#3
Der Spiegel published photographs depicting actions repugnant to us as human beings and contrary to the standards and values of the United States Army.
In the US we court martial such individuals. In the old Wehrmacht they promoted them. You think they want to be reminded?
#4
I think I'm going to hold off, and wait to see what the justice system determines. It really doesn't smell right.
Posted by: Whiskey Mike ||
03/21/2011 14:24 Comments ||
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#5
"These court-martial proceedings speak for themselves. The photos appear in stark contrast to the discipline, professionalism and respect that have characterized our soldiers' performance during nearly 10 years of sustained operations"
#9
One of them may have been born off to the wrong start: Cpl. Jeremy Morlock.
Per Wiki P: Morlocks are a fictional species created by H. G. Wells for his 1895 novel, The Time Machine. They dwell underground in the English countryside of 802701 AD ...
The county I live in has a state hospital for the criminally insane. Many of the inmates have weird-ass names like this.
[Tolo News] From the first time Pakistain did not want Afghanistan to have a strong army, a top US military commander in the field has told TOLOnews.
"Pakistain did not want you to have a powerful army," said a top US military commander on condition of anonymity.
He said the US "made a big mistake to look at you through the eyeglasses of Pakistain. In fact we appoint a big robber to prevent robbery."
Some senior Afghan and foreign officials have said international community has acted under the influence of Afghan neighbours in particular Pakistain in terms of equipment and funding to Afghan cops.
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... is expected to make his decision public on security transition by the first day of Afghan New Year that falls on 21 March.
President Karzai has urged defence, interior affairs and finance ministries to make their programmes on how the international community will fund and equip the forces before 2014, the targeted date for withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan.
Some sources have told TOLOnews that security transition process is expected to begin from Helmand, Herat, Badakhshan, Samangan, Bamyan and Panjshir provinces.
A bigwig in the interior affairs ministry has said international community has provided Afghan cops with new weaponry for a better implementation of the process.
"The shipment process of heavy and strong equipment has already started and training of forces, which is a key component in the process, has also begun. Presently 20,000 police forces are receiving literacy courses," Interior Affairs Ministry Spokesman Zemarai Bashari said in an exclusive interview with TOLOnews.
But some Afghan officials are doubtful about the United States equipment of Afghan cops.
"The international community hasn't even agreed on tanks and it is also reluctant about missiles and long-range rockets. There are also a lot of ambiguities about the air force," said an Afghan official on condition of anonymity. "I'm certain that even the defence ministry wouldn't be able to provide details on how they will find a plane this year."
Afghan Ministry of Defence has announced its full preparation about the commencement of security transition process, but it has also underlined the need for further equipment and training to Afghan forces.
"There are problems in military back-up and air defence. We have no reconnaissance at all. Our classes on anti-aircraft missiles haven't been started. We have a bunch of other problems in ground forces in terms of heavy weaponry, back-up fire and so on," Defence Ministry Spokesperson General Zaher Azimi said.
A number of Afghan and foreign officials blamed the international community over making its decision under the pressure of Afghan neighbouring countries.
President Karzai says security transition process is irreversible, but some problems facing the forces should be addressed.
President Hamid Karzai along with US President Barack B.O. Obama and UN Chief reached a consensus on foreign forces' drawdown to begin in July this year in Lisbon Summit last year.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/21/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
He said the US made a big mistake to look at you through the eyeglasses of Pakistain. In fact we appoint a big robber to prevent robbery.""
Translation error or imagination? I can't imagine a top U.S. military commander would say such things, even on condition of anonymity...
On second thought -- look at General McChrystal's example.
[The Nation (Nairobi)] It all began one morning when a contact made an unbelievable offer to help smuggle hand grenades from Somalia to Kenya. That was on December 27, 2010.
Soon after, a colleague and I were on a plane to Mombasa from Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. An hour later, we landed in the coastal city where our contact was waiting in a hired vehicle.
We were introduced to an al- Shabaab operative who demanded $300 (Sh24,000), for the grenades but somehow during the conversion the amount came to Sh28,000.
