In a sharp attack on Pakistan, Afghan president Hamid Karzai today asked the US to take a tougher line with Islamabad to get militant camps across the border shut down. How un-puppet like...
Karzai also criticised the American plan to withdraw troops from his country from July next year, saying making public the decision was aiding insurgents. Our people have been saying something similiar.
His remarks come as his top official Rangin Dadfar Spanta suggested that international forces, as part of their anti-terror strategy should "confront state" that still sees terrorism as a strategic asset and foreign policy tool. Hmmm... that would involve us confronting State, as in the Pakophiles in the State Department.
Notwithstanding disclaimers from Pakistan, Afghan national security adviser and former foreign minister Spanta said, "Pakistan is continuing to provide sanctuary and support to the Taliban, al-Qaeda and other terrorist networks." Everyone seems to understand this except... State!
Writing in the Washington Post, Spanta said the focus of international forces had been eroded by "mistaken embrace for strategic partners", who have, in fact, been nurturing terrorism, an apparent reference to moves by Washington to cultivate Islamabad as a partner in the fight to combat terrorism. What he said.
Spanta said, the "central issue is international jihadis" who take refuge in Pakistan and enjoy support and training from Pakistani military and intelligence agency. What is our plan for when these clowns attack our embassy or something?
"It is my firm belief, we cannot win if we continue business as usual," he said. "We have lost the reality. We've lost the focus." Somebody give that guy a star for the day.
[Geo TV] Afghanistan's Caped PresidentHamid Maybe I'll join the Taliban Karzai reiterated calls on Washington Thursday to shift its military focus to "terror" hideouts outside his troubled country, saying there had been "no progress" in the war.
In comments made to General James Mattis, head of US Central Command visiting his fortified palace in Kabul, Karzai said the US-led war "will not be
won unless terrorists' havens are eliminated," his office said in a statement.
Karzai was referring to neighbouring Pakistain, where Afghan officials and Western commanders allege the Taliban, Al-Qaeda backers and other Pirates of Boskone have strongholds from which they launch attacks on Afghanistan.
The US-backed Karzai said reducing the number of civilian casualties during military operations would also help "to win" the war.
Karzai was quoted as telling Mattis that strengthening Afghan security forces was vital if they are to take over eventually from tens of thousands of Western troops.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/27/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
The guy has a point. If Pakistan can't clean house then we should do it for them.
Posted by: Mike Ramsey ||
08/27/2010 0:34 Comments ||
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#2
Drugs go across the border into Pak, guns and money come back. It's a vast personnel, logistics, medical support, and R&R sancuary for the Taliban and AQ. Not much of a secret. Been going on for many, many years.
#3
Russia and California have much in common. Both are failed states at the terminus of vast, foreign, narco-trafficing and human smuggling networks. Both are led by politicians purposefully in denial.
[Tolo News] The Ministry of Defence denied reports based on the 47 percent of soldiers fleeing military services and that only 14 to 18 percent of Afghan Security Forces are literate
Only 15 percent of the Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers had left the army for different reasons in the past 11 months, a spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Defence, Gen. Zahir Azimi, told TOLOnews reporter denying a report recently published by the New York Times on the flee of more than 47 percent of ANA soldiers.
"The number of soldiers change during war and peace," Azimi added.
Meanwhile Mr. Azimi denied reports claiming that 14 to 18 percent of Afghan security forces are literate, and added that 68,000 of the 136,000 Afghan troops can read and write.
Of the 136,000 ANA forces, 4,200 are undergraduates, more than 27,000 are officers, more than 36,000 are soldiers and around 550 of them have been graduated from literacy courses, Azimi added.
In total, 28730 Afghan soldiers are doing literacy courses, Azimi said.
"While 100,000 out of 136,000 troops are literate or learning at courses, the claim that 14 to 18 percent of our soldiers are literate is totally incorrect," he explained.
Currently, the number of Afghan National Army troops is more than 130,000.
Illiteracy has always been an issue among Afghan security forces with the highest rates in Afghan National Police.
