#4
Great way to start a Monday. Seems our allies like the big boom as much as we do. 3x 1000 lbs make quite an impression. And yes, they fellow near the camera, amongst the cheers, did say (amongst other salty language) "Nothing but bacteria would live".
Afghan police clashed with Iranian forces at the southwestern border between the two countries, leaving one civilian dead and two Iranian officers wounded, officials said Sunday.
The incident in the village of Pul-e-Abreshum in Nimroz province happened Saturday after an Iranian patrol entered Afghanistan, the Interior Ministry said in a statement. Afghan police dispatched a unit to the village and a gunbattle ensued. A teacher from the village was killed during the firefight, said provincial police chief Gen. Ayub Badakhshi. Two Iranian officers were wounded, the statement said.
The long and porous border between the two countries is used by smugglers to traffic drugs into Iran. Many Afghans also cross illegally into Iran from the area. Border clashes are common.
Separately, in eastern Kunar province, a rocket attack killed a 15-year old-boy and wounded five other children Sunday, said Abdul Sabur Allayar, the deputy provincial police chief.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/21/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
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Top|| File under: Govt of Iran
#1
RUSSIA > also dealing wid a serious incident invol KRGYZ policemen.
#2
ALso from TOPIX > BUSH: US TROOPS WILL STAY IN SOUTH KOREA [Asia]. Add to the desires of US Cdrs in Afghani to expand attacks = milops agz Paki tribal areas inside Pakistan.
#3
Somehow I just knew before I even got to that third paragraph that drugs were involved. Borders and drugs just seem go go hand in hand, don't they? And the fact that those supposedly pious Iranian Shiites are doing drugs doesn't come as much of a surprise either.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
04/21/2008 12:11 Comments ||
Top||
#4
why is everyone killed is afghanistan cosidered a civilian unless they are a NATO troop
The Taliban said a deadly attack on Dutch soldiers in Afghanistan was in retaliation for an anti-Islamic film made by a politician from the Netherlands, a U.S. terrorism monitoring service said on Sunday.
The son of the new chief of the Dutch military and another Dutch soldier serving with NATO-led forces were killed when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb in Afghanistan on Friday. The attack was one of "a sequence of missions taking revenge for the insulting film", the Taliban said in a message in Arabic on its website, according to the terrorism monitoring service of a U.S. author and analyst who goes by the pseudonym Laura Mansfield.
Dutch MP Geert Wilders, leader of the anti-immigration Freedom Party, launched the anti-Koran film "Fitna" -- an Arabic term that can mean strife -- on the Internet last month. The film urges Muslims to tear out "hate filled" verses from the Koran, and includes a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammad with a bomb under his turban. Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende has repeatedly said that the government rejects Wilders' views.
This article starring:
Geert Wilders
Jan Peter Balkenende
Laura Mansfield
Posted by: Fred ||
04/21/2008 00:00 ||
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Link ||
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Top|| File under: Taliban
#1
I wonder what their excuse would have been had Fitna never been conceived.
#2
Very sad. This is exactly why Islam will not survive in the 21st Century. It will not be possible for them to murder enough people to make people want to return to their cave-man ways. It's over, losers. Get with the program.
#3
Woodrow,
I would not be so sure. Between spiritual weakness and lack of reproduction Europe is falling fast. A big chunk of the US is ready to substitute 'Muslim' for 'Red' in the old saying 'Better Red than Dead' (somebody will come up with a clever slogan sooner or later.)
Sad, true, but unless we start breeding more sheepdogs, the wolves will prevail over the flock.
Sporadic street fighting between Ethiopian troops and rebels trying to bring down Somalia's shaky government has killed 81 people in the past two days, the head of a local human rights group said on Monday. "The casualties ... were caused by Ethiopians using heavy artillery and tank shells in residential areas of the war-torn capital. We condemn this latest fighting," said Sudan Ali Ahmad, chairman of Elman Human Rights. Besides the 81 dead, 119 people had been wounded, he said. Elman tracks fatalities through hospitals and morgues.
