Winnie the Pooh, Luke Skywalker and British football hooligans* could shape the foreign policy of Barack Obama if he becomes US President, according to a key adviser.
Richard Danzig, who served as Navy Secretary under President Clinton and is tipped to become National Security Adviser in an Obama White House, told a major foreign policy conference in Washington that the future of US strategy in the war on terrorism should follow a lesson from the pages of Winnie the Pooh, which can be shortened to: if it is causing you too much pain, try something else.
Mr Danzig told the Centre for New American Security: Winnie the Pooh seems to me to be a fundamental text on national security. . . .
Oh, bother! I like A.A. Milne as much as the next guy, but tales of Christopher Robin and his stuffed bear are no basis for a consistent foreign policy. What does this clown want to do, pull troops out of the Middle East and use them to invade the Hundred Acre Wood? (I can picture the protest signs now: "NO BLOOD FOR HUNNY!") Appoint P-p-p-p-piglet as ambassador to P-p-p-p-pakistan? Name Eeyore special envoy for global warming issues? ("Doesn't matter. All the polar bears are gonna die anyway") Respond to foreign threats by opening an umbrella and muttering, "Tut-tut, it looks like rain"?
"Yeech! Tiggers don't like Democrats!"
*How do Luke Skywalker and soccer hooligans figure in to it? I don't want to know.
Posted by: Mike ||
06/16/2008 14:56 ||
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#1
if it is causing you too much pain, try something else
Considering that Obama's opponent is a guy who really knows something about "too much pain", that comment by Danzig is singularly tactless.
Posted by: Matt ||
06/16/2008 16:28 Comments ||
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#2
"Use Force, Luke... -- uh, no, waitaminit, that was, use THE Force, Luke..."
#9
And he was named after a swan, so that if you called him and he didn't come, you could always say, "Pooh!" as if you'd never meant to at all.
/Or something like that. The books are in the upstairs hall bookcases, and I'm downstairs in the office with the grown-up volumes. As for trying something else when it causes too much pain, that's not what Rabbit did when Pooh was stuck in his front door after eating all his honey. Poor Pooh was stuck there for weeks until he'd slimmed down enough that all of Rabbits friends and relations were able to pull him out from the front while Rabbit pushed from behind. Rantburg's own dear Shipman would never have made such an egregious error of misunderstanding. ;-)
(Xinhua) -- France "will no longer" intervene in the ongoing conflict between the government of President Idriss Deby Itno and the rebel movements, who have resumed their offensive against the capital N'Djamena since mid last week, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has said. "There is no position for France to maintain. It is an Irish general who is in command of the EUFOR which comprises over seventeen nations," Kouchner said Sunday while responding to a question from a journalist who wanted to know France's position in the crisis that is currently raging in Chad.
On Friday, the Chadian rebels, who launched an offensive against government troops in the eastern part of the country, near the common border with Sudan on Wednesday, announced that they had widely penetrated into the interior of the country and were on their way to dislodge President Deby from N'Djamena.
On Sunday at around midday, the rebel alliance, comprising three distinct armed groups, announced that it had taken control of the town of Am-Dam, approximately 600 km east of N'Djamena or 120 km south-west of Abeche, eastern Chad's main city, fueling speculations that a new attack on the capital was imminent. "We took control of the town of Am-Dam at about mid-day. The government troops did not offer much resistance," Gueddei Ali, spokesman of the National Alliance, said in a statement. "Our goal is not to take cities, but remove obstacles on our way to N'Djamena. We are not going to stay. Our objective is N'Djamena," said the rebel spokesman, adding that he could not immediately provide casualty figures due to security concerns.
Earlier on, National Alliance defacto leader Gen. Nouri, who led a botched offensive on the capital in early February, was quoted as saying that rebel fighters were dispersed into several groups and were on the move, adding: "the ultimate goal is N'Djamena."
Nevertheless, President Deby's government has dismissed the claims as both "frivolous and far-fetched," saying that it was still in control of the town and had inflicted heavy casualties on the rebels during fighting there. "We would like to deny these claims and denounce an unfounded campaign of intoxication that is being conducted by the rebels with a view to causing panic among the civilian population," said the government in a statement, adding that it was completely in control of the situation in the country. "France did not intervene, and will not intervene this time round," said the French foreign minister, who was addressing a press conference marking the end of his 48-hour official visit to Cote d'Ivoire.
In his remarks, the French foreign minister also expressed doubts over the rebel advance towards the Chadian capital, citing information obtained from "EUFOR forces who have denied the claims from the rebels."
Last week, the rebel alliance has asked Paris to stop flying "reconnaissance missions" over its troop formations, threatening to target French fighter jets. "We want to make a last and solemn appeal to France to immediately stop acting as an enemy towards the armed forces of the opposition. Otherwise, the Breguet Atlantique and other Mirage fighter jets would become targets," rebel spokesman Ali Gueddei said in a statement on Friday.
The rebels have often accused France, which maintains air and ground forces in the Central African nation, of providing vital military intelligence to the Chadian army.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/16/2008 09:01 ||
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NDJAMENA - Chadian rebels seized a second town Sunday as they headed west towards their stated objective, the capital, but government authorities dismissed its capture as a publicity stunt. Rebels forces took the eastern city of Am Dam without much resistance from government forces at around midday, said their spokesman -- a day after having briefly occupied Goz Beida, closer to the Sudan border.
