He held the room with his presence. Former Mujahadin warrior and reformed Taliban commander Abdul Mullah Salaam Mujahid had invited me into his home for tea and an interview. A wrong word, a missed protocol, and things could go terribly wrong.
Thankfully, he welcomed me with grace and offered me a sweet.
Yesterday progress was made in relations between Britain and the emerging democratic governance of Afghanistan when I and one other female journalist became the first western women to be allowed in the home of the Musa Qala district governor.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred ||
07/06/2008 00:00 ||
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The Governor of Musa Qala, Mullah Abdul Salaam, gave warning yesterday that infiltrators from Pakistan and Iran were deliberately attempting to escalate the conflict in Afghanistan.
The Governor, who was formerly a Taleban commander, said that the insurgency attacks against coalition forces, which have accounted for the worst coalition casualty figures in a single month since the war began, were now principally the work of outsiders rather than the Taleban. "They come from Pakistan, they come from Iran," Mullah Salaam said in an interview with The Times and two other newspapers. "They are doing their action in Afghanistan against their enemy."
He claimed that it was Pakistanis and Iranians who were responsible for planting improvised explosive devices, the crude but deadly homemade bombs, of which intelligence sources estimate there are 500 in the Musa Qala district alone. "It is like a sickness that everybody is doing suicide bombs. There is nothing like suicide bombs in our religion. It is nothing to do with our religion."
The Governor, who spoke in the office of his compound in the heavily protected District Centre of Musa Qala, insisted that the war against the Taleban and its allies was being waged in the name of democracy. "Yes, people are ready for democracy," he said, "but a democracy which is a little bit different from foreign democracy. We have our own Islamic rules and society. Our country has changed, our religion has changed, but they are doing their democracy in their own way."
The Governor inevitably attracts suspicion from some of his new allies on account of his past allegiances, which led him to fight against British troops. Asked how safe he felt personally, he said:
"The best security in Afghanistan is in Helmand province in Musa Qala."
"The best security in Afghanistan is in Helmand province in Musa Qala. We have good security and it will get better."
Since Musa Qala is under constant threat from the Taleban insurgency, it seemed a bold claim to make, but the Governor was insistent that security was well guaranteed by coalition forces acting alongside the Afghan National Army. "I think there is unity," he said. "I don't think there is any problem for us with unity."
As for his relationship with President Karzai, which has occasionally come under strain, he said: "It is a good relationship with our President. We have good relations because he is our Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and I don't have any problem [with that]. If I had any problems with him I don't think I would be Governor any more."
Mullah Salaam said that relations with the British troops stationed at Musa Qala were good, on the whole, but added: "Sometimes we have a little bit of problems with the new groups coming in who are not used to Afghans. But we have a good relationship."
Asked to explain how he became a Taleban supporter in the first place, he said: "I joined the Mullah Omar group because there was a lot of activities in Afghanistan, and it was a new group in the name of Islam. Because they were Muslim people, I joined them, and I thought they would be good people, they would make our Afghanistan better and better. But there was a lot of groups which destroyed our country in the end."
As for his personal ambitions, he concluded: "I will do my best for my people. I will do my very best for the people of Afghanistan. It was not my ambition to be the Governor but I am serving for my people and am delighted to be taking on this job."
Posted by: Fred ||
07/06/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Just another confirmation that Pakistan, Iran and i would add Saudi must be on our list of countries that need sorting out!
Posted by: Paul ||
07/06/2008 6:13 Comments ||
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Three years after four bombs ripped through London's public transport network, killing 52 innocent people, survivors and relatives of victims are to remember the attacks on Monday.
The third anniversary of the July 7 2005 attacks will be marked with a low-key ceremony at the railway station where the four suicide bombers set out on their mission of terror. London Mayor Boris Johnson will join Tessa Jowell, the Government minister for the capital, and transport chiefs to lay flowers outside King's Cross station at 8.50am, the time when the first three bombs went off.
Many people will make personal pilgrimages to the sites of the four blasts - Russell Square, Aldgate and Edgware Road Tube stations, and Tavistock Square. There will also be a private meeting for survivors and families of victims who want to share their memories and reflections. Many of those caught up in the bombings did not want to talk about the anniversary, saying they were trying to put what happened behind them.
Raj Babbra, 31, is using the occasion to premiere a film he has made about his ex-girlfriend and best friend, business analyst Benedetta Ciaccia, 30, who was killed in the Aldgate blast. He hopes the 40-minute documentary - called 7/7: Life Without Benedetta - will bring home to people what it meant to lose a loved one so violently.
Mr Babbra, from south London, said: "I wanted to make viewers realise these aren't other people - this happened to people just like them. The fact that it didn't happen to them is more about luck than anything." He admitted the first anniversary of the attacks was "extremely difficult" but said it had got easier with time.
#2
There was once a time when, three years after an attack on the UK, we'd be talking about English colonies in what was once Saudi Arabia, or Egypt, or Iran....
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
07/06/2008 14:29 Comments ||
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American spy planes carrying sophisticated jamming equipment blocked frantic attempts by a Colombian rebel commander to contact his superiors about last week's hostage handover, The Sunday Telegraph has learnt. Gerardo Aguilar Ramírez, known to Ingrid Betancourt and her fellow captives by his alias, César, wanted to confirm orders delivered by hand to him by courier to transfer the hostages to a "humanitarian" mission arriving by helicopter on Wednesday.
The jamming operation, high above the Amazonian rainforest canopy, was the key, final element in an elaborate plan to hoodwink César into surrendering the communist rebels' most prized assets: the former presidential candidate Ms Betancourt, 46, three American defence contractors and 11 Colombians.
