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Today: 71 articles and 219 comments as of 11:30.
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Area: WoT Operations    Non-WoT    Opinion        Politix   
Southwest State Confirms The Death Of Burhakabo Military Commander
Today's Headlines
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Page 6: Politix
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Afghanistan
Afghan Ulemas reacts at Pakistani Ulemas Fatwa and recent Taliban attacks
[Khaama (Afghanistan)] The Ulema Council of Afghanistan on Tuesday reacted at the recent Fatwa issued by the Pak Ulemas (Religious Scholars) regarding the terrorist attacks and the recent deadly attacks of the Taliban
...the Pashtun equivalent of men...
group in Kabul and other parts of the country.

The Afghan Ulemas appeared in a presser today days after a series of deadly attacks unleashed by the Taliban claimed the lives of scores of people while leaving hundreds more maimed.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred || 01/31/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistain Proxies


Africa North
Cairo court sentences six people to life in prison for terrorism and attempted murder
[AlAhram] A Cairo criminal court sentenced on Tuesday six people to life in prison ‐ 25 years ‐ for joining an illegal organization, the attempted murder of security personnel and establishing a terrorist cell in the case known in the media as the "second Nasr City terrorist cell."
The Nasr City neighbourhood in northeastern Cairo is Hasm territory. Hasm or Hasam Movement (more formally Harikat Souad Masr (Hasm – Arms of Egypt Movement)) is one of the the NeverSisi militant arms of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. It sprang into existence, fully formed, in October 2016, probably inheriting personnel from previous MB armed factions, and apparently organized by Mohammed Kamel, who was responsible for MB special cells until he was killed by security forces in a hail of gunfire about the time the two groups appeared...
The court also sentenced four others from four to 15 years in prison, and two defendants to five years in the same case.

The verdict can still be appealed.

The court also gave the defendants five years of probation and barred them from managing their assets.

The defendants were referred to trial in November 2017 over illegal possession of weapons, obstructing the duties of state institutions, endangering citizens, attempted murder of security personnel and joining an illegal group.
Ynet adds this confirmatory note:
Egypt's state news agency says a court has sentenced six alleged Moslem Brüderbund members to life in prison over charges including the attempted murder of soldiers and police.
Posted by: trailing wife || 01/31/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Muslim Brotherhood


Arabia
Saudi attorney general: Corruption settlements top $107 bln
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
’s Public Prosecutor has confirmed that investigations into corruption cases in the kingdom has nearly finished and has released information on the results so far.

In a statement, Saudi Attorney General Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb said that a total of 381 people were summoned by the Commission, many of whom agreed to testify. Meanwhile,
...back at the cheese factory, all the pieces finally fell together in Fluffy's mind...
56 of those summoned are still being held in detention pending further investigations.

"The Attorney General explained that the estimated value of settlement amounts exceeded 400 billion riyals represented in several assets (real estate, companies, securities, cash and others)," a statement from the prosecutor’s office read.

Saudi authorities ealier announced that they had released all remaining detainees from Riyadh's opulent Ritz-Carlton Hotel, which had been used as an interrogation center in a crackdown on corruption.

The news signaled that the three-month-old probe, in which dozens of brass hats and businessmen were detained by Sherlocks who said they aimed to seize some $100 billion of illicit assets, was drawing to a close.

Posted by: Fred || 01/31/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Saudi Arabia


Tillerson: US 'negatively impacted' by Gulf crisis
[Al Jazeera] The United States secretaries of state and defence have urged for a resolution to the Gulf crisis, as the dispute nears the eight-month mark.

At the inaugural round of the US-Qatar
...an emirate on the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It sits on some really productive gas and oil deposits, which produces the highest per capita income in the world. They piss it all away on religion, financing the Moslem Brotherhood and several al-Qaeda affiliates. Home of nutbag holy manYusuf al-Qaradawi...
strategic dialogue meeting in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the US remains as concerned today as it was at the outset of the Gulf dispute.

"The dispute has had direct negative consequences, economically and militarily for those involved, as well as the United States," Tillerson said in the presence of Qatar's foreign and defence ministers.
Posted by: Fred || 01/31/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Qatar (MB)

#1  I thought there were several on-going Gulf crises.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 01/31/2018 6:29 Comments || Top||

#2  Yea, all these nasty frackers getting rich.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 01/31/2018 6:32 Comments || Top||

#3  I thought the Gulf Crisis was in the 90s. We are more on the Gulf Disturbance by now.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 01/31/2018 11:06 Comments || Top||

#4  Is this the one that's been going on since Cain killed Abel?
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 01/31/2018 19:35 Comments || Top||


Britain
London attack accused hoped to kill Corbyn
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] A man accused of deliberately driving a van into a group of London Moslems told his trial on Tuesday that he wanted to kill the British opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Darren Osborne said killing the leftist Labour leader would have been "one less terrorist off our streets", while killing Labour London Mayor Sadiq Khan as well "would have been like winning the lottery".

