By The Associated Press Report by police captain Hussein himself.
Israel's nuclear arsenal is the largest strategic threat to the Middle East and appears set to trigger a regional arms race, said Saudi Intelligence Chief Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on Friday. "The existing Israeli nuclear capability is the most dangerous strategic threat to Gulf security in the short and medium term," Prince Muqrin told the International Institute of Strategic Studies' conference. Because it's been used so often?
Muqrin said the threat posed by the Israeli nuclear arsenal was driving "some countries in the region to join an arms race." The arms race could push moderate Middle Eastern states to enter into alliances with existing nuclear powers or start "covert or overt" nuclear arms developments of their own, "aiming at creating a military balance in the region."
He did not name countries, but appeared to be referring to Iran, which has been accused by Western powers of seeking to develop a nuclear bomb. Iran, which had a delegation at the conference, denies the charge, insisting its nuclear program is strictly for the generation of electricity. "The spread of weapons of mass destruction will complicate security in this region," Muqrin said. Depends on who holds 'em, eh?
"My position is against any nuclear or weapons of mass destruction in the whole region, including Israel," he added. Didn't bother you much when you guys slipped Khan some money ...
Israel neither denies nor confirms that it has the nuclear bomb, but is widely believed to have a stockpile of nuclear weapons.
The designated U.S. defense secretary, Robert Gates, told his Congressional nomination hearing this week that Iran was seeking nuclear weapons partly because of the nuclear powers around it, and he pointed to Israel. "I think that they would see it in the first instance as a deterrent," Gates said of the Iranians. "They are surrounded by powers with nuclear weapons Pakistan to their east, the Russians to the north, the Israelis to the west and us in the Persian Gulf." I'm hoping he said that just to get confirmed.
#4
Just one of the things that bothers me about these people is all the steer manure that comes out of their mouths. Anybody who thinks about it for half a second would wonder why Iran needs to defend itself against Israel unless the Iranians themselves were threatening to wipe Israel off the map. My only question is why would a Soddy utter such nonsense unless he's so scared of the Iranians that he's about to soil his royal robes so instead of blaming them he blames the Jooos? It must really suck to be him. It's almost enough to make me feel sorry for him.
#5
"And one day, pretty soon, Israeli nukes will produce an energy crisis."
Not to mention global warming . . .
Posted by: The Doctor ||
12/09/2006 11:29 Comments ||
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#6
Just one of the things that bothers me about these people is all the steer manure that comes out of their mouths. Anybody who thinks about it for half a second would wonder why Iran needs to defend itself against Israel unless the Iranians themselves were threatening to wipe Israel off the map. My only question is why would a Soddy utter such nonsense unless he's so scared of the Iranians that he's about to soil his royal robes so instead of blaming them he blames the Jooos? It must really suck to be him. It's almost enough to make me feel sorry for him.
#10
Anybody think that anything other than the Israeli nuclear arsenal (and the absolute belief that if push came to shove the IAF would use them on Damascus, Cairo, Amman, and Riyadh) has prevented another major arab-Israeli war since 1973?
#11
Or that the US could end the arms race in the ME by nuking Iran and stating that any country about to achieve nuclear arms will be handled similarly.
The club is closed and taking no new members.
#12
Well, Sleaper, I used to almost feel sorry for (him) them as well. Now I just feel uncomfortable horror.
Collectively, muzzies are an incredibly stupid people. With tender feelings. And as their exposure to media and payback increases, their own sense of failing and ignorance is ratcheting up the Humiliation (TM). And Humiliation breeds islamic rage (also TM).
That muzzies still can't see that we see their idiocy and barbarity leads to continued insane statements like this article. Then we laugh and they get madder.
But we can't DO anything. It would be like slapping a guy in a wheelchair. The one drooling. We can't. It's not PC. We'd rather tell him he's got time-outs coming - scream that at him as he rolls by with a grenade in a palsied hand.
Saudi Arabia on Friday denied as "inaccurate" media reports suggesting the arrest of any person linked to the gun-firing incident in the vicinity of Al-Ruwais prison in the western city of Jeddah on Thursday.
A spokesman of the Saudi Ministry of Interior, Major General Mansour bin Sultan Al-Turki said in a statement, carried by the official news agency (SPA), that it was "incorrect" what was reported by some media about the arrest of persons in connection with the gun-firing incident in the vicinity of Al-Ruwais prison in Jeddah, which resulted in the killing of two security men on Thursday.
Turki refuted the arrest of any person linked to the incident up to this moment and said that there were no shootings near Turkish nor American consulates. "This incident is being followed up by the security authorities, who have launched an investigation necessary to identify the perpetrators of the incident and arrest them in accordance with the procedures of professional practice in this context", he said. The spokesman called for accuracy and referral to official security sources to verify authenticity and accuracy of such security issues.
"We're not the Associated Press here in the Kingdom. May the Prophet curse your mustache for even *thinking* such a thing!"
Colombia's far-right paramilitaries pulled out of a peace process with President Alvaro Uribe's government late Wednesday following the decision to transfer jailed militia leaders to a maximum security prison. The announcement came after a three-hour meeting with the government's chief peace negotiator. The peace agreement was thrown into crisis on Friday when the government transferred 59 imprisoned paramilitary warlords from their special prison to a high-security installation on rumors of a possible prison break.
More than 30,000 paramilitary fighters have demobilized since 2003 as part of the peace process, which saw militia leaders turn themselves in. But critics say the punishments dished out to the leaders were too light and paramilitary groups continued to operate. The leaders of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, or AUC, a paramilitary umbrella group, are accused of some of the worst atrocities in the country's civil war, now in its fifth decade. The AUC was created two decades ago by landowners and cocaine cartels to battle leftist rebels who held sway over much of Colombia's countryside, though it quickly morphed into one of the country's biggest drug-trafficking organizations.
The latest setback in the peace process with the paramilitaries comes as a scandal continues to grow linking Colombia's political class with the paramilitaries. A dozen legislators are accused of working with the outlawed group to kill political opponents in exchange for votes.
The paramilitary warlords handed themselves over to the government as part of an agreement limiting their prison terms to no more than eight years and suspending extradition requests.
Don't really know *who* to believe in Russkiland right now. We report... you tell me what the heck it all means...
Separatist emissary Akhmed Zakayevs claims that federal forces were allegedly using radioactive isotope polonium-210 during the anti-terrorist campaign in Chechnya are wrong and unfounded, Chechen Prime Minister Ramzan Kadyrov said in Grozny on Thursday, according to the Interfax agency.
Zakayev is an actor. He can make up any tale. If they have poisoned their associate [Alexander] Litvinenko, they now want to ascribe similar actions to law enforcers in Chechnya, he said. Federal forces have never used poison during the anti-terrorist campaign in the Chechen republic, Kadyrov said.
Kadyrovs remarks came in response to Zakayevs statement made in a recent interview. The separatist also accused the West of standing by passively as Russia passed laws allowing its agents to hunt down opponents overseas, saying these had led directly to the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko, Reuters reports.
