Hi there, !
Today Sun 04/13/2008 Sat 04/12/2008 Fri 04/11/2008 Thu 04/10/2008 Wed 04/09/2008 Tue 04/08/2008 Mon 04/07/2008 Archives
Rantburg
532756 articles and 1859154 comments are archived on Rantburg.

Today: 71 articles and 346 comments as of 7:33.
Post a news link    Post your own article   
Area: WoT Background    Non-WoT    Opinion    Local News       
Nahal Oz fuel depot closed after attack. Surprise.
Today's Headlines
Headline Comments [Views]
Page 1: WoT Operations
12 00:00 JosephMendiola [2] 
4 00:00 Chief Running Gag [] 
9 00:00 Chief Running Gag [1] 
9 00:00 trailing wife [1] 
4 00:00 Snaving Stalin4500 [1] 
1 00:00 Crolusing tse Tung2745 [] 
0 [] 
2 00:00 Old Patriot [] 
3 00:00 Old Patriot [] 
0 [] 
0 [] 
0 [] 
9 00:00 Anonymoose [] 
4 00:00 sinse [1] 
0 [] 
0 [] 
1 00:00 Slavilet Forkbeard7501 [] 
2 00:00 WTF [] 
3 00:00 Old Patriot [] 
Page 2: WoT Background
6 00:00 twobyfour [1]
4 00:00 Barbara Skolaut [2]
4 00:00 Frank G []
11 00:00 rjschwarz []
10 00:00 DarthVader [2]
1 00:00 Excalibur []
3 00:00 tu3031 []
9 00:00 JSU [1]
14 00:00 Redneck Jim []
5 00:00 Old Patriot []
6 00:00 Old Patriot []
6 00:00 sinse []
1 00:00 sinse []
7 00:00 DarthVader []
5 00:00 Uncle Phester []
0 []
1 00:00 sinse []
2 00:00 Sonny Elmeamp2499 []
0 []
0 []
Page 3: Non-WoT
6 00:00 Frank G [1]
10 00:00 Anonymoose [3]
12 00:00 Frank G [1]
9 00:00 wxjames []
1 00:00 Anonymoose []
0 []
8 00:00 Harcourt Jash2446 []
3 00:00 JFM []
12 00:00 gorb []
5 00:00 Eric Jablow [1]
0 []
0 []
0 []
3 00:00 SteveS []
5 00:00 WhiteCollarRedneck []
3 00:00 Procopius2k []
0 []
Page 4: Opinion
0 []
7 00:00 Frank G []
1 00:00 Woodrow Slusorong7967 []
4 00:00 Nimble Spemble [1]
1 00:00 DarthVader []
33 00:00 USN,Ret. [2]
2 00:00 bigjim-ky [1]
7 00:00 rjschwarz []
Page 5: Russia-Former Soviet Union
7 00:00 JosephMendiola [1]
11 00:00 Barbara Skolaut [1]
10 00:00 sinse []
18 00:00 Procopius2k []
5 00:00 Rambler in California []
6 00:00 Anonymoose []
1 00:00 charger []
-Obits-
Abu Ubaida al-Masri: The Obituary
Abu Ubaida al-Masri, one of Al Qaeda's top operatives and the mastermind behind a plot to use liquid explosives to blow British passenger jets out of the sky, is dead, a U.S. official confirmed to FOX News Wednesday.
"He's dead, Jim!"
The unidentified official said it is believed that al-Masri died of natural causes, possibly hepatitis, in Pakistan, and are staying away from a report that he was killed in a January CIA predator strike.

At the time of his death, the Egyptian-born al-Masri was responsible for the terror organization’s external operations, focusing on plotting attacks outside the tribal areas of Pakistan.

Al-Masri is tied to two major terrorist plots. The first being the July 7, 2005, London subway bombing, in which al-Masri recruited, trained and directed four homicide bombers in a coordinated attack on London's transportation system. In the attack, known as the 7/7 Bombings, three bombs exploded during morning rush-hour within 50 seconds of each other on three London Underground trains. A fourth bomb exploded on a bus nearly an hour later. The attack left 52 commuters dead, and more than 700 injured. It was the largest and deadliest terror attack on London in its history.

The second plot, in August, 2006, involved the use of liquid explosives smuggled aboard several airliners traveling from London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports to major cities in the U.S. and Canada with the intention of detonating the bombs in midair, destroying at least 10 aircraft. British intelligence foiled that plot, arresting 24 suspects in and around London. Eight of the original suspects currently are on trial in London, charged with conspiring to murder and destroy aircraft.

U.S. officials say al-Masri probably has been dead for several months, with no explanation as to why news of his death was not released sooner. Few have heard of al-Masri outside a select circle of anti-terrorism officials and Islamic militants, the Los Angeles Times reported last week.

"Abu Ubaida al Masri" is an alias, and officials have yet to learn the mysterious operative's real name, the Times reported. "He is considered capable and dangerous," an unidentified British official told the newspaper. "He is not at the very top of Al Qaeda, but has been part of the core circle for a long time. He is someone who has emerged and grabbed our attention as others were caught or eliminated in the last couple of years. Perhaps he rose faster than he would have otherwise."

Al-Masri was in his mid-40s according to a German investigative file obtained by the Times. His alias means "The Egyptian Father of Ubaida." Little is known about his youth other than that he belonged to a generation of Egyptians who have dominated Al Qaeda since the terror group fought the Soviets in Afghanistan in the 1970s and '80s, the Times reported.

