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Afghanistan mosque suicide bomb attack kills at least 41
Today's Headlines
Headline Comments [Views]
Page 1: WoT Operations
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Page 6: Politix
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Good morning
Posted by: Fred || 10/26/2012 10:16 || Comments || Link || [336090 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Birthday Gam Shot

Raveena Tandon [India](age 38)


Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 10/26/2012 16:04 Comments || Top||


--Tech & Moderator Notes
Call to Action Reminder
by lotp


Good people -

I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that the future of our country hangs on the knife edge of this election. And while we'd like to believe things are swinging our way, it's by no means certain we will succeed in taking it back, hauling it from the edge of the cliff.

One thing is certain: to do so we must get every single possible voter out and votes cast for R/R. AND give them a Congress to work with for the next 4 years. Because the election is just the first step. And if we fail the election, we won't have any do-overs. The trends are dangerous: financially, economically, in the abrogation of civil liberties, geopolitically, in our schools and courts and other institutions.

So: if you haven't done so already, or even if you have, please consider what you can still do to carry momentum forward and make this a successful turn around:

I know, I know. We're all sick to death of this interminable election season. We have lives and daily challenges. Perhaps, like me, you've never been one of the people voted Most Likely To Succeed in Politics.

Do it anyway. In the spirit of the Tea Party, rise up and get out and help take this country back. This is our future, our children's and grandchildren's future - and if we blow it, that future will be dim indeed.

Donate, if you can - to R/R, to RNC, to Mia Love or Josh Mandel or any of the other newcomers we desperately need on the Hill

Volunteer. You can phone from home, pick up people and drive them to vote early or secure an absentee ballot. You can join other volunteers in local coordination offices. Just ask - I know there are many many small things you can contribute that will make the difference. If you hate phoning or knocking on doors or driving people, volunteer to bring in sandwiches to the local group in your area while they carry on.

Volunteer, if you can, to be a poll watcher on Nov. 6 and to send back info to the campaign as the day progresses.

If you're in a red state, and it's really solidly red, help with GOTV to keep it locked in, volunteer to call into other states, use your credit card to add that $10 or $25 to any of the campaigns that need it.

I am not a registered Republican. Nor am I quite as old as (and certainly not famous like) Clint Eastwood. But he and I agree on this: our country cannot survive 4 more years of this president and of his enablers in Congress.

Please - do what you can. If you detest the whole political scene do it for our uniformed military who are dying unneceessarily under the current CIC. But please - do it. Now. There is very little time left to win this.
Posted by: || 10/26/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336080 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Early voting tomorrow. Also working the polls.
Remember to vote R for senate and house!

It is amazing what can be accomplished with a non-communist in the White House.

Al
Posted by: Frozen Al || 10/26/2012 11:54 Comments || Top||

#2  For the second election in a row I shall vote party line -- Republicans all the way down. Normally I consider such unthinking behqviour immoral, but right now it seems to me the issue is that quantity has a quality all its own. Hopefully next time I'll feel comfortable looking at individuals again.
Posted by: trailing wife || 10/26/2012 12:04 Comments || Top||

#3  Don't feel bad, tw. I never vote Democrat. If there happens to be a Republican candidate for some office who is completely hopeless, I'll throw my vote away on some random third party candidate. I don't always agree with Republicans but I never agree with Democrats.

I always vote after I get home from work on election day. By that time in California the election is all but over and the TV pundits are already calling it for one candidate or the other. That's what happened in 2000. They were already calling it for Al Gore before I even got to vote. But I voted anyway. Maybe this time they'll be a little more careful but I doubt it. If they think they can discourage people like me they probably will.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 10/26/2012 13:49 Comments || Top||

#4  Only voted for a Demonrat once in a national election. Big mistake in '76.

Voted for a couple of Dems. in state elections but they were down ticket.

Other than that I've pretty much held my nose and gone straight R. But then I live in Mass so the choices ain't much to talk about.



Re the current regime? "None dare call it treason".
Posted by: AlanC || 10/26/2012 14:22 Comments || Top||

#5  Never voted for a Democrat for President, Senator or COngressman, have voted for Democrats for Florida Senate, House and assorted local stuff.
Posted by: Shipman || 10/26/2012 15:51 Comments || Top||

#6  John Leo wrote a collection of essays named "two steps ahead of the thought police". A paragraph I remember, because it fits me, says ... "I used to be called a liberal and now I am called a conservative, and I haven't changed" .
Posted by: irishrageboy || 10/26/2012 16:03 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan
Afghanistan mosque suicide bomb attack kills at least 41
A suicide bomber targeted worshippers who had gathered at a mosque in north Afghanistan for prayers to mark Eid al-Adha, killing at least 41 people.

More than 50 people were wounded in the attack, which happened as people were leaving the mosque in Maymana, capital of Faryab province.

Senior provincial government officials were attending the prayers, but appeared to escape serious injury.

The victims were mainly civilians and police officers.

"We had just finished Eid al-Adha prayers and we were congratulating and hugging each other," deputy provincial governor Abdul Satar Barez told the AFP news agency.

"Suddenly a big explosion took place and the area was full of dust and smoke and body parts of police and civilians were all over the place. It was a very powerful explosion."

He said the provincial police chief, Abdul Khaliq Aqsai was wounded, but it was not clear if he had been the target.
Posted by: tipper || 10/26/2012 05:35 || Comments || Link || [336140 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The fruit of Inshallah security is death.
Posted by: Elmineth Lumumba2351 || 10/26/2012 7:43 Comments || Top||

#2  Taliban trying to take out the Afghan leadership before they move to take over in 2014 after we leave?
Posted by: JohnQC || 10/26/2012 9:38 Comments || Top||

#3  So if you want to be safe in Afghanistan here is a simple thing you can do: Stay away from the mosques.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 10/26/2012 11:07 Comments || Top||

#4  Or to be really safe one could just bomb all the mosques ome Friday.
Posted by: Glenmore || 10/26/2012 11:25 Comments || Top||

#5  Any secondary explosions?
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 10/26/2012 12:14 Comments || Top||

#6  Touche, BP.
Posted by: Pappy || 10/26/2012 21:51 Comments || Top||

#7  More than 50 people were wounded in the attack

I just hope no Qurans were damaged, defaced or destroyed 'cause that would inflame the Muslim world.
Posted by: SteveS || 10/26/2012 23:09 Comments || Top||


Taliban Storm Afghan Bazaar, Kill Five, Lose 25
A senior Taliban capo and 24 of his fighters were killed in a battle with Afghan cops in a northern village which also left five police dead, officials said Thursday.

The commander of the attack was the Taliban shadow governor for the northern province of Faryab where the shootout took place on Wednesday, according to the officials.

"The brutal enemies of Afghanistan attacked a village bazaar. They killed five local police," Abdul Satar Barez, the Faryab deputy governor, told AFP.

"When we received reports about the incident we sent reinforcements. Twenty-five Taliban including Mullah Yaar Mohammad, their shadow governor for Faryab, were killed," Barez said.