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Hundreds of people have rallied in several capital cities, in support of Australian Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks. The rallies were organised to put pressure on the Commonwealth Government to bring Hicks back to Australia to be tried or released.
The terrorism suspect has spent five years in detention without being tried.
One supporter, Kay Danes, gave an emotional speech at the at Victoria Square rally in Adelaide. Ms Danes is an Australian who was held in a Laos prison for ten months, before being pardoned. "I hope that every single one of you here today has a reaction," she said. "I hope that you stop and look at these people shackled with hoods over their faces and understand that that truly is a reality." "And I hope you realize that it is a bad idea to support terrorism against the decent people ... hey, who put John Bolton's speech in front of me?"
In Sydney, hundreds of Hicks supporters have marched to protest outside the US consulate. Earlier at a rally at the city's Town Hall, former Guantanamo prisoner Mahmdou Habib told the crowd that time is running out for David Hicks. "Any country, they take care of their own citizens, except the John Howard government," he said. "[I'm telling] anybody, when they leave from this place not just to demonstrate but to go to the Parliament and tell them release him now."
About 200 people including politicians, church leaders and prominent lawyers have gathered in Perth to call for the release of Hicks.
Posted by: Steve White ||
12/09/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
"Any country, they take care of their own citizens, .."
I assume he means Hicks should be executed at home?
Posted by: Frank G ||
12/09/2006 5:51 Comments ||
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BERLIN, Dec 8, 2006 (AFP) - The German government on Friday summoned the Iranian charge d'affairs in Berlin to express its opposition to a planned conference on the Holocaust in Tehran next week. A foreign ministry spokesman, Jens Ploetner, told reporters that Germany had made clear that as the country responsible for the Nazis' crimes it found any statements questioning Israel's right to exist or the fact of the Holocaust to be "shocking" and "unacceptable".
"We condemn any attempt, in the past or in the future, to give a forum to those who relativise or question the Holocaust," he told a regular government news conference. Germany "bears a unique responsibility toward the victims of the Nazis, in particular the victims of the Holocaust," he added. Think the Iranians will even notice?
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mohammadi said this week the staging of the conference on December 11-12 was a response to the lack of answers to questions posed over the Holocaust by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He declined to give the names of the 67 international "scholars" he said would be attending over fears their home countries would ban them from travelling to Tehran.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said this week that he would deplore any conference that sought to cast doubt on the reality of the Holocaust. Attaboy, Kofi, that'll show 'em.
Posted by: Steve White ||
12/09/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
You're just attracting unnecessary attention to the Project.
#2
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said this week that he would roll over in bed and deplore any conference that sought to cast doubt on the reality of the Holocaust
#4
A foreign ministry spokesman, Jens Ploetner, told reporters that Germany had made clear that as the country responsible for the Nazis' crimes it found any statements questioning Israel's right to exist or the fact of the Holocaust to be "shocking" and "unacceptable".
Which certainly gives Germany the edge over Japan in coming to terms with its past and not indulging in any revisionism.
"We condemn any attempt, in the past or in the future, to give a forum to those who relativise or question the Holocaust," he told a regular government news conference. Germany "bears a unique responsibility toward the victims of the Nazis, in particular the victims of the Holocaust," he added.
Then what the fuck are you doing participating with the UNFIL forces in Lebanon. One might easily consider that an unacceptable degree of collaboration with those who seek to perpetuate the Holocaust.
Kofi Annan said this week that he would deplore
Man, you know that's gotta sting! Isn't "deplore" just one tiny step removed from the searing harshness of a sternly worded reprimand?
In what was likely her final legislative act in Congress, outgoing Georgia Rep. Cynthia McKinney announced a bill Friday to impeach President Bush. The legislation has no chance of passing and serves as a symbolic parting shot not only at Bush but also at Democratic leaders. Incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has made clear that she will not entertain proposals to sanction Bush and has warned the liberal wing of her party against making political hay of impeachment.
McKinney, a Democrat who drew national headlines in March when she struck a Capitol police officer, has long insisted that Bush was never legitimately elected. In introducing her legislation in the final hours of the current Congress, she said Bush had violated his oath of office to defend the Constitution and the nation's laws.
McKinney has made no secret of her frustration with Democratic leaders since voters ousted her from office in the Democratic primary this summer. In a speech Monday at George Washington University, she accused party leaders of cowing to Republicans on the war in Iraq and on military mistreatment of prisoners.
Cowing? LOL. Bye Cindy. Don't go away mad, just go away.
#5
look for her at the local drive-thru - the bitch at the window with the attitude and room temp IQ. IIRC she has no real job quals...semi-inherited Billy's wacko-constituent seat
Posted by: Frank G ||
12/09/2006 5:55 Comments ||
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#6
look for her at the local drive-thru
Don't put it in gear before you double-check your order and change.
All the whiners complain about the government, but what do you expect when you entice good people with crap in pay. Come on, you want them to manage a multi-trillion dollar international economy that is the engine of the world economy and pay pittance. No wonder you get the likes of this gal and her bribe stuffed refrigerator partners. Just like teachers, Im sure in that the one you have is good, its just all the other ones are idiots. I dont care what the current crop of dodos is worth, what Im interested in doing is attracting a better crop of potential candidates. Notice that the military pays bonuses to attract and retain quality people. What a concept. 435 Reps, 100 Senators, 1 President, and just throw in 9 Justices of SCOTUS, that is a total of 545 people. A million a piece would only be 545 million, small by comparison to the amount of pork these current fellows turn out every year for contributions to their reelection funds. You think you might, just might actually get competent knowledgeable people above the usual selection of party hacks to try for the job?
#8
Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has made clear that she will not entertain proposals to sanction Bush
That's the key piece of information in the article, as far as I'm concerned. The Kos Kiddies do not get yet another of their non-negotiables, and the White House won't have to waste time playing that stupid game. At the rate they're getting mugged by reality, the Democrat Congresscritters are going to end up Conservative!
#10
If I was Cynthia, I'd be more concerned with setting up some well paying hack no show job now that I've been voted out of my well paying hack no show job.
#11
Cynthia will be just fine. Surley she already has a job with one those 9/11 fact finding thingys. They will continue to refer to her as "Congresswoman McKinney" and prolly even present her with her very own brass name plate.
#12
All the whiners complain about the government, but what do you expect when you entice good people with crap in pay.
What the job lacks in pay the grifters more than make up for it in graft! Besides, serving ones country as a Statesmanperson was never meant to be professional pursuit.
#13
I was hoping some Congressional security person would give her a parting shot - in the chops! She certainly deserves it.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
12/09/2006 14:14 Comments ||
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#14
Right Mike. And the founding fathers never intended that the United States of America would maintain a large standing army. Reality makes shoulda, woulda, coulda a dead issue. If your mechanism for change is simply 'throw the bums out' all you get is just more bums to take their place.
#16
Oh yeah, I forgot. Implement the above at the State and Local levels as well. It is WAY past time to put the service back into public service. What we have now are a bunch of ticks. Time for some sheep dip.
When you have someone (rich naturally) spending 10's of millions of their own money to run for an office that doesn't pay squat --according to you-- something is wrong. Being elected to a national office shouldn't be akin to winning the lottery.
