Afghan and United States-led foreign forces have killed 27 Taleban fighters in the latest clashes in the worst violence Afghanistan has seen since the Taleban were ousted in 2001.
Rahmatullah Raufi, a government army commander in the Afghan south, said a brother-in-law of fugitive Taleban chief Mullah Mohammad Omar was most probably among those killed in the fighting on Sunday night in the countrys south. Most probably, Amanullah, the brother-in-law of Mullah Omar, who was also keeping his finances, was also killed, Raufi said yesterday.
He said 15 Taleban fighters were killed in the clashes in Deh Rawood district in the southern province of Uruzgan, while 12 militants were killed in an airstrike by US-led forces in Panjwai district of southern Kandahar province. A spokesman for US-led forces said they were checking the reports.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
06/13/2006 00:20 ||
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#1
GR8 news. Now, if only they could find that one-eyed SOB.
Posted by: Dr Richard Kimble ||
06/13/2006 3:38 Comments ||
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#3
Most probably, Amanullah, the brother-in-law of Mullah Omar, who was also keeping his finances, was also killed,
If nobody else had countersigning authority for the checkbook, the Taliban are going to be in a bit of a pickle, payroll-wise. And may we hope that Mr. Amanullah had his records, computer and cell phone with him when he died? To be followed by a few more mysterious deaths while camping out in the Saudi desert?
Pakistan said on Monday that it was still unclear if the four men killed in southern Afghanistan on Sunday were Pakistanis. In a weekly press briefing, Foreign Office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said that the Indian construction company for which the men had worked had said that it generally did not employ Pakistanis. The Afghan government had also said in a communication that the men were Afghans, she said. The four men were robbed and killed by unidentified gunmen in Maiwand district of the Kandahar province, according to a spokesman for the provincial government.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/13/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
Illegal aliens
Posted by: Captain America ||
06/13/2006 22:43 Comments ||
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KABUL (AIP): Taliban claimed Sunday to have killed four NATO soldiers in Baghlan province last night. Taliban Spokesman Dr Muhammad Hanif phoned Afghan Islamic Press and said, Taliban attacked a vehicle of NATO troops in Doshi district of Baghlan province and killed four NATO soldiers. Neither NATO officials nor any other source confirmed the incident.
"Hello, Fritz? This is headquarters. Hey, are you dead?"
"Ummm... We'll have to check. We'll get bäck to you..."
Posted by: Fred ||
06/13/2006 00:00 ||
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PESHAWAR (AIP): Taliban on Monday claimed killing three US troops in a landmine blast last night in Wardak province but the coalition officials in Kabul rejected Taliban claim as false.
"We're dead? Nobody told us!"
Spokesman of Taliban fighters, Dr. Muhammad Hanif, phoned Afghan Islamic Press and said, Our fighters blew up a US military vehicle with a remote controlled landmine in Maidan Shehar last night. He added that three US troops were killed in the explosion and the vehicle was destroyed completely. When Afghan Islamic Press contacted spokeswoman of coalition forces, Tamara Lawrence, she said, The Taliban are making false and exaggerated claims of success. There is no information to support their claim.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/13/2006 00:00 ||
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PESHAWAR (AIP): Taliban on Monday claimed carrying out an explosion in a police post in Paktia province last night, killing two policemen deputed in the post. However, police rejected Taliban claim.
"We ain't dead, so piss off!"
Spokesman of Taliban fighters, Dr. Muhammad Hanif, phoned Afghan Islamic Press and said, Two policemen were killed in landmine planted by Taliban in a police post between Garda Serai and Waza Zadran on Khost-Gardez highway. When Afghan Islamic Press contacted police chief of Paktia, Abdul Hanan Raufi, he rejected Taliban claim of killing two policemen and said no policeman was present in the post at the time of the explosion as police had left the post for their home.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/13/2006 00:00 ||
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"Strike Three! You're outta there!"
"No we're not! You're dead! You're all dead! We win!"
KANDAHAR (AIP): Fifteen Taliban fighters were killed and six others captured in operations conducted in Uruzgan province on Monday, Afghan military said. Coalition forces and Afghan National Army conducted a series of operations were in Syachoi area of Herado district in Uruzgan province today in which 15 Taliban were killed and six arrested, said General Rahmatullah Raufi, commander of 205 corps of Afghan Army in Uruzgan. These Taliban had been besieged in the area yesterday and the operations were completed today (Monday), he added. A Taliban commander, Amanullah was also among the killed people. Amanullah was also a local incharge of Taliban financial matters and it is believed that he was the brother-in-law of Taliban supreme leader Mulla Blinky Muhammad Omar.
It's like a giant game of Whack-A-Mole. Who gets the stuffed animal prize?
Posted by: Fred ||
06/13/2006 00:00 ||
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Did Taliban spokesmullah Hanif claim these too?
Posted by: ed ||
06/13/2006 0:10 Comments ||
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Tension gripped the Somali town of Jowhar yesterday amid fears that Islamic militia planned to attack the last stronghold of the US-backed warlord alliance and shatter a week-long lull in deadly factional clashes. As hundreds of Islamic fighters headed north from their camp in Hiilweyne, 23km outside Mogadishu, the capital, gunmen loyal to the warlords entrenched positions in Jowhar, about 90km away, residents and militia commanders said.
The warlords' militia commander, Jendayi Dheere, said his forces were ready to defend the town from Islamic raids. "I will not order any attack, but if we are attacked, we are fully prepared to defend ourselves," he said. An elder said: "The situation here is very tense. Nobody knows what will happen."
Despite losing control of Mogadishu, the warlords have rejected the authority of the Islamic courts and threatened to resist any bid to dislodge them. Hardline elders have called for the warlords to surrender peacefully, vowing to evict them from their hideout. "If the warlords refuse to surrender, that would lead to renewed fighting. Even the most foolish person understands that," said Hassan Jumale, an elder allied to the Islamic courts.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
06/13/2006 01:09 ||
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Wonder if this Jendayi is a long lost member of the farm and garden equipment empire? After all, he does favor green as a color for flags, and the name has just a slight modification for local sensitivities.
#5
There is a big difference between fighting in an urban area like Mogadishu, and making a conventional attack against a dug-in enemy in open terrain.
#6
Yes, the idea of the Islamists and their "battle-wagons" coming up againts prepared fields of fire from dug-in heavy machine guns and prelaid mortars does my heart good. Assuming that the warlords have been smart enough to hire some mercs to run their mortar teams, airbursts by 61/82/104mm mortars with interlocking machine gun fire will put to rest lots of the khat chewers.
#7
"There is a big difference between fighting in an urban area like Mogadishu, and making a conventional attack against a dug-in enemy in open terrain."
True. I suspect the Islamists' Soudanese and other Asian-trained supplements will take that in consideration.
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: Dan Darling ||
06/13/2006 01:45 ||
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I thought Algerian jihadi snuff films were pretty common. Or was that just for their own internal morale purposes?
The Algerian army killed five gunmen and destroyed 30 hideouts in east Algeria, while undertaking contacts with two armed groups to convince them to surrender. Algeria's daily al-Khabar Monday quoted security sources as saying troops killed the gunmen and seized their arms in a major security operation conducted two days ago in which 30 of the last hideouts for the Salafist Group for Call and Combat were destroyed in the province of Boumedras, east of Algiers.
"The military operation was based on accurate information given to the army by repenting gunmen," the sources said.
The operation covered the main roads and axis used by the gunmen in their movements in the area. The sources said at least three gunmen preferred to surrender in order to benefit from general amnesty granted to repenting militants in line with President Abdel Aziz Boutefliqa's peace and national reconciliation pact.
The deadline to accept the pardon expires August 28.
The sources quoted repenting gunmen as saying that members of the Sakafi movement, one of Algeria's most feared armed groups, were suffering in remote mountainous hideouts from shortages of food and sickness. "This state prompted many to consider surrendering to the authorities and benefiting from the amnesty before it expires," the sources added.
In a related development, daily al-Fahr said Monday security authorities have been engaged in the past days in contacts through intermediaries with the remnants of two armed groups, the Zabarbar and Kadissiya, which are affiliated with the GSPC movement, to convince them to surrender. The paper said the movement's imprisoned founder, Hassan Hattab, was convinced of the benefits of national reconciliation and is encouraging holdouts to accept the terms and lay down their arms.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
06/13/2006 00:51 ||
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Riyadh, 13 June (AKI) - The twentieth hijacker of the 11 September attacks was not meant to be Zacarias Moussaoui, recently convicted for his role in the attacks on the US, but another terrorist, Turki Bin Fheid al-Muteiri, a statement from a Saudi al-Qaeda cell claims. The communique, posted to an Islamist website on Tuesday, announces the imminent release of a video showing the May 2004 attack on the Saudi oil complex at al-Khobat, in which 22 people were killed. The Saudi jihadi group said that the attack was carried out by four people including the man it says was destined to be the 20th hijacker.
"The operation at al-Khobar was carried out by four heroes of Islam, including Turki bin Fheid al-Muteiri (Fawaz al-Nashmi), who previously had been chosen by Sheikh Osama Bin Laden to be the 20th suicide bomber in the 11 September attacks. Brother Zacarias Moussaoui had not been chosen and had no links with the 11 September attacks, as the sheikh recalled in his last message," the statement said.
Moroccan-born Moussaoui, 37, received a life sentence from a US court last month, rather than the death penalty, for his role in the hijacking plot.
"But for some reasons, brother Mohammed Atta, through brother Ramzi Ben Sheba, had brought forward the date of the attack and therefore it was not in Allah's design for Turki to become a martyr along with his 19 brothers. Instead he (Allah) decided that his martyrdom would occur on the Arabic peninsula with the leader Abu Hajir, with whom he died in the attacks in the al-Malaz area of Riyadh." In a video message on 24 May, Osama bin Laden, denied that Moussaoui had been chosen as the 20th member of the terrorist cell.
Posted by: Steve ||
06/13/2006 08:23 ||
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<Outlaw killed in 'shootout' with Rab
A leader of an outlawed party was killed during a "shootout" between the members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and his accomplices in Joykhan area under Mongla upazila of Bagerhat district early yesterday.
No, we don't know where that is.
Rab arrested Mohammad Rafiqul Islam Howlader alias "Dakat" Rafiq, 35, operation commander of Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP-Janajuddho), at Sonaitola under the upazila on Sunday.