The Taliban are traditionally active in southern and eastern parts of Afghanistan. But in recent years the Islamic forces of Evil have infiltrated previously peaceful parts such as the northern provinces.

Barez said the death of the Taliban shadow governor had dealt the cut-throats in his region a major blow.
Posted by: Fred || 10/26/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336091 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


2 US Soliders Killed in Insider Attack
[Tolo News] An Afghan police officer on Thursday turned his weapon against Isaf forces in southern Uruzgan province, killing two US soldiers, officials said.

Two Afghan officials in Uruzgan said one of their coppers shot the soldiers during a meeting in the Khas district and has escaped.

US military confirmed the incident in a released statement Thursday evening saying two US soldiers were killed when an individual in an Afghan National Police uniform turned his weapon the soldiers in Khas district of Uruzgan.

TOLOnews first reported the shooting, which happened around midday, saying that an Australian soldier was killed according to statements from the two officials. This was later confirmed by Isaf to be incorrect.

The 'insider' shooting took place in the police headquarters of Khas by a police officer who had been in the provincial force for some months, a senior police official said.

The official, who asked not to be named, said the police officer was a trusted member of the police force.

He said that the shooting instantly killed one of the soldiers and another was transported in a helicopter from the scene.

More than 50 Isaf soldiers have been killed in insider or 'green-on-blue' attacks this year.

The shooting comes a day after the Eid message from Taliban leader Mullah Omar
... a minor Pashtun commander in the war against the Soviets who made good as leader of the Taliban. As ruler of Afghanistan, he took the title Leader of the Faithful. The imposition of Pashtunkhwa on the nation institutionalized ignorance and brutality in a country already notable for its own fair share of ignorance and brutality...
urging the Afghan cops to turn their weapons against the NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A collection of multinational and multilingual and multicultural armed forces, all of differing capabilities, working toward a common goal by pulling in different directions...
-led forces.
Posted by: trailing wife || 10/26/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336092 views] Top|| File under:


Farah District Governor Killed in Bomb Blast
Has it occurred to anyone but me that most of the headlines on our front page could be replace with "Murderous Bastards Strike Again" and they'd still be dead-on accurate. Maybe more so.
[Tolo News] The district governor of Purchaman in western Farah province and one of his bodyguards were killed in a roadside kaboom blast on Tuesday evening, Afghan officials said.

Mohammad Salim Mubariz was killed when his vehicle struck a roadside kaboom while travelling last night in the Purchaman district, provincial police chief Mohammad Ghaus Malyar said.

Two other bodyguards were maimed in the blast and have been taken to a nearby hospital, he said.

No group including the Taliban grabbed credit for the blast.

Insurgents use improvised bombs to target local and NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A cautionary tale of cost-benefit analysis....
troops, although they are also responsible for a large number of civilian deaths.

The Farah blast happened a day after two coppers were killed and six more were maimed in two separate roadside kaboom blasts on opposite sides of Afghanistan.

A blast in eastern Khost province
... across the border from Miranshah, within commuting distance of Haqqani hangouts such as Datta Khel and probably within sight of Mordor. Khost is populated by six different tribes of Pashtuns, the largest probably being the Khostwal, from which it takes its name...
's Isamealkhil district killed two police and injured four others on Monday morning, local officials said.

While two coppers were maimed in a roadside mine blast in the Aderskan district of western Herat
...a venerable old Persian-speaking city in western Afghanistan, populated mostly by Tadjiks, which is why it's not as blood-soaked as areas controlled by Pashtuns...
province.
Posted by: trailing wife || 10/26/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336109 views] Top|| File under:


Deadly Clash in Herat Over Stolen School Books
[Tolo News] Ten Afghan soldiers and coppers including two commanders were killed in a clash with Taliban Death Eaters in western Herat
...a venerable old Persian-speaking city in western Afghanistan, populated mostly by Tadjiks, which is why it's not as blood-soaked as areas controlled by Pashtuns...
province after the bully boyz hijacked vehicles full of school books.

The clash happened in Herat's Obe district Monday morning after security forces went looking for the Death Eaters who hijacked vehicles transporting school books for Ghour province, the provincial police chief Sayed Abdul Ghafaar Sayedzada said.

"During the clash, five Afghan soldiers, and five coppers were killed including the district police chief of Obe, Bismillah, and the acting police chief of Chesht district," he said.

"Eight other coppers were maimed," he added.

The festivities continue as the missing books have not been found. Dozens more security forces have been deployed in the district for a "clearing operation", officials told TOLOnews.

At least four Taliban Death Eaters including the district shadow governor of Obe were also killed in the clash with security forces and another Taliban capo Esmatullah has serious injures, according to the police chief.

There were no civilian casualties during the clash, Sayedzada added.

Obe district governor Najibullah Ahmadi confirmed the clash and said more security forces had been deployed to the district to support the troops.

Obe district is considered insecure in the province with Death Eaters actively targeting local troops.
Posted by: trailing wife || 10/26/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336108 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Africa Horn
UPDF overruns Al-shabaab hideout, seizing military hardware
(Sh.M.Network)--The Uganda contingent of the African Union
...a union consisting of 53 African states, most run by dictators of one flavor or another. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established in 2002, the AU is the successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was even less successful...
forces in Somalia has raided an al-Shabaab
... Somalia's version of the Taliban, functioning as an arm of al-Qaeda...
hideout in the thickets of Albao, 20km north-west of Mogadishu, seizing several military hardware and items used for terrorism attacks.

The Uganda contingent backed by the Somali National Army (SNA), in an overnight operation captured six ready-to-use improvised explosive devises (IED), two remote controls and one IED manual, officials and commanders from the field said on telephone.

AMISOM forces did not incur any loss or injury in the operation, said Brig. Michael Ondoga, the Ugandan contingent commander.

"We are committed in supporting the Somali people in attaining peace," Ondoga noted, adding: "Such operations will continue day and night to wipe out the few remaining pockets of the bully boys. Since we denied them their traditional urban centres, they have resorted to living a wild life in thickets."

Ondoga again waved an olive branch for the Islamic fascisti to end rebellion and join in the reconstruction of Somalia. "We call upon them to disengage so they can stop living in the bushes," he said.

Other items collected after the attack on al-Shabaab were six nicad batteries, five dozens of dry cells used for IED remote control and half a dozen offensive grenades.

Ammunition taken from the al-Shabaab hideout comprised 14 sub-machine guns with 34 magazines, two PK machine-guns with five chains, two pistols and one rocket-propelled grenade pipe with three bombs.

Also confiscated were four fuses, eight pairs of military uniforms, one GPS (Global Positioning System), one VHF radio, one walkie-talkie, five solar panels, one campus, 18 magazine pouches and 2,435 bullets of different calibers.

Others were a laptop computer, 14 mobile telephones, two military water bottles and valuable literature.

This operation comes at a time when AMISOM and the SNA are restoring calm in sector one after a spate of terrorist activities in Mogadishu over the last month.

