The Obama administration is to step up efforts to bypass Hamid Karzai after a series of controversial remarks by the Afghan president over recent days renewed concern about his reliability as an ally.
With relations between Washington and Kabul at a new low, the former UN envoy to Kabul Peter Galbraith said Karzai's comments raised questions about his mental stability and blamed them on alleged drug use.
Galbraith, an American who was the former deputy UN chief in Afghanistan, was responding to allegations first made by the Afghan president last Thursday. Karzai said the international community, and Galbraith in particular, had been responsible for "massive fraud" during last year's disastrous presidential election.
"He's prone to tirades, he can be very emotional, act impulsively," Galbraith said on MSNBC television. "In fact, some of the palace insiders say that he has a certain fondness for some of Afghanistan's most profitable exports." When asked whether he was saying Karzai had a substance abuse problem, Galbraith said there were "reports to that effect".
Siamak Hirawi, a spokesman for the Afghan president, said today that the former UN envoy was a liar.
"What Mr Galbraith said is far away from the principle of diplomacy and it simply confirms what President Karzai was saying about [Galbraith's] involvement in corruption," said Hirawi.
The White House yesterday threatened to cancel a visit by Karzai scheduled for 12 May unless his behaviour improved in the interim.
The Obama administration has described as troublesome remarks by Karzai that included: accusing the US, UK and UN of orchestrating fraud in last year's election and attempting to establish a puppet government in Kabul; a reported threat to join the Taliban if Washington keeps putting pressure on him; a description of Nato forces as an army of occupation; and a suggestion that the people of Kandahar province would have a veto over an impending Nato offensive there.
Karzai's spokesman today denied he had made the remark about threatening to join the Taliban.
But Karzai's behaviour over the last week has confirmed the White House's long-held view that he cannot be trusted. The Afghan president was unreliable, an Obama administration official said.
Hamid Karzai's spokesman denied reports that the Afghan leader threatened to join the Taliban insurgency if he were pressured further by foreign backers, in an apparent attempt Wednesday to calm worsening tensions with Washington.
Karzai's comments, allegedly made in a meeting with lawmakers on Saturday, had been widely reported by The Associated Press and others, prompting the White House to say a planned Washington visit might be canceled if Karzai didn't stop blaming the U.S. for his problems.
However, Karzai spokesman Waheed Omar said Karzai's government had been shocked to see the comment appearing in media outlets, and did not know where it came from.
The Afghanistan government has put "fighting against terror and fighting against those who put the lives of Afghan people in danger as priority No. 1," Omar told a news conference.
"And in that context, that comment, whoever has come up with that comment, does not make sense," Omar said.
Three different Afghan lawmakers told the AP that Karzai twice threatened to join the Taliban insurgency if the U.S. continued pressuring him publicly to do more to end graft, cronyism and electoral fraud.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/07/2010 08:42 ||
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#1
April fool
Posted by: john frum ||
04/07/2010 16:24 Comments ||
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In a new indication of strained relations, the White House said Tuesday it would consider canceling an upcoming visit by Afghan President Hamid Karzai if he continues to make troublesome remarks. Such a move would be a remarkable diplomatic slap likely to infuriate the mercurial leader.
Despite the public reproach, senior administration officials said the tough statement was really meant as a warning and a sign of Washington's continued unhappiness with the Afghan leader's comments. The officials, one of whom described it as "a shot across the bow," said canceling Karzai's invitation was not being seriously considered, at least not yet.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the administration's strategy, which they were not authorized to discuss publicly.
Karzai has infuriated the White House with accusations that the United Nations and the international community interfered in last year's fraud-tarnished presidential election in Afghanistan.
Karzai also threatened to join the Taliban insurgency if the U.S. continues pressuring him publicly to do more to end graft, cronyism and electoral fraud, more comments that stunned U.S. officials.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/07/2010 08:41 ||
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#3
I say let the US troops leave and let NATO take over without us or the funding. It wouldn't take long before he would be singing another tune if he could sing at all.
Posted by: chris ||
04/07/2010 11:16 Comments ||
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#4
Form some committees and focus groups, look thoughtful, play a couple rounds of golf, and after a month announce a decision will be made soon.
Couple weeks later order a full withdraw to get the troops home in time for Thanksgiving.
Unfortunately Karzai will be too busy attempting to form the new Afghan coalition ahead of schedule (US troops were promised to leave soon anyways, this would just be sooner than expected) to worry about the sudden rabbit population explosion...just a guess.
#5
the White House said Tuesday it would consider canceling an upcoming visit by Afghan President Hamid Karzai if he continues to make troublesome remarks.
Apparently, Karzai doesn't realize he is dealing with the ONE. Karzai, if you would just lower your head a little, look at your feet, and say: "Yas suh massah, what duz ya wan me to do?"
