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Rantburg
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Today: 68 articles and 277 comments as of 12:09.
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Iraq announces killing of another senior al-Qaida leader
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Good morning
Posted by: Fred || 04/20/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Happy Birthday

ATTENTION: There are now pictures behind the pictures, rules below apply. Pictures of merit may also be attached to supplemental links.


Caution –Before opening links in this section or passing through the checkout line at the Supermarket, please have your children avert their eyes.

If the sight of scantily clad women accenting their God given and/or surgically enhanced assets offends you, proceed to the next section.

If you choose to review Rantburg on company time, it is suggested you have your resume up to date.


Gone to the Big Gam Locker in the Sky

June Storey, actress best known for playing the role as heroine in ten Gene Autry films

Nina Foch aka Erica Martin in "Executive Suite"

Edie Sedgwick, best known for being one of Andy Warhol's Muses



Living Gams




Elena Verdugo aka Consuelo Lopez on "Marcus Welby, M.D." (85)




Veronica Cartwright aka Betty Grissom in "The Right Stuff" aka Lambert in "Alien" (61)





Jessica Lange aka Carly Marshall in "Blue Sky" aka Julie Nichols in "Tootsie" (61)


Women Who Bathe

Daily Gam Shot



Carmen Electra aka Candy Fiveways "I Want Candy", Nekkid in Playboy in May 1996 (38)


Daily Gam Shot



Jasmin Wagner aka Blümchen, a multi-platinum selling pop and dance music singer, aspiring actress, model/spokesperson (30)



Summer Verona, Up and Coming star of "Short Subjects" (21)

Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 04/20/2010 0:14 Comments || Top||

#2  I believe this is where Carmen Electra got her start:

Posted by: gorb || 04/20/2010 5:08 Comments || Top||

#3  You mean that leg belongs to the same person as the head and arms? And is still attached to her???
Posted by: Glenmore || 04/20/2010 8:17 Comments || Top||

#4  I have a bit of a problem with things that are posted behind others. I would like to think of Rantburg as hard news, politics and interesting fun stuff. If it cannot be viewed at the office, it should not be on Rantburg, hidden or not. We may want to think about the photos that are posted, this site is for everyone.
Posted by: Gloria || 04/20/2010 8:42 Comments || Top||

#5  Veronica Cartwright also played in The Sound of Music and as Penny in Lost in Space.
Posted by: Mike || 04/20/2010 8:51 Comments || Top||

#6  Veronica Cartwright also played in The Sound of Music and as Penny in Lost in Space.

Nope. Penny, on Lost in Space was played by Angela Cartwright.
Posted by: Secret Asian Man (Work) || 04/20/2010 9:02 Comments || Top||

#7  I have a bit of a problem with things that are posted behind others. I would like to think of Rantburg as hard news, politics and interesting fun stuff. If it cannot be viewed at the office, it should not be on Rantburg, hidden or not. We may want to think about the photos that are posted, this site is for everyone.

I am reminded of the story of the elderly woman who was forced to sit in front of her TV and watch hardcore pr0n for two hours because of a "technical mistake" at the broadcast company. Of course, the woman may have been right, because the broadcast company failed to post disclaimers in big bold italic letters at the beginning of each day. It's a good thing this woman's grandchildren weren't there because they would have been forced to watch as well.
Posted by: gorb || 04/20/2010 9:31 Comments || Top||

#8  Gorb, your story can't be true, they either enjoyed it, or they would have turned it off.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 04/20/2010 10:23 Comments || Top||

#9  I agree with Gloria. It was alright for a day or two but seems to have gone a tad overboard as its gone on. No offense GB but its old already!
Posted by: yo adrian || 04/20/2010 10:31 Comments || Top||

#10  Yo adrian, I didn't see your comment to me last night until just before the rollover. I have to apologize for not being nearly as clever as you thought, which is why I didn't understand your intention.
Posted by: trailing wife || 04/20/2010 10:39 Comments || Top||

#11  I would tend to agree. While I like the pics as much as the next guy - It's hard to explain when one is checking out the latest comments on RB and Veronica Summer (above and not behind the photo...) pops up on the screen. Some employers (and fellow employees) may object to even that.
Posted by: CrazyFool || 04/20/2010 10:46 Comments || Top||

#12  so a home version of the burg and a work one?
I thought the burg got banned most places for not begin PC-Correct on the WOT...
Posted by: 3dc || 04/20/2010 11:01 Comments || Top||

#13  Um, don't look then. Seems simple enough.
Posted by: Jefferson || 04/20/2010 11:03 Comments || Top||

#14  (above and not behind the photo...)

Behind? What am I missing? ;-)
Posted by: Besoeker || 04/20/2010 11:14 Comments || Top||

#15  TW:

I'll leave the final decision up to you.

GB
Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 04/20/2010 12:02 Comments || Top||

#16  I'll leave the final decision up to you

That's very gallant of you, dear GolfBravoUSMC, but this is Fred's site, and therefore Fred's decision. I haven't gotten any emails on the subject since I first mentioned it here... although that's possibly because my email address delinked from my nym while I wasn't looking -- sorry about that! I just added it back, so if anyone has concerns they'd prefer not to discuss publicly, or directly with Fred, please let me know. (Private compliments are ok, too -- I'm always happy to hear how clever Fred, et al are.)
Posted by: trailing wife || 04/20/2010 12:46 Comments || Top||

#17  Gorb, your story can't be true, they either enjoyed it, or they would have turned it off.

Hey, these are the folks who voted heavily for Obongo despite his naive platform, impossibly soaring rhetoric and narcissitic personality.

Besides, true or probably not, it makes my point. So I am going to allow my liberal side to peek out and have some denial here. :-)

Perhaps the objection is with the photos themselves, and not necessarily what is behind the photos? I have to admit, the photos are a bit on the risque side for work. As for what is behind the photos, I can't imagine anyone objecting since they come with a very obvious warning at the head of the column. Maybe any objections come from confusion of the photo/behind-the-photo line. Maybe it is a matter of pushing off responsibility for impulse control onto GB, which is definitely an un-conservative trait.

My vote would be to tone down the photos until people don't have to look over their shoulders at work, but I think the behind-the-photo stuff is fine except for maybe not enough shots of models on bicycles.
Posted by: gorb || 04/20/2010 13:54 Comments || Top||

#18  I personally love the Good Morning page...maybe just have the Lady's name and url links to the applicable pic would suffice.
Posted by: Broadhead6 || 04/20/2010 14:43 Comments || Top||

#19  Can somebody please tell me what's the matter with Summer Verona? I see no problem whatsoever with that girl.

And Besoeker, you can click on a lot of these pictures. That way GB gets double the pleasure and double the fun. But even so I see no problem with Summer Verona.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 04/20/2010 16:11 Comments || Top||

#20  *I* don't have a problem with Summer either. But the person walking past my cubile / office might object and complain to HR.

