EFL
A French United Nations worker was shot and killed Sunday by a man on a motorcycle who opened fire on her car. Her driver was wounded. Bettina Goislard, 29, was the first U.N. staff member slain in Afghanistan .. since the fall of the Taliban regime, said David Singh, spokesman for the U.N. Mission in Afghanistan... "Two men on a motorbike drove by her UNHCR vehicle in Ghazni bazaar, with the passenger rider opening fire at point-blank range on the vehicle," Singh said in Kabul, the Afghan capital. "One international staff member, a French female national, suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on arrival at a hospital." Shortly afterward, Afghan police fired at the motorcycle, injuring one of the two men and arresting them both, said Ahmad Zia Masood, a spokesman for Ghazniâs governor.
I'd start low with the truncheons, and not work any higher...
Ghazni Gov. Asadullah Khan said the two men were Taliban fighters. He would not identify them by name but said in an interview: "They are in our custody. We are investigating them. Maybe we will arrest more Taliban." ....
That would be a heck of a good idea...
The United Nations has about 800 international staff members in Afghanistan where it also employs several thousand Afghans. rational people realize that terrorists donât use nuance to discriminate targets, but undoubtedly many UN workers think otherwise
Posted by: mhw ||
11/16/2003 9:57:10 AM ||
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What a bunch of brave warriors....Gunning down a 29 year old female in her car. F*cking pansies. In their sick mind they probably think they're heros. I hope the local authorities pull out the cat o'nine, roll up the sleeves and get to work on these assclowns....
Posted by: Frank G ||
11/16/2003 12:44 Comments ||
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Ironic that they would attack a citizen of one of their western european 'allies'. Gee, I guess they don't discriminate between one infidel and another, do they?
#5
Maybe it's about time for the French to bring out of prison retirement a few of their OAS expert interrogators from the days of the FLN in Algeria, back about 1960-62. They got pretty good at extracting teeth information, and it wasn't using any of today's PC methods.
Yemenâs government on Sunday freed 92 followers of the al-Qaida terrorist network who have repented, a Yemeni judge responsible for dialogue with suspected terrorists said. They were freed along with 1,500 other inmates as part of an amnesty during the Ramadan holy month, said the judge, Hammoud al-Hitar.
Al-Hitar heads a committee that encourages terrorists to renounce violence. He told The Associated Press that the 92 al-Qaida suspects, all of them arrested since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States, had repented and promised to obey Yemenâs constitution and laws. They declared they would respect ââthe rights of non-Muslims, their lives, money, and (promised) not to target embassies of friendly countries,ââ al-Hitar said. The dialogue with the detained terror suspects began at the end of last year. At least 70 repentant militants have been released by Yemen in the last two years.
The al-Qaida suspects and 1,500 criminal prisoners were freed under a decree by President Ali Abdullah Saleh.Such decrees are common in Muslim countries during Ramadan.
EFL This is my first contribution, so go easy.GK
by Walid Phares, Professor of Middle East Studies and Terrorism Analyst
A few hours after the blasts in Riyadh, a chain of commentaries mushroomed around the world... By the morning the official "version" of the attack was about to become Governmental both in Washington and across the Oceans. In a nutshell, it was reported as an Muslim on Muslim attack, blaming the Islamist al-Qaida for mass murdering Muslims in their spiritual motherland Arabia, and during their holiest month of the year, Ramadan... The characterization of the Riyadhâs attacks took off without accurate data, hence ruining this wishful theory. Both BBC and CNN, and their media associates ignored the victims, their names, their socio-economic realities and the history of the Jihadists in this regard.
According to Diaspora-based Lebanese sources, among the injured from the attacks about 90 victims were Lebanese.... one fact is certified: The massacre of the Muhayya compound was directed at the Lebanese Christian community living in Saudi Arabia. Media commentators and news rooms were too fast in describing the horror as Islamist terrorists murdering Muslims. Not that al-Qaida and its alike do not kill Muslims. They have terminated more than 48,000 Muslim civilians in Algeria and many moderate Muslims in Egypt. But the al-Muyaha attack targeted the Lebanese Christians for very specific reasons. There are about 100,000 Lebanese people working in the Kingdom since the mid sixties. Many from the first generations have become a pillar of Saudi economy. The contribution Lebanese from all communities, particularly the Christians to Saudi prosperity is widely known in the Business world. The most recent waves of Lebanese are made of liberal sectors and management planners. They are found in all spheres of the work force and as advisers to Government. It is to note that more than 80% of these migrants are Christians, and many among them are Maronites.
Al-Qaida aimed at this vibrant community as a way to cripple one the pillars of Saudi economy. With one stone —this time a police car bomb— the Jihadists wanted to kill as many of these Lebanese "infidels" as possible. These Lebanese migrant birds were both "kafirs" and economic assets. Back in October, Usamaâs audio-call through al-Jazeera called on the cleansing of Arabia from all people of the Book. There are no Jews left in the Peninsula. Most of the Americans are either gone or well protected. The next on the Jihad list are the Lebanese Christians. Last week end massacre was the first step in their elimination.
But why this Jihadi determination to obliterate Lebanese Christians? Are they not Arabs? To be academically correct, they arenât... But al-Qaida has more recent political reasons to aim at them. It is known, in the circles sympathetic to the Jihadists that Lebanese Christians have pro-Western affinities, work in American companies in the Peninsula, and constitute an obstruction to the radical clerics' designs on the Kingdomâs infrastructure. Worse by Jihadi standards, the Lebanese Christians worldwide have been at the forefront of the campaign against Terrorism... But Jihad against the Lebanese Christians has a very long history... The Jihadist paragdim is systematic. From Beirut, to Riyadh, passing by Haifa, the region is to be made Lebanese-Christian free. The method is very telling. Al-Qaida wants to sign and enjoy its horrors. According to Pierre Atallah, the Lebanese journalist in exile in Paris, who lost his nephew and niece, "the Terrorists were machine gunning the victims for more than twenty minutes. Killing has proceeded before the blasts." In Riyadh, it wasnât a bomb by Jihadists against other Muslims, it was a slaughter of Christians.
But by way of consequences, it is a Muslim image that al-Qaida was maiming. And many humanist Muslims made it clear in their statements. Few hours after I have finished writing this piece, an al-Qaida commander out of Iraq admitted that the compound was "under surveillance for many months." Al-Hijazi added: "that a large group of Lebanese Christians were living there." He openly declared that "after consultation, we decided it was appropriate to attack this place and destroy it, including the people who lived there, because it housed Americans and a large majority of Christians holding Lebanese citizenship." This statement simply rested the case.
#1
I knew I'd screw something up.
The link forthis Jihad Watch article is:
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/000143.php
I input it. Don't know why it didn't take.
#2
So they killed the guards, broke into the compound, machined gunned people for twenty minutes, rolled in the bombs, blew shit out of the place, then took off toward Iraq. If so, then the raiding party must have been fairly large, like 10, and suicide was not needed. Perhaps no suicide happened. The targeting of christians has not been a theme of the reporting as far as I've heard. The gunnies are probably still liv'n large in SA.