Before, foreign commanders in charge of Afghan forces training had said a huge level of addiction among soldiers reduces their capability of understanding.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/27/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
Of the 136,000 ANA forces, ... more than 27,000 are officers
[Jerusalem Post] A former bodyguard of Osama bin Laden warned of an escalation in fighting between al-Qaida and Yemeni authorities and predicted the government would need outside intervention to stay in power.
Nasser Ahmed al-Bahri told the News Agency that Dare Not be Named late Wednesday that recent attacks by al-Qaida in southern Yemen was an indication of its increasing strength.
U.S. officials have said that the CIA now sees al-Qaida's branch in Yemen as a greater threat to the United States than its parent organization hiding out in Pakistain.
"I expect that the confrontations will escalate and will reach an open war between the government and al-Qaida fighters," he said, adding that U.S. forces may have to intervene to keep the terror network from triumphing.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/27/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
Just how many former bodyguards does Bin Laden have?
Posted by: American Delight ||
08/27/2010 5:55 Comments ||
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Some 800 Muslims inmates lodged in British jails may have been turned by fellow inmates into fanatics ready to launch terror attacks, a media report said on Friday. An alarming report by defence experts warns that the security services face a "significant challenge" in spotting and keeping tabs on
possible suicide bombers and other jihadists as they would be freed from prison over the next five to 10 years, Daily Express reported on its website.
The Royal United Services Institute's study, released on Friday, predicts a switch from highly-planned outrages such as 9/11 and the London 7/7 bombings to attacks by lone suicide bombers with only slight links to Al Qaeda and using home-made explosives. Hmmm. I wonder if they mentioned Mumbai? What's a 'slight link' to al-Qaeda -- one that the MFM can't/won't mention?
The authors warn: "Perhaps some 800 potentially violent radicals, not previously guilty of terrorism charges, will be back in society over the coming five to 10 years."
The report also says that many of those caught in anti-terror campaign of recent years were not convicted of very serious charges and will, therefore, be freed fairly soon.
Google Translate. I originally found out about this through a comment in the link provided which included links to a few other Mexican narco blogs as well..
The Spanish language Mexican drug war blog Blog del Narco has been taken down apparently by Google, then apparently reinstated. No announcement or news of the event had been made public by anyone, however, on the blog's Twitter feed, it was announced at about 2150 EDST the blog was removed, but the owner is working to bring the blog back online.
The apparent owner earlier said the blog's removal was "por politicas", and has yet to back away from that assertion.
A brief time later, the blog was reinstated however, the technical contact said he was having issues with lost videos and photos.
Blog del Narco, which has made a tremendous splash in providing in depth and often graphic accounts of the ongoing Mexican drug and gang war, was started in March and has since ascended into one of the top outlets of drug war news in Mexico.
You can find Rantburg articles about Blog del Narco here and here.
#1
The really appalling thing is that I once worked on the machine type shown in the pic - a CDC 6000 series, I believe. Unfortunately, our operator looked nothing like that.
#2
Take a look at the LPG-30, Royal McBee. I worked on one of those. That unit is still running, doing the same job every day. 'Desk sized' means size of a desk in this case. Freidan Flex writer, 1.1 cps as I recall. Pre transistor, pre core memory. Never failed.
Posted by: Whiskey Mike ||
08/27/2010 5:30 Comments ||
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#3
It may be time to upgrade. Of course, intel is often slow.
#4
My understanding is that the operator is lotp, the photograph from her personal collection. We did have an operator who looked like her. And we never had trouble filling her shift, so she got a double shift incentive for working graveyard.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez met on Wednesday with Fidel Castro, the leader of the Cuban revolution, and his brother President Raúl Castro during a visit that lasted several hours and was not previously announced, several official media reported.
The Venezuelan ruler, who has already left Havana, had a "moving and fraternal" meeting for about five hours with former president Fidel Castro. Chavez expressed satisfaction about the "excellent health" of Fidel, 84, who has apparently recovered from a serious illness he suffered in 2006. Both rulers discussed several issues and particularly "the serious risks of nuclear a war which is threatening mankind," Efe reported.
A source said that at a subsequent meeting, Chavez and President Raúl Castro reviewed "the development of the superb political and economic ties" between the two countries.
