Three Afghan soldiers and five guerillas were killed in a fresh outbreak of fighting in the troubled southern province of Kandahar on Wednesday. Khan Mohammad, deputy governor of Kandahar, said the "light" fighting was continuing at Kardwey, in the district of Shah Wali Kot, roughly 120kms northwest of Kandahar city. He said five extremists had also been arrested. They included one Taliban commander, Mullah Abdul Hamid, who was injured in the clash. Three Afghan soldiers were also injured. Bet Mullah Abdul's going to be injured in the ensuing chat, too...
Khan Mohammad said the skirmish erupted on Tuesday after a government patrol sent to the area was ambushed by men firing rifles. "It is a mountainous area, so it is difficult for the enemy to carry heavy weapons. The fighting is very light, just Kalashnikov rifles," the governor said. "We have the area surrounded and we are confident the fighting will be finished by nightfall." Ummm... Don't stop until they're all dead or captured, okay? That way you won't have to come back again next week...
The fighting comes a week after heavy clashes around 80kms southeast of Kandahar between US-led troops and anti-government fighters resulted in the deaths of at least 18 guerrillas.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
02/06/2003 7:23:49 PM ||
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Indian police on Thursday arrested a Muslim cleric they allege plotted a massacre of Hindus at a train station last year that set off the countryâs worst communal riots in a decade. Maulana Hussain Umarji, a prayer leader in Gujarat, was arrested in Godhra, said J K Bhatt, superintendent of police for the Western Railways. He will be produced before a court shortly to seek a 14-day remand, Bhatt said. Maulanas have a talent for this sort of thing...
As soon as the news about Maulana Hussain Umarji's detention spread, members of the minority Muslim community called a strike in the town. An uneasy peace held as the authorities tightened security. The rioting is scheduled for day after tomorrow...
Police say the Imam gathered 12 young people at a mosque days before the train attack to plan the carnage, promising them each Rs 1,500 and making them swear to the plan on the Qur'an. Gas to burn the train was taken from a gas pump the night before and stored at a Godhra guesthouse, police said. The attack was originally planned for February 22, 2002 but on that day "there were too many policemen", said AK Bhargav, another police official. Police said the information against the Imam came from the confession of a man arrested last month over the attack, Zabir Bin Yamin Behra. Took 'em long enough to find somebody who was willing to spill the beans...
But Muslim leaders in Godhra say Behra was known as a petty thief. "In all likelihood he must have been forced by the police to give such a statement," said prominent community figure Mukhtar Mohammad. "Umarji has been involved in many relief works and is a very respected leader. He is being framed," Mohammad said. If you're going to recruit people to start a riot, it's probably better to look among the petty thieves and other neighborhood tough guys than to try and line up a librarian or an electrician...
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
02/06/2003 6:52:01 PM ||
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The Army's 101st Airborne Division received orders Thursday to deploy overseas. The division -- along with its 270 helicopters -- will "support possible future operations in the global war on terrorism," according to a statement released by the public affairs office at Fort Campbell, where the division is based. The division will deploy to the U.S. Central Command area of operations, the statement said. The exact location and number of soldiers deploying was not disclosed. The 101st has about 20,000 soldiers.
The 101st "will provide Central Command substantial operational flexibility and combat power, as well as the ability to conduct long-range helicopter attacks and air assault operations should those capabilities be required to successfully prosecute the global war on terrorism," the statement said. The 101st is a famed division that parachuted at Normandy, fought on "Hamburger Hill" in Vietnam, and hunted suspected Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters in the mountains of Afghanistan.
It is the Army's only air assault division, trained to rapidly deploy anywhere in the world within 36 hours. Northern, western or southern front?