Our objective is not to take towns but to clear obstacles on the road to Ndjamena, Ali Gueddei, the spokesman for the National Alliance grouping of rebel factions, told AFP. We are not occupying them. Our objective is the Golden Fleece Ndjamena, he added.
The Chadian authorities confirmed that Am Dam had fallen to the rebels but said it was a PR stunt by the armed groups. The rebels are effectively in Am Dam but it's a locality where there is neither a garrison nor troops deployed, said a Chadian military source. The rebels are avoiding pitched battles and are carrying out raids on unprotected areas for publicity purposes, a high-ranking Chadian official told AFP.
It'll be a publicity stunt when they occupy the capital, too.
Moroccan authorities have charged Hassan Rachidi, the head of Al Jazeera's bureau in Rabat, with broadcasting false information and conspiracy, a court source has said.
Ibrahim Sebaa El-Layl, an official with the Moroccan Human Rights Centre (CMDH), was also charged on Saturday. Rachidi has been accused of disseminating false information relating to protests in the southwestern Moroccan port of Sidi Ifni. According to El-Layl, clashes during the protests resulted in five deaths.
However, the authorities denied any loss of life, but said that 48 people had been injured, including 28 police officers. "The Rabat chief prosecutor's office ordered detectives to hold a preliminary investigation following the broadcast Saturday, by Al-Jazeera from its Rabat bureau, of information stating that there had been deaths during demonstrations in Sidi Ifni," the source said.
"Upon completion of the investigation, carried out in accordance with the law, Hassan Rachidi and Ibrahim Sebaa El Layl have been charged with publishing false information and conspiracy, under the terms of article 42 of the press code."
Their trial is to be held on July 1 in Rabat.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/16/2008 09:47 ||
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The British Government has raised its terror warning for the United Arab Emirates to its highest level. A statement on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website says: "There is a high threat from terrorism. We believe terrorists may be planning to carry out attacks in the UAE."
KUWAIT - A US decision to freeze the assets of a Kuwaiti charity could harm its relations with its key Gulf Arab ally, Kuwait's parliament speaker said on Sunday. The US Treasury Department said on Friday it has decided to freeze the assets of the Revival of Islamic Heritage Society, accusing it of financing terrorist activities.
Jassem Al Kharafi, a pro-government politician and former minister, criticised the decision and said such charities were under state scrutiny. We wish that the United States respects the sovereignty of Kuwait and it should not take actions that would harm this (U.S.-Kuwaiti) relationship, Kharafi told reporters. Who has a house of glass should not throw stones against others, he said, adding that the United States should first solve the problem of its prison at the Guantanamo Bay naval base in Cuba.
My friend, please don't push us right now, we might hand you to the Iranians and walk away ...
If this is the way the United States deals with a sovereign state then what is the meaning of the excellent relationship we have with the United States, Kharafi said.
Kuwaiti officials rarely criticise the United States in public.
There's a reason for that ...
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/16/2008 00:00 ||
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An evil al-Qaeda plot to kill thousands of cruise ship Brits could plunge Prince William into the war on terror.
MI6 has discovered that fanatics planned an horrific attack on a huge holiday liner in the Caribbean. Passengers would be victims as suicide bombers intend to ram the ship in speedboats packed with explosives - or plant saboteurs aboard to trigger an engine room inferno.
Royal Navy frigate Iron Duke - whose 180-strong crew will soon include William, 25 - would be in a prime position to speed to the rescue. The 4,200-ton warship, in the Caribbean to hunt cocaine runners, would run the risk of being caught in follow-up blasts aboard the liner. The Prince has just started two months with the Royal Navy as Sub-Lieutenant Wales after his Army and RAF service.
The plot was uncovered on a jihadist website which British and American security services have been monitoring since early this year.
#1
The secret file was found by a taxi driver and turned over to Al-Guardian.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
06/16/2008 1:48 Comments ||
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#2
Dunno if this would work so well. Those ships are huge and the speed boats tiny. The damage done to one destroyer would be a hell of a lot less crippling for a big ocean liner.
Example:
MS Caribbean Princess - 113,000 tons
USS Cole (DDG-67) - 8,885.66 tons
And I don't know where they would find refuge in that area so close to the US. Countries might not like the US, but they know the full thunder would be called down if they let this sort of thing happen and they would lose their cushy banana republics.
#3
This shows how uncreative Al Queda is. I mean this is just the same plan as the Cole but against a target that is less likely to shoot back and the bit about the Prince is just wishful thinking nonsense.
It makes me feel more optimistic about the war if this is the best of their plans.
#5
Difference is that warships are armoured & multi skinned, with the foremost principle being survivability against hull breaches, with regular watertight bulkheads. I wouldnt want to be on board if orcs started popping holes in the side.
(Bloomberg) -- An Australian accused of receiving money from al-Qaeda and possessing a false passport faces a new trial, two years after his original conviction was quashed, Agence France-Presse reported.
Jack Thomas, a former taxi driver in the southern city of Melbourne, was jailed in February 2006 after being convicted of accepting $3,500 and an air ticket home from Pakistan from a senior al-Qaeda operative, the news agency said. Prosecutors alleged he trained at terrorism camps in Afghanistan before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The conviction was overturned and Thomas was freed from prison six months later when an appeal court ruled that an interview carried out by Australian police while he was in custody in Pakistan was inadmissible as evidence.
