[Tolo News] 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... said on Saturday that any government officials found to be meddling in the election process would be removed from their post. He also admitted to having advised against his brother's candidacy.
The President's comments came amidst speculation about the integrity of the pre-election process being compromised, with bias toward certain candidates over others as election officials formulate the final list of Presidential and Provincial Council contenders eligible for the April vote.
"We had a meeting with the officials of both Commissions last week, the Independent Election Commission and the Election Complaints Commission," Karzai said. "I explicitly told them that if they encounter a government official, or have authenticated information that they are interfering in the elections, or are using government equipment and facilities to do so, they can ask us by all means to remove them from their post."
Although Karzai has urged public officials not to interfere in the elections process before, his comments on Saturday were of a particularly stern tone.
Experiences of past elections are in part why so many are anxious about the 2014 vote. During the Presidential election of 2009, there was widespread reports of ballot box stuffing, fraud and other improprieties such as voter intimidation by government officials and security forces.
The 2014 Presidential elections will be the first time that Hamid Karzai cannot run, as mandated by the term limit provision of the Afghan Constitution. However, facts are stubborn; statistics are more pliable... many have questioned whether the man who has been in the Presidential Palace since the fall of the Taliban would seek to hand-pick his successor.
The fact his older brother, Qayoum Karzai, is a candidate in the election has not helped mollify those concerns.
But on Saturday the President admitted that he had not been in favor of his brother's candidacy. In fact, he advised Qayoum against it.
"Mr. Qayoum Karzai, my brother who is also a Presidential Candidate, he did what he decided and will participate in the elections," Karzai said. "I advised him that I didn't see it necessary for him to nominate himself, but he has full liberty and as a citizen of Afghanistan, he used the right that the Constitution gives him."
Although fears of malfeasance in Afghan elections are nothing new, this year new issues have arisen around the Loya Jirga being convened next week to deliberate over the Kabul-Washington Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA).
Some have expressed suspicions that the Jirga could be used to push a delay in the date of the elections, prolonging Karzai's stay in power. Others have suggested the participation of Presidential candidates in the Jirga could provide them an unsanctioned platform for promoting their candidacies.
But President Karzai categorically denied any chance of the agenda of the Jirga being changed or the event being used for campaigning.
As NATO ...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A cautionary tale of cost-benefit analysis.... troops withdraw in the lead up to the end of the coalition's combat mission in December of 2014, the upcoming elections are viewed with a unique significance beyond that of a normal electoral cycle, making their credibility paramount.
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11/17/2013 00:00 ||
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[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] An imminent Sudanese government shakeup could be on the cards, President Omar al-Bashir Head of the National Congress Party. He came to power in 1989 when he, as a brigadier in the Sudanese army, led a group of officers in a bloodless military coup that ousted the government of Prime Minister Sadiq al-Mahdi and eventually appointed himself president-for-life. He has fallen out with his Islamic mentor, Hasan al-Turabi, tried to impose shariah on the Christian and animist south, resulting in its secessesion, and attempted to Arabize Darfur by unleashing the barbaric Janjaweed on it. Sudan's potential prosperity has been pissed away in warfare that has left as many as 400,000 people dead and 2.5 million displaced. Omar has been indicted for genocide by the International Criminal Court but nothing is expected to come of it. hinted on Saturday in a speech to his National Congress Party (NCP) Shura Council.
"We will soon make changes in the executive and legislative bodies at the federal and state levels," the Sudanese leader said, according to Agence La Belle France-Presse.
His remarks came after the most serious split within his ruling party in years, as well as deadly protests in September over the government's decision to slash fuel prices.
"Reforms have to come from within party institutions," Bashir told the Shura Council, although analysts have been skeptical of the NCP's willingness to consider divergent opinions.
During the September protests, Amnesia Amnesty International said security forces were believed to have killed more than 200 demonstrators.
Analysts said the spontaneous demonstrations pointed to an urgent need for reform by Bashir's 24-year regime grappling with wars, internal dissent, economic crisis and international isolation.
In late October, more than 30 prominent NCP reformers announced that they would form a new political party, although they have not yet revealed details of their movement led by ex-presidential adviser Ghazi Salahuddin Atabani, according to AFP.
Later on Saturday, the Shura Council was expected to decide whether to formally expel Atabani and two other leaders of the breakaway group, AFP reports.
The 400-member council meets every six months and is the NCP's second-highest decision-making group, outside the general congress which is to be held next year.
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11/17/2013 00:00 ||
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[Shabelle] The U.S. government is warning that a Kenyan terror group with links to the Somali group al-Shabaab ... Somalia's version of the Taliban, functioning as an arm of al-Qaeda... may seek to target the American private sector in Kenya.
A recent report from the U.S. State Department's Overseas Security Advisory Council says the anti-West ideology shared by al-Shabaab and the Kenyan terror group al-Hijra indicate that the groups "may seek to target the U.S. private sector in Kenya."
The report was released in the aftermath of al-Shabaab's attack on Nairobi's Westgate Mall, a gunfire and grenade assault that killed at least 67 people.
The report calls for Americans to exercise extra vigilance in Nairobi, Kenya's capital, and the coastal city of Mombasa at clubs, hotels, resorts, shopping centers, restaurants and places of worship.
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11/17/2013 00:00 ||
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[Shabelle] Irish-born terrorist Samantha Lewthwaite, dubbed the White Widow, is wanted for seven murders in Kenya according to new reports.
The Daily Mirror reports that security forces in the African state believe Lewthwaite has become a volatile maniac, leaving a trail of death and destruction in a bloody Dire Revenge™ campaign against those who cross her.
She is now wanted for seven murders including the executions of two radical Mohammedanholy mans and two respected Protestant pastors according to police.
