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Mass Grave With 1,500 Bodies Found in Iraq
Today's Headlines
Headline Comments [Views]
Page 1: WoT Operations
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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
US warns of terror attacks in Central Asia
Posted by: Fred || 05/01/2005 00:00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  This comes shortly after Putin "putting down a marker" on the former soviet republics there.
Posted by: too true || 05/01/2005 11:40 Comments || Top||


China-Japan-Koreas
Report: N. Korea May Have Fired Missile into Sea Of Japan
EFL - News. HT to Drudge
The U.S. military informed Japan that North Korea may have fired a short-range missile toward the Sea of Japan on Sunday morning, Kyodo News service and national broadcaster NHK reported.

The reports quoted unidentified government sources as saying that the U.S. military informed Japan's Defense Agency of the possible missile launch. The government was attempting to confirm the information, the reports said.

The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo and the U.S. military both refused to comment, and an official at the Japanese Defense Agency said he could not confirm the report. The South Korean defense ministry also said it could not confirm the account.

NHK said the missile was believed to have been fired from the reclusive nation's east coast and to have traveled 65 miles into the Sea of Japan.

Word of the possible test came just days after a top U.S. military intelligence official told a U.S. Senate committee that North Korea has the ability to arm a missile with a nuclear weapon, a potentially significant advance for the communist state. Vice Adm. Lowell Jacoby, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, in testimony on Thursday, did not specify whether he was talking about a short-range missile or a long-range one that could reach the United States.

Two defense officials later said that U.S. intelligence analysts believe North Korea is several years away from being able to mount a nuclear warhead on a missile that could reach the United States from the Korean Peninsula.

North Korea's missile development program has spurred Japan to join the United States in putting together a joint missile-defense system. North Korea startled Tokyo in 1998 by launching a long-range ballistic missile over the Japanese archipelago and into the Pacific Ocean.

Pyongyang has played upon the threat by intermittently test-firing short-range missiles since then.

The Japanese Cabinet in February approved legislation that would allow the defense chief to order the military to shoot down incoming missiles.
makes sense
Posted by: Frank G || 05/01/2005 11:51:14 AM || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  traveled 65 miles

Hmmm. An anti-ship missile? Short-range tactical? Or maybe aborted ballistic test?

North Korea - a mystery inside an enigma, wrapped in bark and grass and boiled for dinner.
Posted by: SteveS || 05/01/2005 12:08 Comments || Top||

#2  China says to Li'l Kim: Be a good boy and go rattle the Japs cages while we're in a food fight with them
Posted by: sea cruise || 05/01/2005 12:10 Comments || Top||

#3  SteveS - much better to grill the bark and grass; bringing out the aromatic qualities of the bark for the savory flavour.
Posted by: Iron Chef Sakai || 05/01/2005 12:22 Comments || Top||

#4  We aren't guessing if a missle was launched. Either one was or was not. Using cryptic language is not helpful.
Posted by: Sock Puppet 0’ Doom || 05/01/2005 12:39 Comments || Top||

#5  Good move Kimmy! This will hasten an end to that tyranical regime in charge of North Korea. Next time they come begging for a bowl or rice remind them that they have $$$ for missiles and missile launches. Maybe Dimmy Carter and Madeline Halfbright have comments about this?
Posted by: Cyber Sarge || 05/01/2005 12:57 Comments || Top||

#6  Using cryptic language is not helpful.

You don't state it outright unless you are willing to take action in response. And you don't unnecessarily expose means and capabilities of intel collection.
Posted by: too true || 05/01/2005 13:31 Comments || Top||

#7  No Aegis shootdown?
Posted by: 3dc || 05/01/2005 14:31 Comments || Top||

#8  not far enough out in the drink...65 mile from shore is close.....
Posted by: Frank G || 05/01/2005 14:33 Comments || Top||

#9  Was it even a ballistic missile? 65 miles is a pitiful short range. Perhaps it was a surface launched cruise missile test for a missile like a C-803. (even though the C-803 is thought to be an aircraft launched system.) That might account for the shorter range. 65 miles? I can %$^ further than that. LOL
Posted by: Dave || 05/01/2005 14:54 Comments || Top||

#10  Could be a ballistic Dave, even MLRS has a low range (approx 45km for basic variants) and its a ballistic type missile. However its a tactical range weapon. For a test launch however, unless this was to check missile guidance and telemetry (or somehow some new rocket motors) it pretty much isn't earthshaking.
Posted by: Valentine || 05/01/2005 15:04 Comments || Top||

#11  Maybe they are fishing with "dynamite"....
oh, never mind, probably just tweaking the sea o' fire thingy.
Posted by: Gleaper Cleregum9549 || 05/01/2005 19:52 Comments || Top||

#12  70Km is about the maximum extent of one of the old Soviet-era FROG-7 types, and the Norks have been tinkering with adding boost to their rockets.

