Two Canadian soldiers have been seriously injured in one of the biggest battles since coalition troops arrived in Afghanistan, involving hundreds of Taliban militants. The battle took place near a village in the desolate Panjwai region west of Kandahar in southern Afghanistan. The troops, who have not been named publicly, are in serious condition after having surgery at a hospital at the main Canadian military base in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar, Canadian Forces Lt. Mark MacIntyre said on Monday.
The soldiers had been taking part in one of the largest gunbattles since international troops arrived in Afghanistan in 2002, said CBC correspondent David Common, who is in Kandahar. The operation, which was taking place in the Panjwai region west of Kandahar, started Sunday night after coalition forces learned that up to 800 Taliban fighters were gathering in a village. There to watch the FIFA World Cup, no doubt.
Infantry, armour and artillery from the Edmonton-based Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry were involved. Reports from the battle suggest members of the Taliban hid behind the village's mud walls and trenches to attack troops.
In separate battles around the country on Monday, about three dozen Taliban fighters were killed by Afghan and coalition troops, said Afghan officials. One of those killed was reportedly Mullah Amanullah, the brother-in-law of Taliban leader Mullah Omar. He reportedly died while fighting in a village in southern Uruzgan province.
[Lt. Mark MacIntyre] said Canadian forces are increasingly moving into known Taliban strongholds. On Saturday, soldiers opened up Forward Operating Base Martello, a new base 200 kilometres north of Kandahar. "We are going into the backyard of the Taliban," he said. Some of these regions haven't seen a coalition presence in years, said MacIntyre.
The Panjwai region where the Canadians were fighting has been the scene of a number of intense battles with the Taliban, including the firefight that took the life of Capt. Nichola Goddard on May 17. Sixteen Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have died since the mission started. MPs recently voted to extend Canada's mission in the country by two years until 2009.
#2
Additional: Mullah Omar's brother-in-law, Mullah Amanullah, was killed along with 14 other insurgents in Siachave village, Uruzgan province, when troops stormed the area late Sunday after a tip from tribesmen, said Afghan army commander Gen. Rehmatullah Raufi. Amanullah, whose body was recovered from the village, was the Taliban commander in the province's Dihrawud district and responsible for numerous rebel attacks, Raufi said. It was not clear how close Amanullah was to Omar, who is believed hiding in mountains along Afghanistan's rugged border with Pakistan.
Coalition military spokesman Sgt. Chris Miller said the military was looking into the report that Amanullah had been killed.
Posted by: Steve ||
06/12/2006 14:51 Comments ||
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#3
Same question.... where are the AC-130s? I really do hope our Canadian buddies are going for all the gusto here.
#6
Think of it as a big-ass hostage situation. But an entire batallion of Taliban! Mama Mia! I just hope to hell that the whole place is cordoned so there is no escape, and that they are exterminated to the man.
I also suspect that the Pak army is seriously forcing what remains of the Taliban out of the country.
The Chief Military Commander of Taliban guerillas, Mulla Dadullah, and Taliban supreme leader, Mullah Omar, have expressed deep grief and sorrow over the killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in US air strike in Iraq, said a report on Sunday. Mullah Dadullah talking to Peshawar-based Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) from an undisclosed location said that Taliban were ready to send suicide bombers to Iraq. "We are ready to send 150 Afghan suicide bombers to groups fighting against US in Iraq." Although suicide bombers are at abundance in Iraq but we are ready to join this battle, he said and termed the death of al-Zarqawi a great tragedy. Mullah Dadullah urged every Muslim "to become al-Zarqawi and take revenge from infidels and turn their joy into grief." Also, the Taliban supreme leader Mulla Muhammad Omar in a statement expressed deep grief over the death saying the killing would not weaken resistance in Iraq.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/12/2006 00:40 ||
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#1
Why doesn't he show some real courage and put on one of them belts himself.
#3
As the Afghan ones tend to blow themselves up without hurting many others, I think the US army can live with this threat. They do seem to be a bit low on shahids in Iraq, though. The boom rate seems lower than it was a year ago. Is Fred a fan of H.R. Pufnstuf?
#8
Looks like I touched a raw nerve.
Ridicule doesn't go down to well with these "lions".
Of course since I don't read their heathen scribbles its another example of being cowardly. No guts to write in the languange of the world "American English".
#12
I don't mind the other written language, but it would be nice to have the translation included. (Even though I probably know what it says.)
Ha ha with his name I was reminded of this little tune
Hello Mullah, Hello Dadullah
Here I am at Camp Baghdadi
Camp is very entertaining
And they say we'll have some fun if; fill in the blank.
Posted by: Jan ||
06/12/2006 9:48 Comments ||
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#13
Oh and if the poster needs more research material on what a modern society needs to tolerate, I suggest these religious videos of Reverand Bob Dobbs
It would be nice to know the "lions" position on "The Church of the SubG."
#19
tw - Now I know what happened to Dan Darling the other day. The Google Translation page now offers Eng-Arabic / Arabic-Eng in a BETA test. So I put in "Share his fate", translated, cut and pasted the resulting worm-sign, previewed, and it looked peachy. Hit Submit and this is what came out. BTW, it was unable to translate #2.
#22
*giggle* Oh, well, flyover, I was looking forward to learning a new alphabet, but such is computer life I s'pose -- the way it came out it looked vaguely like Turkish crossed with Russian, with some Spanish tildes mixed in. Mr. Wife claims he doesn't remember any of his Arabic, darn it, so that's no help. Fred, another project to add to your very long list!
KANDAHAR: Gunmen robbed and shot dead four Afghan men working for an Indian road construction company in southern Afghanistan, a provincial government spokesman said on Sunday. The men were killed on Saturday in a district of Kandahar province. It was too early to say if the Taliban were behind the attack in Maiwand district, Kandahar government spokesman Daud Ahmadi said. "We don't know who the attackers were affiliated to," he told AFP.
The killers stole $80,000 and a four-wheel-drive vehicle the men had been travelling in, Ahmadi said. A purported Taliban spokesman was quoted in an Indian magazine last month warning Indians to wind up their construction projects in Afghanistan and leave the country. The statement was issued after Taliban militants abducted and killed an Indian engineer in late April in southern Zabul province. His headless body was found two days after he was captured. "We want all Indians to leave Afghanistan and shut down their projects here," Taliban spokesman Mohammed Hanif was quoted saying in an interview with The Outlook news magazine.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/12/2006 00:18 ||
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#1
How seductive the Taliban make their religion: even roads that improve trade between villages are haram. Contrast that with the courage of the Hindu construction workers, who sacrifice their comfort and even their lives to support their families. Namaste. (I think that's right -- does anyone know for certain?)
#4
The ISI has given orders that Indian economic activity should be curtailed.
A former ISI chief even indirectly joked about the killing and beheading of the Indian road engineer.
He wrote in a Pak newspaper that Pakistan's allies are quite happy playing "hindukushi".
"Buzkushi" is an Afghan game on horseback, played with a decapitated goat.
Posted by: john ||
06/12/2006 19:04 Comments ||
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#5
Thanks, Rambler. Another place Mr. Wife never took me, darn him! He was afraid I'd want to adopt all the street people, and the house isn't anywhere big enough. Apparently I have homeless kitten issues. We were discussing the language/dialect issue here the other day. Perhaps it'd be safest if I just said, thank you.
I'm starting to think this graphic should read "Duty, Honor, Civilization". Rest in Peace, soldier.
KABUL -A soldier from the US-led coalition was killed in restive southern Afghanistan Sunday while chasing Taleban rebels, the coalition said. The soldier, whose nationality was not revealed, was killed when a bomb struck his armoured vehicle after his unit had chased a group of militants into a village in Ghazni province south of Kabul, it said.
During offensive operations against Taleban extremists, a coalition soldier died today near the Yaquob village, Ghazni province, the coalition said in a statement. Ghazni is one of the provinces of southern and eastern Afghanistan where Taleban insurgents are most active.
Afghan and coalition forces had surrounded the village to search for the extremists. During the search, a Humvee vehicle was struck by the bomb.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/12/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
God bless him and his family.
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
06/12/2006 7:45 Comments ||
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"Duty, Honour, Civilisation" How true, Seafarious. Reading between the lines, it sounds like the soldier's escort was sent off directly by his comrades. Thank you, sir.
Algiers, 12 June (AKI) - Algeria's Salafite Group for Preaching and Combat, a militant group which has sworn allegiance to al-Qaeda, released a video, broadcast by Islamic forums, in which it announces the beheading of a prison guard who was recently kidnapped. Mohammed as Said Morsali works as a guard in the prison of Tizi Ouzou in Kabilia. It is the first time that an Algerian militant group has broadcast a video, emulating Ansar al-Sunna and al-Qaeda groups in Iraq.
The first part of the video shows the man as he identifies himself and says he is an employee of the Algerian justice ministry. Said Morsali then denounces the condition in which Islamic militants are detained in the prison where he works. He also recalls in the video how 27 militants suffocated to death as they were travelling in a police truck. The video doesn't however show the execution.
Posted by: Steve ||
06/12/2006 11:14 ||
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#3
I can't wait for the autopsy to evaluate the method of death and the extensive news conference that will follow.
Should be quite the interesting event, eh?
Posted by: kelly ||
06/12/2006 15:50 Comments ||
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#4
Yeah, Kelly. I am sure this will get as much coverage as the "beating the US troops gave Z-man before he died." ReutersCNNTimeNewsweekABCNBCCBSAPNYTWaPoLAT being the fair and balance news agencies they are.
DHAKA: At least 10 men, described as "Indian secessionists", were killed during a heavy exchange of fire with Bangladesh security forces in a remote hilly area of the country's southeastern Rangamati district early Monday, a security official said.
Army and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel jointly conducted the operation to dismantle a hideout of the operatives at 4 a.m. when an encounter ensued.