Al-Masri fought in Bosnia-Herzegovina in the early 1990s, went on to Chechnya and lost two fingers in combat — leading to the nickname "Three-Fingered Egyptian" — the investigative file cites. He surfaced in Germany in 1995 requesting asylum, which was rejected in 1999. He was jailed pending deportation, but was then released for unknown reasons, the newspaper reported.

An associate of al-Masri in Germany included a Moroccan computer science student who married the daughter of Ayman Zawahiri, Usama bin Laden's deputy, the newspaper reported. By 2000 al-Masri was back in Afghanistan serving as an explosives instructor at a training camp near Kabul.

During the U.S.-led military operation in Afghanistan in late 2001, Masri fought in a paramilitary unit that took heavy casualties covering bin Laden's escape into Pakistan, Rohan Gunaratna, author of "Inside Al Qaeda," told the newspaper. When the self-proclaimed Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed was captured in 2003, al-Masri joined a group of chiefs responsible for external operations, the Times reported. "He's considered a player," a U.S. anti-terrorism official told the newspaper.
This article starring:
Abu Ubaida al-Masrial-Qaeda
Posted by: Fred || 04/10/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda

#1  SOrry, but I'd still like to see pics including death pic for comparison and verification.

*LA TIMES ARTCLE > "The long term prospects for Al Qaeda in the Afghanistan-Pakistan theater is diminishing ...". AGAIN, TO SAVE OR SALVAGE JIHAD INCLUDES BUT ISN'T LIMITED TO DITTO AS PER IMPORTANT ORGZ POL + BATTLE LEADERS, TO FIGHT AGAIN AT A LATER TIME [post-2010/2012?]WHEN BOTH IRAN + ISLAMISM WILL HAVE THEIR NUKE-WMD WEAPONS AT THE READY, etc.

"Three Fingered Egyptian" > I COULD SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE FINGERS + EGYPTIAN, BUT WON'T.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 04/10/2008 0:54 Comments || Top||

#2  Payback is obituary.
Posted by: WTF || 04/10/2008 7:55 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan
7 Taliban, 1 Afghan Police Killed
An ambush and an airstrike in southern Afghanistan left seven Taliban fighters and a police officer dead, officials said Wednesday.

Taliban militants ambushed a police patrol in Marja district of the southern Helmand province late Tuesday, and an ensuing battle left four militants and a police officer dead, said Helmand's police chief, Mohammad Hussein Andiwal. Authorities recovered the militants' bodies and their weapons, he said. Two other officers were wounded and a police vehicle was damaged.

An airstrike against two motorbikes carrying Taliban militants through Zabul province killed three militants and wounded two, said provincial deputy governor Gulab Shah Alikheil. A woman and a child traveling nearby were also wounded.
Posted by: Fred || 04/10/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


China-Japan-Koreas
China 'uncovers Olympic terror plot'
China says it has uncovered a criminal ring planning to kidnap athletes and others at the Beijing Olympic Games. Ministry of Public Security Spokesman Wu Heping told a news conference Thursday that the ring based in the restive western Xinjiang region was one of two that had been broken up. The other was previously reported.
How .. convenient ...
Wu said 35 people were arrested in the latest case between March 26 and April 6 for plotting to kidnap athletes, foreign journalists and other visitors during the August Olympics. Wu said "this violent terrorist gang hoped to sabotage the Beijing Olympics by creating an international impact."
What kind of folks are likely to inhabit this restive western Xinjiang region? mooselimb terrorists from one of the 'stans?
Posted by: gorb || 04/10/2008 05:01 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The region in question is primarily muslim, and is called by most natives "East Turkestan" though the PRC calls it the Xinjiang Autonomous Region, and the natives are mainly of Turkic language and origin thus setting them apart by ethnicity and language as well as religion from Han Chinese (in contrast to Hui Chinese, who are muslims be religion and follow muslim holidays, family laws, etc but are linguistically Chinese)

Most inhabitants are not terrorists of course. How many support violenct action to end Chinese rule is not clear to me. AQ sympathizers have attempted to take over the ethnically based "resistance" movement, as they have in places like Chechnya, Bosnia, etc.
Posted by: liberalhawk || 04/10/2008 9:20 Comments || Top||

#2  Kidnap for political purposes, or for financial?

It could be a true story as I believe there are thousands of people that would want to pull this off, but it seems awfully convenient to use this story to clamp down on a troublesome province.
Posted by: DarthVader || 04/10/2008 9:27 Comments || Top||

#3  I second DarthVader's and Steve's in-line on China.
According to local teewee, SF Comical and al-Rheumatism, China's pit-bull immigrants were viciously attacking the Buddhists in SF yesterday.

SF a multiculturalist Dream Boat, "can't we all just get along"?

/Schadenfreude & Sangfroid rulz
Posted by: RD || 04/10/2008 10:11 Comments || Top||

#4  Quelle horreur!

Kinda convenient, though, huh?
Posted by: Snaving Stalin4500 || 04/10/2008 21:10 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Seven Maoists shot dead ahead of elections in Nepal
It's a start ...
KATHMANDU - Police in Nepal have shot dead seven Maoists, the party said on Wednesday, in the worst outbreak of violence ahead of a high-stakes and tense vote on the Himalayan nation’s political future.

