With its severe geography exposing any attacker to raking gunfire, the town southeast of Tripoli was one of the last places to fall to Italian colonialist troops last century and has long been known as a refuge for defenders.
Bani Walid was "built for last stands," said Geoff Porter, an independent U.S. expert on North African politics.
The town is strung along the tops of a rang of hills, geography that compels attackers advancing from the north to traverse a gully, exposing them to withering gunfire.
Chaotic organization, lack of leadership and factional rivalries have wrecked the cohesion of the anti-Gaddafi push on the town, turning their assaults into debacles.
Brigadier Benjamin Barry, a former British army officer and now Land warfare expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said a siege might work, or, if civilians have fled, an assault by a professional military equipped with tanks and heavy armor.
"The consensus amongst military professionals would be that if there is no other way to persuade defenders who know their business to abandon a defended town, there is no alternative to a combined arms assault by well trained infantry supported by tanks, artillery and sappers," he told Reuters.
President Robert Mugabe Sunday called for Libya's transitional government and its leader to negotiate with fugitive Libyan leader Moamer Gaddafi as a precondition for recognizing it, dpa reported.
Mugabe threatened that until the talks with Gaddafi happen, his country and African leaders would not recognize the Transitional National Council (TNC), headed by Mustafa Abdul Jalil.
Okay, don't. The TNC will have the oil. They'll sell the oil to Y'urp. They'll have cash, real cash, not Zim-Bob dollars. Think about that.
Mugabe's threat on behalf of fellow African leaders appeared to be unclear on the concept out of step with a move last week by the Africa Union, to which Zimbabwe as well as Libya belong.
The African Union (AU) recognized Libya's Transitional National Council as the representative of the Libyan people as they form an all-inclusive transitional government that will occupy the Libyan seat at the African Union. South Africa, the continent's power house, also individually recognized the TNC.
Last week, the United Nations recognized the TNC as representing Libya, and Abdul Jalil met with US President Barack Obama and other world leaders.
During months of ongoing protests and harsh reprisals against demonstrators in Libya, South Africa and other African countries had tried in vain to negotiate a peace between Gaddafi and the rebels.
Mugabe, 87, made his remarks upon his arrival at Harare international airport from his appearance at the United Nations General Assembly. In his speech in New York, he charged that NATO had "invaded" Libya to benefit from the country's oil.
"As far as we are concerned, the African position is that the (TNC) can only have a seat in the AU if the summit of the AU recognises that in fact they are in control," Mugabe told reporters.
"We will not go as far as European and NATO countries to recognise them as the absolute authority as we still want negotiations between the (TNC) and the Gaddafi loyalists," Mugabe said.
Last month, Harare expelled Libyan ambassador to Zimbabwe Taher Elmagrahi and his entire staff after he openly supported the transitional council.
Posted by: Steve White ||
09/26/2011 00:00 ||
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Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Police officers on Thursday night arrested a Saudi national at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, charging him with unlawful possession of weapons.
Police sources identified the suspect as 54-year old Mohamed Hefni, a citizen of Saudi Arabia.
During a routine baggage check by security screeners at JFK airport on Thursday, Hefni, was discovered to be traveling with a stun gun, three stun batons, a stun pen and a can of pepper spray.
Upon being interrogated, Hefni told detectives that he was taking the items home to Saudi Arabia in order to better protect his family.