Commie Crossfire Continues
On his statement,
"Stop screaming, I can hardly understand you.."
the Rab men along with Rafiq set out for Joykhan area to arrest his cohorts and recover the hidden firearms.
"Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work we go.."
When they reached the area at about 3:20am,
Natch..
Rafiq's men opened fire on the law enforcers, forcing them to retaliate.
"Sergeant, drag Rafiq out of the truck and prop him up. I'll load the 'retaliator'"
According to a Rab form letter press release, Rafiq received bullets during the "shootout" and died on the spot,
"Ouch! rose..bud.."
while his accomplices managed to flee.
without leaving a trace..
The outlaw was wanted in a number of several criminal cases on twelve systems including five for murder recorded with Rampal and Mongla police stations, the press release added. One pipe gun and six bullets were recovered from the scene.
Rab informant shot in city
A gang of criminals shot and injured an informant for the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) at Sabujbagh in the city yesterday. The gang led by Wasim and Ripon fired on Delwar Hossein, 30, a phone shop owner and informant for Rab-10, in the head after beating him up at Manda Piar Ali lane.
"Take that, stoolie!"
He was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and then shifted to a private hospital at Dhanmondi in a critical condition.
Only the best for a good informant
Relatives of Delwar said that he provided information to the Rab-10, leading to the arrest of Hamidul Haque Uzzal, a top criminal of Sabujbagh area, on June 7. Wasim, nephew of Uzzal, made the attack on Delwar to take revenge for giving information, they said.
"He ratted out Uncle Uzzal! I must have Dire Revenge!"
Member of UPDF killed
June 12: Unidentified assailants killed a member of United Peoples Democratic Front(UPDF) at Kachuakhali village under Kaukhali Upazila on June 10 night.
The deceased was identified as Rahiddya Aung Marma (32).
Police said Ruhiddya Aung Marma, a member of anti peace accord political organization United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF) was expelled from the party for his anti-party activities two months before his murder.
So, they wacked him for being anti-anti-peace party?
On June 10 night, the assailants entered his bedroom and slaughtered Aung Marma. Police suspected that the men of the opponent party had a hand in the murder of Rahiddya Aung Marma.
"Genius, Holmes! How do you do it?"
Posted by: Steve ||
06/13/2006 13:33 ||
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Good 'un. No shutter gun, but received bullets overrides.
A serviceman of Interior Troops and a police officer died in two clashes with militants in Chechnya on Sunday, a source in Chechen law enforcement told Interfax on Monday.
There were killed and wounded on the side of the militants.
The source said that there was an exchange of fire between Yug (South) battalion and militants at about midnight on Sunday near the village of Nikikhita. One serviceman died of wounds at the scene; one more was rushed to hospital.
The other clash took place near the village of Tatai-Khutor where the patrol police had discovered a group of militants. One officer was killed in the exchange of fire, two others were hospitalized with shot wounds.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
06/13/2006 00:38 ||
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North Korea is making plans to test an intercontinental ballistic missile that could reach the United States and the launch could come soon, U.S. officials said on Monday. One official told Reuters there was some debate over whether Pyongyang would follow through on the preparations with an actual test but a second official said a launch could happen within weeks.
Japanese media have reported there have been signs of North Korea making preparations to test a multiple-stage Taepodong 2 missile since early May. It would be Pyongyang's first test of a long-range missile since it stunned the world in August 1998 by firing a Taepodong over Japan that landed in the Pacific Ocean.
Washington is discussing how it would respond to a test, and the United States and Japan have moved "assets" into position to monitor and collect data on any launch, U.S. officials said. "We do not discuss specific mission or future operation details; however as stated in March 2004, the U.S. Navy will deploy in the Sea of Japan, on a virtually continuous basis, a guided missile ship to serve as a long-range surveillance and tracking platform," a Pentagon official said.
Continued on Page 49
#1
Pyongyang would have the resources and political will ... threaten the entire United States" > NORTH KOREA > controlled by CHINA > CHINA = has already PC declared 1/2-plus of CONUS-NORAM as future Chinese territory, to include the pre-planned elimination from life of 200Milyuuuhn of Clintonian Fascist = HalfCommunist, America = Amerikkka's 300+ Milyuuhn population, I.E. NOT EVEN THE US LEFT WILL BE SPARED!?
#5
I agree with you Sock Puppet, intercept this bird in the first stage and blow it out the sky (ie, use that High Energy Airborne Laser Plane)! My guess is the Norks will either vector the tragectory toward Alaska again, or put another 'failed satellite' in orbit via Japan's air space!
#7
Aegis cruisers with upgraded radar and SM-3 missiles are already deplyed in the Sea of Japan, if need be, to intercept any long range NK missiles. Newer SM-2s can be used against short range missiles.
Posted by: ed ||
06/13/2006 8:01 Comments ||
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#8
A blogger named formerspook had some informed speculation about this move by the Norks. His concern is that they may be fueling the missile to attract US recon aircraft for an intercept or worse, perhaps like the 2001 EP-3 incident near Hainan. Apparantly they surprised an RC-135 last time they did this in 2003. Fool me once...
#11
Let them fly it, if they can. We need to know range capability, etc. This is like anuclear device, you aren't really certain what you have for yield ubtil you actually detonate one. everything is hot air until the deed is done.
#12
I suspect that the original was ahead of schedule when there was that breakthrough in solid-state lasers. I gather this means that the new airborne lasers will need far less cooling, and may be able to deliver a far more powerful shot, and more shots per flight.
This is one program we should be pumping money into with an IV.
#13
Let them fly it, if they can. We need to know range capability, etc. This is like anuclear device, you aren't really certain what you have for yield ubtil you actually detonate one.
Ummmm ... no. It makes ZERO sense to allow North Korea any knowledge of whether they can actually deliver their putative nuclear weapons in an effective manner. The longer they are uncertain of this the more leverage we have at the bargaining table. This is much akin to letting Iran successfully test a nuclear package right now. The least success by either of these vile entities only amplifies the negative regional effects they have.
#14
It's also undesireable to advertise the capabilities and/or shortcomings of our ABM unless the threat is real. One of those tradeoffs that are always a part of these sorts of things.
#15
We could try the laser on it and just not say anything if it misses (or hits, hehe).
It's not like an ABM missile that would be seen by radar.
Posted by: Laurence of the Rats ||
06/13/2006 12:53 Comments ||
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#16
How about if we just tell them now that any long-range missile that leaves North Korean territory in the direction of the U.S. (including Alaska), South Korea, Japan, or Taiwan will result in a memorable retaliatory strike on the launching area before it lands, armed or not.
#18
Yup. Because it's their totalitarian regime who are all those things. A lot of ordinary people in north Korea are just trying to hang on ... they hear an outrageous set of lies (and that's all they hear) but it doesn't make them evil.
#19
I would hit it while still on the launch pad, preferably with a laser in daylight so it either can't be seen, or could be missed.
Just another spectacular "Launch Failure" by those bumbling Norkies, who me, I didn do nuthin (Hehehe)
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
06/13/2006 21:18 Comments ||
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Duesseldorf, 13 June (AKI) - The trial of three Arab men, charged in connection with an alleged al-Qaeda plot to raise funds for militants and carry out a suicide attack was due to resume in Duesseldorf, northern Germany on Tuesday. The principal defendant is Mohamed K, believed to be a Syrian national, who German prosecutors allege was involved in the command of al-Qaeda and was in contact with the organisation's leader, Osama bin Laden.
Mohamed K is alleged to have recruited a stateless Palestinian, Yasser Abu S, and his brother, Isamel Abu S to carry out the planned suicide attack and to help raise money through dozens of false life insurance claims worth 1.3 million euros. Mohamed K provided "logistical support" for al-Qaeda, and tried but failed to obtain nuclear materials, the prosecution alleges. Yasser Abu S, 32, was allegedly a member of al-Qaeda and apparently wanted to become a suicide bomber in Iraq, while his brother Ismail, 28 was allegedly an al-Qaeda supporter.
The three suspects are accused of 10 counts of fraud and 23 counts of attempted fraud, and of using the money they obtained to support international terrorism. Mohamed K. and Yasser Abu S. allegedly attempted to raise money by taking out an 800,000 euros life insurance policy on Yasser, who intended to fake a fatal traffic accident and use the money to fund terrorism, said an indictment released in December. All three men deny all charges.
Mohamed K came to Germany as an asylum-seeker and began working there in 2002. He obtained German travel documents, enabling him to move freely around Europe before he was arrested in the German city of Mainz, near Frankfurt, in January 2005. The trial which opened last month is expected to last several months. Its presiding judge, Ottmar Breidling, has already convicted several members of the al-Qaeda linked al-Tawhid terrorist group.
Posted by: Steve ||
06/13/2006 08:32 ||
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Stuttgart, 13 June (AKI) - Three Iraqis suspected of being members of the Kurdish al-Qaeda linked Ansar al-Islam terror formation were scheduled to go on trial on Tuesday at a court in Stuttgart, southern Germany, in connection with an alleged December 2004 plot to kill Iraq's then-prime minister, Ayad Allawi - a secular Shiite - during a visit to Germany. The three suspects were names as Ata A. R. , 31, of Stuttgart, Mazen A.H., 23, of Augsburg, and Rafik M.Y., 31, of Berlin.
Ata A. R. , Mazen A.H. and Rafik M.Y. are among 18 suspected members of Ansar al-Islam and al-Qaeda' in Iraq arrested by the German authorities since December 2004.
Posted by: Steve ||
06/13/2006 08:30 ||
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Landi Kotal (Khyber Agency), 13 June (AKI/DAWN) - Authorities in the Kyber agency which lies in Pakistan's tribal belt along the border with Afghanistan, blew up a multi-storey plaza with dynamite and arrested at least 24 Zakhakhel tribesmen during an operation against activists of the group known as the Lashkar-i-Islam. The four-storey building owned by the commander of the group, Haji Mangal Bagh, came crashing down after two powerful explosives were detonated. The shopkeepers were earlier issued notices to remove their belongings from the plaza which was situated in the centre of the Bara market in Landi Kotal, a small town at the top of the Khyber Pass.
No immediate reaction has so far come from the Lashkar men. However, in a radio broadcast on his FM station, Mangal Bagh said on Sunday night that he had no enmity with the security forces but pledged to continue with his plan for the formation of a peace committee for Bara.