They believe she ordered the murders of four religious leaders in Kenya and three others linked to her al-Shabaab ... the Islamic version of the old Somali warlord... terror group.
Kenyan anti-terror police have named Lewthwaite as the chief suspect in the murder of Protestant pastors Charles Matole and Ebrahim Kidata.
She is also wanted for the killings of radical Mohammedanholy mans Aboud Rogo Mohammed and his successor Sheik Ibrahim Rogo after falling out with them.
Matole was shot in the head at his church in Mombasa. He was found on October 19 sitting in a chair still clutching his bible.
The report says security sources believe he was executed after mum of four Lewthwaite, 29, became 'paranoid' over his contacts with Kenyan intelligence officials.
The White Widow, linked with the recent Nairobi mall massacre, has also fallen foul of elders within al-Shabaab after demanding more control over its murderous activities and is locked in a power struggle according to the paper.
An intelligence source said: "Samantha Lewthwaite is fighting for greater control of al-Shabaab which is angering the Âorganization's hierarchy.
"She has become paranoid and Âunreliable to the group after being on the run for so long. They believe her judgment is clouded and she could find herself out on her own very soon."
East Kenya police commander Aggrey Adoli told the Daily Mirror that he fears Lewthwaite may be plotting even more bloodshed. He also understands that she has launched a huge drive to recruit young radical Mohammedans to her deadly cause.
Adoli said: "We believe Samantha Lewthwaite is behind these seven killings as well as a gang of others.
"We believe she is involved in the recruitment of jihadists and propagation of al-Shabaab and al-Qaeda activities in the country with other like minded individuals. Once we apprehend Samantha Lewthwaite she'll have a lot of questions to answer.
"She is without a doubt an incredible threat to national and international security. We are working round the clock to bring her in to stop her causing more carnage."
"She is wanted on charges of "murder and inciting Mohammedan youths to violence."
Lewthwaite is believed to be hiding in Somalia. Adoli said: "We are doing our best investigating the murders and call on those with evidence to come forward."
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11/17/2013 00:00 ||
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[Shabelle] Somalia, Kenya, and theUnited Nations ...a formerly good idea gone bad... Refugee Agency (UNHCR) this week signed an agreement outlining the return to Somalia of nearly half a million refugees from Kenya.
Raising the specter of returns has reignited fear among Somali refugees and will intensify a discussion in capitals across the Horn of Africa about the future of an additional half-million Somali refugees living in those countries.
There is an inceasing fear being expressed by refugees, the UN and international aid organizaations that an "induced repatriation" will occur where protection violations, increased insecurity in Dadaab refugee camp, and descreased food aid will lead refugees to return to Somalia. Just this week, reports show that 300 undocumented immigrants were tossed in the calaboose Drop the rosco, Muggsy, or you're one with the ages! in a single night in Eastleigh, suburb of Nairobi that is mostly inhability by Somali immigrants.
Undeniably, there has been political and economic progress in Somalia, and stability has improved. The country has a new elected government, private investment is on the rise, and the military has made important gains, especially in bringing more security to Mogadishu.
However, women are made to be loved, not understood... the central government's ability to translate these fragile gains into an inclusive political transition remains uncertain.
Security is still tenuous, particularly in the South-central region, where Al-Shabaab ... the personification of Somali state failure... maintains command of significant areas. A complicated web of local power holders controls other areas. Many in Somalia remain quite vulnerable to violence, and the vast majority of refugees and governments in the region and across the globe do not believe conditions exist now for the wide-scale, voluntary return of Somali refugees.
On a recent visit to Kenya, I met with refugees in a densely populated urban area in Nairobi and in the Dadaab refugee camp, the largest refugee camp in the world. Many told me they would like to return to Somalia one day, but only when it is peaceful and stable -- conditions they do not yet see. Others believe they will never be able to return.
One young woman, who fled Somalia after losing both her parents in the civil war, told me she has no reason to return. Another spoke of friends who have returned to Somalia to find their homes occupied by others. Still others told me of relatives who have been met with violence, rape and sometimes death.
These stories underscore the need to contemplate a range of options for Somali refugees, from returning to Somalia to resettling elsewhere.
The international community should undoubtedly support refugees who decide to voluntarily return to Somalia. Some are already doing so and more will as conditions allow. But we must also support those refugees who do not believe they can return safely and in a dignified manner, now or possibly ever. Our conscience and international law require it.
Such flexibility in policy does not come without a cost. It requires financial support to ease the burden on countries willing to host refugees until conditions in Somalia improve.
Some countries in the region have been generously hosting Somalis for more than 20 years, and the new wave of Somali refugees after the 2011 famine has created additional burdens.
Although the number of refugees has continued to increase, budgets to support them are declining. The international community must reverse this trend. Otherwise, host countries may decide to roll up the welcome mat.
Part of the refugee funding should be invested in enhanced opportunities for education and skills development, which will benefit displaced refugees now and will also be critical tools for Somalia's long-term success.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/17/2013 00:00 ||
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[An Nahar] A panel of Egyptian judges has recommended the Moslem Brüderbund's Freedom and Justice Party be dissolved, ahead of a court decision that could further drive the Islamists underground, state media reported Saturday.
The panel made its non-binding recommendations to the administrative court, which is deliberating a law suit to ban the party for its affiliation with the Brotherhood and contravening laws on the formation of religious parties.
The court will examine the recommendations in a hearing on February 15, the official MENA news agency reported.
The party, headed by Mohammed Morsi ...the former president of Egypt. A proponent of the One Man, One Vote, One Time principle, Morsi won election after the deposal of Hosni Mubarak and jumped to the conclusion it was his turn to be dictator... before his election in June 2012, has been decimated in a crackdown following the Islamist president's overthrow last July.