IIRC, the Soviets/Russians replaced it long ago and shipped the remainder off to NKorea, Cuba and China. Basically a battlefield oriented missle and not much reach as such. Designed to be fired from division/corps rear area against opposing division/corps rear area. Accuracy is not much better than a CEP of 1/2 to 1 Km from what I remember.
Posted by: OldSpook || 05/01/2005 20:24 Comments || Top||

#13  Just another ratchet that will get Japan to start spending real money on their military. Lets see the Norks outspend the second largest economy in the world in defence spending - the grass harvest will have to be *really* good to do that. Dumbasses - this will only help the Japanese economy. Win-win situation for them, they get an economic boost and the Norks (and Chicoms) realise that they've pissed off a rather potent opponent (who happens to have a *very* powerful ally).
Posted by: Tony (UK) || 05/01/2005 21:22 Comments || Top||

#14  Kim can keep on provoking the rottweiler and the pit bull next door, and sooner or later he'll pay.
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama || 05/01/2005 22:29 Comments || Top||


Europe
Blast at Turkish resort injures five police officers
ISTANBUL: Five police officers were injured on Saturday in an explosion as they investigated a suspicious package at a tourist resort in western Turkey, state-run Anatolian news agency reported. The blast occurred in the Aegean resort town of Kusadasi next to a statue of modern Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the agency said. It had earlier said one officer had been killed, but it subsequently quoted the local governor as saying nobody had died and that one policeman had lost an arm in the blast. The five officers were taken to hospital. Police were trying to set up a security cordon after a report of a suspicious package in front of the statue when the explosion happened.
Posted by: Fred || 05/01/2005 00:00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The're just excited about joining europe.
Posted by: tran || 05/01/2005 4:27 Comments || Top||


Home Front: WoT
Prosecutors Give Arguments in Marine Case
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (AP) - A Marine accused of murdering two Iraqi detainees intended to make an example of them by shooting them 60 times and hanging a sign over their bodies, prosecutors said Saturday during closing arguments in a pretrial hearing. ``There's no other reason why this stellar lieutenant would have used such poor judgment,'' prosecutor Maj. Stephen Keane said. ``It is not up to a 2nd lieutenant to violate the law of war and make an example of people he believes are bad.''

Prosecutors allege that 2nd Lt. Ilario Pantano killed the suspected insurgents in April 2004 after ordering a search of their car. Pantano, a former Wall Street trader who rejoined the Marines after the Sept. 11 attacks, says he acted in self-defense after the men moved toward him. ``Lt. Pantano has told this to virtually every person who asked him,'' defense attorney Charles Gittins said in his closing statement. ``He did exactly what he was required to do under the circumstances.''

Pantano declined to make a statement in court after consulting with his lawyers.

The Article 32 hearing, the military equivalent of a civilian grand jury, will determine whether Pantano, 33, will face a court-martial. After his closing argument Keane said he does not believe the crime deserves the death penalty.

The investigating officer has been given at least a week to make his recommendations.

The five-day hearing came to a close Saturday after Pantano's chief accuser returned to the stand following several days of legal wrangling. Sgt. Daniel Coburn abruptly left the stand Wednesday when he was told he was suspected of violating orders prohibiting him from giving media interviews about the case. He returned to the stand Saturday after being granted immunity from prosecution.

Coburn testified Saturday that he believed the men were going to be brought in for questioning when Pantano ordered the search of their car. However, Coburn also acknowledged that Pantano had stripped him of his job as squad leader and elevated a lower-ranking Marine to replace him. He said he believed his last evaluation, written by Pantano and reviewed by two higher-ranking officers, was a ``career-ender.'' Coburn said he hadn't seen the evaluation before he began to question Pantano's actions.
But he's had plenty of time to nurse a grudge, and act accordingly.
Posted by: Steve White || 05/01/2005 00:00:00 AM || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The two female milbloggers at Euphoric Reality have been tracking this prosecution.
Posted by: too true || 05/01/2005 11:37 Comments || Top||

#2  nice - no motive here - nothing to see. Coburn is given immunity? Prosecutorial abuse of power to get a conviction should be a career-ender
Posted by: Frank G || 05/01/2005 11:40 Comments || Top||

#3  For the non-military types, the Article 32 investigation is the military version of a grand jury investigation. The Art 32 officer will 'recommend' action to the Courts Martial convening authority whether or not sufficient credible evidence exist to hold a Courts Martial. The CMA can act upon the recommendation, ignor the recommendation, or choose another action, administrative rather than judicial.

The standards of evidence in the military court are the same as any federal court. The credibility of Sgt. Coburn is going to hurt any case the government might have against the LT. And that has got to weigh in to the decision of the convening authority. The authority may choose to convene a courts martial, knowing that the case is weak, if only to clear the LT of any further claims concerning the incident, as he is protected against double jeopardy, at least as far as American courts are concerned.
Posted by: Phavitch Phaviting2667 || 05/01/2005 12:26 Comments || Top||

#4  thx - I was noting Coburn's obvious motives to lie and the fact they granted him immunity, in a prelim phase. This shows me a win-at-all-costs attitude
Posted by: Frank G || 05/01/2005 12:42 Comments || Top||

