There have been several occasions in the last few days when an article has been submitted multiple times within a half hour by the same person. Articles you submit must be approved and posted by a Rantburg editor and we're not necessarily at our keyboards at just the moment when you've found that great reference that deserves our readers' attention.
If you are really concerned that your submission was lost, give us an hour or so to forward it and then, if it doesn't appear, resubmit it ONCE. The 6 copies I had to delete this morning were excessive.
She said cheerfully.
Posted by: Robin Burk ||
05/11/2005 7:34:22 AM ||
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Robin,
I recently double submitted a news link because I got a posting error:
Notice: Undefined variable: wText in C:web
antburgwwweposter.php on line 55
Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at C:web
antburgwwweposter.php:55) in C:web
antburgwwweposter.php on line 99
The article:
Title: CAIR: How Close to Terrorism?
Link: http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=18000
Posted by: ed ||
05/11/2005 7:54 Comments ||
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Robin,
I recently double submitted a news link because I got a posting error:
Notice: Undefined variable: wText in C:web
antburgwwweposter.php on line 55
Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at C:web
antburgwwweposter.php:55) in C:web
antburgwwweposter.php on line 99
The article:
Title: CAIR: How Close to Terrorism?
Link: http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=18000
Posted by: ed ||
05/11/2005 7:54 Comments ||
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#3
That was weird.
Posted by: ed ||
05/11/2005 7:55 Comments ||
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#4
Ah ... okay, it looks like a bug in the new scripts Fred has been crafting. Or possibly a double click on the first try, which triggered the subsequent errors??
At any rate, thanks, Ed. We'll see if we can't shake it down.
Posted by: Robin Burk ||
05/11/2005 8:08 Comments ||
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#5
Robin. That error message wasn't 'sticky'. It displayed for about a second and then displayed the normal front page.
Posted by: ed ||
05/11/2005 8:14 Comments ||
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The Ministry of the Interior said yesterday that a wanted militant, Abdul Aziz ibn Rasheed Al-Inazi, a Saudi national, had been arrested. Al-Inazi was arrested after being injured by security forces in a gunbattle on Monday. The statement made clear that the gunbattle involved only one militant even though earlier reports had said the number was three. "The suspect is one of the promoters of deviant ideology. He had a major role in promoting takfeer ideology (branding other Muslims as infidels) and is a member of the so-called religious committee in the deviant group," the statement said.
"Because the suspect has a university degree in religious studies, his colleagues have made him a major promoter of their sick ideology and have used his statements to justify their corruption and criminal acts," it added. The statement also said that the militant's preaching and statements were used to defame peaceful Islamic principles for evil purposes; he said it was permissible to shed non-Muslim blood and accused other Muslims of being infidels. The suspect also preached that in Islam it was permissible to kill security officers on religious grounds. According to the Ministry of the Interior, the suspect used the Internet as a tool to publish his statements.
This looks like it might be something new. This is the first time I can recall the Soddies actually identifying the "deviants" as takfiri.
This article starring:
ABDUL AZIZ IBN RASHID AL INAZI
al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula
takfeer
Posted by: Fred ||
05/11/2005 00:00 ||
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So kill him already in public and be done with it.
I predict he will be "reformed" and allowed to walk free instead.
Security forces have arrested 20 members of a cell affiliated to the Believing Youth rebels who had been plotting attacks, the Defense Ministry said yesterday. One of those arrested was involved in a May 7 grenade attack against a bus of the air defense academy in Sanaa that wounded five military personnel, including three Iraqi experts who teach at the academy, said the ministry's September 26 website. Various types of weapons were seized from the group, it said.
The group are followers of Badruddin Al-Houthi who were involved in two weeks of fighting with government forces in the mountainous northwest last month that left some 280 people dead. A security source said yesterday that preliminary investigations with Al-Houthi supporters showed they were plotting to assassinate political and military figures as well as target vital facilities in Sanaa. Authorities said on May 5 they had arrested 11 rebels suspected of carrying out attacks in the capital. The security source said authorities had identified all insurgents from the outlawed Believing Youth movement charged with carrying out acts of sabotage but many were still at large.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/11/2005 00:00 ||
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#1
I read in today's NY Times that polio is making a big comeback in Yemen. Perhaps that may be the jooos revenge on the arabs and islamists - iron lungs, steel leg braces, lower life expectancy and oral vaccine invented by a guy named Albert Sabin of Jooowish Hospital, Cincinnati!!!!
Posted by: Jack is Back! ||
05/11/2005 16:45 Comments ||
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#2
those are the consequences of living under a 7th century paranoid culture that hasn't developed a technological breakthrough since...
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/11/2005 17:16 Comments ||
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Stupidity tends to be self-exterminating -- especially when deliberately chosen. Darwin always wins.
An explosion killed a woman and a police officer and wounded at least two others in the southern Russian region of Dagestan on Tuesday, Russia's Interior Ministry said.
A ministry spokesman said traffic policemen noticed a suspicious package on a busy street near the center of Makhachkala, the capital of the region, which borders Chechnya.
When one went to investigate, it exploded.
One policeman died, the spokesman said. Russia's Itar-Tass news agency said another was seriously injured.
One woman was killed and two people were injured when their vehicle was caught in the blast which shattered windows up to 100 meters (300 feet) away.
Russian forces have been battling rebels in Chechnya for more than a decade and violence is common in Makhachkala. Russian police say Islamic rebels allied to fighters in neighboring Chechnya hide out there.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
05/11/2005 00:31 ||
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A bomb apparently detonated by remote control has blown up a police car in the capital of Russia's Dagestan region, killing one officer. Tuesday's explosion also injured three other people, said regional Interior Ministry spokeswoman Marina Rasulova. The dead officer and three wounded were all in the car when the blast occurred, she said. But a duty officer at the Emergency Situations Ministry headquarters for southern Russia, Sergei Petrov, gave a conflicting account. He said the car was empty and that one person was killed and another wounded - both pedestrians - in the blast. The blast could be heard in the centre of Makhachkala, the regional capital.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/11/2005 00:00 ||
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PARIS - A Pakistani national and two Frenchmen went on trial in a Paris criminal court on Wednesday for allegedly aiding convicted "shoe-bomber" Richard Reid in his bid to blow up a Paris-Miami flight three months after the attacks of September 11, 2001 in the United States. The three men have been charged with criminal association in relation to a terrorist enterprise. They risk a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison if convicted. The suspected Islamist radicals were initially placed under investigation in France for alleged links to Reid, who tried to detonate explosives hidden in his shoes aboard a Miami-bound American Airlines flight on December 22, 2001.
Reid, a British national and self-proclaimed disciple of extremist Osama bin Laden, was sentenced to life in prison by a US court in January 2003. French investigators believe that the three men belonged to a group of operatives that helped Reid, but police say they also uncovered a Pakistani network that recruited fighters to carry out jihad, or holy war, abroad. Ghulam Rama, a 64-year-old Pakistani and president of a charity association called "Chemin droit" ("Right Path"), allegedly recruited his co-defendants, Hassan El Cheguer and Hakim Mokhfi, to fight abroad.
Rama, who moved to France in 1980, frequently travelled abroad in 2001, making trips to Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United States and Britain. Prosecutors say the trips were linked to Rama's involvement in the recruitment of terror operatives, but the Pakistani man says he was trying to raise funds to build a Muslim place of worship in Saint-Denis, outside Paris. "They've tried to show that Mr Rama committed acts that implicated him in terrorist acts, notably the Richard Reid affair, but nothing has been proven," Rama's attorney Didier Machetto said before the start of the trial. Machetto said Rama denied any involvement in recruiting fighters for terror training abroad.
A fourth man, Kamel Lakhram, also went on trial Wednesday, but the terrorism-related charges against him were dropped. He stands accused of violating residency requirements. The trial is expected to last through May 27.
This article starring:
Didier Machetto
GHULAM RAMA
al-Qaeda
GHULAM RAMA
Chemin droit
HAKIM MOKHFI
Chemin droit
HASAN EL CHEGUER
Chemin droit
KAMEL LAKHRAM
al-Qaeda
RICHARD REID
al-Qaeda
Chemin droit
Posted by: Steve ||
05/11/2005 2:44:39 PM ||
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What? Someone had to tie his shoes for him?
Flush 'em all, now!