Over the last one month, the allied forces have tossed in the slammer
Youse'll never take me alive coppers!... [BANG!]... Ow!... I quit!
, from multiple targets within the vicinity of Mogadishu, suspected key criminal masterminds of the terrorist attacks and recovered ammunition from them.

Al-shabaab retreated from Mogadishu in August last year. However,
a clean conscience makes a soft pillow...
remnants and sympathisers remained and are now being sorted out in.
Posted by: Fred || 10/26/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336091 views] Top|| File under: al-Shabaab


Govt soldiers exchange deadly gunfire in Somalia's port town of Marko
(Sh.M.Network)--At least one Somali government soldier was killed and another maimed in a heavy gunfire in southern port city of Marko located just some 100 Km (62 miles) south of Mogadishu, reports said.

Witnesses said the fighting was flared up on Wednesday afternoon at an army checkpoint in the city and raged on for several hours. The cause of the combat is yet unknown.

Somali military officials in the city are yet to comment on the skirmish.

The latest reports from the town on Thursday indicated that the situation is calm and things have returned into normal as the local elders intervened in the rival sides.
Posted by: Fred || 10/26/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336073 views] Top|| File under:


3 killed, 5 wounded in 'ransom' fight in central Somalia
(Sh.M.Network)--Intense fighting between Somali pirate gangs over a ransom dispute for the release of foreign hostages has killed at least three and injured 5 people, mostly pirates, reports said.

The all casualties are said to be pirates and civilians in a result of the latest bout of fighting that erupted in the town of Gawan, just 60 Km north of the coastal city of Hobyo, late on Wednesday, local residents told Shabelle Media by phone.

Tension has been high on Wednesday in the central Somali pirate lair for the release of the captives and the ships held by the Somali pirate gangs over ransom shares.

"There is no movement so far, the pirates are exchanging heavy machine gun fire inside the town that had brought life to a standstill on Wednesday," a witness said.
Posted by: Fred || 10/26/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336100 views] Top|| File under:


6 Civilians Dead as Bus Hit in Somalia Clashes
At least six non-combatants were killed in war-ravaged Somalia after their bus was hit close to the frontline with al-Qaeda-linked Shebab fighters, witnesses said Thursday.

"Six people including two women were killed, and at least five others were seriously injured when a big kaboom hit their minibus," said Hassan Yahya, a witness.

"I saw four of the dead bodies, one of them was my cousin... we don't know who fired the shot," said Mohamed Abdirahman, another witness.

African Union
...a union consisting of 53 African states, most run by dictators of one flavor or another. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established in 2002, the AU is the successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was even less successful...
troops alongside pro-government forces have pushed some 120 kilometers (75 miles) northwest of Mogadishu to the small village of Lego, as they seek to open up the road from the capital to the key town of Baidoa.

"There was fighting between the AU forces and the Shebab... and the bus drove into the middle ground between them," Yahya added, saying the incident took place late Wednesday near Lego.

Somali military official Adan Warsame confirmed civilians had been killed but could give no further details.

"There was heavy fighting
... as opposed to the more usual light or desultory fighting...
in the area, and we have reports a bus drove through the war zone, and there were casualties," he told Agence La Belle France Presse by telephone.

AU forces alongside government forces are fighting the Shebab to secure control of the key road that links Mogadishu with Baidoa, a strategic town seized from the Shebab by Æthiopian troops in February.

Baidoa, located 250 kilometers (155 miles) northwest of Mogadishu, was the seat of Somalia's transitional parliament until the jihad boy Shebab captured it three years ago.

While the hardline gunnies have now lost control of a string of towns in recent months, they still control large areas of rural southern and central Somalia.
Posted by: Fred || 10/26/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336087 views] Top|| File under: al-Shabaab


Africa North
BREAKING: CIA Requested Help During Benghazi Battle, Were Denied Three Times
More at Fox --

Posted by: DarthVader || 10/26/2012 11:47 || Comments || Link || [336113 views] Top|| File under:

#1  US government = Judas.
Posted by: gromky || 10/26/2012 12:35 Comments || Top||

#2  The responsible people in charge should be brought up on manslaughter charges at least.
Posted by: DarthVader || 10/26/2012 12:51 Comments || Top||

#3  Leon Panetta

Leon Edward Panetta (born June 28, 1938) is the 23rd and current United States Secretary of Defense, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama since 2011. Prior to taking office, he served as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Leon Edward Panetta (born June 28, 1938) is the 23rd and current United States Secretary of Defense, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama since 2011. Prior to taking office, he served as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

An Italian-American Democratic politician, lawyer, and professor, Panetta served as President Bill Clinton's White House Chief of Staff from 1994 to 1997.

A non-military left wing Obama hack in charge of life and death situations such as this.
Posted by: Chaling and Tenille4169 || 10/26/2012 13:02 Comments || Top||

#4  I doubt the current administration will survive Benghazi.
Posted by: Besoeker || 10/26/2012 13:46 Comments || Top||

#5  When the men are in dire circumstances, and the "Stand Down" comes from above, then you find out who your real friends are.
Posted by: Raider || 10/26/2012 13:57 Comments || Top||

#6  now teh 0ne knows how McCain felt on september 15, 2008.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 10/26/2012 14:01 Comments || Top||

#7  This is worse than Blackhawk Down. Our own senior people let our people in Benghazi die rather than make a decision.

This was a failure of nerve. Not of intellect; someone in the White House and State had to know what was going on, and there had to be a military advisor somewhere saying to the effect "give us the word and we'll respond." While there is always a 'fog of war', it is clear that there was enough good information to make the call.

The call wasn't made.

This was a moral failure. The people in charge of making decisions refused to make one. They dithered, they thought, they dithered some more, and then they did nothing. Four good people died as a result.

The people in charge of our government do not deserve to be in charge. However smart or clever they might be, they lack the basic moral rectitude and nerve.
Posted by: Steve White || 10/26/2012 14:02 Comments || Top||

#8  David Hunt:

"When the attack began, a Diplomatic Security agent working in the Tactical Operations Center immediately activated the Imminent Danger Notification System and made an emergency announcement over the PA. Based on our security protocols, he also alerted the annex U.S. quick reaction security team stationed nearby, the Libyan 17th February Brigade, Embassy Tripoli, and the Diplomatic Security Command Center in Washington. From that point on, I could follow what was happening in almost real-time.” Those are the words of Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Charlene Lamb from her testimony before House Oversight Committee, Washington, D.C.on October 10, 2012.

When Ms. Lamb testified in front of Congressman Issa’s committee she was opening a window into the failed emergency notification and reaction system that has been in existence for decades in the United States and refined after 11 years of continuous war. Ms. Lamb, and the entire United States government, military, intelligence and counter-terrorism centers were listening in real time to a six-hour battle. From the president and vice president to the Secretaries of State and Defense, National Intelligence Director, the National Military Command Center and The White House Situation Room was tuned into or was being briefed about what was unfolding in Benghazi. Every Operations Center in every operational office in our government was fully aware of what was going on while it was going on in real time.