#5  If the only thing the prosecution has is a demoted squad leader on their side this will be a very short Article 32. Convening Authorities are not stupid, but I can't see the prosecution going forward with such an obviously weak case. There has to be more and I mean some physical evidence that we are not privy to yet.
Posted by: Cyber Sarge || 05/01/2005 13:04 Comments || Top||

#6  Or they are going through the motions so the LLL and the MSM can't scream coverup.
Posted by: too true || 05/01/2005 13:25 Comments || Top||


Southeast Asia
Aceh rebels accused of hostage-taking
The Indonesian military has accused separatist rebels in the tsunami-battered Aceh province of holding hostage 20 fishermen after attacking their boat. Military spokesman Ari Mulya Asnawi says the attack took place in waters off Bireueun district in western Aceh on Wednesday. He says the Free Aceh Movement rebels are demanding a ransom in exchange for the fishermen's release. "Up until now the whereabouts of the 20 fishermen are not known," Mr Asnawi said. "The motive for the hostage-taking is ransom money." He did not say how much money the rebels are asking for. Rebels could not be reached for comment.
I guess "Aarrgh!" doesn't translate well from the Acehnese...

Posted by: God Save The World || 05/01/2005 12:25:26 AM || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Iran wants Arab rebel dead or alive
Iranian security forces have launched a fresh hunt for the alleged ringleaders of deadly violence involving ethnic Arabs from the southwestern province of Khuzestan, an official was quoted as saying Sunday.

"The arrests of the main elements and others involved in the unrest has been underway since the morning," with police working on leads given by those already detained, Ahvaz prosecuter Iraj Amirkhani.

He said 205 people were still being held in connection with last week's clashes in Ahvaz, a city where Iran's three percent Arab minority are in the majority.

According to official figures, five people were killed in the clashes.

Amirkhani said five "instigators" of the clashes were arrested in the midst of the unrest, and had "confessed they had been paid 20 mln rials)... to vandalise banks and public places".

The violence, which lasted from April 15-18, appeared to have been sparked by a forged letter, dating back seven years and attributed to then vice president Mohammad Ali Abtahi, calling for modifications to oil-rich Khuzestan's ethnic composition.

Iran's Islamic regime blamed foreigners and counter-revolutionaries for the ethnic tensions, but admitted the province's development was still hampered by the devastation it suffered during the 1980-88 war with neighbouring Iraq.

Authorities have made clear they have no intention of changing the ethnic balance of the province in favour of non-Arabs.
Posted by: Dan Darling || 05/01/2005 12:36:58 AM || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  It's the Iranians, lol, for whom "truth" is either a minor inconvenience or a manufactured item. So I don't believe a word of it. As for The Arab (oooooh!), soon to be a legend in his own mind - if not in real life, heh, call me a counter-revolutionary... the enemy of my enemy...
Posted by: .com || 05/01/2005 3:59 Comments || Top||

#2  Another off the wall prediction. Within 24 months Khuzestan (formerly Arabistan) will be an independant state a lot like Kuwait. Probably liberated by Iraq ala Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan).
Posted by: phil_b || 05/01/2005 4:30 Comments || Top||


Terror Networks & Islam
Australia Sends Emergency Response Team To Iraq
A DEPARTMENT of Foreign Affairs emergency response team was preparing to head to Iraq to do what it could to secure the release of hostage Douglas Wood, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said today.

He said the Government was taking the matter very seriously and the kidnapping appeared to be authentic.
But he warned the Australian response would not involve giving in to demands from insurgents that Australian forces be withdrawn from Iraq.

"An inter-departmental task force has met and will be be deploying an emergency response team," Mr Downer said on ABC radio.

"That will be led by a deputy secretary from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and will include Australian Federal Police And Some Australian Defence Personell"
Posted by: God Save The World || 05/01/2005 7:33:07 PM || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Wow GSTW - how enlightening!
Posted by: Frank G || 05/01/2005 22:30 Comments || Top||


Iraq-Jordan
PM stands firm as Aussie taken hostage
Prime Minister John Howard says the Government will do all it can to help free an Australian citizen apparently taken hostage in Iraq but will not give in to the demands of terrorists.

Mr Howard has confirmed the Government believes Douglas Wood, an Australian who has been living in California since 1992, is the man shown pleading for his life in a video released by Iraqi insurgents.

Mr Wood's wife Pearl says she has seen the video and the man is definitely her 63-year-old husband, who has been working as an engineer in Iraq for more than a year.

The Prime Minister says a special Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) task force including Australian Federal Police and Defence Force personnel will be on the ground in Iraq as soon as possible.

But Mr Howard will not comment specifically on what action the Government will take.

"Everybody knows the position of the Australian Government in relation to hostage demands," Mr Howard told ABC Radio National.

"This is a very difficult situation. I don't want to make it more trying for his relatives, and he does have a brother in Canberra and he has been contacted by DFAT.

"We will continue to do all we can, consistent with our position of not giving in to hostage-takers. We can't alter that position and we won't alter that position.

"We can't have the foreign policy of this country dictated by terrorists but we have got to do everything we can nonetheless to assist this poor man."

