KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Sunday his government will give weapons to local tribesmen so they can help fight the biggest surge in Taliban violence in years. Speaking to a group of tribal elders from eastern Afghanistan, Karzai said he did not want to form militias that could clash with rival tribes. "We just want to strengthen the districts to safeguard them from terrorist attack," he said.
You could build the Afghan Army, which has had a pretty good record whacking the Taliban lately ...
Although they would not speak for attribution because of the sensitivity of the topic, Western diplomats briefed on the plan said they worried it could fuel factional fighting by giving weapons to forces loyal to warlords with long histories of factional disputes.
Like bringing coals to Newcastle.
Karim Rahimi, Karzai's spokesman, said the government is confident that would not happen because the recruits will be loyal to Kabul. He described the new recruits as "community police." "They are to strengthen the security setup in Afghanistan," he said.
The president did not say how many tribal fighters would be recruited. But he said there would be a dramatic increase in the ranks of security forces in some areas.
Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak told reporters the tribal forces would "take their command from each district police chief." He said local security forces would also be given better weapons and bulletproof vests.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/12/2006 00:00 ||
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surprised you guys dont like this plan, isnt this just the kind of 2 amendment based thinking y'all prefer. Taliban wont dare attack an armed village, something like that?
Anyway, I dont think they can afford to expand the ANA any further, as it is its taking a pretty big share of their GDP, IIUC.
#3
I can see where this would be effective, if the tribal villagers can be trusted. Build up a militia within each village dedicated to protecting the village against foreign intruders. Train them, pay them a small stipend, and give them a minimum amount of authority under the district police, and hope for the best. If a problem arises, or if the militiamen misbehave, break them. That would have a greater disciplinary impact on the rest than it would in the US, considering the Afghan "honor" issue. Have them swear on the Quran they will only use their weapons in defense of their village and the surrounding area, and hang any that fail to adhere to those rules. It can work, and it can be a strong influence, depending on how it's handled.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
06/12/2006 12:37 Comments ||
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June 12, 2006: The growing strength of the Islamic Courts movement in Somalia has generated fears that Somalia might become another base for al Qaeda. Apparently, it already has. Several known al Qaeda operatives have been spotted in southern Somalia. However, Somalia isn't a very good base for al Qaeda, or anyone else. The country has minimal infrastructure. While there are some cell phone providers, operating under the protection of one warlord or another, any phone traffic in or out can be easily tapped by American intelligence agencies. Al Qaeda members have to be careful where they go, for warlords tend to get trigger happy when strangers wander into their territory. Roadblocks, that extort a bribe from any wishing to pass, are a common way to raise money. Some of the al Qaeda operatives known to be in Somalia, have prices on their heads. None of these rewards have been collected yet, although U.S. counter-terrorism forces in the area (there is a major U.S. base just to the north, in Djibouti) have let warlords know who is wanted. This appears to indicate that the al Qaeda people have stayed put. Getting into and out of Somalia is not easy, as the countries land and sea borders are closely watched.
The Islamic Courts movement has been compared to the Afghan Taliban. There are similarities (both groups are religious, and live according to Islamic law), but important differences as well. While the Taliban was led by hundreds of religious school students, the Islamic Courts are run by a small number of Islamic clerics, and warlords who find it convenient to go along with the Islamic law angle. Somalia has been in chaos for the last fifteen years, since dictator Muhammad Siad Barre was overthrown. The tribal/clan warfare has prevented the formation of a national government ever since. Meanwhile, in the north, several tribes have split off to form new nations (Somaliland and Puntland), containing about a third of Somalias ten million people. Older Somalis remember the unification of the Italian and British colonies in 1960 to create present day Somalia. In that light, the formation of the two new countries in the north does not come as much of a shock. However, these two breakaway nations have received little international recognition. To Somalis, the Islamic Courts are not seen as unusual either. In times of stress, similar religiously inspired organizations have formed, and then faded as tribal loyalties reasserted themselves.
The Islamic Courts are popular, even with the warlords, because they provide some restoration of rule of law between tribes. There are dozens of clan groupings, who sometimes join together with other clans in their tribe. Sometimes, but not always. The clans are the primary social organization, the ultimate refuge for any Somali. Another reason for the short duration of religious governments in Somalia is the independent and freewheeling attitudes of Somali men. Islamic law means less fun for well armed and testy Somali men. For example, the Islamic Courts are currently shutting down makeshift movie theaters in Mogadishu. The main reason for this is because these theaters show Western and Indian movies that offend Islamic sensibilities. But at the moment, the theaters are showing World Cup football games taking place in Germany (and illegally pulled off satellite feeds). The World Cup only occurs once every four years, and billions of people watch it. Including Somalis. This will cause a lot of stress, but it also demonstrates how the Islamic Courts will eventually make themselves as unpopular as most other warlords. To make matters worse, the Islamic Courts are already in a standoff with tribal gunmen who, without a warlord to work for (the Islamic Courts ran them out of town), have now rallied around their clan chiefs and elders. The Islamic Courts that invaded Mogadishu were from a different tribe than the one that has long dominated the city. And then there's the Transitional Government, an alliance of warlords that has, via tortuous negotiations, put together a new national government. But the Islamic Courts don't believe in democratic government, control about a third of the population, and are trying to subdue the rest by force.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Steve ||
06/12/2006 09:26 ||
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Join al-qaeda, see the world. Meet interesting and highly trained troops from far away countries....and be killed by them.