Bara Bazaar and its surroundings were still under siege from the Pakistani paramilitary forces for the third consecutive day. Paramilitary forces could also be seen patrolling on all the roads leading to Bara. The situation, however, remained calm as most Bara residents preferred to remain indoors.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Steve ||
06/13/2006 08:35 ||
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#4
I suspect that the Pak army has been putting the squeeze on the dozen or so major passes into Afghanistan. This really hits them where it hurts in several ways.
First, it severely hampers the smuggling trade and the free flow of money and weapons across the border. Second, it prevents trouble-making on one side of the border and fleeing across to the other side. Third, it goes hand in hand with forcing the Taliban out of the tribal areas back into Afghanistan, and closing the door behind them.
In a manner of speaking, the Pak army is acting as a more-or-less passive anvil, pushing the bad guyz into Afghanistan where they will meet the hammer.
An anti-terrorism court on Monday awarded the death sentence on six counts to Muhammad Aslam, a co-accused with Maulana Azam Tariq in a case of the murder of six people in Jhang in March 1995.
The court acquitted former provincial minister Sheikh Hakim Ali, Munir, Rana Abdul Malik and Nawaz. Tariq was assassinated in 2003 while the court has declared another co-accused, Siddique, an absconder. The court also ordered Aslam to pay Rs 600,000 to the heirs of the deceased. The prosecution said the accused killed six people while they were returning from the funeral of Shia leader Karimuddin.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/13/2006 00:00 ||
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QUETTA: Five people were killed and 17 critically injured as a bomb blast rocked Quetta on Monday morning. "Improvised explosive device" weighing 4 kilogrammes and placed under a bicycle exploded at Gul Balochistan Hotel on Sariab Road at 10:35am. The explosion completely destroyed two nearby shops and shattered the glass panes of adjacent shops. The injured were moved to the Civil Hospital. Six of the injured civilians were reported to be critical. Only one body could be identified.
Mir Shoaib Nausherwani, the Balochistan home minister, bamed BLA for the blast. He announced compensation of Rs 200,000 for the family of each deceased person and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Sardar Akhtar Mengal, the Balochistan National Party president, reacted strongly to the allegation that Baloch leaders were involved in the Quetta blast. He accused intelligence agencies of masterminding the blast in order to defame Baloch leaders.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/13/2006 00:00 ||
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NEW DELHI - Suspected Muslim militants hurled grenades at a busy bus station in India-administered Kashmir on Monday, killing one person and injuring 18, news reports said.
Militants hurled three grenades in quick succession at different parts of the main bus station in Jammu, winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir state, PTI news agency reported. The attack took place during the morning rush hours, the police said. Security forces cordoned off the entire bus stand area. The injured were shifted to the hospital and one person was in critical condition, while five others were seriously hurt, NDTV reported quoting the police.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/13/2006 00:00 ||
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SRINAGAR - Eleven people died and dozens were injured in violence across Indian Kashmir Monday, including eight labourers shot dead by suspected Islamic militants, police and army spokesmen said. The labourers from the northern state of Bihar were shot dead by suspected rebels in the southern district of Anantnag, army spokesman Hemant Junaja said. He said five others were hurt. None of the dozen groups fighting Indian rule in mainly Muslim Kashmir claimed responsibility for the attack.
In the southern city of Jammu a man was killed and 20 injured, four seriously, when suspected Islamic rebels launched a grenade attack at a bus station crowded with Hindu pilgrims. Those caught in the blast were standing near a counter opened to register devotees for the annual pilgrimage to the icy Armanath cave shrine in southern Kashmir, said Senior Superintendent of Police Mukesh Singh. He added, however, that none of the scores of devotees waiting to set out on the pilgrimage was among the casualties. The pilgrimage, which authorities expect to attract 500,000 devotees, has been marred in the past by deadly attacks by separatist groups.
Police shot and killed one person and 25 more were injured in a clash with villagers over the alleged desecration of a mosque by Indian soldiers. The killing happened in the village of Trehgam in northern Kupwara district when angry protesters attacked police who fired in self-defence, a police spokesman said. The protesters were angry at a raid by soldiers on a mosque in a neighbouring village late Friday, saying it had been desecrated. The army denied any wrongdoing. Mondays clash followed similar incidents at the weekend that left one protester dead after soldiers opened fire on Saturday.
In the northern town of Sopore a police officer was shot and killed at point-blank range by a suspected militant.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/13/2006 00:00 ||
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DUBAI (Reuters) - Al Qaeda's new leader in Iraq vowed on Tuesday to avenge the killing of his predecessor Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, saying Americans and their Iraqi allies would not be safe in their strongholds, according to a Web statement. "The day of vengeance is near and your strong towers in the Green Zone will not protect you," said the statement posted on a Web site often used by Islamist militants and signed by the new leader Abu Hamza al-Muhajir.
The authenticity of the statement could not be verified. It would be Muhajir's first public statement since being named the new leader of al Qaeda in Iraq.
"Coming battles will reveal the falseness of your power and the cowardliness of your soldiers," Muhajir said. "Do not rejoice that you killed (Zarqawi), he has left behind lions that ... trained under him. "You will see what we have in store for you because of your betrayal and apostasy. Our swords are poised above your necks," he told Iraqis who cooperate with U.S.-led forces.
Once again, bringing a knife to a gunfight
On Monday, the group named the little-known Muhajir to be Zarqawi's successor.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Steve ||
06/13/2006 14:43 ||
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#1
"Bin Laden always shows them the way, but never goes along for the ride."
GWB
Washington Post - LRR
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- President Bush, seeking to bolster support for Iraq's burgeoning goverment and U.S. war policy at home, made a surprise visit to Iraq on Tuesday to meet newly named Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and discuss the next steps in the troubled 3-year-old war.
It was a dramatic move by Bush, traveling to violence-rattled Baghdad less than a week after the death of terror chief Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in a bombing attack. The president was expected to be in Baghdad a little more than five hours. . . .
Posted by: Mike ||
06/13/2006 09:37 ||
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#1
Drudge sez they loaded the press into a bus to go see Bush at Camp David and then when the bus left announced he was in Iraq. Hahaha
Posted by: Laurence of the Rats ||
06/13/2006 9:46 Comments ||
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#2
And the DU worms are 'unhappy'
"Maybe he's there to fulfill his patriotic duty to the country; after all, he never completed his military service in the National Guard years ago. Dan Rather was right!! I hope Bush is on the losing end of an IED."
" Maybe this time he can serve plastic wienie's and hamburgers to the soldiers and have a happy picnic while little Iraqi children throw flowers and toys at the douche bag's feet. Rove not indicted, Shrub on a PR move. Makes me want to get real drunk at lunch today."
'precisely. he has to SNEAK IN like the rat that he is. Do you think that MSM will mention that? comparing Cheney's last throes bullshit?
Hell will freeze over first. This has all of the fingerprints of a rovian plan. It does explain why 70,000 troops have been mobilized. It takes that much work to safeguard a 5 hour visit."
"did you notice how they word it?
70,000 IRAQI TROOPS (and coalition forces)
Look at that asshole strut like he did something brave. And watch the Democrats run and hide from this issue. yellow bellied scared and inept. (the dem leadership in DC)"
"I wonder how many soldiers will be killed protecting the Chimpster for this newest photo-op. Maybe a few of them will turn their back for just a minute rather than sacrifice themselves for his glory. We can only hope. "
Posted by: Steve ||
06/13/2006 9:49 Comments ||
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#3
About those DU worms -- It is simply beyond my comprehension how people can feel and express such hatred. What a sick life, to be the first to get to post -- I want my President dead! Sheezzzz.
#4
And KoS kiddies are crying like babies: Bush Flees for Iraq I don't think I've ever seen such a look of misery and dejection on the face of my daughter as I just did a moment ago. She just couldn't understand why the President would be going to Iraq when so many things are wrong in this country. "Doesnt Mr. Bush care about us anymore?" she asked pitifully.
I sat down with her on the sofa and (as calmly as I could) tried to explain to her why the President seems to be abandoning his country. "Honey, I think his boss, Mr. Rove, sent Mr. Bush out of the country in order to keep himself out of the newspapers. You see, he wasnt sure if he was going to be arrested today or not, and so he planned Mr. Bushs trip ahead of time just in case...
I tried to keep my voice steady, but it became increasingly difficult - the rage and feelings of helplessness were just too much. I think my daughter could tell something was wrong. I found myself at such a loss for words - nothing made any sense; nothing makes sense anymore. I finally had to admit, "Honey, I just don't know - I don't know what's going on in this country anymore..."
When I finished her lower lip started to tremble and her eyes began to fill with tears, "Daddy" she said, "why are the Republicans doing this to the country?" Well, that was it for me: I finally fell apart. She just fell into my arms and we both began sobbing for several minutes.
For once she had to comfort me and get me back on my feet. Sometimes I just think it's too much, but seeing the strength in my young daughter's voice helped me to get through.
Posted by: Steve ||
06/13/2006 9:55 Comments ||
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#5
More from Fox
President Bush made a surprise visit to Iraq on Tuesday to meet newly named Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and discuss the next steps in the troubled, three-year-old war.
It was a dramatic move by Bush, traveling to violence-rattled Baghdad less than a week after the death of terror chief Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in a bombing attack. The president was expected to be in Baghdad a little more than five hours.
The trip was known only to a handful of aides and a small number of reporters sworn to secrecy because of obvious security threats for Bush and members of his entourage.
Landing at Baghdad airport, Bush transferred to a helicopter for a six-minute ride into the heavily fortified Green Zone. White House officials said the helicopter ride posed the greatest risk for the president.
Bush was greeted by another day of violence in Iraq dozens of people were killed or wounded Tuesday in explosions in the northern oil city of Kirkuk, and eight bodies were found in western Baghdad. Al-Maliki pledged "no mercy" in a crackdown against insurgents.
It was Bush's second trip to Baghdad in less than three years. He visited American troops at Thanksgiving, 2003, in a visit confined to the airport and limited to several hours. That trip also was kept secret.
Bush flew here secretly from talks at Camp David, Md., with senior national security advisers who gathered Monday to review how to bolster Iraq's fledgling government and its capacity to handle the country's defense.
In Baghdad, Bush was to meet with al-Maliki and senior members of his Cabinet. White House officials said the president wanted to meet face-to-face with the prime minister to size him up and assure him of U.S. support.
He said the message that he wants to send to the Iraqi government is "we stand with you. What you're doing is important."
Maliki has won U.S. admiration by promising to crack down on militias and sectarian violence, promote national reconciliation and accelerate reconstruction efforts and restore essential services such as electricity.