I'd also limit the whole career bureaucrat thing as well. Think DoS and all the other idjits that screw this country over.
This one single change could assist the cause of good government more than nearly all the other alterations you suggest combined. The undue influence of special interests is literally poisoning this country.
Should you doubt this, simply examine the impact on domestic policy regarding communist China and Taiwan caused by campaign contributions from those who profit from low-cost Chinese imports and manufacturing.
#19
This one single change could assist the cause of good government more than nearly all the other alterations you suggest combined.
I know. And it is exactly because of Bubba Clinton and the whole China-gate debacle with commies sleeping in Lincoln's bedroom etc. etc. that I'd insist on item #2 alone if I couldn't get the rest of it.
I'd hang the lot of them, tomorrow, just to send a message to their replacements. Who knows, the jihadis get lucky and pop a nuke on our soil, we might just get the chance.
#22
Mike, first off, the legislature is where the money changes hands. You want every presidential candidate to have served in the money changing closet at least 2 terms ? I say no terms. We need leaders, not legislation for sale, as we have today.
We have practically forced them to pass a bill to build a fence, and still they want to legislate more technical immigrants, via green card, and amnesty. They don't give a shit about what we want, they are being bought by business, and they are in no position to fail to deliver.
If this government really respected the will of the people, they would put plain language questions on the ballot asking about immigration, military action, social security, medicare, property rights, and a host of other issues.
They send around surveys, which are really intended to solicit funds, but they never put a serious question on the ballot. Why ?
You tell me.
#23
Mike, first off, the legislature is where the money changes hands.
First off, the nyms Mick! Although I really don't care, I've been called worse than Mike. Second, go read the list again, pay attention to item #10 and #2. Hell, look at all of them again. I didn't say it would be perfect, just better than what we have now.
Also, before my plan would be put in place the existing lot would have already done the high jump, their replacements would understand what was expected of them. Or they'd get replaced as well. I want to see an end to the notion that "Career Politician" is a job title worthy of pursuit.
#24
Good start at the list, and I agree with the banning of lobbying thingy being a HUGE good start.
The one I'd change would be #11 and #12. Mandatory voting is NOT freedom, and believe me, I've seen some folks who may be eligible, but should NOT vote in my mind. On this one, I likey Neal Boortz' idea...not only be of certain age (18), but you must pass a test on how our Federal Gov't(should) work, as outlined in the Constitution. That would get rid of all the scumbags who vote Donk just to enrich themselves through welfare, food stamps, etc.
On item #12, I agree with wxjames' take on it (in #22). Of course, IF you got rid of lobbying, that may well solve that issue. I'd actually prefer to go the route of requiring the Presidential nominees to have been Governor of some state. Think Reagan, Bush-II, et. al. and you'll see how having served as Governor, you bring the more Local/State take on things to the table. Of course, Billy Jeff Clinton was Governor too, so not all's well with that choice.
Posted by: BA ||
12/09/2006 22:36 Comments ||
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#25
Meant to add, don't count McKinney out yet. She may be gone, but remember, she was gone for 2 years when Majette kicked her tail, only to return 2 years later. If she gets on the ticket again, I'm betting she'll win, just because it's "her" district.
Posted by: BA ||
12/09/2006 22:37 Comments ||
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US President George W. Bush is focusing on three options to redefine the country's engagement in Iraq following a report by the Iraq Study Group, The Washington Post reported.
Citing unnamed officials familiar with the debate, the paper said the major alternatives include a short-term surge of 15,000 to 30,000 additional US troops to secure Baghdad and accelerate the training of Iraqi forces.
Another strategy would redirect the US military away from the internal strife to focus mainly on hunting terrorists affiliated with al-Qaeda, according to the report.
And the third would concentrate political attention on supporting the majority Shiites and abandon US efforts to reach out to Sunni insurgents.
As Mr Bush and his advisers rush to complete their crash review and craft a new formula in the next two weeks, some close to the process said the major goal seems to be to stake out alternatives to the plan presented by the Iraq Study Group, The Post said.
But the growing undercurrent of discussions within the administration is shifting responsibility for Iraq's problems to Iraqis, the paper reported.
Sources familiar with the deliberations describe fatigue, frustration and a growing desire to disengage from Iraq, The Post said.
The crash White House review which involves the State Department, the National Security Council, the CIA and the Pentagon is tentatively expected to lead to a speech to the nation the week of December 18, the paper said.
While one of the options involves a surge of US troops, there is no agreement on what the mission of those forces would be, according to the report.
Discussions centre on accelerating the training of Iraqi forces and helping secure Baghdad before turning it over to the Iraqis, The Post said.
The goal could be to improve Iraq's defence capabilities so US combat troops could begin to withdraw faster.
#1
I lean towards option 3, "concentrate political attention on supporting the majority Shiites and abandon US efforts to reach out to Sunni insurgents."
The Sunni are doomed no matter what -- they've dug their own grave and it's just a matter how long it will take the Shia and Kurds to put them in it. So reaching out to them is a waste of time and resources.
Also, we have to make sure that the Iraqi Shia don't become a puppet of the Iranian Shia. Given that the Iraqi Shia are predominately Arabs while Iran is dominated by Shia Persians -- and the minority populations of Iran are less than happy with their Persian masters, that may not be as difficult as many people seem to think.
#2
Suggestion: allow the Sunnis to move gracefully, lock stock and barrel, to Syria. They get out of a bad situation, they get to live again under a Ba'athist thug-dictatorship which seems to be their preference, and we get to concentrate our enemies into one place.
Posted by: Steve White ||
12/09/2006 12:45 Comments ||
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#3
Bush to outline three options for Iraq
I wonder if the DemoCraps and our State dept. are factoring in an influx of a of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi refugees becoming citizens here in the USA.
#4
The Sunnis have been pouring out of the Iraq without any assistance thus far, Dr. Steve. From what I've noticed here at Rantburg, for the most part they're joining their compatriots in Jordan, Syria and Iran. The Iraqis pay close attention to our news, so no doubt this and similar reports will spur the on-going exodus without much effort on our part.
Rooters, through Newsmax.Dubai Ports World, the Arab-owned firm whose purchase of American port facilities caused a U.S. political uproar, will join a program aimed at stopping nuclear weapons being smuggled into the United States, sources familiar with the agreement said Thursday.
The program would involve screening U.S.-bound cargo for radiation at more than half a dozen ports including in Britain, Honduras, Oman and South Korea, sources said.
Dubai Ports World is among several international shipping and port operators chosen for the screening program mandated by the Safe Accountability for Every Port Act of 2006, legislation that resulted from the Dubai Ports controversy.
Port operators, which are expected to participate in the program by providing customs officials with space and access to their facilities, include A.P. Moeller-Maersk, PSA International and Hutchison Whampoa. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Nike Inc. were expected to be among participating shippers, sources said.
David Sanborn, Dubai Ports World's managing director for the Americas, has sharply criticized the U.S. port-security law as fundamentally inadequate. Sanborn, whom President Bush once nominated to head the U.S. Maritime Administration, told a security conference in October that the law did not go far enough to require radiation screening.