The 10 men were killed on the spot and "the casualty figure might go up", the official said.
But the official could not confirm whether the victims belonged to any secessionist group of northeastern India.
India has long been complaining that the rebels have camps in Bangladesh and use its soil to conduct subversive acts against India.
Bangladesh has denied the Indian allegation, saying that no terrorist group or insurgents will be allowed to use the Bangladeshi soil against any country.
Posted by: john ||
06/12/2006 19:16 ||
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TUNCELI: Two Turkish army officers were killed on Sunday in an ambush by Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) guerrillas in eastern Turkey, a provincial governor said in a statement. Five army officers and two civilians were also wounded in the ambush on an army convoy in Tunceli province, the statement said. Army sources said that helicopter gun ships pounded the area where the guerrillas attacked the convoy and clashes between the troops and the guerrillas were continuing. Two guerrillas, one of them a senior PKK field commander, were killed in a clash with Turkish troops in south-eastern Turkey on Saturday.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/12/2006 00:27 ||
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One of the Guantanamo detainees who committed suicide had been cleared for transfer to another country, a second was involved in a 2001 prison uprising in Afghanistan where a CIA agentMike Spann died, and a third had ties to al-Qaida, the Pentagon said Sunday.
The Department of Defense identified the three as Saudi Arabians Mani Shaman Turki al-Habardi Al-Utaybi and Yassar Talal Al-Zahrani and Yemeni Ali Abdullah Ahmed. The two Saudis were also identified earlier by Saudi officials. Al-Utaybi had been recommended for transfer to the custody of another country before his suicide, the Defense Department said in a statement released to The Associated Press. It did not name the country but said he would have been under detention there as well. The U.S. military accused al-Utaybi, 30, of being a member of a militant missionary group, Jama'at Al Tablighi. He was born in Al-Qarara, Saudi Arabia, according to a Department of Defense list of Guantanamo detainees. Navy Cmdr. Robert Durand, a spokesman for the Guantanamo detention center, said he did not know whether al-Utaybi had been informed about the transfer recommendation before he killed himself.
Otaibi is one of those Soddy clans whose members keep showing up in inconvenient places, usually hollering jihad and waving bloody swords. I doubt the princelings would miss any of them all that much.
U.S. authorities allege Ahmed, 28, was a mid- to high-level al-Qaida operative who had key ties to principal facilitators and senior members of the group. Throughout his time in Guantanamo, he had been noncompliant and hostile to the guard force, and was a long-term hunger striker from late 2005 to May 2006, the Defense Department said. Ahmed was born in Shebwa, Yemen, according to the Defense Department list.
Al-Zahrani, 21, was accused by the U.S. of being a front line fighter for the Taliban who facilitated weapons purchases for offensives against U.S. and coalition forces. He was allegedly involved in the November 2001 prison uprising in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan that resulted in the capture of Johnny Walker Lindh and also the death of CIA officer Johnny "Mike" Spann. Al-Zahrani was born in Yenbo, Saudi Arabia, according to the Defense Department list.
None of the three had been formally charged.
Yeah yeah, Geneva Convention, human rights, Bush Bad, yadda, yadda, yadda. And now for the full Fifth Column Treatment:
The Guantanamo detainees, some of them in custody for 4 1/2 years, are being held on suspicion of links to al-Qaida and the Taliban. Many claim they are innocent or were low-level Taliban members who never intended to harm the United States. Only 10 detainees have been charged with crimes and face military tribunals ordered by President Bush. While U.S. officials argue the suicides were political acts aimed at hurting American standing in the world, human rights activists and former detainees say prisoners are desperate after years in captivity and view suicide as the only way out even though Islam forbids it.
"A stench of despair hangs over Guantanamo," said Mark Denbeaux, a defense lawyer who visited a client at Guantanamo on June 2. "Everyone is shutting down and quitting," said the law professor at Seton Hall University in New Jersey who along with his son, Joshua, represents two Tunisians at Guantanamo. He said he was alarmed by the depression he saw in his client, Mohammed Abdul Rahman, who was "trying to kill himself" by hunger strike. "He is normally a gentle, quiet, shy person," Denbeaux said late Saturday. "He sat there in a subdued state that was almost inert. He was colossally depressed." Denbeaux said he had intended to cheer Rahman up by showing him a newspaper article quoting President Bush as saying he wanted to close the jail. But the lawyer said guards confiscated the article because detainees are barred from seeing news of current events. "We wanted to say, 'We have some hope for you,'" Denbeaux said. "They wouldn't let us give him some hope."
Bloody bastards. Won't even give a nice quiet shy gentle terrorist any hope, or even mash notes from their fellow travellers at Reuters.
That afternoon, Rahman was force-fed, the lawyer said. Force feeding involves strapping a hunger striker into a "restraint chair" and feeding him through a tube inserted into the nose. In the wake of the suicides, international demands to close the prison mounted. Two senior U.S. senators also expressed concern that most of the prisoners have not been charged with any crimes. A Saudi Arabian human rights group called for an outside investigation of the deaths.
Danish Prime Minister Fogh Rasmussen, who supported Bush in the Iraq war, said the detention center's procedures violate "the very principle of the rule of law" and weaken the fight against terrorism. Swedish Foreign Minister Jan Eliasson said the deaths underlined the need to close the camp and bring detainees to trial or free them. Eliasson said the 25-nation European Union believes the facility should be closed.
See? See? Even the Swedes and the Danes can't bear it. O the humanity!
A hearing scheduled this week for one was suspended after the suicides. Authorities were considering suspending all this month's hearings pending a Supreme Court on whether Bush overstepped his authority in setting up the tribunals.
There's a little more, but I can't stand the smell.
#7
You need to recalibrate your digital Sympathy Meter, Fred. Mine read 1.1065 x 10-229. I checked it three times, once for each yahoo that hanged themselves. I also got a 2.615 x 10-307 for the lawyer.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
06/12/2006 12:03 Comments ||
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#8
Just following their leader a la Heaven's Gate. Notice the very feely LLL isn't. Zackman and company, you are just tools in the neverending fight for the reestablishment of the caliphate workers paradise [100 million dead and still counting].
At least five people have been killed in a bomb attack in Quetta, the capital of Pakistan's south-western Balochistan province, police say. Senior police officials say the bomb was planted near a city hotel where people were having tea. At least 17 people were hurt, police said. It is not yet clear who carried out the latest attack. Gas-rich Balochistan has suffered violence as tribal groups push for greater political and economic rights.
The blast occurred on the Saryab road in the city centre, Quetta police superintendant Qazi Wahid told the BBC. He said that people in the nearby hotel were among the casualties. Some reports said the bomb was planted on a bicycle parked near the hotel. "The numbers of casualties could be high as injured are being brought to hospitals," he said.
Last week, at least 13 people were injured when a bomb exploded in Hub in Balochistan. The shadowy Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) which is fighting for autonomy there said it had carried out that attack.
Posted by: Steve ||
06/12/2006 09:00 ||
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The Pakistan Army on Sunday raised the number of militants killed in a raid on a training camp a day earlier to more than 30, mostly foreigners including Arabs, Uzbeks and local fighters who also took part in attacks inside Afghanistan, AP reported. Twenty-two Arabs, three Uzbeks and seven local tribal militants linked with Al Qaeda and the Taliban were among those killed in the attack, a senior Pakistani security official said on condition of anonymity.
Pakistani security forces backed by helicopter gunships struck the militant facility before dawn Saturday in the North Waziristan town of Drub Lokai, a tribal region near the Afghan border. Initial reports on Saturday put the death toll at 15-20 militants. It was a highly successful operation, said Maj Gen Shaukat Sultan, the Pakistan Army spokesman.
The security official said the slain militants had been involved in attacks in Afghanistan and had launched rocket attacks and roadside bombings against Pakistani troops in North Waziristan. The camp itself had a firing range. Pakistani forces had been monitoring the militants activities for several days before launching Saturdays strike as the fighters were preparing to leave in pickup trucks, the official said. Among those killed was the purported militant commander, identified only as an Arab by the name of Abu Nasir, the official said. No further details were available on either the victims or their nationalities.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/12/2006 00:13 ||
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#1
Foreigners? In Pakistan? Do tell. It's a small nick at the surface of the problem. What will you do next?
Posted by: Captain America ||
06/12/2006 7:32 Comments ||
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#4
If you look at the demographics of the Arab world -- half of Saudis are under age 25, for example -- there is an almost inexhaustable supply of cannon fodder. Pressure to change the barrage of hate in mosques, schools, and media, will reduce the supply of jihadists by much larger amounts than direct elimination. That's not to say that raids don't have an important part ot play as well.
#6
Unemployment in the Middle East will be a problem as long as people there don't try to get a decent, science-based education, understand that "work" may be a four-letter word, but it's the only thing that puts food on the table regularly, and it's not "unislamic", and start trying to fit into the world, instead of trying to fit the world into their narrow, twisted framework. Until that happens, all they will ever be good for is cannon fodder.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
06/12/2006 12:07 Comments ||
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Five unidentified militants were killed and 11 injured when security forces near Dera Bugti retaliated to an attack, Geo television reported. Balochistan government spokesman Raziq Bugti said that the militants attacked the security forces with heavy rocket and gunfire, but fled when they retaliated. "We came to know from their conversation through satellite telephones that five miscreants were killed and 11 injured," he said. He said that the security forces had not suffered any casualties.
The Machh Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested four suspected militants belonging to the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) on Sunday for alleged involvement in the Machh bomb blasts, Online reported.