'Great dread'

In the video, Mr Wood is shown sitting on the floor as two masked man armed with assault rifles stand on either side of him.

He says his captors are fiercely patriotic and believe in a strong and united Iraq.

"President [George W] Bush, Prime Minister [John] Howard, Governor [Arnold] Schwarzenegger ... take the troops out of here and let Iraq look after itself," he said.

Mr Wood says he has been working for a private company on numerous projects with the US military.

The tape concludes with a plea for help, Mr Wood saying: "Please help me. I don't want to die."

Mr Howard says it has been his "great dread for a long time that an Australian would be taken hostage".

"I feel total responsibility for any harm that comes to anybody as a result of decisions that the government has taken. It doesn't mean that I step back from those decisions," he said.

"I can understand the anguish people are going through and I feel for them very deeply because this really is the tough end of any difficult and controversial decision," Mr Howard added.

The videotape has the words Shura Council of the Mujahedden of Iraq burned into the top left-hand corner.

Little is known about the group responsible for the production of the video.

The militants released a statement with the tape, claiming it was timed to coincide with Australian Defence Minister Robert Hill's weekend visit to Iraq.
Posted by: God Save The World || 05/01/2005 7:12:28 PM || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Australian Hostage Pleads For Life
AN Australian citizen has been taken hostage in Iraq, according to a videotape delivered by militants to news agencies.

On the two-minute video, the sandy-haired man identifies himself as Douglas Wood, a 63-year-old who lives in California and is married to an American.
He calls on US, Australian and British authorities to withdraw from the country.

"Please help me. I don't want to die," he says on the tape, which shows him sitting on the floor as two masked men armed with assault rifles and wearing bulletproof vests stand on either side of him.

The authenticity of the tape could not be immediately verified.

Australian, coalition and Iraqi officials in Baghdad declined to comment on reports of the hostage-taking today.

In Canberra, officials were trying to verify that the man on the tape was in fact citizen Douglas Wood, said Robin Richey, of the Australian consular emergency centre.

"We're looking into the situation at the moment," he said.

"We've seen the reports of the kidnapping of a person named Douglas Wood. We're just trying to confirm that he's an Australian citizen and that is his identity.

"We have, as you might imagine, many Douglas Woods, so we need to confirm his identity and notify his next of kin before we do anything else."

Diplomats at the Australian Embassy in Baghdad referred calls to Canberra.

Mr Wood says on the tape that he has worked in Iraq for more than a year and that he "has done many jobs with the American military".

It is not clear what sort of work he does.

The tape shows him dressed in civilian clothes.

A statement from the militants issued with the tape said it had been released to coincide with a visit to Iraq by Australian Defence Minister Robert Hill.

The statement said Mr Wood had confessed to "dirty acts on our soil".

"My captors are fiercely patriotic. They believe in a strong, united Iraq looking after its own destiny," Mr Wood says on the tape, his head slumped forward and his voice close to breaking.

"President Bush, Prime Minister Howard, Governor Schwarzenegger ... take the troops out of here and let Iraq look after itself."

Mr Hill has been in Iraq for talks in Baghdad with new Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari and to visit Australian troops.

Some 450 Australian troops are due to join coalition forces in southern Iraq by mid-May, increasing the number of Australian troops in the country to more than 800.
Posted by: God Save The World || 05/01/2005 7:06:17 PM || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Ah! Finally, the Arnold factor appears [like out of nowhere]. Where the hell have you been on this, Arnold? Is this guy one of your gym rats from days gone by? Not from the belly bulge I sense is more related to Fosters than pumping iron. Save him for Chris sakes. After all you are the TERMINATOR, aren't you?
Posted by: Jack is Back! || 05/01/2005 23:40 Comments || Top||


Terror Networks & Islam
Australian Hostage Statement Released
An Australian citizen has been taken hostage in Iraq, according to a videotape delivered by militants to news agencies. On the tape, the man identifies himself as Douglas Wood. Following is the complete text of his statement on the video.

"My name is Douglas Wood. I'm a 63-year-old. I'm an Australian, a US resident, my wife is an American. We have a house in Alamo California.

"I came to Iraq almost a year ago working with John Watkinson and we had many jobs with the American military.

"My captives are fiercely patriotic. They believe in a strong united Iraq looking after its own destiny.

"President Bush, Prime Minister Howard, Governor Schwarzenegger, family, friends, please help take the American troops, the Australian troops, the British troops out of here and let Iraq look after itself.

"They are strong, they will be [able to] look after themselves against their neighbours.

"Please help me. I don't want to die."
Posted by: Boogeyman || 05/01/2005 7:15:17 PM || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Iraq-Jordan
Asst'd Stryker News - Iraq
Mosul - In another case of blatant disregard for Iraqi citizens a car bomb was detonated at the funeral of a family member of a Ninewah Provincial Council member in Tal Afar today. Initial reports indicate approximately 25 innocent Iraqi citizens were killed in the blast and approximately 50 were injured. Officials are continuing to investigate the scene of the attack. It is believed that the Provincial Council member was not injured in the attack.