Once again, President Obama spoke to the man personally, and had an effect.
I really appreciate how Obama has united people around the world ...
The Taliban reacted against yesterday's speech by President Karzai saying, "They are Afghans, and Karzai is their brother"
One Taliban spokesperson who had preconditioned the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan said the Taliban are ready to hold talks with President Karzai.
President Karzai, among senior NATO and government officials, as well as ethnic leaders in Kandahar, addressed the Taliban Sunday and said the militants should free themselves from the foreigners' "captivity" as himself.
President Karzai once again suggested that the Taliban lay down their weapons and join the Afghan government.
"In fact, President Karzai wants to say that Americans are not good friends, they are half-way friends," said an Afghan political analyst, Wahid Mujdah.
Wahid Mujdah further added that President Karzai in the "meantime wants to tell the Taliban that I'm not with the Americans, so come and reconcile with me and we will take some measures together."
Based on the latest poll by the BBC, 10 percent of the people support the Taliban overall in Afghanistan.
Kandahar's ethnic leaders urged President Karzai to double efforts to bring security to this province and to provide working facilities for them.
These comments come as the presidential office issued a statement that said President Karzai, in his visit to Kandahar, met with the residents of this province to remove challenges they are trying to tackle.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/07/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
We had a better relationship with Karzai under George W. In fact we had a better relationship with just about everyone.
#2
not that I care about being thier friends but being a halfway friend with an afghan sounds like a pretty good statement. What I mean is they seem too really trust no one.
Posted by: chris ||
04/07/2010 14:19 Comments ||
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#3
How about we pull away those US body guards now and let him play with his new friends.
[Al Arabiya Latest] The United States on Monday urged Sudan to immediately lift restrictions on political parties and indicated it would accept a short delay in landmark elections if it helped address concerns, as the Umma party is set to decide whether to take part in the forthcoming presidential polls. Oh, yeah. That oughta do it.
Washington was "concerned with troubling developments including serious restrictions on political freedom" in Sudan, State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said.
He added it was "important for the government of Sudan immediately to lift restrictions on political parties and the civil society."
Sudan "must also ensure that all voters are able to participate in the election by improving conditions on the ground, including in Darfur and elsewhere, and by providing meaningful access polling places."
Sudan's electoral commission has insisted the April 11-13 vote will go ahead on schedule despite threats by opposition parties to boycott the first elections since 1986.
A senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a brief delay would mean no more than around a month.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/07/2010 00:00 ||
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[Maghrebia] Maghreb religious leaders and scholars will meet in Algeria later this month to discuss the need for a unified religious authority to counter extremism. I think they should elect a pope. That'd settle things down some.
Keep it simple and start with bishops. The pope was originally only primus inter pares among the bishops; it was only after the schism from Orthodoxy that he was considered head of the Church as vicar of Christ.
Maybe they could appoint an arch-druid ...
The Algerian Ministry of Religious Affairs and Endowments will host the event under the banner "Intellectual Security and Role of Arab Maghreb Institutions in Its Establishment". Catchy, ain't it?
There's the university in Cairo for the Sunnis, and the two centers in Qom and Karbala (or is it Najaf?) for the Shiites. What intellectual centers do they have in North Africa of such renown that all the Ummah would pay heed? Beyond the king of Morocco being a direct descendant of Muhammed, but I'm not aware that he lays claim to intellectual preeminence.
Participants expect to discuss the emergence of a unified religious marji'ya derived from the Maliki school, and to tackle what officials called "imported" fatwas that promote takfirism and other extremist and terrorist ideologies.
The aim of the event is to examine "the dimensions of intellectual security, its consequences and the reasons that led to the appearance of negative ideas that had fatal consequences for many countries, including Algeria, which is enduring intellectual and religious aggression caused by groups that took advantage of these ideas to spread violence and extremism", Algeria's minister of religious affairs, Bouabdellah Ghlamallah, told Magharebia April 4th.
The discussion is also planned to touch on the role of imams and khatib in the face of extremism, and on training programmes that promote moderate religious leadership. Other proposed topics include the Maghreb's religious reality, characteristics of the marji'ya in the region, immunising society against the spread of takfir, foreign religious influences, and terrorist acts.
The Maghreb has always had its own ideas in terms of religion. They greatly resented the imposition of outside ideas when they were part of Christendom, too.
The Algerian government has already taken steps to curb the influence of religious extremists on its own soil, notably through efforts to bar imams from getting involved in politics.
OMG! They just invented the separation of Church and State!!
Authorities have also been monitoring and cracking down on certain religious practices deemed subversive or out of line with mainstream Islam and the law.
Algeria has actively convened religious experts on a regional level. Tunisians, Moroccans and Libyans have previously taken part in a meeting in Algeria to discuss the government's religious rites law.