The Maoists, who are campaigning for Nepal’s god-king Gyanendra to be ousted and the monarchy to be immediately abolished after Thursday’s elections, were killed during clashes with supporters of a rival party.
Posted by: Steve White || 04/10/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Four Hizb commanders killed in J&K
Jammu, India: Five Hizb-ul Mujahideen militants, including four top commanders, were killed by the police and 59 Rashtriya Rifles in Doda and Reasi districts on Wednesday, official sources said.

The militants were identified as Mohmmad Shafi alias Gazi alias Badshah Khan, a ‘district commander’; Mohmmad Rafeeq alias Basharat, a ‘section commander’; Talib Hussain alias Bakararwal, a ‘battalion commander’; and Mansoor Hussain.

Two AK rifles, an UBGL, four magazines, six grenades and a radio set were recovered, DIG (Reasi-Udhampur) Alok Puri said.
This article starring:
BADSHAH KHANHizb-ul Mujahideen
MANSUR HUSEINHizb-ul Mujahideen
MOHMAD RAFIQ ALIAS BASHARATHizb-ul Mujahideen
MOHMAD SHAFI ALIAS GAZIHizb-ul Mujahideen
TALIB HUSEIN ALIAS BAKARARWALHizb-ul Mujahideen
Posted by: john frum || 04/10/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  whut? Mansoor can't afford an alias? Cheap bastid
Posted by: Frank G || 04/10/2008 8:02 Comments || Top||

#2  Frank - you have to be a "commander" to get an alias. Mansoor was just the coffee-maker - hadn't even graduated to goat-herder yet.
Posted by: Old Patriot || 04/10/2008 12:29 Comments || Top||


Kashmir Korpse Kount: 5
Indian security forces shot dead five members of the Hizbul Mujahiddin fighting to merge Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) with Pakistan, police said on Wednesday. “The militants were killed in two gunbattles with police and soldiers in [the] Doda and Reasi districts,” a police spokesman said. The fighting erupted late on Tuesday and carried on until early on Wednesday, when troops raided two militant hideouts, the police spokesman said.

All five dead militants belonged to the group, which wants the IHK to become part of Pakistan and is the leading rebel group battling Indian rule in Kashmir, police said. The group has suffered serious setbacks in the past few months, with police arresting its chief spokesman last week and killing several of its top-ranking commanders.
Posted by: Fred || 04/10/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Hizbul Mujaheddin


Roving gangs of lawyers clash, riots kill 9 in Karachi
At least nine people were killed and several others wounded in riots on Wednesday, after a clash between two groups of lawyers spread outwards from the City Courts building.

According to preliminary reports, one group of lawyers assembled at the City Courts at 2pm to protest against the manhandling of former Sindh chief minister Arbab Rahim and former minister Sher Afgan Niazi. Around 2.30pm, another group of lawyers attacked the first group. Faisal Sabzwari, a Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) MPA, told AFP that lawyers from his party were protesting against the public beating of Niazi when they were attacked. “Ten were injured including a female lawyer,” he said.

Following the clashes, the injured were transferred to Civil Hospital, Karachi, where MQM leaders tried to visit them. Unidentified men attacked the MQM workers en route, and MQM MPA Muqeem Alam’s car was damaged. As news of the incident spread, people throughout Karachi rioted to protest the attack.

40 vehicles: At least 40 vehicles were torched throughout the city. Two bodies were also brought to hospital. “A paramedic from a local hospital was sitting in his ambulance when it was caught in the crossfire between the two groups. A bullet killed him,” local police officer Suleman Syed told AFP.

Seven bodies: At about 4pm, Tahir Plaza — home to several lawyerss’ offices due to its proximity to the City Courts — was set ablaze and completely destroyed. Following the blaze, seven bodies, including that of a child, were recovered from the remains of the building, according to Police Surgeon Dr Bashir Sheikh. He said DNA testing would be conducted to correctly identify them..
Posted by: Fred || 04/10/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan

#1  Even the lawyers riot in wakiland, WTF is wrong with you people.
Posted by: Slavilet Forkbeard7501 || 04/10/2008 7:50 Comments || Top||

#2  I get a visual of the news teams fighting in Anchorman
Posted by: Frank G || 04/10/2008 8:03 Comments || Top||

#3  Am I the only one who thinks of Simcity when see headlines like this?

Posted by: liberalhawk || 04/10/2008 9:15 Comments || Top||

#4  Even the lawyers riot in wakiland, WTF is wrong with you people.

let's count the ways:

- cousin marriages
- forced marriages
- feudalism
- tribalism
- sectarianism
- Islam
Posted by: mhw || 04/10/2008 9:27 Comments || Top||

#5  Roving gangs of lawyers clash?
Whadda we do, sarge!
Stand back and enjoy it, Muldoon...
Posted by: tu3031 || 04/10/2008 9:29 Comments || Top||

#6  Heh, roving gangs of lawyers. The whold world is turning into ScrappleFace. But it is nice when articles are self-snarking.
Posted by: SteveS || 04/10/2008 10:40 Comments || Top||

#7  Roving gangs of lawyers ? Now we know the jooos are behind this.
Posted by: wxjames || 04/10/2008 11:01 Comments || Top||

#8  Hit them with a restraining order, that'l do it.(Laughing my ass off)
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 04/10/2008 15:21 Comments || Top||

#9  They were going to sue each other, but cooler heads prevailed and they had a knife fight instead.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 04/10/2008 15:38 Comments || Top||


Taliban reappear in Swat
Armed supporters of rebel cleric Maulana Fazlullah reappeared in the Matta tehsil of Swat and were seen marching on the roads on Wednesday.
Putting on a show of strength now that Perv's defanged.
According to locals, commanders Iqbal Hussain and Ikramuddin led the armed militants — numbering between 40 and 45. The local Taliban marched in the Shakar Darra area, which is 500 metres from the Baryam checkpost. Neither the security personnel at the checkpost, nor the area police officials posed any resistance to the show of strength. Locals said that the militants were travelling to the Pisho Dherai area.