After a day of meetings at Camp David, Bush had dinner with his aides and Cabinet members and then returned to his cabin. After darkness, he boarded his helicopter and slipped away, flying to Andrews Air Force Base outside of Washington for the 11-hour flight to Baghdad.
Bush's aides had expected the president to be with them on Tuesday for a video conference between Baghdad and Camp David of al-Maliki and his cabinet members and Bush and his team.
Instead, Bush was in Iraq for the video conference.
Tuesday's trip came as Bush struggled for solid footing for his presidency, rocked by the Iraq war and other problems. About 2,500 members of the military have died since the war began in March, 2003.
Anxiety about the war has been the driving force behind Bush's plunge in the polls and a cause of Republican anxiety about holding control of Congress in the November elections. Approval of Bush's handling of Iraq has dipped to 33 percent, a new low, and his overall job approval at 35 percent in a new AP-Ipsos poll.
The poll, taken last week before the announcement of the death of terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, found that 59 percent of adults said the United States made a mistake in going to war in Iraq the highest level yet in AP-Ipsos polling. It also found that more than half 54 percent said it's unlikely that a stable, democratic government will be established in Iraq, also a new high.
#11
wow Steve - that brought tears to my eyes. Laughing. What a pathetic loser and his loser daughter (if she exists). Please sterilize this asshat
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/13/2006 10:12 Comments ||
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#12
So when can we expect the CEO/President of NBC, CBS, ABC, NYT, WaPo, LAT, etc to make a surprise visit to Iraq/Baghdad? Heh.
traveling to violence-rattled Baghdad.. Wonder what how the affiliates are doing in violence-rattled Detriot, Miami, etc. I suspect that Zman's death is the last time MSM has to switch sides in this war gracefully before the consequence are unrecoverable.
#13
In a detached sort of way, I feel pity for the DU and Kos losers. They view the entire world "through a glass darkly" and their "at the end of time" realization will either be avoided only if they are institutionalized -- or come crashing in when offered a blindfold.
Regardless, they are clearly insane -- and a tumor on the body politic. How's the surgery schedule?
#16
It's all so clear now. The sealed indictment is for Bush. He flees the country in the dead of night to Baghdad. No extradition treaty. Cheney takes over the White House. Bush lives in exile in a palace in the Green Zone.
#17
"Daddy" she said, "why are the Republicans doing this to the country?"
So will the next generation of moonbats be even more delusional, or do you think they'll grow out of it?
Posted by: Rob Crawford ||
06/13/2006 10:59 Comments ||
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#18
Do you think the media will get the hint that that they weren't told until they were on the bus because they could not be trusted not to blab to the terrorists?
My bet is on no - the MSM is too full of itself to take a hint....
Plusses - its a bold move that focuses everyone on the gains in Iraq, and gives another boost to the Maliki govt.
Minuses - it gives Bush a chance to size up Maliki directly based on personal contact, rather than relying on whats hes told by Rice, Khalilzad, Casey, etc. Whether this is a minus depends on your faith in the Presidents ability to size people up in direct contact. We may not all agree on that - i can only say "Putin".
#22
A lot of the Dem libs are young. Many of them are juvenile in their outlook and postings--Not worth paying much attention to. Hopefully they will outgrow this. I am truly amazed by the young people serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. They will come back a generation of leaders hopefully replacing the legions of the whining and carping LLLs.
#24
"It's just dynamite," said Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., who returned from Iraq on Monday night and said he would have stayed there to catch a ride back on Air Force One if he'd known the president was going to be there.
Inhofe, who's been to Iraq 11 times since 2003, said he met with Iraqi officials, who demonstrated some of the training received by the 264,000 Iraqi troops. He said he was told that when 11 divisions -- or 325,000 troops are trained -- the Iraqis will want to take over security for themselves, though that does not mean U.S. troops will leave completely.
"It's a huge success story over there. I just don't understand why the media don't get it," he said, adding that al-Maliki's security adviser told him that the Iraqis are "getting very close to the time" when they will be in a position to take control of their security.
This is great, even the politicians are starting to wake up to the MSM b-s. We should do this type of PR more. I would bet that the MSM would start telling the truth more if they realized that they wouldn't have a snowballs chance in hell of ever getting a breaking story if they don't stop the sensationalism and started reporting the good our boys are doing. I agree Bush is turning out to be one of the best, they terrorist are on thier heels and back peddling, and "punking" the MSM is the highlight of the year.
#25
I just watched most of Dubya's talk to the troops. I have always been struck by how much our boys LOVE their CiC and how much he loves them. It is truly touching to see and thank G-D for FoxNews as we otherwise would not see it.
#27
Fox has a clip of them meeting for the first time. The Iraq PM is obviously "touched" when he first meets him! You can almost feel his excitement, that Bush is actually there to support him and Iraq. Worth the watch for the emotions.
#28
Re #19 Liberalhawk -- yeah, Bush missed on Putin, didn't he. But I think he sizes up people fairly well -- at least as well as other presidents, CEOs, etc., and maybe a little better.
All the same, it's a useful move -- by standing publicly next to al-Maliki we show our support, and it drives home, in a way the MSM has to concede, that the Iraqis have a full, complete government now. I think that's the clincher.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/13/2006 14:24 Comments ||
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Lets see, no terrorist attacks since 9/11, unemployment well below 5%, interest rates still moderating, inflation in check, soldi job growth (and in well payign jobs, not the McJobs people whien about), and a 35th consecutive month of economic expansion, crime rates historically low, freedom abounds in many real ways (like beign able to own a gun or carry a concelaed on fro self defense), real income growing...
What country is that writer living in?
To quote TV's favortie psychiatrist, Dr Frazier Crane: "What color is the sky in your world?" (Because it damn sure isnt the real world).
According to legend ,the famous Greek Physician was bon in Kos around 460 B.C..The father of western medicine encouraged his followers to observe patient's symptoms ,rather than attributing all illness to the wrath of the gods. The Asklepion was built at Kos in his memory.
So if they hang out at Kos they must be hippocrits?
#32
"What a pathetic loser and his loser daughter (if she exists). Please sterilize this asshat"
No need to - his duaghter will either turn out a lesbian, or else have multiple abortions. In either case her likelihood of producing follow-on demograhpic fodder is low. The lefties are breeding themselves out of existence.
#33
nice, NS, but I aint running for president (though its true Joe Biden and i have never been photographed together :) )
SW - id say hes had a mixed record at home at best. I cant think of any particular cases of him sizing up a foreign leader where he made an assertion as strong as did about Putin - id be interested to hear any examples. (And certainly dont bring up Blair, who was already a known quantity in Washington before Bush was president)
#36
Old Spook - the dummycritters aren't in charge, the miltary hasn't been disbanded, we aren't making the illegal aliens citizens fast enough, we haven't signed Kyoto, the government hasn't given everybody a pony, etc., etc., etc. The dummycritters that hang out on KOS and DU are truly delusional. If the government doesn't give them everything they want, it's "bad". Unfortunately they practically RULE the university setting in this nation, and much of the public school system. Yeah, they need to be hospitalized - for a frontal lobotomy or a post-partum abortion, whichever proves necessary. Luckily we have enough sane individuals that the country keeps growing in spite of them.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
06/13/2006 16:43 Comments ||
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#37
You go, Mr. President! :-D
As for the DU, et al., idiots - wotta pathetic buncha losers.
Particularly the one who wrote: "I hope Bush is on the losing end of an IED."
She's just stated her desire for Cheney to be President.
Think he should run just so she can vote for him? ;-p
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
06/13/2006 17:06 Comments ||
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#38
Bush's speech to the troops was outstanding and emotional. Again, Fox has it
#40
Oh dear, Liberalhawk. "Embiggens"? Have you been doing vocabulary worlds with your children again? I just heard from mine, "If there are miscreants, does that mean there are creants, too? What about mistercreants?" ;-)
The Shiite prime minister said the plan will include securing roads into and out of Baghdad, banning people from carrying weapons and implementing a 9 p.m.-6 a.m. curfew, but he did not provide more details.
Maj. Gen. Mahdi al-Gharrawi, the commander of public order forces under the Interior Ministry, told The Associated Press that the plan would launched at 6 a.m. Wednesday, with 75,000 Iraqi and multinational forces deployed in Baghdad. He said it would be the biggest operation of its kind in Baghdad since the U.S. handed over sovereignty to
Iraq in June 2004.
Posted by: ed ||
06/13/2006 08:30 ||
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#1
You might also follow people around. The terrorists have a network centered in Baghdad, they will be coming and going, so gather some intel.
#3
Tip of the iceberg, much more work that will not be made public until after opns
Posted by: Captain America ||
06/13/2006 10:28 Comments ||
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#4
this looks like the big summer op to retake Baghdad thats been rumored for some time - they were just waiting for the new govt. And i bet Captn America is right, and theres alot more about this we wont know till its begun.
Interesting question - of the 75000, how many will be americans, how many Iraqi army, how many Iraqi police/interior ministry forces.
1. Im sure Sistani supports it. This is a Dawa led govt, that still has SCIRI in it, and Sistanis own loyalist Sharistani as Oil Minister. Theres no daylight between Sistani and this govt, AFAICT
2. The insurgents already hold 90% of Ramadi. Cant do much more than that, unless they attack the USMC prepared positions head on. Thats only a recipe for more dead insurgents. Yes, the insurgents who arent in Baghdad can try a diversion elsewhere, but Im not sure theres much decisive they can do.
3. Tater, OTOH, is the big question mark. He can cooperate, make this easy, and live to fight another day (as he has so often in the past) OR he can decide to hit the mattresses against the govt.
Now if Tater goes to war against the govt, he COULD try a diversion in the south. But thats always been his weaker area, where hes lost repeatedly in the past. Going after a southern city, while losing his base in Sadr City, is a way to flame out. The more conservative strategy is to try to hold out in Sadr City, till the govt gives up. Either way, he can make the operation very difficult, if he so chooses.
One of the advantages of having just gotten Zarqi, is to give the govt more credibility with the SHIA street, and so lessen Taters ability to say that he is the only real protection for Shia.
Note, BTW, this is the same Tater who reached out to Sunnis in 2004. A snake he is.
1. I'm not sure Sistani will stay supportive. What if a bunch of Shia are killed in the op and several dozen Shia newspapers start screaming 'massacre'? For that matter, what if they just start screaming 'massacre' even without anyone being killed.