Osborne is accused of murdering 51-year-old Makram Ali and trying to kill others in the Finsbury Park area of north London on June 19 last year, after growing angry at recent terror attacks and child sexual exploitation scandals involving gangs of mainly Moslem men, the trial has heard.

Osborne, 48, from the Welsh capital Cardiff, denies the charges.

He is accused of deliberately driving a van at a group of Moslems who had been attending Ramadan prayers at local mosques.

Taking the stand at Woolwich Crown Court in southeast London, Osborne claimed he had plotted with two men called Terry Jones and Dave to "plough through as many" people as possible at a pro-Paleostinian march.

Corbyn was believed to be attending the central London event but was not there, and road closures meant there was no way for the vehicle to get close to marchers, Osborne said.

Posted by: Fred || 01/31/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


India-Pakistan
Bilawal accuses PTI of giving patronage to terrorists, killers
[GEO.TV] Pakistain People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto alleged on Tuesday that Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf
...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations....
is giving patronage to bully boyz and killers.

The PPP chairman claimed that the PTI-led Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has been backing the killer of Asma, who has fled to Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
with the party's help.

He said that the KP government’s lenient behaviour towards those involved in serious crimes should be condemned.

Bilawal said that the PTI’s local leader who incited people to kill Mashal Khan has been roaming free as well.

Asma Rani, a third-year medical student was killed in her hometown of Kohat after she refused a marriage proposal. The victim’s family claims she was rubbed out by the prime suspect Mujahid Afridi.

Today, Chief Justice of Pakistain Justice Mian Saqib Nisar took suo motu
...a legal term, from the Latin. Roughly translated it means I saw what you did, you bastard...
notice of the murder of the medical student in Kohat.

The chief justice has summoned a report from the Inspector General Police KP Salahuddin Mehsud within 24 hours.

On January 27, Mujahid, who the victim's family claims is the nephew of PTI district president Aftab Alam, along with his brother, Sadiqullah Afridi, was waiting outside Asma’s residence.

The suspect shot her thrice after she stepped out of a rickshaw with her sister-in-law. Asma succumbed to her wounds a day later.

Mashal Khan, a student of journalism at Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, was lynched by an angry mob on April 13 which had accused him of blasphemy. Arif, a tehsil councillor in Mardan and a general secretary of the Insaf Student Federation, the student wing of the PTI, was allegedly among those who incited the mob.

Posted by: Fred || 01/31/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Will make efforts to get justice for victims of fake encounters: Siyal
[GEO.TV] Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal on Tuesday said that he will make his 'best efforts' to get justice for all victims of fake encounters and extrajudicial killings.

Speaking on Geo News' programme Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath, Siyal said the provincial government has improved Sindh's security situation as much as the 'law' and 'authority vested in it' has allowed.

"Why just Rao Anwar's case?" he said, "I will pursue all cases [of extrajudicial killings.]"

Responding to a question about the absconding police officer's recent statement to media that denied ownership of the house that the police had conducted a raid on, claiming to be the property of Anwar, Siyal said he will probe into the matter.

"I will ask the police why someone else’s house was raided if it does not belong to Anwar and what was the information received by the police that led to the decision of the raid," he said, adding that such ill-informed raids are creating a bad image of the police department.

Tactfully sidestepping a question about the police department's unchecked powers over an unprotected section of the society, the provincial minister lamented the lack of powers vested in the Sindh government.

"The Sindh government does not have the power to appoint a police officer. This was the case in Rao Anwar's matter too, who reported to the Sindh Inspector General of Police [AD Khawaja]," he said.

"The 18th amendment of the Constitution says that law and order is not the provincial government's domain," he said. "According to a high court judgement, I am sorry to say, the provincial government is an outsider [in law and order cases.]"

Posted by: Fred || 01/31/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Handed over 27 people with suspected links to TTA, HN to Afghanistan in November: FO
[GEO.TV] Spokesperson for the Foreign Office, Dr. Mohammad Faisal, said on Tuesday that Pakistain has handed over 27 individuals, who were suspected of belonging to Tehrik-e-Taliban
...Arabic for students...
Afghanistan (TTA) and Haqqani Network (HN), to Afghanistan in November 2017.

