Hundreds of members of a group campaigning for Islamic rule in Bangladesh clashed with police on Friday over a plan to give women the same inheritance rights as men. Police fired teargas and used batons to break up the protests, after members of the Islami Constitution Movement (ICM) threw stones as they emerged from Friday prayers at the the Baitul Mokarram mosque in the centre of the capital Dhaka, witnesses said.
A Reuters reporter said that at least 100 people were injured in the protests despite a ban on such gatherings under a state of emergency imposed after an army-backed interim administration took power in January last year. A police officer described the scene as a virtual battlefield. On Thursday, nearly 50 people were injured as members of the Khelafat Majlis group clashed with police in the capital over the same issue. The activists anger was triggered by reports in the local media of a draft law that gives equal inheritance rights, including property, to men and women. The ICM, which is one of several groups campaigning for Sharia-based laws in Bangladesh, said the proposed womens rights law was against the Sharia law of inheritance. We are not against womens rights, but it has to be according to the guidelines of Islam, said Muhammad Ismail, a protester. Several other groups joined the protests, including the Ahkame Sharia Hefazat Committee, backed by the countrys biggest Islamic party, Jamaat-e-Islami.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/12/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Isn't it wonderful to have a religion that mandates and celebrates all the selfish and petty impulses.
Posted by: ed ||
04/12/2008 9:30 Comments ||
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#2
We are not against womens rights, but it has to be according to the guidelines of Islam,
"You have the right to breed. You have the right to wear a bag and do what you're told."
Posted by: Steve ||
04/12/2008 9:52 Comments ||
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#3
In historical perspective, Napoleon Bonaparte gave women the right to own property in France, which was quickly ended when he was deposed. However, the notion eventually caught on.
Interfax - Information from Russian special services about the involvement of some foreign non-governmental organizations and movements in terrorism and extremism have been confirmed by court rulings, a source with the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said.
"Information obtained by the FSB prove that certain NGOs play a significant role in spreading the ideas of separatism and religious extremism in our country. This information was confirmed by court rulings to close these organizations and to ban their activity in Russia," the source said.
The Russian Supreme Court banned the activity of 17 organizations in Russia following the February 14, 2003 and June 2, 2006 decisions.
The list includes such organizations as: Supreme Military Majlisul Shura of the United Forces of Caucasian Mojahedeens, The Congress of Peoples of Ichkeria and Dagestan, Al-Qaeda, Asbat al-Ansar, Al-Jihad, Al-Gamaa al-Islamiyya, Al-Ikhwan al-Muslimun, Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islami, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jamaat-e-Islami, The Taliban movement, Turkestan Islamic Party, Islamic Jihad and Jund al-Sham.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/12/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
BIGNEWS NETWORK > WIRED NEWS - IS THE US ARMY READING YOUR BLOG?
And is INTEL-PYWAR = FBI-CIA - you know, the MAFIA etc. - messing wid your Records and Bank Accounts etal.???
#2
The list includes such organizations as: Supreme Military Majlisul Shura of the United Forces of Caucasian Mojahedeens, The Congress of Peoples of Ichkeria and Dagestan, Al-Qaeda, Asbat al-Ansar, Al-Jihad, Al-Gamaa al-Islamiyya, Al-Ikhwan al-Muslimun, Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islami, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jamaat-e-Islami, The Taliban movement, Turkestan Islamic Party, Islamic Jihad and Jund al-Sham.
Japan extends for six months economic sanctions imposed on North Korea
Sanctions imposed over its first test of a nuclear weapon in 2006
Bans have been extended twice since then
Posted by: Fred ||
04/12/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
WORLD NEWS > UN OFFICIAL:DESPERATE NORTH KOREA SEEKS FAMINE/FOOD AID; + US: NO CONFIRMATION ON NUCLEAR DEAL [NK nuke declaration], + NO NEW KOREAN NUCLEAR PACT LIKELY UNTIL FALL.
In which we spot the present location of the goalposts ...
The growing cost to the United States of fighting the war in Iraq "is not only linked to our economic skid, but is a leading cause of it," a Democratic congressman said Saturday. The new Dem mantra, no doubt.
Rep. John Yarmuth of Kentucky linked the costly, unpopular war with the growing economic troubles some say recession in this country. Otherwise, we would have done away with recessions long ago. Under the Bush tax plans.
Yarmuth said in the Democrats' weekly radio address that the testimony this week of Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker about the Iraq war served as reminder of the billions of dollars being poured into Iraq as the U.S. economy struggles.
"General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker failed to offer a plan to change direction in Iraq and redeploy our troops," Yarmuth said. "Instead, they offered more of the same, with U.S. troops and taxpayers paying the price."
The U.S. government has spent "more than half-a-trillion dollars" in support of the war effort, while that money could be spent on pressing needs in this country, he said.