Me, I like spending some time reading RB during work. And there usually isn't a problem with it as long as it doesn't dominate my time and it relieves stress. But this is a very large company and I would rather not awaken the PC-monsters.
Posted by: CrazyFool || 04/20/2010 16:29 Comments || Top||

#21 
Don't read Rantburg at work.

(Man, I'm a freakin' genius or something!)
Posted by: Parabellum || 04/20/2010 17:24 Comments || Top||

#22  Class it up a little guys....Rantburg is far too good a news site to become tedious. Maybe not reading it at work is a good idea. I think it should be acceptable reading anywhere at anytime for anyone.
As for the prude comment....you don't know me...lol, laughing out loud
Posted by: Gloria || 04/20/2010 18:11 Comments || Top||

#23  My two cents; it's fine, leave it alone.
Posted by: Whiskey Mike || 04/20/2010 18:20 Comments || Top||

#24  My 2 cents. I really like GolfBravos work. However, he may have to curb it a little bit. We had a 3.3 earthquake in our area today.
Posted by: JohnQC || 04/20/2010 18:33 Comments || Top||

#25  Female who views Rantburg both at home and at work weighing in on this -

Here's a free clue, guys people - the pictures appear on the screen ONLY IF YOU CLICK ON THE "GOOD MORNING" POST.

If you're at work, don't click on it. Check out the other posts, of which there are plenty.

Problem solved.

There, that was easy, wasn't it? No charge.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 04/20/2010 19:08 Comments || Top||

#26  While I enjoy the GB posts I could also live without them. I do have a problem with the rampant PC attitude that we should worry about someone else being offended by what they see looking over my shoulder.
Posted by: abu do you love || 04/20/2010 19:14 Comments || Top||

#27  especially with PG-13 (at worst) content. :'/
Posted by: abu do you love || 04/20/2010 19:15 Comments || Top||

#28  Good lord folks! Lighten up! If your worried about the pictures at work then you just might not be blogging while your on the clock. GB myvote is an easy one, I enjoy the cute top photos and the racey ones enbeded. While you post prom stars birthday pics, they certainly aint pron....
Posted by: 49 Pan || 04/20/2010 19:32 Comments || Top||

#29  My reservation about GB's posts is that I never heard of 7/8's of the ingenues he presents for our daily delectation.

And then he throws in ringers like Veronica Cartwright and I say to my self, "That sure doesn't look like Danny Thomas's daughter from Make Room for Daddy so I look her up and sure enough, she was Lumpy Rutherford's sister. But I'm the only one old enough to remember either of those shows. At least 44 states allow folks with Alzheimer's to continue to drive, even if they can't remember where they are going.

And then somebody complains about how bad the arthritis in his big toe hurts. Criminy, that's the only joint in my body that doesn't have arthritis. So now I know what I'm probably getting for my next birthday.

And now the FDA wants to regulate salt. When I was a kid I used to come home from school and open up the Morton's and pour as much as my hand would hold and lick it up. If my grandchildren do that, will they be sent to the slammer or a re-education camp. And my blood pressure is just fine. Until I read about the nanny state wanting to regulate salt right after they declare my exhalation to be a pollutant. How did they miss refined sugar?

And now somebody thinks there's a bit too much skin in GB's rotogravure section! All I can say is don't go through the archives looking at .com's comments. Wherever he is, God bless him, I know he's laughing his ass off.

Sorry for the rant, but this was the day for it and this seemed like the place. Thanks for all your work, GB. You've taught me a lot.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 04/20/2010 20:04 Comments || Top||

#30  Let's see if I hear this correctly.

"Since I don't want to look at the pictures, which, when I do, requires specific action on my part, nobody else should be allowed to."

Could it be phrased?

"Since I don't want to be offended, you must change your behavior. Freedom from offense should involve no action on my part."

Haven't I heard such logic before? Isn't it called PC?
Posted by: Highlander || 04/20/2010 20:13 Comments || Top||

#31  We may want to think about the photos that are posted, this site is for everyone.
Posted by: Gloria


Jesus, Joseph & Mary! Yes you are right, we should think about the photos. In fact, I think about them every day. It is one of the first things I look at when I hit the 'burg in the Alto Meridian.

Are you 'Gloria' the moderator? If so, Honey, it is time to turn in the moderator credentials and get thee to a cloistered Nunnery. I'm thinking the Sisters of the Poor Clare's might need a few Novices.

Leave the GB and the pictures alone.
Posted by: Secret Asian Man || 04/20/2010 20:49 Comments || Top||

#32  My apologies, 'Alto Meridian' should be Ante Meridiem.
Posted by: Secret Asian Man || 04/20/2010 20:52 Comments || Top||

#33  Allow me to put Gloria's polite comments in context.

Gloria is rather closely related to Fred. I was about to be more specific but I'm not sure if she cares to have that made public. She is also, as has been noted, a mod. The suggestion that she turn in her mod creds is rather presumptuous. Secret Asian Man you are WAY out of line with that comment.

Gloria is speaking with an eye to the long term sustainability of this site and its ability to reach a lot of people who need to read the news and comments here.

GB could offer links rather than embedding the pics, which would give you all a chance to go peruse to your heart's content while avoiding some of the pitfalls mentioned above.
Posted by: lotp || 04/20/2010 21:19 Comments || Top||

#34  I agree w/Barbara - if you know what the content of "good morning" is, don't click on it while at work...you still have another 95% of Rantburg material from which to choose from until you get home. Case closed.
Posted by: Broadhead6 || 04/20/2010 21:33 Comments || Top||

#35  That Prince video brings back some memories. That guy is a musical and marketing genius.
Posted by: OldSpook || 04/20/2010 21:36 Comments || Top||

#36  Viewing at work is one small issue. Gloria raised a larger one, gently.
Posted by: lotp || 04/20/2010 21:49 Comments || Top||

#37  The pic Fred posted is as just as erotic as any of the pics. I mean holy cow folks, if ya dont wanna see the pics dont click on them! And yes, where is .com when we need him. This is all to PC for me.
Posted by: 49 Pan || 04/20/2010 22:12 Comments || Top||

#38  I know a lot of you, myself included, read this site by clicking through the links. Some, however, choose to read the site by scrolling completely down through the home page (which is basically all the links under the WoT Operations section, then when they get to the bottom they click on the WoT Background which consists of all the links under that section, and so forth. If you do this, you basically have to scroll past GB's section under the Good Morning post. This is when all GB's photos scroll by.

So it's legitimate.

Me, I know how to grab the thumb and rip past them should I choose, which I never do. But others might be pushing the little down arrow, and that may take forever. Now if they have Gloria for a boss, that may be fine, but maybe they don't.