Sanborn withdrew his name from consideration for the Maritime Administration post amid the uproar over Dubai Ports.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa "talked a lot about Iraq" during their meeting at the State Department on Thursday, department spokesman Sean McCormack said on Friday. "They talked a lot about Iraqi internal efforts at national reconciliation among the various groups and sects," McCormack said during a department briefing. The two also discussed "how to move forward the negotiating political process between the Israelis and the Palestinians, and also the same on Lebanon -- how to defuse the current political crisis that is ongoing in Lebanon," McCormack said.
Beginning early next year, cargo containers bound for the United States from six foreign seaports will be screened for dangerous nuclear materials, the first phase in a program intended to expand the scrutiny of shipments before they reach American ports. Cargo containers destined for American ports will be driven on flatbed trucks past sensitive radiation monitors to detect possible nuclear hazards. And powerful X-ray machines will search for potential shielding intended to conceal radiological hazards.
When the detectors find potential nuclear materials, video images of the scans will be transmitted instantly to Homeland Security's National Targeting Center just outside Washington, D.C., for further analysis. If a physical search of the suspect container does not resolve the concern, it will be barred from U.S.-bound ships. "When in doubt, we pull it out. Then we'll open it up and look," Chertoff said.
The devices will screen all U.S.-bound cargo at three of the six ports Southampton, England; Puerto Cortes, Honduras; and Port Qasim in Pakistan. At the other three the port of Singapore; Port Salalah, Oman; and Port Busan in South Korea only some U.S.-bound cargo will be screened for radiological material, "due to limitations imposed by the size and complexity of those ports," Homeland Security officials said. Taken together, the deployments at the six ports will subject about 7 percent of U.S.-bound cargo to nuclear screening, they said.
"We are eager to expand this program as rapidly as possible," said Homeland Security's deputy secretary, Michael Jackson. "This is just one piece and one layer of a much larger system."
Cargo is also scanned for radioactive material when it arrives. Figures from the department's Customs and Border Protection agency, which administers the program, said the screening rate is 81 percent at U.S. seaports and 94 percent at land borders, with a goal of raising both figures to 100 percent by the end of 2007.
Thursday's announcement was attended by representatives of foreign ports and shipping companies who support the enhanced security inspections. Asked why foreign shippers would agree to adding another step in the shipping process, a U.S. official said, "They know what the consequences would be if something dangerous slips through and creates a tragedy here. Worldwide commerce would come to a halt and would be very hard to restart."
Posted by: Steve White ||
12/09/2006 00:00 ||
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#3
No doubt they'll find lots of smuggled people as well... and other things not listed on the manifest. I wonder whether the X-ray levels will be high enough to kill hidden insects and such as well?
This is yet another Jihadi Terrorism surcharge, bigjim-ky. I heard on the news this morning that wages have gone up again, which means tax revenues will increase; and anyway, this is one of those things we have to afford, like it or not.
The Transportation Security Administration is testing whether it can ease a post-9/11 policy that bars people from meeting relatives and friends at airports as they come off flights. Guess the WoT is over: who won?
A test program at Dallas/Fort Worth and Detroit airports could pave the way for other airports to allow non-travelers through checkpoints to meet passengers or shop at stores and restaurants. "There are a lot of airports that would like people without boarding passes to have access to concessions," said Michael Conway, a spokesman for Detroit Metro Airport, which starts its test next week. Dallas' test started last week.
The TSA began requiring boarding passes at checkpoints after it took over airport security in 2002 largely to reduce the number of people getting screened and ease lines, said Steve Martin of the Airports Council International. Letting non-travelers back in security lines "adds to the congestion and the difficulty of screening," said aviation security consultant Billie Vincent.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Steve White ||
12/09/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
Do you get to keep your shoes on if you spend a certain amount at participating merchants?
I mean, we always knew TSA was a joke. This just makes it official.
#2
Why would these f**kups do this now ??? It's hard enuff getting thru these lines as is. This would only quadruple the mess. Don't do this...pulleese.
#3
This is not an unreasonable plan *IF* they start profiling their screening. Then the majority of Americans can go unhindered about their normal business or family lives.
As someone who has spent a lot of time at airports both as a business traveler and meeting or seeing off relatives, not to mention actually being an airport screener back in my college days, I have always chaffed at the draconian measures instituted after flight 900 that were increased further after 9/11.
If you take a realistic profile of who is likely to be a hijacker/bomber and screen for that you reduce the workload to reasonable levels. That would not compromise security.
Posted by: DanNY ||
12/09/2006 7:54 Comments ||
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#4
Screw security when there's money to be made.
That was the view of the airlines who were in charge of security before 9/11. Then after, no one flew and they had to be bailed out. Some of the airlines should have been allowed to die quickly as an example to others to see the penalty for the bean counting trading off costs mentality. So we ended up with TSA to 'instill' a sense of security, not necessarily install real security. The airlines want to go back to business as usual? No bail outs next time.
#6
Just move the security gates beyond the major concessions, and don't allow non-passengers beyond that point. What's the big deal?
Remember that 80 meter square footprint (second row, right-hand illustration) required by passenger jets? From what I remember of airport design, this forces significant branching to stagger the pull-ups at individual jetway gates, which creates a lot of unused real estate within those passageways. Airports rent that space to duty-free retailers. Additionally, freeing up access to those stores by installing security checkpoints at the terminus of each branch would be prohibitively expensive.
I'm sure the in-airport vendors are feeling the pinch and making it known.
#7
Darn it, Zenster, another area of knowledge as yet untouched, to be mastered in a limited lifetime! It sounded awfully good until cold reality intruded. Rantburg U rules!
...The Bush administration quietly announced at the Pentagon that it would equip Pakistan with thousands of missiles, airborne early warning systems and associated equipment worth a phenomenal $1.04 billion.
The latest US arms sale to Pakistan involves 2,769 Radio Frequency TOW 2A missiles, 415 RF bunker buster missiles, fly-to-buy missiles in both these categories, 121 TOW launchers for wire-guided and wireless missiles, E-2C HAWKEYE 2000 Airborne Early Warning Systems, simulators and support equipment....
Posted by: john ||
12/09/2006 21:30 ||
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NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 2: In A controversial move, the UPA government has defended the Darul Qaza or Shariat courts in the Supreme Court, saying their existence posed no challenge to the countrys judicial system. In an affidavit filed in the court, the Centre even defended the jaziya tax imposed by Aurangazeb as a mere special tax which non-Muslims had to pay for failing to render military service.
The emperor Aurangazeb probably killed a couple hundred thousand hindus during his reign
The history of Darul-Qaza and legislative history of the enactments in the form of Regulations and Acts in respect of appointing Muslim Law officers to Court would show that the institution of Darul Qaza has never been and is not in derogation of or in conflict with the official/ recognised judicial system in India, the Union of India said in the affidavit filed in response to a public interest litigation.
The PIL filed by Vishwa Lochan Madan had alleged that existence of Shariat courts and the fatwas issued by them were a threat to Indias judicial system. The Centre said that the courts were an alternative dispute redressal forum, which performed a conciliatory role without powers of enforcement.