Mosul - Multi-National Forces from 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) seized two large weapons caches during operations in northern Iraq today.
Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment seized a large weapons cache during a search operation in northern Mosul. The cache included two automatic rifles, eight AK-47s, a sniper rifle, six grenades, four rockets, 16 rocket propelled grenades, two RPG launchers, 2 mortar rounds, and over a thousand rounds of small arms ammunition. Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment seized a large weapons cache during a search operation southwest of Qayyarah. The cache included 611 mortar rounds and a large amount of propellant. All weapons and ammunition were confiscated for future destruction.

Mosul - Iraqi Security Forces and Multi-National Forces from 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) detained 15 suspected terrorists and seized a number of weapons during operations in northern Iraq today and Saturday.
Troops from the 102nd Battalion, 22nd Brigade Iraqi Army alongside Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment detained six individuals suspected of terrorist activity during a cordon and search operation south of Qayyarah today. Suspects are in custody with no ISF or MNF injuries reported. Troops from the 24th Battalion, 6th Brigade Iraqi Intervention Force seized a number of weapons including nine artillery rounds and explosives while patrolling in southern Mosul Saturday. Weapons were confiscated for future destruction.
Soldiers from the 1-24th detained six individuals suspected of terrorist activity during a raid in southwestern Mosul today. Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment detained three individuals suspected of terrorist activity during two operations in southern Mosul Saturday. Suspects are in custody with no MNF injuries reported.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 05/01/2005 5:19:00 PM || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:


Peter Maass: "The Way of the Commandos"
Very long but worthwhile article in the NYT Magazine by Peter Maass on the counter-insurgency effort in the Sunni Trinagle. Very thought-provoking. Hat tip to Just One Minute.
Posted by: Steve White || 05/01/2005 4:38:27 PM || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Typical anti-American bullshit. Uncle Sam is incompetent, whereas the locals are the Noble Savage, full of of fight and vigor, but stymied by American laziness and indifference. Of course, the authors of this study are experts at the black arts of counterinsurgency. Gimme a break. These are guys who couldn't find their rear ends with both ends.
Posted by: Zhang Fei || 05/01/2005 19:54 Comments || Top||

#2  Steve, you have to be kidding.

We have now gone from a Vietnam quagmire to a Salvordorization concept of counter-insurgency? All the MSM is trying for in appealing to their Eastern elite establishment is some for of cognitive history to hook them too for a few more readerships. It is bull and you know it.
Posted by: Jack is Back! || 05/01/2005 23:44 Comments || Top||


Suspects confess to murder of British hostage (Margaret Hassan) in Iraq
Five suspects arrested by Iraqi forces have confessed to the kidnapping and murder of British aid worker Margaret Hassan, an interior ministry official told AFP. "They have confessed to taking part in the kidnapping and death of Margaret Hassan," the official said Sunday.

Hassan, 59, head of CARE International's Iraq operations, was seized in Baghdad on October 19 while on her way to work. Al-Jazeera television said the following month it had received a video showing a man shooting a "blindfolded woman, who appears to be Margaret Hassan". Although her body was never found, British officials said they believed she has been murdered.

"Police forces and commandos, assisted by US forces, carried out a raid in the Jaara area", on the southern outskirts of Baghdad at dawn on Sunday, the official said. "They found small arms, arrested six armed men and found a bag, documents and clothes belonging to Margaret Hassan."

Security forces, assisted by US troops, later picked up in a separate raid nearby the five Iraqis who confessed to the murder, the official said. "UK police advisors are at the scene investigating," a British diplomat had earlier told AFP.

Hassan, born in Dublin of British nationality, had lived in Iraq for more than 30 years and was married to an Iraqi.
Posted by: Margot Wallstrom || 05/01/2005 10:56:43 AM || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I hope there was little left to interrogate. F*&kers
Posted by: Frank G || 05/01/2005 11:37 Comments || Top||

#2  Five suspects arrested by Iraqi forces have confessed to the kidnapping and murder of British aid worker Margaret Hassan, an interior ministry official told AFP.

Execute the bastards, and in the most painful way possible.
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama || 05/01/2005 22:30 Comments || Top||