Sources in a number of mosques across Sanaa have revealed that the Ministry of Endowment and Guidance has taken away donation boxes for Palestine placed by the Islah charity in the city and in other governorates. The sources said that the ministryâs justification was that those donation campaigns were launched without prior notification or licensing from the ministry. The action of the ministry was protested and criticized by worshippers and mosque staffers who have asked how the mosques can collect donations for Palestine.
How about if they don't? Doesn't Yemen have any problems that can be addressed with charitable donations? No poor? No widows? No orphans? No deserving young fellows and girls in need of assistance with their education? Well then, how about buying arms and ammunition for Hadramaut?
The ministry had earlier accused political parties of using donation boxes to gain political benefits, not for the main goal of collecting money for Palestine. Some analysts believe that this step may have been taken in response to external pressure by the US government on the Yemeni government to dry out sources of money to militant movements in Palestine including Hamas and Islamic Jihad movements.
Golly! Y'think?
The political department of Hamas, Khaled Mishaal had said in a visit last year that very little of the donations collected in Yemen arrive to Palestine, implying that such cash may indeed be used for political benefits instead.
Comes as a surprise, doesn't it? Floored me, too...
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
11/16/2003 09:50 ||
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the use of donations by Islamic charities is a big problem nearly everywhere including the USA; muslims who put money in boxes marked for burial society have absolutely no assurance that the money isn't used for personal expenses by the clerical staff - in a way, this is good news because money supposed to be used to help terrorism tends to be laundered into new SUVs for Imans, etc.
#4
There is a lot of money to be made being a "holy man", but no money to be made being a truly ethical man of God. Get well soon Fred.
Posted by: Allah ||
11/16/2003 12:29 Comments ||
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How to donate to Palestine
First, have your head opened, and all your brains scooped out. Send these to Canada, where there is brain research going on that will help prevent people with an IQ above 60 from being able to use their intellect "to lord it over others" (this group is also known as the government of Jacques Cretien).
Second, have your entire blood supply drained and given to the Red Crescent society. They will use this blood ONLY for Muslim recipients. If your blood goes bad before a Muslim needs it, they will simply dump it in the desert between Mecca and Medina, to "water this holy land".
Thirdly, will your body to a fertilizer factory in Syria. It will be baked,dried, ground into powder, mixed with other ingredients, and sold as fertilizer in Lebanon.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
11/16/2003 13:10 Comments ||
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OP, you just wrote the will of several million Arabs.
Posted by: Charles ||
11/16/2003 16:57 Comments ||
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The sources said that the ministryâs justification was that those donation campaigns were launched without prior notification or licensing from the ministry.
"We will NOT have these kinds of donations to Palestine. We want our donations to have an official stamp of approval before they are sent...."
The Yemeni General Attorneyâs office recently completed investigations concerning suspects thought to be behind the USS Cole blast in Aden in October 2000, which killed 17 American marines, the Limburg attack in 2002 near Mukalla, and the attack against a helicopter belonging to the Yemen Hunt Oil Company after it took off at Sanaa International Airport at the end of 2002. Yemeni judicial sources confirmed their trials begin in a few weeks time.
We'll be watching. With interest...
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
11/16/2003 09:46 ||
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Why don't they just "repent"? I hear that goes over big over there...
Political analysts in Turkey believe the group claiming responsibility for this morningâs car bomb attacks outside two synagogues in Istanbul was unlikely to have been involved. The Great Eastern Islamic Raiders Front (IBDA-C) has claimed responsibility for the explosions that have reportedly left at least 20 dead and over 200 injured. âIBDA-C doesnât have the means to do something like this,â says Professor Nilufer Narli, from Istanbulâs Kadir Has University. âIts top leaders are all in jail and in the last few years it has lost most of their influence.â
On the other hand, I'll bet they've still got some cannon fodder and prob'ly a few controllers and runners around to take on odd jobs...
The groupâs leader, Salih Izzet Erdis, also known as Salih Mirzabeyoglu, was arrested by Turkish police in 1998 and is now in prison — along with many of the groups older cadre. âNow, it is nowhere near capable of organising something this sophisticated,â adds Narli, who is an expert on Turkeyâs illegal Islamic groups. âThis was a very professional attack.â
They say they dunnit, so the Turks should wipe them out root and branch, even if they had outside help to pull it off...
The IBDA-C traces its ancestry back to the Akincis — Turkeyâs large, radical Islamist youth movement of the 1970s. The movement split after the military coup in 1980, with most members later choosing the peaceful, parliamentary road now championed by Turkeyâs ruling party, the relatively liberal pro-Islamist Justice and Development Party (AKP).However, a smaller number of former Akincis went on to form a handful of armed groups â such as the IBDA-C. Yet, âThe success of parliamentary Islamism in Turkey has led to groups such as the IBDA-C losing almost all their support,â adds Narli.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
11/16/2003 21:44 ||
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The Arabic newspaper al-Quds al-Arabi says it has received a claim of responsibility from the al-Qaida network for the synagogue bombings in Istanbul. âAbu Hafs al-Masri Brigades struck a mortal blow after having kept Jewish intelligence agents under surveillance and determined that five of them were in two synagogues in the centre of Istanbul,â it said in a statement emailed to the London-based newspaper on Sunday. The Abu Hafz al-Masri Brigades - al-Qaida, named after one of its killed fighters, warned in a statement of more attacks around the world.
My surprise meter hasn't budged. This is their stock in trade, after all. They can't do anything else...
Saturday's car bombs, which targeted two synagogues in the heart of Istanbul, killed at least 23 people and injured some 300 others. âWe say to the criminal Bush and his valets among the Arabs and foreigners, in particular Britain, Italy, Australia and Japan: you will see the cars of death with your own eyes in the centre of the capital of tyranny," read the statement.
Car bombs in D.C. may even wake up a few Democrats. I'm surprised we haven't seen them yet.
âThey will not be limited to Baghdad, Riyadh, Istanbul, Djerba, al-Nasiriya, Jakarta," the statement said, reeling off a list of previous deadly bombings in its warning to US President George Bush. Abd al-Bari Atwan, the editor of the newspaper, confirmed to Al-jazeera that the statement was sent in an email. "The statement said that they carried out the operations after they found out that Mossad agents were working at the synagogues and therefore they bombed them," he said.
It's always Mossad agents, isn't it?
Earlier, a Turkey-based Islamist group, the Islamic Great Eastern Raiders/Front (IBDA/C) claimed responsibility in a statement to the state-run Anatolia news agency. An investigation established that suicide bombers carried out the double attacks. Turkey has been Israel's chief regional ally since 1996 when the two nations struck a military cooperation accord, much to the anger of Arab countries and Iran. It was the first Muslim country to recognise Israel after it was created in 1948.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
11/16/2003 21:31 ||
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So they attacked synagogues because they thought there were Mossad agents there?