The government linked the setting up of Shariat courts to the freedom guaranteed to minorities under Article 26 of the Constitution and denied they were a parallel judicial system. Freedom guaranteed by Article 26 to every religious denomination or every section thereof to establish and maintain institutions for religious and charitable purposes and to manage its own affairs in the matter of religion would include the freedom to establish Darul-Qaza/ Nizam-ul-Qaza to settle disputes between two persons professing Islam, according to Shariat, the affidavit said. Besides, their existence did not prevent Muslims from reporting to the courts of law, the Government said.
On fatwas, the affidavit said these judgments could best be considered the opinion of the Mufti who undergoes special training before his anointment. The Mufti proceeds on facts submitted to him for his opinion. The Mufti has no power and therefore does not investigate the veracity of the facts submitted to him, it said, adding the Mufti had no power either to impose his opinion either by way of fine or sending the person to jail.
The Government also sidestepped the controversy over the fatwas issued in the Imrana case, saying, the case of Imrana has been found not to having been referred to any of the Dar-ul-Waza/ Nizam-e-Qaza. The affidavit also dodged questions on the fatwas issued in the case of Jyotsna Ara of Assam and Asobi in Haryana, both of whom were raped by their fathers-in-law, saying the petitioner had not made the Muftis who had given the fatwa party to the petition. In any event, few bad examples may lead to the abolition of a system which otherwise is found useful and effective, the Centre submitted, requesting the court to reject the PIL.
Posted by: john ||
12/09/2006 21:06 ||
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the courts were an alternative dispute redressal forum, which performed a conciliatory role without powers of enforcement.
simply amazing.
The Nobel laureate in literature Sir Vidya Naipaul has written that Indian textbooks simply lie about muslim rule.
Only in Pakistan are the original sources quoted, where the emperors boasted of the numbers of temples burnt, and how many thousand hindu kaffirs they killed every day.
Posted by: john ||
12/09/2006 21:23 Comments ||
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New Delhi, December 9: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said plans for minorities, particularly Muslims, must have the first claim on resources so that benefits of development reach them equitably.
"We will have to devise innovative plans to ensure that minorities, particularly the Muslim minority, are empowered to share equitably the fruits of development. These must have the first claim on resources," he said in his address at the 52nd meeting of the National Development Council (NDC) in New Delhi.
The Centre's resources, he added, will be stretched with greater responsibility given to states in this regard.
"The Centre has a myriad other responsibilities whose demands will have to be fitted within its overall resource availability," he said.
The Planning Commission will undertake a thorough review of ongoing programmes to eliminate those which have outlived their original rationale, Singh added.
"But we cannot escape from the fact that the Centre's resources will be stretched in the immediate future and an increasing share of the responsibility will have to be shouldered by the states," he remarked.
Singh also emphasised that special component plans for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes needed to be revitalised in the country.
Last month, the Prime Minister favoured fair share for minorities in government and private jobs as he spoke at the meeting of the National Commission for Minorities.
Posted by: john ||
12/09/2006 10:20 ||
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Chasing that elusive muslim vote...
Posted by: john ||
12/09/2006 10:32 Comments ||
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#3
What you ought to do is set up a Commission to study how to export all these pikers to their natural shithole of residence...Pakland. Then you could nuke these assholes and actually solve your problem once and for all.
#6
The former FM Jaswant Singh, when asked about independence for majority muslim J+K, pointed out that there were 5 or 6 regions within India with a majority muslim population.
He then asked the interviewer where they would get the trains necessary to ship all these muslims - 140 million of them, to other countries...
Posted by: john ||
12/09/2006 17:15 Comments ||
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#7
we'll take them.
Posted by: US State Dept ||
12/09/2006 17:17 Comments ||
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22-year-old Ambika alias Bindu has made an infamous mark after becoming the first girl allegedly joining the crime world of Jammu and Kashmir by playing a key role in the sensational murder of underworld don Sanjay Gupta alias Bakra.
On November 25th morning, hardcore gangster Rajesh Dogra alias Mohan and one Vishal Thakur alias Vicky Thakur gunned down Bakra, when the latter entered the premises of the house of a senior government doctor in posh Trikuta Nagar locality here.
"Within 24 hours after the incident of crime, Police investigations indicated involvement of a girl that sent shocked waves in the society here with a guess how a girl can be a part of such a heinous crime," revealed official sources in police further adding that "however, the mystery was solved within four days with prime accused Rajesh Dogra alias Mohan and Vishal Thakur alias Vicky Thakur that were caught in New Delhi disclosing the name of the girl i.e. Ambika alias Bindu who played a key role in calling Sanjay Gupta alias Bakra at the place where he was killed."
"Girl friend of another co-accused Kapil, Ambika was motivated by Kapil to come in contact with Bakra so that the deceased could come out alone to meet her. After calling Bakra, she left the area on a mini-bus and later reached to Dalhousie in Himachal Pradesh to re-join the accused and co-accused there," sources in the investigating police team disclosed and added that "from the questioning of the father of Ambika, Subash Chander son of late Hans Raj and presently living in a Colony in Talab Tillo locality here, it looks that this gang of hardcore criminals used to threaten the family members of Ambika whenever they did not allow her to move out of the house."
"Coming up from a lower middle class family, Ambika, despite objections from the family members, remained in touch with criminals. She used to give slip to the family members while moving outside the house on the pretext that she is visiting to her classmate's house.
However, she continued to meet Kapil and other co accused that had hatched a conspiracy to murder Bakra," sources in investigating police team observed. Ambika is now the part of dark streets of crime world and investigating police team are conducting raids at all suspected hideouts to apprehend her and her boyfriend Kapil along with other two co-accused Palla and Deepu.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/09/2006 00:48 ||
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The criticism of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf for his "U-turn' on Kashmir continued to pour out from the separatist circles in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday as well.
Syedah Asiya Andrabi, chief of Dakhtaran-e-Millat today questioned General Parvezs Musharafs position and said that the Pak President had no authority to speak on behalf of the people of Kashmir. Musharaf is a dictator. He does not represent even the people of Pakistan. How come he would speak on our behalf, the Dakhtaran chief told media persons on Wednesday.
Pakistan President had come under severe flak from separatist for his assertion, in an interview with a TV channel that his country was willing to give up claim on Kashmir if government of India agreed to demilitarization and self-rule as solution to the issue of Kashmir. "Musharaf is an aggressor, a dictator. He has no right or authority to change the position of his countrys basic policy on Kashmir", Asiya said.
The Dakhtaran chief chose the occasion to whip at Mirwaiz Ummer Farooq, whose Hurriyat faction has, supported Pak Presidents self-rule proposal. "Mirwaiz should also, like Musharraf, say that he too was opposed to the freedom of Kashmiri people so that the people can differentiate between a leader and a traitor, she said. Asiya appealed to Syed Ali Geelani, chairman of hard-line faction of Hurriyat Conference, who too has come strongly against Pal president proposal, to take the reins of leaders into his hands. Geelani is holding a press conference on Thursday to come out with a proper response to Musharafs latest proposal.