Posted by: Pappy || 10/26/2012 14:12 Comments || Top||

#9  This ugly can of worms is about to break out of the seams of the can containing it. It is a growing clusterfVck with each day. I doubt this administration will survive Bengahzi.
Posted by: JohnQC || 10/26/2012 14:47 Comments || Top||

#10  It will if the MSM have anything to do with it. I don't watch TV or read newspapers, but I doubt they are covering this story with the detail level like the Burg.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia || 10/26/2012 15:19 Comments || Top||

#11  This isn't the first time the Obama administration has denied something three times. I can't recall what the other was off the top of my head, but it is getting to be a habit.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 10/26/2012 15:42 Comments || Top||

#12  Specter gunships are commonly used by the Special Operations community to provide close air support.

According to sources on the ground, the special operator on the roof of the CIA annex had visual contact and a laser pointing at the Libyan mortar team that was targeting the CIA annex. The operators were calling in coordinates of where the Libyan forces were firing from.

I just want this to be noted.
Posted by: Shipman || 10/26/2012 15:56 Comments || Top||

#13  They were left to die.
Posted by: Shipman || 10/26/2012 15:57 Comments || Top||

#14  The outrage here may be understandable ... but I have noticed that in this 21'st century world that "short term memory" dominates. The Nov elections are now a week-and-a-half away. The blame game on Benghazi stopped when it didn't become an upset during 2'nd Pesidential Debate. In November, a new series of critical issues will arise, and Benghazi will drift onto the back burner and become forgotten.

I hate to say that about the lives of good men. But we live in an era where whoever dominates the media wins, and the lives of good men are blurred away into nothingness.
Posted by: Raider || 10/26/2012 15:57 Comments || Top||

#15  I read on another site the JSOC QRF were tier one units. Amazing....
Posted by: 49 pan || 10/26/2012 16:59 Comments || Top||

#16  Instapundit and a couple of other sites posted that there were two AC-130Us gunships deployed to Libya. I don't know that this has been verified.
Posted by: JohnQC || 10/26/2012 17:25 Comments || Top||

#17  Just sent email to my Senator, John Cornyn to get on TV and scream loud... I'm sick about this..
Posted by: Sherry || 10/26/2012 17:32 Comments || Top||

#18  The whole thing is banned on the muslim controlled Obama media...it is just as if nothing had happened...no mention of it whatsoever...everybody knew on the internet when the muslims where rioting in Europe, yet, not a peep in the US media, ESPECIALLY at Fox(The Sheikh owning it forbade any mention of tens of thousands of cars burned in France)All you had to do to save your ride was to put a coran on the dash!...
Posted by: Ebbusong Snaith6597 || 10/26/2012 18:45 Comments || Top||

#19  Petraeus Throws Obama Under the Bus
Posted by: tipper || 10/26/2012 18:50 Comments || Top||

#20  Petraeus should resign. He's in charge of the CIA and either he is responsible or he should resign in disgust at what his commander did.

Having said that this won't effect the election much at this point because folks who are pro-Obama are so because they are in love with him or because he is black and all the facts in the world are unlikely to change that.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 10/26/2012 19:26 Comments || Top||


#22  And now we finally start to see the Why behind that lame attempt at a cover-up.

The blame game on Benghazi stopped when it didn't become an upset during 2'nd Pesidential Debate.

My initial feeling too, but in retrospect, Romney was right not to pursue it there. This story is starting to snowball. I don't think the press is letting go.

Posted by: SteveS || 10/26/2012 21:04 Comments || Top||

#23  An odd hypothetical crossed my mind today, and I'd love to see the 'burgers discuss if it's a possibility ...

Based on the reports of the calls to stand-down and that no other help was sent, is it possible that the Ambassador and/or his staff were planning or running some sort of off-grid operation that was not condoned by the admin? Maybe even went against or had been directly forbidden by the admin?

And so when things went bad they were left to burn and no more people were risked to rescue?

Something is hidden here that caused the folks at the top of the chain to purposefully suppress assistance (not just failed to give it a "go"). What are they hoping that no one notices so that looking like complete idiots is the better option?
Posted by: ExtremeModerate || 10/26/2012 21:27 Comments || Top||

#24  "This isn't the first time the Obama administration has denied something three times."

Has the cock crowed yet? :-(
Posted by: Barbara || 10/26/2012 21:45 Comments || Top||

#25  Obama is no Saint Peter....
Posted by: Glenmore || 10/26/2012 21:53 Comments || Top||

#26  Based on the reports of the calls to stand-down and that no other help was sent, is it possible that the Ambassador and/or his staff were planning or running some sort of off-grid operation that was not condoned by the admin? Maybe even went against or had been directly forbidden by the admin?

More realistic is running an off-grid that had a Mission Impossible 'if you or you're team are caught...' caveat.
Posted by: Pappy || 10/26/2012 21:55 Comments || Top||

#27  "Obama is no Saint Peter...."

More like Lucifer, Glenmore. >:-(
Posted by: Barbara || 10/26/2012 22:07 Comments || Top||

#28  There are new allegations that US personnel at Benghazi were painting ground markers for an anticipated US airtrike that was ordered but weirdly-n-mysteriously never came???
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 10/26/2012 22:29 Comments || Top||

#29  Re: #26 ... Thanks, Pappy ... that's exactly what I was wondering.

I remember there being something about if the Bin Laden hit had gone poorly it would all have been denied and disavowed. I'm wondering if Benghazi is an example of how that sort of thing works. :-/
Posted by: ExtremeModerate || 10/26/2012 22:33 Comments || Top||

#30  Blackfive is reporting:
Having a back and forth with a former legendary Delta operator. Here is the gist of what he is implying:

Everyone is reporting this but they are missing a key point. From the retired Delta operator:
Having spent a good bit of time nursing a GLD (ground Laser Designator) in several garden spots around the world, something from the report jumped out at me.

One of the former SEALs was actively painting the target. That means that Specter WAS ON STATION! Probably an AC130U. A ground laser designator is not a briefing pointer laser. You do not "paint" a target until the weapons system/designator is synched; which means that the AC130 was on station.

Only two places could have called off the attack at that point; the WH situation command (based on POTUS direction) or AFRICOM commander based on information directly from the target area.

If the AC130 never left Sigonella (as Penetta says) that means that the Predator that was filming the whole thing was armed.

If that SEAL was actively "painting" a target; something was on station to engage! And the decision to stand down goes directly to POTUS!
Posted by: Sherry || 10/26/2012 23:03 Comments || Top||

#31  More from that Delta guy at Blackfie:

Update 4: From quoted retired Delta operator, "Jeff is correct (about lasing without air asset) but the only reason you would do that is to determine a specific grid for indirect fire which the SEAL did not have available. You are in an active firefight against mortars and MGs; there is only one reason to cease returning fire and paint a target and it ain't because you thought it was a good time to pull a PMCS on your f**** GLD."

