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Baitullah reported titzup
Today's Headlines
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Page 1: WoT Operations
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Page 2: WoT Background
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Page 4: Opinion
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Page 5: Russia-Former Soviet Union
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Good morning
Posted by: Fred || 10/01/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  You had to have a BIG imagination back then, I guess.
Posted by: Jack is Back! || 10/01/2008 6:52 Comments || Top||

#2  Wasn't she the singer admired by "Hanging Judge" Roy Bean?
Posted by: JohnQC || 10/01/2008 8:20 Comments || Top||

#3  Perhaps, but I suspect you're thinking of Lilly Langtry. H named the town after her.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 10/01/2008 8:29 Comments || Top||

#4  Lillian was one of the early stars in Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, was married four times (once to a bigamist), and was Diamond Jim Brady's girlfriend for umpty years.
Posted by: Fred || 10/01/2008 11:23 Comments || Top||

#5  In those days, Jack, being on the stage took LOTS of talent, instead of a willingness to "let it all hang out". Even the second- and third-tier players had to have above average talent. Some of today's "stars" would never have made it beyond church plays in small towns.
Posted by: Old Patriot || 10/01/2008 20:33 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan
Brutal Afghan Winter Finally Arrives
Excerpt:
But now it will get worse, as NATO announced a Winter offensive against the Taliban, taking advantage of the snow, bad weather and lack of mobility the Afghans suffer then. NATO has helicopters and air power, and has increasingly used this edge during the Winter.

Posted by: ed || 10/01/2008 06:44 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  1/ Colder air is thicker air, so the heliopters will work better.
2/ Talibunnies will stand out more against the cold background.

Good hunting!
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 10/01/2008 8:03 Comments || Top||

#2  2/ Talibunnies will stand out more against the cold background.

only while they're alive. Heh
Posted by: Frank G || 10/01/2008 8:21 Comments || Top||

#3  Reminds me of the scene on the Unforgiven, where they are talking about how they'd rather be shot when it was warm. Cause everything hurts worse when its cold, like when its cold outside and you hit your thumb with a hammer, it hurts more.
Posted by: bigjim-ky || 10/01/2008 8:23 Comments || Top||

#4  I need to get my snow tires on, pronto...
Posted by: Raj || 10/01/2008 9:18 Comments || Top||

#5  Let's put rocks into NATO's snowballs... that always werked against our rivals when Iwaz young and immature.

~:)
Posted by: RD || 10/01/2008 9:29 Comments || Top||

#6  Betcha the Canucks are trembling in their mukluks.
Posted by: Fred || 10/01/2008 10:02 Comments || Top||

#7  It's how the American Army took the war to the plains Indians. It was hard and tough campaigning in the winter, nearly impossible, but still executed because the natives couldn't move without risking just as deadly exposure to the elements. Leverage your advantage over your opponent's disadvantage.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 10/01/2008 10:02 Comments || Top||

#8  Our guys have better boots, surely a sign of Allah's favour.
Posted by: trailing wife || 10/01/2008 10:51 Comments || Top||

#9  Brutal winter soon to be followed by talibunnies brutal slaughter.
Posted by: DarthVader || 10/01/2008 11:30 Comments || Top||

#10  Hey, spring is just around the corner. Time to start talking up the dreaded Spring Offensive.
Posted by: KBK || 10/01/2008 11:39 Comments || Top||

#11  Where's that Global Warming(tm) when you need it?
Posted by: Iblis || 10/01/2008 12:16 Comments || Top||

#12  iblis, the Halliburton Weather Control Division isn't stupid. They are holding off global warming in Afghanistan so that Bush can kill more innocent bunnies and fluffy ducks.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia || 10/01/2008 17:42 Comments || Top||

#13  Thank goodness the fuzzy kitties have gone undetected.
Posted by: Steven || 10/01/2008 23:35 Comments || Top||


Africa Horn
More Somalian Piracy Discussion
Information Dissemination site has an excellent discussion of the piracy issue, especially off Somalia. Link to his site. Follow the links from there for in depth coverage of the issues. Also a great graphic and map on recent piracy incidents. Should serve as a guide to targeting the havens for those countries that have the stones to eliminate the threats.
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 10/01/2008 18:12 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Here is the map of operations. Good targeting info, non?

080925-unclass_Piracy-NS
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 10/01/2008 20:46 Comments || Top||


Russia approved to use force against Somali pirates
Excessive force in the apprehension of the Blues Brothers Somali pirates has been approved...
NAIROBI (Reuters) - Somali authorities have given Russia's navy the go-ahead to use force against pirates holding a Ukrainian ship hijacked with 33 tanks on board, a maritime official said on Wednesday. Russia has sent a warship, but it has yet to arrive off lawless Somalia, where gunmen demanding $20 million seized the MV Faina last week. U.S. naval ships are watching the vessel, hijacked near one of the world's busiest shipping routes.

"The Somali government has given permission to the Russian navy to enter Somali waters and use force," said Andrew Mwangura, an official of the Mombasa-based East African Seafarers Assistance Program. "On behalf of the seafarers' families, we are requesting them not to use force because it will put the men in danger."

The crew of 20 are mostly Ukrainians, but include two Russians. Another Russian died of illness after the hijacking.

Germany announced on Wednesday it would provide a frigate for an EU naval task force comprised of three frigates, a supply ship and three maritime surveillance ships to fight piracy off the African coast. Twice this year, French commandoes have stormed hijacked yachts, rescued captured French nationals and taken pirates away for prosecution.
Posted by: tu3031 || 10/01/2008 10:25 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  requesting them not to use force because it will put the men in danger."

Which men? The crew? They're already in danger, witness the death of one of them. The pirates? I should hope they're in danger; I'd hang any I caught alive by the end of the day.
Posted by: Glenmore || 10/01/2008 13:10 Comments || Top||

#2  Update:

Somalia: World can use force against the pirates

That is all...
Posted by: tu3031 || 10/01/2008 13:13 Comments || Top||

#3  MOSCOW, October 1 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian Navy said Wednesday that no force would be used against pirates who seized a Ukrainian ship off the Somali coast last week, a Navy spokesman said. "The issues of releasing the ship and the crew will be resolved in line with international practice. The use of force is clearly an extreme measure as it could threaten the lives of the multinational crew," Capt. 1st Rank Igor Dygalo told RIA Novosti.

