous of the Egyptian economy.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 02/19/2013 7:52 Comments || Top||

#4  Black holes don't explode.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 02/19/2013 9:05 Comments || Top||

#5  "ZimBob Dollars were fine until the engravers ran out of space for the zeros. We will avoid this problem by going to scientific notation immediately!"
Posted by: PBMcL || 02/19/2013 10:55 Comments || Top||

#6  ..they can always use log next to the number(s).
Posted by: Procopius2k || 02/19/2013 11:06 Comments || Top||

#7  The new Egyptian Googol.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 02/19/2013 11:27 Comments || Top||

#8  Egyptian pound notes will now be printed as:

5 x 10^EV, 10 x 10^EV, etc. where EV is the Egyptian inflation value that is adjusted daily.
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 02/19/2013 16:23 Comments || Top||

#9  Zimbabwe the second. With money to match.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/19/2013 17:36 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
'JUI-F can't bring Islamic revolution'
[Dawn] The Jamaat Ulema-e-Islam
...Assembly of Islamic Clergy, or JUI, is a Pak Deobandi (Hanafi) political party. There are two main branches, one led by Maulana Fazlur Rahman, and one led by Maulana Samiul Haq. Fazl is active in Pak politix and Sami spends more time running his madrassah. Both branches sponsor branches of the Taliban, though with plausible deniability...
-Fazl could not bring Islamic revolution in the country, said former provincial law minister Malik Zafar Azam.

Mr Azam, who served as law minister in the Mutahidda Majlis-e-Amal government, quit JUI-F some time ago and joined Pakistain Mohammedan League-Nawaz.
Posted by: Fred || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Jamaat-e-Ulema Islami


Blast termed conspiracy against country
[Pak Daily Times] Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami
...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores...
(JI) Bloody Karachi
...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
'>Bloody Karachi Muhammad Hussain Mahenti has said that the kaboom on Kirani Road in Quetta was a conspiracy against the illusory sovereignty of the country.

He expressed these views while addressing the people of Hazara community who staged sit-in on MA Jinnah Road against the Quetta kaboom. He termed the blast as a complete failure of police, rangers, FC and other law enforcing agencies. On the occasion, Mahenti demanded of the government to arrest the culprits of the blast immediately and give them exemplary punishment.

"The law and order situation in Quetta has constantly been deteriorating despite the imposition of governor rule, however; the federal government has become a silent spectator over the said tragic condition," Mahenti added.

Mahenti said JI was always with the oppressed people and the sit-in would continue till the government accepted the demands made by Hazara community.

Speaking on the occasion, Mahenti announced the JI with the coordination of Ulema from different school of thoughts would hold a conference for bringing lasting peace in the country.

JI leader Nasrullah Shajih said the United States (US) and its allies in the country, were hatching conspiracies to destabilise Pakistain and the terrorist activists were the open proof of those machinations. "The entire country is burning with kabooms, but the government has not yet taken any step to ensure the safety of the life and property of common people," Shajih added.

"JI wants to unite the nation, as Qazi Hussain Ahmed
...the absolutely humorless, xenophobic former head of the Pak Jamaat-e-Islami. He was also head of the MMA, a coalition of religious parties formed after 2001 that eventually collapsed under the weight of the holy egos involved. Qazi was the patron of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar during the Afghan mujaheddin's war against the Soviets. His sermons are described as fiery, which means they rely heavily on gospel and not at all on logic. Qazi once recommended drinking camel pee for good health, but that was before his kidneys went...
, too, strived his entire life for the very cause," he added. staff report
Posted by: Fred || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Jamaat-e-Islami


Africa Horn
South Sudan President Retires over 100 Army Generals
[An Nahar] South Sudan has retired over 100 generals as part of a sweeping restructuring of the former rebel force, in a move partly aimed at demilitarizing the fledgling nation's government, officials said Monday.

The presidential decree to retire 117 generals follows similar orders last month for 35 other generals and all six deputy army chiefs of staff.

