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Libyan Foreign Minister quits, arrives in UK
Today's Headlines
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Page 6: Politix
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Afghanistan
Karzai Adviser Arrested for Embezzlement
Afghan authorities on Tuesday incarcerated a senior adviser to President Hamid Maybe I'll join the Taliban Karzai
... A former Baltimore restaurateur, now 12th and current President of Afghanistan, displacing the legitimate president Rabbani in December 2004. He was installed as the dominant political figure after the removal of the Taliban regime in late 2001 in a vain attempt to put a Pashtun face on the successor state to the Taliban. After the 2004 presidential election, he was declared president regardless of what the actual vote count was. He won a second, even more dubious, five-year-term after the 2009 presidential election. His grip on reality has been slipping steadily since around 2007, probably from heavy drug use...
on embezzlement charges, the office of the attorney general said Tuesday.

The arrest of Noorullah Delawari, who is a former governor of the Afghan central bank, comes a day after police in Kabul jugged a former minister in Karzai's government over the misuse of public funds.

"Noorullah Delawari has been incarcerated on charges of embezzlement and corruption," Amanullah Iman, a front man for the office, told Agence La Belle France Presse, without giving any further details.

A government official who asked not to be named said the case was linked to that of former transport minister Inayatullah Qasimi, who was incarcerated on Monday.

Qasimi faces charges of misusing public funds in relation to the purchase of two aircraft for the Afghan national airline, Ariana, which the attorney general's office said lost the government more than $9 million.

Delawari is also accused of embezzling $300,000 from the Afghan central bank, the official said.

He served as governor of the bank between 2004 and 2007, and is still on its board of directors as well as being the head of the Afghan Investment Support Agency (AISA), set up to encourage investment in the country.

Afghanistan is one of the world's most corrupt countries, ranked only just ahead of lawless Somalia in a list compiled by global watchdog Transparency International.

Karzai's government is under intense pressure from its Western backers to crack down on rampant graft that pervades all sectors of Afghan society.

A front man for the president confirmed Delawari was a senior economic adviser to Karzai, but said he was not aware of the arrest.

Delawari returned to Afghanistan from the United States, where he worked in private banking, after the 2001 fall of the Taliban.

In 2003 he founded the AISA, serving as its leader until he took over at the helm of the central bank a year later.

Rahmatullah Nazari, Afghanistan's deputy attorney general said in November that about 20 senior Karzai government officials, including former ministers, were being investigated over corruption charges.

But action has yet to be taken and there have been allegations that Karzai has blocked investigations to protect those closest to him.

Last November, the government dropped corruption charges against another top Karzai aide, Mohammad Zia Salehi, who was incarcerated by the US-backed Major Crimes Task Force after he was caught on a wiretap soliciting a bribe.

A government presser on the latest two arrests has been scheduled for later Tuesday.
Posted by: Fred || 03/30/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Scandal-tainted Kabul Bank to be sold off
[Al Jazeera] Afghanistan's Kabul Bank is to be broken up and sold off at the demand of the International Monetary Fund, according to sources in Afghanistan.

Diplomats in Kabul said on Monday that government approval for placing Kabul Bank into receivership would be given in the coming days and that the process would be complete within two weeks.

The IMF has demanded that the bank be wound up and has made clear that a possible financial assistance programme for Afghanistan would be dependent on the bank being closed down or sold.

The UN warned last month that international donors "may have to suspend or redirect their assistance" if the government failed to reach an agreement with the IMF.

Kabul Bank came close to collapse last year and was taken over by Afghanistan's central bank following claims that former executives had granted themselves huge under-the-table loans.

US media reports have said Kabul Bank's former executives used depositors' funds to buy property including seafront mansions in Dubai, one of which was made available at no cost to Mahmoud Karzai, the Afghan president's brother.

A run on the bank was only halted after government assurances and injections of public money.

Corruption case

The Afghan government of Hamid Maybe I'll join the Taliban Karzai,
... A former Baltimore restaurateur, now 12th and current President of Afghanistan, displacing the legitimate president Rabbani in December 2004. He was installed as the dominant political figure after the removal of the Taliban regime in late 2001 in a vain attempt to put a Pashtun face on the successor state to the Taliban. After the 2004 presidential election, he was declared president regardless of what the actual vote count was. He won a second, even more dubious, five-year-term after the 2009 presidential election. His grip on reality has been slipping steadily since around 2007, probably from heavy drug use...
the Afghan president, has long been beset by accusations of corruption.

In an interview in the Washington Post on Saturday, Mohammad Mustafa Mastoor, Afghanistan's deputy finance minister, said that the bank's deposits and performing loans would be separated from loans unlikely to be repaid.

"We need to know how much the loss is so we can determine how to respond to the losses," he said. "This will lead to the strengthening of our banking system."

Afghanistan's central bank has said the bank is now stable and has argued that putting it into receivership might cause a run on it and other banks.

One Western diplomat based in Kabul said that negotiations on the bank would be concluded during the annual World Bank conference in Washington from April 11-18.

Separately on Monday, Inayatullah Qasimi, Afghanistan's former transport minister, was reportedly tossed in the clink on corruption charges.

The AFP news agency quoted a front man for the attorney general's office as saying that Qasimi, who was appointed minister in 2004 and served for less than two years, will face trial for misuse of public funds.

He is the first former member of Karzai's administration to face such charges.
Posted by: Fred || 03/30/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:


Taliban Ready for Talks under International Guarantee
[Tolo News] Taliban and Gulbuddin Hekmatyar's
... who used to be known in intelligence circles as The Most Evil Man in the World but who now seems merely run-of-the-mill evil...
Party have called for a guarantee by international community and the US prior to peace negotiations.