As for the prude comment....you don't know me...lol

Aww shucks, I was just havin' a little fun with ya. It never crossed my mind. Especially now that I know you're related to Fred. ;-)
Posted by: gorb || 04/20/2010 22:51 Comments || Top||

#39  Some people need offending. I like to think of Ayman al Zawahiri sitting in his office in Quetta looking at Summer Verona and breaking into a real, hot lather. You know what I mean? The kind of reaction that makes him wonder if Allan is gonna strike him dead. If it raises his stress level it's a good thing. C'mon, people. The WOT is about freedom and that includes being able to look at attractive women and think romantic thoughts. Can't handle it? Go join up with Al Qaeda.

As for reading Rantburg at the office, I'm as guilty as anyone. A lot of times I'll start a rant and think better of it because I have work to do. It's called responsibility.
Posted by: Abu Uluque || 04/20/2010 23:59 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan
Donkey bomb kills 3 children in Kandahar
A bomb strapped to the back of a donkey blew up in the centre of Afghanistan's southern city of Kandahar yesterday, killing three children and wounding five people, officials said.

The bomb struck close to a police post guarding the residence of a tribal chief and ally of President Hamid Karzai in an area of the city where several government buildings are located.

Zalmai Ayoubi, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said three nephews of the tribal chief, Fazluddin, were killed, while three pedestrians and two police guarding Fazluddin's house were wounded.

Afghan security forces cordoned off the area of the blast, a Reuters witness said.
Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 04/20/2010 13:30 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  What kind of a$$ would do this?
Posted by: gorb || 04/20/2010 14:01 Comments || Top||

#2  What's next for these "people who jumped off the evolutionary train early"???

Dog Bombs?
Cat Bombs?
Hampster Bombs?
Paraquet Bombs?
How about Pigeon Bombs?
Posted by: James Carville || 04/20/2010 15:32 Comments || Top||

#3  Don't forget bomb up the ass and bomb under the burqua...
Posted by: M. Murcek || 04/20/2010 15:33 Comments || Top||

#4  And the donkey, don't forget the donkey.
Posted by: Hellfish || 04/20/2010 16:25 Comments || Top||

#5  Truly a great sacrifice, that a Chief would sacrifice one of his harem for the cause.
Posted by: Charles || 04/20/2010 19:42 Comments || Top||

#6  thanks gorb... now i get to clean my keyboard. :)
Posted by: abu do you love || 04/20/2010 21:02 Comments || Top||

#7  wars is over now PETA is gonna get involved
Posted by: chris || 04/20/2010 21:24 Comments || Top||

#8  thanks gorb... now i get to clean my keyboard. :)

You can burro mine if you want.
Posted by: gorb || 04/20/2010 22:29 Comments || Top||


Afghan deputy mayor slain while praying
INSURGENTS killed a vice mayor of the southern city of Kandahar while he was praying at a mosque, an official said, the latest brazen attack on government officials in the volatile region where troops are preparing for an assault on Taliban forces.

Meanwhile, NATO said one of its convoys in Khost province, on the border with Pakistan, fired on a vehicle that ignored warnings to stop late Monday night, killing four people inside the car.

It said two of those killed in the incident were later identified as "known insurgents", although the provincial chief of police, Abdul Hakim Hesaq Zoy, said the dead were all civilians, and included a 12-year-old child.

In the Kandahar slaying, assailants entered the mosque and shot Azizullah Yarmal while he and dozens of others were praying during services Monday night, said Zalmai Ayubi, spokesman for the surrounding province, also called Kandahar.

The assailants escaped and no arrests were made, Mr Ayubi said. Mosques typically provide little security, making them vulnerable to insurgent death squads.

He said the assassination was among a series of killings of government workers in southern Afghanistan aimed at undermining central authority by terrorizing competent individuals into leaving their posts and punishing those who defy the insurgents.

"This is the work of the enemies of Afghanistan. They don't want these honest people to serve the Afghan people and work in government institutions," Mr Ayubi said.

He said Mr Yarmal was not known to have any powerful enemies or to be involved in any disputes, and had worked to obtain funds for road building and other development projects in the city that was the birthplace of the hard-line Islamic Taliban militia and where they continue to enjoy considerable support.
Posted by: tipper || 04/20/2010 05:08 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "It said two of those killed in the incident were later identified as "known insurgents", although the provincial chief of police, Abdul Hakim Hesaq Zoy, said the dead were all civilians, and included a 12-year-old child."

In my view: total propaganda.

I think NATO troops should film incidents like this whenever they can, including the persons killed so when a terrorist sympathizer like Abdul Hakim Hesaq Zoy shoots his mouth off with lies, the evidence could confront him and he would be arrested or demoted.
Enough with these 'always children being killed' and 'wedding-parties-in-the-desert-at-3am bullsh!t.
It's pure propaganda in almost all instances but it is presented as credible to the Afghan population.
We are fighting an enemy that doesn't wear uniforms and uses civilians as shields, while they spread their terror in vicious ways.
Posted by: Mike Hunt || 04/20/2010 10:49 Comments || Top||

#2  Nice to see all the deeply-held respect for mosques, isn't it?
Posted by: mojo || 04/20/2010 11:13 Comments || Top||

#3  Allowing Western troops inside a mosque?...with video cameras?...no no no totally unacceptable, will have none of that.

The second issue, can you get a local to do it. Other than being a spy the fatwa on digital video recording is still out. Film captures and steals souls without doubt but digital, now that is a puzzle for the 21st century imam indeed.

But other than those 2 reasons, yes totally agree with Mike.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 04/20/2010 12:47 Comments || Top||


Donkey bomb kills three children in Kandahar
[Dawn] A bomb strapped to the back of a donkey blew up in the centre of Afghanistan's southern city of Kandahar on Monday, killing three children and wounding five people, officials said.

The bomb struck close to a police post guarding the residence of a tribal chief and ally of President Hamid Karzai in an area of the city where several government buildings are located.

Zalmai Ayoubi, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said three nephews of the tribal chief, Fazluddin, were killed, while three pedestrians and two police guarding Fazluddin's house were wounded.

Afghan security forces cordoned off the area of the blast, near where Ahmad Wali Karzai, a half-brother of President Hamid Karzai and head of the Kandahar provincial council, has his residence, a Reuters witness said.

The city, birthplace of the resurgent Taliban, has witnessed several attacks by the militants in recent weeks and is expected to be the target of a major offensive by foreign troops in coming months.
Posted by: Fred || 04/20/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Taliban

#1  The poor donkey! He was so entertaining in Shrek. Have PETA and the SPCA been notified?
Posted by: Glenmore || 04/20/2010 8:23 Comments || Top||


Taliban claim victory in Korengal
Taliban militants have claimed that the group recaptured the Korengal valley in eastern Afghanistan, seizing huge piles of ammunition from foreign troops.

