Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Baitullah Mehsud, who officials say may be dead, has been Pakistan's elusive public enemy number one, blamed for killing hundreds of people and colluding with Al Qaeda.
Born to a prayer leader from Bannu district in 1974, Mehsud shot to early prominence when the US branded him an Al Qaeda facilitator. Pakistan and the US accused Mehsud of masterminding the 2007 assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, but while he denied that, he claimed responsibility for multiple deadly bombings. Washington came to view him as a mortal threat to Pakistan's nuclear assets, as Mehsud flexed the muscle of an umbrella Taliban movement that spawned an army of suicide bombers from his mountain redoubt in South Waziristan.
No holding back: The US had offered a reward of $5 million for information leading to Mehsud's location or arrest. The Pakistan government placed a $615,000 bounty on his head Speaking to AFP last March, he threatened to attack the US capital in retaliation for US drone attacks and claimed to have created a wider corps of warriors to step up attacks on US and NATO forces in neighbouring Afghanistan. "Very soon we will take revenge from America, not in Afghanistan but in Washington, which will amaze the entire world," Mehsud warned in a telephone call from an undisclosed location. "The maximum they can do is martyr me," he added.
Persistent allegations of corruption aimed at Hamid Karzai's family are undermining Western efforts in Afghanistan and feeding the Taliban-led insurgency, Washington policy-makers have warned.
The president's brothers, Mahmoud and Ahmed Wali, are accused of having amassed millions of pounds since Mr Karzai took office even as most of Afghanistan remains poverty stricken. The development has fuelled a popular disillusionment and anger with the leadership that the Taliban has exploited.
Ahmed Wali Karzai has been dogged by allegations, which he denies, of involvement in the country's $3 billion opium trade, while Mahmoud Karzai has been accused of using his brother's influence to build a business empire that has made him one of the country's wealthiest men.
#3
I think it will take longer than 40 years. Probably more along the lines of 60. In 40 years time the generation that is just now going through school will begin to assume the reigns of power. But it won't be until their children assume power some 20 years later that we will know for sure.
US President Barack Obama said on Friday that his government does not purport to set up any military bases in Colombia, but to improve the cooperation ties. His remarks came during a meeting at the White House with a tiny number of Spanish-speaking media, called on the occasion of the North American Summit, to be held this weekend in Guadalajara, Mexico.
"I think it is the good timing to disprove the myth that the United States is planning to set up military bases in Colombia. We have had a security agreement with Colombia for many years now. We have updated that agreement. We have no intent in establishing a US military base in Colombia," Obama said.
"There have been those in the region who have been trying to play this up as part of a traditional anti-Yankee rhetoric. This is not accurate," Obama told media reporters, without giving names.
That won't stop Oogo ...
Washington and Bogotá are discussing a new security arrangement which would allow the United States to lease access to seven Colombian military bases for US support in fighting drug traffickers and guerrillas involved in the cocaine trade. Such operations used to be run in the Ecuadorian base of Manta, but Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa did not renew the concession for the United States.
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/08/2009 00:00 ||
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#2
The NKor govt was probably grandstanding the whole time. Either that, or they figured they'd better not send the women to a real camp because too much attention was already focused on the situation. Can't have released hostages report on REAL gulags.
A terrorism-financing case against a Yemeni cleric, which the U.S. government once claimed as a major victory against al-Qaeda, came to a murky end Friday as a federal judge ordered him to be released and deported, despite his 2005 sentence to 75 years in a maximum-security U.S. prison.
Very strange ...
Sheik Mohammed al-Moayad, 60, a high-ranking political leader in Yemen, had been convicted after a five-week federal trial in New York City of conspiracy, providing material support to Hamas and attempting to support al-Qaeda. His assistant and bodyguard, Mohamed Zayed, who is in his mid-30s, had been convicted of attempting to provide material support to Hamas.
In October, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit overturned the convictions, saying U.S. District Judge Sterling Johnson Jr., improperly admitted evidence during the trial that prejudiced the jury. In new plea deals, both defendants pleaded guilty Friday only to conspiring to provide material support to Hamas. U.S. District Judge Dora L. Irizarry sentenced them to the time they have served, most recently at the federal "supermax" prison in Florence, Colo.
Pakistan's Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman says that a US diplomat could be deported for using abusive language against Pakistan and high ranking police officials.
If the US diplomat is found guilty, he could be declared 'Persona Non Grata', Abdul Basit told reporters on Friday in Islamabad, a Press TV correspondent reported.
The name of the American diplomat has not been revealed.
Basit said that an investigative report into the incident would soon be received by the Interior Ministry and after reviewing it, a final decision would be made on what course of action should be taken -- whether to summon the US ambassador or some other concerned person.