The Somali parliament is meeting in Baidoa to discuss how the ongoing fighting in the country can be brought to an end. The government has asked parliament to approve a request to bring African Union troops into the country, to help halt the violence and disarm factions, Aljazeera's correspondent in Somalia reported on Sunday.
A leader of the Islamic courts group on Sunday rejected any foreign intervention. "Any foreign interference in Somalia will aggravate the current crisis," said Shaikh Sharif Shaikh Ahmed, leader of the Islamic courts. He called for the international community to help his country by other means.
The Somali prime minister is to discuss military support with East African prime ministers at a meeting of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). If parliament and the East African nations agree to the plan, it will be referred to the UN Security Council, the Somali prime minister said.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/12/2006 00:06 ||
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MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) - One of the secular warlords who lost control of Somalia's capital to an Islamic militia vowed Sunday that the battle for Mogadishu was not over - an ominous warning for a city devastated by years of bloodshed and anarchy.
The threat came a day after Islamic fighters stopped showings of the World Cup soccer tournament, one of the first of many, many signs that the fundamentalist force now controlling nearly all of southern Somalia could install strict Islamic rule.
Because soccer is un-Islamic. Says so in the Qur'an.
Muse Sudi Yalahow said his group of secular warlords is regrouping to fight the Islamic militia, whom he accused of having ties to al-Qaida. "The alliance will continue fighting until we win the war on terror. We will hand down the terrorists linked to al-Qaida," Yalahow said in a telephone interview. "We will never surrender our arms."
The state of the secular alliance and how many weapons it has is not clear. Many members are in hiding after weeks of fighting with the Islamic militia killed at least 330 people, many of them civilians. Its leader was believed to be in Ethiopia seeking reinforcements.
"Youse guys gotta help me now or you'll be fighting those crazies yourselves!"
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/12/2006 00:00 ||
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Mog - the gift that keeps on giving. Sorta like Ted Kennedy.
The Cuban government cut off electricity to the U.S. diplomatic mission in Havana a week ago, and U.S. requests for power to be restored have gone unanswered, the State Department said Monday.
The facility has been operating with generator power.
Work at the mission continues, including interviews of refugees and outreach programs for the Cuban people, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said. "I would just say that the bullying tactics of the Castro regime aren't going to work," he added.
He said Cuban authorities also reduce the availability of water to the mission from time to time. McCormack said he suspects that the decision to cut the power was in response to efforts by the mission to provide information to the Cuban people.
"That, of course, is not something that the Castro regime takes kindly to," he said.
In January, President Fidel Castro complained about use of the U.S. mission to carry human rights messages to passersby on outdoor electronic signs.
Castro called the signs provocations.
So's cutting the power. Perhaps ALL of Cuba needs to be dark for a couple weeks?
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/12/2006 18:58 ||
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Castro is a man who will be greatly improved by death.
#3
The alleged "Revolution de Cuba" ends wid Fidel's passing, and whomever takes over, iff anyone does, will have to start from scratch along wid the rest of the Cuban people. Progress = Non-Progress/Regressionism - the real Cuban tragedy, as wid Kim and NORTH KOREA.
pay attention to ME!!!! and no, I am NOT nervous after that Zarqawi guy got hit. Absolutely.
SEOUL - North Koreas Air Force Command on Sunday ranted and raved threatened to punish the United States for its spy flights over the communist state, recalling the fate of a US Navy plane it shot down 37 years ago.
In a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency, the air force said that a US RC-135 reconnaissance plane had made flights over its territorial waters on June 6, 8 and 10. Describing the alleged US espionage flights as openly crying out for a preemptive attack on the communist state, the command warned of a possible repeat of 1969, when it shot down another US Navy plane, killing all 31 crew. The (North Korean) Air Force seriously warns the US imperialists that it will sternly punish the aggressors if their planes continue illegally intruding into the sky ... on espionage missions, it said. They had better not forget the miserable end EC-121 met in the 1960s.
North Korean fighters shot the reconnaissance plane down off the countrys east coast in the Sea of Japan in April 1969. Another US-North Korean incident occurred when North Korea fired missiles at an SR-71 spy plane in August 1981. The Blackbird jet was undamaged.
We're remembering, I hope, with plans to settle your hash once and for all.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/12/2006 00:00 ||
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yikes! you broke the page width!
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/12/2006 9:30 Comments ||
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fixed, thanks Mods
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/12/2006 9:43 Comments ||
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#3
Unlike the EC-121, the RC-135a fly higher, faster, and usually farther out than the EC-121 did. They have EXCELLENT radar, and would detect any aircraft being launched against them. I don't know for sure, but I suspect there are a pair of F-16s sitting on a runway, just waiting to be scrambled at the first call.
The US also flies TR-1/U-2 missions along the DMZ regularly. The bird flies well within South Korean airspace, and is followed by the Patriot batteries from well before it enters Korean airspace until well after it leaves. The Patriot can distinguish between a U-2 and anything the Norks have.
I retired before Global Hawk and the other drone recce birds entered the service, but I'm sure they're being used to keep track of North Korea. Satellites keep track of other areas not visible from the border. NOTHING happens in North Korea that we don't keep track of, which is why I am extremely angry at the CIA for their failure to keep track of Kimmie's nuke program. It was a failure of will, not a failure of equipment or personnel.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
06/12/2006 12:50 Comments ||
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MADRID, Spain (AP) - Tens of thousands of Spaniards marched Saturday in Madrid to demand the government not hold talks with Basque separatists. Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said last month he will seek to open peace talks with ETA after the armed Basque group announced a permanent cease-fire in March. The group is blamed for more than 800 killings since 1968, although its last fatal attack was in 2003 in the violent campaign for a separate Basque homeland.