The statement by the FO spokesperson on social media comes after Pakistain had earlier rejected "knee-jerk allegations" by some Afghan circles after the attack on a hotel in Kabul and subsequent attacks in the Afghan capital, including an ambulance bomb which killed more than 100 people.

Faisal also said that Pakistain has continued to push any suspected TTA and HN elements to prevent them from using Pak soil for terrorist activity in Afghanistan.

Elaborating on the sacrifices rendered by Pakistain, the FO spokesperson said the country has lost 75,000 civilians and 6,000 soldiers during the war.

He added the country's armed forces has one of the highest officer-to-soldier casualty rate globally and has suffered economic losses worth $123 billion.

Earlier in January, the United States announced that it was suspending the transfer of military equipment and security-related funds to Pakistain.

The suspension of security assistance to Islamabad came after Washington accused Pakistain of playing a "double game" on fighting terrorism and warned Islamabad it would have to do more if it wanted to maintain US aid.

Posted by: Fred || 01/31/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistain Proxies


Absconding cop Rao Anwar denies fleeing Pakistan
[GEO.TV] Suspended SSP Malir Rao Anwar on Tuesday denied reports of fleeing Pakistain but still remains on the lam after his arrest orders over the 'fake encounter' of a 27-year-old man in Bloody Karachi
...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
The absconding police official is wanted by authorities in connection to the extrajudicial murder of Naqeebullah Mehsud ‐ who along with four alleged Lions of Islam ‐ was killed in an ’exchange of fire’ with a police team led by Anwar on January 13 in Shah Latif Town, Karachi.

"I have not fled the country, I am in Pakistain," Anwar said in a conversation with Geo News from an undisclosed location. "I am sending an appeal for justice to the Chief Justice of Pakistain."

He alleged that the police had noted the incorrect time of his arrival at the police encounter.
Posted by: Fred || 01/31/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


International-UN-NGOs
11 countries speed up funding for Palestinians after US cuts
Go for it, guys.
[IsraelTimes] UNRWA chief says Russia, Kuwait, and 9 European nations are stepping up contributions

The head of the UN agency for Paleostinian refugees said Tuesday that Russia, Kuwait and nine European countries have agreed to speed up their contributions to help fill a shortfall left by the Trump administration’s decision to reduce crucial US funding.

Commissioner General Pierre Krähenbuhl of the UN Relief and Works Agency also said it has received no specifics about reforms sought by the United States, suggesting politics ‐ notably surrounding the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital ‐ were at play.

UNRWA, which serves some 5 million Paleostinian refugees and their descendants, had a budget of over $1 billion last year. This covered long-running programs, including education, as well as emergency funds for crises such as the war in Syria.

The US has been the largest donor, giving one-third of the total budget. The Trump administration withheld half of the first installment of payments this year, demanding reforms as a condition for future aid.

The UN agency says the Trump administration has committed $60 million this year ‐ far short of the $360 million that the US provided last year ‐ and Krähenbuhl said he has no sign that other US funding might be on the way.

The US has said it is withholding two payments to UNWRA totaling some $100 million.

But the administrator of the US Agency for International Development said Friday that the Trump administration had not yet made decisions regarding cuts in humanitarian aid to Paleostinians.
That sounds like there is room for further American cuts. Awesome!
"This process is ongoing, and no funding decisions have been made. As the President said, the United States expects the Paleostinian leadership to work with us," USAID’s Mark Green told The Times of Israel on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland
...home of the Helvetians, famous for cheese, watches, yodeling, and William Tell...
The UNRWA head said the changes marked "a very severe and dramatic change in the parameters of funding from the United States," which he called a "stable, predictable and most-generous contributor to UNRWA over decades."

"It is clear that we have a very big task on our hand to fill that gap," Krähenbuhl told news hounds in Geneva.

UNRWA responded by calling on donors to speed up their funding, and Switzerland, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Russia, Belgium, Kuwait, the Netherlands and Ireland have taken steps to do so, he said. Others were considering similar action.

"Advancing contributions is extremely important to help us address the first few months," he said. "Of course, a shortfall of $300 million can only be addressed with obtaining additional income from other sources over the year."

The comments Tuesday came as UNRWA said it is seeking $800 million for emergency operations in Syria, the West Bank and Gazoo Strip this year. UNRWA sought $400 million each for Syria and the Paleostinian territories. In an appeal last week, the agency sought an additional $500 million.

"We signed our new framework agreement with the US in the beginning of December in which every aspect of our relationship from funding to reform discussions was covered and agreed," Krähenbuhl told The News Agency that Dare Not be Named. "They did not explain the current decision by reform-related elements."

