Key Senate Democrats and Republicans introduced a resolution on Monday endorsing limited US military intervention in Libya, more than two months after coalition air raids began. The text "supports the limited use of military force by the United States in Libya as part of the NATO mission to enforce United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973" to protect civilians.
Drawn up by Republican Senator John McCain, Democrat John Kerry and others, the document said the Senate "agrees that the goal of United States policy in Libya, as stated by the president, is to achieve the departure from power of Moamer Kadhafi and his family."
The operation seeks a "peaceful transition" to "an inclusive government that ensures freedom, opportunity and justice for the people of Libya," it added.
It also called for regime funds frozen by the United States to be given to the Libyan people for humanitarian needs and reconstruction.
Some Republicans last week questioned whether President Barack Obama, a Democrat, had sidestepped the War Powers Resolution of 1973 by not seeking congressional approval for the US mission.
DUBAI - Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh apologised to the United Arab Emirates on Monday after gunmen loyal to Saleh surrounded the UAE embassy in Sanaa during diplomatic talks a day earlier.
The President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan received a phone call from the Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh in which he offered his apology for the events that happened in UAE embassy yesterday.
UAE, Gulf and Western diplomats and Secretary-General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) Abdullatif Al Zayani were besieged after a number of demonstrators surrounded the UAEs embassy in Yemen.
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/24/2011 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[4 views]
Top|| File under:
DUBAI Bahraini authorities have released 515 detainees since a mid-March crackdown on protests, an official said, adding that six women are among those who remain in custody.
Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, who heads the kingdoms Information Affairs Authority, said those released were set free either due to their health conditions or after considering their detention period to be enough, the official BNA news agency reported late on Sunday.
Shaikh Fawaz said 46 medics were still in custody, 29 of them facing criminal charges while 17 are accused of minor offences, BNA reported.
The number of females detained for various crimes is six defendants, BNA quoted him as saying, although he gave no overall figure for how many people remain in custody.
Shaikh Fawaz had said last month that 405 detainees had been referred to special courts set up under the state of national safety, a lower degree of emergency law, which his Majesty King Hamad bin Issa Al Khalif of Bahrain declared ahead of the clampdown. He said 62 were involved in criminal cases and 343 suspected of misdemeanour offences, while 312 others had been released.
Earlier this month, Bahraini authorities said 47 medical staff, 24 of them doctors, were referred to special courts to face a multitude of charges, including embezzlement of public funds, possession of weapons, refusal to perform duties and putting peoples lives and health at risk. In addition, they were accused of incitement to hatred of the regime and dissemination of false news.
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/24/2011 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[5 views]
Top|| File under:
For the second time this month, officials in Mexico have seized a "narcotank" - a regular production vehicle that a drug cartel has turned in to a battle vehicle.
Reports said the guts of the "narcotank" are a Ford F-series Super Duty truck. Someone get a paper bag for Frank ...
It had been customized with steel plating with ports for guns or other weapons, a rotating turret and a fold-up battering ram. No weapons were in the vehicle when it was found, according to the Herald Tribune report. It's OK, Frank. It wasn't an F-150.
#2
It is not a freaking tank, at best it is a boilerplate APC with a turret. It closely resembles the British wheeled APC used in Northern Ireland a lot, the Pig.
#3
hopefully they will shot an RPG from one of these so the backflash can be felt inside.
Posted by: chris ||
05/24/2011 20:37 Comments ||
Top||
#4
If we had open borders with interstate highway free access for commerce the transport of dope to our hopelessly crumbling tribal welfare camps cities, these vehicles would not be necessary. I blame Tea Party white, racist America immigration laws and international borders. Change is needed. Change is coming!
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/24/2011 21:09 Comments ||
Top||
#6
Cartel members + gang affilates repor have begun wearing distinct, Military-style uniforms to distinguish one from the other, + of course the Mexican Federales + Mil.
An armored train carrying North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and his entourage to China traveled non-stop for almost 30 hours from 2:20 p.m. on Saturday until 7:50 p.m. on Sunday, covering around 2,000 km from Jilin Province in the northeastern part of the country to Jiangsu Province in the south. It is the first time Kim has visited China's three northeastern provinces of Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang and the southern industrial region at the same time. The three northeastern provinces are rich in natural resources and considered the least developed in the country, and Beijing is keen to develop them.
China is apparently interested in using North Korea's Rajin-Sonbong port to ship resources, grain and timber more swiftly and cheaply from north to south. "It takes just a third of the costs to transport goods by ship from Rajin-Sonbong than it takes to move them by train," said Cho Bong-hyun, a researcher at IBK Economic Research Institute.
In December last year, China conducted a trial run by shipping 500 truckloads of coal from Jilin to Shanghai via the port, and Beijing has apparently won the rights to use the North Korean port, which serves as a gateway to the East Sea.