Zapatero is hoping for now to build on the cease-fire by promoting dialogue between rival political groups within the northern Basque region. The government is not yet holding formal surrender negotiations with ETA.
The demonstrators, including hundreds of survivors of terrorist attacks and relatives of victims, marched under banners that read: "Negotiation, not in my name" and "We want to know the truth." The rally began with a tour of city landmarks scarred by past terrorist attacks as well as the locations where Islamic militants detonated 10 bombs that ripped through four commuter trains in 2004, killing 191 people and injuring more than 1,500.
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Posted by: Steve White ||
06/12/2006 00:00 ||
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It was not tens of thousands but over a million. There is quite simple gauge for a demonstration in Madrid: the capacity of the Santiago Bernbeu stadium (100,00 seats). Governmnt pretended it was only 250,00 demonstrators (last time it told it was under 100,000) and that doesn't hold water (see above).
Now the Tass agency had let it into a ùmere tens of thousands.
And it was not only about ETA: there were lots of placards telling "We want to know" since the more it is known about the MAdrid bombings the more itr looks like there was something shady in it: for instance from 40 suspects, thirty four were police confidents. How can it be that tghe police didn't learn what it was happenning? Or could it be that the police (did I mention that the police people who controlled the confidents are socialists?) decided to not prevent it? A thing who could explain the speed and coordination of the socialist propaganda machine in exploiting the events.
DAYTON, Ohio - Thousands of pounds of armor added to military Humvees, intended to protect U.S. troops, have made the vehicles more likely to roll over, killing and injuring soldiers in Iraq, a newspaper reported.
"I believe the up-armoring has caused more deaths than it has saved," said Scott Badenoch, a former Delphi Corp. vehicle dynamics expert told the Dayton Daily News for Sunday editions.
Since the start of the war, Congress and the Army have spent tens of millions of dollars on armor for the Humvee fleet in Iraq, the newspaper reported Sunday.
That armor much of it installed on the M1114 Humvee built at the Armor Holdings Inc. plant north of Cincinnati has shielded soldiers from harm.
But serious accidents involving the M1114 have increased as the war has progressed, and the accidents were much more likely to be rollovers than those of other Humvee models, the newspaper reported.
An analysis of the Army's ground accident database, which includes records from March 2003 through November 2005, found that 60 of the 85 soldiers who died in Humvee accidents in Iraq or 70 percent were killed when the vehicle rolled, the newspaper reported. Of the 337 injuries, 149 occurred in rollovers.
"The whole thing is a formula for disaster," said Badenoch, who is working with the military to design a lighter-armored vehicle to replace the Humvee.
Army spokesman John Boyce Jr. told The Associated Press on Sunday that the military takes the issue seriously and continues to provide soldiers with added training on the armored Humvee.
The Army also made safety upgrades to the vehicle, including improved seat restraint belts and a fire suppression system for the crew, he said.
There are more than 25,300 armored Humvees in Iraq and Afghanistan, he said.
When Humvees do roll, the most vulnerable passenger is the gunner, the soldier who operates the weapon mounted in the vehicle's top.
Gunners were killed in at least 27 of the 93 fatal Humvee accidents since 2001, according to the newspaper's analysis.
#1
Well press was right this time. The army solution is and was a stupid one. Face it: THE US ARMY PROCUREMENT WEAPONS SYSTEM IS BROKEN. By stupidity, overules and office paper Generals.
It's like fighting the WW2 with M3 Stuart 3 years after the war started...
M1 is still M-1 not prepared for urban fighting.
Only now they are starting to install in it a mere telephone for the crew be able to talk with outside infantry. (Marines M1 already came with)it. Humvv was never a veichle prepared for IED. There are many better comparable military veichles prepared and there is still not a program to substitute the Humvv.
#2
Thousands of pounds of armor ... have made the vehicles more likely to roll over, killing and injuring soldiers in Iraq, a newspaper reported.
They reported on not enough armor now they can report on too much - or the way it was installed. The MSM can never lose, just like the medieval inquisitors. It's NEVER their fault!
Posted by: Bobby ||
06/12/2006 12:55 Comments ||
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Italian author and veteran journalist Oriana Fallaci goes on trial Monday, charged with defaming Islam in a 2004 book. Fallaci, who lives in New York, was not expected to attend the hearing in Bergamo, northern Italy.
Muslim activist Adel Smith filed a lawsuit against Fallaci, charging that some passages in her book, "The Strength of Reason," were offensive to Islam. Smith's lawyer cited a phrase from the book that refers to Islam as "a pool ... that never purifies."
Fallaci told The Associated Press last year that "I have expressed my opinion through the written word through my books, that is all."
I just read this book (excellent!). I cannot call up the exact quote right now (I am at work) but she esseenutally compares Islam with a stagnant pool which does not clense itself and, over time, becomes a poisionous water which you wouldn't even use to water your cattle. Poisioning and killing anyone and everyone who partakes of it - in short the pool (Islam) celebrates stagnation and death. While the west is like a flowing river - continually clensing and renewing itself on its way to the the sea - representing and celerating life.
Personally I can't want until her third book in the triade The Apocalypse comes out in english.
#4
If her defense lawyer is halfway decent he can get large portions read allowd in court and get the prosecuters to try to refute them as untruths. Stay away from the "made me feel bad" stuff and stick to the truth/false and I think this case could really spread the word she's trying to spread. Even if she loses the case.