Posted by: Steve ||
02/06/2003 3:58:28 PM ||
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Iraq said U.N. weapons inspectors were holding on Thursday their first private interview with an Iraqi scientist linked to previous banned weapons programs. "Due to the circumstances that are now prevailing and the tension, some of our scientists came back and said we don't insist on witnesses and one of them today, in fact, as I'm speaking, is being interviewed alone," presidential adviser General Amir al-Saadi told a news conference. Hiro Ueki, U.N. spokesman in Baghdad, said: "I can confirm that we had requested a private interview at 7 p.m. (11 a.m. EST)." He gave no further details. Now why am I not surprised this happened now? Anyone want to bet this guy wasn't handpicked to be interviewed alone?
The issue of inspectors being able to interview scientists has been a sticking point between Baghdad and the weapons inspectors for several weeks. Baghdad has always said it is not able to force the scientists to consent to private interviews, although it would encourage them to do so. On several occasions, U.N. experts have sought private interviews which have not taken place as the scientists have insisted on having a witness present.
Chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix sent a letter to Baghdad last week setting out U.N. demands ahead of his next visit to Iraq on February 8 and 9 as part of last-ditch efforts to secure Iraqi compliance with U.N. resolutions as the United States prepares for possible war. The demands included allowing private interviews with scientists and overflights by U2 spyplanes. Want to bet Iraq will make a deal to allow some U2 flights in order to string this along a little longer?
Posted by: Steve ||
02/06/2003 4:08:43 PM ||
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Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Thursday overthrowing Iraqi President Saddam Hussein could reshape the Middle East in a way that enhances U.S. interests and helps end the Arab-Israeli conflict. This is going to twist a few turbans
Powell told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that attacking Iraq could cause "some difficulties" during the conflict and in the months immediately after a war.
But he added, "I think there is also the possibility that success could fundamentally reshape that region in a powerful positive way that will enhance U.S. interests, especially if in the aftermath of such a conflict, we are also able to achieve progress on the Middle East peace." Bwaaahahahaha! It's our Evil Plan finally out in the open!
He said Washington's problem with Iraq was not just over Iraqi cooperation with the United Nations in giving up any weapons of mass destruction it might have. "We can't say we're not going to do anything because it will cause us some other problems in the region. This is the problem. It's not just (U.N. disarmament resolution) 1441, it's Saddam Hussein as a threat to the region," he said. Bye Sammy!
Posted by: Steve ||
02/06/2003 3:58:45 PM ||
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The Australian Senate has passed an historic no-confidence motion against the prime minister over his handling of the crisis in Iraq. John Howard and his conservative Liberal/National coalition were censured for deploying troops to the Gulf ahead of a possible war. Opposition and minor parties joined forces to pass the motion against Mr Howard by 33 to 31 votes.
Okay, this is not good.
The vote has no legislative clout, but is considered an important symbolic gesture as it is the Senate's first vote of no-confidence in a serving leader in its 102-year history. Symbolic or not, it erodes Mr. Howard's support significantly. The practical import is to make it more desirable for us to get that blasted second UN resolution. Otherwise Mr. Howard's in the drink -- and Tony Blair could follow.
Mr Howard - a staunch US ally - has insisted the deployment of troops does not mean Australia has decided to support any war with Iraq. But so far, Australia and the UK are the only countries to have joined the US in deploying forces to the Gulf region. They're with us.
During the heated debate, which started on Tuesday, Mr Howard was accused of deploying troops without reference to parliament and against to public opinion. "The prime minister has made a unilateral decision and sent 2,000 of our defence personnel off to a war undeclared in the northern hemisphere without any cogent explanation of his actions," said the Labour Party's leader in the Senate, John Faulkner. It's a little hard to be unilateral in a parlimentary system, John, since the majority party has the votes to run the government.
Senator Bob Brown, head of the left-wing Australian Greens, said the no-confidence vote marked an "historic condemnation of the government" and its leader. "His gross mishandling of Australia's involvement deserved the strongest parliamentary rebuke," Mr Brown said. Politics, of course, had nothing to do with this.