He said he believed the funding cut was linked to the Trump administration’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and a subsequent vote by the UN General Assembly to denounce the decision.

"It is very clear that the decision by the United States was not related to our performance," he said. "This has to be part of the debate that took place around Jerusalem."

Israel has often criticized UNRWA, accusing it of sheltering bully boyz and allowing Paleostinians to remain refugees even after settling in a new city or country for generations, thus complicating a possible resolution to the Israeli-Paleostinian conflict.
Posted by: trailing wife || 01/31/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  So any US funds earmarked for any of those countries needs to be rethought and kept at home.....
Posted by: USN, Ret. || 01/31/2018 1:19 Comments || Top||

#2  nine European countries have agreed to speed up their contributions

Shouldn't these European countries take care of their own Muslim citizens first?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 01/31/2018 5:25 Comments || Top||

#3  ...or at least their own defense. If they have these funds available why weren't they picking up their own national security first? Time to leave a MAG team in Brussels and get the hell out of Dodge.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 01/31/2018 8:16 Comments || Top||

#4  Commissioner General Pierre Krähenbuhl of the UN Relief and Works Agency

Yes, I remember some of those delightful (Food For Peace) people from the old Canal Hotel in Baghdad. Something of a skewed agenda, but delightful people nonetheless.

Posted by: Besoeker || 01/31/2018 8:21 Comments || Top||

#5  UNRWA chief says Russia, Kuwait, and 9 European nations are stepping up contributions

So they have a hard time paying their UN and NATO dues but plenty of money to slit their own throats?
Posted by: gorb || 01/31/2018 9:36 Comments || Top||

#6  ...thus proving that America was never needed in the first place.

Brilliant, just brilliant. Trump is a master.
Posted by: Herb McCoy7309 || 01/31/2018 12:44 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
US delegation flees Bethlehem as Palestinian protesters storm workshop
Disgusting former supporters while destroying local opportunities in the inimitable Palestinian way.
[IsraelTimes] Angry demonstrators slam Trump's Jerusalem move; kick and throw tomatoes at vehicle with US consular license plates, damage side mirror.

A delegation of US diplomats had to cut short an event in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Tuesday, an attendee said, after protesters stormed their meeting.

The protesters, who were objecting to US President Donald Trump
...New York real estate developer, described by Dems as illiterate, racist, misogynistic, and what ever other unpleasant descriptions they can think of, elected by the rest of us as 45th President of the United States...
’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, also kicked and threw tomatoes at the delegation’s car as they left, a video posted online showed.

Some five protesters kicked one of the doors of the car, which had US consular license plates, and ripped the plastic casing off a side mirror, Rooters reported.

The American diplomats had been invited by city officials to give a workshop on doing business over the internet.

Samir Hazboun, head of the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce, said the group had been holding a training session for local businesspeople about digital commerce with an American expert and a delegation from the US consulate in Jerusalem.

"We were surprised when a number of angry protesters held an extraordinary protest, which forced us to end the course and for the American trainer to leave immediately with the American consulate delegation," he told AFP.

The video showed a handful of protesters entering the room and chanting while holding signs opposing Trump’s decision.

One sign read "Zionism = Nazism = Fascism. USA=ISIS=Terror." Among the chants was the call for "America out."

The American delegation quickly packed up and left, with the protesters throwing what appeared to be tomatoes at their cars, while one man kicked a car.

The US Consulate in Jerusalem declined comment.
Posted by: trailing wife || 01/31/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Palestinian Authority

#1  They don't care about anything.
Posted by: newc || 01/31/2018 0:47 Comments || Top||

#2  throw tomatoes at vehicle with US consular license plates

If they've tomatoes to throw, they aren't suffering hunger.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 01/31/2018 1:47 Comments || Top||

#3  Cowardly tomatoes -- when they hit you, they run!
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 01/31/2018 6:15 Comments || Top||

#4  Funny that they compare the US to ISIS. The Pals like ISIS.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 01/31/2018 11:05 Comments || Top||


Israeli, PA ministers meet for first time since US Jerusalem recognition
Getting on with things while President Mahmoud Abbas postures pointlessly.
[IsraelTimes] Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon and Paleostinian economy minister Abeer Odeh open new cargo facility at Allenby border crossing between West Bank and Jordan

Senior Israeli and Paleostinian officials, including ministers from both sides, met at a ceremony Tuesday in the first high-level encounter since US President Donald Trump
...New York real estate developer, described by Dems as illiterate, racist, misogynistic, and what ever other unpleasant descriptions they can think of, elected by the rest of us as 45th President of the United States...
’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon and Paleostinian Authority National Economy Minister Abeer Odeh attended the inauguration of a new cargo scanner at the Israeli-controlled Allenby Bridge border crossing between Jordan and the West Bank.