Yer damn straight, and for those who don't know, PMCS is maintenance and testing on a device you do during slack time back in garrison, not in the heat of some deadly shoot up.
Posted by: Sherry || 10/26/2012 23:15 Comments || Top||

#32  And I have a question -- in all of this, seems the Ambassador might not have been saved since the fire overran their location.... my question is... how long was it from when the SEAL Ty Woods knew of the shots before he and the guys ran to the rescue?

The report reads that it was the SEAL and the team he brought with him that saved the ones they got out... how long did they wait to disobey orders and rush to the scene?

If they had gotten the okay to go immediately, they were only a mile away, could they have made a difference?

If we are to believe the reporting by the Times reporting of the interviews with the Libyan guards, they were in that safe room, there was a period of time before the fire started and the smoke engulfed them.
Posted by: Sherry || 10/26/2012 23:35 Comments || Top||

#33  From Fox News:
Brett Baier: “…Jennifer, there will be people who question your sources. How solid are they?”

Jennifer Griffin: “As good as they get.”

Brett Baier: “On the ground?”

Jennifer Griffin: “On the ground.”
Posted by: Sherry || 10/26/2012 23:55 Comments || Top||


Protesters oust Benghazi militias
BENGHAZI: Libyan protesters ousted a jihadist militia from its headquarters and seized a raft of other paramilitary bases in second city Benghazi early yesterday in heavy festivities that left four people dead.

The seizure of the headquarters of Ansar Al-Shariah -- which has been accused of, but denied, involvement in the murder of US Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans last week -- came after tens of thousands erupted into the streets on Friday to protest the power of the militias. The group's members took flight as hundreds of protesters stormed and then torched its compound, and also evicted it from the city's Al-Jalaa hospital, where they were replaced by military police.

But to the alarm of bigwigs, the demonstrators also stormed a raft of other paramilitary bases in the city controlled by former rebel units that had declared their loyalty to the central government.

It was at one such base -- the headquarters of the Raf Allah Al-Sahati Brigade, a unit under the authority of the Defense Ministry -- that the four people were killed in festivities between its fighters and hundreds of protesters, some of them armed.
Around 70 people were maimed during the overnight violence, medics at Benghazi's three main hospitals said. Worried Libyan authorities called on the demonstrators to distinguish between "illegitimate" brigades and those who are under state control, warning that the neutralization of loyal units risked "chaos." The warning highlighted the dilemma facing the Libyan government a year after the overthrow of veteran dictator Muammar Qadaffy
...whose instability was an inspiration to dictators everywhere, but whose end couldn't possibly happen to them...
-- while militias pose the biggest threat to its authority, its fledgling new security forces are dependent on former rebel units that fought in the uprising.

The trigger for the assault on the paramilitaries was a "Save Benghazi" protest after the main weekly Moslem prayers on Friday that was joined by some 30,000 peaceful demonstrators. It drowned out a smaller rally attended by just a few hundred people over a US-made anti-Islam film and blasphemous cartoons published by a French magazine.

Demonstrators paid tribute to Ambassador Stevens and the other Americans killed in the September 11 assault on the US consulate in the city that Washington now says was a "terrorist" attack. "Libya lost a friend," read one banner. "We want justice for Stevens," said another.

Jihadist snuffies of Ansar Al-Sharia had gun sex as they retreated from their headquarters in the face of the overwhelmingly superior numbers of the protesters. Yesterday, the building was in the hands of the regular armed forces.

But the protesters, angry at the power in the city of a string of former rebel groups with varying degrees of loyalty to the central government, also stormed other paramilitary bases.
Posted by: Au Auric || 10/26/2012 02:37 || Comments || Link || [336072 views] Top|| File under:


Report: Israeli Drone Destroyed Khartoum Munitions Last Month
[Ynet] Foreign intelligence sources said Israel carried out an unmanned drone raid on a convoy south of Khartoum last month that destroyed 200 tons of munitions, including rockets, intended for Gazoo.
Posted by: trailing wife || 10/26/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336082 views] Top|| File under:


Egypt Catches Arms Smugglers Near Libyan Border
[Ynet] Egypt's Interior Minister says security forces have intercepted a group of smugglers bringing in weapons from Libya.

Gen. Ahmed Gamal Eddin told news hounds Wednesday that two trucks carrying 25 rockets, 102 rocket-propelled grenades and 102 mortar rounds were seized on the highway near Marsa Matrouh, 430 kilometers (270 miles) northwest of Cairo on the Mediterranean coast.
Posted by: trailing wife || 10/26/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336090 views] Top|| File under:


Arabia
Mayor of Yemen's Capital Escapes Assassination
The state news agency Saba quoted a statement by President Abdrabu Mansour Hadi during a meeting with the French ambassador to Sanaa, Frank Julie, as saying on Wednesday the Yemeni government will be ready to deal with oil firms transparently through the internet.

"Yemen is very rich in oil, gas and minerals, and to encourage firms to invest in its wealth, the country is open to handle deals through the internet and without a broker or pedigree," Hadi said.

He urged Total to expand operations and increase output at its concessions to help Yemen, which is in dire need for help in all areas amid the current extraordinary circumstances.

Earlier, Yemen's oil minister, Ahmed Dares, urged Chinese Sinopec Group to expand its exploration operations and to resume the activities which were halted in the wake of the last year's turmoil, according to Saba.

Sinopec revealed plans to acquire shares in producing blocks within its expansion program in Yemen, Saba said.

"The operations at the exploration block 71 are continuing and there are promising signs on this block," it quoted chairman of Sinopec as saying.
Posted by: Fred || 10/26/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336100 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in Arabia


Two Al-Qaeda suspects arrested in Aden
Yemen's security forces arrested on Thursday two Al-Qaeda suspects in the port city of Aden.

Security sources affirmed that one of the arrestees is an Arab national and he was arrested while he was trying to leave for a Gulf state at Aden Airport.

They further said that the other arrestee is from Jaar of Abyan governorate and he was arrested in the framework of arrest campaign conducted by Yemen's authorities against wanted persons.

Security forces had stormed a house in Aden in early of October, killed four Al-Qaeda suspects inside and confiscated weapons, shells, ammunitions, explosive belts and grenades.

Yemeni politicians have warned against plots to plunge the strategic city of Aden into violence with the aim of breaking down the political settlement, stressing that security situation are tense in these cities.Insecurity and chaos acts have increased in Aden, the city which is considered among the most strategic Yemeni areas, after the widespread of armed groups supported by the Southern Movement and the Houthi group, media sources say.

Al-Qaeda targeted a number of Yemeni military commanders and intelligence officers, and kidnapped foreigners from Aden.

In March, a Saudi diplomat, Abdullah al-Khalidi, was kidnapped by Al-Qaeda in Aden and its destiny is still uncertain so far.