More than 2,000 Islamists including party operatives have been tossed in the calaboose Drop the gat, Rocky, or you're a dead 'un! since an August 14 crackdown on protesters that killed hundreds.
The findings of such panels--appointed by courts to study lawsuits and make their recommendations--are often adopted.
A separate court had already issued a temporary ban on the Brotherhood and ordered its assets seized ahead of a final verdict.
Much of the Brotherhood's leadership, including Morsi, is already in prison and on trial for allegedly inciting violence after his ouster, following massive protests demanding his resignation.
The Freedom and Justice Party swept Egypt's last legislative elections in 2011 and 2012, before a court ruling scrapped parliament.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/17/2013 00:00 ||
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[Libya Herald] Saying they are shocked by the killings in Tripoli ...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn... , Amazigh protestors which have been blockading the Mellitah complex, stopping supplies of gas to Italia, today suspended their action.
The Amazigh Supreme Council said they had taken the move "on the back of the unfortunate events that took place on Friday in Tripoli".
A member of the council, Ayoub Sufian, told the Libya Herald that the decision to suspend the Mellitah blockade was because of "the bloody festivities that caused so much death and terror".
However the Council stressed in a statement that the Amazigh community has not given up its insistence that Article 30 of the Constitutional Declaration be amended to give greater representation to minorities. Sufian said that the resumption of the blockade would depend on the decisions that will be made by the GNC.
The Mellitah complex was closed last month by gunnies and members of the Amazigh community from Zuwarah. Amazigh leaders said eight days ago that they allow the complex to restart as a goodwill gesture ahead of the GNC's expected discussion of Article 30. However it is not clear that any production resumed and the GNC in any event made no decision.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/17/2013 00:00 ||
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[Libya Herald] There has been strong international condemnation of the festivities yesterday in Tripoli ...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn... 's Gharghour district.
As well as sending condolences to grieving relatives of the victims and reiterating support for the Libyan authorities, the British government has condemned the violence.
"We urge all parties to exercise restraint and to refrain from further violence," said British Minister of State for Middle East and North Africa, Hugh Robertson. "It is essential that all gangs are integrated fully into state structures, or put down their weapons and return to civilian life."
Robertson said: "We urge the Libyan people to work together to fulfil the aims of the 17 February Revolution and we stand alongside them as they strive to build a more peaceful, secure and prosperous Libya".
The German Foreign Minister, Guido Westerwelle said he was "dismayed" by the bloody fighting in the Libyan capital Tripoli, resulting in so many dead and injured. "These events are a serious warning sign," he said. "I urge the government, parliament, and all political forces, to work together for a peaceful and democratic transition process in a united Libya."
Posted by: Fred ||
11/17/2013 00:00 ||
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[MAGHAREBIA] Faced with a string of liquidations targeting judges and lawyers across the country, Libya's justice minister on Sunday (November 10th) appealed for aid.
"The judiciary must be respected, and its orders must be enforced. The judiciary is not incapable, but the security situation strongly affects the performance of judiciary; the better security is, the better judiciary's performance will be," Interim Justice Minister Salah al-Marghani said in a presser.
He called on all those who love Libya to support and protect judges and prevent any harm against them.
"The protection of judges is a concern for us. We transfer all those who are threatened, or those who feel threatened. We opposed the idea of creating brigades to protect judges beyond state authority. We didn't accept in the past, and won't accept in the future, any prisons, camps, brigades or gunnies operating outside legitimacy," the minister said.
He noted, "We've been working for three months to form a judicial protection force consisting of 1,000 soldiers to defend judicial institutions."
"Those who commit violations will be held legally accountable regardless of their positions," the minister continued.
As far as justice was concerned, al-Marghani said, "We're about to sign a technical support agreement with the United States, one of the countries that support Libya, to provide judicial and criminal assistance to help us in many security cases as per the plans that we started to implement."
Meanwhile, ...back at the alley, Slats grabbed his rosco... Libya's Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) issued a statement urging the government to do more to protect justice officials.
The SJC condemned "the stark, gross accusations that lead to the blocking of justice", and called for "immediately stopping such practices against the members of judiciary" and holding those who contribute to them accountable for their actions.
The statement came two days after the murder of the attorney general of the Green Mountain Appeal District, Mohammed Khalifa al-Naas. He was killed when a bomb blew up under his car in Derna on November 9th.
"If judges are not protected, how can we be sure that they will issue fair judgments without any fear or bias?" asked Mahasen Bashir, a preparatory school teacher in Tripoli ...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn... . "Libya needs the judiciary to stabilise, and judgments need to be enforced."
Sabriya Ali, a lawyer from Tripoli, said, "If we're guaranteed protection, things will move towards the better. Courts will redress grievances, and in cooperation with the Interior Ministry, criminals will be tossed in the calaboose Please don't kill me! and punished. In this way, thieves and killers will be deterred, and things will just move towards the better."
She added, "Members of the judiciary joined the revolution as of its beginning, and no one can accuse them of anything as they were the ones who released the first spark. Chancellor Mustafa Abdul Jalil is another proof, not to mention the demonstrations opposite Benghazi and Tripoli courts."
In his turn, Fathi Abdul Qadir al-Touhami, an engineer in Tripoli, said, "I think that when courts operate and pass punishments, this will be an important factor, coupled with active trade, in establishing stability and security. In this case, people will just pay attention to their own affairs and avoid the violations that courts will examine. Police will enforce judgments and the army will protect the country and borders."