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/27/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
They discussed the threat of nuclear war? Did this entail Castro giving Chavez advice on how to precipitate a nuclear missile crisis?
Posted by: DJ Curtis C ||
08/27/2010 22:50 Comments ||
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(Itar-Tass) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Il crossed the border with China on a special train for a visit to China, the Japanese television company NHK reported on Thursday with the reference to sources in the South Korean government.
"We are inquiring where Kim Jong Il will go by train," they noted. Kim Jong Il's train crossed the border with China early on Thursday morning, they noted.
His younger son and a potential successor Kim Jong Un is accompanying the North Korean leader, the Seoul news television channel WTN reported on Thursday with the reference to a source in the South Korean presidential administration. Kim Jong Un is not ruled out to be presented to the Chinese leadership as a future successor of power in North Korea.
The North Korean leader has already been to China on a five-day visit last May.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/27/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
These floods are horrible, pops.
Yes, son, they are. What shall we do about them?
ROAD TRIP!!!
So sez the military genius currently sitting in the Oval Office ...
INEYARD HAVEN, Massachusetts Iraq is capable of meeting its own security needs, the White House said Thursday, as the United States finalized preparations to remove its combat troops from country.
Asked in the aftermath of a bloody attack Al-Qaeda attack Wednesday that killed 53 people and wounded 250 more whether the Iraqi government is able to maintain its own security, White House deputy spokesman Bill Burton insisted it is, as he condemned the people who are trying to derail the march to democracy that Iraq has been on.
The president is confident that the effort to transition from a combat role in Iraq to Iraqi forces being in charge of their own security has been a successful one, and they are capable of taking on their own security, President Barack Obamas spokesman told reporters.
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/27/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
The sun came out today for the first time since Sunday. He was probably in a hurry to make his tee time and get in 18...
" The surge is not working. It has not changed the dynamics on the ground. It has put more U.S. troops at risk. It has not strengthened the Iraqi government. It has not quelled the antagonism between the various factions, and it has not lessened the strength of the insurgency."
Posted by: Matt ||
08/27/2010 7:43 Comments ||
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BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: Sadrist Lawmaker Bahaa al-Aaraji on Thursday expressed support of the call made by Vice President Adel Abdulmahdi to hold a parliaments session.
Security and political developments highlight the need to hold a parliaments session to tackle these developments and to find a solution for the current crisis, al-Aaraji told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.
The political chessboard in Iraq has been experiencing non-stop differences among the key blocs that won seats in the March 2010 legislative elections over the premiership and the government formation, namely between Malikis Dawlat al-Qanoon (State of Law) and former Premier Iyad Allawis al-Iraqiya bloc.
The results prompt coalitions of several parties to guarantee a required majority at the 325-seat parliament in order to form a government.
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/27/2010 00:00 ||
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At the same time that parties within Ammar al-Hakim's National Iraqi Alliance [NIA] confirmed that negotiations with Nuri al-Maliki's State of Law coalition [SLC] is close to being resumed, the National Iraqi Alliance is preparing to put forward three candidates to compete with al-Maliki for the post of Prime Minister as part of the National Alliance that is made up of the two parties.
Baha al-Araji, a senior member of the Ahrar bloc within the Sadrist movement, which itself is part of the National Iraqi Alliance said that "parties within the NIA are convinced that the National Alliance is the only option for those parties within it to form a new government." As for the National Iraqi Alliance vetoing al-Maliki's nomination, al-Araji said that there is "a kind of agreement within the NIA with regards to al-Maliki's nomination." He also referred to the "approval of the nomination of any female figures on the grounds that they have the right to stand for this position [Prime Minister] and in order for the next Prime Minister to be acceptable to all political parties in the country; however we find it difficult to accept al-Maliki."
Al-Araji also revealed that "the National Iraqi Alliance will put forward its candidates Ibrahim Jaafari, Adel Abdel Mahdi, and Ahmed Chalabi, for the position of Prime Minister, to compete with the State of Law candidate [Nuri al-Maliki]." As for the mechanism that will be followed with regards to how the National Alliance candidate will be chosen, al-Araji said "there are mechanisms in place through which the National Alliance candidate can be chosen for this position, but there has been no agreement between the two parties [of the National Alliance] until now."
