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Crisis in Libya: U.S. bombs Qaddafi's airfields
Today's Headlines
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Good morning
Posted by: Fred || 03/20/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Happy Birthday/Daily Gam Shot

Paula Garcés aka Francesca in "Clockstoppers" aka Maria Quesa Dilla in "Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle" aka Carmen Abregon in "CSI: Miami" aka Tina Hanlon in "The Shield" aka Falicia in "The Sopranos (Season 5), Unidentified Black Males" (age 38)

Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 03/20/2011 4:11 Comments || Top||

#2  Tina Louise was interviewed on a local FM radio station. She wanted to talk about her vast career - everything EXCEPT Gilligan's Island. That was a short interview. I was always a Mary Ann kinda guy anyway
Posted by: Frank G || 03/20/2011 9:09 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan
Kabul Bank Attacker Case to be Sent to High Court
[Tolo News] The case of Kabul Bank attacker who killed dozens of civilians last month in downtown Jalalabad will be referred to the high court, a senior Official in Attorney General's Office said on Saturday.

Attorney General's Office dismissed reports claiming the attacker would be flown out of the country for a psycho check.

Last month a Kabul Bank branch in downtown Jalalabad came under turban attack and the deaths of dozens of innocent civilians, especially the ones trapped inside the bank building who were indiscriminately rubbed out, left the people outrageous.

Following the attack, President Hamid Maybe I'll join the Taliban Karzai
... A former Baltimore restaurateur, now 12th and current President of Afghanistan, displacing the legitimate president Rabbani in December 2004. He was installed as the dominant political figure after the removal of the Taliban regime in late 2001 in a vain attempt to put a Pashtun face on the successor state to the Taliban. After the 2004 presidential election, he was declared president regardless of what the actual vote count was. He won a second, even more dubious, five-year-term after the 2009 presidential election. His grip on reality has been slipping steadily since around 2007, probably from heavy drug use...
urged the supreme court to sentence the attacker to capital punishment.

"No one has ever tried to pull him out of prison and his case is complete and ready to be sent to the related court tomorrow or the day after tomorrow," Attorney General's Spokesperson Amanullah Eman said.

The mid-February attack on Kabul Bank in Jalalabad, was the deadliest in months that claimed lives of nearly 40 people and maimed more than 70 others.
Posted by: Fred || 03/20/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


1 Militant Killed, 2 Hurt in Foreign Forces Operation
[Tolo News] At least one krazed killer was killed and two others were maimed in a foreign military operation in eastern Nangarhar province on Friday night, Isaf said on Saturday.

The operation was launched last night in Shirzad district of Nangarhar province when three gun-hung tough guys wanted to plant mines in a road and foreign forces targeted them, Isaf said.

Meanwhile,
...back at the wreckage...
Ahmad Zia Abdulzai a front man for governor of Nangarhar confirmed the incident and said there is no more report about the operation.

Isaf said in a statement on Saturday that an operation also continues in Shegal valley of Kunar province
... which is right down the road from Binny's house in Chitral...
to wipe out the gun-hung tough guys from the insecure areas.

In joint operation carried out by Afghan and foreign forces many gunnies have been killed in the valley, Isaf said.

Isaf did not provide information about the exact number of gun-hung tough guys killed in the operation, but Afghan officials said at least 4 gunnies were killed.

Afghan and foreign forces have launched many military operations in different parts of the country to clear volatile regions of beturbanned goons.

Withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan will start in July this year.
Posted by: Fred || 03/20/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Africa Horn
Ethiopian Christians flee after church burnings
They're not Islamists you say! Well that's OK then, they're not a protected species. No need for the UN, NATO, etc to rush in to help. Nothing to see here, move along.
Evangelical churches and homes have been burnt down by mobs of Muslims in the southwestern Jimma region of Ethiopia. The attacks have left at least one person dead and 7,000 displaced. “This is a strategically planned attack by an extremist Islamic group.”
Posted by: tipper || 03/20/2011 20:10 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Most of that region of Ethiopia is inhabited by muslim Jimma Oromos.
Those outraged, willing to protest can do it in person at the Oromo Liberation Front Headquarters in Washington, DC (#1810 - 9th Street NW), some two miles from the ... White House or call (202)462-5477 ext.202...
Posted by: vendaval || 03/20/2011 23:48 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Coalition thins out Qaddafi's Panzers
Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 03/20/2011 12:57 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Jeez, He DOES shound like Daffy Duck!
Posted by: Lemuel Hupinert4129 || 03/20/2011 16:51 Comments || Top||

#2  SOUND, dammit.
Posted by: Lem || 03/20/2011 16:51 Comments || Top||

#3  How is it that we are allowed to take out tanks based on a UN resolution calling for a no-FLY zone?

I understand taking out air search radars and anti air missiles, since the planes need to be safe, but taking out tanks, airfields and other things seems to be beyond the mandate for a no fly zone.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia || 03/20/2011 17:26 Comments || Top||

#4  UNSC Resolution 1973 'authorises all necessary means to protect civilians and civilian-populated areas, except for a "foreign occupation force"'

That should cover taking out Gaddafi forces attacking Benghazi.

Not that I think giving additional legitimacy to the UNSC was a good idea. Reagan did it without a Resolution in 1986.
Posted by: Caesar Omager1654 || 03/20/2011 17:43 Comments || Top||

#5  When did Colonel Sprocket's tanks made in Russia get the name Panzer?
Posted by: Muggsy Glink || 03/20/2011 19:55 Comments || Top||


Dupe entry: Arab League Now Criticizes Anti-Qhaddaft NFZ Attacks
The News source that shall not be named. Jerry Lewis Amr Moussa is now criticizing the attacks because Arab civilians might actually get hurt in a shooting war. Whoda thunk it? Backstabbing asshole
Posted by: Frank G || 03/20/2011 12:08 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Crisis in Libya: U.S. bombs Qaddafi's airfields
*Three B-2 stealth bombers flying non-stop from the United States have dropped 40 bombs on a major Libyan airfield tonight in an attempt to destroy much of Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi's air force, CBS News David Martin reports.

At the same time, US Air Force fighter jets conducted missions searching for Libyan ground forces to attack. No US aircraft were lost during the missions.

* Several news outlets are reporting heavy and sustained anti-aircraft fire in Libya's capital, Tripoli, perhaps signaling the start of the second-wave of coalition action there.
Posted by: Oscar Spineck3066 || 03/20/2011 06:27 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Pounding his airfields and knocking down his tent won't put him out of action. It will take troops on the ground.
Posted by: Besoeker on the road again || 03/20/2011 7:16 Comments || Top||

#2  Hello! "troops on the ground" you know that and many of us know that and I hope O is not aware of that.
Posted by: Dale || 03/20/2011 9:06 Comments || Top||

#3  Just for grins and chuckles I took the wayback machine to see if bammer has commented on this sort of stuff before....

"The President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation," - Barack Obama.


More of that hoppy changy thing.
Posted by: AlanC || 03/20/2011 9:09 Comments || Top||

#4  Oh, and for the other side of the equation here is Hillary from the same campaign trail interview...

the Constitution requires Congress to authorize war. I do not believe that the President can take military action -- including any kind of strategic bombing -- against Iran without congressional authorization.

Seems like that corrupting power thingy just keeps on coming up, no?
Posted by: AlanC || 03/20/2011 9:13 Comments || Top||

#5  Actually, the Constitution never really addressed the issue specifically as at the time it was

1)expected that the Executive conduct military operations as necessary along its long western frontier against 'hostiles' without Congressional consent.

2)and Congress did not meet 365 days a year and that the Executive would handle anything needing immediate attention till they got back.

3)and following the experience as previous Englishmen and the Cromwellian Commonwealth, they kept the army and navy small to avoid getting involved in anything substantive.

What happened was the Second World War which left the US as the sole nation with the means and economy in the Western Alliance to conduct real military operations. We tried going back to 'normal' but when the Russian blockaded Berlin, America went into its first peacetime draft and the creation of a large standing military force for which the writers of the Constitution had wanted to avoid at all costs because of its historic record of creating political problems for the nations that followed that path. Ever since then Presidents have been involving that large military into events around the world and in the process centralizing more power in the Executive. Either you influence events, for good or bad, or you accept the consequences of what life, history and the world throw at you. If you choose the first option you get an ever growing imperial presidency. If you cut back your military so it can not be tossed into events, you sit back and accept the slings and arrows of outrageous fortunes, but you diminish the power of those who own and operate the central government. No one said life is fair.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 03/20/2011 10:10 Comments || Top||

#6  "No one said life is fair."

<.lefty whine>

But it's supposed to be! That's not fair!

<./lefty whine>
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 03/20/2011 10:17 Comments || Top||

#7  Crisis in Libya

It's almost comical the lengths Obama's media and cheerleaders have gone to avoid using the W-word.
Posted by: DepotGuy || 03/20/2011 11:21 Comments || Top||

#8  The mere wear and tear of the B2s costed over 1 millon dllar par plane. Compound with maintenance, fuel, pilot pay and the non-null risk of losing a 2 billion dollar airframe (1 chance in thousand that means an "insurance cost" of 1 million).
Posted by: JFM || 03/20/2011 11:36 Comments || Top||

#9  insurance cost is 2 millions of course.
Posted by: JFM || 03/20/2011 11:41 Comments || Top||

#10  Wouldn't it be nice if this was based on a rational cost/benefit analysis rather than a political calculation?
Posted by: regular joe || 03/20/2011 12:03 Comments || Top||

#11  Wouldn't it be nice if humans were capable of the rational cost/benefit analysis?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 03/20/2011 13:05 Comments || Top||

#12  Pounding his airfields and knocking down his tent won't put him out of action. It will take troops on the ground.

We do. They're called rebels and defectors.
Posted by: gorb || 03/20/2011 13:18 Comments || Top||

#13  I seem to recall that the President has the authority to conduct military action for up to six months without congressional approval. Men, please check me if I am wrong. Too busy to go book worm today.
Posted by: newc || 03/20/2011 13:50 Comments || Top||

#14  Newc,

The War Powers Act gives the Pres 60 days w/o Congressional Approval.

However, since the Constitution makes the Prez the COC, the War Powers Act is arguably unconstitutional.
Posted by: Lord Garth || 03/20/2011 14:48 Comments || Top||

#15  Every president since Nixon has stated that the War Powers Act is unconstitutional.