[Yemen Post] Most Yemenis were eagerly waiting for president Saleh scheduled address to the nation today, as tomorrow marks Yemen's 1st revolution anniversary and the birth of its Republic.For a brief moment in time, Yemen was united in its awaiting of Saleh's verdict on a possible transfer of power. Rather disappointedly, Saleh's speech was not live but recorded and he appeared very much as a former shadow of himself; without his previous typical disdainful demeanor and bravado Saleh looked like a dear caught in daylight, haggard and wary. Interestingly, president Saleh announced that he had authorized his vice-president Abdu Rabu Mansoor Hadi to begin the negotiating process with the country's Opposition and vested him with the constitutional powers to sign and enact the proposal. This "power of attorney" of sorts made sense when Saleh was away in the KSA, recovering from the kaboom on his presidential compound, but less so now that he is back in the country. Why use a proxy? The embattled president went on blaming the past few days massacre onto the Opposition, saying: "This bloodbath will not get you power". He went further in his accusations by associating those opposed to the regime with al-Qaeda Death Eaters.In the same breath he promised however that he was committed to the GCC proposal enouncing the country's mechanisms of transfer of power. Mahjoob Zweiri, an expert on Middle East Affairs at the University of Qatar told the press in a televised interview that this "al-Qaeda" labeling of the protesters was bound to create tension in Yemen, polarizing yet more animosity towards the autocrat."I am not sure it will please people in Sanaa. What they were waiting for was his resignation," he said. "This kind of labeling might lead to more confrontation." In Sana'a people were less than convinced. "He is a liar, this is what he does, lie, lie, lie, promise, promise, promise, to win more time and finish us off," said a protester at "Change Square", the main gathering point of the revolution
Posted by: Fred ||
09/26/2011 00:00 ||
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Six men have been charged with terrorism offences, including a suspected suicide bombing campaign, West Midlands Police have said.
Four of the men were charged with preparing for an act of terrorism in the UK, and two with failing to disclose information.
It follows a police operation in Birmingham last week.
The six, all from Birmingham and aged between 25 and 32, will appear at West London Magistrates' Court on Monday.
Irfan Nasser, 30, of Sparkhill, and Irfan Khalid, 26, of Balsall Heath, are accused of preparing for an act of terrorism, including travelling to Pakistan for training in terrorism, making a martyrdom video and planning a bombing campaign.
They are accused of "being concerned in constructing" a home-made explosive device for terrorist acts and stating an intention to be a suicide bomber.
Seventh man
Ashik Ali, 26, of Balsall Heath, is accused of preparing for an act of terrorism, which involved planning a bombing campaign, providing premises for the planning of terrorist attack and stating an intention to be a suicide bomber.
Rahin Ahmed, 25, of Moseley, is accused of helping fund terrorist acts.
Mohammed Rizwan, 32, and Bahader Ali, 28, both of Sparkbrook, are both charged with failing to disclose information about potential acts of terrorism.
It is alleged that between 29 July and 19 September this year, both had information which they knew may help prevent the commission of an act of terrorism but did not disclose the information.
Mr Ali is also charged with providing money for the purposes of terrorism.
The offences are alleged to have taken place between Christmas Day 2010 and 19 September this year.
A seventh man from the city, aged 20, who was arrested on Thursday, continues to be questioned. Officers have until 29 September to charge, release or apply for further time.
The men were arrested as part of an operation carried out by the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit. The arrests were unarmed, pre-planned and intelligence-led.
Six men have been charged with terrorism offences, including a suspected suicide bombing campaign, West Midlands Police have said. Four of the men were charged with preparing for an act of terrorism in the UK, and two with failing to disclose information.
It follows a police operation in Birmingham last week.
The six, all from Birmingham and aged between 25 and 32, will appear at West London Magistrates' Court on Monday.
Irfan Nasser, 30, of Sparkhill, and Irfan Khalid, 26, of Balsall Heath, are accused of preparing for an act of terrorism, including travelling to Pakistan for training in terrorism, making a martyrdom video and planning a bombing campaign. They are accused of "being concerned in constructing" a home-made explosive device for terrorist acts and stating an intention to be a suicide bomber.
Seventh man
Ashik Ali, 26, of Balsall Heath, is accused of preparing for an act of terrorism, which involved planning a bombing campaign, providing premises for the planning of terrorist attack and stating an intention to be a suicide bomber.
Rahin Ahmed, 25, of Moseley, is accused of helping fund terrorist acts.
Mohammed Rizwan, 32, and Bahader Ali, 28, both of Sparkbrook, are both charged with failing to disclose information about potential acts of terrorism. It is alleged that between 29 July and 19 September this year, both had information which they knew may help prevent the commission of an act of terrorism but did not disclose the information. Mr Ali is also charged with providing money for the purposes of terrorism.
The offences are alleged to have taken place between Christmas Day 2010 and 19 September this year.
