Afghan insurgent leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar said in a television interview broadcast Thursday that his fighters helped al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden escape intense U.S. bombing in the Tora Bora mountains in 2001.
Hekmatyar, a former most evil man in the world Afghan prime minister and leader of the Hezb-e-Islami militant group, told Pakistan's private Geo TV network that when the United States began its assault on the rugged Afghan mountains five years ago, some of his fighters moved bin Laden, his deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri and other associates to "a safe place" where he met them later. Recall that Hek was still living in Iran at the time.
He did not say where they found the shelter. That'd be Fazl's guest house.
Bin Laden and al-Zawahiri are believed to be still hiding in Binori mosque along the Afghan-Pakistan border after the heavy U.S. pounding failed to kill them or lead to their capture.
Hekmatyar was a leader of the mujahedeen that fought the Soviet occupation of the 1980s and was briefly Afghan prime minister during the civil war of the early 1990s that cost tens of thousands of lives. He was a politician, not a mujaheddin, and he spent as much time stroking Soviet butt as he spent trying to sell out or upstage Masood's men. The civil war of the early 1990s that cost tens of thousands of lives - known as the Dog Eat Dog - was his doing, almost single-handedly.
In the interview, Hekmatyar insisted he has not maintained links with al-Qaida. "We have no organizational link with al-Qaida," he said. "We have no military operations outside of Afghanistan." "The relationship is purely sexual."
Hekmatyar was speaking in Pashto language. Only fragments from Hekmatyar's comments were audible under a voiceover translated into Urdu, Pakistan's main language. Geo did not disclose when or where the interview was made. Hekmatyar wore a black turban, curly-toed slippers, a scimitar, a brown coat and a white shirt. He was seen sitting in front of a backdrop with a painting of a mountain. He also said that he had offered the Taliban that the two militant groups should unite in a joint fight against U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan, but he added that the Taliban leaders did not support the idea. "A series of negotiations (with the Taliban) have broken down," Hekmatyar said. "If they realize the need (for negotiations), we are ready." Even the Talibs don't like Hek - with good reason.
Hekmatyar's militia are active in eastern Afghanistan along the Pakistan border. His whereabouts are unknown. In the TV interview, Hekmatyar said that foreign troops must first leave the country before the conflict can be solved politically. Which'll involve him rocketing Kabul again.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/12/2007 00:00 ||
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I seem to recall that amongst the Shia, the black turban indicates descent from Mohammed. Given that Hekmatyar is Pashtu, this seems a bit presumptious.
(SomaliNet) Members of the transitional parliament based in Baidoa city southwest of the Somalia capital Mogadishu Thursday debated about the state of emergency plan put forward by the government that is to be imposed on the country.
The lawmakers concluded their session in deadlock. Some demanded amendment of the plan describing it as causing conflict among the people. After a long debate, a technical committee headed by Osman Elmi Boqore was appointed to solve the stand off. Osman Elmi Boqore, the second deputy parliament speaker was chairing the parliament session in which the MPs rebuffed some of the agendas presented.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/12/2007 00:00 ||
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Sudanese authorities have arrested a dozen pro-Saddam Hussein supporters who demonstrated against the ousted Iraqi leader's execution, a member of the Baath Party in this capital said Thursday. Seventeen others were injured, including the party's Secretary-General Osman Abu Rass who was "severely beaten up by police using batons and sticks," said Mohamed Dhyaa said.
Those arrested are scheduled to be hung stand trial later Thursday, he said. "Those who had been released on bail yesterday are to stand trial now in such a hasty manner without our knowing the charges, which they say are related to spurring unrest and chaos," Dhyaa said.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/12/2007 00:00 ||
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Demonstrating after the death penalty has been successfully imposed seems kinda pointless to me, but as has been pointed out, I'm hampered by a Western perspective on such things.
(SomaliNet) Egypts President, Hosni Mubarak, has said that Egypts chief opposition body, the Muslim Brotherhood, is a danger to the country since it may suffer isolation as a result of the brotherhood activities. "The trend of the outlawed Brotherhood group poses a threat to Egypt's security because it adopts a religious approach. If we assume that there is a rise in this trend we will see a repeat in Egypt of other experiences ... of regimes representing political Islam ... and many would flee with their money, and investments would stop and unemployment would rise. Egypt would be totally isolated from the world," Mubarak lamented.
However, the presidents allegations are dismissed by Essam el-Erian, a high profile member of the Muslim Brotherhood. "The president is ... considering that more than 20 percent of parliament members are a threat to Egypt's security. We represent part of the history of this people, and part of the future of this people. No one can ... marginalize (us)," he told Reuters.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/12/2007 00:00 ||
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So give the Egyptian government a free hand against the MB terrorists. We don't help by allowing those animals to indoctrinate in the Free World. Hang 'em from lamp posts.
#2
If Zawahiri and his mob had been hanged the first or second time around, Sadat might still be alive to sit around with Carter reminiscing about the good ol' days. And al-Qaeda might never have been born.
CAIRO - Egyptian President for Life Hosni Mubarak delivered a stern warning to Teheran to stay out of Iraq, in an interview published on Thursday.
Iran is trying to gain support in Iraq and in the region and I say to all: dont touch Iraq, said Mubarak in remarks carried by the Egyptian weekly Al Osboa. Iraq is capable of maintaining its unity if the regional and international forces stop interfering in its affairs. But if the current situation continues, the fear is that Iraq will be transformed into warring states.
The situation in Iraq is regrettable, and is getting worse, the divisions are increasing and Iraq is experiencing a kind of civil war, Mubarak added. Such a conflict would threaten to partition the country, and this is a danger for the national security and the Arab identity.
Those looking to destroy the region must understand that the dangers of partition (of Iraq) will have negative repercussions on the whole world, he added, noting that sectarian or ethnic wars are a threat to oil resources.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/12/2007 00:00 ||
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Oh, is Egypt developing nukes or something too?
#5
I think this is only window dressing; on the Boeing Website today there is a press release announcing the completion of a rebuild of 35 (I think) Apache helicopters to the 'D' variant for Egypt under the Foreign Military Sales program. Lots of US VIPS in attendance so these are most likely words uttered under the post-coital ecstasy of duping the US ( again)
The bodies of 90 Somalis, who went missing at sea on their way to Yemen, were found floating off the coast of Yemen, said members of the Somali community in the Yemenite capital Sana . They were buried in mass graves in Yemen, according to IRIN.
Fifty Somali refugees are still missing at sea. The head of the Somali community in Yemen Muhammad Ali Hersi is calling for greater efforts to find the missing Somalis. The survivors were in bad condition and not all of them had been sent to the refugee reception center at Mayfaa, in southern Yemen, Hersi said. Four boats smuggling 515 Somalis and Ethiopians capsized off the Yemeni coast on December 27. Seventeen people died and 140 went missing.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/12/2007 00:00 ||
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The bodies of 90 Somalis, who went missing at sea on their way to Yemen, were found floating off the coast of Yemen, said members of the Somali community in the Yemenite capital Sana .
You know things are bad at home when your destination, as a refugee, is *Yemen*.
LONDON : British Prime Minister Tony Blair said that US President George W. Bush's increase of troops in Iraq "makes sense", in a television interview on Thursday. "Given the conditions in Baghdad at the moment, I think it makes sense for them to increase the number of their forces, provided it's to back up an increasing Iraqi capability," Blair said.
But Blair emphasised that Britain's situation in Basra, southern Iraq, was different to the one faced by the US and said it would be a "misunderstanding" to say that the two countries' policies were diverging. "The truth is the conditions in Baghdad are different from those in Basra.
"The reason why the Americans are having to surge forces in Baghdad is because the security condition there is completely different," Blair told Westcountry Television during a visit to southwest England.
Blair said that in Basra, "we don't have the same type of sectarian fighting, we don't have Al-Qaeda operating in the same way" as in Baghdad.
Asked about a report in The Daily Telegraph newspaper that Britain would pull out around 2,700 troops from southern Iraq by the end of May, Blair would only say it was right that Britain moved to a "support role" once the Iraqi authorities could handle their own security.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/12/2007 00:00 ||
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And we don't need the Royal Navy anymore now that the Caliphate Phrench have a convenient subway invasion route.
Managua, 12 Jan. (AKI) - Subsidised petrol and a package of 15 cooperations projects with Venezuela have persuaded Nicaragua's newly elected president, Daniel Ortega, to enter Alternative for the Americas, launched by Venezuela's anti-US president Hugo Chavez. Ortega signed up to ALBA - which is aimed as a counterweight to US-proposed trade deals in the Americas - on Thursday after his inauguration as president. ALBA will end Nicaragua's energy supply problems, said Chavez, who set up the body to rival the Washington sponsored Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTTA).
Venezuela is using precisely these constraints to build and reinforce its relations with other Latin American countries via "oil diplomacy" that is attacting great interest from nations hit by series economic crises. Nicaragua, where 80 percent of the population lives in poverty, is the poorest state in the region after Haiti.