"They all finished their time in the military service so they are retired but are paid...There must be new blood to come up for a change, because we are a new nation at last," army front man Kella Kueth told Agence La Belle France Presse.

South Sudan won independence from former civil war foe Sudan in July 2011, facing a raft of challenges to rebuild the conflict-ravaged nation, including turning a bloated guerrilla army of some 200,000 troops into a regular force.

The army absorbed several former rival rebel factions -- some once acting as proxy forces for Sudan -- as part of peace building efforts, swallowing up large chunks of the impoverished nation's budget.

Several of the generals now hold government positions, too.

"It is a way of separating the military and civilians, which the army has not been very good at for years. So it's a positive change", said one Western diplomat on condition of anonymity.

But with rebel militia forces still operating and a pension system not yet implemented, stripping army commanders of both title and salary would be a dangerous move.

"This is about cleaning up the administration and professionalizing the army, but it is a delicate process and has to be done slowly," Matthew LeRiche, an academic and expert on the former South Sudanese rebel force said.
Posted by: Fred || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Now here, I wouldn't have though South Sudan had over a 100 army generals.
I wonder how many sergeants they have...
Posted by: ed in texas || 02/19/2013 6:52 Comments || Top||

#2  None. They had all been promoted to 'general'...
Posted by: Steve White || 02/19/2013 9:52 Comments || Top||

#3  US Generals according to Wiki:

The total number of active duty general officers is capped at 230 for the Army, 208 for the Air Force, 60 for the Marine Corps.

General inflation has hit South Sudan, it appears....
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 02/19/2013 17:12 Comments || Top||

#4  When Harry Flashman served in the army of Queen Ranavalona the First of Madagascar she appointed him Sergeant-General, and to his knowledge he was the only person to have ever held that rank.
Posted by: Grunter || 02/19/2013 23:33 Comments || Top||


Good morning
Posted by: Fred || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Birthday Gam Shot

Reon Kadena [Nippon][Filmography](age 27)



美しいお尻 [Utsukushī o Shiri]

Arielle Kebbel's Something Else turns 28


Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 02/19/2013 0:19 Comments || Top||

#2  MMM cowgirl boots.
Posted by: Deacon Blues || 02/19/2013 7:34 Comments || Top||

#3  Yippee ki yay!
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 02/19/2013 11:28 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Defense minister: Iran's cruise, ballistic missiles capable of striking U.S. warships in region
Sure, tough guy, sure...
Iran's Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said Iran's cruise and ballistic missiles are capable of striking U.S. warships that are located in the regional waters, Fars news agency reported.

He noted that Iran's deployment of anti-ship missiles on its Southern coast is a blow to U.S. strategic goals in the region. Vahidi also stressed on the importance of Iran's naval forces in securing the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz.

Previously Vahidi said that the Asian countries would rule the world after the hegemonic powers collapse.

"The countries that have naval and marine control, will take on major role in administration at the world arena," he noted.

Vahidi noted that despite that the Western nations want to keep their domination over the international community, in the future Iran would play a strong role in the world, regarding its strategic position among the nations.
Posted by: Steve White || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Iran has repor said the P5+1 Nuke Talks will have progress iff only the US will formally publicly recognize Iran's nuclear rights.

Iran is succeeding in showing that the OWG Globalists' promise of a Multi-polar world, + alleged US-Western support for same, is all but a FARCE.

* WORLD NEWS > NO GLOBAL POWER CAN PREVENT IRAN FROM SEEKING NUCLEAR WEAPONS IFF IT SO CHOOSES - KHAMENEI.

* DEFENCE FORUM INDIA > EMERGING NAVAL POWERS [India, China, IRAN] FORCE US TO CHANGE ITS APPROACH IN INDIAN OCEAN [+ Pacific Ocean].

Iran, India, Pakistan, + Sri Lanka Navies also useful in enforcing local security in upper or northern Indian Ocean above 10-degress latitude.

