Brothers Samir and Sami Al-Ansari, two of the terrorists involved in Saturdayâs killing spree here, wrote farewell letters to their families before going on the rampage. Sources close to the family told Al-Watan newspaper the two visited their father Suleiman Al-Ansari last Friday to âseek forgivenessâ, though without mentioning their real intentions.
The sources said the two brothersâ wives turned up at the fatherâs house in tears Sunday morning, saying farewell letters left behind by their husbands told them to do so. The moment the women were inside the house, the shooting started.
The family had no idea that the cousin of the two, suspected ringleader Mustafa Al-Ansari, who disappeared 10 years ago after a warrant for his arrest was issued, had secretly returned to the Kingdom.
He was reportedly meeting with his cousins daily for a month prior to the attack, training them in bomb making and the use of weapons. But the sources said nothing suggested that Sami and Samir had turned to extremism and their work for a contractor with the Royal Commission here was ânormal.â
Mustafa Al-Ansari fought in Afghanistan against the Soviet occupation 15 years ago. Also known as Abdul Naser, he was regarded as a senior fighter in Afghanistan and was also active in Somalia and Yemen.
After a warrant for his arrest was issued in the Kingdom, he fled to London, where he joined Saudi dissidents Saad Al-Faqih and Muhammad Al-Masari, according to the Interior Ministry.
Mustafaâs brother Ayman, the fourth man involved in the killings, was a high-level engineer who graduated from King Fahd University for Petroleum and Minerals in Dhahran. But sources said he became withdrawn when his son died shortly after birth three months ago and his wife went to Jeddah for treatment. He changed noticeably from what in retrospect must have been the time when Mustafa came to live with him, they said.
The curtains were drawn at the Al-Ansari family home in the Al-Zaher district of Makkah on Monday and the family refused to speak to the press. The imam of the local mosque said Mustafa and Aymanâs father was well known in the neighborhood and was âresponsible for the mosque.â
A neighbor said prior to his disappearance Mustafa had struck him as ordinary and there was no indication that he was a violent person.
Meanwhile, the owner of a Kia van used by the terrorists as a getaway vehicle said they took the van from his driver at gunpoint.
Yasser Al-Jehani said his Indian driver was taking Al-Jehaniâs children to school when the terrorists, who were dressed in Western clothes, forced him out of the car at gunpoint.
Any relation to Khaled Jehani, you think?
Al-Jehani said he had bought the car only the previous day.
It was not clear whether this was the transaction a witness reported earlier and which contributed to the belief that the attack had been carefully planned.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
05/05/2004 12:23:29 AM ||
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Posted by: Man Bites Dog TROLL ||
05/05/2004 8:46 Comments ||
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Only days after the State Department praised Saudi Arabia for its âaggressiveâ and âunprecedentedâ campaign to hunt down terrorists,â Crown Prince Abdullahâthe countryâs de facto ruler-has startled Bush administration officials by blaming âZionistsâ and âfollowers of Satanâ for recent terrorist acts in the kingdom. âWe can be certain that Zionism is behind everything,â Abdullah told a gathering of leading government officials and academics in Jeddah as he talked about the weekend attack on attack on oil workers, which killed six people, including two Americans. âI donât say 100 percent, but 95 percent.â
The comments were cited by stunned Bush administration officials and other Mideast watchers today as an ominous sign of possible new rifts in the U.S.-Saudi alliance. Although some top Saudi officials, notably Interior Minister Prince Nayef, have in the past made similar remarks, Crown Prince Abdullah has never before appeared to blame his countryâs internal troubles on the Israelisâa position that is anathema to Washington.
The U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, James C. Oberwetter, plans to meet Wednesday with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal to seek âclarificationâ of Abdullahâs comments, a State Department official told NEWSWEEK late Tuesday. âWeâve seen these remarks and, if the Crown Prince in fact made them, we would strongly disagree with such an assertion and consider it unhelpful,â the official said, adding that the State Department planned to withhold further comment until after the meeting.
Yet the normally smooth and pro-Western Saud may not prove the most receptive audience for Oberwetterâs visit. The Saudi Foreign Minister seemed to echo his brotherâs remarks in his comments today, telling reporters in Jeddah that last Saturdayâs attack on oil workers in the industrial city of Yanbu-which have jolted the oil industryâ had fed into âa Zionist campaignâ to shake the Saudi monarchy, according to a Reuters report.
In an apparent attempt to provide some evidence for his comments, Saud claimed that one of two Saudis who had been linked to the attack were believed to be followers of two well-known London-based Saudi dissidents, Saad al-Fagih and Mohammed al-Masâari, who, according to the Saudi foreign minister, are being financed by Israel. No evidence of such links has ever been made public. "This shows how desperate and hopeless they are," Fagih told NEWSWEEK in a telephone interview from London. "This is like saying George Bush is sponsoring bin Laden."
Some former Mideast diplomats today seemed flabbergasted by the remarks by the two Saudi leaders and at a loss to explain them. âIt doesnât make sense to me,â said Chas Freeman, a former U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia during the first Bush administration. âI just canât understand it.â
âItâs terribly disappointing that they [the Saudi rulers] resort to this kind of stuff,â says Edward Walker, a former veteran U.S. diplomat and now president of the Middle East Institute, a Washington based group that has received funding from Saudi Arabia. âThey know damn well whatâs happening.â
For Crown Prince Abdullah to now engage in the same rhetoric creates awkward new dilemmas. The U.S.-Saudi relationship has been under persistent political attack in the United States, especially from leading members of Congress who blame the Saudis for failing to crack down on terrorist financing in their country and promoting religious extremism. One such member, Democratic senator Charles Schumer of New York, today suggested that Abdullahâs comments were evidence that the Saudi regime may be disconnected from reality. âIf the Saudis are going to continue to deny reality and live in a dream world, then their regime will be short-lived,â Schumer told NEWSWEEK.
Ironically, the Bush administration attempted to quell such criticism by issuing a new report last week that lavishly praised the Saudis for a renewed effort to crackdown on terrorism in the wake of last Mayâs deadly bombing at a housing compound in Riyadh. âI would cite Saudi Arabia as an excellent example of a nation increasingly focusing its political will to fight terrorism,â U.S. Ambassador Cofer Black, the State Departmentâs coordinator for counter-terrorism, said in a statement accompanying the departmentâs release of its annual âPatterns of Global Terrorismâ report.
Stating that Riyadh bombings and other attacks had âserved to strengthen Saudi resolve,â Black praised the Saudis for a number of initiatives that included arresting more than 600 suspects and working more closely with U.S. officials on anti-terror financing and money laundering initiatives. Black also complimented the Saudis for initiating an ideological campaign against Islamic terrorist organizations that included statements by senior Saudi officials espousing âa consistent message of moderation and toleration.â
As is often the case with controversial comments by Saudi rulers, U.S. officials were a bit at a loss as to how to respond to them. One official noted that there were different translations of the Crown Princeâs comments and that some Saudi newspapers had deleted Abdullahâs references to âZionists,â using instead the less inflammatory word âforeigners.â The countryâs leading English-language newspaper, Arab News, which is widely read in the West, did not carry any account of Abdullahâs remarks.
An account in the Arab language Al-Riyadh newspaper, translated for NEWSWEEK and running on Sunday under the headline, âOur Country is Targeted, Zionist Hands Behind Whatâs Happening,â states that Abdullah expressed anger to a group of visitors over the Saturday attack in Yanbu. In the attack, a group of Saudi militants sprayed gunfire in the offices of a Houston-based oil contractor, killing two Americans and four others and injuring 25 people.
âOur country is targeted,â the story quotes Abdullah as saying. âYou know who is behind all of this. It is Zionism. This is clear now.â
The attackâthe latest in a spate of terrorist incidents in the kingdomâwas particularly alarming because it threatens to cause further disruptions in world oil markets. The U.S. Embassy has redoubled its efforts to warn American workers in the country to leave and that exodus alone could threaten Saudi oil production.
Oil industry expert Philip Verleger, a fellow at the Institute for International Economics, said that the incident in Yanbu was especially worrisome because the Saudis have repeatedly assured American contacts that security in that oilfield complex is very tight. What is troubling, Verleger said, is not that incidents in the Saudi oil fields will stop the production of Saudi crude, but rather that such incidents will cause both foreign and Saudi engineers and skilled workers to leave the region or the kingdom.
Even more potentially damaging, Verleger says, would be for terrorists to somehow shut down, either through a direct attack or by intimidating operating personnel, a number of oil refineries in Saudi Arabia which produce special gasoline blends formulated for the American market. Although those refineries have not been attacked and are still believed to be operating normally, they are fragile, heavily automated plants which could be hobbled by a loss of a relatively small number of personnel, or, alternatively, by a serious terror attack.
If terrorists succeed by one stratagem or another in taking down some of the Saudi-based refineries, Verleger said, "it is really, really frightening." A shutdown or big attack on one of the refineries could produce a quick rise in U.S. retail gasoline prices of 50 cents to $1 per gallon, Verleger told NEWSWEEK. If crude production is ultimately curbed by the flight of personnel or a direct attack, Verleger says, the world price of crude could soar to $60 to $70 per barrel unless the United States and other oil-consuming countries dipped into their strategic petroleum reserves to help stabilize the market.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
05/05/2004 12:06:52 AM ||
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#1
US gas has already gone up 50 cents/gallon since December. Don't worry about the expense, Arabia going off line would probably cause shortages and rationing. All those foreigners working in a country which despises them, discriminates against them and occasionally persecutes them -- that never made any sense to me. Stock up on canned goods...
#3
We wouldn't need Arabia's oil if we had opened up the Alaska Wildlife Refuge Reserves. We have ways to work around the eco-system, yet we still can't open them up! And Saudi dependancy is the result.
Posted by: Charles ||
05/05/2004 1:48 Comments ||
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Posted by: Man Bites Dog TROLL ||
05/05/2004 2:03 Comments ||
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#5
Charles, bro, thats so un PC. But ask yourselves Burgundians. Who profits by our refusal to drill?
#7
Actually, if terrorists hit the plants, it might be a blessing. In the short term it would really hurt, but (hopefully) it would be enough to get us off the OPEC oil tit. We have a lot of new technoligies that weren't around during the 70s and could use them fairly quickly and then tell OPEC to go to hell.
Posted by: LC Matthew ||
05/05/2004 2:38 Comments ||
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#8
Does Antisemite write Abdullah's speeches--or does he write hers?
#9
We wouldn't need Arabia's oil if we had opened up the Alaska Wildlife Refuge Reserves
Reality check - the high end projection of ANWR production is about 10% of what SA alone produces today, and about 40% less than what we alone import from them. A start, but no replacement. Even if we get ourselves off the OPEC tit, we're still a trading nation and the rest of the world economy is going to remain hostage to them for a long time.
#10
ANWR would help, so would the petroleum reserve west of Prudhoe Bay, Alberta, etc. The point is that it will take a crisis like Saudi Arabia going down to wake us up, much less the rest of the world. On BOTH sides of the aisle, from Dimmis to Repubs we have seen ZERO leadership and commitment in getting us off the ME oil tit since the warning embargo of '73. And that started by our dear allies, the Saudies.
This country HAS to get off bottom dead center with respect to energy supply, and that is and will be a MAJOR effort.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
05/05/2004 11:24 Comments ||
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#11
Crown Prince Abdullah was blaming âZionistsâ and âfollowers of Satanâ for recent terrorist acts in the kingdom. âWe can be certain that Zionism is behind everything,â
Yeah, Prince, a bunch of them jooos are hidin' under your bed. Better call your footman and his broom to get 'em out of there!
#12
ANWR and Prudhoe West would help, but a pipeline from them to the upper Midwest (with a spigot in Manitoba) would help as much or more. The natural gas sitting up north would make a substantial difference in the lower 48.
And then we need to be less squeamish about drilling just offshore in places like California, the Florida panhandle and Cape Hatteras.
And then we need to build a few new refineries, remodel some old ones, and reform the silly EPA gasoline formulation rules.
And help the Canadians develop the Albertan oil sands/shales.
And help the oppressed peoples of the Republic of Eastern Arabia, a 40-km strip of land ....
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/05/2004 13:10 Comments ||
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#13
Plant out of Missouri that processes biowaste into petroleum products at an 80% effeciency rate.Get a few of these big mothers running and kiss the rag-heads good-bye.
ROTARY CLUB NOTES
The first commercial Renewable Environmental Solutions plant will be
operational in Carthage in about two weeks, Don Sanders, operating manager
of the plant, told Carthage Rotary Club Thursday night (August 7) at
Broadview Country Club.
Sanders said the plant, which will convert waste from the Butterball
Turkey Plant into renewable energy, is in the final construction stages and
once operational, ground will be broken at five other locations in the
United States and Italy. Changing World Technologies, which is in
partnership with ConAgra in the local plant, will build, license and operate
future plants. Plans are to build five plants a year.
The five plants scheduled this year are partially funded by the
Environmental Protection Agency. In addition to the plant in Italy, others
will be at Enterprise, Ala., Longmont, Colo., and Reno and Tahoe, Nev. The
Carthage plant received $5 million EPA funding.
The plant uses the same process as the earth did in converting dinosaur
remains into fossil energy. He explained how waste products from the turkey
plant that are not food products are processed through a depolymerization
technique using pressure and heat. A pulp-like mixture resembling pumpkin
pie filling is first converted to fertilizer, followed by a liquid fertizer,
fatty acids that can be converted to plastics and a breakdown into carbons
that eventually convert to diesel fuel and oil that can be sold to a
refinery. The final product from the carbon is coal. The only waste, Sanders
said, is water, which because of the process, is clean.
The plant, with a capacity of 200 tons of material a day, will not be
overtaxed by Butterball because of its seasonal operation which has periods
of low production. But Sanders noted that underground tanks of grease at
many area restaurants would provide enough waste material for the plant to
operate without Butterball's waste.
The speaker was introduced by Joe Adrian, program chairman.
#14
Last week I called Abdullah a good man who is out of his element. I take back the "good" Please feel free to use other adjectives, Ranters. The FM? Mr. Princeton? I guess Bernard Lewis was never one of his professors.
Posted by: Michael ||
05/05/2004 14:06 Comments ||
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Steve White---There is alot of work still being done up here in trying to get a gas pipeline out of Prudhoe Bay through Canada and on to the midwest. Market forces seem to favor Indonesia and LNG, but security would sure favor opening up Prudhoe gas to export.
Directional drilling has come a long way. They are drilling for gas down in the Kenai, Alaska area on shore and going laterally 15,000 ft, which is almost 3 miles. I could see that kind of technology being applied off the coast of California if you can overcome the the enviroweenies objections.
All this stuff needs to be done, now. We need action on many front, not just putting our eggs in pie in the sky baskets.
We ought to put a wind farm in Nantucket just to piss off Teddy Kennedy.
There was a windmill in Nantucket......
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
05/05/2004 14:28 Comments ||
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#16
Why f-up more of our diminishing natural areas when enviro-friendly alternatives exist? (#13)
And isn't it true that Indonesia would be a good ally regarding oil. I know the Islamoidz have their eyes on it, sure as shootin'.
#17
Before you guys start calling me an environmental nut....why the hell don't we start getting more energy efficient?
Yeah, yeah, I know.....lots of energy locked up in the ANWR. Doesn't mean we all have to drive huge friggin' SUVs that are bigger than my old college dorm room (ever try to park one of those suckers? Damn.)
I'm probably not one to talk, since the Vette is a gas guzzler. I'm guilty as charged, and won't give the damn thing up even if gas goes to $5 a gallon.
But still.....wouldn't that be the best way to make the Arabs shut up? By choking on their damn oil in the first place? Not like they have anything else to offer the world.
I'm still amazed that where I live they don't do more with solar energy. Yeah, the technology so far on it isn't that great, but isn't that why you do research...to improve technology?
Hell, I just wish the Joooooos were doing something with that. That would really get Abdullah's panties in a twist, wouldn't it?
#21
#17 - Necessity is the mother of invention. When we really, truly are down to the last few year's worth of light sweet crude, we'll get some fine new technology. I'm an optimist. What can I say?
As for your statement on SUVs... no one has to drive them. People drive them because they want to. It's really quite simple. They could all drive Priuses. But they don't want to.
A Muslim who publicly declared his support for the Madrid terrorists and claims he wants to be a `martyrâ is being investigated by police. Hassan Butt, aged 24, from Manchester, featured in a TV programme which alleged that British Muslims are preparing to take up arms despite the efforts of the police and security forces. Butt, who has previously been arrested twice under the Terrorism Act, said he "envies" the Madrid bombers and that he too would like to become a martyr. He said: "It is my hope that by the age of 40 I am a martyr - and if I hadnât I would probably be a bit dejected in not being among the martyrs of Islam."
Hassan had his chance when he was recruiting Brit Muslims to fight in Afghanistan. There was nothing preventing him from joining them at Konduz or some other garden spot, but he passed on the opportunity. It's a lot easier to be brave when there's no live ammunition involved...
Asked if he was prepared to follow other British Muslims to a terror training camp, he says he would be "honoured" and that he would have his motherâs support. But Chief Superintendent Tony Kane said: "Greater Manchester Police will be viewing the programme to determine what, if any, offences have been committed. The experience of Greater Manchester Police staff in dealing with our Muslim communities is that the vast majority of British Muslim are appaled by terrorist atrocities. Furthermore, they believe that Islam categorically forbids any such violence which causes death and mayhem. This view was clearly expressed in a letter to all British mosques by the Muslim Council of Britain."
I don't know how much credence I'd put in those statements. But Hassan's a loudmouth and a would-be rabble rouser who should be disposed of, one way or the other...
The Real Story with Fiona Bruce programme claimed many young men, like Butt, are influenced by London-based Omar Bakri, leader of the controversial al Muhajiroun group. It said he has recently defended the Madrid bombers and told young British Muslims, some as young as 10, that they must "kill and be killed" for Islam, that "suicide bombers would be guaranteed a place in paradise", and even that they should consider "flying a plane into 10 Downing Street". And, referring to the continued presence of British, Spanish and US forces in Iraq, it said he told an east London audience:
"What happened in Madrid is all revenge. Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, life for life. Anybody (that) commits a crime he should be punished - thatâs exactly what happened in relation to Spain. Objective number one - break the psychology of the occupier by hitting back in their homeland. To be worried about their own wives and loved ones. Prepare as much as you can from strength and from force to terrorise - because terrorism it is part of Islam."
We knew that. I think we caught on to that a few years back, in fact.
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
05/05/2004 1:14:04 PM ||
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Toss him in jail, where he can meet some more Butt Buddies...
#3
With a last name of Butt, I feel justice is already served.
Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
05/05/2004 13:32 Comments ||
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#4
At last, they admit it!
But watch the leftists claim it was taken out of context or some similar nonsense.
Posted by: The Doctor ||
05/05/2004 13:33 Comments ||
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#5
"Terrorism is part of Islam."
Really? No kidding. Wow, I didn't know that. We learn something new every day, don't we. (yoo-hoo . . . Gentle! . . . Antiwar! we've got something for you . . . oh, yoo-hoo!)
Butt says: "Objective number one - break the psychology of the occupier by hitting back in their homeland. To be worried about their own wives and loved ones."
Yeah. Because he's certainly not worried about his farmily, whom he considers trash.
And he says: "It is my hope that by the age of 40 I am a martyr - and if I hadnât I would probably be a bit dejected in not being among the martyrs of Islam."
Yeah. Because Butt doesn't want to get too old to miss out on that "wunerful, wunerful" cosmic orgy in the sky. He's worried about how to handle all those virgins in the Islam-ick "paradise" of the suicide-for-sex cult, if he gets over 40.
(Ha-ha! Compare to our guys, who are just reaching their prime in their forties.)
Hassan Butt, age 24, is an example of a pathetic Islamic pseudo-man. And all Islamic pseudo-men deserve to die.
One more thought: how many 24-year-olds do you know that like to hang out talking to teens and ten-year-olds? (see motto in bold, italics, above)
North Korea has begun offering its Taepo Dong-2 long-range missile for sale to several nations in the Middle East.
They did Sammy so much good, they must have turbans lined up for blocks to buy them...