Meanwhile, unidentified militants attacked a security forces vehicle on patrol near the Sui gas plant, injuring an official. Security forces killed one militant when they retaliated. Seven rockets were fired at a Frontier Corps (FC) check post on Sunday in Buleda in Balochistan. No casualties were reported.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/12/2006 00:15 ||
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MIRANSHAH: Local Taliban and religious leaders in North Waziristan on Sunday issued public notices warning people of "serious repercussions" if they do not shun "un-Islamic activities" like watching movies and listening to music. The Taliban warned tribesmen to avoid hashish, heroin and wine, end all smuggling, ban all "un-Islamic" video and audio cassettes, ban dish antennas in houses and bazaars, and close all gambling dens. All such places of gambling will now be used for a "noble purpose", the announcement said. The Taliban also announced a ban on interest on loans, and staged fights between birds and animals. "Any person committing these atrocities from Monday will be punished accordingly if spared by the government," said the announcement. Sources said that most local tribesmen supported the announcement, believing its implementation would bring peace to the troubled tribal agency.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/12/2006 00:13 ||
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#5
So does this means the mook pictured has to give up the SlimFast?
Socks with sandals? Don't think so, Pops. This ain't South Beach, so get rid of 'em.
And toss those demon spectacles too.
#7
No mention of shutting down the whore-houses.
Had me worried for a minute there.
Mullahs like their whores.
One mullah - Sami ul Haq, aka "Mullah Sandwich" aka "Sami the Sandwich" got his moniker from one night where he was arrested by the Karachi vice squad.
He liked having sex with a girl while being sodomised by his driver (hence the sandwich).
Posted by: john ||
06/12/2006 19:09 Comments ||
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#9
The Taliban also announced a ban on interest on loans, and staged fights between birds and animals. "Any person committing these atrocities from Monday will be punished accordingly if spared by the government,"
"Wetting the beak and cockfighting are hereby declared atrocities, yet we shall continue to praise Allah (Whirled Pees Upon Him) whenever fully loaded passenger jet airliners are flown into occupied office skyscrapers."
PESHAWAR: Life came to a complete halt in Bara, the headquarters of Khyber Agency, on Sunday after the authorities closed the main market and deployed more than a thousand Khasadar Force (tribal police) and Frontier Constabulary (FC) men at all entry points to the market. The political administration said there was no curfew in Bara, but said it would continue to take action under the Frontier Crimes Regulations until miscreants laid down their arms. Force was deployed to ensure peace in the area after the Lashkar-e-Islami tried to take control of the agency headquarters on Saturday, an official told Daily Times on Sunday.
Tensions have resurfaced in the area with the return to Bara of Bangal Bagh Afridi, the head of the Lashkar-e-Islami. Afridi set up a peace committee on his return, but the political administration sees this as an attempt to take control of the town. However, the heads of the agencys Doctors Association Bara, Tajiran Union Bara and Transport Association of Khyber Agency held a news conference at Peshawar Press Club on Sunday in support of Afridi. DAB President Dr Niaz Badshah said that nobody had taken over Bara. The administration has been creating hurdles in the establishment of a traditional peace committee that had existed for a long time until it was dismantled in February earlier this year, he said. He said that all stakeholders in Bara Market had asked Afridi to end differences with the administration over the property of Pir Saifur Rehman and set up a peace committee. He said that Bagh had agreed on the condition that he would be given a written agreement signed by market members that binds them to abide by his rules.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/12/2006 00:09 ||
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ISLAMABAD - Pakistans army on Sunday raised the number of militants killed in a raid on a training camp a day earlier to more than 30, including Arabs, Uzbeks and local fighters who also took part in attacks inside Afghanistan.
Pakistani security forces backed by helicopter gunships struck the militant facility before dawn Saturday in the North Waziristan town of Drub Lokai, a tribal region near the Afghan border. Twenty-two Arabs, three Uzbeks and seven local tribal militants linked with Al Qaeda and the Taleban were among those killed in the attack, a senior Pakistani security official said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the information. It was a highly successful operation, said top Pakistan army spokesman Maj. Gen. Shaukat Sultan.
30 terrs with no loss of your own? Yup, that's successful. Again, please.
The security official said the slain militants had been involved in attacks in Afghanistan and had launched rocket attacks and roadside bombings against Pakistani troops in North Waziristan. The camp itself had a firing range. Pakistani forces had been monitoring the militants activities for several days before launching Saturdays strike as the fighters were preparing to leave in pickup trucks, the official said.
Among those killed was the purported militant commander, identified only as an Arab by the name of Abu Nasir, the official said. No further details were available on either the victims or their nationalities. The official said the number of Arabs killed was the largest in any one attack inside Pakistan.
They weren't from around there, were they?
Military spokesman Sultan said the attack was conducted solely by Pakistani troops and did not involve American forces as reported by Pakistans Dawn newspaper, which quoted unidentified sources saying that US war planes may have carried out the strike.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/12/2006 00:00 ||
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FALLUJAH, Iraq (June 9) -- The Marines of Charlie Company had a long night, hitting houses in the largest series of raids through the city since they've been here. They came back to their base Thursday morning with some success stories, but the news that awaited them was much bigger: Al-Zarqawi was dead.
On Wednesday night's operation, about 750 Marines with 1st Battalion, 25th Marines - "New England's Own" - hit sites all over the city, working beside Iraqi soldiers. "Simultaneously, the doors were being kicked in," said Maj. Vaughn Ward, commander of Charlie Company.
They grabbed more than two dozen suspected insurgents, with Charlie Company raking in nine of them from its five target houses. Two of their houses were "dry holes," the major said, but the others netted insurgents, weapons and bomb-making materials.
When he discovered the news, 1st Sgt. Ben Grainger walked through the building knocking on doors, delivering the word, his face lit up like a kid on his way to Disney World. In the company's television lounge - the only place the Marines get satellite TV - they watched CNN and laughed at images of the terrorist mastermind. Laughter--Zark wouldn't have liked that.
"Zarqawi ate it, man," Staff Sgt. Joey Davis said to another Marine who had just walked into the room. How insensitive of you, Sergeant Davis!
The screen was showing recent video of al-Zarqawi firing a machine gun. "This is like the Super Bowl. We're watching the post-game analysis."
The Marines kept their eyes on the sky, looking for the night's special guest: a military airplane set to drop 500,000 leaflets over the city. Grainger had a special song to play for the neighbors tonight. The first notes of "New York, New York" began, chosen to accompany the leaflets that would tell Fallujah residents al-Zarqawi was killed. "Start spreadin' the news," it started, at a volume louder than Grainger's usual shows. "I'm leavin' today."
The blinking red lights of an aircraft soon began cutting across the night sky.
Posted by: Matt ||
06/12/2006 12:14 ||
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#1
This implies that the Zark hit was part of a much bigger operation than I had understood from other reports-- involving not only SOF but also Marine line companies. It sounds like the mother of all network rollups. But that's no excuse for Sergeant Davis using an indefinite pronoun reference.
Posted by: Matt ||
06/12/2006 13:05 Comments ||
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#2
These guys need sensitivity training. To take pleasure in the death of another of god's beautifull creations is mean and naughty.
Posted by: Mr. Berg ||
06/12/2006 13:07 Comments ||
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#3
Just read at "In from the cold" by former spook
http://formerspook.blogspot.com/
that the F-16 was assigned to the Alabama Air National Guard's 187th Fighter Wing, the pilot in the cockpit on the Zarqawi mission was a member of the Wisconsin ANG's 115th Fighter Wing, located in that liberal mecca, Madison, Wisconsin
Hey NGuard -- you gotta like this!
#4
I could have sworn I read a whole bunch of articles back in 2004 that the ANG was only for people who wanted to avoid combat. My memory must be failing.
Posted by: Matt ||
06/12/2006 14:13 Comments ||
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Semper Fi to the Devil Dogs ! This is a reserve unit and a fine example of the USMC's "Total Force" concept. These guys are your local cops, UPS drivers, and college students. The Marines are building corporate knowledge in the reserves and this will pay dividends in the future. Those young squad leaders are tomorrow's platoon commanders/F-18 pilots on the active side. When they show up at TBS with Combat Action Ribbons and Bronze Stars, they'll be the cat's a%& and experienced, battle-tested leaders.
Posted by: Bangkok Billy ||
06/12/2006 14:46 Comments ||
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1st Battalion, 25th Marines - "New England's Own"
#8
I'm just sorry that our heroes where subjected
to the anti-military diatribes of CNN. I caught
a bit of their leftist shtick and quickly changed
the channel during Zarqs very timely demise.
Watching CNN is like getting a root-canal...
without the novacaine.
The Pure in tree city, if they know at all, must choke. Like some of my more leftish profs did, when I got back and gave a slide show. It is fun to call them on it when they toss off the "I support the troops --BUT-- not the mission" line.
I could have sworn I read a whole bunch of articles back in 2004 that the ANG was only for people who wanted to avoid combat. My memory must be failing.
"They" said that about the army guard too. Notice the so-called experts are now silent.
We're the grown-ups on the battlefield. Not fast, not flashy. We just walk down the hill and do it all, to completetion.
Remember-- If the Guard and Reserve shows up on your battlefield, it means we (the U.S.) are realy serious about winning.
The next escalation step(s) from there falls under the category "carpet nuking and prejudicial terraforming." I exagerate only slightly.
Posted by: N guard ||
06/12/2006 18:31 Comments ||
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#10
prejudicial terraforming
LMAO. That sounds like something that would really piss off Greenpeace.
Posted by: Matt ||
06/12/2006 19:59 Comments ||
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#11
New England's Own
A little unit history here, in case anyone's interested - I know I was.
#12
xb
Good link. I like the way they train to go to the Iraqi desert!
...The Battalion is primarily a cold weather infantry unit, and trains in many locations around the Northeast. In addition, it trains in California, North Carolina and Northern Norway...
CAIRO, Egypt Al Qaeda in Iraq announced in a Web statement posted Monday that a militant named Abu Hamza al-Muhajer was appointed the group's new leader to succeed the slain Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The name was not immediately known. The name al-Muhajer, Arabic for "immigrant," suggested he was not Iraqi.
