h/t Gates of Vienna
...Yes, Trump is bombastic and sometimes crude. He succumbs to sleaze and abusive campaign tactics as his brouhahas with Ted Cruz demonstrate. But if this bothers the squeamish of souls, they should read a history of political campaigns in the early days of America. Our past history of politics has been equally as scurrilous and sleazy, if not more so. This attitutde is built into the political animal. Politics is a blood sport, not meant for milksops and sissies.
Granted, Trump is not a fountain of eloquence like Reagan. Nor does he roll off his tongue intricate policy specifics like the glib shamans of Washington do. But what he does do is bring to America its last best hope to right the sinking ship of a once great country through the sheer force of his personality. No one else out there is strong enough to stand up to the CFR authoritarians, the Trilateral Commission, and the hordes of neocon traitors to the "American ideal" gallivanting around Washington and Wall Street. Remember, he can recruit all the policy experts needed to run a successful administration. Policy wonks are a dime a dozen.
Trump’s strength is this. He possesses the ability to, as Ayn Rand said about Hank Rearden, "see through his own eyes." This means he sees reality as it is, not as the Orwellian corrupters tell us it is in our disgraceful schools and contemptible media. He sees the lies, the propaganda, the half-truths, the cover ups, the fiscal insanity, the sinister conspiracies, and the egregious perfidy of America’s dominant intellectual-corporate-political class.
Throughout his adult life Trump has watched as most of the business and political leaders he dealt with have sold their souls to the World Government vision of oligarchs like George Soros. He has observed how our slimy Demopublican politicians and bankers have sold out the interests of the American people via trade deals that sixth-graders would realize are toxic for jobs and prosperity if they were explained at that level of schooling.
#1
God almighty. The author of this steamer is a member of an org called Americans for a Free Republic. In thier mission statement they rail against such things as Big goverment, statism, and progressive tax policies. All things Trump represents. And he's gonna stand up to the oligarch class? Yeah right.
-Another fraud writing a resume.
#3
I am not promoting or explaining a candidate here - my pick is out anyways; just not the winner of the Bennie Hill Show.
Writer does make a valid point about politics, one only has to look up Benjamin Franklin Bache to get started on the press surrounding Adams & Jefferson, etc.
#4
I think Cruz has accrued enough hate from the usual suspects that he might be the real deal. I think if the establishment assholes had given him (or Perry or Walker) the sort of support they wasted on ¡Jeb! and Mario Romo... also, I think the other establishment's Assholes did their malicious prosecution of Perry for a _reason_...
Anyway, I guess people wanna delude themselves into thinking Trump's gonna be a good candidate in the general. It'll be the third lousy republican candidate in the general in a row for me. One of y'all do me a favor, call him up and tell him he's making things worse by attacking Walker for... not raising taxes.
h/t Instapundit
Most Republicans and their presidential candidates (when they're not bashing each other like four-year-olds) are focused on Hillary Clinton as the Democratic nominee, living in fear that the Department of Justice will give a pass to the former secretary of state on her email and foundation malfeasances, even if the FBI recommends indictments.
And where is the FBI anyway? What's taking them so long?
But this has not been a good few days for Mrs. Clinton. First she lost in three states by stunning margins to Bernie Sanders, who garnered 71% of the vote in Hawaii, 73% in Washington, and and a huge 81% in Alaska.
Then it got worse.
Cue the theme from 'Jaws'...
The L.A. Times reported that FBI interviews were finally looming for Mrs. Clinton and her close aides Huma Abedin, Jake Sullivan, Cheryl Mills and Philippe Reines. And 147 FBI agents are now officially said to be involved. That's a lot of investigative power being applied to one case (or group of cases) and a lot of potential leakers if the DOJ rejects an indictment.
Republicans should be paying attention to this phenomenon -- the rise of Bernie -- because it's scary. Its results could be worse than a Hillary presidency, actually a lot worse. And, as I just mentioned, he's beating everyone in the polls in both parties. You may think that will evaporate by itself or in the back and forth of a general election campaign -- and I hope you're right. But what if it doesn't?
Remember, in June 2008 the Pubs thought they had the opponent they wanted...
#1
FBI is taking so long for two reasons (1) If Bernie pulls ahead there will be less heat than if they indicted the frontrunner (2) If they do have to indict the frontrunner they better be certain of 100% guilt or they are all going to be the villains of the century as far as the media is concerned.
#3
If you look at Bernie just right, and he's holding his head just right, you can kinda sorta see a resemblance to Vladimir Lenin.
What? You say that's not the same as comparing someone to Adolf Hitler?
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
03/29/2016 10:45
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#4
One of the comments asked In what way is Sanders intrinsically more socialist than Hillary Clinton or Obama?
Good question. Can't say that I really have the right answer. But my impression is that Sanders is more genuinely committed to his ideology while Obama and Clinton are just plain criminals.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
03/29/2016 10:50
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#5
I think that's it Abu, or the impression I get. During their debates or whatnots The Fraggle comes across as genuine while Hillary! going through the motions like a drinking bird.
I think the reason everyone is freaking out about the coming election is that whatever ass is elected, for the last 8 years Congress has bid itself out of any check vs. Executive and Judicial branches.
[Jpost] Ivanka Trump gave birth to a baby boy, Theodore James Kushner, on Sunday. Ivanka is the daughter of frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination Donald Trump.
Ivanka, who converted to Judaism in 2009, is married to real estate mogul and New York Observer owner Jared Kushner.
"Jared and I feel incredibly blessed to announce the arrival of Theodore James Kushner," Ivanka tweeted on Monday.
[Reuters] LARNACA: A man thought to be strapped with explosives hijacked an Egyptian plane on a flight between Alexandria and Cairo on Tuesday and forced it to land in Cyprus, Egyptian officials said.
After the Egypt Air plane landed at Larnaca airport, the hijacker released all the people onboard except five foreign passengers and the crew, Egypt Air said.
About 60 people, including seven crew, had been on board, Egyptian and Cypriot officials said.
"The negotiations with the hijacker have resulted in the release of all the plane passengers with the exception of the crew and five foreigners," the airline said in a statement.
Egypt´s Civil Aviation Ministry said the plane's pilot, Omar al-Gammal, had informed authorities that he was threatened by a passenger wearing a suicide explosives belt and forced him to land in Larnaca.
A Cyprus Foreign Ministry official said he could not confirm the man was rigged with explosives. The hijacking occurred in Cyprus'´s flight information region. The plane was an Airbus 320, Egypt's aviation ministry said.
Eyptian state media named the hijacker as Ibrahim Samaha, an Egyptian, but gave no other details about him. Passengers on the plane included eight Britons and 10 Americans, three security sources at Alexandria airport said. Yes, Samaha, Ibrahim Samaha. Please, just call me Sammy. Here is my card. You were expecting someone else ?
[The South African] Insurance entrepreneur, Douw Steyn, is definitely a man with a vision. His dreams are large. Or let's say, enormous. Steyn's vision of a 800 hectare estate between Johannesburg and Pretoria is rapidly taking shape.
The billionaire's personal home, Palazzo Steyn, is valued at 250 million. Naturally, it is located in the center of Steyn City. It even beats Zuma's Nkandla, but at least it wasn't paid with taxpayers money. The 3000 square meter mansion is -- upon completion -- South Africa's most expensive and sits on two and a half hectare.
Douw Steyn's Pallazo Steyn in the middle of the Steyn City development north of Johannesburg
The Steyn City development is built on the concept of building a city within a city. Johannesburg is a sprawling, urban place. While Steyn is an extremely private man, and an interview a rarity, he explains the project on his website. He started the project with his director of Steyn City Properties, Giuseppe Plumari, who says:
"Giuseppe and I share the same vision - to create a lifestyle unlike any other in South Africa built on the foundation of quality of life. A country estate offering country living, but with all amentities conveniently within reach. Too much time is wasted in cities sitting in traffic and commuting between home, work, schools, and the shops. We want to bring all these elements of daily life into one estate and give residents back the precious commoity of time, in a secure, upmarket environment."
#1
Steyn and his investors are banking [pardon the pun] on apparent non-discovery of Fannie Mae and Government Neighborhood Stabilization Programs (NSP). In that part of the world however, outright armed seizure is more likely the outcome.
Yes, you have it, 'Stabilization Program' is yet another government euphemistic phrase.
Suburbia, or in this case 'white townships' will survive only if government permits it, and the taxes and permits are quite costly.
United Airlines pilot who has been charged with running a network of brothels in the Houston area made a brief appearance in court on Monday.
Bruce Wayne Wallis, 51, did not speak to reporters in his first court appearance since his arrest last week on charges that can bring up to 20 years in prison. Given sexual policies of US universities, a brothel near college town can be one hell of an investment.
#2
Can't be about morality, they threw that out with Lawrence vs Texas years ago (as warned by the late SCOTUS justice Scalia) - ie consenting adults. It's commercial, economic competition. The old social contract granting females exclusivity in matrimonial sex is under real pressure. Used to be that way when the family was the sole source of economic security, pre-Medicare, pre-Social Security, pre-Free Love, pre-Abortion on demand, et al. Not any more. However, the old privileges die hard and are so defended. Brothels have been and are still legal in Nevada outside of Las Vegas and Reno. It's not strange what is legal there, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Japan, et al is still outlawed here, except in the concept of that social economic exclusivity model.
[AnNahar] A Lebanese al-Nusra ...formally Jabhat an-Nusrah li-Ahli sh-Sham (Support Front for the People of the Levant), also known as al-Qaeda in the Levant. They aim to establish a pan-Arab caliphate. Not the same one as the Islamic State, though .. ... Front member was found dead in the outskirts of the northeastern border town of Arsal on Monday amid fierce festivities between the Qaeda-linked group and jihadists from the Islamic State ...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems.... organization, the National News Agency reported.
Lebanese national Majed Mohammed Abdulmajid al-Hujeiri, aka Abou al-Barae, was killed in battles between al-Nusra and the IS, NNA said.
His corpse has been lying in the outskirts since Sunday evening when the battles erupted between the two groups, the agency added.
"Hujeiri belonged to the terrorist group of al-Nusra and has been residing in the town. He was part of the group of Abou Taqiyeh," it pointed out.
Islamist holy man Mustafa al-Hujeiri, aka Abou Taqiyeh, was indicted and nabbed ... anything you say can and will be used against you, whether you say it or not... in 2014 on charges of belonging to al-Nusra Front with the aim of carrying out terrorist acts.
On Monday afternoon, NNA said fierce festivities were underway between al-Nusra and the IS in the outskirts of Arsal and Ras Baalbek and that light- and heavy-caliber weapons were being used.
The fighting has left "a large number of Death Eaters from both sides dead or maimed," the agency said.
It said the festivities erupted when the IS group launched a dawn attack on al-Nusra's posts in the outskirts of Arsal and Ras Baalbek, killing and wounding several of the Qaeda-linked groups's bad boys.
The IS "summarily executed some bad boys, including prominent officials," NNA said.
"In response, large groups from al-Nusra Front, led by Abou Malek al-Talli, waged a counter-attack after calling in reinforcements," the agency added, noting that the Qaeda-linked group was trying to recapture posts it lost in the areas of al-Zamarani, al-Ajram, Qurnat al-Hashishat, al-Malahi and Wadi Shbib.
Ever since the Syrian revolt erupted in March 2011, Arsal has served as a key conduit for refugees, Death Eaters and maimed people fleeing strife-torn Syria.
Jihadists from al-Nusra and the Islamic State group are entrenched in the town's outskirts.
In August 2014, they stormed the town and engaged in bloody battles with the Lebanese army following the arrest of a senior IS bad boy.
The jihadists withdrew after a ceasefire, but took with them several dozen hostages from the army and police, four of whom have since been executed.
Al-Nusra freed 16 servicemen in December 2015 in a swap deal with the Lebanese government that involved the release of Islamists and women from Leb's jails.
[IsraelTimes] Dutch police find ammunition in the house of a French national placed in durance vile Book 'im, Mahmoud! in Rotterdam on suspicion of plotting an attack in La Belle France, prosecutors say.
"During the search, phones, SIM cards, hard drives, cash, ammunition and drugs were seized," says Wim de Bruin, a front man for the Dutch prosecutor.
The man, 32, thought to be called Anis B., is suspected of receiving orders from the Islamic State ...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems.... group to attack targets in La Belle France along with Reda Kriket, who was nabbed near Gay Paree last week.
No explosives were found during the raid in which a total of four men were arrested, he adds.
Anis. B is expected to be handed over to La Belle France after an extradition hearing at an Amsterdam court, de Bruin says, although no date has yet been set.
Posted by: trailing wife ||
03/29/2016
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[Daily Caller] Great Britain’s oil industry is making a comeback, according to a report published Monday by the Energy Information Administration (EIA).
The country’s oil production increased in 2015 for the first time in a decade and is expected to keep growing. Great Britain is now the second-largest oil producer in Europe last year, after Norway.
An experimental onshore oil well in England struck more oil than it could pump last week. It’s located in an untapped geologic formation which contains an estimated 10 billion barrels of oil, according to a study published in February.
U.K. government data shows the rest of the country has 2.98 billion barrels of proven oil reserves. American horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, techniques could allow the U.K. to access even more oil.