The Victoria state Court of Appeal today ordered a retrial after prosecutors successfully argued that an interview Thomas gave to the Australian Broadcasting Corp. amounted to new evidence. Defense lawyers told the original trial that Thomas accepted the money and plane ticket because he wanted to return to Australia and had no intention of becoming an al-Qaeda operative, according to the report.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/16/2008 09:04 ||
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U.S. officials had been hoping that Washington's recently-launched military cooperation with Turkey in the fight against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party's, or PKK, terrorists in northern Iraq would help improve their country's terribly bad image in Turkey, but a survey proved that this was not the case. Some 70 percent of Turks view the United States as an "enemy," while only 8 percent considers Turkey's closest Western ally a "partner," according to an annual global attitudes report released Thursday by the Pew Research Center, a think tank here that conducts worldwide polls and surveys.The percentage of Turks having a favorable opinion about the United States rose by three points from last year to reach only 12 percent this year. About 77 percent of Turks had unfavorable views of the United States, the report said.President George W. Bush was faring even worse in Turkey. Only 2 percent of Turks had a favorable view of him. The Pew report covered 23 countries, and its data on Turkey was gathered through face-to-face interviews with 1,003 subjects from March 31 to April 21.
RTWT - they can't stand anyone else either.
Remind me why we're supposed to care what the Turks think of us ...
This post is a follow-up to a previous post about the evidence that the various anthrax attacks in late 2001 were prepared by a man named Ali Al-Timimi, a microbiology graduate student who is now serving a 70-year prison sentence for sedition but has not been charged in the anthrax attacks. This and the previous post consist of excerpts from the same website anthraxandalqaeda, but the essential information in this new post was not in the website at the time of the previous post. The new information adds details about some phone calls involving Al-Timimi. The details surfaced in a legal dispute about whether the NSA provided information about all intercepted phone calls involving Al-Timimi.
In a filing unsealed [in November 2007], Dr. Ali Al-Timimi's lawyer [Edward McMahon] wrote: ....
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
06/16/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
I often cite the October 10 attacks to skeptics and doubters who either believe that 9/11 was just a sucker punch, or part of a GWB conspiracy. These point towards something much more sinister, which was the cornerstone of the reasons for going to war in Iraq, forget what MSM tells you about WMD being lies.
#5
Ah, yes, "hope". Must not forget "hope". Obama: A New Hope, Obama: The Great Wh...er, Black Hope, Obama: The Euro Hope, Obama: The Muslim Hope, Obama: The Hope of the World...
I despair of hope. Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here...
London, 16 June (AKI) - Pakistan's failure to prosecute the founder of the country's nuclear programme, Abdul Qadeer Khan, for selling nuclear secrets was unacceptable, a leading non-proliferation expert said on Monday.
Mark Fitzpatrick, from the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, said media reports suggesting that Khan's weapons blueprints were found on computers in Switzerland and other countries confirmed his view that Khan was a criminal.
"I think it is incredible that some Pakistani statesmen and political parties want to excuse what Khan did," Fitzpatrick told Adnkronos International (AKI) by telephone. "I understand he is a hero for giving Pakistan a nuclear weapon. But if it becomes understood that Khan gave away or sold some of Pakistan's top secrets, that attitude could change."
Gee, what should we do, invade?
Fitzpatrick, who heads the IISS's non-proliferation programme, was at the US State Department for 26 years and spearheaded several arms control initiatives. He said it was also unacceptable that many European businessmen with whom Khan had dealt, had never faced prosecution.
The New York Times reported at the weekend that blueprints for advanced nuclear weapons, found on the computers of an international smuggling ring, were Khan's designs. The sensitive information was discovered on heavily encrypted computers in Switzerland and destroyed, but there are fears that the designs could have passed into the wrong hands.
It has once again raised questions about Khan who in 2004 confessed to his involvement in a clandestine network of nuclear weapons technology proliferation from Pakistan to Libya, Iran and North Korea.
"If Iran has nuclear weapons designs from AQ Khan, there is all the more concern," Fitzpatrick told AKI. "This episode, the news about nuclear weapons designs, could concentrate the minds of key states in deterring Iran in acquiring it's nuclear capability."
Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown and US President George W. Bush on Monday both pledged to step up sanctions against Iran if it failed to modify its nuclear ambitions.
Andreas Persbo, a senior researcher at VERTIC, a respected London-based non profit organisation, told Adnkronos International he feared Khan would soon be released. "The discussion is how, rather than when," he told AKI.
But Persbo, a verification expert, said he did not doubt the veracity of the latest media reports suggesting the designs had ended up with a smuggling network, in places like Dubai. "It was a good hub to meet the Libyans, Iraqis and Iranians and whoever else," Persbo told AKI.
Former UN arms inspector David Albright, an authority on the now defunct smuggling ring run by the Pakistani scientist, said the information may have been leaked some time ago. "These advanced nuclear weapons designs may have long ago been sold off to some of the most treacherous regimes in the world," he warned.
Posted by: john frum ||
06/16/2008 16:02 ||
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But if it becomes understood that Khan gave away or sold some of Pakistan's top secrets, that attitude could change."
This clown worked at the State Department for 26 years?
Figures.
Posted by: john frum ||
06/16/2008 16:17 Comments ||
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Afghan President Hamid Karzai's threat of a cross-border pursuit of militants is more of a tactic to build pressure on Pakistan than a signal of real intent, analysts said on Monday.
Unnerved by Pakistan's efforts to make peace with militants in its tribal areas, Karzai made the warning on Sunday after the Taliban launched a bold and successful mass jailbreak in Kandahar in southern Afghanistan.