Meanwhile, sources in the area said that the local Taliban have completed renovations on the madrassa in Imam Dheri that had once served as headquarters for Fazlullah. They said that the Taliban would offer their Friday prayers in the mosque from which Fazlullah had broadcast his illegal FM radio station.

Awaiting orders: Army officials in Swat said that they were awaiting directives from the provincial government before taking action. Fazlullah’s spokesman, Sirajuddin, said that the local Taliban were returning to their respective areas to resume their responsibilities. He hoped that Fazlullah would also return from Chitral and restart his “mission”.
This article starring:
IKRAMUDINTNSM
IQBAL HUSEINTNSM
MAULANA FAZLULLAHTNSM
SIRAJUDINTNSM
Posted by: Fred || 04/10/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: TNSM

#1  Awaiting orders - whudd'll it be chief? Lollipops and cupcakes or some nice back rubs an' a trip to the toy box?
Posted by: M. Murcek || 04/10/2008 8:45 Comments || Top||

#2  Reappear? Did they ever go away?
Posted by: Spot || 04/10/2008 9:21 Comments || Top||

#3  The Pak army had beaten them, chasing Mullah Fazlullah out of town.
Posted by: Fred || 04/10/2008 14:53 Comments || Top||

#4  i wouldn't put the pic of the nazis up yet maybe one of the crips at a concert, but our gang culture could prob shoot better or straighter
Posted by: sinse || 04/10/2008 19:26 Comments || Top||


Iraq
Top Qaeda militant arrested in western Iraq
Iraqi police on Wednesday arrested a senior militant and close aide of Al-Qaeda in Iraq chief Abu Ayyub al-Masri in western Iraq's Anbar province, the provincial police chief said.

Major General Tareq al-Youssef said Nazal Sabar al-Jughaify, also known as Abu al-Jarrah, was arrested in the town of Haditha after police ambushed him following a tipoff from local citizens.

"Abu Jarrah is one of the main financiers of Al-Qaeda in Iraq and also a senior lieutenant of Abu Ayyub al-Masri," Youssef told AFP in the provincial capital of Ramadi.

Youssef said Jughaify, an Iraqi, had returned recently from Syria.

Anbar province was a former stronghold of Al-Qaeda-led insurgents fighting US forces.

But since September 2006, the local Sunni Arabs from the province, who were the main supporters of the militant group, have sided with the US military in fighting the group.

Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 04/10/2008 11:43 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  For many reasons it is good that that the IP got this guy. I guess they will squeeze him themselves before handing him to the ISF.

On the other hand if we or the ISF had gotten him first we would undoubtedly wait a few days before making the announcement to make sure we could act on the fresh intel before Al Q knew we had him.

That's one of the trade offs.
Posted by: mhw || 04/10/2008 12:06 Comments || Top||

#2  Close aide to a fig newton.
Posted by: KBK || 04/10/2008 14:46 Comments || Top||

#3  I gather they have taken down al-Masri's wanted poster, since he is most likely long hence been dog food. So the good question is what the hell is left of AQI except some third-raters trying to scrape up enough dough to bug out.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 04/10/2008 15:37 Comments || Top||

#4  "Well hello there, me little beauty! Surprised? I bet..."
Posted by: Chief Running Gag || 04/10/2008 17:49 Comments || Top||


US airstrikes in Iraq target militants
A U.S. airstrike targeted a building in Baghdad's Sadr City on Thursday, hours after American soldiers clashed with Shiite militants in fighting that left 15 people dead, police and the U.S. military said.

The renewed violence coincided with the Congressional testimony of the Bush administration's top two officials in Iraq — Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker. Petraeus recommended a pause in drawing down U.S. troops in Iraq while the security situation remains unstable and President Bush is expected to follow his recommendation.

But Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki disagreed with Petraeus' proposal to delay further U.S. troop withdrawals, citing the growing capabilities of Iraq's own security forces. Petraeus wants the U.S. to complete by the end of July the withdrawal of the 20,000 troops that were sent to Iraq last year, leaving about 140,000 in the country. Beyond that, the general proposed a 45-day evaluation period to be followed by an indefinite period of assessment before any further pullouts.

Al-Maliki, however, has said he disagrees with that decision. The prime minister told Bush during a 20-minute telephone conversation on Wednesday that Iraqi security forces are capable of carrying out their duties and U.S. troops should be pulled out as the situation permits, according to a senior government adviser who sat in on the phone conversation. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to disclose the confidential details.
...
Posted by: ed || 04/10/2008 10:40 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "U.S. troops should be pulled out as the situation permits"

So Maliki's statements conflict with those of Petraeus HOW? I think I see a bit of spin here.
Posted by: tipover || 04/10/2008 10:52 Comments || Top||

#2  It will be interesting to see the progress made by the Iraqi Army and police over the next 6 - 12 months. The change in the last 12 months has been huge, but there are still lots of issues. One would think that the improvement would start to accelerate as the NCO and junior officer corps begin to mature. Hopefully we can continue the drawdown.
Posted by: remoteman || 04/10/2008 13:35 Comments || Top||

#3  Targeting Militants now instead of baby ducks, fluffy bunnies and little kittens? Good Job!