The pirates, who are demanding $20 million for the release of the ship, said earlier they would kill a hostage if an attempt was made to free the hostages by force. Among the hostages are three Russians, 17 Ukrainians and one Latvian. The ship's captain, Russian Vladimir Kolobkov, earlier died of a heart attack. Three pirates were killed in a shootout onboard, media reported, adding that none of the ship's crew was injured during the shootout.

Russia sent the Neustrashimy (Fearless) warship to the region on Saturday, but the Russian Navy said the decision had been made long before the seizure of the Faina. "The Russian Navy has repeatedly maintained that the goal for the Neustrashimy is to arrive in Somalia and protect Russian vessels for an indefinite period of time in areas dangerous for pirate attacks," Dygalo said.

Earlier Wednesday, Somali Ambassador to Russia Mohamed Handule said his country's President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed had authorized Russia's military to fight pirates off Somalia's coast and on land. "This permission allows the warship to use the whole range of the weapons on board," a Navy official said.
Posted by: tu3031 || 10/01/2008 13:22 Comments || Top||

#4  no force is being used against them. that's the whole problem
Posted by: sinse || 10/01/2008 13:35 Comments || Top||

#5  Maybe they'll send them over some of Vlad's "Special Sushi"...
Posted by: tu3031 || 10/01/2008 14:01 Comments || Top||

#6  Like Russia really NEEDED permission from Somalia.

That works real well, kind of like litle Brother telling big Brother not to hit him......
Posted by: USN, Ret. || 10/01/2008 14:19 Comments || Top||

#7  It's an attempt to pre-empt US action.  Only Russia has permission now to enter Somali waters, is the claim.
Posted by: lotp || 10/01/2008 14:21 Comments || Top||

#8  Russia can sometimes do revenge well. After some Americans had been kidnapped in Lebanon, the kidnappers got the bright idea to kidnap some Russians.

The Russians counter-kidnapped their spiritual leader, and FedEx'ed a few of his body parts to them, asking where they should send the rest.

They not only released the Russians hostages, but drove them to the Russian embassy, begging them to ask their government to not mutilate their spiritual leader any more.

For once, I appreciated the Russian way of doing business.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 10/01/2008 14:48 Comments || Top||

#9  Actually, I think the Somali "government" is giving everybody permission to blast away...

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Somalia will allow foreign powers to use force if necessary against pirates who are holding a ship loaded with tanks for US$20 million ransom, raising the stakes for bandits who are facing off against the United States and soon Moscow on the high seas.

And at least eight European Union countries want to join an international operation to protect shipping from pirates off Somali, according to France's defense minister.

"The international community has permission to fight with the pirates," Mohammed Jammer Ali, the Somali Foreign Ministry's acting permanent director, told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Somalia's president, Abdullahi Yusuf, also urged foreign nations to help Somalis fight piracy. "The government has lost patience and now wants to fight pirates with the help of the international community," he said Wednesday in a radio address.
Posted by: tu3031 || 10/01/2008 16:36 Comments || Top||

#10  Why would the US launch a rescue? No American ships have been hijacked and, as far as I know, no US crewman held hostage. The only US interest is to see that these weapons are not sold to the islamists. No need for billion $ destoyers racing around after every distress call from tramp steamers.
Posted by: ed || 10/01/2008 17:18 Comments || Top||

#11  Wile E. Coyote mental moment: Russian ship on one side, US ship on the other; both lobbed shells at pirate held boat, both were too high. fast forward to only one boat left (hint: it ain't the Russians or the US)
sorry; this tragic comedy has just got to end in no good.
Posted by: USN, Ret. || 10/01/2008 17:29 Comments || Top||

#12  Which men? The crew?

Yes, the crew. I highly doubt that the East African Seafarers Assistance Program would be pleading for the pirates.

Why would the US launch a rescue?

Practice? To set an example? Because perhaps it may be less expensive in blood and treasure to do something in the near future than have to deal with it later?

No need for billion $ destoyers racing around after every distress call from tramp steamers.

Wrong.

One, this is a unique situation.

Two, it isn't a "tramp steamer".

Three, Alfred Thayer Mahan's treatise on seapower still has some relevancy.
Posted by: Pappy || 10/01/2008 21:12 Comments || Top||

#13  Practice? To set an example? ... less expensive

Practice what? Shouting "Full speed ahead!" and sailing in big ovals?

Example? Can you point out the examples the US Navy has made of these pirates? The bodies hanging from the yardarm? Bases burned? Just last week a US Navy ship was attacked. It fired warning shots and kept going. I can imagine the stories those pirates are telling their mates, "Holy crap, Achmed. The US Navy missed us by a mile. The infidels can't shoot worth a damn. Allah ackbar!".

Less expensive? Here's an idea. Call up a Somali bigwig and tell them that any American ship hijacked will result in the immediate destruction of their base/town and all their wealth and wives destroyed. Costs 50 cents a minute. I just saved the taxpayers $50 million/year per ship in operating costs and another excuse to build a billion dollar weapon to babysit barbarians.

One, this is a unique situation.
It's a hijacked ship, just like 30 other ships this year. The weapons cargo concerns us because it probably will be sold on to islamists? Is the Navy doing anything about that?

Two, it isn't a "tramp steamer".
It's a POS Motor Vessel that should be broken for scrap and couldn't in any way get certification to sail in our waters.

Mahan's treatise
We have zero obligation to defend the world's oceans. What we are doing is lowering the cost of business for America's competitors and shifting the burden onto American taxpayers. Extremely self defeating. Take care of our own and our good friends and the rest of the world can take care of their own. If you want reading material, read about empires and over extension. An good analogue in that part of the world is the Ottoman Empire.
Posted by: ed || 10/01/2008 21:54 Comments || Top||


US official: 3 pirates may be dead in shootout
Disagreements between Somali pirates holding a ship laden with tanks and heavy weapons escalated into a shootout and three pirates are believed dead, a U.S. defense official said Tuesday. The pirates denied the report.

The U.S. destroyer USS Howard and several other American ships have surrounded the Ukrainian cargo ship Faina, which was hijacked Thursday and is now anchored off the lawless coast of Somalia. The pirates have demanded a ransom of $20 million and the U.S. Navy cordon aims to prevent them from taking any of the weapons ashore.

The official in Washington who reported the shootout spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the record. He refused to elaborate and said he had no way of confirming the deaths.