The Pakistan Foreign Ministry summoned the Afghan ambassador to Islamabad to lodge a strong protest about Karzai's statement on Monday, spokesman Mohammad Sadiq said. "When communication breaks down, opinions get fertilised," said Afrasiab Khattack, a senior leader of Awami National Party, an influential ethnic Pashtun nationalist party.
The Awami National Party is a secular party that competes with Islamist parties for influence over Pashtuns, the ethnic group most Taliban belong to. "I think it's high time for them to open communication to avoid any further escalation," said Khattack, whose party is a junior partner in the 2 1/2-month-old coalition government in Islamabad and is in power in North West Frontier Province.
Analysts said Karzai's threat was a repeat of what some U.S. and NATO officials had suggested in the past, and the Afghan army couldn't act independently of U.S. and NATO military command on such a matter. "Now he has spoken their language," said Rustam Shah Mohmand, a former ambassador of Pakistan to Kabul.
The former envoy suspected Karzai, who stands for re-election next year, was seeking to divert criticism, after getting back from an international donors conference in Paris last week.
While donors pledged $20 billion in aid to Afghanistan they said Karzai must fight corruption and improve governance.
For Karzai to lash out at Pakistan is nothing new, but his outburst coincided with growing impatience with Pakistan among Western allies.
The escape of more than 1,000 prisoners, including 400 Taliban, from Kandahar's jail last Friday was another embarrassing demonstration of the enemy's strength for Karzai.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/16/2008 09:29 ||
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#1
ION PAKISTAN, WAFF.com > HALF OF PAKISTAN's POPULATION ARE UNABLE TO BUY FOOD DUE TO [wheat] PRICE RISE. UN World Bank Report. Approxi 80.0Milyuhn of Pakis 160Milyuhn population. Said decrease in PURCHASE PRICE has detrimentally affected the Urban Poor throughout SOUTH ASIA includnig but not limited to Pakistan, wid corresponding consequence of increases in COVERT SMUGGLING INTO INDIA AND AFGHANISTAN WHERE FOOD/WHEAT PRICES ARE HIGHER. PAKIS CURRENT FOOD/AGRICULTURE POLICIES ARE NOT IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE MAJORITY OF THE PAKI POPULATION.
Also on WAFF.com > PAKISTAN NEEDS 500,000 TONNES OF WHEAT FROM USA TO RELIEVE FOOD CRISIS, plus had also requested and received US$500.00Milyuhn from UN World Bank for same.
LAHORE: Only the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) will send home President Pervez Musharraf but it will do so at the appropriate time, PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari said on Sunday.
According to Dawn News, Zardari was addressing provincial ministers from Sindh at a dinner at Bilawal House in Karachi. He denied that his party had made a deal with the president.
Paying tribute to Benazir for her struggle and sacrifices for democracy in Pakistan, he said it was because of Benazirs efforts that Musharraf doffed his uniform and held general elections. The PPPs Sindh executive committee has decided to mark Benazirs birthday with simplicity this year and will not follow the tradition of cutting a cake. An international mushaira (poetry recitation) will be held in Karachi on June 20, a large gathering would be held in Larkana and another in Hala, the hometown of PPP Vice Chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/16/2008 00:00 ||
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ISLAMABAD Pakistans top nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan has said that many scientists promised Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to make nuclear bomb in few years but betrayed him.
He said late Bhutto was the only person who made the nuclear programme possible. Bhutto asked me can we become a nuclear power and I had replied him, Insha Allah we will, Dr Khan said in an interview with a private TV channel.
He alleged that the western countries have been defaming him since long and had been accusing him of stealing nuclear secrets. However, Dr AQ Khan said he visited many western countries, including Netherlands, but no action was taken against him.
To a question he said that General Zia had never instigated him against Bhutto, however, Zia always condemned Bhutto. I asked Zia not to hang Bhutto. Zia never rolled back our nuclear programme, he said.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/16/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Khan is a thief. His demographic cesspool of a homeland couldn't produce nuclear technology, so he stole it. His arrest and confinement were fake. He lives on a splendid estate and travels where he wants, with a cop escort.
#2
I doubt Khan is a thief. The Chinese were happy to give it to him and if they had demanded payment the Saudis would happily have obliged. Besides, he's not smart enough to be a thief.
#3
puhleeze--the douchebag stole the operative plans from the dutch company he was working for--in the middle of the day no less--walking off with dup plans in his briefcase--he needs to separated from his head by a serious wetworker a la that cannonier that the mossad put to sleep--any takers?
Posted by: SON OF TOLUI ||
06/16/2008 12:14 Comments ||
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#4
Khan is famous for stealing the designs of an early model Uranium enrichment centrifuge from his employer URENCO in the Netherlands.
He is often referred to as a nuclear scientist but is actually a metallurgist who knows nothing of nuclear physics.
The constraint in the Pakistani program was the fissile material. They were provided a design and detailed manufacturing instructions from the Chinese but little fissile material.
They tested a weapon at Lop Nur, China in 1983 after performing cold tests that same year.
The amazing thing is that even though India tested a device in 1974, it had no deliverable weaponized design until Rajiv Gandhi ordered development in 1988.
So for about 5 years, Pakistan had an actual (though very small) arsenal that was aircraft deliverable while India had nothing to respond with.
If the Paks only knew....
Posted by: john frum ||
06/16/2008 15:22 Comments ||
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Baghdad, Jun 16, (VOI) - U.S. President George Bush on Monday announced the withdrawal of 30,000 troops next July, highlighting that any further withdrawal of the troops will depend on the security conditions in the country.