Kahlon also confirmed Hebrew media reports that he will be meeting with PAPrime Minister Rami Hamdallah in Jerusalem on Sunday as part of efforts to advance "a number of joint projects."

While Kahlon and Odeh cut a ribbon together to inaugurate the new scanning station it was not known if they exchanged more than pleasantries at the ceremony, leaving Hamdallah’s upcoming meeting at the finance minister’s office as the first high-level talks between Israelis and Paleostinians since the US move on Jerusalem.

The new scanning device will enable 200 containers to cross between Jordan and the Paleostinian territory a day, double the current number, Israel’s Tax Authority said in a statement.

Other senior Israeli and Paleostinian officials were present at the event, as well as a Jordanian representative and Dutch diplomats, whose country donated the new machine.

"I arrived at the Finance Ministry after a long period of stagnation in the relations between Israel and the Paleostinian Authority," Kahlon said in remarks relayed by the Tax Authority. "We have decided to take responsibility and advance a number of joint projects."

"We have many plans to continue our financial cooperation with the (Paleostinian) Authority," Kahlon added.

Kahlon also noted that earlier this week he met with US peace envoy Jason Greenblatt, who he said "supports and is pressing to continue to advance things."

"We see in Greenblatt and in the United States central, important and fair mediators and the only ones to advance cooperation in the region," Kahlon said.

Hamdallah and Kahlon meet every few months to discuss economic and infrastructure issues. Their last talks took place on October 30.

Their Sunday meeting will be the first since Trump pledged on December 6 to move the American embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, breaking with the policies of his predecessors.

Outraged Paleostinian leaders said the US could no longer play the role of peace broker and called for the suspension of their recognition of Israel, a move that has not been implemented.

The United States meanwhile withheld $65 million of funds earmarked for the UN relief agency for Paleostinian refugees, UNRWA.

Paleostinian officials did not confirm the Israeli report on the meeting.

Hamdallah is heading for Brussels for an "emergency" meeting Wednesday of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, which coordinates international donor support for the Paleostinians. The Paleostinian premier will raise the issue of the financial crisis facing his government and seek funding for Gazoo, a government statement said.
Posted by: trailing wife || 01/31/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under: Palestinian Authority


No US-Palestine talks until al-Quds decision reversed: Erekat
Ok.
[PRESSTV] Senior Paleostinian official Saeb Erekat
...negotiated the Oslo Accords with Israel. He has been chief Paleostinian negotiator since 1995. He is currently negotiating with Israel to establish a de jure Paleostinian state...
says Paleostine will hold no talks with the US until the administration of President Donald Trump
...New York real estate developer, described by Dems as illiterate, racist, misogynistic, and what ever other unpleasant descriptions they can think of, elected by the rest of us as 45th President of the United States...
reverses its recognition of Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s capital.

"The minute any Paleostinian goes and meets with American officials, it is an acceptance of their decision. Now they are threatening us with money, with aid," the secretary-general of the Paleostine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Paleostinian's longtime chief negotiator said in a Tuesday interview with AFP.

Erekat rejected Washington’s efforts to hold an international conference on finding a two-state solution for the Paleostinian conflict and noted, "They promised not to impose any solution, and now they want the meeting for the sake of the meeting."

Erekat said it was as if the American officials are telling the Paleostinians, "Come here boy, we know what is good for you."

Erekat warned that Trump and Israel’s right-wing cabinet are in the process of "destroying" the two-state solution, warning that doing so would lead to "an enlargement of the cycle of violence, extremism and counter-violence."

Posted by: Fred || 01/31/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: PLO

#1  Your proposal is acceptable. Bye.
Posted by: SteveS || 01/31/2018 0:15 Comments || Top||

#2  You know Saeb, we (Israel) can supply your people with Syrian passports that are better than the real ones. You should harry, because frau Merkel won't stay in power forever.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 01/31/2018 2:00 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Most protesters detained in recent Iran unrest freed, 300 still in jail
[Ynet] Iranian authorities have released most of the people locked away
Drop the gat, Rocky, or you're a dead 'un!
during December's anti-government protests but around 300 remain in jail facing charges, Iran's interior minister said on Tuesday.

Judicial officials have said around 1,000 people were arrested during the week-long protests which spread to around 80 towns and cities across Iran. One politician has put the figure at 3,700.