Western intelligence sources said the most likely client to purchase the Taepong-2 is Iran. The sources said Teheran has been negotiating with Pyongyang for the purchase of the Taepo Dong-2 for Iranâs first intercontinental ballistic missile as well as a space launcher.
Ummm... Which intercontinent y'think they might be aiming at? Somehow I can't really see turbans in space...
The Taepo Dong-2 is estimated to have a range of more than 4,000 kilometers. U.S. officials said the missileâs range could be extended to 6,500 kilometers, which would enable any Taepo Dong-2 fired by North Korea to land in the United States. SDIâs starting to look a little better now, isnât it?
#4
U.S. officials said the missileâs range could be extended to 6,500 kilometers, which would enable any Taepo Dong-2 fired by North Korea to land in the United States.
A 6,500 km range from Iran would cover all of Europe, most of China, Russia and Africa, but falls short of the US. Think they'll notice? Nah.
Posted by: Steve ||
05/05/2004 13:09 Comments ||
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#5
A 6,500 km range from Iran would cover all of Europe, most of China, Russia and Africa, but falls short of the US.
Aaaah yes but the Mullahs can hit them pesky Jooooos. Of course that would be the last memory for the Ayatollahs before the found themselves "glowing" amongst the 72 vestial virgins. But, that is a minor detail.
#6
If a nuclear missile is headed for Tel Aviv, and the Israelis have some 200 nuclear missiles, what possible motive could they have for NOT wiping out every single Moslem nation on the planet?
Just based on the assumption that only a few Israeli Jews remain, and that the vast majority of the Jews left in the world live in the US, WHY NOT?
#7
things are going to get dicey...if the mulla's get hold of inter-cont missles all bets are off..the US will have to take pre-emptive action..and not just regime change...but nuclear strikes..time is not on our side with this one..
the euros have failed miserably in regards to iran and we are now in a holding pattern till after the elections...
Posted by: Dan ||
05/05/2004 14:06 Comments ||
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#8
Plutonium created by the Bushehr reactor makes very compact bombs easily lofted by missles, due to weight reduction. If the Iranians could get the plans from the Paks, all they need is the Plut. Either Israel or the US is going to have to take Bushehr out, as well as U235 centrifuges, election or no, or there will be hell to pay for everyone. Including the Black Turbans.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
05/05/2004 14:44 Comments ||
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#9
N. Korea puts long-range missile on the market - why can't they do model change in August like civilized nations. If the North Koreans were members, our contractors would have recourse with the WTO. Also the Chinese could file a complaint about flooding the market with products produced with labor that is not being paid a âliving wageâ â¦literally.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
05/05/2004 22:35 Comments ||
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#10
go ahead - ship em by sea...make our USN's day
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/05/2004 22:48 Comments ||
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North Korea, probably the worldâs most secretive and isolated nation, has offered an olive branch to the US by promising never to sell nuclear materials to terrorists, calling for Washingtonâs friendship and saying it does not want to suffer the fate of Iraq.
Senior members of the communist regime have spelt out proposals for solving the simmering crisis over their nuclear weapons programmes in an unusually frank series of interviews with Selig Harrison, the Washington-based Korean expert.
Although their statements will be treated with scepticism in Washington, they suggest a reasoned view of international affairs in sharp contrast to the simplistic, bellicose and anti-American rhetoric used by junior officials and relayed to the world by the North Korean news agency.
In Mr Harrisonâs first-hand report, published in Tuesdayâs FT, North Korean leaders explicitly condemn al-Qaeda, and categorically reject US accusations that they would be willing to transfer nuclear technology to the Islamist terror group - or to anyone else.
Kim Yong-nam, deputy to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, said in a two-hour interview: "Weâre entitled to sell missiles to earn foreign exchange.
"But in regard to nuclear material our policy past, present and future is that we would never allow such transfers to al-Qaeda or anyone else. Never."
Paik Nam-soon, foreign minister, denounced al-Qaeda and other terrorists and said George W. Bush, US president, was using the shock of the September 11 attacks to turn Americans against North Korea. But he said: " The truth is that we want and need your friendship."
Mr Kim rejected the notion that North Korea would never give up nuclear weapons. He argued that Pyongyang - branded by Mr Bush as part of the "axis of evil" - was developing nuclear weapons purely to deter a US attack. "We donât want to suffer the fate of Iraq," he told Mr Harrison.
Mr Harrison, director of the Asia programme at the Centre for International Policy in Washington, has been highly critical of the Bush administrationâs hardline policy towards North Korea and enjoys exceptional access to the North Korean leaders.
He reports that the North Koreans firmly rejected the idea of immediately dismantling their nuclear programmes, insisted on a phased process with concessions on each side, and threw no light on how far they had developed weapons or how their actions could be verified.
Mr Kim told Mr Harrison he thought Mr Bush was delaying resolution of the North Korean issue because of the war in Iraq and the US presidential election later this year.
But he said: "Time is not on his side. We are going to use this time 100 per cent effectively to strengthen our nuclear deterrent both quantitatively and qualitatively. Why doesnât he accept our proposal to dismantle our programme completely and verifiably through simultaneous steps by both sides?"
Mr Harrison, on his eighth visit to the country, said he was struck by the "social ferment" resulting from Kim Jong-ilâs economic reforms after decades of rigid state control.
The benefits of reform, however, were unevenly spread, with farmers profiting from free markets but those on fixed wages suffering the effects of inflation.
Posted by: tipper ||
05/05/2004 1:08:34 AM ||
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#1
Nothing new here. Just Lucy, Charlie Brown and a football. Although I wonder if the timing of the offer was accelerated by the train blast. Maybe Kim and the people around him are getting just a little nervous about what happens when Iraq settles down.
#2
Somebod needs to tell Kim Yong-nam, deputy to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, that in our country we spray Pledge on a rag and remove dirt from tables with it.... without wax build-up.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
05/05/2004 2:50 Comments ||
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#3
... saying it does not want to suffer the fate of Iraq.
"Weâre entitled to sell missiles to earn foreign exchange."
Classic self-cancelling rhetoric. No detectable change in stance. Their promises carry the same weight as aerogel. If all of their fuel trains continue to explode, maybe they'll learn that a substantial offer must be made for any results to be obtained.
#3
The students absorbed the tragedy into the botellón: their Friday and Saturday evening routine of gathering in central Madridâs plazas to drink liters of cheap wine mixed with Coca Cola (calimocho).
I cringe in utter horror. Dear God, someone please tell me the author is lying about that part.
Posted by: Patrick Phillips ||
05/05/2004 14:33 Comments ||
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#4
A good portrait of the suicidal nihilism that is so fashionable in Europe and here. The left of 30 years ago promoted anti-patriotism and surrender in the cause of an international revolution. Since that revolution failed, the left can only promote surrender to whatever barbarians happen to come along.
Spainâs recently elected Socialist government is looking for new ways to combat militant Islamic extremism. An extremist group is the main suspect in the Madrid bombings of 11 March. Mr Alonso has proposed establishing a register to control religious activities, both Muslim and Roman Catholic. Mr Alonso says the register would identify who was responsible for leading worship and the type of worship to take place.
The religious leader of Madridâs mosque has welcomed the idea. In an interview published in El Mundo newspaper, Mr Mahmoud says it would be good for the government to know what certain clerics were saying to their congregations. The leader of Spainâs biggest mosque says there are extremists preaching to the Islamic community and he believes the government needs to stop them.
âReturn to censorshipâ
But attempts to limit religious freedom strike a sensitive chord in Spain. In addition to the countryâs more than half a million practising Muslims, 30 million Spaniards identify themselves as Roman Catholic. The opposition Popular Party and leading Roman Catholic bishops are against any attempts to curtail religious freedom. The archbishop of Seville, Carlos Amigo, says the minister of the interiorâs proposals are a return to the days of censorship under the Franco dictatorship. This is exactly the sort of thing I have been predicting. While fairly easy to foresee, I do not detect any signs that the Muslim world has yet to comprehend what is in store.
Some people here are taxed beyond their abilities to reconcile my recognition of the many moderate Moslems that certainly exist and my own advocacy of imposing a credible deterrent against Islamist terror. While I freely recognize the existence of moderate Muslims, such a constituency in no way negates the dire need for suppressing their more fanatic segments.
Global Islam can only look forward to more of Spainâs measures should they fail in making sincere and genuinely determined inroads against the radicals in their midst. I abhor censorship but refuse to countenance terror even less. When Islam begins to understand this equation, perhaps they will finally start to thrust such violent jihadists from their ranks. Until then, the actions of a virulent few will justify retaliation against the many, exactly as I have outlined elsewhere.
At this point, I am obliged to wonder just how long Spain will be spared further attacks now that they have "violated" whatever feeble truce it is that they brokered.
Iâll give them a few weeks at best.
Posted by: Zenster ||
05/05/2004 3:35:15 AM ||
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May I suggest that the "moderate" Muslims that you are looking for are simply less fanatical about religion in the first place. Yes, such Muslims do exist. But then they are of no use in moderating Islam.
Posted by: Rafael ||
05/05/2004 4:12 Comments ||
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They might be less fanatical about religion but they all feel the same way towards Israel and American support of it. They (moderate) will not lift a finger to help the war on terror and will do everything to hinder it.
#3
Zenster..I'll lay 2 to 1 odds that you'll see censoring of churches but not mosques, the places where the extremists preach will still continue to preach what they say while claiming the government seething about government interference in their religious areas. There plan, while well meanining..wont stop the hatred thats coming out of these places.
#4
Meanwhile, Canada is trying to turn Biblical passages into hate speech. Valentine's right -- you'll see censorship and prosecution of Christians for saying the wrong things long before you see anything done about Muslims.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
05/05/2004 9:07 Comments ||
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#5
someone shuld tell him to have happy cinco de mayo. happy cinco de mayo evryone! :)
#6
Ugh. I hate prior restraint. Let them say whatever the hell they want, but if it falls under "shouting fire in a theatre", bring 'em up on charges.
Yeah, yeah - I know. The rest of the world doesn't have a first amendment. Doesn't mean it isn't a good idea.
Posted by: Mitch H. ||
05/05/2004 9:17 Comments ||
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This is EXACTLY why, as a LIBERAL, I support Bush's aggressive policies in the Mid east and South asia. Spain has chosen not to fight OVER THERE - the logical alternative is to try to wage the fight at home, and this INEVITABLY leads to loss of civil liberties. And yeah, the Church and the PP are right - once you say the state can restrict Mullahs speech, you open up to restriction on speech by Christians, Jews, etc.
This thing MUST be fought at the roots, IN THE ISLAMIC countries, and that fight MUST be won, whatever the costs, or we face loss of freedom at home.
#10
Zenster..I'll lay 2 to 1 odds that you'll see censoring of churches but not mosques, the places where the extremists preach will still continue to preach what they say while claiming the government seething about government interference in their religious areas. There plan, while well meanining..wont stop the hatred thats coming out of these places.
Which is precisely why it is incumbent upon all Muslims to report the violent jihadists within their ranks. Should this not come to pass, all Islam will condemn themselves as a whole by consenting through silence to ally their religion with fanatics.
There is very little time for them to begin this purge. After that, it may well be necessary for other powers to purge their ranks for them. It simply may boil down to reclaiming a "peaceful" religion from those who are hijacking it.
If outside attempts to rid Islam of its virulent radicals are met with opposition en masse then Islam itself will require dismantling altogether. There is not much time left for them to realize it and take action.
It would be wonderful if we had the luxury of waiting around for them to come to this realization on their own, but we do not. I give less than 24 months before incredibly suppressive measures begin to manifest.
Moslems cannot be permitted to parade under false colors. Expecting the world's protection as an instituted religion while serving to foment atrocities without vigorous internal protest and remediation qualifies Islam for nothing but the scrap heap.
PS: muck4doo, that last comment was one of your best (and most readable).
#11
Zenster, overkill is not the answer. Your gung ho, âpro-militaryâ solutions lack the temper of realism. Donât give up on Muslims, in general. They, too, bleed and die and hope daily for a better life. Palestine simply proves that the gentrification of entitlement, without personal responsibility and true democratic voice, always leads to thuggery. If we follow the policies of President Bush, there is much reason to hope millions more can be set free to pursue life, liberty and happiness. We have the sword for the warring, and our right hand of friendship for the peaceful.
#12
Zenster, overkill is not the answer. Your gung ho, âpro-militaryâ solutions lack the temper of realism. Donât give up on Muslims, in general. They, too, bleed and die and hope daily for a better life.
While I appreciate your admonishments, cingold, I do not see where there is time for non-military solutions. The Food-for Oil program and most sanctions in general are sterling examples of squandered opportunities. It is only after Khadafi narrowly missed getting a high speed enema that he began writing us love letters.
I've already taken brickbats for maintaining that there are moderate Muslims. I'll probably continue to do so. At the same time, I refuse to tolerate even the remote chance of a nuclear terror attack.
Ayman Al-Zawahiri has openly bragged about al Qaeda's procurement and willingness to use nuclear weapoms for terror attacks. Even if he only seeks to ratchet up the tension, so be it.
We are obliged to operate on the basis of what he has said. This leaves very little time on the clock (as in microseconds). The world does not have time to press solely conventional military campaigns in pursuit of these fanatics. Sure, they must continue to be carried on, but some other massive club must be held above Islam's head as a whole if we have any hope of preventing an atrocity that will make 9-11 pale in comparison.
#13
"I refuse to tolerate even the remote chance of a nuclear terror attack."
So you're going to do WHAT, Mr. Militia?
Take the "law" or the government into your own hands?
You still sound like a nuclear nut yourself and as crazy as Saddam or Hitler babbling about "enemies."
As a citizen, you can do several things: buy radiation pills (I did).
Build a shelter in your home and stock up on supplies.
Vote and pay taxes and support the government, which is trying to prevent this from happening and one of the key things in this regard is our Strategic Missile Defense.
(Note: this means NOT calling the President "Shrub" and going around saying things like "He stole the election in 2000."
The enemies of this country THRIVE on talk like that and think that because there are loud Americans like you who disrepect President Bush that therefore we are ripe for attack and takeover.)
Other than the actions I outlined above, any "proactive action" you propose to get started is out of your bounds as an ordinary citizen and American, Zipperhead.
You want the terrorists and rogue states to respect America by having the President announce that he'll nuke them if they put a foot wrong...well, respect, like charity, begins at home.
Why should Al Queda respect Bush, nukes or no nukes, when you DON'T?
And the President has the Football with him at all times, whether you think he was "properly" elected or not.
(He was.)
Posted by: Jen ||
05/05/2004 12:40 Comments ||
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#14
Get after the left deviationist on the blog. Hero of blog metal to Jen and Brab
Posted by: Stalin ||
05/05/2004 18:08 Comments ||
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ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Three bombs exploded outside a police station in a series of timed blasts Wednesday, causing serious damage but no injuries, authorities said. The pre-dawn explosions, which occurred over a span of about a half hour, came before events to mark 100 days left until the Aug. 13-29 Olympics. An anonymous caller to an Athens newspaper warned of the attacks several minutes in advance, but gave no motive or claim of responsibility.
They're just warming up. Just wait for the finals!
Bomb experts conducted a controlled explosion at the site, but it was apparently a suspicious package and not a fourth bomb.
No bronze medal for you!
Police believe the bombs at the southern residential district of Kalithea were intended to claim victims despite the tip to the newspaper. Parts of the building were extensively damaged. Authorities evacuated the station and cordoned off the area.
In September, similar timed blasts damaged a judicial complex in Athens and injured one police officer. The twin bombings, spaced 20 minutes apart, were claimed by a group calling itself Revolutionary Struggle and believed to be a protest against crackdowns that toppled the deadly November 17 terrorist cell.
Greek authorities - under intense pressure safeguard the Olympics - claimed they crippled domestic terrorism following the convictions in December of 19 members of the group, blamed for 23 killings and dozens of other attacks since 1975. The victims include four U.S. officials, two Turkish diplomats and a British defense envoy. But smaller groups have continued to carry out bombings and arson attacks in Athens and other cities, but most are against cars and commercial targets and rarely cause injuries.
"C'mon, Kiki, hurry the hell up with the wiring, there's still time to qualify!"
An International Olympic Committee inspection team is scheduled to arrive in Athens on Monday for a final review of preparations.
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/05/2004 12:46:28 AM ||
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Jihadies, is there nothing they can't ruin.
Thank God the mullahs are in prayer. Oh lord wont you buy me a marsaydies beinz. The other holy men should make amens.
#2
Sounds more like a domestic group, when's the last time a jihad group warned anyone a bomb was planted?
Posted by: Steve ||
05/05/2004 8:37 Comments ||
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That was what I was thinking. Did they miss someone from November 17, or is this a starry-eyed fan following in their footsteps?
Posted by: Mitch H. ||
05/05/2004 9:06 Comments ||
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Doesn't really matter if it's a domestic group or not if you ask me. Fact is the Greeks can't protect the Olympics. Hell they are having enough problems just gettting ready for them! I pray I'm wrong, but the Olympics are going to be a blood bath.
#6
My sentiments, exactly, AHM. Stay away, everybody. If you have to go, though, your best bet is to blend in. Either that, or something in a sport-coat styled kevlar jacket...
The Macedonia authorities are seeking to arrest a former interior minister alleged to have ordered the staged killing of seven foreigners in 2002. A warrant was issued after Ljube Boskovski failed to attend a hearing. Officials recently said that the seven, initially alleged to be militants, were illegal immigrants shot in cold blood. It was apparently an attempt, officials say, to show that Macedonia was serious about participating in the US-led war on terror. At the time, the interior ministry said the seven - six Pakistanis and an Indian - had been killed after trying to ambush police in the capital, Skopje. But a police spokeswoman said on Monday they had in fact been shot in a "staged murder". When the incident was reported more than two years ago, it was claimed that a new front had opened up in the war on terror.
The Macedonian interior ministry said the seven men of Pakistani origin were killed after opening fire on a police patrol with machine guns. Mr Boskovski said the dead men had been planning attacks on vital installations and embassies. But questions soon began to be asked about the authoritiesâ version of events. Police spokeswoman Mirjana Konteska told the Associated Press news agency on Monday that the victims were illegal immigrants who had been lured into Macedonia by promises that they would be taken to western Europe. She said they were transported to the Rastanski Lozja area, about 5km north of Skopje, where they were surrounded and gunned down by police. .... Ms Konteska told AP the investigation was continuing and more suspects could be charged. ....
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
05/05/2004 12:20:45 AM ||
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Spanish prosecutors have formed a six-member team to focus on cases involving Islamic militant violence in the wake of the Madrid train bombings, officials said Tuesday. The six-strong team includes Olga Sanchez, the lead prosecutor in the train bombing investigation. Two other prosecutors who have specialized in Islamic-linked violence are also in the team. All six prosecutors come from Spain's High Court -- a special crimes tribunal where judges have been investigating suspected al Qaeda cells since long before Sept. 11, 2001. "This is a result of the new state prosecutor having declared the fight against terrorism to be our top priority," the spokesman said. Separately officials plan to hire 60 new prosecutors and 40 new judges across Spain on top of the 1,700 prosecutors and more than 4,000 judges at present.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
05/05/2004 12:15:01 AM ||
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You'd better be forming your Army and getting what morale is left to a level where your Army will fight for you.
Posted by: Bill Nelson ||
05/05/2004 7:34 Comments ||
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They'll probably fight the violence by building more mosques.
Posted by: Infidel Bob ||
05/05/2004 11:03 Comments ||
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I see that Spain and SKerry have the same view of terrorism....'Police Action'. Seems that SKerry was involved in a 'Police Action', then complained after the fact.
Maybe we can trade SKerry for Aznar?
Posted by: Sean ||
05/05/2004 11:26 Comments ||
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Menad Benchellali, thin and bearded, was known among his Arab friends as "the chemist" because of the special skills he learned at al Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan. When he returned to his native France in 2001, according to investigators, he set up a laboratory in his parents' spare bedroom and began to manufacture ricin, one of the deadliest known substances.
Working at night with windows open to dissipate fumes from the process, he blended ingredients in a coffee decanter and spooned the doughy mixture onto newspapers to dry. The final product was a white power that Benchellali stored in small glass flasks and old jars of Nivea skin cream -- to be used, as he later told police, "in the event I became involved in the jihad."