Afghan High Peace Council on Tuesday announced that efforts are on the ground to provide the ground for talks between representatives of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar's party, the Taliban and Nato and the United States.

"The Taliban are making efforts to find a way to discuss Afghan issues under an international guarantee. And they want the discussions directly with the foreign forces," High Peace Council Secretary Attaullah Ludin said.

Afghan Peace Council believes that the process of bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan is not an effort that should be confined in the region, but it requires international support.

As part of peace efforts, members of peace council are due to visit Iran, Turkey and Soddy Arabia in the days ahead.

Indirect talks with the Taliban are still in progress, Peace Council said.

"Head of the Peace Council has some contact with the Taliban leaders, but the talks haven't been at the level of the Council," Mr Ludin said.

Meanwhile,
...back at the secret hideout, Scarface Al sneeringly put his proposition to little Nell...
Russia has announced its preparations to hold discussions with the Taliban, which was welcomed by Afghan government.

Karzai's Office has said any country's effective role to bring peace and stability in Afghanistan is welcomed.

Russian special representative to Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov has said Russia has no direct contact with the Taliban, but supports national reconciliation in Afghanistan.

Mr Kabulov also pointed out to some prerequisites in Russian peace talks with the Taliban, adding that the Taliban should renounce violence, accept the Afghan constitution and cut links with the al-Qaeda.
Posted by: Fred || 03/30/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Africa Horn
Somali MPs extend government's term
[The Nation (Nairobi)] Following an extraordinary meeting held in Mogadishu on Sunday afternoon, the cabinet of the transitional federal government of Somalia resolved an extension of one year for all the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs).

According to the government front man, Mr Abdi Haji Gobdon, the ministers considered the current situation in Somalia and decided to propose an extension for a period of one year for the parliament, cabinet, presidency and the judiciary, effective 21st of August this year.

The extension will last till August 2012 to give the hapless Somali government an opportunity to deliver on promises made to secure a number of pending tasks.

Mr Mohamed Mohamud Bono, the Minister for Constitutional and Federal Affairs, told The Nation that the one-year extension for the TFIs will allow the hapless Somali government to build on recent gains.

Mr Bono stated that the government will further improve in the defense staffs in terms of number, gear and quality.
Posted by: Fred || 03/30/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:


Africa North
Libya: Barack Obama 'signed secret order allowing covert operations'
Barack Obama signed a secret order authorising covert US government support for rebel forces seeking to oust Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, according to government officials.
Mr Obama reportedly signed the order, known as a presidential "finding", within the last two or three weeks, four US government sources told Reuters.

Such findings are a principal form of presidential directive used to authorise secret operations by the Central Intelligence Agency. The CIA and the White House declined immediate comment.

The New York Times reported that the CIA has had clandestine operatives who have been gathering intelligence for air strikes and making contact with the rebels for several weeks.

Jay Carney, the White House spokesman, declined to confirm or deny the report, citing "common practice" not to comment on intelligence matters.

News that Mr Obama had given the authorisation surfaced as the President and other US and allied officials spoke openly about the possibility of sending arms supplies to Gaddafi's opponents, who are fighting better-equipped government forces.
Posted by: tipper || 03/30/2011 20:17 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  See also FREEREPUBLIC > US FEARS LIBYAN REBELS SET UP FOR DEFEAT WIDOUT GREATER WESTERN INTERVENTION.

versus

* TOPIX/PEOPLE'S DAILY FORUM > GADDAFI LOOKS TO WEST ["Friends" = Allies, other "Moderates"] FOR SOLUTIONS TO LIBYA CRISIS.

Again, the US = US-NATO/EU + Muslim Allies may not be in any rush to get rid of Gaddafi due to fear of Radical Islam coming to dominate the post-Jasmine Middle East. They need Gaddafi to offset or hedge agz the LT covert Radical Islamist threat to ME democracy [political jihad]; + the Rebels to offset or hedge agz Gaddafi per se vee reforms.

LIBYUH > Pragmatically, iff EGYPT is ultimately lost to Radical Islam, + the latter attempts to cut off in part or in whole Egyptian energy exports + Suez Canal access to the US-West, LIbya will be an alternate site for diverting Oil-Gas + other land-based exports to same.

LOSS OF EGYPT + SUEZ CANAL ACCESS WILL FORCE DIRECT US-NATO, UNSC MIL INTERVENTION AGZ BOTH EGYPT + VERY LIKELY SOMALIA = EAST AFRICA [security of Red Sea, Arabian Gulf maritime links].

* CHINESE MILITARY FORUM > BETTER TO KNOW | REVELATIONS OF CIA ACTIONS IN COTE D'IVOIRE BY A FRENCH AGENT.

Coversion + subversion + diversion for Ivory Coast Coffee + Cocoa = ????

[SWISS MISS, JUAN VALDEZ here].
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 03/30/2011 22:05 Comments || Top||


Obama: Can't back Libyan rebels "with both feet"
Rebel troops were losing more ground in Libya Wednesday as forces loyal to Muammar Qaddafi launched a series of new attacks. This, as NATO was assuming full-control from the United States of allied military efforts in Libya, and the U.S. and other nations agreed at a summit in London that Qaddafi must give up power - but couldn't agree on how to make it happen.