2. The Sunni terrorists in Ramadi are currently somewhat on the quiet side. Suppose they kidnap and messily execute a bunch of Iraqi govt officials or, for that matter a bunch of civilians who the terrorists claim are govt sympathizers?
#8
1. I presume everyone in Iraq knows who is behind which newspaper. Of course if theres reason to believe that serious mistakes were made, Sistani will join in complaining, calling for investigation, etc. As Maliki himself did wrt Haditha. But I doubt he will call for the op to be called off. The only circumstances I could see that happening is if Sadr is offering a compromise "leave me alone, and I PROMISE to stop killing Sunnis, and you can have my RPGs, but we get to keep our AK-47's" or something like that, and the govt seems to hardline in negotiating with him - Sistani might try to play peacemaker in ways inconvenient to Maliki. But that require Tater to make the first move.
2. again, AFAICT, the insurgents are already trying to kidnap anyone they can, kill govt sympathizers, etc. I dont think theres much being held back. Is Ramadi quiet? whenever you hear about US casualties these days, its usually from Ramadi. If youre not hearing about massacres, well IIUC thats cause there really isnt much of Ramadi thats out of insurgent control except for where US Marines or Iraqi forces are at any given moment.
2. I don't agree completely with your 'their already doing all the damage they can' theory of Ramadi. It is certainly true that the terrorists are trying for some hits and enjoy killing whatever infidel they can and whatever Iraqi soldier they can. However, they have their own agenda as well as an AlQ agenda. The local Ramadi terrorists also want to extort money from the locals (including the local govt), lord it over hometown non AlQ gangs, coerce local women into arranged marriages with favored stooges, etc. Storming a govt building and taking hostages gets in the way of these activities. Thus it takes an initiative from the hard core of AlQ to force the local terrorists to drive harder (kind of like Darth telling Jargerod that 'perhaps I can find new ways to motivate them').
#10
AP
Updated: 7:44 p.m. ET May 22, 2006
RAMADI, Iraq - Whole neighborhoods are lawless, too dangerous for police. Some roads are so bomb-laden that U.S. troops wont use them. Guerrillas attack U.S. troops nearly every time they venture out and hit their bases with gunfire, rockets or mortars when they dont.
Though not powerful enough to overrun U.S. positions, insurgents here in the heart of the Sunni Muslim triangle have fought undermanned U.S. and Iraqi forces to a virtual stalemate.
Its out of control, says Army Sgt. 1st Class Britt Ruble, behind the sandbags of an observation post in the capital of Anbar province. We dont have control of this ... we just dont have enough boots on the ground.
Reining in Ramadi, through arms or persuasion, could be the toughest challenge for Prime Minister Nouri al-Malikis new government. Al-Maliki has promised to use maximum force when needed. But three years of U.S. military presence, with nearly constant patrols and sweeps, hasnt done it.
Deadly to and fro
Today Ramadi, a city of 400,000 along the main highway running to Jordan and Syria, 70 miles west of Baghdad, has battles fought in endless circles. Small teams of insurgents open fire and coalition troops respond with heavy blows, often airstrikes or rocket fire thats turned city blocks into rubble.
Were holding it down to a manageable level until Iraqis forces can take over the fight, Marine Capt. Carlos Barela said of the daily violence battering the city.
How long before that happens is anybodys guess.
U.S. and Iraqi commanders say militants fled to Ramadi from Fallujah during a devastating U.S.-led assault there in 2004. Others have joined from elsewhere in Anbar, blending into a civilian population either sympathetic to their cause or too afraid to turn against them.
Theyve destroyed police stations and left the force in shambles. The criminal court system doesnt function because judges are afraid to work; tribal sheiks have fled or been assassinated.
While al-Maliki has vowed to crush the insurgency, a major military operation to clear Ramadi risks destroying any hope of reaching a political settlement with disaffected Sunnis.
U.S. commanders also say a Fallujah-style operation is not in the cards, at least not yet, and might not have the desired effect. That would set us back two years, said Lt. Col. Stephen Neary, commander of the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment.
For troops, status quo unacceptable
However, the status quo with its bloodletting doesnt sit well with the troops.
We just go out, lose people and come back, said Iraqi Col. Ali Hassan, whose men fight alongside the Americans. The insurgents are moving freely everywhere. We need a big operation. We need control.
Some Americans also say ground needs to be taken and held. Most U.S. missions typically consist of going out, coming under fire and returning to base leaving behind a no-mans-land held by neither side that insurgents in black ski masks always pour back into.
This just we ride out, hold it for an hour, get hit, ride back in and now we dont hold it anymore, whats the point? said Ruble of the Armys 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment. I believe in the cause and I believe in doing good, but when were going out, getting hurt and ... not accomplishing anything, why are we going out there? If youre saying killing one insurgent is worth one of my guys getting hurt ... youre crazy. Thats like killing one guy in the Chinese army. What have you done? not a thing.
The sheer scale of violence in Ramadi is astounding.
#11
I dont get the impression there ARE any civilian govt officials left in Ramadi, or any govt-friendly shieks, etc. Every insurgent from anywhere in Anbar has gathered there. Its different from the way Fallujah was ONLY in that USMC and SOME Iraqi units are still able to operate in SOME parts of the city - which was not the case in Fallujah. There simply arent any targets left for the insurgents in Ramadi, aside from the USMC and Iraqi force units. Whom they are already attacking WHEN they can do so to their advantage. Yeah, they could increase their op tempo against coalition forces, but that probably only hurts the insurgents.
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/13/2006 17:19 Comments ||
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#13
youre missing the point Frank.
The big problem in Iraq isnt Ramadi. Its Baghdad, where over a fifth of the population lives. several times bigger than all Anbar province combined. The op, scheduled to begin tomorrow morning Iraq time, is to clean out Baghdad. MHW cautioned that the insurgents could strike in Ramadi, while we are focused on Baghdad. My response is there isnt much they can do in Ramadi they havent already done - ergo, we neednt worry too much about Ramadi, but can look forward to the cleaning up of Baghdad. My line of posts is OPTIMISTIC about the new operation, not pessimistic.
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/13/2006 17:26 Comments ||
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#15
---Al-Maliki has promised to use maximum force when needed. But three years of U.S. military presence, with nearly constant patrols and sweeps, hasnt done it.---
That's because maximum force hasn't been used...yet.
#16
This is a big deal. What it says is that Coaltion and Iraqi forces will now take and sustain Baghdad.
Because of the size of Baghdad, it represents the best place for thugs to hide in plain site. Taking and holding Baghdad means Sadr City and the expansion of safety for Iraqis beyond the Green Zone, which is both a huge psychological win for Iraqis and commerce to a major geographic win.
It's not as if Baghdad is the only fight underway. Iraqi solders with Coaltion support fortifies the borders and runs security for Iraqi infrastucture.
What's most pleasing about this operation is that it means Iraqi military is adequately capable and competent to take and hold the major urban real estate.
Posted by: Captain America ||
06/13/2006 19:15 Comments ||
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#17
I don't know LH, there is a whole lot more they could do Ramadi wise. I do understand what you are saying, but once the political pain is accepted we could even fire bomb the city.
Not saying we should, but military wise, there is a lot more they could do, with one of most extreme being to lay waste to everything.
At least 16 people have been killed and dozens wounded in a series of bomb attacks on police in Iraq's northern oil city of Kirkuk.
A police patrol was targeted in the first blast in the city centre at about 0730 (0330 GMT), leaving at least 10 dead, a police official said. About half an hour later, a suspected suicide car bomber tried to ram the main police headquarters, killing five. In the first attack, eight civilians and two policemen were killed when a bomb exploded in a parked car, Brig Gen Sarhat Qadir was quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying. Another eight civilians and a police colonel were wounded. In the second attack, a suicide car bomber attempted to ram into a checkpoint at the police headquarters. Police opened fire and the car exploded. Two policemen and three civilians were killed, Brig Gen Qadir said.
The offices of President Talabani's Kurdish party were also targeted. An attempted car bomb attack on the office was foiled. Police opened fire on the car, causing it to explode.
In another attack, a district police chief was wounded and his bodyguard killed when two bombs went off outside his house. Confusion surrounds the exact number of attacks. There are fears the death toll could rise.
The attacks may be part of the revenge promised by al-Qaeda in Iraq for the death of their leader, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, in a US air strike last week, the BBC's Hugh Sykes in Baghdad says.
Iraqi soldiers in Al Anbar province are leaving their army in droves, draining much-needed manpower from fledgling Iraqi security forces and preventing U.S. troops from reducing troop strength in the volatile region, U.S. and Iraqi military officials say.
Lousy living conditions, bad food and failure to receive regular pay are the main reasons behind the exodus, which is running at least several hundred soldiers a month, the officials say.
Many of my soldiers have not gotten paid in six months. Sometimes, they dont eat for two or three days at a time. I tell my commander, but what else am I supposed to do? said Lt. Moktat Uosef, a 29-year-old Iraqi army company commander based in Husaybah.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
06/13/2006 01:18 ||
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#1
"Many of my soldiers have not gotten paid in six months. Sometimes, they dont eat for two or three days at a time. "
They need to find whoever in the Iraqi military that is supposed to have the funds for this unit and HANG them for thievery.
This is inescusable: an army travels on its stomach - Napolean knew that. Wannabees talk tactics, amatuers talk strategy - pros talk logistics.
The US needs to step in there and put in a real QM corps - get the 4B Basics (bullets, beans, barracks and bucks) to the grunts.
They also need to foster commitments - this policy "Iraqi army soldiers do not sign enlistment contracts, allowing them to leave the army whenever they choose" has got to end.
2-way street: get the troops to commit - and commit to the troops.
Who on the US side has let things rot - who let them dirft this far? Small wonder Haditha is an armpit and amush center: if we cant keep the Iraqis in the field there we WILL fail. find the American LTC or COL and his Iraqi counterpart and start beating the hell out of them verbally and leaning on them HARD to produce and SUSTAIN food, pay and quarters for the Iraqi troops.
If we cant get somethign this basic done, and it someone has been sweepign it under the rug this long, then we will lose this thing.
I want the US commander releived for incompetence. Patton woudl not leave a political boob in place like this -he'd fire him and instate a new commander and light a fire under them. Look at the Red-Ball express.
We *can* do this - but *will* we do it? Does the upper part of the chain of command have the guts to admit they hosed it and get to fixing it quick fast and in a hurry?