Al-Qaeda militants received painful attacks as the Yemeni army cleansed them from their main strongholds in Abyan and they restore to attack military and security officers, carry out suicide bombings and kidnap foreigners.

Posted by: Fred || 10/26/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336091 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in Arabia


India-Pakistan
Firing at F.B. Area restaurant kills five in Karachi
Five people were killed late on Thursday after faceless myrmidons shot up a restaurant in F. B. Area neighbourhood of Bloody Karachi
...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It may be the largest city in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
, DawnNews reported.

According to initial reports, faceless myrmidons riding on cycle of violences shot up a local restaurant in F.B Area block 22, injuring five people. All of them later gave up the ghost during medical treatment at a nearby hospital.

Three of the dead-- Qari Rafique, Khuda-e-Noor, his brother Jibrael-- are reported as activists of a religious party. Restaurant owner Amir and a passerby Sajid also became victims of the act.

The incident spread fear among the local residents while shops and small businesses were reported to be shut.

Police and law enforcement agencies have cordoned off the area and initiated an investigation into the incident.

Meanwhile,
...back at the pond, the radioactive tadpoles grown into frogs. Really big frogs, in fact...
three others bit the dust and several were maimed in different areas of the metropolis earlier on Thursday, whereas Rangers and police have been conducting various raids arresting eights suspects.
Posted by: Fred || 10/26/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336075 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Link goes nowhere.
Posted by: gromky || 10/26/2012 3:13 Comments || Top||

#2  Fixed.
Posted by: trailing wife || 10/26/2012 11:20 Comments || Top||


3 Waziristan Militants, Cattle Killed in US Drone Attack
[Tolo News] A US drone fired two missiles at a suspected thug compound in northwest Pakistain on Wednesday, killing three people, security officials said.

Locals said three cows, apparently meant for sacrifice on the Moslem festival of Eidul Adha being celebrated in the tribal region on Friday, were also killed in the attack.

One missile hit a house in the Tappi area about 20 kilometres (12 miles) east of Miranshah
... headquarters of al-Qaeda in Pakistain and likely location of Ayman al-Zawahiri. The Haqqani network has established a ministate in centered on the town with courts, tax offices and lots of madrassas...
, the main town in North Wazoo tribal district which is a stronghold of Taliban and al Qaeda-linked thugs.

The other hit a vehicle parked outside, they said.

One security official in the northwestern city of Beautiful Downtown Peshawar
...capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly known as the North-West Frontier Province), administrative and economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. Peshawar is situated near the eastern end of the Khyber Pass, convenient to the Pak-Afghan border. Peshawar has evolved into one of Pakistan's most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities, which means lots of gunfire.
said the target was a thug compound and those killed were Death Eaters.

"It was a thug compound being used to store arms and ammunition," he said, requesting anonymity.

"Three Islamic fascisti were killed. The casualties were not high because there not many Islamic fascisti inside."

According to CNN, a woman was also among the killed, while three children were maimed in the drone attack.

A government official said that Islamic fascisti lived in the compound but so did civilians.

Wednesday's strike was the third by unmanned US aircraft in the Miranshah area this month. On October 11, 18 Death Eaters, most reportedly Afghans, were killed in a drone strike in the nearby tribal region of Orakzai in the deadliest attack in more than a year.

The covert US attacks are unpopular in Pakistain, where the government slams them as a violation of illusory sovereignty, but American officials believe they are a vital weapon against thugs.

Earlier this month, cricket legend turned politician Imran Khan
... aka Taliban Khan, who is the lightweight's lightweight...
led thousands of supporters in a motorcade from the capital Islamabad to the edge of the tribal belt to protest against the US strikes.
Posted by: trailing wife || 10/26/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336089 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Locals said three cows, apparently meant for sacrifice on the Moslem festival of Eidul Adha being celebrated in the tribal region on Friday, were also killed in the attack.

Well, that should speed up the festivities.
No need to thank us...
Posted by: tu3031 || 10/26/2012 0:34 Comments || Top||

#2  Kil Mor Chiken!
Posted by: Frank G || 10/26/2012 20:32 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Gaza Terr Pegs Out from Wounds as Truce Holds
A jihad boy died on Thursday of wounds sustained in an Israeli raid a day earlier as calm returned to the skies over Gazoo after a truce took hold, ending 72 hours of bloodshed.

As Gazoo began preparing for Eid al-Adha, which starts Friday, medical sources said 24-year-old Ahmed Hrzalla, a jihad boy with the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) who was severely maimed in an air strike in Rafah, died of his injuries.

His death raised to eight the number of hard boyz killed in the flare up, four of them from Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason,' armed wing the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, and three from the PRC. The affiliation of the other dead jihad boy was not immediately clear.

Over the three-day period, gangs pounded Israel with more than 100 rockets -- more than 70 of which were fired on Wednesday alone, leaving two Thai workers severely injured.

Following a quiet night in which there were no reports of Israeli raids or jihad boy rocket fire on southern Israel, schools reopened in southern Israel and Paleostinians went back to work.

During the morning, the military said one rocket hit an open area without causing injuries or damage, but it had no knowledge of three rockets being fired shortly after dawn, as claimed in a statement by the Gazoo-based Mujahedeen Brigades.

And the Erez crossing between Israel and Gazoo was reopened, as was the Hamas-run checkpoint leading to the border in the northern Gazoo town of Beit Hanoun, officials said.

Late on Wednesday, Israeli and Paleostinian officials told Agence La Belle France Presse that an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire would go into effect at midnight (2200 GMT).
Posted by: Fred || 10/26/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336086 views] Top|| File under: Hamas

#1  hudna


google it
Posted by: Mikey Hunt || 10/26/2012 0:18 Comments || Top||


Man dies in Gaza tunnel collapse, 2 missing
[Ma'an] The body of 23-year-old Paleostinian man was recovered after he was killed in a tunnel collapse in the southern Gazoo Strip, civil defense teams said Thursday.

Walid Nasser Marouf, from Beit Lahiya, died in a tunnel under Gazoo's border with Egypt near Rafah, officials said.

Two other Paleostinians are missing after the tunnel fell in on Wednesday evening, they said.

Medics say over 160 Paleostinians have died in the network of underground tunnels since Israel imposed a siege on the Gazoo Strip in 2006.

Egypt started closing the tunnels after an Aug. 5 attack in Sinai when gunnies killed 16 Egyptian soldiers. Egypt suspects the tunnels were used by some of the orcs. Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason, says no one from Gazoo was involved in the attack.

The tunnels have been used to import anything from food to construction materials, fuel and cars, and hard boyz have also used them to import munitions used to attack Israel, which has targeted some of the tunnels with air strikes.
Posted by: trailing wife || 10/26/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336090 views] Top|| File under:


Southeast Asia
20 Dead in Fresh Myanmar Unrest
At least 20 people have been killed in a fresh wave of communal violence sweeping western Myanmar, a Rakhine state front man said Thursday, adding the corpse count could ultimately more than double.