"Security starts with protecting judges as the country will only rest when courts operate under their judges, issue judgments and have them enforced," commented Samira al-Turki, a secondary school teacher in Tripoli.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/17/2013 00:00 ||
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[MAGHAREBIA] Speculation about Ansar al-Sharia ...a Salafist militia which claims it is not part of al-Qaeda, even though it works about the same and for the same ends. There are groups of the same name in Tunisia and Yemen, with the Tunisian version currently most active... 's plan for Libya ended this week when the al-Qaeda proponents released a mission statement demanding the imposition of Islamic law.
[MAGHAREBIA] Tunisian Prime Minister Ali Larayedh on Thursday (November 14th) called on terrorists to lay down arms and submit to authorities, TAP reported.
"Terrorists have no other choice but to surrender to justice, get integrated into society and agree to discuss through educational channels," Larayedh said during a visit to two National Guardsmen injured in recent Kebili clashes.
"Otherwise, they will keep on brandishing arms against the state and the society and will suffer the same fate as the terrorists killed or arrested," he noted.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/17/2013 00:00 ||
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[Libya Herald] The Grand Mufti, Sheikh Sadik Al-Ghariani last night condemned the killings at Gharghour, blaming both sides for carnage. He also called for all non-Tripoli ...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn... based militias to be ejected from the capital and those responsible for yesterday's violence to be brought to justice.
Speaking on Aljazeera TV, he said that the demonstration had started peacefully but that it had been exploited by " some enemies of the revolution", but did not elucidate.
He indicated that both the killers and those who were killed were responsible, accusing them of being motivated by regional and tribal concerns.
"Those who fight for the sake of tribalism or regionalism are in the wrong and those who die on both sides, the killer and the killed, are in the fire of hell because they are not fighting for the right cause. They fight with the wrong intent", he declared.
Attacking the militias in general he said they were "out of control" and that people in the capital had grown sick of them. They had no legitimacy and were criminals, he insisted.
"These militias must not be supported by anyone, regardless of their background, whether they are from Misrata or Zintan or any other place," he said. If they commit crimes they had to be punished, he insisted, forbidding anyone or town or region from supporting them.
"These militias must dismantled and kicked out of Tripoli," he declared. "They must not be allowed to stay."
"The problem is not limited to the incident of Gharghour only", he stated. "People and government and all relevant authorities must fight these militias and work hard to kick them out of Tripoli now. They must not wait any longer."
Nonetheless, "those who committed crimes in the Gharghour incident must be pointed out and brought to justice for these crimes they have perpetrated regardless of where they come from, Misrata or Zintan or any other place," he insisted.
Last Saturday, following the deadly festivities between Misrati and Suq Al-Juma forces that triggered yesterday's tragic demonstrations, Ghariani also condemned what he termed the "blind tribal allegiances" of some towns and regions.
Posted by: Fred ||
11/17/2013 00:00 ||
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In a unique battlefield commendation, a Marine Corps member of Delta Force has been awarded the nationÂ’s second highest military honor for coming to the defense of Americans last year at a CIA annex in Benghazi, Libya.
Delta Force, a counterterrorism unit in the secretive Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), has been thought of as a strictly Army outfit. But it does take on qualified “operators,” as they are called, from other services.
The Washington Times has reported that two Delta Force members were among a seven-person rescue team sent from the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli to Benghazi on the night of Sept. 11, 2012. Their mission: rescue diplomats, security personnel and CIA employees pinned down by terrorists about a mile from the U.S. diplomatic mission where Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and aide Sean Smith were killed by al Qaeda-directed militants.
Two of those seven were Delta Force operators. The Times can now report that one was an Army soldier and the other a Marine.
The soldier was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, and the Marine received the Navy Cross for heroism.
The bestowal of the awards was done in secret. The medals rank just below the nationÂ’s highest military award, the Medal of Honor.
The Navy provided a statement to The Times:
“Yes, a Navy Cross was approved, but due to security and privacy concerns no further information can be provided at this time. It is not unusual for certain awards not to be publicized, and details of the circumstances and actions that justified the award to be withheld. Per DoD regulations, this information will not be released if it could potentially lead to a compromise of national security, or potentially create undue risk to the security and privacy of the awardee and his/her family.”
#1
this information will not be released if it could potentially lead to a compromise of national security, or potentially create undue risk to the security and privacy of the awardee and his/her family."
or political difficulties for a democratic president.
#2
Yeah, it was a movie that caused this. Never forget that lie and coverup from Hillary and Obama, who should be criminally charged for what happened in the aftermath of Benghazi. Its not the act, its the coverup. Had Nixon invoked national security and stonewalled everything as well as Obama has, with the help of a sycophantic press, he would never have been impeached. Obama is Nixon with an obedient press corps.
#3
It is not unusual for certain awards not to be publicized, and details of the circumstances and actions that justified the award to be withheld. Per DoD regulations, this information will not be released if it could potentially lead to a compromise of national security
#4
Lets not forget it also worked for Obama for Fast and Furious. If Nixion had done a F&F and the coverup afterwards he would have been burned at the stake.
Obama and Hillary should at least be impeached for endangering the life of the video producer (and if he gets killed by terrorists some sort of homicide.).
#5
There were some "interesting things" going on in Cambodia, Laos, etc., which warranted conspicuous gallantry but national security matters never allowed them to see the light of day.
This one is considered classified as a political cover-up is in play. The ones in SE Asia and later in Africa were/are very sensitive. Big difference in the reasons for classification.
Posted by: Bill Clinton ||
11/17/2013 21:18 Comments ||
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[Shabelle] The attacks on Somali-owned shops spread like a wildfire through the townships around Port Elizabeth, a city on SouthAfrica's southeastern coast.