Yet none defy it.

Every time we've had any significant military action since 1974, presidents have taken care to honor the WPA -- either they've gotten approval (usually some sort of 'authorization for the use of force') or they've wound up the military operation (e.g., Grenada) in plenty of time so as not to trigger the WPA.

Bambi has his choice here: he could go to Congress, who would, I think, give him the necessary authorization, or he could wrap it up quickly (I think, without bookworming, that it is 90 days). If the latter increasingly looks problematic he could either cut and run or then go to the Congress.

The left-most half of the Dhimmicrats in Congress would vote 'no', but the rest, and most all except the Ron Paul Pubs, would vote 'yes'. So he'd get his authorization.

Whether he wants to be remembered as yet another president who went to war is on him.
Posted by: Steve White || 03/20/2011 14:56 Comments || Top||

#16  The War Powers Resolution also states,
The constitutional powers of the President as Commander-in-Chief to introduce United States Armed Forces into hostilities, or into situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances, are exercised only pursuant to (1) a declaration of war, (2) specific statutory authorization, or (3) a national emergency created by attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or its armed forces.


If you believe in the constitutionality and relevance of the WPR, which of these three conditions obtain in this instance? Or has The 0ne acted illegally?
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 03/20/2011 15:00 Comments || Top||

#17  Gotcha. Thanks! I knew there was a time hack. The six month thing must have been something else.
Posted by: newc || 03/20/2011 15:15 Comments || Top||

#18  Speaker Boehner (love saying that) has said that he expects Obama to consult with Congress before going further than the initial attacks. Not criticizing the cruise missile attacks, etc. Just saying that he needs to consult before getting us in deeper
Posted by: Frank G || 03/20/2011 15:24 Comments || Top||

#19  Meanwhile, the US 5th fleet has left Bahrain supposedly on exercises with Oman, but with the unrest in Bahrain, it seems more like a contingency plan of avoiding being in port if SHTF. Iran is playing their hand in Bahrain quite well. We are way behind the power curve.
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 03/20/2011 16:18 Comments || Top||

#20  "We are way behind the power curve."

Just where Bambi, et al., want us. >:-(
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 03/20/2011 16:19 Comments || Top||

#21  I believe El Quaddafi has begun an effective psychological campaign. His letter to various leaders including "our son" is a master stroke.
He is his own man. This is a leader. He will sorely test the will of those against him. Syria is now helping him and Russia and China look sympathetic.
This could get ugly. The only way now to nip this in the bud would be assassination. Strong words from an armchair peanut gallery.
Posted by: Dale || 03/20/2011 18:53 Comments || Top||


Demonstration in Algiers: police block access to the place of rendezvous
[Ennahar] Algeria's police force was positioned Saturday morning in central Algiers around the main post office, place of rendezvous by young Algerians on the Facebook network to march towards the Presidency of the Republic.

Despite the lifting of emergency rule last month, street protests are still banned in Algiers because of a provision from 2001 when a march of Kabylians had killed eight people.

On the "Place de la Grande Poste", the crossroads of many arteries that run north to south and east to west of the Algerian capital, only vehicles were allowed to pass.

Around all pedestrian areas, the police placed barriers to prevent demonstrators gather.

The rendezvous is set for 11:00 am (10:00 GMT) and "must mark a turning point to show that our approach is independent of political parties," said Friday a participant in the initiative, Amine, 29.

In all the arteries leading to the center, police ready for action filled the sidewalks and street corners, backed by dozens of armored vehicles.

On the main thoroughfare connecting the University of Algiers I to the Grande Poste, in the extension of the famous Didouche Mourad St., dozens of police were stationed.

The call for protest on Saturday, the 49th anniversary of the cease-fire that led Algeria to independence from La Belle France in 1962, was launched on the social network "of young Algerians" early this month.
Posted by: Fred || 03/20/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Note as in the works.
Posted by: newc || 03/20/2011 2:51 Comments || Top||


Egyptians flock to polls for historic reform vote
[Asharq al-Aswat] Egyptians flocked to the polls on Saturday for the first time since President Hosni Mubarak
Octogenarian Egyptian politician, prior to that air force commander. He served as the fourth President-for-Life of Egypt from 1981 to 2011. He assumed the presidency in 1981, following the liquidation of Anwar Sadat. He was dumped after 18 days of demonstrations, which at one point featured a camel charge by his supporters, during the 2011 Egyptian revolution. On 11 February, Vice President Suleiman announced that Mubarak had resigned in favor of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces. Mubarak and his family left the presidential palace by a side door and moved to Sharm el-Sheikh, while the new regime started trying to follow the money trail.
was toppled to vote in a referendum on constitutional reforms which the military rulers hope will allow elections within six months.

By early morning, queues of hundreds had formed at polling stations across the country to cast ballots in the first vote in living memory whose outcome has not been known in advance. The result will determine how quickly Egypt can hold elections.

"It is too early to tell what the voter turnout is, but it is clear that this is unprecedented," Ahmed Samih Farag, a human rights
... which are not the same thing as individual rights, mind you...
activist and monitor with the Egyptian Coalition for Election Monitoring, told Rooters, surveying queues of voters.

Egypt has been alive with debate over the referendum and the country is divided between those who say the constitution needs a complete rewrite and others who argue that the amendments will suffice for now.

"I voted yes -- yes for stability and for things to go back to normal," said Mustafa Fouad, 24, an engineer voting in Cairo at a polling station.

"I voted no. This is not enough," said Atef Farouk, who arrived at the same polling station with his wife and three daughters, who waved an Egyptian flag as their parents voted.

"We want a new constitution," added Farouk, 41.

The polls opened at 8.00 a.m. (6 a.m. British time) and close at 7 p.m. The result is expected to be announced on Sunday evening or Monday morning, a member of a judicial committee involved in overseeing the election told Rooters.

"The country is finally ours and we will never let it slip again by staying at home when we should be right here, in line, to make our voices heard," said Om Sayyed, 65, queueing at one polling station.

"I am old and this isn't for me, its for my children ... it's important I teach them their voice counts," she said.

The amendments were drawn up by a judicial committee appointed by the military rulers to whom Mubarak handed power on February 11. They are designed to open the door to legislative and presidential elections that will allow the military to hand power to a civilian, elected government.

Mubarak was forced from office by a wave of mass protests demanding his removal and an end to autocratic rule in the country he had governed for three decades.
Posted by: Fred || 03/20/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:


Thousands flee rebel stronghold as Gaddafi forces flout ceasefire
[The Nation (Nairobi)] Fighting raged around Libya's rebel stronghold of Benghazi Saturday, with air strikes, tank fire and shelling rocking the Mediterranean city as a rebel warplane went down in flames.

Thousands of people were seen fleeing eastward as correspondents reported heavy fighting
... as opposed to the more usual light or sporadic fighting...
between rebels and forces loyal to Libyan strongman Muammar Qadaffy in the west of the city of more than one million people.

Tank fire was also heard from the south of Benghazi as rebel fighters ran through the streets flashing V for victory signs and crying "Allahu Akbar", or "God is greatest".

The southern edge of Benghazi early morning suffered at least two air strikes and sustained shelling, sending thick smoke into the sky, an AFP news hound said.

The warplane, which had been heard flying over the city for several minutes was suddenly spotted with flames coming from the fuselage before it fell on a residential area south of the city.

The pilot could be seen ejecting as the plane spiralled down. However,
The calloused However...
a rebel official reached by telephone acknowledged the plane was one of their fighter jets and that it had been downed by loyalists.

"Yes, it was one of the rebels' planes. It was downed by Qadaffy's forces," the official told AFP.

A number of military units defected to the rebellion soon after the revolt broke out.

The two air strikes occurred within 20 minutes of each other, but the planes responsible could not be immediately identified.

A series of small kabooms, possibly from Katyusha rockets, also produced at least seven smaller columns of black smoke south of the city.

Rebel sources said Qadaffy artillery and tanks shelled the western suburbs from positions outside the city. Some of the shells hit central Benghazi, mainly in Jamal Abdelnasser Street.

A rebel official told AFP by telephone that Qadaffy bully boyz who had been hiding out in Benghazi turned up in a neighbourhood called Foweihat, about five kilometres from the city centre "driving a car and shooting at people randomly and throwing hand grenades."

"Heavy exchanges of fire erupted between them and the revolutionaries" the rebel official said.

A resident of Benghazi, who asked not to be identified and was reached by telephone, told AFP "the western suburbs of Benghazi were shelled randomly by the Qadaffy forces."

However,
The over-used However...
he denied reports that Qadaffy's tanks had entered the city.

"No tanks are in the centre of Benghazi apart from some rebels' tanks, but men from the Qadaffy militias can be seen in some areas," he said.

The fighting sparked an immediate exodus. Heavy traffic clogged the road eastward, although rebel checkpoints were still manned and fighters screamed defiance against Qadaffy.
Posted by: Fred || 03/20/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:


Spain, Norway join war party
[Iran Press TV] Spain and Norway have announced that they are joining the large-scale military intervention into Libya.

The Spanish Defense Ministry said on Saturday that the country has sent four F-18 fighter jets and a refueling aircraft to Italy to take part in the operation over Libya starting on Sunday, AFP reported.

"These planes will carry out patrol missions and will be operational from tomorrow (Sunday)," a statement issued by the Spanish Defense Ministry read.

On Saturday, Norway announced that six Norwegian F-16 fighter jets will be joining the Western-led military operations against Libya over the next few days.

The warplanes will take off right at the beginning of next week and will be based in Sicily, Italy, according to the announcement.

Foreign forces launched Arclight airstrikes against Libya after officials of a number countries meeting in Gay Paree on Saturday ordered a large-scale military intervention into the country in order to end the assaults on civilians launched by Libyan ruler Muammar Qadaffy's forces.

Representatives of the United States, Britain, La Belle France, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar attended the meeting.

There have been reports that French warplanes have begun firing on Libyan government troops in the eastern city of Benghazi, which is the stronghold of anti-government forces.

The French intervention came after forces loyal to the 68-year-old Libyan ruler began closing in on revolutionaries in eastern Libya, despite a ceasefire declared by Qadaffy on Friday.