#3  Apply one 22 lb sledgehammer to nut sack of each "suspect" til said nutsacks are flat.
Posted by: anymouse || 05/01/2005 23:26 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan/South Asia
Tribesman killed
PESHAWAR: Gunmen on Saturday killed a tribesman in Miranshah in North Waziristan, suspecting him of spying on militants. Bismillah Wazir was shot dead in the evening at a bus stand in Miranshah Bazaar, sources in North Waziristan told Daily Times on the phone. Mr Wazir was also attacked earlier and he promised militants to refrain from 'spying' on them.
Posted by: Fred || 05/01/2005 00:00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Kashmir Korpse Kount
Three suspected Islamic militants and two civilians were killed on Saturday in separate clashes in Held Kashmir. Soldiers raided a hideout in Katral village, triggering a gun fight which left two alleged militants dead. In a separate clash, soldiers killed a suspected militant in Chowkibal. Also Saturday, unidentified attackers killed a suspected army informer and another civilian in a gunbattle outside a shrine in Baramulla town.
Posted by: Fred || 05/01/2005 00:00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Explosion hits rail track
A bomb exploded on the main Multan-Karachi railway track on Saturday, damaging a 10-foot long section of the track and disrupting train traffic, police said. No casualties were reported. Ahmed Mukhtar, the senior superintendent of police for Multan Railways, said a high-intensity bomb exploded near Pul Sandani, three kilometres from Sadiqabad, causing a 10-foot wide crater. However, the police controlled the situation and trains were running down-track on the Sadiqbad-Channi Goth railway section."
Posted by: Fred || 05/01/2005 00:00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Iraq-Jordan
Mass Grave With 1,500 Bodies Found in Iraq
With a red paint brush, a female forensic specialist carefully brushed dirt away from a human skull covered with sandy soil, one of 1,500 believed to be buried in seven mass graves uncovered in this desolate stretch of Iraqi desert. In a nearby trench dug by investigators, a mass of black, tangled hair gave a second skull an almost life-like appearance. A third skull appeared to be screaming, mouth wide open. Skulls and bones, clothing and other belongings found in shallow graves here offer up valuable clues to investigators gathering evidence against Saddam Hussein and others from the former regime, said Gregg Nivala, a regime crimes liaison officer working from the US Embassy in Baghdad. "This allows us to prove the crimes," he said.

A shiny gold and purple dress and a blue bead necklace laying next to a fourth skull in another trench is distinctive enough to indicate that people buried there were Kurds from northern Iraq, according to Nivala. Dates on medicine found in the graves indicate the people were killed around the time of the 1987-1988 "Anfal campaign" that saw Kurdish villages razed and hundreds of people relocated south, said Sonny Trimble, archaeologist in charge of the excavation. "Blister packs of pills have expiration dates, wristwatches have the day, and dates go back to that year," Trimble said. "We're finding them very effective."
Posted by: Fred || 05/01/2005 00:00:00 AM || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Your humble correspondent was on this press trip south. I don't need exposure to things like this to know why I came or to inspire me to work harder -- but it doesn't hurt.

One can imagine the killers thinking the site -- utterly remote and a moon-scape -- would effectively hide their crimes. But now at least some of those responsible will get to watch as the evidence is meticulously presented.

One side note of possible interest. At a refueling stop we landed between two Polish Mi-24 gunships. One of our Blackhawk pilots had an obviously Russian name and appearance, and when I made a comment about the Hind he said his father had flown them for the Soviets in Afghanistan. He then proceeded to note the features of the ship as we did a walk-around. As Yogi Berra reportedly said when told that a Jewish guy had been elected mayor of Dublin, Ireland: "only in America!"

Posted by: Verlaine in Iraq || 05/01/2005 1:57 Comments || Top||

#2  Thanks Verlaine. If you ever get the urge to do any photoblogging, you can send 'em along to me or the Steves. (Fred too, but his spam phaser is set to *terminate with extreme prejudice*)
Posted by: Seafarious || 05/01/2005 2:15 Comments || Top||

#3  Lol, ViI! Yogi sure had a way with the werdz thingy, lol! Satellite imagery and similar tech, such as used in Bosnia, will make hiding the large secrets impossible, and the small ones improbable. Glad you are there on our behalf, bro, we appreciate it -- Thanks!

And please do send along any images you feel comfortable sharing, if you're allowed.
Posted by: .com || 05/01/2005 2:25 Comments || Top||

#4  If you ever get the urge to do any photoblogging, you can send 'em along to me or the Steves. (Fred too, but his spam phaser is set to *terminate with extreme prejudice*)

And if you have a whole lot of photos, or video, I'd be glad to host them over at Random Probabilities with a link here, to preserve RB bandwidth.
Posted by: rkb || 05/01/2005 11:19 Comments || Top||

#5  Great post, Verlaine.

Interesting that the article appears in the Arab News.
Posted by: Matt || 05/01/2005 11:33 Comments || Top||

#6  But that's not important! They're just brown people! And anyway, they belonged to the hero Saddam, who stood up to Amerikkka, so he could do whatever he wished with them! They probably deserved it!

What's important is that Bushitler is a war criminal! He should be shot! Randi Rhodes says so! Aaaarrrrrrggggg!

/moonbat

F'ing traitors losers.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 05/01/2005 14:51 Comments || Top||

#7  There are far too many moonbats in the world that refuse to acknowledge that anything can be "evil". I propose we round up several thousand of them and let them help Verlaine uncover these bodies. It might - just might - bang the idea that there are such things as evil, and that Saddam Hussein was a VERY evil man.
Posted by: Old Patriot || 05/01/2005 15:32 Comments || Top||

#8  Old Patriot and the rest,

Nothing that you can subject these moonbats to would make any difference in their little minds. Take this POS, who was my neighbor for 4 years in SA, for example. He wrote the following letter to the Arab News about Paul Smith, the recently decorated Vietnam/Iraq hero:
"Medal of Honor

The United States’ Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) announced on April 6 that Sgt. Paul Smith was posthumously decorated the Medal of Honor — the highest award for valor awarded by the US military. Smith was the third soldier so decorated since Vietnam. The award was presented by US President Bush to Smith’s wife and son. Smith was awarded for his efforts in combating Iraqi forces during the fall of Baghdad. In the vicinity of the Baghdad airport, under heavy fire from the Iraqi National Guard, Smith saved the lives of over 100 of his fellow soldiers, and, in the words of President Bush, “killed as many as 50 enemy soldiers.” Smith died from wounds a day later. Pentagon chief Donald Rumsfeld noted that, for his valor, bravery, perseverance in the face of tremendous adversity, loyalty to the cause and selfless commitment to the lives of his fellow soldiers, Smith now joins a “Hall of Heroes”, so rarely decorated in the annals of US military history.