A seventh man from the city, aged 20, who was arrested on Thursday, continues to be questioned. Officers have until 29 September to charge, release or apply for further time.
The men were arrested as part of an operation carried out by the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit. The arrests were unarmed, pre-planned and intelligence-led.
An administration official Congress wanted to interview before the end of the month may be unavailable. That's according to a new letter from a White House counsel to members of Congress investigating the ATF Fast and Furious "Gunwalker" scandal.
On September 9th, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) asked the White House to make former National Security Advisor Kevin O'Reilly available for an interview before the end of September to help "determine the extent of the involvement of White House staff in Operation Fast and Furious."
Emails already obtained by Congress show O'Reilly communicated about gun trafficking efforts with then-Special Agent in Charge of ATF's Phoenix office William Newell as early as summer of 2010. In the email exchanges O'Reilly asked Newell if it was okay to share the information with other White House staffers. Congressional investigators are seeking all related communications.
The new letter from the President's counsel doesn't say O'Reilly can't be interviewed by Congressional investigators, but neither does it provide an availability date. Instead the letter states that
O'Reilly, who has moved from the White House to the State Department from where he was tasked, is "currently on a previously scheduled assignment to Iraq." Isn't that convenient? Sure. Ev'ryone goes on vacation to Iraq. It's the new Monaco.
The members of Congress also asked for other documents and communications within the White House staff regarding Fast and Furious by September 23rd. No materials were provided, but the President's Attorney indicated some could be handed over by the end of this week.
President Obama has said neither he nor Attorney General Eric Holder approved of or knew about any gunwalking. Further, a spokesman for the administration has said nobody in the White House knew of any gunwalking tactics.
#1
O'Reilly, who has moved from the White House to the State Department from where he was tasked, is "currently on a previously scheduled assignment to Iraq."
#3
"O'Reilly, who has moved from the White House to the State Department from where he was tasked, is 'currently on a previously scheduled assignment to Iraq.'"
No problem; Grassley and Issa can hop on a military plane going that way (to save the taxpayers money) with a couple of aides with cameras and quiz him in Iraq. If necessary, find out his "schedule," then fax him the subpoena.
Hilarity will ensue.
Posted by: Barbara ||
09/26/2011 18:36 Comments ||
Top||
Not only did U.S. officials approve, allow and assist in the sale of more than 2,000 guns to the Sinaloa cartel -- the federal government used taxpayer money to buy semi-automatic weapons, sold them to criminals and then watched as the guns disappeared.
This disclosure, revealed in documents obtained by Fox News, could undermine the Department of Justice's previous defense that Operation Fast and Furious was a "botched" operation where agents simply "lost track" of weapons as they were transferred from one illegal buyer to another. Instead, it heightens the culpability of the federal government as Mexico, according to sources, has opened two criminal investigations into the operation that flooded their country with illegal weapons.
Operation Fast and Furious began in October 2009. In it, federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives encouraged gun stores to sell weapons to an arms smuggling gang, then watched as the guns crossed the border and were used in crimes. Each month, the agency allowed hundreds of guns to go South, despite opposition from some agents.
All told, the gang spent more than $1.25 million for the illegal guns.
In June 2010, however, the ATF dramatically upped the ante, making the U.S. government the actual "seller" of guns.
According to documents obtained by Fox News, Agent John Dodson was ordered to buy six semi-automatic Draco pistols -- two of those were purchased at the Lone Wolf gun store in Peoria, Ariz. An unusual sale, Dodson was sent to the store with a letter of approval from David Voth, an ATF group supervisor.
Dodson then sold the weapons to known illegal buyers, while fellow agents watched from their cars nearby.
This was not a "buy-bust" or a sting operation, where police sell to a buyer and then arrest them immediately afterward. In this case, agents were "ordered" to let the sale go through and follow the weapons to a stash house.
According to sources directly involved in the case, Dodson felt strongly that the weapons should not be abandoned and the stash house should remain under 24-hour surveillance. However, Voth disagreed and ordered the surveillance team to return to the office. Dodson refused, and for six days in the desert heat kept the house under watch, defying direct orders from Voth.
A week later, a second vehicle showed up to transfer the weapons. Dodson called for an interdiction team to move in, make the arrest and seize the weapons. Voth refused and the guns disappeared with no surveillance.