And in an interview with "Early Show" co-anchor Erica Hill in New York Tuesday, President Obama conceded that, "Among all the people who (are) opposed (to) Qaddafi, there might not be elements that are unfriendly to the United States and our interests. ... And that's why I think it's important for us not to -- jump in with both feet" with all of them.
Guess he's got to wait for riding instructions from the Arab League on what to do next.
Posted by: tipper || 03/30/2011 08:12 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Love the double/triple negative Bammerspeak:

"Let me be clear:"
"There may not be non-existent elements that are not non-unfriendly with the anti-non-enemies of the United States and our interests".

Perhaps some Princetown educated Lawyers could expound on the meanings of "might", "not" & "unfriendly", as it appears that what he was saying was that the chances are that there are no enemies - so why the caution? Or am I misinterpreting the legal character of the word "in"???
Posted by: Admiral Allan Ackbar || 03/30/2011 8:37 Comments || Top||

#2  AAA, as it reads it comes across to me that all the Daffy opposition the default opinion of the USA is unfriendly but some minds might change to something better if we go all in, which is why we should not go all in (because it would change minds?).

Explain Libya in 5 minutes or less: C- for clarity (or lack of), dropped to D+ for putting the struggle in the past tense...or is the editing wrong? Probaly drop it anothe point if I had to actually listen to this.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 03/30/2011 12:19 Comments || Top||

#3  Obama has one foot in his mouth, so he can't use both feet to back the rebels. Not that they much deserve it.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 03/30/2011 14:48 Comments || Top||

#4  Reuters reports Barack Obama has signed a secret order (a presidential "finding") authorizing covert U.S. support for rebel forces.

Al
Posted by: Frozen Al || 03/30/2011 17:05 Comments || Top||

#5  But don't tell nobody, see, because it's a secret.
Posted by: Steve White || 03/30/2011 19:55 Comments || Top||

#6  "TWO FEET"

versus

* CBS EVENING NEWS > looks like the Libyan Rebels are complaining about so-called "WAR/COMBAT TOURISTS", i.e. mostly local Libyan civilians whom base themselves close or right next to a potential battlefield to watch the deadly combat between Gaddafi's Boyz + Rebels, clogging up all the roads + gener getting in the way of everybody, but then skedaddling like Speed Racer when the combat gets too close to their six.

* Also, WAFF > [Pentagon]LIBYAN WAR COSTS US$550.0MILYUHN SO FAR: US LAWMAKER. Will cost another US$40.0 Milyuhn by April 18th [US$590.0 = under US$600.0 Milyuhn], + then US$40.0Milyuhn every month after that until further notice..
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 03/30/2011 22:32 Comments || Top||

#7  OTOH FREEREPUBLIC > TREASURY SELLS US$29.0BILYUHN IN BONDS, BRINGING TOTAL SETTLED US DEBT TO US$14.311 TRILYUHN | ... MORE THAN THE DEBT CEILING.

and

* PEOPLE'S DAILY FORUM > GREENSPAN WARNS DODD-FRANK REFORMS RISKS [super-Regulation led] "MARKET DISTORTIONS".

Will be impossible to implement, + degradeor lower US Living Standards.

IOW, "DODD-FRANK" NEW REGULATIONS = MORE CONFUSION NOT SOLUTION, DETRIMENT NOT LERIMENT.

Posted by: JosephMendiola || 03/30/2011 22:40 Comments || Top||


Moroccan youth movement holds Casablanca protest
[Maghrebia] Young Moroccan members of the pro-reform February 20 Movement staged a sit-in Sunday (March 27th) in Casablanca, MAP reported. The group, which uses Facebook to mobilise Moroccans, has called for social and economic reforms, including human rights
...which are usually open to widely divergent definitions...
protections and an independent judiciary.
Posted by: Fred || 03/30/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "...I came to Casablanca for the protests"
"But there are no protests in Casablanca."
"Obviously I was misinformed."

/With apologies to Rick and Captain Renault

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski || 03/30/2011 12:27 Comments || Top||


Arabia
Bahraini Interior Minister Accuses Hizbullah of Role in Kingdom's Unrest
[An Nahar] A total of 24 people were killed in Bahrain, including four coppers, in a month of unrest and anti-regime protests allegedly linked to Leb's Hizbullah, the interior minister said on Tuesday.

"Four coppers died, in addition to seven innocent civilians ... and 13 of those who took part in violence and vandalism," Sheikh Rashed bin Abdullah al-Khalifa told parliament.

He said 391 coppers were maimed, along with 56 Bahrainis and other nationals. Four other coppers were kidnapped and tortured, according to the interior minister.

Sheikh Rashed accused the predominantly Shiite protesters of being linked to the Iranian-backed Hizbullah, as proven by the demonstrators' methods as well as statements of support from the Shiite group and Tehran.

"All this reveals a link and the training style of Hizbullah," he said.

Bahraini security forces, backed by a joint force from fellow Gulf countries, drove anti-regime demonstrators from central Manama's Pearl Square on March 16, a day after King Hamad declared a state of emergency.

Sunni-ruled Bahrain, where Shiites represent the majority, has accused Shiite Iran across the Gulf of meddling in its affairs, leading to the recall of ambassadors from each other's country.
Posted by: Fred || 03/30/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under: Hezbollah


Britain
Anti-war activists to protest at London Libya conference
IRNA -- Anti-war activists are planning to hold a protest against Tuesday's international Libya conference in London called by the British government.

"It is very important the world sees there is wide opposition here to their plans," said Stop the War Coalition (STWC), which is organising the protest outside Lancaster House, the venue for the conference.