I wonder how they'd react if we started to attack mosques because there are al'Qaeda agents there...
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
11/16/2003 22:46 Comments ||
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Car bombs in DC? Unlikely. If Al Qaeda were such a threat don't you think they would have had the suicide bombers in Rockefeller Center for the Today Show by now? The fact that none of these things have happened makes me skeptical about the frenzy whipped up by Goebbels/Streicher Rove and company
Posted by: Frank G ||
11/16/2003 4:16:29 PM ||
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"The politicians are getting what they deserve," he said
sounds to me more like it is The People(TM) who are getting what they deserve. But apparently, the concept of democracy escapes them, so apparently they don't quite grasp that fact.
Posted by: B ||
11/16/2003 19:28 Comments ||
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Israeli and Turkish investigators searched the wreckage of two bombed synagogues for clues Sunday, as rescuers found three more bodies to raise the death toll to 23 in the twin attacks. More than 300 others were injured. Private Turkish NTV said Turkish intelligence officials were questioning three people, including two women, detained in the bombings, which went off minutes apart Saturday in synagogues three miles from each other.
If women were involved, that'd make me think other than al-Qaeda...
The head of Istanbul's health department, Erman Tuncer, said three more bodies were found, bringing the number of dead to 23. Police put the number of wounded at 303. Most of the victims were Muslim passers-by. At least six Jews were confirmed dead in the attacks and some 80 others were injured.
The fact that they're willing to bump off so many of their own co-religionists to get at a few Jews indicates they don't consider their own to be particularly valuable...
Turkish officials said intelligence suggested al-Qaida may have been planning attacks in Turkey. "We were informed that both vehicles paused and exploded in front of the synagogues," Turkey's Foreign Minister, Abdullah Gul said. The drivers of the vehicles were believed to be at the wheels at the time of the blasts, he said. Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom flew to Istanbul to show support to the small Jewish community in this predominantly Muslim nation that is an ally of Israel. He visited Turkey's chief rabbi, Isak Haleva, who was in one of the synagogues when the attackers struck and was slightly injured. Haleva's son, Yosef, suffered serious face and neck wounds, and underwent surgery. Investigative teams from both nations picked through the twisted metal and other rubble for possible links to Osama bin Laden's organization or other terrorist groups based abroad.
Starting with the remains of the drivers...
One of the blasts tore apart the facade of Neve Shalom â Istanbul's biggest synagogue and the symbolic center of Turkey's 25,000-member Jewish community. The other synagogue was Beth Israel, in an affluent neighborhood. Authorities were skeptical about a Turkish radical Islamic group's claim that it carried out the bombings, questioning whether it was capable of such carefully coordinated attacks.
It's not that difficult. And there's nothing to say they weren't subcontractors...
"This incident has moved beyond the national dimension, I believe, to the international," said Turkey's prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. But Shalom, in an interview with Israel's Army Radio from Istanbul, was cautious about assigning blame. "The direction is more to al-Qaida according to the Turkish government, but this hasn't been finalized. There are things that still need to be investigated," Shalom said.
Good to be cautious. Turkish Hezbollah (no relation to the Lebanese entity) is a particularly bloodthirsty mob itself...
Turkish daily Radikal reported that the Israeli intelligence service Mossad had warned Turkish intelligence units twice about an attack on synagogues in Turkey. The first warning came in April, when Mossad reportedly said that al-Qaida was planning to attack the Neve Shalom and other synagogues, as well as U.S. British and Israeli consulates in Turkey, Radikal said. A second Mossad warning, that al-Qaida was planning attacks on Israeli and U.S. citizens in Turkey, came in September, Radikal reported.
Which swings the suspicion meter back to Qaeda. I'd still suspect they subcontracted it, or that the "Qaeda" branch is Tawhid...
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
11/16/2003 11:01 ||
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ICT says that the Raiders were likely subcontracted by al-Qaeda to carry out the attacks. Also, the PKK has used female suicide bombers, but I don't recall them ever going after Jewish targets before.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
11/16/2003 13:15 Comments ||
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One way to prevent the attacks on synagogues is to close them down. Muslim Turks wont want them in their neighborhoods now anyways. Look for a christian target there soon. Ties in well with the hit on the Lebonese Christians in SA. Getting really messy int-it. Islamic murderers.
EFL
Israeli and Turkish investigators searched the wreckage of two bombed synagogues for clues Sunday, as rescuers found three more bodies to raise the death toll to 23 in the twin attacks. More than 300 others were injured.
Private Turkish NTV said Turkish intelligence officials were questioning three people, including two women, detained in the bombings, you can be sure these are not the only people being questioned; Turkish intell is known for their âinquiriesâ and they take terrorism very seriously, arguably more so than Britain, France or maybe even the US
-which went off minutes apart Saturday in synagogues three miles from each other. The head of Istanbulâs health department, Erman Tuncer, said three more bodies were found, bringing the number of dead to 23. Police put the number of wounded at 303. Most of the victims were Muslim passers-by. Several security officials were killed also I hear, this site had extensive policing and private contractor security but the bombs were very powerful and the car carrying the bomb was parked outside the zone of inspection.
At least six Jews were confirmed dead in the attacks and some 80 others were injured...
Posted by: mhw ||
11/16/2003 10:20:55 AM ||
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CNN reports that Turkey's detained 3 or 4 in connection with the blasts - I wouldn't want to be one of those guys - the Turks are reknown for their truncheons and moustachios. JPost sez Mossad agents are there as well to help....heh heh
Posted by: Frank G ||
11/16/2003 11:01 Comments ||
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BTW - southeast Asia?
Posted by: Frank G ||
11/16/2003 11:03 Comments ||
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There's a difference between Istanbul and Islamabad...
Ten people were killed in separatist violence in held Kashmir, while attacks near the territoryâs holiest mosque and a Christian school left nine injured, police said on Saturday.
A bomb planted in a three-wheeler taxi went off on Saturday as Indian soldiers passed by the Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar, injuring three civilians and three troops of the Border Security Force, police said. Hizbul Mujahedin, the largest militant group in Kashmir, claimed responsibility for the blast, Srinagar-based media said. Hazratbal is considered Kashmirâs holiest shrine as it houses a whisker said to have come from the Prophet Mohammed.
In Pulwama, suspected rebels hurled a hand grenade at a Christian missionary school that went off in the lawn, injuring two Muslim employees of the school and a police guard, police said. Gunmen had opened fire on a bus of the same school, Good Shepherd Mission, on Thursday without causing injuries.
Separately, an Indian soldier and three militants were killed on Saturday in Rajouri district, senior police official SM Sahai said.
Two more militants died in the southern Poonch district and an Indian soldier was killed in northern Kupwara, police said.