But analaysts and experts know fear that Chavez's "oil diplomacy" will become interference in Nicaraguan politics. Until Nicaragua's entry into ALBA, its only other members were Cuba and Bolivia. Equador, whose incoming left-wing president Raul Rafael Correa is a comrade friend of Chavez's, may also have his sights set on ALBA, however. He takes office on 15 January.
Chavez has promised Ortega he will build a 100,000 barrels per day oil refinery in the capital, Managua. It will also sell petrol to Nicaragua and highly subsidised prices - as it already does to Cuba. The deal under which Nicaragua entered ALBA guarantees the sale of 100 million barrels annually.
Under the deal, Venezuela will also supply 23 electricy generators to Nicaragua, and may construct a gas pipeline in the country. It will also cancel Nicaragua's debts (which amount to almost 32 million dollars) and open a number of branches of Venezuelan banks in Managua that will lend a total 20 million dollars to small companies.
The value of the 15 cooperation accords - which also include building 200,000 new homes in Grenada Nicaragua - is estimated to be some 600 million dollars.
#1
and a pony! How much of Venezuela's annual output has Hugo promised to various enemies of the US? 200%? 300%?
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/12/2007 18:30 Comments ||
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And what is really funny about that is that very few refineries outside the US can refine the heavy crude that Venezuela pumps. It is crappy crude, with a lot of sulphur in it.
Another view, compared to the ABC NEws view presented earlier. Have your barf bag ready.
FORT BENNING, Ga., Jan. 11 -- The pictures were just what the White House wanted: A teary-eyed President Bush presenting the Medal of Honor posthumously to a slain war hero in the East Room, then flying here to join the chow line with camouflage-clad soldiers as some of them prepare to return to Iraq. Peter Baker - Washington Post Staff Writer - you disgust me.
There are few places the president could go for an unreservedly enthusiastic reception the day after unveiling his decision to order 21,500 more troops to Iraq. A military base has usually been a reliable backdrop for the White House, and so Bush aides chose this venerable Army installation in western Georgia to promote his revised strategy to the nation while his Cabinet secretaries tried to sell it on Capitol Hill.
To ensure that there would be no discordant notes here, Maj. Gen. Walter Wojdakowski, the base commander, prohibited the 300 soldiers who had lunch with the president from talking with reporters. If any of them harbored doubts about heading back to Iraq, many for the third time, they were kept silent.
"It's going to require sacrifice, and I appreciate the sacrifices our troops are willing to make," Bush told the troops. "Some units are going to have to deploy earlier than scheduled as a result of the decision I made. Some will remain deployed longer than originally anticipated."
Among those going early will be members of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team from the 3rd Infantry Division based here. Theirs was the division that spearheaded the invasion into Iraq in March 2003 and captured Baghdad. They returned in 2005 and lost 34 troops. Now, instead of heading back in May or June, they will return to Iraq in March.
Soldiers being soldiers, those who met the commander in chief Thursday saluted smartly and applauded politely. But it was hardly the boisterous, rock-star reception Bush typically gets at military bases. During his lunchtime speech, the soldiers were attentive but quiet. Not counting the introduction of dignitaries, Bush was interrupted by applause just three times in 30 minutes -- once when he talked about a previous Medal of Honor winner from Fort Benning, again when he pledged to win in Iraq and finally when he repeated his intention to expand the Army.
Bush's speech essentially repeated his address to the nation the night before, and he appeared a little listless as he talked. Aides said he was deliberately low-key to reflect the serious situation. Whether the audience was sobered by the new mission or responding to Bush's subdued tone was unclear, because reporters were ushered out as soon as his talk ended.
White House officials had promised reporters they could talk with soldiers. But that was not good enough for Wojdakowski. "The commanding general said he does not want media talking to soldiers today," spokeswoman Tracy Bailey said. "He wants the focus to be on the president's speech." Only hours later, after reporters complained, did the base offer to make selected soldiers available, but the White House plane was nearing departure.
For Bush, it was a day of military events and images. He began at the White House, presenting the Medal of Honor to the parents of a Marine slain in Iraq. Cpl. Jason Dunham, who died after falling on a grenade to save colleagues two years ago, became the second service member in Iraq to receive the nation's highest military decoration.
After flying here, Bush attended a U.S. Army Airborne School training demonstration as troops parachuted out of a helicopter. He also met privately with the families of 25 soldiers killed in Iraq or Afghanistan.
White House counselor Dan Bartlett said Bush was impressed by the "warm reception." "The perception is he's coming here to motivate the troops," Bartlett said, "but it has as much of an impact on him."
Posted by: Bobby ||
01/12/2007 06:27 ||
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There are times when a great leader walks among his soldiers to great acclaim, other times when he walks among them more like Henry V, listening to their heartfelt thoughts.
#2
There are few places the president could go for an unreservedly enthusiastic reception the day after unveiling his decision to order 21,500 more troops to Iraq. A military base has usually been a reliable backdrop for the White House...
and It doesn't occur to Mr. Baker, Washington Post Staff Writer, to ask why this decidedly odd situation might be so, when it wasn't for President Bush's predecessor.
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is headed to Iraq this weekend with two other lawmakers, as the rest of Congress engages in a fierce debate over President Bush's plan to send 21,500 additional troops to salvage the U.S. effort there.
Clinton, a Democrat from New York who is considering running for president, is traveling with Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., who had also eyed the 2008 race but opted out, and Rep. John McHugh, a Republican congressman from upstate New York.
The three, who are all members of armed services committees, are to meet with top Iraqi officials, U.S. military commanders, and also travel to Afghanistan.
"This was the first opportunity we had to be able to go because of the long weekend, and it turns out that the timing is propitious because of the president's plans," Clinton told The Associated Press.
During the trip, Clinton and McHugh will spend time with troops from the Army's 10th Mountain Division, which is based in New York and deployed in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Clinton spokesman Philippe Reines said the trip was originally planned to allow them to attend a Senate Armed Services hearing with Defense Secretary Robert Gates, but they will now miss that hearing because it was changed to Friday, and officials were unable to reschedule the trip.
Bayh stressed he wants to meet with top Iraqi officials and judge for himself how serious they are about using their own troops and government to stabilize the country.
"The essential truth in Iraq is that we can't do this for them," said Bayh. "We need to take away their security blanket."
Clinton last traveled to Iraq in February 2005 with Sen. John McCain, a Republican presidential contender. This week's journey marks the third visit to Iraq for both Clinton and Bayh, and McHugh's seventh.
McHugh has not been as critical of the Bush administration's handling of the Iraq war as the two senators, but like many Republicans in Congress he sounds increasingly exasperated with conditions there.
Before embarking on this trip, McHugh said he wanted to face Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and warn him of the dwindling patience in Washington.
"I'm very anxious to speak with the prime minister and others to let them know that there are few other opportunities that lie in the days ahead," said McHugh. "This is, for me at least, a final opportunity for them to capture and secure their own future."
McHugh added that stabilizing Baghdad is the only way to secure the country.
"It's folly to think that you can stabilize 80 percent of a country while one of the most important sites in the Middle East, Baghdad, is in total chaos. You can't just shove that under the rug," he said.
Clinton said she is frustrated with the assurances from top Iraq officials.
"It's just been one excuse after another, so first and foremost we're going at an opportune time, it turns out, to assess what the attitudes and actions of this Iraqi government will be going forward," she said.
Both Clinton and Bayh voted to authorize the invasion of Iraq, but both have sharply criticized the execution of the war. Clinton has called for a phased withdrawal of U.S. forces without a specific timetable, which many anti-war Democrats say would not do enough to end the conflict quickly.
Clinton opposes the president's move to send more U.S. troops to Iraq, but said she does want to see more troops in Afghanistan, where she said, "we seem to be on autopilot."
"I wish we were discussing additional troops for Afghanistan. We are hearing increasingly troubling reports out of Afghanistan and we will be searching for accurate information about the true state of affairs both militarily and politically," she said.
#1
"60 percent of a country" > IOW, MOST = BULK OF IRAQ IS FIRMLY UNDER IGA AND ALLIED CENTCOM CONTROL. Sub-IOW, iff one believes that Dubya's strategy was to avoid costs-prohibitive, multiple invasions of Rogue nations, and instead "motivate" Radical Islamists/Terrorists to attack America on battlewground of Amer's choosing, THEN DUBYA'S IS GENER SUCCEEDING, AND HIS ADMIN-GOP'S ONLY FAILURE WAS THAT DEMO REGIME CHANGE IN IRAN WAS NOT TAKING PLACE BEFORE THE 2006 ELEX FOR CONGRESS. Which is one reason, among others, that the Dems have allowed Dubya to fight the War while PC pretending to criticize him for MSM-correct alleged "failures". THE DEMS IN REALITY HAVE ACCEPTED = REJECTED, i.e. ACCEPTAJECTED = REJECTACEPTED "DUBYA'S WAR".
Posted by: Mike N. ||
01/12/2007 20:12 Comments ||
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A weekend in the green zone, tying up all kinds of security for a stinking photo-op trip. If you really want to find out what it is like over there, Senator Hillary, take a trip with Michael Yon and you may learn something about real evil.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
01/12/2007 20:45 Comments ||
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It will be most interesting to see if these POS get the same reception John Fkn Kerry did. To the 'Burgers in country: if the opportunity presents itself for a photo-op of the highly exalted congresscritters dining solo, please 'take the shot' for us back here. Thank you.