If I her I'd show up for the end of the trial. Make a big speech and add fake injury to the list of Islams crimes as they try to harrass an old Italian bird for speaking the truth.
LAHORE - The Punjab Assembly Monday offered Fateha for al-Qaeda leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and other Muslims.
On a point of order, Pakistan Peoples Party MPA Haji Muhammad Ijaz asked the House to offer Fateha for Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal MPA Rehana Jameels mother. But another MMA member Arshad Baggoo requested the House to offer Fateha for al-Zarqawi.
Speaker Afzal Sahi, without particularly referring to any of the above dead, said the House should offer Fateha for all the Muslims who had died so far.
Posted by: john ||
06/12/2006 19:10 ||
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And this is important because...
Posted by: Captain America ||
06/12/2006 21:50 Comments ||
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I hoisted a few brewskis and the after-flow was in his remembrance.
Posted by: Captain America ||
06/12/2006 21:52 Comments ||
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ISLAMABAD: City police has arrested four religious leaders on the charges of promoting sectarianism during Friday sermons. According to the police, the accused were also provoking people against the government. Police officials conducted raids at four mosques located in Rawat, Koral and Kurang town, and arrested the four prayer leaders on charges of violation of Loudspeaker Act.
Mulana Muhammad Bashir, prayer leader of Jamia Masjad Bilal of Koral village, Mulana Iftikhar Ahmed Abbasi, prayer leader of Masjid Farooq-e-Azam, Korang town, Umair Haider Qadri, prayer leader of Jamia Masjid Rawat, and Amjad Hussain, prayer leader of Masjid Fazal-e-Rabbi of Rawat, were arrested. Cases were registered against the accused under section 188 of the Criminal Procedure Code and were sent to jail on judicial remand.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/12/2006 00:25 ||
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They ain't seen nothing! For several years I lived three blocks away from Louis Farrakhan! (One could always tell if he were at home, because the FOI - "Fruit of Islam" - honor guard was at his doorstep...
#9
I'd love to see their faces when the tailgate of the big truck in front of them drops, and they're facing an M-163 Vulcan cannon, just warming up. Firing rate is 3600 rounds per minute of .50cal through six barrels. Great for close-in work.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
06/12/2006 13:15 Comments ||
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When Taliban militant Syed Azizullah died during fighting in southern Afghanistan, his body was sent to his native Pakistan where a provincial official gave a eulogy before hundreds of Pashtun tribesmen. A flag of the Islamist militia fluttered by the grave.
Pakistan strenuously denies granting sanctuary to the Taliban, yet their cause still finds succor among local Pashtuns and Islamic hardliners, fueling suspicions that jihadi leaders may be plotting their campaign of violence from southwestern Pakistan, with militants crossing the long, porous border to launch attacks. Pakistan denies that and says it does all it can to combat militancy. It has deployed 80,000 troops to fight Al Qaeda and local Taliban militants in the Waziristan tribal areas, a suspected hiding place of Osama bin Laden, and has lost hundreds of soldiers in fighting there.
But it appears far less active in tracking down Taliban in Balochistan province, where Azizullah was buried opposite southern Afghan regions where recent months surge in rebel attacks has sparked the heaviest fighting since the Talibans ouster from power in late 2001.
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Posted by: Fred ||
06/12/2006 00:18 ||
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He has appointed General Durrani as new US ambassador. That will keep him safe for a little while.
It was General Durrani who called up the dictator General Zia Ul Haq several times, insisting that he attend the M1 Abrams demo trials. He convinced Zia to go. Of course, Zia did not return, his plane experiencing controlled flight into terrain.
Posted by: john ||
06/12/2006 14:50 Comments ||
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it was a premature landing, John :-)
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/12/2006 15:38 Comments ||
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Actually, it was a mid-air explosion:
http://www.storyofpakistan.com/articletext.asp?artid=A112
You know how those C-130s are prone to that. Happens every day.
#5
There was a massacre of hundreds of Shias of Gilgit in the Northern Areas (NA) of Pakistan (before 1947 called the Northern Areas of Jammu & Kashmir) in 1988 following a demand raised by them for the creation of an autonomous Shia state to be called the Karakoram State, consisting of the Shia majority areas of the NA, Punjab and the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP). Gen. Zia-ul-Haq, then in power, had the massacre carried out through Osama bin Laden, then living in Peshawar, and his Sunni tribal hordes.
In May,1988, the Shias, who are in a majority in Gilgit, rose in revolt against the Sunni-dominated
administration. Zia put an SSG group commanded by Gen. Musharraf in charge of suppressing the revolt.
Gen. Musharraf transported a large number of Wahabi Pakhtoon tribesmen from the NWFP and Afghanistan, commanded by bin Laden, to Gilgit to teach the Shias a lesson. These tribesmen under bin Laden massacred hundreds of Shias.
To avenge this, a Shia airman was believed to have caused an explosion on board the aircraft in which Zia was travelling from Bahawalpur to Islamabad in August 1988. This was followed in 1991 by the assassination of Lt.Gen.Fazle Haq, then in retirement, at Peshawar by a Shia gunman.
Posted by: john ||
06/12/2006 16:34 Comments ||
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#6
How much better off the world would have been had the Shia gotten Osama bin Laden as well. On the other hand, we might then still not be aware we are at war...
#7
Apparently some shias were quite interested in the reports that Osama had entered Pakistani Kashmir. They have not forgotten or forgiven the pogrom. They will Perv or Osama if they get the chance.