According to a story posted Sunday on a website dedicated to covering Fast and Furious, Voth gave Dodson the assignment to "dirty him up," since Dodson had become the most vocal critic of the operation.
"I think Dodson demanded the letter from Voth to cover both himself and the FFL (Federal Firearm Licensee). He didn't want to be hung out to dry by Voth," a source told the website "Sipsey Street Irregulars."
Subsequent to this undercover operation, sources told Sipsey, "Dodson just about came apart all over them (his supervisors). In a 'screaming match' that was heard throughout the Phoenix office by many employees, Dodson yelled at Voth and Assistant Special Agent in Charge George Gillett, 'Why not just go direct and empty out the (ATF) arms room?" (to the cartels), or words to that effect.'
After the confrontation, ATF managers transferred Dodson to a more menial job. Months later, after the death of Border Patrol agent Brian Terry, Dodson blew the whistle and went public about the federal government's gunrunning operation.
Link is to Fox and it's about the Part I and II I posted this morning. MSM does watch Drudge -- and this time, there is proof that Agents were given money to buy guns, and to hand those guns off to someone else. The Letter
Not only did U.S. officials approve, allow and assist in the sale of more than 2,000 guns to the Sinaloa cartel -- the federal government used taxpayer money to buy semi-automatic weapons, sold them to criminals and then watched as the guns disappeared.
This disclosure, revealed in documents obtained by Fox News, could undermine the Department of Justice's previous defense that Operation Fast and Furious was a "botched" operation where agents simply "lost track" of weapons as they were transferred from one illegal buyer to another.
Instead, it heightens the culpability of the federal government as Mexico, according to sources, has opened two criminal investigations into the operation that flooded their country with illegal weapons.
According to documents obtained by Fox News, Agent John Dodson was ordered to buy six semi-automatic Draco pistols -- two of those were purchased at the Lone Wolf gun store in Peoria, Ariz. An unusual sale, Dodson was sent to the store with a letter of approval from David Voth, an ATF group supervisor.
Dodson then sold the weapons to known illegal buyers, while fellow agents watched from their cars nearby.
This was not a "buy-bust" or a sting operation, where police sell to a buyer and then arrest them immediately afterward. In this case, agents were "ordered" to let the sale go through and follow the weapons to a stash house.
According to sources directly involved in the case, Dodson felt strongly that the weapons should not be abandoned and the stash house should remain under 24-hour surveillance. However, Voth disagreed and ordered the surveillance team to return to the office. Dodson refused, and for six days in the desert heat kept the house under watch, defying direct orders from Voth. There was testimony to this in Issa' second hearing
According to a story posted Sunday on a website dedicated to covering Fast and Furious, Voth gave Dodson the assignment to "dirty him up," since Dodson had become the most vocal critic of the operation.
"I think Dodson demanded the letter from Voth to cover both himself and the FFL (Federal Firearm Licensee).
He didn't want to be hung out to dry by Voth," a source told the website "Sipsey Street Irregulars."
Subsequent to this undercover operation, sources told Sipsey, "Dodson just about came apart all over them (his supervisors). In a 'screaming match' that was heard throughout the Phoenix office by many employees, Dodson yelled at Voth and Assistant Special Agent in Charge George Gillett, 'Why not just go direct and empty out the (ATF) arms room?" (to the cartels), or words to that effect.'
After the confrontation, ATF managers transferred Dodson to a more menial job. Months later, after the death of Border Patrol agent Brian Terry, Dodson blew the whistle and went public about the federal government's gunrunning operation.
[Dawn] Pakistain's powerful army chief General Ashfaq Kayani ... four star general, current Chief of Army Staff of the Mighty Pak Army. Kayani is the former Director General of ISI... met with his top commanders on Sunday in a "special" meeting to discuss the security situation, the military said, as the war of words with the United States escalated.
The extraordinary meeting of the corps commanders came against the backdrop of sharp US allegations that Pakistain army's powerful spy agency supported the Haqqani hard boy group Washington blames for the recent attack on its embassy and other targets in Kabul.