BOXER'S LOW BLOW
January 12, 2007 -- Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer, an appalling scold from California, wasted no time yesterday in dragging the debate over Iraq about as low as it can go - attacking Secre tary of State Condoleezza Rice for being a childless woman. Boxer was wholly in character for her party - New York's own two Democratic senators, Chuck Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton, were predictably opportunistic - but the Golden State lawmaker earned special attention for the tasteless jibes she aimed at Rice.
Rice appeared before the Senate in defense of President Bush's tactical change in Iraq, and quickly encountered Boxer. "Who pays the price? I'm not going to pay a personal price," Boxer said. "My kids are too old, and my grandchild is too young." Then, to Rice: "You're not going to pay a particular price, as I understand it, with an immediate family."
Dr. Rice should reply something to the effect of "Not having children is one of the few regrets in my life, but because of it I regard each of those men and women in Iraq as my adopted children." She and Bush are not my favorite politicians, but Lord, they have more class than their opposition.
#2
Already weeping and gnashing of teeth, eh Babs? Methinks the Donks are gonna rush to the bottom in showing their hostilities of minorities and the military. A farkin' shame these quotes won't make it to the MSM.
Posted by: BA ||
01/12/2007 16:12 Comments ||
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I was just wondering how many degrees removed you woudl ahve to go to find a Boxer relative that wore a uniform. I friggin hate Babs Boxer.
#5
For me, once again shows that Liberalism, Laissez Faire, Diversity, + Alternatism, etc, now and to come exist only as meaningless
feel-good, PC/PDeniable "talking points" come elex time, and nothing more. The Gubmint-happy Lefties know there isn't enuff $$$ in all Capitalism, the Universe, or any other -Ism to adequately support everybody's agendas. Socialism achieves "wealth" only when a handful are the beneficiaries.
#2
Isn't this the same Texas governor that wants the Feds to do 'something' about the flood if illegals across the border? Here's a clue Gov: quit using this tuition stuff for bait.
WASHINGTON Fourteen members of a leadership group under former President Carter's think tank resigned Thursday over concerns that Carter's book on the Middle East does not represent "the Jimmy Carter we came to respect and support."
The members of the 200-member Board of Councilors, a leadership advisory group founded in 1987, join a longtime Carter aide, Jewish groups and lawmakers who have publicly criticized the former president's best-selling book "Palestine: Peace, Not Apartheid" for inaccuracies and distorting history. "It comes to the result of deep soul searching and a tremendous amount of angst," said Steve Berman, a member who was appointed six months ago.
Berman, an Atlanta commercial real estate developer, said he was led to resign after becoming deeply troubled after reviewing Carter's book, shocked by factual errors and a message that doesn't serve the cause of peace. "We're trying to send a message that the issue of the Middle East is very complicated and complex," Berman said. "There are two narratives that need to be heard."
Continued on Page 49
#3
Something I can't figure out... ok, I am relatively young and have no public profile or legacy to speak; even of having been the worst President in history. So if Mordor offered me millions of dollars I might find it difficult to turn down. But what, exactly, except contempt from any except the Nazi "left" is Carter getting in exchange for this? I assume he has a large, comfortable home and fine offices at his center in Atlanta. I cannot imagine these extra millions are going to make much difference to the quality of his remaining days.
#4
I assume he has a large, comfortable home and fine offices at his center in Atlanta. I cannot imagine these extra millions are going to make much difference to the quality of his remaining days.
It's worse than personal greed. It's coveting the money so that the 'good works' can continue.
#6
They left out the best part of the resignation letter:
Furthermore the comments you have made the past few weeks insinuating that there is a monolith of Jewish power in America are most disturbing and must be addressed by us. In our great country where freedom of expression is basic bedrock you have suddenly proclaimed that Americans cannot express their opinion on matters in the Middle East for fear of retribution from the "Jewish Lobby" In condemning the Jews of America you also condemn Christians and others for their support of Israel. Is any interest group to be penalized for participating in the free and open political process that is America? Your book and recent comments suggest you seem to think so.
'Twill be interesting to see if Jimmy Peanut and Michael Moore are so prominently featured at Donkeymania '08 the 2008 Democrat Convention.
Posted by: Mike ||
01/12/2007 10:55 Comments ||
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President Bush, surrounded on Thursday by cheering soldiers in camouflage, defended his decision to send 21,500 more U.S. troops to Iraq and cautioned that the buildup will not produce quick results. "It's going to take awhile," he said.
With Americans overwhelmingly opposed to the increase, Bush said the U.S. commitment to the war was not open-ended although he put no timetable on how long it would last. While more bloodshed can be expected, Bush said, Americans should give the Iraqi government time to prove its resolve to stop violence and unify the nation.
Fort Benning, south of Columbus, Ga., offered Bush a patriotic backdrop and a friendly audience in which to sell his retooled plan for Iraq, which drew heavy fire on Capitol Hill from Democrats and some Republicans. Some 4,000 members of Fort Benning's 3rd Brigade Combat Team are being sent to Iraq earlier than planned because of the president's decision. "The new strategy is not going to yield immediate results. It's going to take awhile," Bush said. "The American people have got to understand that suicide bombings won't stop immediately."
Posted by: Fred ||
01/12/2007 00:00 ||
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I heard a snippet of the speech. He said something to the effect that he understands that after 9/11 the American people have forgotten that we're at war, but that's ok because the members of the Armed Forces never forget what we're doing and why. I think we want to read the text, if someone would be so good as to dig it up. Thanks!
The passage you're referring to appears to be this one:
"On September the 11th, our nation saw firsthand the destructive vision of a new kind of enemy, and once again the men and women of Fort Benning answered the call to protect our country from that enemy. You know, I knew that right after the attacks, the American psyche being what it is, people would tend to forget the grave threat posed by these people. I knew that. As a matter of fact, I was hoping that would happen so that life would go on. But the fortunate thing for this country is that those who wear the uniform have never forgotten the threat."
Dear God in Heaven... he was actually HOPING the American people would "forget the grave threat" so "life would go on"????
Bad move. MAJOR strategic blunder. Because the American people sure as hell HAVE forgotten the threat, to the point where they no longer even support the war. How the hell do you expect the American people to hang in there through this "long, hard slog", this so-called "generational conflict", this "calling of our time", WHEN YOU INVITE THEM TO FORGET ALL ABOUT THE DANGER THAT NECESSITATED THE WAR IN THE FIRST PLACE???????
Oh, well, at least that solves the mystery of why Bush has made little effort these last few years to shore up public support for the war: he held back so "life would go on".
Jesus...
Posted by: Dave D. ||
01/12/2007 7:20 Comments ||
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I hope Verlaine sees this item and comments on it; it drives right to the heart of what he's been saying the last couple of weeks about Bush's failure to rally sufficient public support for the war. He "wanted life to go on". Good Lord...
Posted by: Dave D. ||
01/12/2007 7:37 Comments ||
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#6
With Americans overwhelmingly opposed to the increase,
Funny how the reporter just kind of threw this assumption in isn't it.
#8
What Dave D. said. There is no sense in which life should go on as it did before the massacre. There is an ocean of blood and fire before us before we should consider resting once again.
#9
I think what CF is getting at is the implication that all 70% oppose the increase because they oppose the war, which is a faulty assumption. Those opposed may include significant numbers of people who think a better solution would be, for example, to stick with current troop levels but toss our suicidally restrictive ROEs, and/or let the Navy & Air Force level Teheran.
And Isfahan, Natanz, Bushehr, and Qom while we're at it.
And maybe also Riyadh, Islamabad, and Damascus.
I'm just sayin, I agree that "overwhelming opposition" isn't necessarily rooted in monolithic anti-war sentiment, as the AP suggests.
#11
I certainly agree the AP is spinning poll numbers, but just for the moment, let's assume they're correct.
How many people supported FDR's decision to embargo Japanese oil to curtail their adventures in China? Oh, no poll.
How many people supported FDR's Lend Lease program? It was controversial, was it not?*
How many folks supported FDR sending US Navy ships as far as Iceland to protect British convoys in the summer of 1941? Did you know that the USS Rueben James was, in fact, sunk by a German submarine on October 31st, 1941?
What I am driving at here is the difference between a democracy, where the guy with the loudest mouth or best speaking power controls**, and a republic, where we elect someone to lead us. Kerry would be directing a democracy, FDR led the republic into war because it was the only thing to do to protect the republic.
Bush is a leader. Clinton was a follower. Kerry is a blowhard. Kennedy is a ... irrelevant bufoon, yeah, that's it.
*Franklin Roosevelt, eager to ensure public consent for this controversial plan, explained to the public and the press that his plan was comparable to one neighbor's lending another a garden hose to put out a fire in his home. "What do I do in such a crisis?" the president asked at a press conference. "I don't say ... 'Neighbor, my garden hose cost me $15; you have to pay me $15 for it' I don't want $15 I want my garden hose back after the fire is over." (Wikipedia article on Lend Lease)
**To understand how destructive a democracy can be, read Victor Davis Hanson's book, A War Like No Other. I concluded the biggest single factor leading to te decline of Greek civilization is 400 B.C was the self-destructive power of the democratic process.