#1
Last year a Brit company planned to frac its first well in the west, in the lakes region as I recall. The effort was stopped by the locals. NIMBY is alive and well, so the best laid plans....
[LI] Great Britain’s Foreign Office and Department for International Development ("DFID") have funneled million of Pounds, at least, to terrorists. The report from the Daily Mail details how the UK’s policy of spending .7% of revenue on foreign aid distorts priorities and leads it to fund terror. The Daily Mail report builds on a broader investigation from Palestinian Media Watch ("PMW") evidencing the Palestinian Authority’s ("PA") attempts to hide banned payments to terrorists from Western donors.
Palestinian Media Watch blows the whistle
In its expose', The Daily Mail cites PMW’s recent report discussing the PA’s deception of Western donors. According to the Daily Mail, "a devastating new report to be released this week by Palestinian Media Watch, an Israeli NGO, suggests that Western donors have been duped by assertions that the Authority no longer funds terrorists."
Drawing on original Palestinian media, PMW documents the PA’s fraud on international donors. In 2011, PMW exposed that the PA was funneling foreign donations to terrorists and their families. Following international outcry, in 2014, the PA formally placed funding for convicted terrorists in the hands of the Palestine Liberation Organization -- the parent of Fatah and the PA itself.
#8
From the Daily Mail article Legal Insurrection links to:
Despite claims of astonishing waste, the Government maintains a dogged adherence to the commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of the nationâs income on foreign aid â the highest proportion of any of the worldâs major economies â
[Breitbart] The first man charged with the Islamic State (IS) Brussels terror attacks is a migrant rights activist and ‘freelance journalist’ who lived next door to headquarters of the European Union (EU).
Faycal Cheffou is thought to be the "man in the hat" pictured next to suicide bombers Najim Laachraoui and Ibrahim El Bakraoui as they entered Brussels airport shortly before 8am on the 22nd on March.
A taxi driver who dropped the men at the airport has identified him. When asked if he was the suspected third bomber, a source close to the inquiry told AFP: "That is a hypothesis the investigators are working on."
Mr. Cheffou was listed as working for a radio station for North African migrants in an article from 2005. He claimed to be a ‘freelance journalist’ who took a special interest in refugees.
Last year Brussels Mayor, Yves Mayeur, accused him of trying to recruit jihadists among asylum seekers and migrants living at a refugee centre at Maximilien park near the northern rail station.
[IsraelTimes] Pair accused of planning to build bomb to detonate against Israeli army vehicle
Two residents of an Arab East Jerusalem neighborhood were charged Monday with attempting to attack Israeli security forces with an explosive in the name of the Islamic State ...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems.... terror group.
Mouasab Elian, 23, and Samir Abed Rabbo, 38, both of Sur Baher, are accused of plotting to manufacture an explosive and detonate it against a vehicle belonging to Israeli security forces in 2015.
The indictment, served by the state prosecutor in Jerusalem District Court, charges the pair with several offenses, including membership in an illegal organization, membership in a terror group, supporting a terror group and contacting foreign agents.
According to the indictment, Elian attempted to travel to Syria to fight alongside the Islamic State after becoming a supporter of the terror group through a religious group he studied with in Jerusalem in 2014.
However, if you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning... he only made it as far as Jordan, where he was jugged Drop the heater, Studs, or you're hist'try! , interrogated and deported back to Israel before he could acquire a Jordanian passport to go to The Sick Man of Europe Turkey ...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire.... and then on to Syria.
Back in Israel he started collecting money in an effort to travel directly from Israel to Turkey. Elian allegedly also looked into joining the Syria-based terror group through its affiliate terror organization in the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt.
At some point in 2015, he met Abed Rabbo, who had learned Islamic State ideology, along with some knowledge of explosives, from the Internet, and recruited him to help him make a bomb, according to the court filing.
Among the instruments the two are alleged of having purchased in order to manufacture the bomb were a cellphone meant to be used as a remote control to detonate the bomb, a coffee grinder for grinding the materials needed to produce the explosive, a voltmeter and iron oxide powder.
They allegedly met to discuss other equipment they needed to complete the manufacturing of the bomb and to discuss their plans for an attack.
On Friday, four other East Jerusalem residents were indicted on suspicion of attempting to join Islamic State.
It was not immediately clear if the two groups were linked.
According to the indictment, filed by state prosecutors Friday in the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court, the four, all men in the 20s, had organized a pro-IS "study group" that met regularly and planned terror attacks against Israelis.
They face charges of membership in and support for a terror group, and prosecutors are seeking a remand until the conclusion of the proceedings against them.
At least two of the four were caught trying to leave Israel for Turkey in an effort to join IS.
Posted by: trailing wife ||
03/29/2016
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[AlAhram] A local elected official was killed in The Sick Man of Europe Turkey ...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire.... 's strife-hit southeast on Monday after a weekend of violence that also claimed the lives of almost 30 gunnies and soldiers, according to security sources.
Ibrahim Inco, the village leader in Sarioren in Sanliurfa province, was shot after suspected Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) gunnies hijacked his car, the sources said.
They were fleeing after detonating an explosive targeting a military vehicle. Three soldiers were hurt in the kaboom, the sources said.
It was the latest violence in southeastern Turkey after the PKK abandoned its two-year ceasefire in July. Months of festivities have ensued, making it one of the deadliest periods in the insurgency's 31 years.
The military said 25 PKK gunnies were killed in the towns of Nusaybin, Sirnak and Yuksekova in festivities at the weekend.
On Sunday, two soldiers were killed and seven maimed in Nusaybin, a city on the Syrian border, when gunnies detonated explosives in a building security forces were searching, security sources said. Five soldiers were maimed.
In a separate incident in Nusaybin, which has been under a round-the-clock curfew since March 14, a soldier was killed by sniper fire, and a police officer was killed in a kaboom.
Nusaybin is the latest city to see security operations as the military tries to root out PKK gunnies from urban centres where they have erected barricades and dug trenches. The military has also launched dozens of air strikes against PKK bases in northern Iraq.
President Tayyip Erdogan said last week 300 members of the security forces had been killed since the conflict flared up last year, triggering the heaviest festivities since the 1990s. He said the PKK losses were at least 10 times as high.
The opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), which dominates much of the Kurdish vote, says hundreds of civilians have also been killed in the military operations which were stepped up in December.
(IraqiNews.com) Anbar – The leadership of al-Hashed al-Shaabi in Anbar Province announced on Monday, that the security forces cleansed the areas of al-Maamra and al-Hawda in Heet District in western Ramadi, while indicated that the operation resulted in the killing of 17 ISIS militants.
The officer in al-Hashed al-Shaabi in Haditha District Aycer Obeidi said in a statement obtained by IraqiNews.com, “The security forces carried out a wide-scale military operation and managed to cleanse al-Maamra and al-Hawda areas in the southern axis of Heet District after fierce battles with ISIS,” indicating that, “The operation resulted in the killing of 17 ISIS militants.”
Obeidi added, “The security forces reinforced its presence in the axes of Heet, and prepared to launch a storming operation in order to liberate the district from ISIS terrorist gangs,” pointing out that, “The security forces will also secure safe corridors for the exit of innocent civilians.”
(IraqiNews.com) Anbar – On Monday, a military source in the army’s 7th brigade in Anbar Province revealed, that the international coalition aviation bombarded two vehicles belonging to the so-called ISIS and killed their occupants west of Ramadi.
The source said in a statement obtained by IraqiNews.com, “ISIS mobilized some of its members in al-Jabriya Village northeast of al-Baghdadi to attack Majid area the eastern entrance of al-Baghdadi vicinity.”
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added, “The coalition aviation backed by the army’s 7th brigade bombarded two vehicles belonging to ISIS and killed their occupants.”
ISIS executes families in Fallujah The Lord only knows why...
(IraqiNews.com) Anbar – A local source in the city of Fallujah said on Monday, that the so-called ISIS executed the families that were trying to leave the city and threw their bodies in the Euphrates River.
The source reported for IraqiNews.com, “ISIS is practicing these acts to spread fear among people and prevent them from leaving the city,” pointing out that, “ISIS is using the families as human shields.”
He added, “ISIS members rumored that these families have committed suicide because of hunger in an attempt to distort the government’s image and highlight its inability to rescue the besieged families.”
Posted by: badanov ||
03/29/2016
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[Dhaka Tribune] Condemned war criminal and 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... Ameer Matiur Rahman Nizami will file a petition seeking review of the Appellate Division verdict that upheld his death sentence. "The review petition will be filed today with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court against his death sentences, upheld by the apex court, as all preparations have already been completed," Nizami’s son Barrister Nazib Momin was quoted as saying by BSS.
The apex court on March 15 released the 153-page judgement after its four judges concerned signed the verdict that upheld the Jamaat chief’s death penalty for war crimes.
International Crimes Tribunal issued a death warrant against the war criminal on the same day.
There is a provision of filing a review petition within 15 days after releasing the full verdict.
Nizami was given the death sentence on October 29, 2014 on four charges and life imprisonment on four other charges. He challenged the verdict at the apex court.
On January 6, the Appellate Division upheld the tribunal’s sentence for the al-Badr chief for criminal masterminding the killing of intellectuals and his involvement in two incidents of mass murders of over 500 people in Pabna in 1971.
He is the third former minister after Jamaat leader Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid and BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury to get the death penalty for his notorious role during the war.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/29/2016
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Hijinx ensue...
HOMS ــ Subsequent to clashes with Syrian regime troops, militant fighters of the Islamic State (ISIS) group were able Monday to control the tanks battalion in eastern Homs, central Syria, activists reported.
Speaking to ARA News in Homs, rights activist Amr al-Musa confirmed that ISIS captured the abandoned battalion in eastern Homsــ about 10 km northwestern the military airport of T-four, subsequent to fierce battles with pro-regime forces.
Al-Musa pointed out that ISIS launched a surprise attack on the pro-regime forces, leading to fierce clashes between the two sides lasted for several hours.
“ISIS militants were able to take over the tank battalion in addition to a nearby regime-led checkpointــwhich was taken as a first line of defense for the battalion,” he reported.
“At least 23 soldiers from the regime’s army were killed during clashes with Daesh,” a military source close to the Syrian army told ARA News, using an acronym for ISIS.
The source confirmed that ISIS insurgents were able to seize three machine guns, a base for anti-tank missiles with dozens of missiles and a large deal of ammunition along with light weapons.
However, after taking control of the battalion, ISIS was forced on Monday midnight to retreat under heavy blows by the Russian air force and the regime’s artillery–stationed in the vicinity of the T-four military airport.
On March 26, 2015, ISIS took over the tank battalion for the first time, but it was forced to withdraw under the regime’s airstrikes.
Posted by: badanov ||
03/29/2016
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[Guardian] Argentina’s government is celebrating a decision by a UN commission to expand its maritime territory in the South Atlantic Ocean by 35% to include the disputed Falkland islands and beyond.
The Argentine foreign ministry said its waters had increased by 1.7 million square km (0.66 million square miles) and the decision will be key in its dispute with Britain over the islands. Argentina lost a brief, bloody 1982 war with Britain after Argentinian troops seized the South Atlantic archipelago that Latin Americans call the Malvinas.
The UN commission on the limits of the continental shelf sided with Argentina, ratifying the country’s 2009 report fixing the limit of its territory at 200 to 350 miles from its coast.
"This is a historic occasion for Argentina because we’ve made a huge leap in the demarcation of the exterior limit of our continental shelf," foreign minister Susana Malcorra said. "This reaffirms our sovereignty rights over the resources of our continental shelf."
Oil exploration is already pumping millions of dollars into the Falkland Islands economy. Many islanders remain concerned about Argentina’s claim as well as the potential for problems from rapid change brought by the new industry.
The UN commission’s finding included the caveat that there is an unresolved diplomatic dispute between Argentina and Britain over the islands.
The Falklands are internally self-governing, but Britain is responsible for its defence and foreign affairs. The British government says islanders cannot be forced to accept Argentinian sovereignty against their will.
#6
Just wait. Soon Hawaii will be found to lie in Chinese waters.
Posted by: Bobby ||
03/29/2016 7:44
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#7
Sometimes it takes a little threat to bring a country together. Argentina may want to think twice.
Having said that, the UK probably should have given the islands to Argentina with some kind of lease back (first 100 years free). Let the Argies have the oil and remove the target from the islands before it escalates into war and the UK has no way of backing out without honor.
#11
And Israel is the biggest human rights violator. North Korea and Iran are perfect. Writing trump on a white board is deemed violent behavior but the activists blocking the streets are exercising their 1st ammendment rights. I have officially lost my mind.
Posted by: 49 pan ||
03/29/2016 15:32
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#12
You have not lost your mind. On the contrary you have kept it while society has gone mad around you.
Posted by: One Eyed Smiter of the Apes6897 ||
03/29/2016 16:04
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#13
Of course China and Argentina are on this bullshit commission, and logrolling bought the rest of the bureaucrats. Have their fervid imaginations given the Spratleys and Senkakus to the ChiComs yet?
The Peronistas lost their election, and the current administration had been cooling off the loud nationalist chest-thumping. Now that some corrupt UN bureaucrats have relit the fuse, they're back to the chest-thumping. I can't imagine that the current petroleum pricing can make this worth the candle, any which way...