Former militant leader and chairman of Muslim league, Mushtaqul Islam described Pak president as "American agent" and alleged that Musharaf was issuing statements to please his "American and Israeli masters. "Musharraf is an American stooge. He has no right to give solutions on Kashmir", Mushtaq said. The Muslim League supremo said that the people of Kashmir were the masters of their own fate, and no solution would be acceptable in which "our aspirations are not reflected".
Posted by: Fred ||
12/09/2006 00:48 ||
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I wondered what that recurring sucking sound was...
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - In a fresh bid to win Russian and Chinese support, key European nations circulated a revised U.N. resolution Friday narrowing sanctions on Iran for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment and urging negotiations to resolve the standoff over its nuclear ambitions.
The new draft still would ban the supply of materials and technology that could contribute to Iran's nuclear and missile programs, but it spells out in much greater detail exactly what items are prohibited. Russia and China - both veto-wielding members of the U.N. Security Council - had complained that the proposed sanctions in the original draft were too broad.
Why don't they just circulate copies of "The Joy of Sex" instead? It'd be a lot less expensive, save everyone tons of time and have almost as much masturbatory content.
#3
Ya mean , like lil' Kimmie already has done for the ChiComs? That has to be the largest strategic F**kup they have made in their history. They let their little rat just keep kicking the sleeping dog. Now the dog woke up and is snarling. And, this dog has sharp teeth and bites like hell.
JAN Egeland has a piece of advice for his successor as he finishes his job as the United Nations Emergency Relief Co-ordinator. Never ask the question: "Can it go wrong?"
"Of course it can go wrong. When diplomats ask that question, they do not do anything. They do nothing. You have to ask the question: 'Can it go well?' "
Mr Egeland has been called the "world's conscience". He has certainly raised the profile of the job, using his experience as a television reporter to harness the media to prod and poke reluctant governments to move. His description of Western governments as stingy after the 2004 tsunami set off an international debate and may have contributed to the eventual outpouring of generosity from governments and individuals.
He is unapologetic about his forthrightness. "The whole point is not to please member states, or people in positions of power. The whole point is to help the voiceless or the dispossessed."
Posted by: Fred ||
12/09/2006 00:48 ||
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"The whole point is not to please member states, or people in positions of power. The whole point is to help the voiceless or the dispossessed."
Like the people of Darfur, or Christians of Dar el Islam? How about Jews dispossed from MME? Russians driven from the Mulsim republics of the former Soviat Union? Tibetans?
#7
By the writer, who's apparently made of cotton and stuffing & resides on the end of Mr. Egeland's right arm.
Posted by: Mitch H. ||
12/09/2006 11:50 Comments ||
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#8
Is there a way to request my tsunami money back. I truly feel for the people of Indonesia, but when you've got smart-@ss former reporters running the show, I don't agree to give them money on merit alone.
Posted by: BA ||
12/09/2006 22:45 Comments ||
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BAGHDAD, Dec. 8 Iraqi officials are near agreement on a national oil law that would give the central government the power to distribute current and future oil revenues to the provinces or regions, based on their population, Iraqi and American officials say.
If enacted, the measure, drafted by a committee of politicians and ministers, could help resolve a highly divisive issue that has consistently blocked efforts to reconcile the countrys feuding ethnic and sectarian factions. Sunni Arabs, who lead the insurgency, have opposed the idea of regional autonomy for fear that they would be deprived of a fair share of the countrys oil wealth, which is concentrated in the Shiite south and Kurdish north.
The Iraq Study Group report stressed that an oil law guaranteeing an equitable distribution of revenues was crucial to the process of national reconciliation, and thus to ending the war.
Continued on Page 49
BAGHDAD, Dec. 8 One of the most coveted jobs in Iraq does not yet exist: the executioner for Saddam Hussein. The death sentence against Mr. Hussein is still under review by an appeals court, but hundreds of people have already started lobbying the prime ministers office for the position.
They have sent messages through cabinet officials and their assistants, and by way of government guards and clerical workers. One candidate, an Iraqi Shiite living in London whose brother was killed by Mr. Hussein, telephoned an aide to the prime minister to say he was prepared to drop everything and fly to Baghdad to execute the former ruler.
One of the hardest tasks will be to determine who gets to be the hangman because so many people want revenge for the loss of their loved ones, said Basam Ridha, an adviser to Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki.
Continued on Page 49
#2
Until the new gallows were built, the Iraqi government used an apparatus and an old rope left over from Mr. Husseins government, said the high-ranking government official. The rope had become so elastic that it would sometimes take as much as eight minutes to kill the convicted person.
#3
There's a ready solution. Hook him to a pickup. Each driver gets to pull his carcass 1/2 mile. Should accomodate about 50-60 if they take it easy and don't hit too many obstacles.
#10
My object all sublime
I shall achieve in time
to let the punishment fit the crime
the punishment fit the crime
and make each prisoner pent
unwillingly represent
a source of innocent merriment
of innocent merriment
-Gilbert and Sullivan's the Mikado
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
12/09/2006 14:18 Comments ||
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#11
With a elastic rope... keelhauling (otherwise known as trolling the hard way for sharks) would be effective. Make sure it's at least 500lb line so the bites tear.
#12
I like the idea of selling raffle tickets. I'm sure they can raise enough money to repave every highway in Iraq, plus have some left over for port renovations and the extension of the rail network. It's about time Iraq got something worthwhile out of Hussein, and his death may pave the way - pun intended.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
12/09/2006 14:40 Comments ||
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the Iraqi government used an apparatus and an old rope left over from Mr. Husseins government, said the high-ranking government official. The rope had become so elastic that it would sometimes take as much as eight minutes to kill the convicted person.
Israel's foreign minister has arrived in the United States amid worries that the Jewish state's main ally could shift course after a report urged Washington to redouble Mideast peacemeaking efforts.
Tzipi Livni will meet with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and other officials during her visit, which will focus on the repercussions of a report released Wednesday by the Iraq Study Group, her office said. That report said progress towards Arab-Israeli peace was key to saving Iraq. It also called for direct US talks with two of Israel's most fearsome foes, Syria and Iran, the latter of which is believed to be steaming ahead in its bid for nuclear weapons.
A day after receiving the top-level commission's report, the United States and Britain signalled the start of a renewed diplomatic push in the region. The renewed focus on Mideast peacemaking and growing domestic pressure on US leaders to end the imbroglio in Iraq has Israelis worrying about a possible policy shift by Bush, who for six years has largely ignored the intricacies of Mideast peacemaking.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has also expressed disatisfaction with the report's recommendations. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, he said US problems in Iraq "are entirely independent of the controversy between us and the Palestinians." He also said that restarting peace talks with Syria, as recommended by the report, was unlikely in the near future.
In statements sure to allay Israeli concerns, Bush has rebuffed some of the report's recommendations and maintained his insistence that Damascus and Tehran renounce support for extremists and pledge support for Baghdad's fledgling government and that Iran freeze sensitive nuclear work before any direct talks.
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas and Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa, meanwhile, have both welcomed the Iraq Study Group's recommendation that Bush revitalise Arab-Israeli peacemaking efforts.