Posted by: Paul Moloney ||
11/16/2003 6:21:24 AM ||
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Police in Pakistan have arrested a Shia Muslim leader in connection with the assassination of a rival Sunni lawmaker last month, amid a crackdown on several Islamic groups. Interior Ministry officials say they arrested Allama Sajid Naqvi in connection with the murder of a Maulana Azam Tariq, a leader of an extremist group from Pakistanâs Sunni majority. They did not say how he might have been involved. Mr Nakvi leads the Shia militant group Tehreek-i-Islami Pakistan, which is one of several organisations banned by President Musharraf on Saturday. Most of the groups, Sunni and Shia, had already been banned in security sweeps ordered by the president in the past two years, but they had simply renamed themselves and continued operations as before.
The deputy governor of the oil-rich city of Kirkuk in northern Iraq, Ismail Ahmad Rajab al-Hadidi, was wounded along with his driver after unknown gunmen tried to assassinate him. Four gunmen sprayed his car with bullets in the city centre at 7pm before fleeing, said al-Hadidi on Sunday from Kirkuk general hospital.
Were they riding motorcycles?
He said he was wounded in the leg and that his driver suffered several "serious woundsâ. Al-Hadidi, a 48 year-old trader, became deputy governor of the city after US-organised elections for a local city council last May.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
11/16/2003 21:37 ||
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::Huge anti-terrorism demonstrations were held in Nassiriyah yesterday by students association condemning the attacks on the Italian force carrying signs such as âNo to terrorism. Yes to freedom and peaceâ, and âThis cowardly act will unify usâ. I have to add that there were similar demonstrations in Baghdad more than a week ago also by students against the bombings of police stations early this Ramadan. I hope the demonstrations advocates that bugged me are satisfied now. There are also preparations for anti-terror demonstrations before Id (end of Ramadan holidays).
Why arenât we hearing about these in our news media? Or did I just miss it?
Two Black Hawk helicopters collided and crashed Saturday night, killing 17 American soldiers in the U.S. military's worst single loss of life since the Iraq war began. Five soldiers were injured and one was missing, the military said. One helicopter smashed into the roof of a house, witnesses said, and there were reports one of the aircraft was shot down. The two Black Hawks, which belonged to the 101st Airborne Division, went down in the Borsa residential neighborhood of Mosul, Iraq's third-largest city.
Murderous rat bastards...
A statement by the U.S. command said one helicopter was carrying a quick reaction force and the other ferried soldiers on a transport mission in northern Iraq. The statement did not give the cause of the crash, although some soldiers at the scene said at least one of the Black Hawks may have been hit by ground fire. "The cause of the incidents are under investigation," the statement said. "We will not speculate on the cause of these crashes."
I heard on the radio that the cause was RPG fire. They must have been flying pretty low — and pretty close to each other...
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
11/16/2003 09:43 ||
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In recent years, a significant percentage of deaths in US combat operations are due to helicopters lost to enemy action or in accidents. Is it time for a rethinking of the doctrine on how we employ helicopters?
Posted by: Patrick Phillips ||
11/16/2003 12:36 Comments ||
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They're target must have spotted them and fired a RPG before running away.
Posted by: Charles ||
11/16/2003 12:36 Comments ||
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Helicopters are incredibly efficient means of moving troops around quickly. However, I keep wondering if the troops are being encouraged to act as if they aren't in a combat zone. It would make much more sense to be dropping them 500m away, and then move in on foot, than come in fat dumb and happy and get blown away. They have to get away from the roads and quit acting like they're flying around Campbell, with no mutts out there waiting to take a shot.
Of course, what we SHOULD have done was turn Mosul into a smoking pit, but that's a different story.
Via WaPo.
The CIAâs search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq has found no evidence that former president Saddam Hussein tried to transfer chemical or biological technology or weapons to terrorists, according to a military and intelligence expert. They also have yet to locate any actual weapons stockpiles, even the stuff that was declared during the 1990s. We also evidently have at least one of al-Qaedaâs top 20 saying that they got help from Iraq. Anthony Cordesman, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, provided new details about the weapons search and Iraqi insurgency in a report released Friday. It was based on briefings over the past two weeks in Iraq from David Kay, the CIA representative who is directing the search for unconventional weapons in Iraq; L. Paul Bremer, the U.S. civil administrator there; and military officials. "No evidence of any Iraqi effort to transfer weapons of mass destruction or weapons to terrorists," Cordesman wrote of Kayâs briefing. "Only possibility was Saddamâs Fedayeen [his sonâs irregular terrorist force] and talk only." Um, if they were talking about handing out WMDs to the Saddam Fedayeen, this would imply that there were weapons to hand out to begin with. Just an interesting point to note.
I'd also point out that things like weapons handovers wouldn't take place without a lot of discussion beforehand...
One of the concerns the Bush administration cited early last year to justify the need to invade Iraq was that Hussein would provide chemical or biological agents or weapons to al Qaeda or other terrorists. Despite the disclosure that U.S. and British intelligence officials assessed that Hussein would use or distribute such weapons only if he were attacked and faced defeat, administration spokesmen have continued to defend that position. Likely due to the fact that we have in custody numerous al-Qaeda members, including apparently one of the top brass, saying that Sammy was helping them out with chem/bio warfare. We already saw that Abu Khabab and Co were more than ready to use that with the dead dogs and then thereâs Zarqawiâs nastiness in Europe last year to consider. That makes the results of their working relationship thus far extremely troubling in of itself.
Last Thursday, Undersecretary of Defense Douglas J. Feith defended the administrationâs prewar position at the Council on Foreign Relations. "The idea that we didnât have specific proof that he was planning to give a biological agent to a terrorist group," he said, "doesnât really lead you to anything, because you wouldnât expect to have that information even if it were true. And our intelligence is just not at the point where if Saddam had that intention that we would necessarily know it." That much can be seen in the inability to recover WMDs to date. Either Sammy was bluffing or they were moved, either way he was very good at hiding things from the CIA.
Yesterday, allegations of new evidence of connections between Iraq and al Qaeda contained in a classified annex attached to Feithâs Oct. 27 letter to leaders of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence were published in the Weekly Standard. Feith had been asked to support his July 10 closed-door testimony about such connections. The classified annex summarized raw intelligence reports but did not analyze them or address their accuracy, according to a senior administration official familiar with the matter. Raw intel is still intel and unless the whole thing is a pack of lies if even half of that was true itâs extremely concerning. One might be interested to see the contrast between the anti-war crowds unwillingness to accept Ibn Shaykh al-Libiâs claims in regards to Iraq to the US but swallow hook, line, and sinker Zubaydah and Khalidâs.
During the recent Baghdad briefing, Cordesman noted that Kay said Iraq "did order nuclear equipment from 1999 on, but no evidence [has turned up] of [a] new major facility to use it." So much for no nuclear program post-1991.
Although there was no evidence of chemical weapons production, Kay said he had located biological work "under cover of new agricultural facility" that showed "advances in developing dry storable powder forms of botulinum toxin," Cordesman wrote. Gee, that sounds a lot like WMD production, maybe that should go in the headline somewhere. Nah ...