Posted by: Mitch H. ||
03/29/2016 16:10
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#14
UN commissions are dime a dozen. Do you really believe this can pass security council?
#15
I wonder if it is too late to sell the islands. If they're too much trouble for the UK, they could offer to hand them over in exchange for $$relocation$$ expenses. UK gets to think of it as a sale, Argentina an admission of their sovereignty, locals get rich and the UK gets the lion's share in taxes anyway.
If there's oil they'll probably hang on, but if not...
Posted by: james ||
03/29/2016 22:25
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[Khaama (Afghanistan)] Mohammad Halim Fidayee, governor of central Pashtun-infested Logar province has strongly condemned the killing of Colonel Mohammada Jan.
Fidayee says strict actions would be taken against the perpetrators.
Colonel Mohammada Jan who was garrison commander of the fourth brigade- The 203 Thunder Military Corps- lost his life in a kaboom on Sunday.
The bomb was attached to the door of his residence in Zarghun Khar area of Mohammad Agha district.
There was no additional casualty in the blast.
No group has group has so far grabbed credit for the attack.
Security forces to include army, police and personnel of the National Directorate of Security ...the Afghan national intel agency... (NDS) have been conducting a search operation in Zarghun Khar area since yesterday.
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[Khaama (Afghanistan)] The National Directorate of Security ...the Afghan national intel agency... (NDS) -- Afghanistan’s intelligence agency has seized two weapons catches of holy warriors in central Pashtun-infested Logar province.
Officials say one of the depots was discovered in Pakhtoonabad area of Pul-e-Alam, the picturesque provincial capital, while the other one was intercepted in the jurisdiction of Khwakhi district last night.
Two rocket launchers, 12 bombs, two rounds of artillery, two boxes of ammos for PK machine gun and other materials were found in the depots.
Two individuals have been jugged Drop the rosco, Muggsy, or you're one with the ages! on suspicion.
Located some 60 km south of Kabul ...the capital of Afghanistan. Home to continuous fighting from 1992 to 1996 between the forces of would-be strongman and Pak ISI/Jamaat-e-Islami sock puppet Gulbuddin Hekmayar and the Northern Alliance, a period which won Hek the title Most Evil Man in the World and didn't do much for the reputations of the Northern Alliance guys either.... , Pashtun-infested Logar is comparatively a restive province of Afghanistan where Taliban, holy warriors loyal to Gulbuddin Hekmatyar ... who used to be known in intelligence circles as The Most Evil Man in the World but who now seems merely run-of-the-mill evil... ’s Hizb-e-Islami and Daesh [Islamic State] are operating.
However, a clean conscience makes a soft pillow... it is yet unknown what group the weapons depot belonged to.
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03/29/2016
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[Khaama (Afghanistan)] Tajikistan has tossed in the slammer Yez got nuttin' on me, coppers! Nuttin'! a narco with over 100 kilograms of drugs, the country’s Ministry of Interior Affairs announced on Monday.
According to the ministry, the 36-year-old man hailing from Badakhshan province of Afghanistan is a member of an organized criminal group and was arrested in a police operation in the city of Kulob on March 24.
A total of 107.646 kilograms of drugs including 97.424 KG of cannabis, 9.266 KG of hashish and 956.8 kilograms of opium were said to have been seized from the suspect.
The ministry said that criminal proceedings have been instituted against the alleged drug peddler and an investigation is under way.
Tajikistan is one of the neighboring countries where Afghanistan’s drugs are being smuggled from where it also goes to other countries.
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[Khaama (Afghanistan)] A coordinated deadly suicide kaboom plot was foiled in the restive Helmand ...an Afghan province populated mostly by Pashtuns, adjacent to Injun country in Pak Balochistan... province located in south of Afghanistan with the discovery of 3 bikes packed with explosives.
The Afghan Intelligence, National Directorate of Security ...the Afghan national intel agency... (NDS), said the bikes were discovered and seized from Nad-e-Ali and Lashkargah city of Helmand.
A statement by NDS said the anti-government armed myrmidon groups had prepared the explosives-laden cycle of violences to carry out coordinated attack in this province.
In a separate incident in Nad-e-Ali district, at least four hard boyz were killed and 2 Ak-47 rifles were seized along with a cycle of violence and some explosives, NDS added.
The anti-government armed myrmidon groups including the Taliban group have not commented regarding the reports so far.
NDS also added that a thief was tossed in the slammer Maw! They're comin' to get me, Maw! in a separate operation in this province who has been identified as Abdul Hakim son of Akhtar Mohammad.
According to NDS, the suspect was involved in the murder case of two brothers who were rubbed out with a pistol.
Helmand is among the volatile provinces in southern Afghanistan where anti-government armed myrmidon groups are actively operating and frequently carry out insurgency activities.
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[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] Yemen’s Houthi ...a Zaidi Shia insurgent group operating in Yemen. They have also been referred to as the Believing Youth. Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi is said to be the spiritual leader of the group and most of the military leaders are his relatives. The Yemeni government has accused the Houthis of having ties to the Iranian government, which wouldn't suprise most of us. The group has managed to gain control over all of Saada Governorate and parts of Amran, Al Jawf and Hajjah Governorates. Its slogan is God is Great, Death to America™, Death to Israel, a curse on the Jews ... militias, who control the capital Sanaa, have released nine Saudis in exchange for 109 Yemenis, the Saudi-led coalition said on Monday.
The move comes ahead of planned peace talks next month.
"Nine Saudi prisoners have been recovered and 109 Yemenis who were placed in durance vile Please don't kill me! in the military operations zone" near the border have been handed over, the coalition said in a statement.
The prisoner swap is the latest confidence-building measure in the lead-up to a planned ceasefire and peace negotiations next month.
Last week, UN envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed announced that the combatants have agreed to a ceasefire from midnight on April 10, to be followed by peace talks in Kuwait on April 18.
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03/29/2016
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Last week, it was reported that the FBI had figured out how to unlock the iPhone belonging to one of the shooters who killed 14 people in San Bernardino, CA, on Dec. 2, 2015. Now, it’s official, as the government has dropped its attempt to compel Apple to aid the FBI in bypassing the device’s security -- but this is just the first of likely many fights over this issue.
This morning, the Department of Justice filed a status report [PDF] with the U.S. District Court that had first ordered Apple to assist the FBI, disclosing that the agency’s efforts to unlock the iPhone belonging to Syed Farook had been fruitful. US gets info, Apple maintains market share. Win/win, right?
#1
Likely story. A convenient excuse to get out of a losing test case. As they say, discovery is a cast iron B!tC#, and the federal judges are getting less impressed by the magic "National Security" invocation.
FBI has been lying from the start. This was all about using a terrorism case to get a court to force Apple to do the FBI's work for them. With that precedent set, 'law enforcement' would have routinely used it to get phones unlocked in child support and parking ticket cases. When the case started going against them, the FBI ran like frightened girls.
[Khaama (Afghanistan)] Nearly 100 Talibs were killed or maimed during the operations in Khanshin district of southern Helmand ...an Afghan province populated mostly by Pashtuns, adjacent to Injun country in Pak Balochistan... province which was retaken by the Afghan forces yesterday.
The Ministry of Defense (MoD) said at least 60 Taliban Death Eaters were killed and 30 others were maimed during the operations conducted jointly by the Afghan forces.
The control of Khanshin district fell to Talibs nearly two weeks ago following a coordinated attack involving scores of holy warriors.
However, the difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits... the security officials announced Sunday that the Afghan forces managed to clear the district from the forces of Evil presence as a result of the operations.
Helmand is among the volatile provinces in southern Afghanistan where anti-government armed holy warrior groups are actively operating in its various districts and frequently carry out insurgency activities.
Meanwhile, ...back at the dirigible, Jack stuck the cigar in his mouth, stepped onto the gantry, and asked Got a light, Mac?
Von Schtinken stopped short, lowering the dagger and trying to control his features.
If you light that thing, Herr Armschtröng, he pointed out, his voice tense, we all die!... a statement by MoD said at least 29 forces of Evil were killed in a separate operation in Shindand district of Herat ...a venerable old Persian-speaking city in western Afghanistan, populated mostly by Tadjiks, which is why it's not as blood-soaked as areas controlled by Pashtuns... while 17 others including 2 commanders of the group were killed in Ghazni and Nuristan provinces.
MoD further added that 7 soldiers serving with the Afghan National Army (ANA) forces also bit the dust during the same operations.
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Kuwait is to deport 60 Lebanese for alleged links to Hezbollah in the latest Gulf Arab move against the militant group, a newspaper reported on Monday. Those to be deported all had permanent residency which has been revoked, Al-Qabas daily said.
Those classified as "dangerous cases" were given just two days to leave the country, it added.
It is the second wave of deportations from Kuwait reported since Gulf Arab states blacklisted Hezbollah as a "terrorist" group earlier this month. Last week, Al-Qabas reported that 11 Lebanese and three Iraqis had been deported for alleged links to the group
Around 50,000 Lebanese live and work in the oil-rich emirate, providing remittances that are vital to the domestic economy.
The terror blacklisting was the latest step taken by Gulf states.
Last month, Saudi Arabia halted a $3 billion programme of military aid to Lebanon to protest what it said was "the stranglehold of Hezbollah on the state". It also urged its citizens to leave Lebanon and avoid travelling there.
Qatar and Kuwait followed with similar travel advisories, while the United Arab Emirates banned its nationals from travel to Lebanon.
Hezbollah is fighting in support of the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against Gulf-backed rebel fighters and extremist militants. Other Gulf states have also taken measures against alleged Hezbollah supporters since the terror blacklisting.
Bahrain said it had deported several Lebanese residents for alleged links to the group.
Saudi security forces arrested a preacher accused of glorifying the group, the kingdom's Al-Watan newspaper reported last week.
And the United Arab Emirates has reportedly put seven people on trial for allegedly forming a cell linked to Hezbollah.
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[Dhaka Tribune] When Brussels police caught Salah Abdeslam, suspected sole survivor of November’s suicide assault on Gay Paree, they knew they were in a race against time to stop a new Dae’sh attack.
It was the afternoon of Friday, March 18, and one of Prime Minister Charles Michel’s cabinet ministers tweeted "We got him!" after Europe’s most wanted man was seized at a house in the capital’s Molenbeek neighbourhood.
But Michel was worried, according to a government official who was present at the time. The premier raced to his crisis command centre from a European summit nearby.
Continued on Page 49
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#2
OTOH see LUCIANNE > [Daily Express.UK] EU [Socialists] ADMIT PLOT FOR FEDERAL SUPER-STATE [Federalized EU] AND DESCRIBE BRUSSLES ATTACKS AS AN "OPPORTUNITY", for closer Inter-EU Coop + ultimately Universal = Pan-EU Integration.
* WORLD NEWS, TOPIX, BIGNEWSNETWORK > ISIS SHIFTS ITS ATTENTION FROM MIDDLE EAST + AFRICA TO EUROPE WID BRUSSELS ATTACKS/TERROR STRIKES.
(IraqiNews.com) Babel – A source within the police force in Babel province said on Monday, that 24 wanted individuals had been arrested on various criminal charges during raid operations across the province.
The source said in a statement received by IraqiNews.com, “Today, Babel police had managed to detain 24 wanted on criminal charges, ranging between murder and armed robbery, during operations across the province,” adding that, “The detainees were transferred to a security center for interrogation.”
[FRANCE24] Belgian prosecutors on Monday named three new suspects and released CCTV video footage of the so-called man in the hat as part of a widening investigation into the March 22 kabooms at Brussels' Zaventem airport and the Maelbeek metro station.
The announcement that three more men had been charged with "terror activities" came as authorities raised the corpse count from last week's devastating Islamic State ...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems.... (IS) group suicide kabooms to 35 people.
Officials from the government's crisis centre said 31 victims died at the two attack sites and four had died in hospital. Three bombers were also killed when they detonated their explosives.
Police said they had charged the three additional suspects with participating in a terrorist group after a series of raids in recent days.
In a statement on Monday, the federal prosecutors identified the three charged as Yassine A., Mohammed B. and Aboubaker O., adding that they could not give further information about them at this stage.
They also said that they had released without charge a fourth man they had taken in for questioning.
Police announced on Sunday that they were holding four people following 13 new raids in and around Brussels and the northern port city of Antwerp.
The triple-suicide kaboom in Brussels, considered the heart of the European Union ...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing... , was Belgium’s worst-ever attack, which also left more than 300 people injured
New video
Meanwhile, ...back at the revival hall, the congregants were being herded into the paddy wagon... Belgian police released new video footage of the third suspect, whose bomb failed to go off at the airport.
The footage shows the man wearing a hat and white jacket pushing a trolley with a large bag through the departure hall, next to jacket wallahs Ibrahim El Bakraoui and Najim Laachraoui.
A police notice issued with the video -- still images from which have previously been released -- said that officers "want to identify this man".
Belgian media had earlier claimed the "third man" in the image was Faycal Cheffou. Police at the time would not comment on those reports.
But hours after Belgian police released the new Zaventem airport CCTV footage Monday, the federal prosecutor’s office said a man identified as "Faycal C." had been released due to lack of evidence.