Posted by: Bobby ||
01/12/2007 13:09 Comments ||
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#12
Dave D., think what you want, hate the man all you want but a nation paralyzed by fear isn't good for the econonmy. Right after 9/11 everyone was in shock and consumer spending dropped.
#13
"Dave D., think what you want, hate the man all you want..."
What the fuck???? I don't hate Bush; I think overall he's done a damn good job except for a few things, including the issue I raised above-- good enough, in fact, that I contributed the legal maximum to his re-election campaign.
Don't put words in my mouth.
Posted by: Dave D. ||
01/12/2007 14:07 Comments ||
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#14
I believe that despite that actual words GWB uttered, his intent was that the grieving and pain would subside, but his choice of words were unfortunate; an occupational hazard of contemporaneous speech.
#15
Right, and his off-the-cuff stuff is not nearly as good as Kerry's!
Posted by: Bobby ||
01/12/2007 15:06 Comments ||
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#16
Dave, whether or not the comment in question had precisely the meaning you suggest, I have had a larger problem in mind WRT Dubya's administration and public communication. There has been and continues to be a general passivity in the face of significant distortion by the media - sometimes specific things, sometimes more a pattern of selection and of course the ceaseless devolution of even wire service reporting into mediocre editorializing.
It's the cumulative effect of uncorrected, unanswered, or unchallenged b.s. that seems so important. The public, or a lot of it, has a firm base of false information or understanding on lots of key issues. I'm sure I'm not the only one here who gets it day in and day out, from friend, relatives, strangers we talk with in daily life. It takes a lot of energy, uncommon independence and analytical bent, or sustained exposure to an alternative info source (military relative, etc.) to avoid the misunderstanding fostered by the poor coverage - AND the lack of guvamint response.
I'm thinking here as much of the failure to combat stupid false memes as the failure to, somehow, sustain a war-time mentality among the populace. I still recall the sole time - at least that I'm aware of - it was clear the WH had noticed the distortion. The NYT had a front page story starkly misrepresenting a finding of the staff of the 9/11 Commission (leaving aside how little weight should have been given to that product, anyway) - issue being connection between Saddam's Iraq and al Qaeda. I recall my jaw dropping when I saw the report - and it took me about 2 minutes to click over to the web version of the staff report to confirm that the NYT had clearly misreported the issue.
Next day, Cheney was on an obscure cable news interview. Without much prompting he bristled and - for him - vigorously denounced the inaccurate reporting.
THAT was, to my knowledge, the high-point of administration response to media malpractice. Of course Rummy had frequent and entertaining jousts with the Pentagon press, but that was about it. I noticed that just as I left Iraq DOD had started to put some counter-fire on their website. The WH has had, for some time, an email that goes out to government offices - oh great, that will ensure the public knows! - in which they counter specific false memes; some of these have appeared as op-eds in the WSJ.
Anyway, there is no doubt that, unfortunately, the administration's greatest failure may be in the area of public communcation, in its simple absence from the playing field. During a war - a war that's relatively hard to understand and follow to begin with - and in which there is an astounding if not totally unprecedented tsunami of political sabotage from the press and the mainstream political opposition.
I guess I have to toss in the failure to jettison the politics-centric strategy we followed in Iraq following the first elections as the other major blunder. And that's not hindsight - there were people of all statures scratching their heads and calling for adaptation long, long before February 2006, and specifically under the rubric of "security first", which somehow is now being treated as though it's an innovative thought or new strategic approach.
I wish someone would finally address the rhetorical confusion about "open-ended" commitment. This desire to signal that our commitment may start to decline soon - the same sort of stuff Casey started peddling in early 2006 - is simply insane. You can try to soothe the public, boost your poll numbers, and avoid some of the pressure of leading during war - OR, you can fight the war. The enemy - and as importantly, the neutrals and the regional allies - CANNOT be allowed to think they can wait us out. All this body English about reducing troop numbers "if so and so happens" is as incompetent and harmful as publishing a damn timetable - it's a timetable without the calendar.
Ironic that the US president with arguably the strongest will in decades is diluting the critical real-world value of that grit by trying to mollify the weakest and silliest political class in living memory .... (speaking of which, while we were all surprised by Dubya himself after 9/11, is anyone here NOT incredibly depressed about the prospects for the next presidency?).
#17
Thanks for responding, Verlaine; not much for me to say except, "I concur". I fear that the Administration's failure to fight the war at home may well be the undoing of this entire enterprise.
"...is anyone here NOT incredibly depressed about the prospects for the next presidency?"
I think we're going to be staring disaster in the face two years from now-- whether it's a Rep or a Dem. Just my opinion...
Posted by: Dave D. ||
01/12/2007 15:43 Comments ||
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A belated thank you to Nimble Spemble and Dave D. for finding the text.
#19
Far too much hand wringing and over analysis here. Bush's comment can be interrupted in many ways.
By definition, "terrorists" want to terrorize the populace. They aspire to have an overriding influence on how we Americans live our lives.
My take is that Bush would and we should) not want to let terrorists have what they covet: our abiding attention.
Thankfully, we have a powerful military that provides for our security and make incredible sacrifices for our benefit and welfare.
I believe that's the correct way to view Bush's remarks.
Posted by: Captain America ||
01/12/2007 16:31 Comments ||
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I wish someone would finally address the rhetorical confusion about "open-ended" commitment. This desire to signal that our commitment may start to decline soon - the same sort of stuff Casey started peddling in early 2006 - is simply insane.
I agree with what Verlaine has written, but...
Overall, Bush's media and public diplomacy strategy has been a mystery to me. I suspect this is in large part thanks to MSM efforts to bury and mischaracterise his message. But he also fails time and again to get his message across unambiguously. I suspect the above may have been said to threaten Maliki. But better to do that in private. The domestic penalty for misleading people about our ultimate intention is not worth the price of telegraphing a punch to Maliki publicly.
What is funny is that any candidate who advocates the immediate withdrawal from Iraq will be as successful as George McGovern. The American people do not want to leave Iraq, they want victory. And that word was missing from Bush's speech. He needs to talk about doing whatever is necessary to achieve victory in this theater of the war.
If the American people see actions taking place that are leading to victory they will support the war. They will not support defeat and that is what Bush's generals and diplomats have delivered so far. I hope we start to see changes in the conduct of the war that indicate that the ROE have been changed to those that assure victory and not warm feelings. First thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers.
#21
The biggest cheese of part of Bush not fighting back against the press is that a little bit would go a long way. When he speaks, the average American listens.
A comment here in a radio address, a statement there in a prime time interview, a press release here's and there correct the most egregious errors would help. Combine that with some Sunday morning appearrances by his cabinet and a statement or two in a State of the Union and I think this war could be sitting better with the American public.
All blame is not his however.
Would it be too much to ask for some war supporters to take out a Sunday ad? Or pitch in for a tv commercial? Hell, America used to see war highlights when they went to the theatre.
Posted by: Mike N. ||
01/12/2007 17:02 Comments ||
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#22
Agree with everything just added by Mike, Nimble, and even Capt. A. - I didn't want the administration to let AQ run our national life, I have been more concerned that Dubya and Co. have been so invisible, and particularly when the media and the opposition are so far off the rails.
I understand the knife-edge problem of wanting to scare the Iraqis straight while also presenting a determined face to our adversaries. I think, however, that the admin. and MNF-I engaged in something close to fantasy in thinking Iraqis were anywhere near being ready to take over. I think they also forgot that you can, indeed in this case MUST do both things at the same time - destroy the enemy, while brining the Iraqi forces along. The lack of offensive pressure on the enemy, the lack of serious approaches has been the wrong way to prep the battlefield for junior to take over (after the Haifa Street dust-up this week, was martial law imposed on central B'dad? Doubt it. Heck, I watched martial law on black-and-white TV from Watts in the 1960s - KTLA, first helicopter coverage I ever saw - but such conditions are hard to find in the Iraqi "war" zone).
Owens has CSM op-ed today in which he refers to a series of offensive operations. Sort of misleading. None of them aside from Fallujah featured sustained, and massive, pressure (heck, even at Fallujah they failed to effectively cordon the place in a timely manner, judging by the reported skeedaddling of many hard boyz). From sitting in at the daily briefings since spring 2006, I'd say offense was a rare and welcome thing in Iraq. I know special ops and others do their raid thing out of sight, but it's remarkable how little pressure we've seemed to put on our enemies. Could be wrong, but I think a large swath of discouraged Americans has it right when they say we haven't really been serious for some time.
#23
The soldiers also must realize that Dubya-USGovt is much a valid target of Radical Islam as the WTC , etal. was, AND THAT AMERICA MUST FIGHT "OVER THERE" NO MATTER HOW MANY NEW 9-11's/AMER HIROSHIMAS TAKE PLACE INSIDE AMERICA. OUR WARRIORS WANNA FIGHT AND WANNA FIGHT "OVER THERE", NOT OVER HERE, NO MATTER WHAT THE MSM + DEMOLEFTIES IN CONGRESS PC SAY TO THE CONTRARY.