#4
Old Spook - this is why the appointment of a new Iraqi Defense Minister is so important, among other things to clean up the civilian-support side of the Iraqi MoD. The US military has been overstretched trying to A. Fight the insurgents B. Provide logistics to US troops and C. Build the Iraqi combat forces. Building capacity in the Iraqi MoD has simply been a lower priority. Thats what happens when you fight a war with too few resources, and an aversion to nation building.
We do forget sometimes how important the civilian component of a defense establishment is.
#5
"I want the US commander releived for incompetence. "
AFAIK, the US commanders have made clear to the OSD the needs, including, again AFAIK, the needs wrt capacity building at Iraqi MoD, Iraqi logistics, etc. The place where relief for incompetence is required is at OSD, at the top.
One of the biggest problems in Viet Nam was men who would join the RF/PF, get issued a weapon, then desert and turn the weapon and ammo over the the VC.
#7
We don't run the Iraqi army Old Spook, the Iraqis do.
Rumsfeld has been saying that for a year now and nobody seems to want to listen to him. I'm sure we showed them how to do it, but they would rather steal the money and supplies than distribute it to their military. Corruption and lying seem to be an integral part of ME ehtics.
#8
The food part is critical. If the Iraqis can't get food to their troops, they will break down. Even US forces can't fight without food.
That being said, the US military should heavily subsidize bulk food for them. It doesn't have to be high quality, mostly just bags of rice and beans, but that is enough. And they could even stimulate the local economy by buying it from local farmers.
#9
This is actually old news. A fox reporter embedded with the Marines reported this back in 03/06.
Strategy Page also had a story on this. The Iraqi Army depends on the soldier's family to provide alot of the support we would expect from a logistical tail. As a result, when recruits get moved away from their families, they tend to desert.
Apparently this is not unusual for unusual for 3rd world armies.
Al
Posted by: Frozen Al ||
06/13/2006 11:28 Comments ||
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#10
"We don't run the Iraqi army Old Spook, the Iraqis do.
Rumsfeld has been saying that for a year now and nobody seems to want to listen to him. I'm sure we showed them how to do it, but they would rather steal the money and supplies than distribute it to their military. Corruption and lying seem to be an integral part of ME ehtics."
Mebbe so, but I bet the Jordanian army gets paid regularly, regardless. It was and is Rummys job to have do whatever it takes to get the Iraqi Ministry of Defense up to speed enough to maintain democracy against the terrorists. Was it always going to be hard to do that? Damned straight it was. Did Rummy take seriously in March 2003 how hard such an important task would be? Did he tell us? Did he bother to protect the old Iraqi MoD building when it was looted? To keep a core of MoD employees in place?
#11
Actally, having been there, the Iraqi Army is run independantly AND effectively in only a few places - mainly the Kurds, they have got their sh*t stright. Ther rest is still hobbled by "Arab Culture" and the graft and fundamental laziness and dishonesty it encompasses.
And if ANYONE here thinks that the US cannot affect changes of that sort in the Iraqi military, then you've been listening to too much propaganda. If *we* want it to happen, and we put the time, money and troops on it, we can change the Iraq Army.
It starts with the officer corps in one area, and the fundamental terms of service for the lowest enlisted. The Officers MUST be held to First-World standards, and we need to prop them up fiscally and with "side-ride" US trainers in sufficient numbers. Change how the officers see thier service - make the Army their "tribe". It worked well in the past in Jordan, and in parts of the Egyptian Army (some of which were very competent - gave the Isralis fits in 73). Low tolerance for failure, for corruption and for the old "eshallah" shoulder shrug.
While they do that, take the enlisted, make sure they get basic pay and food and barracks, and be sure when they are in the field, they concentrate on training & equipment. Then make them realize this isnt a third-world Army where they go home whenever they feel like bugging out - its a "Im here for X years" deal (X > 2), and they should expect more of the Army. Also, by policy NO soldier should serve in a unit that is more than 45% of any individual ethnic group, and when possible, a soldier should be assigned outside the region he is from. Assign US advisors to these units to help the process along and top break up logjams.
If they were, we'd have a far larger number of competent lower rankign NCOs and junior officers, given all teh combat excperice they have gotten. Nothing "un-greens" a new soldier like combat. Take the best of that crop -- the platoon SGTS and Company commanders that have proven themselves, and move them into Senior Enlisetd and Battalion Commander roles, make sure they realize that the Commander commands and the Sr-E takes care of morale, but BOTH are required to lead, by word and deed.
These are fundamental issues that should have been emplaced from day-one.
Why has this not happened? Why are there still units that are combat ineffective as well as not getting the extra trainignand attention such units need? THAT is my question - if we know there is a problem with a unit, we can go to the IZ commander and go up the chain of command until we get the "right" answer - then go downthe chain of command and relieve any and all who stonewalled or buck-passed.
They dont need a third-world army, they need an effective army - and the only way to get one of those is to get good officers and good NCOs that will commit to each other and their nation "for the duration".
Sorry gy, ranging, I know, but this is a personal pet peeve of mine - our not breaking the Iraqi Army of "Arab Culture" and its bad habits.
#12
Great writing, Oldspook. It's difficult to believe that our own Army is incapable of following the simple doctrine that you've outlined. It is, literally, one of the only ways to combat the current problems in Iraq.
With respect to your last line, I'm afraid that "Arab Culture" will have to be broken of every last vestige of "Arab Culture" before this world will be safe. Arabs have already shown themselves to be their own worst enemies. How strange it is to watch the rest of the world have such a difficult time comprehending that Arabs are (in general) our own worst enemies as well.
President Bush says the military will now target Abu Musab al-Zarqawis successor.
But who is that successor? Al Qaeda is offering a selection. The latest statement released Monday, June 12, says: The shura council of al Qaeda in Iraq has unanimously agreed on Sheikh Abu Hamza al-Muhajir as successor to Sheikh Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. It was posted on a Web side the Islamists frequently used and added a pledge that the new leader would keep up his predecessors campaign of beheadings and suicide bombings.
DEBKAfiles counter terror sources report al Qaeda experts in Western agencies running the global war on terror, or even circles close to al Qaeda, have never heard of Mr al-Muhajir. His name, they say, hints at a possible Afghan origin.
Even al Qaedas adherents in Iraq are stumped by the identity of their new commander doubly confused by the bulletins on similar Web sites which all name different successors.
Our Iraq sources list them as: Abdul Rahman al Iraqi, Zarqawis deputy; Rashid Baghdadi, an Iraqi believed to head the shura council; Abu Asil, an ex-colonel in Saddam Husseins general intelligence service.
DEBKAfile offers three optional reasons for the profusion of published successors:
1. A deliberate campaign to obscure the real identity of the new al Qaeda commander in Iraq.
2. A split in the shura council or a dispute in the top command over the choice.
3. A power struggle among local al Qaeda branches - each with its own commander, which would mean a serious division in al Qaedas ranks in Iraq.
Time will tell which of the three is closest to what is happening in the jihadist organization five days after its decapitatation.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
06/13/2006 01:12 ||
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#1
"I'm Zarqawi's successor!"
"No, I'm Zarqawi's successor!"
"You're both wrong--it's me!"
"Oh yeah, sez who?"
"I do."
"You an' what army?"
"You wanna make somethin' of it?"
Posted by: Mike ||
06/13/2006 7:41 Comments ||
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#2
You boyz all go into that conference room over there. The first one that detonates the 500 lb bomb in the center of the room can be the sheik.
Posted by: ed ||
06/13/2006 7:49 Comments ||
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#3
How about if they selected Zarakawi's succesor? :-)
Iraq is considering inviting members of insurgent groups to national reconciliation talks, a source in the prime ministers office said yesterday. Leaders will meet to agree a definition of resistance groups and then some of their members will be invited to take part in the talks on July 22.
It was not clear whether this signalled a softening of the Shiite-led governments position on Sunni Arab insurgents seeking to overthrow it.
Shiite Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki has rejected the idea of a dialogue with Saddam Hussein loyalists and other hardline groups, saying they have Iraqi blood on their hands.
But Sunni officials say he can only deliver on promises of national reconciliation if he opens a dialogue with insurgent groups. The US military said US-led forces killed seven insurgents with links to senior Al Qaeda leaders in a raid yesterday near the area where Abu Musab Al Zarqawi was killed last week. It said there were several women and children at the scene and two children had also been killed, without giving details.
Al Qaeda in Iraq on Sunday vowed to carry out large-scale attacks to shake the enemy after Zarqawis death in a US air raid last Wednesday. Iraqi leaders said Zarqawis death was a major blow to Al Qaeda in Iraq but no one, including US President George W Bush, expects violence to end anytime soon.
Responding to a query over whether children were killed by US fire in the operation north of Baghdad, the US military said in a statement it could not confirm the cause of death at this time.
Coalition Forces received enemy machine gun fire from a rooftop upon arriving at the objective ..., said the statement. Following the assault, coalition troops discovered two children had been killed. One child was wounded and evacuated for treatment, it added. Three insurgents were wounded in the operation and two others detained, it said.
In other violence, a roadside bomb targeting a bus taking workers to Iraqs industry ministry killed six people and wounded 12 others yesterday, official sources said.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
06/13/2006 00:19 ||
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U.S. troops killed seven insurgents and captured three others in a Monday raid that also left two children dead not far from the safehouse where terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi died in a U.S. bombing raid.
The military said the insurgents belonged to a terrorist cell with ties to senior al-Qaida leaders involved in helping foreign fighters come to Iraq.
More than 200 raids have been carried out since al-Zarqawi's death Wednesday, some of them directly connected to what the U.S. military has described as a "treasure trove" of intelligence gleaned from his safehouse.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
06/13/2006 00:09 ||
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#1
Hopefully Zark wasn't able to memorize the locations of all of his bomb factories, goons, flunkies, bagmen, myrmidons, financiers, etc., etc., and kept complete lists on his laptop...
At least 13 people were kiled and some 30 injured in two separate car bombs in Al-Sadr City and in western Baghdad Monday, Iraqi police source told KUNA. The source said that the first explosion occurred in Al-Sadr City, a Shiite-majority district, and killed eight people and wounded 20 others. The explosion damaged cars and shops surrounding the area. The second bombing took place in western Baghdad, at the Al-Washash market next to the Al-Mansour district killing five people and wounded 12 others, said the police.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/13/2006 00:00 ||
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Posted by: DanNY ||
06/13/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
I wondered how low it would be before those who couldn't suppress their stupidity on this to start paying. Remaining silent in comdemnation of the dead mook will cost you too.