"Al Qaeda in Iraq's council has agreed on Sheik Abu Hamza al-Muhajer to be the successor for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in the leadership of the organization," said a statement signed by the group on an Islamic militant Web forum where it often posts messages. It said al-Muhajer was "a beloved brother with jihadi (holy war) experience and a strong footing in knowledge."
"During a period of austere manning, Sheik al-Muhajer gained knowledge, insight and experience while acting as car bomb supervisor. He used innovative management techniques to keep all sections operating smoothly in spite of skill level shortfalls. Promote ahead of his peers"
The authenticity of the statement could not be independently confirmed. Zarqawi, who founded the group, was killed Wednesday in a U.S. airstrike northeast of Baghdad.
#1
Not much job security or room for advancement. Of course there is the promise of the virgins. Virginity must be held in high esteem in the culture although I personally don't get it.
#2
I think I've heard of him. CIA/Mossad trained deep cover agent, right? Likes to draw cartoons of Mo in his spare time? Wipes his ass with pages from his Koran? That guy?
Iowahawk Guest Commentary
by Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi
Former Senior VP, Al-Qaeda In Iraq
Howzit swingin', fagsicles? Yeah, I know all you bitzoches all seen the pictures by now. Go on and laugh it up chump, like your drivers license photo is all George fuckin' Clooney. Personally I think I'm lookin' straight GQ, seeing as I just got a 500-pound laser guided curb stomp. Shit cuz, y'all should see Kahlid, a.k.a. "Ceiling Spackle." But, hey, whateva. You kuffar haters can finally step off my nuts, 'cause I. am. outtahere. Y'all can just suck it, 'cause Zarkman got his free pass to Allah's celestial Disneyland.
You think I didn't see this martyrdom goatshit coming? Cracka, please. When we were out in the boondocks filming that recruiting infomercial last month, I told that asshole Zawahiri that it was dangerous, that Team Satan would lock in on us with one of their outer space high tech computer gizmos. But nooooooo, he's all, "don't worry, they need an NSA warrant," and then he's like, "we have to attack the mindshare gap with a high GRP, Total Quality Jihad leadership marcom message." Which apparently means I have to stand there under Team Satan's goddamn spy satellites, yelling like the goddamn OxyClean guy, burning my goddamn hand on a goddamn machine gun barrel, while that goddamn director Omar Al-Spielberg asks for another goddamn take. Yeah, that's some world class marketing strategery there, Ayman. Best ad campaign since Pets.com. Have fun training all four of those Syrian droolers that it brought in.
So yeah, I figured I'd be caught in the next round of downsizing, so I started keeping myself prepared. For example, I shaved my junk every morning this week. Okay, I know what you're thinking: what the fizzuck? But trust me, it's in the Koran, and it's not as weird as it sounds. If you're about to be banging a room full of doe-eyed virgins, you're gonna want those nards Brazilian waxed pornstar style. Plus I guess them foxy heaven hos also appreciate a couple of splashes of cologne so they don't have to smell your stanky sack. It's just common martyr courtesy, and that's why around the AQ office we call Brut "the smell of death".
Pretty good in theory, I guess, but holy dung - you try keeping your nuts Kojak-ed with a 9-month old rusty Schick Quattro and your shaving hand all bandaged from gun barrel burn blisters. Faaack, I must have used up three styptic pencils just since Saturday. And when I slapped 'em with a splash of Hai Karate? Talk about a muthafuckin' STING. Mohammed H. Prophet, I think my scream hit two octaves above a dog whistle.
So anyhow, I got my bidness clean, I got my policy with Mutual of Medina paid up, I had a final family meeting with Fatima and the kids. "Are you going to paradise, Father?" says that teenaged one, what's-her-burqqa. "Yeah, but I'll have people watching out for you," I says. "So if you're even thinking about any of that clan dishonor shit, you better watch your back."
Okay, Thursday morning. I clock in at the office, pour a mug of tea, fire up the laptop and check out the latest posts on dKos. Sure, I've had my differences with them in the past. But with morale the way it is Allah knows we need a good laugh around here, and that shit is funnier than Homestar Runner. They had a new parody up, and I swear it had me roaring so hard I was on the verge of a shit hemorrhage. It had Kahlid laughing to the point of tears, and when he goes to wipe his good eye he almost puts it out with his hook, and then this makes Mahmoud squirt tea through his nose, and then this gets the whole damn office going. We're all just fucking roaring, when suddenly there's this silence, and then a funny high-pitched noise.
Tariq says, "did you just hear th..."
Now, back in the madrassa when we studied the afterlife, I always wondered what would be the last thing to go through my head. I'm pretty sure now it was one of Mahmoud's anklebones. And if you're wondering if it was painless? Imagine a full-frontal 800 degree root canal while listening to a Neil Young record. But hey, I figure no big whoop, just the admission price to heaven's eternal ho sammich.
So Zarkman walks toward the light. No shit, it's a lot like 2001: A Space Odyssey, but in 3-D quadrophonic sensurround. And BOOM, plop, I'm in this gigantic white room, completely empty except for this hooded faceless guy and a totally sweet 47" plasma screen. So I walk across the big empy room to the guy, and I'm like, there is but one God, and Mohammed is his messenger, death to the infidels, yada yada yada. So I'm waiting for him to punch my E-ticket for Magic Ho Mountain, when he whips out a DVD and pops it in. It's the director's cut of "This Is Your Life, Zarkman." Sure, there's a lot of blooper material in there, but also a pretty badass highlight reel -- the rapes, the murders, the IEDs, hour after hour of beheadings. Good times, man. Good times.
Anyhoo, he fast-forwards through the credits and the FBI warning, pulls out the DVD, and turns to me with an empty faceless stare. Dead fucking silence, like he's expecting me to say something. A couple minutes pass, and still Chatty Cathy isn't saying a word. So I'm like, "hey, bitch, you're welcome."
Okay, good, this finally gets the guy off the schneid. He points over to a door on the far side of the room that opens up, zwwwwippitch, just like the old Star Trek noise. It's a good thing too, 'cause my bald balls were turning blue from the thought of that fine ass ho-stack on the other side. Cracka, I got my fat horny Jordanian ass into a full trot across that room and did a dive-roll through that door like vintage Shatner.
When the door close behind me, zwwwwippitch, I guess you could say I was a little surprised, maybe a little disappointed. Turns out paradise is dumpier that you'd expect. A lot dumpier. In fact it's a lot like the Iraq boondocks; sandy, dusty, seemed like 150 degrees in the shade. I always figured paradise would have better climate control, but hey, Allah has the thermostat and He works in mysterious ways. I start looking around, and looking around. No virgins, no figs, no raisins. Now, I'm horny, hungry, and annoyed. Okay, I figure, I guess it's up to Zarkman to cherchez la poontang himself, so I start to walk down this dusty street, and BOOOM!
Get this: some asshole planted an IED right in the middle of goddamn downtown Paradise, and I take my first step right on the cocksucker. As I was flying through the air, I'm going, what the dung? It must have been planted by some Jew or Crusader, but how did one of those bastards slip into paradise in the first place? It was giving me a headache. Then I got another headache when the schoolbus ran over my head.
I was laying there trying to figure it out, when my various limbs and torsos and gonads and such started to reassemble, sort of like that liquid chrome cop in Terminator 2. Pretty cool, but it hurt like a mofo. So SPROING! I'm back on my feet, and start out again and BOOM! And I'm like, another fucking IED? I mean, what are the frigging odds? Then shhhklorrrp, bus over the head, reassemble SPROING. The next couple of hours was a blur of step- BOOM- shhhklorrrp - SPROING, lather-rinse-repeat, and I'm like, dude, fuck this shit. I had only made it 50 yards and wasn't all that horny anymore.
Anyway, I'm standing there trying to figure out my next step, when this badass crew of straightup masked assassins comes around the corner. Talk about a relief, I was beginning to wonder if Allah had made some sort of mistake. And I'm like, "yo, cuz, which way to the virgina?" Then the assholes start eying me up and down, lauging. And then I'm like, "come on, holmes, don't bogart the cooch," and then you know what those douchebags did? Throw a friggin' burqqa over my head and drag me into an abandoned warehouse. I'm goin' finally, some action.
I will spare you the ribald details, but let's just say after that 12 hour train bang I know how Marilyn Chambers felt after Behind the Green Door III. Dude, I can't even fart anymore, I hoot. And I'm so bowlegged they call me Hopalong. But, hey, I'm thinking it was just part of the Paradise Club for Martyrs initiation, because we sometimes did the same thing with AQ recruits. Not gay or anything, just to make sure the new jihadis knew who the boss was.
I pulled up my trou, and they were sitting there smoking cigs, and I'm like, okay homeslices, you had your fun, bring on the bitches. And then you know what the bastards did? Pull out the scimitars and start slicing off my fargin' head. What the flock??? If you've never been beheaded, let me clue you in: it. hurts. like. a. muthafuka. And being the ball in an alley pickup soccer game is no picnic either. Man, I'm telling you, you Omega Q-dogs ain't got shit compared to this initiation ceremony.
Anyway, they just got my head half sewed-back on, and broke for lunch. Right now I'm at some shitty internet cafe. Nothing but AOL dial-up, and for some reason the the only sites I can access are HuffPo and Iowahawk, and nothing but Dixie Chicks on the jukebox. I ordered the raisin & date plate, but I'm pretty sure that ain't dried fruit.
Gotta go soon, I guess I'm scheduled for some more beheadings after lunch. Just between us, I'd have to say that so far Paradise has overrated. Don't get me wrong, Allahu Akbar, blah blah blah. But if this initiation thing doesn't end soon, I'm thinking about filling out a complaint form.
In the meantime, I'm trying to keep thinking positive. It's been a little rough here so far, but at least I haven't noticed a single Marine.
#8
The Alquees are taking to hiding the real names now. Three thoughts:
1. Security concerns now take precedence. Not a good sign for a terrorist organization. This is what they are trying to do to the rest of society.