The group retook the mountainous region after US military forces left the area last week.

NATO had earlier said it ended a mission that saw some of the most intense fighting of the nearly nine-year US occupation of the country.

The pullout was aimed at repositioning troops and concentrating them in urban areas, according to US officials.

The Taliban said the group seized huge piles of ammunition and fuel left behind by the US-led forces, saying they would plan to use the ammunition.

Korengal, in eastern Kunar province, is known as the Valley of Death by US forces.

Fighting in the area has claimed the lives of at least 42 American troops over the past five years.
Posted by: Fred || 04/20/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Taliban

#1  ALCON -
All I can say is F*ck those Terrorist B*stards. Having spent my time in the Valley last rotation at COP Blessing, Asadabad (Google them) and other places, and having supported the fights at Ranchhouse, Wanat and a few other TIC’s, I know first hand that even though we flew quite a few Heros (Thanks John, may your memories of that day someday fade) out of the Valley, Task Force Rock, (Erich Phillips, YOU Rock buddy, thanks for the e-mail the other day) Task Force Out Front and later the Duke boys brought a inordinate amount of death to those who opposed us and our efforts out there. For the time we (ISAF) were there life wasn’t too shabby for the villagers. Even though they had to put up with the occasional Katybusha or mortar round fired at us, they experienced some things they haven’t had in eons; stability and calm. I just pray for Smiley and his Family, for he has given so much for the valley, the fight, his family, his village, his Nation. May he and his family (at least what’s left of it) soon see peace. CW3 Mike Slebodnik got did up there serving his nation from the air, and will be remembered always as a true Hero and Cavalryman extraordinaire. We weren’t defeated there, it’s part of a plan that will come to fruition when the time comes. Plus, we don't leave nothing behind that goes bang. Ever. I apologize for my sentence structure being bit off, but it’s this kind of propaganda that really chaps my ass.

Towards the Greater Good, I remain

Your Affectionate Servant,

Bodyguard

Kandahar, Afghanistan 4/20/2010 16:13 Hrs.

P.S. I haven't figured out how to post a photo, or else you would see the real deal on it's way down range out there.
Posted by: Bodyguard || 04/20/2010 7:45 Comments || Top||

#2  We left the base and left ammo behind? In whose care?
Posted by: Glenmore || 04/20/2010 9:05 Comments || Top||

#3  Bodyguard: Here's the format:

{img src="http://www.imagepath.jpg" width=400}

Note: Replace { and } with < and > respectively. I couldn't do it here or it would try to post a picture! The "www.imagepath.jpg" part is the full address to the image, which usually ends in jpg or gif or whatever. The "width=400" part should be used if the image is wider than 400. (you can get the information for how wide the image is by right-clicking it and selecting "properties"). Before you post, click the "Preview" button, which has been working intermittently lately. Don't post anything explicit, of course, as children read this website over their parents shoulders.
Posted by: gorb || 04/20/2010 9:42 Comments || Top||

#4  Bodyguard, you could also send the photo to Fred (there's a link on the front page in the right margin), if like me you aren't up to using gorb's directions, which seem a bit more advanced than uploading to Facebook.
Posted by: trailing wife || 04/20/2010 10:02 Comments || Top||

#5  but it's this kind of propaganda that really chaps my ass.

It is propaganda, Bodyguard -- from Iran Press TV. They are on the other side, with no pretensions.
Posted by: trailing wife || 04/20/2010 10:07 Comments || Top||

#6  All, Way too complicated for a broken down Cavalryman to attempt. Plus, NIPR Bandwidth bad. I sent it up to Fred, whom I still owe a lot of War Loot (TM). Off to bed I go.
Posted by: Bodyguard || 04/20/2010 10:32 Comments || Top||

#7  I think your sentiments are very similar to many of us who served in Vietnam.
Posted by: bman || 04/20/2010 11:22 Comments || Top||

#8 
Posted by: Fred (for Bodyguard) || 04/20/2010 14:08 Comments || Top||

#9  Plus, we don't leave nothing behind that goes bang.

Did they really leave behind a bunch of ammo, or did the Taliban just make this up to make it look like they pushed us out? If they left it behind, I hope it's got transponders on it and laced with a bunch of "pop-no-fire" duds and they get their faces blown off one at a time.
Posted by: gorb || 04/20/2010 22:58 Comments || Top||


Kabul Army Base Blast Kills Afghan Soldier
An explosion inside an army base close to Kabul's airport on Monday killed one soldier and wounded two others, an official said

An investigation had been launched to determine what caused the explosion, which happened while army soldiers were in a training session involving heavy weapons, Defence Ministry spokesman Zaher Azimi said.

Reuters quoted a security source saying based on unconfirmed reports that a soldier had carried out a suicide bomb attack, while a Taliban spokesman said the bomber was a member of the insurgent group.

The explosion caused panic in area around the airport, where dozens of Western embassies and military bases are located.
Posted by: Fred || 04/20/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Would-be Suicide Bombers Arrested in Kabul
[Quqnoos] Afghan official announced Monday the arrest of nine would-be suicide bombers who were allegedly plotting attacks on "strategic targets" in Kabul. The men, aged between 16 and 55, were arrested during a coordinated operation that included raids on at least one Madrassa in the capital, a spokesman for the country's Intelligence Agency said.

"They were planning attacks on strategic targets but since the investigation is ongoing we cannot go into details," Sayed Ansari, spokesman for the National Directorate for Security (NDS), told reporters.

Some of the men were Pakistani nationals, he said, adding that weapons found during the raids -- including heavy machine-guns, rocket launchers, hand grenades and suicide vests -- had been brought over the border.

He did not give a specific date for the arrests, but said they were recent and occurred two or three days ahead of the planned attacks.

Kabul has been free of major attacks since late February when militants armed with guns and suicide vests killed about a dozen people, many of them foreigners.

More detail, from Dawn
Afghan security forces arrested nine members of a terrorist cell and seized nearly a quarter-ton of explosives, foiling a plot to stage suicide bombings and other attacks in Kabul, the country's intelligence service said Monday.

The arrests mark the second time in recent weeks that the security services claim to have prevented major attacks on the capital, a result they say of better training and use of informants.

Intelligence service spokesman Saeed Ansari said four of the suspects were arrested while traveling in a vehicle in the city's eastern district, while five others were picked up at an Islamic school in Kabul.

He said security forces also confiscated six rifles, two machine guns, two rocket-propelled grenades, 440 pounds (200 kilograms) of explosives, six suicide bomb vests and a vehicle. The dates of the arrests were not disclosed.

The suspects, one of whom was a Pakistani citizen, ranged in age from 16 to 55 and had been given specific responsibilities within the group such as for arranging accommodation or transporting arms, Ansari said. Three militants from the group were identified as would-be suicide bombers, although Ansari said the cell possessed enough explosives and vests to equip up to six suicide attackers.