The Art Directors Club of New York is holding an art contest sponsored by Yahoo, MediaTemple, Adobe, and Corbis. An LGF reader emailed a shot of the promotional poster for the contest.
Its an impressive panoply of moonbat leftist self-loathing, a desolate nuclear wasteland populated by Republican political leaders holding hands with the Devil (lower left), Christians throttling Muslims (lower left corner and center), a priest shoving a lollipop into a little boys mouth, gas-guzzling Humvees crushing people, Starbucks, Wal-Mart, and a lone polar bear, marooned on an ice floe in a tsunami.
Hit the link to see it. It's more than you can imagine.
Posted by: Mike ||
01/12/2007 06:35 ||
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Well, at least the artist can paint... you know, rather than pickle half-cows in formaldehyde, or pile up bits of junk to make an "assembly". (enable snark mode)
But s/he ain't no Thomas Kinkade, that's for sure. (disable snarke mode)
#5
Oh well, at least they got Ahmadinijad and Kimmy ridin' the bomb in (upper right) above the polar bear! And, center-right (by the Hummer), is that supposed to be a jihadi with a bomb belt on, or Robert Byrd in his klan outfit?
Posted by: BA ||
01/12/2007 11:03 Comments ||
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#6
Lileks tracked down the artist, too. That's his publishers' site. Here is his own.
#11
did he paint it with his ass? Good detail....must have a sharp ass
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/12/2007 13:09 Comments ||
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So where is the downside?
the artist left out any reference to St. Pancake; that would then be the logical way to drag the Jooos into their disgusting thought process ( or what passes for one)
Democrats yesterday attacked President Bush's new plan to send more U.S. troops to Iraq and began laying the groundwork for a showdown between the executive and legislative branches over war powers. "Escalation of this war is not the change the American people called for in the last election," Democratic Whip Sen.
Richard J. Durbin of Illinois said last night in his party's response to Mr. Bush's prime-time presentation of his Iraq strategy changes. "Instead of a new direction, the president's plan moves the American commitment in Iraq in the wrong direction."
The new Democratic-led Congress plans to grill Bush administration officials during Capitol Hill hearings on the Iraq war -- beginning this morning when Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates testify before congressional committees.
Sen. Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat, said Americans want to know whether Mr. Bush's strategy is a "change of course."
"Or is this simply more of the same with slightly different rhetoric?" Mr. Schumer said.
Miss Rice will testify before the Senate and House foreign relations committees today, and Mr. Gates, who replaced the war's architect Donald H. Rumsfeld last month, will testify before the House Armed Services Committee today and the Senate Armed Services Committee tomorrow. Democratic leaders also are drafting a nonbinding resolution opposing the troop surge, which they want to put up for a vote in both the House and Senate next week and which they think some Republicans will support. "The issue is: Do you support the president's policy? That will be the vote," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat.
Sen. Sam Brownback, Kansas Republican and a favorite of conservatives, last night said Mr. Bush's troop surge is not the answer. "Iraq requires a political rather than a military solution," he said.
Mr. Bush said he will send more than 17,000 soldiers to Baghdad and 4,000 Marines to the Anbar province to try to break the cycle of violence and "hasten the day our troops begin coming home." He said Iraq has responsibilities that it must meet.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/12/2007 00:00 ||
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Democrats ready to fight new war plan
As usual, not willing to fight anything substantial.
#4
They are betting the ranch that Bush's revamped war plan will fail.
Today, a Rep. Abercrombie (D-Beirut) was raving that it was the dumbest thing he had ever heard of, or words to that effect. Dennis Kucinich (D-Pluto) and Keith Ellison (AQ-Mecca) have called for immediate unconditional withdrawal of all US forces from Iraq, with Basra apparently to serve as a new Dunkirk. Similar screeds have been heard from Rodent-infested districts all over America.
They know that these pronouncements will be re-played ad nauseum in 2008 if the plan actually works. They will look like fools, cowards, and worse; but they are sublimely confident that won't happen.
There is a lot they don't know, or don't understand, about the reasons for Bush's confidence. There are some things very few people know----for now.
#8
I just flushed my toilet of Coleman and Brownback, men or mice? mice
Posted by: Captain America ||
01/12/2007 16:38 Comments ||
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#9
They're NOT gonna take "it", NOOOOOOO, they're not gonna take "it" ..... They're gonna fight, for our right, to ......... Well iff the Amer people don't know whom are the Dems to tell us/them??? D *** ng it, THIS IS AMERIKA, NOT AMERICA, THE FOUNDING FATHERS INTENDED FOR AMERICA TO BE A CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC = DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC = REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY = REPUBLICAN FORM OF GUBMINT, NOT A DEMOCRACY - you know, SIMPLE DEMOCRACY = ANY AND ALL FORMS OF DEMOCRACY. D *** ng it, America was young, dum, and Socialist-Govtist-Totalitarianist, but just didn't know it until Alec Baldin proved America bombed Pearl Harbor!?
WASHINGTON - US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said on Thursday he would recommend to President George W. Bush increasing the Army and Marine Corps by 92,000 troops over the next five years for the long-term fight against terrorism. The emphasis will be on increasing combat capability, Gates said at a White House news conference to detail Bushs plan for changing course in the Iraq war.
In unveiling his strategy on Wednesday night to send more than 21,000 more troops to fight in Iraq, Bush said a permanent increase was needed for the two services. Gates proposed increasing the Army by 65,000 soldiers and 27,000 Marines.
The Army, which has had modest trouble meeting its recruiting goals in recent years but no longer, already has been authorized to boost the number of active-duty soldiers temporarily from 482,000 to a maximum of 512,000, although it has yet to reach that limit.
I do think we should have increased both services back in 2002, but this is good now.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/12/2007 00:00 ||
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After years of listening to Dhimmicrat pissing and moaning about needing "more boots on the ground" the 180 degree about face they have done now the President and his men are considering the idea is more than my stomach can take.
My only consolation is that Lincoln endured worse.
#7
27,000 Additional Marines is about a Division plus support including Airwing. I wonder if they will reactivate the 4th Marine Division. Where would they base them? Twenty Nine Palms?
Maybe existing Divisions get much larger and with less frequent rotations of Regiments.
#9
rumsfeld increased the number of brigade combat teams, using the same army end strength. We was finally presssured into a "temporary" increase in the army end strength - which the lates QDR envisioned dropping, The Gates proposal would make the temporary increase permanent, and add beyond that.
#11
GolfBravoUSMC, I thought that the 4th Marine Division was the Marine Reserves comprised of the 23rd, 24th, and 25th Regiments. You think they might transfer the reserves to active duty?
#12
I think that if they reactivate a Marine division, it would be the 5th. (a division that was one of five Marine divisions(!) that assaulted Iwo Jima in February 1945) It would be a historic expansion.
#13
Note well that 'expansion' can only be done at a rate which can be handled both by the resources to conduct training [read - cadre and facilities] and the resources to sustain them [read - base facilities with the infrastructure to house, train, and sustain]. Any increase beyond the existing capacity to train means pulling cadre off the line and into the training base [organization, not installation]. You can always fill body bags in 30 days, but to train an effective soldier it takes up to two years. You can inject a certain amount of green troops in with units having good integrity, but there is a point where too many too fast undermines the effectiveness and starts generating casualties and not multiplying or even sustaining the combat effectiveness of those units.
Oh, and some of those base closure actions in the past decade are about to bite. Betcha there was no cost avoidance numbers generated on 'what if we have to expand the force structure again'.
from the Financial Times. Prisoners held at the Guantánamo Bay detention camp in Cuba are being driven insane by a tightening of conditions and the situation of their indefinite detention without trial, according to lawyers and rights activists involved with the US camp.
The lawyers and activists also doubt whether the Bush administration intends to carry out its stated desire to close the facility.
We'll keep it open as long as your clients are dangerous.
Protesters around the world plan to mark Thursday's fifth anniversary of the first delivery of detainees to Guantánamo with demonstrations calling for its closure. American anti-war activists and at least one former British prisoner intend to march to the perimeter of the US-held enclave in eastern Cuba.
I shall say a prayer of thanks to the soldiers guarding these jokers.
Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, says the isolation regime at Guantánamo has tightened in recent months, piling the mental pressure on inmates who have "no fair procedure" that would lead to possible release.
We have a fair procedure for hearings; release depends on what your clients say.
Mr Roth told the Financial Times he had proposed to Angela Merkel, the German chancellor and chairman of the European Union presidency, that EU member states offered to take some of the detainees who cannot return to their home countries for fear of torture. In exchange the US would offer a concrete closure plan that would lead to trials, preferably before a court martial, of remaining prisoners. Ms Merkel was "intrigued but non-committal", Mr Roth said.
"Please, I haf enough problems and you vish to saddle me mit dis?"
But he does not believe the US is looking to close the camp despite comments by President George W. Bush last year that he would "very much" like to shut it down. Mr Roth is also sceptical of Mr Bush's claim in September to have closed CIA-run secret prisons when 14 terrorist suspects were transferred to Guantánamo. Human Rights Watch has documented 15 cases of prisoners who "disappeared" into the CIA prison system before September and have not been accounted for since.