But the pirate spokesman insisted the report was not true, that his colleagues were just celebrating the Muslim feast of Eid al-Fitr despite being surrounded by American warships and helicopters. "We didn't dispute over a single thing, let alone have a shootout," pirate spokesman Sugule Ali told The Associated Press by satellite telephone Tuesday. "We are happy on the ship and we are celebrating Eid," Ali said. "Nothing has changed."
"Just a lot of gun sex. What else would we do on a holiday?"
Earlier Tuesday, Andrew Mwangura of the East African Seafarers' Assistance Program cited an unconfirmed report saying three Somali pirates were killed Monday night in a dispute over whether to surrender. Mwangura said, however, he had not spoken to any witnesses.

Elsewhere in Somalia, pirates freed a Malaysian tanker Tuesday after a ransom was paid, according to a Malaysian shipping company.
Posted by: Fred || 10/01/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  How long can we keep a guided missile destroyer and our other Navy ships tied up on these skidmarks? Why don't we just take the damned ship and send it on its way?
Posted by: Gloque the Wicked1044 || 10/01/2008 6:52 Comments || Top||

#2  pirate spokesman Sugule Ali told The Associated Press by satellite telephone Tuesday


and the Islamic pirates just happen to have an AP reporter on speed dial?
Posted by: Frank G || 10/01/2008 8:23 Comments || Top||

#3  "Keelhauling or walking" the plank for both the pirates and the reporter on speed dial.
Posted by: JohnQC || 10/01/2008 8:36 Comments || Top||

#4  Gloque, the U.S. Navy can be very patient when it suits them ...
Posted by: Steve White || 10/01/2008 9:20 Comments || Top||

#5  We might have other reasons to want to linger in the area, too.
Posted by: lotp || 10/01/2008 11:24 Comments || Top||

#6  Why don't we just take the damned ship and send it on its way?

1. Ukranian crew as hostages.

2. Reports of 50 or so pirates on board.

3. As a result, a direct boarding (even a helo approach) won't work. It'd have to be a SEAL assault. And that's based on the probability of success.

4. If it's feasible, a SEAL assault means getting plans of the ship, rehearsing the assault, getting permission from the Ukranian government (it's technically Ukranian territory), getting approval from National Command Authority. Since the Somalis have given the Russians permission, the Russians could include other forces in any action.

4. Of course they could just sink the ship, but the paperwork is a drag.
Posted by: Pappy || 10/01/2008 12:32 Comments || Top||

#7  I'm guessing the pirates will all run away when a Russian Warship steams into the harbor. They probably won't want any of that.
Posted by: bigjim-ky || 10/01/2008 16:03 Comments || Top||

#8  "did I say $20 Million? I meant $10 Million. Or $5 Million. Please don't kill me!"
Posted by: Frank G || 10/01/2008 18:29 Comments || Top||

#9  And... the Russians could very well put the ship on the bottom.
Posted by: Pappy || 10/01/2008 21:14 Comments || Top||

#10  it's technically Ukrainian territory

Technically, it's pirate territory. Possession is 9/10ths of the law [by AK47].
Posted by: Procopius2k || 10/01/2008 22:04 Comments || Top||


Bangladesh
Hizb ut-Tahrir leaders released on bail
The ten Hizb ut-Tahrir leaders, including four university teachers, who were arrested in Rajshahi two weeks back on suspicion of inciting anti-government activities and involvement in militancy were released on bail yesterday.

Hundreds of activists, who drove to Rajshahi from the capital as news on their getting bail came through, greeted them at Rajshahi Central Jail gate in the evening. They posted bail from the Rajshahi District and Sessions Judge's Court earlier in the day.

The Hizb ut-Tahrir high-ups were detained at Rajshahi City Press Club on September 18, before a scheduled press conference there. Invoking Section 54 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), police showed them arrested on suspicion of using religious sentiments to foment anti-government activities and having involvement in militancy. A metropolitan magistrate court later in the day rejected their bail petitions as police said investigation into the allegations were still going on.

The accused appealed to the district and sessions judge's court after the lower court again rejected their bail petitions the following day. They posted bail yesterday in the morning and were freed after paperwork reached jail authorities in the evening.
Posted by: Fred || 10/01/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Hizb-ut-Tahrir

#1  ION HIZB UT-TAHRIR > TOPIX - HIZB UT-TAHRIR LEADER CALLS FOR NUCLEAR WAR, by PAKISTANI MILITARY-NUCLEAR FORCES agz USA including LR strikes at DOHA + BAGRAM.

ALso from TOPIX > HIZBULLAH TO BEGIN FORMATION OF A NAVY.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 10/01/2008 0:20 Comments || Top||

#2  HIZBULLAH TO BEGIN FORMATION OF A NAVY.

Well, Allah bless their little hearts. Too bad Islam forbids Rum. The Paleos already masters of sodomy and the lash.
Posted by: JDB || 10/01/2008 0:31 Comments || Top||

#3  HIZB UT-TAHRIR LEADER CALLS FOR NUCLEAR WAR, by PAKISTANI MILITARY-NUCLEAR FORCES agz USA including LR strikes at DOHA + BAGRAM.

Oh yeah, that's a GREAT idea. Get us REALLY mad. Nuke retaliation on every city in Pakistan except Karachi. ARCLIGHT strikes on burgs too small to be considered even remotely a "city". A four-lane superhighway from Karachi to Kabul, with a nearby rail link. Everything else in Pakistan either glowing or rubble. Death toll of about 125+ million Pakistanis, and everyone else a refugee.

It would at least end the "Pashtunistan" problem.
Posted by: Old Patriot || 10/01/2008 20:51 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Spanish report ties Pakistan spy agency to Taliban
A report marked confidential and bearing the official seal of Spain's Defense Ministry charges that Pakistan's spy service was helping arm Taliban insurgents in 2005 for assassination plots against the Afghan government.

The report, which was obtained by Cadena Ser radio and posted on the station's Web site on Wednesday, also says Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence spy agency — or ISI — helped the Taliban procure roadside bombs.

It alleges that Pakistan may have provided training and intelligence to the Taliban in camps set up on Pakistani soil. The report says the Pakistani agency planned to have the Taliban use the explosives "to assassinate high-ranking officials."

The August 2005 document does not describe its sources. Cadena Ser did not say how it obtained the report.

Western intelligence agencies have long suspected that elements of Pakistan's spy service have aided the Taliban in neighboring Afghanistan. But this report appears to be the first leaked to the media that spells out such a connection in writing.

A Pakistani official on Wednesday vehemently denied that any such link existed.

Chief Pakistani army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas said the Spanish report was "baseless, unfounded and part of a malicious, well-orchestrated propaganda campaign to malign the ISI."

"ISI is the first line of defense of Pakistan and certain quarters are attempting to weaken our national intelligence system," Abbas said, without elaborating.