China and North Korea are also apparently going to hold a ground-breaking ceremony at the end of this month for a highway linking China's Hunchun and Rajin-Sonbong.
With the visit, "Kim Jong-il seems to be stressing the message that investing in Rajin-Sonbong and North Korea could enable China to link the three resource-rich northeastern provinces with the southern industrial region," said Cho Young-ki, a North Korea expert at Korea University.
If the maritime route comes into operation, it would effectively encircle South Korea. There is speculation that Kim Jong-il will attend another ground-breaking ceremony for a project to develop an industrial complex on Hwanggumpyong Island in the Apnok or Yalu River on his way back from China. "The maritime route could transport more than just materials," a diplomatic source said. "We could even see Chinese naval forces patrolling the East Sea." China and North Korea have apparently bolstered military ties since last year.
China has been looking for an ice-free port for a long time. If it secures the maritime route, it could use the waters surrounding the Korean Peninsula as its own.
"From North Korea's perspective, economic cooperation with China is a matter of life and death and it needs the economic assistance badly enough to hand over Rajin-Sonbong port," the source said.
The Chinese do seem to plan ahead, don't they...
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/24/2011 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[4 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Yuuuppp, 'tis NORTH KOREA'S "DEATH" in time, which IMO Pyongyang recognizes even they don't want to officially/publicly say it.
As wid the Cold War USSR, to be a true GLOBAL, SUPERPOWER [POST-US?] China must be able to effec project power effectively + routinely into the US-NATO's backyard, which for China is the deep Pacific + Hawaii, US West Coast, THUS CHINA'S INTENTIONS TO EXERT POWER + INFLUENCE FROM OKINAWA [Ryukyus] + DAOYUS [East China Sea] TO TAIWAN + NORTHERN PHILIPPINES [Nanshas,etc. = South China Sea]. For now, it will not oppose Russia's milpol control of the North China Sea = SEAS of JAPAN, OKHOTSK + SAKHALIN + espec SOUTH KURILES.
Beijing also needs a secure East China Sea to pump in water to offset LT drought, + defects in its Three Gorges Dam, related projects.
* PEOPLE'S DAILY FORUM > SEVERE DROUGHT PARCHES SOUTH CHINA: MANY LAKES "DEAD".
* SAME > CHINA ADMITS ITS THREE GORGES DAM PARTIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR BRINGING [enduring]DROUGHT | CHINA'S PROBLEMS CONTINUE TO MOUNT AT THREE GORGES DAM, vee ...
> Massive displacement of local population.
> Damage, loss of many ancient Cultural sites.
> Region prone to natural Land/Mudslides, as now
affected by Three Gorges project.
> WEIGHT OF WATER = may induce Tohoku-Sendai Japan-style Earthquakes. Three Gorges designed to handle only MAG 6-7.0 Qaukes, NOT Tohoku-style MAG 9.0's or higher.
> INCREASE IN CORRUPTIONISM as per illegal siphoning of $$$ meant for Three Gorges development + operation.
* TOPIX > CHINA FACING WORST ENERGY SHORTAGE IN YEARS | CHINA'S ENERGY SHORTAGE COULD LAST FOR YEARS [+ decades]
IMO, espec iff the OWG-NWO Perts clusterfuck the math as per "PEAK OIL/ENERGY/FOOD/RESOURCES".
versus
* DEFENCE FORUM INDIA > JAPAN + CHINA: A NEW BEGINNING, albeit likely not as desired or pre-calculated. JAPAN FACING A"MOMENT OF TRUTH" AS TO WHETHER IT WILL REMAIN A GLOBAL POWER OR NOT.
ARTIC = Post-03/11, Tohoku-Sendai Event JAPAN is curren in a WEAK STRATEGIC POSITION VEE A RISING CHINA THAT IS MORE LIKELY THAN NOT TO GIVE LESS TO JAPAN + WORLD WHILE DEMANDING, GETTING MORE FROM SAME???
#2
What they call the "East Sea" is what we call the Yellow Sea. Hardly surprising to see China moving to dominate this area, it's like the Gulf of Mexico or something. It's like Hitler annexing Austria, it's just waiting to happen.
#3
It would be good for China's rulers to turn their attention more inward for a bit -- there's an awful lot for them to fix before their Little Emperor generation gets so old they are absorbing resources rather than generating them.
#4
JM you are spot on. I believe you have covered most of what I believe are many serious problems for China to overcome. We have the resources and what is left of capitalism. We have the opportunity to work with them using capitalism as the engine of growth necessary to overcome both countries problems. Capitalism is the language we all can understand. We must develop all resources available to us to their fullest potential. That includes our people. We have wasted too much time already. A synergy that could produce the greatest growth the world has ever seen. When results are demonstrated other nations will join the ban wagon(each will have it's own culture nothing lost). Each will have a part to play but capitalism is the heart and core of the engine(limit government interference). Yes it will be feared and misunderstood. The race of humankind has no other choice. We cannot stop but must reach for the stars. This has no ending.