Yesterday's clashes broke out in rubble-strewn streets still littered with the uncollected bodies of the dead from the previous day's violence. Witness Aden Shire said the Ethiopians seemed to be searching for the bodies of fellow soldiers killed the previous day.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/21/2008 00:00 ||
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Top|| File under: Islamic Courts
A Spanish tuna fishing boat carrying a crew of 26 was seized on Sunday by pirates off the Somali coast, Spain's foreign ministry said, adding no one was injured in the attack. The Playa de Bakio "was boarded and apparently seized while it was fishing in Somali waters" at 1:00 pm (1100 GMT), the ministry said in a statement. Thirteen of the crew are Spanish nationals, it said, while Spanish media reported that their remaining 13 crewmates are African nationals.
Four pirates armed with grenade launchers seized the boat, which is based in the Basque town of Bremeo, some 400 kilometres (250 miles) off the coast of Somalia, Basque government officials told the Europa Press news agency.
The ship was damaged in the attack but it is still able to sail and it appears to be headed towards land, they added. "The defence ministry has instructed one of its ships which is nearby to head immediately to the area of the incident," the foreign ministry's statement said.
A Spanish military frigate that was in the Red Sea was heading towards the are where the fishing boat was seized, a government source said. The defence ministry has also been in contact with military officials of nations with a military presence in the area to request "logistics support and help in locating the affected boat, the statement added.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/21/2008 00:00 ||
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Top|| File under:
#1
"The defence ministry has also been in contact with military officials of nations with a military presence in the areaFrance to request logistics support and help in locating the affected boat, the statement addedFrench commandos get the boat back, since they're so experienced at it."
There - fixed.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
04/21/2008 1:07 Comments ||
Top||
#2
What is so damned attractive about Somali waters that all these unarmed people are putting around there?
Posted by: Albert Spiting4247 ||
04/21/2008 6:08 Comments ||
Top||
#3
Exactly what I thought, Barbara. Great minds do think alike.
Posted by: BA ||
04/21/2008 8:22 Comments ||
Top||
#4
Unless you are willing to go around Cape Good Hope, you have to go near Somalia when you travel from Europe (or US east coast) to the Indian ocean.
#6
I keep saying, but nobody's listening, that all it takes to put a stop to this sh$$ is a couple of ARCLIGHT strikes in retaliation. Run a half-dozen BUFFS loaded to the gills with 500lb bombs over one of these Somali "fishing ports". After it's done, tell the Somalis either they capture and hang the pirates, or we do it again... and again... and again. The only thing Arabs - and most other muslims - respect is STRENGTH. An ARCLIGHT strike is a display of STRENGTH.
The G-model buffs can carry 86 iron bombs. Six times that is 516. That would turn one of those Somali "fishing villages" into an unbelievable hell for its residents. Having been on the ground relatively "close" to an ARCLIGHT strike (~25 miles), I can attest to the effectiveness of it as a mind-changer. It's long past time to change some minds in the muddled east.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
04/21/2008 13:46 Comments ||
Top||
#7
An ARCLIGHT strike was a thing of beauty. VC would reputedly stagger out of the jungle bleeding from the ears just from the concussion. But, OP, I am sorry to say that there is nothing left of the BUFF fleet but some H models. The G's were chopped up at Davis Montham as part of START II. At last count, there were 93 H's intact but only 56 combat coded. Although I don't really know anymore, I think the H's are set up to carry 27 in the belly and 24 on the wings. Big difference is that the bombs are JDAMS and can be retargeted while the BUFFs are airborne.
#8
The B-1Bs are our heavy bombers. It can carry internally what the 52Gs could carry total.
Too bad the Air Force is going to spend another $40 billion to develop another stealth bomber and be lucky to buy 20. Instead they could modify a Boeing 777 for a few billion and get a bomber with a 200,000 lb payload or 8000nm range. Perfect for dumping on the barbarians for the next 50 years.
Posted by: ed ||
04/21/2008 15:25 Comments ||
Top||
#9
Just a side note, remember September 19 is Talk Like a Pirate Day. Website HERE .
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
04/21/2008 21:15 Comments ||
Top||
The government has halted the military operation in Swat and has ordered the withdrawal of troops from the Tribal Areas, Cultural and Youth Affairs Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique said on Saturday. Talking to Geo News, Saad Rafique said the intensity of the military operation had reduced after the February 18 elections. He said the resolution for the restoration of the judges sacked on November 3 would be tabled in parliament in the next two weeks, adding that no constitutional reforms package would be brought along with the resolution.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/21/2008 00:00 ||
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Top|| File under: Taliban
#1
Another good place for the US Air Force to run an ARCLIGHT strike and change some "hearts and minds" with pure terror. A 30-minute rain of iron bombs does wonders for one's perspective. I think even old Perv would get the message.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
04/21/2008 13:50 Comments ||
Top||
The kidnappers of missing Pakistan envoy Tariq Azizuddin have demanded the release of 12 prisoners, including the men suspected of plotting Benazir Bhuttos assassination, in exchange for his freedom, the BBC reported on Sunday.