America vowed last night to track down the man who has succeeded Abu Musab al-Zarqawi as the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq. As a post mortem examination on Zarqawi's body revealed that he died of massive internal injuries 52 minutes after US air strikes hit his hideout last Wednesday, the terror group named his replacement as Abu Hamza al-Muhajir.
I guess 52 minutes of agony is better than no agony...
He had not been among those touted in the Arab press as a likely successor and it was not clear if he was an Iraqi or one of the many foreigners who had joined the group.
Likely a foreigner, since his name means "the immigrant." I can't recall ever having heard of him, though every ninth Bad Guy is an Abu Hamza. The Independent sez he's Jordanian. Another product of Zarqa, maybe?
President George W Bush responded to the announcement by saying: "I think the successor to Zarqawi is going to be on our list to bring to justice."
Comes as a surprise, huh?
Coalition forces have carried out 140 operations against al-Qaeda in the six days since Zarqawi's death. Maj Gen Bill Caldwell said yesterday that 32 insurgents had been killed and 178 captured. Most of the targets had been under surveillance before Zarqawi's death and the raids appeared to be an attempt to keep al-Qa'eda off balance following the loss of its leader.
And perhaps an attempt to slice off as much of the head cheeses as possible before they're all gone to ground...
Seven suspected terrorists were killed in Baquba, the same area where Zarqawi was killed, but two children were also feared dead when US troops called in combat aircraft to hit a house from which the terrorists had opened fire with a machinegun. The troops later discovered the bodies of two children, together with the al-Qaeda suspects and a large quantity of small arms and rockets. A six-month-old boy was among those killed, which a spokesman for the coalition described as "extremely unfortunate".
This is where we're supposed to recoil in horror and conclude it's just not worth it...
Gen Caldwell said that overall the raids had been "very successful" but added: "We know this is not going to end the insurgency. It will take the people of Iraq to make that decision with their Iraqi security forces."
Posted by: Fred ||
06/13/2006 00:00 ||
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One of these days, those Hard Boyz will realize that when "W" puts out those Texas Wanted Dead Or Alive posters, it means it's time to get the hell outa Dodge!!
An Israeli airstrike targeting a key figure in Palestinian rocket attacks killed 10 people Tuesday, including the militant, two children and three medical workers who rushed to the scene of an initial blast.
...
The Israeli military said its aircraft targeted militants on a mission to launch Katyusha rockets at southern Israel. Palestinian witnesses said the first missile missed the vehicle, which then crashed into a curb and was struck by two other missiles. The last two missiles killed the civilians and wounded 32 others, three of them seriously. Also killed was Hamoud Wadiya, Islamic Jihad's top rocket launcher, and an unidentified person in his van, whom the Israeli military identified as another Palestinian militant.
ADDITIONAL: The Islamic Jihad said earlier that two of its operatives who were killed were Hamoud Wadiya, the group's top rocket launcher, and Shawki Sayklia. Nine Palestinian civilians, including two schoolchildren, were also killed Tuesday when a missile fired by the IAF detonated the Katyushas inside the car. The army had originally said it had proof that only one missile had been fired and that the terrorists were the only target in the strike.
However, the IDF later rescinded that claim, saying that the first missile struck near the vehicle but failed to kill the terrorists. Following the initial strike a crowd of Palestinian onlookers gathered.
Car swarm hopefuls, got there a wee bit early
By that time, said a senior IDF officer, an IAF aircraft had already launched a second missile at the target. The second missile, which could not be rerouted, struck the Katyusha-laden vehicle, causing the casualties. Dire revenge. Yadda, Tadda.
Posted by: ed ||
06/13/2006 08:23 ||
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#2
Reading the Jpost report it sounds like the 'civilians' were killed by the Paleo rockets going off in secondary explosions.
Doubtless the MSM will rush to correct itself like it did when it report the Paleo family was killed by Israeli artillery, which now turns out to have been a Paleo mine. /endsarcasm
#3
Sooner or later, the Pals will realise that this is a game they can't win. Once the Israelis have fenced off the suicide bomber option, the Pals can choose between improving their own lives or civil war. No prizes for guessing which is more likely.
#5
Actually Israel (the US too) needs to have a firm statement endlessly repeated to the effect thar we try to kill only terrorists but sometimes when the terrorists have human shield, the human shields die as well.
#6
Lessee, citizens and baby ducklings children killed when the high explosive warhead in the back of some IJs' car detonates after being struck with a retaliatory hit. But, of course, the Israelis are to blame for how the terrorists transport these explosives directly through high population areas.
Gunmen loyal to Fatah rampaged through the West Bank city of Ramallah last night, shooting up parliament and torching the prime minister's office in a worsening power struggle with the ruling Hamas movement.
The attacks were launched after Hamas militants besieged the southern Gaza headquarters of the Palestinian preventive security force, which is Fatah-controlled, and fired rocket-propelled grenades. Five people were wounded in the assault.
The events in Ramallah began shortly after Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority's Fatah president, ordered security forces on to the streets to maintain law and order in the light of the Gaza violence. The prime minister's office and parliament building are both symbols of Hamas power following the Islamists' victory in elections in January.
Continued on Page 49
#3
Hamas has long been stronger in Gaza than the West Bank, Fatah is making clear that if Hamas wants to play rough, they risk splitting the territories.
#5
Ima up to here in popcorn, but carry on, Hamas and Fatah and all the rogues in between.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
06/13/2006 16:38 Comments ||
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#6
Jeez, the Somalis do this power struggle shtick better than the Paloeswians do. Come on, lets see some coordinated strikes that cause one side to flee an area, with victory parades by the winning side.
#3
Typical MSM bullsh*t. Moderates in Hamas?!? I guess those are like the liberals in the SS, or the moderates in the Khmer Rouge. There are no moderates in Hamas, they are pure scum and terrorists. You cannot negotiate with them since their words mean nothing, and they have no honor. The only way to deal with Hamas is to kill them, no prisoners at all. But this is TIME magazine, so the writer and the editors will lick the boots of Hamas and every other Islamofascist, hoping to be spared.
#5
: But this is TIME magazine, so the writer and the editors will lick the boots of Hamas and every other Islamofascist, hoping to be spared.:
I don't think it's about self-preservation under the new order, Shieldwolf. I think they think of terrorists as "aboriginals demonstrating quaint local customs," with no thought that this might spread to their own neighborhood... or to yours and mine. A bit too much Margaret Meade anthropology, so to speak.
But I completely agree about moderates in Hamas. Well said.
#9
If Mossad was worth a durn, by now it would have had both sides at each others' throats, actively slaughtering each other rather than burning buildings and firing their guns into the air.
They can curse and blather all day, but until there is some serious homicidin' goin' on, nothing is going to change.
#17
I, too, loved Margaret Meade's stories when I was young, Xbalanke. It turns out, however, that the kids are still laughing at the scam they pulled -- there was a follow-up study done within the last few years, and it turns out the society is stereotypically conservative (girls must be virgin to marry, no running off to enjoy romantic moonlit nights alone together, overprotective fathers with big sticks, etc.). Dr. Meade saw what she was looking for, not what was really there... admittedly with a little assistance from the interviewees.
One Palestinian member of the Ezzuddine Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas was killed Monday and an officer from the Palestinian security office was seriously injured in armed clashes in Rafah south of Gaza Strip. Eyewitnesses said the clashes occurred in the afternoon between armed men from the Ez Eddin Al-Qassam and a reinforcement force from the Palestinian interior ministry who looked they were from the Fatah movement. Eyewitnesses also said the Al-Qassam member who was killed is called Hamadah Abu Hezr, 21.
... and a wonderful time was had by all, except for the dead guy and the guy on life support...
Posted by: Fred ||
06/13/2006 00:00 ||
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Palestinian MP Khalil Al-Rubaiee, who was kidnapped by unknown gunmen for a few hours earlier Monday, was released, witnesses said. The abduction of Al-Rubaiee was part of assaults by gunmen at the buildings of the Prime Minister's office and the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), both were set afire. Fatah condemned any kind of attack against the Palestinian institutions, either in the West Bank or Gaza Strip. Dr. Jamal Nazzal, Fatah spokesman, criticized the provocative policy that was taking place in mosques.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/13/2006 00:00 ||
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EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., June 13 (UPI) -- A U.S. F-22 Raptor fighter jet scored a direct hit with precision-guided bomb during a recent high-altitude, supersonic test flight. The milestone test announced Monday was called the highest and fastest delivery of a JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) ever carried out and involved a Raptor screaming along at Mach 1.5 at an altitude of 50,000 feet.
The test saw a 1,000-pound Mk-83 JDAM dropped from 24 miles away use Global Positioning Satellite signals to zero in on what was termed in a news release as a "small ground target." A similar JDAM bomb was used in the precision attack that killed al-Qaida's Abu al-Zaqawi last week. Beautiful pictures removed by mod because they blew page formatting. Sorry
Posted by: DanNY ||
06/13/2006 09:01 ||
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#1
Dead terrorists now available with Special Supersonic Delivery!
#2
Good news. Needed to verify the release at Mach 1+, as this seriously interupts airflow at time of release. This will allow much faster time on target if we really need it.
#5
The test saw a 1,000-pound Mk-83 JDAM dropped from 24 miles away use Global Positioning Satellite signals to zero in on what was termed in a news release as a "small ground target."
If I'm reading that right, the reason for the high altitude and high speed is to give the bomb enough momentum for a nice looooong slant range. That would let them JDAM something without flying anywhere near it--say, from outside the engagement envelope of the defensive SAM site, or from the airspace of the next country over, or some such.
Cool.
Posted by: Mike ||
06/13/2006 12:21 Comments ||
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#6
Delivered in 10 minutes or the next one is free!
#7
It'd probably take ten minutes to get there after release!
Posted by: Bobby ||
06/13/2006 14:52 Comments ||
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#8
In the future, I imagine a very high altitude bomber, unmanned, that could make some very interesting things happen. For instance, having 30 500 pound JDAM iron bombs hitting almost the exact same point with say a 1 second interval between them. Like a gigantic jack hammer.
Or 50 independently targetted 250 lb JDAM iron bombs covering an area perhaps 10 miles in circumfrence.