Of course, we as Americans have come to believe that the Medal of Honor awards action of tremendous bravery and selflessness, under tremendously hostile conditions. We don’t doubt that, and probably don’t need to. But we as Americans have also been led to believe, with no alternate consideration, that this bravery is to be decorated because it comes in the cause of just action, just cause. So when President Bush tells us that Sgt. Smith “killed as many as 50 enemy soldiers,” we are expected to believe that the sergeant’s actions are due the greatest honor — because they were for, and still are for, “the good.” Because they are for “the good,” they are to be rewarded. What Bush did not tell us, and never has — to my knowledge — is that the 50 or so Iraqi National Guard that Sgt. Smith killed were fighting to stave off an overwhelming, unprovoked attack from a foreign power, and imminent takeover of their homeland. We as Americans would be expected to do exactly the same thing, in the face of similar adversity. But in that case, we would be “the enemy.” "Link
I hope people here e-mail him with appropiate responses : thomas.loretto@aramco.com

Posted by: TMH || 05/01/2005 15:44 Comments || Top||

#9  TMH: Blow it out your ass! First off, asshat - Sgt Smith was not engaged against Iraqi National Guard, they were Republican Guard. Very similar in organization and purpose to Hitler's SS, and in that regard their very membership makes them suspected war criminals worthy of the righteous dispatching they received. They were not fighting to retain the liberty of the common Iraqi, they were seeking to maintain the rule of a murderous regime. Some advice:
1. Get past your Bush hatred - you lost an election. Feh.
2. Try to educate yourself on what it is you're addressing.
3. Put down the bong.
Oh and by the way...just who in Iraq thinks we are the enemy...that is after all the company you seek common cause with isn't it? Thanks for the email address but such offerings by Kool Aid drinkers such as you are rarely worth the effort. FOAD.
Posted by: Rex Mundi || 05/01/2005 22:38 Comments || Top||

#10  Holy shit TMH my sincere apologies....I failed to differentiate the letter from your post. I've been away too long. Whew! That letter just fried too many neurons. Well - apology or no -feel free to have at me - it's certainly deserved. Apologies to the rest of Rantburg U for having to wade through that tripe....oy. (Slinks away)
Posted by: Rex Mundi || 05/01/2005 22:44 Comments || Top||

#11  RM - I believe you mean to tell this to thomas.loretto@aramco.com. TMH was informing us that this "loretto" cretin lived next to her in Aramco Camp and wrote the letter. TMH is one of the "good guys" and recently returned to the US from the Saudi Sand Pit. Send this response to the email given, so the asstard knows your feelings.

Then everyone sign him up for every list service they can find, especially the XXX pr0n variety. That will make him very popular with the Aramco Network folks. Might even get Industrial Security on his ass.
Posted by: .com || 05/01/2005 22:48 Comments || Top||

#12  Oh, cool. Everybody's on the same page, again. Sorry for posting RM - overlapped with you. TMH won't be offended, heh! She'll prolly be overjoyed by your anger, after your follow-up post, knowing she struck a nerve for what this jackoff wrote. No harm, no foul! Except for loretto - let's do a number on his ass, per my suggestion, heh.
Posted by: .com || 05/01/2005 22:52 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan/South Asia
Hizb commander preaches jihad in Punjab U
Javed Kasuri, a commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) militant group, preached jihad to over a hundred Punjab University students in the Sultan Tipu Hostel on Friday night. The lecture was arranged by the Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT), the student wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami. The HM is also closely associated with the JI.
Betcha didn't know that, didja?... Oh. You did... The nose on my face, y'say?
Students told Daily Times that Kasuri said that the HM's jihad in Kashmir would continue. He invited the students to consider the ideology of Hizbul Mujahideen. He criticised secular groups, such as the Aga Khan Education Board. Kasuri is a former head of the Pakistan chapter of the Hizb, one of the major militant groups fighting Indian rule in Kashmir. He is currently a member of the HM supreme council. The IJT arranges regular lectures on Quranic teachings at PU hostels, but students said it had been a long time since such a hardline cleric preaching jihad had spoken in one of these lectures.
"A real stem-winder! Fair tightened my turban, he did!"
The Hall Council chairman, who is in charge of hostels, Professor Dr Mugheesuddin Sheikh, said he had not given permission for the lecture and wasn't even aware of it. He referred this Daily Times correspondent to the warden of the hostel, Dr Abdurauf Butt, who was not available for comment. The vice chancellor refused to comment.
"I know nothing! No-thing! Tell them, Hogan!"
The Punjab University administration has been directed by the president and governor not to allow political activities on campus. Student unions are banned. However, the IJT plays a prominent role on campus.
There's a difference, y'see, between student unions and club-wielding hard boyz...
The administration allowed the IJT to set up welcome stalls for the opening of the university's Gujranwala campus. The IJT and administration are currently negotiating for the holding of the annual IJT book fair. Two dates have been rejected and a third is being discussed. The IJT has at least 40 members (rukan), 40 candidates for membership (umeedwar rukan) over 100 prospective members (rafique) and hundreds sympathisers among the 20,000 students of the PU.
Ummm... That's 180 hard boyz, at most...