In Spain, the Defense Ministry and the prime minister's office said they had no comment on the document.

Fernando Reinares, a terrorism analyst at the Elcano Royal Institute in Madrid and former chief counterterrorism adviser at Spain's Interior Ministry, said the document appeared to be an internal report intended for high-level officials. Spain has about 800 soldiers deployed in northwest Afghanistan.

The report says "it appears possible" that advanced training camps exist in Pakistan "where the Taliban receive training, help and intelligence from the ISI," and where they are also developing new improvised explosive devices. The report says the Taliban had also been receiving help from al-Qaida.

Reinares said the report on the alleged ISI-Taliban link is in keeping with information from other Western spy agencies.

"The intelligence services have done nothing more then confirm a reality which has also been reported by other Western agencies," he told The Associated Press. Reinares said Spain has developed a strong military and police intelligence operation in Pakistan, particularly since the deadly terrorist attacks of March 11, 2004 on commuter trains in Madrid.

The ISI spy agency has helped kill or capture several top al-Qaida leaders since 2001, but there are lingering doubts about its loyalty — not least because its agents helped build up the Taliban in the 1990s.

U.S. intelligence agencies suspect rogue elements may still be giving Taliban militants sensitive information to aid in their growing insurgency in Afghanistan, even though officially Pakistan is a U.S. ally in fighting terrorism.

Some analysts say elements in the spy agency may want to retain the Taliban as potentially helpful against longtime rival India and may believe that Pakistan's strategic interests are best served if Afghanistan remains a weak state.

India and Afghanistan — and reportedly the U.S. — suspect the ISI of involvement in the July 7 bombing outside India's Embassy in Kabul, which killed more than 60 people. Pakistan denies the allegations.

Pakistan's army chief this week named a general considered a hawk in the fight against al-Qaida and the Taliban to head the ISI.

The Taliban has regularly used roadside bombs to attack U.S. troops and Afghan security forces since the beginning of the insurgency following the fall off the movement in 2001.

The explosives used have become increasingly powerful in the past year and can rip through an armored military vehicle and kill everyone inside.
Posted by: john frum || 10/01/2008 14:20 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: ISI

#1  No! Really?
Posted by: mojo || 10/01/2008 14:34 Comments || Top||

#2  Wow, Spain is starting to realize something that folks here at the burg have known for years.
Posted by: Darrell || 10/01/2008 15:01 Comments || Top||

#3  It may have been common knowledge to many in the intel business, but not generally acknowledged in the press. Who leaked this and what did they hope to achieve? That is the question of interest. It seems to me that, given Spain's inclination to fold under pressure, this may be a move to get Spain's troops out of harm's way. Round up the usual leftist suspects and grill 'em the old fashioned way.
Posted by: Richard of Oregon || 10/01/2008 15:38 Comments || Top||

#4  i9ycvi2w659pg0z http://www.477468.com/981377.html yazjiv268xjfv5dj0
Posted by: Guillibaldo Gliter8072 || 10/01/2008 16:18 Comments || Top||

#5  pkquxxi3bdpkquxxi3bd oyztkos5wj ke82pithh9ke82pithh9 bpn48yqq8v cr7s3d81pecr7s3d81pe zcrgfg8h6w ds9ejs10s5ds9ejs10s5 0aehqvb4o9 5oc5ufsfll5oc5ufsfll h1gudl86fj 647qo6d8tu647qo6d8tu bgu0im0efi pp9jyyvtz9pp9jyyvtz9 a0cm3ejc0v s6lrnvfe5xs6lrnvfe5x kowak4qcff 2bls81g9yr2bls81g9yr kvvqkccmbn wxnllytluowxnllytluo ejgywdtocm lcd0cgcfnclcd0cgcfnc gwg182epd6 hu9ouoosmkhu9ouoosmk qu85ol2aox ohshih81f6ohshih81f6 dk1btrss5h iqpbs7my3ziqpbs7my3z ruvkhtbhjr w5sywcxfp1w5sywcxfp1 zcppfiiji7 bnyb0i31qmbnyb0i31qm 73ezlwxj8x 42qdd59imo42qdd59imo gy9idjje4e j5x68qe2a9j5x68qe2a9 s5f8taqcs4 vodwkd6m7uvodwkd6m7u xygyv0tzct o36qe2w2zuo36qe2w2zu 2q9vr48v2u 1xh9ksct6m1xh9ksct6m fsfe1aumih k6lcqic4a1k6lcqic4a1 mj33ycib80 kyolgtz6cfkyolgtz6cf 9ob0qhtrhn t1t7mhyr6lt1t7mhyr6l dol7wg42jr ng4xulnqkrng4xulnqkr yj4wb02mg0 9kqdzgdjn89kqdzgdjn8 p8exns3686 bys21myci7bys21myci7 sqo3jemro8 m2oe1llgi2m2oe1llgi2 2linawcsz9 h2nypleqj5h2nypleqj5 aqryfu23br qmkakhoas9qmkakhoas9 9lnwbptjqd caz9eloaz8caz9eloaz8 iqr0huia05 yhv07jil8pyhv07jil8p g5wy4jfd01 j0k2xgu3cuj0k2xgu3cu dpspbojcil hogn2iiwy3hogn2iiwy3 ahpaunih0y gcxb9sbfp8gcxb9sbfp8 t9qs192fe9 08gul1mczt08gul1mczt nmljyqif4b ix3wav4tswix3wav4tsw yz34rsyv9w ho4yg32qh1ho4yg32qh1 rzi8gfy151 wydim19jk6wydim19jk6 xs617xkj33 23j96x1hao23j96x1hao slzt8ue4qn olze793ngholze793ngh 1gkp6ejixc jqdguz79p3jqdguz79p3 c4racbwdlm sn551wc1bqsn551wc1bq tdxsq99dop opdhx1utfropdhx1utfr 9a1q95djt0 q5p9euhhuzq5p9euhhuz qzs0rjpe1l mhhzd2zjebmhhzd2zjeb 93rpdolb4f dmazswkgvidmazswkgvi fxjfhi27uo k8xn0nga3tk8xn0nga3t c36a08g0s4 njcw7qj14snjcw7qj14s dx4z64jirz qahojs7qsfqahojs7qsf o1w0r05e8z 1222902666
Posted by: Guillibaldo Gliter8072 || 10/01/2008 16:18 Comments || Top||

#6  There's some sharp guys at Spanish Intelligence, lemme tell ya...
Posted by: tu3031 || 10/01/2008 16:38 Comments || Top||

#7  Still, they seem to be sharper than the CIA and NSC.
Posted by: ed || 10/01/2008 16:44 Comments || Top||

#8  Where's the "Master of the Obvious" graphic?
Posted by: Kirk || 10/01/2008 16:55 Comments || Top||

#9  Richard of O has the same perspective as I - while the ties are obvious and universally known, why are they being leaked? One could ask why were they secret in the first place, but that's just how intel agencies (usually) operate. So either Spain's DM is seriously lax in its security (possible, and like Britain and more and more like the US) or somebody in Defense has a reason they want it out there. Perhaps an attempt to force Spain to withdraw, but I didn't even know they had any troops in there, certainly not pulling any triggers.