Today, exactly how many jars of ricin the 29-year-old Benchellali may have produced -- and their whereabouts -- is an urgent question for European governments facing a wave of terrorist attacks and threats. Last year, investigators say, similar containers turned up in Britain, in the possession of North Africans who were allegedly planning an attack. At least one other jar is known to be missing, and French investigators suspect that still others exist.
The story of Benchellali's laboratory offers a glimpse into a secret world of suspected terrorists and their quest for biological and chemical weapons. According to European investigators, a string of incidents in recent months points to a particular interest in ricin, the highly lethal toxin that comes from castor beans.
So far, no poison attacks by al Qaeda-related groups have been carried out, and many experts say they believe that terrorist groups still haven't mastered the skills needed to make an effective weapon. But they clearly are trying. Lacking facilities for making advanced chemical or biological arms, investigators say these groups are seeking toxins that can be easily bought, stolen or manufactured in an ordinary kitchen using common ingredients.
Al Qaeda's interest in biological and chemical arms is well documented, although the group's ability to produce such weapons is believed to have been crippled by the loss of its sanctuary in Afghanistan. Invading U.S. forces in 2001 discovered and destroyed two production centers that were preparing to manufacture cyanide and the botulinum and salmonella toxins, and possibly anthrax.
Since then, investigators believe al Qaeda has become more diffuse, transforming itself into a loose-knit collection of underground cells. They say that Benchellali, who has been in prison in France since December 2002, may be one of hundreds of specially trained graduates of al Qaeda camps in Afghanistan who have shared their skills with a new generation of recruits.
"Biological and chemical weapons are more important than ever to al Qaeda, but the new emphasis is on the simple and the practical," said Roland Jacquard, a French terrorism expert and author of a forthcoming book, "The Third Generation of al Qaeda," which describes the evolution in tactics. "This is the kind of terrorism that interested Benchellali's group. If they had been allowed to continue, they probably would have succeeded."
In the past 21/2 years, ricin-making equipment or traces of the toxin have been discovered during police raids on al Qaeda-affiliated cells in Britain, France, Spain, Russia, Georgia and Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq. In each case, police also found manuals or papers containing detailed instructions for making and using ricin.
CIA Director George J. Tenet, in testimony in March before the U.S. commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, cited the manuals in warning of a "heightened risk of poison attacks" in the near future. "Extremists have widely disseminated instructions for a chemical weapon using common materials that could cause large numbers of casualties in a crowded, enclosed area," Tenet said.
Ricin is not well suited for a weapon of mass destruction. At least a half-dozen countries, including the United States and Iraq, have sought to weaponize ricin and failed. The toxin's jumbo-sized molecules are heavy and tend to clump together, and bioweapons scientists found they needed tons of ricin to deliver lethal doses to a battlefield.
For would-be terrorists, however, ricin is appealing for a single reason: accessibility.
"The technology for making it is low enough that literally any crank working in his basement can create a ricin preparation of some sort," said Jonathan Tucker, a biological weapons expert with the Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies. "You can't do that as easily with anthrax."
The raw materials for ricin are cheap. The toxin naturally exists in castor beans, which grow wild in many parts of the world, including the United States, where the plants are prized by gardeners and landscapers as an ornamental shrub. Brazil, China and India grow industrial quantities of the colorful, plump beans to make castor oil, which is used in products ranging from laxatives and shampoos to lubricating oils. A single castor bean, if chewed, contains enough ricin to kill a child. Al Qaeda's interest in ricin dates to at least the late 1990s. Two terrorism manuals seized from al Qaeda operatives in several locations contain detailed instructions on making and using the toxin. One was found by British journalists in November 2001 at a deserted al Qaeda safe house in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. Another was titled, "The Encyclopedia of Jihad," and commends ricin as one of the "poisons that the holy warrior can prepare and use without endangering his health."
Many of the details of Benchellali's ricin experiments -- including how much he made and how he intended to use it -- remain unknown. But after a year-long probe, French investigators have pieced together a chronology of his activities. This account is based on interviews with investigators, a family member, neighbors and French journalists, and the transcripts of police interrogations of Benchellali.
The son of an Algerian-born Muslim cleric, Benchellali grew up in a gritty Lyon suburb, Les Minguettes, notable for its thickets of towering public housing complexes and 30-percent unemployment rate. As a boy, he witnessed his father's confrontations with the French government over laws banning Islamic head coverings for school girls. Although he developed a fondness for nice cars and clothes, he saw few opportunities for obtaining them, or for gaining full acceptance as a Muslim and Arab in France, according to family acquaintances.
"As an Arab living here, the only area of society where you are truly accepted is religion," said Mustapha Kessous, a Lyon journalist and radio talk-show host who has written extensively about the Benchellali family and Lyon's immigrant community. "To anyone meeting you on the street, you are a Muslim and an Arab first, not a Frenchman."
Police are uncertain how Benchellali first connected with al Qaeda. In the late 1990s, according to U.S. and French intelligence officials, he traveled to Afghanistan to train in one of several camps that the group established for foreign recruits. On one of his later trips he was accompanied by his younger brother Mourad, who eventually was captured by U.S. forces in Afghanistan and is now being held at the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
U.S. officials believe Menad Benchellali may have received advanced training at al Qaeda's Derunta camp, near the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad. The camp housed one of al Qaeda's labs and a school for a select group of recruits who studied the use of toxic chemicals and biological toxins, including ricin, U.S. intelligence sources say.
The instructors included at least two scientists: Yazid Sufaat, a U.S.-trained biochemist who is now in custody in Malaysia, and a Pakistani microbiologist who U.S. officials have declined to name. At Derunta, U.S. forces discovered castor oil and equipment for making ricin. "There is a lot of evidence of crude attempts to produce ricin," at Derunta, said a U.S. intelligence official who spoke on condition he not be identified by name.
After al Qaeda lost Afghan camps to invading U.S. forces in late 2001, Benchellali's chemical training shifted to the Pankisi Gorge, a lawless area in Georgia that borders Chechnya, the separatist republic in southern Russia, French authorities say. The existence of makeshift laboratories and training camps in the mountainous region has been documented by the Georgian government, which moved to close the camps early last year. Benchellali told police he had planned to join the Chechen rebels but was thwarted in his attempts to cross into Russia. He decided instead to return to France, taking with him new skills and a network of contacts spanning most of Western Europe.
The apartment in suburban Lyon to which Benchellali returned two years ago is small but tidy, its thin green carpet and modest furnishings showing meticulous care. The dominant feature is a wall-length bookshelf filled with handsome brown leather volumes with titles in gold Arabic script. A young girl who answered the door recently explained that the dwelling had been nearly empty for weeks: Since early January, three members of the family -- both parents and a brother -- have been jailed pending trial on charges they aided Menad Benchellali's attempts to make ricin.
The lab was located in a spare bedroom that doubled by day as a sewing room. French police say Benchellali, fresh from training camp in the Pankisi Gorge, would lock himself in the room and work through the night on his mysterious projects, the nature of which he kept to himself. In fact, French police say, he was experimenting with a variation of one of the recipes he learned abroad: a ricin concoction laced with the toxin that causes botulism. While extremely toxic, ricin can be extracted using rudimentary kitchen equipment and can be handled without danger if a person takes basic precautions.
Family members acknowledged to police that they sometimes ran errands for Benchellali, picking up lab equipment and bottles of acetone from a local market. Acetone is used in the processing of the castor beans. "Menad would tell me what he needed, and I would make a list," one of his sisters told police, according to a transcript of her interrogation, which was relayed by a French investigator.
Benchellali's mother, Hafsa, told police she became concerned after finding strange potions and liquids scattered around her sewing room following one of her son's all-night sessions. But when she confronted her son, he warned her to stay away. "He said it was dangerous," the woman said, according to the transcript, "and it was better if I didn't know what he was doing."
The experiments ended abruptly in December 2002 when Benchellali was arrested along with three others in connection with an alleged plot to bomb the Russian Embassy in Paris with conventional explosives. Months passed before terrorism investigators became fully aware of the ricin experiments and the extent of Benchellali's possible ties with al Qaeda's biological and chemical programs abroad. On Jan. 10, 2004, police raided the family's apartment in a search for weapons and equipment, but by then any traces of ricin that might have existed had vanished, French officials said.
Relatives and neighbors contend that the government's claims about Benchellali are wildly exaggerated. Jacques Debray, a lawyer representing the Benchellali family, said he believed that France's arrest of the parents was partly a pressure tactic to extract confessions -- including possible new leads to assist the U.S. government in its prosecution of Mourad Benchellali, the son held prisoner at Guantanamo Bay. "Such information could clearly improve relations with the United States," Debray said.
French terrorism officials, however, are convinced that the arrests halted a terrorist attack and likely saved lives -- and not just in France. But the details of such plans for an attack are not known.
"Members of this group had training in chemical and biological weapons," said a senior French terrorism investigator who spoke on the condition he not be identified by name. "We know they wanted to develop poisons and use them to create panic. It was to be one tool among many."
In January 2003, prompted by French discoveries in the Benchellali case, British police raided apartments in London, Bournemouth and Manchester and apprehended 13 North African men suspected of ties to al Qaeda and an affiliated terrorist group, Ansar al-Islam. In one of the London apartments authorities found castor beans, traces of ricin and equipment for making the toxin. Later that month, Spanish police arrested 16 North Africans and seized additional equipment, chemicals and false passports.
French officials believe the Spanish, British and French cells were communicating with one another and coordinating their activities, especially those related to obtaining toxins and poisons. Members of all three groups had spent time at the same Pankisi Gorge camp. Yet, more than a year after Benchellali's arrest, European and U.S. counterterrorism officials are not convinced that all members of the network have been identified.
The Bush administration has said it believes more than 100 militants were part of the same cluster of terrorist cells that allegedly included Benchellali. It also contends that members of the network took orders from Abu Musab Zarqawi, a Jordanian-born Palestinian terrorist believed to have organized recent suicide bombings in Iraq. While other governments are less certain about the command structure, there is wide agreement among counterterrorism officials that additional sleeper cells continue to operate in Europe, Asia and possibly North America.
"They are honing their skills and awaiting instructions," said Jacquard, the French terrorism expert. "They make what they want and they raise their own money. Some may not be sophisticated. But they communicate with more professional and trained individuals who are operating under the last orders they received from leaders of al Qaeda."
Terrorism experts say an attack with ricin probably would not cause massive casualties, though it could kill or sicken dozens or even hundreds under the right conditions. Even a small-scale attack could cause panic and disrupt commerce and government services, as was illustrated two months ago when the discovery of ricin traces on a mail-sorting machine shut down Senate office buildings for several days.
"These are toxins that, if released in a enclosed space, could cause extreme harm," said Jeffrey M. Bale, an expert on chemical and biological terrorism at the Monterey Institute of International Studies. "There's no doubt that the groups we're seeing today could carry out such an attack. What surprises me is that that they haven't already done so."
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
05/05/2004 12:02:34 AM ||
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Informative article, however I see Dan still has not grasped the concept of "Edit For Length".
Posted by: Steve ||
05/05/2004 11:34 Comments ||
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Actually, I did edit, cutting out most of the discussion on what ricin is and its history :P
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
05/05/2004 11:57 Comments ||
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#3
I actually appreciated the length of this article. I think it gave a better picture of what's going on. Let's us understand how this works, and why it's so hard to catch these twerps. Thanks Dan.
A Canadian man who was taken prisoner by American forces in Iraq last year is suing the U.S. army for $350,000 US because he claims he was tortured. Hossam Shaltout, 57, says he was taken to the Camp Bucca detention centre shortly after the invasion began in March 2003. There, he claims to have been beaten, and saw other prisoners being abused. Born in Egypt, Shaltout moved to Canada in 1971 and became a citizen. He later moved to Los Angeles, where he has a business distributing U.S.-made global positioning devices in Saudi Arabia. When he was released by the army, he was taken to Egypt, he claims. His lawyer, Thomas Nelson of Portland, Ore., said a suit detailing the allegations was filed with U.S. Army Claims Office on April 30. In his statement of claim, Shaltout says he went to Iraq to work for a group called Rights and Freedom International. He claims he was arrested on April 9, 2003 and accused of being a speech writer for Saddam Hussein. He says he was beaten after protesting his arrest, and more than $100,000 taken from his hotel room was never returned. In an interview with The Associated Press, Shaltout said he was abused less than Iraqis in the same detention centre. "They did unspeakable things to Iraqis," he said in a telephone interview from Saudi Arabia. Shaltout says he canât return to his Los Angeles home because U.S. authorities wonât return his green card. Maybe I should sue as well. I just have to come up with a believable story. Oh wait, Iâm thinking out loud again...
Posted by: Rafael ||
05/05/2004 12:46:45 AM ||
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#1
So unspeakable he wants a green card so he can go back to LA. And where did he get the $100K?
Sorry buddy, you hate us, we hate you. Entry denied.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has been asked to testify at a public hearing tentatively set for Thursday on the scandal over abuse of Iraqi prisoners, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John Warner said on Wednesday.
#3
I predict Rummy will hand them their asses. He's a helluva lot smarter than they and has right on his side. They have...uh....political opportunism and anti-american-victory hopes?
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/05/2004 16:14 Comments ||
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#4
Laurence -
Yeah, Kerry wants to stay on his bike.
Kerry wants not to fall of a snowboard.
Kerry wants to not be hit by a riccochet of his own bullet. {well maybe not, he'd have to find the #3 Purple heart elsewhere}
#7
And this is part of the results of getting over-wrought about this and running around screaming like a bunch of ninnies.
Not accusing everyone of that, of course, just some people.
By all indications, everything was being handled correctly, but the over-reaction has given our domestic enemies an opening to attack the war. Yes, I mean the OVER-REACTION is to blame, and not the actual acts. The crimes were being handled months before anyone starting squealing over them.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
05/05/2004 16:25 Comments ||
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#8
RC _ Are you listening to Hannity now?
You seem to be echoing his thoughts.
#9
Kerry, Kennedy and Krew (KKK) seem to think that the only thing riding on the outcome of the war is who wins the election. You know everything is fair in love and war. Well KKK are at war with America. (They, along with most of the Old Euros, and the UN, not to mention the Saddamites, and the radical Islamists.) Unfortunately, the KKK are wrong, and there is a lot more riding on the war than the election. A few soldier's lives between now and then (but they are expendable), and who knows how many lives if they succeed in really turning the tide of the war. But all is fair in war, and in the form of prisoner mistreatment, they have been given another gun to shoot.
Posted by: Dem no longer ||
05/05/2004 17:04 Comments ||
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#11
What a bunch of nothing. Do they honestly think that DOD had a policy of stacking Iraqi prisoners in a naked pyramid for the amusement of the troops? This thing will die quickly (as it should) if the Senate takes this opportunity and STFU! I think Rummey's first response should start out: "In response to your idiotic question..."
#12
Are you listening to Hannity now?
You seem to be echoing his thoughts.
Nope. I turned off the radio half way through Limbaugh today. After I heard him talking about the Bradley Braves, I figured nothing I heard on the radio could be any better.
I am going to listen to Hewitt, though. That should be fun.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
05/05/2004 17:35 Comments ||
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#13
Congress may want to re-think this decision. Especially after Dr. Rice's 9/11 Testimony. SecDef Rumsfeld is widely known for Taking No Prisoners. And collecting scalps for his Lodge Pole.
It may make for interesting television. Watching the different Shocked and Dismayed Congressmen rant and rave.
Though, it will be much more fun watching Rummy eloquently unload!
Posted by: Jack Deth ||
05/05/2004 19:52 Comments ||
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#14
At least part of this must becoming from the Dem's disapointment in the Gorelick result of the 9/11 Commission.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
05/05/2004 22:02 Comments ||
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Oh, dear! My surprise meter! It's... ummm... not doing anything.
Groups promoting extremist brands of Islam have gained a foothold in American prisons, and counterterrorism officials believe Al Qaeda are likely to try to use the prisons "to radicalize and recruit inmates," according to a Justice Department investigation. In a report from the Justice Department inspector general's office, investigators said safeguards were so loose in the 105 federal prisons that inmate chapels "remain vulnerable to infiltration by religious extremists." The investigation grew out of concerns among members of Congress that groups training Muslim chaplains had terrorist ties and were breeding extremism. But the investigation found that the problem of "radicalized" prayer sessions was less a reflection of the chaplains than of unsupervised inmates who were allowed to lead their own worship meetings.
So rather than the spittle-spewing preachers methodically infiltrating, we have free-lance bad boyz starting their own operations...
"Too many opportunities for abuse of this practice exist," the report found. The inspector general's report, the first detailed look into how the federal prisons have dealt with extremist beliefs since the Sept. 11 attacks, will likely prove controversial among Muslim leaders, who say they have been subjected to unfair scrutiny and criticism because of their religious beliefs. Several groups that have trained Muslim chaplains have vigorously denied charges of terrorist links, and Muslim leaders point out that charges linking a military chaplain at Guantánamo Bay to possible terrorism largely collapsed.
Or were traded for... something.
The inspector general concluded that while the problem of terrorist recruitment in the federal prisons was not necessarily widespread, officials needed a number of systemwide improvements to ensure tighter control. Prison officials said Tuesday that they had already moved to fix some problems identified in the report by demanding more information about outside groups that train chaplains and by improving communications with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The report found that prison officials received sparse information from the F.B.I. about inmates or chaplains who may have terrorist connections. "We understand the seriousness and the risks inherent with extremist chaplains, contractors or volunteers," said Dan Dunne, a Bureau of Prisons spokesman. "And we've made significant changes since the review was initiated to better screen religious service providers."
Sounds like a common sense reaction to me, but then I'm not CAIR, am I?
A classified addendum to the report details cases in which counterterrorism officials assert that people leading prison prayer sessions â including authorized chaplains, volunteers and inmates â may have ties to terrorist groups. In a briefing Tuesday for Congressional officials, the inspector general's office said it found evidence that volunteers leading prayer services had been linked to people who showed up on terrorist watch lists, and that people associated with Al Qaeda had already managed to recruit support within the federal prisons, said Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York. Federal prison officials "were putting out the welcome mat to any group that wanted to infiltrate the prisons," Mr. Schumer said. "There was virtually no vetting of who would become a chaplain or a volunteer, and there was virtually no supervision. It was an invitation to danger."
Hokay. It's a problem. Fix it.
Senators Schumer and Jon Kyl, Republican of Arizona, requested the investigation and held a hearing last year after concerns focused on the case of a Muslim chaplain, Warith Deen Umar, who had run New York State's Islamic prison program and was a consultant in the federal prisons. Mr. Umar was banned from the state prison program after he reportedly expressed admiration for the Sept. 11 hijackers and espoused a radical brand of Islam, but he maintained he was misquoted.
"Yeah! My remarks wuz taken outta context!"
Senator Kyl said the inspector general's findings confirmed his concerns about the spread of extremist messages in the prison system, where Muslims represent an estimated 9,000 of the 150,000 inmates. "There's a concern that groups may already be radicalizing people in prison," he said. "Some of the findings are troubling, and clearly there is work to be done." The report found that chapels are among the few areas in federal prisons where large numbers of inmates can meet and talk, and it noted that several high-profile terrorist suspects had been drawn to Islam while in prison. Chaplains sometimes supervise the prayer sessions with no guards present, and some prayer sessions are conducted partly in Arabic, the report said. Although some chapel services are videotaped, prison officials admitted that they might not be in a position to detect radical religious messages. "Not a whole lot of folks are in tune with that stuff," said an associate warden quoted in the report.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
05/05/2004 12:00:44 AM ||
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#3
Religious Islamics going into prisons to recruit. Well if that doesn't illustrate the "birds of a feather" adage, I don't know what does. May they flock together and die . . .
Just "screening" religious service providers won't help when it comes to these guys. Constant monitoring is the key. But the prison system doesn't have the resources, so I guess we'll just have to eliminate Moslem services in prison. Inmates can do their stuff on their own of course, but no more terrorist chaplan buddies coming to visit. Oh, darn. (How abusive and mean of us.)