At a rendezvous point in a jungle opening he was told they were to be ferried by helicopter supplied by the "International Humanitarian Group" to a base where Alfonso Cano, the overall supremo of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), wanted to question them. César, a commander notorious for his cruelty, decided to comply with the instructions. He had tried to contact Cano on four separate occasions, unaware that intelligence aircraft were intercepting or blocking his radio and satellite phone communications.
In fact the orders were fake, sent to him by Colombian intelligence teams that had infiltrated the Marxist rebel force with well-paid double agents.
The audacious rescue in Operation Checkmate involved "a combination of electronic penetration of Farc's command and control and human infiltration into its guerrilla units", said John Marulanda, a Colombian special forces officer.
The Colombian mission was backed by a multi-billion dollar US spy operation and dozens of American officials who worked full-time at the US embassy in Bogota on rescuing the three anti-narcotics contractors, captured when their plane crashed in 2003.
The rebels, who are in an increasingly demoralised state after a series of recent raids against their high command, have been so well infiltrated that their communications by satellite, mobile phone and radio are routinely picked up by US monitoring. "The guerrillas thought that they were talking to their leaders when they were in fact talking to us," said the Colombian army chief, Gen Mario Montoya.
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/06/2008 00:30 ||
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#1
Anyone have any insight into this "International Humanitarian Group" and why FARC trusted them to pick up the prisoners?
#3
For phuechs sake! Entirely TOO MUCH information has been released concerning the Signals intelligence, tactics, techniques, and procedures of this successful event. While I am very happy at the release of these folks, the publicity of the operation and endless crowing ensures it will be a one off. "Humanitarian missions" are generally held as suspect in the third world, ie, US spy operation and dozens of American officials who worked full-time at the US embassy in Bogota ..... This statement also tends to indicate a US Law Enforcement task force lead vs military or Central Intelligence Agency. My guess, the image hungry FBI or DEA, or both.
#6
The planners of the mission knew that a lot of cover would be blown, but they figured that it would be worth it. Just a value judgement on the situation.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
07/06/2008 15:52 Comments ||
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#7
I think that's right, Paul. This rescue was so spectacular that a lot of info was going to end up in the press. Good news is, we have plenty of bright people who can come up with another plan when needed.
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/06/2008 19:08 Comments ||
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#8
A fair amount was blown by the op itself. Plus we don't know how much of the info is BS and neither do the bad guys. And every time any of the bad guys think about dealing with the outside world, their sphincters are going to pucker a bit more. So on balance, it's worth it.
#9
I'm surprised at CANO THE KILLER = "JAP/SAMURAI CANO" > he's well-aware of US methodisms. FARC must be truly hard up materielly not to attempt to shoot down the recce plane.
IMO, CANO > the altern is that CANO + COMMANDANTE GERARD, etc. are following the SADR-ISLAMIST lead in Iraq + Iran, to focus more on Diplo-politics + PR 2008-2012???
#10
I understand your point of view, PBMcL, but I think in this case the coverage is warranted.
This is the kind of trick that will only work once, and now FARC is wondering how badly they have been penetrated. They're watching their own shadow now.
For punishment, hostages chained at the neck 24-hours-a-day, sometimes for years
Food was scarce; they slept outside, often in torrential rain and mud
Sometimes the hostages were forced to march without boots
Betancourt: I wouldn't treat animals or even a plant the way we were treated
Posted by: Fred ||
07/06/2008 00:00 ||
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GUAM RESTAURANT PATRONS > opined that these FARC "prisoners" look awfully healthy and clean for being "abused", as opposed to being emaciatingly thin, dirty, and decrepit after years of abuse and jungle survival???
The first major report on France by Human Rights Watch (HRW), a US-based international non-governmental organization, spares no one. The report has that in common with the terrorists it empowers.
The report, titled "Preempting Justice" looks at French counter-terrorism laws and procedures. The author, Judith Sunderland, Europe and Central Asia researcher at HRW, denounces the French legal systems reliance on a catch-all offence known as criminal association in relation to a terrorist undertaking". The charge, which enables justice officials to take preventive measures before a crime is committed, too often means a breach of human rights, HRW says. France is too quick to trade human rights for efficiency, writes Sunderland. Using the criminal justice system is the right way to fight terrorism, Sunderland said in a HRW press release. But prosecuting people because of who they know and what they think sacrifices basic rights, and that is wrong in principle and dangerous in practice.
Mathieu Guidère, senior fellow of the US-based Center for Advanced Defense Studies and director of the Strategic Information Analysis Unit at the Saint-Cyr military academy in France, rejects the accusation. Compared with many other European countries and the US, France respects peoples rights, even when security is at stake, he says. Many other European countries take Frances preventive doctrine as an example, he adds.
According to the report, the French criminal justice system violates international standards and fails to guarantee a fair trial. Among the violations listed by the report, HRW cites longer periods of police custody, delayed access to counsel, facilitated police searches, increased penalties and curtailed rights to effective defence against prosecution.
Emmanuel Nieto was arrested in October 2005 on suspicion of plotting attacks in Paris. The arrest was based on statements allegedly by a man who was detained arbitrarily in Algeria. Neito says he was subjected to police brutality during the four days he spent in police custody. He said he was forced to kneel down for long periods of time and grabbed by the throat. He was questioned for a total of 45 hours in 13 different sessions.
This doesnt come as a surprise to Eric Plouvier, a Paris-based criminal lawyer who defended Mohammed El Ayouni, who was convicted of involvement in an Islamist network that recruited in France for fighters to go to Iraq. The system badly violates individual liberties and defence rights, Plouvier says. When they are in police custody, suspects can be woken up at 2 in the morning then again at 5. They cant sleep at all, he explains. How well do the families of the victims of El Ayouni's terror network sleep? Not a question that disturbs the sleep of M. Plouvier, it appears.