Then if we are at an end we are no more.
#5
DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > NO DEAL ON GWADAR PORT [takeover], SAYS CHINA, as per FM Spox Jiang Yu.
versus
* SAME > CHINA'S UTILITIES CUT ENERGY PRODUCTION DEFYING BEIJING.
Chin's energy sector unable to meet costs of Beijing's mandated requirements, espec as per
"King Coal" - IIUC, EITHER THEY CUT BACK, OR BEIJING = CPC PAYS MORE IN PUBLIC SUBSIDIES, WHIHC BEJING IS RELUCTANT TO DO GIVEN COMMIE CENTRAL PLANNING.
* SAME > RUSSIA SAYS FIFTH [1/5th] OF DEFENCE BUDGET STOLEN, due to various nefarious/corrupt interests.
* WAFF > CHINA REORGANIZES FOR DISASTER.
Good - as one way or another both the US + China will find out come Year 2040 how well our OWG-NWO Perts did their collective "PEAK OIL/RESOURCES" = "PEAK EVERYTHING" MATH + ANALYSES.
D *** NG IT, SUPPORT YOUR CABLE TV, GPS, SKYNET, + SPACENET-CAPABLE ROBOT WATER BUFFALO CARTS + SOLYENT WATER LLC'S!
* PEOPLE'S DAILY FORUM > [US DNI] US INTEL OFFICIAL: NORTH KOREA MISSLE REACH WILL [eventually = ultimately] EXTEND TO USA.
By extension, ditto also for IRAN since it has both the DPRK + Pakistan for Missle, Nuke techs.
And China's "little brother" + BFF PAK has helped train anti-Beijing Uighur Militants.
CHINA > NUCLEAR UIGHURS?, versus NUCLEAR DPRK, OTHER ISLAMIST-LED NUC TERROR!?
#6
WAFF > GLOBAL HAWK "ESSENTIAL TO [US] NATIONAL SECURITY".
ARTIC = In terms of operating range, both the US F-18 Hornet carrier strikefighter + its desired successor the F-35 is inferior to the unmanned Global Hawk.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, currently on his seventh visit to China, has been on an unprecedentedly busy schedule. He normally stays one night in each city he visits, but this time, he travelled 3,000 km for three days and two nights on his special armored train.
Die already...
On Sunday he arrived in Yangzhou, the hometown of former Chinese President Jiang Zemin who is still a powerful figure behind the scenes. Kim is believed to have met with Jiang there and asked for Chinese aid, economic cooperation and support for the succession of his son Jong-un.
The reason Kim manages such long trips is that the train is lavishly equipped. It has a conference room, an audience chamber and luxurious bedrooms. According to South Korean and U.S. intelligence, satellite phone connections and flat-screen TVs are installed so that the North Korean leader can be briefed and issue orders. Four carriages in the 20-carriage train are allotted for medical staff and equipment.
Kim is believed to suffer from chronic renal failure, so the train also reportedly has dialysis equipment. A South Korean government official said, "No matter how comfortable the train may be, a long train journey isnt easy for a man over 70. It seems that one of the objectives of this trip is to demonstrate that he is fit."
While Kim briefly stopped at hotels in Mudanjiang and Changchun on Friday and Saturday, an ambulance was seen entering the hotel, suggesting his health is constantly being monitored.
In Yangzhou, police were everywhere. Public access to the state guest house in Yangzhou along the shore of touristy Shouxi, or Slender West Lake, was banned.
On Saturday, Kim visited the Changchun-based First Automobile Works Group, one of the top two carmakers in China alongside Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation. There are rumors that FAW Group will invest in the Rajin-Sonbong special economic zone in North Korea. A Hongqi sedan, FAW's top brand, was given to Kim as a gift.
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/24/2011 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[0 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
[1980's MTV "PERSONAL JESUS" Video here].
NO? Then howzabout 1960's = 1980's CINDERELLA'S "LAST TRAIN" Video???
The military policeman tightly clasps his weapon. His eyes, though wearied by an obvious lack of sleep, still dart around intently. Standing guard on the edge of Karachi's Mehran naval base, he and others have been positioned to maintain a firm security cordon. With a mere tilt of his gun, he quickly dissuades anyone tempted to draw nearer to the base. But as even the policeman concedes, this new vigilance has come too late.