/sarcasm

Maliki may be jumping the gun, for political purposes.

But the ISF are coming around pretty well. The major problem is still consistency and corruption. And they need us bird-dogging them to root that crap out, and turn them into a seriously professional fighting force.

Once he gets 50% of his forces to 'A' level readiness (and the remaining have no more than 1/3 in C or lower state), we will be able to draw down a lot more.

National and Local Police are becoming the key issue.

One thing for sure, Iran is going to be a bit nervous with that solid a military next door, trained and expert in US tactics and (more importantly) logistics. And not afraid or beholden to them.
Posted by: OldSpook || 04/10/2008 15:21 Comments || Top||

#4  The big issues seem to be logistics and air support. Bill Roggio mentions they have a hard time keeping their vehicles in working order.

The big issue is going to be the air force. I do not see Iraq having pilots who can defend Iraq from Iraq or Turkey for many years to come.

Al
Posted by: Frozen Al || 04/10/2008 16:11 Comments || Top||

#5  And Iran won't be able to put together an army with nearly as much mass because for sure it would turn on the government! They're probably shaking in their curly-toed slippers.
Posted by: gorb || 04/10/2008 16:12 Comments || Top||

#6  A lot of the issues, like logistics and maintenance, won't be addressed until there is major cultural adjustment. That can't happen for 40 years or so because you just have to wait for those generations to move on and the younger ones who aren't saddled with the saddam baggage and the inshallah attitude to mature. That's why it will take a long time, but it will happen, just as it did in Korea, Japan, etc..
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 04/10/2008 16:58 Comments || Top||

#7  But not yet in, say, Egypt or the Magic Kingdom.
Posted by: lotp || 04/10/2008 17:42 Comments || Top||

#8  As limited as the Iraqi Army still is, it is already probably the most professionally competent army in the Arab world (ever?)
Posted by: Glenmore || 04/10/2008 18:35 Comments || Top||

#9  Of course, Saladin's army were Kurds...
Posted by: trailing wife || 04/10/2008 23:20 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Gaza fuel depot closed after attack
Israel cut off all fuel supplies to Gaza's 1.4 million residents Thursday, a day after four Palestinian militants infiltrated the Israeli depot that is the territory's sole source of fuel, and shot dead two civilian workers.

The brazen daylight raid in southern Israel threatened to set off a new round of fighting in Gaza after a monthlong lull and could jeopardize recently renewed peace efforts.

Three smaller militant factions claimed they carried out the attack, but the Israeli government held Gaza's Hamas rulers responsible. It sent tanks, troops and aircraft into the Palestinian territory after the raid, killing at least eight Palestinians, including three civilians. And it warned that more reprisals could be coming. "We will chose the time and the place to respond. The blame lies on Hamas as the responsible authority there," Matan Vilnai, Israel's deputy defense minister, told Israel's Army Radio.

The Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad, which took part in the attack, called the raid, which was carried out under cover of mortar fire, a "unique and complicated operation." Abu Ahmed of Islamic Jihad said the attack was intended to target the fuel depot on which Gazans depend. The fuel "is dipped in humiliation," he said, because people wait for it for hours. "If their fuel means humiliation for us, we don't want it."
Now you ain't got it, do you, genius?
Maj. Tal Levram, an Israeli army spokesman, said the militants apparently were planning to carry out a broader attack on a neighboring Israeli village or to kidnap soldiers, but were thwarted by the arrival of Israeli troops.

Palestinian militants frequently attack the Israeli border, but they rarely succeed in getting through. In another daring daytime raid in June 2006, militants tunneled into Israel, killed two soldiers and captured a third. The soldier, Cpl. Gilad Schalit, remains in captivity in Gaza.

Wednesday's attack upset more than a month of calm following a broad Israeli military offensive that killed more than 120 Gazans, including dozens of civilians. Since the offensive ended in early March, Egypt has been trying to mediate a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, and the sides appear to have been honoring an informal truce.

Israel sealed its borders with Gaza after the Islamic militant group seized control of the territory in June, and has reduced the flow of fuel, electricity and basic goods. The sanctions have hit hard and Hamas threatened on Tuesday to blow up Gaza's borders with Israel and Egypt to relieve the strain.

Israel has taken the threat seriously because Hamas breached the Egyptian border in January, allowing tens of thousands of people to pour into Egypt for more than a week before the border was resealed.

On Thursday, an Israeli think tank reported that Hamas' military buildup is at its peak, despite the international blockade on Gaza. The Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center said the Islamic militant Hamas group has organized 20,000 armed forces and acquired longer-range rockets and advanced anti-tank weapons.

It also said Iran and Syria supply Hamas with weapons, technical know-how and training. The major points of the report were not new, but were significant because of the center's close links to Israel's defense establishment. Some of the material in the report was based on data from the Shin Bet security agency.