The contact then called somebody else with the message: "You can go ahead and tell your people in Ras Kiamboni (The arms smuggling centre in Somalia) to pack the cargo."
We then got into the car and drove to Malindi, arriving at midnight and booking a hotel room. The following morning we hit the road for Lamu, 260 km from Malindi.
We observed seven police roadblocks at Sabaki bridge, Kanagoni, Minjila, Idsowe, Gamba, Witu and finally at Mokowe.
All cars were stopped for inspection -- a peep into the vehicle, then the boot, a request for the driving licence and soon after a quick goodbye.
At the Witu roadblock, we spotted a plainclothes police officer, who we later learnt was attached to the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit.
His job, we were told, was to monitor residents in the small town that, for three years after the August 1998 US Embassy bombing, was home to one of the bombers - Mohammed Saddiq Odeh.
After the bombing, Odeh settled in Witu and opened a furniture shop. Were it not for a 2001 trip to Pakistain, he could still be enjoying freedom at Witu instead of a life sentence in a US maximum prison.
We reached Mokowe at noon and hired a boat for the 10-minute sail to Lamu Island where we checked into a hotel and began the wait for the middleman to deliver the cargo.
The initial plan was to take a boat into Somalia and disguised as United Nations, aka the Oyster Bay Chowder and Marching Society staff, make the purchase and return to Kenya. But with stories of al-Shabaab ... Harakat ash-Shabaab al-Mujahidin aka the Mujahideen Youth Movement. It was originally the youth movement of the Islamic Courts, now pretty much all of what's left of it. They are aligned with al-Qaeda but operate more like the Afghan or Pakistani Taliban. The organization's current leader is Ibrahim Haji Jama Mee'aad, also known as Ibrahim al-Afghani. Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, a Kenyan al-Qaeda member, is considered the group's military leader... fighters slaughtering journalists, we decided it was too risky.
We were also not sure how we would explain ourselves if tossed in the clink by the Kenya Navy, police or US Navy patrolling the Indian Ocean, so we decided it was safer to go to Kiunga, the coastal border town with Somalia, and wait for our cargo there.
But our contact said we stuck out like sore thumbs in our jeans and T-shirts, quite distinct from the kikoi-clad locals. He suggested we wait in Lamu, where we could blend in as upcountry tourists.
When our contact finally called, it was not good news. "The navy was very vigilant at Kiunga and so the guys with your cargo had to go to Mdoa (back to Somalia) with it. But I've arranged with another boat captain to have it delivered," he said.
Meanwhile, ...back at the argument... the middleman had gone incommunicado and stopped taking our calls. He later said he suspected we were trying to set him up.
On New Year's Eve, the contact had good news: the boat had left Ras Kiamboni. But the middleman had again gone AWOL and I called the contact. "He's the best around here, be patient," the contact assured us.
When the middleman finally showed up, he said the boat did not have enough fuel to sail back. "They should have enough by tomorrow night," the middleman said.
Meanwhile, ...back at the argument... we were buying him airtime to make the calls to Somalia. My colleague felt we should cut our losses and run.
The middleman left Lamu a week later for Kismayu where he got the grenades and then went to Mdoa to make arrangements for his journey to Kenya.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/21/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
I think I saw an episode of The Shield about this.
[Arab News] Egyptian voters overwhelmingly approved changes in the constitution, opening the way for parliamentary and presidential elections within months, according to final results from a landmark referendum announced Sunday. Opponents fear the swift timetable could boost the fundamentalist Moslem Brüderbund and members of the former ruling party.
The Brotherhood had campaigned heavily for a "yes" vote in the referendum. Critics say that since it and the former ruling party are the best organized political forces in the country, they stand to gain the most in an early election -- which will bring in Egypt's first democratically elected government to replace the regime of ousted 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.
The results are likely to open a frenzied campaign season, with liberal pro-democracy forces scrambling to put together political parties to contest the upcoming races.