While the motion declared opposition to any unilateral US attack on Iraq, it did not go quite as far as the Greens had hoped. The party's bid to condemn any Australian involvement, even with a United Nations mandate, was defeated. Good.
And a no-confidence motion similar to that passed in the Senate was defeated in Australia's lower House of Representatives on Wednesday. Better.
The conservative majority ensured the motion fell by 82 votes to 63. That's the parlimentary system at work. But if a disaster befalls the Aussie troops -- don't expect it happen, but if it does -- Mr. Howard will be out on his ear speedy quick.
About 400 anti-war protesters demonstrated outside the national parliament on Tuesday, angry at Mr Howard's stance on Iraq. Recent opinion polls show that 76% of Australians oppose their country's participation in a US-led war, while 57% support joining military action that has UN backing. Somebody, somewhere has to explain to me the mystical quality of UN approval on anything.
In an interview with Australian magazine The Bulletin, Mr Howard admitted the decision to deploy troops had put him under huge pressure. "It's the first thing I think about when I wake up, and that has been the case for the last few weeks," he told the magazine. As it should. Take care, Mr. Howard, we're going to need you.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/06/2003 4:01:31 PM ||
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He was supposed to have been a professional. He should have known better, but in the end he could not resist. Using a satellite phone, the senior al-Qa'ida operative excitedly called two associates and congratulated them on their cold-blooded assassination of an American diplomat. Hosed it, didn't he?
The call cost the man his liberty. It may yet cost him his life but, more importantly, it could have provided America with the "smoking gun" evidence it has long sought and which apparently links the Iraqi regime to an active al-Qa'ida cell committing terror killings and planning others across Europe and the Middle East. One thing is certain: it has left Iraq needing to do a lot of explaining. Yeah! 'Splain yourself, Sammy!
The name of the man who made the telephone call as he drove through the rugged landscapes of northern Iraq towards the borders with Syria and Turkey has not been revealed. But his alleged position in the al-Qa'ida network was made clear. Information gathered by the intelligence services of the US, Britain, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Pakistan shows he is the deputy of Abu Mussab al Zarqawi, head of an Iraqi-based al-Qa'ida cell. This is somebody other than Moammar Ahmad Yussef? Yussuf's supposed to be in Syria â or did he pop across the border to Turkey?
Though he would not have known it at the time, the deputy's congratulatory telephone call to two men accused of murdering the US diplomat Laurence Foley last October â killed in the garden of his Amman home by a volley of eight shots â was an error of incalculable proportions. The call was intercepted by Western intelligence services, possibly America's National Security Agency (NSA) or Britain's electronic eavesdropping service at GCHQ, Cheltenham, and allowed coalition operatives to trace the man from Syria, then to Turkey. Perhaps it is him...
When he arrived in Turkey, those intelligence operatives took the decision to pounce. The al-Qa'ida deputy was seized and taken to one of the interrogation centres covertly operated in the region by the US Central Intelligence Agency. In many cases, America prefers certain prisoners to be questioned by the intelligence services of countries where the rules governing the use of torture or psychological pressure are less strict. In this instance, it appears America led the interrogation, using, in the words of one official, "unspecified psychological pressure" to obtain information. "You look kinda tired, Yussuf. Here, let me give you some giggle juice. It'll make you feel better..."
"And if I don't, infidel?"
"Karim! Show him your truncheon!"
"I'd like that shot now, please..."
US officials quoted by The New York Times say the deputy revealed that Zarqawi was operating a cell out of Iraq, that he had been given medical assistance there and that he was planning and conducting attacks across Europe and the Middle East with up to 24 al-Qa'ida fighters. Mr Foley, 62, head of America's Agency for International Development mission, was the first of the cell's targets. It's all in how you talk to 'em...
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
02/06/2003 8:13:25 PM ||
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France is strengthening its military presence in Ivory Coast to protect western nationals there and enforce a truce between rebel groups and the government. An agreement that no one wants except the French.