In February, an Associated Press-Ipsos poll found that pulling out of Iraq was the most named remedy for fixing U.S. economic problems. How can I get be so concerned about our spending in Iraq if Dems continue their pork spending?
Forty-eight percent of those surveyed said a withdrawal would help the country's economic problems "a great deal" and 20 percent more said it would help somewhat. Some 43 percent said increasing government spending on health care, education and housing programs would help a great deal; 36 percent named cutting taxes.
"Across America, our roads and bridges are crumbling and are in desperate need of repair, yet taxpayer dollars are being squandered on an Iraqi government that is riddled with waste, fraud and corruption," Yarmuth said. He said "the cost of one month in Iraq could extend the Children's Health Insurance Program, which the president vetoed, to 10 million children of working families for a full year." And instead, Dems have been working to extend that coverage to middle-class kids. Hmm.
He noted that Congress has passed an economic stimulus package to send millions of Americans up to $1,200 that could provide a boost to the economy.
But Yarmuth isn't satisfied. "We know we must do more," he said, adding that Democrats are pushing for a second economic stimulus package to aid workers, their families and businesses.
The White House said the first economic stimulus package should be given a chance to work before a second is passed. Better hurry or the Dems won't be able to buy votes with it.
#1
Democrat quasi crypto facist regulation is to blame for anything not improving - anything at all.
Taxes, government, unions, investment, housing, medical care, retirement, race relations, sexual orientation, empowerment of moslem masters, and EVIL.
Thats your bag, democrats, and you hold it high over your head, and mine. And one day, I will make you eat that bag of shit you put above my head. And I will not use courts to do it.
You are useless to humanity, and they are just not worried about thinking, YET.
#3
The U.S. government has spent "more than half-a-trillion dollars" in support of the war effort, while that money could be spent on pressing needs in this country, he said.
Cutting into your "Take" is it?
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
04/12/2008 18:33 Comments ||
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Front-page WaPo 'newszalysis' Hmmm...just made that word up!
Evidence of an increase in Iranian weapons, training and direction for the Shiite militias that battled U.S. and Iraqi security forces in those two cities has fixed new U.S. attention on what Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates yesterday called Tehran's "malign" influence, the officials said
The intensified focus on Iran coincides with diminished emphasis on al-Qaeda in Iraq as the leading justification for an ongoing U.S. military presence in Iraq. So it's not that we've almost whipped al qaeda, it's that we've dreamed up another justification for staying in Iraq for 100 years, see?
In congressional hearings this week, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus said the U.S. military has driven al-Qaeda from Baghdad, Anbar province and central Iraq, and he depicted the group as now largely concentrated in a reduced territory around the northern city of Mosul.
Iran has long been seen as a spoiler in Iraq, with such strong ties to all of the major Shiite political and militia groups, including that of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, that other Arab countries have begun to regard Iraq as almost a client state of Iran. American Puppets! Iranian Puppets! Great taste! Less filling! The recent fighting in Basra, which began when Maliki launched a military offensive against the Mahdi Army militia of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, revealed a threat and an opportunity, officials said. U.S. military officials said that much of the plentiful, high quality weaponry the militia used in Basra and in rocket attacks against the Green Zone in Baghdad, where the U.S. Embassy and much of the Iraqi government are located, was recently manufactured in Iran. At the same time, the militia's improved targeting and tactics indicated stepped-up Iranian training.
Interrogations of four leaders of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force captured in Iraq in December 2006 and January 2007 have also bolstered U.S. conclusions that portions of Sadr's militia are directed from Tehran.
Petraeus told Congress that Maliki had launched the offensive hastily and with inadequate preparation, leading to a standoff and the need to call in U.S. air support. During the first days of the Basra operation, U.S. officials were sharply critical of Maliki's timing and performance; some worried that the attack against Sadr forces was less an offensive against what he called "criminals" in Basra than it was an attempt to win political advantage over a rival Shiite group before upcoming elections. Toward the end of the article, back on page 10, a smidgen of the other side:
But more recently, U.S. officials have seen a possible advantage in the situation. Maliki's willingness to go after fellow Shiites attracted support from other political groups in Iraq, including Sunnis and Kurds, that have long been suspicious of his sectarian leanings. It also gave Washington a talking point to use with Sunni Arab governments in the region that have shunned him. "It's an opportunity to make him look better inside Iraq and to make a better argument to the Arabs," an official said.
The administration has long tried in vain to build Arab diplomatic and economic support for the Iraqi government. But the Arabs, led by Saudi Arabia, consider Shiite Iran a competitor for regional dominance and have rejected Maliki as "a stooge for Tehran," as one U.S. official called him.
"The Saudis appear to feel that the current Iraqi government is pretty much in thrall to Iran," said a State Department official involved in Middle East policy. The administration's hope, "in the wake of Maliki's decisions on Basra," the official said, "is that the Saudis will take a step back and take another look."