When it was over, more than 100 small businesses mostly run by Somali nationals had been looted, some destroyed by petrol bombs, and their owners driven from the area by rampaging residents.
The scale of the violence over four days in September was unusual, but xenophobic attacks on Somalis and other African migrants in South Africa's impoverished townships are all too common.
Many people accuse "foreigners" of taking their jobs, or of putting South Africanshopkeepers out of business by undercutting their prices.
Xenophobic violence in South Africa drew international attention in 2008, when riots targeting black African immigrants spread through townships around Johannesburg and elsewhere in the country, leaving more than 60 people dead and thousands displaced.
Since then, sporadic incidents have continued, though they have received little attention.
Amir Sheikh, chairperson of the Somali Community Board of South Africa, said that around a hundred Somali nationals are murdered every year in this country, most of them shopkeepers in the townships.
Sheikh said that young Somalis who sought asylum in South Africa to escape Al-Shabaab ... the personification of Somali state failure... , the Death Eater group that still dominates large areas of Somalia, and to seek better opportunities, are now moving back home to escape the violence.
"Many of them realize that this dream is just an illusion, and if they are to die it is better to die back home," he said. "There is no difference between Mogadishu and the townships of South Africa."
More from GlobalPost: Say goodbye to Kenya's 'nursery for terrorists'
The September attacks in Port Elizabeth were sparked by accusations that a Somali shopkeeper had shot and killed a 19-year-old South African man in a dispute over cell phone airtime.
However the complaint may have been flimsy, as the shopkeeper accused of the murder was later released by police due to a lack of evidence.
Facing pressure over the continuing violence, the South African deputy minister of foreign affairs in June met with Somali community leaders and promised to launch a program to bring together local and foreign business owners.
But according to Sheikh, nothing has happened since the meeting.
"What we are getting from the South African government is lip service," he said.
Last month Elizabeth Thabethe, South Africa's deputy trade and industry minister, drew criticism for her comments about foreign migrants running small shops in the townships, known here as "spaza shops."
"You still find many spaza shops with African names, but when you go in to buy you find your Mohammeds and most of them are not even registered," the South African Press Association quoted her as saying.
Sheikh said that apart from the attacks on township shops, institutionalized xenophobia exists in South Africa, with African migrants facing discrimination at schools and hospitals.
"It's not only in the townships but even in the government offices," he said.
A report titled "Somalinomics" released last week by the Johannesburg-based African Center for Migration and Society argued that foreign-owned businesses create economic benefits to local communities.
Foreign-owned spaza shops -- local convenience stores often run from homes -- help consumers by providing better, more flexible services, and cheaper products, the report said.
"Both government and individuals are quick to turn their frustrations with economic hardships against foreign businesses," Roni Amit, a senior researcher, said in a statement.
"In fact, many South African consumers would be in a far more precarious position without these shops," Amit said.
"Unfortunately, the dominant voices are often those of competing shopkeepers who turn to xenophobic sentiments to veil their reluctance to adopt competitive practices that make everyone better off."
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11/17/2013 00:00 ||
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[Bangla Daily Star] Accusing the opposition leader of killing innocent people in the name of hartal ... a peculiarly Bangla combination of a general strike and a riot, used by both major political groups in lieu of actual governance ... , Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ...Bangla dynastic politician and current Prime Minister of Bangladesh. She has been the President of the Bangla Awami League since the Lower Paleolithic. She is the eldest of five children of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangla. Her party defeated the BNP-led Four-Party Alliance in the 2008 parliamentary elections. She has once before held the office, from 1996 to 2001, when she was defeated in a landslide. She and the head of the BNP, Khaleda Zia show such blind animosity toward each other that they are known as the Battling Begums.. yesterday asked how much blood the BNP chief needed to quench her thirst.
"The opposition leader is not happy over the way she unleashes violence. She wants more destruction and anarchy. She needs more blood," Hasina said.
"I don't know how much blood would satisfy her thirst. I want to ask her how much blood of people she would take."
The prime minister made the comments while addressing a programme at the Gono Bhaban, where she handed over cheques to the victims of Jamaat-Hefajat mayhem at Fatikchhari in Chittagong on April 11.
She said the "vengeful opposition" is burning people to death; even kids are not spared. "They don't want development, they want dead bodies."
Urging the opposition to refrain from destructive acts in the name of hartal, Hasina said there is no public involvement in their movement.
She said, "The BNP does not believe in democracy, it believes in terrorism."
About her dialogue offer to the opposition leader, the prime minister said she requested her to sit for talks in the interest of the people.
"The way she turned down my proposal is not decent and the language she used is not political. She told me that she won't sit with me," the PM said.
She said Bangladesh was turned into a haven for snuffies and Death Eaters during the last BNP-Jamaat rule. "They want to take the country back to that dark chapter," she added.
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11/17/2013 00:00 ||
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[An Nahar] Turkey's prime minister welcomed the leader of Iraq's autonomous north to his country's own Kurdish-dominated territory for the first time Saturday, in a visit designed to kickstart a stalled grinding of the peace processor.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan greeted Iraqi Kurdish leader Massud Barzani in the Kurds' heartland of Diyarbakir, southeast Turkey, ahead of a series of joint engagements including officiating at a mass wedding.
Barzani has visited the capital of Ankara many times but Saturday's meeting was described by Erdogan as "historic" and a "crowning moment" in overcoming a decades-old conflict with the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
Ankara hopes to use Barzani's influence as a respected figure among Turkey's Kurds to bring them back to the negotiating table.
"If Barzani has any importance in the eyes of our citizens, that importance will make its contribution," Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said on Friday.