Posted by: john ||
06/12/2006 22:11 Comments ||
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Iraq's intelligence chief warned in remarks published on Sunday against merging militias with government security forces, saying it would give them an official cover to carry out their activities.
Major General Mohammed al-Shahwani contradicted the position of new Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who has vowed to merge powerful militias, which have close ties to ruling political parties, with security forces to get weapons off the streets. "I have reservations about merging militias into security forces because this is not the solution. The solution is to rehabilitate militia members for civil service jobs," he said in an interview with Azzaman newspaper. "Merging the militias means giving their activities an official cover at a time that the government and parliament and political powers are working on making government forces the only groups taking over security activities."
Militias are expected to be one of the most explosive issues for Shia Islamist Maliki as he attempts to improve security forces and keep sectarianism out of their ranks.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/12/2006 00:32 ||
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The traditional way is to merge the militias, then ship them off to another part of the country for extended training. Then you split them up and integrate them into other units.
The best part is that being under military discipline, any that cut up rough are sent to prison.
BAE Systems has received a $180 million Foreign Military Sales delivery order from from the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command to manufacture 378 Iraqi Light Armored Vehicles (ILAV). Work on the contract will begin immediately with deliveries scheduled to continue through May 2007. The total value of the indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract could reach $445.4 million and 1,050 vehicles if all options are exercised, and deliveries could continue until the end of November 2009.
This is a V-hulled, well-protected medium-sized APC that provides good protection. It seems to be just right for the Iraqis and sure beats driving a bunch of guys in the back of a pickup truck.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/12/2006 00:00 ||
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BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - U.S. and Iraqi authorities released more than 200 prisoners Sunday in an ongoing bid to promote national unity, but that effort faltered as Sunni Arabs demanded more releases and the Shiite-controlled parliament locked in stalemate.
Sunni Arab Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi congratulated dozens of inmates waiting at the Abu Ghraib detention center west of Baghdad to board buses carrying them to freedom. He urged the Shiite-led government to free more prisoners and demanded compensation for the former detainees.
"We will continue the release of detainees until the last Iraqi prisoner is set free," al-Hashimi said, addressing the inmates lined up behind a wire fence, many holding Qurans and prayer rugs. "And this campaign won't stop at U.S. prisons but (will continue) to the prisons run by the interior and defense ministries."
The 230 detainees being released Sunday from U.S.-run prisons around the country were among 2,500 detainees that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had promised to release by June 30. The first batch of 594 was freed Wednesday.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/12/2006 00:00 ||
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AMMAN (Reuters) - Jordan detained four mainstream Islamist deputies for allegedly voicing sympathy for the slain al Qaeda leader in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, officials said on Sunday.
The four deputies were questioned by the prosecutor general and detained over statements they gave in support of Jordanian militant Zarqawi, killed on Wednesday in a joint U.S.-Iraqi operation helped by tip-offs from Jordanian intelligence. "They were held for professional questioning by the prosecutor general and detained," government spokesperson Nasser Joudeh told Reuters without elaborating.
One of the deputies, Mohammed Abu Faris, had attended prayers for Zarqawi's soul during Friday prayers in the militant's birthplace in the industrial city of Zarqa, 25 km (16 miles) northeast of Amman, and called him a "martyr", witnesses said. The three other deputies in custody had visited his family in Zarqa and offered their condolences.
"These deputies should have parliamentary immunity and this shows how much the authorities have regard for democracy," Zaki Bani Rusheid, the head of the Islamic Action Front (IAF), the largest political bloc in the 110-member parliament whom the four deputies are members.
#1
"These deputies should have parliamentary immunity and this shows how much the authorities have regard for democracy," Zaki Bani Rusheid, the head of the Islamic Action Front (IAF)
"Why, they have almost as much contempt for the institution of democracy as WE do!"
Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniya could become a target of the Israeli military if he approves attacks by Palestinian militants, a leading member of Israel's governing Kadima party said on Sunday. "If Israel discovers that any Hamas official has given the green light to attacks, then there will be no one who enjoys immunity," Tzahi Hanegbi told Israeli radio when asked if Haniya could be a possible target. Hanegbi, chairman of parliament's foreign affairs and defence committee, said that a "confrontation with Hamas had become unavoidable" following the governing Islamist movement's decision to resume rocket attacks.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/12/2006 00:32 ||
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The Reckoning Cometh. You know they won't be able to resist. They know nothing else.
#2
Why has Israel been screwing around with these tools for so long? Only a few countries would be pissed off, and not for very long, if they whacked these dudes.
#3
"confrontation with Hamas had become unavoidable"
Patience my little pretty. The pre-rolled bed sheet has been delivered to their cell. Their We didnt lose cause we didnt try excuse regarding the upcoming referendum is a good indication that they have already chosen a stout beam.
In a growing struggle for power in the Palestinian territories, Hamas said yesterday that it would boycott a referendum called by the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, over recognition of Israel and a two-state solution.
First they were going to block it, now they're going to boycott it. Ya think they know they have a losing hand?
Hamas described the referendum as a coup against its government and said it would boycott it, raising the prospect of a violent confrontation.
Prospect? It could get worse? Better send out for more popcorn.
Hamas busy beating those plowshares right back into swords, I see. But technically, the referendum in question is NOT about Paleo recognition of Israel. That's the Big Media and lefty spin. This referendum is on recognition of the PLO and its Fatah political beard as the sole authority over the Nation of Paleostine and all the diaspora, with first pick of all the infidel jizya, international television time, and dachas in Damascus. Meshaal's panties are quite fimly wadded right now, because Hamas has taken every opportunity to miss every opprtunity since the elections, and if political polling can be done in Paleoland, I bet Hamas' numbers are in the dumper.