Again, in case of US-Iran ground war, Iran hopes to put off having to detonate any Nukes-WMDS on thier own soil in order to defeat the US or US-led invasion force(s).

Iran may be willing to tolerate Chinese control of Pakistan's Gwadar port, both to deter the USN as well as ....

* DEFENCE FORUM INDIA > ISLAMIC MOVEMENT OF UZEBEKISTAN: RISING MENACE.

* TOPIX, DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS [old] > CHINESE MEDIAS WARN OF TALIBAN ATTACK FROM PAKISTAN.

As per Leftist-Socialist beloved Political Dialecticism, ONLY THIS TIME IRAN + RADICAL ISLAM'S HARD/BURQUA BOYZ WILL BE USING THE SECULAR LEFTIESS-SOCIES OWN METHODS AGZ THE LEFTIES-SOCIES.

Again, its no longer the US-VS-China in Asia-Pacific, but the US-VS-CHINA-VS-NUCLEAR-ISLAM [ includ Nuclear Radical Islam]. ITS ONLY A QUESTION IFF RADICAL ISLAM OR NUCLEAR RADICAL ISLAM WILL ATTACK CHINA BEFORE THEY ATTACK THE US.

* FYI DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > [RIAN.RU]EURASIAN UNION IS UNSTOPPABLE - PUTIN | RIA NOVOSTI, ala the "re-integration of post-Soviet Space".

* BHARAT RAKSHAK > KUWAIT [+ GCC ask India to support] ASIAN UNION.

Integration of GCC wid SAARC + ASEAN.

* WORLD MILITARY FORUM > US + EUROPE TO FORM ONE GIANT SUPER-FREE-TRADE-ZONE IN TWO YEARS [February 2015] DUE TO THE TRANS-ATLANTIC TRADE + INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP ACT.

US in both OWG Trans-Atlantic Union [TAU] + OWG NAU 2015???

* DEFENCE FORUM INDIA > CHINA'S QUIET WAR OF MAPS WID ITS NEIGHBORS.

Ditto IRAN around the Persian Gulf + West Asia.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 02/19/2013 0:49 Comments || Top||

#2  Go ahead, shoot at a Navy ship, be sure you're in your air tight and food for years Bunker first, you won't get out.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/19/2013 12:49 Comments || Top||


Caribbean-Latin America
Chavez home from Cuba
[HOSTED.AP.ORG] His Excellency President-for-Life, Caudillo of the Bolivarians Hugo Chavez returned to Venezuela early Monday after more than two months of treatment in Cuba following cancer surgery, his government said, triggering street celebrations by supporters who welcomed him home while he remained out of sight at Caracas' military hospital.
... in the hospice wing.
Chavez's return was announced in a series of three messages on his Twitter account, the first of them reading: "We've arrived once again in our Venezuelan homeland. Thank you, my God!! Thank you, beloved nation!! We will continue our treatment here."
"... until pain meds are no longer necessary."
They were the first messages to appear on Chavez's Twitter account since Nov. 1.
"Nurse! He moved!"
"Well, twitter something, man!"

"And then snow him!"
"I'm clinging to Christ and trusting in my doctors and nurses," another tweet on Chavez's account said. "Onward toward victory always!! We will live and we will triumph!!"
"We will live until we don't anymore."
Posted by: Fred || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Can he move yet?
Didn't think so.

Yup the operation was a success, then he died.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/19/2013 1:38 Comments || Top||

#2  Commies for Christ?
Posted by: imoyaro || 02/19/2013 6:35 Comments || Top||

#3  The German word for this is "austherapiert".