Or an unmanned plane designed for just a single cargo bomb, a giant bomb instead of much of its fusilage. It could take the bomb to great altitude, then crash dive, dislodging the bomb at high speed and veering off. The bomb itself could have a ramjet engine to accelerate its descent to tremendous speed before impact.
#10
Or an unmanned plane designed for just a single cargo bomb, a giant bomb instead of much of its fusilage. It could take the bomb to great altitude, then crash dive, dislodging the bomb at high speed and veering off. The bomb itself could have a ramjet engine to accelerate its descent to tremendous speed before impact.
That's essentially what a cruise missile does. We have the technology to build absolutely huge cruise missiles if we wanted to. We could make them the size of a C-5. Imagine a missile coming at you that has three MOABs inside!
#11
Then you would have the suborbital bomb that would be mounted on a missile and hit the target at Mach Kerblooie!
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
06/13/2006 16:36 Comments ||
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#12
crosspatch: granted, something the size of a C5-A that flies like a cruise missile is one thing, and definitely payback for 9-11, but I add the altitude and very high speed angles for the sub-orbital "rods from god" effect.
#19
Or an unmanned plane designed for just a single cargo bomb, a giant bomb instead of much of its fusilage. It could take the bomb to great altitude, then crash dive,
For a moment, I thought we were discussing 9/11. Missed the unmanned part.
Posted by: john ||
06/13/2006 21:49 Comments ||
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The al-Qaeda-linked militant group Jemaah Islamiyah is largely controlled by three Indonesian hard-liners who see terrorism as the best way to impose Islamic law across Southeast Asia, the country's intelligence chief said Monday.
Zulkarnaen, the alleged commander of Jemaah Islamiyah's militant wing, who like many Indonesians uses only one name, is working closely with explosives experts Abu Dujana and Zuhroni, said Syamsir Siregar, head of Indonesia's State Intelligence Agency.
"They see terrorism as the best way to achieve their goal," Siregar said at a parliamentary hearing, adding that Malaysian terrorist Noordin Top, believed to have orchestrated a series of bombings in Indonesia, takes orders from the others. That would likely be al-Qaeda high command, given the claims about who's financing Top's attacks. My guess is that they viewed Top and Azahari as expendable pawns that could do their dirty work in Indonesia while diverting attention from both the Mindanao training and the rebuilt JI leadership. Note that Zulkarnaean was one of Hambali's lieutenants, so he's probably assumed his boss's old job. Wasn't there a story out awhile back that Mukhlas was still running ops from prison?
Jemaah Islamiyah is blamed for a series of bloody bombings and failed terror plots in Southeast Asia in recent years, including two strikes on Indonesia's resort island of Bali that killed more than 220 people, most of them foreign tourists.
Police said earlier this year that Dujana had taken over as the head of Jemaah Islamiyah, though terror experts have yet to determine his exact role within the group, saying it may be as an inspirational leader.
The exact role of Zuhroni, also known as Oni, was not immediately clear Monday.
Siregar said there are at least three factions within Jemaah Islamiyah, and that only Zulkarnaen's group sees terrorism as the primary instrument in winning the imposition of Islamic law across the region.
Others believe it should be a long-term military or spiritual struggle, he said. Except that a long-term military struggle doesn't look much different from a terror campaign to the people on the receiving end when it comes to JI. We've basically seen that in both Somalia and Waziristan and it ain't a pretty picture.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
06/13/2006 00:42 ||
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Karachi, 13 June (AKI) - (Syed Saleem Shahzad) - The new leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq has a name, Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, but not an identity. Depending on the expert consulted he could be a Libyan, a Saudi or a Yemeni. But there is one certainty - he was chosen far from the battle grounds of Iraq, in the rugged borderlands between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Adnkronos International (AKI) has learnt from jihadi sources in Taliban-controlled South Waziristan that in choosing a replacement for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, al-Qaeda leaders followed two priorities - regaining control of the wider Iraqi resistance and seeking revenge against Jordan for his death.
AKI being a lefty Italian news agency, they seem to have pretty good sources in the jihad community.
Well-placed sources in South Waziristan maintained that al-Qaeda had taken a tactical decision in recent times to cope with a loss in operational capacity, caused by various arrests of high level members and a reduction in its financial flow. After a long debate it was decided to suspend routine activities for a period and that all members would converge into the mainstream mujahadeen groups - be they in Iraq or in Afghanistan.
When in doubt, reorganize the deck chairs
However shortly after Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi's death, these sources told AKI, the al-Qaeda leadership outlined two priorities. One was the swift installation of a new al-Qaeda chief in Iraq, the other was a mission to target Jordan whom they hold responsible for killing al-Zarqawi. Jordanian intelligence was believed to have played a key role in identifying the hideout of the militant leader who was killed along with six others by a US bombing raid last Wednesday.
I'm surprised Dire Revenge wasn't #1
A key figure in this process, this correspondent has learnt, has been played by Abdul Hadi al-Iraqi based in South Waziristan who is the main link between Iraqi resistance and Al-Qaeda leadership holed up in the mountainous border terrain. Al-Iraqi, in his mid forties, was born in Iraq and served in Iraq's Army, before traveling to Afghanistan to fight the Soviet invasion. In a 2005 article, American magazine Newsweek claimed that al-Iraqi had negotiated the reconcilation between Osama bin Laden and al-Zarqawi.
There were unconfirmed reports that Abdul Hadi Al-Iraqi was missing in the US air raid in Pakistan's remote Bajaur agency which was targeting a meeting of al-Qaeda heads after an intelligence tipoff. However the sources in South Waziristan insisted that he is alive and kicking.
Although Abu Musab Zarqawi made a name for himself with savage exploits in Iraq, he spent years building a web of international connections that, combined with his flair for self-promotion, had a profound impact on Islamic extremism worldwide.
Accused of attacks and plots from Turkey to Germany to Jordan, the man slain Wednesday in a U.S. airstrike in Iraq established himself among militants as a consummate man of action. His death will undermine his network's recent efforts to forge international alliances and redeploy fighters from the Iraqi battle zone to strike targets in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, said U.S. and European law enforcement officials.
But investigators said they worried that Zarqawi's enduring symbolic power would spur retaliatory attacks and make him a martyr for a generation of militants radicalized during the Iraq conflict, especially in Europe.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
06/13/2006 00:48 ||
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#1
But investigators said they worried that Zarqawi's enduring symbolic power would spur retaliatory attacks and make him a martyr for a generation of militants radicalized during the Iraq conflict, especially in Europe.
OTOH, there may be a simple solution: "Let them follow him where he is now". Before a generation is over, then there would be no jihadis left.
For the second day running, extremist websites were clad in black, as they mourned the death of Iraqs most wanted terrorist, Abu Musab al Zarqawi.
I've been ululating almost continuously. My throat's raw and my AK's too hot to touch. The little kids in the neighborhood all have zits and rotted teeth...
While many sites speculated about Abu Mohammed al Masri, who the US army suggested would take over the helm of al Qaeda in Iraq, the bayaa, or ceremony to pledge allegiance to al Zarqawis deputy, Abu Abdel Rahman al Iraqi, appeared to have already started.
An extremist leader, using a screen name, asked, Could the American forces appoint a successor to al Zarqawi?
No, but we could kill one.
Others cast doubt about whether al Masri would take over the running of al Qaedas activities in Iraq.
Only the ones in East Hell...
Several websites broadcast taped messages purportedly of Abu Abdel Rahman al Iraqi, who announced in a statement, which cant be authenticated, the death of Abu Musab, signed by the Muhajideen Shura Councils Media Committee, dominated by al Qaeda in Iraq . We announce the martyrdom of our mujahid sheikh Abu Musab al Zarqawi in the land of the Two Rivers.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred ||
06/13/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
An extremist leader, using a screen name, asked, Could the American forces appoint a successor to al Zarqawi?
So they draw their leaders from the far left of the bell curve?
#4
That pin-up reminds me,PBMcL. Circa 1950,I walked past a store window in Little Rock where they had a pair of "falsies" on display. A card underneath read: "FLATS FIXED HERE".
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.
Afghan and United States-led foreign forces have killed 27 Taleban fighters in the latest clashes in the worst violence Afghanistan has seen since the Taleban were ousted in 2001.
KANDAHAR (AIP): Fifteen Taliban fighters were killed and six others captured in operations conducted in Uruzgan province on Monday, Afghan military said. Coalition forces and Afghan National Army conducted a series of operations were in Syachoi area of Herado district in Uruzgan province today in which 15 Taliban were killed and six arrested, said General Rahmatullah Raufi, commander of 205 corps of Afghan Army in Uruzgan. These Taliban had been besieged in the area yesterday and the operations were completed today (Monday), he added. A Taliban commander, Amanullah was also among the killed people. Amanullah was also a local incharge of Taliban financial matters and it is believed that he was the brother-in-law of Taliban supreme leader Mulla 
Outlaw killed in 'shootout' with Rab
North Korea is making plans to test an intercontinental ballistic missile that could reach the United States and the launch could come soon, U.S. officials said on Monday. One official told Reuters there was some debate over whether Pyongyang would follow through on the preparations with an actual test but a second official said a launch could happen within weeks.
An anti-terrorism court on Monday awarded the death sentence on six counts to Muhammad Aslam, a co-accused with Maulana Azam Tariq in a case of the murder of six people in Jhang in March 1995.
QUETTA: Five people were killed and 17 critically injured as a bomb blast rocked Quetta on Monday morning. "Improvised explosive device" weighing 4 kilogrammes and placed under a bicycle exploded at Gul Balochistan Hotel on Sariab Road at 10:35am. The explosion completely destroyed two nearby shops and shattered the glass panes of adjacent shops. The injured were moved to the Civil Hospital. Six of the injured civilians were reported to be critical. Only one body could be identified. 
SRINAGAR - Eleven people died and dozens were injured in violence across Indian Kashmir Monday, including eight labourers shot dead by suspected Islamic militants, police and army spokesmen said. The labourers from the northern state of Bihar were shot dead by suspected rebels in the southern district of Anantnag, army spokesman Hemant Junaja said. He said five others were hurt. None of the dozen groups fighting Indian rule in mainly Muslim Kashmir claimed responsibility for the attack.
At least 16 people have been killed and dozens wounded in a series of bomb attacks on police in Iraq's northern oil city of Kirkuk. 
America vowed last night to track down the man who has succeeded 
For the second day running, extremist websites were clad in black, as they mourned the death of Iraqs most wanted terrorist, 