Have you looked in the Arctic?
Brent Mickum, a defence lawyer, says one of his two clients, Bisher al-Rawi, an Iraqi-born UK resident, "is slowly but surely slipping into madness" because of "prolonged isolation coupled with environmental manipulation that includes constant exposure to temperature extremes and constant sleep deprivation". He says his ration of toilet paper was removed because he used it for shielding his eyes from the light and his prayer rug was taken away because he used it for warmth.
Jonathan Hafetz, an attorney for the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law, says the five years of the Bush administration's detention policy and related practices may have "done more to reverse 200 years of democracy than any other government act in US history".
As opposed to Islamic justice or the flying of airplanes into office towers.
The answer, he said, was not simply to close Guantánamo but to reflect on how far off constitutional course our practices and the warped policies on which they are based had veered and to establish a rights-respecting national security policy for the future.
Just another version of 'why do they hate us?' We should do nothing and contemplate how awful we are.
The US has released more than 300 inmates from Guantánamo and still holds nearly 400 there. An official told the FT that charges would probably be laid against 60 to 80. Others will be released, but lawyers and activists are concerned that the remaining 200 to 300 will be held indefinitely.
Only until the War on Terror is over.
The Pentagon said the detention of enemy combatants was in general "not criminal in nature, but to prevent them from continuing to fight against the US in the war on terror".
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/12/2007 00:00 ||
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In the words of Zap Brannigan: I've never heard of such a brutal and shocking injustice that I cared so little about.
#6
We could give them a choice between beheading by bowie knife, having both legs blown off, family killed and hair torn out, being killed execution style at some random time, or being drilled to death.
Posted by: Mike N. ||
01/12/2007 13:07 Comments ||
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I really hope these guys gave intel that justifies the decision to take them alive and not simply shoot them as spies as the ununiformed combatants in other wars were generally treated.
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan said on Friday the United States had not given it any information about the presence of al Qaeda leaders, following remarks from U.S. intelligence chief John Negroponte that they were holed up in Pakistan. "We have no such information nor has any such thing been communicated to us by any U.S. authority," Pakistan's military spokesman Major-General Shaukat Sultan told Reuters.
"We know nothing! Tell them Hogan."
Washington's ally has always contended that Osama bin Laden and his deputy Ayman al Zawahri could be either side of the rugged, porous border with Afghanistan. But in an unusually direct statement, Negroponte on Thursday named Pakistan as the center of an al Qaeda web that radiated out to the Middle East, North Africa and Europe.
In a testimony to a Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Negroponte wrote, without naming bin Laden or Zawahri, that al Qaeda leaders are holed up in a secure hide-out in Pakistan. He said they were rebuilding a network that has been decimated by the capture or killing of hundreds of al Qaeda members since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.
Pakistan's foreign ministry issued a response to Negroponte's comments, saying he should have mentioned that successes against al Qaeda were made possible by Pakistan and the focus should "remain on cooperation instead of questionable criticism". It also contradicted Negroponte's assertion that al Qaeda operatives elsewhere were being controlled from Pakistan. "In breaking the back of al Qaeda, Pakistan has done more than any other country in the world," spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said.
Many security analysts suspect that bin Laden is likely to be hiding in Pakistan's best 4-star guest house tribal regions or neighboring districts of North West Frontier Province. There has also been speculation that he may have died, though intelligence agencies say they have not picked up any supporting evidence.
A half-dozen audio tapes of bin Laden were circulated in the first half of 2006, but the al Qaeda leader last appeared in video tape in late 2004. Subsequent tapes released were identified as old footage.
I hadn't heard that.
Zawahri, meantime, has had several tapes released. On January 5, an audio-tape was posted on the Web by al Qaeda's media arm al-Sahab, exhorting Somalian Islamists to attack Ethiopia. The authenticity of the tape could not be verified, but correspondents familiar with Zawahri's voice said it was his.
In January last year CIA-operated drone aircraft carried out a missile strike on Pakistan's Bajaur tribal region based on information that Zawahri might be there. The strike on Damadola village did not kill Zawahri, though it possibly eliminated a handful of al Qaeda militants. It killed 18 villagers. Analysts say Pakistan's denials that it was informed of the strike beforehand were aimed at off-setting domestic criticism of its alliance with the United States. Last October, around 80 men, some of them young boys, were killed in a missile attack on a madrasa in Bajaur, though this time the Pakistan military said it carried out the operation.
In his testimony, Negroponte acknowledged Pakistan's efforts in the fight against terrorism but said it was also a "major source of Islamic extremism".
He also noted President Pervez Musharraf was aware of the risk of sparking a revolt among ethnic Pashtuns living in the tribal belt straddling the border, as well as the political risks of a backlash from Islamist political parties, especially as national elections are due in Pakistan this year.
Posted by: Steve ||
01/12/2007 07:42 ||
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"We have no such information <S>and further more we don't want any!" Pakistan's military spokesman Major-General Shaukat Sultan told Reuters.
Reg. req. More at link.
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told a Senate panel today that in deciding to send additional U.S. forces to Iraq, President Bush heeded an appeal that initially came from U.S. commanders there, and he cautioned against dismissing the views of "military professionals."
Appearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee with Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gates sought to defend Bush's decision, announced Wednesday night in a nationally televised address, against what he acknowledged was intense skepticism among lawmakers.
"While I doubt General Pace and I can change many minds here today, perhaps we can allay at least some of your concerns," Gates said. "Above all, I want you to know that the timetable for the introduction of additional U.S. forces will provide ample opportunity early on -- and before many of the additional U.S. troops arrive in Iraq -- to evaluate the progress of this endeavor and whether the Iraqis are fulfilling their commitments to us."
Gates said in his opening remarks that "mistakes certainly have been made by the United States in Iraq," but that whatever has been done in the past, "the stakes now are incalculable."
Posted by: Mike N. ||
01/12/2007 15:49 ||
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Donks - they were for the Generals' opinions before they were against them.
President Bush: "America is engaged in a new struggle."
At the same time, the President laid out his new plan for Iraq.
President Bush: "We can and we will prevail."
A Michigan Marine injured in the war returned home. Few can understand this war like Lance Corporal Gordan Bloom. Four Marines in his unit died in combat. Bloom himself was shot eight times just ten days ago.
Lcpl. Gordon Bloom, injured Marine: "I took some abdominal and chest wounds, and took a round in the leg."
Bloom is home recovering, comforted by friends and surrounded by family, but Bloom's Marine unit remains in Iraq, patrolling the streets and providing security.
Lcpl. Gordon Bloom: "I think things are gradually getting better, it's just a slow, slow process."
As the President commits more troops to the fight.
Lcpl. Gordon Bloom: "This is a strong commitment."
Bloom knows more Americans will be in harm's way.
Lcpl. Gordon Bloom: "It is war, so there will be casualties."
But he says, despite the danger, he supports the President's plan.
Lcpl. Gordon Bloom: "I hate to see us send more boys over there because it is a rough place, but I believe to finish the job, it's what it's going to take, if we pull out now, it's just going to get worse."
#1
Never really understood why there are any Christians left in the Arab world. I would think even Missionaries could find a more productive location to spend time such as Africa.
"But there are deeper-seated reasons behind the most recent exodus: the demise of secular movements and the growing influence of political Islam in the Middle East"
#6
There's also the growing realization that they ca get out, fueled by the region's greater contact with the outside world. Television has done much to spread radical Islamist ideas but, much like people behind the Iron Curtain watched the propaganda mostly to see what was being railed against, so too have the dhimmis been able to see how much better life out there is even from televised mullah/imam/whatever rantings. And that first cousin to make it over quickly sells the rest on the idea.
#7
Being somewhere first doesn't mean squat if they kill you for your beliefs. First doesn't matter when the majority rewrites history to suit them anyway.
#9
There is also danger of backflow, created by the emerging new and improved "Jimmy Carter" type Christians. It would give new meaning to the term "Muslim Voice."
#10
Christians in the Muslim world have always lived on borrowed time, now their loans are being called. The significant thing about these news articles is how they pin all blame on the West and on the Jews, rather than the "root cause," which is Islam.
A spokesman for radical Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has warned that US President George W. Bush's new Iraq strategy risks sending thousands of American troops to their deaths. "The American people have to prevent their sons from coming to Iraq or they may return in coffins," said Sheikh Abdel Razzaq al-Nadawi, a senior official in Sadr's movement in the Shiite holy city of Najaf.
On Wednesday, Bush announced a plan to reinforce the 130,000-strong US force in Iraq with 21,500 extra troops to help Iraqi forces take on illegal militias such as Sadr's feared Mahdi Army. "The problem of Iraq is the US presence and the increasing this presence will double the problem," Nadawi told AFP on Friday. "This is not the first plan announced by Bush. All plans have failed and this plan will not be any better. We do not welcome this strategy and moreover we do not welcome the US soldiers."
Nadawi accused Bush of taking decisions about Iraq's security without consulting Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's government, who owes his job to the votes of 32 Sadrist deputies.