In a statement to the press, Mohamed al-Bayati, a member of the National Iraqi Alliance, confirmed that "the State of Law coalition rejects the [National Alliance] mechanism whereby a prime ministerial candidate must obtain 80 percent of votes of the ruling commission (which is mad up of 18 members of both parties)." He also said that he "does not know whether this mechanism will be adopted or whether the National Alliance will rely upon other mechanisms including compromise and agreement with regards to who has the most votes within the National Iraqi Alliance and the State of Law coalition."
On the other hand, Haidar al-Suwaidi, who is also a member of the National Iraqi Alliance, confirmed that the political atmosphere between the NIA and the State of Law coalition signals a return to the operation of the joint-committees that had previously been established by the National Alliance. Al-Suwaidi told Asharq Al-Awsat that he expects the two parties "to put forward prime ministerial candidates in the coming days (two candidates for each party)."
The National Iraqi Alliance had announced the suspension of its negotiations with the State of Law coalition in July, saying that dialogue between the two parties would remain suspended until the SLC put forward a candidate other than Nuri al-Maliki.
In addition to this, Izzat Shabandar of al-Maliki's State of Law coalition confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that "the Sadrist movement has now adopted the view that the National Iraqi Alliance will put forward more than one candidate, including al-Maliki (as the State of Law candidate) and therefore the red line has become green with regards to the latter [i.e. al-Maliki's nomination]." Shabandar also revealed that "after more than one candidate is put forward we move towards a mechanism through which one candidate is elected for the National Alliance to take to parliament." On the subject of the return of dialogue between the NIA and the SLC, Shabandar told Asharq Al-Awsat that "the talk that was suspended with the State of Law coalition who returned to put him [al-Maliki] on the table once more, and therefore the talks will resume." He added that "the National Alliance remaining active is more important than any name being put forward for the position of Prime Minister."
As for the fate of the State of Law coalition's negotiations with the Iraqiya bloc that is led by Iyad Allawi, Shabandar said that "the success of the dialogue with the Iraqiya bloc will have national results and result in genuine future unity, however the State of Law coalition's agreement with the National Iraqi Alliance could push Iraq back to square one, especially on the issues of participation and sectarianism."
For his part, a government source close to the negotiations between the Iraqiya bloc and the State of Law coalition revealed that the dialogue between them "is ongoing" and that "it is moving at a good pace." He also added that "the dialogue between the Iraqiya bloc and the State of Law coalition is ongoing whether this is in Baghdad or Amman, and on a positive note they may be close to discussing sensitive issues especially with regards to sharing power and authority between the two parties."
Posted by: Fred ||
08/27/2010 00:00 ||
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[Iran Press] Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari has warned that the political gridlock in the country is conducive to the growth of militancy in Iraq.
Violence has raged on across the country as the March 7 parliamentary polls did not produce a clear winner to form a new government.
"Here you have a government paralysis, you have a political vacuum," AP quoted Zebari as saying on Thursday.
"So in such environment, these terrorist networks flourish actually and would love to deepen division among Iraqi politicians to apportion blame on each other in order to create as much chaos as possible," he added.
The comments came a day after multiple explosive attacks across the country killed dozens of people. Some politicians say the blasts, apparently against local government buildings and police headquarters, were aimed at delaying the formation of a new government.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/27/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
"Here you have a government paralysis, you have a political vacuum,"
Being very quickly filled and exploited by Iran. This may not end well.
[Asharq al-Aswat] Iraqi sources in Najaf and Beirut confirmed the validity of information published by Asharq al-Awsat yesterday, which detailed the intention of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, leader of the Sadrist movement, to leave Iran and resettle in Lebanon. This is in order to escape from Iranian pressure, which is pushing for his approval of the nomination of Nuri al-Maliki, leader of the State of Law Coalition and outgoing Prime Minister, for a second term in office.