2. If no one knows who this person is it is going to be difficult for him to give orders and gain the respect of his followers. There are morale issues in any organization where the higher ups are faceless and perceived to be out of touch. This is particularly true where everyone in the organization perceives that they're putting their lives are on the line while the boss is hiding out under cover. 3. "The Immigrant"? That's hardly going to strike fear in the hearts of the foe. We Californians don't even have an army and we have the Terminator.
#12
Simply gorgeous report for the personnel file, Green Steve! "Promote ahead of his peers" *smile* Promote means to move upward, so that sounds actually short-term, given Al Zarqawi's after action report, via Iowahawk.
Amman, 12 June (AKI) - Islamic militant, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, who is indicated by the US command in Iraq as potential successor to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi as leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, also died in the raid that killed the Jordanian militant, according to intelligence sources in Amman.
Was Abu the mysterious "Mr X"?
Guess this means they'll have to do a search to find a new leader. Perhaps they can call in a consulting company.
The Jordanian security sources, quoted by pan Arab daily al-Sharq al-Awsat, say given that death the most likely heir as emir of Al-Qaeda in Iraq is now Muhammad Saleh Hasan al-Aqidi. Jordanian intelligence services were fundamental in identifying the exact hideout of Zarqawi.
Posted by: Steve ||
06/12/2006 09:03 ||
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#3
Okay, to recap. We killed #1, #2, #3, maybe #4 and we're pretty sure of #5-13, excepting numbers eight and nine, which may be either the new #2 and #3 or possibly aren't even in the country right now, or we might have killed a while back since we haven't heard anything out of them for six months. We also took out their information guy, their messenger guy, the guy who shoots their videos, their local grocer delivery boy who was in the wrong place at the very wrong time, and their drug dealer and his girlfriend. And also some guy called "Bob", and we don't have a clue who he is, except we thought we had killed him a good dozen times in the past, but he keeps popping up.
#5
The al Masri Brigades took credit for previous terrorist attacks, some of which aren't widely known as such. Is Abu al-Masri connected to this previously unknown group? If so, that would connect Zarqawi and Al Q with previous European and American explosions. Regardless, this sweep is more exciting than catching Saddam!
#13
'Moose: "..some guy named Bob, and he keeps popping up." Subtle, man!!! Needed a Lunch Alert: passed half my peanut butter sammich thru my nose, Heh!
Militant leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi died from injuries consistent with the results of a bomb blast, US military officials have said. Questions had arisen over how he had died after the Americans revealed he had still been alive following the bombing of a safe house by US planes.
US military officials said an autopsy had revealed that the cause of death was a blast injury to the lungs. DNA analysis had confirmed the corpse was Zarqawi's, they added. US military doctor Col Steve Jones said the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq had "no evidence of beating or any firearm injuries".
His spiritual adviser Sheikh Abd-al-Rahman was killed instantly in the US air strike on Zarqawi's safe house near the city of Baquba on Wednesday, Col Jones said.
Posted by: Steve ||
06/12/2006 08:48 ||
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#1
Fox is carrying the Centcom briefing. Could the reporters be any dumber and care more about poor Abu Maggot Zarqawi's death? Was he dressed? Was he given first aid? Did they clear his airway? Yadda yadda....assholes
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/12/2006 9:05 Comments ||
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#2
my "give a sh**" meter is lower for the MSM than Zarq....almost.
#3
actually those questions give Centcom the chance to clarify the truth, for everyone. Better to have the questions asked and answered then to leave them hanging amidsts innuendo.
#4
I saw a picture of the 500lb bomb casing. As thin as eggshell. It was a concussive bomb, which is why he wasn't torn to shreds, just had his insides turned to jelly.
#9
According to other media reports, Zarqawi lived for some 52 minutes after the bombing. One can only hope those were the longest 52 minutes of his entire life.
#11
"actually those questions give Centcom the chance to clarify the truth, for everyone. Better to have the questions asked and answered then to leave them hanging amidsts innuendo"
Must have been a wonderful childhood being raised in a turnip patch.
Centcom can explain and clarify all it wishes. If those tasked with relaying the news do not consider it the truth, then all the explanations and illuminations are the equivalent of trying to teach the pig to dance.
#12
LH, I have a great deal of respect for you as one of the (very few) rational liberals. So, as a test...how about you let us know all of the MSM stories that accurately report (and where) exactly what Centcom said in answer to these questions.
For extra credit, imagine how accurate and prominent the reporting would have been if the answers had been....
Was he dressed? - Yes, but we stripped him and covered him in bacon.
Was he given first aid? - Well, do you consider dropping acid in his eyes first aid?
Did they clear his airway? - Yes, so that we could more easily feed him his own dismembered parts.
You seem like a nice guy LH, but, when it comes to the MSM you've got those rose colored glasses nailed on.
#13
Whoa, AlanC. Are you saying we are better off having the questions unanswered by Centcom with the MSM free to make up whatever answer is fake but accurate or having Centcom make its answer publicly available so that eveyone can see how much the MSM distorted it? I think LH chooses the later, though perhaps not so bluntly stated, and I agree.
#14
' LH, I have a great deal of respect for you as one of the (very few) rational liberals. So, as a test...how about you let us know all of the MSM stories that accurately report (and where) exactly what Centcom said in answer to these questions.'
i dont have time, im afraid. This press conference was heavily reported on.
Some reporters spin, and yes, the prevailing bias of the MSM is left. But IMHO they have reported the gist of major Centcom briefings prety straight. But then i dont read and watch everything, so i couldnt vouch for that. YMMV.
#15
but its definitely good that they ask probing questions at press conferences. If you think theyve twisted something in their reporting, you should post it. Asking these questions, when rumor of these things was already floating around, was perfectly appropriate - and like I said, beneficial, cause it enabled them to be shot down.
#16
btw. the Washington Post yesterday had at the top of the front page an article about the Sergeant of the USMC squad accused in the Haditha incident, and his detailed denial of any wrong doing. That was the first Id heard of that - WaPo either broke the story, or was at least putting it out there.
I live in Mass., the fact that the MSM questions were answered is unconnected to what will be reported regarding those questions. Of course CENTCOM had to answer or be charged with a coverup. The questions should never have been asked.
Note that the questions on their face are leading questions, not to mention unserious and ignorant. They were looking for some statement that they could spin into more military bashing.
Have YOU stopped beating YOUR wife yet?
As was plainly stated in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, the MSM do not consider themselves Americans, they consider themselves "citizens of the world". Therefore, Americans, and especially the military are their enemy. Without Americans, THEY would be part of the World Elite Ruling Class. It's there destiny, doncha know?
#18
LiberalHawk - having a son about to graduate from one of the top journalism schools I have discussed this with him in depth.
My conclusions are a bit different than most folks. It is obvious to me that in its hate of anything modern and "techy" the teachers in these instutions are trying to discourage there students from the scientific method, logic and deduction.
It's quite sad. I don't know if its because they themselves are not smart enough to truely understand how things work and rode the liberal age of the 60's into the media and their teaching positions but it really needs to stop.
Example. The son took an advanced genetic engineering course and did so well he got an A and fan mail from the professor. That said the department sent him a letter of reprimand for taking a science course outside of the dumbed down "science for journalists".
It just another example of the schools wanting to turn out dumb journalist that sound what they know what they are talking about.
While your at it just look at the dumb questions asked in press conferences and interviews. Really dumb. Not left or right but DUMB.
Then when something is professed to be known they just show themselves to be idiots.
Two instances come to mind.
Today I saw an (overseas) publication whine about the US dropping two 500lb daisy cutters on Zarqboy.
Really? A daisy cutter ways 15,000 lbs or 30 times as much! That's before you even talk bang. If Zarkboy had been hit with a daisy cutter I doubt that even a red smear would mark his resting place.
The second is the whole NSA listening in bit. Nobody visited the text of the CALEA WIRETAP LAW of 1994 (Clinton time) which made all this stuff and more not only legal but required. At that point one can whine about CALEA but not those doing what CALEA requires! It was a democratic party inspired law!
One more and I will quit. The whole world was whineing about a big conventional bomb explosive test in Nevada to be done this june. I and others in Rantburg looked at the STATE OF NEVADA EPA filing and discussed what the test meant. Not one reporter visited that public text. I assume they were too stupid to think BOMB TEST IMPLIES EPA FILINING!
#19
The fact that the 'journalist's keep asking the same stupid and leading question time after time after time implies that they are not looking for information but a soundbite to plug into the evening news. The fact that they are wasting their time asking the same stupid irrevelant questions strongly implies that they are not there to 'get the news' but to 'make the news' by getting someone to make a mistake and say something which can then be twisted to their own ends.
Meaning they keep asking 'Have you quit beating your wife?' again and again in hopes that the person will answer 'yes' or 'no'. And even if they dont answer either of those the lead story will be 'so-and-so would neither comfirm or deny that he has stopped beating his wife.'.
I know not all journalists are this way. But it seems that most of them (and those who ask the questions) are.
#20
Moose: I saw a picture of the 500lb bomb casing. As thin as eggshell. It was a concussive bomb, which is why he wasn't torn to shreds, just had his insides turned to jelly.
I guess this is equivalent to what happens when you shake an uncooked egg really hard - the yolk breaks even before you crack the egg open.
#21
CF, Don't forget the showing off for the boss angle and the One of our ace reporters asked andle and the ask it slightly differently and you might trip them up angle. These guys thin they're a combination of Perry Mason and Madonna.
#22
ABC News reports US troops reached him 28 minutes after the bombing and he died 52 minutes after the bombs. That's one long "Oh Shit" moment. Also 60 followup raids netting 210 terrorists so far.