Gen. Athar Abbas said the charges were baseless, of course, but I notice several top dogs in the ISI and Pak Army were recently reassigned. Hmmm.
Posted by: Glenmore || 10/01/2008 16:56 Comments || Top||

#10  I'm shocked, SHOCKED I tell ya...
Posted by: Raj || 10/01/2008 18:27 Comments || Top||


"Nitric acid, nails used in Malegaon blast"
Nitric acid and nails were used in the crude bomb that went off at 9. 35 p.m. on Monday in the marketplace of Bhikku chowk at Malegaon, according to a source in the control room there.

The blast, which occurred when hundreds were offering namaz at the nearby Noorani masjid, claimed four lives -- Syed Akhtar (18), Rafiq Akbar (30), Sheikh Mushtaq Sheik Yousou (28) and Shagufta Bano Sheik Liaqat (10). The dead were not from the masjid but were locals who came to the market.

The Maharashtra police are awaiting forensic reports.

The bomb was kept on a motorbike which, locals said, was lying outside a shop owned by Abdullah Jamaluddin Ansari, 70. After a couple of hours, Ansari asked a worker in a hotel opposite to his premises to report about the bike at the police chowk, 30 feet from the blast site. But the police paid no heed, it was alleged. Ansari is among those critically injured.

In the impact of the blast, shutters of shops caught fire though there was no damage to the property inside. An old clock in Ansari's shop stopped after the explosion, indicating the time of the blast as 9.37 p.m. Windowpanes of a hotel were shattered up to the second floor.

Mufti Nizamuddin, administrative member of the All Sect Organisation of Malegaon, who was at the Noorani masjid at the time of the blast, said: "Seeing the chaos and angry at the police inaction in moving away the motorcycle, some youths gathered outside the police booth and started protesting. The police then started firing from inside. The locals got further irritated as the police, instead of helping the people, resorted to firing. By this time, some went to the masjid, where the evening namaz was drawing to a close, and reported to people there about the blast. A little after 10 p.m., people started gathering on the street. More police vans were called in. There was a huge crowd and the people started throwing stones at the vans. The police fired some more shots. Some came forward to pacify the crowd."

Following the blasts, there was tension in the area, which led the police to fire in the air. Deputy Chief Minister R.R. Patil said 58 rounds were fired, all in the air.

Seventy-four civilians and 10 police personnel were injured. The injured were taken to the Noor, Farhan and Wadia hospitals.

Assistant Superintendent of police Viresh Prabhu was injured in the firing, according to the control room. The police claimed that the mob attacked the police, while the locals said they threw stones at the vans.

According to official reports, no civilian was dead in the firing. However, local activist Syed Asif Ali of Citizens for Peace and Justice claimed that two people died in the firing and 50 were injured. Sheikh Rafiq Sheikh Mustafa was killed in the firing, he said. The other name could not be confirmed.
Posted by: Fred || 10/01/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Indian Mujahideen

#1 

Wanted for questioning.
Posted by: Mizzou Mafia || 10/01/2008 4:33 Comments || Top||

#2  Megalon blew up?
I didn't know he could do that.
Posted by: tu3031 || 10/01/2008 16:45 Comments || Top||

#3  It's the Iraqi version, with subtitles and Semtex.
Posted by: Mizzou Mafia || 10/01/2008 18:26 Comments || Top||


13 militants killed in Bajaur offensive: officials
Troops backed by gunship helicopters killed 13 Taliban militants in fresh clashes in the troubled tribal district of Bajaur on the Afghan border, officials said Tuesday.

Four Islamist insurgents were killed Tuesday and two were wounded in the shelling of a suspected vehicle in the town of Mamond, a security official said. Troops killed another five extremists after a group of militants launched an attack on a military checkpost in the same town, sparking a gunbattle that lasted nearly one hour, the official said.

A further four militants were killed overnight when jets pounded suspected hideouts in the area, security officials said. The house of a known Taliban commander, Maulana Muhammad Muneer, was damaged, they said.

Our Khar correspondent adds: Three explosives-laden vehicles were destroyed in ongoing military operation in Bajaur Agency on Tuesday.

Sources told The News that military operation continued against militants in Kitkot area of Bajaur. Gunship helicopters pounded hideouts of the militants in Rashkai and other areas, leaving five militants dead.

Three explosives-laden vehicles were targeted in fresh raid and were completely destroyed. Sources said the destroyed vehicles were being moved to various parts of the country for terrorist activities.

APP adds: Meanwhile, following the suit of Salarzai and Charmang tribesmen, hundreds of tribal people of Utmankhel tribes after raising a grand laskhar have decided to launch full-fledged laskhar campaign against militants after Eidul Fitr.

The elders of Utamankhel had in a peace jirga earlier decided to extend full support to security forces in their efforts of purging extremists from Bajaur Agency. The tribesmen had vowed that they will strongly resist any miscreants activities and foreign troops attacks in their respective areas. Strict action would be taken against those elements found guilty of giving shelter to Taliban fighters and their houses would be put on fire. It was decided that 'laskhar' will start its campaigns after Eidul Fitr and will continue armed patrolling in Utmanzai to help law enforcing agencies maintain law and order in the agency.

Peace committees at village level would be set-up which will monitor the situation.

Assistant Political Agent Muhammad Iqbal Khan Khattak speaking on the occasion said maintaining law and order was the joint responsibility of tribal people and the government to ensure lasting peace in the Agency as government alone can't do anything, saying the cooperation of locals was must to flush out militants from Bajaur Agency. He said, "Islam is the religion of peace and strictly prohibits taking lives of innocent Muslim brothers."

He urged the tribespeople to raise against militants who were bent upon destroying peace of the agency and to push tribal people to backwardness. He said the designs of such elements could be frustrated with the help of brave tribesmen.