Posted by: Bobby ||
04/12/2008 09:07 ||
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#1
I guess I should've used a snappier title, like "Al Qaeda Fades Away; Bush Justifies War Anyway"
Posted by: Bobby ||
04/12/2008 13:55 Comments ||
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A leading Washington, DC think tank, which is a repository for erstwhile senior administration officials and policymakers, has called on India to ''tailor its Afghan policy to the new situation in Pakistan' in order to alleviate the decades-long competing strategic agendas between New Delhi and Islamabad vis-?-vis Afghanistan.
Anybody understand that sentence?
The Center for Strategic and International Studies, in a report titled India and Pakistan in Afghanistan: Hostile Sports, said that if New Delhi 'can find even modest ways of working in harmony with the Pakistani government, it could reap substantial benefits in its relations with both countries', even as it acknowledged that the new 'great game' may continue, 'but it will be more of chess, less of tug-of-war'.
Sure, the Hindoo and the Pak will work together. The lion will lie down with the lamb .. and eat it ...
The report said that besides the deep cultural and historic ties with Afghanistan that both India and Pakistan have had for decades, there had been competing strategic agendas.
'For India, Afghanistan was an important albeit passive geopolitical on Pakistan, as well the gateway to Central Asia. Pakistan saw Afghanistan as part of a threatening Indian pincer movement, a source of fuel for Pushtun separatism inside Pakistan, and during the Taliban years, a source of 'strategic depth' against the Indian threat,' the report stated.
All of which is true and demonstrates that someone in New Delhi has a clue ...
The report said that the Indian presence in Afghanistan has 'stoked Pakistan's fears', and Islamabad believes that 'the Indian consulates provide cover for Indian intelligence agencies to run covert operations against Pakistan'.
It said that in recent years, 'Pakistan has accused India of intriguing in collusion with the Afghan ministry of tribal affairs and the Afghan intelligence agencies to fund and arm rebels of the Baloch Liberation Army, who are carrying out a separatist insurgency in Pakistan'.
US intelligence agencies, please take note; India is showing you how to destabilize a nasty thugocracy without getting overtly caught. I can think of a place where I'd demonstrate how well I learned the lesson; it's called, 'Iran' ...
The report recalled that when Afghan President Hamid Karzai visited Pakistan in 2007, President Musharraf had 'presented him maps of locations with suspected Indian activity and urged him to rein in the Indians'.
'Pakistan's fears of encirclement by India,' it added, 'have been compounded by the Indian Air Force's new facility in Farkhor, Tajikistan, which may house MI-17 helicopter gunships. The air base follows up on hospital and logistics depot constructed by the Indians in the region some years ago'.
Posted by: john frum ||
04/12/2008 14:01 ||
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#2
What is the political orientation of this "think tank" and these wouldn't be former Carter and Clinton "senior administration officials" would they? /s
Actually this a serious question but I think I know the answer if memory serves (sometimes it doesn't).
Vice Chairman & Co-Founder
David M. Abshire -- President, Center for the Study of the Presidency
Chairman of the Executive Committee
William A. Schreyer* -- Chairman Emeritus, Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee
Anne Armstrong* -- Former U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain
President & CEO
John J. Hamre* -- President & CEO, CSIS
Trustees
* George L. Argyros -- Chairman & CEO, Arnel & Affiliates
* Richard Armitage -- President, Armitage International
* Betty Beene -- Former President & CEO, United Way of America
* Reginald K. Brack -- Former Chairman & CEO, Time, Incorporated
* William E. Brock** -- Counselor and Trustee, CSIS
* Harold Brown** -- Counselor and Trustee, CSIS
* Zbigniew Brzezinski** -- Counselor and Trustee, CSIS
* William S. Cohen -- Chairman & CEO, The Cohen Group
* Ralph Cossa -- President, Pacific Forum/CSIS
* Richard Fairbanks -- Counselor and Trustee, CSIS
* William H. Frist -- Trustee, CSIS
* Michael P. Galvin* -- President, Harrison Street Capital, LLC
* Helene D. Gayle -- President & CEO, CARE USA
* Linda W. Hart -- Vice Chairman & CEO, The Hart Group, Inc.
* Ben W. Heineman, Jr. -- CSIS Trustee and Senior Adviser
* Thomas O. Hicks -- Chairman, Hicks Holdings LLC
* Carla A. Hills** -- Chairman & CEO, Hills & Company
* Ray L. Hunt -- Chairman of the Board, President and CEO, Hunt Consolidated, Inc.
* E. Neville Isdell -- Chairman & CEO, The Coca-Cola Company
* James L. Jones -- Trustee, CSIS
* Henry A. Kissinger** -- Chairman & CEO, Kissinger Associates, Inc.