A police official named Hakim Khan lodged a complaint against the US diplomat a few days ago, saying that he took him at gunpoint and used abusive language against Pakistan and high ranking police officials.
Meanwhile, the US Embassy Spokesman Richard Snelsire said that the US embassy is holding talks with Pakistani authorities and he is optimistic that the matter would be settled.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/08/2009 00:00 ||
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#1
Could Pakistan please rephrase the complaint in a logical manner with proper sentence structure so one can figure out what they are upset about?
The fate of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) following the demise of Baitullah Mehsud is uncertain, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman told a private TV channel on Friday. To questions, he said he was unaware of how the TTP would react to the death of their leader. He also said that he could not predict the impact the death of Mehsud might have on Pakistan. He claimed Baitullah had been 'martyred' in the US drone attack, adding he termed anyone killed in a US attack a 'martyr'. He said his party did not support US action in Pakistan.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/08/2009 00:00 ||
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The fate of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) following the demise of Baitullah Mehsud is uncertain, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman told a private TV channel on Friday. To questions, he said he was unaware of how the TTP would react to the death of their leader. He also said that he could not predict the impact the death of Mehsud might have on Pakistan. He claimed Baitullah had been 'martyred' in the US drone attack, adding he termed anyone killed in a US attack a 'martyr'. He said his party did not support US action in Pakistan.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/08/2009 00:00 ||
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#1
black knight: "it's only a flesh wound!"
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/08/2009 10:17 Comments ||
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#2
Let the battle begin among his followers for their "rightful" share of his inheritence.
Posted by: Richard of Oregon ||
08/08/2009 11:50 Comments ||
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#3
the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan
So the TTP are the Afghan Taliban? How nice of the Daily Times of Pakistan reporter to mention it.
Aswat al-Iraq: Top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Sistani called Thursday for ridding state institutions of corrupt officials and bringing them to justice.
Sistani made this call during a meeting with Baghdad Governor Salah Abdulrazzaq, whom he received at his office in the holy Shiite city of Najaf. "I updated the Grand Ayatollah on the achievements of the new administration in Baghdad," Abdulrazzaq said in a press conference after the meeting. "I also explained to him the plans we have to eliminate corruption and red tape," he said.
The Baghdad governor pointed out that Sistani stressed the necessity of social coherence and national unity.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/08/2009 00:00 ||
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Ma'an - Hamas should repudiate unlawful projectile attacks against Israeli population centers and hold those responsible for them to account, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released Thursday.
The report came amidst Israeli outrage directed toward both Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International for their supposedly inordinate criticism of Israel's military rather than Hamas. However, the two groups have in fact alleged that both sides committed war crimes during the Gaza assault.
A UN fact-finding investigation into serious violations of the laws of war by both sides in the Gaza conflict, led by Judge Richard Goldstone, is due to report back to the UN Human Rights Council in September. Hamas agreed to cooperate with the probe; Israel did not, and issued a preliminary rebuttal last week.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred ||
08/08/2009 00:00 ||
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#1
Guess the Saudis didn't pony up.
Somebody must be truly desperate for funding, or is soon to be desperate for funding.
Posted by: N guard ||
08/08/2009 0:08 Comments ||
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#2
I read this and looked outside...it's dark here now.
Will someone to the West of the PST timezone please look outside and post any observations of airborne swine???
#3
As we say here in Pitsburgh da 'burgh, "Git AHUT..."
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
08/08/2009 0:33 Comments ||
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#4
I DO know how to sppel Pitsssssburghh. Sssofttwarre deebugge sssuckss...
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
08/08/2009 0:35 Comments ||
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#5
Uhh, that's debounccccceeeee...
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
08/08/2009 0:36 Comments ||
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#6
Meh, it's just like the ACLU when they defend Nazis or something. "Look, we're not biased, we did 1 thing way back when which justifies our entire agenda!"
#9
Meaningless posturing to make them look Un-biased. Sadly it will work to some degree on people.
Posted by: Charles ||
08/08/2009 13:26 Comments ||
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#10
They are always fundraising, all major charity organizations are always fundraising. It's only the ones tied to United Way that don't, and that's because United Way's captive corporations won't have their employees harassed like that. This is because they were caught selling the Saudi princelings on harassing the Jewish entity.
Ma'an -- Sources within the Fatah movement in Gaza told Ma'an on Friday that Interior Ministry security forces summoned several senior Fatah officials to its headquarters for questioning.
The sources said those summoned were identified as Zakarieyah Al-Agha, Ibrahim Abu An-Najja, Abdallah Abu Samahdanah and Mohammad Juda An-Nahhal.