This article starring:
Abdurauf Butt
JAVED KASURIHizbul Mujahideen
Mugheesuddin Sheikh
Hizbul Mujahideen
Islami Jamiat Talaba
Jamaat-e-Islami
Posted by: Fred || 05/01/2005 00:00:00 AM || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:


3 Harkat men acquitted in blast case
KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court acquitted on Saturday three activists of the banned Harkatul Mujahideen Al Alami in a church bomb blast case giving them benefit of doubt.
"They look like such nice boys! I'm sure they didn't do it! Case dismissed!"
Mehmoodullah, Mohammad Naeem and Mohammad Atif alias Kamran were charged with planting a bomb under the benches at St Patrick's Cathedral in Saddar, Karachi, on December 22, 1998. Ms Bella Melo was injured in the blast.
This article starring:
MOHAMAD ATIFHarkatul Mujahideen Al Alami
MOHAMAD NAIMHarkatul Mujahideen Al Alami
Harkatul Mujahideen Al Alami
Posted by: Fred || 05/01/2005 00:00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:


ATC appoints defence counsel for seven Jundullah activists
KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) appointed on Saturday M R Syed, advocate, defence counsel for seven activists of the Jundullah facing charges of attacking the motorcade of then Corps Commander Karachi in June last year, at state expense for proceeding with the trial halted for the past seven months. The court had ordered the appointment of defence counsel for Jundullah activists Ataullah, Shahzad Bajwa, Danish Imam, Rao Khalid, Khurrum Saifullah, Mohammad Shoaib and Adnan Shah, as the accused despite several warnings had been unable to engage their lawyers for their defence.

All 11 activists of the banned outfit pleaded not guilty when the ATC Judge, Feroz Mehmood Bhatti, charged them with attacking the motorcade of then Corps Commander of Karachi Lt-Gen Ahsan Saleem Hayat on June 10, 2004 in Clifton in which 10 people were killed, including six army personnel and three policemen, and 10 others were injured. Syed, who is also representing one of the 11 accused, Mohammad Uzair, said the court had appointed him defence counsel for other seven accused at state expense. "The court ordered that the case will proceed on the next date of hearing which has been fixed for May 9," he added.
This article starring:
ADNAN SHAHJundullah
Ahsan Saleem Hayat
ATAULLAHJundullah
DANISH IMAMJundullah
Feroz Mehmood Bhatti
KHURRUM SAIFULLAHJundullah
MOHAMAD SHOAIBJundullah
MOHAMAD UZAIRJundullah
RAO KHALIDJundullah
SHAHZAD BAJWAJundullah
Jundullah
Posted by: Fred || 05/01/2005 00:00:00 AM || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:


Witness in attempt on PM's life case attacked
ATTOCK: The father of the accused involved in the suicide attack on Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has attacked a witness of the case. Makhtiar, a witness the case on the PM's life, told reporters that he had just gotten off from a wagon at Attock Gora graveyard after travelling from Fateh Jang when two people, Bashir Ahmad and Shafi Muhammad, who were already standing there, aimed their pistols at him. However, people present at the scene patched up the matter.
Posted by: Fred || 05/01/2005 00:00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:



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Two weeks of WOT
Sun 2005-05-01
  Mass Grave With 1,500 Bodies Found in Iraq
Sat 2005-04-30
  Fahd clinically dead?
Fri 2005-04-29
  Sgt. Hasan Akbar sentenced to death
Thu 2005-04-28
  Lebanon Sets May Polls After Syrian Departure
Wed 2005-04-27
  Iraq completes Cabinet proposal
Tue 2005-04-26
  Al-Timimi Convicted
Mon 2005-04-25
  Perv proposes dividing Kashmir into 7 parts
Sun 2005-04-24
  Egypt arrests 28 Brotherhood members
Sat 2005-04-23
  Al-Aqsa Martyrs back on warpath
Fri 2005-04-22
  Four killed in Mecca gun battle
Thu 2005-04-21
  Allawi escapes assassination attempt
Wed 2005-04-20
  Algeria's GIA chief surrenders
Tue 2005-04-19
  Moussaoui asks for death sentence
Mon 2005-04-18
  400 Algerian gunmen to surrender
Sun 2005-04-17
  2 Pakistanis arrested in Cyprus on al-Qaeda links

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