STWC criticised Foreign Secretary William Hague for being "keen to keep Britain at the forefront" of the military intervention launched just over a week ago.

The first poll on the intervention showed last week that the UK public is at odds with the government over its leading role in using military action, with 53 per cent agreeing it would be unacceptable for British armed forces personnel to risk death or injury while trying to protect Libyan opposition forces.

Confirming details of the conference, Prime Minister David Cameron
... British PM Cameron describes himself as a modern compassionate conservative and has spoken of a need for a new style of politics that doesn't involve calling people names. He has stated that he is certainly a big Thatcher fan, but I don't know whether that makes me a Thatcherite, which means he's probably not. He has also claimed to be a liberal Conservative, and a very tall short person. Since he is not deeply ideological he lacks core principles and is easily led. He has urged politicians to concentrate on improving people's happiness and general well-being, instead of focusing solely on financial wealth, which is easy for a stockbroker's kid to say. Ask him to lend you ten quid and see how that works out. He has been described as certainly not a Pitt, Elder or Younger, but he does wear a nice suit so maybe he's Beau Brummel ...
said on Monday that it would be broadly-based with more than 40 countries attending, but announced it would include only five Arab countries.

Cameron also confirmed it had been agreed that NATO would take over command and control of all aspects of the current military operations in Libya after already establishing a no-fly zone and enforcing an arms embargo and that "not every" permanent member of the UN Security Council would attend the conference.

According to the Foreign Office, the aim of the conference is to demonstrate the "international community's unity of purpose, bringing together a broad grouping of countries committed to a better future for the people of Libya."

It is also to send an "unequivocal message" to continue to implement UNSCR 1973 and to learn past lessons by forging a "wide group looking at long-term support, including humanitarian assistance and international support to the people of Libya as they transit into the future."

Asked about the involvement of Arab states, Foreign Office front man Barry Marston told IRNA that it was important to have a "regional coordinated strategy."

With regard to the call for a show of international community unity, Marston also admitted that China and Russia, which abstained from the UN resolution, had not fully confirmed their attendance and that in the case of Russia, it would "possibly not" participate.
Posted by: Fred || 03/30/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:


Home Front: WoT
Rumsfeld on 'kill team' photos: 'Much worse' than Abu Ghraib
Video from the Washington Times. NOW will this bust out in the MSM?

If Bush and Rummie were to be blamed for Abu Ghraib (and Andy Sullivan said they were), then Bambi gets the blame for inappropriate behavior of our troops in Afghanistan.

Or, we start to behave like adults and recognize that this is an isolated problem, just as Abu Ghraib was. Oh, what are the chances of THAT happening?
Posted by: Steve White || 03/30/2011 13:02 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Is not "Armed Forces" a synonym of Kill-Team?

Does someone think that the Islamists are firing paintball guns?
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 03/30/2011 13:30 Comments || Top||

#2  The lamestream media beat the dead horse of Abu Ghraib for over 18 months on a daily basis - never mentioning that it was already being investigated when the media 'uncovered' it.

I doubt this will get 18 minutes - total.
Posted by: CrazyFool || 03/30/2011 13:49 Comments || Top||

#3  Let's hope this does not break out on the MSM. If it does, al-Jizz will keep it on the air for 18 months. And that won't help. Especially after Morlock got what could be an 8 year sentence. DoD needs some quick convictions of the other perps and some quick executions.

And Armed Forces is NOT a synonym of Kill-Team. Armed Forces act with discipline to apply violence to achieve policy ends on behalf of a political entity. Kill-teams, as used in this case, are sadistic perverts who perpetrate violence on those unable to defend themselves or surrender for the mere pleasure of seeing another human being suffer. To compare them is to do an injustice to those who will endure combat and risk their own death and dismemberment to defend us.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 03/30/2011 14:05 Comments || Top||

#4  Meanwhile, back in Iraq, 50+ murders by a jihadi 'Kill Team' is just routine news.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 03/30/2011 15:05 Comments || Top||

#5  This sounds like a news planted effort. I can't believe that they would do this and take photos.
I need more information and verification to understand these events. I basically don't trust our media.
Posted by: Dale || 03/30/2011 18:03 Comments || Top||

#6  I doubt Morlock thinks the court martial was a plant.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 03/30/2011 18:45 Comments || Top||

#7  Michael Yon was imbeded with this unit. He's calling bullshit.
Posted by: Deacon Blues || 03/30/2011 18:52 Comments || Top||

#8  Dr. White - How could you? Forget, that is.

Afghanistan is still Bush's war. It's just not as bad a bad war as the really bad war which took away valuable resources from the not-so-bad war in A'stan.

The only Bambi war is Libya. It's a good war, because it's humanatarian. And it doesn't take away resources from the ... the ... where was I?

I think my keyboard was kontrolled by Kos Kiddies. It's all better now.
Posted by: Bobby || 03/30/2011 19:02 Comments || Top||

#9  "The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his."
-Gen. George S Patton
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 03/30/2011 19:08 Comments || Top||

#10  Let's be clear; Michael Yon is calling Bullshit on Rolling Stone, not Don Rumsfeld. Yon says:
The story is titled “THE KILL TEAM, THE FULL STORY.” It should be titled: “BULLSHIT, from Rolling Stone.”

The story—not really an “article”—covers Soldiers from 5/2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) in Afghanistan. A handful of Soldiers were accused of murder. It does in fact appear that a tiny group of rogues committed premeditated murder.
The reason these scum should be punished so severely is that they make it possible for their fellow scum at Rolling Stone and the MSM to villify the entire military.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 03/30/2011 19:10 Comments || Top||

#11  I basically don't trust our media.