In addition, US and British forces fired a barrage of at least 110 Tomahawk cruise missiles at Libya targeting Qadaffy's air defenses on Saturday. The missiles reportedly struck pro-government forces.

Libyan anti-government forces, inspired by revolutions that toppled authoritarian rulers in neighboring Tunisia and Egypt, are fighting to unseat Qadaffy after suffering under his despotic rule for over 41 years.
Posted by: Fred || 03/20/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Spain is coming back becuse they tucked tail and ran in Iraq - it's the old we need some street cred. Norway is a suprise - what the F is up with Germany! T
Posted by: Retired LEO || 03/20/2011 4:02 Comments || Top||

#2  Hey, with Spain AND Norway at your backside how can you lose?
Of course the Norwegians havent been in Libya since Cnut was ruing the Saxons.

WHEN will someone target KaDaffy in his beddy-by? There cant be that many places he sleeps at night, and he would have to take his bodyguards with him. We should have infiltrated his bodyguard a long time ago...I mean what is money for?
What are we paying Intelligence for, after all? Do they spend ALL their time cutting articles out of the newspapers and hanging out?

Put a Tomahawk cruise missile in his bedroom window and one in the bathroom window down the hall just to be sure.
Come ON, guys!

Is Obama back from Rio yet?
Posted by: Dribble2716 || 03/20/2011 7:21 Comments || Top||

#3  'what the F is up with Germany'
Posted by: Dino Ebberemp3092 || 03/20/2011 17:50 Comments || Top||

#4  Sorry for the post above, hit the wrong button.

Merkel is actually far more of a leftist than she let on before the election.

On Libya the political division is roughly Conservative Coalition/Communist Party of East Germany vs Social Democrats/Greens. The former more anti-intervention the latter more on the pro side.

Merkel's father is actually a pro-communist pastor who actually moved from West-Germany to the Soviet Zone in order to strengthen pro-regime forces within the Protestant Church. His nickname within the Church was 'der rote Kasner' ('red Kasner.)

This is where the foundations of her worldview were laid, apparently.

link 'Horst Kasner', German Wikipedia
Posted by: Dino Ebberemp3092 || 03/20/2011 18:02 Comments || Top||


Jets pound civilian targets in Tripoli
[Iran Press TV] Foreign fighter jets have bombarded civilian targets in Libya as world powers agreed to use military force in the crisis-hit North African country.

Libyan state television has released a video footage of "an aerial attack" launched by Western planes against civilian structures in the capital city of Tripoli, Rooters said on Saturday.

The Arclight airstrike comes as world leaders in Gay Paree on Saturday ordered a large-scale military intervention into Libya in order to end assaults launched by ruler Muammar Qadaffy's forces on civilians.

There have been reports that French warplanes have begun firing on Libyan government troops in the eastern city of Benghazi, which is the stronghold of anti-government forces.

The French intervention came after forces loyal to the 68-yrera-old Libyan ruler closed in on revolutionaries in eastern Libya despite a ceasefire declared by Qadaffy on Friday.

Meanwhile,
...back at the wreckage...
a US warship fired cruise missiles into Libya on Saturday. The missiles reportedly struck pro-government forces.

Speaking to news hounds in Brazil, US President Barack B.O. Obama said Washington is united with its international partners on the need to take action.

"Our consensus was strong and our resolve is clear. The people of Libya must be protected, and in the absence of an immediate end to the violence against civilians, our coalition is prepared to act and act with urgency," he said.

Libyan anti-government forces, inspired by revolutions that toppled authoritarian rulers in neighboring Tunisia and Egypt, are fighting to unseat Qadaffy after more than 41 years of despotic rule.
Posted by: Fred || 03/20/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran

#1  Ah... so those were civilian SAM sites and armored vehicles. Mmkay.
Posted by: OldSpook || 03/20/2011 0:16 Comments || Top||

#2  Yes, and APCs for the local neighborhood watch!
Posted by: Dar || 03/20/2011 1:48 Comments || Top||

#3  Libyan TV was always my favorite. The vids on the Internet and Drudge yesterday show Libyan air Mig29's coming down like flaming rocks. I assume the French were flying Mirages or something. Nice picture of Achmed and a product from the frozen baby truck.

You can always depend on Moslem media to just mention the 3 year old in the casualty list. Its traditional. Not that Moslem babies dont get killed, I expect they do. But then it happens in THEIR yard, not ours. In a war its always better for them to have it happen in THEIR yard. That's the name of the game.
You keep the turbaned buggers OUT of your yard. That's called winning. If it happens in YOUR yard someone isnt doing their job.

How many fighter jets does KaDaffy HAVE? Estimates on how many are in the shop at any given time for maintenance? How many effectives? Who are the pilots....Intell should be able to give us their names and addresses and their suit measurements or I want Intell on the rug. We have had YEARS to get this Intell. That is what Intell does if you have a competent one. Of course, they COULD be mowing their lawn in Fairfax, yeah? Intell should be FULL of nasty bastids and prostitute handlers and Judas in a suit and run by a dope dealer and an ass rascal. And paid well and watched.

Obama has a job. The job is called looking after US interests and PROTECTING the United States. That means, (among other things) having an entire stadium full of Colonels and Generals STAND UP (and cheer) when you enter the room.
And it means watching your Intell assets like a beady hawk and there are no rules in how you get results from them. You dont trust anyone, kings have no friends. You hand out medals and reward the people who get results, and you send other people to Rio, you dont go yourself.
You speak softly, smile at the camera, keep your own counsel, and are a ruthless SOB who shakes everybody's hand.

If you have a single friend in the world its probably a platoon leader with a family. You know your Divisional Commanders by their first name. And you remember your job.
Posted by: Dribble2716 || 03/20/2011 7:56 Comments || Top||

#4  Nice picture of Achmed and a product from the frozen baby truck.

That's Green Helmet Guy, a Moslem institution.
Posted by: Fred || 03/20/2011 10:04 Comments || Top||

#5  This war hasn't gotten rolling unless there are reports of our hitting the "baby milk factory."
Posted by: JohnQC || 03/20/2011 10:41 Comments || Top||

#6  "How many fighter jets does KaDaffy HAVE? Estimates on how many are in the shop at any given time for maintenance? How many effectives? Who are the pilots....Intell should be able to give us their names and addresses and their suit measurements or I want Intell on the rug. We have had YEARS to get this Intell. That is what Intell does if you have a competent one. Of course, they COULD be mowing their lawn in Fairfax, yeah? Intell should be FULL of nasty bastids and prostitute handlers and Judas in a suit and run by a dope dealer and an ass rascal. And paid well and watched"

His air force is comprised of old and aging MIG's - total number rounding in 300. It may look impressive on paper, but I doubt he has more than 60 planes he could actually use being not in rebel territory. Out of which, he has less pilots. Rumors stated that some of the pilots were from Syria. His support is out of Syria. They did not maintain their military, it is rag tag and poorly disciplined.

Suit measurements are useless, people do not live long enough in that part of the world to care for the measures.

Where as the nasty bastids are concerned, thats what the KGB is for. Or shall I say the Cheka?
Posted by: newc || 03/20/2011 13:25 Comments || Top||

#7  How many fighter jets does KaDaffy HAVE?
Between 550 and 700, including Mig 23s, Mig 25s, Mig 29s, Mirage F-1s, and a bunch of older craft. The only bombers he's KNOWN to have are a squadron of Ilyushin "Badger" aircraft, none of which are considered flyable.
Estimates on how many are in the shop at any given time for maintenance?
About 60-70 percent of the fleet.
How many effectives? Who are the pilots.
IIRC, most of the pilots are all mercenaries -- primarily Syrians, probably with a few dozen other nations represented here and there.
Intell should be able to give us their names and addresses and their suit measurements or I want Intell on the rug.
I spent 26 years in imagery intelligence. Old Spook, Fred, and probably a half-dozen other regulars have similar backgrounds. Most of us were lower ranks -- no generals, very, very few colonels, mostly NCOs. We probably have more information than you could possibly believe on Libya, but if the guys at the top don't trust the information (and 95% of them in THIS administration don't), it means nothing.
We have had YEARS to get this Intell. That is what Intell does if you have a competent one. Of course, they COULD be mowing their lawn in Fairfax, yeah? Intell should be FULL of nasty bastids and prostitute handlers and Judas in a suit and run by a dope dealer and an ass rascal. And paid well and watched.
Intel means gathering every ounce of information you can find about your enemies, collating and assembling it, winnowing out the chaff, coordinating YOUR information with other sources to build a bigger picture, and then keep working on it. It's never "done" -- it's always a work in progress. It means looking at the same airfield 200-300 times, hoping to spot the one change that allows you to add an additional piece of information to the pile -- possibly a change of command, a new aircraft being introduced, a loss of faith in the unit, or who knows what else. It's painstaking, frequently boring, and ridiculously repetitive. And NECESSARY. Don't whine about Intel until you've spent two or three years in the trenches, and can see the constant battle with the non-Intel higher-ups.
Posted by: Old Patriot || 03/20/2011 13:32 Comments || Top||

#8  Word, OP.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 03/20/2011 14:03 Comments || Top||

#9  I stand corrected :)
Posted by: newc || 03/20/2011 15:18 Comments || Top||

#10  That was positively pretty, Old Patriot!
Posted by: trailing wife || 03/20/2011 20:09 Comments || Top||

#11  Appreciate it, OP, answering Dribble's drivel with well-thought out facts.

Rantburg U!
Posted by: Bobby || 03/20/2011 21:51 Comments || Top||

#12  Again, Dribble does make some sense. Real kings or presidents do not have friends, except those that can be counted on the fingers of half of one hand. Everyone else are pawns and cat's paws. And yes, you air kiss kiss, right up to the moment you go machiavellian on their asses. Thats real stuff.
Posted by: Fi || 03/20/2011 21:59 Comments || Top||

#13  From everything open source that I have read lately, Khadaffy has 60-70 functional fighter/bombers available at any one time. About 1/3 of his pilots are Serbian/Ukrainian/Russian, 1/3 are other Arabs like Syrians, and 1/3 are actual Libyans. His major threat to a NFZ is his integrated air defenses that includes several good Russian missile systems and radars. That is what is getting hit by the cruise missiles, to lessen their effectiveness. Oh, I am listening Hot N' Cold by Katy Perry in honor of the Arab League right now. "You change your mind like a girl changes clothes" describes the Arab League to a T.
Posted by: Shieldwolf || 03/20/2011 22:36 Comments || Top||


Libya: 'French jet shot down over Tripoli'
[Iran Press TV] A French fighter jet has reportedly been shot down in Libya after several countries agreed on a large-scale military intervention into the North African country.