This came during a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in London.
The U.S. president linked any further withdrawal of U.S. forces with the improvement of Iraqi forces capabilities and their abilities to bear more responsibilities, as well as the economic improvement and more progress regarding political reconciliation.
This strategy aims at handing Iraqis more responsibilities, Bush said.
For his part, Brown denied any impact of the political argument on his governments stance.
There is a work to do in Iraq and we will continue our work, Brown added, stressing that he would not outline any time table for British forces withdrawal.
He highlighted that his forces realized more progress in Iraq as well as the Iraqi forces. Reports have been circulated over possible British withdrawal from Iraq by the end of 2008. Brown also said during a press conference last week that he will deliver a speech on British forces' deployment in Iraq before the parliament's recess.
The British forces in the oil-rich port city of Basra, 590 km south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, keep 4,100 troops within the MNF in Iraq after withdrawing more than half of its forces.
Britain was the United States' prime ally in the March 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Ceremonies to hand over security responsibilities in Basra province from the British forces to the Iraqi authorities took place at the Basra International Airport in December 2007.
#1
HMMMM, CNN + MSNBC > PRESUMPTIVE DEM NOMINEE BARACK OBAMA, as POTUS, is reportedly still intend to withdraw all US milfors from Iraq within within 16 months, including an anticipated initial withdrawal of 50,000 - 70,000 US troops in first phase???
IOW, DUBYA + POTUS OBAMA? = RADICAL ISLAM CAN [subjectively]LOOK FORWARD TO A POTENTIAL REDUX OF UP TO 100,000 [rounded off] US troops, WID MORE REDUX TO OCCUR AFTERWARDS.
* IRNA > IT IS UNLIKELY THE USA WILL START ANY NEW CRISIS; + WE ARE IN A "WIN-WIN" SITUATION [Artic ostensibly refers to 5 +1 Econ confere BUT ATTITUDE COULD APPLY TO IRAN versus USA].
See also TOPIX > SADR MILITIA DESIRES ELECTION SHIFT IN IRAQ.
HMMMM, 2008 thru 2010 [minima] > in all likelihood, 'TIS MORE ASYMMETRICAL "POLITICAL JIHAD" THAN MILITARY/VIOLENT JIHAD. It still comes down to IRAN + MILITANTS-TERR GROUPS "GOING NUCLEAR" [Nuclear-StratWeaps Sufficiency] AMAP ASAP 2008-2012.
Again, as long as the USA = US-Allies mostly stays put [defensive] in Iraq + Afghanistan, etc., or downsizes as per POTUS Obama?, IRAN + MILITANTS-TERR CAN STILL GET THEIR NUKES + OTHER VITAL MIL CAPABILITIES TO SAVE THEIR JIHAD. The Islamists only need "Sufficiency" right now, i.e. a RELIABLE DELIVERABLE NUKE-WMD ARSENAL POTENT/STRONG ENUFF TO CAUSE US-ALLIED POLITICOS TO THINK TIMES BEFORE ENGAGING IN ANY SORT OF UNILATERAL OR JOINT, OFFENSIVE OR RETALIATORY, ANTI-ISLAMIST MILACTION(S).
Both the USA + RADICAL ISLAM WILL HAVE TO CONTN REVIEW THEIR RESPECTIVE ORIGINAL INTENTIONS AND PREMISES FOR 9-11 + WAGING A GLOBAL WOT = GLOBAL ISLAMIST JIHAD.
IMO, neither camp started this "ANTI-STATUS QUO/CURRENT ORDER" WOT or JIHAD ONLY TO END UP WID NO SIDE-CAMP ACHIEVING TOTAL VICTORY = TOTAL DEFEAT. Nobody Won, + Nobody Lost > WORLD NEITHER "PROGRESSES" = MOVES FORWARD, NOR BACKWARDS....WORLD IS SHAKEN, BUT NOT STIRRED [James Bond 007], ANY AND ALL WORLD PRE-9-11/WOT PROBS< ISSUES, + AGENDUMS, ETC. GO UNRESOLVED???
So, why attack the WTC-NYC on 9-11-2001 as per Radical Islam, or invade Iraq-Afghanistan, etc. as per Dubya TO BEGIN WITH IFF ANY AND ALL SIDES-CAMPS ARE GOING TO END UP LOSING = PC "NOT WINNING"???
AND NOW YOU KNOW, VIRGINA, WHY I WOULD CRITICIZE MY FORMER/OLD ANTI-SOVIET AGHAN WAR COHORT OSAMA, etc. > IFF YOU ARE GOING TO THE TROUBLE OF SENDING CIVILIAN AIRLINERS + OWN MEN CRASHING INTO US SKYSCRAPERS, WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST TURN THE PLANES INTO FLYING NUKE-WMD BOMBS AND NUKE NYC + WASHINGTON, DC TO BEGIN WITH??? Using airliners like that as on 9-11 is SPANKING = WARNING AN ENEMY, NOT WAGING WAR NOR KILLING AN ENEMY!
#5
JosephM, many Americans know how lucky we are that 9/11 wasn't much, much worse. I remember the concerns that day about the possibility of 50,000 deaths in the Twin Towers, not 3,000, and follow-up war gas or biological attacks. But if the troops can get even a few months rest and recreation before heading back into things, that would be good.