Posted by: Captain America ||
05/11/2005 17:29 Comments ||
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Women soldiers in the U.S. Army would be barred from serving in combat support units under language added to a defense bill Wednesday. Proponents of the measure said it would affect only a small number of women, while opponents said over time, it would drastically alter the face of the modern army.
The amendment sponsored by Rep. John McHugh, R-N.Y., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee's military personnel subcommittee, would prohibit women from combat support and combat service support units.
"The current policy does not serve women well," said McHugh. "The current policy places them in a company and treats them as equal until it's time to move forward and then they have to be left behind."
The subcommittee voted along party lines to approve the amendment. The bill, setting Defense Department policy for next year, is expected to be debated by the full Armed Services Committee next week.
The war in Iraq has tested the military's definitions of combat zones. Soldiers whose roles are categorized as support, where most of the women in the U.S. military are found, sometimes get caught in the line of fire. Thirty-one female soldiers had died in the Iraq war by the end of February.
More than 60,000 women have been deployed overseas in support of the war in Iraq since December 2002. Women are not assigned to combat positions.
Opponents contended that if McHugh's amendment became law, it would over time remove women from all but a few select functions like piloting helicopters and medical work.
"I think it will make most of the women in the Army hopping mad, they'll see it as a slap in the face," retired Navy Captain Lory Manning said in an interview. Manning tracks military issues for the Women's Research and Education Institute in Washington.
McHugh insisted very few women would be affected by the change.
"It is not huge numbers, it is certainly in no way is going to affect any other job classifications," said McHugh.
Democrats on the Armed Services Committee were quick to criticize the move, saying it was sprung on them without notice and would place additional strains on the military by removing experienced women from important positions.
"We cannot afford to reject the talents of women who have served so well," said Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., the ranking Democrat on the Armed Services committee.
McHugh said he had apologized for the last-minute amendment, saying Armed Services chairman Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., asked him Tuesday night to offer it.
"I frankly understand the minority's concerns about the procedure followed here. It was a surprise to most of us, myself included. I have apologized for that," said McHugh, while insisting lawmakers need to confront the issue of women in war zones.
"We need to talk about it," he said.
Hunter issued a statement saying the amendment "in no way forecloses hundreds of defense specialties for women away from the live fire of today's battlefield. The American people have never wanted to have women in combat and this reaffirms that policy."
#1
Interesting, considering that the Marines have chosen to put women in their front-line (is that the correct term?) units, so as to be able to search veiled people (some of whom do turn out not to be female after all, but how is an innocent male Marine to know before-hand?) and their rooms without crossing a cultural barrier.
So should this bill pass, the women who want to fight will end up in the Marines, and the women who want to be doctors, nurses, caterers and clerks will join the Army. What kind of women will join the Air Force and the Navy, I wonder?
#2
This sends my bullshit meter through the roof. The military depends on woman in support rolls WAY too much for this to be real. If they yanked the women out, nearly 30-40% of the manpower would be gone.
The nation's capital was given the green light Wednesday afternoon about one hour after a small airplane violated restricted airspace over the city, forcing the rapid evacuation of the White House, the U.S. Capitol Building (search) and the Supreme Court around noontime. Two F-16 military jets scrambled over to Washington from Andrews Air Force Base just outside the city in Maryland. The jet pilots met the plane, which came within four miles of the U.S. Capitol and three miles of the White House, and escorted it out of the Air Defense Identification Zone to Frederick, Md., about 50 minutes northwest of the city. The jets then returned to the air base.
The Pentagon was not evacuated and the mood there was described as "business as usual." However, North American Aerospace Air Defense (search), which operates in part out of the Pentagon, coordinated with air and Homeland Security officials. Police in Washington shouted at lawmakers, staff members, media and tourists to run from the buildings. About 20 minutes later, the evacuations were cancelled. The pilot, who was said to have entered the restricted space then exited and re-entered before being warned out of the area with four flares, was ordered to touch down in Frederick.
The plane, a small two-seat, high-wing Cessna 150, was apparently flying from Smoketown, Pa., near Lancaster, according to Homeland Security officials. The pilot is in custody and federal and Maryland state law enforcement officials were considering charges against him. President Bush was not at the White House at the time of the evacuation. He was taking part in a bike ride at Patuxent Wildlife Refuge outside the city. The president headed back to the White House after his motorcade was cleared for return. First lady Laura Bush and visiting guest Nancy Reagan, the former first lady, were at the White House and taken to a secure location there.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/11/2005 12:03 ||
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bigtime! all senators and WH staff ordered out
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/11/2005 12:05 Comments ||
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FAA tracking an unidentified aircraft
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/11/2005 12:08 Comments ||
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#3
cessna f*&ked up
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/11/2005 12:11 Comments ||
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#4
isn't Alaska Paul
flying today?
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/11/2005 12:12 Comments ||
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#5
Well that certainly energized an otherwise boring day in the District.
#6
Hey Alaska Paul, looks like you need to update your sectionals again !
Posted by: Carl in N.H. ||
05/11/2005 12:28 Comments ||
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UPDATE: ALL CLEAR. A spokesman for the North American Air Defense (search) said they expect to issue a statement within an hour on the event. here's a working link to Fox news article.
#9
The wife and I work on opposite sides of the WH. She called me, text messaged me and called my mobile while I had it off. She was halfway to our rendevous point by the time I got the message. I found out about the all clear before she did. Cell phones did not work well because the systems were so busy. For a few minutes it was like 9/11 in terms of uncertainty and inability to communicate. Fortunately it turned out to be nothing more than an excuse to have lunch out of the office on a nice day.
How can a flying instructor be so stupid as to fly in DC restricted airspace? A Darwin award was deserved. If the USAF had smoked this guy, I think that the public would be 80/20 in favor.
#12
Cessna vs F16? Sounds like herding a calf to the slaughteryard
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/11/2005 19:49 Comments ||
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#13
It's kind of difficult to throttle back an F-16 enough to keep up with a Cessna 150 and still stay in the air. They need an A-10 for slow movers like that. Can you imagine the pucker factor of seeing an A-10 line up on your tail with that GAU-8 cannon pointed directly at your spine? With a decent headwind, an A-10 can almost hover...
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
05/11/2005 20:33 Comments ||
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UNITED NATIONS, May 11 (Reuters) - Iran is expected to notify the United Nations by the end of the week that it is resuming sensitive nuclear work, almost certainly killing off Tehran's negotiations with the European Union, a European diplomat said on Wednesday. The collapse of the talks likely would bring the controversy over Iran's nuclear program to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions or other actions.
"The Iranians are expected to notify the International Atomic Energy Agency by the end of the week that they are resuming preparations to enrich uranium," the European diplomat said. "This will almost certainly kill off the EU talks," said the envoy, speaking on condition of anonymity. Britain, Germany and France, representing the European Union, have been negotiating with Tehran on a long-term agreement to define Iran's nuclear program.
In Vienna, IAEA spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said the agency, the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog, had "received no such notification from the Iranians". The United States believes Iran's nuclear energy program is a cover for arms development and has been pressing for Iran's case to be sent to the Security Council. Sharing Washington's suspicion that Iran is developing atomic weapons, the EU has offered economic and political incentives if Tehran scraps its enrichment program. Iran says its program is intended to fuel only power plants, not arms.
In a deal reached with the three EU nations last November, Tehran agreed to suspend all nuclear fuel-related activities while both sides tried to negotiate a long-term solution regarding Iran's atomic ambitions. But Iran, unhappy with the slow pace of talks, has threatened to resume some work related to enrichment, a process of purifying uranium to use in nuclear power plants or atomic weapons. In Vienna, diplomats close to the IAEA said it appeared inevitable that Iran would restart parts of its enrichment program.
Posted by: Steve ||
05/11/2005 1:47:05 PM ||
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GAZA, May 11 (UPI) -- A 22-year-old Palestinian studying in Mosul has been kidnapped by militants in Iraq, his family said Wednesday.
I know when I think advanced studies, Mosul comes to mind.
The West Bank family said in a statement published in the Palestinian dailies that Rami Da'aas was kidnapped by militants near his residence. "He is in his last year and he was going to graduate this year," said the family, adding "we call on the kidnappers to release him as immediate as possible." The family urged the Palestinian Authority help find him and asked all parties in Iraq to help secure his release. "Rami had an accident before he went to study in Iraq and he needs an essential surgery in his brain, so he is sick, needs treatment and kidnapping him is not justified," the family said.