Progress has stalled following a ceasefire called by nabbed Drop the gat, Rocky, or you're a dead 'un! PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan in March. His fighters suspended a promised withdrawal from Turkish soil in September, accusing Ankara of failing to keep to the terms of the bargain in giving greater rights.
The Turkish army reported on Friday that one of its convoys had been attacked, allegedly by PKK rebels, for the first time in months in southeastern Nusaybin district on the Syrian border.
Thousands of rebels remain holed up in the autonomous north of Iraq, an area under Barzani's control, using the region as a springboard for attacks on Turkish targets as part of their campaign for self-rule in southeastern Turkey.
But Barzani told AFP that Kurds should use non-violent means to gain the homeland they believe they deserve.
"Having our own state is the natural right of the Kurdish people, but that cannot be achieved through violence," he said.
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11/17/2013 00:00 ||
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[Pak Daily Times] Activists opposed to US drone strikes against al Qaeda suspects demanded Friday an end to the secrecy surrounding the attacks, saying the bombings have claimed numerous civilian lives. "We are questioning the entire issue of a policy that is done under the shadows of secrecy without accountability," said Medea Benjamin, co-founder of the CodePink anti-war group. "If indeed this is a program that is supposed to be designed for reaching high-level al Qaeda members who are about to kill us Americans, this program is very much off the mark," Benjamin told a news conference. Benjamin was accompanied by Yemeni families whose relatives were killed in drone missile strikes, as well as Yemeni civil society advocates. One member of the Yemeni delegation included Faisal bin Ali Jaber, who lost a brother-in-law and a 21-year-old nephew in a drone strike on August 19, 2012. Jaber's brother-in-law had been a holy man known for his opposition to al Qaeda, and his late nephew was a policeman, activists said. "What we see as a result, is how counterproductive this policy is, how it has led to a growing anti-American sentiment," Benjamin said. The drone operations have been approved by Yemen's president Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi but denounced by his own party as well as the National Dialogue, which gathers members of the country's civil society, according to Baraa Shiban, a member of the organization who also investigates drone attacks for a human rights One man's rights are another man's existential threat. group. "The image that is created by the American government doesn't really help us at the National Dialogue, Shiban said.
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11/17/2013 00:53 ||
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#1
What we see as a result, is how counterproductive this policy is, how it has led to a growing anti-American sentiment.
Before you were all bitchin about GitmoÂ…now this? Jeez, thereÂ’s just no pleasing some people
#3
Shit in one hand wish in the other, see which fills up first.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
11/17/2013 11:42 Comments ||
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#4
...do they also want us to consult with them say, 48 hours in advance of a proposed strike...? Station an "observer" with veto power next to the drone operators...?
Redneck Jim - my Grandfather used to say that. Some truths are trans-generational...!
#4
I double-link to find the original. WakPo admits they do not know anything about graphics so they asked some nobody from U of Miami. The nobody sez this style is used all the time in PR and Ad, but is not up to his pahsahnal jahnahlistic standahds.
Personally I find it quicker to the point and easier to get than the Life of Julia series.
scandal
n.noun
A publicized incident that brings about disgrace or offends the moral sensibilities of society. - Nope, no disgrace here, and "moral" is defined by circumstance...
A person, thing, or circumstance that causes or ought to cause disgrace or outrage. Disgrace would require self-assessment; outrage is RACIST...!
A politician whose dishonesty is a scandal; considered the housing shortage a scandal. Dishonesty in a Chicago politician is a feature, not a bug....
Damage to reputation or character caused by public disclosure of immoral or grossly improper behavior; disgrace. Look! Squirrel...!
Talk that is damaging to one's character; malicious gossip. If one's character is an illusion, is scandal possible..?
#4
He can claim nobody was MADE to sign - they agreed to do so. And having done so, they are not allowed to reveal what threats were used to get their agreement - but Brennan was not lying, depending on the meaning of the word 'made.' President Clinton established the precedent.
[Pak Daily Times] Religious and politicians have condemned sectarian festivities in Rawalpindi and termed them an attempt to destroy peace in the country. At least 10 persons were killed and several injured in festivities near a mourning procession at Fawara Chowk of Raja Bazar in Rawalpindi. JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman Deobandi holy man, known as Mullah Diesel during the war against the Soviets, his sympathies for the Taliban have never been tempered by honesty ... demanded that the government immediately investigate the tragedy as it was a conspiracy to destroy peace. The JUI-F chief also telephoned Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf... and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and expressed his concern over the festivities. PPP leader Bilawal Baby Bhutto Zardari ...Pak dynastic politician, son of Benazir Bhutto and grandon of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. As far as is known, Bilawal has no particular talents other than being pretty and being able to memorize political slogans, but he had the good luck to be born into the right family and he hasn't been assassinated yet... said in a statement that while the entire nation was praying for a peaceful Ashura, the Punjab government "lacked full attention to maintaining law and order". He said the provincial administration could have averted the incident through "simple pre-emptive administrative steps". PTI Chairman Imran Khan ... aka Taliban Khan, who who convinced himself that playing cricket qualified him to lead a nuclear-armed nation with severe personality problems... appealed to people to ensure that nefarious designs of "hatemongers" and enemies of Islam and Pakistain are thwarted by a show of unity across the land. "Those who are spreading this message of hatred amongst Moslems are clearly enemies of Islam and Pakistain and are deliberately destroying the stability and peace of the country. PTI condemns all such agendas," he said. Condemning the festivities, Awami Moslem League chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmad demanded a judicial investigation into the tragedy. He claimed that people involved in the festivities were never seen before. MQM leader Altaf Hussain and JI chief Syed Munawar Hasan also expressed grief over the loss of life and property in Rawalpindi.