Posted by: ed ||
06/12/2006 18:46 Comments ||
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#24
What kind of moron thinks it's ok to send two 500 pound bombs up Zarq's behind but then worries about whether they shot him or beat him if he managed to breathe for a while afterward? Live by the Bomb; die by the Bomb. He reaped what he sowed. He's lucky they didn't put his head on a pike. MSM idiocy sunk to ever new lows.
THE US military said seven "terrorists" linked to al-Qaeda leaders in Iraq have been killed during an air strike today near the restive Iraqi city of Baquba. "Coalition forces killed seven terrorists, wounded three, and detained an additional two terrorists during a raid in the vicinity of Baquba June 12," the military said in a statement. "The targeted terrorists have been linked to previous coalition operations and had ties to senior al-Qaeda leaders across Iraq.
"Intelligence also indicates this particular terrorist cell is involved in the facilitation of foreign fighters in the area."
The military said coalition forces received enemy machine-gun fire from a rooftop upon arriving at the objective. "Two other individuals with AK-47s had been seen fleeing that area just prior to the assault. Coalition aircraft supporting the ground force immediately suppressed the enemy fire, killing seven."
It said there were numerous women and children on the scene. "Following the assault, coalition troops discovered two children had been killed. One child was wounded and evacuated for treatment," the military said. Troops secured one rocket propelled grenade launcher, five rockets, nine AK-47 assault rifles and 20 loaded ammunition magazines. Intelligence from the Zarkman bust?
#1
I love the bit about the women and children.
Click the link and see if it doesn't give you the impression of being Reuters, even if it doesn't say so.
#3
Hmmm... Baquba?
That was my old stomping grounds. I wonder if these guys were there in 2005, and why they didn't have a go at us if they were?
Posted by: N guard ||
06/12/2006 9:30 Comments ||
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#4
When terrorists hide among civilians, they cause the deaths of those civilians. Basic element in the laws of war.
Posted by: Rob Crawford ||
06/12/2006 9:34 Comments ||
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#5
These guys are stupid for firing at us. They should just yell at us threating us, when we go in the house, they can throw the dead bodies of civilians down, and call Murtha. We'd lose in a month.
#6
they had 3 children on the roof with them, obviously as human shields. The reporters were more worried about the children than whether any of our troops were hurt. Those kids were dead the minute these pukes took them. Unfortunate, but....
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/12/2006 10:18 Comments ||
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#7
Here's AFP's version:
Seven Al-Qaeda "terrorists" killed in US air raid in Iraq
Mohammed Abbas, a relative of the victims, said the raid was triggered following an error on part of the local guard in the village of Hashmiyat, west of Baquba, where the air strike was carried out.
"We were sleeping on the rooftop at midnight when one of the local guards fired in the air as he saw individuals who he thought were insurgents ... unfortunately they turned out to be US troops on foot patrol," he said.
"The US forces responded fiercely and struck several houses first and later concentrated on one house. We later discovered that nine members of the house, including seven children and youngsters were killed while four members are missing."
Another witness Shahin Abdullah at the local hospital where the bodies were brought described the US attack as "fierce."
"We heard sound of explosions and airplanes in the sky. The result was that nine were killed and four are missing," she said.
She said the local guard mistook the US troops for insurgents as "we are not used to the troops doing foot patrol. They usually come in tanks and vehicles."
Meanwhile, U.S. intelligence operatives gave the special-ops task force a tantalizing lead. For nearly a month, the commandos had monitored every move of Abdul-Rahman, the spiritual adviser, whose locations had been revealed by an al-Qaeda operative captured in May near the Iraq-Jordan border. When Abdul-Rahman surfaced near Baqubah last week--apparently in the same location as the Jordanians' Mr. X--the commandos moved in for the kill. "We had absolutely no doubt whatsoever that Zarqawi was in the house," Army Major General William Caldwell told reporters in Baghdad the day after the strike. The Jordanian security official told TIME that the bombing killed Abdul-Rahman and Mr. X, in addition to al-Zarqawi's 16-year-old wife.
#2
With darkness approaching and lacking enough forces to storm the house, the surveillance team calls for an air strike.
The article suggests we wanted to take Zark alive, but screwed up. Why would we want him alive? Yeah, there'd be some publicity, but I think we were better off wacking him.
I especially like the part where he lived long enough to know he'd been had.
Posted by: Bobby ||
06/12/2006 7:05 Comments ||
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#3
Why would we want him alive?
We've gotten a lot of intel from Khalid Sheik Mohammed, reportedly. While I think this punk was a lot more like Saddam than like KSM, it's one reason to capture him if we could.
Also, if he's known to be dead, his network will proceed accordingly. But if his situation is not clear, his people might be uncertain and either take no action or make mistakes ... either way, it fosters more likelihood of catching them.
#5
Reading the entire Time article linked to above, I came away with the notion that if the gov't of Pakistan gave the USA the same level of cooperation Jordan has then OBL would have been dead years ago.
Posted by: Mark Z ||
06/12/2006 8:42 Comments ||
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#6
I think these wives are the "children" they talk about being killed in the attacks. ;o)
#7
Well if Allan was doing an 8 year old and they try to emulate Allan - yes, they are children before any acceptable age of consent being blown up with them.
What sort of screwed up guy needs a wife young enough to be playing with dolls. Major retuning of the brain is called for.
#9
According to Aljazeera his 18 month old son was killed along with his 16 year old bride in the air strike.
So how old was she when they were married?
#11
well if he was captured alive they could set him up for some kind of jailbreak and kill alot more of his minions. i guess a shorter sentence "ambush"
#13
In the 21st century in the West, anyone tagging a 14 year old would be arrested and have to register as a sexual offender. And that would be if someone doesn't knock them off first or become someones girlfriend in jail. But then that would be culturally insensitive would it? This interpretation of Islam never ceases to amaze me.
#15
OK guys which was it? One of you said Mo' had it wth a 9-year old, and another said it was an 8-year old. Lets get out facts straight here. This IS Rantburg, after all, and we have a reputation! Cause remember, with the Islamoratz, pervert is in the eyes of the beholder.
Posted by: Inquiring Mind ||
06/12/2006 19:33 Comments ||
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#16
When a 52 year old man has sex with a 9 year old girl it is considered criminally wrong in the western democracies. It's one of those cultural things the decadent west tends to be very definite about.
#20
Mo was 53 when he married 6 year old Aisha, though Old Mo waited till she was 9 before she was moved in with him. Two years after he married Aisha, he is said to have had his eyes on a toddler. Guess the waiting for Aisha was getting to him: "The Life of Muhammad" by Ibn Ishaq
In the riwaya of Yunus I. I. recorded that the apostle saw her (Ummu'lFadl) when she was a baby crawling before him and said, 'If she grows up and I am still alive I will marry her.'
Also from the Bukhari hadiths: Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah: When I got married, Allah's Apostle said to me, "What type of lady have you married?" I replied, "I have married a matron' He said, "Why, don't you have a liking for the virgins and for fondling them?" Jabir also said: Allah's Apostle said, "Why didn't you marry a young girl so that you might play with her and she with you?'
Ever why Khomenei and other mullahs say it's OK to soddomize a toddler? There is strong Islamic president for it.
Posted by: ed ||
06/12/2006 20:00 Comments ||
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#21
She was 16 but she had the body of an 8 year old.
Posted by: ed ||
06/12/2006 20:02 Comments ||
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As many as 42 insurgents were arrested during several army operations which came after announcing the death of Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi, an Iraqi government source said Sunday. The source said that the army's troops arrested six insurgents in Mosul and Saladin provinces and killed one in Mosul. The army's 5th Division in Dayali province, where Al-Zarqawi was killed, arrested 23 insurgents, added the source. In the meantime, the army managed to arrest a total of 13 insurgents in Baghdad and Ramadi city.
On the other hand, Iraqi police announced that gunmen attacked six civilians in Mosul killing five and injuring one. The source said that a dead body was found in eastern Mosul.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/12/2006 00:38 ||
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#1
Rollin, rollin' rollln' Keep them doggies rollin'..
Unknown gunmen shot dead Sunday an Iraqi army officer, who was working with the former regime of Saddam Hussein, in the northern city of Mosul, police said. A police source said in press remarks the gunmen opened fire at Brigadier Eid Ahmad Abdullah and killed him on the spot. Former officers in the Iraqi armed forces were exposed to assaults following the liberation of Iraqi over three years ago.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/12/2006 00:37 ||
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#1
Something about "paybacks being a..." hmmm. I can't remember....
Five people were killed and 60 injured in a bomb explosion in the Karrada neighborhood in Baghdad Sunday, a source at the interior ministry said. The source told KUNA a time-bomb was planted on the side of the road in the karrada exploded and killed the five people. When the explosion first occurred, it killed three people. Two others died of their wounds. The source said the number of deaths was high because the blast occured near a shopping area. Paramedics and civilians took the injured to nearby hospitals and clinics. The blast heavily damaged shops and cars.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/12/2006 00:36 ||
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#1
A high number of booms after the capture of Z-man's intelligence stash is to be expected: the boomers have no idea if they're next, so they're gonna blow up while the blowing up is good. Use it or lose it.
#2
I agree with Ptah on this. The thing that we have to watch is what happens after the current run of car bombs, kidnappings, and attacks that have been planned BEFORE Zarkwormfood was terminated. There should be a falling off until someone else can get the logistics and manpower under control. No matter what happens, there will be differences - slight to major - between the "before" and the "after" activities. All "managers" do things differently. Hopefully the "new guy" won't be quite the bas$$$$ that Zark was, or won't be as secretive, or something, and will quickly give himself away. One of the most effective ways of fighting an insurgency is to keep taking out the "top guys". The replacements will never be quite as experienced, quite as effective, as those they're replacing. If you whack enough of them fast enough, the organization will eventually collapse.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
06/12/2006 12:27 Comments ||
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If I eat much more popcorn, they'll have to cut a hole in my house and lift me out with a crane...