He said the group was acting under orders from a Pakistan-based Taliban faction, which had rented a house in eastern Kabul, shipped weapons across the border and provided funds for the purchase of a vehicle to be used in suicide attacks.

The arrests follow the interception of a vehicle on April 8 on the outskirts of Kabul carrying what police said were five would-be suicide bombers on their way to carry out a major attack in the city - the largest such team ever detained in the capital.

Police said at the time that the bombers were sent by an Al-Qaeda-linked insurgent group based in Pakistan, and their capture follows widespread rumors that militants were planning attacks in the diplomatic quarter of Kabul.

The last major attack within Kabul took place Feb. 26 when suicide bombers struck two small hotels in the center of the city, killing at least 16 people, including six Indians. Afghan authorities blamed the attack on Lashkar-e-Taiba, the same Pakistan-based Islamist militia that India blames for the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks that killed 166 people.

Also Monday, Afghanistan's defense ministry said an explosion, possibly involving land mines or mortars, killed one Afghan army soldier and wounded three during a military training exercise in Kabul.

The Taliban said the blast was a suicide attack, though the insurgents have been known to make false or exaggerated claims.

In the north of the country, Afghan and international forces were continuing an offensive to drive the Taliban away from population centers and a key supply route.

As of Sunday, at least 29 militants, including two commanders, had been killed over four days of intense fighting, the Interior Ministry said.

In the southern province of Kandahar, a bomb planted on a donkey exploded near a police checkpoint, killing a 15-year-old boy Monday and wounding two police officers and two civilians, said Zalmai Ayubi, spokesman for the Kandahar provincial governor.

The target of the blast was not immediately clear, although it went off some about 2,000 feet (600 meters) from offices belonging to the United Nations.

Nato also said a combined Afghan and international force killed a number of suspected insurgents during a search for a senior Taliban commander in Ghazni province south of the capital. Troops were fired on as they approached a residential compound in the Qarahbagh district, returning fire and killing an unspecified number of militants.

Fighting elsewhere in the country killed two other insurgents in the eastern province of Khost and one in Kandahar, Nato said.

Meanwhile, a magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck in mountains north of Afghanistan's capital early Monday, killing at least seven people and injuring 30, officials said.

The temblor hit in Samangan province, about halfway between Kabul and the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, according to the province's deputy governor, Kulam Sakhi Baghlani.

Roads and communications are sparse in the area, and casualty reports take time to reach authorities. The quake was felt in Kabul as well as the neighboring countries of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

Baghlani said three districts of scattered mud-walled villages were affected, with more than 300 homes damaged and dozens of head of livestock killed. Landslides sparked by the quake had blocked roads, making even more arduous what was already an eight-hour drive along winding mountain trails from the provincial capital of Aybak
Posted by: Fred || 04/20/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Africa North
Terror suspect caught with fake Algerian police ID
[Maghrebia] A suspected al-Qaeda terrorist arrested Sunday in Rouiba was carrying counterfeit Algerian police identification, Liberte reported on Monday (April 19th). The suspect may have been sent to Algiers as an "emissary" of Hodeida Abu Younes El-Assimi, emir of AQIM's El-Arkam brigade, to oversee a potential attack, unidentified security sources told the Algerian daily. The police card reportedly enabled the man to circulate in the Algiers neighbourhood without facing the risk of questioning by authorities.
Posted by: Fred || 04/20/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in North Africa


Arabia
Yemen Oil Security Tightened, Two Suspects Killed
[Asharq al-Aswat] Yemen has tightened security at oil facilities and government buildings, and two suspected al Qaeda members were killed in clash with security forces in western Yemen, a Yemeni official told Reuters on Sunday.

Yemen's government is struggling to stabilize the country where al Qaeda is trying to strengthen its influence.

The security official told Reuters that security measures were tightened around major "government, economic, oil and Western facilities" as of Saturday.

The measures included "the replacement of some normal central security forces with special units ... well qualified and trained by Arab military experts," he said.

Yemen, the poorest Arab country, has already carried out air strikes, with U.S. assistance, to target al Qaeda leaders.

"The two men were inside a car and refused to stop at a check point. An exchange of fire took place between them and security forces," the official said, adding the clash took place after midnight on Saturday.

"The two suspects were killed and two soldiers were injured, one of them seriously."

The two killed were being chased by the government after authorities distributed information about them to checkpoints, the official said.

Western countries fear that al Qaeda's resurgent regional wing is exploiting instability in Yemen to launch attacks in the region and beyond.
Posted by: Fred || 04/20/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in Arabia


India-Pakistan
Bomber's head found: police
[Geo News] Peshawar police have found the head of a suspected suicide bomber, who blew himself up in crowded Qissa Khwani market, killing at least 23 people and injuring dozen others.

Shafqat Malik, the head of bomb disposal squad, said that the bomber, aged between 15 to 16, used 6 kg of explosives in the attack.
Posted by: Fred || 04/20/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: TTP

#1  Islamic Pez dispenser.
Posted by: Lampedusa Omese6523 || 04/20/2010 6:57 Comments || Top||

#2  They had a hard time finding it because it landed in the coconut section.
Posted by: gorb || 04/20/2010 14:05 Comments || Top||

#3  So did the head of the bomb squad find the head of the bomber? And, if so, would that be ironic?
Posted by: tu3031 || 04/20/2010 14:09 Comments || Top||

#4  Okay then. But what did the Head Nurse think?
Posted by: Secret Asian Man || 04/20/2010 20:24 Comments || Top||


Officials named in UN report suspended
[Dawn] Four days after the release of the UN Commission's report on Benazir Bhutto's assassination, the federal government went into action and suspended eight officials, including former City Police Officer (CPO) Saud Aziz, who were responsible for former prime minister's security at the venue of her last public meeting.
Their names were also included on the Exit Control List (ECL).

These officials have been suspended and the contract of Director-General of Civil Defence Brig (retd) Javed Iqbal Cheema has been cancelled. Brig Cheema, as the spokesman for the interior ministry, was the first government official to state that Ms Bhutto had died because of injuries she sustained when she hit the lever of the escape hatch of the vehicle she was travelling in. He was serving as DG National Crisis Management Cell (MCMC), a department of the interior ministry, at that time.

However, on Sunday there was no official word about the fate of the PPP leaders identified by the UN report for having provided 'insufficient' security cover to Ms Bhutto. These PPP leaders include high-profile government functionaries such as Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Sindh Home Minister Zulfiqar Mirza.

Aware perhaps of the fingers being pointed at him, Mr Mirza claimed on Sunday that he and Rehman Malik were under investigation and that he had volunteered himself for it. However, there has been no confirmation of this from the interior minister.

Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar confirmed the suspension of the eight officials and said the orders had come from the prime minister. "The action on the UN report has been started on the directives of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani."