Anonymoose - off topic-- I sent trailing daughter #2 and temporary daughter off on a cross-country bike trip with the salt/sugar/baking soda formula you recommended. They left Cincinnati on Friday with their youth group. We're to meet them with a bike rack on the back of the minivan in Niagara Falls at the end of the month. I'll let you know how that worked out. :-)
Discussions among Iraqi politicians on the countrys long-term security agreement with the United States were under way over the weekend, but it will take many weeks and more likely months before the agreement is completed, people close to the negotiations said.
American officials but not the MSM would like a deal by the end of July, before the Democratic and Republican national conventions. But for Iraqis, who have an election law to complete in the next month so they can prepare for an election of their own in the fall, that seems like a tight deadline.
None of the articles have yet been agreed to, said Fouad Massoun, a Kurd who is involved in the discussions. The negotiations are in the primary stage. These things take time, Inshallah.
Meeting the July 31 deadline will be very difficult, said Humam Hamoudi, a powerful member of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, a Shiite party that backs the government of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki.
The agreement will regulate the relationship between the American military and the Iraqis after the expiration at the end of the year of a United Nations resolution authorizing the presence of foreign troops in the country.
The latest draft of the new bilateral agreement offered by the Americans made some significant concessions but in several important areas did not move close enough to Iraqi demands, according to several participants in the Iraqi committee that is meeting regularly to discuss the pact. They consulted for several hours on Saturday and agreed that Mr. Maliki should lead the negotiations.
The overarching question is how much control Iraq will have over the activities of the American military on Iraqi soil. As much as the UN in Lebanon?
The Americans have said they will allow civilian contractors to be held accountable under Iraqi law, said Mahmoud Othman, a member of the Political Council for National Security. He said they had also agreed to hand over to the Iraqis people captured by American soldiers and accused of crimes. Such detainees are now held in American facilities. They will also transfer suspects already held in American detention centers to the Iraqis, Mr. Othman said.
But that leaves many practical questions unanswered. There are now roughly 21,000 detainees in American custody; if they were transferred to Iraqi custody, where would they go? The Iraqis do not have facilities for them, and it would not be easy for Americans to hand over their detention centers at Camp Cropper and Camp Bucca to the Iraqis.
The Iraqis appear to have agreed to allow the Americans to continue to control their airspace because the Iraqis lack the extensive flight control expertise and equipment necessary, said Mr. Othman and another member of the Political Council for National Security.
When Iraqis say they want their sovereignty respected, they are talking in part about having the power to set the terms of the relationship between the United States and Iraq. For instance, will American soldiers be able to undertake military operations as they see fit, as they do now?
The Iraqis are discussing possible compromises. One idea is to have a joint Iraqi-American committee that would approve all operations, Mr. Hamoudi said. How about the Americans come from their secure bases, protected by Iraqi troops, when called upon?
Although the United States has agreements around the world with countries about the behavior of American soldiers stationed on foreign soil, including those with many American troops, like South Korea, Japan and Germany, none involve soldiers carrying out active combat operations.
Another reason the Iraqis believe it will take some time to complete a pact is that they have been visiting other countries with American bases, to look at their security agreements. The Iraqis want to hire European and American legal consultants to review those and their own proposed security agreement with the Americans. Plenty of time, especially since much of the dying is being done by Iraqis.
Posted by: Bobby ||
06/16/2008 06:17 ||
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#1
Another reason the Iraqis believe it will take some time to complete a pact is that they are under the control of Iran, who doesn't want any US forces in Iraq at all, and short of that will use its influence to hobble them as much as possible.
#3
the iraqi govt is vulnerable to the charge from domestic enemies of giving away sovereignty - so in particular they have to insist that American troops cant launch ops without Iraqi govt permission. This is reasonable.
The US military, reasonably, doesnt want to have to check in with a committee whenever they launch an op, esp one that moves frustratingly slowly.
Methinks a solution will be arrived at, and it will satisfy no one.
#4
Although the United States has agreements around the world with countries about the behavior of American soldiers stationed on foreign soil, including those with many American troops, like South Korea, Japan and Germany, none involve soldiers carrying out active combat operations.
That's because, at this point, Iraq is not South Korea, Japan and Germany. When the Iraqis reach stability, as are South Korea, Japan and Germany, then an appropriate SoFA can be inked.
#7
If the committee is structured so that it allows provisional approval followed by detailed restrictions it would work fine in most cases since the combat action would be over before the detailed restrictions came out.
Bureaucracy can be gamed (I should know, its my day job).
#8
There is no advantage to anybody except Hussein for the agreement to be reached before the election. And after the election, Bush is the lamest of ducks and an agreement made then would be easily repudiated by Hussein upon taking office. An agreement could be made if McCain is elected so that Bush takes the heat for it but McCain doesn't have to negotiate it.
So relax. This like Iran action is on hold till November 9.
#9
The US threw them a pretty broad and excessive SOFA in order to give Maliki the ability to push back and play the "Iraqi Nationalist" card effectively.
Iran calls him on the carpet to fuss about the Americans - he tells the the Americans are our friends and the US will be staying around a while.
Back home, ht rejects the contract and proposes one of his hown - making the point that he is hsi own man, and in the "Arab Street" is seen as standing up to the US.
And on top of it all, Maliki even POINTEDLY makes the reference to Korea and European US-SOFAs there by saying he is studying those treaties as examples. This is saying in effect: The US is staying but on our terms, and as our guest and friend and guarantor of our security.
So he covers a lot of bases with these actions.