"At least 20 people (both Buddhist and Moslem) have been killed in festivities since October 21. The corpse count can reach about 50," Myo Thant told AFP.

He said 80 Buddhist Rakhines have been maimed, but there were as yet no equivalent figures for injured Moslems.

A security official, requesting anonymity, confirmed the potential toll from the resurgence of unrest could hit 50, adding government forces were struggling to reach remote areas.

Hundreds of homes have been burned in the outburst of unrest in Rakhine state, where Buddhist-Moslem festivities have killed more than 100 people since June and displaced tens of thousands, according to the authorities.

The latest violence led the United Nations
...an international organization whose stated aims of facilitating interational security involves making sure that nobody with live ammo is offended unless it's a civilized country...
to express grave concern over reports of deaths and "thousands" of displaced in recent days.

"The U.N. is alarmed by reports of displacements and destruction," said UN chief in Yangon, Ashok Nigam, adding that the resurgence of deadly unrest in Rakhine State had "resulted in deaths and has forced thousands of people, including women and kiddies, to flee their homes".
Posted by: Fred || 10/26/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336080 views] Top|| File under:


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Syria Rebels Take over Aleppo Kurdish Area, Seize Army Post
Syrian rebel forces took over a strategically important Kurdish neighborhood in Aleppo
...For centuries, Aleppo was Greater Syria's largest city and the Ottoman Empire's third, after Constantinople and Cairo. Although relatively close to Damascus in distance, Aleppans regard Damascenes as country cousins...
and seized a military post in the country's northeast on Thursday, residents and a watchdog said.

As observers waited to see if Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad
Before going into the family business Pencilneck was an eye doctor...
's regime will accept the proposal for a ceasefire during the Moslem feast of Eid al-Adha, residents in Aleppo's northern Ashrafiyeh district told AFP about 200 rebels had moved in to the area for the first time.

"I saw gunnies enter my street with Dushka (heavy machineguns) mounted on their vehicles, where it was written 'Liwa al-Tawhid,'" a 28-year-old resident told AFP, referring to the Free Syrian Army's (FSA) main unit in the embattled city.

"Snipers have set up in the buildings and 50 gunnies, dressed in black and wearing headbands with Islamic slogans, entered a school near me. I heard them tell the residents: 'We are here to spend Eid with you'," he said.

"I am waiting for things to calm down before leaving," he said.

Eid al-Adha begins on Friday and U.N.-Arab League
...an organization of Arabic-speaking states with 22 member countries and four observers. The League tries to achieve Arab consensus on issues, which usually leaves them doing nothing but a bit of grimacing and mustache cursing...
peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi has said the regime in Damascus
...Home to a staggering array of terrorist organizations...
is ready to follow his call for a ceasefire during the four-day holiday.

The regime has said it will confirm Thursday whether it accepts the truce, while the main rebel forces say they will cease fire only if regime troops do so first.

Northern Aleppo's neighboring Kurdish districts of Ashrafiyeh and Sheikh Maqsud have been controlled by local militia and the move marked the first time either rebel or government forces had moved into the area.

Ashrafiyeh is strategically important as it sits on city heights and is a route between the central and northern parts of the country's commercial capital, which has been the theater of intense fighting between rebels and government troops since mid-July.

In the northeastern province of Raqa, rebels also took control of a military post in a dawn raid, killing three soldiers and seizing arms including a tank, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The post had been besieged for several days.

The Britannia-based watchdog also said Syrian forces had bombed the Damascus suburb of Harasta and that fighting was taking place in the capital's southern areas of Tadamun and Qadam.

On Wednesday, fighting in the country killed 199 people, including at least 89 civilians, the Observatory said.
Posted by: Fred || 10/26/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336088 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria


Army Arrests Malaysians Plotting to Carry out Terror Attacks in Lebanon
Army Intelligence succeeded in arresting suspects on charges of belonging to the al-Qaeda terrorist organization, reported al-Joumhouria newspaper on Thursday.

Security sources told the daily that the army jugged
Please don't kill me!
Malaysian nationals Rafik Mohammed Aaref and Mohammed Razin Shaaban on charges of being members of the organization.

They were jugged
Please don't kill me!
in a hotel in Beirut's Hamra neighborhood and referred to the Military Tribunal.

Investigations revealed that they were recruited to al-Qaeda by a Malaysian called Mustapha Mansour in Malaysia in 2007.

They then moved to Yemen where they met other members of the terror organization.

The security sources said that Aaref and Shabaan were jugged
Please don't kill me!
in 2007 and sentenced to jail where they met Jamal al-Badawi who is accused of the 2000 bombing of United States Navy destroyer USS Cole in Yemen.

Al-Joumhouria added that about two months ago, the suspects tried to enter Syria through Turkey on a jihadist mission and in order to carry out suicide kabooms.

Their planned attacks were coordinated with a man identified as "Abou Hassan," who is responsible for the entry of all jihadists to Syria, said the daily.

Aaref and Shaaban failed to enter Syria however and so they decided to head to Leb to carry out terrorist attacks.

Their activity was monitored however by the army intelligence.

They were soon jugged
Please don't kill me!
and investigations revealed that they were planning on contacting an individual in Leb in order to coordinate attacks.
Posted by: Fred || 10/26/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336099 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda

#1  AL-QAEDA ATTACKS ON LEBANON?

versus

* TOPIX > HEZBOLLAH CROSSES SYRIAN BORDER WID BLOODY ASSAULT ON ASSAD'S ENEMIES.

* IIRC SAME > HEZBOLLAH: WE WILL STRIKE ISRAELI CITIES [e.g. Tel Aviv], MILITARY, in any war that draws in Hamas + Syria + Iran.

Safe to say ditto as per Iran iff Israel attacks Lebanon andor Syria.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 10/26/2012 2:03 Comments || Top||


Syria Army, Rebels Agree to Eid Truce, But Will Respond to Attacks
Syria's army and main rebel force said they will cease fire on Friday, in line with an internationally backed truce during a Moslem holiday, but both reserved the right to respond to any aggression.

A peace initiative by U.N. and Arab League
...an organization of Arabic-speaking states with 22 member countries and four observers. The League tries to achieve Arab consensus on issues, which usually leaves them doing nothing but a bit of grimacing and mustache cursing...
peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi calls for a truce during the four-day Moslem holiday of Eid al-Adha from Friday marking the end of the hajj pilgrimage.

It was backed this week by the United Nations
...aka the Oyster Bay Chowder and Marching Society...
Security Council, and a front man for U.N. chief the ephemeral Ban Ki-moon
... of whom it can be said to his credit that he is not Kofi Annan...
said "the world is now watching" to make sure both sides stick by their commitment.

The army announced it would adhere to the ceasefire in a statement read on television.

"On the occasion of Eid al-Adha, military operations will cease on Syrian territory as of Friday morning, until Monday the 29th," it said.

But it also said the army would react if "armed terrorist groups continue to fire on civilians and government troops, attack public and private property and use car booms and improvised bombs."