During his Nov. 1-12 trip, Cordesman visited Baghdad, Babel, Tikrit and Kirkuk, where he met combat commanders and staff in high-threat areas. Reporting on his briefing by Bremer, Cordesman said 95 percent of the threat came from former Hussein loyalists while most foreign terrorists, who entered Iraq before the war, arrived from Syria, with some from Saudi Arabia and only "a few from Iran." Bremer "felt Syrian intelligence knows [of the volunteers] but is not proactive in encouraging [them]." He also said there was "no way to seal borders with Syria, Saudi [Arabia] and Iran. Too manpower intensive." Most of Ansar al-Islam is coming in from Iran and theyâve been behind most of the big booms to date, so if thereâs just a few then theyâve sure gotten a lot more professional than they were before or during the war.
That'd be the qualitative difference between the yokels who were running Ansar before and the Tawhid subgroup that's probably running thing now...
Bremer said Hussein loyalists "still have lots of money to buy attacks [because] at least $1 billion still unaccounted for." He also said the Syrians had admitted "some $3 billion more of Iraqi money [is] in Syria."
You can buy or rent a lot of muscle with $1 billion. And three times as much with $3 billion...
The Coalition Joint Task Force briefers noted that the Iraq Governing Council felt "the U.S. is too soft in attacking hostile targets, arrests and use of force," while the U.S. side "feels restraint is the key to winning hearts and minds."
"Grab 'em by the balls and their hearts and minds will follow." I don't know who said that...
Hussein, according to the briefers, "is cut off, isolated, moving constantly, [and has] no real role in control." They told Cordesman that the "problem is ex-generals and colonels with no other future — not former top officials." They also said Hussein "made officers read âBlack Hawk Downâ [Mark Bowdenâs book about the fatal downing of U.S. helicopters in Somalia a decade ago] to try to convince them U.S. would have to leave if major casualties." They said there will be attacks "until the day U.S. leaves" and "cannot ever get intelligence up to point where [they can] stop all attacks."
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
11/16/2003 12:47:12 AM ||
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--During the recent Baghdad briefing, Cordesman noted that Kay said Iraq "did order nuclear equipment from 1999 on, but no evidence [has turned up] of [a] new major facility to use it."--
Now why would they need a "new" major facility, why wouldn't an "old" facility suffice??
#2
They also said Hussein "made officers read âBlack Hawk Downâ [Mark Bowdenâs book about the fatal downing of U.S. helicopters in Somalia a decade ago] to try to convince them U.S. would have to leave if major casualties."
Just one problem here - there's a different guy in the Oval Office.
#3
Perhaps it is useful for the writer of this story to understand that when fighting terrorists, if you know about an act or an intention to commit an act, it is the same as performing the act yourself if you take no measures to notify the putative targets.
Hereâs the text of the agreement between the Coalition Provisional Authority and the Governing Council.
1. The "Fundamental Law." To be drafted by the Governing Council in close consultation with the Coalition Provisional Authority. Will be approved by both the GC and CPA, and will formally set forth the scope and structure of the sovereign Iraqi transitional administration.
Elements of the "Fundamental Law":
- Bill of rights, to include freedom of speech, legislature, religion; statement of equal rights of all Iraqis, regardless of gender, sect, and ethnicity; and guarantees of due process.
- Federal arrangement for Iraq, to include governorates and the separation and specification of powers to be exercised by central and local entities.
- Statement of the independence of the judiciary, and a mechanism for judicial review.
- Statement of civilian political control over Iraqi armed and security forces.
- Statement that Fundamental Law cannot be amended.
- An expiration date for Fundamental Law.
- Timetable for drafting of Iraqâs permanent constitution by a body directly elected by the Iraqi people; for ratifying the permanent constitution; and for holding elections under the new constitution.
Drafting and approval of "Fundamental Law" to be complete by Feb. 28, 2004.
2. Agreements with Coalition on Security. To be agreed between the CPA and the GC. Security agreements to cover status of Coalition forces in Iraq, giving wide latitude to provide for the safety and security of the Iraqi people. Approval of bilateral agreements complete by the end of March 2004.
3. Selection of Transitional National Assembly. Fundamental Law will specify the bodies of the national structure, and will ultimately spell out the process by which individuals will be selected for these bodies. However, certain guidelines must be agreed in advance.
- The transitional assembly will not be an expansion of the GC. The GC will have no formal role in selecting members of the assembly, and will dissolve upon the establishment and recognition of the transitional administration. Individual members of the GC will, however, be eligible to serve in the transitional assembly, if elected according to the process below.
- Election of members of the Transitional National Assembly will be conducted through a transparent, participatory, democratic process of caucuses in each of Iraqâs 18 governorates.
- In each governorate, the CPA will supervise a process by which an "Organizing Committee" of Iraqis will be formed. This Organizing Committee will include five individuals appointed by the Governing Council, five appointed by the Provincial Council, and one appointed by the local council of the five largest cities within the governorate.
- The purpose of the Organizing Committee will be to convene a "Governorate Selection Caucus" of notables from around the governorate. To do so, it will solicit nominations from political parties, provincial-local councils, professional and civic associations, university faculties, tribal and religious groups. Nominees must meet the criteria set out for candidates in the Fundamental Law. To be selected as a member of the Governorate Selection Caucus, any nominee will need to be approved by an 11/15 majority of the Organizing Committee.
- Each Governorate Selection Caucus will elect representatives to represent the governorate in the new transitional assembly based on the governorates percentage of Iraqâs population.
The Transitional National Assembly will be elected no later than May 31, 2004.
4. Restoration of Iraqâs Sovereignty. Following the selection of members of the transitional assembly, it will meet to elect an executive branch, and to appoint ministers. By June 30, 2004 the new transitional administration will be recognized by the Coalition, and will assume full sovereign powers for governing Iraq. The CPA will dissolve.
5. Process for Adoption of Permanent Constitution. The constitutional process and timeline will ultimately be included in the Fundamental Law, but need to be agreed in advance, as detailed below.
- A permanent constitution for Iraq will be prepared by a constitutional convention directly elected by the Iraqi people.
- Elections for the convention will be held no later than March 15, 2005.
- A draft of the constitution will be circulated for public comment and debate.
- A final draft of the constitution will be presented to the public, and a popular referendum will be held to ratify the constitution.
- Elections for a new Iraqi government will be held by Dec. 31, 2005, at which point the Fundamental Law will expire and a new government will take power.
Posted by: Steve White ||
11/16/2003 12:38:43 AM ||
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Well, there goes the argument that the election will precede the constitution. I wonder if we'll ever hear that fellow say "I was wrong".
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
11/16/2003 0:45 Comments ||
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#2
18 "govornorates", huh? Familiar number.
Stupid word, though - too much like "principates". What's wrong with just "provinces"?
Well, now we know what all the to-ing and fro-ing was about. It's "shit or get off the pot" time.
#3
Elections for a new Iraqi government will be held by Dec. 31, 2005, at which point the Fundamental Law will expire and a new government will take power.