Shady Ghazali, one of the organizers of the protests that forced Mubarak out after 18 days, said the youth coalition that led the demonstrations is discussing putting forward a national list of candidates for the parliamentary elections under its name.
The parliamentary and presidential elections are key because the next legislature and government are to lead the process of wider change, including likely drawing up a new constitution. Many of those who led the wave of popular protests that ousted Mubarak on Feb. 11 want a radically new document that would break the total hold that the presidency held over government during Mubarak's rule. They worry that the Brotherhood or former ruling party could dominate the process.
In an interview with daily El-Shorouk, a top member of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces said that the council will issue "a constitutional declaration" right after the announcement of the final vote to lay down next steps, with approval leading to a timetable for parliament and presidential elections.
Elections commission chief Ahmed Attiya said 41 percent of 45 million eligible voters cast ballots in Saturday's referendum. More than 14 million -- 77.2 percent -- voted in favor, with around 4 million -- 22.8 percent -- opposed.
Millions of Egyptians waited for hours Saturday to cast their first free ballots in half a century on the package of constitutional changes. The first test of Egypt's transition to democracy also offered ominous hints of widening sectarian division.
Many were drawn to the polls in a massive, last-minute effort by the Moslem Brüderbund.
Among those most fearful of the Brotherhood's rising power were Egypt's estimated 8 million Coptic Christians, whose leaders rallied the faithful to vote "no." Reform campaigner Mohamed ElBaradei Egyptian law scholar and Iranian catspaw. He was head of the IAEA from December 1997 to November 2009. At some point during his tenure he was purchased by the Iranians. ElBaradei and the IAEA were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for something in 2005. After stepping down from his IAEA position ElBaradei attempted to horn in on the 2011 Egyptian protests which culminated in the collapse of the Mubarak regime. ElBaradei served on the Board of Trustees of the International Crisis Group, a lefty NGO that is bankrolled by the Carnegie Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, as well as George Soros' Open Society Institute. Soros himself serves as a member of the organization's Executive Committee. and a group of his supporters were pelted with rocks, bottles and cans outside a polling center at Cairo's Mokattam district in an attack he blamed on followers of the old regime.
The day was otherwise almost entirely peaceful.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/21/2011 00:00 ||
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Kidnappers are demanding 90 million euros for the return of four French hostages captured in Niger and held hostage by al Qaeda's North African wing, sources close to mediation efforts said on Monday.
The kidnappers made the demand within the past few days, a Nigerien military intelligence source said. A source close to French nuclear group Areva confirmed the ransom demand.
The four French nationals were part of a group of seven, including employees of Areva and fellow French firm Vinci, who were kidnapped last September. The other three have been released.
MANAMA Bahrain has reiterated its commitment to ensure the safety and protection of all expatriate communities from violence as a result of recent unrest.
Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa reaffirmed on Saturday the governments keenness to ensure the security and safety of all expatriate communities. The prime minister made the comments as he received at his palace in Riffa Philippines Foreign Minister Albert F. del Rosario who conveyed an invitation for him to visit the Philippines.
At least 34 Asian expatriates have been injured in hate attacks in the last seven days, according to Gulf Daily News. Among them, 20 are Bangladeshis and 14 Pakistanis. A Bangladeshi and Pakistani men have also died as a result of attacks, while an Indian worker was accidentally shot after being caught in crossfire between anti-government protesters and police.
Posted by: Steve White ||
03/21/2011 00:00 ||
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SEOUL -- North Korea on Sunday accused U.S. troops in South Korea of trespassing into the Demilitarized Zone and even partying inside it, threatening "human damage" if such provocations continue.
Paaaaa-tay! Woo-hoo!
The threat has been delivered to the South Korean military, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), which claimed that U.S. forces made 50 trespasses from March 1-8.
According to the KCNA, a group of U.S. soldiers recently came within 20 meters of the military demarcation line with women, taking photos and throwing bottles of alcohol toward North Korean troops.
"If the South ignores our warning and allows U.S. invasion forces to act rampantly near the military demarcation line, it shall bear the responsibility for all consequences, including human damage," the KCNA said, quoting the message delivered to the South.