Rolling Stone is a left-wing pub. with an agenda of sensationalism. They picked it up from Der Spiegel.

It is reminiscent of John F. Kerry's testimony concerning atrocities before Congress at the Winter Soldier Investigations--most of what he said was found to be untrue. Kerry said:
I would like to talk, representing all those veterans, and say that several months ago in Detroit, we had an investigation at which over 150 honorably discharged and many very highly decorated veterans testified to war crimes committed in Southeast Asia, not isolated incidents but crimes committed on a day-to-day basis with the full awareness of officers at all levels of command....

They told the stories at times they had personally raped, cut off ears, cut off heads, taped wires from portable telephones to human genitals and turned up the power, cut off limbs, blown up bodies, randomly shot at civilians, razed villages in fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan, shot cattle and dogs for fun, poisoned food stocks, and generally ravaged the countryside of South Vietnam in addition to the normal ravage of war, and the normal and very particular ravaging which is done by the applied bombing power of this country.


Kerry had a leftist anti-war agenda. He made up $hit. It may have been worse than that.

What Yon said makes sense.

Posted by: JohnQC || 03/30/2011 19:13 Comments || Top||


AZ Law Enforcement Conducting Major Air And Land Anti-Smuggling Operation
Arizona law enforcement organizations are beginning "Operation Desert Sky", using thirty fixed wing aircraft for one month to spot drug and illegal alien smugglers through the central smuggling corridor of Arizona, along with armed posse and SWAT ground forces, in response to a huge increase in drug and illegal alien smuggling.

A task force of 10 Maricopa County police agencies, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and Sheriff's office, are combining their efforts, originally to eradicate methamphetamine production in Arizona, a major national hub for that drug.

But their mission has expanded, based in the seizure of 18 tons of marijuana and other drugs, and hundreds of illegal aliens in recent weeks.

The drug-trafficking gangs have installed their own radio transponders in southern Arizona mountain ranges and use solar-powered radios to stay connected in the desert for days. The organizations are also using military grade weapons and equipment.

Gunfights between smuggling gangs, law enforcement and civilians are becoming increasingly common. Law enforcers are using military equipment and tactics in an effort to gain an advantage over the violent criminals.

Former National Day Laborer Organizing Network and local agitator Salvador Reza said Arpaio's newest operation is a "dangerous escalation of the prejudice and violence for which the state has become known. It will spend taxpayer dollars to put 30 pilots into the air and put everyone at risk by arming vigilantes with M16s and machine guns", he said with his usual histrionics.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 03/30/2011 09:08 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  An interesting bit about this is what is not being said. This is all happening in Maricopa county. But just east of there is Pinal county, also a major corridor, under the auspices of Sheriff Babeu.

Unlike the more flamboyant Joe Arpaio, Babeu is a more taciturn "hard man". He has lost patience with drug smugglers on his turf, and has quietly deployed ambush teams of snipers along their routes.

While they *may* offer the heavily armed smugglers the opportunity to surrender, one of his deputies has already been shot by them.

So with all this hubbub in Maricopa county, it is likely that a lot of the smugglers are going to move East, right into the path of Babeu's men.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 03/30/2011 18:00 Comments || Top||

#2  So with all this hubbub in Maricopa county, it is likely that a lot of the smugglers are going to move East, right into the path of Babeu's men.

Is that what the military types call "hammer and anvil", Anonymoose? And what happens to the remains of those Sheriff Babeu's men encounter?
Posted by: trailing wife || 03/30/2011 19:06 Comments || Top||

#3  It's a desert.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 03/30/2011 19:12 Comments || Top||

#4  Doing the jobs the Federals won't. [Who are too busy running guns the other direction]
Posted by: Procopius2k || 03/30/2011 19:31 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Washington-Islamabad Relations Strained
[Tolo News] Washington has come to know that Pakistain isn't being honest in the fight against insurgency thus much more pressure should be applied, former US ambassador to Afghanistan said on Tuesday.

Zalmai Khalilzad the former US ambassador to Afghanistan, in an exclusive interview with TOLOnews highlighted the need to broaden relations between Kabul and Washington.

"While I was serving as ambassador of the US here, I went to Pakistain and asked General Parvez Musharaf what the logic was behind allowing the Taliban to use Pakistain's soil to attack Afghanistan, the United States and US troops here," Mr Khalilzad said. "In response he said:
where are the Taliban? They are not in Pakistain. Give me their address and we will go and arrest them."

Earlier General David Petraeus, the top US commander of coalition forces in Afghanistan, said the Taliban would fight back to take control of the areas they have lost to foreign forces.

But the US four-star general emphasised that the Taliban could not take the areas back from forces.

Insurgents have recently doubled their attacks in particular on civilian locations that have led to the death of scores of civilians.

Joint clean-up offensives under the lead of Afghan cops have been launched almost nationwide to prepare the ground for a smooth transition which is due to begin in months.

President Hamid Maybe I'll join the Taliban Karzai
... A former Baltimore restaurateur, now 12th and current President of Afghanistan, displacing the legitimate president Rabbani in December 2004. He was installed as the dominant political figure after the removal of the Taliban regime in late 2001 in a vain attempt to put a Pashtun face on the successor state to the Taliban. After the 2004 presidential election, he was declared president regardless of what the actual vote count was. He won a second, even more dubious, five-year-term after the 2009 presidential election. His grip on reality has been slipping steadily since around 2007, probably from heavy drug use...
recently named a number of provinces and districts where the first stages of transition would happen.