According to the BBC, the kidnappers have demanded the release of Lal Masjid cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz, Tehreek-e-Nifaaz-e-Shariat Muhammadi (TSNM) chief Maulana Sufi, five Afghan Taliban and the three men arrested on charges of allegedly plotting Benazir Bhuttos assassination Aitzaz Shah, Hussnain and Rafaqat. According to the Online news agency, the people demanded by the kidnappers in exchange for the release of the envoy are all linked to militant commander Baitullah Mehsud.
Maulvi Umar, spokesman for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), told the BBC that the organisation had no involvement in the kidnapping of Azizuddin, adding that they also had no knowledge of the abduction.
No confirmation: A tribal leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the BBC that the tribesmen of the area could not confirm whether the kidnapped ambassador had ever been kept in any tribal area of Pakistan or Afghanistan. He also said that they had no information on the identity of the kidnappers. Separately, the political administration in the Khyber Agency has claimed that local Taliban were not involved in the abduction of the envoy, according to Dawn News. The assistant political agent of the agency stressed that Azizuddin was not in the Khyber Agency.
News of Pakistans Ambassador to Afghanistan Tariq Azizuddin, who has been missing since February 11, surfaced when an Arab satellite channel broadcast a video of him on Saturday. Flanked by his driver and bodyguard, Azizuddin urged the Government of Pakistan to secure his speedy release.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/21/2008 00:00 ||
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Top|| File under: Taliban
ARAB JUBUR, Iraq (AFP) Three months after US forces dropped tonnes of bombs on Arab Jubur and put Al-Qaeda to flight, farmers are everywhere out in their fields tending their tomatoes. Homes in the Sunni Arab rural patch about 25 kilometres (15 miles) south of Baghdad, meanwhile, are being rebuilt, schools reopened, roads repaired and irrigation pumps renewed, even as shopkeepers happily dust off their shelves.
"It's the first time in three years I am able to work in my lands," said Ammar Wadi, a 30-year-old vegetable farmer who also runs a small dairy herd. His lands, on the banks of the Tigris, are thriving. Besides tomatoes, he also grows ochre and wheat, while some of his 30 acres is devoted to pastures.
"When Al-Qaeda was here it was impossible to farm," said the jolly-faced farmer from under an orange Caterpillar cap while taking time out from his labours to visit his cousin's newly-reopened grocery store on a dusty rural road. "They cut the power so we couldn't pump water," said Wadi. "We couldn't buy fuel. They would shoot at anyone they saw in the fields. They kidnapped and murdered many people. They destroyed life here." . . .
Posted by: Mike ||
04/21/2008 13:33 ||
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Iraqi Army soldiers discover large cache with Iranian-marked weapons during Operation Charge of the Knights
BASRAH The Iraqi Army discovered a large weapons and munitions cache in a house located in the Al Hyyaniyah area of Basrah April 19.
Soldiers from the 1st Iraqi Army discovered the cache during the search phase of Operation Charge of the Knights. The cache consisted of a large number of weaponry with Iranian markings.
The cache included a 240 mm high-explosive war-head and approximately 160 mortars. Some of which were less than 12 months old.
The cache also contained approximately 25 artillery shells, more than 20 complete improvised explosive devices, large quantities of IED components, several explosively formed projectiles and dozens of grenades and fuses. Also included was more than 20 blocks of plastic explosives, homemade anti-personnel mines packed with ball bearings, hundreds of meters of detonation cord, improvised rocket launching rails, and thousands of rounds of small-arms ammunition.
Operation Charge of the Knights is ongoing with the Iraqi Army working in conjunction with the Iraqi Police to maintain pressure on Special Groups and criminal elements by denying them sanctuaries and safe havens through Basrah and Iraq.
Operation Charge of the Knights has been an Iraqi planned and executed operation from the very start, said Lt. Col. Neil Harper, deputy public affairs officer for Multi-National Corps - Iraq. The Iraqi Army demonstrated their capability to protect the people of Basrah against Special Groups and criminal elements that are ignoring the rule of law.