Gunmen set fire to the Palestinian prime minister's office on Monday as clashes escalated between his Islamist Hamas followers and President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement. The violence came as Abbas ordered security forces to take control of the streets in the wake of fighting with gunmen from the governing Hamas militant group, the latest sign of a deepening political crisis in the Palestinian territories. The Ramallah office of Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh in the West Bank was unoccupied at the time. Haniyeh, from Hamas, is based in the Gaza Strip and does not have access to the Ramallah office because of Israeli curbs on his travel. Witnesses said police had gone into the office and removed the gunmen from the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade. The gunmen burned the top floor of the building, one official said. Abbas's "state of alert" came after Hamas militants besieged a headquarters of the Preventive Security Service, loyal to Abbas, in the southern Gaza Strip.
Looks like it's almost time to go to the mattresses. And put the popcorn machine on full blast...
RAMALLAH, West Bank - Hundreds Palestinian security forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas went on a violent rampage against the Hamas-led government Monday night, riddling the parliament and Cabinet buildings with bullets to protest an attack against their comrades in the Gaza Strip by Hamas gunmen.
The security men shot out the windows of the parliament before storming the two-building Cabinet complex, where they smashed furniture, destroyed computers and scattered documents. No casualties were reported. But the mob set fire to one of the Cabinet buildings, causing heavy damage as flames quickly spread.
"Every time they touch one of ours in Gaza, we will get ten of theirs in the West Bank," said one member of the Preventive Security force, which is loyal to Abbas' Fatah movement. It's the Gaza way. Or is it the West Bank way?
Dozens of gunmen from the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, a pro-Fatah militia, joined the security men.
The rampage followed an attack in Gaza early Monday by Hamas gunmen on a Preventive Security installation. The attack set off daylong clashes that left two people dead and 14 wounded.
Abbas has been locked in a bitter power struggle with Hamas since the Islamic group beat Fatah in legislative elections. Hamas now controls the parliament and Cabinet.
The power struggle has revolved around control of security forces. With most forces loyal to Abbas, Hamas has deployed its own private militia in the Gaza Strip, raising tensions between the sides.
Abbas was in Gaza at the time of the rampage, where he has been holding negotiations with Hamas in hopes of ending the political deadlock. How's that working out?
#2
The security men shot out the windows of the parliament before storming the two-building Cabinet complex, where they smashed furniture, destroyed computers and scattered documents.
I guess they're really counting on that European cash now.
#4
Fred - we need the popcorn graphic for full effect! ;-p
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
06/12/2006 15:37 Comments ||
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#5
The only thing that could have made this stupider would have been to do it with parliament in session. Are these guys in competition with Somolia? Darwin awards for all!
#6
This is getting so good that I'm starting to get a chub.Way better than pRon.
Posted by: Mike N. ||
06/12/2006 15:55 Comments ||
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#7
The security men shot out the windows of the parliament before storming the two-building Cabinet complex, where they smashed furniture, destroyed computers and scattered documents.
#11
So we're looking at a future with two Palestinian countries, plus Jordan? One for Fatah in the West Bank, Hamas in Gaza, and Jordan for the Hashemite royals?
The Palestinian president's forces and their Hamas rivals are expanding their arsenals as a power struggle intensifies.
Security sources and diplomats say new weapons and equipment can be seen on the streets of Gaza and the West Bank, while prices for black market guns and ammunition have soared in a growing arms race despite pledges by both sides to prevent civil war.
Mouin Rabbani, senior Middle East analyst for the International Crisis Group, said: "These kinds of preparations have the ability to spin out of control and could produce exactly what they're trying to prevent."
But Yaser Dajani, a Palestinian security consultant, who sees the build-up as sabre-rattling rather than a prelude to a full-scale conflict, said: "It's like flexing your muscles."
Tensions have grown since Mahmoud Abbas, the president, threatened to call a referendum on a manifesto for statehood that implicitly recognises Israel if the Hamas-led government persists in rejecting it.
Rival forces have clashed sporadically in Gaza.
Power struggle
Western powers want to ensure that Abbas emerges victorious in any power struggle with Hamas, which is formally committed to destroying Israel rather than creating a state alongside it.
With US encouragement, Israel has agreed to let Egypt and Jordan supply Abbas's presidential guard with small arms and ammunition. Spain has promised to send a fleet of four-wheel-drive vehicles to bolster the guard.
In the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, where Abbas has his headquarters, the guard recently acquired four new US-made armoured vehicles worth an estimated $100,000 each. "It is no secret that [Abbas] is arming himself for a confrontation with his rivals," said a veteran of Israel's Shin Bet security service, which helped CIA-led efforts in the 1990s to bolster the forces of Yasser Arafat, who was then the president, against Hamas.
Palestinian security sources say Hamas is also buying more weapons and training more fighters in the West Bank, where the forces of Abbas's Fatah group have long been dominant.
Financial embargo
The government is under a Western financial embargo aimed at forcing Hamas to recognise Israel and renounce violence.
But Hamas has been able to smuggle weapons and tens of millions of dollars and euros through the Egyptian border with Gaza, Israeli intelligence sources said.
In Gaza, where it has enough guns, Hamas has been buying bullets, Palestinian security sources said.
Arms dealers and an Israeli military source said black market bullets were selling for $1 each - a steep price in areas where up to half the people live on less than $2 a day.
Weapons
In the West Bank, Hamas has been buying M-16 rifles. Dealers said heavy demand and a lack of supply have sent prices soaring to as much as $13,000 each, up from $5,400 a year ago.
At the border with Gaza, Israeli forces say fighters have acquired hundreds of anti-tank missiles.
The forces have also been recruiting.
Fatah is distributing weapons to some local offices to help protect officials and property, sources in the group said.
Mustafa Barghouthi, an independent Palestinian politician, said the situation "is not only delicate, it is also dangerous", adding: "People are not only worried, they're angry. They are angry at this polarisation."
Are those the weapons Israel let Abu Mazen have for his personal protection?
A gunman from a Hamas paramilitary unit was killed in a clash with members of a security force loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Gaza today amid rising internal political tension, witnesses said. The gunman was shot dead when the two sides exchanged fire at a funeral march for an activist from Hamas, the Islamic militant ruling party, who died of wounds received in a firefight last week between rival groups.
It's a Mobius loop, firefight = funeral = firefight at funeral, rinse, repeat..
Each side accused the other of starting the clash in southern Gaza between the force set up last month by Hamas and members of the Preventive Security Service.
Abbas and the Hamas Government are heading for a showdown over the president's call for a referendum on a manifesto for Palestinian statehood that implicitly recognises Israel. Hamas, which is committed to the abolition of the Jewish state, has rejected the proposal and its MPs are expected to file a motion in parliament later today to try to declare the referendum illegal. Around 20 people have been killed in the past month in clashes between Hamas and forces loyal to Abbas in Gaza.
Posted by: Steve ||
06/12/2006 09:15 ||
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well, as long as you already dug a hole, seems a shame to put just one snuffie in it
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/12/2006 9:32 Comments ||
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A leader of Ezzuddine Al-Qassam Brigades, the military arm of Hamas movement, on Sunday survived assassination after an Israeli pilotless plane fired a missile on his car in Gaza city. Witnesses said an Israeli plane fired a missile towards a civilian car on a street in Al-Nasr neighborhood in northern Gaza city, noting that the driver was slightly wounded in the blast. They added that the missile hit the vehicle seconds after the targeted leader left the car.
Spokesperson for the brigades Abu Obaidah told a local radio station in Gaza that the target was slightly wounded in the operation, but refused to disclose his name. Abu Obaidah added that all members and leaders of the brigades were informed to exercise maximum security procedures and avoid riding in cars so they don't become targets for Israeli missiles.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/12/2006 00:35 ||
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Gotta be embarassing, having to dive out of your car into the middle of the street to avoid a hellfire enema.
An Israeli air strike has killed two Hamas fighters in the northern Gaza Strip and wounded three others, Palestinian medics said. The Israeli military said it launched a strike on a field near Bait Lahiya in the Jabalya refugee camp on Sunday at fighters attempting to fire rockets.
The killing of the Hamas fighters was the first by Israel since the Islamic resistance movement formally scrapped a 16-month truce with Israel on Friday and resumed firing rockets and mortar bombs from Gaza. Three other Hamas fighters were wounded in the air strike. Security sources named one of the dead men as Salem al-Arabiya, who was a local commander of the Hamas' armed wing, Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades. Hamas said it ended the truce in response to the recent killing of seven people on a Gaza beach during Israeli shelling.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/12/2006 00:04 ||
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Paleo Rocketeer is rapidly becoming a high-risk job, especially if you stumble on the setup
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/12/2006 8:54 Comments ||
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While Hamas scrapped the cease fire, they don't seem top have been interested in starting the firing either.
MANILA: A powerful explosion ripped through a public market south of Manila, hurting eight people, and a separate blast damaged a commuter bus, police said on Sunday. The two grenade attacks came amid tight army and police security as the Philippines celebrates its 108th independence day on Monday. No group has claimed responsibility for the blasts. The attacks appeared to be unrelated, Vidal Querol, Manilas police chief, told reporters. We still dont have any suspect. In the first attack, eight people were wounded when a grenade placed in a bag went off at dawn in a packed public market in Lipa City, 80 kilometres south of Manila. Based on our initial report, the blast was caused by a fragmentation grenade placed in a bag that was left near the live chicken section of the market, said a police spokesman.
The wounded were taken to two nearby hospitals for treatment of shrapnel wounds, the police added. Communist New Peoples Army rebels were known to be active in the province, but a guerrilla spokesman had denied his groups role in the assassination attempt on the governor.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/12/2006 00:24 ||
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Fresh evidence has emerged that Iran is working on a secret military project to develop nuclear weapons that has not been declared to United Nations inspectors responsible for monitoring Irans nuclear programme. Nuclear experts working for the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna are pressing the Iranians to make a full disclosure about a network of research laboratories at a secret military base outside the capital Teheran.