"The Arab and Muslim world has been through difficult circumstances after the appearance of the seeds of extremism and terrorism and the appearance of khawarij ideology that wanted to overturn the political regimes in Arab countries based on a marji'ya imported from outside Algeria and outside the Maghreb region, which is known for its peaceful marji'ya that depends on the fiqh of Imam Malik and the Sufi marji'ya," Minister of Religious Affairs media advisor Adda Fellahi told Magharebia.
"These parties tried to exclude all the prevailing religious marji'ya and replace them with imported marji'ya, causing a lot of problems for the countries of the region, with the appearance of terrorist groups that derive their ideas from the takfirist approach," he said.
"The Arab Maghreb countries need to coordinate amongst themselves to enable the appearance of a Maghreb religious marji'ya to counter imported fatwas, given that the Maghreb region has its own religious, cultural and historical characteristics," Fellahi said.
Ali Bernaoui, an Islamic history specialist, told Magharebia that "the absence of, or ignoring of, Maghreb clerics in the last decade gave rise to some voices that took advantage of the Islamic awakening to issue fatwas inciting violence and hatred".
Some of these voices "had political goals of overturning the ruling regime, and they took advantage of religion to attract young people", Bernaoui said, adding that eliminating the roots of violence in the Greater Maghreb "will be made by opening the door for serious and constructive dialogue among preachers, imams and youth who embraced the takfirist ideology, so that they may be convinced by arguments and proof of the invalidity of fatwas and ideas they depend on".
Bernaoui cited Libya's interaction with the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group as the best proof of the importance of opening channels of dialogue involving the religious community.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/07/2010 00:00 ||
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The Obama administration has taken the rare step of authorising the killing of a US citizen, Anwar al-Awlaki, a radical Muslim cleric linked to the attempt to blow up a US airliner on Christmas Day.
The decision to place Awlaki on a US hit list followed a national security council review because of his status as an American citizen.
"Awlaki is a proven threat," a US official told Reuters. "He's being targeted."
Born in New Mexico to Yemeni parents, Awlaki has been accused of encouraging terrorism in his sermons and writings. He is believed to be in hiding in Yemen's rugged Shabwa or Mareb regions, an area that has become a haven for jihadis. He has been linked to Major Nidal Malik Hasan, the army psychiatrist accused of killing 13 people at Fort Hood, Texas, in November, and to Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Nigerian charged with trying to blow up a Detroit-bound airliner on Christmas Day.
It is extremely rare, if not unprecedented, for an American to be approved for "targeted killing", officials told the New York Times. A former senior legal official in the Bush administration said he did not know of any American who was approved for targeted killing under the former president.
The decision to place Awlaki on a hit list took place this year, the paper said, as US counterterrorism officials judged he had moved beyond inciting attacks against the US – he has a large following among English-speaking Muslims – to participating in them.
"The danger Awlaki poses to this country is no longer confined to words," an official told the New York Times. "He's gotten involved in plots."
[Al Arabiya Latest] The Obama administration has authorized operations to capture or kill an American-born Muslim cleric based in Yemen for his alleged role in al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, U.S. officials said on Tuesday. Oh, the impending carnage among puppies, kittens, baby ducks!
The decision to add Anwar al-Awlaki to the U.S. target list followed a National Security Council review because of his status as a U.S. citizen. Officials said Awlaki posed a direct security threat to the United States. "Awlaki is a proven threat," a U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said. "He's being targeted."
We can only hope that next time the decision process won't take nearly as long, now the path has been broken.
Rep. Jane Harman, chairwoman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence, described Awlaki as "probably the person, the terrorist, who would be terrorist No. 1 in terms of threat against us."
Whoops! Osama bin Ladin has just been demoted, without so much as a 'by your leave'. I just hope he was kind to the people he climbed over on the way up.
"He is very much in the sights of the Yemenis, with us helping them," said Harman, who recently visited Yemen for talks with U.S. and Yemeni officials.
She told Reuters that Awlaki's U.S. citizenship made going after him "certainly complicated." But Harman said President Barack Obama and his administration "made very clear that people, including Americans who are trying to attack our country, are people we will definitely pursue... are targets of the United States."
Yemen has carried out air strikes with U.S. assistance targeting al-Qaeda leaders, but there have been conflicting reports about whether Awlaki was present during any of those attacks. Officials believe he remains in hiding in Yemen.
U.S. intelligence agencies had viewed Awlaki as chiefly an al-Qaeda sympathizer and recruiter for Islamist causes with possible ties to some of the Sept. 11, 2001, hijackers. But that assessment started to change late last year with revelations about Awlaki's contacts with both the Nigerian suspect in an attempted bombing of a transatlantic passenger jet as it approached Detroit on Dec. 25 and to the U.S. Army psychiatrist accused of shooting dead 13 people at a military base in Texas on Nov. 5.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/07/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
They'll be pissed over at DU...may have to wade in and watch the fun.