The first of human rights is the right for an individual not to die in a terrorist attack, says Philippe Coirre, a counter-terrorist prosecutor in Paris. He says the only efficient way to avoid attacks is to be able to charge someone for "criminal association in relation to a terrorist undertaking". The system has proven efficient, he adds. Although France is regularly the target of threats by al Qaeda, it hasnt been struck by an Islamist attack since December 1996, when the Armed Islamic Group, based in Algeria, detonated a gas bottle at a suburban-railway station in central Paris. Thanks to the "criminal association" offence, Judge Coirre confirms that "problems with Corsican nationalists or Spanish Basques have been avoided."
Coirre, who recognizes the validity of HRWs approach, admits that the notion of "criminal association" is "very flexible", but he adds, "it is subjected to a certain number of conditions. A simple exchange of ideas is not incriminating."
In the six-and-a-half years that the U.S. government has been fingerprinting insurgents, detainees and ordinary people in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa, hundreds have turned out to share an unexpected background, FBI and military officials said. They have criminal arrest records in the United States. Just wait'l the ACLU finds out!
There was the suspected militant fleeing Somalia who had been arrested on a drug charge in New Jersey. And the man stopped at a checkpoint in Tikrit who claimed to be a dirt farmer but had 11 felony charges in the United States, including assault with a deadly weapon.
The records suggest that potential enemies abroad know a great deal about the United States because many of them have lived here, officials said. The matches also reflect the power of sharing data across agencies and even countries, data that links an identity to a distinguishing human characteristic such as a fingerprint.
'I found the number stunning,' said Frances Fragos Townsend, a security consultant and former assistant to the president for homeland security. 'It suggested to me that this was going to give us far greater insight into the relationships between individuals fighting against U.S. forces in the theater and potential U.S. cells or support networks here in the United States.'
The fingerprinting of detainees overseas began as ad-hoc FBI and U.S. military efforts shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. It has since grown into a government-wide push to build the world's largest database of known or suspected terrorist fingerprints. The effort is being boosted by a presidential directive signed June 5, which gave the U.S. attorney general and other cabinet officials 90 days to come up with a plan to expand the use of biometrics by, among other things, recommending categories of people to be screened beyond 'known or suspected' terrorists.
Posted by: Bobby ||
07/06/2008 07:02 ||
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"I found the number stunning," so did I!
said Frances Fragos Townsend, a security consultant and former assistant to the president for homeland security. "It suggested to me that this was going to give us far greater insight into the relationships between individuals fighting against U.S. forces in the theater and potential U.S. cells or support networks here in the United States."
And if you use a similar screen at the democrat convention next month, I bet you will hit the jacklpot.
No wonder the ACLU was so hot to get the terrorists into the civil courts. They are their friends.
I wonder what else turned up in the database mining expeditions?
Posted by: N guard ||
07/06/2008 8:19 Comments ||
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#2
'I found the number stunning,' said Frances Fragos Townsend, a security consultant and former assistant to the president for homeland security.
She has a US Justice Dept background and holds a BA in Political Science and a BS in Psychology from the American University. Also a JD from the University of San Diego. She is a 'veteran' of the Coast Guard.
#3
Once again, I want to advocate the creation of US military "identity" units. When we are in a foreign country like Iraq, literally everyone we meet should give biometric information and get an ID card. The front of the card has just their picture, not even their name, and the back contains heavily encrypted, non magnetic data, that just looks like a bunch of random dots.
These units would have a simple, hand held device that would take a picture, fingerprints, DNA, possibly a retinal scan and a voice print. After asking a bunch of people standard questions entered on a laptop, then that data and their biometric information would be instantly transmitted to a central database.
This would not only kill enemy infiltration dead overnight, but it would make forming a new government much easier. All at once it would be a census, a ration card, a voting card, a checkpoint pass, an internal passport, criminal record, financial records, etc.
Then all the military would have to do when they apprehended someone, or even killed someone, would be to use whatever biometrics, including DNA, to identify them. Instantly, we would know their name, family, tribe, religion, affiliations and associations, previous trouble, etc., etc.
YES, it is "Big Brother". HELL YES, it is "Big Brother". And it saves a ton of lives, billions of dollars, and gets our troops home faster.
cause unknown? prolly a bomb?
More than 10 people were killed in an apparent suicide bomb attack near a mosque in the Pakistani capital Islamabad, a city official said.
"It appears to have been a suicide bombing. More than 10 people were killed," said top city official Rana Akbar.
A Reuters television cameraman said he saw seven dead policemen at the site of the blast, near the city's Red Mosque.
what better way to celebrate the first anniversary of the siege? Smells like Islam!
Posted by: Frank G ||
07/06/2008 10:34 ||
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damn, John. I missed your post. I Duped this. Sorry
Posted by: Frank G ||
07/06/2008 10:38 Comments ||
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Talks should be held with everyone, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Baitullah Mehsud, NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti said on Saturday.
Speaking on Aaj TV, Hoti admitted that the NWFP provincial government had requested the federal government to launch a military operation in Bara. He said jirga was part of Pashtun traditions, which had nothing to do with the Bara operation.
He said the army would remain in Swat until peace was restored in the region. He said peace talks in Swat were yielding good results, adding that the Fazalullah group had accepted responsibility to maintain peace in the area.
The chief minister said parliamentary leaders from all political parties, including the Pakistan Muslim-Quaid (PML-Q) and PML-Nawaz, had been consulted on the steps being taken to maintain order in the NWFP and FATA. He said it had been made clear on the United States that the security situation in the NWFP and FATA was Pakistan's internal matter.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/06/2008 00:00 ||
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The NWFP government has approached the Mullah Fazlullah-led militant group to seek its help in identifying groups still pursuing violence and opposing the government's peace efforts in the district, a provincial minister said on Saturday, adding that the government might sign a peace agreement with these groups if complete peace in the Swat Valley could thus be guaranteed.