For the previous 17 hours, the base had been besieged by a group of extremist fighters that now turns out to have numbered as few as six initial reports had put the number of attackers at 15. They had slipped into the base undetected, opened fire inside a hangar damaging two expensive and recently modified aircraft, killed ten members of the security forces and wounded 15. Those carrying out the brazen and carefully organized attack had seemed prepared to lose their lives. Three of the attackers were killed by the security forces; one blew himself up; and the other two escaped.
#4
Suppose you were a Paki cop or security guy, either enlisted or, say, up to lieutenant. You really think your job is security or law enforcement and you do your best.
But, time after time, the orders you get put you a day late and a dollar short when it could have been different. Your deployment is to where Something didn't happen and so you weren't able to make a difference. Problems that seem predictable--at least, if you had been involved, you'd have seen it as a priority, you think, not rocket science or fortune telling--suddenly turn into catastrophes for which no provision had been made.
Eventually, you start to think...what?
Posted by: Richard Aubrey ||
05/24/2011 6:59 Comments ||
Top||
#6
Why would the 'good guys' say two got away? Why tell the truth? Why not say, "We got 'em all", and see who steps up and says, "I got away". Then follow him.
Maybe all six were ready to die and the two losers are ashamed. So they ran away and hid.
Or is there some other reason? Supposing you thought you got 'em all and are humilated there were only four. Attacker inflation?
I put "The Truth" as my last choice.
Posted by: Bobby ||
05/24/2011 12:43 Comments ||
Top||
#7
"Why would the 'good guys' say two got away?"
Why do you think there are any good guys involved in this cluster fornication, Bobby?
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
05/24/2011 15:57 Comments ||
Top||
#8
So does this mean the Chicoms are going to hunt down these miscreants for violating Pakistain's Illusory Sovereignty(tm)?
ISLAMABAD, 19 MAY: In the wake of the US raid in Abbottabad that killed Osama bin Laden, China has warned in unequivocal terms that any attack on Pakistan would be construed as an attack on China, a media report claimed today.
I think that's creative license. There is no way the Chinese would risk such a statement.
The warning was formally conveyed by the Chinese foreign minister at last week's China-US strategic dialogue and economic talks in Washington, The News daily quoted diplomatic sources as saying. China also advised the USa to respect Pakistan's sovereignty and solidarity, the report said.
Why should we when the Paks don't respect it themselves?
Chinese Premier Mr Wen Jiabao informed his Pakistani counterpart Mr Yousuf Raza Gilani about the matters taken up with the US during their formal talks at the Great Hall of the People yesterday. The report said China warned in unequivocal terms that any attack on Pakistan would be construed as an attack on China. The two premiers held a 45-minute one-on-one meeting before beginning talks with their delegations.
The Chinese leadership was extremely forthcoming in assuring its unprecedented support to Pakistan for its national cause and security and discussed all subjects of mutual interest with Mr Gilani, the report said. Mr Gilani described Pakistan-China relations and friendship as unique. Talking to Pakistani journalists accompanying him, he said that China had acknowledged his country's contribution and sacrifices in the war against terrorism and supported its cause at the international level.
China supported Pakistan's cause on its own accord, Mr Gilani said with reference to the Sino-US strategic dialogue where the Chinese told the US that Pakistan should be helped and its national honour respected. Mr Gilani said China had asked the US to improve its relations with Pakistan, keeping in view the present scenario.
Pakistan has turned to China, its all weather friend, for support in the face of reports that US lawmakers are pressing for cuts in aid. China has agreed to provide Pakistan 50 new JF-17 Thunder multi-role jets under a co-production agreement, The News reported. It is likely that these planes will be supplied by June next year.
The two countries are also discussing the supply of Chinese J-20 stealth jets and Xiaolong/FC-1 multi-purpose light fighter aircraft to Pakistan. They are discussing the mode of payment and the number of planes to be provided to Pakistan, the report said.
So the Paks will buy Chinese planes with U.S. aid money...
China will also launch a satellite for Pakistan on 14 August. The satellite will supply multifarious data to Pakistan, the report said. Mr Gilani said both sides had agreed to increase defence cooperation and China had assured Pakistan of help in enhancing the capacity of its armed forces.
So that one day they'll be as capable as Chinese forces...
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/24/2011 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[7 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
As Homer Simspon would say, "HHHMMMMM ...
Multifarious".
So-o-o IIUC, Beijing broadly wants to protect the Pakistan that trained or helped train UIGHUR MILITANTS = SEPARATISTS, espec given ...
* DAWN.COM > ACCOUNTS OF [multiple] MILITANT TRAINING CAMPS NEAR BIN LADEN, as SSSSHHHHHHH covertly NOT well-known to the WE-DIDN'T-KNOW-OSAMA-WAS-IN-ABBOTTABAD-MILITARY-REGION PAK ARMY.
* DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > TALIBAN DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO [capturing][Pakis] NUKES?