Brain damaged Palestinian "kidnapped" in Iraq - I think we just found our next car bomber
Posted by: Steve ||
05/11/2005 2:50:13 PM ||
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A brain damaged palestinian is special? By some standards you could rightfully call them all "brain damaged" in a sense! One has to wonder what was the point of grabbing him off the street. Then again, madness and brutality between idiots is something of a professional courtesy thing.
#2
Especially northern Iraq is turning into a magnet for students from all over the region. It has something to do with a lack of secret policemen, being able to ask honest questions of teachers who don't spout dialectic and/or believe that all knowledge is contained in the Koran. In Kurdistan, I gather they are building a whopper big university.
#5
moose - while welcome - I've not seen any other reference to N. Iraq becoming th eUniversity magnet you say - any references for that? Just curious. I would think the overwhelming Kurd pop. might make that modern education possible, but not for Paleos, Arabs, Sunnis, who continue booming Kurds for fun
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/11/2005 16:13 Comments ||
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Frank G: Certainly.
http://www.iwpr.net/index.pl?archive/irq/irq_94_2_eng.txt
"Foreign Students Flock to Iraqi Kurdish Colleges"
Kurdish students living in Iraqâs neighbours are flocking to universities in the Kurdish areas to escape repression at home and to benefit from the opportunities they say the region offers.
The University of Sulaimaniyah alone has so far accepted more than 110 Kurdish students from neighbouring countries, mainly Iran and Syria, under a programme that reserves five per cent of all places at Iraqi Kurdish universities for high school graduates educated elsewhere.
I see no "damaged Paleo subsidization nor seething Arab Salafist or Wahhabist scholarships. Sounds like the Kurds are tending to their own...human nature
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/11/2005 19:22 Comments ||
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Well, that confuses ethnic group with nationality. Granted, those mentioned in the article are Kurds, but they are Syrian and Iranian Kurds. And there is considerable variation among Kurds, in religion, dialect and appearance, many being blond haired and blue eyed, many dark like Arabs. Now, the bottom line is whether in future these universities diversify to offer a rare (for that region) liberal education to other, non-Kurd, students more attracted to their studies than bothered by who they are learning it from. Remember that wealthy middle-easteners of all kinds regularly export their children for western educations: a quality education, closer, could attract large numbers of burgeoise children, whose parents could not afford sending them to England or the US, but who could pay premium prices for quality in Kurdistan. Education is big bucks.
#9
Kurds are Wayyyyyyyyyy ahead on the curve at self-determination. I hope they're selective at who they help from the 7th century to the 21st. Arabs are not their friends. I can see an Israeli/Kurdish alliance
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/11/2005 20:15 Comments ||
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#10
The Kurds are setting up Kurdish language institutions. It unlikely a paleo could speak fluent Kurdish.
#11
I have considerable confidence in the wisdom of some of the Kurd leaders. Having heard some of them speak, I was impressed with two things: first, the leaders themselves are highly intelligent, well-educated, erudite, focused on pragmatic success, and intent on developing strong alliances with those who can help their cause; and second, that the Kurdish people *respect* and follow leaders with these qualities. This is a powerful combination that bodes well for their future. Added to this is the feeling that for the first, and probably only time, they have been offered a chance to have a chance, so from their greatest to their least, they must all strive for their goal as a people.
BAGHDAD - Day rates peaking at 1,000 dollars quickly turned post-Saddam Hussein Iraq into a modern day Klondike for private security firms, but a growing number of hired guns are paying the price in blood. In the latest incident to shake the industry, a Japanese former legionnaire working for a British security firm was believed to have been captured by Ansar al-Sunna, one of the most feared Islamist militant groups operating in Iraq.
Japanese former legionnaire working for a British security firm; Ronin still live!
Akihiko Saito went missing during a fierce firefight that broke out when his convoy was ambushed on a perilous supply route west of Baghdad. Several were killed and others wounded among the convoy's security staff and Ansar al-Sunna later posted pictures of Saito's identity card, saying they were holding him. Few details were available on the incident, but security sources said Saito and his colleagues were probably on an escort mission of the kind that has been widely outsourced by the US military in Iraq. According to the interior ministry, there are up to 50,000 private security contractors in the war-torn country.
Posted by: Steve ||
05/11/2005 2:17:01 PM ||
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#4
Ooo. Those contractors have no sense of humor about these things. Come to think of it, I'm surprised that some of the major syndicates haven't yet started to subcontract some of their talent in the region. The Yakuza or the Triad could probably field a battallion of serious killers and make millions.
#5
and, of course, they're indistinguishable from locals.... jeebus
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/11/2005 19:25 Comments ||
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#6
Something tells me that we aren't going to be seeing this particular hostage whimpering and begging in a video for all infidels to depart Iraq, and his government grovel so that he can be set free.
This one and the Italian chap who told the terrs to go screw themselves before they iced him - these guys get my bittersweet respect.
I hope Saito-san helped more than a few of Allan's boys meet their raisens.
COPENHAGEN- Danish soldiers engaged in a brief firefight with assailants who attacked them overnight in southern Iraq, the Danish army command said on Tuesday, adding that an Iraqi man was injured in the exchange. The Danes were patrolling the southern Iraqi town of Basra when they came under fire in the early hours of Tuesday, the statement said. The ensuing exchange lasted around five minutes, and the Danish troops then returned to their base at Camp Danevang in Basra. The injured Iraqi was taken to hospital in a civilian vehicle, the military said. It did not specify whether he was one of the attackers. Reinforcements from Camp Danevang were sent to the scene but found no trace of the assailants. Denmark has some 530 soldiers in Iraq, most of whom are stationed under British command near Basra in the south of the country. One Danish soldier has been killed in Iraq to date, in a friendly fire incident in August 2003.
Posted by: Steve ||
05/11/2005 11:03:02 AM ||
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#1
Time to drop a few 500 pounders on Sadr HQ.
Posted by: ed ||
05/11/2005 11:17 Comments ||
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Only one report so far Baghdad, 11 May (AKI) - The Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is "serious injured, possibly dead" according to Colonel Fouad Hani Hassan, commander of the fifth division of the Iraqi armed forces, cited by 'Elaph', a popular website in the Arab world. Al-Zarqawi, considered al-Qaeda's leader in Iraq, is believed to have been injured in the major offensive US-led forces have been carrying out in the western Anbar province over the last few days.
Location would make sense
Operation Matador is centred around the town of Qaim, just a few kilometres from the Syrian border, and is aimed at destroying the strongholds of foreign fighters coming over the border into Iraq to join the insurgency. It's the fourth day of violent fighting around the town, which has been surrounded by troops since Saturday night. Bombing is said to be heavy in Qaim, where there has been house-to-house fighting between troops and insurgents. The satellite TV channel Al-Arabiya reported on Wednesday that two US military helicopters were brought down during clashes in villages near Qaim, where military aircraft had been carrying out bombing raids to root out Islamic militants from their hideouts.
On Tuesday, Raja Nawaf, the newly-appointed governor of the Anbar province was kidnapped near Qaim and his family was told he would only be released if US troops pulled out of the town. A US military spokesman responded to the news by reiterating that they do not give in to terrorist demands.
While Operation Matador is not specifically aimed at catching al-Zarqawi, Brig. Gen. James Conway told a Pentagon news briefing on Tuesday that "it would be a welcome event to come across him or his body."
This is the biggest US military operation since the offensive on the rebel-held town of Fallujah in November last year. More than 1,000 troops are involved and at least 15 US soldiers are said to have died in the fighting so far. The US military claims some 100 militants have been killed, but inside sources have admitted that they have encountered strong resistance in the town, with the insurgents demonstrating a high level of training.
Zarqawi would have the best troops close to him, plus the fact the chose to stand and fight means they felt the had to defend the target area. Trying to cover his retreat?
Posted by: Steve ||
05/11/2005 10:08:21 AM ||
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#1
Steve I found this tidbit in an article from yesterday's Pentagon Presser given by Conway.
Operation Matador does not specifically target al Qaeda terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who reportedly was seen in the area within the past three weeks
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
05/11/2005 10:44 Comments ||
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#3
I find it interesting that this comes from an Iraqi Colonel - and there are no Iraqi forces participating in this sweep, per the article(s) from previous days on this Opn.
#6
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is "serious injured, possibly dead"
Posted by: Yosemite Sam ||
05/11/2005 11:34 Comments ||
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#7
plus the fact the chose to stand and fight means they felt the had to defend the target area
Read somwwhere that USMC has blocking manuvers in place, so it may not be a choice to defend the target.