'We have asked the Taliban to either help us or let us try to contact these groups and strike a similar deal with them by ourselves,' he said on the condition of anonymity. Mullah Fazlullah's group, which signed a peace agreement with the NWFP government on May 21, is challenged by other militant groups in Swat district.
The minister said the government had taken Fazlullah's group into confidence over possible direct contacts with other militant groups. 'We did so because we did not want to create a misunderstanding with Fazlullah's group, who might object if we try to hold talks with other militant groups by ourselves,' the minister added.
'There are other groups than the one led by Fazlullah,' confirmed a senior government official monitoring law and order at a summer resort here. 'These groups, we believe, continue to carry out attacks,' he said, asking not to be named. 'Some of these groups are even opposing the peace deal between the government and Fazlullah's group,' said the official.
ANP denies: ANP NWFP president and the government's peace envoy, Afrasiab Khattak, however denied that the provincial government was considering more peace deals with other groups operating in the militancy-plagued district. Also on Saturday, local leaders of the Tehreek Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM) of Sufi Muhammad met the Malakand district co-ordination officer. Talking to journalists, the leaders said they had expelled Mullah Fazlullah from their movement for his 'disobedience'. They said the DCO was asked to remove police check posts. The TNSM leaders said the government had assured them of implementation of Shariah in Malakand in the coming three months.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/06/2008 00:00 ||
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Preparations to launch a major operation in Tribal Areas surrounding Dera Ismail Khan have been completed. Contingents of paramilitary troops going towards South Waziristan show that dialogue between the government and militants has ended without culmination due to external pressure on the government. Sources in intelligence agencies also spoke about a major operation in the Tribal Areas. TTP chief Baitullah Mehsud's announcement of ending dialogue with the government following an operation in Bara has created law and order woes for administrations of NWFP southern districts. People are fearing a wave of suicide attacks.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/06/2008 00:00 ||
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BAGHDAD (AP) - Iraq's electricity production jumped more than 10 percent in roughly the first six months of 2008 compared to the same period a year ago, the director of energy operations for coalition forces said Sunday.
Iraqi authorities have taken advantage of the recent decline in violence to repair damaged power stations and begin building new infrastructure, Brig. Carew Wilks said at a news conference in Baghdad's Green Zone. Those efforts have helped boost electricity production by 11 percent. But there is still not enough capacity to meet all of Iraq's needs, so coalition forces are working with the Iraqi government on ways to share power across the country, said Wilks.
Even with current efforts, "it will take many years of major investment to meet the rising energy demand in Iraq," Wilks said.
The electricity gains have been possible because violence in Iraq has dropped to its lowest level in more than four years.
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/06/2008 14:13 ||
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ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - The United Arab Emirates canceled all its Iraqi debt Sunday and moved to restore a full diplomatic mission in Baghdad by naming a new ambassador. It's part of a recent warming between Iraq's Shiite-led government and its mostly Sunni Muslim neighbors. Washington has pushed Gulf states like the UAE to restore ties with the war-torn country. Jordan named an ambassador last week, and Kuwait and Bahrain say appointments are imminent.
The Emirates' official news agency quoted the country's president Sunday as saying the UAE was canceling all $4 billion in debt owed by Iraq. The announcement came as Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was visiting the Emirates. An Iraqi government spokesman, Ali al-Dabbagh, confirmed his government was notified of the debt cancellation.
Al-Dabbagh also said Abdullah al-Shehi, the UAE's former head of mission in India, was named ambassador to Iraq. The country said last month that an appointment was upcoming.
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/06/2008 14:02 ||
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There really needs to be a push right now to create a trading zone among select countries, with the idea of eventually leading to a common market. Now that they are diversifying their economies like mad, this is the next logical step.
yep, the yellowcake that the MSM told us didn't exist. Joe Wilson and Valerie Plame should have to eat it, like a 4th of July hot-dog eating contestant
The last major remnant of Saddam Hussein's nuclear program a huge stockpile of concentrated natural uranium reached a Canadian port Saturday to complete a secret U.S. operation that included a two-week airlift from Baghdad and a ship voyage crossing two oceans.
The removal of 550 metric tons of "yellowcake" the seed material for higher-grade nuclear enrichment was a significant step toward closing the books on Saddam's nuclear legacy. It also brought relief to U.S. and Iraqi authorities who had worried the cache would reach insurgents or smugglers crossing to Iran to aid its nuclear ambitions.
What's now left is the final and complicated push to clean up the remaining radioactive debris at the former Tuwaitha nuclear complex about 12 miles south of Baghdad using teams that include Iraqi experts recently trained in the Chernobyl fallout zone in Ukraine expect to hear nothing about this .....
HT to AOSHQ
Posted by: Frank G ||
07/06/2008 10:44 ||
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Secret US mission? If George Bush had any sense he'd hold a news conference and tell the whole world all about it.
#2
apparently, this is the stockpile that was found after the first GW, and under UN seal, but to say Saddam had no WMD or WMD program is a MSM/Lefty lie
Posted by: Frank G ||
07/06/2008 11:20 Comments ||
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#3
Frank...personally I think they should shove the yellowcake where the sun doesn't shine in Joey.
On Thursday in North Dakota, Obama said that "I'll ... continue to refine my policy" on Iraq after an upcoming trip there. With a promise to end the war the central premise of his candidacy, the Obama campaign has struggled over the past two days to push back against Republicans and others who say his recent statement could be a softening or change in policy. Nah, it only looks like that to us non-lefty-losers.
Obama has always said his promise to end the war would require consultations with military commanders and, possibly, flexibility.
"The tactics of how we ensure our troops are safe as we pull out, how we execute the withdrawal, those are things that are all based on facts and conditions," he said. "I am not somebody unlike George Bush who is willing to ignore facts on the basis of my preconceived notions." Words fail.
McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds said Obama needs to "understand that his words matter."