Libyan state television said.
... and if you can't believe state television who can you believe?
late on Saturday that the French warplane went down in the Njela district of the Libyan capital Tripoli, AFP reported.

However,
The essential However...
the French military swiftly denied the report.

Foreign forces launched Arclight airstrikes against Libya after officials of a number countries meeting in Gay Paree on Saturday ordered a large-scale military intervention into the country in order to end the assaults on civilians launched by Libyan ruler Muammar Qadaffy's forces.

Representatives of the United States, Britain, La Belle France, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar attended the meeting.

There have been reports that French warplanes have begun firing on Libyan government troops in the eastern city of Benghazi, which is the stronghold of anti-government forces.

The French intervention came after forces loyal to the 68-year-old Libyan ruler began closing in on revolutionaries in eastern Libya, despite a ceasefire declared by Qadaffy on Friday.

In addition, US and British forces fired a barrage of at least 110 Tomahawk cruise missiles at Libya targeting Qadaffy's air defenses on Saturday. The missiles reportedly struck pro-government forces.

Speaking to news hounds in Brazil, US President Barack B.O. Obama said Washington is united with its international partners on the need to take action.

"Our consensus was strong and our resolve is clear. The people of Libya must be protected, and in the absence of an immediate end to the violence against civilians, our coalition is prepared to act and act with urgency," he said.

Libyan anti-government forces, inspired by revolutions that toppled authoritarian rulers in neighboring Tunisia and Egypt, are fighting to unseat Qadaffy after suffering under his despotic rule for over 41 years.
Posted by: Fred || 03/20/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The French fly MiGs?
Posted by: gorb || 03/20/2011 2:16 Comments || Top||

#2  Libyans fly Mirage F1s.
Posted by: Oscar Spineck3066 || 03/20/2011 4:08 Comments || Top||

#3  Those flaming rocks coming straight down thru' the cloud cover over Tripoli were showing very recognizable silhouettes. And whoever was flying it was burning alive and headed for a flaming grease-spot.

I dont think they were French.
Posted by: Dribble2716 || 03/20/2011 8:05 Comments || Top||

#4  Fox reporting it was a Libyan plane flown by a rebel and downed by friendly fire.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 03/20/2011 8:44 Comments || Top||

#5  That footage of the rebel jet flaming out was over Benghazi yesterday. This article is supposedly about a plane downed over Tripoli. As far as I've seen, they haven't been hitting Tripoli with anything other than stand-off weapons - the French strikes were against the Benghazi region last night, and maybe along the coast highway?
Posted by: Mitch H. || 03/20/2011 11:26 Comments || Top||

#6  We'll know whether this is true soon enough if the French begin to negotiate their surrender.
Posted by: regular joe || 03/20/2011 12:05 Comments || Top||

#7  By most accounts appears a Rebel MIG-23 mistakenly shot down by the Rebels.

["F TROOP'S" FORT COURAGE = FALLING SENTRY-TOWER here].

Righteous-Kick-to-Cannon-Wheel = 1.0Milyuhn, Indians = 0 versus the Tower.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 03/20/2011 19:55 Comments || Top||


French war planes hit four Libyan tanks near Benghazi
[Jerusalem Post Front Page] French air force jets have destroyed some tanks and armored vehicles during a UN-mandated intervention in Libya, a French defense ministry official said on Saturday.

"Yes, we have destroyed a number of tanks and armored vehicles," the official said, adding that he could not immediately confirm the number.

Al Jizz television reported earlier that four Libyan tanks had been destroyed to the south west of the Libyan city of Benghazi.

The first shot in the UN-mandated intervention in Libya was fired by a French aircraft and destroyed a military vehicle at around 1645 GMT, French defense ministry and army officials said.

"A first target was engaged and destroyed," ministry front man Laurent Teisseire told news hounds.

An armed forces front man told the same briefing that the operation to halt Muammar Qadaffy's advance on rebel forces involved around 20 planes and an area 100 km by 150 km (60 by 100 miles) around the eastern rebel stronghold of Benghazi.

La Belle France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier will leave La Belle France for Libya on Sunday, the front man added. A central command center for the operation was still being set up.

Earlier Saturday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced that Western air forces, with Arab League approval, had gone into action over Libya and were preventing Qadaffy's forces from attacking Benghazi.

"As of now, our planes are preventing air attacks on the city of Benghazi," he said adding that military action supported by La Belle France, Britain, the United States and Canada and backed by Arab nations could be halted if Qadaffy stopped his forces attacking.

Also Saturday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
... sometimes described as the Smartest Woman in the World and at other times as Mrs. Bill, never as Another Edward Stettinius, Jr. ...
said in Gay Paree that the United States would bring its "unique capabilities" to bear to help its European and Canadian allies in enforcing a UN resolution on Libya.

"If the international community is to have credibility ... then action must take place," Clinton told a news conference.
Posted by: Fred || 03/20/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  This is the perfect example of why we need carrier-based A-10s with Marine pilots. KaDaffy Duck would have multiple coronaries the first time one of them whined over his "tent".
Posted by: Old Patriot || 03/20/2011 13:36 Comments || Top||


French Rafale fighters flying over Libya
[Ennahar] Several French army fighter jets (Rafale) flew on Saturday over the "the entire territory of Libya" for reconnaissance missions, said French military sources.

The Rafale jets have left in the early afternoon of the base of Saint-Dizier in eastern La Belle France, where they are based, they added.

The same source added, these "reconnaissance missions" must last throughout the afternoon on Saturday and Rafales have encountered no difficulties after several hours of flight over the Libyan territory.

The Rafale is designed for bombing missions, reconnaissance and air defense.

These overflights took place while was held in Gay Paree an extraordinary international summit on Libya, which appears like a last diplomatic sequence with the likely trigger for air strikes against the regime of Muammar Qadaffy.
Posted by: Fred || 03/20/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  French have KC-135 tankers, so they can potentially have a lot of station time if needed.
Posted by: OldSpook || 03/20/2011 0:11 Comments || Top||

#2  Must be nice being right next door.
Posted by: gromky || 03/20/2011 0:20 Comments || Top||

#3  Probably is. Its a shame we didn't get the same distance back in 86. Let France soak up some of the price now, they sure as shit didn't help back then.
Posted by: OldSpook || 03/20/2011 0:54 Comments || Top||

#4  The Rafales are going to be used for anything and everything in Libya : the French desperately need foreign sales of the Rafale and since it has had little combat experience while the F-15 and F-16 have tons of that, they are the ones selling. The French will use Libya to prove the capabilities of the Rafale to the Arab nations and hope to make sales from that.
Posted by: Shieldwolf || 03/20/2011 1:28 Comments || Top||

#5  Ay Pee reports that the French may tow the Charles de Gaulle into a support position by Monday.
Posted by: Free Radical || 03/20/2011 6:06 Comments || Top||

#6  I wonder how long until the first 'terrorist' attack in France?
Posted by: BrerRabbit || 03/20/2011 6:31 Comments || Top||

#7  Make a deliberate point of killing KaDaffy dead and the "terrorist" initiatives will be much less. Pay for informants and make it a policy to hunt his ass down. Kill him.

And if the French hadnt opened their National doors to a big Moslem population which doesnt assimilate and burns cars and shoots at the gendarmes and doesnt like French wine and sausages....hey, they wanted to be multi-cultural, mai qui?

The French thought that lots of Moslems to sweep up the doggy doo on the Rue de Boulevard and behind the Crepe Suzettes was a good idea. If they get a boom-boom in the Avenue de Regard Vous...its their moustache and beret.

Its hard to feel sorry for the French...the Nation that gave the world the Poodle.
Posted by: Dribble2716 || 03/20/2011 8:41 Comments || Top||

#8  The Standard Poodle is actually a pretty cool dog, one of the smartest of them all. Unfortunately humans often give them the stupidest haircut possible.
Posted by: Scooter McGruder || 03/20/2011 8:56 Comments || Top||

#9  "I wonder how long until the first 'terrorist' attack in France?"

As I said yesterday, I suspect the Car-be-que™ season will be moved up shortly, Brer.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 03/20/2011 10:02 Comments || Top||

#10  Free Radical, durnit, ya beat me to it. [snort]
Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839 || 03/20/2011 10:57 Comments || Top||

#11  Scooter, the traditional poodle cut was actually functional for their water retreiving tasks. Protect the lungs, kidneys and joints from the frigid water, reduce water drag otherwise.

Of course, those dogs retained their tight curly hair close to the body, not pouffed up for show rings. I've seen videos of show champion standard poodles doing what they were bred for, in this case retrieving large waterfowl in the late Fall Chesapeake Bay area. They were having fun and working hard.
Posted by: lotp || 03/20/2011 13:18 Comments || Top||

#12  Dribble, those French Muslims didn't assimilate in large part because they weren't allowed to. There are massive barriers to assimilation in that country and in many cases the radicalized youths in the banlieus are radicalized in response to their parents' inability to get middle class jobs etc. under the French system.

A little more research and thought would inform your rather voluminous opionionating here.
Posted by: lotp || 03/20/2011 13:23 Comments || Top||

#13  "A little more research and thought would inform your rather voluminous opionionating here."