#5
A-Q is recruiting cannon fodder (or more precisely, bomb fodder) from our prisons.
The bomb fodder ain't too bright, are they?
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
05/05/2004 18:49 Comments ||
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#6
Time to subvert from within - hint at infiltrators/snitches, actually employ same, document all participating and follow up, follow up, follow up..... sow paranoia and reap the benefits
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/05/2004 19:04 Comments ||
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#7
If we have al-Q recruiters in the prison, it might be proper to have some "unfortunate" accidents occur to them. Certainly having plausible denyability is important, but none of the convicts will believe it, and the message will be transmitted.
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The United States walked out of a U.N. meeting Tuesday to protest its decision minutes later to give Sudan a third term on the Human Rights Commission, the world body's human rights watchdog. U.S. Ambassador Sichan Siv called the vote an "idiotic, grand absurdity" and accused Sudan of massive human rights violations and "ethnic cleansing" in the western Darfur region before getting up from his chair and walking out of the Economic and Social Council chamber.
As he was leaving, Sudan's deputy U.N. ambassador Omar Bashir Manis launched into a heated response, accusing American forces of engaging in degrading treatment of Iraqi prisoners and committing "atrocities" against innocent Iraqi civilians. But the United States' seat in the chamber was empty, and no American diplomat was there to hear it.
Good for you, Sichan.
Under U.N. rules, regional groups decide which countries are nominated to fill seats on U.N. bodies. The African group waited until late last week to present its list of candidates for four seats. It presented four names, guaranteeing election for Kenya, Sudan, Guinea and Togo. The United States scrambled to get another African nation to apply in an effort to make it a contested race and unseat Sudan. But with so little time it was unsuccessful, U.N. diplomats said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Siv, the U.S. ambassador to the economic council, said the United States was "perplexed and dismayed" by the African group's decision to nominate Sudan, a country that he said "massacres its own African citizens." He noted that at last month's Human Rights Commission meeting in Geneva, members expressed concern about Darfur even though they blocked a stronger U.S. resolution that would have condemned the Khartoum government.
Guess it wasn't yet time for a strongly worded resolution.
"The least we should be able to do is to not elect a country to the global body charged specifically with protecting human rights, at the precise time when tens of thousands of its citizens are being murdred or left to die of starvation," Siv said. "Consider the ramifications of standing by and allowing the commission to become a safe-haven for the world's worst human rights violators, especially one engaged in 'ethnic cleansing'," he said.
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/05/2004 1:00:11 AM ||
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Nice try Omar. Yeah, ethnic cleansing of a million people is exactly like making terrorists stay up all night and refusing them showers. Exactly.
#3
Sudan's ethnic cleansing of southern Sudanese now tops two million. Deaths in the Darfur action now top 10,000 with a million displaced. As for the nominees to the Commission -- Kenya, Sudan, Guinea, Togo -- believe me, you wouldn't want to live in any of the four pestholes.
Confirmation that seven of the 108 militants killed in last week's bloody uprising in southern Thailand were foreigners has strengthened fears that the Jemaah Islamiah terrorist network may have opened a new front in South-East Asia. Several captured militants are reported to have told interrogators that the attacks were planned with the involvement of JI - the group blamed for the Bali and Jakarta Marriott Hotel bombings - and a related Malaysian extremist group.
Well, it may be news to them....
Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister, Najib Razak, said on Tuesday that there was still no direct evidence of foreign support for the separatist unrest in the predominantly Muslim provinces bordering Malaysia. But Mr Najib conceded after a meeting with Thailand's Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, that al-Qaeda and regional affiliates such as JI might be inspiring the Thai militants. "There is a possibility that they are getting some sort of - not direct support - but encouragement," he said.
"And some money, and arms, maybe training and leadership, but no direct support that can be proven."
The military commander in southern Thailand, Lieutenant- General Pisarn Wattanawongkeeree, said seven unclaimed bodies were foreigners. DNA tests were being conducted to confirm their identities.
Unlees they have a Terrorist DNA databank, I guess they mean to rule out missing persons who have family whose DNA can be compared.
The seven were among 32 people killed last Wednesday when security forces stormed a mosque in the southern town of Pattani, in the culmination of a day of clashes across the region in which 108 alleged militants and five police and soldiers died. The Bangkok Post has reported that the foreign victims were believed to be Indonesians.
Tap, tap.....nope, didn't budge.
Quoting a military source, the paper said witness and survivor statements had identified JI and the Malaysian radical group Kampulan Mujahideen Malaysia as involved. "Up to 300 million baht [$10.3 million] was mobilised to incite unrest in the south," the source was quoted as saying.
That's a sizable chunk of change, wonder which sandy oil-producing islamic country it came from?
JI's Indonesian-born operations chief, Hambali, who was captured in central Thailand last August, is known to have spent time in the southern Thai provinces. Thai authorities have detained nine other people accused of links with JI.
Last year Thailand denied Hambali and JI ever visited their country, wonder if they have changed their minds?
Posted by: Steve ||
05/05/2004 1:30:25 PM ||
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Additional: A court in Thailand has issued an arrest warrant for a Muslim religious teacher suspected of masterminding last week's attacks.
Reuters news agency has quoted officials as saying that two men held after the attacks had given enough evidence to justify the arrest of Yusof Rayalong, 33, also known as Ustas Ishma-ae, a teacher at a religious school.
Police say during the interrogation, one of the two suspects said he attacked a Yala army base after Yusof had indoctrinated him with separatist ideas. He also told police Yusof had recruited at least 20 teenagers to launch the raids.
And this: Immigration authorities said seven Indonesians had entered Thailand last month through a Thai-Malaysia border crossing in Narathiwat province and were not registered as having left the country. Three Indonesian men entered on April 18 and three more men and a woman arrived on April 19, an immigration official said on condition of anonymity. He refused to give their names or ages. Pisarn said the bodies of the suspected foreigners have not been claimed by relatives since last Wednesday's wave of assaults on police posts in three southern provinces in which 107 attackers were killed - the bloodiest day in the region's recent history. "The seven unclaimed bodies are not Thai," said Pisarn, commander of the 4th Army that controls the south. Pisarn told reporters he is "100 per cent sure" the unclaimed bodies are of foreigners because authorities have accounted for all the remaining dead.
Posted by: Steve ||
05/05/2004 14:10 Comments ||
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Indonesian legislators will urge police to release militant Islamic cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, who was re-arrested last week on terrorism charges, a senior parliamentary official said yesterday.
'We will ask police to release him and place him under house arrest,' said Mr Hamdan Zulva of Parliament's Commission for Legal and Human Rights Affairs. 'It is impossible for the ustaz, who is already so old, to flee and destroy evidence so that he can escape the law.'
He said members of the panel will meet police chief General Da'i Bachtiar today to find out if the charges against Bashir were trumped up by investigators under pressure from the United States.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
05/05/2004 12:13:33 AM ||
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From Geostrategy-Direct....
Iranâs government has arrested two nuclear experts who disclosed valuable information to the International Atomic Energy Agency on Teheranâs nuclear program. They must have given the IAEA something juicy...
The London Arabic newspaper Al-Sharq al-Awsat, quoted an official of the Atomic Energy Agency of Iran as saying that one of the two detainees was an assistant to the head of the research section of the AEOI and the second official was an expert in the AEOI Saghand complex, where huge quantities of uranium were enriched after Iran signed the additional protocol of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Oops!
Iran has continued to hide the extent of its nuclear program from international inspectors, raising fears that Teheran is engaged in a covert nuclear weapons program. Shocking! Shocking! We had no clue!!
Abdul Qadeer Khan, the Pakistani nuclear technician who was caught supplying centrifuge technology to Libya and other rogue states, has also disclosed the Iranian nuclear program. Thanks, Abdul. You probably signed the death warrants of millions of Iranians over that profitable little transaction.
The IAEA has warned Iran repeatedly over the past several months that it must fully disclose all its nuclear activities. "We have warned you repeadedly, now you leave us no choice but to report you to Kofi Annan!" *shaking finger in face of Black Turban*
The Bush administration has been pushing for the IAEA to present its information on Iranâs covert nuclear program to the United Nations Security Council. Here we go again, laying the groundwork...
Iran is trying to prevent the matter from going to the Security Council, which could order other action designed to halt the program. Which wonât do jack excrement, but will possibly lead to sanctions, Iran becoming a real bone fide rogue state, and the Oil for Food Program v.2.0.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
05/05/2004 5:57:23 PM ||
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CUT OUT THEIR TONGUES AND SEW THEIR LIPS TOGETHER!!!
#2
What are the odds that Lakhdar Brahimi, head of the IAEA, leaked information on the identities of the informants to the Iranian security services? Not that this would be much of a surprise.
#3
Dunno about you guys, but I want in early on the Iranian Oil-for-Palaces program.
There's some serious money to be made.
Who do I talk to ?
Posted by: Carl in N.H ||
05/05/2004 18:20 Comments ||
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Carl in N.H.----For a small gratuity I will issue a fatwa, which ties you, Iranian money, and the Koran together so you can pursue your dreams of wealth and service to, uh,......(yourself and your cronies??)
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
05/05/2004 18:37 Comments ||
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#5
Ummmm... I thought El-Baradei was the IAEA honcho
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/05/2004 18:51 Comments ||
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#6
there were reports tha brahimi did indeed let the iranians know who spilled the beans...
wonder , if skerry is elected, if he would handle these asshats diplomatically (as he is so fond of throwing around). the iranians have, diplomatically, bent the euro weasels over her knee....
Posted by: Dan ||
05/05/2004 19:40 Comments ||
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#7
We should call the Iranians Uranians now.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
05/05/2004 22:23 Comments ||
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A university professor has decided not to appeal a reinstated death sentence, effectively challenging Iran's hard-line judges to execute him for criticizing clerical rule, his lawyer said Tuesday. The original sentence handed down to Hashem Aghajari in 2002 provoked massive student demonstrations and street battles with hard-line vigilantes. The uproar highlighted the power struggle between reformists and conservatives in Iran. The Supreme Court overturned the death penalty last year. But the original court in the western province of Hamedan province has reinstated it, a provincial judicial official disclosed Monday. "Professor Aghajari told me Monday evening that his family and I have no right to appeal the new death sentence," Saleh Nikbakht told reporters Tuesday. Aghajari was determined to challenge the judiciary to carry out the sentence, Nikbakht said. "If not appealed, the sentence will be final and the judiciary will have to carry it out," he said.
Would this provide the needed spark?
In 2002, Aghajari had also instructed Nikbakht not to file an appeal, but the lawyer did appeal to the Supreme Court. On Tuesday, Nikbakht said this time he would heed Aghajari's instructions. The original sentence came after the Hamedan court convicted Aghajari of insulting Islam and questioning the rule of the clerics in a speech he gave to students in the province. In the new finding, the court convicted Aghajari of apostasy, or the betrayal of Islam. The protests against the original sentence caused Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to take the rare step of ordering a judicial review.
You'd think Khamenei wouldn't like having a low-level court challenge him like this.
Nikbakht said Tuesday the Hamedan court had ignored Khamenei's order and the Supreme Court's finding that the death sentence was inconsistent with the charges. "Everything has returned to square one," Nikbakht said. "It's a disgusting verdict and a great insult to the judicial system." The lawyer said the court was penalizing a person who had dedicated his life to promoting a moderate version of Islam.
But not the approved version.
The lawyer said he had received many death threats by telephone recently. "Let everybody know that any danger to my life will be because of my defending Aghajari," he told a news conference. President Mohammad Khatami has criticized the court that issued the initial death sentence, saying Aghajari had done more for Iran than "that inexperienced judge who unjustly accused him of apostasy."
But nobody cares what he thinks.
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/05/2004 12:55:21 AM ||
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The original sentence came after the Hamedan court convicted Aghajari of insulting Islam....In the new finding, the court convicted Aghajari of apostasy, or the betrayal of Islam.
Gentle, do you have any comments on this?
Posted by: Rafael ||
05/05/2004 1:10 Comments ||
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the Hamedan court convicted Aghajari of insulting Islam
Boy I'd be toast in an islamic country, what with me calling the whole thing fake. But thats why they have to kill those that speak out.
Islam, is there nothing they can't fake. Other than your death. COLLECT THE ROCKS Ibn!
From "You Big Mouth, You":
A Hamas suicide bomber blew up two armed Palestinians who tried to rob him at gun point in the Gaza Strip. Hamas claimed the âstickup menâ worked for Israeli intelligence, while Palestinian security forces said the two were ordinary thieves. Rather than give up his explosives, the bomber detonated them, killing himself and the two robbers near the border fence between Gaza and Israel. Palestinian security officials said the the gunmen were criminals who were involved in a car theft ring that brought stolen vehicles from Israel to Gaza. Hamas said the bomber was on his way to try to infiltrate into Israel, accompanied by another Hamas member and a guide, when they were stopped by the armed men. The robbers forced the bomber to lie on the ground and tried to steal the bomb, but the militant detonated it, killing all three. The other Hamas man and the guide escaped.
Why try and steal a bomb? In Gaza? Aren't they lying around most street corners?
There have been cases of rival groups stealing each otherâs explosives, but no group claimed the two gunmen, and their families did not go to the hospital to take the bodies, indicating that the two were not militants, who are revered in Palestinian society. A Hamas official said that whatever their intention, the two should be considered agents of Israel. âAnyone who tries to stop a fighter from doing his work is a collaborator,â he said.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
05/05/2004 21:55 Comments ||
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Some porofessional courtesy! Honor among theives apparently does not extend to terrorists.
Posted by: Mr. Davis ||
05/05/2004 22:12 Comments ||
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Maybe Hamas is right. Wouldn't most of the local thugs have shot the guy first and stripped him second? Or maybe I just hear the worst reports . . .
Posted by: James ||
05/05/2004 22:14 Comments ||
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Jeeze Louise! Being a robber in Gaza is a dangerous profession. I guess the best thing is to shoot the mark from a distance, having the olde Leopold on 9x, then approach cautiously after the mark is down and dead. Disarm detonator, then carefully remove belt and related wires from dead mark. Put belt in ones pack or shopping bag and merrily go on one's way.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
05/05/2004 22:21 Comments ||
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#5
Why try and steal a bomb? In Gaza? Aren't they lying around most street corners?
Mercutio, I have to take complete objection to your flip, offhanded, irresponsible remark. In fact, a large part of the problem in Israel are these stereoypes that portray the Arabs as savages who keep their explosives just lying around, which obviously, is not true.
They hide them in the schools, right next to the automatic rifles. This way, they can also be used as props for all those cute kindergarden graduation dress up ceremonies. ;â¢)
#6
This says some interesting things about the paleo economy and the risk/reward equation. Suicide belts obviously fetch big bucks.
Posted by: Phil B ||
05/05/2004 23:11 Comments ||
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#7
It also says much about the effectiveness of IDF raids against the bombmakers, when the rival groups must vie with each other for the means of "public relations", as well as why the bombings seem to have slowed ...
Posted by: Edward Yee ||
05/06/2004 0:16 Comments ||
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The rebel leader of Georgiaâs province of Ajaria has quit after weeks of tension with the government, President Mikhail Saakashvili has confirmed. Aslan Abashidze flew out of the region with his family on a plane for Moscow following three hours of talks brokered by a senior Russian envoy. Protesters in the regional capital Batumi celebrated the news. There had been fears that Mr Abashidzeâs followers would resist any challenge to his long-standing rule.
Maybe he can move in with Jean-Berty and Chuck Taylor...
My, that was quick ...
The BBCâs Chloe Arnold reports from Tbilisi that the departure of Mr Abashidze is reminiscent of last yearâs Rose Revolution in Georgia when Mr Saakashvili led a peaceful uprising to overthrow the then leader, Eduard Shevardnadze. Mr Abashidzeâs Ajaria was the last bastion of the former regime. Mr Abashidze boarded the plane of Russiaâs envoy, Security Council Secretary Igor Ivanov, at Batumi airport. One of Mr Abashidzeâs security guards said he had ordered his elite militia to disarm before leaving. "Everyone is giving in their guns," the guard, named only as Gocha, was quoted as saying by AFP news agency. "It was his last instruction before he left." The regionâs police force had already switched loyalty to the central government before news of Mr Abashidzeâs departure.
... which presumably had something to do with his departure.
President Abashidze said a "new era" had started. "I congratulate everyone on this victory, on the beginning of Georgiaâs unification. Georgia will be united," he said. Two of the tiny Caucasus republicâs other regions, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, have been out of Tbilisiâs control for years.
Posted by: Paul Moloney ||
05/05/2004 8:00:15 PM ||
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This surprises me -- so far Russia has been encouraging civil war and separationism in the states of the former Soviet Union. She did so in Moldova, in Ukraine, and yeah in Georgia too.
Why would Russia now help end the civil war she had first encouraged? I'm sure we don't yet know the whole game being played.
Pakistanâs cabinet has approved a draft bill to tighten rules on the export of nuclear technology. No more giving it away for free. Weâve got to bring in some big bucks from now on!
It follows a UN resolution last week begging urging members not to allow technology to fall into the hands of their friends terrorists. It also comes after revelations earlier this year that Pakistanâs top nuclear scientist leaked secrets to every-fricking-body with ears Iran, Libya and North Korea. The new law would provide for a maximum jail term of 14 years and a top prize fine of $285,000.
Investigation
The bill will now go before parliament and a BBC Urdu service correspondent says it is unlikely to attract notice opposition. The bill covers price export controls on material, equipment and technologies related to nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their delivery systems. Not a scrap will be sold to anyone who is unable to recite less than two words from the Koran!
A government statement said: "The draft bill manifests Pakistanâs nonexistent strong commitment to the prevention of proliferation of nuclear and biological weapons and missiles capable of delivering such weapons."
Last week, the United Nations passed gas a resolution to try to prevent nuclear technology from falling out of state control. Pakistani officials said offenders would be called "The Father of Our Nuclear Black Market" severely praised punished under the new rules, although they would not affect Abdul Qadeer Khan, who admitted leaking secrets. The man labelled the father of Pakistanâs nuclear programme was pardoned by President Pervez Musharraf after his confession but remains under close surveillance. We are watching all of his old addresses.
A full investigation will never has yet to be completed but the government says there was no state involvement. "The government says there was no state involvement." No conflict of interest there, now move along folks.
Foreign ministry spokesman Masood Khan said the new legislation was the culmination of four minutes yearsâ work. "I think that this is big news for us," he said. And them alone. Remaining world has not yet succumbed to shock. Tape at 11:00.
Pakistan and its rival India will hold nuclear confidence-building talks later this month as part of their roadmap to peace hammered out earlier this year. The nations have already agreed some measures in relation to nuclear arms, including an annual exchange of information on the location of each otherâs nuclear installations and facilities. Incredulity meter pegging!
U.S. military commanders think senior foreign fighters in Fallujah have escaped during the Marines's monthlong siege that has produced an inconsistent allied war policy. A military source said if international terrorist Abu Musaab Zarqawi was ever in Fallujah, as was suspected, he was able to escape. The source said although the Marines blocked roads leading out of the town of 300,000 residents, the cordoning was not "airtight." He said the assessment that senior fighters have left Fallujah is based on intelligence reports. "The problem is they don't know where they have gone," the source said. U.S. commanders have estimated that there are about 2,000 hard-core insurgents in Fallujah, including several hundred foreign fighters.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
05/05/2004 3:31:06 PM ||
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I THOUGHT SO! ALL THE FUSS WAS JUST A SMOKESCREEN. CHECK MY LAST POST!!!
Posted by: THEO ||
05/05/2004 21:47 Comments ||
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A MAJOR haul of weapons hidden in a secret cave network outside Kabul in readiness for a possible extremist assault on the Afghan capital has been uncovered by peacekeepers, officials said today. The weekend discovery in the caverns 34 kilometres west of Kabul, came as Afghan intelligence officers arrested seven people and seized a home made bomb in a separate operation in the city. Major Jacek Ciszek of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) that patrols Kabul told reporters that a "large weapons cache" including of 650 artillery and mortar rounds had been uncovered and destroyed from the caves. "The city was the likely target for the munitions," he said, without identifying the owners of the weapons.