The success in finding these large caches was also due in part by numerous tips from concerned local Iraqis. This is another great example of Iraqis dealing with their own issues, and they should be admired for their bravery, Harper said
Six people, including two children, have died as clashes made their way from Sadr city to another district in Baghdad on Sunday, officials said. The fighting erupted soon after Moqtada Al Sadr warned of open war if the government does not stop a US-Iraqi crackdown against his followers.
Police and hospital officials said six people, four men and two boys ages 8 and 10, were killed in fighting in Baghdad's main Shiite district of Sadr City after midnight.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/21/2008 00:00 ||
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Top|| File under: Mahdi Army
Thirty decomposed bodies have been found in a mass grave north of Baghdad on Sunday, the Iraqi military said. The grave was near the town of Muqdadiya, northeast of Baghdad, in the province of Diyala, where Al Qaida Sunni Arab militants have reassembled. Some bodies were draped in police and army uniforms, while others were in civilian clothing, the head of military operations in the region said.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/21/2008 00:00 ||
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Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in Iraq
The message came as nine university students and their driver were kidnapped on Sunday near Baquba, north of Baghdad, when armed men stopped their vehicle at a fake checkpoint, police said. The students were returning to Diyala university after a weekend break.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/21/2008 00:00 ||
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Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in Iraq
Twenty militia fighters were killed in clashes with US forces overnight during the "hottest night" in weeks, after cleric Moqtada Al Sadr threatened to declare open war, a US military spokesman said. Lieutenant-Colonel Steven Stover described a series of gunbattles and air strikes in the Sadr City slum, stronghold of the cleric's Mahdi Army fighters, in which a total of 20 fighters died. "I would say it's been the hottest night in a couple of weeks," he said.
This article starring:
Steven Stover
Posted by: Fred ||
04/21/2008 00:00 ||
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Top|| File under: Mahdi Army
#1
Apparently the reporter hasn't received word yet that these guys are just criminals.
On a more serious note, I wonder if this new approach is geared to making the Iraqi Police take more ownership of the problem.
Looks like Allan got caught with his pants down again.
It slaps a fig-leaf of legitimacy over Sadr's followers (like it or not, Sadr does have a large following in Sadr City - think of him as an Iraqi Marion Berry or a Detroit/Newark/New Orleans mayor)while allowing the government to enforce its authority.
Essentially sez 'we know you're a bunch of murdering bastards and we can't kill you all without the Shiite community rising up en masse. But if you don't oppose us, we'll let you be'.
#6
well lets see the numbers. he has a few 1000 fighters no tanks no aircraft against just the US he is gonna get his ass handed too him. AND by the way why not semd in a special sniper team and pay one of his top agents alot of money too find out where he whether it be iran or iraq and pop his ass? i know assasinations are illegal but he is not a head of state
Israel launched a series of air strikes targeting fighters from Hamas, the Islamic militant group that rules Gaza. The raids came in retaliation for a daring Hamas attack Saturday on an Israeli cargo crossing on the Gaza border. Hamas militants rammed two car bombs into the crossing, but were repelled by Israeli troops. Four of the Palestinian assailants were killed and 13 Israeli soldiers wounded.
Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev says Hamas will bear the consequences. "The Hamas terrorist regime in Gaza continues to try to kill Israelis and they continue with their military buildup. The Israeli defense forces are acting to protect our people," Regev said.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri says the group will continue to target Israeli border crossings in an attempt to break a crippling blockade. Abu Zuhri said Saturday's attack is the beginning of an explosion, and he urged Arab and western states to force Israel to end the siege of Gaza.
Israel has reduced food and fuel supplies to Gaza in response to daily Palestinian rocket attacks. Israeli officials say the Hamas attacks on the border crossings are aimed at forcing Israel to cut off supplies altogether. They say Hamas wants to spark a humanitarian crisis in Gaza to win international sympathy and bring condemnation on the Jewish state.
This article starring:
Mark Regev
Sami Abu Zuhri
Hamas
Posted by: Fred ||
04/21/2008 00:00 ||
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Top|| File under: Hamas
All followers of the three (3) great Abrahamic religions, Judaism,
Christianity and Islam believe in the Ten (10) Commandments. In our humble
opinion, if anyone killed another innocent human being or himself, he is neither
a Jew, nor a Christian, nor a Muslim, because he disobeyed one of the
most important Commandments of Almighty God (Allah): Thou Shall Not Kill.