This is when you send a terminally ill patient home because you can't do anything more for him. And I guess Cuba doesn't want Chávez to die in one of their splendid hospitals.
Posted by: European Conservative || 02/19/2013 11:38 Comments || Top||

#4  It would be bad publicity, can't have that.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/19/2013 12:30 Comments || Top||

#5  Fresh coat of varnish? He's starting to smell.
Posted by: Muggsy Mussolini1226 || 02/19/2013 14:21 Comments || Top||

#6  A preacher told us one time what the problem is with death bed conversions: He might recover.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 02/19/2013 17:52 Comments || Top||

#7  Lenin still looks pretty waxed fresh
Posted by: European Conservative || 02/19/2013 18:10 Comments || Top||

#8  I'd like to see the bill from Madame Tussauds.
Posted by: SteveS || 02/19/2013 20:20 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Syrian Coalition Says Hizbullah's Involvement in Syria Violation of International Accords
[An Nahar] Syria's opposition coalition condemned on Monday Iran and Hizbullah's "interference in Syrian matters", considering it "a violation of international agreements that cannot be ignored".

"The testimonies of several Syrians and the events documented so far all confirm a direct involvement of Hizbullah in the criminal activities in the country," a statement released by the coalition said, elaborating that the party explains that it is "supporting Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad
Oppressor of the Syrians and the Lebs...
against a conspiracy targeting him".

It remarked: "The party's involvement cannot be justified under any excuse and it is a violation of international agreements".

"Hizbullah's continual assaults are supported by Iranian statements that aim at colonial domination," the coalition added.

Three Lebanese Shiites have been killed in fighting in Syria, a Hizbullah official said Sunday, as the Syrian opposition accused the Lebanese group of intervening on the side of the regime.

He said they were acting in "self-defense", without specifying if they were Hizbullah members.

Hizbullah continues to deny reports accusing it of sending members to fight alongside the Syrian army in the neighboring country's war while it occasionally announces the death of one of its fighters killed "carrying out his jihadist duty," but without clarification.

In October 2012, Hizbullah leader His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah
The satrap of the Medes and the Persians in Leb...
acknowledged that party members had fought Syrian rebels, but said they were acting as individuals and not under the party's direction.
Posted by: Fred || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Hezbollah


India-Pakistan
Violence claims eight more lives in Karachi
[Dawn] Eight more people bit the dust in different incidents of violence in Bloody Karachi
...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
'>Bloody Karachi, the restive southern metropolis of Pakistain, DawnNews reported on Monday.

Enraged mobs erupted into the streets and blocked roads after setting ablaze several cycle of violences when unidentified gunnies killed three people in the city's Patel Para neighbourhood.

An exchange of fire was also witnessed between protesters and the police contingent, which reached the site after the incident.

The dear departed are identified as Shah Noor, Imran and Abdul Rahim.

Meanwhile,
...back at the abandoned silver mine, the water was up to Jack's neck and still rising. And then he smelled the smoke...
two bodies with torture marks were found behind bushes near D.A apartments in Surjani Town. The dead are identified as Akhter Ali and Maqbool.

Another body was found from Machar Colony. The dead was reportedly kidnapped and tortured.

Two people were killed in separate incidents of gun fire in Baldia Town and Surjani Town's Khuda ki Basti.

Bloody Karachi, a port city of some 20 million, has a long history of political, ethnic and religious strife.

Many of the killings in the financial capital of the country have been linked to gangs allegedly controlled by political parties.
Posted by: Fred || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [1 views] Top|| File under:


Shias take to streets; demand protection
[Pak Daily Times] Thousands of Shias refused for a second day Monday to bury victims of a devastating kaboom on their community, demanding protection against record levels of sectarian violence.

Demonstrators poured onto the streets across the country, shutting down Bloody Karachi
...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
'>Bloody Karachi and closing the road to Islamabad airport, in angry protest at Saturday's bombing that killed at least 89 people in Quetta.

Two girls aged seven and nine were among the dead after the bomb, nearly a tonne of explosives hidden in a water tanker, tore through a crowded market in a neighbourhood dominated by ethnic Hazara Shia Moslems.

On Monday, the home secretary of 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, Akbar Hussain Durrani said the corpse count from Saturday's bomb had risen to 89, including 33 Afghans, with 204 other people maimed.