Israel stopped pumping gas on Thursday and at least two Israeli ministers said Israel should cut it off permanently following the attack.
And blow the pipes in case some weak willed PM changes his mind.
However, officials said the flow would be renewed shortly to avert a humanitarian crisis. Idiots. Gazans received fuel supplies on Wednesday before the attack.
Posted by: ed || 04/10/2008 10:45 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  couldn't some accident happen to the pipeline and then workers could refuse to repair it until more security had been completed
Posted by: mhw || 04/10/2008 11:06 Comments || Top||

#2  "If their fuel means humiliation for us, we don't want it."

Sounds like a plan.
Enjoy it. Or...don't enjoy it.
Posted by: tu3031 || 04/10/2008 11:17 Comments || Top||

#3  Turn off the water too.
Posted by: 3dc || 04/10/2008 11:33 Comments || Top||

#4  "If their fuel means humiliation for us, we don't want it."

Works for me. Of course, if they'd try working at honest jobs instead of spending all their time trying to kill Joooos, they might be able to buy their own.
Posted by: Abu Uluque || 04/10/2008 11:43 Comments || Top||

#5  Next target on the Paleo's list: electric power pylons, followed by water mains.
they just don't get it do they?
even the slow kids in the US got to ride the short bus; could be there isn't one short enough for these retards. well maybe a unicycle.
Posted by: USN,Ret. || 04/10/2008 13:10 Comments || Top||

#6  Oh, good. A chance to use my new violin...

Gaza – Ma'an – A humanitarian disaster™ is looming in the Gaza Strip as fuel supplies into the coastal region have been stopped, Mahmoud Al-Khizindar, the deputy director of the federation of gas stations in the Gaza Strip, said on Thursday.

But at least you won't be humiliated...

The Israeli authorities stopped supplies from entering the Nahal Oz fuel terminal after Wednesday's shooting. "The fuel crisis has been growing since the Israeli authorities suspended fuel shipment including gas and diesel for industrial use following the military operation by Palestinian gunmen on Wednesday which resulted in the killing of two workers at the Nahal Oz terminal," said Al-Khizindar.

Doesn't seem fair, does it, Mahmoud?

He highlighted that the Gaza Strip could be left without electricity as diesel needed to run the electricity generating station is about to run out.

Yes, that's the way it works. You try to kill them, they get pissed and shut you off, you sit in the dark.
And nobody cares...
Posted by: tu3031 || 04/10/2008 15:25 Comments || Top||

#7  Look for Abu Ahmed of Islamic Jihad to be found swinging from a gas station marquee soon, Do NOT fuck with desperate people in gas lines.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 04/10/2008 15:29 Comments || Top||

#8  Khuzundar said the Hamas-controlled government in Gaza has been siphoning off nearly 30 percent of all incoming fuel before its distribution to petrol stations.

Yes. So much for the "humiliation" thing...

Posted by: tu3031 || 04/10/2008 16:20 Comments || Top||

#9  About time for another shit-tsunami, isn't it?
Posted by: Chief Running Gag || 04/10/2008 17:52 Comments || Top||


Egyptian troops go on alert, fear new Hamas bid to breach Gaza border
Egyptian troops went on alert Wednesday in the town of Rafah bordering Gaza, fearing Hamas militants may attempt to forcibly breach the border again, a security official said. Egypt's Foreign Ministry warned Palestinians in Gaza that any attempts to infringe upon the Egyptian borders will be met with a serious and firm position.
Posted by: Fred || 04/10/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Hamas

#1  I have a feeling yesterday's Nahal Oz attack, hardly noticed by the international media, will be a tipping point. No more fuel for Gaza for an extended period, Hamas gets desperate and tries a mass breakout to the Sinai. Brutal Egyptian response and we see what happens on the streets of Cairo where there have already been bread riots.
Posted by: phil_b || 04/10/2008 0:47 Comments || Top||

#2  Welcome to the party, pal!
Posted by: Beldar Fluse || 04/10/2008 1:13 Comments || Top||

#3  "Use a touch of the grape, Mr. 'iggins."
Posted by: Old Patriot || 04/10/2008 12:40 Comments || Top||


Southeast Asia
Thai army kills two terrorists in gunfight
Two members of the Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK) terrorist insurgent group were killed in a gunfight with army rangers in Rueso district of Narathiwat on Thursday morning. The clash between the rangers and the terrorists insurgents took place at around 7am, when the rangers were patrolling in the district. Two bodies were found after the clash, and one of them were reportedly a local. Police confiscated more than 100 cartridges and a gun.
Posted by: ryuge || 04/10/2008 04:31 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Thai Insurgency

#1  I feels like for every 2 thai terrorist killed, there are 30 Thai civilians killed
Posted by: Crolusing tse Tung2745 || 04/10/2008 9:25 Comments || Top||


Indonesian embassy wants more access to JI suspect
Officials of the Indonesian embassy are seeking more access to Mohammad Baehakki, the suspected Jemaah Islamiyah leader who was arrested in a joint police-military raid in Davao Oriental last Feb. 17. “We hope to be given more time to be able to speak to Baehakki. We wish to talk to him some more,” said F. Bernard Loesi, Indonesian vice consul based in this city.

Loesi told The STAR that authorities have confirmed Baehakki to be an Indonesian national, and that the Jakarta police has said that he, indeed, plays a important role in the JI movement. “Our authorities wish to talk to Baehakki more because we could get more (information) from him about the movement itself,” Loesi said.

Loesi said Baehakki has a wealth of information on the strength and activities of the JI not only in Indonesia but also in other parts of Southeast Asia.