..
Given below are some of the verses from the Holy Quran in support
thereof, referring to the number of Surah (Chapter) first followed by
the number of Ayah (Verse), later (from an English translation of the
Holy Quran by Mr. Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall).
Yet ye (Children of Israel) it is who slay each other and drive out a
party of your people from their homes, supporting one another against
them by sin and transgression, and if they came to you as captives ye
would ransom them, whereas their expulsion was itself unlawful for you.
Believe ye in part of the Scripture and disbelieve ye in part thereof?
(2:85)
Lo! those who disbelieve the revelations of Allah (God Almighty), and
slay the Prophets wrongfully, and slay those of mankind who enjoin
equity: announce them a painful doom. (3:21)
O ye who believe! eat not up your property among yourselves in
vanities: but let there be amongst you traffic and trade by mutual good-will:
nor kill (or destroy) yourselves (commit suicide): for verily Allah hath
been to you Most Merciful. (4:29)
Never should a believer kill a believer; but (if it so happens) by
mistake (compensation is due): if one (so) kills a believer, it is ordained
that he should free a believing slave and pay compensation to the
deceased's family, unless they remit it freely. If the deceased belonged to
a people at war with you and he was a believer, the freeing of a
believing slave (is enough). If he belonged to a people with whom ye have a
treaty of mutual alliance, compensation should be paid to his family
and a believing slave be freed. For those who find this beyond their
means (is prescribed) a fast for two months running: by way of repentance
to Allah: for Allah hath all knowledge and all wisdom. (4:92)
If a man kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell to
abide therein (for ever): and the wrath and the curse of Allah are upon him
and a dreadful penalty is prepared for him. (4:93)
For that cause We decreed for the Children of Israel that whosoever
killeth a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the
earth, it shall be as if be had
killed all mankind, and whoso saveth the life of one, it shall be as if
he had saved the life of all mankind. Our messengers came unto them of
old with clear proofs (of Allah's sovereignty), but afterwards lo!
many of them became prodigals in the earth. (5:32)
They are losers who besottedly have slain their children without
knowledge, and have forbidden that which Allah bestowed upon them, inventing
a lie against Allah. They indeed have gone astray and are not guided.
(6:140)
Say: "Come I will rehearse what Allah hath (really) prohibited you
from": join not anything as equal with Him; be good to your parents: kill
not your children on a plea of want; We provide sustenance for you and
for them; come not nigh to shameful deeds whether open or secret; take
not life which Allah hath made sacred except by way of justice and law:
thus doth He command you that ye may learn wisdom. (6:151)
O Prophet! when believing women come to thee to take the oath of fealty
to thee that they will not associate in worship any other thing
whatever with Allah, that they will not steal, that they will not commit
adultery (or fornication), that they will not kill their children, that
they will not utter slander intentionally forging falsehood, and that they
will not disobey thee in any just matter then do thou receive their
fealty and pray to Allah for the forgiveness (of their sins): for Allah
is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful. (60:12)
Kill not your children for fear of want: We shall provide sustenance
for them as well as for you: verily the killing of them is a great sin.
(17:31)
And slay not the life which Allah hath forbidden save with right. Whoso
is slain wrongfully, We have given power unto his heir, but let him
not commit excess in slaying. Lo! he will be helped. (17:33)
And those who cry not unto any other god along with Allah, nor take the
life which Allah hath forbidden save in (course of) justice, nor
commit adultery and whoso doeth this shall pay the penalty; (25:68)
#5
And those who cry not unto any other god along with Allah, nor take the
life which Allah hath forbidden save in (course of) justice, nor
commit adultery and whoso doeth this shall pay the penalty; (25:68)
The problem is, in Islamic "Justice" almost anything can be punishable by death, including not being a Muslim.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
04/21/2008 11:27 Comments ||
Top||
#6
Empirical evidence and a quick glance at today's headlines suggests that as long as you are murdering Jews, Christians, Crusaders, infidels and Muslims of the wrong flavor, Allan (ptui) is pretty much OK with it.