"We have certain clues about beturbanned goons involved in past attacks and assassinations which I cannot disclose at the moment but we are working on them," Durrani told a news conference. Last month jacket wallahs killed 92 people at a snooker hall in another Hazara neighbourhood of Quetta. Protesters are furious at the authorities' failure to tackle rising attacks on Shias.

Bloody Karachi came to a halt as public transport workers and traders stopped work Monday after a Shia party called a protest strike. Schools were closed, traffic was off the roads and attendance in offices was thin. Several political and religious parties backed the strike call.

Protesters in Islamabad also shut down the main road leading to the airport, witnesses told AFP.

In Lahore, hundreds of Shias demonstrated to press demands for military action against gunnies in Quetta.

Volunteers armed with automatic rifles and pistols on Monday guarded the streets of Hazara Town, the scene of Saturday's attack.

It is customary for Moslems to bury the dead as soon as possible and police said they were in talks to end the protest, which has proved a powerful gesture before.

After the January 10 snooker hall attack, Shias staged a similar protest for four days. They only buried the dead after Islamabad sacked the provincial government and imposed governor's rule.

The banned bad turban group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi
... a 'more violent' offshoot of Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistain. LeJ's purpose in life is to murder anyone who's not of utmost religious purity, starting with Shiites but including Brelvis, Ahmadis, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Rosicrucians, and just about anyone else you can think of. They are currently a wholly-owned subsidiary of al-Qaeda ...
(LeJ) grabbed credit both for Saturday's attack and the snooker hall bombing, as well as a February 1 attack on a Shia mosque in northwest Pakistain that killed 24.

There is anger and frustration at the apparent inability or unwillingness of the authorities to tackle the LeJ.

In Quetta Amin Shaheedi, the vice-president of the Shiite Wahdatul Muslemeen party, demanded control of the city be handed over to the army.

"Terrorists are roaming freely and we are not given any protection. Our protest will continue until we get protection," he told news hounds.
Posted by: Fred || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Lashkar e-Jhangvi


Police told to stop harassing family of accused
[Pak Daily Times] Justice Abdul Sami Khan of the Lahore High Court on Monday restrained the police from harassing the family members of an accused wanted in a number of cases.

The judge remarked that police could not harass family members of any accused, and restrained the police officials from raiding the petitioner's house in order to arrest the accused. The judge issued the direction on a petition filed by Muhammad Fiyaz of Garhi Shahu.

Counsel for the petitioner Ishtiaq Ahmad submitted that Muhammad Awais was involved in criminal activities and cases had been lodged against him in various cop shoppes. He said that due to his criminal activities, the petitioner had disinherited Awais and turned him out of his house.

He alleged that Garhi Shahu SHO Shahid Ali Gujjar and investigation head of Racecourse Police Station Ashfaq Butt were continuously raiding the petitioner's house and humiliating his daughters, wife and other family members. He submitted that the petitioner had even informed the police about Awais not living there anymore, but in vain.

The counsel alleged that police officials were demanding bribe for stopping the illegal raids on his house and threatening the family with dire consequences. He said that the petitioner had even moved applications before the police high-ups against the raids, but no one was paying heed to his problems. He requested the court to restrain the police from raiding his house and threatening his family members. He also requested the court to restrain police from humiliating women of his family members.
Posted by: Fred || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Gunmen attack NATO convoy, kill two
[Pak Daily Times] Gunmen in a restive tribal region on Monday attacked a convoy of vehicles carrying military equipment bound for NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Originally it was a mutual defense pact directed against an expansionist Soviet Union. In later years it evolved into a mechanism for picking the American pocket while criticizing the cut of the American pants...
operations in Afghanistan, killing two people, officials said. The convoy of some 25 vehicles came under attack after it got stuck in a traffic jam in Landi Kotal town in the Khyber tribal region. "At least three unidentified gunnies opened fire on the convoy, killing a driver and his helper and damaging two vehicles," senior local administration official Shakil Burki told AFP. He said the gunnies fled after the attack, adding that one person in the convoy was also injured. A senior local police official confirmed the incident and casualty toll. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the assault, but Pak Taliban have often attacked NATO convoys.
Posted by: Fred || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: TTP