Aides to Mr Abbas said the result would dictate the fate of the Hamas administration. They said a less than overwhelming yes vote, particularly combined with a low turnout, would cause the president to call an early election. A large majority in favour of the prisoners' document would result in Mr Abbas demanding that Hamas accept the outcome and modify its policies accordingly. If it does not, the president has the power to dissolve the government and replace it with one from his own Fatah party and call new elections several months from now. But the aides concede that if Mr Abbas loses the vote he will probably have to resign.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/12/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
I wonder if its a good way out for HAMAS. The polls show that referendum will go though. Okay if goes though well they did not support it, so it does not apply to them. So they can still make trouble.
#3
Not the referendum itself, Odysseus, but MEMRI has the document on which it is based, the thingy smuggled out from the Israeli prison not long ago. And an interesting speech by Abu Abbas himself,if you're interested in the words coming from his mouth.
#1
If the other faiths don't support them you can bet the leaders get killed. Indoniesia has a long history of ultra-violence against Christians, Budhhists, Hindu and animist. (did I miss any?)
One can hope some spec ops from oz get him a few months down the road..... traffic accident?
#2
This scumbag maggot needs to be deaded yesterday. His continued abuse of oxygen deprives far more deserving creatures, like lice, fleas, scabies, cockroaches, slime molds ...
WASHINGTON - Despite claims that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has regained the diplomatic initiative from Iran with a conditional offer to join multilateral talks with Tehran, the real story behind the policy shift is that the US administration has suffered a decisive defeat of its effort to get international sanctions for possible military action against Iran.
US officials and French and British diplomats have sought to obscure the failure to get the agreement of Russia and China to a hardline United Nations Security Council resolution making Iranian compliance mandatory if it refused to suspend its uranium-enrichment activities.
Nevertheless, details of the proposal finally given to Iran and Russia's subsequent statement both confirm that the US administration has had to accept a package without the threat of Security Council action it had counted on.
#2
Russia and China were both expecting the US to try the same trick we used to invade Iraq, resolution 1441. We really skunked them with that one. And we knew they weren't going to let us do it a second time, so this effort was just pro forma.
This means that we will use some other means to get the ball rolling. Traditionally, we have waited for the other side to attack first; but this is no longer viable as the weapons are too destructive.
So we cajole Iran into attacking us first, in an ineffectual manner; and we actively put increasing unconventional pressure on them until their society starts to crack. Either way, we neuter them, and it doesn't matter what Russia and China think.
#3
I can't see where we are getting any benefit from being in the U.N. at all. If they can't even agree that Iran shouldn't have nuclear weapons then they truly are useless.
They are going to try to screw us any way they can.
Oh, but keep those checks comming though.
#4
The UN is what you make of it and so far the US has failed to use the UN effectively.
When China/France/Russia gets uppity we should start loudly supporting India and Japan as Permenant Members of the Security Council and force China to veto them and look the villian.
More members dillutes the power of the Security Council (and could increase their dues and save us money) so this is a win/win.
Other nations should be held accountable for their anti-American votes. You vote against us over and over again don't expect an Aid check. That would save the us a fortune in foreign aide money or drastically switch votes towards our positions.
We should also hold UN employees to a higher standard. Corruption should result in legal prosecution and perhaps the corrupt persons nation losing the ability to vote in the General Assembly (or Security Council) for so many years.
#5
Ten years ago you may have had an argument, rj. Today not. The corruption is so ingrained in the culture that the only way to root it out is with institutional agent orange.
The UN was set up by New Deal fellow travellers with guidance from their communist opinion setters. It was intended to evolve to be a world government where all the nations of the world would band together to oppose the bad guys. But we now know who the bad guys were. And the UN did nothing in the 50 year cold war to defeat them.
The UN is now nothing more than a venue in the war for public opinion. Even the UN agrees its building is decrepit. We need a new, low cost set.
#6
the US administration has suffered a decisive defeat of its effort to get international sanctions for possible military action against Iran.
Bzzzzt Wrong! The fact that Russia and China didnt advocate UNSC sanctions at this stage was not only plausible but expected. Besides, had the proposal contained that language it would have been DOA once it reached the Mullas. However, now the gauntlet has been set should Iran refuse this offer outright.
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#11
In the end we will act alone, or Isreal will. Now is the time to talk and foment insurrection. The Prez was qouted as saying a nuclar Iran is not an option. The day before they try and field a weapon will the their last.
#12
Nimble Spemble, I disagree. Anytime you control such a large percentage of the financing of a thing, you control the thing.
The problem is the US has not controlled the thing. We should insist on prosecutions for everyone involved in Oil-for-food or the UN doesn't get a dime. We should insist on total transparency or the UN doesn't get a dime. At some point they will reform or wither or other nations may have to step up their own funding to keep it alive.
The UN can be a very useful tool in fixing the worlds problems but we have to stop being saps about it.
#13
Another tactic is to simply veto everything done by a specific country who pisses us off. Even if we are indifferent to whatever is being voted on if the French (for example) want it we veto it. Make them kiss our butts if they want something to happen.
The result is further dissolution of UN power or a gradual change in the knee-jerk anti-Americanism because cause and effect are now alive and well in the General Assembly.