Sure would be a nice "get"...
Outlaw killed in 'shootout' with police
A listed criminal and regional leader of outlawed Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP --Janajuddho) was killed in a 'shootout' between law enforcers and the outfit members at village Pirpur under Sadar upazila in Chuadanga district early yesterday.
"shootout" aka "encounter"
The dead was identified as Jhankar, 33.
A team from the Sadar Police Station cordoned off Pirpur Primary School ground at around 2:00am following information that the outfit cadres were holding a meeting there, police said.
Holding one of those "midnight basketball games", no doubt
As the outlaws opened fire on the law enforcers, they retaliated, resulting in an hour-long shootout.
Remember, this is a Bangladeshi shootout. Most likely expended around a dozen rounds, between tea breaks.
After the outlawed operatives fled the scene, Jhankar was found dead on the spot...
Surprise, surprise
..police said, adding that he was accused in 12 cases including eight for murder. Police seized a revolver and six bullets from the spot.
That gun sure gets around
Jubo Leage leader arrested
Police yesterday arrested a leader of Awami League's youth front Jubo League, who was running for the post of commissioner in the April 20 by-election of ward No 63 of Dhaka City Corporation. Sources said Mohammad Hossain Basan was arrested in a case filed after he and his supporters had been beaten up allegedly by BNP lawmaker Nasir Uddin Pintu and his supporters at Badrunnesa College on the election day.
He got arrested because he was the victim?
A team of Lalbagh police aided by Tejgaon police and detectives arrested Basan from the Election Commission premises when he went there to inquire about his appeal to cancel the election results alleging rigging.
"I didn't win, so obviously the election was rigged! It's that damm Karl Rove again."
Four-party alliance candidate Shahida Morshed won the race last month.
When asked, duty officer of Lalbagh Police Station, SI Abdus Sattar told The Daily Star that Basan was arrested following a warrant. He, however, failed to specify the charge.
"We'll get to that after he leads us to his hidden cache of arms.......say, is that mike on?"
7 cops injured in criminal attack in N'ganj
At least seven policemen were injured in Narayanganj as a gang of criminals attacked them with sticks when they were out to arrest the gang.
I hate it when that happens.
A team of Sonargaon Police Station raided Asharia area at in the early hours yesterday after an executive of an industry in the area filed a case accusing the gang members of demanding Tk 10,000 from him in illegal tolls on Monday.
Soon, the police team reached the spot. The criminals dubbed the policemen as robbers and attacked them leaving Sub-Inspectors Shamim and Baten, Assistant Sub-Inspectors Habib and Siddiq and constables Raja, Nannu and Alamgir. Police arrested two alleged criminals Rafiq and Shafiq from the spot.
Posted by: Steve ||
05/11/2005 9:47:16 AM ||
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May 11, 2005: The U.S. Air Force is shipping to Iraq a new bomb, HardSTOP (Hardened Surface Target Ordnance Package), designed to destroy the inside of target buildings, without damaging adjacent buildings. HardSTOP is a GPS guided half ton cluster bomb. The GPS and computer in the bomb control the dispersal of 54 smaller bomblets, that are designed to penetrate the roof of a building and explode inside. The bomb software can be programmed to distribute the bomblets in an area as small as 20 feet in diameter, or up to 110 feet. When the bomblets go through the roof, they explode. Some of the bomblets can be programmed to go through one or more floors before exploding.
With HardSTOP, the risk of damage to nearby buildings is minimal. Actually, the building the bomblets hit won't be damaged much, as the small explosive charge in each bomblet is designed to kill people, not destroy a building. In effect, HARDStop puts 54 large hand grenades inside a building, allowing nearby friendly troops to quickly move in and take possession.
Bomb-a-rama will no doubt complain about the lack of colateral damage :)
Posted by: Steve ||
05/11/2005 9:35:51 AM ||
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#1
I wonder what there UXB percentage is? The last place I would want to be bee-bopping around is where there are unexploded hand-grenade type munitions.
May 11, 2005: American marines in Iraq have begun to regularly take female marines with them on some raids. The female marines are there mainly to search Iraqi women who are expected to be found in the raided location. Terrorists have taken to giving some weapons or other items to women they are with, to hide in their clothing. American troops often do not search Iraqi women, because this makes Iraqi men more hostile, and often enrages them, leading to a brawl during an otherwise uneventful raid. Both soldiers and marines have used female troops for searching Iraqi, or Afghan, women, but on a sporadic basis. But now, marine units have assigned female marines, who normally do support jobs, to regular raid duty. Thus the same women would operate with the same male infantrymen on a regular basis. This enables the women to work better with the male marines in case there is a fight. The raids are usually conducted using hummers, that quickly move into an area, the troops get out and rapidly gain entry to the target building and begin the search. Sometimes there are armed terrorists in there, who start shooting. So everyone in the raiding party has to be ready for a fight. The female marines get the same infantry training as the men, although in all-female boot camp companies, and maintain their infantry skills later. The women regularly see action during combat movements, and no one doubts their ability to handle themselves in combat. Most of the women assigned to the raiding duty are eager and enthusiastic about it, as boot camp drilled into everyone that the primary job of every marine was infantry combat.
I think I trust the Marines to do this better than any other service. That's just a gut feeling on my part, but the Marines seem less worried about being politically correct.
Posted by: Steve ||
05/11/2005 9:28:53 AM ||
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#1
Hmph. Somehow, I'm thinking Pvt. Vasquez from "Aliens". :)
#2
BaR, there's a difference between lowering standards for political correctness and using assets who are trained, motivated and capable.
As we saw with the KY National Guard a while back, there are women who can and do perform well in battle. These Marines will do fine. They will also drive the jihadis crazy while allowing our troops to effectively search through homes where weapons and people might be hiding behind women and children.
Sounds like a good plan to me.
Posted by: too true ||
05/11/2005 10:26 Comments ||
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I'm all for women coming in, as long as the CURRENT standards are not lowered. Some women were being allowed to join artillery units back in 94-95. They kept the standards and had very few women join. However, the women that did were throwing that 200lb shell over their shoulder and marching it to the gun by themselves. Tough women who definatly did the job, hoorah!
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
05/11/2005 15:11 Comments ||
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#7
I don't ever want to be on the receiving end of Connie the Short Bus Lady's ire. I saw what happened after a neighbor's redbone hound got hold of Lucinda the Duck. I almost felt sorry for the guy. The owner, not the dog. I think she could do a credible job.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
05/11/2005 18:44 Comments ||
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#9
I wonder what the Iraqi women think when the see a female marine operating as an equal member of a marine unit - being treated on a equal basis instead as chattel.
#11
Elaine Donnelly spewed a bit of rubbish on NRO the other day, and I took her to task over it. She said that because the Army is beginning to "blur the lines" between combat and non-combat positions, it was going to hurt enlistments and retention. Here's my reply (apologies in advance for hogging Fred's bandwidth):
I just finished your article, "Recruitment Killer", on NRO. I'm a retired Air Force NCO with 26 years' service who retired 15 years ago. I feel compelled to say that your article vastly misrepresents the problem, and what the Army is doing about it.
First of all, let me say that my career was spent in imagery intelligence, primarily in Europe. I was one of many that kept track of the Warsaw Pact activities, as well as trying to keep abreast of developments in the Middle East and Africa. I'm also a history major, concentrating in Modern European History.
I wrote a scenario for a training exercise for RAF Alconbury in 1987, during the drawdown and deactivation of the 1st Tactical Reconnaissance Wing. I was ordered to destroy it, because it would have simply scared the knickers off of everyone on the airbase. I suggested an attack by 150-175 trained terrorists, armed with both conventional and chemical weapons. It highlighted a failure that is still there, and still a glaring fault that will eventually cost the military hundreds of lives.
There is no longer any such thing as a "front line", and hasn't been since about 1965. The Russians had plans even before that of striking deeply behind the "FEBA" at supply and support bases, creating as much chaos and killing as many people as possible. In a guerilla or terror war, every person in the area - and now with the Global War on Terror, even "back in the States" - is not only vulnerable, but targeted.
If I were chairman of the Joint Chiefs, I would insist that combat training be given to everyone in the military, with refresher training every year - for THEIR SAFETY AND SECURITY. It's too late to prepare for combat when a squad-sized military force breaks into Peterson Air Force Base, or the New Orleans Coast Guard Station. In today's political environment, each of those is a distinct possibility. When it happens, the ability of every person to defend themselves and strike back at the enemy will be critical. Failing to provide combat training for every single person in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard is to leave them the military equivalent of being blind, deaf, dumb, and stupid.