Baehakki, 26, reportedly arrived in the Philippines in 2003 and was said to have immersed well with other Indonesians – numbering more than 7,000 – living in various parts of Southern Mindanao. Loesi said Philippine authorities have a way of extracting information from Baehakki, said to be the liaison for JI operations in Central and Southern Mindanao “But maybe we can also help to get more information from him,” Loesi said.

A bilateral defense agreement reportedly exists between the Philippines and Indonesia, which includes sharing of vital information, particularly on terrorism. Baehakki used the aliases of Tatoh, Salman and Latif while moving around Mindanao. He was arrested on the basis of a warrant issued by Kidapawan City Judge Francis Palmones Jr. Baehakki is facing multiple murder charges for his alleged involvement in the October 2006 bombing in Makilala, North Cotabato that claimed 10 lives.

Baehakki was arrested together with Cabiza Generoso and Mohar Abais Generoso, who were charged with illegal possession of firearms and explosives seized from them during the Feb. 17 raid. Authorities said Baehakki was preparing to launch another terrorist attack in Southern Mindanao prior to his arrest. Also seized from him were a number of cellular phones, a laptop and other electronic devices.
Posted by: Fred || 04/10/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Jemaah Islamiyah


Philippines Police Seize Bomb Materials
(AP) — Police seized hundreds of components for making bombs in a raid on a suspected terrorist hide-out in the northern Philippines, officials said Wednesday. The target of Tuesday's raid in Laguna province's Alaminos town was Khalid Pagayao, a Filipino allegedly tied to the al-Qaida-linked Jemaah Islamiyah network and a plot to bomb Western embassies in the Philippines. However, he was not in the house at the time of the raid, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno said. Police recovered 550 pieces of improvised blasting caps, 25 pieces of time fuse, two detonating cords and an undetermined amount of Tetryl, an explosive compound.

National police chief Avelino Razon said the raid was part of an investigation into recovered Arabic documents that revealed a plot to attack several Western embassies. Chief Superintendent Raul L. Castaneda, head of the police criminal investigation group, said Pagayao was wanted for his alleged involvement in the plot, which included plans to bomb the U.S., British, Australian and Israeli embassies in Manila. Castaneda said Pagayao's alleged role in the terrorist cell was not clear.

The raid followed the deportation Tuesday of two Jordanian men allegedly involved in the plot. They were arrested by security forces in February.
Posted by: Fred || 04/10/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Jemaah Islamiyah


Alleged Abu 'logistics' man killed in Sulu--military
A suspected "logistics guy" of the Abu Sayyaf was killed in Pandami Island in Sulu on Saturday, a military official said Monday. Major Eugene Batara, spokesman of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said the body of the suspect, Sam Andal, was brought here on Sunday morning since no relative claimed his body.

Batara said they tried to give Andal's body to his wife, but she refused to receive it. "We discovered from the wife that this man had been estranged from his family for more than a year now," he said.

Andal was killed in an encounter with government forces in the village of Parian Dakula on Pandami Island on Saturday night. Soldiers also recovered an M16 Armalite rifle, an M79 grenade launcher, and a rifle grenade.
Posted by: Fred || 04/10/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Abu Sayyaf


Six abducted by Abu Sayyaf in Philippines
Philippine police have mounted a search for six people abducted by Al-Qaeda-linked Muslim militants from a minibus in the south of the country, police said Wednesday. The six, all local Muslim residents, were passengers on the bus in Maimbung town on the island of Jolo when the militants seized them on Monday, said provincial police chief, Superintendent Julasirim Kasim. "We still don't know the motive for the kidnapping. It could be a personal grudge or anything," Kasim said.

Last week, Abu Sayyaf gunmen seized a Muslim schoolteacher, then released her a few hours later. Kasim said the same group is responsible for the latest abduction. It is believed that the schoolteacher's family negotiated her release. Earlier this month, the US embassy warned that extremists could be plotting to kidnap Americans and other foreigners in the south.
This article starring:
Julasirim Kasim
Posted by: Fred || 04/10/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Abu Sayyaf

#1  Muslims kidnapping muslims?
They gotta know nobody's gonna pay 2cents for a muslim hostage.
Posted by: Slavilet Forkbeard7501 || 04/10/2008 7:53 Comments || Top||


Terror Networks
Twenty Hizbullah Terrorists Killed During Training
Okay, men. Never do thi...
Twenty Hizbullah terrorists were killed recently during military training in Iran, according to the Kuwaiti paper Al-Watan. The paper based its report on statements from senior Lebanese Islamist Mohammed Ali Hosseini. Hosseini did not say how the 20 were killed.
Cough due to cold?
Hosseini said Hizbullah sees all of the deceased as holy warriors who fell in battle. Many of the dead were Shiite Muslims, he said, but some were Sunni supporters of the Shiite terrorist group.
They may not have been Muslim enough, but now they're dead enough...
Posted by: tu3031 || 04/10/2008 13:19 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  how one reaches 20...

"..Red wire & the Green wire with the Pink spiral line ... correct?"

"There's NO squiggly Pink line in the Green Wire!"

"What?"

"again, NO PINK!"

OH No! Mahmood has just.. BOOM!

x 20 = Twenty Hizbullees
Posted by: RD || 04/10/2008 14:20 Comments || Top||

#2  "Sarge! Have you seen 2nd Platoon?"
"Sure! They're down by the quicksand pit..."
Posted by: Fred || 04/10/2008 14:54 Comments || Top||

#3  "Okay, the book says that each one without a bayonet stands right in front of, and facing one with a bayonet..."