* PAKISTANI DEFENCE FORUM [old]> EX-UK ARMY CHIEF [Gen. Richard Dannatt] CONFIRMS AFGHAN WAR IS TO PREVENT THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MUSLIM/ISLAMIC KHILIFAH, i.e. the 14th-15th Century-era CALIPHATE as stretching from SOUTH ASIA, aka AFPAK where US-NATO are + India?, to the Middle East + North Africa, aka post-Mubarak Jasmine-affected Muslim States.
Which SSSSSHHHHHH also included large ares of CHINA.
#4
You respect us, and we'll respect you.(In the morning)
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
05/24/2011 8:09 Comments ||
Top||
#5
China, you didn't say pretty please.
Posted by: Louisiana Steve ||
05/24/2011 9:25 Comments ||
Top||
#6
While India in principle, regards Pakistan as a "gnat", still there reaches a point, now that "the safety is off", because of the Mumbai attack, where India is going to go into Pakistan and just cleanse the place.
With 1m soldiers on active duty, and another 1m in reserve, there is still no geographical way to pacify Pakistan, so the alternative is to wipe out every Pakistani male who resists. Kill the men and sterilize the boys. And flatten every Muslim holy side or madrassa in the process.
It's a temporary solution, but is good for a few generations. It is much how the Ottomans stabilized their restive Arabs for 500 years.
#7
Anonymoose, how much of India's army exists because China is hovering menacingly over the border, just waiting for India to become enmeshed in Pakistan? And in the meantime China has engaged in moving the border markers into India while no one is looking...
#8
In effect this is telling us the same thing Pak tells India which is that they reserve the right to menace us with nukes and send terrorists to kill us but we better not do anything about it. I wish we had a president with the balls to tell them to FOAD and that we're gonna walk all over the Pakis if we damn well feel like it because they deserve it. The more nukes the Paks make and the more money the Chicoms take from us the harder it's going to get. Better to get it over with now.
#9
Guess Nobama will appease them, especially now that they control 51% of wal mart.....
Posted by: chris ||
05/24/2011 18:28 Comments ||
Top||
#10
Lectures from murdering communist chinese aside, the longer I examine and participate in the problem set, the less reason I see for "respect" of any kind to be extended Pakistan.
#11
ION DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > WIKILEAKS: SAUDI FUNDED MADRASSAS IN [south]PUNJAB PROMOTING RECRUITMENT [Tweens + Teens] FOR MILITANTS | [Dawn.com] WIKILEAKS: SAUDI ARABIA, UAE FUNDED EXTREMIST NETWORKS IN PAKISTAN, to the tune of US$100.0Milyuhn per annum.
> Lots of Muslim Kiddies.
> Families in severe econ poverty or related circumstances.
> Kiddies assessed for penchant/dedication for violence.
Lest we fergit, PUNJAB = where PAK is believed to had based andor stored the bulk of its indigenous Nuclear Arsenal.
IOW, THE MILTERRS RECRUIT + TRAIN IN REGIONS WHERE PAK NUCLEAR BASES/PLEXES ALREADY ARE -iff one presumes that Radical Islam already has [Govt-allowed] access to PAK NUCWEAPS [Nukes-WMDS], then the question for both the USA + CHINA is why hasn't a STATE-SPONSORED NUCLEAR 9-11 TERROR STRIKE(S) OCCURRED YET!?
Again, as per POLITICAL-LEGAL JIHAD + the JASMINE-LED ARAB UPRISINGS, the scenario is there that as time goes on NEITHER IRAN OR PAKISTAN WILL BE THE ONLY SOURCES OF NUCTECHS = NUKES-WMDS FOR RADICAL ISLAMIST MILTERR GROUPS. Any de facto US-IRAN WAR will become increasingly irrelevant or suborned to the ADVENT, NEAR-TERM THREAT OF ASYMMETRIC ISLAMIST-LED NUCLEAR TERROR ON A GLOBAL SCALE.
In that situation, the US will have no choice but to unilaterally "spend spend spend" towards JAPAN-STYLE [Greece?], 200-PLUS% OR HIGHER DEBT-TO-GDP RATIOS, AKA "WHY YES, AS PER OUR 1990's SACRED NATIONAL COMMUNISM WE IN FUTURE PRE-OWG AMERICA = AMERIKA HEREIN DEMAND OUR ARROGANT FASCIST DECADENT CAPITALIST MALE BRUTE RIGHT TO SELF-IMPLODE"!
#12
Pak "sovereignty"? That's a pretty elusive concept if you ask me. If they can get the Talban and the ISI under control, I'd be willing to think about the idea of "sovereignty" for these clowns. They need to stop trying to divert attention from the obvious and fix their security problems.
And they're lucky it was the US and not some other country, which it easily could have been.