True, lotp, but where's the fun in that? ;-p
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 03/20/2011 13:52 Comments || Top||

#14  Dribble, those French Muslims didn't assimilate in large part because they weren't allowed to. There are massive barriers to assimilation in that country

The only barrier is Islam. The fact that France is realtively close to their countries of origin and the fact that now tpeople have satellite dishes has allowed Maghreb governements to implement programs of ideological control and of propagnda towards haviong those peole feel Muslim and Arabs (Arabs not Berbers) not French. add high rates of crime due to a culture who considers taht teh Aerab herrensolk should rule over kaffir, sprinkle with some ideological manipulation by teh Communists and the people to their meft in order to have them hate the "colonialist opressors" and serve hot.
Posted by: JFM || 03/20/2011 14:45 Comments || Top||

#15  JFM, with all respect, that's not what I've heard from many people - not only Muslims - who have tried to find middle class employment in France over the last few decades. Generous social benefits (but not jobs) + isolation in the banlieus = a dangerous mix over time. As we've seen these last few years.
Posted by: lotp || 03/20/2011 15:49 Comments || Top||

#16  add in a weakass response to Car-B-Que season and you're excusing bad behavior. I'd smack it down HARD. With the miscreants getting their brains scrambled. They need to be identified, family benefits cutoff and ejected to where they came from
Posted by: Frank G || 03/20/2011 15:55 Comments || Top||

#17  But I'm a softie. If you wanna crack down harder, I can go with that as well
Posted by: Frank G || 03/20/2011 15:56 Comments || Top||

#18  "and serve hot" - JFM

Car-be-que™ hot, no doubt. ;-p
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 03/20/2011 16:00 Comments || Top||

#19  mai qui?

I don't speak French, but I thought it was mais oui? The other doesn't compute for my admittedly limited translator.
Posted by: trailing wife || 03/20/2011 17:22 Comments || Top||

#20  lotp
... and to make their, muslim point they burn cars in France by the hundreds.
As for their assimilation - they never do it, anywhere, Dearborn included...
Posted by: vendaval || 03/20/2011 18:20 Comments || Top||

#21  I don't think it's fair to say Muslims never do it anywhere. In the US, many have. Even more of the next generation will. And the generation after that will be pretty white bread American. Takes 60 years, I agree, but we've been doing it to people who come here for 300 years. Except for the extreme isolationist religious sects like the Amish and Hutterites. But I don't see the run of the mill Muslim participating in a non-assimilative community like that, Dearbornistan not with standing. Now if we allow Sharia law legal standing...
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 03/20/2011 18:38 Comments || Top||

#22  I don't think it's fair to say Muslims never do it anywhere. In the US, many have. Even more of the next generation will

Yeah right. Do you remember the Muslim who wanted to bomb a Christmas tree?
Posted by: JFM || 03/20/2011 19:04 Comments || Top||


112 Tomahawks/Cruise Missiles used against Libya
[Rantburg] Saturday's PM Pentagon briefing reports that 112 Tomahawk and other cruise missiles have been launched from American and British naval craft. Targets are 20 Libyan air defense nodes, particularly SA-5 sites.
Posted by: Fred || 03/20/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I was wrong.... about being.... wrong.

Obama finally came to the aid of his mooslim brothers. We have learned nothing. Boots on the ground will be the next headline.
Posted by: Besoeker on the road again. || 03/20/2011 0:58 Comments || Top||

#2  Only because three chicks pushed him into it.

So we were both half-right. :)
Posted by: RandomJD || 03/20/2011 3:00 Comments || Top||

#3  RamdomJD:

I feel you are correct JD. Interesting who that fellow listens to. Obama's actions here will lead the way and add legitimacy for his ultimate goal, that of intervention in every kak hole stink pot in Africa.
Posted by: Besoeker on the road again || 03/20/2011 7:23 Comments || Top||

#4  WHY do I have the nagging suspicion that Obama was in Rio with a drink and a cigarette in his hand away from the prying Media for a time.... while the Pentagon just did what it did without asking him for anything but hey its done and you can either say you love it with a straight face or you can fire the Generals( and let the American people watch you do it)... and eat that with a spoon ?

So Obama scrambled home faster than you can blow smoke and said what was dangling on his Pentagon spoon was delicious. I dont see Obama as a fighting man, do you? I see him as a turd floating in the political bowl who wears pink and people( a lot of them Colonels) whisper "MeeOoww" whenever they see him go by headed for the Loo.

Do YOU think the US military salutes when they see Obama? yeah? MeeeoowWWW!
Posted by: Dribble2716 || 03/20/2011 8:55 Comments || Top||

#5  They'll salute and respect the office but not necessarily the "man" who fills it.
Posted by: whitecollar redneck || 03/20/2011 9:28 Comments || Top||

#6  They'll salute and respect the office but not necessarily the "man" who fills it.
Posted by: whitecollar redneck || 03/20/2011 9:28 Comments || Top||

#7  oops, sorry for the double post. First cup of coffee.
Posted by: whitecollar redneck || 03/20/2011 9:29 Comments || Top||

#8  ...three chicks pushed him into it.

Modifying another Lefty meme.

"the cruelty of old women who send young men off to die"

[It's fun to shove this stuff back into their faces]
Posted by: Procopius2k || 03/20/2011 9:49 Comments || Top||

#9  I think Obama and the Euroweenie hypocrites only intervened to oust entrenched dictators so more worldly puppets are in place for the New World Order of global governance. Freezing/seizing their assets and control of the new currency require a little "distasteful" military action. He's a followerm not a leader, however; must have received some instructions in CO on his ski vacation, too. And Michelle's Most Extravagant Adventure in Spain was probably strategic as well as arrogant.
Posted by: Lumpy Elmoluck5091 || 03/20/2011 11:53 Comments || Top||

#10  Not just "3 chicks" according to RandomJD's article, but two of the three were what the New York Times journalist called "a handful of top administration aides":

The change became possible, though, only after Mrs. Clinton joined Samantha Power, a senior aide at the National Security Council, and Susan Rice, Mr. ObamaÂ’s ambassador to the United Nations"

Why bother having people in the top slots, approved by Congress and everything, if you're going to ignore them in favour of underlings?
Posted by: trailing wife || 03/20/2011 12:23 Comments || Top||

#11  Why bother having people in the top slots, approved by Congress and everything, if you're going to ignore them in favour of underlings?

Thus, the czars.
Posted by: badanov || 03/20/2011 12:42 Comments || Top||

#12  Hang on there. A little respect, for both historical memory and for one of those "chicks" who preserved that memory, Ms. Power. From Leon W. at The New Republic, writing about Obama's "disgrace" and remembering Power's magisterial book about the slaughterhouse in the Balkans, where Clinton dithered: http://www.tnr.com/article/world/85098/obama-libya-policy-qaddafi-disgrace

"Does Obama have any idea of what QaddafiÂ’s victory will mean for the region and its awakening?

We have flinched this way before. For many days I have had a sickening 1992–1995 feeling. Consider these sentences, from a book I lugubriously took off my shelf: 'Why does the United States stand so idly by? The most common answer is, ‘We didn’t know.’ This is not true. … A second response to the question of why the United States did so little is that it could not have done much to stop the horrors. [But] the only way to ascertain the consequences of U.S. diplomatic, economic, or military measures would have been to undertake them. … If anything testifies to the U.S. capacity for influence, it is the extent to which the perpetrators kept an eye trained on Washington and other Western capitals as they decided how to proceed. … The real reason the United States did not do what it could and should have done to stop genocide was not a lack of knowledge or influence but a lack of will. Simply put, American leaders did not act because they did not want to.'

The Libyan calamity is not genocide, but genocide is not the only horror that has a claim on American agency. I have taken those wise sentences from "A Problem from Hell," Samantha PowerÂ’s sad, great study of earlier American failures to act against mass-murdering tyrants. Is Obama now writing his own chapter in that story? Why do we not still remember that story? It is disgusting, as the Libyan rebels are driven further and further back, to learn that we must discover it all over again."
Posted by: lex || 03/20/2011 23:13 Comments || Top||

#13  Samantha Power's sad, great study of earlier American failures to act against mass-murdering tyrants.

So our honourable president will allow himself to be persuaded to attack Libya for that reason, but not Iran, North Korea, or Pakistan? Has Ms Power spoken out about those countries, or in support of the invasion of Iraq in 2003? It doesn't count if she only speaks up for the ones the Clintons like.
Posted by: trailing wife || 03/20/2011 23:28 Comments || Top||

#14  She did.
Posted by: lex || 03/20/2011 23:47 Comments || Top||

#15  Then I respect her, and am glad she spoke up this time. Thank you for pointing out her history, lex.
Posted by: trailing wife || 03/20/2011 23:57 Comments || Top||


Arabia
Bahrain eases curfew as work to return to normal
[Ennahar] Bahrain reduced curfew times by four hours on Saturday and said ministries and schools would return to normal working hours after a crackdown on mainly Shi'ite protesters raised tensions in the oil-producing region.

Bahrain has placed in durance vile at least seven opposition leaders and driven pro-democracy demonstrators from the streets after weeks of protests that prompted its king to declare martial law and draw in troops from fellow Sunni-ruled Soddy Arabia.

The unrest brought Bahrain's economy to a virtual standstill and schools and universities were closed to prevent sectarian festivities that had begun to erupt daily.

Earlier this week, Bahrain imposed a curfew on large swathes of the capital Manama from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m., later reducing those hours in some areas.

The curfew now runs from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. from Seef Mall, through the Pearl roundabout and the financial district to the diplomatic area.

"The education ministry calls on all the employees of the ministry, schools, nurseries and higher education institutes, both public and private, ... to return to work starting from Sunday March 20," it said in a statement on Bahrain News Agency.

It said students would be given a date soon to return to schools and universities.
Posted by: Fred || 03/20/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Iran continues to stir the Shiite masses up.
Posted by: Frank G || 03/20/2011 10:15 Comments || Top||


Protester shot as police fire on Yemen demo
[Ma'an] Police shot and maimed an anti-regime protester in the Yemeni city of Aden on Saturday as they tried to disperse demonstrators, witnesses said.
Posted by: Fred || 03/20/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I suggest someone make a list of the advantages the US derives from good relations with Yemen (which is full of bearded Moslems, by the way, most of whom carry knives and dont wear shoes) and if the US wants to KEEP those advantages by maintaining good relations with the govt. of Yemen. Yes, we know Yemen is run by El Jeffe and his numerous cousins who all chew dope on Friday and shoot people who want to take over the govt for themselves and grow beards and curse the Infidel themselves.

Yemen is wall to wall full of people with bad teeth and knives and chewing Quat on Friday( did I mention the knives?).

And WHAT do you care if Moslems are shooting Moslems? They are the Religion of Peace, you know, and they are going to shoot each other anyway.

Does it matter to YOU if they arent as friendly as say, John Kerry, to American interests? Do we have access to port facilities and refueling capabilities? Good. Have Americans been killed by the friendly Yemenis? They have? Well, what have we got to lose by just standing here and watching while we eat our Lunch and they kill each other? They arent "close" to us anyway, now are they?