Meanwhile Afghan security forces have captured seven suspected militants, two of them foreigners, during raids in northeast Afghanistan. "We have captured seven people over the past week in Kunar province," provincial governor Fazil Akber said. "Two of them are foreigners - they are probably members of al-Qaeda," he said. Akber, speaking by satellite phone from the provincial capital Asadabad, said one of the captives was believed to be a senior member of the ousted Taliban regime and he had confessed to carrying out several attacks against the US-led coalition troops in the area. He said three of the captured men had been handed over to coalition troops for questioning.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
05/05/2004 3:14:56 PM ||
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excellent truncheon work, Abdul!
Wonder if the furriners were Chechens or Soddys or Pakis?
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/05/2004 15:19 Comments ||
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He said three of the captured men had been handed over to coalition troops for questioning.
Just have a woman drive the truck that transports them and watch them cry to the IRC. We are offended {waah}. Why would they send us someplace using a woman driver {gulp}. This is an outrage {grrr}.
PAKISTANI authorities have uncovered a plot by a small terror cell to hijack a plane en route to the United Arab Emirates and possibly blow it up, the prime minister said today. "Probably there is a group of four to six persons who might try to hijack a plane, and in particular going toward UAE," Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali said in an interview from his official residence. Jamali said intelligence indicated the men wanted to "blow it up or do something".
There was no indication when the plot was due to be carried out, or if it involved al-Qaeda. Jamali would not speculate on whether the hijackers were Pakistanis or foreign elements. "Hijackers have no nationality," he said. Details of the plot came a day after Pakistan announced it was beefing up security at 35 airports nationwide. No flights were cancelled because of the alert, but security was put on its highest level, Jamali said. "Naturally when one gets some hint about (a plot) or one gets a feeler or is informed directly or indirectly, I think this high alert is a must," Jamali said. Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Rauf Chaudhry said that a Pakistani intelligence agency had issued the warning. He also would not reveal whether the men were believed to be al-Qaeda. Chaudhry said airports nationwide continue to be "on red alert". No arrests had been made.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
05/05/2004 3:11:57 PM ||
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FALLUJA, Iraq (Reuters) - One of Saddam Husseinâs former generals entrusted with taming Falluja said Wednesday he hoped to impose security in the countryâs most rebellious town without firing a single bullet. Anyone elseâs skepticism meter starting to smoke?
"The best strategy is to get what you want without firing a single bullet," said Gen. Muhammad Latif after discussing the fate of the troubled town with a top U.S. Marine commander. "I consider this the best strategy in history," said Latif. He painted a bright picture of the task of calming people infuriated by a month-long U.S. siege and fierce battles that have killed hundreds of people in the city west of Baghdad. How many of those "hundreds" were men of fighting age? Until that number is published they can stuff their "infuriation" where the sun donât shine.
He also played down the role of foreign fighters that U.S. Marines blame for some of the violence gripping Iraq and the challenge of retrieving heavy weapons that the Americans have been demanding from guerrillas for weeks. "Maybe there are some, more than 30 kicked underground and the others escaped. I didnât see anyone and I have no information on anyone," said Latif as he left a dusty makeshift meeting area. No foreign fighters = DELUSIONAL
The heavy weapons have been silent for days as Latifâs men try to spread a sense of security in Falluja. "These are not a problem. If they are there we will retrieve them. We will hit any group that causes trouble or whose weapons is a threat to peace," Latif said. U.S. Marines said they planned to lift a cordon around Falluja Wednesday and allow traffic in for the first time in a month. Troops of the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps Tuesday began manning checkpoints previously guarded by U.S. troops. U.S. forces are hoping the new Falluja Brigade, commanded by Latif and predominantly made up of former members of Saddamâs military, will crush 2,000 rebels and root out perhaps 200 foreign militants. Lift the cordon after the heavy weapons are confiscated and not a minute before.
Maj. Gen. James Mattis, commander of the 1st Marines Division, said it was too early to gauge whether Latifâs men could pacify Falluja. "The proof is in the execution. We will have to see how that goes," he said before holding talks with Latif. The former Iraqi general declined to discuss any concrete steps his forces would take in Falluja, preferring instead to stress that residents of the traumatized town wanted peace. "As long as I build the city again and open up the streets and plant love, there will be no problem," Latif said. Flowery oratory ainât gonna cut any ice right now. Plant some insurgents first and then get back to us, emkay? Thatâs the only "proof of execution" that will carry any weight around here.
Guerrillas may have laid down their arms but it is not clear if the insurgents will cooperate with U.S.-backed forces. "Thatâs the $64,000 question isnât it? We will have to see. I donât like to speculate. I go with the facts. So far the jury is out on that," Mattis said. "That is for the Iraqis to deal with right now. What they are doing is putting together forces, moving them into town, equipping them. Thatâs a challenge obviously for anybody." Asked if he was in contact with insurgents or reached a deal with them, Latif said: "There is no agreement with them whatsoever but when there is peace the enemies of peace escape." If weâre equipping these guys, they had better assign specific weapons to each recruit and trace any lost or recaptured arms back to those individuals for "followup."
Anyone else get a sense that Latifâs been breathing his own exhaust?
#1
As long as I build the city again and open up the streets and plant love, there will be no problem," Latif said
Should be good for comic relief if nothing else:)
Seriusly, he didnt say there were NO foreign fighters, he said about 30 left, the rest fled. Given that there were probably never more than a couple of hundred foreign fighters there (15-20% out of 2000 total, per Centcom) and given other sources say the cordon was "less than airtight" this may be within the realm of plausibility.
And of course his goal IS to win with minimum bloodshed - zero is probably unrealistic, but well every biz school teaches "stretch goals" no?
Of course the guy is NOT a combat commander, hes an intel guy. But hes not a Baathist, so hes more acceptable. The USMC WILL have to keep a close watch.
Israel freed one of the co-founders of the militant Palestinian Hamas today after holding him without trial for the past 14 months. Mohammed Taha, 68, stepped out of a van outside his home in the Bureij refugee camp in Gaza tom be swept off his feet by jubilant supporters who hoisted him on to their shoulders. Hamas activists, some firing assault rifles into the air, poured into the streets of Gaza City, while the loudspeakers of local mosques blared out calls to âcome and join the celebration.â
"Hurrah! Taha's home! DUCK!"
Taha was arrested in March last year during an army raid into Bureij, along with his five sons, all Hamas activists. Three were subsequently freed, but one, Yasser, was later killed with his wife and two-year-old daughter in an Israeli missile attack on their car. The Israeli military had no comment on the elder Tahaâs release.
Cheaper to bang him than to keep him in jug for the next ten years?
Taha fled Israel with his family during the war that followed Israelâs creation in 1948 and settled in the Bureij camp. He served as a mosque preacher at Gaza Cityâs Islamic University and at his local mosque. In recent weeks, Israel has been targeting Hamas leaders for death, killing the founder and leader of the violent Islamic group, Sheik Ahmed Yassin, on March 22, and his successor, Abdel Aziz Rantissi, three weeks later, in missile attacks.
#1
If Mohammed Taha keeps his mouth shut, he will enjoy his golden years in the lovely Gaza strip. If he blows his mouth off, it will be hellfire to pay.
Hmmm....so many choices...so few firing neurons.....
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
05/05/2004 14:54 Comments ||
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#2
AP, if he continues to facilitate terrorism however quitely, I wish him well throughout the rest of his golden minutes. If he showers in an egg batter, and rolls in flour, maybe he will emerge from his automobile with an extra crispy crust.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
05/05/2004 22:26 Comments ||
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Israeli soldiers shot dead a senior Hamas militant leader, Imad Mohammed Janajra, 31, in an olive grove in the northern West Bank, witnesses said. An Israeli military source said Janajra was shot when soldiers spotted him armed and approaching them near his village of Talousa. The source said troops also detonated a bomb planted nearby.
#6
My guess is that the IDF for some reason cannot get at the current "hush hush double secret leader" of Hamas, but need a high-level target for retaliation after the next Hamas atrocity.
Kind of like how the Fish and Game Dept stocks the lakes with bass every year.
Posted by: Carl in N.H ||
05/05/2004 15:01 Comments ||
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#7
maybe theyve turned him, and hope to use him to gather intell.
Or maybe they want Hamas to THINK theyve turned him, with consequences for anyone in Hamas who used to be particularly close to him.
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/05/2004 15:27 Comments ||
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#11
This article talks about two people--the first posting was just a link without any text. The text (inserted later) only talks about Janajra (whacked), not Taha (released, not yet whacked).
#18
Ladies/Gents (Aris, Raj in particular hold off for a sec, answer my question) Mohammed Taha?
The guy that was "released". Have the Israelis got him yet. His one-hour head start has long expired. Any news reports?
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
05/05/2004 17:37 Comments ||
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#25
AR, I think this BBC article will answer some of your questions: Olympic workers 'risking lives'
Short answer: They ain't ready.
Which is why Katsaris is busy calling Raj a troll instead of answering the question.
Posted by: Jen ||
05/05/2004 17:38 Comments ||
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#26
Actually Sarge, as I said earlier, I thought Taha would have been given a one-hour head start, which has expired. SO lets follow the reports - and see how long it is before he is Yassined.
Drudge will have it first! Ha!
#27
Actually I was calling Raj a troll, because he is one, Jen. If you can't recognize that, then you are even blinder than I already thought you were.
On other news, a terrorist group has today thrown a handgrenade at the chief supporter of the "Yes" in Cyprus, threatening his life if he doesn't resign from the leadership of his party within a week, and threatening wider harm against all supporters of the "Yes" vote in Cyprus. Despite the murderous attempt with a grenade, authorities trivialize this as "not significant".
And in the meanwhile, little trolls still waste my time asking me those questions that I had already told them "I don't know and I can't find the heart to care in a world with much bigger problems at hand".
So go around, little trolls, trying to make me fret over the little playgrounds being built for the Olympics -- I have less trivial issues in my mind.
#28
Aris, I'm not sure what you mean about the "Yes" thing...
isn't that referendum over?
That's a dead issue, isn't it? (the whole UN Greek/Turk Cyprus thing)
Posted by: Jen ||
05/05/2004 17:49 Comments ||
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#29
Ofcourse the referendum's over. So what? Do you think the 30-year issue has ended just by the failure of that attempt? Do you think that the little nationalistic fascists can stand the existence of a whole 25% percentage that said yes in a plan meant to unify Cyprus and give significant power to the Turkish-cypriot side? After all, what if the party that supported 'Yes' becomes the ruling party in 4 years? What if popular sentiment grows towards reunification again? -- after all much of the 'No' was because of a suddenness to the implementation of the plan that led to Greek-cypriot insecurity.
They couldn't have *that*.
But don't mind *those* issues, go on being concerned about the little stadiums and the little toys.
#31
Aside from trolls and the stadia they stalk, it looks like Israel has a bona fide "catch and release" program going, just like popular trout streams and bass fishing lakes.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
05/05/2004 18:02 Comments ||
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#32
Shipman> What effect could they have? Greek anarchofascists keep on putting bombs that aren't mean to kill victims because then the public might actually feel that this is indeed terrorism and turn against them. Greek police keeps on being either too incompetent or too lazy to arrest them. Same old, same old.
The worry about the games is the Islamist fascists instead, and I'm betting the stadiums will have somewhat stronger security. As for the rest, you know as much as I do and probably more.
#33
Actually, AK the Cyprus matter interests me greatly and I blogged a post on the referendum.
I think that the Turks are illegally occupying the northern part of Cyprus and have been since 1974, when they invaded with 40,000 troops.
True story, I lived in London that summer and the Cyprus incident took up the headlines every day.
Posted by: Jen ||
05/05/2004 18:20 Comments ||
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#34
Jen - Yep. I had returned from living in Germany just the year before. It was in the news here as well, even in the Durham paper.
I went nuts trying to find copies of the IHT (back when it was still independent) to get information from a perspective closer to the action. I'm sure the European papers covered it in great detail.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
05/05/2004 18:44 Comments ||
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EFL
The American military launched its first major assault against insurgents led by Moqtada al-Sadr, a rebel Shiite cleric, striking early this morning at militia enclaves in this holy Shiite city and in another city in southern Iraq in an effort to retake control of those areas. About 450 soldiers in dozens of armored vehicles, including M-1 Abrams tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles, rumbled beneath a full moon through a neighborhood here controlled by armed supporters of Mr. Sadr. The firepower on display was extraordinary. Polish and Bulgarian soldiers, Special Forces snipers, an Apache attack helicopter and an AC-130 Spectre gunship backed up the main strike force. The operation, called Iron Saber, began at 11 p.m. on Tuesday and ran until dawn today. A similar battle took place at the same time in the city of Diwaniya, 60 miles southeast of here.
Soldiers in Karbala killed at least 10 Iraqi fighters and captured 20 people, Lt. Col. Gary Bishop of the 1st Armored Division said. An American soldier in a Humvee was killed when two insurgents driving a dump truck ran a checkpoint and rammed into the Humvee. A spokesman for Mr. Sadr said nine militiamen had been killed in the clashes in Diwaniya. Members of Mr. Sadrâs militia, the Mahdi Army, set off roadside bombs and fired rocket-propelled grenades and AK-47 assault rifles at the American convoy as it inched its way down a half-mile stretch of road through the heart of the neighborhood. Red tracer rounds arced through the sky, and the Americans returned fire down narrow alleyways and raided buildings. Explosions echoed across the city. At one point, an Iraqi man crawled out of a bunker waving a white flag of surrender, followed by several of his compatriots.
An Apache helicopter then launched 30-millimeter rounds at the building, and an Abrams tank incinerated it with a shot from its main cannon.
That was for the guys who didn't want to surrender...
The American assault today took place in a neighborhood southwest of the holy shrines. Town leaders did not raise a furor, and dozens of families stood outside their homes watching the convoy as it rolled toward the battle site. American commanders said they were trying to make precise attacks so as not to incur the wrath of the Shiites, who make up at least 60 percent of the population of Iraq. Col. Peter Mansoor of the 1st Armored Division, which moved into this region from Baghdad after having its yearlong tour extended, said city leaders of Karbala met with American officers on Sunday and "made it very clear they donât want this to look like Falluja when this is all over."
On Tuesday afternoon, commanders briefed their soldiers on the battle ahead, running through various scenarios using markers on the ground beneath makeshift white tents, and indicating the placements of roads and buildings. They decided to first attack a neighborhood southwest of the two holy shrines that was abandoned by Iraqi security forces when the Mahdi Army arrived last month. They said three buildings â a hotel, a former headquarters of the Baath Party and the old governorate building â were believed to be strongholds for the insurgency. The first tanks rolled out of Camp Lima at 11 p.m. on Tuesday and began drawing fire from the Mahdi Army after reaching the neighborhood at midnight. A roadside bomb and a rocket-propelled grenade exploded at the front of the second armored vehicle. Soldiers fired back down an alleyway with tracer rounds from M-16âs and powerful 25-millimeter rounds from a Bradley fighting vehicle. When soldiers raided the former Baath Party headquarters and old governorate offices, they discovered the buildings were wired to explode. An Abrams tank fired at the governorate building. That set off a spectacular inferno, leading officers to say the place was probably an ammunition dump. "They think if they keep shooting at us, weâll leave," said Lt. Josey Sandoval, 24, the gunner in an M-113 armored personnel carrier. "They should know itâs just the opposite. If they stop shooting, then weâll leave."
#4
Town leaders did not raise a furor, and dozens of families stood outside their homes watching the convoy as it rolled toward the battle site.
Do Iraqis like popcorn?
American commanders said they were trying to make precise attacks so as not to incur the wrath of the Shiites, who make up at least 60 percent of the population of Iraq.
Pretty sensible.
Col. Peter Mansoor of the 1st Armored Division, which moved into this region from Baghdad after having its yearlong tour extended, said city leaders of Karbala met with American officers on Sunday and "made it very clear they donât want this to look like Falluja when this is all over."
You want to go kill Muqty, no problemo, just try to leave the town standing while you do. Sensible people, methinks.
In near 100-degree heat in the late afternoon, few of the Shiite speakers stirred much enthusiasm. But the strongest murmurings of the meeting came when Taqlif al-Faroun, a tribal leader from Najaf, said Shiites should give the American forces a green light to go after Mr. Sadr in the holy cities. "Najaf is not Mecca," he said. "The Americans don't want to go into the shrines. They want to get rid of criminals and thieves. So what if they enter the city?" Across the roof, dozens of men responded approvingly. "Yes, yes!" they said.
A coalition soldier and at least 10 Iraqi militants have been killed in an ongoing battle between U.S.-led coalition forces and radical Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadrâs militia in Karbala. U.S. forces late Tuesday also conducted operations against al-Sadr in Diwaniyah, east of Najaf, capturing one of the clericâs offices and seizing weapons next door from a girlsâ school. In a statement aimed largely at al-Sadrâs militia, the Mehdi Army, Shiite officials have called on all armed forces to preserve the "sanctity" of the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala and condemned the presence of nonofficial armies and the storage of ammunition there. The statement followed a meeting Tuesday of Shiite officials -- both in and outside the U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council -- who are intent on defusing tensions in the southern cities and reversing the deteriorating security situation. see post below
The coalition has said it intends to destroy the militia and arrest or kill al-Sadr, wanted in connection with the killing of a rival cleric. In Karbala, members of the Mehdi Army attacked the house of the mayor early Wednesday, said a police official. Coalition forces returned fire, and the exchanges lasted until dawn. A coalition soldier -- whose nationality was not released -- was killed Tuesday night during an operation against the militia, according to the Polish-led multinational division based in Karbala. Coalition forces have taken over buildings that the militia once occupied in an effort to establish law and order in the predominantly Shiite city, the division said. In Diwaniyah, officials said an AC-130 gunship fired 40 mm rounds on al-Sadrâs office. The military said its reconnaissance indicated more than a dozen militia members armed with AK-47s and rocket-propelled grenades were inside. The militants apparently escaped before the building was struck, officials said. Damn!
Military officials said they seized three mortar guns, 70 mortar rounds and rocket-propelled grenades from a girlsâ school next to al-Sadrâs office. They said they believe the Mehdi Army used the school to launch attacks. No, Iâm sure the mortar rounds and rpgs were just for the girlsâ recess recreation. Girls can get pretty catty at that age, you know.
Al-Sadr is believed to be holed up in Najaf with members of his militia. Al-Sadrâs militia launched an uprising last month against the coalition and its supporters in Baghdadâs Sadr City neighborhood and southern cities.
And now they're getting a chance to use those guns they've been waving...
#3
Hiding behind women, rallying in mosques, stashing weapons in a girl's school. Is there nothing that jihadist strategy can't do? When is Sadr gonna hole up in an orphan's hospital?
Posted by: Eric Jablow ||
05/05/2004 16:14 Comments ||
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#6
The AC-130 has been in the news a lot lately, deservedly so since it is one of our most effective weapons in the WoT with a combination of precision, staying power and hitting power that no other system can quite match.
It is worth noting that there are only 21 of these in the inventory and 8 of these are the Vietnam vintage H models. The DoD has requested 8 more AC-130Us. There is also a program for an AC-X replacement gunship, but this is probably several years down the road.
Special operators want the new gunship, or AC-X, to be much smaller than a C-130, with fewer crew members. They want it to be stealthy, with the speed and maneuverability of a long-range jet fighter. They want it equipped with directed energy weapons and non-lethal technologies, and it should be able to engage targets from any angle-above and below, front and back
An Israeli military court has charged a 15-year-old Palestinian for allegedly recruiting young suicide bombers. The court said Nasser Awartani had personally recruited two teenagers, one who blew himself up at a checkpoint and another who was caught with a bomb.
He is alleged to be the key contact between teenagers in the West Bank city of Nablus and two militant groups. He took attackers to have haircuts and helped them travel from place to place undetected, the indictment said.
The most highly-publicised attempt that he is alleged to have been involved in was in March, when 16-year-old Hussam Abdo was aprehended wearing a suicide bomb vest at Hawara checkpoint outside Nablus.
AWARTANI CHARGES 12 charges including:
Attempted murder
Conspiracy to murder
Membership of militant group
(Charges carry maximum penalty of life in prison)
The incident was caught on TV cameras and broadcast around the world.