#3
one thread on DU is obsessing on how al-Awlaki left the US in 2002 (they are searching for a way to blame Bush)
interestingly, on various Muslim sites, they are obsessing on how al Awlaki doesn't have blood directly on his hands (they are blaming Obama's jewish advisors).
Posted by: lord garth ||
04/07/2010 10:29 Comments ||
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#4
"Cowboy" the bastard. And don't be too concerned with collateral damage.
During his visit to Venezuela last week, Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin did not mention Venezuela's interest in purchasing weapons, but as soon as he arrived in Moscow, the top Russian official said that Hugo Chavez's government intends to buy military hardware worth USD 5 billion.
"A Russian delegation has just returned from Venezuela, a country that intends to buy Russian arms worth more than USD 5 billion," Putin said at a meeting devoted to the development of the military-industrial sector, reported Russian news agency Ria Novosti.
With the amount disclosed by Prime Minister Putin, Venezuela will have spent about USD 9.4 billion in Russian military equipment.
Purchases include 24 Sukhoi jet fighters, 100,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles, 53 multi-functional and combat helicopters and portable rocket launchers.
According to Russian military sources consulted by Interfax news agency, the Venezuelan government has also plans to buy three diesel-electric Varshavianka-class submarines, 92 T-72 tanks, several dozens of BMP-3 armored vehicles, 10 Mi-28N combat helicopters, an undisclosed number of Il-114 patrol airplanes, an unspecified number of Smerch multiple rocket launchers, and S-300PMU-2 Favorit, Antey-2500 and Tor-M2E air defense systems. All of this stuff was considered current a while back. In some cases, a long while back. Hugo knows that even if his military knew how to use all of this equipment to their best advantage, it wouldn't matter in a fight against the U.S. So either the weapons are to be used against his neighbors, or against his own people.
I vote for his own people. He hasn't proved very successful against anyone else, as far as I recall.
Military sources further mentioned Venezuela's interest in Mirazh patrol boats, Murena-E marine landing craft and coastal artillery mobile systems, capable to destroy vessels at distances of up to 130 kilometers.
Among other deals, Moscow is negotiating with Caracas the sale of several dozens of An-148 cargo/passenger and cargo transportation airplanes. Chavez has already announced the purchase of at least one Be-200 amphibious aircraft to fight forest fires.
Putin confirmed that Moscow granted Caracas a USD 2.2 billion loan to purchase arms, out of the USD 5 billion the government of President Hugo Chavez is willing to expend to buy Russian arms.
"The weapons contracts will be placed with leading Russian defense-industry enterprises, including IzhMash," said on Monday the Russian head of government.
Posted by: Steve White ||
04/07/2010 00:00 ||
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So either the weapons are to be used against his neighbors, or against his own people.
Five billion is a lot of jack for a country that can't keep the lights on reliably. Submarines, air defense and MLRS says he is thinking about his neighbors. The rest of his shopping list is useful in either scenario.
Hugo will make a downpayment (two billion or so) but will run out of money. The Russians will escalate the price and then default on delivery. Hugo's successor and Putin's successor will be arguing about a refund for the next twenty years
Posted by: john frum ||
04/07/2010 8:37 Comments ||
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#9
I don't think i would write a check for the S-300 just yet. Seems Iran has been trying too get theirs delivered fo about 5 years now
Posted by: chris ||
04/07/2010 11:20 Comments ||
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#10
Another vote for against his own people. The joker wasn't buying subs and missiles capable of striking Miami. The absurdly large AK-47 buy gives the game away.
#11
Putin will have to send Vinnie and some of the boys around to give him a little 'reminder'.
Not necessarily. Remember Saddam's Oil-for-Fraud payoff of (per his accountant's ledger) "$91 million to the Office of the Russian President"?
Occam would bet that a goodly % of the funds will be wired to certain numbered accounts in the Caribbean (for Oogo) and Switzerland (for Volodya). 10% in toto wouldn't be farfetched. Citibank's private banking group will be happy.
North Korea has stealth submersibles equipped with heavy attack torpedoes, intelligence sources speaking on condition of anonymity claimed Tuesday. The anonymous sources said the North's Shark-class submersibles and Yugo-class midget submarines are covered with "special tiles" that can evade sonar and some models of the Yugo-class subs are armed with 533 mm torpedoes. Right. I'm going to get all worked up over a submarine based on a Yugo ...
The sound-absorbing tiles are reportedly made by mixing chlorine rubber with silicon compounds. But one intelligence source said the North experienced some difficulty developing an adhesive glue to attach them to submarines or submersibles. The source claimed the North developed various models of Yugo-class subs, one of which was seized by South Korea when it became entangled in fishing nets in waters off Sokcho, Gangwon Province in 1998.