Posted by: Steve White ||
03/21/2011 00:00 ||
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#3
Our side does like to annoy the bad guys border guards.
I remember the tale of an East German Lieutenant who defected through a rusted gate in the wall. It just so happened that a West German jeep was driving by, so he hopped aboard, terrified half to death.
They reached under the back seat and pulled out a big box, reached in and pulled out a pre-sliced roast beef, slapped a bunch in a submarine bun with cheese, and popped a bottle of Champagne and handed it to him.
He said he was eating and drinking so much, that he didn't look up until they got to their unit HQ. And, he added, that's when the real party started. Food heaven.
#4
...The Mrs. has suggested we take Miley Cyrus' "Party In The USA" and rewrite it, 'Party In The DMZ"...
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
03/21/2011 11:05 Comments ||
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#5
And we lure your girls with Hersey bars and nylon pantyhose. Suck it.
Posted by: Oscar Spineck3066 ||
03/21/2011 11:24 Comments ||
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#6
I was under the impression that the DMZ was mined to a fare-thee-well as part of the "most heavily mined border in the world". Who goes drinking in a minefield?
Posted by: Mitch H. ||
03/21/2011 15:42 Comments ||
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#7
Probably not a problem if you know where the mines are... and don't stagger too much.
#8
According to the KCNA, a group of U.S. soldiers recently came within 20 meters of the military demarcation line with women, taking photos and throwing bottles of alcohol toward North Korean troops.
Civilian women or soldier women? What is the military demarcation line? Is that in the middle of the mine field or on the South Korean side of it? The bottles of alcohol: beer, Kim Jong-il's favourite cognac, or molotov cocktails?
North Korea is building up its submarine force, deploying new Shark-class K-300 submarines with better performance, a longer body and higher underwater speed than the old model which infiltrated South Korean waters in 1996.
A South Korean government official said Sunday, "We've confirmed U.S. satellite images and other intelligence that the North has been building and deploying new Shark-class submarines for a few years now. They're about 5 m longer than the old 34 m-long model and capable of traveling submerged more than 10 km/h faster."
The North has about 70 submarines and submersibles. The Shark class, which accounts for about 40 of them, is its main submarine force.
Posted by: Steve White ||
03/21/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
Note to USN: Feel free to discreetly cull several hostiles in your AO, as long as you make it look like an accident. In deep water.
#2
China is not going to challenge Russia [yet] in the SEA OF OSHKOSTK, vee Moscow-vs-Tokyo oer the South Kuriles - this all but leaves China + PLAN to attempt to achieve unilateral strategic access thru the OKINAWA-TAIWAN STRAITS + SOUTH CHINA SEA REGIONS. IFF NECESSARY, CHINA WILL FIGHT A NUCWAR AGZ THE USA OER TAIWAN = ACCESS INTO WESTPAC + CENTPAC.
As CHina's vassal state = proxy, the DPRK goes where the PLA goes, which for time being is agz ROK + JAPAN as per the above.
* PEOPLE'S DAILY FORUM > STUDYING CHINA'S UNCLEAR NAVAL INTENT.
ARTIC = Rising China has MYRIAD OCEAN-BORNE NEEDS = REQUIREMENTS, + BOOMING ECONOMY BASED ON EXPORTS TO OVERSEAS, BUT NO FOREIGN MILITARY BASES.
* SAME > CHINA'S MILITARY DOMINANCE IN THE SPRATLEYS AFFECTING INTERNATIONAL TRADE?
China's claim of indisputable = absolute sovereignty oer the bulk of the Regionally-disputed South China Seas [Resources + Islets] doesn't stand well wid its smaller Neighbors, e.g. Vietnam, Philippines, etal., + is inducing same to not only beef up their own mil arsenals in defense of thier lcoal claims but is also inducing same to cut back on trade relations wid China, which in trun affects trade relations
wid China's non-SEAsian trading partners.