"THOSE WITHOUT BAYONETS STAND RIGHT IN FRONT OF, AND FACE THOSE WITH BAYONETS!"

"Okay, then it says for those with bayonets to thrust their bayonet at the man in front of them and scream 'YAAARRGGHHH'!"

"THOSE WITHOUT BAYONETS THRUST THEM AT THE MAN IN FRONT OF YOU WHILE SCREAMING 'YAAARRGGHHH'!"

"YAAARRGGHHH!"

"AAAIIIIEEEEGGGGHHHHH!!!"

"Okay, then it says that just before they thrust the bayonets at them, those without bayonets are to step out of the way."

"THOSE WITHOUT BAYONETS BE SURE TO...Oh-oh. Nevermind. As you were."
Posted by: Anonymoose || 04/10/2008 15:31 Comments || Top||

#4  Gee, I can't decide whether to say

It's a start....

or

Awwwwwww - ain't that just too bad.

Decisions, decisions.... :-D
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 04/10/2008 15:39 Comments || Top||

#5  Knowing Iran, they were probably doing Basij-style demining training...
Posted by: Pappy || 04/10/2008 15:47 Comments || Top||

#6  One has to wonder if part of their training was really in Basra.
Posted by: crosspatch || 04/10/2008 15:56 Comments || Top||

#7  Or they could have boarded an Iranian airplane.
Posted by: Abu Uluque || 04/10/2008 16:01 Comments || Top||

#8  perhaps practicing for when the Olympics come to town: synchronized Javelin catching
Posted by: USN,Ret. || 04/10/2008 16:08 Comments || Top||

#9  I think their training isn't rigorous enough. They need to make it harder. Sure, the death wash-out rate might go up, but . . . .
Posted by: Mike || 04/10/2008 17:33 Comments || Top||

#10  Hmmm.... I might have to revise my opinion of Iran's training program. Seems to be getting good results.
Posted by: DarthVader || 04/10/2008 17:50 Comments || Top||

#11  Plane is plausible. Training in Basra vicinity is a serious contender.
Posted by: twobyfour || 04/10/2008 23:04 Comments || Top||

#12  BLUE CROSS-BLUE SHIELD, OCCIDENTAL LIFE, etc. for Mama/the Merry Widows???

Posted by: JosephMendiola || 04/10/2008 23:50 Comments || Top||


Good morning...
Posted by: Fred || 04/10/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Aww, you look sad! Did you lose an earring? Let me help you find it!
Posted by: gorb || 04/10/2008 4:59 Comments || Top||

#2  That's what you call pouting, gorb. It's a trick they use to get you to do things for them. It's very, very effective. These creatures might look weak and helpless but they are in fact a whole lot smarter than we are.
Posted by: Abu Uluque || 04/10/2008 11:32 Comments || Top||

#3  Hey, it wasn't THAT bad a pick-up line! At least I didn't offer you a cigarette.
Posted by: Old Patriot || 04/10/2008 12:19 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
48[untagged]
3al-Qaeda
3Hamas
2Govt of Pakistan
2Abu Sayyaf
2IRGC
2Iraqi Insurgency
2Jemaah Islamiyah
2Taliban
1TNSM
1Global Jihad
1Hizb-i-Islami-Hekmatyar
1Hizbul Mujaheddin
1Thai Insurgency

Bookmark
E-Mail Me

The Classics
The O Club
Rantburg Store
The Bloids
The Never-ending Story
Thugburg
Gulf War I
The Way We Were
Bio

Merry-Go-Blog











On Sale now!


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.
Click here for more information

Meet the Mods
In no particular order...
Steve White
Seafarious
tu3031
badanov
sherry
ryuge
GolfBravoUSMC
Bright Pebbles
trailing wife
Gloria
Fred
Besoeker
Glenmore
Frank G
3dc
Skidmark

Two weeks of WOT
Thu 2008-04-10
  Nahal Oz fuel depot closed after attack. Surprise.
Wed 2008-04-09
  Two Israelis killed as terrorists infiltrate Nahal Oz
Tue 2008-04-08
  French Military Police Mobilized After Somalia Hijacking
Mon 2008-04-07
  Sadr City assault strains cease-fire
Sun 2008-04-06
  US troops move into Sadr City
Sat 2008-04-05
  Jalaluddin Haqqani not dead, releases video, still 71
Fri 2008-04-04
  Maliki Vows Crackdown in Baghdad
Thu 2008-04-03
  Iraq commander leads convoy into Basra
Wed 2008-04-02
  45 Qaeda suspects held in Turkey
Tue 2008-04-01
  US charges Foopie with Africa bombings
Mon 2008-03-31
  Iraqi govt lifts curfew across Baghdad
Sun 2008-03-30
  Sadr orders fighters off Iraq streets
Sat 2008-03-29
  Maliki extends ultimatum for gunmen to drop the hardware in Basra
Fri 2008-03-28
  Iraqi forces say kill 120 militants in Basra operation
Thu 2008-03-27
  Twenty killed, 239 wounded in Sadr City clashes in 24 hrs


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.
13.59.36.203
Help keep the Burg running! Paypal:
WoT Background (20)    Non-WoT (17)    Opinion (8)    Local News (7)    (0)