Nato-led coalition forces numbering at 152,000 with bulk of them US service members have been fighting a growing insurgency for nearly a decade now.
Posted by: Fred || 03/30/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [7 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan

#1  Wel-l-l, perhaps the US Govt. should look closer to home ... ...

To wit,

* WAFF > [TheBlaze = YouTube]BLACK PANTHER LEADER SAYS: "HIS WIFE [Michelle Obama] SHOULD LEAVE THAT NIGGA BARRY [ POTUS Bammer = Barack Obama] TONIGHT"! | YOU SHOULD'VE LISTENED TO FARRAKHAN WHEN YOU WERE AT HIS TABLE: NEW BLACK PANTHERS TURN ON OBAMA IN AN "N-WORD", "UNCLE TOM" TIRADE.

Looks like a certain Org isn't getting any White House barbecue, dinner, + holiday invites this year???
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 03/30/2011 2:08 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Israel flag outside Prague hotel irks Iranians
Itamar Eichner, ynetnews.com

On Wednesday the Iranian embassy in Prague organized an event at a well-known hotel in the Czech capital. Prior to the event, a senior embassy official was shocked to see an Israeli flag flying high at the head of a line of flags situated near the entrance to the hotel.

The diplomat spoke to the hotel manager and demanded that the Israeli flag be taken down, but the manager, and Arab-Israeli from Nazareth, rejected the request. "The (Israeli) flag will remain at the front of the hotel always," the manager told the Iranian official. "If you don’t like it, you are welcome to hold the event at another hotel."

The angry Iranian diplomat had no choice but to accept the hotel's position, and the event was held as scheduled....
Posted by: Mike || 03/30/2011 06:03 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  goood for the hotelmanager for standing his ground. Who the hell did the diplomat think he was going and demanding something like this on private property
Posted by: chris || 03/30/2011 13:12 Comments || Top||

#2  TS if they don't like it.
Posted by: JohnQC || 03/30/2011 19:16 Comments || Top||


Abbas would give up US aid for Palestinian unity, says aide
[Arab News] An aide to the Paleostinian president says the ineffectual Mahmoud Abbas
... a graduate of the prestigious unaccredited Patrice Lumumba University in Moscow with a doctorate in Holocaust Denial...
is making a heavy push for reconciliation with Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason, and is willing to give up hundreds of millions of dollars in aid from Washington if that's what it takes to forge a Paleostinian unity deal.
Heh, heh, heh. Sure he is...
The comments by Azzam Ahmed indicate that Abbas may be giving up on stalled peace talks with Israel and prefers to pursue unity with Gazoo's Hamas rulers in a push toward independence.

The sides have been divided since Hamas overran the Gazoo Strip in 2007, expelling forces loyal to Abbas.
...usually from the top of five story buildings.
Ahmad said Monday the Paleostinians need American money, "but if they use it as a way of pressuring us, we are ready to relinquish that aid," he said.

The US and Israel consider Hamas a terrorist group. The group came to power in Gazoo democratically.
Posted by: Fred || 03/30/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Palestinian Authority

#1  It'll never happen. What do the Paleostinians have left if they give up obfuscation, the deniability that splinter groups give them and American money?
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 03/30/2011 12:36 Comments || Top||

#2  The group came to power in Gaza Stripjoint democratically in a power crazed gun sex orgy of inbredness .

Hmm fixed .
Posted by: Albert Fleting6496 || 03/30/2011 16:25 Comments || Top||


Jordan frees protesters blamed for unrest
[Arab News] A judicial official says 25 protesters blamed for Jordan's most violent unrest in three months of pro-democracy demonstrations have been released.

The official refused to say why they were freed. But the government is trying to ease tension with the opposition, which accuses it of ordering police to use unjustified force to disperse a peaceful protest.

The government blamed the 25 for instigating Friday's festivities between its supporters and opponents, in which one man died and 120 people were maimed. The official said the 25 included pro and anti-government protesters.

Meanwhile,
...back at the laboratory the fumes had dispersed, to reveal an ominous sight...
the prime minister of Jordan said on Monday people have the right to free speech and that the government will set aside special areas for protests. "The freedom of speech and freedom of assembly are constitutional rights as long as they are peaceful, civilized and do not harm people," Prime Minister Maaruf Bakhit said in a statement. "The government, which is keen on preserving these rights, will allocate certain places for demonstrations, to protect protesters and avoid obstructing the lives of others."

Hundreds of loyalists on Saturday marched in the capital, carrying pictures of King Abdullah II as well as firearms and swords, chanting slogans against "all those who undermine the stability" of the regime and the country.

"Carrying firearms, bats, stones and sharp tools as well as attempts to prevent peaceful demonstrations are condemned. They harm Jordan's image and reform drive," Bakhit said.

"The security apparatuses must firmly stop any one who tries to break the law and threaten the lives and safety of citizens." Bakhit warned against "proposals of sedition." "I call on all political parties, civil society institutions and youths to avoid proposals of sedition, including traps posted online," he said.

He was apparently referring to calls to limit the king's powers to pave the way for a constitutional monarchy, which has been described as a "threat to Jordan's survival," including some that have surfaced on the Internet.
Posted by: Fred || 03/30/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:


'If Palestinians declare state, Israel weighing annexations'
[Jerusalem Post] Jerusalem is weighing the annexation of the major settlement blocs if Paleostinians seek unilateral recognition of statehood, an official in Jerusalem told AP on Tuesday.