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC), on Monday, took notice of the killing of five Chechens by the law enforcement officials in Quetta and directed the Balochistan chief secretary to submit a report on the incident within two weeks.
Chechens in Quetta, you say...
The court also directed the chief secretary to submit the report prepared by the commission constituted by Balochistan chief minister to probe into the Chechens' killings. The SC rejected a report submitted by the chief secretary on the incidents of targeted killings and sectarian violence in the province over the last three days.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry observed that it seems the government has failed to maintain its writ after the PNS Mehran terrorist incident. The CJ questioned what was going on in the country, why the law and order situation was not under control of the government.
Because it's Pakistain, you idiot...
He said that law and order situation worsened after the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti, and had the proceedings been initiated against the perpetrators of his killing, the situation might not have been this bad in the province.
So it all hinges on the Bugtis...
At the outset of the hearing, Balochistan Chief Secretary Ahmad Bakhsh Lehri submitted a report over the worsening law and order situation of the province, but the court expressed dissatisfaction on it and observed that no progress had been made to improve the situation. The court said that the government had not taken any action over the killing of five Chechens.
The chief secretary asserted that the provincial government had taken lots of effective steps towards the betterment of law and order situation despite the mounting incidents of targeted killings in the province. The situation will soon be under control, he secretary, adding that the government would not abandon its efforts to recover the missing lawyers. Lehri also stated that a commission had been constituted to probe into the Khurrotabad incident. Justice Sair Ali questioned if the authorities had arrested anyone involved in terrorist activities.
Like all good lawyers, he already knew the answer before he asked...
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/24/2011 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[5 views]
Top|| File under:
MUZAFFARABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Monday that regional peace cannot be guaranteed until the resolution of Kashmir issue, urging the worlds peace loving nations to come forward to resolve the issue that has jeopardised the peace efforts in the region.
Peace won't be guaranteed afterwards, either...
Unless this core issue is resolved, the dream of peace and harmony in the region cannot come true, said the prime minister after inaugurating a two-day national conference on Kashmir, organised by the Azad Jammu and Kashmir University.
The premier highlighted the need for acknowledging Kashmiris rights to self-determination in accordance with the United Nations resolutions. He said that no significant development could take place in South Asia unless the resolution of this core issue.
He then blabbered on for a while about the usual stuff.
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/24/2011 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[6 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Moreso because Militant training camps are variably located on both sides of INDIA, PAK-claimed Kashmir.
FYI INDIA > is proceding wid development of its own "blueprint" or schema for conducting its own Abbottabad-style commando raids inside sovereign Pakistan, which Pak has vowed to resist post-Osama wid full military force.
That sound you're hearing is the clock ticking down towards new INDO-PAK MIL CONFLICT.
Honest some of these moslems have this cultural memory. They want to fight us over the sack of Jerusalem in 950something and they want to fight China over the Moguls in 10something and now its the Kashmir issue from 1948...can they just for once quit picking fights and finding offenses to their delicate sensibilities from near ancient history and settle things with a global view that includes the future and not the past?
Posted by: Bill Clinton ||
05/24/2011 10:42 Comments ||
Top||
The brazen al-Qaeda-linked attack on the Pakistan navy's Mehran air base in the southern port city of Karachi on Sunday night marks the violent beginning of an internal ideological struggle between Islamist elements in the Pakistani armed forces and their secular and liberal top brass. The attack has been claimed by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, but Asia Times Online contacts are adamant that the operation was orchestrated by al-Qaeda to avenge the killing of Osama bin Laden this month by US Special Forces and carried out by 313 Brigade - the operational arm of al-Qaeda that is headed by Ilyas Kashmiri.
The gentleman who retired from a colonelcy in the Pakistan army's special forces to join the jihadis, as I recall. It will be an interesting struggle.
A senior security official in Karachi told Asia Times Online that the militants showed a lot of resilience and had pinned down security forces, which have to date made three attempts to eliminate the attackers and release the hostages. Some unconfirmed reports suggested that Chinese workers were among the hostages. A navy spokesman denied this.
According to eye witnesses reports, the militants acted in a calm and relaxed way, firing at intervals. They appeared to have complete knowledge of the base and frequently changed their position. Very much like the Mumbai attack, the militants were well-equipped with arms, ammunition, food and drink.
"It was shown several months ago that the Pakistan navy is vulnerable to Islamists when a marine commando unit official was arrested," the security official said. "He was a member of the Mehsud tribe from South Waziristan [tribal area] and was completely indoctrinated by militants. Naval Intelligence never shared the information with the ISI [Inter-Services Intelligence] or any other security agency that during interrogation he confessed that militants planned to attack installations during the visit of a foreign delegation. Now, they [intelligence] realize how the organization [navy] is riddled and vulnerable to the influence of militant organizations," the official said.