#14
I'd go a step further and just start vetoing everything. Even US proposals. Also start propose idiotic things like "No cattle traffic on the southern bound roads except on second Tuesdays" and then veto it.
Posted by: Laurence of the Rats ||
06/12/2006 16:53 Comments ||
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#15
rj, haven't you ever seen projects so far gone that the best way to cdomplete them was to scrap everything and start over with a new team? That's the UN.
#16
I have seen projects that far gone, the league of nations for example. I'm not convinced the UN is hopeless, not yet. I think we've simply failed to manage the UN. We've allowed nations to flip us the bird in the UN with no repercussions elsewhere when we should take the entire picture as one.
I think people would reform quickly if they found that there were consequences to their actions. So far there have been none.
I'd start the reforming of the UN with the public flogging (Hanging would be better still) of any UN folks associated with the Oil for Food theft.
#17
This is wasted bandwidth. Read the rules of the UN charter.
Those bits not reserved to the UNSC, a very short list, are General Assembly votes. Ever hear of the Group of 77 (which has swelled to 123, at last count)? How about the laughable NAM? They can and do subvert the UN to their collective agenda - which bears no resemblance to the original intent of the UN. Since they are far more than the majority of the 191 members, they control the UN. It is fatally flawed.
You can't fix it because they won't let you - they have the votes and the charter rules on their side.
#21
I've been in and out over the last 18 months, finally decided to pick a name and play recently. Everybody's heard of Aris, LOL. Mikey is Mike S? Gentle and Name-aDay are new to me.
Anyway. The UN is beyond repair - and that's not MO, that's the fact. Seemed to me it was getting silly, lots of talk about changing this or fixing that - when it simply cannot be done without changing the "leaders" in about 90 countries, but I guess I was presumptuous for saying so. My Bad.
#24
careful invoking MS and the UN in the same comment. You'll call he-who-should-not-be-named back to torment us!
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/12/2006 19:17 Comments ||
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#25
The UN is like a car with a bent frame. You can sink tons of effort and money into fixing it, but when you drive it around.......it is still a car with a bent frame. Always will be.
The problems with the UN are institutional. How can you raise consciousness with the majority of voting members dictatorships and/or kleptocracy. There is no accountability. There is a resistance to accountability that emanates right from the top. Better that representative republics make ad hoc agreements and work together for the common good without building another bureaucratic monster. The UN should be treated like our military treated the military bases on Rabaul and Truk Island during WW2: bypass them, leave them to wither on the vine, and keep pushing toward our main objective.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
06/12/2006 20:49 Comments ||
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#26
"leave them to wither on the vine"
I hope that means without our money and substantial material support, which is a mainstay that prevents them from imploding as the joke they have become...
The Great Tsunami should have been more than sufficient to demonstrate how feckless and pathetic they are, but with the MSM, that message was largely buried.
I believe the only "weapon" they have is to attempt to "shame" us into underwriting their continued existence. Personally, I feel there's absolutely no shame in dropping them like a bad habit.
If we pulled out, so would others who they've been holding hostage in this manner. I say we should do it - but I don't know if I'd try to start a better designed organization. At least not until the UN has collapsed and some perspective is built up to make it clear that a bad organization, run by the despots and kleptos, is worse than no organization at all. I presume the MSM would go crazy for some period of time, trying to resurrect this corpse. Perhaps the row would also accelerate the demise of the Tranzi MSM.
#27
flyover, Gentle wasa dear, sweet college girl from the UAE, or perhaps one of of the other Gulf countries. She had well-taught English, but was very clear on the Muslim party line and abominably ignorant about the realites of even her corner of the world. .com, who'd spent a lot of time in Saudi Arabia, was particularly unappreciative. Name-a-day was an obnoxious idiot (I don't remember which particular species of troll, I don't have a mind for such things these days, I'm afraid), posting out of either British Columbia or Washington, DC who, after losing every point of his argument, would come back with similar nonsense the next day under a different name. I think he used to change computers to get around Fred banning his IPs, too. At one point he called himself Cassini or Canolli, or something, I think. You dind't miss much by not knowing him.
#28
More foolishness. The line-up has been set for months, with little to no expectation that Russia or the ChiComs will change from their position(s).
The ChiComs are being amazingly consistent by placing its own economic self interests ahead of anything else (as is the Ruskies). So, why go through the exercise at all?
Because the diplomatic end game calls for a coaltion of the willing, and for optimal support from American citizens.
The seemingly inevitable advance to military action is best made without any rationale arguments that diplomacy had not been exhausted.
Posted by: Captain America ||
06/12/2006 22:13 Comments ||
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#29
A couple of bloggers at STRATEGYPAGE and WORLD MILITARY FORUM believe part of America's problems wid CHAVEZ and other regional Lefties is that Chavez & Co. truly intend to build a pipeline andor transhipment network separate, but in competition with, from the Panama Canal, one where CHINESE TANKERS/FREIGHTERS can load = offload without worrying about the US-West. Bloggers > opine that said pipeline-network will likely be protected by Chicom armed "workers" + security + mil units, plus of course the local boyz.
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran said Sunday that it accepted some parts of a Western offer aimed at getting Tehran to drop its nuclear program, but it rejected others while calling the central point ambiguous.
It's perfectly clear, you just don't like it.
Iran said the key issue of uranium enrichment needed clarification. Although the government did not give specifics, the comments were the first time Iran has said directly that it rejects or accepts parts of the package.