Four months earlier, 16-year-old Sabih Abu Saud became the youngest suicide bomber since the beginning of the 2000 Palestinian uprising, or intifada. Nasser Awartani was allegedly photographed with him before the attack. Abu Saud blew himself up near Qalqilya as he ran at a group of soldiers, but he was the only casualty.
Denials Boy howdy! No one saw this part coming.
Nasserâs mother, Ihlas Awartani, said he was innocent and was being made a scapegoat by Israel. "They want to blame someone, so they have chosen my son," she is quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency. Itâs never us, I tell you. Never, ever us. Itâs not our fault that we commit mass murder!
Al-Aqsa Martyrsâ Brigades claimed responsibility for Sabih Abu Saudâs operation. They were also initially reported to have claimed the Hawara incident, but later condemned it and accused Israel of fabricating it. Lies, all lies!!!
Many Palestinians are critical of militant groups that have tried to recruit younger suicide bombers so that they can evade Israeli security checks more easily. Other attacks allegedly involving Nasser Awartani were either thwarted in the planning stages or the recruits did not carry them out, according to the charge sheet.
Nigeriaâs top Muslim leader said on Wednesday that 300 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in Sundayâs attacks by Christian militia in the town of Yelwa in the central Plateau state. Justice Abdulkadir Orire, secretary general of the Jamaatu Nasril Islam, described the killings in the remote farming town as "genocide" and said they took the death toll from three months of ethnic violence there to at least 700-800 people.
When the deaders are turbans it's genocide. When they're the perps they're reacting to unbearable provocation...
"The information we have is that 300 people died and they are mostly Muslims. We call it a genocide because they are killing women and children," Orire told Reuters in a telephone interview from his Kaduna headquarters. The conflict between the Christian Tarok tribe and Muslim Fulani is rooted in competing claims over the fertile farmlands at the heart of Africaâs most populous nation, and it is fueled by religious and ethnic differences between the groups.
We usually just refer to it as Islam's bloody border.
Orire said Christian militia used machine guns in the attacks which left most of Yelwaâs buildings including a mosque destroyed, and criticized the Plateau state governor for apparently inciting violence. He said police stationed in Yelwa had been withdrawn four days before the attack, despite complaints from local Muslims that they were surrounded by Taroks and tensions were rising. "It seems the governor is supporting the move. We heard that the government said non-indigenes should move out of the area," Orire said. "That is very bad. He should look after everyone in the state and not just his own tribe."
Unless he's a turban, of course...
Nigeria is the worldâs seventh largest oil exporter. Ethnic fighting has hit the OPEC countryâs oil production in the past, but Yelwa is hundreds of miles from any oilfields.
So that's pretty much extraneous verbiage, isn't it? Who the hell writes this stuff?
A Reuters correspondent in Yelwa on Tuesday saw thousands of Muslims lining the body-strewn streets chanting religious slogans and vowing dire revenge⢠on the attackers. The state deputy governor, who visited Yelwa on Tuesday, ordered soldiers to shoot troublemakers on sight and announced a dusk-to-dawn curfew. His heavily armed convoy, which was also carrying workers to dig mass graves, could not stop in the town because of the stench heightened tensions, a policeman in the convoy said. President Olusegun Obasanjo ordered the police to send hundreds of riot police to the area. Analysts say the feud between the Tarok farmers and nomadic Fulani cattle herders has been fueled by irresponsible allocation of land by the government and growing lawlessness across Nigeria. Yelwa has already witnessed one of the most horrific massacres of the conflict, when 48 Christians were killed by Fulani militia in a church that was later burned in February.
But that was understandable because the turbans were provoked, y'see..
The last three months have seen the bloodiest fighting in the region since the state capital, Jos, was torn apart by ethnic violence in 2001 that killed 1,000 people. Tens of thousands have already had to leave their homes in Plateau and thousands now live in temporary accommodation in schools and other public buildings across three states. Ethnic, religious and political violence in Nigeria has killed more than 11,000 people since the election of Obasanjo in 1999 ended 15 years of military rule. Isnât it strange how itâs "genocide" only when Muslims are the ones getting stropped? Oh, sorry, itâs being said because "they are killing women and children." Where were Moslem protests back in April of this year? 1500 Christians killed in Nigeria -7/4/04
Religious violence that erupted in the Nigerian state of Plateau a few weeks ago has expanded and resulted in the deaths of eight pastors and 1,500 Christian believers, and the destruction of 173 churches, according to a bulletin released by Open Doors USA.
Religious intolerance is its own reward. Islam is about to find this out in a really big way.
I tend to doubt it. I imagine it'll continue to see-saw back and forth with Muslims attacking and Christians reacting, but gradually losing ground. Christianity isn't a crusading religion anymore, whereas Islam is.
Maybe in the western world, but evangelical christianity in Africa is still new and they haven't had time fot it to be watered down yet.
Posted by: Zenster ||
05/05/2004 11:59:52 AM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[3 views]
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#1
Jehadie brigades in Syria are being redirected by Jihadie Joint Central Command (JJCC) to Nigeria by a car-bomb convoy.
A senior spokesman for JJCC said that Nigeria is a holy place where the prophet slay a dragon. "We have stolen many cars and they are loaded and ready to go. Once on scene we will recruit the drivers and do honor for islam."
#2
Damn. My sympathy meter seems to be dead. The "payback's a bitch" meter's running crazy, though.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
05/05/2004 12:52 Comments ||
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#3
I tend to doubt it. I imagine it'll continue to see-saw back and forth with Muslims attacking and Christians reacting, but gradually losing ground. Christianity isn't a crusading religion anymore, whereas Islam is.
I doubt it's just me that foresees a massive backlash against Islam in all forms. If both sides are stupid enough to wait until there is a nuclear terror attack, there could be potentially devastating repercussions for all Muslims. They are nigh well pariahs as it stands. A few more atrocities and it will be open season in a nasty way.
My personal sympathy meter blew its coils on 9-11 and the tolerance meter is pegging more frequently every day. My "payback's a bitch" meter isn't even anywhere near its red-line yet. However, my "hurt 'em bad" indicator board is all bright green lights.
#4
My "payback's a bitch" meter isn't even anywhere near its red-line yet. However, my "hurt 'em bad" indicator board is all bright green lights.
You know, I don't know how much more of your Nuke Nut babbling I can take.
It's gotten to the point where I dread seeing your name on the comments because I know it's some hot-headed "Bombs away with Curtis Lemay" spew.
Look: Either admit that you've been wrong--DEAD WRONG- about President Bush and the job he's been doing as the elected President and as the Commander-in-Chief
or
Shut up with the "Kill them all and let God or John Kerry sort them out."
John Kerry isn't gonna fight the WOT in any way.
He wants to turn US troops over to the UN for "peacekeeping missions" in 3rd world hellholes like Rwanda.
You CANNOT have it both ways.
Either embrace Bush and realize that he's pursuing the war as aggressively as he can, but not as crazily proactive as you'd like
or
Stay with the Liberals and realize that they hate the Military and the use of the military for any reason other than 3rd party peacekeeping where US interests aren't involved.
Choose. Today.
Posted by: Jen ||
05/05/2004 14:58 Comments ||
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#6
IMO, the history of past posting suggests that Zenster probably has ulterior motives -- he voices strong support (to the point of overkill) for positions obviously near and dear to many who visit this blog -- and then (here and there, thrown in as if afterthoughts) mocks Bush and the validity of his presidency, without any proof to back up the slander. Zenster, just because you sound pro-military doesnât mean youâre not just a DU operative (or equivalent) out to slam Bush. The lack of realism to the gung ho, âpro-militaryâ solutions you spout makes me question your sincerity. Please persuade me otherwise, if you think Iâm wrong.
#7
 "Right wing troll fight!!!!!
Not really, lh.
It's an absolute plea for CONSISTENCY of thought, ideology and beliefs.
Posted by: Jen ||
05/05/2004 15:15 Comments ||
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#8
CG - why? The whole set of clash of civilizations, Islam is THE problem, islamonut, and related memes seems to me to be almost DIAMETRICALLY opposite to everything the Bush admin is trying to accomplish in the WOT. Of course from the point of view of most of people who hold these viewpoints ANY dem is a hundred times worse, on domestic even more than on foreign policy grounds. So theres more than a bit of "cognitive dissonance" going on. Which is usually resolved by the claim that Bush doesnt really mean what he says, that he says "its a war against those whove hijacked a great religion" just cause thats PC, etc. If you look at Condis past, or Wolfies, or anyone elses in the admin, you just dont see the red meat attitude toward Islam you see here, and in many cases (very notably Wolfie's) you see the exact opposite. Maybe Zenster just realizes this, as most of the red meat crowd dont.
#9
zen seems pretty damn consistent to me, Zen. "I hate all muslims, Bush dont, so screw Bush" Rather too LGFish for my tastes, but not inconsistent at all. Not very politically savvy I suppose - but then you might as well call Nader voters inconsistent, and closet rightists. Or even Dean voters. No monopoly on ideological rigidity trumping political savvy. Of course the ideologically rigid tend to say that theyre more concerned with altering the long run dialogue than with the outcome of a given election. "dimes worth of difference" and all that. And sometimes their right.
Whether they are this time is too hard tell. When youve got one candidate who regularly switches positions, against another whose own administration manages to run at least two competing foreign policies simultaneously (and dont tell me that this is the product of the liberal press - you could gather it just reading the Weekly Standard, the National Review, and the Washington Time)
#11
You're dancing Liberalhawk (typical Lib).
You're expecting Bush and members of his Administration (I take it that by "Wolfie" you mean Paul Wolfowitz?) to take extreme positions in public on radical Islam.
That's not going to happen--at least not yet.
President Bush realizes that there are both Muslim-Americans and over a billion Muslims worldwide in the world in which the USA moves as the lone hyperpower.
He's not going to alienate these people by denigrating their religion because it's been hijacked by the radical Waahabs to wage terror war.
We all know who the Enemy is.
The "red meat" crowd--by this, do you mean most Americans, the "silent majority"?--who "get it" without Bush screaming about it like Zipperhead don't need for the President to declare a "crusade."
And he's trying to keep a benign face on American tolerace for Islam (as opposed to Islamism) for the benefit of the countries we're militarily involved in and are concerned with in the Middle East. (This IS a World War, you know.)
The folks in Afghanistan, Iraq and the rest of the Middle East, Africa and Asia are watching our every move and most of them have had one form or another of Islam shoved down their throats for decades, if not centuries.
Among the concepts that America exports is RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE and Secular Government, along with capitalism and democracy.
When you are fighting an enemy whose guiding principle is Religious IN-tolerance, this is critical.
Posted by: Jen ||
05/05/2004 15:30 Comments ||
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#12
Liberalhawk, I have pointed out elsewhere (here at RB) that the largest Muslim nation on the face of the earth practices a fairly eclectic and tolerant form of Islam (SIDE NOTE: The human rights abuses of Indonesia have far more to do with politics, corruption, and culture, than with Islam). Zenster's gung ho, "pro-military" "solutions(?)" throw the proverbial baby out with the bath water, and (accordingly) make me question his sincerity. Regarding Islam as a religion, textual criticism and hermeneutics have been used in more than one religion to create doctrinal change (maybe it can be used in a positive way, in this case).
#13
He's not going to alienate these people by denigrating their religion because it's been hijacked by the radical Waahabs to wage terror war.
But several posters here dont seem to think that Wahabism is the problem, they think ALL islam is the problem, and that the problem is rooted deep in the Koran itself, NOT in the ideology of Wahab.
We all know who the Enemy is.
The "red meat" crowd--by this, do you mean most Americans, the "silent majority"?
By the red meat crowd i mean the ones who group all muslims, sunni,shia, wahabi, etc into one great lump, who make vile remarks about muslims and islam, etc,
American tolerace for Islam (as opposed to Islamism) for the benefit of the countries we're militarily involved in and are concerned with in the Middle East.
the people i refer to as the 'red meat' crowd think all those people in all those countries hate us anyway, regardless of what we do or say. That the only distinction is those who hate us openly, versus those who will turn and stab us in the back. From which they deduce that we might as well use both scorched earth tactics and rhetoric. Now I dont agree, but I dont see this as inconsistent.
#14
Nor do I, liberalhawk, but your friend Zenster is in the group you just described.
Posted by: Jen ||
05/05/2004 16:07 Comments ||
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#15
and oh yeah, by Wolfie I certainly mean Paul Wolfowitz - i mean no disrespect in calling him that - I think hes the smartest dude in the admin, and one of the reasons i may yet vote for Bush in November.
#16
CG - well I agree with you (WRT Indonesia, Islam, etc) but you do see that there are a number of other posters who take a much harder line on Islam than you or I do, and who yet support the administration, and quite loudly at that. I think they are rather more inconsistent than Zenster.
#17
well, er yeah, thats my point Jen. But there are some red meaters who think that the admin is on their side. Seems to me theyre the ones with the consistency problem.
#18
Political reality intervenes...gotta have the veggies with the red meat once in a while
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/05/2004 16:12 Comments ||
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#19
Liberalhawk, most of us can't figure *which* group Zenny's in-that's the problem, which is why I asked him to pick.
He professes hatred for Bush, is mute about the rest of the Admin, and yet keeps trying to egg on our country as exemplified by RBers (led by whom as CiC, only Zenny knows. Himself, I guess.) to "go nuclear" on all Muslims everywhere.
It's vexing to read and try to process to say the least.
Posted by: Jen ||
05/05/2004 16:15 Comments ||
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#21
nah, raj, valuable contributors can enter into a flamewar - like when Aris and Bulldog go at it, for example. A troll fight is a subset of a flamewar, involving two trolls of various opinions. I confess, to flaming, and almost trolling, by calling the zenster - jen dispute a troll fight. I will refrain in future for the sake of the site.
#22
Good man, liberalhawk!
And Raj, the term "flame war" is for trivial matters.
What we're discussing here is substantive and important.
Whole different deal, really.
Posted by: Jen ||
05/05/2004 17:14 Comments ||
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#23
Liberalhawk - careful there: Raj and Aris have a doozy of a dispute in the article "Israel Kills Hamas Top Man"
EFL
The Rev. Jesse Jackson is in Greece this week to meet with religious leaders with Iraqi ties in hopes of freeing Americans being held captive in Iraq. OMYGOD
"I am appealing to them to help us in seeking the release of the remaining hostages," Jackson said by phone from Greece Tuesday. "Religious leaders have more continuity and more stability than the political leaders." Gheeez.
Posted by: Dragon Fly ||
05/05/2004 11:07:28 AM ||
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That explains the bombs.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
05/05/2004 11:10 Comments ||
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#2
Ah, the repeat gold-medalist in ambulance chasing makes another appearance. Nice form, Jesse, very nice.
EFL
Israeli warplanes fired missiles at a suspected guerrilla hideout in south Lebanon on Wednesday, shortly after Hezbollah gunners fired on Israeli jets, security officials said. Cause and effect.
The Lebanese assclowns officials in southern Lebanon said two Israeli fighter jets fired at a valley near the village of Zibqine, southeast of the port city of Tyre. Hezbollah officials in south Lebanon said at least four air-to-surface missiles were launched in the afternoon attack. Black smoke billowed from the area. There was no immediate word on casualties. Letâs keep our fingers crossed.
Posted by: Dragon Fly ||
05/05/2004 10:54:26 AM ||
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Who's the leader of Hezbollah? And is there a chance he might have gone the way of Yassin and Rantissi?
Posted by: Steve from Relto ||
05/05/2004 10:56 Comments ||
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#2
The leader is Hassan Nasrallah, but I seriously doubt he'd be risking his beard by being near the frontlines.
Somethin's a cookin' It would be too much to hope for to have hit some "ordinance" moved in from "East Syria" to "West Syria" orginating with the "man in the hole"
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Tuesday night that Bush will conduct two 10-minute interviews with the U.S.-sponsored Al-Hurra television network and the Arab network Al Arabiya. This could turn out very badly.
"This is an opportunity for the president to speak directly to the people in Arab nations and let them know that the images that we all have seen are shameless and unacceptable," McClellan said. We worry entirely too much about Arab sensitivities. They have absolutely no concern for ours.
"These images do not represent what America stands for, nor do they represent the high standards of conduct that our military is committed to upholding," he continued. "What occurred was wrong, and it will not be tolerated by America." He declined to say why Bush will not interview with the Arab network Al-Jazeera. Al Jazeera is different from CNN how?
Posted by: RWV ||
05/05/2004 1:21:13 AM ||
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Well while the Prez is at it he should also tell them if there is another attck on America the prison pictures will look like a grade school picnic.
Posted by: Bill Nelson ||
05/05/2004 9:40 Comments ||
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#2
Perhaps he should announce that the prison population will now be shot, burned, dragged thru the streets and then hung from a bridge in Falujah since that appears to be ok with the 'arab street' ......
I just wish the media had spend 1/10 the time it spend on these 'pictures' covering the contractors murder in Falujah or even the pregnant mother and her four children in Gaza.....
But the press is busy conducting its own 'racial profiling'.
#3
I just wish the media had spend 1/10 the time it spend on these 'pictures' covering the contractors murder in Falujah or even the pregnant mother and her four children in Gaza.....
Or 9/11 or the murder of Daniel Pearl or the murder of US prison guards in Bosnia or any of the litany of crimes I listed the other day.
Of course, that would be wrong, for reasons which are never adequately explained.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
05/05/2004 10:02 Comments ||
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#4
[Troll droppings deleted]
Posted by: Man Bites Dog TROLL ||
05/05/2004 10:14 Comments ||
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#5
He ought to say that the NEXT Arab/Muslim we catch planting bombs, smuggling weapons, etc will be forced to wear womenâs clothing and make the naked human pyramid!
#6
Screw you, Man Sucks Dog, for repeating such slander!
If you're going to make such treasonous accusations, you'd better have facts, proofs and here, at least links.
I do happen to know that RICHARD CLARKE was the person who flew the Bin Ladens out of this country after 9/11!
As for the rest of it, it is vicious slander and lies that one shouldn't utter anywhere without proof.
Posted by: Jen ||
05/05/2004 10:25 Comments ||
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#7
Cyber Sarge - Yes! and next time THERE WILL BE NO PICTURES!
Jen - I think MBD, since he likes dogs so much, ought to have a meeting with my German Shepherd, "Z-girl" whose alternate name is "Iron Maiden". He also ought to be asked when the next black helicopter is scheduled to fly over his house.
#9
IMO, the history of past posting shows that Man Bites Dog is a fake -- he pretends to be a gung ho, pro-military, âknock down the bad guysâ kind of guy -- and then proceeds to dump all over the Bush administration, essentially calling them all criminals without any proof to back up the slander. Man Bites Dog, just because you sound pro-military doesnât mean youâre not just a DU operative (or equivalent) out to slam Bush. Itâs not like you ever offer alternative, realistic solutions, do you?
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
05/05/2004 11:11 Comments ||
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#11
[Troll droppings deleted]
Posted by: Man Bites Dog TROLL ||
05/05/2004 11:26 Comments ||
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#12
NEWS FLASH! MBD writes filthy abuse at post #11.
Ah, the ad homin attacks begin, because youâve been called out for the cheap, superficial propagandist you are. Why donât you answer the questions I posed you, you fake? BTW, Nixon, for all his faults, got a foot in the door with China and got our troops out of Vietnam -- leaving South Vietnam on a solid footing to defend that democracy, except for the back stabbing vile actions of the likes of sKerry.
#17
I think appearing on Arab TV is a good move for W. No, he shouldn't apologize, but an honest and forthright presentation of the facts (as they are known) and the promise that justice will be done will do a lot of good. If nothing else, a lot of people in the ME will scratch their heads and wonder why the American president holds himself accountable for military misbehavior but ____ (fill in local despot's name here) won't.
#18
Man Bites Dog 's name indicates he thinks he's "newsworthy" (Journalism--Newswriting 101: "When a dog bites a man that's not newsworthy--but when a man bites a dog, that's newsworthy! . . . " ) Ha-ha-ha! Well, it's not newsworthy when "Man Bites Dog" bites off more than he can chew! Sic 'em, gang!!!