Africa North
EU FMs Approves Military Mission to Mali
[An Nahar] European Union
...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing...
foreign ministers on Monday formally approved the launch of a 500-strong EU military mission to train the Malian army, which has already begun work on the ground.
This is good. I'm very happy to see the EU get some real skin the game, unlike in Afghanistan where most of them stayed in the safe places 'training' the ANA while we, the Brits and the Danes did the hard work. Now we need to get the EU blooded, as opposed to more 'training'.
A first group of 70 EU military arrived in the west African nation 10 days ago, and Monday's ministerial greenlight was the final phase in setting up the European Union Training Mission (EUTM), which has a 15-month mandate to shape up the ramnshackle Malian army.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said the mission "is going to be of enormous importance in support of the Malian army," a poorly equipped and trained force without the capacity to maintain the country's territorial integrity.

The 27 EU nations first approved the notion of a training mission in December to boost the army's ability to fight Salafist tough guys who last year seized control of the country's vast arid north.

But its launch was accelerated after the surprise intervention of La Belle France in its former colony on January 11, to stop the hard boyz marching south on the capital.

Some 16 countries from the EU as well as Norway have agreed to take part in the EUTM, which will have a 12.3-million-euro budget, with each contributor nation financing its own troops.

Around half of the troops will be trainers, the remainder providing protection and administrative and medical backup.
Posted by: Fred || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in North Africa


India-Pakistan
Lawyers strike against Quetta carnage
[Pak Daily Times] The lawyers' community on Monday observed a complete strike and boycotted court proceedings in protest against the Quetta carnage.

The lawyers remained away from court proceedings, but appeared before the Lahore High Court in urgent cases until the tea break. The judges postponed the hearings and did not dismiss any case due to non-prosecution.

The strike call was given by the Punjab Bar Council to lodge their protest against the killing of innocent persons, including children.

Lahore High Court Bar Association President Shahram Sarwar Chaudhry and Secretary Sardari Akbar Ali Dogar condemned the killings in Quetta and demanded the government ensure protection to life and liberty of citizens of Pakistain, in general, and those from 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...
, in particular.

They deplored that despite imposition of the governor's rule in Balochistan, law and order could not be maintained.
Posted by: Fred || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


China-Japan-Koreas
N.Korea Tests New Missile Engine Before Nuke Test
North Korea conducted combustion testing for the engine of a mobile long-range missile presumed only a day before its third nuclear test last week, it has emerged.

The missile is presumed to be the KN-08, an intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of 5,000 to 6,000 km. It was unveiled in a military parade on nation founder Kim Il-sung's 100th birthday on April 15 last year, but was then largely believed to have been a fake. The engine test suggests it was a little more than that.

A South Korean government official said the North carried out combustion testing at a missile launch site in Tongchang-ri, North Pyongan Province on Feb. 11. Since late 2011, the North has conducted several engine combustion tests for long-range rockets or new missiles but most failed until early last year. The North launched space rockets in April and December as an apparent cover to test ICBM technology.

A South Korean military source speculated, "It seems that the North intentionally conducted the test to coincide with the time when a U.S. reconnaissance satellite was monitoring the Tongchang-ri test site, apparently with the aim of improving negotiation leverage.

The KN-08 is estimated to be 18 m long and 2 m in diameter, about 6 m longer in length and 50 cm thicker than the Musudan missile, whose range is 3,000 to 4,000 km and already deployed warfare-ready. The KN-08's range is likely to cover Alaska and Hawaii.