* Kenneth G. Langone -- President & CEO, Invemed Associates, LLC
* Donald B. Marron -- Chairman & CEO, Lightyear Capital
* Joseph Nye -- Distinguished Service Professor, Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government
* E. Stanley ONeal -- Former Chairman and CEO, Merrill Lynch & Company, Inc.
* Thomas Pritzker -- Chairman & CEO, The Pritzker Organization, LLC
* Joseph E. Robert -- Chairman and CEO, The J.E. Robert Companies (JER)
* Felix G. Rohatyn -- Vice Chairman, Lehman Brothers
* David M. Rubenstein -- Cofounder and Managing Director, The Carlyle Group
* Charles A. Sanders -- Former Chairman & CEO, Glaxo Inc.
* James R. Schlesinger** -- Senior Adviser, Lehman Brothers, Inc.
* Brent Scowcroft** -- President, Forum for International Policy
* Rex Tillerson -- Chairman & CEO, Exxon Mobil Corporation
* Frederick B. Whittemore -- Advisory Director, Morgan Stanley
The National Assembly (NA) on Friday admitted an adjournment motion seeking a debate on publication of blasphemous sketches.
The NA was adjourned till Monday amid a discussion on water and power crisis. Sahibzada Fazl Karim moved the motion condemning the blasphemous sketches and seeking a debate to determine the governments proper and prompt action on this issue.
NA Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi admitted the motion and fixed two hours for the debate on it on the next sitting on Monday. Chaudhry Pervaiz Ilahi, the opposition leader in the NA, announced his support for the adjournment motion, adding his party had already submitted a motion on the subject.
Law Minister Farooq H Naek did not oppose the motion and said the matter was important and should be debated in the NA. He also presented to the NA a report of the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) on accounts of the federation in 2005-06, as required by Article 171 of the Constitution.
Meanwhile, the lower house of the parliament continued discussion on water and power crisis. Taking part in the discussion, Ayaz Amir said the government should resolve the judges issue without any delay and give attention to the crises of water, power, flour and wheat. He said all these issues were inter-related. Abdul Majeed Kaka Khel criticised the former government for not building water reservoirs for power generation. Syed Javed Hussain Shah and Sardar Bahadar Khan Sehar said there should be a consensus of all ruling parties on construction of Kalabagh Dam.
Discussion on the issue was on when the NA deputy speaker adjourned the session.
Posted by: john frum ||
04/12/2008 09:49 ||
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Posted by: john frum ||
04/12/2008 9:51 Comments ||
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#2
Well, it's not like they have any *real* problems to debate...
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
04/12/2008 11:45 Comments ||
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THE infamous Purulia armsdrop case refuses to fade out of public memory. A Mumbai firm has just petitioned Calcutta High Courtfor permission to dispose off the Russian-made AN-26 plane parked at Sahar airport for 13 long years ago. It was seized after it landed mysteriously at Sahar five days after the execution of what has been described as the "biggest crime in the history of independent India". And thereby hangs a long tale.
But before I delve into the case dating back to 1995, a few words about the latest development. The petitioner is Mumbai International Airport Private Limited which has bagged the contract for development of Mumbai airport. The federal civil aviation minstry has already allotted funds. But work can't begin as the seized aircraft is occupying a lot of space.
The firm's lawyer says that the AN-26 must be disposed off as soon as possible as Indian authorities have pardoned all the armsdrop accused, including Englishman Peter Bleach and his Russian associates, who have returned to their respective countries. But as Calcutta High Court had ordered the seizure of the aircraft, only it can permit its disposal. Hence the new petition.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: john frum ||
04/12/2008 00:00 ||
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The Thing That Would Not Die...
KATHMANDU: Former US president Jimmy Carter on Saturday urged that Nepal's Maoists be struck off the US terror list after the former rebels took an early lead in election results. "My hope is and my cautious expectation is that the US will in the future recognise the authenticity and the non-terrorist nature of the commitment of the Maoists," the ex-Democratic president told journalists in Kathmandu. You know...lahk, Hamas.
His comments came after early results showed the Maoists taking an unexpected lead in the landmark elections held to elect a body that is expected to abolish Nepal's monarchy as well as write a new constitution. Ah'm sportin wood. Ah haven't done that in yeahs. Rosalyn was sooo happy...
The Maoists are still classed by Washington as "terrorists" even though they signed a peace deal with mainstream parties in late 2006 ending a 10-year insurgency and joined mainstream politics, declaring they were ready to embrace democracy. Yep, we sure are. That's why we call ourselves "Maoists".
Carter was in Kathmandu where his human rights organisation helped monitor the polls, whose full results will not be known for at least a week. "It was a serious mistake for the United States to continue to boycott... consultations and communications with the Maoists," Carter said, urging the United States to recognise the peaceful nature of the election. Ah've already rubbah stamped it...