The official said that "adopting unilateral measures is not a one-way street," and that it was not the only option being considered, according to the report. He cautioned, however, that he was not aware of how seriously the politicianship was considering such a bold move.

Other responses to Paleostinian unilateralism could include reducing water access below agreed upon levels, as well as restricting the use of Israeli ports for Paleostinian imports and exports, AP reported.

The Prime Minister's Office said that it had not heard of the plan, Israel Radio reported.

Officials in Ramallah close to Paleostinian Authority President the ineffectual Mahmoud Abbas
... a graduate of the prestigious unaccredited Patrice Lumumba University in Moscow with a doctorate in Holocaust Denial...
said that "these threats are not new ... But we are continuing [our campaign] and are convinced our position is right," according to the report.
Posted by: Fred || 03/30/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under: Palestinian Authority

#1  The Paleos have exports, in the sense of selling stuff other people actually want?

Who knew!
Posted by: phil_b || 03/30/2011 1:03 Comments || Top||

#2  Israel also wants to build for a PA an artificial island three miles off Gaza for use as PA AIr-Sea Ports, ostens so that Israel can finally formally break off diplomatic + espec econ relations wid the PA + not have to support them.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 03/30/2011 1:42 Comments || Top||

#3  Any rocket,any mortor,any missle comes over that border will be an act of war by the Pleostinian State. Isreali's can act as needed to defend themselves against an independant nation attacking them.
Posted by: retired LEO || 03/30/2011 1:45 Comments || Top||

#4  Any rocket,any mortor,any missle comes over that border will be an act of war

That alone would be reason enough to support a Paleostinian state - assuming the Paleos could stop squabbling amongst themselves long enough to organize one. But they really haven't thought this through much beyond printing up all those Death to Juice signs. Still, it would be fun to see them go down in the Guinness Book of Records as the World's Most Short-lived Nation. I'm betting they wouldn't make the 48 hour mark.
Posted by: SteveS || 03/30/2011 3:22 Comments || Top||

#5  There's not going to be any Palestinian state, and I wouldn't bet to the other Arab states being with us for much longer.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 03/30/2011 3:43 Comments || Top||

#6  There's not going to be any Palestinian state

Aw, you're just saying that because the Paleos couldn't hold a bake sale without it turning into gun play and someone making off with the cash box.
Posted by: SteveS || 03/30/2011 4:23 Comments || Top||

#7  I would question why wouldn't Isreal want a Paleo state. They attack Isreal, Isreal can attack them back as a war with no restrictions on house-to-house or "oppressing" them. They can push them out and treat them as actual savages that they are. Sure it MAY start a war with other Arab states, but I wouldn't bet on it. Nobody wants to mess with Isreal in the ME, poke them with a stick sure, but actually wrestle the sleeping beast? Hell no. War will take away any PR and International protection they may have recieved.
Posted by: Charles || 03/30/2011 22:24 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Israel Releases Map Of 1000 Hezbollah Sites In Lebanon, With 550 Bunkers
Israeli military officials have provided a map detailing nearly 1,000 sites and facilities monitored by the Hezbollah militant group in southern Lebanon. Israeli intelligence officials believe that the 550 underground bunkers identified have been stocked with weapons transferred from Syria since the 2006 Second Lebanon War.

The map also details 300 surveillance sites and 100 other facilities Israel believes belong to Hezbollah militants.

Israeli officials have said in interviews that most of Hezbollah’s weapons are secretly transferred from arms depots near Damascus to facilities in southern Lebanon.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 03/30/2011 18:33 || Comments || Link || [10 views] Top|| File under:

#1  PEOPLE'S DAILY FORUM > SYRIA: THE REAL FRONTLINE IN THE MIDDLE EAST [not Libyuh].

Read, IRAN.

IIUC ARTIC > Uncle Muammar is a much better Leader + Reformer + "Democrat" [as Muammar + Islamic ME could be] than Syrian President Baby Assad + his late great Daddy-O [Assad Clan = Alawis], HOPE-N-CHANGE IS EXTANT IN GADDAFI LIBYUH BUT NOT IN OPPRESSIVE REGRESSIVE SYRIA???
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 03/30/2011 22:17 Comments || Top||

#2  TOPIX > ISRAEL FEARS THE ALTERNATIVE IFF SYRIA'S ASSAD REGIME FAILS.

Read, IRAN[Nuclear?] EVERYWHERE???
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 03/30/2011 23:16 Comments || Top||


Why did a regime-linked Syrian website publish a U.S.-Saudi plan to oust Assad?
Posted by: tipper || 03/30/2011 08:28 || Comments || Link || [7 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The question assumes this isn't a complete fabrication.

Al
Posted by: Frozen Al || 03/30/2011 11:18 Comments || Top||


Mustaqbal: Bekaa Developments Aimed at Returning Lebanon to Dark Period of its Past
[An Nahar] The Mustaqbal
... the Future Movement, political party led by Saad Hariri...
bloc condemned on Tuesday the recent security developments in Leb, especially the kidnapping of seven Estonians in the Bekaa, which it said "are aimed at returning Leb to a dark period of its past."

It added after its weekly meeting in Qoreitem headed by former Prime Minister Fouad Saniora: "Malicious powers are behind these incidents that are aimed at targeting mutual coexistence and destabilizing Leb."

The bloc stressed the role security forces and specialized judicial sides must play in intensifying investigations in order to uncover and punish those behind the abduction.

"Such incidents emphasize the need for the Lebanese government to impose its authority throughout the country and limit the possession of arms to the state," it added.