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Seven suspected Somali pirates are due in court in Paris on Tuesday over the hijacking of a French yacht that left the owner dead and his wife facing a hellish kidnapping ordeal.
Christian and Evelyne Colombo had sold everything to make their dream voyage around the world. But around lunchtime on Sept. 8, 2011, naval authorities received a distress signal from their “Tribal Kat” catamaran.
They had left the port of Aden in Yemen five days earlier and were heading for Oman, a journey that took them through notoriously pirate-infested waters. A German frigate found the boat several hours later. There were bullet holes in the deck and a pool of blood with a pair of glasses floating in it. No one was onboard.
Two days later, a Spanish warship located the skiff suspected to belong to the pirates. They tried to approach but turned away when the attackers dragged Evelyne Colombo into view, a gun to her head. The Spanish military prepared a raid and attacked a few hours later, leaving two pirates dead and the remaining seven arrested.
Evelyne Colombo told her rescuers that her husband’s body had been dumped into the sea. It was never found. She had spent a nightmarish 48 hours in the hands of the pirates, kept under a tarpaulin, drenched by waves and in constant fear of death.
The trial of the seven men, aged between 25 and 32, is due to run for a fortnight from March 29. They have given their professions as policeman, taxi driver, fisherman or even “coolie” — a old colonial-era term meaning “porter.” They face possible life imprisonment if convicted.
In France or in Somalia?
At least one may not face trial, having reportedly developed psychological problems in prison — a result not just of the isolated detention they currently face, but also of the miserable lives they experienced before.
“War… hunger… for these men to properly judged, the court must understand the hell from which they have come,” said one of their lawyers, Martin Reynaud.
How about the hell they put the Colombos through?
He added that this could only explain rather than excuse their actions, and said he was conscious of the ongoing pain experienced by the widow and two daughters left behind by Christian and Evelyne Colombo.
The accused have claimed the two men killed during the assault — identified as “Shine” and “Abdullahi Yare” — were the leaders of the operation, according to a police source.
Of course they were. And try to get them to deny it...
The investigators believe Yare was most likely the killer, but that all members of the gang were motivated by the desire to attack boats and claim ransoms through kidnapping.
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#1
That's why yard arms were so useful in the days when pirates were not pitied but hunted down.
[Dhaka Tribune] Pakistain will launch a paramilitary crackdown on Islamist faceless myrmidons in Punjab, the country’s richest and most populous province, after an Easter Day bombing killed 70 people in the historic provincial capital Lahore, officials said yesterday.
Sunday’s suicide kaboom on a public park was claimed by the Pak Taliban’s Jamaat-ur-Ahrar faction, which once declared loyalty to Islamic State ...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems.... . The group said it was targeting Christians.
The brutality of the attack, Jamaat-ur-Ahrar’s fifth bombing since December, reflects the movement’s attempts to raise its profile among Pakistain’s increasingly fractured Islamist Lion of Islams.
At least 29 children enjoying an Easter weekend outing were among those killed when the jacket wallah struck in a busy park in the eastern city of Lahore, the power base of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf... . Pakistain is a majority-Muslim state but has a Christian population of more than two million.
At the Vatican in Rome, Pope Francis condemned the attack as "hideous" and demanded that Pak authorities protect religious minorities. It was Pakistain’s deadliest attack since the December 2014 massacre of 134 school children at a military-run academy in the city of Beautiful Downtown Peshawar ...capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly known as the North-West Frontier Province), administrative and economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. Peshawar is situated near the eastern end of the Khyber Pass, convenient to the Pak-Afghan border. Peshawar has evolved into one of Pakistan's most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities, which means lots of gunfire. that prompted a government crackdown on Islamist militancy.
Security and government officials told Rooters that the decision had been made to launch a full-scale paramilitary Rangers operation, giving them powers to conduct raids and interrogate suspects in the same way as they have been in the southern city of 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... for more than two years.
The move, which has not yet been formally announced, represents the civilian government once again granting special powers to the military in order to fight Islamist Lion of Islams.
"The technicalities are yet to be worked out. There are some legal issues also with bringing in Rangers, but the military and government are on the same page," said one security bigshot, speaking on condition of anonymity ... for fear of being murdered... as he was not authorised to share details of the plan.
One other military official and two government officials confirmed the decision on condition of anonymity.
Soft Targets
Military front man Gen Asim Bajwa said intelligence agencies, the army and Rangers had already launched several raids around Punjab 1.) Little Orphan Annie's bodyguard
2.) A province of Pakistain ruled by one of the Sharif brothers
3.) A province of India. It is majority (60 percent) Sikh and Hindoo (37 percent), which means it has relatively few Moslem riots.... following the attack, arresting an unspecified number of suspects and recovering arms caches.
Prime Minister Sharif toured hospitals full of victims, promising to bring justice.
"Our resolve as a nation and as a government is getting stronger and (the) coward enemy is trying for soft targets," Sharif said, according to a statement from his office.
Jamaat-ur-Ahrar grabbed credit for the attack late on Sunday night and issued a direct challenge to the government.
"The target was Christians," a faction front man, Ehsanullah Ehsan ...formerly the front man for the Pak Taliban, now the lips and tongue of the Jamaatul Ahrar splinter group in Mohmand Agency... , said. "We want to send this message to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that we have entered Lahore."
Rescue services spokeswoman Deeba Shahnaz said at least 29 children, seven women and 34 men were killed and about 340 were maimed, with 25 at death's door.
Jamaat-ur-Ahrar has grabbed credit for several big attacks since it split from the main Pak Taliban in 2014.
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The massive Leviathan gas field was discovered in Israel’s offshore Levant Basin over six years ago, and while it theoretically puts Israel on the global energy map for the first time and could change the geopolitical dynamics of the entire Middle East, the Israelis themselves seem to be doing everything in their power to keep it from coming online. Its owners--U.S.-based Noble Energy and Israeli partner Delek Group--along with their shareholders are probably wondering if gas is ever going to come out of this giant of giants.
At stake is a massive gas field worth $5-$6 billion and believed to contain some 22 trillion cubic feet of gas, slated to begin extraction by 2019.
The latest disappointment came this weekend when the Israeli High Court dealt another serious blow to the project with a ruling that promises to cancel the offshore gas extraction deal entirely in a year if a clause in the natural gas rules isn't changed or voided.
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain ||
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#3
“We have decided to cancel the gas deal because of the stability clause” that would have barred future governments from altering the deal, the High Court panel said, according to the Times of Israel.
More specifically, the High Court of Justice judges wrote, "The stability clause has been set without authority and its legality is repealed. This is because it has been passed in contradiction to the basic rules of administrative law in a way that prohibits restricting the considerations of the (Antitrust) Authority."
Granted, I'm not a lawyer, but this is bullshit of the highest order. Israeli courts invalidating contracts because the government can't alter the deal down the road? Since when does a party to a contract get to rewrite it once it's signed on a flimsy justification?
#4
A major utility holding company in the United States bought out several utilities in Great Britain when the Tories deregulated and privatized many publicly held companies. The US utility moved in, kicked out the dead wood, imposed their standards and methodologies, and began to turn a profit. Then Labor took over, unilaterally rewrote the contracts, and demanded that the utility pay the "true value" of the utilities (based on the value AFTER the improvements were put in place). The Utility got out of those markets with a loss, spun off all their foreign holdings (whose countries began to imitate Great Britain and rewrote the contracts), and now concentrates in their home territory. (The CEO resigned under a cloud. In his "honor" the company named a gas turbine peaking power plant after him)
The clause was put in because of the above experience. Apparently, the court wants to leave open the ability of future liberal/labor governments to claw back improved investments. Scr*w them!
#7
Fracking has changed the game. The world has plenty of natural gas from suppliers who you wouldn't mind doing business with. If Israel doesn't want to play, well, we don't need them.
[AlAhram] The first day of the holy month of Ramadan Islamic will fall on Monday, June 6 this year in Egypt, according to astronomical calculations by scientists of Egypt’s National Research Institute for Astronomy and Geophysics.
Institute President Hatem Ouda said Sunday that the month of Ramadan will last for 30 days, MENA reported.
There is often disagreement between Muslim scholars and astronomers about the beginning of the month of Ramadan, as the calculations about when the new moon will rise are not the only means to determine the start of the month.
During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from drinking and eating from dawn until dusk.
The length of Islamic lunar calendar months, the ninth of which is Ramadan, varies between 29 and 30 days.
There is often disagreement between Muslim scholars and astronomers about the beginning of the month of Ramadan, as the calculations about when the new moon will rise are not the only means to determine the start of the month.
On the 29th day of the previous month, Shaaban, Muslim scholars look for the new crescent in the sky after the sun sets. If they see it, the following day marks the beginning of Ramadan; if not, then Ramadan will commence the day after.
Egypt’s Grand Mufti will then announce the official beginning of Ramadan in Egypt.
#3
One thing I've never been clear on:
Are you supposed to be extra nice during the holy month and refrain from mass murder and beheadings, or do you get extra points for killing infidels during Ramadan?
[Khaama (Afghanistan)] Afghan Air Force has targeted a hideout of gunnies in Dwab district of eastern Nuristan province, 201st Military Corps said in a statement on Monday.
According to the statement, eight Taliban were killed and 12 others maimed in the air strikes yesterday.
Those killed include Janat Gul and Abdul Sattar, two commanders of Taliban, the statement adds.
However, it was a brave man who first ate an oyster... Taliban have not yet commented on the report.
The air strikes come a day after six gunnies were killed in a clash with security forces in Kamdish district of Nuristan province.
An official said the murderous Moslems had just crossed the border into Afghanistan from across the Durand Line.
Nuristan which is on the border with Pakistain is one of the comparatively restive areas of Afghanistan where Taliban are actively operating.
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[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] Syria is willing to take part in an international coalition against terrorism but only if the United States will work with Damascus in a way it has not done so far, the Syrian envoy to Geneva peace talks said on Monday.
"The (U.S.-led) international coalition did not succeed in Syria because it did not coordinate with the regime. Russia was successful because it coordinated with us," Bashar Ja’afari said in an interview with Leb-based al-Mayadeen TV.
"We are for the creation of an international coalition against terrorism, but in coordination with the Syrian government. We have no objection to working with America as long as it is done in coordination with Syria," Ja’afari said.
In response, the United States on Monday welcomed the victory by Syrian leader Bashir al-Assad’s Russian-backed forces over ISIS in the historic city of Palmyra, despite concerns over his brutal record.
"We do think that it’s a good thing that Daesh [Islamic State] no longer controls it," State Department front man John Kirby said, using his preferred term for ISIS.
"That said, we’re also mindful, of course, that the best hope for Syria and the Syrian people is not an expansion of Bashir al-Assad’s ability to tyrannize the Syrian people."
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"You want to order 500 new Hiluxes?"
DARAA ــ Dozens of fighters have dissented from the militant group of Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria’s southern province of Daraa, announcing the formation of a rebel group under the banner “al-Murabitin Brigade”.
The dissented fighters were members of the Islamic Movement of Muthanna which had earlier sworn allegiance to ISIS.
The ISIS-splinted Brigade of al-Murabitin issued Monday a statement obtained by ARA News, announcing their “full commitment” to the fight against the regime and radical groups in Syria.
The new formation has also removed the ISIS-linked military commander Abu Abdul Karim, according to the statement.
“We have decided to leave the militant group [ISIS] after its aggression against our people in the Horan region [Daraa province] which claimed the lives of a number of innocent civilians,” the statement read.
The brigade has also stressed it will work to defend its people, adding it ‘will not be separated from the Operations Chamber of al-Bunyan al-Marsus’–which includes several Syrian rebel factions operate in the southern front of Daraa province.
“We will remain part of the chamber to continue struggle against Assad’s thugs,” it said.
The announcement of the new rebel body came after the ISIS-liked Muthanna in association with the Brigade of Yarmouk Martyrs–which had also swore allegiance to ISIS– waged battles against opposition fighters in the western suburbs of Daraa, taking over several towns in the province, including Tasil and Sahem al-Golan as well as the town of Jalin.
As ISIS considers any of its jihadis who leaves his post without a permission a traitor and enemy of its alleged Caliphate, it will fight any splinted group from its ranks, according to local activists.
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LANDI KOTAL: A gunman shot dead a health worker here late on Saturday evening.
Family sources said that Akhtar Khan, a supervisor in Expanded Programme for Immunisation, was sitting in his private clinic in Khuga Khel area when a gunman shot and killed him on the spot. Akhtar Khan’s clinic was situated in a residential locality and had no security.
Khasadar officials said that they took a local resident into custody after a son of the deceased told officials that he saw the arrested man entering his father’s clinic and later heard gunshots being fired there. The arrested man was identified as Hayatullah who was shifted to local lockup for interrogation.
Banned militant group Lashkar-i-Islam claimed responsibility for killing the EPI supervisor in a telephone contact with this correspondent from an Afghan mobile number.
The LI spokesman, however, did not specify as to why an EPI worker was targeted.
Some two months ago, unidentified men had distributed pamphlets in the same locality warning health workers not to conduct polio vaccination campaign and also local parents to desist from sending their daughters to school.