It's interesting that people like Antiwar and Man Bites Dog always descend into the lower depths (from whence they came) whenever they are cornered by the light of truth. MBD calls Jen an "angry hag," Antiwar wishes I would die a slow and painful death by cancer . . . Well, ho-hum! And yawn.
(Jen--certain such scorpions are easly trampled underfoot. It's just like kindergarten again. Don't let it get to you.)
I agree with cingold, that MBD's agenda is to garner trust from the rest of us "regulars" through his pro-military facade, then slam Bush in order to get WHO? elected. Why don't you go ahead and tell us, MBD, since that's what you're after.
Our Beloved Prez will handle this interview thing well. What an amazing CIC! Unlike the raving stupidity shown by Zenster yesterday, and his ideas about blowing Mecca and Medina up, after dusting with Anthrax (pathetic), George Bush will garner the support of the "better" Moslems through these interviews, and will build bridges which will be very useful in the WOT. It's a terrific "educational opportunity" for the Arab world. Love that guy!
#20
Me, too, ex-lib!
President Bush does something terrific for this country every day!( And sometimes several things in a day).
I'm excited about getting him reelected!
Viva Bush!
Posted by: Jen ||
05/05/2004 13:22 Comments ||
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#21
The jerks who abused the prisoners should get what they deserve, not to appease the pundits in the West or the Arab media, but because what they did was against the UCMJ. Flat wrong. Period.
W and his team cannot be deterred in bringing the rule of law to Iraq by obstacles such as the prison, WMD, or loss of antiquities. If that means letting the Shiite clerics in Najaf smoke out Sadr, great. If that means letting the "our" Iraqis quell unrest in Fallujah, great, although I think it was a mistake not to let the Marines finish the job. I'm just sitting here putting in my 2-cents worth, but my time in Araby tells me that Iraqis are willing to let us clean up the scum there, as long as we do it thouroughly.
W needs to understand, first, that the 90% govt.-controlled Arab media has always been against the US re our affairs in that region, and it won't change even if he were to apologize over the prisoners and Iraq becomes a Garden of Eden. I'm going back to 1982, when upon my arrival in Jeddah, Sabra and Shatila massacres and Grenada invasion had just taken place. Israel controlled the Phalange militias, Israel wouldn't exist without Great Satan, that sort of thing. Notice Prince Abdullah's blaming the Yanbu shootings of the weekend on Zionists. Well, looking at the Chicago TRib today reveals why. One of the perps aparently had lived in London and came under the spell of the anti-Royal Saudi factions there. The FM, Prince Saud Feisal, was quoted as saying that it is "known" that these groups have ties to Israel. See the connections? Israel killed those guys. Thanks for the insight princes. What are Powell, Armitage, and their boss doing about it? Calling the Royals on the carpet? Asking for clarification?
Mr. Prez, secondly, remember that the Coalition of the Unwilling want to use any means at its disposal, namely the UN and Lib media, to neutralize you and your plan for the ME so that Kerry becomes President. If you don't take the action necessary, like telling Powell/DOS and Tenet/CIA to stop leaking to Newsweek unsubstantiated attacks on Chalabi, simply because he's DOD's man, then you will have disappointed me. Won the war, but lost the peace. Don't let that be your legacy.
Posted by: Michael ||
05/05/2004 13:52 Comments ||
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#22
Dang! Those pesky Serbian lop-eared trolls* are back. Fred, Steve, break out the XM-107s and the leg-hold traps . . . .
Endnote
*Referring to MBD, who seems to be Boris without the website.
Posted by: Mike ||
05/05/2004 14:30 Comments ||
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#23
Fred, Steve, break out the XM-107s and the leg-hold traps . . .
Dang, and my arm is sore from the baby seal season up north.
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/05/2004 18:31 Comments ||
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#24
Screw Arabs! They are treating pics that were lifted from a US based porn site, as proof that American soldiers are "raping" Iraqi women. If Bush had half a brain, he would be talking about Arab propaganda rather than speaking to those savages.
http://www.alwafd.org/front/detail.php?id=2272
Deprogram lesson #1:
Let this impact on your brain: George Walker Bush is owned by Saudi Arabia. GWB subordinates American interests to those of the Saud entity. After 9-11, while Americans were sleeping in airports under closed sky' dictate, 140 Sauds (including 12 members of the bin Laden family)some of whom were connected to extremist Wahabi movements, to escape justice by flying out of the country. After 9-11, GWB allowed the Sauds to remove over $300 billion from American financial institutions. GWB ordered his Justice Dept. to file an Amicus brief, in support of the Saud squelch motion in the 9-11 lawsuit case. GWB allowed Idaho based Saud terrorist, al-Hussayen, to operate for 18 months, even though the Saud had posted website advocacy of crashing civilian airplanes into US bases. The list is about as endless as the bottomless depravity of the apologists of the Texas crook. Only a hardline Congress can undo GWB's $150,000,000,000 squanderage, that has reduced American security.
Posted by: Man Bites Dog TROLL ||
05/05/2004 10:14 Comments ||
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#25
Jen the Angry Hag:
Next time tell your plastic surgeon to inject the silicone into your boobs, instead of your brain.
George Walker Bush: I AM A CROOK!
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0228/ridgeway.php
Posted by: Man Bites Dog TROLL ||
05/05/2004 11:26 Comments ||
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US troops hunting al-Qaeda and Taliban militants crossed over from Afghanistan into Pakistan to search a Pashtun tribal village in a rare violation of the border, Pakistanâs military spokesman said on Tuesday. The US troops searched shops and a petrol pump in the village of Alwara Mandi, in North Waziristan during a night-time operation, according to Major-General Shaukat Sultan. Eyewitnesses said 60 US troops were involved in the operation. The village lies just 200 metres inside Pakistan, and the soldiers returned to Afghan soil immediately they were told that they were on the wrong side of the border. "The moment they were informed they went back. They stayed for no longer than 25 minutes," Sultan told Reuters.
"Oops, sorry. My mistake, we'll be leaving now."
He said such incursions were very rare, although US helicopters had strayed into Pakistan airspace before. On Monday, Lieutenant-General David Barno, commander of the US-led NATO forces in Kabul, urged Pakistan to kill or capture Arab, Chechen, Uzbek and other foreign militants holed up near the border, and expressed concern over Pakistanâs recent amnesty for several tribal militants.
Accidental crossing or reminder?
Posted by: Steve ||
05/05/2004 8:50:36 AM ||
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Is there a true border between Afganistan and Pakistan? Somebody, prey tell me if there are little GPS surveyor things on the border, and unfortunately, our soldiers GPS devices had dead AA batteries.
KARBALA: Twelve people were killed in clashes between coalition forces and rebel Shiite militia overnight in the southern cities of Diwaniyah and Karbala, coalition and Iraqi sources said Wednesday. Nine militiamen were killed in clashes in Diwaniya, Ali Kharsan, spokesman for rebel cleric Moqtada Sadr, said from the Shiite shrine city of Najaf. Late Tuesday, Kharsan told AFP "violent clashes are currently taking place in the middle of the city," 180 kilometres (100 miles) from Baghdad. A US military spokesman confirmed fighting took place but had no further details. Violence also ripped the Shiite shrine city of Karbala, where Polish troops conducted night patrols and traded fire with Sadr's followers. At least three people were killed, including a coalition soldier. The soldier, whose nationality was not immediately given, was killed in a battle in which coalition forces took over several buildings occupied by the Mehdi Army, a coalition statement said.
Sounds like Sadr's Mehdi Army is being squeezed into a smaller and smaller pocket. Excellent, my compliments to the Poles. Additional details:
The heaviest fighting came in the city of Karbala, south of the capital, where coalition forces raided a hotel, the local former Baath Party headquarters and the regional governor's office, where fighters loyal to cleric Muqtada al-Sadr stockpiled weapons, Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt said. In the raid overnight on the governor's office, 10 al-Sadr followers were killed in an ensuing battle, Kimmitt said in Baghdad. The Polish command in Iraq said a soldier was killed, without specifying his nationality. Polish, Bulgarian, U.S. and other peacekeepers are active in the area.
Outside the cities of Kufa and Najaf, U.S. forces attacked a van where Iraqis were seen unloading weapons. The vehicle was destroyed and five Iraqis killed, Kimmitt said. In Najaf, militiamen of al-Sadr's Al-Mahdi Army ambushed three U.S. Humvees. Soldiers opened fire on the attackers, who withdrew. There were no immediate reports of casualties. Coalition troops also raided and occupied al-Sadr's office in the city of Diwaniyah in order to "reduce militia influence in the city," Kimmitt said. The troops were fired on from a vehicle, which was destroyed.
One piece at a time.
Posted by: Steve ||
05/05/2004 8:45:16 AM ||
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Any "pocket" that includes both Diwaniya and Karbala, which are nearly a hundred miles from each other, is so notational as to be undeserving of comment. But the news doesn't sound like a disaster - just a pair of skirmishes, one of which cost more than I would like.
Posted by: Mitch H. ||
05/05/2004 9:32 Comments ||
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#2
It looks like we may be picking off the isolated sites. We never said we would ignore the militia, just that we would prefer to not have to fight in Najaf. Expect to see militia checkpoints targeted when possible, and the "offices" cleaned out by our version of the Orkin Man.
#3
I can't really get much specific out of this report or the other related posting.
However, it seems pretty evident that al Sadr is in a deteriorating position. Whether we kill 12 today or none or 50 the military and political MO is on our side. I guess this will make Michael Moore and Ted Rall very unhapppy.
EFL
Fighting has erupted between Sudanese government forces and rebels in western Sudan despite a cease-fire signed last month to halt the conflict, Sudanese military and security sources said on Wednesday. Looks like the newly elected memeber of the U.N. Rights Body got right to work on saving the world.
The sources in the impoverished region of Darfur told Reuters that clashes around Abu Gamra, about 45 km north of the town of Kebkabiya, involved forces commanded by Sudanâs army. "We are still fighting factions of the rebels. The fighting is continuing. We have to destroy them. These are our orders," a senior Sudanese myrmidon military source told Reuters, speaking by telephone from Darfur.
Posted by: Dragon Fly ||
05/05/2004 8:33:56 AM ||
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The uprising of radical Shiite firebrand Moqtada al-Sadr against US-led coalition forces in Iraq has stalled. His so-called "Mahdi army" has retreated from all of the cities it briefly controlled in early April, save for the Holy city of Najaf, where it is surrounded by 2,500 coalition soldiers. What initially appeared to be an outpouring of popular support for the chubby 30-year-old rabble-rouser has proven to be immensely shallow. At the height of the uprising, some American analysts argued that Sadrâs revolt was a plot by Iran to derail Iraqâs transition to democracy. However, while there is no question that the Iranians have provided some military and economic aid to Sadr, their intentions in so doing are not clear.
Iranian Aid
In a recent interview with the London-based Arabic daily Al-Sharq al-Awsat, a senior Iranian intelligence official who defected to Britain late last year claimed that Iran has built an extensive intelligence network in Iraq, comprising hundreds of agents with a budget of roughly $70 million per month at their disposal to buy influence.[1] The former official, identified by the paper as "Hajj Saidi," did not offer a breakdown of this spending, but main recipients of official Iranian government aid are believed to be the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), the Daawa party, headed by Ibrahim al-Jaafari, and the Hawza al-Ilmiya, a network of seminaries in the holy city of Najaf run by the countryâs senior Shiite clerics (marjaiyya). Significantly, all three have backed the American-led Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) and Hakim and Jaafari are members of the Iraqi Governing Council (IGC). Iran denies having provided assistance to Sadr. However, while it may well be true that he does not officially receive government aid, it is evident that Sadr has received substantial funding from the quasi-governmental network of extremist Iranian "charities" that provide financing for the Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah movement, and that some members of the Sadrist militia have been trained by Qods division of Iranâs Islamic Republic Guard Corps (IRGC). Sadrâs rise to prominence would not have been possible without this assistance. The loyalty of his core constituency was not won by fiery speeches, but by his movementâs provision of social services to the needy - the same method employed by Hezbollah to establish itself in Lebanon.
Thus, the Iranians have pursued a two-track intervention in Iraq. On the one hand, they have supported the Shiite political and religious establishment, which has endorsed Iraqâs transition to democracy and cooperated with the coalition, while on the other hand, they have supported Sadr, who has challenged the Shiite establishment and tried to mobilize the Shiite community against the occupation. The magnitude of this contradiction is not fully appreciated by most Western observers because the media has greatly understated the level of antipathy between Sadr and the Shiite establishment. Sadrâs father, Muhammad Sadiq al-Sadr, cooperated with the Baathist regime during the 1980s and frequently denounced SCIRI as an "Iranian lackey." Then, after breaking with the regime in the 1990s, he denounced the "silent hawza" of Sistani for failing to speak out against Saddam. Although popular among the urban poor, Sadrâs father was hated by both quietist and opposition Shiite leaders. Moqtada, who lacks his fatherâs religious credentials, is hated even more. In light of the immense strain that Iranâs covert support for Sadr places on relations with its allies in the Shiite establishment, there are only three plausible explanations for it.
Iranian Intentions
The first is that Iranâs two-track policy in Iraq is a result of divisions within the Iranian ruling elite. According to Al-Sharq al-Awsat, the key officials involved in Iranâs military assistance to Sadr are Ali Agha Mohammadi, an advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei; Bagher Zolghadr, the assistant head of the IRGC; Ghasem Sulaymani, the commander of the Qods Corps; Murtada Radaâi, head of the IRGC intelligence service; and Hassan Kazimi Qummi, a former assistant head of the IRGC who was appointed Iranian charge dâaffaires in Iraq. The key figure overseeing financial aid to Sadr is believed to be Sayyid Kazim al-Haâiri, an influential hard-line cleric. Sadrâs backers in the Iranian security and clerical establishment operate independently of Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, presumably with at least tacit support from Khamenei.
Why Sadrâs backers would choose to authorize an uprising now is not entirely clear. Some analysts have suggested that the upsurge in Iraqâs Sunni insurgency may have convinced them that conditions were ripe for a popular uprising against the coalition. This is doubtful. It is unlikely that the Iranians somehow imagined that masses of Shiites would risk life and limb for Sadr. Another possibility is that Sadrâs backers recognized that their protege was incapable of fomenting a popular uprising, but authorized it in pursuit of a lesser objective. "We may be unable to drive the Americans out of Iraq, but we can drive George W. Bush out of the White House," Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah is said to have recently boasted. A more likely reason is that Sadrâs backers feared that a coalition crackdown on their proxy was imminent. In the weeks prior to the uprising, the CPA closed Sadrâs newspaper for 60 days, raided money-changing shops that funnel Iranian money to him, and arrested one of his senior aides, while press leaks indicated that an arrest warrant had been issued for Sadr for his role in the April 2003 murder of moderate Shiite cleric Abdul Majid Khoei. The London-based Arabic daily Al-Hayat quoted an Iraqi security source as saying that the coalitionâs expulsion of Qummi - Sadrâs Iranian overseer in Baghdad - likely contributed to the onset of the uprising. A second plausible explanation for this two-track intervention is that Iran is hedging its bets. If Iraqâs transition to democracy is successful, Iran would be able to exercise influence through SCIRI and Dawa; if it is derailed, Iran will have good relations with a political movement that is untarnished by association with the failed political process, capable of seizing control over the Shiite heartland and, if necessary, fighting coalition troops or resurgent Sunni Arab forces.
A possible explanation is that Iranian support for Sadr is intended neither to derail the democratic process nor to cultivate an alternate Shiite political contender in the event of its failure, but to exert pressure on the Shiite political establishment. The refusal of most mainstream political and religious Shiite leaders to express unmitigated criticism of Sadr (in spite of their immense personal distaste for him) underscores how easily they can be intimidated by anyone who raises the banner of anti-Americanism. Iranian support for Sadr may be, above all, motivated by the desire to control if and when this banner is raised during the political transition process.
Posted by: Paul Moloney ||
05/05/2004 7:51:24 AM ||
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is it really so surprising that Iran is funding both Sadr and Sistani et al??? Kinda like when a big corporate PAC gives money to BOTH Dems and Republicans, to insure access WHOEVER wins. Couldnt Iran be doing that??? They may be realistic enough to realize that they cant control who will win in Iraq, so they need to cover all outcomes.
Palestinian terrorists murdered 4 young Jewish children and their pregnant mother this afternoon. The terror attack targeted the family vehicle while it was traveling on the road that leads to the Gaza Strip settlement bloc of Gush Katif.
Another Israeli civilian traveling in a separate car suffered moderate gunfire wounds in the attack near the Netzer Hazani settlement.
The terrorists arrived by car from the nearby Palestinian village of Dir al Ballah and began to fire at passing Israeli vehicles, consequently killing the mother and her four children. Another Israeli traveling in the opposite direction, was also wounded.
After spraying the station wagen with bullets, the Palestinian terrorists walked up to the 4 terrified little girls and shot each one of them twice in the head, police said. The 8-month-old pregnant mother was shot in her belly at point blank range as she tried to cover her children. This is not new news, but the fact all five were murdered at close range execution style was censored out of all the reports I have read and seen. Contrast this with the wildly inflammatory statements innundating the media about the prisoner abuse story and ask yourself which crime was worse.
Posted by: Phil B ||
05/05/2004 3:26:31 AM ||
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Phil B - too f*cking right. The Beeb are creaming themselves over the POW pics and this atrocity along with the savages' actions in Yanbu only receive the most cursory of mentions. Grrrrr...
Posted by: Howard UK ||
05/05/2004 5:00 Comments ||
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Each and time they over-hype or maufacture American/Israel errors and fail to report real atrocities, they lose credibility. It's a slow, drip, drip, drip as the world clues into the fact that these "news organizations" are nothing more than propaganda machines against America and Israel. This and the refusal to cover the UNSCAM will eventually be their ultimate undoing IMHO.
Posted by: Anny Emous ||
05/05/2004 6:56 Comments ||
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#3
my prayers go out to the father of this family. The evil of this attack is beyond words.
#4
Myself, I would like to see the pictures of the mother and the little girls murder, in situ, broadcast every hour on the hour for the next month. I would like to see it in the movie theaters, on bill boards etc. etc.
I would like ti burn those horrific images into the mind of every living soul, and then ask them how they can support the Islamic filth that infests this world.
But it will never happen. Sad.
Death to Islam (DtI)
-AR
Posted by: Analog Roam ||
05/05/2004 9:00 Comments ||
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#5
...and yet, they still call themselves the religion of peace. I'd personally be willing to give them the benefit of doubt that they perhaps they are, if just just one prominant Arab leader would come out and publicly condemn this act . I be willing to give them them benefit of the doubt that they are if there were just one giant public protest of the "Arab street" to condemn these atrocities, and the organizations that perpetrate them.
As utterly screwed up as she was, our very own "saint Pancake" felt so strongly for those "poor, oppressed people" that she went there, dressed like them, contorted her face in rage while burning our flag, and ultimately died for them. Like I said, she was as fu**ed-up as she could be, but i have yet to see just one of those 1.5 BILLION "peace-loving" people make just one-tenth of that effort in the wake of this or any of the other similar atrocities.
Nothing. I don't ever, ever want to hear talk about the so-called "Moderate Muslims" - they don't exist.
#6
As utterly screwed up as she was, our very own "saint Pancake" felt so strongly for those "poor, oppressed people" that she went there, dressed like them, contorted her face in rage while burning our flag, and ultimately died for them.
In her mind, Rachel Khoury was an Arab. Not an Arab-American. Just an Arab.
#7
Muslims didn't do this. Gentle has assured me that it would be against Islam and the followers of the pedophile would never commit such horrible acts. Thanks for clearing that up for us Gentle!
#8
Thank God these 'brave noble patriots' only murdered the children and pregant mother in cold blood and didn't take pictures of them where they were [anonomously] 'humiliated'.....
#10
Thank God these 'brave noble patriots' only murdered the children and pregant mother in cold blood and didn't take pictures of them where they were...'humiliated'.....
It was also learned that the terrorists not only murdered the 34-year-old mother of four who was eight months pregnant along with her children, but then ran up to the vehicle and took a video of the results of their actions, filming the young victims as they bled to death.