We can depend on the Yemenis to be as friendly to the US as they ever were no matter what we do... pro or con. The Yemenis are like that no matter what we do. They are Moslems, you know.

You know, these ham sandwiches are pretty good. Give me a few more of the little pork sausages and cheese too.
Posted by: Dribble2716 || 03/20/2011 6:54 Comments || Top||

#2  Yemen is full of people who chew qat every afternoon, and their daggers were made by Jews who no longer live there. According to Wikipedia, it's called a jambiya. On the other hand, what we've seen so far strongly suggests that when they're fighting each other, the port facilities won't be secure, which means refueling won't take place. Granted, I'm only a little suburban housewife, not a war veteran, or even a non-war veteran, but I have been trying to pay attention to the world outside my head.
Posted by: trailing wife || 03/20/2011 17:48 Comments || Top||


Yemen's Tourism Minster Resigns
[Yemen Post] Yemen's Tourism Minister, Nabil Al-Fakeh resigned from his post and quit the ruling party Friday after the shooting attack on anti-government protesters in Sana'a, becoming the first cabinet member to defect in the crisis.

Also, two former ministers resigned on Friday from the ruling party after the shooting attack on anti-government protesters in Sana'a.

Doctor Jalal Fakera, a former Yemen's Agriculture Minister and Doctor Abdul Wahab Al-Rohani, a former Yemen's Culture Minister resigned from the ruling General People Congress party, GPC.

They attributed their resignation to the current political situation in Yemen, the negative aspect of the Yemeni authorities, and in protest on the violence against protesters whoa re demanding the fall of Saleh's regime.
Posted by: Fred || 03/20/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I guess TOURISM will tank in a major way in Yemen now that their colorful customs dont attract fat Germans and French couples and an occasional Italian in a juanty beret.

Oh well, the average EUroweenie is used to a toilet down the hall and squatting. They learned as children.

The kidnapping and being held for ransom by bad teeth and beards while they doggy buggered your girlfriend in another room are a small price to pay for visiting such an "interesting" Moslem culture. Maybe you can find a bargain in a hand made rug,(oh and at least try the Quat on Friday.)
Posted by: Dribble2716 || 03/20/2011 7:09 Comments || Top||


Yemen ambassador to Lebanon resigns
The Yemeni ambassador to Leb has resigned in protest at the Sana'a-ordered crackdown on anti-government protesters that recently left 52 people dead and many more injured.

The move by Faisal Amin Abu al-Ras marked the first by a Yemeni envoy in protest at Friday's violence used by the government forces against the protesters in the capital, DPA reported.

Many of the victims were shot in the head and neck by snipers, a Press TV correspondent reported.

Twenty-Seven parliamentarians and 47 members of President President-for-Life Ali Abdullah Saleh's ruling General People Congress party have already stepped down, joining the protesters' camp.

The protests started in January, calling for the ouster of the regime since January.

Since the beginning of the popular uprising up to the Friday bloodshed, dozens of people were killed and hundreds more maimed during the armed attacks by the loyalists to the government.

The United Nations, aka the Oyster Bay Chowder and Marching Society has condemned the aggression on the peaceful demonstrators.

Saleh has already been in office for 32 years with several opposition members arguing that his long-promised reforms have not taken place.

Despite the countrywide rallies, the head of state has said he would remain in power until the end of his term in 2013.
Posted by: Fred || 03/20/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:


Caribbean-Latin America
Adrian de la Garza Says He Wasn't the Target of Assassination
For a map, click here. For a map of Nuevo Leon click here. For a map of Monterrey, click here To read the Rantburg report on the attempted assassination of Adrian de la Garza click here. This is another one of those strange incidents similar to the mayhem in Juarez last summer. To read Rantburg reports on that incident, click here.

by Chris Covert

Last Friday's firefight between armed suspect and agents of the Agencia Estatal Investigaciones (AEI) which left 6 suspect dead has raised a number of questions about the incident, say Mexican press accounts.

Friday a statement from the Nuevo Leon governor's office of Rodrigo Medina said that Friday's gun battle was not an attempted assassination attempt of the Nuevo Leon attorney general (PGJE), Adrian de la Garza.

A later statement was released by the Procuradora General de Justicia Estatal (PGJE) which also confirmed that that de la Garza wasn't even at the firefight when it took place at 0130 hrs.

Statements by the government, even when translated from Spanish leave doubt as to what actually took place.

One event that took place just prior to the gunfight seems to cast doubt of the government's version.

At about 0100 hrs, a white Dodge Ram was involved in a shooting incident when the occupants opened fire on Nuevo Leon AEI agents, after agents signalled the driver to stop.

A alarm over radio was issued by agents on the scene which initiated a pursuit by the AEI agents and ended with the firefight.

At the intersection of calles Abedul and Nogal the occupants of the Dodge Ram and other vehicles which arrived on the scene fired on the police agents, who were being assisted by that time by agents of the Seguridad Pública del Estado (SPE) and at least one unit of the Mexican Army.

At this location the six suspects died and two state police agents were wounded.

The PGJE version conforms with press and SPE accounts, in that a brief exchange of fire took place between security forces and armed suspects 30 minutes before the main incident where six suspects died.

Reports from Milenio seem to confirm a brief exchange of gunfire with state police agents before AEI agents moved to relieve the putative security detail, also staffed by AEI agents.

So, a subsequent much more intense firefight took place lasting 20 minutes where the six armed suspects died.

When enquired, PGJE said they were unaware AEI agents had said they were a security detail for de la Garza, but they also didn't address the contradiction.

Where press and government versions diverge is the pursuit by the AEI agents and the gap of 30 minutes before the first exchange of gunfire and the final gunfight.

Pursuits of heavily armed suspects in Monterrey are almost always preceded by an exchange of gunfire if the suspects fire first which they also almost always do. Rarely does an element of Mexican security forces initiate gunfire, unless weapons are spotted in the vehicle.

Pursuits in the streets of Monterrey do not last long. Drivers for organized crime rarely take driving courses, and since some of them may be from street gangs as far away as South and Central America the extent of the their driving experience comes from auto theft. Their instinct in pursuits seem to be to punch it, and hope they can escape pursuit. Usually, a pursuit ends when either the driver is shot by security forces and crashes, or the driver just crashes.

But pursuit never lasts very long, 15 minutes tops, and when they last any amount of time, the Mexican press in Monterrey is very diligent in reporting the streets and colonies through which the pursuit takes place.

It's their job outside of the information the PGJE provides.

The governor said that the Adrian de la Garza was not in the area at the time of the firefight, but was instead on his way home near the place where the main part of the firefight took place.

Milenio said it had witnesses to the assassination attempt that said de la Garza was indeed there at the time of the main firefight.

The security spokesman for the AEI, Jorge Domene, contradicted the governor.

Domene described his version of the attack (paraphrasing):

"The AG job is a 24 hour job, and while the suspect vehicles were in the same colony where Adrian de la Garza lived, and the drivers did not respond to police signals. There was a gunfight."

Jorge Domene said Adrian de la Garza was possibly at the scene of the firefight, possibly in a different capacity, an official one and not as a victim.

"I was at home," said Domene, "And that if de la Garza was in that van, that is for the facts to decide."

In the aftermath of the incident, the white Dodge Ram pickup truck was found Friday after it had been ransacked by a junk collector.

Witnesses in the area at the time said the vehicle was abandoned only minutes after the firefight.

The suspects aboard the vehicle escaped by crossing roofs of residences.
Posted by: badanov || 03/20/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


More Mexican Mayhem
22 Die in Northern Mexico

A total of 22 individuals were murdered in ongoing drug and gang related violence in northern Mexico including a Baja California state police agent shot to death Friday.

  • Three unidentified youths were shot and wounded in an attack in Juarez late Friday night. The shooting took place near the intersection of calles Ignacio Alatorre and Articulo 27 in the Obrera colony.

  • Three unidentified men were shot to death and dumped in Juarez early Saturday morning. The victims were found near the intersection of calles Senderos de Aldama and Matachi in the Senderos del Sol colony. Another individual, a fourth shooting victim, was found alive.
  • Whew! That doesn't happen often, these days.
  • An unidentified man in his 20s was run over by a vehicle in Juarez Saturday morning. The victim was hit near the intersection of calles Potro and Arroyo del Mimbre in the Felipe Angeles colony. Reports say the victim was a scrap iron collector by trade.

  • An unidentified crossdressing male and his companion were shot to death in Juarez Saturday morning. The shooting took place near the intersection of calles Juarez and Decima in downtown Juarez.

  • A 39 year old man was shot to death in Parral, Chihuahua Friday afternoon. Juan Garcia Estrada, director of the Parral Centro Integral de Rehabilitación (CIREC), was shot at the center on avenida Centauro del Norte by armed suspects using AK-47 assault rifles, who had arrived aboard a Dodge Ram pickup truck. Reports say illegal weapons were found stored at the center.

  • Three unidentified individuals were shot to death in a home invasion in Nogales, Sonora Friday afternoon. Reports say an unidentified female knocked on the door of the residence in Conjunto Jardín colony, and then shot a man who answered. Police found two other victims inside, both were bound and gagged before they were shot. Reports say unofficially a .45 automatic pistol was used in the murders.

  • Six unidentified individuals were found murdered in a town in far southern Sonora. The victims had been dumped into a dry well in the town of Rosario Tesopaco, which is about seven kilometers east of Esperanza, Sonora. The bodies had been dead for several weeks, and were in an advanced state of decomposition.

  • Four unidentified individuals were found in a grave in Puerto Penasco, Sonora Saturday. The bodies were found near a farm.

  • An unidentified individual was found dead inside a well in Cajeme, Sonora. Cajeme is about 20 kilometers from the western coast of Sonora, and about 60 kilometers southwest of Hermosillo, Sonora.
  • One Baja California state police agent was shot to death and another was wounded in an ambush in Tijuana, Baja California. The attack took place at Mi Plaza on bulevar Ruta Mariano Matamoros in the Aguila colony in the La Presa delegation where armed suspects fired on the police agents who were riding in a Chyrsler Sebring. The shooters were aboard two vehicles, both of which were recovered later along with the arrest of five individuals. Ernesto Tamayo Lopez, the deceased, was assigned to auto theft with the Baja California Justice ministry.
Posted by: badanov || 03/20/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:


India-Pakistan
Grand Jirga Of North Wazoo Tribes Declare War Against The US
A grand jirga of tribal elders from North Waziristan Agency on Friday said that they would wage jihad against America to avenge those killed in drone attacks.