I do not have a good feeling about this. First they have to establish some sort of political parties. Preferably not of the islamofascist persuasion. Otherwise islamofascists will jump in to fill the vacuum.
Posted by: Rafael ||
11/16/2003 7:59 Comments ||
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#4
Does anybody else think it would be a good idea to open branch offices of the Republican and (eeewww!) Democratic parties in Baghdad?
Posted by: Fred ||
11/16/2003 10:18 Comments ||
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Do these people really want ot reconstitute Iraq? It's gonna be "boom in Bagdad, boom Tikrit".
The new accelerated plan for restoring self-rule in Iraq does not mean U.S. troops will withdraw anytime soon, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Sunday. In an interview en route to a U.S. Air Force base in southern Japan, Rumsfeld was asked about the plan to restore Iraqâs sovereignty by June. ``The time table or the way ahead that the (Iraqi) Governing Council has been describing relates to the governance aspects of the country and not to the security aspects,ââ he said. ``Thatâs on a separate track.ââ Rumsfeld said the United States continues to plan to rotate a new contingent of troops into Iraq next year, with no final pullout date set yet. Accelerating the political process will not affect military planning, he said. ``This has nothing to do with U.S. troops and coalition troops in Iraq,ââ he said. The plan, endorsed by the Iraqi Governing Council Saturday, reflects Washingtonâs desire to speed up the hand over of power as attacks against American occupation forces grow more sophisticated and deadly. It came as the U.S. death toll since the war began passed the 400 mark. Yup, weâll be there a while.
Posted by: Steve White ||
11/16/2003 12:22:21 AM ||
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SANâA, Yemen (AP) - Yemenâs government on Sunday freed 92 followers of the al-Qaida terrorist network who have repented, a Yemeni judge responsible for dialogue with suspected terrorists said. Of course, thereâs no WAY Judge Bin Laden could be in any way sympathetic to these guys.
They were freed along with 1,500 other inmates as part of an amnesty during the Ramadan holy month, said the judge, Hammoud al-Hitar. âTis The Season To Be Bombing, fa-la-la-la.
He added that 65 detainees suspected of terror-related crimes, including suspects in the bombing of the USS Cole in October 2000, would be put on trial after Ramadan.
Al-Hitar heads a committee that encourages terrorists to renounce violence. He told The Associated Press that the 92 al-Qaida suspects, all of them arrested since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States, had repented and promised to obey Yemenâs constitution and laws. No, really. We promise to be good. Really. Say, whereâs that shipment of NORK missiles we ordered?
They declared they would respect "the rights of non-Muslims, their lives, money, and (promised) not to target embassies of friendly countries," al-Hitar said. I guess attacking âunfriendlyâ embassies [i.e., United States] will be fine
The dialogue with the detained terror suspects began at the end of last year. At least 70 repentant militants have been released by Yemen in the last two years. Gee, I wonder where all those âinsurgentsâ in Iraq keep popping up from?
#1
Being a terrorist means never having to say youâre sorry - Yemen frees 92 Al Qaeda
Yemenâs government on Sunday freed 92 followers of the al-Qaida terrorist network who have repented, a Yemeni judge responsible for dialogue with suspected terrorists said.
On the contrary - in Yemen, all they have to do is say they're sorry (without having to actually mean it).
Hamas has replaced its representative in Sudan, rather than close down its Khartoum office, an official from the Palestinian resistance group has said. Palestinian sources had earlier said the representative left under pressure from the United States, which had called on Khartoum to close the offices of Islamist groups.
Something about being a state sponsor of terrorism...
But Ghalib Husayn, Hamas information officer in Khartoum, told Reuters on Saturday that the former Hamas representative to Sudan, Jamal Issa, had merely moved to Yemen after completing his four-year term in Sudan and had been replaced.
Bad thing for Yemen, too...
"Hamas has an office here that is known to the state authorities. Nothing is hidden," he said. "The representative of the Hamas movement has been moved to Yemen as part of an ordinary administrative procedure." Husayn, who is also manager of al-Aqsa centre which provides information on Palestinian Islamist groups, said the new representative, Jumaa Abd al-Fattah, was not immediately available for comment. Washington lists Hamas as a "terrorist" group and Sudan as one of seven "state sponsors of terrorism", but recently said it would consider removing the country from the list if a peace deal to end a two-decade civil war in the south was signed.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
11/16/2003 21:49 ||
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Yes, I'm sure Jumaa's a "kinder, gentler" terrorist. That should shut us up, right?
Seven Iranian women in the southwestern city of Shiraz were sentenced to 50 lashes each for undermining strict Islamic codes during the holy month of Ramadan, a hardline paper reported. The women, wearing heavy makeup, were dancing and listening to loud music at the time of "iftar", the evening meal that breaks the day-long fast during Ramadan, making fun of fasting Muslims, the Kayhan newspaper said. They were arrested by police, the paper said, without giving any further details.
One woman has died and 72 people have been injured in a double bomb attack in a crowded Bogota neighbourhood.
Sounds like Hugo's ties with the Arab terror groups are resulting in some training in techniques and tactics for his Colombian pals...
The woman died after being rushed to the hospital following the explosions in two adjacent pubs late on Saturday, said Luis Fernando Dorado, head of Bogota emergency services on Sunday. Three of the wounded were US citizens, said a secret police source. Staff of the US Embassy arrived at the scene but did not comment.
This is what we call a red flag. Anybody paying attention?... Didn't think so.
The source, who did not wish to be named, said a guard in the vicinity had captured a person who planted one of the explosive devices. President Alvaro Uribe mourned for the victims and vowed to defeat the "terrorists" behind the attacks.
Start with a declaration of war on Venezuela...
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
11/16/2003 21:34 ||
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It's time to shut down every iranian embassy in S. America. That's probably a good start.
I am listening to Tim Russert interview Wesley Clark in Meet the Press. Following are some of the views heâs espousing:
*The Bush administration deserves part of the blame for 9/11, the Clinton administration only deserves a little blame.
*The Bush administration made a "fundamental choice to go against States in the War on Terrorism." But, he continues, "the problem in the War on Terrorism is not States, but Terrorist organizations."
*He keeps mentioning Nato cooperation as if it is only a call away.
Disgusting. I havenât had any hope for the Democratic Party for some time now, but listening to the proclaimed "moderate democratic candidate" tell such nonsense is a call for action. As of now, Iâm officially working for the reelection of George W. Bush.
Posted by: Sorge ||
11/16/2003 10:53:30 AM ||
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Wes Clark is all about Wes Clark. Basically as amoral and corrupt as *gasp* ... CLINTON! It's a shame, too. You would expect (at least i would) better from a full General.
Gee, now msnbc has their weekly 'panel' of radical-leftists off the street to come in and bash Bush. Go Figure.
#2
This is why I don't watch MS-NBC. The bias is so heavy that after half a minute I want smash the TV.
Posted by: Charles ||
11/16/2003 12:44 Comments ||
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#3
I gave up on them back in February, after three decades in the party; very little of what they say even makes sense anymore.