Meanwhile, strong anger against militants has gripped Salarzai tehsil after the Monday deadly clashes between extremists and tribal lashkar in which nine tribesmen and four militants including militants commander Abdul Muttalib were killed. The Salarzai tribesmen have vowed to wage Jihad against Taliban fighters and militants soon after Eidul Fitr celebrations.
Posted by: Fred || 10/01/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: TTP

#1  sure is funny how the paki troops NEVER kill any civilians, But the US can drop 1 missile in a desert with no one around and there will be at least 20
Posted by: sinse || 10/01/2008 10:55 Comments || Top||


Army-backed tribesmen kill several Taliban
Tribesmen backed by army helicopter gunships battled the Taliban in Bajaur Agency on Tuesday, killing several of the Taliban, a tribal elder said.

The latest clash broke out in Mulla Saib Dara village, when a 6,000-strong tribal lashkar tried to set fire to the Taliban houses and hideouts. "Fighting is going on and to help us, the army sent some gunships which fired at the Taliban, killing several of them," tribal elder Malik Younus told Reuters.

He said his men would battle the Taliban until they were cleared from the region. "It's now clear to everybody that we can't tolerate lawlessness in our land. Everyone has to obey our tribal rules and they can't make our land a hub of terrorism," Younus said.

Four Taliban were killed and two were wounded in the shelling of a vehicle in Mamoond town, a security official told AFP on condition of anonymity. Troops killed another five Taliban after their group launched an attack on a military checkpost in the same town, sparking a gunbattle that lasted nearly an hour, the official said.

A tribal lashkar killed two Taliban and captured another in Lower Kurram, following the kidnapping of a tribal elder, local administration told Daily Times.

Ferozkhel tribesmen set up pickets at various locations to search missing elder Malik Gulistan who was kidnapped by the Taliban on Monday. "A vehicle ignored tribesmen's signals to stop. Two Taliban were killed and one injured during clash between the two sides," the political administration said.

Helicopter gunships also destroyed what authorities claim were Taliban explosive-laden vehicles at a basic health unit. The local administration said the Taliban subsequently blew up two security checkposts and a bride in retaliation to the vehicle attack late on Monday.

Residents said government helicopters dropped leaflets in various parts of the agency calling for the support. But a Taliban spokesman dismissed the significance of tribal lashkars. "There is no revolt against the Taliban," spokesman Maulvi Omar said over telephone from an undisclosed location, Reuters reported. "It's government propaganda. Nobody dares stand up against the Taliban," he said.

Omar said the Taliban had killed 15 tribesmen in fighting over the past two days.

Following the Salarzai and Charmang tribes, the Utman Khel tribe has also announced it will form a lashkar againt the Taliban after Eid, APP reported.

Earlier, an Utaman Khel jirga said it would help security forces in flushing the Taliban out of the agency. The jirga participants said they would resist the Taliban and foreign forces in their areas. They said strict action would be taken against those backing or sheltering the Taliban.

Assistant Political Agent Muhammad Iqbal Khan Khattak told the jirga that the government alone could not fight the Taliban, and that it needed the tribesmen's support to eliminate the Taliban from the area.

The Kala Khel tribe has also raised a tribal lashkar of 5,000 men to fight the Taliban and expel them from Darra Adam Khel.
Posted by: Fred || 10/01/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: TTP


'Most wanted' militant killed in Kashmir shootout
Indian troops have killed one of the 'most wanted' militant commanders in Kashmir during a shootout in which nine security personnel were also injured, police said on Tuesday. Abu Sarjeel, alias Khubaib, was killed in the southern district of Pulwama late on Monday, police officer Bashir Khan said. "Khubaib was one of the most wanted militant commanders in Kashmir who was active since 2000," Khan said, adding the militant commander was involved in the killing of more than 30 police and army personnel. Police said Khubaib, a Pakistani national, was a member of militant organisation Jaish-e-Muhammad.
Posted by: Fred || 10/01/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Jaish-e-Mohammad

#1  Takes care of one problem--maybe more. A few more problems to "solve" in Pakiland to make the larger problem manageable. Catch them as they flee into Afghanistan and solve some more problems.
Posted by: JohnQC || 10/01/2008 8:31 Comments || Top||


US drone strike kills five in Pakistan
At least five people have been killed after a US drone strike at a house in northwest Pakistan, according to Pakistani officials. The attack happened at about midnight on Tuesday near the town of Mir Ali in North Waziristan, two intelligence agency officials told Reuters. "We have reports of five dead including foreign militants," one of the officers, speaking on condition of anonymity, said on Wednesday. In the past month, US forces have carried out seven missile strikes by pilotless drones and a commando raid on the Pakistani side of the border.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Pakistani military said it would not allow any incursions by the US-led NATO troops into its tribal region near the Afghan border.

Pakistan has angrily protested the missile strikes and cross-border commando raids in recent weeks, which have killed many innocent civilians, including women and children. Pakistan's new leadership has unequivocally told the United States that they will not tolerate violations of their air and ground space. Tension has risen palpably in the region since the recent confrontations between US and Pakistani forces, but cooler heads have prevailed so far.
Posted by: Fred || 10/01/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda

#1  Lead, follow of get out of the way.
Posted by: Jack is Back! || 10/01/2008 6:55 Comments || Top||

#2  Late Tuesday, missiles fired by a U.S. drone aircraft struck the Taliban commander's home near Mir Ali, a town in North Waziristan, which borders Afghanistan, said two intelligence officials, who asked for anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to media.

Citing reports from their field agents, the officials said six people died, but did not identify any of the victims.


I notice there's not the usual harrumph harrumph harrumph from the Pakistanis.
Posted by: tu3031 || 10/01/2008 16:43 Comments || Top||


Assam: Militant outfit hangs it up
Entire cadres of the militant United Liberation Front of Barak Valley (ULFBV) numbering 305, most of them belonging to the Reang tribe of southern Assam's Hailakandi and Karimganj districts, returned to the mainstream on Tuesday, ending their eight-year-old armed insurrection.

The ULFBV was formed in 2001 and it raised an armed rebellion demanding the creation of a Zilla Parishad for the tribal communities in the Barak Valley, restoration of land to the tribal people and development of tribal-inhabited areas of the two districts.

The Assam police said the aim of the outfit was to protect the Reang community from alleged "atrocities of the Mizos and Muslims." It received logistical support and training from the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah), Dima Halam Daogah, National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT). Some of the cadres received training in Nagaland, Bangladesh and Myanmar. The outfit had declared a unilateral ceasefire on June 7 last.