Of course, this does not jibe with accounts that they executed them, so perhaps what witnesses thought were video cameras were actually guns.
#11
just digusting - children do not deserve to be caught up in this - unless of course your anti-war and believe it is ok to kill children as long as they are jewish..these people are dogs and need to be treated like dogs...
Posted by: Dan ||
05/05/2004 12:07 Comments ||
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#12
Dan,
Its ok..... since Muslims are the ones doing the killing.....
Am I the only ones sick of the double standard (or it is Racial Discrimination) being done by the major media? When will they interview the relatives of the mother? (Hell... when will ABC news even metion the murders of a pregnant woman and 4 female children? Why is it being suppressed? Because they are Jewish and the murders are muslims?).
#13
The 8-month-old pregnant mother was shot in her belly at point blank range as she tried to cover her children.
im thinking that sentance a typo. this story is realy piss me off and im agree the footage shuld be show what evil is. boris and antiwar probly out today passing out candy.
#14
Dan (#11): That was a really mean thing to say against dogs. Dogs are cool. These people need to be treated like . . . flush (early and often).
mucky: She was probably shielding her kids behind her, silly.
Angie: I think they just went back to record their Islamic heroism dirty work with a camcorder. Probably going to run it on Palestinian TV after they set it to music, etc.
#16
yes i guess it was mean to dogs my apologies.....
maybe treat them like a stray dog with rabbies.....
these pieces of shit need to be killed.......how could anyone shoot a kid like that.... if the muslim world will not condem thier own then we are in a war of civilizations and the muslims will pay the heaviest price....
Posted by: Dan ||
05/05/2004 15:22 Comments ||
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#17
Sad just really sad how bad things are over there. My God comfort them in death and smite those that did this! May Allah have NO mercy on those that make war on the innocent!
#18
May Allah Have NO mercy on those that make ware on the innocent!
CS - Allah = Satan. I am so sick of the hypocritical American mainstream media and how they are covering/not covering aspects of this religious war we are fighting. The enemy almost daily informs us they are fighting and killing us because we are Jews, Christians, Hindus, etc. (NOT believers in Allah) but yet the media attempts to cover this war as if we are in Iraq for no other reason than that we are just testing out our latest military equipment. You would have no idea that the Iraq battle in part of the war on Terror (Islam).
#19
If I were the Israelis, I would line up the tanks and drive every inhabitant in the Gaza Strip westward into Egypt and tell them never to come back. In a similar fashion I would empty the West Bank into Syria and then divide up the empty land with Jordan on the condition that NO palestinian ever be allowed to set foot in the land again. Palestininians attempting to enter Israel would be shot on sight, no exceptions. As to Jerusalem, Islam has enough holy cities without it. The Arabs have lost every war since 1948 so they can go demonstrate somewhere else.
Oh, by the way, if the EU and the UN wants to continue supporting these worthless pond scum, they can do so in their own countries, not in "refugee" camps. After 56 years, you're not a refugee, you're just a freeloader.
Posted by: Random thoughts ||
05/05/2004 18:26 Comments ||
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#20
After 56 years, you're not a refugee, you're just a freeloader.
Maybe that's what's been nagging at the back of my mind every time I hear "Refugee Camp". 56 years...
Bloody clashes erupted yesterday in the breakaway Georgian province of Adzharia when militiamen beat protesters rallying against the region's leader, Aslan Abashidze. The Georgian president, Mikhail Saakashvili, responded by calling Mr Abashidze a "mad dog feudal lord" and ordering Adzharian police to disobey the "criminal orders" of their leader, as fears grew that the violence would lead to military intervention in the region.
I think that'll eventually be necessary, but if the Georgians can talk the Adzharians into dumping Abashidze on their own that'll be better...
The clashes erupted outside the university in the Adzharian capital, Batumi, yesterday morning when up to 300 protesters were attacked by camouflaged loyalists of Mr Abashidze firing water cannon. Witnesses said as many as 15 people were hurt. The authorities said the protest was illegal because of a state of emergency. But protesters continued to defy the crackdown last night, with several hundred staging a new rally calling on Mr Abashidze to step down. There were also unconfirmed reports that some of the Adzharian police had agreed to follow Mr Saakashvili's instructions and ignore Mr Abashidze's orders.
Banking on Saakashvili being around longer than Abashize, are they?
Mr Abashidze's regime has already said it believes the conflict will end in war.
Unless he gives a war and nobody comes...
On Sunday, Mr Saakashvili gave the Adzharian authorities an ultimatum to disarm their militia and recognise his rule by May 12. If these demands are not met, Mr Saakashvili has said he will remove Mr Abashidze and call new elections.
Popcorn, anyone?
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/05/2004 1:05:16 AM ||
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BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - The new commander of U.S.-run prisons in Iraq said Tuesday he would cut in half the number of Iraqis in the notorious Abu Ghraib prison and quash some interrogation techniques considered humiliating, such as hooding prisoners. The announcement came as Iraqis freed from coalition jails - emboldened by photographs of abused prisoners - stepped forward with new allegations of beatings, sleep deprivation and hours spent hooded and kneeling before interrogators.
Reeling from such claims, the U.S. military said it was ordering troops to use blindfolds instead of hoods, and requiring interrogators to get permission before depriving inmates of sleep - one of the most common techniques reported by freed Iraqis.
Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Miller, former commander of the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, said his changes to interrogation techniques were aimed at getting "the maximum amount of intelligence" while treating prisoners in a humane manner. He said he would cut the number of inmates at Abu Ghraib to fewer than 2,000 from the current 3,800. The U.S.-led coalition has about a dozen prisons around Iraq holding a total of 7,000 to 8,000 inmates. The Saddam Hussein-era Abu Ghraib, on the western edge of Baghdad, is at the center of reports that American guards abused Iraqi prisoners. Some officials have warned the prison is overcrowded.
Over the summer, Miller led a team of 30 specialists who investigated - and changed - interrogation methods used in U.S.-run prisons here. Miller's investigation at Abu Ghraib is one of three ordered by Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, in response to alleged abuses by U.S. Military Police, their commanders and interrogators. Six soldiers have been charged and six more received stiff reprimands. Miller took over as head of the prison last month after the previous chief, Brig. Gen. Janis Karpinski, was suspended amid investigations into the claims of abuse.
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/05/2004 12:42:30 AM ||
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#1
Wait, seven to eight thousand? What about the fifty thousand we supposedly have in the clink? Are there POW camps that aren't counted among these numbers, or is the fifty thousand including Iraqi-ministry-controlled lockups?
Posted by: Mitch H. ||
05/05/2004 9:03 Comments ||
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Islamic heroism at its most heroic...
Algerian Islamic militants killed a mother and her two children in western Algeria, state radio said on Monday, as violence in the north African country escalated amid talk of a large-scale rebel surrender. The family's father survived the attack in a village near Relizane, 250 km west of Algiers, in the early hours of Sunday. He suffered unspecified bullet wounds. The rebels set fire to the family's home after the mother and her children, aged five and nine, were stabbed to death with a knife, the daily El Watan said.
For doing un-Islamic stuff, no doubt...
More than a dozen civilians and officials have been killed in separate attacks over the past few days, bringing the death toll to nearly 50 since the start of April, according to media and official reports. Political analysts said the escalation in violence was linked to the reported surrender negotiations, as the rebel leadership resisted alleged moves by several hundred Islamic militants seeking amnesty. Nabil Sahraoui, leader of Algeria's largest militant organisation, the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), denied surrender talks were taking place and called for further attacks, according to a recent published statement.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
05/05/2004 12:32:41 AM ||
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#1
Where is Gentle? We need her/him to explain and recite more Koran verses on the peacefulness of Islam.
#3
You might not be far off. Today, the Arab News says that one of the Terrorist in Yanbu was depressed over the death of his infant son. So, if a death in the family gets you depressed, just kill an american and drag his body through the streets--that will cheer you up!
Representatives of Iraq's most influential Shiite leaders met here on Tuesday and demanded that Moktada al-Sadr, a rebel Shiite cleric, withdraw militia units from the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, stop turning the mosques there into weapons arsenals and return power to Iraqi police and civil defense units that operate under American control.
The Shiite leaders also called, in speeches and in interviews after the meeting, for a rapid return to the American-led negotiations on Iraq's political future.
On Tuesday, the Shiite leaders, including a representative of a Shiite clerical group that has close ties to Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, effectively did what the Americans have urged them to do since Mr. Sadr, a 31-year-old firebrand, began his attacks in April: they tied Iraq's future, and that of Shiites in particular, to a renunciation of violence and a return to negotiations.
Their statement repeated warnings to American troops not to enter Najaf and Karbala in pursuit of Mr. Sadr. Although American commanders have hinted at an offensive soon against against Mr. Sadr's force, the Mahdi Army, they have repeatedly said they do not intend to attack Najaf or Karbala. They have not made such a promise about Kufa, a small city six miles northeast of Najaf, where Mr. Sadr appears to have established his headquarters.
Although Shiite leaders have made similar demands of Mr. Sadr before, it has never been in such strength. About 150 leaders attended the gathering, representing many of Shiism's most influential political, religious and professional groups. One group, the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, or SCIRI, has close ties to Ayatollah Sistani, who is regarded as Iraq's top Shiite cleric and the country's most influential political voice.
It has been several weeks since Mr. Sadr suggested he might heed Shiite leadership.
The Shiite leaders convened in Baghdad on short notice, reflecting their urgency to calm a month's violence sown by Mr. Sadr across much of southern Iraq. Equally disturbing to many Shiites, American occupation officials, faced with the dual challenges from Mr. Sadr and Sunni Muslim insurgents in Falluja, have handed some authority in Falluja to elements of Saddam Hussein's former army, despised by Shiites as an instrument of his repression.
Several Shiite leaders acknowledged that they had delayed issuing their statement until there were clear signs that public opinion among Shiites had moved strongly against Mr. Sadr. Reports in the past two weeks have spoken of a shadowy death squad calling itself the Thulfiqar Army shooting dead at least seven of Mr. Sadr's militiamen in Najaf, and several thousand people attended an anti-Sadr protest meeting outside the Imam Ali shrine in the city on Friday, according to several of the meeting's participants.
Mr. Mahdi, from the SCIRI group, which is close to Ayatollah Sistani, was blunt about Mr. Sadr's decline in popularity. "He's 100 percent isolated across most of the southern provinces; he's even isolated in Najaf," he said. "The people there regard him as having taken them hostage." He said Mr. Sadr had also been criticized by his most powerful religious backer, Grand Ayatollah Kazem Hossein Haeri, based in the Iranian city of Qum, who had urged Mr. Sadr to pull his militiamen out of Najaf and Karbala and to stop storing weapons in mosques.
Several speakers implied that the Sunni minority intended to derail the American-led political process, and thus the prospect of a Shiite majority government. On few occasions, if any, since the American invasion last year, have mainstream Shiite leaders spoken so bluntly in public of the political rivalry with the Sunnis, who were referred to repeatedly by speakers as "they" or "the other side," and barely at all by name.
Before joining with other Shiite leaders for the Tuesday meeting here, Shiites on the governing council, including Mr. Mahdi, had a tempestuous meeting with the two top American officials in Iraq, L. Paul Bremer III, the civilian chief of the occupation authority, and Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez, the commander of American forces.
At one point, the council members said, they told the Americans they were risking civil war between Iraq's Sunni and Shiite communities by endorsing the Falluja deal with elements of Mr. Hussein's old army.
In near 100-degree heat in the late afternoon, few of the Shiite speakers stirred much enthusiasm. But the strongest murmurings of the meeting came when Taqlif al-Faroun, a tribal leader from Najaf, said Shiites should give the American forces a green light to go after Mr. Sadr in the holy cities. "Najaf is not Mecca," he said. "The Americans don't want to go into the shrines. They want to get rid of criminals and thieves. So what if they enter the city?" Across the roof, dozens of men responded approvingly. "Yes, yes!" they said.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
05/05/2004 12:16:36 AM ||
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#1
Interesting. The fact that we are willing to talk to the Sunnis and do the Fallujah deal gets the Shiites off the dime on al-Sadr. They want power and they're afraid we'll give it back to the Sunnis.
We're playing the middleman now, not Sistani, and this was predicted in a Belmont Club article last month.
We go into Najaf now ONLY if the Shiites demand it. And they should lead the way themselves and take a few bullets...
#2
RML - Indeed, Wretchard discussed triangulating to bring Shitstani down out of his clouds - and maybe it is working. I must say, however, that there is far too much machination and far too little straight-shooting, of both types, for my taste. If it works, okay - they're wizards. My gut tells me we should be about 5x more hardcore with Sadr and in Fallujah - kicking ass right up to the moskkk door, at least. Anything less will magnify the jihadi bandwagon effect. Just my 2 cents.
#3
What about all the holy shit. We might enflame the street. Might take years to get the Mo's to calm down. Holy crap Batman! Perhaps we should take a knee, ask a mullah about perceptions maybe, don't know, what!
Sadr is, ultimately, Sistanis problem. We seem to have finally manipulated Sistani into dealing with his problem. A neat middle ground between treating Sistani with kid gloves, and treating him as an enemy. If Bremer was behind this i must take back some things I said about him elsewhere. Although I would repeat again that I hope that to the extent we can reduce Sistanis influence, it will be to increase the influence of Iraqi local councils, and, yes, pro-democracy pols, and NOT typical Arab nationalists Anti-Israel types like Adnan Pachachi.
And BTW, yeah, the Thulfiqar army thing sounds very like something Spec Ops would have a hand in.
In near 100-degree heat in the late afternoon, few of the Shiite speakers stirred much enthusiasm. But the strongest murmurings of the meeting came when Taqlif al-Faroun, a tribal leader from Najaf, said Shiites should give the American forces a green light to go after Mr. Sadr in the holy cities. "Najaf is not Mecca," he said. "The Americans don't want to go into the shrines. They want to get rid of criminals and thieves. So what if they enter the city?" Across the roof, dozens of men responded approvingly. "Yes, yes!" they said.
#9
The primary mistake made in Fallujah was one of procedure. We should have reduced the "insurgent"/Jihadi garrison in the Golan first, and THEN proceed with the installation of a Sunni hard boy. Following that up with rumors and leaks from the Green Zone of how well Sunnis manage civil affairs, Sunni wizardry with troops in the field, etc. A couple weeks of that, and Sadr'd be swinging from Najaf lamp post.
Fallujah, as Old Spook has mentioned at Rantburg and at other venues, has a special place in the hearts of most Iraqis. It is not, however, a happy place. We should have finished the thugs off two weeks ago, while suffering minimal fuss from the Iraqi 'street'.
The clerics wont go as far as a Najaf tribal leader, methinks. Sadrs real base of support is NOT in the south, but in the poor Shiite neighborhoods of Baghdad, notably Sadr city. Southern tribals dont give two ****s about Sadr City, it seems, but the clerics still wont write off influence over such a big chunk of the Shiite population.
The Shiite clerics - NOT our friends, NOT our enemies. A group of cautious men, who very carefully monitor which way the wind is blowing.
The bodies of five Afghan government soldiers abducted on Monday have been found in the south of the country. Officials blame members of the ousted Taleban regime for the killing of the five who were seized in the Shah Joy district of Zabul province. ... "They were all shot in the stomach and chest," Zabul governor Khial Mohammed told the Associated Press news agency. Taleban rebels had earlier declared they would target foreign soldiers and civilians as well as all Afghans who chose to work with them or with the administration of President Hamid Karzai. ....
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
05/05/2004 12:13:13 AM ||
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#1
Shooting a muslim in the stomach or chest is a sign of respect. The prohet said, "let you shoot them in the stomach or chest so as to make a pleasing statement to allah. Hook them to a machine and drag them, flopping side to side, as a child would drag a toy. Peace be among you brotheren.
A source in the Al-Quds Army of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard revealed to the London daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat information relating to the construction of three camps and training centers on the Iranian-Iraqi borders to train elements of the "Mehdi Army" founded by Muqtada Al-Sadr. The source estimated that between 800 and 1200 young supporters of Al-Sadr have received military training including guerilla warfare, the production of bombs and explosives, the use of small arms, reconnoitering, and espionage. The three camps were located in Qasr Shireen, âIlam,and Hamid, bordering southern Iraq which is inhabited largely by Shiâa Muslims. The newspaper also reported that the Iranian Embassy in Baghdad has distributed 400 satellite phones to supporters of Al-Sadr and to clerics and students at the Aâthamiyya district of Baghdad, Al-Sadr City, and in Najaf, all of which are inhabited predominantly by Shiâa Muslims.
The Iranian source, known in Iraq as "Abu Hayder," confirmed that the intelligence service of the Revolutionary Guards has introduced to the Shiâa cities radio and TV broadcasting facilities which are used by Al-Sadr and his supporters. The source estimated the financial support to Al-Sadr in recent months have exceeded $80 million, in addition to the cost of training, equipment, and clothing of his supporters. The source indicated that elements of the Al-Quds Army and the Revolutionary Guard Intelligence lead many of the operations directed against the coalition forces. These elements are also leading a campaign against the senior Shiâa clerics such as the Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, Hussein Al-Sadr [Muqtadaâs uncle], Ayatollah Ishaq Al-Fayyadh, and others, because of their opposition to the concept of "the Rule of the Jurist" (Wilayat Al-Faqih), which is Khomeiniâs style of government.
An Iranian official known as Al-Haj Saâidi, who was previously in charge of the Iraqi desk in the Iranian intelligence services, spoke of a dense Iranian presence from the uppermost point in the north of Iraq to the lowest point. The Iranians can draw upon a large reservoir of potential agents from the Iraqi Shiâa but more so from the Iraqi-Iranian nationals who were expelled by Saddam Hussein to Iran and are now coming back to Iraq not only acting as agents but also representing a large reservoir of Shiâa voters who could tip the scale in favor of Al-Sadr in future elections in Iraq. These agents are suspected of assassinating the liberal Ayatollah Muhammad Baqir Al-Haqim, the former leader of the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) and a former member of the Iraqi governing council, and were about to assassinate Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, another moderate cleric, before their designs were exposed.
The Iraqi daily Al-Zaman reported a secret investigation being carried out by the CPA and the Iraqi Governing Council on the flow of funds from Iran to secular groups. Meetings with such groups are also known to have taken place in various Gulf countries. While Iran has denied intervening in the internal affairs of Iraq, every available evidence suggests the contrary. In an article, Al-Zaman criticized Iran for allowing into Iraq members of Al-Qaâida and of extremist Arab groups loyal to Tehran. It also criticized Iranâs attempt to impose its control over the Iraqi Shiâa Islamic centers, and terrorize those who do not acquiesce. Further, the article referred to the smuggling of Iraqi oil, sheep and spare parts, and the destruction of the Iraqi economic infrastructure in the hands of organized Iranian gangs - criminal acts which, the paper argued could not have been carried out without explicit support of the Iranian authorities. The paper characterized Iranian policies as "nefarious and unfathomable."
Another arm of Iranâs intervention in Iraq is its proxy â Hizbullah. Accordingto the London daily Al-Hayat Iran sent 90 of its fighters to Iraq shortly after the fall of the Saddam regime. The presence of Hizbullah fighters in Iraq is meant to neutralize any attempt by the coalition forces to activate opposition to Iran from within Iraq. In the words of an Iraqi daily, Iran is telling Washington, "We can help but we can also cause harm." In the meantime, seeking more controversy, Muqtada Al-Sadr announced that he was in alliance with Hizbullah, which has Iranian support, and with the Palestinian Hamas. This alliance was broadly criticized by the Iraqi press.
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
05/05/2004 12:06:44 AM ||
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#1
Been any body dragings lately in Iran? Me thinks such things don't happen is the Islamic paradise.
No body dragings, no car bombings, no mass machine gunnings. A place of tranquil. Why no murder in Iran?
#4
Muqtada Al-Sadr announced that he was in alliance with Hizbullah, which has Iranian support, and with the Palestinian Hamas. This alliance was broadly criticized by the Iraqi press.
This seems like a critical mistake on Al-Sadr's part to me.
Posted by: Anny Emous ||
05/05/2004 6:51 Comments ||
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