As for blame, there's plenty to go around, dating back to at least the Carter administration if not before. Islamist fanatics have been at war with us since at least as far back as the Iranian theocratic revolution in 1979, but neither Carter nor Reagan nor Bush41 nor Clinton took them seriously. Neither did the American public- after all, we thought, these are just hysterical little towelheads screaming "Death to America!!", and they don't really mean it, because they're just wogs.
Finally, after 9/11, we've got an administration that's willing to take the problem seriously and confront it head-on. Whether or not they're doing so in an effective way remains to be seen; myself, I have doubts about Bush's "Middle East Democracy" project. I hope it works, but my own druthers would have been for a lot more smacky-face and a little less kissy-face.
But that's just my druthers; and reservations aside, I am DEEPLY relieved that we're finally confronting reality. I'm also deeply relieved that we've got adults in charge again: being led by a needy juvenile whose main concern was getting the chrome on his trailer hitch polished, was getting a bit old.
Posted by: Dave D. ||
11/16/2003 12:49 Comments ||
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Maybe Shelton's comments about Clark are more telling then anybody initially gave credit for. My eyebrow's raise at Clark's comments recently. Not that I've known many General's (way above my paygrade) but his comments don't really fit the mold of any General I've ever heard give a speech.
#5
Islamist fanatics have been at war with us since at least as far back as the Iranian theocratic revolution in 1979
THANK YOU! I'm glad I'm not the only one in the world that knows the truth of that. Talk about a voice in the wilderness, I can't believe people still blame Dubya for 9/11. It had been in 'planning' for 22 years.
And Jarhead, you are absolutely right- the things that are flying out of clark's piehole don't sound like ANY comments a senior officer would make, much less a full f-u four star general or admiral. He was a screamer when he was a colonel, which everyone who pulled duty for brigade quickly became aware of. Felt sorry for all those junior officers he would go apeshit on. Maybe Shelton knows he's an ass-covering backstabber.
#6
4thInfantryVet: Yeah, I know what being a voice in the wilderness feels like. Myself, I actually date the start of this war back to 1967 (68?) when Arafat's Palestinian airline hijackings began.
Posted by: Dave D. ||
11/16/2003 13:12 Comments ||
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#7
but his comments don't really fit the mold of any General I've ever heard give a speech.
#10
The first shot I heard was the 72 Olympics. The targets wern't just Israelies but the civilized world. Clark seems like a punk, with a secreat to hide. Does anyone know why he was relieved of NATO command. He seems to be a Clinton Democrat.
NMM Zell is right about the Dems. I think he's guttless in the way he's bug'n out though. Should have outright quit the party and become independant.
Listened to parts of HILLARY last night and it occurred to me how to take the lead in the Dem polls. I would have come out and blasted HILLARY as a fake, that her and Bill have done enough screwing around, and maybe it's time she take her little dog and pony show and shove it up her ass. Are you listening Geppy? I'd make it loud and I'd make it personal. Thats how you get back those who've seen enough. Bunch of gutless pricks.
I've listened to guys like Gen Zinni (emissary to Israel/Paleo conflict), who spoke to us at Lejeune some years back. Also, had the honor of serving under Gen Lebutti (Ridge's Right-hand guy on the home def dept) - was my Division Commander for a little while. Clark couldn't hold the jock of either won of these 'warrrior leaders'. I respect that he finished first at the USMA but heard he got sacked at NATO for trying to order an attack on the Ruskies during our rush to that p.o.s. airport in Kosovo, which they were trying to beat us to. The Brit subordinate commander under running the mission told Clark he wouldn't initiate hostile fire on the Ruskies even when directly ordered by Clark. Word got back to Shelton & the others & that was it for Clark according to my sources there. Either way, I won't vote for any of the Dems this coming year.
#12
I would have come out and blasted HILLARY as a fake, that her and Bill have done enough screwing around, and maybe it's time she take her little dog and pony show and shove it up her ass. Are you listening Geppy?
Problem is, McAuliffe runs the Democratic bank, and McAuliffe is Bill and Hillary's personal eunuch. As long as he's in charge, Bill & Hill can do no wrong. The three of them should be the first crew on a Mars probe, beginning next week, with a crash-landing scheduled for sometime in 2006. Need to get the camera in place, so we can record the impact.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
11/16/2003 15:42 Comments ||
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#13
Problem is, McAuliffe runs the Democratic bank, and McAuliffe is Bill and Hillary's personal eunuch.
That's why it's so much fun watching dean and the rest of the 9 dwarves fight tooth and nail amongst themselves. I wonder if Wesley Weasel has the stomach for the gutter brawl that is about to erupt.
#14
I heard about the Clark WW3 thing, though it seems there's more. I'm sure Russert grilled him about that incedent or any other incedent that MAY have caused his sacking. Or was it rotating?
Good point OP, unless one of those pricks confronts McAuliff, call him a nasty name, make it clear that the Clintin groupies are not part of their plans, they'll all just be leafs blowing in the wind.
#15
4th: You would expect (at least i would) better from a full General.
I seem to remember that Clark was a two-star (and, I think, about to run up against an involuntary retirement selection board) until he met Bill Clinton -- and that BC's desire to put him in the NATO slot is the reason he's got four...
#16
Lucky, the quick rotating of a high ranking officer because of a screw up is sometimes referred to as a "soft-relief". I.E. instead of him getting out right fired it's more like "hey, we have this billet in the pentagon that just opened up! We really need you there Gen Clark, like next week. Don't worry about the international incident you just caused, we'll handle it."
#18
Clark was a Rhodes Scholar after his stint at the USMA. Rhodies are known for two things: their brains, and their tendency (as someone at The New Republic once put it) to kiss up and kick down. In other words, they kiss a lot of butt when they're talking to their superiors, and they kick down anyone at their level or below them. It isn't a pleasant combination.
#19
I seem to remember that Clark was a two-star ... and that BC's desire to put him in the NATO slot is the reason he's got four...
I think you're right. He was done after having the 1st Cav, not that an MG isn't anything to be proud of, it's a fine career. But I wonder why an armor officer of such distinction was conspicuously absent from commanding any armored or mechanized divisions in Desert Storm?
#20
Haven't you guys figured this out? Terry McAuliffe is Karl Rove's mole in the Democratic National Headquarters. That's the only way you can explain everything TM has done.
Posted by: Steve White ||
11/16/2003 19:04 Comments ||
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#21
Dave D., you are not alone in realizing how long into the war with terror we are, but it has felt lonely sometimes. Gen Schoonmaker started his incoming address back in August by recalling his part "23 years ago ... in the Iranian desert on a moonlit night at a place called Desert One". Rumsfeld chose his new Chief of Staff of the Army carefully. It's been 23 years so far and I suspect it will be 20-30 more ....
Second verse, same as the first...
Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia said Sunday he expects to begin talks with Islamic militants in the coming days about reaching a cease-fire with Israel — a move that could pave the way for renewing long-stalled peace talks with the Jewish state. Qureia said the truce talks would begin soon after the arrival Monday of Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman. The Egyptian, who has helped mediate past cease-fires, is coming to assist Qureia in talks with Palestinian militant groups.
Did D.J. Wu write this?
Qureia hopes to persuade Islamic militant groups to end attacks against Israel as a first step toward securing an Israeli-Palestinian cease-fire.
Been there, done that, got the corpses to prove it...
A truce halting three years of fighting is seen as key to revitalizing talks on the U.S.-backed "road map" peace plan, which has stalled amid violence and Palestinian political crises.
When we make Rantburg: The Movie, we're going to get Bill Murray to play the parts of Zinni, Mahmoud Abbas, and Qurei. All three scenes are going to be identical, except for the name of the character he plays...
A cease-fire also could strengthen Qureia, whose government was sworn into office just last week. An earlier truce — hammered out by his predecessor — collapsed over the summer in a fresh wave of bloodshed. Palestinian militant groups — including Hamas and Islamic Jihad — have signaled a willingness to halt suicide bombings and other attacks if Israel stops its military operations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath said Saturday.
I'll bet Associated Press has the paragraph hot-keyed on its word processors...
Israel, however, has not said whether it would agree to halt its military operations. Hamas' political leader, Khaled Mashaal, said Sunday that a cease-fire would depend on Israel. "If you can stop (Israel's) aggression and get an initiative from it and from America, then come to the Palestinian resistance and we will study it," Mashaal said Sunday in Beirut, Lebanon.
"Bring us an offer and we may deign to consider it."
It was unclear whether Suleiman would meet with militant groups. He is scheduled Monday to meet with Qureia and veteran Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who has called on all Palestinian factions to enter cease-fire talks. Asked Sunday whether Hamas is ready for a truce, Qureia said, "There is a Palestinian general desire for dialogue on this issue."
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
11/16/2003 10:16 ||
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gotta keep snuffing the bigwigs in Hamas, IJ, A-A....nothing else has worked as well. When their own asses get marked for termination, they suddenly get all "hudna-prone", don't they?
Posted by: Frank G ||
11/16/2003 10:52 Comments ||
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#2
Palestinian militant groups â including Hamas and Islamic Jihad â have signaled a willingness to halt suicide bombings and other attacks if Israel stops its military operations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath said Saturday.
All well and good. And you can start using them cell phones to tell each other that, so iffin' for some lame-ass reason you don't, well you can receive an immediate reply, from the IDF.
F*ck these guys and their press release politics. One shot, one kill.
#5
Anyone counted how many times " Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath said Saturday" has just been lies or total hype?
Once again the cease fire is between Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the PA. Just like the last one. The famous Hudna.
Posted by: Barry ||
11/16/2003 13:36 Comments ||
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I want to thank everybody who's been posting for the last few days, as I've been lolling on my death bed sick bed. I should be back to posting, commenting, and editing a little more consistently now...
Posted by: Fred Pruitt ||
11/16/2003 08:57 ||
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get well fred; whether you know it or not, a lot of people consider you something of a hero
#6
^(^$#$%#*&, missed another opportunity to post Dr. Shugart's patented remedy for what ails you: a half-cup 100-proof bourbon, a third-cup lemon juice, and two tablespoons honey, heated until it's almost too warm to drink. Drink a third of it at bedtime, wrap up in a washable blanket, and sleep. Reheat, and drink another third when you wake up, 14 hours later. Take the last third only if necessary, and ONLY after wringing out the ten gallons of sweat from the blanket. While it may have absolutely no curative powers whatsoever, for 36 hours, you don't care!
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
11/16/2003 12:05 Comments ||
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#10
I'll be happy to contribute to the mounting bracket and hardware so as to put the computer directly above your bed. Til then get well soon!
Posted by: Steve White ||
11/16/2003 13:02 Comments ||
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#11
Get better Fred... can you feel the air molecules hitting ya? If so that's the Flu. If the air molecules hitting ya hurt.... report to the hospital.
#19
We have been good to your site while you were in sick bay. We did not even require a substitute teacher. We are almost self-maintaining units; we can steer a course, but we can't set a heading. Get well soon!
Posted by: Jack the Slug ||
11/16/2003 21:53 Comments ||
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Peacekeepers will start collecting weapons from Liberiaâs unruly militia and government fighters in early December, U.N. officials said Friday. The first three collection centers are scheduled to open Dec. 7 in Monrovia, the government-controlled capital of the war-ruined west African nation, and the rebel-held towns of Tubmanburg and Buchanan, the United Nations said in a statement. "Turn in yer shootinâ arns here. That means you, Billy Joe."
"Iâm Billy Sue."
"Oh, sorry Billy Sue, I thought that was a wig."
The disarmament process is expected to take nine months, the United Nations said. "We do expect all factions to cooperate with the process," said Margaret Novicki, spokeswoman for the U.N. mission. "Those who refuse to disarm risk being eaten."
An estimated 40,000 ill-trained and largely unpaid girlie-boy soldiers roam Liberia, a country destroyed by 14 years of near-constant civil war that is believed to have killed 250,000. An Aug. 18 peace deal ended the latest round of fighting, but U.N. officials and Liberians say collecting the guns and destroying them is crucial to lasting peace. Boy these UN types are sharp! Iâve heard them say that food is essential to avoid starvation.
Participants will be given an initial payment of $150 for their weapons and three weeks of medical tests and counseling, the United Nations said. They will receive another $150 stipend as they re-enter society. The resulting inflation means that an egg will cost $150.
Special programs have been designed to help the estimated 15,000 child soldiers, as well as female fighters and the wounded. Free grade school for the first thousand child soldiers who turn in their weapons, and a bonus if the AK-47 is taller than they are.
After all fighters are disarmed, U.N. forces will start to rebuild the countryâs armed forces — notorious for preying on civilians, killing, raping, kidnapping and looting. West African troops will be such role models in this effort!
Some 4,500 peacekeeping soldiers — mostly from West Africa — have imposed calm in Monrovia, but skirmishes have continued in the countryside.
Posted by: Steve White ||
11/16/2003 12:47:31 AM ||
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Peacekeepers will start collecting weapons from Liberiaâs unruly militia and government fighters in early December.
The U-Wussie-N? How?
We do expect all factions to cooperate with the process.
Hahahahahahahahahaha
And I "do expect" to flap my wings and fly to the moon next Tuesday.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
11/16/2003 2:10 Comments ||
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#2
Once arms from the various militias are gathered up, they'll just break out the stuff being kept in hiding someplace...
#5
First you have to convince 40,000 soldiers to surrender and turn over their weapons to 4,500 soldiers. This will only happen when Chucky is caught or executed. And since Chucky is in Nigeria, well, what's another 5-10 years of poverty and starvation to the UN looking good?
Posted by: Charles ||
11/16/2003 12:35 Comments ||
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#6
Poverty and starvation validates the UN's existance.
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.