Another Sadr movement mouthpiece, Hamdalla al-Rikabi of the group's office in western Baghdad, accused the United States of wanting to spread chaos in Iraq rather than to contain it. "Now we know that the occupation forces the supporters of terrorism. They don't want stability of this country, they want to divide it," he said. "Increasing the number of foreign troops is a stab in the heart for the sovereignty of the elected government. We support all efforts to stop violence but these efforts should be Iraqi. We reject the interference of any state in Iraq's affairs."
Sadr is one of the strongest opponents of the US presence in Iraq and his Mahdi Army has been branded by the Pentagon as the most dangerous faction in Iraq's bloody sectarian war. The Iraqi government has given a grudging welcome to Bush's new strategy, but insists that it must take the lead role in future security operations.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/12/2007 10:15 ||
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God, I cannot stand looking at this idiot and his mouthful of dice.
#4
'US reinforcements will go home in coffins': Sadr aide
heh heh, Tater and his Tots did so well last time out not heh, just before we killed him he cried bloody hell for Sistani and the old man came down to Najaf and saved his fat ugly ass.
That graphic needs a little red laser targeting dot on the forehead.
Yes, Tater, it is true some of our troops will come home in coffins. Something to think about, however, when the Americans are hunting you door-to-door is that our troops tend to inflict casualties somewhere on the order of ~10-20 to one when your guys stand and fight as opposed to blowing up markets full of civilians. Give my regards to Sadaam when you see him.
#8
If he lost a bit of weight I'd swear he was a meth-head. The teeth and the irrational behavior are two of other the key indicators. Hmmm - maybe we could give him some.
AR RAMADI, Iraq Gunshots echoed in the distance as hundreds of hopeful Iraqi police recruits waited in line to join the fight against the insurgents still present within the city of Ramadi. After three days of screening, roughly 400 Iraqi citizens out of the more than 600 applicants got their wish to become Iraqi police officers. On Jan. 8, the police recruits were transported to Jordan for the beginning of a five-week training course.
One year ago a murderous intimidation campaign prevented local Iraqis from enlisting in Ramadi. Recruiting numbers for police were insignificant. More than 1,000 enlisted in the police force last month. Over 800 are expected to enlist in Anbar Province this month.
The local tribes stood up to the intimidation campaign and are taking back their city from the terrorists, said the Coalition spokesman in Ramadi Marine Maj. Riccoh Player. Hundreds of Iraqi Police are holding areas cleared by Iraqi and American forces in recent operation in the worst neighborhoods of Ramadi, said Player. Building and manning a police station in Ramadi is what progress looks like in a counterinsurgency.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Bobby ||
01/12/2007 06:11 ||
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MNC-I Commander, LTG Odierno, Discusses Expectations for Iraq War:
Lieutenant General (LTG) Raymond Odierno, who assumed command of the Multi-National Corps Iraq (MNC-I) last month, said January 7 that even with the likely deployment of additional US combat troops expected as part of the Presidents revised Iraq strategy, it might take another two or three years for Coalition and Iraqi forces to gain the upper hand in the war. LTG Odierno also emphasized the critical role additional Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces troops would play in protecting and securing the population in Baghdad.
IA Captures Four Murder And Kidnapping Cell Leaders in Sadr City Raid:
Iraqi Army (IA) Special Forces with Coalition advisors captured four suspects January 3 in Sadr City during operations targeting perpetrators of violence against innocent Iraqis. The four suspects are believed to be leaders of a kidnapping and murder cell responsible for the deaths of Iraqi civilians, kidnapping, and conducting illegal trials and executions. They are also suspected of organizing and directing sectarian-based mortar attacks on neighborhoods surrounding Sadr City.
Eighty Percent of Iraqs Army Divisions Are in the Lead:
MNF-I spokesman Major General Caldwell announced January 3rd that 80% of Iraqs Army divisions are in the lead. This is compared to a year ago on January 1, 2006, when only one of Iraqs ten army divisions that's, uh ... 10%, right? was responsible for its own battlespace, meaning it could plan, coordinate and conduct security operations independent of Coalition Forces (CF).
2nd and 3rd IA Divisions to Take Charge in Ninewa Province:
MNC-I Commander LTG Odierno announced January 7 that the 2nd Iraqi Army (IA) Division will take charge of security in Mosul and the 3rd IA Division will do the same in Tal Afar January 15. LTG Odierno stated that CF will then move to nearby cities and assume more of a combat support role.
Maliki to Launch Non-Sectarian Security Plan:
Prime Minister Maliki aims to launch a new Baghdad security plan, which Defense Ministry spokesman Mohammed al-Askari said would start very soon.
Maliki warned rival political parties against interfering in his plan, and stated that the Baghdad security plan will not offer a safe shelter for outlaws, regardless of their ethnic and political affiliations, and we will punish anyone who hesitates to implement orders because of his ethnic and political background.
According to Malikis aides, the Prime Minister believes that if the additional troops can reduce violence over the next two months, then he can negotiate more effectively with Shia militia leaders in the city and improve his chances of disarming them.
SCIRIs Hakim Applauds Saddam Execution:
Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) leader Abd al-Aziz al-Hakim defended the carrying out of the sentence against Saddam Hussein for the extrajudicial killing of 148 Iraqis in Dujail in 1982 as a bold step by the government. Hakim also urged authorities to expedite the execution of two former Hussein-era officials who were sentenced to death together with Hussein in November.
Hakim also stated that his community was the victim of sectarian genocide under Hussein.
Iraqi Politicians Divided on Khalilzads Upcoming Nomination to Become US Permanent Representative to the UN:
News of Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzads upcoming nomination to become the US permanent representative to the UN split Iraqi politicians along sectarian lines, with members of the ruling Shia alliance voicing eagerness for him to leave and minority Sunnis expressing concern at the loss of him.
US Embassy officials have said that they do not favor one sect over the other and that reducing the violence requires difficult compromises for all parties.
Sunni lawmakers said Khalilzad's deep knowledge of Iraq's complex political landscape and his openness to Sunni concerns will be missed.
Electricity:
Limited power imports from other regions and below-average production from local generating plants have limited Baghdad daily electricity service to six hours or less since December 29.
On January 10, a further reduction in power from both sources made it necessary to direct all available power to the citys essential services, leaving none for other demand.
Second Saddam Video Released:
On January 9, a new video of Saddam Hussein's corpse, with a gaping neck wound, was shown on an Iraqi news website known to support the Baath party. The video appeared to have been taken by a mobile phone and was apparently taken shortly after the sentence was carried out.
In a headline over a link to the video, the website said A new film of the late immortal martyr, President Saddam Hussein. So are they mocking him, or trying to immortalize him as a martyr? I'm confused.
This video marks the second leaked to the public. The first showed Saddam being taunted before his hanging.
Seven children are reported to have died worldwide after seeing video footage of the execution of Saddam, many in "play" hangings that ended in tragedy. The latest victim was a 12-year-old boy, who hanged himself in northeast Saudi Arabia January 7, the daily Al-Hayat reported January 8.
AQI Releases Internet Statement:
Al-Qaida in Iraq (AQI) released in Internet statement January 8, urging Sunni Arabs in Baghdad to prepare to face the governments new security plan, calling the Prime Mnisters new plan for Baghdad a cover for annihilating Sunnis. As long as you believe that since all Al-Qaida are Sunni, then all Sunni are Al-Qaida.
Posted by: Bobby ||
01/12/2007 05:52 ||
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BAGHDAD - Saddam Husseins cousin Chemical Ali moved centre stage in Iraqs genocide trial on Thursday, occupying the executed dictators chair in court and confessing that he ordered thousands of Kurds to be forced out of their homes.
Ali Hassan Al Majid, who faces the gallows if found guilty of slaughtering 182,000 Kurdish villagers in the 1980s, spoke from the dock with subdued calm -- in stark contrast to angry tirades delivered by Saddam prior to his death. Im responsible for the displacement and I took this decision alone without going back to the high military command or Baath party commander. I say that before your court and before God, Majid said.
But the former head of Iraqs northern command, who owes his chilling nickname to accusations that he gassed thousands of Kurdish civilians, denied he was responsible for executing 300 Kurdish fighters. Instead he said that he had written a note to Saddam -- Martyr, mercy on his soul -- who pardoned them.
Yeah, sure.
In various audio recordings played by the prosecutor, his voice could be heard branding all Kurds saboteurs and claiming to have received a letter from current Iraqi president and veteran Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani. The letter, according to the voice, asked for talks and mooted concessions in exchange for a halt to government demolishions of Kurdish villages.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/12/2007 00:00 ||
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#4
Although defendants previously refused to occupy Saddams former seat at the front of the dock, his cousin and one-time defence minister took the hot seat.
The court readjusted the seats, lining them up in three rows with Majid and Hussein Rashid al-Tikriti, former deputy chief of operations in the armed forces, in the front of the dock.
wow, I wonder? Verlaine was just saying 2 or 3 days ago he would try and get Saddam's chair removed from the court room!
#6
So what does he have around his neck?
At first glance it looks like a toilet seat with tire tracks on it, but in reality it is the Offical Ba'ath Manila-Resistant Anti-Chafe Wrap.
#7
Judge Roy Bean: Do you have anything to say before we find you guilty?
Sam Dodd: I'm not guilty of nothing. There's no crime that I've done wrong.