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - The Palestinian prime minister vowed his Hamas-led government will never recognize Israel and will fight for Jerusalem, telling a crowd at an Iranian mosque on Friday that he will resist U.S. pressure to moderate.
Ismail Haniyeh's sermon came on the first day of his visit to an increasingly influential ally of the Hamas movement. Iran has given $120 million to the Hamas-led government, which is starved for funds because of a financial blockade by the West. Hamas officials in Gaza said they expected Iran to pledge more money to Haniyeh, around $30 million a month. However much Haniyeh can stuff into his pants. Maybe get some pointers from Sandy Burglar?
The United States and other Western countries are pressing Hamas, which took over the Palestinian government after winning January elections, to recognize Israel and renounce violence. Haniyeh said he would do no such thing, adopting his hosts' label of "the world arrogance" to refer to the U.S. during his sermon to thousands of Friday prayer worshippers at Tehran University.
"The world arrogance and Zionists ... want us to recognize the usurpation of the Palestinian lands and stop jihad and resistance and accept the agreements reached with the Zionist enemies in the past," Haniyeh said, speaking in Arabic with a simultaneous translation into Farsi.
"We will never recognize the usurper Zionist government and will continue our jihad-like movement until the liberation of Jerusalem," he said.
An official in Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office, David Baker, said Haniyeh's comments were "precisely this type of extremist rhetoric that fuels terror and has prevented any chance of progress between Israel and the Palestinians." And yet Olmert sits on his hands.
Posted by: Steve White ||
12/09/2006 00:00 ||
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Someone from the other side of the fence needs to pump a few slugs into Haniyeh. Cycle through enough of Hamas' senior leadership inventory and maybe some more flexible individuals will appear.
Indonesia says a military force from predominantly Muslim countries should be deployed in Iraq before the United States withdraws. The recommendation is part of a larger proposal to resolve the conflict in the war-torn country. Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said like-minded moderate Islamic countries acceptable to the Iraqis should contribute to the "intervening force", whose deployment should not be seen as an extension of the U.S.-led coalition troops or Iraqi security forces. "This force would not be perceived as enemies by the Iraqis because we're going in there as brothers who are there to help," he said in an interview here Wednesday.
The force's capacity should not be measured by its firepower, he added. One certainly never measures a UN-sponsored force that way.
Hassan was elaborating on the Indonesian proposal for a political framework to solve the Iraq problem, a concept which first became public during the visit of U.S. President George W. Bush to Bogor last month. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono referred to it at the joint press conference with Bush afterwards as the "triple track" proposal. The other two "tracks" are a national reconciliation forum that must ultimately lead to an international conference, and a massive economic rehabilitation and reconstruction program.
The proposal took many people here by surprise, since there had been no prior public discussion about Indonesia getting involved in the conflict. Some politicians and foreign policy experts question whether Indonesia is capable of tackling this very complicated war, and others fear the move would shift the burden of Iraq from Washington to Indonesia. Hassan defended the proposal as Indonesia's contribution to the search for a solution that would restore Iraq's sovereignty, peace and stability. "We're friends to the Iraqis, and we're a friend of the United States too, and of all the parties directly involved in the conflict," he said. "There has to be something that we can contribute."
When asked who had come up with the idea and developed it, he replied: "The president and the foreign minister together".
The concept was first broached when Hassan met with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum meeting in Hanoi in November. The two were then preparing the agenda for the Bush-Yudhoyono talks in Bogor. "We ended up spending the entire 45 minutes going over the concept," he said. "Rice then suggested that this matter be brought to the attention of the leaders when they met in Bogor." The Indonesian proposal was discussed during a Bogor meeting involving the presidents and foreign ministers.
The Indonesian public would be brought up to speed in due course, he said, adding that currently Indonesia is pursuing the matter through quiet diplomacy, approaching relevant countries one at a time. "Diplomacy has its limitations. You can't disclose everything to the public until after you talk to everyone concerned."
The minister said the international response to the Indonesian proposal so far has been encouraging. "It's better than expected," Hassan said.
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front has hailed the replacement of an Army company as the possible reason why there had been no skirmishes for more than a week already, and believed that this may signal soon the return to normalcy in the affected Maguindanao town. "Not a single untoward incident had happened in the strife-ridden capital town of Maguindanao, Shariff Aguak, for the past eight days," said Von Al Haq, chairman of the MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities. Al Haq, quoted in a report Friday in its Internet website, said the "silence in Shariff Aguak can be attributed largely to the replacement of the 64th Infantry Battalion (IB) Bravo Company with the 6th IB Bravo Company on November 22".
On Nov. 22, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon replaced Bravo Company of the 64th IB with about 100 soldiers who have done peacekeeping duties, to Barangay Kuloy, Shariff Aguak, where the Army company was stationed. The International Monitoring Team and Bantay Ceasefire volunteers have complained against the company for being "too confrontational" with the MILF in Kuloy.
Dontcha hate it when armies get confrontational?
Esperon's move was welcomed by the MILF and Bantay Ceasefire. The MILF has viewed the replacement as having a "clear mandate of purely peace keeping mission and not for combat purposes". If the situation of the absence of gunbattles, Al Haq said this may lead to the return of normalcy in the entire municipality of Shariff Aguak, not only in the flashpoint barangays of Kuloy and Tapikan.
"And we shall have Peace in Our Time."
Sporadic skirmishes have been reported the past two months before the Army unit was replaced and involved militias loyal to the governor, backed by the Army company, and by the MILF Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Force's 105th Base Command. Some areas had been abandoned by their villagers to escape being caught in the crossfire.
Whew! All this talk about MILFs and Swapping... I gotta go shoot my gun...
Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora accused the pro-Syrian Hezbollah party of plotting a coup against him on Friday, escalating the war of words between the Western-backed government and opposition forces. Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah told thousands of supporters that he would not yield in his battle to oust Siniora and said some government officials had tried to sabotage the guerrilla group in this year's war with Israel.
Siniora hit back in a televised speech, rejecting the accusations and accusing the Shi'ite Hezbollah of trying to intimidate its opponents into submission. "You are not our God and the party (Hezbollah) is not our God ... Who appointed you to say 'I am right and everything else is wrong?'" said Siniora, who is a Sunni Muslim.
Opposition parties, which include a populist Christian group, have occupied two squares in central Beirut for more than a week and have vowed not to budge until Siniora yields to their demands for a government of national unity. Some political analysts say the stand-off could spark sectarian strife in a country that has fought two civil wars in the past 50 years and is struggling to recover from the 34-day war against Israel in July and August.
A truculent fiery Nasrallah said on Thursday Siniora had tried to get the Lebanese army to cut supply routes to his guerrillas during its battle with Israeli forces - an inflammatory accusation which both the government and army have denied. Nasrallah has called for a mass rally on Sunday and said on Thursday if Siniora's allies did not yield soon he would ratchet up the pressure further and push for early elections.
The prime minister told a room full of supporters that Nasrallah was "trying to launch a coup d'etat, or at least threatening us with a coup d'etat and defining its outcome in advance. This does not lead to results."