"We are all absolutely committed to ending this war, but on Thursday Barack Obama's words indicated that he also shared John McCains commitment to securing the peace beforehand," he said.
Posted by: Bobby ||
07/06/2008 06:52 ||
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#1
Interesting. When I hit submit, it went to the text screen, looked like it was going to double-post, then hung. I copied the error message: ERROR: invalid byte sequence for encoding "UTF8": 0x97 HINT: This error can also happen if the byte sequence does not match the encoding expected by the server, which is controlled by "client_encoding".
But it clearly did post... Glad to have the 'Burg back!
Posted by: Bobby ||
07/06/2008 7:01 Comments ||
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#2
Obama has always said his promise to end the war would require consultations with military commanders and, possibly, flexibility...
Has he 'always said' it Ebonicphorically or did I just miss something?
BAGHDAD - In a sign of returning normalcy, the public swimming pool of the Iraqi capital's Zawra park reopened on Saturday with men and children plunging in the water as gun-toting US soldiers stood guard. Closed since before the March 2003 invasion of Iraq, the pool has been rebuilt at a cost of nearly 500,000 dollars and opened at a time when the mercury is soaring and electricity supplies remain erratic.
"It's just great. I am very happy," said 11-year-old Muntawar who jumped into the water with his clothes on, while his two younger sisters screamed with joy and their mother watched from makeshift shade nearby. "This is the first time I have come to this pool but I will come again with my friends," Muntawar said.
On Saturday, seven heavily-armoured US military vehicles escorted a group of journalists to witness the reopening as hundreds of men, women and children enjoyed their weekend break in Baghdad's largest open space.
The stately park with its zoo which has been virtually emptied once occupied pride of place in Baghdad. It is near former president Saddam Hussein's Republican Palace that is now in the heavily-fortified Green Zone, the seat of the Iraqi government and US embassy. The park was damaged when American tanks rolled into Baghdad during the invasion and reportedly destroyed a huge statue of Saddam on their way through Zawra.
The pool reopening is bound to bring more picnickers to the park -- once famous for its tigers and now sheltering a few animals and birds -- as the heat peaks with temperatures of more 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit).
"We are so happy. This pool is for all Baghdadis and Iraqis. All Iraqis when they come to Baghdad can come here," said a smiling Yahya Mohammed Ali, deputy mayor of Baghdad who attended the reopening ceremony. "It is a sign that peace is returning," he said, insisting the park and the pool were now safe.
The park has a single entrance guarded by armed men who frisk visitors.
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/06/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
I wonder what the availability of chlorine will be, given its past misuse. But if they don't use it, the coliform bacteria in that pool is going to be impressive.
#2
They could use an electrolysis method to generate chlorine from salt on the fly. Some big pools in our area do it; apparently it's cheaper and easier than buying and handling chlorine yourself.
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/06/2008 0:32 Comments ||
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#3
There's always iodine.
And do ya think we really have to worry about misuse of chlorine now? I tend to think not. Regime change, an' all.....
#6
Those Who Have A Working Arabic Vocabulary..
How do you say...
*Don't Do WuDu in the Pool* or
*No WuDu In The Pool* or
*Go Ahead Allah loves those who pee and thoroughly wash their private parts in the pool* or
*Please Do WooDoo in the Pool*
#7
Verlaine: Remember that not too long ago, al Qaeda was adding chlorine to car bombs trying to cause more casualties. So as useful as it is, it might be somewhat harder to get in Iraq.
hellooooo Iran!
Israel has successfully tested a new defence system designed to intercept rockets fired from southern Lebanon and the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, public radio reported on Sunday.
The "Iron Dome" system is expected to be fully operational within a year and will be able to intercept the military-grade Katyusha rockets used by Lebanon's Hezbollah militia and the cruder Qassam rockets favoured by Hamas.
Citing Israeli security officials, public radio said the system would also be effective against mortar fire which has a much smaller window of warning.
In January Prime Minister Ehud Olmert viewed a prototype of the 200-million-dollar (140-million-euro) system, which is being developed under contract by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems, an Israeli arms manufacturer.
Iron Dome is part of a multi-layered defence system aimed at protecting Israel from both short-range missiles fired by militants in Gaza or Lebanon and longer-range missiles in the arsenals of regional foes Iran and Syria.
Posted by: Frank G ||
07/06/2008 10:10 ||
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Good job. Pull the last effective weapon away from the terrorists. All they will have left is the occasional suicide bomber/attacker.
#3
But... but... just look at all the smoke it emits! No doubt the U.N. will want them to close the project down so it doesn't contribute to Globull Worming...
#4
besoeker, Israel is just a tad .... more compact ... than the US. Takes a little less in the way of system for defense.
And - their airspace management is orders of magnitude less complex than ours along the borders and elsewhere. That greatly simplifies the technical requirements of their system.
Posted by: Black Charlie Glising4125 ||
07/06/2008 16:00 Comments ||
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#8
And with what side effects. If this is a higher-powered tactical laser system, chances are good it's chemically powered. Those chemicals are nasty stuff - the logistics load is substantial, one of several reasons we haven't rushed our own prototypes into production.
#9
Iron Dome uses small $50,000(?) missiles to intercept small rockets, mortars and artillery. If I was Hizb Allah, I would run Israel out of ammo in 24 hours or bankrupt them in a month with $200 rockets.
Posted by: ed ||
07/06/2008 16:40 Comments ||
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The IDF is considering sealing and not demolishing the home of the terrorist from the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Sur Bahir who went on a bulldozer rampage through the capital on Wednesday since another family lives inside the building, defense officials said Saturday.
On Friday, Defense Minister Ehud Barak instructed the IDF to begin the process of issuing demolition orders against the homes of Ala Abu Dhaim of Jebl Mukaber, who killed eight students in the Merkaz Harav Yeshiva in March, and Husam Taysir Dwayat of Sur Bahir, who killed three Israelis during his bulldozer rampage on Wednesday.