The sources, who preferred to remain unnamed, spoke to Asharq al-Awsat via telephone yesterday, from the cities of Najaf and the Lebanese capital Beirut. They said that "Muqtada al-Sadr would prefer to return to Iraq and settle in his hometown of Najaf, and resume his work in 'Al-Brani' [office of a religious cleric], which serves as his office to meet guests and followers. However conditions in Iraq are not currently suitable for his return". Furthermore, the sources revealed that "al-Sadr used to occupy the same office as that of his father, Shiite cleric Mohammad Sadeq al-Sadr, who was murdered with his two sons in the centre of Najaf city in February 1999, by the security services of Saddam Hussein".
The sources added that "the leader of the Sadrist Movement [al-Sadr] hopes to return to Najaf, but he believes that the conditions are not currently appropriate. He will return when al-Maliki is no longer Prime Minister, as he [al-Maliki] fought against supporters of the Sadrist Movement and arrested many of them, who are still detained". The sources revealed that "the attempts and communications made towards al-Sadr, through al-Maliki, head of the State of Law Coalition, were conducted by Iranian and Iraqi mediators in order to clear the air between the two leaders. However, all these attempts have failed because of the cleric's insistence on not meeting and reconciling with al-Maliki. In particular, [he refuses to reconcile with] the leaders of the Dawa Party, headed by al-Maliki, because they described supporters of the Sadrist movement as militias. One of the initiatives, offered by the State of Law Coalition to the Sadrist movement, was al-Maliki's readiness as Commander in Chief of the armed forces to release the detained followers of al-Sadr, but this was rejected".
The source noted that "the decision by members of the Sadrist Movement to not attend an Iftar dinner hosted by al-Maliki the day before yesterday, for the Iraqi National Coalition, which was attended by Ammar al-Hakim, head of the Islamic Supreme Council along with a number of leaders of the Council, was a clear message indicating the impossibility of reconciliation between the Sadrists and the President of the outgoing government, and a refusal to accept his nomination to head the next government".
Al-Sadr has directed sharp criticism towards al-Maliki, describing him as 'false', and considering what has been achieved during his time in office as a 'failure'. He said this during a television interview, in which he also claimed "al-Maliki arrested my supporters and imprisoned them, calling them terrorists...then he lies [about their imprisonment], and tries to substantiate his lie, by saying we have released them from prison". He added that the number of his supporters detained in Iraqi prisons is estimated at 2,000. Some of them have been accused of encouraging a sectarian war, whilst others have been accused of being rebels. Al-Sadr explained, in an interview that had been conducted with him at his residence in Iran, after the election results, that "A State of Law delegation came to me here offering their [Sadrist prisoners] release, but I refused to incorporate the detainees' papers into talks of forming a new government, because this government is not obliged to release them".
The sources confirmed that "al Sadr rejected all pressures and proposals made by Iranian officials, including political and material incentives for his approval of the nomination of al-Maliki. These days he is seriously planning to go to Lebanon and it is possible to relocate to Beirut". The sources pointed out that "the first and last decision of the Sadrist movement is the decision of its leader, Muqtada al-Sadr".
Meanwhile, Iraqi sources in Beirut indicated that "al-Sadr has offices and property in Beirut, which are ready and prepared to receive him at any time he decides to access them". They highlighted that "the two sons of his brother Mustafa, who was killed along with his father and brother in Najaf in 1999, are studying at the American University there, and his cousin Jaafar Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr, who was nominated by the Sadrists to head the government, also lives in Beirut".
The sources reported that Muqtada al-Sadr himself has a house in the Lebanese capital, without indicating the type of housing, whether it is a mansion, villa or apartment, and without mentioning its specific location. They revealed that "al-Sadr frequents Beirut from time to time, without announcing his visit".
The sources ruled out the idea that al-Sadr would be the guest of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, or that he would live in southern Lebanon, because "al-Sadr does not want to be subject to the control of new authorities, having been liberated from Iranian control, just as he is not closely linked with Nasrallah". They reported that Muqtada al-Sadr has been a resident of the Iranian city of Qom since 2007, "for the purpose of studying to obtain a high level Shia degree". However, according to Iraqi sources in the city of Qom, "Iranian authorities are entrusted with his protection and maintaining the confidentiality of his residence, where only a limited number of his followers [can] meet him".