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11/17/2013 00:00 ||
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[The Hindu] Over 700 Sikh pilgrims arrived from India in Pakistain on Saturday to attend the three-day celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev's birth anniversary at Nankana Saheb in the Punjab province.
News reports said the pilgrims were received at the Wagah border and strict security arrangements are in place for their stay.
The pilgrims will also visit other religious places in Lahore.
Earlier, a special train carrying them reached Wagah railway station in the afternoon.
According to news reports, 8,000 Sikh pilgrims from India, England, Canada, Australia, Afghanistan and other countries will take part in the annual celebrations at Nankana Sahib.
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11/17/2013 00:00 ||
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[The Hindu] Eighteen days after his release at the end of a long spell of detention at his home here, separatist hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani is under 'house arrest' once again.
An order issued by the Srinagar District Magistrate under Section 144 of the Cr. PC said Mr. Geelani would remain indoors for the day on November 17 and would not move out to attend a scheduled rally at Palhalan village in Baramulla district on Sunday.
"We apprehended a law and problem there [Palhalan] on Sunday. He will be free on Monday," Inspector General of Police Abdul Gani Mir told The Hindu.
However, there is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened... political circles were critical of Mr. Geelani's detention. It showed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's frustration, they said. The "massive response" to the Hurriyat leader's rallies was worrying the ruling National Conference leadership.
In the last 18 days, Mr. Geelani had addressed well-attended rallies at Sopore, Shopian and Kupwara. Buoyed by the attendance, he planned similar rallies at Palhalan on November 17 and one at Banihal on November 22.
The slogans raised at the rallies have been viewed as "provocative and explicitly anti-national" by some political parties and sections of the police and security forces.
He was released from his 235-day-long house arrest on October 29. He had immediately sought revival of the secessionist uprising and "total boycott of next year's Parliamentary and Assembly elections."
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[An Nahar] The Gazoo Strip's Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason, prime minister on Saturday ordered the reopening of a Paleostinian news agency closed in July for alleged "false" reporting of Hamas aid to Egypt's Moslem Brüderbund.
"Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh ...became Prime Minister after the legislative elections of 2006 which Hamas won. President Mahmoud Abbas dismissed Haniyeh from office on 14 June 2007 at the height of the Fatah-Hamas festivities, but Haniyeh did not acknowledge the decree and continues as the PM of Gazoo while Abbas maintains a separate PM in the West Bank... ordered reopening Maan (agency) from tomorrow morning," government front man Ihab al-Hussein told AFP.
The decision was taken at a meeting between Haniyeh and Paleostinian faction leaders to discuss renewing unity talks. Paleostinian president the ineffectual Mahmoud Abbas ... a graduate of the prestigious unaccredited Patrice Lumumba University in Moscow with a doctorate in Holocaust Denial... 's Fatah movement was not represented at the meeting.
Islamic Jihad ...created after many members of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood decided the organization was becoming too moderate. Operations were conducted out of Egypt until 1981 when the group was exiled after the assassination of President Anwar Sadat. They worked out of Gaza until they were exiled to Lebanon in 1987, where they clove tightly to Hezbollah. In 1989 they moved to Damascus, where they remain a subsidiary of Hezbollah... delegate Khaled al-Batsh said that at the start of the talks he asked Haniyeh to reopen Maan and the local offices of Saudi-owned pan-Arab TV channel Al-Arabiya, which were closed on the same day.
Batsh told Agence La Belle France Presse that Haniyeh made no immediate decision on Al-Arabiya but that the factions would pursue the matter with him on Sunday.
At the time of the closure a Maan staffer and a Hamas official told AFP the agency's Gazoo office was being temporarily shut for a report -- citing Israeli sources -- saying that Hamas gave refuge in a Gazoo hotel to runaway leaders of the Egyptian Moslem Brüderbund.
Saudi-owned pan-Arab channel Al-Arabiya did not reveal the reasons for its office closure.
Morsi, a veteran Moslem Brüderbund leader who went on to become Egypt's first freely elected president, was toppled in a military coup on July 3.
Since then, hundreds of his supporters have been killed and some 2,000 Islamists have been rounded up a in a military crackdown.
On July 14, Egyptian Sherlocks began questioning Morsi and members of his Moslem Brüderbund over their escape from jail during the 2011 uprising that put them in power.
The enquiry relates to the escape by Morsi and dozens of Brotherhood members from Wadi Natrun prison during the revolt that ended former president Hosni Mubarak ...The former President-for-Life of Egypt, dumped by popular demand in early 2011... 's three-decade rule.
An Egyptian court in June said the Islamist Hamas rulers of Gazoo and Leb's Shiite Hezbollah movement helped prisoners escape.
Hamas is the Paleostinian chapter of the Moslem Brüderbund, which has branches across the Middle East.
In its coverage of the Egyptian upheaval, Al-Arabiya has aired live footage of anti-Morsi protests in Cairo's Tahrir Square and called the coup that overthrew him a "second revolution."
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11/17/2013 00:00 ||
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[BBC.CO.UK] Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has reacted defiantly to the UK's call for an inquiry into alleged human rights One man's rights are another man's existential threat. abuses, saying "people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones".
He was speaking on the second day of the Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka.
British PM David Cameron ... 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 not. Since he is not deeply ideological he lacks core principles and is easily led. 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 ... had urged Mr Rajapaksa to ensure an independent inquiry or face a UN investigation.
The abuses are alleged to have been committed mainly against Tamils since the end of the war in 2009.
Pro-government commentators have pointed to alleged abuses under British colonial rule to suggest Britannia has no moral right to criticise Sri Lanka.
And Mr Rajapaksa made an oblique reference to Bloody Sunday, when 13 civilians were rubbed out in Northern Ireland by the British army in 1972.