On Thursday, Attorney-General Menahem Mazuz informed the government that by law, Israel has the right to demolish terrorists' homes within areas of Israeli sovereignty, but doing so could raise "significant legal problems."
The statement was included in a legal opinion submitted to the government following consultations between the army and the State Attorney's Office earlier in the day on the question of house demolitions.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/06/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Do the family get to leave first?
Posted by: Rambler in California ||
07/06/2008 1:03 Comments ||
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#2
"significant legal problems..."
I'm sure both the people those depraved scum murdered wish they were still alive to have "significant legal problems."
They should not only bulldoze the houses, they should confiscate the property and execute every immediate adult male relative. They should then deport the remaining females and children to Gaza with only the shirts on their backs. Do that a few times and this crap will stop cold.
Manji said scientists at the Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute in Iran had bought 215 vervet monkeys from him this year but he had become suspicious about their true motive, although he was still trading with them. They had spent a lot of money on getting the monkeys, even sending over scientists to check on each consignment.
Iran is very secretive, said Manji, who has been exporting monkeys for 22 years. They said it [the monkeys] was for our country, for vaccine. [They said] We dont buy vaccine from anywhere; we prepare our own vaccine.
But I think they use it for something else. You know why? Because they dont go on kilos. Iran wants [monkeys weighing] 1.5kg to 2.5kg, [but] 1.5kg for vaccine is not possible.
Rubibira indicated that finding out what the Iranians wanted the monkeys for would be difficult. They cannot say, you know. They are secretive. They wouldnt tell the truth.
The revelation will fuel speculation that the monkeys may be used for research involving biological weapons. Primates are typically used by scientists wishing to test both the effectiveness of germ warfare agents and defences against them.
The Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, which has its headquarters in Karaj, near Tehran, has been accused in the past by an Iranian opposition group of conducting biological weapons testing.
According to US intelligence, the pharmaceutical industry in Iran has long been used as a cover for developing a germ warfare capability.
In 2005 the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence said Iran continued to seek dual-use biotechnology materials, equipment and expertise that are consistent with its growing legitimate biotechnology industry but could benefit Tehrans assessed probable BW [biological weapons] programme. Earlier this year it reiterated this.
The Razi institute, which was established in 1925, does legitimate research but does not publicly list on its website the use of primates in any of its current projects. Other animals being used for experiments, such as guinea pigs and mice, are mentioned
Posted by: Frank G ||
07/06/2008 11:09 ||
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#1
Something tells me that Tom Clancy could sue Iran for copyright infringement, no?
Posted by: Frank G ||
07/06/2008 13:36 Comments ||
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#3
After the Islamofascist "revolution" the Ayatoilets set up a movement - Basij - to defend their power. There can be no doubt that scientists are equally conscripted to float clerical power.
#5
The mullah's must really, really want armageddon because if they unleash any of that shit in ny way and it gets traced back to them they're vapor and they're country's glass.
Hat tip Gateway Pundit. This is the fellow the Mad Mullahs arrested, tortured, and condemned to death. He's now free in America.
Washington, D.C., June 30, 2008 - Ahmad Batebi, a leader of the Iranian Student Movement and an activist for human rights in Iran, told the Voice of America's (VOA) Persian News Network (PNN) that, "torture, human rights violations, and abuses towards women still are prevalent in Iran."
On the set of NewsTalk, Batebi described the physical and mental abuse of prisoners inside Iran. Having spent more than nine years in jail, he spoke of suffering torture and abuse that triggered massive swelling of the right lobe of his brain. Batebi observed that, "the main aim of the severe, humiliating torture that me and my fellow prisoners endured was to force us to say what the authorities wanted to hear, and if we did not adhere, they would intimidate and abuse our families."
Batebi has recently arrived in Washington, after leaving Iran, and traveling through Iraq and Austria. During the interview, Batebi said, "I wish each and every Iranian could travel abroad, come to the U.S. or go to Europe, for just one week, and feel, smell, and breathe freedom, human dignity, and realize the value of their lives."
Ahmad Batebi, gained notoriety in July 1999 for holding up a bloodied shirt belonging to Ezzat Ebrahim-Najad, a fellow student, who had been beaten by the 'Basij' paramilitaries. Following publication of the photo, called "an icon for Iran's student reform movement," Batebi was arrested, tried in closed-door proceedings, found guilty and sentenced to death by Tehran's Revolutionary Court. His sentence was later reduced to 15 years after domestic and international outcry.
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/06/2008 00:26 ||
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#1
Sometimes good things do happen to good people. May the pain he has already suffered be the total for his entire life.
The German government has admitted it was deeply involved in funding last month's conference here on the Middle East, and reports indicate it suggested inviting former Iranian deputy foreign minister Muhammad Javad Ardashir Larijani to speak at the gathering, where he called for the destruction of Israel.
At the Third Transatlantic Conference - whose stated purpose was to address "common solutions" in the Middle East - Larijani said the "Zionist project" should be "canceled" and argued that Israel "has failed miserably and has only caused terrible damage to the region."
Jens Plötner, a spokesman for German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, told The Jerusalem Post over the weekend that the Foreign, Economics and Research ministries and Chancellor Angela Merkel's office transferred funds to the Hesse Foundation for Peace and Conflict Research, which he said had proposed inviting Larijani. The grant was made from a fund for "civil society projects."
The foundation made the suggestion to invite Larijani "four months before the event" at an inter-agency meeting involving the four government bodies, Plotner said.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/06/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
So did the German hosts rear up on their hind legs and publicly protest such proposals at their conference?
#2
I know Merkel & Co. are adults and all, compared to the vile idiots in before them, and probably the BND works closely with our spooks against the bad guys, etc., but for some reason I find myself utterly indifferent to Germany.