Posted by: Fred ||
08/27/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
"I will avoid him like the dentist"
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/27/2010 10:30 Comments ||
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JERUSALEM Israels top military judge said on Thursday the naval blockade of the Gaza Strip is legal, in testimony before an inquiry into a deadly May 31 raid on an activist ship seeking to break it, media reported.
Weve consulted with the attorney general and with the Supreme Court, and found that it is legal and permitted, Judge Advocate General Major General Avihai Mandelblit told the five-member Israeli commission of inquiry, according to the Haaretz daily.
He also said the naval blockade was imposed out of pure military considerations and not as a part of economic warfare against Hamas, the Islamist movement that rules Gaza and is committed to Israels destruction.
He also pointed out that even before the blockade was imposed in 2007, all supplies were transferred to the Gaza by land because Gaza has no proper port.
The commission, which includes two international observers, is only mandated to look at the international legality of the blockade and the raid.
Posted by: Steve White ||
08/27/2010 00:00 ||
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He made shoes for tossing as well as shoes for feet.
turned Islamist terrorist militant, Achwan was convicted for the bombing of the Borobudur Buddhist temple in Java in 1985 and an attempted bombing of Kuta beach in Bali in 1986. In 1999, he was pardoned after 15 years in jail.
"Why would I give up the fight after all these years? It's an obligation for all Muslims to fully apply the sharia. I'm here to make sure that happens," Achwan said in The Jakarta Post. "We have actually been under physical attack from the police's anti-terror squad Detachment 88. Those who can fight back are permitted to use violence as long as they have the necessary resources and capabilities," he said. He praised dead terrorists Dulmatin and Imam Samudra as people who had "such capabilities".
Key figures in the 2002 Bali bombings, Dulmatin was gunned down by police in March and Samudra was executed in 2008.
Let's hope that Achwan's capabilities lead to a similar result as soon as possible.
"For those who do not yet have the necessary resources to wage violent confrontation, they should wait and remain patient as their time will come. The battle still has a long way to go," Achwan said.
#1
It's an obligation for all Muslims to fully apply the sharia....
Those who can fight back are permitted to use violence as long as they have the necessary resources and capabilities....
"For those who do not yet have the necessary resources to wage violent confrontation, they should wait and remain patient as their time will come. The battle still has a long way to go,"
These three statements sum up the mindset of muslims. All of them. Wait and remain patient is closest to what all western muslims are being instructed. Straight from the Koran - not one single muslim, not even the invented "moderate" muslim, can speak against these truths.
(ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said here on Thursday that everyone in Indonesia was free to practice his/her religion or faith. He said no group was allowed to force its will on others "especially through resort to violence."
He made the statement when speaking at the commemoration of the Descent of the Koran at the State Palace. He appealed to all Indonesians to protect minority groups so as to develop a national life based on inter-religious and social harmony.
"Let us protect minority groups in terms of their religion or other social identities. Let us develop a national and political life which is based on strong inter-religious harmony," he said.
The President asked for the cooperation of all people for the creation of a peaceful and tranquil religious life that put forward solidarity rather than differences.
Therefore, he also called on all citizens not to always find faults with others. "If we always see the bad side in others when will we be able to see their good side which we ourselves might not have," he said.
In line with the theme of the commemoration which was "The Koran and the Development of Sciences" the President asked Muslims in the country to keep pursuing knowledge and develop technology to improve the nation`s life.
The Koran, he said, orders Muslims to keep pursuing knowledge. This was also in line with Article 31 of the 1945 Constitution which states that "the government shall advance the sciences and technology by upholding religious values and national unity for the advancement of civilization and the welfare of mankind."
"With this perspective, we are developing education which is inseparable from theological aspects. Education is harmonizing intellectual and spiritual intelligence," he said.
The event was also attended First Lady Ani Yudhoyono and high-ranking state officials including cabinet ministers and House Speaker Marzuki Alie and also some foreign country representatives.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/27/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
You are not aware of it but please don't use the term "Indon." It is regarded as a slur by Indonesians.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/27/2010 10:11 Comments ||
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(Xinhua) -- Two policemen, a bus driver and his assistant were killed when a group of armed men, clad in military and police uniforms, attacked a passenger bus in the southern Philippine province of Lanao del Norte early Thursday, military officials said.