The way wars are pursued has changed greatly - and frequently - ever since the armies of Pharoah. Each time, they've become more dangerous, not only for the soldier, but also for civilians. The military's job is to defend the civilian population from the ravages of war. That requires a military capable of not only defending themselves, but capable of responding rapidly to whatever danger faces this nation. The only way to protect those who serve in the Armed Forces is to prepare them for every logical danger. Failing to give each member combat training is failing to prepare them for that danger.
The line between combat and support no longer exists. Every outfit is a target for combat, and the only defense is to allow every unit to act as a combat unit. Anything else is preparing for failure.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
05/11/2005 21:03 Comments ||
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#12
I can't recall who alerted me to this, but female police are far more likely to resort to lethal force than males. So contrary popular belief including women on patrols will lead to more 'shoot first, ask questions later' responses.
#13
There is no necessary contradiction between training women for combat, especially in the defensive role as when, say, an air base is attacked by commandos, or including squad assault tactics on one hand and keeping them out of combat units. It would be a great idea to have them as well trained as possible.
Current standards must be maintained in combat units. Some feminists routinely discredit standards which have proven to, 1, be useful, and 2, disproportionately exclude women. The next Tailgate could cost us.
I sure hope ME women get a chance to see US women taking charge in any number of situations, including commanding US men, and being in charge of ops which require ME men to do as they are told, such as pony up ID at a checkpoint. Yes, indeed. I see two huge grunts in their battle rattle watching the car, a cute blonde briskly asking for the ID, and a redhead (whose hair is showing below her helmet) watching the whole thing over the sights of a Ma Deuce. Two women are in the back seat, taking it all in. They may even be sorry for their men, depending on how their men have treated them over the years. Snork.
I recall seeing an episode of COPS in which two female cops were called to a bar for a drunk & disorderly complaint. They were having trouble with the guy until a couple of male customers helped them out. Then the drunk's wife came at them yelling and grabbing. Unable to shove her away, one cop sapped the lady over the ear. There's something to be said for avoirdupois.
Posted by: RIchard Aubrey ||
05/11/2005 23:51 Comments ||
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#14
Fascinating, OP. I hope she takes that as much to heart as I now do.
EFL: May 11, 2005; It is known that one major source of people, weapons and money for the terrorism is Syria, and for the last three days, a reinforced battalion of American marines have been operating along the border, in Anbar province. Over a hundred terrorists have died, as they tried to defend their bases in local villages. Over a hundred people have been arrested, although only twenty or so have been kept in custody. The marines have had three killed. The terrorists apparently feel they cannot afford to lose free use of this border area. In addition to trying to defend villages, some of the terrorists even made a truly suicidal attack on a marine convoy. This included at least two suicide car bombs and many people with guns. At least a dozen terrorists were killed, while a few marines were wounded.
Having no success with the marines, the terrorists kidnapped the newly appointed governor of Anbar province, and said they would hold him until the marines left the area. The governor was a local tribal worthy who had been governor, for a while, when Saddam ran the country. In western Iraq, along the Syrian and Jordanian borders, it's mostly desert, Sunni Arab and tribal. Folks take their Islam seriously out there, and Osama bin Laden is a popular guy. And when force fails, you try influence. The marines told the government, and the terrorists, that they were not leaving and that the governor should make himself comfortable until he can be rescued.
The marines and soldiers are out in the desert because the Iraqi police and army have more of central Iraq under control. This means that coalition troops can go take care of other business. Coalition troops have not been in some areas of western Iraq since Saddam was toppled two years ago. More intelligence has been collected on the western desert in the past few months. UAVs, spies and a few informers made it clear that parts of the Syrian border, and villages on the Iraqi side, were hot spots for terrorist activity. Once the hot spots are cooled off, the Iraqi border guards will be moved in. Most of the border is already covered by the border guards, who are building several hundred fortified bases along all the borders. But in places like western Iraq, you have to run the heavily armed gangs out first.
Posted by: Steve ||
05/11/2005 9:17:01 AM ||
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#1
Steve there is report Zarqawi has been wounded or hurt in the fighting.. along the border.
#2
The US military has perfected the art of setting up "safe zones" for the boyz, which causes them to concentrate. Their strength lies in their diffusion among the civilian population, and by collecting together, it is ten times easier to rout them.
#3
Anonymoose, good point. I think the military is a lot smarter than the press that is reporting about them. The press has'nt figured it out.
The one thing is, that if we go much further west, Syria will have a major problem. They ought to rethink thier strategy.
#5
Uh, plainslow, isn't that half the point? Though I'm liking what I see, I dunno about Grins' assertation; any indications that Zarqawi was even in the area?
Posted by: Edward Yee ||
05/11/2005 11:24 Comments ||
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ALGIERS, Algeria, May 11 (UPI) -- Algerian army troops killed a Muslim fundamentalist gunman and injured another in a clash in eastern Algeria, reports said Wednesday. French-language daily Le Quotidien Du Rhone said the clash took place Tuesday night in Baghlia, 80 kilometers (50 miles) east of Algiers.
One of the three gunmen was killed and another injured but managed to escape, the paper said. It said the army seized an automatic rifle and hand grenades the two gunmen dropped before fleeing. They seem to be having trouble counting.
Posted by: Steve ||
05/11/2005 8:55:26 AM ||
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This was posted yesterday as well. I'll let it go through, so any who missed it can get a sense of the despair and desperate pride gripping Russians right now. It is also a classic example of Russian xenophobia - and evidence of how bad it could be if Putin is overthrown.
May 10, 2005
United States Institutes New Laws to Control Citizens Movements as Massive Movements to Underground Facilities Begin Ahead of Drastic Global Changes
By: Sorcha Faal, and as reported to her Russian Subscribers
Disturbing news has reached us today that confirm the Axis Power United States intentions to put their entire society under total subjugation, and as we can read from this report by one of their own resistance lawmakers Dr. Ron Paul titled "National ID Cards Won't Stop Terrorism or Illegal Immigration" and which says;
"Within two years every American will need a conforming national ID card to participate in ordinary activities. This REAL ID Act establishes a massive, centrally-coordinated database of highly personal information about American citizens: at a minimum their name, date of birth, place of residence, Social Security number, and physical characteristics. The legislation also grants open-ended authority to the Secretary of Homeland Security to require biometric information on IDs in the future. This means your harmless looking driver's license could contain a retina scan, fingerprints, DNA information, or radio frequency technology.
Think this sounds farfetched? Read the REAL ID Act, HR 418, for yourself. Its text is available on the Library of Congress website. Proponents of the REAL ID Act continue to make the preposterous claim that the bill does not establish a national ID card. This is dangerous and insulting nonsense. Let's get the facts straight: The REAL ID Act transforms state motor vehicle departments into agents of the federal government. Nationalizing standards for driver's licenses and birth certificates in a federal bill creates a national ID system, pure and simple. Having the name of your particular state on the ID is meaningless window dressing."
Coinciding with these new laws of suppression are reports from Russian Intelligence Analysts stating that the United States Military Authorities are continuing their efforts to construct the worlds largest system of concentration camps, and as we can read as reported by the Online News Service in their article titled "Rumsfeld's mystery contingency operations" and which says, "According to the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) database, the Department of Defense's US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has awarded just over 29,000 contracts since at least October of 2003. A review of 2,000 of those contracts shows that awards go to the usual suspects like SAIC, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. Some go to unusual suspects like Columbia TriStar pictures and Time Warner for movie and video distribution services.
Within that batch of 2,000 contracts are approximately 50 mentions of a "classified domestic contractor" and a "classified foreign contractor" operating at 18th & F Street, NW, Washington, DC.
Continued on Page 49
#2
I suspect this has as much bearing on what the average Russian feels as Scientology has on reality.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
05/11/2005 7:29 Comments ||
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#3
"It appears that there was a lot more interest in getting the airport built from just officials in the Denver area. They plan on using this facility for something else other than just landing planes."
It's real purpose is destroying luggage according to the Secret Master Plan.
Posted by: Dave D. ||
05/11/2005 7:32 Comments ||
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#4
heh. I know the people who did the control software for that. Took a long time to get it so that the luggage disappeared into quantum dimensions at just the right random intervals ....