"The prevailing security situation was discussed," military front man Major-General Athar Abbas said without giving details.
According to sources, the meeting rejected all the allegations and expressed its concern over the negative statements emanating from the US.
The meeting reiterated that Pakistain armed forces are committed to achieve enduring peace in the region.
Kayani, who is departing for London later tonight to address the International Institute for Strategic Studies and the Royal College of Defence Studies, chaired the meeting.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/26/2011 00:00 ||
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[Dawn] Interior Minister Rehman Malik Pak politician, current Interior Minister under the Gilani administration. Malik is a former Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) intelligence officer who rose to head the FIA during Benazir Bhutto's second tenure. He later joined the Pak Peoples Party and was chief security officer to Bhutto. Malik was tossed from his FIA job in 1998 after documenting the breath-taking corruption of the Sharif family. By unhappy coincidence Näwaz Shärif became PM at just that moment and Malik moved to London one step ahead of the button men. on Sunday said that Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States not Pakistain created the Haqqani network and trained its members.
Talking to media representatives at a ceremony here, Malik said that the Haqqani network was present in Afghanistan and those claiming otherwise should provide evidence of its presence in Pakistain.
"We will fight the beturbanned goons as our forces are capable of handling them and countering any challenge," the minister said.
He said Pakistain never blamed the CIA or Afghanistan directly over various attacks in Mohmand ... Named for the Mohmand clan of the Sarban Pahstuns, a truculent, quarrelsome lot. In Pakistain, the Mohmands infest their eponymous Agency, metastasizing as far as the plains of Beautiful Downtown Peshawar, Charsadda, and Mardan. Mohmands are also scattered throughout Pakistan in urban areas including Karachi, Lahore, and Quetta. In Afghanistan they are mainly found in Nangarhar and Kunar... Agency or other areas.
Malik stressed for a strong immigration system at the Pak-Afghan border and urged the international community not to forget the sacrifices of Pakistain in the fight against terrorism.
"Pakistain has so far suffered a loss of $ 68 billion in fighting terrorism," he added.
He said that the on-going operation in Bloody Karachi was successful because of coordination among Rangers, Police and Frontier Constabularly.
He told the media that Islamabad Police had foiled a bid to smuggle a huge cache of heavy arms including six mini machine guns, 14 Kalashnikovs from a vehicle near Motorway Interchange.
Earlier, the IGP Islamabad briefed the minister about the performance of Islamabad Police and efforts in curbing criminal activities.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/26/2011 00:00 ||
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[Dawn] A top Pak general Sunday expressed concern ...meaning the brow was mildly wrinkled, the eyebrows drawn slightly together, and a thoughtful expression assumed, not that anything was actually done or indeed that any thought was actually expended... over US allegations of links to thugs, stressing that peace in the region would only be possible through mutual trust and cooperation.
General Khalid Shameem Wyne, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, conveyed his reaction when General James Mattis, commander of the US Central Command, called on him, the military said in a statement.
The meeting followed scathing criticism by the top US military officer Admiral Mike Mullen that Pakistain was "exporting" terror to neighbouring Afghanistan.
"Both leaders discussed various matters of mutual interests and emerging geo-strategic situation in the region," the statement said.
General Wyne "expressed his concern about the negative statements emanating from the US," it said, adding that "he stressed upon addressing the irritants in the relationship which are a result of an extremely complex situation."
"Pakistain armed forces are committed to achieving enduring peace in the region which will only be possible through mutual trust and cooperation," the statement said.
Separately the US embassy said Mattis visited Islamabad to meet with army chief General Ashfaq Kayani ... four star general, current Chief of Army Staff of the Mighty Pak Army. Kayani is the former Director General of ISI... and Wynne.
"The generals had candid discussions about the current challenges in the US-Pakistain relationship.
"However, those who apply themselves too closely to little things often become incapable of great things... General Mattis also emphasised the vital role the Pakistain military plays in international security efforts to protect the Pak and Afghan people and the need for persistent engagement among the militaries of the US, Pakistain and other states in the region," the embassy said in a statement.
Mattis held security talks with Kayani on Saturday when Pak officials said the meeting would help defuse the mounting tensions.