Funny thing is his "pushback" is more in line with actual US SOFA agreements. We set it up, he gets to knck them down and we all get what we need: US - basing and continuity, Maliki - street cred and security.
Now they notice. Funny they never caught on to any financial hanky-panky when Saddam was in charge ...
Baghdad, Jun 14, (VOI) The U.N. Secretary General's representative on the International Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB), Warren Sach, said that the financial monitoring of Iraqi oil revenues is "deficient," according to a report released by the United Nations Media Center. "The United Nations representative on the international body monitoring the handling of more than $100 billion in proceeds from sales of Iraqi oil says financial controls are 'deficient' although progress has been made in some areas," according to the report, which was published on the official website of the world organization.
"He said that audit reports on DFI have highlighted weaknesses in internal financial controls, including incomplete record keeping at the Iraqi Ministry of Finance, lack of a comprehensive oil metering system, sale of oil and oil products outside of the DFI, incomplete contract information associated with US agencies contracts and bartering," the report noted.
"The UN comptroller also reported that fewer than 15 percent of previous recommendations to Iraqi spending ministries had been implemented. While noting that some progress had been made, 'further measures to strengthen the internal control framework are necessary,' Mr. Sach added," according to the report.
"The IAMB aims to ensure that the DFI (The Development Fund for Iraq) is used in a transparent manner for the benefit of the Iraqi people and that export sales of petroleum were consistent with international market best practices," the report quoted Sach as saying.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/16/2008 00:00 ||
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For pity's sake, this is the pot calling the kettle black after the bull has left the barn and the barn door is not shut and they couldn't hit the bull in the ass with a bass fiddle or a shotgun! And I haven't even gotten to any of the barnyard epithets applicable to "UN oversight"!
Missan, Jun 15, (VOI) A new police chief was appointed in Missan province as part of the measures taken by the Iraqi Interior Ministry in preparation for an upcoming security operation, the media and public relations director in Missan's police command said on Sunday. "A ministerial decree has been issued to appoint Staff Brigadier Saad Ali Aati to replace Major General Ali Waham as the police chief in Missan," Colonel Mahdi Hussein told Aswat al-Iraq-Voices of Iraq. Ali Waham has been moved to another position in the ministry, Hussein noted, providing no further details.
On Thursday, large numbers of police and army personnel arrived in the province and were stationed at al-Batira Airport and Missan's playground in preparation for the operation, according to security sources. On Saturday, a senior ministerial source told VOI that a wide-scale security operation will take place in Missan province in the coming 48 hours with the aim of tracking down armed groups and outlaws.
Amara, the capital city of Missan province, lies 390 km south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/16/2008 00:00 ||
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BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq will take over security responsibility for another southern province from U.S. forces in July, a Defence Ministry spokesman said on Sunday. Qadisiya, also known as Diwaniya because that is the name of its capital, would be the 10th of Iraq's 18 provinces to return to Iraqi control. It has been relatively violence-free this year.
"In July, we will take security responsibility for Diwaniya (Qadisiya) province from the Multi-National Forces and we have prepared the required force to take this security responsibility," Major-General Mohammed al-Askari, the Defence Ministry spokesman, told a news conference.
The ninth province to return to Iraqi control was the oil- rich southern province of Basra, which Britain handed over last December, marking the end of nearly five years of British control of southern Iraq. So far the provinces under Iraqi control are either in the Kurdish north or the Shi'ite south. U.S. forces still control provinces with large Sunni Arab populations, such as the western province of Anbar, which used to be the main stronghold of al Qaeda insurgents.
The handover of Anbar to Iraqi control, once pencilled in for March or April, is now expected in the next few weeks.
Some scepticism about whether Iraqi security forces are ready to take control of hotspots has been allayed by recent security operations. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki sent Iraqi security forces to tackle Shi'ite militias in Basra and Baghdad and launched a crackdown against al Qaeda in the northern town of Mosul, strengthening government authority in areas previously outside its control.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/16/2008 00:00 ||
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Karbala, June13, (VOI)-A representative of top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani on Friday called Iraqi officials to show patience during the U.S.-Iraq long-term deal negotiations, terming pledges of withdrawing foreign troops from Iraq as transitory and elections-oriented. "The pledges to withdraw from Iraq given by (officials) from occupation forces countries are only for elections sake ", Ahmed al-Safi, a representative of Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, said at Friday prayer speech in Karbala.
The cleric noted "the reality of their pledges is that they desire their troops to stay in (Iraq)".
He pointed out "it accounted for their desire to draft an agreement to keep the presence of the troops in Iraq".
We already knew this about Obama, but it's helpful that the Iraqis see through him as well.
The cleric called on Iraqi negotiator to be patient "in drafting the issues of such decisive agreement". He stressed the importance of "announcing the agreement details to Iraqi intellectuals and people".
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/16/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
well the Grand Ayatollah, learned as he is in the Sharia, and responsible as he SOMETIMES has been in supporting elections and opposing AQ, is missing some things
1. The continued real strain on the US Army of the current deployment levels (real even if not as severe as some in the MSM imply)
2. The continued concerns in the US about the financial costs of the deployment in Iraq
3. Pressure to get more US troops to Afghanistan
These pressure will impact EITHER McCain or Obama. Doesnt mean they will leave helter skelter, but it means it will be hard to avoid significant withdrawls fairly soon.