The Yugo-class subs can travel underwater for four to five hours but are said to have difficulties traveling fast due to battery capacity. Semi-submersibles can travel at a speed of more than 40 knots (84km/h) on the surface, but their big disadvantage is their noisy Swedish-made engine, the sources claimed.
North Korea's underwater weapons are made by Taean Electrical Appliance Plant of Kangson Steel Works near Nampo in South Pyongan Province, a source said.
Posted by: Steve White ||
04/07/2010 00:00 ||
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Nice of the Swedes to keep them in engines, parts, and spares. The Nazis relied heavily on Swedish ball bearins in WWII. They can always be counted upon to assist.
#5
sounds like they may be catching up too the WW1 era U boats
Posted by: chris ||
04/07/2010 14:17 Comments ||
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#6
ION FREEREPUBLIC + YONHAPNEWS >[NPR + Bammer "No NUkes" Ne US Nuke Doctrine, Option] PENTAGON: US WARNS OF POSSIBLE [future]NUCLEAR ATTACK ON NORTH KOREA, + IRAN iff NOT in compliance wid NPT.
Also from YONHAP NEWS > CSIS CHIEF:NORTH KOREA DOOMED UNLESS IT CHOOSES THE RIGHT PATH [dialogue, Six-Party Nuke Talks]. NOKOR likely to fall apart when Kimmie passes on or otherwise gives up or loses power???
MSM-Net > circa 2012-2015 due to his advanced diabetes, etc.
* SAME > SOUTH KOREA SURVEYS 923 UNREGISTERED ISLANDS [islets] TO ADD TO ITS TERRITORY.
"TESTING THE BAMMER" > 2012/2012-2015 = IRAN, MILTERR NUCLEARIZATION, + now POSSIBLE BREAKUP OF NORTH KOREA??? OTHER in interim???
The spread of Islam—one body at a time. The above is a partial listing of Islamic terrorist acts against the U.S. either in the U.S. or abroad over the past 40-50 years. I doubt the list is inclusive. So the current venacular is not the WOT against Islamic extremism but CVEs=”countering violent extremism.” The intent is to include both foreign and domestic events.
#7
This is right up there with arresting Taliban fighters. It highlights the unwillingness of our leaders to acknowledge the real problem in pretty much any given situation. They opt instead to change the name of the problem so they can handle it through appeasement; a strategy that worked really well in Europe in the 1930's.
#9
Could there possibly be anyone left who does not believe this fellow is our first Islamic president?
Nah. But do you believe in reincarnation?
Posted by: ed ||
04/07/2010 12:25 Comments ||
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#10
Socialist hell! This is right out of the communist playbook. First remove and words or text over the subject, then remove or edit photos, then never speak of it and it no longer exists. Poof! Commie magic.
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
04/07/2010 14:04 Comments ||
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#11
Following the link to Indianexpress.com tells me the site is not safe and full of nasties. Who is responsible for that exclusion? Bambi boys had a hand?
Posted by: Flaper Scourge of the Algonquins4926 ||
04/07/2010 14:12 Comments ||
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#12
OK, Let's also remove references to Christian identify groups ole wise one. .
Posted by: jack salami ||
04/07/2010 15:28 Comments ||
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#13
FREEREPUBLIC > EXCLUSIVE: "WORLD'S MOST DANGEROUS ISLAMIST" ALIVE, WELL, AND LIVING IN PENNSYLVANIA.
A'Shootin' and A'Madrasssa-in and A'Radicalin' in the pA POCONOS, but strangely NOT the Hamptons [yet]???
WAITING ON ZOMBIE ABU MUSAB ZARQHAWI = "ZARK/ZARKEY" TO FOUND THE "EAST TURKESTAN/PEOPLE'S ISLAMIC MOVEMENT OF THE HAMPTONS".
BUT SSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHH, CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC [C-rrectness]> Robin Williams + "72 Virginians"], US/PENN STATE INTEL-PYWAR KNEW THAT ALREADY, DIDN'T WE?
NEW DELHI: The Communist Party of India (Maoist) is not willing unilaterally to “abjure violence' as Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram wants them to but is prepared to accept a mutual ceasefire with the security forces across the country, Azad, spokesman for the banned group, has told The Hindu in an exclusive interview.
This newspaper was invited to interview Azad last month through written questions, since a face-to-face meeting was impossible. The answers were received a few days before Tuesday's deadly ambush of a CRPF company by the Maoists in Chhattisgarh.
Azad said it was clear that Mr. Chidambaram wanted the unilateral renunciation of violence by the Maoists and not a ceasefire with the government “like that with the NSCN.' Dismissing this demand as “absurd,' he said: “What the CPI(Maoist) wants is a cessation of hostilities by both sides simultaneously.' Such a mutual ceasefire would be “an expression of the willingness on the part of both sides engaged in war to create a conducive atmosphere for going to the next step of talks.'