Led by their president Panchram Apeto, the ULFBV cadres, in battle fatigues, laid down arms and ammunition before Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Excise and Border Areas Development Minister Gautom Roy, Principal Secretary (Home) Subhas Das, Director-General of Police R.N. Mathur and General Officer Commanding of 21 Mountain Division of the Army, Major General Chander Prakash.
Posted by: Fred || 10/01/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The DGP said the ULFBV was involved in 28 incidents of various acts of crime and violence and had kidnapped 42 people, all of whom had either been rescued by police and security forces or released by the outfit.

Doesn't sound like they were very good at it.
Posted by: tu3031 || 10/01/2008 16:48 Comments || Top||


Police detain 15 for questioning in Gujarat blast
Police have detained about 15 people for questioning in connection with the bomb blast on Monday night in which two persons were killed and about 15 others injured in Suka Bazar area in this town in north Gujarat.

The Sabarkantha district superintendent of police, K. K. Mysorewala, who rushed to the town last night, said he suspected it to be the handiwork of some people from outside Modasa with the support of local people. He did not rule out the possibility of the SIMI hand in the blast, as it was involved in the July 26 Ahmedabad serial bomb blasts and various other cities and towns in the country.

The police have found a lot of similarity between the Modasa and the recent blast in Mehrauli in Delhi and believe it could be the work of the same group, though executed by different persons. Both bombs were of low intensity but lethal enough to kill those nearby and spread panic among people. In both cases, two terrorists came on a motorbike and dropped a bag. A 15-year-old shopper, Jainuddin, was killed on the spot and his brother, Ayub Ghori, died in hospital. Hospital sources said three others stated to be critical last night were out of danger and their conditions were improving.
Posted by: Fred || 10/01/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: SIMI


Five 'terrorists' arrested from Gujranwala
Law-enforcement agencies arrested five suspected terrorists from a hotel in Gujranwala on Tuesday, Dawn News reported. The channel said the suspects were believed to be from the banned terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Jhangwi. One of the arrested suspects Qari Ilyas alias Abu Bakar, carrying a head money of Rs 2 million, was convicted in the 1995 assassination attempt on former premier Nawaz Sharif. The Lahore High Court later released him on an appeal, the channel said. They were taken to an undisclosed location for interrogation.
Posted by: Fred || 10/01/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Lashkar e-Jhangvi


Recovery of kidnapped Afghan envoy denied
The family of kidnapped Afghan envoy and Frontier police Chief Tuesday denied the release of Abdul Khaliq Farahi by his captors.
"No. No. That's not him. Abdul Farahi's much taller."
The brother of kidnapped Afghan diplomat Abdul Khaliq Farahi rejected news reports suggesting that the ambassador-designate has been recovered and termed such reports as based on speculation and hearsay. Haji Naeem Farahi told the Peshawar-based Afghan Islamic Press that he would have known, had his brother been recovered. "Ambassador Farahi's family is unaware but the media is claiming that he has been found and is back home. The media coverage has upset all the members of our family," he stressed.

According to Naeem Farahi, ambassador's wife had reached Kabul from the US where she had been living along with her children and was now staying at his home. He said everyone in their family was waiting and praying for the safe recovery of ambassador Farahi. Farahi was named Afghanistan's ambassador to Pakistan in August. He was waiting to present his credentials to President Asif Ali Zardari.
Posted by: Fred || 10/01/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: TTP


Baitullah Mehsud reported titzup
Supreme Commander of the defunct Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan Baitullah Mehsud is dead, Geo News reported early on Wednesday. The TTP leader had been indisposed for quite some time. A few weeks ago he had survived a severe diabetic attack but again fell seriously ill three days back.
Bad batch of insulin? Tough luck, that.

As Orrin Judd points out, "If we had a CIA the rumor would be that he died from alcoholism, venereal disease or AIDS."
Posted by: Fred || 10/01/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: TTP

#1  HMMMMMM .....
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 10/01/2008 0:22 Comments || Top||

#2  Ya think ya got the world by the balls. And then Allah shows up to give ya the big dope slap in the back of the head...
Posted by: tu3031 || 10/01/2008 9:31 Comments || Top||

#3  mmmmmm pie
Posted by: Frank G || 10/01/2008 10:33 Comments || Top||

#4  Or maybe not.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/south_asia/7646244.stm
Posted by: Parabellum || 10/01/2008 11:01 Comments || Top||

#5  WASHINGTON (AFP) - US defense officials said Wednesday they had no independent confirmation of reports that a top Taliban commander in Pakistan, Baitullah Mehsud, has died. General David McKiernan, the commander of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan told reporters here he could not confirm the report, but called Mehsud "a very bad man."

Pakistani television reported that Mehsud, who is alleged to have been behind the December 2007 assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, had died overnight. Pakistani security officials and militant sources, however, said he was alive but seriously ill, possibly in a diabetic coma.

Spokesman Bryan Whitman said the Pentagon was aware of reports that Mehsud's health "was not that good, has not been that good for some time. Sometimes those reports, though, about guys like that and their health are exagerated. We've seen the same reports you have and have no independent confirmation of it," he said.
Posted by: tu3031 || 10/01/2008 11:33 Comments || Top||

#6  is he a cat? he has died like 6 or 7 times this year alone
Posted by: sinse || 10/01/2008 13:37 Comments || Top||


Iraq
Iraq: Saudi Arabia hands over 16 prisoners to Baghdad
(AKI) - Saudi Arabia on Tuesday handed over 16 Iraqi detainees as part of a prisoner exchange between the two neighbours. The Iraqi government says the 16 were among a total 443 Iraqis detained in Saudi Arabia.

A statement from National Security Adviser Muwafaq al-Rubaie, cited by the news agency, Voices of Iraq, said the Iraqi judiciary would investigate each case.

"The prisoners are being interrogated and they will be tried before the Iraqi courts after investigation," al-Rubaie's office said in a statement. "This came after directives from Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to develop Iraqi-Saudi relations and after three visits paid by al-Rubaie this year, during which he tackled the pending issues between the two countries and focused during the last visit on the Iraqi prisoners in the kingdom," the statement added.

"According to mechanisms agreed by the two countries, the Iraqi government started studying a draft of the agreement which will be presented to the cabinet to approve it then to be sent to the parliament to ratify it."

Iraq said that eight Saudi detainees had already been returned to their country.

The exchange is the outcome of a joint security operation between the two countries. It comes amid indications of a decrease in tension between the Shia-led government and Iraq's predominantly Sunni Arab neighbours. The Iraqi government said it will persist with efforts to free the remaining Iraqi prisoners in Saudi Arabia.
Posted by: Fred || 10/01/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Iraqi officers detained, homes blown up
The US-led forces have arrested a senior police commander and two aides over "terrorist activities" in Jalwala, Diyala province.