Meanwhile Nabil Amr, spokesman for Fatah's sixth conference, called the procedure immoral, and insisted it would illeminate any chance of reaching Palestinian reconciliation between the two sides.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/08/2009 00:00 ||
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Ma'an - Moments after the Fatah Central Committee announced Gazan delegates could vote in the Saturday elections Mohammad Dahlan nominated himself for a spot on the Central Committee.
His nomination came almost one day after most of the nominations were already in. The old-guard Fatah strongman originally from Gaza but living in the West Bank since 2007 is a current member of the Central Committee. He said he could only nominate himself for a role once the issue over Gazan delegates' votes was resolved.
Mid-Friday the Central Council met and decided the Gazan delegates would in fact be able to vote in the leadership elections. The delegates will vote by mobile phone on Sunday, in the presence of all other attendees in the Gaza headquarters.
Dahlan said he put forward his nomination to prevent any protests from other corners in Fatah, though no protests have yet been voiced. Ibrahim Abu An-Najja, another Gazan delegate in the West Bank since 2007, welcomed the idea of holding the elections simultaneously those held in Bethlehem; they are scheduled for Saturday.
Abu An-Najja said he demanded the leadership find a formula that would enable Fatah delegates from Gaza to participate.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/08/2009 00:00 ||
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#1
Herb Tarlick?
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/08/2009 10:18 Comments ||
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#2
Damn, I haven't thought of WKRP in a long time.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
08/08/2009 13:30 Comments ||
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The commander of Iran's Ground Forces says the country has developed its defense doctrine based on the military capabilities and the 'weak points' of its enemies.
"Iran's armed forces, including the Ground Forces, have managed to develop the necessary weapons to confront any threats and this is achieved through analysis of the enemies' capabilities and weak points," IRNA quoted Ahmad-Reza Pourdastan as saying.
"For example we have found that the enemies suffer weaknesses in conducting operations in close range fighting," he noted.
As a result, the Ground Forces developed "innovative weaponry" in a move, which apart from improving the country's defense capabilities has boosted the Iranian service members' morale, Pourdastan said.
The commander concluded that Iran's modern arsenal "will inflict serious damage" upon any aggressor.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/08/2009 00:00 ||
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#1
"For example we have found that the enemies suffer weaknesses in conducting operations in close range fighting," he noted.
in other words, "grab hold of their belt buckles"--general Giap.
Actualy, it sounds like so much wistling past the grave yard. The weakness is relative, and is not going to make much difference for the cannon fodder.
Posted by: N guard ||
08/08/2009 0:13 Comments ||
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#2
Nuclear mines to practice scorched earth on their own terrain with?
#5
"For example we have found that the enemies suffer weaknesses in conducting operations in close range fighting," he noted.
i.e. Iranian units can't hit s**t at medium or long range.
Posted by: Frozen Al ||
08/08/2009 11:16 Comments ||
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#6
"What are ya gonna do? Bleed on me?"
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/08/2009 11:51 Comments ||
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#7
Too bad we wont get to be shocked and amazed by their secret weapons.
Posted by: Richard of Oregon ||
08/08/2009 11:55 Comments ||
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#8
"For example we have found that the enemies suffer weaknesses in conducting operations in close range fighting," he noted."
No problem. We just won't engage them at close range. We will destroy them from long and medium range, and then just clean up the rubble at close range.
(Assuming that we do have problems engaging at close range.)
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia ||
08/08/2009 11:55 Comments ||
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#9
We will destroy them from long and medium range, and then justhire the survivors to clean up the rubble at close range.
There, RiV, fixed it for ya! Don't thank me, just send cash. ;-)
With Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad officially sworn in for a second term, leading opposition figure Mehdi Karroubi says he will accept the new circumstances and move on.
Mehdi Karroubi, in a Friday meeting with members of his party Etemad-e Melli (National Confidence), said he would not let his second consecutive defeat in the presidential elections negatively influence his plans.
"We should not allow the new circumstances to dispirit us. Our political activities should continue according to plan and within a legal framework," he said.
The leading Reformist figure urged his fellow party members to take their work seriously. "We should continue to work hard no matter how difficult the circumstances have become."
His remarks come two days after President Ahmadinejad was officially sworn in for another four-year term. The reelected Iranian President received the endorsement of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Monday.
Karroubi had earlier announced that he would revamp and reorganize the reformist Etemad-e-Melli party, which he founded in 2005.
"Times have changed and there is an urgent need for far-reaching party reforms. We should review the post-election developments and plan our actions accordingly," said the former Iranian Parliament speaker last week.
Karroubi and fellow opposition leader Mir-Hossein Mousavi have refused to drop their challenge to the outcome of the June 12 election, which saw Ahmadinejad win by a landslide.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/08/2009 00:00 ||
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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.