Paris began deploying some 450 soldiers to its former colony earlier this week, to back up 2,500 troops already in Ivory Coast, said a spokesman for the French armed forces. That tears it. There's no hope of getting any French troops to help us in Iraq now.
Meanwhile, thousands of supporters of President Laurent Gbagbo have been demonstrating in the main city of Abidjan against the peace deal reached with the rebels 10 days ago to end the civil war. There's one side that doesn't want a peace deal.
The French deployment and the protest follow the United Nations Security Council's decision to give French and African troops in Ivory Coast a mandate to use force in order to protect civilians. Lucky for the French we didn't veto it.
Nearly 200 extra gendarmes were sent last week by France to protect its 16,000 nationals in Ivory Coast, primarily in the economic capital, Abidjan. And by the end of this week, France will have more than 3,000 troops there. I'm waiting for them to turn the Charles De Gaulle around.
"Given what we've seen in the last few days in Abidjan, we have deemed the situation to be a volatile one," Colonel Christian Baptiste, a spokesman for the French armed forces, said. There have been demonstrations in Abidjan against the French-brokered peace and French nationals and interests have been attacked, prompting France to ask non-essential residents to leave.
On Wednesday, thousands of protestors, many trade union members, demonstrated outside the French embassy in Abidjan, shouting their opposition to the pact which gives the rebels top posts in a unity government, the French news agency, AFP, reported. Can't imagine why these folks are so upset.
Many waved the Ivorian flag or sported it on small conical hats. Protesters sang reggae songs and shouted anti-French slogans, such as "Chirac assassin!". Any American flags?
The Security Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to back the French and West African troops' deployment with a review of the situation in six months' time. Rebels in the divided West African state reportedly launched the first attacks on Tuesday since signing a ceasefire with the Ivorian Government in France on 24 January. Usual results. Get a UNSC resolution, and the ceasefire collapses.
A rebel leader told the BBC that they would not give up the defence and interior ministry posts in a new power-sharing government which were reportedly promised them in France. And we all know what a promise from France is worth!
The UN called for the full and immediate implementation of the peace agreement. That worked well.
Mr Gbagbo has still not explained the deal to the nation, as he had promised. When the protests began, he trying to calm his supporters by calling the deal "proposals". He made a bad deal and now is back-pedaling to avoid being Mussolini'd.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/06/2003 1:10:32 AM ||
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Hey Fred, can I be an official Rantburg sports correspondent?
Leading Australian players and team officials met with the Australian High Commissioner to Zimbabwe on Tuesday. All parties were happy with the outcome, despite reports the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) was to be told Zimbabwe was unsafe for their players. "Just don't walk around with any grain in your pockets and you should be okay, lads."
But Australia were quick to stress their decision was not final, pointing to the fact there is still almost three weeks until their game in Bulawayo on 24 February."At this stage, we are committed to playing in that gawdforsaken land Zimbabwe," Australian Cricketers' Association chief Tim May stated. "An advantage we have on our hands is we do have time. I certainly imagine what the U.S. military could do with three weeks time, but in cricket? Is that enough time for a round, or whatever the heck you call in inning?
"There is no use rushing any dramatic decisions and we will take on board any possible information we can get to make the most correct decision." This guy sounds like Blixie.
The stopgap decision thrusts the spotlight back onto England and the uncertainty surrounding their match in Zimbabwe - due to be played 11 days earlier in Harare. On Monday, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) formally asked to have their match moved to South Africa. But I think we all saw that coming.
The reigning tournament champions will observe with vested interest, the result possibly paving the way for them to follow suit.
ACB chief executive James Sutherland was quick to divert attention to cricketing matters. "They are cricketers, and their focus is on what is the biggest event in world cricket," he said. "What they really want to do is play good cricket." Even in a land of hunger, torture and strife?
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/06/2003 1:03:46 AM ||
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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.