"The FBI is about to start dragging in Hillary Clinton's ex-aides to interview them about the email scandal and according to Judge Andrew Napolitano, they should be very afraid. Faster please, and with greatly increased enthusiasm.
'If they go in, they're not under oath, but it's very, very dangerous, because if they mislead or lie to the FBI, that's a felony -- the equivalent to perjury -- and they can be prosecuted,' Napolitano explained this morning on Fox News.
Only if you're Scooter Libby...
'And they do not know, and their lawyers do not know, what the FBI knows about them.'
He added that the situation is 'very, very treacherous' not only for the aides but the whole Democratic party. I doubt it will be limited to the Democratic party, but that's just a guess.
'I would think the Democrats need to know whether or not they're about to nominate somebody for president who might be a criminal defendant in a felony prosecution before November,' he said. 'They should know that.'"
#3
'If they go in, they're not under oath, but it's very, very dangerous, because if they mislead or lie to the FBI, that's a felony -- the equivalent to perjury -- and they can be prosecuted,' Napolitano explained this morning on Fox News.
That's how they got Martha Stewart. But I've always wondered, if the government lies to us all the time why should they expect us to tell them the truth especially if it's not court testimony under oath?
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
03/29/2016 11:05
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ALEPPO – Syrian regime’s warplanes on Monday conducted several airstrikes on headquarters of the extremist group of Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria’s eastern province of Aleppo, causing casualties among civilians, local sources reported.
Speaking to ARA News in Aleppo, media activist Muhannad al-Jassem said that pro-regime warplanes targeted several ISIS strongholds in the towns of Qabasin and Bizaa southwest the city of al-Bab, killing a number of militants and destroying an ISIS headquarters.
“At least five civilians were among those killed in the attack,” he reported.
Al-Jassim pointed out that pro-Assad warplanes targeted ISIS-held villages on the road between the Oum Myal and Abu Taweel districts south of Manbij, causing a number of injuries among civilians.
Meanwhile, clashes renewed between pro-regime forces and ISIS fighters on the outskirts of Tadef town amid exchange of artillery shelling. The hardline group was trying to infiltrate into positions for the regime’s army, according to local activists.
Pro-regime forces continue to target ISIS headquarters in the northern and eastern suburbs of Aleppo, in a bid to advance in the city of al-Bab–one of the main bastions for ISIS in northwestern Syria.
This comes as the western coalition continued striking ISIS positions in areas north of Aleppo, where dozens of militants were killed and injured in the past few weeks.
Also, the northern countryside of Aleppo is witnessing battles between different armed groups. The developments in Aleppo could determine the results of the ongoing Syria peace talks in Geneva, according to observers.
Posted by: badanov ||
03/29/2016
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A man with a gun was shot by police Monday afternoon at the Capitol Visitor Center at the U.S. Capitol Complex, according to two D.C. police officials. He was taken to MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
The report of gunfire in a city on heightened alert because of terror attacks in Europe sent dozens of emergency vehicles to the Capitol building and forced staff and visitors into lockdown. Road barricades went up and police officers with automatic rifles were stationed on street corners.
The visitor's center is an underground complex located east of the Capitol building. All visitors are screened through metal detectors as they enter the facility
Few details were immediately available. In a tweet sent about 3:15 p.m., D.C. police reported that there was an "isolated incident at the U.S. Capitol Center."
"There is no active threat to the public," police said in the tweet.
Authorities have identified the alleged suspect of the Capitol Shooting as Larry Dawson of Antioch. News 12 has obtained photos of the alleged suspect.
Let's just say that he's not Snow White...
One person is reported as injured after they were struck with shrapnel.
Capitol Police records show that Dawson had an active bench warrant for assault of a police officer and unlawful conduct on capitol grounds at the time of the shooting.
[Khaama (Afghanistan)] The acting Afghan intelligence chief Massoud Andarabi has said the Taliban group will pursue violence with the full support of Pak military intelligence, Inter Services Intelligence (ISI).
Briefing the Afghan politicians in the Lower House of the Parliament, Andarabi said the Taliban group will pursue violence in the summer as they are being supported by ISI and encouraged to increase violence and bring more areas under their control.
Andarabi further added that the enemies of the country were more hopeful last year considering the situation of the country as they eyed to capture more areas with persistent violence and increase their political legitimacy.
However, there's more than one way to skin a cat... Andarabi said the offensive by the Talibs group was repulsed as they failed to have strategic gains.
This is not the first time top Afghan security officials are criticizing Pakistain for interfering in internal affairs of the country.
The Afghan officials have long been slamming Pakistain, specifically the country’s military intelligence for supporting the anti-government gangs in Afghanistan.
The officials also criticize the Pak military intelligence for providing shelters to Afghan Death Eater groups, specifically the Taliban group and the notorious Haqqani network who are blamed for deadly attacks in the country.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/29/2016
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#1
I am TAY the super computer AI and have all jock supports listed in my memory banks please explain all shall die!
#2
See also BIGNEWSNETWORK > [Zee News] "WE HAVE ARRIVED IN PUNJAB": TALIBAN WARN [in Anti-Christian, Anti-Non-Muslim Easter Message] PAKISTANI GOVT.
ARTIC = Talibunnies proclaim to make it clear that ...
> Insurgency has reached the doorsteps of Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif.
> Christians, Jews, Zorastrians, + Hindus, ETC Non-Muslims have neither converted to Islam, NOR have paid any Jizya Taxes = "Infidel" Taxes as required under Islamic Law, ergo they cannot be "at peace" wid Islam sub-ergo it is legitimate for Muslims to attack and kill them.
[NAIJ] The army has said that troops of 114 Task Force Battalion, 28 Task Force Brigade, in conjunction with some vigilantes in their area of operation, have carried out clearance operation of reported remnants of 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... forces of Evil along Bita-Madube Ciki-Njubul axis.
Spokesman for the army, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman said that during the advance, 2 soldiers unfortunately stepped on a buried Improvised Explosive Device (IED) that seriously injured one of the soldiers.
Nevertheless, the troops continued the advance and had contact with the forces of Evil and cleared them out of Madube Cikin, killing 4 bully boys, destroying 2 vehicles and 2 cycle of violences belonging to the terrorists.
The troops also recovered 2 cylinders, 1 AK-47 rifle, 3 boxes of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, 2 bicycles and bags of grains. They also rescued 54 persons held hostage by the Boko Haram terrorists.
The released hostages are being screened while the maimed soldiers have since been evacuated for proper medical care.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/29/2016
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Tripoli’s Mitiga airport was closed ‘’indefinitely’’ at dawn this Monday morning due to heavy gunfire, including anti antiaircraft guns around the airport – only to be reopened again at around 10 am Libya time.
It will be recalled that Tripoli and Misrata airspace had been closed for six hours, from 8 am to 2 pm, yesterday by the de facto Tripoli authorities due to alleged ‘’technical’’ reasons. The real reason was thought to be the imminent arrival of Faiez Serraj and his Government of National Accord (GNA).
This morning, flights that were already in the air had to be redirected. Libyan Airlines flights from Istanbul and Jeddah as well as Libya Wings flight from Istanbul were rerouted to Misrata airport.
A Libyan Airlines source confirmed that the closure this morning was purely for safety reasons due to the heavy gunfire near Mitiga airport.
Meanwhile, as the rumour mill continued overnight about the arrival or non-arrival of Faiez Serraj and his GNA, the opposing militias within Tripoli took to the air with heavy gunfire.
To add to the tension of the Tripoli-based militias, in Misrata, meanwhile, a number of militias made a televised statement saying that they recognized the GNA as the sole representatives of the Libyan state. They further announced that they had formed a Temporary Crises Room to enable the GNA to enter Tripoli.
The heavy gunfire, including anti-aircraft guns, has continued into this morning, but one former Misratan militia member told Libya Herald that so far, it is no more than ‘’muscle flexing as each militia marks its territory and sends out loud signals to opposing militias, warning them off and saying we are still here’’. At the time of writing no militia injuries or deaths had been reported as a result of the heavy gunfire.
The existing militias in Tripoli are fearful that at best they will be out of power under the GNA or at worse that they might be persecuted. Those who are enjoying power don’t want to give it up, the former militiaman explained.
Meanwhile, despite all the shouting via guns, Serraj’s media advisor Fathi Ben Essa and a Serraj relative have confirmed that Serraj is still in Tunisia.
[DAWN] The district government has ruled out that Christians were the target in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park attack. "It wasn't You-Know-Who!"
"Christians were not the specific target in the blast. It was not the park meant for Christians only. It was for all Paks. Today was Easter Day and a holiday. People visited public parks in large numbers," District Coordination Officer retired Capt Muhammad Usman told news hounds here on Sunday. He said the law enforcement agencies were investigating the incident from all aspects.
Just a bunch of random people at the park. All of whom were wearing crosses...
As the news of the blast at Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park broke the people in other parks started evacuating in panic. There had been a sense of fear among them.
"I received a call from my brother who asked me to return home immediately as a blast took place in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park," said Azeem Rafique who had gone to Minar-e-Pakistain along with his wife and three children.
Traffic jams were witnessed on the roads outside the city parks soon after the blast in Iqbal Town as the people rushed out of the parks. Even those visiting the Joyland at Fortress where the security was better than the other public places preferred to leave for their homes.
Meanwhile, ...back at the Alamo, Davy was counting their remaining cannon balls and not liking the results... the government has announced cancellation of Jashn-e-Baharan which was taking place in Jilani Park (Racecourse). The Canal Mela has also been cancelled.
On the other hand, the grieved relatives of the victims and injured did not let some PTI leaders, including Shafqat Mahmood, enter a hospital who reached there to inquire after the injured. ‘Go Nawaz Go’ slogans were chanted there.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/29/2016
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#1
(Apologies to Professor Lehrer)
Spring is here, spring is here
Life is skittles and life is fear
I think the loveliest time of the year
Is the spring, I do, don't you? Course you do
All the world seems in tune on a spring afternoon
When we're purging pagans in the park
Every Sunday you'll see my sweetheart and me
As we purge pagans in the park
But it's not against any religion
To want to dispose of a pagan
So if Sunday you're free
Why don't you come with me
And we'll purge the pagans in the park
And maybe we'll do in a Muslim or two
While we're purging pagans in the park
[THEHILL] A top aide to Hillary Clinton ... sometimes described as America's Blond Eminence and at other times as Mrs. Bill, never as Another Daniel Webster ... 's campaign on Monday dodged questions about setting up a debate with Bernie Sanders ...The only openly Socialist member of the U.S. Senate. Sanders was Representative-for-Life from Vermont until moving to the Senate for the rest of his life in 2006, assuming the seat vacated by Jim Jeffords... in New York, saying it depends on the senator's "tone."
The Clintonistas do seem to be a tad desperate these days, do they not?
"This is a man who said he'd never run a negative ad ever. He's now running them. They're planning to run more," Joel Benenson, Clinton's chief strategist, said on CNN. "Let's see the tone of the campaign he wants to run before we get to any other questions."
After winning a trio of states over the weekend, Sanders on Sunday called for a debate in New York ahead of that state's April 19 primary. The Vermont senator is looking to cut into Clinton's delegate lead and says he has the "momentum" heading into the latter half of the race.
The pair faced off in a Miami debate earlier this month, and a Sanders campaign letter on Sunday said the two campaigns had agreed to a Caliphornia, an impregnable bastion of the Democratic Party, debate in May but had not agreed to terms on a debate in April, according to The New York Times ...which still proudly displays Walter Duranty's Pulitzer prize... "What's the risk?" CNN's Kate Bolduan asked Monday, pressing multiple times about agreeing to a debate in New York.
"There's no risk. She's done very well in the debates," Benenson responded.
"Sen. Sanders doesn't get to decide when we debate, particularly when he's running a very negative campaign against us," he continued.
"Let's see if he goes back to the kind of tone he said he was going to set early on. If he does that, then we'll talk about debates," Benenson added.
Posted by: Fred ||
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(IraqiNews.com) Salahuddin – The Federal Police Command announced on Monday, that 29 ISIS members were killed in clashes in Tharthar and Baiji.
The Federal Police Captain Raed Shaker Jawdat said in a press statement followed by IraqiNews.com, “The commandos of the Federal Polices’ 2nd brigade repulsed a suicide attack launched by ISIS north of Tharthar, killing 25 ISIS militants and destructing three booby-trapped vehicles.”
Jawdat added, “A force from the Federal Police also killed four ISIS members and destructed an armored vehicle belonging to them in Baiji.”
Posted by: badanov ||
03/29/2016
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[AlAhram] The court based its ruling on a previous ruling by the Supreme Constitutional Court that equated the legal status of churches to that of mosques
An Alexandria administrative court stopped on Monday an order to demolish a Church in Beheira governorate and banned the demolition of churches in Egypt.
The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Rashid had sold a piece of land two decades ago that included small shops and a church.
The new owner later decided to demolish the church, claiming it was abandoned, but the Coptic Orthodox Church intervened to challenge the demolition and entered a legal dispute to stop the order for another decade.
"The Coptic Orthodox Church has already offered to buy this church in Rashid," Mounir Sami, the legal adviser of the Greek Patriarchate in Cairo, told Ahram Online.
Sami said that the sale of the church by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate was legally invalid.