Posted by: too true ||
05/11/2005 7:42 Comments ||
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#5
Oh, Lord. I remember the shakedown period at Denver Airport. Walking for miles with two small, formerly excited, children and ski gear. Bottom line, I don't care what secret evil things are happening behind the curtain, so long as everything works properly.
Posted by: Peter Andre ||
05/11/2005 12:14 Comments ||
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#11
We really need a decent bearded-spock graphic to go with a lot of the news items out of the former soviet union's sphere of influence.
Posted by: Phil Fraering ||
05/11/2005 12:49 Comments ||
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#12
And another thing... Robin, this isn't anything you can't find at conspiracy sites based in the US if you look hard enough.
It's where the conspiracy sites overseas pick up a lot of their stories. Which I discussed here, in this post and this post. I'd look up more, but I need to hurry up, get lunch, and get to the office (I've been working on some spreadsheets from home).
Posted by: Phil Fraering ||
05/11/2005 13:14 Comments ||
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#13
What a moonbat! This person definitely needs a keeper - preferably one that's worked with monkeys.
I hate DIA. There are two ways to get there, and both are at the end of a toll road. The comment about "there's nothing out there, not even a gas station" is VERY ancient history. One of the reasons it was built out there at the time was because there WASN'T anything out there. Now, as with Stapleton, the area around it is beginning to build up.
The City of Denver has a problem they need desperately to deal with - the old Stapleton International Airport. It's too big and too well-built to destroy in a way that's cost-effective. It's also not good for much of anything else. There are still a couple of charter groups that use it, but that's supposed to end when their contracts run out. Most of them have moved down to Littleton's Centennial Airport.
Of course, the thing we've really got to keep this moonbat from learning about is the new National Militia that's recruiting every adult non-felon between the age of 18 and 75, and requiring them to maintain a weapon and 200 rounds of ammunition in their homes at all times. The new National Militia headquarters just outside of Flagstaff will be completed next November. This moonbat thinks all those camps Dick Cheney is building are "concentration camps" - little does she know that's where we train before being sent to the Mexican/Canadian border.
Remember, you read it here first. I'm taking bets on how long it'll take for Daily Kos to pick it up.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
05/11/2005 18:24 Comments ||
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Intense fighting in a string of towns along the Syrian border in northwestern Iraq showed signs of subsiding Tuesday, as U.S. forces wound down an assault on foreign insurgents.
By daybreak, clashes had waned, as insurgents who had suffered heavy casualties in recent days retreated to safe houses in the communities at the western edge of Anbar province, according to Col. Bob Chase, operations chief for the 2nd Marine Division.
Insurgents kidnapped the province's governor, Raja Nawaf Farhan Mahalawi, but it was unclear whether his abduction was intended as retaliation for the military operations.
An Iraqi military officer in Anbar said the kidnapping took place when the governor, his son and a local police chief were traveling to observe the U.S. assault and were ambushed by armed men. It was believed to be a joint operation conducted by two insurgent groups, al Qaeda in Iraq and Ansar al-Islam.
In a statement posted in a mosque in the city of Hit, west of Ramadi, al Qaeda in Iraq said the governor, his son and four bodyguards had been taken. "The governor . . . is being interrogated now to know if he committed crimes along with the occupation or stood against the holy warriors," the statement said.
Chase, the Marine officer, said local people were supporting the Americans' efforts. "We are getting a lot of information from the locals in the area and a very positive reception. They are giving up locations of where these people are hiding out, and each one drives another operation," he said.
In Washington, Lt. Gen. James T. Conway said three Marines had been killed and fewer than 20 wounded in the campaign. Conway said insurgents were standing and fighting rather than fleeing. "This is a determined enemy," he said. "He has the skill and the ordnance, the weapons to be able to resist fiercely, as we're seeing here."
As the fighting between Marines and insurgents began to ebb Tuesday morning, families streamed eastward out of Qaim, a border town 200 miles northwest of Baghdad.
"If we haven't fled, we would die in our houses either from hunger or the bombings. For 10 days there is no electricity, and water and all the food we have is decayed," said Dhiab Ahmed, 49, who waited for a bus to Ramadi with his wife and four children. "We are victims as we are among the two fighting sides. They have to understand that they should fight outside the city."
Hamdi Alousi, head of Qaim hospital, said in a telephone interview that 21 civilians had been killed and dozens wounded by fighting in the city, including five hospital workers killed by munitions he said were fired by U.S. aircraft at around 7 a.m.
But Chase said U.S. aircraft had struck no targets in that vicinity Tuesday.
Early on Tuesday, Marines also repelled an attempted suicide bombing near Qaim, when two insurgent vehicles approached a Marine convoy traveling near a bridge close to military base.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
05/11/2005 00:21 ||
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#1
Pursue the bastards to the Syrian border and beyond. If Syrian forces try to intercede on behalf of the pursued, drop them too.
#2
Anytime a message is posted like this at a mosque it should be removed by the imams. If it is not the mosque should be burnt to the ground with the imam in side of it.
#3
Bomb and sock-puppet...I'm with you but I am certain the ROE's will tie the on scence commander's hands. It's up to the SOF and CIA to follow and squash the cockroaches back at their syrian whorehouses.
#4
Charles over at www.LittleGreenFootballs.com is asks an interesting question after U.S. Troops have found "insurgents" in uniforms near the Syrian border.
#6
"Hamdi Alousi, head of Qaim hospital, said in a telephone interview that 21 civilians had been killed and dozens wounded by fighting in the city, including five hospital workers killed by munitions he said were fired by U.S. aircraft at around 7 a.m.
But Chase said U.S. aircraft had struck no targets in that vicinity Tuesday."
WaPo. Typical. Call the local symp / scared hospital "spokesman" to get the total fucking bullshit civilian body count. Amazingly, it never jibes with the facts. What, no direct hits on the Hospital Nursery? Maternity Ward? No preemies killed? Who'da thunk it, eh? I guess we're slacking off.
I want to know about the baby ducks, puppies, and kittens, myself.
#7
Slightly OT, but Google news is now including this mob http://www.occupationwatch.org, which just seems to give a Leftist (synonomous with worst possible and defeatist) spin on MSM news reports.
#8
I'm sure Charles at LGF would completely agree with you, phil_b, and likely be the first to say that Google is now on the Dark Side. He's documented the facts fairly thoroughly about what news sources they include / exclude - and, IMHO, embarrassed them with his direct queries and demands for explanation - which they're never quite able to produce.
Google is no longer my engine of choice. I'm scouting for a replacement - this is a good resource for others in my shoes looking to replace the Google asshats.
#9
I am thinking of going back to Alta Vista. Given the location of most of the companies that provide search engines they are all going to have a leftist slant, Google is just one of them. The Bay area is full of them, remember this is where the grass roots support for Boxer and DiFi is based. I don't even attempt to use Google news, they actively filter any classical liberal thought or new outlets out. That is done by humans not some fancy programing.
As far as the uniforms go don't be suprised about what we find out I am guessing we killed way more thatn "100" of them.
They have been since we invaded; read "Thunder Run" and be amazed at constant, almost casual references to Syrian passports. Early reports from the battlefield were filled with reports of Syrians.
Sure, some of them are probably Paleos. Most aren't.
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
05/11/2005 7:43 Comments ||
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#11
Passports don't make them members of the Syrian army, whose involvement would officially implicate the Syrian government. My guess is Assad will preserve deniability and say the uniforms were stolen.
Posted by: too true ||
05/11/2005 7:45 Comments ||
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#12
Slightly OT, but Google news is now including this mob http://www.occupationwatch.org, which just seems to give a Leftist (synonomous with worst possible and defeatist) spin on MSM news reports.
Seems to?
Here is a list of organizations supporting this newest propoganda outlet for terrorist supporters:
Founding organizations of the International Occupation Watch Center are:
Bridges to Baghdad
CodePink: Women for Peace
Global Exchange
Focus on the Global South
United for Peace and Justice
ZENKO
#13
See my post 'Normality returns to Mosul' for positive news. I actually cut the second half about how the Kurds are an important force for stability. BTW the journo was an Arab.
#14
An LA Times article from a roundabout source had on Fallujah had this:
There is evidence that organized foreign fighters were present. One dead guerrilla bore Syrian identification. A number of insurgents believed to be foreigners wore similar black "uniforms," each with black flak vests and weapons superior to those of their Iraqi allies.