The Maoist spokesman added that if his party was to engage in “peaceful legal work' as many were demanding, the ban on the CPI(Maoist) must be lifted. “Without lifting the ban … how can we organise legal struggles, meetings etc. in our name? If we do so, will these not be dubbed as illegal as they are led by a banned party?'
Though Azad was sceptical about the prospect for dialogue “given the attitude of the Central government,' he said talks would be possible only if the government released some party leaders from jail. “Or else, there would be none to talk to since the entire party is illegal. We cannot bring any of our leaders overground for the purpose of talks.'
Asked whether the Maoist support for talks was a ploy to buy time or part of a wider re-evaluation of strategy in favour of overground politics, Azad said their aim was different. “The proposal of talks is meant… to give some respite for the people at large who are living under constant state terror and immense suffering' caused by the government's counter-insurgency operations.
Posted by: john frum ||
04/07/2010 16:46 ||
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#1
TOPIX > [India] CHIDAMBARAM: WAR HAS BEEN THRUST/FORCED UPON GOVT.
* NEWS KERALA > CRPF MEN TIRED, INADEQUATELY TRAINED: FORMER CHIEF.
Besides also being OVER-DEPLOYED, OUT-NUMBERED, + STRESSED OUT. FORMER CHIEF > ideally, appoxi any 30 of curr 180 CRPF Battalions should be resting [R&R/MWR] for periods of up to two years from active or oper campaigning agz violent Militants. CRPF ALSO SORELY IN NEED OF LARGE NUMBERS OF CHOPPERS FOR TRANSPORT + CLOSE FIRE SUPPORT, AS CURR ONLY HAS FOUR IN USE AGZ NAXALS.
Whoa, FOUR HELOS-CHOPPERS only > PER REGION-VS-NATIONWIDE???
* SAME > CPI-M TELLS CHIDAMBARAM: STOP BLAMING STATES [+ CPI/Maoists for Tribal displacement]. CPIM admits that Maoists are concentrating in Tribal Lands-Zones hwere local lands are being unfairly turned over to Foreign + Indian Companies to the detriment of the Tribal communities???
Gaza – Ma'an – Two Palestinian workers remain missing following the collapse of a subterranean smuggling tunnel under the Yebna refugee camp in Rafah, southern Gaza on Tuesday. Subterranean? Are there any other kinda tunnels?
A group of six workers was inside the tunnel when it collapsed, with four members turning up safely on the Egyptian side, said Adham Abu Selmieyah, a Gaza medical services coordinator. Feets, don't fail me now...
A search mission is ongoing by civil defense crews in an attempt to locate 17-year-old Belal Taha and another unamned worker on the Egyptian side, he added. Belal! Are you down here?
Mmmmmmmmmph!
What did he say?
He said "mmmmmmmmmph".
Many Palestinians have died as a result of tunnel collapses, with human rights organizations calling for better protection and safety for workers involved in the industry. Harrrrumph harrrrumph harrrrrumph...
The underground tunnel complex was created along the Egypt-Gaza border in the wake of Israel's lockdown of the coastal enclave in June 2007, following Hamas' takeover of the Strip. The tunnels are used to transport a number of goods made unavailable as a result of the siege, including fuel, food, medicines, livestock and vehicles. Teddy bears, crayons, sunshine, rainbows, unicorns... And what this has to do with anything, I don't know, but...
Israel had previously banned the entry of pasta into the coastal enclave, until US Senator John Kerry reportedly demanded that Israel allow pasta into Gaza, after learning during a 2009 visit that spaghetti was one of thousands of items Israel bans from the besieged enclave. Wow, what a statesman. I'm sure he considers it one of foreign policy triumphs. "John Kerry: The Man Who Got Pasta Into Gaza".
[Al Arabiya Latest] Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman reiterated on Tuesday that there would be no halt to construction in east Jerusalem despite international demands for a complete settlement freeze. "We cannot freeze construction in Jerusalem, neither in the east nor the west, neither for Arabs nor for Jews, because it would jeopardize our sovereignty as a state in our own capital," he told public radio. "What part about 'no' are you having trouble comprehending?"
Israel seized mostly Arab east Jerusalem in the 1967 Six Day War and annexed it shortly thereafter in a move not recognized by the international community or the Palestinians, who consider it the capital of their promised state. The Hated Zionists®, on the other hand, merely considered it the capital of their Promised Land. That's entirely different. The Paleos weren't allowed to consider it their eternal capital before 1967 -- if they had, the Jordanians would have thumped them good and hard ...
Lieberman, the tough-talking head of the ultra-nationalist Yisrael Beitenu party, said international demands that Israel withdraw from the entire West Bank, including east Jerusalem, were unrealistic.