The attack is similar to other major ones in the South Asian war theater:
Mumbai on November 26, 2008 - 10 militants went on a three-day rampage.
Police Academy in Lahore in 2009 - least 23 people dead and hundreds injured.
The Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore in 2009 - six policemen killed and several injured.
General Headquarters Rawalpindi in 2009 - several hostages taken and then released.
Parade Lane Mosque Rawalpindi in 2009 - at least 40 killed.
Pakistani security forces confirmed that at least three of these attacks were carried out by 313 Brigade led by Ilyas Kashmiri while the others were blamed on Pakistani militants trained by Kashmiri
After the September 11, 2001, attacks on the US, Pakistan's top brass took a policy turn and joined in the US's "war on terror", but a large chunk of officers took retirement and with serving colleagues they helped the Taliban. This changed the dynamics of the Afghan war theater. This collection of former and serving officers was responsible for a number of attacks on the military, including on military headquarters in 2009 and against ex-president General Pervez Musharraf. Now, this nexus could become active again to revive regional operations, in addition to a possible mutiny against the top military brass.
Before the incident in Karachi, Asia Times Online was contacted by militants by telephone to confirm future attacks in the following words: "We don't want any trouble inside Pakistan or in the Pakistan army, but we do want to create an environment in which it would be conducive for pro-Islam and patriotic elements in the armed forces to dislodge incompetent and pro-American military officials."
This is the third attack on a naval installation in the past 30 days - two were launched before Bin Laden's assassination. Kashmiri's 313 Brigade, which was earlier focused on Afghanistan, has clearly now turned its sights on Pakistan, where Kashmiri is known to have powerful connections among retired and serving officials in the armed forces. More attacks are inevitable.
Syed Saleem Shahzad is Asia Times Online's Pakistan Bureau Chief
Long time police officer Abd al-Jafar Sa'adi was accused in the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court of taking bullets on several occasions from various shooting ranges and selling them. His attorney protested that, on the contrary, a loan made to him at the time was independent of any bullets.
Three-story retail complex near Gaza City will be first of its kind in Palestinian territories; set to open in mid-June.
The photo with the article shows masses of lovely polished stone cladding. The developer isn't scrimping on the interior finishes.
This will be the second shopping mall to open in the Gaza Strip in a year. Last July, Palestinians opened a two-story mall that includes a supermarket, international clothing stores, a food court, beauty products, a childrens playground and a restaurant.
This will be the second shopping mall to open in the Gaza Strip in a year. Last July, Palestinians opened a two-story mall that includes a supermarket, international clothing stores, a food court, beauty products, a childrens playground and a restaurant.
The modern three-story complex is the first of its kind in the Palestinian territories, said Ehab al-Issawi, executive director of the Al-Hayat Tureed Company that owns the mall. He said that the 3,000 square meter shopping mall is located near the Haidar Abdel Shafi Square west of Gaza City.
Issawi told the Palestinian news agency Safa that construction work at the new mall was almost complete. He said that Palestinian engineers and architects have been working on the project since August last year. Issawi added that despite the shortage of building materials caused by the blockade on the Gaza Strip, the work at the site continued without disruption.
Issawi explained that the first floor would house a huge supermarket that would consist of various departments offering food and household items as well as stationary. The second floor would have many clothes and gift shops, while the third floor would become home to a large restaurant, a modern coffee shop, a cinema and entertainment sites for children.
Someone tell President Obama. Or better yet, show him pictures -- he seems to absorb information better that way.
#1
Well, yeah, the mall will have a food court, but since the Palestinians are all starving (due to the blockade, of course), there will be nothing to eat.
/sarcasm
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia ||
05/24/2011 20:30 Comments ||
Top||
Three-story retail complex near Gaza City will be first of its kind in Palestinian territories; set to open in mid-June.
The photo with the article shows masses of lovely polished stone cladding. The developer isn't scrimping on the interior finishes.
This will be the second shopping mall to open in the Gaza Strip in a year. Last July, Palestinians opened a two-story mall that includes a supermarket, international clothing stores, a food court, beauty products, a childrens playground and a restaurant.
This will be the second shopping mall to open in the Gaza Strip in a year. Last July, Palestinians opened a two-story mall that includes a supermarket, international clothing stores, a food court, beauty products, a childrens playground and a restaurant.
The modern three-story complex is the first of its kind in the Palestinian territories, said Ehab al-Issawi, executive director of the Al-Hayat Tureed Company that owns the mall. He said that the 3,000 square meter shopping mall is located near the Haidar Abdel Shafi Square west of Gaza City.