Top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said Iran would reject the package outright if Western powers threatened the Islamic republic with sanctions in the nuclear standoff. The package, presented by permanent Security Council members the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain, plus Germany, contains a series of incentives for Iran to suspend uranium enrichment, which would allow negotiations over its nuclear ambitions. The incentives include promises that the United States and Europe will provide Iran nuclear technology and that Washington will join direct talks with Tehran.
Iran has not responded to the offer, and it underlined Sunday that it would not be rushed. Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi insisted Iran was not stalling over the package and would take "as long as is necessary" to study it.
Just don't test Dubya's patience ...
He told a press conference the package includes "points which are acceptable. There are points which are ambiguous. There are points that should be strengthened, and points that we believe should not exist."
Larijani said the offer of nuclear technology was a "positive point" but that "there are also points that are unclear, such as the uranium enrichment program." "This has not been made clear yet to Iran, so these are things where the finishing touches must be made," he told reporters in Cairo, Egypt, after talks with President Hosni Mubarak and Arab League chief Amr Moussa.
He said the package, as presented to Iran, did not contain any threats of penalties. The package drops demands for an all-out scrapping of enrichment, instead asking Iran to suspend such activity during the duration of any negotiations.
In two position papers shown to the AP, the United States and Europe were lobbying hard for support of the package from members of the 35-nation board of the International Atomic Energy Agency before a Monday meeting of the body. "We are ... encouraging all board members to make firm statements to call on Iran" to negotiate on the six-power offer, the U.S. position paper said.
If Tehran declines, the text warned that the five permanent Security Council members plus Germany "have agreed to pursue measures, including at the U.N. Security Council, (to) pressure the Iranian regime to change course." The other text, issued by Britain, France and Germany, also warned that if Iran remains defiant, "the Security Council will have no choice but to increase the pressure on Iran."
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/12/2006 00:00 ||
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#3
It's curious, I think. Everyone knows this is a farce, just as it was obvious 2 yrs ago the EU3 "negotiations" were a farce. The UNSC bit will be a farce. Any and all sanctions will be a farce. In fact, almost all activities (I presume there must be an exception out there somewhere) that carry the label "diplomatic" are farcical.
Apply the technologies available, shed this ancient and pathetic approach to international relations. I know there is occasionally value in slowing things down, letting the "sides" simmer a bit, but this is absurd in the extreme. And everyone on the planet knows it.
With regard to Iran, it's clearly time to cut to the chase.
#4
The whole purpose for this offer is to stop Iran from further enrichment, yet Iran accelerates enrichment and states that they will not be rushed. We know what they are up to, therefore, Bush has no alternative but to squash them.
#6
Iran is trying to maintain control of the dialogue.
Like a really bad car salesman.
Nothing more.
It's an arab thing, swinging your d*ck around even as the bombs are whistling in on you.
#8
Not curious at all. The world trusts that we will handle it, garnering hatred from those who are stymied, while they earn good will by having opposed us. It doesn't work that way with such people, of course, but they refuse to see the reality that conflicts from their "men of the world" self image.
#9
Iran accepts in part what Dubya will not accept in the whole, Iran does what Dubya will not tolerate, ....... etc. UNLESS SOMEONE BLINKS, NO DEAL/COMPROMISE IS LIKELY - buy that popcorn, Galz and Gentz.
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KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Sunday his government will give weapons to local tribesmen so they can help fight the biggest surge in Taliban violence in years. Speaking to a group of tribal elders from eastern Afghanistan, Karzai said he did not want to form militias that could clash with rival tribes. "We just want to strengthen the districts to safeguard them from terrorist attack," he said.
The Somali parliament is meeting in Baidoa to discuss how the ongoing fighting in the country can be brought to an end. The government has asked parliament to approve a request to bring African Union troops into the country, to help halt the violence and disarm factions, Aljazeera's correspondent in Somalia reported on Sunday.
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) - One of the secular warlords who lost control of Somalia's capital to an Islamic militia vowed Sunday that the battle for Mogadishu was not over - an ominous warning for a city devastated by years of bloodshed and anarchy.
SEOUL - North Koreas Air Force Command on Sunday 
ISLAMABAD: City police has arrested four religious leaders on the charges of promoting sectarianism during Friday sermons. According to the police, the accused were also provoking people against the government. Police officials conducted raids at four mosques located in Rawat, Koral and Kurang town, and arrested the four prayer leaders on charges of violation of Loudspeaker Act.
When Taliban militant Syed Azizullah died during fighting in southern Afghanistan, his body was sent to his native Pakistan where a provincial official gave a eulogy before hundreds of Pashtun tribesmen. A flag of the Islamist militia fluttered by the grave. 
AMMAN (Reuters) - Jordan detained four mainstream Islamist deputies for allegedly voicing sympathy for the slain al Qaeda leader in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, officials said on Sunday.
Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniya could become a target of the Israeli military if he approves attacks by Palestinian militants, a leading member of Israel's governing Kadima party said on Sunday. "If Israel discovers that any Hamas official has given the green light to attacks, then there will be no one who enjoys immunity," Tzahi Hanegbi told Israeli radio when asked if Haniya could be a possible target. Hanegbi, chairman of parliament's foreign affairs and defence committee, said that a "confrontation with Hamas had become unavoidable" following the governing Islamist movement's decision to resume rocket attacks.
In a growing struggle for power in the Palestinian territories, Hamas said yesterday that it would boycott a referendum called by the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, over recognition of Israel and a two-state solution. 
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran said Sunday that it accepted some parts of a Western offer aimed at getting Tehran to drop its nuclear program, but it rejected others while calling the central point ambiguous.