He said some investigations took 40 years to emerge, referring to an inquiry into the shootings which reported in 2010 and laid responsibility for the events on the army.
Mr Rajapaksa also accused his critics of ignoring deaths during the period of the civil war.
"Every day for the last 30 years people were dying... so we have stopped it," he said.
"We will take our time and we will investigate into 30 years of war," he added.
Mr Rajapaksa has said the end of the war has brought peace, stability and the chance of greater prosperity to Sri Lanka.
Basil Rajapaksa, President Rajapaksa's brother and a senior minister in his government, had already rejected Mr Cameron's call for an inquiry, saying it "definitely" would not be allowed to take place.
The government is carrying out its own investigation but denies non-combatants were killed in the last stages of the war when government troops routed Tamil Tiger rebels in their last stronghold.
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11/17/2013 00:00 ||
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[An Nahar] The Lebanese army locked away Book 'im, Mahmoud! on Saturday nine gunnies in the northern Bekaa after infiltrating Leb from Syria.
According to a communique issued by the Lebanese army "a military unit tossed in the calaboose I ain't sayin' nuttin' widdout me mout'piece! at a check point in Arsal and another in Brital in Baalbek nine Syrians, who tried to infiltrate into Lebanese territories."
The statement said that the army unit seized a quantity of light arms, ammunition and hand grenades with the men.
Another Algerian man was detained for not obtaining a legal residency permit.
"The detained men were referred to the competent authorities."
Syrians recently began fleeing the strategic Qalamoun mountain in Syria, were battles are raging.
At least 10,000 Syrian refugees fled the area towards the Lebanese towns of Arsal, Ras Baalbek and al-Fakha.
Heavy fighting ... as opposed to the more usual name-calling or slapsy... was ongoing on the main highway linking Homs to the capital Damascus, in the strategic Qalamun mountain range that spreads to Leb where regime forces can rely on allies from Hizbulllah.
Government troops also raided the Wadi al-Mawla village in the Homs countryside on Friday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, adding that two soldiers and nine men were killed in the attack.
The Observatory, which relies on medics and activists for its information, said that according to unconfirmed reports a number of women were also killed when the army entered the village.
The opposition Syrian Revolution General Commission, meanwhile, spoke of a "massacre" in Wadi al-Mawla in which "entire families" were killed and homes set on fire.
The report could not be independently verified.
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[An Nahar] Caretaker Interior Minister Charbel called on Saturday on the resident of the northern city of Tripoli ...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn... to cooperate with security forces to maintain security in the city, urging officials to resolve their political disputes during a national dialogue session.
"The Lebanese have sharp political disputes, which is deeply reflected on Tripoli that is paying the price," Charbel told news hounds at the Tripoli Grand Serail during the launching of stage-two of a security plan to be implemented in the city.
He hailed the efforts exerted by officials and city figures to implement security in the city.
Charbel expressed hope that the security chaos in the northern city would reach an end and politicians would resolve their disputes during all-party talks.
He pointed out that the security plan will be implemented in all the areas witnessing tension, including Jabal Mohsen and Bab al-Tabbaneh neighborhood.
"The security plan aims at preventing the residents of Tripoli from engaging in armed battles," Charbel added.
Tripoli is Leb's second city and is the scene of frequent Syria-linked battles, that pit Sunnis from Bab al-Tabbaneh against Alawites in Jabal Mohsen.
Most Sunnis support Syria's revolt against Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad Horror of Homs... , while Alawites, who belong to the same Shiite-offshoot sect as Assad, support his regime.
The latest fighting ended when the army deployed along Syria Street, which separates the two districts and acts as the makeshift frontline.
Tripoli suffered horrific boom-mobilekabooms near two mosques in August, killing 45 people.
He stressed that the end of arms spread across the country require a "strong political chaos."
Charbel also urged media outlets to cooperate with security forces to maintain stability in Tripoli instead of "inciting rift."
The authorities have implemented a similar plan in the Hizbullah stronghold of Beirut's southern suburbs where several blasts have also left hundreds of casualties.
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[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] Iran has launched an "organized invasion" of the suburban areas of the capital Damascus, the Syrian opposition Defense Minister Asaad Mustafa told Al Arabiya News Channel on Saturday.
Mustafa said the suburb of Ghouta - where a chemical weapons attack took place in August - had been the subject of an offensive involving large military forces and "heavy" shelling.
"It is clear which forces are behind the organized invasion," said Mustafa. "It includes the Iranian forces, Hezbollah and the Iraqi forces," he added.
The opposition minister said that foreign groups loyal to Syrian Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad Supressor of the Damascenes... 's regime were responsible for most of the offensive.
"They are the ones fighting and the regime forces are only there to 'picture' it," he said.
Mustafa accused the sponsors of the upcoming U.N.-brokered Geneva II peace conference of "allowing" the foreign forces to operate in Syria and called for their immediate withdrawal.
"The United States and Russia who are preparing for the Geneva II conference should not allow these invading forces," he said.
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11/17/2013 00:00 ||
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
...Bangla dynastic politician and current Prime Minister of Bangladesh. She has been the President of the Bangla Awami League since the Lower Paleolithic. She is the eldest of five children of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangla. Her party defeated the BNP-led Four-Party Alliance in the 2008 parliamentary elections. She has once before held the office, from 1996 to 2001, when she was defeated in a landslide. She and the head of the BNP, Khaleda Zia show such blind animosity toward each other that they are known as 
Nawaz Sharif
[The Hindu] Eighteen days after his release at the end of a long spell of detention at his home here, separatist hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani is under 'house arrest' once again.
David Cameron
Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir 