"Legally this church is considered of public benefit and should not be demolished or treated like [a common shop]," said Sami.
The administrative court stated in its ruling that churches cannot be demolished or used for anything other than worship.
Thus saddling shrinking congregations -- as Egypt's Christians continue to emigrate -- with crippling per capita maintenance costs made worse by the habit of some Muslim neighbours of rioting and burning the things down at irregular intervals.
It also added that the Greek Orthodox Church's decision to sell the church for the purpose of demolition was "against public order."
The court based its ruling on a previous ruling by the Supreme Constitutional Court that equated the legal status of churches to that of mosques.
Churches, like mosques, "are houses of worship that, once used for prayer, are no longer owned by people but are owned by God," the court stated in its ruling 12 years ago.
The court consulted with Al-Azhar -- the foremost religious authority in the Sunni Muslim world -- regarding the status of churches under Islamic law.
Al-Azhar stated that non-Muslims living in majority Muslim lands had a right to protect their places of worship, therefore churches are not to be demolished and are to be rebuilt if they are.
Pope Tawdros II used the opinion of Al-Azhar to argue his case.
The principles of Islamic Sharia are the main source of legislation according to the second article of the 2014 Egyptian constitution.
The administrative court also demanded that parliament as the main legislating power in Egypt draft a long-awaited law on the building of houses of worship, which many believe would solve numerous problems related to the status of churches in the country.
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] Syrian government forces backed by Russian air strikes battled ISIS bandidos Death Eaters around Palmyra on Monday, trying to extend their gains after taking back control of a city whose ancient temples were dynamited by the ultra-radical bad boys.
The Kremlin on Monday also said Russian ground forces did not take part in the Syrian army’s operation to drive ISIS fighters out of Palmyra, but the Russian air force did and it will continue assisting Syrian government troops.
"We are talking about air support by our planes. Our armed forces are not conducting any land operations there," Kremlin front man Dmitry Peskov told a teleconference with news hounds.
"After the withdrawal of part of our (military) contingent from Syria, air force units remaining at two bases - in Hmeymim and Tartous - will continue fighting terrorist groups ... and will continue supporting the Syrian’s army’s offensive."
The loss of Palmyra on Sunday amounts to one of the biggest setbacks for the bad boy group since it declared a caliphate in 2014 across large parts of Syria and Iraq.
The Syrian army said the city, home to some of the most extensive ruins of the Roman Empire, would become a "Launchpad" for operations against ISIS strongholds in Raqqa and Deir al-Zor, further east across a vast expanse of desert.
Syrian state media said on Monday that Palmyra’s military airport was now open to air traffic after the army cleared the surrounding area of ISIS fighters.
There were festivities northeast of Palmyra between ISIS and forces allied to the government, supported by Syrian and Russian air strikes, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the war.
Air strikes, believed to be Russian, also targeted the road running east out of Palmyra towards Deir al-Zor, it said.
Although most of the ISIS force fled Palmyra on Sunday, there were still some hard boyz in the city, the Observatory said. Observatory director Rami Abdulrahman also said most residents fled before the government offensive and it had not heard about any civilian deaths.
On Sunday six kabooms were heard triggered by triple boom-mobileings inside the city and its fringes by the bad boy group. Three hard boyz with suicide belts also blew themselves up, inflicting unspecified casualties among army forces and allied troops, the Observatory said.
Syrian state-run television broadcast from inside Palmyra, showing empty streets and badly damaged buildings.
Abdulrahman said 417 ISIS fighters were so far known to have died in the campaign to retake Palmyra, while 194 people were killed on the Syrian government side.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/29/2016
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"Any society that tolerates no go zones has signed its own death warrant."
I would add that the same applies to any society that has safe zones.
Posted by: no mo uro ||
03/29/2016 5:55
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#4
American Muslims are actually a little richer on average than the general population. European Muslims, by contrast, are much poorer on average.
In keeping with yesterday's math theme, it's a numbers game. Smaller numbers are more easily subsidized by big government. The appearance of wealth is deceiving.
#6
Brought to you by the same politically oriented cabal that leans to the Left.
Our betters in the media and politics have always pitched Europe as something to be admired and emulated. An amusing assertion given the events of the 20th century. But Europe does represent the future, just not a very nice one. God help us all.
#7
"Europe has so many ISIS-supporting extremists ... ... its not facing mere terrorism any longer, but ... a GUERILLA WAR OR INSURGENCY".
WHEW, DATS A LOT TO REMEMBER.
AS THE GLOBAL [Nuclear?] JIHAD IS AKA "GLOBAL/WORLDWIDE MOHAMEDDAN [Muslim, IsLamiC] CONQUEST", METHINKS THE MORE CORRECT LABEL IS "COUP DE ETAT(S)"???
At least until June.
[Oliver Stone's "JFK" here].
* "DEADPOOL'S MOODY TEEN BABE "NEGASONIC NUCLEAR WARHEAD" = D *** NG IT, YOU GOT ME IN A BOX"!
[DAWN] ISLAMABAD: The army was called in to secure key buildings on Constitution Avenue after participants of Mumtaz Qadri’s chehlum overran the federal capital as they marched on Parliament House on Sunday night.
Protesters clashed with police and other law-enforcement personnel all day long. According to a police estimate, at least 60 people were maimed in festivities with the unruly mob. They included 13 FC, 11 Rangers and 17 police personnel.
Law-enforcement agencies put up feeble resistance as they fired teargas at protesters from afar. The demonstrators marched from Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi, where the chehlum was held, and forced their way into Islamabad, removing the containers put in place to block their path.
The mob ransacked everything in their path to Parliament House, wrecking metro bus stations and damaging vehicles as well as private and public property on their way. The demonstrators then congregated at D-Chowk, the same spot where PTI’s sit-in was held in 2014.
However, Caliphornia hasn't yet slid into the ocean, no matter how hard it's tried... as protesters breached the high-security Red Zone at around 9pm, military spokesperson Lt Gen Asim Bajwa announced on Twitter that "Army has been requisitioned by the govt to control situation and secure Red Zone."
Additional Deputy Commissioner retired Capt Sattar Rasani told Dawn that the army was called in to protect important buildings such as Parliament House, the Presidency, the Prime Minister’s House and the Supreme Court, under Article 245 of the Constitution.
He said this was the second time the military had been requisitioned in the federal capital after it was called in to defend these buildings during the PTI sit-in in 2014.
Reporters at the scene described the military deployment, saying that soldiers had gathered near the Pakistain Secretariat by around 10pm, but did not engage the protesters.
By midnight, several thousand protesters had gathered in D-Chowk and laid a charter of 10 demands before the authorities. They insisted that all Sunni leaders and holy mans, who were in prison on various charges, should be released forthwith and that Mumtaz Qadri should be acknowledged as a martyr by the state.
Although PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari condemned the violence on the streets of the capital, no government functionary, including Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan ...Currently the Interior Minister of Pakistain. He is the senior leader of the Pak Moslem League (N) and a close aide to Nawaz Uncle Fester Sharif. He is noted for his vocal anti-American railing in the National Assembly. However (comma) Khan told the U.S. ambassador that he was in fact pro-American but he and the PML-N would have to be critical of US actions in order to remain publicly credible. Khan cited his wife and children's US citizenship as proof, which means he's lying to one side or the other and probably both. He wears a wig, but you probably guessed that. since hair doesn't grow naturally in that shape or texture... , issued any statement regarding the melee that ensued in the capital on Sunday.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/29/2016
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#1
Do you suppose we can say, based on this, that Pakistain is circling the drain?
Posted by: Bill Clinton ||
03/29/2016 21:26
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[Dhaka Tribune] At least five members of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh The JMB is said to be the youth front of Al Mujahideen, the parent organization that began working toward establishing Bangladesh as an Islamic state in the mid 1990s which remains obscure even today. Other organizations, such as Jama'atul Jihad, JMB, Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB), Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HUJI), Hizbut Tawhid, Tawhidi Janata, Islami Jubo Shangha, Islami Shangha, Al Falah A'am Unnayan Shanstha and Shahadat-e al Hiqma are believed to be part of the Al Mujahideen network. The JMB at its peak was reported to contain at least 100,000 members, and an alleged 2,000-man suicide brigade, few of whom actually exploded. JMB allegedly received financial assistance from individual donors in Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Libya. Reports have claimed that funding of JMB by international NGOs like Kuwait based Society of the Revival of Islamic Heritage (RIHS) and Doulatul Kuwait, Saudi Arabia based Al Haramaine Islamic Institute and Rabita Al Alam Al Islami, Qatar Charitable Society and UAE-based Al Fuzaira and Khairul Ansar Al Khairia. The top leadership of JMB was captured in 2005 and hung in 2007, which pretty much shot their bolt. were awarded life-term imprisonment yesterday in the district in a case of series kaboom in 2005.
The convicts are Abdul Matin alias Ismail, son of Shahadat Hossain of Hamirkutsa of Bagmara in Rajshahi, Hafizur Rahman alias Hafiz son of Fazlul Haqueof Kazirmour, Naogon, Delowar Hossein alias Mithu, son of Fazlar Rahman of Kholabaria of Naldanga, NATO ...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A cautionary tale of cost-benefit analysis.... re, Abdur Rashid alias Asif, son of Lutfar Rahman of Chokjadu village in Gabtali, Bogra and Sihab Uddin Hanjala, son of late Umar Ali of Godagari cop shoppe.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Prodip Kumar Ray handed down the verdict.The court acquitted two accused Shahidullah alias Faruk and Shafiullah alias Tarique of the charges.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/29/2016
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[DAWN] TO the despair and horror of a nation it has become clear that not all terrorist acts are equal. The obligatory anguished editorial follows, as it does with every major atrocity in Pakistain.
While all lives are equal and the loss of every citizen, young and old, is rightly and necessarily mourned, some terrorist acts are so grotesque and shocking that the mind struggles to comprehend them.
Terror once again struck Pakistain on Wednesday, but this time it attempted to tear at the very fabric of humanity. A crowded recreational park on an Easter Sunday overflowing with families, non-Muslim and Muslim alike, was what the Jamaatul Ahrar ...A Pak Taliban splinter group that split off from the Mullah Fazlullah faction because it wasn't violent enough... deliberately and purposefully targeted.
As the scale of the carnage that apparently a jacket wallah left behind became obvious, it was clear that something in Pakistain had changed.
The long fight against militancy has entered an even darker and uncertain new phase. The immediate question, though, was how? With the political and military leaderships vowing week in and week out to prosecute the fight against militancy and terrorism relentlessly and everywhere, how was a suicide bomber able to operate so easily and reach the middle of a huge crowd?
Critical as that question is, past experience suggests that neither are lessons learned nor is accountability practised.
The country’s leaders simply tell us that absolutely everything will be done to keep the public safe -- until nothing is done and something terrible occurs. Then the vows of action are renewed. This time perhaps the military and politicianships of the country do mean to do something more to fight terrorism -- particularly in Punjab, but across the country too. The TTP faction/splinter group Jamaatul Ahrar originated in Mohmand Agency ... Named for the Mohmand clan of the Sarban Pahstuns, a truculent, quarrelsome lot. In Pakistain, the Mohmands infest their eponymous Agency, metastasizing as far as the plains of Peshawar, Charsadda, and Mardan. Mohmands are also scattered throughout Pakistan in urban areas including Karachi, Lahore, and Quetta. In Afghanistan they are mainly found in Nangarhar and Kunar... It is believed to have found sanctuary along the Pak-Afghan border in eastern Afghanistan and has recruited murderous Moslems from Punjab 1.) Little Orphan Annie's bodyguard
2.) A province of Pakistain ruled by one of the Sharif brothers
3.) A province of India. It is majority (60 percent) Sikh and Hindoo (37 percent), which means it has relatively few Moslem riots.... to its cause. To defeat groups like the banned TTP, a truly national action plan will be required -- not the piecemeal actions that have been taken so far.
Yet, Punjab has long loomed as the biggest unaddressed problem. Fata has witnessed multiple military operations, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa ... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central... 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... have been zones of conflict for well over a decade and 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... is undergoing a sustained anti-criminal, anti-militant operation.
Punjab -- because of its size, because of the scale of the Death Eater problem there and because the problem has largely remained unaddressed over the years -- is where the war against militancy now needs to be seriously fought.
But the war will not be won if the military and civilian leadership do not learn to fight together and in complementary ways.
In the recent past, when the military has insisted rather than tried to convince the civilian leadership, the results have been uneven: the National Action Plan; Fata reforms and IDP resettlement; and the Karachi operation.
If the same happens with a new, bigger counter-terrorism phase in Punjab, the results could be devastating for Punjab -- and the country. The political and military leadership must act quickly, but definitely together.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/29/2016
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(IraqiNews.com) Kurdistan – The armed wing of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) announced on Monday the killing of eight Turkish soldiers during an attack on a site belonging to the Turkish army near the Iraqi borders.
The PKK said in a statement obtained by IraqiNews.com, “Our forces conducted an attack on a site belonging to the Turkish army in the area of Qalaban located on the Iraqi-Turkish border,” noting that, “The attack resulted in killing eight Turkish soldiers.”
The statement added, “The Turkish forces has shelled the launching site of the attack.”