In the parade last year, it was carried on a mobile launch platform made in China, whereas previous long-range rockets are launched from large fixed launch pads.
Posted by: Steve White || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  See also WASHINGTON TIMES > CONNECTING THE DOTS: NORTH KOREA'S NUKE WAS BOUGHT AND PAID FOR BY A KEY END-USER IRAN.

The DPRK's 3rd Nuclear Test was in fact a demonstration of an OPERATIONALLY-READY NUCLEAR WEAPON, not just a test for future NucTech or NucMilTech Development.

Iff the DPRK is now "immune" from foreign attack after completing its third nuclear test, then by extension so is RISING IRAN???

OTOH GLOBAL TIMES > CHINA DENIES RECEIVING NORTH KOREA TEST PLANS.

* SAME > CHINA MUST MAINTAIN "BOTTOM LINE" AFTER NORTH KOREA NUKE TEST, SAYS [Chinese] PRESS.

* WORLD NEWS > PUNISH NORTH KOREA IFF IT HURTS CHINESE INTERESTS, CHINESE DAILY.

* WORLD MILITARY FORUM > CHINA WORRIED THAT A NUCLEAR-CAAPABLE/ARMED NORTH KOREA MAY TURN INTO ANOTHER ANTI-CHINA "VIETNAM" [Anti-China, pro-USSR/Soviet North Vietnam = post-1975 unified Vietnam].

Good for China + PLA, not good for Nippon + JSDF as IMO China may setting the "LEGAL" = PCORRECT-DENIABLE background for a forced Chinese takeover of North Korea. AGAIN, IT MEANS THE PLA IS THAT MUCH CLOSER TO JAPAN + CHINA'S TRUE FOCII TAIWAN. Ditto the NORTHERN PHILIPPINES.

NORTHERN PHILIPPINES > CHINA = IRAN = CAN STRIKE ANY INCOMING USN CARRIER GROUP + AMPHIBS WID LR AIRPOWER + LRBMS [ALCMS, SLCMS, ASBMS, Other?]WHILE THE LATTER ARE FAR OUTSIDE THE OKINAWA-TAIWAN STRAITS + STILL IN WESTPAC OR CENTPAC.

JAPAN-BASED USS "GEORGE WASHINGTON" CVN, CVBG
= USN FIFTH FLEET BASE IN BAHRAIN = GONE AS THE FFFFFIRST TARGET IN PREEMPTIVE CONVENTIONAL OR TACNUKE "FIRST STRIKE"???

* SAME > PLA NEW YEAR DRILL [Spring Festival] TARGETS OKINAWA.

* CHINA DAILY FORUM > WELCOME TO THE NEW [US-China] COLD WAR | [Zero Hedge] MAKE NO MISTAKE: AMERICAN AND CHINA ARE A [direct] COLLISION COURSE AND THE BATTLEGROUND IS ASIA-PACIFIC.

* SAME > DISPUTED ISLANDS AND ITS POTENTIALS CAN ERUPT INTO AN ALL-OUT SUPER-WAR | [Asai News] DISPUTED ISLANDS COULD LEAD TO DISASTROUS WAR FOR EVERYONE.

Yuuuuppp, from WESTPAC + SOPAC to INDOPAK.

* RELATED CHINESE MILITARY FORUM > [American Conservative = Eric Margolis] FROM SARAJEVO [Pre-WW1] TO SENKAKUS. DISPUTED ISLANDS MAY BE THE SPARK THAT IGNITES SINO-JAPANESE CONFLAGRATION.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 02/19/2013 1:24 Comments || Top||

#2  Quietly he added "That ought to reach America".
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/19/2013 1:52 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Boumerdes bomb wounds woman
[MAGHAREBIA] A bomb kaboom left an Algerian woman with serious injuries, El Watan reported on Sunday (February 17th). The victim reportedly stepped on the bomb, buried by cut-throats in an olive grove near Thénia, 15km south of Boumerdès.

In other security news, ANP troops on Sunday killed two cut-throats in the Batna town of Chellala.