It also warned of a response if rebels "strengthen their current positions or continue to receive reinforcements and ammunition" and to any fighters crossing from neighboring countries.

The Free Syrian Army, chief among many rebel groups battling Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad
Light of the Alawites...
's forces, responded positively soon afterwards, saying it too would lay down its weapons as long as regime troops adhere to the ceasefire.

"We will respect the ceasefire from tomorrow morning if the Syrian army does the same," said General Mustafa al-Sheikh of the FSA, which had previously said it doubts Damascus
...Capital of the last overtly fascist regime in the world...
would stand by any commitment.

"But if they fire a single shot, we will respond with 100. So we reserve the right to respond," he said by telephone from Turkey.

He cautioned, however, that he could not speak on behalf of all rebel groups.

"There is not a unified command for all the factions. We speak on behalf of a big enough number of fighters, but there are other armed factions who follow other commands," Sheikh said.

An April ceasefire announced by Brahimi's predecessor, former U.N. secretary general Kofi Annan
...Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh and so far the worst Secretary-General of the UN. Annan and the UN were the co-recipients of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize for something or other that probably sounded good at the time. In December 2004, reports surfaced that Kofi's son Kojo received payments from the Swiss company Cotecna, which had won a lucrative contract under the UN Oil-for-Food Program. Kofi Annan called for an investigation to look into the allegations, which stirred up the expected cesspool but couldn't seem to come up with enough evidence to indict Kofi himself, or even Kojo...
, failed to take hold.

If the latest one holds, it would mark the first real breakthrough in halting -- even temporarily -- the 19-month conflict that rights groups say has killed more than 35,000 people.

Eid al-Adha starts with prayers at dawn on Friday, expected at around 5:30 am local time in Syria, or 0230 GMT.

Shortly before Thursday's announcements, there were no signs of a slowdown in the fighting, with rebels moving into a strategically important Kurdish neighborhood in the main battleground city of Aleppo
...For centuries, Aleppo was Greater Syria's largest city and the Ottoman Empire's third, after Constantinople and Cairo. Although relatively close to Damascus in distance, Aleppans regard Damascenes as country cousins...
Residents in Aleppo's Ashrafiyeh district said about 200 rebels had moved in to the area for the first time.

One said the rebels, who arrived on vehicles mounted with heavy machineguns and bearing the markings of the Liwa al-Tawhid main rebel unit, made it clear they were settling in for Eid despite the ceasefire promises.

"Snipers have set up in the buildings and 50 gunnies, dressed in black and wearing headbands with Islamic slogans, entered a school near me. I heard them tell the residents: 'We are here to spend Eid with you'," he told Agence La Belle France Presse.

"I am waiting for things to calm down before leaving," he said.

Rebels and troops were also battling in the mainly Christian district of Seryan just south of Ashrafiyeh, said residents.

At least 100 people were killed as violence continued across Syria on Thursday -- 43 civilians, 37 soldiers and 20 rebels, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Fierce festivities raged around the Wadi Daif military base between troops and rebels, including fighters from the jihadist al-Nusra Front, while the army shelled the strategic town of Maaret al-Numan nearby, said the watchdog.

Al-Nusra, which has claimed several deadly suicide kabooms against the Assad regime, is among the other armed opposition groups that have already refused to accept the ceasefire, labeling it a "trick."

The United States also voiced skepticism, with U.S. envoy to the U.N. Susan Rice saying many would doubt the regime's word "given Assad's record of broken promises."

Still, Brahimi stressed that "if we succeed with this modest initiative, a longer ceasefire can be built" that would allow the launch of a political process.

Brahimi said he wanted the ceasefire to help create political space for dialogue and for aid to flow in, particularly to Aleppo, Homs in the center and Idlib in the northwest.

And the U.N.'s refugee agency said it was ready to send emergency aid to thousands of Syrian families in previously inaccessible areas if the ceasefire holds.

The international community boosted pressure on the regime, meanwhile, with U.N. rights Sherlocks saying they would go after bigwigs responsible for atrocities.

Former war crimes prosecutor Carla del Ponte, who joined the U.N. Commission of Inquiry on Syria last month, said that without a doubt "crimes against humanity and war crimes" were being committed in Syria.

Del Ponte said she was focusing on determining "the high-ranking political and military figures (responsible for) these crimes".
Posted by: Fred || 10/26/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336085 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria


Iran Stages Massive Military Drill Near Iraqi Border
[Times of Israel] The Iranian army is planning a "unique" military exercise along the country's border with Iraq, an semiofficial Iranian news agency said.

The ISNA agency on Thursday quoted a senior army commander, Gen. Saeed Arabloo, as saying the three-day drill in Iran's Kermanshah province would begin on Monday and include air and ground forces. He said the aim of the exercise was to upgrade the defensive capabilities of the Iranian forces. He did not elaborate.

Military officials in September announced that Iran would stage a massive air defense drill, incorporating aerial and ground forces, which would coincide with the US-Israel military drill known as Austere Challenge 12.

Iranian air defense commander Brigadier General Farzad Esmaili said the maneuver would include all of the Iranian army's air defense systems, as well as Iranian air force fighter jets, and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iranian state news agency Press TV reported.

It was not clear whether the drill being staged in Kermanshah province was the same drill mentioned by Esmaili.

Iran held a large urban combat drill last week involving 15,000 paramilitary soldiers belonging to the Revolutionary Guards-subordinate Basij militia.

The latest drill comes amid mounting international criticism over Iran's nuclear program, which the West knows fears is aimed at developing nuclear weapons -- a charge Tehran denies.
Posted by: trailing wife || 10/26/2012 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336092 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran



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Two weeks of WOT
Fri 2012-10-26
  Afghanistan mosque suicide bomb attack kills at least 41
Thu 2012-10-25
  Israel says 79 rockets fired at it from Gaza
Wed 2012-10-24
  Libya fighters seize Bani Walid
Tue 2012-10-23
  Foreign jihadists pour into northern Mali
Mon 2012-10-22
  Men 'planned mass suicide attack'
Sun 2012-10-21
  Nigeria military nabs Bokoboy at senator's home
Sat 2012-10-20
  Leb: Wissam al-Hasan Assassinated in Beirut Bomb Blast
Fri 2012-10-19
  144 Dead as Syria Jets Blast Maaret al-Numan and Suicide Bomber Hits near Interior Ministry
Thu 2012-10-18
  Iranian-American Pleads Guilty to Plot to Kill Saudi Envoy to U.S.
Wed 2012-10-17
  ROPer arrested for attempting to blow up Federal Reserve Bank in NYC
Tue 2012-10-16
  Pak President Admits Creating Terrorist Groups
Mon 2012-10-15
  Gunmen kill 20 at mosque in northern Nigeria
Sun 2012-10-14
  Israel AF kills head of Al-Q affiliate in Gaza
Sat 2012-10-13
  96 Dead, Including 41 Troops
Fri 2012-10-12
  US names new diplomat to Libya to replace Stevens

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