Sparked by soaring food prices, the protests‐the biggest in Iran since nationwide pro-reform unrest in 2009‐took on a rare political dimension, with a growing number of people calling on Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to step down.

Clashes between protesters and police resulted in 25 deaths, according to official figures.
Posted by: trailing wife || 01/31/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran

#1  Sign of weakness? Trying to placate the masses?
Posted by: rjschwarz || 01/31/2018 11:04 Comments || Top||


Sochi congress agrees to set up Syrian constitutional commission
[ALMASDARNEWS] Participants of the Syrian National Dialogue Congress have agreed to establish a constitutional commission, which will include delegates elected at the forum, as well as representatives of those groups that did not attend the congress in Sochi.

The final communique of the Syrian National Dialogue Congress in Sochi includes 12 principles for the Syrian crisis settlement that were worked out within the UN-backed Geneva process, UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said on Tuesday.

"[In] the new final declaration today you embraced the 12 principles, developed in the Geneva political process, that describes a vision of Syria that all Syrians should be able to share," de Mistura said at the closing ceremony of the Congress.

The issue of the new Syrian constitution has long been on the agenda of all major platforms for the Syrian crisis settlement. The UN-backed negotiations in Geneva focus on the four so-called baskets: constitution, elections, governance and counter-terrorism.

"I have heard that you all agreed that the assignment comes to the United Nations
...an idea whose time has gone...
to get the Constitutional Committee established. I have also noted that in accordance with the final statement, the Congress supported the list of representatives for the constitutional committee," de Mistura said at the closing of the congress.

UN Envoy for Syria also said that the constitutional committee agreed on at the Syrian National Dialogue Congress will comprise both the representatives of the Syrian government and opposition activists and thanked the forum for its contribution to the Geneva peace talks.

"I also take note that those of you, who are here, agreed that the constitutional committee will be formed comprising the government of the Syrian Arab Republic along with the wide representation of the opposition delegations for drafting a constitutional reform. It is intended as a contribution, and thank you again, to the political settlement under the UN auspices in accordance with the UNSC resolution 2254," de Mistura said at the closing ceremony of the Congress.

Syria opposition rejects Sochi constitution plan

[Al Jazeera] Participants of a Russia-hosted conference for peace in Syria have agreed to set up a commission to rewrite the war-torn country's constitution.

Staffan de Mistura, United Nations
...where theory meets practice and practice loses...
Special Envoy for Syria, said on Tuesday that delegates at the two-day conference at the Black Sea resort of Sochi, agreed to include both government and opposition officials in the 150-member committee.

De Mistura said the final agreement on the committee would be reached in the UN-led diplomatic process in Geneva based on UN Security Council Resolution 2254 - which serves as a framework for political transition in Syria.

But the fate of Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad
The Scourge of Hama...
- a key sticking point that has repeatedly caused ongoing negotiations to fail - was not mentioned in the final statement.

Syria's major opposition groups, who boycotted the event, rejected the proposal.

The main opposition bloc - the Syrian Negotiation Commission (SNC) - accused Assad and Russia, Syria's principle ally, of continuing to use military might and showing no interest in entering into honest negotiations.
Posted by: Fred || 01/31/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [10 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria


Iranian opposition cleric accuses Khamenei of abuse of power
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] Instead of blaming others Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei should take responsibility for Iran’s economic and political shortcomings, an opposition leader under house arrest said in a letter published on Tuesday.

In rare public criticism of Khamenei, Mehdi Karroubi accused Iran’s hardline top authority of abusing power and urged him to change the way he runs the Islamic Theocratic Republic before it is too late.

"You have been Iran’s top leader for three decades, but still speak like an opposition," Karroubi said in an open letter to Khamenei published on Saham News, the official website of his reformist political party.

By "opposition", Karroubi meant that Khamenei, head of a Shi’ite theocracy, should not be wielding ultimate power while criticizing the government of elected President Hassan Rouhani, a pragmatist who wants to liberalize an economy dominated by the elite Revolutionary Guards and other state conglomerates.

"During the last three decades, you have eliminated the main revolutionary forces to implement your own policies, and now you should face the results of that," Karroubi added.

Karroubi, 80, a Shi’ite holy man like Khamenei, and fellow reformist Mirhossein Mousavi ran for election in 2009 and became figureheads for Iranians who staged mass protests after hardline conservative President Mahmoud Short Round Ahmadinejad was returned to power in a vote they believed was rigged. Authorities denied this.
Posted by: Fred || 01/31/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [10 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran


Iran headscarf protester arrested: lawyer
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] An Iranian woman has been incarcerated
Yez got nuttin' on me, coppers! Nuttin'!
and bail set at more than $100,000 after she protested against the mandatory headscarf, a lawyer said on Tuesday.