As ties suffered a blow over the US accusations, Kayani Sunday convened a special meeting of top military commanders to discuss the security situation.
The "special corps commanders conference" chaired by Kayani reviewed the "prevailing security situation" in the country, officials said without giving details.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/26/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
As ties suffered a blow over the US accusations, Kayani Sunday convened a special meeting of top military commanders to discuss the security situation.
TRANSLATION: This is our story, and we must stick to it! Always, always, always deny! Then level counter accusations.
* DEFENCE FORUM INDIA > GROWING CLAMOR IN US TO PUNISH PAKISTAN FOR "ACT OF WAR".
* TOPIX > US SENATOR [Lindsey Graham] DEMANDS US STOP ALL MILITARY AID TO PAKISTAN.
versus
* DEFENCE FORUM INDIA > INDIA TO LAUNCH SURPRISE ATTACK ON PAKISTAN?
PakObserver. Net = Report claims various large Indian military movements = new deployments near Pak, J-K borders [PoK] in wake of US allegations agz Pak oer Haqqanis + Kabul Embassy attack.
[Dawn] Pakistain's Foreign Minister, Hina Rabbani Khar said that Pakistain and Afghanistan share the same future and Pakistain will stand by Afghanistan for its prosperity and progress despite all circumstances, DawnNews reported.
During a meeting with her Afghan counterpart, Dr Zalmai Rassoul, Khar offered her condolences on the liquidation of Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani ... the murdered legitimate president of Afghanistan... , and said that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan is in the interest of Pakistain.
The Afghan FM assured Khar that Afghanistan will cooperate and work with Pakistain on all fronts.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/26/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
"Stable and Successful", like it was back in 2000.
[Dawn] Poverty and fear of the Taliban have forced most girls in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas into joining seminaries, says a Human Rights Commission of Pakistain report.
The report compiled by HRCP Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa ... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central... chapter for the year 2009-10 and seen by Dawn on Saturday discussed the status of women rights and problems in the restive tribal region bordering Afghanistan.
It said corporal punishment was common in seminaries for girls without let or hindrance. The report said insecurity was the major concern of Fata women from religious minorities.It warned that religious extremism might increase as the Taliban had banned formal education for girls in the tribal areas.
According to the report, militancy has led to closure of primary, community and Maktab schools in Fata.
It said the disaster management body and directorate of education Fata put the number of educational institutions blown up in tribal areas by the Taliban at 440 but the government had the record of only 330 of them.
It added that rehabilitation or reconstruction of the damaged educational institutions had yet to be begun due to lack of access to the conflict-hit areas they were located in.
The report said not a single girl got admission to 9th class in Bajaur, FR Kohat and FR Lakki Marwat during 2009-10 due to Taliban threats, while degrees colleges of Bajaur, FR Lakki Marwat and FR Beautiful Downtown Peshawar reported no admission by girls during the said period on the same grounds.
According to it, the Taliban`s opposition to the girls` education, propaganda against it through illegal FM radio channels, issuance of threats, wall chalking declaring the girls` education vulgarity and un-Islamic are preventing parents from sending their daughters to schools for formal education.
"Some 120,000 female students in Fata were forced to quit schools due to Taliban threats," it said.
Declaring health facilities for women the second most militancy-affected sector in tribal areas, the HRCP report said almost 80 hospitals were hit by the Taliban militancy and military operations against them.
"Gynecologists and nurses have refused to serve in health facilities. There are 13 sanctioned posts of gynecologists for tribal areas but 10 are lying vacant.
"Also, female health staff is reluctant to perform duty in the restive region due to growing militancy."
The HRCP report said mobility of women had been restricted in Fata as they could not step out for fetching firewood or water due to Taliban scare, adding that curfews and insecurity stressed out pregnant women, who couldn`t reach hospitals on time in case of any emergency.
It said insecurity, especially Taliban threats, had subjected Fata women to mental `torture and distress`.
It added that women in tribal areas also feared that men of their families could be taken away by the Taliban or even during military operations they fear losing their family members.
The HRCP report said health and education facilities in Fata had been destroyed by militancy to the misery of womenfolk already reeling from suppression of old customs and traditions.