The undetermined number of suspects attacked the Rural Bus, apparently because the bus firm failed to satisfy their extortion demands, said Romeo Lustestica, commander of the Army's 1st Infantry Division.
The bus was intercepted at a checkpoint in Kapatagan town established by the suspects, armed with M16 and M14 rifles and cal.45 pistols, at around 1 a.m., Lustestica said, adding the suspects then shot dead the bus driver, Jaime Duhaylunsod; conductor Arkie Bastasas; and two police officers -- Jovito Cabigas and Roselito Obatay, who were both assigned with the Kapatagan town police station.
"(The) bus was stopped, the passengers were told to alight before the killing and burning of bus," said Lustestica, adding that forces from the Army's 35th Infantry Battalion are now in coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP) "for further joint dispositive actions on the incident."
He said the PNP is still conducting an investigation on the incident and there are no official words on the identities of the perpetrators.
"Initial field assessment is (its related) on the extortion demand of lawless elements of 25 million pesos (551,800 U.S. dollars) to 50 million pesos (1.1 million U.S. dollars) from the company as payment for death of four people who were reportedly from the Lanao provinces (and) who were bumped by Rural Bus in La Libertad, Misamis Oriental a few months back," said Luctestica.
Without elaborating, Lustestica said the attack could have been prompted by the "franchise dispute of the Lanao del Norte route."
He said the passengers of the ill-fated bus overheard the perpetrators saying "The retaliation is not over."in one of the local Lanao dialects.
"Note that no passenger was held up, abducted or molested. The atrocity is directed against the bus company," the Army general added.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/27/2010 00:00 ||
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[Jerusalem Post] Iran's leaders allegedly prohibited Iranian newspapers and news agencies from mentioning opposition leaders in a media directive, posted on pro-reform websites Thursday.
The document requires Iranian media to shun any coverage of the former president Mohammad Khatami and the former presidential candidates Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mahdi Karroubi.
Iranian authorities have not commented on the letter. It was not possible to independently verify its authenticity Thursday.
If true, however, it's another step by Iran to control the media after closing nearly all reformist publications and putting curbs on the Internet.
But it would actually change little since pro-government media have dropped most coverage of the opposition.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/27/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
Boy I bet Obumble, Queen Nancy,and Reid are just green with envy....
[An Nahar] Hizbullah MP Hussein Musawi on Thursday described as "isolated incident" bloody street battles in Borj Abi Haidar, urging political parties to act quickly to curb any repercussions.
"We appeal on all parties to move swiftly to find ways to prevent recurrence" of Tuesday's fighting that started in Borj Abi Haidar and soon spread to nearby Basta and Nweiri, just blocks from downtown Beirut -- usually packed with tourists at this time of year.
Three militants were killed and several other people were wounded in the fighting which pitted Hizbullah supporters against Al-Ahbash partisans.
Musawi warned, at the same time, "those who are trying to use this incident against the Resistance and its weapons."
"Israel is our enemy Israel and no one will drag us into civil strife," he stressed.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/27/2010 00:00 ||
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[Ya Libnan] Hezbollah has said it would cooperate only with the Lebanese judiciary if it requests information unveiled by Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah about former PM Rafik Hariri's assassination.
"Our stance from the court is known. We don't recognize it and we don't cooperate with it," Hezbollah sources told An Nahar daily in remarks published Thursday.
"However, if the Lebanese judiciary asks for (the information), then we will cooperate with it and study the requests," the sources added.
Their comment came after General Prosecutor Said Mirza informed Hezbollah official Wafiq Safa on Wednesday about Special Tribunal for Lebanon Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare's request to provide the remaining material to which the Hezbollah chief referred to in his press conference on August 9.
"Hezbollah officials hand-delivered to the Prosecutor General of Lebanon an envelope containing six DVDs," Bellemare's office said in a press release.