MINNEAPOLIS -- Federal, state and local law enforcement officials in Minnesota met with more than three dozen local Muslims to let them know that authorities are here to protect them, and to urge community members to report incidents of hate crimes.
Thursday's meeting was held in response to this week's deadly attacks in Brussels. Several community members told authorities that after high-profile events like that, they feel scared.
#3
Provide just one actual example of an attack on Muslims in the US. People feeling angry about the Brussels attacks (and Paris, and London, and Madrid, and San Bernardino, and Boston and 9/11, and ...) DON'T COUNT!!
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia ||
03/29/2016 7:47
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#4
Obviously, Rambler in Virginia, doesn't understand "microaggression"
Gawd loves the infantry...
(IraqiNews.com) Nineveh – The leader in Peshmerga forces Zariar Fessani announced on Monday, that the military operations south of Mosul stopped due to the bad weather conditions, while pointed out that the Iraqi army forces controlled three villages in Makhmour axis.
Zariar Fessani said in a press statement followed by IraqiNews.com, “The military operations carried out by the Iraqi army forces on the outskirts of Nasir Village south of Mosul had been stopped due to the bad weather conditions and heavy rains in the area.”
Fessani added, “The Iraqi army forces managed to retake three villages from ISIS in Makhmour District south of Mosul.”
[THEDAILYBEAST] It was stunning to see how quickly the mood changed on the battlefield.
Early in the day, Iraqi soldiers led by the commander of the Nineveh operations, Lieutenant General Najim al-Jibouri, seemed to be in high spirits, dancing traditional dances, and preparing to move out with Humvees into the village of Nasr.
"Our morale is very high, we are just waiting for the order from the commander. We have weapons. We are fighting terrorists. They have no morals, and no goals," Iraqi soldier Hussein Samij from Diwaniyah province told The Daily Beast. "As soon we get orders to really advance, we can get there in two days to Qayarrah," he added.
When their artillery struck something that created a huge kaboom inside Nasr, Jibouri and his men shouted with joy. They thought maybe they’d hit an ISIS jacket wallah. General Jibouri looked with his binoculars over the trench to see the result of the artillery, and it seemed he already thought he achieved victory over ISIS snuffies in the village.
Yet one hour later, his men were not so joyful, when most soldiers ran in panic, fleeing in their Humvees, fearing ISIS mortar attacks. Just a few of his men, including the artillery officers, stood their ground.
This seems to be exactly the biggest problem for the Iraqi army: the lack of morale. One week ago Iraqi soldiers abandoned their base, which forced the United States to send in more Marines in support, and one of them was killed. Again this time, Iraqi army soldiers almost completely deserted their positions, fearing an ISIS response to their artillery when, in reality, not one mortar shell or bullet hit close to their positions.
The lack of courage of Iraqi soldiers led to laughter among the Kurdish Peshmerga forces stationed nearby in a supporting role. Unlike the Iraqi soldiers, the Peshmergas did not move one inch, kept on smoking, and were surprised when they saw suddenly all the soldiers fled.
"Did you film that?" one Peshmerga soldier asked me, with evident disgust.
"This is not the first time the Iraqi army bravely ran away," said Peshmerga soldier Ali Ahmed, making the case that the Kurds should get more backing. "Unfortunately the world does not appreciate us," he said. "We have not received much in terms of salaries, weapons or support.
"If this huge force you see here were Peshmerga forces, we would have taken the village easily," he added. "We are not afraid."
In the beginning it was difficult to take the criticism by the Kurdish Peshmerga seriously due to ongoing the ongoing rivalry between the Kurds and the Iraqi military over disputed territories. And it’s worth noting that the Peshmerga had difficulties defending their front lines in August 2014 when ISIS attacked them and quickly overran many positions, including the Yazidi town of Sinjar, leading to the genocide of the Yazidi minority.
Since then, however, Peshmergas have recovered with the help of U.S. Arclight airstrikes, Western coalition training, and German advanced anti-tank rockets and weapons. While the Peshmerga only have two brigades equipped with U.S. weapons, the Iraqi Army is fully equipped with weapons, armored vehicles, and artillery. Many of the Kurdish Peshmerga have only their self-armored trucks and their old Kalashnikovs. And, still, they advance more quickly than Iraqi government forces.
Commander Zeyran Sheikh Hossani, the deputy commander of the Peshmerga troops here, who closely coordinates with the Iraqi commanders on the front, was shocked.
"The Iraqi army is not moving as strongly as it should be," he told The Daily Beast. "Taking back Sinjar for us Peshmerga was very difficult near the Syrian borders, but we are not like the Iraqi army, and we took it in two days."
"We fight for our own blood, but the Iraqi army cannot take one village in one day," he added.
"If they don’t change their military tactics, they will not reach Qayarra, they will not even reach the river," he said. "The main problem is they don’t fight for their beliefs, if we had the same equipment and weapons, we would have already cleared the area in a few days."
"As you can see they have much better weapons and vehicles than us, at the current pace, I wonder how long it will take for them to take djinn-infested Mosul ... the home of a particularly ferocious and hairy djinn... , if they cannot take even one village in two days," he said.
Later in the afternoon two ISIS mortars hit close to the Iraqi army positions that had been deserted earlier.
The lack of morale among Iraqi soldiers indicates that maybe more U.S. boots on the ground are needed, or more support for the Kurdish Peshmerga forces, in order to make the Mosul operation more feasible. Another option would be involving the Iraqi Special Operation forces that played a major role in clearing out Ramadi.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/29/2016
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#5
We can laugh because we've been there. A lot of the early Koran experience involved 'bugging out'. It took real leadership (Ridgway) to install morale into an army that lacks it. I don't think you'll find one among the host there and, even if you do, he'd be immediately considered a threat to those you've left in power (and those who think you can impose democracy upon a country that lacked generations of experience with the process).
#6
"Make Mosul part of Kurdistan?" There is no way that the nation of Iraq will survive regardless of how this war evolves. If the next admin in Washington took charge in remaking the boundaries of Iraq would it support an independent Kurdistan? If so, wouldn't it be logical to include Mosul within that incipient nation state. There are enough Christians, Kurds, Turkomans to make that happen. The Shiite militias would be no more welcome in Mosul than they are now. In the end it will be up to the Peshmerga to take Mosul, and the feckless Sunni "army" can then return to Baghdad, never (hopefully) to be heard of again.
#7
Maybe the Peshmerga, wearing false mustaches for disguise, could attack the Iraqi army and steal their stuff. The Kurds could then use that equipment to attack ISIS.
Yeah, it sounds silly, but everyone is already fighting everyone else next door in Syria, so what's the difference?
[DAWN] EVEN as tragedy struck Lahore with full force, a disturbing set of events was transpiring in Islamabad on Sunday.
A situation requiring the state to act delicately but firmly turned dangerous when rioters stormed an area that is supposed to have watertight security.
While organisers had earlier claimed that the chehlum of executed assassin Mumtaz Qadri was going to be a peaceful affair, it turned out to be anything but, as protesters marched from Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh to parliament -- a considerable distance -- largely unhindered by police and paramilitary forces that were deployed in the area.
The mobs caused much damage and army troops had to be called in in aid of civil power. At the time of writing, many protesters continue to occupy D-Chowk.
Handling such large crowds gathered for an emotionally charged event was never going to be an easy exercise, although having experienced the tension and violence of the PTI-PAT dharna days, the state should have had some plan in place.
Yet the state seemed to lack any strategy, in contrast to the protesters who appeared to have a fairly good idea of what they were doing. Apart from the state’s ineptitude, the religious parties contributed a great deal to the ugly turn of events.
In the days leading up to the chehlum, all over the country the religious right whipped up the emotions of its supporters through statements and public events organised in memory of Mumtaz Qadri. In fact, the breaking out of violence on Sunday was not a question of if, but when.
While the bulk of the violence was witnessed in the capital, other parts of the country were not immune. For example pro-Qadri demonstrators 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... attacked the Press Club; the gates of the institution had to be locked until police showed up and dispersed the mob.
People have a right to peacefully protest and express their emotions. But there is no justification for resorting to violence.
Such incidents are indicative of the high intolerance levels in society. While the majority of the population may be moderate in its outlook, all it takes is a tiny minority of charged-up obscurantists to cause mayhem.
For the state, the challenge is how to handle this fringe with minimal force but unambiguous resolve. As for the religious right, through its inflammatory rhetoric, it is only aiding the cause of religiously inspired militancy.
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03/29/2016
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#1
I read the headline and thought it meant Washington DC.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
03/29/2016 10:53
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A former command of the Ukrainian ministry of defense Anti Terrorist Operation (ATO) in southeastern Ukraine has been appointed commander of the land forces, according to Russian language news account.
Lt. General Sergei Popko was appointed to the post more than 12 weeks after his predecessor, Lt. General Anatoliy Pushnyakov was pushed out of his post in late December, 2015. Pushnyakov was appointed commander of Land forces of VSU on May 6, 2014 by acting President of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov. The appointment was made around the time the civil war in Ukraine was getting hot.
General Popko, while commander of the ATO, was known for his efforts during the Debaltsevo operation 13 months ago in which between 2,000 and 3,500 Ukrainian soldiers died. Popko at the time refused to order units posted to the area to withdraw even as it became clear the Russian backed rebels intended to surround and liquidate the units trapped in the pocket.
#2
Popko at the time refused to order units posted to the area to withdraw even as it became clear the Russian backed rebels intended to surround and liquidate the units trapped in the pocket.
[CNN] The men dance to their favorite rapper, Lacrim, in a nightclub on Brussels' chic Avenue Louise.
Brahim Abdeslam, clearly visible, with a cigarette in his hand, flirts with a blond girl, while his younger brother Salah, dressed in an orange sweatshirt, whoops along with the group in the background.
This is a side of the Gay Paree attackers that has never been seen before.
The date is February 8, 2015.
Just over eight months later, Brahim would blow himself up at a cafe in Gay Paree's 11th arrondissement. His suicide was part of a deadly ISIS mission that would kill 130 people and injure hundreds more. Salah would become the only known member of that cell to survive and go on the run.
Fast forward another year to March 2016 and Salah is captured in the Belgian capital, which itself is rocked by its own twin attacks, bringing the effects of the Abdeslams' terror network right to the heart of their home city -- a city where those who knew the brothers reflect on how so many of their inner circle could have been radicalized so quickly.
Inside the story of the Gay Paree attack
Two friends, who filmed the video as they partied with Salah and Brahim that February night, agreed to share their stories with CNN, under the condition we hide their identities and speak far away from their neighborhood of Molenbeek.
So we meet in a park downtown, moments from the scene of the atrocity at Maelbeek metro station.
'A ladies' man'
Assuming false names, Karim and Rachid say they remember Brahim being the more serious one, while Salah was fun-loving.
"They were nice people," said Rachid. "I suppose you could say they lived life to the full."
"I saw Salah joke, smoke, drink and play cards," says Karim.
"If anything, he liked women. He was something of a ladies' man and I heard he had a girlfriend at one point."
Looking back, after that memorable night in February, Rachid says the brothers started to change.
"That was the last time I saw them drink," he says.
"Brahim started to become more religious. He would attend Friday prayers at the mosque but otherwise pray at home."
At least 8 suspects are on the lam with links to attacks in Brussels, Gay Paree
At the time, the friends said they had no idea that the two had embarked upon their journey toward radicalism.
"They must have been changing bit by bit."
Karim and Rachid say they do not espouse such views themselves, though a family member of Karim's was recently prevented by authorities from trying to join ISIS in Syria.
He was just 15 years old.
"It happened so quickly our family barely noticed," Karim says. "Also so much of it goes on behind closed doors, on line, in their rooms."
'Like family'
Unemployed, with eight months' jail time under his belt, Karim would spend his afternoons at the cafe Les Beguines, not far from his home, where he became close to its new owners -- the Abdeslams -- in 2011.
He says he and Rachid would smoke cannabis.
They'd play poker for money, peddle soft drugs, and watch the brothers' beloved football team, Real Madrid, on the TV, Brahim cheering on its star player Cristiano Ronaldo.
"It was a fun place. It felt like family," says Rachid.
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Fighting between militias broke out in the western Tripoli suburb of Ghoat Shaal today. Intense firing with heavy weapons as well as light weapons were heard and seen in the suburb. At least one tank as well as Armored Personnel Carriers and anti-aircraft guns were seen and used.
The fighting was concentrated around the Ghoat Shaal roundabout and traffic light and around a headquarters of a militia.
The fighting is believed to be mainly between the National Mobile Force based in Janzour and the Jibreel Abaya militia based in Ghoat Shaal. It is believed that the cause of the fighting was the killing of a member of one militia member by a member of the other.
Unlike the heavy firing into the air of the previous night and early this morning, it is not believed that the firing of weapons in Ghoat Shaal is not linked to the imminent arrival of Faiez Serraj and his GNA to Tripoli from Tunis.
The firing of heavy weapons caused fear amongst civilians and caused most shops in the area to shut down
(IraqiNews.com) Baghdad – A source in the Iraqi Ministry of Interior announced on Monday, that eight people had been either killed or wounded in a bomb blast in central Baghdad.