#15
Well I don't know about Syrians, but according to Jihad Unspun the big, giant killer spiders are back! Karamat: Deadly Giant Spider Attacks US Troops In Iraq
#18
So we have a brigade (not a batallion - batallions aren't commanded by a colonel) on the Syrian-Iraqi border, breaking things and killing people, and once we "pacify the area", the Iraqi border guards will move into the area to secure it from further infiltrations. We've got a blocking force on the border. The enemy has fought as if they have received some halfway-decent military training in the past. I expect to see news of a "heavy battle" on Friday or Saturday, requiring backup provided by one or two Army division assets, and a fighting "withdrawal" from the province WESTWARD by all. Destination: the port of Sidon, in southern Lebanon. If I heard of activity by the 6th Fleet in the Med, with lots of ships "disappearing", port of call unknown, I could almost guarantee the entire scenario. The next step would be to flush all the Arabs from Gaza and the West Bank, and tell Israel to patrol its new borders, courtesy of the US Government.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
05/11/2005 21:24 Comments ||
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#19
It's up to the SOF and CIA to follow and squash the cockroaches back at their syrian whorehouses.
I'll run throught them like crap through a goose...
Posted by: George Patton ||
05/11/2005 22:02 Comments ||
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#20
GP - they wouldn't be worth digging you up...sir
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/11/2005 22:10 Comments ||
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#21
OP-
From your lips to God's ears, sir.
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
05/11/2005 22:56 Comments ||
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#22
Unfortunately for peace in the region, as separate from humanitarian concerns, that last bit involving the West Bank and Gaza will never happen.
Insurgents kidnapped the top official in Iraq's rebellious Anbar province on Tuesday and the deadline set by the captors of an Australian hostage passed with no word on his fate.
Raja Nawaf, who only became governor of Anbar a few days ago, was abducted with four bodyguards on the road from the town of Qaim, near the Syrian border, to the rebel stronghold of Ramadi, his brother, Hamed Nawaf, told Reuters.
The kidnappers, supporters of the al Qaeda leader in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, are demanding that Nawaf's tribe release some of the militant leader's followers it is holding, said Nawaf's brother and a member of the Ramadi city council.
Although it appears to be a tit-for-tat turf war, the fighting showed some Iraqis are putting up resistance to Zarqawi, whose followers have kidnapped and beheaded foreigners and launched suicide bomb attacks that have killed hundreds.
U.S. forces said they too continued an offensive launched three days ago against rebels in Anbar, along the Euphrates River running from the Syrian border to Ramadi. They said they were meeting "significant resistance" from organized units.
The abduction of the Anbar governor underscored the complex security challenge facing Iraq's new government as it tries to tame lawless regions where Zarqawi's ruthless followers are taking on Iraqi security forces, American troops and tribes.
"Hamed's tribe has kidnapped some of Zarqawi's people to force them to release him," said a member of the Ramadi city council. "And Zarqawi's people have kidnapped some of Hamed's tribes."
That hostage drama played out in Iraq's guerrilla heartland as a deadline set by an insurgent group holding 63-year-old Australian engineer Douglas Wood expired.
In a video shown on Al Jazeera television last week, Wood looked distraught as two masked insurgents pointed rifles at him. His head was shaved and he appeared to have a black eye.
The insurgent group, the Shura Council of the Mujahideen in Iraq, demanded Australia withdraw its troops from Iraq.
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said there had been no word about Wood's fate since the deadline passed.
"We haven't heard anything ... we just don't know what to think and we are continuing to work on the case," he said.
"The sense we have is that the people who have taken Douglas Wood are more politically driven. So that makes it hard to know how to handle it."
In Baghdad, insurgents kept up the pressure on the new government with two more suicide car bomb attacks, killing eight people and wounding more than 20, police said.
Over the past two weeks a surge of guerrilla attacks has killed more than 300 Iraqis and wounded hundreds more.
The past few weeks have seen a sharp escalation in guerrilla attacks. On Tuesday, a suicide bomber blew himself up near a U.S. military patrol in central Baghdad, killing eight Iraqis. A second suicide bomber targeted a base for the Baghdad river police on the banks of the Tigris, wounding three policemen.
Iraqi officials say Zarqawi's fighters and Saddam Hussein loyalists regrouped as the country's new leaders bickered for three months following Jan. 30 elections.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
05/11/2005 00:19 ||
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A group of Somali lawmakers accused neighbouring Ethiopia on Tuesday of sending troops over the border in support of allied warlords, saying the move could plunge the ruined country into a fresh round of fighting.
Ethiopia, the dominant power in the Horn of Africa and an ally of embattled Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf, flatly denied the accusation and said it was committed to ending 14 years of chaos in its troubled neighbour.
"Violent conflict is looming over the country," said a statement from 10 members of parliament issued in Nairobi, where a fledgling transitional Somali national assembly and government have been based since they were formed at peace talks last year.
"Units of Ethiopian troops are confirmed to have crossed deep into Somali territory ... backing militias loyal to faction leaders allied to Ethiopia," it said, adding the troops had crossed into the southern Bay region where the MPs come from.
The statement reflects a deepening split among ministers and MPs, who have been arguing for months about several issues including the politically charged topic of where to base the government once they go home.
A pro-Yusuf faction wants to be based temporarily in the towns of Baidoa and Jowhar, arguing the militia-infested capital Mogadishu is still too dangerous.
An anti-Yusuf faction of ministers who have their powerbases in Mogadishu say the government should go straight home to the traditional capital.
The MPs said Ethiopia appeared to be planning to take back control of Baidoa from MP and warlord Mohammed Ibrahim Habsade, an opponent of Yusuf who captured the city earlier this year.
Habsade acted after Yusuf announced he planned to move his government to Baido and Jowhar.
They added that the Ethiopian government had sent arms to several warlords in southwestern Somalia in defiance of a U.N. embargo on the supply of weapons to Somalia.
In Addis Ababa, officials said the MPs' charge was baseless.
"Ethiopia has no reason to interfere in the internal problems of Somalia. Ethiopia's commitment to bring peace and reconciliation among the Somali people along with other regional governments," said Zemedhun Tekle, the director of public relations at the Ministry of Information.
"The allegation is aimed at undermining and besmirching good neighbourly relations between the two peoples," he added.
Posted by: Dan Darling ||
05/11/2005 00:16 ||
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#1
"Stay tuned for the next episode of 'Failed Nations'..."
#6
Ok maybe I missed something here. "Somali lawmakers" would be what? A collection of warlords or jackasses walking the street riderless in search of food?
Al-Qaeda has been pouring vast sums into mosques and Islamic schools in Mauritania, hoping to recruit insurgents and send them to the front lines of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, police said Tuesday. Police commission spokes-man Yahsdhou Ould Amar said in a statement that by tapping into "powerful networks for external development," the Islamist terror network of Osama bin Laden has financed religious teachers and mosques so as to easily spread its message to young people. Al-Qaeda has also spent an untold sum to "dragoon the women in our country, to pressure them into being veiled at all times in public," Amar said of a practice that was heretofore uncommon in Mauritania despite the widespread observance of Islam among its 2.7 million people.
Amar's statement, released over the official news service, also referenced recruitment of young Mauritanians by the "criminal organization which has sacrificed them on the front lines of other wars, notably in Iraq and Afghanistan." Police say that two recent crimes - a raid on a police station in the southeastern town of Aioun that netted five weapons and the theft of a vehicle belonging to the Christian charity WorldVision - were committed by Al-Qaeda and are a taste of future operations planned for Mauritania. The statement refused to elaborate on details of other crimes, or name possible ringleaders of the Mauritania cell of the network.
Al-Qaeda is not the first fundamentalist group to come calling in Mauritania: a group of seven hard-line Islamists was indicted Monday for trying to mount a faction of the Algerian insurgent Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC). GSPC has claimed ties with Al-Qaeda, according to Mauritanian police. Lawyer Ikrebou Ould Mohammad said the seven were charged with establishing a criminal association, while an international arrest warrant has also been issued for two other people said to be on the run.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/11/2005 00:00 ||
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#1
They keep getting closer to Timbuktou. You won't even be able to go to Timbuktou anymore. What the hell is the world coming to anyway?
Posted by: Jack is Back! ||
05/11/2005 16:42 Comments ||
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"...financed religious teachers and mosques..." That would be your good friend the Saudi
"...has also spent an untold sum to "dragoon the women in our country, to pressure them into being veiled at all times in public,"..." Again that would be you good friends the Whaabi Saudi.