Separately, as a general rule, any organization with the words "peace" or "conflict resolution" in their titles should be zeroed out, shunned, ridiculed, and shut down. The vast amounts of money poured into these idiotic outfits (that includes those nestled inside the mostly poisonous poli sci departments of universities as well) is one of the most infuriating things to witness. They do little more than soak up the money and produce more anti-US, anti-western, infantile pacifist, de facto pro-genocide and pro-fascist nonsense. WTF is it with so many rich folks - why this mass delusion about the value of such dreck?
A chilling testament to the prevalence of deeply misguided "educated" people, and the ridiculous guilt complex foisted on so many by a PC-poisoned environment.
BRUSSELS - The European Union's foreign policy chief is willing to meet Iran's chief negotiator soon, after Tehran replied to a package of incentives from major powers for it to curb its nuclear programme, an EU spokeswoman said on Saturday.
She said EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana held first telephone consultations on Saturday on Iran's written response to proposals he delivered to Tehran last month on behalf of the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China. "One of the things to decide is to meet (Iranian national security chief Saeed) Jalili, and if so when. In principle, the position is to respond favourably," Solana's spokeswoman, Cristina Gallach, told Reuters.
She said Jalili had requested such a meeting in a telephone call with Solana on Friday in which he stressed "common ground". Gallach declined to give details of the content of the Iranian reply, saying the major powers were still studying the four-page letter from Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and holding consultations.
It was not clear whether Mottaki's letter addressed Solana's proposal for a six-week preliminary phase of talks in which Tehran would stop adding new centrifuges to its uranium enrichment programme, while the six powers would undertake not to make any new moves on sanctions. The major powers have said they will only enter formal negotiations on the package of economic, technological and political incentives if Iran suspends all uranium enrichment.
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/06/2008 00:00 ||
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BEIRUT - Lebanese leaders are finalising a deal on the formation of a national unity government as stipulated in an agreement that ended the country's political crisis, political sources said on Saturday.
Prime Minister-designate Fouad Siniora indicated progress in his efforts to form the new government, in which Hezbollah and its allies would have a blocking minority, but ruled out announcing it as early as Saturday.
"I am continuing (efforts) to form the government and I'm confident that during a short period of time we will form the government," Siniora said after talks with Christian opposition leader and Hezbollah ally Michel Aoun. The prime minister said he had agreed with Aoun on his share in the government, removing a main hurdle. He said he would hold similar talks with other leaders before announcing his line-up.
Political sources from both sides said the breakthrough in the government came after a series of contacts by Qatari Prime Minister Shiekh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani with rival leaders.
The new government, led by Siniora, would have two Hezbollah ministers in addition to nine ministers from its Shi'ite Muslim, Druze and Christian allies. The ruling coalition would have 16 ministers while the remaining three ministers in the 30-member cabinet would be picked by the president, the sources said. Personalities close to Suleiman would be assigned the key defence and interior portfolios.
Leaders were holding intense contacts to finalise the cabinet list. Once the names of the ministers are finalised, Siniora would meet Suleiman and announce his line up. The main task of the cabinet would be to ease political and sectarian tensions that had led to bouts of deadly violence, adopt an election law already agreed in Doha, and supervise next year's parliamentary election.
After the formation of the government, Suleiman is expected to call rival leaders for round table talks to discuss various divisive issues. On top of the agenda would be the fate of Hezbollah's weapons.
Good luck with that ...
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/06/2008 00:00 ||
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Congressman Ron Paul has warned millions of radio listeners that the US is heading into a deadly confrontation with Iran, revealing his disbelief at members of Congress who have openly voiced support for a pre-emptive nuclear strike on the country.
'If we do (attack) it is going to be a disaster,' the Congressman told the Alex Jones show this Thursday. Alex Jones, the troother mutt? Iran is making a case for pre-emption by concealing nuclear developments. Ahmadinejad raises the scope of response when he claims mass retaliation capacity and survivability. A Congress member who challenged the nuke option, would not be doing their job. Frankly, I would like to see the northern bank of the Strait of Hormuz seized and occupied.
'I was astounded to see on one of the networks the other day that the debate was not are we going to attack? but are we going to attack before or after the election?' Paul continued.
The Congressman recently voiced his concern over House Congressional Resolution 362 which he has dubbed a 'Virtual Iran War Resolution'. 'If that comes up it is demanding that the President put on an absolute blockade of the entire country of Iran, and punish any country or any business group around the world if they trade with Iran.' Paul told listeners.
#3
A nuclear strike might be a bit excessive, given the power of our non-nuclear weaponry, but otherwise it's nice to see our Congresscritters taking their job seriously.
#4
Just back his primary opponent and retire Ron Paul to the ranks of 2AM DJ's on the AM band talking about UFOs, the Bilderburgers and tinfoil hat construction to counteract government mind control beams.
Posted by: Frank G ||
07/06/2008 4:14 Comments ||
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#6
#5 millions of radio listeners? or 17?
Come On Frank.. Please keep an *~~~*OPEN MIND*~~~*
FYI
Nielsen Media Research, using the latest radio beam crystal set technology, has unimpeachable evidence that there are millions of Space Aliens who are mooching Ron Paul broadcasts for free!