A US drone attack killed at least 40 people, most of them tribal elders, in Datta Khel tehsil, North Waziristan on Thursday. Pakistan's top leadership, including the army chief, have already condemned the attack.

Malik Jalal Sarhadi Qatkhel, head of the North Waziristan Peace Committee, told reporters at the Peshawar Press Club that the tribes would wage a jihad against the US as well as Pakistanis who are helping them carry out the Predator drone strikes. He said that they had allowed their youths to carry out suicide attacks against the Americans.

The tribal elder claimed that there were no al Qaeda or Taliban members in North Waziristan, or the rest of the tribal areas, and that children, women and the elderly were being massacred instead.

"There is no al Qaeda and Taliban presence in North Waziristan, while the Americans themselves have acknowledged that around 70 per cent of Afghanistan is under the control of militants," Qatkhel said.

"Unlike [those] who pardoned the killer of two Pakistanis for dollars, we will take revenge for our dead and the world will see it."

He said that they would avenge the killing "even if it takes a hundred years" and so they were announcing jihad against America and its allies in Pakistan.

He said the media had been presenting the wrong information about militants. He said reports of foreign militants dying in Predator strikes were false and mostly innocent tribesmen were being killed in such attacks.

"We have valid evidence and those who claim deaths of foreign militants in these attacks should show us or the media. The latest attack which killed tribal elders shows us this reality of tribesmen being massacred," he said.

Other tribal elders of the jirga including Malik Faridullah Saifli Kabal Khel, Malik Daaraz Mada Khel Wazir and Nek Daraz Khan were also present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, the top US general in Afghanistan said Friday it was "hugely important" that Pakistani forces take action against militants in North Waziristan.

General David Petraeus, commander of the NATO-led force in the Afghanistan war, credited Islamabad with battling insurgents elsewhere but said the campaign needed to move to North Waziristan, where, he said, members of the al Qaeda and Haqqani networks are based.

"The fact is that it's hugely important that there's a campaign in northern Waziristan that is putting enormous pressure on the al Qaeda sanctuaries there," Petraeus said at a conference in Washington.

US officials have long urged Pakistan to crack down on militants in North Waziristan but the country's military commanders have said their forces are already stretched.

"They have lost thousands of soldiers and thousands of civilians in a very impressive counter insurgency campaign to clear Swat Valley and the other areas" in Khyber and South Waziristan, Petraeus said.
Okay, since they have declared war against the US, any combatant on their side can be killed at will by the US. This means any armed male, aged 16-60.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 03/20/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I see a long commute from Diego Garcia in their future.
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 03/20/2011 0:12 Comments || Top||

#2  Once again, "Rubble doesn't make trouble."

Rinse, and repeat.

It is not as if the rest of the world would even notice, if the human population of North Wazoo became extinct.
Posted by: Lone Ranger || 03/20/2011 1:24 Comments || Top||

#3  There are humans in North Wazoo? Wow... who knew?
Posted by: DarthVader || 03/20/2011 1:26 Comments || Top||

#4  Supposedly, the ISI was doing a clear and hold against the cockroaches in Warzistan. If so, credit them. As we all know: everything is double speak in the intel world. Pakistan intel does not want to get rid of their own intelligence service as far as the Taliban - (They are closer), Americans may do no right by this obviously morally and competent force of reason - the ISI.

Do not bag on them too much, they are all between a rock and a hard place like all people residing under the Ummah.

When a Man says to you there in the pittance of the Devil "You do not understand, this is the A-Hole of the world", Simply agree and do as they say unless you see them driving you to wrong parts of the town or city. Then it's ditch time.

This is the ISI establishing what may need be a save of face. Remember, the US has brought great pressure to Pakistan in the past; what was received was mixed. Good luck getting that out of many nations. It does not happen easily.
Thats rough city, Pakistan. I cannot remember how many people from there I wanted to bring home and be Americans. They are not all backwater. Plenty of good to go with the bad. And certainly plenty of bad to go ruin it all for the good.
Posted by: newc || 03/20/2011 2:30 Comments || Top||

#5  Oh to be a fly on the wall and learn from whom the targetting info originated.
Posted by: Oscar Spineck3066 || 03/20/2011 4:22 Comments || Top||

#6  They have declared war.Is that the green light to invade North Wazoo as the Pak Army has no interest?
Posted by: Angeretle Snore6772 || 03/20/2011 10:04 Comments || Top||

#7  "A grand jirga of tribal elders from North Waziristan Agency on Friday said that they would wage jihad against America to avenge those killed in drone attacks."

Oh, goody - more self-identified targets.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 03/20/2011 10:12 Comments || Top||

#8  Once again life imitates Frank Zappa.
Posted by: Grunter || 03/20/2011 11:48 Comments || Top||

#9  Can we start the ARCLIGHT strikes on Miran Shah now?
Posted by: OId Patriot || 03/20/2011 14:47 Comments || Top||

#10  The real crux here is INDIA'S = INDJUH'S MIL RESPONSE to any escalating destabilization of Pakistan by pro-2012 Nuclearization-, Political Jihad-happy Radical Islam, + now formerly anti-MilTerr, newly anti-Govt Tribals, AS PAK ISI-CONTROL OF MILTERRS + NOW NEW ANTI-GOVT TRIBALS? INCREASES THE RISK OF "NEW MUMBAI(S)" TERROPS AGZ FICKLE INDIA.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 03/20/2011 19:47 Comments || Top||


Pakistanis march against government
[Al Jazeera] Hundreds of Paks have marched against the government in protest over the release of a CIA contractor who had been held for murder.

Protesters in Islamabad led by the Tehreek-e-Insaaf (Movement for Justice) party of cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan
... who isn't your heaviest-duty thinker, maybe not even among the top five...
marched from Islamabad's Red Mosque after Friday prayers, chanting anti-government and anti-US slogans.

Outrage was further heightened by a US air strike in North Wazoo on Thursday, killing at least 38 people.

"All of us Paks have to get together and decide that in the future if ever the life of any Pak is taken, 180 million Paks will come out onto the streets," Khan said.

The protesters chanted "Friends of the US are traitors" and "Down with America".

The march came two days after Raymond Davis was released after the families of the two men he admitted to killing were given so-called "blood money" and the case was dropped.

US-Pakistain relations
Davis, who had earlier admitted to the killings but said he was acting in "self-defence", was indicted for the murders on Wednesday. But Rana Sanaullah, the Punjab law minister, said he was immediately pardoned by the families of the victims in exchange for compensation.

Washington, however, denies any money was ever paid.

Davis' detention in Pakistain had strained ties between Washington and Islamabad.

Kamal Hyder, Al Jizz's correspondent in Islamabad, said: "Paying money is one thing, but there has been denial from the US. The important thing is how the two [US and Pakistain] patch up their relationship."

Our correspondent also reported that tribal leaders have declared Dire Revenge™ on the US after Thursday's strike.

"It must not be forgotten that the tribes never leave without taking Dire Revenge™," he said.

"Whenever someone is killed there will invariably be Dire Revenge™ - something that the Americans know very well, they have been operating in Afghanistan after all. Now the tribes are saying they are going to hit the Americans on both sides of the border, whenever, wherever possibly."
Posted by: Fred || 03/20/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan

#1  Only a few hundred protesters? Pathetic. Usually the religious parties hire several thousand at a go. Remember Rage Boy talking of supporting his family on what he made, protesting?
Posted by: trailing wife || 03/20/2011 21:27 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Israeli shelling destroys Gaza power lines
[Ma'an] Israeli shelling on Saturday destroyed power lines providing electricity to the Gazoo Strip, said Electricity Company front man Jamal Ad-Dardasawi.
"Ari! Stop daydreaming about that girl while you're firing off things that go boom!... Actually, that's pretty good shooting -- can you do it again?"
Ad-Dardawasi said Israeli shells struck main lines cutting off the power supply to areas east of Gazoo City and in northern Gazoo.

"By shelling these lines, the company has lost around 50 megawatts, leaving most of Gazoo's neighborhoods without electricity. Only 40 megawatts are left to be distributed across the city," he said.

"In addition, the company lost more than 12 megawatts in the northern district after Israel shelled the line that provides the area with electricity."

The front man said the company was working on bringing technicians in to rebuild the destroyed infrastructure.

Gazoo's Interior Ministry said five were maimed, including a 3-year-old boy, as Israeli forces struck targets in the coastal enclave.

Locals said the Israeli strikes targeted a security facility in Gazoo City's Shuja'iyya neighborhood.

Meanwhile Israeli tanks targeted a mosque in the south, the Gazoo International Airport near Rafah, and the Shokat As-Sufi village, eyewitnesses said.

The shelling came hours after huge kabooms were heard in the southern Gazoo City, apparently from Paleostinian launch pads as resistance fighters launched mortar shells at Israeli areas bordering the Gazoo Strip.

Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason,' military wing grabbed credit for the mortar attacks, and said the shelling came in response to Israel's "crimes and the ongoing air and ground strikes on the Gazoo Strip the latest of which targeted and killed two Hamas' fighters."

Israel said 49 mortar bombs fell on or around Israeli communities near the border with the Gazoo Strip in the biggest violation yet of an informal truce snuffies declared in January.

Army radio said only minor damage was caused but an Israeli military front man said two civilians were lightly maimed when three projectiles fell on Pithat Shalom in the Negev desert.
Posted by: Fred || 03/20/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under: Hamas

#1  Try for the generators next time. Summer is coming and soap is haram.
Posted by: Oscar Spineck3066 || 03/20/2011 4:23 Comments || Top||

#2  Can anyone here cite the Old Testament passage in the Book of Kings where David bids for the hand of princess Michel, daughter of King Saul, by giving Saul a bag with about 100 amputated Philistine penises and promises him another bag if he wants it?

Yeah, its In There in black and white and you cant go PC on me for telling you it IS there. In fact, I may be underestimating the 100...it could have been more. Go look it up.