He added that the officials' names had been placed on the ECL.

Those who have been suspended include former Rawalpindi CPO Saud Aziz; former District Coordination Officer (DCO) Rawalpindi Irfan Elahi; Former Inspector General Police, Rawalpindi, Chaudhry Abdul Majeed; Superintendent Police Ashfaq Anwar; SP Operations Yaseen Farooq and Khurram Shahzad. The suspended officers are expected to be presented before the second Joint Investigation Team (JIT), which is investigating the murder of Ms Bhutto, in a couple of days. They are expected to testify before the JIT.

Sources within the PPP say an FIR would also be registered against former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf, the suspended officials and some PPP leaders who had been made responsible for her security by the party. The decision to take action in the light of the UN report was taken by the PPP Core Committee meeting held on Saturday. The meeting was chaired by President Asif Ali Zardari.

Some PPP leaders are willing to confirm this. For instance, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira has promised action against all those responsible for Ms Bhutto's death. "Action will be taken against all those who have been identified in the UN report including those who were in the black Mercedes," he told a private television channel.

The UN Commission's report says that the black Mercedes was part of the security detail as the back-up vehicle. This Mercedes was supposed to follow the vehicle of Ms Bhutto as she left Liaquat Bagh. However, the report concludes that the Mercedes left ahead of Ms Bhutto and it exited the venue a few minutes before the shooting and the blast took place, which claimed the lives of the PPP chairperson and some party workers.

According to dissident PPP leader Senator Safdar Abbasi, who was in Ms Bhutto's vehicle, Mr Rehman Malik, Law Minister Babar Awan and Presidential Spokesman Farhatullah Babar were in the black Mercedes.

However, these are not the only PPP leaders who have been thrust into the limelight by the UN report. The commission's findings also mention that Ms Bhutto's then security advisor Zulfiqar Mirza and others had formed a security force --Janisaraan-i-Benazir Bhutto -- comprising 5,000 volunteers who were supposed to form a human shield around her at public meetings. But, it appears, that this force was missing from Liaquat Bagh at the time of her killing.

Some security analysts believe that the UN Commission' report has provided enough lead to initiate criminal investigations to catch the planners, abettors, financiers and killers.

Sources close to Saud Aziz say that he is ready to face justice and that he is confident that he can fight his case at any forum. According to the sources, he is claiming that he has not received any such orders.

Mr Aziz is also reported to have questioned why no action had been taken against Musharraf, who had been directly held responsible by the UN commission for the then government's neglect of Ms Bhutto's security.
Posted by: Fred || 04/20/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan

#1  For 15 minutes, or a whole half hour?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 04/20/2010 5:57 Comments || Top||

#2  Let me get this straight, he was supposed to exit on her bumper, but instead went first, I smell a traitor (Rat) here.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 04/20/2010 10:29 Comments || Top||


Militants blow up Nato tankers in Khyber
[Dawn] A bomb attack in a restive tribal area on Monday destroyed two tankers carrying fuel for Nato forces in Afghanistan, local officials said.

The bomb planted under one tanker exploded near the village of Takhtabeg in the lawless Khyber tribal district, turning the vehicle into a huge ball of flames, administration official Rehan Gul Khattak said.

Six people were injured, reports AFP.

The second tanker and a goods truck passing by also caught fire and the blaze spread to a petrol pump and timber stores on the roadside, he added.

The tankers were carrying fuel for Nato forces in Afghanistan, Khyber administration chief Shafeerullah Wazir told AFP.

Khyber is on the main Nato land and supply route through Pakistan into Afghanistan, where more than 121,000 foreign forces are battling to reverse an escalating Taliban insurgency, now into its ninth year.

According to DawnNews, TTP has claimed responsibility for the attack on the Nato supply line.
Posted by: Fred || 04/20/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in Pakistan

#1  Watch for Newbie : Iraq : al Qaeda !! Watch Dizful : Sadr City : Northern Region : Central & South : Foreigners : Watch : Too
Posted by: karin rapamohl56 || 04/20/2010 4:39 Comments || Top||

#2  Oh, come on, not another Mendola clone. I can't stand these intentionally cryptic comments.
Posted by: gromky || 04/20/2010 5:57 Comments || Top||


TTP claim responsibility for Kohat attack
[Dawn] A suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden vehicle into the boundary wall of a police station in Kohat, killing seven civilians, including an infant, on Sunday.

Nine security officials -- two personnel of the Frontier Constabulary and seven policemen -- were among 31 people injured in the attack. Three women passers-by also suffered injuries.

All the injured were taken to the KDA Divisional Headquarters Hospital and Women and Children Hospital.

Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (Waziristan) spokesman Qari Hussain claimed responsibility for the attack in a telephonic message. He said the vehicle had accidentally exploded near the Bilitang police station, adding that the actual target were security forces in the Kohat Cantonment.

Abdullah Khan, Deputy Inspector of Police, Kohat region, told newsmen that the vehicle used in the attack carried 250kg of explosives.

The vehicle hit a tractor parked near the wall of the police station. The blast flattened the building of the police station and a nearby school and also damaged four vehicles.
Posted by: Fred || 04/20/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: TTP


Pak Taliban demand swap of top war prisoners
[Al Arabiya Latest] Taliban have demanded the release of two top Afghan Taliban commanders in exchange of the release of two former agents of top Pakistani spy agency Inter Services Intelligence and two journalists, who went missing a fortnight ago in a restive tribal.

Unknown militants sent emails to officials containing videos of retired Colonel Ameer Sultan, alias Colonel Imam, and retired Squadron Leader Khalid Khwaja, who along with two journalists were reported missing in Miramshah area of South Waziristan region.

The military men reportedly provided assistance to those journalists in making a documentary film, but later reports suggested they were directed by former top military and current ISI officials to visit the area for contacting Taliban leadership.

The Taliban threatened in their email to kill Imam and Khawaja if Islamabad did not release two top Afghan Taliban leaders, Mullah Abdul Kabir and Mullah Mansur Dadullah Akhund, believed to have been in government's custody.

Kabir led the Peshawar Regional Military Council, one of the Afghan Taliban's top four regional commands. Akhund, also known as Mullah Bakht Mohammad, served as Taliban's former shadow governor of eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar, and later as governor of Nangarhar during the Taliban's regime.

He replaced his brother Mullah Dadullah Akhund as the top commander in southern Afghanistan during the summer of 2007. His status has been in doubt, but he was last reported to have been arrested by Pakistani security forces in January 2008.

The video clips released by Taliban, and aired by a private TV channel, showed the two former spy operatives saying that they visited tribal areas upon orders by former Army Chief Gen. Aslam Baig and former DG ISI, Lt.Gen. Hamid Gul for contacting top Pakistani Taliban leadership including the new chief Waliur Rehman Mehsud.