* SAME > [George Will] THE BLUE NATIONAL SOIL OF CHINA'S NAVY.
* SAME > [Author Vitally Praden = Naval War College Review]CHINA'S BALLISTIC MISSLES [ASBMS = LRBMS] IS SINKING THE US-NAVY'S LONG-RANGE PLANS. China's steadily improving anti-Carrier, Naval BM, SATWAR/SPAWAR threat to the US Navy in the waters around Taiwan.
> The USN will NOT enough ships to both replace aging warships + meet "global" mission requirements, save for a brief period circa Year 2023.
> Chinese LRBMS are already in a position to destroy USAF ABS in NE ASIA + WESTPAC long before US CVBGS arrive in-theater.
> Costly US-Allied "Next Generation" fighterstrike stealth aircraft, e.g. F35, ultimately won't matter much.
> As US CVBGS approach or arrives off Taiwan, the US should resort to LRBMS + LR Strategic Bombers to deter agz Chin ASBM, etc. anti-Carrier milstrikes.
IIUC, ONCE IN-THEATER, OR OTHER CLOSE PROXIMITY TO TAIWAN + EAST CHINA SEA, THE US SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY RESORT TO MILPOL NUCLEAR
"BRINKMANSHIP" IN ORDER TO ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE = "DE-ESCALATE" A MAJOR TAIWAN CRISIS???
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's son and heir Jong-un has been promoted to vice chairman of the powerful National Defense Commission. The commission is the militarist country's top decision-making body, and the promotion makes Kim junior the de facto No. 2 in the regime just five months after he was first publicly paraded at a rare party congress in September last year.
The regime appears to be speeding up the handover of power a few days ahead of the ailing leader's 70th birthday.
According to a high-level North Korea source, Kim junior was appointed vice chairman of the commission at the April 25 Cultural Hall in Pyongyang on Feb. 10 in front of thousands of senior officers of the People's Army, the Internal Security Forces, the State Security Department, and the Ministry of Public Security.
His appointment in principle needs to be ratified by the Supreme People's Assembly, which meets in April, but that is a rubberstamp body and ratification a mere formality.
Posted by: Steve White ||
03/21/2011 00:00 ||
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House Speaker John Boehner said on Sunday that President Barack Obama must better explain what Americas role is in the Libya offensive before further military action is taken.
It was the speakers first public remarks since the U.S. and allies launched an air and sea attack on Col. Moammar Qadhafi on Saturday.
Careful now, John. Pelosi could back-stab Bush all she wanted as Speaker and the press let her do it -- hell they encouraged her. But you won't get the same consideration with Bambi...
The president is the commander-in-chief, but the administration has a responsibility to define for the American people, the Congress, and our troops what the mission in Libya is, better explain what Americas role is in achieving that mission, and make clear how it will be accomplished, the Ohio Republican said in a statement. Before any further military commitments are made, the administration must do a better job of communicating to the American people and to Congress about our mission in Libya and how it will be achieved.
Don't ask about end-dates or exit plans, talk about what needs to be done and how we'll do it.
Though he was largely critical of Obama, Boehner also said the United States has a moral obligation to stand with those who seek freedom from oppression and self-government for their people.
Correct. That's exactly the right tone to take.
Boehner was phoned into a meeting with administration officials Friday, an aide said, but Boehner did not speak, nor did the White House ask anything of him. On Saturday, Deputy National Security Adviser Denis McDonough called Boehner and other congressional leaders about the situation in Libya, just before Obama announced that missile strikes had begun.
The White House did, however, respond to Boehners comments Sunday: The president answered all those questions already. The very thing hes saying we need to do, the president has considered.
Posted by: Steve White ||
03/21/2011 00:00 ||
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#2
Qadaffy ancestors were Bedouin. Tent people. To be honest, he is not your typical guy who would get crushed under the roof of a bombed building. This makes him allusive.
Also, Qadaffy has been responsible for many assinations around the world, even a few attempt in the US against dissidents. He has people everywhere. That is a very dangerous thing. In the pasts the assasins worked alone or in pairs.