Hassan Koravi, the commander of the Jalwala Police's emergency unit and two of his aides were arrested on Tuesday afternoon, over the charge of carrying out terrorist activities, police sources told the Voices of Iraq. The detainees' houses have been demolished by explosives after their families were evacuated, according to the sources.

The Iraqi government has recently launched a security crackdown in the restive province, a former hotbed of insurgency in the war torn country.
This article starring:
Hassan Koravi
Posted by: Fred || 10/01/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Iraqi Insurgency

#1  I am not sure "US-led" is correct anymore. US-assisted might be more accurate.
Posted by: crosspatch || 10/01/2008 3:36 Comments || Top||


Southeast Asia
Violence escalates in southern Thailand as PM announces visit
Three Special Forces soldiers were severely wounded in a fierce gunfight by suspected terrorists militants who ambushed their vehicle from both sides of the road in Bacho district. The attack came as the army pickup transporting six Special Forces soldiers entered Ban Champakor in Narathiwt's Bacho district. Attackers used M16 and AK47 from both sides of the road, leaving the vehicle riddled with bullets. They retreated back into the jungle area after exchanging fire for about five minutes, authorities said.

In Bangkok, Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat announced a plan to visit the restive south where more than 3,400 people have been killed since January 2004. Somchai did not give exact date but added that the visit will be made in the coming days. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Somchai said he was concerned with the situation in the deep South and added that he would personally oversee handling of the unrest. "I have to take responsibility of this southern issue by myself as the officials in the area are already working to full capacity," he said.

Meanwhile, in Yala's Yaha district, gunmen shot dead two young men Tuesday evening, The two were identified as Bukari Daeboh, 25, and Sudeng Sungaibadu, 23. Police found shotgun shells and a metal casing of an AK47 round near the two victims. Separately, in the same district, Darululome Nibongbaru private Islamic school came under arson attack Tuesday evening. Firemen rushed to the site and succeeded in containing the fire from spreading to the rest of the building.

Also:

Three men including one suspected terrorist militant were shot dead in Thailand's violent south, police said on Wednesday. Two Muslim villagers, aged 26 and 25, were killed in separate drive-by shootings in Yala province late Tuesday.

In a third incident the same evening, some 50 police and military forces stormed a house in Narathiwat province where they said three militants were staying. After sporadic gunfire, a 23-year-old Muslim local villager was shot dead. Police said he was a suspect in an earlier terrorist separatist bombing. Authorities said a 20-year-old was arrested at the scene.

I don't believe that there is any overlap in these two stories, but I'm not sure with the drive-by shootings.
Posted by: ryuge || 10/01/2008 06:36 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Sri Lanka
53 rebels, five soldiers killed in Lanka clashes
(PTI) The Sri Lankan navy destroyed two LTTE boats off the northeast coast killing eight rebels on board as fighting in the embattled north killed 45 Tamil tigers and five soldiers, the defence ministry said today.

The Special Boat Squadron (SBS) sailors of Sri Lanka Navy attacked and destroyed two LTTE assault boats when they appeared off Pooneryn Sea in Kilinochchi last night, navy sources said. The SBS launched a surprise attack at the terror boats killing all the eight rebel sailors on board, they said.

Meanwhile, in ground clashes in the Kilinochchi district 26 rebels and three soldiers were killed, while fighting in Vavuniya, Welioya and Kokavil killed 19 LTTE cadres and two other soldiers, the defence ministry said.

Troops killed at least 11 LTTE militants in Andankulam in North-eastern Welioya yesterday, the military said adding 50 rebels were also wounded in the fierce clashes in the region. "Two valiant soldiers laid their lives in the battle while another seven were wounded in the incidents," the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said.

At least three tiger rebels were reportedly shot dead in North of Kokavil this morning when troops intercepted an LTTE movement, MCNS said. Troops captured three LTTE bunkers in Andankulam area, wounding 16 tiger rebels during the confrontation.
Posted by: Fred || 10/01/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


8 dead as Sri Lanka navy sinks rebel boats
A Sri Lanka navy patrol destroyed two Tamil Tiger boats, killing eight rebels on board, in a clash off the island's northern coast, the defence ministry said Tuesday.

The navy did not give its own losses during the battle, which occurred late Monday. There was no comment from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The attack came as ground troops continued to fight fierce battles as part of their offensive against the rebels' mini state in the north of the island.

Troops killed 39 rebels and wounded 52 during separate clashes across the north on Monday. The ministry said five soldiers were also killed and 16 wounded in Monday's fighting. The figures raise the number of rebels reported killed by government forces to 7,060 since January, when Colombo pulled out of a Norwegian-brokered ceasefire.

The defence ministry has acknowledged the loss of 691 of its soldiers over the same period. Casualty figures cannot be independently verified since the ministry blocks independent journalists from travelling to the conflict areas.
Posted by: Fred || 10/01/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:



Who's in the News
78[untagged]
5TTP
2Govt of Pakistan
2ISI
2Taliban
2Indian Mujahideen
1Iraqi Insurgency
1Jaish-e-Mohammad
1Lashkar e-Jhangvi
1SIMI
1al-Qaeda in North Africa
1al-Qaeda
1Govt of Iran
1Govt of Sudan
1Hizb-ut-Tahrir

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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
Wed 2008-10-01
  Baitullah reported titzup
Tue 2008-09-30
  ISI chief, four corps commanders changed
Mon 2008-09-29
  At least six dead in Tripoli kaboom
Sun 2008-09-28
  Sudan desert chase 'n gunfight kills 6 kidnappers
Sat 2008-09-27
  Car boom kills 17 in Damascus
Fri 2008-09-26
  Shots fired in US-Pakistan clash
Thu 2008-09-25
  NKor bans nuke inspectors
Wed 2008-09-24
  Five Indian Mujaheddin nabbed in Mumbai
Tue 2008-09-23
  Livni asked to form a new government
Mon 2008-09-22
  Up to 15 tourists kidnapped in Egypt
Sun 2008-09-21
  2 Delhi blasts suspects banged
Sat 2008-09-20
  Islamabad Marriott kaboomed
Fri 2008-09-19
  300 child hostages freed in NWFP
Thu 2008-09-18
  25 arrested over embassy attack in Yemen
Wed 2008-09-17
  Odierno takes over as US commander in Iraq

Better than the average link...



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