Carter said he also hoped that if the Maoists fared well in the voting, that the United States "will recognise and start to do business with the Maoists, who will represent a substantial portion of the people of this country." Another Commie takeover. Brought to you by Jimmy Carter...
#1
Even the Chinese are pretty much over Mao, why would a Maoist government be a good idea for anywhere. Basically, Mao ruled the old fashioned way ... if you were any possible threat to him, you were liquidated. Simple. Why is that a "good thing"?
#2
The former US president also defended the Maoists against charges of inciting pre-poll violence. The charges had been made by a delegation of Asian observers.
Are you familiar with the victims of violence? Carter retorted. Fourteen of the 16 killed in pre-poll violence were Maoists.
He also pointed out that of the eight people who had died on a single day, seven were Maoists.
They were not armed and did not fire, he said. They were all victims of assassination.
Posted by: john frum ||
04/12/2008 13:23 Comments ||
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#3
The man vacilates between jackass-mean and jackass-dumb. The operative word is "jackass."
Posted by: regular joe ||
04/12/2008 13:24 Comments ||
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#4
Carter once again proves that his true beliefs lie with our enemies.
#5
Perhaps he could take up residence there and start setting up the institutions necessary for a democracy to flourish. He can start with a free press, the right to bear arms, the right to vote, respect for the vote, a free internet, checks and balances, a somewhat balanced, legal system, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, . . . .
#14
Jimmy Carter should be added to the list of terrorist organizations. He supports them all.
Posted by: Rambler in California ||
04/12/2008 19:45 Comments ||
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#15
This from Jimmy of Carter Country - who gave us many gifts that keep on giving.... the worst being the Mullah's in Iran.
Oh, and that retard made sure I would never vote democrat for anybody under any situation ever in my life again... Mr. %28 interest rate...
Mr. hide in a rose garden...
and his Mrs vindictive bitch wife.
#16
I've told this story before (being a native Georgian), but it bears repeating. About 6 months ago, local radio station held a contest to give Georgia a new State Slogan (we're no longer the "Peach State" in terms of Peach production, we're like #23 or something...I blame global warming climate change, but that's 'nother story).
Anyways, some younger male calls in and (this was around the time Carter's Apartheid book came out) says our new State slogan should be "Sorry".
The DJ seemed confused and asked what he meant by that. The guy said "Sorry. For giving this nation Jimmy Carter!" They all just burst out in hysterical laughter (it was one of those "small town, gun-totin', God-fearin', Country music stations" (like Obama now loves).
Posted by: BA ||
04/12/2008 21:47 Comments ||
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#17
The Thing That Would Not Die...
LOL! Ima still laughin!
how the Hell will we rid ourself from this dip-shit beast?
"Quagmire Editing 101" Could the Lede be any more biased or less perspective? "worst" in that the remainder of the year's been pretty damn good, and this "uprising" was only to derail the Petraeus testimony and give the MSM and Donk whores talking points...
A roadside bomb killed an American soldier in Baghdad on Saturday, capping the bloodiest week for U.S. troops in Iraq this year. Clashes persisted in Shiite areas, even as the biggest Shiite militia sought to rein in its fighters.
At least 13 Shiite militants were killed in the latest clashes in Baghdad's militia stronghold of Sadr City, the U.S. military said. Iraqi police said seven civilians also died in fighting, which erupted Friday night and tapered off Saturday.
The U.S. military said the American soldier was killed in a blast Saturday morning in northwestern Baghdad but did not say whether Shiite militiamen were responsible.
The death raised to at least 19 the number of American troopers killed in Iraq since last Sunday. Not a single one shouldn't be mourned but that's not how you measure progress, except when you've bet big on defeat
American casualties have risen with an outbreak of fighting in Baghdad between U.S. and Iraqi forces and the largest Shiite militia - the Mahdi Army of anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr "Army" as in Iranian-funded and supplied tools criminal gangs?
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/12/2008 18:12 ||
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They did suffer the worst week this year...
watching a fine commander and leader bringing victory to them be put in front of poo-flinging surrender monkeys that only want to expand their power. Yep, worst week this year.
In Basra the signs of the feared militia are slowly receding. For the first time in years alcohol vendors are selling beer close to army checkpoints, and ringtones praising the rebel cleric Hojatoleslam Moqtada al-Sadr are vanishing from mobile phones. Music shops are once again selling pop tunes instead of the recorded lectures of Shia ayatollahs.
But, as the city cautiously comes back to life after an offensive by Iraqi troops backed by hundreds of US soldiers, there is a lingering resentment towards the British Army.
Many here blame the British for allowing the al-Mahdi Army and other militias to impose a long reign of terror on the once cosmopolitan city.