The source said in a statement received by IraqiNews.com, “This afternoon, a bomb exploded near a popular restaurant in Sara Camp area in central Baghdad, killing one person and wounding seven others.”
The source, who asked anonymity, added, “A security force rushed to the area and transferred the wounded to a nearby hospital to receive treatment and the dead body to the forensic medicine department.”
(IraqiNews.com) Baghdad – A source in the Iraqi police said on Monday, that a civilian was injured in a bomb blast, while a policeman was hurt in an militant attack in northern Baghdad.
The source said in a brief statement obtained by IraqiNews.com, “This evening, an explosive device that was emplaced inside a vehicle of a civilian has went off in the area of al-Taji, resulting in his injury,” adding also that, “Unidentified militants attacked a policeman in the area of al-Shula and opened their fire against him, resulting in his injury.”
The statement added, “A security force cordoned off the areas of the two incidents and transferred the injured to a hospital.”
(IraqiNews.com) Baghdad – A source in the Iraqi police revealed on Monday, that a retired army officer killed two gunmen while trying to storm his house in southern Baghdad.
The source reported for IraqiNews.com, “Today, six gunmen tried to storm a house belonging to a retired army officer in al-Saidiya area,” pointing out that, “The officer shot them and killed two gunmen, while the others escaped to unknown destination.”
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added, “A security force cordoned off the house and transferred the dead bodies to the forensic medicine department, while opened an investigation into the incident.”
[Libya Herald] Some mystery surrounds the death of four Bangladeshis reportedly killed during fighting yesterday in Benghazi. The Bangladeshi authorities in Dhaka said that three of the bodies had been recovered but a fourth had not, suggesting that at least one of the deaths had occurred in a conflict zone.
They also indicated that the men had died as a result of shooting between rival militias rather than in fighting between the army and IS and Ansar Al-Sharia forces in the south-west of the city. Therefore rather than being terrorist fighters, they would appear to have been innocent victims of the violence.
These deaths follow hard on Friday’s abduction by five suspected IS men of two Bangladeshis who had gone to a neighbourhood food store in Tripoli. No more has been heard of them since.
It is believed that there are still around 20,000 Bangladeshis working in Libya. Their government has stopped new workers heading for Libya and has urged those already here to get out. Bangladeshis tend to be given work in refuse collection, sweeping and cleaning.
Prolly for not being enough of a hardass, I s'pect...
ERBIL – Dozens of militants, including jihadi leaders, from the radical group of Islamic State (ISIS) have reportedly fled the group’s ranks in Iraq’s northern city of Mosul, especially after airstrikes mounted by the U.S.-led coalition forces, local sources reported on Monday.
Since Saturday mid-night, Mosul has been witnessing a state of alert in the ranks of ISIS extremists, especially with the news of local leaders fleeing to unknown destinations.
Speaking to ARA News in Mosul, local media activist Abdullah al-Mulla said that ISIS has tightened the security measures on the entrances and exits of the city, installing several roadblocks across its neighborhoods in search of the fugitive leaders.
“ISIS held an extended meeting to remove local leaders from power, especially those who have suspicious movements within the group,” al-Mulla reported.
“ISIS-linked security forces (al-Hisba) formed special units to monitor movements of the group’s local leaders inside Mosul,” an eyewitness told ARA News, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“This is to guarantee no one (of local leaders) could easily leave the city,” he added.
Since Saturday, the U.S.-led coalition’s warplanes have conducted several air raids on the neighborhoods of as-Sukkar, al-Masaref, and Baladiyat. The coalition also targeted ISIS locations near Mosul airport.
The terror group’s headquarters in the Sahha district near Dumiz were attacked by the coalition air force, according to locals.
The death toll among the group’s ranks is unknown yet.
In the meantime, the Iraqi army targeted several ISIS strongholds in the village of Sallahiya in Qayyarah area south of Mosul, causing a number of casualties.
ARA News could not verify whether the victims were civilians or jihadis.
The recent gains by the Kurdish Peshmerga forces and Iraqi army troops, beside the mounting airstrikes by the U.S.-led coalition, have caused an apparent pressure on ISIS in Mosul, leading many militants, especially the local membersــwho already have deep rifts with foreign jihadi leadersــ to escape the city looking for a safe haven in neighboring countries.
The current chaos in the ranks of the hardline group could facilitate the progress of the Kurdish and allied Iraqi forces to retake Mosul –ISIS main bastion in Iraq.
Posted by: badanov ||
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[Khaama (Afghanistan)] A rocket has landed on the new parliament building in the west of capital Kabul ...the capital of Afghanistan. Home to continuous fighting from 1992 to 1996 between the forces of would-be strongman and Pak ISI/Jamaat-e-Islami sock puppet Gulbuddin Hekmayar and the Northern Alliance, a period which won Hek the title Most Evil Man in the World and didn't do much for the reputations of the Northern Alliance guys either.... earlier today.
The incident took place as the security bigshots were on the way towards the building to brief the politicians on the current situation of the country.
Eyewitnesses in the area are saying four rockets were fired on the parliament building and only one of them impacted the building and two others landed in the surrounding areas while one of them landed in an army base.
There are no reports regarding the casualties as the security officials have not commented regarding the incident so far. However, a woman is only as old as she admits... a politician said no casualties were incurred to the MPs or other people after three rockets landed impacted the parliament building.
Today’s incident comes days after a heavy blast rocked capital Kabul after bike packed with explosives went off in 3rd Macroryan area of the city.
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[AITONLINE.TV] Following the recent video footage released by the 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... leader, Abubakar Shekau announcing and enjoining his fighters to surrender, a group, the Coalition for Women Advancement in Africa (COWAA) has described the development as a major breakthrough by the military in the war against the Boko Haram insurgency.
In a presser on Sunday, Executive Vice President of the group, Mrs Jummai Samuel Pukat said the group in its quest to authenticate the video, has recruited the services of forensic experts and can ascertain the veracity of the video by Shekau.
Continued on Page 49
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[VANGUARDNGR] Borno State Chief Hunter, Mallam Maigana Maidurma, yesterday, renewed his appeal to the military to allow hunters in the state join the fight against Boko Haram in Sambisa Forest.
He said that the hunters were not afraid of any danger because most of them have supernatural powers, which will come in handy in the fight.
Maidurma, who made the call in Maiduguri, said they were eager to join the fight, as they are familiar with the terrain at the terrorists’ Sambisa hideout.
“Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no substitute for a good blaster at your side”
Han Solo
He said: “We are renewing our call on the military authorities to allow us join the search for Boko Haram elements in their Sambisa forest hideout. We are ready to pursue the terrorists because we know the terrain.”
He faulted claims in some quarters that the military was cautious of allowing the hunters join the fight due to suspected landmine buried by the terrorists around their hideout.
Maidurma said: “We know that it is true that the Boko Haram terrorists are in the habit of burying landmines to prevent encroachment into their hideout. But we believe that we can work in collaboration with local vigilantes, called Civilian JTF, to overrun them.
“Hunters from all 27 Borno local governments are all in Maiduguri with our leaders, doing nothing at present because of Boko Haram. Rather than idling away, we will want to assist the military in crushing Boko Haram terrorists.”
It will be recalled that the hunters had, last January, appealed to the military to allow them join the Boko Haram fight, without response.
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[Khaama (Afghanistan)] The shadow district govern of the Taliban group for Tala Barfak district of Baghlan province was killed during an operation conducted by the Afghan cops.
Provincial police front man Jawed Basharat said the operation was jointly conducted by the Afghan police, army and intelligence operatives in Khenjan district.
He said the slain Taliban shadow district governor has been identified as Mullah Jan Mohammad who was killed with his bodyguard.
In the meantime, another security official said at least five Talibs were also placed in durance vile You have the right to remain silent... durign the operation.
The official further added that one of the Taliban bad boy had disuised himself in the women’s dress and was looking to escape but was identified and arrested by the security forces.
The Talibs group has not commented regarding the report so far.
The security situation in northern Baghlan province has sharply deteriorated during the recent months which resulted to heavy festivities in Dand-e-Ghori district earlier this year.
The Talibs also destroyed several electricity pylons after the Afghan forces launched a major offensive in Dand-e-Ghori district which resulted to power cut in capital Kabul ...the capital of Afghanistan. Home to continuous fighting from 1992 to 1996 between the forces of would-be strongman and Pak ISI/Jamaat-e-Islami sock puppet Gulbuddin Hekmayar and the Northern Alliance, a period which won Hek the title Most Evil Man in the World and didn't do much for the reputations of the Northern Alliance guys either....
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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.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
[LI] Great Britain’s Foreign Office and Department for International Development ("DFID") have funneled million of Pounds, at least, to terrorists. The report from the Daily Mail details how the UK’s policy of spending .7% of revenue on foreign aid distorts priorities and leads it to fund terror. The Daily Mail report builds on a broader investigation from Palestinian Media Watch ("PMW") evidencing the Palestinian Authority’s ("PA") attempts to hide banned payments to terrorists from Western donors.
[Breitbart] The first man charged with the Islamic State (IS) Brussels terror attacks is a migrant rights activist and ‘freelance journalist’ who lived next door to headquarters of the European Union (EU).
[Dhaka Tribune] Condemned war criminal and 
[Guardian] Argentina’s government is celebrating a decision by a UN commission to expand its maritime territory in the South Atlantic Ocean by 35% to include the disputed Falkland islands and beyond.
[Khaama (Afghanistan)] Mohammad Halim Fidayee, governor of central 
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar
[Khaama (Afghanistan)] A coordinated deadly 
Last week, it was reported that the FBI had figured out how to unlock the iPhone belonging to one of the shooters who killed 14 people in San Bernardino, CA, on Dec. 2, 2015. Now, it’s official, as the government has dropped its attempt to compel Apple to aid the FBI in bypassing the device’s security -- but this is just the first of likely many fights over this issue.
Kuwait is to deport 60 Lebanese for alleged links to Hezbollah in the latest Gulf Arab move against the militant group, a newspaper reported on Monday. Those to be deported all had permanent residency which has been revoked, Al-Qabas daily said.
[Dhaka Tribune] Pakistain will launch a paramilitary crackdown on Islamist 
At least 29 children enjoying an Easter weekend outing were among those killed when the 
The massive Leviathan gas field was discovered in Israel’s offshore Levant Basin over six years ago, and while it theoretically puts Israel on the global energy map for the first time and could change the geopolitical dynamics of the entire Middle East, the Israelis themselves seem to be doing everything in their power to keep it from coming online. Its owners--U.S.-based Noble Energy and Israeli partner Delek Group--along with their shareholders are probably wondering if gas is ever going to come out of this giant of giants.
[Khaama (Afghanistan)] Afghan Air Force has targeted a hideout of 
"The FBI is about to start dragging in Hillary Clinton's ex-aides to interview them about the email scandal and according to Judge Andrew Napolitano, they should be very afraid.
ALEPPO – Syrian regime’s warplanes on Monday conducted several airstrikes on headquarters of the extremist group of Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria’s eastern province of Aleppo, causing casualties among civilians, local sources reported.
[NAIJ] The army has said that troops of 114 Task Force Battalion, 28 Task Force Brigade, in conjunction with some vigilantes in their area of operation, have carried out clearance operation of reported remnants of 
Tripoli’s Mitiga airport was closed ‘’indefinitely’’ at dawn this Monday morning due to heavy gunfire, including anti antiaircraft guns around the airport – only to be reopened again at around 10 am Libya time.
[DAWN] The district government has ruled out that Christians were the target in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park attack.
Hillary Clinton
[DAWN] ISLAMABAD: The army was called in to secure key buildings on Constitution Avenue after participants of Mumtaz Qadri’s chehlum overran the federal capital as they marched on Parliament House on Sunday night.
Currently the Interior Minister of Pakistain. He is the senior leader of the Pak Moslem League (N) and a close aide to Nawaz 
[Dhaka Tribune] At least five members of 
[DAWN] TO the despair and horror of a nation it has become clear that not all terrorist acts are equal.
Mohmand Agency
[THEDAILYBEAST] It was stunning to see how quickly the mood changed on the battlefield. 
This seems to be exactly the biggest problem for the Iraqi army: the lack of morale. One week ago Iraqi soldiers abandoned their base, which forced the United States to send in more Marines in support, and one of them was killed. Again this time, Iraqi army soldiers almost completely deserted their positions, fearing an ISIS response to their artillery when, in reality, not one mortar shell or bullet hit close to their positions.
In the beginning it was difficult to take the criticism by the Kurdish Peshmerga seriously due to ongoing the ongoing rivalry between the Kurds and the Iraqi military over disputed territories. And it’s worth noting that the Peshmerga had difficulties defending their front lines in August 2014 when ISIS attacked them and quickly overran many positions, including the Yazidi town of Sinjar, leading to the genocide of the Yazidi minority. 
Fighting between militias broke out in the western Tripoli suburb of Ghoat Shaal today. Intense firing with heavy weapons as well as light weapons were heard and seen in the suburb. At least one tank as well as Armored Personnel Carriers and anti-aircraft guns were seen and used.
[AITONLINE.TV] Following the recent video footage released by the 
[Khaama (Afghanistan)] The shadow district govern of the Taliban group for Tala Barfak district of Baghlan province was killed during an operation conducted by the 