#9
The Commandment is mis-interpreted. It should read "Thou shall not murder" - taking a life without just cause. God is ok with necessary killing - enemies, criminals, and so forth. He's just very upset with wanton killing, such as what the muslims do. There will be a day of reckoning, and all those that follow the false profit mo-ham-head will discover just how nasty God's wrath can be.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
04/21/2008 13:58 Comments ||
Top||
#11
Not sure when the term air strike was downgraded to encompass a helicopter firing one missile at a miscreant. One real air strike would leave Gaza a smoking pile of rubble.
Gunmen shot dead two local officials of a Christian party that is a member of Lebanon's ruling anti-Syrian coalition in eastern Lebanon on Sunday, security sources said. They said other three people, all members of the Phalange Party, were wounded in the shooting in the Christian town of Zahle in the Bekaa Valley. The two dead were identified as Nasri Marouni and Salim Assi.
It was not immediately clear who shot at the Phalange members, who had just opened a new party office in Zahle. Christian factions in the Hezbollah-led opposition have wide support in the town. Lebanese troops were deployed in Zahle and began a search for the gunmen, the security sources said.
This article starring:
Nasri Marouni
Salim Assi
Posted by: Fred ||
04/21/2008 00:00 ||
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[4 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Syria
#1
SO we know these guys were suicide bombers, but do we know which specific incidences they wee responsible for? It would have been better if the reporter would have confronted a family with the crime their boy committed. Let them know how many innocent muslim Iraqis were murdered by their kin.
Also, if I were Iraq, I would sue Qaddafi in some world or Islamic court for the crimes committed by his people.
#2
The impoverished, destabilized world at work: these young fools have no money and no likelihood of ever having a decent job. That means they have no chance of ever having a wife and the closest they'll come to female companionship is the rare shot at a cheap whore for a few hours. Bleak doesn't come close to adequately describing their prospects.
Men without wives and families tend to be pretty reckless; men without any hope of them are moreso. I remember hearing once a rational argument on the lines that you can get a guy to do anything as long as you add, at the end of the job description, "and then you get lots of women." Given that many of these guys are useless losers playing into a stacked deck who will never come close to a decent girl in the real world, Mo's 72 virgins undoubtedly sound pretty good to them. Pity they don't realize that if there is a Hell, when they get there they'll be serving in the part they had in mind for the 72 virgins...
Posted by: Thaimble Scourge of the Pixies4707 ||
04/21/2008 18:30 Comments ||
Top||
#3
Is the infamous history of the FRENCH FOREIGN LEGION any different - men that come to escape or forget, or both, their troubles?
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
Afghan police clashed with Iranian forces at the southwestern border between the two countries, leaving one civilian dead and two Iranian officers wounded, officials said Sunday. 
The Taliban said a deadly attack on Dutch soldiers in Afghanistan was in retaliation for an anti-Islamic film made by a politician from the Netherlands, a U.S. terrorism monitoring service said on Sunday.
Sporadic street fighting between Ethiopian troops and rebels trying to bring down Somalia's shaky government has killed 81 people in the past two days, the head of a local human rights group said on Monday. "The casualties ... were caused by Ethiopians using heavy artillery and tank shells in residential areas of the war-torn capital. We condemn this latest fighting," said Sudan Ali Ahmad, chairman of Elman Human Rights. Besides the 81 dead, 119 people had been wounded, he said. Elman tracks fatalities through hospitals and morgues.
A Spanish tuna fishing boat carrying a crew of 26 was seized on Sunday by pirates off the Somali coast, Spain's foreign ministry said, adding no one was injured in the attack. The Playa de Bakio "was boarded and apparently seized while it was fishing in Somali waters" at 1:00 pm (1100 GMT), the ministry said in a statement. Thirteen of the crew are Spanish nationals, it said, while Spanish media reported that their remaining 13 crewmates are African nationals.
Iraqi Army soldiers discover large cache with Iranian-marked weapons during Operation Charge of the Knights
Israel launched a series of air strikes targeting fighters from Hamas, the Islamic militant group that rules Gaza. The raids came in retaliation for a daring Hamas attack Saturday on an Israeli cargo crossing on the Gaza border. Hamas militants rammed two car bombs into the crossing, but were repelled by Israeli troops. Four of the Palestinian assailants were killed and 13 Israeli soldiers wounded.
Gunmen shot dead two local officials of a Christian party that is a member of Lebanon's ruling anti-Syrian coalition in eastern Lebanon on Sunday, security sources said. They said other three people, all members of the Phalange Party, were wounded in the shooting in the Christian town of Zahle in the Bekaa Valley. The two dead were identified as 