Our security apparatus had better be on thier toes now.
#4
Also, Qadaffy has been responsible for many assinations around the world, even a few attempt in the US against dissidents. He has people everywhere.
Hmmm, I wonder if he will try and assinate Obumbles. Things are going to get even more interesting.
Posted by: Secret Asian Man ||
03/21/2011 5:40 Comments ||
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#5
At least the French aren't screwing around.
On day one of the international strikes, a French jet struck outside of Benghazi, destroying around 14 tanks, along with dozens of armoured personnel carriers and trucks carrying multi-rocket launchers into Benghazi.
#6
Gorb, didn't you read the last paragraph? The Prez has already answered all those questions!
So, help me out here, White House - what were the answers?
Posted by: Bobby ||
03/21/2011 7:23 Comments ||
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#7
The White House did, however, respond to Boehner's comments Sunday: "The president answered all those questions already. ... The very thing he's saying we need to do," the president has considered.
The election empty suit strategy where people project themselves [desires] on to him. In this case whatever the outcome is after events have settle down to, offering multiple political endgames to play his 'greatness' against.
A foolishgoofy hard-core group of liberal House Democrats is questioning the constitutionality of U.S. missile strikes against Libya, with one lawmaker raising the prospect of impeachment during a Democratic Caucus conference call on Saturday.
Reps. Jerrold Nadler (N.Y.), Donna Edwards (Md.), Mike Capuano (Mass.), Dennis Kucinich (Ohio), Maxine Waters (Calif.), Rob Andrews (N.J.), Sheila Jackson Lee (Texas), Barbara Lee (Calif.) and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D.C.) "all strongly raised objections to the constitutionality of the president's actions" during that call, said two Democratic lawmakers who took part.
Boy howdy, if Bambi has lost Sheila Jackson Lee...
Kucinich, who wanted to bring impeachment articles against both former President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney over Iraq -- only to be blocked by his own leadership -- asked why the U.S. missile strikes aren't impeachable offenses.
Kucinich also questioned why Democratic leaders didn't object when President Barack Obama told them of his plan for American participation in enforcing the Libyan no-fly zone during a White House Situation Room meeting on Friday.
And liberals fumed that Congress hadn't been formally consulted before the attack and expressed concern that it would lead to a third U.S. war in the Muslim world.
While other Democratic lawmakers have publicly backed Obama -- including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and top members of the Armed Services, Foreign Affairs and Intelligence committees -- the objections from a vocal group of anti-war Democrats on Capitol Hill could become a political problem for Obama, especially if "Operation Odyssey Dawn" fails to topple Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi, leads to significant American casualties, or provokes a wider conflict in the troubled region of North Africa.
Saturday's conference call was organized by Rep. John Larson (Conn.), chairman of the Democratic Caucus and the fourth-highest ranking party leader. Larson has called for Obama to seek congressional approval before committing the United States to any anti-Qadhafi military operation.
"They consulted the Arab League. They consulted the United Nations. They did not consult the United States Congress," one Democrat lawmaker said of the White House.
They consulted the Congressional leadership. But you guys aren't the leadership. So perhaps you're just feeling, um, left out? In the cold? Irrelevant? Heh.
"They're creating wreckage, and they can't obviate that by saying there are no boots on the ground. ... There aren't boots on the ground; there are Tomahawks in the air."
"Almost everybody who spoke was opposed to any unilateral actions or decisions being made by the president, and most of us expressed our constitutional concerns. There should be a resolution and there should be a debate so members of Congress can decide whether or not we enter in whatever this action is being called," added another House Democrat opposed to the Libyan operation.
Which would take a while. The debate on the Iraq war took, as I recall, a month. Libya will be done in a month; either Qadaffy or the rebels will be dead. Then you wouldn't have to risk your positions by making a decision.
"Whose side are we on? This appears to be more of a civil war than some kind of a revolution. Who are protecting? Are we with the people that are supposedly opposed to [Qadhafi]? You think they have a lot of people with him? If he is deposed, who will we be dealing with? There are a lot of questions here from members."