Judge Roy Bean: Do you deny the killing?
Sam Dodd: I do not deny it. But there's no place in that book where it says nothing about killing a Chinese. And no one I know ever heard a law on greasers, niggers, or injuns.
Judge Roy Bean: All men stand equal before the law. And I will hang a man for killing anyone, including Chinks, greasers, or niggers! I'm very advanced in my views and outspoken.
Sam Dodd: There's no place in that book that...
Judge Roy Bean: Trust in my judgment of the book. Besides, you're gonna hang no matter what it says in there, 'cause I am the law, and the law is the handmaiden of justice. Get a rope.
Posted by: bruce ||
01/12/2007 21:13 Comments ||
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#3
Canada's former Liberal foreign minister, Lloyd Axworthy was pining for the good ol' days of the Soviet Union balancing the pernicious force of the United States.
In related news: Lloyd Axworthy still has not been tried for sedition.
#4
The paper speculated that Russia's close friendship with Syria...
Something else the really grinds my gears: "Russia" and "Syria" are not "close friends"; they are nation-states. I fucking hate this baby-think approach to the world. I do not just mean the whole "states don't have allies they have interests" schtick, I mean countries are a different category of abstraction than individual people. This sort of sloppiness is directly implicit in slippery equivocations such as Hussein being the former "leader" or "president" of Iraq as if these words meant the same thing as being the "leader" of a band or the elected "president" of France (yes, even France).
#5
Putin is a crook, but I'm surprised how badly we've mishandled affairs with Russia considering Condi Rice was an expert on the Soviets.
It doesn't take a genious to figure out that taking out the Taliban in weeks when the Russians failed in a decade is gonna hurt their pride. Then setting up bases in Central Asia is piling on. Then supporting the guy in Ukraine. All the right moves but mishandled in the way we implemented them.
We should have been talking up everything as if they were part of it in some way. Talk about how only assistance between Great Powers and previous foes allowed us to do this, and that. Allow them to save face and I think we could have worked with Putin.
Of course Bush Sr and/or Clinton should have done everything possible to buy up every Russian nuke to inject cash into Russia when they needed it while getting the freaking deadly toys out of their hands.
#6
Maybe they have been reading Mark Steyn and are waiting until Russia is a Muslim majority nation. The only problem with that is that after the Muslims take over, Russia will become a third-rate third world shithole just like most of the Muslim world now.
#7
#5 Dubya did his best to do that, whereupon the Russians responded by arming the Rogues and obtructing andor criticizing America at every turn. COMMIE SUPPORT FOR RADICAL TERROR > they may want to save the world from Hyper-power America, but can they save the world from each other iff and when Amer indeed goes down to the anti-US, OWG, Socialist WOrld Order count??? THe Muslim Iranian Enemy of israel is not a friend to Muslim Lebanon-Syria, etc.
President Bush's new strategy on Iraq rejects proposals to enlist Syria's aid in ending Iraq's raging violence - a move Damascus calls a mistake that wrecks an opportunity to benefit both sides. In announcing plans to send 21,000 more troops to Iraq, Bush slammed Syria and its ally Iran, accusing both of supporting Iraqi militants and vowing that the U.S. military will break their lines of support.
Bush also called on U.S. Arab allies Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia - which have rocky relations with Syria - to support Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's Shiite-dominated government in Baghdad. The call was seen in the Mideast as a bid to further isolate Damascus and Tehran. "It's an escalation devoid of any signs of peace," Syrian lawmaker Suleiman Hadad said Thursday of Bush's speech the night before. State-run newspapers predicted the new U.S. plan would fail and bring more violence to Iraq.
A few hours before Bush's speech, Syrian Vice President Farouk al-Sharaa said the American troop surge was "not a positive step" and would only "pour oil on the fire."
Posted by: Fred ||
01/12/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
The BBC World Service gave several unchallenged minutes to Syria's Mouth of Sauron this morning on this subject. Though Nazi propaganda is nothing new at the Beeb.
High-ranking IDF officers said "good riddance" this week after reports emerged from United Nations headquarters in New York that longtime UNIFIL commander Maj.-Gen. Alain Pellegrini, of the French Armed Forces, would be replaced by February.
According to UN plans, the French who have been in command of UNIFIL for the past three years, will turn over command to the Italian Armed Forces. Pellegrini's Italian successor has yet to be named but Italian defense sources said Thursday that three well-respected and top generals were competing for the position. One candidate is General Paolo Geromatta, current commander of Italy's 2,500-strong contingent to the peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon.
"We are happy to see Pellegrini go," said a high-ranking IDF officer in Tel Aviv, who noted the French general's anti-Israel comments over the past three years since he took up the post in January 2004. Most recently Pellegrini said UNIFIL forces were allowed to shoot down IAF jets which patrolled the Lebanese skies, sparking harsh criticism from the IDF.
"After being in Lebanon for so long he must have forgotten whose side he is on and has turned pro-Hizbullah," said another officer in the Northern Command. Pellegrini also caused a stir within the IDF after he gave an interview to The Jerusalem Post in September in which he said that the multinational force would not automatically open fire on Hizbullah guerrillas even if they were on their way or in the midst of an attack against Israel.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/12/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
oh no. now Israel won't be protected by the phrench. wot'l we do?
I am quite sure he will be better. In the late sixties the French armed forces were strongly pro-Isreali to the point of turning a blind eye when the Israelis "kidnapped" the missile-boats at Cherbourg. But she was thoroughly purged and followed fourty years where being pro-Arab (neutral was not enough) was a requirement for becoming general or Admiral. Pellegrini is the product of this system. The Italian Army hasn't gone through the samùe pmroccess of pro-israeli purge and pro-arab promotion
I certainly hope so. I'm not holding my breath, though.
The Italians are more fed up with islam than the french. When she was alive, many Italians supported Oriana Falacci's position. Plus, there was public support for Israel during the Hezbollah event.
So maybe....just maybe....they'll be a bit more evenhanded.
#6
The fact is that it was better to be Jew in Italy or in the Italian occupation zone of France than in Vichy France. In part because Italy as an ally instead of a defeated country was in a better position to say the Nazis to get stuffed (until 1043 when thze defeats weakened italian position) but I also have the feeling that there were less antisemites than in France.
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.
Afghan insurgent leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar said in a television interview broadcast Thursday that his fighters helped al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden escape intense U.S. bombing in the Tora Bora mountains in 2001.
(SomaliNet) Members of the transitional parliament based in Baidoa city southwest of the Somalia capital Mogadishu Thursday debated about the state of emergency plan put forward by the government that is to be imposed on the country. 
CAIRO - Egyptian President 
The bodies of 90 Somalis, who went missing at sea on their way to Yemen, were found floating off the coast of Yemen, said members of the Somali community in the Yemenite capital Sana . They were buried in mass graves in Yemen, according to IRIN.
LONDON : British Prime Minister Tony Blair said that US President George W. Bush's increase of troops in Iraq "makes sense", in a television interview on Thursday. "Given the conditions in Baghdad at the moment, I think it makes sense for them to increase the number of their forces, provided it's to back up an increasing Iraqi capability," Blair said. 
WASHINGTON Fourteen members of a leadership group under former President Carter's think tank resigned Thursday over concerns that Carter's book on the Middle East does not represent "the Jimmy Carter we came to respect and support."
WASHINGTON - US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said on Thursday he would recommend to President George W. Bush increasing the Army and Marine Corps by 92,000 troops over the next five years for the long-term fight against terrorism. The emphasis will be on increasing combat capability, Gates said at a White House news conference to detail Bushs plan for changing course in the Iraq war.
from the Financial Times. Prisoners held at the Guantánamo Bay detention camp in Cuba are being driven insane by a tightening of conditions and the situation of their indefinite detention without trial, according to lawyers and rights activists involved with the US camp.
President Bush: "America is engaged in a new struggle." 
A spokesman for radical Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has warned that US President George W. Bush's new Iraq strategy risks sending thousands of American troops to their deaths. "The American people have to prevent their sons from coming to Iraq or they may return in coffins," said Sheikh Abdel Razzaq al-Nadawi, a senior official in Sadr's movement in the Shiite holy city of Najaf. 
AR RAMADI, Iraq Gunshots echoed in the distance as hundreds of hopeful Iraqi police recruits waited in line to join the fight against the insurgents still present within the city of Ramadi. After three days of screening, roughly 400 Iraqi citizens out of the more than 600 applicants got their wish to become Iraqi police officers. On Jan. 8, the police recruits were transported to Jordan for the beginning of a five-week training course.
President Bush's new strategy on Iraq rejects proposals to enlist Syria's aid in ending Iraq's raging violence - a move Damascus calls a mistake that wrecks an opportunity to benefit both sides. In announcing plans to send 21,000 more troops to Iraq, Bush slammed Syria and its ally Iran, accusing both of supporting Iraqi militants and vowing that the U.S. military will break their lines of support.
High-ranking IDF officers said "good riddance" this week after reports emerged from United Nations headquarters in New York that longtime UNIFIL commander Maj.-Gen. Alain Pellegrini, of the French Armed Forces, would be replaced by February. 