Issawi told the Palestinian news agency Safa that construction work at the new mall was almost complete. He said that Palestinian engineers and architects have been working on the project since August last year. Issawi added that despite the shortage of building materials caused by the blockade on the Gaza Strip, the work at the site continued without disruption.
Issawi explained that the first floor would house a huge supermarket that would consist of various departments offering food and household items as well as stationary. The second floor would have many clothes and gift shops, while the third floor would become home to a large restaurant, a modern coffee shop, a cinema and entertainment sites for children.
Someone tell President Obama. Or better yet, show him pictures -- he seems to absorb information better that way.
But why in Gaza City, when their strength is in the West Bank?
So that Hamas can keep an eye on them.
GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Palestinian factions will meet in Gaza City on Tuesday to discuss ways to ensure that all parties participate in the reconciliation agreement signed in Cairo earlier this month.
The factions, operating under the umbrella of the Palestine Liberation Organization, will meet at the office of the Arab Liberation Front, said politburo member of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine Salih Nasser.
Eight PLO factions said Saturday that they would not nominate candidates for the government of technocrats being formed under the unity deal. The factions said in a statement that they had been left out of the unity process and would not lend it legitimacy by nominal participation.
Nasser said the announcement prompted the meeting, and parties would discuss ways in which the smaller factions of the PLO could be guaranteed adequate participation in the unity process. The meeting would address mechanisms to push forward unity, principally the formation of a technocrat government.
That leaves out the members of the smaller factions. They'll have been developing their competencies in gun sex and menacing, not statistics, finance, and civil engineering.
Meanwhile, Palestinian officials have been in Cairo for more than a week. An announcement on the shape of the government was expected on Saturday.
"Round."
"No, you idiot, it's an oblate spheroid."
"I curse your mustache and shoot your feet." bang-bang-bangety-bang
"Mohammed Ali, send for the ambulance and another round of crudites. This discussion is going to take longer than planned. Next time let's have the meeting in the middle of the Sinai desert."
"Yes, effendi. I'll make your next coffee mostly whiskey."
BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- A blueprint to rebuild the Gaza Strip includes measures to protect infrastructure from future attacks, a Palestinian official said Saturday of a plan for recovery after Israel's Operation Cast Lead.
Full employment for the tunnel rats!!
Osama Ikheil, head of the Palestinian contractors union, said the plan will introduce bomb shelters at schools and residential areas as well as materials to protect homes from bombings.
The proposal, one of several submitted to the union, includes protection for residential and industrial areas. The measures will be discussed with government officials charged with implementing the recovery.
Such protections are standard in Israel, particularly in areas near the Gaza Strip.
Of course, in Israel such things are built properly. We won't ask how many Gazans will die as a result of an excess of fly ash in the cement when the bombs actually fall.
Some 3,540 homes, 268 factories and warehouses, as well as schools, vehicles, water wells, public infrastructure, greenhouses and agricultural land, were destroyed during Cast Lead, a report from the international rights group Human Rights Watch recorded. Nearly 3,000 homes were severely damaged in the attacks that left over 1,400 Palestinians dead.
Human rights groups say the destruction of property was unlawful under international law.
Human rights groups say many things, most of them wrong.
#3
As the Weekly Standard's KRISTOL said on Fox News roundtable > THE PROB ISN'T SO MUCH THAT ISRAEL'S BORDERS [1967 or Present] CAN'T BE RE-NEGOTIATED, BUT THAT HAMAS + OTHER PALEO MILITANT GROUPS REFUSE TO RECOGNIZE ISRAEL'S RIGHT TO EXIST.
IOW, Israel + Paleos going "back to the future" of "1967", etc. is a MOOT/MINOR-IFF-NOT-IRRELEVANT POINT in comparison to the PA, Regional Islam never ending its existential war agz Israel.
LONDON Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Monday the United States and Britain urged Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to stop the killings and beatings of anti-regime protesters.
Boy howdy, that should do it...
Speaking at a news conference with British Foreign Secretary William Hague in London, Clinton said they urged Assad to stop the killings and beatings and arrests.
Both countries also called for the Syrian regime to release political prisoners and detainees and respond to the demands that are upon you for a process of credible and inclusive democratic change.
The warning came after the European Union tightened the noose on Assad on Monday, imposing sanctions on the Syrian leader for the first time while calling for quick Middle East peace talks as it responded to the Arab Spring.
At least 900 people have been killed and thousands more arrested in pro-democracy protests in Syria.
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/24/2011 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[2 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Don't make me come down there and start bowing.
-- Teh Won
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.
For the second time this month, officials in Mexico have seized a "narcotank" - a regular production vehicle that a drug cartel has turned in to a battle vehicle.
BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- A blueprint to rebuild the Gaza Strip includes measures to protect infrastructure from future attacks, a Palestinian official said Saturday of a plan for recovery after Israel's Operation Cast Lead.