Yup, and questions from the American people as well. But you don't let questions paralyze you into inaction.
The unrest among Hill Democrat resembles, in part, the debates inside the White House, Pentagon and State Department over the last few weeks as the Libyan crisis has unfolded.
The White House has worked to put out a narrative over the last 48 hours portraying Obama as initially opposed to any involvement in a Libyan campaign, with a major change in the president's viewpoint developing over the course of the last week as Qadhafi loyalists appeared to be gaining the upper hand and a humanitarian crisis appeared inevitable.
Which was a big mistake on his part. Don't be reactive, LEAD. If you're going to throw Tomahawks at Qadaddy, do it when it does some good. Two weeks ago the rebels had momentum. Intervening then likely would have driven Qadaffy and his evil spawn son out of power. Now we're reacting and trying to save the rebels' bacon, which may not be possible.
With U.S. attacks already being launched, it was unclear what, if anything, Democratic opponents of the Libyan campaign could actually do to stop it. They could try to offer an amendment for under the 1973 War Powers Act, which would require a withdrawal of U.S. forces from any conflict within 60 days if the president lacks congressional approval, although it is unlikely that pass.
They could wait the 60 days and if the Libyan campaign has turned into a war, they could then try to invoke the WPA. They might have more support if Bambi has failed to make a case.
They could also seek to cut off funding for any extended military effort, although it is unclear how long or what the White House anticipates the cost of the operation could be.
Kucinich's call to explore the impeachment question "got no support from anyone else on the call," said another Democrat.
Yet there is growing unhappiness within Democratic ranks on Obama's handling of the Afghanistan conflict,
That was the 'good' war according to Democrats in the 2008 campaign, remember...
and with Obama gearing up for his 2012 reelection campaign, he will need the backing of liberal and progressive factions within his party -- already disenchanted over some of the president's fiscal and tax policies -- in order to defeat any Republican challenger.
Recent opinion polls show the American public is also tiring of the Afghan war. On Thursday, 85 House Democrats -- and eight Republicans -- backed a Kucinich resolution calling for removal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan by Dec. 31.
So that Bambi can go into the 2012 election having abandoned the 'good' war that Democrats supported...
A total of 321 House members, including Pelosi and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (Md.), opposed the Kucinich measure.
Seeing as they aren't interested in yet more political suicide after viewing the massacre of the 2010 election...
On the Senate side, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) offered a similar resolution, but so far, it has only garnered three cosponsors.
Posted by: Steve White ||
03/21/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
sucks when you're the minority wing of the minority party huh? The collective brainpower in this group couldn't power a light bulb
Posted by: Frank G ||
03/21/2011 7:53 Comments ||
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its as if Sister Soulja denounced him without Obama lifting a finger
Posted by: lord garth ||
03/21/2011 9:43 Comments ||
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#4
Whose side are we on?...Who are we protecting?...If he is deposed, who will we be dealing with?"
Once again, I find myself in the odd position of being in agreement with the Liberal flakes on this one. Or, at the very least, I share the same questions they are voicing. Have you seen footage of the so-called "opposition"? I dunno bout anyoneone else but I ain't feelin the 'liberty and justice for all' vibe from these guys. Maybe it's because they're a bunch of cut-throat Islamist bastards that HATE the West as much as they hate Qadhaffi. This is a continuation of centuries old African Tribal Blood-Lust! Sure, they try to put the shaven-boys in their fake leather jackets in front of the cameras but look in the back ground. Yep, that's right it's the AQIM turbans lickin their chops. Did you miss fuckin Abu Yahya al Libi's statment last week? Humanitarian crisis you say? You ain't seen nuttin yet.
First make sure those friendly to us are ready take over afterwords. There is no evidence this is being done or whether the Obama administration has a clue about the rebel leaderships' (note the plural) ideology.
Posted by: Oscar Spineck3066 ||
03/21/2011 12:35 Comments ||
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#8
If they're al-Qaeda types the solution is simple: we take them out next.