According to it, there have been cases of forced marriages of women with Talibs.
"Jirga`s verdict to be final in the cases of honour killings and lack of access to justice are also main problems faced by Fata women. Swara, the old custom of giving a girl`s hand to the rival party to settle feuds, is also common in tribal areas," it said.
The HRCP report said women in tribal areas suffered from intense stress after being forced to flee their homes due to military operations against hard boyz and live in tents or camps as internally displaced persons.
"Women from Mehsud tribe who took shelter in D.I.Khan had to face problems in camps due to different language and lifestyle.
"They had to stay inside tents due to veil in difficult weather conditions and were not even allowed to speak to lady doctors in the camps," it said.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/26/2011 00:00 ||
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Irans President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad early morning arrived in Sudans capital, Khartoum at the head of high-ranking delegation, IRNA reported.
President Ahmadinejad was welcomed at Khartoum International Airport by Sudanese President Hassan Omar al-Bashir and Iranian ambassador to Sudan, Javad Torkabadi.
President Ahmadinejad will hold bilateral talks with his Sudanese counterpart, Omar al-Bashir. The two sides will issue a joint statement at the end of their meeting.
Ahmadinejad will return to Tehran on Monday night.
Posted by: Steve White ||
09/26/2011 00:00 ||
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Caretaker director of the National Iranian Gas Export Company (NIGEC) says Iran has reached agreements with India and Oman on exporting gas to the two countries, Press TV reported. Hossein Bidarmaghz said on Sunday that negotiations between Iran and India started 11 months ago and are still ongoing.
Wonder how the Paks feel that their 'brother' Muslim Iranians are selling gas to the evil Hindooz...
Yes, but they're Shiites, practically not Muslim at all. Not at all a surprise they prefer profits to the Prophet.
"India has called for the construction of a subsea gas pipeline in international waters so that neither side (Iran or India) will have to pay gas transit fee," said the NIGEC official, adding that an Indian delegation would soon visit Tehran to discuss the pipeline deal.
Not only do they avoid transit fees but they also avoid Bugtis and other nasty Pak pipeline kaboomers...
"Another way to transfer Iranian gas to India is via a pipeline from Oman to India to which a subsea pipeline would connect and take Iranian gas ...," he added.
Bidarmaghz said based on a trilateral agreement among Iran, Oman and a third country, Iran's gas will feed Oman's liquefaction plant before being processed into various products in the third country.
Iran ranks second in the world in natural gas resources after Russia with available gas reserves estimated at over 33 trillion cubic meters.
Posted by: Steve White ||
09/26/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
but they also avoid Bugtis and other nasty Pak pipeline kaboomers...
Avoiding Pakistain is the new black.
As for an underwater pipeline, a country with the technology to tap an underwater communications line could easily mess with an underwater pipeline. Just saying...
Posted by: Water Modem ||
09/26/2011 9:53 Comments ||
Top||
#2
The trilateral meeting between officials will focus on United States (US) allegations against Pakistan and the future course of action in this regard.
So the meeting agenda is: "We want the boodle, but we want the same old same old--no change. How do we deal with that? You other guys got any ideas?"
#3
And so it begins. This alinement is going to attract others. Muslim brotherhood. China will use this against India. Russia will appear be an indifferent partner but a player. "Future course of action in this regard" no crystal ball needed here.
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.
scheduled address to the nation today, as tomorrow marks Yemen's 1st revolution anniversary and the birth of its Republic.For a brief moment in time, Yemen was united in its awaiting of Saleh's verdict on a possible transfer of power. Rather disappointedly, Saleh's speech was not live but recorded and he appeared very much as a former shadow of himself; without his previous typical disdainful demeanor and bravado Saleh looked like a dear caught in daylight, haggard and wary. Interestingly, president Saleh announced that he had authorized his vice-president Abdu Rabu Mansoor Hadi to begin the negotiating process with the country's Opposition and vested him with the constitutional powers to sign and enact the proposal. This "power of attorney" of sorts made sense when Saleh was away in the KSA, recovering from the 
[Dawn] Pakistain's powerful army chief General Ashfaq 
Interior Minister 
Mohmand