In a show of Muslim unity, a Lebanese Sunni preacher led thousands of Shi'ite protesters in prayers on Friday, saying the on-going crisis was purely political. "This mass protest is not for Shi'ites or for Sunnis or any other sect. It is for all of Lebanon," said Preacher Fathi Yakan, who leads a small Sunni group which backs the opposition.
But underscoring the sectarian undercurrents at play in Lebanon, the country's top Sunni cleric said his community would not allow the government to give in to the crippling protests. "We consider ... toppling Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and his government in the street is a red line. It is a red line that we will not allow to be crossed," Grand Mufti Mohammed Rashid Qabbani said after Friday prayers.
Siniora and most of his ministers are holed up in government headquarters, fearing for their lives after the assassination last month of Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel. If two more ministers resign or die, the government will automatically fall.
Shi'ite parties withdrew their ministers from the cabinet in November and have demanded that the opposition be given the right of veto in any new administration. Siniora's allies say their opponents are looking to derail plans to set up an international tribunal to try suspects in the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, which many Lebanese blame on Syria, a charge Damascus denies.
Sunni leaders in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan have thrown their weight behind Siniora, alarmed by the growing influence of Shi'ite Iran, which funds Hezbollah. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak told French television on Friday that the opposition was not being "reasonable".
"There is also the risk of outside interference in these demonstrations. That can lead to very serious confrontations and even lead to the destruction of Lebanon," he said.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/09/2006 00:48 ||
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Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora accused the pro-Syrian Hezbollah party of plotting a coup against him
And here you thought that they only want to kill Jews.
Prime Minister Mohamad Naji Ottri conferred on Thursday with Aleida Guevara daughter of the late revolutionary leader Ernesto Che Guevara on relations of cooperation between the two countries and friendly peoples in Cuba and Syria as well as mean of boosting them in culture and media domains. Syrian Premier voiced appreciation over of Aleid's father stances, saying he is a symbol of sacrifice and resistance to defend values of right, freedom and human dignity. For her part, Dr. Aleida hailed Syria's position, unity and coherence of her people, expressing admiration of what she has watched of progress and steps taken in fields of developments and culture in Syria. Che's dughter has a message for the Syrian people:
For her part, daughter of late freedom fighter Ernesto Che Guevara, Aleida , who was attending the meeting, takes great pride in her meeting with the occupied Golan students giving support and advocate to Syria's struggle to restore Golan. Aleida, earlier underlined in a debate with Damascus university students, the importance of boosting cooperation and coordination among freedom fighting peoples to get ride of hegemony policy followed by some colonial forces to control resources and capabilities. The Cuban guest demonstrated solidarity with the Arab people confronting some imperialist forces bids and hired mass media to deform the Arab civilized image.
Apparently reading directly from Noam Chomsky's manifesto.
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.
By The Associated Press 
Colombia's far-right paramilitaries pulled out of a peace process with President Alvaro Uribe's government late Wednesday following the decision to transfer jailed militia leaders to a maximum security prison. The announcement came after a three-hour meeting with the government's chief peace negotiator. The peace agreement was thrown into crisis on Friday when the government transferred 59 imprisoned paramilitary warlords from their special prison to a high-security installation on rumors of a possible prison break.
Hundreds of people have rallied in several capital cities, in support of Australian Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks. The rallies were organised to put pressure on the Commonwealth Government to bring Hicks back to Australia to be tried or released.
BERLIN, Dec 8, 2006 (AFP) - The German government on Friday summoned the Iranian charge d'affairs in Berlin to express its opposition to a planned conference on the Holocaust in Tehran next week. A foreign ministry spokesman, Jens Ploetner, told reporters that Germany had made clear that as the country responsible for the Nazis' crimes it found any statements questioning Israel's right to exist or the fact of the Holocaust to be "shocking" and "unacceptable". 
In what was likely her final legislative act in Congress, outgoing Georgia Rep. Cynthia McKinney announced a bill Friday to impeach President Bush. The legislation has no chance of passing and serves as a symbolic parting shot not only at Bush but also at Democratic leaders. Incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has made clear that she will not entertain proposals to sanction Bush and has warned the liberal wing of her party against making political hay of impeachment. 
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa "talked a lot about Iraq" during their meeting at the State Department on Thursday, department spokesman Sean McCormack said on Friday. "They talked a lot about Iraqi internal efforts at national reconciliation among the various groups and sects," McCormack said during a department briefing. The two also discussed "how to move forward the negotiating political process between the Israelis and the Palestinians, and also the same on Lebanon -- how to defuse the current political crisis that is ongoing in Lebanon," McCormack said.
Beginning early next year, cargo containers bound for the United States from six foreign seaports will be screened for dangerous nuclear materials, the first phase in a program intended to expand the scrutiny of shipments before they reach American ports. Cargo containers destined for American ports will be driven on flatbed trucks past sensitive radiation monitors to detect possible nuclear hazards. And powerful X-ray machines will search for potential shielding intended to conceal radiological hazards.
The Transportation Security Administration is testing whether it can ease a post-9/11 policy that bars people from meeting relatives and friends at airports as they come off flights.
22-year-old Ambika alias Bindu has made an infamous mark after becoming the first girl allegedly joining the crime world of Jammu and Kashmir by playing a key role in the sensational murder of underworld don Sanjay Gupta alias Bakra.
BAGHDAD, Dec. 8 Iraqi officials are near agreement on a national oil law that would give the central government the power to distribute current and future oil revenues to the provinces or regions, based on their population, Iraqi and American officials say. 
BAGHDAD, Dec. 8 One of the most coveted jobs in Iraq does not yet exist: the executioner for Saddam Hussein. The death sentence against Mr. Hussein is still under review by an appeals court, but hundreds of people have already started lobbying the prime ministers office for the position.
Indonesia says a military force from predominantly Muslim countries should be deployed in Iraq before the United States withdraws. The recommendation is part of a larger proposal to resolve the conflict in the war-torn country. Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said like-minded moderate Islamic countries acceptable to the Iraqis should contribute to the "intervening force", whose deployment should not be seen as an extension of the U.S.-led coalition troops or Iraqi security forces. "This force would not be perceived as enemies by the Iraqis because we're going in there as brothers who are there to help," he said in an interview here Wednesday. 
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front has hailed the replacement of an Army company as the possible reason why there had been no skirmishes for more than a week already, and believed that this may signal soon the return to normalcy in the affected Maguindanao town. "Not a single untoward incident had happened in the strife-ridden capital town of Maguindanao, Shariff Aguak, for the past eight days," said Von Al Haq, chairman of the MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities. Al Haq, quoted in a report Friday in its Internet website, said the "silence in Shariff Aguak can be attributed largely to the replacement of the 64th Infantry Battalion (IB) Bravo Company with the 6th IB Bravo Company on November 22". .JPG)
Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora accused the pro-Syrian Hezbollah party of plotting a coup against him on Friday, escalating the war of words between the Western-backed government and opposition forces. Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah told thousands of supporters that he would not yield in his battle to oust Siniora and said some government officials had tried to sabotage the guerrilla group in this year's war with Israel.