The project is codenamed Zirzamin 27, and its purpose is to enable the Iranians to undertake uranium enrichment to military standard. Zirzamin means basement in Farsi, which suggests the laboratories are underground and 27 refers to the 27-year-old Iranian revolution. Concerns over activity at Zirzamin 27 will be raised at this weeks meeting of the IAEAs Board of Governors in Vienna, which starts today.
Suspicions have been growing that Iran has a secret military nuclear research programme since UN inspectors discovered particles of enriched uranium at a research complex at Lavizan, a military base on the outskirts of Teheran, in 2003. The Iranians agreed to allow IAEA inspectors to visit the Lavizan complex but then razed it to the ground before the inspectors arrived.
Iranian nuclear officials have ignored repeated requests by IAEA officials for a detailed explanation of the Lavizan project. Now the IAEA officials are studying new intelligence indicating that the Lavizan research project has been moved to a secret military location outside Teheran. Although IAEA officials do not know the precise location of Zirzamin 27, they have comprehensive details of its activities.
This is a truly alarming development, said a senior western diplomat working with the IAEA. This evidence indicates that the Iranians remain committed to developing nuclear weapons, despite their claims to the contrary that their nuclear ambitions are entirely peaceful.
Well, duh!
Teheran has consistently argued that its nuclear programme is aimed at developing an indigenous nuclear power industry. But Irans insistence on developing its own uranium enrichment facilities has raised concerns that it has a well-advanced programme to develop nuclear weapons.
The Zirzamin 27 operation is thought to be being supervised by Irans Revolutionary Guards under the direction of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, the head of Irans Modern Defensive Readiness and Technology Centre, a top-secret military research site. According to reports being studied by IAEA officials, scientists working at Zirzamin are required to wear standard military uniforms when entering and leaving the complex to give the impression they are involved in normal military activity. They are only allowed to change into protective clothing once inside the site. Special attention has also been given to developing specialised ventilation systems to make sure no incriminating particles of radioactive material are allowed to escape.
Posted by: Steve ||
06/12/2006 13:26 ||
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Which country helped with the ventilation systems? we know the Mullahs are getting all of their tech from other countries.
France? Germany? Russia? China? Pakistan?
Posted by: Kalle ||
06/12/2006 14:12 Comments ||
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#2
Where's the surprise meter? Or did Iran break it again?
I am beginning to think that until a Western City goes up in a mushroom cloud, the world is just not convinced yet of Iran's intentions.
This is a truly alarming development, said a senior western diplomat working with the IAEA.
I wouldn't mind, but isn't this the upteenth time, someone has been surprised? Sad!!
#9
I still think that the Israelis or the US should sneak gallon-sized containers of toxin or some industrial chemical into a bunch of their nuclear facilities, that slowly give off enough agent to destroy the livers of everyone in the complex. Say at 10ppm. After a couple of weeks, suddenly everybody gets sick.
Also leaving the facilities so contaminated that the only thing that can be done is to bury them.
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.
The Chief Military Commander of Taliban guerillas, Mulla Dadullah, and Taliban supreme leader, Mullah Omar, have expressed deep grief and sorrow over the killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in US air strike in Iraq, said a report on Sunday. Mullah Dadullah talking to Peshawar-based Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) from an undisclosed location said that Taliban were ready to send suicide bombers to Iraq. "We are ready to send 150 Afghan suicide bombers to groups fighting against US in Iraq." Although suicide bombers are at abundance in Iraq but we are ready to join this battle, he said and termed the death of al-Zarqawi a great tragedy. Mullah Dadullah urged every Muslim "to become al-Zarqawi and take revenge from infidels and turn their joy into grief." Also, the Taliban supreme leader Mulla Muhammad Omar in a statement expressed deep grief over the death saying the killing would not weaken resistance in Iraq.
TUNCELI: Two Turkish army officers were killed on Sunday in an ambush by Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) guerrillas in eastern Turkey, a provincial governor said in a statement. Five army officers and two civilians were also wounded in the ambush on an army convoy in Tunceli province, the statement said. Army sources said that helicopter gun ships pounded the area where the guerrillas attacked the convoy and clashes between the troops and the guerrillas were continuing. Two guerrillas, one of them a senior PKK field commander, were killed in a clash with Turkish troops in south-eastern Turkey on Saturday.
One of the Guantanamo detainees who committed suicide had been cleared for transfer to another country, a second was involved in a 2001 prison uprising in Afghanistan where 
None of the three had been formally charged.
The Pakistan Army on Sunday raised the number of militants killed in a raid on a training camp a day earlier to more than 30, mostly foreigners including Arabs, Uzbeks and local fighters who also took part in attacks inside Afghanistan, AP reported. Twenty-two Arabs, three Uzbeks and seven local tribal militants linked with Al Qaeda and the Taliban were among those killed in the attack, a senior Pakistani security official said on condition of anonymity.
Five unidentified militants were killed and 11 injured when security forces near Dera Bugti retaliated to an attack, Geo television reported. Balochistan government spokesman Raziq Bugti said that the militants attacked the security forces with heavy rocket and gunfire, but fled when they retaliated. "We came to know from their conversation through satellite telephones that five miscreants were killed and 11 injured," he said. He said that the security forces had not suffered any casualties.
MIRANSHAH: Local Taliban and religious leaders in North Waziristan on Sunday issued public notices warning people of "serious repercussions" if they do not shun "un-Islamic activities" like watching movies and listening to music. The Taliban warned tribesmen to avoid hashish, heroin and wine, end all smuggling, ban all "un-Islamic" video and audio cassettes, ban dish antennas in houses and bazaars, and close all gambling dens. All such places of gambling will now be used for a "noble purpose", the announcement said. The Taliban also announced a ban on interest on loans, and staged fights between birds and animals. "Any person committing these atrocities from Monday will be punished accordingly if spared by the government," said the announcement. Sources said that most local tribesmen supported the announcement, believing its implementation would bring peace to the troubled tribal agency.
PESHAWAR: Life came to a complete halt in Bara, the headquarters of 
ISLAMABAD - Pakistans army on Sunday raised the number of militants killed in a raid on a training camp a day earlier to more than 30, including Arabs, Uzbeks and local fighters who also took part in attacks inside Afghanistan.
FALLUJAH, Iraq (June 9) -- The Marines of Charlie Company had a long night, hitting houses in the largest series of raids through the city since they've been here. They came back to their base Thursday morning with some success stories, but the news that awaited them was much bigger: Al-Zarqawi was dead.
Militant leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi died from injuries consistent with the results of a bomb blast, US military officials have said. Questions had arisen over how he had died after the Americans revealed he had still been alive following the bombing of a safe house by US planes. 
THE US military said seven "terrorists" linked to al-Qaeda leaders in Iraq have been killed during an air strike today near the restive Iraqi city of Baquba. "Coalition forces killed seven terrorists, wounded three, and detained an additional two terrorists during a raid in the vicinity of Baquba June 12," the military said in a statement. "The targeted terrorists have been linked to previous coalition operations and had ties to senior al-Qaeda leaders across Iraq.
As many as 42 insurgents were arrested during several army operations which came after announcing the death of Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi, an Iraqi government source said Sunday. The source said that the army's troops arrested six insurgents in Mosul and Saladin provinces and killed one in Mosul. The army's 5th Division in Dayali province, where Al-Zarqawi was killed, arrested 23 insurgents, added the source. In the meantime, the army managed to arrest a total of 13 insurgents in Baghdad and Ramadi city.
Unknown gunmen shot dead Sunday an Iraqi army officer, who was working with the former regime of Saddam Hussein, in the northern city of Mosul, police said. A police source said in press remarks the gunmen opened fire at Brigadier Eid Ahmad Abdullah and killed him on the spot. Former officers in the Iraqi armed forces were exposed to assaults following the liberation of Iraqi over three years ago.
Five people were killed and 60 injured in a bomb explosion in the Karrada neighborhood in Baghdad Sunday, a source at the interior ministry said. The source told KUNA a time-bomb was planted on the side of the road in the karrada exploded and killed the five people. When the explosion first occurred, it killed three people. Two others died of their wounds. The source said the number of deaths was high because the blast occured near a shopping area. Paramedics and civilians took the injured to nearby hospitals and clinics. The blast heavily damaged shops and cars.
The Palestinian president's forces and their Hamas rivals are expanding their arsenals as a power struggle intensifies.
"It is no secret that [Abbas] is arming himself for a confrontation with his rivals," said a veteran of Israel's Shin Bet security service, which helped CIA-led efforts in the 1990s to bolster the forces of Yasser Arafat, who was then the president, against Hamas.
An Israeli air strike has killed two Hamas fighters in the northern Gaza Strip and wounded three others, Palestinian medics said. The Israeli military said it launched a strike on a field near Bait Lahiya in the Jabalya refugee camp on Sunday at fighters attempting to fire rockets.
MANILA: A powerful explosion ripped through a public market south of Manila, hurting eight people, and a separate blast damaged a commuter bus, police said on Sunday. The two grenade attacks came amid tight army and police security as the Philippines celebrates its 108th independence day on Monday. No group has claimed responsibility for the blasts. The attacks appeared to be unrelated, Vidal Querol, Manilas police chief, told reporters. We still dont have any suspect. In the first attack, eight people were wounded when a grenade placed in a bag went off at dawn in a packed public market in Lipa City, 80 kilometres south of Manila. Based on our initial report, the blast was caused by a fragmentation grenade placed in a bag that was left near the live chicken section of the market, said a police spokesman.
Fresh evidence has emerged that Iran is working on a secret military project to develop nuclear weapons that has not been declared to United Nations inspectors responsible for monitoring Irans nuclear programme. Nuclear experts working for the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna are pressing the Iranians to make a full disclosure about a network of research laboratories at a secret military base outside the capital Teheran. 