"..."criminal organization which has sacrificed them on the front lines of other wars, notably in Iraq and Afghanistan."..." Again that's the Saudi way.
Fighters have kidnapped the governor of Iraq's western Anbar province and told his family he will be released when US forces withdraw from al-Qaim, the site of a major new offensive against followers of Iraq's most wanted fighter, relatives say. Governor Raja Nawaf Farhan al-Mahalawi was seized as he drove from al-Qaim to the provincial capital of Ramadi on Tuesday morning, his brother, Hammad, told The Associated Press. The kidnappers later telephoned the family and said they were holding the governor until US forces pull out of the Syrian border town, about 320km west of Baghdad, Hammad Nawaf Farhan al-Mahalawi said.
"The kidnappers have demanded that American forces leave al-Qaim in order to release him," he said. US forces are conducting one of their largest offensives in six months in the remote desert region, believed to be a haven for followers of Jordanian-born leader of al-Qaida in the Land of Two Rivers, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/11/2005 00:00 ||
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The Sink Trap doesn't work anymore. I was curious to see what our little Foreign Service Wannabee Socialist Troll had "contributed", but the zapped comments are not there.
#4
free speech = create your own blog....see if anyone visits it :-)
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/11/2005 16:05 Comments ||
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I didn't sink trap it - I deleted the content entirely.
You're free to speak as you wish on your own nickle, juriseqs. Here, you abide by basic courtesies or you get tossed. Your choice, but I'm not going to allow Fred's bandwidth to be eaten up by troll comments.
UPDATE: I see that juriseqs had come back and reposted his comments despite the warning. He's now TROLLed
#6
Juriseqs: don't mess with someone who keeps stuffed beavers as "friends"
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/11/2005 16:28 Comments ||
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What a deeply-flawed and clueless little Socialist. Sigh. Another pathetic product of the Ivory Towers of Academia. Cranking out people whose World View is based upon spectacularly failed ideologies - demonstrably obsolete long before they were born.
Two car bombs have exploded in central Baghdad, killing eight people and wounding 26. In the first attack on Tuesday, a car bomber blew up his vehicle near a US military convoy in central Baghdad, killing at least eight Iraqis and wounding 16, Iraqi journalist Walid Khalid reported. Khalid told Aljazeera that witnesses said the real number of casualties was much higher than that announced, due to the huge crowds present at the explosion scene. More than 15 civilian cars and dozens of shops were damaged in the explosion, he added.
Tuesday's explosion occurred in al-Nasr Square, a main intersection of shops, offices and apartment buildings near the Tigris river, witnesses and a TV report said. The second car bomb exploded at about 11am (0700 GMT) on Abu Nawas street, in the southern Jadriya neighbourhood. Khalid said the explosion targeted the headquarters of al-Nahriya (river) police in Abu Nawas street, severely injuring three policemen. A huge fire erupted in the police building, badly damaging it along with houses close by.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/11/2005 00:00 ||
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J: Mission Accomplished ----the rant that can't be printed
Actually, the mission - the toppling of Saddam - was accomplished. That peace in Iraq hasn't followed has nothing to do with the initial mission. The follow-on mission is the suppression of Saddam's henchmen and various holy warriors who want to grab the reins of power by violent means. Heck, WWII accomplished its initial mission of freeing Czechoslovakia and Poland from Nazi rule, only to see it (and most of Central Europe) end up under Soviet rule. Such are the fortunes of war.
#5
Zheng, I disagree. The MISSION is to win the War against Islamofascists. Taking out Saddam was step two (after taking out the Taliban and putting the skids to OslammerHasbeen). Step Three hasn't been launched yet, because Step Two provided an interesting, serindipitous, and time-consuming alternative objective, destroying the people who would have been willing to carry out terrorist attacks against the United States, and draining huge sums of money from the pot used to conduct such terrorist attacks. I believe the slow nature of the combat is designed to do just that - bleed the terrorists of both bodies and funds - in Iraq - so they can't conduct hostile activities against the US homeland and populace. Once this stage no longer provides sufficient incentives, Step Three, which I'm sure is planned down to the penny, will commence, heavily modified by lessons learned in Step Two. I wonder who's been tapped so far to plan Step 2,763? I have no doubt the war plan is very far along against every element that needs attention.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
05/11/2005 21:36 Comments ||
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Police arrested four suspected members of an outlawed group after a gunbattle in Karachi, a senior police official said yesterday. The men, arrested on Monday, were being held on charges of plotting attacks on Shiite Muslims, police said. They were members of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a militant group whose members were also implicated in December 2003 assassination attempts on President Pervez Musharraf. Police also seized guns, detonators, audio and video cassettes, compact discs, and religious literature after the gunbattle in Karachi's Mahmoodabad neighborhood. Manzoor Mughal, a deputy inspector general of police, said the suspects carried out at least three different attacks against Shiites in Karachi, killing over 20 people. "They (the suspects) were planning more terrorist attacks in the city," said Mughal.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/11/2005 00:00 ||
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
The Ministry of the Interior said yesterday that a wanted militant, 
Security forces have arrested 20 members of a cell affiliated to the 
A bomb apparently detonated by remote control has blown up a police car in the capital of Russia's Dagestan region, killing one officer. Tuesday's explosion also injured three other people, said regional Interior Ministry spokeswoman Marina Rasulova. The dead officer and three wounded were all in the car when the blast occurred, she said. But a duty officer at the Emergency Situations Ministry headquarters for southern Russia, Sergei Petrov, gave a conflicting account. He said the car was empty and that one person was killed and another wounded - both pedestrians - in the blast. The blast could be heard in the centre of Makhachkala, the regional capital.
PARIS - A Pakistani national and two Frenchmen went on trial in a Paris criminal court on Wednesday for allegedly aiding convicted "shoe-bomber" 
GAZA, May 11 (UPI) -- A 22-year-old Palestinian studying in Mosul has been kidnapped by militants in Iraq, his family said Wednesday. 
ttacked them overnight in southern Iraq, the Danish army command said on Tuesday, adding that an Iraqi man was injured in the exchange. The Danes were patrolling the southern Iraqi town of Basra when they came under fire in the early hours of Tuesday, the statement said. The ensuing exchange lasted around five minutes, and the Danish troops then returned to their base at Camp Danevang in Basra. The injured Iraqi was taken to hospital in a civilian vehicle, the military said. It did not specify whether he was one of the attackers. Reinforcements from Camp Danevang were sent to the scene but found no trace of the assailants. Denmark has some 530 soldiers in Iraq, most of whom are stationed under British command near Basra in the south of the country. One Danish soldier has been killed in Iraq to date, in a friendly fire incident in August 2003.
Baghdad, 11 May (AKI) - The Jordanian militant 
Operation Matador is centred around the town of Qaim, just a few kilometres from the Syrian border, and is aimed at destroying the strongholds of foreign fighters coming over the border into Iraq to join the insurgency. It's the fourth day of violent fighting around the town, which has been surrounded by troops since Saturday night. Bombing is said to be heavy in Qaim, where there has been house-to-house fighting between troops and insurgents. The satellite TV channel Al-Arabiya reported on Wednesday that two US military helicopters were brought down during clashes in villages near Qaim, where military aircraft had been carrying out bombing raids to root out Islamic militants from their hideouts.
Outlaw killed in 'shootout' with police
ALGIERS, Algeria, May 11 (UPI) -- Algerian army troops killed a Muslim fundamentalist gunman and injured another in a clash in eastern Algeria, reports said Wednesday. French-language daily Le Quotidien Du Rhone said the clash took place Tuesday night in Baghlia, 80 kilometers (50 miles) east of Algiers.
Two car bombs have exploded in central Baghdad, killing eight people and wounding 26. In the first attack on Tuesday, a car bomber blew up his vehicle near a US military convoy in central Baghdad, killing at least eight Iraqis and wounding 16, Iraqi journalist Walid Khalid reported. Khalid told Aljazeera that witnesses said the real number of casualties was much higher than that announced, due to the huge crowds present at the explosion scene. More than 15 civilian cars and dozens of shops were damaged in the explosion, he added. 
Police arrested four suspected members of an outlawed group after a gunbattle in Karachi, a senior police official said yesterday. The men, arrested on Monday, were being held on charges of plotting attacks on Shiite Muslims, police said. They were members of 