The battle for Basra is still not over. An American airstrike yesterday killed another six men who had been attacking Iraqi troops from the militia's hold-out areas, which the Army has so far been unable to penetrate.
Support is, though, slowly building for Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi Prime Minister, who led his troops into Basra having given his US allies barely more than a weekend's notice of the impending attack. The British were informed only a day before, prompting Lieutenant-General Peter Wall, the deputy chief of staff, to describe the whole operation as hastily planned.
After the Iraqi Army set up checkpoints and the militia disappeared from the streets, I decided to start selling alcohol, Luay Hanna, a 46-year-old liquor store owner, said. His shop was burnt down by fundamentalist militiamen three years ago, and many of his colleagues were butchered.
Many of the alcohol sellers reopened their shops. We always sell near the Iraqi army checkpoints to be safe - not like before when the militia killed and kidnapped people right in front of the police's eyes.
Qaldoon Nuri, who runs a CD shop, was forced to stop selling pop songs for fear of the zealous gunmen four years ago. One of his friends was murdered for refusing to heed the ban. He was forced to sell religious songs, many of them praising al-Sadr, as well as lectures on tenets of the Shia faith.
The militia forced us to follow a fanatic Islamic code. They forced us to put up pictures of the imams, he said. Now after the militias have been defeated by government forces, we started to put some songs on CD and are looking for what's new in the arts - what people actually like.
One of his neighbours, Saleh Muhammad, has been badgered in his phone shop by customers demanding new pop ringtones and pictures of female singers to download. I think it's freedom from the fear, he said.
The British have been unable to bask in even the partial success of the battle. Having abruptly decided to take on the militias after years of appeasing them, Mr al-Maliki's first venture on to the battlefield was plagued by desertions from his security forces and stronger than expected resistance. Outfought, he called on US forces for support rather than the 4,100 British troops who have barely left their base at Basra airfield.
When the British commanding officer visited the Prime Minister's field headquarters during the fight he was left waiting outside by the Iraqi leader. The humiliating snub was believed to be payback for an alleged deal with the militias by British forces, who released several of their jailed leaders and agreed not to attack them if the British base was not hit.
I think the British troops were the main reason that militias became very powerful, complained Inas Abed Ali, a teacher. They didn't fight them properly and, when they found themselves losing in the city, they moved out to the airport and chose to negotiate with the militias and criminal groups as if they were legal.
The British Army had no role in Basra, Rahman Hadi, a coffee shop owner, said. We haven't seen any achievements by them in the streets of Basra. I don't know why their troops didn't respond to the acts of these militias for long years, after seeing all the suffering that Basra people went through.
Even senior Iraqi officers admitted that the hands-off British approach to policing the city had given the militias free rein. Brigadier Alaa al-Ittabi, from the infantry command of the Iraqi Ministry of Defence, said that the British Army was sometimes negatively lenient, like the way they dealt with the militias. Mr Hadi was placing his hopes on the new Iraqi forces. The presence of these foreign troops adds nothing to the situation, and even the Iraqi troops trained by the British Army proved to be infiltrated by the militias and to be corrupt.
General David Petraeus, the US commander here, said that the Iraqi Army's initial performance in Basra had been disappointing and gave warning that the battle could last months. Brigadier al-Ittabi attributed the mass desertions at the outset to the deployment of local forces who were unwilling to fight their neighbours and whose families were vulnerable to militia threats.
Sources in Basra said that the Iraqi troops started to gain traction only after Mr al-Maliki drafted in two extra brigades, one from the Sunni city of Ramadi and the other from Karbala, where the al-Mahdi Army's rival militia, the Badr Brigades - loyal to the main Shia party in Mr al-Maliki's Government - holds sway.
Some observers have described the battle in Basra, which has also sparked fighting in the al-Mahdi Army's main stronghold of Sadr City in Baghdad, as a power struggle between the anti-US Sadrists, with strong grassroots support among poor Shia, and the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, which runs the Badr militia and has long co-operated with the US military.
That theory was lent weight yesterday when unidentified gunmen shot down Hojatoleslam al-Sadr's brother- in-law, who ran his office in the Shia holy city of Najaf, where the Badr forces are strong.
Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC ||
04/12/2008 02:25 ||
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#1
That doesn't sound unlike our government. We;ve got to look out for the Human Rights of the fascist muslim brothers at home as well as abroad.
Screw our own army though, they loose any legal right to proper equipment, that may halp protect their lives, once outside British borders.
This practice by these so-called fundamentalist or extremist Muslims always struck me as strange: In the past (e.g. Muslim Spain) really fine art was developed using geometric themes because Islam prohibited representations of man (or even animals, I think). And you see how they get all bent out of shape over cartoons of old Mo - but since they're all supposed to emulate him, how can they plaster pictures of themselves all over town?