Narges Hosseini, whose age was not known, was tossed in the slammer
Drop the gat, Rocky, or you're a dead 'un!
after posing in central Tehran on Monday without a headscarf, lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh said.

At least three other women did the same around the city on Monday, according to images shared on social media, mirroring a protest by a woman on December 27 whose images went viral across the globe.

Several more images of women protesting in Tehran were shared on social media on Tuesday, although their authenticity could not be immediately verified.

Posted by: Fred || 01/31/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran


Boris Johnson to Al Arabiya: Iran ‘up to no good’ with catastrophic policies
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has said that both Britannia and Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
share a "historic and common perspective" on the challenges of "Iranian disruptiveness" in the Middle East.

In an exclusive interview with Al Arabiya News Channel’s Rima Maktabi, Johnson spoke on recent reports of frayed ties between Saudi Arabia and the UK, as well as the Arab coalition’s campaign in Yemen
...an area of the Arabian Peninsula sometimes mistaken for a country. It is populated by more antagonistic tribes and factions than you can keep track of. Except for a tiny handfull of Jews everthing there is very Islamic...
and attacks on Riyadh by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen.

"We need to be clear and firm with Iran. It is unacceptable for them to be conniving in the Houthis’ use of missiles against Saudi Arabia ... It’s a catastrophic policy they are following," Johnson said.

Posted by: Fred || 01/31/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran


Iran military advisory forces will leave Syria after terror fight success: Diplomat
[PRESSTV] A senior Iranian official says Iranian military advisory forces entered Syria at the request of the Syrian government and will leave the Arab country after the success of the fight against terrorism.

Hossein Jaberi Ansari, the Iranian foreign minister’s senior assistant for special political affairs, made the remarks while speaking to news hounds on the sidelines of the Syrian peace conference in the Russian resort of Sochi on Tuesday.

"Iranian forces entered Syria at the request of the Syrian government in order to help Syrian government in the battle against terrorism in Syria," said Jaberi Ansari, who was leading the Iranian delegation in Sochi.

"It is obvious that once their job is finished, after their mission is accomplished they will withdraw from the Syrian territory, in agreement with Syria," he added.

Sochi hosts talks between the Syrian government and the opposition in the hope of paving the way for a peaceful settlement of the conflict gripping the Arab state.

Posted by: Fred || 01/31/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran


US seeking ‘unchallenged global dominance’ via satellite states in MidEast
[PRESSTV] The Unites States is after "satellite states" in the Middle East to gain global dominance unchallenged by other superpowers, an analyst says.

reliably Democrat Chicago, aka The Windy City or Mobtown
... home of Al Capone, a succession of Daleys, Barak Obama, and Rahm Emmanuel,...
-based author and radio host Stephen Lendman made the comments in a Tuesday interview with Press TV.

"America aims for unchallenged global dominance; its primary strategy is waging naked aggression against countries threatening no one," he said, while explaining the reason for the high number of US military bases across the globe.

The political commentator exemplified the Unites States’ "endless" wars in the Middle East and northern Africa, asserting that they have "escalated" under President Donald Trump
...New York real estate developer, described by Dems as illiterate, racist, misogynistic, and what ever other unpleasant descriptions they can think of, elected by the rest of us as 45th President of the United States...
although he had promised otherwise.

"America wants dominance over the region; it wants all sovereign and independent countries to transform into US satellite states with puppet regimes serving US interests," said the analysts.

He further noted that Iran is a "prime target" as it enjoys illusory sovereignty and an elected government.

"Washington wants it replaced," Lendman explained. "It hasn’t worked out the way America planned."

He further speculated that Washington would fail to fulfill its agenda.

Posted by: Fred || 01/31/2018 00:00 || Comments || Link || [6 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran

#1  Ah. Some news for you Stephen. We have had near global dominance since WW-II. With fracking providing lots of oil for the US WTF do we need MidEast states for in terms of ultimate dominance? What do they bring to the game that we don't have?
Posted by: 3dc || 01/31/2018 5:47 Comments || Top||

#2  ...Steve says it like it's a bad thing.