"The international community wants us to go back to the lines of June 1967, which would not end the conflict but move it closer to Tel Aviv," he said.
The United States has been struggling for months to re-launch peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians suspended after the launch of the Gaza war in December 2008.
The Palestinians have refused to hold negotiations, direct or indirect, with Israel without a complete settlement freeze, including in east Jerusalem.
Israel in November imposed a 10-month halt to new settlement construction, but the move was rejected by the Palestinians as insufficient because it left out east Jerusalem, public buildings and projects already under way.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/07/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
"What'd he say?"
"I dunno, sounded like 'duck fu'..."
AFP - Israel Tuesday began distributing millions of protection kits against biochemical warfare, Deputy Defence Minister Matan Vilnai announced, stressing the campaign was not linked to any imminent threat.
"We have equipped ourselves with millions of protection kits against biological or chemical warfare, and a massive distribution programme for the population started today," Vilnai told army radio. "Every family in Israel can receive these kits at home and be instructed on how to use them by Israeli postal workers, at an average cost of 25 shekels (five dollars), or pick them up free of charge at post office counters."
Vilnai emphasized the distribution of the protection kits was "not linked to any precise current threat."
The Israeli government decided on January 5 to distribute eight million new gas masks, one for each citizen, by 2013 and already distributed gas masks to 70,000 residents of Or Yehuda, near Tel Aviv in February.
Israel has long feared chemical or biological weapons may be used against it in a future conflict involving the Jewish state's arch-foes, Iran or Syria. The country came under sustained attack during its 2006 war with Lebanon's Hezbollah militia, when more than 4,000 Katyusha rockets were launched at north Israel in 34 days, sending hundreds of thousands of residents fleeing south. Gas masks were distributed to Israel's population during the 1991 Gulf War over Kuwait when now executed dictator Saddam Hussein's Iraq fired 39 Scud missiles armed with conventional warheads at Israel.
Thank you, President Obama. Not one of Israel's weapons requests approved since you took office, and nothing substantial done to discourage Iran's nuclear weapons development program.
#1
War and rumors of war. Not a good sign. Unlike Obama, the Israelis don't have the option of kicking the can down the road, hoping the situation somehow resolves itself.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said Tuesday the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) should focus on its primary objective of defending the Palestinians as a Zionist plot to drive them out of their homes unravels.
In a meeting with government officials and prominent scientific and political figures, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said recent developments in the occupied Palestinian lands reflect the signs of a "dangerous plot" by Tel Aviv against the Palestinians.
"De-Islamisation of Islamic works, incidents at Ibrahimic Mosque and the driving of Muslims out of their homes are a dangerous plot which is unfolding before the eyes of a Muslim world that has been engaged with trivial matters," the Leader said.
The remarks come at a time when the Israeli regime has stepped up a campaign to expand illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian lands in defiance of international opposition and UN Security Council resolutions.
Moreover, Israeli forces in recent months have shut down the al-Aqsa mosque to Palestinian worshippers and damaged Islamic properties on the site, attacking, killing and arresting protesters.
Ayatollah Khamenei said the OIC should make serious efforts to unite Muslims against Israel.
"[Thus], the Organization of the Islamic Conference, which was essentially established to uphold the rights of the Palestinians, should fulfill its duty in defending Palestine and uniting the Muslim world against the mischievous moves of the Zionists," the Leader said.
Ayatollah Khamenei described the potentials of the Muslim world in countering "the evil acts and greediness of the Zionists" as very high, reiterating that the strength of the Muslim world is not limited to oil. "Rather, the Muslims possess the biggest market for consumer goods, as well as the world's most vital routes and pathways."
He said the Muslim world can achieve its "rightful aspirations" by merely sticking to reason and sound political interactions in the world.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/07/2010 00:00 ||
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Versus
TOPIX > AL QAEDA SAYS HEZBOLLAH PROTECTING ISRAEL.
[Iran Press TV Latest] A senior Iranian official warns of immediate retaliation against Israel, should it dare to launch an attack on Iran. Right. To the trenches for another eight years.
Referring to Iran as a ballistic missile power, Hojat. Mojtaba Zolnour, the acting representative of the Leader in the Islamic Revolution's Guards Corps (IRGC), said in a Monday address in the holy city of Qom that despite the difficulty some foreigners have in accepting Iran's advances, they should be reminded that as a country that has developed and produced satellite carrier rockets, Iran has become a ballistic power, Fars News Agency reported today.
"They know that, if they try their luck and lob a single missile towards Iran, before the dust clears here, the dust of our missiles will rise from the heart of Tel Aviv," Zolnour emphasized.
Turning to the post-presidential protests, he expounded on enemy's efforts in waging a 'soft war' through the use of the Internet and other electronic gadgets by fabricating facts to foment divisions and unrest in the country.