Khawaja was also quoted as saying he had directives from a serving ISI official, Col. Sajjad to visit the area. The identity of journalists were not released, however, one of them was stated to be a British national of Pakistani descent.

The email message said Taliban would make further demands later.
Posted by: Fred || 04/20/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: TTP

#1  What a farce if the Pak Govt gives in!
Posted by: Kofi Thinese2517 || 04/20/2010 17:02 Comments || Top||


Blast kills 27 in Pakistani city of Peshawar
[Al Arabiya Latest] A suicide bomber attacked Pakistani police guarding a protest rally organized by the Jamaat-e-Islami religious and political party against power cuts in the city of Peshawar on Monday killing 27 people, police and government officials said.

Islamist militants fighting the government of nuclear-armed Pakistan have launched a string of bomb attacks in Peshawar, which is the gateway to Afghanistan, killing hundreds of people over the past year.

The latest ripped through a busy market known as Qissa Khawani Bazaar (Storytellers' Bazaar) as the protest against power cuts organized by Jamaat-e-Islami was breaking up, officials said.

"A man blew himself up when policemen were sitting in their vehicles after the rally," said provincial Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain.

Several officials of the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) party, which organized the protest, were among the dead, said members of the party, which has a record of sympathizing with Islamists.

Deputy Superintendent Police Gulfat Hussain and vice president of Peshawar chapter of the party Haji Dost Muhammad were killed in the blast while provincial secretary of the party Shabbir Ahmed Khan and another local leader Sabir Hussain Shah suffered injuries.

Hours after the blast, hospital sources said 27 people were killed and 40 people were wounded.

Ambulances with red lights flashing raced through the streets as dusk settled on the city.

"We were returning to our police station when the blast went off," a slightly wounded policeman, Riaz Khan, told Reuters. "I saw bodies and limbs scattered all about when I turned around."

It was the second blast in the city on Monday.

Earlier, a six-year-old school boy was killed and five boys and two other people were wounded when explosives went off outside their school in the city, doctors said.

Security forces have made significant gains against the militants in offensives over the past year, clearing the fighters from strongholds in the Swat valley and in the regions of South Waziristan and Bajaur on the Afghan border.

But the militants have demonstrated time and again they have the capacity to strike back with gun and bomb attacks.
Posted by: Fred || 04/20/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: TTP


Militants release video of former ISI officers
ISLAMABAD: Videos of two former ISI officers, who went missing last month, were released by unknown militants in the tribal areas of Pakistan on Monday.

Col (retd) Amir Sultan, widely known as Col. Imam and Squadron Leader (retd) Khalid Khawaja went missing in the tribal areas last month while they were accompanying a journalist to assist him with a documentary on militants.

In the video, both hostages introduced themselves as former ISI officers. They claimed that they were visiting the tribal areas following an advice by former Army Chief General Aslam Baig and former DG ISI Lt.General Hamid Gul.

However, Khawaja also mentioned the name of a serving ISI official, Colonel Sajjad and said that he visited the area on his direction.

The militants have demanded the release of at least two arrested Taliban leaders in Pakistan's custody for the release of the two officers. The demand was made through an email which also contained the footage of the two officers.

The militants have threatened that if Mullah Kabir and Mullah Mansoor Dadullah were not released, the officers would be killed.

The unknown militants who sent their email late Sunday night also mentioned that they would issue another list of their demands soon.
Posted by: john frum || 04/20/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  These two guys are well known supporters of the taliban so lets see how the Pak govt react to these willing hostages!
Posted by: Kofi Thinese2517 || 04/20/2010 16:57 Comments || Top||


Iraq
Iraq announces killing of another senior al-Qaida leader
Iraq announced Tuesday the killing of another senior leader of al-Qaida group in the country, an official television reported.

"Iraqi security forces killed the terrorist Ahmed al-Obaidi, also known as Abu Suhaib, the military leader for Qaida terrorist organization in the provinces of Nineveh, Kirkuk and Salahudin," the state-run television of Iraqia, quoted Mohammed al-Askari media advisor of the Iraqi Defence Ministry as saying.

Intelligence reports indicated that Obaidi moved from the city of Ramadi in Iraq's western province of Anbar to the northern province of Nineveh, where a joint U.S. and Iraqi force killed him in an early morning operation, Askari said.

The fresh announcement came a day after Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and the U.S. military announced the killing of two top Qaida leaders in a nighttime rocket attack on a safe house near the city of Tikrit, the capital of Salahudin province.

The two top al-Qaida leaders were Abu Omer al-Baghdadi and Abu Ayyub al-Musri, who are the most wanted by U.S. and Iraqi forces.

Local analysts believe the latest killing announcements of al- Qaida top leaders can be seen as victories for the country's security forces, who were blamed for failing to protect civilians against terrorists.
This article starring:
ABU AIYUB AL MUSRIal-Qaeda in Iraq
ABU OMER AL BAGHDADIal-Qaeda in Iraq
ABU SUHAIBal-Qaeda in Iraq
AHMED AL OBAIDIal-Qaeda in Iraq
Posted by: tipper || 04/20/2010 11:22 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Just like dope dealers and gang bangers, there'll be a new hood on the streetcorner immediately. Just cause the roaches keep coming doesn't mean you don't keep stepping on them...
Posted by: M. Murcek || 04/20/2010 12:17 Comments || Top||

#2  Clean-up on aisle 2, please.

What the h-e-double-toothpicks is that?
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 04/20/2010 23:13 Comments || Top||


Children of Al-Sahwa militia chief beheaded in Iraq
FIVE family members of a local chief of an anti al-Qaeda militia were gunned down in their homes in Tarmiyah, north of the Iraqi capital, with the children also beheaded, police said.

"The wife, a daughter of 22 and three boys of between 12 and 16 were shot dead, with the assassins also beheading the last three," said Colonel Tawfiq al-Janaabi, police chief of Tarmiyah, 45km from Baghdad.

He said the local chief of the Al-Sahwa militia, identified as Abu Ali, was on duty at a checkpoint at the time of the attack. The Sahwa, made up of Sunni Arab tribes, switched allegiances to join American and Iraqi forces in fighting insurgents in 2006 and 2007, leading to a dramatic fall in violence.

On April 3, gunmen in army uniforms massacred 25 people from families linked to Al-Sahwa in a nighttime raid on a village south of Baghdad. The victims were tied up, tortured and shot in the head or the chest, a hospital source said.

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki last week gave his backing to calls for greater use of the former rebel militia in the efforts of Iraqi security forces and intelligence to prevent deadly bombings.
Posted by: tipper || 04/20/2010 05:05 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Seems this would be counterproductive in that it will instill more rage than fear, both in the chief himself and other militia chiefs.