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski || 01/31/2018 7:35 Comments || Top||

#3  84 yr old Moonbat: "I'm a retired small businessman now devoting all my time working with progressive organizations and writing about the most important and cutting edge issues of our times. I'm committed to working for a better world at peace based on social, political and economic justice for all people everywhere."
Posted by: Frank G || 01/31/2018 9:31 Comments || Top||

#4  Hey Dude, we have too many states now!
Posted by: Skidmark || 01/31/2018 10:52 Comments || Top||

#5  The region was chocolate rivers, gumdrop bushes, and candy cane trees before the US got involved. Now it is all desert and hate.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 01/31/2018 11:13 Comments || Top||

#6  At first glance, I was gonna guess this was written by Ron Paul.
Posted by: Raj || 01/31/2018 11:25 Comments || Top||


Government
President Trump signs order to keep Guantanamo Bay prison open
[BBC] US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to keep Guantanamo Bay military prison open.

Mr Trump announced the move in his State of the Union address.

The decision reverses that of former President Barack Obama, who had said he wanted to close the controversial site "as soon as practicable".

The facility in Cuba has been used since the 9/11 attacks to detain what Washington calls "enemy combatants", but only 41 prisoners remain there.

Hundreds were transferred away from the facility during the Obama era. A White House statement confirmed the order had been signed to resist the detention facility's closure, and affirmed the administration's right to detain enemy combatants when necessary.

"Terrorists are not merely criminals. They are unlawful enemy combatants. And when captured overseas, they should be treated like the terrorists they are," Mr Trump said during Tuesday's speech.

"In the past, we have foolishly released hundreds of dangerous terrorists only to meet them again on the battlefield," he added, giving as an example the Islamic State group's leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was held in US custody in Iraq.
Posted by: Besoeker || 01/31/2018 09:12 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Another promise kept.
Posted by: Skidmark || 01/31/2018 10:47 Comments || Top||

#2  Dismantling Baraq'a legacy one executive order at a time.
Posted by: Abu Uluque || 01/31/2018 12:16 Comments || Top||

#3 
Posted by: gorb || 01/31/2018 12:51 Comments || Top||

#4  Actually, 87% is quite excellent. The residual 13% will serve as a convenient reminder.
Posted by: Besoeker || 01/31/2018 12:53 Comments || Top||

#5  That 13% would be the $10 trillion tab he ran up.
Posted by: Raj || 01/31/2018 16:48 Comments || Top||

#6  Could close it and save money by flying the prisoners home - and dropping them off at 30,000 feet as soon as they reached native air space.
Posted by: Glenmore || 01/31/2018 17:55 Comments || Top||

#7  We're going to need a place to send all the government bureaucrats (DOJ, FBI...etc.), former Obama administration officials and current politicians that are going to get jugged.
Posted by: Betty Hatfield5124 || 01/31/2018 20:01 Comments || Top||

#8  Mmmm...now a gallows
Posted by: Skidmark || 01/31/2018 20:54 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
36[untagged]
7Govt of Iran
4Sublime Porte
4Govt of Pakistan
3Commies
2Govt of Pakistain Proxies
2Palestinian Authority
2al-Shabaab (AQ)
2PLO
1Taliban
1Fulani Herdsmen (Boko Haram)
1Govt of Qatar (MB)
1Govt of Saudi Arabia
1Govt of Syria
1Houthis
1Islamic State
1Moslem Colonists
1Muslim Brotherhood

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Two weeks of WOT
Wed 2018-01-31
  Southwest State Confirms The Death Of Burhakabo Military Commander
Tue 2018-01-30
  Iraqi court sentences Al-Qaeda member to death over executing eight civilians in 2007
Mon 2018-01-29
  McCabe Resigns
Sun 2018-01-28
  Top Houthi leader killed in Sanaa by unknown individuals
Sat 2018-01-27
  Taliban kill 40 63 90 95 with ambulance bomb in Afghan capital Kabul
Fri 2018-01-26
  Mosul clean up continues: 21 turbans permanently unwound, 9 more jugged
Thu 2018-01-25
  Double car bombing kills 33 in Benghazi
Wed 2018-01-24
  Two suicide attackers, Islamic State member killed as troops repel attack in Baghdad
Tue 2018-01-23
  1.5K al-Nusra troops surrounded in Idlib
Mon 2018-01-22
  Tunisian forces kill top aide of Al Qaeda leader in Maghreb
Sun 2018-01-21
  Seven Niger troops killed in Boko Haram attack
Sun 2018-01-21
  Seven Niger troops killed in Boko Haram attack
Sat 2018-01-20
  Lebanon foils ISIS plans to attack places of worship, government buildings
Fri 2018-01-19
  Deso Dogg -- Dead Again
Thu 2018-01-18
  US drone strike leaves 6 militants dead, wounded in East of Afghanistan
Wed 2018-01-17
  Wanted terrorist Abdullah Al-Qalaf killed in eastern Saudi Arabia


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