"The preliminary assessment of the DVDs has determined that the response is incomplete since the material that was handed over is limited to the material shown during the 9 August 2010 press conference and does not contain "the rest of the evidence" that Mr. Hassan Nasrallah referred to in his press conference," it added.
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08/27/2010 00:00 ||
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[Ya Libnan] National Liberal Party leader MP Dori Chamoun addressed on Thursday an open letter to Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah urging him to "return to reason, learn from others' errors, and avoid dragging the country into destructive wars." "Return" to reason? He's been there?
He said that the clashes were reminiscent of the Lebanese civil war when parties were armed and turned against each other to bolster their power on the streets or "were taken advantage of by their leaders for limited political aims as you unfortunately did in May 2008."
Chamoun criticized Hezbollah for causing the July 2006 war and blaming others for problems that the party itself had created.
Had it not been for the war, several developmental projects in the electrical and water sectors could have been accomplished "before even reaching discussion on nuclear energy," he continued.
The MP asked Nasrallah: "Is it acceptable that the loyalty of a large number of the Shiite population and its leaders be to countries, policies, and goals that have nothing to do with Lebanon? Is it acceptable that Iranian flags and posters of its leaders be posted in Dahiyeh and other areas?"
"Is it acceptable that Iran's interest be a priority for Hezbollah above those of its fellow citizens in Lebanon?" Chamoun asked.
Nasralah called on the government to seek arms from Iran during his last Iftar speech. His speech was described as the Iranization of Lebanon.
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08/27/2010 00:00 ||
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[Ya Libnan] Lebanese Forces bloc MP Antoine Zahra told the Voice of Lebanon (VOL) on Thursday that all Lebanese regions must be arms an militia free, and not just Beirut.
"It's time for the Lebanese state to take quick measures to announce Beirut a weapons and militia free city," the March general-secretariat said in a statement following its weekly meeting.
All the comments comes after clashes broke out in the Beirut neighborhood of Bourj Abi Haidar on Tuesday between supporters of the Association of Islamic Charitable Projects--also known as Al-Ahbash--and Hezbollah, leading to the death of three people, including Hezbollah official Mohammad Fawwaz.
"The [clear and visible] presence of Hezbollah's armed members proves that there is a party capable of [taking it to the streets], while [its] arms should be put under state control," Zahra said.
He also said that "no one knows whether or not the arms used in the Bourj Abi Haidar clashes were confiscated."
During an Iftar last night MP Saad Hariri, stressed that the widespread of weapons in every street and neighborhood is not acceptable anymore."
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08/27/2010 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.
[Geo TV] 
[Tolo News] The Ministry of Defence denied reports based on the 47 percent of soldiers fleeing military services and that only 14 to 18 percent of Afghan Security Forces are literate
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez met on Wednesday with Fidel Castro, the leader of the Cuban revolution, and his brother President Raúl Castro during a visit that lasted several hours and was not previously announced, several official media reported. 
(Itar-Tass) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Il crossed the border with China on a special train for a visit to China, the Japanese television company NHK reported on Thursday with the reference to sources in the South Korean government.
At the same time that parties within Ammar al-Hakim's National Iraqi Alliance [NIA] confirmed that negotiations with Nuri al-Maliki's State of Law coalition [SLC] is close to being resumed, the National Iraqi Alliance is preparing to put forward three candidates to compete with al-Maliki for the post of Prime Minister as part of the National Alliance that is made up of the two parties.
[Asharq al-Aswat] Iraqi sources in Najaf and Beirut confirmed the validity of information published by Asharq al-Awsat yesterday, which detailed the intention of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, leader of the Sadrist movement, to leave Iran and resettle in Lebanon. This is in order to escape from Iranian pressure, which is pushing for his approval of the nomination of Nuri al-Maliki, leader of the State of Law Coalition and outgoing Prime Minister, for a second term in office.
[Jerusalem Post] Iran's leaders allegedly prohibited Iranian newspapers and news agencies from mentioning opposition leaders in a media directive, posted on pro-reform websites Thursday. 
National Liberal Party leader MP Dori Chamoun addressed on Thursday an open letter to Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah urging him to "return to reason, learn from others' errors, and avoid dragging the country into destructive wars."