As for Powers statement, well shes actually relatively pragmatic among Obamas advisors, compared to Malley say. And they are ALL more pragmatic than major elements of Obama's political base, which even as President he will be concerned not to alienate. So while he may not be committed to a 16 month total withdrawl, he will not only be subject to the same pressures as McCain, but probably additional pressures to withdraw as well.
(Xinhua) -- The Palestinian deposed Hamas Premier Ismail Haneya said on Monday that its movement has succeeded to separate between the issue of a captive Israeli soldier and the Egyptian proposal of ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, thanks to Egypt. "The Egyptian efforts could comply with Hamas demands that the file of the captive Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, stays away from the file of lull which will be completed soon," Haneya said in Gaza city.
He added that the ceasefire will take place "to achieve the Palestinian people's aspirations, the halting of the aggressions and the lifting of the siege."
The Israeli military operations in Gaza Strip and the closure of the territory were intensified after Hamas took over the territory a year ago following the defeat of forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas.
Haneya applaud his movement's "patience and good management of the process and the moves with Egypt" to make its ceasefire initiative successful.
Meanwhile, Haneya slammed peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) due to the continuation of the Israeli settlement activities in the Palestinian territories. "Announcing the building of new 40,000 houses while Rice (the U.S. Secretary of State) is in the region, makes light of the Palestinian rights and the Palestinian negotiators," Haneya said.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/16/2008 08:57 ||
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British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Monday announced new sanctions against Iran and a small increase in troops for Afghanistan, handing President Bush a symbolic boost on the last day of his weeklong farewell trip to Europe.
Brown, appearing with Bush at a 10 Downing Street news conference, said Britain and the European Union would act later Monday to freeze the assets of Iran's largest bank, Bank Melli, in response to Tehran's refusal to suspend its uranium enrichment program.
Bush has made Iran's uranium enrichment program a focus of his European swing, and has been encouraging European nations to further pressure the Islamic Republic to curtail its nuclear activities and allow more extensive international inspections. Iran says the program is peaceful, but there is concern that the enriched uranium could also be diverted to nuclear weapons.
The British prime minister also said the number of British troops in Afghanistan would be raised to a record level. British officials said after the press conference that the total number of troops would be about 200, added to about 7,800 already in Afghanistan.
Brown also strongly rejected reports that he was planning a timetable for rapid withdrawal of the roughly 4,000 British troops that remain in Iraq. The British contingent is stationed on the outskirts of Basra and focused primarily on training Iraqi security forces. British troops withdrew from the center of Basra last year. "In Iraq, there is a job to be done," Brown said. "There's going to be no artificial timetable. And the reason is we're making progress."
The United Kingdom is the last stop for Bush on a weeklong trip through Europe, which will include a visit later Monday to Northern Ireland. Along with discussion of Iran and other issues, U.S. officials, including first lady Laura Bush, in recent days helped raise $20 billion in pledges to help rebuild Afghanistan.
Monday's announcements from Brown came as good news for Bush, who is entering his final months in office and, like Brown, is struggling with low approval ratings and political opposition at home. It follows a joint statement last week by the United States and the European Union vowing to pursue aggressive financial sanctions against Iran unless the regime in Tehran opens its nuclear program to inspections and agrees to halt uranium enrichment. Iranian leaders effectively rejected a package of incentives offered by the EU's top diplomat over the weekend aimed at securing Tehran's cooperation.
European action against Bank Melli comes on top of restrictions imposed in Oct. 2007 when the U.S. Treasury Department froze bank assets and halted transactions as part of a broader package of sanctions against state-owned Iranian financial institutions. Bank Melli allegedly sent $100 million to Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other terrorist groups from 2002 to 2006, according to Treasury officials.
Treasury has also cut off another major Iranian bank, Bank Saderat, from the U.S. financial system. "This has been a good trip," President Bush said at the press conference.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/16/2008 09:28 ||
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#1
Let's make sure we wait long enough so Iran can pull all of its assets out of the EU.
(Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of state Condoleezza Rice arrived in Lebanon Monday in a surprise visit to show support to newly-elected President Michel Suleiman and efforts to form a new government, local LBC TV reported.
Rice is due to meet also with Prime Minister Fouad Seniora, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and majority leader MP Saad Hariri, said the report. "I am going to Lebanon to express the U.S. support for Lebanon democracy and sovereignty," Rice was quoted as saying on her way to Beirut from Tel Aviv.
She said that her visit aims at discussing how the United States can support Lebanese institutions including the armed forces, the economy and civil society.
The surprise visit came under tight security amid a political deadlock in Lebanon regarding the formation of a new cabinet which has been delayed for third weeks so far. The last visit by Rice to Lebanon was in July 2006, during the 33 days of war between Israel and Hezbollah.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/16/2008 08:59 ||
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Egypt sees Iran on a surge in the Arab world, playing many political and diplomatic cards regardless of Arab interests, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said in an interview.
The political cards which Iran holds... it holds out of a desire to defend Iranian interests. It might be Irans right to try, but Egypt has a right to defend Arab territory, he added. You now find that Iran is on a surge and it imagines that it is able to influence the region. Perhaps they can influence the region, but we always say to our friends in Iran: Let the influence on the region be positive, he said.
Aboul Gheit was speaking to the newspaper Rose Al Yousef and the state news agency MENA carried the text on Sunday.
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.
Tim Shipman, The Telegraph
An evil al-Qaeda plot to kill thousands of cruise ship Brits could plunge Prince William into the war on terror.
LAHORE: Only the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) will send home President Pervez Musharraf but it will do so at the appropriate time, PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari said on Sunday. 