Posted by: ed ||
04/12/2008 9:21 Comments ||
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#4
"The British have been unable to bask in even the partial success of the battle. Having abruptly decided to take on the militias after years of appeasing them, Mr al-Maliki's first venture on to the battlefield was plagued by desertions from his security forces and stronger than expected resistance. Outfought, he called on US forces for support rather than the 4,100 British troops who have barely left their base at Basra airfield. "
That paragraph is basically propaganda. The author is making that up. Yes, ONE Iraqi battalion that was sent into battle right after basic training cracked but the Iraqi Army sent in reinforcements. It wasn't like the Iraqis just stopped and called the Americans to bail them out of a jam. From what I have been reading, the Iraqis did quite well and the Americans came in to get them over a couple of rough spots but they are doing most of the heavy lifting themselves. I would say the US role was more of a mentoring role.
Also, I believe Sadr's brother in law was killed by the Iranians. They can't kill Sadr because Sadr is in Iran and it would be immediately obvious who did it. Iran wants control of Sadr's organization. I believe Iran is going to purge anyone who might be more loyal to Sadr than to Iran. Sadr himself is safe as long as he is in Iran but if Iran kicks him out, then that will be the signal that his days are numbered too. The JAM is probably going to be transformed into the Iraqi Hezbollah.
#1
The best thing that happened to Iraq was that they have competeing interests forming their government. It will help forge them into a true republic. No wonder the Democrats wanted to split them into three parts once that became apparent.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has turned down a request from former American president Jimmy Carter for a meeting during his visit to Israel next week. The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni both said that their schedules will not allow a meeting, but an anonymous Israeli official told the Washington Times, "You draw your own conclusions." Other officials have expressed anger at Carter's proposed meeting with Syrian-based Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal.
However, President Shimon Peres, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Israel Is Our Home (Yisrael Beiteinu) leader Knesset Member Avigdor Lieberman have scheduled to meet with the former president, whose recent book compares Israeli policies on the Palestinian Authority (PA) with former apartheid policies in South Africa. Carter is scheduled to visit Sderot as well as Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah before traveling to Syria.
#8
Oh, that Carter! Mebbe newc was stealing my line - Carter who?
But if not, he was also a mediocre Governor of Georgia for one term, and an officer on e nuclear submarine - Naval Academy, I believe.
Elected following Vietnam and Watergate, when the country was ripe for "change" and Carter pitched hiumself as a Washington Outsider. Gave us the Iranian Hostage Crisis, which is still paying dividends on Iraq today.
Posted by: Bobby ||
04/12/2008 16:34 Comments ||
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What's taking so long? Criminy, I could throw the switch today ...
Gaza Ma'an - Jamal Al-Khudari Chairman of the Popular Committee against the blockade on the Gaza Strip on Saturday warned that a complete power cut in the Gaza Strip is imminent unless Israel allows fuel into the coastal strip. Hmmmmmmmmm? Wonder why they don't? It's not mentioned in here.
At a press conference in the central Gaza Strip power station, Al-Khudari called for Palestinian, Arab and international efforts to pressure Israel to lift the embargo. Al-Khudari said that unless that happens life in Gaza will be completely paralyzed, with the disruption of most services.This will cause devastation to health services, environmental damage and the disruption of communications. How disconcerting. It almost sounds like another... humanitarian crisis!
Al-Khudari said the fuel shortage has led to the stoppage of water wells and this is threatening to destroy agricultural produce. "We have come to tell the world that Gaza will collapse and this is the responsibility of the world." Ummmmmmmmmmm...no, it's not.
"They must take immediate action to put pressure on the occupation to end this crisis," he told reporters. How about ya maybe don't kill the guys pumping your gas? That could be a start.
He also called for the opening of the crossings into and out of the Gaza Strip and for goods to be allowed to enter especially confiscated goods being held at Israeli ports. Especially sewer pipe. We need it for our...space program.
"Our people in Gaza insist on these demands and they dont want to turn into beggars living on aid. They want to live their life freely and depend on themselves without siege and aggression," he added. ...and shoot rockets at Jooooos! That's all we ask!
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/12/2008 12:01 Comments ||
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#3
So they are going to go back to limited amounts of fuel, which will result in their humiliating need to stand in line at the gas stations? Again? How humiliating. I defy you Hamass idiots to bomb that fuel distribution center a second time.
#5
Get a night time satellite photo of that to mount next to the similar pic of North Korea for one of those motivational posters - Leadership - When you haven't dug deep enough, keep going.
Israel on Friday claimed that Hamas was exaggerating gasoline shortages in the Gaza Strip for propaganda purposes while using large quantities of fuel to transport weapons that target Israel. We arent saying that the situation in Gaza is easy, but there is a Hamas propaganda campaign, said Colonel Nir Press, the liaison officer with the Gaza Strip. We had information from the Palestinians during the last few weeks that Hamas is taking a lot of fuel for their needs. You can see that they carry Qassam rockets, roadside bombs and mortar shells for terror activities against Israel.