Who exactly do you mean when you say "we" will take them out. Is "we" that ambiguous, yet rightous, "International Community"? Ok then, but "we" will want to make sure the Arab League is cool with it first. I hear the they get alittle touchy when infidels kill Muslim folks in Islamic countries. (Sometimes even when they're "al-Qaeda types") But I'm sure as long as "we" all wear blue hats an "we" do it all from 14K feet they will be fine it.
Given how much war material Hizb'allah has stored in the villages, Bigfoot Slomosh2235, I suspect one Griffin per village will be enough to start cascading explosions (I think that's called secondaries?) throughout the tunnel system -- Hizb'allah is as bad as the Gazans for that kind of thing.
[Arab News] Soddy Arabia is weighing a range of options to ensure more protection for officials at its Tehran embassy, which was attacked by Iranian protesters, including students and holy mans.
"All necessary steps will be taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs depending upon the situation in Iran," said Osama Nugali, a front man for the Foreign Ministry.
Asked about the possible evacuation of diplomats and support staff from the Saudi Embassy in Tehran, Nugali said that the ministry would take "further measures if the situation worsens."
"We are concerned about the safety of Saudi diplomats," said the front man, adding that the Saudi side is looking at all contingencies and assessing the current situation there.
A call made to the Saudi Embassy in Iran went unanswered on Sunday afternoon. Tehran, according to reports, has already recalled its ambassador from Bahrain to protest at measures taken by the Bahraini government, which seeks to restore calm and normality with the help of its Gulf neighbors.
The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Sunday strongly condemned attacks on the Saudi Embassy and called on Iran to take appropriate measures to provide security to the embassy and its staff. In a statement, Abdulrahman Al-Attiyah, GCC secretary-general, said "the attacks on the Saudi Embassy violate all international laws of diplomacy."
Al-Attiyah said the violent postures of Iranian protesters were a "breach of all international conventions, including the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations." He said that the "Iranian authorities will be held fully responsible for the protection of all members of the Saudi diplomatic mission in Iran."
He said that the Iranian government was expected to deal with any such episodes in a responsible and logical manner.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/21/2011 00:00 ||
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[Arab News] President Barack B.O. Obama says the Iranian government cares more about preserving its own power than respecting the rights of its people.
Obama delivered that message in taped remarks to the Iranian people on Nowruz, the Persian new year. Obama says Iran has engaged in a two-year campaign of intimidation and abuse that shows fear on the part of the government, not strength.
Obama singled out the young people in Iran, saying they are the ones who can break that cycle and determine their country's future. Young people have been the driving force in many of the political uprisings that have sprung up across the Arab world this year, including in Tunisia and Egypt.
Obama says those uprisings represent a season of promise in the Middle East.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/21/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
See also WORLD NEWS > IN WIDER MIDEAST WAR, US COULD [still] LOSE.
and
* TOPIX > ARAB LEAGUE RATTLED BY LIBYA AIR ATTACKS.
DIYARBAKIR An Iranian cargo plane en route to Syria was forced to land in Turkeys southeastern Diyarbakir airport for an inspection, security forces said Sunday. The plane, a civilian Ilyushin, landed on Saturday night on the orders of the Turkish authorities. Military fighter planes were on standby in case the plane refused to comply.
An inspection of the plane is on-going to check whether the aircraft has any illicit or military material on board, security sources added.
Turkish authorities forced another Syrian-bound Iranian plane to land in Diyarbakir on Wednesday last week. After a search lasting several hours, the plane was found to be carrying 150 tons of food but no material contrary to international standards, security sources said. The plane was then allowed to continue on to its destination.
Posted by: Steve White ||
03/21/2011 00:00 ||
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
Hamid 
al-Shabaab
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's son and heir Jong-un has been promoted to vice chairman of the powerful National Defense Commission. The commission is the militarist country's top decision-making body, and the promotion makes Kim junior the de facto No. 2 in the regime just five months after he was first publicly paraded at a rare party congress in September last year. 