You'd think a bunch of $1,000 rewards for information would go a long way in Iraq.
Posted by: gorb || 04/20/2010 5:11 Comments || Top||


Al Masri, Baghdadi confirmed killed
Dead Guy pics at the link. I'll let somebody else make the Fat Lady call.
Look dead enough for me. If they rise from the dead we've always got the stake through the heart graphic.
Posted by: tu3031 || 04/20/2010 00:28 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "Al Masri, Baghdadi confirmed killed"

Again?
Posted by: crosspatch || 04/20/2010 3:25 Comments || Top||

#2  If you blowup enough little kids you will drive the locals passed the f-it factor and they will point out that your top two guys are in that house right now.

Smile for the camera.
Posted by: Mike Ramsey || 04/20/2010 7:14 Comments || Top||

#3  General Odierno was on the news, saying al-Baghdadi had been in custody previously and had been a Fallujah policeman in 2005. Sounds like they got some real bad guys plus a lot of intel for follow up. Definitely AQ.
Posted by: Lumpy Elmoluck5091 || 04/20/2010 9:19 Comments || Top||

#4  What, just because these guys have been body counted so many times in the past, current reports of their deceased status are now filed under "Opinion"?
Posted by: Mitch H. || 04/20/2010 10:21 Comments || Top||

#5  Good catch, Mitch. I moved it to WoT Operations. Thanks!
Posted by: trailing wife || 04/20/2010 10:49 Comments || Top||

#6  I usually put items from other blogs in Opinion. But I won't lose any sleep over the switch.
Posted by: tu3031 || 04/20/2010 11:09 Comments || Top||

#7  I usually put items from other blogs in Opinion.

You're right in terms of Rantburg policy, tu3031. But it was straight news instead of blogger opinion, so it's a subtle decision where both are correct.
Posted by: trailing wife || 04/20/2010 13:11 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Man killed as Rafah tunnel collapse
[Ma'an] A young man was killed on Monday when a tunnel underneath the Gaza-Egypt border collapsed in Rafah, southern Gaza. Medic Adham Abu Salmia identified the victim as Muhammad Abu Sha'ar, 22, and said his body was transferred to the Abu Yousef An-Najjar hospital in Gaza.
Muhammad should have worked in a bowling alley; this wouldn't have happened to him ...
In early April, a group of six Palestinian workers went missing following the collapse of a subterranean smuggling tunnel under the Yebna refugee camp in Rafah. All were later found on the Egyptian side of the tunnel, medics said.

Several Palestinians have died as a result of tunnel collapses, with human rights organizations calling for better protection and safety for workers involved in the industry.
As opposed to not tunneling in the first place because, according to the Egyptians, it's illegal. Ah, Amnesty International ...
The underground tunnel complex was created along the Egypt-Gaza border in the wake of Israel's lockdown of the coastal enclave in June 2007, following Hamas' takeover of the Strip. The tunnels are used to transport a number of goods made unavailable as a result of the siege, including fuel, food, medicines, livestock and vehicles.
And guns. And ammo. Lots of ammo. For the widows, you know.
Egypt has further completed construction of a subterranean steel wall to obstruct smugglers' passage through the tunnel complex, citing their use by Palestinian militants for weapons' smuggling.
Which for some strange reason the Egyptians don't much like. They need to drive the steel wall deeper.
Posted by: Fred || 04/20/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Hamas

#1  I don't know the local shallow geology there - instead of a wall, could they divert sea water into the sand bodies the tunnelers have to go through? Kind of an underground moat?
Posted by: Glenmore || 04/20/2010 9:10 Comments || Top||

#2  I would simply pump in non scented nat gas, then watch which houses on the other side went BOOM.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 04/20/2010 10:33 Comments || Top||

#3  One thing we have is plenty of natural gas.
Posted by: bman || 04/20/2010 11:26 Comments || Top||


Gaza: PRC military wing reports clash with Israeli unit
[Ma'an] The military wing of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) said a group of their fighters clashed with a unit of Israeli infantry soldiers who crossed the borders into the northern Gaza Strip on Monday.

Fighters with the An-Nasser Salah Ad-Din Brigades reportedly exchanged machine gun and light weapon fire with the Israeli unit for 25 minutes in the early morning, in a region west of Beit Lahiya known as the Zinda or A'tarta neighborhood. The area is deep into the northern Gaza Strip, south of the almost 1km no-go-zone in the northwestern corner of Gaza.

In a statement, the group said it would continue to fight Israeli soldiers who enter Gaza, in an effort to protect the lands of the Strip.

An Israeli military spokesman said he was unaware of any clashes in the area in the morning. A similar report of clashes on Sunday was also denied by the military.
Posted by: Fred || 04/20/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Popular Resistance Committees

#1  Well, it doesn't look like anybody got hurt, so I assume it was Pali Dead Guy Brigade vs. Different Pali Dead Guy Brigade.
Posted by: tu3031 || 04/20/2010 0:18 Comments || Top||

#2  ION JPOST > HIZBALLAH A DIVISION OF THE SYRIAN ARMY.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 04/20/2010 0:19 Comments || Top||

#3  TOPIX > HAMAS: WE WILL CONTINUE EXECUTING COLLABORATORS/SPIES FOR ISRAEL.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 04/20/2010 21:18 Comments || Top||


Science & Technology
Caiman Multi-Theater Vehicle (Caiman MTV)
Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 04/20/2010 04:19 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:



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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.
Click here for more information

Meet the Mods
In no particular order...
Steve White
Seafarious
tu3031
badanov
sherry
ryuge
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trailing wife
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Skidmark

Two weeks of WOT
Tue 2010-04-20
  Iraq announces killing of another senior al-Qaida leader
Mon 2010-04-19
  Abu Ayub al-Masri, Abu Omar al-Baghdadi: dead again
Sun 2010-04-18
  Lashkar-i-Jhangvi claim responsibility for Quetta blast
Sat 2010-04-17
  Suspects in Quantico terror plot appear in court
Fri 2010-04-16
  Hospital kaboom kills 10 in Quetta
Thu 2010-04-15
  Missile strike kills 4 in NWA
Wed 2010-04-14
  Syria arms Hezbollah with Scud missiles: Israel
Tue 2010-04-13
  Dronezap kills 5 in N.Wazoo
Mon 2010-04-12
  Hamid Gul's house bombed in Tirah, 60 deaders
Sun 2010-04-11
  Strikes in Orakzai, Khyber kill 96 militants
Sat 2010-04-10
  Qaeda Threatens World Cup
Fri 2010-04-09
  Suicide bomber attempts to shoot North Caucasus Ingush police chief, blows self up
Thu 2010-04-08
  Iraq sez ''open war'' with Qaeda after kabooms
Wed 2010-04-07
  Aide denies Karzai threatened to join Taliban
Tue 2010-04-06
  New spate of bombings strikes Baghdad, killing 49

Better than the average link...



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