One of the men was wanted in connection with the 2007 Batna suicide kaboom that targeted President Abdelaziz Bouteflika
... 10th president of Algeria. He was elected in 1999 and is currently on his third term, which is probably why Algerians are ready to dump him...
, L'Expression reported.
Posted by: Fred || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [2 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in North Africa

#1  Oh, you suddenly care, But not before now?

What's the difference, the world is watching?

Or is the cash running out, and you can't afford it.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/19/2013 2:05 Comments || Top||

#2  Bouemerde, eh?
Sounds charming.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 02/19/2013 11:20 Comments || Top||

#3  Is walking through olive groves suddenly un-islamic?
Posted by: Mullah Richard || 02/19/2013 12:11 Comments || Top||

#4  I know what merde means, but what does the prefix bou mean?
Posted by: Glenmore || 02/19/2013 12:50 Comments || Top||

#5  Well, BON means good, so BOU probably means bad.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 02/19/2013 12:57 Comments || Top||

#6  Boue is mud. Sounds to me like they named the place Nightsoil, guess they could have been getting at Good Farmland, but my French is a tad rusty.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 02/19/2013 13:27 Comments || Top||

#7  Maybe they were shooting for something like Atascadero (CA), which roughly means mire, bog or pig sty in Espanish.
Posted by: Dopey Sinatra9196 || 02/19/2013 17:50 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
CJP takes suo motu on Shia killings
[Pak Daily Times] Taking suo motu
...a legal term, from the Latin. Roughly translated it means I saw what you did, you bastard...
notice of the massacre of Hazara community members, Chief Justice of Pakistain Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Monday issued notice to the attorney general of Pakistain and 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...
advocate general, and fixed the case for hearing today (Tuesday).

The chief justice took notice on an office note initiated by the Supreme Court registrar based on previous judicial orders of the court in the Balochistan law and order case and details of powerful kabooms in Quetta, one at Bacha Khan Chowk and other on the Alamdar Road on January 10, which caused the death of more than 93 people. Taking notice of the incident, the chief justice passed the order, "The matter be fixed in the court on 19.2.2013. Notices be issued to the advocate general, Balochistan and the attorney general of Pakistain."
Posted by: Fred || 02/19/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || E-Mail|| [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan



Who's in the News
26[untagged]
4Govt of Syria
3Govt of Pakistan
3Lashkar e-Jhangvi
3Hezbollah
2TTP
2al-Qaeda in North Africa
1Govt of Iran
1Hamas
1Boko Haram
1Hizb-ut-Tahrir
1Jamaat-e-Islami
1Jamaat-e-Ulema Islami
1Arab Spring
1Salafists
1al-Qaeda in Pakistan

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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 2013-02-19
  Mortars land near Syrian presidential palace
Mon 2013-02-18
  Five killed in attack at government office in Peshawar
Sun 2013-02-17
  Egyptian police publicly beat to death man suspected of killing officer
Sat 2013-02-16
  Bomb kills at least 20 in Pakistani city
Fri 2013-02-15
  Meteorite Hits Urals, Up to 500 Injured
Thu 2013-02-14
  Pakistan asks Taliban to announce 30-day cease-fire for talks
Wed 2013-02-13
  Syrian rebels say they captured military air base near Aleppo
Tue 2013-02-12
  KCNA confirms: Pudgy sets off a nuke
Mon 2013-02-11
  Seven killed, 11 injured in attacks across southern Thailand
Sun 2013-02-10
  Syrian troops, rebels clash over Damascus highway
Sat 2013-02-09
  India Executes Man Convicted in 2001 Attack on Parliament
Fri 2013-02-08
  Suicide bomber hits north Mali, troops clash in capital
Thu 2013-02-07
  Syrian Army Launches 'All-Out Attack' on Capital Region
Wed 2013-02-06
  Fat Lady Sings for Abd el Kader Mahmoud Mohamed el Sayed
Tue 2013-02-05
  Second big turban nabbed in northern Mali

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