How do you think wars are fought? There is no nice way to fight a war. You hit a place full of sleeping people in the dark. You kill every man and grown boy you find, you round the women up and drive them off in herds for slaves, you keep the young girls for the young men, and you smash the babies brains out by swinging them by the heels against the wall. Then you burn the place.

Anything worth taking is looted, the livestock, the household goods, the people worth ransoming if you think they will bring anything. And when you do give him back after the ransom is paid you castrate him first.

No? Yeah? Times have changed? Give me a kiss.

Posted by: Dribble2716 || 03/20/2011 6:31 Comments || Top||

#3  Jeebus. You are a long-winded 'bag, aren't you?
Posted by: Frank G || 03/20/2011 10:29 Comments || Top||

#4  Your mother got it right when she named you.
Posted by: Grunter || 03/20/2011 10:31 Comments || Top||

#5  Ha, ha, Achmed gets to sit in the dark and fume.
Posted by: Jefferson || 03/20/2011 12:31 Comments || Top||

#6  Actually, it was the foreskins of 200 Phillistines. I think it's in Samuel.
Posted by: Deacon Blues || 03/20/2011 19:34 Comments || Top||

#7  Gotta Agree with Dribble that the Old and New testaments are bloody bloody. The back and forth between Gaza and Israel is a tad boring at this point, but a necessary pressure release valve on the tension cooking when being watched by the whole world and denied all that is primal and stark about Abrahamic monotheistic religions---the chance to smite your enemy. And in Chritianity, Judaism and Muslim religions, you smite your enemy.

The stalemate can't last FOREVAH. Why? Logically Because Abrahamic monothesitic (Jewish, Christian and Muslim) religions all assert that their God is the one best version of God...coexistence cannot happen under this mindset taken to its final conclusion. In fact, the Jews wiped God's wife and all right out of the text because even she didn't "belong." The Bible and Old Testament, bloody bloody things. Uneasy standoffs might work in a multi-theistic cultures like the USA, but not over there not forevah.
Posted by: Fi || 03/20/2011 19:55 Comments || Top||

#8  You hit a place full of sleeping people in the dark. You kill every man and grown boy you find, you round the women up and drive them off in herds for slaves, you keep the young girls for the young men, and you smash the babies brains out by swinging them by the heels against the wall. Then you burn the place.

Anything worth taking is looted, the livestock, the household goods, the people worth ransoming if you think they will bring anything. And when you do give him back after the ransom is paid you castrate him first
.

No. We don't.

Posted by: lotp || 03/20/2011 19:55 Comments || Top||

#9  No. We don't.

No we don't. But they might. You make the call on who blows peace apart first.
Posted by: Fi || 03/20/2011 20:08 Comments || Top||

#10  Nothing gets the point across DON'T CONTINUE TO SHOOT ROCKETS AT US, like cutting off their electricity.
Posted by: Mikey Hunt || 03/20/2011 21:00 Comments || Top||


Police disperse pro-unity protest in Gaza
[Ma'an] Security forces in the Gazoo Strip dispersed a demonstration between Al-Azhar University and the Unknown Soldier Square in Gazoo City on Saturday morning.

Police imposed an apparently impromptu ban on a number of students who were calling for unity.

About 800 youths gathered in front of Al-Azhar University, but police dispersed the protesters and beat some of them, participants said.

Young people attempted to stay inside the courtyard of the square but police cars encircled the area and prevented any gatherings, a protester in the coalition told Ma'an.

The coalition said it asked for permission to hold the protest but never heard back from police.
Posted by: Fred || 03/20/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under: Hamas


Hamas claims mortar attack on Israel
[Ma'an] Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason,' military wing has grabbed credit for firing a barrage of mortar shells at southern Israel Saturday that injured two people and caused damage to a building in the western Negev.
Posted by: Fred || 03/20/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Hamas

#1  Hamas, aint too bright. But then, they ARE Moslems, you know. And Moslems are known for their sweetness and light as everyone knows.

A simple people with simple values.
Posted by: Dribble2716 || 03/20/2011 6:58 Comments || Top||

#2  Takes one to know one.
Posted by: lotp || 03/20/2011 13:28 Comments || Top||

#3  Whoa! Hands down Snark-o-the-day.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 03/20/2011 14:01 Comments || Top||

#4  Sigh... So many ARCLIGHT targets, so few B-52s.
Posted by: OId Patriot || 03/20/2011 14:51 Comments || Top||


Southeast Asia
Troops kill 2 rebels in Thai south shootout
[Straits Times] TWO suspected forces of Evil were killed in a shootout in Thailand's restive Mohammedan south on Saturday after launching an ambush on a military patrol, police said.

The gunnies, believed to be separatist rebels, opened fire on troops and paramilitary rangers early in the morning in the mountains of Yala province, leading to a shootout that left two of the Islamic fascisti dead.

The rest of the group decamped and three M-16 assault rifles were retrieved, police said.

The attacks were the latest in a recent intensification of violence in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat provinces bordering Malaysia, where ethnic Malay separatists are waging a bloody rebellion against the Thai state.

The violence has killed 4,500 people since the decades-old conflict resurfaced in early 2004 in the once independent region, where ethnic Malay Mohammedans form the majority of the local population.
Posted by: Fred || 03/20/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Thai Insurgency


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Unrest Hits Syria, Too (Rooters so it must be true)
Posted by: Mercutio || 03/20/2011 17:02 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "crowds torch party HQ"

SEIU is in Syria, too?
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 03/20/2011 19:31 Comments || Top||

#2  Residents say the two arrests helped fuel the protests in Deraa, a conservative tribal region.

Looks like the Islamists are feeling their oats, what with Qaradawi, the Ikhwan propagandist, mounting a triumphant return to Cairo. Having Syria's version of Hamas running the country should be entertaining for Israel.
Posted by: Zhang Fei || 03/20/2011 19:52 Comments || Top||

#3  Assad isn't going to make the same mistake as Daffy. He will get his massacres done quickly.
Posted by: phil_b || 03/20/2011 21:25 Comments || Top||

#4  Shooting at protesters comes quite easy there - the region is predominantly inhabited by Druze, considered by muslims as a heretic sect...
Posted by: vendaval || 03/20/2011 23:58 Comments || Top||


Syria mourners call for revolt, forces fire tear gas
[Asharq al-Aswat] Thousands of mourners called on Saturday for "revolution" at the funeral of protesters killed by Syrian security forces, the boldest challenge to Syria's rulers since uprisings began sweeping the Arab world.

Security forces responded by firing tear gas to disperse crowds in Deraa, a tribal region south of the capital where at least 10,000 people demonstrated on Saturday at the funeral of two protesters, among at least four who were killed on Friday.

"Revolution, revolution. Rise up Hauran," chanted the mourners in Deraa, administrative capital of the strategic Hauran plateau, as they marched behind simple wood coffins of Wissam Ayyash and Mahmoud al-Jawabra.

"God, Syria, Freedom. Whoever kills his own people is a traitor," they said. Some of the mourners exited a mosque and headed for the center to protest.

The city was less tense by late afternoon after security forces dispersed most of the crowd and adopted less aggressive tactics than the previous day, residents said.

The two were killed when security forces opened fire on Friday on civilians taking part in a peaceful protest demanding political freedoms and an end to corruption in Syria, which has been ruled under emergency laws by President Bashir al-Assad's Baath Party for nearly half a century.

A third man who was killed on Friday, Ayhem al-Hariri, was buried in a village near Deraa earlier on Saturday. A fourth protester, Adnan Akrad, died on Saturday from his wounds.

Secret police at the main funeral in Deraa placed in durance vile at least one mourner, activists said. Security was heavy in the city, especially around cop shoppes.

The city of Deraa is home to thousands of displaced people from eastern Syria, where up to 1 million people have left their homes because of a water crisis over the past six years. Experts say state mismanagement of resources has worsened the crisis.

The Hauran region, once a Middle East bread basket, has also been affected by diminishing water levels, with yields per hectare falling by a quarter in Deraa last year.
Posted by: Fred || 03/20/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria

#1  If they take ol chinless out, that would certainly put Hezbollah Hamas and Iran into a bit of a spin.
Posted by: OldSpook || 03/20/2011 0:14 Comments || Top||

#2  Old Spook, You may tell by his picture that he does not know which direction to look. Baby Assad has only the US, because the Iran Hezbollah will break him in half and he knows this.
Shipping arms to gadaffy duck was an old favor, and Iran is turning into an insane asylum for the very willing to blow people up for the Mahdi.

Assad knows that this time, the road to damascus IS paved in rubble, and friends are hard to find in the whistling stages of dictatorship.

What he has going for him, He has a very beautiful Family - some with good minds and hearts.

Do not get overly ambitious here, give breathing room for now but do not let him think for one second that Iran cares for him at all.
Posted by: newc || 03/20/2011 3:00 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
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4Hamas
3Taliban
1Govt of Pakistan
1Govt of Syria
1Govt of Iran
1Muslim Brotherhood
1Thai Insurgency

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On Sale now!


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.
Click here for more information

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Two weeks of WOT
Sun 2011-03-20
  Crisis in Libya: U.S. bombs Qaddafi's airfields
Sat 2011-03-19
  Fighting reported near Benghazi - Tanks enter city
Fri 2011-03-18
  Libya declares ceasefire after UN resolution
Thu 2011-03-17
  Bahrain forces launch crackdown on protesters
Wed 2011-03-16
  UNSC Introduces No-Fly Zone Draft Resolution
Tue 2011-03-15
  Gaddafi army penetrates rebel areas
Mon 2011-03-14
  Libya: the rebels ready to defend Ajdabiya
Sun 2011-03-13
  Libyan troops 'force rebels out of Brega'
Sat 2011-03-12
  5 family members murdered by terrorist in Itamar settlement
Fri 2011-03-11
  Rebel forces retreat from Ras Lanuf
Thu 2011-03-10
  Libya no-fly zone a UN decision, "not US": Clinton
Wed 2011-03-09
  OIC rejects military action on Libya
Tue 2011-03-08
  Gaddafi sends negotiators to Benghazi
Mon 2011-03-07
  National Libyan Council to seek recognition
Sun 2011-03-06
  Gaddafi forces fight to seize Zawiyah, dozens killed

Better than the average link...



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