/secrete: them Space Cadets are getting away with it because they are orbiting Mother Earth inside the "blind spot". way crafty eh! >;)
Posted by: Mike ||
07/06/2008 8:35 Comments ||
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#9
Muh Kittuahs hateing on the Crystal Set Technology. Lizzie Borden sez "like take the damn staples out of your wallet, us cats want you to buy a damn superhet all ready"
#10
Ron Paul has become the laughing stock of political contenders. He expects to get elected President with this kind of nuttiness? Why not nuke Iran, if it's necessary to protect the United States and its allies, especially those in the Persian Gulf? If we attack it'll be a disaster, all right - for Iran. I can see a massed TOT attack with 250-300 Tomahawks, two dozen B-1s with JDAMs, and 10 B-2s, plus Navy Air, using nukes and conventional weapons in a nasty mix that will leave Iran totally indefensible from within. Paul should know better - he should know what the capabilities of the United States are, and how they can be deployed. The man has moved headlong into the lunatic fringe, as if attracted by the black hole at its center.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
07/06/2008 14:59 Comments ||
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#11
The man has moved headlong into the lunatic fringe, as if attracted by the black hole at its center
I resent that OP, Ron Paul and I visit our black hole on a regular basis!
/ima leaving... Huff!
Posted by: Erich von Daniken ||
07/06/2008 15:30 Comments ||
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#12
I've always suspected Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich were separated at birth.
Posted by: ed ||
07/06/2008 16:55 Comments ||
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#13
NUCLEAR-WMD WEAP + OTHER TECH PROLIFERATION > many Perts are in rough consensus that all things equal, VARIOUS PREEMPTION STRATEGIES become more likely and preferred as rate of prolifer increases e.g. ISRAEL + IRAN.
Again, many PR0-DEM MEDIA PUNDITS recognize the LT danger of NUCLEAR RADICALISM-JIHAD-TERRORISM vv US = US-Allies, and want Dubya to attack Iran ASAP before he leaves office. IOW THEY DON'T WANT ANY POTUS OBAMA = "MR. DIVERSITY/GLOBALISM" BEING EMBURDENED ALA JIMBO "But the Soviets told/promised Me they wouldn't invade" CARTER + SOVIET INVASION OF AGHANISTAN, EMBASSY-DESERT ONE, etc.
Americans can respect Jimbo for his effort at Peace + new Idealism - unfortunately, ala SOVIETS IN AFGHANISTAN, IT WAS THE LEFT THAT BROUGHT HIM DOWN.
#14
DEMOLEFT GETTING CAUGHT IN ITS OWN TRAP > CRITICIZING DUBYA FOR INVADING IRAQ + HIS HANDLING OF THE WAR, + SUPPOR OBAMA's CALL TO END THE WAR = WOT, BUT SIMUL ALSO NOT TRUSTING IRAN NOR MILITANTS WID PEACE-ORIENTED NUCLEAR AGENDUMS.
D *** NG IT, WE WANT DUBYA TO END THE WOT AND BRING US TROOPS HOME BY INVADING IRAN, D *** YOU!
Clashes between guards and prisoners at a jail in Syria have resulted in many deaths, human-rights groups have said. At least 25 people were killed after military police fired live bullets at Islamist inmates, the groups said.
The Syrian authorities have so far not commented on the situation. Prisoners said the clashes were sparked by raids in which guards beat inmates. One inmate told the BBC he believed the death toll was higher. The prisoners are reportedly holding hostages.
Several prisoners have managed to contact Syrian human rights group, as well as the BBC, by telephone. They said the guards had also desecrated copies of the Koran.
The inmates said the early-morning raids were in response to a protest by detainees several weeks ago about conditions at Saydnaya Prison near Damascus, which houses chiefly Islamist and political prisoners.
One inmate told the BBC the guards had roughly treated the prisoners during the raid. 'They shackled our hands behind us, confiscated our clothes and possessions, and beat us. And they insulted the Koran, they trod on the Koran,' he told the BBC's Arabic service.
Same old, same old. The Islamicists hate non-Wahabist/Salafist Muslim governments just as much as they hate us.
Turned them into newts and they didn't get better ...
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights quoted a political prisoner reached by mobile phone inside the jail as saying that the riot had been started by Islamist inmates. A number of prisoners had climbed on to the roof of the prison to escape continued shooting with live ammunition by guards, the group said on its website.
#1
I'm sure the 'international human rights community' and MSM will express their outrage commensurate with that they had for Abu Ghrab. /heavy sarcasm off
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.
The Governor of Musa Qala, Mullah Abdul Salaam, gave warning yesterday that infiltrators from Pakistan and Iran were deliberately attempting to escalate the conflict in Afghanistan. 
The first major report on France by Human Rights Watch (HRW), a US-based international non-governmental organization, spares no one. 
Talks should be held with everyone, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Baitullah Mehsud, NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti said on Saturday.
The NWFP government has approached the Mullah Fazlullah-led militant group to seek its help in identifying groups still pursuing violence and opposing the government's peace efforts in the district, a provincial minister said on Saturday, adding that the government might sign a peace agreement with these groups if complete peace in the Swat Valley could thus be guaranteed.
Preparations to launch a major operation in Tribal Areas surrounding Dera Ismail Khan have been completed. Contingents of paramilitary troops going towards South Waziristan show that dialogue between the government and militants has ended without culmination due to external pressure on the government. Sources in intelligence agencies also spoke about a major operation in the Tribal Areas. TTP chief Baitullah Mehsud's announcement of ending dialogue with the government following an operation in Bara has created law and order woes for administrations of NWFP southern districts. People are fearing a wave of suicide attacks.
BAGHDAD (AP) - Iraq's electricity production jumped more than 10 percent in roughly the first six months of 2008 compared to the same period a year ago, the director of energy operations for coalition forces said Sunday.
BRUSSELS - The European Union's foreign policy chief is willing to meet Iran's chief negotiator soon, after Tehran replied to a package of incentives from major powers for it to curb its nuclear programme, an EU spokeswoman said on Saturday.
BEIRUT - Lebanese leaders are finalising a deal on the formation of a national unity government as stipulated in an agreement that ended the country's political crisis, political sources said on Saturday.
Congressman Ron Paul has warned millions of radio listeners that the US is heading into a deadly confrontation with Iran, revealing his disbelief at members of Congress who have openly voiced support for a pre-emptive nuclear strike on the country. 