Addressing the developments in the Arab world, the Mustaqbal bloc condemned allegations that "Leb or some of its political powers" are sending weapons to Syria.

"Such claims are completely baseless and they are meant to be employed in the political tensions in Leb," it concluded.
Posted by: Fred || 03/30/2011 00:00 || Comments || Link || [6 views] Top|| File under:


Terror Networks
Libya: Arab revolts a boost for al-Qaeda says terrorist leader
Anwar al-Awlaki, al-Qaeda's most influential English-language preacher, said revolts sweeping the Arab world would help rather than harm its cause by giving Islamists freed from tyranny greater scope to speak out.
Western and Arab officials say the example set by young Arabs seeking peaceful political change is a counterweight to al-Qaeda's push for violent militancy and weakens its argument that democracy and Islam are incompatible.

But al-Awlaki, who has been linked to a series of terrorist plots, said the removal of anti-Islamist autocrats meant Islamic fighters and scholars were now freer to discuss and organise.

"Our mujahideen brothers in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and the rest of the Muslim world will get a chance to breathe again after three decades of suffocation," he wrote, using a term that refers generally to Islamic guerrilla groups or holy warriors.

"For the scholars and activists of Egypt to be able to speak again freely, it would represent a great leap forward for the mujahideen", wrote Awlaki, who is believed to be hiding in Southern Yemen.

Al- Awlaki made his remarks in the fifth edition of Inspire, an online al-Qaeda magazine aimed at Muslims in the West.
Posted by: tipper || 03/30/2011 20:10 || Comments || Link || [7 views] Top|| File under:

#1  See also TOPIX > RELATED > FREEREPUBLIC = AL-QAEDA TO OBAMA: THANKS,TOPPLING OF ARAB GOVTS. FEEDS ISLAMIST REVOLUTION.

* CHINESE MILITARY FORUM > [Report = Unconfirmed]: CHADIAN FORCES PUSH LIBYAN REBELS
BACK 100 MILES FROM AJABIYA [Ajdabiya].

ARTIC = 3200-3600 armed members of Chadian Presidential Guard moving from Sirte to Ajdabiya.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 03/30/2011 21:42 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Culture Wars
L.A. Sheriff's Department's Muslim Community Affairs Unit
Posted by: ryuge || 03/30/2011 01:50 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Jihad Turk says anti-Muslim sentiment in the U.S. helps to create a breeding ground for extremism.

First off bub...your name is Jihad. Not sure if you get it but alot of folks assocciate that term with, to use your words, "extreme violence". It's kinda like if law enforcement came to your mosque and one of the officers was named Sgt. Crusader. Not sayin' it's fair it's just that people are weird that way.
Posted by: DepotGuy || 03/30/2011 10:04 Comments || Top||

#2  You gotta be kidding me. Next thing you know, there will be "No-Go"" zones for the cops.
Posted by: newc || 03/30/2011 11:03 Comments || Top||

#3  Unbelieveable.
Posted by: Hellfish || 03/30/2011 12:08 Comments || Top||

#4  So is there a Scientology Community Affairs Unit and a Mormon one? What about Buddhist? Hindu? Catholic? Protestant? Jewish? Santeria/Voodoo? Animist?
oh and some consider communism to be a religion. Same for global worming.
Posted by: Water Modem || 03/30/2011 14:34 Comments || Top||

#5  There isn't a Yeti Affairs Unit, the last one went missing and is suspected of going native.
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain || 03/30/2011 15:57 Comments || Top||

#6  It's L.A., people.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 03/30/2011 17:38 Comments || Top||

#7  anti-Muslim sentiment in the U.S. helps to create a breeding ground for extremism.

Anti-crime efforts cause crime! That's a specious argument.
Posted by: JohnQC || 03/30/2011 19:20 Comments || Top||

#8  > So is there a Scientology Community Affairs Unit and a Mormon one? etc

I guess those religions aren't frequent police "customers" like our "favourite" religion is...
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 03/30/2011 19:30 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
53[untagged]
4Govt of Pakistan
4Taliban
3Chechen Republic of Ichkeria
2Hezbollah
2Palestinian Authority
2TTP
2Govt of Syria
1al-Qaeda in North Africa
1al-Qaeda in Iraq
1al-Qaeda in Pakistan
1Commies
1al-Qaeda
1Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh

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Two weeks of WOT
Wed 2011-03-30
  Libyan Foreign Minister quits, arrives in UK
Tue 2011-03-29
  Yemeni regime loses grip on four provinces
Mon 2011-03-28
  Rebels push towards Sirte
Sun 2011-03-27
  Libyan rebels say forces reach oil town of Brega
Sat 2011-03-26
  Libyan Rebels Reclaim Ajdabiya
Fri 2011-03-25
  Libya: French aircraft destroyed a dozen armored vehicles in 3 days
Thu 2011-03-24
  15 dead in new clashes in Deraa
Wed 2011-03-23
  Qaddafi attacks rebel towns
Tue 2011-03-22
  Western War Planes Hit Qadaffy Command Post
Mon 2011-03-21
  Gaddafi compound attacked again amid reports son killed
Sun 2011-03-20
  Crisis in Libya: U.S. bombs Qaddafi's airfields
Sat 2011-03-19
  Fighting reported near Benghazi - Tanks enter city
Fri 2011-03-18
  Libya declares ceasefire after UN resolution
Thu 2011-03-17
  Bahrain forces launch crackdown on protesters
Wed 2011-03-16
  UNSC Introduces No-Fly Zone Draft Resolution


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