Humanitarian agencies have repeatedly urged Israel to end the blockade it imposed against Gaza in January, saying the sanctions are further crippling the impoverished and overpopulated territory. But Israel, which says the embargo aims at halting rocket fire by militants, insists it is allowing vital supplies into Gaza.
Press said 800,000 litres (208,000 gallons) of diesel and 75,000 litres of gasoline were sent to Gaza last week, and a similar quantity the previous week, while tens of thousands of litres of fuel were stored at the Nahal Oz terminal on the border between Gaza and Israel. This fuel stands on the Palestinian side but they dont collect it.
Israeli authorities said they temporarily shut down the terminal on Wednesday after Palestinian militants stormed the border and killed two Israeli contractors at the facility. All the fuel that goes into Gaza transits through Nahal Oz. Gas stations in Gaza have been on strike for several days to protest insufficient deliveries of fuel. It is part of a campaign so that they can show to the media that the gas stations are closed and people wait overnight in their cars, but they have fuel and they dont send it to the gas stations, Press said. This is a cynical operation by Hamas against its own population, he said.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/12/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
There may be a shortage because they have ramped up the manufacture of Molotov cocktails???
TEHRAN - Iran has started operation of 492 nuclear centrifuges, official news agency IRNA reported on Friday. An unnamed official source told IRNA that three cascades of 164 centrifuges of P1 type have become operational at the Natanz nuclear plant in central Iran. The IRNA report has not yet been confirmed by official sides.
Iran had earlier Friday said that there were no technical problems with its newly installed centrifuges and denied Western press reports in this regard, official news agency IRNA reported.
We have no technical problems with the centrifuges, deputy head of Irans Atomic Energy Organization, Mohammad Saeidi, told IRNA. Those countries still not acknowledging Irans technical progress will eventually be forced to do so, Saeidi added.
Posted by: Steve White ||
04/12/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
MEMRI BLOG > IRAN SHOULD NOT COUNT/DEPEND ON RUSSIA AND CHINA. Don't serve nor have Iran's best interests at heart [read - even iff Iran joins SCO]; + SYRIAN WARPLANES CIRCLE NEAR LEBANON BORDER. First time in long while.
An influential Iranian cleric on Friday rejected US President George W. Bushs accusations that Iran was arming and funding Shia militias in Iraq to kill American soldiers, state radio reported. In a speech at the White House on Thursday, Bush repeated long-standing US accusations against Iran and warned the Islamic republic to stop interfering in Iraq. He characterised Iran and Al Qaeda as two of the greatest threats to America.
Iran has never interfered in Iraq ... such claims are sheer lies made by Iraqs occupiers to continue Iraqs occupation, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a senior advisor to Irans top authority, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, told worshippers in a Friday prayers sermon at Tehran University. Iran supports the establishment of peace, security and freedom in Iraq as well as the withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq, added Rafsanjani, also head of a powerful arbitrary body.
Bush, who has accused Iran of backing militant groups in southern Iraq and providing explosives to extremists in the country, said Tehran had to choose between peace or war. If Iran makes the right choice, America will encourage a peaceful relationship between Iran and Iraq. If Iran makes the wrong choice, America will act to protect our interests and our troops and our Iraqi partners.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/12/2008 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.
Hundreds of members of a group campaigning for Islamic rule in Bangladesh clashed with police on Friday over a plan to give women the same inheritance rights as men. Police fired teargas and used batons to break up the protests, after members of the Islami Constitution Movement (ICM) threw stones as they emerged from Friday prayers at the the Baitul Mokarram mosque in the centre of the capital Dhaka, witnesses said. 
The recent fighting in Basra, which began when Maliki launched a military offensive against the Mahdi Army militia of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, revealed a threat and an opportunity, officials said. U.S. military officials said that much of the plentiful, high quality weaponry the militia used in Basra and in rocket attacks against the Green Zone in Baghdad, where the U.S. Embassy and much of the Iraqi government are located, was recently manufactured in Iran. At the same time, the militia's improved targeting and tactics indicated stepped-up Iranian training. 
A leading Washington, DC think tank, which is a repository for erstwhile senior administration officials and policymakers, has called on India to ''tailor its Afghan policy to the new situation in Pakistan' in order to alleviate the decades-long competing strategic agendas between New Delhi and Islamabad vis-?-vis Afghanistan.
TEHRAN - Iran has started operation of 492 nuclear centrifuges, official news agency IRNA reported on Friday. An unnamed official source told IRNA that three cascades of 164 centrifuges of P1 type have become operational at the Natanz nuclear plant in central Iran. The IRNA report has not yet been confirmed by official sides.