"If today the enemy uses the arena of the 'soft war' it is because we have not clarified the grounds and the tools of the soft war for our people," Zolnour continued.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/07/2010 00:00 ||
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Uh, uh, "ISRAEL ATTACKS" = also read US = US-NATO/ALLIED.
#2
I hope this senior Iranian official doesn't think Israeli leaders are as naive, dangerous, folly seeking, and feckless as BO. Israel is not going to disarm and then expect Iran to disarm. Israel would have to be commplete idiots for that to happen.
That was kind of a long, long time ago, Perfessor. So long ago that then they called themselves Judeans. Iudeans, actually, the J wasn't invented until later. ;-)
[Iran Press TV Latest] Iran's foreign ministry spokesman expresses Tehran's disappointment with continued delay in the delivery of the S-300 air defense missile system from Russia. Stamping little curly-toed slipper-clad feet, pouting ferociously....
Speaking today about the much delayed delivery of the S-300 system to Iran, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said: "This issue has aggrieved our officials," reported ISNA.
"We expect Russian officials not to be swayed by political pressure from other countries," he said.
Noting the function of the S-300 system, Mehmanparast said: "This system has defensive and deterrent applications. We hope that this matter comes to fruition within the framework of the agreements between the two countries, although our country is at the peak of strength and has sufficient capacity to defend its territorial integrity."
According to a longstanding agreement between Iran and Russia, a number of S-300 long-range air defense missile systems were to have been delivered to Iran. The missiles can shoot down low and high flying enemy aircraft, as well as cruise missiles.
Despite contractual obligations, Russia has so far not delivered the S-300 defensive missile batteries to Iran, citing various excuses.
In February, Iran's ambassador to Russia Seyyed Mahmoud-Reza Sajjadi said, "Iran is ready to receive these systems and our Russian colleagues have assured us that they will meet their obligations."
At a news conference in Moscow, Sajjadi had stated that "several technical issues [in the contract's implementation] have emerged," expressing optimism that they would soon be resolved, without elaborating.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/07/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
See also BHARAT RAKSHAK > SAUDI-TURKISH ALLIANCE AGZ IRAN?
#2
Is anybody doing any PI on candidate foundation sites for these bad boys?
I expect they would follow standard Soviet deployment doctrine (not having any of their own)so there should be some known markers that will show the high value targets they want to protect...
#3
How much was the total deal and how much the advance?
Maybe Russkis are waiting for Iran to be nuked and walk away with the advance. This deal has been going on for at least 2 years. I hope that is Russian stratagem.
#4
Does anyone know the probabilty of anything Russian shooting down a cruise missile? I haven't seen any test vids of it just drawings on the puter but it sounds like they sure have alot of technical difficulties with this miraculous device.
Posted by: chris ||
04/07/2010 11:22 Comments ||
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[Iran Press TV Latest] Senior officials of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will participate in Tehran's International Nuclear Disarmament Conference later this month, says Iran's ambassador to the agency. I guess so. Y'never know. Something could happen. Other than spittle and slogans, I mean.
In an interview with Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) today, Ali Asghar Soltanieh said, "Senior managers and officials from the IAEA and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Conference, as well as heads of political groups at international organizations will participate in Iran's disarmament conference dubbed 'Nuclear Power for All, Nuclear Weapons for None."
The conference, scheduled to be held on April 17-18 in Tehran, will explore obstacles facing nuclear disarmament as well as elimination of other weapons of mass destruction.
Despite US pressure on a number of prospective participants, diplomats, experts, officials and non-governmental organizations from 60 countries have snubbed US pleas against attending and will take part in the conference.
As a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Iran has rejected atomic weapons and has for years called for a nuclear-free Middle East, demanding that nuclear weapon states eliminate their atomic arsenals in compliance with their NPT obligations.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/07/2010 00:00 ||
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WAFF?TOPIX > OBAMA: NUCLEAR IRAN IS INEVITABLE | OBAMA WARNS NUCLEAR IRAN MUST BE STOPPED.
In its present course, IRAN WILL [not "May/Might"] ATTAIN THE CAPABILITIES FOR PRODUC NUCLEAR WEAPONS.
VARIOUS NET POSTERS > the Bammer will or has utterly failed in his campaign pledge to stop Iran from having nukes???
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.
In a new indication of strained relations, the White House said Tuesday it would consider canceling an upcoming visit by Afghan President Hamid Karzai if he continues to make troublesome remarks. Such a move would be a remarkable diplomatic slap likely to infuriate the mercurial leader.
[Al Arabiya Latest] The Obama administration has authorized operations to capture or kill an American-born Muslim cleric based in Yemen for his alleged role in al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, U.S. officials said on Tuesday.
[Iran Press TV Latest] Senior officials of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will participate in Tehran's International Nuclear Disarmament Conference later this month, says Iran's ambassador to the agency. 
